LIBREZINE AUTUMN Edition 2016
SHOWCASING
AUTUMN THEATRE & FILM REVIEW
‘D’ IS FOR DIVERSITY
HORROR SCOPES
Digital Artist Abenezer Mesfin
ATROCIOUS AGONISING AUNT More bad advice coming your way.
Cryptic messages from beyond.
LRC NEW RELEASES
Starting January 2017
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ontents
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New releases Pick of the month Puzzle Page Showcasing ‘D’ is for Diversity What’s on/film Review Atrocious Agonising Aunt Autumn poems Creative corner Horrorscopes
hat’s on in the Library nrichment
Book Club - 1 Nov 4 - 5pm - 1st Floor rotunda Librezine content creation - 10 Nov 5 - 6pm - 2nd floor LRC INTRO TO MACS - 16 Nov 5 - 6pm - 2nd floor LRC PHOTOSHOP TASTER - 24 Nov 5 - 6pm - 2nd floor lrc drop in study skills - 30 Nov 12 - 1pm - 2nd floor LRC
L
RC opening times
1st Floor LRC MonDAY - ThursDAY FriDAY
8.30am - 7.30pm 8.30am - 4pm
2nd Floor LRC MonDAY - ThursDAY FriDAY
9am - 7.30pm 9am - 4pm
Arts & Construction MonDAY - ThursDAy 9am - 5pm FriDAY 8.30am - 4pm
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ew Releases n the LIbrary
This year’s Man Booker Prize shortlist contains a collection of novels written by an even split between two British, two US and two Canadian writers. The novels explore a range of themes and genres - from satire to history. It is the third year in which the competition has been open to authors of any nationality and this year’s shortlist features authors who are likely to be unknown to many. Paul Beatty’s ‘The Sellout’ features topics of humour, satire, slavery and segregation in the US. Deborah Levy’s ‘Hot Milk’ tackles motherhood, female rage and interior life. It follows a mother and daughter who are searching for a medical cure and is set in a Spanish village. Graeme Macrae Burnet’s ‘His Bloody Project’ follows the story of a triple murder in a remote north-western Scottish crofting community in 1869. This gripping account is based on a memoir and original court transcripts, medical reports, police statements and newspaper articles.
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Ottessa Moshfegh’s first novel ‘Eileen’ has been compared to the Bell Jar; it follows an unhappy young woman during a 1960s bitter winter in Massachusetts. David Szalay’s ‘All That Man Is’ features 9 stories, 9 men, 6 nationalities, 13 countries. Each character away from home and at different stages in life with an underlying theme of the banal. Madelein Thien’s ‘Do Not Say We Have Nothing’ follows the tragic story of a group of musicians during and after the cultural revolution in China. We’ve been lucky enough to get our hands on the full collection of the 2016 Man Booker Prize shortlist, which is available for you to borrow from the library now. By Rachel Webb
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ick of the Month
nnie on my mind y Nancy Garden (inspired by LGBT)
Liza and Annie soon become firm friends after a chance meeting in a museum in New York. Liza, student president of her private, well-to-do high school, thinks she has everything worked out. Annie, student of a poor public school, has dreams of attending university to study music. As their friendship grows, Liza realises that she’s falling in love with Annie. Will their relationship endure with their different career goals and the potential disapproval of onlookers? Annie on My Mind was first published in 1982. Aimed at teenagers, this book initially caused outrage among parents and teachers alike. However, the book quickly became a great LGBT* classic. It is a wonderful, easy to read novel which explores the love of two people, in a city who disapproves simply because of their gender.
Annie on My Mind is a pioneering novel, helping to bring kindness and understanding to a society which was once ntolerant of difference. Review by Hannah Wood This book is available now in the first floor library.
