Culture Magazine: January 2016 Edition

MAGAZINE

CuLTuRE January 2015 / THE UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINe

MUSIC

Is 2016 the year of the female singer?

By Andrew HENDERSON

A

t first glance, 2015 was a good year for women in music. Adele made a triumphant comeback with the top selling album of the year, Taylor Swift was never out of the public consciousness, Florence & The Machine headlined Glastonbury, and Jess Glynne kept popping up with hit after hit.

However, not all was as rosy as it seemed. There was controversy after an early Reading & Leeds festival poster featured Wolf Alice as the only prominent female fronted band. And just 13 of the top 50 albums of 2015 had female vocalists, Adele beating out Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith’s 2014 releases to the top spot. It was the same story when it came to singles.

That could all be about to change for 2016 though.

Regarded by many as the queen of pop, last year Beyonce only appeared as a guest vocalist on a couple of songs. Though nothing has been con-

firmed for release from Beyonce’s camp for 2016, she will be making a guest appearance during Coldplay’s Super Bowl half-time show next month. As long ago as April last year Sia (who is releasing her own album at the end of this month) revealed that she had been writing with Beyonce, so there is a very real chance we could see new material this year.

Rihanna is another megastar that is due to release an album soon. Speculation has been running rife in recent weeks, as the Anti tour has been announced for February 2016 and a promotional website for it was launched, with cryptic clues being posted pointing towards the upcoming release.

In terms of mainstream success, one artist who will be looking to reinvigorate her career is Lady GaGa. It’s been seven years since Just Dance topped charts worldwide, but GaGa found it increasingly difficult to recreate that album’s success, and interest in her eccentric persona wavered. But a change of label, and a change of style in her jazz album with Tony Bennett, seems to have reinvigorated her passion for making music - a good sign of things to come for fans of GaGa.

Ariana Grande will be looking to force her way into the upper echelon of female singers alongside Beyonce and

There are also potential comeback albums from Katy Perry, Emeli Sande, Shakira, Birdy and Britney Spears, as well as the possibility of breakthrough efforts from Grace, Frances and Aurora. With the amount of talent out there right now, and the number of albums already slated for release, 2016 will likely be the year of the female superstar.

Scottish PLAYLIST

B

rig’s monthly playlist returns, and in January we’re celebrating Burns Day with a Scottish theme. Check out the extended playlist by heading over to www. mixcloud.com/arh96.

The Proclaimers 500 Miles

Biffy Clyro Mountains Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams

Paolo Nutini - Candy Big Country - In A Big Country

Primal

Scream Rocks

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The Fratellis Chelsea Dagger

Travis - Why Does It Always Rain On Me

Wet Wet Wet Love Is All Around

Idlewild - You Held The World In Your Arms

The View - Same Jeans

Texas - Inner Smile

Bay City Rollers Shang-a-Lang

Emeli Sande - Next To Me

Fairground Attraction - Perfect

Twin Atlantic - Free

Franz Ferdinand Take Me Out

Gerry Rafferty Baker Street

Simple Minds Don’t You (Forget About Me)

Runrig - Loch Lomond

Chvrches - The Mother We Share Prides - Out of the Blue

2 January 2015 CULTURE

Rihanna. After breaking through with Problem in the summer of 2014, Grande spent 2015 touring and working on her third album, before her new single Focus appeared in October. Her career is definitely on an upward trajectory, and Moonlight could be make or break for her overall legacy.

Dougie MacLean Caledonia

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Live music to go from strength to strength Andrew HENDERSON

2

By

015 was a big year for the university’s Live Music Society. They spent the majority of it battlng for a space that would be solely theirs to store equipment and practice. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t been active since last summer, as the society’s president Tamara Paulsen says.

and various opportunities to perform.

But if you’re already a capable musician, why should you join “We regularly jam, preceded by small the society instead of going it alone? meetings where we update members on what is happening and upcoming events. “The best thing about the society is the But most of the emphasis is on the jams, support and the networking opportuwhere we divide members into two rooms nities. We can go over contracts with (electric/acoustic) and work on different you, we can provide discounts for imsongs. It’s a great way to get to know other portant things like recording studios or musicians without the pressure of prepar- even lessons to get better. It’s a great ing anything, and it’s a good opportunity to way to make friends that you can make try out new instruments.” music with. There are always people willing to offer advice and give you support.

