40: BLOOM

RAZZ

University of Exeter’s Arts, Culture and Lifestyle Magazine

EDITORS’S NOTE

Whilst brainstorming ideas at the very beginning of this academic year, the theme bloom instantly stood out to us as the perfect fit for RAZZ’s term two edition. The second term at university is a chance to flourish: the seeds planted in your first term have, hopefully, taken root and you now have the opportunity to grow. As we enter into the spring months, Bloom offers us the opportunity to reflect on the changes that have impacted us, the communities that ground us and the opportunities that await us. We hope this edition recognises the importance, challenge and joy of the personal growth that can so define our time at university.

RAZZ strives to be an environment within which student art of all kinds can bloom. From our artists and designers, to our writers and editors, this edition is bursting with the exceptional talent and skill of our RAZZ contributors. I’m extremely grateful once again for the hard work and dedication of our print team: our Deputy Editors, Isabella Wartski and Bethan Oakley; our Copy Editors, Em Hamblin and Maya Fernandes; our Creative Director Maia McGill; and our Assistant Creative Director, Dharma Austin.

So, as we leave dark nights behind to welcome the gentle warmth of spring, let’s reflect on how we can cultivate the kind of ecosystems in which we can bloom and in turn support those around us to do so too.

Esther Humphries, Print Editor and Co-President

Each season of life brings new opportunities and challenges to enable us to learn and grow. No matter whether you’re in an up or a down period, change has the potential to bring unexpected blooms to areas of your life, and I hope some of this edition’s content resonates with you.

Isabella Wartski, Deputy Print Editor

As we enter a new year and transition from winter into spring, this term’s edition, Bloom, aptly represents new beginnings, rejuvenation, personal growth and creativity. Reflected in the content produced by our wonderful members, I hope this edition inspires you to either branch out in new directions or rediscover your roots.

Bethan Oakley, Deputy Print Editor

Designing the Bloom edition has been an exciting opportunity; we have taken our style in a different direction as inspired by the cover. Bloom is defined by its bright, bold and graphic style. We have also enjoyed incorporating the illustrations and photography of many of our members, complementing the fabulous articles. I’m very happy with the magazine and I couldn’t have done it without help from my creative team; thank you Dharma, and a special mention to Lucy and Katie who helped out designing this edition. Hope you like it!

Maia McGill, Creative Director

CONTRIBUTORS

Alexa Stevens

Anna Kane

Archie Dell’Armi

Bethan Oakley

Chloe Van Beneden

Dharma Austin

Ella Desmond

Eliza Clark

Em Hamblin

Esther Humphries

Fiamma Franchetti Bond

Grace Edwards

Gwenllian Page-Gibby

Isabella Wartski

Juliet Wolf

Katie Matthews

Lilly Bell

Lily Smith

Lucy Saul

Maddie Conlan

Maia McGill

Maya Fernandes

Megan Thomas

Miles Comer

Mimi Heeley

Nicole Tonner

Nina Harris

Oliva Roberton

Pallavi Pillai

Phoebe Ozanne

Poppy McClenaghan

Rachel McEwan

Rosie Mitchell

Sadhbh Holden

Sam Jones

Sophie Pittiglio

22-23

“Women Want to be Loved like Roses”

24-25

Bloom Poetry

26-27

In Appreciation of The Bloomsbury Group

28-29

Flash Fiction: The Ceroid Cactus Blooms

30-31

Bloom Playlist

32-33

Writer’s Block Remedies

34-35

The Language of Flowers

36

Bloom Crossword

37-38

Bloom Posters

Within:

RAZZ Publicity Officer Katie Matthews reflects on her relationship with the practice of self-love and the importance of treating yourself kindly whilst at university.

Self-love might be the toughest human quality to get right. It is simultaneously conceptualised as a basic human need and a fundamental flaw. Balancing the line between selfpreservation and vanity is crucial, especially as we begin to navigate the world alone.

When I went to university, it was bewildering to see how my personality had been stretched. At every gathering, event or coffee conversation, I found myself morphing into the person I felt I was supposed to be. At the time, I was barely conscious of it. In learning to love the person I’d become, with all her bumps and curves and insecurities, I began to prioritise

reflecting who I am inside.

For me, the answer to self-love was to first stop worrying what others thought, to remember it only matters what certain people think of my actions.

It’s also easy to feel like you can’t say no; like evenings must be filled, that nothing is permanent and people will drift. This could be true, but honestly the biggest step towards self-love for me was realising that the people who really love you will stick.

“...the biggest step towards self-love for me was realising that the people who really love you will stick.”

Self-love means sometimes saying no to friends; it is prioritising yourself even when you are claustrophobically busy. It is

Illustrations by Katie Matthews

A journey towards self-love

finding the time to do exercise, get some sleep and think about the day you just had before plunging into the next. University offers you the opportunity to always be busy. But, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to stop. Turn your phone off, have an evening for you.

Most importantly, nobody’s practice of self-love is the same. It is about getting to know yourself and what you need. It is about considering the aspects of your personality that you miss, the hobbies you wish you could take back up, the people you want to see more of, and making it happen, whatever it is you need to be happy.

“...nobody’s practice of self-love is the same. It is about getting to know yourself and what you need.”

Low self-esteem is much of the reason why university students can lose their sense of self. Consider reflecting on what sparks your most negative thoughts, is there someone or something in your life which particularly drives these feelings? As you look in the mirror, think about your body and its actual purpose, not to be observed, but as a vessel for you to live, travel and experience the world. To get you from one day to the next.

When you get to university, you

decide who is in your daily life. You pick the people you want to surround yourself with. So, make a conscious effort to pick wonderful people, the people who make you better.

“As you look in the mirror, think about your body and its actual purpose, not to be observed, but as a vessel for you to live, travel and experience the world.”

