Pop Culture Critique

Robin Thicke: Not so Much 'Blurring' Lines as Totally Ignoring Them

by Yas Necati Robin Thicke wants you to know that he has a big dick–but really, it’s more like he IS a big dick, as proven after the release of his latest video Blurred Lines earlier this year. The unrated version of the video features three fully clothed men next to three women in nothing but…

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"Ironic" Racism & Sexism? Come on!

by Seila Rizvic Recently, Netflix released another season of acclaimed Fox sitcom Arrested Development. In the weeks prior, the internet was abuzz with people watching and re-watching the previous three seasons, tweeting the series’ best known jokes, sharing screen-caps of their favorite scenes, and generally brimming with anticipation for the upcoming release. Naming Arrested  Development…

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To Gossip Mags, Regarding Kim Kardashian

by Alice Wilder To Gossip Mags: We made it! Kim and Kanye just had their daughter, and I think its fair to say that this is pop culture history. Like all great journeys to historical moments, there were some bumps along the way–like the way you treated Kim and her pregnant body. Remember all those…

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A Year Later, How's LEGO Doing?

by Bailey Shoemaker Richards Back in 2011 and early 2012, SPARK and LEGO had a meeting about LEGO’s problems with gender representation. A little over a year later, I thought it was time to revisit the issue, see how LEGO is doing, and whether they were living up to our expectations. It’s especially timely as…

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Whose Culture Does Mexico Barbie Represent?

by Celeste Montaño At age 19, it’s been a few years since I’ve played with Barbie, or been acquainted with her latest friends and fashions. In fact, if it weren’t for the recent controversy about Mexico Barbie’s passport, I would have remained perfectly unaware of what’s going on in Barbie World. But the many news…

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Anne-Marie Slaughter, Sheryl Sandberg, and False Competition

by Annemarie McDaniel I’m not afraid to say it: I love both Anne-Marie Slaughter and Sheryl Sandberg. Everyone in the media is making it sound like you can only like one of the other, as if the two women are opposing Super Bowl rivals. You’re either supporting Team Slaughter or Team Sandberg, the only other…

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Facebook Has Power; They're Not Using It Well

by Ty Slobe As young activists from all over the world, the SPARK team largely depends on social media platforms like Facebook to organize, communicate, and build relationships in a safe way. We feel that in supporting violence against women through approving and protecting graphic, violent, misogynist content, Facebook is both impeding on our safe…

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Miss Vogue Hits UK Shelves

by Georgia Luckhurst When I heard about the launch of the new Miss Vogue magazine in the UK, I was instantly both excited and nervous.  For a magazine lover like myself, a British version of Teen Vogue is long overdue.  However, there were worries – was Miss Vogue going to perpetuate those endless, unattainable body…

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