Taylor Crain

A&E 9/29/20 10:48pm

Review: “Antebellum” is not worth your time

By Taylor Crain

Shortly after learning that Breonna Taylor's murderers were not indicted, I decided to watch “Antebellum.” I’d been avoiding it because I had no desire to watch a gratuitously violent depiction of Black female trauma, but I reasoned that that was why I needed to analyze it. I needed to put my thoughts together for people as to why these kinds of films need to be handled differently. In the context of President Donald Trump working to erase the realities and implications of slavery from the American consciousness, I am firmly in the camp that slave films do need to be made, but they need to be made differently. 

OPINION 7/2/20 5:42pm

True anti-racism at Rice begins with removing the statue of a slave owner

By Divine Webber , Taylor Crain , Lauren Palladino and Emily Weaver

“Statues are not meant to teach events. They are constructed to honor the memory of those depicted. Like all slave owners, William Marsh Rice is not worth reverence,” write Taylor Crain (Lovett ‘21), Lauren Palladino (Duncan ‘21), Emily Weaver (Jones ‘22) and Divine Webber (Duncan ‘22). 

OPINION 1/21/20 10:02pm

Not in our name will the Ion perpetuate injustice

By Taylor Crain

The spring of 2019 I heard whispers and read snippets about the Innovation District, which I understood, initially, to be an innovative tech and consulting hub for venture capitalists, startups and big corporations. Immediately, I wanted to be involved out of fear the development would exclude the interests of creative students at Rice and of communities vulnerable to displacement and cultural erasure.

A&E 12/3/19 9:03pm

"Queen and Slim" aestheticizes Black trauma

By Taylor Crain

“Queen and Slim” had been on my mind since the film was announced. Written by Lena Waithe (“The Chi” and “Master of None”) and directed by Melina Matsoukas (“Formation”), “Queen and Slim” marketed itself as a film portraying The Great Black Love Story of our time by depicting police brutality from a Black perspective. It seemed too good to be true — and perhaps it was. 

A&E 10/8/19 9:53pm

Review: “Joker” misses a few punchlines

By Taylor Crain

Gone are the suave, perfectly timed comedic Jokers of our childhood cartoons. The stylish, crisp and capable-of-institutionally-insane-yet-highly-intellectual-monologues Jokers are no more. There is a new Joker in town. 

A&E 9/24/19 9:11pm

Review: “Hustlers” fights stigma with sisterhood

By Taylor Crain

“Climb into my fur,” Ramona says to Destiny with a flip of her coat. They are on top of the rooftop of the Manhattan strip club they work. At this moment, Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) answers Destiny’s (Constance Wu) request for guidance and takes her under her proverbial wing.