One of my core beliefs is that art is better with more voices in the room. Everyone deserves to have their stories told and heard, and the telling of different stories enriches not only the lives of those who relate with them, but also those who don\’t understand them at all. Stories make us all …
In my over ten years of teaching literature, I\’ve come to expect that stories about racism elicit a certain response from certain students. If it\’s a piece like Toni Morrison\’s The Bluest Eye or even Octavia Butler\’s Kindred, then white students will respond with sympathy. Their discussions will signal that racism is bad and they …
Mudbound and Get Out: Right-Feeling or Repentance? Read More »
In Mudbound‘s opening scene, two white brothers Henry (Jason Clarke) and Jamie McAllen (Garrett Hedlund) dig their father’s grave while a storm thunders towards them. But when he uncovers the remains of a runaway slave, Henry insists they move, refusing to bury his Klansman father Pappy (Jonathan Banks) in a slave’s grave. The film cuts …
A little later than I wanted, but here\’s the newest episode of Renewed Mind Movie Talk!In this episode, we\’re looking at the 2016 historical drama Hidden Figures.Hidden Figures uses mathematics as a metaphor for imagining a different world, creating new math to advance the new science of space travel helps us think about undoing institutional …
\”Hidden Figures – Imagine a New World\” (Renewed Mind Movie Talk, Episode 05) Read More »
A little later than I wanted, but here\’s the newest episode of Renewed Mind Movie Talk!In this episode, we\’re looking at the 2016 historical drama Hidden Figures.Hidden Figures uses mathematics as a metaphor for imagining a different world, creating new math to advance the new science of space travel helps us think about undoing institutional …
\”Hidden Figures – Imagine a New World\” (Renewed Mind Movie Talk, Episode 05) Read More »
On Friday, Netflix will premier Iron Fist, the fourth in its successful franchise of Marvel Comics adaptations. Early reviews have not been positive, and critics continue to level against the show a concern raised since casting began: the series retains the source material’s use of the “mighty whitey” trope.“Mighty whitey” is a tongue-in-cheek way of …
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Get Out As indicated by its (nearly) unanimous critical praise and impressive box office receipts, Jordan Peele’s horror film Get Out has been enjoyed by lots of people. For some white liberal filmgoers, myself included, the movie has been a revelation, dramatizing a type of horror that I’ve never seen, …
The Official (Not Official) Get Out White Liberal Bingo Card! Read More »