AvidBards
Poems

‘Heartaches’ by Donovan Lord: Poetry Review

We’re at the end of Pride Month and our very last post of the month is an incredibly special one. We were so lucky to be given an advance reader copy of Heartaches by Donovan Lord. This collection of poetry is an extremely personal narrative of the author’s life. Lord, a bi-racial, gay man, takes on the task of documenting great portions of his life, often painful and challenging. The content of Heartaches reflects exactly what its title denotes: a montage of painful moments. Of mental health, and mental illness. Of love and loss. Of unrequited love. Of racism. Of…

View Post
Movies

Rocketman: Movie Review

I am a lover of musicals. Pretty much any musical, of any genre, finds its way onto my ‘to-watch’ list and is included in my ‘Musicals’ playlist on Spotify. So, of course, when I found out there was to be a whole movie dedicated to the life and songs of Elton John, there was no doubt I would be buying a ticket to see it. Last week, I finally got around to watching it, and let me tell you: emotions were felt. For those of you who have been living under a rock, Rocketman stars Taron Egerton portraying Reginald Dwight…

View Post
Reflections

On the Social Responsibility of Writers

Do they have any? With Pride month upon us, it is perhaps no surprise that the question of social activism is on my mind. And since I am in the midst of writing my doctorate thesis, the question of social activism and writing has occupied my thoughts. Particularly the wonder of whether or not writers have a social responsibility to be activists, especially if they are writing about social issues? I am unashamed to admit that social activism plays a large role in my life: I am an openly feminist person of colour, an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and ardently…

View Post
Collaborative

Sense8 Series Finale Review

Sense8 premiered their series finale last Friday amidst much anticipation and excitement. The show, which has had incredible ratings, was cancelled after their second season by Netflix due to budgeting reasons. As a show that prides itself on authentic representation, it would travel around the world to the actual locations it featured in the show to film, and consequently racked up quiet the budget. However, it was not a decision that sat well with the fan base. We ourselves posted about how much we thought the show deserved a third season, which you can read here. Within a few months,…

View Post
Movies

“The Greatest Showman” Unveiled

The Real History Behind P. T. Barnum and The Circus The Greatest Showman has quickly become a favourite amongst new releases in the last six months and I am in no way and exception to that. I absolutely adored the movie! How could you not? Everything from the characters, the music, the society defying love story were utterly lovable. However, despite all the feel-good feelings I got out watching it and listening to “This is Me” on repeat, I could not shake the discomfort I felt at the blatant re-writing of history going on in this movie. For any of…

View Post
TV Shows

Why “Queer as Folk” was Revolutionary

Happy Pride Month, everyone! Today’s post will be our first pride-related post in celebration. Remember to take this month to reflect on being more mindful, accepting, and open-minded in regards to the LGBTQIA+ community, no matter your own sexual orientation and gender preference. We can always learn from and grow with each other, regardless of how much we think we already know! About ten years ago, just as I was entering high school, I’ll admit that I didn’t know much about anything outside the realm of heteronormativity. Part of the blame goes to heteronormative dominance in schools (particularly in sex…

View Post