Pairing musical analysis with feminist theory, Aiden Hahn examines the ways in which Björk’s Vespertine subverts traditional feminist messages. Hahn investigates the concept of the domestic within Björk’s world, detailing how a space traditionally limiting for women was liberating for the artist. Ultimately, Hahn identifies how Björk has consciously reclaimed the domestic as a part […]

Aranne Jung has crafted a compelling narrative of resilience in her essay on the haenyeo—South Korean women who free dive for abalone and other shellfish. This remarkable non-fiction piece begins by delving into South Korea’s history, touching on the royal family’s ancient appetite for shellfish, before seamlessly transitioning to the present. Jung expertly highlights the […]

Drawing on recent reporting on Nigeria and scholarship on democracy, Olohi John methodically tells the story of the Nigerian government’s 2013 proposed ban on the burqa. She establishes Boko-Haram’s exploitation of religious expression as well as the successful sway of the opposition, in part due to faith, against the government’s response to that violence. In […]

Whitin’s essay unflinchingly considers the current restoration work the Seminole Tribe of Florida is doing on the Florida Everglades as a tribe that was forced off of their original land, forced to inherit the Everglades, and is now being forced to work on said restoration work alongside the White Settlers who are destroying the Everglades. […]

In this essay, Annika Galvin critically utilizes an environmental justice framework to bring attention to the ways in which climate change compounds the harms of the prison industrial complex upon frontline communities. They crucially examine the ways in which this structural violence is intentionally enacted, for example, how prisons are often deliberately placed near toxic […]

Ava Carroll’s piece offers a comprehensive analysis of the food waste crisis at colleges around the country and here at Smith. Carroll’s meticulous research highlights the true magnitude of this often-overlooked problem while offering nuanced solutions. Her work explores the far-reaching impacts of food waste, from economic losses to environmental degradation, while emphasizing the role […]