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Menagerie

Rant and Rave: Not all that glitters is gold in ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot Part 1

The original Gossip Girl captured the cultural zeitgeist of the early 2000s—the excess, the dubious morals, the chunky bracelets. When Blair Waldorf and her glitzy jet set first graced our screens, they created the blueprint for the perfectly messy teen drama that viewers just can’t stay away from.  It’s no wonder then that people had…

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Rant and Rave: ‘The Suicide Squad’ is a callback to the Golden Age

For something called The Suicide Squad, this movie sure does a fantastic job breathing fresh air into the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). In James Gunn’s newest action-packed blockbuster, the Suicide Squad is sent to the island country of Corto Maltese in a search-and-destroy assignment. As expected, mischief and mayhem ensue, as DC’s most dangerous supervillains…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Genshin Impact 2.0’ walks the tightrope of eternity

Ad Astra Abyssosque, adventurers! From the ruins of Khaenri’ah to the caves of an eroded stone dragon and to the misty islands of the Golden Apple Archipelago, ready your teapots as we set sail to the land of eternity.  Genshin Impact’s open-world, role-playing action gameplay expanded its horizons with one of the biggest updates the…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Pagsibol’ forges new beginnings

With their slick choreography and charm, SB19 has cheerfully danced their way into the hearts of many. Their debut album Get In The Zone showcased a great deal of vocal versatility and stage presence. Since then, SB19 has become one of the Philippines’ premier pop acts, garnering an unprecedented international fanbase and scoring a nod…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Loki’ races against time

Just when you thought the God of Mischief was done with his tricks, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) introduces yet another series as part of its fourth phase.  After the time-warping shenanigans of Avengers: Endgame, Loki explores the possibilities of endless alternate realities further. The show sees the eponymous character at the hands of the…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Black Widow’ gets license to kill

The world has gone without a Marvel film for over two years. Spider-Man: Far From Home gave us all a tease on how the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would play out. Thankfully, that drought ends now.  Natasha Romanoff—played by Scarlett Johansson—has been a pillar in the MCU since the second Iron…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Trophies’—Triumphs and losses in love

It has been over 11 years since the unassuming grade-schooler Greyson Chance wowed an audience with his cover of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi. Even now, that video of him stands at a whopping 69 million views, with commenters still expressing amazement at his vocal range and control at such a young age. This viral moment would…

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Rant and Rave: Queers invisible no more in ‘DC Pride’ and ‘Marvel’s Voices: Pride’

Superheroes, be it on-screen or on printed media, have been the childhood idols of a great many throughout the decades. They have come to represent our desires, dreams, and values. However, this connection between superheroes and the audience becomes muddy when these figures become alien from one’s lived-in experiences. While LGBTQ+ characters in comic strips…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Your Choice’ makes us ready to love

Just like the warmth of the morning sun, Seventeen’s music has a certain joy that never ceases to make one’s day. Consisting of 13 members with three subunits, Seventeen is a self-producing Korean-pop idol boy group serving powerhouse performances and diverse discography since their official debut six years ago. From their exhilarating Very Nice to…

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A menagerie of pride: Reclaiming queer narratives

For so long, queerness has been seen as the Other—shameful, aberrant behavior to be talked about in hushed whispers. For this reason, many queer figures’ sexualities have been erased from history—that is, if history remembers them at all.  Today, we get to remember them. As more and more queer creators step into the spotlight with…