“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph WaldoEmerson
Influence is everywhere. From social media algorithms to political ideologies, from academic expectations to cultural norms, we are constantly responding to and acting as a result of external influences and pressures. In the age of rapid information overload and curated personas, it is more important than ever to recognize the factors that influence us themost,whetherthesefactorsbepositiveornegative.
So, how do we tell where our individual thoughts end and whereexternalinfluencebegins?Inthisissue,weexplorehow numerous types of influences affect us both consciously and unconsciously,shapinghowwethink,act,andbelieve.
Humanité
THE BLUE WHALE CHALLENGE
By Haeun (Regina) Kim
Layout by Haeun (Regina) Kim
Wake up in the middle of the night. Stand on a ledge. Cut wha a whale into your arm. And finally, commitsuicide.
The Blue Whale Challenge originated with the Russian teen Rina Palenkova. Before her suicide, she posted a selfie of her standing with a seemingly bloody hand. Shortly after, fellow Russian teens Angelina Davydova Diana Kuznetsova committed suicide as well. Upon further investigation, all three teenagers had been part of similar online forums—among them titled “Ocean Whales” and “f57,” in which several posts mentionedsuicideandbluewhales.
The journalist Galina Mursalieva t took a closer look at these online forums and suggested that a game existedinthem.Curatorswouldrun thesegamesbyassigning50tasksto participants over the span of 50 days,thefinalonebeingtoendtheir life. According to Mursalieva, around 130 teens in Russia had followedthroughwiththelasttask.
Shortly after the article was published, an American teenager killed herself after completing a mural of a blue whale. Then came Yulia Konstantinova, a Russian girl who had posted a photo of a blue whale a few days before her death. The alleged mastermind behind the Blue Whale Challenge, the 21-yearold creator of the f57 forum Philipp Budeikin, was subsequently charged, tried, and sentences to threeyearsinprison.Hepledguilty, yetallbutoneofthechargesagainst him were dropped by the next month.
In fact, some journalists have argued that the Blue Whale Challenge did not exist at all until Mursalieva’s article inspired various copycats of the trend. Even then, they claim that the copycat forums are often run by impressionable youngteensthemselves.Eitherway, the deadly influence of the “trend” ofkillingoneselfcannotbeignored.
HISTORICAL REVISIONISM
By Austin Chung Layout by Haeun (Regina) Kim
It can be said that whoever controls the past controls the future.futureOn the surface, this seems slightly odd: the future is driven by progressandinnovation—anendless sprint forward to create a bright environment where everyone can live without worry. The future, indeed, cannot be hindered by an obstinate grasp on conservative values that may mean little in the ages to come. On a deeper look into history, however, the opposite proves true. The question lies: to what extent does one’s upbringing change one’s understanding of history, and what are the implicationsofsuchmanipulationof information?
Leaders have manipulated the masses throughout history. In Christianity, from about 500-1000 A.D, popes and bishops once controlled the interpretation of the Bible to sell indulgences to the masses, allowing them to easily gain profitwithlittlework.Until voluminous
figures like Martin Luther, who famously denounced the Catholic Church’swrongdoingbynailingthe 95 Theses onto the church wall, the majority of humanity remained in this state of inertness. Such manipulation prevented the development of scientific progress, as seen by figures like Galileo Galilei, who was condemned to house arrest for advocating for the heliocentric model. It is this stagnant period of 900 years— between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance—that became known as the Dark Ages. Here, historical revisionism, the practiceof“revising”historytofita certain narrative, stunted humanity’s growth, and for good reason. The study of history and ourabilitytoanalyzethepastallows us to not only grow from what we already have, but also prevent us from making the same mistakes in the future. However, the covering of truth completely prevents this for
form of learning, as we cannot improve when the very foundation thatwebuilduponisfake.
Manipulation of history is not limited to the remote past. Similar narratives were written and spread through propaganda before and during the Second World War, mainly to fuel animosity against other nations. In Germany, Adolf Hitler portrayed Aryans as the victims of unfair practices enforced by “inferior” races, disregarding the self-inflicted economic inflation, loss of independence following World War I, as well as the Great Depression as the source of their poverty. Among these were the Jews, who were sent to concentration camps and slaughtered in the millions. Ultimately, the limited lens used to view the past led to the deaths of millions of both soldiers and civilians across the world. Even today, this form of historical revisionism is used to create a narrative for nationalistic purposes. Following the end of the Second World War, many Japanese governmentofficialsduringthewar actually maintained their positions. During the first few decades following the great war, the Japanese began downplaying the atrocities committed in the SinoJapanese War and their occupation of Korea and Manchuria. Furthermore, history textbooks in Kogmsmsmsm
Japan portrayed themselves as victims in the Second World War due to the atomic bombings. With open criticism from both Korea and China, as well as stricter guidelines for textbooks from the Japanese, historical revisionism is no longer as much of an issue. However, it must be noted that these false narratives often silence the pained voices of the past that deservetoberecognized.
