Tag: Role model
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Finding Purpose in Redemption: Lessons from Ordinary Angels
Read more: Finding Purpose in Redemption: Lessons from Ordinary AngelsDuring a recent flight to Paris, I stumbled upon the movie Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank. I hadn’t heard of it before but decided to give it a try—and it spoke to me deeply for numerous reasons. Inspired by a true story that took place during the 1994 North American cold wave, the movie follows…
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How a Manga, a Middle School Friendship, and a Global Perspective Shaped My Vision
Read more: How a Manga, a Middle School Friendship, and a Global Perspective Shaped My VisionMy short trip to Paris to visit my dad also gave me the chance to reconnect with my best friend from middle school. We met at a prestigious middle school in Paris, located near the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by stereotypically wealthy French students. He comes from Algerian ancestry, and I am of Chinese descent, which…
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“2001: A Space Odyssey” and the Future of Humanity: Reflections on Consciousness, AI, and Global Unity
Read more: “2001: A Space Odyssey” and the Future of Humanity: Reflections on Consciousness, AI, and Global UnityI recently watched 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick during a flight to Paris to visit my father. Despite its iconic status, I had never seen it before. My only prior knowledge was the use of Richard Strauss’s famous classical piece, “Also Sprach Zarathustra.” Watching this masterpiece for the first time, I was struck…
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Ranma ½: A Nostalgic Dive into Identity and Society’s Evolving Norms
Read more: Ranma ½: A Nostalgic Dive into Identity and Society’s Evolving NormsI recently discovered that Netflix has released a new version of the anime Ranma ½, created by Rumiko Takahashi. It brought back memories of watching the original series on French TV through the iconic program “Club Dorothée.” France was ahead of its time in importing and broadcasting Japanese animation, giving us the privilege of experiencing…
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Lessons from Kimba the White Lion: A Call for Mutual Understanding and Global Citizenship
Read more: Lessons from Kimba the White Lion: A Call for Mutual Understanding and Global CitizenshipI watched the anime version of Kimba the White Lion on French TV as a child. The manga, written by Osamu Tezuka, the creator of Astro Boy and Black Jack, dates back to the early 1950s. Though Disney has never officially confirmed it, many striking similarities exist between Kimba the White Lion and their iconic…
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The Impact of Media on Children: Why We Must Rethink Screen Time
Read more: The Impact of Media on Children: Why We Must Rethink Screen TimeI first heard of Kinnikuman, written by Yudetamago, from my brother. We were reminiscing about the anime we watched on French TV as kids in the late 80s and 90s, and he brought up one called Muscleman in French (Kinniku meaning “muscle”). He recounted a particularly traumatizing scene where a character, after winning a battle,…
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Building Empathy: Lessons from “Another Day in Paradise”
Read more: Building Empathy: Lessons from “Another Day in Paradise”A French friend I met in Japan once sang Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins during a karaoke session. While I knew Phil Collins as the drummer of Genesis (yes, I’m not that young, though it’s still not my generation), I hadn’t heard this particular song before. The beauty of karaoke, especially when you…
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Exploring the Universe: From Interstellar to the Marvel of the Human Brain
Read more: Exploring the Universe: From Interstellar to the Marvel of the Human BrainI recently began reading A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and it immediately brought to mind the 2014 film Interstellar by Christopher Nolan. This movie, though lengthy and dense, is the kind of masterpiece that leaves you curious, inspiring deep dives into the unfamiliar concepts it explores. Terms like space travel, wormholes, and…
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Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of Generations
Read more: Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of GenerationsI watched Battle Royale on the recommendation of friends during my university years when I was studying Japanese. The movie sparked controversy but was also widely praised, notably by Quentin Tarantino, who listed it as one of his favorite films of the past two decades. Set in a dystopian future after a recession, a totalitarian…
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Brothers: Reflections on Family, Trauma, and Redemption
Read more: Brothers: Reflections on Family, Trauma, and RedemptionToday marks my brother’s birthday—a day that reminds me of the unique bond we share, shaped by family complexities and moments of love, resilience, and reconciliation. Five years my senior, my brother was not only a guide but a model I often followed in childhood. Our family faced its share of challenges, particularly due to…