Author: Retrospect Journal
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Beyond the Beads and Feathers: Unpacking the Subversive Potential of Carnival in the Atlantic World
Beyond the colour and conviviality, Carnivals have served as a means for participants to challenge oppression through performance. Angela Davis explores the history of this tradition and the sociocultural changes it has driven.
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The History of Sex, Scandal and Society: Betwixt the Sheets with Kate Lister
In “Betwixt the Sheets”, historian Dr Kate Lister takes listeners on a journey of sex, scandal, and society throughout history, whilst tackling themes that are incredibly pertinent today. Naomi Wallace shares her review of the podcast.
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The Duchess of Suffolk
Victoria Male presents an imagining of the first encounter between Catherine Willoughby – a woman known for her wit and a prominent supporter of the English Reformation – and her first husband’s best friend, King Henry VIII.
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On John Berger’s Ways of Seeing
John Berger’s seminal text, “Ways of Seeing”, remains a critical work in the study of art, five decades after its publication. Georgia Smith provides an insightful discussion of his discourse on the “male gaze” and the spectator-subject relationship.
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BT Tower: London’s Most Underrated Landmark
For decades, the tallest building in London and a major tourist attraction was officially a government secret. Sam Marks dives into the history of the BT Tower.
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A Conversation at Kenilworth Castle, July 1575
Naomi Wallace explores a potential moment between Elizabeth I and a dear friend and suitor in this fiction piece.
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Stories From St Conall Cael’s Handbell
How many stories can one object hold? Verity Limond reveals what a medieval Irish handbell can tell us about everything from monastic life to international trade connections.
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A Dark Comedy: The History of Blackface in Minstrel Shows
‘The Black and White Minstrel Show’ was a popular BBC series that featured performers in blackface singing American minstrel songs. Sam Marks explores the racist origins and history of minstrel shows and explains how and why these traditions ended up in the UK.
Retrospect Journal 