Written by Anna Dolliver I spent my winter break surrounded by stories both spoken and concrete. Over the past few months, my grandmother has been sifting through and donating objects around her ranch to make more space. After decluttering cabinets with my mother and unearthing old records with my uncle, she invited me to help…
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Written by Alyssa Jingling In one of my classes last semester, I read a novel called Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. In the literary world, it received mixed reviews; many readers disliked how slow the novel felt. The novel is written in epistolary form: a father is writing to his son, and all of the points…
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Written by Sydney Stewart We live in a society. What does society, more specifically, our society, value? Money, senseless wealth, overt decadence. Humans stumble along, foolishly pursuing worthless treasure at the expense of their souls, yet, there are some who call out against the unstoppable tide of modern consumption and capitalism. One well-known critique of…
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Written by Kevin LaTorre I sign my name in the guestbook of the Harry Ransom Center when I visit the Terrence McNally exhibit for the second time. Alongside the academics and the Northerners and the enthusiasts, “UT Student” is a nondescript designation. If a stack of brochures had been available, I might’ve picked one up,…
Read MoreWritten by Christie Basson The 21st century loves a good power couple. From the unshakability of Michelle and Barack Obama to the creative genius of Beyoncé and Jay-Z to the classic elegance Meghan and Harry — the masses have supported the coupling of powerful people for decades. Honestly, there is nothing better than two awesome…
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Written by Alex Taylor There are some books that are better read standing up—others that are best digested lying in bed. There are few books, however, that are best enjoyed in front of a mirror at 3 o’clock in the morning. For anyone who has read Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, this image might…
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Written by Alyssa Jingling “I’m surprised you’re not analyzing Daddy,” my poetry professor, Dr. D’Arcy Randall, said as we discussed my Sylvia Plath research project. “So much of your poetry is based around your family struggles.” It was more than halfway through the semester, yet this moment was the first time I realized that she…
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Written by Anna Dolliver Perhaps the magic stems from the lyrical cadence of her words, the lattice of lines easily read in shifting orders and voices. Perhaps the intrigue emanates from the eccentric clothing she wore, a trash-to-treasure wardrobe filled with knickknacks crafted into composite art. Whatever the source, Mina Loy designs an ethereal, brazen…
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Written by Christie Basson Global warming. Women losing all reproductive rights. Technology encroaching on every aspect of our lives. A growing distaste for freedom of speech. Dystopia has never seemed more realistic. So, what do we do when our day-to-day lives read like the prologue of a dystopian novel? If the popularity of The Handmaid’s…
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Written by Alex Taylor The other day, as I was walking through a bookstore looking for a copy Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves — this great horror book that all my peers had told me I absolutely needed to read — I found myself lost. As highly raved about as this book was, I couldn’t find…
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