Towards the end of the year, LMS finally It’s just a good environment to be in, no got a designated space on campus. By their matter what your level, because we stick own reckoning it will make a big difference. together and vouch for each other, and have a really fun time doing it.”

“Oftent students who come to uni can’t bring their own instruments because they So now that the Live Music Society has don’t fit, so it will be nice to have a space achieved it’s long term goal of securing where people can practice and leave their a dedicated space, what’s next for them? equipment.

“We want to be able to provide as much On an individual level it will really free mu- of the music on campus as we can, so sicians living in flats that feel awkward we can have music for students by stupracticing with their flatmates around. Mu- dents, showcasing our members and sic sounds amazing when it’s well prepared their various styles and genres. but getting there is tough when people can hear you all the way down the hall.”

Finally we want to be able to put on events with as much pull as refreshers LMS can also offer discounts on music every year that other students will get classes in Stirling, equipment to use at gigs excited about and enjoy going.”

WHATS O

N

Thursday 21st January

The Libertines, SSE Hydro, Glasgow King Charles, O2 ABC, Glasgow

Friday 22nd January

The Kooks, Barrowlands, Glasgow Massive Attack, O2 Academy, Glasgow Paul Jones & Dave Kelly, Tolbooth, Stirling

Saturday 23rd January

Massive Attack, O2 Academy, Glasgow Daugter, Queens Hall, Edinburgh

Sunday 24th January

Galantis, O2 Academy, Glasgow

Monday 25th January

Big Country, Stramash, Edinburgh

Tuesday 26th January

The Corrs, SSE Hydro, Glasgow Dua Lipa, O2 ABC 2, Glasgow

Thursday 28th January

Nina Nesbitt, King Tuts, Glasgow

Friday 29th January

Jason DeRulo, SSE Hydro, Glasgow Izzy Bizu, King Tuts, Glasgow

Saturday 30th January

We Were Promised Jetpacks, Electric Circus, Edinburgh Admiral Fallow, The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

Sunday 31st January

James Yorkston & Withered Hand, Tolbooth, Stirling

Monday 1st February

Carnival of Madness: Black Stone Cherry, Shinedown & Halestorm, SSE Hydro, Glasgow Bowling For Soup, O2 Academy, Glasgow Gabrielle Aplin, Liquid Room, Edinburgh

Tuesday 2nd February

Gabrielle Aplin, O2 ABC, Glasgow Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Electric Circus, Edinburgh Villagers, Oran Mor, Glasgow Neck Deep, O2 Academy, Glasgow

Wednesday 3rd February

Mayday Parade, O2 ABC, Glasgow

CULTURE 2015 January 3

ALBUM reviews VHS - X Ambassadors 5 out of 5

by Kieran Daly

Six months after it was released in the US, VHS, the amazing debut studio album from the X Ambassadors, is finally out in the UK. I was lucky enough to pick up a copy over the summer and this album has still not lost its charm.

Every single song is catchy, unique and captures what it feels like to feel young and alive, including the interludes, which seems to be a main theme for VHS. Most albums that use interludes lose the music, but for the New York band they give the album a new wave of life that makes it stand out from any album I have listened to in the past few years.

There are so many standout tracks on this album; including popular singles like “Jungle” featuring Jamie N Commons, “Renegades” and “Unsteady” (one of my favourite songs on the entire album).

The song Fear features Imagine Dragons, who asked Interscope Records to sign them. It’s fun and dynamic, and heavy on different layered drum beats that will have you dancing along. Other stand out tracks include “Low Life” which is a soulful track that again features Jamie N Commons, and “Hang On” which is superbly riddled with amazing lyrics that compare life to the adventures of the likes of Indiana Jones.

Never before have I enjoyed an album this much, X Ambassadors have become one of my favourite musicians. Pick this album up, you won’t regret it, it is a work of art and if it’s any indication of the band’s talent then I can’t wait to hear more from them.

You can tell all the songs on this album are very personal and emotional for Troye Sivan; telling stories about his struggles of being an out gay teen or the discomfort that comes from traveling a lot.

Despite the clearly high emotion and depth of the album, certain songs still manage to be lively and catchy in an “I can easily dance to this track” sort of way.

