Fall 2017 and spring 2018 were milestones for minority representation in art and entertainment, with creatives from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, genders, sexual identities and upbringings making their voices heard. Here, The Guide takes a look at some of the year’s best pieces of art and entertainment from diverse viewpoints.
Music: “BROCKHAMPTON at the Fillmore Silver Spring”
Texas rap group BROCKHAMPTON took the internet by storm in 2017 with its intricate production, diverse array of lyrical styles and bold assertions of black and LGBTQ pride. BROCKHAMPTON member Kevin Abstract owned the stage at his Jan. 28 appearance at the Fillmore Silver Spring, confidently proclaiming that “not enough n—-s rappin’ be gay.”
Music: “I Don’t Run”
Released this spring, “I Don’t Run,” the second album by Madrid-based indie rock girl group Hinds, dwells in irony, managing to be simultaneously fun, serious, guarded, sensitive, confident and insecure. The album is packed with airy guitar riffs and echoing vocals, and its closing track, “Ma Nuit,” is written in Spanish, French and English.
Movies: “Wonder”
“Wonder” depicts the story of Auggie Pullman, a boy with craniofacial differences, as he begins fifth grade after years of home schooling. Confronted with bullying, Pullman presents an inspiring picture of resilience in the face of adversity.
Movies: “Lady Bird”
“Lady Bird” highlights the teenage years of a young woman named Lady Bird. The film is the directorial debut of Greta Gerwig, and her masterpiece garnered her two Academy Award nominations, including one for best director, making her the fifth female director in history to be nominated. The recognition of women both on screen and behind the scenes of “Lady Bird” was refreshing in an Oscar’s season during the prominent #MeToo movement, which empowers women to speak up against discrimination and sexual misconduct.
Television: “Master of None”
The second season of “Master of None,” Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s award-winning comedic drama, was released in summer 2017 to widespread acclaim. Revolving primarily around the joys and pains of love and relationships, the episodes also touch on the experiences of Asian immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community in the United States.
Theater: “Lathe of Heaven”
Written first as a novel by Ursula Le Guin and adapted for the theater by Natsu Onoda Power, a professor in Georgetown’s theater and performance studies program, “Lathe of Heaven” tackles topics of race, gender and political instability. The production was featured in the D.C. Women’s Voices Theater Festival this winter.
Dance: “Exodus”