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Islamic Centre decision delayed
Sophie Witts News editor
The University’s controversial decision to close the Islamic Centre on campus has been delayed. Following several months of protest by Muslim and non-Muslim students alike, the University has put the decision on hold and will instead look to formulate a clear policy on faith provision across campus, after consulting with the chaplaincy, a variety of UEA’s faith groups, the Union of UEA Students (UUEAS) and possibly the local community. A meeting on 15 October will examine the consultation’s findings, leading to a decision on the University’s long-term policy, as well as the future of the centre. In an official statement, the University’s executive team stated: “[we will] ask the University Council to consider a longterm policy for UEA on the provision and organisation of facilities for prayer and religious observance on campus, and the principles that should guide any future developments. Provisionally, therefore, the building housing the current Islamic prayer facility will remain open.” Speaking to Concrete, Union Communications Officer Matt Myles said: “the Union welcomes the University’s
FEATURES
decision to delay the closure of the centre in order to think more strategically about faith provision on campus. We want to see the university comprehensively consult students over the creation of the longterm policy on campus faith provision, as it will affect thousands of us this year and in future years”. Muhammed Suleman Patel, vicepresident of the Islamic Society, said the Muslim community at UEA were both happy and grateful to the University for the decision, but acknowledged that their campaign was far from over. “We have certainly not become complacent and we will continue to work with attentiveness. At this point it seems inevitable that our campaign will spill out into the next academic year. Nevertheless I believe a major benefit that can be found from this whole ordeal so far is that it has brought further unison to the UEA Muslim community and has brought us closer together with the wider UEA student collective.” Following the initial announcement of the closure of the centre, the University indicated that there were no plans to replace the facility, and those affected would be re-accommodated in the campus Chaplaincy, despite Union members
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having voted on and approved a policy in 2011 indicating that the building was not an adequate multi-faith facility. Speaking to BBC News earlier this year, Patel stated that the space was “too small to accommodate those who want to attend
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Friday prayers”, which includes members of the local community as well as at least 530 Islamic students who currently attend UEA. Continued on page five.
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Sam Gladstone
OUR MAP OF CAMPUS
REVIEW: ANNA KARENINA
RETURN OF MERLIN
UEA SPORT PREVIEWED
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concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
Issue 271
Editorial
Contributors
Editor-in-chief | Amy Adams concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Managing Editor | Chris Teale concrete.managingeditor@uea.ac.uk Online Editor | Harry Slater concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News | Philip Thomas & Sophie Witts concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Comment | Ciara Jack concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Travel | Polly Grice concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Features | Lauren Cope concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Global | Robert Norris ueaconcreteinternational@gmail.com Lifestyle | Emma Williamson concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Science & Tech | Rebecca Hardy concrete.science@uea.ac.uk Environment | Tim Miller concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk Sport | Billy Sexton & Sam Tomkinson concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Copy editors | Sidonie Chaffer-Melly & Charlotte Cox concretecopyeditors@gmail.com Chief Photographers | Elizabeth Margereson & Chloe Hashemi concrete.photographers@uea.ac.uk
News | Amy Adams, Chris Teale, Sophie Witts, Philip Thomas, Emma Williamson, Billy Sexton, Rachel Knott, Michael Drummond, Frances McKeown, Lucy Jobber Global | Robert Norris, Ben Hardie Comment | Tim Rose, Emma Holbrook, Ciara Jack, Sebastian Crawford, Jess Collett Features | Billy Sexton, Sarah Boughen, Amy Griffiths Science & Tech | Samantha Price, Suhailah Ali Environment | Ella Gilbert, Tim Miller Lifestyle | Jess Beech, Lucy Jobber, Bethan Williams, Emma Williamson, Holly Whitaker Travel | Jessica Crisp, Jake Deller, Matt Tidby, Kirsten Powley, Robert Norris Sport | Chris Teale, Daniel Suen, Marco Bell, Jack Enright, Sam Tomkinson Proofreaders | Amy Adams, Harry Slater, Chris Teale, Oliver Balaam, Tilly Wood
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Editorial
21/09/12
The Editor’s Column
It’s been a funny old summer. Jess Ennis may have warmed the cynical hearts of Britain, but meanwhile the presidential race grows ever-more farcical, America still refuses to consider gun control, and education reforms in the UK continue to terrify anyone who has anything to do with education. And let’s not even get started on the political minefield that is London Met. But over at Concrete HQ, things are looking pretty good. While we haven’t been in print over the summer, we’ve still been busy. Our online wizard Harry Slater has built us an entirely new site, which is far shinier and full of extra content. Meanwhile, we teamed up with UEA’s Illustration Guild to create an alternative map of campus, with all the tips you need
Tweet of the Week Lewis Spurgin | @LewisSpurgin
“ FRESHERS. It’s
You can also keep up by searching for us on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.
Essential items for moving to Norwich: 1. goggles 2. boiler suit 3. pate. #uea ”
to dive straight in to the new year. Not only that, but we have previews of the University sports clubs, a look back at significant stories from the summer, and our cultural pull-out Venue is bursting with reviews of films, music, this summer’s festivals and some amazing Olympic nails. If you’re a first year, then welcome to UEA. It’s a fantastic University and an amazing experience, no matter how you feel about freshers’ week. Finally, make sure you sign up to Concrete at Societies Fair, and join the sections you’re interested in at the Big Meet on Thursday in the Congregation Hall at 7pm. See you there! Amy Adams Editor-in-chief
Contact Us Address Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ Editorial inquiries / complaints concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.event@uea.ac.uk Got a story? concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Telephone 01603 593 466 Websites www.concrete-online.co.uk www.concblog.wordpress.com
Concrete welcomes all letters and emails, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Letters should be addressed to the editor-in-chief, and include contact details. All emails should be sent to concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk. We will consider anonymous publication, and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous article submissions are permitted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the newspaper. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the editor, Amy Adams. Published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2012 Concrete BMc ISSN 1351-2773
News University reassures international students 21/09/12
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Stricter attendance monitoring planned Campus Chris Teale Managing editor
Campus Sophie Witts News editor UEA has responded to concerns from the international student community after the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) recent decision to revoke London Metropolitan University’s licence to sponsor non-EU students. In a statement issued to the press, the University asserted that it took its responsibilities to “comply with visa regulations extremely seriously and its UKBA highly trusted sponsor status is completely secure. No UEA students will be adversely affected by the difficulties at London Metropolitan University.”
The highly trusted sponsor status (HTS) is designed for use by universities to ensure that students entering the country via the education system do so with the intention to study rather than to work illegally. Commenting on UEA’s position, vicechancellor Prof. Edward Acton said: “International students enrich our campus community beyond measure, enhancing the student experience for all. “Talented students come to UEA from more than 100 countries worldwide and we look forward to welcoming both the new intake and our returning students next week.” An external examination of London Met’s files by UKBA found that the
Honorary doctorates awarded Campus Emma Williamson News reporter The University of East Anglia awarded 14 honorary degrees this summer, with a number of household names included in the honours. Between 17 July and 20 July, a variety of notable individuals were recognised in UEA’s 2012 graduation ceremonies. Amongst this year’s honorary graduates were My Family actress Zoë Wanamaker, former director of the Victorian and Albert Museum Sir Mark Jones, and Prof. John Durant, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Museum.
Brian Summers, UEA registrar and secretary, said: “We present honorary degrees to those who have made a remarkable contribution to the arts, science, sport, and civil society.” Jake Humphrey, who was seen this summer as part of the BBC’s Olympic presenting team, was awarded an honorary doctorate of civil law. Upon receiving the honour, Humphrey said: “I’m incredibly privileged to receive such an accolade from the University of East Anglia. “I must also admit to feeling rather embarrassed and very lucky to be meeting the rest of the graduates who have all had to study a lot harder than me to achieve their doctorates.”
university was failing to adequately monitor its students in the manner required by the HTS programme, which includes checking the validity of a student’s UK visa, testing English language skills, as well as monitoring attendance and academic progress. Around 2,600 students currently face deportation from the UK. Immigration minister Damian Green said London Met’s administration and monitoring of international students had encountered a “serious systematic failure” that was identified six months ago. The Union of UEA Students is asking international students to email any concerns they may have to union.community@uea.ac.uk
UEA will be phasing in a new academic model with new first year undergraduates from September 2013. The model contains a number of new initiatives that increase expectations of students and is also intended to improve their academic experience. The model was first proposed in 2010, and has been formulated by the Learning and Teaching Committee. One key change under the new model will be the requirement of students to pass all modules before they can progress to the next year of their degree. Currently, students can fail up to 40 credits in a year and continue with their studies regardless. However, one aspect of the model that has caused some concern is the use of stricter attendance monitoring to determine whether a student who has failed a module can automatically enter re-assessment. Under the proposed scheme, a student will need to have been to 80% of teaching that has monitored attendance, and have achieved a mark of at least 20%. If attendance is less than 80% in a failed module, extenuating circumstances will have to be proven for a re-sit to be allowed to take place. Caroline Sauverin, acting director of Learning and Teaching Services, believes it is the right time for the new model to be introduced. She told Concrete: “With the introduction of new fees, students are going to expect more from their course, and we want to give them more. Sauverin added: “We also want to increase employability, so if we can get students to improve their degree classifications through engagement and performance, that will help.” In response, Union academic officer Josh Bowker said: “The Union has policy opposing the University’s attendance monitoring proposal, as we believe that students should be measured on their academic performance, as fits a university experience, rather than their attendance, which is more appropriate within school. We want to work with the University towards a system that better meets the needs of UEA students.”
News Moo’d have thought it? Pizza and quiet 4
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Norwich
Sophie Witts News editor The popular student takeaway Mr Pizza has lost its licence to serve hot food after 11pm following complaints of anti-social behaviour. Green Party councillor David Rogers, who backed local residents at the licencing hearing this week, said the result was “a tribute to the patience of local families who have tolerated late night disturbance for many years. The Green Party supports
From the website - in case you missed it. More news online. Campus Chris Teale Managing editor Four highland cows have mooved into UEA’s campus to help improve the biodiversity of the land. Named Delia, Chocolate, Cornflower and Cecily, they will reside in a field on the western edge of university land, and help manage the flora and fauna of the fenland, flood plain and meadows. UEA is believed to be the first university in the UK to use cattle for conservation purposes, and the idea for their use came from grounds manager Oliver Deeming. He said: “The cattle will graze areas of the land to differing heights, which will help diversify the plants growing in these areas. “Their droppings also act as a catalyst
for invertebrate growth – many different bugs and creatures will feed on the dung they produce, and these in turn will provide sustenance for the larger animals on campus such as foxes and badgers. “It will also help us to substantially reduce costs – clearing the fen by hand would take an extremely long time and require many man hours.” The four cows are owned by local farmer Nigel Darling, who said: “Highland cattle are very suitable for rough grazing, as they eat plants such as reeds, in addition to normal grass. “They are also extremely hardy, and do not require accommodation at night or in bad weather. They will be right at home at the University.” The cows will stay at UEA until the end of autumn on a trial basis, and could return next year in greater numbers if the trial is successful.
Meat and two veg University Lucy Jobber News reporter UEA has received a million dollar grant to investigate the effects of broccoli on reducing the risk of prostate cancer. The university’s research department will be looking specifically at the naturallyoccurring compound sulforaphane found in broccoli and its effects on both metabolism and gene expression in the prostate tissue. The funding is one of only nine donations awarded by the Prostate Cancer Fund, with the University’s unique capacity within the Norwich Research Park to incorporate plant science research,
food research and clinical studies on a single campus being a crucial motive in the granting of this esteemed award. The research will be led by researchers at the Institute of Food, with UEA’s cancer genetics expert Professor Colin Cooper, as well as Professor Richard Ball and Robert Mills of the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital assisting the research. The study could produce potentially life-changing results, with prostate cancer listed as the most common form of cancer in men in the UK, with more than 35,000 diagnoses per year. The results will hopefully result in better drug development and higher quality dietary advice in the future.
local businesses, but in this case the late night licence was inappropriate in a quiet residential area.” Residents of the Portersfield Road area of the Golden Triangle expressed relief at the decision. Janet Wilkinson, who applied to the council to deal with the disturbances around the takeaway, claimed that noise and anti-social behaviour in the vicinity had “escalated to unacceptable levels”. Following news of the licencing withdrawal she added “I now look forward to the return of peace and quiet in the neighbourhood”.
UEA rises up the rankings for seventh year running University Philip Thomas News editor The University of East Anglia was ranked 236th in the most recent publication of the renowned QS World University Rankings. UEA has consistently ascended the league table since being ranked 365th in 2007 and climbed 25 places this year. Natural Sciences, along with Arts and Humanities witnessed noteworthy improvement, being ranked 214th and 218th respectively. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Edward Acton said: “I am delighted
that we continue to rise through the world rankings. To have risen by 120 places in just seven years is a splendid achievement.” UEA received further acclaim in the current Which? University Guide, describing the University as “a great place to both live and learn”. The guide highlighted the high student satisfaction of 89%, while noting that graduates had good prospects when seeking either work or further study. Additionally, the website emphasised the broad range of courses and extracurricular activities available at UEA.
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UEA’s Golden Summer National
Michael Drummond News reporter UEA students and staff were among thousands involved in the events of London 2012. Roles included carrying the torch on its journey through Norfolk, working to ensure the games ran smoothly, and even competing in the games themselves. Former Pro-Vice Chancellor Tom Ward and students Melissa Ilboudo and James Colley all carried the torch as it passed through the county. Melissa has taken part
in triathlons and half marathons and since coming to the UK has raised £330,000 for her home country of Burkina Faso. James Colley, a chemistry student and qualified hockey umpire, took a rather unusual trip with the torch: jumping out of a plane with it from 15,000ft above ground. James told Concrete that he was both “shocked and amazed” at being chosen as a torch bearer, and that after jumping with the flame “the feeling I got during the relay, that I never thought I could match, was equalled.” He added that after
searching online it was possible he was one of the first people ever to skydive with the Olympic flame. UEA graduate Jess Draskau Petersson ran for Denmark in the women’s marathon, finishing 18th. She studied Law with German Law and Language during her time at the University and was named UEA Sportsperson of the Year in 2000. Three chemistry students on PhD courses worked with GlaxoSmithKline in the anti-doping laboratories, where they helped prepare samples for screening for
prohibited substances. Several students also took part in the opening and closing ceremonies of the games, while others volunteered in roles such as reporters and drivers. UEA also played host to the Paralympic torch where it was unveiled at the University during the build-up to the games. The University’s commitment to sport and national culture is plain to see in its involvement in the events of London 2012. Who knows how many UEA graduates will take part in 2016?
declares Delayed decision on New look WHO Norwich a for Blend ‘healthy city’ UEA’s Islamic Centre Campus
National
Rachel Knott News reporter
Frances McKeown News reporter
UEA’s catering service has received a facelift over the summer, rebranding itself The Campus Kitchen and aiming to offer a “locally sourced global menu.” One of the first changes is the refurbishment of Blend, which reopened on 10 September to reveal a new paint job and a brighter, more open-plan layout. The menu and atmosphere remain much the same, ensuring that Blend is still the same postlecture lunch spot we all know and love.
Norwich has become the latest city to join the World Health Organisation’s worldwide network of “healthy cities.” Councillors submitted a bid in July to join the network which works together to improve health in urban areas. 19 cities and towns across the UK have pledged their commitment to improve housing conditions, transport facilities and employment prospects, as key factors that can influence health.
