November 2020 by The Boomerang

The

Boomerang November 2020

Five Funerals in One Week by Arnoud Roelfsema

Illustration © Vivian Liang

I set my alarm last night before I started drinking: being late is not an option. The drive is about an hour, and together with three other guys, all in the same white shirt and black trousers, I am listening to the radio. “The police once again have dispersed multiple parties with several hundreds of people in forests and warehouses throughout the country”. I see heads shaking and hear a cynical chuckle combined with a sigh of disbelief escape from underneath a facemask.

sometimes for not being able to do whatever I want; to host a big party for my birthday, to go to an open mic and play my heart out with others, or to take a flight to a foreign country ‘because I really need a break’.

Arriving at our location, my eyes scan the area. Who is already here? And more importantly, who is not? All I can do for now is guess. One of my friends from UCU as a joke last week said that it seemed like I was practicing becoming a detective: he is not wrong, I could be, but I’m not. I am a third year UCU student working as a pallbearer on the side. Last week I worked at five funerals, out of which three were related to Corona.

“The police once again have dispersed multiple parties with several hundreds of people in forests and warehouses throughout the country” When I look around, I see people my age, people my age who are very sad. Not the kind of sad I get

This kind of sad is worse. While we are waiting for the hearse on the side of the street, one or two jokes are cracked. Soon after that, we are slowly walking through whatever city was on the list for today. Bystanders show respect by gently nodding their heads. On

another note, the roaring sound of a grinder coming from a garage and the bikers trying to slip through the cracks of the procession are a subtle reminder that although some people’s worlds have crashed down and are completely paralyzed, the earth won’t stop spinning, not for anyone; not for your father, mother, brother, sister, cousin, uncle, niece or the literal love of your life. Back home, I crack open a cold one with some of my unit mates: tonight, we are having a little sesh. Whatever I witnessed today; it will not dominate my mood. As a matter of fact, it completely slips my mind once Stan starts hitting me with some fat beats using Logic Pro loops on the big speakers after he’s cracked me up by doing a Boston accent. The mourning faces of all those who lost someone have disappeared. The last songs they chose to be played are not stuck in my head. The flowers they put on the coffin have not left their scent with me. I am fortunate enough that I don’t have to feel anything. Until I wake up the next morning and hear that some big parties took place on our campus the night before. At that moment, I feel everything.

" I am a third year UCU student working as a pallbearer on the side. Last week I worked at five funerals, out of which three were related to Corona." UCU in 500 words

Taiwan and China’s War of Words

Zooming in on Miss Vanity Love

Poland's Failing Democracy

All Tomorrow’s Artists

CRISPR Revolution

The Boomerang | November 2020

BUBBLE

A Couple of Constructive Points on How You Can Constructively Have a Constructive Conversation by Lamarana Barrie A little over a month ago, as I was absentmindedly scrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon a post of De Volkskrant promoting their new initiative: Nederland in Gesprek (i.e. The Netherlands in Conversation). Their idea was to connect random Dutchies with opposing views by having participants answer controversial questions, pairing them with other participants who answered these questions differently and arranging for these participant-pairs to meet up and engage in a constructive conversation. Now, your first response may be ‘put it on tv and you’ll have an even more entertaining version of First Dates’ - and I’d agree - but I was quite intrigued by the newspaper’s proposal. It made me wonder, could such an initiative ever succeed at UCU? Although the term ‘constructive conversation’ is definitely included in UCU’s jargon (if there were an actual dictionary, I reckon it’d appear somewhere between ‘BNOC’ and ‘Diederix’) most of us don’t know what a constructive discussion actually entails. I’ve witnessed enough Facebook comment threads and class discussions to draw that conclusion. Thus, there is work to be done and I decided to make a start; I sought out the necessary ingredients for a constructive discussion and would hereby like to present you my recipe: 1. Sit Down, Be humble. Yes, these are Kendrick’s words and not mine, but that should be all the more reason to hold this point in high regard. Truth be told, there’s nothing wrong with standing during a discussion - though sitting down does convey a more relaxed attitude (see point 4) - but remaining humble is vital. Why may you ask? Well, because we must simply acknowledge that all human beings are innately imperfect. Now, I’m not saying this to crush your already wavering self-confidence; I just want to emphasise that everybody is bound to make mistakes. So, even if your argument wins the discussion, that doesn’t mean you’re morally superior to another. Rather

than judging someone for being wrong, just help them understand why you’re right. It’s like Plato, more or less, said: it kind of makes you look like a prick if you're right and you ... well, act like a prick about it. 2. Listen, listen, listen. But, like, actually listen. Yes, this requires effort. Yes, this proves to be harder than it sounds. And yes, that pun was 100% intended. But, seriously though, if you struggle with this just ask yourself the following whenever you find yourself in a discussion: Are you staring at the wall instead of whoever is talking? Are you shaking your head to yourself, waiting until you can speak again? Are you thinking about how you want to eat some chicken wings later today? Are you interrupting someone else with useless, unfinished phrases such as ‘yes, but ..’, ‘no, but ..’ or ‘sure, but ..’? Well then, my friend, start again because you have not been listening! And this time, try to actually understand whatever it is someone is telling you. So, like, yeah, actually listen. 3. Make sure you make sense Were Kant and Frege a little pretentious and a whole lot of racist? Yes, most definitely. However, were they wrong about the importance of logical reasoning? No, (unfortunately) absolutely not. Sorry not sorry for getting philosophical here, but it’s true: only through logic can arguments make sense; without it, no constructive, comprehensible conversation can exist. (If you don’t believe me about this one, just read the HumLab book and you’ll understand. Or just admit you have no choice but to believe me because no one will ever read the HumLab book.) In other words, arguments must be valid and preferably factually correct. For example, if you want to convince your unitmate that last night’s Chris’ makes for a legitimate breakfast, don’t say it does ‘because you really like it’, instead just say that ‘breakfast is a social construct anyway’. But

most importantly, just remember: if you’re not being logical you’re literally. not. making. any. sense. 4. Chill out Lots of swearing, speedy talking, banging whatever’s in your hand on the table, and maybe even shouting ... Are these features that belong to a quality game of slap cup? Absolutely. Do they belong to a constructive conversation? I’m afraid not, dear reader. Still, most of us have probably been guilty of getting too heated during a discussion. And although, yes there are indeed those people who literally make you want to karate kick them in the stomach, still we must agree: aggression just doesn’t convey the message and so, we must refrain from its expression. 5. Just be nice, yo Last but not least, the one point which is most obvious but still most of us find difficult to understand: just be kind. Now, don’t twist my words here, because I’m not saying you always have to agree with someone whilst “keeping a smile”. All I'm saying is that a conversation is already constructive as soon as you and your fellow conversationalist treat each other kindly. Just recognize each other’s opinions and converse in a respectful, civilized manner and both of you will benefit from the conversation in a happy, healthy way! So, you know, just like, be nice to each other, yo. I hope you get the point now. Constructive discussions are about more than simply winning an argument; they are symbiotic conversations from which both opponents benefit equally. Coming back to De Volkskrant, then, their attempt to put the ‘Netherlands in Conversation’ now seems at least understandable. And, although I think it’s safe to say we might never see ‘UCU in Conversation’ get off the ground, I hope my attempt will at least help to make some future UCU conversation a bit more constructive.

