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Articles by Bethany Lacina
Is Marvel's 'Wakanda Forever' too 'woke'?
On Thursday, Marvel Studios released "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (a collection of media produced by Marvel Studios that shares a single fictional storyline). This latest MCU installment is likely to be a commercial success; its predecessor, 2018's "Black Panther," is the 14th-highest-grossing film of all time.
With the new Black Panther, Marvel continues promoting diverse heroes
On Thursday, Marvel Studios released “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (a collection of media produced by Marvel Studios that shares a single fictional storyline). This latest MCU installment is likely to be a commercial success; its predecessor, 2018’s “Black Panther,” is the 14th-highest-grossing film of all time.
Analysis | The Academy Awards will have new diversity rules to qualify for an Oscar. But there’s a huge loophole.
In how many ways will this year’s Oscars be different from the norm? Well, they’re being held this Sunday night, rather than as usual in February or March, during a pandemic that has upended films’ releases. And they’re among the last few Oscar ceremonies before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences implements new diversity and inclusion standards for its top award, best picture, which will go into effect in 2024. Will the proposed diversity rules change the Oscars?
Analysis | Why NFL owners are supporting Black players’ protests — for now
For now, NFL team owners say they’re supporting players’ freedom to protest. That’s a turnabout from 2017, when President Trump criticized league players for kneeling during the national anthem, and the owners scrambled to purge player activism. But the National Football League’s newfound appreciation for its players’ civil rights gestures is likely to be tested by the election season and by fans’ spending power.
Is War Over?
A scholarly debate has emerged over trends in global conflict and the future of warfare. Is the international system becoming more peaceful, or is it just as violent and war‐prone as it always has been? Is great‐power war a thing of the past, or has it merely been dormant under changing technological and institutional conditions? Crafting an appropriate U.S. foreign policy is dependent on accurately measuring the state of war and peace in the world.
Analysis | Why are the #OscarsSoWhite? Google searches give us a clue.
Joaquin Phoenix received an acting award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts last Sunday. In his acceptance speech he argued that the American and British film industries give “preferential treatment” to white actors. Phoenix is correct. Major film studios encourage their audience to develop an affinity for white actors and then cast more white actors because of audience affinity. To understand that cycle, consider how Americans consume celebrity news.
Analysis | The latest Star Wars film satisfies the right wing. Will the left start trolling?
“Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” (TROS) leaves theaters soon. Critical reception was middling. Box office receipts collapsed, ending below those of “The Last Jedi” (TLJ, episode 8, released in 2017) and “Rogue One” (a 2016 stand-alone Star Wars film). But right-wing trolling of the film was mild compared to the backlash against TLJ. This latest movie avoided that ire by moving Star Wars politically right. So has Lucasfilm replaced its right-wing troll problem with a left-wing one?
Analysis | Who will be angry when the Star Wars episode IX trailer drops today?
In short, both the left and the right. Star Wars enthusiasts huddle with their lightsabers at Taguig City, Philippines, March 30, 2019. (Eloisa Lopez) April 12 at 7:00 AM “Star Wars” episode IX is coming. On Friday, director J.J. Abrams addresses Star Wars Celebration, a fan convention and is expected to reveal the full title and teaser footage for episode IX.
Analysis | The smash success of ‘Captain Marvel’ shows us that conservatives are ignoring the alt-right
Last weekend, “Captain Marvel” scored $455 million in box office cash, the sixth biggest global movie debut to date. The myth that female- or minority-led films struggle at the box office has been debunked again. “Captain Marvel” succeeded despite right-wing calls for a boycott. Alt-right movie outrage has targeted several films now.
Analysis | Since the NFL anthem protests, white fans like the white players more — and the black ones less.
Monkey Cage Analysis Analysis Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2016.
Analysis | Who hates Star Wars for its newfound diversity? Here are the numbers.
America’s most iconic movie franchise, Star Wars, has been denounced by the alt-right for unflattering representation of men, casting to pander to diversity and leftist moralizing. That discussion of gender and race in Star Wars went mainstream after the December 2017 release of “The Last Jedi.” The movie has the franchise’s first nonwhite female lead, portrays an elderly Luke Skywalker confronting his failures and leaves the Jedi order in the hands of a young woman.
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