Regardless of whether or not you grew up as a Disney kid, I can guarantee that a majority of kids have some sort of picture that pops into their heads when they hear the words “Disney princess.” The Disney franchise—the products, the movies, the characters, the parks—has been inescapable since its creation over a century ago. This popularity is not all bad, regardless of what image you might have of Disney adults, the Plus Sized Park Hoppers, or maybe some of Disney’s controversial mistakes that they’ve been working overtime to correct; at the end of the day, Disney has produced wildly popular and moving stories that are undeniably cultural icons. 

With that said, anything that has this significant a role in popular culture is bound to have an impact on its audience, especially when its audience is largely children. Therefore, we must ask the critical question of what kind of role and prevalence this influence has on a child’s development and what we need to be wary of in the future if this impact proves to be negative. 

Why do people like Disney SO much?

While many people are simply enthralled by Disney’s emphasis on fairy tales and happy endings or its unique theme parks and roller coasters, there is also a psychological appeal to the magical world of Disney. When it comes to the parks themselves, everything is intentional. I was shocked when I found out how much visual deception they use to make buildings seem larger, castles seem grander, and the park feel completely isolated from the outside world, all to transport you into what feels like an entirely unique space. The rest of the world stops existing, and time moves differently. 

On top of that, the roller coaster and theme park rides are emotional experiences tied to the movies themselves. While Six Flags is fun because you get to go on a huge, fast roller coaster, Disney is unique in that you become a part of the stories that you love so much. I’ll admit, I will never forget the first time I rode Rise of The Resistance and stepped into the stormtrooper room for the first time, since the nostalgia and connection to the Star Wars series that I felt was incredible. Disney uses your loyalty to their moving stories to make even the lines for the rides experiences in and of themselves.

There is also never a shortage of things to do in Disney World, or any of their theme parks, for that matter. As author Michael Brody puts it, “There is little question of what one will do next. Your existence is structured. Attention is diverted by a parade, fireworks or Pluto coming your way.” In other words, when it comes to the parks, people love Disney so much because it creates an illusion of fantasy. The movies have a similar effect, using fairy tales and emotional appeal to create a loyal audience. 

More than entertainment?

If Disney can draw people in using simple psychological tricks so easily, is it more than just entertainment? What kind of influence does Disney really have? According to Madeleine Binkley, when kids are repeatedly exposed to Disney media, their growth, play, and definition of self are all uniquely impacted. Children are the perfect consumers, and while you can argue Disney’s intentions are pure, they know their audience. They research and adapt heavily, which is why “Disney has become one of the most prevalent educators of its time, educating children how to express cultural notions of race, gender, sexuality, and ultimately, a discourse of the self.”

In terms of play, children learn what they believe to be creativity and imagination from what they consume. When their role models on the screen are girls playing with princess dolls or boys acting as heroes, they subconsciously absorb that that is what they are meant to do. Additionally, many children use movies like those that Disney produces to learn how to  “operate within the socio-cultural and historical framework in America,” which can be beneficial to have an example to look towards but also incredibly dangerous if these examples promote racist, sexist, or otherwise harmful ideologies. Therefore, it is impossible to say that Disney does not present some sort of danger, purely because of how malleable a children’s mind is. 

If Disney is known to psychologically affect a child’s development, instilling in people their views on gender, beauty, class, language, stereotypes, and more, parents who cannot see past the facade of magic indubitably need to take a step back and assess what these movies are teaching their children. While Disney has been making strides recently to fix their former wrongdoings, a lot of their old movies promote incredibly harmful stereotypes. Take the original Aladdin film as an example—while it was later changed, the song Arabian Nights initially included the lyric “where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face” to describe the fictional middle eastern city.

Is Disney doing this on purpose? Some argue that Disney’s goal has always been to entrap innocent audiences and instill their ideologies in them, while others argue the contrary. Regardless of intention, kids learn from example, and Disney needs to be wary of the fact that the role models they create must set strong examples. 

The “Disney Complex” and its impact on society

As I mentioned earlier, Disney is notorious for reinforcing gender roles and cultural norms that can be incredibly restrictive and harmful. The “Disney Complex” is defined by Raven Quander as the “intricate interplay between Disney’s idealized portrayals of life—such as happily ever after endings, gender roles, and archetypal heroes—and the unrealistic expectations they can foster in young audiences.” With that in mind, Disney’s often overly simplistic and stereotypical stories teach children that conflicts are easier to solve than they are in reality, some major wrongdoings don’t have long term repercussions, love is always fantastical and romantic, and that beauty plays a significant role in opportunity and society. These are all things that we wish to be true, but it is dangerous to feed kids expectations that contrast reality. 

The most harmful part of these stories is that they fail to prepare kids for the real world. Once again, Disney has improved significantly in their more recent stories, working to fight against stereotypes and integrate storylines that are not always focused on two opposite gender characters falling in love and using their love to save the day. However, so many children continue to consume the tried-and-true Disney classics, myself and my family included. Once again, as Quander wrote, “Prioritizing only happy endings in media could hinder young audiences from developing the necessary emotional tools to process and manage life’s disappointments, failures, and losses.”

Infinite ends to this story

Ultimately, there are so many directions this discussion could go in. We could talk about how the changes in Disney over time signify changes in social values, the disclaimers they’ve added to offensive movies like Aladdin and Song of the South, why Disney adults exist, and much more. What I think is most important to take away from this is the fact that any large franchise or cultural pillar with this vast of a reach is going to have both positive and negative impacts purely because influence is power. It is critical that Disney remains aware of this influence and works to use this power for good. 

More than that, I think as a society we need to agree to stop worshipping franchises. Instead, we can appreciate the brand of Disney while also being conscious of the potential negative impacts of the messages Disney has spread on a child’s development, keeping us aware of the fact that Disney is ultimately a business. I recently got to visit Disney World for a trip through our school’s music department, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the magic, but you can appreciate it for what it is without worshipping it.  

With all of this in mind, we can discern that, while Disney remains near and dear to many of our hearts and is not inherently unhealthy if it is taken with a grain of salt, anything that has the power to have such a substantial influence on a child’s development needs to be carefully managed. Disney is just one example of how we need to keep a close eye on what kids are consuming; this is true for all content, especially in the digital age. At the end of the day, Disney serves as a lesson of balance.

