Editor’s Note: Two members of The Journal’s Editorial Board contributed to The Undergraduate Review.
The Undergraduate Review (UR), a Queen’s arts and literature-focused magazine, released their 33rd annual issue on Jun. 4th. Featuring work from 38 contributors, the issue is available online through UR’s website and Instagram, as well as in print at the ASUS office.
Hannah Bush, ArtSci ’22, one of UR’s Editors in Chief, sat down with The Journal to discuss creating the magazine during COVID-19.
While the pandemic imposed extraordinary circumstances on this year’s issue, Bush believes the team behind UR ultimately made this issue special.
“The really nice thing about The Undergraduate Review is that each year it’s a whole new Editor-in-Chief, a whole new team for the most part,” Bush said.
“That really creates a unique outlook and perspective on the issue itself. So, I think every single issue is its own entity and its own kind of arm on the overall [tree] of The Undergraduate Review.”
Unable to collaborate in person, the UR team connected virtually to bounce ideas off one another in a tight-knit, safe space.
“Everything was over Zoom and we were able to create something beautiful and amazing without even meeting each other. I think that was really special.”
By including all voices in meetings and the editing process, the UR’s cultivation of a connected, engaging environment ensured that the entire team felt represented in this year’s issue.
“That’s the special thing about every single issue, it represents who made it—the artists that are in it and who made it that year,” Bush said.
“Everyone has a piece of themselves, has a piece of their own creativity within the works.”
While the pandemic didn’t dishearten UR’s passion for creation and collaboration, it undoubtably influenced the emotional work submitted by many contributors.
“I think they kind of internalized, went into themselves, and reflected on things, be it pain or happiness or memories,” Bush said.
To capture the pandemic’s impact on Queen’s artistic community, this year’s issue emphasizes the importance of art by deeming it essential.
“People are using art forms as a way to convey their emotions and deal with things throughout COVID,” Bush said. “It very much felt like the works that we were seeing were used for people to heal.
“And so, to us that meant that art—especially during this year, especially during COVID—has been an essential aspect of people getting through this year.”
By listening to these thoughts and feelings conveyed in the submitted work, UR is proud to have fostered a space where creatives feel heard and appreciated. The staff is thankful that their contributors weren’t afraid to be vulnerable.
“Some of the ones that we chose may not have been the most amazing, perfectly done things, but we noticed that someone put their heart into it,” Bush said.
“We wanted to just convey that art is art, whether it’s a Van Gogh piece or it’s what someone did for the first time ever, art is art and all of that needs to be explored.”
Bush expressed her appreciation for UR’s team and contributors.
“We’re super thankful that they feel comfortable submitting their work and putting it out into the world for us to put into this magazine,” Bush said.
Looking ahead to UR’s exciting future, Bush hopes people will apply for staff positions in September and contribute their work to next year’s publication.
“I’m sure it’s gonna be an amazing experience for anyone who has an interest or loves art. I think The Undergrad Review is a really safe place for people to explore their creativity.”
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