Volume 26, Issue 1

OCTOBER 2023| VOLUME 26| ISSUE 1

HIGHER EDUCATION’S SUMMER OF DISCONTENT

PAGE 1

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

HELLO FELLOW STUDENTS! WELCOME TO OUR FIRST BATH TIME PRINT EDITION OF THE 23/24 YEAR!

THIS IS

SUCH AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR THE COMMITTEE AND MYSELF, AND AS YOU HAVE PICKED UP A COPY OF OUR MAGAZINE, YOU ARE NOW PART OF THIS PROJECT! IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU MAY FIND YOUR UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE SYNONYMOUS WITH

A

SENSE

EXPLOITATION WEALTH

OF

POWERLESSNESS:

DESTROYING

INEQUALITY;

UNIVERSITY

AND

EXPERIENCE.

POWERLESS

OUR

PLANET;

EVEN

POWERLESS

BUT

IT

IS

WITHIN

TO

POWERLESS TO THIS

STOP

STOP TO

THE

TIDE

CONFRONT

DISRUPTION

FEELING

THAT

TO

TO

OF

RISING YOUR

COUNTER

THAT HELPLESSNESS, I DISCOVERED MY VOICE THROUGH BATH TIME MAGAZINE. IF YOU CHOOSE TO NOT VOICE YOUR OBJECTIONS TO THE MOVEMENTS OF THE WORLD, HAVE YOU NOT BECOME PART OF THAT VERY MOVEMENT? I

WOULD

WHETHER

LIKE

TO

AS

WRITER

A

THANK OR

EVERYONE AN

WHO

CONTRIBUTED

ILLUSTRATOR.

YOU

ARE

TO ALL

THE

MAGAZINE,

AMAZING,

AND

I

TRULY BELIEVE THAT BY TAKING PART IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS, WE CAN ENRICH EACH OTHER'S LIVES.

ELLIOT ROSE (HE/HIM) EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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BATH TIME MAGAZINE

MEET THE COMMITTEE Elliot Rose

Editor-In-Chief

He/Him

ELLIOT IS AN ENTHUSIASTIC MASTER’S STUDENT AND BEANSON-TOAST CHEF. EVEN FROM A YOUNG AGE, HE IMPRESSED HIS PARENTS BY LEARNING HOW TO READ AND WRITE, AND HE ONCE WON A ONE-MAN BRAD PITT LOOKALIKE COMPETITION IN WHICH HE WAS THE JUDGE. HIS FAVOURITE MEMBER OF THE BEATLES IS GEORGE HARRISON, AND HIS FAVOURITE ALBUM IS ‘PROCESS’ BY SAMPHA. YOU CAN OFTEN FIND HIM SLEEPWRITING (THE FIRST CASE IN MEDICAL HISTORY!) OR AT THE SU BAR.

Jessica Lawrence She/Her

Lifestyle/Splash Team Leader

JESS IS A CLASSIC LIT ENTHUSIAST GOING UNDERCOVER AS A CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT WITH AN UNHEALTHY OBSESSION FOR REWATCHING OLD SITCOMS. WHEN SHE’S NOT IN A BOOKSHOP OR SHOPPING FOR NOVELS THAT SHE’LL FORGET TO READ, JESS CAN BE FOUND TASTETESTING ALL THE COFFEE SHOPS IN BATH.

Louise Sadler Comments and Conversations & Sports She/Her and Activities Team Leader

FIRST A SPORTS ENTHUSIAST, SECOND A MODERN LANGUAGES STUDENT, LOUISE HOLDS THE ALL-TIME RECORD FOR SPONTANEOUS NAPPING... PROBABLY TO MAKE UP FOR ALL THE CHATTING SHE DOES EACH DAY! WHEN SHE'S NOT AT THE GYM OR TRAVELLING TO FARAWAY PLACES, LOUISE CAN BE FOUND PUTTING PEN TO PAPER IN THE LIBRARY OR SUNBATHING BY THE POND TO EITHER DRAW, WRITE OR CATCH UP ON HER ASSIGNMENTS…..WHEN SHE ISN'T SLEEPING THAT IS!

Harry Black Features and Investigations Team He/Him

Leader

BEYONCÉ FAN, LINGUIST AND AMATEUR MIXOLOGIST ARE PROBABLY THE THREE BIGGEST THINGS PEOPLE WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE HARRY - HIS MARGARITAS ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! ORIGINALLY FROM LONDON, HE HAS JUST SPENT HIS YEAR ABROAD IN PARIS AND SANTIAGO. YOU’LL MOST LIKELY FIND HIM HOSTING WINE AND CHEESE NIGHTS WITH FRIENDS WHEN NOT ON CAMPUS.

Bath Time Magazine

CONTENTS

6 COVER STORY: HIGHER EDUCATION’S SUMMER OF DISCONTENT

9 AI AND JOURNALISM

OUR ARTICLE SERIES ON WOMEN AND BARBENHEIMER P. 17

12 THE ‘BREXIFICATION’ OF OUR YEAR ABROAD 20 GEN Z’S LOVE FOR THRIFTING 23 I COULD BE LYING TO YOU...

26 NAYIB BUKELE: EL SALVADOR’S AUTHORITARIAN ANSWER TO GANG VIOLENCE 29 ALIENS OR LIES? 32 A BATH TIME ESSAY SERIES ON WEALTH 35 FESTIVALS: THE FIELDS OF FANTASY 38 SHE’S A CHILD OF DIVORCE 39 A PASSPORT TO UNCERTAINTY 41 READING IS COOL AGAIN 43 THE SECRETS THAT ELITE UNIVERSITIES DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

ILLUSTRATION BY BEN COCKERILL, COURTESY OF THE BATH ILLUSTRATION AND ANIMATION SOCIETY

44 THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THIS YEAR’S WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

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BATH TIME MAGAZINE

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BATH TIME-BEEHIVE NEWS COLLABORATION

We at Bath Time are happy to announce a new

This is what Beehive News had to say on the matter:

partnership with Beehive News for this next academic year. Beehive News is a rising news organisation

"Bath Time Magazine is now partnering with

dedicated to eradicating misinformation.

Beehive News, the only large-scale, article-level

It is a valuable tool ensuring that anyone can choose to read

an opportunity for our content and writers to be

from news sources with integrity, as well as gaining insights into perspectives on key issues from across the political

rating platform in the world. This collaboration is displayed side by side with influential global media such as the BBC, The Guardian, The Independent

spectrum.

and Sky News, among others.

Through the Beehive app you can view articles from many

Beehive is a novel, revolutionary tool that aims to

news organisations, ranging from BBC News, Sky News,

fight misinformation, one of the most pressing

The Guardian, and even Bath Time Magazine!

issues of our time. The platform combines smart

So, this year you will be able to read Bath Time articles on

thousands of daily articles from top-notch news

the Beehive News app in addition to our website. This is hopefully a new phase in the history of Bath Time, providing our student journalists with an additional platform in order to showcase their work, as well as having the satisfying feeling of knowing that it will be displayed alongside articles from some of the most established domestic news organisations. Oh, and joining the fight against misinformation of course!

user ratings and artificial intelligence to assess outlets in the UK and the world and guide readers to quality, reliable content.

Download the Beehive News app to get the Bath Time Magazine articles in real-time on your phone."

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

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FEATURES AND INVESTIGATION

HIGHER EDUCATION’S SUMMER OF DISCONTENT

BY HARRY BLACK, COREY LITTON AND ELLIOT ROSE

ILLUSTRATION BY LOUISE SADLER

An

investigation

into

the

UK

Higher

context, it is clear that the act of striking is never a simple,

Education system’s summer of discontent:

impulsive decision but the result of complex long-drawn-

the impact of the marking and assessment boycott on students and academics.

Students undertaking a degree in the UK at the moment have not had an easy ride. Current finalists will of course remember the Covid-19 lockdowns of yesteryear which fundamentally changed the dynamics of undergraduate education. Newer cohorts at Bath have probably felt the pinch of the ‘cost-of-living crisis’, which has seen prices in every domain skyrocket. The marking and assessment boycott of this year was the cherry on the cake for many students who had so successfully battled all of these successive crises.

Background The UCU’s (University and College Union) decision to strike is symptomatic of the UK’s broken Higher Education model.

Tuition fees for UK home students have remained static since

out negotiations. It would be, therefore, reductive to let debate on these topics slip into discussions regarding the morality of lecturers who choose to strike. It would be more prudent however to dissect the forces at play behind the UCU’s industrial action.

UCU members began striking in April due to a breakdown in relations with the UCEA (University and Colleges Employers Association). The UCU demanded a 12% increase or the RPI (Retail Price Index, a measure of inflation) plus 2%, while the UCEA offered an increase of 5-8%. The UCU considered this as a real-term pay cut.

UCU members in the end voted for industrial action: a 6month mandate to boycott marking any exams/coursework that counted towards students’ final degree classification.

This affected over 145 higher education institutions across the UK, however, to dissect the forces at play behind the UCU’s industrial action.

2017. The triumvirate of Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and Covid19 have propelled the UK’s inflation rate to new heights.

However, UK universities are still receiving 2017 funding levels despite the devastating effects of inflation. In light of this dreary

Article continues on the next page->

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FEATURES AND INVESTIGATION

Impact of the industrial action at Bath

UCU teach-out session

The Bath SU decided to not endorse the subsequent strikes (705

One of our correspondents, Corey Litton, participated in a UCU

votes for NO and 675 for YES). The official university guidance

teach-out session earlier this year. The primary objective of these

stated that students affected by this industrial action would be

gatherings was to educate the broader student community about

given ‘interim’ marks as well as an ‘interim’ classification/award

the reasons behind the lecturers' strike. Here’s what he had to

(for those undergraduates graduating this year). Students in this

say:

situation were still allowed to attend summer graduations. On the 8th of September, the university released a statement saying that

“Perhaps the nastiest reality check I had was learning of UCU’s

the boycott had ended early.

very own student hardship fund proposal during the industrial action of 2018. The university, because of the strikes, had excess

‘The boycott has affected a huge swath of students – from visa

cash that otherwise would have been spent on paying the salaries

holders who cannot get their visas renewed without their

of those on the picket line. The UCU proposed that a sum of this

finalised transcripts, to students with very competitive graduate

money be put into the Student Hardship Fund, a sort of way to

job offers who cannot confirm that they have received the

mitigate the otherwise quite nasty implications the strikes were

necessary qualifications. The Institute of Student Employers has

having on students. The university originally refused these

issued guidance in

proposals in 2018.”

relation to this issue, recommending that : “recruiters consider the difficult situation a student has been

For those unaware of what the student hardship fund entails, the

placed in through no fault of their own and the relevant

university describes it as a fund which “provides limited financial

employment regulations”.’

support for students who are experiencing financial difficulty and are unable to meet basic or unexpected additional

Eleanor Coldwell, a Bath alumna, has previously voiced her

costs from other sources of support.” Such a proposal would

dissatisfaction with the ongoing situation. She documented losing

have gone down astoundingly well across the student body,

36 days to strikes during her time at Bath. Like numerous others,

considering the economically challenging times we find

she holds a conditional offer for a Master's course, and it remains

ourselves in.

uncertain whether universities will permit students to begin their courses without formally meeting their offer conditions. Certain

Now I am sure there are many reasonable explanations for this

universities, like Warwick, have implemented measures to

decision by the university, but I also can't help but think that

address this issue, such as enabling students to graduate with

there was something else sinister at play? Perhaps, the fact that if

final mark averages that can only be increased once the boycott

such a proposal was allowed - it would completely contradict the

finishes and marking commences again.

seemingly dominant narrative that the UCU is a ‘selfish’ organisation which ‘doesn’t care about their students?’ Food for thought maybe.

