Apr 15, 2013 | Arts and Entertainment, Media Issues, mic, Scandals
Published: mic (April 15, 2013) Let me get three things off my chest before I start this article: 1. I have absolutely no opinion whatsoever on Justin Bieber. 2. I find it a tad creepy that so many people above the age of sixteen actually DO have an opinion on Justin Bieber. 3. I think society needs to find better ways of using its time than tormenting celebrities over their personal foibles....
Mar 25, 2013 | Arts and Entertainment, Education, History, mic
Published: mic (March 25, 2013) Although it's being rumored that NBC is planning on replacing Tonight Show host Jay Leno with Jimmy Fallon, Leno is still outranking his late night competitors at present. That said, I can't help but wonder who those people are, since it amazes me that no one has picked up on this hilarious (and sobering) incident. On the February 26 episode, Leno did his weekly...
Mar 4, 2013 | Arts and Entertainment, General Advice, mic
Published: mic (March 4, 2013) When I think of the cookie-cutter music so often churned out today — the visceral club beats of a Nicki Minaj or Kesha, the vapid tween-targeted sugar pop of Justin Bieber or the Jonas Brothers — I can't help but remember a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville, back when the legendary French sociologist went on his famous tour of America in the 1830s: "It would be to...
Jan 14, 2013 | Arts and Entertainment, Gay Rights and Other LGBTQIA Issues, Media Issues, mic
Published: PolicyMic (January 14, 2013) In light of Jodie Foster's widely discussed Golden Globes Award acceptance speech last night, I think it's only appropriate to take a look at the top 5 greatest award acceptance speeches in history: 5. Jodie Foster Let's start with the oratorical performance that is setting cyberspace afire right now ... Jodie Foster's acceptance of the Cecil B. DeMille...
Sep 25, 2012 | Arts and Entertainment, Civil Liberties, Internet Culture, mic
Published: PolicyMic (September 25, 2012) The events of the past couple days have compelled me to defend the rights of artists. Before I do that, however, I need to provide some background information on the peculiarities of this particular situation, and explain why an internet critic's review of a martial arts cult film indicates that the internet community must start really talking about what...
Aug 28, 2012 | Arts and Entertainment, Gender and Sexism, mic
Published: PolicyMic (August 28, 2012) (co-authored with Cady McClain) When news began to leak that an actress who once played Catwoman had criticized The Dark Knight Rises, which includes the latest incarnation of that character, the blogosphere was naturally all aflutter. Fortunately, Julie Newmar – whose turn with the whip came during the 1960s TV series – quickly corrected those...
Jul 21, 2012 | Arts and Entertainment, Conservativism, Gun Control, Media Issues, Mental Illness, mic, Political Ideologies
Published: PolicyMic (July 21, 2012) Someone at ABC News needs to be fired. In my article on Mitt Romney's Bain scandal last week, I chided the media for being "pathetic" in its determination to take sides rather than objectively report the facts and demand answers from those in power. One week later, the irresponsibility of our mainstream news outlets has again reared its ugly head, this time...
Jul 3, 2012 | Arts and Entertainment, General Advice, mic
Published: PolicyMic (July 3, 2012) The Stephanie Meyers of the world may come and go, but as fans of classic television will happily remind you, only one franchise will ever be truly deserving of the word "Twilight." I refer, of course, to "The Twilight Zone," that timeless anthology of the supernatural that premiered in 1959 and remained on the air for five seasons (156 episodes) before CBS...
Jun 28, 2012 | Arts and Entertainment, History, Jewish Experiences, mic
Published: PolicyMic (June 28, 2012) As the closing credits started rolling on the new German documentary Auschwitz, I found myself thinking - of all things - of a line from the 2007 Pixar feature Ratatouille, one of my favorite movies: "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We...
May 18, 2012 | Arts and Entertainment, General Advice
Published PolicyMic (May 18, 2012) Film critics haven't been mincing words about The Avengers. From Hollywood Life and The Washington Times to the Dekalb County Times-Journal, pundits of the silver screen are not only praising Joss Whedon's take on the band of Marvel icons, but referring to his motion picture as the greatest superhero film ever made. While I don't quite agree with this...