By Zuzanna Mietlińska There are two popularized ‘effects’ on one’s mind – one of which is yet to be precisely explained, and the second is often misinterpreted. Both somehow exist in pop culture, and are repeated over time. The Butterfly Effect, even, ‘lived to see’ a misleading movie entitled afterContinue Reading
By Alon Küster Last summer, I travelled to Shanghai to take part in a summer school on Chinese culture. The relationship between Confucianism and modern Chinese society stuck with me throughout my time there. Confucianism emphasizes personal integrity and the importance of community. Modern Chinese society has undergone many changesContinue Reading
By Helena Reinders 2021 will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Netherlands. Over the course of these 60 years the country has experienced rapid economic growth and has established itself as a prominent country in technological industries. The country has become one of the world’sContinue Reading
By Tom van der Meij If there is something that has connected human beings over all ages and times, it must be music. Traces of both the making and the enjoyment of music have been found in the remnants of prehistorian folks, the ancient Greeks and practically all other placesContinue Reading
If you happen to find yourself at home right now with nothing to do, we have just the thing for you. In a collaboration between our Sphaera staff, we made a list of book recommendations with something for everyone. From interesting academic related topics to thrilling novels, this list willContinue Reading
By Amélie De Paepe Police brutality. Racism. Racial profiling. Injustice. These are all words that resonate with the story of the Central Park Five. These five men allowed their story to be adapted to the screen in the Netflix series When They See Us. Already the first episode is aContinue Reading
By Tom van der Meij Where mastery of stage performance and poetic subtleness cross, you find Devendra Banhart. The Venezuelan-American songwriter, poet and visual artist has been a prominent name in the alternative music scene for nearly two decades now. Or maybe used to be is the more accurate mannerContinue Reading
By Helena Reinders In a country known for its fast lifestyle and work ethic, a palace might not be the first thing people expect to see in the South Korean capital of Seoul. Although South Korea is a country rich in history and culture, these are often overlooked in globalContinue Reading
By Joanna Sowinska A review of Tim Marshall’s book An inherent debate in political science concerns the future of global governance. While some optimistic authors believe in the creation of a world state with a supranational authority and effective international laws, Tim Marshall (2018) outlines a completely different view onContinue Reading
By Zuzanna Mietlinska Ethiopian Jews have a 2000 years history of living in exile, outside the borders of Israel. Despite the pogroms (violent repression of ethnic/religious groups), forced conversions and many other forms of persecution, they have maintained their culture and religion throughout the centuries under the name ‘Beta Israel’.Continue Reading