The misogyny of the arts does not manifest itself in loud ways. Rather, it can be seen in the erasure of women’s history within the humanities and the subtle but strong exclusion within the industry. By learning the history and current statistics of women in the humanities, it is easy to argue that the humanities are almost as misogynistic as every other industry.

Women’s History in the Humanities

Legends are legends because they were able to define or redefine an aspect of life. What would Western philosophy be without Socrates? Would any classical music playlist be complete without Mozart? Could a class on American literature bear to mention F. Scott Fitzgerald? These men, among many others, have carved their name into history. Because history would be incomplete without them – or at least that is what the narrative tells us.

If legends are remembered because of their impact, then why is it that Aspasia of Miletus’ name has been nearly lost to history despite being the tutor of Socrates, who then tutored Plato, who then tutored Aristotle, and so on?  Why is it that even though her musical abilities were on part with her brother’s, Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart’s name is considered a cliff note? Or what about the women like Zelda Fitzgerald, the woman whose diatribes were what made F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing career, but are only remembered as a wife?

None of this is to deny the skill or influence of any of these men. It is simply to question why their legacies can be taught as a degree while women of the same skill and influence are being lost to history with every passing day. By prioritizing the contribution of men and constantly – and intentionally – erasing the contributions of women, the art world is  disgracing the people it could not exist without.

​Side Note:

Here are some legendary but criminally underrepresented women within the arts:

Philosophers: Aspasia of Miletus [2] and Hypatia of Alexandria [3].

Authors: Sophia Tolstaya [4] and Alice Walker [5].

Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola [6] and Ma Xianglan [7].

Musicians: Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart [8] and Teresa Carreño [9].

Women in the Humanities Today:

Misogyny in the arts targets not only historical female artists, but also towards female artists of today. Famously, the Guerrilla Girls discovered that less than 3% of exhibited artists in museums were female, despite women making up 83% of all nude figures in art [10]. In 2024, only thirty-seven percent of artist that made the billboard for top 100 musicians were women [11]. As of 2023, women made up only seventeen percent of literature award winners [12]. These statistics, although shocking, are only snapshots of the current industry.

When Art Prof interviewed female artists about their lived experiences, many reported their art being pigeonhole into romance or motherhood, having job recruiters hire men who they saw themselves in, and having people be physically shocked upon finding out their favorite art was done by a woman. These experiences, amongst countless others, has caused female artists of today to feel like the boys-club that they are trying to enter is not barred by a glass ceiling but rather a brick wall.

Women’s Future in the Humanities

Having been erased from history and covered up today, and with the lack of recognition and support around this issue, female artists are left wondering when – or if – they will be able to make the equitable gains that women in many other industries have made. To support female artists, it is crucial to learn their contribution to art history and their current contributions to the art world. Even if it means knowing Natalia Sedova’s name rather than Leon Trotsky’s. And if you are an artist who happens to be a girl reading this: remember that your work is just as important, keep reminding yourself and the world of that. 

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Disclaimer

Before beginning, I want to emphasize that this is not meant to serve as either a discouragement or encouragement for marriage, nor to judge marriage entirely as an institution. In the United States, marriage has made significant strides toward equality. Nevertheless, statistical evidence shows that there is still work to be done before full equality is achieved.

Historical Marriages

Marriage is one of the oldest practices in human history, with its earliest surviving record of marriage is approximately 4,375 years old, dating back to 2350 B.C. Mesopotamia. Across thousands of years and countless societies, it is impossible to fully cover the history of marriage. Because I am focusing on marriage in the United States, I will be primarily referencing marital practices in Western Europe over the past 500 years due to its direct affect on modern American marriage. 

Due to Hollywood and the patriarchal rewriting of history, when imagining historical marriages, many assume that it was between a young powerless girl and her all powerful older husband. While recognizing that marriage was used for hundreds of years to suppress women both legally and socially, the fact of the matter is that general marital practices in history weren’t what Hollywood has made them out to be.

Common Misconceptions

First of all, marriage was a private affair between two consenting individuals that involved neither the law, the church, nor parents until the mid-16th century [3]. Two individuals simply needed to agree that they were married, and then they were. Likewise, once they agreed that they were no longer married, they were no longer married. For much of history, marriage was not always the rigid, state-controlled institution that many assume it was. 

Second, during the pre-Industrial Revolution, the average age of marriage for both parties – especially amongst commoners – was typically in the mid-twenties [4]. In fact, between 1500 and 1800 in urban areas, many women didn’t marry until their thirties or even their forties [5]. In the majority of cases, marriage was, as it is now, between two adults. 

Third, the idea of the “traditional wife,” a woman who manages the children and household – basically never existed outside of the 1950s in North America. For most of history, a family was either nobility or peasants. Noble women did not raise their children and certainly did not clean up after anyone—they had servants for that work. In peasant families, every single member of the household worked. Women labored alongside men on farms, in domestic production, and later in factories, making economic dependence the exception rather than the rule.

These misconceptions are rampant but are based on a morsel of reality. Among the nobility, marriage did occur at alarmingly young ages, but these unions were based on power rather then affection. Marriages could be arranged before an individual was born and the of the marriage consummation wouldn’t happen until the late teens or early twenties. After a few children, couples would remained legally married while fulfilling emotional needs with extra martial affairs. This type of marriage applied to roughly 0.5% of the population, yet it has become the standard modern ideal of historical marriage. 

On a side note, if you want to know what people of the past would have actually thought of Game of Thrones–type marriages, look at how they reacted to Lady Margaret Beaufort [6].

Trigger warning:

The following paragraph discuss inequality, sexual assault, and abuse. If you don’t want to wish to read about those subjects, please scroll to the paragraph after. 

