Category: Features
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The Arab Conquests and the Islamic World in the Early-to-High Middle Ages: A Global Centre for Exchange, Preservation, and Development of Ideas?
Harry Child discusses the Islamic world’s role in fostering cultural exchange, outlining the pivotal role of the Arab Conquests for intellectual and technological advancements in the Middle Ages.
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The Popish Plot and the Theatre of Fear
Amid the context of ideological tension in seventeenth-century England, Manahil Masood discusses the panic and politics of the Popish Plot.
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The Curious Case of Pro-War Propaganda in Post-War Musical Theater
Annika Rasmussen explores the presence of pro-American propaganda in post-WW2 musical theater, offering reflections on how contemporary viewers react to this.
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Strength in Deception: FDR and a Wartime Presidency
Eva Beere explores how Franklin D. Roosevelt solidified his power amid America’s involvement in the Second World War.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The King of Spin – How Alastair Campbell went from the Dragon of Downing Street to revered Centrist Dad
Sam Mackenzie follows the career of ‘spin doctor’ Alistair Campbell, exploring how he was able to change public perceptions towards him.
Retrospect Journal 