Nothing has supported my personal growth like journalling, particularly the practice of gratitude. Start looking for the things you appreciate in life. I’m not suggesting I’m cured. I’m not cured. But this evening practice consistently flips my perspective on a bad day. From the kindness of a stranger, to the love of a family member, reflecting on these through picking up a journal will help you learn to love yourself.

Louise Kaufmann said:

All life lessons are valuable moments. Learn to love yourself fully; I promise it’s worth it.

Question for the Culture: Is Sustainable Fashion a Myth?

RAZZ Deputy Online Editor Rachel McEwan discusses whether the trendiness of slow fashion has overshadowed its environmental aims and how to implement its practices more effectively. With the rise of green culture and climate awareness, slow fashion is being practised by many.1 Slow fashion, as the name suggests, aims to reduce the operation speed of the fashion industry. It focuses on the longevity, impact and quality of the garments produced. Production is designed to meet demand.

In contrast, fast fashion refers to inexpensive clothing being produced rapidly by mass-market retailers. Waste is built into its practices at each step, from the creation of garments (one cotton t-shirt requires seven hundred gallons of water and emits the same greenhouse gas emissions as driving a car for ten miles), to transportation emissions and (often plastic) packaging.2 Some companies, like H&M and their Conscious collection, may promote eco-friendly, sustainable clothing lines. However, this is often a false display of ecoconsciousness, luring customers into a false sense of security while their unsustainable practices remain hidden behind the scenes.3

Worryingly, trends seem to be coming and going faster than ever before. The “20-year rule” once saw pop culture trends coming back every twenty years, but this has been scrapped almost entirely as we see clothing trends from five to ten years ago coming back again in the 2020s.

“Worryingly, trends seem to be coming and going faster than ever before. “

The rise of micro-trends during the pandemic saw people purchasing things to use for a short time and then discarding them at a faster rate than ever before. This is why slow fashion practices are more important than ever: rather than trend hopping, instead buy clothes that can be worn with many different outfits – items that will outlive trends. Likewise, while we all like new clothes, trying to create new outfits with the clothes you already have will ultimately reduce your consumption.

The myth of sustainable fashion is that it is expensive. The false narrative received from the fashion industry is that slow fashion and being sustainable with your clothing will cost more, but some sustainable fashion choices can in fact be cheaper. The slow fashion industry promotes circular fashion – reduce, reuse, and recycle your clothes!

“The slow fashion industry promotes circular fashion – reduce, reuse, and recycle your clothes!”

Companies like Depop provide an accessible platform where people can buy and sell their second-hand items, thereby reducing textile waste.

Since 2021, Depop has offset 100% of its carbon emissions.4 While it is not 100% sustainable (think of the packaging still produced), it is a good start for people looking to reduce their consumption of fast fashion products. Furthermore, buying second-hand has become increasingly popular

since COVID-19, as big productions like Love Island have teamed up with second-hand sellers like eBay.

“Depop provide an accessible platform where people can buy and sell their second-hand items.”

This opportunity to shop secondhand is available on the high street too; charity shopping has become popular and #thriftedfashion is a growing trend – both playing a huge role in extending the lifespan of thousands of products.

However, a significant aspect of slow fashion is buying less and buying products that will last. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of your consumption even when buying second-hand.

Another way to reduce both your waste and expenditure through the practice of slow fashion is to repair your clothes. Often, we lazily discard clothes with holes in them, but these can easily be fixed. Plus, you can learn a new skill! Or, if your clothes are beyond repair, use them as dusters or cloths to expand their lifespan.

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Overall, in 2024, let’s buy fewer, better quality clothes and invest authentically in slow fashion.

Photography by Poppy McClenaghan

1 Vaibbhavi Ranavaade. “The Rise of Slow Fashion.” Chitkara University, November 2023.

Janet Domenitz and Celeste Meiffren-Swango. “What’s the problem with fast fashion?” PIRG.org, August 2023.

Don-Alvin Adegeest. “H&M sued for greenwashing claims, again.” Fashion United, November 2022.

“Depop’s climate actions.” Depop Newsroom, June 2023.

BLOSSOMING RELATIONSHIPS

Two RAZZ writers share their appreciation for relationships that have bloomed over time.

my brother & i

There nearly was no Callum and Nina. His birth was a difficult breech and aged three I ran into the path of a car which swerved at the last second. I could have been the eldest. He could have had to grow up with the ghost of a little sister. But even knowing how lucky we were to both be alive, we still bickered relentlessly. You could barely leave us alone in a room together because it always ended in one of us crying (me, it was always me).

However, when my brother went to university, something changed in our relationship. A transformation catalysed by separation, growth and then reunion. By the time I also went to university three years later, I’d blossomed into my own person rather than the annoying sister who copied

everything in a desperate attempt to impress him. Sure, we still tease each other, but now we’re friends in our own right. Everyone always reassured me siblings grew closer with age, but I never quite believed them. Our roots connect us, but our friendship is maintained through choice.

"OUR ROOTS CONNECT US, BUT OUR FRIENDSHIP IS MAINTAINED THROUGH CHOICE."

We choose to confide in each other, to cook together, to make each other laugh. And for that I adore him.

Nina Harris

Mother & Daughter

I’ve always loved my mother dearly, but we haven’t always been as close as we are now. The pair of us have been through our fair share of mental health problems, struggling for years, and it was difficult for us to understand each other. I wasn’t exactly the best-behaved child either, exhibiting symptoms of autism that were yet to be recognised.

Over the last few years, my mum has truly become my best friend and I cannot imagine a world where she is not on the other end of the phone. Not only is she my biggest supporter, but she is also my favourite person to be around. We laugh, cry, and, most importantly, we are there for each

other when things get tough. Now that I’m an adult, she confides in me just as much as I do in her. I’ve learnt to be grateful that she is still around, even when we fight as mothers and daughters so often do.

"OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, MY MUM HAS TRULY BECOME MY BEST FRIEND..."

It took us twenty years to get to where we are, but I think we understand each other now better than ever. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Megan Thomas, LGBTQ+ Officer

Photography by Olivia Roberton

Illustrations by Lucy Saul

AN INTERVIEW WITH: EXPEDITION SOCIETY

RAZZ Copy Editor Maya Fernandes spoke to Expedition Society’s Publicity Secretary, Katie Rigelsford, about why she loves the society and the reasons fellow students should give it a go.

WHAT MADE YOU FIRST JOIN EXPEDITION SOCIETY?

KR: When I first came to uni, I gravitated towards the outdoorsy people. I guess I was looking for what made me happy, and I’m a very outdoorsy person anyway. In Freshers’ Week, I’d met a few other people going to ExSoc socials, so ended up clicking with them immediately and going every single week from then on!

DID YOU HAVE ANY PRIOR EXPERIENCE OF HIKING BEFORE JOINING THE SOCIETY?

KR: I did DofE [Duke of Edinburgh] at school and have grown up doing various hikes on family holidays, including Snowdonia and the Peak District, so it’s always been something I’ve enjoyed. However, I would say there’s definitely a range of different experience levels within the society; you meet some people with all the gear and others who just like a beach walk.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP?

KR: I think that’s why a lot of people join, actually. You don’t really need any of your own kit; the bags and sleeping bags are all provided with the membership, which is only £19. If you want it to be, it’s a very affordable society to join and you get quite a lot out of it.

HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS SINCE YOU JOINED EXPEDITION SOCIETY?

KR: The outdoors are just good for that generally. I find that, on a trip weekend, my screen time is considerably lower. It’s a complete detox from everything else you’ve got going on. Since Covid, a lot of people have taken up walking as a casual hobby, so I think many new members have realised the benefits of what a walk can do.

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR AN AMATEUR WANTING TO GET INTO HIKING?

KR: The society is great for that because it’s such a cheap way to get started. It’s very accessible; you don’t have to organise anything, all your transport and routes are planned for you. Going on a trip is a good way to get into it. This term, we have had 14 overnight trips in total, and we also do day walks which are probably the easiest to get started with.

WHAT IS THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF THE SOCIETY LIKE?

KR: We have weekly socials at The Old Firehouse, and then every few weeks we’ll do a pub quiz, scavenger hunt, something like that. I never really felt like I needed to go with someone to the socials; it’s very easy to just turn up and have easy conversations with everyone.

I NOTICED YOU DO A SUMMER TRIP EVERY YEAR AS WELL. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE LAST YEAR?

KR: We have one big summer trip every year, so last year was the Tour du Mont Blanc. It was the trip of a lifetime for me - some of my favourite memories ever are from that experience.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE EXPEDITION THUS FAR?

KR: There are so many to choose from; the people on the Tour du Mont Blanc really made the experience... I’ve done other amazing trips like the Three Peaks Challenge which was chaotic at the time, but so fun to look back on.

At the time of year when deadlines are looming, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by the mass of essays in your calendar. Expedition Society is an easy way to get some fresh air and disconnect from the stresses of university life. I would highly recommend giving it a try!

Photography by Sam Jones

RETURNING TO YOUR ROOTS

Three RAZZ writers share the childhood loves to which they have recently returned, finding new understandings and deeper appreciations.

THE HUNGER GAMES

With the release of its prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, at the end of last year, I’ve been revisiting the original Hunger Games films. I originally read the books in 2014 when I was eleven and was enthralled by the fast-paced storyline and captivating love triangle. Returning to it I thought, like a lot of media from that era, that the storyline would now feel shallow and cringey, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed rewatching the films.

Often, I feel the Young Adult genre is branded “trashy” simply because of its intended audience, but underneath this label it can still have value. Despite being “teen fiction,” the themes tackled within The Hunger Games series, such as female empowerment, media manipulation and social resistance, rival so-called dystopian “classics” such as George Orwell’s 1984. So, whilst before I enjoyed The Hunger Games for its somewhat clichéd tropes, I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for the series.

“I feel the Young Adult genre is branded ‘trashy’ simply because of its intended audience, but underneath this label it can still have value.”

Juliet Wolf

DOCTOR WHO

Doctor Who is, as many can agree, a British TV classic. Having begun in 1963 and still running today, this tells you everything you need to know. This thrilling sci-fi show is one I grew up watching with my dad, providing an escape from reality and encouraging a new perspective on the universe. I felt an ache in my heart with the later seasons of the thirteenth doctor, Jodie Whittaker, our first female Doctor.

I lost admiration for the writing style of the show and was disinterested in a majority of the confusing storylines.

“I grew up watching with my dad, providing an escape from reality and encouraging a new perspective on the universe.”

Nonetheless, with the return of the wonderful David Tennant and Catherine Tate in November last year, I was transported back to my childhood. While I may not be able to watch it with my dad anymore, my love for the show has been rekindled. I look forward to finding comfort once again in the show I have loved dearly with the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa.

Phoebe Ozanne ST TRINIANS (2007)

St Trinian’s defends anarchy and celebrates reclaiming identity in a school of misfit girls. Despite being part of different groups, the girls band together to save their school from closure. As a child, I loved it for its lack of teenage romance, although I admit that it cemented Colin Firth and Gemma Arterton as two of my earliest celebrity crushes.

Equally formative was this film to my cultural understanding, with endless references to Pride and Prejudice (the 1995 series of course) and “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” as well as introducing me to iconic songs by Kaiser Chiefs, Ordinary Boys and Girls Aloud, who appear in the triumphant finale scene as “The Banned of St Trinian’s.” I would recommend the film to anyone hit with 2000s nostalgia, or in need of letting their hair down!

