Growing up in the early 2000s, I watched a lot of Disney Channel. I lived, ate, and breathed Kim Possible, That’s So Raven, and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. One show that stood out to me was Wizards of Waverly Place. For most fans of the show, the family dynamic, magic, or romantic relationships kept them tuning in each week but for a niche group of devoted fans–it was Harper Finkle and her unique style. Harper Finkle, while just a side character, who always debuted show-stopping outfits that fully encompassed her quirky and extraordinary personality. I have always loved Harper and her sense of style , but there will always be a best and a worst. Today, I will be ranking Harper’s outfits from best to worst based on aesthetic, uniqueness, and functionality/movement.
The Star Wars sequel trilogy is a major point of contention for many people myself included. I can go on and on about the many problems littered throughout: abysmal world building, clumsy storylines, the imaginary tug-of-war between J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson, etc. Thankfully, this article will not dwell on those things. Instead I am going to center my attention on the focal point of this trilogy—Rey Skywalker. While I have great issues with how Rey’s family was handled, I find her overall arc to be fascinating, especially when I consider the elements of it that actually work.
Those that grew up in the 90s and early-mid 2000s will remember the dramatic, colorful TV shows that influenced popular culture. From Dawson’s Creek to Gilmore Girls to Zoey 101 and Hannah Montana, every single teen sitcom made its mark. While many may claim that these shows are well known because they were the best, there are some great shows that were forgotten. Kyle XY is just one example of an exceptional show that fell out of the public view.
When Taylor Swift’s Red first came out over nine years ago, I vividly remember going to the mall, walking into Justice, and seeing stacks and stacks of the CDs next to the sparkly camisoles; meanwhile, “I Knew You Were Trouble” was playing over the store speakers. Now I am 20, and in my anticipation of the rerelease of Red, I felt the exact same butterflies in my stomach as my 11-year-old self did that day inside Justice.
The plot includes a few popular tropes common in young adult romances: clandestine relationships, different backgrounds, second chance romance, etc. These tropes often manage to diminish the importance and validity of relationships that end up shaping how we interact with love in our adult lives. Normal People manages to evade the shallowness of these stereotypes, instead finding depth in an uncommonly truthful perspective on young love and life.
I believe YA fiction books are universal across all cultures, time periods, and walks-of-life. These books, in no particular order, best fit my definition of the best YA fiction books of all time.
After watching the film for the first time, I can’t tell where the confusion lies - it is clearly a Halloween movie, not a Christmas one. After all, the title does read The Nightmare *Before* Christmas
Queen Bee, also known as Ziyoou-vachi, utilizes bright colors, creative themes and costumes, octave changes, and diverse discography completely enraptured me. After first hearing some of their music, I decided to research more into who exactly this group is.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was not predicted to be a box office hit in the wake of movies releasing simultaneously in theatres and onto streaming services. Furthermore, it features a lesser-known Marvel protagonist that had a lot of people doubting the movie’s potential. Despite this speculation, Shang-Chi was a smash hit. While this is incredibly encouraging given the film has a strong Asian protagonist and supporting cast, I can’t help but be a little irked by people acting as though this is a first for Asian representation in the form of a strong protagonist. Just because Liu as Shang-Chi is the first time you have noticed a strong Asian protagonist, it does not mean they haven’t been present in the film industry.
Donda and Certified Lover Boy amassed a great deal of attention when they dropped—for these are two of the most prominent artists of our generation. Both albums came out within four days of each other, with Kanye West releasing Donda first. West and Drake have famously been in a feud for years, so it’s only fair to ask the question: Which album is better?
It is National Hispanic Heritage Month and that means that the Spanish music on my playlists will be played nonstop to celebrate. The artist on the top of my playlists is Alvaro Soler.
