Category: Features
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‘A Worthy Son’? King Philip V of France
The issue of succession in medieval France was highly contentious. Harry Child evaluates the legacy of King Philip V of France, exploring his efforts towards domestic stability and successful foreign policy.
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The End of Radio Free Europe?
Radio Free Europe enabled thousands of citizens beyond the Iron Curtain to stay up to date with current affairs during the Cold War. With its potential end due to Trump’s administration, Olivia Hiskett delves into the station’s history.
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French Impressionism in Scotland: An Analysis of Before the Performance by Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas, a key figure in the Impressionist movement, shifted artistic focus from traditional scenes to urban leisure and ballet. Emily Jones considers how his work, Before the Performance, exemplifies this modern approach and reflects Scotland’s evolving art scene.
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Dancing Dissidents: The Soviet Culture of Ballet as a Form of Repression and Revolt
In the Soviet era, ballet served as a propaganda tool reflecting state ideology, suppressing artistic freedom while promoting Russian superiority. Kate Taylor discusses ballet’s defectors such as Nureyev and Baryshnikov to reveal how it was a tool which shaped West-USSR relations until 1991.
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Girdles and Charms: Notes on Women’s Healthcare and Christian and Jewish Practices Surrounding Birth During the Medieval Period
The article examines medieval birth practices, highlighting the roles of women and midwives in Christianity and Judaism. Helene Chaligne discusses the significance of birth girdles, charms, and relevant contemporary literature while querying historical perspectives on women’s healthcare involvement.
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The Last Cavalier? The Complicated Legacy of George Armstrong Custer
Sam Mackenzie imagines George Armstrong Custer through his complex legacy of heroism, controversy, and his actions against Native Americans.
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Hulme Crescents: A Case Study in Manchester’s Post-Slum Clearance Experiment and a Lesson for British Social Housing
Many British industrial cities were marked by decline after the Second World War. Jake Beecroft recounts the case of Hulme Crescents in Manchester, illustrating the failures of urban renewal and advocating for people-centred urban planning.
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SALVE! SPOTLIGHT
The reputation of Claudia Julia Livia is one of high contention. Georgie Nisbit recounts the various framings of her life in the style of a newspaper exposé.
Retrospect Journal 