“I would recommend the film to anyone hit with 2000s nostalgia, or in need of letting their hair down!”

Eliza Clark

Illustrations by Katie Matthews

NATURE HELPING

During COVID-19, while people remained in their homes throughout lockdowns, there was a renewed focus on the benefits of supporting and appreciating nature. Being around nature can improve your mood, reducing feelings of stress and anger while boosting your confidence and self-esteem.1 It not only has huge personal benefits but also supports local wildlife populations and helps to reduce atmospheric carbon levels that contribute to global warming. So how can we help nature flourish from home and at university?

RAZZ Deputy Online Editor Rachel McEwan explores the changes that everyone can make to help protect our natural world.

Personally, I find it easier to be sustainable when I’m at university. Without the temptation of using the car and with everything within walking distance, I walk everywhere – this is something to consider when at home too. When travelling to Exeter or going on holiday abroad, try using the train or bus so that your emissions are shared with other public transportation users, as opposed to private cars or the high emissions involved with flying.

“Without the temptation of using the car and with everything within walking distance, I walk everywhere...”

Being a student (and being perpetually broke), I also find that by budgeting for my specific needs, I reduce food waste by not buying in excess. This can be done at home too by encouraging whoever does the food shop to think more carefully about what is bought to reduce potential food waste. Another way to help the environment during your food shop is to consider buying less meat. Livestock produce tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year and require lots of farmland that could be used to help nature bloom instead.2 Plus, reducing the demand for meat is easy to do when on a budget!

“Being a student (and being perpetually broke), I also find that by budgeting for my specific needs, I reduce food waste by not buying in excess.”

It is also good to be mindful of the packaging of the products you buy. Does it contain a lot of plastic? Plastic can only be recycled a few times before it becomes redundant and goes into landfill. With packaging, ensure you recycle properly! Clean out your yoghurt pots and milk cartons before putting them in the recycling bin. Pizza boxes cannot be recycled. If one thing in the collection has food waste in it, it has the potential to ruin the successful recycling of the other materials. Unlike other places, Exeter City Council does not collect glass. However, there are many glass recycling points around Exeter that are easy to find with a Google search. Altogether, while recycling is great, remember it is better to reduce consumption.

Another easy way to help nature blossom and simultaneously make your home look pretty is to decorate your rooms with plants! Houseplants can reduce air pollution in the home.3

Finally, if you’re passionate about protecting the planet, there are many great environmentally-focused societies to join. For example, Exeter Student Volunteers runs conservation project work parties and Be The Change offers the opportunity to discuss environmental matters with likeminded people. Moreover, take part in protests – demand more from those in charge and make your voice heard.

It all helps nature bloom! 1

3

SPRINGTIME IN EXETER:

a guide to the arts and culture scene

RAZZ writer Rosie Mitchell gives her recommendations for upcoming arts and culture events in Exeter and beyond.

After a long, cold and wet winter, I can’t wait for the sun to come out and to be able to sit in parks, go to Exmouth Beach and explore Exeter without having to wear multiple layers of clothing. Spring is also a great time for arts and culture events and Exeter and Devon are full of amazing museums, galleries and spaces waiting to be explored! Here are some events I am looking forward to and places I recommend visiting to support the local arts and culture scene:

ROYAL ALBERT

MEMORIAL MUSEUM (RAMM)

“Spring is also a great time for arts and culture events and Exeter and Devon are full of amazing museums, galleries and spaces waiting to be explored!”

The RAMM is great for learning about Exeter’s history and makes for a fun outing with friends if you love history, art or fashion. The main museum holds impressive collections of natural history, costumes and textiles, decorative arts, fine art and world cultures. If you haven’t been before it is definitely worth a visit. They also run contemporary art exhibitions and this spring you can go and see an installation by the famous video artist Bill Viola, which is running until the 2nd June in their Gallery 21! This is an exciting exhibition from a leader in video art; his work explores human experiences such as birth, death and consciousness. There is a great cafe inside for some lunch too!

KILLERTON HOUSE

Killerton House is a National Trust house about a fiftyminute bus journey away from the centre of Exeter. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit this spring and holds some impressive art and nineteenth to twentieth-century fashion collections. There is also a cafe and a bookshop on site, so it is perfect for a day trip away from Exeter and university!

THELMA HULBERT GALLERY, HONITON

This is a gallery located in Honiton just thirty minutes outside of Exeter, direct by train. They support and exhibit local Devon artists; exhibitions this spring include “The Glow of Hours: Rebecca Partridge in Devon” which focuses on watercolour skies and flowers observed from Devon landscapes and the “South West Academy Exhibition” which includes paintings, sculptures and prints by academicians and associate members of the South West Academy.

EXETER PHOENIX

There are several cool exhibitions and events happening at Exeter Phoenix in April, and a lot of them are free or discounted for students. Running until the 13th April is Natasha MacVoy’s exhibition, “Eye Witness,” which showcases sculptures, drawings and film art that focus on themes of neurodiversity and human experiences of time and space. If you are interested in portrait art and fashion, there is an “Exhibition On Screen” event celebrating the artist John Singer Sargent, whose portraits are interesting due to his sitters’ fashion and accessories and Sargent’s power to express each of their personalities and gender identities. It is also worth seeing Devon-based artist Laura Porter’s textile and craft exhibition that rethinks material culture by repurposing discarded clothing into sculpture.

Photography by Poppy McClenaghan

LATE BLOOMERS

Three RAZZ writers reflect on albums that they have recently come to appreciate, the timeless classics of eras gone by and misunderstood records overlooked on initial release.

