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E xeposé Exam errors cause fury Comment page 6
Monday 23 May 2011 Issue 580 www.exepose.com
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ringing part way through, followed by an announcement that two multiple choice questions should be ignored. When asked about the situation, Bertie Archer, VP Academic Affairs, commented: “Mistakes should never get to this stage. The checking and scrutiny process should be much more rigorous.” Students have also faced a lack of facilities and resources. One candidate in an English exam asked for more paper, only to be given yellow un-lined paper with the date stamped in the middle. She later described the incident as giving her ‘exam rage’.
“Mistakes should never get to this stage” Bertie Archer VP Academic Affairs
Candidates have faced a range of errors during this year’s summer exam period, as well as harsher invigilating and identity checks to try to curb a rise in cheating
Henry White Editor HUNDREDS of candidates have been affected by problems during this summer’s exam period, with large numbers making formal complaints to colleges, Student Staff Liaison Committees and academic services. The Maths Algebraic Structure ECM2705 exam was so difficult the Maths SSLC has called for an investigation into the paper. One candidate
stated: “[the exam] seemed to question us on ideas we hadn’t looked at” arguing that, although the module had been clearly taught, the exam questions were different in style and beyond their understanding. Peter Ashwin, Head of Maths and Computer Science, said: “The assessment officer and external examiner signed off the paper as a fair test of the module [but] I will be discussing with colleagues as to whether the exam setting procedure can be improved.”
Problems also affected the 12 May Contract Law exam, in which the words “bought” and “sold” were mixed up, only being corrected after 40 minutes. The Accounting 2 BEA1007 exam contained various errors, including a multiple choice question with an item valued at £105, 000 that should have been £95, 000, which had to be corrected by invigilators. An Economic Principals BEE1029 exam was interrupted on several occasions after mistakes were noticed, and
on 16 and 17 May, candidates in two separate exams were asked to ignore two questions after inaccuracies were found. A Geography exam, on 16 May, was also interrupted when an invigilator’s mobile phone went off twice, and one 18 May afternoon session was interrupted five times, eventually having a question dropped altogether. Similar issues affected the Sports and Health Sciences ESS2303 assessment, including an invigilator’s phone
Candidates taking the Psychology II 2206 Methods and Stats exam had to be split into two groups so participants could access computers for part of the assessment. The computers struggled to cope with the workload and several crashed, leaving candidates rushed for time and unable to complete whole sections. In an email sent to participants afterward, Dr Cris Burgess from the Psychology Department, said: “I share your concerns and we will review the process as we do every year.” Invigilators have also been enforcing rigorous identity checks to try to combat cheating. Candidates have been searched at random to check their identity and for concealed notes. Dan Orton, a Psychology student, said, “It’s very distracting when you are mid-flow through an exam. Do they really think we are stupid enough to write up our arms?” A spokesperson for the University stated: “Delivering the best student experience is our top priority. We will ensure that there is appropriate and quick action taken to rectify matters.”
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Exeposé
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P7 What does David Willets’ proposal say about the Coalition?
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Music
The Music Editors preview festivals, including Rockness, Beach Break Live, Larmer Tree and Dot to Dot.
Arts
P 22 Zoe Bulaitis, Arts Editor, interviews Tracey Emin about her new exhibition
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News
23 MAY 2011
Exeposé
Aaron Porter fights for students
Joe Johnston & Hannah Sweet - news@exepose.com
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Forum Project Update:
CENTRAL campus has been off limits for over a year now as building work on the project continues. The new piazza and reception are due to open in time for Welcome Week, whilst work gets underway in preparation for the roof framework to be added over summer. The total man hours of the project so far are 250, 236. The man hours in April alone were 30,177.
Volunteers campaign against ChildLine closure Hannah Sweet News Editor EXETER’S ChildLine base faces closure following a recent review of NSPCC services around the UK. ChildLine offers confidential support and counselling to children and young people through phone, online chat and email. The centre has been running for 10 years in the South West, and for the last four years has been based at Exeter, in Southernhay Gardens, near to the city centre. A total of 98 trained volunteer counsellors work on a variety of shifts over the week, with the support of paid supervisors. Of these volunteers, about 25 per cent are students, many from Exeter University.
One student volunteer counsellor said, “It has been such a valuable experience. I’ve got to meet so many amazing people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. “One of the most rewarding things is hearing feedback from the young people we speak to, it makes it so worthwhile to know you’ve helped make some kind of difference. “I can’t believe they want to close the Exeter base, which is the only base south of London. All the volunteers and staff are very upset by the proposed closure and we are not going down quietly, we are going to fight this case.” There is a consultation period during which the staff and volunteers may put forward their case for maintaining the Exeter base. Some of the volunteers have set up
‘Good will gesture’ for Lafrowda and Birks
Rebecca Lodder THE University has committed to giving Lafrowda, Birks Grange and Birks Village students money to spend on end of year events as a ‘gesture of good will’ for the difficulties that the building works have caused them over the past year. Lafrowda students will receive £15,000 and are also being given the option to end their contracts early and waive rent for the last two weeks. Those living in Birks Grange will receive £15,000, whilst students in Birks Village will receive £10,000. Ben Callis, President of the Lafrowda committee, said, “I welcome the fact that the University chose to recog-
nise the ongoing disruption to Lafrowda students - the noise has disrupted all students on Streatham this year but has been particularly difficult for Lafrowda students who have to live and breathe building works.” However, Chris Hardy, VP Welfare and Community, said, “Whilst certainly a nice gesture, I do not feel that giving a lump sum for an end of year event is nearly enough to compensate for the fact that students are not able to make full use of their accommodation, and are in some cases being forced to study in alternative locations.” Hardy added, “Other universities with building projects in close proximity to residences, such as Essex, have committed to a system of targeted compen-
a Facebook page and a Twitter account to gain support to save ChildLine South West. They have also started a petition with the aim of reaching 10,000 signatures.
“We are not going down quietly, we are going to fight this case” Student volunteer counsellor At the time of going to press the Facebook page had over 900 ‘likes’ and over 1,000 people had signed the petition in less than two days. James Barisic, Campaign Manager, said, “The volunteers are incredibly committed to the NSPCC and to keeping the Exeter base open. They have a
very positive campaign and are putting together proposals that would reduce costs to the NSPCC while providing the same service as before.” One suggestion is the re-location of the base to cheaper premises, and volunteers also wish to emphasise the high cost of training more counsellors around the country to replace those that would be lost in the South West. Chris Hardy, VP Welfare and Community, commented, “The work that ChildLine does is nothing short of amazing, providing support to some of the most vulnerable people in society. Many students volunteer in the SouthWest base, and many more are passionate about the cause. In my opinion, it is not a service that should be allowed to deteriorate or be subjected to reduced governmental funding.” Photo: Hannah Walker
Students living in Lafrowda and Birks will be given money to spend on events
sation, and it is the Students’ Guild position that a similar programme should have been adopted here.” The Lafrowda hall committee has already planned its summer event. Callis said, “The committee which has or-
ganised the end of year event has done a fantastic job dealing with the shock compensation and working with very little time. I’m looking forward to Lafrowda residents having an opportunity to blow off some steam at the end of exams.”
Exeposé WEEK TWENTY SEVEN
STUDENTS have been asked to donate their reusable items, such as clothes, shoes, personal bedding, pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, books and stationery in bins around campus. All items will either be donated to local charities such as ELF, Devon Air Ambulance, Children’s Hospice South West and MIND, or given to supported living venues or be made available to future students at the Freestuff event in Welcome Week. The University is also working again with the Exeter Food Bank, where students can donate any in-date, sealed, nonperishable food products left at the end of term, which will be used to feed local people in crisis. Posters will be in Halls of Residence and around campus explaining which items can be accepted.Various collection points will be set up from Friday 20 May and charity collection bags will also be distributed to students in private houses.
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AU President quits Josh Belsher resigns from his post in AU Charlie Marchant Senior Reporter JOSH BELSHER has resigned from his position as President of Exeter University’s Athletic Union. Belsher is said to have resigned for personal reasons and his role as President finished on 1 April. Regarding his resignation from the post, Belsher said, “I couldn’t commit to being in Exeter full-time with what I had going on, it fell into place that I had a job opportunity in London.” The AU club captains received an email about the resignation on 31 March after a meeting was held by the AU Executive and Finance Committee earlier that day.
Phil Attwell, Director of Sport, is quoted in the meeting’s minutes as reminding the Committee that “there will be a lot of speculation about his [Belsher’s] reasons and we should form a united front to respect Josh Belsher’s wishes for privacy.” Luke Holdcroft, AU Vice-President, has stepped in to fill the role until the official hand-over to Beth Hampson, AU President-Elect, in July. She is unable to take on the role with immediate effect because academic studies must be completed before taking on a sabbatical role. She reassured students, saying, “I do not believe the AU will be affected and everything will continue to run as ‘normal’, thus, I believe no student should be concerned about the situation.” Charlotte Raymont, Athletic Union Manager, said, “The Vice-President has now taken over in a full-time capacity.
There is excellent support from within the AU office, AU executive committee, and the AU President-Elect is ramping up her involvement.”
“We should form a united front to respect Belsher’s privacy” Phil Atwell Director of Sport
“There is much to do, but we do not intend to spend any more time looking back over this issue, instead we will engage our efforts in the provision of sporting opportunities for our students.” Tom Carrington-Smith, co-founder of UniSportOnline, commented on the situation, saying, “It’s a shame Josh has left, but the uni has a brilliant team of AU staff and a great AU Executive Committee in place.”
Profits plummet for RAM and Lemmy Hannah Sweet News Editor THE RAM and Lemon Grove profits have decreased significantly over the past few years. Guild financial statements show that the Ram bar’s profits declined by 68 per cent from 2007 to 2010; whilst the Lemon Grove’s profits fell by over 75 per cent from 2007 to 2010. In 2007 the Lemon Grove took over £140,000 in profits. This fell to little more than £30,000 last year. Geoff Campbell, Guild Ents and Venues Manager, said that the decline was due to low bar takings rather than a decrease in the number of students attending. Cambell commented, “This year, Saturday night Lemmy tickets have averaged 780 students over 11 Lemmy nights. The highest attendance was 1323 and the lowest was 468 at half term. A change in drinking habits nationally has seen students stay at home and drink before they go out.” The RAM bar’s profits totalled nearly £200,000 in 2007, yet had decreased to just over £60,000 in 2010. Chris Young, Guild Bars Manager, told Exeposé, “We are not alone in facing these challenges and some unions have been forced to close their bar due to a significant decrease in students using the facility. At Exeter we are being proactive by improving our venues so students want to spend more time in them.” When asked to speculate on the reason for the decline, a second year student said, “As far as The RAM is concerned, it’s most likely the building works, which mean students have to walk out of their way to get there, and so less students drop in after lectures.” Despite the overall fall in The RAM’s profits, profits from food served from the bar increased by over 200 per
Photo: Hannah Walker
cent from 2007 to 2009, and there are plans to further increase the quality and quantity of food served in the pub. Both the Lemon Grove and The RAM will be redeveloped over the summer, and it is hoped that the changes will help to increase returns from both venues.
Robber flees to France in stolen boat
AN EXETER robber planned to flee imprisonment by setting sail from the Isle of Wight to France in a stolen boat. James Howard, 24, faced charges for snatching the handbags of two university students outside Exeter prison last month, as reported in the last edition of Exeposé. Howard’s mission was aborted, however, when he failed to attach a motor to the boat and missed a ferry to Dover. He eventually turned himself into the police.
League table success EXETER has climbed three places in the annual Guardian University league table, from 14th to 11th. The University is now one of the top five institutions in the country at which to study Engineering, whilst the Archaeology department has gained seven places to be ranked 9th. Yet despite the new Business School, the University’s rating for its Business course has fallen three places and Economics one place this year.
More Wi-Fi coverage THE University is installing 12 new WiFi hotspots on campus. Work started on 9 May and is due to be completed by 14 June. Devonshire House and both Streatham and St Lukes’ Sports Halls are among the zones in which internet will be wirelessly accessible. It is hoped that the increased coverage will improve student satisfaction which has suffered during the exam period following complaints of a lack of facilities and study space. A map showing Wi-Fi availability across campus can be found at www. exeter.ac.uk/wifi
“I’m confident that we’ve taken the tough decisions necessary to put the Guild on a stronger financial footing” Jonnie Beddall Guild President
Jonnie Beddall, Guild President, said, “In recent years profits from The RAM and the Lemmy have dwindled, which is why this year we secured £200,000 from the University, matched by the Guild, to completely refurbish both venues this summer. They need to offer students what they want, whether in quality of the food, club nights on offer, or how they look and feel.” Beddall added, “The trading climate has been tough this year but with the increased grant we get from the University and strong internal management, as President, I’m confident that we’ve taken the tough decisions necessary to put the Guild on a stronger financial footing whilst investing record amounts in societies and student spaces.” Other Guild outlets have fared better, with both the Student Shop and Print Shop experiencing a notable rises in profits from 2008/9 to 2009/10. Profits from Coffee Express and the Long Lounge have been variable since 2007, but also saw a clear increase from 2009 to 2010. The Guild stated, “Last year we secured £86,000 in compensation from
Hannah Brewer Senior Reporter
News
Joe Johnston News Editor
Riptide calls students
The RAM’s takings have dropped dramatically in the last four years
the University for trading disruption, a signifiant amount of which relates to the RAM. The compensation is accounted for elsewhere is the Guild’s accounts. “The figures for 2006/2007 did not include factors including depreciation and insurance which had previously been
accounted for elsewhere. These were significant costs and meant the 2006/2007 figures were artificially inflated.” Full RAM and Lemon Grove redevelopment plans will be revealed in the next issue of Exeposé
RIPTIDE Journal, based at Exeter University, has called for undergraduates to submit a short story for their upcoming Devon-themed anthology. For the first time the editors of Riptide have guaranteed to publish the work of at least one undergraduate studying in Devon. Writers have been encouraged to base their stories on anything Devonrelated, from “snatches of memoir” to “old Devon tales.” Full details will be announced soon on their website. All submissions need to be sent to the company’s office address at Queen’s Building on campus with the heading ‘Undergraduate Short Story Competition’ by 31 July.
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News
National Student News
Off-quota places off the table
DAVID WILLETS has caused a media frenzy over suggestions made last week on how to increase student places at universities. David Willets, the Universities and Science Minister, proposed that student places could be increased by allowing “off-quota” home students to fund their tuition fees upfront, and that universities could offer degrees at a “cut-price” for late appliers. The suggestions caused an immediate media frenzy with claims that the policy would allow “rich kids to buy places.” David Willets announced on the same day that: “We will only consider allowing off-quota places where it contributes to improving social mobility and increases fair access.” Prime Minister David Cameron went on TV in an attempt to squash the backlash, saying: “There is no question of people being able to buy their way into university. University access is about being able to learn, not about being able to pay.”
23 may 2011
Burns urges unity in student movement Interview
Joe Johnston News Editor
AS UNIVERSITIES across England are facing a cut of £4.2bn in funding from the government, the NUS President-elect, Liam Burns, tells Exeposé that students need to unite with an aim “to get public funding back into universities.” He announced that, by the end of the year, students across Britain should aim to have “a more united student movement, to have formed a coalition of politicians that are against tuition fees for the next general election, and to have made wins for student support.” Burns commented on recent speculations that student places at universities may be cut as a result of the raise in tuition fees, saying: “I think we’ve got to be at the forefront of making an argument of why that would be the wrong decision.” Aaron Porter, whom Burns succeeds on July 1, was criticised for not showing strong enough support for student activism. Burns has called for a change of tactics in the student movement to accommodate those who
want to take the option of walkouts and occupations. He said: “NUS is trying to readjust itself to stop being so dismissive of direct action.” He added: “One thing that NUS has to face up to is that we don’t have a monopoly on campaigning. I think if students want to organise campaigns then that is something we should support.”
“I don’t think we will get 50, 000 on a demonstration”
generation of students that have been told by their own union that they are customers and you get what you pay for, then I don’t think we will manage to get 50,000 people out on a national demonstration.” He continued: “Our aim has to be to get public funding back into universities. If we have won things under the guise of ‘value for money,’ then what happens when we manage to get public funding back into the system? Can
GINNY BAILY, a PhD student at Exeter, launched her debut novel Africa Junction at the University last week to wide acclaim. Dubbed by critic Philip Hensher as “one of the most striking debuts of 2011,” copies of the novel sold out at a recent launch event in a London bookshop on Tuesday 10 May.
The novel is loosely based on Ginny’s experiences of Africa and knowledge she has gained from editing the Africa Research Bulletin. Speaking of her inspiration for the novel, Ginny said, “The idea for the novel came from the notion of a mirror image - a British woman’s life somehow mirrored in Africa.” She added; “The novel synthesises these two aspects of my experience of Photo: University Press Office
However, when asked how far he supports direct action as a form of protest, Liam responded: “I’m going to be quite clear cut: don’t smash shit. I don’t think smashing up property or hurting people is acceptable. Both of which happened at Millbank, and both of which I think are utterly abhorrent.” In a recent Exeposé survey, over 81 per cent of home undergraduates disagreed that an Exeter University degree is worth £9,000 per year, but Burns warned Exeter students against the idea that student experience should be based on ‘value for money.’ He said: “In four years time if we have a
Africa. It closes the gap between some of the big African stories we know from a distance - of AIDS, war, famine, migration and the human reality of them.” Cyan Turan, a volunteer at the event, commented: “It was a very inspiring evening demonstrating the talents of both Ginny and the English Department here at Exeter. Events like these are great because they allow the
Liam Burns, NUS President-elect, has called on Exeter students to form a united front
community to come together outside of the academic syllabus.” Giving advice to budding writers, Ginny stated: “Write often and copiously, let other people see your work and listen to their advice. If you’re a short story writer - remember Riptide!” Africa Junction will be reviewed in the next edition of Exeposé
Hidden fungi discovered
Rebecca Smyth
Reed pond - where the ‘hidden’ fungi were discovered
Vice Chancellors turn around and say, ‘You don’t actually pay for this anymore. We’re going to take that away’.” With services such as ChildLine South West and the Northcott Theatre facing severe cuts from the government, Burns has urged a shift in focus. “You will be facing the prospect of cuts locally with departments being shut down. We have to support, now more than ever, the best local campaigning that we possibly can do.”
Liam Burns NUS President-Elect
PhD student launches debut novel on campus Laura Roberts
Exeposé
ACADEMICS at the University of Exeter have uncovered a new group of hidden fungi. The study unveiled that the group, temporarily named cryptomycota, lack a cell wall, a feature previously considered fundamental to all fungi. The discovery has altered scientists’ understanding about the entire fungal kingdom. According to Dr Thomas Richards, from the University’s Biosciences Department, the breakthrough may spark a radical change in how scientists categorise fungi. Dr Meredith Jones made the groundbreaking discovery after analysing samples collected from Reed Hall pond on Streatham campus.
She stated: “The huge genetic diversity and prevalence of this group leads us to believe they probably play an important role in a range of environmental processes. “There is a lot more research to be done to establish how they feed, reproduce, grow, and their importance in natural ecosystems.”
“The breakthrough may change how scientists categorise fungi” Dr Thomas Richards, Biosciences Department
Jenny Felix, a second-year biosciences student, commented on the finding: “The fact that cryptomycota can be found worldwide, but was first identified on our tiny campus, is amazing.”
Calls for turtle marine park Isobel Smith RESEARCH conducted in part by the University of Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation has resulted in calls to establish an international marine park to protect endangered sea turtles. Exeter scientists worked with the University of California Santa Cruz, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and others to carry out satellite tracking of olive ridley sea turtles off the coast of Central Africa. Results uncovered significant weaknesses in current safeguarding techniques, as thousands of turtles continue to be trapped in fishing nets every year. Exeter’s Dr Brendan Godley estimates that the expansion and joining of international marine parks off the coasts of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo will encompass 97 per cent of the most critical habitat for this population. The Wildlife Conservation Society is now working in conjunction with the national park agencies of both countries to join and expand their National Parks, creating what would be the first international marine park in this region of the world.
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The Lemmy
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Comment Exeposé
THIS University prides itself on its academic standards and prowess, and yet, it has let down its students in this year’s exams. There appears to have been a breakdown in communication between academics, examiners, administrators and the invigilators. When students hand in essays, or completed work, they look through their finished product rigorously to make sure they spot their mistakes. If the University expects thorough checking, then should we not expect the same from them? The May exam period happens every year, therefore, it seems strange that so many errors and disturbances should occur when the University has so much time to prepare. As well as errors in exams, students have also had to contend with a lack of resources and facilities, such as the Great Hall and the Lower Exam Hall being unavailable. The closure, due to the Forum Project works, has been in place for over a year, limiting the space available for large groups of students to sit exams. It is understandable that this disruption would stretch resources and put strains on available space, however should the University not have been better prepared for the situation?
