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 throwbacks to trigger the emotion of the masses, strengthening its influence among communities. Thus, in the September issue of The Granite Tower (GT), we explore how our perceptions of the past unite, divide, and affect the present society and its constituents.

To start the semester, GT invites its readers to question the virtue of the common phrase, “What goes around, comes around,” and gain literacy over the infinite recycling of the past. Our Cover Story delves deeply into the continual reappearance of past trends – whether in mainstream media, marketing, or politics – and provides commentary on how our obsession with throwbacks can stunt innovation. Our Special Arts & Culture piece then elaborates on the excessive use of nostalgia marketing in the fashion industry, the appeals of *selling nostalgia*, and the critiques surrounding it.

Shedding a more positive light on throwbacks, GT looks back on the memorable summer break it had with its reporters through its first article of GT Spotlight. Lending readers an inside look into GT’s summer training sessions, this piece reflects on the many offline events that finally took place at GT after years of online meetings. We also invited Korea University students to dwell on the past as well by asking them about their favorite childhood memories in our Voice on Campus article. Hopefully, our diverse interpretations of *throw-backs* will inspire you to reminisce, relish, and maybe even re-evaluate the past.