Saffren: Wolf of Wall Street fails to highlight severity of white collar crime
There were two scenes in “The Wolf of Wall Street” that summed up the entire movie. Both ended with Leonardo DiCaprio, as former scam artist… Read more »
Writer archives: Jarrad Saffren
Saffren: Despite anticipation of ‘Anchorman 2,’ Wiig, McCarthy could replace Will Ferrell on comedic throne
With the Dec. 18 release of “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” rapidly approaching, a lot is being written and said about the great Ron Burgundy.… Read more »
Saffren: 'Eastbound & Down' provides pioneering, modern antihero in comedic setting
Beginning with Tony Soprano, dramatic antiheroes have been as responsible for the contemporary television revolution as cable or the Internet. Now a modern comedic antihero,… Read more »
Saffren: Demise of Blockbuster proves need for media companies to embrace innovative trends of the future
Blockbuster is dead, while Netflix continues to realize Blockbuster’s vision that would have prevented its demise: the transformation from powerful movie retail company to powerful… Read more »
Saffren: ‘Same Love’ serves as political statement, ‘brilliant career move’ for Macklemore
I have zero doubt that Macklemore truly believes same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry. But in a culture where image is everything for… Read more »
Saffren: ‘Gravity’ proves itself Oscar-worthy, reflects shift in cinematic experience
It’s Oscar season at the movies. The period between late August and Thanksgiving when studios release plot-driven movies that will become prime Oscar competitors come… Read more »
Saffren: Rise in celebrity journalism provides reason for Magic Johnson's departure from ESPN
Though both have publicly denied it, Magic Johnson left ESPN on Oct. 10, just 19 days before the tipoff of the 2013-14 NBA season, because… Read more »
Saffren: Oliver Stone could further prove himself as biopic mastermind with MLK project
In a brilliant career spanning more than four decades, director, screenwriter and producer Oliver Stone has carved out a niche as Hollywood’s resident muckraker. Stone… Read more »
Saffren: Entrepreneurial ventures succeed 'great music' in hip-hop
There’s an obvious theme that pervades Forbes Magazine’s annual hip-hop list, “Cash Kings: The World’s Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Artists.” Successful entrepreneurial ventures are worth a lot… Read more »
Saffren: Colbert, Stewart contribute to evolution of late-night television
Political satire has taken over late-night comedy. Last Tuesday, in a hilarious skit on “The Colbert Report,” Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert tacitly celebrated this… Read more »
Saffren: Showtime’s “Homeland” reflects dynamic between America, acts of terrorism
“Homeland” is propaganda. It advocates for the American side of the story and maintains our antagonistic attitudes toward our terrorist enemies. But “Homeland,” which premieres… Read more »
Saffren: 'Saturday Night Live' will overcome transition period in upcoming season after losing core cast members
“Saturday Night Live” is dead – just like it was in 1980, 1986, 1995 and 2005. The 39th season premiere of “SNL” will premiere Sept.… Read more »
Saffren: Launch of FX subsidiary reveals success of 'comedic socialism' model on television
Last week, FX launched its new subsidiary, FXX, with its two most popular sitcoms: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “The League.” FX has a… Read more »
Saffren: NFL has potential to succeed overseas, but will ultimately remain an exclusive American pastime
As the NFL kicks off its 94th season on Thursday night in Denver, one thing is self-evident: There is nothing bigger in American popular culture.The… Read more »
Saffren: Hollywood obsession with tech innovators brings new type of role model to viewers
I have never dreamed of becoming a business leader. But there were scenes in Joshua Michael Stern’s recently released, scintillating biopic, “Jobs,” that made me… Read more »
Saffren: Social media campaigns must extend beyond pop culture to check the NSA's power
Social media has made us a part of popular culture. We can interact with influential public figures at the click of a button. News networks… Read more »
Saffren: Columnist offers 'guidelines' for celebrities who issue public apologies
Anthony Weiner does not owe me an apology. I am not his wife, one of his victims or his manhood. Milwaukee Brewers left-fielder Ryan Braun,… Read more »
Saffren: Amazon's e-book industry dominance could hold negative consequences for flow of information
Amazon.com, your friendly cyber-hood bookstore, might be setting a dangerous precedent for discourse distributors — a company that controls the releases of popular media like… Read more »
Saffren: Aaron Sorkin brings hate-watching to a narrative medium
I love to hate Aaron Sorkin, but this was not always the case. I had unbridled fanaticism for the genius that gave us “A Few… Read more »
Student creates startup company selling sunglasses, grows worldwide fan base
There is only one character more important in the conception of Sidebar Eyewear than company founder and rising Syracuse University senior Justin Sohn: his dog, Melo.… Read more »
Saffren: Ann Coulter's extreme, offensive rhetoric will provide disservice to SU students
There is a line in the sand between polemics and hatemongering. If the line were demarcated by sand castles, Ann Coulter would strike it with… Read more »
Saffren: NCAA athletes should benefit from merchandise sales featuring their likeness
Former University of California, Los Angeles basketball star Ed O’Bannon might be this generation’s Curt Flood. Flood, an all-star for the St. Louis Cardinals in… Read more »
Saffren: SA members must work with constituents to address home college issues, social concerns
On April 1, members of the Student Association went into an executive session to air their grievances and vote on President Allie Curtis’ impeachment. The… Read more »
Saffren: Student activists apply pressure to multinational corporations where United Nations can't
Global corporations like Adidas and Nike are in a perennial “race to the bottom,” where companies outsource production to the most underdeveloped countries with the… Read more »