Exams are a requirement of modules, courses and degrees, and form an integral part of our university life. Surely this should be subject to the most intensive series of checks possible? Students should not have to be forced to decode the mistakes and errors in an exam, whilst also trying to answer the question attentively and intelligently.
“If the University expects thorough checking, then should we not expect the same from them?” Add to this distracting and irritating indentity checks and interruptions from invigilators, not to mention the lack of a five minute warning before the end, and you have a recipe for an unsatisfied student body. Despite these problems, the exams are nearing an end. As our investigation in the news section shows, the RAM bar’s profits have been decreasing year on year. This is a shame as the Guild is there to represent and support the student population and relies on our spending to continue to provide services for our benefit. So what better way to spend your exam-free time than in the RAM Beer garden?
Bookshop Campaign
THE University of Exeter is now 11th in the Guardian league table. This is the result of heavy investment and a drive to improve the resources, services and capability of Exeter. However, with the Forum nearing completion, debate continues about the inclusion of a bookshop inside the complex. At present, the University feel that a bookshop is not needed; they believe it will take up valuable
space and provide an unnecessary service. If you disagree with this sentiment, and feel a (soon to be) top ten university should have a bookshop for its £9,000 a year fees, then cut out the coupon on the front of this paper, sign it, and post it in our collection boxes in Cornwall House, Devonshire House, and Queen’s Building and the Peter Chalk Centre.
Thanks to all those who helped proof this issue:
James Crouch, Imogen Crookes, Fiona Lally, Joshua Irwandi, Ben Wright, David Brake, Matthieu Perry, Calum Baker, Charlie Marchant, Kate Gray, Tom Bond, Sammy Brook, Tom Nicoll, and members of the Exeposé Editorial Team
Editors: Ellie Busby & Henry White Deputy Editors: Ellie Bothwell & Rosie Scudder editors@exepose.com
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Campus study space still inadequate
The Exeter Student Newspaper
Exams and drinks in The RAM bar
23 MAY 2011 Exeposé
Joshua Hughes
Both the University and the student body knew that this revision period would be the most disruptive period of the building works and unfortunately it has proven so. There can be no escaping the fact that the building work has coincided with a huge increase in the number of students in the last five years. The consequence is that there are not enough study spaces and many, especially those in the Research Commons, are inadequate for a student body that is so laptop reliant. Obviously this situation is only temporary and a majority of those reading will be enjoying some exem-
plary facilities in the next few years. However the refurbishment of the main library thus far does not inspire confidence. I have no qualms with the colour scheme, but still cannot understand the emphasis on group studying space. The recent move to convert one of the group studying rooms into a private study area was a simple and effective solution for providing more quiet areas, and the additional desks in the journals area are very welcome.
“Study spaces on campus are either unavailable or inadequate. I decided to look elsewhere” However, the demand during the revision period is still too great. Therefore the ‘alternative study plan’ is a good idea for directing students elsewhere but is somewhat flawed. Some of the spaces are only available
during the day, which are an inconvenience when you have to move, while The Law Library should ideally be for those studying Law. The extension of that library’s opening hours is useful, but it will not alleviate daytime demand. Having realised that study spaces on campus are either unavailable or inadequate during peak hours, I decided to look elsewhere, more specifically, outside Exeter. We often talk about how beautiful Devon is; yet only appreciate it when we head to the beaches after exams. Towns like Exmouth and Dawlish have some wonderfully quiet pubs, libraries and cafes during weekdays and views of the sea are more inspiring than orange walls. It is not a perfect solution for everybody because revision is such an individualistic process, but for those who are frustrated with the provision on campus, it is worth considering.
Are we volunteering for the right reasons?
Photo: Projects Abroad
Olivia Hutton As an English student who has reached the end of my undergraduate degree, I have inevitably been engrossed in the nail-biting business of writing my CV. Having attended numerous lectures run by the employability office, one little nugget of information sticks out more than others: volunteering, volunteering, volunteering! Once upon a time, you could easily fill in the blanks of your CV by volunteering with one of the various organisations offered through the university, or by applying to local charities. However, spaces for voluntary work have not only become more competitive, but international. In 2008, the Guardian reported that the recession had led to a direct increase in the numbers of overseas volunteers. Many people – in the vague hope that the job market would have had time to ‘sort itself out’ – opted to take a year-out, and volunteer abroad; thereby gaining valuable skills that could be used to set them apart from their competitors. As a result, there appears to be a new emphasis on international volunteering. Indeed, one friend – who is currently completing the final year of her Mathematics undergraduate degree – wishes to be a teacher, and applied to Exeter University for a PGCE course (Postgraduate Certificate of Education). During the interview process she was told that, despite having the correct level
of enthusiasm and a substantial amount of work experience in British schools, she was at a disadvantage because, unlike her fellow applicants, she had no experience of volunteering in schools from developing countries. Fortunately for my friend, she was offered a place despite her lack of international volunteer work. But, this begs the question: does this emphasis on international volunteering encourage an elitist culture? After all, not everyone has the money or the time to sign on for expensive voluntary projects. And let’s face it, they are expensive. A two-week placement at a school in Ghana with Projects Abroad would cost £1,145 – two months would be £1,695. These prices include accommodation, food and insurance, but volunteers would also be expected to fork out the added expense of flights and visas. Considering that a recent BBC report reveals that a three-year undergraduate course could land a student with the grand total of £83,000 worth of debt, how many students will be able to afford
an undergraduate degree as well as the necessary voluntary work to really make their CV stand out? Perhaps another more pertinent question is: are students being encouraged to volunteer for the right reasons? Of course, everyone wants to produce a CV plump with qualifications and experience, especially in the current economic climate. But when graduates offer to volunteer with orphans because it is the next step in the prescribed tickbox system on how to gain a job in a competitive market-place, we have to ask ourselves: has volunteering become more about bettering the circumstances of the volunteer than the disadvantaged? This so-called ‘voluntourism’ places volunteers in the position of modernday missionaries: instead of exporting religion from the west to the east, we are exporting education. Of course, many volunteers do wish to work to improve the conditions of their host country. Let’s just hope that these people are not disadvantaged by their lack of funds.
Exeposé WEEK TWENTY SEVEN
Comment
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Proposal for richest students to buy university places
University elitism is morally wrong Education second, wealth first
Alice Budden Universities minister David Willetts has recently supported the proposal that universities could provide extra places for those able to pay for them. This was initially misinterpreted as a proposal to allow rich students to buy university places, irrespective of their academic ability. However David Cameron was quick to explain that places could only be bought for those who met the university admission requirements, saying: “University access is about being able to learn, not about being able to pay.” At present the government fixes a quota of places for British students at each university. Above this quota, universities are able to charge full fees to international students; currently £18,000 for a science degree, rising to £28,000 for medicine. The proposal would allow British students to pay up front for extra places. There are benefits in allowing the rich to buy places off-quota. The quota remains untouched and therefore those able to pay will not displace those from poorer backgrounds. In fact, some who gain a place within the quota may prefer to pay upfront, avoiding the loan/interest
system, thus releasing more places for students from middle-class and poorer backgrounds. Although David Willetts has a valid point in saying that this system is not a means of buying places as only those who qualify would be eligible - in other words rich students still have to attain the required grades before buying a place - I argue that in many cases the outcome would be divisive and inconsistent. For example, at a university where the entrance requirements are three A grades at A-level for most degree courses, such as Oxford or Exeter, a student with two A*s and an A could still feasibly be rejected due to stiff competition for places within the government quota. Therefore a rich student with three A grades could buy their place in circumstances where students who achieve higher grades are rejected. This reduces competition for university places to an unfair battle over money, not ability. Ultimately, allowing rich students to buy places is morally wrong; even if they do achieve the necessary grades for a particular university, the fact remains that places will not necessarily go to the most talented students. Increasing the number of rich students will lead to a perception that universities are again becoming elitist and bastions of the upper classes.
Callan Davies Many of the articles discussing changes to student fees have become mired in the minutiae of the reforms. It is important to remember the plain and disconcerting fact that university education is no longer free, it is a cost that many cannot afford to pay up front or even as debt later. The suggestion that the rich might ‘buy’ places at universities to charitably relieve the taxpayer was merely the barefaced admission that education is now a classsystem. We know the facts about tuition fees. From the current (not unmanageable) debt of roughly £9,000 tuition fees and around a £10,000 maintenance debt, students will now graduate with an excess of £22,000 tuition fees, and a similarly large maintenance debt. Luckily, the ubiquitous David Willetts is chillingly always on hand to remind us of the facts: students pay back only once they start earning. Although arts and humanities complaints have been well documented, it is always worth reminding ourselves that this significantly undermines learning for learning’s sake. As a long sequence of philistine primeministers and office-holders testifies, the pursuit of art is never a priority. Exeter’s fees will be £9,000 come 2012. English Literature graduates will leave with roughly £40,000 of debt, and the average
starting salary for an English graduate is between £14,000 and £18,000 (Complete University Guide UK). Paying off 5 per cent per year (ignoring tax deductions), would mean £900 off a student’s debt per year, roughly taking 40 years to complete it (ignoring, again, inflationary interest). Of course, salaries may increase, but arts graduates often do not have the same long-term salary goals as vocational degrees. Of course, limited bursaries are available, but there are those with middle-class incomes, whose parents have no ‘spare cash’ or they have credit debts (a symptom of the recession). 40 years is a long time to be in debt. Of course, one can’t expect David Willetts to sympathise. By definition, a ‘poor student’ has little or no financial backing from their parents. How old will a graduate be before they can buy their own house? Willetts didn’t necessarily suggest that rich students could pay for a course, per se. However, another saving grace of his original plans was that they prevented up-front payment, or one-off settlement of the debt, so as to prevent advantage for moneyed graduates. Apparently, seeking to increase students and decrease costs, ‘buying’ university places is now not out of the question. Backing down in face of the inevitable furore, Willetts admitted that education should be purely meritocratic. What a relief. And yet, as the figures show, we cannot begin to imagine that these reforms aren’t about wealth. The Universities Minister told the Guardian that he would only consider alternatives to the fees-structure if it “contributes to the coalition commitment to improve social mobility and increase fair access.” The Office for Fair Access supposedly ensures that all universities who
Letters to the Editors
want to charge £9,000 can safely admit poorer students. Who, exactly, will not need support? If the UK’s average salary is £23,000, it is a tiny minority who can afford their children’s maintenance, and yet, there is not governmental support, just a vague suggestion that universities should have some money aside for the poorest poor.
David Willetts: Universities Minister There is one easy way to have ensured ‘fair access’ from the start. Free university education was not impossible. In 2009, 2.35 per cent of government spending went towards undergraduate education. I’m not an Economics student, but is that the most immediate concern for spending cuts? It is important that we don’t lose sight of the main principles behind the opposition to these fees: university should be free. But for the apparent ideological interests of the government, it could be free. Yes, these fees are here, and have passed parliament, but it is still worth railing against them, because they are an assault on learning and freedom. It would be worth reminding our politicians of John Ruskin’s famous aphorism: “That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble and happy beings.”
Send your letters to letters@exepose.com Exeposé, I am writing to express some concern over the large number of shops and bars in Exeter refusing to accept foreign passports and identity cards as a valid form of identification. A friend and I recently were shopping in Marks and Spencer when they asked him for some ID on a wine purchase. After he presented them a passport from another EU country, they refused the sale. I thought that this was a one-off incident, however this has also happened to myself. I have a dual nationality, and have often chosen to use my French identity card as a means of proving my age. Recently however, shops and bars have increasingly refused to serve me because they do not see it as a valid form of ID, despite it being an official EU travel document. Fortunately for me, I also have a British-Guernsey passport, which, for the time being at least, is accepted without question. I am, however, concerned as
to how international students are treated when asked to prove their age on a night out or at the shops. By refusing to accept foreign IDs, these companies are not just turning away valuable business, but also appearing as xenophobic, which does not reflect well on their image. I do understand that shops do not want to sell to underage customers, however some shops around Exeter are trying to be too cautious in this approach. I therefore urge business owners around Exeter to consider changing their policy on foreign forms of identification and for international students to challenge the decisions made by these businesses. If this does not happen, then we can expect to see more businesses around the city taking this prejudicial approach. Yours faithfully, Matthieu Perry Guild Councillor-elect
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Features Sam Lambert & Clare Mullins - features@exepose.com
23 May 2011 Exeposé
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The price of supermarket expansion
Sam Lambert, Features Editor, discusses the effect of supermarket expansion on wider society Photograph: Tim Ireland/PA
IN APRIL, police were injured at a street riot in Bristol, sparked by opposition to Tesco. The supermarket had opened one of its ‘Express’ shops to offer customers, unable to make it to their larger stores, the chance to find their desired products at better convenience, in-brand. Great. Or is it? What is the price of this rapid brand expansion to our society? The events in Bristol, while extreme, highlight the kind of opposition that faces these mega-companies as they colour our high streets with their familiar logos.
“They change the way our country views and consumes food”
According to one of the protestors at this incident, Tesco has shops half-amile in each direction from the new site. Furthermore, the Stokes Croft area of Bristol is known to be “alternative” with many independent retailers; the intrusion of one of the big consumer brands has caused considerable unrest. Over
the period of a year, members of the community sent 2,500 postcards to the Council, thousands signed petitions and 96 per cent of 700 people surveyed said they didn’t want a Tesco. Plans went ahead, anyway. A report by the BBC in December found that 577 new supermarkets had been approved over a two-year period in the UK. Although some argue their expansion has remained fairly consistent, it is difficult to ignore the sheer scale of these figures. It leaves many of us asking what effect such fast expansion is having on our society. The supermarkets insist they are creating jobs, and in the current economic climate, their message is one that resounds well. While this cannot be denied, they fail to mention the jobs they take away in the process as more and more small businesses close, following the arrival of one of the big four. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda can buy in bulk, in huge quantities, then distribute stock to their growing number of shops. Smaller shops, particularly independent examples, have no such buying power. This is just one tactic in the supermarkets’ drive to push down prices and dominate our agriculture. In doing so they change the way our country views and consumes food. As prices come down and we expect more at cheaper rates, the amount of food being produced has to keep up with demand and sell for a price that will be beneficial to farmers, the supermarket
and the consumer. Unsurprisingly, this is difficult.
“The local shops are often bypassed under a collective assumption they’re overpriced” In Britain we’re convinced, as a society, that supermarkets represent value for money and they bombard us with advertisements telling us so; but what is value for money? Is there a true value of the goods they sell? The supermarkets are vying for a position where they will be the ones who set that value countrywide, at a level other businesses simply can’t compete with. The value then becomes a self-fulfilled target in a league of its own in which the supermarkets battle only against each other. In America, attempts to solve this problem have resulted in mega, factory farms being built and operating, in which some animals never even go outside. Rows and rows of animals exist purely to produce for consumption. Are we on the road to a clinical dinner plate? Already, stock in supermarkets is discarded if it doesn’t meet the standards they set of size and shape. What happens to the wasted food? In light of the results from a recent study by the UN that onethird of the world’s food produced for
human consumption goes to waste, it is a particularly relevant question. Furthermore, in their drive to push down wholesale costs are the supermarkets, in fact, suppressing consumer choice in the goods we purchase? As they place limits on what we see on our shelves in search for the “perfect” product they ignore the natural essence of grown produce: variation. It is a difficult topic. As a consumer I want affordable food. The supermarket is convenient and rewards me with loyalty schemes and the kind of offers I am made to think are the best bargain I’ve ever seen. Yet as a person, I want flavour to the food I eat and a more localised consumption of produce, valuing the farming industry. If everything becomes farmed, stored and sold in the same, streamlined way, won’t we lose half the fun of eating? Won’t everything just taste very similar?
The figures mentioned previously fail to take into account existing store expansion. Here in Exeter, Morrisons is currently extending its retail space. As we get diverted around the maze of building work (what’s new there as an Exeter student?) perhaps we should try an alternative option. I refused to believe it until I did so myself but shopping at the local green grocers, butchers, etc. can often be cheaper than the supermarket. Why don’t more people shop there? The local shops are often bypassed under a collective assumption they’re overpriced. Has anyone checked? The answer will often be a shrug of the shoulders. We’re in Devon and we’re lucky to be in a position to buy affordable, decent quality, locally produced food. We should make the most of it and we will probably even save money in the process; you just won’t pick up any Clubcard points.
Full-body scanners: an invasion of privacy, or a necessity? Tori Brazier, Screen Editor, looks at the increasing security measures at airports worldwide
A FULL-BODY scanner is a device that produces an image of a naked human body through a person’s clothing, which can determine whether they are carrying any hidden objects, without the need for removing clothing or any physical contact. The scans take 15 seconds, and the employees viewing the images are placed at a distance from the scanners. These machines have recently come into use in airports, predominantly in America, where, as of November last year, there were 385 scanners in use at 68
airports. By the end of 2011, travellers in the USA can expect there to be 1,000 of these devices employed in airports across the country, and the US Government has suggested that they may also be utilised in train and subway stations in the near future. In the UK there are currently only a small number of full-body scanners at Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham airports. These have been in use for just a year, after previous-PM Gordon Brown’s decision to tighten security following the failed Detroit airliner plot of December 2009. Onboard Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, 23-yearold Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab failed to detonate plastic explosives contained
in his underwear; other passengers restrained him and put out the fire and the flight landed safely. The controversy surrounding these scanners has already been incredibly high in America, the UK and worldwide as concerns grow over the potential misuse of such devices, as well as the moral, and health and safety ramifications. Many see the introduction of these scanners as a violation of privacy and basic human rights, claiming that governments do not have the right to make these ‘stripsearches’ routine and mandatory, whether the clothes are removed physically or not. There is also anxiety over the embarrassment that persons with colostomy
bags and catheters may experience upon exposure, or those with prosthetic breasts or testicles, which may require a further physical inspection once detected, or also members of the transgender community, who fear that the scanning could lead to harassment. The alternative, more vigorous pat-down searches have also been criticised for their invasive nature. The requirements for children to undergo the scanning process mean that the images produced are potentially in violation of the UK’s Protection of Children Act of 1978. Misuse of these scanners has already been reported in Lagos, where airport employees were caught using the images produced as a type of pornography.
Potential health risks have been mooted as professors in radiation at the University of California, San Francisco have claimed that the US Transport Security Administration failed to conclusively prove the safety of such machines. The agency has admitted that there were flaws in tests previously carried out when it was revealed that passengers were exposed with up to ten times more radiation than anticipated. In the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death the public’s safety should be paramount as fears of a potential ‘strike back’ increase. What price, though, do we pay for this safety? Is an intrusion of our privacy, on this level, acceptable in today’s culture?
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Exeposé WEEK TWENTY SEVEN
The ugly side of the beautiful game
Features
Tristan Barclay, explores the allegations facing the Fédération Internationale de Football Association
THE recent round of bids to host the 2018 and 2022 Football World Cup tournaments has finally turned the spotlight on the most archaic and crooked of global organisations – FIFA, world football’s governing body and little more than a gentlemen’s club for over-powered and under-talented politicians.
“ISL, it appears, was awarded contracts for marketing World Cups after paying bribes that totalled nearly $100 million”
Of course, before I go further, I’m sure many readers can think of nothing more boring than the details of football administration. The so-called ‘Beautiful Game’ is a real Marmite issue – many love it, others hate it. The exorbitant pay-scales and histrionics of top professionals often serve to further alienate those already outside the game, particularly when footballers are held up against the noble knights of Rugby. But the issues surrounding FIFA are
important regardless of whether or not one enjoys the game itself. FIFA has both the power to decide where billions of government pounds are spent and to humiliate a country’s diplomatic efforts on a global stage, yet it is an almost wholly unaccountable body that now faces allegations of corruption that reach into the upper echelons of its Executive Committee. Serious allegations against FIFA have been made in the past few years. To choose one example, a November 2010 BBC Panorama documentary suggested that, between 1989 and 1999, three of FIFA’s top officials had taken bribes from the marketing company International Sport and Leisure (ISL), a FIFA partner responsible for promoting flagship World Cup tournaments. ISL, it appears, was awarded contracts for marketing World Cups after paying bribes that totalled nearly $100 million. Alleged recipients included Nicolas Leoz and Issa Hayatou, respective presidents of South American and African football’s governing bodies. Both men are still members of FIFA’s Executive Committee after FIFA President Sepp Blatter refused to investigate the documentary’s allegations, claiming that they had not been made via “official channels”. Well, to a non-football lover, so what? A few old boys have taken bungs from an obscure marketing firm
in return for the right to promote a few World Cups. In light of current world events, this might seem trivial – the tournaments still made it onto television and no one has since acted on the allegations. However, the claims made on May 10 by former English Football Association (FA) chairman Lord Triesman to a British parliamentary inquiry are the most troubling yet. His tales suggest that the very viability of World Cup tournaments is founded on corruption amongst FIFA’s top officials.
