Opinion – we should allow fans to mourn
Mourning is personal, not performative. Every now and then, the death of a public figure takes you by utter surprise. It’s a very different feeling to the heavy pit of sadness that comes from looking at your phone and seeing yet more war, genocide, and human suffering. These kinds of celebrity...
Current in Media
Opinion – Tiny Desk revived our love of live music sessions
The virality of Tiny Desk sessions shows us that the public prefers a good live session. If you're a music fan, you've heard about the Tiny Desks, either because your favorite artist had a session or because once in your social media Feed, you discovered an artist you didn't know...
Has the world moved on from Euphoria?
It’s been five years since Euphoria first dazzled, shocked, and terrified us with its glitter-laden, trauma-soaked tales of teenage nihilism. The show became a cultural phenomenon, thanks in part to Zendaya’s searing performance and Sam Levinson’s high-octane vision of Gen Z chaos. But as the third season remains delayed by...
Opinion – Charli xcx’s ‘Brat’ was marketing genius
Dominating the summer was not enough for Charli xcx. She's back once again, announcing the remix version of her viral album Brat. It seems Charli xcx is not done dominating pop culture. Once again, she intends to influence the next season of the year with a new version of her album....
Billie Eilish partners with Google for a more sustainable tour
Through her partnerships with Google Maps, Reverb, Support+Feed, and Live Nation Billie is seeking to reduce the environmental impact of her upcoming tour. Ahead of the start of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour, Billie Ellish has announced a new partnership with Google Maps. Typically, 70 percent of a concert’s...
Should the UK’s ‘football blackout’ rule be scrapped?
Football fans in Britain are prevented from watching the majority of Saturday matches on television by law. Though the rule was introduced sixty years ago with the aim of benefitting football clubs at every level, is it now outdated? Back in 1960 – before the inception of the Premier League...
Where do we draw the line on celebrity coverage?
Exploiting vulnerable individuals is not entertainment. No matter how famous they are. Hayden Panettiere, known for her role in Nashville and more recently, for her public struggles with addiction, found herself the unwitting centre of attention this week, but not for reasons she – or anyone with a functioning moral compass – cared for. People Magazine published a video interview with the actress that quickly drew backlash from viewers, many of whom expressed concerns that...
Opinion – we have a lot to learn about identity from Lady Gaga
The pop icon has demonstrated what it really means to be a trans ally. When Lady Gaga first rose to fame in the early 2000s, a persistent rumour began making the rounds: that the ‘Born This Way’ singer was secretly a man. Or a hermaphrodite, depending on who you asked at the time. Like so many baseless whispers circling in the pop-culture industry, it refused to die down, lingering in tabloids...
Netflix is set to host new indie animation series ‘Digital Circus’
A small step for streaming services, a big step for indie animation. Digital Circus is an Australian-made animated web series produced by Glitch Productions. This series tells the story of a group of humans trapped in a digital world who are pursued by an evil Artificial Intelligence. Digital Circus gained its popularity through a pilot episode that was posted on the Glitch youtube account in October of last year. It...
Diversity at the Emmys calls for bigger change in Hollywood
This year’s awards were marked by diversity, inclusion, and displays of queer joy. It’s a standard the industry would do well to uphold. At the 76th Emmy Awards on Sunday, actor John Leguizamo gave Hollywood a much-needed reminder: diversity doesn’t just happen by accident. The actor and long-time advocate for Latinx representation took the stage at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater and delivered a speech that managed to be both impassioned...
