The artists sampled multiple Black music icons like James Brown and the Isley Brothers by blending funk and rap to create a layered, urgent message of rebellion. Also, the lyrics directly critique American historical figures like Elvis Presley and John Wayne to question white-centric narratives in pop culture. The song serves as a call to action. It urges young people to recognize their power in the fight against oppression and systemic inequality.

Hip-hop, as a genre, remains as a critical scene of storytelling and resistance that offers youth a more accessible and expressive means to traditional political discourse.

The film presents realistic, emotionally charged depictions of racial division and the frustrations of Black communities facing injustice. It uses visual and auditory storytelling, including graffiti, music, and dialogue, to create the complexity of systemic racism. Instead of offering a clear resolution, the film leaves viewers with the question of what “doing the right thing” means in a racially divided society. The film’s climax, the police's killing of the Black man, foreshadowed real-world incidents such as the murders of Eric Garner and George Floyd and has remained as a piece of civic media.

Even today, Fight the Power continues to be remixed and referenced in movements like Black Lives Matter, and Do the Right Thing remains a pivotal reference in discussions on racial injustice. Together, they demonstrate how artists and the public use digital media to engage civically, remix historical narratives, and re-story injustices through art.

References

Gibson, C. (2017). “Fight the Power”: Hip Hop and Civil Unrest in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Black Camera.

Johnson, B. (2017). Baltimore 2015, Black Lives Matter and the Prescience of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Film International.

From the screenshots of Douban's popular short reviews I attached, it can be seen that many viewers have their own opinions on the humorous style of the film. Although some viewers generally approve of the content of the film, they still question certain clips. For example, comments such as "Nonsense comedy is not a shield for vulgarity" and "These jokes made me lose interest in this show" show that the current audience's expectations for animated films are no longer limited to passion and special effects, but more concerned with complete narrative structure and value expression.

Through searching for related content, I found that some viewers also believe that these controversial contents may also be an exaggerated interpretation of the director's image of women in the workplace. But regardless of the original intention, the different reactions these expressions have caused among the audience also reflect the cultural context in which the public is increasingly sensitive to gender issues.

Source： https://www.163.com/dy/article/JQD0IVMS0517JNH6.html

The screenshot above shows an advertisement placed by a skincare brand on International Women's Day. The above text is translated as“A strong woman does not have to act like a man, and sweat is originally a female attribute.” The advertisement reflects the claim by actively challenging patriarchal narratives, Traditional gender norms often equate strength, resilience, or hard work with masculine traits, reinforcing the idea that women must mimic men to be seen as strong or capable. By stating that "a strong woman does not have to act like a man," the advertisement rejects this notion and asserts that strength can be defined on women's own terms.The advertisement’s message aligns with the concept of restorying, which involves reclaiming and redefining narratives that have historically marginalized or distorted certain identities.

Source of Picture: https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore?app_platform=ios&app_version=8.75&share_from_user_hidden=true&xsec_source=app_share&type=normal&xsec_token=CBe9AoquW8nlmr9GgRoNcSag2qfWAC6kxT5cVRL96dY3E%3D&author_share=1&xhsshare=WeixinSession&shareRedId=ODc2REVKPT02NzUyOTgwNjY1OThKOzxC&apptime=1742776411&share_id=6418000fbe434c8ba7706d1a0cd67946&wechatWid=fbf308a38e1c22caa6607ea8aea1d033&wechatOrigin=menu&target_note_id=67bde214000000002901a646&note_flow_source=wechat

In addition, we also pay special attention to the needs of visitors from different cultural backgrounds, incorporating local elements and multicultural details; thus making the park a platform for cross-cultural exchange. Our vision is not only to bring visitors into the world of animation, but also to let them leave with a reflection on the diversity, tolerance and harmonious coexistence of the real world.

