We all thought it would have been easier. For long months the confinement kept us in a state of suspension, thoughts and emotions could not be choked in and needed to be let out. Writing through the pandemic seemed to be the simplest way, what but write at a time like this? So, within a few days dozens of ideas and writing projects jumped out and started to pile up in a new computer folder with a temporary name. Some things are easier said than done, and any new initiative needs to be given a proper title. So fortunately enough, this one soon found a simple and natural encouragement – the direct translation of the existing student review of our school, La Cicuta, which in English turns out to be the combination of two words, “hem” (border, edge) and “lock” (also meaning to join, unite); here it is, “The Hemlock”, sounding like a suggestion, or an omen. Each of the contributors accepted the challenge with strenuous commitment and pride. Most of them attending the first years of High
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Protests against the government held by students at Socrate
“Protests against the government held by students at Socrate”, by Elena Trigona and Viola Viani January and February 2021 were critical months for schools, and we students at Liceo Socrate have been standing up for important aspects regarding our safety, overlooked by the government in this emergency situation. The 11th of January, we took part in the first strike: students didn’t attend online lessons but instead they joined other students in doing alternatives activities like theater and dance classes coordinated by three different political organizations, while some other students decided to join the demonstration, were directed to the seat of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). A week later, as a school community, we decided to continue supporting the strike, so, a large number of students went to the meeting place at Porta San Paolo and they moved to the MIUR, where several teachers were waiting for them, and they protested side by side. The main
Travel through (tough) time
TRAVEL THROUGH (TOUGH) TIME by Elisa Andreotti & Giulia Petrizzi THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL Here are five reasons why teenagers should travel: It builds confidence With journeys, they learn new skills very quickly: how to navigate in foreign environments and how to connect with people of different cultures without having the comforts of their home. 2. It creates the ability to appreciate other cultures Developing an understanding and respect for other cultures is an important ability for young people. The immersion in foreign cultures allows teenagers to develop cultural sensitivity, acceptance and a more open-minded perspective of the world. 3. It’s humbling Travel affects the way we relate to the world. It allows to experience different cultures and ways of life. Sometimes, the culture shock and first-hand experience of how others live life is a humbling and important lesson for teenagers. It is helpful to realize that not everything goes around them and it teaches perspective an
Hobbies and lockdown
HOBBIES AND LOCKDOWN, by Francesca Settanni Because of the coronavirus, around a year ago our rhythm of life stopped. We’ve stopped meeting our friends, hugging our relatives, going to school, watching movies at the cinema, eating at the restaurant: we’ve stopped living our life as we used to do. At the beginning of the first lockdown all of us were shocked: doing online lessons was very strange, we missed our friends and we were terrified by this situation because we didn’t know when all this would be over. Once we realized what was happening, we began to do something that could improve our days locked at home. We began to exchange long video calls with our friends, we started doing homework with them, and sharing some hobbies with them, too. I talked with some students, teenagers like me, about this topic. These are some of their stories: REBECCA M. “During lockdown it was difficult to understand all the new topics that teachers were explaining in video lessons, so it often happene
Concentration camps are still with us
“Concentration camps are still with us”, by Francesca Testa and Sofia Stefanini HUMAN RIGHTS Concentration camps are still with us - the China case, by Sofia Stefanini and Francesca Testa The Xinjiang internment camps, officially called Vocational Education and Training Centers, are internment camps operated by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government and its C hinese Communist Party (CCP) provincial committee . More than 60 detention sites were worked upon between July 2019 and July 2020, while 14 camps are still under construction, the report said. The camps were established under CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping's administration. Who is being held? As of 2019, it was estimated that Chinese authorities may have detained one and a half million people, mostly Uyghurs but also including Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other ethnic Turkic Muslims, Christians as well as some foreign citizens such as Kazakhstanis. Those sent to such camps are not put on trial, have no access to lawyers or r
Romeo and Juliet
ROMEO AND JULIET, A COMPARISON. Romeo and Juliet received enormous attention during Sheakspeare’s lifetime: critics would initially be conflicting on Shakespeare’s play, because of its unconventional fate-guided plot and rebellious characters. Many adaptations of the play have been made, and in the 20th century lots of movies and music have been built around the theme of Romeo and Juliet. Here I am going to discuss four major artistic productions revolving round this theme, including two songs and two movies: the former “Romeo and Juliet” movie by Franco Zeffirelli and Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet” song, the latter “Romeo + Juliet” by Baz Luhrmann together with “Exit music (for a film)” by Radiohead. PART 1: THE CLASSICS FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI'S VERSION: A FAITHFUL RENDITION. This movie, aired in 1968, has been considered the only worthy adaptation of the play, up until Baz Luhrmann came out with his own interpretation. This rendition wants to resemble in each and every detail the