Angel's Portfolio

Better an “Oops” Than a “What If” Little Miss Sunshine starring Steve Carell and Abigail Breslin is an amazing film which is as comic and sweet as it is tragic. Just like the yellow Volkswagen bus that is a prominent feature throughout the film, the audience is taken through many ups and downs that leave us with a few inspiring messages. At first some might believe that this film is simply about a dysfunctional family's journey to their daughter's beauty pageant, but in reality, it's about how the family challenges societal standards of success and the "American dream".  In many ways Little Miss Sunshine critiques the way society has put a blind emphasis on competition and self-entitlement, which distorts our perceptions of true success. Characters like Richard Hoover who believe that people are either  “winners or losers” contribute to social norms that limit individualism and self-expression. He is the epitome of a person who attempts to chase success through to...

  In the Wake of Misconduct  If you were to step into my bedroom, there are many things that might draw your attention: the original artwork adorning my walls, my record collection, and the posters covering almost the entirety of my room. Posters of artists, entertainers, and bands such as The Beatles whom I’ve grown to admire, but also people who've made personal choices that have made their character difficult to tolerate. In the age of the Me Too Movement and more recently, cancel culture, revelations of artists’ misconduct are continually surfacing. It poses the question of whether or not we should continue to support the art originating from controversial artists. When artists from all industries are being criticized for their moral shortcomings or problematic behavior, we as a consumer-based society should ask ourselves, should we separate the art from the artist? When stomach-turning accusations, like those of R-Kelly, come to light, it is understandable that some wou...