Source: https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/a-complete-guide-to-zootopia-at-shanghai-disney-resort/

Chris provided a compelling example of re-storying female characters in Nezha 2. Another notable case is the fan productions based on God Creation 2. While the film follows a stereotypical hero’s journey centered on a male protagonist—where female characters are designed to be sacrificed for his transformation—fan fiction and fan-edited videos have reimagined the narrative. By connecting the storylines of two female characters and creating a romantic attraction between them, these fan works offer entirely new meanings to the original characters and challenge the conventional narrative structure.

link to the original gif: https://weibo.com/5732552960/5130037732838356

It is a continuation of the logic of the college entrance examination, which emphasizes “fair competition,” but the results are often closely related to origin and poor information. 2024 fresh graduates will reach 11.79 million, while civil service positions will be about 500,000, so competition is extremely fierce, and the examination for the public service has become a passive choice for many young people in the winter of employment. In terms of preparation resources, information channels, and interview experience, 985/211 graduates have a significant advantage, while international students, despite their cultural capital, are often marginalized by the “institutional culture”, especially in grassroots positions, where they lack the support of “local experience”.

The public examination fever has also changed the orientation of university education: students choose courses based on whether they can help them pass the public examination/graduate school, and tend to “brush up questions, templates, and techniques”, ignoring the complexity and creativity of knowledge. Repeatedly failing the examination also aggravates the youth's “sense of failure”, “sense of social detachment” and “delayed independence”. The test is not only a test, but also an extension of the social governance mechanism, under the shell of “aptitude test”, to maintain the existing employment order and class structure.

Source:

https://www.chinaselect.cn/en/tools/mental-ability-tests.html

In today's increasingly convenient information transmission, social media has become an important way for individuals to obtain information, but the authenticity and accuracy of the information are often challenged. Some ignorant people or irresponsible people use AI tools to generate fictitious photos and widely spread them on the Internet to gain attention, thus affecting public order.

With the development and advancement of AI technology today, the use of AI-generated pictures and audio videos has become so easy that it has developed into a new way of spreading false information, which is difficult to manage and spreads quickly. With everyone using AI technology these days, using AI needs to be strictly managed and is very important.

https://medium.com/@angelowrites/across-the-spider-verse-hits-harder-for-black-brown-latine-viewers-a4aeb9531437#:~:text=I%20was%20electrified%20in%20my,Latino%2C%20and%20that%20means%20something.

This story isn’t just about romance—it puts real racial tensions in America front and center. The Puerto Rican and white gangs despise each other, fighting for territory, while the two lovers try to break through those divisions, just like in Romeo and Juliet. But in the end, tragedy still wins.

In a way, West Side Story is a modern take on Romeo and Juliet, but it’s about more than just love. It dives into real-world issues—racism, the struggles of immigrants, and class divisions. This kind of adaptation makes the classic story feel more relevant, giving audiences both an emotional love story and something deeper to think about.

This casting represents a powerful example of restorying. By casting a Black actress as Ariel, Disney reimagined a character who has long symbolized beauty and magic through a Eurocentric ideal. Bailey’s visual portrayal became a statement that Black girls can also be magical and royal.

On social media, hashtags like #NotMyAriel and #RepresentationMatters trended side by side. While some users stick to a nostalgic vision of the past, others used the moment to call out the importance of inclusive storytelling. Creators posted fan art, wrote supportive essays and pay attention to other characters of color. The movement gradually became a social intervention.

This story highlights a crucial issue in today’s world: the ethics of human replication and AI consciousness. As technology advances, we are moving toward a world where artificial intelligence and digital recreations of people are becoming more realistic. Deepfake technology, AI-generated personalities, and even the idea of uploading human consciousness into machines are raising profound ethical questions.

If a person could be digitally replicated, would they still be the same person? If AI can mimic human emotion, does that mean it experiences emotion? And if we begin to replace people with artificial versions of them, what does that mean for the way we define identity, love, and loss?

This story challenges us to consider the consequences of trying to replace the irreplaceable, asking: At what point do we stop valuing what makes us truly human?

