Tag: cultural history
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Sid and Nancy: “Punk’s Romeo and Juliet” or a toxic obsession?
The relationship between Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen has become embroiled in speculation and sensationalism in the decades following their deaths. Naomi Wallace examines the romanticism which continues to surround two of punk’s most enduring figures.
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The Language of Love – Can Anyone Understand it?
From fans to flowers, expressions of desire through symbolic means has undergone various transformations throughout European history. Megan Crutchley examines the rise and fall of such devices and their use in the pursuit of love.
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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.
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Beth Shean Sarcophagi: Why are these finds significant?
A collection of clay coffins excavated in Beth Shean dating to the New Kingdom of Egypt have led to a number of competing theories regarding their provenance. Eleonora Soteriou discusses the significance of this find and what it might reveal about identity and acculturation during a time of Egyptian expansionism.
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On the Need for Provocation: A Response to Solanas’ SCUM Manifesto (1968)
Valerie Solanas’ “SCUM Manifesto” was a call to arms for women to overthrow the male sex and establish a feminist utopia. However, her emphasis on violence led to polarisation – compounded by her shooting of Andy Warhol in 1968. Georgia Smith explores the discourse surrounding this infamous feminist work.
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The Walker Expedition: Unmanifested Destiny
Written by Sam Marks. In the earliest years of its founding, the United States of America underwent rapid expansion, driven by filibusters who held the belief that such aggressive territorial acquisition was destined. Sam Marks explores the colonisation efforts of William Walker and the ensuing uprising against his regime.
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Double Deviant: Criminalisation of and Attitudes Towards Female ‘Sin’ in Nineteenth Century Britain
Written by Sophie Whitehead. The history of female crime is largely dominated by stories of sex workers and infanticide. But how does the theory of female crime contribute to the history of crimes associated by women? Sophie Whitehead explores the history of women in crime literature.
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The Origins of Tattooing: A Brief Overview
Written by Etta Coleman. The art of tattooing has a long and nuanced history, intimately linked with the cultures who permanently inscribed ink into the flesh. Etta Coleman explores the origins of this art form and its global spread.
Retrospect Journal 