Pop Culture

Cultural appropriation does not simply apply to Halloween costumes and racial slurs. The world of sports is currently attempting to wade the waters of race.

The past thirty years have seen a rise in “fast fashion” – a system of mass production that “refers to cheap, trendy, and popular clothing chains which rapidly change their … Continue reading "The Cost of Fast Fashion"

Hungarian photographer Norbert Baska sparked wild controversy with his new series "Der Migrant", featuring Syrian migrants in high couture.

Spirit Halloween released a costume for Halloween 2015 in the likeness of Caitlin Jenner’s Vanity Fair magazine cover. The immediate reaction of many was one of disgust, feeling that the costume was mocking the former Olympian and her recent transition. Others were concerned that the costume perpetuates a transphobic view.

Why are cartoon producers driving female viewers away from their shows?

In the age of Orange is the New Black, prison tourism stands to redefine the ethical tourist.

For "altruism porn" shows like "The Briefcase," is raising awareness justification enough?

This Guest Author post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published in The Indy Star on April 24, 2015. NBC’s high-profile anchor, Brian Williams, has been suspended for telling tall … Continue reading "The Deterioration of TV News"

Cultural appropriation is when a dominant group adapts the customs of a minority group and tries to trademark them as their own in an effort to be edgy and/or to … Continue reading "Cultural Appropriation in Entertainment"

Though overwhelmingly panned in reviews (a critic from The Observer called it “utter nonsense”), Jupiter Rising was a remarkably thought-provoking film. For all of its excess, it raised some good ethical questions.

50 Shades has swept audiences off their feet, selling 100 million copies worldwide, and making $237.7 million in its global opening in theaters. In many ways, this success could have … Continue reading "Let’s Talk About…50 Shades of Grey (Part I)"

Among my friends, I would be one of the first to readily admit one thing: I love dogs. Pugs, specifically. My personal allegiance to my family’s dog aside, pugs are … Continue reading "An Unhealthy Obsession: Pugs and the Demand for Cuteness"

We have all heard it before: the kid out on the baseball field shouts, “you hit like a girl.” Adults do it too. In fact, just last fall my sister’s … Continue reading "‘Like a Girl:’ A cultural context"