For me, it is truly difficult to pick highlights from the album as so many songs speak to me on a personal level. When I listen to most songs, the lyrics tend not to remind me of certain events or times in my life; but certain tracks from Blue Neighbourhood do; by forcing me to think back to times similar to those expressed through the lyrics.

The album also features a lot of synths and computer generated backings to Sivan’s voice which isn’t my normal cup of tea; but this kind of sound suits Sivan’s personality and his individualistic style.

Although I love a good acoustic guitar, going in his own synthy sound direction makes him all the more likeable as an artist.

The song Bite from the album strikes me as one of the most honest and personal. The music dials back to let his voice do what it does best and the rhythm of the song carries a catchiness that has you humming the tune the rest of the day.

Sivan’s debut album shows such development in Sivan’s style with his confidence and voice having matured so much from some of the songs seen in his early Youtube career.

Blue neighbourhood - troye sivan 5 out of 5

by Stuart graham

tweet us your thoughts at @music_brig 4 January 2015 CULTURE

single reviews breathe life - jack garratt The Buckinghamshire-born singer/multi-instrumentalist competed to represent Great Britain at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. He didn’t get selected, and that’s probably a good thing, because we wouldn’t have heard the type of music that Garratt is producing now. A fantastic talent, Garratt plays all the instruments on his track by himself, like a more sophisticated one-man band, and the end result is fantastic. A debut album, Phase, is due for release next month, on the back of his success at the end of 2015, where he won the Brits Critic’s Choice award, BBC Introducing’s Artist of the Year, and he also won BBC’s Sound of 2016 poll. This track exemplifies all of Garratt’s talents. Don’t be surprised to see him 5 out of 5 by andrew baxter

Keeping your head up - birdy This is a major departure from the beautifaul piano ballads we have become accustomed to from Birdy. From Skinny Love, through Wings to 2015’s impeccable Let It All Go alongside Rhodes, 2016 really does seem to be a case of “new year, new Birdy,” as she takes on a far more uptempo and dare I say it dancier style. And, surprisingly, it works. She doesn’t sacrifice any of the power in her voice, and the purity of her tone shines through. This song has all the makings of a charts hit, which bodes well for the 19 year old. It does take a bit of getting used to, which has to be expected upon such a drastic change, but if you can get over the inital shock then it is an early shout for a 2016 highlight even this early in the year.

4 out of 5 by andrew henderson

The feeling - justin bieber 2015 was the year in which Justin Bieber salvaged his reputation. His newest album, Purpose, was a transition from the annoying tripe we have been used to from Bieber. Following the success of What Do You Mean?, Sorry and Love Yourself, The Feeling - a collaboration with 2015 breakthrough Halsey - is the latest release from his album.

This song is a little more like the typical Bieber, but it is still listenable.

A lot more lyrically complex than other songs that can be found on his album (I mean, did Sorry have any lyrical complexities at all?), it incorporates a relatively simple verse and a familiar chorus. Not a classic from Bieber, but at least it’s better than Baby.

2 out of 5 by andrew baxter

CULTURE 2015 January 3

film & tv

Star Wars The Danish review PAGE 8Girl Review BRITISH TV SERIES TO WATCH IN JANUARY

BY CAROLINE MALCOLM

I

t’s January 2016, and already British television has a fantastic line up of high quality and diverse shows. So here is a look at a selection of some great choices to keep you entertained through the final winter months.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is one of Russia’s most famous novels and now a new BBC adaptation staring Downton Abbey and Cinderella Star Lily James promises to dominate television attention this January. The novel focuses on Russia during 1805 as it enters into war with Napoleonic France which is sweeping across Europe. The story follows the life of five aristocratic families who are affected by the war which tears through their 6 January 2015 CULTURE

relationships and safety. War and Peace is not only a fascinating and thrilling novel, but is also a deep journey into the reality of a vast empire that was riddled with corruption and frivolity at the turn of the 19th century. War and Peace is a great series to watch if you want a great mix of violence and bloodshed as well as grand social drama.

But if you prefer the world of Game of Thrones and want a more grisly border line fantasy drama then Beowulf: Return to the Shadowlands might be the one for you. Beowulf is a series about bravery, greed, disloyalty, power, and romance. However, beyond these broader political and social underlying themes there are pkenty savage fights, revengeful plots and gory details.