Article continues on the next page->

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It should be emphasised that this original decision in 2018 has

experience.; If the University of Bath wants to truly invest in

since been reversed – the university is now using these surplus

ways to ‘transform your student experience’: protecting student

funds to help contribute to the Hardship Fund. Regardless, I still

wellbeing, avoiding academic disruption, and making our

feel that the behaviour that caused the university to reject the

environment a pleasant experience for students and educators

hardship fund is still prevalent. Many students often complain

alike, it should now know where to start.

about the lack of communication and transparency regarding the university’s response to the strike action, many of which cause further anger and tension across the student population which can often be targeted at those striking.

Conclusion The end of the marking boycott and the resumption of normal academic activities mark a turning point within our academic landscape. While the recent industrial action undoubtedly presented challenges, it also served as a reminder of the importance of open communication and collaboration within our academic community. It's an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between educators and students and, in turn, enhance the overall quality of education. Moreover, this experience has highlighted the need for educational institutions to address underlying issues that led to industrial action in the first place. To ensure a more stable and productive academic year, we should collectively advocate for policies and practices that promote fair treatment, adequate compensation, and working conditions for educators.

As part of the University of Bath strategy for 2021 to 2026, our university has founded a student experience strategic plan, promising as an underlying principle to ‘protect and promote’ student wellbeing ‘in all policies, practices, and programmes.’

When the consequence of industrial action necessitates a hardship fund for students, at what point do we finally admit that prolonging industrial action does more than risk student wellbeing; it sacrifices it. Infrastructural investments such as a brand-new management building on campus emerged amidst claims from the university that it would ‘transform your student

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

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FEATURES AND INVESTIGATION

AI AND JOURNALISM

BY ELLIOT ROSE AND CHAT GPT This is an investigation to discern people’s ability to

our newsfeed magically fills with articles tailored to your

differentiate between an article written by our editor,

interests?

Elliot Rose and an article written by Chat GPT. Can

AI's recommendation algorithms are at work, ensuring you

you tell the difference between the human and AI

get the content you crave. Additionally, in a world inundated

articles? Why, or why not? Respond to the poll on our

with misinformation,

website, so we can get a better idea about the success of our very own Turing Test!

THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM: AI'S IMPACT ON NEWS REPORTING

AI plays a crucial role in Fact-Checking. It cross-references information with trusted sources, helping journalists separate fact from fiction.

However, AI's integration into journalism is not without its challenges and concerns. Job displacement is a significant

In an age defined by rapid technological evolution, even the

concern as the automation of routine tasks could lead to job

age-old craft of journalism is undergoing a transformation of

losses for journalists. But on the flip side, AI can also create new

its own. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken its place in the

job opportunities in data journalism and AI system management.

newsroom, leaving many to wonder: Will AI ultimately

Ethical concerns abound, particularly regarding transparency,

replace journalism, or will humans continue to be the

bias, and accountability. It's imperative to establish guidelines

storytellers? In this article, we explore the thrilling landscape

that ensure AI-generated content adheres to journalistic

of AI-powered journalism, how it's reshaping the industry, and

standards. Maintaining editorial quality remains a challenge, as

whether the pen will yield to the algorithm.

AI struggles to replicate the nuanced storytelling that human

AI's integration into journalism has brought about significant

journalists excel at.

changes. It has streamlined news reporting in various ways.

AI's double-edged sword is evident when it comes to

Automated Content Generation is a prime example, where AI

misinformation. While it can assist in fact-checking, it's also

algorithms swiftly generate news articles, freeing human

capable

journalists

misinformation. Detecting and countering these threats is of

from

routine

tasks.

Whether

it's

financial

of

creating

deepfake

content

and

spreading

summaries or sports scores, AI is up to the task.

paramount importance.

Furthermore, AI excels at Data Analysis in this era of big data.

There's also the issue of overreliance on AI algorithms.

It sifts through vast troves of information, unveiling hidden

Depending too heavily on these algorithms for content

trends and insights, making investigative journalism more

recommendations can trap us in information bubbles, limiting

potent than ever. Language barriers vanish with AI-powered

the diversity of perspectives we encounter.

Natural Language Processing (NLP). Real-time language

Despite these challenges, AI is not poised to replace journalism

translation and transcription services enable seamless global

but rather reshape it. It's essential to recognize AI as an ally, not

reporting, bridging linguistic gaps effortlessly. AI-driven

an adversary. Journalists are masters of creativity and context,

Audience Engagement is also reshaping news consumption.

qualities that AI struggles to replicate. They excel in

Have you ever wondered how

investigative reporting, driven by human intuition and the ability to uncover hidden stories within unstructured data.

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Moreover, journalism is not just about reporting facts; it's about

Perhaps a more pertinent question might be, if ai posed as a

ethical decision-making and holding those in power accountable.

human journalist whilst reporting a story, would you be able

Journalists are the guardians of these principles. Trust in

to tell?

journalism is built on human relationships and credibility. The human element is vital in maintaining that trust. As AI takes over routine tasks, human journalists can shift their focus to more strategic and creative aspects of reporting. This includes in-depth analysis, storytelling that resonates with human experiences, and engaging with the audience on a personal level.

In conclusion, AI's integration into journalism is inevitable, and

ILLUSTRATION BY LOUISE SADLER

it brings a wealth of benefits. However, it should not be seen as a replacement for human journalists. The future of journalism lies

WILL AI TAKE OVER JOURNALISM?

in a partnership between humans and machines, where each leverages the other's strengths. By embracing AI as a valuable tool, journalists can continue to inform, engage, and hold the powerful accountable, while harnessing the power of AI to enhance the quality and reach of their reporting. The future of journalism is one where humans and machines collaborate to deliver news that is accurate, insightful, and profoundly impactful. As AI takes over routine tasks, human journalists can shift their focus to more strategic and creative aspects of reporting. This includes in-depth analysis, storytelling that resonates with human experiences, and engaging with the audience on a personal level.

In July of this year, Google pitched their brand new, artificial intelligence (henceforth known as AI) tool, named ‘Genesis’, to several major American news outlets. Whilst still existing within the testing phase, according to the New York Times, Genesis would have the ability to apprehend intel on the ground of an event and generate news articles Such a tool would implement artificial intelligence as a fundamental aspect of the journalistic process. With the rise of technology such as the internet and smartphones, the quasi-romantic vision of a journalist trawling the streets with a notepad has

In conclusion, AI's integration into journalism is inevitable, and

long disappeared. Google has claimed that Genesis is

it brings a wealth of benefits. However, it should not be seen as a

intended to be more of a manned drone, an assistant acting

replacement for human journalists. The future of journalism lies

according to the requirements of human will, freeing us

in a partnership between humans and machines, where each

certain tasks such as the generation of articles rather than the

leverages the other's strengths. By embracing AI as a valuable

“role journalists place in reporting, creating and fact-checking

tool, journalists can continue to inform, engage, and hold the

articles.’’

powerful accountable, while harnessing the power of AI to

Some may argue, therefore, that Google wishes to invent an

enhance the quality and reach of their reporting. The future of

easy-bake oven for the journalistic process. Genesis is yet to

journalism is one where humans and machines collaborate to

be officially unveiled, and we are yet to truly know whether

deliver news that is accurate, insightful, and profoundly

this tool will be limited to inventive ideas for article titles or a

impactful reporting. The future of journalism is one where

whole generation of articles, as various sources have

humans and machines collaborate to deliver news that is

suggested.

accurate, insightful, and profoundly impactful.

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FEATURES AND INVESTIGATION

Either way, considering Google’s vast resources, who is to

In other words, can AI comprehend the type of knowledge that

say what mark the corporation may eventually leave on the

cannot be observed through a Google search, but is rather

journalistic medium? The Google Earth Engine is a project

something more intuitively based? It must be said however that

that has formed a seamless projection of Earth using

some AI, such as Chat GPT, have so-called ‘deep learning

satellite images, in a way that has converged time-lapses

algorithms’ with the capacity to improve and refine their

into profound narratives, documenting the process of

knowledge over time, so any infallibility when it comes to

deforestation and global warming. It is claimed that the

understanding us may be just a temporary obstacle.

journalistic role in reporting news is irreplaceable, but is

Perhaps more disturbingly so, what does AI suggest about

there a watchful eye more encompassing than that of the tech industry? A 2018 paper by the University of Oxford found that the use of satellite imagery was becoming a prominent primary reporting tool for journalists, providing insight into scenarios that may be considered too dangerous for journalists to report, or even areas in which journalists were unable to access. This did however expose the fragility of man, as journalists were often chinks in the journalistic integrity armour, such as cases in which journalists misinterpreted the data. This became such a fervent risk, that some journalist outlets, such as the New York Times, employ teams for the sole purpose of interpreting satellite imagery.

Such a perspective sparks the notion that artificial intelligence can only be wholly good for journalism, and some may even go further to suggest that we should limit the influence of humans within the journalism sphere. So, does this mean that we should limit human influence within

journalistic ethics? Chat GPT receives heavy investment from Microsoft, and some of the wealthiest corporations, be it Apple, Google, IBM, or Amazon, can afford to invest in AI more than any other entity. It would be wise, therefore, to suggest there is a strong link between the development of AI, wealth and power.

Whether it’s the New York Times ‘She Said’ article sparking the Me-Too Movement, the BBC investigation into how Canadian Intelligence helped Shamima Begum join ISIS, or even the role of The Sunday Times and Channel 4 in uncovering sexual allegations against Russel Brand, investigative journalism is an important policeman in uncovering wrongdoing by the powerful. Censoring human journalists can involve intimidation, bribery or worse.

Censoring AI journalism may only involve programming. Can we really trust the news that we receive if it does not provide a balanced viewpoint of certain entities or groups?

AI is entering so many aspects of our society like an ongoing march, and this is none so more prominent than in journalism. Ai can provide a valuable assistant to human journalists, and when optimised will improve the ability of news organisations to report

all newsrooms? Should Rupert Murdoch’s replacement as

on important stories and issues to their readership. But it is yet to

Chairman of Fox News resemble Wall-E more than, per se,

be seen whether it could ever take away the humanity from

a Kendall Roy? Not exactly. According to sources such as

journalism, or rather, would we ever want, or trust, an AI

the Harvard Law Review (2018), language and culture exist

journalist over a human one? As always, it is important to remain

in many ways as a reflection of the complexity that exists

vigilant when obtaining your news and to gain insight into the

within us. AI, whilst great being deployed for individual

world around you from a range of news sources.

tasks, lacks the development to understand the full range of

Perhaps a more pertinent question might be, if AI posed as a

linguistic cues and various cultural nuances. How would AI

human journalist whilst reporting a story, would you be able to

deal with the context known to understand sarcasm? Or

tell?

writing

a

piece

that

requires

understanding of its audience?

a

culturally

fluent

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FEATURES AND INVESTIGATION

THE ‘BREXIFICATION’ OF OUR YEAR ABROAD

BY AMY JOY The Erasmus programme, founded in 1987, facilitated and opened up study-abroad opportunities at a huge scale, mainly by providing funding through grants. It was a stepping stone for future generations to broaden their horizons, travel, work, and profit from the single market. It mainly Illustration by Elliot Rose

assists students through funding, and, according to Brookings Edu in 2019, over 1 million young people participated in the programme.

To provide some context at the beginning of this article, my name is

Amy Joy, and I am a 3rd-year student studying BA Politics and Back in January 2020, The Guardian reported that Prime Minister Boris German at the University of Bath, although I am sure that you are Johnson confidently declared that “there is no threat to the UK Erasmus

already aware of this thanks to my incredibly popular column that I’m scheme” and that “UK students will continue to participate in the told most freshers revere like a Bible! I am currently on a work scheme”, but amidst his frequent partying, as demonstrated through the placement in Germany and Brexit has meant that what should have ‘partygate’ scandal, it seems that the continuation of Erasmus was not high up his list. been a smooth process has now become a bureaucratic Olympics.

