Polina KroikA Review of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo IshiguroKlara and the Sun is one of the few books that really moved me this summer. Set in the near future where AFs, or Artificial Friends, keep…Aug 28, 2021Aug 28, 2021
Polina KroikWhy we need a different way to talk about Israel and PalestineThis week I watched with horror and trepidation as Israel and Palestine entered into another bloody conflict. As of today, 12 Israelis and…May 20, 2021May 20, 2021
Polina KroikWhy hasn’t COVID sparked a women’s movement? “Mrs. America” inspires a surprising insightIt has been clear for a while that the pandemic had a disproportionate effect on women. The closing of schools and childcare centers last…Feb 3, 2021Feb 3, 2021
Polina KroikinDigital DiplomacyThe firing of research Timnit Gebru from Google has an unexpected lesson about women in positions…When I first heard that a Black woman researcher was fired by Google for criticizing the company, it sounded like the same old story. As…Dec 23, 20201Dec 23, 20201
Polina KroikWhat Biden’s Election Victory Made Me Realize about the Trump Era, and Why We Must Continue Our…Trump’s presidency contributed to a culture of cynicism and apathy. But for writers, educators, and other cultural workers the struggle…Nov 9, 2020Nov 9, 2020
Polina KroikWhy I’m worried about a second COVID lockdown in New York CityIn September New York came alive with spring-like exuberance. As the heat subsided and the infection rate remained low, New Yorkers filled…Oct 24, 20201Oct 24, 20201
Polina KroikinDigital DiplomacyFacebook to block ads on election day; but it won’t make a differenceWith the election less than a month away, concerns about Facebook’s influence on its outcome are mounting.Oct 14, 2020Oct 14, 2020
Polina KroikinDigital DiplomacyNetflix’s Social Dilemma tells us how Facebook hacks our minds, but it leaves out one crucial thingI wasn’t sure what to expect from “The Social Dilemma,” a new Netflix documentary about the ways in which social networks infiltrate our…Oct 4, 2020Oct 4, 2020
Polina KroikFinding a Different Urgency in James Baldwin’s WritingToday James Baldwin is remembered as an eloquent advocate for racial equality and a talented writer of the Harlem Renaissance. But during…Aug 6, 2020Aug 6, 2020
Polina KroikTove Jansson’s Healing SolitudeTove Jansson’s The Summer Book takes us to an apparently idyllic setting: an island off the coast of Finland where the young Sophia spends…Jul 1, 2020Jul 1, 2020