Daniel’s Delectable Discussions by Daniel Kamenkovitch

Do we need to have experienced tragedy to be truly happy and complete human beings? Most of us, me included, must probably have gone through a time in their childhood or adolescence where a most faint yet gruesome realization kicked in: that the ones close to us who we know and love can die. We also get to know that eventually all our endeavours are limited and doomed to become mere dust once again. Of course, no one should be meant to suffer. But it is within this looming ending and experience that true courage, or understanding, is born. Those who have seen the pits of Hades can rise from the ashes stronger than they were before. Simultaneously, those who never have experienced tragedy, who were happy all their lives, might well be missing something essential. In a way, neither their heart or character has been tested. Those without tragedy are – ironically – more tragic than those who have experienced it. Is this but coping with the unnecessary suffering inherent to this world - or does it yield a kernel of truth? (I hope it is clear that I do not wish tragedy to happen to anybody!)

A University College Student Association Magazine

BUBBLE

Fuck It, Cam On?

My camera is off. I started turning it off because I hated catching glimpses of my face in the corner, and I hated even more the thought that other people were seeing the same thing. It gave me a sense of privacy and security, and it quickly just became the default. It was easy to tell myself at the beginning that this would ultimately give me more space to concentrate. The liberty I felt in remaining faceless could let me follow my teacher’s words in a different way, without the pressure of being constantly present on the screen. I could afford the few small distractions I would undoubtedly face, if it meant more tranquillity in the long run. As the semester went on I noticed my classmates were probably thinking the same thing,

by Giulia Martinez Brenner

as I progressively saw less faces and more pointless letters, until at times the only illuminated box was the professor’s. I cannot deny it made me feel bad. I imagined myself in their place, speaking, questioning, being in front of an expanse of invisible eyes, yet barely eliciting any reaction. And I couldn’t defend my position. It was my own reaction that was being lost; I am the problem. By taking away any indication of my physical presence, the pressure was gone, but so was all motivation to communicate.

“I can get away with this?” I slowly move my mouse and let it hover over the button that could potentially resolve this. Camera on. Knowing I am one click away makes me realize something else. I don’t consider myself a diehard nonconformist, however I have always had faith in my ability to do what I truly believe is right, regardless of what others thought or did. I think most of us strive for this, and find pride when it is accomplished. We are strong, we have character, we make up our own minds. Perhaps I was naïve in assuming that being relatively strong-willed was enough to make me immune to groupthink. Because sitting here, the mouse lingers a moment longer, and then I move it away. I don’t want to be that

person. And I know, even though I hate to admit it, that if everyone else’s video was on, maybe I could have done so too. This is a personal reflection. I am well aware I cannot and do not speak for everyone. All I really hope is that come your next online class, if you are like me and tend to keep your camera off, just think about why. Is this actually helping you? Picture yourself on the other side, teaching into the void, and know you have the power to change that. Besides, either way you can still wear pyjamas, and that’s the real priority.

Illustration © Tara Sitindjak

I cringe as my professor asks the class a question. It isn’t even a proper question, just a check to see if everyone understands. I stare at the sea of initials and think about my own, GM, that are currently hiding my pitiful condition. I’m slumped over my chair, obviously still in my pyjamas, resembling some sort of slimy invertebrate more than anything else. I have Instagram open in one hand, a cigarette in the other, and I can’t help but give a small smirk. I can get away with this? No doubt it’s a childish satisfaction. I try to convince myself it’s freedom . . . but is it? The initials stay silent. The professor asks again. And my anonymity hits me with a surge of guilt.

UCU in 500 Words by Hillena Thoms It was dark, the air full of music and laughter, a new adventure and a crate of beer ahead of me; it was intro week. During one of these unforgettable nights, an older student leaned forward to ask, ”So, what type of UCU student will you be?” - a question, that left me puzzled. During my quest to place myself in a UCU category, I have developed a starter pack for some typical campus characters that have been presented to me. The Privileged White Girl First things first: buy some corduroy flared pants and Dr. Martens. Next step: become the new events manager of Enactus and add it as another ‘work experience’ to your LinkedIn profile. And last but not least, join a sorority. This is what a typical Thursday night could look like: while making the final arrangements for the upcoming ABBA borrel, some jungle juice accidentally spills over the brand-new iPhone 11 Pro Max. After the initial shock the tears can be dried: luckily daddy will pay for it.

The Campus Ghost Have you decided to get through your UCU career with as few people as possible knowing of your existence? Then this is your place to be. Campus ghosts try to avoid leaving their unit apart from going to Plus (Jumbo is definitely outside their comfort zone) or class. Definitely make sure that Zoom meetings are the rare occasions where your classmates and teacher can actually hear what you are saying. And for the rest of the day just stay in bed while listening to the ‘Top 50 charts worldwide’ on Spotify through your phone speakers.

The RX ‘Revolutionary’ Do you want to become part of the small proportion of students who have chosen campus as their starting point to save our planet? Then you should join the campus climate action group at their unofficial headquarters, underneath the tree behind W. To impress you can bring some carrots wrapped in bees wax with self-made humus and wear a leather ankle bracelet. But you can’t trick everyone. Although you are now ready to make a ‘real change' you still fly four times a year.

So, what type of UCU student am I after all? I still don’t know and that’s a damn good thing. Although we like to give everything a label, stereotypes are nothing more than empty categories. This being said, don’t trust every ‘wisdom’ of older students and just enjoy your beer.

Illustration © Vivian Liang

The Nomad To detect a UCU nomad all you have to do is ask this simple question: “Where are you from?” Typically, what follows is the story of an odyssey. Born in Germany, father half Dutch half German, Latina mom (both work for the UN), raised in the United States, went to school in South East Asia for two years, then another year at British boarding school. By now you speak at least 4 languages. Rotating units every summer must seem like a piece of cake to you.

The Boomerang | November 2020

CULTURE

Changing the Cinematic Landscape, One Low-Budget Ultra-Violent Ugandan Action Movie at a Time by Sam de Visser “My name in America is Alan Hofmanis. My name in Uganda is Alan Ssali Owe Nkima Musajja Wakabaka Ne Mafene Yesu Muganda Laptop Hofmanis.” Fene means ‘jackfruit’ - a chunky fruit commonly used in the West as a meat substitute. “Mafene means your body is shaped like a jackfruit, which means they think I’m fat. … But they say it’s not just fat, you’re also funny. You can’t be boring and mafene - you have to be both funny and fat.” Alan, who is not fat, is speaking to me over Zoom from Manhattan. “I had no connection to that part of the world at all. And I had no ambitions in it. I grew up on Long Island, the complete suburbs of New York. … I say that because some people love Africa. They love giraffes, and they love elephants, and I don’t give a shit. It was always cinema with me.”

