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Reviews

Fluid Sexuality in ‘Striking Vipers’

If you’ve seen the new season of Black Mirror, you’ll have seen the show’s heavily lauded first episode, “Striking Vipers”. And boy, was it a real doozy – from its strong cast, unpredictability, and the way it tackled certain societal topics, it has easily become one of my favourite episodes. Warning: Major spoilers for Black Mirror‘s “Striking Vipers” below (S5E1). Read at your own risk. The episode begins with two people, Danny (Anthony Mackie) and Theo (Nicole Beharie). They seem to be strangers at the bar at a busy club, only to reveal a few moments later that they were…

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Books

Seeds of Dissolution by William C. Tracy Book Review

Happy Pride Month! For many countries around the world (namely Western ones), June is Pride month—a month of recognition, and in the recent decades a celebration, of the rights and equality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community. It is no revelation that to many, literature is a form of escape from reality. And in the case of the LGBTQ+ community, it has similarly been turned to as a source of validation. Literature featuring homosexual characters is not as new as some may think, with evidence of same-sex relationships being hinted at, or even described, in as early as the…

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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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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…

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TV Shows

Why Sense8 deserved a Season 3

Netflix’s Sense8, a show that started in 2015, has taken its viewers on a wild and emotional ride. After season 2’s cliffhanger ending, we were aching for more, only to find out that Netflix cancelled the show due to the high production cost and not enough viewership to maintain the budget. Though it was a fairly straightforward reason to do so, Sense8’s audience was enraged that one of the most refreshingly inclusive, diverse, and thought-provoking shows was cancelled. Many petitioned for a renewal, though the odds seemed dire. However, in true spirit of the hopefulness in humanity that Sense8 inspired,…

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