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Cate Conklin '26

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Whether anticipated or dreaded, the talk leading up to Bad Bunny’s halftime show was undeniably energized. Since announcing he wouldn’t be touring in the U.S. due to fears of ICE at his concerts, his public image has been thrown into the political sphere—a sphere that he is not unfamiliar with. Through music videos and carefully chosen lyrics, the rapper has long championed Puerto Rican identity while raising awareness of the island’s issues rooted in U.S. ownership. With all the buzz about his political standings and speculation regarding what his performance would contain, it’s no surprise that this year’s halftime show became one of the most watched to date, averaging around 128.2 million viewers between 8:15 to 8:30pm. Unsurprising still, it garnered both very positive and very contemptuous reactions. So, what exactly was the messaging behind his show?

The Show Itself

The show opens with a young man dressed as a jíbaro (a traditional Puerto Rican farmer) holding a guitar and saying “Qué rico es ser Latino”—“how wonderful it is to be Latino.” This, in retrospect, sets the tone for the show as a whole, preceding a celebration of not just Puerto Rican culture, but Latin culture as a whole. 

However, there is also significance in the clusters of sugar cane surrounding the man. Throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, sugar plantations in the Caribbean were devastating in both their size and impact; over the span of these hundreds of years, thousands of enslaved Africans were brought to the islands to endure backbreaking work for Europe’s profit. Representative of the colonial presence in the Americas at the time, the sugar cane was a major part of the Puerto Rican economy until its decline in popularity, largely due to the abolition of slavery, workers strikes, and mismanagement. In 2000, Puerto Rico closed its final operating sugar cane mills.

This specific foliage seems ever-present as a backdrop for Bad Bunny’s show, as the camera pans up to reveal long lines of dancers dressed as sugar cane workers after the young man yells, “Hoy se bebe,” a playful phrase that roughly translates to “today, we drink.” Accompanied by the opening instrumental of Tití Me Preguntó, Benito’s 2022 dembow hit from Un Verano Sin Ti, these first ten seconds are welcoming despite the darker history conveyed by the imagery. Arguably his most popular song, it makes sense that this is the introductory number, presumably serving to catch the viewer’s attention with a song that many have already heard. For the next minute, it is performed while walking through familiar Latin American scenery — a stand for coco frio, a group of older men playing dominoes, and a piragua stand featuring various Hispanic flags on the flavor bottles.

Following a blunt transition into Yo Perreo Sola, we are immediately met with a slow panorama of various dancers and Latin artists in Bad Bunny’s “casita,” a prop house that has continuously been used on his tour. During shows, the casita is usually filled with VIP guests. This time is no different, with some familiar faces being Cardi B, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, and Young Miko. 

Shorter clips of popular reggaeton songs like Safaera, Party, and VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR led up to a seemingly prefilmed clip of Bad Bunny falling through the roof of the casita, into a room of a family watching his halftime show live. Dusting himself off and walking out of the house, a camera leads us through a crowd of young people dancing to Gasolina with the opening beat of EoO. Declaring in Spanish, “you are listening to music from Puerto Rico, the neighborhoods, the caseríos,” the flashing lights of the stands hype up his quick performance of the recent hit from Debí Tirar Más Fotos. 

“Good afternoon, California,” he says, following a transition into the introduction to MONACO, played by young violinists. Stating his full name, he continues, “If I am here today at Super Bowl 60, it’s because never, never have I ever stopped believing in myself. You too… you too should believe in yourself. It’s worth more than you think. Believe me.” Finishing off Bad Bunny’s inspirational motif with the first lyric of MONACO, “¿Este es lo que tu quería?”—“Is this what you wanted?”, we pan over to a wedding taking place. After finishing the formalities in Spanish, the couple kisses and walks off to reveal Lady Gaga clad in a blue dress with a bright red flor de maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower, on the right strap. Her outfit, complete with white accents, has the same coloration as the Puerto Rican flag.

Her part of the show is a salsa remake of Die With a Smile, her dramatic 2024 hit with Bruno Mars. The wedding scene continues, with her song transitioning into lyrics from BAILE INoLVIDABLE—“while one is alive, one should love as much as possible.” Complete with coordinated salsa dancers, the scene is alive, with Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga dancing at center stage. Waking up a young child sleeping on a set of chairs, he continues singing his salsa hit, surrounded by the wedding guests and saying “Dance, dance, dance, without fear. Love without fear.” 

A shot of the couple kissing distracts from Bad Bunny positioning himself at the edge of the platform, ready to fall off into a crowd of hands at the bottom as the instrumental for NUEVAYoL begins. A coordinated, elegant visual transitions into a more bustling one, akin to the Latin areas of New York City. Dancers celebrate and whirl around in front of conversations being had by a barbershop, a small market setup with a glowing “We accept EBT” sign, and a Caribbean Sport Bar Grill with a Puerto Rican flag containing large “CONEJO” lettering on it (“bunny” in Spanish). The dances that follow in this segment are less coordinated and more full of spontaneous excitement and energy, wrapped in the warmth and color of community. “Puerto Rico feels close,” Bad Bunny sings happily, taking a shot from an older lady at the Caribbean bar. 

The trumpets die down and we are suddenly placed in the perspective of a family watching Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speech as the song continues with “The best in the world.. number one, the best in the world, OK? Puerto Rico.” Bad Bunny comes up to give the young boy in the family his Grammy—a young boy many online have speculated to be Liam Conejo Ramos, the five year old detained by ICE in the previous month. However, the child here is just an actor, perhaps representing a young Benito or aspiring young Latin American children as a whole. “Always believe in yourself,” he says, as the beat fades away.

Now, we are presented with a jíbaro strumming a guitar and revealing Ricky Martin, the pop star known for singing Livin’ La Vida Loca. He sings the chorus to LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii, a song on Debí Tirar Más Fotos that highlights Puerto Rico’s resistance against colonialism—“They want to take away my river and the beach / They want my neighborhood and for abuelita to leave / No, don’t let go of the flag or forget the le lo lai / Because I don’t want them to do to you what happened to Hawaii.” He sings passionately into the camera as the show takes on a more political tone, power lines behind him blowing and throwing off the dancers dressed as jíbaros that were on them. The opening drums of El Apagón are played—a song whose name itself (“The Blackout”) alludes to the frail power grids of Puerto Rico that cause frequent blackouts. 

