The Substance and The Picture of Dorian Gray

Although The Substance borrows from many things—particularly Death Becomes Her—when it comes to satirically addressing the subject of female aging in Hollywood, a somewhat surprising nod in Coralie Fargeat’s latest film is the one to Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Granted, if any “old queen” knew a thing or two about the fear of becoming ancient (and the loss of looks that goes … Continue reading The Substance and The Picture of Dorian Gray

Genna RivieccioOctober 10, 2024October 10, 20241 Comment

Essay

Johnny Depp and Oscar Wilde: “Libel” to Lose Against British Courts

In the wake of Johnny Depp’s recent–and highly rife with embarrassing details–trial and verdict, one can’t help but chart a similar trajectory toward an inevitable downfall that occurred during another famed libel case in Britain: that between Oscar Wilde and the Marquess of Queensberry. Better known as the father of Lord Alfred Douglas, Wilde’s clandestine lover. And Alfred Douglas should perhaps be better known as … Continue reading Johnny Depp and Oscar Wilde: “Libel” to Lose Against British Courts

Genna RivieccioNovember 10, 2020June 7, 20232 Comments

Criticism

The Mysterious Woman is Still the Most Beguiling Woman: Oscar Wilde’s “The Sphinx Without A Secret”

As most classifications of people are divided into two primary categories, it would seem that, by and large, there are those who overshare and those who wish nothing more than to guard every aspect of themselves even to those closest to them. It is this sort of personage that serves as the subject of Oscar Wilde’s short story, “The Sphinx Without a Secret.” Told from … Continue reading The Mysterious Woman is Still the Most Beguiling Woman: Oscar Wilde’s “The Sphinx Without A Secret”

Genna RivieccioMarch 17, 2019March 17, 2019Leave a comment

Criticism

Melissa Broder’s The Pisces: The Fisherman and His Soul It Is Not

At the core of Melissa Broder’s still all too scant body of work (primarily the essay collection, So Sad Today) is a constant obsession with the human need to fill holes. Whether that translates to a woman literally filling her vag hole with as many dicks as possible or, well, no, that’s really Lucy’s–the “protagonist” of The Pisces–only bread and butter, her sole means toward … Continue reading Melissa Broder’s The Pisces: The Fisherman and His Soul It Is Not

Genna RivieccioNovember 16, 2018November 16, 20182 Comments

Criticism

Boy Gone Wilde

On October 16th, what marks Oscar Wilde’s 161st birthday, his distinctive approach to art and life remains a force to be reckoned with. Starting from his first forays into writing, which began during his attendance at Trinity College, Wilde expressed a latent sadness through his humor, as with the poem “Hélas,” in which he laments, “To drift with every passion till my soul/Is a stringed … Continue reading Boy Gone Wilde

Genna RivieccioOctober 17, 2015October 17, 20151 Comment