As a straight, white, cisgender female who grew up in an affluent community in San Diego, California, I am very privileged in that I identify with many of society’s dominant groups. While my association with particular dominant groups has certainly influenced my values and perspectives, the challenges I have faced as a member of other subordinate groups have more transparently impacted my worldview. Continue reading ““She Got ADHD”” →

While scrolling through my Instagram Explore page the other day, I came across a video that seemed a little too entertaining to be real. An annoyed Mariah Carey shoots daggers at Ariana Grande, who many believe has taken Carey’s place in the music industry, as she belts vocal runs in a rather over-the-top fashion during a carpool karaoke session. Although I found it difficult to believe that Carey would publicly disrespect Grande in such close quarters, the video was edited so seamlessly that I could hardly determine which artist, if any, had been photoshopped into the frame and took to scrolling through comments in attempt to uncover the authenticity of the meme. However, those who had commented were just as confused.

Continue reading “MC²: Duplicitous Portrayals of McCain and Mariah Carey in Media” →

As I tracked my media consumption during a day spent around Los Angeles with friends, I found that the apps and technology I used most often were those that allowed me to share highlights of my day with others. Not unlike many other modern-day young adults, I devote a large portion of time to curating my life on social media. For that reason, it came as no surprise to me that I spent the majority of my day on apps such as Instagram and Snapchat in addition to those like VSCO and Facetune which allow me to edit, filter, and essentially perfect images before sharing them with followers. Continue reading “A Day in the Life of a Wannabe Instagram Influencer” →