Without a doubt, some of the most thought provoking and well-made films in the last few years have come from the horror genre. In the last few years alone, we have seen audiences petrified by Jordan Peele’s Us, Ari Aster’s Hereditary and Midsommar, and Luca Guadagnino’s chilling Suspiria remake. Given the acclaim these movies received, it is astonishing that none of them, nor the people who created them, were recognised for their brilliant work at the Academy Awards.

When we think of bi icons, people’s minds immediately drift to the likes of Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie. For me growing up, it was Lady Gaga and Billie Joe Armstrong; out and proud and loud about it.

Despite its career defining performances, intimate shots and clever but subtle use of the colour blue to represent love, the award-winning french film Blue Is the Warmest Colour unfortunately feeds into a larger problem of representation within queer cinema.

Joe Biden has been the new US President for less than a month, but he has already got to work with putting new policies into place. With his proposed minimum wage increase to $15 an hour, debate has ensued as to who exactly should receive this, as well as what it means to be an “unskilled” worker.

Representation surrounding the different relationships teenage girls have with masturbation is significantly better than it once was, but nowhere near where it needs to be. Recent series such as Sex Education are examples of media that uses humour and easy concepts – aimed at the exact demographic it portrays – as a way of telling stories previously not explored in the mainstream.

Perhaps surprisingly, many people’s vegan journey starts from their participation in “Veganuary”. It starts out as something one does as a challenge, or simply for a welcome month-long New Year’s resolution. However, it can turn into a more personal and permanent lifestyle change for those who complete the challenge – this is how it happened for me, anyway.

Todd Haynes’ 2015 film Carol can be read in many different ways, but it is predominantly a period romance. Set in a romantic vision of 1950s New York, we follow Therese - an unsure 19-year-old with an artistic eye who sports a red and yellow beret and is aching to know herself.

Medusa is undoubtedly one of history’s most notorious villains. I definitely used to think as much learning about the myth surrounding her gory demise growing up. Heroic Perseus, son of Zeus and slayer of Medusa, bringing justice to the earth and stars. Not once did I stop and wonder exactly what Medusa was meant to have done wrong, nor what exactly she did to deserve such a gruesome end.

I’m not sure how long I have understood what it means for me to be a Capricorn, let alone a “Capricorn sun”. I’ve always known that this is the star sign that coheres with my January birthday, but I’ve now gotten so interested in astrology that if my friend acts in a particular way, I will without hesitation say, “it’s because you’re a Virgo”.

“Sex is a choice, menstruation isn’t. Menstrual products should be free just like condoms are.” Like many, I used to hold this view: it seemed obvious to me. People can choose to have sex, choose to get pregnant, choose to get an STD as a result of choosing to have sex. People who menstruate do not choose whether or not to bleed.

Much like everyone else this lockdown, I have taken to going on lots of walks. I’ve lived in this neighbourhood half my life and know it like the back of my hand. However, lately there has been a vibrant new addition to this otherwise fairly ordinary village: rainbow flags. The first time I saw one, I was like “Oh, great! Happy Pride month,” but then more and more cropped up. It was only when I saw many rainbow signs accompanied with “THANK YOU NHS” that I understood.

Due to the heavy yet completely warranted focus on the Black Lives Matter movement these last few months, many Americans opted not to celebrate Independence Day this 4th July.

On May 25th 2020, the world witnessed the murder of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of white police officer Derek Chauvin. This event was the catalyst for world-wide action following the deaths of Sandra Bland, Tony McDade, and many other people of colour at the hands of the police.

2020 has been a year like no other for all of us, and the LGBTQ+ community is no exception. June 2020 marks 20 years since Bill Clinton officially marked June as pride month, and 9 years since Barack Obama expanded June to be a month for the entire LGBTQ+ community rather than just “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”. 2020’s pride month in particular has been eventful, and not in an entirely positive way.

Halsey welcomes the new decade with an album bursting with sounds both familiar and new. With a plethora of features and a solidified lyrical style, Manic reminds us that Halsey is a musical force to be reckoned with.