“My girlfriend left me the day I bought the wedding ring, and two weeks later I was a Ugandan action movie star.” Yet somehow, Alan ended up in that part of the world anyway: “My girlfriend left me the day I bought the wedding ring, and two weeks later I was a Ugandan action movie star.” For a decade, he had been a cinematographer and film editor in New York, then a festival programmer. “So my girl dumps me. My friend and I are in an Irish bar at 10am drinking beer, and to cheer me up he showed me the trailer for Captain Alex on his iPhone, just to make me laugh.” Captain Alex is short for Who Killed Captain Alex?, a 2010 Ugandan action-comedy film directed by Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana, or Nabwana I.G.G., or just Isaac. Living in Wakaliga, a slum in Uganda’s capital Kampala, Isaac has created a fully operating movie studio (“Wakaliga is the village and Wakaliwood is the dream”). Captain Alex was made on a $200 budget – Alan thinks it’s closer to $85 -, with props made from scrap parts and actors from the neighborhood, then edited on a makeshift computer built by Isaac himself. “I thought what I was seeing is freaking brilliant—it’s crazy, it’s insane. Just from the trailer—you know there’s no money. But in the West, if you have no money, you make a love story, or a family reunion. You don’t make a war film, with helicopters. And the thing is, it was serious. It’s funny, but they were serious about it.” “What you’re looking for is someone who’s really ambitious, but maybe it’s busted. Maybe the acting’s not good, or the camera’s not good, but the ambition’s there.” And that is exactly what Isaac’s films were like – so Alan travelled

to Uganda and met with him. After a six-hour conversation and a 2 AM phone call, Alan became officially involved with the studio, as well as Uganda’s first white action movie star “This isn’t as simple as a cool guy who’s talented. This is happening, whether I do something or not.” At first, Alan had difficulty pitching Wakaliwood to producers in the US. “What they would tell me is, ‘why are you promoting violence in Africa?’ And when you put it that way, it sounds bad. But who the fuck else is Isaac gonna kill? Why can’t he make an action movie?” Festivals and producers avoided Wakaliwood like the plague, refusing to be complicit with African violence. “And then the second thing that happened is, this is 2012, is that Uganda pushed through all this anti-gay legislation.” The fact that Isaac didn’t care, that he had nothing to do with it, was disregarded. Film producers refused to support Wakaliwood because of Uganda’s politics. “Are you going to blame the Sex Pistols for Margaret Thatcher?”

“Captain Alex was made on a $200 budget – Alan thinks it’s closer to $85 -, with props made from scrap parts and actors from the neighborhood” So the plan had to be changed. Alan sold everything he had, moved to Uganda, and started operating from there. It started with making Captain Alex available to Western audiences. Facing hurdles such as Uganda’s unique cinema culture (‘video jokers' normally provide live commentary on a film) and frequent power outages, it took eighteen months to patch the film up for the West and get it ready for marketing. “What I would do is, every night for two hours, I would go on Twitter, go on Facebook and anyone who has ever shared a video, I would message directly. Commando John, in Spain, we’re coming for you. And then all these people are like ‘dude, I think Uganda’s coming after me’— yes, we are. It was person to person. It wasn’t to journalists, it wasn’t to blogs, it was to people. That’s how it all started.” They then launched a Kickstarter, asking for $160 and raising over $13,000. Suddenly, everything seemed to go the right way. In 2015, Uganda repealed its anti-gay laws and Wakaliwood’s ‘welcome to Uganda!’ message became far more inviting. The ball started rolling, journalists started coming in. “It was perfect, and that’s kinda how it started.” Now, Wakaliwood is in talks with Hollywood, with major agencies and studios. The ultra-low budget action studios from the slums is ready to enter the mainstream. A prospect as exciting

as it is terrifying in a cynical industry that will always prefer money over artistry - but Alan doesn’t seem to share those fears. “I understand if the idea to keep it the way it is is precious, but I think it should be treated like any other artist. In the end, it’s what he wants, but let’s see what happens. What happens if you give a third-world slum a million dollars and Van Damme to make an action film? … And at the end, if he wants to go back and make a film for twenty dollars, he can still do that.” But Alan sees the risk of Isaac and Wakaliwood getting paraded around like an empty vessel to carry Hollywood’s fake diversity. “My worry is, I could see them doing this and then never make a film with him.”

“It was person to person. It wasn’t to journalists, it wasn’t to blogs, it was to people. That’s how it all started” Alan’s enthusiasm is infectious - I ask him if he sometimes feels he might be dragging Isaac along with him and his own excitement. He considers it a valid question. “But I think in the end, it’s going to happen. It may not be us, but I think we opened the door to something. … I’ve been to Afghanistan, I’ve been to northern India, I’ve been to some villages in Peru.” Wakaliwood is only step one in the creation of something truly new - communities all over the world, making low-budget cinema among friends, spreading via the internet. As Hollywood tries to pander to a larger and larger market, the popularity of Wakaliwood seems to indicate a demand for a new kind of locally driven cinema. As our supposedly 45-minute conversation slowly evolves into a two-hour hangout session, between me and this near-complete stranger from New York and Uganda, I find it hard to remain objective as Alan takes me with him in his excitement. And in the end, I think we both know this is not about him, or me, or even Isaac or Wakaliwood - this is about the birth of something new. In this Trumpian era in which the dangers and harmful powers of the internet are so often emphasized, it is exciting to know that it can also be used to give these communities a platform. Hollywood may enter a slow, massmarket decline, but artists worldwide are rising up and finding a voice and platform. “This is Wakaliwood, the next step is Wakaliworld.” You can find Wakaliwood on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. If you want to support them directly, you can also visit their website wakaliwood.com. Who Killed Captain Alex? and Bad Black (starring Alan Hofmanis) are available for free on YouTube as well.

A University College Student Association Magazine

CULTURE

A crackle fills my laptop screen and Miss Vanity Love pops up with a smile. Barefaced in a T-shirt and beanie, Kevin is barely recognizable as the tall dame in diamonds and red fishnets in the UCSA bar back in February. But the piercing gaze and gentle voice give her away: with or without make-up, there was no mistaking Miss Vanity Love. Based in Amsterdam, the Dutch-Brazilian drag queen is something of an enigma. Her show at UCU (together with her Maison Madness sisters Honey Lion and Dea Gnosis) was the first drag night in UCU history. It was met with raving reviews from students and staff alike, spurring PrideCo to organize more shows and events. She smiles when I bring the event up. “I came to The Netherlands five years ago and studied at LUC. It was so surreal to be performing at UCU, I think the last time I was here was for the UCRSN?” She laughs at the mention of the latter; the last five years have been a wild transition from shy student to drag queen. “While I’ve known about drag before coming to The Netherlands, it was going to weekly drag shows in Amsterdam and that community that pushed me to perform and create my own brand. The pin-up and burlesque circles, but also local performers… It’s the people and things I love and admire that make up who I am. I’m also privileged enough to have been an ‘expat kid’, so all those cultural references and personalities have influenced my art.”

Photo © The Kameleon

For Miss Vanity Love, art comes from admiration and artistry comes from spinning existing elements into something new. Her social media outlets are filled with vintage curls and perfect lipstick.

The campy queen knows how to appeal to her theatre-loving fans. “Drag was a huge part of cabaret and it’s those elements that I love so much. Embracing the different, the taboo, the nightlife, the sex… Drag is provocation. Of course, nobody really goes to cabaret shows nowadays, so performing at bigger venues means mixing the old and the new. But it’s the intimacy of cabaret that inspires me. When it’s just you and the audience you can create a fantasy world. We want to create a space where people can explore the unexpected.”