Disturbing Facts

Now knowing the reality of historical marriages, its time to see the realities of modern marriages. Although modern marriage has undeniably progressed in terms of legal equality compared to even fifty years ago. In the 1870s, Alabama and Massachusetts made domestic abuse illegal but it wasn’t defined nor prosecuted across all fifty states until the mid 1970s [7]. It wasn’t until l993 that material rape was recognized and made illegal in all fifty states [8]. It wasn’t until 2010 that all fifty states adopted no-fault divorce [9]. Today, under the law, women can divorce their spouses for any reason, and it is illegal for their spouses to assault or abuse them. Despite these laws, 51.1% of all perpetrators of assault committed against women are their intimate partners [10], and one in three murdered women is killed by their husbands, with 1,683 confirmed victims a year.

Modern Marriages

Unfortunately, marital inequalities do not end there. For example: the motherhood penalty. The motherhood penalty is a measurable form of employment and earnings discrimination faced by women who have children. Married women are also affected by this penalty due to the assumption that they will eventually become mothers. In contrast, men experience a “fatherhood bonus,” in which marriage and parenthood increase their earnings and employment opportunities [11].

These inequalities are also reflected in the home. Despite increasing wages and employment, women still are the primary homemakers. When a woman gets married, she will spend an extra three hours a week – 165 extra hours a year -on housework compared to her husband, who will receive three extra hours of leisure [12]. Regardless of either patterns employment status, women also spend more time on childcare [13] and provide more emotional labor in relationships and marriages via emotional comfort, regulation, guidance, and organizing and planning daily tasks [14]. These invisible hours and burdens may be lesser then in decades past, but their continuous existence within marriages remains detrimental to women’s happiness and both emotional and physical health. 

The Potential of Marriage

Marriage, in its simplest form, is a wholesome testament to love. Its history, though messy and at times problematic, reflects its sweet nature despite the misconceptions surrounding it. Today, marriage is nearly as legally equitable as it has ever been. However, by overlooking its current issues and focusing only on the fantasy we hold about historical marriages, we are prohibiting marriage from reaching true full legal, economic, and social equality.

Citations:

1. Cambridge University Architecture Department
   Dyble, Mark. Dr. Mark Dyble | Staff. University of Cambridge Department of Architecture, https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/staff/dr-mark-dyble. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

2. Cambridge University Story Page
   “Monogamy League Table.” Cambridge University, https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/monogamy-league-table. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

3. JSTOR Book Source
   (Assuming this is a book or chapter — since the stable link is given but not the title on the URL, include as below with placeholder title if you want to refine further with author/title.)
   Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book or Chapter. Publisher, Year. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fj1mn. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

4. Archive.org — The World We Have Lost
   Clark, Peter. The World We Have Lost: England Before the Industrial Age. Penguin Books, 1994, p. 99. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/TheWorldWeHaveLost/page/n99/mode/2up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

5. Archive.org — The Marriage History Book
   Coon, Carleton S. The Story of Human Marriage: Its Basis and Development. Harvard University Press, 1954. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/marriagehistoryh0000coon/page/n5/mode/2up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

6. Wikipedia — Lady Margaret Beaufort
   “Lady Margaret Beaufort.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, 31 Jan. 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Margaret_Beaufort. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

7. National Women’s History Alliance Timeline
   “Detailed Timeline of the Women’s Rights Movement.” National Women’s History Alliance, https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/womens-rights-movement/detailed-timeline/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

8. Psychology Today Article
   Reynolds, Emma. “Marital Rape Is Criminalized — Not Upheld.” Psychology Today, March 2022, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-games/202203/marital-rape-is-criminalized-not-upheld. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

9. CNN Article
   Hall, Louise. “No-Fault Divorce Explained: History and Wellness.” CNN, 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/us/no-fault-divorce-explained-history-wellness-cec. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

10. RAINN Statistics Page
    “Statistics: Perpetrators of Sexual Violence.” RAINN, https://rainn.org/facts-statistics-the-scope-of-the-problem/statistics-perpetrators-of-sexual-violence/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

11. Demography Journal Article — Duke University Press
    Author Last Name, First Name, and Second Author First Last. “The Accumulation of Economic Disadvantage: The …” Demography, vol. 59, no. 4, 2022, pp. 1377–??. Duke University Press, https://read.dukeupress.edu/demography/article/59/4/1377/315802/The-Accumulation-of-Economic-Disadvantage-The. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

12. NPR Article
    Cohen, Patricia. “Pew: Earnings, Gender Wage Gap, Housework, Chores, Child Care.” NPR, 13 Apr. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/04/13/1168961388/pew-earnings-gender-wage-gap-housework-chores-child-care. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

13. U.S. News Health News Article
    Author Last Name, First Name. “Gender Reveals Data Shows Disparities in Child Care Roles.” U.S. News & World Report, 11 May 2023, https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-05-11/gender-reveals-data-shows-disparities-in-child-care-roles. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

14. BBC Worklife Article
    Smith, Rebecca. “The Hidden Load: How Thinking of Everything Holds Mums Back.” BBC Worklife, 18 May 2021, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210518-the-hidden-load-how-thinking-of-everything-holds-mums-back. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

The post The Historical and Modern Realities of Marriage: Simplified appeared first on GirlSpring.

By: Victoria Spear

Every third Monday of January we celebrate the holiday known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in celebration of the Civil Rights leader and speaker who shaped the freedom and rights for everyone across the nation. Martin Luther King was known for his stance on equality, freedom, and development of community holding the foundation for love for all. As we all learned through our history, the civil rights leader was all about shaping his ‘beloved community’ for the better, hence the reason why many students and people volunteer on this day in his honor. 

