The Broad

08/02/2024

In this article, Ellie explores how the idealistic nature of the unattainable ‘Clean Girl Aesthetic’ has led to the rise in popularity of the ‘Rotting Girl’.

Ellie writes: ‘The rebirth of ‘That Girl’, the who ostensibly has her life together, is in many ways very inspiring… Except, for the vast majority, ‘having it all’ just isn’t feasible’

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq ‘Clean Girl Aesthetic’ seems to have taken the Western world by storm. Everywhere I turn there’s a girl with a slick back ponytail, glowing skin, Ugg’s on and an iced coffee in hand. In many ways, I aspire to be said Clean Girl — I’ve recently taken up run...

05/02/2024

The Broad’s Creative Editor, Amy Norton, has curated a list of ten songs to embrace the frosty mornings and cold nights of the winter season. Our wider creative team has also compiled a full playlist to accompany you through the final stretch of winter. Immerse yourself in the winter vibes by listening to the playlist, including Amy’s top selections, here.

Read it here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq The Broad’s Creative Editor, Amy Norton, has curated a list of ten songs to embrace the frosty mornings and cold nights of the winter season. Our wider creative team has also compiled a full playlist to accompany you through the final stretch of winter. Immerse your...

04/02/2024

The Broad’s Creative Editor, Noor Kabbani, has compiled a list of ten films and TV shows to keep you captivated throughout the final wintery month. Whether you're craving a cozy night in with heartwarming stories or seeking the thrill of a winter mystery, this list has something for everyone to enjoy during these cold evenings in!

Have a read:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq The Broad’s Creative Editor, Noor Kabbani, has compiled a list of ten films and TV shows to keep you captivated throughout the final wintery month. Whether you're craving a cozy night in with heartwarming stories or seeking the thrill of a winter mystery, this list ...

03/02/2024

The Broad’s Creative Editor, Srishti Ramakrishnan, has assembled a winter reading list of ten essential pieces of literature to read before the end of the season. This lineup offers a variety of reads to match the ups and downs of this windy, Edinburgh winter. Dive into this winter’s reading selection and you're bound to find the perfect book to accompany the season’s chill.

Read here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq The Broad’s Creative Editor, Srishti Ramakrishnan, has assembled a winter reading list of ten essential pieces of literature to read before the end of the season. This lineup offers a variety of reads to match the ups and downs of this windy, Edinburgh winter. Dive ...

19/01/2024

🎤 This week on The Broadcast, Sylvie and Rosie chat to Conor, Jemima and Tom about everything to do with the Edinburgh theatre scene! Listen here:

https://linktr.ee/thebroadonline.com?fbclid=PAAabg-WkDQF-wSrrDZlNA9iOjNsmDaxjZqCSDPLPy-sqJolZnZ_foSvmHQwU_aem_AbeYC5eYtZ52xkf1ncfUbva1HBcvW9tkWJ8uYftJbU9uNmuJcaq3G-_MGEX6_bOgOYQ

🎭 Conor returns to talk to us about his original play Looking for Fun (and its upcoming tour), directing Mike Bartlett's 'Albion' and his experience at drama school.

💫 Then, we have Jemima, who discusses her love of Greek theatre, the relevance of these stories today and her work translating both Madea and Lysistrata.

🎬 Finally, we chat to Tom, to take a look at the more technical side of theatre production, in addition to his experience co-directing the upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors.

🎟️ Tickets are still available to see Conor and Tom's hard work in Little Shop of Horrors:
https://fienta.com/little-shop-of-horrors


tombeazley._

Sat 27. January 2024 at 14:30

18/01/2024

The Broad is back and publishing for the New Year!

In this article, Lara explores the realities of Net Zero in Edinburgh: 'Politicians envision Edinburgh’s future as a car-free city with clean air, ignoring the subtext which should actually be read: politicians envision Edinburgh’s future as a place where individuals in the [city-centre] enjoy a car-free city with clean air, whilst residents in the peripheries grapple with traffic congestion and poor air quality'.

