Burgers and Books: How Fast Food May Help Increase Literacy rates

Alright, it's story time folks and today's story is sponsored by Burger King, Home of the Whopper! Oh, if only that were true but seriously, I do have a story to share with you and I hope it gives you some insight about myself and the way we as Americans handle educating our children to read. September is World Literacy Month and in honor of that,  Burger King has partnered with The World Literacy Foundation to bring a mind-blowing experience to its customers.

As customers pulled up to the drive-thru menu, they were met with a sign reading only gibberish. Many were confused and clearly upset when they could not effectively communicate their order and after a few moments, the Burger King employee would ask them to pull forward so the problem could be straightened out. After the big reveal, customers were treated to a free meal but as well, a major lesson. Reading should never be taken for granted.

This initiative reminded me of my struggle with reading and comprehension as a child and the path that I took to become a better reader, writer, and overall learner. Can anyone guess what that path was? You guessed it - comics! Half the battle is finding something that you enjoy and taking it from their so, since I loved watching superheroes so much, I figured I would love to read about them as well. I was right. Not only did reading comics help me become a better reader but it made me read faster, grasp concepts quicker (seriously, have you read a DC comic before? It gets a little crazy...), and majorly improved my range of vocabulary. By the time I hit high school, I was reading at a college level. Yeah, comics aren't all bad.

For me, reading became less of a chore and more like a first love. Every Friday after school, my mother would take me to Borders (by the way, does anyone remember them?) to purchase the comic books that I wanted to read the the weekend. I couldn't wait to get a good comic every will because it allowed me to be entertained...but reading. It opened so many doors for me, made me more imaginative, and made me want to learn more. Combining my passion with a necessity as important as being literate in the 21st century was one of the best things I could have ever done for myself. 

- W

Steven Universe: The New Standard for LGBTQ Representation?

Since its debut in Fall of 2013, Steven Universe has garnered numerous fans across the globe. Set in the ever-dreamy Beach City, the 11-minute sci-fi/fantasy series follows the exploits of the titular character and his alien friends, The Crystal Gems. Created by Rebecca Sugar (known for her work on fellow Cartoon Network series, Adventure Time), the show incorporates whacky characters, breathtaking animation, and strong character development that culminate into a multi-award winning series. If you asked me today what are the of the most important television shows out there today, Steven Universe would top the list because of its unique and sensitive approach to gender and sexuality.

 While our culture has become more accepting and tolerant of the LGBTQ community, it has taken a media even longer to keep up with the changing times. For years, gay and lesbian characters were relegated to tropes which is defined in the Meriam-Webster Dictionary as "a common and overused theme or device." In simpler terms, queer characters have typically been used to shock audiences, create scandal, or simply as comic relief. How many people can say they haven't seen a "sassy gay best friend" or two in a  number of supposedly "progressive" programming? Not me. With the creation of more inclusive programming, characters ranging from gay, lesbian, to trans-gendered have increased in visibility and their stories have become compelling, well-written pieces that have created a new dialogue for audiences. These characters are defined by their personal stories and emotions rather than gender or sexuality serving as the main plot point.

 Now, hear me out. I understand there are many that don't support queer representation in media and find it is too heavy a subject for children and families however; Sugar put it best herself when she said, "“You can’t wait until kids have grown up to let them know that queer people exist (Pink News)." Well said ma'am, well said. The general rule of thumb for most children's shows is stick to what will not be upsetting or offensive to children or families but...how are people expressing their individuality in a non-harmful manner offensive? Not only does the series aim to represent LGBT characters in a positive light but it does so without defining or adhering to the hetero-normative rules of labeling and dressing according to society's rigid definition of gender. Sugar, who is a bisexual woman herself, has created a world where people get to be just that - people. The limitless possibilities of a gem's physical appearance remains solely on the character's personality and how they wish to present themselves. Sugar seamlessly blends the childlike wonder of the show with said themes to make an ever-changing, all inclusive show. Now that's pretty freakin' trill.

- W

Link :https://www.tumblr.com/search/universe%20gi

 For more information on the topic, please check out these links:

Infoplease, Timeline: Gays in Pop Culture <http://www.infoplease.com/entertainment/gays-in-pop-culture-timeline.html>.
LA Times,  'Steven Universe's' Rebecca Sugar shares why LGBTQ representation is personal <http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-hc-comic-con-updates-steven-universe-s-rebecca-sugar-talks-1469218639-htmlstory.html>.
Pink News, Steven Universe creator explains why she’s putting LGBT characters in kids’ TV <http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/06/09/steven-universe-creator-explains-why-shes-putting-lgbt-characters-in-kids-tv/>.

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Welcome to Trill Monkey

Hello everyone,

I would like to welcome you to my blog, TRILL MONKEY, a site dedicated to reviewing and analyzing our society, culture, and politics through the lens of movies, television, comics, and other media.So much of our lives are made up of the messages we send and receive and with this blog I hope to give you insight on today's trending topics and how they influence our media. I promise to keep it cool and exciting for you readers and please feel free to help me create the dialogue.

Just as our society has grown, so has the American media. It is my personal belief that we are responsible for our media and that we as the consumers of said mediums need to be more aware of the effects and perceptions created by these messages. Television, movies,  and comics are not new however; they have expanded their range to become more inclusive and sensitive to other cultures and lifestyles. If we are to be responsible consumers of media, we must be able to analyze its relevance and make corrections when needed in order to have a more integrative and  interesting presentation of our society.

Some things to know about me is that I am a senior Communications major attending a small private college in North Carolina. I have loved comics since I first started to read and they have opened so many doors for me as an writer, student, and person. I have always found myself to be part of the counter culture however; I would like to remind you that we are the ones that shape our media. I feel empowered knowing that I can affect change with my butt firmly planted in this computer chair and I hope to inspire others to find something they are passionate about and affect positive change with it.

Thank you and stay trill,

-Will