Grace, Jeff Buckley

Grace, Jeff Buckley’s first and only full-length studio album, was first released in 1994 – arguably one of the best years for rock music with contemporaries including Weezer’s debut album and Green Day’s Dookie. Released only three years before Buckley’s death, the album was subject to mixed reviews when it was first produced. However, it went on to be listed on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and was revered by the likes of David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Page. I was only introduced to the album in recent years, but it’s safe to say that this album has swiftly become one of my all-time favourite records. Its intimate stylings, masterful lyricism and intuitive vocals make Grace an album that I will forever return to and would recommend to everyone, and its enduring reputation is a testament to Buckley’s legacy as a true master of

Something, Chairlift

Following the earworm that was Caroline Polachek’s Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, stumbling upon her earlier work amongst indie pop trioturned-duo, Chairlift, felt like striking gold. Their sophomore album, Something, offers an inimitably characterful collection of indie pop that merits some time to revel in.

Inevitably, I succumbed to the dramatic daftness offered on tracks like “Sidewalk Safari,” in which Polachek animates a heartbroken hit-andrunner. This sense of whimsy is only furthered by Chairlift’s unorthodox visuals, like the choose-your-ownadventure style video for “Met Before.”

The record is a relic bursting with Polachek-isms, from octave gymnastics to self-referencing. With unpredictable lyrics melding into gothic synth beats, it remains a masterclass in 2012 indie pop, cognized by legends like MGMT. Overall, the album elucidates the unmissable potential of both Polachek and Wimberly, who have more than certified their statuses as art pop legends in the twelve years since its release.

Heaven or Las Vegas, Cocteau Twins

For the last twenty years, boxes and boxes of old vinyl records belonging to my father have sat collecting dust in the attic. Recently, this extensive musical archive gained a new life, because for my twentieth birthday, my parents gifted me a beautiful new record player. The greatest joy of this present has been sifting through the dusty boxes in the attic, unlocking a portal to decades of musical history. The Cocteau Twins’ alternative rock album, Heaven or Las Vegas, was the true shining star amongst these discoveries and is now a staple of my everyday music rotation. The album’s ten tracks combine as one united dreamscape of sound, each smoothly sifting between one another so that you often can’t tell where one track ends and another begins. The album’s celestial instrumentals and lush sonics are timeless, and have left an indelible mark on the alternative music landscape.

Olivia Roberton

Archie Dell’Armi

"Women Want to be loved like roses:"

RAZZ Outreach Officer Lily Smith examines renewed interest in Eve Babitz’s writing and the dangers of oversimplifying female artists.

Named the “Onetime ‘It’ Girl” by The Hollywood Reporter in 2019 - the words “one” and “time” combined so as to not waste any breath - Eve Babitz was too impermanent to pause upon.1 Then in her seventies and unlikely to pick up the phone, Eve Babitz appeared to have entranced a twentyfirst century audience through the writing of her thirties, as her work was reissued under several publishers.

Those rediscovering Babitz praised her gossipy writing and party girl status. Reviews described the “glamour” she evoked - the sunbathers in a rotting paradise ignored, the profiles of Californian boredom unseen. While resurgences of overlooked female writers are significant, it is their curation that fails them. By introducing them as “wives” and “ex-girlfriends of,” their titles are cemented as below celebrated male artists and by marketing them as party girl spectacles, as in the case of Babitz, precedent is placed on their context rather than their content and wisdom. For Babitz, her context of course informs her writing, but it has made her a feature of LA rather

than a literary contributor herself.

“While resurgences of overlooked female writers are significant, it is their curation that fails them.“

Profiled by her content, the press surrounding Babitz is dappled in celebrity; surrounded by tales of Jim Morrison and Steve Martin, she is a figure one is unable to pinpoint and instead identified by proxy to famed Los Angelinos. Her role is confined so much that it requires the male presence, the musician to her groupie, the artist to her muse.

The romantic idea of the muse is enabled by mystery, a gorgeous tragedy that attracts the spirit of the twenty-first century audience, as celebrity now drives towards relatability. Be it in late night interviews or social media, we are graced with the fact that our beloved and despised celebrities do get stuck in traffic, they eat shitty food and have a few too many tequilas every so often. But this is not to say that the muse is standoffish - she cannot be, for she fits in no social

convention, she is essentially rootless. She is dressed and undressed, she turns up and, above all, she is remarkably out of place. Babitz, “the muse,” springs to mind in one photo in which she is photographed nude, playing chess with Marcel Duchamp in the Pasadena Art Museum.

“She is dressed and undressed, she turns up and, above all, she is remarkably out of place.”

The press surrounding the re-release

qualifies and warrants the idea of the muse, when rather it omits all its ornaments and in turn critiques the artist. The party-girl image is not untrue of Babitz. It inspired much of her writing. But to simplify her to this status makes her character stark and uncomplicated. Her hedonism is replaced by frivolity; her writing is reduced to a hobby. Rereading her work as a university-aged female, I can see this as a common dismissal of female talent and interests, provoking us to be even more passionate about shining light on Babitz’s work. Reception of Babitz’s work is dismissive and uncomplicated, but she knew her own worth: “I am a stacked eighteen-year-old blonde on Sunset Boulevard. I am also a writer.” So, our revisiting of female writers should be as confident and complicated as the women themselves.

how the reception of Eve babitz's writing has failed her authorship

Illustrations by Sadhbh Holden

The Fig Tree

Every 20-something woman should read The Bell Jar Just to be seen by one small passage That paints young life as a tree, each avenue a fig.

Would you rather starve than choose A life that doesn’t fit you, and a future where you lose out? When I couldn’t quite phrase the question, Plath finally did.

B L O M

O

I am told, so so often That having any clue Is something adults chase While they shift from going to do.

While dishes pile up, And friends stay the night, And all your conviction goes from I will to I might

With freedom that crushes, Youth that rushes, Through the door we forget to lock at night.

Scavenged ornaments from pubs and parties and parks Are displayed in the cabinet. Seven zigzag days returning home in the dark, A week slipped away before I couldan fathom it.

I am told with so much certainty That your twenties go like this, That all the not knowing Is something I’ll come to miss.

Figs are an inverted flower, they blossom deep within. Maybe that is this strange feeling, pushing at my skin. Ripening fruit burdens my branches, So I take a breath, before I take my chances.

Ella Desmond

Illustrations by Pallavi Pillai

Garden Of Venus

Grown in moonlit gardens, Mysterious and gorgeous, I devour moons to wear them. They adorn my belly with silver slivers that wax and wane. The moonlight sings in my stomach, lightens my tongue for lovely words to glow from me, to grow the gardens in my smile. The dirt between my teeth has a sweet and cloying taste. Am I not desire?

Am I not a flame?

I need a fire swallower, flame walker. Tell me you will hold my heart in your teeth. Tell me and I will bear it, for I am sickened by the waning tides in my feet. Where can I walk to that will know my eye and fill my gaze?

Who will heft my hunger?

Who will string its sinew and play it?

I am tired.

Replant me in the soil and tell me of your love. I would not be immovable for anything less.

Alexa Stevens

O E

Blossom

Our bodies are trees, Branch towards me, Nectar dipped fingers

Lithe and free, Racing towards each other — There’s no time! — There’s never enough time… I’m not yours and you’re not mine. Swimming in blossom, I can’t sleep. Rustling leaves, Tolling bells, A goosebump breeze, Is what you are to me, Everything.

T R Y

Anna Kane

In Appreciation of the Bloomsbury Group

RAZZ writer Maddie Conlan explores the work, legacy and impact of the Bloomsbury Group, both on the artistic world and her own life.

The Bloomsbury Group, formed in the early 1900s, was a group composed of writers, artists and critics who met to discuss their artistic and literary creations. Residing in Bloomsbury, the members, among whom notably included Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, were all from affluent backgrounds, but were united by their passion to create and change the expected notions of art from conservative standards to the liberated forms and freedom of Modernism.

to nurture and influence a new generation of artists and writers, in which they found great success. Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard founded the Hogarth Press – a book publishing imprint that now belongs to the umbrella of Penguin –which published the writings of Woolf and various influential authors in the early 1900s. Despite their affluence and societal influence, they had radical ideas of liberalism; the Bloomsbury Group’s impact defied the bounds of classism as they allowed art and literature to flourish.

Their goal was to create a space

As an English Literature student, I have become enamoured with the musings of Virginia Woolf. Woolf’s writing inspired a wave of “stream-ofconsciousness” novels that have

spanned from the 1900s into the modern day and have shaped theories of feminism, equality and Modernism. Woolf’s most influential work for me is her experimental novel The Waves. Though not an easy read, it is a beautiful exploration of the hardships that everyone faces in their journey of life, friendship and humanity. The Waves follows six friends from childhood and examines how they each deal with morality, depression, love and the anxiety of existing.

“I am made and remade continually. Different people draw different words from me.”

The above quotation from The Waves has etched itself into my soul. The way Woolf talks about mental health and how you can drown under the expectations of other people is an anxiety that has spanned generations and still holds a relatable influence on modern audiences. Described as a novel without a plot, The Waves has been an influential text in creating a genre that focuses on the internal thoughts and terror of the human mind. The tender musings that Woolf is known for create a deep and intimate connection between reader and character that persists into modern analysis.

In terms of art, Woolf’s sister, Vanessa

Bell, whose work features on some of Woolf’s book covers, pioneered an abstract, bright and colourful art style. Bell was involved in PostImpressionism and had an aesthetic appreciation of art, combining vibrant and dull colours to create emotive and innovative pieces that expressed some of the life she and her fellow friends in Bloomsbury led. While Bell is often overshadowed by the achievements of her sister, her impact on the world of art has rippled through time.

The influence of the Bloomsbury Group’s influence is undeniable. Their impact on abstract and modernist art and literature has spilled over into the twenty-first century and each member’s name has been carved into history.

Illustrations by Lucy Saul

The Ceroid Cactus Blooms

Once a year, for a single night, the ceroid cactus blooms. It uncoils, spreading its delicate, white wings wide; it soaks in the dim light of stars, absorbs the soft moonlight into its pale petals, and thrives in the silent night. The darkness is where it lives, where it finds itself most able to be free.

Flowers are, of course, delicate. It takes immense strength to push through their refined cases and breach the bars of their cages, even just for one single moment of freedom. It doesn’t last; most good things never do.

Once dawn hits, and the sun begins to rear its head, the cereus can no longer withstand the attention. Its beautiful white wings begin to shed, brown petals floating to the ground to become one again with the soil. The sun scorches its fragile skin into submission as it rises. Nobody will ever see its radiance. Nobody has the right. She is a queen of the night, a princess that graces the world with her presence for mere moments. She will not be picked or taken or dried, or displayed in a glass case like a wax figurine. Freedom is all she desires, even at the expense of her untimely demise.

And so, Florentina runs.

Like the flower that blooms once a year, she breaches containment. She runs with white wings trailing behind her, losing bits and pieces through the desert as she goes. Florentina’s wild hair burns under the watch of the waking sunrise.

Tendrils of copper coils like live wires catch themselves amongst the falling stars. The bouquet, clutched so mercilessly between her tension-clenched fingers, was defenceless against the wind. She runs. Flurries of freedom blossom amongst the decay of broken promises that grow stagnant in her mind. Her desires, once petal-soft, now sting like thorn in punctured skin. The once black andwhite picture has now melted into feverish shades of pink; the rough skin of masculine hands failed under the inviting will of femininity. She runs faster.

