The Town Crier

The Town Crier operated as a hub for criticism and commentary, connecting a community of writers, readers, and commentators through social media, and focusing on the interplay of literary opinion in and around the city of Toronto until its closure in February 2021.

• Join The Puritan Literary Magazine as a Publicity Agent

  By The Puritan | March 5, 2018

  The Puritan is seeking outgoing, social media savvy Publicity Agents. Deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, 2018. 

• My Concordia: The Terrible Quiet of Creative Writing Programs

  By Kailey Havelock | March 1, 2018

  TC Staffer discusses her time at Concordia and her experience in Concordia's Creative Writing program and English Department.

• How to be Heroic: A Roundtable Discussion of Hoarders

  By Reality TV Month Editorial Team | February 26, 2018

  Bringing a month-long discussion on reality TV to a close, past and present Puritan publicity staff watch an episode of "Hoarders" and discuss the gendering and creation of harmful narratives that takes place.

• “She's Dumb as Dirt”: Female Rivalry in MTV’s Laguna Beach

  By Emily Kellogg | February 22, 2018

  Continuing the Crier's series on reality TV, Emily Kellogg discusses MTV's Laguna Beach, with references to James W. Carey.

• "Isn’t Love a High for Everyone?": An Interview with Suzannah Showler

  By Rudrapriya Rathore | February 20, 2018

  Rudrapriya Rathore interviews Suzannah Showler and the pair discuss The Bachelor and Showler's book "Most Dramatic Ever," the latest volume in ECW's Pop Classics series.

• May the Best Woman Win: On RuPaul’s Drag Race

  By Hannah Leadley | January 22, 2018

  Hannah Leadley discusses drag queens and RuPaul's Drag Race, with references to Paris is Burning, the Canadian House of Commons, and Bill C66.

• Invisible Walls: The Mundanity and Metatext of Terrace House

  By Pamela Dungao | January 19, 2018

  Pamela Dungao talks about the Japanese reality tv show Terrace House, with references to Rob Horning and Konstantin Stavinski.

• A Complicated Palate: The Heaven and Hell of Reality-TV Food Shows

  By Catherine Brezicki | January 17, 2018

  Catherine Brezicki discusses the different appetites shows like The Great British Bake Off and Hell’s Kitchen satisfy, with references to Gordon Ramsay.

• On Dance Moms and Reclaiming the Narrative

  By Amy Gabrielle Oldfield | January 15, 2018

  Continuing the Crier's month-long series on reality TV, Amy Oldfield discusses Dance Moms and what happens when reality TV stars outlive their shows.

• Fat Land

  By Kathryn Stagg | January 11, 2018

  Kathryn Stagg discusses the exploitative and debasing nature of fat-centric reality television, with references to Roxane Gay's "Hunger."

• On Mohammed Assaf, Arab Idol, and WhatsApp

  By Amanda Ghazale Aziz | January 8, 2018

  Continuing the Crier's month-long series on reality TV, Amanda Ghazale Aziz talks about Arab Idol’s first Palestinian winner, Mohammed Assaf.

• On MTV’s The Challenge and the Reality TV Universe

  By Alma Talbot | January 5, 2018

  Alma Talbot discusses reality shows like MTV's The Challenge, the creation of reality TV universes, and the spillover of these shows onto online platforms.