In 2025, a captivating trend is sweeping interior design: drawn-on decor. This movement embraces the charm of hand-drawn illustrations on furniture, walls, and accessories, offering a personal touch that digital designs often lack. Designers like Jess Murphy of The Lawns Collective and artist Tess Newall emphasize the desire for authenticity, uniqueness, and emotional connection to…
Sean Wang, a Taiwanese-American director, is rapidly carving out a name for himself on the global cinema scene through work grounded in emotional authenticity and cultural nuance. His short documentary Nǎi Nǎi & Wài Pó clinched both the Grand Jury Award and Audience Award at South by Southwest in 2023, and later earned a nomination…
Nia DaCosta has rapidly emerged as a cinematic powerhouse in contemporary Hollywood. Her debut feature, Little Woods (2018), not only won the prestigious Nora Ephron Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival, it also marked her as a voice of compelling narrative depth and directorial precision. Building on that strong foundation, DaCosta directed the rebooted Candyman…
Speculative fiction, particularly alternate histories, thrives on the art of “what if.” By reimagining pivotal moments—like if the Library of Alexandria hadn’t burned, or if ancient empires endured—authors invite readers to step into worlds that reflect, challenge, and transform our understanding of reality. This genre demands deep research, pulling from historical records, cultural studies, and…
zoomacademia.com – 12 Years a Slave (2013), directed by Steve McQueen, is a harrowing and powerful film based on the 1853 memoir of Solomon Northup, a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery. This Academy Award-winning masterpiece, lauded for its unflinching portrayal of slavery’s brutality, remains a cultural touchstone in 2025 for its historical…
Climate fiction, or “cli-fi,” is a rising literary genre that merges storytelling with the urgent realities of climate change. This subgenre explores the human experience in future or altered worlds impacted by environmental collapse, rising seas, or global warming. Authors like Margaret Atwood and Kim Stanley Robinson have brought cli-fi into the mainstream, crafting gripping…
In a cinematic world dominated by franchises and high-budget blockbusters, A24 has emerged as a groundbreaking force in independent filmmaking. Since its founding in 2012, the studio has developed a distinctive reputation for bold storytelling, artistic risk-taking, and fostering auteur voices. From “Moonlight” and “Lady Bird” to more recent hits like “Everything Everywhere All at…
Florence Pugh is not your typical Hollywood starlet—and that’s exactly why she’s become one of the most respected and intriguing actresses of her generation. From her breakout role in Lady Macbeth to acclaimed performances in Midsommar, Little Women, and Oppenheimer, Pugh brings an emotional intensity and depth that consistently captivates both critics and audiences. Her…
Pedro Pascal’s journey from supporting roles to becoming Hollywood’s favorite reluctant hero is a testament to resilience, talent, and the slow-burning nature of fame. Although he spent decades in the industry with minor roles, Pascal’s breakout came in his late 30s with Game of Thrones, where he portrayed Oberyn Martell. The character’s charisma, confidence, and…
Richard Powers’ Bewilderment (2021) is more than a literary novel—it’s an intimate exploration of parenting, ecological despair, and the search for emotional connection in a chaotic world. The story follows Theo, an astrobiologist, and his neurodivergent son, Robin, as they navigate grief after the loss of Robin’s mother. Set in a near-future America facing environmental…
