Not too long ago, I was fortunate to see the film Talk to Me. Because I’m as self-centered as I am full of appreciation, I’m tying Thanksgiving, an emotionally charged celebration rooted in colonization by whites, to a movie depicting the consequences of exploiting a little-understood people–but also, me and my feelings. In Talk toContinue reading “‘Talk to Me’: A Thanksgiving Gratitude”
Category Archives: Nonfiction
The Birds is Coming, The Birds is Coming!
Today I was driving to work on a little country road that leads to the freeway, and from a distance I saw a flock of sizable birds just chilling in the street. The car coming from the opposite direction honked, and they grudgingly shuffled out of the way. I think all of my knowledge ofContinue reading “The Birds is Coming, The Birds is Coming!”
And That’s Why I Don’t Write Fiction
I had the stupidest dream last night. In it, I was the mother of a manipulative, evil kid with supernatural powers. It’s an overdone subgenre already, and my subconscious was also busily stealing plotlines such as a woman being coerced into eating glass, like in Choose or Die or Oculus. The resulting solution was thatContinue reading “And That’s Why I Don’t Write Fiction”
A Side Trip into Neuroticism: ‘Glass’ and Human Potential
*Warning: SPOILERS for Glass!* If you’ve ever read any of my Side Trip pieces, it would be immediately obvious, dear reader, that I suffer from low self esteem. Lately I’ve been taking steps to better myself in ways that I feel are necessary, with the help of a habit-tracking app. For the last eleven weeks,Continue reading “A Side Trip into Neuroticism: ‘Glass’ and Human Potential”
‘Fragments of Horror’: Junji Ito is a National Treasure (book review)
Junji Ito, to a J-horror fan, is probably best known for the film adaptations of his mangas Tomie, Uzumaki, and Marronnier. I recently discovered the joys of horror manga with a Grudge comic, but Ito’s artwork leaves it in the dust. His illustrations are wondrously eerie, and his stories are both disturbing (in a goodContinue reading “‘Fragments of Horror’: Junji Ito is a National Treasure (book review)”
My Root (essay)
When I am asked why horror movies are appealing to me, I think of the (non-horror) movie But I’m a Cheerleader. It’s about a group of gay teenagers sent to a conversion camp. Part of their “therapy” is wracking their brains to find their root—the trauma that made them gay. Their answers are ridiculous—for example,Continue reading “My Root (essay)”
A Side Trip into Neuroticism: Some Thoughts on The Belko Experiment and Surviving
*No spoilers* Sometimes I struggle with what is called existential depression, when I ruminate on whether anything truly has a point. I recently did not get a job that I interviewed for and really really wanted. One of my coworkers was angry for me, but she went back to her daily routine, as did theContinue reading “A Side Trip into Neuroticism: Some Thoughts on The Belko Experiment and Surviving”
A Side Trip into Neuroticism: Some Thoughts on ‘Lights Out’ and Depression
Warning: *Spoilers* In Lights Out, Sophie is a woman with a history of depression, for which she had to be hospitalized as a teenager. While there, she met another teenager, Diana. Diana had a skin condition that precluded her from being in light of any kind (though she seems to do fine in the sunContinue reading “A Side Trip into Neuroticism: Some Thoughts on ‘Lights Out’ and Depression”
A Side Trip into Neuroticism: Some Extra Thoughts on the Movie ‘Feed’
Feed is a movie about a detective (Phillip) tracking a serial killer (Michael) who kills women by overfeeding them until they die. He takes bets on when they’ll die and exploits them sexually. I wrote a review about the technical aspects of the movie, but I had a more personal reaction to the film thanContinue reading “A Side Trip into Neuroticism: Some Extra Thoughts on the Movie ‘Feed’”
On Barbies and Stephen King
I recently gave my three-year-old daughter her first Barbie doll. Part of me felt guilty, since Barbies are associated with body image issues. I’ve thought about it in depth, and I’ve realized that I don’t hate my body because I played with Barbies as a kid. I never thought an eleven-inch-tall toy with rubber hands,Continue reading “On Barbies and Stephen King”
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