The Touch Issue

Battle Cry: Sailor Moon the Supersensitive Superhero

Sailor Moon, a girl with long blonde pigtails and a feminine sailor costume sits in a dark pool of navy water, her eyes teary. She looks into a ruby and gold heart shaped locket.
by Rosa Cartagena
April 1, 2022 at 12:54pm
An ode to Sailor Moon’s power of emotional vulnerability on the show’s 30th anniversary.
Digital drawing with a lilac background. A woman with long black hair stands on a purple road that extends into the horizon. Floating around her are snapshots of memories, including someone in a hospital, hanging out with friends, and a sunset.

Refreshing Our Memory: How Algorithms Are Warping the Power of Recall

by Jenna Mahale
April 1, 2022 at 12:49pm
Jenna Mahale discusses how algorithmic memory features rewrite how we remember our past, shaping our memories for us.  Read more »
Two hands massage between a woman's shoulder blades. Leaves swirl around them.

In Safe Hands:: During Times of Crisis, Massage Therapy Becomes Activism

by Nicole Gordon
April 1, 2022 at 12:49pm
Nikki Gordon writes about the healing power of touch therapy during times of crisis.  Read more »
A bright pink and clear plastic megaphone in front of a blue background

Tongue-Tied: “Politically Correct” Has Always Been the Wrong Term

by s.e. smith
April 1, 2022 at 12:46pm
s.e. smith reflects on the discourse around “political correctness,” pointing out the mainstream left’s culpability in the rise of “patriotical correctness” by demonizing political correctness instead of hate speech and misinformation campaigns.  Read more »
Two faces, defined by black, empty, space and scribbled red and white lines, face each other

Graphic Design: The Uncomfortable History of Sex Onscreen

by Beatrice Loayza
April 1, 2022 at 12:44pm
Beatrice Loayza traces a history of sex in TV and movies, highlighting the important work of intimacy directors in the field today.  Read more »
A drawing of female athletes on a turf-covered conveyor belt with a giant hand grabbing them.

Sidelined:: Title IX Leveled the Playing Field. But Did it Miss the Goal?

by Britni de la Cretaz
April 1, 2022 at 12:43pm
Britni de la Cretaz discusses the missteps of Title IX, namely how it fails to address the patriarchal structures within men’s sports, creating conditions for mistreatment and abuse of women athletes.  Read more »
A surrealist illustration: two staircases lead into an ear and opened mouth, a blue woman kneels with her hands extended and her fingers curled, dismembered hands engaging in asmr occupy the two corners of the piece.

Access Denied: How ASMR Redefines Digital Intimacy

by Gianna Ferrarin
April 1, 2022 at 12:43pm
Gianna Ferrarin discusses how ASMRtists’ encounters with anti-pornography restrictions online is forcing creators to rethink what constitutes an expression of intimacy or sexuality.  Read more »
Sarone SunRaa styling a client's hair in her salon

Watch the Crown: What's Next for the Natural Hair Movement

by St. Clair Detrick-Jules
April 1, 2022 at 12:42pm
St. Clair Detrick-Jules writes about the importance of celebrating and representing Black hair in media.  Read more »
A headshot of Ira Madison with pink and blue light shining behind him.

Ira Madison III Keeps It Relevant, Funny, and Real

by Rosa Cartagena
April 1, 2022 at 11:58am
Ira Madison speaks on his pop-culture political podcast, Keep It, and his future projects. Read more »
Still from movie. A grainy, desaturated shot of a Black woman kneeling down, buttoning a young Black kid's shirt on a city street.

Maya Cade Reframes the Legacy of Black Cinema

by Rosa Cartagena
April 1, 2022 at 11:34am
Rosa Cartagena interviews Maya Cade about her work on the Black Film Archive, as well as movie recommendations from the collection. Read more »
Illustration of character healers on a pastel yellow background.

Magical Medicine : 6 Fictional Healers Who Eased Our Pain

by Marina Watanabe
April 1, 2022 at 10:53am
Whether their abilities are innate, learned, or thrust upon them, fictional healers have long been a staple of fantasy. These six healers use physical touch, chaos magic, and even their own saliva to mend wounds and restore health.   Read more »

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