Although this is a holiday about giving back to the community it is also sometimes hard for us to find opportunities to give back. Every year as an active sorority member and college student I make the effort to volunteer not only on the holiday but also each month to show activity within the community. In honor of the mission to serve the community, this is an excellent way to not only get involved in service to mankind but to ourselves as well. Here are a few examples of how you can leave an impact on your community:

1. Community Cleanups

Dr. King believed in the importance of maintaining and uplifting communities. Our communities are known for the vast need for cleaning services along the roads, parks, and public areas we reside. Organizing or participating in a local cleanup can significantly impact your neighborhood. Whether it’s picking up litter in parks, mowing the grass, or planting trees, these actions contribute to a cleaner, more vibrant community we all can enjoy. 

Even day-to-day cleanup on the streets helps. If you see litter or trash nearby is a small effort to help the community. Recycling as well, make sure to sort out plastic from trash and throw it in the nearest recycling bin. These small efforts day to make large improvements to our community for the better without having to do large community events. 

2. Food Drives and Meal Services

Addressing the issue of hunger and food insecurity aligns with Dr. King’s advocacy for economic justice. As a Birmingham native, there are multiple opportunities to make a change regarding feeding the less fortunate within our community. Volunteering at food banks, organizing food drives, or helping serve meals at shelters are great practical ways to support those in need. Your time and effort can provide comfort and nourishment to many who might otherwise go without. 

Downtown Birmingham Al, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has a volunteering service at Blazer Kitchen that provides food for UAB students, staff, and Birmingham residents in need. These services have left a huge impact on many people, taking into account dietary restrictions and needs while also improving their lives. If you have time check out Blazer Kitchen don’t hesitate to sign up through Blazer Pulse to help out your community. 

3. Tutoring and Mentorship Programs

Education was also a cornerstone of Dr. King’s vision for a better future for the youth. Volunteering as a tutor or mentor can help bridge educational gaps and provide young people with the support they need to succeed. Many organizations welcome volunteers to assist with homework, literacy programs, and skill-building workshops. Many schools and hospitals will even allow volunteers to sit in with kids and allow them to read in groups. This serves as a great opportunity to have that continuous volunteer experience. 

4. Support for the Homeless

As we know there’s a huge epidemic of the homeless in our community that Dr. King fought to solve. Volunteering at shelters, donating clothing, or participating in housing initiatives can help address homelessness in your community. These efforts not only provide immediate relief but also promote long-term solutions. 

There are many shelters in the Birmingham area to volunteer such as Interfaith Hospitality House, First Light, and Jessie’s Place. These areas are well known for helping those in need and creating opportunities for volunteers to make a difference for those in need. When you have the time make sure to check these shelters out!

5. Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns

Dr. King was a tireless advocate for civil rights. Participating in advocacy groups, attending workshops, or joining campaigns that promote social justice can continue his work. Educating others about ongoing inequalities and fighting for legislative changes are powerful ways to honor his legacy. There are many ways to join these groups on campus and off campus and rely heavily on your mentors to direct you. They have experience and might be able to reference you to these programs to leave an impact where it’s needed. 

6. Health and Wellness Programs

Finally, access to healthcare and wellness resources was another aspect of Dr. King’s dream. Committing service at health clinics, organizing wellness fairs, or supporting mental health initiatives can enhance community well-being. This will not only benefit the community but yourself as well, many volunteers at clinics now aspire to be nurses and doctors. Their experiences with volunteering left a huge impact on their future, and it could leave one for you as well. 

Keeping the Memory

We aspire to not be like Dr. King for one day but every day. By committing to community service and leadership, we can leave a huge impact on not only ourselves. Going out into the world, we forget simple acts of service make us human and leave longer impacts than we choose to think. We challenge you to go out as much as possible and partake in these activities as bright young women whose dreams they can attain one step at a time. As we all know, Dr. King’s dreams are still continuing to be fulfilled, but yet there is still so much work to do. 

If you haven’t already planned something, check out these events in Birmingham, AL for MLK Day 2026, https://bhamnow.com/2026/01/13/9-ways-to-celebrate-mlk-day-2026-in-birmingham/

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What an It Girl is

The Modern It Girl

Social Medias Influence

Where We Go From Here

Citations:

“It Girl.” Wikipedia, 31 May 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_girl.

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Sounds crazy, right? But this movie is popular for reasons beyond the catchy songs and stunning animation. It goes further than even its impactful messages of acceptance and forgiveness. The true driver of its success was an untapped audience: girls.

For one of the first times in modern movie history, we finally get a film that genuinely understands and loves women. K-Pop Demon Hunters allows its female characters to struggle without shame. It doesn’t belittle them when they want romance. It also shows realistic, healthy female friendships.

This movie is more than just a fun and successful summer blockbuster. It is a blueprint for how Hollywood should write female characters.

Spoilers Ahead!

If you haven’t seen the movie —spoilers ahead.

She is Everything or Nothing

The media today often portrays women in one of two molds. The first is the Captain Marvel-type: powerful, perfect, and flawless. The second is the Bella Swan-type: unable to do anything for herself. Both extremes are problematic.

If women followed the Captain Marvel route, we would isolate ourselves from connection and community. We would burn out because it is impossible to be perfect and do everything alone. On the other hand, the Bella Swan mold robs women of agency, individuality, and power.

In K-Pop Demon Hunters, we see each female character struggling with demons, with self-acceptance, and with the impossible mold society sets for them. Yes, they are fierce, funny, and strong. But we also see them hurting, breaking, and ultimately thriving.

This balance between strength and struggle makes them inspiring role models for young girls. At the same time, they are deeply relatable reflections of the challenges women face every day. This is why K-Pop Demon Hunters‘ feminism stands out in Hollywood.

The Limit of Romance

Two additional molds often forced onto women are the “soft girl,” whose sole purpose is romance, and the “strong girl,” who has forsaken it entirely. Like before, this is also problematic. These roles teach girls that they can only be complex human beings if they are single. But if they dare to desire love, they become accessories to their partners.

