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Trigger warnings issued over sensitive lecture content By Beth Stevens Newcastle University has begun employing a policy of ‘trigger warnings’ and guidelines for lectures that will be covering ‘sensitive material’ such as rape, misogyny, war crimes and graphic images. This follows the lead of many American institutions, as well as UK universities including Goldsmiths, Edinburgh, Oxford and the London School of Economics. University students studying topics that are distressing, are being given extra support in the way of deadline extensions, resits and approved absences from lectures to prevent detrimental effects on student grades and wellbeing. Whilst this policy has support across the staffing board, many critics have argued that this ‘mollycoddling’ of students is preventing them facing their problems and addressing these serious society-wide issues. Dr Chris Haywood, a lecturer from the School of Arts and Cultures highlights this argument, stating that this policy “often gets polarised into two camps of being either overly cautious or not cautious enough” and suggests that it’s imperative to remember that the student experience should be the primary
priority for any lecturer. As the module leader for ‘Sex, Sexuality and Desire’, Dr Haywood has lots of experience in handling sensitive and uncomfortable topics, and always aspires to provide his students with a safe and open learning environment. He concluded “creating the best possible experience for students, should in itself, produce an ethical practice” which proposes that the choice to use, or not use trigger warnings, should be made wholly with the students wellbeing, and university career in mind. Third year undergraduates taking the Themes and Issues in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies module, encountered this “trigger warning” policy last week, during teaching on ‘engaging men in ending sexual violence against women’. The option was given to not attend the lectures, or subsidiary film screenings and seminars, due to distressing content regarding rape and sexual assault. Prior to taking the session, lecturer Dr Clifton Evers outlined the content of the presentation and provided all students with a set of contact details for wellbeing and support services, also reiterating to those in attendance that they were
free to excuse themselves at any time. He emphasized that the trigger warning for this particular topic was necessary, and that it was not a form of mollycoddling, but rather an awareness and level of compassion for his students. “There’s always a possibility that there are survivors in my class, given that 1 in 5 women in the UK aged 16-59 have experienced sexual violence” he stated.
the trauma and fear of the original attack. These trigger warnings employed by Dr Evers were enforced to ensure that students that had personal experience with the topic, were not made to endure content that would possibly trigger extremely upsetting memories for them. Student wellbeing was his main priority when delivering the topic that he admitted, himself feeling some discomfort with presenting. However, according to a 2015 report surveying members of The National Coalition Against Censorship, the Modern Language Association and the College Art Association, 60% of professors firmly believe trigger warnings are damaging academic freedom and stifling progress. The report also raised questions about trigger warnings preventing students from engaging with important topics, and how students can simply use these warnings as an excuse not to attend classes. The use of trigger warnings in general has been of high debate over the last couple of years, mainly surrounding outlets such as film, TV and literature. It’s entrance and introduction to an academic environment, has proven controversial due to its seemingly restrictive nature on the learning process
“Lecturers are encouraging students who have been triggered by the contents of lectures to seek the support they need at student well-being” These statistics alone show the prominent issue around sexual assault itself, and whilst Dr Evers admitted that it is of vital importance that students know and learn how to address these issues, he is a strong supporter of trigger warnings which “allow them to do so on their own terms”. Victims of sexual assault and sexual violence live the rest of their lives with
of students. This argument revolves around the question of whether providing these ‘trigger warnings’ protects students from potentially harmful materials that could resurface traumatic past events, or simply drowns out free speech and learning. Both Dr Haywood and Dr Evers addressed these concerns by agreeing that caution must be taken not to overuse trigger warnings, but also voiced the importance of student wellbeing, and of being aware of individual student histories, backgrounds and circumstances. Sensitive topics, content and materials feature in academics, as well as wider life. Which is why sheltering students from uncomfortable or distressing materials has to be done cautiously so as not to prevent them learning how to cope with afflictive scenarios, but also with care, compassion and empathy. Newcastle University has services in place for students who are struggling with a range of issues. Lecturers are encouraging students who have been triggered by the contents of lectures to seek the support they need at student well-being. These services can be accessed online, by telephone or on Level 2 of Kingsgate building located on the University’s main campus.
News
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VISA hacking warnings for students
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Deputy Editors Ollie Burton & Daniel Robertson News Editors Liam Carson, Valentina Egorova, Louise Hall Kotryna Kairytė & Helena Vesty
University in UK top 10 for sustainability
London Campus Graduation
COMMENT
10
The Autumn Budget
CULTURE
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Blind Date:
Olly and Charlotte
Society Spotlight: Baking Soc
Newcastle University campus blossoming with sustainability Image: Flickr, Alan Carr
James and the Giant Peach Review
Album Review: Little MIx Gilmore Girls Revival A cry for cryogenic freezing
By Isabelle Sykes Newcastle University is ranked in the top ten universities for sustainability by the People and Planet University League. The University is in the eighth position on the table, achieving a First-Class Honours rating. This is the first time in five years that a research-intensive university has been in the top ten and it is the highest ever position. From being rated 63rd in 2011, the University has come a long way in improving sustainability. Newcastle ranked highly across all categories, achieving the full 100% in Carbon Management and in Environment Policy. The People and Planet University League is an annual publication judging universities on a variety of ethical and environmental criteria. Tony Stevenson, the Deputy ViceChancellor of Newcastle University,
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stated: “This achievement recognises our commitment to continual improvement in environmental performance throughout the University. Additionally, it recognises the excellent progress that we have made over the last five years. The result is reflective of collaborative efforts across the University and wouldn’t be possible without the involvement of staff and students across the organisation.” The University Sustainability Team deal with many environmental issues such as energy, waste management and travel planning. They implement the university’s Environmental Management System,
Energy Management System and policies to ensure our environmental and energy performance as a university is improving. As a result of their work, Newcastle carbon reduction programme saves over 2,500 tonnes of C02 per year, which is the equivalent of planting 187,000 trees! In addition to this, for the past five years the university has consistently recycled over 90% of general waste. In sustainable travel, the number of single occupancy staff car journeys to university has dropped from 40% to 16% in ten years.
“This achievement recognises our commitment to continual improvement in environmental performance throughout the University”
Editor Jade Holroyd Deputy Editors Ollie Burton and Daniel Robertson News Editors Liam Carson Valentina Egorova, Louise Hall, Kotryna Kairytė and Helena Vesty Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Sinéad Corkett-Beirne and Sunil Nambiar Culture Editors Jack Oliver Parker and James McCoull Lifestyle Editors Ana Beretsos, Antonia Coleman-Harvey, Ruth Loeffler and Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward Fashion Editors Liz Rosling, Izzi Watkins and Zofia Zwieglinska Beauty Editors Miranda Stoner, Ellie Trent and Ellen Walker Arts Editors Johnathan Hastings, Meg Holtom and Tamsin Rees Music Editors Sophie Ahmed, Serena Bhardwaj and Ben Grundy Film Editors Emma Allsopp, Zoë Godden and Simon Ramshaw TV Editors Luke Acton, Dominic Corrigan and Alison Scurfield Gaming Editors Errol Kerr, Jared Moore and Jordan Oloman Science Editors Matthew Byrne, Natalie Farmer and Ciara RitsonCourtney Sports Editors Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin and James Sproston
Improving sustainability at Newcastle University will continue according to the Sustainability Team. They have a target to reduce carbon emissions by 43% by 2020 and plans to achieve this by reducing staff commuting and implementing a policy of 100% recycled office paper only. They also aim to reduce water usage to 13 cubic metres per staff and student; for example, by introducing aerated shower heads in halls of residence. The Newcastle Institute for Sustainability is also a huge part of sustainability achievements. The research team spans all three faculties and is committed to finding practical solutions to the world’s sustainability problems. Being ranked as one of the greenest universities in the UK is an achievement to be celebrated, but Newcastle University encourages student to also contribute and get involved through volunteering with the Sustainability Team or join a society.
The Courier is printed by: Print and Digital Associates, Fernleigh House, 10 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE3 0DA. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
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Monday 5 December 2016
Donald Trump in discussion Thoroughly Trumped: A pub lecture with legend Dr Martin Farr By Benjamin Eckford Over 100 students crammed into the Trent House Pub to hear Martin Farr give a lecture on ‘Brexit and the Age of Trump’, organised by the History Society, with almost 200 watching a live stream. The room was crowded from 18:30, and after brief technical difficulties were overcome, the discussion got underway at 19:50. Charities officer, Glenn Foster, introduced Farr and he dived straight into explaining what has made 2016 the most topsy-turvy year since 1940, whatever your political views. Indeed, although Martin confessed “I’m simplifying all this for the purposes of a pub lecture”, he noted “2016 will be discussed for decades, perhaps even centuries, to come”. The audience enjoyed his witty and engaging presentation which historicised how these events came to pass. Farr argued that Brexit and Trump are a culmination of long-term trends, with Britain and the U.S. now moving from neoliberalism to neonationalism. Voters in both countries are experiencing a sense of decline, and only radical change can arrest decline. Voters were
told relentlessly that Brexit and Trump were risks, but when the voters feel like they have nothing left to lose, they’re not afraid of risks. Trump ran his campaign based on ideas including the notion that the white working-class, socially conservative voters have been largely ignored in the culture of political correctness and the nanny state. Hence appealing slogans such as ‘Make America Great Again’ and ‘Take Back Control’, which hark back to the past. Making matters worse, voters’ confidence in politicians and ‘experts’ has also been considerably eroded. Martin cited the Iraq war, financial crisis and expenses scandal, in particular, as exposing politicians as incompetent, selfish and dishonest. In times of uncertainty, Martin said, right wing parties succeed because they offer people familiar reassurances, leading to Thatcher in 1979 and Reagan in 1980. “How can history help? It’s a sort of group therapy session to make sense of the trauma of this year”. Martin theorised that the centre-ground has become an echochamber, “the buzzphrase of 2016”. Trump and Brexit are “crude clubs with which to beat the establish-
“Farr argued that Brexit and Trump are a culmination of long-term trends, with Britain and the U.S. now moving away from neoliberalism to neonationalism”
ment, but not instruments of governance”. Martin quoted the Irish poet W. B. Yeats, “the centre cannot hold, mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” He mentioned the “tyranny of small margins”. of the audience. Maisie Dodds, a third-year history student, told me she was doing her dissertation on the gendered representation of Hillary Clinton. When I asked her about the allegations of corruption which undermined Hillary, she replied that “abuse of power
is certainly not an issue specific to Clinton in such a corrupt system.” After the lecture, we gathered around for Q&A, which looked to the future. “The future isn’t a historian’s field,” Martin joked. “It’s a cliché but it’s too soon to say”. For the implications of Brexit and Trump to become apparent, we’ll have to wait. Martin emphasised, “you campaign in poetry but you govern in prose, when faced with the enormous complexity of a sophisticated democ-
racy”, suggesting the reality may be very different from all the campaign promises. “It’s not a year I’ll remember fondly. It’s been a bit of a shitshow.” Great credit must go to the History Society committee, who organised a fantastic evening. Maddy Bainbridge, Academic Officer, Henry Bradshaw, President, and Matt Townson, Treasurer. Find out more about the History Society’s events at www.histsocncl.wordpress.com.
Follow the Farr Image: Benjamin Eckford
James Bilsland: What’s next for Trumps America? By Cameron Charters
Under the guidance of Dr James Bilsland, a lecturer at Newcastle and expert on American Politics, students at Newcastle University unpicked the rise of President-elect Donald Trump. Sam Railton, Education Secretary of the Politics Society and the event’s organiser, said, “This night is a talk on America and Donald Trump. We are lucky to have secured the presence of Dr Bilsland for the evening.” The calm nature of the evening provided a stark contrast to the somewhat chaotic experience of this year’s election. Dr Bilsland came to the grave conclusion that it will be extremely difficult for Donald Trump to deliver on his electoral promises. Bilsland explained that though superficially surprising, Mr Trump’s election victory should not be seen as shocking. Dr Bilsland explained that the decrease in the Latino vote maximised the white vote. Then it was on to the future of Mr Trump and the limitations he could expect to encounter. A particularly interesting debate arose when Dr Bilsland highlighted the ‘Expectation Gap’. This political theory argues that many presidents fall from power due to an inability to follow-up on their promises. Mr Trump now faces such a dilemma: de-
spite arguing that he will be unlike any other political figure in American history, he may not be able to achieve all he wishes with a split Republican Party. The ‘Expectation Gap’ is at the centre of Trump’s future. Bilsland discussed whether he can sustain himself as a lone political operator, unify his nation and live up to his image as a man of the people. The representative for the Green Party, Matt Busby, known as Bulldog Busby to his political associates, highlighted the significance of social values in America. The nation is deeply divided on many domestic policies and a nation without a firm bedrock of homesupport, cannot develop a successful foreign policy. Could we see the retreat of America from the international stage? Dr Bilsland highlighted Trump’s desire to withdraw from international trade agreements, his yearning to abandon military understandings, and the possibility of China swooping down and establishing dominance. This may mean that America will not be, as Mr Trump claimed, ‘Great Again’. However, Trump may develop his own form of political strength, which resides in domestic security, not in overt displays of military power. This discussion made clear that America is now, more than ever, a political island.
“Though superficially surprising, Mr Trump’s election victory should not be seen as shocking”
Trump takes the stage Image: FlickrMichael Vadon
4. news
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Unviersities app-lying social media influence to attract students By Laura Higgins According to recent studies, social media is one of the primary sources of knowledge when choosing a university. Apps such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, that are easily accessible on smartphones, influence students’ feelings about the school and ultimately are a fundamental factor when deciding to attend an institution. In 2016, it is hardly surprising that students are reverting their attention away from university prospectuses and turning to social media that is easily accessible, informative and engaging. Newcastle University’s marketing team also uses social media to market themselves to prospective students and parents. Through Facebook pages, Snapchat Twitter and Instagram accounts, the University is at the forefront of social media. All accounts are not only an interactive and visible platform for prospective students, but also for the alumni whom are informed of fundraising and celebratory events. In an interview carried out by The Courier, Charlotte Butter, an undergraduate student of Psychology, spoke of the importance of social media in her application process to university:
“As the only student from my school to come here, it was reassuring to be able to communicate with my peers via the myriad of Facebook groups available most notably Psychology 2016 and Turner Court. Particularly upon my arrival, I felt at ease as I had already spoken to my flat mates so the transition was easy. “As for choosing Newcastle University, I was impressed by its institutional ranking which was regularly highlighted on social media. This was far more impressive to me than a lengthy prospectus. The university’s regular Instagram stories also were a motivating factor. The beautiful pictures of campus and the weekly announcements regarding employment and sporting opportunities informed me of the variety of extra-curricular activities available at the university. Social media page which was certainly an over arching factor which influenced my decision to move here”. Overall, social media works to immerses prospective students in life at Newcastle University. Social media also provides students with a creative outlet to connect with the broader university community, share their personal achievements and publicly recommend their university to the general public.
“Through Facebook pages, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram accounts the University is at the forefront of social media”
Bongo’s Bingo debut By Jade Holroyd Editor On Friday 2 December Bongo’s Bingo launched its Debut event in Newcastle. The event took place at Boiler Shop, South Street. The evening was hosted by Jonny Bongo, holder of the World Record for the biggest pub quiz. Harry Reynolds, Stage Three Bio-Medical Sciences, attended the event and said: “I wasn’t quite sure what to expect before going to Bongo’s Bingo and even though I’ve been, I still don’t quite know how I’d explain it to other people. You definitely have to had been there to understand it; but it was honestly so much fun. “The host Bongo was unreal. He kept the energy up throughout the night and made sure that the crowd was always buzzing. I got to Boiler Shop before 7pm and I was there until after 11pm, but it absolutely flew by. I hate to be massively cliché, but time does fly by when you’re having fun - I was indeed having a ball”. The Newcastle event is part of Bongo’s Bingo extension to the North, alongside regular parties taking place in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow. Joshua Burke, organiser of the event explained prior to the evening: “We are bringing the party to the North and can’t wait to be let loose on the city! “Liverpool and Manchester have been going insane, with sold out shows every week, and we have taken the concept to Leeds for the last 12 months too, with
new host Jonny Bongo who works the room into a complete frenzy, with our little legend Sweaty Betty aiding him”. Joshua Burke went on to say: “Bongo’s Bingo appeals to a huge variety of people who all absolutely love it. It’s right across the board in terms of who comes. It’s a crazy and unique atmosphere and it has turned into a bit of a phenomenon really!” The evening featured cash prizes which reached as high as £500 by the final round of Bingo. Further prizes included alcohol, a giant union and a lifesize Ainsley Harriott cardboard cut-out. Jordan Scudder, Stage Four Mechanical Engineering said: “I wasn’t actually that bothered about the cash prizes. I just really wanted to win the Ainsley Harriott cut-out imagine that stood in your bedroom for the rest of the year!” Stage Three Marine Biology student Daisy Sharp attended Bongo’s Bingo alongside 10 friends. Commenting on the event Daisy said: “I’m so glad I went. I’ve got friends in Liverpool and they told me to go along to the event if it ever came to Newcastle so when I found out it was, I bought my tickets straight away. “In the group that I went with, none of us had been before and we didn’t really know anything about it, but we absolutely loved it. The night was sold out and rightly so! We’ve all already booked our tickets for the next night, let’s just hope it’s as good as the one that’s just been”. Bongo’s Bingo is set to return to Newcastle on January 28 2017. Entry to the event is set at a price of £5.
“It’s a crazy and unique atmosphere and it has turned into a bit of a phenomenon really!”
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news .5
Monday 5 December 2016
Capital gains for Newcastle’s London students
The City of London, Home of Newcastle University London. Image: Flickr, Michael Garnett
By Liam Carson News Editor Newcastle University’s London campus held its first ever graduation ceremony last week, as International Business Management students were awarded their master degrees. It was a landmark day for the extended campus as Newcastle University continues to expand its programmes, opportunities and outlook across, not just England, but the rest of the world. The ceremony was conducted in the same traditional manner that ceremonies at the home campus of Newcastle, would be carried out. The Bedel led the academic procession with the Uni-
versities ceremonial mace, while the Northumbrian bagpipes supported the parade. The deputy Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University, Professor Tony Stevenson, supervised the ceremony while the Chief Executive Officer of Newcastle University London, Professor Amanda Broderick, was bestowed the honour of awarding the inaugural graduates, their degree certificates. Expressing her appreciation for the new graduates, Professor Broderick said: “As the inaugural class of 2016, our graduates will always have an extra special place in the history of the London Campus and an inspirational role as our London Ambassadors in the Newcastle
University global alumni network.” “As a close-knit learning community, Newcastle University London are particularly delighted to celebrate and recognise the achievements of our new graduates and collectively share their excitement for the future.” There was a guest appearance at the event from John Viney, Chief Operating Officer of AES International and Chair of the Advisory Board at Newcastle University London. Mr Viney gave special recognition to graduate Constantina Skoutari, the winner of the AES International Top Performing Student Award, following the success of her dissertation: ‘The roles and competencies of the ley account manager in the context of Cy-
prus.’ The event also presented further graduates with the Academic Excellence Award. The awards were presented to Georgina Riches, who wrote a dissertation on ‘Understanding ERecruitment Practices: Candidate Strategies for Success, and Gelske Huyer, who investigated how managers of SME companies, with no prior experience, are navigating through the process of Cloud Migration. Newcastle University London offers predominantly Business and Marketing courses for prospective students and offers students the opportunity to study in the heart of London’s financial centre. The campus is just a part of the University’s global network which is con-
tinually expanding – connecting with other affiliating campuses in Malaysia and Singapore. The University’s extended campus also provides a post for its triple-accredited Business School and delivers further opportunities for students to be involved on the University’s Professional and Executive Development programmes. The campus was formed as part of a joint-project with the INTO University Partnerships Limited. The venture has provided Newcastle University London with an education partner that has enabled the campus to implement the University’s ‘state-of-the-art teaching, research and support facilities’ in the capital.
Beware: your VISA can be hacked in seconds By Liam Carson News Editor
A team of computer scientists from Newcastle University have found that card fraudsters can hack Visa debit or credit cards, in just six seconds. The new research from the University of Newcastle also suggest that neither banks nor networks are able to detect such cyber-attacks on the cards, highlighting the flaws of the VISA system. The process of the attack is described as ‘nothing more than guesswork’. Hackers are able to gain access to electronic payment cards via the card number, expiry date and security code in just a matter of seconds. Labelled as the ‘Distributed Guessing Attack’, hackers generate multiple versions of the data provided on Visa cards and then hit several websites at once. It takes a mere few seconds before a match is found; this ‘hit’ then allows the hacker to confirm and verify the security data, related to the card, to make an online purchase. The process has been described as ‘frighteningly easy’ for those with just a laptop and an internet connection. The method has since been linked to the cyber-attack which hit Tesco Bank customers in the ‘most serious’ attack on a UK bank. At least 20,000 customers lost money through the attack while a further 40,000 reported ‘suspicious activity’. It is reported that the attack defrauded customer of around £2.5 million. Mohammed Ali, a PhD student in the University’s Computer Science School and lead author of the paper, explained the process: “This sort of attack exploits two weaknesses that on their own are not too severe but when used together, present a serious risk to the whole payment system,”
“Firstly, the current online payment system does not detect multiple invalid payment requests from different websites. “This allows unlimited guesses on each card data field, using up to the allowed number of attempts - typically 10 or 20 guesses - on each website. “Secondly, different websites ask for different variations in the card data fields to validate an online purchase. This means it’s quite easy to build up the information and piece it together like a jigsaw. “The unlimited guesses, when combined with the variations in the payment data fields make it frighteningly easy for attackers to generate all the card details one field at a time.” The Newcastle University team also tested other card providers such as Mastercard, yet the flaw could only found within the Visa system. Mr Ali said: “MasterCard’s centralised network was able to detect the guessing attack after less than 10 attempts – even when those payments were distributed across multiple networks.” The Visa system’s flaw is also very difficult to manoeuvre around as nearly all online payment systems require the same information.The co-author of the paper, Dr Martin Emms, said: “Sadly there’s no magic bullet,” “But we can all take simple steps to minimise the impact if we do find ourselves the victim of a hack. For example, use just one card for online payments and keep the spending limit on that account as low as possible. If it’s a bank card then keep ready funds to a minimum and transfer over money as you need it.” “However, the only sure way of not being hacked is to keep your money in the mattress and that’s not something I’d recommend!”
Be careful how you use your VISA debit or credit card Image: Flickr, Jacky Nguyen
6.news
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Yellow warning given for Chile Volcano expedition By Kotryna Kairyte News Editor
Three Newcastle University students travelled to Chile to study the Calbuco volcan which erupted in April last year. Rebecca Leitch, Alex McKee and Diana Luke who travelled more than 7,000 miles to their destination were worried about a warm welcome from their volcano destination. Calbuco is situated in what is known as the Chilean Lake District. “The volcano had erupted in the 1960s and people had thought it would not do so again for a long time,” said Alex. “But a week before we were due to go there was a yellow warning.” In the colour-coded warning system for volcanoes, this meant increasing activity of seismicity and other volcanic events, and visual changes around the crater which could have affected the expedition. That didn’t scare geography students and they travelled anyway with the aim to plot the impact of the event on the local Rio Blanco Este river and the ecology of the area which was affected by last eruptions. “We were a bit concerned that it might erupt again as it took us around two hours to walk down from the sites,” said
Alex, as she explained that the expedition site was on the flanks of the volcano. The volcano behaved during students’ stay in Chile. The team managed to complete the expedition successfully and to see how, since the eruption, there had been massive erosion of the dumped material through heavy rainfall and the action of the river. “We noted remarkable changes over just five days when we were there, with the banks being eroded in some places by up to 22m,” they said. “At the end of the month there had been a crazy amount of change, with the river switching channels.” Despite being one of the most active volcanoes in Chile, the Calbuco volcano is not constantly being monitored. “We discovered that there are many gaps in literature that centers around volcanoes, especially those in Southern America,” Alex added. Funding for the expedition came from the Royal Geographical Society, Newcastle University expeditions committee and the Gilchrist Educational Trust. Once compiled and completed, the team’s findings will be sent back to Chile, where local people are seeking to open a volcano tourism and educational centre.
“We were a bit concerned that it might erupt again as it took us around two hours to walk down from the sites”
One of the many dormant Volcanoes in Chile Image: Wikipedia Commons
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news .7
Monday 5 December 2016
Rhythm is a salsa dancer: Christmas is in the air By Kotryna Kairyte News Editor Newcastle University’s Salsa Society started the Christmas season with an annual Ball which was held on Thursday, 1st of December. The event, planned by the society’s committee, was meant to get students into spirit for the holiday season and celebrate the achievements of the society. With the society growing almost twice its size from last year, the Christmas Ball attracted more than 90 guests to swing in salsa rhythm in Assembly Rooms and enjoy a great meal together. “I am so proud of each and every one of you!” said Kristyna Kroblova, the president of the society. “You all made an amazing progress in those couple of months dancing salsa and your enthusiasm for events and socials was incredible.” Kristyna also went on to thank other committee members for their hard work this year, and salsa teachers
George Cleaver and Amelia House for dedicating their time to teach students to dance every week. After the introductory speeches, the guests were surprised by an amazing live performance of Newcastle University Salsa Band that is in close friendship with the society and are currently fundraising for their trip to a competition in the US next year. Javier Lopez, member of Salsa Society, said: “Being a Latin American in the UK, for one night I felt at home with all the beautiful people dancing at the infectious beat of salsa and other latin rhythms! I loved this unique English ball with a tropical party vibe.” Keeping up with the current trends, the society also live streamed a Mannequin Challenge that received a lot of attention from other students on social media. For the rest of the night, students had a chance to dance to some amazing music played by Chris Pentland, Newcastle’s own salsa DJ, who is in charge of a couple of salsa venues in the city centre.
“Being a Latin American in the UK, for one night I felt at home with all the beautiful people dancing at the infectious beat of salsa and other Latin rhythms”
Salsa Society’s members at the Christmas Ball Image: Javier Lopez
Students bare all for charity calendar By Jade Holroyd Editor Newcastle University Students’ Union’s Raising and Giving society (RAG) are set to begin selling their annual naked calendar for 2017. Every year RAG organise a naked shoot ahead of the new year in aid of a charity selected by the RAG committee. This year the committee led by co-presidents Harry Young and Liam Day, have chosen to support the charity ‘Look Good Feel Better’ (LGFB). LGFB is an international charity that specialises in providing practical support for both women and teenagers struggling with the visible side effects of cancer treatment. LGFB was established in 1994 and has since provided support to more than 130,000 patients. Commenting on the work of LGFB, Harry Young said: “LGFB do amazing things for cancer patients so getting our kit off to do this shoot was 100% worth it!” This year’s calendar was organised by Charles Mason, Stage Three Financial Mathematics. In regards to the calendar Charles Mason said: “Organising this calendar was so much fun. All of the clubs and societies were really up for getting involved and taking their clothes off for a brilliant cause. “As expected, some people were slightly hesitant to get completely naked in front of the camera, but in the end it just ended up being a good laugh because everybody was in the same boat. “I’d like to give a personal thanks to
everybody who participated in the naked shoot. We’re also extremely grateful to Alpha Graphics too for printing the calendar for free. “I’m really excited for the calendars to be printed and go on sale. The final product should be great and I can’t wait to see how much we raise for LGFB”. Appearing on the front cover of the calendar are the 2016/17 Sabbatical Officers: Jack Taylor, Rachael Kitching, Chris Duddy, Sophie Matthews, Rebecca Walker and Jade Holroyd. Rachael Kitching said: “I’m so glad that I was able to get involved to help raise money for such a worthy cause”. Also featuring in the calendar are: RAG Committee, Triathlon, Athletics & Cross Country, Newcastle University’s Theatre society, Dance, Squash, Fencing, Rifle, Ladies Football, Women’s Rugby, Social Tennis and Maths. Alongside Charles Mason, Harry Young and students Chloe Burton and Fiona Leishman, photographed the clubs and societies. Chloe Burton said: “Even though I was only behind the camera, it was great to get involved with the creation of the RAG naked calendar. I take my hat off to every person that was brave enough to take their clothes off for charity; especially the guys that stripped off in the freezing cold November weather”. The calendar will be available for purchase from Monday 12 December 2016 in the Students’ Union at a cost of £5. All proceeds will be donated to LGFB.
“Organising the calendar was so much fun. All of the clubs and societies were really up for getting involved and taking their clothes off for a brilliant cause”
2016/17 Sabbatical team and RAG Co-Presidents, Harry Young and Liam Day Image: Charles Mason
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news .9
Monday 5 December 2016
NEWSTACK East Anglia
Poppy debate resolution Students at the University of East Anglia have passed a motion to sell both red and white poppies on campus, as some people see red poppies as “offensive” and “upsetting”. The motion “Remember Don’t Repeat” stated that the red poppy can be used to “ justify current and future wars”, “legitimise the actions of the British Army” and “ silence dissent to ongoing wars”. The Students’ Union of the University of East Anglia has been selling red poppies for over 30 years.
But from the next year, the union will be ordering an equal number of red and white poppies. The Students’ Union released a statement saying that they did not view “red poppies (or those that wear them) in a negative light”. The idea behind the motion was to provide students a choice how they would like to show their respect for Remembrance Day.
Cambridge
Bra-vo! Foxybridge knickers first place A new survey has showed that students from Cambridge University are most likely owners of sexy underwear. Students from the University of Southampton came second in the “university lingerie lust table” followed by Sussex. 90 per cent of polled female students from Cambridge University said they had “special lingerie” saved for dates. And they tend to own from 16 to 30 pairs of knickers. Women studying at Cambridge Univer-
sity believe black is the sexiest colour for lingerie, followed by red and other colours. The survey was commissioned by lingerie company Bluebella and 3,290 students were involved in this study. Emily Bendell, Bluebella founder, said: “It’s great that lingerie is an important part of many students’ wardrobes and 84 per cent have ‘occasion’ lingerie that they save for someone special”.
Leicester
Defending Rudolph
Students and lecturers have been urging the University of Leicester to call off a display of live reindeer at a Christmas market, with rising animal welfare concerns. The university published a press release that read: “Santa’s little helper handlers will also be bringing real reindeer from 2-6pm on both days, which will be available for photographs”. The petition was launched by Leicester Animal Rights and the Leicester-based International Network for Humane Education. A university spokesperson said: “We recognise some people have
objected to live animals being made available to the public for viewing and respect their right to protest. “We also defend the right for children and adults to view an animal associated with the Christmas story in order to learn more about reindeer and their history. “The welfare and safety of the animals is important to us and the reindeer are being provided, and cared for, by a professional company whose handlers are experienced and skilled and subscribe to the highest welfare standards.”
Edinburgh
You don’t lose if you snooze
Students from Edinburgh University are calling for introducing ‘nap pods’ on campus to tackle sleep deprivation. Research from the Buchanan Institute reveals 93% of students need a nap while they are on campus. The Buchanan Institute’s report read: “Student satisfaction for the university is low. One major factor contributing to this can be student welfare and comfort.” 75.8% of polled students said to had left campus to go for a nap at home.
The report suggested to convert one room on Central Campus and one room at King’s to host the nap pods, similar to ones owned by Google. According to the survey conducted by the Buchanan Institute, there is an alarming need in spaces to have a rest on campus. The Student Council has voted in favour (53%) of introducing nap pods.The students will be allowed to use nap pods only once a day.
