Not All Queer Love Stories Are Called Universal
Call Me by Your Name is being hailed as a groundbreaking entry into the queer film canon. But like Brokeback Mountain and Moonlight before it, the movie achieves "universal" appeal largely through the drama of masculinity. Warning: spoilers.
This Is How The Biggest Movie Soundtrack Of All Time Got Made
Whitney Houston’s behind-the-scenes role in creating the best-selling soundtrack of The Bodyguard, which turns 25 this year, is a reminder that she was much more than just “The Voice.”
Why The Menendez Brothers Never Got A Fair Hearing
Law & Order can’t solve all of the mysteries that haunt the Menendez case, but NBC’s series is finally asking the right questions about abuse, institutional power, and who shapes the narratives of “true” crime.
Kevin Spacey Is Not The First Gay Man To Weaponize Coming Out
By coming out in response to allegations of sexual misconduct, Spacey joins other powerful men who have deployed gay identity to protect themselves, often at the expense of other LGBT people.
Why Beyoncé And Bieber Can’t Fix The Latinx Pop Problem
Despite the success of “Despacito” and “Mi Gente,” Latinx artists in the US are still treated as one-time novelty acts, and face old pressures to play to cliched expectations.
Why The “New” Lady Gaga Never Took Off
By avoiding Gaga’s recent career struggles, the new Netflix documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two reveals why her turn towards the personal has been an artistic disappointment.
Pop Music Stans Aren’t Crazy, They’re Having A Conversation
Pop fandom has historically been embodied by the screaming white girl. But the rise of queer men “stanning” for pop divas signals the growing power of fan perspectives outside the straight white norm.
Cher Is Still Changing The Conversation In 2017
Cher is still making headlines, after more than five decades in the spotlight, because she’s never stopped finding and mastering new outlets for her creative expression.
The Real Tragedy Of The Aaron Hernandez Story
In the eyes of the public, the former Patriots star went from American success story to unredeemable criminal. But his trajectory can’t be separated from the values and institutions that shaped him.
Harry Styles Isn't Following The Pop Star Playbook
Unlike most of his contemporaries, newly solo One Direction star Harry Styles is performing a retro rock earnestness. But is that what listeners are looking for?
Have “The Real Housewives” Peaked?
The franchise has remained a cultural force for over a decade by reinventing itself. But what happens when everyone knows the formula?
How Richard Simmons Got Trapped In His Own Mythology
Simmons' public image as the fitness industry's Lady of Perpetual Sorrow confused cultural categories, and left everyone demanding answers that might not exist.
Ryan Murphy’s Limited Depictions Of Controversial White Women
While his work is routinely described as feminist, Murphy’s stories have not radically expanded complex representations of women.
Why The New Calvin Klein Underwear Ads Are Bulging With Meaning
The photos are meant to provoke thirst, but the brand’s campaign also raises bigger questions about the role of race in America’s erotic fantasies.
Britney Spears Deserves Better Than That Lifetime Movie
The Spears TV movie fits a pattern of overlooking women pop stars’ work.
How Amy Fisher Taught Me To Embrace Being An Outsider
Growing up in Colombia, it was reading about "Long Island Lolita" Amy Fisher that made me realize the biggest scandal was the boredom of normality itself.
Why Do We Keep Trying To Solve A Problem Like Mariah?
Mariah Carey’s kitschiness has long confounded critics. But with her new reality show, she can finally embrace the in-betweenness that is her complex legacy.