Pop Culture Critique

What the Torah says about sexual assault

By Sofia Heller Content Note: Sexual assault, sexual violence “Dustin Hoffman accused of sexual assault.” “Mario Batali Tells Fans: Sorry for the Sexual Assault, Here’s a Cinnamon Roll Recipe.” “More Women Accuse Russell Simmons Of Rape, Sexual Assault.” “California Democratic Party official resigns after rape, misconduct allegations.” “Former Intern Accuses Wyoming’s Secretary of State of Sexual Assault.” “Houston firefighter arrested…

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The allegory behind Black Mirror’s “USS Callister”

By Stephanie Wang WARNING: the below includes major plot spoilers for season 4 episode 1 of Black Mirror, “USS Callister” Content note: Sexual violence, control At first glance, “USS Callister” seemingly features some odd Star Trek-adjacent fantasy of a genius programmer, Robert Daly. And at first, viewers tend to sympathise with him – he’s clearly shy…

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SPARK’s Best of 2017: Film and Television

By Sophia Simon-Bashall FILM Hidden Figures Hidden Figures came out in 2016 in the US, but only landed in UK cinemas in February this year. It’s a true story untold until now, one of three African-American women whose contributions to NASA in the 1960s were integral to the process of sending the first astronaut into…

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SPARK’s Best of 2017: Music

By Sophia Simon-Bashall EVERYONE’S ‘best of 2017’ list features Lorde’s stunning sophomore album ‘Melodrama’. As wonderful as that album is, it’s not the only one to be released this year. It’s been a painful year to be a music lover, particularly for rock and alternative fans. Equally, our ears have been blessed with some amazing new sounds…

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Why Snape’s character makes me unsurprised about JK Rowling’s defence of Johnny Depp

By Pip Williams Content note: Reference to domestic and sexual violence Like much of my generation, the Harry Potter books were an intrinsic part of my childhood. The later films mapped alongside my own teenage years, with the final installment coming out the summer I began sixth form. I watched it in the cinema in…

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An interview with Anteros – the bitter dream pop band making waves

By Sophia Simon-Bashall I spoke to Laura Hayden of the band Anteros recently…   Hi! Can you please introduce your band to people who haven’t heard of you before? Hi, we’re Anteros. We make bitter dream pop.   It’s nearly the end of 2017 – what have the highlights of this year been for you?…

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Happy Playland webseries review

By Anna Hill Do you like musicals? And stories that centre women loving women? Then oh boy is this the webseries for you!! Made by the incredible Candle Wasters who have also made great and queer inclusive adaptations of the Shakespeare plays A Midsummer Nights Dream, as BRIGHT SUMMER NIGHT, Much Ado About Nothing as Nothing Much To Do and Love’s…

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Where Supergirl went wrong

By Stephanie Wang CN: mention of slavery From being an unprecedented TV show focused on a female superhero and with a diverse cast, tackling issues such as xenophobia, sexism, and homophobia, season 2 of Supergirl, particularly the latter half, has morphed beyond recognition. The cast’s behaviour at the San Diego Comic Con this past weekend mocking an…

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