Arts & Culture
Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father: Relevant Now More Than Ever
“For we are strangers before them, and sojourners, as all our fathers were” 1 Chronicles 29:15 I am not one to reread books, but Barack Obama’s 1995 “memoir” demanded a revisit. And it did not disappoint. Through the circumstances of his birth, Obama explores the issue of race — particularly the question of blackness, as […]
The Heretic Pharaoh: The Amarna Period and its legacy
Many recognise Tutankhamun and all his splendour, but relatively few knew of his father, and by extension the legacy he left behind. Thought to be an iconic practitioner of monolatry, Akhenaten was labelled a heretic by the traditional polytheistic priests of Egypt after he declared the Aten not only supreme God over all others, but the only God. The Aten, to him, was a sovereign being who rose at dawn to gift his land bounty and rested by dusk – a figure he would become ever-obsessed with. Treading a thin line between madness and glory, Akhenaten abandoned Thebes, the contemporary capital of what was known as Egypt, for a new capital that would become the centre of worship for this revolutionary god.
Art Galleries: Colourful Historical Encyclopedias
I think that paintings express history in a way that a textbook cannot. That is part of the fun for me, sitting and reading galleries like a history book. However, does my reading matter to you? Does reading paintings matter at all?
Cyberspace, an Extension of our Society
The cyber world is a replica of the real world. Shielded by anonymity and other online perks, humans become hyperactive dots, free of real-life restrictions. Contrary to our previous belief of absolute freedom, we are ultimately constrained by cyber laws.
Race Politics
(He/Him) Anthony is a mixed-race poet & writer who has spent most of his life in Kuwait jostling between the UK & America. Anthony’s work has been published 190 times internationally. Anthony has 2 published chapbooks titled ‘The Great Northern Journey’ 2020 (Lazy Adventurer Publishing) & ‘Vultures’ 2021 (Roaring Junior Press). Anthony’s Chapbook ‘Half Bred’ is the Winner of the 2021 ‘The Poetry Question’ Chapbook contest. Anthony’s debut YA Novel ‘The Sands of Change’ will be released in November 2021 with Alien Buddha Press. Anthony is the Co-Editor in Chief of Fahmidan Journal and Fahmidan Publishing & Co. Twitter/Instagram: @anthony64120 https://arsalandywriter.com/
Should London Be Its Own Country?
The TFL and good road systems, the Met, the financial sector, a sizeable population, a clear political preference. What is actually in the way to stop London- a city with such an extremely rich history- from being an independent nation?
The Effect of Social Media on Society
Social media platforms have been around since the early 2000s, and has grown exponentially since. So, with that growth, what kind of influence does social media have over our lives and society as a whole?
Arts and Culture; Egyptian Tombs’ Curse Mystery
Nowadays, security systems tend to take form in locks or passwords, but how did the Ancient Egyptians use curses to tackle this issue and how real were the threats?
Fibonacci: The Numbers of Nature
The Fibonacci sequence- normally only seen in programming and maths at school- is actually found countless times within nature itself. An amazing phenomenon that helps describe how sometimes nature works. So where exactly is it seen?
Utopian Narratives: How they have transformed Technology and Organisations
The impact of Utopian Narratives on our Society
Feminism
Our society has been marginalizing women for centuries, and the time has come in which women and men alike should fight hand in hand for equality. Feminism is about striving to empower all women to grasp their full rights.
The Evolution of Football
Football is an incredibly popular sport, but how did the sport come about, and evolve into the game loved globally as we know it today?
The Importance of Mental Health
We check up on people when they’re ill, ask about them when they’re sick. But do we acknowledge if they’re actually okay? Mental health plays the quintessential role in our life.
Formula 1’s Struggles Magnified by COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for us all. Formula One was always one of the more challenging sports mentally. Put these two together, just how tough has it been for the sport?
Unity of Religions
Since the beginning of time, we did not have an explanation for what created the universe. This led people to worship different things that they believed were powerful enough to create everything, until the era of Abrahamic religions began.
A Social Guide Out of Lockdown
When it comes to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are often bombarded with multiple headlines that can make us nervous and anxious. Balancing being safe as lockdown restrictions ease with newfound anxiety for going out can be difficult. How can we help each other through the transition into our new ‘normal’? It is important to recognise […]
Football
Football is the best-known sport in the world today, uniting fans, players and clubs internationally— but what is the story behind the spread of the sport we all know and love?
RDR2- a true picture of the Wild West?
A world-renowned game but with deeper underlying issues represented throughout. Set in the dying age of the ‘Wild West’, how accurate was Red Dead Redemption 2 in depicting this stage of America’s history?
Shaping Disability Advocacy
With the many variations in the diverse population of the disabled comes various opinions that drive wedges between even the smaller core of disability advocates. However, there are certain beliefs and ideas that bring all disability activists together.
The Social Case Against Lockdowns
As we navigate through yet another Lockdown in the UK, the effectiveness of the measure can be questioned, especially taking into account the long term detriment that it is causing the younger generation.
Improving our Communication: Hearing Loss and Action
The WHO reports that 5% of the population have disabled hearing, a small figure but growing. Methods to bridge the gap the deaf community face will have widespread educational and economic benefits. However, we must respect Deaf Culture and tread with respect.