“The FA’s bid cost £15 million, money that could have promoted grassroots football”
Triesman was initially head of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, a bid that was utterly rejected by FIFA’s Executive Committee, the 24-man body responsible for selecting World Cup venues. Triesman claims that Executive Committee members demanded knighthoods, millions of pounds and rights to friendly matches with the English national team, in return for votes for the English bid. In the
When protests turn violent
end, despite providing the best ‘technical’ package, England received just two votes, losing out to Russia, that greatest of footballing nations. I must, of course, declare an interest in the outcome of the bidding for the 2018 World Cup. I am a football fan and would have loved to see the tournament return to these shores, probably even swapping an Olympic Games for a World Cup if it came to a choice. But that is not the real reason I feel so incensed at the behaviour of FIFA officials – it is the blatant corruption that offends me. Triesman has stated that the FA felt hoodwinked into making a bid. In hindsight, there was no way England could win. Its bid team was not prepared to play FIFA’s game and the gentlemen’s club was too offended by the accusations of the British media. The FA’s bid cost the national game £15 million, money that could have been well used in promoting grassroots football or in cleaning up the disciplinary image of the game. Billions of pounds worth of investment
Robert Sturgeon questions violence used in protests, on both sides of the law
A 47-YEAR-OLD man was walking home from the newspaper stand where he worked. He stopped outside a police van for a cigarette, but was moved on. On King William Street he found thousands of kettled protesters, in need of water and toilet facilities. He doubled back, not wanting to get involved, being bitten by a police dog as he did so. He walked with his hands in his pockets into Royal Exchange Passage, where he was approached again by a group of officers. “I want to go home,” he told them, “I live down there. I’m trying to get home.” At this point an officer raised his baton to head level and struck him on the back of the legs. He fell, hitting his head on the ground. A passer-by helped
him to get up while the police stood motionless. He had been hit without reason, without protesting and without breaking the law. He walked a few hundred feet from the scene before collapsing and dying of a heart attack. Three weeks ago an inquiry found the incident a use of excessive, unreasonable, and unlawful force. The man’s name was Ian Tomlinson. The problem with policing protests is not confined to the UK. Across the Atlantic, in 2002, Portland Police broke up a protest outside where George Bush was making a speech. Pepper spray was used along with batons and pellet guns to move the crowd, and children as young as 3 years old were reportedly pepper sprayed. While the media
said a bottle had been thrown causing police to act, police videos leaked to the internet painted a different picture of events. An officer could be heard giving the orders in front of a clearly peaceful crowd, without a bottle in sight. “Every other guy’s gonna pick up a fence,” says the officer, “we’re gonna spray and push, spray and push till we get them to the other side and then set up there.” In March this year, I was fortunate enough to attend an historic protest in London. It was a vision of the whole social spectrum, from trade unionists to students, parents to teachers, children to pensioners. We marched en masse against the coalition’s cruel and unnecessary public spending cuts with the vision of a better, fairer future. The march could be heard across the Thames and beyond, with amplified Bob Dylan and reggae music blasting out a message of hope in the din. But somewhere, far away, beyond the smiling and tolerant police, something was stirring. Somewhere in the back streets far from the agreed route, a black cloud was mobilising. Around 500 activists dressed in black broke away from the main protest formation and moved onto a separate route. Their mission was confrontation and their method was symbolic, direct action. It was a spontaneous marching force controlled by no single organi-
sation. Damage was done to The Ritz Hotel, a car showroom and the banks: Santander, HSBC and RBS. BBC coverage cut away from Ed Miliband’s Hyde Park speech to reveal masked protesters clashing with police on Oxford Street.
“Would the police use violence without due cause? This question raises uncomfortable possibilities about the fallibility of the police” A typical reaction to this coverage would be that the anarchists in London were wrong to use violence, while the police in Portland and the G20 protests went too far but did what needed to be done. Do you see a bias here? Like the mythological Portland bottle-thrower, we are inclined to find an instigator of violence. Would the police use violence without due cause? This question raises uncomfortable possibilities
will no longer be made in the country’s infrastructure and the excitement of the World Cup will not be felt in England for many generations. Meanwhile, the Executive Committee looks set to escape the latest accusations unscathed. Sepp Blatter will soon be re-elected president by the FIFA Congress, the toothless body supposedly charged with overseeing the Executive Committee’s activities and no woman is any closer to taking a place on the Executive Committee, despite the fact that FIFA is responsible for women’s football worldwide. The system is in desperate need of modernisation, but it doesn’t look like it will come any time soon.
about the fallibility of the police. The Metropolitan Police struck Ian Tomlinson for no reason, leading to his death. Portland Police authorised the use of chemical weapons on children and peaceful protesters without cause, while hitting all who resisted with sticks and shooting them with projectiles. These people were not aggressors and merely exercised their right to demonstrate. Two years after Portland, Boston Police used the same pellet guns to disperse a baseball crowd, inadvertently killing a Red Sox fan. We continue to perpetuate these absurd morality tales about vandalism at protests. The violence in March was directed at the banks that caused the recession that hurt the wider populous, and the symbols of capitalism and excess that perpetuate class inequality. While still illegal damage, this vandalism is nothing in comparison to the cuts or police brutality protesters are experiencing. Within hours of the protests, contractors were out in force, scrubbing paint from walls and repairing windows. This damage was symbolic, and had little financial impact on the rich corporations that own the buildings. Instead of talking endlessly about how vandals ‘ruin protests’, we should be asking the real question. Are the police always justified in their use of violence?
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23 MAY 2011 Exeposé
education
Features
Is innovative teaching the key to reforming education? Amy
THE subject of education remains at the heart of political debate within Britain and across the world. Education has an unalterable bearing on our career aspirations, income and outlook on life. The power of education is immeasurable. As universities prepare to increase their fees to over £9,000 a year, the future of our education (and the individuals that succeed in the system) seems to be more uncertain than ever. As it stands, 47 per cent of Britain’s young people are failing to achieve five GCSEs at grade A*- C. The majority of these students come from underprivileged backgrounds. The question is: will the challenges faced by the current government enforce further decline in the academic standards we set for young people? How can we prevent our education system from isolating students from underprivileged backgrounds?
“I left school with basically nothing, I was a special needs kid. I did feel as though my school had let me down”
Jamie Oliver
People are seeking answers to these issues. Jamie Oliver (granted, an unlikely participant in this debate) is one of these individuals. In a project recently aired on Channel Four, Oliver founded Jamie’s Dream School, a school established for former teen pupils who felt that they had been let down by our current education system. A surprising addition to this list is Jamie himself: “I left school with ba-
sically nothing, I was a special needs kid. I did feel as though my school had let me down.” Jamie, like the Dream School students, left school without the ‘Magic Five’ A*- C grades at GCSE. During the six episodes, Jamie called upon an unconventional cohort of support staff, all of whom are high-achieving, ‘inspirational’ figures, hoping to excite each student with the possibilities provided by a good education. Oliver ushered a number of jawdropping names into the Dream School classroom, including Professor Robert Winston, historian David Starkey, actor Simon Callow, Cherie Blair, Tinchy Strider, the list goes on. Each day at Dream School saw the teachers attempting to translate their real-life expertise to the harsh realities of teaching in the classroom. They quickly discovered that their national kudos did them no favours in front of 20 stubborn teenagers. Every lesson presented a challenge and, more often than not, a genuine struggle, with a lack of discipline and poor student engagement creating barriers to teaching. Some, like Labour politician Alistair Campbell, were highly demanding of their students: this finally paid off during the final episode of the series, which shows the teens partaking in a lively social debate with PM David Cameron. However, exciting students with more complex subject matters such as History, Politics and Shakespeare proved to be more of a struggle. Historian David Starkey shocked students during his first lesson by branding a student “fat” in class. Starkey’s words instantly lost this reputable historian the chance to engage with the students on a mutual level. As anticipated, up-
roar ensued. Watching the students slowly develop an interest in learning suggests that the real barrier to their success was confidence in their ability; given time, self-esteem was improved by inspiring teaching. Students at Dream School were also burdened by the stigma of social disadvantage. By creating Dream School, Oliver aimed to expose the divide between “academic kids” and the “50 per cent who fail”. Oliver believes that these 50 per cent are marginalised, and need to be offered more innovative, practical and tailored solutions to enable successful learning. The challenges within education are currently being tackled by Education Secretary Michael Gove. Gove’s future plans for education seek to contest the issue of ‘wealth’ as the predominant factor behind a young person’s
academic success. One of Gove’s initiatives is his pledge to support the charity and graduate scheme Teach First.
“Learning needs to be diverse, stimulating and, above all, enjoyable” Teach First seeks to tackle the societal issue of “educational disadvantage” by recruiting high-achieving graduates and placing them in challenging schools in six different regions across the UK. Teach First participants receive ongoing teacher training, and qualify after two years with a PGCE and QTS. Teach First draws upon the Dream School vision of finding original solutions within the teaching profession to engage and excite young
audiences. Like Jamie’s Dream School, the initiative encourages innovation and excellence within the classroom through outstanding teaching and commitment to the profession. Whilst Jamie’s Dream School may not offer a real or entirely clear solution to the gaps in our education system, the statistics suggest that some serious changes need to be made. What we can take away from Jamie’s Dream School is that learning needs to be diverse, stimulating and above all enjoyable. We also need to ensure that the marginalised and the privileged students both have the chance to benefit. To achieve this vision we must recruit inspiring teachers, with a view to correcting the social divide, and with the desire to provide all students with a stimulating and diverse education system.
The value of a degree in 2011
James Crouch discusses the changing value of the qualification in Britain today
UNDEREMPLOYMENT is now lying in wait for two in five graduates once they enter into the job market. Not only is this a record high, but it looks like it will only get worse, with research suggesting 55 per cent of leavers may end up in non-graduate jobs after they leave university. The response from many students will probably be anger that their degree is being made effectively worthless and that, annoyingly, they are still being charged £9,000 for the privilege of having a pointless degree. To those who do so, it’s important to remember that it is unlikely that having no degree at all would actually improve your chances of getting a graduate job. In fact, these figures show just how imperative a degree is to getting the now scarcer better-paying jobs on the market. What we should be looking at is the real issues behind this, and the problems are in fact two-fold. One of the pressures comes from us, the other from the economy.
Quite simply, there are too many graduates. The principle of ‘as many people going to university as possible’ is fatally flawed, in that a degree becomes yet another poor standard benchmark. They become like GCSEs, where you’re damned without them but by themselves they won’t get you very far.
“Graduates still earn £100,000 more on average over a lifetime, than those that went straight into the job market after leaving school ” There are many of us who realise that at the end of our three years, we’ll still be just another face in a crowd of graduates (even if smaller than a crowd of school leavers) rather than
the select group of future professionals we are supposed to be. Now more and more of the jobs that graduates are aiming for require at least a 2:1 – the bar is raised yet again. It’s now getting to the point where you need a Masters or a Law Conversion Course just to stand out. The other pressure is the recession. Put plainly and simply, there are just not enough jobs out there. The economy has been in decline and is only just starting to stumble out of the pit it fell in, so of course job prospects are going to be worse than usual. So perhaps that in itself should not worry all of us as a permanent fixture. However, combine these two problems and you find a situation where there are just not enough jobs being created for the ever-increasing number of university leavers. And the more the figure rises the harder the job market has to work to accommodate it. Of course, the figures aren’t perfect and never tell the full story. The more that go to university, the lower
the overall standard will probably be depreciated. And if you look at the newer universities at the bottom of the league tables, you’ll find almost as many students getting thirds and dropping out as those that got ‘good’ degrees. So if that is what characterises these extra university students then perhaps it’s right that they are ‘underemployed’ more than the last batch of leavers. One silver lining for all those fearfully anticipating life after their graduation ceremony: graduates apparently still earn £100,000 more over a lifetime than those that went straight into the job market after leaving school. Annually that doesn’t work out as a huge difference but I can’t say that I’ll be complaining. The figures only detail our troubles in the first six months. This doesn’t mean those 40 per cent are chained to a life of menial jobs, many do go on to get the graduate jobs they seek later. It just takes a little longer than it did for our parents’ generation.
So don’t write off your degree quite yet. Just remember that your shiny ceremonial cape and qualification is not going to make you quite as special as it may have once done, but it’s still your stepping stone to the future job you want.
KEY STATISTICS UCAS figures: 1996 - 364,885 applicants 2010 - 586,821 applicants Up until the 1980s, 1 in 7 school leavers went on to university. Today, the figure is 1 in 3. In 2010, each graduate position had, on average, over 70 applicants. Finland and New Zealand send over 70 per cent of school leavers into Higher Education.
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12
Lifestyle
23 may 2011
Exeposé
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The Great Smartphone Debate Zoe Dickens & Cyan Turan - lifestyle@exepose.com
Three students weigh up the trials and tribulations of modern communication technology
iPhone
Cyan Turan, Lifestyle Editor, on the iPhone 4
I HAD a Blackberry once. It was fine, when it wasn’t turning itself off, but it definitely wasn’t comparable to my brand new, shiny iPhone. What makes the iPhone so great is that it does what you want it to do and anticipates what you’ll need it to do, before you know you need it. I wouldn’t be able to count the number of times my Blackberry failed to acquire access to the internet, and I didn’t ever bother trying to load music or videos onto its completely outdated software using the anger-inducing interface. The iPhone makes easy things easy, where others make them complex. My phone is also my iPod and syncs seamlessly with my computer. When I’m on the tube, the map I need is there. The news is instant and the
camera is clear and crisp, as opposed to the blurry fuzz that I had become accustomed to. Many Apple cynics have heralded the iPhone as a gimmick, but that’s not the accolade I would bestow on the it-product of the biggest and fastestgrowing company in the world. I was also fairly skeptical about using a touchscreen, but don’t let it put you off. You soon get used to it, and a keyboard that clicks is no reason for buying and using a phone in which every other feature is incompetent. All this and I haven’t yet men-
tioned the genius of the App Store. BBC News and Twitter keep me up to date, WhatsApp is the same as Blackberry Messenger, enabling simple, easy chat without the necessity of owning a Blackberry. I’ve got Natwest banking, Tesco groceries, Groupon and a tube map.
“The iPhone makes things easy, where others make them complex”
If that wasn’t enough I’ve got Dragon Dictation, so my phone writes my texts for me. The Apps available on other phones simply pale in comparison: the iPhone is your ultimate all-purpose device.
Blackberry
Alexander Boni on the Blackberry Torch EVERYWHERE I go I carry a little device with me that frankly I could no longer live without. It’s lightweight, chic and best of all attaches a very important piece of text to all my emails: “Sent from my Blackberry.” My Blackberry Torch has become an extension of myself and with this little piece of Canadian-conceived technology I have formed a passionate love-hate relationship. Blackberry’s OS has historically shunned slick user interfaces and shiny gimmickry in favour of the security and reliability you’d expect from a Ford gearbox – and I love that. Even today, in the fast-paced smartphone world where widgets, apps and multi-gesture interfaces are all the rage, Research In Motion
have evolved their roster of smartphones much more slowly, building upon mature technologies that make them a favourite of the business world. You won’t find a touch screen keyboard in my pocket, but a full QWERTY layout keyboard. Each key press delivers a crisp, firm response that feels much more reassuringly robust and industrial than the artificial tapping noise created by touch screen alternatives and evokes fond memories of my old Olivetti. There is no doubt that Blackberry is the de facto business phone in the triumvirate that includes iPhone and Android and that is, in part, why I love the device. For tasks like email, accessing a variety of file formats, tethering and VPN ac-
cess, a Blackberry will trounce the competition - even my ancient 8700g (circa 2005) still obliterates iPhone and Android for mail management. Granted, RIM’s meagre offering of apps on AppWorld cannot compare to Apple’s App Store or Google’s Android Market in terms of quantity and quality, but I suppose this is really the crux of the issue. What is a smart phone? Is it a flashy media consumption device? A gaming device? Or is it a means to communicate
Fashion Faces the Cyber Critics
HTC
Rebecca Lodder on the HTC Wildfire I HAVE only just bought my HTC Wildfire but so far I am having quite an easy time getting to grips with all the amazing features and applications it has to offer. I upgraded from a Samsung Wave, which gave me unending problems, so the Wildfire feels like a godsend. Within the space of a day, I had managed to sync all my contacts with their Facebook profiles, download a Wi-Fi hotspot feature, quite a few games, a new gallery viewer and use an instant messaging app. I was slightly aided by the fact that both my parents already have an HTC but don’t let that put you off! To be honest, the fact that my parents find it really easy to use I think is another great sign of how user-friendly it is. They have had theirs for quite a while and were still discovering shortcuts and cool features that I found whilst I was setting mine up. It comes across as more of a mini com-
puter than a phone and I think that with the fast-paced way of life we live today, it is the perfect phone to make sure you keep track of everything. The linking to social networking sites is extremely quick and the camera and video features are also pretty hi-tech. It is very Google orientated which is a handy feature. The GPS, maps and internet are unbelievably quick to load and allow you to search for local deals or restaurants within seconds. I have (so far) not heard of any problems with the whole HTC line, unlike the glitches with the iPhone 4, and firmly believe that I will be able to keep this phone for a very long time without anything going wrong.
with as many people as easily as possible? For me, it’s the third every time. BBM, Email, unrivalled call quality, Facebook, Twitter, – I have them all signed in simultaneously with each conversation unified into a single screen so that I don’t have to switch between apps for different chat windows. But the Blackberry’s most obvious strength is also its greatest weakness in my life. Sometimes, just sometimes, I want to be able to extricate myself from the world and my Blackberry has made that very difficult for me. When you can be accessed by anybody, anywhere, anytime, the ability to be anonymous, unknown and, to all intents and purposes, lost becomes all the more valuable.
There are, hard as it may be to believe, times when I honestly couldn’t care less about sorting out somebody’s computer, explaining what drunken faux pas they perpetrated or discussing the merits of Jessica Alba and Katy Perry as sexual partners. Sometimes it is nice to just enjoy a tumbler of Jameson without hearing about it and, sadly, that is something my Blackberry has deprived me of. That being said, would I rather be worrying about smashing a glass iPhone or having Google gather even more information on my lifestyle? Hell no. Not in a million years.
Natalie Hammond explores the new frontier of fashion blogging THERE are currently 161,691,735 blogs available online and fashion bloggers, in particular, are fast replacing models, photographers, designers and, dare I say it, magazine editors as the heavyweights of the fashion arena. So why have bloggers managed to destabilise this timehonoured fashion hierarchy? One of the reasons is simply time. Unlike fashion magazines which have either a weekly or monthly circulation, blogs provide access to the latest fashion trends at the click of a button. Readers no longer have to endure a fashion-starved month awaiting the publication of their
favourite magazines, they can simply log on to their favourite blogs to experience an instant hit of fashion inspiration. A blog is also a means of individual expression; its real appeal is that it offers its reader a small window into the life of its creator. Sitting in front of our computer screens, we feel as if we somehow know the person we are staring at. Bloggers to watch: Audrey Leighton Rodgers, befrassy.com: Audrey Leighton Rodgers, a recent graduate of Durham University, has managed to transform her student blog, frassy,
into a viable business. In 2010, Rodgers launched Frassy Rags, an extension of her blog, allowing readers to indulge in their own frassy-inspired garments. Frequently photographed at London and Paris Fashion Week and online in Elle, Grazia and Marie Claire, Rodgers is already considered a pioneer in the industry. She frequently experiments with bold injections of colour in eye-popping, and almost always clashing, tones and is renowned for her impressive collection of vintage clothing and jewellery. Rodgers is relatable; an ordinary girl with an extraordinary wardrobe!
Rumi Neely, fashiontoast.com: Arguably one of the most successful bloggers in the fashion industry; Neely launched her blog, fashiontoast, in 2008 and by 2009 the site received over 35,000
Sent from my Blackberry.
hits a day. Captured by her photographer boyfriend, Colin Sokol, Neely’s aesthetic is beautifully understated and yet exciting to the eye. Each of her outfits features an assortment of textures, embellishments (you name it, she’s worn it: fringing, studs, feathers and fur) and, most importantly, a staggeringly high pair of heels. fashiontoast has propelled Neely into international recognition. In 2010, she was selected as the face of Forever 21’s spring campaign and in February 2011 she won both Best Personal Style Blog and Blogger of the Year.
13
Exeposé week TWENTY seven
“ What Happened When...
