Julia Leigh

My Latest Work

Writing

Medium •

My Favorite Books of 2023

In 2023 I finally found a stride in my reading that has eluded me for years. I’ve struggled to find time between work and grad school and relationships to indulge in this hobby that once meant so much to me, not just as a pastime but as a part of my identity. At last, something clicked this past spring and I upped my reading count from just four books from January to May to 22 for the rest of the year (that’s more than I read in 2021 and 2022 COMBINED).
Grad School •

Decoding Obscenity

Since 2021, the American Library Association (ALA) has announced record breaking numbers of book challenges each year, especially among Young Adult and children’s books. Politicians in Texas, Virginia, and Florida have leveraged new bills to restrict access to what they call obscene materials in schools and public libraries. New parental rights groups say it is their mission to protect children from pornography and ideological indoctrination embedded in a progressive education system.

Taylor Swift: Data Story

From country upstart to pop icon to indie songstress, Taylor Swift has run and won the genre gambit. Through each style, she's explored and adapted key themes that characterize her often autobiographical songwriting. Many of them are romance related: new love, young love, hard love, past love. This motif has resulted in Swift being labeled a one trick pony only capable of writing about the woes of her love life. But to diminish Swift's music in this way is to seriously undermine her lyrical and instrumental genius. As a credited writer on every one of her songs, she has demonstrated an impressive range and storytelling ability that has woven her discography into an interconnected opus–a Swiftverse, if you will.

Graphic Design

Grad School •

Decoding Obscenity

Since 2021, the American Library Association (ALA) has announced record breaking numbers of book challenges each year, especially among Young Adult and children’s books. Politicians in Texas, Virginia, and Florida have leveraged new bills to restrict access to what they call obscene materials in schools and public libraries. New parental rights groups say it is their mission to protect children from pornography and ideological indoctrination embedded in a progressive education system.

Video Editing

Grad School •

Decoding Obscenity

Since 2021, the American Library Association (ALA) has announced record breaking numbers of book challenges each year, especially among Young Adult and children’s books. Politicians in Texas, Virginia, and Florida have leveraged new bills to restrict access to what they call obscene materials in schools and public libraries. New parental rights groups say it is their mission to protect children from pornography and ideological indoctrination embedded in a progressive education system.

Portfolio