The Muppets are Jim Henson’s legacy. Through them, he gave the world subversive ideas, lasting songs, and wholesome values.
Loving a Good Scandal: A New Look at Race, Gender and Power
Through its’ unique depiction of race, gender, power and relationships, the television show Scandal turns the usual stereotypes on their heads and shows us just how much power corrupts.
The Secret of My Success for Women: Why Can’t It Be Talent?
Hollywood and the news media often depict women professionals as cold, sexy or goofy, all so that they can be as unthreatening as possible. These stereotyped views ignore the stories of real women and leads to significant negative ramifications for women professionals in the real world.
“Masters of Sex”: Shining a Spotlight on Women
Showtime’s new series, Masters of Sex, looks at the unlikely real-life partnership of Bill Masters and Virginia Johnson. The show also incorporates the lives of other women living in that time and, in so doing, gives messages about gender roles both past and present.
Bridegroom and Duck Dynasty: A Tale of Two Interviews
A comparison of two interview-based media presentations should make us think about the kind of news we get. Both the Duck Dynasty interview and the Bridegroom documentary have ramifications for how we want society to be.
The New Year’s Eve Ritual
New Year’s Eve celebrations seem to have gotten smaller in scope. Let’s align ourselves more with the traditional intent of the celebration, and make a radical shift back to the values of repairing relationships and promising good behavior.
“Masters of Sex”: Why the Head and the Heart Matter
Showtime’s new series, Masters of Sex, looks at the unlikely real-life partnership of Bill Masters and Virginia Johnson. Despite the emphasis on their research into the physical aspects of sex, it is showing that the emotional aspects matter just as much.
United We Stand: The Power of Togetherness in ‘The Avengers’
Joss Whedon’s movie, The Avengers, tells the story of how several superheroes became a team. The message behind their success is that individualism leaves us weak, while unity can make us strong.
Female Friendships: Hitting All the Right Notes
In a society in which female friendships are devalued, it is nice to see a movie that turns that on its head. We all need to realize that, contrary to the messages we hear, female friendships are important.
Overcoming Evil: More Lessons from The Pacific
The Pacific mini-series does a good job of showing the presence of evil in us all. But it doesn’t have to be this way. When we allow ourselves to be feel empathy and be emotionally available, then we can overcome the evil within ourselves.