Category: Sociology

  • Barbie is Genius Marketing

    Just as Will Ferrell’s character was initially opposed to the idea of ‘ordinary Barbie’, Mattel were at first sceptical of Gerwig’s feminist rendition of Barbieland, until they realised that it would make money. I’m not just talking about the box office, I’m talking about the eye-watering profits Mattel stood to make from toy sales. The…

  • Moonrise Kingdom Explained – A Fight for Identity

    Sam Shakusky and Susi Bishop are outsiders. Or at least, they are both described as such by their immediate social groups and wider society. Sam is “emotionally disturbed” due to the death of his parents and Susi is known as a “very troubled” child. These labels distance both characters from their social groups; Sam from…

  • Batman Explained – Why We Need Crime

    Batman is a guardian of the good, championing the causes of justice over corruption, order over chaos and stability over deviance. Yet, he is also menace that breaks the law in order to catch criminals. This is largely how Batman has gained the flawed title of “the dark knight” but, as we will see later,…

  • Joker Explained – The Social Construction of Crime

    JOKER (ON TV) Comedy is sub, subjective, isn’t that what they say? All of you, the system that knows so much, you decide what’s right or wrong. What’s real or what’s made up. The same way you decide what’s funny or not. Within a few lines, the Joker invites us to reflect on who makes…

  • How Ken Loach Directs a Movie

    In a world where Hollywood’s high-budget superhero movies and epic fantasies attract huge audiences and eye-watering profits, Ken Loach stands apart. His relatively understated films authentically depict every-day life and its often-brutal social context. In doing so, he’s able to give a voice to the voiceless, start important conversations and achieve a powerful social impact.  …

  • How The Birth of a Nation Caused a Century of Racism

    The most innovative film in cinema history is often considered the most racist. But did this ambitious, high-budget blockbuster simply reflect the racial beliefs of a nation, or did it create them?   We often praise or condemn films based on how they portray certain parts of Society. They might challenge a damaging stereotype or do…

  • Roma Explained – How Alfonso Cuarón Humanises Domestic Workers

    Shortly after Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma was released, Yalitza Aparicio (Cleo) wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times. She argued that the film “lit a fire for workers rights” and provided a voice for disenfranchised groups, like Mexico’s indigenous population. By vividly showing the discrimination that women like Cleo are subject to, the film…

  • The White Saviour Trope in The Blind Side

    I really enjoyed watching The Blind Side and I’ve revisited and recommended it time and time again. It’s a feel-good film that has a remarkable story, quick pace, witty dialogue and likable characters. Unsurprisingly, it was a massive success on release, soon becoming one of the highest grossing films in Hollywood history before being nominated…

  • Avatar Explained – The Allegory of Social Salvation

    Amazing Grace is a Christian hymn about forgiveness, redemption and… Avatar. That’s right, the first verse does a great job of summing up the plot of James Cameron’s 2009 film. The grace is the god and guiding spirit of the planet Pandora and its wood spirits are the sweet sound. Jake was a wretch when…

  • District 9 Explained – The Allegory of Damnation

    Ah, 2009.  The world was obsessed with Twilight, Kesha released her hit single “Tik Tok”, and the global economy was tanking. Sound familiar?  From this dark, pessimistic reality came District 9, a film about oppressed aliens forced into squalid living conditions on earth. Its protagonist quite literally loses his humanity as he’s transformed into one…