Best Films of the 2000s (So Far)

Here is a list of my favorite films from 2000 to 2030. As of now, I have seen over 1200 movies from the 2000s, and this list has about 400 of them, with about 100 of them being worthy of “great film” status. I have watched over 3300 films across all genres and countries from the start of cinema to the present. If the film is in bold, that means I think it is one of the best films of the twenty-first century so far and belongs in a “must-see” category. As for everything else, a movie made the list if I believe it meets one of the following criteria: quality writing, acting, and directing that may not be “high art” but at least it is not the typical Hollywood schlock; interesting artistically or thematically, even if it does not come together as best as one could hope; solidly funny, delightfully weird, or at least just does something interesting for a change.

Read more

Becoming Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama’s attempts to be relatable and to portray herself as apolitical throughout her memoir is a purposeful way to obscure her privilege and promote a conservative, capitalist ideology: that women can be successful through strength of character rather than uprooting the systemic realities that actually affect them. If any lesson is to be had from Becoming, it is that women should not be distracted by celebrity power politics, but instead, they should return to a program of radical liberation and not conciliate to capitalism and imperialism.

Read more

Postmodernism, Explained

Both the left and right of the political spectrum use the term “postmodernism” loosely and often derogatorily, yet “postmodernism” is better understood as an umbrella term that contains a whole host of various ideas under it. Postmodernism can be broken down into three related but distinct categories: postmodernism as an aesthetic movement, postmodernism as a linguistic challenge, and postmodernism as a societal critique of late capitalism. Clarifying what postmodernism actually means can help to clear up the confusion surrounding the term.

Read more

A Guide to Developing Quality Online Courses

Due to the pandemic, many colleges have shifted their courses to the online environment. For professors who are not used to this format, adjusting their classrooms to this new medium can be daunting. Since I have taught online for some years now, I decided to jot down some helpful guidelines to make the transition a bit easier and hopefully clear up some misconceptions about online education in the process.

Read more

The Bias Against Online Teaching: It’s Nothing to Be Afraid of — and It’s the Moral Choice.

Since colleges are places where thousands of people work in close proximity to one another, and since our aim should be to deter preventable death and illness, universities should remain closed in the fall. A major concern, however, is how classes will continue. The answer is that most of them can — and should — be moved online. This post discusses how online education can be a valuable tool during this pandemic, and it includes a guide to making quality online courses.

Read more