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Katy Kelleher

Posted inNonfiction

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Lockets

by Katy Kelleher July 16, 2020November 25, 2022

Lockets simultaneously display and hide. But does squirreling our love and grief away in a piece of jewelry keep the memories and emotions present for us, or minimize them?

Posted inStory

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Orchids

by Katy Kelleher October 8, 2019January 20, 2023

Sometimes a flower is just a flower, and sometimes it’s a powerful vehicle for giving free rein to our worst colonialist and misogynist impulses.

Posted inArts & Culture, History, Science & Nature, Story

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Mirrors

by Katy Kelleher July 11, 2019October 19, 2022

Mirrors are sparkly and shiny and hypnotic. They’ve fascinated us for thousands of years. And they might show us a lot more about our society’s misplaced priorities than we care to see.

Posted inArts & Culture, History, Science & Nature, Story

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Pearls

by Katy Kelleher March 11, 2019October 19, 2022

Born from irritation and intrusion, luminous and complex, surprisingly durable: pearls are rich with symbolism and saturated with pain.

Posted inArts & Culture, History, Science & Nature, Story

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Angora

by Katy Kelleher December 5, 2018October 19, 2022

Angora rabbit fur is fluffy, and silky, and was especially popular with two influential 20th-century groups: Hollywood starlets and Nazi officers.  

Posted inArts & Culture, History, Science & Nature, Story

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Perfume

by Katy Kelleher September 10, 2018October 19, 2022

Sometimes it takes a touch of darkness to create something alluring.

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