Continued from front page. There have been further concerns about how the absence of adequate prayer facilities may potentially deter students from applying to study at the University, as well as how the decision over the centre will affect those beginning their courses this autumn who applied when the Islamic Centre was still promised in the University’s 2012/13 prospectus. Norwich South MP Simon Wright (Lib) also raised concerns over the closure with the UUEAS and representatives of the University. He told the press: “I know from meeting with members of the Islamic Society that recent proposals
raised some complex issues that were the cause of considerable anxiety. For many prospective students, knowing that there will be good prayer facilities and wide-ranging opportunities to take part in religious practices can be a key part of their decision to choose where to study. The decision to look again at the whole issue of religious facilities on campus can be good for existing students and also help the University’s efforts to recruit the very best students.” The future of the centre will continue to remain uncertain as the University begins its consultation, with a decision expected to be made in the coming months.
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News
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Further embarrassment for Norwich North MP
No more Literary leaflets! festival returns
Local
Campus
Billy Sexton News reporter
Amy Adams Editor-in-chief
Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North constituency, became famous overnight in late June, as she was humiliated to a large degree by political commentator Jeremy Paxman. She now faces further embarrassment, coming under heavy criticism after being appointed the new lobbying minister in David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle. Smith was unable to answer any of Paxman’s questions during her interview on Newsnight concerning fuel duty after being was sent in place of Chancellor George Osbourne. The treasury were later accused of cowardice and criticised for throwing Smith to the wolves. She spent a hapless two minutes dodging around a simple question about when she became aware of the government’s U-turn. She was also unable to provide Paxman with information on how the
UEA is cracking down on illegal leaflet distribution around campus. Any distribution which has not been approved by the University, such as takeaway menus in secure accommodation, could potentially lead to prosecution of repeat offenders. Campus services co-ordinator Helen Mount said: “The main priority for tackling this issue is student safety. It’s unsafe to have leaflets in stairwells, and the last thing we want is for someone to slip or fall down the stairs because of this issue.” Similar rules apply for booking rooms on campus for society events. Any student who wishes to distribute leaflets or posters for events or societies must first get permission from campus services. Either visit their website or email Helen at h.mount@uea.ac.uk.
£550m move would be funded. Hoping to start afresh – if such a thing exists in British politics – Smith’s tenure as lobbying minister got off to a dreadful start as one of the main groups representing Britain’s lobbyists made negative comments about her in a press release. The PRCA made comments about her grilling from Paxman which certainly caused eyebrows to be raised among journalists and politicians alike. The press release rounds off quite a dismal summer for Smith, who, before her fateful interview with Paxman, was considered to be a rising force in Parliament.
Campus
Rachel Knott News reporter
UEA’s International Literary Festival is upon us once more. The Autumn leg of the annual festival, run by the Arthur Miller Centre, commences on September 26 with Sebastian Faulks, award-winning author of Birdsong. There are plenty of big names among the line-up, including Ian McEwan, graduate of UEA’s prestigious Creative Writing MA, Ben Elton, and Jeremy Vine, among others. In other literary news on campus, Olivier-award-winning playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker and Whitbreadwinning novelist Ali Smith are joining UEA as the first Unesco City of Literature visiting professors.
Comment
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Romney, riots and the royal family Ciara Jack Comment editor I didn’t write an editorial for our short and sweet handover issue, so here is my formal introduction. In the style of an in-flight safety presentation: hello my name is Mandy I mean Ciara - and I’ll be your Comment editor this year. This issue features opinion pieces on topics and news items that featured this summer. When families and decent TV programmes evacuate for the summer, big and important news stories and events don’t pause for a break. This summer’s news, with its various controversies, didn’t fail to disappoint. In Russia, the protest punk group Pussy Riot brought their government’s problematic freedom of speech policy to the forefront of global scrutiny. The balaclava-clad group kicked their way into the media after a performance of one of their songs was audaciously performed in a Moscow cathedral. Three members were soon jailed for
for hooliganism. In court they showed no bowed heads, but instead the protesters beamed with confidence as they were sentenced. The song was directed at the Russian Orthodox Church’s support for president Vladimir Putin. Since their arrest, their protest is no longer confined to a church and their argument has powered its way onto the world’s television screens. The constitutional question mark now hangs over the globe.
“This summer’s news, with its various controversies, didn’t fail to disappoint.” Meanwhile, in America, the electoral race was gathering speed with Mitt Romney’s worldwide foot-in-mouth tour. Obama coined the rather observant remark that: “Romney’s strategy is to shoot first and take aim later.” Obama’s profile was being further raised by a glittering range of famous supporters. For those who care less about the future public services and the
economy, and more about who is a big deal right now, you might like to know that Scarlett Johansson like totally went out there and voted for him. She was like, super enthusiastic about it. Amongst other things, our government’s cabinet was reshuffled with some questionable decisions, and Australia’s cigarette packaging laws
inspired some debate for the same to happen in the UK and Europe. Look to our writers in this issue for some interesting perspectives on these summery topics, including the apparently raunchy coverage of the royal family in the media. I’m delighted to be editing Comment, and I’m sure the news won’t fail to disappoint. Let’s not make it too tragic.
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Romney: dodging truth in the media could endanger democracy Sebastian Crawford Comment writer Mitt Romney’s venture beyond the frontiers of the United States brought with it criticism from almost every country he visited, and questions about his validity as a serious challenger to Obama. In Britain, he expressed doubts about our readiness to host the Olympic Games. Speaking in Jerusalem, he espoused that the reason the Israelis were so prosperous and the Palestinians were so impoverished was the underlying culture difference between the two. This is not all Romney has come under close scrutiny for. The debacle over his tax returns remains a key issue in the run-up to the election. His wealth and the image it presents seriously hinders his chances of accruing votes from certain demographics. And yet Romney is pushing Obama all the way. The gloss of hope and change that came with Obama’s election in 2008 has faded somewhat despite the recent performances of Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama at the Democratic
National Convention. Further, Romney has selected in Paul Ryan a deputy who has grasped the Republican elephant by its trunk and hauled it into a new age of political campaigning known by many commentators as “post-truth”. Ryan’s address at the Republican convention contained so many lies that when prompted, the Republican’s top ad strategist merely replied with a flippant: “Fact checkers come to us with their own set of thoughts … we’re not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers.” Romney has followed in Ryan’s steps, attempting to subvert the truth on such topics as Obama’s welfare reforms. The role of the media here is crucial. They must take steps to begin calling out the Republicans on such blatant abuses of the truth as the Romney/Ryan campaign gains momentum. If they do not, the American people simply will not have the requisite information to cast an informed vote. Mitt Romney in office will have farreaching consequences, not just for the United States, but for the rest of the world.
Cigarettes needn’t be concealed Jess Collett Comment writer I am 20 years old. I can vote, rent a house and buy enough tequila to drown a very small elephant. The British government seems to think that despite all this, I am incapable of thinking for myself. Cigarette stands are now covered up so that I am saved from seeing the corrupting influences of tobacco products. You see, if I see a packet of Rizla, I might be overtaken by a massive desire to smoke 40 cigarettes at the same time. They’re even thinking of banning brand names and colour on the packaging of tobacco products, in case the bright colours and unique packaging make children think that smoking is cool. If brand names and logos can fill children with an unquenchable desire to smoke (a desire that lasts until they are legally able to buy tobacco products) then how is it that the bright, colourful and eye catching packets of sweets and junk food products offer no temptation at all? It’s not like getting addicted to junk food is dangerous at all. Or getting
addicted to alcohol, which is advertised as a glamorous necessity in life. Medical conditions linked to obesity or drinking too much are never serious. The fact is, no matter how you try to restrict them, people will smoke. Taking brand names and colours away isn’t going to change anything. It’s just going to level the playing field for tobacco companies selling their products.
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The omnishambles is not over yet Tim Rose Comment writer Cameron’s joke reshuffle just shows how out of touch and incompetent his government is. The prime minister conducted his reshuffle in such a bizarre way that it can only be taken as an active attempt to damage his government. It contained a multitude of inexplicable decisions, such as the sacking of Justine Greening for supporting government policy, and the promotion of Owen Patterson (who appears to be a climate change denier) to environment secretary in the “greenest government ever”. However, three decisions in particular stood out. First, Cameron left his most incompetent and unpopular minister Gideon Osborne (his actual name) - in his job, rather than replacing him with someone more capable such as William Hague. Osborne has been so ineffective that the supposedly hated Gordon Brown was treated as a hero when he appeared at the Paralympics. This was in marked contrast to Osborne who was roundly booed by 80,000 people when he appeared at the Olympic Stadium. (I’m assuming it was
only that few as the stadium doesn’t hold any more.) Presumably, Cameron didn’t move him because in doing so he would be admitting that the government’s entire economic policies have been profoundly wrong. Second, he promoted Jeremy Hunt, a minister who has received an enormous amount of criticism for his apparently improper links with News International
when he acted as an independent adjudicator in their bid for BSkyB. In most circumstances this would be more than enough for a minister’s dismissal, but in Cameron’s government it results in being made health secretary. Doubtless, the NHS will soon be sold to Rupert Murdoch. More worryingly, on actual health matters Hunt appears to know nothing.
He’s a keen supporter of homeopathy which is entirely without scientific basis, contributed to a book that argued for the privatisation of the NHS, and even objected to the NHS being part of the Olympic opening ceremony. Finally, Cameron sacked his most experienced minister, Ken Clarke, one of the few decent and widely respected figures in cabinet. The justice secretary lost his job purely because he was seen as being too liberal by some Tories. Clarke’s liberalism extends only to being prepared to state a few patently obvious things, such as prison not always working. This seems to be a perpetuation of the insane idea that the Tories’ troubles result from the fact that they haven’t been right-wing enough. Of course, attempting to privatise the NHS and slashing welfare while cutting tax for the rich are thoroughly left wing policies. As a moderate party the Tories only received 36% of the vote so it is hard to see how they can do better by being more right-wing. The only good news to come from the reshuffle is the sacking of Andrew Lansley and Baroness Warsi. Ultimately, Cameron is further from sanity and the public, and bowing to the most unelectable wing of the party.
public interest. Certain factions of the media have become so blinded by greed that they have sacrificed their moral responsibility for higher revenue, and an increasingly
insatiable public are actively encouraging this behaviour. Ultimately, neither of these stories are about freedom of the press. They can barely even be classed as journalism.
Illustration: Ciara Jack
A right royal disaster Emma Holbrook Comment writer When it was first reported that a member of the royal family had become the subject of a naked photograph scandal, Prince Harry, already the king of bad judgement, was the natural candidate. In a fine example of a grown man throwing his toys out of the pram, Rupert Murdoch allegedly ordered The Sun to print the infamous pictures of Harry to prove that the Leveson inquiry had not rendered newspapers impotent. The Sun’s front page read: “Pictures you’ve already seen on the internet”, thus acknowledging the futility of their publication. The souvenir edition stamp was the real evidence of the paper’s lack of class. However, the surprise victim of what was the second royal scandal in as many months was the Duchess of Cambridge, falling prey to French paparazzi that
notoriously harassed her late mother-inlaw. Whereas Harry was photographed in Sin City thanks to a cocktail of carelessness and probably alcohol, Kate and William were in a secluded château in France seeking a rare moment of privacy. Unfortunately, they were not granted such privilege. The frankly perverted pictures of a topless Kate are worryingly reminiscent of the treatment of Princess Diana by the press and papparazzi 15 years ago. They undoubtedly call issues of privacy into question, but human decency has also suffered here. Not only did the French edition of Closer consider it reasonable to publish these deeply invasive photos, a disturbing number of people are trying to access them online. Their subsequent publication by the Italian magazine Chi was then justified by its owners as being “natural”, and in the
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Global
Brazil is blooming rapidly Ben Hardie Global writer It appears there are now two superpowers located in the Americas. The first is the United States of America and the second is the Federative Republic of Brazil, or Brazil as it is more commonly known. Already famed for the beautiful natural wonder that is the Amazon rainforest and a vibrant, colourful culture that illuminated the Olympic closing ceremony, Brazil can now join the list of rapidly growing economies alongside the Asiatic powers. Brazil’s gross domestic product (GDP) has already overtaken the UK’s, and they now have the sixth largest in the world. As the fifth largest nation on Earth with a population of almost 194 million people and vast natural resources, this is perhaps unsurprising. In addition to the country’s ballooning economy, Brazil also boasts a rich and diverse culture. The country holds a mix of different ethnicities and races making it a genuinely multicultural nation, and since 1830, homosexuality has been legal. The liberal attitude towards sexuality in Brazil has even lead to the world’s first “thruple” (three way couple) who have now been joined in a legal union.
Australia’s same-sex marriage bill unsuccessful
This rich culture will surely lead to a spectacular Olympic Games in 2016 when Brazil attempts to follow in the glory of the recent Games. The Brazilian government has already invested $17bn in preparing the mass transit systems and has doubled the size of the Paralympic sports budget to $82.5m. The organiser, Leonardo Gryner, has given us something of an insight in his promise to “bring Brazilian joyfulness to the Games and transform the city and the country.” Of course Brazil is not a country without problems. While homosexuality is accepted in the liberal urban areas of the country, there is still homophobia in rural areas. Homophobic violence appears to be rising and a huge number of Brazilian asylum seekers flee persecution in the United States seems to support this view. Poverty and urban slums remain, while nearly 12% of the population is illiterate. However, one of Brazil’s quirks is its ability to change and to reinvent, as the adoption of a new constitution as recently as 1988 shows. While Brazil continues to shoulder its share of problems, the future of the South American power seems bright and very promising.
Robert Norris Global editor The run up to the Australian parliament’s vote on legislation that would legalise same-sex marriage has been controversial; with one senior MP having to resign his position after alleged comments comparing homosexuality to having sex with animals. Despite the overwhelming support in
Get settled in with the Conversation Club It’s not always easy being an international student. Living, working, studying and making friends outside of your comfort zone is difficult, especially during Welcome Week. Whether you’re studying at UEA as part of an exchange programme or for your full degree, things can be tough. You may have noticed how quiet and empty campus is, but that’s simply because the home students you’ll be living with don’t arrive until the weekend before Welcome Week, which this year is 22 and 23 September. Things are likely to get noisier as home students settle into their new lives by drinking and partying until the early hours. This may seem a little overwhelming. You may want to soak up a bit of English culture but some of their antics may baffle you. If English is not your first language, or if you’ve come to UEA specifically to learn and improve your English, mixing with British students can be even more difficult. British students may forget that your English is not quite as good as theirs and will often speak to you so quickly that you can only nod and smile back at them, not
understanding a word they’ve said. There may also be jokes, TV shows and sports that you’re not familiar with, but your British flatmates will talk and laugh whilst you, again, simply nod and smile. You might be ready to immerse yourself in the UK’s rich culture, but mixing with home students may be difficult. All too often it becomes easier to stick with students from your own country, rather than mingle. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. The University has many programmes to help international students settle into life in the UK. One of these programmes is UEA’s Conversation Club. The club meets every Tuesday from 6pm at the Vista restaurant above Blend, near the square on campus. The Conversation Club is run by British UEA students who volunteer to help international students with any questions or concerns they may have. Whether you have trouble with your English, making friends or fancy meeting other international students, be sure to join. Joining the club is a great way to get settled in and find your feet at UEA. If you’re not sure what “find your feet” or any other weird English phrases mean, then come along and get an explanation.
favour of same-sex marriage from various pressure groups in the country, only 42 MPs ultimately supported the bill, with 98 MPs opposing it. Although the outcome is disappointing for many supporters, frontbench MP Anthony Albanese who voted in favour of the bill stated the vote has still proved to be a significant step forward for same-sex rights. However, same-sex marriage campaigners remain unhappy with the
result. Head of pressure group Parents of Lesbians and Gays, Shelly Argent, stated that it’s not fair for homosexual people to be viewed as “second-rate” citizens. The results of the vote may have turned out differently if leader of the opposition, Mike Abbot, had allowed his Liberal party a free vote on the issue. Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull had previously spoken out in favour of legalised same-sex marriage, but was forced to vote against the bill.
