Welcome to The Argonaut - LSE Anthropology’s official Student publication.
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A poem on Christmas in the Anthropocene, from anomalous climate conditions, to the Capitalist condition of Christmas, to the genocide waged on Palestine.
An obituary of Sinead O’Connor, in recent times also known as Shuhada’ Sadaqat. The music of the Irish singer recently passed away has still a lot to tell us, especially at the present moment, about resistance to domination and its abuses.
The realisation that what once felt confusing has now become mundane, habitual. I wrote this poem whilst walking around Soho one day when I forgot my headphones, so I had more of a chance to observe everything on a route I take often.
A reflection on the first retrospective exhibition on the work of photographer Chris Killip and its relationship with Anthropology
A review of ‘Fuseli and the Modern Woman: Fashion, Fantasy, Fetishism’, an exhibition at the Courtauld gallery featuring a series of private drawings by the eccentric 18th century Swiss artist, Henry Fuseli (1741- 1825).
A poem by Ishani Milward-Bose.
This poem was written as a visceral reaction after witnessing the horrific labour conditions that young men and women working in the construction industry of the developing world have to withstand. It is by nature reactionary and emotive.
The art of photography comes with the challenging nature of politics of representation and narratively complex entanglements. Amidst these anxieties, one must not forget to celebrate life through the lens of their camera and capture what they deem peculiar, beautiful, and thrilling. Here, I want to share three photographs representing exactly this sentiment; to photograph is to express your appreciation and awareness of those that surround you.
“Dear Readers: observe, enjoy, and capture life in any medium that satisfies your eyes and mind.”
The release of the iPod nano in 2005 marked a shift in the way music is consumed. We now take for second nature the integration of music platforms in our cellphones: music being carried with us at all times. Speculating over a potential comeback of this gadget, this article explores the way (over)consumption has affected human relations with music and perhaps trivialized moments once deemed special.
Challenging the lack of solidarity between Ukraine and Palestine activists in the UK, this article demonstrates how Western anti-imperialism has become simplistic. The piece challenges those who prioritise peace over freedom, and calls for a return to an anti-imperialist politics which centres those most affected by conflict
Reflections on a summer spent at Kew Gardens 'Queer Nature' exhibition, revealing how we can use art, science, music, poetry, and nature to make anthropological knowledge accessible.
This short essay explores female rage in the media, looking at how anthropology of emotion and feminist anthropology can comment on the characterisation of angry womxn, and their fragile empowerment.
Thoughts on the Catalan anarchist tradition and the ethnic cleansing in Gaza as I roam the streets of Barcelona
Who is on the other end of the line when you receive company calls? How do they live their lives… and what do they think of you? We interview authors of a decade-long ethnography on the affective elements of racial and transnational capitalism.
The Rojava Revolution occurring in North and Eastern Syria (AANES) since 2012 has been marginalised by left-wing discourse in the Global North. However, its capacity to put women’s liberation at the forefront of the revolution and to establish a system of participatory democracy are experiences everybody could learn a lot from. By looking at the revolution’s uniqueness this piece aims at revitalising our dormant revolutionary imagination.
Madonna and Madonna explores the controversy around female eccelsatiacal claims and speculates on the gendered and hierachised attitudes to theological credibility. Through the work of Deidre La Cruz’s ‘Mother Figured’ and the public persona of female pop-icon Madonna, the essay traces the implications of Catholic glocalisation and popularisation of Catholic culture in the pop-culture sphere
Dating Reality TV shows hold an important place in popular culture and they are connected to our economy more than we realise. Are Dating Reality TV shows a reflection of society at present?
The exploitation of migrant construction labourers in the UAE is a process of holistic seizure of humanness. There is apathy from the government, who have developed no appropriate measures for ensuring the rights of labourers are respected, and predatory practices from employers, who can violate laws with impunity. Through application of theories concerning power over life, a better understanding of the socal death of these labourers can be understood; the first step in moving against it.
An ethnographic exploration of a Charity Shop in Camden which puts sustainability in conversation with ideas of necessity, reciprocity, and community.
This rich ethnography unpacks the profound link between the folk music revival and queerness, with a specific look at their intersecting capacity to develop a reflexive tradition and craft radical temporalities
Major auction houses located in London's West End promote themselves as "open to all". However, in my extensive fieldwork in the auction houses, I discovered how the presence of ambivalent boundaries works to exclude undesirable visitors and create value in the contemporary art world.
Being black at the LSE is filled up with daily experiences of systemic racism and ambivalence. However, there are ways to cope with this and to find community in a place where feeling part of the university community can be very difficult. Looking at the black male experience in team sports, Oliver sheds light on its nuances and its intersections with gender, class and ethnicity.
I reflected for the first time on discourses of ‘memory’, ‘recognition’, and ‘personhood’, gradually becoming aware that the correlation between these was in fact artificially constructed and cannot be taken for granted. It was also through close encounters with elderly people with dementia that I saw their vivid but little-known vitality as well as their deep bonds with London and their loved ones.
An emotive poem borne of reflections on Palestinian martyrdom while walking through the Glasgow Necropolis