AvidBards
Reflections

K-Pop, K-Dramas, Demon Hunters, and More: How Hallyu is Rocking the World

The year is 2025, and there’s one particular frequency that is – undeniably, unquestionably – dominating the dial of pop culture: Korean media. Now, this isn’t exactly new news. The world has been seeing the swell of Hallyu (Korean Wave) for almost fifteen years. You may recall the impact of PSY’s “Gangnam Style” in 2012, which for many Westerners was their first exposure to K-Pop. But within the last few years, the momentum behind Korean media and culture that has rocked international sensibilities has felt more like a supernova than a wave, shattering Western media borders and shining its light in…

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Videogames

5 Video Games for Storytelling Lovers

As the colder months approach and we’re less inclined to go outside, this time of year is the perfect one to curl up on the couch and immerse yourself in the world of gaming. Now as an important disclaimer, I didn’t own any consoles growing up, so my childhood experience with gaming was limited to CD-ROM and web-based games. In other words, I was (and in many ways, still am) a complete noob.  However, in my adult life, my partner—a lifelong gamer—introduced me to video games he believed were accessible and would speak to my love for storytelling, while still…

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TV Shows

The Timeless Appeal of (the New) DuckTales

Few shows manage to capture the hearts of both kids and adults quite like Disney’s revamped “DuckTales” (2017 – 2021).

Now bear with me, because I know this might sound odd—but this modern take on the classic series is a work of pure genius. Not only does it rekindle the nostalgia of those who grew up with the original show, but it’s also carved out a distinct identity of its own with an all-star cast, top tier writing, and a perfect blend of comedy that appeals to viewers of all ages. Trust me when I say the new DuckTales is a must-watch for anyone and everyone.

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Reflections

Destigmatizing Fanfiction – A Conversation with Damien Gerard

Actor Damien Gerard, who is known for his work in Call of Duty: Black Ops War and most prominently on the hit HBO Max show Our Flag Means Death, recently joined me in a discussion about the importance of fanfiction. Fanfiction, and fandom culture in general, has long been surrounded by stigma – and to that, storytellers like Gerard agree that this needs to be changed. In this interview, I was lucky enough to sit down with him and hear his incredibly thoughtful insights on the topic.

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TV Shows

Our Flag Means Representation – an Analysis of Everyone’s Favourite Pirate Show

By now, you’ve probably either heard of or watched HBO’s latest hit show Our Flag Means Death, created by David Jenkins. After seeing tons of buzz, fanart, and general discussion about the show online, I already knew it was a show I’d enjoy, especially since many were applauding its queer characters and narratives. And though I was a bit late to the game in watching it (the finale premiered at the end of March 2022), I finally binged it this past weekend.

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Reflections

4 Years of AvidBards: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

Like everyone, the past few years have been challenging in so many ways. For us, it’s been a trying time attempting to keep our creative motivation running. AvidBards has been conspicuously put on the back burner, moving further and further down the priority list as concerns around health, work and life occupy the majority of our mental energy.  It’s been really hard for us to find the energy to keep up with Avidbards. The pressures of social media can be a lot, even though we’ve discovered and connected with some really awesome content creators this year and feel like we’ve…

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