Essays

The ‘Midsommar’ Communal Scream and the Value of Feeling Held

By Heather Hardee 

Some inner demons can’t be exorcized alone. Try wailing in unison with some Swedish cult members.

How ‘The Babadook’ Inspired The Perfect Political Meme

By Aurora Amidon 

In this low-budget psychological horror film, a fraught relationship between a mother and her son unexpectedly became the perfect metaphor for today’s political climate.

Pennywise the Sewer-Lurking Clown and Why We Can’t Resist Him

By Hannah Payne 

Yes, he’s a creepy, murderous clown. Yes, I am climbing down into that sewer.

“It’s a Trap!” at the Cross-Section of Memes, Parody, and Fandom Legacy

By Fletcher Peters 

Admiral Ackbar’s claim to fame may have lasted a second on screen, but it’s become so much more.

The Bee-zarre History of ‘Bee Movie’ Memes

By Hans Qu 

Ya like jazz?

Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and the Meme That Called Its Shot

By Margaret Pereira 

Franchise memes reach far and wide, but no one reaches further than Marvel.

‘Ready or Not’ and the Exclusivity of Insufferable In-laws

By Luke Hicks 

Remember that one time your father-in-law asked you to play a game? This is more along the lines of what he had in mind.

‘Raw’ and the Grisly Rituals of Growing Up

By Sheryl Oh 

Through the artful presentation and deconstruction of implicit and explicit social mores, filmmaker Julia Ducournau forces us to confront the animal in all of us.

The Deadly Patriarchy of ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’: “Helpless”

By Valerie Ettenhofer 

A disturbing ritual, a brutal villain, and some harsh realities make “Helpless” one of the series’ most frightening episodes.