Hello, friends!

I hope you’re ready for another combo post of the past two months of content. There’s been a lot to consume this summer.

Let’s get into it.

to read

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Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novels by Gene Yeun Lang

After rewatching the series on Netflix, I decided it was finally time to read the ATLA comics. I’m always skeptical about transitioning to a new medium of something I love; I worry the story won’t feel the same or that it will disrupt the canon’s consistency if it’s written by someone new. But these comics are collaborations with the original creators, so I decided to give them a shot.

I’m really glad I did! I’ve read the first four series, I’m currently reading the fifth, and they are so good. The voices of the characters are exactly the same, I can literally hear them when I read. The storylines are very on brand and intriguing, and it’s great to see the characters continue to grow. Plus, Katara and Aang are finally together, and they are so cute!

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

I’m continuing my reading of the Twilight series with New Moon. I was pretty skeptical of this book because I know the movie is a bit slow and deals a lot with Bella’s depression when Edward leaves her. I thought it might be boring or tedious. But I was pleasantly surprised! This might even be my favorite book in the series so far (I’m already fed up with Eclipse).

I felt like the story was really different from the first book. Even though Bella is still obsessed with Edward, his lack of presence really shakes up the narrative. She experiences things other than him, and I really enjoyed the shift in the story. Her range of emotions changes from being obsessive to more dynamic through her pain and depression, which I felt was a good look into her dark mental state.

I also liked the introduction of the werewolves and their society (although Meyer’s appropriation of the Quileute tribe’s culture and legends wasn’t really respectful, and could definitely have been done better). I just thought it was cool to see another side of Bella’s life. Also, in a twist of controversy, I am a definite team Jacob. Obviously, Bella doesn’t owe him any relationship, and he seems aware of that fact, even though he’s hopeful. I think he was a much healthier connection for Bella, much more of a support system, and cared more about her than being manipulative of her agency (at least so far). Plus, I just think werewolves are cooler.

Obviously, these books remain problematic. They romanticize emotionally abusive behaviors and unhealthy relationships. Bella’s inability to function without Edward is indicative of how dependent she was on him, and Edward’s attempt to kill himself when he thought she died is a gross beautification of dependency and suicide. I wouldn’t build my life around the morals of these books. But I will indulge in some guilty pleasure reading.

to watch

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Robin Hood (1973)

I rewatched Disney’s animated Robin Hood for the first time since getting my Robin Hood-inspired tattoo a year ago (pic included above). This was one of my favorite movies as a kid and actually inspired my love of foxes.

After taking my History of Disney Animated Films class my final semester, I learned this movie was a little rushed in production, and you can kind of tell it’s not perfectly polished. It’s also really dark for a kid’s movie, dealing with poverty, tyranny, and corruption. But it definitely influenced my morals in standing up to fascist governments and encouraging redistribution of wealth!

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The Secret Life of Pets & The Secret Life of Pets 2

I made my partner, Ray, and her entire family watch the Secret Life of Pets movies. The first was a rewatch for me, and the second was new for everyone. I love these movies so much. They’re such basic animated pet movies that borrow so many tropes from others, but I find them so fun. The animation style itself is so adorable that it makes it worth it. Plus, the characters and stories are all really cute. I liked the second one a lot as a follow up. It felt more original than the first. Overall, I just want Gidget to run my life.

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Tron & Tron: Legacy

In honor of the new Tron ride coming to Disney World, Ray made me watch both the Tron movies. At first, I felt the original was a little painful to watch. Obviously, it was groundbreaking for its time, but by today’s standards the CGI and costumes and even the music were a little corny. I couldn’t really understand why computer programs were little people or why they had love lives. I appreciated it for its contribution to the film world but didn’t love it.

The second one, I think, took those fantastical elements to the extreme. The plot took itself way too seriously, treating the main villain, a literal computer program, as a threat to the entire world. I also had a hard time wrapping my mind around how computer programs have entire cities and food and weather and parties and lives. The cinematography was beautiful, the effects were amazing, and the soundtrack was phenomenal (thank you, Daft Punk). But the sequel honestly made less sense to me than the original. By the end, I felt like I enjoyed the concept of the original and the visuals of the sequel.

