The Unabridged Journals of Karissa Gupta

Merrily huddled together, forming an uneven circle, encroaching towards the illuminating warmth radiating from the ferocious flame forged by enchanting hues of orange, yellow and white entwined together. As the flame danced mightily in front of my wide, doll shaped eyes, flecked with curiosity, I grabbed my sister’s ever- steady arm, to comfort me whilst the chilling winds blew across my face. As I sat near the ancient logs piled upon each other and the orange sparks erupting from them, listened to spellbinding tales whispered secretly in hushed tones, watched the crumpled leaves fall to the awaiting ground beneath and gazed at the glowing faces of my cousins, adorned with hearty smiles and echoing chuckles, I heard a jumble of distinct syllables ring in my ears. “Folklore, folklore, folklore.” As this word was chanted in a deep rhythm like a prayer, as my family urged my reserved sister to dwell into tales from our homeland, I was transported into another dimension, centuries ago, ri...

  When I first heard about the movie ‘Thirteen’ I thought it was a horror film full of blood, gore and creeping suspense. This was primarily due to this number being regarded as a bad omen, that is rendered ‘unlucky’. Looking at my initial postulations with hindsight, I realise that in a few aspects, I was correct. For, Thirteen is a teenage drama that dives into the raw, appalling world of being a teenager. No filters. No sugarcoating. It shows it as it is, the harsh reality of how the life of a person takes a drastic turn once they hit their teens. It’s a movie that takes viewers on the rocky and grim journey of Tracy, a thirteen year old girl as she navigates life, full of insecurities, rebellions and self sabotaging.  The central synopsis of this film is that a public school in America is full of typical teenage stereotypes. Evie Zamora being the epitome for this. She’s the most popular girl in seventh grade and is reputed to be the ‘queen bee’ due to her trendy clothing, ...

“I've been tearing around in my nightgown 24/7 Sylvia Plath Writing in blood on the walls.”   The above lines are lyrics from a popular Lana Del Rey song, Hope Is A Dangerous Thing For A Woman Like Me. This song is an archetype for the current craze that has swept pop culture, the romanticism of mental illnesses. This may sound absurd to the ears, but in reality it is chiefly evident in today’s culture. Sylvia Plath, herself has become a symbol for this re- emerging movement. She was a brilliant writer whose work led to the advancement of confessional literature. However, the disheartening truth is that her marvellous literary works aren’t the most significant aspects that led to her rapid fame, it is her tragic suicide. In the year 1963, Plath was found dead in her apartment with her stuck inside an oven. Presently, this mournful incident has been rendered into an ‘aesthetic’ event, something many young women are being drawn to, as if they too desire to be in her shoes and ...

  TW: sexual assault, rape What were you wearing? How much did you have to drink? What were you doing out so late? Did you scream? Were you asking for it?   STOP! Stop asking these questions. They are all examples of victim blaming and thus suggest that the victim played a role in making the assault occur and should be held partly responsible. This is not the case, no one asks to be sexually assaulted. It’s the abuser’s fault and no one else’s. Moreover, by not holding the abuser fully accountable, we are silencing the victims and unconsciously continuing the cycle of abuse. This happens because by holding the victim accountable, we marginalise them and make it more challenging for them to speak up about what they faced and talking to others about it. By staying quiet, the abuser is not penalised and thus likely to repeat their actions again multiple times, to various other victims, making this cycle go on.  Is victim blaming even ‘real’?  YES! Unfortunately, vi...

As I sat down wrapped in a warm blanket with a cup of sizzling coffee nestled on my study table and my favourite album playing, I started to write this piece. The theme raced across my mind. Borders. But, as I started to write, words failed me. The blank document that lay open on my screen mocked me with its sheer emptiness. Time passed and to my frustration I had not penned down even a word. Then, it struck me. I realised I must start with the basics. I did the first thing that came to my mind, I opened Safari. As I searched the term ‘border’, I found that it means a line separating two countries or other areas . It's a line that marks the division between two places. But, as I pondered upon this word more, I formed a new perspective.  After all, isn't this line also a meeting point for the two areas? It's the point at which the uniqueness of both places flows into each other, blending perfectly. In other words, this border is also the site for cultural blending . The ...

  A wise person once said, “School times end but memories last forever.” The movie, 3 Idiots, completely captured the essence of this quote, hilariously showcasing the wondrous and memorable journey of school and college years. Silly pranks, stubborn quarrels, camaraderie; this movie has it all, all the memorable incidents that make a student’s life. As I watched the movie, I realised, truly, how precious these years of student life are. We must cherish these moments as they soon pass us by. Each and every little memory we make along the way every day will build up and shape our lives forever. Make the most of it! For these are frankly the best years of our lives- the ones we will remember even when we are wiser and grey.  The movie, 3 Idiots, is packed with hilarious little moments that all students can relate to. Personally, my favourite ones out of the vast array are as follows. One day, the director of the college told the students that the fountain pen was a very importan...

  Britney Jean Spears. A young teenage girl who entered a whirlwind we call the music industry, at the age of fifteen and took it by storm. Selling over 100 million records worldwide, she claimed the title of a pop legend, someone who impacted music in an inexpressible way. A born performer, she raised the bar exceedingly high for everyone in the industry. Britney’s style, confidence and suave has empowered women across the world to express themselves freely, without anyone or anything holding them back. Without her influence, the female music scene in present times would be vastly different and unimaginable. She’s an icon, someone who cannot be forgotten. A billion dollar business, eight Grammy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as an adoring fan base, it’s hers. All her fame and success ended up in her becoming America’s sweetheart, their prized national sensation. However behind the bright smile and the twinkling eyes, lay a woman whose heart ached and whose fa...