However, if you want a British based costume drama then take a look at Jericho. Jericho is set in Yorkshire during the 1870s and follows the life of a community who live and work beneath the grand railway viaduct

they are building. ITV has described it as, “Rough, rustic and remote, yet with a wild west, carnival atmosphere, Jericho is a community of pioneers, settlers and outcasts.” This is the series to watch if you want a bit of old school country tale about desperation and survival.

Lastly, if you want a cheeky crime series then welcome back Death in Paradise. Death in Paradise began in 2011 and is a joint British and French series which takes place in the Caribbean. With sun, bikinis and margaritas, Death in Paradise is a light hearted murder mystery series with comical aspects and brain teasing crimes. This is the series to watch if you love British crime dramas, but you fancy a bit of sunshine and sea thrown in.

GOLDEN GLOBES, BAFTAS, AND OSCARS: AWARDS SEASON IS HERE

BY JAMIE HARRIS

T

here are currently some brilliant films showing in cinemas as the race to reign supreme at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Academy Awards heats up. There is such an eclectic variety in the running this year, from Mad Max: Fury Road to Carol, that there doesn’t appear to be a real front-runner at the moment.

The fact that Carol and Bridge of Spies lead with the most nominations at the BAFTAs, with nine each, suggests they may well be front-runners heading into other award shows but that’s far from guaranteed seeing as in previous years films have received droves of nominations but have struggled to actually win anything.

A personal favourite nominee this year is Room, a brilliant adaptation of a book about the struggles of a mother and son that have been held in captivity for years. Jacob Tremblay was wrongfully snubbed in the Supporting Actor category at the Golden Globes. It would be great to see a win for it in the Best Adapted Screenplay category and for Brie Larson to win the Rising Star Award at the BAFTAs.

One of the stand-out favourites amongst critics is Carol, a period lesbian romance. The film itself left me cold as it seemed to be a case of style over substance but I definitely agree that elements of this film are beautiful, including the cinematography and the performances by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. I can see why Mara deserved to win the award for Best Actress at this year’s Cannes film festival and could see her repeating this success.

One of my favourite films of the year, Inside Out, has had a lock on the Best Animated Feature awards ever since its release all the way back in July. It would also be very deserving of a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Whilst Mad Max: Fury Road was one of the best films released this year it may struggle in the major categories such as Best Picture but it should clean up in the technical categories for its visual effects and make up.

The new darling of the Oscar’s, Jennifer Lawrence, will most likely receive several nominations but may face an uphill battle to win because Joy hasn’t seen as much love as her previous films. This has been shown by the fact that Joy has failed to receive any BAFTA nominations - not even for Lawrence.

Other films in serious contention this year include The Danish Girl, The Revenant, Spotlight, The Hateful Eight, Brooklyn, The Big Short, Steve Jobs, and The Martian.

January 2015 CULTURE 7

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens REVIEW

BY STUART GRAHAM

B

eing one of the most anticipated films of the last decade (and now the highest grossing film EVER in the UK and the US), The Force Awakens was of course going to split opinions. Some loved it, some hated it and others are reserving judgement until they see more.

Whether you enjoyed it or not, no one can protest that visually, this instalment lived up to the bench mark set by its predecessors.

With the quality of CGI today, the film had no problem impressing us with its settings, its chase scenes and its explosivey-ness.

I take my hat off to the director J.J. Abrams. His films Star Trek and its sequel Into Darkness showed us he knows what he is doing when it comes to sci-fi visuals.

One aspect I feel could have been better was the plot. I understand that, like Spectre, this instalment was fixated on making small references and larger parallels with the original trilogy.

They did this very well, but at what expense. The storyline although entertaining seemed rather shallow. I enjoyed the Kylo Ren plot but everything else seemed a bit too familiar, meaning events were too predictable.

The writers could have been more tactical; taking the parallels they built up, using the audience’s expectations of certain events and then subverting them for greater shock.

Another point that couldn’t be escaped was the Disney-fication. From some of the laughable dialogue to the odd Finn/Rey relation-

(Spoiler free!)

ship, it is clear that one of the world’s biggest media producers clear had its say heard in exactly how this new story would be told.

