michaela coel’s i may destroy you: traumatic, powerful, brilliant
in this review of Michaela Coel’s brilliant new series, I May Destroy You, our regular contributor Annie speaks of the show’s power to educate its viewers about consent and sexual assault, and its ability to take the audience down a path of introspection and healing alongside the show’s main characters. well-made, perfectly cast, and funny and light-hearted in parts, Annie argues the show is well worth watching if you can get past its many triggers.
Manqué in the Mirror
in this poem, Caroline Batson examines the experience of Imposter Syndrome. she considers the disassociation of self by exploring the negative damage of self-doubt, and the positive action of self-belief. Imposter Syndrome can affect anybody but it remains historically prevalent amongst women, with many female role models such as Dr. Maya Angelou and Emma Watson noting that they have fallen victim to it.
Lenses of Longing
Cecilia Pang writes a recollection of her journey to find belonging and home again after repeated health trials. Here she shares her experiences of pain and growth through a creative non-fiction piece. the work is accompanied by the original illustration of Melanie Grandidge.
Lessons From A Puzzle
using a metaphor of jigsaw puzzles, Kyende provides a piece of creating writing which explores the life lessons that we can learn from childhood games.
'Bad Survivors' of Sexual Assault: Validating My Own Experience
Meredith Mack discusses her experience with sexual assault and unpacks the patriarchal injustices present in society that survivors encounter.
Strawberry Milkshakes: Or, How to Recover From an Eating Disorder Pt.2
in the final instalment of her two-part series, Alejandra Jimenez de Luis invites us to read about her recovery after living with an eating disorder throughout much of her childhood and adolescence.
Strawberry Milkshakes: Or, How to Recover from an Eating Disorder Pt.1
in the first part of a two-part series, Alejandra Jimenez de Luis discusses her experience with eating disorders, outlining what her life was like prior to recovery.
An Open Letter to my Ex
for some audiences, watching this year’s Love Island has been quite triggering and has provoked one of our writers to write ‘An Open Letter to My Ex’, detailing the impact and experience of being gaslit by a partner. original artwork by Imogen Bristow.