In a culture so focused on arriving at university, doing the right internships, and then graduating with a job offer ready to go, a year abroad provides the opportunity to clearly flesh out a character that is not just the professional shell demanded by capitalist society. It allows you to embrace a new culture, develop language skills, form new networks, and build a strong character that understands the value of independence, whilst also being confident in your abilities. After all, moving abroad and living away from everything you know for a whole year is no small feat! It is also an opportunity to reflect and focus on long-term career goals and pursue what interests you most. According to a report by Brookings EDU, over two-thirds of students who took part in a year abroad report having a better understanding of their longterm career goals.

And yet, the conservative government continues to do a disservice to the country through their handling of Brexit, by voting against an amendment that would have required the government to negotiate on continuing the UK’s full membership to the EU’s Erasmus programme. The economic cost of Brexit is widely discussed, but the gravity of this enormous cultural loss simply cannot be calculated.

The UK government has now attempted to replace the Erasmus scheme with the Turing scheme. However, there are a few key flaws which include Turing only supporting outgoing students, not providing funding for tuition fees, and failing to provide any opportunities for universities and research. In contrast, Erasmus supports research and teaching in the EU and promotes collaboration across countries.

For myself and my peers, the entire process of organising a year abroad was difficult. Due to Brexit, we had to apply for student/work visas at a hefty cost, whereas previously movement to and from the UK into the EU was in no way restricted. As I was doing a work placement, I had to apply for a work visa, but here’s the real kicker

I had to apply and

receive an offer for not one, but TWO placements as Germany only offers a 6-month work visa. This also means I must reapply for a new visa at Christmas! Combine this with the utter lack of information surrounding the visa application and you get a sense of the size of the hurdle that had to be overcome.

My experience in trying to obtain a visa can be very easily and quickly summarised through the phrase ‘no one has any idea what is going on’.

I was confused, my placement officers were confused, and even the

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FEATURES AND INVESTIGATION

individuals who worked at the visa centre couldn’t answer my

Both of us also must reapply for visas, which means paying for

questions! It was also just a very long waiting game, which was

flights home and then the same costs all over again ̶ as well as

mentally exhausting, as after 6 months of putting all my energy

having to wait around at home. There is no tracking system for

towards finding placements I was now being told that all I could do

visa processing so we will have to idly wait around without any

was wait- whilst I was simply itching to get to Germany.

idea of how long it will take.

There was also an immense amount of paperwork to complete, with

He has also been turned away from banks because he is not an

almost no assistance, although the one piece of information that was

EU citizen and has therefore struggled to set up an account.

drilled into us was that we must remember to print out 2 copies of

Toby expressed his frustration at not knowing whether he

every document we take with us. This meant I was left with a stack

would receive Turing funding and feels that not enough is

of paper so tall that I probably directly contributed to the

being done by the UK government to ensure youth mobility.

deforestation of a large area of trees (sorry BULU- I promise I’ll attend more climate protests in 4th year!).

Sam, who is working in Austria for the year also expressed this same discontent, stating that he experienced lengthy delays

Fortunately, after all this hassle my visa was processed relatively

with documentation. He finds that the Turing scheme does not

quickly, and I have now been interning in Germany for 2 months.

properly fulfil its purpose of funding a year’s experience for

However, the entire experience was time-consuming, difficult, and

students as the funding is limited. One can only apply in

very stressful. I was lucky enough to have a good support network

autumn which is months after most of us start our year abroad,

during this time, as well as a fierce determination to make it through

and you only receive the final instalment once your year abroad

to the other side, but for many others, this level of inaccessibility

is completed! Put simply, it is a ridiculous system not at all

will surely be a deal-breaker when it comes to applying for a year

designed to make life easier for students.

abroad.

Another friend, Beccie, is currently studying abroad in China

Furthermore, the problem remains that aside from my meagre

and will then work in Germany for 6 months in 2024. She

student loan (which has been reduced for this year!) and the wages I

intends to stay in China until January 2024 and therefore has no

receive at my internship, I have received no other funding. The

time to come home to apply for a visa. Instead, she will have to

Turing scheme still has not opened for the 2023-24 cohort, which is

arrive in Germany on a temporary basis and then apply. This

just a testament to its inefficiency. Furthermore, it does not provide

creates further issues as many employers are also not aware of

funding for all students, like the Erasmus scheme, so I still do not

how the new system works, which can lead to animosity and

even know whether I will receive anything. As I am working, I can

frustration towards British students. She has said that she finds

just about manage, but for someone studying this will be

the Turing scheme far too complicated and therefore will not be

detrimental.

applying. Beccie feels that Brexit will now directly impact not only the number of students going on a year abroad but also the

I also spoke to some of my peers about their experiences. Toby,

number that decide to study languages in the first place which

who is working in Munich for a year, brought up the fact that we

is cause for grave concern.

now must pay nearly 100 pounds for a visa, which does not include the travel costs to go to the embassy.

.

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FEATURES AND INVESTIGATION

Through articulating these experiences in this article, I hope to have illustrated just how inaccessible a year abroad has become for British students. We are currently living in a time where language education receives close to no attention, and we seem to rely on the utterly false idea that ‘everybody speaks English’. This neocolonialist thinking directly contributes to such huge losses in personal development and cultural awareness, and these issues then plague society for generations to come. From just 2 months in Europe, I have found that so many people I meet speak at least 2 or more languages, and it is a joy to hear the fondness with which some speak of their experiences on Erasmus. The importance of cultural awareness and foreign language aptitude cannot be further stressed. The confidence and joy I have experienced from being able to live in Germany and work in a professional environment whilst speaking the language is unlike any other feeling.

It is important to have clear goals and a plan for the future, but we should not just chase them like robots. Undertaking experiences that push you out of your comfort zone and force you to try new and difficult things whilst meeting new people and making connections ensures that you arrive at your destination ready to undertake the next challenge and keep on aiming higher and higher rather than just settling on the mediocre. When applying to university I wrote my personal statement on the importance of language learning and the negative political implications of the UK’s belief that English is the lingua franca of the world. Therefore, believe me when I say I could continue talking about this topic for hours. Instead, I will conclude with a quote from Nelson Mandela that used to hang in the languages department of my secondary school: “If you speak to a man in a language that he understands, it goes to his head. If you speak to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

North

Macedonia,

Iceland,

Turkey,

Norway,

Serbia,

and

Lichtenstein all participate in Erasmus as non-EU member nations and the EU has signalled that it is on board to reopen negotiations on the topic. I can only urge the UK government to take up this offer, and not rob future generations of invaluable opportunities.

ILLUSTRATION BY LOUISE SADLER

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

WHY DO NONE OF CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S FILMS PASS THE BECHDEL TEST?

BY AAKANKSHA LEKHARAJU

Illustration by Ben Cockerill

*Spoilers included for all Nolan films and mention of suicide.

How much did you like Inception? Interstellar? Maybe you’re a fan of his earlier works, Memento or Insomnia? Even a layman in film has still heard the infamous name: Christopher Nolan. Known for his famously complicated plots and his beautifully crafted scenes, Nolan is one of the most prolific directors of the 21st century. And he got to this position by following one specific formula: barely having any women speak in his films! The Bechdel test is a simple media metric used to measure the strength of female influence in a movie. Essentially, for a film to pass, it requires two named female characters, who interact with each other for more than two lines of dialogue, speaking about anything other than a man. Would you be shocked to hear none of his films pass the test? Now, there are some slight allowances, I’ll give you that, such as The Dark Knight Rises, and maybe even Interstellar (if you break the rules a little!). Other than that, you are free to watch a Nolan film and not be worried about hearing women talk! Yay! Despite the criticism I’ve brought upon him, there are a few Nolan films where women take a protagonist role, for example, Murph and Dr. Brand in Interstellar [2014], Catwoman in The Dark Knight Trilogy, and Ariadne in Inception [2010]. The women in Interstellar represent female intelligence and leadership, and Catwoman displays impressive feats of strength and power. However, despite their potential, Nolan writes these women with feminine clichés. He draws great influence from the film genre ‘Classic Noir’, with most of his films being classed as ‘neo-noir’.

Classic Noir created the archetype of the ‘Femme Fatale’ in film, a strong and sultry woman who was free of male influence typically even dangerous to men. With the creation of characters such as Mal from Inception and Catwoman, Nolan attempts to emanate the essence of this woman, yet he falls flat. The women in his films aren’t nearly as layered as the men - they tend to survive with surface-level characteristics that are never fully developed. Ariadne in Inception is smart and resourceful, but Nolan uses her character as a substitution for the audience: she is the vessel in which the plot is explained, rather than being a direct part of the action herself.

She is relegated to the audience’s stupidity, forced to ask the questions so we know what’s happening, rather than display her own skill. Not the best look for the only woman in the team.

These women also fall victim to the unnecessary romance plot, as if Nolan can’t separate a woman from lust. In Interstellar, Dr. Brand’s character has two romances over the course of a 169minute film. She is forced to play the role of a lovesick doctor in the second act who lets her emotions interfere with her mission, implying a woman in love would ruin the fate of humanity!

Finally, in an infuriating twist, Nolan writes Coop’s character to fall for Dr. Brand despite having minimal conversations throughout the entire film. Despite these women appearing strong, smart, and beautiful, Nolan debases them as onedimensional characters who try to ignite the archetype of the Femme Fatale but are still controlled by men at every step.

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*Spoilers included for all Nolan films and mention of suicide.

Now it’s time to delve into the films that truly disparage women, mainly by focusing on one trope that continues to appear in Nolan’s films – female suicide. One quarter of Nolan’s films portray a woman who commits suicide which subsequently furthers the plot of the male protagonist. This appears to me as a cheap way to commodify the female body and presence. In The Prestige [2006], Inception [2010], Oppenheimer [2023] and Memento [2000] (depending on your interpretation), female suicide is a significant plot point, which is not in favour of developing the woman’s storyline, but rather enhances the story of the man who must reckon with it. This media trope is called ‘fridging’. It is the process of injuring or killing another character,

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Arguably, one could say women are the focus of the film. Their death fuels the protagonist’s motives. Nevertheless, this reveals Nolan’s pressing intent to continue to alienate women in his films.

Their thoughts, dialogue, and humanity pale in comparison to the ‘idea’ they symbolise to men. They are moulded into whatever the male protagonist desires them to be because he places her as the symbol of his affection in death, but rarely during her life. This is a complete loss of autonomy. *Despite its narrative usefulness in highlighting female representation in film, the Bechdel test can be a limited way to judge media. Many films that showcase female protagonists still don’t pass the test on technicalities. The test also is oblivious to other important ways to show representation in films, such as race, sexuality, and disability. But it pains me to know one of the most

particularly a woman, to advance the plot. A trope with which

celebrated directors of our time shows a prejudice against women in almost

Nolan is all too familiar! Death in film is climactic, rarely

every film – except the ones they aren’t even included in – yet people are

insignificant to the plot or the characters. In this way, Nolan uses

willing to brush that aside for his directorial skills. The films are beautifully

death as a motivator for his male protagonists in Memento and The Prestige, placing them both in a hungry fight for vengeance for their deceased lover. The optics of Nolan consistently

made indeed, we can’t deny that Nolan is a master at his craft, but lest we forget the women in these films who are brushed into the background to let a man steal their spotlight*.

martyrising his female characters are not pleasant. He shows his disregard for their contributions to his films, as their deaths are the

Sources:

most important part of their character.

I would recommend listening to these podcasts if you want a deeper dive into Nolan’s work: Podcast – The Bechdel Cast: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and ‘Inception’.

Podcast – The Important Cinema Club: ‘It’s easy to hate Christopher Nolan’.

RIP to our fallen soldiers...

Jean Tatlock, Oppenheimer 2023

Mal Cobb, Inception 2010

Sarah Borden, The Prestige (2006)

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

IS THE SUCCESS OF GRETA GERWIG'S BARBIE A TURNING POINT FOR FEMALE DIRECTORS?

BY ELLIE INSLEY Women are at the front and centre of the Barbie movie. While

Her win for Promising Young Woman, a film that unabashedly

Margot Robbie is undeniably mesmerising in her lead role as a

discusses the repercussions of sexual assault for women,

Barbie doll undergoing an existential crisis, it is director Greta

resulted in an unprecedented year for female directors at the

Gerwig who brings these iconic dolls to life with her poignant

Oscars. For the first time, it seemed that female directors were

storytelling. One might say that this is Gerwig’s directorial

making their voices heard in an industry so largely dominated

trademark. Her previous films, including Lady Bird and Little

by men.

Women, are equally compelling in their exploration of uniquely female experiences. Yet, it is Gerwig’s heartfelt portrayal of the

Nonetheless, the lack of recognition for female directors at this

crushing weight of unattainable beauty standards and the

year’s Oscars (no women were nominated in the directing

bittersweet quality of motherhood in Barbie that has made her a

category) is potentially symptomatic of the continued

household name.

disregard for female talent in the film industry. In fact, a new study by USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative revealed that

With Barbie having surpassed $1 billion at the box office, Greta

of the 111 directors involved in the highest-grossing films of

Gerwig is the first solo female director to reach this milestone.

2022, only 9% were women: a decline of 12.7% from the

Aside from this astounding achievement, the movie grossed

previous year. Additionally, only 2.7% of directors of the top

$356 million in its opening weekend alone to make it the

100 films of 2022 were women of colour. While the

biggest film premiere ever for a female director. It is safe to say

extraordinary success of Barbie at the box office is, of course,

that Gerwig has made the transition from indie film director to

a step in the right direction for female directors, the film is

mainstream film director with these accomplishments. With the

undoubtedly an anomaly in an industry that is reluctant to tell

toy and entertainment company Mattel set to make another 14

stories by and about women.

iconic toy-based films following the success of Gerwig’s triumphant Barbie, this seems, at first glance, to be a pivotal

A study by the Sundance Institute and Women in Film which

moment for female directors.

Los Angeles released in 2015 aimed to analyse the obstacles that limit the careers of female directors. One of the more

In recent years, there has been a palpable change in the film

alarming conclusions of the study was the misconception that

industry that ignited the hope that Hollywood would provide a

female directors create less profitable films for a smaller

greater platform for female voices. In 2021, two female

proportion of the market. By the same token, there exists a

directors were nominated for the first time in the directing

deep-rooted fallacy that male directors create high-grossing

category at the Oscars

Emerald Fennell and Chloé Zhao.

films that resonate with a larger audience. The study also

While Zhao became the first woman of colour to win in the

indicated a widespread belief that female directors are less

Best Director category for her remarkable and experimental

competent than male directors. This leads to fewer

film Nomadland, the year 2021 also saw Fennell receive the

opportunities and, therefore, a sense that women are

accolade for Best Original Screenplay.

unsupported in the industry.

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

Despite Gerwig’s role in creating the ‘movie of the summer’, it seems that nothing has been done to tackle the fundamental inequality between male and female directors in the film industry.

Insidious gender stereotypes and a lack of opportunities for women perpetuate this disparity. While Mattel has plans for a Polly Pocket movie to be directed by Lena Dunham, actor Randall Park has actually criticised Hollywood’s disinterest in learning from the success of the Barbie movie. Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster film was a sugar-coated showcase of female talent, yet Park has recently suggested in an interview with Rolling Stone that the film industry is exclusively interested in capitalising on the box office success of the movie.

The triumph of Gerwig's film is proof that audiences want to see stories told by women on screen and, ultimately, it is a testament to the importance of supporting women in their film-making endeavours. However, these should be authentic female stories ̶ from the mundane to the audacious to the self-indulgent. Female directors should not be limited to the world of Mattel in order to bring their stories to life. Much like the transition from Barbie Land to the real world as seen in the Barbie movie, the most vibrant and important female-led stories are waiting to be told in the real world.

ILLUSTRATION BY LOUISE SADLER

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

GEN Z’S LOVE FOR THRIFTING - A FASHIONABLE WAY OF SAVING THE PLANET… BUT WHEN DOES IT BECOME PROBLEMATIC?

BY ELA YANIK

“Omg I love your skirt where did you get it?”

“It was my mum’s from the 80s.”

“Vintage! So adorable…”

“Thanks!”

Illustration by Frances Jenkins, the Bath Animation and Illustration Society

“That is the ugliest effing skirt I have ever seen…”

Regina George would not last a day in 2023. Vintage clothing is officially ‘in’.

Merging fashion and sustainability into one, Generation Z is revolutionising the concept of second-hand shopping. Kilo sales, charity shop crawls, Brick Lane trips ­̶ thrifting now embodies what it means to be part of the Gen Z community. It unites us, like a common language.

Motivations for shopping second-hand vary among the youth, yet it is undeniably helping to move along the sustainability movement, encouraging more conscious consumerism in a time of a growing climate crisis. A growing global phenomenon, studies show that second-hand shopping is set to be double the size of fast fashion in the next 10 years. Environmentally beneficial, no doubt, yet the societal impacts seem to tell a different story.

Why the growing love for second-hand fashion?

We love a bargain. Described as the most money-savvy generation, purchasing ‘pre-loved’ clothing allows us to save some cash, with studies showing that 62% of Gen Z look for an item second-hand before buying it new. And with the recent rise in living costs, we are constantly seeking ways to reduce spending costs without sacrificing our love for fashion. Apps like Depop and Vinted (although not always) provide the opportunity to seek high-quality pieces at lower prices, encouraging clothing to be resold, reused, and, re-loved.

We love to be stylish. The most fashionable generation? Vintage clothing encourages individuality; rare finds, whether a statement jacket or authentic Levi’s, allows us to stand out from the crowd, particularly on social media platforms, which have become a source of endless fashion inspiration. And, there’s no doubt that thrifting is fun; the thrill of seeking that perfect item, so original that no one you know will own it, is an exciting concept.

We care about the planet. Named as the second most polluting global corporation, the fast fashion industry has rightly gained an array of negative publicity in recent years. Excessive water usage, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and clothing wastage are all causing immense damage to our environment, increasing worry among Generation Z: they cite the climate crisis as one of their biggest social concerns. Studies show that the younger generation is more inclined to align their purchase choices with their values, and so shopping second-hand has become a way to adopt more ethical and sustainable practices.

What about stigma?

Stigma is a significant barrier to the practice of shopping secondhand, with taboos of it being an ‘unclean’ and ‘embarrassing’ practice still prevalent among some parts of society. Gen Z is a driving force in helping break to change attitudes. Through their love of thrifting, the youth are helping normalise the practice, encouraging conversation

particularly among friends and family

about how we choose to consume as well as the implications these choices hold. A ripple effect. But, who is helping to influence Gen Z?

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Influencers are there to influence, something that Emma Chamberlain has successfully achieved in the context of second-hand fashion. A style icon among the online community, Emma regularly expresses her love for wearing pre-loved clothes, inspiring her followers to do the same.

COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

investing in pieces that last longer, and re-wearing what we already own. Reducing, reusing and recycling is the perfect combination to tackle the overproduction of garments and help the planet. Slowly but surely, this can help induce larger systematic change.

Sustainability-focused influencers are also playing their part: Venetia

Great for the environment; but what are the societal effects?

La Manna is an ever-growing online campaigner focused on sharing

Gentrification can be defined as a process that displaces

the realities of the fast fashion industry. eBay recently partnered with Love Island, a partnership helping to advocate for more eco-friendly consumerism, reaching the older groups of Baby Boomers and Generation Z, populations that may be more hesitant to the concept.

working-class residents of an area by more affluent residents moving in. This process is now visible in the second-hand fashion sphere, particularly in charity shops, in which the surge in popularity has caused prices of traditionally affordable

Increasing awareness around the importance of sustainable shopping

products to rise, reducing their accessibility to lower-income

helps to tackle any stigma that may still exist, with ThredUp

populations.

revealing that 74% consider it more socially acceptable than 5 years

The rising trend of resell platforms, particularly Depop, has

ago. Feelings of embarrassment or guilt need not be part of purchasing second-hand goods; it should instead be a gratifying experience, with the knowledge that these small actions can help save the planet.

How does the environment benefit?

The less we participate in fast fashion consumption, the more the environment benefits. According to the UN Environmental Programme, a garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned with every second that passes. Our oceans are filling with microfibre plastics and our air is becoming denser in greenhouse gases each year.

Using what already exists means that less clothing ends up in landfills, minimising the harsh chemicals present in clothing material from polluting the earth’s waters and land. As demand for new fashion decreases, the manufacturing process slows down, saving water consumption and reducing carbon emissions. The Loop Generation revealed that if everyone bought one used instead of a new item, it would save 5.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

further contributed to this. No doubt that selling clothes is a great way to recycle items and earn some extra cash, but to some, it is now a business venture. Those who do not rely on second-hand items are exploiting charity shops for profit: buying cheap items and then selling them for extortionate prices, with the tags ‘y2k’ and ‘vintage’ to encourage more sales. Prices in charity shops then also increase to meet the demand. What is described as the ‘Depop girly’ phenomenon, is seemingly capitalising and profiting off of lower-income communities that are reliant on low-cost items.

It’s extremely positive that more money is going into charity shops, yet these places are essential for supporting more vulnerable populations, and it is worrying to see these groups now struggling to access essential resources, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. And so, what is important is to be mindful about purchasing second-hand items, ensuring it is done ethically and so that it doesn’t take advantage of lower-income communities.

Second-hand fashion is on the rise, presenting itself as an opportunity to greatly benefit our planet. What is vital, however,

Yet, it is not that simple. Thrifting can still encourage mindless

is that this practice is done consciously, preventing any

consumption, so what is important is to adopt a slow fashion

unwanted societal implications. Adopting small changes to our

approach too. This means reducing consumption in general,

shopping habits can truly make a big difference.

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

I COULD BE LYING TO YOU…

BY SAM MORRIS

Illustration by Louise Sadler

My mum recently sent me a tweet over WhatsApp regarding the keto diet. Sharing random posts she finds on social media isn't uncommon for her, and I suspect many of you can relate to hearing that notification ding and opening your phone, only to find the latest crazy news story sent to you directly from the mum distribution network. Sometimes, however, the post seems a bit off. I might notice some grand exaggeration in the story, strong claims that seem to push a particular narrative, or unsupported arguments which feed into common misconceptions in public opinion. So, I'll do some of my own research, and, more often than not, I’ll find it pays to be sceptical.

Take the keto tweet for example: a diet which claims to induce rapid weight loss through an interesting gimmick — limiting your carbohydrates to such a large extent that it causes a process called ketosis. And it absolutely has been shown to do exactly this, enabling trusting participants to shed kilos in a short time frame. But that's the thing about misinformation: it's often constructed from half-truths and exaggeration, leaving out the caveats along the way.

Google suggests that this is exactly the case for keto. Your search will bring up a couple of guides and some articles discussing the risks of the diet, including nutrient deficiencies and various organ problems. If we dig a bit deeper and look at some of the studies cited in the Wikipedia article, we find out that it's actually a medical diet prescribed specifically as a treatment for kids with epilepsy rather than a healthy nutrition plan. And therein lies the issue: social media influencers have marketed this diet as a healthy alternative to standard nutrition guidelines and sing its praises while neglecting to mention its questionable long-term effects. And don't forget that short-term diets

are useless for reducing weight anyway, since stopping the diet will lead to the weight immediately returning.