By Valentina Egorova News Editor
Comment 10.
thecourieronline.co.uk/comment
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Sinéad CorkettBeirne & Sunil Nambiar courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Comment
Should we treasure the latest Autumn Statement? Chancellor Philip Hammond made budget changes in the autumn statement and our writers debate if they were good
YES
Max George
W
e should be thankful for Philip Hammond, or ‘Spreadsheet Phil’, as he is unaffectionately known. Hammond’s predecessor, George Osborne, had a penchant for gimmicky giveaways at budgetary set pieces. His record of job creation and enterprise boosterism, among other things, are commendable - but his rabbit-out-of-the-hat despatch box deliveries would have no place in the new era of Brexit-induced uncertainty.
“What’s more, this loosening comes...in the shape of vital infrastructure investment’’ The new Treasury helmsman, then, managed to strike a balance: between talking up the strengths of our economy, and emphasising the scale of the challenges ahead; between headline grabbers where they are needed, and sound fiscal management; between orthodox conservative incrementalism, and Keynesian interventionism. Sensibly, he abandoned Mr Osborne’s pledge to eliminate the budget deficit by 2020. Without Brexit, that may have been achievable and, to be sure, we must continue in the direction of budgetary surplus. But, it makes sense in the face of reduced tax receipts and market uncertainty to give the economy more fiscal wiggle room. What’s more, this loosening comes not in the form of relaxing departmental spending controls, but in the shape of vital infrastructure investment.
The chronic unproductiveness of the British economy is, in part, due to a long-term lack of infrastructure development: Mr Hammond announced a welcome £23bn productivity fund along with billions for various projects, such as fibre optic, digital rail signalling and local transport. In addition, the £3.7bn pledged towards building more homes will aid economic mobility, and hence productivity. The media has not tired of parroting the horrible acronym ‘JAM’, for those people deemed ‘just about managing’. Its cringeworthiness aside, the government is right to be focusing on people who for too long have felt left behind by rapid economic change. The long-term productivity investment will, ultimately, be the best way to help these people. But for the short-run the chancellor announced a series of positive steps to ease the financial burdens people are facing. Letting agents’ fees will be banned, something students will welcome. With rents already increasing, it is right for government to step in prevent this exploitative fleecing of tenants. The tax-free allowance will rise again to £12,500, taking many more people out of income tax altogether, and the minimum wage will continue its ascent towards £9. The chancellor was also right to relax benefit cuts; the slower pace of cuts will avoid the damaging effects often unnoticed by the previous administration. The British economy faces huge challenges as it moves towards Brexit. Our national debt is enormous: equal to more than £30,000 per person. Businesses face investment uncertainty and, meanwhile, the global picture is anything but rosy. So the modest but vital announcements made by the chancellor will help to steady the ship and prepare our economy for shocks ahead. While other parties flounder with no way of explaining how their plans would work, the Autumn Statement should be commended.
NO
Benjamin Eckford
P
hilip Hammond’s Autumn Statement was an embarrassment for the Tories. I almost felt sorry for him, as he confessed failures, abandoned previous policies and tried to dress up tiny investments as something meaningful. My sympathy quickly disappeared when I remembered he has been part of the government which has imposed the worst austerity in British history.
‘‘Philip Hammond is a man simply rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic’’ Actions presented as progressive do not survive scrutiny. The historic Wentworth House is going to be saved, which is admittedly good news. Letting agent fees have been banned. That’s good, but the statement did nothing to cap private rents. Letting agents will simply make up for the lack of fees by hiking rents even higher. The rise in the minimum wage is welcome, but the rise of 30p isn’t as much as was promised at this stage in the parliament. It still isn’t a genuine living wage, and it still doesn’t extend to under-25s. Brexit played havoc with Hammond’s statement. Firstly, the golden promise of £350 million more per week for the NHS was cast aside, confirming the Leave campaign as a bunch of liars. Second, the economic impacts of Brexit are set to be staggering costly for our country. Inflation is set to rise sharply, growth forecasts are down, tax receipt forecasts are down, and article 50 hasn’t even been triggered yet. You’d be right to say that Brexit isn’t Hammond’s fault. He supported Remain and didn’t make outlandish promises on the sides of buses.
What is his fault is the fact that he is totally bereft of ideas, resulting in his inability to deal with it. His utterly pointless activity of replacing the spring budget and autumn statement with a spring statement and autumn budget is symbolic of his economic strategy for Brexit Britain. Philip Hammond is a man simply rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
‘‘A Labour Chancellor would have been crucified for a statement like this’’ For six years, deficit reduction has been the centrepiece of not only Tory economic policy, but the national mission of the whole government. In 2010, George Osborne promised to eradicate the deficit by 2015. He failed. Hammond is now predicting it will be nearer 2025 that we finally get rid of our deficit. The Tories have presided over national debt rising to a record high £1.5 trillion. It is now set to soar to more than 90% of GDP, hitting £2 trillion. A Labour Chancellor would have been crucified for a statement like this, but it is the Tories who have failed. Only Labour offers a real alternative.
The Courier
comment .11
Monday 5 December 2016
Y
ou, reader, should always remember that almost every news source is either lying, or just spreading their ideological narrative: Except this one, of course. All of mainstream American media is decrying Castro as a ‘brutal dictator’ and missing out all the good he did that the USA itself makes no attempt at copying, like providing quality universal healthcare and education. At the same time, media from communistinfluenced countries like Russia and China are quick to hail him as an unabashed hero, politely ignoring the human rights abuses of his regime. Our home-grown sources of propaganda like the Express and Mail hurry their little rat paws to spin Jeremy Corbyn’s balanced assessment of Castro as a way to link the Labour leader to despots and revolutionary marxism. There’s also a great double standard in coverage of, and attitudes to, political regimes. Don’t expect mainstream media to discuss Thatcher’s support for the torturer-in-chief Pinochet of Chile. Remember that time, as well, we flew the British flag at half mast for the deceased King of Saudi Arabia, a terrorist-funding, repressive state? All I’m saying is, stay skeptical.
EVERY NARRATIVE LIES Jamie Cameron
I
n 1966, Castro famously declared the women’s movement depicted a “revolution within a Revolution”. Did Castro make significant steps in the quest for Cuban female emancipation? During a time in which female movements within the rest of Latin America continued to endure negligible treatment amongst society, Cuba made significant steps towards equal opportunities for women. Women were encouraged to leave traditional roles and fight for the Revolution. Women experienced gains shared with men in education and quality of life, and took a much larger role in the workforce than previous. This revolution had its issues. however. It was recorded in 2013 that women held 48.9% of parliamentary seats within the Cuban National Assembly but for decades this was much lower, and women remain under-represented in the top levels of executive power. While Castro showed that Communism can work to better women’s issues I ultinately have problems with the slowness of equality gains. The issue also, is that women have to work through the state for all their empowerment, not being allowed like men to make their own enterprises.
F
idel Castro is perhaps the one the most controversial people of the last century. And, the reactions to his passing this week have reinforced this controversy. The vastly different comments on his death on social media reinforced a tremendous disparity between my left and right-wing friends around the world. His death, like a torch, lit up a global debate. Following Brexit and the US presidential elections, we are seeing this more and more. In every country, we see different people expressing their ideas through vastly contradictory views on Castro’s legacy. Supporters see him as the hero of liberty who created a society ever-more close to a communist utopia. Yet, haters believe he is nothing but a ‘brutal dictator’. This made me realise that, via globalisation, the way people debate has changed. It’s no longer face-to-face. We’re expressing our views and disagreements on social media. All of us have a voice. Whatever our thoughts on Castro, this is probably a good thing.
FEMALE LIBERATION Sarah Davis
DISCOURSE Xinran Zhang
the STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
FIDEL CASTRO
1926 – 2016
F
idel Castro did some terrible things but what the right-wing media will never tell you is the positive effect he had on Cuba. His treatment of political opponents and homosexuals was deeply wrong, and I will be the first to criticise him for it, but we shouldn’t ignore the good. In 1959, Cuba was a virtual colony of America under a fascist dictator. With help from other revolutionaries, Castro overthrew the dictatorship, restored Cuba’s independence, and set about building a more equal society. What followed was a huge programme of teaching literacy to the mostly illiterate adult population. All children were given free education, universal healthcare became a guaranteed right, full employment was implemented, and Cuba, a tiny country, continued to thumb its nose at its big bully of a neighbour the USA. In Cuba, wealth inequality is relatively low, though it’s true it is poorer than countries such as Britain. The reason for this poverty is not Castro, but the illegal American naval blockade that stops vital supplies reaching the island. Not caving into the pressure, he symbolises little countries standing up to big ones. Viva la revolucíon.
A TITAN OF HISTORY Thomas Hussey
W
hile Castro rode on the people’s will to overthrow a dictator, he contradictorily became one himself. Swathed in controversy for his brutal treatment of those who opposed the regime, he used abhorrent tactics to keep control. However, it would be unwise to not see his life objectively, for it was remarkable to say the least. The Cuba that Castro took over following the ‘59 revolution was a nation riddled with crime syndicates, corruption, inequality and fraud. Castro overturned pretty much all of this. He delivered free healthcare and lowered infant mortality rates. His popularity lay in his ability to stand up to the obsessively controlling hand of the US and its foreign policy, a stance which formed the backbone of his socialist vision for Cuba. He outlasted 9 American presidents, survived 638 assassination attempts and commanded a Socialist nation a mere 90 miles off the coast of America for almost 50 years. What Castro achieved was astounding. Regardless of his politics, Fidel Castro will go down in history as one of the most important figures of the 20th Century, let alone the Cold War.
COMMENT’S HOME OF WEEKLY RANTS CHIVALRY’S UNDEAD Emma Bancroft
I
was on my way through campus to a lesson with my friend when a boy came up to us, took his earphone out and asked if we were going to the same lesson. We said yes and continued to walk and chat. What happened when we neared the building sent my friend and I into a state of total shock. Our companion trotted a couple of steps ahead of us, held the door open for us and gestured for us to walk through first. We nearly fell over with astonishment. Perhaps the reason we were so stunned by this, is simply because it’s becoming a rarity. Where have all the gentlemen gone? I’m not saying that women are incapable of opening a door by themselves, but when a man opens the door in front of you, lets you get on the metro first, or walks on the roadside of the pavement, it really does put a huge smile on your face.
RACIST SANTA
A revolutionary marxist that defined modern Cuba, and defied the United States for nearly half a century. Our writers react to his passing.
VIVA LA REVOLUCÍON Benjamin Eckford
SOAPBOX
A REVOLUTIONARY HERO Meg Holtom
F
idel Castro was a revolutionary hero. A death defying, equality achieving hero. Fidel Castro knew what he wanted and strived to get it, so why are so many people celebrating his death? The man survived over 600 CIA assassination attempts, saw ten different Presidents in the white house and gave Cubans something they hadn’t had in a long time – hope. He turned Cuba from what was essentially a tyrannous dictatorship into a socialist state where there was less distinction between rich and poor and gave free education and healthcare to anyone who stuck around long enough. In Castro’s own words: ‘one of the greatest benefits of the revolution is that even our prostitutes are college graduates.’ However, alcoholism is a major problem and honestly the fact that the highest paid job is a taxi driver does seem somewhat absurd. All the same, I’ve been there and seen this first hand and I can tell you it’s not paradise, but its close. The reality is that this man, this hero, worked damn hard to make Cuba the country it is today and I’m not gonna let a bunch of people hiding behind their screens try and convince me otherwise.
W
Henry Holburn
e all love Christmas traditions, right? How about the less than sensitive act of black-facing in the Netherlands? Defenders claim it is an innocent cultural practice, with no historical links to racism. Black Pete’s (Zwarte Piet) origins are a depiction of Moorish pages, who assist a white Santa Claus in giving out presents to children. This draws on similar European depictions of black people, such as ‘gollywogs’ in Britain, as the performers wear black curly-haired wigs and red lipstick. Whilst the intentions of many people who participate are not malicious, the outcome is nonetheless extremely offensive. Protest movements have grown, and clashes intensified in 2016. Police have practiced institutionalized racism by cracking down on peaceful protests. Some of the public have also vocally defended the tradition. The case in the Netherlands highlights a wider dynamic across the ‘West’: namely, the normalisation of racism in popular and political discourse. Wilders, Farage, Trump, and Le Pen are all complicit in this disturbing pattern.
The Poppy: Football in No Man’s Land W
HANDS OFF
Sinéad Corkett-Beirne
FIFA’s ban on players donning the poppy can’t be justified, argues Amanda Jane Yap
A
n uproar ensued during the World Cup qualifying match at the Wembley Stadium. This coincided with Remembrance Day when England and Scotland players were issued a disciplinary penalty for wearing poppy-symbol armbands on the field. FIFA defends this action as players are not allowed to wear political symbols on the pitch, defining the poppy as one of them. The Prime Minister has called this ‘outrageous’, while the Football Association of England and Scotland has said it will defy the ban. It is both unnecessary and disrespectful for disciplinary action to be meted out. The First World War was an extremely tragic episode for England. The symbol of the poppy came about when a doctor witnessed the blooming
of thousands of poppies amidst the mass chaos of bombing and killing. The delicate red poppy, then, became a sign of resilience and hope amidst turmoil.
‘‘The English and Scottish players should be saluted, not reprimanded” It brings patriotism to a whole new level when the representing players don’t forget the tragedies of war while on the world stage. By wearing the poppies, they join the nation in mourning for the heroic lives lost in war. This issue of poppy-wearing has been blown out of proportion. The footballers have the right to
commemorate war heroes however they like, and no regulation should infringe on that right.
‘‘The issue of poppy-wearing has been blown out of proportion’’
Beyond this, it is a decades-old tradition that should not be disregarded because it reflects our tacit acknowledgment surrounding the devastation of war and the need to prevent it. Remembrance Day reminds us that what we enjoy today - peace, prosperity and freedom - was bought with the blood of the Armed Forces who fought so valiantly. International organisations like Fifa should not forget this. The English and Scottish players should be saluted, not reprimanded, for donning the poppy.
hat gives a person the right to think that it is acceptable to touch part of someone else’s body without their consent? This is the question I voiced to two men who I confronted in public after they groped my derriere as I travelled up the escalator at Monument station last week. Although to them it might have been a mindless thing to do, I found it incredibly demeaning. They probably weren’t expecting me to turn around and give them an earful, but dismiss their actions instead. What a pair of arseholes, pardon the pun. It comes as no surprise to hear that one third of women have recieved unwanted sexual contact when in public, according to a 2016 study by YouGov. This sort of behaviour shouldn’t be normalised.
Culture
12.
thecourieronline.co.uk/culture
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Culture Editors: James McCoull & Jack Oliver Parker Sections: Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Arts, Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Science courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierOnline
HOW TO: Thank God it’s Thanksgiving
Quinoa Salad Get to grips with 2016’s most popular superfood with Hope Coke’s quinoa salad:
W
hile I’m not sure about the kind of cult-ish hype there seems to be around quinoa, I do cook with it pretty regularly. As well as being a nutritional powerhouse it has a subtle taste that lends itself well to all sorts of combinations. I’ve made various versions of this recipe, but the basic formula is quinoa and a whole load of green veg. Add in some herbs and a killer dressing and you’ve got something that’s fresh tasting, but hearty enough to leave you satisfied. It can be served warm or cool so you could even make a double batch to give you an easy meal when you need it. Eat, enjoy, and feel smug about all the goodness you’ve absorbed. Serves 2 Ingredients: -40g quinoa -3 tbsp olive oil -1 courgette, sliced into thick rounds and each round into quarters -2 leeks, sliced into thick rounds -2 large handfuls chopped kale -1 large handful frozen peas -1 small handful fresh mint and/or parsley, finely chopped -50g feta cheese Dressing: -2 tbsp tahini -juice of 1 lemon
Despite Thanksgiving being last week, Siobhan Fuller gives us her take on America’s favourite holiday to prove how turkey and all the trimmings are delicious all year round
W
e may not celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday like our friends across the pond, but I advocate any excuse for a good roast dinner. If Christmas Day feels too far away to wait for your turkey, here are a few ideas how to cook up a feast on a student budget with a few interesting twists on old favourites. The turkey is obviously the first hurdle, considering how most student houses don’t contain topoftherange ovens suitable to roast a whole bird. One alternative I’ve favoured this year is a herbcrusted version which is a lot easier to cook. Go for either turkey steaks or breasts, depending on what is available to you (Tesco stocks both for almost the same price as chicken), making sure you have one for each diner. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. In the meantime, whisk two eggs in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together 80g of natural breadcrumbs; 2 teaspoons of dried mixed herbs such as oregano, sage and thyme; a pinch of salt and pepper. I also like to add the zest of half a lemon for a tangy twist but this is an acquired taste. Coat the turkey in the whisked eggs, followed by the crumb mix before transferring to a baking tray. Cook for fifteen minutes on each side, or until the outside is golden. Perfect with either gravy or cranberry sauce with a slice of brie. In terms of side dishes, there are endless possibilities. Add some flavour to roast potatoes or brussel sprouts with a few cloves of garlic nestled amongst them whilst cooking, remembering to throw them away before serving. You could also add warmth to the vegetables by tossing them in a mix of turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg. Swap your stuffing for this glutenfree crumble. Start off by roasting diced butternut squash, carrots, parsnips, celeriac and sweet potato. Meanwhile, melt 30g of butter in a pan, add 30g of glutenfree flour and 500ml of milk. Grate some nutmeg and sage in to finish your sauce. In a food
processor, combine 35g of hazelnuts, 30g of oats and 15g of parmesan, then rub in 10g of butter to create the crumble. In a large dish, layer the vegetables, the sauce and finally the crumble. Bake for fifteen minutes and serve. Now for the best part: dessert! A substitute for the traditional pumpkin pie (because who has time to make pie?!) is this recipe for pumpkin spice bars. Mix together 300g flour, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg and ground cloves and 1 heaped teaspoon of baking soda. In a separate bowl, whisk 2 eggs, 130g of dark sugar and 225g of pumpkin puree. Add in 60ml of milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 65ml of melted butter or coconut oil, then combine the wet ingredients with the dry. Pour onto a tray and bake at 180 degrees celsius for twenty five minutes. Allow to cool before cutting into twelve bars. All that’s left to do is to dig in!
Deals or No Deals this year?
Love or hate Black Friday? Helen Robson can’t decide, so she’s making the case for both
B
lack Friday is an anticipated occasion full of as much joy as Christmas itself for some. For others, mostly working in retail, it is a term applied to the living hell endured one weekend out of the year.
Directions: Boil a saucepan of water and cook your quinoa according to packet instructions (usually about 20 minutes). Meanwhile, take your chopped courgette and cook with the oil in a saucepan on a medium heat for about 2 minutes or until it’s just starting to become tender. Add the leeks and kale and sauté until the courgette is turning golden brown in places and the leeks and kale are nicely soft and wilted, about 5 to 7 minutes. While they’re cooking boil your frozen peas as directed on the packet in a separate pan. While everything is cooking, whisk together your dressing ingredients and add water to thin to a pourable consistency. Once everything is ready, drain the peas and tip into the same pan as the quinoa, before adding the leeks and kale, cucumber and mint or parsley. Toss well to combine, then divide between two bowls. Crumble half the feta over each, then drizzle the dressing over them. Serve hot, or allow to cool and store in the fridge for later. It should keep well in an airtight container for a couple of days.
A
The Pros:
The term was actually coined in the 1960s by police officers in Philadelphia, U.S. They used the term to describe the mayhem of shoppers on the day after thanksgiving as everyone flocked into shops in preparation of Christmas, ahead of the
s a student I am constantly trying to save every spare bit of change I have, which I’m sure a lot of you can relate to and Christmas time is when you really feel the strain of your bank account. Your family may consist of a large amount of siblings, cousins, or steprelations; maybe you buy for your partner’s family too. Whatever the case, as that stack of presents increases that money pile decreases. This is where Black Friday comes in. With participants such as PC World, John Lewis, Amazon, Tesco, Topshop and so much more you will undoubtedly find something for everyone in this colossal sale. By picking up on sneaky deals like this, you can make your money stretch further- maybe you’ll even have enough money left to buy yourself a Christmas outfit. If, like me, you are completely terrified of the hordes of angry shoppers and lack of oxygen around the shopping centres, one of the many benefits of Black Friday is that it tailors to online shopping too. Next year maybe choose to shop from the comfort of your bed with a strong cup of coffee and a list at the ready as you browse on into the night.
A
big Army-Navy football game held on the following Saturday. This seems strange to hear, when we look at the worldwide mass of abusive shoppers and fights over plasma screens ‘Black Friday’ has come to represent.
The Cons:
s mentioned, the drama of Black Friday can become quite overwhelming when shoppers become frantic and confrontation is inevitable. In the past there have been violent reports of fighting over ‘who had it first’ as everyone becomes desperate to have the best deals. This animalistic behaviour is truly disappointing to see in the public and terrifying to be a part of. Even without arguments, the atmosphere of Black Friday is stressful and those who are too young or too old find it hard to cope. The most disappointing aspect of Black Friday is the pressure of those working in retail, dealing with abusive customers and working frantically on their feet for long hours in such a stressful environment. All manners are lost in this frantic display and shop workers take the brunt of our actions. Therefore, as much as you want that money to stretch and you’re in a hurry to be done and have the stress of Christmas shopping over with, please do keep in mind next year that shop workers are there to help and are not to be trod on.
The Courier
.13
Monday 5 December 2016
Charlotte Nixon, 3rd Year English Literature meets Charlotte on Olly Wood, 3rd Year English Literature
Olly
Where did you go on your date? We went to 97 and social, had a few cocktails there, then to Tokyo in town, he actually works there Nice, did you get a discount? Yeah I think that’s why he wanted to go there, so we went there till that closed Did you see his work colleagues? Yeah… they sat with us! I actually didn’t mind at all, but from that point on we were never really on our own So it didn’t really feel like a date? Not really, but they were all really nice. It felt like a night out Like one big group date... Exactly! What did you think when you first saw him? I actually know him from my course! He turned up in his classic really big coat and he was standing outside having a cigarette and he looked really warm, and I didn’t have a coat or anything. So I thought, that guy looks really warm. I was freezing, and we ended up sitting outside! What do you think he thought about you? I don’t think he knew who I was… but I knew him He’s a pretty big character and he’s quite tall so I felt quite short in comparison Did you talk about anything interesting? We talked about the course quite a bit, it was quite nice to have some common ground. We got onto loads, we got onto politics and religion. It got quite… not intense, but in depth. Did you have the same kind of views? Erm similar. I feel like I had a few preconceived ideas about him, so it was quite refreshing to speak to someone completely different to what I was expecting Did you get any food? No, we met at 9 because he had Brazilian ju jitsu before then... I was like fair enough Did you fancy him? I could… It was strange because we already knew of each other, it felt more like we were course friends If Olly was a piece of furniture what would he be? I feel like he’d be a chaise long, because he seems really chilled out, I can imagine him laying on it, he actually mentioned how much he loves the sofa in his room he was quite... Elegant? Yeah! Elegant and chilled Did he fulfil your hopes and dreams? I think I had very very low hopes, so yeah it was a lot better than I thought it would be. I was really nervous. I wasn’t at all once I got there, I was fine. So yeah I wasn’t really expecting much from the blind date, but yeah it was fine. Good! Do you think you’re going to meet up again? Well… he doesn’t really use his phone. He doesn’t text or use Facebook so I feel like I’m not going to hear from him again. I feel like he’s the type of person you’d have to bump into. Like I was messaging him asking him ‘are we still going?’ and he just didn’t reply. But that’s kinda nice to have someone that’s not always on their phone. So I would say I’d see him again but it would be very difficult to organise. Because he’s a bit all over the place. I’m quite organised and he’s just not. Understandable, what would you give him out of 10? I’d give him an 8 Woah that’s really high! Yeah! The only thing that stopped me marking him higher was the fact it didn’t really feel like a date. Like as it went on it just felt a bit more friendly. Which I didn’t mind but it wasn’t a date. Thanks Charlotte!
Olly on Charlotte
Firstly where did you go? So we went to 97 and social and got some cocktails, then to Tokyo for where I work. Was that a good decision? Yeah, she liked cocktails, which is a good thing Was that attractive, a girl that likes cocktails? Yeah, but anyone that likes cocktails is a good shout. She had a few pornstar martinis. Saucy.. Indeed! What was your first thought when you met her? I don’t know… I was outside smoking a cigarette and I was thinking oooh shall I put this out? Does she smoke or not? What do you think she thought about you? Probably that my coat was a bit too big. She did actually mention that… was it this coat you’re wearing now? Yeah, it’s my winter coat. Wow… it is really big! It’s too big for almost all scenarios. But it’s just so warm! Did you talk about anything interesting? Yeah! We do the same course, so we talked about a couple of lit things, some of the lecturers, talked about family. She’s got a fear of scary things. Isn’t everyone scared of scary things? Yeah, but she said she doesn’t do well with danger, that was it. God ‘a fear of scary things’… I’ve made her sound like a right idiot. I meant a fear of danger. It was a good chat, she’s a nice girl. Did she have good table manners? Well we weren’t eating so it was hard to tell. But yeah she was knocking back the drink, matching me drink for drink, she didn’t slow down. Which was really good. I wasn’t finishing my drink then waiting for her to finish hers to get another one. We were well matched in that respect. Did you fancy her? Erm we had a nice date I don’t know if I’ve ‘fancied’ anyone since I was 12, but it was a good date. I had a good time. Good! Did you kiss? No. Aww did you want to? You’re really putting me on the spot here! Erm… a gentleman never tells. Will you see her again? Probably, she’s on my course. But I know that’s not what you’re asking me. Maybe yeah. If Charlotte was a piece of furniture what would she be? There’s no good answer to that is there! Well she said you were a chaise long, I thought that was a pretty good answer. I do get chaise lounge vibes from you Oh my god… give me a second… You’ve got your beanbags, your bookshelves… I can’t say she’s a beanbag! Give me a second… a writing desk! Because she said she was very academic, boom, done! Well done! Did she fulfil your hopes and dreams about the date? You know what, I had a really good time! It was really fun! I was expecting some degree of awkwardness because we didn’t know each other but it wasn’t awkward at all. What would you rate her out of 10? I’d go for an 8 Nice! That’s really high! Cheers Olly!
Fancy a date? We’ll set you up. Contact us! Find us on The Lifestyle Writers 2016/17 Facebook page
14.lifestyle
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Lifestyle Editors: Ana Beretsos, Antonia Coleman-Harvey, Ruth Loeffler & Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward
Astrological Warming winter desserts Antonia As the temperatures continue to plummet even further this month our writer Amanda Yap has the after dinner treats that will give you that warm and comforting feeling inside
Antonia ColemanHarvey uses her mystic powers to guide you through your week: Aries March 21- April 19
Get ahead of your work this week and stop being a party animal! I know its tempting but your’e only sabotaging yourself!
Taurus April 20- May 20 If your surname begins with a D, your stars are telling you to man up and text that person back that you have been putting off.
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hether you are have a sweet tooth or not, a warm dessert at this time of year is always appreciated. Everybody should have a favourite sweet treat to look forward to for a pick-me-up when assignments are around the corner or a motivational treat to get you out of that swaddle of blankets. If you do not have a favourite dessert, read on! You may find one that caters to your picky, unworldly taste buds. Bon Appetit!
2. Peach Bread Pudding Not to say that the original bread pudding is no longer appealing, but we all like that surprise twist. I can see it now, the golden blanket of bread protecting the sweet treat within. Take a spoon and dig a generous spoonful of the soft and slightly gooey pudding, which releases that burst of steam and fragrant aroma, fitting for a warm winter night. The best part is that either fresh or frozen peaches can be used in this dessert.
1. Warm Chocolate Molten Cake Imagine warm dark chocolate oozing out of the core the moment you slice a piece, as you inhale the flavour notes of those cocoa beans. Whether it is made of milk chocolate or dark chocolate, it is undeniably delicious in every way because it gooey and warm! The ingredients needed are straightforward – eggs, sugar, flour, unsalted butter and of course, chocolate!
“It is undeniably tasty in every way because it is gooey and warm”
Gemini May 21- June 20
Take a break, Gemini. You’re working far too hard and your housemates are starting to think your boring. I can see it by the alignment with Uranus.
4. Lemon Soufflé Pudding Cakes You will be the God or Goddess of everybody’s hearts, if you manage to pull off a successful soufflé. It is as exotic as it sounds, people like me who cannot bake a decent chocolate cake, let’s sit back and watch the experts do their thing. The lemon soufflé pudding cake goes by layers, it is a light sponge cake on top, tart in the middle and pudding-like at the bottom. Nothing like that hint of lemon zest to perk you up.
Cancer June 21- July 22
Yo, Cancer. You’re overthinking everything. Don’t get ahead of yourself. That person you keep thinking about probably isn’t as amazing as your fantasies are.
Leo July 23- Aug 22 Leo you’re known for being loud and aggressive. Tone it down. Your friends need a bit of peace and quiet sometimes and surprisingly might not want to know all about your super original night in Swingers.
Virgo Aug 23- Sep 22
Your stars are telling you to take new chances. If your first name begins with S and you are single, it is your destiny to enrol in our blind date and get back on it again.
Libra Sep 23- Oct 22 Libra, you might get ill this week. Sorry, you obviously didn’t wash your hands properly after a grimey metro ride or definitely sat next to the wrong sniffler in the library.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21
Wahoo it’s your birthday today or just has been. You’re probably feeling a bit dejected and you’re right. Make the most of this and Christmas because that’s you done until the next year.
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21
Sagittarius, what have you done? Something you did last week will come back to haunt you in the worst way... maybe lay off the bitching and concentrate on being nice for once.
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19
You’ve worked really hard this week, you deserve a break! You need a night out, pronto! Get the trebles in, go wild... you haven’t cut loose in ages. Dancing away the stresses of university life with your bestie will cure any winter blues.
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18
The super moon is in your favour Aquarius, something big and bright is going to happen in your future! Trust your vision, this week will be majestic!
Pisces Feb 19- March 20
As one door closes, another door opens... although everything might seem like it’s going wrong for you, good things are just around the corner- hang in there!
3. Apple Crumble The traditional British dish, also known as a brown betty. The apple crumble can never go wrong unless you are a disastrous baker, just saying. This classic comfort dessert can be modified to include apple, pear and walnut, even oats if you are feeling up to it. Don’t forget the icing on the cake – an extra dollop of vanilla ice cream to finish it off !
5. Nutella Crème Brulee The original Crème Brulee is so passé, introducing the all-time favourite Nutella into the mix just to kick it up a notch! Crème Brulee can be overpoweringly sweet for some people, so to introduce a nutty flavour just to level out the sweetness is just perfect. I just look forward to diving and breaking apart the hardened brown sugar shell, into the creamy custard, mixed with the silkiness of the Nutella. Heaven is just a spoonful away. 6. Hot Chocolate Last but not the least, the classic hot chocolate drink. Not really a dessert but it serves the same purpose: To warm people up during this cold winter season. Customised your own Christmas chocolate drink with marshmallows, M&M’s, stick a candy cane in the drink or add some whisky, all of which can be bought at Tesco. Convenient, affordable and simple to make!
