Logos, pathos, ethos — they’re not just for debates — Have you ever watched a movie or show and wondered, “Huh? What are we doing in this random flashback?” Flashbacks are a useful tool to introduce backstory. But just like every other part of the story, flashbacks need to serve a purpose towards character and plot. They shouldn’t be decorative…

Crossing racial divides with shared experiences — While clearing a stack of books on a side table in my childhood home in Seoul, I found a book I had lost: In the Shadow of the Sun. I’d found the young adult action adventure the last time I was in Seoul, when I walked into the English-language bookstore…

“MyGraine” by Lindz McLeod in Typehouse Magazine — Reading literary magazines is a good way to keep abreast of the literary frontier, find new authors, discover experimental forms, and monitor the sociopolitical pulse of the times. …

When being “nice” isn’t kind — A story is meant to tell us something, to pass on wisdom. That’s what schoolteacher Julia Meadows tells her young students in the movie “Antlers,” directed by Scott Cooper and produced by Guillermo del Toro. …

In favor of classic narratives — Even as I was entranced by the bioluminescent world of Pandora, I couldn’t help but notice something glaring: the story was completely unoriginal. It’s as if writer-director James Cameron saved all his creative energy for the details we see and hear. A quick scroll through Rotten Tomatoes shows the same…

Plant and payoff — The latest blockbuster from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has lots to rave about: a breathtaking new world, stunning costumes, Letitia Wright’s gravitas, Tenoch Huerta’s badassery, and a hero’s arc that feel inevitable. …

The rushed but triumphant second act subverts anti-Asian stereotypes in the first — KPOP follows the manager and artists of RBY Entertainment Company as they prepare in Seoul for their big debut in America (at Circle in the Square in New York City, the stage hosting the actual musical we’re watching). We follow the company’s first and main star, MwE (the iconic Luna…

Existential angst and “Beowulf” — Taylor Swift’s new hit “Anti-Hero” has these lyrics: I’m a monster on the hill Too big to hang out, slowly lurching toward your favorite city Pierced through the heart but never killed What does it mean? More than generic self-deprecation in line with the theme of the song, it’s actually…

Finally, a way to distinguish between the two — “Existentialism” and “nihilism” are often used interchangeably. Both philosophies agree life is meaningless, everything is pointless, and existence is pretty much made up. Both philosophies emphasize the intense angst we feel from wondering why we’re here and what it’s all for. As someone who gets these terms confused, this is…