A couple of lines from the 2000 film “Yi Yi” addressed that ever since cinema was invented, we would have lived three times as long, because movies give us twice from what we get from daily life. Songs, then, tell of many lives. Like a museum guide for your childhood self, another replaces another in…
No one expected 2020 to be a bad year. Undoubtedly, the pandemic is the main factor that has affected every one of us. Lockdowns and movement restrictions are still in place in many parts of the world, including Malaysia, forcing people to stay and work within their homes. It has taken a toll on the…
“Don’t cover my mouth. I have asthma. You’ll suffocate me,” were the last breaths that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi uttered before he was allegedly drugged and taken away by the Saudi hit squad from the consulate in Istanbul in 2019. News of Jamal’s disappearance spread like wildfire in every corner of the media as the…
Disclaimer: This article is in no way meant to criticize the members of aespa. On October 26th, SM Entertainment, widely regarded as the most prestigious company within the Kpop industry, unveiled aespa: a four-member girl group set to debut on November 17th. As the agency’s first female act in six years and idol group in…
To scholars of history, iron curtain-coiner Winston Churchill comes as no stranger. His signature cigar and top hat have graced pages of textbooks and quotes that have rolled off his lips transcribed. Though the idea that democracy lacks a certain satisfactory quality wasn’t pioneered by Churchill, he was the one who made famous the argument:…
“The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in [the] political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is…
Have you ever wondered how huge social media companies really make money? How are they being paid? The chances are that you already know the answer: It’s advertising. But it’s not quite that simple. If you look at it closely, we are not paying to use the platforms; the advertisers are. No longer are we…
In a world where everyone is simultaneously entangled and isolated, television is one of the few things that bring people together, be it to discuss the plot, obsess over cast members, or find common ground among strangers. Many viewers of the hit TV series Euphoria will claim the series as a ‘cultural reset’. It is…
Being as unfortunate as it is today, the patriarchy is a core reason for sexual assault against women because it enforces men to corner women into a submissive role. Had society not repeatedly indicate that men have the right to sexualize, objectify, and slut-shame women at every waking moment, rates of sexual assault would significantly…
Kien-Ling Liem · Essay, Review
Disney has been on a trail of live-action remakes in recent years, its projects including numerous Disney princesses such as Belle, Cinderella, and Aurora. Looking to continue its streak, Disney released a live-action version of Mulan 22 years after the animated version’s premiere only to face backlash and controversy. The remake of Mulan was filled…
On the 8th of September, Twitter trends revolving around Kim Woojin, an ex-member of the K-pop group Stray Kids, took over the internet. Unlike your usual K-pop Twitter trends, this was not in conjunction with his birthday or a new release; rather, it was something more sinister in nature. Earlier that day, a Twitter account…
“Be careful when you tread on eggs, dear.” An elderly lady in a place not so far away said this to me once. For years, I struggled to find its meaning—who in their right mind would go around walking on eggs of all things? And then it suddenly made perfect sense. Let’s assume for a…