“Puerto Rico is great,” Bad Bunny sings, emerging with a Puerto Rican flag—notably, the blue of the flag’s triangle is much lighter than the navy version more popular in the U.S. While the navy triangle widely signifies Puerto Rico as a property of the U.S., the light blue flag is a historical one of resistance against Spanish rule. Recognized as the first national flag, it was the face of a fight for independence and sovereignty.

He lets up holding this flag only to climb on top of the powerline, singing, “Now, everyone wants to be Latino.. but they lack rhythm, drums, and reggaeton,” once he reaches the top. “Welcome to the calentón,” are the last lyrics before the power lines begin sparking again.

After a few seconds pause, he begins singing CAFé CON RON as El Apagón’s electric beat kicks back in. The energy builds with the lyrics, “We’re already in the streets, come out to your balcony,” with all the dancers from previous segments filling in the spaces between the plants. Weaving through the crowd, various flagbearers run to where Bad Bunny is, with Puerto Rico and the U.S. leading the others.

Benito, clutching a football, says “God Bless America,” then asserts that he doesn’t just mean this in the traditional American sense. In fact, the U.S. is mentioned only after he lists various other countries in the continent of America over the final drum beats of CAFé CON RON, building up to: “And my motherland, my homeland: Puerto Rico.” Turning out the football and holding it out to the camera, we can now see that it says “Together, we are America.” “We’re still here,” he says, as the musicians around him hold their instruments up to the sky as he does with the football. The final song of the show is DtMF, played joyously as the dancers and musicians and flagbearers around him jump, singing the lyrics. “I hope my people never move away,” the lyrics sing, surrounded by fireworks setting off in the stands and loud, cheerful trumpets. “Thank you so much,” he says, ending the show.

A Message of Togetherness

While not entirely groundbreaking, a celebration of Latin culture and identity at the biggest annual American sporting event serves as a reminder of the role Latinos have had and will continue to have in shaping the mindsets and culture of the U.S. In the face of pressure from the White House, which previously criticized the choice of Bad Bunny as the halftime performer by saying “all it does is sow hatred,” Bad Bunny delivered an energetic performance whose underlying tone was pointedly one of unity and love. Above all, as he stated at the Grammys and reiterated in his show: the only thing more powerful than hate is love.

About Post Author

Laura Blandon '26

mliddle@mlschools.org

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Introduction

Have you ever wondered how the seasons came to be? The love story of Hades and Persephone from Greek mythology explains how the seasons might have come to be. 

Persephone’s Disappearance

It all started when Hades, the god of the underworld, came out of the underworld and saw Persephone, the goddess of spring and growth. Hades immediately became entranced by her beauty. So Hades went to Persephone’s father, Zeus, and asked for Persephone’s hand in marriage. Zeus agreed, but didn’t think to share this with Persephone’s mother, Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. Later, Persephone was minding her own business, innocently collecting flowers with some other goddesses, when a fissure opened beneath her feet. Hades emerged in his chariot and snatched up Persephone, carrying her away to the depths of the Underworld. 

Demeter’s Demise

Demeter noticed Persephone was missing and became more and more concerned as she looked for her without success. After 9 days of frantic searching, Demeter went to Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and magic, for help. Hecate happened to live in a cave just near where Hades had appeared and taken Persephone. When she shared this with Demeter, Demeter became sad and depressed at the loss of her daughter. Demeter’s sadness was reflected in the earth as the goddess of the harvest stopped making plants grow. The Earth became a barren wasteland as all life slowly disappeared.

Pomegranate Problems

Zeus, seeing this damage, demanded that Hades give Persephone back. But it was too late, Persephone had already eaten 6 pomegranate seeds. It is a rule in the underworld that if you eat a pomegranate seed, you are bound to the underworld, forever trapped. Mythology is unclear on whether Persephone was tricked into eating the 6 seeds or whether she ate them willingly. Desperate to appease Demeter and save the earth, Zeus struck a deal with Hades. Persephone was to spend 6 months in the Underworld every year. A month for every seed she had eaten. When Persephone returned to earth, Demeter was overjoyed. All the plants started to return, and life flourished, but then, when the six months were up, Persephone returned to Hades, and so the cycle continued. And that is the story of how the seasons came to be, at least according to Greek mythology.

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Zara Rebuli ('28)

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Politics exists at every level of our lives, from popular music, art, cinema, architecture, and sports, to the focus of this article: fashion. Aside from the openly political aspect of fashion, such as wearing a hat emblazoned with the name or slogan of a favorite political candidate, one may wonder: is it really—for lack of better words—that deep? Both history and the modern-day suggest yes.

Fashion as a Political Statement

Throughout history, movements have used fashion as a means of political expression. For instance, civil rights activists dressed in their “Sunday Best” to challenge the norm that black Americans belonged to the lowest level of America’s social hierarchy. This refined manner of dress was a form of protest in of itself, demonstrating to a segregated America that black Americans were worthy of dignity and respect and subverting preconceived notions of black Americans as less than. It was also consistent with the movement’s tenets of nonviolent resistance.

Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is another figure famous for political expression through not just her art, but her appearance as well. As a vocal leftist, Kahlo joined the Mexican Communist Party as a young adult, and as a mixed-race woman with German, Hungarian, Spanish, and Indigenous Tehuana heritage, Kahlo resolved to use her dress to attract global attention to issues of cultural pride, identity, and feminism, combining elements of Western dress with traditional clothing. For instance, Kahlo wore contemporary dresses along with Huipil blouses, and colonial silver earrings with indigenous jadeite and onyx necklaces. She also frequently wore rebozo scarves, which served as a representation of pre-colonial indigenous women, as well as the women of the Mexican Revolution who smuggled weapons using scarves, therefore symbolizing femininity and independence. At a time when the leftist movement in Mexico focused on national pride and resisting the ruling class, colonialism, and capitalism (Kahlo’s then-husband Diego Rivera also painted murals attacking these), Kahlo’s choice of clothing—representative of indigenous and Mexican culture—was her own form of political expression.

Fashion as political expression is not limited to revolutionaries; in fact, it exists at the highest level of our government. Former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for instance, was well-known for her unique neckpieces that were speculated to convey her personal political opinions. Ginsburg’s “dissent collar” was famously worn every time she expressed condemnation or disapproval with the Court’s decision—with her dissents being so powerfully pointed that she earned the nickname “the Notorious RBG”—and she herself stated in an interview that the collar simply looked “fitting for a dissent.” Aside from court decisions, Ginsburg also wore the dissent collar the day after Trump’s 2016 election. The collar itself was given to Ginsburg by Banana Republic in 2012 and was donated to the Smithsonian following her death in 2020.