The grains of time will not heed her calling, the distance pulling that bloomsomewhere beyond the shaded horizon: the last throngs of night consumed by the dawn’s greedy licks of gold. Her pallid limbs carry her onwards, blistering the cool air until they fail her. The bitten greeting of the sand below is not a welcome thing. Grains catch themselves on her eyelashes. A makeshift veil forms in her hair. Her elbows are raw and scarlet.

The cactus in front of her somehow glistens, even in the fading light. It shines like a northern star, guiding her home. She reaches up a hand and caresses the delicate petals as they open up to say hello. It is a one-in-a-million chance, an opportunity she never would have grasped had she not followed her heart.

In the end, the pain will wither. She can’t go back,but maybe it doesn’t matter anymore. Like the flower in the palm of her hand, she is free. And when her limbs finally do wither, and the last ounce of light diminishes, she will be proud of how far she has come.

Megan Thomas, LGBTQ+ Officer and Lilly Bell

Illustration by Maia McGill

Playlist

BLOOM

RAZZ Deputy Online Editor Miles Comer recommends his favourite tracks from growing artists making their mark on the industry.

The music world is one fronted by dense canopies; few musicians dominate the industry like lofty and encroaching foliage, making it easier for the light of budding singers to be buried. Yet, the smaller are equally (or even more) integral to the vitality of the entire musical ecosystem and truly blossom. I would like to showcase some of the most cutting-edge musicians currently in the space – true innovators who, through their experimentation, are trailblazing a path forward to the future whilst building on the past.

“So Many Ways (feat. POiSON GiRLFRiEND),”

Kiss Facility

A joint project from Mayah Alkhateri and Sega Bodega, Kiss Facility’s music homogenises the lustrous guitars of the shoegaze genre with spiritual notions of liberation and optimism. With the majority of their debut EP Esoteric sung entirely in Arabic, Kiss Facility is joined by 90s underground icon POiSON GiRLFRiEND on this track, creating a lurid and hypnotic parable against obsolescence in love.

“Audio (All I Ever Got),” EASYFUN

As a prolific producer in his own right, contributing his assets to Charli XCX’s “Speed Drive,” EASYFUN should be a household name by now. On this track, he pays homage to all things acoustic with a sound that can only be described as harking back to Oasis in their prime, stripping back the layers to create a track as boldly pastiche as it is innovative.

“abans abans,” Marina Herlop

With her voice as the leading instrument in her songs, Marina Herlop crafts neo-Björkian melodies in a syllabic language entirely of her own making. Aided by electronic and piano accompaniment, her post-linguistic edge proves one need not require semantics to convey emotion – it is something that can be wrought from the well of the human form itself.

“Jennifer B,” Jockstrap

Classically trained at London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama, duo Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye embrace their more idiosyncratic musical inclinations as Jockstrap. “Jennifer B” falls somewhere between Wolf Alice in Ellery’s vocal chops and SOPHIE in Skye’s sound design capabilities – a delightfully wonky track that delivers off-kilter oomph with added airiness.

“thicc (feat. Cosha),” Shygirl

With an ever-evolving sound that has seen itself straddle the darkly lit backrooms of the club as effortlessly as the sublime scenery of the British countryside, Shygirl’s latest single is out and in full force on the dancefloor. “thicc” is a house-y ode to sexual empowerment, inviting all who listen to partake in the sensual and glorious debauchery of Club Shy.

“deathrow bby,” Namasenda

Newly labelmates with Drain Gang’s Bladee, Yung Lean and Ecco2k, Namasenda continues to effortlessly traverse a wave of sparkling synths and explosive beats. This track in particular serves as a hyper-reinvention of dancehall, finessed with a pitched-up bubble-gum vocal, that proves to be a perfect hard-hitting closer.

“Lucky,” Erika de Casier

Coming off the back of writing for K-pop group NewJeans, Erika de Casier gives us a glimpse into her highly anticipated new album Still. This track boasts a jungle and breakbeat feel, using the infamous “Think Break” as a sample to great effect; what really comes to the fore is a touch of delicate sentimentality conjured by the contrast in use of piano instrumentation.

“Puppy,” Doss

Hailing from New York City, Doss is the rave – and quite literally at that, as evidenced by the euphoric trance tune “Puppy.” Pulsing rhythmically at 140bpm, Doss struggles to let go of an ex-lover despite a downright lack of respect for her and their exclusivity; the track hints, however, at elevation beyond through its upbeat production, an optimistic undercurrent that solidifies the transient nature of such feelings.

PLAYLIST

Writer's Block Remedies

Three RAZZ writers share the practical tips that have helped them develop their own writing, as an encouragement to both aspiring and experienced authors.

Journalling

It’s fair to say that I’m no expert in the topic of confident writing, but with time, reading and practice, I’ve improved. I’ve recently discovered journalling and have found the daily practice not only useful for its mental health benefits, but also because it’s helping me become a more confident writer.

This is an instance in which “practice makes perfect” rings true. As a university student, you likely only write when you’re either speed jotting down notes because your lecturer speaks at a million miles a minute, or when you’re racing to finish an essay an hour before the deadline. Journalling allows you to both write more often, without time constraints and to show your personality through writing, displaying your unique voice and perspective. Finding out what kind of a writer you are outside of academia helps you to write both more authentically and more confidently.

“Journalling allows you to both write more often, without time constraints and to show your personality through writing...”

Chloe Van Beneden

CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Writer’s block is prevalent during deadline season. Tensions are high, but motivation is at an all-time low. It seems that exams take all the joy out of writing as a beloved pastime. When struggling to find that creative streak, I find a change of environment is crucial. I can’t write in my room, so I need a place that limits all distractions.