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PBC
uzzle page
lack History Month rossword
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by Rachel Webb
Across 3. Instrumental in the US civil rights movement of the 1960s, on a bus.(4, 5) 4. Nurse during the Crimean war (4, 7). 7. A pivotal figure in the non-violent civil rights movement (6, 6, 4) 8. Influential US media personality with ground breaking chat show and own book club. (5, 7) 9. First US President of African origin. (6, 5) 10. The first elected President in post-apartheid South Africa, after being in prison for 20 years. (6,7) Down 1. Great boxer of the 1960s. Refused to fight in Vietnam (8, 3) 2. Won four Olympic Golds at ‘Hitler’s Olympics’, Berlin 1936 (5, 5) 5. 19 single grand slam titles, 15 double titles. Also has won 4 Olympic gold medals. (6, 8) 6. American singer, songwriter and record producer with hits such as ‘Crazy in Love’ (7) 7. Member of the Nation of Islam which advocated black selfdetermination separation of black and white people. (7, 1) Find the answers on page 13
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SdA
howcasing igital Artist benizer MESFIN
Zoe - Could you please tell me your name and a litle bit of background information? Abenezer - My name is Abenezer Mesfin and my nationality is Eritrean but I grew up in Sudan and I speak four different languages. I came to England last year, in 2015, and I have a ‘stay to remain’ for the next five years. There was like some problems in our country so I came here. It’s not a proper war but a kind of war and I’ve seen things, horrible things, but I have seen good stuff too, like family memories and that. I am here on my own and my family are still over there. We got lost on the way to the refugee camp but I’m going to try and find them one day. Zoe - What are you studying here at Bolton College? Abenezer - Last year I was studying IT level 1 and this year I’m doing Art, Design and Media Level 2.
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Zoe - What is your preferred medium and what inspires you? Abenezer - I really like graphic things and photography. I had a camera on my phone when I was young and I used to take pictures of nature. I like taking pictures of things that people can’t see to make people focus on it. Zoe - Are you saying anything with your work? Abenezer - I’m not really interested in politics, it’s more about nature or fashion. Things that are fun. I will try to discover things like new cultures and different things about other people.
Zoe - What are your goals and aspirations, and what job do you want? Abenezer - To be honest one of my main goals is to be one of the great photographers, and hopefully that will be, so I’m working towards that. I’m hoping to go to University, and I’m trying to get my own company going, so I’m trying to build my own business slowly.
Zoe - Do you have any favourite artists and what is it that inspires you about their work? Abenezer - One of my favourite artists is Sebastiao Salgado who makes beautiful pictures. I like black and white shots and these type of photos feel special because a lot of images we can now see on social media because everyone has got their own phone, but these pictures are unique and different because they look at people in the past and how other people from other countries live in a different
way, and it brings an awareness. Zoe - You work in a slightly different way because you use your phone to take your photographs, so what phone have you got? Abenezer - Currently I’ve got an iPhone 6 so I use the iPhone 6 camera and put the images onto my Mac laptop and edit them in a program called Pic Monkey to make them look better and more professional. I’m going to get my own camera soon and then I can learn more techniques. Zoe - What skills are you hoping to develop while you are here at Bolton College? Abenezer - I’m trying to develop more in art because I need to learn how to draw & design things. In Level 3 I will do more in the subject of photography, and learn more about Photoshop and the other Adobe programs. Interview by Zoe Rothwell
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D
is for Diversity
Photography by Zoe Rothwell Diversity Day is being held on Wednesday 7th December 2016 which encourages, promotes and values our wonderfully rich and diverse community of staff and students here at Bolton College. We are committed to the promotion and development of equal opportunities whilst providing a safe and supportive environment for Introducing Eduardo Pedro
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Age 19 From Angola Studying Business Clothing - African Style Religion - Christian
Introducing Kelsey Lynch
Age 16 From Bolton Studying Art & Design Clothing - Urban Streetwear No Religion
everyone regardless of their age, sex, disability, race, gender or gender reassignment, marriage/civil partner status, religion or belief, sexual orientation or during pregnancy/maternity. We want everyone to feel comfortable and secure enough to be themselves and do not tolerate harassment, bullying, victimisation or discrimination. We are all unique and we are all beautiful – love has no labels – so let’s stick together and embrace the diversity of mankind. Introducing Desiree Risueno
Introducing Charles Jacques
Age 18 From Spain Studying ESOL Clothing - Shalwar Kameez Religion - Islam
Age - 16 From Manchester Studying Drama Clothing - Hippie Style No Religion
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WT
hat’s on
his season at the octagon
As signposted in the image, the Octagon is taking Bolton on a journey around the world this 2016/17 theatre season, with Harper Lee, Shakespeare, Alan Bennett and more. First off, audiences will be taken to Maycomb, Alabama to Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The play consists of a grown-up ‘Scout’ reflecting on her childhood in a town of racial prejudice, as her Father Atticus Finch defends a wrongly accused black man in court. Families and friendships are torn apart in Shakespeare’s epic play ‘The Winter’s Tale’, which will be brought to life at the Octagon stage from 21st October - 5th November, to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The Christmas season at the Octagon will bring ‘five rats, one romance and no cheese’ to a new adaptation of ‘Cinderella’, by the award-winning writer for children, Mike Kenny, whose adaptation of The Railway Children won an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.
