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Humanitarian Intermission: A Breath Between The Bombs

As Trump and Biden applaud themselves for their roles in brokering peace, the people of Gaza are left to grapple with the wreckage of a war they never asked for.

Ayra Rajwani and Roukia Ali

Catalina Bedoya

Venezuela Unraveled: The Ongoing Battle for Power and Survival

Catalina Bedoya

Understanding Venezuela’s state is not just about politics, it’s about the global fight for democracy, human rights, and stability.

Catalina Bedoya

Swathi Sathyaseelan

Prioritizing Mental Health: Key Strategies for Students During this Exam Season

Swathi Sathyaseelan

In light of the intensity of university life, it’s important for students to adopt helpful ways that can help with their mental health and have a sense of balance.

Swathi Sathyaseelan

Ayra Rajwani

Lost Art of the Demure: What defines humility in the digital age?

Ayra Rajwani

How social media turned privacy into an endangered species.

Ayra Rajwani

Tanisha Agarwal 11/13/22 Tanisha Agarwal 11/13/22

A Monster of Our Times: How the Zombie Apocalypse Has Evolved to Mirror Societal Fears

From dark magic to office culture, the undead offer a biting commentary on what ails our society.

Payal Dass 4/22/22 Payal Dass 4/22/22

How Coming of Age Stories are Lying to You

Tanisha Agarwal 4/12/22 Tanisha Agarwal 4/12/22

Youth, Interrupted: What Wartime Literature Says About Disillusionment Amidst Global Catastrophe

The First World War transformed the just-begun lives of a generation of adolescents. Over a century later, the art they created resonates with another group of young people facing extraordinary loss and uncertainty.

Payal Dass 1/28/22 Payal Dass 1/28/22

How We’re Destroying the “Desired” Standard of Beauty

Even though the root of beauty has been based on problematic ideals, there has been a great deal of progress on challenging the standards that define it. This is something worth celebrating.

Tanisha Agarwal 10/27/21 Tanisha Agarwal 10/27/21

Pretty Privilege: How Aesthetics Influence Which Endangered Species We Save

Because apparently, beauty standards for humans weren’t enough.

Maidah Afzal 8/12/21 Maidah Afzal 8/12/21

Following the Heroine: Harmful Representation in Shoujo Anime

Figuring out the dating world by yourself is hard enough, so why does anime make it even harder?

Maidah Afzal 8/11/21 Maidah Afzal 8/11/21

A Cluster of Claustrophobic Girlbosses: Shiva Baby (2020) and Representing the Modern Woman

What happens when you mix bisexuals, ex-girlfriends, cheaters, sugar babies, and real babies, with a shiva?

Ethan Lane-Day 8/10/21 Ethan Lane-Day 8/10/21

Free Speech in the Philippines, Representation Lost Through Oppression

In the modern world, technology and social media have become a bastion of free speech, pushing everyone's voice to the corners of the globe. However, the treatment and acceptance of free speech has been received differently, and in some cases, like the Philippines, harshly.

Malika Daya 7/14/21 Malika Daya 7/14/21

Building a small business in the midst of the pandemic. In conversation with Tamara Masa Vojinovic, creator of Time Illuminated.

“Film photography became a really beautiful unravelling of artistry, inspiration, imagination, and reconnection.” Tamara shares with us her journey of artistry throughout the pandemic, exploring the highs & lows of artrepreneurship.

Payal Dass 7/13/21 Payal Dass 7/13/21

Indigenous Representation in Media and Mind

The media seems to report less on Indigenous issues, which makes them sound less important. What can our collective knowledge do?

Jingshu Helen Yao 7/13/21 Jingshu Helen Yao 7/13/21

What’s with Body Image Issues and the Tradition of Cooking and Dining Together?

The truth is, no one seemed to be satisfied with their body. The worries over my body will probably never disappear. But I try to minimize their impact on my life and people around me.

Payal Dass 7/13/21 Payal Dass 7/13/21

The Lack of Accurate LGBTQi+ Depictions in Film

In a world of progressive mainstream media that aims to represent people of various backgrounds, how do members of the LGBTQ+ community feel about the current representation of members in their minority group?

Tanisha Agarwal 7/6/21 Tanisha Agarwal 7/6/21

I’m a Girl Who Only Writes Male Protagonists, and I Finally Asked Myself Why

Feminism in the streets, internalized sexism in the writing portfolio

Tanisha Agarwal 7/6/21 Tanisha Agarwal 7/6/21

A Thousand Faces: Rick Riordan’s LGBTQ+ Heroes Are Diversifying the Children’s Shelf

A wise woman once said, “I believe the children are our future.” With the queer and nonbinary representation in his books, it seems the creator of Percy Jackson has decided to bet on it.

Jingshu Helen Yao 7/6/21 Jingshu Helen Yao 7/6/21

My Favorite Shows are Problematic, What do I do?

On the one hand, I am deeply interested in the show’s content but, on the other hand, I feel the necessity to be in solidarity with the community that seeks diversity and inclusion in Pop culture. What should I do?

Payal Dass 5/19/21 Payal Dass 5/19/21

Saving the World with Seaweed

With beef production being a large contributor to the production of greenhouse gases, how can one minor change in the industry help save the planet?

Jingshu Helen Yao 5/19/21 Jingshu Helen Yao 5/19/21

Research Ethics of Science Fiction

Instead of trying to convince people what is ethically acceptable and what’s not, fictions spark discussions by asking questions and by demonstrating what might happen in different scenarios, which makes them the perfect option for science ethics education.

Claudia Minardi 5/19/21 Claudia Minardi 5/19/21

The 21st Century Space Race: SpaceX, NASA, and Astronomical Discoveries

The future of space exploration is in the hands of none other than Elon Musk.

Jingshu Helen Yao 4/27/21 Jingshu Helen Yao 4/27/21

We Just Have to Keep Pushing: Conversation with El Jones

“If you have a vision, stick to your voice. Don’t let people discourage you, because that voice will come into its own. Just roll with it and take whatever opportunity you can.”

Claudia Minardi 4/27/21 Claudia Minardi 4/27/21

Resist Negativity: Finding Wonder in the Mundane

The world often feels like it’s lost its magic. But if you change your perspective, you can find wonder in the mundane.

Interested in contributing? Email vyusti@the-underground.online