Robert Norris Global editor
Features A history of freshers’ week 21/09/12
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Features writer Billy Sexton delves into the history of freshers’ week Freshers’ week (or Welcome Week as it’s officially known at UEA) is, for most students, an essential rite of passage one will undergo in the transition from home life to independent living. You’ve all heard what it’s like: meeting and living with a plethora of new people; signing up to a shedload of societies at the Societies Fair; consuming copious amounts of alcohol and learning more about drinking games in the space of seven nights than you will about your entire course in three years. It’s difficult to imagine the concept of a first week of university existing without all the fresher events, but, whether you like to believe it or not, the first years at Oxford University in 1167 didn’t have Ring of Fire to keep them “preoccupied” of an evening. Firstly, you may be wondering how and why fresher’s week has developed as a concept, and the answer lies with the lack of technology. Prior to the phenomenon that is online registration, students had to complete their registration manually, meaning there was a lot of waiting around … and you
thought Tao Thursday queues were bad. Returning students recognised that new students were becoming bored and therefore began organising events for the new students to participate in. A significant, and also sometimes controversial, aspect of freshers’ week is that of sports club and society initiations. Although we may now be more acquainted with stories of dirty pints and a streak through the square, back in the early 1900s new students competed in blindfolded boxing matches and reportedly also found themselves covered in paint and axle grease. Moving rapidly toward the 21st century and we’re even making our traditions here at UEA. Freshers Fair, SocMart and SportsFair are all part of the daytime events you can attend on campus and if the weather is as lovely as it was last year, the square is a really cool place to hang out with friends. We have returning acts coming to the LCR in the evening too: Zane Lowe has been a regular attendee in the past few years and Stevie Starr also looks
to be in the Union’s plans for a while as the (nearly) famous regurgitator from Britain’s Got Talent returns to the Welcome Party for another year. There are also plenty of inaugural socials, including Concrete’s annual Big Meet, so
make sure you immerse yourself fully in the UEA experience and make the most of the week; you’ll only ever have one freshers’ week! And, don’t forget, ‘UEA is wonderful’; and if you’re not sure what we mean, you will be soon.
A refreshing look at studying abroad Features writer Sarah Boughen comments on the change from a domestic to international student during her year in America Studying abroad has become a common occurrence for many students at UEA, who can spend time in universities around the world, from Spain to Australia, Hong Kong to France. For myself, this opportunity has led me to the USA and the University of Oregon in Eugene. With the setting of the Pacific North West, it is fair to say that Eugene has a bit of a different feel to the flat land of Norfolk.
“This year, make some time for those international students at UEA during Freshers’ Week if they look a bit lost” Having only been here for a week so far, it is difficult to see how the UO differs to UEA. In all honesty, there is a slight dash of familiarity about the place; the union is even made out of concrete. There is a lot of green and there is the general attitude that the campus belongs to the students, something which I always feel is
true at UEA. Although it does feel familiar in some ways, the campus is also so very American. It’s easy to constantly feel like you’re in Saved by the Bell: The College Years, or like you’re about to bump into Sabrina the Teenage Witch when she headed off to college on the television series of the same name. Having constantly being told that what we see in Hollywood is not real, the appearance of a US campus is very contradictory; what we have been led to believe it looks like is exactly what seems to be true. However, there seems to be one thing missing: the American students. I have moved into dorms with my roommate (yes, we have to share) and have stumbled across the nicest pizza in the area, but due to international students arriving early, making friends with American students is still to be ticked off the list. It is this concept which must be the hardest for students from the UK studying in America: we don’t feel like internationals, we speak English! Regardless, I still have to sit through the
endless meetings about the differences of the culture, and even how to greet an American. Plus, watching the faces of many bemused Americans trying to figure out a Yorkshire accent will be amusing (no, we don’t all sound like the Queen!) Being referred to as an international student isn’t exactly what anyone on a year abroad wants, as it can create a feeling of differentiation between students. I don’t want to be treated differently from the girl who will move into the next room. Year abroad students come to America for the true college experience and the “international” label can place a barrier in the way. Orientation week is not yet over but it has become apparent that simply because I speak the same language, I am not going to be seen as an honorary American. It seems that for the whole year I will still be seen as “international” and probably rightly so; our culture is different, our education is different and even our language is slightly different (as demonstrated by asking where the nearest cinema was, which the locals just didn’t understand).
Amongst (plenty of) other things, this week has taught me that being an international student is easier said than done. I’ve gained a vast admiration for the many internationals who are welcomed to UEA every year, particularly those who are not native English speakers. Moving to a different country, even for a year is hard, especially when there are so many things to deal with, from signing up to classes to simply finding your way around campus.
“Even our language is slightly different (as demonstrated by asking where the nearest cinema was, which the locals just didn’t understand)” So, this year, make sure to take some time for those international students at UEA during Freshers’ Week if they look a bit lost. It’s not easy studying somewhere else for a year, and being friendly goes a long way.
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Map by Amy Griffiths, Illustration Guild vice-president The Illustration Guild meets weekly for workshops about drawing, animation and other means of storytelling. All students are welcome. If you can’t draw you’ll pick up some new techniques, while skilled artists can share secrets and make new friends. Annual membership is only £3. For meeting times and more information visit: www.facebook.com/groups/ UEAIllustrationGuild.
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Home of “the village people”. You can hang out with all the boys.
21/09/12
A Fresher’s Map of UEA Our multi-million sportspark, does what it says on the tin.
If you haven't already herd about UEA's other freshers, visit our website.
Nicknamed “T-Paine”, it’s the upmarket LT 1 and 2.
NO MAN’S LAND
Here for all your cultural needs (or a coffee and cake). Bring the parents.
Come and visit us in the Concrete office. We’re a lovely lot. So much to say about the LCR, so little space.
Not as great as T-Paine. Don't even get us started on LT3 and 4.
The Hive: best place for a smoothie.
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You’ve arrived in Norwich, waved off your parents and are ready to get stuck in and enjoy Welcome Week. Take some tips from Concrete and make sure you visit the best places on campus.
The international building. Legend tells of the best roast dinners on campus.
Zest: best Twitter account on campus. Hungover fry-ups and the best potato wedges around.
Other than Concrete’s Big Meet, the main events here will be exams, seminars and graduation. Fun.
For the other kind of all-nighter. Just watch out for the Library Police. No, really.
The lake: rent a BBQ in summer.
Always competing with Britten and Paston, but wherever you live: get used to the 5am fire alarms.
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Environment
Getting hot under the collar Bother and over future geoengineering badger Tim Miller Environment editor
Artist’s impression of artificial trees that could be used to absorb carbon from the atmosphere Ella Gilbert Environment writer Geoengineering involves modifying natural planetary systems and processes in order to combat climate change by addressing the difference between incoming and outgoing solar radiation. It is done either by reducing the incoming solar radiation, for instance by firing mirrors into space to divert sunlight, or by trapping carbon dioxide and storing it in long-term reservoirs, such as by dumping minerals into the sea to encourage greater absorption of CO2. The idea of geoengineering inspires the same level of queasiness and unease as the thought of consuming some unrecognisable slurry that has been at the back of the fridge for far too long. Perhaps that is an overstatement, but both geoengineering and nuclear energy share the accolade of being distrusted by gut instinct, which is generally considered to be fairly accurate. Geoengineering is deeply unnerving, in much the same way that nuclear energy is; both concepts involve messing with something we don’t properly understand, like a kid sticking her finger in a plug socket. Tinkering with the environment in order to satisfy the public that enough is being done about
climate change, whilst having very little idea of how the sensitive systems involved are going to react, or creating tons of nuclear waste that will take millions of years to degrade, seem much the same when such a high degree of scientific uncertainty is involved. It is particularly terrifying when the science behind it can be manipulated to justify changing very little about our lifestyles, and not tackling well-entrenched inequity on a national and international level without tackling wider issues. On top of that, most of the proposals sound like science fiction, like launching a field of mirrors into space? Mimicking a volcano by spraying sulphur into the atmosphere? Building metal trees to absorb carbon? The list continues... The intentions are right, as without a binding international agreement and drastic action on the part of developed countries to curb emissions, there is little hope of achieving reduction targets, and geoengineering appears to provide a solution. However, it is abundantly clear, that there is no easy solution, and that the most realistic chance of change is incremental and attitudinal. Not a very sexy answer, unfortunately, whereas shiny solutions that involve space travel and chemicals certainly are. There are
definitely some defensible fixes, such as painting roofs white to deflect sunlight. Impractical, implausible and pretty ineffectual, but missing the harmful side-effects that other strategies have; like tons of iron filings washing up on beaches along the Pacific due to poor understanding of ocean circulation. This week experts have said that Arctic summer sea ice will have completely melted in four years, and have called again for drastic action to be taken on climate change. Prof Peter Wadhams of Cambridge University outlined the need for a dual approach in an email to the Guardian: “we must not only urgently reduce CO2 emissions but must urgently examine other ways of slowing global warming, such as … various geoengineering ideas”. It is apparent that geoengineering has a place in the context of emissions reduction and curbing consumption, though it is necessity that has driven the scientific community thus far – had emissions cuts been made earlier, no doubt such dramatic steps would not have been needed. Were things not looking so bleak, maybe we could steer away from tampering with what we don’t know, but either way it looks like soon we’re going to be sorry, whatever happens.
Readers with a particular affinity for badgers should look away now. In fact, if you have a distaste for political bandwagoning or any interest in how your tax money is spent then this article may also annoy you. The first licence for large-scale badger culling in England was issued this week for a 300 square-kilometre pilot area in West Gloucestershire. For six weeks a year, farmers in the area will be permitted to cull at least 70% of the local badger population in an effort to curtail bovine tuberculosis. The pilot is purportedly a scientifically-based policy that will be used to test the effectiveness of shooting free-running badgers, in the coalition government’s hope of issuing further licences. But the move appears to be a shortterm political calculation which carries considerable risks and is laughably unscientific. Firstly, the issuing of the licence follows an extensive, 10 year scientific trial of culling which concluded that cage-trapping and shooting could reduce TB by a pitiful 16%; the licence doesn’t even cover this form of culling. Also, the government’s plans could actually increase the rate of TB, as traumatised badgers have a habit of leaving culling areas and infecting more cattle. Further, the number of badgers in the trial area hasn’t even been counted, so the pilot scheme can only consider if the culling is humane and if farmers can deliver the results. This also means that adherence to a maximum number of culls specified by the government will be difficult, putting the government at risk of causing local extinctions and violating the Bern Convention, a European treaty to protect wildlife. On these grounds Lord Krebs, the scientist who instigated the former scientific trial, has dismissed the cull as “a crazy scheme”. While the licence will likely have a negligible or even negative impact on reducing bovine tuberculosis, farmers will also lose out financially, being forced to foot the bill for continuous culling every year. The calculated cost to the taxpayer also deserves consideration, especially as it conveniently excludes the costs of armed police who will be used to deter protesters. Yes, bovine TB is a terrible scourge, but second only to this awful idea.
Science & Tech
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Has Apple’s iPhone 5 been worth the wait? Samantha Price Science writer
The wait for the iPhone 5 is finally over as the latest Apple smartphone hits the shops. Despite there being rumours of its imminent release since 2011, the iPhone 5 has been launched to pre-order numbers that have left Apple “completely blown away”. Over two million devices were pre-ordered in the first 24 hours. So is it everything we have been waiting for, or just another gimmicky gadget? Aesthetically, the iPhone 5 is obviously different from its predecessors, and with a depth of 7.3mm, and now carries the title of the “world’s thinnest smartphone”. Despite boasting a 4 inch screen with 1136 x 640 resolution (326ppi) and 44% colour saturation to allow for richer screen
colours, it’s 20% lighter than the iPhone 4 at 112g. Having a larger screen means access to more apps, including five rows on the home screen, and updated versions of all the built-in apps. Apple is also particularly proud that this model is made entirely of aluminium and glass, saying that it is “unlike anything we, or anyone in the industry, has made before.” One of the most innovative updates of the iPhone 5 is the inclusion of the new 4G chip which allows access to superfast broadband via the Everything Everywhere network. The advance from 3G to 4G technology is expected to be comparable to that of the advance from dial-up to wireless internet connections. The Apple A6 chip being used to achieve this is both more energy efficient (useful when designers are promising an “incredible” battery life of
up to 225 standby hours) and 22% smaller than the chips in the earlier models. However, the one big criticism that Apple now faces is that of the lack of NFC (near field communication) compatibility in the iPhone 5.
“Unlike anything we, or anyone in the industry, has made before.” NFC allows the phone user to pay for goods and public transport “on the go”, and considering some of the biggest high street banks have spent millions advertising this possible new phone feature, Apple may have missed a trick. Overall, the iPhone lives up to the incredible hype that surrounds any new Apple release, and more than makes up for the anti-climax that was the rather unimpressive 4S.
The bloody basics: the biology behind blood doping breakdown of ATP that releases the energy required for muscle contraction.The more physical the activity, the more ATP you use, so enough would be produced by Bolt for a gold medal performance. Endurance sports rely on efficient oxygen delivery to the muscles in order to keep them working for a continuous period of time; so the better the oxygen uptake in muscles, the greater the endurance. While the maximal oxygen uptake for an average male is 35-40 millilitres or kilograms per minute, an elite male runner can achieve an oxygen uptake of up to 85 per minute.
“Every action, whether leaping off a starting block or shouting words of encouragement, requires energy.” Suhailah Ali Science writer The excitement of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics has now passed; over a month of athletes pushing themselves to the limits of their physical capabilities, and spectators around the world watching in awe. It is startling to think that the molecule that allowed Usain Bolt to fly down the track and defend his title is the very same used to keep us onlookers on the edge of our seats. Every action, whether leaping off a starting block or shouting words of encouragement, requires energy. This is obtained from the breakdown of glucose, which releases chemical energy used to make a molecule called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. It is in turn the
Oxygen is carried from the lungs to muscles by erythrocytes (red blood cells). The production of these cells is controlled by a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO. It functions by binding to a specific receptor and stimulating erythrocyte precursors, found in the bone marrow of humans. Low oxygen levels trigger the production of EPO in the kidneys and liver, which helps maintain healthy erythrocyte numbers. More erythrocytes allow greater oxygen uptake, but regulation is important as having too many can increase blood viscosity, reducing blood flow and increasing chances of blood clots and in turn heart attack and stroke. Athletes can increase their oxygen delivery by altering their red blood cell count; this is known as “blood doping” and was banned from the Olympics in
1985. The methods used to achieve these effects include red blood cell transfusions, a process involving a transfusion from either a compatible donor (homologous) or the athletes themselves (autologous), and injections of pharmaceutical EPO, usually used to treat certain cases of anemia. Altitude training, and machines used to simulate these low oxygen conditions, can also stimulate EPO production. Haematocrit, the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells, varies naturally between people, and certain genetic mutations can confer huge advantages. Finnish skier Eero Maentyranta, winner of seven Olympic medals, had a mutation in his EPO receptor gene, giving him 4050% more red blood cells than an average competitor. Director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Professor Julian Savulescu, puts forward an interesting perspective, proposing that focus should be on which risks athletes should be exposed to rather than the origin of that risk.
