Academic Perspective

I was in a local grocery store looking for a quick lunch to grab before a long trip south. As I stood in line for checkout, I heard a familiar tune coming over the speakers. At first, I couldn’t place it. Then, when the vocals began, I recognized it. The great encroachment had begun.

It can be a daunting task to find people who respect the sport of soccer in the United States, despite its status as the most loved sport in the world. Americans turn to other pastimes, most prominently baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. While I love all of these sports, a year of watching “the people’s [...]

It was first seen in high schools across the nation during September of 2009. It would be seen on shirts and in speech, and it would be alien to anyone who did not watch TV. Then, slowly but surely, it would make its way into the magazines, into the words of talk show hosts, and [...]

It is difficult to detach ourselves from physical appearance and judge by character. Looks are the first things we see, the first things that we react to, and they, unlike personality or intellect, fully reveal themselves immediately.  There’s no wait involved. It’s instant gratification, and it’s easier, more natural even, than having to delve deeper [...]

In his own way, rapper Soulja Boy (born DeAndre Way) is a musical genius. At the age of 19, Way has seen three of his songs reach the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 20, with his number one single “Crank That” capturing the top spot for 7 weeks—longer than such classics as The Beatles’ “Can’t [...]