A few other things I enjoyed and other things that bothered me: Rey was incredible as a lead and I look forward to seeing more of her, BB-8 is my new obsession and the exchanges between it and R2-D2 were priceless, and the millennium falcon chase through the graveyard of star destroyers was one of the best pieces of cinematography I have seen in the past few years. However I would have liked to have seen more of stormtrooper leader, Captain Phasma.

The Force Awakens packed an emotional punch and led on to what is to be an interesting series and I cannot wait to see more.

4 OUT OF 5

THE DANISH GIRL REVIEW

BY STUART GRAHAM

W

hen I heard about the dramatization about one of the first noted transgender cases, I had two concerns.

My first was that the film-makers would be so wary of controversy or offending any minority groups that the film would spend time tiptoeing around the subject.

My second was that there would be sweeping generalisations made about the Trans community. Neither of these concerns were embodied in the film, thank God. The two central characters, Gerda (Alicia Vikander) and Einar/Lili (Eddie 8 January 2015 CULTURE

Redmayne), carried the film with their acting.

With some clunky writing, the two actors save some laughable lines by delivering them with intense emotion.

Costume was a focus for both viewers and characters. We see Einar transformed by the touch, feel and thought of female clothing. The visual emphasis on fabrics and garments puts us in his mind as they catalyse his change.

The choice to show an equal amount of her struggle with the transgender process as well as the Trans person’s struggle struck me as a brave artistic division and let non-Trans audiences relate more.

Doing this meant that Gerda’s character actually became more of a protagonist than Lili. As fond as I am of Eddie as an actor, he was upstaged by Alicia.

My strongest criticism is of how the film concluded. With a very calm tone set up towards the end of the film, the ending (although true to historical events) felt harshly abrupt and left the audience a bit confused about the questionably positive message of the film.

Overall the film impressed and went into depth about a story rarely explored in current media.

3 OUT OF 5

FOOD & DRINK

fRIG iNTRODUCES:

I Clean Green

The Cleanse

t’s January and you’re back to uni, handing in assignments, calculating how much of your student loan you actually spent on the sales and maybe not feeling your absolute tip- top after a season of eating (and drinking) your weight in seasonal festivities. The gym is busy, and you’re trying to find the time to be healthy and stay in shape whilst continuing with the stress of uni. Juices are a great way to start feeling healthier again, and it’s a super easy way to incorporate a bit of fruit and veg back into your diet, instead of chocolate (although everything in moderation). These juices are all proven to tackle health issues which may affect you throughout the semester, ranging from anxiety to acne.

Celery roots and citrus fruits are associated with helping to relax the mind and calm the body from mild anxiety. Lemon in particular is associated with helping the mind relax from stress and this juice both 2 large green apples, 8 stalks of celery, 1 lemon, helps you to tackle the day in the morning but can be drunk at any time of the day if you are feeling a bit unpeeled, 1 orange, peeled overwhelmed with your coursework or exams.

Deals with anxiety, high blood pressure and stress INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS: 2 green apples, 7 carrots, 2 small oranges, peeled

Orange Buzz

Deals with acne, bloating and period cramps *cough, ladies, cough* The high level of vitamin C in this juice can help rid your skin of nasty toxins and can also deal with redness, scarring and blemishes. Vitamin C can add a high amount of life to your skin, you if you’re someone who always feels they need a lot of highlight to make their cheeks look awake, maybe this juice is for you. This juice also helps with period cramps as carrot juice helps to detox your body of excess fluid which contributes to the swelling and cramping that you might experience when it’s that wonderful time of the month.

INGREDIENTS:

Beat It

1 apple, 1 beetroot, 5 carrots, 2 celery stalks, one handful of spinach

Perfect for hangovers

Although you’re getting back in the swing of things, you might also want to spend some time with your friends and this might result in feeling a bit delicate the next day. The beetroot’s antioxidants are essential for getting all the rubbish out of your body from the night before, and the carrots will help you feel and looking a bit more away and ready to face the day. Check out The Venue for other juice alternatives!

BY Ailsa Galashan January 2015 CULTURE 9

ARTS

What’s On at Macrobert M

By Caroline Malcolm

acrobert Arts Centre has a selection of live events coming up, and Brig is here to tell you about those showing in late January and early February. The descriptions given are mostly from the Macrobert website, and more information about events can be found by accessing their website, or by visiting them on campus.