“It seems that exams take all the joy out of writing as a beloved pastime.”

Studying in silent study zones such as The Loft and going to café’s during the week (especially in the morning so I can secure a good seat!), gets me concentrated. Watching others working around me also aids my motivation to write and there is something so comforting about writing with a hot drink! I find, therefore, that changing up my settings frequently ensures that I am never bored, allowing me to truly immerse myself in new ideas and present these through engaging articles!

Sophie Pittiglio

WRITE EVERYTHING

My favourite author has always been Jodi Picoult, so I’ve always taken her advice about writing: “You can’t edit a blank page.” This is the attitude I go into all my writing with – try everything, write everything and then draw what you can out of the mayhem. I think this chaotic approach resembles the artistic process and I often feel less daunted to go back and edit a piece that needs work than to try and write something “perfect.” I’m also a believer in writing what you know, mainly because for me this always happens unintentionally; no matter what topic I’m writing on, it'll always reflect me. While this is terrifying when I think of other people reading it, I think it allows for joyful and authentic writing, which are the values that matter to me.

“I think this chaotic approach resembles the artistic process and I often feel less daunted to go back and edit a piece.”

Grace Edwards

THE LANGUAGE OF

RAZZ writer Gwenllian Page-Gibby reveals the hidden meanings of flowers and what they might mean for you…

AQUARIUS: TULIPS

Tulips reflect the quirky magnetism of Aquarians. Signifying charity and deep love, they reflect their kindness and ability to make friends wherever they go. Though they may sometimes feel unnoticed, Aquarians are a quiet favourite of everyone they meet and will soon find out how prized they are.

ARIES: FORGET-ME-NOT

FLOWERS

PISCES: WATER LILY

Pisces can often be found daydreaming in their own fictional worlds and are immensely creative and romantic. Like the water lily, so much lies beneath the surface of these pensive personalities and they are rooted in an entirely different reality to what may appear at surface level.

Forget-me-nots are symbolic of fidelity and remembrance. Aries are fierce friends, doing their utmost to remember every detail you confide and always ready to fight your corner. Sometimes brutally honest, Aries have quick wit but appreciate gestures of kindness more than they show.

GEMINI: ORCHID

Like the exotic orchid, Geminis need lots of love and attention, but the effort is so worth it. You have a confidante, all the gossip you could need and a friend who would die for you, but don’t leave them on read because a Gemini’s patience may quickly wear thin…

CANCER: AGAPANTHUS

TAURUS: HIBISCUS

Tauruses are just plain cool. With their aesthetic outfits, quiet confidence and a flair for the bold, what could be better than the dramatic bloom of hibiscus, popular both in flower form and in the world of teas, jams and syrups.

Romantic and showy, Cancers embody the agapanthus. Desperately seeking the right person, they are perpetually on dating apps and perennially falling in and out of love with their dates. They will, however, always be adored by their friends who can’t help but live vicariously through them.

LEO: SUNFLOWERS

Often called arrogant, Leos simply want to bask in the light and be admired. Like the sunflower, they will contort themselves to be liked by everyone, following warmth and admiration wherever they can get it. With their ease and versatility, Leos are often guilty of being huge people pleasers!

VIRGO: PEONY

Sun-loving peonies do not do well in harsh winters. Likely suffering bouts of seasonal sadness, Virgos dream of a third term spent sipping ciders at Double Locks or sunbathing in Dawlish. Peonies, symbolising bravery and wealth, reflect brave Virgos soldiering through winter until the sun returns.

LIBRA: CLEMATIS

Like the climbing clematis, Libras have their life together and won’t let anything stand in their way. Work-oriented and resilient, they’re climbing right to the top, accepting nothing less than perfection.

SCORPIO: HYDRANGEA

Resonating with hydrangeas’ colour changing petals and symbolism of heartfelt emotion, Scorpios regularly seek change, love adventure and quickly adapt to new surroundings. To know a Scorpio is to appreciate their zest for life and either quickly get on board or quickly get left behind.

SAGITTARIUS: DANDELION

A Sagittarius will find a way to thrive in any condition and conquer whatever lies in their path, much like the resilient dandelion. Headstrong and courageous, Sagittariuses put themselves out there, push themselves to the limits and certainly won’t be stopped until their wishes come true.

CAPRICORN: SNOWDROPS

While appearing gentle and delicate, Capricorns have an innate strength and resilience helping them power through dark times like snowdrops in winter. While they may be called shy or quiet, Capricorns mean so much to those closest to them and their efforts certainly don’t go unnoticed!

BLOOM CROSSWORD

ACROSS

2. It’s yours to shape and explore (8)

8. _____ comes from within (6)

9. Sometimes they come when you least expect it (13)

10. You feel _____ when you achieve something (5)

11. To develop a new hobby or skill (5)

13. “I make so many __________, there never will be an end” - Louisa May Alcott (10)

15. Important system to have around you when you’re trying something difficult (7)

16. To look inward/self-analyse (7)

17. Build ___________ with new people (11)

18. Now it’s spring, have you managed to keep them? (11)

21. Essential to set __________ for healthy relationships (10)

22. Another word for development (6)

Crossword by Nina Harris

DOWN

1. We all get nervous when we step out of it (7,4)

3. A revelation about oneself (9)

4. You won’t know unless you ___ (3)

5. It’s the _______ that matters, not the destination (7)

6. Comes with age and experience (8)

7. Expressed through fashion or music (14)

12. Trees must wait until spring for it, we do it each time we change (7)

14. A good theme for a magazine (5)

19. Don’t forget your _____ (5)

20. Current word to describe a life stage (3)

in in

Posters by Nicole Tonner and Fiamma Franchetti Bond

Issue 40

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