“That’s the allure of an age gone by” I recall this fantasy world well, remembering how the entire UCSA bar stood silent and breathless as she moved, gazelle-like, around the small podium taking her gloves off just so. For a moment then, time seemed to stand still. “A lot of drag is compromise. How can I show my art and connect with a crowd? It has to be a mutual experience: entertainment for yourself and the audience. Bringing in burlesque means bringing in elements of tease, mystery, sexuality, and sensuality. There are of course pressures and constraints depending on the performance space, but it’s also allowing the character to explore these different spaces.” She’s right: to some extent, seeing a glamorous vintage figure in the UCSA bar seemed somewhat out of place. “But that’s the allure of an age gone by!” she continues. “We have such a fascination with things that belong to a different world or time. This vintage glamour with all its rules and etiquettes and outrageous lifestyle… This is also the attraction of drag: accepting and embracing different realities and comforts. What’s more intriguing than coming across Old Hollywood glamour in real life instead of just in movies or photos?” She might dance in heels and pearls, but there is still something raw about Miss Vanity Love. She is unabashedly herself, something her name stands for. “It’s a reclamation of the word. Society says don’t be vain, but why shouldn’t I dress up and have fun? Vanity Love is an expression of self-love, when I perform I think, ‘I’m feeling it, aren’t you feeling it?’ Drag is art, but it’s also inherently protest.”

Photo © Miss Vanity Love

All is Fair in Wigs and Pearls: Zooming in on Miss Vanity Love by Noor van Asseldonk Chen And this year has been one of protest if anything. Referring to the Black Lives Matter movement, she points out how so many marginalized communities are tied together. “Marsha P. Johnson, trans women of color… This is where we intersect, and we have the platform to stand up for these political things.” I ask about Snap! Chatz, the cyber gay bar she set up that hosted weekly online shows. “A platform on social media is fun but not the ideal output. Where you’d normally use social media to find new things to explore, social media has now become the new thing to explore. It’s a challenge to communicate with someone on a personal level using an impersonal platform. It’s also a challenge to play with storylines in the digital sphere and make it joyful. Drag is for yourself and there’s always an element of truth there, but social media shows your numbers.”

“Drag is art, but it’s also inherently protest” I note how somewhere along these digital lines, drag queens have also become content producers. Miss Vanity Love agreed, “Yes, and content is so diverse and it’s everything. You have to adhere to rules to flourish. Snap! Chatz was fun and special but it was also... taxing. It was another reminder that things aren’t what they were. You can’t get the adrenaline and feedback like you can from live shows.” We talk about Amstel 54, CREA, TABOO, Amsterdam hotspots for performers, creatives, and those in search of a safe space. If being locked in has done anything, it has highlighted all the things we need to make our lives colorful. For Miss Vanity Love, the future is as uncertain as it is hopeful. She gently concluded, “The community is going through this together, and the community won’t forget these places once everything is over.” You can follow Miss Vanity Love on Instagram and Facebook under @missvanitylove and stay updated on happenings via https:// linktr.ee/MissVanityLove

The Boomerang | November 2020

CULTURE

All Tomorrow’s Artists by Stanley Ward From Hungarian dream-folk, to post-punk inspired Indie: conversations with independent musicians in the Netherlands. cian, I play in an intuitive way which isn’t always perfect.

mutual friend, and by chance they invited these legendary musicians from the scene. We did MDMA and all had a spiritual jam session until 6AM.

Patrick McCallion of The New Nostalgia Illustration © Lea Litvak

New music doesn’t always have to come from major record labels, involve expensive promotional campaigns and be flown in from LA in a private jet. It can come from unsigned artists who walk around the same cities as us and live lives as relatively normal people. I talked to a few of these artists to chat about their music, experiences, and of course, these “strange and unprecedented times”.

Borka Balogh What’s the scene in the Netherlands like? It’s pretty scattered in the Netherlands, but small at the same time and hard to enter and know about. If you’re not from Den Haag, it’s hard to know if there’s any possibilities. There’s also lots of imitation [of musicians from the U.S and UK] - but there’s lots of original stuff happening here as well like Klangstof and Pip Blom.

How would you describe your sound? I’d say Indie singer-songwriter, but I’m part focused on making dark music, both in topics and sounds, combined with a dream pop feel -like a lucid dream. Has your sound changed? I started from roots music: indie folk-y stuff like Laura Marling, Lisa Hannigan, and Johnny Flynn, all of who defined my orientation. I’m realising that now I’m getting more and more daring. I’m trying to take away the indie folk shell and seeing what happens to my music.

What are you working on at the moment? It’s been me and my guitar for about three years now, and while I liked this, it was a functional choice. I’m now working on a new EP which expands my sound into a band setting, with Producer Camiel Meiresonne of Son Mieux, we’re exploring elements of R&B, pop and indie rock. He’s a next level musician, and we arranged it together and have been recording it in his home studio. You have the time to be creative when you work at home.

TeZi

Do you think the Hungarian folk tradition still plays a part in your music? I can’t undress those eastern influences, especially in the melodies and harmonies. I don’t do it intentionally, it’s like a default sound. What resonates for me is always those melodies. So, you have a new song out? It was recorded in February, but even though the song makes so much more sense after Corona, I wrote it inspired by my own struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder. Since studying here, I started realising that it’s not normal that we all have to do the ‘I’m so happy all the time’ thing. I don’t know when being sad got into this taboo zone. This song came from this anger that I felt. What’s next? Like all musicians I’m also working on an EP it’s some fucked up tribal shit. It’s like I started with roots music but mixed it with new sounds to create this wild tribal thing where I get to shout like my ancestors did.

Pyke How would you describe your sound? It’s Melancholic in a good way, all the sadness I feel is in my music. I’m not a ‘schooled’ musi-

Who are you, where are you from? You can answer that in many ways. I grew up in Amsterdam West and have been here my whole life. I’m half American, half Dutch. Who am I? Shit. I’m a R&B singer and musician. How would you describe your music? At a certain point I developed a taste for R&B and started listening to a lot of soul and funk. I got Jazz from my parents who are both Jazz musicians. I even studied Jazz guitar for 2 years, but I’ve always loved hip hop, like J Dilla and Tribe. I want to create compositions that are totally versatile – they could be played like an old school ballad or a hip-hop track. Best Musical Moment? Went to a Yung Nnleg show alone, but I saw on Instagram my friends knew the band. Afterwards, we ended up going to the studio of a

How would you describe your music? Very story driven. I’ve been doing acoustic music the longest, it was my way in. I ended up doing more band stuff at uni – I studied music, so all friends were musicians. With the band, the songwriting has the same tone, but everything else is dialled up – I was listening to loads of great post-punk stuff that was coming out when we started. How’ve you found the scene in the Netherlands? For me Amsterdam encourages not caring what people think. There’s a DIY art school approach in the indie scene here. In the U.K, especially outside London, it feels like so many indie bands are wearing a uniform – they all sing the same way and even wear the same clothes. Any best moments in music so far? As an unsigned and ‘up-and-coming musician’ half my life is spent pestering people. Nothing will happen and then something massive will happen. I just did a socially distanced acoustic show at Paradiso, which was amazing. One time I also opened for American comedy duo Jake and Amir at Shephard’s Bush Empire. I messaged them on a whim on Snapchat, saying ‘I’ve written a theme song for the show, I can come perform it if you want?’ and they said yes. Any musical quarantine projects? I just put out a ‘Lockdown EP’ called June, which I record June. It’s similar to the Amsterdam Bootlegs where I did an EP a month a few years ago. What’s next? With the band, the next step is finishing our debut album, and to gig again. It's all about preparing for the first show back, we want to make it a proper party. Don’t know when or how we’ll be able to this, but is has to happen. It just has to. You can find all these artists on most major streaming platforms. For a taste of them live, check out their live sessions on the UvA Radio podcast, available on Spotify.