Source of picture: Klara and The Sun by Lia Liao - The Creative Inspiration behind the work

The film tries to show that a woman can also become a hero on the battlefield without needing to be saved by a man. However, I think it follows the Western “strong female lead” formula a bit too much. For example, Mulan’s growth is no longer based on her intelligence and resilience, but more like she was born to be the “chosen one”. This kind of storytelling was a bit disappointing to me, because it loses the touching message of an ordinary girl breaking gender limits. In contrast, the animated version of Mulan and the traditional folk story feel more real, she becomes a warrior through hard work, adaptation, failure, and resistance.

Moreover, although the film includes many elements that appear to be "Chinese style" and features an all-Asian cast, many viewers feel that its cultural representation does not truly reflect an authentic Chinese context. Some aspects of the film, such as the witch character played by Gong Li, have no clear basis in traditional Chinese culture. The concept of qi also seems more like a combination of Chinese martial arts and Western fantasy powers. The film feels more like a version of China imagined by the West, performed by Chinese actors.

This film makes a positive attempt to address gender issues and cultural diversity. However, its restorying still feels distant and lacks an authentic perspective from within the local culture. Therefore, although this version of Mulan holds symbolic significance, I believe it reflects more of the tension and limitations often found in cross-cultural storytelling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK8FHdFluOQ

Behind the framed-up hero
There is trampled, deep-hued blood
Women, Tamoios, mulaos
I long for a country not seen in the official picture"

(Translated from Portuguese)

In Brazil, "Carnaval" is known as the party of the people, where popular artistic manifestations often challenge power dynamics. In 2019, when conservative, extreme-right president Bolsonaro had just been elected, the Mangueira Samba School took the parade themed "A Lullaby of Samba for Grown-Ups" to Rio's Samba Avenue. This "lullaby" had the purpose of restorying Brazil's official History, celebrating popular heroes and advocates neglected in the country's history as told by those in power. In the picture, there is a remixed version of the Brazilian flag, with the colors of Mangueira samba school (green and pink) instead of the traditional yellow, green, and blue. In the middle of the flag, where the official version reads "order and progress" (a positivist motto), this version reads "Indigenous people, Black people, and the poor". The flag on the background shows the face of Marielle, a Black female political leader murdered in 2018, for whose murder the Bolsonaro family is still investigated. In the political context of 2019, Mangueira's parade was celebrated as an act of political resistance, and the school was Rio's Carnaval champion.

This is the official video clip for the "Lullaby of Samba for Grown-Ups": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMSBisBYhOE

Philly's motto was officially expanded to "The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection" by the efforts of the godmother of Black Music Month, Dyana Williams. As someone with music industry experience, a Philly native, a Black woman, and a Black Music City grantee tasked with honoring Philly's Black music heritage, it was important for me to create an impactful work of art that intentionally resisted the dominant and exclusionary narrative of our city and told stories in which Black women and girls could see themselves reflected. A part of that reflection is amplified through the use of local Black women and girls to portray these artists.

Through photography, videography, and VR, this exhibit honors the impactful legacies of nine Black women who hail from our city: Billie Holiday, Patti LaBelle, Phyllis Hyman, Left Eye, Eve, Jill Scott, DJ Diamond Kuts, Jazmine Sullivan, and Tierra Whack. Through intergenerational pop-ups at World Cafe Live, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, REC Philly, and now a 6-month display at the Free Library, this project has educated, inspired, and moved people beyond anything I could have imagined. The impact of this project so far exemplifies the importance of restorying in media, especially for Black people.

The story is about Ani, a smart and hardworking stripper who lives in Brooklyn. One night, she meets Ivan, a rich and young man from Russia. At first, he seems fun and generous. He takes Ani to parties, gives her expensive gifts, and invites her to travel with him. Their relationship feels like a dream, and soon he asks her to marry him.

