Latest Articles

Double Rainbow: Autism vs. Asperger Syndrome

February 1, 2012 at 12:14pm

There has been disagreement among researchers and diagnosticians about whether the two diagnostic labels really represent distinct conditions since Asperger syndrome first became its own recognized and “official” diagnostic category. There are multiple sets of diagnostic criteria for Asperger syndrome, but recently the criteria put forth in the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual...

The 99%: The (Class) Difference Between

by Gretchen Sisson

February 1, 2012 at 11:52am

In Harry Potter, then, social class is a way of telling us something about the characters more than the actual lived reality or a source of conflict that it becomes in The Hunger Games. This is because in the wizarding world, power doesn’t come just come from money and other forms of social privilege, power comes from magic—and it seems that magic is...

The Sudden Pink War: Making Sense of the Komen/Planned Parenthood Rift

by Everett Maroon

February 1, 2012 at 10:50am

By now, chances are you’ve seen the news that the Susan G. Komen Foundation defunded its support of Planned Parenthood, which it had established in 2005. Pressure for the foundation to stop the support began almost immediately, and the national Susan G. Komen board resisted this pressure until yesterday. I spoke with Gina Popovic, Executive Vice President of the Planned...

B-Sides: Ana Tijoux's Bulletproof New Album

by Kjerstin Johnson

January 31, 2012 at 12:36pm

Chilean-French emcee Ana Tijoux (whose mixtape Elefant I included in my best of 2011 podcast) is back with a thoughtful, third release today—La Bala—from Nacional records.

The Athena Film Festival: Workshop, Watch, & Win!

by Kelsey Wallace

January 31, 2012 at 12:27pm

The second annual Athena Film Festival kicks off on February 9 on the Barnard College campus. Founded to honor extraordinary women for their leadership and creative accomplishments, the festival will screen films made by and about women all weekend, as well as hold free (free!) workshops for filmmakers. How fun! If we lived in New York we’d definitely attend, and if you live...

Double Rainbow: Snow Cake

by Caroline Narby

January 30, 2012 at 12:14pm

Snow Cake is a 2006 independent drama starring Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver. Shortly after Rickman’s character picks up a young hitch-hiker, he is in a sudden, brutal accident and the girl is killed. Paralyzed by guilt, he tries to reconcile with the girl’s mother, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, who happens to be autistic. That is an intriguing premise. Too...

Adventures in Feministory: Juliette Gordon Low, Founder of Girl Scouts, Disabled Activist

by Mac Pogue

January 30, 2012 at 11:57am

In honor of the recent wave of support for transgender inclusion in the Girl Scouts, let’s delve into the history of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low. You might know her for leading a life of activism and creating opportunities for women, but did you know she spent the majority of her life with severely impaired hearing? Although trans activism like the recent support for...

The 99%: “We're Not Broke”

by Gretchen Sisson

January 30, 2012 at 11:14am

The problem, though, is that the filmmakers seem to misdirect the anger. As upsetting as it is to see corporations (some of which were bailed out with federal funds) avoid their taxes, the problem is that what they’re doing is legal. Most corporations aren’t breaking any laws by using these tax havens—in fact, they have an obligation to their stockholders to protect their...

Bechdel Test Canon: Illusions

by Alyx Vesey

January 30, 2012 at 10:07am

Writer-director Julie Dash returns to the Bechdel Test Canon with her 1982 short film Illusions, which asks some mighty big questions about the racial and sexual politics of constructing images and a film industry that finances the production of those images.

Thursday Night 'Lights: Does 30 Rock Need a Shake Up?

by Kirthana Ramisetti

January 27, 2012 at 3:25pm

This week’s lineup was an odd one: two new episodes of 30 Rock, a new episode of Parks and Rec and a repeat of Up All Night. (Even though there was no Office this time, it seems we might have a Dwight Schrute-centric spinoff to look forward to next season, so that’s…something). So we’ll tackle the shows that had new...