Yet these kinds of gimmick diets and exercise plans spread like wildfire across the internet, feeding off nutritional myths and the public's general lack of understanding of health. This isn't an issue specific to the health industry either; misinformation is rife in every corner of the internet resulting in serious consequences.

We are now capable of rapidly transmitting information across the world with the click of a button, and the process is only becoming more streamlined with the introduction of short-form content platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. We watch tens or sometimes hundreds of these clips per day, and while some of them can truly make for fantastic, entertaining or educational content [1], some of the worst advice I have ever seen goes viral on these platforms.

So, what's the issue? Why are these platforms breeding grounds for misinformation?

Well, to start with, the incentive to be honest or thorough is incredibly weak or simply not there at all. Sources are rewarded on the basis of clicks and watch time: these are the things that determine ad revenue. Quality of information is pretty much exempt from the equation and commenters who point out flaws in information only increase user interaction, thereby causing the algorithm to promote the video further. Not only this, but sources which report misinformation require resources to take them down.

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

You have to both sift through user reports which may or may not be Platforms like YouTube and TikTok use your data to predict what genuine and also reliably conclude that the information is actually videos you'll spend the most time commenting on and watching. This misleading. Doing so can actually hinder the profits of the social media means that if you watch content from one side of the political company or the website itself — removing successful videos reduces spectrum, you are more likely to be recommended content from that the company's cut of ad revenue. In this way, it's not surprising that side of the spectrum in future. The process happens repeatedly until there's only recently been an effort to combat the spread of you rarely see content which challenges your viewpoints, creating an misinformation after public backlash and real-world consequences, echo chamber where your beliefs are only ever reinforced. This can such as the anti-vaccine trend during COVID.

shift a person's entire worldview to such an extent that they do not perceive the same reality as those who haven't fallen down that same

We, as human beings, are also vulnerable to certain cognitive biases rabbit hole. Combining this with the fact that polemic stories (fact or which can lead us to disregard important facts. Confirmation bias leads otherwise) often get the most user interaction (and are thus further us to be more inclined to take on and remember facts which strengthen promoted) means that people will very quickly be pushed further and our prior beliefs, while we discard most information which contests further into increasingly dark and despicable places, where logic is those beliefs. This effect can be entirely subconscious: we don't gradually and subconsciously eroded, only to be replaced with hatred purposely mislead ourselves, but our minds take the path that is most and ignorance. This is how the internet produces extremism: a false convenient. Combining this with social media's habit of lying for profit reality is slowly built up to the point where the viewer will believe creates a pathway for misinformation to affect our real-life decision- the unbelievable simply because it's not such a big jump from the making as we shift towards what we initially assume is correct without lies they’ve already accepted as the truth. reality supporting that direction at all.

Every person reading this including myself is highly likely to have Some of this is probably old news to you. Most of us are already aware been influenced in this way. We often base our decisions on the of the dangers of uncited sources and bias. But, what if the article is information that we are presented with, and the information we are cited? What if it's quoting statistics to back up its claims? Surely then it presented with is based on the decisions of algorithms. This is why it is immune to bias and we can trust what it has to say?

is so important to actively seek alternative viewpoints rather than wait for them to be shown to you, shattering that false reality before

I wish it were so, but statistics are prone to their own forms of bias and you or others become victim to it. Of course, when you manipulation, as I'm sure everyone doing a mathematical degree is do this, you must be both open-minded *and* critical. It's no use to absolutely sick of hearing. Survivorship bias, selection bias, omitted anyone if you are simply misled by more misinformation. variables, cherry-picking etc. — these are all common issues which could be innocent mistakes causing the data to be unreliable or even So remember: read, scrutinise, and then read and scrutinise again. If intentionally utilised to produce misleading results that push a specific it's related to a field of science, and it isn't contained within or citing agenda. This is much more difficult to deal with than other types of a peer-reviewed scientific paper, then take it with a grain of salt. It's misinformation since data analysis can be an incredibly technical also important to Google alternative sources without using leading process requiring expertise to navigate. The majority of people simply questions. For example, typing "Is the keto diet bad?" rather than just won't be specialised enough to spot the flaws.

"keto diet" is more likely to skew the results towards keto being bad.

It can be additionally useful to check other articles on the same

Also, you might not realise just how subtly you can be manipulated website to get a feel of the content they produce and whether they into taking certain stances on political and social issues via the might be biased towards a particular narrative. invisible hand of the algorithm.

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

So remember: read, scrutinise, and then read and scrutinise again. If it's related to a field of science, and it isn't contained within or citing a peer-reviewed scientific paper, then take it with a grain of salt. It's also important to Google alternative sources without using leading questions. For example, typing "Is the keto diet bad?" rather than just "keto diet" is more likely to skew the results towards keto being bad. It can be additionally useful to check other articles on the same website to get a feel of the content they produce and whether they might be biased towards a particular narrative.

Ultimately, if you approach your research without a prior belief but rather a question which you want answered, then you'll be far more resilient to both misinformation and bias. Swapping sides is important — this is called growth. It will result in a far higher chance of getting the answer right in the long run. So just keep that in mind the next time you consider drinking bleach to cure COVID. [1] Backed by verifiable citations in the video descriptions, of course.

ILLUSTRATION BY LOUISE SADLER

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

NAYIB BUKELE: EL SALVADOR’S AUTHORITARIAN ANSWER TO GANG VIOLENCE

BY CHARLIE LANDENBERGER El Salvador, located in Central America between Guatemala and started to drop with a 44% decrease in his first year in office.

Honduras, is one of Latin America’s smallest countries. Initially However, in March 2022, a spate of violent murders once again conquered by the Spanish and enduring a bloodthirsty civil war in rocked the country, with 62 murders recorded in one single day, as the late 20th century, El Salvador has seen political instability reported in the Financial Times. This signalled an increasingly become a principal feature within a country which has historically hardline approach from Bukele, with a ‘State of Emergency’ been largely in the control of violent gangs who fed both their announced across the country. nation’s domestic drug use as well as North America’s.

In 2020, the Latin American country, which has a population of just 6.3 million, reportedly had over 60,000 gang members according to InSight Crime, the majority of which belonged to MS13 and Barrio 18, two of the country’s largest and most violent gangs.

The ‘pandillas’, as known in El Salvador, terrorised communities with demands of extortion payments and killings of anybody who stepped out of line in neighbourhoods which were far from being under the control of the government.

The State of Emergency, which attempted to facilitate increased detentions of gang members, suspended four basic individual rights enshrined in El Salvador’s constitution: eliminating the right to freedom of assembly, the right to a state-sponsored legal defence upon detention, the inviolability of communications, allowing the police to intercept communications without a court order, as well as an end to the right to only be administratively detained for a maximum of 72 hours without being charged.

Despite concerns from the US and UN over ‘democratic backsliding’, the fierce crackdown began, and it worked. Since March 2022, over 72,000 people have been arrested on charges of

With a pre-existing culture of violence left over from the Civil gang involvement, according to La Prensa Grafica, with mega jails War, as well as a large stock of weapons, the conditions when subsequently constructed to house the burgeoning number of adding violent gangs to the equation quickly became deadly. El prisoners, often in squalid conditions.

Salvador’s murder rate spiked to the highest in the world, with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) quoting the figure as 106.3 people killed per 100,000 in 2015.

With the election of then-37-year-old Nayib Bukele in 2019, El Salvador had chosen a president that they hoped would turn the tide on the gang’s violent killing sprees and remove the stern grip that the gangs had over large parts of the country. Bukele immediately increased the number of policemen and soldiers on El Salvador’s streets, and along with reported dialogue between leading gang members and the security forces, the murder rate

By the end of 2022, El Salvador’s national police reported that the murder rate in El Salvador had fallen to 7.8 people killed per 100,000. This helped to see Bukele’s popularity rankings soar to new heights, with the nation’s ‘Centre for Public Opinions’ survey rewarding the young President with an approval rating of 90.9%, the highest ever score for an in-office President.

However, many of El Salvador’s residents have started to report that members of their families have been detained despite having no gang involvement but nstead of just living in formally gang-run

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

communities, this has helped to spark protests across the country, with thousands regularly protesting in the capital according to media outlet Al Jazeera.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Ava Mancia, a San Salvadorean resident, described how she saw all four of her adult children locked up, who were working as street vendors in the capital. With no access to a state-sponsored legal representative and the lack of sufficient funds to hire one, Mancia has had no knowledge of her children's whereabouts for over a year.

While Mancia’s story is sad, it is one of many, with countless families losing both innocent mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters to Bukele’s brutal and often mistargeted approach to detaining potential gang suspects.

Source: Wikipedia Commons

Transfer of Command of the National Civil Police San Sabastian, El Salvador: 2016

Alejandro Diaz Gomez is a non-profit attorney, who represents over 250 families that can’t afford to pay to represent their fellow wrongly convicted family members. Gomez describes how it has been impossible for families to confirm the well-being of those who have been detained, with many held indefinitely and without trial.

Speaking to the WSJ, Gomez said: “It’s been impossible for the families of the detainees to speak to the authorities. It’s true that there is a need to solve this history of violence against our population. But there’s no security when there’s the violation of human rights.”

With the presidential election set to take place in early February of 2024, Bukele has announced that he will stand to be re-elected, a move that has angered constitutional experts who argue that the country’s constitution ̶ stating that no president can stand for backto-back terms

has been violated.

Ironically, a country that has its main square go by the name of ‘La Plaza de Libertad’ (Freedom Square) might just be seeing its own decline, with Bukele’s government quickly becoming the new violent and out-of-control face of Central America’s smallest country.

Source: Wikipedia Commons

Mural depicting some of the 75,000 victims of the El Salvador civil war that ravaged the nation in the 80's and 90's (source: CJA)

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

ALIEN OR LIES?

BY SHREYA SHIVARAMAKRISHNAN

Illustration by Elliot Rose

would be otherwise missing. The story is significant because Grusch, who used to be an insider, is speaking out. In his interview, he says

On the 26th of July, David Grusch, a former US intelligence official,

he is at personal and professional risk by being there. Grusch claims

testified before Congress regarding alien life on Earth. He also took

that there is a disinformation campaign, and that information is being

part in an interview with NewsNation to speak about this issue. In his

intentionally hidden from Congress and the public. Additionally, he

interview, Grusch claims that there were “non-human biologics” found

does not stand to gain anything from making such claims. These

at crash sites, as well as intact and partially intact alien vehicles,

factors make him appear more reliable because it seems like there

essentially confirming alien existence. He also alleges that the

would be no reason for him to publicise false information. But could

intelligence division has had knowledge of this for many years and

it be that he is only speaking out because the government has told

that Congress was intentionally being kept in the dark about this

him to and only sharing the information they want to be shared? On

knowledge.

the other hand, Grusch said that he has never actually seen the nonhuman biologics or their craft. He has only allegedly spoken to

Many of you may have already heard about this story and simply

colleagues who work with such incidents and is passing on this

brushed it away into the depths of your minds like I initially did too.

knowledge. This means that he is not the primary source of

Since we have heard about so many UFO sightings, many of which are

information in this situation, and could indicate that he may be

hoaxes, we have become used to these claims and are sceptical of

unreliable, as information may have been distorted or lost in

anything similar that comes to light. However, this particular story is

communication from the primary source.

worth thinking about because there are a few ways in which it is different from the others: firstly, the reliability of the source and

When we consider what information has actually been presented, it

secondly, the actual information given by the whistleblower. These are

becomes apparent that there isn’t much to go on. The claims say that

key areas that separate this particular issue from others. As we dissect

there is a crash site (unknown) with pilots of non-human origin. We

each part, a plethora of questions arise, leaving you wondering who,

have not been told what they look like, where they came from, why

what, when, where and most importantly, why?

they crashed, how many of these instances there have been as well as many other details.