Although romance is not the primary theme of K-Pop Demon Hunters, it is consistent throughout the story. When female characters do experience romance, they grow from it rather than being diminished by it. What is love if not a way to connect, accept, and grow with another person?

The movie does not mock women for wanting love. It does not show them losing themselves to it. Instead, they find themselves through it. When looking for love, girls should seek one who gives, not one who takes.

Alone

No matter if a female character is everything or nothing, if she has no partners or a million, one thing she almost never has is genuine female friendship. Out of all the female characters in media, how many have we seen share a scene with another woman without thinking about a man, talking about a man, or having a man present? And out of those rare interactions, how many were between two women who truly cared for each other, supported one another, and shared love for one another?

Rumi, Zoey, and Mira are some of the first female characters to experience this kind of connection on screen in abundance. Their relationship is not always perfect, but it is messy, beautiful, and authentic in a way movies before have not bothered capturing.

Breaking Free

At its core, K-Pop Demon Hunters is proof that the world is ready to change. It breaks away from damsels in distress and the impossible super-heroine. It challenges the lover girl trope, as well as the Independent-Boss-Queen stereotype. It fosters a sense of sisterhood between its female characters. By breaking the molds that have held back female characters for decades, K-Pop Demon Hunters’ feminism welcomes a new era on the big screen.

Want more movie reviews? Click here!

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This article explores how automation is transforming the TikTok landscape, helping users scale their presence, streamline workflows, and focus on what matters most: creating content that connects.

The TikTok Challenge: Creativity Meets Consistency

TikTok’s algorithm favors frequent posting, high engagement, and trend participation. For creators, this means producing multiple videos per week—sometimes daily—while keeping content fresh and relevant. For brands, it means maintaining a consistent voice, responding to comments, and tracking performance across campaigns.

The challenge? Time. Between ideation, filming, editing, and posting, even the most dedicated creators can burn out. And for businesses juggling multiple platforms, TikTok often falls behind in priority.

That’s where automation enters the picture—not as a replacement for creativity, but as a support system that enables it.

What Can Be Automated on TikTok?

While TikTok doesn’t allow full bot-based automation like some platforms, there are several areas where smart tools and services can make a big impact:

• Content Scheduling: Tools like Later and Minta allow users to plan and auto-post videos at optimal times.
• Video Creation: AI-powered platforms can generate short-form videos using templates, music, and branded assets.
• Analytics Tracking: Automation tools collect performance data—views, likes, shares, watch time—and present it in digestible dashboards.
• Trend Monitoring: Some services track trending hashtags, sounds, and challenges so creators can jump in early.
• Engagement Management: While direct messaging bots are limited, some tools help manage comments and replies more efficiently.

These features don’t replace the human touch—they amplify it.

Automation vs. Authenticity: Striking the Balance

TikTok thrives on authenticity. Users can spot overly polished or robotic content from a mile away. So how do you automate without losing your voice?

The key is to automate the process, not the personality.

For example:

• Use scheduling tools to post consistently, but write captions yourself.
• Let AI generate video drafts, but customize them with your own footage or voiceover.
• Track analytics automatically, but interpret the data manually to guide your creative decisions.

Automation should feel like a backstage crew—not the star of the show.

For Brands: Scaling TikTok Without Sacrificing Quality

Brands face a unique challenge on TikTok: how to be relatable without being cringey. Automation helps by freeing up time for strategy and storytelling.

Here’s how brands are using automation effectively:

• Product Showcases: Auto-generated videos highlight new arrivals or promotions using branded templates.
• Customer Testimonials: AI tools compile user-generated content into engaging montages.
• Ad Campaigns: Automation platforms A/B test creatives and optimize ad spend based on performance.
• Influencer Collaboration: Some services streamline outreach and content approval workflows.

The result? A scalable TikTok presence that still feels human.

Case Study: Small Business, Big Reach

Consider a small skincare brand with limited marketing staff. Before automation, they posted sporadically and struggled to gain traction. After integrating a content planner and auto-posting tool, they began publishing three videos per week—each tailored to trending sounds and hashtags.

They used analytics automation to identify which videos drove the most traffic to their website. Within three months, their TikTok following tripled, and sales from the platform increased by 40%.

Automation didn’t replace their creativity—it gave it room to grow.

Popular Tools for TikTok Automation

Here are a few tools making waves in the TikTok automation space:

Each tool has its strengths—choose based on your goals and workflow.

Staying Safe: TikTok’s Rules on Automation

TikTok is strict about fake engagement and bot behavior. Automation tools must comply with TikTok’s terms of service, which prohibit:

• Fake followers or likes
• Spammy commenting
• Unauthorized account access

Reputable automation platforms focus on content support, not manipulation. Always vet tools for compliance and transparency. It is essential to maximize the overall online visibility apart from strengthening digital growth on TikTok. Collaborating with SEO Experts at Helium SEO helps brands optimize their search performance. As a result, their content can reach the right audience across multiple platforms.

The Future of TikTok Automation

As AI continues to evolve, TikTok automation will become more intuitive and personalized. Imagine tools that:

• Suggest content ideas based on your niche
• Auto-edit videos with your preferred style
• Predict which trends will go viral next week

But even as automation gets smarter, the heart of TikTok will remain the same: creativity, connection, and community.

Final Thoughts

TikTok is a platform built on spontaneity—but behind every viral moment is a strategy. Automation helps creators and brands stay consistent, analyze performance, and scale their efforts without burning out.

Used wisely, it’s not a shortcut—it’s a superpower.

And whether you’re a solo creator or a growing brand, embracing tools like TikTok Automation Services can be the difference between fleeting views and lasting impact.

The post From Viral to Viable: How Automation Is Reshaping TikTok Strategy for Creators and Brands appeared first on GirlSpring.