A Brief Look into Gender and Body
It is through a deconstruction of norms that we understand that we are born only with a distinct biological sex, and that gender seems to be a socially constructed concept imposed onto the sexes for the sake of a binary system.
Mahjong AI: The Next Level
Computers have surpassed humanity in many games like Chess. Mahjong is a very different game, which means making an AI play it optimally is a unique challenge. But in doing so, the scope of AI could change drastically.
Ikigai: 4 Lessons on the Japanese Philosophy of Long and Happy Life
The secret to living until 100 years old is a relatively unknown way of living life that underpins every aspect of Japan’s culture. It’s also what enables the Japanese to be amongst the happiest, healthiest and most productive people in the world.
Ekushe February: Bangladesh’s fight for its mother-tongue
Language is power. It’s divided humans for millennia and in Bangladesh, blood has been spilt for the right to speak their mother-tongue, an event which has irrevocably changed the country. Ekushe February.
A traveller’s guide around London tube stations
“The veins of the heart that can take you from one point to another”. The Underground (and there TFL in general) has allowed London to grow, helped commuters to commute and has become one of the main icons in London. But what is so fascinating about the tube?
A World of Englishes?: The Effects of the Global Spreading of a Language
English is being moulded by and for its users around the world as it globalises, but could this result in a different English a hundred years from now? And should this be considered a problem?
The Blurry Future of World Heritage
Beyond being divided between its cultural and lucrative aspect, our World Heritage sites are facing diverse threats that can jeopardise its existence.
What if Hitler Had Won?
A world under the reign of Hitler is one that is almost unimaginable, but at parts during WW2, this was a real possibility. But, what if the war was won by the Axis- how could the world have been like amongst this “uncertainty and tyranny”?
Do People Mean Everything They Say?
In a world woven from words with connections created through conversation, how much of what we hear and say is actually meant? And are we stifling our authenticity for the sake of “saving face”?
Dropping the Pretense about Women’s Representation
Our society has been conditioned to treat our women as less worthy than the men. That is shamelessly flagrant in the way we showcase them.
Black History Month: Time For Change
It is time to change our approach to Black History Month in the UK. Black history should not just be viewed or explored from the American gaze. We must ensure that a light is shone on the history of Black people in Britain and commonwealth countries too.
Why Does History Matter?
Understanding the past is extremely beneficial because it allows a constant reflection of our actions as individuals, societies, and inhabitants of this planet – and offers a guide as to how we should and should not act. The field of history allows critical insights into understanding the complexities and nuances of the world. It offers the skill of critical analysis and evaluation, since historians have to reach a judgement as to what is the most plausible justification. History is a subject that can be overlooked because of its concern with the past but its relevance is something that should be appreciated greatly.
The Change of Cities at Core
The world is constantly changing, sometimes we can only see the change after it is made. However, in regards to cities, there are some aspects that we can look through and visualize the future that is waiting for us.
Loot Boxes and Gambling
Loot boxes are a prevalent mechanic in video games and have been compared to gambling in the past. So how have countries approached this debate and are these attitudes reflected in their legislation?
Orientalism: The Western Blindspot
Edward Said stresses that we must unlearn the cultural dominative mode that is Orientalism. How does Skyfall perpetuate Western views of the East? By shedding light on the Orientalist gaze, we reveal the blindspot Western literature & media raised us with.
Our Search for Meaning
When we are faced with a prolonged period of idleness, it is inevitable that we begin to question the very foundations of our belief systems. In this article, we delve into trying to answer these age old conundrums.
Post-colonial Africa: A failure of Leadership
There’s an endemic deficiency on the African continent; leadership- or lack thereof. Through the tenures of Banda, Nkrumah and Nyerere, we can better understand the common themes that perpetuate and encourage poor governance.
Ableist Tropes in Media that Need to be Retired (and why they became so common)
It’s no secret that disability representation is lacking, but why are so many disabled characters bad examples of real disabled people? And how do some of them actively harm the community they represent? The answer may come through dissecting ableist tropes.
Four Waves of Southeast Asia: Forming the most diverse region in the world
Dubbed the “Balkans of the Orient” by British historian C.A Fisher, Southeast Asia is probably the most diverse corner of the world. But just how did such a ‘Balkanised’ region of the world succeed in achieving such peace and prosperity?
Can Wabi-Sabi offer an antidote to mass consumption and perfectionism?
What if perfection was not the requirement, but in fact undesirable? Instead we place our focus on the intrinsic and shift away from the material. The Japanese ideology of Wabi Sabi, a philosophy of life, can provide some insight. Wabi Sabi embraces and promotes imperfection, authenticity and transience. It teaches its adherents to be comfortable with ambiguities.
Feminine strokes: the struggles of female artists
Brush strokes have no gender, so why are female artists paid so little and held to much higher standards compared to men? Find out why gender plays such an important role in the art scene of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Made in Laos, written in Thailand, born in England- Colin Cotterill’s Dr Siri Paiboun’s series
“His skills were obtained during his degree level studies in France and despite seeing the wealth of France, he decided to go back to Laos and help his nation“. An interesting review on the Dr. Siri Paiboun series by Colin Cotterill.