Apple facts 1. In 2011 alone, Apple sold: -70 million iPhones -30 million iPads -59 million other products 2. In the same year, the average profit per employee was $400,000 3. Apple has currently sold around 410,000,000 iOS devices. 4. For the last 5 years, Mac sales numbers have outpaced the whole of the PC sales market. 5. The last quarter left Apple with $117 billion in the bank. This is enough money to buy Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest and still leave $30 billion. 6. To raise money for their fledgling company, Steve Jobs sold his Volkswagen van and Steve Wozniak sold his Hewlett Packard scientific calculator and raised $500. 7. Apple’s first computer, manufactured in 1976, was essentially an assembled circuit board and did not include a keyboard, monitor or case. 8. In July 2011, Apple boasted a cash balance of $76.4 billion, more than that of the U.S government who had a balance of $73.7 billion. 9. On August 28, 1991, the first true email message from space was sent by the crew of the space shuttle STS-43 Atlantis using a Mac Portable and specifically configured AppleLink software. 10. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc, is a college dropout. He dropped out of Reed College in 1972, after attending only one semester.
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Travel
Introducing: the wonderful world of Oz Kirsten Powley Travel writer About a week before I was leaving for Australia to live there for six months, I started thinking “What on Earth have I done, or let myself in for?” As scary as it was, I didn’t have to worry about my semester abroad as it turned out to be the most amazing experience of my life. I lived in the European capital of Australia: Melbourne. I had been to other areas Down Under before, so I noticed immediately how the vibe was different. Few people in the UK realise this because of Sydney being more apparent in the media, but Melbourne is considered more trendy with a quirkier atmosphere. It is actually the only place in Australia to have Topshop, need I say more? St Kilda was a particularly interesting area, appealing to my sweet tooth with cake shops abound and boutiques aplenty. Instead of the modern feel of Sydney, Melbourne consists of older looking, more historical buildings, giving it a depth of
character more relatable to us British, with every nook and cranny ingrained in history. For the first few months, the weather oozed stereotypical Australian sun. What to do in such heat? Go on a road trip with your new-found friends and relax on some beaches on the Great Ocean Road, of course. Rarely in England could I roll down all the windows of the car due to the sharp wind, my hair going everywhere so my face became undistinguishable and items of rubbish going on a collision path with said face. On the Great Ocean Road, the warm air was pleasant and the prospect of rubbish seemed not to exist in this natural beauty. The wind still had the same ideas about my hair, but it was more of a windswept, surfer look. At least, that’s the story I’m sticking with. More people should be familiar with the Great Ocean Road. It has amazing views of the ocean, every colour bright and proud, and rock formations such as the 12 Apostles, London Bridge and Loch Gorge
are stunning and breathtaking. Waterfalls amongst rainforest-like surroundings such as Erskine falls are the epitome of a serene environment, until you see danger warnings of snakes in the river. If you’re lucky and keep your eyes peeled, you’ll see koalas in the trees and kangaroos grazing. The entire time I kept on thinking: “this place is exactly what Australia’s all about.” When April rolled around, I was obsessed with the sun and I followed the heat up the East Coast. I went to the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and Brisbane. If I’m perfectly honest, I don’t have too much to say on the Gold Coast. The beaches were lovely, but the scene of the city Surfers Paradise was a bit on the tacky side for my liking. However, if all you want is to get hammered and end up in a grotty club, look no further. Byron Bay was my highlight, as the rumour of Australians as really chilled surfers just loving life was true. Sydney, secluded parts of the state of Victoria, more living as a Melbournite and even a trip to Bali were also crammed into my overwhelming first half of 2012.
Almost all of what I was experiencing throughout my time in Australia was the student experience of the country, which I am beyond grateful for, as it was a once in a life time opportunity. If you have the slightest chance to study abroad, grab onto it. You’ll meet fascinating people and open your mind to new cultures. It’s unlike anything else. Top Aussie tips by Robert Norris 1. Get a working holiday visa: the minimum wage in Australia is much higher than in the UK. If you can’t afford a hostel, many allow you to stay there for free if you help out during the day. 2. Plan ahead: It can be fun turning up to a random part of Australia and just seeing how things turn out. However, if you don’t research a few things first you may find yourself paying more than expected. 3. Book accommodation: Usually a bed in a hostel is easy enough to come by. However, be aware of the peak travel seasons, as this varies from state to state.
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How not to be a tourist in the city of Paris Local trips Jessica Crisp Travel writer Even if you’ve never been to Paris, the stereotypical image of a grumpy waiter in a starched white apron and black bow tie will no doubt come to mind. Parisians have a reputation for being impossibly rude, impatient and condescending towards anyone other than their own. This may be frustrating for tourists, but learn how to fit in and you could find yourself strolling round the city as smug as the locals and with an air of disdain for all the anorakdonning sightseers. 1. Banish any form of sportswear from your suitcase. The trackies we may find acceptable to throw on when popping to the corner shop will only be met with deliberately condescending looks. Parisian are always impeccably dressed and make no effort to hide their disapproval of your lack of effort in the fashion capital of the world. Sure, we can’t all afford Chanel, but leave the trainers, leggings and hoodies at home. 2. Always, always walk. Segways are becoming popular in Paris, particularly among, yes, you guessed it, the Americans. They may be fun, but nothing screams annoying, lazy tourist than these two-wheeled contraptions. 3. Remember your manners. The French may seem abrupt, but they’re a stickler for politeness. ‘Bonjour Madame’ or ‘Monsieur’ when you enter a shop or restaurant will get you immediate service and you won’t be left at your table confused as to why the waiters are staring right through you. 4. Never tip! In Paris, if you leave a tip you will be taken as a plouc – a mug, as 15%
for service is always added to the bill. 5. Be sure to take your drinks the Parisian way. Drink your coffee at the counter like most locals; this will also save you some Euros as you avoid service charges. Ask for a café crème if you like a dash of milk, or you’ll get a shot of espresso strong enough to keep you bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day. Never ask for water as you’ll be paying top dollar for bottles of mineral water. Instead, ask for une carafe and you’ll get tap water, just how the Parisians like it. 6. Last but not least, a trip to France is not complete without tasting Absinthe. But
this liqueur has to be drunk the French way, no arguments. We may knock back shots at break-neck speed and with little regard for what we’re gulping, but the French take their drink very seriously. Go to La Feé Verte where this green elixir is served with water poured over a sugar cube. Paris is a city full of beauty and surprises, and the people are among the friendliest, you just need to know how to crack them. As long as you don’t stick out like a sore thumb and remember your Ps and Qs, you’ll avoid those indifferent shrugs and depreciating frowns.
“Paris is a city full of beauty and surprises, and the people are among the friendliest, you just need to know how to crack them”
Reaching new heights in New Zealand Jake Deller Travel writer Hiking, water activities, Queenstown, Maori culture and Auckland. These are advertised as the “Top Five Things To Do” in New Zealand. Although first, you do need to make sure you can gain access into the country. My initial proverbial hurdle was the check-in staff at Brisbane Airport. In spite of meticulous planning, I had not brought the proof required to show that I would in fact be leaving New Zealand, they evidently assumed from my striped jumper and ‘SWAG’ emblazoned backpack that I had come to capture all their kiwis and sheep. Fortunately my wily British charm eased their qualms and I was graciously accepted into their country. For this trip you need to save a good amount of money. The list of adrenaline-
fuelled activities is huge, but they are expensive. You can go hiking, though, which is free! Due to these prices my adrenaline came courtesy of bungeejumping and ice climbing, both extremely worthwhile and exhilarating experiences. The Nevis Bungee was my first port of call in Queenstown. For this bungee you jump 134 metres out of a suspended cable car into a deep valley overlooking the Nevis River. A truly unforgettable and must do experience. The ice climbing experience begins with a scenic helicopter flight to the base of the Franz Josef glacier, where you begin. As you hack into the ice, the brilliant sun glimmers against the pristine glacier arching above you, whilst behind you the flowing glacial valley combines with the surrounding rainforest providing an environmental combination only available in three worldly locations.
New Zealand is truly spectacular, in a two-hour long drive you can pass through snow-capped mountains, thick rainforest, golden beaches and cavernous valleys. In short, you have not seen the world until you have seen New Zealand.
Matt Tidby Travel writer
Berney Arms 30 minutes by train from Norwich. Book ahead, as services are infrequent. Tired of the hectic hurly burly of Norwich’s urban jungle? On the run from campus security? Accessed only by boat or a train from Norwich, this secluded spot in the remarkable Norfolk broads is the perfect escape for an afternoon of quiet contemplation or hiding. With its iconic windmill, which is the tallest in Norfolk, and a pub so wonderfully dated that they are more likely to have on-site homing pigeons than wi-fi access, for pure, calming simplicity, it’s the perfect retreat. Sheringham and Cromer One hour by bus or train In the 19th century, the Victorians left London. They started building railways to the horizon, which is how Norfolk was discovered. When they ran out of land, they built the quaint resort towns of Sheringham and Cromer, which today are the perfect spot for a nostalgic day out: fish and chips, a steam train ride on The Poppy Line at Sheringham, a bracing walk and the obligatory construction of some kind of amazing sandcastle fortress. Air New Zealand currently have a sale on flights to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the airline. Fly from London to Auckland direct (via Hong Kong) for £1,044 per person if you book before 26 September. Go to www.airnewzealand.co.uk/ more info.
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Issue 271
21/09/12
Lifestyle
Top 10 tips: make the most of your UEA experience Lucy Jobber Lifestyle writer
The University of East Anglia is an amazing place to live and study, offering first class entertainment, sports clubs, societies and academia to undergraduate and postgraduate students from across the world. It’s easy for students to overestimate how much time they have to experience the abundance of one-of-a-kind Be organised. With fairs and parties left, right and centre, freshers’ week can be hectic. Spend a little time structuring your week will leave you stress free and flexible when it comes to events.
Get involved with everything. If there’s a sport you’ve always wanted to try, or you think that you’ll find likeminded people at the quidditch team or cocktail society, then go ahead and put your name on the list. Don’t be afraid to sign up for everything and anything that you’re interested in.
Budget, budget, budget. This doesn’t have to mean drafting up Excel sheets and mathematical formulas, but merely setting yourself a £20 budget before a night out makes a big difference to your purse strings. Trust me, there is nothing worse than getting to the end of term eating plain rice, whilst dribbling over past memories of Domino’s pizza.
Don’t be too frugal. Budgeting is essential, but there is also a rare breed of student who goes the opposite way and will not spend a penny more than necessary. Go out and use your dollar to attend some fantastic local events, gigs or nights out on the town.
Be silly. Yes, university is foremost a place for education, but it’s also a place to let your hair down and take yourself out of your comfort zone. University goes by incredibly quickly and before you know it, they’ll be no more lie-ins or student discount for you. Embrace your student lifestyle and go and have a ball!
attractions and experiences that life at UEA has to offer. With over 150 clubs and societies in our Union, a city rich with historic attractions, and a campus environment combining award-winning architecture with unique nature and wildlife, students at UEA have a wealth of opportunities at their disposal. With Concrete’s top 10 tips, you’ll easily be able to make the most of your time at UEA. Decorate your room, but before you hop onto a bus to B&Q for a large tub of paint, think again. Buy posters and print photos of family and friends to stick on your walls. Your new little room may seem terrifying at first, but the instant you’ve got snaps of your best mate pulling a silly face on the wall, it doesn’t seem so bad.
Ga Chun Yau Make the most of your tutors, lecturers and the services on offer at university. If you’re struggling with an essay or need advice on coping away from home, there is always a place or a person who will be willing to help you out. Make an effort to find out what resources are on offer and don’t be afraid to use them when in need of a little help.
Attendance. When you’re a newlyblossomed clubber with a daily hangover, it’s very easy to forget that attendance is important. It may seem hard to believe but, trust me, scrubbing neon paint off your face in a panic and running to the lecture theatre in your pyjamas is better than missing a lecture completely.
Do different with Norwich nightlife Bethan Williams Lifestyle writer When you first start venturing into Norwich in search of the perfect night out, it’s easy to get swept up in the crowd heading to the Prince of Wales Road. Whilst the big clubs all have positives, Norwich has a huge amount to offer when it comes to an alternative night out. One of the best options for a great night in the city is the good old fashioned pub crawl. Norwich has a huge selection of
fun and quirky pubs and bars for you to explore. My perfect Norwich pub crawl includes stops at The Birdcage, The Belgian Monk, The Bicycle Shop, The X Bells and Frank’s Bar, all of which can be found in and around the Pottergate area and on the vibrant St. Benedicts Street. If you really want to make a night of it, no serious Norwich pub crawl is complete without a last stop at Delaney’s Irish Bar, which, whilst a little rough around the edges, is open late and is always an entertaining end to the evening.
Explore your city and campus. Freshers’ week is a great opportunity to explore your new home. Norwich has some great shopping facilities and tourist attractions, but it never hurts to just go on a hunt for your classrooms around campus.
Write for Concrete! We’re always looking for budding writers and journalists, so come and see us in the Concrete office or at the Societies Fair.
Ga Chun Yau
Lifestyle
21/09/12
Issue 271
concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
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Ga Chun Yau
The peaks and falls of life in halls at UEA Jess Beech Lifestyle writer On the first day in halls, I found out that I would be living in an all-boy flat. Cue an intense panic about mess and an awkward “I love you and I’m sure they’re all gay anyway” call to my boyfriend. In my opinion, I was right to worry. Housemate A followed an intense exercise routine which included doing handstands to passers-by in our glass hallway, all to keep him in the best nick for getting “the third year puss”. He also gave us enough hilariously inappropriate
anecdotes to fill a large wall chart, until the cleaner decided she had read enough. Housemate B was one part of the most beautiful bromance Nelson Court had ever seen, and could often be found playing ball in the hallway, mercilessly bantering with Housemate A and playing computer games until the early hours. Oh, and he had a top secret love of The Only Way Is Essex. Housemate C had the best salsa dancing hips I have ever seen on a man. He survived first year on a nutritious diet of scotch eggs, hula hoops, bacon and beer. He managed not to hoover even
once in the whole year, and his room also boasted the world’s largest Diet Coke can sculpture. Housemate D planned to write his masterpiece and die young so he could be appreciated like the literary greats. He often had to be calmed down during times of late night hysterical poetry writing, and have his books confiscated and put in the fridge when he read too much. He was easily convinced that women’s skinny jeans were the way to go and hasn’t turned back since. Thank god for our female honorary housemate, who brought with her
Keep it safe, keep it secure Your cycle
Your possessions
Your memory stick
A quality D-lock (otherwise known as a “shackle” or “U-lock”) is one of the most secure types of bicycle locks available to buy. Without a D-lock, it can take a criminal opportunist just a few seconds to take a bike which is not properly secured. UEA heavily promotes the use of D-locks on campus, and they can easily be bought from the post office on campus and from Dr. Bike, who can be found between Britten House and Congregation Hall. Security officers in the lodge are always happy to give any advice regarding securing and coding locks, as well as the prevention of cycle theft. A limited amount of free and secure cycle storage is also offered at various compounds for cycles on campus. To register for access to these, visit www.uea.ac.uk/estates/ campusservices/Security/lockedcycle-compounds
No one wants to come to university for the first time, only to lose half their possessions. UEA have a system called “Hermes”, which allows UEA Security to register your property on the Immobilise website. This is a free service which is highly recommended, and can be used to register anything which has a serial number, including cycles and high-value electricals (such as iPods, phones and laptops). Registering your belongings with this service raises the likelihood of your property being returned to you if it is found. The most important thing to remember is to keep your property either in your sight or securely locked away, as most thieves are opportunists. Do not hesitate to visit the security lodge if you have any queries or concerns. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There is nothing worse than the sense of utter panic at losing days of work in one go. Lost property at UEA receive in excess of 700 memory sticks per year. This equates to one in every 20 students losing their memory stick each year, and the majority are never returned to their original owners; potentially disastrous if they held the final copy of an essay or coursework. By simply marking your registration number onto your USB stick with a UV pen, the likelihood of your memory stick being returned to you is considerably higher. The easiest way to ensure the security of your USB stick, however, is to always double check that it is removed from any university computers you have used.
