Entertainment

Moxie’s Attempts to Educate Falls Short

“Patriarchy sucks. Rebel girls are cool,” reads Netflix’s tagline for the new film Moxie, directed by Amy Poehler. This summarizes the ethos of the movie, as well as its many problems.

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Artist Spotlight: Dexter Suhn

With musical recording technology becoming more accessible than ever, young musicians have found ways to produce music from their own bedrooms. This phenomenon has created the aptly named genre of “bedroom pop.” Artists like Billie Eilish, Clairo, and Cosmo Pyke have made this lo-fi sound a world-wide success.

‘In and of Itself’ Is a Uniquely Magical Experience

Magic shows are inherently fun and exciting events. A man in a fancy cape and hat dances around a stage and makes all sorts of wondrous things happen, from pulling a rabbit out of a hat to reading an audience member’s mind.

Is it Ethical to Pirate Entertainment?

As stay-at-home orders continue into 2021, the demand for cheap and easy entertainment has continued to rise, which unsurprisingly means digital piracy has seen a massive resurgence.

‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Is a Crucial Movie for Current Times

Judas and the Black Messiah, directed by Shaka King, tells the story of Black liberation activist Fred Hampton, and the undercover informant who ultimately aided in his murder.

Miumi Shipon, who draws on both personal experience and punk culture to create her art, is interested in how creating and consuming media can be a form of empowerment.

Artist Spotlight: Miumi Shipon

“My main objective is to make other people feel more seen,” said Miumi Shipon, a junior in Academic Choice. Shipon describes herself as a visual artist, a poet, and a dancer.

‘Framing Britney Spears’ Reveals How Sexism Leads to Harmful Misconceptions

Britney Spears became a world renowned pop icon not only for her iconic tracks, but also for exploring sensuality in her dance style and music on an unprecedented level.

Lack of Female Media Executives Leads to Inaccurate Representation of Women

Imagine a Supreme Court Justice or a computer scientist. Who do you see? Most likely, you’ve pictured a white man. Your vision reflects what you see on television, and in turn, this image shapes what you choose to become.

Trans Artist SOPHIE Dies

SOPHIE, a pioneer in the hyperpop space who captivated listeners with an avant-garde style mixing and matching pop and EDM, passed away early this year at the age of 34.   Though SOPHIE’s music will live on and continue to inspire future musicians, the loss of the artist will undoubtedly be felt in the pop community

‘Malcolm and Marie’ Dives into the Complexity of Relationships

For as long as humanity has existed, conflict has always fascinated us, whether it’s between groups or on an individual level. In the world of cinema, almost any plotline has to do with winning, from the Avengers fighting supervillains to legal dramas that take on a new case every episode.

Performative Social Media Activism is Largely Unproductive

Social media activism has seen a massive increase in popularity and relevance during the past months, starting in the summer of 2020. Given the undeniable power of online movements, this is overall a great achievement.

PTSA Hosts Art Contest to Celebrate Black History Month

This year, the Berkeley High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association is giving students an amazing new way to interact with Black History Month: the Black History Month Art Contest.

The Colorblind Utopia ‘Bridgerton’ Paints is Attractive, But Deceiving

Just two months ago, Netflix released Bridgerton. Set in 1813 London, the story follows high-society families as they search for eligible suitors and bounce between social events, all whilst trying to avoid having their scandals broadcast by Lady Whistledown, the mysterious author of a gossip sheet.

Controversy Arises Over Armie Hammers’ Alleged Cannibalism

TW: sexual harassment, rape, cannibalism.  Armie Hammer: famous actor, incredibly charismatic guy, and alleged cannibal. Wait a second — did you read that right?

‘Locked Down’ is a Disappointing First Look At Hollywood’s Take on COVID-19

“Well, that was… interesting” is about how I felt after watching the HBO Max original film, Locked Down. This wasn’t exactly the reaction to this movie that I’d hoped for, given that it’s the first mainstream Hollywood production about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dangers of the Concentration of Media Ownership

Last week, I was reading newspaper articles online, researching for an essay. The teacher wanted us to have insight into different perspectives in order to form a more complete understanding, so I browsed through many different sources.

‘Ratatouille: the TikTok Musical’ Exemplifies Pandemic Creativity

I used to hate rats. The mix of the tails, the teeth, the images of pestilence just sent my skin crawling and my brain saying “no sir.” So you can imagine how I might have felt when my dad came home from the Berkeley Vivarium carrying two pet rats.

Amanda Gorman Inspires the Nation With Her Inaugural Poem

Amanda Gorman, the first youth poet laureate of the United States, garnered national recognition after performing her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, making her the youngest inaugural poet in history.