Tag: Pop Culture
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‘Colossal, cataclysmic and preposterous’
Can you have too much of a good thing? Yesterday, Avengers: Infinity War opened in cinemas around the world. It is Marvel’s 19th superhero movie,...
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The shy ‘beautiful soul’ who died too soon
Is fame a curse? Swedish superstar DJ Avicii has died aged 28. Millions around the world adored his unique brand of dance music, but he struggled to cope with the celebrity spotlight.
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Meet Hollywood’s first gay teen blockbuster
Did Love, Simon arrive too late? The romantic comedy is the first mainstream teen movie to feature a gay character in the leading role. But some...
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A Wrinkle In Time: a lovely, messy, warm, flop
Does it matter what film critics think? A Wrinkle In Time adapts a beloved American fantasy novel. Some reviewers praise the film as revolutionary...
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‘Music bible’ NME stops printing after 66 years
What killed NME? For decades, the popular music magazine had the power to make or break bands. Now it has been broken in turn: as of next week, it will no longer print its weekly edition.
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‘World’s greatest girl band’ in royal reunion
Should we admire the Spice Girls? With a reunion (sort of) underway, the 90s stars may perform at Prince Harry’s wedding. Some say their message of “Girl Power” is needed now more than ever.
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Marvel’s first black superhero fights bigotry
Will the Black Panther help smash racism? The reviews are brilliant, but can the film really herald a new era for black superheroes and go deeper than mere thrills and box office records?
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‘British rock’s cult hero’ dead at 60
Would you rather be a cult hero or a star? Mark E. Smith definitely knew which he wanted to be. The brilliant, violent singer of The Fall hated the mainstream — and people loved him for it.
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Star Wars stirs critics with political edge
Can we take the politics of The Last Jedi seriously? The film promotes many liberal attitudes and has even been...
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Taylor Swift calls 2017 ‘great’. Cue outrage
Taylor Swift said she “couldn't have had a better year”. Okay for some! replied angry thousands. In fact the polls suggest the entire USA is deeply conflicted about 1AD (After Donald).
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Too many superhero movies says Skywalker
Are there too many superhero films? Critics have savaged a new blockbuster starring classic heroes Batman and Superman. Now some think superhero movies are killing creativity in the cinema.
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‘Fake News’ crowned Word of the Year 2017
What can the prize teach us? Every 12 months, rival dictionaries attempt to capture the zeitgeist by naming their top words of the year. The result is a bizarre snapshot of recent history.
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Fright night revels spread across the globe
Is Halloween good for society? The ghoulish industry is worth billions of dollars. And as more countries around the world embrace the festival of horrors, it is expected to get even bigger.
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Mel Brooks: ‘the death of comedy is coming’
Should we be free to make jokes about anything? According to Mel Brooks, “political correctness” is killing comedy. But some think it is right to crack down on harmful humour.
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Stars lash out at racism in political VMAs
The 2017 Video Music Awards were not just about pop. There were angry speeches, an appearance from Heather Heyer’s mother, and a “fight against the system” prize. Was it all too political?