... I had to go clothes shopping” Lifestyle’s new columnist, Dan Orton, on every man’s worst nightmare
“I NEED chinos,” she says to me. “What for?” I ask. “For Chino Tuesday,” she replies as if this were a perfectly normal answer. I hesitate for a moment, obviously, and my reasons are twofold. To begin with, I had no idea women even wore chinos (they’re for men, right? Men and golfers…who are male) and furthermore, that there was a day set aside in the week for such an item of clothing. She explains that Chino Tuesday is an event that a friend of hers has organised where everyone must wear chinos. Riiiight… Anyway, I feel any ideas I might have for today will be politely ignored and resign myself to my fate; to the high street we march. The itinerary is set, thankfully there are only a few shops she wants to peruse and I am promised the opportunity to look for a new hat. But wait, we bump into some friends who recommend that Zara is an excellent place for chinos. She hadn’t even thought of Zara! And we have one more stop added.
“Shopping is a challenge, a mission that must be carried out against the clock”
I should be clear at this point that as a man, I have a fundamental dislike of extended periods of shopping. This, I believe, is because men and women approach shopping differently. Women see it as a pleasurable activity, like going to see a friend, indeed, to strengthen this illusion, most shops are given women’s names; Dorothy, Karen, Laura and of course Zara. Men, on the other hand, we see shopping as a challenge, a mission that must be car-
ried out against the clock. The quicker we can find what we want and get back to the safety of our homes the better. I just don’t see the appeal of trekking up and down a high street endlessly, trying the same thing on in every shop before inevitably returning to the first store to buy the bloody thing! In my eyes internet shopping is the best thing since sliced bread.
“I succeed in getting my hat and immediately want to go home”
But anyway, I find myself in the women’s department of H&M with instructions to wait while she tries on chinos and an assortment of other summery items. Now, I don’t mind waiting while she puts on clothes as she will always come out looking gorgeous but at the same time it has been ten minutes and I’m feeling a bit exposed. It was fine to begin with, a woman waiting for her friend had seen us arrive; she knew the score. But now that woman has gone and there is no one to defend me. In my mind I am now simply a loitering weirdo. Just be cool, she’ll be out in a moment to show me what she looks like. She wasn’t. No worries, I think and lean in a nonchalant sort of way on to the shelf unit beside me. Oh Christ! I’m leaning nonchalantly on a display of ladies knickers. And now I’ve just leapt away from it. I realise I have also yelped. Quite loudly. She returns, and not a moment too soon; I’m quite certain that the security guards are setting up a perimeter. I peck her on the cheek as if to say “No gentlemen not to worry, I am not a crazed yelping pervert; this here is my woman.
See, I kissed her.” I am safe. “You didn’t come out like you said you would,” I say rather pathetically. “Yes, well,” she replies, “I looked silly in everything.” Oh. “Except this,” and she holds up a flowery skirt dress thing, “What do you think?” “I think it looks just like your other flowery skirt dress thing.” Bad move. I get the icy glare that she does so well and the next thing you know I’m chasing her across the shop floor, my apologies falling on deaf ears and my status as ‘not a yelping pervert’ rapidly slipping away along with my chances of getting any in the near future. We leave H&M and proceed to various other shops; all with chinos but not the chinos. I succeed in getting my hat and immediately want to go home. No chance. We visit both New Look stores Exeter has to offer. Both! And then… We have a result; she has found a worthy pair of chinos. Marvellous.
“She holds up a flowery skirt dress thing: ‘What do you think?’ ‘It looks just like your other flowery skirt dress’”
I learnt a valuable lesson though that day; that I should never go shopping again. I’m just not good at it. I’m glad she got the chinos though; she looks lovely in them and I am forced to conclude that they aren’t just for men. The downside now is that I’m not allowed to wear my chinos when she wears hers. It happened the other day and she refused to stand next to me. But I’m used to that.
Lifestyle
Your Problems, Solved
Uncle Rohan and Auntie Amelia solve all your problems
“Dear Lifestyle, I’m in love with my long-term boyfriend, but he refuses to take down the posters of half-naked models in his room. I can’t work out whether this is because he doesn’t find me attractive, or if it’s a final attempt to retain some masculine independence? Help me, Insecure 2nd year.”
Amelia Nashe AH, the old ‘changing something about your boyfriend’ chestnut! I understand that it may be somewhat off-putting to see images of half-naked models in his room. But (and it is a biggie) trying to change anything about your boyfriend puts you on very treacherous ground. It sounds like you’re in a serious relationship, I doubt that the reason is that he’s not attracted to you, so don’t worry about that. Try putting yourself in his shoes: if you had posters of a bare-chested Johnny Depp in your room, surely that wouldn’t be any kind of negative comment on your relationship, but a completely separate appreciation of beauty elsewhere? And if he asked you to take that down, wouldn’t you think it a little odd? You need to accept that he might be more independent than you: and that’s not ‘masculine’; that’s an individual difference between the two of you that is part of who you are. The healthiest relationships don’t try to invade or control each other’s space, so don’t push him into taking his posters down.
Campus Style Spotter OUR roving photographer and Lifestyle team bring you the best style on campus! [Centre] Name: Faye Bird Studying: Law, 2nd year. iPhone, HTC or Blackberry? “I have a Blackberry but I’m saving up to get an iPhone.”
[Left] Name: Aimee Kawzam Studying: Spanish and Italian, 1st year. iPhone, HTC or Blackberry? “Definitely iPhone”
[Right] [Red Top] Name: James Hornsby Studying: Geography and European Studies, 4th year. iPhone, HTC or Blackberry? “Always Blackberry” [Breton Top] Name: Joe Ridge Studying: English, Masters iPhone, HTC or Blackberry? “iPhone”
Rohan Venkatraman FROM your letter, I can tell that you’re not exactly filled to the brim with self confidence. So your long-term boyfriend has posters of half-naked models on his walls. It’s not a big deal. It’s not because he doesn’t find you attractive. Don’t believe me? Think of it this way. If he didn’t find you attractive, if he didn’t see that special something in you, he wouldn’t have stuck around. He sees something beautiful in you and that should show you that he really does care and is genuinely attracted to you. If the posters really are something that worry you, I suggest you be open and honest with him about it. If you keep it inside, he’s never going to realise that you don’t like them. In all likelihood, he’s probably still got them up because he can’t be bothered to take them down. But if you explain to him how you feel, then he’s sure to take them down. No guy will hurt the girl he loves willingly, and if there’s something she’s not comfortable with, he usually will stop it.
14
Music
23 MAY 2011 Exeposé
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Andy Smith & Amy Weller - music@exepose.com
Upcoming
Festival previews
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27/5 -Lethal Bizzle, Music Editors Amy Weller and Andy Smith look at the hottest festivals of the summer Lemon Grove ster,” the capacity is a modest 35,000, I’ll Be Your Mirror film Submarine from director, Richard Rockness 27/5 - Gypsy Unit, Cavern Club
28/5 - Dot to Dot, Bristol
29/5 - ExTunes Live, Firehouse 1/6 – We are Scientists, Lemon Grove 1/6 - Beats and Bass Party, Cavern Club 2/6 The Eliza Carthy Band, Exeter Phoenix 3/6 - The Magic Hatstand, Cavern Club 4/6 - Krafty Kuts, The Lemon Grove 4/6 - Jazz Morley, Exeter Phoenix 8/6 Jiggerypipery, Exeter Phoenix Featured Event: The Itchy Feet Summer House Party Monday 30 May 6pm - 3am
6 DJ’s, Live Bands including The Severed Limb
Join the Facebook group for more details.
Tickets on sale Monday 23 May, Devonshire Place 4-6pm
£8 advance, £10 on the door - but no
guarantee there will be any left (they sold out at the last two nights in a
few hours and this one is going to be even bigger and better).
To reserve tickets for big groups
email Lizzie - eh274@exeter.ac.uk.
10-12 June Inverness, Scotland £135
ROCKNESS takes place on the shores of the Loch Ness in Scotland, giving it a reputation of being “the most beautiful festival in the world.” Having won the NME ‘Best Small Festival Award’ 2011 and UK Festival Awards ‘Lineup of the Year’ 2010, this looks set to be one of the best festivals to get to this summer. The line-up is headed by Kasabian, Chemical Brothers and Paolo Nutini. Aside from these big crowd-pleasers, there are names which have shot to musical fame only recently; Two Door Cinema Club, Katy B, and Jamie Woon being among those bands playing the smaller stages. This annual Loch Ness party has a refreshing mix of the big names and new, smaller, emerging acts, which will ensure the festival avoids any stale air of being simply a ‘we’ve got the biggest acts and nothing else’ sort of festival. While Rockness is claimed to be “the only festival with its own mon-
Beach Break Live 16-20 June Pembrey Country Park, £99 PRIZING itself on being the “ultimate student experience” Beach Break Live 2011 is taking place in Pembrey Country Park, South Wales, for what is set to be a festival bigger and better than all its predecessors. This year’s star studded line up features some of the biggest names that have exploded onto the current music scene. Such names include Tinie Tempah, White Lies, Magnetic Man, Katy B, Example and We Are Scientists, to name but a few. It’s not all about big chart toppers though, as this year’s Beach Break is proudly hosting some of the hottest DJ acts including Nero, Sub Focus, Shy FX, Zane Lowe and Mark Ronson who will all be carrying the party well into the night. You can also take advantage of the festival’s sublime setting and head down to the beach for some glorious sun, sand and sea. Pay an extra £39 for a coach journey from Exeter and your festival experience could not be made any easier. Alternatively, pay £10 to use the Park and Ride service or £8 for a shuttle bus from the local train station. Whichever option you go for you cannot come across a better value festival. Aside from a line up that is diverse, exciting and bursting with talent, Beach
which means you will not be faced with the sprawling and manic crowds of Reading and Leeds, while still having a large enough crowd to give a true summer festival vibe. This is one of the better value festivals, with student tickets with camping only setting you back £135, which is very reasonable compared to some of the larger festivals of 2011. While travel could set you back a bit, in terms of actually getting there, Easyjet have some quite good air fares, while if you can face the ten hour coach journey that may be the cheapest option (Rockness themselves offering a Ticket and Coach package for only £10 extra). Rockness looks set to be one of the hottest festivals this summer, with big acts and exciting rising names, this would be a good choice if you fancy a change from the standard festivals of England, and want a new location and atmosphere. Tickets available from: www.rockness.co.uk
Break has an electric atmosphere that will not fail to impress. But it’s not only about the stonkingly good music, last year you could spend your money in the fabulous Vintage Clothing Tent, take on the Go Ape challenge up in the trees or chill out in a teepee or hammock in the magical Lost Gardens. Whatever you do while you’re there, BBL is the perfect way to celebrate the end of exams and kick off the summer with all your mates. Tickets available from: www.beachbreaklive.com
23-24 July Alexandra Palace, London Day tickets: £59
Ayoade.
Tickets available from: www.atpfestival.com/events
I’LL Be Your Mirror is set to be a truly unique event curated by Portishead, the powerfully eerie Bristolian band who will be headlining both days with their hauntingly dark beats. Other headliners include the fantastic PJ Harvey, Nick Cave’s alternative rock band Grinderman and experimental Canadian band Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The line up has an eclectic mix of acts whose dark ambient sounds will be combining to deliver a thoroughly original and exciting weekend of performances. You can expect this intimate festival to be a playground for an array of experimental acts performing in a completely non-corporate atmosphere. Other exciting performances will be coming from emerging acts such as Caribou, Liars, Swans and Beach House. This festival will not only be delivering unique musical performances but will also feature Cinema screenings, including an introduction to the brilliant
Larmer Tree Festival 13-17 July Wiltshire, £130-£197
Dot to Dot 28 May 1pm - 4am Bristol, £35
LARMER Tree is a intimate grass roots festival, with a capacity of 4,000, situated in the picturesque Larmer Tree Gardens. The festival, which has been running for 21 years and lasts five days in total, hosts a mainly folk line-up, with big names from the folk scene Bellowhead and Seth Lakeman, as well as fresh new folk faces Heidi Talbot and Stornaway. Opening and closing the festival respectively are jazz and blues legend Jools Holland with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and deep South blues songster Seasick Steve. The exciting musical lineup is offset by the comedy stage, Larmer tree having one of the best of the summer festivals this year. Sketch favourites Late Night Gimp Fight and young comedy mogul Russel Kane are amongst the many comedy acts playing at the festival, along with 150 free workshops, this is going to be a hugely eclectic festival. While the price tag of £197 may seem daunting, this is great value for five full days of music, and you can buy a three-day weekend ticket for just under £70 less, so if you don’t mind sacrificing a couple of days, this would be the cheaper, but still very worthwhile option.
DOT to Dot is returning to Bristol once more to host some of the best emerging talents of the moment. This one day festival is a fantastic show-case of a wide range of performers on the cusp of breaking into the musical mainstream. This festival is taking place across a number of Bristol’s finest musical venues, including the amazing boat/club Thekla, Anson Rooms and The Cooler, turning the vibrant city into one big maze of music and fun. If the money is running low or a summer internship is preventing your festival attendance this summer then Dot to Dot is perfect for you. This year features an impressively strong set of headliners including Hurts, We Are Scientists, The Naked and Famous and Guillemots. Exciting and unmissable new talent performing include Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Ed Sheeran, SBTRKT, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Trophy Wife. This is one day not to miss out on.
Tickets available from: www.larmertreefestival.co.uk
Tickets available from: www.alt-tickets.co.uk
More Festival Previews in the next issue...
15
Exeposé week TWENTY seven
Music
album reviews Tomboy Panda Bear IN 2007, Noah Lennox, a.k.a. Panda Bear, released his solo breakthrough effort Person Pitch, transforming the Animal Collective founding member into the undisputed king of chillwave. The record influenced a whole generation of admirers, drawn to his blend of heavy reverb, sunny synths and psychedelic sounds. Panda Bear’s follow-up, Tomboy is a continuation of his minimalism, intense repetition and dense layers of echoing vocals, reflecting Lennox’s interest in church music which is realised in Tomboy’s prevalent chorus effects. However, while Person Pitch threw the kitchen sink at the listener, Tomboy utilizes a more conventional structure, with the intention of delivering more of a punch.
Although the album allows Lennox’s soaring vocals to dominate, it doesn’t come near to emulating Person Pitch, whose warmth evoked the sunshine of Lennox’s adopted Lisbon home. The LP too, often emphasises studio effects for the sake of it and offers a less ornate sound, sticking to neater compositions, as opposed to Person Pitch’s sprawling peaks, as in ‘Bros’. Lennox appears to have scaled back, but still creates a typically complex record capable of transporting us into unfamiliar territory on several tracks. The hymn-like ‘You Can Count on Me’ pulls the listener into an electropop trance, featuring swirling samples in the background, slow paced repetition and droning vocals; all of which mark the LP. The strong opener gives way to the beat-driven pop approach of the title track, which opens with pounding keyboards and chugging guitar, giving the sense of an impending voyage.
Unfortunately, this pulsating feeling is fleeting as ‘Tomboy’ offers little in melody after the first minute. ‘Slow Motion’ follows and is arguably the finest moment on the LP, marked by a repeating drum loop, expert pitch shifting and a guitar that unquestionably resembles an organ. Lennox’s well-executed experimentation, all too absent from Tomboy, utilises effects for a purpose as both vocals and chords constantly change throughout. The next two tracks form the stronger first half of the record, with ‘Surfer’s Hymn’ and ‘Last Night at the Jetty’, which resemble the trademark Panda Bear aquatic sound, as the latter uses looped watery synths in its spliced melody. The second half of Tomboy begins with its roughest track, ‘Drone’, highlighted by a repeating, cacophonous synth. The heavenly ‘Alsatian Darn’ counters this, and allows Lennox’s vocals to come to the fore, without needless effects, such as tremolo effects on the vocals of ‘Friendship Bracelet’. The pulsing ‘Afterburner’, with its increasingly urgent yelps, is one of the few instances in which Lennox is able to evoke the tribal, ritual nature of Person Pitch. Churning out material at a rapid rate, Panda Bear has produced a reflective record which would always face difficulty in matching the vastness of Person Pitch. Nevertheless, Lennox’s gorgeous vocals set him apart from many of his mumbling chillwave contemporaries. OSCAR WARWICK-THOMPSON
Boombox Beatsteaks WHEN I picked up an album called Boombox by a German band called Beatsteaks, I feared the worst. I envisaged slipping the CD into my stereo, cranking up the volume and being confronted with a barrage of Euro electro-pop, heavy bass lines and maybe, if I was really unlucky, a trippy trance track running through every song. This could not be much further from the truth! The album is a combination of punk, indie and, believe it or not, funk tracks. Every song surprised me and the dramatic juxtaposition of one song against
the next makes this the most original album I’ve heard all year. One minute it felt like I’d pinpointed their rougharound-the-edges style in the song ‘Fix It’ as early Kings of Leon, the next a simple drum beat and bass line combo in ‘Cheap Comments’ reminded me of classic White Stripes, before I was confronted with ‘Behaviour’ which could easily have been written by The Sex Pistols. Then along came ‘Automatic’ which sounds like none of the above, but instead made me think of Bob Marley, mixed with Red Hot Chillis and Editors. Told you it was original. Let’s be clear though, Beatsteaks are not going to blow you away instrumentally. The album is filled with simple
riffs, catchy beats and heard-it-all-before melodies, albeit with some slightly obscure lyrics. A man shouting “I’m not gonna wear your shirt” makes as little sense in context, as it does out of context, but this is what makes the album so worthy of a listen. The simplicity of the music makes a clean and refreshing change from synthesisers and computer designed tracks, whilst the lyrics make you laugh, sing and dance before provoking you to think about the messages behind the songs.
“A clean and refreshing change from sythesizers and computer designed tracks” Boombox is an addictive album and after hearing the album through once I immediately put it back to the start to hear it all again. This is one CD that will be taking pride of place in my rack and I urge anyone with a taste for the alternative indie style to go to the stores and pick up this album. You won’t regret it.
MATT KNIGHT
Philharmonics Agnes Obel SOME people, upon hearing Agnes Obel for the first time, describe her music as a bit fey, followed immediately by “Isn’t that from an advert?” It’s true: Agnes, who was born in Denmark, and is currently based in Berlin, has a wonderful, otherworldly quality to her music, most of which is performed solely by her with just vocals and piano. The first song on the album is a piano instrumental, the rhythm of which flows like the river. In the next song, the current draws you in, then slows, but never quite lets the listener escape. There is almost a theme of solitude and a need to escape running through the album, which bubbles out over the careful structure of the songs. Obel’s music is simple, almost deceptively so. There may be a slight lack of variation to the tracks, but really that helps the album flow together, so you aren’t listening to just one song. They all link together - perhaps a nod to classical music, as similar rhythms pop up again and again, keeping the listener in mind of a symphony. The title of the album, recalling famous philharmonic orchestras from around the world, therefore, is carefully thought out. It comes as no surprise then to learn that Obel is a classically trained pianist and singer. But some may not realised that Philharmonics is her first album, recorded in her bedroom, which has since gone double platinum
in Denmark. She writes all her own lyrics and music, except for one song on the album, a cover of John Cale’s ‘I Keep a Close Watch’, which shows her voice, and it’s wistful inflections, to be just as powerful when interpreting other’s songs as when singing her own. And, yes - if you’re wondering, one song was used on an advert. Deutsche Telekom used ‘Just So’ in a phone commercial.
LILY HAWKER-YATES
student band spotlight Soundkeeper Soundkeeper are quickly becoming one of the best-known musical talents in Exeter. Fronted by vocalist and keys player Hannah Stacey, the 8-piece jazz and soul group boast assuredly tight rhythm and brass sections, performing covers and own material. Having won the Campus Bands Battle of the Bands last term, the octet’s strength is in their energetic live performance and full, rich sound. They get the crowd going with favourites such as Chaka Khan’s ‘Ain’t Nobody’, Stacey confessing that she loves “the kind of music that is usually the preserve of dancing drunken uncles at weddings”, and original arrangements of The Stranglers’ ‘Golden Brown’ and Feist’s ‘Limit
to Your Love’. The band’s original material delivers equally as big an impact. Guitarist Chris Elphick said “I really like writing songs that have some groove to them – I especially like ‘I Like Stripes’ that I wrote with Hannah because it is fun and has some really catchy melodies and lyrics”. Soundkeeper’s live energy and songwriting prowess, with catchy hooks and brass riffs, combine to create great live music. With recording sessions scheduled, I doubt that this will be the last you hear of Soundkeeper. Soundkeeper will play at the Sorry Head, Blackboy Road on the 29 May at 8pm Photo: Sapphire Mason-Brown
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Exeposé WEEK TWENTY seven
Screen
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NEWSREEL
DEAR readers, we regret to inform you of some shocking news. The UK broadcasting rights for everyone’s favourite show about singing highschoolers, Glee, has been bought by Sky, meaning the next series won’t be shown on E4 and those without Sky won’t be able to watch it! This may be heart-breaking for many. It brought back similar memories of Sky ruthlessly buying the rights to Lost from Channel 4, causing Luke to start crying in the corner... In brighter news, Kristen Stewart has been cast as the titular princess in Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman. Be prepared for much whinging about how hard it is being a princess and the difficult choice between a gorgeous prince and a hunky huntsman... Even better, the first trailer for Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin has been released, and while the CGI is still dodgy, it looks set to be a colourful, action packed treat... Finally, one of the most interesting events from this year’s Cannes Film Festival so far hasn’t been a film, but director Lars von Trier becoming “persona non grata” and banned from the festival after stating he was a Nazi sympathiser. It may have been a bad joke or publicity stunt, but it’s backfired pretty badly...
