Marcus is not the new Jess Mariano. Ginny is. When Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia dropped, almost immediately the internet broke out in articles comparing it to Gilmore Girls. The comparison to Gilmore Girls is fair, if superficial. Sure, both shows feature a single mom who had her daughter when she was a teenager and take … Continue reading
As Black History Month begins, there are a plethora of lists circulating on the web of resources to use for learning more about Black History. Black history is American history. In this space, I wanted to briefly share the stories of some girls who were visible parts of the Civil Rights Movement. When I wrote … Continue reading
Like many people in the last few weeks, I started watching The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix and ended up binge-watching it because it is just that good. The seven-episode limited series follows the rise of chess master Beth Harmon from her learning to play from the janitor at her orphanage to playing the Russian world champion. I … Continue reading
Girls have long been an integral part of horror movies, from Final Girls to girls possessed by demons, so many of the best victims and heroes in horror are little girls or teenage Scream Queens. For part four of my spooky season series, I took a look at horror movies released in the last five … Continue reading
On October 9th, Netflix released The Haunting of Bly Manor, a followup to last year’s The Haunting of Hill House. Whereas Hill House was inspired by one of my favorite books by Shirley Jackson (I’ve written about my love of her here), Bly Manor is loosely based on another one of my all-time faves—The Turn … Continue reading
This week #CancelNetflix was trending on Twitter in response to the release of a French film by Afro-French director, Maimouna Doucoure, Mignonnes, or as it is called here in the U.S., Cuties. The film focuses on an eleven-year-old immigrant from Senegal who becomes “fascinated” by a dance troupe and their provocative style. Those who want … Continue reading
The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed The Black Kids is set in Los Angeles in 1992, beginning just before the verdict in the Rodney King trial is handed down. Seventeen-year-old Ashley and her prep school friends are busy preparing for the prom. Underneath the dayglow exterior of their lives, though, Ashley has a lot … Continue reading
School busing has been in the news again as a result of the conflict between Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his runningmate Kamala Harris during the primary debate last year over Biden’s stance on busing in the 1980s. School integration has long been a complicated part of race relations in the United States. In … Continue reading
I’m obviously having trouble keeping up with blogging this semester. I’m teaching two courses, which means a lot of grading and responding to student emails and work. Plus, even though I always tell myself I’m not going to, I take up their drafts and give them feedback–so I’m really grading every paper twice. Times 44. … Continue reading
For the first time in years I was ready to go back to school. I found myself pacing my home office making stacks of books, ready to just get back into the routine. Each month of the summer felt like it’s own summer. I’m excited about the prospects of a new school year. Here’s the … Continue reading
Ph.D.s and Pigtails 