pop culture
The headline rundown: Modern popular culture topics in the realm of politics, legislation and activism.
Dear Donald... Sorry, Not Sorry
Why apologize? Why should actors and other creatives keep apologizing to you for expressing their feelings? You have never apologized. In some ways that wouldn't be such a big deal, or at least not unprecedented. I was always bothered when Obama declined to apologize for certain things he did and said. Stupid. But not unprecedented. The real problem, though, is that you don't actually believe that you have ever made a mistake that warrants an apology. The difference between you and Obama is that he did not do something daily that most of us feel he owed us an apology.
Frank WhitePublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
The Wonder Woman of Tel Aviv
There’s a billboard on the Tel Aviv highway that proclaims “We Love You” under a picture of Wonder Woman. More accurately, under a picture of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. In Israel, she’s kind of a big deal. And if you’re wondering why all you have to do is watch her late night interviews. She mentions her home country in all of them. Jimmy Fallon? Check. Kimmel? Check. Even Conan. And Conan didn’t even interview her. During a segment where she takes him through her workout regimen, he mentions that she was trained in the Israeli army (she served for two years). Now imagine you live in a country like Israel, where United States exposure to your culture is limited. And if somehow you do manage to break into the cultural sphere, odds are the focus isn’t really on where you’re from. It might be mentioned in an offhand question - “You’re from so-and-so, what do you think of America?” - but the bulk of the questions will be fun personal anecdotes about your breakfast, your kids, or that time you met that other famous person and you were just so star struck. But there’s Gal. On American TV. Talking about Israel.
Zane DeYoungPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
The Pulled Show
The Carmichael Show was a surprise hit for NBC when they debuted it 2 summers ago. It won over critics by tackling controversial, and timely topics while still managing to be funny. It's a rare feat in these days of family sitcoms and super sexy single people comedies. Every summer, fans eagerly anticipate what writers, producers, and the stars of The Carmichael Show have in store for them. This week NBC was supposed to air an episode about a mass shooting, on the very same day that a mass shooting happened in our nation's capitol. The Peacock network was left with an impossible decision, to air or pull the episode? Jerrod Carmichael, the star/creator of the show thinks they should have aired it.
Edward AndersonPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
Is Third-Wave Feminism Ruining the World?
When I was in my twenties, I would’ve called myself a “Feminist.” However, now that I am nearing the age of thirty-one in the year 2017, I would never use the term “Feminist” when describing myself. Upon entering the world of social media and YouTube more frequently during the last few years, I have noticed that I am not the only woman who is no longer identifying as a “Feminist” to society. It made me wonder why this is. I knew why I was no longer saying I was a “Feminist” to describe my identity, but that didn’t mean I knew why the rest of the world did. So, I dove in. I began researching, watching all the videos I could and reading all the articles I could. I read articles and watched videos Feminists wrote and made. I read articles and watched videos ex-Feminists wrote and made. I realized many of the women who came out as an “Ex-Feminist” felt the exact same way I did about Feminism and its views.
Beth GibbonsPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
What Traits Do Sith Lords and Donald Trump Have in Common?
Star Wars has a universe that really seems to be able to split people into two parties—the Jedi and the Sith. If you're a Star Wars fan, then you've already had moments where you have wondered where you'd land in the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
Riley Raul ReesePublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
The Magnificent Seven or Magnificent Minorities?
Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I remember movies always typically had a majority white cast of characters with maybe one or two minorities and typically the hero of the film. It was typical and predictable for horror films and action movies to almost always have an African American sidekick or hero make it to the end of the movie and killed off in the last 15 or 20 minutes. Gradually movies and television have gone away from that somewhat with African American, Hispanic and Asian lead characters which lead to creating fresh storytelling and new themes with not as predictable plots as in the past.
Kevin BaileyPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
Killing O’Reilly on TV
Ladies and gentlemen, this long national nightmare is over. Bill O’Reilly, for 21 years the host of The O’Reilly Factor, the voice and face of the Fox News Channel, and on-air avatar of the Pantone-red conservative movement, has left the Fox News building in Manhattan. Long the subject of sexual harassment lawsuits alleging wanton misogyny, bullying, intimidation and innuendo, O’Reilly was fired on April 19th, reportedly receiving an exit payout somewhere in the well-heeled neighborhood of $25 million.
Michael Eric RossPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
History of Bill O'Reilly's Scandals
Bill O'Reilly is one of Fox's most well-known anchors. He has been a mainstay in the news industry since the 80s. He has hosted the O'Reilly Factor, one of the most widely watched news commentary shows, on Fox News since 1996. He has published several best-selling works of nonfiction, most notably Killing Lincoln, Killing Jesus, and Killing Kennedy. (I'm noticing a pattern here.)
Anthony GramugliaPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
JFK Believed Hitler May Have Been Alive
Late President John F. Kennedy seemed to have believed that Adolf Hitler, the notorious Nazi leader whose rhetoric and desire to see the Jewish populace, among others, completely eliminated, could have still been alive in the aftermath of his apparent suicide, according to Kennedy's diary.
Christina St-JeanPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
Canada's Prime Minister Hashtagging Near You
"I'm not Donald Trump" (All of America immediately falls in love). "Hey, girl. I could get you that good health insurance."
Christina St-JeanPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
My New Musical
Ever since La La Land, I’ve been racking my brain to think of ideas for new musicals. Critics are buzzing at all the La La awards, blonde men everywhere are taking up jazz piano and high school kids are dancing on car hoods in campus parking lots nationwide. The studios are salivating to make more big-budget musicals, confident the public can’t get enough of these all-singing, all-dancing spectaculars.
Brian K. HenryPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
McDonald's Tweets President Trump Is 'Disgusting', Claims Hack Job
One thing is certain; McDonald's doesn't appear to love President Trump's tenure...or does it? On the morning of March 16, the verified @McDonaldsCorp Twitter account tweeted the following: "@realdonaldtrump You are actually a disgusting excuse of a President and we would love to have @BarackObama back, also you have tiny hands."
Christina St-JeanPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp
