The central figure of the Romantic and Dark Romantic movements in the United States died in mysterious circumstances and to this day his death remains unsolved with many possible theories — On October 3, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was found in a drunken, half-conscious state and clothed in second-hand clothes that were different from his usual style and clearly not his own. The writer spent his final days in delirium. There is not one cause of death that has been made…

Giulia Tofana — a professional serial poisoner who killed over 600 abusive men or how women fought patriarchy in the 17th century — In the 17th century Italy, many women experienced abuse from their husbands. The patriarchal society instilled the belief that women wouldn’t ever be able to escape their husbands. They were seen as property rather than human beings. There weren’t a lot of methods for women to choose from. Stabbing their…

The theft that made da Vinci’s Mona Lisa famous — Today, her enigmatic smile is recognised all over the world. However, the painting arguably depicting femininity only became famous after it was stolen. Nobody even noticed that the painting was missing the first 24 hours. The brazen crime and the media attention changed the way the public saw the Mona…

Fascinating cases of mysterious disappearances, hijackings, ghost ships, and others. — These are only a few of the cases that caught my attention. Most of them have documentaries, podcasts, and a lot of resources that cover these cases in detail, which I definitely recommend checking out. D.B. Cooper On November 24, 1971, a man in his mid-40s, wearing a suit bought a one-way…

Different theories debating who in actuality was the greatest playwright and poet. — Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays and over 150 poems. He is one of the most well-known writers. Widely admired and criticized. However, many historians and skeptics argue that William Shakespeare was not a real man. Shakespeare was illiterate Some skeptics argue that Shakespeare did not actually have any formal education after primary…

Current situations in the US and the UK promise a return to authoritarian, dictatorial governments. From the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade to the Conservative Party’s overriding of the Human Rights Act 1998 (arguably one of the best pieces of legislation ever produced in the UK). — Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab is planning to replace the Human Rights Act with a new Bill of Rights.

Is our identity fixed or does it change depending on the circumstances? — In contrast to structural conflict theories (top-down approach — society influences the individual) such as feminism and Marxism, which believe that patriarchy and capitalism affect the way that people act, social action theory (bottom-up approach — individual influences the society) states that we construct the society by attaching meaning to…

Theories of surveillance explained. — There are many theories, such as Michel Foucault’s, arguing that we are constantly being watched. Some believe surveillance is a tool of social control and others believe that it is used to oppress particular groups. From our phones to security cameras to people around us, there is a sense of…

Can the media be blamed for crime in the 21st century? — Our lives are surrounded by media. We are constantly watching the news, reading articles, listening to podcasts, and scrolling through social media apps such as Instagram. Can this constant exposure to media be the reason for crime in the 21st century? Why have we become so murder-obsessed? Media Representations of Crime ‘Media are key…