The word Haggard was chosen because it is old, timely, visual - a word that connotes disgust, decadence and ugliness. The world is disgusting, decadent and ugly. The Haggard does not find beauty within, but in action - by pointing out the wretchedness of this world and laughing at it. Championing meaningful change by advocating for practical approaches to morality.
The only constant in this world is change, and our role is to question what those changes mean, why they are significant, and how to navigate society productively. The very simple but impactful question at the core of The Haggard is: “Why?”.
We do not place ourselves on a political spectrum - rather, in line with our core ask ‘Why?’ - we enter every discourse with as fresh of a mind as one can approach interconnected issues with.
We encourage all backgrounds to make pitches, to make arguments, to think critically of one’s self. No side shall be villainised by or through The Haggard.
WHAT THE FUCK IS THE HAGGARD?“The Haggard is a rolling, digital publizine - we are a media collective, innovating the creation of academically flared, editorial pieces that provide a healthy middle ground between intellectualism and accessible reading.”
K.L Casillas, Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Modelled off of the Ancient Roman location, ‘The Forum’ page on our site hosts our most overtly political opinion, analysis and social commentary pieces.
In Ancient Rome, The Forum, was the “heart” of the ancient city’s functionality, the “focal point [of] Roman political and legal activity”. It was the meeting place of the iconic senate, host of the first citizen-led political assembly and a hub of legal development by public trials.
We chose to frame ourselves through this ancient lens not because we idealise the corrupt, hierarchical and oppressive Roman society but because of what the architecture of the specific location can lend to us. Not only was The Forum the hub of political life but of public life. And thus, the two words become so blended that the political was more of a way of life than a facet that one could choose to avoid.
Liars and braggarts are found around the Temple of Venus, wealthy idlers by the basilica and near the fish markets were members of eating clubs. Around the Lacus Curtius were “insulting bravo who like to denounce others without justification but who are worthy of criticism themselves”
Meaningful political change is meaningful social change. We host ‘The Forum’ in contingency to our ‘Culture’ noting that cultural content is still political, just less overtly so. We must consume media with the acknowledgement that society is a melting pot and to dissemble this complex aspect of our political life is reductive and unhelpful.
And to any history buffs that have noted that these pictures are clearly *Greek*, not Roman - this is a self-funded project. They’re Roman if I tell you they’re effing Roman. Thank you Antonio Santana for providing these wonderful images, and many more to come!