by Madeleine Rose Jones | Jun 12, 2022 | literature, Philosophy
The conflation between an artist and their moral responsibility is a controversial topic. On one hand, you have a libertarian approach, where a novelist has free reign and no moral duties to society, literature or to themselves. Yet the alternative is also... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | May 20, 2022 | History, Philosophy
Ideological warfare dominates our past, present and future. As empires rise and fall among the many civilisations known to mankind, we must understand the role of ideology. As Aristotle points out, we are ‘political animals’ prone to ideology and emotion. The concept... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | May 12, 2022 | History
Over the past week, many have become aware of the current controversies gripping medieval studies. One example involves the authors of the Bright Ages, where accusations of racism gripped Dr. Matthew Gabriele and Dr. David M. Perry. This event, and the ludicrous... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | Apr 25, 2022 | Liberty, literature, Writing Tips
Revenge is the worst reason to write. Although I firmly believe in artistic freedom, it makes for poor literature when writers use storytelling for personal grudges. A clear and unfortunate example comes from the recent Manhunt, a horror novel from Gretchen... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | Apr 22, 2022 | literature, The World
Rome is the greatest city of all time, and Paris is not far behind. Yet London dominates my mind; the English capital has a towering presence found in literature, cinema, art and politics. Of course, London is not the only city with this affect. No serious traveller... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | Apr 15, 2022 | literature
Two years ago, I bemoaned the worldbuilding of The Handmaid’s Tale, taking issue with Atwood’s politics and characterisation. However, this topic requires revisiting. I still stand by everything I wrote. Yet nuance is required, especially in discussions regarding the... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | Apr 10, 2022 | History, The World
On the 4th November 2016, a monument to Vladimir The Great opened to the public in central Moscow. The statue is over 17 metres high and features the medieval Russian saint holding both a cross and a sword. By analysing this monument, one observes the blending of... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | Mar 7, 2022 | stories
I’m pleased to present a short story set in Oxford, England. All Rights Reserved. START Rain beat down on the large roof of the greenhouse where Chrissy was mourning her grandmother. The weather was typical of a March afternoon in Oxford; Hillary Term would... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | Mar 2, 2022 | literature
Fiction offers many intellectual benefits that are similar to non-fiction books. However, these benefits are more abstract and quite ambiguous, and thus, harder to pin down than a self-help book. Yet both non-fiction and fiction rely on knowledge to produce benefits.... 
by Madeleine Rose Jones | Feb 21, 2022 | History, Visual Arts & Sculpture
The use of light is a crucial reason why stained glass remains beautiful in the 21st century. Nestled in the windows of cathedrals; whether French, English or German, stained glass bakes the walls and floors with rainbow lights. A vast amount of stained glass is...
