The Conversation, Author at Spotlight Magazine

Women Talking – a radical film that reimagines how cinema can be made

Words matter. They give expression to our experiences, allow us to tell our stories and make sense of our place within the world. With language comes the ability to speak: to speak for, and to […]

Horror comedy ‘The Menu’ delves into foodie snobbery when you’re dying for a cheeseburger

This story contains spoilers about ‘The Menu.’ The Disney+ release of horror/comedy The Menu marks the beginning of what is already shaping up to be a reckoning year for the world of fine dining. The film, released this past […]

Influencer marketing is big business: here are five mistakes the stars (and the brands who sponsor them) should avoid

Using social media celebrities to advertise products – influencer marketing – is a lucrative and rapidly growing industry, projected to be worth up to US$15 billion (£10.7 billion) by 2022. Influencers profit from their online fame by […]

Squid Game is influenced by the horror of survival comics and real-life debt

Note: The following article contains spoilers about “Squid Game.” Is the Netflix Korean sensation Squid Game an allegory for late capitalism? The response to the show is similar to medieval morality plays that attempted to hammer home the […]

Spencer: how Diana became the popular culture princess

Despite being dead since 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, is once again the focus of much attention. This time it’s not due to the anniversary of her death or the apparent breakdown in her son’s relationship. Instead, the […]

Apocalyptic films have lulled us into a false sense of security about climate change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)‘s sobering “code red for humanity” report comes on the heels of months of devastating weather events around the world. Our front pages have been dominated by photos that look as […]

How Aretha Franklin asserted control over her career, paving the way for female musicians

“I need a change,” Aretha Franklin says at one point in “Respect,” the new film starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul. “I want to sing what I want to sing.” For all her […]

Arts venues set the stage for wonder, the critical sense we need for post-pandemic innovation

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, from how we work and shop to how we communicate and learn. Worryingly, governments have overtaken market forces in deciding economic winners and losers, with arts spaces ending up among the biggest losers despite well-documented evidence that the sector is […]

4 ways independent filmmakers can make the most of small budgets for big results

“Here are your handcuffs. Now, how would you like to wear them?” Each time I embark on a new low-budget independent film, this is the mantra that begins to play on a loop in my head. […]

Hip hop culture paves the way forward

Canada’s cultural institutions need hip hop communities now more than ever. I say this after working as a guest curator at one of Canada’s most significant art galleries — the McMichael Canadian Art Collection — […]