Cleopatra: Part 2

"the contact of her presence, if you lived with her, was irresistible; the attraction of her person, joining with the charm of her conversation, and the character that attended all she said or did, was something bewitching. It was a pleasure merely to hear the sound of her voice, with which, like an instrument of many strings, she could pass from one language to another; so that there were few of the barbarian nations that she answered by an interpreter; to most of them".

Beauty is Pain?

This is possibly one of the most stupid sayings that we tell people, specifically women. It is said that certain elements of beauty, grooming and ‘self-care’ cause pain and that is something women (and men) will inevitably have to face. Yet, this statement is problematic in many ways and is an extremely harmful ideology to propagate.

The Politics of Makeup: Foundation

With make-up, it is often said that foundation creates ‘a flawless canvas’ for the rest of your make-up, it is viewed as the first step in a routine and essential. Having this option to boost confidence or to showcase your artistry is a good thing. However, as with many things in life, our perception of it or the actual object is problematic and worrying.

Cleopatra: Part 1

When you think of any depiction of Cleopatra in any film, the first image that comes to mind is one of a beautiful, graceful woman who is physically striking. Of course, her characterisation in such films might be remembered but it is undeniable that the iconography of Cleopatra, primarily seen in the 1963 film, has influenced the way we view this pharaoh. The iconography of Cleopatra dominates our cultural perception; however, in my opinion, this perception is heavily flawed and unfair to the woman in question.

Loss of Literature: Sappho

Much of what we know about the past comes from literature. From fictional tales, which reflect the culture that surrounded it to accounts of expenditure in the government, our literary sources play a huge part in understanding how ancient societies functioned. It could be said that it is the most vital aspect when attempting to understand the past. When examining the classical world, any literature that survives is crucial and is in fact how we know so much about ancient civilisations such as the Greeks. Unfortunately, more often than not, we have lost significant portions of our history through the destruction of such materials. In this post, I will be discussing pieces of literature that have been almost entirely lost to us and thus discuss the impact it has on our lives.

Hysteria and the demeaning nature of female ‘madness’.

The concept of female 'madness' is a common yet undeniably demeaning way of defining illness in women. It both ignores the serious health issues a women could have and undercuts the improtance of mental health.

Makeup Trends

When reading about makeup on the internet, a common theme is the latest trends, appearing largely due to influential figures, and thus there is a influx of targeted products which encourage us to ‘get sharper cheekbones’ or ‘make that cat-eye sharper’. This is to be expected, when a substantial number of people pay attention to something, it gains popularity; it is how movements gain traction and ideas become reality. However, it could be argued that within these trends, we see societal conditioning at its best and in reality, these trends are more than just silly fads, they are genuinely harmful.