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In Search of Another Reality

by Ilya Genov Spring. Quarantine times. It’s 2am and I have to be in an online class in 7 hours. “Well.. just one more episode” I am telling myself, letting Netflix show me more of the inexplicably tempting world of Too Hot to Handle. An hour later, when I finally go to sleep, I just can’t stop wondering: why? Why do I keep watching this show even though I completely realize how bad it is? How did Netflix trick me into doing this..? Sound familiar? Well, it definitely is familiar to a lot of people, based on the available viewing statistics. Dating Around, Love is Blind, Too Hot to Handle — all these shows became a huge success for Netflix in terms of their audience numbers. It seems like somehow the genre of reality TV remains a very much demanded form of entertaining content. For some reason we just keep enjoying it as a common source of our guilty pleasure. And it has been going on for quite some time already. Surprisingly, the concept of the reality show is a lot older than most of us would assume. The genre of TV game show, for example, has been existing since 1950. Dating shows appeared a bit later, in the 1960s, and reached their peak of global popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, during one of television’s ‘Golden Ages’. This is when the foundations of the so-called

‘classic’ dating reality TV were established. Such well-known projects as Singled Out or The Bachelor can give us a good idea of what a typical reality show was like during that period. Later on, with the ubiquitous claims about “The Death of TV” being the hallmark of the late 2010s, the genre had to adapt to new conditions. Despite many assuming that it would fade into history together with the whole concept of television, in fact it was provided with a golden ticket to the future of the entertainment industry. How so? Why did contemporary streaming platforms, such as Hulu, HBO or Netflix, suddenly decide to start buying rights for reality shows, and even produce their own ones? The answer, as always, lies in human psychology. The sad truth is that reality shows have always provided us with a substitution of actual life experiences. Watching yet another group of mean people chilling on yet another tropical island gives us a sense of fleeting pleasure from diving into the simple, sunny and so obviously artificial world of reality television. At the end of the day, rooting for people and relating to their feelings and experiences is enjoyable for us just because of our social nature. These reality shows provide us with such an opportunity by becoming a kind of mirror through which we can recognize ourselves on screen. Moreover, our

What If We Wrote About America Like We Do About Africa? by Mats Meeus WASHINGTON D.C., United States - In a presidential election marred by claims of fraud, Joseph R. Biden has declared victory over the incumbent, Donald J. Trump, who has refused to concede. Mr. Trump’s tenure has been marked by an increase in ethnic tensions, a decline in human rights and a viral outbreak that has battered the country’s weak healthcare system. In a statement, the Iranian foreign ministry called for calm and denounced the degradation of American democracy. China and Russia, both prominent members of the UN’s Human Rights Council, have declined to recognize Mr. Biden’s victory as of yet. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp rise in arms sales. Ethnic and politically extremist militias have seen steep increases in membership after the president encouraged them to intervene in the case of a contested election. Militant groups are most common in the impoverished south of the U.S, where secession led to the nation’s first Civil War. Federal authorities recently foiled a plot by one such group to kidnap the governor of Michigan.

In the hot summer months the nation’s largest cities were gripped by street battles between ethnic minority groups, anarchists, right-wing militias and police. Federal paramilitary forces, loyal to Mr. Trump, engaged in largescale kidnappings of both combatants and peaceful protesters. Much of the violence was attributed to followers of the Boogaloo movement, a far-right ideology that aims to incite another civil war. If the election is to be resolved without violence, there is a possibility that electoral fraud cases filed by the Trump campaign will end up at the Supreme Court. Both parties have sought to pack the court with partisan loyalists. The U.S is a country with great natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage. When it gained independence, few expected it to last for long, but the United States defied the odds to become a relatively prosperous, if unequal country. Only time can tell if the American people will overcome their strife to finally live in peace with one another.

inherent passion for gossip doubles this effect: what can be better than some nicely constructed relationship drama? That is why almost all reality shows released by Netflix during corona times gained such a huge popularity. While most of us were staying at home craving for some social interactions, Netflix served us our daily drama through our screens. So what’s next? Will we see some more reality masterpieces being produced? Will they keep generating such big revenues for their creators? And, most importantly, will our pleasure from watching reality TV remain ‘guilty’? As I see it, our moral issues with the genre are caused not by its concept in itself, but by the cringey clichés which it stubbornly continues to use. Such reality TV ‘classics’ as The Bachelor, for instance, now seem more and more ridiculous. Watching a group of 30 women “fighting for the heart” of a rich, ‘successful’ and conventionally attractive man is increasingly being perceived as outdated and problematic. Our ‘new ethics’ seems to start outgrowing the attributes of classic reality TV. So who knows? Only time will show whether this genre, so well established in our mass culture, will manage to keep up with our rapidly changing morality.

Dearest Campus, It seems that, even in this troubled and chaotic world, a little hope has emerged. While I wouldn’t necessarily celebrate the results of the US election, a Trump defeat does offer a little hope. So does the news of the development of three separate coronavirus vaccines. But while hope is good, I find that living for it makes us vulnerable to disappointment. I’m not usually one to wax philosophical (or intellectual) but, providing I have not exceeded my allotted amount of free articles from The New Yorker, sometimes I’ll read something about a dead white dude (often a writer or philosopher) that really does help me align myself with the world. The dead white dude who seems to be sticking around in my sieve brain lately is French absurdist philosopher Albert Camus, and Adam Gopnick’s take on Camus in his 2012 essay How Camus Faced History. It seems now we’re not as much facing history, as we are having it dumped over our heads every morning. The phrase of the moment seems to be ‘i’m tired of living through history’. But still, what can we get from Camus’ absurdism to help us? There’s certainly an absurdity to all of our lives, as we seem to all inhabit our own personal Groundhog Day, each with our own breaking points. The thing that resonated with me so much about Gopnick’s take on Camus, is what he brought to the forefront. That just carrying on sometimes seems so hard, but it’s really the only thing we can do. We’re all pushing our own boulders, albeit behind a laptop on Zoom. Sisyphus is working from home. But there’s hope from Gopnick’s perspective. A hope that understands difficulty, and acknowledges it, whilst giving us comfort, and a reason to continue. He summarises Camus into the colloquial: “easy does it; tomorrow may be a bit better than today; and, after all, you have to have a little faith in people.” Yours Always, Stanley Ward Editor-In-Chief

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Poland’s Failing Democracy.. Or Has It Already Failed? by Klaudia Tokarska and 120.000 Polish women terminate pregnancies each year, only 1.100 of which are legal abortions in Poland, the other ones are done either abroad or illegally. The tighter law would drive even more to seek abortions abroad, illegally.

