Independent Newspaper of Swarthmore College Since 1881
Artist of the Week Noor Ahmed ’26 Sketches Cultural Literacy Into Her Fairytales
When Noor Ahmed ’26 FaceTimed her mom during the first week of orientation, the two of us excitedly gushed over her Procreate art. Noor has always been very humble about her work as someone who has never received formal training. Moreover, Noor
Artist of the Week Alexa Moretti ’24 on Textured Trees
A year ago, Alexa Moretti ’24 and I were in the same Painting I course. I remember being stunned, strolling into Old Tarble and seeing her insane textured paintings lightly perched on the high walls. Everything she painted seemed so effortless, ambitious,
Artist of the Week Mika Prestowitz (’24) on Em-Dashed Ephemeral Endings
Almost a year ago, my friend invited me to his poetry reading in the Scheuer Room – a location completely unfamiliar to me at the time. I was an undecided first-year, oscillating between the periphery of religion, studio art, political science, and
Artist of the Week Leia Immanuel ’26 on Sentimental Stillness
I was working my shift at the post office when a few weeks ago, Leia Immanuel ’26 came to pick up a package. Midway into asking her what section it was in, Leia asked me if I would be open to interviewing
The King in Yellow
Despite widespread popularity during his life, American author Robert W. Chambers is now largely unknown. I first encountered him in the place I believe he is most commonly found, as a footnote in writings about far more celebrated author H. P. Lovecraft.
Sneha Kumar ’24 on Honoring Family and Culture through Art
There is a special beauty that comes from speaking to your friends about their creative pursuits, as it allows you to see a more emotional side to them. When I sat down with Sneha Kumar ’24, a friend I treasure dearly, I
‘Saltburn’ is About Love, According to Director Emerald Fennell
The year is 2006, and Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), a reserved student at Oxford University, is an outsider. During his first tutorial — Oxford’s version of class — Oliver is quick to fade into the background, as he is immediately overshadowed by
Mythological Criticism in The Fountain
Despite referencing Christianity, Mayan animism, and Buddhism, The Fountain is simultaneously a religious and irreligious film. It chronicles the stories of Tom, a wandering space traveler, Tommy, a scientist who wants to cure his wife of cancer, and Tomás, a conquistador searching
Lia Markey on the Use of Maps to Create Empire
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the Department of Art History held the annual Benjamin West lecture. This year’s speaker, Lia Markey, director of the Center of Renaissance Studies at Newberry Library, argued for the importance of atlases and maps in the creation of
Artist of the Week Elijah Santos ’26 on Containing Multitudes
I’ll never forget when I first followed Elijah Santos ’26 on Instagram. Instead of the usual stories, Eli posts what he’s listening to — I can attest to the fact that he has killer music taste. We instantly bonded over our mutual