By: Victoria Spear

In the past two years, I’ve gone over a lot of hobbies that interested me as an artist as well as an author. Finding them wasn’t hard if you have TikTok on your phone. Bear with me, I know many people despise the app and think it’s over-hyped, but remember your fyp (for-you page depends on the content you absorb, and one of those was ‘Booktok’ for me! Booktok is a community that shares a range of books not broadcast as often, as well as giving recommendations to others after you’ve read said book. Although this community seems straightforward, it does have a number of problems, ranging from problematic authors, bullying, and even going so far as to have unrealistic expectations for toxic men. I know it sounds horrible, but we are not talking about that today. We’re talking about the small corner of ‘booktok’, which is known by the name ‘Bookbinding TikTok’. With this side of the community, were calling into question how fanfiction and copyright come into play with one another when binding said fic for one’s bookshelf and then trying to sell it for monetary gain. 

The Rules of Bookbinding

The bookbinding community is often a spectrum that takes weeks to understand. As we’ve gone over in class, bookbinding is an art that’s been seen over many years within cultures. In the community, they keep the traditions and even teach new people within the community how to bind their own books. An example of this would be if a paperback book is damaged but the text block remains perfectly intact Of course instead of throwing the whole book away, they will want to keep the book and rebind it with a hard cover instead. This is a part of the many reasons I’ve joined the community, learning many things: paper marbling, the history of binding, different forms of binding, learning how to make smaller books, how to emboss your pages, etc. The list can honestly go on.

So you’re probably wondering, how did bookbinding become a huge problem in the first place? Well, the answer lies within another section, primarily a section where fandoms come together to make their works based on their favorite media. You guessed it, fanfiction. Now we’re not strangers to the fanfiction community, but if you are, I’ll go ahead and give you a bit of a rundown. Fanfiction is a form of work written by a fan about a book, movie, or even show. Fandoms are a group of fans of books, movies, and shows as well.  The two of them go hand in hand with one another in this case. Fanfictions are known to be published in all kinds of places on the internet; Wattpad, Fanfiction.net, Tumblr, and my all-time favorite AO3. It’s important to remember that fanfiction is made by fans, not the actual original creators who made the series in the first place. From a monetary gain perspective, it’s hard to get upset with fans in this case with fan works because in a way they’re bringing in more money to the original creators due to fandom engagement. The more fans there are for the media, the more likely people will absorb it and bring in value. 

The article ‘What is fanfiction and what does it matter?’  by Lauren V highlights this, breaking down the works of fanfiction as well as the legality behind it. The section ‘Selling Fanfiction Through LuLu Bookstore’ says the following: “Publishing fanfiction online is considered legal in the United States because it is “noncommercial distribution.” In other words, when you post fanfiction on AO3 or another ad-supported, free-to-use site, nobody is making any money from the actual intellectual property itself.” This is the explanation of how authors can publish fandom works online without trouble because they do not have a monetary gain. However, in the next paragraph, it’s said as follows, “Once a piece of fanfiction has been published for sale on the Lulu bookstore (or any other online retailer, for that matter), it has crossed the line into ‘commercial distribution,” which is a copyright infringement and is illegal. In other words, if you are selling, for-profit, derivative work of copyright-protected material, you are breaking the law. ” So people can publish their works online for free if they’re writing fanfic; however, it becomes a problem once they try to sell it for money. The world and characters have already been published and claimed by the original creator of that media, and if found, it will be taken to court.

The Problem With Fanfiction and Bookbinding

The important thing to remember about fanfiction is that the authors and creators have to make sure to give credit to the original media and that they do not ‘own’ it in any way. This way they are protected and they won’t have any issues thrown their way later. That goes for any form of merch trying to be sold or even possibly fan art (again, a whole other section as well). So, how does Fanfiction affect BookBinding TikTok? Well, with lovers of books and having the need to feel pages run through their fingers of their favorite works, there has come a problem for fanfiction. In the community, there has been discussion of fanfiction being bound for personal use. The fandoms have desires to have the actual works by fanfic authors on their shelves instead of worrying about authors deleting their favorite works online and never finding them again. The fanfic authors started to make rules about this issue, asking fans to do as follows: 1. Make sure to give credit for the text block and story to the fanfic author, 2. DO NOT SELL OR DISTRIBUTE FOR MONETARY GAIN, 3. If the binding is not for yourself, then you are allowed to give it to friends or family. 

In late February of 2024, the Bookbinding community was in shambles due to a mass hoard of fanfics being removed from AO3, due to sellers of fanfiction being bookbind. The specific fandom causing the madness? Harry Potter. Now, as a girl who reads a lot of fanfiction, I don’t know if I should be glad I’ve never indulged in the Harry Potter fandom or utterly scared due to the reactions and outrage the fandom truly has at the moment. The fanfics that have sparked this outrage are Dramione fanfics, our enemies-to-lovers (Draco and Hermione). The most popular of these fanfics is the only Manacled made by Senlinyu. The story is basically a dark romance between Draco and Hermione with a heavy Handmaid’s Tale romance. So not only is it infringing upon the Harry Potter series but The Handmaid’s Tale as well, but of course, we can only focus on the crazy fandom that has lost their ever-loving minds by worshiping it as if it’s the best novel ever written.  Personally, I haven’t read the fanfic due to how crazy everyone has been reacting towards it, but from a close friend they did say it was really good. However, it’s not good enough to break the law and risk getting the author sued over it. 

On February 4th, 2024, SenLinYu revealed that they would be publishing her own professional dark fantasy romance of her own inspired by the fanfic she originally wrote called “Alchemised”. She addresses the fandom about staying silent with her publishing journey and not worrying them about her feelings in regards to her famous fanfic Manacled. She sympathized with them but got straight to the issue saying, “During the last several years, there has been a growing issue with illegal sales of Manacled, putting both me and the incredible community that shares fanfiction freely in legal jeopardy.” Here she’s addressing the fact that the bookbinders of her story and the mass out of control of the fandom has led her to take a step back and consider her options. Although the fandom ruined (in my opinion) her enjoyment of her best-written work, she decided to write an ‘original’ story that still holds the ‘spirit’ of Manacled. “Then I suddenly had this idea of alchemy, which was peculiarly appropriate; an academic world filled with unique transmutational abilities, and a necromantic war against people who had discovered the secrets of immortality, and I could see a path to reimagining the story while still holding on to as much of the original spirit of Manacled as possible.”