Historyallowsustolookatthepast and prevent making the same mistakes in the future. This was seeninthefreeingofcoloniesafter WorldWarII,theMarshallPlan,as wellastheParisPeaceTreaty,allof which served to prevent recreating the horrific environment after WorldWarI.Changingone’svision of history where each country simplyexcludespastmistakestofit a nationalist narrative hinders the very purpose of studying history. Thus, historical revisionism prevents the future from being as brightasitcanbe.
Joseon’s Enlightenment Period
By Zoe Chang
Layout by Haeun (Regina) Kim
When one thinks of the Joseon dynasty, they often imagineimthe typical traditional picturesque: Hanoks (traditional Korean buildings), Hanbok (traditional attire), and people wearing the Gat (traditional hat). Despite co-existing with enlightened and industrialized nations in the 18th and 19th centuries,Joseonseemsabitoutof touch. Though isolated for most of its history, as the 20th century emerged, Joseon met a rapid period of enlightenment, where they opened themselves up to foreign influence, philosophy, and innovation.
The Ganghwado-joyak: Unfair Treaties
Joseon emerged from its selfisolation through a treaty with Japan called the “Ganghwado-joyak,” which called for a series of unfair po
policiesthatmainlybenefitedJapan. The treaty required the Joseon Dynasty to open up ports, such as Busan and Incheon, for trade with Japan, and also allowed Japanese people in Joseon to practice extraterritoriality, meaning that Japaneseindividualsdidnothaveto abidebyJoseonlaws. Thoughthesepolicieswereunfair, the encouragement of trade with foreign nations ultimately led to Joseon opening their borders to foreigninfluence.
TheJoseonEnlightenment
As Joseon opened its borders for trade and established diplomatic relations with nearby nations such as Japan, they soon needed government officials and educated individuals to maintain diplomatic relations. A group of Individuals open to enlightenment ideas, who were called the “Gehwa” sector, sent in
individuals to nearby nations such as Japan and Qing China to learn more about industrialization and militarytactics.
Furthermore, Western customs were introduced to general Joseon society during this period. Tailored suits and dresses were popular among enlightened individuals. Beverages such as coffee, known to them as Ga-beh, became popularized among individuals. Even King Gojong was known to enjoy coffee with his son, Crown PrinceSun-jong,atthegardensfora retreat.
Conflicts:OldversusNew
With information from Japan and Qing China, King Gojong created a new army which trained with Westernammunition,and wasregardedwithhigh respectbythe government.
However, the creation of a new meant the neglect of the old, and the old garrisons including the “Jang-eo yung” and the “Mu-wi yung” were neglected. For instance, soldiers of the old garrison did not receive 13 months worth of wages and barely received one month worth of wages after they begged thegovernmentfor.
Conclusion
Though the Gehwagi brought in new customs and opened up Joseon to interact with the outside world, the rapid changes brought about caused major instability and disorderwithinJoseon.
TIDE PODS why are teens eating them?
By Haeun (Regina) Kim
Layout by Haeun (Regina) Kim
Teenagersareeatingtidepods,a type of laundry detergent pod, evenWhy?though they could be lethal. Theyfilmthemselvesintheactand upload them onto social media. Why? The answer is simple. It’s a socialmediatrend.Achallenge.And asClaireMcCarthy,MD,ofHarvard Medical School says, teens “take dumb risks because [they] think [they] are invincible.” They can’t backdownfromachallenge.
Adolescents in particular are susceptible to exterior influence. When the entire Internet seems to be egging you on, it could seem impossibletoresist.
Teenagers often place great significance on the opinion of their peers, leading them to pursue dangerous activities for the sake of acceptance. This inability to say no is only exacerbated by the countless Internet trends, where risky challengescancatchonlikewildfire. Certainly, it is illogical to eat tide pods for the sake of social validation. But perhaps it is understandable.