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Other upcoming highlights at the Octagon, will be Willy Russell’s classic stage comedy ‘Educating Rita’ (19th January 11th February) – an uplifting tale of self-discovery, made through the power of education. Also coming up at the Octagon will be, David Rudkin’s ‘Ashes’ which explores the difficulties a couple face with getting pregnant (23rd February - 11th March). There will be Deborah Mcandrew’s adaptation of Anne Bronte’s ‘The Tenant of the Wildfell Hall’(30th March- 22nd April). A cool musical adaption of Dodie Smith’s ‘I Capture the Castle’ (26th April - 6th May), a Bolton inspired ‘Winter Hill’ (11th May - 3rd June) . Finishing the season with Alan Bennett’s masterful collection of monologues, ‘Talking Heads’ (8th June - 8th July). The Octagon’s upcoming programme of events is sure to be an interesting ride!
FH
ilm Review
eart of a Dog by Laurie Anderson
‘Heart of a Dog’ is film as a personal essay: The subject explores the physical deterioration and death of Laurie Anderson’s beloved pet dog Lolabelle (a rat terrier), and how this event unraveled a whole universe of ideas and emotions that Anderson (a renowned musician and performance artist) verbally conjures up by layering her narrative within clouds of digital images, animations and dreamlike soundscapes in her familiar quizzical, ironic tone of voice. The story touches upon what animals mean to us as companions, how they share the journeys we take, and how we in turn understand their lives in relation to ours. It’s also a biographical map of Anderson, of course, and her journey from a mid-western girl in Illinois in the 1960s, through the 1970s New York art scene of Andy Warhol and Philip Glass, to her place now as an established persona in contemporary art and music. It is also a film profoundly colored by the death of her partner, the musician Lou Reed, from cancer in 2013.
Anderson has described her ‘Heart of a Dog’ film as essentially about empathy and its use as a tool for building both meaningful relationships and meaningful art. Review by Jonathan Hart Answers to Black History Month Crossword Across Rosa Parks -3 Mary Seacole - 4 Martin Luther King -7 Oprah Winfrey - 8 Barack Obama - 9 Nelson Mandela -10 Down Mohammed Ali -1 Jesse Owens -2 Serena Williams - 5 Beyoncé - 6 Malcolm X -7 13
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trocious agonising Aunt lways here to help.....or maybe not!
Q. How can I react when I see a person I don’t like? A. Close your eyes because apparently we become invisible when we close our eyes and no one can see us. Or you can be the bigger person and try to build bridges you never know you could become friends. Q. Why is the college not giving us bursary money for transport? A. I ask myself this question every day when I come into work. Why is my employer not paying for me to get here every day, after all they are lucky to have me? If you count up the amount of money spent on travel especially if using a taxi, it costs a fortune. Definitely a couple of bottles of wine worth at least. However, on a serious note I am sure there is some kind of funding available from the college. I think this depends upon your income and how far away you live. The college does provide bus passes for some students and if you go to student services they will be able
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to give you more information. Q. When do the summer holidays start? A. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on a bit matey, we have only just started this year, it’s OCTOBER. This is going to be a very long year for you if you are already thinking about the summer. My mum always said “Now Rebecca you should never dream your life away, sort out what needs to be done for today as tomorrow will soon come - now go and wash the pots”
Q. How many books do you read a week? A. Ha, me? Read? Pah! I don’t have time to read. I have to spend weeks trying to come up with answers to these blinking questions I keep getting asked. More to the point how many books do YOU read? Q. How can we improve students punctuality? A. Lock ‘em in I say, and turn the college into a boarding school. I love this question! Q. Why do boys stare like microscopes or CCTV cameras at girls? A. Well that’s easy, ‘hormones’, that’s what it is. After all, boys are late developers I believe. So while we girls are busy becoming young ladies, the boys are still trying to work out how to tie their shoe laces. Q. Why do girls stare at other girls? A. Because we are supporting each other, trying our hardest not to laugh at the boys who are still working out how to tie their shoe laces, of course.