Craig Hill: Playing With My Selfie!-29th of January “Get snap happy with Scotland’s favourite kilted treasure for an evening of gloriously camp, no-holds-barred comedy… Craig Hill live and unleashed!

Hot on the heels of last year’s hysterically funny, sold out national tour, don’t miss the chance to see Craig flashing his kilt pins, striking a pose and calling for 'Lights, Camera... and, most definitely, Action!’ Bring your Auntie…Bring your Hubby…Bring your Selfie!”

Bird-30th of January “A one woman show set in a vast, desolate world created through inventive use of clowning, mime and seamless work from foley collaborator, David Pollock. Creep into the 10 January 2015 CULTURE

post-apocalyptic world of one lone, feral creature, starved of both food and friendship. With only a patch of soil to call her own, she must be ready to seize every small opportunity that might fly by.”

The Nutcracker-5th and 6th of February “Escape to a magical world of snow, sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy with Ballet West, in this wonderful winter experience for children (and adults) of all ages! It is the Christmas party in the Stahlbaum household and young Clara is given a beautiful Nutcracker doll. After everyone has gone to bed and the house is quiet, she returns to play with her doll and discovers he can take her on magical adventures through the land of the Mouse King, dancing snowflakes and the wonderful land of sweets.”

How You Gonna Live Your Dash-10th of February “Based on real life testimonies and featuring beautiful pyrotechnic effects, this epic performance looks at the moment we choose to detonate our own lives, the smoky fall out and how we piece together a new future.

This shattering piece explores the life-altering decisions we make in or-

der to get the most out of our time on earth: giving up a high-flying career, confronting an addiction, dropping it all and moving to a new continent.

Supported by Creative Scotland and Platform.”

Main Street Blues-20th of February “This show, by one of Scotland’s premier blues bands, combines acoustic blues with a powerful mix of electric blues and funk material. A favourite around blues festivals and known for putting on a very energetic live show, the band has sold out its performances at the prestigious Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival in each of the last four years.”

Storm and Stress-26th of February “The Edinburgh Quartet performs a typical Sturm und Drang work by Haydn alongside masterworks inspired by extremes of expression by Bartók and Grieg. Storm & Stress derives from the loose translation of the German 'Sturm und Drang' movement of the eighteenth century, where passionate expression was given free rein in literature, but also in music with works by Haydn and Mozart at the forefront.”

POEMS ABOUT STIRLING

BY CAROINE MALCOLM

My Last Farewell to Stirling

by Roeber Burns Nae lark in transport mounts the sky Or leaves wi’ early plaintive cry, But I will bid a last good-bye, My last farewell to Stirling O. Tho’ far awa, ma hert’s wi’ you.

Our youthful ‘oors, upon wings they flew But I will bid a last adieu A last farewell to Stirling O. Nae mair I’ll meet ye in the dark Or gang wi’ you to the King’s Park Or raise the hare from oot their flap When I gae far fae Stirling O. Nae mair I’ll wander through the glen, Disturb the roost o’ the pheasant hen.

Or chase the rabbits tae their den When I gae far fae Stirling O. Their one request before I go And this is to my comrades all: My dog and gun I’ll leave to you When I gae far fae Stirling O. So fare thee well my Jeannie dear For you I’ll shed a bitter tear.

I hope you’ll find another, dear, When I gae far fae Stirling O. So fare thee well, for I am bound For twenty years to Van Diemen’s Land.

But think of me, and what I’ve done When I gae far fae Stirling O.

Armoury, And the palace, built by James the Fifth are worthy to see.

And the Wallace Monument on Abbey Craig is charming to be seen, With its rugged rockery and shrubbery green, It is rather attractive and amazing to the eyesight, Because it is erected upon such a perStirling Castle by William To- pendicular height. paz McGonagall And the town of Stirling occupies a The ancient Castle of Stirling is built beautiful seat, And the streets are very clean and upon a rock, Which in the days of warfare with- neat, And the shops are beautiful to behold, stood many a shock; And the views from the castle are Stocked full with goods for the young and old. lovely to see Especially the bonnie green braes of And the surrounding country is most Airthrey. lovely to be seen, From the Castle can be seen the battle- Especially in the summer time when Nature’s face in green, field of Bannockburn, Likewise the beautiful river Forth, And the beautiful river Forth, rolling on its way, which smoothly doth run, And the old Bridge of Stirling is attrac- Is enough to make the tourist’s heart feel light and gay. tive to see, Also famous Touch House and CamAs from the Castle he views the scenbuskenneth Abbey. ery below, And within the Castle are to be seen His heart will fill with joy all aglow, And with delight he’ll exclaim, Oh! How the House of Parliament, Built by James III, and an enormous grand, There’s nothing can equal you in fair sum of money on it was spent, Besides the Chapel Royal, and now the Scotland.

