Pop Culture

Combating the underrepresentation of people of color in the entertainment industry is an important goal, but the way we go about it is equally important.

What might be the real-world harm of racial essentialism in a fantasy role-playing game? What does it take to confront the Veil?

Is this new medium reducing art to a formulaic hunt for virality or is it inspiring innovation and increasing independent artists' opportunity for exposure?

Corporations often try to brand themselves as inclusive and progressive, but is there any substance behind these labels or is it all just marketing?

A new movement has developed around shoplifting as an anti-corporate political protest. Does it work? Can it?

There are a multitude of pleasures that we might feel bad about engaging in, but not all activities carry the same moral weight. And many are not simply a private affair.

NBC's show explores all manner of philosophical quandary, but focuses especially on the meaning of life and the morality in mortality.

Songs like Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" attempt to harness holiday sentiment to support charitable causes. Should they?

Are black female artists fueling the jezebel stereotype or attempting to reclaim the narrative surrounding their sexuality?

Battle lines are being drawn, but what is the generational conflict really all about?

Ellen has defended herself against recent public backlash by asserting a basic obligation to be kind to others. What might this duty entail? What might be its limits?

What might Kanye need absolution for, who might he need it from, and are they inclined to grant it?

The Carson King saga is just the latest chapter in the debate on the value of cancel culture. Is public shaming on social media about anything more than exposure?

Seeking out moral advice from, and offering moral advice to, strangers in a public forum is nothing new. What has changed are the qualifications to claim moral expertise.

Gillis's recent dismissal from SNL raises questions about free speech and the boundaries of offensive content.

Brand-building is taking on the guise of genuine openness. What's the harm? How should we respond when vulnerability obscures more than it reveals?

What responsibility, if any, does JAY-Z have with regards to Colin Kaepernick and his partnership with the NFL?

What, if any, obligation does Jay-Z, as a high-profile advocate for social justice and a recognizable brand, have to not condone or distract from the NFL's many public relation problems?

Recent rulings have called the loot box mechanics used in franchises like FIFA and Star Wars Battlefront "gambling for children." What's the danger?

The vision of technological dystopia presented by Black Mirror covers diverse topics ranging from the nature of consciousness to the essence of parenting.