Era Journal: Co-editor in Chief

I am standing for the position of co-editor-in-chief of Era Journal because, first and foremost, I love Era Journal. I believe no other student publication within the UCL student body comes close to providing the diversity of topic, voice, and style that Era possesses. Era is a vital publication and resource within the university, at a time when culture is appearing increasingly uniform and stagnant, Era allows for an exploration of expression through various mediums that, currently stand as rare and therefore important if one wishes for culture to thrive. Having explored my interest in music through various articles, I have become familiar with the editorial structure and process of the journal. Consequently, I know what makes an article good and what does not. As co-editor, I wish to further the current team's work in developing Era’s reach as a formidable and respected Art and Culture journal, working closely with writers on topics that speak to the past, present, and future of the cultural epochs Era’s writing concerns. I possess a wealth of writing experience, from my work in Era to script and stage. As a disciplined writer, editor, and ‘cultural fanatic’, I want to further Era’s exceptional reputation from outside of the university and into larger cultural conversation across London and beyond.

My name is Suzanne, I am finishing my first year in ESPS, focusing on Italian, Swedish, and Philosophy. As I study a very academic subject an important consideration for me has been to find a way to allow art to take its place in my student life. Mostly because of my family background, I have had the incredible luck to have always been exposed to and surrounded by art. Now, university has made me realize how important and impactful such a presence is in my life. Today, most of my free time is spent at museums, shows, or doing analog photography either taking pictures, doing prints, or something related (poster for a show…). Therefore applying for co-editor-in-chief appears to be a great way to fully embody and use this artistic eye in my student life while using my previous internship experience in a French feminist webzine for which I wrote exhibition reviews.

The paper embodies what, to me, is probably the essence of art, the universal sort of inexplicably magic response it creates within us. Being able to share, reflect, create, make pieces fit together within a student-led community would be a project to which I would devote much time since it would also allow me to share my love for writing and reflection and to direct it toward a better perception of modern life as the journal pledges. And in this regard, to be able to set the tone for a coherent display of works keeping at the forefront themes like identity, individuality, communication, and spirituality among others.

I am standing because I am excited by the possibilities of developing an alternative space for students to express the creativity and intellect that each person and their individual backgrounds and interests represent. I want to have a part in growing the community, the website, and the print issues through an open-minded, grounded approach that appreciates writing and all art as a pure declaration of whatever it is we find life-affirming about the world around us. I will strive to promote an inclusive and intermedial approach, looking towards establishing connections with the city-scape and the culture we have access to, as well as group projects and a focus on the physical presence of ERA. As the Sub-Editor for Thoughts, I am invested in writing and editing for ERA, as well as actively reading the journal and attending events. I have a good understanding of the cultural, artistic, and political interrogations and revelations that ERA has provided an outlet for, and would love to continue this trajectory of producing dynamic, comparative renewals of the way we explore our environment. At the most basic level, I have found great satisfaction in providing linguistic and structural refinements to submissions, allowing for clarity and a true expression of the artistic intentions in a work. Looking more widely, I would be excited to shape submitted works into a cohesive body, articulating ongoing cultural concerns and looking for which themes are guiding the ERA community forward.

Hi everyone! I'm Yiyang, a second-year Comparative Literature student. I'm currently Era's literature sub-editor and I've really enjoyed looking at all your submissions this year so far. It's been great to see the range of ideas and styles in the articles we receive, and especially rewarding when my edits and suggestions inspire new ideas in the writer. As well as helping our members improve their skills in critical writing and attentivity to detail, I've also learnt much about how to write evocatively and with clarity, and how to pose stimulating questions to the writer. I hope to be able to continue all this and more as a Co-editor in Chief next year.

I've always been passionate about writing, as is probably obvious through my course of Comp Lit! Partly due to my degree, I'm familiar with all genres and topics of writing, whether it's literature, film or music, and in the form of critical writing, creative fiction or creative non-fiction! I'd therefore be really excited to bring more of the skills I've learnt from my course and from my personal explorations in writing to present provocative, interesting writing for all to read.

I'd love to continue as a part of Era next year, and explore even more ideas with you all as a Co-editor in Chief.

I have been involved with Era since I came to UCL and have had a brilliant time as Art sub-editor.

I love Era magazine and the beautiful community which springs up around it every year...

I have nominated myself because I believe in the importance of Era magazine and want to take responsibility for its future. 

Next year I would work tirelessly for the smooth running of Era magazine and to nurture an intellectually and artistically stimulating space. For the greatest minds at UCL to all write for Era. To foster inter-disciplinary and cross-campus collaboration. To put out a high-quality, original, modern publication, and insist on the survival of print...

I hope you can trust me to be your co-Editor in chief. xxx