COMPETITION
This week, as a treat for those suffering with exams, we’re giving away THREE PAIRS of FREE TICKETS to both Odeon and Picturehouse. To win, contact the Exeposé Screen Facebook Group by Friday 3 June with the subject: I hate exams!!!
Spotlight: Jason Statham
NAME an action hero. Grandparents might go with John Wayne, parents with Stallone, Schwarzenegger or Segal. But these veterans have had their era. They were forged in the ‘80s and ‘90s, a time of silly and over-blown action movies (I’m looking at you Commando), with ridiculous villains and crushing clichés. Gone were the elaborate fight scenes and balletic gunplay of old, instead replaced with BLOWING THE HELL OUT OF EVERYTHING, which is fine, but the new generation needed something different, something more stylish. The 2000s ushered in a new breed of action hero like Damon’s Bourne, Craig’s Bond, even Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Inception (who’d a’ thunk a skinny 3-piece-adorned lad could kick ass on a ceiling?)What the universe needed was a half-and-half, a man who could embody (and what an
“The Stath”, a man unifying the rippling biceps of the Golden Era, the sheer physical ability of Bruce Lee and the marketability of Schwarzenegger. After working as a model and representing GB in the high dive (briefly ranking 12th in the world), Jason Statham was discovered by Guy Ritchie who cast him in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (2000) as Bacon. He then starred in The Transporter trilogy (2005 onwards), truly displaying his action star credentials and especially his extensive martial arts training. Driving fast cars, seducing fast women, firing lots of guns and kicking a ridiculous amount of ass. Statham also whipped out his best asset... his body. Honed by years of
embodiment) the explosive power and eyewatering musculature of the old school with the style, grace and brutality of the modern action hero. Enter
HUGH BLACKSTAFFE See “The Stath” in his new crime thriller, Blitz. In cinemas from 20 May
What I’ve been watching: Session 9 SESSION 9 is an exposé on the traumas of an asbestos removal specialist experiencing a mid-life crisis. Not the best idea for a film, but maybe that’s why this 2001 gem has a profound influence on most people who watch it. In Session 9, a team is hired to remove asbestos from a disused mental asylum in Massachusetts, deinstitutionalised over rumours of sexual-satanic abuse. Team leader Gordon has a rough domestic and professional life, and rifts are beginning to form in his team. A dilapidated asylum is a fitting setting for a story about a man going over the edge in a place where the tense and paranoid start to crack. Admittedly, the film is heavy on
swimming, it echoed one of the first action heroes, Johnny Weissmuller (the original Tarzan). Sure, Schwarzenegger had the muscle and Bruce Willis had the bald head of justice, but Statham combines the two… as well as a British accent! Statham has had his share of poor films (Ghosts of Mars, In the Name of the King) but goes from strength to strength, occasionally returning to his London roots with films such as The Bank Job. Statham can call himself a true action star after appearing in the thoroughly daft The Expendables. He stands shoulder to shoulder, bicep to bicep, with Stallone, Li, Schwarzenegger, Lundgren, Willis and Rourke, holding his own as Stallone’s right hand man for the entire film. Now a legitimate Hollywood action hero, Statham will always remain a British actor, who lived and trained in South East London, and was discovered there by a decidedly British director outside Harrods selling items of questionable ownership out of a suitcase. The man has now achieved international acclaim, solidifying his place amongst the greats. Jason Statham is the ultimate action hero and every baddie’s ultimate nemesis.
mood and suspense, rather than narrative substance, but it seems unsettlingly real. As we see the men go about their work, the film burrows under the skin, teasing at the most bleak and lonely corners of the human mind, whilst retaining a sense of normality. The film bursts into a tour de force of terrifying intrigue as a series of ‘80s therapy session recordings with a female patient are found. The horrific tale plays out over a series of nine sessions that concludes in a horrific revelation, nearly as unnerving as the one that occurs between the five men at the film’s denouement. Its slow pace intensifies this, and although it demands your patience, you’ll never experience a more tense and
unsettling wait for a conclusion. Session 9 is not without its flaws. At one point there is a hilarious close-up in which one of the characters says “fuck you” in a weird accent for no reason. It defies logic and was subject to copious rewinds. Sadly, although I liked the psychological workings-out of the ending, it degenerates to the level of the slasher horror films it tries so hard not to be. Nonetheless, Session 9 is part of that brilliant sub-genre of horror films that works under the skin. It is as good as The Others and a must-watch if you can get your hands on it.
TOM PAYNE BOOKS EDITOR
Films to see before you graduate: The Red Balloon (1956) Director: Albert Lamorisse Cast: Pascal Lamorisse
THIS Oscar-winning 34 minute short film chronicles the relationship between a lonely boy (Pascal Lamorisse, the director’s six-yearold son), and a large red balloon. The simple premise is matched by the purity of the filmmaking, capturing the innocence of childhood and the true meaning of unconditional love and friendship. Despite the absence of dialogue
the film went on to win the 1957 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Such an achievement is truly a testament to the directorial bravery of Lamorisse, who allows the music and breathtaking cinematography of the streets of Paris to tell his story. The visual style of the film creates an artful examination of the uniqueness and magic of life, when seen from the perspective of youth. The narrative develops alongside the relationship between Pascal and his new “friend”, as they must overcome obstacles such as parents, bullies and
sharp edges to stay together. However, the path to true friendship does not always run smooth as Pascal discovers; the balloon, coming to the aid of Pascal after he is chased by jealous schoolboys is popped (tragic, I know). But fear not, Pascal is not alone; a flock of multicoloured balloons glide gently down to the weeping child and lift him up high above the rooftops of Paris. The final scene is one of the most ‘uplifting’ moments of cinema, capturing what no other film before or since has managed
to show, the glint in a child’s eye and belief that magic truly exists. Though made for children, the narrative themes are mature and executed with great poise and sophistication. The film may be French, but the story is universal, it continues to enchant and entertain generations more than 50 years after its debut; and I can guarantee that this rarity of a film still holds the power to reduce a roomful of cynical students to tears.
FRANCES RILEY
TV Review: Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle
STEWART LEE’s Comedy Vehicle returns for a second series of stand-up style comedy, in the viewing-figures bonanza that is the 11.20pm slot. Budget constraints have forced the show to change its format: it has dropped much of the sketch content from the first series. This may please fans who criticised these sketches as unnecessary and indulgent; Frost/Nixon style interviews between Lee and producer Armando Iannucci are used in order to fill the gap. This is a masterstroke for the show, as Iannucci mocks and belittles Lee, who is often viewed as pretentious. By pricking Lee’s supposed pomposity with these ‘interviews,’ Lee is given room to be as indulgent and sneering as he feels without being cast as the ‘holier than thou’ lecturer type, instead berated by Iannucci for simply not having enough jokes. What elevates the series above standard televised stand-up is its pursuit of realism and the true experience of a live gig. Shows like Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow leave no room for experimentation, improvisation or even the possibility of failure; the main attractions to a live event. Lee’s show does all it can to include the viewer in the experience and possesses many features of a live show: in the first episode, we see that Lee intends to discuss charity, but gets side tracked and ends up talking about crisps. Later episodes are rumoured to include more of this tense, unpredictable tone; one episode incurs walkouts during the gig that are highlighted to show the effect they have on the atmosphere, unlike on Roadshow, where they’ll cut to C-list celebrities wetting themselves, presumably to indicate that viewers at home should laugh along. Most television appears to be conceived cynically, with no apparent respect for its audience, whereas Lee’s show seems to care about its viewers; challenging them with new ideas and approaches to comedy. Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle: BBC Two, Wednesdays, 11.20pm
MATTHEW HIGHMOOR
18
Screen The Dark Lord (Sugar) seeks a new apprentice... Charlie Marchant explains why The Apprentice is still a cultural phenomenon...
SERIES seven and Alan Sugar has decided he doesn’t really need another apprentice (well, he already has six). So this time round, the contestants are fighting for a £250,000 investment into a business venture that will be split between the winner and Sugar. There are people who criticise The Apprentice for being clichéd reality TV, but really, the programme is a work of production genius. The contestants themselves are a selection of the most egotistically confrontational people that Britain has to offer, with a fair portion of pretty people for superficial viewing. Time and time again, you find yourself in a state of incredulity that people really do have egos that big. This series has already seen control-freak Edna refusing to allow the team’s budget to be spent and telling a babbling Susan to just “shut up.” Later, failed Project Manager Leon attempted
to get teammate Jim fired, despite having described him as giving “a sterling performance.” Leon soon changed his mind once Jim’s well-articulated argument slapped him back into reality hardly sticking to his figurative Project Managing guns there…
“Time and time again, you find yourself incredulous that people have egos that big” Candidates aside, in my opinion, what really makes The Apprentice a BAFTA-winning series is Nick’s facial expressions. Nick Hewer is one of Sugar’s two aides and each episode he never fails to do his classic eyebrow raise and his famous “what-the-hellare-you-all-talking-about” face – faces like that just can’t be staged, nor can they be hidden. A minefield of global business knowledge, Nick quite frankly thinks all the contestants are idiots and the savvy cameraman knows it. Not only this, but when in the
boardroom or during one-to-one moments with the camera, conversational gems always appear. In the past Nick has come out with: “He’s all dong and no ding,” about a contestant; “They took logic and tortured it until it screamed,” about one team’s advertising idea, and “You were all over it like a tramp on chips,” relating to another person’s idea. Nick Hewer is a modern day wit and a television diamond. So yes, it is reality TV, but it comes minus cheesy singing and the odd ethos that life is a musical. Instead, The Apprentice gives its audience a healthy dose of violent classical music accompaniments to what humanity spends its time bickering about: money and power. All that and it revolves around a guy who really is called Lord Sugar. Who’s going to win though? My prediction is Jim, that Irish one – you heard it here first! The Apprentice: BBC One, Wednesdays, 9pm
23 MAY 2011 Exeposé
Yu-Gi-Oh: Bonds Beyond Time
Director: Kenichi Takeshita Cast: Dan Green, Greg Abbey (voices) (PG) 60mins
YU-GI-OH. Remember: the one with cards? No that was Digimon. Never mind. Well now you’ve been refreshed on this anime sensation, I’m sure you’ll be ecstatic to hear there’s a new film to celebrate the series’ tenth anniversary. The story starts with a mysterious, masked figure stealing some playing cards from children. One of the victims of this crime against humanity is Yusei Fudo (you know, from Yu-gi-oh 5D?!), who decides to track down this Venetian maverick and serve him a slice of justice pie. Naturally, in his quest for vengeance, he inadvertently achieves time travel and meets the main characters from the last two series (Yugi Moto and Jaden Yuki) along with Paradox, the card-pilfering, time-travellin’ baddie of the film. Together, they team up for a 3-on-1 duel with not only their street cred on the line, but also the fate of humanity.
I would start by saying that this is one of very few films where the 3D aspect improved the experience. When Blue-Eyes White Dragon started shooting energy beams out of its face, I did feel a vague sense of peril. Also it’s a huge improvement on Yu-Gi-Oh: The Pyramid Of Light, which couldn’t even really justify its 3am ITV2 showing earlier this year. However it isn’t a film that you can go into with no previous knowledge of the concept. It will make precisely zero sense. For all of us who love Joey’s Brooklyn accent and understand that you don’t mess with the Dark Magician, this is a very enjoyable film. There are all the usual clichés, including friendship, believing in the cards and the most angular hair of the anime world (a pretty impressive accolade). Ultimately this is an hour-long animation, and as long as it isn’t taken too seriously, one of the better anime films of recent years. Although, I was disappointed that there was no Tristan. He was my favourite.
TOM JENKINSON
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Lights, Camera, Action, Cannes!
PRODUCERS had vowed to learn from the mistakes of the bloated At World’s End, but there is hardly anything ‘strange’ about the tides promised in the film’s title; it’s really quite a bit of the same again. The frequency of the CGI (there be mermaids!) and impressive fighting sequences tend to lessen the impact such features should have on the audience, and there are definitely too many characters knocking about, and too many love interests, for the audience to really keep a firm grasp on the plot’s shenanigans. Blackbeard’s (McShane) officers are zombified, we don’t know how and why, and he seems to have a magical ability to control even the ropes of his ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, we don’t know how and why. Cruz is cast as Sparrow’s (Depp) old flame Angelica but she hardly delivers as the part is woefully underwritten. The true back-
CRAZY crowds, flashing cameras and round the clock networking; add to this the film screenings and partying, and this world-renowned international event could not get any more insane. From the minute the 2011 Cannes Film Festival Jury was announced, headed by the esteemed Robert De Niro and eight others in the film industry, including Jude Law and Uma Thurman, the hype began. With the festival stretching over 12 film-packed days, nobody plans on getting much sleep. The beginning of the week saw arrivals from every corner of the world, be it film professionals, new talent looking to have their opportunity at the Cannes Film Market (Le Marché du Film), or the ever-keen tourists here to enjoy a variety of films and to catch that sought-after glimpse of the many stars present at the festival. For me it was the start of ten-hour days as a PR Assistant for Orange, the festival’s official partner, and two non-stop weeks filled with things both new and exciting. Founded in 1946, and during this period ever since, this charming yacht-lined Cote d’Azur town becomes Hollywood, with a touch of class. Certainly the stars, the renowned handprints in the ground and the red carpet have an iconic place amongst the swarms of buzzing tourists, but what is most interesting about Cannes is that it is host to the biggest event in the film industry, Le Marché du Film, a unique opportunity for people in the industry to buy, sell, promote and market all that they do. All the top names are in one place at one time and whether it’s networking between Warner Brothers and Disney or between an independent film company and other producers, directors and actors, it’s a time to see and be seen. With up to 20 screenings a day amongst the four rooms in the Festival
Director: Rob Marshall Cast: Johnny Depp, Ian McShane, Penélope Cruz (12A) 137mins
Attack the Block Director: Joe Cornish Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Nick Frost, John Boyega (15) 98mins
JOE CORNISH’s directorial debut is a love letter to classic films such as Alien and Critters, mixing old-school sci-fi horror with gritty Britishness. The movie opens on bonfire night, with young nurse Sam (Whittaker) walking home. The feeling of trepidation as she walks along dark alleys will be familiar to many, and her fears materialise when she is mugged by a gang of ‘hoodies’. The realism of the scene is interrupted by… something… crashing into a car. This turns out to be a small creature, which claws at gang leader Moses (Boyega), and is the van-
ground of her relationship with Blackbeard is never properly revealed, and so she is just left ticking the box of ‘token pirate wench’. It would, however, be unfair to savage the film. It is an improvement on the last two instalments in the franchise, with Depp always shining as Sparrow in the moments in which his character can indulge in comedy capers, the scene involving cake in King George’s residence being a highlight. Geoffrey Rush also makes a welcome return as Barbossa, gleefully indulging in his character’s shady motives and piratical banter, and McShane’s Blackbeard is fittingly sinister. With the inclusion of a random Spanish royal and his fleet, however, it seems that there are one too many teams out to race towards the mysterious Fountain of Youth.
The famous theme is given precedence again in the music, and there are new comedy characters amongst the ranks, in particular the entertaining Scrum (Stephen Graham). There are also a few surprising cameos for the audience to enjoy, and fans of the series should not be disappointed.
guard for an invasion of larger, scarier creatures, leading to a night of terror for the local inhabitants. The focus switches to Moses and his gang, and the film neither expects nor forces us to sympathise with them, but as we spend time with the boys, witnessing their situation, background and relationships, we begin to root for them. Boyega is a revelation, and through his performance, what could have been a stereotype turns into an intelligent young man, angry at his situation and lashing out against a society he perceives as oppressive. Themes of family, friendship and community are strong, and a simple premise evolves into astute social commentary as a young man learns to deal with the consequences of his actions.
The high drama is mixed with great action, as the boys try and fight the alien creatures with improvised weapons. There is brilliant comedy from Frost, who steals every scene as the block’s resident drug dealer. The film uses a lot of jump scares, but here they are well timed and effective. The street-slang feels genuine (Cornish did many workshops with inner city kids to learn the lingo) but the dialogue may be hard to understand for some. This is, however, one of the most smart and original films I’ve seen in a long time, with expert direction. Simply put, it’s British cinema at its best.
TORI BRAZIER SCREEN EDITOR
LUKE GRAHAM SCREEN EDITOR
Emelyne Burkhard reports from the prestigious Cannes Film Festival
Palace and the big screen on the Festival Beach, every minute inbetween is filled with meetings, research and reports. Access badges decorate the necks of every professional, tourist or worker along the Croisette (the main boulevard stretching from the red-carpeted Festival Palace right along the beach front where the hotels, media tents, TV sets, private restaurants and sponsors can be found). This small town seems even smaller with the realisation that everything festival orientated happens along this sea front. At 6.30pm, the Croisette reawakens with stars, media and tourists flocking to the montée des marches (the mounting of the red carpet steps) for that evening’s films in competition for the prestigious Palme d’Or Award. The opening ceremony saw the premiere of Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, not actually in the competition but nonetheless flanked by a star-studded cast including Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. The 2011 Festival Jury preceded the film’s cast on the red carpet on the first night, and after that treasured glimpse of Jude Law after a long day’s work, I’ll happily wait for Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt’s appearances later in the week.
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Books
23 MAY 2011
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Esmeralda Castrillo & Tom Payne - books@exepose.com
The best of times, the worst of times?
Tom Payne, Books Editor, pre-empts a literary utopia THE books industry has remained largely unchanged for over a century, but where seismic shifts in the ways people read have occured, radical consequences quickly ensued. The e-reader is still in uncertain territory. Views for and against it are wide and varied, but at the risk of sounding like an age-old purist, I’ve devised a few positive ways of looking at the change and innovation which may, or may not, happen... 1. Books sales will increase Imagine you’re feeling suitably Parisian and decide to take yourself away for a lone and enigmatic coffee in a café. You may, as we often do, feel a sudden impulse to start reading a book. If you have an e-reader, centuries of classics, bestsellers and non-fiction works are at your fingertips. You might want to sample the introduction or the first chapter of a book, decide it’s not to your liking, and move onto something else. I can see a world where first chapters become really important, more commercial, more intent on sustaining the reader’s interest. Perhaps we won’t be as devoted to a book as we are now - we might read a little bit here, a little bit there - but that’s great news for the dissemination of knowledge. 2. Pay per chapter A somewhat more radical concept is the idea that, one day, we will be paying for individual chapters of books rather than entire works. It harks back to Dickens in many ways - we could be in for a return of the cliffhanger, or a move away from linear narration towards fragmentaion. Books might be treated as TV series are today - a collection of episodes, each varying in quality and treated as separate entities. Clearly, novels such as George Eliot’s Middlemarch wouldn’t stand a chance under this new regime. The very form of books is in for
Review
Love Letters Katie Fforde ISBN: 1846054478
IF you are feeling the stress of revision then this might be just the sort of book you need. It’s not going to blow your mind but it’s a fun bit of escapism. Shy bookshop worker Laura unexpectedly ends up organising a literary festival and meeting her favourite writer, who just happens to be handsome and mysterious. It almost goes without stating that this is a great read
an irrevocable change. New-fangled literary innovations could blossom and whole new vistas of interpretative latitude might start to appear. Although it’s very hard to predict exactly how... 3. We’ll all become REALLY clever Imagine writing an essay without JSTOR, without the vast and infinite array of internet resources available to us. No doubt work would be ten times as arduous. Today, the internet has allowed all manner of phrases, images, videos and ideas to ‘go viral’, and we could be in for a similar explosion of knowledge with the e-reader. It’s hard to understate the impact this will have on academia. Imagine a software tool that scans the bibliographies of 30 books in one go for similar topics, ideas, words and phrases. It’ll probably take a while to be refined, but when the software does eventually develop, it could very well prove to be a saviour for the lazy scholar. Good or bad, the very nature of the ereader is an exciting, if somewhat unnerving prospect. A lot of people seem to be worried that the internet phenomenon will eradicate the romantic autonomy of books. But I think it will be more a case of how the individual uses their e-reader. Recreational reading will probably stay the same. There’s no obligation to use the technology, but I think the possibilities bode well for academia. In any case, how the e-reader develops is, for now, a matter between us and our imagination. for people who love books. Love Letters is also unabashedly chick-lit, as if you couldn’t guess from the title.