What we love about Christmas
The food! Victoria Affleck talks about all the wonderful food we can feast on this month
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It’s that time of year again when we all start getting excited over the fact that Christmas is literally just around the corner and it’s not long until we can all go home and eat our weight in chocolate and Christmas goodies. Christmas is the time of the year where I think we all feel like we can withdraw from the rest of the world and lavish in all the good things, such as: going to Christmas markets, seeing all the sweet lights and decorations, drinking an unhealthy amount of hot chocolate, having movie marathons, indulging in a multitude of chocolate, all the Christmas food in the fridge (that your mum tells you not to eat, but you do it anyway…) and excessive buying of presents, but in my case, mainly food.
“Christmas is a time for all the trimmings!!”
Ultimately Christmas is for spending valuable time with your loved ones and sharing, though this does not account for food in my opinion. Yes, sharing is caring but when it comes to Christmas dinner, what’s mine is mine – no matter how much you beg me. When it comes to Christmas time, it’s the time of year where I will happily sit and eat ten times my body weight in food and not give a care in the world because nothing, simply nothing, compares to Christmas food. All year round I wait patiently in anticipation for the big day, midday on
the December 25th, so I can completely satisfy my stomach with everything in sight and not worry that I may have just put on about 20 stone in less than 24 hours...
“Nothing quite says Christmas like pigs in blankets” Christmas is the time for roast turkey, stuffing, goose fat potatoes and all the trimmings. A roast dinner would not be quite the same without vegetables – even the much-debated Brussels sprouts – the crisp honey-glazed parsnips, and carrots. For me, it’s the only day vegetables are appreciated, especially in the eyes of a student I believe. But nothing quite says Christmas more than my absolute favourite, pigs in blankets; you really cannot go wrong with them. As well as the traditional roast turkey dinner, Christmas desserts are to die for! Mince pies taste incredible – so flavoursome and have all the spices of Christmas packed tightly inside them and a speciality of mine that can easily be created following a recipe which can be found online. (Although Marks and Spencer do the best Mince Pies, followed closely behind by Sainsbury’s). Alternatively, you have the traditional Christmas pudding, which is not worshipped highly in my house, but nonetheless it is a dessert that many choose to
eat on Christmas day, due to the rich flavourings and connotations of a family-filled Christmas, as well as the Yule Log which, again, tastes delicious – and is something you can easily create at home for your family. Nothing quite beats Christmas food, the offers of discounted sharing boxes such as Celebrations and Quality Street, eating trays and trays full of pigs in blankets – and not forgetting the tasteful mulled wine and champers’ – the most perfect time of year.
“It’s a time to drink an unhealthy amount of hot chocolate”
This is a mixture between a spotted and a rant. Now the majority of us spent the weekend trudling through the Black Friday sales. You either expect something to be discounted to the point that you are tempted to buy or they use it as ploy for you to find things you like until you realise they aren’t included in the offer. I experienced the weirdest thing that I couldn’t understand. Finding a lovely coat I was thrilled to see that it was discounted to £64.... from £65. That is not a discount- and for the pure cheekiness I refused to go forth with my purchase. Have you seen something weird and then wished your friends were there to witness it? We’d love to know who/what you’ve seen around campus that has made you chuckle in the last week. The weirder the better. Just Facebook us and let us know, because chances are we’d love to have a chuckle too.
Spotted!
The Courier
lifestyle .15
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierLifestyle
Society spotlight: Baking Society Life hacks
If you’re looking to get a good rise from your time at university with extra-curricular activities, Grace Dean has the full low down on the student union’s popular baking society
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veryone loves watching Bake Off, right? The mouth-watering bakes, Paul’s witty comments, the build-up of drama…And the entire country was outraged when it was announced that the programme was moving to Channel Four after a dispute between the BBC and Love Productions. Will it still be worth watching without Mel, Sue and Mary, plagued with adverts at strategic points too? Of that, we’re not sure. To continue getting your weekly fix of tasty treats however, Baking Society offers the opportunity for Newcastle students to become star bakers themselves…. Baking Society has continued to grow every year since its ratification in 2013, and now is one of the largest recreational societies on campus with nearly 300 members. But what does the society actually do? Compared to the Baking Societies at many other universities across the country, the Newcastle one
has a massive USP – access to the NU Food Kitchens in the Agriculture Building. Whereas most societies operate solely on bake-at-home ‘Bring & Share’ sessions, NUBS holds two baking sessions on Wednesday afternoons, in which members are equipped with a recipe, ingredients and good company; all they have to do is bring Tupperware and then they can bake.
Sharpening a knife on a ceramic mug
raising choice, can become boring and outdated; Baking Society, instead, are thinking of original ideas to raise money for charity. Their first event of the year was a collaboration with Film Society, orchestrated by Alex Logan and Sam Midwood, in which around 40 members of both societies were treated to a free screening of the Pixar classic Ratatouille. Through the sales of, among others, Pudseyshaped biscuits, marzipan cake and a variety of flavoured popcorns, the two societies were able to raise £90 for Children In Need; not bad from just watching a film and eating cake, eh? And the Society has further charity events in the pipeline, notably the upcoming soiree A Night Before Christmas raising money for Shelter, with a range of festive afternoon tea-inspired nibbles and entertainment from some of Newcastle University’s finest music societies on offer.
Don’t bau-balls up your Secret Santa Ever spent a tenner on someone and got a pair of socks in return? Really sucks, doesn’t it? Emily Wilkinson explains how to do secret santa the right way without disappointment
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o every year, for some reason or another, somebody decides that it is a good idea for everybody to draw names out of a hat and play a little gift-giving game known as ‘Secret Santa’. The only problem with this game is that nine times out of ten you are unlucky enough to have no idea what this person wants or likes and this makes the process a right chore.
“Nine times out of ten you have no idea what this person wants or likes” I remember playing this game as a class in primary school; whilst all my other classmates were given amazing Christmas presents, I received a word search that had clearly been hurriedly scrawled on a piece of paper in the break time before. So how do you prevent giving/receiving awful presents? How do you ensure that ‘Secret Santa’ is a success? The first thing that everybody knows about Secret Santa is that it never remains secret. Somehow or another swapping and conferring occurs to ensure that people get the person or the present they most desired (kind of defeating the idea of the whole purpose of Secret Santa). BUT you may as well use this for your advantage. If you do not know the person at all, instead of asking them directly you can ask mutual friends for gift ideas. Alternatively, you can use this as an opportunity to get to know this person better; meet them for coffee or a drink and work some James Bond magic into discovering what they REALLY want for Christmas. The problem that comes with Secret Santa is that it always comes with a budget. No matter if the person you get is a stranger or your best friend, it always seems impossible to hit this budget- everything you find is too expensive or too cheap. So
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t’s nine weeks into university and you find yourself skipping more than the morning lecture, catching the next illness, no longer attending all the societies you signed up to, and with depleting supplies in your fridge. You tell yourself you’ll start afresh, oh, tomorrow, the day after, the new year, but deep inside as the days get shorter, and much much much colder, with fewer reasons to get out of bed, you’re not quite sure you believe yourself. What you need is a life hack i.e. ‘a strategy or technique adopted to manage one’s time and daily activities in a more efficient way’. Sharing is caring so here are the ones I couldn’t live without:
“White chocolate and raspberry eclairs, cookies + cream fudge and toffee apples with popcorn coating”
Whereas the average student may struggle to buy specialist ingredients and equipment just for one bake, being a large society means that Baking Society is able to fund a range of unusual and delicious recipes. Past bakes so far this year have included white chocolate and raspberry eclairs, cookies and cream fudge and toffee apples with a popcorn coating, catering for every sweet tooth. Enthusiastic member Jack Green said, “Baking Society is a fun way to meet people while learning how to bake. Baking Soc has everything, all you have to do is show up and bake. It’s great!” The Society additionally offers masterclass events, allowing members to benefit from the expertise of external ‘star bakers’. The first one of the year took place in November, with ten members attending a vegan cupcake masterclass hosted by the Jesmond Cake Company. Keep your eyes peeled for next year’s Easter Egg masterclass with Davenports too! The Society is about more than just baking and eating cake for the sake of your own sweet tooth; this year they hope to place a bigger focus on how baking can used to benefit wider society. Traditional bake sales, while a popular and delicious fund-
Verity Thomas has some wise words for you
divide it up into categories; how well do you know this person? If the answer is very, and the budget is small, it is often easiest to go for something easy that you know that they love. Perhaps their favourite alcohol, or a gift-voucher for their favourite shop or restaurant? Maybe there is something they have been going on and on and on about for ages? Do they always wear a certain style of jewellery or are obsessed with a certain band or film? The other option when you know the person is humourous, think of an embarrassing anecdote you can draw on as you give the present which is going to make everybody laugh. HOWEVER, if the answer to that question was that you don’t know this person at all, it is often best to go for something generic. There are loads of gift ideas online, or I would suggest the easiest options for this are bath/shower things (because nobody wants to smell), or my favourite gift, FOOD (because who isn’t always hungry?).
“Work some James Bond magic into discovering what they REALLY want for Christmas”
So what would be my go-to Secret Santa present idea? Usually I go out and buy a mug (There are sooo many mugs out there that this can be a cute, festive or a humorous mug, it completely depends on the person you are buying for) and fill this to the brim with sweets, chocolates and biscuits. Because let’s face it, on a cold December night, you can’t beat snuggling up on the sofa with loads of food and a nice warm drink. This present is cheap, thoughtful and unique, all the boxes you need to tick if you want to give a successful Secret Santa present.
You didn’t think a knife sharpener was high on your packing list for university but with five other flatmates cooking at least one meal a day, what was the dedicated ‘good’ knife has become blunt. Don’t waste time running to Tesco or calling home crying that you’re incapable of cutting a soft tomato. Instead, grab a mug, turn it upside down, run your knife at a 45° angle on the unglazed ring, and voila a sharp knife!
Use your mirror as a whiteboard Your mirror is one of the first things you see in the morning, be it to brush your hair or clean your teeth. Therefore, it is a sensible place to jot down reminders and quick notes. You’ll be sure to see these several times a day and become the organised envy of all your friends. Dry-erase markers write beautifully on glass and come off just as easily.
Contact details everywhere Ever lost a phone, your keys, your wallet, important items to you, especially after a night out? You are much more likely to get the items returned if you put your contact details on them. And even if the items are never returned you can feel comfort in knowing that you did everything you could. I use a little pill box keyring on my keys with my details (not address!) scribbled inside and a sticker on everything else. I even have a photo of me as the screensaver on my phone. (Beware of stalkers.)
Give your phone more life Keeping your phone on airplane mode saves battery, time spent charging, electricity, and means you’ll be less distracted at every notification so will be checking your phone less. Nuff said – just do it!
Microwaving When heating leftovers make a space in the middle of your food. This heats it quicker and more evenly. As well as this, you could stir your food during cooking. Ever spent ages waiting for the defrost setting to work? Then, dip your food in water first. Water absorbs microwaves much more quickly so food will defrost faster. Note: do not do this with chicken as you might spread salmonella, and be aware it is impractical with some foods.
16. fashion
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Fashion Editors: Liz Rosling, Izzi Watkins & Zofia Zwieglinska
Battle of the Festive Ads Burberry vs. H&M
Quiz: Are you an real Instagram addict?
Izzi Watkins reviews Zofia Zwieglinska asks whether you need to detract from the social media app ith more and more celebrities coming off 6.Which frame do you choose to take photos? the most extravagant TV Instagram (Justin Bieber, Iggy Azelea, A. I only see in square now, and I automatically line RESULTS: Selena Gomez etc.), it is time to question things up to the rule of thirds. ads this Christmas whether everyone’s go-to platform for avocado toast B. Sometimes I take my Insta shots in normal
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Burberry.co.uk
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ittle did we know way back in 2010 that the dulcet tones of Ellie Goulding’s voice set to a snowy mountain scene would set in motion a furious battle to the death for the crown of the Christmas TV ad. John Lewis have since come back year after year with tales of unlikely friendships, star-crossed snowmen and men on the moon- but they’re not the only ones. This battle of the ads has now grown to encompass not only the big supermarkets, but in more recent times, our favourite fashion brands too. Keen to cash in on our Christmas sentimentality, the likes of Burberry and H&M have invested big bucks in trying to make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This Christmas, Burberry lead the pack, releasing their advert (or as some would call it feature length film) on November 1st, filled to the rafters with A-list celebs. Sienna Miller and Lily James star along side Domhnall Gleeson and Dominic West in the ‘Story of Thomas Burberry’. The ad tells the story of the original Mr. Burberry set to a gorgeous soundtrack and dreamy cinematography. More importantly the advert features, of course, all the cult Burberry items we have come to know and love; from the classic trench coat, to that iconic camel knit scarf. The starry cast of the advert all seemed to be genuinely excited to be involved in such a project. Lily James, the current face of Burberry, told WWW.com she actually wanted it to be developed into a full-length film, “I’m sure they could have made a film. We invested in the characters, and it was shot like a normal film.” We for one, would be the first in line to see two hours of beautifully crafted Burberry clothes (and not forgetting the beautifully crafted Domhnall Gleeson’s face).
breakfast flatlay’s and ootd hashtags is really worth staying on. Although to some it is still as essential as the morning Fb scroll, it has been seen badly in the press for promoting a harmful idealist life brand. In the roll up to New Year’s resolutions, why don’t you take our quiz to find out whether you are an Instagram addict and kick the habit? 1.How many times a day do you check your social media? A. 8+ B. 4 C. Once maybe? 2.How long does it take you to choose a filter? A. Hours of careful pondering and trying. B. Meh, just stick it all in Mayfair. C. Like an air filter? 3.Is it worth getting excited over 12 likes? A. It’s the reason i get out of bed in the morning. B. I just want my friends to like it :) C. I don’t think the number matters. 4.How many hashtags do you use for your photos? A. 10 for selfies, 20 for food shots... B. Two or three maybe? C. I don’t think I have ever used one. 5.What would you do to take the perfect selfie? A. Contortion & 3 UD Naked make up palettes, then a good background and front-facing lighting, preferably by candlelight. B. Put on some mascara and find a nice spot. C. Unless its for my passport, no selfies.
mode, but it depends on what I am shooting. C. I pick a simple cheap frame from IKEA.
7.‘It’s not Christmas without a picture of Starbuck’s red cups’. Sound like you? A. Do you know they got illustrators to do their designs this year? #starbucksshot B. They’re a bit sweet no? I get too high on the sugar. C. I don’t drink commercialized coffee.
Mostly A: #HashtagPro
Your whole daily routine revolves around taking regular updates of your breakfast, outfit, way to uni, fanned out books for uni next to a cactus in a concrete and gold planter. You know your Boomerang from the Hyperlapse and you could post a perfect #wokeuplikethis selfie in your sleep with a full face of make up. @huntforstyles
8.If your Instagram shot only got 5 likes, would you delete it (by accident of course)? A. What an abominable shame. I am not on my game. B. I don’t think so, unless it was blurry. C. I do not participate in the commericalized popularity contest that is Instagram. 9.Your friend has had a bad day and wants to talk to you in the latest trendy café. You know she is struggling; do you still take a sneaky photo of their famous pancakes? A. Definitely, I wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this. I’ve been wanting to Insta this place for ages. B. Maybe if she cheers up later... C. I wouldn’t even take her to such a place. 10.What does your Insta study sesh photo look like?
A. @pizzazzerie
B.
C. @clalot91
@ariane.rcs
Mostly B: My Instagram Memories You like Instagram for the odd shot of fitspiration or to drool over otherworldly food presentation, but you don’t really use it all the time and are more of a habitual scroller. You don’t think that Instagram is life and you prefer to spend time on Facebook watching funny dog video’s instead of perfecting your pout. @eliocchini
Mostly C: What are apps? You have decided to exclude yourself from the vice-like grip of social media on the modern population and prefer to listen to your music on vinyl’s instead of on your iPod. You’ve heard of a friend who used Instagram once, but when everyone starts talking about filters you steadily lose interest and decide to decide to meditate on your existence instead. No hashtags included!
In total defense of wearing black Hannah Bullimore shows us that there is only one shade to wear this winter
“I’m sure they could have made a film. We invested in the characters...”
However, the high street fought back with some serious style this week when H&M released their much-anticipated advert ‘Come Together’ directed by Wes Anderson himself. In True Anderson style the advert was beautiful, bewitching and a little bit bizarre. The short film is set on the ‘H&M express’ (give us that over Virgin East Coast any day) and tells the story of a delayed train, and an eccentric train guard who is determined to make one unaccompanied minor’s Christmas just that little bit magical. Although beautiful in its colouring and set-design, the actual plot of the story is a little simplistic, no where near the same scale of Burberry’s intricate weave of stories and characters. Another drawback to the ad is the distinct lack of clothes, it may make us feel warm and fuzzy, but it doesn’t make us wanna go buy anything warm, nor fuzzywhich is a problem for H&M for sure. Head over to YouTube to see both of the short films, and decide your fave for yourself. Both adverts are magic in their own right, and have certainly got me feeling festive, bring on the Boxing Day sales! (Burberry will reduce their trench coats by 90%... right?)
H&M.com
Zara black gilet £59.99
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Michael Kors Brooklyn bag £330
hile walking along Northumberland Street the other day, I looked down to discover that I was wearing all black. Literally everything. I was a column of black. At first this wasn’t a conscious style choice, just the result of owning so much black that it was bound to start to happen. But recently, I have embraced my love of the colour black. There is a reason that the little black dress is such a style staple. Black is flattering, easy to wear, goes with everything and will never clash. Black skinny jeans appear extra skinny, black biker jackets add edge to any outfit, black shoes go with everything; tights, skirts, dresses, jeans, trousers. Why wear any other colour? Particularly at this time of year when layering is essential, it makes life a lot easier if the items you are layering are all the same, universally flattering hue. Plus, when shopping on a budget, cheaper fabrics often look more expensive in darker colours. All black will always looks high end. My favourite
River Island Molly Jeggins £40
TOPSHOP Kaiser Chelsea boots £42
black items right now are my trusty leather Chelsea boots (these ones are £42 from Topshop), my faux shearling gilet from Zara (£59.99) that can be worn over knitwear or over my biker jacket to make it appropriate for particularly cold days.
“Black is flattering, easy to wear, goes with everything and will never clash” I also love a black cashmere roll neck for the days when I want to be smart but also warm. Black skinny jeans are also indispensable at this time of year. My favourites are the Molly Jeans from River Island, (£40). They’re super tight but have enough stretch to be comfortable. Black jeans are great for those post uni nights out. Put on a sheer top and layer with a biker jacket, adding a pair of heeled ankle boots and you can happily go from lecture
@anniido
to bar without a stress. It’s not just clothes that are great in black! Accessories work as well because gold and silver hardware really stands out on a black background. I love a chunky leather belt with a western edge, such as this one from ASOS, as it adds detail to any outfit. Wear a black t-shirt and jeans, add this belt and you will instantly be on trend. A black fedora allows me to look put together, even when I haven’t bothered wearing makeup. Wearing all black might make me appear like Professor Snape in female form, but it also helps me to get ready twice as quickly and makes me feel fierce in a Top Model kind of way. My top tip for wearing black everything is to add one pop of colour. I like to add a Michael Kors bag in the latest shade, my favourites at the moment are Antique Rose and Plum (Brooklyn Medium Saddlebag, £330). They add just enough colour to make sure no one will apologise for your loss, but don’t detract from the off duty model vibe we all dream of.
The Courier
fashion .17
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion
Gettin’ Hygge with it
SOS:
Ethical Fashion
Sarah Davis incorporates the Danish concept of true comfort into fashion this Christmas
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id you drag yourself out of bed kicking and screaming at 9:00 am this morning? I certainly did. It has reached that time of the year when the sun very rarely sneaks through concerning grey skies, and by 3:00 pm you are consumed by the dark twilight, turning your lights on and wrapping your dressing gown around your frozen body. From heartwarming bowls of porridge and charcoal knitted gloves to tartan scarves and candle lit dinners, hygge has consumed not only the Danish hearts and minds, but the whole of the western hemisphere. Surrounded by soft incandescent light, a roaring fire on a crisp bitter night, wearing voluminous woollen jumpers and indulging in a mug of warmed spiced mulled wine, sounds pretty perfect right? You may be more Danish than you may thought! While there is no direct English translation of the Danish word hygge, pronounced “hoo-ga”, many have rendered the word to express feelings of cosiness, warmth and happiness. Translation however often detracts from hygge’s eternal meaning. Translator Tove Maren Stakkestad said, “hygge was never meant to be translated. It was meant to be felt”. Hygge denotes a wholehearted, fundamental and inherent attitude to life that has
earned Denmark the top spot as a nation offering the highest quality of life. Adding the hygge philosophy to your way of life can be picking a few pieces of clothing to generate the art of creating intimacy. Live like the Danes and follow the guidance of Alfred Wainwright: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”.
engrain the fibers into your skin. The woollen scarf is the best way to detract from that dreaded cold neck, and whilst increasing your body’s temperature it will fill your heart with festive love, ideal for those winter months when we crave amiable intimacy. Corduroy pinafores: If you assume your jeans are the most versatile piece of clothing in your wardrobe, think again. The pinafore: aimed to fit loosely, teamed with a turtle neck jumper or cable knit there is nothing better than strutting around the house in cosy, baggy but cute looking clothes. Ignore your Mum’s pleads and pull those sleeves down over your fingers to feel an infinite level of hygge. Chunky knitted knee high socks: Comfortable lounge wear does not have to be excessive or expensive. Knitted textured knee-high socks can be either worn over a pair of sheer tights when venturing outside or just over bare skin when roaming around your home, they add a playful, jovial, lighthearted element to your wardrobe. Many stores stock a variety but currently Forever 21 are treating us to autumnal browns and mustards as well as classic greys and charcoal colours for a bargain of £5.
“From heartwarming bowls of porridge and charcoal knitted gloves to tartan scarves and candle lit dinners, hygge has consumed not only the Danish hearts and minds, but the whole of the western hemisphere”
Super soft checked scarf: With temperatures in Denmark descending to -25 in winter, hats, scarves and gloves are essential to ward off frost bitten fingers. The scarf is the ultimate winter essential, with new colours each annum. This year we have been graced with an ensemble of green, red, white and yellow- the perfect yuletide mélange. Wear inside and outside the house, snuggled in bed, cocooned on the sofa, become cooking partners and possibly
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Shop the look: 1. Zara super soft checked scarf £19.00 2. Oliver Clothing two pocket detail corduroy dress, wine £65.00
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3. Forever 21 cable knit kneehigh socks £9.00
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5. TOPSHOP lofty turn back cuff jumper £34.00 6.
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nord27.blogspot.co.uk
4. Olive Clothing chunky roll neck pullover, khaki £79.00
TOPSHOP
cashmere
This year’s winter coat inspirations Lois Johnston brings the choice selection forward for the colder winter season
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his time of year, especially in Newcastle, marks the beginning of winter coat season. It’s time to prepare your bank account for one of its largest annual splurges. When searching for your investment, there are a few things to bear in mind. The most important factor is the practicality – will it survive the infamous Newcastle winters? Then comes fashion. There have been so many coats released this year, with a whole range of styles returning – shearling biker jackets for example, and some classics like oversized camel coats, have also re-graced the catwalks in the last few months. One of my favourite new trends which has exploded onto the scene is velvet. This is a trend which has been mixed with lots of others, like puffer and bomber jackets and I’m quite sure it’s going to be a trend that stays around for a while. Another trend that has returned is faux fur coats. This is a failsafe option for if you want something warm and fashionable – but be careful in the rain,
@asos_alice
as this is a combination which does not mix! This is also a trend which has been added into other styles – for example, some brands now make parka coats with colourful fur hoods, or leather biker jackets with faux fur collars.
“One of the key things to remember when buying your winter coat is that if this is an investment piece, it will need to go with the majority of your wardrobe”
This is a very transitional trend, and will come in very useful if you want to make the most out of your coat and keep wearing it into the spring. Also if it is removable its almost as if you are getting a two-for-one offer!
@rosapelsblog
My favourite coat trend has to be biker jackets. I think they look flattering on any body shape, can dress up or down any outfit, can come with shearling linings, are a transitional piece, and are available in all shops from Primark to high end. Zara is the one shop for me that has really nailed this trend this year. Everyone knows someone who owns one of the pastel-coloured faux-leather biker jackets that were so popular at the beginning of the year, and the good news is that they have brought out a new range of winter colours which also come with removable shearling collars. One of the key things to remember when buying your winter coat is that if this is an investment piece, it will need to go with the majority of your wardrobe. However, if you are someone who wants to really take this as an opportunity to experiment with style and express yourself, there are also a huge range of riskier trends which are very big right now – like embroidery, slogans or studs.
@charlottefisher
Sophie Schneider has her say on the Zara - rat controversy
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ast week, Zara was sued after a shocked customer found a decomposing rat sewn inside the hem of her dress. Though the thought of a rodent hanging against one’s thigh is more than just a little disturbing, I’m more interested in the reasons behind the rat’s existence in the dress. Was it sewn in there as an act of defiance, much like the ‘help me’ stitched into a Primark jacket which went viral a few years ago? Or, are the conditions the machinists work in for Zara so inhumane that the rat went simply unnoticed? Unfortunately, I think the answer is both, and today’s consumerist culture is to blame. The problem is that cheap clothing is just so very convenient nowadays, particularly for us students. Primark is the automatic go-to for a white T-shirt social, as is New Look for a cheap pair of underwear, and although I usually hang up my left-wing shoes and accept capital consumerism as societal norms, I will not, and simply cannot, accept our garment industry as it is. In Bangladesh, 3 million people, 85% of whom are women, work in this industry with an average income of £25 a month, which is less than a third of the cost of living. 80% of them work over the legal limit of working hours, and most work 140 hours overtime each month.
“Today’s consumerist culture is to blame. The problem is that cheap clothing is just so very convenient nowadays, particularly for us students” How can we simply push this aside from our minds with distaste, like we do with so much horror in our world when we as consumers are directly responsible? Any involvement in union activity, which has gained popularity since the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster killed 1121 workers in the collapse of the factory linked to Walmart, is punishable by beatings, abuse and the sack. As we know, entire global economies are based on sweatshop labour and it isn’t as simple as making them just disappear. However, the UK government can force retailers to establish better working conditions and a fairer wage with economic sanctions. Foxxcon, for example, has recently improved its working conditions after Apple threatened to use a different supplier. War On Want is an organization to encourage the government to regulate the operation of its companies, and in 2015 they issued a documentary called UDITA which follows the lives of female Bangladeshi garment workers. The women stress their complete incomprehensibility of how consumers keep on buying, despite the truth which emerges from the fires and accidents in sweat shops. Of course, the answer is that it’s cheap and easy. I get it, of course I get it, we’re students with an average budget of £60 a week and it wouldn’t particularly be appropriate to go out in the Northern winter in the nude. I’m not suggesting that we should all take up knitting and crochet an entire wardrobe either, but there are things that you can do: buy local, shop in charity shops, Depop or even eBay. In a time where an evil wotsit is in control of the world’s most powerful empire, we can’t rely on men in suits to make these changes: we must change our consumerist behaviour first.
18. beauty
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Beauty Editors: Miranda Stoner, Ellie Trent & Ellen Walker
You should go and love yourself Pepa Agüera de Haro talks us through how to practice a bit of self loving
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omeone said once that there is no amount of love big enough to fill the void of a person who does not love themselves. But why is so hard to love ourselves? And, what can we do to have a healthy self-esteem? Look around, we live in a world full of stereotypes. The media is constantly bombing us with huge amounts of advertisements which always portrays models with a perfect 90-60-90 body. We are constantly hearing the message that we must be perfect, we must have a gorgeous hair, we must have a face without freckles and we must be skinny enough to fit in the sizes of high street shops. Also, we have to be smart, we must study a degree, we must like doing sports and we must control what we eat. Society burdens us with the pressure to be flawless and we are doing nothing except trying to be who we are not. This also suggests that everyone should be the same, when in reality we are all different, therefore I believe it is time to accept us the way we naturally are. A great beginning is to admit that nobody is perfect. The permanent idealization of other people is very common in those who have a very low self-esteem. Is important to avoid obsessively comparing ourselves to others. Each person is unique. Maybe other people do some things better than you do, however, you also have talents and do some activities better than the others. And that leads to the next step.
“A great beginning is to admit that nobody is perfect” Recognize what you are good at. We are all good at something whether is dancing, studying, doing sports or simply, being a friend. Enjoy what you are good at without thinking about something else. After that, it is crucial to trust yourself and lose fears. When we are prepared to accept who we are, we get to love ourselves. Then we free ourselves from the fears of failure, and that is when the maximum personal development of our abilities occurs. Loving oneself also implies a better knowledge about oneself. It is important to know our limits. It is not necessary to have aspirations and unreal ambitions, but rather to fight day by day to improve as much as possible, but within your possibilities and in a rational measure. One more step is to learn to stop the negative thoughts you have about yourself. Stop thinking that that girl or boy is never going to like you, someone will love you for the way you are and if not, you do you in spite of them. If you aren’t comfortable with yourself then you are bound to feel lonely. It is also important to forget social fronts. Loving oneself is stripping ourselves of masks and conventions. You should not please everyone: if you show yourself as you are, many will appreciate your honesty and enjoy spending time with you. The final step is to dare to be yourself and show yourself just the way you are. Dress the way you like. Act the way you like. Do what you want. Be who you want to be. Loving oneself has nothing to do with sentimentality. This is a rather more serious matter. When we speak of love, we mean the thoughts, words, attitudes and behaviours that we profess to ourselves. Thus, loving involves listening to us, accepting us, respecting us, valuing us and, ultimately, being kind to us at every moment and every situation. So maybe we should change the song, vary the message that we are used to hearing on replay and listen to Christina Aguilera famous song. Because as she said, “we are beautiful, no matter what they say, words Instagram: @chill678 can´t bring us down”.
Under the influence Laura Greatrex discusses who and what influences our choices in the world of beauty
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eauty products are everywhere. We cannot escape the constant bombardment of the next ‘big’ thing in the beauty world, whether it’s a revolutionary automatic makeup brush cleaner, or a mascara that promises to make our lashes one hundred times more voluminous. Since social media has become a significant part of our everyday lives, and beauty brands have exploded bringing out new products what feels like every other day, we are completely spoilt for choice when it comes to purchasing beauty products. One of the main influential powers in the beauty world are celebrities. When Kim Kardashian-West spills the secrets of her perfect contour, all makeup lovers will rush to buy the products in order to imitate her chiselled look. If we see a television advert of Gigi Hadid wearing Maybelline’s latest mascara, everyone will be desperate to get their hands on the product in an attempt to look just a tiny bit as gorgeous as the model herself. Celebrities infiltrate our world through Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, magazines and movies, and so do the beauty products they use.
