Dear Readers,

 

It’s been a long few months for many of us, but with the semester wrapping up, it’s time to take a breath, relax, and prepare for the holiday season. As we approach the end of 2024, we encourage you to reflect upon your own lives and this issue’s lessons. We believe that the collection of essays contained in this issue are a reflection of the varied viewpoints present in our community, whether they intersect or contrast.

 

While putting this issue together, we wanted to facilitate open conversation. Written on topics ranging from art to politics to history, each narrative within these pages can inspire you to think differently about the past and future. Anna Richardson’s “Political Mega-Identities and Democratic Decline” teaches readers about the repercussions of the two-party system and suggests methods of reforming our electoral system. Annabel Pearson’s “An Alternative Vision of Urban Community” discusses how art can shine light on hidden aspects of society and bring communities together. Her second essay, “Utopian Socialism: An Adaptable Approach to Global Reform,” examines how the pursuit for a utopian society ultimately threatens individual identities and practices. Sami Flaherty’s “Occupy Wall Street, Machiavelli, and The Ciompi Revolt: The Stalemate of Social Change and Human Nature” connects “failure to triumph” revolutions throughout history. 

Happy reading!
Alison and Katie