James Clavell’s Concerns About Moral Virtue
While James Clavell’s Orientalism and sexual politics are dated, his books are sympathetic toward homosexuality and gender; his concerns about moral virtue lie elsewhere.
sexuality
Petroculture in Joni Mitchell and Carole King’s ‘Blue’ and ‘Tapestry’
Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Carole King’s Tapestry were fueled by petroculture, which powered the rise of feminism in music. How? Read on.
Prince Shall Forever Remain the Enigma: ‘This Thing Called Life’
Instead of cherry-picking facts and quotes, Joseph Vogel lets Prince's legacy shine in all its vague and erratic splendor.
The Deconstructive Irony of Ortberg’s ‘The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror’
This collection gives us Ortberg's trademark gender-swapping, flipping of accepted norms of good vs evil even while blurring the line between them, and startling backstories that do not always reveal underlying motivations but definitely add dark, ironic humor.
‘Closet Monster’ Is an at Times Brilliant Cinematic Mashup
Closet Monster is a promising yet unevenly told film which fluctuates between stock coming of age fare and emotionally rich, inventive direction.
Water Baby: A Eulogy for Our Departed Prince
More than a genius, not simply an enigma, to understand and appreciate Prince one must let go of binary sexuality and appreciate the liquidity and flow of his vision and identity.
The Value of Exploitation: Of Puppies and Pornography, Violence and Vixens
Guess which two characters appeared in the half hour trailer featured at E3 for Metal Gear Solid V? Diamond Dog and the Quiet. Guess why? You shouldn't have to guess.
The Ongoing Conversation of Gender and Sexuality
Dutch author Maxim Februari's The Making of a Man is an interesting, if sometimes frustrating, contribution to discussions of gender and sexuality.
Callous Masculinity and Robot Sexuality Conflict in ‘Ex Machina’
Ex Machina doesn’t indict all nerds, but it does use the type to make a set of predictable points about masculinity, ego, and empathy.