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Books

Thoughts on the Man Booker Shortlist 2018

We are officially 10 days away from the announcement of the Man Booker Prize Winner 2018! At the end of September, the shortlist of six books for the prize was announced. And while the longlist saw potentially for the prize to expand its sights on to less conventional novels in the history of the prize, including the first ever graphic novel to be longlisted and the possibility for the first crime novel to be the prize winner, the shortlist seems to demonstrate the temporality of that diversity. The prize has long been considered one of the most reputable recognitions a…

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Reflections

The Family Complex: “This Is Us”

If you know anything about the NBC show This Is Us, you’ll know that it’s an acclaimed tearjerker. I’m slightly embarrassed that even I, who rarely cries during a movie or show, cry constantly when I watch this show. Somehow, it surpasses the level of corniness often associated with emotional dramas and actually touches something real, coming from a genuine place no matter how far-fetched the premise might be. Because ultimately, yes, it is about a specific family (hence the title) – exceedingly unique, and yet, surprisingly relatable. The fact of the matter is that all families are flawed, and…

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Reflections

5 Best Guilty Pleasure Shows

As much as I love to watch shows and films that are considered truly artful and thought-provoking, I love just as much to sit down and mindlessly watch what might be considered “bad” television. Of course, the term “bad” is completely subjective, so I should really be saying that some shows are perhaps not of the best quality in terms of content, continuity, and let’s just throw it out there, acting. There’s something incredibly relaxing about not having to focus too much on the details of a show, though, which make these “guilty pleasure” shows so great. Here are five…

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Reflections

Batwoman: Challenging Traditional Gender Norms

In lieu of the exciting news that DC Comics character Batwoman will be made into a TV series (starring Ruby Rose), I hearken back to a time when I studied Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams’ graphic novel, Batwoman: Elegy (2009-2010), in university. This Batwoman edition is part of the modernized Batwoman canon (starting in 2005), in which Kate Kane (formerly Kathy) is written as a Jewish lesbian woman. Now, this depiction is incredibly important because it takes major leaps for the LGBTQIA+ community, as queer main characters are not often found, particularly in the superhero genre. Archaic gendered notions of macho…

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5 Best Series

5 Best Binge-worthy Netflix Originals

Anbody who has Netflix knows that there are a ton of – perhaps too many – options when it comes to Netflix Originals. This behemoth of a company pumps out a new show or film seemingly every month, so it can be tough to figure out which ones are worth watching. And hey, maybe they’re all worth watching; Netflix does, after all, generally dedicate quality production and content. However, if you just need a place to start and don’t know where to, here’s a list of five amazing original series that truly give Netflix a good rep. Since some of…

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Books

On Reading Shakespeare

I’m sure that a lot of you have, at some point, understood the struggle of reading Shakespeare plays during our school days. Of course, we have always been taught that William Shakespeare, the Bard himself, whose works have survived for over a whopping four centuries later, is one of the most timeless and classic playwrights ever. And hey, I am certainly not one to doubt that; Shakespeare’s vast repertoire offers a variety of genres, historical events, themes, and plotlines with an intelligence and wit that will always be considered pertinent. As a Canadian living in Toronto, “Shakespeare for Kids” versions…

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