“It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s a fun bit of escapism” There’s a lot more to it than the romance, which is good as I found that the love story wasn’t as compelling as I would have liked. The plot starts out great, the kind of stuff that only could happen in your daydreams, but it lacks the tension that the romance needs. There are brief moments when Fforde lets you worry but she never uses them to their full potential. Perhaps with more focus on the other peo-
Tom Bond, questions the stability of the books industry
LATELY it’s been feeling like someone has a grudge against the arts, and reading in particular. Last week’s Exeposé discussed the proposal to remove any form of a physical bookshop from the Forum Project, a move which is only the most localised of difficulties faced by the book industry. In 2009 the UK branch of Borders filed for bankruptcy and now the American part of the business looks to be following suit. At the same time, the government has recently
announced huge local authority funding cuts to libraries that would see hundreds of them forced to close. So is this the final swansong for the popularity of books and reading? Instead, I see these changes as the inevitable consequence of the technological advances that have previously ple in the book, Laura’s journey might have become a bit more complicated and I might have spent more time cheering her on in the face of romantic risk. The love interest is dashing, romantic and has a great Irish accent (it comes through on the page, honest). Laura, unfortunately, isn’t as convincing. Fforde keeps reminding you that Laura is so very shy, but this barely matches her actions. But
created such a radical revolution in the music industry. All we are seeing is a change in the way people read books, just like the change in how people listen to music. The move away from physical books and bookshops is a move towards the digital, wireless format that music now takes. People listened to music on vinyl, then on cassette tapes, then on CDs, and now use digital files. In comparison, the format of the book has remained remarkably unchanged. The book industry needs to react like the music industry initially failed to do and recognise that this is not an extinction of the form but simply a change in how it is consumed. In all fairness, the early signs for the survival of the industry are promising. With the advent of the Kindle and other e-readers, reading digital words rather than printed ones is growing in popularity. So far the transition is going smoothly but hurdles will be faced, most ominously the threat of piracy that has been the bane of artists and music companies across the world. Digital formats are more attractive, largely because they are significantly cheaper so it makes sense that any way of obtaining something free that you once had to pay for will be tempting. The ubiquity of illegal music downloads has shown that the average person’s social conscience isn’t strict enough to stop them from breaking the law like this. Some justify it because the
artists are so wealthy they don’t need the money, a claim that could hardly be levelled at most authors, unless their name is J. K. Rowling. Nevertheless, I think piracy will be less of a problem for the books industry. People will be more willing to pay for the books they read because there is more of a personal feel to a book and because they want to support the authors. All publishers need to do is ensure they keep the prices of legal book downloads cheap enough to appeal to the average reader. Soon there will be a split in literature between those that read paper books and those that read electronic books. Like the split between the musical purists who still worship vinyl and the new generation brought up in the age of downloads, which flag you fall under will depend largely on nostalgia, value for money and ease of use. It is cheaper and more convenient to buy books online and downloads them to an e-reader, for both the customer and the publisher. Almost any book you want could be downloaded within seconds, and many of them (any classic which is now out of copyright) free of charge. Personally I would say I’m one of the purists who would still buy printed books for the nostalgia and physical value they have, but I think it’s inevitable that the mass market will flock to digital print like they did with digital music. As sad as it is, libraries and bookshops are dying out because the emerging alternatives are cheaper, more convenient and take up less space for everyone involved. There is no point fighting in this revolution. The war has already been lost. Just like with music, lovers of literature should accept the change and realise that words and their power are being celebrated more than ever, but now they are simply being typed rather than written.
overall I thought that the characters were Fforde’s greatest strength; the book is full of people who you can easily relate to, mostly without them becoming boring stereotypes.
The writing is often tongue-incheek, which is enjoyable, but sometimes the in-jokes go too far. Featuring chick-lit writers who are great fun, not taken seriously and win an argument against an obnoxious ‘serious’ writer might be fun to write, but it is cheesy to read. Against this light-heartedness Fforde balances a quite serious story of personal development where finding the dream man is equal to finding you true self. All the stuff that makes people love chick-lit. As it is, it’s fun, very light and fluffy, but not really as dashing as its heroine deserves.
“Love Letters is chicklit, if you couldn’t guess from the title”
The stereotypical gay best mate is annoyingly poorly fleshed out, only there to offer confidence boosts for Laura. There are inspired touches though: Laura’s dismal parents and Dermot’s eccentric agent, who constantly steal scenes with her equally strident personality and fashion sense.
SARA PRICE
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Exeposé week TWENTY seven
lives & lit Esmeralda Castrillo, Books Editor, explores the oeuvre of American modernist heavyweight, William Faulkner UNGRATEFUL winner of the Nobel Prize for literature and unique contributor to the American novel, William Faulkner despised fame and prestige. Given the egocentric nature of writing, an author who refused to inform his own daughter of his success as a Nobel Prize winner immediately captures the idle reader’s attention. Faulkner grew up in Oxford, Mississipi where he found the inspiration for his gripping exploration of the politics of sexuality and race. His subjects are far from unique but his style pierces the reader’s assumptions of the division between literature and reality. He has perfected the art of the stream of consciousness technique and in his novel Light in August (1932), Faulkner weaves omniscient narration with the character’s thoughts. This technique creates such an awareness of the narrator that the contrast brings the characters to life, making them almost abandon the restriction of print on paper. Curiously, Faulkner was unable to join the United States Army due to his height and became a Hollywood screenwriter not out of motivation and persistence, but at the bidding of his friend Howard Hawks, and the need for money. During his work there he befriended prominent figures such as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. In spite of a hard-earned marriage, he had affairs throughout his career. In view of his history we can admire Faulkner as quite an unconventional character himself. Such rich experiences and life-styles inspire the image of one of his favourite character portrayals: “the good old man” from the southern states who, defying a longlived stereotype, hides a ferocious intelligence. Stereotypes are often criticised in novels, but the credibility of them has
Review long been deflated and there is little ground breaking work to be done by writing another novel on the moral issues behind generalisation. Faulkner’s novels, however, bring to light not the differences between people, but their capabilities. His works focus on the potential of individuals rather than their individuality and expose the hidden structures that govern thinking about prejudice. It seems that Faulkner’s denunciation of social convention is very apt in the present-day West, where fear of the unknown is rapidly extending its manipulative tentacles into the realm of legislation, security and tolerance.
“His works expose the hidden structures that govern thinking about prejudice”
Faulkner’s writing distorts our perception of the world by challenging our assumptions, questioning the validity of his own texts and exposing the different levels of accuracy and reliability between author, narrator and reader. These challenges to our reasoning and beliefs are crucial in the current social atmosphere, where the short-lived nature of politics has so often rushed action in order to please the most people, but not necessarily to create a better world. His work contrasts the emotional and cerebral and deals with real-life situations. Overall, Faulkner leaves us with a broader understanding of human motivation and capability, indisputably putting literature to its best use, leaving it open to the public to provoke thought, action and passion.
bookmark
William Faulkner is one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century, and one of history’s most important writers of Southern literature. His most notable works include The Sound and the Fury (1929), As I Lay Dying (1930) and Light in August (1932).
The Hand That First Held Mine
Maggie O’Farrell ISBN: 9781899010337
MOVING and bitterly sweet, The Hand That First Held Mine is Maggie O’Farrell’s fifth novel and winner of the 2010 Costa novel award. Exposing the fragile nature of our human relationships, O’Farrell’s novel paints two compelling portraits of women separated by 50 years. O’Farrell’s novel cuts between two timelines: following the life of beautiful and headstrong Lexie as she struggles to find her place in 1950’s Soho, alongside a haunting depiction of Elina’s attempts to cope after the traumatic birth of her first child. Effortlessly constructing the tales of these two women, O’Farrell calls into question the relationship we assume to be the most stable of all; that of mother and child. Although the connection between the two women isn’t revealed until the very end, these two storylines are seamlessly sewn together throughout. Whilst Lexie falls helplessly in love, Elina battles with the bumpy terrain of motherhood. Lexie’s chapters are dynamic whilst Elina’s sections, though intensely absorbing, are disorientating; as Elina
feature
Kate Gray’s top 5 lit-turnedchick-flick picks 1. 10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew) Forgive me for saying this, but all Shakespeare plays should contain Heath Ledger. I know it’s a bit late now, but perhaps we can substitute him with Johnny Depp or Ryan Reynolds, I won’t be too picky. 2. Clueless (Emma) SO ‘90s. SO Valley Girl. While I love the empire line dresses of Pride and Prejudice and Mr Darcy’s top-hatted
cautiously navigates the first few weeks with her child, O’Farrell creates gaps in the narrative which leave us reeling. As Lexie’s life and loves are told in fast forward, her vibrancy set against the static nature of Elina’s chapters, with painful empathy we, like Elina, feel confused and overwhelmed. O’Farrell’s honest depictions of life’s darknesses and pleasures are at times almost too poignant to read (her depiction of Lexie’s suffocation after returning from university verges on painful for a soon-to-be graduate). We are led through Ted and Elina’s story at the same pace as they are, acutely aware of the gaps in our own knowledge. But in Lexie’s chapters the narrator intriguingly hints at her fate. Leaving us uncomfortably more knowledgeable than our loveable protagonist, we know from the beginning that she is heading for disaster: “She has no idea that she will die young, that she does not have as much time as she thinks. For now she has just discovered the love of her life, and death couldn’t be further from her mind.” As O’Farrell herself has recognised, there are more than just our two female protagonists in this tale. The Hand That First Held Mine constructs a picture of bohemian Soho as vivid as the John Deaken images that initially inspired O’Farrell to write. Connecting these characters through the streets they walk
on and the buildings they enter, London acts as a reminder of the stability of stone and the fleeting nature of our human existence. As Ted goes for coffee in the very same building where Lexie works we are reminded of the way in which each building must house the imprint of its past. The nostalgic portrayal of London is tainted by our knowledge of Lexie’s fate and O’Farrell’s focus on how our capital city has itself changed beyond recognition in a mere fifty years. Elina’s visit to a John Deakin exhibition cleverly exposes both the connection between O’Farrell’s two main characters and the ultimate reason why this tale is at times so uncomfortable to read. As we see Lexie, our bright and vibrant protagonist, transform into an unidentified woman in a black and white photograph, we are reminded of the inevitable passing of time. Elina describes Deakin’s photography of 1950’s Soho as being “kind of melancholy...because they capture something that’s gone” and I think that O’Farrell’s novel could be described in the same way. Littered with references to loss and the unreliability of memory, The Hand That First Held Mine forces us to question our own fragile existence. Just as Lexie’s ghost haunts Elina’s London, this novel will stay with you long after you have finished its last page.
goodness, there’s nothing like tons of pink and a Californian accent to bring it all back to earth.
‘Thong Song’ - I’m sure that he would have given him a starring role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as this film most wisely does.
3. She’s All That (Pygmalion) Let’s not read too much into this one; it’s not a tale of self-love or over-confidence in one’s artistic skill, but merely a tale of how make-up is the most useful tool available to women. And how glasses maketh not the geek. 4. Get Over It (Midsummer Night’s Dream) Had Shakespeare known of the wonders of Sisqo - he of the eternal party tune
EPILOGUE... reviews of essential literary classics
To the Lighthouse Virginia Woolf (1927)
REVIEWING To the Lighthouse proved to be a difficult task - there are just not enough words in the English language to do the book justice. Often coined her best work, Virginia Woolf’s masterpiece is everything you would want from a brilliant novel, yet is completely different from your average read. I will warn you now that although the book is only around 200 pages long, it will remain on your mind forever. To the Lighthouse is set in the early 1920s and centres on the summer holiday of the Ramsay family at the Isle of Skye where they receive visitors. Everyone is preparing for a trip to the lighthouse. This trip is later postponed as a result of the weather. The novel is split
into three parts: the summer at the Isle of Skye, the return of the Ramsays, and the seven-year gap between the two. Except for the twist in the second part, the only thing driving the story along is the characters and their relationships with each other. That is really all that can be said about the plot as, unconventionally perhaps, nothing really happens. Bear with it though, as it is a reflection of an author’s true skill to be able to turn a seemingly hollow novel into one that continues to haunt you after you have closed the book. It is a perfectly crafted, never have I read something that has affected me so deeply, even after a few years. Woolf experiments with stream of consciousness and tells the story through the individual thoughts of each character. In this way, readers are given
a real-time account of the every day life of the Ramsays and are inevitably immersed into this family. And therein lies the beauty of this book – it is so close to home and so real that it is impossible not to fall in love with the characters. Their joy becomes your joy; their pain is your pain. Excuse the cliché, but this is a novel that anyone can truly identify with. Everyone knows a Mr Ramsay just as everyone has a Mrs Ramsay in their lives. As though you were a member of their family, you cannot help but to laugh, share secrets and, at times, shed tears with them. What makes the novel so profound is that it is full of dimension and depth. It is difficult to fully grasp the story immediately and every time I return to the novel I discover something new. Woolf intricately explores so many aspects of
Books
life, such as art and gender, in such a short space. The book is brilliant in that it raises issues that stand the test of time; it reflects typical Victorian life, responds to the social changes of Woolf’s time and still continues to resonate in our world today. Brace yourselves as Woolf takes you on a magnificent journey of selfdiscovery, a journey through pleasure and turmoil, and a journey through finding beauty within bleakness. To the Lighthouse is the melody that accompanies your life through thick and thin; until all that is left is pure harmony. JESSICA LEUNG VIDEO GAMES EDITOR
ELLIE WALKER-ARNOTT
5. Easy A (The Scarlet Letter) A quite recent update on the book that teaches us why sex is naughty and wrong, Emma Stone pretends to do said naughty deed with a lot of men. And then parades around school wearing... well, not a lot. Books would sell a lot more if they had pictures like that.
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Arts
23 may 2011 Exeposé
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Zoe Bulaitis & Laura Stevens - arts@exepose.com
Art INTERVIEW
Tracey Emin: Love is What You Want Zoe Bulaitis, Arts Editor, takes a trip to the opening of a major retrospective of one of Britain’s most infamous artists TRACEY Emin is one of the most famous living artists on the planet. Love her or loathe her, there is no doubt Emin has made a lasting impact on the face of contemporary art. I set off to London, with trepidation, to Emin’s first major survey, half expecting to witness the world’s press taking the opportunity to throw a few below-the-belters at Emin face-to-face. The title of the exhibition is Love is What You Want and luckily for this not-so young British Artist, I believe this is exactly what Emin will get in reception to her stunning retrospective. The Hayward gallery used the space perfectly to create the exhibition with a shifting sense of the intimacy and public statement that is so inherent in Emin’s work. Ralph Rugoff, Director at the Hayward explains, “We wanted to use the dynamic architecture to mark the changing rhythms in Emin’s work, catering from the most public of statements to intimate works that speak in a whisper.” Intimate film theatres provide glimpses into Emin’s personal memories. In these dark interior spaces, the viewer feels alone with Emin, provoking the feeling you know her very well, which is part of her magic. Why I Never Became a Dancer is the most moving film – document-
student musical Review Batboy: The Musical Kay House, Duryard 4-7 May
BAT Boy: the Musical. It does what it says on the tin. Yes, unsurprisingly, it’s a musical about a boy who is also a bat, and is becoming off-Broadway’s newest cult production for all sorts of reasons. With its Rocky Horror-esque camp and all the absurdity of Little Shop of Horrors, all wrapped up in a Grease-like tale of teenage love and loss, it was the perfect choice of debut production for Exeter University’s newest musical theatre society: Shotgun Theatre. In the fictional town of Hope Falls, West Virginia (‘Hicksville, USA’ renamed for the stage), the action opens for the audience with the frantic story of a half-boy, half-bat found languishing in a cave. Bat Boy, named Edgar, was beautifully and gruesomely personified by Louis Williams, complete with gnarled mannerisms and beast-like roars. Taken
in by the local veterinarian (Luke Marks) and his wife, Meredith (Stephanie Lysé) and daughter, Shelley (Francesca Paulley), they become Bat Boy’s adopted family. The doctor, while adept at dealing with cattle and apparently well intentioned, is keen to euthanize Edgar as the easiest route out. Cue the construction of the plot’s eventual twist.
“Rocky Horror-esque camp and all the absurdity of Little Shop of Horrors”
Following a failed ‘faith healing’ after Bat Boy is accused of stealing cattle and biting a girl, Edgar escapes to the woods. Shelley and Meredith attempt to find Edgar, but only after the jaw-dropping revelation from Shelley that she is, in fact, in love with Edgar. This is a little surprising, given the hatred she oozed at their meeting, but the course of true love never did run smooth, eh? And in
ing Emin’s liberating decision to flee Margate, “I’m leaving this place – I’m getting out of here.” The video jumps from repressive memories of Margate to Emin dancing hysterically in an empty room: free from her childhood ghosts. Emin’s genuine joy is contagious.
“Britain is famous as a country for culture and arts, and that’s the soul of a country, isn’t it?” Tracey arrived looking most of all like a woman comfortable in her own skin. The insecurities explored in her work evaporated as Emin took to the stage. She is clearly proud of the show, admitting with only a half a smile “I’m a little bit embarrassed about those tampons over there; they’re from a long time ago.” She spoke as an artist in her prime, with maturity and conviction, “Art in Britain has never been better. We have managed to do something over the last ten years that hasn’t been done before. Britain is famous as a country for culture and arts, and that’s the soul of a country, isn’t it? Art is the soul.” Emin is unafraid to share emotion
which is what makes her such an important artist. Her work is not just about sex and masturbation, Emin explained “It is mainly about intimacy and about love.” Her work is about the stuff of life, expressed through varying mediums and it speaks the honest truth. Tracey Emin’s work may not be the most aesthetic, or of the highest conceptual calculation, but it speaks of feelings that everyone can associate with. As the Q&A with Emin drew to a close I took the chance to pose a burning question face-to-face. What was the moment Emin knew she would make it as an artist. Her answer: “At an exhibition in the South London Gallery in 1997. I arrived and people were queuing around the block, and I thought, what’s happened? Is there a fire? But then when I got to the door, I realised the exhibition was full and they were queuing to get in. Today is also a very important day, coming back to London, where my harshest critics are, I hope people like the show, I am very proud.” I can only recommend Emin’s exhibition as a perfect introduction to her work, but also a chance to convert her former critics and please her fans to the core.
interview
true A Midsummer Night’s Dream style, these are no ordinary woods. Shelley and Edgar find themselves at the heart of a woodland orgy with their coupling supervised by an appropriately semi-naked Ben Cutler-Ames as Pan. To continue with a run down of the plot’s twists and turns would be to ruin the eventual conclusion. But I will promise one thing; I was utterly convinced of Exeter University’s seemingly limitless capacity for talent. From Lyse’s faultless vocals to Danielle Megranahan and Matt Harris’ wonderful choreography, Michael Willmott’s big bosomed pantomime Dame to Maia Corbett’s staunch and resolute Sherriff Reynolds, it was clear that the room was bursting with budding talent. And with all of these complemented by Rob Emmett’s musical direction, it was clear to all that we are a university blessed by not one but two fantastic and diverse musical theatre societies. KATHARINE BARDSLEY
We caught up with Tori Brazier, Assistant Producer, to get an insiders view on the action:
Exeposé: Any hiccups in the production? Tori: To be honest, we were incredibly lucky with how smoothly all of the performances ran, especially considering that it was a debut performance from a new society in a new space (Kay House in Duryard). The ‘hairiest’ moment was probably Rev Billy Hightower (Rosie Frost) almost blacking out onstage when she fell awkwardly midscene on one of the nights. She was so professional that no one even noticed that there was anything wrong, and she’d even had to perform in a big cast number directly afterwards, before she could come off-stage. E: What is Shotgun all about? T: Shotgun Theatre Company was set up by enthusiastic members of the original cast of West Side Story, a production put on in conjunction with ExTunes at the
end of the Summer term last year. We all had so much fun putting on a show together that we came to the conclusion that there was definitely room for a new drama society on campus! Our ethos is one of inclusion with everyone involved, be it cast or crew, all would have a say in how things were done! It has been a real labour of love all year and we’re thrilled to have received such a positive reaction to our show! E: Any funny moments? T: Well, having an animal orgy scene at the beginning of Act 2 meant that there would always be funny moments during rehearsals! E: Why did you choose Bat Boy? T: With our budget constraints and the decision that we wanted to have a ‘different’ show to what would be expected of us as a musical theatre society, we stuck to a slightly smaller production to guarantee that we could do it well. And seeing as we sold out our last two performances, we think we did that succesfully!
