identity Archives

The burden of the face: Why are so many singers wearing masks?

We can all name at least one musician who has performed behind a balaclava, helmet, or hood. Whether to preserve anonymity, cultivate mystery, or construct an entirely new artistic identity, masking the face is common among those under the limelight.

Corn-ish at Oxford: A reflection on identity

Cornish folk are few and far between at Oxford. As a Cornishman myself (albeit half Cornish), I can vouch for how little people know of our nation.

What does Pride mean to you? A reflection on identity

I was so excited to connect with the rest of the group through our shared enthusiasm and experiences. Eagerly, I contacted many other queer friends to join. Their responses would soon shock me.

I became more at home when I left home

I never felt more at home than when I was living thousands of miles away from home. It is indeed a paradox that many...

My journey with British identity

I was gently raised with the idea that Britain was fair and decent, a country that meant something good. This was likely shaped by...

How To Grieve a Stolen Diary

Elizabeth Bishop’s poem ‘One Art’ is beautiful because of its hypocrisy. The speaker exalts loss - of places, names, houses, their mother’s watch -...

Doppelgangers, thrifting, and cereal

"Somewhere along the way though, our identities got mixed in with the breakfast cereal."

Normalising transgression: A review of Joyland.

'In Joyland, queerness becomes banal, and patriarchy is revealed to be futile.'

I Am What I Eat

One aspect of Chinese culture that I will always love and be proud of is our food

Hiraeth: An ode to the unclaimed objects in my bag

Last autumn, I was forced to pick and choose pieces of my life that I wanted to bring with me to university as I...

Hair today, gone tomorrow

It surprises me that the length of a woman’s hair can affect how she is treated by others, whether she is treated as a girl or a woman.

Identity and Identicality in Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half

"Tender and thought-provoking, The Vanishing Half offers a reflection on whether a person can choose who they are. In a world where Stella and Desiree represent black and white, Bennett embraces the grey area of personal, racial, and gendered identity."

Watching, Seeing

I wonder why it matters so much to me that they’re watching. When I picture you, pulling up at the side of a cobbled...

Anxiety and Me

If I am having a bad day I am going to tell you and have no shame about it.

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