Tag: History
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Guernica: Pablo Picasso and the Spanish Civil War
“Guernica”, a 1937 painting by Pablo Picasso, depicts the horrifying brutality of the Spanish Civil War. Meenakshi Nirmalan discusses its startling composition which continues to captivate audiences to this day.
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Tudor True Crime: The Bizarre Death of Amy Dudley
On 8 September 1560, the body of Amy Dudley, the first wife of Robert Dudley, was discovered at the foot of a staircase. Naomi Wallace examines the scandal and suspicion surrounding her tragic demise.
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Theatre Review – Petronius’ Satyricon, adapted for stage by Martin Foreman
Petronius’ Satyricon is a classic Ancient Roman text from the first century CE, depicting scenes of debauchery and extravagance. Fiona MacRae reviews a recent stage exhibition of the text, brought to life for a modern audience by Martin Foreman at Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh.
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The Pendle Witches: How a Nine-Year-Old Girl Sentenced Her Family to Death
On 18 August 1621, nine-year Jennet Device testified against her family during the notorious Pendle witch trials. Marnie Camping-Harris examines how the young girl came to be a key witness in a case which resulted in the execution of her closest relatives.
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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 Brontë Sisters and the Importance of Women’s Education in the Nineteenth Century
In their personal lives as well as through their novels, the Brontë sisters challenged patriarchal norms surrounding a woman’s role in society. Isabelle Shaw examines the impact that their work has had on efforts for equal education in the nineteenth century and beyond.
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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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Little Freedoms: So-Called ‘Liberation’ in the Wake of the Black Death
Written by Ailsa Fraser. In the aftermath of the Black Death, a lower population allowed those at the lowest social strata to demand higher higher wages. But did this equate to greater liberation for the peasantry? Ailsa Fraser discusses the changing landscape of Britain and the legislations which impacted their lives.
Retrospect Journal 