Identity Hunters
By Alessandro Colletti Very few know that the Ainu are the only people that still perform a ritual called Iomante, aimed at sending bears’ spirits back to nature. But in all fairness, few know who the Ainu are in the first place. And there is an unfortunate reason for this. The Ainu people are the native inhabitants […]
By Julien McCallin The word ‘sinister’, meaning something evil, means ‘on the left side’ in Latin (7). Meanwhile, its opposite ‘dexter’ (on the right side), gave the word dextrous, designating someone gifted with his hands. Even the word ‘ambidextrous’, referring to someone with similar ease in both his hands, means ‘having 2 right hands’ (7). […]
By Iris Isenegger Corsica’s history is one of relentless resistance to outside dominance, from repeated incursions by pirates to successive waves of imperial subjugation. Over time, these conflicts fostered a collective identity centered on resilience and honor. The vendetta corsa—a system of familial and communal revenge—served as an alternative form of justice in a society […]
By Hamza Yousif Few artists in modern Arab history blurred the lines between culture and politics as seamlessly as Umm Kulthum. Known as Kawkab al-Sharq (the Star of the East), she was more than a singer. Her voice transcended borders, generations, and ideologies. At her peak, she was not just Egypt’s most celebrated artist but a pillar […]
By Samuel Joseph Davies Emerging from the disillusionment of Post-Thatcher South Wales, The Manic Street Preachers have long established themselves as one of Britain’s most politically literate rock bands, challenging the nation’s political elite whilst brandishing a political vision submerged in radical working-class consciousness. Through their lyrics, ideological influences, and historical context, this blog examines the Manics’ engagement with […]
By Samuel Joseph Davies “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” Romans 13:1 Since the nation’s foundation, the Church and Congress have been institutional cousins in US identity shaping. Unlike the nations of yesteryear and their affections towards Petra’s Papal claim of Rome […]
By Liv Sinnes El Salvador’s forgotten memory In Qu’est-ce qu’une nation Renan states that “the essence of a nation is that all of its individuals have a lot of things in common, and that all have forgotten many things (…) the modern nation is a historical result brought together by a series of facts converging in the […]
By Baptiste de Vries While the world is focused on reversing colonial and neocolonial trends, Singapore seems deeply attached to its British past. Parks, hotels, and roads proudly bear the names of their former colonial rulers. Monuments continue to be erected to commemorate the colonial and personal legacy of Sir Raffles, the British officer credited […]
By Meng Xu [Picture: 2012 China anti-Japanese demonstrations in Beijing] In China, the Second Sino-Japanese War during the Second World War—commonly referred to as the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression—has long been a central theme in television dramas, films, and other forms of artworks. These productions typically focus on the Japanese militarist invasion, telling […]
Identity Hunters 