Arts Scholars

Koi te hinengaro, koi te arero, koi te mahi!
Sharp of mind, tongue, and work!

Keep up with the latest discussions and thoughts from our Arts Scholars whānau

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The Importance of Youth Voting

I was very intrigued by Jennifer Frost's lecture on the history of the 26th amendment and the voting rights of young people. Historically this related heavily to comparing how men at age 18 could be drafted for war, and women could legally marry. So if they could hold...

When you’re weary, feeling small…

Almost every day of this lockdown I would take long walks around my neighbourhood, wandering aimlessly around the shuttered shops near my house. I would peer into the windows and read the coronavirus closure signs on the doors. Sometimes I got caught in the rain and...

Timeless Beauty

I found Associate Professor Erin Griffey and Victoria Munn’s research investigating the origins of beauty cultures and visual cultures of beauty to be fascinating. By referring to the Renaissance, the ‘Great Works’ they relied on were digitalized manuscripts and...

Innovation in history: adapting war memorials

Innovation concepts can be used to promote different historical perspectives. In Peter Rachor’s lecture, I was asked how my research essay relates to some of the innovation concepts discussed. At the time, I had no idea what to say and said something vague and...

Ancient History for the Girls, Gays and Theys.

Greco-Roman history has always been remembered as a little gay – an accurate but slightly problematic fact that ignores the prevalent paedophilia rife in Ancient Greece and Rome. In the words of John Mulaney, “we don’t have time to unpack all that”. We do, however,...

The Problem with Perfect

Perfection. A myth. An unattainable goal. And yet, something so many of us strive for.   My first issue is the definition. In my opinion, every instance in which we deem something ‘perfect’, it’s a lie. The idea of perfection is completely unique within the mind...

Who Am I? A short, self-indulgent meditation on my internal struggle.

The past weeks have been a bit rough for me. The lockdown has stifled my self-esteem quite severely, and it’s left me floating without motivation or imperative. I did, however, find the energy to attend the Arts Scholars forum on power and inequality in research. I...

Are We Living Through A Revolution?

I must confess that when I sat down for our lecture on the French Revolution, I was confused. I felt determined to figure out how this idea of a revolution was impacting my everyday life. So, I began where most people would begin - by googling the definition of a...

On the Importance of Representative Diversity in Scholarly History

Tension between the celebration and criticism of war is advanced by motives informed by oppositely different experiences of the same shared history. Especially in a multicultural society that has been framed by colonial values, such diversity is necessary to adequately represent minority perspectives within dominant institutions.

Classics, classics, everywhere

Classical mythology has been consistently inspiring art and entertainment over the years for a nearly inconceivable amount of time. As a die hard classics student (and all around nerd), I am always excited to find new adaptations to these familiar stories and see just...

Auckland Domain

I am interested in the Auckland Domain for several reasons. Personally, it is a place which holds many dear memories for me: Befriending the swans at the pond, visiting the memorial, the museum, Wintergarden, or just going out for drinks at Wintergarden’s Café. Before...

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The Wicked Witch of the West

The Wicked Witch of the West

After Jeremy Armstrong’s lecture, something that stuck with me was his initial description of Eastern vs. Western war during his recorded lecture. From what I understand, this initial 10 minutes of his talk was a presentation of the ‘stereotypes’ that these terms...

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Art’s Appeal to Humanity

Humans, as a species, are a peculiar one at that. A species overly aware of their own mortality and place in the universe, consequently bent upon obsessive overthinking, and because of this we’ve found ways to fabricate our own reality in a harsh world. We’re...

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When does the war actually end?

When does the war actually end?

  It is easy to think of war as a past tense. While we aren’t exposed first hand to current situations like war in Afghanistan, we can recognize this horror across media and news updates. Then we can turn the tv off and look away. We don’t need to look any...

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The Call for Duty!

When looking at the various depictions of war that we’ve seen thus far – in art, literature, music and even sand -, there is a notable exception: the humble videogame. Ever since rising to prominence in the 1980s, videogames have been seen entertaining millions, but...

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