A former intelligence official made the claim in question with 14 years of experience. Grusch was a trusted member of the Department of

In Grusch’s interview, he states multiple times that he cannot answer

Defence and was part of the UAP (Unexplained Anomalous

as the information is classified. The issues with confidentiality are,

Phenomena) task force. This gives his words a sense of credibility that

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BATH TIME MAGAZINE

COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

on the one hand, understandable. For example, the location of the crash site should be withheld to control the level of security threats. However, we have not learned anything else about the extraterrestrials apart from the fact that they exist. For someone who is trying to keep Congress and the public rightfully informed, he is only able to share a minuscule part of a mysterious bigger picture.

In a larger context, do we ever really know anything? Or do we just “know” what the government has allowed us to know? How much has been covered up and hidden from the public? David Grusch wants people to know the truth…but not the whole truth. This is all a bit frustrating because in a sense we have not really received any new information at all apart from an apparent confirmation that aliens do exist.

The lack of new information could be the reason the general public has reacted with a definite sense of apathy. People seem to have moved on very quickly from this news and there is a lack of interest in the story, as

Source: X/Twitter

Here’s what Brian Cox had to say on the matter!

shown by social media users. Some users on X, formerly known as Twitter, have made jokes about the fact that people generally “don’t care”.

As quoted in a tweet: “Can the aliens take me back with them? Earth kinda sucks lately.”

A potential explanation for this could be that we have been exposed to the idea of aliens for so long that the issue has become desensitised. Aliens have appeared in movies, books and reported sightings, all of which make aliens seem like a bizarre concept. Their portrayal in wacky forms and colours has made them seem like a myth, instead of a real possibility.

Also, there has been no physical evidence given by Grusch to prove his claims; no photographs or descriptions or anything that would allow us to visualise the so-called aliens.

If these claims really are true, it would challenge reality as we know it.

Nevertheless, until we know any more information or see physical evidence, the possibility of aliens on Earth will remain up in the air. As much as my curiosity longs to know more about the aliens, I think it is likely the government will continue to cover up situations and make sure substantial information does not leak. This does still beg the question: will we ever see aliens in this lifetime? My answer: who knows?

Source: X/Twitter

Neil De Grasse Tyson was sceptical...

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

A BATH TIME ESSAY SERIES: WEALTH

BY TARIQ MANSHI & ELLIOT ROSE

Illustraiton by Louise Sadler

Two veterans of the Bath Time journalist scene, Tariq Manshi the idea of improving ourselves which is of vital importance when and our editor, Elliot Rose, provide an exploratory essay on the contributing towards the wider shared community. However, the concept of wealth. We hope you enjoy it!

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE AN AMERICAN: THE FALSE UTOPIA OF IDEALISM

BY TARIQ MANSHI

robotic notion that states that this is all we are, is wrong.

Unfortunately, this has become a norm in society whereby people judge your value by your profession. We are worth more than this.

It should be about forging great relationships with people, learning along the way, and truly appreciating a journey we get once. Life

When I (17/18-year-old Tariq) was sitting in my Politics A-Level cannot be easily quantified in such ways that relate to wealth class one day, our teacher was giving us a lecture on the ideals of accumulation. soft power and how different countries exert their influence. I can’t I learnt a small part about myself when travelling abroad last remember how the conversation went exactly, but he got onto the summer: while I am still highly ambitious and want to achieve a lot

topic of the USA and stated that because of the American dream - in my career, I also crave a certain peacefulness and the wish to be with all its fantastical images of wealth and power - other people content in life. For example, when I was in Greece, Cyprus, and the across the globe would want to follow suit and replicate this for Mediterranean Region of Turkey, I could sit down and enjoy a themselves. Why is it always assumed that it’s everyone’s dream to wonderful meal with the feeling of being relaxed. It would seem become a wealthy millionaire who takes more than what an that people tend to be happier with their lifestyle there than in Western countries. Of course, I can’t say that for a fact as I am not a individual actually needs?

Surely this is a misconception? After all, most who are of that citizen of these countries, so I can only tell you what it’s like living there as a tourist. But, my perception is that the general attitude stature often talk about how wealth can corrupt the circle that tries towards life there is one that seeks to smile more each day and take to surround them once gaining such wealth, and along the way, the gratitude for the things they do have. individual can lose themself. I do appreciate that wealth to a large The general perception I get in the West is that this is not the case: degree is important to everyone, especially for us to acquire things what you have is never enough, and there is always a need for that should be basic human rights, i.e., access to clean water, a more, including more money, new clothes, new accessories, new place to sleep comfortably, and food to fill your belly. So, if it games ̶ the list can go on. I believe that in the West we certainly can comes across that I’m saying wealth isn't important, that is not learn to adopt this attitude to appreciate things more and try to be what I’m asserting. What I am alluding to, however, is that excess happier instead of complaining about nearly everything. By this wealth is far beyond the capacity that a human should control, and metric then, should other countries really aspire to adopt our this is where the problem lies. attitudes, or should it be that we are inspired by the ideas they bring Again, the concept of work is important, without it we wouldn’t forth of working to live as opposed to letting your work consume have a structure in our lives, and we wouldn’t have discipline or you?

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COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS

WEALTH AND SUBHUMANITY

BY ELLIOT ROSE In the Torah, Quran, or any other established monotheist text, they will tell you that we, humanity, are made in the image of God. Such a reckoning portrays a certain likeness between all of us: we can tell apart the good from the wicked, the righteous from the inhumane, and the virtue from the vice as Aristotle may portray it. ‘Justice, justice thou shalt pursue’ (Deuteronomy 16:20). It was this notion of ethical judgement that, at one point (perhaps naively), I believed in humanity’s ability to judge right from wrong, and that even the most destructive influences existing in our world were simply misguided, believing that what they were doing was somewhat right.

Later, I attended a modern art retrospective exhibition. The artist in question, Tawee Ratchaneekorn: a victim of censorship, artistic repression, and the vulgar greed of foreign force over the span of their work, portrayed those who were corrupted not as men, women, or children, but as something far different. Ratchaneekorn consistently represented those in power within various forms, consisting of either reptilian (as pictured below) or alternatively humanoid figures that resemble, but are not actually you and me. As Kongka (2022) observes, Ratchaneekorn attempts to define an understanding of our reality that delves beyond the physical: “he observes the world as a social animal that is thoroughly immersed in it.”

The human form, I learnt, was not one of rigidity but is something that is cultivated. The idea that many of the characteristics that we ultimately take advantage of as being privy to us, Homo sapiens, is far more of a misconception. Additionally, the most corrupt version of ourselves resembles a more hideous amalgamation that cannot even be described as an animal we consider stereotypically evil, such as a piranha or a cockroach, as this evil is their own nature, whilst we, humanity, have the free will to do bad. In ‘A Family of Patriotic Politicians’ (top right), Ratchaneekorn describes a family that subsists by claiming wealth and power for themselves at the expense of others. This greed is represented by the excess fat and tumours, meant to be hideous, which are the harmful resources that this family have hoarded for themselves. Ratchaneekorn wishes for us to feel repulsion, and yet the proud demeanour of these individuals evokes how powerful ideology can lead people to be prideful even when bringing the most hideous acts into fruition. At that moment, I felt that Ratchaneekorn’s art was a call for self-awareness, a recognition that we all have what it takes to be human but are not quite there yet. Only when we reconcile with the consequences of our behaviour, and live sustainably, can we ever call ourselves that.

‘A Family of Patriotic Politicians’, by Tawee Ratchaneekorn, 1990 (Courtesy of Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre)

Reflecting on my experience after being amongst Ratchaneekorn’s work, I noticed more terrors occurring due to wealth and power. In the HBO series, Succession, Kendall Roy describes his media oligarch father, Logan, as “being comfortable in any room” and “existing as a powerful, terrible force upon the world”. At that moment, I wondered how Ratchaneekorn would depict Logan Roy. Certainly not as human, but perhaps a voluptuous, tentacled mass, with a tentacle penetrating a hole in everyone’s minds.

Harvey Weinstein, a mass rapist (and oligarch), allegedly suffered from various ailments and infections, and these affected the way in which Weinstein abused his victims, as well as the frail state you may have seen him on his way to court trials. Using his toxic power and resources to alter the power dynamics that Weinstein maintained with everyone else, left him surrounded by yes-men, ultimately a condition far from healthy. Humorously, after Weinstein attempted to shut down the Lord of The Rings cinematic franchise (eventually one of the most successful cinematic franchises of all time), director Peter Jackson (who had the courage to oppose Weinstein over its creative direction, leading to Weinstein attempting to destroy the project), later depicted one of the orcs with an incredibly strong likeness to Weinstein, humorously echoing this perception of oligarchy and sub-humanity.

Sometimes, our materialist, entrepreneurial culture can lead us to believe that the constant generation of wealth is the only normal thing imaginable. Yet, when I look at the wealthy and powerful who partake in this the most (particularly in the examples mentioned above), I can’t help but see these people as the most alien among us.

So, what does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be an amalgamation of man and not something else? I believe that it’s using your resources to build, and sustain, not destroy. It’s not contributing to the environmental decay destroying our planet, to class discrimination separating the rich from the poor. Being human is taking down the barriers that are not visible but exist between us all the same. It’s treating everyone with dignity, kindness, and respect. I once again recall Deuteronomy 16:20: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.”

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LIFESTYLE

FESTIVALS: THE FIELDS OF FANTASY

BY GINA HUGHES

Part of humanity for over 250,000 years, music is characteristic of cultures and subcultures. From aiding identity formation to being a Illustration by Meha Patel

source of entertainment and a tool to pass the time, the list of functions goes on. In a 2013 study by a group of German psychologists, the functions of music were broadly categorised into 3 groups. The first was to do with self-awareness: helping people think about who they are and who they want to be. The

As another festival season comes to an end, I reminisce over my

second was social relatedness: providing people with a sense of

time spent singing my heart out to Pulp and Paolo Nutini at

belonging and community. The third and final was mood

Latitude and dancing along to Olivia Dean at Forwards. As

regulation: acting as a distraction and improving people’s moods.

always, I immediately want to go back. And although the rather

Music festivals therefore combine and heighten all these functions

poor-quality videos I took (of which the main audio is often me

surrounding individuals with others who enjoy the same music,

obnoxiously 'singing' along) partly provide me with the same

whilst providing a mental and visual distraction from normality.

sense of euphoria, I am already eager for next summer's festival

It's therefore no surprise music festivals continue to grow and

season to begin.

attract more and more people.

Just like my fellow festival goers, including the other 34 million

Latitude Festival: An overview

.

people who attended music festivals and concerts in the UK in 2019, I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that the festival experience

Latitude Festival is one which has definitely grown in popularity.

provides a unique sense of escapism. From the live music, the sea

Located in Henham Park, Suffolk, the Latitude Festival has been

of crowds, the flowing alcohol, the camping and outdoors, to the

running for over 15 years. 2023 was the biggest Latitude yet with

creativity and expression. All these characteristics contribute to

a respectable 45,000 festival-goers

providing a distraction and escape from the mundane every day.

headliners being PULP, Paolo Nutini and George Ezra. With a

Therefore, as I give you my enthusiastic review about some of the

family-friendly atmosphere, the festival is a celebration of music

acts at Latitude and Forwards, including Pulp, Paolo Nutini, The

and arts. Alongside 2 main stages (The Obelisk Arena and The

Kooks, Olivia Dean and Bonobo, I also reflect on the importance

BBC Sounds Stage), smaller stages such as the Sunrise Arena and

of music and music festivals in general.

The Alcove are tucked away in foresty parts of the park. Comedy

not at all surprising with the

and Literary tents (of which I admittedly spent no time exploring) Sound of Escapism

as well as an abundance of overpriced food trucks are the other main components of the festival.

Music has played a vital role in society for centuries. From tribal chants to classical symphonies, to drum and bass DJs, music and the plethora of different genres are intimately connected to an individual's creativity and emotions.