Fashion as a Mirror of Political Ideologies

Individuals or specific groups of people often use fashion as a way to express their personal beliefs, but fashion’s relationship with politics goes deeper than that. Fashion trends can often serve as a litmus test of society’s prevailing political values at large.

For instance, Europe underwent a major transition starting from the 1700s, as public opinion began to shift against the principle of absolute monarchy and Enlightenment ideas of inalienable human rights, individualism, and formal equality under the law began to gain traction in European society. Those of higher status in society, who previously dressed opulently, shifted to a more subtle and utilitarian fashion that laid the foundation for the business suit. Compared to the marked inequality of the previous time period, where one’s clothes made their social status clear, the toned-down nature of the early business suit meant that a variety of social classes could wear the same clothes, and therefore strengthened the ideal of equality of all of humanity.

Moving in the opposite direction, Spain experienced a surge in unconventional and hedonistic fashion coinciding with the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 and the shift of Spain from a conservative dictatorship—a dictatorship that set an evening curfew for women, repressed homosexuality, and arrested those with unorthodox appearances—to a liberal constitutional monarchy. This cultural movement was La Movida Madrileña, which promoted heavy makeup, voluminous hair, revealing clothes, and open sexual expression that functioned as a symbol of liberation following the fall of one of Europe’s longest-serving dictators. This boom in open, loud expression through dress reflected the general attitude in the country leaning away from the radically conservative norms established under Franco.

We may have experienced this phenomenon this last election cycle as well. Although in 2020, the political landscape in America leaned towards liberal self-expression, reflected in popular fashion trends and aesthetics such as the 2020 indie style, “kid-core,” and alternative fashion styles that gained popularity on social media such as TikTok, fashion trends—and overall political opinion—in 2024, seem to have gone in the opposite direction with the rise of trends such as old money, cottagecore, coquette, and clean girl.

Cottagecore and coquette, for instance, emphasize hyperfemininity, and therefore conservative views of womanhood through conventionally feminine colors, silhouettes, and features such as frills and bows. One headline describing the style claimed, “Cottagecore fashion aesthetic brings back simpler times,” a clear indicator of a longing for the “good old days” and, as a result, a return to conservative values.

Similarly, old money indicates a greater emphasis on looking classy and refined, a more conservative fashion style that seems to coincide with more conservative views. And the “clean girl” trend represents the same underlying theme of minimalism, natural beauty, and a conservative approach to makeup—a key facet of self-expression.

It is no coincidence that in both 2020 and 2024, the most popular trends corresponded to which side most voters swung. Fashion is much more than just fabrics and aesthetics; it reflects societal values, political ideologies, and individual identity.

About Post Author

Grace Fu ('26)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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From the dawn of the internet, various memes have plagued our devices. Beginning as humble images containing a funny line of text that could inspire one to grin, or even chuckle, perchance. Some have even utilized this harmless photo format to educate, as demonstrated by the students of each AP Seminar class, in which they are tasked with crafting memes to caution incoming students about what not to do. 

Yes, the meme. The oh-so-lovable, innocent, cringey meme! What an incredible invention! How could anybody ever be mad at a simple picture? Such relatable illustrations were once gazed upon by crowds of children, gathering around a screen to enjoy at their leisure, sometimes competing against one another to see who could withhold their laughter the longest. However, this simple age had died. Indeed, times are changing, evolving even. Those who have spent any amount of time on Instagram have had the displeasure of experiencing the horror that we know as “Instagram Reels.” 

The phenomena that spawns from reels, drastically incompatible with the charming “meme,” seems to change every week, if not every few days. The newer generation of internet users has largely become desensitized to modern meme culture, however as of late I have been able to come to my senses and realize what a cesspool of content I was succumbing to. 

Firstly, “brain rot” is a term that I first recall being associated with the Quandale Dingle meme, but it has since moved to represent the skibidi toilet era (both completely irrelevant information when attempting to understand the term) and now encompasses a larger genre of content essentially consists of nonsensical information being conjoined into one video or image. While there are hundreds of different brain rot memes on Instagram, there is one that I would like to analyze as an example of the horrific content that reels enjoyers have to endure each and every day they are alive. This example, of course, is the growing “tralalero tralala” video. 

I am unable to understand what is being said in the video as I do not speak Italian. However, I can explain what the overarching theme, purpose, and message of the video is. Nothing. There is quite literally nothing of importance in this video. It is literally just an AI-generated picture of a three-legged shark standing on a beach with sneakers while a text-to-speech voice speaks Italian. Yet, intriguingly, it made me laugh. Perhaps it was the randomness of the video, paired with the practically unintelligible nonsense being spewed into my ears, but it was indeed funny. Clearly this trend is a complete shift from what memes began as, and may seem pointless and stupid, but does this really matter? Even though memes, particularly the “brain-rotted” ones, are almost completely niche and unsensible, retaining zero purpose after a few weeks, is there any value in attempting to shift away from this format? 

Contrary to what some people would believe, I think that the new meme trends are actually perfectly acceptable despite their abnormal appearance. This can be seen through various new marketing techniques being employed on Instagram by large companies such as TCL, Duolingo, and even KFC. Over the past few years, I have observed a wonderful increase in Gen-Z social media admins, especially when they work for large companies. It truly is a breath of fresh air to get a TCL advertisement that immediately starts off with: “How it feels being a gooner with a TCL” or “POV: You and your friends lock in and decide to buy a TCL TV,” BOTH OF WHICH ARE ACTUAL VIDEO TITLES ON THEIR INSTAGRAM PAGE. Sometimes, however, videos are posted that have absolutely no correlation with the company, such as this one below, which purely just comments on a recent meme trend.

However, most of them are just company advertisements blended with modern humor, such as this one:

Although this tactic of marketing seems funny at face value, is it truly effective? An important part of marketing is communicating a message and establishing a reputation for the company, however when I talked to my mom regarding this advertisement below, she had the following to say.