For more information on security at UEA, visit www.uea.ac.uk/estates/ campusservices/security
clothes to share, extra oestrogen and the belief that stars really do have points. On paper, I don’t think you could ever say we were all destined to get on. But once you have lived through listening outside as a group to each other’s conversations, sex lives, breakups, vomiting and drunken ranting; a November of dodgy moustaches; DIY haircuts; and partial nudity, you all become very close. By the end of first year, you’ve all seen each other at your very worst, and I’m sure you will, as we did, become a highly dysfunctional but very happy family.
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Issue 271
21/09/12
Lifestyle
Fighting off those freshers’ blues Emma Williamson Lifestyle editor The past two years of hard slog have paid off, and you’ve finally moved in to your new student digs. You’ve conquered the stainless steel of the UEA kitchen, broken the awkward silence in the flat corridor, survived your first lecture, and somehow discovered the whereabouts of the CD Annex, all in the space of seven days. The chant at the end of last night’s LCR event was right: UEA is wonderful, but that’s not to say that the first week is wonderful for everyone. First year students arrive at university with a wide array of expectations, and naturally there are students who feel disillusioned by their first encounter with university life. The anticipation of the first week of university can often outweigh the reality of week one, and, although it’s not often admitted by students, it’s far from unusual to feel unsettled. Homesickness and loneliness can strike any new student, regardless of experience and age, and it’s important to speak up and
tackle such feelings when they arise. The Union Advice Centre has many tips for first year students. Firstly, don’t hide in your room. It may sound obvious, but doing simple things like cooking your meals at times when your kitchen is busy will ensure that you interact with your flatmates and start to forge relationships. Make suggestions to your flat about going out as a group, whether it be a night on the tiles or a daytime visit to Norwich city centre. Also, whilst it can be tempting to visit home when you’re feeling low, do try and hold it off for a few weeks. Adjusting to independent life can take time, and it doesn’t take long for the vast majority of students to adapt to their new surroundings. The most important thing struggling students need to remember is to speak to somebody about their feelings. Be it a parent, a peer or an adviser, sharing your thoughts with someone is often the best way to rationalise them. Settling into university can certainly be hard, but it isn’t impossible. For more help and guidance, visit the Union Advice Centre.
Elizabeth Margereson
Veggie fare in the fine city of Norwich Bethan Williams Lifestyle writer There’s no shortage of cheap and cheerful places to eat in Norwich when you’re on a student budget, but until I went and found myself a boyfriend of the vegetarian persuasion I hadn’t really considered things from the animal-friendly perspective. Our best find has definitely been Pulse Cafe, located just off Guildhall Hill, near the market. Pulse offers a great range of delicious vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree food at lunch and dinner, making it a
Easy cheesy pasta recipe Holly Whitaker Lifestyle writer Without your mum at hand, cooking at university may seem intimidating and somewhat tedious. However, this is an affordable, healthy and fail-safe recipe to ensure you keep away from those oh so tempting ready meals.
Ingredients
Method
• • • • • •
1. Boil the penne in a saucepan of boiling water for 10-12 minutes. 2. Add the broccoli and peas to the saucepan for the last five minutes. 3. Meanwhile, add the crème fraîche to another saucepan on a medium heat and warm. 4. Add grated cheddar to the crème fraîche and stir until melted. 5. Drain the pasta and vegetables and add to the cheesy sauce. 6. Put them into a bowl, and add the pepper or herbs for taste. 7. Dig in!
A serving of penne. A handful of frozen peas. A handful of broccoli florets. Three tablespoons of crème fraîche. A handful of grated cheddar. Black pepper or dried herbs to season.
perfect choice for those with specialised diets (but trust me, even the meat eaters will love it!) The food is inventive, freshlycooked and great value; and there’s no dreaded mushroom risotto, the staple of vegetarian options everywhere, on this menu. Highlights include their ever-changing array of veggie burgers, the spicy bean enchiladas and, if you’ve got room for dessert, I recommend their amazing chocolate brownies. Give it a try if you’re in the mood for something a little different next time you’re in the city.
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concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk
Issue 271
21/09/12
Canary Corner by Marco Bell
Editors’ column Sam Tomkinson Sports editor This is going to be the easiest yet most difficult column I’ll be writing this year. Easy in that there is so much to write about Britain’s greatest summer of sport, however the difficulty comes in trying to squeeze it all in. The Olympics and Paralympics were obviously, and rightly, the headline event of the summer. The atmosphere it brought was exceptional and the feelgood factor helped lift spirits despite the problems that face our society at this time. The Tour de France and the achievements of Bradley Wiggins has not only inspired many to take to two wheels but also caused many elderly men to wear spandex that has been boxed up since 1979 and struggle along the country roads of Britain, causing huge build-ups of traffic. My favourite moment, despite the small matter of the Ryder Cup and Twenty20 World Cup to come, was Andy Murray losing his proverbial “under-achiever” tag. Winning Olympic gold and the US Open title, after the clinic he was given on Centre Court at Wimbledon by Roger Federer, showed impeccable character. To go to the same court, against the same opponent and being so convincing in his manner of victory just weeks later and take gold is the reason I believe that he should be Sport’s Personality of the Year, a contest that will be incredibly difficult to call. Many question his cold stature in front of camera but does being media savvy, but does that define a man’s personality? His ability to bounce straight back in resounding fashion shows the personality I want to see in a sportsman. Enough of what has happened; sport is in the moment anyway. This year will be another big year for sport at UEA. After a good year for the clubs last term they will be looking to continue this with more impressive performances. Concrete Sport will be aiming to cover as much of this as possible, including the return of Derby Day to UEA where a great range of sports will be played, the support will be incredible and we will bring you up to date scores as ever. I’m excited; I hope you are too.
With Paul Lambert gone, Norwich fans travelled to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham on the opening day of the season somewhat unsure of what to expect. Their deepest fears were confirmed in a very lacklustre display, as they slumped to a 5-0 defeat. Having held their own in the early encounters, it was a simple cross-field ball which found Damien Duff with acres of space to run into and he made no mistake. From there on in, Norwich’s defence self-destructed. New signing Michael Turner hardly covered himself in glory, giving away a cheap penalty to allow Steve Sidwell to score the fifth. Nevertheless, a positive performance on home soil against QPR saw Norwich pick up their first point of the season. Javier Garrido and Sebastian Bassong made their debuts in the defence, and certainly shored up the cracks. A crowd of 26,000 watched Simeon Jackson head home 11 minutes into the game. QPR’s equaliser had an element of controversy attached, with Bobby Zamora nipping in for the easiest goal he’ll score this season. Norwich responded well and nearly won it at the death, as Russell Martin headed onto the crossbar. The QPR result was followed by an impressive draw at Tottenham. Norwich matched Spurs throughout in every department and it took substitute Moussa Dembele to break their
stubborn resistance on 68 minutes. Being away from home, many would have expected a Tottenham onslaught thereafter, but Norwich reacted well and got their just reward when Robert Snodgrass powered home late on. The Canaries could have won the game well into injury time, Bradley Johnson seeing his shot saved by an inspired Brad Friedel. It’s too early to gauge exactly what sort of season is in store for Norwich. The aim is clearly survival, with anything else a bonus. The last two games have shown the belief and togetherness which Lambert cemented, and Chris Hughton, a shrewd operator, appears to have adopted the same approach as his predecessor. Grant Holt looked dangerous against Tottenham, and Steve Morison looked like a man with a point to prove. Snodgrass is an intelligent purchase too, adding set piece ability to the midfield, as well as having the ability to shoot from range. Goals will not be Norwich’s problem; it is in defence where their season could potentially be defined. Kyle Naughton has returned to Spurs, having been a success last season, and their new signings will need to gel quickly to avoid any future drubbings. Hopefully Norwich can prove the critics wrong, and establish themselves as a Premier League club.
Sport in 140 characters Daniel Suen Sports correspondent Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) What a historic night! Tonight Andy achieved his dream. He got the result his talent dedication and perseverance deserved. So proud of him. Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) The BBC Sport’s Personality of the year is getting rather silly! Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) Congrats to @bradwiggins on his historic Tour de France victory. Very impressive. IPC (@Paralympic) “We have all been touched by the triumphs and dramas of the Paralympics”- Lance Corporal Rory McKenzie sums it up perfectly #closingceremony TeamGB (@TeamGB) 29 gold, 17 silver, 19 bronze - We finished 3rd in medal table after most successful Olympics for 104 years #OurGreatestTeam VisitEngland (@VisitEngland) England lose on penalties. For more on our culture and traditions go to http://www. visitengland.com ;) Gary Player (@garyplayer) @McIlroyRory Wow!! Youngest ever winner of the PGA, simply blew everyone away. Phenomenal golf. Congratulations
Sport The lighter side of sport Jack Enright Sports correspondent
There we have it. The London Olympic and Paralympic Games, possibly the most expensive anti-depressants ever prescribed, are over. It has been a veritable avalanche of drama, triumph, and according to the Scrooges amongst us, an almost unbearable amount of happiness. Cynics of the highest calibre emerge from their darkened bedrooms, and take to throwing worried glances at the television in case Boris should appear with another tirade of trademark glee. Boris has, of course, been manning the Olympic feel-good bandwagon from the very start. Even four years ago at Beijing he was displaying a level of delight hardly thought attainable for people who had stopped believing in Father Christmas. But attain it he did, and like some precious yet fragile classic car, he nurtured his Olympic bandwagon all the way to London. The scene is quite different now, of course. The bandwagon is a meek embarrassment no longer, but a London double-decker on the rampage. Every day, yet another politician hurls themselves aboard, shrieking hysterically to anyone in earshot about how much they have always loved athletics. A desperate David Cameron has already taken to screaming “Inspire a Generation” at every voter he can find. Not even a couple of weeks ago, George Osborne was photographed jogging round St James’s Park in London, apparently hoping to engender some sort of “undiscovered-Olympian” vibe. The poor fellow looked about at home in trainers as Emile Heskey does in front of goal. One mustn’t be too hard on George though, God knows he has already had it rough recently. In what is now a shooin for the Political Tragedy of the Year Award, the Chancellor of the Exchequer took centre stage in his own pantomimeesque debacle, evoking unanimous boos from a crowd of 80,000 during the Paralympics. Bearing in mind that this summer’s spectators have been roundly lauded as being the most joyous and goodnatured since the beginning of time, this makes for impressive viewing. Rain, G4S, infrastructure meltdown; all these potential mood-killers were evaded. No, only George Osborne was capable of bursting the feel-good bubble. More surprising still, it seems the bemused Osborne was incapable of understanding why, after gutting the state benefits available to the disabled, he was unwelcome at the Paralympic Games.
Sport
21/09/12
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concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk
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Athletics
Baseball
Trampolining
“Last year, we competed in numerous events: East Anglia Cross Country League, Bucs indoors, outdoors and multi-events, and attended numerous open meets and road races. The cross country team started the year well as winners of the overall cross country league which gave great confidence heading into the Bucs events which included numerous finalists and semi-finalists - a huge achievement with the final event of the season being held in the Olympic Stadium. This season we would like to build on the success of the Olympics and last year’s Bucs finals. We would also like to field a strong cross country team in order to retain our East Anglia Cross Country title. With numerous coaches available, we have the support and expertise to advise athletes on their specific events. The club is involved with different community initiatives such as coaching younger athletes.”
“We had a successful season last time out. We won the National Championships which were hosted at UEA and we also ran a winter league which involved several university and senior sides from around the country. We are currently working to increase membership at our club and expand the winter league so that we can host more games. We also hope to retain the National Cup in October and improve our diamond. We’re always on the look out for new members of any ability and we offer coaching and games for those who get involved. We also have weekend away tournaments.”
“Last year we added an extra session on a Wednesday afternoon so that our club is more accessible to people who can’t attend evening sessions. We also competed at Loughborough University and beat Essex in the annual Derby Day competition. Our aims this season are to keep our club running smoothly and make sure that everybody enjoys themselves and manages to improve. Obviously, we’d also like to beat Essex again and give our members the option to participate in the annual charity naked calendar. We accept members of any ability from beginners to the elite and there is absolutely no obligation to come to every session or compete. Anybody of any skill level has the opportunity to compete if they would like to.”
Archery “Last season we improved on our finishing position in both Bucs and BUTC. We have finally found the competitive edge we were lacking in previous years. We aim to continue to improve our skills and also finish higher up the tables for Bucs and BUTC, but also improve the club’s individual competative side with the club league table. The main aim is to beat Essex at Derby Day as we haven’t beaten them for a few years now. We are hoping to nurture a group of naturally talented amateur archers to compete for their university and hopefully do well, but also keep pushing senior archers so they can continue to improve.”
Men’s Hockey “Last year, our Saturday first eleven and fourth eleven were promoted. We also won the Plate at the Harleston mixed tournament and the Dragon’s trophy. We aim to keep the first eleven in the new division and gain promotion in Bucs. We also hope to beat Essex at Derby Day and get more people playing hockey and have fun! A lot of people graduated last year so there are places for people of all abilities in all teams. We will also have two Bucs teams this year.”
Fell and Mountaineering
“Last year we had the most members the club has had for a long time; we became one of the Union’s new focus sports; went to the Bucs orienteering championships for the first time and ran a large variety of trips all over the country. We want to keep building on what we achieved last year. This year we aim to run our first international trip to Morocco in January 2013 and increase the number of people doing their gold Duke of Edinburgh award.”
Swimming
Sports Club Preview Sports editors Billy Sexton and Sam Tomkinson got in touch with UEA sports clubs to analyse last year’s performance and assess their expectations for the coming season. For more previews, visit concrete-online.co.uk/sport Photography by Greg Mann and Tom Oliver.
Cricket “We only managed to get a few games in as the weather was so dismal last year. Both teams remain in the same divisions and we managed to get into the semi-finals of the Bucs indoor league, which was played at Edgbaston. We hope to remain in both divisions again, build on a good foundation to push for promotion for further years and to have a successful tour to Salou in Spain. Having lost quite a few people over the last two years through graduation, we need a few spinners as different bowling options for our first team. Ideally, we want as many people as we can get to push players and encourage competition for places. We are also looking to have fitness sessions as well the usual net sessions, along with skills workshops to develop our personal games.”
Men’s Saturday Football “Last season we narrowly missed out on promotion. We defeated Cromer 6-0 and thought we were destined to be promoted, however this wasn’t the case as only teams placed first and second were promoted, and we missed out on second by one point. Our aims for this season are to win the league and get promoted. To do this we must not drop points at key stages of the season. We also hope to reach the final of the Norfolk Junior Cup, which is played at Carrow Road. We are looking to strengthen our squad by finding a strong striker. Every year we strive to move the club forward and up the league tables.”
Korfball “Last season we were placed eighth in the country at first team level and seventh in the country at second team level. In the local league, all of our teams stayed in their respective divisions and our third team were promoted. The aims for the season are to finish in the top three at both first and second team level in the national championships to hold our positions in a very tough local league. We will also be looking to add UEA players to representative regional and national squads across the country. We’ve just set up a fifth team in the club, which makes us the biggest student club in the country. This also means that everyone who joins will get plenty of game time and that’s the best way to bolster our club. Our competition squad has been bolstered by the arrival of really high quality players, and we’ve appointed the England senior squad assistant coach as our first team and senior squad coach for the season. With that in mind, and prospects looking good, we always want new players. Whether you’re a regular sports player who wants a new challenge or a complete beginner, one of our five teams will suit you!”