January 2015 CULTURE 11

lifestyle

16 real resolutions for

I

2016

ts that time of year again, and before you decide to never look at chocolate again, work out three hours every day and drop 4 stone, lets all try and stick to 16 real resolutions for 2016 (and no, this isnt about weight loss, smoking or biting your nails, although feel free to participate in these in your own discretion)

Stop comparing yourself to others

1 2

Whether its their looks, grades, job, friends, boyfriend or girlfriend, stop comparing yourself. Its not going to get you anywhere. Embrace the way that you look and feel about your own life. If its friends youre after, try and make some new ones.

Make the changes in your life that you want to see and make your life worthy of comparison.

Stop Thinking Negative Things About People It can be easy to look at someone and make negative assumptions or to perceive their life distastefully. This can lead to you becoming unhappy with yourself and becoming more isolated, preventing you from meeting new people and making new friends. Instead, when you meet someone new, find something that you like about them. You never You know that you should. So, start. know what could happen.

Drink more water

3 4

Recycle

Try and help the environment a bit more, even if it is as simple as putting all those empty glass bottles you have from New Year in a recycling bin. Youre helping yourself, too.

Don’t pick your spots

You know that you shouldn’t. So, stop.

12 January 2015 CULTURE

5 6

Appreciate more

Whether its your friends, family, pets, the view from your campus window, if you appreciate something, make sure you realise it. If you appreciate someone, make sure they realise it too.

7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

Accept more compliments

Dont be that person who cant take a compliment. If someone tells you that you look good in that outfit, then you do look good in that outfit. Say thankyou dont say I dont. That person probably wont compliment you again if you take it negatively.

Give more compliments Tell people nice things. It will make you feel good too.

Limit social media

Tell people how you feel

If you are having a rough day, let them know.

It might help you just to get it off your chest.

Talking about things makes everything better.

You don’t need to check Facebook every five seconds. Or your Instagram. It’s going nowhere. Instead, make more time for real people and real conversations, and save social media for times when you genuinely need it.

have breakfast everyday Having breakfast in the morning helps you become more focused, and also increases your metabolism.

So try to eat in the morning, even if it is a banana and a glass of water.

Call people more

Don’t always wait for them to call you. Make an effort, and people will make more of an effort for you.

gET MORE FRESH AIR

Dont stay cooped up all day, try and go outside, even if it is for a little bit. Fresh air will help you feel more awake and also can help to relieve stress. If you really cant go outside for whatever reason, then open the window

Smile more Be a happier, healthier you.

2016 is your year, go on and get it!

Keep your space tidy

Having things organised prevents you from losing important things, and can also lead to having a tidier mind. Try and find a place for everything and go to bed knowing where you can find it the next day.

Sleep better

Go to bed at a time that suits you and wake up at a time that allows you to get everything done. Relax before bed. Take your makeup off.

Make your bed the next morning.

By Ailsa Galashan January 2015 CULTURE 13

The art of decluttering

By Beatriz Téllez

L

iving and working in a clean and neat environment has to be one of the most satisfying things for me.

Maintaining that, however, can be very challenging when we are so busy and caught up with university, work and attempting to still have a social life.

Sometimes cleaning and organizing just isn’t a priority. Days, weeks and months go by and we start collecting and misplacing stuff: old receipts, jewellery, mail, etc. Clothes and accessories hang in our closets gathering dust without ever being worn.

We get so used to all the ‘crap’ around us, that we normalise it.

Since I was very young I loved Dzspring-cleaningdz my room and

parts of the house. It was always very satisfying taking out bags of junk that had just been lying around the house for months.

About four years ago, however, I took it to the next level. I looked at all my possessions and realized there were so many things I owned and didn’t need.

Shirts I never wore, shirts I promised myself I’d start wearing, beauty products I didn’t use but liked to display and miscellaneous items in all the shelves, drawers and boxes. I asked myself one question: “Will I use this?” If the answer was no, I simply chucked it.