 “I didn’t like it at all. It’s too busy. I don’t understand their ads.” Wow. Now I thought that when I watched this advertisement next to my brother and my mom, I was viewing a masterfully crafted work of art, however clearly there was a gap between our humor and also our digital literacy. This is clear when contrasting my mom’s reaction with my brother’s, who immediately erupted with laughter only 3 seconds into the video. This is important information, as targeted audiences are important for companies in order to market efficiently. Although it seems that this type of ad completely misrepresents every individual over the age of 20, I actually think that it doesn’t matter when taking into account the platform these ads are made on. In this case, Instagram is largely populated by the younger generation, so marketing to the younger generation is actually pretty sensible, especially when the marketing is BY the younger generation, as well as in a format that they are familiar with and relate to. I also think that it’s incredibly smart for a company like TCL, a company that sells physical TVs, to market to the younger generation, as it seems like a product that wouldn’t be of much interest to that age group. In this sense, utilizing modern humor in advertisements online is a no-brainer, as it not only vastly increases publicity—some reels generating around 300k views as opposed to 10k for a regular ad—but it also creates a fun and familiar rapport with a generation of people who would most likely not be interested in that product in that stage of their life.

While TCL is a great example of younger social media admins utilizing modern humor to appeal to a new audience, other companies that already target the youth employ this technique almost ubiquitously. One company I would like to speak on that is notorious for using modern trends and humor in their advertisements is Duolingo. Revolutionary language learning app Duolingo has created an esteemed online presence by fully embracing modern humor and expressing such through their app’s mascot, the Duo owl. Duolingo has made a clear effort to make language learning as entertaining as possible, and when it comes to drawing people to their app, they certainly know how to entertain. Let’s look at a reel posted on Instagram on Duolingo’s German account.

Here, Duolingo uses the popular brain rot trend of giving AI-generated animals silly Italian names by formatting them in their app as if one were completing a Duolingo lesson. The account creates a silly parody that seems to be mostly well received in their comments, with users stating, “Add brain rot language [please],” and “Oh Duolingo, that is what I wanted.” Through appealing to the ever-changing online culture of social media apps, Duolingo creates a hilarious online presence that may not appear to boost downloads of their app, but instead the popularity of their name, which is itself a key factor in marketing a business. All in all, it seems like internet culture, though sometimes unintelligible nonsense to the untrained eye, may actually prove to be an effective and also entertaining method for promoting companies online. I, for one, don’t mind the niche references to delusional brainrotted memes in the slightest.

About Post Author

Michael Cera ('26)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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Introduction

The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are Hollywood’s most prestigious films of the year, recognizing excellence in cinematic achievements. Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the ceremony honors outstanding performances, direction, writing, and technical contributors in the film industry. 

First held in 1929, the Oscars has since become a global spectacle, celebrating the artistry and influence of movies. The winners of each award receive the iconic golden Oscar statue, resembling a symbol of cinematic excellence. The 97th annual Academy Awards, held on March 2nd, 2025, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, celebrated outstanding achievements in cinema from the past year. Hosted by TV Host and comedian, Conan O’Brien, the ceremony recognized excellence across various categories. 

Best Picture: Anora (2025)

Anora, directed by Sean Baker, follows Ani Mikheeva (Mikey Madison), a 23-year-old stripper from Brooklyn, New York. Ani’s life takes a dramatic turn once she meets a Russian man named Ivan, (the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch) in her strip club and impulsively marries him. Their “Cinderella”esk romance is quickly challenged by Ivan’s parents, forcing Ani to navigate love, class dividends, and her own ambitions. 

Anora was also awarded the Best Original Screenplay, which Sean Baker wrote. Beyond the dramatic elements of the film, Anora sparked worldwide discussion on the “glamorization” of sex workers, and how they are portrayed in the film. It received mixed reviews as some argued that the film “oversimplified or romanticized the real-world struggles of those involved with the sex industry.” Yet, the film was praised for its spectacular direction and emotional depth. Digging from concepts dating back as far as Cinderella, Anora is a powerful exploration of love, resilience, and class divisions. 

Anora took home the award for Best Picture, as it deserved. Sean Baker masterfully explores the themes of class disparity and the amazing cast of actors adds emotional depth to the narrative, bringing together each character’s struggles, making Anora an unforgettable film.

Best Director: Sean Baker – Anora (2025)

Sean Baker, the lead director for Anora, was awarded the Best Director award at the 97th annual Oscars. Baker’s direction in Anora was highly praised, as his ability to authentically depict challenges faced by the characters, especially Ani, was remarkable. Anora was, although controversial among critics, highly commended for Baker’s perfect portrayal of complex themes such as blends of drama, and social commentary. Anora stands out in this way as Sean Baker produced an emotionally engaging, and heart-provoking film, even on such a sensitive topic as the sex industry. Baker combines social commentary (storytelling through art/ movies) and drama to open the world’s eyes to the societal issues that include sex workers. 

The film sheds light on social commentary through Ani’s interactions with Ivan’s extremely powerful and wealthy family, deeply layered with the differences between the upper and lower classes. These differences include power and control, cultural divide, and access to opportunities. 

Baker’s balance of drama, social commentary, and emotional depth is the sole reason he deservingly won Best Director. Baker perfectly depicts the life of a young stripper in ways that modern television has never seen before up until now. Anora would not have been the same if not approached the same way Baker did, making him the deserving recipient of the Best Director of 2025.

Best Actor: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist (2024)

The Brutalist (2024), is a visually stunning drama directed by Brady Corbet. The film follows László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-Jewish architect who navigates life in post-World War 2 America. The story dives into László’s struggles as an up-and-coming architect in the US, desperately trying to make a name for himself after a devastating shift in his life (the Holocaust). As a Holocaust survivor, László grapples with PTSD from the war as his trauma plays a central theme in the film. 

Throughout the film, László combats intrusive memories of his past, feelings of guilt, and loneliness in a completely new world to him. While the film does not specifically state that László has PTSD, it is confirmed through his constant symptoms such as flashbacks, emotional detachment, and difficulty forming relationships with those around him. 

Brody perfectly portrays László, not being overtly dramatic while conveying his trauma is a testament to Adrien Brody’s portrayal of László. Rather than focusing on displaying his emotions, László’s emotions are much more restrained, indicated through subtle facial expressions to convey László’s ongoing trauma and stress. Brody’s performance of László was a perfect balance between raw emotion and restraint, effectively capturing László’s complexity. 

His portrayal of a man haunted by PTSD, and struggling to adapt to a completely new world is the sole reason The Brutalist is so critically acclaimed. Brody’s role showed the world that he is still able to portray deeply layered characters such as László, and still deliver an amazing performance, cementing him as one of the greatest actors of his generation.

Best Actress: Mikey Madison – Anora (2024)

Mikey Madison was the leading actress in the Best Picture, Anora. To prepare for her role in Anora, she underwent extensive training. Since her character Ani, works in the sex industry, Madison took pole dancing lessons for months to master the physical demands of the role. Madison worked with sex workers to learn the nuances of performing, the body language the dancing requires, and the emotional resilience that is mandatory in that environment. 

Madison also made some subtle changes that were meant to go unnoticed such as: chemically straightening her hair, getting a common tattoo among sex workers on her thigh, and studying a Brooklyn-Russian accent. To immerse herself into the Brookyln-Russian culture, Madison studied the accent, learned conversational Russian, and spent time in Brighton Beach (a Brooklyn neighborhood) to fully immerse herself into the lifestyle. 

This did not just help her get the role, this helped capture the authenticity of Ani’s background and common struggles. These steps she took to mastering her craft and fully immersing herself into the role are the sole reasons she won the award, and deservingly so. 

Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain (2024)

A Real Pain (2024), directed by Jesse Eisenberg, is a dramatic-comedy film that follows two estranged cousins, Benji Kaplan (Kieran Culkin) and David Kaplan (Jesse Eisenberg), as they embark on a Holocaust remembrance tour in Poland to honor the death of their late grandmother. As the movie progresses, the film turns from a journey to honor their family’s history, to a deep exploration of grief and trauma as they have been separated for most of their lives. 

Kieran Culkin’s role as Benji Kaplan in A Real Pain, was a career-defining moment for him. Culkin’s portrayal of Benji, a deeply troubled man who uses humor to control past trauma, was both emotional and darkly comedic at the same time. As Benji struggles with bipolar disorder, he tries to joke around, be sarcastic, and just overall erratic to hide his internal struggles. 

As Benji starts to open up around David, you learn that Benji is deeply struggling with the loss of his grandmother. This is evident through how deep of a bond he and his grandmother shared, making her death even more heartbreaking. It is also evident that their grandmother was not just a loved one to Benji, but she was the only person who accepted him, and once Benji lost the only person who truly understood him, he imploded. 

His cousin, David, obviously carries his grandmother’s death with quiet reverance as he never expresses any sadness on the journey. On the other hand, Benji shows that he is genuinely interested in learning his family’s heritage. As the movie progresses and their journey continues, Culkin’s ability to shift from humorous and outgoing to deep vulnerability is nothing short of remarkable. 

At the climax of the film, when Benji learns his struggles can no longer go unseen, Culkin delivers a gut-wrenching moment that cements the film’s themes of trauma, guilt, and family bonds. Culkin’s ability to provide the film with raw, emotional, and heart-breaking scenes, and balancing that out with humor to show Benji’s deep bond with his grandmother is astonishing. Kieran Culkin’s role was one the most emotionally resonant performances of the year, earning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

Best Supporting Actress: Zoë Saldaña Emilia Pérez (2024)

Emilia Pérez (2024) is a drama film directed by Sofia Coppola, following the life of Emilia (Florence Pugh), a young Latina woman from Los Angeles, California. Throughout the film, Emilia strives to break free from her very traditional Mexican family to become a successful entrepreneur. The film explores themes of self-identity, cultural expectations, and the pursuit of happiness. While all of this is happening, she dreams of being a successful entrepreneur because of the endless creativity and freedoms that come with it. 

Emilia wants to make a name for herself and live her life on her own terms, but she believes her family is holding her back from fulfilling her destiny. She faces criticism from her family, especially her sister Mariana (Zoe Saldaña). In Emilia Pérez, Zoe Saldaña plays the role of Emilia’s older sister Mariana, a key figure in the film. Initially, Mariana is unsupportive of Emilia’s decision to become an entrepreneur, but throughout the film, you see that Mariana becomes a mirror for Emilia’s journey. This mirror is evident through how both characters manage their personal journeys and family duties. While Emilia wants to break free from the confines of her family’s culture, Mariana prefers to stick true to her tradition and meet her family’s expectations. 

Zoe Saldaña’s role as Mariana in Emilia Pérez adds great emotional depth to the film, as Saldaña perfectly portrays a character who is torn between satisfying her culture’s tradition and providing for her family through her sense of duty. Throughout the film, it is evident that Mariana also struggles with internal struggles similar to Emilia’s. Saldaña’s performance reveals that Mariana also struggles with her desire for freedom and self-expression, but was crushed due to family expectations and responsibilities. 

Saldaña’s ability to switch from a disapproving and stern expression to the vulnerable and heartbroken person that is Mariana is remarkable. These switches are what make Emilia Pérez such a memorable movie that resonates with the viewer. Mariana’s upfront personality seems to be her “defense mechanism” of sorts, she uses this to cover her vulnerabilities, but once Emilia discovers this, she is deeply understanding and empathetic of Mariana. 

Zoe Saldaña’s character brings a whole new layer to the story. Rather than simply being an obstacle in Emilia’s way to stardom, Mariana mirrors Emilia, teaching her about sacrifice, personal growth, and the complications of family. 

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Sam Bruderle ('27)

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The 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 2, 2025, celebrating another year of outstanding musical achievements. Hosted by comedian Trevor Noah for the fifth consecutive year, the ceremony was packed with unforgettable performances, emotional speeches, and history-making wins. From Beyoncé’s record-breaking achievements to new, emerging artists making their mark, this year’s Grammys proved why it remains the most prestigious night in music.

One of the most talked-about moments of the night was Beyoncé’s groundbreaking wins. Leading the nominations with eleven nods, she made history with her latest album Cowboy Carter. In a moment that will be remembered for years to come, she became the first Black artist to win Best Country Album and the first Black woman to win Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill in 1999. As she took the stage to accept the award for Album of the Year, Beyoncé delivered an emotional speech, thanking her fans, her family, and the artists who paved the way for her journey into country music. “Music has no boundaries,” she said, “and I hope this moment opens doors for many more artists to explore their true creative freedom.”

Another major winner of the night was Kendrick Lamar, whose song “Not Like Us” swept five major categories, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. This achievement made it the most decorated song in Grammy history. It placed Kendrick Lamar as the second rap artist to win both awards, following Childish Gambino’s win in 2019 for This Is America. Kendrick Lamar’s performance of “Not Like Us” was one of the most powerful moments of the night. Featuring striking visuals and an electrifying stage presence, his performance was met with a standing ovation, solidifying his reputation as one of the most influential rappers of his generation.

This year’s Best New Artist award went to Chappell Roan, who has been making waves with her unique sound and captivating stage presence. Chappell’s win was met with excitement from both fans and fellow artists, many of whom praised her as one of the freshest voices in the industry. Taking the stage to accept her award, Roan expressed her gratitude: “I never imagined I’d be standing here today. This award is for every artist who dreams big and works hard to make it happen.” Her live debut performance at the Grammys was also a highlight as she showcased her signature theatrical style.

Rapper Doechii won Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal, making her only the third woman to take home the award, joining the ranks of Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. Doechii’s win reflects the growing representation of female artists in the rap industry, a historically male-dominated space. Following her win, Doechii addressed the rumors that she lip-synced during her Grammy performance, stating, “That entire performance was live. I put my heart and soul into it, and I’m grateful for the love and support.”

Beyond the awards, the Grammys are known for their show-stopping performances, and this year’s lineup did not disappoint.

• Kendrick Lamar delivered a performance of “Not Like Us”, setting the stage on fire with his energy and storytelling.
• Chappell Roan made a lasting impression by performing “Pink Pony Club” with her dramatic, theatrical Grammy debut.
• Sabrina Carpenter captivated the audience with her charismatic and playful stage presence, delivering a dazzling performance of her hit songs “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”
• The Weeknd surprised fans with an electrifying performance featuring Playboi Carti, debuting “Cry for Me” before transitioning into the high-energy track “Timeless.”

Other Notable Wins

• Best Rock Performance: The Beatles – “Now and Then”
• Best R&B Song: SZA – “Saturn”
• Best Country Song: Kacey Musgraves – “The Architect”
• Producer of the Year: Dan Nigro

A Night of Celebration and Reflection

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards was a night filled with record-breaking wins, emotional speeches, and spectacular performances. From celebrating legends like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar to highlighting the fresh talent of Chappell Roan and Doechii, this year’s show reflected the evolving landscape of music.

As the industry continues to grow and break barriers, the 2025 Grammys proved once again why music remains one of the most powerful forms of expression. With next year’s awards already generating excitement, one thing is certain—music’s biggest night will continue to be a celebration of talent, creativity, and cultural impact.

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Janvi Singh ('27)

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When Nintendo released the Switch, the world of gaming forever shifted. Although the new console lacked powerful hardware, the original Switch’s intended audience and purpose propelled its sales to 15 million in its first year of production. Today, the Switch is a fantastic at-home and portable console that can immediately please crowds with exclusive titles such as “Mario Kart” and the infamous “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” which I have sunk over 800 hours into. It is hard to debate that the Switch wasn’t a revolutionary product for home consoles, but does it still hold its ground an astounding 8 years later? 

As graphical and performance limits result from modern graphics cards, processors, and developing technology such as AI, many think the Switch is becoming outdated. Nintendo seems to recognize this (perhaps 2 or 3 years later than they should have), as they have recently released a trailer for their upcoming console, the fabled “Switch 2”.

When I saw the thumbnail for the Switch 2 reveal on my YouTube feed, to say that I was ecstatic would be an understatement. I recall leaping to my feet with my phone and making primal gorilla noises in awe before sprinting to the cafeteria to tell my friends. As a Switch 1 owner, I have spent close to two thousand hours on the console, and it has earned a special place in my heart over the years. Whether it be playing Animal Crossing or Smash Bros. during school, online classes during Covid, or waking up early on weekends to play before school, the Switch brought a unique sense of comfort and entertainment that other consoles or devices couldn’t produce, and this is because the Switch was a revolutionary addition to the handheld console market. This factor of the Switch’s success may be considered an inhibitor to the Switch 2. 

The original Switch was directed towards families and children, acting as a great gift for siblings to share and larger groups to enjoy; Nintendo practically created the perfect console for this audience with the Switch. So why would the company make a console that is virtually the same? Besides hardware modifications, the Switch 2 looks the same as the original, is made of similar materials, and comes in similar colors. 

It’s easy to think, “Why reinvent the wheel?” or “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and that perspective makes sense when looking at the new console. However, I believe that even though it deviates from the pattern of Nintendo’s last three consoles—each being either an improvement on the previous model or something entirely new—the Switch 2 will be crucial for Nintendo’s future.

For starters, while the original Switch was an impressive portable device, its performance was significantly limited. In recent years, the graphical demands of modern games have skyrocketed. For example, titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom constantly render a massive open world at only 30-40 frames per second. These newer games require far more power than those released eight years ago when the Switch first launched. This highlights how the aging hardware of the original Switch is holding back Nintendo’s ability to push graphical boundaries. Given that the current hardware is slipping into obsolescence, it’s only logical for Nintendo to develop something new.

Although it is not a complete innovation in the gaming world, the Switch 2 will possess new graphical requirements that will allow the company to make new games with new graphical elements that would otherwise not be able to be achieved with the original Switch. This means new, expansive worlds with immersive landscapes, visual features, and exclusive titles made specifically for the Switch 2. 

Another benefit of having an updated version of the original Switch is that it will not be an entirely exclusive console, as games on the original Switch will be “backward compatible” with the Switch 2. This is huge, as those who would like access to exclusive Switch 2 titles can buy one but still be able to play games from their old console. This saves consumers money, as they will not have to re-purchase, let’s say, a “deluxe” version of a game made specifically for the new Console, as Nintendo has done with games ported to the Switch from the Wii U as they have with Mario Bros. 3D World. Additionally, this will mean that 3rd party and indie game developers should easily be able to port their games to the new Switch, allowing them to take advantage of the new console’s platform and graphical capabilities while also offering their games to those who do not wish to upgrade.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is undoubtedly a “switch-up” for Nintendo. While not a drastic innovation, the console allows consumers to play games with improved hardware, allowing for better performance and increased graphical capabilities. The console will also allow Nintendo to produce higher quality games with larger worlds that can exploit the new system even more than they have with the original Switch. As shown through the countless games created to this day for an almost 8-year-old console, I am excited to see what games are available on the new Switch 2.

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Michael Cera ('26)

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James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, the latest Bob Dylan biopic, explores Dylan’s artistic upbringing and his controversial transition from acoustic to electric guitar. This shift permanently altered the rock music landscape, introducing a fresh, unprecedented twist that inspired artists like Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and many others.

