Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), the second film in his Red Curtain Trilogy, takes Shakespeare’s classic tragedy and throws it into the neon-lit chaos of modern-day Verona Beach. A dazzling blend of high drama, Catholic symbolism, Miami-inspired aesthetics, and MTV-era visuals, Luhrmann’s adaptation retains Shakespeare’s original language while reimagining the feud between the Capulets...
Author: Rebecca Nagel (Rebecca Nagel)
Strictly Gender: How Strictly Ballroom Dances Around Patriarchal Norms
Baz Luhrmann’s 1992 debut film Strictly Ballroom isn’t just about glittery costumes, dramatic dips, and dazzling dance moves—it’s also a rich, satirical take on gender performance, conformity, and resistance. Beneath its comedic flair and theatrical style, the film presents a sharp critique of the gender roles embedded within traditional ballroom dancing and the patriarchal systems...
What is Camp? The History and Evolution of a Queer Aesthetic
Photo by Tide_trasher_x on Unsplash “Camp” is one of those words we often hear but struggle to define. Is it glitter? Is it drag? Is it kitsch? Is it just bad taste turned good? The truth is, camp has a long, rich history that’s deeply rooted in queer aesthetics, theatricality, and a rejection of traditional...
Unpacking Gender: Judith Butler’s Challenge to the Binary
Photo by Delia Giandeini on Unsplash Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble presents one of the most profound philosophical challenges to the traditional understanding of gender. Building upon Simone de Beauvoir’s foundational work, Butler delves into gender as a performative act, pushing the boundaries of the gender binary and asking us to reconsider how identity is constructed...
Becoming Woman: Beauvoir’s Radical Reminder That Gender Is a Trap (We Can Escape)
Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash What does it mean to “become” a woman? Simone de Beauvoir’s famous line — “One is not born, but rather becomes, woman” — has never lost its relevance. But the more I sit with it, the more radical and heartbreaking it feels. In The Second Sex, Beauvoir doesn’t just...
A Bittersweet Goodbye: Reflecting on My Fight for Gender Justice at Canisius University
On paper, Canisius University was everything I wanted: small class sizes, a strong communication program, and a mission rooted in Jesuit values—justice, service, and community. And for a while, it felt like the right place. I met professors who challenged me, friends who uplifted me, and classmates who taught me what solidarity truly means. But...
The Trump Administration’s “Therapy First” Approach Is a Revival of State-Controlled Identity Disguised as Concern
Photo by Karollyne Videira Hubert on Unsplash The May 1, 2025 HHS report marks yet another chilling chapter in the Trump administration’s crusade against transgender people—this time under the guise of “protecting children.” With 409 pages of cherry-picked data and moral panic, the federal government is not just shifting health policy; it’s attempting to reassert...
Denim Day Was Just Days Ago — But the Fight Against Sexual Violence Is Every Day
Photo by Andreea Juganaru on Unsplash Denim Day was a few days ago, but I can’t just move on like the rest of the world seems to. Because what we’re talking about on Denim Day—sexual violence, harassment, trauma, and the ongoing failure of institutions to protect survivors—doesn’t go away when the hashtags fade or the...
What is Feminism?
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash What is feminism? Feminism is a belief system, a movement, a piece of history, and so much more. Throughout the course of this semester, we have studied feminism, discussing feminist scholars, visual media, and our own experiences as women. Feminism is a commonly misunderstood movement, as some people don’t...
Free speech tastes better than cupcakes
In light of the “Canisius Cupcake Wars” published a few months ago, Brianna Nosal and I want to give the opinion of Canisius’ pro-choice students who attended the Plan B event. We would like to mention that while I have been awarded for my abortion activism on campus, the Canisius University Griffin Newspaper is still...