The amount of things I either donated or threw away was immense and I couldn’t believe how much space I freed up. Most importantly I couldn’t explain to myself why I had decided to keep these things for so long.

I also found that maintaining a clean home was way easier with less stuff cluttering it.

Over the past couple of years I really have made progress when it comes to getting rid of stuff I don’t need as well as controlling my shopping habits. I have gotten really good at deciding whether I really need something before buying it.

More often than not, unless it’s something I really want, I get overwhelmed and leave stores empty handed.

I like to think of myself as a minimalist. I love packing light, not worrying about my own possessions holding me back or becoming a burden. It makes moving easier.

It makes travelling less stressful and generally just makes me feel lighter and happier.

here is my guide to preventing useless Grab 2 plastic bags: 1 for garbage and 1 for donations.

Start with a specific section, your desk for example. Go through everything that is on it. Is there anything you can throw away? Is everything in its place? How about your closet? Take a look at the items you haven’t worn in a while.

If you don’t reach out for them, chances are you don’t like or need them anymore. Why not ask a friend or family member if they want them? Why not take them to the charity shop?

Repeat: Do them same for all the different sections of your room/home. You 14 January 2015 CULTURE

will soon start realising home much stuff you’re just keeping for no reason.

Keep a Log of your belongings: Really digging in, finding what you’ve got at home and keeping a record of it will help you keep track of what you own, what you might need to buy and most importantly, what you DON’T need to buy. I like to set myself goals. Whatever I have got too much of (make up, nail polishes, toiletries, stationary, even food) I make a note of it to prevent myself from

Making a Happy

By Ailsa Galashan

I

Book*

decided to make myself a Happy Book this January, stemming from the ideas of becoming more positive and hopeful throughout the New Year. This has little cost and is incredibly easy to make (I am not a particularly crafty person and I managed this, so Im sure that you will manage). Making a Happy Book is a great way to create a piece of work that means something to you, and will lift your mood on days that are maybe not your best. You can make it as creative as you want, its super easy and inexpensive. Here is how I made mine:

What you will need:

»» An empty notebook with blank pages »» A selection of quotes, sayings or pictures which make you happy printed on photographic paper »» A glue stick »» Scissors

I received this notebook in my stocking for Christmas, so it seemed like the perfect tool to use to create my book. I counted the pages within the book so I knew how many pictures I would need. I found all these pictures online, and I chose ones which meant something to me and that I knew would look pretty on the page as this was something

Once I had printed out all the pictures, I cut them to size and began to create an order for them. This is optional, but I wanted all the quotes to create a story so I made sure that they became more positive and happy as they continued to the end. Once I had my order, I began to stick them down. I now keep this notebook in my handbag, so I read it on a regular basis. I can flick through it, or just read particular sections and it always raises my mood. I think its a fun, creative way of feeling better and I enjoyed making it. Now its time to make your own!

possessions from cluttering your life! spending more money. I will not let myself buy more things until I use up the one I’ve already got.

Check back in: Hopefully you will have noticed how much stuff was just lying around, however the first time you declutter you will be more likely still keep things that youǯre afraid to let go off. You will think this “might be a bit extreme” or that you “might need this one object in the future”. That’s fine, but the second or third time around you will realize how much you kept that you didn’t need. I guarantee, no matter how often you declutter (at least the first few times) you will always find something that

you don’t use or need to keep.

Weird tip!

Sometimes we keep certain things only because we find them ‘cute’, ‘funny’ or they hold some sentimental value (old movie or train tickets, magazine cut-outs, etc).

You might want to hold onto them for a while but when you’re ready to let go it helps to take a picture!

You will still be able to look at it without having to keep it. (You will become a photo hoarder, but that’s a whole other article!)

Reflect:

stuff you’re either throwing or giving away. This is a good thing!

You will really think twice about getting that pair of new shoes, or another stationary item that you only bought because “it would motivate you to study”. I find that since I started practising ‘the art of decluttering’ I have become a way more responsible and conscious spender. In doing so, I am able to save money for things that are more important to me, like travelling or even buying more expensive material possessions that will be more useful and valuable.

The more you do this the more you will be disgusted by how much money you’ve spent on January 2015 CULTURE 15