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.
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?
Storytelling
6 Ways to Interpret Skyscraper as Dwayne Johnson’s Defining Movie
The missing ingredients in Skyscraper accidentally define Dwayne Johnson’s true appeal.
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.
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?
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…
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…
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.
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.
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.