PiS (the ruling Law and Justice party; yes, you can laugh at the name and the unintended irony) constituencies also participate in the demonstrations. Democracy at its best?

Almost immediately, demonstrations began in more than 400 cities and town, known collectively as “women’s strike” characterized by a red lightning bolt. These protests have been the largest demonstrations in Poland since the fall of communism in 1989. The fact that the virus did little to deter the crowds underlines the depth of the society’s discontent with the ruling Law and Justice party. According to one Polish independent media outlet Gazeta Wyborcza, 59% of the citizens disagree with the newly ruled changes. And it shows during the protests: not only young liberally-minded women join them; many football fans, bus drivers, and citizens of

Now all of this makes me wonder: when will we stop living the illusion that Poland is still a functioning democracy? How many more human rights will have to be violated for us to see it is not?

Ladies and gentlemen: welcome to Poland. Has this country gone insane? Not necessarily. Well, unless by country one means the government. How dare you call yourself a democracy and at the same time rule a legislation deciding on people’s lives without any public discussion? How dare you go behind our backs and think that it is okay? How dare you dream that you can get off with this? If not insane, I don’t know what this is. On the 22nd of October, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal ruled that existing legislation allowing abortions due to fetal abnormalities was unconstitutional, one of the most draconian restrictions across Europe. The only remaining legal grounds for abortion would be rape, incest, and medical risk to a mother’s life, making up only around 2% of abortions in Poland. Basically, Polish judges outlaw 98% of abortions in the country. To put things into perspective, women’s rights groups estimate between 80.000

Poland’s government has been infamous for its human rights’ violations. It has cast gay people as an existential threat to the nation, prompting dozens of localities to pass legislation declaring their regions free from ‘L.G.B.T. ideology’. It has been packing the Constitutional Tribunal, the Polish judiciary power, with partisans and most notably directing its president, while side-stepping the constitutionally outlined election process. In the notorious press freedom index created by Reporters without Borders (RSF), Poland ranks 62nd in the world in 2020, down from 18th in 2015 when PiS first came to power. There is so much more that could be mentioned here, but hopefully the point made is clear.

Illustration © Sofie Ryan

October 28th, 2020- the middle of a world pandemic, thousands of people around the world are dying, millions of people are quarantining, the world is in constant fear and panic. At the same time, in one place in the world approximately 430.000 people are taking to the streets, despite more than 20.000 new infections reported daily and hospitals struggling to deal with the influx of patients. What is going on? Where are we?

On the 11th of November Poland will celebrate its 102 anniversary of independence. After 123 years of occupation from its neighbours Poland regained its independence and freedom. This time it is not other parties who are the enemy. The enemy is my very own government. How am I supposed to celebrate freedom when I feel like I’m losing it with each day?

Your Monthly Culture Fill with Ricky & Mill by Ricky Maggioni and Milena Stoilova Welcome to our monthly column on what’s culturally popping in and around Utrecht, we hope you’ll be amazed or amused, maybe even both! Another month, another edition of the Boomerang. As Ricky and Milena were plan-

ning their next visit to the cool IMPAKT festival about the climate crisis (don’t worry, we’ll go there next time and tell you all about it), corona happened. Again. “All venues that are normally open to the public are closed. This includes museums”. But fear not! We found some cool artsy stuff that you can do all the way from your

comfy chair.

Illustration © Akari Sakamoto

Option 1: Stedelijk Museum The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is famous for its modern and contemporary art, as well as design. The museum is currently closed, but it nevertheless offers live virtual tours on its Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook pages every Friday! It also offers the possibility for online audio tours. Furthermore, the museum allows anyone to follow seven online workshops designed to boost creativity at home, encouraging everyone to turn mundane items into works of art. All of this can be accessed from the official website, which is easily found by simply searching up the name online. And, just in case you’re concerned that the online content they provide is only in Dutch, worry not! I personally followed a 10-minute video on “Bakunin’s Barricade”, a work by the conceptualist artist Ahmet Ögüt. While online activities

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cannot match their real-life counterparts, this museum provides entertaining and informative online content.

diary on Youtube. As far as completeness goes, the online alternatives for visiting the Anne Frank house leave very little to be desired.

Option 2: Anne Frank house Anne Frank has become famous over the last 70 years for her diary describing the atrocities committeed by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Many of you may know that it is possible to visit her house in Amsterdam, but did you know that you can also visit it online? We strongly recommend you to do so! Through the site, one can look around the Secret Annex and find out more about her story. If you download the ‘Anne Frank House VR’ app you can explore her hiding place through virtual reality. You can even listen to her diary in fifteen episodes through Anne Frank video

Option 3: Between art and quarantine If you don’t feel like looking at artwork, don’t worry! The Instagram page ‘tussenkunstenquarantaine’ provides an initiative for fans to imitate their favorite works of art. The idea is simple: you choose your artwork, use at least three household items and recreate it! Don’t forget to tag the page, to make sure you will be featured. Or just scroll through the page and enjoy the hilarious remakes. From van Gogh’s Starry Night reconstructed using hair, tennis balls and clothes, to Margritte’s La Bonne Aventure (aka weird big nose) imitated by a dog sitting, there is plenty of content. Either

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way, this is a surefire way to keep yourself busy during these quarantine times. While we understand that these circumstances are far from ideal, and the real experiences are obviously better, we hope that these online experiences lift your spirits just a little bit.

Living Deliciously by Veere Boucher

I think food is one of the most important things in the world. In fact, I believe that Maslow made a mistake when he was developing his hierarchy of needs; food deserves to be on every level or should at the very least not be confined to the bottom layer. Food is necessary not to starve, yes – but I would argue that its necessity continues all the way to self-actualisation. Food (and drink) fulfils an incredibly varied, complex and important role in our lives. It soothes us, disgusts us, delights us, depresses us, nourishes us, gets us excited or leaves us completely neutral. Food is both a source of passion and the cause of bland routine. Food is an absolute necessity and an art; food is the mediator – the lubricant if you will – of human relationships; food is the delicious fuel that gets us through our days. Food is a big part of our lives, and, I argue, a big part of campus life as well. In-between the studying, following lectures, exercising, socialising (is anyone actually still doing that though?) and everything else, what do we do? We eat. In fact, we eat while we are doing those things too.