“Celebrity influence in the beauty world can cause us to completely bypass cheaper products which are just as good”
enough to afford the most expensive beauty products on the market, and their influence in the beauty world can cause us to completely bypass cheaper products which are just as good. Charlize Theron may wear Nar’s £36 Dual Intensity Blush & Highlighter, but in Superdrug last week I picked up a gorgeous and blindingly-pigmented
blush and highlight palette by Makeup Revolution for only £6 - that’s 75p for each stunning shade (if you’re interested in checking this out, it’s called Golden Sugar 2 Rose Gold). Celebrities have the money to afford high-end products, and the time to sit doing nothing while paid makeup artists work their magic, therefore even if we do purchase the same products as them, it’s unlikely we will achieve the same look - especially because
“Choosing make-up products should be influenced by personal choice”
Instagram: @kyliecosmetics Instagram: @beautybynelx
Instagram: @kimkardashian
Twenty-first century culture has brainwashed us to feel pretty smug if we can declare that we use the same £150 face serum as Eva Longoria, or own the lipstick that Arianna Grande rocked in her music video for ‘Side To Side’. But are these products really worth it? Are we buying beauty products for the celebrity association they come with, or for the actual products themselves? It’s easy to forget that all celebrities are loaded
we are all uniquely beautiful in our own way. Another influential and unachievable aspect of the beauty world is Photoshopped adverts. At age thirteen, I religiously used Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse Foundation, hoping my skin would look as airbrushed and perfect as the model’s in their advertisements, when actually I just looked cakey and orange. This unattainable image got me down, until I realised that my choice of product and way of application were both wrong for my skin. I accepted that I would not look as perfect as Maybelline’s digitally altered woman, and have since fallen in love with products which do make my skin look (nearly) flawless. Choosing makeup products should be influenced by personal choice. Buy something because you want to, not because Beyoncé is a fan of it and therefore you must be too! Definitely check out recommendations, whether they’re from celebrities, bloggers or friends, but don’t get caught up in the hype. Save yourself disappointment (and money) by researching products before you buy, to see if they live up their expectations and fulfil the promises in their advertisement. It sounds clichéd but simply choose what will make you happy and confident.
Inking up the dots Susanne Norris explains her views on tatoos and shares her own personal experiences
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hen I tell people I have tattoos, I prepare myself for one of three reactions. You have the people who genuinely love them and think they’re really awesome, the people who make ‘ooh’ sounds to appear polite, and then the occasional one who makes it clear to you they know you’ll regret it one day. Whilst I understand getting ‘One Direction’ tattooed on you may be something you regret in later life (just google it, many a fan-girl has done it) I’m a bit sick of people thinking they have a say on what I should do with my body. People get tattoos for a variety of reasons, and their decision to do so should be theirs and theirs alone.
“It’s your body and you can choose to ink it (or indeed refrain from ink) as much as you like”
I see most of my tattoos as marking moments in my life. I have eight in total, ranging from tiny script on my right rib to a dot-work piece that spans most of my left thigh. Take my left ankle for example. When I was 17 my best friend Elena and I thought it would be a great idea to get ‘Here’s to Us’, lyrics from a song we use to sing to together, tattooed on our ankles. I need to start by straight up saying getting tattooed underage is a bad idea (seriously, it was in some ex-tattoo artist’s shed) and you really shouldn’t do it. I’ll also add the quality of the ink used, needless to say, wasn’t superb. The ‘U’ in ‘Us’ has faded so much it looks more like a ‘L’ now, oops. But you know what? I wouldn’t change it for the world. Elena and I go to different universities now
so it’s a bit tricky to sing together, but that tattoo marks a hilarious and special moment in my life which I shared with my best friend. Every time I look at it I smile and think of all the crazy times we used to have together. However, whilst this one marks an important moment in my life, it’s also totally okay to justify getting a tattoo simply by saying ‘I liked the art-work or design’. Tattooing is a recognised form of art. Some people like looking at Van Gogh paintings in galleries, whilst others like looking at tattoo flash sheets. My second (legal) tattoo I got simply because I fell in love with a flash sheet drawing I saw on Instagram. The result of this is I now have a gorgeous line work lady, naked and covered in flowers and wearing knee-high boots, on my left thigh. People constantly ask me what the meaning is behind her (apparently as she’s naked it must be some sort of lesbian statement) and the answer is quite simply there isn’t one. She’s a beautiful piece of art I wanted on my thigh forever. This goes for my other pinup girl and dot-work thigh pieces too, they’re simply artistic masterpieces I fell in love with. So, there you go. Whilst it’s important to bear in mind a tattoo will be on you forever, it’s also important to let yourself be slightly impulsive. Let yourself get a matching tattoo with your friend, as even if you fall out it will always serve as a reminder of some of the best times you’ve ever had. Also, never feel bad for justifying a new tattoo with ‘I liked the art-work’. It’s your body, and you can choose to ink it (or indeed refrain from ink) as much as you like.
Image: @tattooaddict on Instagram
The Courier
beauty .19
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/beauty Instagram @courier_beauty | Twitter @CourierBeauty
All I want for Christmas Sian Dickie shares her opinions on the latest MAC Cosmetics x Mariah Carey collection
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ts safe to say that MAC is the makeup brand of my heart, its constantly slaying the makeup game and the Christmas collections are to die for! This December, Queen of the nineties, Christmas goddess and all-round diva Mariah Carey is releasing a seasonal collection with the company and now ‘All I Want for Christmas’ is this limited edition collection. I have never been a fan of celebrity collaborations in the past, often they are overrated and are used to bring back a bunch of old, outdated or even discontinued products. Case in point, Rihanna’s ‘Riri’ collection of 2013. The pop singer, included a lack of original products and shades, including renaming the cult beauty product ‘Ruby Woo’ to ‘Riri Woo’ which many people couldn’t differentiate from the established product. However, a year later the brand created, ‘MAC X Brooke Shields’ collection and everyone whose anyone in the makeup world collectively gasped at the delightful and punchy orange themed collection from the eighties star. Unlike ‘Riri’, Shields designed a wearable and chic neutral toned eyeshadow palette with bold rouge lip glosses, much like the shades in Carey’s collection. The packaging however, is nothing like the latest Mariah collection, who did collaborate with MAC previously with a limited edition ‘All I Want’ lipstick last year.
“Mariah has been Mariah with glittering silver packaging”
Yes, unlike Brooke Shields who opted for a minimalistic grey toned packaging, adorned with her orange signature. Mariah has been Mariah with glittering silver packaging. The packaging literally makes the collection the most garish yet desirable Christmas present for any makeup addict in 2016. There will be over 20 pieces available in the collection, including a powder puff body shimmer, which might be interesting for a party as a little
highlight. Something which is high on my shopping list are the Lipglass’ which come in classic pink and honey tones. I never usually gravitate to lipgloss products due to a noughties childhood filled with sticky barbie lipglosses but after trying this formula you’ll be shocked as it doesn’t feel as artificial and as cheap the lipglosses I used to use.
“There are definitely some unique and wearable shades in the collection” Another throwback as all you makeup lovers will know is chocolate, frosted, nineties lipstick which Mariah has reinvented for us in the shade ‘I Get So OOC’. I know what you’re thinking, I have no idea what that means either but it seems that every piece in the range is named after a Mariah phrase or song, something which will be a kick for Carey’s fandom and will just confuse the rest of us. There are definitely some unique and wearable shades in the collection. What is great about Mariah’s range is that it could be worn all year round, meaning that despite the prices of the products, you will get your money’s worth and also have a super cute looking lippy in your bag. The eyeshadows range from deep browns to velvety looking creams and are in gold quads of four, perfect for an on fleek smokey-eye! So are celebrity collections worth it? Well, MAC has had their own ups and downs with celeb collaborations in the past but they unquestionably understand what’ss needed in our Christmas stock-ings this year! They’ve grasped the essence of Mariah in the range, even embossing her face in the bronze-looking highlighter and nothing is ‘too much’ especially when it comes to sparkle. This collection is definitely worth your dollar if you desire the luxe look and since its only around until January it might be worth giving it a look in store over the festive season but trust me there will surely be crowd around the
divas’ Christmas collaboration. The Music legend has certainly reminded us that she is the Queen of Christmas and a makeup connoisseur.
Available for purchase from December 15th Instagram: @mggl11
Instagram: @friday_mews
Lengthy losses Instagram: @pretaeloira
Phoebe Bower tackles the age-old hair length debate and its evolution over the years
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here’s a question I frequently ask myself as I’m getting ready: “What are my good qualities?” Whetherit is going to university with five minutes to spare before my seminar starts or going to Soho Rooms and ordering a couple of blueberry trebles and jägerbombs, getting the night started, the question is there. Looking at myself in the mirror, I am sure it is a question everyone asks themselves. So, what are my good qualities? The first that comes to mind: My long hair. Why? I would like to think I have several good qualities, qualities that make me attractive, so why should the length of my hair matter more than the colour of my eyes? Well, there are a range of reasons why long hair instead of short hair is considered more attractive.
“Women with long hair are considered more likely to be the recipient of male chivalry”
One of the components of attraction is gender recognition. Some body features are gendered, considered more masculine or more feminine. For example, a square jaw is masculine and associated with men. Long hair is feminine and associate with women. This aligning of features with a gender create a mental short cut that speeds gender recognition and increases perceived attractiveness. A woman whose face is similar to that of a man, with a square jaw, would not be thought of typically attractive. Similarly, the first time a man meets a woman with short hair, she may not be as attractive as a woman with long hair because a key
feature of her appearance signals masculinity. Of course, this does not apply to all men. Some prefer the androgynous look or more masculine women. However, the average man finds typically female traits more attractive. This is why long hair, as well as big eyes and a small waist, are portrayed as aspects of the ideal beauty. For example, as Diana Bruk points out “One of the many ways in which all the Disney princesses following the same tired ideal of beauty is that they all have long, thick flowing locks of hair”.
Image: @hair_by_katie_b on Instagram Women with long hair are more likely to be the recipient of male chivalry. Men are almost twice as likely to pick up a glove dropped by a woman with shoulder-length hair, according to the first research to look at hairstyle and behaviour. Men may see long hair as a sign of good health and genes, which cues to men that they have good breeding potential. Historically, long hair has been a symbol of wealth and power, whilst shorter hair has been associated with the less wealthy. As an example, the ancient Greeks had several gods and heroes who
wore their hair long, including Zeus, Apollo, and Poseidon. Most people would never cut their hair once they became adults, and cutting someone’s hair was a penalty for some minor crimes in the Middle Ages. It was not until World War One that short hair for men was introduced, as trench warfare in 1914 to 1918 exposed men to flea and lice infestations. This established the military tradition of short hair which was imitated by the civilians.
“Historically, long hair has been a symbol of wealth and power, whilst shorter hair has been associated with the less wealthy”
This tradition of long hair on women is starting to change however. The short haircuts trend sweeping the UK in the Spring-Summer of 20162017 promote the bob and the pixie cut, as seen on celebrities like Carey Mulligan, her hair having plenty of layers and a wispy fringe, and Lily Collins, sporting an edgy pixie cut. It’s different and although this article has spent the first two thirds explaining why long hair is considered as typically more attractive, it does not mean that short hair does not work. Short hair is different, shows confidence (cutting your hair is very daring, particularly if you’ve never done it before), it accentuates your face (By showing it off ) and its practical (Keeps your hair out of your way). Whatever length your hair, it’s all a part of the larger package which is you, so make sure you’re happy with the whole look, not just one small percentage.
Christmas beauty wish list Rebecca Jones talks about the beauty products she hopes will be in her Christmas stocking this year
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hristmas is the time of year where you can ask for all those beauty wishes that you might class as essentials, but many other people wouldn’t. If you’re an all beauty product lover like myself, your Christmas list is always overcrowded with those ‘essential’ items. The first thing on my list this year is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, £59, available at SpaceNK. This is one of the best selling hourglass products, the palette containing three shades. The first one is the classic Dim Light, then Radiant light and a new limited edition shade Incandescent light. This highlighting palette has a range of uses. Each individual colour has a different purpose. The Incandescent light is a pearl powder which highlights the cheekbones and brightens the overall complexion, giving a holiday glow. The Dim light shade is a neutral peach shade which blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion. Finally the radiant light shade is a sun-kissed golden beige powder with a subtle warmth which enhances the overall complexion. My second item is a definite essential for me, Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, £31. This is my holy grail foundation. I’ve tried to venture away and to try new foundations but always end up coming back to this. Marketed at a higher end price you expect good things and this does not disappoint. This foundation creates a luminous, satin-like finish with a sheer to medium coverage. It’s perfect.
“I’ve tried to venture away and to try new foundations but always end up coming back to this” The next thing is the Charlotte Tilbury filmstar Bronze & Glow, £49. This two part palette has one side of a perfect bronze colour: a perfect blend of pearl and pigment to contour features and mimic a natural sun kissed tan. The other highlighter side of it has a golden base which flatters any skin tone. It uses light flex technology to capture light and radiate it out for a luminous complexion.
Image: @bonjsecond Switching from higher end brands to the drugstore, NYX has really blown up and I’m dying to get my hands on the Butter Lip Gloss. This gloss is described as a buttery-soft silky gloss that has a taste as sweet as sugar, whilst the high-shine formula leaves lips glamorous and luscious for a mere £5. As a student we all know how hot the clubs can get, so this year I’m putting the Urban Decay All Night Long-lasting makeup setting spray, £22, on my list. If your makeup coming off is ruining your night out you need to get your hands on this. This weightless spray keeps your makeup firm in place for up to 16 hours. A must-have if I say so myself. Something else that is nearly as important as the makeup is the moisturiser that you’re putting underneath it. A personal favourite of mine if the Origins GinZing energy boosting moisturiser, £24. This moisturiser is a hydrating cream that revs up radiance. It’s a lightweight, oil-free skin energy drink which has skin boosters such as Panax Ginseng and Coffee Bean which jump starts hydration.
20. arts
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Arts Editors: Tamsin Daisy Rees, Jonathan Hastings & Meg Holtom
IMMORTALITY
James and the Giant peachy peach
The weekly showcase of Newcastle University talent Charlotte Hill indulges in the work of Roald Dahl with Northern Stage’s latest production GEORGE STEWART MORNING PEOPLE ILLUSTRATOR
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eep in the depths of student living it’s easy to forget that alternative generations do actually exist, and with it a whole other world of experience and art. It’s important that we don’t disconnect ourselves from what doesn’t happen immediately under our nose, so I went to see James and the Giant Peach at the Northern stage. Almost every member from our generation will have experienced the wonder of Roald Dahl during their childhood- whether through the medium of his incredible language within his books, or through the later film adaptations and experimentations with music. Considering his amazing ability to understand and excite the mind of a child with language and absurdity, it’s hard to deny he is an incredible literary father to many of us, so even if I make out I went to this play to make some pretentious remarks about theatre, it was partly just an opportunity to relive my childhood under the adult mask of journalist.
“The actors brilliantly brought to life the quirky characters we have grown to know and love” Directed by Mark Calvert, the play took place first on November 19 and is running until the 31
of December. The most obvious comment to be made is on the ingeniously crafted set, which was able to play the streets of London or New York, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker’s home or garden, under the sea, the beach and of course, a peachinside or out. It was reasonably minimalistic, bar a tree, and relied instead on shape, light and how the space was used to convey location and plot. This production did not patronise its audience (who were sat in a combination of traverse and proscenium), understanding that the imagination of a child performs the majority of the work for them.
“James, played by Stan Hodgson, gave a relatable character to whom the children could admire”
The actors brilliantly brought to life the quirky characters we have grown to know and love; all of the insects, as well as the two aunties, retained their vibrant personalities, whilst dressed in cleverly engineered costumes, which were the perfect addition to an already aesthetically brilliant production. They were supported by a constantly busy cast, multi rolling as children, sharks and press who showed obscene talent to stitch together a piece which relied almost entirely on human labour. And of course James, played
by Stan Hodgson, gave a relatable character to whom the children could admire. Did I mention they were also all playing musical instruments?
“This stunning production certainly did justice to Roald Dahl, capturing the most important essence of his writing: imagination”
The most fantastic thing about this play was the interaction and the consequent response from the delighted children in the audience. Bubbles, puppets and giant inflatable balls were just some of the things bouncing off the stage, combined with scooters and dialogue that involved the children to an extent that they were getting up from their seats. This stunning production certainly did justice to Roald Dahl, capturing the most important essence of his writing: imagination. It was bombarded with comedy, excitement, extravagance and fun that excited and involved children. If we want to keep working towards theatre that is inclusive, it is essential that young children are not intimidated by concept of sitting still. This production proves that theatre can be fun and universal. “James and the Giant Peach, a new adaptation of the much loved Roald Dahl story. SAT 19 NOV - SAT 31 DEC”
Our North East Pick of the Week: ALPHABETTI SOUP Carys Rose Thomas gives us the lowdown on the top theatre performance of the week Cartoonist, sign writer, graffiti artist, illustrator, animator, international zine maker, anonymous cool guy. The pieces here are a social commentary on Newcastle’s nightlife, in all its puking, gritty, flashy beauty. They might not be pretty, but they’re real. I will be exhibiting them in Kentish town next January, along with other Newcastle based artists. You can see my work on the streets of Newcastle, if it’s not been buffed over. My zine ‘Mild Disappointment’ is coming out soon, we’re having a launch party to celebrate. Come if you like zines, I’m pretty proud of it. Peace and love, Morning People
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s I semi-sprinted through the rain and manically searched for the entrance to The Alphabetti Theatre (once you’ve found the blue gate, you know you’ve got it), I had no clue what to expect from the evening. In all honesty, I just decided to go along because I thought it had a cracking name. I was lead down into a cosy quirky bar area and then into the theatre. It’s probably the smallest theatre I’ve ever been in, but the intimate atmosphere of the venue seemed to somewhat break down the wall between performer and audience and made for a comfortable, interactive atmosphere. Alphabetti Soup is essentially a mixed bunch of talent (or ‘metaphorical vegetables’) mixed together in one lovely metaphorical bowl of soup of an evening. It
is a monthly event run at The Alphabetti Theatre, this month’s featured three fantastic poets (most memorable was the hilariously original Rowan McCabe) and the comical genius of Spontaneous Wrecks, as well as entrancing music from Aether.
“Alphabetti Soup is essentially a mixed bunch of talent mixed together in one lovely metaphorical bowl of soup of an evening”
When writing reviews of shows for The Courier, I usually try to pick out a certain special feature of an
event/show to sort of attribute a ‘shout out’ to, but with this month’s Alphabetti Soup I really couldn’t choose between the acts. All were brilliantly original and brought something different to the evening. One thing I especially appreciated about the evening was how inspired I was by the originality of all of the performers’ various works - to say the tickets were only £5, the content of the evening was worth so much more - I’d have paid to see any of those performers individually, let alone all in one show. Coincidentally, the next ‘Alphabetti Soup’ falls on New Year’s Eve. So if you’re at ends for a good way to say goodbye to the big bully of a year that has been 2016 and are looking for ways to welcome in the New Year, I would definitely recommend.
The Courier
arts .21
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/arts c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk | Instagram: @CourierArts
Do you really need to see art in the flesh?
Rose Mansworth discusses how technology has given us the power to be our own curators
WHAT’S DOON IN THE TOON
7 December
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he geographic distribution of arts funding in England has long prioritised London, and since the Newcastle City Council implemented huge funding cuts to galleries and venues in 2012, the visual arts scene has been under threat in the North East. Whilst the digital age ensures the continued circulation of art online, can it compensate for our decline in access to the real thing? There is an inarguable contrast between the digital experience and that which takes place in the flesh. Flattened into two dimensions, it follows that the more sculptural elements of art, such as texture, lose some of their effect, and crucial details such as the scale and technical skill can become lost entirely. Sufferers of Stendhal syndrome might call it the difference between seeing and feeling a piece, as this phenomenon describes individuals who experience an overwhelming emotional and physical response to art viewed first-hand. Causing symptoms of disorientation, increased heartrate and sometimes collapse, the illness takes its name from the nineteenth century French author Stendhal, who upon visiting the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, reported a response to Giotto’s frescoes which bordered on spiritual transcension: ‘Absorbed in the contemplation of sublime
Kayt Hughes: My 5 Year Old Could have done that @ Gallery North 18.00
beauty... I reached the point where one encounters celestial sensations... Everything spoke so vividly to my soul (…) Life was drained from me. I walked with the fear of falling.’
“There is an inarguable contrast between the digital experience and that which takes place in the flesh” Although there has not yet been a consensus among psychiatrists as to whether this condition is ‘real’, it is real enough for it’s alleged sufferers to have required immediate medical treatment, and in more rare cases, long term treatment for the onset of depression. The confirmed existence of such a disorder would affirm that there is a severe disconnect between the experience of viewing an image on screen and encountering it personally; the digital format diluting the power of the artist’s expression and the viewer’s capacity to respond viscerally. What the digital experience lacks in depth, though, it could be said to compensate for in convenience and scope. At least as often as I am captivated by a piece of art in a gallery, I feel somewhat
indifferent- whereas researching the categories, periods and movements which appeal to me online, I can be almost certain I will come across a piece which resonates. In this way, technology has given us the power to be our own curators, unearthing bodies of work which cater more specifically to our individual tastes than the confines of a gallery can. Importantly, digitalisation also gives us the option to experience art within the privacy of the home, making it more accessible to audiences who might otherwise feel excluded from the historically elite space of the gallery. Although the upper classes continue to dominate both production and reception, the internet diversifies audiences and enables the extension of art into popular culture. It would be difficult to contest that the most explosive of interactions between artworks and their viewers depend on the physical presence of both, but with attendance in art galleries across England increasing each year, digitalisation appears only to have strengthened communications between artists and the general public. So those of us living in the North East shouldn’t feel too culturally deprived- anybody with access to an internet search engine has inestimable galleries of art at their fingertips, which they can use to decide whether they are stimulated enough to visit the real thing.
We need to reclaim feminism in visual culture
Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward gives us a brief history of the manic pixie dream girl
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eminism in visual culture seems to be having a mini renaissance. There’s no shortage of books, plays, art, films and TV shows dedicated to portraying women as strong, independent, quirky, cool, confident, beautiful and interesting, with close friends and a fulfilling, interesting love life. And this is great; I love watching things that make me feel great to be a woman! But while female characters thrive as well rounded, equal individuals in the company of other women, things tend to fall apart when they are directly confronted with a man, particularly when it comes to dating. It starts with this familiar scene. The female character works hard at everything, is generally nice and has a multitude of other cool and quirky features. Then ‘The Guy’ appears, who possesses just one of these cool and quirky features: maybe he reads, maybe
he cooks, maybe he cares about roman pottery. So the girl with many varied interests responds with ‘oh, you like one of my many hobbies too? How interesting that I, an all-rounder, would be interesting to you!’ And here is the root of all evil. The female character, for all her wit and coolness, has not been given the power to see these things within herself. The guy however, can see his own coolness in himself and becomes the more dominant character. And so, without anyone meaning for it to happen, the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ is born. The MPDG is not a new concept—it’s been a literary staple for millennia, albeit without the catchy name. Coined in 2005 by film critic Nathan Rabin, it can be described as a female character existing solely to coax the male character out of their shell by being interesting and funny, but ultimately not as successful as the man. Even the phrase makes my skin crawl. Just because a character has her own thoughts, she’s described as ‘manic’. But we can’t have a female character with her own thoughts … I know, lets demean her by naming her after something small and powerless, like a pixie! Aah yes, that completes the ‘dream girl’—opinionated enough to hold a conversation but still ultimately less powerful than her male counterparts. Suddenly the interesting heroine becomes less than equal. She is fetishized, pined after. From reading books,
seeing plays, watching romantic films, the male characters act as if interesting women are a rare breed and hard to find. However, stories made exclusively about women tell a different story. What is interesting is that these two genres are both aimed at women! This differentiation between the two conflicting genres is symptomatic of the real world. As women, we know we are every bit as smart and cool as any other gender, but must deal with the realities of this not being recognised in society. Yes feminism in films is getting better, but we’ve still got a long way to go. In order to close this gap we need to own our MPDG-ness. We are multi-faceted and cool and we are equal in every way. Lets reclaim ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ as our own. Opinionated, but not your dream. We are your nightmare.
Calling to court: the case of the Theatre vs. Mr. Trump
Revolution is in the air: Benj Eckford tells us how diversity is fighting back against hell
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amilton is a brilliant musical, albeit one you may not have heard of. It’s not hugely popular on this side of the Atlantic, as it is a biography of Alexander Hamilton (one of the Founding Fathers of the United States) who few Brits have ever heard of. While we learn about the Battle of Hastings,
“Trump is authoritarian enough, but Pence has no respect for the fundamental concepts of American constitutional liberty so richly portrayed in Hamilton” American kids learn about their revolution, and the way that citizens’ struggle against tyrannical
government has shaped American identity ever since. On 18 November this year, Vice Presidentelect Mike Pence attended a performance of Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. The performance itself was overshadowed by the cast choosing to address Governor Pence at the end of the show, with Brandon Victor Dixon telling Pence ‘we are the diverse America…defend us and uphold our inalienable rights…uphold our American values’. This was a powerful statement, referring to the exact words of the Constitution, promising every American ‘the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’. Because of his running mate’s barrage of offensive comments, it has slipped under the radar for many people what kind of man Mike Pence is. Not only was he not bothered by Trump’s comments and happy to be his deputy, he also has a horrible record of his own. As Governor of Indiana, he has been far harsher than he need be. He has personally instigated leg-
islation designed to obstruct a woman’s right to choose (guaranteed by federal law) and unnecessarily passed a law meaning that any same-sex couple that applied for a marriage licence could be imprisoned, as could any registrar who gave them one. Thankfully a Supreme Court ruling rendered this illegal. Trump is authoritarian enough, but we must also mention that Pence has no respect for the fundamental concepts of American constitutional libertysorichlyportrayed in Hamilton.
7 December
HIATUS hosted by M I L K @ The Holy Biscuit 18.00
8-17 December
The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes @ Live Theatre 20.00
10 December
NORTHERN LINES - collaborative exhibition @ LOST ARCH 11.00-17.00
SALTY CLASSICS OLLIE BURTON: “Fuck Roger, the sadistic arse”
What classic do you tell everyone to read, and why? Oh, the tyranny of choice. Those who know me will hardly be surprised, but I think Orwell’s 1984 is a bastion of independent thought in a time when we need it most. Regardless of where you fall on the political compass, take heed and keep your wits about you. What’s the most overhyped classic? I found Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn incredibly tedious and ultimately a chore to get through. There are occasional entertaining passages but unfortunately a trend of the time seems to have been simply describing the various tediums of late 19th century living. What classic do you lie about having read? Pride and Prejudice – I’ve read analyses, seen stage shows and film adaptations, and at no point did I give the slightest mind as to what was transpiring before me. I simply don’t care anymore, certainly not enough to try and digest the original text. Snog, marry, kill the characters in the last classic you read. Difficult, because I re-read Golding’s Lord of the Flies, which is mostly populated by children. To stay out of prison, I’ll snog the severed pig’s head (without onlookers, obviously), marry the corpse of the fighter pilot, and definitely kill Roger, because fuck Roger, the sadistic arse. From two different classics, what is your likely ship? Deckard from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and any one of Kurt Vonnegut’s Tralfamadorians - I think a nice combination of existential dread and fatalism would ensue, which makes me
22. music
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Music Editors: Sophie Ahmed, Serena Bhardwaj & Ben Grundy
Toon In Calum Trenaman reviews student band Dome Hall at Little Buildings
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ith Little Buildings packed with an eager audience who have been made to wait since May for their second gig, the band did not disappoint. With new songs and a longer set, it was everything we’d hoped for. The crowd were hyped up by support act Ronald Raygun, I think one of the best band names I’ve ever heard. I can’t put my thumb on what genre they could be best described with; their SoundCloud describes them as ‘somewhere in-between the poles of jazz, disco, psych, funk and electro’. Not all the members could make it up from Manchester but hugely talented frontman Sam Kennedy made their presence unnecessary as he thrilled on his own with the band’s individual brand of music. I definitely recommend giving them a listen. Before we knew it the trip was over and Dome Hall were setting up.
“The chemistry between the boys is immediately apparent”
At their first gig in May the Newcastle Uni students were just a standard quartet, but recently have grown to a sextet, giving them an extra added dimension to their music. The chemistry between the boys is immediately apparent, and a buzz between them remains for the entirety of their set. After the upbeat tunes of Ronald Raygun, there was a chance that their slow starting and heartfelt brand of indie could be the comedown none of us wanted. However, instead it worked as the perfect foil. The sounds of the respective bands played off each other, dropping down to begin with, only to build to another crescendo. The opening song ‘Arrest Me’ eases the audience into their set, bringing back the buzz of the end of Ronald Raygun’s set, starting slowly but by the end rocking with drummer Dom Hall being given freedom to express himself which, in other songs, is limited to soft accompaniment. ‘Ivy’ follows this. Lead guitarist Sam McDougall leads them into the song which has a sound reminiscent of the twanging guitar of Johnny Marr and the opening to a Cure song. Danny Lynd’s vocals stayed strong throughout the performance. Don’t think this is just another indie singer though. The more I listened to it, the more it seemed like the return of Jeff Buckley.
“If you haven’t listened to these guys yet, I heartily recommend giving them a listen and coming to their next gig”
The guitar dominated sound continued in the melancholic ‘Song for C’, however accompanied by the support of Matt Edge’s keyboard and Olly Brooks’ saxophone. Their cover of Whitney’s ‘Dave’s Song’ took the performance to a new level with them all playing together in beautiful harmony. Their cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright’ was another highlight of the night. The last songs of the night topped off a fantastic set. The penultimate, ‘Sugarray’, was a lullaby combination of Lynd’s vocals with bassist Matty Floyd supporting his vocals in mirror. They “encored” with ‘Nason M’. The song was of a similar sound to the rest of the night, but much like their covers, the band really came together and in this case seemed to transcend the event itself. It combined the flavours and feels of all the songs of their set, rounding off the night with a pumped up and ecstatic crowd. If you haven’t listened to these guys yet, I heartily recommend giving them a listen and coming to their next gig.
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Yeezus Christ, Kan-ye not?
Following Kanye West’s recent antics including endorsing Donald Trump and hospitalisation, Charlie Isaac asks if there’s concern or if his motive some what more sinister?
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h Kanye. It was only a matter of time until his bizarre antics once again flooded our feeds. While one can fondly recall an era when the rapper’s infamous interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance at the 2009 VMAs constituted the height of his crimes, Kanye has since undoubtedly upped his game. There have been endless, endless petty feuds with fellow celebrities. He has requested Mark Zuckerberg bail him out of his alleged $53 million debt. He has made multiple claims to be the “the greatest living rock star on the planet”. Though, personally, I would have thought the ability to play guitar and sing without auto-tune would be prerequisites for the title.
part; publicity stunts to firmly retain his spot in the limelight. These recent unhinged outbursts appear more the result of a huge amount of stress combined with a monumental sense of self-worth. It is important to keep in mind that Kanye is, after all, only human. He is a human with an ego the size of a small planet, but a human nonetheless. Actively maintaining an enormous profile for
over a decade is enough to make anyone go a bit crazy, plus one should keep in mind this meltdown occurred shortly after his wife was robbed at gunpoint; a stressful situation even ignoring the fact it made headlines across the western world.
