How Bel-Air & Atlanta are Changing the Narrative for Coming-of-Age Black & POC Stories on Television
Bel-Air and Atlanta, with undeniable bravado and charisma, captured the imaginations of viewers and reinvigorated modern storytelling in unlikely ways. The story behind the creation of these two televised gems, even more unlikely. Before solidifying their spots in the cultural zeitgeist, neither drama was certain to make it to the screen; their origin stories themselves bordering on the edge of sheer serendipity and limitless luck. What’s unique about Atlanta and Bel-Air, is not their cool characters, exhilarating arcs, timeless twists or ‘blink-and-you-miss-it’ moments. In defiance, it’s how both creative entities manage to tackle serious issues, explore meaningful themes and unapologetically challenge and change the narrative for coming-of-age Black & POC stories on television, in avant garde fashion.
With the new season of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy being released June 22nd, Elliot Page has announced that his character in the TV show will be transitioning from Vanya to Viktor Hargreeves. In his Instagram post, Page re-introduces his character as Viktor Hargreeves. Upon Page’s announcement, the character’s new gender identity within the show was widely celebrated, both because the change helped to reflect Page’s own journey with gender identity, and also because of the historic moment it represented to let a character transition alongside their actor. In fact, the transgender community has a disheartening past of experiencing poor representation in television and media, so this comes as a welcomed joy. Current shows that represent the trans community have been working to undo these false narratives, focusing more on their personal journeys and their gender in more nuanced, meaningful ways. But progress doesn’t come without drawbacks, and there are still issues to be resolved within modern representation.
I recently ventured to unlock my inner ~gamer girl~ persona by joining my friend’s D&D campaign. I’ve always loved the idea of role-playing games (RPGs) but have never really made an effort to learn about them. Now that I have started playing DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (arguably one of the most complex role-playing games for beginners), I can say I’m certainly learning a lot, and boy, is it an effort.
There is no more time for denying. Climate change is real and people around the world have already been feeling the consequences due to the inaction by those in charge. Evidence to support climate change is given in an abundance of ways, one being documentaries, like 2040, by 
The Legend of Vox Machina is Amazon Prime's newest adult-geared animated fantasy series based on a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D) campaign by Critical Role, a well-known D&D roleplay group. If you just read DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and immediately thought “nerd-fest” and “LARPing”, I’m here to tell you it’s way more than that. While DUNGEONS & DRAGONS has a bad rap from non-players and conservative parents alike, it’s actually a really fun roleplay game, great for any group of friends wanting to take on new personas and/or flex their improvisation and quick-thinking skills. Vox Machina, while based off a D&D campaign, really appeals to more than just the tabletop game fanatic and is a great choice for anyone looking to broaden their streaming horizons or discover their next favorite fantasy show.
When I first walked out of the theater after watching Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, the first sentence I said to my mother was: “What the f&%$?” Caught up in the sheer chaos of the movie’s plot, my mother and I both failed to appreciate the movie’s deeper hidden messages and themes until about twenty minutes after leaving the theater, when she asked me what the movie even meant. At that point, I started to look back on the film’s significant moments and recurring themes: those of family, kindness, and an underlying subversion of the immigrant story - all amounting to an ultimate theme of appreciating our loved ones, even when they drive us up the wall. Despite my initial confusion (or the fact I still can’t get the movie’s long-winded name right), I definitely grew to appreciate the film’s absurdist, but well-constructed, plot and characters. I now understand its 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
There are a few films which are so definitive to their genre that they not only provide an unforgettable viewing experience but also serve to enlighten viewers to the possibilities of cinema as an art form. These pictures deserve recognition not just as entertainment but as educational, enriching works that ought to be experienced by everyone at some point in their lives. Monty Python’s 1975 adaptation of the Arthurian Holy Grail legend is, undeniably, one of those films. This article will serve as an analysis of the cinematic achievements and cultural importance of the timeless medieval drama.
Ever since the heat has returned to the streets of Tallahassee, Florida, I have been dreaming of returning home, where the beach is right around the corner and school is five hours away. However, to go back home, I must pass all my classes; to relax and lie down under the sun, we must first get through finals week intact. April 25th to April 29th: A week of tears, betrayal, and finals. Even from my experiences in high school, finals season has been bittersweet. Exams, papers, and projects create a cloud of stress weeks in advance; however, when everything is done and turned in, a feeling of happiness creeps over my body. Knowing that the worst is behind me brings tears of joy. Here is my guide to surviving and taking over finals week!
While this year's Oscar ceremony has been filled with controversy, it is not the first time someone received a slap in the face during the award show. Here are what I find to be the biggest Oscar snubs of the past decade
