Why Does Tech Exceptionalism Exist?

If you were told an industry is directly contributing to an increase in teenage eating disorders or suicide, what would your response be? Perhaps you would feel outrage, or simply confusion over how an industry could've been allowed to have that effect on teens in the first place. Maybe you would wonder, more specifically, how … Continue reading Why Does Tech Exceptionalism Exist?

Dating is Hard: A Different Kind of Illness

“I matched with this guy, but…” “But what?” “He said he thinks Asian girls are cute.” Dating can be hard, but personally, dating apps scare me because I am afraid of the way men will perceive me (as a cis-heterosexual female). But there are countless different versions of this conversation among my East Asian girlfriends … Continue reading Dating is Hard: A Different Kind of Illness

Outward Representation: More Harm than Help?

A Vegas-style yacht bachelor party. The disapproving potential mother-in-law. A white mansion with luxury cars rolling up to the door with just enough time for stylish, designer-clothing clad couples to step out before the private valet takes over. While the images above could describe a variety of flashy rom-coms, the buzz around "Crazy Rich Asians" … Continue reading Outward Representation: More Harm than Help?

Where are all of the diverse dancers?

Because of the European origins of classical ballet, and a lack of strong initiatives for change, it seems the answer is "nowhere to be found." Dancers in the Pacific Northwest Ballet performing, photographed by Angela Sterling Most major corporations in the United States have diversity initiatives. Upholding a diverse student body is essential for top … Continue reading Where are all of the diverse dancers?

On TV and Oklahoma’s New State Curriculum

Ah, the television. With old pejoratives like "boob tube" and "idiot box," it's clear that TV has a bad rap in comparison to other forms of media. But given trends like the advent of streaming and the rise of high-budget shows (see: Netflix's The Crown, Disney's The Mandalorian, and—forgive me—HBO's Game of Thrones), the television … Continue reading On TV and Oklahoma’s New State Curriculum

FP Post 1 – Big Brothers Big Sisters

When I transferred to Vanderbilt as a sophomore, I knew I wanted to work with children in underserved communities as I had at my previous school through YMCA. After attending the Org Fair during my first semester, I came across Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vanderbilt. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to … Continue reading FP Post 1 – Big Brothers Big Sisters

Redefining “Normal” During and After the Coronavirus

(Graphic Courtesy of The New York Times) When thinking of American politics and society over the past couple years I think we can all agree there has been a trend of wanting to return to “normal”. From Donald Trump promising an idyllic vision of the past or Biden promising a return to Obama years it … Continue reading Redefining “Normal” During and After the Coronavirus

Colorblindness and The Hate U Give

[WARNING: spoilers for The Hate U Give (2018)] Once upon a time, I really thought racism against African-Americans was a thing of the past. Luckily, watching The Hate U Give opened my eyes to some of the systemic challenges African-Americans still face. The film follows Starr Carter, an African-American teenage girl who navigates between … Continue reading Colorblindness and The Hate U Give

Why Does the American 1% Love Parasite?

[WARNING: spoilers for Parasite (2019)] Chrissy Teigen really loves Parasite. To anyone who's seen the film, this probably comes as a bit of a shock. The Best Picture winner is a pretty clear critique of class hierarchy, capitalism, and the tendency of the rich to systematically exploit the lower classes. Bong Joon-ho presents a dichotomy … Continue reading Why Does the American 1% Love Parasite?

Identity vs. Ideology in Modern American Politics

http://pmd.cdn.turner.com/cnn/big/politics/2019/01/21/kamala-harris-presidential-2020-announcement-lah-pkg-vpx.cnn_1280x720.mp4 You don't have to watch the full video above but the first half highlights the identity-focused dynamic of modern political news Last year CNN was running on my living room tv and while I wasn’t paying particular attention to their usually breathtaking and earth-shattering reporting one thing caught my focus: 2020 Democratic Power Rankings. … Continue reading Identity vs. Ideology in Modern American Politics