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“Here be dragons,” a phrase evocative of fairytale-like wonder, is of Latin origin, used to indicate potential dangers in uncharted territories. While accounts vary, the use was both literal and figurative. Using dragons to symbolize and forecast unprecedented challenges just strikes me as very huma
EDITOR’S LETTER
Jung Haine
2024.03.13 22:01
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As we head into the final stretch of 2023, we find ourselves at the end of another year teeming with highs and lows. The blend of excitement and wistfulness, the delicate dance of emotions that accompanies the close of every December resurfaces. Yet, amidst the ebb and flow of emotions, a prevailing
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yoon Sunho
2023.12.03 19:17
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Life is an unpredictable journey filled with moments of triumph and adversity; it is during these times that we discover the strength within ourselves and those around us. The November issue of The Granite Tower (GT) delves into narratives under the overarching theme of “through thick and thin,” exp
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yoon Sunho
2023.11.03 20:09
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As you first lay eyes on the cover page, you might find yourself questioning how the City of Light’s iconic landmark relates to the monthly theme of “hook, line, and sinker.” The truth is, it is actually a photograph captured in Mokdong’s Paris Park, featuring a miniature Eiffel Tower. Similarly, in
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yoon Sunho
2023.10.06 20:18
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Just like how the rising sun illuminates the world with warmth and brilliance, we, too, find ourselves in a phase of awakening and renewal. As the days grow shorter and the air begins to carry a hint of crispness, September signals the start of a new semester for all students at Korea University (KU
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yoon Sunho
2023.09.01 22:49
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A “cliffhanger” is a frequently used plot device in which the final scene, instead of completely concluding the story, ends on a suspenseful note, leaving the audience wanting more. In fact, our everyday lives are filled with cliffhangers, as every little twist and turn seems to thrust us into unpre
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yun Sunwoo
2023.06.06 12:48
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At first sight, the phrase "storm in a teacup" makes no sense at all. Not only would it be impossible to place a storm inside a teacup, but the teacup would also lack the durability to contain such a force for any period of time. As such, the phrase “storm in a teacup” describes a situation where a
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yun Sunwoo
2023.05.01 17:41
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Imagine that you are having prolonged eye contact with someone else. This will most likely create an atmosphere of deep trust or, in some cases, discomfort. To be able to “see eye to eye” with another, one must be able to reach the utmost state of agreement, or at least strive to do so. While this w
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yun Sunwoo
2023.04.02 22:43
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Whether a sweet summer breeze or a violent hurricane storm, each wind has its own unique strength or trajectory. Yet, despite the seemingly drastic differences of these winds, they share a common factor: they are forces that bring about change in our atmosphere. Applying this metaphor to current eve
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yun Sunwoo
2023.03.09 00:01
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As 2022 comes to an end, we once again close the book of a year full of highs and lows. The excitement tinted with melancholy is a complex, profound emotion that seems to make its presence known every December. Yet eventually, optimism reigns over doubts and we become overwhelmed with an unfounded h
EDITOR’S LETTER
Jie Yeowon
2022.12.16 10:04
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Despite the positive connotations surrounding the terms improvement and development, their denotations encompass the process of acknowledging and bringing change to embedded flaws. In its essence, getting better at something has much more to do with understanding what got you in a worse-off position
EDITOR’S LETTER
Yeowon Jie
2022.10.03 13:34
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Despite the irony, there is nothing as general, yet so personal as a throwback. While the term depicts a generation’s collective reminiscence, it also instigates a profound sense of nostalgia associated with an individual’s distinct attachment to those memories. This duality underlies the ability of
EDITOR’S LETTER
Jie Yeowon
2022.09.04 12:24
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The term “chasing rainbows” originates from an old tale that if you dig at the end of a rainbow where it touches the Earth, you can find a crock of gold; simply put, it means pursuing a nearly impossible goal. However, impossible is subjective. Depending on our life experiences, values, and preferen
EDITOR’S LETTER
Lim Yury
2022.06.07 01:04
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To fully grasp the theme of this issue, you have to first understand how blacksmiths craft their work: after heating a piece of metal until it is soft enough, they mold it into a completely different product by hammering, bending, and cutting it. This process has to be carried out in a precise and s
EDITOR’S LETTER
Lim Yury
2022.05.04 14:54
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Imagine rolling a snowball down a ski ramp: the snowball would grow larger and larger in size as it gains momentum and picks up speed. Now, what if the ski ramp was infinitely long? There would be no end in sight to both the ridiculous size and lethal speed of the enormous snowball. This is why the
EDITOR’S LETTER
Lim Yury
2022.03.31 17:57
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“The show must go onThe show must go onInside my heart is breakingMy makeup may be flakingBut my smile, still, stays on”- “The Show Must Go On” (1991)Famously known as a classic Queen song, “The Show Must Go On” perfectly encapsulates the unremitting spirit that one must push through with what they
EDITOR’S LETTER
Lim Yury
2022.02.27 15:41
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The idea of being applauded and acknowledged for one’s performance may sound pleasing at first. However, a curtain call can be defined in varying ways; for example, a performer who failed to perform adequately in their opinion would be embarrassed and ashamed to receive a grand curtain call at the e
EDITOR’S LETTER
Choi Minji
2021.12.02 00:12
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When the news of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic first struck the world in 2019, we did not expect it to stick around for so long. Most people had probably thought: “this too shall pass.” However, the reality is that COVID-19 is still one of the hottest topics even after two years since
EDITOR’S LETTER
Choi Minji
2021.11.09 22:52
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“Veni, Vidi, Vici” or otherwise known as “I came, I saw, I conquered” is Latin a phrase that perfectly captures the very ideal of triumph. The positive connotation of the word triumph in this interpretation emphasizes success. What we usually fail to recognize, however, is that at the other side of
EDITOR’S LETTER
Choi Minji
2021.10.01 16:45
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The idiom “starting with a clean slate” reflects the idea of breaking free from the mistakes of the past in order to achieve a fresh start. However, we often let our past errors define us through the ways in which we think, behave, and interact. This eventually traps us in a vicious cycle of self-do
EDITOR’S LETTER
Choi Minji
2021.10.01 16:44