From the women’s suffrage movement of the 20th century to today’s drag shows, forms of artistic expression such as fashion trends, theater, and music have occupied pivotal roles in political discourse, informing the way people express their relationships with the socio-political ecosystems they inhabit. For instance, the powerful yet disturbing 1989 photograph of “Tank Man” still resonates with individuals worldwide decades after its capture, prompting conversations about governmental force, individual power, and human rights. More recently, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., stirred up intense controversy at the 2021 Met Gala by flaunting a white gown with the blood-red words “Tax the Rich” painted on its back. The beauty of art lies in its endless forms and infinite interpretations which spark debate, emotion, and personal reflection among its beholders.
“The Art of Politics” was pitched by yours truly — Senior Covers Editor Liana McGhee ’25 and Associate Covers Editor Nurayn Khan ’26 — as an exploration of how art functions as a form of expression and protest, and drives cultural change. When we pitched this cycle, we dubbed art “a chief form of human expression,” and thus a worthy tool to analyze how political agendas and personas have been communicated throughout the breadth of human history and in the present. We further opined that, “Artists have been using their talents to hold a mirror to society — its triumphs and flaws.” It is this exploration that underlies the following cycle, with each piece exploring a unique aspect of art and its immeasurable effect on how we interact with the world around us.
Meet our Summer 2023 cycle contributors below:
Vikram Kolli ’27
House/Dorm Affiliation: Weld Hall
Intended Concentration: History & Literature
Area of interest in politics/journalism: In the realm of politics, I’ve always been fascinated by the history of regime changes, especially in 20th century Europe. For journalism, I absolutely love opinion pieces and anything that relates to pop-culture.
Favorite Artist: Shostakovich! I feel like his symphonies when analyzed under the context of Stalin’s regime in the USSR makes the experience of listening to his works have more depth and emotion.
Mikalah Hodge ’27
House/Dorm Affiliation: Pennypacker
Intended Concentration: Government
Area of interest in politics/journalism: I plan to mainly focus on civil rights and Gen Z political movements.
Favorite Form of Art: Fantasy books.
Makenna Walko ’27
House/Dorm Affiliation: Holworthy
Intended Concentration: English or Government
Area of interest in politics/journalism: I really like looking at topics through the lens of intersectional feminism and examining the overlap between art, culture, and politics.
Favorite Form of Art: Poetry (Mary Oliver) and music (Taylor Swift).
Brian Jeon ’27
House/Dorm Affiliation: Hollis
Intended Concentration: Economics, Government
Area of interest in politics/journalism: Politics of Media/Culture
Favorite Artist: Mitski
Anya Zhang ’27
House/Dorm Affiliation: Canaday
Intended Concentration: Mechanical Engineering, secondary in History of Art and Architecture
Area of interest in politics/journalism: I enjoy delving into the policy, design, and human interactions behind infrastructure, physical spaces, and the urban fabric. But broadly speaking, I am interested in any topic concerning engineering, art, and advocacy.
Favorite Form of Art: Adaptive reuse architecture.
Kendall Cooper ’27
House/Dorm Affiliation: Greenough
Intended Concentration: Government
Area of interest in politics/journalism: Domestic Policy and International Relations
Favorite Form of Art: Poetry and spoken word.
The intro note for “The Art of Politics” was written by Covers editors Liana McGhee ’25 and Nurayn Khan ’26.
