The Best Thing We Could Give the World
By J.D. ECARMA It started with a journalist’s meddling, as far as I can tell. In an interview last month with USA Today, U.S. figure skater and Olympian Adam Rippon kicked off a feud with...
Tagged: culture
Representation and Christology in ‘Black Panther’ (w/ Kyle Howard): Paradox Podcast Episode 79
Writer, pastor and counselor Kyle Howard returns to Paradox this week to talk about the cultural significance of Marvel’s “Black Panther” as well as the Christian church’s role in modern society. “The great tension with...
‘Alone Together’ Might Not Be Funny in 20 Years. But It’s Hilarious Now.
By J.D. ECARMA In 2005, a mockumentary called “The Office” came to NBC and gave people struggling to survive the recession a TV series to laugh about – and relate to. “Alone Together,” a...
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Is the Answer to Our Sexual Ethics Problem
By J.D. ECARMA (Note: Spoilers for major “Buffy” plot points.) For a culture that focuses so much on sex, American society has a lot to learn. You probably read or at least heard about...
We Were (Mostly) Right About the Oscars: Paradox Podcast Episode 77
Jordan and Matthias have a special Part I and Part II episode this week! In the first part of this recording, you’ll hear our predictions for the Oscar nominations (recorded Monday), quickly followed by...
Social Justice, Forgiveness and Dr. Seuss
By J.D. ECARMA The biblical story of “Jonah and the whale” has become part of popular culture, ranking up there with Adam and Eve’s remarkable apple. Jonah, a prophet ordered to bring a message...
If You Saw ‘Mother!’ and Were Totally Confused, Here’s the Straightforward Explanation
Love it or hate it, “Mother!” is actually an allegory that uses some gruesome scenes and a stylized, over-the-top version of key passages in the Bible to tell a story about climate change.
Taylor Swift vs. the Problematic Chorus
Whatever country star turned pop icon Taylor Swift does, it seems to be termed “problematic” in some way, whether it’s announcing a new album, releasing a new single, or even demanding justice for herself in an assault and battery trial and using her victory to bring attention to a nonprofit helping rape survivors.
The Myth of the Hustle
None of this is going to make me rich or even make me marginally more attractive to an employer. That was another lie.
The One-Episode Shortcut You Need for These Great TV Shows
If you’ve been considering embarking on a Netflix journey with any of these shows, here’s where I recommend starting: