21st century. The digital age. The age of information. In such a world where everythingseemstoscrambleforyourattentionandpickyourbrainapart,canyou truly say your sense of self is your own? Now, more than ever, humans are connectingandsharingandrefutingandarguingonaglobalscale;eachdayyou spendlivingisadayyourbrainispummelledwithendlessinfluxesofinformation. Youareboundtobeinfluenced,controlled.Maybe,your‘taste’–yoursenseofself –isnotyoursafterall.
Granted,thisissomethingalreadyobservedandscrutinisedinavarietyofmedia, soyoumaybeaware,butareyouawareofthehowbehindit?Perhaps,poweris achievedthroughknowledgeasdissectedin‘Theinvisiblegripofpower’byGia Khanh (Y12): Knowledge manifests itself in multitudes of forms, physical and non-physical, ranging from justifications to statistics to campaigns…etc – it is through constructing and deforming knowledge that power is obtained and maintained.Infact,itcouldbesaidthatknowledgeisoneandthesameaspower. Hence, with this enhanced realisation of our true conditions: You think you got taste?
Alternatively, we could evaluate power as a resource, existing when there is a demand for it, as ‘Power 101 ’ by Cam Tu (Y12) examines. To think of it as a resource means we identify that there are concrete steps to reach it, and this is exploredindetailwithinthearticleabove,whereintheconceptisseparatedinto categoriesanddifferentwaystogainpoweraresuggested.
Circlingbacktotheego:Oneofthemanywayswetrytoaffirmourindividualityis through our interests (part of our ‘taste’), and this includes the characters we adore. More specifically, Dakyung (Olivia) from Y10 explores the relationship betweenusandvillaincharactersin‘ThePowerofAVillain’,byassessinghow thesevillainsencompassthedarkeraspectsofhumannatureandasaresult,how theyexertpoweroverstoriesandaudiences.
Similarly, if you think about it, what Novus has been trying to accomplish all alongistoaffirmouridentityandsolidifyeachperson’spowerandconsequently our collective voice. Through the magazine, we represent our sense of self. We giveourselvesphysicalspacesforourvoices.Thus,welearntobeourselvesandto strengthenourself-belief,ourpower.Withthisaimofsolidifyingthepowerof creativesinmind,weopenedtheCreativeWritingCompetitionandwelcomedtwo wonderfulpoemsbyTuanMinhandEvikainY7S–bothofwhichdelveintothe multifaceted nature of power, pondering its definitions, meanings, effects and finally delivering an honest message about power. As per Tuan Minh’s words ‘TherecouldbeaHenryfouroraHenryfive,/Butthereisonlyoneofyou’,we maybeinfatuatedwiththepowerofthetopmostechelonandyearnforastanding abovecountlessothers,butinthepursuitofloftygoalsneverforgetyourselfand mostdefinitelydonotmoldyourselfintoyetanother‘Henryfour’.Furthermore, asperEvika’sthoughts‘Powerisn’tonlymightandwarfare/Butloveandbeing fair’,wearepoignantlyremindedthatpowerisnotsimplyatwistedandmalignant tool serving to destroy; rather, it can also be a vessel for love; justice; empowermentthatcandirectustowardsabrighterfuture.Afterall,itisnotthe conceptthatisevil:Itistheintentionofitsuserandtheactionstheycommitwith it.
hat forms does power take? In medieval times, power expressed itself through torture displayed on the body. By the 18th century, its manifestation became institutionalised, shifting from imprisonment to surveillance to rehabilitation. Under these rigid systems, power transitioned from physical violence to physical discipline and control. In the modern age, power is less conspicuous yet more pervasive: we discipline ourselves, conform to laws and norms, and monitor our own speech on social media. Power is no longer about overt repression, such as kings punishing and imprisoning bodies, but about normalisation, an invisible force that enforces selfregulating systems and individuals. If ancient societies relied on physical violence to maintain order, how does contemporary society retain its power and enforce norms? Through the control of knowledge: knowledge that is, itself, born out of power.
The connection between power and knowledge is not novel. Plato argued that rulers the just King must be those who possess knowledge, while Aristotle posited that only those with knowledge could participate in the polis, excluding women from political life. However, Foucault’s perspective is radically different: power and knowledge are not separate entities interacting with one another; they are one and the same. He terms this the power/knowledge nexus: there is no knowledge without power, just as there is no power without the reinforcement of knowledge. The ruling class, in its pursuit of maintaining power, legitimizes the knowledge it creates to ensure its dominance.
For instance, one of Adolf Hitler’s key justifications for the persecution of Jews lay in his misleading interpretation of Darwin’s theory of evolution, using it to justify the existence of a racial hierarchy and “citing” supposed “proof” that Jews were an inferior race. This racist ideology gave rise to eugenics as a dominant norm, which was then reinforced and disseminated through public education teaching that Aryans could only marry each other to preserve racial purity. The objective knowledge we perceive is, in reality, a product of the dominant class, shaped to align with its strategic interests.
