Category: MediaBlog
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How Does Toxicity by System of a Down Reflect Society’s Illusions?
Read more: How Does Toxicity by System of a Down Reflect Society’s Illusions?Can listening to politically charged music lead to real change? I first began listening to System of a Down when their second album, Toxicity, was released in 2001. Produced in part by Rick Rubin, the album solidified the band’s unique sound—an intense fusion of metal, punk, and traditional Armenian influences. Though an American band, all…
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Fight Club: How Does Mental Health Shape Our Reality?
Read more: Fight Club: How Does Mental Health Shape Our Reality?What Does Fight Club Teach Us About the Invisible Struggles of Mental Health? Fight Club is a 1999 American film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. It is based on the 1996 novel Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. I have watched it multiple times—not only because of…
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Can Dragon Night Help Us Reflect on War, Justice, and Awareness?
Read more: Can Dragon Night Help Us Reflect on War, Justice, and Awareness?Dragon Night is a song by SEKAI NO OWARI, a Japanese pop band, released in 2014. An English version exists and may be more well-known internationally, as it is the official PV on their YouTube channel. The song is catchy and straightforward, but the inspiration behind its lyrics may reference a historical event—the Christmas Truce…
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Zombie by The Cranberries: Is Humanity Doomed to Repeat Its Mistakes?
Read more: Zombie by The Cranberries: Is Humanity Doomed to Repeat Its Mistakes?Zombie is a song performed by The Cranberries and released in 1994. It is a protest song about the young victims of a bombing in Warrington, England, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. I was around 10 when I first listened to this song. Naturally, I didn’t understand the full context of the conflict, and…
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How Does Free Solo Reflect Neuroplasticity, Balance, and the Pursuit of Excellence?
Read more: How Does Free Solo Reflect Neuroplasticity, Balance, and the Pursuit of Excellence?Free Solo is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, profiling rock climber Alex Honnold’s quest to achieve the first-ever free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in June 2017. Watching it a few years ago, I still remember the sweat on my hands and feet—I…
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How Does Suzume Reflect Our Reality and the Power of Awareness?
Read more: How Does Suzume Reflect Our Reality and the Power of Awareness?Can disasters shape our collective memory? Suzume is a 2022 Japanese animated coming-of-age fantasy adventure film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai. The story follows 17-year-old Suzume Iwato and a young stranger, Souta Munakata, as they team up to prevent a series of disasters across Japan. Their mission is to seal doors that release a…
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How Does The Battle of Olympus Teach Us About Mythology, Education, and Awareness?
Read more: How Does The Battle of Olympus Teach Us About Mythology, Education, and Awareness?The Battle of Olympus is a 1988 action role-playing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Set in ancient Greece, a land terrorized by Hades, the dark ruler of the underworld, the game follows Orpheus on a quest to rescue his beloved Helene, who has been kidnapped and turned to stone. While the gameplay draws…
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Is The Lost King (2022) a Reminder of How History, Bias, and Neuroplasticity Shape Our Perception?
Read more: Is The Lost King (2022) a Reminder of How History, Bias, and Neuroplasticity Shape Our Perception?Can history ever be truly objective? The Lost King (2022) is a British biographical film directed by Stephen Frears, based on the 2013 book The King’s Grave: The Search for Richard III by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones. It dramatizes the remarkable journey of Philippa Langley, the woman who initiated the search for King Richard…
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The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: What Does It Teach Us About Time, Regret, and Mortality?
Read more: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: What Does It Teach Us About Time, Regret, and Mortality?The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a 2006 Japanese animated science fiction romance film, directed by Mamoru Hosoda. It is loosely based on a 1967 novel of the same name by Yasutaka Tsutsui. The protagonist, Makoto Konno, is a teenage girl who gains the ability to leap through time, only to find herself stuck…
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How Does Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits Challenge Our Perception of Music?
Read more: How Does Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits Challenge Our Perception of Music?How do personal experiences shape our musical tastes? I recently wrote about Minor Swing, and naturally, Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits came to mind. When I first picked up the bass, I had a friend—a drummer—who was a few years older than me. He introduced me to bands and songs I wasn’t yet familiar…