Month: October 2020

Criticism

We Have Always Lived in the Castle: The Ideal Halloween in Lockdown Read

Because Shirley Jackson never disappoints when it comes to specializing in chilling tales detailing the macabre nature of existence and humanity itself, it is almost impossible to choose a favorite work of hers for the purposes of “celebrating” Halloween. Of course, for many, celebrations of this pagan holiday have been essentially cancelled due to, well, you know. But because this year is so specific with … Continue reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle: The Ideal Halloween in Lockdown Read

Genna Rivieccio2 Comments
Criticism

A Tale of Two Personalities: Elaine Brown’s A Taste of Power by Zeke Greenwald

A more relevant read than ever, Elaine Brown’s 1992 memoir, A Taste of Power, covers her early life and all her years in the Black Panther Party. Growing up in Philadelphia before moving to Oakland, Brown was forced to bifurcate into two people: someone who could hang with the black girls after school and someone who could hang with the Jewish girls during school. Her … Continue reading A Tale of Two Personalities: Elaine Brown’s A Taste of Power by Zeke Greenwald

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Poetry

The Dreams He Sees by Susie Gharib

He daily commutes to work on the wings of a moth who is inebriated,and sips his drink from a bluebell that is with liquor satiated,then calculates his sums on a papyrus with a quill whose inkis the darkest wine that Gascony had fabricated. His weekend is a six-day break on the shores of a reservoir,a Scottish distillery’s grounds,whose breezes are with whiskey impregnated,a canopy of intoxicationfor a man who … Continue reading The Dreams He Sees by Susie Gharib

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Poetry

A Grace Jones Paradox by Nick Ingram

“Am I slowly moving away from thesecontinental philosophical interpretations of life and existence?I mean, after all: what is the avant-garde? I have passed beyond the pallid pointof boredom; there are certain people whoonly ever create unhappiness.I never want to know people such asthese. I want to get back to that old senseof decadence: every emotion hasan elation, this could just be the soundof my insanity.”                                                 -Neon lights … Continue reading A Grace Jones Paradox by Nick Ingram

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Criticism

The Ever-Pertinent Theme of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery

The joys of a public stoning may have evolved into more metaphorical methods, but the “tradition” remains very much alive in the present. Just as it was in Shirley Jackson’s own time, having released “The Lottery” in the summer of 1948. With World War II still being freshly ended, there remained the dark pall of those dictators who rose to prominence as a result of … Continue reading The Ever-Pertinent Theme of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery

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Satire

Is Poetry More Valuable Than the X-Acto Knife?

Everyone is talking about Louise, now. Maybe they always were, you just weren’t orbiting the right circles, and it’s so hard to be able to nowadays what with there being so few old guard types left with viable apartments of a Woody Allen movie size to allow people in for dinner parties and salons. Blair Waldorf tried to do it once, but you really do … Continue reading Is Poetry More Valuable Than the X-Acto Knife?

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Poetry

Becoming Planets by Kashiana Singh

If I could be a planetI would like to be MercuryBaring myself to the sun, those timesWhen I need brightness seven times stronger than myselfOr maybe the clumsy UranusStuttering sideways, self-effacing butLiving the moods of my 27 moons andNever having to explain myself before or after menopauseI have even speculated MarsRed in the face, evidence of my travailsReceding further into my atmosphere, I wouldMock the … Continue reading Becoming Planets by Kashiana Singh

Genna Rivieccio5 Comments