Category: Essays, Criticism, and Analyses

Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 5

Today in my awful middle school book, the cast spends the entire chapter consoling Julia, but Julia is determined to cancel everyone. Chapter 5 The next morning I tried talking to Julia on the bus. “Come on Julia it’s not the end of the world.” Laurie said. “Yes it is!” Julia shouted. “Look just because… Continue reading Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 5

Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 4

In today’s installment of my terrible middle school book, everyone gathers at a generic restaurant for a three course meal in preteen drama. Maybe the real middle school experience was the sick burns we made along the way. Chapter 4 By lunch the next day every sixth grader knew about what happened yesterday. Everyone was… Continue reading Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 4

Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 3

Today in the world of my awful middle school book, Karen makes her BIG MOVE, Haley laughs hysterically, and Mrs. Layford takes no prisoners. Chapter 3 The next day on the bus I told Laurie, Julia, Jenna, and Kathy about yesterday’s phone call. “Are you serious?” Laurie asked. “One hundred percent.” I said. Haley basically… Continue reading Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 3

Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 2

Welcome to today’s edition of Early Cringe Writing! In chapter 2 of my terrible middle school book, Haley needlessly antagonizes Karen, more dissing happens, and everyone laughs hysterically. Cringe and enjoy the creativity of a 10-year-old. Chapter 2 Later at lunch Jenna, Laurie, Kathy, Julia and I were sitting together. I was telling them about… Continue reading Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 2

Characters I Connect With: Elena Alvarez

Welcome to the first post in a new series called “Characters I Connect With,” where I reflect on characters who deeply resonate with my personality and/or experiences. Today, I’m reflecting on Elena Alvarez from One Day at a Time. This post contains spoilers through season 3. In general, this show feels like a weird AU… Continue reading Characters I Connect With: Elena Alvarez

Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 1

Writing unreadable garbage is a rite of passage that all writers undergo as we grow in our craft. I was blessed with my early cringe writing intersecting with the cringiest stage of my life: middle school. Yet some of my garbage has aged like fine wine. So, I’m launching this blog series revisiting and reacting… Continue reading Early Cringe Writing: My Awful Middle School Book Ch. 1

She-Ra’s Love Rebellion

Season 5 of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power might be the best final arc of an animated series I’ve seen since Avatar: The Last Airbender. Not only is the queer representation fantastic, but it also declares that reconciliation and redemption are the end results of love. Christianity, at its core, declares this same thing.… Continue reading She-Ra’s Love Rebellion

Apparently, I’m a “Weird Christian”?

A recent opinion piece in the New York Times gave some exposure to a Twitter subculture that enjoys open philosophical and theological discussions peppered with memes and dressed in a traditional aesthetic. “Weird Catholic Twitter,” as the article categorizes this group, is a collection of jaded millennials and Gen Zers who find authentic connections with… Continue reading Apparently, I’m a “Weird Christian”?

KyoAni and the Melancholy of My Early Twenties

Somewhere in 2009, me and a few of my close college friends marathoned the first season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I remembered seeing promotional articles and pictures of the leading lady herself during my stay in China in 2007, but had never gotten around to watching the series until that night. We’d gotten… Continue reading KyoAni and the Melancholy of My Early Twenties