How Great Thou ArtThe Shows, Movies, Books and Music That Defined 2022 Nothing says 2022 like kitchen chaos, disappointing men, dystopia -- and cake. By The Swaddle Team
Here and NowThe Multiverse as a Storytelling Device Fails to Capture the Anxiety of the Present. Where Does Fiction Go Next? Shows like "The Boys" and "The Umbrella Academy" explore the surreal in our own world -- grounding us in our damning reality. By Eisha Nair
Case OpenThe Mysterious Affair of the Cultural Decline of Whodunits The whodunit only reinforces the existing political and social status quo -- a template that feels woefully out of date. By Saumya Kalia
Faux RepresentationDo Problematic Classics Like ‘West Side Story’ Deserve Remakes? Critics note the cultural inauthenticity of the original title continues to have real-life consequences for the Puerto Rican community. By Saumya Kalia
Reel to RealHow Trans People in India’s Small Towns Bear the Brunt of Bollywood Stereotypes Distorted portrayals of trans realities from a stereotypical and heteronormative gaze only embolden existing transphobia. By Arman Khan
I Hate U I Love UWhy We Love to Hate‑Watch Things We feel like we have to "cloak our... tastes in a layer of irony" in order to protect our street credit, researchers say. By Saumya Kalia
SugarbooThe Buzz Cut: Indian Politicians Are Using Dua Lipa’s ‘Sugarboo’ to Promote Their Campaigns This week in The Buzz Cut, we unpack Nicki Minaj's controversial truth and Lois Lane's legacy as a superhero girlfriend. By Saumya Kalia
May the Best Dog WinWhy We Root for Underdogs in Sports From “Ted Lasso” to the women’s hockey team, social interest in underdogs comes from a desire for inspiration and relatability. By Saumya Kalia
See You At the MoviesWhat the Loss of Movie Theaters Means for a Culture By endangering the legacy of cinema halls, the pandemic has denied people a gateway to entertainment, and a part of their own selves. By Saumya Kalia
The Shrew Won't Be TamedCan’t Let Go: Of the Nuanced Depictions of Flawed Feminism in ’10 Things I Hate About You,’ Despite Its Sexist Plot The movie is better but flawed, sexist but still progressive -- showing a story before and of its time. By Saumya Kalia
Tum Special HoCan’t Let Go: Of the Candor of ‘Main Hoon Na,’ Despite Its Male‑Centric Plot The movie is flawed -- but depicts a nuanced idea of family, relationships, and societal identity. By Saumya Kalia
Grand Theft CinemaWhy Do Heist Shows, Movies Appeal To Us? From "Robin Hood" to "Lupin," the heist genre packs anti-capitalist themes, offers a thrilling chase, and is aspirational in nature. By Saumya Kalia
Save Me (Not)Can We Move On: From the Vigilante Trope As an Easy Solution to Complex Social Problems The vigilante exists to "solve" the problem by making the problem disappear. By Aditi Murti
Heavy Weighs The SilenceThe Buzz Cut: Harry Potter Star Reveals She Faced Online Racism, But Publicists Told Her to Deny It This week on The Buzz Cut, we bring you the aftermath of a royal rupture and how AI is mastering poetry. By Saumya Kalia