Everyone eats, everyone cooks; some do it horribly, some put in a great amount of effort. While writing this column, I spilled some homemade mango chutney on my notebook, which I was eating with some homemade bread, with crushed nuts, cilantro, chili sauce and leftover homemade black bean balls. You can guess which category I belong to. However, it’s the other group that endlessly fascinates me. To the people that eat pasta pesto every night, those that heat up home-brand Plus pizzas, and those that haven’t touched a piece of fruit in the whole month of November. Those that straight up forget some meals, and especially to the person I saw on facebook today who was cooking pasta and broccoli in the same pot: I love you. I worry about you. And please eat some vegetables, if only for me. I have to wonder though; what causes this difference between high-effort chefs and low-effort slap-togetherers? Are some of us simply more sensitive to taste? Are some born not to care as deeply? Perhaps practicalities like time, energy and skill matter most. But doesn’t everybody, deep down, want to live deliciously? In any case, I know the difference between a high- and a low-effort dish; remarkably little time. I find that any overly simple dish goes

from 0 to, well, at least 30 in about ten minutes. Imagine you are eating (as, if I’m assuming the worst, aforementioned chef was) broccoli and pasta with a little cheese. Your dish is some crème fraîche and a few halved cherry tomatoes away from a delicious creamy broccoli pasta. Add some salmon, some dill and some capers and you are dining like a king! Even if you are a person who doesn’t want to spend any time cooking (which is fully understandable), try finding out what ingredients you need to make your struggle meals a little less struggle and a little more meal. You’d be surprised by the extent to which some canned tuna and *gasp* corn can transform an otherwise boring storebought pizza. My hope is that we can all find the time and the inner will to (culinarily) take care of ourselves these cold, lonely, socially-distant winter months. Remember how everybody was suddenly baking bread and cooking like crazy in the first lockdown? Let’s get back to that, and place food just a little higher on our own hierarchy of needs. My cooking tip for this month: bake some pepernoten to share with unitmates and friends. Traditionally eaten at Sinterklaas, they are great little cookies you can have a lively discussion about said controversial holiday with. They are surprisingly versatile; you can have them just like that, dip them in chocolate, crumble them over your dessert or use them as a base for an incredibly seasonal cheesecake. You can reach me for questions, comments and hate mail at v.s.boucher@students.uu.nl.

We get a coffee, we make ourselves a sandwich, we cut up an apple as a snack. Or, in the case of an insane and lovely roommate I once had, we cook ourselves a dinner-worthy meal for lunch and then start from scratch again for our actual dinner. Though, we’ll all have to admit, that this is an anomaly of proportion on this campus. Alas, lower forms of cooking – I propose using the term bas cuisine (as opposed to its fancier haute cousin) for this phenomenon - has long claimed dominion over this institution.

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The Boomerang | November 2020

5 Things I’m Doing Instead Of Celebrating the Biden Win by Noor van Asseldonk Chen With Biden leading the Democrats to victory, we enter a new era of American politics. Yet, something about the celebrations and endless shiny Joe and Kamala candids just doesn’t sit right with me. Call me overly critical, a pessimist, a party pooper… but when it comes to politics, it’s hard not to feel cynical celebrating anyone or anything ‘winning’. In the realm of personality politics, being critical seems to be a mainstay in staying sane. I’m also, frankly, a little tired from keeping up with the elections, so here are 5 things I’m doing instead of celebrating the Biden win. 1. Eating a cheese toastie (and thinking about how American politics are still incredibly polarized) After a historic number of early and mail-in votes, Biden won by a whopping… 3.3%. Sure, American politics has arguably always been polarized, but the question now is how to make governance work in a country whose political building blocks have become hyper-charged in their own right. Health care, taxation, immigration, national debt, foreign policy… How will the newly elected officials be navigating these problems in a divided America? I’ll be keeping an eye out for the new cabinet, in any case. 2. Moving my clothes from my bed to my chair (and thinking about how ‘Sleepy Joe’ definitely isn’t as sleepy as he seems) Hawkish or dovish? The opinions are divided. While Joe Biden might be pushing for criminal justice reform, green energy, and expanding Obamacare, we might want to remind ourselves that this is the same man who voted in support of the Iraq War back in 2003 and backed segre-

gationist policies in the 70s. Of course, I’m not saying his authority should be completely undermined, but we shouldn’t be throwing caution to the wind either. For most, celebrating a Biden win might stem more from relief that Trump lost than from true love for grandpa Joe, but we ought to stay wary regardless. Constant vigilance! 3. Dipping my fingers in hot candle wax (and thinking about how US foreign policy needs serious scrutiny) While Biden’s main focus is supposedly on domestic issues, his stance on US foreign policy is one of ‘re-engagement’. What this will most likely mean in practice is that he will be scuttling around reversing some of Trump’s legacy, repairing the US relationships with institutions like NATO and the WHO. However, he will be much more sophisticated than Trump in his approach to the countries that threaten American primacy, with Russia and China most likely to be subjected to international coalitions rather than unilateral tariffs. Representing the interests of the American military complex and Wall Street, we’ll have to stay critical of his policies abroad. Just because he might not be brimming with insane one-liners like his predecessor, doesn’t mean his policies shouldn’t be scrutinized with equal vigour. 4. Putting tealights in a wine glass cause I saw it on Pinterest (and thinking about Kamala ‘Top Cop’ Harris’ career) Kamala Harris ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to representation politics. She is the first African-American, first Indian-American, and first female vice-president. But representation

Harry’s Hedonistic Hotspots by Harry Mills It was getting late. Though the sky was growing dark outside his window, an ominous sign of the impending winter solstice, Harry was still in class; the forces that determined the staggered timeslots had not been with him. As the second hand of the clock ticked on, bolstering social constructions of time with steadfast determination, his mind floated from the realm of politics, leaving Marx and Foucault bickering in its wake. It settled on the cobbles of the Voorstraat (or rather hovered above them, as disembodied consciousnesses tend to do), glancing around furtively for a relatively quick but hearty evening meal. Caught in a gentle gust of cerebral wind, Harry’s mind was swept around the corner and down a narrow alleyway, settling this time in front of Kippig. Though

disembodied minds, of course, have no sense of smell, seeing as they are… well, disembodied, Harry remembered all the times he had cycled past Kippig; the tantalising aromas of rotisserie chicken emanating from inside always piqued his interest, and his appetite. As soon as class ended, Harry grabbed his bike and headed into town. In less than ten minutes, he had arrived outside the shop, the glimmering lights and smouldering embers of which cast a warm glow into the alleyway. Bustling in, he glanced at the menu… half a rotisserie chicken for € 8.90, a whole one for € 17.50 (he did the maths to determine whether this was indeed cheaper than just buying two halves; it checked out), various chicken burgers

isn’t always representation. Her campaign with Biden might be considered progressive, but her 17-year career record shouldn’t be overlooked. While she’s been outspoken about her support for the LGBTQ+ community and she’s been a so-called Progressive Prosecutor, her time as a District Attorney was also filled with awkward programs built on good intent. For example, the ‘Back on Track’ program, which was meant to be an alternative to the tough-on-crime mentality, and the anti-truancy laws, meant to keep kids in school. Neither had the large-scale effect she hoped for, and she received criticism for being out of touch with the communities that needed help the most. She’s a complicated figure, pushing for change within the confinements of the American legal and political system. She talked the talk, so now we wait and see if she can walk the walk. 5. Doing some of my ultimates’ dishes occasionally so I can accumulate good karma (and thinking about how there is still so much to do) Oh, America, you filthy beast, you. Your primacy has dictated so much of the world I live in. From the media I consume to the slang I use, you have been a presence in my life since I was old enough to say “I love McDonald’s”. I don’t identify as American, but it’s impossible not to care about your workings when we are all so affected by it. I’m not sure what the next four years will mean, but I hope you go forth carefully and wisely. I hope you reconnect with the rest of the world as you navigate your own roots. And as for Biden... I might not be celebrating your win, but I’ll be doing my part by staying critical.

