Latest Articles

We're All Mad Here: Going to the Loony Bin: A Brief History of the Asylum

August 17, 2011 at 10:22am

Despite documenting abuses in the institutional environment in a way that might seem like a condemnation of institutionalization, pop culture often makes a point of separating out the hero from the actual crazy people. They may drift through the narrative as sources of inspiration and general interest; think of the Wise Crazy Person who advises the hero while he is trapped in the mental...

The Bitch High-Five: What's Your Favorite Summer Jam?

by Ann-Derrick Gaillot

August 17, 2011 at 10:02am

In our monthly newsletter (sign up on in the sidebar on the right!) we poll Bitch staffers and readers on their top five picks in a given category, posting the results here on the blog. Help us out and give us five, or suggest your own answers in the comments after the jump!

poll by twiigs.com

B-Sides: Razika

by Nicole Morales

August 16, 2011 at 10:20am

Razika is Norwegian power pop made with two scoops of 2 Tone, rainbow sprinkles of ’60s garage, and a cherry of jingle-jangle guitars on top. Yum! Bonus: Their album drops today in the US.

Sexual Inadequacy: Lawrence King

by GarlandGrey

August 15, 2011 at 11:31am

It is has been three years since Brandon McInerney took a handgun to school and shot his classmate Lawrence King in Oxnard, California and the resulting trial is now underway. Predictably, the defense is attempting to shift most of the blame to King himself, claiming that McInerney was driven to kill by King’s taunting and flirtatious behavior.

We're All Mad Here: Mental Illness and Celebrities

by s.e. smith

August 15, 2011 at 9:42am

The hunger for celebrity gossip appears unslakable; there’s a reason paparazzi and gossip-mongers can always find employment in Los Angeles. Even in periods of economic depression, in fact perhaps especially in periods of economic depression, the public demands stories about celebrity shenanigans and it particularly wants stories about celebrities gone bad. Celebrities...

On Our Radar

by Ann-Derrick Gaillot

August 12, 2011 at 1:25pm

So many links, so much free time this weekend.

Australian badass and WWII heroine Nancy Wake passed away on Sunday. The Pursuit of Harpyness shares her amazing life story. Seriously, how cool was this lady?
Talk About Equality discusses the firestorm around a new petition to marry Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street. Still no word on how the two themselves feel...

Murder, She Blogged: The Tourist Detective, Colonial Legacies

by Jess Mccabe

August 12, 2011 at 12:42pm

Earlier this month, Christian Science Monitor published a list of “Top 7 Detective Series Set in Foreign Locales,” a selection which is meant to “keep you on the edge of your beach chair,” as they put it.

Stage Left: The PORGY & BESS Controversy

by Dorian J-----

August 12, 2011 at 12:25pm

For those who don’t follow theatre news (so…quite possibly a lot of you), one story is currently dominating coverage, and it’s got a number of complicated aspects to it. I am referring, of course, to the kerfuffle over Diane Paulus’ mounting of Porgy & Bess at Boston’s American Repertory Theatre. What I’m finding fascinating are the general questions...

Bitch Popaganda: Ch-Ch-Changes Edition

by Kelsey Wallace

August 12, 2011 at 9:40am

Welcome back to another episode of Bitch Popaganda! Tune in as Kjerstin, Kelsey, and Kristin discuss ’90s nostalgia and Project Runway; then get whisked away to the movies to hear Andi, Jacob, and Kelsey’s review of The Change-Up. Plus, Bitch faves!

Links after the jump!

We're All Mad Here: <em>Inception</em> & Dom Cobb's Crazy Lying Dead Wife

by Anna Pearce

August 12, 2011 at 9:08am

This post includes spoilers for Inception. It also discusses domestic violence.

There are multiple interpretations of Inception, but for the basis of this discussion I’m going to take the movie at face value. The central story is about Dominic Cobb needing to come to terms with the tragic circumstances of his wife’s suicide. Once he is able to let go of his...