Visualizing Theory

  What happened? The Depp v. Heard case was a high-profile defamation trial that took place in 2022, centering on a 2018 op-ed written by Amber Heard for The Washington Post. While the article didn’t mention Johnny Depp by name, he argued it clearly referred to him and falsely portrayed him as a domestic abuser. He sued Heard for $50 million in damages, claiming the allegations had cost him his career, including his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Heard countersued for $100 million, alleging that Depp’s former lawyer defamed her by calling her abuse claims a hoax. From there, there was a six-week televised trial in Fairfax, Virginia, which made it more of a global media sensation, making the situation more viral that it already was. Both sides presented their testimony regarding their relationship, involving allegations of physical, emotional, and substance abuse. The jury largely ruled in favor of Depp, finding that Heard had acted with malice, awarding $10 million...

  The image above is a picture of a dress code poster from School of Our Lady of Atocha, Inc. in Magsaysay, that they had posted on facebook. The poster is divided into two sections Proper Attire and Improper Attire. They list approved clothing items such as t-shirts or polo shirts, long-sleeved tops, jeans or pants, knee-length skirts or dresses, and closed shoes or sandals. On the other hand, items marked as unacceptable include crop tops, tank tops, sleeveless or tube tops, backless clothing, short skirts, shorts, and flip-flops. These clothing items are all crossed out with red X marks. The poster concludes with a bold warning: “No Proper Dress Code, No Entry”, followed by a thank-you message for cooperation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Dress code policies like this one are very common in schools across the United States and around the world. They are typically justified by school administrators as a way to try and maintain a focused, respectful learning environment and to help reduce dist...

Durkheim and the Sacred Ear: Trump as a Totem   Looking at this photo, you might be wondering how four people could have possibly been injured in the exact same place on the exact same day. The astoundingly large bandages that cover their ears would normally be a reason for someone to stay home or seek immediate medical attention. But for these individuals, the bandage is a chosen accessory and one they wear with pride. They are not actually hurt under the white gauze. In fact, the tape pulled tight directly against their skin is likely causing them a physical discomfort that did not exist before. Yet that seems to be the entire point. By wearing the bandage, they are choosing to feel a shadow of the pain experienced by their sacred god, President Donald Trump. One of the most confusing things for me in understanding today's political climate is that Trump himself does not represent the claimed values of his followers. He is a twice divorced billionaire who has openly mocked his ow...

  Watch the full ad here .  Describing the image This is a screenshot taken from a Super Bowl Commercial called “Healthier on Ro,” featuring decorated 23-grand-slam tennis player Serena Williams. The image has a blue background with a slight gradient shade. In the middle is Serena Williams, donning a light blue outfit that strikes a balance between athletic and fashionable, as the stylistic pleated skirt is reminiscent of a tennis skirt, while the top’s one-shoulder silhouette, although not common tennis wear, has appeared in special collections from athletic apparel brands, previously donned by Williams herself (Storm 2018). Williams is posed very intentionally. In one hand, she’s holding a GLP-1 Pen, which administer hormone that purportedly curbs appetite and aids in weight loss. Instead of letting her arms hang down, as we typically do when receiving injections, she holds one arm up, placing a hand behind her head, while bending the other, her muscled biceps curled into sa...