How to Enjoy Bookbinding While Remianing Respectful

So again, you might be wondering: What went wrong here? Everything seems pretty solid. she’s writing an original story with the same elements of her fanfic that everyone loved so much, but what’s the issue? The issue is her following lines, “Manacled is not going anywhere at present. It will remain online throughout 2024, at which point it will, if you’ll pardon the pun, Alchemise for 2025 and be removed from AO3.” This. This is what sparked outrage out of crazy Harry Potter fans who loved the original story. Because one, they couldn’t read it for free anymore, and two, she was going to publish a completely different work without their favorite characters Draco and Hermione.  For me, I love this author’s integrity and understanding what was going wrong with the fandom in the first place. People were binding and selling the work without her permission when she told them not to, and she got a lawyer because her work was ironically growing more popular than the actual Harry Potter series published by J.K. Rowling. K Rowling. It’s honestly really sad it has to get to the point where the author grew scared but still wanted the fandom to be happy and she wanted to do it by giving them something original. Unfortunately, you can’t keep everyone satisfied. 

Back to the bookbinding community, as of that post you can understand that there’s grown to be an influx in the community growing angry. One tiktoker that stood out to me the most was NeatFreakGreek stitching another Dramione fanfic writer by the name of Emerald_Slytherin author of Secrets and Masks. The fanfic writer talked about how many times she saw her fanfic being bought or sold online even after she told the fandom not to do so and was on the cusp of deleting the whole fanfiction off of  AO3.  NeatFreakGeek  is another well-known bookbinder) begs the Harry Potter community to stop buying fanfiction and that there is bookbinders on the app that are willing to teach them how to bookbind all the way down from the start of the text block to finishing off with the hardcover design. It is insane how bookbinders have tons of tutorials online for people to use for free but they would rather buy from an Etsy owner even though they know it’s illegal. The community knows once the authors are done with the disrespect the fanfic writer could be sued or even get in trouble but it’s a give or take process; as long as people are buying illegal fanfiction, there will be illegal binds being sold. 

Do you know who I blame for this process? Booktok. Oh my gosh! Crazy right we’ve reached full circle! The problem with Booktok is that when fanfiction came into the mix, they all started to invade the community asking for recommendations and even went so far afterward to illegally start purchasing fanfiction. Booktok is a consumer side of the book-loving community, and I hate to say it but they honestly are too busy trying to absorb the book that’s popular of the month, rather than to take their time and enjoy the books they currently have before moving to the next. Another thing would be the aesthetic book lovers have with bookshelves buying books, and trying to look the part. It’s so sad because I was made fun of for reading so much, including fanfiction, when I was younger, and now the community is just filled with just horny individuals obsessed with dark romance and smut scenes. If not done right I will hurl over my bed.  

Here we are two months later and the discussion is still going on. The one thing I’m scared of is losing the bookbinding community on the app due to the drama fanfiction as well as Booktok has brought upon them. In a way, bookbinding was teaching a part of history and something we needed to learn to maintain the books we know and love in tack with something happening to them and they ruin it over fanfiction that isn’t even canon. However, this may be a good thing. Perhaps with the largest fanfiction being gone in that community others will finally learn that doing this will get them nowhere but trouble, and to respect the art and love behind bookbinding one stitch at a time.

Citations 

 V, Lauren. “What Is Fanfiction and Why Does It Matter?” The Lulu Blog | Take Control of Your Creative Journey with Advice from the Team at Lulu., 12 Dec. 2023, blog.lulu.com/what-is-fanfiction-and-why-does-it-matter/.

SenLinYu. “Announcing Alchemised.” Announcing Alchemised, SenLinYu’s Substack, 5 Feb. 2024, senlinyu.substack.com/p/announcing-alchemised.

 NeatFreekGeek. “Make Your Day.” TikTok, 20 Feb. 2024, www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRwMRh2K/.

 (I tried to site tiktok as best as possible here, when you click on the link you should be able to see the video. Let me know if you can’t and I’ll fix it!) 

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By: Victoria Spear

Sugar milk and flour are key components to any line of literature, from the pre-baked oven steeped in culture to the many vanilla extracts of trauma and tears. Food forms a connection between culture and emotions in day-to-day life; whether it’s soup, rice, or simply a secret recipe of cake.  The poetry in “Magic City Gospel” by Ashley Jones and “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Saltine” by Nickole Brown displays emotions and memory through food expanding on social class as well as culture as a whole.  Food is important in many cultures and is expressed in many ways through shows, books, and even poetry with how it leaves an impact. Jones and Brown both emphasize this in both a positive and negative manner with social class and race. They emphasize this by; exploring social class through taste, using culture and how food leaves an impact, and using the sense of smell to allude to memory.

Using culture and how food leaves an impact

While reading through `Magic City Gospel’ by Ashley Jones, she makes a lot of references to food when recalling a specific memory. Food as well as taste is a key component in memory and is used frequently through poetry and literature. Using one of the four senses it leaves a bigger impact for the audience and readers overall.  Culture also plays a deep part in food and memory from a young age to when one grows up. Thus many can relate when reading through these poems, for they have had these experiences and even feel a sense of comfort knowing they are not alone. 

