Dearest Reader,
Welcome to the newest installment of Iris! In this issue, called Hauntings, I’ve asked our writers to consider what haunts them and why. What remains on their minds, and why does it linger? Who do they become when faced directly with their fears, their emotional extremes?
To be honest, what’s been haunting me is the end of fourth year. It’s far off in the distant spring, but realizing I’ll have to say goodbye to the people and places I’ve come to love so dearly at UVA is my personal herculean task — but that’s a story for another time.
Simone’s piece “Falling in and out of Love” starts off our issue, putting together a playlist to calm her fears of falling in love. For anyone experiencing the butterflies of a first crush, or the pangs of heartbreak, there’s sure to be a song that speaks to you.
True to spooky season, both Faith’s piece “What Your Favorite Horror Movie Says About You” and Jordan’s piece “Keep Your Eyes Open” bring together fear and horror movies. While Faith is a self proclaimed fan, Jordan brings us into the moment of watching a horror movie, and the scintillating, immersive experience when the fear remains burrowed in her consciousness long after the film is over.
Carley’s piece “My Fears (Ranked)” continues the theme, comedically ranking her fears from smallest to largest — when even the smallest cockroach can have the biggest threat. Cassie’s piece “Dating the Lesbian Vampire” traces the dark history of lesbian vampires in cinema, uncovering much more to the story than what was previously told.
Grace’s piece “Stuck in Colder Weather” takes her fears in a different direction, writing about the climate anxiety concerning our present world, and how it contrasts sharply with her fond memories of the bitterly cold Chicago winters she grew up with. Similarly, Jackie’s piece “A World Divided” takes on the pressing concerns of current political division that threatens to polarize our nation to its limits.
Ella’s piece “What’s on the Menu? Sustainable Halloween Costumes” urges readers to look in their closets instead of falling prey to the trend of overconsumption that has monopolized a college student’s Halloweekend. Last but by no means least, Susannah’s piece “Fall Break Reflections” offers a poignant series of letters to her previous self that closes our third issue.
Thank you to our brilliant writers and artists for your amazing work these past few weeks! As well, thank you to our Communications colleagues, Leigh Ann Carver, Annie Gibson, and the entire Social Media intern team. Finally, thank you to Mary Esselman and Susannah Baker, Iris couldn’t run without you.
Happy Reading!
Miriella Jiffar
Editor, Iris Magazine 2024-2025
