It's no secret that sci-fi is one of my favorite genres. Though I was raised consuming volumes of fantasy novels, sci-fi is cut from the same cloth. A good science fiction story draws upon enough believable material to make us engage with the story, with some good imagination and speculation to draw us into deeper, unknown, and perhaps bolder territory. I just saw a great example of how science fiction engages our deepest, very human questions, asking us to think and feel familiar things while venturing into new narrative territory. But before I talk about the film I'll give you a little background on why (and how) I came to love the genre. The journey began with some classic novels new and old (although science fiction is a relatively new genre, coming to prominence only in the middle of the 20th century). Some highlights include Frank Herbert's 1965 masterpiece Dune , where I followed the Messiah-like Paul Atreides on his quest to seek justice for the injuries again...
Hey, who put me on the cover of this movie? It is very difficult for me to summarize a topic as broad as the consciousness of a people. Although I cannot properly consider myself "Mexican," there are many Latino/Hispanic people who share both my ancestry and cultural dilemma. Consider California: we have an overwhelming population of Mexican Americans here, with the most vibrant communities of recent and established generations of immigrants proud to call this country their home, yet firmly rooted in their own culture and traditions. Today I need to remember that I should be sensitive even with labels; the majority of my friends greatly prefer the term Latino even when my family has considered itself Hispanic for so long. I could write for a long while on the distinguishing characteristics of New Mexican identity, even though I have never lived in New Mexico itself. Rather I find it helpful to take the macro scale: identifying those trends in Latin American culture that ...
I frequently lament the constant lampooning of Christian culture via broad-stroke mockery that seems to pervade the media these days. While some of today's music has the guts to give religious credit to the complexities of a moral lifestyle (I'm thinking of U2, any other obvious ones?), the average character on TV with spiritual convictions ends up being bigoted, ignorant, and intolerant. See Joe Hart from Glee , Kristin Wiig's character from Paul , and the evil warden in Shawshank Redemption. I can normally get over this, because my favorite TV characters are far from the ideal spiritual role models , and some of them even have some serious issues . Yet lo and behold, I just happened upon a delightful show that, after first viewing, promises a refreshing and sympathetic look at the life of a clergyman in modern inner-city London. If you're like me and love the smug charm and quick wit of those programs from the other side of the pond (I'm talking about S...
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