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Exeposé week twenty SEVEN
comedy review
COMEDY REVIEW
The Comedy Store @ Udderbelly Southbank 30 April
The Comedy Night @ Exeter Corn Exchange 13 May
AS a venue, the Udderbelly is fantastic. The master of ceremonies, Martin Coyote, however, left quite a lot to be desired. He got the occasional good laugh and improved as the night wore on, but generally his attempts to spice up his tired and banal jokes with the heavy overuse of swearing were just a little awkward. Luckily Geoff Norcott arrived. He was consistently and effortlessly funny, delivering his jokes conversationally in his distinctive soft-spoken voice, a world away from the aggressive master of ceremonies. After a short interval and another awkward few minutes with Mr. Coyote, next up was Pierre Hollins. The change in style was pleasantly refreshing, Hollins’ scruffy, casual persona with his shrugging complaints contrasting well with Norcott’s polite and gentle musings. Whilst some material was predictable he managed to carry it off through his natural stage presence and an inventive use of props, including the Bible and an electric guitar. I think the highlight of the evening
ART review
The Cult of Beauty @ V&A 2 April - 17 July
BEAUTY is a quality that pervades our society and it is easy to think that our obsession with it is a modern phenomenon. However, I’m not about to start criticising the necessity of beauty; you see, I’ve just been to The Cult of Beauty, the first international exhibition to explore the movement that celebrated this very notion. The Aesthetic Movement started in 1860, by artists including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, James McNeill Whistler and William Morris, as a quiet revolution against Victorian values and an at-
came with his finale: several bizarre songs of his own invention which left everybody collapsing with laughter.
“Enlisting the input of ‘Heroin Jimmy’; a bemused audience member”
Towards the end of the evening, as the audience became slightly inebriated it would appear so did the comedians, with the remarkable Tom Stade to finish off the night. Enlisting the input of a bemused audience member he introduced as “Heroin Jimmy”, Stade embarked upon a series of reminiscences of their supposed mad antics together. This slurred and meandering storytelling was very funny and clever. At least, that was how I found it, and I hope the number of people who crept out during his time on stage was evidence that the last trains were leaving and not that my opinion was an unusual one. Luckily he gave those of us who stayed a magnificent end to a very enjoyable night. ABIGAIL FARLEY
tempt to escape the ugliness and materialism of this age. The movement was pioneered by a group of artists who placed beauty above everything else and were looking to find a new kind of art, free from outworn cultural ideas and moral codes: ‘Art for Art’s Sake.’ It may seem surprising but this was the first time that art existed only in order to be beautiful, without having to tell a narrative or preach a moral. The movement did not stay quiet for long. Within the next decade it became known to a wider public, and eventually transformed art and design in Victorian Britain, becoming the first movement to inspire an entire lifestyle and in fact, to create the very notion of lifestyle as we know it. Its followers redecorated their homes in the Aesthetic manner and wore Aesthetic dress (clothes to reflect women’s form and natural beauty), aided by the opening of stores like Liberty & Co. in 1875, whose prints are a living legacy of the movement. Art was brought to the home and women had new roles as hostesses and writers on dress and decoration. The exhibition celebrates all this, containing 300 objects - paintings, sculptures, books, cartoons, clothing, ornaments - that were born from this movement, including the initial designs for Morris’ Trellis Wallpaper print and Frederic Leighton’s iconic Pavonia. Aesthetic artists were inspired by women and objects at odds with conventional Victorian ideals of beauty.
FROM my experience, most up-andcoming comedians are capable of doing an acceptable stand-up for about five minutes, after which it tends to go rapidly downhill. But, I went feeling relatively optimistic, thinking that with four comedians, the evening should be fast-paced enough to prevent the inevitable weak link from letting down the entire evening. Yet, all four stand-up acts were entertaining, original, and funny. Ryan McDonnell, a cheeky but frequently crude ginger from Belfast, presented the evening, flitting with youthful excitement between Irish jokes (which the audience joined in with), the dead hand gang and sheer randomness (“Do you realise I could probably teabag you from this stage?”) Audience participation seemed to be a key part of the evening, helped along by the rowdy and slightly tipsy audience and the jokes derived from the coincidental number of bald men who worked in admin. The second comedian, Chris Mayo, was neurotic and entertainingly obsessive, his comedy act based around the question ‘What makes you anxious?’ with some inter-
Paintings no longer depicted women as demure and feminine, but a daring new kind of art was born; one that was sensuous, provocative and devoid of narrative, like Rossetti’s masterpiece ‘Bocca Baciata’ meaning ‘The Kissed Mouth.’ Artists, designers, writers and composers interacted in a way they hadn’t previously, championing the concept of ‘synaesthesia’, the idea that all the arts are one.
esting answers from the audience ranging from aubergines to ankle-grabbing.
“Life is much better when there’s a Jack Russell dressed in a waistcoat”
Matthew Osborn exhibited all the ‘gin-soaked middle-class arrogance and political incorrectness’ that the programme promised, addressing topics of gimp masks, shoplifting and illegal immigration through his personal religion of cynicism, punctuating his trademark black humour with brilliantly simple puns - “I’ve taken up cage fighting to keep fit, but I’m not sure how the budgie likes it.” Refreshingly, all the comedians steered clear of tired political comedy, and the final stand-up, Paul McCaffrey delivered his impeccable rants on flatmates stealing your food and the complications of microwave meals (which rang a few bells) with an enthusiasm that was almost painful. The comedy was fresh and persuasive. I left the venue with a bad case of hiccups, and the profound words of wisdom, “Life is much better when there’s a Jack Russell dressed in a waistcoat.” HELEN CARRINGTON
ART ATTACK
ELLIE BOTHWELL DEPUTY EDITOR
Editors’ Top 10 1. The Beauty
Queen of Leenane
Play 24-28 May BikeShed Theatre
2. Recipe Exchange Art 14 May - 9 July SpaceX Gallery
3. Comedy Club
III
Comedy 10 June Corn Exchange
4. Pedestrian
Comedy 24 May Exeter Phoenix
5. Monkeys With
Puns
Comedy Night 26 May BikeShed Theatre
6. Marcel Dinahet Art 27 May - 9 July Exeter Phoenix
7. Simply the Jest Comedy 23 May Exeter Phoenix
“The first time that Art existed only in order to be beautiful” However, the movement was not universally accepted - many thought the absence of manliness, religious sentiment and social purpose was immoral, and in the latter part of the century much satire was written on the movement. Oscar Wilde, one of the leading writers who was part of Aestheticism, became so synonymous with it that the movement was discredited after his arrest in 1895. The exhibition depicts an incredibly influential movement, which changed the very notion of art and helped create what we see as art today. Aestheticism infiltrated beauty into everyday life and, (as Calloway observes), it has never been a better time to reflect on a period where beauty and quality were at the very core.
Arts
WE asked students what they thought of Damien Hirst’s ‘For the Love of God’ Andrew Kidd: If you disregard the cost, I think this is an extraordinary piece of art. It’s dazzlingly morbid, suggesting the worthlessness of materialism in the context of mortality. Will Roberts: I think what it lacks in brains it makes up for with its sparkling personality. Pete Collins: Put some bones in a cross behind and it would be the fun-loving flag of a very rich pirate. Ella B: I think this skull is indiciative of an artist whose success has gone to his head! Alice Scoble-Rees: Thinks this would be perfect to have on a coffee table in your house to start off an awkward situation with the in-laws.
8. Circus Britannia Play 31 May - 18 June BikeShed Theatre
9. Richard Digance Comedy 3 June Corn Exchange
10. The Golden
Dragon
Play 12- 28 May Theatre Royal, Plymouth
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Video Games Alex Hawksworth-Brookes & Jessica Leung - games@exepose.com
Exeposé Video Games asks ‘What Have YOU Been Playing Recently?’
Let us know on Facebook and Twitter
Tom Wilson has been playing ‘Minecraft because I don’t want to pass my degree or do well in life’ Dan Davies has been playing ‘Half Life 1 because I’m schooling myself in PC gaming’
Tom Bond has been playing ‘Assassin’s Creed II because sometimes there’s nothing more fun than jumping off the top of a church and stabbing someone in the neck.’ Immi Blake has been playing ‘Angry Birds because before Friday I didn’t know what it was and now I am addicted.’ Jack D’Arcy has ‘been playing Robot Unicorn Attack because ALWAYS I WANNA BE WITH YOU AND MAKE BELIEVE WITH YOU AND LIVE IN HARMONY HARMONY OH LOOOOOVE’ Jon Minter has been playing ‘Mass Effect because I’m already getting ready for the third game.’
I recently had an argument on the interwebnets. It was with someone who objected to a journalist not being ‘objective enough’. Reader, if you are sympathetic to this view, stop reading. I hereby declare my undying love for Deus Ex. Set in 2052, you play J.C. Denton, a counter-terrorist agent. A terrorist organisation with mysterious political motives, the NSF, are in open revolt. A plague, the ‘Black Death’, ravages the country and vaccine is in short supply. The plot drives the game: it is nuanced, multi-dimensional and immersive. Deus Ex revolutionised gaming by putting you into a world. Not just a gaming world, but a believable, changeable, explorable world. It is replete with characters. You face choices in your actions and dialogues which will affect the world in subtle but significant ways. Future franchises, like Mass Effect, practically made choices the point of the game. Others, like GTA, threw in choices because it felt obliged to. DX made choice an integral feature that gave the game immersive depth, without sitting atop it like a gaudy cowboy. Deus Ex looks like a first-person shooter. However, your gun is but one of the tools at your disposal. Stealth, exploration, lock-picking and computer hacking all offer paths. Denton has
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Paul Williams crescendos to a high score THE original Portal and ‘Still Alive’, the song that closed it, were great for the same reasons. Both were hilarious, original and came out of nowhere. They were also really fun. Once the song came to a close I’m sure I wasn’t alone in thinking ‘Best. Credits. Ever!’ Valve chose the same treatment to end Portal 2, once again putting a song at the forefront. The vocal talents of GLaDOS are only among the most memorable examples. One of the most enjoyable ways to experience music in any form is through video games. A soundtrack can’t make a game. If you muted a game then people would still play it. However, having a good score can often make a good game great. Think of Tetris and its 8-bit soundtrack. Without music it is an addictive block switching puzzle game. With music it is a hypnotic black hole that leads to some of the most absorbing sessions of gaming. The game and its theme are inseparable. Another example is the fantastic ‘snake’ mini game in Timesplitters 2 (confidently named Anaconda). If it was just a four-player version of Snake then it may merely be remembered as a nice surprise. But it’s not just that; when the synth pop of its accompanying song starts it becomes one of the most euphoric bonus levels in the
RETRO
Deus Ex: Eidos; PC 26 June 2000
23 may 2011
an ingenious inventory based on the physical size of his items. Technology has gone the way of transhumanism and Denton is bestowed with superhuman abilities through ‘augmentations’. Players install and upgrade augmentations using ‘skill points’. DX succeeds in bringing together elements of the RPG and adventure genres and delivering them through the compelling prism of the first-person shooter.
Deus Ex required powerful hardware when it came out. The game’s graphics engine would take up all your memory and there were long load times. However, Deus Ex has aged well. Playing on a modern desktop, you can get resolutions I only dreamed of in 2000. I recently played it through happily on my four-year-old laptop. Deus Ex is on Steam for £6. Pick it up for a replay, or to discover a masterpiece in gaming. William Hayman
history of gaming. Part of the charm is the marriage of the music with the retro presentation, paying homage to a time when music in video games was limited by technology to little more than beeps and simple percussion. Luckily, there is an odd appeal to such music. It is an astounding achievement that so many great themes were taken from what, on the surface, is a very similar and limited set of sounds. Megaman 2 is one fondly remembered ex-
ample, with another being the widely recognised Mario theme. Perhaps the best example of surpassing any limitations on sound can be found in Pokémon Red/Blue. Even now, listen to any number of songs from that game and chances are you will recognise them. Even such mundane titled songs as ‘Route 1’ still sound great because the melodies are so memorable. And despite how they may sound, the songs are truly polyphonic, often boasting complicated arrangements. In fact, the short length of songs may be another reason why they can still resonate long after you’ve stopped playing the game. When scoring films, composers would traditionally try to match the music with exactly what was happening on screen at the time, leading to some epic moments of unity between vision and sound. In games this is different. Since the player is in control of where they go and when, the music can’t be made to sync exactly with their actions. The result? Players will hear certain parts of music over and over in a way that isn’t possible in films. This means that the composer has to write songs that fit the mood without becoming annoying. The outcome is short pieces of music that are
highly charged with emotion. ‘Who goes there?’, the piano melody that loops during the important scenes in Persona 4, genuinely scared me every time. The theme for the ‘Kraid’ area in the original Metroid is both adventurous and tense. It is impossible to overlook The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, both as a high point in video game music and more specifically in endearing short melodies. The tiny snippets of songs played from the ocarina are all brilliant, and it is their short length that allows for repetition. Of course, some games do go beyond beeps and looped tracks into full blown orchestral brilliance. The theme from Halo 3 promises action whilst the music in the upcoming Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is already giving people goose bumps. Harry Gregson-Williams, the esteemed film composer, scored Metal Gear Solid. And the Final Fantasy series consistently provides amazing soundtracks, with a personal highlight coming from the tenth game and its beautiful piano theme, ‘To Zanarkand’. Perhaps more than anything, it is playing the game and becoming involved in it that leaves people susceptible to becoming emotionally engaged with the music. Let’s hope the music keeps playing as long as we do.
What you didn’t learn at school... Kate Gray reflects on some gaming life-lessons IT’S often bandied around that video games are the cause of violence, intolerance, inability to separate reality from the virtual and, of course, the cause of thousands of overweight boys out there more focussed on their Level 60 Wizard than going outside and getting a lovely lass. But hey, it’s not all doom, gloom and chainsaws. I’d be willing to say I’ve learned a lot of valuable life-lessons from gaming over the past couple of decades. It all started for me with the N64. Yes, yes, it’s not the SNES, it’s not an arcade machine, it’s no Pong, but there we go. I remember my dad getting this mysterious piece of technology for Christmas, and subsequently watching him stomp mushrooms, shoot villains, and cut grass until my tiny eyelids drooped. Super Mario 64 taught me that real princesses wear pink, eating wild mushrooms is good and screw Greenpeace, because turtles are the enemy. Star Fox taught me that it’s always the irritating friends that need your help the most, and that the solution to any problem is a barrel roll. Ocarina of Time was my hero. I learned that evil twins are easy to spot – they will be identical to you in every way, but for clarity’s sake they will wear darker clothing. I discovered that it’s perfectly alright to break into strangers’ houses and break all their stuff,
because it’s really some kind of game where people hide all their money in pots ready for you to find. And, of course, bottles are the most desirable commodity on earth. We all have to grow up at some point though and at this point I moved onto the Gamecube. Here I met my next group of tutors in the game of life. Pikmin instructed me in the art of mass slavery. Wind Waker showed me that sailing is boring as hell, even when sailing in a magical, talking boat. Mario Kart: Double Dash encouraged me to hurl projectiles in order to clear traffic. Super Mario Sunshine taught me that sometimes, you have to take responsibility for someone else’s messes, even if they are excessive amounts of living goo.
“The eternal franchise of Pokémon had some questionable morals”
The Gameboys that I went through like Britney Spears goes through men instructed me in the ways of the handheld. The eternal franchise of Pokémon had some questionable morals, but it was through this game that I learned how easily animals can be stuffed into deceptively small compartments, how easy it is to trick senile professors into thinking their grandson’s name is ‘Val-
erie’ or ‘F***wad’ and how irritating it is that my mother wouldn’t let me explore the world at the grand old age of 10. The DS let me practice my lawyering skills, and it was from Phoenix Wright himself that I learned that if at first you don’t succeed, keep yelling “OBJECTION!” until you do. On the Playstation, I discovered during Katamari Damacy that rolling objects into a ball is a perfectly acceptable way of cleaning up (and I would have won a World Record for ‘Biggest Laundry Ball’ if it wasn’t for those pesky parents). Also, in Grand Theft Auto, if you drive fast enough, the police will completely forget about all the cars you just stole and prostitutes you killed. On the ever-faithful PC, the Sims taught me time and time again that fire is fun. A generation of sadistic pyromaniacs and absolutely terrible architects arose from that most seminal of games, illustrating that no one should ever be allowed to play God. Portal taught me that when life gives you lemons (or a portal gun) you have to just suck it up and hope for cake. And let’s not forget the Wii, from which I learned that if you don’t win at Wii Sports, the Wiimote doubles as a weapon...Oh. Maybe video games do incite a little bit of violence then.
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Exeposé week twenty SEVEN
review
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: Traveller’s Tales; 360/PS3/Wii May 13 2011 LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean features scenes from all four movies, and certainly puts a new comedic twist on the familiar franchise. The violence of the movies is toned down in this childfriendly game and instead replaced by a colourful Lego adaption of the pirate world. The game plays like the other Lego games with the very simple, yet satisfying, concept of smashing bricks and building things to progress. The characters are well developed and provide a humorous take on their film equivalents. Many scenes and features did not appear in the movies, though these moments
often managed to make the game more entertaining. As with the other Lego games, the story of Lego Pirates of the Caribbean is told through the characters’ emotional gestures in non-spoken cut scenes. Although extremely entertaining, the plot becomes increasingly convoluted (like the films) and difficult to follow at times, especially with no dialogue. The multiplayer keeps the tradition from the more recent Lego games: with the incredibly frustrating split screen making a return. The way it is divided often makes it impossible to see what you are doing. The camera angle is often annoying and this sets you up for failure from the beginning – simple levels become time consuming when jumps are constantly misjudged. There is also no online functionality, which seems strange for a game based around co-op play.
The graphics for this game are stunning. Although the characters are obviously ‘cartoony’, they are juxtaposed with the larger environment, which is visually extremely strong. The sea, for example, looks very realistic. The character animations are done well and effectively reflect their individual traits. The soundtrack is equally impressive; Hans Zimmer’s memorable film score is implemented well and adds to the epic feel of the game. Lego Pirates of the Caribbean is an entertaining game for fans of the movie and the Lego franchise. Although simple, the gameplay is fun and addictive, making you feel compelled to find everything. Although some moments are extremely frustrating, the flamboyant personalities of the characters and the beauty of the graphics certainly make up for these flaws, whilst the numerous hidden items and areas give the game incredible replay value.
superpowers does battle with aliens and generic mercenaries. The protagonist, as in the original, is armed with a nanosuit, giving him the ability to become invisible, armoured or athletic. Besides the originality of the nanosuit, many of Crysis 2’s gameplay features are shamelessly aped from other successful franchises. Gone are the open sandbox environments, replaced by a linear experience reminiscent of the Call of Duty series. A similar issue can be found with the plot: Crysis 2 is just yet another game with a silent protagonist and cut scenes filled with the same turgid waffle about the end of the world, despite the fact that the developers employed a professional writer to pen the narrative. Crysis 2’s graphics are a talking point,
with the original Crysis still being one of the best looking games in existence. If I were comparing this game to anything else on the market, I would be lauding its spectacular visuals. But I’m not. Being a shameless PC elitist, I compare the visuals to those of the original and find that they are not as spectacular, blaming this fall in standards on the fact that this game was developed for consoles. It may sound odd, but I wanted Crysis 2 to beat my computer into obsolescence, instead I’m disappointed to not have to go out and spend a fortune on a new PC. In terms of multiplayer, the mimicry of the CoD series becomes full blown copying. More or less every feature from CoD is present: the unlocks, the game modes, and the kill streaks. That said, the
8/10 Jessica Leung Video games editor
review
Operation Flashpoint: Red River: Codemasters; 360/PS3/ PC April 21 2011
OPERATION Flashpoint: Red River is a sequel to Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, and though I never played the first game, Red River won my heart within 20 seconds of the opening cinematic. Said cinematic involves a sergeant explaining the Middle Eastern conflict to his squad whilst they call each other douchebags. This voiceover is accompanied by kinetic typography and visual interpretations of the metaphors Sergeant Knox uses. My favourite was the cornflakes being pissed in. Black non-com stereotype Knox aside, Red River is not a perfect game. Set in Tajikistan in 2013, it’s a brave attempt to combine realistic war games and the CoD generation shooter that ultimately lets itself down with simple mistakes. I don’t mind being dropped with one shot in a game rooted in realism, but it starts to get annoying when you have to wait
Video Games
for a long load screen every time. Having said that, I got a real sense of achievement from using tactics properly. The AI has no such aspirations, however, and my squad are often found standing aimlessly next to cover. “I’m getting shot at!” my sniper cries, as he is, indeed, shot at. Even though it doesn’t often work according to plan the command system itself is well executed, but it becomes one more item in the list of things that appear in your HUD, which constantly reminds you that you’re in a game. I don’t need a mini map with north orientation and a compass. More realistic is the tedium of waging war (or as Knox would have it, being “balls deep”) in the Middle East, as almost every mission is a variation on “advance, defend position, clear identikit village.” Actually, I’ve realised that my only favourite thing about this game is the voice acting. Operation Flashpoint: Red River may have fallen short in other aspects, but if you’re endlessly amused by macho one-liners as you get to shoot stuff up, then boy howdy does this game have plenty for you.
