2023 Fall Issue: Volume 19

We are so excited to present the following articles, which are the culmination of the hard work of the writers with the assistance of the editorial team. As part of our mission, The Common Room strives to reach across disciplinary boundaries. In this issue, we are particularly glad to publish criticism of many different mediums—literature, sculpture, film and visual art. Additionally, we offer a provocative commentary on contemporary criticism from our senior editor, Lola Chamberlain. Responses are welcome and should be sent to commonroom-user@knox.edu. Please enjoy!

Articles on Books

These hold biting commentary focused around written media like novellas, novels, and plays. The content ranges from Shakespeare plays to nearly forgotten media to the cult classic series Harry Potter.

Resisting Gender in “The Left Hand of Darkness” by Lola Chamberlain

Women, Revenge, Memory, and Shakespeare by Chieko Dunham

Gryffindor and Slytherin in the Aeneid by Nola Walston

“Mathilda”: Mary Shelley’s Forgotten Masterpiece by Jessica Whalen

Articles on Visual Media

These feature striking commentary focused around visual media like paintings, photographs, and movies. These articles cover the wide range of interests on Knox’s campus, from thriller-horror movies like The Terminator to Baroque paintings and everything in between.

Feminist Defiance: An Artistic Exploration of Proto-Feminism by Megan Bogner

Dua Lipa as Classical Greek Art by Chieko Dunham

The Feminine Future of “The Terminator” by Avery Poulter

Senior Editor’s Letter

Postcritique, Pessimism, and Utopia by Lola Chamberlain