Ripped from the Headlines: July 2020: This Week In Culture: July 11–17, 2020

TV host and engineer Grant Imahara died of a brain aneurysm at 49. Imahara appeared on the popular show Mythbusters for ten years, and was also one of R2D2's trained operators in three of the Star Wars movies. His death was a shock to his many fans and friends, all of whom praised his intellect, humor, and kindness.

Kid Cudi and Eminem released a new song, titled The Adventures of Moon Man and Slim Shady, along with an accompanying video in which the pair appear as superheroes. They cover a lot of subjects, including the murder of George Floyd and the Trump administration. Braggadocio comes from Italian; the brag- you see in there offers a useful hint at its meaning.

Netflix's new film The Old Guard is the first major superhero movie directed by a Black woman. The film, which stars Charlize Theron and Kiki Layne, premiered this week to rave reviews. It tells the story of a small band of immortal humans pursuing a particular form of justice while being hunted by a pharmaceutical executive who wants to use their DNA to make everyone immortal.

Librarians have begun creating virtual escape rooms using Google Forms for bored students stuck at home. Some of their efforts are remarkably complex, entertaining, and of course educational. Some have Harry Potter or superhero themes, and the puzzles can be quite difficult. Some real escape room companies are also making virtual experiences, playable via Zoom.

Director Josephine Anderson made a short documentary about three female mountain bikers. While the content is inherently intense and fast-paced, and the subjects discuss their many dramatic crashes and injuries, the film is shot in a slow, dreamlike way to contrast with the content. Languidus means "faint," "tired," or "weak" in Latin.

The comet Neowise is visible to the naked eye during evenings this week, though it will be clearer through binoculars or a telescope. There's an app to help you locate and track it, and experts recommend getting as far from lights as possible for the best viewing experience.

Some country music artists are responding to institutional racism in their industry. In addition to the Dixie Chicks dropping the "Dixie" from their name, Lady Antebellum — antebellum being Latin for "before the war," a reference to the South before the Civil War — changed their name to Lady A. The problem is that there's already a Black blues singer using that stage name, and the band's attempt to resolve the conflict amicably quickly turned sour and resulted in a lawsuit.

NBC launched its new Peacock streaming service with free and paid tiers of subscriptions. The paid levels can watch new programming made specifically for the new channel, including a version of Aldous Huxley's famous 1932 dystopian science fiction novel Brave New World. Reviewers say that the show looks beautiful, but the writing isn't as compelling as the original book.

ComicCon, one of the biggest conventions in the U.S., had to cancel for the first time in 50 years. The organizers put together a series of virtual events, called ComicCon@Home, that they hope will be a fun and engaging consolation for tens of thousands of disappointed fans. The events will take place during the convention's original dates, from July 22–26, and will include panels, contests, and screenings.

The Washington Redskins announced that they will be changing the team's name, but no information about the replacement was forthcoming. The team resisted call to change the name for decades, but relented after many of its major corporate sponsors said they would withdraw their support if the change wasn't made. New signs, uniforms, and merchandise must be created before the season begins on September 13.