The Walt Disney Company has invited its first ever Polynesian princess into its animated ranks, but the tan-skinned, thick-haired girl has hardly attracted any attention in the midst of a controversy. Read more...
Photo: Some audiences claim Disney’s depiction of the character Maui (Dwayne Johnson) in the upcoming film “Moana” perpetuates stereotypes of Polynesian men as overweight. (Courtesy of Youtube)
The small Spanish town of Teruel turns into a 13th-century medieval city every February. For three days, its people wear medieval clothes and celebrate two lovers for a festival called Las Bodas de Isabel de Segura. Read more...
Photo: Lori Needleman took classes at UCLA before becoming a blogger and photographer, now based in Spain. (Courtesy of Lori Needleman)
Filmmaker Carlo Olivares Paganoni invited his mother and her friends from Mexico to cook for his short film, treating the cast and crew to home-cooked chicken chilaquiles, molletes, tacos, flan and arroz con leche. Read more...
Photo: Disney XD writer and producer Carlo Olivares Paganoni began his film career as a screenwriting student through UCLA Extension in 2008. (Courtesy of Cacá Santoro)
Tara Turnbull first thought of the idea for her play during a high school science class. She sat on a stiff stool at a long black lab table when a vision came to her: two students sitting on a hilltop, talking about life. Read more...
Photo: Graduate student Tara Turnbull wrote, directed and produced “The Sunrise Club,” which tells the story of a group of students experiencing their last sunrise on Earth before moving to another planet. Turnbull said the plot was inspired by the impacts humans can have on Earth’s ecology and the possible consequences. (Shelby Scoggins/Daily Bruin)
Audiences either looking to party or attend solely for the music can find an electronic dance music (EDM) festival to suit their needs. From colossal night-long raves that immerse the senses to laid-back, poolside concerts, 2016 provides many opportunities to appreciate music. Read more...
Photo: Colorful visuals and production are major components of EDM festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival, which featured an owl stage. (Courtesy of Yohanna Khachiyan)
Marvel Comics has created thousands of leotard-clad heroes, but most fans probably can’t name five superheroes of color in Marvel’s vast cast of characters. On Wednesday, Marvel announced that the Iron Man characterwill be taken over by a new character, Riri Williams. Read more...
Photo: Riri Williams, a black woman, will replace Tony Stark as the new civilian behind the Iron Man suit in the Iron Man series. (Courtesy of Marvel)
Some people have condemned modern culture as a “culture of death,” prone to immorality and violence. Considering the continued popularity of zombies in film, television and video games, it’s more like a culture of un-death. Read more...
Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood opened its year-round “The Walking Dead” attraction Monday because its seasonal Halloween experience was so popular. (Matthew Fernandez/Daily Bruin)
