Shunga – Potentially feminist pornography of the Edo period of Japan

By Nanette Ashby
Every fourth search request entered into Google is linked to pornographic content and makes up a third of all internet traffic. Every month, Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined receive fewer visitors than pornographic websites (Lust). Evidently, just like sex is fundamental for the human experience, so is pornography a part of everyday life. Regardless of the medium or time period, pornography functions as a transmitter of societal ideas and values.

Studying the experience of inequality and exclusion – Book review of Critical Phenomenology: An Introduction

by Veronica Fantini
Focus for one second on what you’re doing—reading, processing information, sitting, standing, or feeling something. What is so special about these thoughts or actions? They are unique because they are yours alone and can never be shared with someone in their entirety. We can describe what we are reading, where we are, or how we feel. However, we will never be able to communicate how we experience things.

Mädchen in Uniform: A Masterful Portrayal of Female Solidarity against Oppression

by Airin Farahmand
If you ask a film enthusiast about the most prominent interwar German movies, you will most likely get a German expressionist movie as an answer. After all, in most scholarly books, German cinema is often remembered by Fritz Lang’s iconic movies such as The Metropolis, Nosferatu, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Letter to Moldova

by Stela Malega
I write to you, Moldova, to initiate an imperative conversation we must have, collectively and individually, moving forward with the harvest of the presidential elections from 2024. Our grape-shaped country, which has ironically been crushed and pressed throughout history, is at a pivotal crossroads.

Buitenspel in een veld voor mannen

door Stefan de Baar
Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams en onze eigen Nederlandse Lieke Martens: vrouwelijke topsporters zijn anno 2024 iets alledaags. Sport wordt,wanneer dit uitkomt, als verenigend middel gebruikt, ook wel sportswashing genoemd. Het fenomeen sportswashing hebben we de afgelopen jaren vaker gezien in de voetbalwereld.

The New Woman: Icons of Change or Catalysts of Male Anxiety?

by Nele Brinkmann
In the tumultuous aftermath of World War One, Germany found itself in times of uncertainty and upheaval. The Weimar Republic, Germany’s first democracy, challenged the old order with its progressive constitution and blooming cultural scene. The “New Woman” embodied this transformation and transcended previous gender expectations.

Pioneering Women claiming Power in Art Museums across Europe with Laia Anguix Vilches – Culturally Curious Ep.8

In this episode, Nanette Ashby is joined by Dr Laia Anguix Vilches. She is a postdoctoral researcher at Radboud University. Between art history and gender studies, her research revolves around the first women in positions of power and influence in art museums across Europe. Together, we discuss the ins and outs of this project, the importance of historical contexts, political environments, and the advancement of women’s rights.

Queer Joy as a Pedagogical Tool in the “Heartstopper” TV-series

by Jonathan Veenhuijsen

In times of growing intolerance regarding LGBTQ+ individuals, positive forms of media put queer hearts at ease by employing queer representation. A recent example of this is TV-series Heartstopper, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work at Universities with Dr Rona Jualla van Oudenhoven – Culturally Curious Ep.7

In this episode, Nanette Ashby is joined by Dr. Rona Jualla van Oudenhoven. From 2020 to 2023, she was the Chief Diversity Officer at Radboud University and Program Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We discuss the ins and outs of what this job entails. Including meeting with students or staff members to listen to their demands, complaints or issues and the process of finding ways to implement long lasting improvements.