Category: Academic
-
Migration and the Neocolonial ‘National Front’: British Post-war Immigration Policy and Culture
HMT Empire Windrush brought hundreds of migrants from Commonwealth countries with the promise of employment and prosperity; what greeted them was discrimination and racism. Ash Tomkins discusses the impact of Britain’s hostile post-war immigration policy, the effects of which are felt to this day.
-
Journeying to the Centre of the Earth: The Scientific Accuracy of Jules Verne’s Writing
French novelist Jules Verne has been celebrated for over a century as a pioneer of the science fiction genre. Kat Jivkova examines the scientific accuracy of his work to determine whether this appellation obscures his legacy.
-
From the Slums of London to the Kings Court: The Story of Nell Gwynn
From an impoverished childhood to one of the earliest female stage actors in England, Nell Gwynn became committed to the annals of history for her relationship with King Charles II. Megan Crutchley explores the life of this central figure in Restoration London.
-
Namban Folding Screens
Produced during the Momoyama and Edo periods, the “namban” screens testify to the trade relationship and cultural exchange between Japan and Portugal. Chloe Bramwell explores the imagery and provenance of these richly decorated objects.
-
Did Women Have Real Power in the Achaemenid Court?
In an effort to better understand the socio-political role of women in the Achaemenid empire, Eleonora Soteriou examines the various ways in which high-ranking women were able to exercise power–including holding property, hosting important social gatherings, and acting as diplomatic envoys.
-
In Praise of Tears: A Short Intellectual History
Through use of semiotic discourse and structural rhetoric, Roland Barthes’ “A Lover’s Discourse” explores the symbolic nature of the tear. Georgia Smith presents a philosophical reading of this physical expression of unfettered emotion.
-
The History of the Bikini: Clothing as Evidence of Female Oppression
With a history dating as far back as 5600 BC, the story of the bikini is one of liberation and resistance, although not without conservative backlash. Isabelle Shaw examines the link between changing fashions and women’s autonomy.
-
Memorials and Memoirs: Piecing Together the Lives of Formerly Enslaved Women
Malvina Wells, born in Carriacou around 1804, was one of a number of enslaved persons brought to Scotland during the period of colonial expansionism. Verity Limond examines the stories of women freed from slavery in Britain, where sources are sparse, to help shed light on their lives and experiences.
Retrospect Journal 