Tied Together Sonically By Ariana Grande, “Don’t Call Me Angel” Builds Somewhat More Hostilely on the Themes Destiny’s Child Established With “Independent Women Pt. 1”

Another decade, another remake. Charlie’s Angels was doomed to be next, of course, and even famously lampooned film remakes via LL Cool J on a [Read More…]

Pasticcio Overload: Lana Del Rey Takes Cues From Madonna, Mariah, Woody Allen, Lit, Grease and Godzilla in “Doin’ Time” Video

As the queen of modern pastiche and how to wield it for the benefit of creating her own aesthetic, Lana Del Rey’s latest video, itself [Read More…]

“Throw It Back” Video & Subsequent VMAs Performance Show and Tell Why Missy Elliott Is Still Inimitable

There was a moment when the world of post-00s hip hop felt particularly dark in its decided voidness. It happened around 2005, when Missy Elliott [Read More…]

FKA Twigs Is Probably More Feminist Than Simone De Beauvoir For Debunking the Tragedian Myth of the Stripper

The notion of the stripper as slut (ergo “fallen woman”) has long been the well-established male narrative regarding the (often, believe it or not, underpaid) [Read More…]

Ariana Grande Carries the *NSYNC Torch Re: the Heteronormative Thrill of Repressed Desire a.k.a. the Hunt on “boyfriend”

Re-teaming with longtime directorial collaborator Hannah Lux Davis (who also brought us the scandalous for its cultural appropriativeness “7 Rings“), Ariana Grande continues to go [Read More…]