There are, at the moment, more than a thousand music genres in the world. It is easier than ever to engage with different artists, all of whom take influence from different styles, sounds and beats, and to become exposed to songs we may not have heard of. But do we ever stop to question how these genres came to be?
Black Panther – and I will not hesitate to fight anyone on this – is one of the best and perhaps most underrated Marvel movies out there. It provides entertainment for Marvel fans and non-fans alike through its humour, fast-paced action and engrossing graphics whilst avoiding a clichéd love interest (although shoutout to Nakia and Black Panther for having the ultimate relationship goals). But honestly, if you don’t adore Marvel, then what are you doing with your life?
This year, for Black History Month, the Subject Leaders have explored Black pioneers within their respective fields to demonstrate their expansive contributions to society across generations. Holistically understanding Black people’s history will allow us to celebrate their achievements with openness and awareness, equipping us to prevent future underrepresentation.
What does American spiritualism, Black mediums and feminism have in common? Surprisingly, in the 19th and 20th centuries, the overlapping ideas were very much interlinked.American spiritualism was a movement that was catapulted into the zeitgeist in 1848 New York, when the Fox Sisters first heard a mysterious supernatural spirit ‘rapping’s’ in their bedroom, although the ideas of communing with the dead had long pre-existed. Spiritualism itself is defined as a ‘system of belief or religious practice based on supposed communication with the spirits of the dead, especially through mediums,’ and is still in practice today, combining elements of Christianity, Hindu and Buddhist ideology, and for better or for worse, elements of traditional Native American rituals, with the main covenant being that the spirits are a fundamental part of our existence.
When the NHS (National Health Service) was created in 1948 by Aneurin Bevan, the Minister of Health under PM Clement Attlee, it was a visionary and revolutionary system. However, Britain was still very much feeling the effects and aftershocks of World War II and had a shortage of qualified healthcare staff to answer the increasing demands of this new service. To solve this, Britain turned to the Commonwealth, and its peoples.
