Extending an Online Olive Branch Between Digital Demographics

Dear Digital Immigrant,

An Introduction
I realize that I am addressing an audience that may not recognize their own identity, so I will begin by introducing myself: I am a digital native. I was born into technology and can’t remember a world without it. I’m fluent in Adobe Illustrator, thrive on Instagram, and can navigate Google better than the streets of my own hometown.

You, on the other hand, may be a digital immigrant: someone who didn’t grow up with a keyboard at your fingertips. Memes are a foreign dialect to you. The term VSCO girl may not exist in your vocabulary. You probably reminisce about the days where face-to-face interactions exceeded those on FaceTime, and understand how to use an actual, physical map...

I might actually be jealous of that last part. 

Chiaroscuro: Contrast Between the Gothic and the Fantastic

Chiaroscuro is a technique in art that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to bring more interest to a composition. This balance of light and dark has been a common theme throughout history, but one of the periods that demonstrates this well is the Romantic. During this period there was a sudden blossoming of publishing, and the rise of the novel gave way to two distinct styles: the Gothic and the Fantastical.

These two genres both stem from an abundance of imagination: one exploring our highest hopes, and the other unearthing our darkest fears. Together they clearly show the notions and ideals of the period. The American and French Revolutions were characterized by a spirit of Rebellion and Freedom, and this led to the rhetorical criticism of society and the imagination of new ideas. Many Romantic heroes and horrors came from this new originality; simultaneously producing fantastical stories of Arthurian legend while introducing the world to horrors such as Frankenstein’s monster.

Power to the People: How Humanism Prompted Martin Luther's Success

Martin Luther once said: “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.”

I have always wondered what allowed Martin Luther to be as successful as he was. He made bold statements against an institution that seemed to be untouchable, and still managed to reform one of the biggest powers of the time period with only, as Luther calls it, Self.

As I was discussing with my friends Bella and Fay on Tuesday, we considered the effect individualism (an importance Renaissance ideal) had on the Reformation. One thing that was said during the conversation really stood out to me: 

The Pitfalls of Beachy Waves: Sprezzatura May be Harming Our Value System

Curling my hair is a common occurrence in my morning routine. Every day, I carefully section off each strand and deftly wrap it around the curling iron, a process that can easily take up to thirty minutes. When finished, I apply a generous (maybe too generous) amount of hairspray to ensure quality curls throughout my day.

My hair on any given morning. 

Sounds pretty normal, doesn't it? I should be able to walk out the door at that point, but each time I run into a problem:

My hair looks perfect, almost too perfect.