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Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes

A Kingdom for a Nail

Picture it: United States of America, 2001. You are an old white man, a former Baltimore Sun reporter, and your writing partner, a former police officer and teacher, are in the HBO offices about to pitch a television series about the drug trade and broader sociopolitical and economic structure of Baltimore through the eyes of predominantly African American people, through all facets of the city, from the drug outfits themselves and the police officers to the dock workers and even the newspaper writers.

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Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes

Why are Shows Like I Love LA Still Being Made?

Like many things in life, or mine specifically, the first question anyone should ask when doing anything or experiencing something, or for that matter before they take a step out of the bed and decide to live for that day, is to ask why. It’s the very foundation and fundamental question to us as people and as society. It is the hive mind that spawns the dissenters, the sycophants, and the entirety of the congregation.

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TRT Tangent, Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes TRT Tangent, Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes

In Other News

In an age where outrage is entertainment and truth bends to the highest engagement, this essay traces the lineage of our modern media—from Network’s prophetic satire to the infinite scroll of the algorithm. Drawing on Nietzsche, Mill, Dostoevsky, and Achebe, it examines how the pursuit of truth has become performance, and belief a curated identity. Through politics, journalism, and social media, the piece unravels how spectacle has replaced sincerity and noise has drowned out nuance. What remains is an unsettling question: when everything demands our attention, what becomes of the truth?

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Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes

A Gathering in the Jester’s Court

This article examines the cultural shift away from traditional sitcoms, particularly Black sitcoms, and questions why they no longer hold the same prominence in television today. It reflects on the impact of classic shows like Martin, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Living Single, contrasting them with modern series like Abbott Elementary and Atlanta, which, while influential, serve broader audiences. The piece also explores the historical role of comedy as a medium for truth-telling and social critique, considering whether sitcoms have lost their power to challenge societal norms or if they have simply evolved.

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Throwing Rocks at Tanks Shane Cokes Throwing Rocks at Tanks Shane Cokes

The Tale of Theseus

In a classroom of an unknown era, an old teacher captivates his students with a tale of a farmhand turned king, whose destiny changed with a simple ring. As the children ponder the significance of the story, one brave girl suggests that perhaps the farmhand and the king are one and the same. This sparks a discussion about the nature of change and identity, echoing philosophical debates from ancient times to modern society.

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Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes Bare Open Hand Shane Cokes

A Fiction Close to Reality

"American Fiction," a film adaptation of "Erasure," explores race, identity, and success in literature through protagonist Monk Ellison. The movie thoughtfully addresses challenges faced by black creatives, offering a commentary on the commodification of the black experience and the compromises made for recognition.

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