Dylan in London

By Dylan Asher June isn't an ordinary month for queer-identifying young man like me. For those that don't know, June is Pride month. Pride is a celebration of the existence and resistance of queer individuals since the Stonewall Riots in 1969, however, 'Pride' as a celebration didn't exist in 1994. Originally, it was intended that Pride be celebrated on the last Sunday in June, but it has since been extended to a month long celebration. It's interesting to see how the U.K. and many other countries have taken such a strong hold on an event in American History that is so poorly taught and how much 'Pride' (pun slightly intended) they have in celebrating queer indentities. From tube stops to street signs, from store logos to legitimate banners and hanging art, it's unmistakably clear that the United Kingdom appreciates their diversity and dedicates their resources to supporting equality-- a feat that even America, birthplace of the Stonewall Riots, ha...

 British fashion is chic, on-trend, and sleek. Brits often rock more Avant-garde street chic fashion brands like Supreme, Comme de Garcons, and London-based brand Brixton-- I'll let you guess where it's from. Fashion is a staple in the culture of London. But they're missing something. Something big. Like cowboy hats. What better way to utilize Fashion PR and introduce iconic western wear into the bustling streets of London than the biggest fashion show since LFW (London Fashion Week). Because the event integrates American-Western fashion into the British scene, I would invite the biggest names in fashion: Maison Margiela, Terry Mugler, Balmain, and Diore Homme to give their interpretation on Western wear and the soon-to-be hottest accessory- the Stetson hat. Because I'm appealing to the British population, the designer's work would be showcased by London's top models; Cara Delevigne, Poppy Okatcha, Evangeline Ling, Hannah Shakespeare, and incomparable classics--...

By Dylan Asher An example of punk counterculture from the museum of London In the case of the Grenfell Tower fire, it is clear who had the power and the privilege here, and it wasn’t the tenants. Rather, what happened is a part of a larger, more structured system of classism and inequality in general—and in housing in particular. It highlights a system in which the poor who are often, not always, people of color are pushed out of quality housing in favor of gentrifying—or regenerating a city to give it brighter, whiter, and more fiscally appealing audience. I wrote about the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower earlier on in a minor blog and how the tragedy consumed the entire neighborhood. That grief then outpoured into cities in greater U.K. where the burden of London’s failings weighed heavy on the hearts of many people. Districts like Barking, Dagenham, and Havering, however, feel experiences like these greater than districts like Westminster, for obvious reasons. Because, sim...

Last Saturday, the Pari$ian Girls: Haley, Abby, Simreen, Natalie and I, all decided to venture across new waters and see the city of love. Paris, Texas. If you didn't know Paris, Texas, has many famous attractions. While there, I explored one of the most renowned, prolific galleries- The Louvre, wandered through the underground catacombs, and basked in the glory of the Eiffel Tower.  Okay, so I'm gonna cut the joke because it's not actually that funny; we went to Paris, France. I would never go to Paris, Texas.  The Louvre was incredible. Unspeakable in certain parts, actually. While it might be considered to enumerate my favorite pieces in the Louvre, I'm going to do it anyways because I don't care about being called a philistine. Winged Victory of Samothrace, a statue of Parisian and Rhodian marble, stood 5 meters tall. Greek gods represented concepts such as peace, fortune, vengeance, and passion- Victory was one of the first incarnates. Standing on the ...

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The U.K. is almost as divided now at the US was during the election of 2016. While the social intensities aren't as high as they are in the states, many people are still on edge because they don't know what will happen next. The uncertainty of this decision is actually what's splitting the country's dichotomy further. One of the biggest stressors between the parties is Brexit.  Brexit was the decision of the British parliament to leave the European Union. The vote was made around this time last year, and negotiations behind on June 19th, 2017. The decision of Brexit was divisive at the time it occurred and, since we're still talking about it, sparks a lot controversy today.  The Tory's platform was centered heavily on Brexit negotiations, and it's actually what caused the decision to have an early election- a decision many Londoners think was hasty and ill prepared. Actually, some might argue that Brexit was the reason the election turned out th...

Anger is rising over a myriad of failures that led to what could be a massive death toll in the Grenfell Tower fire. On the early hours of Wednesday June 14 th , Grenfell Tower in south London caught ablaze from a refrigerator on the fourth floor. The fire then spread upwards, consuming 17 floors above it in flames. Over 70 people are unaccounted for, and officials say that there may be no hope for any residents left in the burning building. On Thursday Kaely and I traveled to South Kensington to see the damages and, honestly, I wasn’t prepared. As we stepped off the platform a giant, charred building peaked over the treetops, soot and ashes still blowing off in the wind. Train riders gathered at the edge of the platform to get a look at what could be one of the greatest tragedies the U.K. has ever seen. As we walked down the steps, towards the exit, you could feel the heavy air of a neighborhood dismantled by tragedy. As we left the station, missing person’s signs were plast...

Last night, a few friends and I were having drinks at Road Trip in Shoreditch. At the table next to us sat four Englishmen, far drunker than I—but that’s beside the point. We struck up a conversation about “Why we came to the U.K.,” and other arbitrary question—mind you, all of this was before we started talking drunken politics. One question stuck out to me in particular: “What is an American city comparable to London?” London, to me, is like a cleaner New York City.              The pace of the city is faster than what I’m used to. If you’re not walking quickly then you’re making room for those who are. Everyone is walking towards something: the bus, the tube, their destination; nobody’s just standing around. Very different from Denton. From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, London is beautiful: the scenery, people, fashion, and culture. There is so much history in th landmarks of the city (and so many landmarks, too) Buckingh...

By: Dylan Asher Friday’s post-election papers made grim headlines for Theresa May. May’s wildcard decision in calling an early election spectacularly failed on Thursday June, 8 th , as she lost her majority in parliament and was “demoted” to deal with a smaller party to stay in power.                  In the beginning of the week, crowds unwaveringly supported James Corbyn, Labour party prime minister Candidate. Which, rings evident now as Labour received more votes in this election than it did in 2001, 2005, 2010, or 2015. Which is interesting because going into this quick election, Labour party had unmitigated odds stacked against them. Now, with overwhelming support from the popular vote, Labour is the frontrunner for this election. Why? Young people. Similar to the presidential election in the U.S. and how young voters showed brute support for Clinton and the Democratic Party, young voters were Labour...