“Last season was a good season for the club. With a team made up primarily of first years we managed to reach the division two Bucs team final in Sheffield for the first time in five years. We finished seventh but there’s potential for the coming season. We also had individual and relay finalists in both Bucs short course and long course. The minimum expectation would be to reach the division two Bucs team’s final but we would be looking for a top four finish and possibly gaining promotion. We are always looking for talented swimmers. We would like more competition within the club to help people be pushed in training. Aside from the competitive side of things we would also like to see a strengthening in people who want to use swimming as a sport to keep fit as we’re better set up for this now.”
Tennis “Overall our squads had a good season. Our men’s Bucs first team were promoted to division one, and our Sunday league B team also moved up a league. Unfortunately, our Sunday A team were relegated from a tough division but are well placed to go back up this year. The men’s second and women’s Bucs team stayed in their leagues. Our aims with the Bucs teams are for the men’s and women’s first teams to stay in their respective leagues, as both are really challenging. It would be great to see men’s second team gain promotion, as they came quite close last season. The Sunday teams also have potential to get promoted. We welcome all first years. A few key squad members left last year and we want as large a squad as possible. We have great competition in the squad and make sure everyone gets a competetive game throughout the year. Trials are early on in the semester.”
@concretesport
Concrete Sport UEA
American Football confident ahead of new BUAFL season
SPORT
issue 271 21 september 2012
UEA clubs season preview
Page 23 Canary Corner Tom Oliver
Chris Teale Managing editor UEA Pirates are confident of another successful season after a superb run in the play-offs last year, as they look to make an impact in the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL). The team play in the south eastern conference of BUAFL, and are hoping to build on last season, which saw them reach the semi-finals of the league’s Challenge Trophy competition. The Pirates were defeated in that game by the Sheffield Sabres, but the club’s president Steve Omanyondo is aiming for further improvement this season, and a possible tilt at a national championship crown. “The team’s goal this year is to go into the national championship playoffs and go on a run in that competition,” explained Omanyondo. “We are not only returning a high number of players but also players with a lot of talent and experience.” To achieve their goals, those players still on the Pirates’ roster from last year are working hard on their physical fitness with training programmes provided by
the coaching staff. The Pirates will be led by a new head coach this year, with Nick Rockell replacing Rob Kerr, who becomes defensive co-ordinator. Rockell has a great deal of experience, and is currently also running backs coach at London Blitz, the best senior team in the country. They will be joined on the 17-man coaching staff by recent graduates Mark Rivett, Ashley Mullin, Andy Custerson and David Murphy, who will help prepare the Pirates for the challenges ahead. The club have had a number of players graduate, Omanyondo explains, but the current crop of players are more than capable of moving the side forward. He said: “We lost some great players through graduation. However, there is more than enough talent coming through to carry this team to new heights. “Jack Anklesaria spent a year learning our complicated offensive playbook, and is ready to take over from Mark Rivett at quarterback and control our explosive offence. “Chris Carson is back again after another great season at running back, when he scored 23 touchdowns and,
in the process, made the Great Britain team.” “Joseph Van Der Merwe also made the GB squad and averaged 8.4 yards a carry, which is an extremely good stat for a running back. “Another key player will be offensive lineman Andy Smith, who was included in the second team of the BUAFL all-star team.” Defensively, Omanyondo will be key at middle linebacker, while fellow linebacker Joe Boon will be hopeful of further development after a superb first year with the Pirates. This year, American Football will be sanctioned by British Universities and Colleges Sport (Bucs), and Omanyondo is hopeful that the Pirates can make this season one to remember. “The feeling about this coming season is extremely positive. Players have bought into the programme by working out all summer to be the best football players they can be, and there is strong belief in our programme that we can take this team to new highs.” The Pirates are keen for new players to join the club, and will be at Sports’ Fair on 28 September.
Page 22 Sport in 140 characters
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www.concrete-online.co.uk
VENUE Issue 271
Friday 21 September 2012
The Freshers’ Edition Music - The freshers’ guide to music at UEA, page 3
Fashion - The style icons of London 2012, page 9
Competitions - Win freshers’ tickets throughout welcome week, page 22
Photo: David Miko
www.concrete-online.co.uk
VENUE
3
CONTENTS
Friday 21 September 2012
ISSUE 271
concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk
Editor-in-Chief | Amy Adams Venue Editors | Rachael Lum and Matthew Tidby Music | Editors | Hayden East and Sam Warner Music Contributors> Laura Phillips, Harry Fletcher, Lottie Allen, EmilyClaire Tucker, Maddie Russell, Emma Price and Hayden East Creative Writing | Editor | Matthew Mulcahy Creative Writing Contributors> Ellie Reynard, Kate Duckney and Madz Abbasi Arts | Editor | Hatty Farnham Arts Contributors> Connor Harvey, Marian Davidson and Amelia Edwards Fashion | Editors | Jess Beech and Lucy Jobber Fashion Contributors> Becky Evans, Kirsten Powley, Jess Beech and Lucy Jobber TV | Editor | Ellissa Chilley TV Contributors> Emma Price, Bex White, Gabriel Gavigan, Beth Webster and Matt Tidby Film | Editors | Kieran Rogers and Andrew Wilkins Film Contributors> Jake Deller, Sam Austin, Greg Manterfield-Ivory, James Lillywhite, Marco Bell, Ellie Reynard, Adam Dawson, Amy Adams, Andrew Wilkins and Kieran Rogers Gaming | Editor | Oliver Balaam Gaming Contributors> Simon Sampson, Raymond Mak and Oliver Balaam Competitions/Listings | Editor | Amelia Edwards
From The Editors Greetings and salutations, dear reader!
‘tis the season for new beginnings, and in that spirit, we in the Concrete office are continuing to spend most of our time listening to abhorrent pop music (the Autotune remix of Nick Clegg Says Sorry), drinking gallons of tea and eating chocolate biscuits. Honestly, we’re rushed off our feet. That aside, if you want to get involved in writing for Venue, or you just want to shout at us about Doctor Who, grab us at Societies Fair or the Big Meet. We look forward to meeting you. Live long and prosper,
Rachael and Matt
Photo: Elizabeth Margereson
To our new readers, welcome to the green/grey and rabbity world of UEA. Leave your shoes and dignity at the door. To all you returners, welcome back to the university dream - the uniquely tactile LCR floor, bleary eyed 9am seminars and the unquestionable beauty of drizzle on concrete and plate glass. It’s great to be back.
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features
THE FRESHER’S GUIDE TO MUSIC Your first year of university can be both exciting and incredibly alien. Laura Phillips offers a few words of wisdom on the musical musts as a UEA fresher. Take advantage of the Norwich music scene Wherever you’re from, the Norwich music scene will undoubtedly impress. The city is a musical hub for both upand-coming artists and major names. The acts are varied and extensive – even Coldplay performing in the LCR last year. Don’t spend every night curled up in a gutter on Prince of Wales Road (though that’s fun too). Go and see live music; stand in the crowd, breathe in the shared love for a band and shout their lyrics back at them. As a fresher it’s more than likely that you’ll live on campus, so you have absolutely no excuse. You can practically roll out of bed and into the LCR. For the more active first years (non-existent), Norwich offers plenty of other music venues from the smaller, awesome Bicycle Shop to The Waterfront to the stunning Open.
world of UEA is another way that you can meet people whilst furthering your talents. There are many musical societies that you can join, from heavy metal to show choir, and if there is nothing that interests you can start your own club. You could start a band, join the orchestra or get your own show on UEA’s radio station Livewire. You could even write many witty and informed album and gig reviews for Concrete.
Prepare playlists
Be sociable Make music your new social tool as a fresher. There is no icebreaker quite like sharing a passion for that little known black metal band or debating
the forefathers of rap. Music is a great way to start a conversation and maybe even forge a beautiful friendship off the back of your interests. Becoming involved in the musical
Have playlists for every possible occasion. For parties, getting ready for lectures, LCR Tuesdays, allnighters, pitifully crying over the object of your desire and a personal favourite: the seduction playlist. All may prove essential to your first year of university, providing soundtracks for those fresher memories.
THE DECLINE OF THE MUSIC FESTIVAL? Harry Fletcher considers the claim that the Great British music festival is on its way out.
Over the past few decades the overwhelming number of summer events has propelled the modern music festival to new levels of popularity and importance amongst the British people. Festivals mean different things to different people. So, what is the key appeal?
It’s undeniable that people love getting drunk in a field with their mates, whether that’s on organic cider at Green Man and the like, the crates of warm Stella hauled into Reading or Leeds, or indeed the Bacardi Breezers downed by teeny boppers at V Festival. With a bit of music thrown
in, what more could you want? But the new breed of music festival, such as V and Creamfields, together with the gentrification of some people’s idea of the festival experience, have led to the increasingly common view that we are seeing the decline of the music festival, which is obviously not true. While the old school heads may shake at the thought of this new youthful breed of music festival – where mainstream artists take centre stage – the fact is people are choosing to spend their time appreciating music, spending their hard earned cash on a live music experience. In the age of the YouTube youth, the live performance is all we music fans have left, and these festivals are keeping it alive. As for notions of the corporatisation of modern festivals, people may moan about the rise of the middle class glampers with their air-conditioned wigwams and nice toilets, but they can continue to slug it with a badly
put up tent and a hole in the ground like everyone else. It is true that the middle classes have attached themselves to festivals, and some would argue that they’ve prised the “real” festival experience away from more traditional audiences. But the so-called “real” experience isn’t beyond the grasp of those who seek it. Just because newer formats have become popular with the feared middle classes, it doesn’t mean that you can’t find an experience that harks back to ideas of the good old days: watching The Grateful Dead play for four hours, passing around a doobie and dancing naked around a fire. Earlier this year, The Sunday Times released a guide to this year’s 100 best festivals. The 100 best festivals? The choice is so great, there is almost certain to be one experience that suits you and your expectations down to the ground. The festival isn’t dead – it’s healthier than ever.
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BESTIVAL 2012 – 6-9 SEPTEMBER
As festival season comes to a close, Lottie Allen reports from Bestival on the Isle of Wight. Headliners included Florence and the Machine, New Order and Stevie Wonder. Festival season was nearing the end, September had crept up on us already and shops were advertising Christmas – and then Bestival showed them where to shove it. With a line-up to rival Glastonbury, Bestival curator Rob da Bank casually threw names such as Stevie Wonder, New Order and Sigur Ros into the mix which enticed 50,000 excited, fancydress cladded festival goers to the Isle of Wight, some of whom swam to get there. Shockingly, this was only a very small percentage. Thursday night proved to set the tone of the festival with an outstanding performance from Hot Chip, whose high energetic performance, with tracks going back to their first album, pulled an electric crowd. The Big Top tent also welcomed Gary Numan and Alabama Shakes – Numan clarifying why he is the pioneer of electro and Shakes letting people know who they really are, playing
a repertoire of new songs which were received with excitable screams and jigging. Thursday also hosted Rob Da Bank himself on the Arcadia podium equipped with moving metal animals and fire – disorientating, confusing and completely and utterly fantastic. Friday was a day packed full of memorable performances, one of whom being Warpaint. The American girl group’s eerie vocals and soft finish resulted in a silent crowd until they played Undertow, at which the crowd erupted. Following her latest album release, Lianne La Havas also played the Big Top tent. Her flawless vocals and endearing demeanour made for an incredible set. Alt-J were received with roars and cheers from the crowd, so much so that hearing them was impossible if you weren’t within the small tent. Saturday held De La Soul and Justice
– both of whom put on two of the most memorable shows of the festival. De La Soul went right back to their roots, opening with Me Myself and I from their first album. They played off the reactions of the hooked crowd, providing infectious beats that lead everyone to dance and rap around as the sun set. Justice put on an incredibly high energy, high quality performance that that left the crowd buzzing and screaming for more. Similar to Saturday, Sunday held some acts that weren’t to be forgotten. Roots Manuva, a surprise act from Four Tet, Friendly Fires and Orbital all enforced the idea that Bestival holds such a range of music without neglecting quality. The star of daytime on Sunday, however, was Doom. Incorporating a range of works, from projects like JJ Doom and Madvillian, the crowd lapped it up and there seemed to be an ungodly appreciation for his presence at Bestival. Despite not hearing a negative
comment about any act, the performance that everyone talked about throughout the festival was, of course, Sunday night headliner Stevie Wonder. As expected, his performance was outstanding, covering a repertoire of songs dating back as far as his child prodigy days on the harmonica. With a touching performance of Isn’t She Lovely to his daughter and cover of John Lennon’s Imagine, the crowds were unfazed by his praises to the Lord and used it as an excuse to cheer and praise Wonder himself. Bestival 2012 certainly provided. From the line-up that smashed it to the thousands that dressed up in wildlife attire; to the Club Dada electro-swing tent that went on until the early hours, from the Ambient Forest where there was art and dance classes; to the Gypsy camp with the human jukebox. It was faultless. Bestival 2012, you really were the best of all.
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OUTLOOK FESTIVAL CROATIA 30.08.12 - 03.09.12
is pretty hard to beat. The campsite and festival site are bordered by private beaches, so you can sunbathe all day whilst listening to one of the reggae sets being played on the beach. Or, you can hop onto one of the boat parties for a few hours and have a dance out at sea. The festival site itself is in an actual fort with a moat, dungeons and a ballroom. Seeing Blawan play in a 300-year-old, 100-foot-long, five-metre deep-drained moat was something very special indeed. Despite hours of careful timetabling, once on site it’s all too tempting to run amok, finding noises that catch your interest. This strategy led to some amazing discoveries: American synthy house masters Sepulcure for instance, as well as Lee Scratch Perry, the 76-year-old who kick-started
Emily-Claire Tucker You know that life-affirming feeling you get when you stand in front of a really beautiful landscape? Or that huge joy you feel when a DJ drops a song you love into the middle of an amazing set? Imagine spending four days with these two emotions on repeat and you’ll have an idea of what it’s like to be at Outlook Festival. The site, Fort Punta Christo in Pula, Croatia,
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everything that is now dub in the early 70s. The two more typical festival stages by the harbour were just as special as the quirky fort stages. Due to absolutely flawless sound engineering, everyone from reggae band The Twinkle Brothers to dubstep heroes DMZ (who bought along quite a drunk Loefah for the occasion) sounded as good as they ever had on these two stages. For anyone who dismisses dubstep as the aggressive audio mess Skrillex and Knife Party are famous for, please try and find Vivek’s set from the last night – he found everything that is good and right with the genre and poured it into a two hour set. Perfection. If you’re not the “indie-band-in-a-wet-Englishfield” type of festival-goer, then head to Outlook. At least once.
On the Mercury Prize nominations ... Hayden East September 12 saw the announcement of this year’s Mercury Prize nominees revealed. The shortlist – comprised of 12 of this year’s best British albums – was determined by a panel of independent judges (including music journalists and industry heavyweights). The winner will be revealed on November 1 in a London-based awards ceremony. Previous winners include PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys, as well as The xx (whose sophomore album is reviewed in this issue). Competing for a cash prize of £20,000 is a somewhat diverse, if rather predictable collection of albums.
