ESSAY: Sacred Spaces vs. Industrial Halls: A Colonial Conflict in Avatar

The clash of two worlds unfolds, with one firmly grounded while the other remains in denial. Avatar serves as a powerful symbol of the ideological struggle between the exploitative, industrialized human society and the harmonious, nature-centered perspective of the Na'vi. This paper explores how these spatial designs reinforce the overarching themes of colonialism and exploitation, offering insights into space, identity, and power, while illuminating the film's critique of colonial practices and ecological destruction.

2024, EssayDon ShanahanDecember 17, 2024Washington State University, Daisy Mora, Alanis RodriguezComment

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Internet Plan for Movie Streaming

Staying connected to the world around us has become even more important in 2023. With more people streaming movies and TV shows from home, internet speeds have become increasingly important. There are many different factors to consider when choosing an internet plan, especially if you need fast download speeds for streaming movies. So, here’s what to look for in an internet plan to make sure you never miss your favorite movie or show.

2023, Column, EssayDon ShanahanJuly 20, 2023Comment

Bankruptcy Lessons from the Silver Screen: A Cinematic Study

by Nancy Fernandez

As the projector rolls and the lights dim, audiences are transported into the lives of characters, immersed in their triumphs, struggles, heartaches, and victories. One such struggle that has been portrayed compellingly in several films is financial hardship, even to the extent of bankruptcy. This raises an intriguing question: Can movies teach us about bankruptcy? The answer is yes, they can.

2023, Column, EssayDon ShanahanJuly 16, 2023Comment

How To Give Your Time Like Erin Gruwell Did in "Freedom Writers"

Erin Gruwell, a former high school teacher, gained national attention for her work with at-risk students known as the "Freedom Writers." Her efforts helped inspire a book and a movie that have touched countless people worldwide. While Erin's story is certainly unique, there are many lessons that we can learn from her about how to give your time to make a difference in the lives of others.

2023, Column, EssayDon ShanahanMay 8, 2023Comment

ESSAY: Using Color Theory To Develop Your Composition and Style With Examples From Wes Anderson

by Andrew Adams

Visual art, which is composed of shapes and colors, is used to share ideas. Colors, which we see every day but often ignore, evoke emotion. Although you may not notice it at first, film directors and other visual storytellers use color theory to enhance stories. Color can heighten the emotions and characterizations for the audience, setting the story’s mood. Color signifies periods; it can be used in foreshadowing and symbolism and may remind the audience of events or experiences in their own lives. Therefore, colors and compositions affect how you may perceive or feel about a film.

2021, Column, Editorial, Essay, Home MediaDon ShanahanMay 7, 2021Comment

EDITORIAL: What Is The Cultural Legacy Of The Lightsaber?

The narrative of the hero’s journey exerts such a powerful effect on people, whether it’s presented in literature or in movies. That’s why when the Star Wars saga was first released in 1977, it made such a huge impact. The saga became one of the biggest cultural icons for generations to come. Star Wars creator George Lucas credits Joseph Campbell’s monomyth theory for his inspiration in constructing the story of Luke Skywalker’s journey.

2021, Column, Editorial, EssayDon ShanahanApril 14, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Top 10 Best College Movies

by Lewis Robinson

Whether you're in college, thinking about going to college soon, or just enjoy a good college flic, you may enjoy watching some of the movies on this list. Below are some of the top ten best college movies made in the last fifty years. Watch one tonight!

Column, Editorial, Essay, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Streaming, SPECIAL, Social MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 23, 2020Comment

The Uniqueness of "Rain Man"

In this story a lot of complicated stories are raised, sometimes they are able to touch to the core of the soul, but it is necessary to gain courage and watch the film to the end, because together with the main characters we go through a long, complex, thorny path. This applies to the director, actors, and spectators, who have revealed in front of themselves completely unusual facets of human society. And I want to believe that the example shown by the creators in Rain Man and inspiration by the biography of Kim Peek, will be interesting and useful for more than one generation.

2020, Editorial, Essay, Home MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 12, 2020Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: How to Write a Film Essay

by Kelly Pethick

In every film, there are moments, realizing which there is a desire to share thoughts about them with other people. In addition, in universities, it is very common to write an essay on a film. But how to do it right? How to write professional and quality essays on films? There are certain rules to follow and we will share them with you.

2020, Column, Editorial, Essay, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanAugust 19, 2020Comment

INFOGRAPHIC: The Evolution of Autonomous Cars On-Screen

Self-driving cars are becoming a more realistic prospect with each passing year as companies from the traditional (Toyota, Audi and BMW) to the more disruptive (Tesla, Google and Uber) race to be the first to produce an intelligent vehicle that can get you from A to B without you needing to lift a finger. There's a financial incentive for this urgency to be number one. The global market for autonomous vehicles is projected to be valued at $615 billion by 2026. So, it's no surprise this tech has captured the imagination of Hollywood since the swinging sixties. On-screen automation has been portrayed through predictions of future technology, supernatural forces, or partnerships with people working on the real deal. This has meant there's been no shortage of iconic self-driving cars on-screen.

2020, Column, Editorial, Essay, GUEST EDITORIAL, Infographic, LIST, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJune 24, 2020Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 3 Tools to Help You Write a Great Movie Review

by Daniela McVicker

You’d be surprised, but writing a movie review can be a daunting task. Not only you will need to research the movie itself, but you will also have to study the story and the intention behind it. And if a movie is a screen adaptation of a book, you’d also need to analyze the similarities and differences between the two, and whether these differences significantly impacted the plot of the movie.

2020, Column, Editorial, Essay, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanMay 12, 2020Daniela McVickerComment

GUEST EDITORIAL: How to Use Movies For Personal Growth

by Gregory V. Chapman

Movies are often just a hobby or a way to kill some time while procrastinating. However, it can be turned into a useful tool for personal growth. It would be especially useful for people who feel lost in heir daily routine, come home from work with a head full of numbers and stress. Movies are a work of art and by using them correctly, you can benefit from them a lot. Remember that we are the only ones to choose where and who to learn from and how to apply that knowledge to real life.