‘Heartstopper’ warmed and destroyed me”
“Heartstopper” is an uplifting story of queer love that can also be heartbreaking for many LGBTQ+ people who were not able to love openly, writes Tyler Mitchell in his review.
“Stranger Things” and Will Byers’ understated “coming out”
When Will Byers of “Stranger Things” came out, “t was unsafe for white cisgender gay men,and even more dangerous for marginalized identities. Will is undoubtedly living in a reality where both his physical and emotional safety could be at risk if anyone found out he was gay,” writes Tyler Mitchell.
Warhol numbs, Dylan Kelly makes us care: two Scholastic Art Award winners then, now
This is a case of a lesson learned, and then unlearned. Some years ago, as a high school art teacher, I learned to withhold praise for personal styles in student work. Teens, not fully formed in mind or body, will stay with the praised style, hesitant to explore other...
Poignant live performance from ’90s dream pop Fishmans re-emerges
In spite of such a difficult COVID-consumed year for all of us, the universe gave us unexpected gifts along the way. Some are bright and shiny; some are dark and stormy. Some are both. One of those dual-sided gifts for me has been discovering a 42-minute concert film...
Wingspan: progressive, educational, fun and beautiful
Wingspan is one of my favorite board games, for almost more reasons than I can mention. This is a game that puts you in the role of a bird enthusiast who is trying to obtain the bird food you need to attract birds to their appropriate habitats. Wingspan helped raise...
Board games offer lessons of life, inclusiveness
Walking into the game room of Mayhem Collectibles, in Clive, can be a surreal experience. There are people sitting at tables throughout the room playing games of all kinds. Games about building the best suburb, games about discovering underwater kingdoms, even games...
In “Wild Nights,” Molly Shannon brings shades of SNL’s Mary Katherine Gallagher to Dickinson
The hilarious image of SNL’s Mary Katherine Gallagher will forever be what I see first, when I see actress Molly Shannon. The character of an over-eager Catholic schoolgirl trying dramatically and desperately to be the best she can be, at whatever she tries,...
Last chance for two films about authenticity
These two stories showing at FilmScene are set thousands of miles, and hundreds of years, apart. One features several actors considered legends; the other is a project of admired newcomers. One centers around a building, and the other revolves around a garden. But the...
‘Saturday Church’ earns fans through teen’s self-discovery
Cherry blossoms represent overwhelming beauty, the fleeting nature of life, and the feminine yet powerful. In “Saturday Church,” cherry blossoms help tell the story of a young African-American’s budding journey of discovering their sexuality and gender identity. The...
Crystal healing therapy, in person
If you’re looking to “let go” or have a feeling of meditative serenity, the crystal healing bed I experienced this month is not the way to go. But if you’re seeking to bridge gaps of mind, body and soul, I strongly recommend the crystal healing bed offered by ReAlive...
AIDS documentary recalls heartbreaking activism
Early on in the documentary “How to Survive a Plague,” activist Larry Kramer is shown giving a motivating speech to a group of young New Yorkers. He asks half of the large audience to stand up, then announces, “All of you are going to be dead in six months. Now what...
The best of protest music
Every year, I dive through the music industry’s “best of” lists, looking for albums and artists that made a splash or flew under my radar. This January, scrolling through lists from NPR, Pitchfork, the Guardian, and other tastemakers, one pattern became extremely...
Revisit assumptions, could haves and should haves in “The Midnight Library”
Many of us humans, flawed and egotistical as we are, believe our own interpretations are the only correct or accurate ones. “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig helps readers recognize that they might be looking at things too narrowly.
Are any lies kind? Worthy questions in Nancy Johnson’s first-time novel
Nancy Johnson’s first novel raises a worthy question about lies, despite leaving characters unexplored, writes Cathy Chavez in her new “Off the Shelf” book review.
‘Pray Away’ devastates by showing religion’s leading role in ongoing conversion therapy abuse of LGBTQ+ people
Pray Away is about how conversion therapy is still happening, targeting transgender people within the LGBTQ+ community, and masquerading as religious love. Read Aime Wichtendahl’s review.
Share the joy of books, reading in “Off the Shelf” reviews
Welcome to our new book review feature, "Off the Shelf." Open to any book reader who wants to share your thoughts on how you're affected by what you read, Off the Shelf is also led by decades-long voracious reader and personal reading activist Cathy Chavez, who will...
A game that’s serious about LGBTQ+ community, relationships: Mass Effect (Review)
I often tell people I was born with an Atari 2600 controller in my hand. One of my earliest memories was my parents showing off the Atari at my grandparents' house to my aunts and uncles. Games of Berzerk, Missile Command, and Space Invaders lasted long into the...