But after they get married, things start to go wrong. Ani begins to notice that Ivan is selfish and immature. He does not care about her feelings, and when problems come, he leaves her without thinking twice. Ani realizes that she was used. People around Ivan, like workers and helpers, are all treated the same way — they do their jobs, but they are not respected.

As the story continues, Ani becomes closer to Igor, one of Ivan’s bodyguards. Igor is quiet and kind in his own way. Even though Ani doesn’t trust him at first, they go through many difficult things together. In the final scene, Ani breaks down and cries after being with Igor. It is a very emotional moment, showing how tired and hurt she really is.

Anora is not just a love story. It is about survival, work, power, and how people are often treated unfairly. The film shows how rich people can use others and throw them away. But it also shows small moments of connection and care between people who are struggling.

This movie is full of emotion. Even though the ending is not happy, it feels honest. Anora is a movie that stays in your mind long after it ends. https://images.app.goo.gl/GxJmnq9rSN1z2jgt7

In the video, “male Taylor” displays many behaviors typically associated with male privilege in real life, for example, manspreading on the subway, partying without judgment, and easily receiving a “World’s Best Dad” trophy. This moment satirizes how men are often excessively praised for minimal involvement in parenting, while women are expected to shoulder caregiving responsibilities as a given. In the workplace, he is seen as bold and authoritative, whereas women showing the same traits are often criticized. This highlights the double standards applied to men and women in both public and private spheres.

The ending is especially ironic: Swift appears as the director behind the camera and tells “male Taylor” to try it again, “but sexier this time”. This line directly critiques how women in media are frequently objectified and expected to perform for the male gaze.

Through this gender-swapped visual narrative, Swift not only reimagines the image of success in pop culture but also critically intervenes in conversations around gender inequality, social bias, and power structures. Her restory challenges viewers to reflect on the ways gender shapes our interpretations of behavior and success, prompting a deeper examination of the norms we take for granted.

Representation matters. And I have no stake in deciding what is or isn't representative for communities that I am not a part of. I have seen interesting discourse online between POC creators where they critique the Disney enterprise as they create live action movies, casting women of color to play the animated white fictional characters. Since it is fictitious, some say that it is a win for representation and so little girls can better see themselves. While others say, instead of casting a Black woman to play Ariel or Rapunzel, make stories about Black women. Speak to the nuances and lived experiences of women of color rather than inserting them into white roles that do not reflect the intricacies of being a woman of color.

In doing so, I aimed to “re-story” the article’s broad claims about improvement by drawing attention to the human stories and emotional labor behind the remaining shortages. While the article suggests that teacher shortages are easing overall, it acknowledges that special education and rural districts are still in crisis. My remix emphasizes how these exceptions are not just data points—they reflect ongoing structural inequities and underinvestment in the most vulnerable students and teachers.

Restorying the article in this way also invites a shift in perspective: from viewing the teacher shortage as a numbers problem to understanding it as a systemic justice issue. If we celebrate broad improvements without acknowledging where—and why—gaps remain, we risk silencing those still struggling and failing to address root causes like low pay, lack of resources, and burnout.

The original article is informative and well-researched, but its format flattens complex realities. My remix aims to re-center educator voices and provoke deeper questioning about whose experiences get left out when we talk about “progress.”

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/teacher-shortages-are-improving-with-two-big-exceptions/2025/03

The story follows an aging TV fitness star (played by Demi Moore) who takes a mysterious product that lets her create a younger, more “perfect” version of herself. But instead of liberation, this unleashes violence, surveillance, and deep psychological horror. I see this as a restorying of how female bodies are consumed and discarded in pop culture.

This film doesn't just remix genre conventions—it delivers a searing intervention into real-world beauty politics. By exposing how women's bodies are objectified, duplicated, and ultimately disposed of, The Substance challenges the cultural logic that ties a woman’s worth to her youth and physical appearance. In doing so, it forces viewers to confront the violent consequences of a system that commodifies femininity—and dares us to imagine alternative narratives of power, aging, and identity.