Justin Kownacki

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Armchair Sociology

Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Battany star as Wanda Maximoff and Vision in Marvel's WandaVision on Disney+
Storytelling

WandaVision’s Biggest Question Gets Deep: Who Are We, Really?

From a philosophy perspective, the most important part of WandaVision is what the series makes us question about ourselves.

By Justin, 2 yearsMarch 19, 2021 ago
Brie Larson as Carol Danvers on the movie poster for Captain Marvel
Storytelling

Captain Marvel: A Genius Lesson in Story Structure

Captain Marvel offers a smart answer to a hard storytelling question: how do you make a compelling movie about the world’s strongest hero?

By Justin, 4 yearsMarch 24, 2019 ago
Dwayne Johnson leaps off a supercrane and into America's heart in the movie Skyscraper
Storytelling

6 Ways to Interpret Skyscraper as Dwayne Johnson’s Defining Movie

The missing ingredients in Skyscraper accidentally define Dwayne Johnson’s true appeal.

By Justin, 5 yearsJuly 16, 2018 ago
Heath Ledger as the Joker and Christian Bale as Batman in Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight
Armchair Sociology

Why We Replaced Heroes with Antiheroes

From Superman to Iron Man, the difference between a hero and an antihero was always clear.. until now. Here’s what changed, and why it matters.

By Justin, 5 yearsJuly 12, 2018 ago
Detail of the movie poster for Pixar's Incredibles 2
Armchair Sociology

How the Villains Explain the Point of Pixar’s Incredibles Movies

The Incredibles movies explore complicated themes and complex characters — but are they also full of contradictions?

By Justin, 5 yearsJune 18, 2018 ago
Armchair Sociology

Sollers Point: Unraveling Masculinity Onscreen

Sollers Point has its finger on the pulse of a huge American problem: masculinity in crisis. Writer-director Matthew Porterfield is a dedicated chronicler of Baltimore’s lesser-told stories, and in Sollers Point he finds a true diamond in the rough. The story follows Keith (McCaul Lombardi), whose life after house arrest Read more…

By Justin, 5 yearsMay 25, 2018 ago
Jimmi Simpson as William and Tallulah Riley as Angela in HBO's Westworld
Armchair Sociology

Westworld: Reality, A.I., and the God Problem

When I was about 5 or 6, I had a thought that both exhilarated and terrified me. I was riding in the car with my parents, looking out the window, and I thought… How do I know if I’m real? Beyond that… how do I know if “reality” even exists? Read more…

By Justin, 5 yearsMay 15, 2018 ago
Stop doing this. You're not a sherpa.
Armchair Sociology

What I Learned When I Had to Move Apartments in a Hurry

Moving day headaches are no fun. Here are 4 tips you can start using NOW to make sure your next move goes smoothly, whether you’re relocating to a new city or just across the street.

By Justin, 5 yearsJanuary 29, 2018 ago
Luke, Leia, Rey, Finn, Poe, Rose, Kylo Ren, and the cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Armchair Sociology

17 Storytelling Moments That Defined 2017

From Donald Trump to The Last Jedi, here are 17 of the stories that defined us politically, culturally, scientifically, financially, and socially in 2017.

By Justin, 5 yearsDecember 19, 2017 ago
2017 Social Media Survey Results and App Icons
Social Media

2017 Social Media Survey Results

I asked my readers 15 questions about their social media habits in 2017. Here’s what they love, what they hate, and what they wish would improve.

By Justin, 5 yearsDecember 2, 2017 ago

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Popular Posts

  • • What Makes Game of Thrones So Addictive?
  • • This Storytelling Flaw Ruined the New Star Wars Trilogy
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  • • How Iron Man Created the Formula for Every Marvel Movie

Latest Posts

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