Culture Crash: Greta Gerwig’s Fantastic Film Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig’s new film Lady Bird offers a fresh perspective on the coming-of-age story and seems bound to play a major role in this year’s awards season.
Culture Crash: Hollywood’s Sexual Assault Scandals
With sexual assault allegations coming against some of Hollywood’s top producers, directors and stars, director Ridley Scott is taking a big step to distance his movie from Kevin Spacey’s soiled reputation.
Culture Crash: Chicago’s Own Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper has won three Grammys, headlined Lollapalooza, and given millions in charity to Chicago Public Schools. We talk about the impact he’s made on his city.
Culture Crash: The Stretch Run of 2017 in Film
With two months left in the year, there remain many must-see movies set to be released before the new year. We look into the titles that seem especially worth seeing.
Culture Crash: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and John Green’s “Turtles All The Way Down”
John Green's latest book, Turtles All The Way Down chronicles the life of a teen with OCD. The book offers a great story and pulls back the curtain on a misunderstood mental disorder.
Culture Crash: Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 is a sequel worth watching at the theater, but there is some confusion about how best to see its predecessor, Blade Runner.
Culture Crash: James Cameron’s Avatar Franchise and the Billion-Dollar Question
Avatar smashed box office records worldwide, eight years later four sequels are being produced but does that past success mean audiences crave more from the land of Pandora?
Culture Crash: Netflix’s Mindhunter
This Friday the 13th comes in October. We discuss what to watch on the spookiest day of the year and explore Netflix’s upcoming psychological thriller series “Mindhunter.”
Culture Crash: Peak TV and the Battle for Streaming Supremacy
One thing this year’s Emmys ceremony made very clear: Peak TV isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Culture Crash: The Future of Football in America
Football has been facing a head trauma crisis for years. Now, youth football enrollment and NFL TV ratings are both down. We explore the future of football in America.
Culture Crash: NBC’s The Good Place and Serialized Comedy
Traditionally, a sitcom show is episodic: you don’t necessarily need to see every episode. But NBC’s The Good Place embraces a serialized structure, which gives it a unique feel.
Culture Crash: The Cinema of 2007
On the 10th anniversary of 2007, we take a look at some of the films from a decade ago that have proved to stand the test of time and make 2007 a year in film worth remembering.
Culture Crash: Reading Non-Fiction
It’s often tempting to stay in the more comfortable waters of fiction novels, but non-fiction books have a lot to offer when we give them a try.
Culture Crash: Breaking Bad and the Shortcoming of Binge-watching
Breaking Bad is a modern classic of TV, and insanely compelling. But is binge-watching such shows really the best idea or do the best plots take time?
Culture Crash: Filmmaking the old-fashioned way
The digital revolution has changed much of the world around us, including the movies we watch. We explore the virtues of filmmaking the old-fashioned way: on film.
Culture Crash: Amazon’s Catastrophe
Emmy nominations always bring with them some disappointing snubs. With only one nomination, the show Catastrophe has largely been overlooked this year. We explore what makes the series special.
Culture Crash: A Ghost Story
Quiet films such as A Ghost Story can provide a transformative experience if viewers give them a chance.
Culture Crash: Harry Potter’s Lasting Legacy
A generation of children grew up with Harry Potter. We look at the books and movies they grew up watching, how they differ and what will stay with them until the very end.
Culture Crash: Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan set the box office on fire with his Dark Knight trilogy and made a cultural phenomenon with Inception. We explore his directorial career and what sets him apart.
Culture Crash: Pop Music
Liking pop music is usually thought of as shallow and immature, but why? Pop music gave us The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and yes, Justin Timberlake.
Culture Crash: Aaron Sorkin’s Mastery of Screenwriting
Aaron Sorkin is the man behind many beloved TV shows and movies. We look at one thing that makes his scripts truly shine: his pointed, duel-like dialogues.
Culture Crash: TV Theme Songs (2017)
TV theme songs: they’re the soundtrack to our childhoods, adolescence, and Sunday nights. But have you ever stopped to think about their evolution or how many of them you know well?
Culture Crash: Streaming Libraries Secret Strength
We often think about streaming apps as vehicles for a new wave of TV, but streaming also allows us to revisit old shows.
Culture Crash: Overcoming Franchise Fatigue
It seems like many movies coming out are franchise movies and that can get pretty dull. But the success of Wonder Woman sheds light on one way studios can keep their ‘tent poles’ fresh.