There is a noticeable emphasis on mainstream pop and soul, including records from Ben Howard, Michael Kiwanuka and Plan B. Certainly lacking are contributions from electronica and dance, however Field Music’s Plumb is deserving of its left-field nomination. 2012 is definitely the year of the debuts – particularly Django Django’s self-titled debut and Alt-J’s breakout An Awesome Wave, the latter of which is a firm favourite to win with bookmakers. Already well into their careers, it’s also encouraging to see work from Richard Hawley and The Maccabees
finally receiving such recognition. There are undoubtedly some clear omissions: either Rustie’s Glass Swords or Actress’ RIP would have been a fine representative for the UK’s flourishing underground dance music. Despite being inconsistent in parts, it’s also surprising to see Florence and the Machine’s Ceremonials absent from the list. Venue’s prediction to win would be split between Jessie Ware’s stellar debut record Devotion and Alt-J’s An Awesome Wave, but at least half of these nominees stand a chance of picking up the prize in a brilliant year for British music.
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THE XX COEXIST Hayden East
Is anybody really surprised that the introverted creators of 2009’s breakout debut have withdrawn even more so on their widely anticipated follow-up? Indeed, Coexist marks a three-year maturation in sound that
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB BEACON Maddie Russell
Tourist History (2010) is undeniably a cracking indie debut with its catchy riffs, memorable choruses and happy little electro beats. Beacon manages to maintain the playful side that the band’s fans are into, whilst attempting to show progression that undoubtedly comes from years on the road. The risqué album art makes this intention clear – nothing says “we’ve grown up” like naked female legs, as everyone knows.
rather appropriately welcomes even more space than their debut. Parts of the record were recorded in a so-called “boudoir”-like studio – a tiny room with no natural light and walls lined with black velvet. It definitely shows, for The xx’s sound remains decidedly nocturnal. In fact, Fiction may be the darkest track to ever come from the band: taking on sole vocal duties, Oliver Sim’s seductive croon is accompanied by deep electronic bass hits and sombre piano notes, chased by the spectral guitar chords of Romy Madley-Croft. This is not to say that Coexist simply follows the blueprint of its predecessor – perhaps the most important addition to the fold are the subtle yet forward-thinking electronic beats of Jamie xx. Recalling his recent solo work and DJ mixes, Reunion and Sunset are tied together into one suite.
As arpeggiating steel pans give way to minimalist two-step, Jamie’s fractured house beats complement Romy and Oliver’s lyrical content, drawing from equally fractured relationships. “After all that we had, we act like we had never met” they sing – a basic statement by all accounts, but their desperate delivery makes for a heartbreaking impact. Just like on xx, Jamie assumes production duties. However, while he gave 2009’s work a warm, inviting atmosphere, Coexist in comparison feels contained in an airlock; songs will often end abruptly, start a capella and halt mid-way through. Restraint is conventionally one of the bravest creative decisions, but The xx have always said just as much with silence as they do with sound. Missing is a stellar example: at the one-third mark, movement is suspended and a
Sleep Alone is the album’s first single and the new track the boys needed: lots of synth and a nice little refrain; this is Two Door Cinema Club doing what they do best. The trio are joined for The World Is Watching by Valentina (you may remember her vocals from Joe Goddard’s Gabriel). The juxtaposition between Trimble’s rhythmic verses and Valentina’s soft choruses makes for a track which stands out among the others. Opener Next Year is pretty cracking, with a synth break allowing Alex Trimble’s voice to sing out “I don’t know where I am going to rest my head” in flawless a cappella. The layers build and crescendo as the lyrics provide a glimpse into the less glamorous side of touring; the motif of loneliness resounds through the album, and despite the upbeat instrumentals Trimble’s voice hints at the sad truth behind the words. Poor guys. Spring is very pretty. All the tracks are actually, but that’s the thing. There is nothing wrong with Beacon, but it hasn’t moved on much from the riffs, choruses and happy little electro beats that did the trick in Tourist History. There is more confidence, the lyrics are a bit darker, and it’s more personal, but ultimately not enough. Two Door Cinema Club thrive as a live band, but maybe can’t cope with life on the road. The groundwork of something beautiful is there, we just wanted more.
TOY TOY Emma Price
Featuring three former members of Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong and hyped to the max with constant comparisons to The Horrors, you may not have high expectations for TOY. However, following two successful singles there is much hype surrounding the Londonbased five-piece’s self-titled debut. You can clearly hear the influences of psychedelia, krautrock and shoegaze – notably My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless – throughout TOY. Opening track
cavernous silence eventually yields, with its chorus led by Sim’s most arresting vocal to date. Of the three members, it is Sim who establishes himself as the most improved. While his bass lines may not be as prominent, there is a distinct confidence in his vocal ability, delivering on the potential that older tracks such as Fantasy only hinted at. Coexist may not be as immediate as fans would like, but its progressive nature will sustain the listener’s interest far longer upon repeat listens. In fact, don’t be surprised to see Coexist re-released as a remix album a year from now; each track screams for outside reinterpretation, and in a live context even the band expands on this most insular of sounds. Ultimately this suggests how Coexist should be approached: as a skeleton of sound, yet no less beautiful. Colour’s Running Out sets the tone for the rest of the album with its moody yet mesmerising sound. The Reasons Why follows in a similar vein with its dark, psychedelic tones which make for an interesting listen. The slow paced Dead and Gone thankfully picks up the tempo before the end and bursts into an explosion of sound. Recent single Lose My Way, with its Horrors-style vocals, is a highlight and shows the band’s softer side, while the swooning My Heart Skips a Beat is a psychedelic ballad with its smooth vocals. A few instrumentals also feature: from the delicate Omni and impressive Drifting Deeper, their places are justified by displaying the band’s diverse range. Album closer Kopter truly showcases TOY’s collective talents: the euphoric sound – comprising of mesmerizing synths, loud pulsating drums and gauzy guitars – makes for a captivating, albeit lengthy, final note. Overall though, TOY is a mellow offering, often crying out for more of the aggression only teased at throughout the album. This five-piece could have been easily written off as wannabes, a few years too late on the scene with their big hair, skinny jeans and paisley shirts. Howeverl, there’s something special which keeps them apart from the countless other alt-rock bands on the scene: their desire and intuition to not just copy what has gone before, but to make it their own.
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concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk 21.09.2012
Going for gold A Fashion Tutorial with Becky Evans
SMOKIN’ Ennis’ abs
If that’s not motivation to get fit ,we don’t know what is.
Russia’s hoodies Plain bangin’
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First, file down nails and cut cuticles. Then apply a good strengthening base coat. This will ensure that the colour does not stain your nails. Apply one thin coat of gold polish and wait for it to dry. Repeat this for the second coat.
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Next, take an old clean eyeliner brush and dip it into white polish. Lightly dot this over each nail until you are happy with the number of dots.
Patriotic nails We love the Olympic Village nail bar.
CHOKIN’
Scrunchies
The Spice Girls should have been the only thing making a comeback. Leave them in the 90s ...
Wenlock Who in their right mind wants to see a dancing phallus after winning gold?
Hey Jude! We think it’s time to give it up, Paul.
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Repeat the previous step using red and blue polishes. Fill in the gaps left from the white until your nails are covered in red, white and blue dots.
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Finally, apply gold balls using glue. Voila, your patriotic nails are ready to go for gold!
Doing it for the sisters
FASHION EDITOR JESS BEECH ON THE CHANGING FACE OF FEMALE BRITISH ROLE MODELS
The high drama of the Olympics has made me such an emotional wreck that I am still unable to walk past the billboard with Jessica Ennis and “stage taken” emblazoned on it without welling up. In my mind, I was with her every step of the way. I screamed at the TV as she ran and sobbed like a baby when she got her medal. As the poster girl of the Olympics, the pressure on her to succeed was incomprehensible to us mere mortals. Never has so much pressure been
put on a woman at the forefront of an advertising campaign. They are usually to convince people to buy make up or clothes, and the hopes of an entire nation have never hung on L’Oreal’s annual sales. Her image (and Victoria Pendelton’s) does not give us impossible images of women and beauty, but give the message that nothing is unattainable, and everything is possible. The hard work and sheer determination of these athletes allowed them to make their own
dreams happen. They are inspirational figures in a good way; they encourage people to chase after success, not just an unrealistic ideal of beauty. I doubt Jessica and Victoria longed to be known for their amazing bodies and shiny hair; these are merely by-products of their successes. These women prove that fashion and beauty do not have to be shallow, and brave, hardworking women can embody these things. Role models really do make the best models.
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Is Sports Fashion a Myth?
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As the dust settles on London 2012, has our attitude to sports fashion changed? Lucy Jobber With high-end designers such as Stella McCartney and Giorgio Armani attempting the difficult combination of practicality and fashion in the Olympics, it has brought to the forefront the ageold question of whether fashion and sport can ever truly co-exist. When thinking of sports wear, images of chav chic complete with tracksuits, DayGlo jackets and excessive amounts of Lycra rear their ugly head and this certainly isn’t abated upon the recent sight of the unforgiving crop tops and skimpy shorts of the Olympians, designed with the body of an Adonis in mind, not for the occasional dog walker. Peering into Vogue’s recent attempt at sports fashion leads only to a similar conclusion, upon the depressing sight of a multiplicity of size zero models
prancing around in haute couture leotards, waving round a hockey stick in case it wasn’t clear that these outfits were designed for the means of competitive sport. Let’s be honest, anyone with a pinch of common sense will realise that sleek top knot will swiftly be disintegrating into a mess of fly-aways and that healthy glow will be turning an unattractive shade of puce after a quick jog round the block. Even the high street has jumped onto the sporting buzz with highheeled trainers, perfect for achieving that active look, whilst tottering on tip toes with no real hope of a jog, let alone a power walk. Maybe I’m just cynical, but I feel sport should be an opportunity to embrace a temporary freedom from style, with practicality as a priority for a change.
Style winners and losers of London 2012 Kirsten Powley The Olympic Games were outstanding. Everyone was excited and all eyes were on the athletes. In turn, this meant all eyes were on their clothes (or lack of, as the case was at times). Some stood out as flattering, but even in the Olympics you can get a fashion faux pas or two. This is a collection of the brilliant and the absurd. It may sometimes be disregarded as a proper sport, but gymnastics is one of the most captivating events to watch. In theory, nobody in their right mind should like all that glitter on such remarkably small human beings. That much should weigh them down, surely? How do they do all that flying around in such an elegant manner? But like a magpie that collects shiny things, you can’t take the eyes off them and you’re dazzled. The intricacy of the detailing somehow makes it sophisticated. Or maybe that’s just the distraction of you finding that you want to pull off the
leotards just like they do. Although, it’s of my opinion that some of these gymnasts are taking all that glitter too far. Take Gabrielle Douglas of the USA; her leotard was on the ridiculous end of the scale, donning a futuristic, metallic silver costume. Rather than dazzle me, it reminded me of a very bendy Lady Gaga. I’ve already put it off for too long: Tom Daley. He received a lot of press in the Olympics. In case you didn’t notice, he was wearing a teeny tiny Speedo. If only every man who dared wear a Speedo had the body of Tom Daley. Who knew that so little material could do so much for London 2012? It also came down to the second babe of Team GB: Jessica Ennis. The outfits were impressive. They looked good yet showed we meant business. Either with “Great Britain” boldly stated across the top or the Union Jack loud and proud, they were
simple, sporty, but with the important message that we can combine sports and style. You can’t get any better than the fans that turned up to the Olympics, lucky enough to get tickets, and all the people at home watching it who still dressed up regardless. When I was there I was overwhelmed by the hoards of red, blue and white walking through. The excitement was too much when the Union Jack onesies came out to play – Ollie Locke from Made in Chelsea would have fitted right in with his Union Jack attire. It was the two weeks where everyone could go OTT; it absolutely didn’t matter, and I loved witnessing it. The USA did brilliantly, with big US flag hats (America wasn’t going to remain in the sidelines too much while GB had their time in the spotlight as the hosts). I particularly enjoyed the Netherlands – I’ve been loving orange
lately and oh, how they do it so well. It’s almost as though Sweden recognised the success the Netherlands were having with their spectacular orange zest … although I’m not sure why they selected the least humorous way to be noticed. Their cycling helmets were bright orange and looked like they belonged on Mario Kart. Another hilarity to be pointed out was the Czech’s opening ceremony outfits, complete with umbrellas and wellies, all in good humour to Great Britain’s reputation of plentiful rain. It was in these ways as well as the sporting events themselves that made the London 2012 Olympic Games two perfect weeks of pride, style and even some humour. The fans and audiences had the best outfits by far. Nothing showed the excitement of the Olympics more than the way people expressed it through their clothing and style.
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To Rome with Love follows four different groups of people, both foreign and local, as they live out their time in Rome. The most amusing of the four stories comes in the form of Milly (Alessandra Mastronadi) and Antonio (Alessandro Tiberi), a newlywed couple who visit Rome in a search for prosperous opportunities. However, they become separated and their comical adulterous escapades, with the charismatic Antonio Albanese and seductive Penelope Cruz, allow for a pleasantly enjoyable tale. In contrast to this comes the uninteresting love triangle between Jack (Jesse Eisenberg), Monica (Ellen Page) and Sally (Greta Gerwig). Eisenberg’s bumbling and “likeable” quality that has served him so well in previous features sets the tone for a tiresome tale. Glancing at the previous work of these three, it would appear that each would fit excellently into this film, but their story is unimpressive and unnecessary. Alec Baldwin also features in a somewhat ambivalent role as the narrator/conscience of those involved. The addition of this magical realism is interesting but does little to redeem the story.
In another episode Roberto Benigni portrays a man who has been propelled to overnight fame. After his initial shock and discomfort he welcomes the perks of celebrity life and quickly sinks into the promiscuous and prosperous lifestyle.
LAWLESS (18)
Director: John Hillcoat 115mins
The cast of Lawless all put in great performances in what is otherwise an over-reaching but enjoyable film. Set during the Prohibition era of America, three moonshine brewing brothers feel the full power of crooked law enforcer Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) in his mission to destroy their business and their lives. A stunning cast list that includes Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain and Gary Oldman (though his involvement is more of a cameo than anything else) should be enough to get you into a seat for this. Shia LaBeouf is the leading man, playing the timid and jumpy younger brother of Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke. Conclusively, all three of the main men are outstanding, which means we can move swiftly onto the two women of Lawless. Jessica Chastain and Mia
Wasikowska both perform as well as their male counterparts but the highlight of the entire movie is Chastain’s performance as Maggie, the barmaid with a murky past. Even though she has relatively few lines, she steals the limelight every moment she’s on screen. Standout performances from the entire cast really do help to make this movie more than an exercise in macho violence. And believe me, there’s a lot of that. The main flaw with Lawless is that it thinks it’s better than it is. It’s rather obvious from the opening prologue that this is a movie that sets its sights on being an epic good against evil struggle. Whilst it’s not exactly that, it’s still an enjoyable watch.
