Professional Wrestling
We discuss the sociology of pro wrestling.
Criticizing Lana Del Rey (Rachel Skaggs)
Internet outrage at a mixed review of Lana Del Rey’s new album. What do we learn about celebrity today?
Country Music Songwriting (Rachel Skaggs)
Rachel Skaggs (Ohio State University) describes her research on making it in country music songwriting.
Jussie Smollett
The Annex discusses the case of Jussie Smollett, an actor who was charged with fabricating a hate crime .
Cancel Culture
We discuss “cancel culture”, demands that cultural products are removed from public distribution and circulation when their creators are enmeshed in moral transgressions.
The 2019 Oscars
We discuss the 2019 Academy Awards.
Oscars 2018
We discuss the 2018 Oscars
Black Panther
Joe, Leslie, Gabriel, and Becky Yang Hsu (Georgetown University) discuss the potential impact of Black Panther’s commercial success on studio’s interest in supporting more movies featuring black casts and crews, and the viability of Wakanda-style insular development.
Aziz Ansari and #metoo
Aziz Ansari’s #metoo moment provokes controversy.