Q. Why are people racist? A. It pains me so much that this question keeps coming up. I would like to think that here at the college we are inclusive and very diverse but this does not stop the ignorance and hatred of a minority of people. At the end of the day it’s all about raising awareness and educating each other. We can all play our part through interaction and communication embracing our differences together. Finally - there is a confidential problem cup on Becky’s desk in the 2nd floor library for the next issue of Librazine’s Atrocious Agonising Aunt column On a serious note, if you have any questions regarding more sensitive issues, I feel I should mention that the college provides an amazing counselling service with a highly qualified team. If you would like to find out more information, just call into student services for more details.
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A
utumn Poems
Fall, leaves, fall
Night-Time in Mid-Fall
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree. I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night’s decay Ushers in a drearier day.
It is a storm-strid night, winds footing swift through the blind profound; I know the happenings from their sound; Leaves totter down still green, and spin and drift; The tree-trunks rock to their roots, which wrench and lift The loam where they run onward underground. The streams are muddy and swollen; eels migrate to a new abode; Even cross, ‘tis said, the turnpike-road; (Men’s feet have felt their crawl, home-coming late): The westward fronts of the towers are saturate, Church-timbers crack, and witches ride abroad.
By Emily Brontë The morns are meeker than they were The morns are meeker than they were The nuts are getting brown The berry’s cheek is plumper The rose is out of town. The maple wears a gayer scarf The field a scarlet gown Lest I sh’d be old-fashioned I’ll put a trinket on. By Emily Dickinson 16
By Thomas Hardy
Autumn Verses
Autumn Song
Autumn is strange stuff anagram of Aunt mu but not of nostalgia.
Now the leaves are falling fast, Nurse’s flowers will not last; Nurses to the graves are gone, And the prams go rolling on.
Scarves come out, clocks go back faulty or otherwise, pumpkins enjoy brief popularity. Kids collect cash for slouched-on-the-ground ash-bound bad dressers. Ore tummy, heart of mould old leaves leaving enter the cold. Last October I got very depressed when our dog got knoctober. By John Hegley Cool air, bright colors The sweet smell of dying leaves The gifts autumn brings
Whispering neighbours, left and right, Pluck us from the real delight; And the active hands must freeze Lonely on the separate knees. Dead in hundreds at the back Follow wooden in our track, Arms raised stiffly to reprove In false attitudes of love. Starving through the leafless wood Trolls run scolding for their food; And the nightingale is dumb, And the angel will not come. Cold, impossible, ahead Lifts the mountain’s lovely head Whose white waterfall could bless Travellers in their last distress. By W H Auden
By Jyrone Denny
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CC
REative orner Pumpkin Spice By Hannah Wood
The old café on the corner sells the best pumpkin pie. It’s a great thick wedge of sticky pie with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a mug of hot spiced coffee. The café itself is old-world, with sturdy wooden furniture which still has its pine scent. The proprietor, Mrs. Cotton, had her back to the door as I entered, as I do every morning, and sat at a table with a flowery pink cloth. Mrs. Cotton didn’t turn around, but she heard that familiar scrape of the chair as I took to my usual seat at the table by the window. Outside, I saw the morning rush of traffic. It was slower than normal. Mrs. Cotton turned around to greet me; she had been polishing a coffee mug. ‘Your usual, Cathy?’ she asked. ‘Yes please, Mrs. Cotton,’ I replied. She set the mug down and lifted a knife to cut a generous wedge of pie. She poured out a steaming cup of coffee and placed them on my table.
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It was about then a gentleman entered the shop. He looked tight-lipped and grim. He looked in my direction, but his eyes seemed to pass straight through me to the traffic outside. ‘Hello George, the usual?’ ‘Yes please, Mrs. Cotton. But first you might want to sit down.’ Mrs. Cotton regarded George’s grim expression with curiosity and she took the seat next to me. ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘The traffic. There’s been a terrible fatal accident. I’m afraid it’s one of your regulars.’ Mrs. Cotton pressed a hand to her face and gasped. George shook his head sadly. ‘Young Cathy from the newsagents has passed away.’ I laughed; I was sitting right there, in front of him! ‘That’s not something to joke about, George!’ Mrs. Cotton said shrilly. I moved to pick up my coffee, but my hand passed straight through the mug. (to be continued) If you would like to submit a piece of creative writing for the next edition of Librezine please pop into the 2nd floor library.
Hw
orrorscopes
ith Pashmina yanina
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