Column

The film saga is the gold standard of reboots — why is it still slept on?   By JOAQUIN WATERS — jwat@ucdavis.edu   “You might not like what you find.” These are the words spoken to Charlton Heston’s marooned astronaut in the 1968 film, “Planet of the Apes.” He is told not to go looking […]

Will RFK Jr. spoil the 2024 presidential election?   By MOLLY THOMPSON — mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu    The Kennedys — a family so quintessentially American that Olivia Rodrigo sang praises of their “class and integrity.” But the proverbial black sheep of the group, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to be on the presidential ticket this fall […]

Floral flavors serve to be transformative in the coffee beverage industry   By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu   Coffee, as a beverage, is well-known for its versatile flavor profiles. One brew could contain notes of chocolate, spice and caramel, while the next could taste of honey, orange and plum. No single coffee bean is alike; […]

Consumerism drives much of the music industry and top artists must acknowledge the detrimental effects    By CLAIRE SCHAD — cfschad@ucdavis.edu    It is no secret that Taylor Swift’s fans are willing to do almost anything to support their favorite artist. Whether it’s spending hours in a virtual queue trying to buy concert tickets or […]

Here’s what’s really missing from the Olympics   By MALCOLM LANGE — mslange@ucdavis.edu Ding, ding, ding. The first round is over. Both boxers are bruised and tired. They both return to their respective corners, take a sip of water and wipe the sweat off of their moist foreheads. They both exit the ring and sit […]

Is the looming ban an infringement on free speech or a national security necessity?   By JOAQUIN WATERS — jwat@ucdavis.edu   So. TikTok. For at least six years, if not going all the way back to its 2016 launch, it has been the most popular social media platform in the United States. It is a […]

You know how to ball, I know too much about Taylor Swift’s new album   By MOLLY THOMPSON — mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu    Taylor Swift may just be the most known and seen person in America right now, even in the greater Western world. She’s been incredibly central for more than a decade now, and we’ve all […]

The quest for meaning is counterintuitive to art’s true purpose   By JOAQUIN WATERS — jwat@ucdavis.edu   My favorite book I read for my high school English classes was “The Great Gatsby.” I know, I know, basic as heck, right? But hear me out. Most analyses of the book focus on the titular Gatsby, and […]

Despite historical and social barriers, female athletes deserve adequate pay and attention    By CLAIRE SCHAD — cfschad@ucdavis.edu    Recently, women’s sports have finally been getting the attention they deserve. Whether it’s the unprecedented viewership of the Women’s NCAA basketball championship or the recent success of the Women’s Professional Hockey League, women in sports have […]

Video killed the radio star   By MOLLY THOMPSON — mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu     Our current media landscape revolves around a constant stream of content. There are more posts than a single person could ever keep up with — it would take over 18,000 years to watch every video currently uploaded on YouTube. The expectation of entertainment […]

We must remain realistic as we fight to reverse global warming    By MAYA KORNYEYEVA — mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu   Recently, the United Nations (UN) Climate Chief Simon Stiell announced that “humans only have 2 years to save the world,” a prediction that paints irreversible climate change as practically inevitable. I met this announcement, to no surprise, […]

Why do viewers seem to miss what “Dune” is really about?   By JOAQUIN WATERS — jwat@ucdavis.edu   “Dune: Part Two” is only a month old, yet it may already be the movie of the year. The film has taken the entertainment industry by storm, leading many to declare the sci-fi franchise the next “Lord […]