pop culture
Female pop-culture icons, women in the media and the depiction of women in the entertainment and pop culture sphere.
The Trad-Wife Contradiction
As someone interested in history and feminism, I find the trad-wife trend troubling because its public image depends on a contradiction. The version of “traditional wifehood” promoted on social media does not feel especially genuine or authentic: many of these women argue that men should be sole breadwinners while earning their own money online through brand deals, sponsored posts, affiliate links, paid subscriptions, and monetised videos.
By Sarah Xenos22 days ago in Viva
Dear Women: Stop Feeding the Machine
The entire world has been shaped by a bro-code patriarchy. Look at history: centuries of unhinged, psychotic greed, domination, rape, robbery and killing carried out overwhelmingly by men—and systems built by men to protect male power.
By THE HONED CRONE22 days ago in Viva
Burn the Witch
There is a trend circulating on TikTok in which a crowd chants, “Burn the witch! Burn the witch!” A person then announces that they know a “spell” to achieve something desirable—getting rid of homework, summoning a particular kind of person or solving some everyday inconvenience—and the crowd changes its verdict: “Release the witch!”
By Millie Hardy-Simsabout a month ago in Viva
Big Time Players Make Big Time Plays
I had the story the very second after it happened. I knew what I would say about this as well. The only thing I didn't have was a title, up until just now. I chose a very fitting one: "Big Time Players Make Big Time Plays." Two reasons. One, it's my tribute to the late, great Stacey King, who this Chicago Bulls fan remembers as part of our first three championships between 1991 and 1993. Of course, King went on to serve as the Bulls' color commentator for many years, and one of his many signature lines was "Big time players make big time plays."
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a month ago in Viva
Pros and Cons: State of WWE's Women's Division Entering SummerSlam
Well, wrestling fans, we are closing on WWE's summer classic, SummerSlam. This year is the 39th annual event, meaning that next year will see SummerSlam turn the big 4-0. It's also the second straight SummerSlam to serve as a two-night event, and it will emanate from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis--the home of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. A dozen matches will be on the SummerSlam card, six on each day, and before Raw kicked off, we find out which matches will take place on which night.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Viva
Girlhood Personified
I often like to remind people that “it’s fun to be a girl” - and usually with an eye-roll and as much condescension as I can muster. And nothing has solidified that better than watching Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides (1999) for the very first time.
By Taylor Rigsby2 months ago in Viva
At Long Last, a Solution to the WWE Women's Championship Conundrum
There were a few reasons why I was looking forward to SmackDown. For one, it's the last show before Saturday Night's Main Event. Secondly, CM Punk as WWE Champion. Third, the fallout from Gunther brutally beating down SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis after Aldis refused to give into Gunther's unreasonable demands. Gunther fails not once, but twice, to become WWE Champion, and he expected to bully his way to another chance? Not the way it works, pal.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Viva
Bird of Prey: Villainous Valkyria Strikes
I meant to write this hours after it happened, because it was quite the occurrence. However, the last week was spent focusing on sports and my fiction pieces, and I decided that it may be best to wait a week and see what happens. I did that when Natalya transformed herself into the villainous Nattie Neidhart, and it worked out.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Viva
Recapping the 2026 Queen of the Ring Final at Night of Champions
The month of June gave us an amazing NBA Finals, a thrilling Stanley Cup Final, a very close United Bowl, and a very awesome College World Series. In addition to all of that, the month of June gave us a very memorable Queen of the Ring tournament, with the field starting off with 16 women vying for a championship opportunity at SummerSlam. Well, sort of. One of the women just happened to be the reigning Women's World Champion. We had four Fatal Four Way Quarterfinals, followed by the Semifinals, and after all of that, it was down to two women for the crown: Liv Morgan and Iyo Sky.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Viva
Recapping the Semifinals of the 2026 Queen of the Ring Tournament
To say that this year's Queen of the Ring Tournament has been interesting would be an understatement. The Quarterfinals saw the field of 16 whittled own to the Final Four thanks to each match being a four-way. While the matches were amazing, a few of the results were not ideal. In the first Quarterfinal, Iyo Sky defeated Roxanne Perez, Lash Legend, and Giulia. I'm fine with that, even though many say Giulia should have won that bout. In the second Quarterfinal, Raquel Rodriguez defeated Bayley, Kiana James, and Jacy Jayne, and this was the only right answer. Bayley didn't need it, Kiana's still a bit away from being ready for elevation, and Jacy needs to be slow-burned (slight spoiler: she's not, WWE actually want to put Jacy in World Title contention).
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Viva
Recapping the Fourth and Last Quarterfinal Match in the 2026 Queen of the Ring Tournament
The Queen of the Ring Tournament has been quite eventful so far. The tournament field was announced right after Clash in Italy ended, and the first three Quarterfinal matches took place during WWE's European tour. First, in Turin, Italy, Iyo Sky defeated Roxanne Perez, Giulia, and Lash Legend to advance. Next, in Bologna, Italy, Raquel Rodriguez defeated Kiana James, Jacy ayne and Bayley to advance, and that would see the end of Kiana and Giulia's alliance. Most recently, Paris watched as Women's World Champion Liv Morgan defeated Chelsea Green, Alexa Bliss, and Becky Lynch.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Viva