Kippig Rotisserie Chicken Loeff Berchmakerstraat 15, Utrecht Cost: €€ Price to Calorie Ratio: Noice for around € 8-10, various sides (fries, wedges, corn on the cob, and salads) for € 3.75… not too bad on the whole; not exactly snack bar prices, but certainly not snackbar quality either. In the end, he ordered half a rotisserie chook with a side of fries (€ 11.90). As it was being prepared, a process which took no longer than a minute or so, one of the guys in the back assured him that it would be the tastiest rotisserie chicken he’d have had in awhile. Upon arriving back on campus, Harry set about testing that hypothesis with relish, and came to the conclusion that the guy in the back had indeed been right; succulent chicken, crispy and flavourful skin, hearty fries (with spiced mustard)… this was just the meal he had been craving.

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Important Opinions on Important Movies by Sam de Visser Throwback time: it’s 2010. I’m in primary school, just existing without a care in the world. My best friend and I do what so many other kids our age do, which is to enter a YouTube rabbit hole of dumb videos - remember when Smosh and Tobuscus were the pinnacles of entertainment? Then, one fateful day, we stumbled upon the trailer for Who Killed Captain Alex? (Nabwana I.G.G., 2010), a Ugandan actioncomedy movie. Clearly made on a shoestring budget, loud, violent and extremely wacky, we laugh and then move on, because we’re kids. Seven years later, my best friend gives me a birthday present. And as I unwrap it, I see a little paper sheet resting on a piece of cardboard, one of those purple PC-burnt DVDs inside; it’s fucking Who Killed Captain Alex?, making its glorious return, seven years later. We watch it, we are astounded, and life suddenly seems better. Who Killed Captain Alex? is a triumph of cinema, and I mean that without a shred of irony. Yes, it’s clearly made on a low budget (as low as $200, in fact). No, the acting isn’t always very good and the effects are obviously done on a makeshift computer in a Ugandan slum,

because the entire film was edited on a makeshift computer in a Ugandan slum. Narratively, it’s a bit of a mess and quite difficult to follow. This is very clearly not made by professional filmmakers.

But it makes it insanely refreshing to watch something purely joyful, something made with an incredible passion for movies, even if it’s kind of busted. Who cares? They’re having fun, and in turn, that makes you have fun.

However, it’s also tons and tons of fun. Every frame of WKCA is bursting with joy and passion; everyone involved is very clearly having one hell of a good time, and I can’t blame them. It’s selfaware in every sense of the word, but because of that it’s also brimming with confidence. As the ‘video joker’ (in Ugandan video halls, these VJs provide the movie with live commentary) yells over everything that you see, I don’t think even the biggest cynic would be able to resist a smile. It may be a little wack, but it’s very clear that the people involved in this movie were passionate beyond belief.

WKCA is such a purely fun movie that you stop caring about its flaws. It takes you with it in its hype for its own existence, its own excitement that it managed to gather a group of people and despite everything, banged out an amazing action movie in a Ugandan slum. It’s incredibly ambitious - who would even make an action movie with only two hundred dollars? Nabwana I.G.G. from the Wakaliga slum in Kampala did, and he nailed it.

Cinema nowadays is so preoccupied with pleasing everyone there is to please, with catering to corporations and advertisements and governments and activists and what-have-you that they’ve kind of forgotten to be fun. I can’t blame Hollywood for that at all - if you invest as much money as in the average blockbuster, taking risks and having fun is incredibly stupid.

I cannot recommend this movie enough, and lucky you, it’s available online for free. You can also support Wakaliwood (the unofficial official name for Isaac’s movie imperium) via their website, but even giving WKCA a watch would be enough. Explosions, helicopters, a musical sequence and genuinely well-choreographed karate: Who Killed Captain Alex? has it all, and that is nothing but brilliant. No advertisements here.

Your Guide Through the CRISPR Revolution by Vela Kaluderovic This year, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for pioneering the development of CRISPR – a precise form of gene-editing. The technology allows for precise edits to the genome, and has garnered explosive amounts of attention in laboratories since its inception in the 2010s. CRISPR has countless applications – with researchers hoping to use it to alter human genes to eliminate disease, create hardier plants, wipe out pathogens and more. So, how does this ground-breaking technique work and what could the consequences of it be? Charpentier and Doudna explored a quirk in the immune systems of bacteria to edit genes in other organisms, from plants to humans. Bacteria are under constant threat from viruses, so they need to produce enzymes (proteins which speed up chemical reactions) that fight off viral infections. Once an invader is killed, enzymes scoop up the dead virus and cut it into tiny bits. They then store the bits in the bacterium’s genome, within an area called CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). Here’s where the bacteria get clever: these CRISPR spaces act as a genomic cloud– allowing bacteria to use the stored

information to defend itself more efficiently in the future. If re-infected, attack enzymes known as Cas9 carry the stored info as a mug shot: if they come across a virus they compare it and, if they match, they immediately chop it up. The Nobel Laureates managed to exploit this mechanism in order to make these edits in any genome quickly and cheaply. The Cas9 attack enzyme became their new target: they discovered that if they feed it artificial RNA, it can be ‘fooled’ into finding any RNA sequence that matches up with it to cut it out. Therefore, they showed that they could use this CRISPR/ Cas9 combination to theoretically cut up any genome, isolate any sequence they required and edit a genome as a whole. What doors does this open, you may ask? It is no surprise that the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been hailed by some as the greatest discovery of the millennium in the field of genetics. There is potential, for instance, to edit the human genome to try to knock out genetic diseases such as Huntington’s disease or cystic fibrosis, to eradicating bacterial and viral diseases such as HIV, and even creating hornless dairy cows in order to stop painful dehorning practices on dairy farms.

Although it may seem like a limitless opportunity, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has many limitations, whether systemic or ethical. It is not 100% efficient and could therefore have negative side-effects if a section of DNA is cut at sites other than the intended targets. Technical problems may be fixed over time, however ethical concerns remain: with its potential gene-altering effect, strict limits on CRISPR/Cas9 must be implemented in order to avoid serious maltreatment of the method (the concept of ‘designer babies’ may come to mind). On this front, in 2018, a Chinese scientist named He Jiankui reported that he had created the world’s first human babies with CRISPR-edited genes: a pair of twin girls resistant to HIV. There have since been more instances of similar studies which shine light on a debate anyone, regardless of their background, should think about. How far is too far for science? Despite the potential issues which naturally arise from a monumental discovery such as CRISPR/Cas9, thanks to Charpentier and Doudna, very little seems impossible in a field which explores the very foundations of all of us: our genetic code.

12 QUAD QUERIES

The Boomerang | November 2020

gest n a r t s r u o y 's t a h "W e form of quarantin self-care?"

“Lighting candles on

– Eva

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gs at 4am"

“Playing chess” – Reinier

“Actually doing my readings for once”

– Gina

“Skyrim" – Vanessa

“Watching dogs get groomed at 2am on Korean or Japanese channels”

– Flavia & Zoe

“Ur Mom”

– Alina

– Emma

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Boomerang uses wind energy printers The Boomerang is a periodical newspaper. It comes out eight times a year. This is the third issue of the academic year.