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LIFESTYLE

Paolo Nutini

A Brief History of UK Music Festivals

Prior to going to Latitude, I was most excited to see Paolo

Modern UK music festivals as we know them today originated

Nutini. Years of silence within the music scene had been

in the 1960s/70s as a result of US influences and liberal

brought to a close last summer with his latest album ‘Last

lifestyles. After the Monterey Pop Festival in California in 1968

Night in the Bittersweet’. Not only was I a fan of this new

and the legendary Woodstock festival in 1970 (a demonstration

sound Paolo had transitioned into, but I also loved his

of love, peace and music whilst the Vietnam War raged on) the

previous releases and was constantly envisioning myself

UK soon followed in the footsteps of the US. By the time the

witnessing ‘Candy’ and ‘Iron Sky’ being performed in the

second Isle of White festival was held in 1970, it had already

flesh. With dramatic lighting and a powerful and emotive

attracted 600,000 rock music lovers. With the first Glastonbury

voice, I wasn’t disappointed.

held in the same year on a much smaller scale (with only 1,500

.

people and tickets costing only a pound), it has grown to be known as one of the most famous festivals around the world.

Today, the market of music festivals has expanded, with there being around 975 UK music festivals.

The Kooks

Pulp

Another notable performance was that of the English pop-rock band ‘The Kooks’. With the stereotypical “Indie” voice of lead singer Luke Pritchard and iconic guitar, well-known catchy dance songs such as ‘Naive’ and ‘Westside’ were perfect for lifting spirits during the typical British weather.

Despite my love for Paolo, I definitely can’t ignore the incredible

experience

Pulp

delivered.

The

cinematic

introduction set the tone for the performance. Against the darkness of the evening, the words ‘This will be a night you will remember for the rest of your life’ flashed on the screens beside the stage as Jarvis Cocker’s silhouette rose into view.

Roars from the crowd followed. This atmosphere continued as timeless classics such as 'Disco 2000', 'Babies' and of course 'Common People' elicited everyone in the crowd to sing along.

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LIFESTYLE

Forwards Festival: An Overview Forwards Festival, held on the open green of Clifton Downs in Bristol, is a perfect example of this growing market. This year was the 2nd Forwards Festival in its history (a baby in the family of festivals) and saw the likes of Mercury Prize Winners Ezra Collective and Arlo Parks.

.

Bonobo

Another rogue favourite of mine was Los Angeles-based DJ Bonobo. Whilst not necessarily my preferred genre, the upbeat electronic jazz caused everyone in the crowd to dance in unison. As the sun was setting behind the stage and Bonobo played his hit ‘Kerala’ from his 2017 album ‘Migration’, the atmosphere couldn’t have been better.

Conclusion Despite consisting of only 2 stages opposite to each other,

As I finally come to the end of my speedy review of both

Forwards attracted around 30,000 people this year and delivered

Latitude and Forwards Festival, as well as a brief insight

an energetic and wholesome atmosphere.

into the attraction of music festivals, I am even deeper into my longing to be back (and further into my hunt for concerts in the meantime). The ubiquity of music and its

Olivia Dean One of my favourite acts from this year was Olivia Dean. The 24-year-old songwriter from London made ignorant ears like mine, which had never listened to Dean beforehand, fall in love with her tender voice. Performing her debut album ‘Messy’ as well as a great cover of Kelis’ Millionaire, she reminded me of artists such as Joy Crookes and delivered a performance that has left me listening to her album on repeat.

positive psychological and social impacts are no wonder festivals are so popular.

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LIFESTYLE

SHE’S A CHILD OF DIVORCE™

BY LUCY ACHESON I feel like it’s fairly standard to hear about people’s parents splitting up. Some spent their weekdays with Mum, while weekends were at Dad’s house. Others would alternate school nights between the two. And less frequently, some may not have seen one parent at all, for one reason or another. The commonality between all these different groups of children from broken homes is that their parents split up when they were still children, and you don’t hear too much about those of us embracing our parents’ newfound divorce-hood as fully grown adults.

That is what brings me to this story, as at the ripe age of 21, my parents decided to part ways. In some ways, I have been quite lucky! I had a nuclear family for all my childhood, and things at home were (generally) quite stable. Like most of my peers whose parents were still together, I did occasionally wonder when they were going to call it quits, but, too scared to consider what this would mean for myself, my younger brother, our two guinea pigs and dog, I pushed it firmly to the back of my mind.

When my parents announced they were splitting up, I felt utterly heartbroken.

While I can’t speak for others whose parents split up at a younger age, being a somewhat functioning adult, I felt an immense pressure to try and hide this deep

Illustration by Elliot Rose

was going on in my life to further aid my denial). However, what I noticed as I began to voice my experience was that a lot of people couldn’t really understand what I was going through or had long forgotten the trauma of family breakdown. I found myself feeling very much alone, fighting the demons off by myself, and it took a lot out of me.

One day, I ended up chatting to an acquaintance who mentioned they had experienced a similar separation situation with their mother and stepfather, which must’ve been a horrendous experience. As we spoke, I realised that the remedy to all the stress and pent-up sadness I had been feeling was just to find someone who could relate to what was going on in my life, particularly during my final year of university, with deadlines and unemployment looming. Since that conversation, I have been able to find a lot more comfort in my new family situation and I am far more accepting

sadness because I felt I should’ve known better than to make it about me by

of this change that has happened in my life. While I do feel sad at times

crying in front of them. Instead, I did a fucking fantastic 6-month long method

and it does hurt to leave one parent's house to visit the other, things are

acting stint where I pretended it wasn’t happening and if anyone asked if I was

better than they were, which is all we can ask for, isn’t it?

okay, I would defensively say ‘yes, of course’ before changing the topic of

My point in telling you this story is that whether you are in your first,

conversation as quickly as I could. My refusal to feel anything was aided by my

second, fourth or sixth year of university, there is going to be something

return to university, which meant that by not talking to my family in any real

that happens during your degree that shakes you to your core and turns

capacity, I could easily carry on living in a blissful, middle-class, happy Surrey

everything you knew right on its head. Whether it's a relationship, a death,

family ignorance that everything was more than fine, and I was coping

a divorce, or a job rejection, these things are a part of being human. We

unbelievably well.

can’t control when they happen or if they happen, but we can find common

Nonetheless, as is always the case with brilliant one-woman shows, eventually it

ground with others who just ‘get it’.

came to an end. And, dear reader, my eventual realisation that I needed to

So, what I ask of you is this. If you are struggling with something this

confront my suppressed feelings came at the worst possible time…

year, reach out to your friendship and academic circles to find someone

Picture this, it’s week 3 of Semester 2, I’m up to my knees in grad job/master’s

who has had a similar problem, and lean on each other! Friends are always

applications, my dissertation is still an idea in my head, I’ve written four essays

great, but meeting someone new who understands what makes you feel

and I’ve just come home from three double pints at Happy Hour - can you see

alone, can make all the difference in your journey to healing and moving

where I’m going with this?

forward with your life. It is hard, and it does take time, but I can guarantee

Suddenly, a wave of unimaginable pain hit my drunken heart, leaving me

you, that if you don’t want to have a Sem 2 breakdown (as I unfortunately

weeping on my bed about the stress of university, the stress of life and the stress

did), putting in place the right support can keep your ship afloat during a

of moving out of my childhood bedroom in two weeks. One of my housemates

rough time.

found me and was very sympathetic about the upset/imposter syndrome/early 20s

Now, look after yourself and remember to stay positive about whatever is

existential crisis I was facing and gave me a big hug.

thrown at you…although I’m not sure how positive I can be, as my mum

Following this incident, I started allowing myself to get upset a bit more about

recently told me “You don’t get double presents and double Christmas

the whole situation and I was a lot more open with friends about what was

celebrations when you’re an adult” - I’m still working on getting over that

happening (yes, I had also just not told the majority of my friends that this

revelation!

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BATH TIME MAGAZINE

LIFESTYLE

A PASSPORT TO UNCERTAINTY

BY JASMINE BLACKWELL

JAZZ AT THE ESSEN CHRISTMAS MARKET!

In a world where borders are becoming more blurred and globalisation is

Looking back on the visa process now, knowing the correct paperwork and

ever-increasing, UK citizens are faced with the new challenges of Brexit

realistic time frames, it does not seem as complicated as it did at the time.

when packing their bags to move abroad. In September 2022, I did just that

However, not knowing any of this information initially was very daunting,

and took a flight out to Düsseldorf in Germany to begin a nine-month

especially as I did not receive my visa until the week before I was due to fly

internship with a marketing company. This would be a nerve-racking

out to Germany!

experience for anyone, but Brexit made it all the more complicated, and unfortunately, it is no longer as simple as just hopping across the English

Whilst my experience was stressful enough, it definitely could have been

Channel and settling into your new life abroad. A step towards greater

worse. As an International Politics with Modern Languages student, unlike

interdependence? I think not…

many of my friends, I was staying in Germany for my whole year abroad, and so only had to work out the visa process for one country. I hold a lot of

Due to new travel regulations after Brexit, the EU stipulated that UK

respect for fellow students who had to go through the whole process twice,

citizens are no longer included in the free movement of persons within

with different regulations and paperwork for each country! Furthermore, two

Member States and must obtain a visa or residency permit to work or study

of my friends in Düsseldorf, also from the UK and participating in a year

in EU countries. For me personally, and for most of my language friends

abroad, opted to apply for a residency permit instead of a visa. However, they

partaking in their year abroad this year, the visa process was very tiresome

had to stay in Germany over Christmas and could not see their families for

and complicated. I was initially only given a three-month visa and had to

months: the residency permits did not arrive in time and, because of the 90-

go home for longer than planned at Christmas to apply for a new one. This

day limit in the Schengen area (the amount of time you can spend in the EU

was due to my not providing the correct paperwork for the first visa

within a 180-day period), leaving the country would mean that they could not

appointment, and so I was only given permission from the German Federal

re-enter! I would highly recommend going down the visa route if possible,

Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) to work in Germany until

rather than planning on obtaining a residency permit once in Germany. These

the beginning of December. This could have been easily resolvable, but

permits can take months to arrive, and, despite the stereotype of German

neither the visa centre nor the Federal Employment Agency informed me

efficiency, the immigration office is very slow at replying to emails.

about the correct paperwork at all! Thankfully, my placement provider in Germany was very helpful by emailing the agency and they finally (in

Although I have so far been complaining about the visa process, something

November!) told us the correct paperwork that I should have submitted, so

good did come out of it. My struggle with the Brexit-based bureaucracy

that I was able to receive a six-month visa at Christmas and complete my

inspired me to start my own blog page and in January, fellow Modern

internship in Germany.

Languages student Bethany Beattie and I uploaded our first-ever post!

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

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LIFESTYLE

We published an article every other week throughout the course of our year abroad about all of its highs and lows, from advice on the visa process to dealing with the lonely days. The aim of this blog page was to help out anyone starting their year abroad adventure, by providing advice and first-hand experience of both the bureaucratic and emotional challenges of moving to a new country (if you’re considering taking a year abroad or even moving abroad

in

the

future

here’s

the

link

to

check

it

out:

globalguineapigs.blogspot.com).

After reflecting on the long, stressful visa experience, I have to ask myself – was it all worth it? And my answer is: absolutely. I would go through the complicated process over and over again if it meant that I could re-live the past year. Therefore, I do not want my grumbles about Brexit to put you off doing a year abroad – it really was one of the best years of my life. You get to immerse yourself in amazing cultures, travel to exciting new destinations, and make

DÜSSELDORF AT SUNSET

lifelong friendships, whilst gaining valuable knowledge and insight into a new work sector or the education system in Europe. Plus, it does look great on the CV! As I am now back in Bath and about to face the challenges of final year, the Year Abroad has unfortunately come to an end, and with it the stress of obtaining a visa – but also the thrilling experience of living and working in Germany. But for now, I never want to see another visa centre again...at least until I decide to move back to Germany in the future, anyway.

