The ‘Monstrous Beauty’ of Pretty Porcelains at the Met

The ‘Monstrous Beauty’ of Pretty Porcelains at the Met

The dragon lady, the courtesan, the submissive beauty — these enduring stereotypes of Asian and Southeast Asian femininity circulated in Europe and America centuries before the vast majority of Westerners had ever laid eyes on a real flesh-and-blood woman from those parts of the world. A major, and maybe surprising, …

Read more

Merle Oberon, a Hollywood Star With a Career-Ending Secret

Merle Oberon, a Hollywood Star With a Career-Ending Secret

The Academy Awards always bring with them a series of firsts. First Black man to win for best costume design (Paul Tazewell). First openly trans person to be nominated for an Oscar (Karla Sofía Gascón). First Latvian film to win an Oscar (“Flow”). But one first that’s often overlooked is …

Read more