Julia Puchala

“Anora” and the Difficult Depiction of Sex Workers in Hollywood

Hollywood has a long history of distorting reality. Tropes and stereotypes that shape our culture are often amplified through film, eventually becoming deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness. For instance, we tend to picture a cop as a chubby middle-aged man, donut in hand, even if we’ve met many cops who don’t fit that stereotype.Continue reading ““Anora” and the Difficult Depiction of Sex Workers in Hollywood”

Legally Blond and the Toxic Legacy of Academic Validation

In my junior year of high school, I became obsessed with the idea of college. I religiously binge-watched college acceptance reaction videos on YouTube, with people screaming, crying, and hyperventilating as they opened their admission results. Their intense reactions, as though their futures hinged entirely on that single moment, left me both excited and somewhatContinue reading “Legally Blond and the Toxic Legacy of Academic Validation”

Modern Womanhood & Love in a Big City – What “Sex & the City” & “Emily in Paris” Got in Common

There’s something particularly alluring about the vibrant and hectic nature of a big city. Whether it’s the sociocultural diversity or the invigorating dynamic of people always rushing somewhere, restless to get something done – the big city is a truly peculiar place. People from all walks of life come into the city to achieve theirContinue reading “Modern Womanhood & Love in a Big City – What “Sex & the City” & “Emily in Paris” Got in Common”