CALLING ALL STUDENTS!!!

HAVE YOU DONE OR ARE YOU DOING A YEAR ABROAD?

we want to read all about it!

Illustration by Louise Sadler

Please message us on Instagram @unibathtime or email su-bathtime-editor@bath.ac.uk !!!

PAGE 41

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

LIFESTYLE

READING IS COOL AGAIN

BY JESSICA LAWRENCE

Does the name ‘BookTok’ or ‘Bookstagram’ or even ‘Booktube’ ring a

read literally anything by her and still be incredibly invested in the

bell? If it doesn’t, you’re probably not as much of a nerd as I find

story.

myself being. Hi, happy to introduce myself as your resident librarian.

Case in point: her new book; “Carrie Soto is Back” is a general fiction

As an integral member of those platforms, I often find myself getting

novel which follows a retired tennis prodigy training to get back into

recommended mountains upon mountains of books that prolong my

tennis competitions to reclaim her title. Despite knowing nothing about

ever-increasing TBR (To Be Read) list and dangerously endanger my

tennis and not having any particular interest in the sport, I was hooked,

bank account. They are inescapable, even local bookshops have started

and I finished all of it in 2 days. I can completely understand how such

promoting ‘BookTok’ books with their own stands. But who decides

an author can be recommended on a platform which prioritises short,

what books make it to this list, and why are they viral? I’ve often been

fast-paced content such as TikTok or Instagram. She is definitely worth

coerced into reading them for fear of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

checking out for a fun, fast-paced read.

But what makes so many people recommend these books and how can you guarantee they become viral? Let me take you on a journey as I

Next up is the romance section; “Red, White and Royal Blue” by

rank all the books that I had no intention of reading until a few random

Casey McQuiston. This book has recently been made into a film, so it

people on the internet recommended them to me.

is gaining more and more traction. I read it last summer, and to tell you

I’m going to start with a somewhat controversial author whom you

my honest opinion. It was not the best book I’ve ever read but I can see

have most likely already heard of: Colleen Hoover – mic drop.

how some may enjoy the fun, carefree aspects of this book.

Now, I see her everywhere. I can’t call myself an expert on her books, since I have truthfully only read two so far: “It Ends with Us” and “It

Finally, in the fantasy section I recently read “The Atlas Six” by Olivie

Starts with Us”. There are two teams to Colleen Hoover readers, you

Blake. Now this, over 500-page book follows the story of 6 students

either LOVE her or HATE her. Sadly, I'm quite neutral about her

with magical powers, who have been recruited by a mysterious

books, I neither hated nor loved them. Her books did not resonate with

Alexandrian society. However, after a year only 5 will be selected for

me. For example, the sequel “It Starts with Us” read more as a money

further training. This book was tedious in my opinion, and I would

grab to me than an actual continuation of the story. So, unfortunately,

rather recommend “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo instead if you

this recommendation by ‘BookTok’ was a miss.

like fantasy.

Another popular author on ‘BookTok’ is Taylor Jenkins Read. I have read a few of her books but my favourite so far is “The Seven

So, in conclusion, in my opinion, the general fiction, romance and

Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”. This book follows the life of a movie star

fantasy books recommended to me by ‘BookTok’ have been nothing

(Evelyn Hugo) in the mid-20th century, as she rises to fame. It has

exceptional and most don’t top the wonderful books I read thanks to

been a year since I last read it, but it is going to be a classic by Taylor

my friends, family or librarians’ recommendations. It is still a mystery

Jenkins Read. Her writing engulfs you in the series and I think I could

to me how or why these books went viral.

Illustration by Louise Sadler

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

PAGE 43

SPLASH

THE SECRET THAT ELITE UNIVERSITIES DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

BY FINLAY ROBERTSON

the highest density of middle-class students in the country, certainly if Illustration by Zoe Strohmayer

In my unbiased opinion, the University of Bath is the best university in the .

country. I could pick one of many statistics to support my claim, for example how The Sunday Times ranked Bath as the number 1 university for social policy, or how the university has among the top 5 best graduate prospects for students of Iberian languages, or even how we are ‘world-leading’ in research activity for leisure and tourism according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF). Need I really continue?

But somehow this clear excellence doesn’t translate into a top spot in the league tables. Because, after all, that’s the only thing that really matters. As they say, if you wouldn’t share it with your network on LinkedIn, it doesn’t matter. Now, The Guardian ranks Bath at number 8 in the UK, which is not bad, but not LinkedIn-repost-worthy either. However, do not despair, all hope is not lost. I know how to fix this. I’ve found the secret to climbing the university rankings that the likes of Oxbridge, Imperial, and St. Andrews don’t want us to know.

And it’s not what you think.

What do all of the universities ranking above Bath in the league tables have in common? I’ll tell you: they are all city universities. No out-of-town campuses are to be seen. Now, do you know what cities have that campuses don’t? Bear with me on this one. Good coffee.

We all know that the middle classes love their artisanal oat milk flat whites and skinny iced coconut macchiatos. All of the top-ranked university cities are decidedly middle class, think Oxbridge, London et cetera, even the northern options Durham and St. Andrews are so densely packed with privately educated students that you might as well be in Oxford or Exet-ah. So naturally, in any of these places, there are many places one can choose to grab a soya cappuccino and a freshly baked gluten-free almond croissant. Of course, Bath fits right in among these cities, in fact, I would wager that Bath has probably

mullets-per-capita is a reliable metric to go by.

So riddle me this. Why the fuck can’t I get a decent cup of coffee on campus? Of course, the city centre has plenty of amazing coffee shops where you can choose between a Venezuelan or an Ecuadorian roast and 8 different types of plant-based milk. But these divine caffeination stations are located far, far away from the intellectual powerhouse at the top of the hill, certainly an arduous trip for the weary undergraduate.

That’s okay because you can just grab a coffee from one of the many campus outlets. There’s got to be at least one decent option, right? Right?

Wrong. Our best option on campus seems to be a fucking Starbucks.

Now, I’m not expecting some hand-roasted 4-day drip brewed concoction prepared in a conical flask to maximise the concentration of flavour compounds. Maybe just a cappuccino that doesn’t come in a plastic cup?

Is that too much to ask?

If we ever want to seriously compete with the behemoths of British university education, and climb up to our rightful spot at the top of the league tables, we need to solve this simple problem and make good coffee shops readily accessible to our hard-working student population. I really can’t believe that nobody has spotted this obvious correlation before.

I implore our university, instead of investing god knows how many millions into cutting-edge facilities, or world-leading research, just get us a new coffee machine and a couple of decent baristas. It’s that simple.

You will see productivity and satisfaction increase, and for sure we would see our ranking jump way up. That’s a guarantee backed, as you can see, by sound research and detailed statistical analysis. This is the secret the elite universities don’t want us to know. And it's been staring us in the face all along.

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

PAGE 44

SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THIS YEAR’S WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

BY ELLIE INSLEY

Unfortunately, the striking gender inequality that diminishes women’s football came to light during this year’s World Cup. According to a study Illustration by Elliot Rose

released by FIFPro in July of this year, 66% of the Australian and New Zealand players were forced to take unpaid leave or paid holiday from

This summer was a glimpse of what women’s football could be. For the first

their jobs in order to play for their team. While balancing a second job

time, excitement around the FIFA Women’s World Cup seemed to match that of

alongside a successful football career is normalised in women’s football,

men’s football. Fervent support for players was tangible in almost every nation

the idea of male players pursuing a second career is entirely unthinkable.

participating in the tournament. It seemed as though the world was finally

Another instance of the double standards that undermine women’s

paying attention to the talented female players that made for such a captivating

football arose when Nike refused to manufacture Mary Earps’ shirt for

World Cup. While support for England’s Lionesses has continued following

fans to buy. England’s Golden Glove-winning goalkeeper revealed that

their win at the Euros last summer, it was in Australia that the most promising

she even offered to pay to produce the shirts herself. According to BBC

change in attitudes towards women’s football has taken place.

News, it took a petition of more than 152,000 signatures for Nike to

This year, women's football captured the hearts of Australian viewers.

release a statement in which they agreed to manufacture “limited

According to 7 News, Australia’s 7 Network attracted an audience of 7.2 million

quantities” of Earps’ jersey. Nonetheless, fans of Jordan Pickford, the

people during the World Cup quarter-final to become Australia’s most-watched

goalkeeper for the England men’s team, were able to buy his goalkeeper

sporting event in more than twenty years. The overwhelming support seen for

jersey throughout the men’s World Cup. Brands like Nike play a crucial

the Australian team is certainly a positive sign. There were even talks of

role in promoting women’s football and so its reluctance to sell Earps’

introducing a public holiday if the team, also known as ‘The Matildas’, had won

shirts demonstrates an apathetic attitude towards championing women’s

the tournament. For this reason, there are hopes that the momentum created by

sports.

the Women’s World Cup will catalyse change more broadly in women’s

Indisputably, the most alarming example of sexism that emerged during

football.

the World Cup was the non-consensual kiss between Luis Rubiales,

The current pressure on Australia’s federal government to provide more funding

President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and Spanish player

for the sport suggests that the nation will follow in the England team’s footsteps

Jenni Hermoso. During Spain’s trophy presentation, Rubiales forcefully

to invest more purposefully in women’s football. Without a doubt, the Lionesses

grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips without her permission. In a

are evidence of the importance of investing in female talent. Following their

statement released by Hermoso, she said that Rubiales’ behaviour made

success at the Euro 2022 tournament, many of the England players were

her feel “vulnerable and the victim of an aggression”. Despite his eventual

rewarded with sponsorship deals. £2 million was also invested in a new

resignation, the Spanish FA Chief maintained that he was a victim of

grassroots programme for girls during last year’s Euro tournament. However,

“false feminism”. Perhaps this incident is a sign of the times: the glory of

there is still a chasm that separates men's and women’s football, even following

Spain’s female football team was ultimately overshadowed by the actions

the England team’s game-changing win at Euro 2022.

of a man protected by an intricate system of institutionalised sexism.

While it is known that the England captain Leah Williamson earned £200,000

While there have also been positive developments in this tournament, in

last season, her male counterpart, Harry Kane (captain of the England men’s

particular, the history-making success of the Lionesses under the guidance

team) earned her salary in just one week. Additionally, each of the Lionesses

of Manager Sarina Wiegman, Luis Rubiales’ inexcusable behaviour is

was rewarded with a bonus of £55,000 following their Euros win. However, this

evidence of the male chauvinism that persists in women’s football. Yet,

£1.3 million handout is astoundingly lower than the £5 million handout that

meaningful change comes with investment and brand deals, particularly

would have been earned by the men’s team had they won the tournament. The

sponsorship. Only when women’s football receives the funding that it

way in which female footballers continue to be underpaid is indicative of the

requires and so wholeheartedly deserves, will female players be elevated

seemingly unbridgeable gap that exists between men's and women’s football.

to the same level as their male counterparts.

.

PAGE 45

BATH TIME MAGAZINE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THANK YOU A massive thank you to all our contributors and the Bath Animation and Illustration Society for helping us design this wonderful print edition!

GO CHECK OUT THE BATH ANIMATION AND ILLUSTRATION SOCIETY

We're passionate about all things illustration and animation, from anime-style to 3D, stop motion, and more!

We meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for drawing sessions where we can come together to draw and give each other support and tips for whatever you want to work on!

Time Location Tuesday 5-7pm Fine Art Studio (Edge) Thursday 5-7pm Digital Art Studio (Edge) We wanna hear about what you want to do!

Let us know what ideas you have about illustration, character design, modeling, animation, or anything similar that you want to see from us.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

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