“His quite frankly baffling support for Trump is at odds with his previous comments on civil rights” However, at the end of the day it is difficult to feel too much sympathy for a man who can afford his own private jet several times over. Hospitalisation for ‘exhaustion’ is something the majority of us have undoubtedly wished for at some point or another, the difference being that most of us don’t have the luxury to do so. His quite frankly baffling support for Trump is completely at odds with his previous comments on civil rights (though I suppose living under the regime of an absurdly racist demagogue is fine when you’re too rich and influential to be affected). Storming off stage after two songs? That’s just unprofessional; when people have paid extortionate amounts to see you perform, you bloody well owe them a performance! Though give it a couple of years, Kanye will have inevitably released a new album chronicling the immense struggle of this episode. And, inevitably, it will be annoyingly good. I suppose what I’m saying is, like it or not, Kanye’s not going anywhere anytime soon. All we can do in the meantime is blast Yeezus on full volume and await his next meltdown.
“He is a human with an ego the size of a small planet, but a human nonetheless”
Like a surreal parody of contemporary celebrity culture, his erratic onstage behaviour over the past week – devolving from standard Kanye nonsense to endorsement of Trump, cancellation of his tour and finally hospitalisation – is, while still abnormal, hardly surprising. However, something about this latest episode feels different. It seems less amusing; more sinister perhaps, though, just as self-absorbed. I believe the difference is control, or rather lack thereof. Is it a coincidence that Kanye loudly proclaimed to be in $53 million debt and launched into another tiresome round of ‘Twitter beef ’ just as The Life of Pablo was released? Previous instances of controversy have been calculated moves on Kanye’s
An Ocean of Award Ceremonies
Frank Ocean is boycotting the 2017 Grammy’s so Katie Eddison reflects on award ceremonies and whether or not they are relevant in the musical era we’re in today
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ward ceremonies seem to always be surrounded by controversy of some sort and next year’s Grammy’s have already started to live up to that expectation. American musician Frank Ocean has made the decision not have his music represented at the 2017 Grammy Awards, despite its blazing success, because of the lack of representation in the award business. Ocean finally returned in August, after a notable four year absence, with Blonde, his second studio album. The hype and success surrounding it makes his decision to abstain from the Grammy selection even more of a powerful statement.
“Award ceremonies are too narrow to be relevant”
In a New York Times interview Ocean accepted that the institution of the Grammys may be important but explained that they ‘don’t represent people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down’. His point that in the past thirty years only six black artists have won a Grammy brings into question whether award ceremonies are really relevant to modern music. Part of me wonders whether awards like the Grammys are slowly becoming a thing of the past, recently they have just become a drama-filled show (e.g. Nicki Minaj’s iconic ‘Miley what’s good?’ moment and Kanye West vs. Taylor Swift in 2009). A lot of the award shows are catered to a younger audience, focusing on the ‘Top 40’ rather than as an actual celebration of the diverse music out there. MTV may be guiltier of this than others but many of them can be accused of just replacing musical talent with scandal in order to get people talking.
“Modern award shows don’t seem to be able to recognise music’s diverse and wide-ranging nature”
Not only are they overly dramatic, the lack of representation puts them out of touch of huge parts with the music scene. The American Music Awards last week saw Ariana Grande given the title of Artist of the Year while three of the five other nominees were pop artists. Modern award shows don’t seem to be able to recognise music’s diverse and wide-ranging nature and arguably they are just promotional opportunities for the music industry rather than something which actually honours the work that artists put into their music.
“Ocean isn’t the first to boycott or criticise an award ceremony and definitely won’t be the last” But what does Frank Ocean’s kind of protest really mean for the music award industry? His gesture may be a subtle one but the impact it could have on other artists and the message it sends could suggest that maybe award ceremonies are too narrow to be relevant. The American Music Awards had their lowest ever figures in the show’s history and though the Grammys are often more successful in this respect it doesn’t really mean that
they’re necessary. If they aren’t being representative of the wide range of music available to them are they losing their purpose? Ocean isn’t the first artist to boycott or criticise an award ceremony and definitely won’t be the last but on the other hand the recent AMAs provided Green Day with the opportunity to chant ‘No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA’ in the middle of their performance. Award shows may not be representative of music but they clearly provide the perfect platform to make a protest.
The Courier
music .23
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk
Glory Days by Little Mix U
npopular opinion: I fucking love shit chart music. I love Capital radio. The only reason I like going to the gym is for MTV playing the top 20 charts on repeat. I wholeheartedly, unironically love One Direction, Justin Bieber, Olly Murs and I’m seriously into Zayn’s solo album at the minute. Partly in reaction to a terrible boy I went out with when I was 16 - he despised Kate Nash who was my second love, after Avril Lavigne of course, and was convinced Bob Dylan was quite literally our musical saviour in 2011- and partly because it’s fucking fun. Who can say hand on heart they don’t bloody love a good dance, or a drive in the car with metro radio blasting? So, in the name of journalism, I have spent the last 45 minutes scavenging through Little Mix’s latest album Glory Days and my sister just came into my room and asked “how does it feel to be Little Mix’s biggest fan?” I feel like I’m at a sleepover. I’m giggly and hysterical and have narrowed down the very best ones, so you don’t have to. You are very, very welcome.
“I feel like I’m at a sleepover I’m giggly and hysterical”
Starting off: ‘Shout out to my ex’. Where do we even start? A catchy, brilliant, classic pop song. Lets also not forget their memorable performance on the X Factor earlier this year (obviously a reference to our Zayn and Perrie’s conscious uncoupling *cough*) which demonstrated the integrity and girl power vibes intrinsic to the band as they were totally into and supportive of one another. Well done Little Mix. You go girls. Although ‘Oops’ sounds like something you’ve heard before (Maroon 5, The Spice Girls, Britney Spears) it is actually their best song and I would VOLUNTARILY listen to it again. Featuring Charlie Puth, Little Mix have created an impressive metaphysical hybrid of a retro 90’s vibe with a definite hint of High School Musical. ‘Your love’ is
the perfect accompaniment to a glass of pink wine. Terrible lyrics but 100% will listen to again A LOT. Excellent cooking or showering song. Potentially a great make out song too (but only after a bottle of Lambrini). ‘Freak’ is an odd one. You could totally imagine cyborgs singing the opening ‘You don’t get these kisses for free’. I imagine this song is what Cosmopolitan magazine would recommend as part of a feminist anthem playlist before you go out on the town.
Tamsin Daisy Rees
Bruno Mars
Metallica
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“The record inarguably glimmers with the gold suggested by its title”
It’s obvious that Mars has really hit his stride with his third full-length album, and coming in at just over half an hour – with only nine tracks – 24K Magic certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome. Despite the slower tunes dominating the track-list that little bit too much, the record inarguably glimmers with the gold suggested by its title. Tom Cooney
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his weekend I endured a painful 5-hour train journey home to Norwich, including an hour layover in Peterborough, also referred to as the ‘Station of Satan’ due to its hellish and depressing attributes. Managing to board all the correct trains this time unlike my last venture home, I arrived by 6:30, was pre-drinking by 8, and walking up to UEA LCR by 10:30 to witness the wonder of TQD – Royal T, DJ Q, Flava D. I felt lucky that this event tied in with my family trip home as I was totally oblivious to them playing Newcastle a few months back, and missed them at Leeds Festival this year due to being a massive baby and going to bed early on the last night, so I finally got to see what all the hype was about. If I could sum up the experience in one word, it would simply be “fun”. Apart from the slightly below average use of sound system, there were good people, a good atmosphere, and dutty bassline mashups throughout the entirety of the set. I didn’t feel the urge to cop out for a cigarette break at any point due to bangers being thrown out left right and centre, totally engaging me for the trio’s hour and a half presence. The only annoying thought was wishing I had manned the hell up at Leeds to go see there much longer, much dirtier set at Relentless Stage - but I really do hope there’ll be a next time. The talent downstairs in Room 2 was also surprisingly good, with local DJ resident ‘Bean’ stealing away the crowd for the first hour or so of the night, with tamer Cosmic Ballroom-like vibes.
After a strong start, unfortunately there are a few… anomalies. ‘Down and Dirty’, ‘Power’, and ‘Touch’ are just fucking awful. Like really really bad. I’m sorry Little Mix, I couldn’t listen to them all the way through. Nonetheless; Little Mix reflects perfectly the millennial generation: our tastes are broad, and we engage and submerse ourselves in a range of genres. I think its also important to consider the misogynistic agenda of the media, and the clearly sexist narrative being perpetuated that they are not as ‘groundbreaking’ as One Direction despite the fact they actually WON X Factor and are a successful girl band in their own right. Lets be fair, all pop music is pretty much a pile of wank. But at least its not pretentious wank.
Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
o say that Bruno Mars’ latest effort – 24K Magic – serves as a major throwback album almost seems like an understatement. Each track on the record is dripping with a sound reminiscent of everything from late-70s Electro Funk to smooth 90s R&B. Mars pulls it off with his typically diamond-encrusted flair. A clear example of this style can be found in the album’s title track, with a beat so infectious it rivals his 2014 Mark Ronson collaboration ‘Uptown Funk’. Clearly, much of this album’s style has stemmed from that hit and it’s not hard to see why, with it being one of the best-selling songs of the 21st Century. This upbeat sound continues through the album’s next few tracks – ‘Chunky’ and ‘Perm’ – until the beat mellows out for the very 90s ‘That’s What I Like’. It’s a different kind of call-back, but Mars still pulls it off seamlessly, as he does with the similarly slow ‘Versace on the Floor’. This track gives Mars a chance to really showcase his voice, with vocals immediately evoking the sound of Michael Jackson. However, these slow and steamy jams do eventually become slightly repetitive after a while. By the time late-album track ‘Calling All My Lovelies’ comes around, the style feels old, with Mars perhaps relying too heavily on his listeners’ nostalgia for the genre. Halle Berry’s surprise appearance here does make it kind of epic, though.
Ellie Phillips uses a trip home as an excuse to rave to UK Garage’s finest trio and urges us to skank to Mungo’s Hifi
“Little Mix perfectly reflect the millennial generation”
24K Magic
m I Savage yet? No, you’re not James Hetfield and, at 53, I don’t see you ever becoming ‘savage’. The stars have aligned in 2016 for METALLICA to finally release another album in the form of Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, their first album since Death Magnetic. I’ll be honest with you, it’s not bad, but also not very good. If I was to place Hardwired with another METALLICA album it would go alongside both Load and Reload. There are one or two standout songs to head bang to but the rest sound samey. It’s not bad musically; it’s just dull and uninventive. Maybe I’m comparing this new album too much to the three masterpieces from the Cliff Burton era, but I find it hard to believe that the band who produced metal such as ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’ and ‘Seek and Destroy’ now make generic hard rock like ‘Confusion’ and ‘Now That We’re Dead’.
“It’s not bad but also not very good”
If you do want to listen to some decent heavy metal/hard rock, Hardwired isn’t the worst choice. The title track ‘Hardwired’ deserves credit for being one of the best songs METALLICA have wrote this century - not like that is a challenging task. It’s the one true thrash metal song on the album which reminded me of classic METALLICA we all know and love. ‘Am I Savage’ also features an excellent riff and is, all in all, a pretty good song. After those two songs though, there’s nothing which really stood out. Listening to Hardwired reminded me of when I used to listen to Reload over and over. There are memorable songs like ‘Fuel’ and ‘The Memory Remains’ but, after those, I couldn’t name another. Hardwired feels the same. I hate to be negative towards Metallica as I love them, but I got nothing from this album. Hardwired… to Self-Destruct isn’t worth buying, but there are a few decent songs. Sam Blackburn
Electronic Blanket
You need to hear: Eats Everything
Woman
Justice
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haring a label with artists like the more abrasive Sebastian and Mr. Oizo, Justice has always seemed like Ed Banger Records’ most conventional - and, coincidentally or not, their most popular - artist, adding nothing particularly new to standard dance formulas. Wo man shatters these assumptions, trouncing their sophomore effort (Audio, Video, Disco) with a bare-faced emulation of old-school disco and funk, which oddly feels like their most authentic effort yet. Each track is a measured evolution of sonic landscapes we’ve all heard before, but it’s done so well one can hardly mind. ‘Safe and Sound’, the opener, instantly recalls the seventies with its choral vocals and tight slap bass and the album continues on as a marriage of the retro and the modern. Justice basks in the analogue, the imperfect, and balances it with slick modern production that never threatens to appropriate the spotlight. Even the songwriting seems to originate from another era, particularly on tracks like ‘Pleasure’ and ‘Randy’ but neither of these songs feel laboured or false. There’s something euphoric about Justice’s grasp on harmony, as with Fire’s tight chorus and the fantastical progressions of ‘Alakazam!’, the latter of which seems to affectionately call back to Giorgio Moroder. Though the bulk of the album boasts some wonderful guest vocalists and layer upon layer of polished, polyphonic funk, it’s the instrumentals that make up the strongest moments; Justice are able to experiment more freely on the Tangerine Dream-esque ‘Chorus’ and ‘Close Call’, or the obnoxiously baroque ‘Heavy Metal’, a track that doesn’t quite sit smoothly with the rest of the record (though it does ensure the band never grows too repetitive or outstays their welcome) but which, individually, is a masterpiece of symbiotically bold sound design. Jess Weisser
If you know anything about modern house then you probably don’t even need to be told about this guy, but here it goes anyway. Bristol-based producer Eats Everything (also known as Daniel Pearce) has been on the scene since 2011 with his first EP Entrance Song. Since then he’s produced a multitude of praise-worthy mixes, appearing in Boiler Room sets and featuring at festivals all across Europe, as well as winning his second DJ Mag Award for Best British DJ just last year. And if you’re still reading this thinking “who the hell is this guy?”, just type in ‘Dancing (Again)’ into Spotify to be reminded of that banger of a track you probably heard in the club just last week. Eats Everything is everywhere, and it’s not a surprise with the quality of talent and personal flare he infuses into each of his tracks, like the bizarre and upbeat vibes of ‘Moog for Love’, to the more synth beach party tones of ‘Big Discs’. Here’s hoping that Newcastle can get him booked in soon so that everyone can experience the fun first hand.
Listen to: Eats Everything - Moog For Love Preview: Lively Up Presents: Mungos
“Here’s hoping that Newcastle can get him booked in soon so that everyone can experience the fun” Hi-Fi Xmas Skank! Friday 9th December at World Headquarters With term ending on December 16th, it only seems fitting to enjoy as many festivities as possible with your flat mates, course mates, the people of Newcastle etcetera etcetera before we all return to our respectable home counties. So, be sure to get the drinks in and rock up at World HQ this week for a dub filled night of treats. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, come together and jump up quickly for a night of fun and dance. Go follow us on intagram for live gig updates, fun pic-
24. featuremusic
Monday 5 December 2016
Music Editors: Sophie Ahmed, Serena Bhardwaj & Ben Grundy
S ’ R E I R U O C E H T
NEW
F O S D N SOU
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o bands t d n a r a new ye e h t f o : soundlsdomination w e n r u you oventual globa g n i r b We h out for e watc
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he hottest thing to come out of Reading since The Hoosiers, The Amazons are quickly becoming one of the biggest bands to hit 2016. The band toured with The Kooks and embarked on their own headline tour in 2015, after releasing their single ‘Junk Food Forever’, produced by Catherine Marks (White Lies, Wolf Alice). A throwback to the rock legends of old, The Amazons are exactly what the 2017 music scene needs. A fresh and exciting young band, their music if full of earthshattering riffs and melodic guitar solos. Bringing sounds of Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, their new single ‘In My Mind’ is a perfect example of the amazing debut album that awaits us. Only recently formed in 2014, the band have already achieved what many other new bands would only dream of. Having cemented their place on the BBC Sound of 2017 Playlist, this band have well and truly paved the way for a successful and eventful 2017. The Amazons will be in Newcastle on 15th December at Think Tank. If you get chance, you really should check them out because soon their tickets will be costing a hell of a lot more.
The Courier
S N O Z A M THE A HOLLOWS SLOW S BøRN S KHAN DINGU XR MOTHTERFEIT COUN OUNDS BAD S GRACIE ISAAC
n a h k dingus W
e Isaac Charli
here should I start? “Washing up in dirty water, in a bathtub that’s lukewarm at best. Couldn’t find a razor that wasn’t rusty so I sent in a scraper, nearly tore me a new one”. So goes the opening lines to Dingus Khan’s criminally overlooked 2012 debut ‘Support Mistley Swans’, a dense, messy yet utterly brilliant descent into Rock n Roll insanity. Driven by the creative power of singer/songwriter Mick Squalor – whose humorous yet surprisingly poetic lyrics cover everything from the mundane (purchasing a bag for life, only to have it break in the shop) to the downright bizarre (stabbing someone to death with a spoon because you couldn’t find a knife) – Dingus Khan is completed by no fewer than 3 drummers, 2 bassists and 3 guitarists. Some might deem this extensive lineup unnecessary, yet the combined force of these musicians is integral to their unique sound; fusing the dirty, fuzz-laden texture of Stoner Metal with the unashamed energy of punk rock, topped by the infectious choruses and melodies of folk and indie rock. Despite having built a small but steady cult following, promises of a long-awaited sophomore album have yet to deliver. But with the release of last year’s single ’Milk of Every Mammal’, Dingus Khan have proved they have much more left to deliver.
The Courier
featuremusic .25
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk
Ahmed Sophie
ussey Tom H
t i e f r e t coun
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amie Campbell-Bower has it all; the looks, the voice and charisma that would make Iggy Pop ponder a career move. He also has a band which I have come to love over the last year. They are called ‘Counterfeit’, a 5-piece punk band from London. Dropping their latest song ‘Addiction’ only a matter of days ago, the confrontation of the true vices of our society in all their songs are what make this band so special. The brutally honest commentary on the struggles and encounters we all experience in our day to day lives are relayed to the listener through raspy vocals from Jamie coupled with expertly executed riffs from guitarist Sam, which transcends their repertoire adding to this strangely seedy, dark and hypnotic narrative the band has forged which admittedly, I can’t get enough of. The songs ‘Come and Get Some’ and ‘Hold Fire’ showcase this eye opening journey of realisation and understanding you get when listening to this band. Fresh off the back of a European tour with another booked for 2017 plus a recent appearance on Radio 1, 2017 is Counterfeits year. It’s certainly not what the industry is asking for, but wo cares! They’re cool and I like them.
Ol Jordan
S W O L L O SLOW H
Y
ryant Toby B
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ate to the party because I thought I was too cool for it in 2007, I am now a Gossip Girl fan. Yes, that’s right – in some bizarre twist of fate 20 year old me is less cool than 11 year old me. Anyway, the best thing about the show surrounding Manhattan’s upper elite is struggling writer Dan Humphrey, who whines a lot but in appearance is my perfect man. Picture Humphrey hipsterfied with a moody countenance, curly locks and a beard and you have modern day Penn Badgley, former actor and current frontman of Brooklynbased MOTHXR. Recently, Badgley portrayed the late great Jeff Buckley in a corny biopic, but it must be said that the actor’s singing blew me away. This should give you some idea of BadWgley’s vocal versatility on MOTHXR’s debut record, Centerfold, out this year. He flits between emotive falsetto on single ‘Touch’ and lulling croon on title track ‘Centerfold’ and even combines the two effectively on ‘Stranger’, weaving the voices together as if they belong to different people. We should cherish Badgley after losing Bowie, Prince and Cohen’s vocal cords. I could write another 200 words or so on how Penn Badgley is a dreamboat but let’s not get carried away. The instrumentation on this record creates an atmosphere which is synth-y a n d sexy and I hope this encompasses 2017.
lph Jon Ro
oman
ou may not have heard of Slow Hollows yet, but I’d hedge my bets you’ve heard the lead singer Austin Feinstein’s voice… perhaps in a place you weren’t expecting either! An indie rock outfit from Los Angeles, they’ve dropped 3 albums, their sophomore entry Atelophobia being where I jumped on their dreamy emo steamboat. They really know how to make great chill out tunes, and their latest album Romantic hits all the right notes. Opting for some brass and an even slower drawl, Austin and the crew shine on songs with despondent riffs like ‘Again’ and ‘Spirit Week’. Songs so serene they’ll make you wanna sink into whatever comfy chair you’re reclining in and forget your daily anxieties. To follow up on my cryptic intro and round up why I think we’ll hear more of these guys, Austin featured on 4 of the songs on Tyler the Creator’s brilliant ‘Cherry Bomb’, and most recently, he delivered the haunting chorus in Frank Ocean’s melancholy ballad Self Control. If he can get on Blonde, then I think this 18-year-old is going places, and with his excellent band in tow, who knows who they could draft for a feature on their 4th record!
Børns
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mothxr
ørns is one enchanting man. Often seen with his long, dark locks and crop top, the singer perfects a sort of indie, synthetic pop which is unlike anything I’ve ever heard. His first release came in the EP Candy, which showcases his most popular tracks to date. ‘Electric Love’ and ‘Seeing Stars’ are both uplifting melodies which Børns croons over in his high-pitch, silky tones. His album Dopamine was my favourite record of 2015 and the number of praising critic reviews it received is incredible. The next record seems to be well underway, the singer’s Snapchat story always shows him toying with one instrument or another, and whilst there is no fixed release date new music is more than likely to appear in 2017. I’ve seen Børns live both in the U.S. and U.K., supporting Bleachers & Charli XCX and Halsey respectively, all big names in the industry. However, after his own headline show in the Festival Republic tent of Reading Festival this year I am convinced he is on the verge of a colossal break out and headline tours of his own. I haven’t yet met someone who has head Børns’ unique and chanting voice and not fallen in love. He truly is a magical creature.
s d n u o s bad
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ad Sounds have a knack for creating upbeat and simply irresistible tunes, drawing from a diverse range of influences. In their guitar and synth driven tracks, you can hear the influence of early hip-hop, Odelay-era Beck intertwined with a hint of Primal Scream. The Bath-based five piece, fronted by brothers Ewan and Callum Merrett may not have released anything beyond a few singles, but, through their wellcrafted songs packed with pop hooks, punchy brass and infectious rhythms, they’ve generated quite a buzz. Earlier this year they played the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury and showcased their bizarre live set - complete with a wandering bear mascot, unconventional dance moves and an enthusiastic tambourine performance from the silk-pyjama clothed frontman. With Annie Mac in their growing roster of fans, catch them at Think Tank next March for that “I saw them before they were big” indie cred you crave. So in 2017, look out for Bad Sounds making some seriously good sounds.
e c a r g c a isa I
an Trenam Calum
first heard one of Isaac Gracie’s songs on Annie Mac’s Free Music Monday in midOctober and haven’t stopped listening. It’s a testament to his talent that his debut EP, entitled Songs From My Bedroom, is literally just that: exquisitely sounding tracks recorded on GarageBand in his bedroom. His melancholic tones and intimate lyrics won’t be for everyone but I find it hard to believe that you will not be moved by his voice which harmonises perfectly with the gentle strumming of his guitar. His pained but beautiful vocals owe a great debt to the legacy left by Jeff Buckley, and he himself has spoken in interviews of his admiration for the great. He has also already released a recording of a live show where there is no noticeable difference or drop in the quality of his performance compared with his EP. Based in London and still performing to small venues, I expect with a rapidly growing fan base and the support of someone from within the industry like Annie Mac, it will not be long before he bursts onto the mainstream scene and is known by all.
26.television
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
TV Editors: Luke Acton, Alison Scurfield and Dominic Corrigan
ck a b w o r h T This week Georgina Howlett goes back to 2006 to review Life on Mars
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ife on Mars, so named after the famous David Bowie song, was shown on BBC1 between January 2006 and April 2007, running for two series. It was a mixture of speculative fiction and police drama, following DCI Sam Tyler (John Simm) as his involvement in a traffic accident meant that he later awoke in 1973 - 33 years in the past. The series predominantly centred on Sam trying to work out how to get back to his own time, whilst also aiding the existing, corrupt and unprofessional police forces to fight crime and restore order to the Greater Manchester area. Why do I miss this show so much, you ask? Well, firstly because of its brilliant underlying storyline which effortlessly tied into those of the individual episodes. As it turned out, the show wasn't your typical police drama - it had a weird, almost supernatural underlying story to it, the full extent of which was only really revealed in the sequel series Ashes to Ashes (which I arguably love even more than Life on Mars). Each episode or two-part episode had its own individual crime or case, and all of these built up to each series finale and made it something to wait for. Sam's journey to discovering what had really happened to him and how to reverse it (though whether he did or not, you'll have to watch to find out), and also the relationships which he built with the other characters, kept you hooked each and every week. You shared his fear, his pain, and his desire to get back to the world he had been sent from and away from the one he had been thrust into. It really was a rollercoaster of emotions in seeing how he dealt with his situation and every case that was thrown his way, and I don't personally believe there are many shows now of these genres that evoke the same emotional investment.
“The soundtrack, setting and character development are all fantastic” The undeniably unique cast of characters is another reason why I miss the show. Sam as the 'good cop', central to the narrative and a moral compass for the other characters, was not difficult at all to root for. Despite his faults, he always did his best to save the people he was protecting, and cared for all his fellow officers even when they didn't care for him – Ray Carling (Dean Andrews), devoted unwaveringly to Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) and envious of Sam’s authority, being the prime culprit of this. Speaking of the now infamous Gene Hunt, he grew to be my favourite character, despite being the ‘bad cop’ and (as Sam describes him) a 'borderline alcoholic homophobe with a superiority complex'. It felt so good to see him get knocked down a few pegs and learn modern, proper policing, as well as proving his worth as a good DCI and friend when and where it counted. Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and Annie Cartwright (Liz White), as the final two central characters, were equally brilliant for me. Both felt they had something to prove – Chris that his open-mindedness and reluctance to use force didn’t stop him from being useful, and Annie that women could be good police officers – and as such I was drawn to them and wanted them to succeed. As if you need more reasons to watch, the soundtrack, setting and character development are all fantastic. There is never a boring moment, and no episode feels like a filler – each contributes something to the overall narrative. If you’ve never seen the show, I highly encourage you to watch it – and then Ashes to Ashes, too.
Televisions of Power Trump’s rise to power seems almost fictional, but how does his journey to the big house compare to those shown on the small screen? Television Editor Luke Acton discusses The election of Donald Trump is more shocking the more you look at it. The first thing is the rhetoric, the ‘plain speaking’, and the TV persona, but the actual implications of his lack of experience for such a sprawling set of responsibilities is set to astound for months to come. Sheltering in the comfort of your Netflix recommendations will provide you with representations of competent democrats that won’t remind you of an even worse version of Regan. The West Wing and House of Cards provide a romantic binary: Josiah Bartlet fatherly and authoritative Nobel Prize winner, against the damaged but brutally cunning Francis Underwood. Despite their differing agendas, both are the images of competence, Bartlet in
“You cannot be morally whole and President of the United States”
duty and Underwood in self-service. In comparison with Trump’s need for ‘more time than usual’ to get to grips with the responsibilities of the office, both are appealing distractions. What they don’t do is account for the emphasis on truthiness that has permeated this election. The emphasis on what ‘feels’ true, that what is supported by fact. The emphasis on consistency is no longer necessary. Raising the level of public debate, as so often was the line of Josiah Bartlett’s administration, is not the focus. Nor is Trump a shrewd political operative, making plays and destroying lives for power. Trump might end up destroying lives, but it is not in his actions that he has gotten this far (his lack of concrete policy platform shows that), it is his performance. What Trump says and the way he says it appeals deeply to an aspect of America that is not
present in these liberally orientated programmes. I think that both The West Wing and House of Cards are good, but they refer to political environments that no longer exist.
“He kills and maims, an evil man, but he is invested in the system, no matter how much he manipulates it” The function as a means to escapism rather than as a model of how government does/should work. As pleasantly fatherly as Josiah Bartlet is, his appeal to the nostalgia for ‘great men’ who direct the free world (an idea brought up in the first episode of Sorkin’s later show, The Newsroom), perpetuates a myth about power that simply isn’t the case. It comes from a time when Democrats were seen as morally bankrupt, and Republicans were unin-
telligent warmongers. It was an ideal played by one of America’s most iconic actors, someone who was intellectually and emotionally intelligent, and who always did the right thing for its own sake. Even Obama resorted to ill-prepared drone attacks. You cannot be morally whole and President of the United States. Underwood is none of these things, yet he presents an image of the satisfyingly cunning and driven political operative. An image of competence at the least. He kills and maims, an evil man, but he is invested in the system, no matter how much he manipulates it. A newspaper article can derail him and so can a smart enough opponent. Trump is not like this. His reliance of demagoguery and removal from reality makes the usual political attacks impotent. He is playing a different game altogether. And although he lacks experience, his erratic behaviour may be enough to keep political opposition off balance, if he is not overcome by the responsibility, or usurped from within.
Is John Lewis sleighing Santa? Sarah Davis looks at the John Lewis advert and how it reveals (spoiler) that Santa doesn’t exist
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t all started with the “Shadows” Christmas advert 2007, and ever since John Lewis has graced our screens with #BearAndTheHare #MontyThePenguin #ManOnTheMoon and of course, this years instalment #BusterTheBoxer. Its popularity having grown from two snowmen Christmas 2012 frolicking to the remake of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s classic “The Power of Love”, the John Lewis Christmas adverts have surpassed the Coca Cola truck advert for its heightened festive sentiment. The build up to Christmas has truly arrived once the department store releases their annual yuletide promotion. Customer director for John Lewis, Craig Inglis, speaking to The Independent, said “2016 has certainly been quite a year, so we hope our advert will make people smile. It really embraces a sense of fun and magic, reminding everyone what it feels like to give the perfect Christmas.”
“Having taken many of the worlds greatest heroes, 2016 has been granted the privilege of possibly being the most tragic year this decade” However this years campaign has sparked controversy with many social media users. The latest campaign is estimated to have cost £7 million and tells the tale of a little girl named Bridget who loves to jump. For Christmas she is bestowed with the gift of a trampoline. But many social media users have spotted an obvious problem with the advertisement. The advert shows the trampoline built on Christmas Eve by Bridget’s Dad, leaving the question: “Where is Father Christmas?”Many parents have been left
with very awkward questions from youngsters. One mother wrote on Facebook: “John Lewis I’m going to ask you the same as my little boy asked me after watching your Christmas ad. Why doesn’t Father Christmas bring that little girl her present”. Another user said: “Don’t let any kids see this advert it needs to be banned. Who are John Lewis to destroy to magic of Christmas everywhere for kids all over the world!” However John Lewis seems to have a back up plan: a representative for the store told The Independent and The Huffington Post: “We are sure Father Christmas visited Bridget and Buster the night before, this is just an extra special gift from her parents because she loves to bounce” Having taken many of the worlds greatest heroes, 2016 has been granted the privilege of possibly being the most tragic year this decade. After the election of Donald Trump one twitter user
even said: “The John Lewis advert better be bloody spectacular now”. To many it seems even John Lewis has added to the reputation of 2016 by ruining the magic of Christmas, dropping a reality bomb and ripping Santa Claus away from all of our hearts. However not all have shared the same opinion, one writing: “The world is in shambles and you’re all mad because Santa didn’t build the trampoline in the John Lewis advert. Calm down.” Each year John Lewis works with charities that fit their certain advertisement, this campaign has encouraged more to take interest in British Wildlife and advocated more to support Wildlife Trusts. Whilst the advert makes no attempt to suggest Father Christmas brought the trampoline to Bridget, Christmas symbolises much more than the work of a magical old man dressed in a red suit, and really we all need to get a grip!
