Author: Rebecca Nagel (Rebecca Nagel)

Home Rebecca Nagel
A black and white image of a woman holding a Prada purse. The only part of this image that is in color is her red nails. She is wearing a striped shirt and holding the purse in frame, while her face is out of frame, adding to the theme of materialism that is prevalent in this post.
Post

Prada, Power, and Pressure: Materialism in The Devil Wears Prada

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash When The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters in 2006, many saw it as a stylish workplace comedy with unforgettable one-liners (“That’s all.”). But beneath the designer gowns and icy glares, the film offers a sharp critique of materialism, gendered workplace culture, and the pressure women face to conform to...

image of a woman in black lingerie with a jackolantern on her head
Post

How Halloween Costumes Became a Lesson in the Male Gaze

Photo by Daniel Lincoln on Unsplash It’s almost impossible to walk into a Halloween store without stumbling into a wall of sequins, corsets, and miniskirts. Somewhere between the Mean Girls “I’m a mouse, duh” reference and today’s TikTok trends, women’s Halloween costumes became almost exclusively about how much skin they reveal—no matter the character. Nurse?...

A photo of a modern witch in a black witch hate, holding a basket and a bundle of sage
Post

The History of Witchcraft and the Invention of the “Subhuman Woman”

Photo by Ksenia Yakovleva on Unsplash “When a woman thinks alone, she thinks evil.” — common proverb in early modern Europe, quoted in Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici Witches have been burned at the stake, cast as villains, glamorized on screen, turned into Halloween costumes, and sold back to us as empowerment merchandise....

lavender, candles, and other witchcraft tools that give Practical Magic vibes
Post

Gender and Sexuality in Practical Magic: A Witchy Lens on Feminism, Sisterhood, and Desire

Photo by Ksenia Yakovleva on Unsplash Griffin Dunne’s 1998 cult classic Practical Magic may be remembered for its cozy New England aesthetic, margarita nights, and the irresistible charm of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters—but beneath its whimsical surface, the film is a rich text for exploring gender, sexuality, and feminist resistance....

a shadowy photo of a girl wearing a cream colored tank top
Post

Back to School, Back to Policing Girls’ Bodies: The Feminist Problem with Dress Codes

Photo by Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash As the smell of fresh pencils, pumpkin spice, and anxiety wafts through the air, another back-to-school ritual returns like clockwork: the enforcement of school dress codes. On paper, these policies are meant to “create a distraction-free learning environment.” In practice? They overwhelmingly target girls, reinforcing harmful ideas about modesty,...

a silhouette of a pregnant woman in front of a wide window in a dark room
Post

Declining Birth Rates, Reproductive Rights, and the Politics of Control

Photo by Mustafa Omar on Unsplash For decades, the United States birth rate has been steadily declining. Economists often cite economic instability, shifting cultural priorities, and the soaring cost of living as key factors. Sociologists point to the growing acceptance of child-free lifestyles alongside expanded educational and career opportunities for women. Yet, to discuss birth...

a vintage typewriter with the word "feminism" typed onto white paper
Post

Performing Gender and Defying Norms: Postmodern Feminism in Baz Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Trilogy

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash Baz Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Trilogy—Strictly Ballroom (1992), Romeo + Juliet (1996), and Moulin Rouge! (2001)—is an explosion of color, drama, and defiance. Beneath the glitter and spectacle lies something far more radical: a cinematic interrogation of gender, power, and performance. Each film takes a wrecking ball to societal expectations,...

Moulin Rouge (2001) movie poster
Post

Come What May: Gender, Camp, and Queerness in Moulin Rouge!

Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! (2001) completes his vibrant Red Curtain Trilogy, following Strictly Ballroom (1992) and Romeo + Juliet (1996). Where Strictly Ballroom embraced dance as its theatrical motif and Romeo + Juliet used heightened Shakespearean language, Moulin Rouge! explodes with music—specifically, the jukebox musical. A pastiche of glamor, melodrama, and spectacle, Moulin Rouge! leans...

movie poster for Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film, Romeo + Juliet
Post

Masks and Masculinity: Gender’s Role in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet

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...