How ‘socially responsible’ brands hurt rather than help Black Lives Matter and the struggle against racism
By Charles Hill
“On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. Nike released a video entitled “For Once, Don’t Do It”, Netflix declared that “to be silent is to be complicit”, and Amazon, Ben & Jerry’s and even Barbie posted their approval for the protests. If companies can use their influence for good, surely we should be celebrating their newfound social conscience?”
Photo credits: Le Parisien
Lessons from ‘It’s a Sin’: The Importance of Climate Exceptionalism
Eva draws societal, functional and political parallels between the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the current climate crisis. She uses these to reflect on how exceptionalism should again be implemented to counter Earth system breakdown.
Photo credits: Ben Blackall / Channel 4
You have to stop romanticising your life: how social media impacts our realities
By Emma McKeown
“In a generation raised on aesthetics, social media has become the ideal platform for romanticising - for proving ourselves and convincing others that we are having a good time rather than actually enjoying the moment”
Photo credits: Stamford University
“Unity is not an option; unity is a duty”
By Jennifer Geminiani
Jennifer critically analyses current Italian political affairs and the past election dilemma. If you are Italian, or just have an interest in international relations, this is a must read!
Photo credits: Andreas Solaro / AFP
How is Contemporary Art Reacting to the Refugee Crisis?
By Clara Tipper
In this article, Clara explores the diverse ways in which contemporary artists are shining a spotlight on the refugee crisis, and ultimately, why political art can be an effective medium for change.
Photo credits: Oliver Lang / Konzerthaus Berlin
How We Change
By Grace Vollers
“To think of change, I believe, is to see a pandemic rip apart lives and families, or to see layers of systemic oppression reach their boiling point. It is to watch as world leaders are dragged down and to see governments break. It is to externalize transformation. But to perceive change, that is to feel it in each of us individually.”
Photo credits: Dallas News
From Daphne to the Little Dancer: The History of Sexual Violence in Art
By Laura Bennie
“When women are portrayed one dimensionally, it is easy to overlook sexual violence. It is far past time to challenge these conceptions, and to do so, it is important to understand how embedded they are in art history.”
Photo credits: Wikipedia / Susanna and the Elders by Artemisia Gentileschi
On Stand With Alison
By Hilary Chan
Hilary explains how the decision to make Dr Alison Kerr redundant needs tripping up by its own reversion, where gender studies and the philosophy of hegemony protests an institution's narrative on women.
Photo credits: Mubi
Apologia of the uselessness
By Giulia Colangeli
Life's too short to do things "because you have to, period". Enjoy uselessness, enrich your life with novelty and explore: you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Photo credits: imgfave.com
Beware the Malthusian Trap: We Aren’t the Virus
By Calum Stewart
Calum explores the Malthusian discourse surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change
Photo credits: Calum Stewart
#Cottagecore, Crochet, and Our Current Sociopolitical Climate: Oh My!
By Catherine Mullner
Catherine offers political insight and historical background into the aesthetic we can’t seem to escape (and frankly, don’t want to)
Photo credits: Vogue Mexico
Getting on the Blacklist
Emily examines the extremeties of censorship in regards to Russian experimental duo, IC3PEAK
Photo credits: @ic3peak
Who cares about ancient Greeks anyways? The classical world’s relevance today
By Euan Bowman
“As confusing as this statement is, people rightfully question the rationale of teaching a subject that has historically justified fascist rhetoric and violence.”
Photo credits: Levi Clancy / Metropolitan Museum of Art
The demolition of Uyghur architecture: An irreversible tragedy
By Charles Hill
“They would no longer have a personal, cultural, and spiritual history. After a few years we would not have a memory of why we live here, or where we belong.”
Photo credits: Eric Lafforgue-Corbis / Getty Images
Dear Emma…
By Lucia Guercio
“As ‘an old men country,’ Italy was not ready for your outgoing attitude, your fierce and natural charm. You swooshed away archaic prejudices and conservative stigmas.”
Photo credits: Flickr
#SaveTheTurtles: Ableism and Classism within ‘Pop-Culture’ Environmentalism
By Julia Swerdlow
“I want to shed light on why some new environmentalist ‘trends’ promoted through social media are in fact inaccessible to those with disabilities and to those with lower socio-economic statuses.”
Photo credits: Lily Padula / NBC News
How TikTok Flips the Switch Social Roles
By Ines Renee
"In the world of TikTok, a joke can be more than just a joke, it can be a veiled political tool.”
Photo credits: Talking Influence
Hamilton On Disney+ Is A Big Deal - But It Shouldn’t Be
By Maia Rakovic
"Whether intentional or not, Manuel-Miranda and Disney+ have stopped treating bootlegging as a blight on the theatre world, but as an untapped market. Is it symptomatic of late capitalism that we’re rejoicing at the idea that we can get the opportunity to complete our role as consumers? Probably”
Photo credits: IMDb
Cancel Culture: Fact or Fiction?
By Laura Bennie
“Rather than seeing cancellation as the online masses seeking retribution for bad behaviour, like racism and sexual harassment, cancel culture has been co-opted by people in positions of power to claim they are being silenced simply for speaking their mind. This might seem like they’re stretching the meaning of the term - but do they have a point?”
Photo credits: Gareth Iwan Jones, EYEVINE / REDUX