Bob Dylan’s Journey To Stardom

There are a lot of aspects that this movie does well, but a big chunk of that is the film’s attention to detail. This attention to detail spans from Dylan’s controversial performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival to the way he spoke with great caution to the press. Mangold excels at staying true to Bob Dylan’s life, as his relationships with artists close to him, like Joan Baez and Woody Guthrie, feel very authentic and real. The film is divided into three parts: Dylan’s upbringing with Woody Guthrie, Dylan’s breakout into music, and Dylan’s controversial switch to rock music.

The movie begins with his upbringing when Dylan was hitchhiking to New Jersey to visit the famous musician Woody Guthrie in the hospital. There, at the hospital, Woody Guthrie picked up on Dylan’s potential and hooked him up with gigs in local bars with other up-and-coming artists like Joan Baez, who would also later become a famous musician.

Later in the film, during Dylan’s rise to fame, Mangold touches on Dylan making a name for himself and creating his own recognizable voice in music. At this point in the film, Dylan’s relationship with Joan Baez, a key figure early in his career, is highlighted through their many collaborations and personal connections. Mangold makes this connection known by showing them singing together at festivals and concerts, as well as their romantic relationship in the early ’60s.

Finally, Dylan’s switch to rock music was nothing short of dramatic. At that stage in Dylan’s life, he had discussed altering his musical style with Joan Baez, but no one had ever seen his new approach. The most pivotal moment in the film, let alone in Dylan’s life leading up to this, was the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. This was the most crucial yet impactful moment of Dylan’s career. At the festival, he received immense backlash as fans of the folk music genre saw his change from folk to rock as a “betrayal to the folk genre.” Yet this was a turning point in his career because, from here on out, Dylan became an even more popular musician and gained a massive following over the next five years.

Honoring Bob Dylan

A Complete Unknown does Dylan great respect for many reasons but also doesn’t hold back from his dark side. Based on the book Dylan Goes Electric!, the film praises him for his fearlessness in changing his music genre in the middle of his career but also does not shy away from highlighting his misdeeds. For example, Mangold does justice to Bob Dylan by staying true to him as a person. Mangold understands that Dylan has always been someone who never shied away from pushing boundaries and never felt the need to explain himself. Not to mention, Timothée Chalamet’s performance as Bob Dylan was nothing short of spectacular. Chalamet channels Dylan’s spirit by capturing his noticeable quietness and awkwardness. In some scenes, Chalamet chose to perform some of Dylan’s songs rather than simply playing a recording. Timothée Chalamet establishes a deep connection between the film and Bob Dylan, as Chalamet sang a great cover for someone who wasn’t originally a musician.

Verdict: ⅘ 

In my opinion, A Complete Unknown is a fantastic film that I’d recommend to anyone, even if they aren’t a huge fan of Bob Dylan. Similarly to the Elvis docu-movie with Austin Butler, it tells a compelling story without requiring prior knowledge of Elvis or Dylan to understand.

James Mangold’s selection of Timothée Chalamet for the role of Bob Dylan was an excellent choice, in my opinion. Despite not originally being a fan of Dylan himself, Chalamet fully committed to the role and delivered it perfectly.

I wasn’t originally a fan of Bob Dylan going into this movie, but this completely changed that for me. This film is definitely a must-watch, whether you are a long-time fan of Dylan or discovering him for the first time.

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Sam Bruderle ('27)

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Introduction

This past month, Wicked arrived in theaters and received an overwhelming amount of support and attention online. While Wicked explores the journeys of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, it is meant as a prerequisite to the story of the Wizard of Oz. If you are wondering how the timelines connect and who the characters are, keep reading!

Boq (Tin Man)

Boq is introduced early into the movie as a student from Munchkinland attending Shiz. Upon meeting Galinda in the beginning of the story, he develops feelings for her. In attempts to land her, he agrees to Galinda’s plot to ask Elphaba’s sister Nessarose to a school dance. Nessarose grows attached to Boq and, once in power, forces him to stay by her side under her rule in Munchkinland. Using a speel to force this loyalty upon Boq, Nessarose accidentally shrinks Boq’s heart. The shrinking of Boq’s heart and Elphaba’s effort to reverse her sister Nessarose’s spell is ultimately what leads to him turning into the character of the tin man in The Wizard of Oz. 

The shrinking of Boq’s heart symbolizes the loss of emotion. Wicked furthers the origins of the Tin Man’s story by connecting the loss of a heart to Nessarose’s infatuation with Boq and Elphaba’s attempt to undo her sister’s spell. The shrinking of his heart and loss of emotion have made the “tin” man hard and mechanical. In The Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man spends the movie searching for a heart as it would be proof that he has love and compassion in himself. His journey through Oz only showed the depths of kindness and empathy that he already carries himself with. 

Fiyero (Scarecrow)

Fiyero is a student held in high prestige at Shiz who becomes the love interest of both Galinda and Elphaba. Initially, Galinda goes for Fiyero being attracted to his looks. While initially pairing up with Galinda, it is not until later into the story of Wicked that Fiyero starts to take a liking to Elphaba. Elphaba unlocks a depth in Fiyero and helps him understand the complexities of the world. In a show of love, Fiyero submits himself to the Wizard’s soldiers to allow Elphaba an escape. To protect Fiyero, Elphaba tries to cast yet another spell on Fiyero to protect him from harm, leading to his transformation into the Scarecrow.

Fiyero becoming the Scarecrow represents his transformed love for Elphaba. While he starts off as a pretentious prince, through his relationship with Elphaba he becomes a committed and selfless person. Fiyero’s transformation into the Scarecrow offers him protection from the world of Oz but distances his form and ability to be with Elphaba. However, the movie is concerned mainly with the fact that the scarecrow would like a brain, where he takes his journey and later discovers his underlying intelligence. 

Lion Cub

While the cub plays a minor part in the Wicked movie, it holds a major role in the plot of The Wizard of Oz. The cub is being experimented on at Shiz, displaying the abuse towards animals in Oz and building Elphaba’s resistance to the happenings of Oz. In an act of defiance, Elphaba frees the lion cub with the help of Fiyero. 

The lion cub later becomes the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz. The cub’s transformation displays how mistreatment from an early age can shape one’s future confidence and identity. Despite being saved by Elphaba, the cub was in a very vulnerable condition for most of its “youth.” In The Wizard of Oz, the cowardly lion learns bravery by confronting his fears and the self-doubt he holds within himself throughout his whole journey in Oz. 

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Denise Caruthers ('26)

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