‘Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight' Review: Precision and Progression at the Menil Collection
A question for a hypothetical curatorial seminar in 'Reconciling Abstraction and Social Comment in Contemporary American Painting': What to make of the African-American abstract painter Joe Overstreet? The exhibition 'Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight,' at the Menil Collection in Houston, is at first glance—and more so after longer visual consideration without reading explanatory labels—a show of dazzlingly inventive abstraction, with both convincing and somewhat tenuous visual connections to the situation of black people in American society. (Organized by associate curator Natalie Dupêcher, the show continues through July 13 before traveling to the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson.) The exhibition features such gracefully daring work as 'Free Direction' (1971), a 10-foot-wide semi-sculpture, in purple and black, of squares and parallelograms in tentlike tension.
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14 Films and Television Shows With Strong Role Models for Girls in STEM
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Think back to your childhood for a minute. What did you want to be when you grew up? Were you ever inspired by a character you saw on TV or in a movie? Of course you were. For many kids, discovering their interests, hobbies, passions, and career inspirations can start onscreen. TV and movie characters can be powerful role models for children of all ages who are learning about the world and their place in it—so it's important that parents be intentional about the stories they share with their kids, especially when they are part of a marginalized group. Why Do Girls Need Positive STEM Role Models? A recent study by Ruling Our eXperiences found that while many young girls were interested in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math), they aren't confident in their abilities, possibly in part because they don't see themselves represented in the space. Women represent only 28% of the workforce in STEM—even more unfortunate is that women of color are even more underrepresented. How Can Entertainment Inspire More Girls to Pursue STEM? In the past, many STEM-related shows were centered on male characters, with women playing supporting roles if they appeared at all. But thankfully all that is changing. There are so many great options for entertainment that feature brave, intelligent, curious women and girls as leaders in science, available today—including some created with young girls in mind, who they want to inspire to pursue life-long careers in science, inventing, technology, engineering and other similar fields. Parents can help inspire their daughters to pursue their interest in these fields by showing them TV shows and films with strong STEM role models putting its principles to work in everyday situations. Here are some of our favorite options. Movies Hidden Figures This popular 2016 film, based on a book of the same name, tells the story of three Black women at NASA who helped fuel the Space Race. Young viewers will be inspired by the African-American women working at NASA in the early sixties: Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy, who persevered despite racism and sexism to launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit. Hidden Figures also illustrates the many ways an aptitude for math can come to life as a career, so it's a great choice for kids who love math class and solving complex problems. Best for: Ages 8+ Where to watch: Disney+ Big Hero 6 If your child is into robotics and engineering, they'll love the story of Hiro, a talented robotics engineer who befriends a medical robot created by his brother, named Baymax. On the course of his adventures, he forms a group of superheroes, including two young women who study science alongside him at school. Big Hero 6 isn't just a story about building robots, however; it's about how friendship can help you heal from grief and the power of science to help others when it's in the right hands, with a strong message about embracing found family at its core. Best for: Ages 8+ Where to Watch: Disney+ The Lego Movie For many children, Legos are their first encounter with STEM principles as they build and create worlds of their own. The Lego Movie brings their amateur feats of engineering to life with a touch of comedy and adventure as the protagonists Emmet and Wyldstyle race to save the world—using their super power, the ability to use their imaginations to build and fix any object they need, along the way. Best for: Ages 6+ Where to Watch: Netflix Jurassic Park Jurassic Park is probably best known for its incredible dinosaur special effects, but its core characters—notably Laura Dern's paleobotanist Ellie Sattler—shouldn't be ignored. Ask any '90s kid and they'll probably tell you they wanted to become a paleontologist or archaeologist after seeing this blockbuster film. While Jurassic Park does have some scary moments that might be too intense for younger kids, older children may discover (or rediscover) a passion for history, science, and exploration—and absolutely nobody will forget the iconic scene in which Ellie tries to find out what ails a sick triceratops by digging through a pile of its poop. Best for: Ages 9+ Where to Watch: Peacock Black Panther T'Challa's (he's the titular Black Panther) little sister Shuri is one of the most accomplished (fictional) young women in STEM; the teenager is a masterful engineer and inventor who designs super suits—among many other things—and uses the many powers of vibranium, which helps protect Wakanda. Shuri's skills are irreplaceable and teach young viewers to believe in themselves, trust their talents, and help the people around them. Best for: Ages 13+ Where to watch: Disney+ Ghostbusters (2016) The all-female 2016 remake of the beloved '80s films centers on four women in STEM investigating the paranormal—including an engineer, a physicist, and a scientist. This is the perfect choice for viewers with an interest in the supernatural and science—and as an added bonus, it's hilarious. And in a twist on the typical movie cliches, guess who plays the ditzy character this time? Chris Hemsworth. Best for: Ages 13+ Where to watch: Hulu Contact In this 1997 movie, Jodie Foster plays scientist Dr. Ellie Arroway, who picks up a message from what could be extraterrestrials in outer space. Dr. Arroway has to use her skills to decode messages and eventually travel through space to make contact with aliens, all while facing doubt and opposition from people in power. Older kids who are curious about space and its mysteries will enjoy following Dr. Arroway's journey. Best for: Ages 10+ Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video TV Shows The Magic School Bus & The Magic School Bus Rides Again Whether you choose the original series starring Lily Tomlin as Ms. Frizzle or the 2017 reboot featuring Kate McKinnon as her sister Fiona Frizzle, your children are guaranteed to learn (and laugh) along with the students of Walkerville Elementary. Ralphie, Wanda, Carlos, Arnold, and the rest of the crew travel in the titular bus to learn about the human body, animal habitats, and so much more, and the Frizzle sisters serve as fun, silly, adventurous, and curious teachers who will spark your child's imagination. Best for: Ages 5+ Where to watch: Netflix Ada Twist, Scientist As its name suggests, Netflix's Ada Twist, Scientist—based on the book series by Andrea Beaty—is about Ada Twist, a young scientist, and her best friends, Rosie and Iggy. They're always discovering, researching, and studying something new, bringing together elements of science, engineering, architecture, and tech. Ada Twist is a thoughtful introduction to STEM principles for younger viewers who will appreciate the colorful animation, and the show explores everyday problems kids might encounter in real life, like power outages and how to revive wilting flowers. Best for: Ages 4+ Where to watch: Netflix Emily's Wonder Lab Watch real-life kids explore and experiment alongside host Emily Calandrelli, an aerospace engineer. Kids who are always begging to do hands-on experiments will find so much to love here. The series explores high-level scientific concepts like ultraviolet light and the laws of motion in accessible language, then applies to what they learn through a real-world experiment—in one episode the kids make a tornado in a bottle, in another they create their own fluorescent paint. The series is interactive and allows children to try what they see on screen at home. Emily's Wonder Lab is ideal for aspiring scientists who can't wait to get into a lab of their own. Best for: Ages 6+ Where to watch: Netflix Sci Girls Sci Girls, which premiered in 2010, was created to appeal to middle school-age girls interested in STEM, and it's still available to watch on PBS Kids. The show was a mix of live-action and animated content. Each episode features real-life scientists and tween girls, who explore nature, space, national parks, and many other spaces to create their own experiments and investigations into topics as wide ranging as nutrition to the environment. Best for: Ages 7+ Where to watch: PBS Kids Odd Squad This PBS series is all about math. The Odd Squad is a group of government agents (though they are all kids) who put their math skills to investigate seemingly strange events, aided by a lab of hardworking scientists and their boss, Ms. O. Like many other beloved kids shows, this one was produced by The Fred Rogers Co. The show makes math feel exciting and important, and because the actors who play the agents are young kids, viewers can see their peers onscreen solving problems and having fun doing it. Best for: Ages 5+ Where to watch: PBS Kids Miles from Tomorrowland This animated series follows Miles Callisto, a space adventurer. Meanwhile, Miles's sister Loretta is a tech whiz; their mom is a space captain; and their dad is an inventor. The Callistos have to work together as they travel through outer space using their science, engineering, and math skills. Young girls will be inspired by both Loretta and mom Phoebe, as well as the adventurous Miles. The family even has a robotic pet ostrich named Merc. Best for: Ages 4+ Where to watch: Disney+ Ironheart This new Marvel series centers on Riri Wiliams, a talented engineer who is also dealing with trauma, grief, and finding her place in the world. Riri is an inventor, and the story revolves around the mechanical suit she constructs, modeled after Iron Man. But it also touches on family dynamics, responsibility, and navigating common teenage emotions like anger and doubt. Can you be a superhero while you're still figuring yourself out? Riri Williams hopes so. Best for: Ages 13+ Where to watch: Disney+ Read the original article on Parents Solve the daily Crossword
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Connie Francis, 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Who's Sorry Now' pop singer, dies at 87
Connie Francis, the pop vocalist from New Jersey behind 1950s and '60s hits "Stupid Cupid," "Who's Sorry Now" and "Pretty Little Baby," has died at 87. Francis who was born in Newark and grew up in Belleville. Ron Roberts, the president of her music label, Concetta Records, announced the news on Facebook early Thursday, July 17. The statement was reshared to Francis' official Facebook page. "It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that i inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night," Roberts wrote. "I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news." Her cause of death was not shared, however Francis had been hospitalized in an intensive care unit in recent weeks, where she was undergoing tests to find the source of her "extreme pain." She kept fans informed via her Facebook page. Her last update, on July 4, noted she was "feeling much better." Roberts added that additional details would be announced at a later time. Francis is considered one of the bestselling female vocalists of the 1960s and is credited with helping globalize American music, including by recording her singles in as many as 12 different languages. The Newark, New Jersey, native's 1962 hit "Pretty Little Baby" recently went viral on TikTok, exposing the mid-century star to a new generation of fans. She went on to have an acting career, in the films "When the Boys Meet the Girls," "Follow the Boys," "Looking for Love" and a film sharing a name with her 1961 hit, "Where the Boys Are," that became a low-budget hit for MGM. In later years, Francis took extended breaks from music due to tragedy. A cosmetic surgery procedure in 1967 affected her vocal performances, according to her biography. She returned to music after suffering a miscarriage in 1974. Later that year, she was sexually assaulted and robbed at knifepoint, leading to a hiatus from the public for several years. She sued the hotel chain where she was attacked and won over $2 million, one of the largest judgments of its kind at the time. Her life was also affected by mental health struggles and alleged physical abuse from her husbands, and she became an advocate for victims' rights. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connie Francis dead: 'Pretty Little Baby' singer was 87 Solve the daily Crossword
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Zalando Brought Tommy Hilfiger To Berlin
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