Read the full article here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq As COP28 draws to a close, the ‘Net Zero’ buzzword is ubiquitous as ever. Net Zero refers to reaching an equal balance in the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere. However, politicians, political parties and even local authorities lev...

18/11/2023

The Broad's Creative Editors, Amy, Noor and Srishti have put together a collection of seasonal recommendations of books, songs and films to sustain you through the autumn months.

Read here:

Our seasonal picks for what to watch, read and listen to.

09/11/2023

In this article, Robert exposes the problem of non-Scottish students’ reluctance to engage in Scottish politics here in Edinburgh, and the implications this has for the case of Scottish independence.

They write: “ In the case of Scottish independence, a statement of abstention equates to tacit support for the ‘status quo’, which holds no place in politics as there is no such thing as non-action.”

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq The University of Edinburgh is a strongly international space. While three-tenths of its undergrads are Scottish, a further three-tenths are English, one-tenth Chinese, one-tenth from the EU, and one-twentieth the USA. The remaining 15% comprise undergrads from as far...

09/10/2023

In this article, Issey questions if veganism has in-fact passed its heyday. She explores the recent loss in profit for vegan food manufacturers, with consumers instead opting for less processed options.

Read it here!

In August the news broke that Beyond Meat, the company behind the Beyond Burger, reported a 30% loss in sales in the second quarter of 2023. Is this the beginning of the end of veganism? Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq Looking back to 2019 there seemed to be something inexorable, inevitable accompan...

19/09/2023

In this article, Sorcha touches upon the importance of female friendships in film and literature.

Sorcha writes: 'Little Women pioneered female characters who choose their own fate, unaffected by external pressures dictating how their stories end. More recently, Barbie and Everything I Know About Love present women as independent individuals who appreciate and value their female friendships. This is incredibly refreshing and can inspire a new generation of women and girls to understand that they are just as fulfilled on their own as they are with someone else.'

Read the full article here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq From children’s fairy tales where the heroine marries the prince, to Hollywood films where the ‘guy gets the girl’, women’s endings in TV, film and literature have historically been defined by their relationships with men. Young girls consuming media and liter...

08/09/2023

In this article, Lara argues that the media's illustration of the pressing climate crisis must strike a balance between highlighting the negative consequences of climate change whilst emphasizing that there is still time to act.

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq ‘Devastating Wildfires’, 'Extreme Temperatures', 'Rising Tides of Doom' — the media is adopting an increasingly apocalyptic tone when reporting the effects of climate change. However, the question remains: is using fear-mongering as a tactic to encourage climate...

31/08/2023

Why is Shein so popular, and what are the ethical problems implicated in its popularity?

Tasha takes a look, writing: ‘In the age of social media and the ever-evolving trend cycle, Shein succeeds where big names such as ASOS, H&M, and Zara have failed’.

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq In recent months fast fashion giant ASOS has recorded unprecedented losses. Leading up to February, sales had fallen by 8%, and a pre-tax loss of £291m was recorded — a startling contrast to the £16m loss in the previous years. In May, ASOS’ stock was down by 11...

29/08/2023

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has received lots of mixed reviews, to say the least.

In this article, Gem dives into some of the criticism and misogyny around the film.

She writes: ‘Critics of the film can’t seem to cope with the thought of being sidelined like the ‘superfluous’ Kens in Barbie Land – and, of course, like the women in the real world they are ironically used to represent’.

Read it now!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq Barbie was never meant to be a feminist. For decades, Barbie dolls have young girls’ first encounters with the unrealistic beauty standards that will be forced upon them by society – her skin is flawless, her feet permanently contorted to accommodate high heels, h...

28/08/2023

This week, Nelly takes a closer look at the recent allegations towards Huw Edwards and the issues regarding modern day reporting.

Nelly writes: ‘Unlike the politicians they criticise, journalists need to hold on to their integrity and not change with the mainstream. Editors need to increase coordination among writers and prioritise justice even if this means a slight delay in publishing’.

Read the full article here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq Early July saw Huw Edwards become the latest presenter to face scrutiny over claims that he paid a teenager for explicit images. From the Sun’s initial exposé to Twitter’s game of ‘Guess Huw’, the real details in this case have been forgotten, replaced by blo...