More broadly, we often believe science and statistics to be objective truths that accurately reflect reality. Yet, as Mark Twain once exclaimed, “Lies, damned lies, and statistics” statistics are not as reliable as they seem and are frequently used to support weak arguments with tenuous links. Rather than merely reflecting reality, from which one forms hypotheses, statistics are often retroactively crafted to substantiate the very hypothesis that is assumed at the outset. Therefore, one who determines knowledge is one who holds power.
knowledge offers individuals opportunities, but in the deeper realisation that knowledge and power are one and the same, a selfreinforcing cycle that upholds the dominance of those in control.
Writer: Cam Tu Dang Y12
Designer: Que Anh Y12
Power exists all around us, from homes with parents’ power over their children to the government having power over its citizens, but what exactly is it?
Power is defined as the ability to influence other people’s behaviours and actions. Power can also be autonomy over yourself and your actions. There are different definitions depending on the subject such as economics, business, sociology, philosophy, etc
However, professor of Psychology Dacher Keltner at the University of California, Berkeley defines power as “Someone’s capacity to alter another person’s condition or state of mind by providing or withholding resources such as food, money, knowledge, affection, or administering punishment such as physical harm, job termination, or even social ostraci
The keyword to focus on is “resource”. A resource is “a useful or valuable possession or quality of a country, organisation, or individual” (Cambridge Dictionary, 2025) Accordingly, power can be understood as a limited and valuable resource that grants you access to other resources in life such as wealth or reputation, and can be possessed by one person or a large body of people. Even in that body itself may exist power between the individuals, such as in a government. Similar to a good or service in economics, power has high demand but little supply, coinciding with McClelland’s Needs Theory which states that during a lifetime, humans require three motivating needs: Affiliation, Achievement, and unsurprisingly, Power
Power exists when there is a demand or a need for “resources” If the receiver does not perceive a high value then power does not exist. For example, consider the situation where a student is asking for their teacher’s letter of recommendation If the student is desperate for the letter, their ‘demand’ for it is very high, thus giving the teacher great power- The teacher’s “capacity to alter” the student’s “condition and state” is very high as without it, the student cannot apply to university. But if the student already has many strong letters, the need for another one is low which in turn reduces the teacher’s power. Without this particular letter, the student can still apply to university. This example shows how power is not just determined on the nature of said ‘resources’ but rather it’s the perceived usefulness when applied to a specific context.
If power can be considered a “resource”, then by extension, there can be many different kinds of power to be exerted in different contexts. There are 5 main categories (Azzara, 2022):
1. Legitimate
The inherent power of a formal title or the position as the leader. It’s power granted by a hierarchical structure to make decisions and command others
2. Coercive
Linking with Keltner’s definition above, coercive power is “administering punishment” or “withholding resources”. It is typically viewed as negatively exerting power and influence over an individual against their will.
3. Reward
Opposite to coercive power, reward power is the ability to give someone the ‘resource’ they value In the examples given above, this would be the employer giving you the job you want- they now have power over you. Reward power can also be words of praise or affection. Having others yearn for your approval gives you some degree of power
4. Informational
This form creates power over an individual’s exclusive access and control over key data It is especially influential in politics and business as it can decide the outcome of negotiations Many regard informational power to be extremely effective in creating power
5. Referent
Perhaps the most debatable form of power: it does not require one to possess any valuable ‘resource’, but relies on inner qualities such as charisma and selfconfidence By gathering admiration and respect, one holds the ability to influence others.
With all the information above, this beckons the important question:
HOWTO GAIN
The answer is yes. Usually, we are more accustomed to certain aspects of power: ‘power over’ someone or something (force and control) and ‘power to’ do something (potential and capacity). But there exists a third type that is less commonly spoken about but nonetheless exercised in many organisations nowadays: ‘power with’ ‘Power with’ focuses more on the power that originates from collaboration and mutual respect (Stuart, 2019) This type of power is not transactional like ‘power over’ where one side's loss of power results in the gain of the other. Instead, it can create its own power through collective action and interdependence. This form of power is especially relevant today as humans are faced with global issues such as climate change and humanitarian crises, problems that cannot be solved through unilateral efforts In other words, ‘power with’ derives its influence through the combined efforts and ‘power’ of individuals For example, the death of George Floyd in 2020 sparked global mass protests, largely spearheaded by the social and political movement Black Lives Matter. The collective backlash has galvanized 31 major US cities to restrict the use of chokeholds (DoSomething.org, 2020).
In essence, power is a complex discussion topic with many arguments on its impacts on individuals and wider society It can be gained through many means, but the way you exercise it is equally important as it could negatively influence our perspectives and behaviors, thus reducing trust between people. However, rather than the traditional view of power as a transaction, modes of power that prioritize collaboration can increase everybody’s influence. In this model, power is not lost when given: it amplifies with Collective voice. Unlike how the media portrays it in films or in many real life examples where power is synonymous with corruption, power can also be used to drive positive change and help us solve social and environmental problems.
Evika7S Designed by The Phuc Mai Y12 and Minju(Judy)KangY12
Venom Harley Quinn JOKER
THE POWER OF A VILLAIN
Written by Dakyung (Olivia) Hwang Y10
Design by Hoang Phuong Chi Nguyen Y12
Superman can save the world, Sherlock Holmes can fight crimes, and Robin Hood can establish justice. But there is one common element which these characters cannot thrive without
-A VILLAIN-
We often follow a story from the hero’s perspective, which leads us to believe that anything different from our hero is the ‘bad guy.’ The heroes are the stars of the show, while villains are quickly discarded. We, as viewers, fail to appreciate the importance of having a villain, no matter how annoying, scary, or unfair it is.
But how can there be a hero without a villain?
‘Heroes’ are no different to ordinary people up until the outbreak of a disaster and the point where they physically make changes to their world. Before the villain is revealed in a story, the readers aren’t interested to see the daily lives of the soon-to-be ‘hero.’ Only with the appearance of the villain, the story begins its plot. It pushes the protagonist out into the world and constantly challenges them throughout the story. `
Villains remind us of ourselves.
.It is human nature to want to believe that we are the ‘good people.’ But whether we want to accept it or not, it is also human nature to consider stories and fictional worlds as a ‘safe haven’ to empathize with villainous characters that remind us of ourselves. “When people feel protected by the veil of fiction, they may show greater interest in learning about dark and sinister characters who resemble them.” (Rebecca Krause). Simply put, if people were to be honest with themselves, they’d find themselves relating to the villain more than the hero. As an ordinary person, would you be able to swing like Spiderman? Or would it be easier to give into the power of our desires?
Perfection isn’t relatable. Somebody that has made mistakes, failed, or hurt others feel closer to us as these are raw human characteristics. While this applies to both heroes and villains, heroes are only created when these characters have reached a positive ending to their story. When they fail to do so, they automatically become the villain.
Batman and Joker are a dynamic duo that seem like complete opposites - black and white - but are more like the same colour of different saturations.
They almost co-exist through their shared motives and trauma but choose to express and cope differently in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ style. Simply put, Joker’s trauma stems from abuse and neglect during his childhood, as well as the lack of empathy from society. Those who were struggling with mental illnesses were alienated and rejected from society, which included Joker. Similarly, Batman also holds trauma that instills a deep sense of anger and hopelessness - he witnesses the murder of his parents during his childhood. Both of them go down extreme paths to cope with their trauma.
Their choices?
One goes for destruction and the other goes for protection: because what do you do when the world breaks you? Joker’s motive is to push Batman to the edge to test his morality continuously - to prove and find comfort in the fact that everybody breaks under immense pressure and trauma, just like he did. The confirmation of this belief would give him justification for the way he behaves. In the end, Batman and Joker are forever on separate paths that head in the same direction.
Joker often mentions that “We’re not so different, you and I.” While he is talking to Batman, he also holds up a mirror to us, the viewers - though it makes us uncomfortable to relate to a villain. As they share internal conflicts and struggles, so do we There is an inexplicable bond between these two enemies - a knight and a jester, who only have each other to truly understand their backstories In our lives, we also have our own backstories that can align with Joker’s, like being socially unaccepted. With the power of his relatability, Joker becomes a villain, that perhaps, we need as much as Batman needs him.
Conventionally, villains are considered to have little to no boundaries or moral conduct, resulting in harming others in order to reach their desires While most stories follow a hero, ‘Venom (2018)’ is a complete movie centered around Venom, who leans towards villains more than heroes. Venom possesses its host and abuses their strength, aggression, and darker desires Eddie Brock’s venom, our main character, eventually goes through character development to become a protector of innocent people, but even when he eats people, there remains exhilaration in the audience. This is because watching Venom is like experiencing unrealistically immense but desirable power While heroes pull their punches in order to follow their moral compass, Venom decapitates people in a heartbeat. He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t overthink. He easily fights back and takes control of situations in ways we can only fantasies Of course, his efforts in becoming a better, less beastly monster are admirable, and his constant conflict in finding balance between impulse and restraint is relatable. However, his unstoppable outbreaks and unrealistic power also gives viewers that rush of dopamine, despite the violence.
In summary, villains are not just antagonists to balance out a protagonist - they are the catalyst of the story that tests the heroes and shakes their morals. They also reach the audience in a more personal manner than heroes, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves, while also comforting our human nature. Villains are not just hurdles to jump over, but what makes us think, reflect, and feel, even long after their deaths or defeats In other words, villains are not just there to be hated, rather to be understood.
