Essay
Selah and the Spades: How the Series Would've Benefited Young Adult Media
The world was introduced to Selah Summers and Haldwell Academy in April 2020. Selah is the titular character of Selah and the Spades, an independent Young Adult drama that tells the story of how Selah walks a fine line between being feared and being loved. Months before the film’s release, Variety released an article stating that Amazon Studios had bought the rights to the film and planned to develop a series based on the movie. According to the article, the show was supposed to expound on the world of Haldwell Academy, possibly after Selah graduated. Unfortunately, we learned a few years back from Tayarisha Poe (the writer and director) on Twitter that the series isn’t happening. Looking at the current state of Young Adult Entertainment, Amazon should've developed the series. Teen media today lacks authentic minority representation, original content, and has alienated teen audiences. If the Selah and the Spades series existed, there would be more minority representation in teen media, an original show amongst the sea of remakes and reboots, and a show that doesn't alienate teen audiences.
By Tallulah Chanel7 months ago in Critique
Father's Day
So, another Father's Day without you Dad. I know you are still looking out for me even from that special place you are now. For I know you and mom are looking out for me for when I am cutting grass in this hot and humid weather there seems to be a cool breeze that blows when I most need it, and I can push on with whatever I need to do. I see you in the clouds with mom and know that you are at peace and feeling your old self and still as mentioned looking over me now.
By Mark Graham7 months ago in Critique
Father's Day
So, another Father's Day without you Dad. I know you are still looking out for me even from that special place you are now. For I know you and mom are looking out for me for when I am cutting grass in this hot and humid weather there seems to be a cool breeze that blows when I most need it, and I can push on with whatever I need to do. I see you in the clouds with mom and know that you are at peace and feeling your old self and still as mentioned looking over me now.
By Mark Graham7 months ago in Critique
🧀 Society of the Human Rats
I feel that society increasingly resembles a house of rodents, in which the luckiest and most fortunate rats —whether due to effort and dedication (because yes, there are rats that truly fought and worked hard to get a good chunk of cheese that allows them to live well and happy in their rat world)— have their place. But there are others who simply had a smart daddy rat who accumulated and accumulated —sometimes selfishly— a great amount of cheese. And there they are, just roaming, eating and spending, and spending, jumping from trap to trap, because they know that the biggest piece is already in their burrow. And they’re not satisfied with the scraps offered in the traps set out for rats in the world.
By Leonardo Alberca7 months ago in Critique
The Collapse of a Climate Mascot:
Let’s not act like this came out of nowhere. Greta Thunberg was always a symbol first. The world put a teenager on the global stage and decided she was the solution to a crisis rooted in decades of corporate corruption, policy decay, and public inertia.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin | Ink Profiler7 months ago in Critique
Wishing on a Star......
I know the image really does not match the title, but they are kind of close in a way. Lately I have been wishing that I could receive more reads and comments on my work here on Vocal. I do have two to three people who read my writings, but it seems that only a few months ago I had quite a few more other writers commenting on my writings of such. It has also been quite a while since I was on the leaderboard or even had a top story. Where has everyone gone that read my work here.
By Mark Graham7 months ago in Critique
What Comes After Exposure? Reclaiming Memory and Repair
It starts with a spark—a documentary, a conversation, a sudden reckoning. Maybe someone posts about stolen African artifacts sitting in European museums, or you read that the wealth of a global power was built on slave labor. At first, it feels like outrage. But soon, a deeper question emerges:
By David Thusi7 months ago in Critique
MAGA Fatigue
The 2024 U.S. presidential election has led to increasing disappointment among Americans who backed Donald Trump because they expected his promises of economic growth and law enforcement and American greatness. The base of Trump supporters now experiences deep regret about their support because his administration's policies have produced results that cannot be denied. The initial enthusiasm for Trump has transformed into deep frustration and anger and feelings of betrayal because his second term has exceeded all expectations of chaos and division and damage.
By Melvin Savage7 months ago in Critique
Little Miracles
'Little Miracles A Journey to Financial Freedom' a small, short book written by Melvin Kaufmann. This is a short book of 100 Little Miracles that you can use personally and professionally. 'Little Miracles' are short vignettes that give you a way to learn more on working and living with suggestions on how to interact with others in a more personal and professional manner to increase your business going. Melvin Kaufmann gives tips on how to be better aware of who you are and who you are about to meet at various business gatherings and a better leader in your work.
By Mark Graham7 months ago in Critique
The Observer's Chair
'The Observer's Chair Discovering the REAL you! was written by Dave Blanchard. This is a small, short book for coaches that could also be used by many kinds of therapists too. Welcome to the world of creating new habits of learning and working in your many various fields of choice. Mainly, this is a book that gives you a chance to see yourself in and from a different perspective. You will learn to observe yourself and the decisions that you have made, and see what and how you are progressing in working and living and also will increase your self-awareness.
By Mark Graham7 months ago in Critique
Immigration Policy
Australians are now living an average of a decade longer than we were just ten years ago, with women benefiting the most from this increase in life expectancy, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' report, Life Expectancy. While this is a remarkable achievement and something we often celebrate, it comes with a sobering reality: our standard of living has significantly declined. Although we may be living longer, many are living lives far poorer than they had envisioned - something the media rarely addresses openly.
By Narghiza Ergashova7 months ago in Critique