The Courier
television.27
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/tv
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Netflix
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hile most people were out on Black Friday enjoying the sales, I spent my day at home with a box of pizza and a stolen Netflix password watching the Gilmore Girls revival for 5 hours straight, officially named Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life has been a year in the making ever since the revival was announced last November. I have since been eagerly waiting for the new episodes with high expectations and they did not disappoint. The four 90-minute-long episodes each titled after the seasons are truly a love letter to the original series, which abruptly ended in 2007 with a lacklustre conclusion that left fans without the final four words that series creator, Amy ShermanPalladino had intended for the last episode. But as the series built up a cult following and demand for a revival grew, fans now have those final four words that they have been waiting for. I can say that it was definitely worth the wait.
“Gilmore Girls defines comfort TV – it is so raw and human and that is why everyone can relate to it” Even if you’re new to the world of Gilmore Girls, anyone can watch the revival and fall in love with the story. As Palladino describes, it is a simple story about three Gilmore women from three generations at different crossroads in their lives. Nine years after the end of the original series, Lorelai
Adveture Time
T
Online
he two-part season finale of Adventure has delivered more twists than a 60s party and a cliff-hanger raising more questions than answers. The episodes ‘Preboot’ and ‘Reboot’ aired on Cartoon Network four months after the previous one. But it was worth the wait, the finale packs in laughs, action, and a host of characters old and new. It even has a song! With the show’s whacky wonderfulness, it’s easy to forget its dark but delightful post-apocalyptic setting. The penultimate episode begins with a glimpse of the old world, as Finn, Jake and Susan explore a ruined arcade. Enter Dr. Gross, a cyborg determined to “upgrade” all life, alongside her menagerie of hybrid creatures (like a giant flying electric eel). The sci-fi setting is fascinating and unfamiliar in the usually fantastical world. The most unexpected twist comes as Susan, fried by the eel, becomes a power-guzzling cyber-monster programmed to take Finn… somewhere. Mysterious messages to mysterious places follow, but the biggest mystery is at the end. The grass sword bonds with the Finn sword, creating a new hybrid humanoid and leaving Finn literally armless. This figure seems set to be the next big adversary – but if the Finn sword contains the spirit of Finn, then will this figure too not contain part of himself? As the seventh season ends, Adventure Time reminds us that it can appeal to everyone’s inner child, no matter what age. The show still feels fresh and imaginative, despite there being almost 240 episodes and — with another two seasons and a film in the works — it seems that with Jake the dog and Finn the human, the fun will never end. Alex Moore
Joel’s dead good shows The Exorcist (2016) Gilmore (played by Parenthood’s Lauren Graham) is happily working and living in Stars Hollow, the fictional charming small town where the series is set and her daughter Rory, having long graduated from Yale where we last saw her in 2007, is now busy pursuing a career in journalism which sees her jet-setting between Stars Hollow and London. Meanwhile, it has been 6 months since the passing of Richard Gilmore, Father to Lorelai, Grandfather to Rory and wife to Emily Gilmore who is severely grieving and trying to find ways to cope. The nostalgia hits hard as all the familiar quirks of the series return with it’s coffee obsession, poptarts, fast-paced dialogue and endless pop-culture references. The revival answers questions left unanswered from the original run and beloved townies return; Kirk, the resident weirdo, has a pet pig named Petal and has started a business called öööber, not to be confused with Uber of course. All of Rory’s past boyfriends return and make cameo appearances (#TeamJess for the record), and the cameo’s don’t end there as Melissa McCa-
rthy and Alex Kingston (known as River Song on Doctor Who) grace our screens. Kingston plays an eccentric character whose hilarious dialogue has won my favourite quote of the series: “I’m voting for Brexit. It’s just a protest vote. It will never win.” It is this combination of humour, one hundred miles an hour dialogue and outlandish characters that makes Gilmore Girls such a beloved series. Gilmore Girls defines comfort TV – it is so raw and human and that is why everyone can relate to it. From family therapy, break-ups, spontaneous soul-searching adventures to one night stands with Wookiee’s, it will truly make you laugh while you cry and smile when you’re angry. The revival is best appreciated having watched the original series, so I highly recommend watching from the beginning and letting your obsession begin. It will be worth it for those physically jaw-dropping final four words. Sarah Davis
Steven Universe
Good Girls Revolt Amazon Prime
Cartoon Network (US), Thursday 12:00 am
G
iant lesbian space rocks. Yep, you heard me right - Steven Universe and his intergalactic freedom fighter moms are back on our screens and I hope your precious hearts are ready to be CRUSHED. The series’ inconsistent episode schedule is infamous amongst its fandom. It’s been an agonising wait since the last episode (aired in September), with not even a ‘StevenBomb’ (five new episodes aired each day) to tide us over, limiting us to a soulless life of listening to Hear Comes a Thought covers. But the all-powerful Diamond Authority, i.e. Cartoon Network, heard our cries and gifted us with a Thanksgiving themed episode on November 17th, ‘Gem Harvest.’ It was a sweet family-orientated affair, focusing on the prejudices of Greg’s long lost cousin Andy, and aptly aired amongst the chaos of post-US election. And now, we don’t even have to wait another month to get our next fix. ‘Three Gems and a Baby’, most likely the last episode before the New Year, airs on December 1st in the States. The episode has the cryptic description of ‘Greg tell[ing] Steven about their first winter together’, and as the title suggests, it’s going to revolve around the Crystal Gems getting to grips taking care of a young Steven. As tends to be with the show, this can only lead to two scenarios – shenanigans or crying. There is no in-between with this damn series, and it’s a Russian Roulette of the feels. Whether the rest of Season 4 will see a more organised release schedule in 2017 is yet to be confirmed, but regardless, I’m ecstatic to see the return of one of TV’s greatest kids animation. Just make Lapis and Peridot bang already, jeez. Zoë Godden
T
he new Amazon original series is a manifesto for women’s rights in journalism. In 1969, women were not allowed to have their names next to the articles they worked on because it was exclusive to men. The story focuses on a group of young women working in the fictional magazine News of the Week, in New York – Patti the hippie, resourceful journalist, Jane the good girl and Cindy a married young woman dreaming about being a novelist. In the 60s they were researchers and had to team up with male reporters. Reporters signed the articles, despite the fact that researchers did all the actual reporting. At first, gender discrimination is not obvious because the girls are independent and satisfied with their job. However, when the boss asks one of the researchers to serve him a coffee, we get a clue on what’s coming. Nora, the new intern, is the turning point to the events as she rewrites a piece from her partner. The editor loves it but when he finds out it was her, he doesn’t accept it, saying “Girls don’t do rewrites”. The series is inspired by Lynn Povich’s bestseller about her story as one of the journalists who sued Newsweek in 1970, for gender discrimination. Five years later, Povich became the first female editor in Newsweek. More than romances between co-workers, it recreates the process of making headline worth stories, getting sources to speak and convincing them to be identified, at the same time as women fight to have their voice heard. All mixed in a 60’s vibe, it will make the 10 available episodes “fly” in a couple of days. Marina Costa
E
veryone’s heard of The Exorcist (1973): the horror classic which is one of the highestgrossing movies of all time. Focusing on a possessed young girl, it had a simple plotline and created a lasting legacy. To take such an iconic movie and transform it into a ten episode series was always going to be a huge risk. Horror fans across the globe expressed apprehension when the show was first announced, and even after the first episode, but now you have popular sites like blooding-disgusting.com telling horror geeks to ignore their initial warnings and actually give the show a chance. As with quite a few horror shows, FOX’s The Exorcist isn’t a ratings success, yet has attracted a loyal following of fans. So much so that, at the time of writing this, the show has yet to be renewed for a second season, resulting in fans, and the cast, tweeting #RenewTheExorcist. Unlike Scream: The TV Series which just uses the Scream brand to attract viewers, Jeremy Slater’s modernised exorcism tale is essentially a sequel to The Exorcist movies. I won’t give too much away but it’s safe to say the events in the movie and the show are connected. The show follows rebellious Father Marcus (Ben Daniels) and typically-‘good’ Father Tomas (Alfonso Herrera), each with their own inner demons, so to speak, as they attempt to save the Rance family from the clutches of a (actual) demon. Daniels is an incredible British talent, recognisable for his roles in Cutting It and House of Cards, whilst Herrera may be familiar for his part in Netflix’s Sense8. These two actors make the show what it is, and although Father Marcus isn’t your typical hero, Daniels brings so much likability to him, even if the character would perhaps not be the most likable in real life.
“Struggling with family issues, the last thing the couple needs is for one of their daughters to become possessed by an evil demon”
The show has enough experienced talent with the two leads, though add Alan Ruck and Geena Davis to the cast and you know it’ll be full of wonderful performances. Ruck, who portrayed the side-kick best friend in the John Hughes classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, plays Henry Rance, whilst Davis, the legendary actress from Thelma and Louise and Beetlejuice, takes on his matriarch Angela. Struggling with family issues, the last thing the couple needs is for one of their daughters to become possessed by an evil demon. The Exorcist isn’t just a show of seasoned actors though, with the two Rance daughters being played by the talented up-and-coming actresses Brianne Howey and Hannah Kasulka. They may not be well-known but that doesn’t mean they lack star-potential. Both Howey and Kasulka add greatly to the dynamic of this fantastic show, and this is likely the very start of promising careers for both ladies – or at least it should be. FOX’s adaptation is full of surprises and shocking moments, and thankfully quite a few unnerving and, dare I say it, scary scenes too. It’s a shocker in itself that Slater took such a classic and created a TV masterpiece. It’s clear throughout the season that it’s a well-thought out concept and the shocks are far from cheap-thrills. Whilst obviously grappling with religion and faith, the show isn’t religious propaganda either, something which the movie executed wonderfully too. If you’re a fan of the 1973 movie, then give the show a watch and let’s hope for a renewal soon! Joel Leaver
28.filmfeatures
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Film Editors: Emma Allsopp, Zoë Godden & Simon Ramshaw
GUILT TRIP Bedazzled (2000) This week in our column of shame, Joe Holloran looks back at a lesser-known Brendan Fraser remake (don’t worry, it’s not another Mummy sequel); does this deal with the Devil burn that badly?
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ack in 1967, the classic comedy duo of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore brought the story of Faust into the modern age. The film follows Stanley Moon (Moore) and his meeting with the charismatic George Spiggott (Cook), who just so happens to be Satan. Satan gives Moon the chance to change himself to appeal to the love of his life, Margaret. Of course, Satan being Satan, the changes brought about make Moon’s life a misery for him, but a laugh for us. That film is not one anyone should feel guilty about liking, but I am talking about the 2000 remake where Moore is replaced with Brendan Fraser (that guy from The Mummy) and Elizabeth Hurley. The 2000 version follows the same plot as the original, but with an American twist. Unlike the original (which follows a straight narrative and focuses more on the morality of the deal), the remake plays out more like a sketch show with the uncomfortably clunky scenes between Fraser and Hurley interrupted by short trips into what could have been. Some of these scenes bring about few laughs, for instance when Elliot wished he was more articulate to impress the girl of his dreams Allison, he ends up being a gay writer in a New York apartment. When the film plays to stereotypes, it falls flat. Despite this caveat, it is hard not to laugh when Elliot’s wish to become more sensitive and empathic toward Allison ends up with him on a beach with a sketchbook crying over a sunset.
If the film was all bad, it wouldn’t warrant a place in this column. The film has several redeeming high points that with me at least brought about genuine belly laughs. The first being when Elliot wishes he was more athletic and finds himself a 7ft basketball player, but of course in the Faustian way of things, his intelligence is severely shrunken (along with, uh, other things). His reaction to which reminds me why a comedy legend like Harold Ramis (Ghostbusters) took on the project. Another high point comes along when Elliot wishes he was richer, and then wakes up in the reality where he is a Columbian drug lord with the police closing in. Fraser’s Spanish cadence when he realises what he believed to be sugar is in fact cocaine is worth watching the film for alone. So, in conclusion, if you feel like watching a moving and funny film, then stick to Ramis’s prior work like Groundhog Day and Caddyshack, but if you feel like watching an hour and a half-long sketch comedy that displays the comedic sensibilities of Brendan Fraser, while also displaying a lot of Elizabeth Hurley in general, then give Bedazzled a go.
Lights, camera, acshushtion
With more films using secretive pseudonyms in their production stage, Jamie Gomersall investigates how this new trope can benefit both movie producers and massive fan hypes
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he production team behind this year’s horror reboot, Blair Witch, pulled off an impressive feat: keeping the film secret from the public. Filmed under the fake title, The Woods, it wasn’t until a screening at San Diego Comic-Con that the true title was revealed. This tactic of keeping the film’s true identity under wraps was, according to the film’s writer, Simon Barrett, a way of avoiding negative press. Producers were apparently concerned that news of a reboot of 1999’s The Blair Witch Project would incite a negative reaction among fans of the original. Unfortunately, keeping the film a secret was ultimately futile. The film was not only a box office disappointment, but also a critical failure.
“This tactic of keeping films a secret adds to the excitement when they’re finally revealed”
More successful was 10 Cloverfield Lane, an incredibly suspenseful film about a young woman held in an underground bunker, assured by her captor that he is protecting her from an earthshattering cataclysm. The tension of the film revolves around whether or not her captor is telling the truth, an ambiguity only resolved in the film’s final sequence. It is surprising then that this film, so focused on human drama, acts as a (sort-of) sequel to 2008’s Cloverfield, a found-footage sci-fi disaster movie. It made all the more sense when I discovered that the film wasn’t intended to serve as a sequel at all. Originally titled The Cellar, the screenplay was unconnected to Cloverfield until it was acquired by J.J Abrams’ company, Bad Robot Productions. This unexpected sequel was a surprise success, and a critical hit. Hopefully Abrams and co. can replicate the same success with
the upcoming mysteriously-titled God Particle. In fact, many of Hollywood’s most celebrated movies were produced under different titles. Return of the Jedi was titled Blue Harvest throughout its production, so as to avoid unwanted attention from fans and film journalists, while Christopher Nolan used The Intimidation Game to mask the true title of his film, Batman Begins. This tactic of keeping films a secret adds to the excitement when they’re finally revealed, a refreshing change from methods used by companies such as Disney. Though I very much enjoyed the slick and nostalgic The Force Awakens, it concerns me that the studio is now planning to release a new Star Wars film every year for as long as it possibly can. You can’t blame Disney for cashing in on a devout fan base, but I can’t help but feel cynical that Disney is content to churn out Star Wars films, despite an inevitable decline in quality.
“Many of Hollywood’s most celebrated movies were produced under different titles”
Beasts franchise, and James Cameron is underway in creating four sequels to Avatar. Surely these films are less special, and less of an event, when we know they’re just going to keep on coming. As an audience member, I understand the desire to be in-the-know about upcoming films, but it dismays me that there are so few surprises these days. Although I hope to see a few unexpected entries in the box office top ten of 2017, I expect we’ll see yet another slew of predictable and uninspired action movies.
The same can be said for the Marvel movies. Audiences are aware of the next eight instalments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, taking us from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 next May, to the beginning of 2019. Likewise, Warner Bros revealed that there are four upcoming sequels to J.K Rowling’s Fantastic
Tyneside Cinema Show and Tell Event Our favourite independent cinema runs a regular event where upcoming filmmakers can show off their work; Zoë Godden went to the latest one to see what talent was on display
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rust me, this Show and Tell is infinitely better than the ones you’d get in primary school. The aforementioned is a free monthly event run by our beloved Tyneside Cinema, aimed at students and upcoming artists to showcase their work - whether it’s a work in progress, or an almost finished piece, you have the chance to get your work displayed on the big screen, and then get feedback from audience members and, more crucially, professionals working in the arts sector. The event is held in The Gallery, the Tyneside’s smallest screen room of just 33 seats. The size however offers an intimate environment to display these types of exhibitions – it’s formal enough to make you feel like you’ve hit the big time, but never to the point where it’s overwhelming. First up was Cat Auburn, a Northumbria University graduate who showcased test footage as part of her ‘Preparing the Ground’ project; “It’s basically like doing a sketch before a painting”, she remarked during the discussion that followed the screening. Each clip focussed on the impact of editing and contrapuntal music, with one experimenting with close-up and overhead shots of a Zen garden in Glasgow, all whilst a drone hummed loudly in the background. I also never thought I’d find watch-
Image: Tyneside Cinema
ing a tractor doing circles inside the Vienna Spanish Riding School to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker soundtrack so mesmerising, but it’s surprisingly cathartic. Further locations for the project will include New Zealand and Kyoto, examining the impact of globalisation - watch this space.
“If you’re a film student wanting more than just Turnitin feedback, Show and Tell is worth taking a look at”
Next up were three short films commissioned by Random Acts Network Centre North, a partnership programme between Arts Council England and Channel Four. The group selects 24 projects from 16-25 year olds each year, offering the facilities, training and production support to create short films that can potentially be aired on the latter. The first film, Door to Door Poet by Matt Miller, features, as the title suggests, a performance poet going to people’s homes in Newcastle and offering to write poetry about their lives. Only one man accepts the offer, and it’s a truly witty and charming exchange – a stunning lyrical examination of our modern day fears of boundaries and intimacy.
Secondly, Matt Pickering’s In A State Of presented an architecture-inspired visual representation of our anxieties about hospitals. The recent Fine Art Newcastle graduate expertly captures the clinical coldness of the NHS, with a gradual build-up of agonising ambient noise all whilst a patient stands shivering on a set of concrete stairs engulfed by plastic sheets. Perhaps not wholly accurate, but definitely the most aesthetically creative of the films on show. Finally, Lizzie Klotz’s To Suit focussed on an interpretive dance sequence in the woods that represented human mating rituals. It certainly raised the most eyebrows in the audience, however I am in no place to criticise any kind of dancing, believe me. The quirky choreography and natural cinematography aptly match the central duo’s charming, yet fleeting, encounter. And so, the evening came to a close, and I couldn’t recommend it enough. If you’re looking for artistic inspiration, or are a film student wanting more than just Turnitin feedback, Show and Tell is definitely worth taking a look at. The next event will be held on 25th January 2017 at 6pm; if you would like to present your work, get in touch with the Tyneside via filmschool@ tynesidecinema.co.uk, or book a free audience ticket by phoning the box office on 0191 227 5500.
The Courier
reviewsfilm.29
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/film c2.film@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Film
Paterson (15)
Golden Oldies Presents... John Singleton’s
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went to see Paterson expecting to be disappointed. As a long-time fan of Adam Driver I assumed his performance would shine however the trailer and reviews suggested a fauxartsy, long-winded, pretentious ‘nothing’ film. Rather than living up to my fears, the film met and exceeded my hopes. It was a beautiful cinematic experience following a week in the life of bus driver and private poet Paterson. Paterson was a quiet but intelligent, amusing character interested in the world and its people. His girlfriend was ultimately an artist but had a thousand dreams which she happily pursued each day. I had massive house-envy with their yellow walls, ethnic rugs and monochrome accoutrements the girlfriend added each day. I have never been inspired to a foray into monochrome myself, but she managed it - making monochrome feel vibrant. Paterson’s comment on the curtains (Monday’s design moment) “I like that the circles are all different” will become important soon. The cinematography was superb. There was a hint of Wes Anderson, if he directed realism. The couple’s house, for example, was still and perfectly aligned for the first few shots, then slightly closer, then slightly to the left etc. Similarly each weekday morning began with the same shot of the bed but the books on the bedside table would be rearranged and the couple lying in different positions. He would always wake her with a kiss but kiss her
A United Kingdom (12A)
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n 1948, Churchill’s reeling post-war Britain and a South Africa at the dawn of apartheid started a fight with two people in love, and lost. In A United Kingdom, director Amma Asante brings Seretse and Ruth Khama (King of the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, the First President of Botswana, and his white-British wife) back into the limelight, and her timing couldn’t have been better. For the wrong audiences, it could grate. Suffering from its edit, the film has a habit of skittering nervously from scene to scene, afraid to linger. Viewers might find themselves feeling more as if they’re watching a montage reel of Oscar-pandering vignettes than a movie, with clichéd dialogue and predictable soaring soundtrack to boot. With its remarkable cast, all this is easily forgiven. Complemented by Rosamund Pike’s steadfast Ruth; David Oyelowo, as Khama, retains the dignity of his Martin Luther King in Selma, bringing with it immense emotional weight. Small but standout performances come from Terry Pheto and Abena Ayivor, as Khama’s sister and aunt, while Tom Felton gives a good effort as the posh, bastard type we know and love. It would be hard to make a bad film about the Khamas, when through the pages of history they shine through as so sincerely likeable, and when their story offers such cinematic contrasts, a British clerk and an African prince, the towering gloom of London and the burnished, open expanse of Bechuanaland, that, if it weren’t for the lingering bureaucratic tyranny of the British Empire, it could be mistaken for a fairytale. Asante, however, has found just the right time, the right cast, the right balance of personal and political. Any history lover will know that films such as these reflect the time of their release just as much as the setting. When the bigotry of 40s Britain and South Africa might seem all too familiar, A United Kingdom captures a compelling story of warmth, unity and hope; all from a shedload of black and female talent. Expect to shed some tears. More like this: Loving (2016) Fiona Cunningham
somewhere different each time. It was Wes Anderson with human error. This theme (the same but slightly different) ran through the film. Sets of twins appeared throughout, while pairs of people spoke on the bus the camera would flick to a shot of their feet. These repeated motifs gave the film the feeling of a song, as though each day is a refrain: the same tune but different lyrics. We have to concentrate to hear the lyrics (the difference between what appears the same), but we learn so much more when we do. The idea of slight changes also referred to Paterson’s poetry. Poems were repeated as he thought them out and refined them, changing slightly each time. I cannot pinpoint exactly what made this film seem so real. Perhaps how much you trusted the time of day, gold afternoon sun at three showing the extent of the care with which the film was made. Maybe it was the honesty of the depiction of people watching- from eavesdropping on the
bus to being alone in a bar, we can all relate to the experience of sitting and watching the world pass, with sympathy for our fellow humans and just a hint of amusement at their troublesome lives. The subtle humour of the film was also fantastic. It was not the popular ilk of un-naturalistic fast paced wit which we can merely aspire to. Instead it was the small humorous comments and events of everyday (I hope you’re sensing a strong theme of the power of the everyday here) – a delicate exposé on the things which make us happy day by day. This film was witty, profound, beautiful but never stilted or artificial. It was a total joy to watch and I cannot wait to revisit it. I know that each time I do I will see something different. It was everything I hoped but assumed it wouldn’t be.
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More like this: Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) Helena Buchanan
Allied (15)
Bad Santa 2 (15)
ith Christmas just round the corner it was about time that we got hit with our first seasonal film of the year. Kicking it off is the return of Billy Bob Thornton in his big red suit, reprising his role as the hard-drinking, potty-mouthed Father Christmas, Willie Soke, in this long-awaited sequel, Bad Santa 2. Set 13 years on from its predecessor, Bad Santa 2 sees the reteaming of Willie and his diminutive sidekick Markus (Tony Cox), taking on their latest seasonal escapade, this time in partnership with Willie’s mother Sunny, played by Kathy Bates. But this time, they’re no longer targeting shopping malls, oh no; their moral compasses turn further south as they plan to rob a Chicago homeless charity. Brett Kelly also reprises his role as the now-adult (but seemingly more gullible and naïve) Thurman Merman, Willie’s unwanted but loyal companion. Christina Hendricks takes on the role of being the next victim of Willie’s rather distasteful and dubious charm, becoming what Thurman would call “Mrs Santa’s Sister.” More a compilation of insults, degradation and casual cruelty than an actual film, which, to be honest, does in fact cause you to repeatedly find yourself laughing, but also makes the whole picture one of desperation and neediness. The film tries too hard to be what it expects the audience wants it to be: filthy and foulmouthed, which becomes rather distracting as it pulls your attention away from the actual plot of the film. It lacks the wit and depth that the original film surprisingly possessed, despite the filmmakers having 13 years to come up with a worthy sequel.. This is not unexpected, but quite disappointing at the same time. Although not the accidental success of its cultclassic predecessor, Bad Santa 2 still provides you with plenty of laughs and filthy one-liners. Go in with no real expectations and there is a very high chance you will be leaving with a smile on your face. More like this: Horrible Bosses (2011) William Johnson
llied had a lot of pre-release rumours about an affair between Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, which was thought to be a possible reason for the breakup of Brangelina, but the film itself cannot suggest such a thing. Set in the Second World War, Pitt’s Max Vatan falls in love with Cotillard’s French Resistance fighter Marianne Beauséjour during a dangerous mission to kill a Nazi official, but there is no chemistry between the two, although Cotillard plays the role with genuine passion. Pitt, however, looks positively bored. The first half of the movie feels slightly sluggish. Most of the action scenes are without suspense and feel dull, and it appears more of a romantic film than a war drama. However, after a turning point, the film becomes a more exciting thriller as Max is briefed that there is evidence for his now-wife Marianne being a German spy. As the audience follows Max as he tries to gain evidence against this, the film picks up speed and suspense. Pitt also appears to finally give his character the depth that was missing in the first half. Sadly enough, there is still the undertone of it being more of a romantic drama, even though the romance feels forced and the two never actually appear to fall head over heels for each other. The film’s technical elements on the other hand are top notch throughout the film, and it contains some very lovely imagery and great costumes. Plus, the soundtrack is a nice mix of Alan Silvestri’s chilling orchestral tunes and wonderful ‘40s swing classics. Considering that Allied was advertised as the new big spy thriller, it is disappointing that the film feels more like a failed romantic drama that misses its on-screen chemistry, but it is still an entertaining watch due to its better second half and the beautiful imagery, costumes and score. More like this: Inglourious Basterds (2009) Becky van Leeuwan
Boyz n The Hood This week we sent one lucky reader to see the 90s classic, Boyz n The Hood. Calum Trenaman is that lucky reader, and he fills us in on if this lived up to his expectations. Being screened to celebrate its 25th anniversary, he examines how it relates to more recent events.
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o mark the 25 year anniversary of the release of Boyz N The Hood, it has been shown up and down the country in independent cinemas. While the 90s garms and the ‘gangsta’ title may seem a little outdated, in 2016, it is more relevant than ever. There are huge parallels between the film and the current Black Lives Matter movement in the US. The film depicts the turbulent and inescapable struggle of young black people in ‘the Hood’ in California. It focuses on the paths of three young black men, each disillusioned with their tough existence. One tries to get out through his intellect, guided by his father to avoid a life of crime; one tries to get out through his sporting prowess; the last doesn’t try to get out, instead living a life of crime and danger, going in and out of jail along the way. It may seem odd for a middle-class white boy like myself to feel such an affinity with this film, but to me, it is close to perfection in every area. The acting is superb and it is backed by an outstanding script, which vividly depicts the modern-day problems and treatment of African-Americans. It depicts the social injustices they face, and how there is a never-ending cycle of violence and crime that begets more. Larry Fishburne’s Furious Styles acts as a choric Voice of God, speaking of these injustices and how they must combat them not only to his fellow ‘brothers’, but also to the audience.
Cuba Gooding Jr. puts in the performance of a lifetime. I really do not know why he won an Oscar for Jerry Maguire, but I believe he deserved it for this performance. Playing the angry, bitter Trey, he seeks nothing but to escape. He also shows that no matter how hard a person tries, the Hood always finds a way. It is significant however that white people, of whom there are few, don’t seem to be the representation of institutional subjugation. It is a black police officer who most vividly represents this, violently oppressing his fellow African-American. And, it is in opposition to this that director John Singleton is making his point: brotherhood. It is hard enough to prosper in this environment without hurting one another. They must stick together and stop their pursuit of individualistic gain. The film closes with the profound but effective subtitle: ‘Increase the Peace’.
30.gaming
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Gaming Editors: Jordan Oloman, Errol Kerr & Jared Moore
Top 5 Easter Eggs
Jacob Clarke talks Easter Eggs as The Courier moves towards Christmas 5. Star Wars: TFU Jar Jar Binks in Carbonite. This is pretty self-explanatory but still satisfying to find. The Force Unleashed provided great advances for a Star Wars game, fluid lightsaber combat and easy use of the force, but the devs really surpassed themselves with this one. The fate of Jar-Jar was finally sealed. The annoying amphibian nightmare that plagued the prequels was now unable to talk at all, sealed forever in a Carbonite hell. Thank the Midichlorians for that.
4. Heavy Rain – “SHAUN!!” Okay, this one is cheating, this wasn’t meant to be in the game, it’s a glitch, but it’s hilarious, and honestly Heavy Rain wouldn’t be complete without it. Heavy rain was a dark, gritty and dramatic game. So, this provides some much-needed relief from the game’s darkness. At the end of the game you follow an enemy around an industrial site, he makes a dramatic speech, and intense conversation is supposed to follow. Or instead you can just press “X” on your PS3 controller and shout “SHAUN!!” continuously.
3. Fallout SeriesUFO and Alien Blaster This deserves to be here due to the longevity of the Easter egg. Bethesda are known for being kings of Easter eggs in all their series. Fallout has referenced Mad Max, H.P Lovecraft, Dr Who and many more. But its continued feature of the little green men in their crashed ship gives a sense of creepiness to the games. The reward for defeating the hostile alien species? An extremely powerful blaster that disintegrates anything in almost one shot. Worth it.
2. Arkham Asylum – Arkham City Secret Room Within one of the many rooms of Arkham Asylum is a secret room that is easily accessible simply by Placing Batman’s explosive gel on a wall and detonating. So, it’s weird that not one gamer managed to find this room for an entire year, no one even noticed it was there. And what was so special about the room? It contained details about the sequel to the game, it was a confirmation of the sequel inside the game and no one even managed to find it. C’mon guys, try a bit harder next time.
1. Portal 2Cave Johnson’s Announcements We all know Portal 2 is pretty much a perfect game. A lot of that is down to the characters: the sinister GLaDOS and idiotic Wheatley. Also, the former CEO of Aperture Science, Cave Johnson and his egotistic, nonchalant attitude to his company recorded by past speaker announcements found within the depths of the game. “when life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade, make life take the lemons back! I don’t want your damn lemons!!!”
Review: Pokémon Sun & Moon
Georgina Howlett dons her Lei and heads to Alola in search of Pokémon old and new
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okémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are the newest instalments in the long-running Pokémon series, released to coincide with the franchise’s 20th anniversary. Introducing the seventh generation of Pokémon, the brand-new Alola region, and even a revamped system of trainer progression and attainment, these games are a truly fantastic new interactive adventure to get lost in. Perhaps the first thing I should mention is that the games are not so straightforward as they once were - and this is a good thing. In Sun and Moon, you don’t just get your starter Pokémon, fight through eight gyms, defeat the bad guys and then defeat the elite four and champion as your final flourish - there is more of an actual story, with a real sense of direction and purpose to your journey, for you to undertake this time. You become fullyinvolved with Alolan life and culture, undertaking challenges and tasks beyond those specifically to advance you as a trainer, and these make the games so much more interesting and enjoyable to play.
“...characters around you, too, are much more developed in terms of personality...”
The region around you becomes so much more of a feature and actual environment, rather than being reduced to merely a backdrop that you travel through, and you get to meet such a variety of people and Pokémon that will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. The recurring characters around you, too, are much more developed in terms of personality and interaction; Professor Kukui, your rival Hau, and even Lillie - Kukui’s mysterious assistant - don’t just feel like cogs in the wheel of story progression, they feel like actual people who are getting on with their own lives. As such, Sun and Moon took away for me perhaps the most frustrating repetitive elements of the Pokémon franchise: lack of depth, and lack of personality.
