By Kelsey D’Auben
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens has become one of the most successful films in modern movie history.
It had the most successful opening weekend in history, grossing over $200 million in box office sales worldwide. This past week the highly anticipated Star Wars sequel broke yet another box office record, passing both Jurassic World and Titanic to become the second most grossing film of all time. And with this after only 19 days of being in theaters, Star Wars is also expected to pass James Cameron’s Avatar and claim the number one spot shortly.
A new trilogy means one sure thing in the Star Wars world- a new trio set to save the galaxy from the dark side.
First came Luke, Leia, and Han Solo in episodes IIV, X, and XI, then Obi Wan, Anakin, and Padame in episodes I, II, and III.
In The Force Awakens we are introduced to the new team- Rey, Finn, and Poe.
This new group of leading characters is much different than the ones before them. They are made up of a Black man, a Hispanic man, and a woman. This is a significantly more diverse cast than the saga’s previous films that had casts that were nearly all white.
Not to say that this film doesn’t have a largely white cast as well. Rey, the female lead of the film, is white and so are Leia and Han Solo, previous lead characters brought back from the original saga.
Star Wars has always been sure to include strong, kick ass, fighter women in their films.
But this time the role wasn’t of the girl who fell for the Jedi, or the princess who needed saving.
Rey isn’t either of those tropes. Rey is (spoiler alert) the young Jedi discovering her powers – a role traditionally only given to the white male characters.
This kind of representation is a crucial aspect of film and television that often is ignored, especially in big budget blockbuster movies. Nearly every other film on the most-grossing films list alongside Star Wars have all-white, mostly male casts.
Titanic, Jurassic World, and Avengers to name a few. For films that are meant to make money and sell a lot of tickets, they seem to only be marketing towards a select few.
That is one reason why Star Wars is gaining more success over it’s competitors. A wider and more diverse cast is more attractive to wider and more diverse audiences.
More people will be willing to go to the movies and spend $15 dollars on a ticket because they see there is a character there for them, someone they can watch and relate to.
This representation is even more important to younger audiences. Seeing a hero who looks like you, up on the big screen, can mean the world to a child. It gives them someone they can look up to.
Star Wars is the first in what will hopefully become a new wave of representation in television and film, opening doors for new actors and audiences of all genders and colors and creating an industry where everyone is represented and welcome.
Cover Photo Credit: DAVID HOLT/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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There’s A Secret Buddhist Temple In This Miami House
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–Located right in the middle of a neighborhood, The Open Awareness Buddhist Center has been open and aware for about 15 years.
-Run by Lama Karma Chotso, the center is located in a house in El Portal.
-For dozens of members, it is a place of real refuge.
-It is located right on the banks of The Little River.
-The center started in 1996, when it was located in a Hollywood bungalow.
-A patron gave the group money to purchase the property from a fellow member in 2003.
-According to Lama Chotso, there was some controversy at the time about having a Buddhist Songha in the middle of a residential street- but she was able to win over the neighbors.
-The center offers yoga sessions as well as other Buddhist related activities- including Sunday services.
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This Miami Beach Synagogue Is About To Make History
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VIDEO: Sea Level Rise Is Not Just Impacting Miami Beach In South Florida
By Maria Serrano
As the national debate over climate change intensifies, South Florida has become a flashpoint. And South Florida is much more than South Beach.
On Nov. 24, 2015, fifteen days after king tide day, the largest tidal range seen over the course of a year, the residential neighborhood known as the Upper East Side in Miami was still experiencing floods.
The area has an annual estimated income per household of $45,000.
Similar to Miami Beach, the Upper East Side is a middle-income community facing the consequences of sea level rise, but it has not received the attention or funding necessary to protect its residents, their houses, and small businesses.
Scientists, researchers, legislators and residents recently met at Little River Pocket Park, located in the Northeastern section of the neighborhood, to collect data, learn about sea level rise, and discuss that this is not simply an issue for Miami Beach, but a coastal issue for much of South Florida.
“It’s designed to get citizens involved in being a part of the solution,” Juliet Pinto a, Journalism Professor at Florida International University and organizer of the event for EyesOnTheRise.org said.
More events like this are being planned by EyesOnTheRise.org in the upcoming months to increase the awareness about sea level rise and the consequences for residents of South Florida.
WATCH: Sea Level Rise Impacts In Upper East Side of Miami
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LIVE: Echo Of Umbrella Revolution As Scores March On Hong Kong To Protest China
By Raphael Blet
HONG KONG- An estimated number of 12,000 people protested against Beijing’s possible interpretation of the Basic Law’s article 104 across the city.
Supporters of Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang were seen waving colonial flags and banners stating ‘Hong Kong is NOT China’.
The duo – refused to take their oaths according to the script, which leads to the invalidation of their oaths.
This prompted the government and to intervene through legal actions which would prevent them from taking a second oath.
Last week, the government announced that they would seek an interpretation of the Basic Law by Beijing, prompting reactions amongst citizens.
Many see it as an interference into local politics and the judiciary.
WATCH: Live video of the protests
The case is currently ongoing in the court and Beijing’s interpretation is seen as an interference into Hong Kong’s rule of law.
Under the Basic Law, it is legal for the government to seek an interpretation under particular circumstances. However, the law stipulates a separation of powers and ‘a high degree of autonomy’.
Amongst the protesters were some pan-democratic figures, including veteran politician Martin Lee.
The protesters marched from Southorn Playground in Wan Chai to the Court of Final Appeal in Central.
However, some demonstrators decided to extend their march until Beijing’s Liaison Office in Sheung Wan, prompting the police to set-up barricades to avoid possible stormings of the delegation.
A number of demonstrators made numerous attempts to push the barricades, obliging the police to make use of pepper sprays after ordering the protesters to calm down.
Currently (22:45 HKT), protesters have blocked partial sections of Des Voeux Road, where the delegation is located.
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Photo Credit: Reuters Hong Kong/ Facebook (Screengrab)
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