“Would Jesus Wear a Rolex” – The Religious Song Everyone Should Hear

You can also read this on Medium here: https://medium.com/@emilystepp12/would-jesus-wear-a-rolex-the-religious-song-everyone-should-hear-ea565938a40b Although comedic in nature and tone, Ray Stevens’ song Would Jesus Wear a Rolex is surprisingly effective in its message. Why? Before looking in depth at the lyrics, let’s take a look at the form and style of the song. The tune is constructed to be reminiscent of …

To Any and All Fellow Graduating Seniors

You can also read this on Medium here: https://medium.com/@emilystepp12/to-any-and-all-fellow-graduating-seniors-352ee39c8b9f This goes for high school and university students: Uncertainty is not the enemy — apathy is. If you’re graduating from high school, you’re about 17 or 18; you’ve already lived through so much. Born after 9/11, I imagine your life was a bit like mine (as …

Baroque to Disney: Progressive Female Portrayals in Art

You can also read this on Medium (with pictures of the art included) here: https://medium.com/@emilystepp12/baroque-to-disney-progressive-female-portrayals-in-art-2222d28aec4e With the advent of recent Disney movies that have been mostly praised as “progressive,” it is worth examining them on a deeper level; if a character like Elsa or Anna from Disney’s smash hit Frozen is hailed as progressive, what makes them …

Reinterpreting “The Calling of Saint Matthew” in the Time of Coronavirus”

You can also read this on Medium (with pictures included) here: https://medium.com/@emilystepp12/reinterpreting-the-calling-of-st-matthew-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-855d0a995226 There’s no escaping them — the internet and regular TV programming has been inundated with ads from companies like Apple and Amazon. No doubt you’ve all been getting emails from every business you’ve ever interacted with about their “improved worker safety” measures and …

Why Did Caravaggio Paint Two Separate “Supper at Emmaus” Paintings?

You can read this on Medium (with pictures of the art included!) here: https://medium.com/@emilystepp12/why-did-caravaggio-paint-two-different-supper-at-emmaus-paintings-f0d6eaaa32f6 In my first article here on Medium (and here on my blog, if you want to check it out!) I discussed some interesting details and reflected on Renaissance and Baroque art. I decided to look into one of my favorite artists …

The Simple Guide to Formatting a Stage-Play Script

You can also read this on Medium here: https://medium.com/@emilystepp12/the-simple-guide-to-formatting-a-stage-play-script-47cbf2876d25 As a writer, I’ve tried my hand at many different kinds of storytelling; but being a more visual person, I found myself drawn to scripts, both for the stage and the screen. If you’re here, it probably means you tried googling “play format” and got a …

Lanval and The Amazonians: How Power is Gained by Women, and What Those Methods Reveal About Them

You can also read this on Medium (featuring awesome Renaissance art!) here: https://medium.com/@emilystepp12/lanval-and-the-amazonians-how-power-is-gained-by-women-and-what-those-methods-reveal-about-them-759f548eb345 Within Marie de France’s Lanval and Christine de Pizan’s The Amazons, one sees two different ways in which a woman may perform a power reversal within her society or culture. It is interesting that while both of these involve a woman possessing …

Gender Portrayals in Renaissance and Baroque Art (And Why They Matter)

You can also read this on Medium (with pictures of the art!), by using this link: https://medium.com/p/gender-portrayals-in-renaissance-and-baroque-art-and-why-they-matter-67283368d79c?source=email-377ce92029d3--writer.postDistributed&sk=635f7e5316a9091834e5c873638b9c6d Modern ideas of masculinity and femininity as portrayed in visual media, such as film and visual artwork, may sometimes feel very distant and different than the portrayals that appear in the artwork of the Renaissance period and the …