In terms of appearance, Sun and Moon are pretty much flawless. The graphics quality has again been improved upon, with the in-game 3D style in full effect, and this makes traveling through Alola a really fun and interactive experience. Even walking through grass now feels realistic, as not only can you hear the rustling, but you can also see it - meaning when that unexpected wild Pokémon pops up and the battle music begins, you get even more frustrated as you can see just how close you were to getting out of that grass. 81 new additions have been added to the Pokédex, including Yungoos (a.k.a. Donald Trump), Mudbray, Salandit and Mimikyu, and these make the games feel both new and familiar given their combined presence with the previous-generation Pokémon and their Alolan forms.
“These features, amongst the many others really make the game both fun and accessible for all players”
The battling system has been updated in terms of new move animations, a shortcut to pokéballs during battles with wild Pokémon (it’s amazing), information courtesy of the Rotom Pokédex as to move and type effectiveness (provided that you’ve battled the Pokémon before), and even accessible windows that inform you what your own moves actually do. These features, amongst the many others, really make the game both fun and accessible for all players - no matter whether you’ve been playing for years or if you’re new to the series. Overall, I’d easily rate Sun and Moon five out of five. They breathe new life into the Pokémon franchise, introduce fantastic new features and a wonderful region to explore, and inspire players to go out and catch ‘em all - whilst also defeating the evil Team Skull and thwarting their plans. Yep, that’s still a thing - did I forget to mention...?
Image Credit: Nintendo
Memory Card: Warcraft 3
Gerry Hart travels back to a forgotten time before WoW to stop the creation of MOBAs
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ts almost hard to think that before the success of WoW, Warcraft was once a strategy franchise. Well at least for me it is, being too young to play the first two games when they were fresh. Still, one of the computers at my school (somehow) had Warcraft III installed and as a veteran of Age of Empires, it didn’t take much to get me hooked. Warcraft III is a strange beast as for all intents and purposes it was a MOBA before MOBAs were even a thing (indeed the original DotA started life as a Warcraft mod). The player must choose from four playable factions; Humans and Orcs from the previous games with the edition of the Night Elves and the Undead, with games consisting of building a base, gathering resources and expanding across the map to defeat an opponent who is trying to do the same. How this achieved however depends on the faction in question as they each play differently (for example the undead can only build upon blighted ground). This necessitates the creation of multiple strategies in order to adapt to and counter certain factions, meaning there are numerous ways games can pan out. Another new feature introduced in Warcraft III (and later utilised in MOBAs) are the heroes.
Image Credit: Bethesda Image Credit: Blizzard
These are recruitable units which have the ability to utilise items, can gain experience for new and more powerful abilities and can be resurrected should they die in battle. Consequently heroes form the backbone of one’s army and can in themselves alter one’s playstyle, thus adding another layer of gameplay. The best part though is that all this is done with Blizzard’s trademark sense of charm and humour. Each unit is a character in themselves and I’m pretty sure I spent more time repeatedly clicking on them to make them say their comedic lines than assaulting enemy bases.
“...I’m pretty sure I spent more time repeatedly clicking on them to make them say their comedic lines than assaulting enemy bases”
In addition to its solid gameplay, Warcraft III also contains a fairly strong story campaign. The game revolves around the invasion of a demonic army known as the Burning Legion but this isn’t
made immediately apparent with the early portion setting itself up as yet another scrap between the Orcs and the Humans. The Campaign is divided into four chapters for each of the four factions and whilst each chapter flows almost seamlessly into one another, they all present compelling narratives on their own, helped in no small part by the CG custscenes at the end of each chapter. What Warcraft III does better than most RTSs however is character development. In addition to following a particular faction, each chapter follows a hero or group of heroes, a setup which is well realised with the game’s aforementioned hero mechanic. Many of these characters such as Thrall and Arthas have since becomes icons of the franchise, with the latter’s descent into evil proving particularly compelling with a chilling climax at the end of the Human campaign. Warcraft III holds a special place in my heart as unlike many older games I’ve played long after their release, Warcraft III is a game I can wax nostalgic over. Even though I didn’t quite play it at the time, the game still formed a not insubstantial part of my childhood and even now I struggle to think of many RTSs which even come close to the sheer colourful personality Warcraft III exudes.
The Courier
gaming.31
Monday 5 December 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk @Courier_Gaming
Mobiles: An App-t medium for gaming?
Jack Coles and Jamie Cameron enter into a clash royale over gaming on-the-go
T
FOR:
he smartphone is rarely my go-to form of entertainment. Usually, I play on my computer, or borrow my sister’s PS3, or just stare into the void and have an existential crisis. Having said that, I like mobile games for what they are – short, snacky chunks of entertainment to be consumed in odd little moments between three-course meals of Skyrim, The Witcher, and Doom. What I like best about mobile games is that they are mobile (as you might expect). I have a sixhour journey when travelling from Newcastle to my parents’ house, and I can’t put my desktop on the seat next to me as it’s usually a reserved seat on a Virgin train and the ticket inspector would have a fit. The laptop is not much better, as it has the processing power of a goldfish. This is also assuming that I have access to a power outlet on the train at all. Usually, a mobile game isn’t as in-depth as most games, but there are some exceptions. The Room, for example, is a surprisingly detailed puzzle game with a mysterious backstory and even more mysterious ending. Fallout Shelter is an extensive spin-off of the Fallout series where resource management and strategic room placement are more important than being able to aim. XCOM Enemy Unknown (and yes, maybe I will marry XCOM, shut up) is available on smartphone. Obviously, those more advanced games benefit more from being on a tablet than a smartphone. And yes, smartphones when playing games are about as reliable as Hilary Clinton’s track record. And maybe they are to blame for the microtransaction culture that permeates modern gaming like a metastasised cancer. But overall, they’re great, because I’m sick to death of committing Sudoku on the train.
AGAINST: C L
James McCoull isn’t an agony Aunt, but he does have a few words to say on this one
et me just remind you that life is terrifyingly short. Furthermore, it’s at least somewhat risky to gamble on an afterlife. In light of this, its cute you’re still spending your limited time reading this, I appreciate that. This also means however that mobile gaming is a waste of valuable minutes (hours/days/years) that could be spent on vastly deeper and more rewarding PC and console gaming. In explanation of my point, let me ask some rhetorical questions. Does mashing together jellybeans on a small screen ever get any better? What are you actually doing? What does any of this mean? Hasn’t there got to be something more inspiring? Now all of this could be said for gaming or life as a whole, I concur, but we should at least endeavour to enjoy ourselves as much as we can, and mobile gaming is on the whole repetitive, lacking meaningful conclusions, and basic. The hardware you’re working with is very limited compared to its competition, and the higher investment that goes into larger games also provides PC and consoles with more rich and varied experiences, such as complex plots and writing, sharp and life-like graphics, and in-depth strategy and planning. The mental nourishment, the possible value of the experience, is on the whole greater when you move away from mobile gaming. So yes, avoid pesky mobile games. They’re void of everything truly lovely about gaming in 2016 – story, deep gameplay, and a real sense of community that lasts longer than fucking Flappy Bird ever could have. Time’s running out, so go play Metal Gear Solid.
Image Credits: Rovio, Wikimedia Commons
Are broken games worth releasing?
Sam Blackburn discusses an ongoing predicament plaguing the development cycle
S
hould games be released on time or should we wait for them to be fixed? In this age of online gaming, the novelty of games being released despite being unfinished has become more and more of a grim reality. It can be in the form of an early access game or deceived in a nice plastic box with a pretty cover in the form of the original Watch Dogs. I’m going to use Nintendo as the prime example of what developers should do when releasing games. Try and tell me the last time Nintendo released an unfinished and glitch ridden game? Exactly, they don’t release unfinished games. Just look at Breath of the Wild. It was originally meant to come out in 2015, then 2016 and now it’s meant to be coming out next year. Sure, it’s disappointing not getting to play the game, because let’s not lie, it’s going to be a masterpiece. But you know what’s more disappointing than not playing that game you want so dearly? Playing it early, only to find out it’s a rushed and broken mess. Sure, this sounds perfect, right? Imagine if every developer done this? I feel like the only response to my previous
Autopsy: Dear Esther
statement is that not every developer can do this. Nintendo is a massive developer with the resources to do this. Plus you could make a Legend of Zelda game in which Link looks like Donald Trump and Zelda like Kim Kardashian and people would still buy it. Other developers don’t have the credibility and recognisability to get away with this.
“...you could make a Legend of Zelda game in which Link looks like Donald Trump and Zelda like Kim Kardashian...” Take 2014’s misfit sandbox game Watch Dogs for example. Ubisoft are a big household name in the gaming market, but they were struggling when releasing the new IP. After the game had already been delayed a few times, it eventually came out, lacking much polish with a few gamebreaking glitches. Ubisoft had obviously wanted to get this game out originally when the PS4 and Xbox One
were launching, but failed to meet the deadlines. What’s the solution then? Release your game like Minecraft was. This is totally idealistic, because so many developers would lose so much money by doing this, but it’s a release model I deem successful. Minecraft was released as a beta back in 2010, which cost roughly £10. The people who supported Minecraft in its early stages didn’t have to pay a single penny after it was released in October 2011. An unfinished game which seems like it could have benefitted from this strategy? No Man’s Sky. Mainly because they’re of a similar genre, but I honestly think that if Hello Games opted for an Early Access style of release schedule rather than capitalising on the immense hype, the game would have been much more popular. I’m not for developers thinking it’s okay to release broken games, but I understand why it has to happen. Maybe we will see No Man’s Sky blossom into the game it was meant to be through updates. Will people still care? Probably not, but I’m all for it being super cheap in stores for flopping.
Image Credit: Ubisoft
hrist alive, where do I even start with Dear Esther. Its laughable misunderstanding of the concept of ‘value for money’? Its incredible belief in itself as some kind of legitimate piece of art? Or go for the low-blow and just slag off the 2004-era graphics? Worry not, dear reader. There’ll be time enough for all that. Dear Esther is an early example of the now somewhat standardized (though enduringly controversial) ‘walking simulator’. Whereas later instances such as the excellent Gone Home have generally found ways to make the form work, Dear Esther’s only real value is as a kind of redundant 3D map, explored for the sake of itself, following an incoherent and genuinely quite uninteresting story. Originally priced at £8 (eight whole British pounds! For a Half Life 2 mod! In 2012! I could cry), I couldn’t even recommend Dear Esther for a pound. There simply isn’t value to be found here. To the game itself, though: you play as… fuck, someone, I genuinely don’t know. It’s been a while and I’ll be damned if I’m playing it again. You play as Someone, having sailed to an apparently unpopulated isle in the vicinity of Scotland for personal reasons that are alluded to by the game’s narrator, who occasionally interrupts the breezy silence of the island with extracts from a series of letters addressed to the eponymous Esther. Here’s where I’d tell you what Someone had come back for, or what the letters were about, but I can’t remember and I don’t really want to find out again. Let me save you a few quid and about two hours of your life right here, okay? Spoilers incoming. You’re welcome.
“Much as every good review must acknowledge flaws, every bad review must at least spare the rod for a line or two” The objective of the game is to meander along the game’s loosely linear path towards a blinking red light atop a radio tower. Someone, our beloved and hitherto formless protagonist, eventually reaches the tower, and climbs it, before leaping from the top and turning into a bird. I paid eight pounds for this game. Much as every good review must acknowledge flaws, every bad review must at least spare the rod for a line or two. For a Half Life 2 mod - which Dear Esther very unmistakably is the game is very pretty. One particular scene on a beach where hundreds of tiny paper boats float in the shallows is absolutely charming. But ultimately, this is just frustrating, because it makes me feel that with a bit of substance, a more open approach to the island exploration, and a more cohesive story, Dear Esther could have been something worthwhile, or at least worth the price tag. But it didn’t do any of that. It didn’t take the time to expand on its story, it didn’t give us characters worth caring about, nor did it open up the island the entire point of the fucking game - as something worth exploring. It ascended the radio tower of my optimistic hopes and jumped the fuck off. And it didn’t turn into any kind of god-damn bird before it hit the ground.
Image Credit: The Chinese Room
32. science&technology
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Science Editors: Matthew Byrne, Natalie Farmer & Ciara Ritson-Courtney
On this day December 6th
A cry for cryogenic freezing
Maddy ParaGeorgina Howlett takes a look at the frosty argument of cryogenically freezing meswaran travels back 14-year-old British girl has recently drained from the body and replaced with a pro- Additionally, Barry Fuller, professor in Surgical been cryogenically frozen in the United tectant anti-freeze liquid designed to prevent ice to 1967 to delve into the States after winning a landmark court crystals forming which would damage cells and “The required funding for the case in the final days before her death from tissue. Once this has been completed, controlled, USA’s first heart cryogenic preservation cancer. She is one of only ten Britons to un- monitored cooling begins. The body is put into dergo the process, and the only British child. a protective insulating bag and then into a cooltransplant process is around £37,000” The teenager, who cannot be named for legal rea- ing container, where liquid nitrogen is fed in at a
A
O
n December 6th 1967, Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz, a renowned cardiac surgeon and inventor performed America’s first child heart transplant at the Mainmodes Medical Centre in Brooklyn based on previous research by Dr. Norman Shumway and Dr. Richard Lower. This occurred just three days after the world’s first heart transplant in Cape Town by the South African surgeon Christian Barnard. This was one of the world’s first heart transplants and thus ignited the medical community’s interest in human heart transplants, paving way to our modern-day methods. Kantrowitz was primarily an inventor and was devoted to finding mechanical ways to help failing hearts. He soon realised, however, that only a human heart transplant would be the best option for those with irreparable damage. During the late 1950s, Shumway and Lower were performing transplants on dogs using ‘topical hypothermia’ and other innovative preservation and operative techniques. Kantrowitz built on their work and performed heart transplants on puppies as he rightly hypothesised that the chances of rejection would be lower in younger dogs as their immune systems would be more immature. By 1966, he had performed over 400 canine transplants and had all the necessary technological and medical infrastructure ready to attempt a transplant. However, the legal definition of death in the USA in the 1960s was still that of cardiac death and did not include brain death. This meant that the surgeons had to wait until the patient’s heart stopped beating to harvest the organ which lead to the heart being rendered useless most of the time as a lot of organ damage had already occurred. This had prevented an attempt in May 1966, a year and a half before Barnard’s attempt.
“By 1966, he had performed over 400 canine transplants”
In November 1967, a baby was born with many cardiac congenital defects. A baby born without a brain was found as a donor and a transplant was attempted. However, the baby survived just 6 and a half hours after which the new heart failed. Kantrowitz attempted it again along with Shumway and Lower, this time from a brain-dead young female donor to a 58 year old man in 1968. Yet again, the patient passed away 14 days later due to heart failure. These early efforts in heart transplantation gained interest in the medical community and resulted in a hundred such procedures being attempted in the following year. However, the challenges of organ rejection and infection proved too great resulting in bleak survival rates after surgery. Hence, most attempts including Kantrowitz’s were abandoned soon after although he continued to be involved in discussions regarding transplantation. One of the issues raised by Kantrowitz was the criteria of death which proved to be a massive obstacle in harvesting appropriate organs. The criteria was subsequently changed in 1972 after an unsuccessful lawsuit against Lower when he took the heart of a brain dead patient in 1968.
“The challenges of organ rejection and infection proved too great resulting in bleak survival rates after surgery ”
Despite these failures, Kantrowitz’s work was carried on by Shumway, who continued relentlessly in his attempt to perfect cardiac transplantation. His team made some important contributions and were the first to introduce cyclosporin, an immunosuppressive drug, in 1980 thus making long term survival possible after surgery. For his contribution to the field of transplant research, he is now known as the “Father of Cardiac Transplantation”. At present, around 3,500 transplants are performed annually which can be attributed to the work of these pioneers.
sons and is known only as ‘JS’, wrote a heart-breaking letter in October 2016 to Mr Justice Peter Jackson, a judge at the London High Court, who heard her case in the Family Division, saying “I’m only 14 years old and I don’t want to die, but I know I am going to. I think being cryo-preserved gives me a chance to be cured and woken up, even in hundreds of years’ time”. She asked that her mother, who supported her desire to be cryogenically frozen, should be the only one to determine what would happen with her remains. She explained this by saying “I want to live longer and I think that in the future they might find a cure for my cancer and wake me up. I want to have this chance. This is my wish.”
“I’m only 14 years old and I don’t want to die, but I know I am going to. I think being cryopreserved gives me a chance to be cured and woken up” Cryogenic preservation must begin as soon as possible following the legal death of the subject in order to be effective. First the body is cooled in an ice bath to prevent decay to brain cells and other tissues, with a ventilation mask in use to continue providing oxygen to the body’s organs, particularly the brain, and in some cases also anticoagulant heparin and automated CPR to maintain blood flow. The body is then vitrified, with blood being
steady rate. The process is completed slowly over several days, and ends when the body reaches a temperature of -200 degrees Celsius. At this point, bodily decay is thought to cease entirely.
“The body reaches a temperature of -200 degrees Celsius”
Science and Low Temperature Medicine at University College London, has stated that “cryopreservation has not yet been successfully applied to large structures” – meaning that the girl’s body may not even survive long enough for science and medicine to ever restore it. Whether cryogenic preservation works, therefore, is yet to be discovered.
The judge, in ruling on the case, stated that he was not focusing on the science of cryogenics, as he deemed it “speculative and controversial”, but rather the girl’s wish that her mother should be responsible for the arrangements following her death. He said that there was no doubt that the girl, described as a “bright, intelligent young person who is able to articulate strongly held views on her current situation”, had the right to start legal proceedings so that her dying wishes should be upheld. As such, despite the questions of morality and ethics surrounding the ruling, his verdict was in the favour of the girl and her mother. The required funding for the cryogenic preservation process (around £37,000) was raised by JS’s maternal grandparents, and was conducted by both the voluntary cryonics organisation Cryonics UK for the preparation of the body and the American company the Cryonics Institute for the storage of the frozen body. It has since been said that the girl “died peacefully in the knowledge that her body would be preserved in the way that she wished”. At the present time, it is impossible for doctors to restore cryogenically preserved bodies to life.
Delving into the darkness Ollie Burton investigates the darkest matters of the known universe
D
ark matter is one of those terms that immediately piques the interest of anyone fortunate enough to hear it, but why? Perhaps it’s the fascination our species seems to have acquired for those mysterious, fantastical ideas, or even simply because it just sounds so cool. But what exactly is dark matter? Simply put, nobody knows, which is where the name comes from. It’s a strange, unidentified form of matter that makes up roughly 27% of the mass and energy within the observable universe. It doesn’t interact in any way with or emit electromagnetic radiation, and as such is quite difficult to detect. The only reason we know it’s there is because of its gravitational effects on other things within the universe, and it is suspected that our current estimations of the mass of many celestial bodies may be too small because of only accounting for visible ‘luminous’ matter.
“But what exactly is dark matter? Simply put, nobody knows, which is where the name comes from”
It is hardly surprising then that a new model for gravity that does away with the existence of dark matter entirely caused ripples in the scientific community. Initially proposed in 2010 by Professor Erik Verlinde, string theory expert at the University of Amsterdam, this model posits gravity to be an ‘emergent phenomenon’, rather than a fundamental natural force. Physicists have been struggling for decades to reconcile gravity with quantum mechanics, as the predictions of both highly regarded elements of modern physics do not combine properly when applied to extreme situations, be it during the Big Bang or when approaching black holes. It’s certainly not the first time we’ve seen a non-standard answer to this question; Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) was introduced by Israeli physicist Mordehai Milgrom in 1983,
to address the discrepancies between the measured size of galaxies and that predicted by conventional Newtonian mechanics. Instead of the gravitational force experienced by a star being proportional to its spin, Milgrom proposed that the force be proportional to the square of that value instead. While his calculations do technically hold true, scientists have yet to build a useful cosmological model in this way because it fails to account for the behaviour of large-scale galaxy clusters. Verlinde’s hypothesis however considers gravity as a chaotic force that appears due to a difference in how much disorder there is within a system. His new theory begins entirely from first principles rather than fine-tuning existing formulae to fit new observations. Another key element is his version of the holographic principle, introduced by his tutor Hooft in 1999.
“...every single piece of information in the universe can be described on an enormous hypothetical sphere around it”
Essentially this concept means that every single piece of information in the universe can be fully described on an enormous hypothetical sphere around it. Verline has adjusted this idea with the caveat that some of this information must be contained within physical space itself. Like any scientist, Verlinde has received chal-
lenges from fellow physicists. His theory relies on entropic gravity being correct, which is highly contested. As it makes no predictions and it is not falsifiable, which is one of the cornerstones of the modern scientific process. Furthermore, entropic processes should break quantum coherence (the idea that subatomic particles are able to ‘communicate’ with one another, much like a series of tuning forks all resonating together). Experimental observation of ultra-cold neutrons has shown that this coherence remains intact, potentially disproving the theory.
“Like any scientist, Verlinde has received challenge from fellow physicists. His theory relies on entropic gravity being correct, which is highly contested” Verlinde remains resolute, however, and in this case heavyweight intellectuals backing either side of the argument has resulted in enormous breakthroughs in this area of science. This particular conflict has sparked interest within the community at large, and whether Verline is right or wrong, humanity has surely taken a good step forward in the process. Revolutionary discoveries about the mechanisms of the world around us have led to groundbreaking new technologies, so it’s incredibly exciting to see researchers questioning our fundamental understanding of the cosmos.
The Courier
science&technology.33
December 5 October 2016
The tasty new tax on sugar
thecourieronline.co.uk/science
Mythbusters:
Can you get high from licking toads ? Jonny Mayes explains the sugar tax and how it will bring obese-of-mind to many
A
t the beginning of November a NHS report announced some worrying news, childhood obesity is on the rise again. The UK ranks 9th for childhood obesity amongst developed countries, with a third of children aged 2-15 classified as overweight or obese. Obesity is occurring in children at an even younger age, in reception classes across the UK one in ten children will be obese. When these children leave school aged 11 obesity rate have doubled to one in five. The cost is astronomical, the yearly spend on obesity and diabetes by NHS England is £5.1 billion. This outweighs public expenditure on the fire service, police and judicial system combined. A government action plan aims to reduce the rate of childhood obesity dramatically over the next ten years, but so far their recommendations have been largely ignored. One of the key culprits of the obesity epidemic is sugar. High levels of sugar consumption correlate with type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and, unsurprisingly, increased weight in children. In the 2016 Budget George Osborne announced a soft drinks industry levy or ‘sugar tax’, expected to begin in April 2018.
“This is clearly a significant step in combating the biggest health problem of our generation.”
Soft-drinks companies such as Coca-Cola have warned against the tax saying it will increase the price for shoppers. However, it should not have to; the tax targets producers and importers of sugary soft drinks encouraging them to switch to diet drinks, or reduce the levels of sugar in their drinks. The two-year time frame is deliberate and allows companies time to reformulate their drinks, to make them healthier. Solid foods, fruit juices and high milk content drinks will not be taxed. In England the tax funds raised, an estimated £520 million, are supposed to be reinvested into physical activity programmes for children including dietary advice. The UK is not the first to propose these measures, governments in Finland, Mexico, and France have introduced taxes to curb the consumption of soft drinks and the World Health Organisation has backed these measures. The measures have gained support from a range of campaigners including NHS chief executives and most prominently from Jamie Oliver, who described the levy as a demonstration that ‘a robust government can get control of big business when it comes to child health.’ This is clearly a significant step to combating the biggest health problem of our generation. However, the sugar tax in isolation will not control the obesity epidemic. Other recommendations of the ac-
tion on childhood obesity plan include reducing the amount of sugar by 20% in everyday products (including breakfast cereals, yoghurts, biscuits, pastries, and confectionary), encouraging businesses to create healthier products through innovation, and helping children to complete an hour of exercise each day.
“However, the sugar tax in isolation will not control the obesity epidemic”
Critics of the government, including the CEO of Sainsbury’s and the British Medical Association have argued the government has largely ignored these proposals and has been influenced by the food and drink companies’ extensive lobbying. . Further measures such as banning promotions of buy one get one free and restricting advertising of unhealthy food before the watershed are supported by Public Health England but do not appear in the Government’s strategy. It is likely that such a complex health problem involving human nature, environment, genetics and culture will only be solved by a multidisciplinary approach.
A group of soft drinks manufacturers, pubs and convenience stores have formed an alliance campaign called Face the Facts, Can the Tax aiming to prevent the tax from being ratified. They argue that the tax will not cut childhood obesity levels, but will effect consumers and put thousands of jobs at risk. They also believe the tax will be regressive, meaning a greater burden will be placed on people with lower incomes who buy more sugary drinks. The counter argument is that these measures will benefit poorer children most, as they are twice as likely to be obese compared to children from better off backgrounds.
Child addicts Lauren Sneath talks about the gaming generation
O
ver recent years, we have ventured into new worlds when it comes to technology. Children no longer play outside in actual playgrounds with real life action and living and breathing friends. Why would you, when you can invade galaxies, drive sports cars and even jump from fourteen storey buildings without so much as a scratch; all from the comfort of your own bedroom. It’s imagination on steroids; creative power concentrated into silver discs available to anyone and everyone with a console. The days of primary colours and pixelated images are well behind us, and with all the new advancements in technology come droves of students, teenagers and even pre-pubescent children who gather wide-eyed around gaming stores, queueing for hours for the latest instalment of “Assassin’s Creed”. Their widespread popularity is a clear indicator that these games are not just enjoyable; they’re addictive. A scary word, I know, bringing to mind images of a skeletal drug addict feverishly muttering as they ferret through bins, desperately searching for a fix. The reality when it comes to gaming is thought not to be so severe.
“Children no longer play outside in actual playgrounds”
It is said that online multi-player games actually aid problem-solving skills, improve adaptation to adverse situations and also engage children in an interactive way with the internet. I suppose that if in twenty years we are all relying on robots and virtual reality, it would be helpful if the future adults were well versed in that genre of technology, wouldn’t it? It’s all very well to propose that children should enjoy in moderation the infinite worlds of virtual
games. Many parents console themselves with the idea that they are in control, that their child won’t become forever immobile in their beanbag, eyes glassy and mouth slightly drooling as they frantically slice body parts from villains. In reality, though, parents often simply do not understand that gaming is a real addiction with real consequences, particularly upon the impressionable minds of young people. Nothing is concrete anymore; children don’t play with teddy bears, they play with a different reality which parents can never completely monitor. I cannot stress enough the importance which should be placed upon face to face contact; and two characters messaging on “World of Warcraft” doesn’t count. Constant gaming and limited interaction with the real world can lead to social anxiety, isolation and attention problems, which in turn lead to poor school results and peer relationships. There have even been incidents of children committing appalling acts of violence due to the influence of barbaric games. Furthermore, it shocks me that any adult who considers themselves a promoter of gender equality would buy their children games such as “Grand Theft Auto” which project horrifically misogynistic values, teaching malleable young minds to see women as objects with no real worth. Something needs to change. In this day and age, we are so knowledgeable about the consequences of addiction to technology; and yet these games are still played by millions. Has it really reached such a point that we can’t get through to these young people? Do I need to be within a screen, dressed in ridiculous armour and swinging around an implausibly large weapon, to be able to communicate with them? I certainly hope not; I’m useless with an Xbox.
Word of the Week: Parthenogenesis
James McCoull investigates our eggciting word this week
W
e’re all familiar with the common modes of reproduction, right? The system generally goes that member X of a species contains or produces an egg, member Y of the same species fertilises the egg, and after gestation a new member of the species hatches or is born. It’s a pretty naturalised system. But, of course, nature is full of variations. Take, for example, parthenogenesis: a mode of asexual reproduction by which a species requires no partner, containing an ovum which develops into an embryo entirely of its own volition. This phenomenon is observed in various insects and arachnids, as well as some reptiles, fish and amphibians, particularly lizards. It is generally rarer than sexual or hermaphroditic reproduction, but works perfectly well for those species in which it manifests, as it almost guarantees a 1:1 reproduction rate provided the young are not killed before they themselves can produce their own genetic clones.
Sam Blackburn dives into this week’s myth
L
icking Toads to get you high is a myth which appears to be reinforced in popular media, in shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy, the latter dedicating a whole episode to it. South park even parodied this phenomenon writing an episode on if you get high from having a cat urinate in your face. But is there any truth behind it? According to an article I read called ‘How Toad Licking Gets You High (And Then Kills You)’ from Gizmondo, one who wants to try and ‘get off their tits’ will have to find a certain toad known as a ‘cane toad’. Supposedly the cane toad secretes a chemical called 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine which can be sniffed, ingested or injected to make someone high. When the chemical gets into your body, it acts as an anti-depressant, releasing a high amount of serotonin into the body, making the user feel good. It is said that users feel a full body rush and hallucinate, although it is said that these users take the chemical in a more pure form. As someone who has a phobia of Frogs and Toads, I would not recommend it on the basis of going near those soul sucking creatures. For those who dare to brave the beasts beneath the water, then from what I have read I would not recommend doing so. There have been multiple deaths been reported, and even a dog which kept on getting high from licking cane toads! That’s no lie, it’s been reported by multiple news sources from Australia that many dogs were getting high from licking cane toads, with a case of one dog being addicted to licking toads. So are there any side effects to licking toads? It has been reported that immediately after licking a toad people are known to experience vomiting, headaches and chest pains, not go on a celestial adventure in ancient Egypt whilst riding on a unicorn.
“ When the chemical gets into your body, it acts as an antidepressant, releasing a large amount of serotonin ”
So there’s a fair amount of information out there online, but there doesn’t really appear to be anything from a strong source. When you google toads getting you high, you will be greeted by excellent sources such as Wikipedia, Urban Dictionary and Cracked, enjoyable websites, but not the scholarly sources we really need. One thing I never found whilst researching this if it’s illegal or not. Despite this, it seems pretty cruel, licking a poor defenceless toad. Before harming an innocent creature, try and imagine how you would feel if the shadow master lizards who rule the world decided to lick your back? Wouldn’t be very nice, would it? So has this myth been busted? Partially, because it’s only referential to a certain type of toad. Licking any other type of toad is not going to get you high and I also doubt it’ll kill you, so if you’re into the idea of licking one, why not? Maybe even try licking a frog too? In all honesty though, I would not recommend licking any animal. For those who do want to hallucinate about cosmic eggs absorbing streams of reality in 5 dimensions, cane toads are native to Australia, so I guess you’ll have to stick to what you can find in Newcastle… or not do drugs at all? Your body, your choice.
The Courier
Monday 5 December 2016
Puzzles “My Name’s Jack Parker and I certify this puzzles page to be extremely puzzling”
Station
puzzles.35 Puzzles Editor: Jack Oliver Parker
In order to give more of you a chance to feel like you’ve accomplished something, I’ve decided to give you an easier sudoku this week
Connectword
Controlled
Find the word that connects these three words.
Wave
_____
Completing this puzzles page will be *just* enough to convince yourself that you are indeed slightly intelligent. Bring proof of your achievement to the Courier office, where your name shall be forevermore recorded in the annals of history (a whiteboard on the wall).
