In the Wake TV Producer Shayna gets brutally honest about the current state of film criticism and pop culture discourse—calling out the gatekeepers, rage-baiters, and clout-chasers who prioritize viral likes over intelligent analysis.

Shayna's Penance Walk as a Reviewer: In this passionate conversation, Shayna discusses her frustration with the toxic cycle dominating online film criticism: reviewers who offer surface-level hot takes, deliberately inflammatory opinions designed to spark outrage, and commentary that says absolutely nothing of substance—all in pursuit of engagement metrics. It's criticism without care, analysis without thought, and discourse that degrades the art form rather than elevating it.

Why This Matters: The rise of rage-bait culture has poisoned genuine film discourse, making it nearly impossible to have nuanced conversations about art, representation, or storytelling. For Black critics and creators, this environment is especially damaging—our work is either dismissed by gatekeepers or weaponized for clicks by those who don't actually care about the communities or stories being discussed. Shayna's "penance walk" is a commitment to doing better: offering thoughtful, intelligent criticism even when shallow takes get more attention.

Watch the full conversation as Shayna unpacks what's broken in pop culture discourse, why we need to demand better from critics and audiences alike, and how to engage with film in ways that honor the art and the artists.

Ready for film criticism with integrity, depth, and cultural awareness? Subscribe to In the Wake TV for honest commentary that refuses to play the algorithm game. 📢🏾✊🏾

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