However, Ray and I discussed my qualms, and she added that she found it to be a very intentional choice to give the computer programs lives the way the film did. For her, the commentary of the film is about how much of ourselves we put into the computer and how intelligent we make these programs, so much so that they are able to evolve beyond our control and begin to create just like us. I thought that was a really fascinating perspective, and it definitely made me appreciate the franchise more. So thanks, Ray, for enhancing my Tron experience. I’ll definitely still ride those lightcycles at Disney with you.

13th

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests the past couple months, I sought to educate myself on the Black American experience. 13th is an incredible documentary that details the way the 13th amendment created a loophole for slavery, rather than ending it. If you didn’t know, the 13th amendment has a specific modifier that allows slavery as a form of criminal punishment. This documentary explores how that loophole has been used to criminalize, penalize, and ultimately enslave the Black population at a disproportional rate since its creation.

13th really opened my eyes to an issue I never even thought about. It is required watching, if you haven’t seen it.

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Teach Us All

I also watched the documentary Teach Us All on Netflix, which illustrates the way education is still segregated in America. I found it very interesting to see how classism is used as a substitute for racism in many schools (even though they are inextricably linked), and how class determines resources, and therefore the futures of its students. I felt like I was aware of some of these issues, but this documentary dove much deeper into them than I had ever gone. I didn’t love the production of this one, but the information in it is still quite valuable. I’d definitely recommend for anyone interested in education and the future of this country.

Hamilton

After years of listening to this soundtrack, without any hope of ever being in New York to see it, let alone scoring tickets or even affording them, I was finally able to watch Hamilton on Disney+. Since pretty much the whole show is on the soundtrack, there wasn’t much new material to hear. But the visuals were astounding. From the rotating stage to the raw emotion of every character, I loved and absorbed every second of the show. Absolutely worthwhile watch, even if you’ve listened to it.

New Moon

After finishing the book, it was time to watch New Moon again. I’m always impressed by how closely these movies followed the books, but with much better pacing. Somehow, Bella seemed more likeable in the book, where you can see her thought process and her emotions. Still love this movie, and especially the introduction to Jacob’s role.

to listen

Some very good music was released the past couple months. I also started listening to some new podcasts.

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Chromatica by Lady Gaga

Gaga’s new album is iconic. It’s got that classic, almost alien Gaga sound. And the style that goes with the album really completes the futuristic vibe. Every song is a banger. My personal favorites are “Alice,” “Rain On Me,” “Sine From Above” (the Elton John feature is divine), and “Babylon.” Honorable mention to every other song on the album, of course.

Ugly is Beautiful by Oliver Tree

After ages of waiting, Oliver Tree finally dropped his debut album. Oliver has a really unique sound and a lot to say about society with his music. The character he’s created is also really entertaining. Definitely give this a listen!

Folklore by Taylor Swift

As if she knew just what we needed as a society, Taylor Swift gave us new music. I love Folklore so much, especially the multitudes of stories and scenes it tells. My favorites are probably the teenage love triangle songs, “Cardigan,” “August,” and “Betty,” particularly because I interpret some gay representation in them. I could go on for days about my Folklore interpretations, so maybe I’ll save that for another post or video. Suffice it to say, I think this album is beautiful and haunting and lovely.

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Uncharted 20s

My best friend, Sara, started her own podcast with her friend from college called Uncharted 20s. It deals with the way all of us currently in our early 20s are learning to live in the 2020s, especially after graduating into a pandemic, climate crisis, and political chaos. Sara and Maya are excellent hosts, very natural and conversational speakers, and really have a lot to say about the world and how they’re navigating it. Check them out!

This Might Get Weird

I’ve been listening to This Might Get Weird since it came out years ago, but in my recent stint delivering for Uber Eats, I caught up on the past few months. I always laugh when I hear Grace and Mamrie chat about their lives, especially as they endure the pandemic, and it’s so fun to catch up with them. They kind of make you feel like a friend they’re updating on what they’ve been up to.

Uncivil

As part of my recent education, I began listening to Uncivil, a podcast from two journalists that discuss the Civil War, from its unknown histories to its modern consequences. I’ve found this podcast to be incredibly educational and would highly recommend anyone looking to learn more about such a controversial topic in history.

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I know this was a lot to catch up on, but I’ve been busy. Tell me all about your summer content and what you’ve been enjoying in the comments below. Feel free to like and follow.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!