Art has long been captivated by themes of death, suffering, and the tortured soul, often blurring the line between tragedy and beauty. Few works embody this romanticization as poignantly as Chatterton (1856), an oil painting by Henry Wallis. Wallis immortalizes the final moments of 17-year-old Thomas Chatterton, the ill-fated poet who took his own life. […]
The poem The Guest House by the 13th-century poet Jalaluddin Rumi is a timeless invitation to welcome every emotion, pleasant or painful, into our lives. In it, Rumi invites readers to imagine ourselves as a house, with an open door that welcomes every visitor. These “visitors” are our feelings, joy, sadness, anger, guilt, love, fear, […]
I recently came across something called trypophobia which is the fear or aversion to images of uneven clusters of holes or bumps. At first, I didn’t even know it had a name. But once I saw pictures of hand infested holes and honeycombs up close, I felt it immediately: a strange discomfort, almost disgust, as […]
The poem, “When Did I Become So Scared?” by Anita Campbell, powerfully captures the haunting moment of realizing you’re living with anxiety. Additionally, it is an exploration of all of the rational and irrational fears that are experienced when anxiety is present. Whether it's the fear of embarrassing oneself in a social setting or fearing […]
Maid (2021), based on Stephanie Land’s memoir, follows Alex, a young mother who leaves an abusive relationship with her two-year-old daughter. Played by Margaret Qualley, Alex’s story unfolds not in dramatic moments but in small, exhausting steps of survival. The show highlights abuse that’s often unseen, not loud or physical, but controlling and silent. Leaving […]
Anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder characterized by severe food restriction, leading to a dangerously low body weight. Individuals with anorexia nervosa often experience an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and may not fully recognize the significant health risks associated with the condition. In cases where individuals have undergone years […]
The following sculpture is created by multidisciplinary artist Charlotte Sigurdon and is a part of their “life and damage” art collection. With the use of Raku clay, we see the sculpture of a head with what appears to be different shapes of scarring around its head. The expression of the face appears emotionless, thus attention […]
Fiona Apple, an alternative artist known for her very personal and very raw illustrations on life released her second studio album titled “When The Pawn.” Originally inspired by a poem she wrote, the album introduced the listener to the various versions of Apple that have digressed into her self continuity. The poem reads: “When the […]
August Natterer, also known under the pseudonym Neter, was a German artist who was active during the early 20th century. Natterer is best known for being an artist with schizophrenia, a condition that would impact both his life and his artwork. Natterer began his adulthood as a married, successful electrician, but would soon succumb to […]
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/an5q8ki4acfeuqde/Japneet_Podcast_279fva.mp3 In today’s episode, contributing writer Japneet Kaur speaks with Dr. Norman Farb, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, and co-author of Better in Every Sense with Dr. Zindel Segal. With him, we dive into the science behind why we get emotionally stuck in mental loops, overthinking, and overwhelmed. Dr. Farb […]