36. sport
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston
HERE’S OUR OFFICIAL SHORTLIST FOR OUR SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2016 Image: Bethany Lumborg
IZZY
ASH
CYCLING
Izzy is a dedicated member of the cycling club and has been since she started at Newcastle University in 2015. She has taken on the role of Road Secretary for the club this year and she is doing an excellent job. Every week she organises Wednesday afternoon rides and weekend rides, something that has never been done before in the club. She organises the more experienced members of the club to lead the rides and sorts out groupings for speed and distance. This year she has also organised a club trip to the Lake District which is a first for Newcastle University Cycling Club. She works really hard to make sure everyone in the club has a great time and provides us with loads of new and exciting opportunities. She makes a regular appearance at the social events and is keen to talk and get to know the new members of the club. Bethany Lumborg
PIPPA
MCLEODBROWN
DANCE
Image: Tom Clare
NATHAN
FULLERTON
VOLLEYBALL
Having a phenomenal background in playing volleyball, Nathan has brought his great talent and energy into the team. He has a very mild personality, but when he starts jumping and swinging on the court, he definitely becomes a monster. The opposition are terrified of his big hits and the ball always bounces on their side. As the captain of the men’s volleyball team, he has taken the team a step up this season by gaining victories in BUCS fixtures and cup games from the beginning of the year, as well as qualifying for the indoor student cup final. With his great leadership, the men’s volleyball team have a great potential to achieve an outstanding year. Nathan has also been called for the England Volleyball Senior Team trials. Bonnie Ma
ABBIE
WHEELER
BASKETBALL
I’m nominating Abbie because of her positive attitude and her dedication to the team. Even when things aren’t going our way, I can count on Abbie to give her all and put forth her best effort. She always comes to training with a smile on her face and she would do anything to help out a fellow teammate. She also helps off the court with secretarial issues even though she isn’t the president or team captain. I appreciate Abbie and really enjoy having her as a teammate and friend. Courtney Strait
CANOE
Ben is an extremely dedicated member of the club, he is slalom captain this year and is involved heavily in the training of the team, whether it be during pool sessions, or morning training, being committed to sporting and social events alike. He is an absolute joy to be around, with an incredible sense of humour, he is extremely kind and caring toward all the members of the club. He strives constantly to impart his knowledge, to build the confidence of others and he always keeps morale extremely high. It is difficult to quantify why Ben is so fantastic, but whether he is posting weekly motivational videos on the NUCC Facebook page, being proactive in training or just being a great friend, Ben is definitely an extremely valued member of the club. Emma Bancroft Image: Alex Addison
Image: Courtney Strait
FOOTBALL
Besides his efforts off the pitch in aiding the smooth running of the club, on the pitch he’s done okay too, recently joining the prestigious 100 club alongside the likes of John Hendo and Phil Beahon. Without the goals of our beloved OW9 we would not have achieved promotion into the Northern Alliance Premier Division last season, also we could have been relegated in our BUCS league. He’s a true professional, being able to put his personal life aside at all times when on the field, and only occasionally missing training for dates. No sportsman or woman is truly more deserving of this honour, except maybe Coach Bastow. Peter Mairs Image: Lauren Shaw
NICHOLS LEAH
WILLIAMS
WIGHTMAN
MEN’S HOCKEY
No man has been as in love with the sport as much as Barry ‘The Adgerman’ Wightman. For example, on day 1 at the freshers fair, he reminded our stall rep not once, but twice that he was going to be spending his Wednesday night of freshers week tucked up in bed so to be fresh for trials the next day. Having cemented a spot in the club he has repeatedly reminded us of his passion for hockey. We saw this a few weeks back; having missed his train to the game, Barry went to extreme lengths to ensure he arrived on time... Cue the £40 taxi. Following this, the Adgerman has quick become a role model both on and off the pitch. He has revitalised the clubs sense of pride, showing that a lack of stick skills, positioning and pace can be completely overshadowed by a proud and valiant performance. Joe Sutton Image: Dianne Marquez Lopez
DIANNE
MARQUEZ POLE DANCING LOPEZ Presidents Cec Nichols and Leah
BEN
SMITH
WALKER
CEC
Image: Phil Haswell
ED
OLLY
In total, Pippa has been on 15 teams since she joined in 2014, competing as a soloist and as one half of a duo. She’s won so many trophies that no one has managed to count them all yet, last year at our competition alone she achieved 3rd place Advanced Tap, 2nd place Advanced Jazz and 1st place for Advanced Contemporary, which she also taught and choreographed. Pippa teaches 2 classes a week and choreographs 2 full length dances a year: one competition piece and one show piece. The last 2 years she has also been on committee, last year she was the youngest Dance Society President and the society had an amazingly successful year, winning 2nd best society of the year at the National Society Awards, organised by the National Union of Students. This year she’s Dance Society’s Treasurer, another vitally important role on committee. Hannah Davies
Image: Bonnie Ma
Image: James Watson
Image: Katherine Smith
ALICE
MACKEAN
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Alice is a key component of the 1XI, who in their promotional season to the BUCS Premier B league, have only lost one match. With her unrivalled enthusiasm for all things hockey to her complete commitment to the team on and off the pitch, where she has been known to soldier on, playing the whole match regardless of how ill or injured she is, and still produce a stellar performance. She epitomises all things NULHC values, hardworking, loyal and a hell of a lot of fun. Alex Addison
Williams have put in a ridiculous amount of effort to improve the society this year, putting on extra sessions such as Flex Classes, Jam Sessions, Pole Circuits as well as giving us the opportunity to try new things such as getting us exclusive discounts to do Aerial Hoop courses, open only to the Newcastle Pole Dancing Society. As well as all of this they are continuing their learning in the advanced class and they teach both beginners and intermediate students. They are both extremely talented and lovely people. Cec is a 4th year Medical student and Leah is 3rd year Medical student. Attached is an image of their latest double act, they’ve said it’s not perfect but it looks pretty darn impressive to us. Lauren Shaw Image: Bradley Cunningham
JASON
BASS
RUGBY LEAGUE
Last year, Jason represented his country, playing for England students’ rugby league, where the team won the students’ four nations. Jason played in all of the games for England, in a variety of positions: fullback, winger and centre. As well as this, Jason also plays for Coventry Bears- a semi-professional team that play in the third tier of professional rugby league. This is one of the highest standards for a rugby league player to play at, and is even more impressive considering that he is a university student. Bradley Cunningham
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Image: Joe Sutton
EMMA
LITTLE
WATER POLO
Over her five years, Emma has captained Newcastle’s first team, taken home silver in the BUCS premier league, acted as secretary, and led her team to earn enough BUCS points to make NUWPC consistently one of the highest performing clubs at Newcastle. Having played for team GB in her youth, Emma still plays at national league level, and is unquestionably one of the strongest members of the first team. Possessing such skill could make some standoffish and arrogant. Not Emma. She is always at every training session with a huge smile on her face: helping, teaching, encouraging, offering advice. Out of the pool, she is at every social and always makes a big effort to talk to and get to know everyone, making her one of the most respected and popular members of the club. Emma Little is the very embodiment of a sports personality and, with over five years of service to NUWPC, you’d be hard pushed to find a more deserving winner. Lucy Brogden Image: James Sproston
ULTIMATE JACK
This is Dianne’s 4th year as a member of Pies. During her time, she won the Northern Indoor Regionals and came 3rd at Outdoor Nationals with the women’s team, as well as being a key member of the committee. She is now the Women’s Club Captain and has been integral in successfully recruiting record numbers of female ultimate freshers this year - enough to take 3 teams to indoor regionals, more than any other team in the region; the first team comfortable qualified for nationals at this tournament. Further to this, Dianne helped set up and run a successful taster session in association with the girls at Northumbria Ultimate Club as part of “This Girl Can” week. In addition to her sporting success, Dianne is without a doubt one of the friendliest faces of the club, winning the “Most Welcoming” award at our last AGM and “Most Spirited” at the annual NYE ‘Ultimate Resolution’ tournament. Will Mulvaney
WHITE
SEPAK TAKRAW
In just two years, the club has progressed massively, and this is no doubt due to Jack White. Now the club’s longest serving member, Jack has been dedicated to both playing and growing takraw. After leading his team to third place in our inaugural tournament, Jack is now part of the team organising next year’s event. So far, Jack has been the brains behind our Facebook page and the club’s upcoming participation in the Winter Sports Tournament, as well as taking on coaching and social responsibilities. There’s no doubt to any of us that Jack is the WD40 that lubricates the club’s joints, the superglue that bonds the club together, the solid lumber frame that is so structurally integral to keep the club standing. James Sproston Image: Sunmeet Khandari
Image: Neale Farthing
JACK
PENNELL
RUGBY UNION
Jack is fitting for the award because he epitomises the club. He is modest, a genuinely nice person, great rugby skills, enjoys his socials and whilst being one of the smaller members of the club puts his body on the line week in week out for his teammates, he also has a great smile. Neale Farthing
NAVNEET
KHANDARI
FENCING
We’re nominating Navneet Khandari, the fencing men’s seconds team captain. He’s been such a great captain and fences all 3 weapons really well. He also helps out massively with the beginners coaching sessions. Plus, he’s got such a bubbly and irresistible personality and is just an all-around great person, doing an excellent job as president last year. Isa Senica
Andy Burch (Water Polo), Rob Baldwyn (Lacrosse), Louisa Barnard, (Dance) Katie Dalby (Polo), Peter Sands (Swimming)
The Courier
sport .37
Monday 5 December 2016
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Cycling are in a whole different gear
Sports Editor, Lucy Brogden, spoke to Cycling Club representative, Bethany Lumborg, to find out more about them Newcastle’s cycling club attracts over 70 students, with members needing only a bike and a helmet to go along and join the fun. The club offers three cycling disciplines: track, road, and mountain biking, so there’s something on offer for every cycling enthusiast, whether you’re a total novice or a serious competitor. The club ride every Wednesday afternoon and Sunday morning, covering, on average, around 30-50 miles in a single session. There are also free spin classes on offer, led by club members, so you can get that endorphin high without having to brave the arctic temperatures and terrain of Northumberland!
“The club ride every Wednesday afternoon and Sunday morning, covering on average, 30-50 miles in a single session” On club rides there are up to three different groups of cyclists, with each group riding at a different pace, to cater to all abilities. The club head out in all weathers, come rain or shine, and have even been known to head out into Northumberland in the snow! If that doesn’t scream dedication, I don’t know what does! A ‘standard’ ride is around 27 miles, and the club tend to head up through Ponteland, before stopping for
cake mid- way along their route (the most important element of any athlete’s diet). A firm club favourite is the local Kirkley Cycles Café, which does an excellent coffee and walnut cake. The cyclists welcome new members throughout the academic year, so it’s never too late to give it a try, whether you’re interested in socialising or competing you’ll be welcomed with open arms. The club isn’t as much about cake as I’ve been led to believe, however, as there are BUCS points on offer for those who want to compete. For example, in November Freddie Jagger headed down to Manchester’s velodrome for a weekend of track cycling alongside over 200 other cyclists, for the annual BUCS competition. He placed an impressive 2nd in the Men’s Points race, with a score of 44, losing out to Max Stedman of Exeter by 14 points, but maintaining a competent 22 point over third place finisher, Tom Ward of Loughborough. Other BUCS cycling events include a 10 mile and 25 mile time trial, a hill climb, and a road race which is to be held in the New Year. With such events, cyclists must earn points from other, non- BUCS competitions, to prove worthy of a place in the race. There is also a downhill mountain biking competition, and the club train fortnightly in Kielder forest to prepare themselves for the annual BUCS event. Last year the club sent 10 men down to Wales to represent Newcastle, and they hope to repeat the feat this year.
“It’s a great way of getting out of the city exploring the countryside”
Club enthusiast, Bethany Lumborg, who has been a member of the cycling community ever since 2014, said that the club is ‘a great way of getting out of the city and exploring the countryside. Besides, who doesn’t love to eat cake?’
We definitely agree with you there, Bethany! If you fancy getting involved in cake and cycling, be sure to get in contact, and we look forward to seeing how the club fares as the year progresses. The club took part in last year’s coast to coast challenge Image: Bethany Lumborg
38. sport
Monday 5 December 2016
The Courier
Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston
Intramural Insight By Jim Stacey Panthers FC stalwart As I sit here at my desk, a cup of warm tea in my right hand and a dark chocolate digestive biscuit in my left, preparing to delve into the history of Panthers FC, I find myself returning to that old adage that many Panthers refer to when contemplating life changing events: what would Jonny Ryan do? For those of you that don’t know Jonny, he was, quite simply, the finest left back ever to have graced intramural football, and a purveyor of homespun wisdom through the idiom of Yorkshire-ness. If I close my eyes now I still hear his voice: “Keep it simple, Jim. And remember, keep playing until the final whistle”. The story of Panthers FC is best told through a tale of five captains. The first I knew was one Andy Steval: medical professional, TV star and below average centre half. For a number of years Panthers floundered in the wilderness of the intramural third division, nobly refusing to recruit anyone who was half good at football. It was Jonathan Barnes, however, who ushered in a new era of professionalism and maverick tactical decisions. Spurred on by insightful advice, such as ‘I want you to play like Marcus Bent crossed with Sergio Aguero’, it was little surprise that we were promoted, despite only finishing fourth, through the traditional intramural method of administrative error.
“Clucking like mother hens over their newest brood of combative midfielders” Tom Pritchard, who just had that predatory knack unique to a number of great strikers of being six foot seven, then took up the reins. Pioneering a style of football revolving around deadly accurate long throws by Stevie Gold, of which Tony Pulis would have been proud, Panthers avoided immediate relegation and began to consolidate our position. So effective was this approach that we even put up with Stevie on socials. Ben Tyas, blessed with a gorgeous left foot and the physique of a 40-year-old Geordie man who’s let himself go a bit over the last few years, was the man to take Panthers to the edge of glory with a run to the cup final last season and promotion, at long last, to intramural football’s top tier: Saturday 11s Football League Division 1. Yet, many thought that this season may be a bridge too far. Many players left, with only the towering figure of Pete Hewitt, who I’m convinced will play for Panthers until his firstborn son becomes old enough to replace him, remaining. Yet, under the nurturing gaze of Fergal and Adam, clucking like mother hens over their newest brood of combative midfielders, the future for Panthers has begun to look rosy once more. Currently we are fourth in the top division and surely, having occupied every other position in Saturday’s intramural divisions, getting to those final three is just a matter of time. Intramural football teams are created and fold at the drop of a hat. Yet, for us the final whistle is still some time away, and until then we intend to follow Jonny’s advice and just keep playing.
Shrimpers Samples: Ultimate Sports Editor Tom Shrimplin talks about learning the sport, the disc, and why they call the society ‘ultimate’ Waking up at half 6, then walking bleary-eyed on a cold, dark November morning all the way to the Sports Centre isn’t normally (well never) part of my Wednesday routine. But rather funnily, as I found out in my sample this week, is Ultimate a usual sport either. In fact it is a rather a unique sport as I found out in the indoor training session. The session started with practicing a few basic throws and getting the technique right with yourself and a partner. First, with a straight throw, which involved swinging your body to help get some power on it and timing when to flick your wrist. Needless to say my early throws went straight… at the wall to my right, but I picked up after a bit. Flying Frisbees from others also proved to be a clear and present danger, so it was important to be aware of your surroundings to make sure you weren’t hit in the face, although being plastic they didn’t really hurt at all. After a quick warm-up we then moved onto practicing IO or in-out throws, which are basically adding swerve to each throw by holding the Frisbee at different angles. In my mind, I knew
what I was doing but when it came to physically doing it something didn’t just compute. My throws were a bit wild and I never quite figured IO throws out, but it’s the taking part that counts right!
“I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to go try Ultimate out while at university” Nevertheless we then moved onto playing a game which involved first improving your backhand, before moving onto refining your forehand. It involved a thrower, a defender or blocker and three catcher. The game was to try aim it past the blocker towards the most difficult to reach catcher who is worth three points, while as a defender, successfully blocking would earn yourself two points. I actually did surprisingly well, both when defending and attacking which made it even more enjoyable. We then moved onto playing a couple of matches of Ultimate. I’ll be honest I was like a rabbit in the headlights
in learning the tactics and rules of the game while on the go. However after muchguidance I did start to figure it out, like moving into a line during the attacking phase and then moving out to find space for the thrower. Similarly, there was a skill related to man marking both when attacking and defending. One tip I learned when attacking is to move diagonally to help cut into space. While at first I struggled often in marking players and failing to catch the Frisbee, in the end actually managed to get a point for the team! The session then ended with playing a spontaneous 10 minute game of a 6-aside football. With the session finished, I left the Sport Centre to find the sun had risen and to find myself a changed man- I would no longer laugh at the notion of throwing Frisbees as a sport. I wholeheartedly recommend for everyone to go try Ultimate out, while at university. What I found is a very enjoyable sport, that while quite complex is still is easy enough to play with a bit of practice. Nevertheless I don’t think the session would have been half as fun as it was if
it wasn’t for the infectious enthusiasm shown by the Pies. They were both very welcoming and helpful, giving me plenty of tips on how to improve. Ultimately (pun intended) its not surprising how this great sport got its name.
of the elite black belt Open Competition, and with club president Gabriela Martins da Silva and team mate Liliana Martin putting in strong performances in the orange belt category, it was an amazing all-round display of the team’s Jiu Jitsu talents. Despite many individual medals being awarded to Newcastle University Jiu
Jitsu Club members at recent National Championships, this is the first time in many years that the club has been awarded the Club Shield. With a second National Championship being held in February (with a focus on ground fighting techniques), this is hopefully only the first of many successes for the Jiu Jitsu club this year.
Sent into a spin: Shrimpers can’t quite get his head around Ultimate Image: Thomas Shrimplin
Jitsu take up the gauntlet Jiu Jitsu Atemi Nationals
By Nathan Hoyles at the English Institute of Sport Last weekend was a great success for the Newcastle University Jiu Jitsu Club, who travelled down to Sheffield to compete in the 2016 Atemi National Championships. Despite fielding a much smaller team than many of their rivals, the club fought off tough opposition and was awarded the highly coveted TJJF Atemi Nationals Club Shield. For those unfamiliar with the sport, Jiu Jitsu is a traditional Japanese martial art incorporating throws, joint locks and strikes, with practitioners aiming to take attackers to the ground and restrain them by using their strength and balance against them. The Atemi Nationals sees entrants from clubs across the country taking part in an exhibition of their martial arts prowess over two events, with the winners determined by a panel of judges. The first event, referred to as a ‘V’, is a fast-paced scenario where competitors must deal with a series of armed and unarmed attackers in rapid succession, testing both their speed and endurance. The second event, the ‘Gauntlet’, is a
Badminton M1 v Northumbria 1sts M2 v Sheffield 2nds W1 v Sheffield 1sts W2 v Leeds 2nds
2-6 1-7 8-0 3-5
Basketball M1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts M2 v Bradford 1sts W1 v Loughborough 1sts W2 v Northumbria 2nds
101-83 46-57 41-62 40-63
Fencing M2 v Durham 3rds M3 v Bradford 1sts W2 v W3
111-88 115-130 135-107
slower-paced affair, which allows entrants to truly put the ‘art’ into ‘martial arts’ and demonstrate the full extent of their throwing and joint locking techniques. At this year’s competition, club social secretary Mikhail Barb struck gold in the orange belt category, while teammate Will Postlethwaite’s success in the green belt category added a well-deserved silver medal to the gold he won last year.
“This is the first time in many years that the club has been awarded the Club Shield” White belt Magno Carlos added a second silver to Newcastle’s medal tally with an impressive second place finish, while white belt team mate Marcus Soo also reached the final stages of the competition – a particularly impressive feat for someone who only took up the martial art a few short months ago. There was also success for the club’s instructors this weekend, with Sensei Brian Naisbitt reaching the final round Football M2 v Durham 2nds W1 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds W2 v Sheffield 3rds
1-0 2-3 4-1
Golf 1 v Sunderland 1sts 2 v Durham 4ths
5-1 3-3
Hockey M1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts M2 v Leeds Beckett 2nds M3 v Leeds 2nds M4 v Teesside 1sts W1 v Northumbria 1sts W2 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds W3 v Sheffield 3rds W4 v Teesside 1sts
0-2 1-1 0-0 1-1 0-0 3-0 2-2 2-5
Rugby League 1 v Northumbria 1sts 2 v Leeds Trinity 1sts
0-36 0-60
Belted up: the Jiu Jitsu Club won a host of individual awards as well as the Club Shield Image: Nathan Hoyles
Lacrosse M1 v Sheffield 1sts M2 v York 1sts W1 v Edinburgh 1sts W2 v Sheffield 1sts W3 v Durham 5ths
10-9 1-14 7-22 7-14 6-22
Netball 1 v MMU 1sts 2 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds 3 v Leeds 4ths 4 v York 2nds
39-52 40-37 49-22 35-42
Rugby M1 v Bishop Burton 1sts M2 v Sheffield 1sts M3 v Northumbria 2nds W1 v Edinburgh 1sts W2 v York 1sts
26-0 26-51 15-41 5-40 5-79
Squash M2 v Liverpool 1sts M3 v Hull 2nds W1 v Sheffield 1sts
1-4 3-0 1-3
Table Tennis M1 v Lancaster 1sts M2 v Leeds 2nds
7-10 7-10
Tennis M1 v Leeds Beckett 5ths M2 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds W1 v MMU 1sts W2 v Durham 4ths
2-10 12-0 4-8 0-12
Ultimate M2 v York St John 1sts
4-15
Volleyball M1 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds
3-1
Wednesday 30th November Results
The Courier
sport .39
Monday 5 December 2016
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Toon impress in debut dual meet Swimming Dual Meet By Lucy Nehring at Sport Central It’s a rare occasion that the Newcastle University Swim team face off against one of their biggest rivals, Northumbria, but last Wednesday saw the two teams compete in a dual meet. With 15 of our finest swimmers, we crossed onto enemy turf, and started warming up at Sports Central. At a usual meet, one would see multiple heats of the same event, but on this occasion, it was one heat per event, meaning our non-BUCS swimmers had one shot to show Northumbria what they’re made of.
for the pad, turning and realising you’ve managed to take a close and hard fought win, a moment claimed by many Newcastle swimmers. Second years Simon McCormick and Sam Herford got the individual events off to a great start for Newcastle, grabbing first and second in the 100IM respectively. This is one of the tougher events, where competitors swim 25 meters of each stroke (similar to in the Medley Relay). Captain Ben Purcell raced to victory in both the 50 and 100 metre breaststroke, demonstrating the power this second
year Chemistry student can bring to the pool. Fresher Jordan McDonald fought
“Captain Emily Shones, who usually dominates the pool with her backstroke, raced the 50 and 100 metre breaststroke” hard in his incredibly close 100m fly event, managing to push through to
claim second, an impressive feat against some extremely quick Northumbrians, many of whom are BUCS finalists. Having recently competed at short-course BUCS, it is impressive to see these exemplary swimmers maintaining their drive to race and performing so well again. The meet was also an opportunity for Newcastle swimmers to practice racing a stroke that they wouldn’t usually compete with. Captain Emily Shone, who usually dominates the pool with her backstroke, raced the 50 and 100 metre breaststroke, showing her power across
strokes. Cat Fraser and Steph Strange also showed impressive skill in their 50 butterflies, having never raced the event before. Last Wednesday we exhibited a strong team, that will only continue to thrive in the new year, where we hope to compete again, with a chance of including more squads from around the North East. The meet saw impressive times being swum by our all our members, along with some victories under our belt. It was an extremely successful meet, and we are determined to challenge Northumbria again soon.
“Second years Simon McCormick and Sam Herford got the indiciudal events to a great start for Newcastle, grabbing first and second in the 100IM respectively” The first event saw the men and women’s 200-medley relays, with both Newcastle and Northumbria putting forward two teams. The medley relay consists of four swimmers, each swimming two lengths of one of the four different strokes, beginning with backstroke, then breaststroke, butterfly and finishing with freestyle. Both our A and B squads for the men’s and women’s events performed incredibly, with second place finishes for both. After the first sets of relays were over, the meet continued with the individual races. Each event had three Newcastle and three Northumbria swimmers competing for the glorious feeling of reaching the wall first. Nothing can beat the feeling of stretching that last inch
Flying start: Jordan McDonald finished in second in the 100m fly Image: Lucy Nehring
Polo prepare with Scottish success Polo
By Jess Rea at Crieff Hydro Riding Centre Newcastle University Polo Club went head-to-head with St Andrews last weekend, in a string of friendly chukkas, which showcased two beginner and two novice teams. The matches worked in a round robin fashion, with the winner emerging after 12 hard fought chukkas. The Scottish winter took hold of the day’s proceedings and typically, chukkas had to be moved indoors due to bad weather. This delayed the start of play, but did not put Newcastle off their stride. The day kicked off with Newcastle Beginner A holding out against a strong St Andrews side. After establishing an early lead, they continued to open up the scoreboard and, after a cracking closing goal from Will Jones, they emerged as victors. Newcastle Beginner B also put in impressive performances, but sadly failed to pick up the points necessary to close the gap between themselves and their peers in the points league. The Novice squad had a more difficult task ahead, as they faced a long established St Andrews side. Opening chukkas didn’t get off to the best of starts as
St Andrews stole an early lead against Newcastle Novice A, and maintained a 2-0 lead heading into the second game. This then extended to 10 goals, but Newcastle managed to bring the score to a dignified close, placing 5 goals on the scoreboard. In their head-to-head match, Newcastle Novice A and Novice B fought it out in a battle of pride. The score bounced back to level multiple times in the twochukka match. Finally, the A team emerged victorious, with a late goal
tablish a national league that promotes weekly chukkas and regular play. Newcastle has entered into the northern category and will face Leeds, Durham and York in the coming weeks. The winner of each region will advance to the national finals in the new year, and Newcastle are optimistic about their chances in their campaign. Katie said, “We have worked hard this year to promote participation and get
the beginners to as many lessons as possible, so that they feel prepared for the upcoming league. It is the first time any polo club in the country have organised anything like this, and we are looking forward to get involved. Hopefully this will help our campaign to be recognised as a BUCS sport in the future.” The friendly also functions as prime preparation for their upcoming Winter National competition, hosted at Rugby
Polo Club in January. This competition draws teams from across the country to play in the indoor championship, and Newcastle will have to pull out all the stops to impress.
MVP OF THE WEEKEND:
Emma Key
“At the close of the friendly chukkas, Newcastle Beginner A topped their category” enough to steal the game. At the close of the friendly chukkas, Newcastle Beginner A topped their category. However, the Novice squad have a little work to do in the run up to their next competition. This clash with St Andrews was the perfect training opportunity for the polo players as they step into the newly established national league. Joint polo President Katie Dalby has worked in conjunction with the University of Kent Polo Club President, Mille Torg, to es-
At a canter: Newcastle Novice B looked likea tidy outfit in the arena Image: Jess Rea
Sport
www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 5 December 2016 Issue 1342 Free
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JITSU CHAMPIONSHIPS P.38
Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Twitter: @Courier_Sport | Instagram: thecouriersport
SWIMMING DUAL MEET, P.39
TNSPOTY NOMINATIONS, P.36
Jazz hands: the intermediate Jazz team placed 3rd in their category Image: Katherine Smith
Dancers dominate in Durham Durham Dance Fusion By Charlotte Astley at Durham Students’ Union Competition season for Newcastle Dance Society finally began last weekend as we took to the stage at Durham Dance Fusion. With 5 other teams attending we knew we were up against stiff competition, with St Andrews and York both having strong reputations for their incredible choreography, whilst Durham, Lancaster and York St John have all proven in the past to pull out amazing performances year on year. Nevertheless, we felt prepared to face the competition with our teams ready to bring all that was necessary to win the trophies, and set a precedent for the rest of the season. There had only been the opportunity for five official rehearsals to perfect the choreography and sync the fresh-faced new teams before we were to perform, meaning we knew it was going to be a tough one to place in. First to the stage were our tap teams, with our intermediate team smashing their dance. Their timing was impeccable, bringing an extremely strong start to not only the section, but the competition as a whole, setting the bar high for the following teams. Our Advanced
Tap team, with their flawless technique, gave an excellent performance and was the hardest to perform compared to other universities. This was choreographed by Louisa Barnard, who then took on the wildcard section herself in a tap solo, alongside our other soloist Sophie Lynch. Her ballet was absolutely mesmerising, stunning the audience as she made it look easy dancing ‘en pointe’ (a French ballet term for dancing on the tip of toes in a wooden block shoe).
“In the advanced section, our team made no mistake in showing off what they could do, with impressive high kicks and a striking number of turns”
After a short break, the modern dance sections were up next. Intermediate Jazz were super sassy in their performance and style, making it stand out amongst the other, very similar dances in the category. Controversially, St Andrews followed our performance, only to throw in a move that is prohibited at the intermediate level of dance. In the advanced section, our team
made no mistake in showing off what they could do, with impressive high kicks and a striking number of turns, all to an extremely fast paced piece of music. Worth noting in this section was York’s Advanced Jazz team, their exciting lifts, turns and a style original to them had the whole auditorium including other teams giving them a standing ovation, the standard was high in this section.
4
trophies, won in Tap, Street, Jazz and the solo wildcard
Contemporary marked a change in pace after the modern. Yvonne Chiu’s vision made for an interesting piece of choreography, the dancers portraying birds was relayed effectively throughout whilst other teams focused more towards solemn, typical styles of contemporary dance. Our penultimate section was ballet, with the intermediate team presenting an unusual piece of music to go alongside their dance; their black tutus highlighted the stunningly beautiful dance arrangement that alluded to swan lake. The Advanced Ballet showcased the strength of our dancers, with exquisite extensions of the leg that they made seem effortless, despite the enormous amount of skill required in such a performance.
In immediate contrast the street dance section followed. Clean and sharp, the choreography was incredible with an immense amount of power behind it. The dancers clearly enjoyed this routine as did the audience who did not stop cheering throughout. With the sections over, the suspense built as we waited for the judges to decide on the results. The judges were a mix, from a professional street dancer to an ex-member of the royal ballet and a choreographer for the musical Billy Elliot, we had to impress them all as our places were point-based.
“Their timing was impeccable, bringing an extremely strong start to not only the section, but the competition as a whole”
We started off with success as our Intermediate Tap team placed a wonderful 3rd in their section, only with more trophies to follow: 2nd for the street team, a notoriously hard category to place in, as well as the amazing Louisa Barnard deservingly retaining her 1st place in the wildcard section for her solo. Our Intermediate Jazz team also came
in at 3rd place, as the penalised St Andrews team still achieved 1st place, despite competition etiquette assuming that their illegal move would result in disqualification. As this didn’t occur, it caused dispute amongst the other teams, who had the skill to perform the same move, but had abided by the rules. Overall, Newcastle Dance Society won a staggering 4 trophies at the weekend, with Competition Secretary Hannah Davies stating that the team “did Newcastle proud”, and praised them for their conduct on the day. President Rebecca Bainbridge commended the dancers for their commitment to the society, as well as commenting on how proud she was to be president of such a talented group of individuals, though suggested everyone should now have a little rest before preparing for the next competition in Edinburgh in February. Whether a dance placed on the day is irrelevant, the hard work comes before the actual day, with dancers spending hours out of their week repeating the same steps, whilst many also choreographing the dances themselves. It takes a ridiculous level of hard work, dedication and stamina, so next time you think about pointing our that dance isn’t a sport, just remember they can kick you in the face no matter how tall you are!