26/08/2023

Head over to our website to read our latest Fringe reviews!

Kate Wilson speaks to Stags on his show '129.5 Steps to Autistic Success', Eliška Suchochlebová reviews Nick Cohen's 'Life With Oscar' and Kirsty Lawrie gives her thoughts on 'Lost and Found' by the Counterminers.

https://www.thebroadonline.com/reviews

24/08/2023

Is there more that universities could be doing to support students' wellbeing?

Issy writers: ‘Some features of UK higher education systems contribute to creating an environment where vulnerable young people can experience a deterioration in their mental health, often beneath the radar.’

Read the full article here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq As the summer break approaches its mid-point, many students will be casting their eyes towards the next academic year. This year’s incoming Freshers will be receiving the ritualistic influx of information about fresher’s week, course options, sports, and societies...

22/08/2023

What is a ‘girl dinner’?

In this article, Grace takes a dive into the TikTok trend and the history of dieting for women.

Grace writers:
‘Our ‘girl dinners’ are self-produced, and self-continuing, separate from any marketing. But they, like most trends, rely on a wider history of female self-hatred and disordered consumption.’

Read it here!

CW: disordered eating Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq For tonight’s ‘girl dinner’: a meal fit for a cat or a rather peculiar dog. A single can of tuna fish, a side of lettuce (no dressing), a slab of cheese. Tomatoes, cucumber: the more vegetables the better. If you are lucky, there might be a...

21/07/2023

In this article, Nikki looks at the integral role women artists played in the 20th-century art movement Dada, and the frequent erasure of their importance as the 'muse' of better-remembered contemporary male artists.

Nikki writes: 'For Hennings, Höch, Taeuber, Duchamp, and the other women of Dada, their personal relationships often facilitated or complemented collaboration and mutual artistic experimentation that was fruitful for both individuals. Their historical status as ‘muse’ to their male co-artists is, at times, applicable, but it was always an active, not passive, role.'

Read the full article here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq Dada – an early 20th-century art movement often dubbed ‘anti-art’ or ‘absurdist’ – emerged as a reaction to World War I. Dada rejected the logic-based Enlightenment thinking which its members saw as the root cause of the war, challenging established instit...

08/07/2023

This week, Grace dives into the world of fame and celebrity culture, examining what it means to be a celebrity, and how celebrities are perceived by the general public.

Grace writes: ‘Twenty-first century celebrity, therefore, must have the illusion of obtainability— it must look easy, as though the person watching the famous person might be able to turn on their cameras, and switch places’.

Read here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq Before the late twentieth century, celebrity was defined by difference: individuals were propelled into stardom due to their separation from ordinary people. Following the introduction of reality tv in 1973, fame shifted, becoming “more achievable”, as Charles Kur...

03/07/2023

Check out Flora’s review of ‘AI and Popular Culture’, by Dr Lee Barron.

You can also read his interview on our website!

Image sourced from https://books.emeraldinsight.com/page/detail/ai-and-popular-culture/?k=9781803823300 Academic Elana Gomel writes that ‘science fiction has a special role as a testing-ground for new forms of subjectivity and narrativity’ (4), meaning that the genre, by imagining scenarios incl...

02/07/2023

Our Creative Director, Flora, had the opportunity to sit down with Dr Lee Barron, author of ‘AI and Popular Culture’ to chat about the book.

Read their interview here!

Image provided by Lee Barron. The Broad’s Creative Director Flora Leask chatted with Dr Lee Barron about his new non-fiction book AI and Popular Culture. Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design at Northumbria University, whose research interests take him far and wide – from fas...

28/06/2023

What is Ozempic and what is its relationship to women’s bodies and so-called body positivity?

Tasha writes: ‘The ushering in of Ozempic as a widely-accepted magic bullet, and the return to the body ideals of the 1990s is proof of what many have known for years: being thin is always, and has always, been ‘in’.’

Read here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq The past year has seen a new drug sweeping through the medical cabinets of the Hollywood glitterati. Semaglutide, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and sold under the brand name Ozempic, has taken Hollywood by storm and become an essential part of red carpet prep,....

