Second Take: Jessica Chastain is a model for positive change in Hollywood

Solidarity is only meaningful if it’s backed up with action. Over the past few months, countless celebrities have stood in solidarity to bring awareness to a variety of issues within Hollywood, ranging from sexual harassment and assault to lack of representation and equal pay. Most recently, celebrities walked the Golden Globe Awards’ red carpet wearing […]

Gamer’s guidebook: Soundtrack integration into video games affects concentration, goals

Games have always been a huge part of the entertainment industry, but what makes them entertaining? Game makers expend significant effort making design decisions people often don’t think about when they’re playing each game. Each week, columnist Evan Charfauros will examine the pros and cons of different game mechanics as seen in the modern gaming […]

Stress Less: Meditation can mediate stress levels as midterms approach

Alissa Evans’ experience with stress stems primarily from her inability to definitively choose a major, a recently received D that taints her otherwise mediocre GPA and her complete and utter confusion regarding the abstract concept commonly referred to as her “future.” In the midst of a midcollege crisis, the Daily Bruin columnist decided to try […]

Reel Representation: Ageism against Hollywood actresses may be reaching its twilight years

Potent. Powerful. Viable. These are the words Nicole Kidman chose to describe fellow actresses over the age of 40 in her Screen Actors Guild award acceptance speech, an opportunity she used to point out the ways in which actresses were challenging perceptions and changing norms. “How wonderful it is that our careers can go beyond […]

Playing the Villain: Villains that do not embody relatable themes fail to be compelling

A movie is only as good as its villain, and a good villain is much more than a monster with maniacal laughter or a sinister-looking entity surrounded by henchmen. From the anarchist Joker to the cunning and brutal Annie Wilkes, countless successful films have earned their iconic status thanks to their antagonists. Each week, columnist […]

Gamer’s Guidebook: Mobile adaptations of Nintendo games fall short of their original glory

Games have always been a huge part of the entertainment industry, but what makes them entertaining? Game-makers expend significant effort making design decisions that people often don’t think about when they’re playing each game. Each week, columnist Evan Charfauros will examine the pros and cons of different game mechanics as seen in the modern gaming […]

Second Take: Fan edit of ‘The Last Jedi’ highlights objection toward diversity

Some headlines are so absurd that they sound like they’re from The Onion. Such was the case when I stumbled across an article reporting on an anonymous fan recut of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” that had removed all female roles. It seems exactly like something The Onion would write. The idea that someone in […]