ESSAYS
Personal stories, analyses, and explorations.
Don’t Judge a Cowboy by His Revolver
Gun belts, wide hats, and sunset duels, the cowboy has fueled the imagination of many authors, both in literature and film. Yet, the vision we have of these lonesome riders is not so faithful in depicting the real-life workers.
2.0 by BTS: ‘Oldboy’ and the Art of Longevity
As the video features their tightest choreography to date alongside biting lyrics calling attention to their status as an irreplaceable powerhouse, the imitation begs the question: How does Park’s film factor into BTS’ long-awaited comeback?
25 Years of Gorillaz: Cycles and Rebirth
Between the blue-haired singer Stuart “2D” Pot, the satanist bassist Murdoc Niccals, the martial arts expert guitarist Noodle, and Russel Hobbs, the drummer haunted by the ghost of his friend, Gorillaz are designed to mark the spirit.
There and Back Again: 25 Years of ‘The Lord of the Rings’
It is hard to think of today’s blockbuster movies as a love letter to the artistic medium, but The Lord of the Rings trilogy pays homage to every possible creative field that exists within filmmaking.
Motion Capture: A Guide to an Acting Revolution
The wonder of motion capture comes from combining acting performances with the skills of digital artists to produce a final 3D enhanced product. One cannot work without the other, and that may be what makes this filmmaking technique so unique and impressive to audiences.
Different Shades of Nude: How ‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Changing the Narrative Around the Romance Genre
While tons of people tuned in for a fun time (and it has been a fantastically fun time), many also walked away awed by the show’s production and execution, cementing its position higher up the scale of what’s considered premium television and storytelling.
The Visual Narrative in Twenty One Pilots’ Storytelling
It might seem paradoxical to talk about the visual aspect of a band’s music, but if Twenty One Pilots are famous for one thing, it’s being an exception to the norm.
Miniatures: The Birth of Narrative Cinema
Frowned upon by big studios today because of the time and money it takes to create them, model miniatures are the pinnacle of fictional cinema.
Stop Using Tattoos as Shorthand for Villain
Tattoos have different meanings and purposes, but what they do not signify is whether someone is inherently good or evil. So why do so many film and television directors treat them as embodiments of everything wrong with the world?
My Neighbor Totoro: Lessons in Faith and Forests
As an adult who is constantly bogged down by the realities of life and making compromises, My Neighbor Totoro is my go-to escapist film. But more importantly, it is a much-needed lesson in learning how to have faith again, and in being brave and believing.
Ponyo: Milk With Honey and the Magic Within
Andersen’s original tale is tragic, displaying the hefty price of love and selling your soul for immortality, while Disney gives the characters the most fairy tale-like ending. Miyazaki’s more nuanced approach is a profound interpretation that factors in a fresh perspective of youthfulness, nature and its interconnectedness, and a whimsicality that earlier versions don’t have.
The Mercurial Relationship Between People and Places
“Not just a green flag, but a whole green forest” became a popular phrase throughout the Asian drama fandom space in 2023, alluding to the likeable personality of the characters in the Chinese drama Hidden Love (2023). Of course, my curiosity was piqued and I had to see why everyone was watching this show. During my first watch of Hidden Love, I had no idea that its sequel, The First Frost (2025), was in the making, or that I’d love that sequel so much that I’d rush straight back into a rewatch.
When Life Gives You Tangerines: The Legend of Cycle-Breakers
Oh Ae-sun is a regular girl with hopes and dreams, but her story is emotional and profound. Through her, the series empathizes with women’s stories and puts them to the forefront, spotlighting earnest messages on our struggles, relationships, and joys.
Gone With the Wind: A Treat for the Eyes, Not the Mind
Beyond its technical merits, many of which remain competitive almost a century later, Gone with the Wind falls flat as a romance film. The four-hour runtime dilutes the main storyline of Scarlett and Rhett's love with unnecessary scenes.
D-Day in Concert: A Breakdown of the Artist
One of the most intriguing things about Min Yoongi’s discography has always been his thorough exploration of different concepts of identity. Both his songs as SUGA of BTS and his robust solo career as Agust D are full of reflections that hit with a gut-punching earnestness. And out of all of his forays into the topic, the 2023 Agust D D-Day concert tour was the most revelatory into his views on art and its relation to the self.
Yes, I Really Flew to Europe for a Concert
You’ll often hear K-pop fans say that their favorite groups or idols saved and healed them. A lot of people outside of the genre roll their eyes and call that childish or dramatic. But it’s so very true.
You Should Watch Dungeon Meshi if You’ve Struggled With Disordered Eating
By the time I got to the first cooking scene, I didn’t care that I was about to see food; I wanted to know if our heroes could get sustenance in order to rescue their fallen ally.
Right Place, Wrong Person: Seeing What a Life is About
Namjoon presents his uncensored feelings through an eclectic mix of genres and an exploration of whether he’s been living the right way as both Namjoon, a guy in his 20s, and RM, leader of world-renowned K-pop group BTS.
Jimin’s Muse: Perfect, Blue
‘Muse’ is not Jimin saying, “I was sad, but now I’m happy and in love.” It is, instead, a refreshingly honest look at how one emerges from a low point—a cautious, curious exploration of how to love and be loved again.
Maybe the Real Friends Are the Monsters We Made Along the Way
The kids riding bikes, the crawling through gutters, the guardrails, the fence, the isolation in a crowd—when I saw “Domodachi,” I saw Hirokazu Koreeda’s 2023 film Monster echoing through every frame. It is a reference I did not expect and a word I have not related to Namjoon for a long time.