 In ‘Sonnet for Sopping’ Jones draws attention to how her mother eats her food with her hands, she describes the texture and smell of colonization and culture being interrupted to fit into social dynamics. This transpires on page 12: “What special flavors hide inside thumb, index, middle, ring, what slides through that is lost on the cold teeth of a fork?”(5-7). The detail she goes into emphasizes the fingers and how they hold the foods and flavors of eating with their hands rather than with utensils. The following lines add to this tension: “When did we embrace the colonial cuffs of silverware so that even our food assimilates?” (12-14). Here she is drawing attention to how their culture is being interrupted by needing to fit in with society’s standards and abandoning their simple way of eating. This conditioning is seen very often and carries on to the next generation as seen here with Jones as she was watching her mother eat with her hands differently from how she was raised on utensils.

This displays how culturally significant it is for people of color to have to appropriate themselves to keep appearances. The fact that it was colonized for coloreds to use utensils rather than to use their hands to eat, unfortunately, is only one example of what happens in day-to-day life with socialization. Using food from her culture as well as providing a specific memory to her message leaves an impact for the reader. With Jones drawing attention to her culture, using this experience is inspiring, to slowly draw oneself from society’s expectations that affect everyone; including the way they eat and present themselves. 

Exploring Social Class Through Taste

Taste is explored through many forms of literature, due to it being one of the five senses humans possess. The sense of being able to taste certain things in a meal or even fluid is enough to recall a memory, even one of social standing. In “Thirteen Ways of Looking at A Salatine’ by Nicole Brown provides examples as well as memories of how the taste of a saltine left a huge impact on her memory about her social standing. Much like black culture Jones explores through food, Brown draws attention to the taste of a cracker that held her title in social class. 

Brown explored the topic of recalling social class through taste in her work. Much like Jones, Brown recalls her experience with saltines and remembers how it relates to her family. She does this in section eight lines (7:5-9): “Like the family I love best, the bite is rough at first but quickly goes soft nearly falls apart without even the need to chew,” (7:5-9). This allusion to taste talking about how ‘rough’ her family is and how they ‘fall apart without the need to chew’ really goes into how her family dynamic operates. The fact that the taste of the saltine instilled memories in her about her family dynamic spoke volumes. She follows up in a section about how her first experience of being called a ‘cracker’ to being innocent at first; she didn’t realize it was meant as an insult. “The first time I was called a cracker no one could have told me it was anything but a jive at what we ate,” (9:2-3). The ‘jive’ she’s speaking about is the lack of food they were able to eat because they were poor and saltines were very cheap and affordable to purchase for food. This gives the audience an insight as to how bitter she truly sees the food and how it resolves back around to her life each time she tastes the saltine. 

Although many can relate to social class and descrimination due to background, the way Brown explores this through the taste of a simple saltine is brilliant. Taste does have a strong impact in literature and day to day life especially when thinking culturally or one’s social class. Whether ist cornbread cake or a simple saltine, the crumbs that role of our taste buds can leave an impact on how we look at oneself as well as the world as a whole.

Using sense of smell to allude to memory

Whether or not it’s a personal experience among people, the sense of smell is used to decipher whether something is good or bad; the smell can be so familiar enough to even recall a specific memory in poetry. Smell is essential in many forms of literature to explain one’s surrounding familiarity of understanding. It’s very popular within fiction and poetry as well; many of the works using smell mostly refer back to memory of a certain subject or past event. With this writers and creators can have more effect within their work and even lead their readers with a sense of relativity and connection. 

Works that stood out the most with smells would have to be Jones in “Gospel of Grits”. In this work what stood out the most is how the writer emphasizes how people in the south wake up to breakfast with smell. “Wake up, bacon. Wipe eyes, biscuit dough. Sting of coffee silenced by sugar, kiss of milk.” (page 49 lines 4-5). These lines allude to how the narrator can recall memories in the morning through smell when waking up each morning for breakfast. Jones even highlights each step of waking up before smelling the familiar scent of said breakfast food, this adds more detail and allusion to the poem and work overall making it memorable. She even follows up in the following lines, “When I think of you, I think of heat.”(page: 49 line:7).  Jones is indirectly saying that through food and smells she’s recalling fond memories of waking up each morning to a fulfilling meal. This seals the case with how impactful the sense of smell is even with creators when trying to express meaningful moments through their work. 

Many would-be often surprised with how much personal experience can be placed on the sense of smell alone. Whether or not it draws back in memory of good or bad is up to experience, but we as humans use this sense to decipher just that. The way smell is explored through others’ works may be small but it is relatable to others especially the audience in many ways. Jones was successful with capturing this, and giving her readers one of her best works that most can relate to. 

Food, smell, and taste leave a heavy impact on literature as we know it and inspire authors to formulate writings that peers and strangers can relate to whether it’s socially or culture-wise. Ashley Jones and Nichole Brown highlighted this beautifully in their works, from their experiences with race to the struggles of being poor. Their works exploring their memories through their work left a huge impact on others, leaving behind a feeling of relativity and understanding. Maybe just maybe, the baker steeped and cooked up in literature makes a wonderful pound cake. 

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Calling Mr Caterpillar

By: Victoria Spear 

• Staring at the screen for hours on end, i lose the satisfaction of being entertained. the illuminated room makes my mind more alert with each creak and groan of the worn tiles. My mind has grown murky–uncleaned, senses jumbled together with legs twitching to run. The voices in the waiting room never cease, for a moment i wonder if the plants would be a nice company to stay in. I suppose the nurse who called my name wouldn’t agree with her downturned lips. 

• Piles of blankets upon the nest welcomes an area to rest the eyes, cinnamon batter filling warm air through the lungs. i await the usual process of the man’s husky voice for further instruction; sight black, nose full, ears open. as if the depths of wonderland would allow me to wonder about the lands without the three most important things for survival. 

• Laid down nose pointed to the ceiling allowed the subconscious to shift, the male’s tone vibrating with each syllable as if it were a nursery rhyme. a few stages of life flash, the cradle fists grabbing in the air for the blue butterflies that can never be reached. at times i wished God had blessed me with them, i would have flown away from this place and made my own reality in his kingdom. it would be only then would the chatter and tremor of my mind would cease. 