5/10
Alice scoblE-rees
review
Crysis 2: Crytek; 360/ PS3/PC March 24 2011 REVIEWING Crysis 2 poses a dilemma; does one compare it to the vast body of contemporary works, or to its prequel? Being the judgemental type, I’d rather compare it to the latter. Furthermore, the fact it was released for consoles in addition to the PC is contentious. For those of you not familiar with Crysis, this is comparable to the Pope attending Protestant services in order to get more money in the collection plate. The vast majority of Crysis 2’s gameplay revolves around the traditional supersoldier dynamic; burly American with
Top 5...
PREVIEW
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Bioware
HAILED as the MMORPG that will finally present a serious challenge to World of Warcraft’s dominance of the genre, Star Wars: The Old Republic is the game that has had many Star Wars nerds chomping at the bit since it was officially announced in 2008. Since the spectacular self-destruction of Star Wars Galaxies back in 2005, a great many MMORPG gamers have been waiting for balance to be restored to the Force. BioWare, the game’s developers, have a near-immaculate record of producing both criticallyacclaimed and fan-adored RPGs and on paper are well qualified for the task, even if this is their first ever venture into the MMORPG genre. But what can the game bring to an al-
ready saturated market that has seen countless over-hyped challengers appear and be crushed into insignificance? Age of Conan was supposed to decapitate the Blizzard diktat, but fell flat on its face very quickly after many realised the game’s depth was lacking and its mechanics less than engaging. There is a curiously beautiful parallelism between SW:TOR and WoW; whilst the former’s storyline may be set a good 3,000 years prior to the destruction of the monolithic Empire by the ragtag Rebel Alliance, it doesn’t take an enormous leap of faith to hope that we may witness the unthinkable and see World of Warcraft finally be taken down a peg. But then again, those of us who are at heart cold, cynical realists remember the prequel trilogy. We begged for Star Wars and got Jar Jar Binks. We were promised the dark past of Darth Vader and watched as it was smashed by his moaning “Nooooo!” scene. Let’s just hope SW:TOR patches that damn thermal exhaust port… Alexander Boni
Upcoming 3DS
5 Kid Icarus: Uprising
It’s been a long wait but finally another Kid Icarus game is on the way. Uprising looks amazing as players fly and shoot in third person against an assortment of weird and wonderful enemies. Players control the protagonist, Pit, by using the analogue stick to move and the touch screen to aim. The mixture of ground and air based combat looks like it will keep things interesting.
4
Resident Evil: Revelations
Chronologically Revelations is a prequel to Resident Evil 5; the story follows Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine as they investigate another zombie outbreak. The game promises to return the series to its survival horror roots with: slow moving zombies, limited ammo and an emphasis on puzzles. Players will visit locations like snowy mountains, a port town and a dilapidated luxury cruise liner.
multiplayer is an area where the game excels: the power, armour and invisibility modes are fun, even if there are definite balance issues. If this were the first game by Crytek, I’d be lauding it for being ahead of the competition. But I’m not. It’s like I’m a schoolteacher and the brainiest kid (Crytek) has copied the work of his classmate (Infinity Ward) and redone it in his own style; thus making it better. Do I praise brainy child for being ahead of his classmates? Of course not! I tell him off for being lazy and falling behind expected standards.
3.5/10
Rory Keith
3 Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
Metal Gear Solid 3 was a highlight of the PS2, taking a break from the series normal near future setting to return to the cold war era. Taking the role of Naked Snake, the progenitor of Solid Snake and various other clones, players will sneak their way through Soviet rainforest and into secret facilities. Hopefully the beautiful aesthetics, interesting boss fights and great gameplay mechanics will translate well onto the 3DS.
2 Super Mario 3DS
For years Mario games have been the benchmark to show new console’s capabilities; for the best idea of what a new system can do look at Nintendo’s flagship franchise. Players can expect side scrolling platforming at its best, with a mixture of levels based on interesting and varied worlds. Said to be a mixture of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, this is definitely one to look forward to.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of 1 The Time 3DS Often celebrated as the best game ever made, Ocarina of Time is getting an overhaul for the 3DS with updated graphics and new touch screen controls. OoT tasks Link to go on a quest to save Princess Zelda and defeat Gannon, the series’ most iconic villain. Players traverse an open wood and monster filled dungeons to unlock new items and open up more areas. This may sound like every other Legend of Zelda game but OoT was the first to do it in 3D and is arguably the most original. Players are in for a treat as long as they can stand the infamously annoying Navi. Athanasios skarlatos
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23 may 2011
Sport
Also in the news...
EULCC ease past Aberystwyth Ladies Cricket
Hannah Burgin EULCC
After the long disappointing trip down to Brighton on Wednesday, everyone was eagerly awaiting the match against Aberystwyth. With rain forecast for the weekend, the match could have been another cancelled one, but fortunately the rain held off and the match went ahead. The team had a few changes, with the introduction of Jenny Friend, E-G and Jacko making their 2011 debuts. Aberystwyth won the toss and elected to field first, sending Exeter in to bat. After the team’s solid innings against Bath, great things were expected. However the run rate was quite slow and wickets fell quickly. Captain Rippin came in at number four, again showing her batting prowess with a solid score of 35. However this score would have been more if it wasn’t for an arm injury sustained during a text book straight drive. Jenny Friend stepped up to the crease, casual as you like, hitting balls left, right and centre, racking up a nice score of 19. The run rate increased slightly but the score was far off the previous total against Bath. The rest
Anna-Marie Linnell EUSC Exeter University Swimming Club ended the swimming season in style with their annual Varsity competition on March 12. Somewhat different from the more traditional competitions of BUCS and Team Champs, the Varsity included a series of races dedicated to inflatables, individual events being turned into relays and a bit of casual nudity, initiated by the Bath men’s team. Teams from Southampton, Bath and Plymouth came to compete – along with two teams from Exeter’s current squad and the waterpolo team. EUSC also saw the return of some Exeter legends, who raced for the alumni team. Exeter’s First Team put in a brilliant performance and came in second place overall, with Southampton claiming complete victory. Dave Chesterman, Exeter Men’s Captain, commented that the Exeter men’s team were the strongest. The male team also had a convincing win in the 100m IM, with John Congdon, Parco Lau, Stuart Bartlett and Nye Levett working well as a team. A number of personal bests were achieved during the event. Ryan Collier gained a new personal best of 59.82 seconds in the men’s 100m free-
Exeter Athletics BUCS
of the team did not fare as well as Jess and Jenny in the windy conditions, and with the Aberystwyth bowling on target there were more ducks than at the quay. Exeter were eventually all out after 32 overs for 117. Bowling was again impressive this week with every bowler picking up at least one wicket, with particularly good performances from fresher Pencil getting three wickets for just three runs off seven overs and Kat picking up three wickets for seven runs off three overs. The pick of the fielding was a superb ‘apple’ catch from Katy Dennis, plucking the ball out of the air when it seemed to be heading for the clouds, utilising her height well. A tight fielding performance from everyone saw the match draw to a close after 27 overs with Aberystwyth all out for 37. Great team spirit throughout the match and especially the beautiful South African accent of Lydia kept everyone on their toes. Another top class performance, and as Matt keeps reminding us, one step closer to Lords... Let’s hope for another great performance and another win to add to the unbeaten season so far, in the match away to Aberystwyth this Saturday.
EUSC swim to second Swimming
Exeposé
style: the first time he has broken the minute barrier for this event. This is not to say that the ladies did not make their mark on the day. A number of the girls contributed to the individual 100 metres butterfly event, making it Exeter’s most emphatic win of the day. The Exeter girls also deserved to win the best dressed competition – they sported a fetching range of themed Exeter capes which helped to drum up more support – and encouraged a bit of healthy competition. Throughout the race all supporters were extremely vocal, with a great general atmosphere on the day. One swimmer noted that: “Everyone seems to be really behind the races. It’s great to have so much support.” Overall the event managed to raise over £300 for Diabetes UK: the first time that the Exeter Varsity has raised money for this very worthy cause. Money was raised by ticket sales, a mouth watering bakesale and a raffle which included prizes such as a meal at Pitcher and Piano, a Walkabout bar tab and many more. Special mention must go to Rachel Laurence, who manned the bake sale with the sweetest of smiles over the course of the day. Cooperation between the teams throughout the event, and its aftermath, was exceptionally notable.
L
Athletics
Lucy Rogers EUAC
Last weekend saw the biggest competition in the university athletics calendar. Hundreds of top national athletes competed in the BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships at Bedford International Stadium, including some of Exeter’s finest.
The performance of the weekend came from the girls 4 x 400m relay team; Lauren Searles, Helena Corbin, Charlotte Davies, Kate Kaye, who not only confidently qualified for the definitive relay final, but also broke the university record twice, in heat and final. Prior to this, the fantastic four had a massively successful weekend. Davies, the 4 x 400m’s 3rd leg competed across all three days of the competition in the 1500m heats, semis and final. Kaye
broke another university record in the 800m semis before making her 2,000m steeplechase debut the following day. Both brought in the all important BUCS team points. Not letting the team down, Corbin ran a fantastic heat to comfortably qualify for the 800m semi final, with Searles repeating this in the 200m. Continuing the Exeter girls’ success, in her first 5000m Sam Blanche took pace control, leading the race from the front to run a fantastic personal best
Ben Townsend reviews Exeter’s recent succe Snooker
Ben Townsend XMO Sports Editor The Snooker and Pool club capped off an unrivalled year of success in Leeds in March as the firsts claimed a trophy silver and the seconds secured a maiden shield bronze. Despite being the only university to ever enter the annual BUCS snooker tournament every year since its introduction, in the past successes have been few and far between. The past two years have seen the first team claim bronze medals in the trophy event while the second’s have suffered from last minute pull-outs and tough draws, stunting their progress. This year however, after two years of club stabilisation and transition, Exeter now command respect as a university ex-
pected to challenge for silverware, rather than merely to make up the numbers. The build-up to Leeds had progressed in typical Exeter fashion, with the untimely withdrawals of two key players, Hong-Kong hero, Renjie Wang and Dave ‘Essex’ Lloyd. Fortunately, club captain and talisman, David Clark, was able to call upon veteran and former club captain, Ben Townsend and treasurer and committed club man, Matthew Jones, to fill the void. As a result Clark was still able to pick undoubtedly the strongest two teams in memory, allaying any fears as confidence remained on a significant high. This buoyant attitude saw both sides qualify from their respective championship/trophy and shield groups, continuing the quest for silverware. The first team having narrowly lost 4-6 to Leeds seconds went into their
match with a strong Manchester firsts side knowing only a win would do, with a strong Southampton 1’s waiting the following day. With the score 5-3 in Exeter’s favour, Manchester’s captain was positioned last to play Jones, who despite losing the first, dug out what first team member Alistair Bamford called “The best frame you’ll ever see!” A close 4-6 loss to Southampton came the following day, before a 7-3 win against Queens Belfast seconds guaranteed trophy qualification and a quarterfinal with Oxford 1’s. Exeter seconds began their campaign with a 5-5 draw to a stronger than expected Manchester thirds. A fabulous pink, black, and then re-spotted black from Townsend in the final frame earned a deserved point. A weak Kent seconds were dispatched 7-3 as Ben King and fresher James Littlefair produced professional performances
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Exeposé week TWENTY SEVEN
outdoor success story
Photo: Sonya Ellis
over the 12.5 laps. Blanche was supported by team-mate Lucy Rogers, also running a personal best, with both successfully qualifying for the final. Clare Hodgson (1500m), Hannah Vosser (10,000m), Becca Jones (400m), Abbie Rudd (Long Jump, Triple Jump), and Penny Caudle (Discus) continued the girls success. The boys almost matched the girls’ relay triumph. The 4 x 400m team, Mike Hawkins, Dan Price, Tyler Johnson and
James Meadows came 3rd and narrowly missed out on the final by 0.27s. Price on the 2nd leg had a fantastic weekend, competing both in the 1500m, and taking no rest, competed in the 10,000m the next day. The final relay leg was ran well by Meadows in the 800m heats, supported by Paul Middleton. Hawkins, alongside Chris Tucker, contested the 400m, and Johnson the 100m and 200m. Backing Johnson was James Sleep, in the 100m, and Tom Royale in the 200m. On the
field, Mark Andrews threw and jumped in the discus, long jump, triple jump and high jump. Will Cullen (5,000m), Philip Watson (1500m, 2k Steeplechase) and Sam Harris (2k Steeplechase) also made up the Exeter boys team. The weekend was a huge success, with top-class performances and records powerfully putting Exeter’s name out there in the athletics world.
ss with the cue in BUCS snooker against Birmingham seconds completed the job finishing second though the opening day draw to Manchester was rued, as a tougher quarter final draw to Southampton thirds was confirmed. A nightmare start for the 1’s against Oxford left them 0-4 down with six frames to play. Clark secured both his frames as expected, while Bamford continued to actually win frames, arrogantly swaggering his way to two frames. Left to the machine-like Nathan Owen to work his magic, and a rowdy seconds side banter, Exeter put their woeful start behind them to win 6-4. A nervy seconds side on the other hand contested a tight encounter with Southampton which ended 5-5, forcing a one-frame play-off. Team captain James Wilson had produced his best snooker to claim a huge frame in his match, while Townsend secured a play-off when 4-5
down, dominating his Newton Faulkner lookalike opponent. It was left to the grinder Littlefair to break Southampton hearts in the play-off, prompting jubilant scenes. Both sides were drawn to play sides from Ulster in the semi-finals, yet conflicting outcomes resulted. Reminiscent of the seconds the previous day, the firsts were pushed the whole way by Ulster firsts with their tie finishing 5-5. An on-form Clark stepped up to the plate, calmly dispatching his rival and putting the firsts into the trophy final to meet Imperial firsts. The seconds however, met a strong Ulster seconds boasting one of the trophy individual finalists and were downed 6-2. Their subsequent bronze play-off against Manchester thirds ending 6-3 in Exeter’s favour with all team members winning at least a frame to round off a
fantastic team performance and vital BUCS points. The final of the trophy ended in heartbreak as the format changed as each of the five matches now represented one point in a race to three. Jonathan Spark recorded the highest break in the trophy event (53) yet lost the opening match with Jones levelling the tie, 1-1. Clark continued his impressive record claiming his two frames nudging Exeter into a 2-1 lead and took his personal record to 14 frames won from 15. This lead was unfortunately lost as Bamford succumbed narrowly to a tough opponent while Owen was pipped 2-1 by Imperial’s veteran captain in an arduous deciding match that sealed a 2-3 defeat. The Snooker and Pool club goes from strength to strength.
Crossword
Sport
No. 20 by Clare Mullins and Alexandros Mastroyiannis
Across 5. Nestle rival to Cadbury Roses (7, 6) 8. Viral infectious disease (5) 9. Japanese comic book style (5) 10. Birthplace of a sub-genre of trance (3) 11. Professional Women’s sports league in the US (4) 13. Second stage of psychosexual development (4) 14. Link between meatballs and flat pack furniture (7) 15. Verdant (4) 16.1998 movie featuring the voice of Woody Allen (4) 17. Shakespearean Prince (3)
18. Clean (anag) (5) 20 Traditionally wet (5) 22. Serialised Victorian Fiction (5,8) Down 1. Love making (slang) (7,6) 2. In dispute with (2, 11) 3. Ex-resident of Abbottabad (5,3,5) 4. Anne Boleyn was rumoured to have had this condition (13) 6. Internet Abbreviation (3) 7. Harry’s friend (3) 12. Pokémon protagonist (3) 13. Take on me (1-2) 19. Industrial band with a song covered by Johnny Cash (3) 21. States that support the GOP (3)
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monday 23 may 2011 Exeposé
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Nathan Dilliway
Rachel Bayne Sports Editor
The adventure began in October 2008. A group of lads hailing from Hope Hall and St Germans House formed an intramural football team. It began badly. The first four games were lost, heavily. As the team gelled, picked up a few ringers and began to learn the rules (shout loudly because there is no referee), results started to turn, culminating in some positive results in the first season. The venue, Duckes Meadow was often frozen over, waterlogged and always bobbly. Rather than going to the gym like some sports teams, the Badgers were more likely to be found in the Lemmy the night before a big game.
EURL are in the process of agreeing a huge deal with Leeds Rhinos, which will see the Super League giant invest in scholarships, coaching and training at the University. The deal will potentially provide six scholarships for rugby league players in Exeter, who will be invited to a two week long high performance training camp in Leeds with the chance to sign for the club’s under-20’s side. Tom Williams, Club Captain 2010/11, played an instrumental role in organizing the deal after forming links with the Leed’s Rhinos on a summer job working with the RFL. The deal came about when Gary Hetherington, Leeds Rhino’s Chief Executive came down to meet Phil Atwell, Director of Sport at the University of Exeter. Plans are still in discussion, and will hopefully be signed off in the next couple of weeks after the financial terms for a paid role in the EURL team have been completed.
“Highlight of the year was winning 3-0 after starting with nine men and a girl”
“The deal will hopefully increase the chance for University players to get into professional rugby teams”
Tom is excited at the prospect of this partnership with one of the biggest Rugby League teams, who finished fifth in the Super League this season with 17 points. The Rhinos are already investing in Gloucester University’s Rugby League team and are looking to forge stronger links with the South West region in general. Williams noted that the Rhinos were interested in the “professional outlet” at the University, which along with the High Performance Unit has come on leaps and bounds this season. The deal will also involve talented youngsters from the region, which is seen to be “an untapped area” for League-playing talent. Andy Lindley, South West Consultant for the Leeds Rhinos, is very excited at the prospect of working with Exeter University, which is such a “high quality” environment. He commented that “all sports have a duty to start looking into academic institutions,” where he may very well find the next Super League player. Lindley is also planning to set up training sessions with the AU to help players with time management, so they can make the most out of their “wider student experience.” The team as a whole is thrilled and a
The dream of Intra-mural football
little shell-shocked at the news, which comes after a fantastic season, which saw them move from being one of the smallest teams in AU, to winning two league titles this season. The team also won in a match against the Royal Marines last week and were nominated for ‘club captain of the year’ and ‘club of the year’ at the AU awards evening. This deal, which
will see the EURL donning the Rhinos badge on their kits next season, comes as a “massive boost to the team and a massive boost to the club”, smiled Tom. He commented that the deal will also hopefully increase the chance for University players to get into professional rugby teams in the future. Alister Haberfield, rugby player and
second year Economics and Finance student, commented that: “Tom has taken the club from perennial underdogs and cemented our position as a top four national student side. His work off the field has been immense and we now have the success and structure to show for it.”
Year Two of the project showed further success with the team winning more than they lost, and some players gaining experience within the University set-up. A kit was procured, meaning the team didn’t look completely village straight away. Highlight of the year was winning 3-0 after starting with nine men and a girl (no sexism intended, she just didn’t play football). By Year Three, the Badgers lost key players Greg Donnelly, Dave Garbutt, Will Perret and Sam Dodd to international call-ups, aka study abroad. In came Freshers Andy Sweetenham, Shane Kam and Alex Angel bringing strength, energy and class, in that order. The talents of such men as Fred Corkett, Harry Smith and Tristan Barclay were firmly focused back on their degrees but after time, success followed. A reshuffling of positions saw Ben Harries become the rock in the centre of defence that many teams failed to break down. The appointment of Dom Conway, the self-proclaimed “Special One”, as player-manager brought a very casual approach that must have helped ease some of the pressure on the bookies’ early favourites and the Beautiful Game flowed with the team going from strength to strength, winning every game and romping to the League 1 title (Intra-Mural’s Premier League). Some thought this was the pinnacle, but the next season brought strong challenges from the newly-promoted teams. The Badgers, however, remained firm drawing only one game and winning the rest, retaining the title. A true story of rags to riches, becoming the “IntraMural Invincibles.”