26/06/2023

One of our new summer columnists, Maria, takes a look into the problematic romanticisation of Pablo Escobar in the media.

Maria writes: ‘My main concern is with the romanticized portrayal of Pablo Escobar presented by the media which not only continues to push this burdensome stereotype, but that creates a skewed image of him that disrespectfully ignores the violent reality lived by many Colombians.’

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq As a Colombian, it never ceases to shock me whenever someone makes a Pablo Escobar or co***ne joke (even when I should already be used to it, as this is often the response I receive upon telling people that I am from Colombia). Colombia is the third most biodiverse co...

18/06/2023

This week, Owen delves deep into Internationalism - what it has looked like in the past, what it looks like today, and what it might look like in the future.

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq It was once written that the emergence of liberal democracies all around the world represented the end of history. The argument, by Francis Fukuyama, was that the ‘unabashed victory of economic and political liberalism’ that was both the cause and effect of the Co...

10/06/2023

How do the principles of meritocracy and perfectionism affect young people?

In this article, Issy examines the impact.

Issy writes: ‘In a world where the doctrine of meritocracy has achieved hegemonic power, it’s little wonder that so many young people cite experiencing feelings of anxiety and depression as a result of the ‘pressure to succeed.’

Read it here:

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq I recently read an article in The Economist describing an American university professor’s experience with one of his postgraduate students. This student, though brilliant, consistently failed to hand in his essays before the deadline. Yet it was not a poor work ethi...

08/06/2023

What is money?

This week, Owen takes a look at ‘money’ as a construct and how it is used in European economies today.

He writes: ‘Our need for shelter, sustenance and comfort is a material need, but money, which determines access to these basic things for most people, is not. It is a social construct, an invention’.

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq We live in a material world. We live in a world where people, no matter who or where, need houses to live in and water to drink. We live in a world where conflicts are fought under material conditions, with tanks and ammunition. Our need for shelter, sustenance and co...

22/05/2023

What is a liberal?

In this article, Owen takes a look at the problems with the term.

He argues: ‘Self-describing as a liberal is not a clear communicator of a person or a body of persons’ ideological difference. It goes no way at all to communicating a clear and distinct answer to questions of cultural, social, or economic matters, when ideological difference is present at all’.

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq Do you call yourself a liberal? If you are reading this, then there is a good chance that you do, but you may be mistaken. What is a liberal? And what is liberalism in the context of an electoral political system where the values of one side are only liberal or conser...

03/05/2023

The final episode of The Broadcast (but not forever!) is out today!

In Episode 7, 'Music', The Broad’s Podcast Manager Maisie Ringer speaks to punk band Isabella Strange about how the band began, jamming during Covid and the development of their sound.

Also in this episode, The Broad’s Editorial Assistant Sammi Minion speaks to DJ and Producer George Walker about how he started creating music and the privacy of the music-making process.

https://www.instagram.com/isabellastrange/
https://www.instagram.com/georgeiv_music/?hl=en

Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/the-broadcast-397015568/episode-7-music-part-2?si=dd4063fca0bc4e2da444020a15aaeca3&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Broad’s Podcast Manager Maisie Ringer speaks to punk band Isabella Strange about how the band began, jamming during Covid and the development of their sound. The Broad’s Editorial Assistant Sammi

02/05/2023

Following on from his review of ‘Shen Yun - 5,000 Years of Chinese Civilization Reborn’, Owen Thomas Webb takes a further look into the Falun Gong new religious movement.

Read it here!

Illustrations by Megan Le Brocq When Shen Yun came to the Edinburgh Playhouse to perform ‘5,000 Years of Chinese Civilization Reborn’, it was an inherently political imagination of China that was presented. Shen Yun, the performing arts wing of the Falun Gong new religious movement, tour the wor...

01/05/2023

📣 We are looking for a handful of writers who would like to write on a regular basis from May / June until September.

‼️ This is a brilliant opportunity for anyone who has some free time over summer and is looking to build a portfolio of written work!

📚 All you need to do is email a short statement about yourself and 1-3 samples of previous work (if you have any) to [email protected]