• An island of tea cups and mushrooms greet me beneath my feet as the voice illustrates. readers from all around the world can recount Alice in Wonderland, from the twisted smiles of the Cheshire cat to the Mad Hatter stuffing your face with lies and pills. the grass resembles sheets of wool upon the arrival to the lair of sanctuary, i know i shouldn’t feel the thrum of music flowing through my veins each time i’m here, for times twists and turns faster and slower upon emotion. a hand extends towards me like many times before, i hear him before he speaks – your noggin’ playing games again?

• Mr Caterpillar shifts the leaf hammock in smooth waves for the smoke around us grows thicker and heavier. he doesn’t command this realm, nor does he offer the strength God gives me each day. the soft caresses he does to my soul with his red smoke is enough, he remembered i don’t like pink-the color making me sick once a year. his eyes watch me with wrinkled wonder, a sharp edge to them as i draw each breath, lips upon my forehead in smooth rhythms to match my heart. the fae watched us with their smiles mending with the flowers they smoked, all they could do was laugh – for we are all mad here.  

– Victoria Spear

*Author’s Note*

This poem was written during my sophomore year of college, inspired by my love of Alice in Wonderland and the ways mental health is portrayed in both literature and reality. In the poem, I explored the intertwining effects of anxiety and depression, particularly in the digital age, where social media often amplifies these struggles. Many of us find ourselves navigating therapy sessions alone, transforming our own coping mechanisms into sources of comfort and resilience.

The character of Mr. Caterpillar is meant to represent a guiding presence—someone we can rely on in our darkest moments. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, a mentor, or even a significant other, this figure embodies the unwavering support that helps us find clarity when we feel lost. Mental health support looks different for everyone; for some, it’s professional therapy, while for others, it’s the reassurance of a loved one or the comfort of personal rituals. Despite these differences, the common thread is that healing rarely happens in isolation—there is always something or someone anchoring us, even if we don’t realize it at first.

I also focused on sensory details in the middle portion of the poem to mirror grounding techniques often used during anxiety attacks. Engaging the senses—what we see, hear, touch, and even smell—can help pull us out of a negative spiral and bring us back to the present moment. The red smoke that swirls around the scene represents both love and control, an ebb and flow between struggle and support. It’s a push and pull, much like the journey of mental health itself: at times chaotic, but ultimately a process of learning to balance our emotions, rely on others when needed, and cultivate self-compassion.

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Written by Joy Wright

Fashion plays a huge role in modern society, serving as a means for self-expression and reflecting individual and collective values. Defined by Oxford Languages as “a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior,” fashion goes beyond aesthetics. It is a powerful voice for conveying messages, telling stories, and advocating for causes. For example, clothing with phrases like “Black Lives Matter” or “I Can’t Breathe” highlights important social justice issues, showcasing how fashion can be a form of activism. Additionally, merchandise featuring popular culture icons, such as artists or franchises like Marvel and Harry Potter, allows individuals to express their opinions and support specific figures or ideas.

However, while fashion serves as a safe space for artistic expression and representing oneself, it also causes significant environmental consequences. According to Earth.org, “the fashion industry is notorious for depleting water sources and polluting waterways, with an alarming 85% of all textiles ending up in landfills each year.” Also stated by climateseed.com, “the industry is responsible for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the emissions produced by all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Furthermore, the fashion industry contributes to 35% of the plastic microfibers released into oceans and accounts for 20% of industrial water pollution.” These horrible facts show why there is such an urgent need to address the negative environmental impact of fashion.  Individuals should have the right to express themselves through their clothing without harming the environment.

The environment already faces several threats, including pollution, deforestation, food waste, and habitat destruction. The least a person can do is take the time to learn how they can reduce these issues and help the environment, starting with the clothes they wear. To understand these negative problems that arose when fashion became a huge factor in the economy, how fashion is harming the environment must be revealed, and how people can stop these problems from arising further. One of the biggest parts of the fashion industry that is harming the environment is fast fashion. Fast fashion is defined as “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” Common brands such as H&M, Forever 21, and Zara are examples of fast fashion, leading to significant environmental degradation all because of their high production rates and low costs.

According to earth.org, “the fast fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. “As one can imagine, this isn’t good. Fast fashion is harming the environment by using up water sources and creating more pollution for the earth’s air.  To combat these harmful effects of fast fashion, people must reconsider their values and explore more sustainable options. A very good alternative is the slow fashion movement. The slow fashion movement advocates for environmental and social justice. Slow fashion emphasizes mindfulness in the design, production, consumption, and overall approach to clothing. It encourages people to be more aware of how their purchases affect different workers, communities, and ecosystems. Unlike fast fashion, which prioritizes profit over sustainability, slow fashion is rooted in eco-friendly practices, utilizing materials such as organic cotton, linen, wool, recycled materials, and sustainable silk. Brands like Sezane, Stella McCartney, Omnes, Asket, Nynne, and Sheep Inc. are examples of the commitment to sustainability without sacrificing style.

Beyond embracing slow fashion, individuals can further minimize their impact on the environment through practices such as sewing their clothes, repurposing old garments, or purchasing second-hand items. These alternatives promote creativity and sustainability, reinforcing the idea that fashion can be both stylish and eco-conscious. In conclusion, while fashion serves as a vital form of self-expression, storytelling, and advocacy for important societal causes, it is essential to acknowledge its detrimental environmental effects.  By educating people, being open to change, and embracing alternatives like slow fashion, people can enjoy the benefits of fashion while actively contributing to the well-being of the environment. It is humans’ responsibility to protect the earth and ensure its sustainability for future generations, demonstrating that fashion can be both meaningful and mindful.

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