Retrospect
Journal.

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY'S HISTORY, CLASSICS AND ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE

Blog: https://retrospectjournal.com/
Profile: https://retrospectjournal.com/author/retrospectsubmissions/

‘England is Mine, It Owes Me a Living’: How Thatcherism Forged Manchester’s Musical Renaissance

Elizabeth Hill uncovers how Thatcher’s policies profoundly affected Manchester’s music scene, leading to the emergence of influential bands like Joy Division, The Smiths, and The Stone Roses. Their music expressed disillusionment with Thatcherism, creating a cultural identity for the North West and challenging London-centric narratives, while resonating with a generation facing socio-economic turmoil.
The Belgian Revolution 1830-1831: A Triumph of Romantic Nationalist Ideals

Seanryan Lai explores how nationalist sentiments, fuelled by Romanticism, united various social classes in a struggle for independence, leading to Belgium’s recognition as a sovereign nation in 1839.
Visuality, Materiality, and Eighteenth-Century Samplers

Molly Marsella explores eighteenth-century American samplers, discussing how the visuality and materiality of these pieces has been viewed.
Playing for Influence: The Role of Jazz Diplomacy During the Cold War

Edie Christian discusses the role Jazz Ambassador tours played during the Cold War in illustrating how U.S. foreign policy exploited Black musicians as tools for propaganda and cultural diplomacy, while promoting an image of racial harmony abroad.
Collaboration, Productivity, Resistance: Differing Reactions of Jewish Councils under occupation

Connie Greatrix explores the moral complexity of Jewish leadership under Nazi rule. From secret child rescues in France to the “productive ghetto” of Lodz, the article reveals how councils balanced survival, welfare, and resistance, challenging simplistic views of collaboration during the Holocaust.
Whitewashing the Moors: How Casting Choices Reveal Our Discomfort With Literary Otherness

Kayla Greer examines the controversial casting of Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, and how this prioritises marketability over Emily Brontë’s original portrayal of the character as racially ambiguous.
“It Ain’t Half Racist Mum”: Reflexive Wit and Migration in Modern British Voices and Television

Harry Fry explores what race and migration mean to Britain today as represented through sitcoms.
The Influence of Social Class in 1960s British Cultural Movements and Outputs

Lauren Hood examines 1960s British counterculture and media to explore how class continued to influence the shaping of cultural participation, outputs, and movements.