Why are we so scared and confused by migration?
- Text by HUCK HQ
What separates the eighty million people that arrive in Heathrow every year from the one million refugees trying to access asylum in the EU?
That’s the question that kicks off the latest episode of The Glass Bead Game podcast. Asylum Island: The Meaning Of Migration is centred around Chios, a small island between Turkey and the Greek mainland that physically embodies a political division between Europe and the rest of the world. Through the testimony of those that live there and those who arrive seeking asylum, the episode considers the wider phenomena of migration along with its shifting moral and legal status.
Migration is one of the most hotly-contested and politicised terms of today. But when only 3% of the world’s population are international migrants, is it really worth all the drama and disagreement? Through conversations with Tula, a hotel owner in Chios, and Bassam, a Syrian refugee volunteer, the episode seeks to explore why migration is such a polarising and emotive issue, shine a light on its many complexities and put some migration myths to rest – with help from the University of Sussex’s Professor of Geography Michael Collyer and Paul Statham from the Centre for Migration Studies.
Find out more about the The Glass Bead Game podcast.
Latest on Huck
This erotic zine dismantles LGBTQ+ respectability politics
Zine Scene — Created by Megan Wallace and Jack Rowe, PULP is a new print publication that embraces the diverse and messy, yet pleasurable multitudes that sex and desire can take.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey
Los Angeles is burning: Rick Castro on fleeing his home once again
Braver New World — In 2020, the photographer fled the Bobcat Fire in San Bernardino to his East Hollywood home, sparking the inspiration for an unsettling photo series. Now, while preparing for its exhibition, he has had to leave once again, returning to the mountains.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Ghais Guevara: “Rap is a pinnacle of our culture”
What Made Me — In our new series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that have shaped who they are. First up, Philadelphian rap experimentalist Ghais Guevara.
Written by: Ghais Guevara
Gaza Biennale comes to London in ICA protest
Art and action — The global project, which presents the work of over 60 Palestinian artists, will be on view outside the art institution in protest of an exhibition funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
Ragnar Axelsson’s thawing vision of Arctic life
At the Edge of the World — For over four decades, the Icelandic photographer has been journeying to the tip of the earth and documenting its communities. A new exhibition dives into his archive.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai