Sorry to burst your bubble, O lovers of the opera. I especially apologize to die-hard fans of Signore Giacomo Puccini. However timeless the composition is, Turandot is not the paragon of eternal love that people think it is. Rather, Puccini’s extravagant production is a hotbed of stereotypes, cultural backlash, and misogyny. Puccini has not set foot in China, yet he bravely sought to capture the intriguing world … Continue reading Why *Turandot* Doesn’t Turan-Work

An instrumental composition has equally as compelling a story as any song would. Often, a musical piece conveys a meaning that is significantly more profound than stanzas, couplets, and refrains. Such compositions are many, but one stands out in particular. “Orion”, the melodic metal epic by (who else?) Metallica feels like an intimate snapshot of courtship. Let’s embark on an eargasmic journey by looking at … Continue reading The Intimate Anatomy of Metallica’s “Orion”

Sex and the City (aka SATC) remains etched in culture as a perpetually relevant social commentary and satire on relationships and attitudes, in general. Every plot line comes with a grain of salt and a dash of hope (up until the dreadful movie and its sequel came along). Almost every girl aspired to be Carrie Bradshaw, the swanky protagonist. Rightfully so: She has an unfettered lust … Continue reading Carrie Bradshaw’s Broken Pedestal

Lady Murasaki Shikibu has bestowed upon readers a true masterpiece: the world’s first novel. She painted a florid yet sardonic picture of courtly life in Heian-Era Japan, particularly among the concubines of one Genji Hikaru. The son of Emperor Kiritsubo and his favorite consort, Genji is your typical spoiled brat with mommy issues. Symbolically, he manages to outdo Oedipus, himself. Why symbolically? By sheer fate, … Continue reading The Prince You Love to Hate

 Mishima Yukio’s final body of work is his most famous and arguably, the most controversial. The Sea of Fertility meticulously outlines the author’s intentions to restore the order and glory of Japan. Mishima took upon himself the task of what he believed to be saving the nation from corruption and decay. The second book, Runaway Horses, reads like a manifesto, especially through the eyes of Isao … Continue reading The Biblical Allegory of Mishima’s *Runaway Horses*

Zhang Yimou’s wuxia epic, Hero, draws parallels between a fictionalized conflict in Zhou-dynasty China and the Orion myth.  Nameless: The orphaned wuxia master, who attempts, then thwarts, the assassination of Qin Shihuangdi.  Emperor Qin is a composite expy of  Zeus and of Onopion: Merope’s father and Orion’s father-in-law. Flying Snow and Broken Sword: wuxia champions, former classmates, trained assassins, lovers pitted against each other. Emperor Qin … Continue reading Allusions to Greek Mythology in Zhang Yimou’s *Hero*