REVIEWS TO ROME WITH LOVE (12A)
Director: Woody Allen 95mins Starring: Woody Allen, Jesse Eisenberg, Penelope Cruz, Ellen Page, Alec Baldwin
Adam Dawson
Although Leopoldo (Benigni) is a likeable character, his story is rather repetitive and so the humour rubs off quickly. The fourth story features Allen himself taking on the role of Jerry, a retired opera director who equates a lack of professional
ANNA KARENINA (15) Anna Karenina is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Leo Tolstoy. It tells the story of Anna (Keira Knightley), a beautiful 19th-Century Russian aristocrat, and her affair with the young and daring Vronksy (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). You may already have heard the production twist that sets Joe Wright’s version apart from the rest. During filming Wright struggled to find the perfect locations, despite having travelled to Russia to do so. After reading an essay that compared life of Russian aristocracy during the 19th century to performing your every move on stage, Wright decided to set the majority of the movie inside a theatre. The result is a beautiful, if somewhat stilted, adaptation. It is hard to avoid the feeling of claustrophobia that Knightley’s
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purpose with death. Judy Davis stars alongside Allen as his psychoanalyst wife. The pair are visiting Rome to meet with their daughter (Alison Pill), her Italian fiancé Michelangelo (Flavio Parenti) and his parents. During their time together Jerry discovers Giancarlo’s (Fabio Armiliato) operatic talents and takes it upon himself to share it with the world. Armiliato’s competent acting provide the highlight of this tale. To Rome with Love demonstrates the sheer magnificence of Rome; the cinematography beautifully displays its ancient wonder and is excellently accentuated by a quality soundtrack. The film is a continuation of Woody Allen films based in European capitals, but To Rome with Love stutters and falls before the superior, Academy Award winning, Midnight in Paris. It lacks the style and engaging quality of his 2011 feature, but it is fair to say that Allen has produced a mildly entertaining romantic comedy with which you can while away a couple of hours. Jake Deller
Director: Joe Wright 130mins Anna experiences. Her every move is watched, and the rooms that represent Moscow’s skylines are squashed next to, on top of, and sometimes even into the same space as each other. The theatre setting is made good use of, with scene transitions signified by actors visibly changing costume on screen. Although clever, it is a little obvious that the script was originally written (by Parade’s End Tom Stoppard) without this in mind. However, the film is largely a faithful and passionate adaptation; a drama with beautiful costumes, impressive performances and a brave choice of setting that is more than worth the price of student admission. Ellie Reynard
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DREDD 3D (18)
PARANORMAN (PG)
Director: Pete Travis 95mins
Director(s): Chris Butler, Sam Fell
Adding to the seemingly endless stream of superhero movies released over the past few years, this new adaption of the infamous Judge Dredd, despite being cheaper and more low-key than the Avengers or DC’s Batman, not only manages to live up to the, surpassing all expectations. The film’s plot is criminally simple. Dredd, played by a rough, rugged and impressive Karl Urban (Star Trek, Lord of the Rings), is locked down in one of Mega City’s residential towers alongside a wannabe Judge and rookie, Anderson, played by Olivia Thirlby (Juno). As per the tradition of such films, Dredd is the emotionless bad-ass, a trigger happy law enforcer who delivers his own unique brand of justice, and takes no prisoners. Despite its small-scale simplicity, Dredd impresses visually, set in an engaging world of immense, gritty, industrial backdrops. Exceptionally breath-taking 3D features are used to great effect, underlining the viscerally aggresive nature of Dredd’s world. The action is violent, stylish, gory and non-stop. If you’ve always wanted to see disintergrating bodies, an over-usage of blood splatter and bullets going through a person’s face in slow motion, as well as five star explosions and killing, this worthy remake is definitely for you. Sam Austin
NEWS
@Concrete_Film
11
PREMIUM RUSH (12A) 92mins
Laika’s ParaNorman is the heart-warming tale of a young boy who sees dead people, which, as Bruce Willis knows, is always a winner. More interested in hanging out with his dead grandma than the living people around him, Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) is just your average misunderstood paranormal 11 year old until he has to help save his town from a witch’s curse (oh, and zombies). While the story is a little predictable, it’s still sweet and entertaining. There are some endearing and funny moments, mostly dependent on the mix of conventional horror tropes and realistic domestic comedy, such as Norman and his sister being chastised by their mother for squabbling with one of the zombies in the back seat of the family car. There are also several more self-aware “adult” moments which set it apart from the average kids’ film. The stop-motion animation amongst the standard CGI gives it a classic edge, particularly alongside the out-of-proportion character design. While there could have been a few extra horror references for the movie-buffs and more shocking twists and turns, ParaNorman is an enjoyable watch with a superbly balanced blend of mock-horror and comedy.
Director: David Koepp 91mins Premium Rush is unquestionably the eco-friendly offspring of the 1994 classic Speed. Its real time racing premise never allows the story’s brakes to be put on too hard and whilst the plot is sometimes farcical and mediocre in places, the action and stunt work help to keep the ride going strong. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does well to set the pace as adrenaline junkie Wilee who finds himself caught up with crooks and cops in a race to deliver a package across the unforgiving highways of New York City. Hot on his heels is corrupt lawman Bobby Monday, played brilliantly by Michael Shannon. His unhinged temper and sheer desperation to wrongly reclaim the incriminating package from Wilee makes for a set of tense and dizzying chases. Flashbacks are used well, slowly unveiling necessary exposition and giving the film pause for rest and reflection that evenly break up the bunny hops. Although the sat-nav-like map screen and Prince of Persia time reversal sequences play out more like a video game than a film, Premium Rush still remains an enjoyable if short lived romp. It propels itself energetically on the saddle of a man who really should invest in some brakes.
Amy Adams
Andrew Wilkins
The Summertime Blues: a difficult summer for the film industry
Greg Manterfield-Ivory The summer has been a tricky one for the film industry. Predictably, the Olympics dented box office figures not just in the UK, but all around the globe. With people opting to watch Farah over Farrell, the studios struggled to sell tickets. The Hollywood Reporter this month published figures that showed the major studios collectively grossed $5.154 Billion worldwide over the summer months, which, although a large and impressive number, is actually a 22% drop compared to the same period 11 years ago. Despite a strong, superhero-spangled start, the summer blockbusters petered out with a string of big-budget flops. Total Recall barely managed to earn half of what it cost to make, and Battleship only returned a third of its $209 million budget in North America (fortunately for Hasbro, the film found
appeal in the foreign markets, managing to turn a $100 million profit over the summer). Sadly there was loss of a very different kind this summer, with the deaths of director Tony Scott and actor Michael Clarke Duncan. The former was Ridley Scott’s brother, and directed a string of successful action films throughout his career, such as Top Gun, Déjà Vu and Domino. Shortly before his death he had been scouting locations with Tom Cruise for the long awaited sequel to Top Gun; it is unknown whether the film will still be made. Michael Clarke Duncan was an Oscar nominated actor, best loved for his role as gentle-giant, John Coffey (“like the drink, only not spelt the same”) in The Green Mile. Despite the summertime blues, it looks like 2012 will end on a cinematic high note, with new releases from
Quentin Tarantino and Peter Jackson set to close out the year in style.
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@Concrete_Film
SUMMER LOVIN’
the films and reviews you might’ve missed this summer...
THE IMPOSTER “The Imposter is an exceptionally important documentary, possibly the most important documentary you’ll see. It effortlessly blends the factual accounts of everyone involved...with a recreation of certain events. One of the best films of the year.” - Adam Dawson
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES “The Dark Knight Rises doesn’t quite reach the dizzy heights of its predecessor; it lacks the stellar quality that makes The Dark Knight one of the greatest films of all time. However, that doesn’t stop it from leaving the rest of the superhero genre far behind, without even breaking a sweat.” - Saul Holmes ELECTRICK CHILDREN “It may very well fall under the radar, but Electrick Children is quaint, odd and compelling, and cerainly one of the finer releases of the year thus far.” - Kieran Rogers THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN “Despite having some pretty big shoes to fill, The Amazing Spiderman not only matches the original 2002 film, it tops it.” - Tom Duffy COSMOPOLIS “It’s an incredibly easy film to admire, and an extremely hard one to love.” - Joe Murphy To see these reviews in full, and for all the latest on film news and releases, visit www.concrete-online.co.uk/film
FILM
www.concrete-online.co.uk
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk 21.09.2012
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Venue reflects on a summer of expectation and the impact that anticipation can have on the cinema-going experience.
James Lillywhiite
Sitting at the top of IMDB’s Top 250 film list is Frank Darabont’s classic prison drama The Shawshank Redemption. After 826,470 ratings it holds an average of 9.3 out of ten. It is fair to say that it is a picture held in high regard. However, had you not experienced Red and Andy’s journey before, could you now go into it with an open mind knowing what you know? Or does the reputation prevent the film from being truly and fairly considered? It seems expectations play a vital role in the cinematic experience. Expectations were never higher than for the summer of 2012. Releases such as Avengers Assemble, The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spiderman were all hotly anticipated and therefore subjected to a higher level of scrutiny. This was particularly evident with Ridley Scott’s return to sci-fi, Prometheus. Sold as a prequel to Alien, the film’s release became ever more anticipated as the marketing campaign began to attract a large audience. It seemed that Scott was returning to the long suffering Alien franchise to reinvigorate it.
So, when Prometheus was released and it wasn’t what was expected, it was met with a mixed reaction. While originality is by no means a criticism, some considered the film a disappointment not because of it’s cinematic problems, but because it failed to live up to the enormous expectation. The hype that it worked to create seemingly backfired. Of course, the pressure of expectation is not always a curse. Indeed Avengers Assemble manipulated the anticipation extremely well. Ever since Nick Fury walked into shot at the end of Iron Man, fans worldwide were waiting for the release. With teasing post-credits scenes in various releases, the studio and directors created an interconnected cinematic universe in the build-up to the 2012 release. Marvel built up characters and storylines, knowing that the ever growing expectation would create interest. At the time of writing, Avengers Assemble has taken over $1.5 billion worldwide. It seems to have worked. However, this is not just applicable
to big summer blockbusters. If a film is recommended, or has a good reputation, certain expectations will always be placed upon it. For example, if someone was a massive Adam Sandler fan, perhaps they would walk into films like Jack and Jill and Grown Ups with a positive mind set. If they expect it to be funny, perhaps they would find it so. It seems that in a world of advanced reviews, viral videos and clever PR that expectation and anticipation have become a vital part of the film business. This is not a negative, or a positive point, just a development in the industry, and one which works in the studio’s favour. This is why sequels and reboots dominate the cinematic horizon; there are captive audiences anticipating them, so immediately expectation builds. It is for this reason that expectation and anticipation have such a telling and dramatic impact on modern cinema.
STARTER FOR TEN Being a Fresher can be pretty manic, and a good Film can provide the perfect relaxation or much-needed quiet time.
Marco Bell
Come the day, and the day will come, when fresher’s flu or the week long hangover leaves you and your flatmates sprawled across the floor, there is no better way to seal the bonding with your flatmates than to watch a film together. For the juggernauts still eager to run themselves into the ground, bring any alcoholic beverage. For the more faint-hearted, perhaps a hot chocolate. Throughout the year you will be able to glance your way across Norfolk or Suffolk Terrace and see flatmates engrossed on a single laptop, stuck to a sticky and Vodka drenched kitchen table. This is what it’s all about, a quick and enjoyable way to get to know everyone’s tastes and sense of humour. A couple of the American Pie series back-to-back is always a guaranteed crowd pleaser and if freshers lives up to expectations, may provide you with some relatable moments. Clichéd, but knowingly so, Superbad or The Hangover will be perfect viewing
after freshers also. If you fancy upping the stakes then the horror genre will certainly see the first divides within your flat. Some will refuse; others will display gleeful excitement (measure this excitement carefully; you could have a psychopath within your walls). For those Lord of the Rings fanatics (there’s always more than you think), a marathon day ploughing through the trilogy, whilst playing one of the many drinking games associated, could provide a messy day of fantastical entertainment before the evenings events.
Winter comes thick and fast, and before you know it, you’ll be cracking out festive hits like Elf and Bad Santa for Christmas viewing, when the LCR seems too long a walk on a Tuesday night. During the summer, there are an abundance of charming spots on campus where you can sit and watch a movie. Go down to the lake and take in something classy. A word of warning, avoid Johnny English Reborn, tediously unfunny to the point that it literally sent a “certain flat” to sleep within the hour.
FILM
21.09.2012 concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
in conversation...
@Concrete_Film
13
From exhibition to criticism, in conversation... explores aspects of, and the challenges facing, norwich’s film industry. in this issue, venue talks to local exhibitor cinema city about Flicker books, free stuff and UEA. Over the next hour or so, it is talk of the environment that will fill most of the conversation. Not, of course, the kind discussed in conferences about climate change, but the significance of that found within cinema. As Venue sits with marketing manager Sam Leonard, the kind inhabiting the walls around us is endearing, eclectic and open-minded. This is a place that refuses to call its fellow cinemas “competitors” (“You need a mainstream to have an alternative... We need each other.”), and embraces the future of film as much as it celebrates the past. This is Cinema City, Norwich’s only “semiindependent” cinema. The scene for our interview is quaint. It takes place in a room with old wooden floors, arched doorways and elegant dining furniture. The entire building’s aesthetic is much the same, visibly documenting its rich history (built in 1820, it was once known as Suckling House; in a previous life it was a buttery). “People walk by and don’t know we’re a cinema”, Leonard jokes. True, it might not be great for business, but it’s part of the understated charm. To undermine the antique bliss that goes before, a noisy maintenance worker halts Venue’s wide-eyed infautuation. Consequently, for those students who may encounter builders at 7am in the morning, it’s nothing old buttery doors can’t fix. Said door gets closed. Peace returns. We begin: Venue: Often with art house cinemas there is a dogma attached to their philosophy, an unwillingness to show popcorn films that could make the cinema money. Yet, what we like most about Cinema City, and what we see as distinguishing it from other cinemas of its kind, is an understanding of film as both an art form and a business. Would you agree with that mantra? Cinema City: Yeah…we have passionate staff who care about what we show. We know that because they’re constantly complaining about it. Rightly so, because if they didn’t complain we wouldn’t have that drive to show great films. We have massively passionate customers as well. When people come and see a good film here, they tell us about it, they tell their friends about it, and that’s it: we have a really passionate audience and interested staff, who aren’t drones. The one thing we try and do is provide a good environment for watching film because that’s a massive part of it. You can’t just throw people in there and expect
radio wouldn’t exist anymore. So, you can’t tell what audiences want, and you can’t tell audiences what they will want. People will choose and we can’t do anything about it. We just have to give [them] what they want. I’m not too nostalgic about it because I think digital looks great. If it looks good, that’s the way it is. Otherwise we’ll be watching films on flicker books. V: And Norwich itself? How do you see Norwich as a place for film?
them to have a good time, so we provide an environment that’s a bit more grown up. We don’t get a lot of teenagers here. V: It’s interesting that you’re talking in terms of a target audience, but is accessibility important too? CC: Yeah, but as long as we don’t lose what we’re about. There’s a real risk sometimes of trying to go too far and trying to reach too big an audience, and then you lose what you’re about. The thing about blockbusters is we pick the ones that are good - and we’re really happy to put them on. Our customers are happy to come and see them with us because of the environment that we have. I think people know that if they do come and see, say, Prometheus with us, then that kind of film helps to fund a film that no one else will dare show that we might show. V: You can read into a sense of community that’s found here as well. You’ve got the bar, autism friendly screenings, and a twitter account! It makes you feel accessible. So how important is all this to the cinema: this sense of community? CC: That’s the good stuff really. That’s what sets us apart from other cinemas: we engage with the community, we deal with a lot of local businesses and local groups. We’re trying our best to make cinema accessible, because that’s exactly what it is. The educational department deals with local schools. So those are the things that make me happy to be involved in this because I think that it’s great stuff! That’s what companies should be doing. It shows that we care about film, and we care about people being able to watch film.
V: How do you see Cinema City as setting itself apart from its competitors? CC: We don’t really have competitors… V: So you don’t see Odeon or Vue or any other big multiplex – CC: They don’t see us as competitors and we have a very small amount of the market. They’ve got their thing and we’ve got ours. We’re the alternative; we do different things to Odeon. I mean, I would love to go to Odeon. They have Imax! We could never do Imax here. But Odeon can’t do some of the things that we can do, like small Q&A’s for films about ping pong! V: For cinemas in general, it’s a really interesting and testing time. How’s this cinema dealt with changes in technology and the rise of digital filmmaking? CC: Well, we’re fully digital. V: So, no 35mm? CC: We do 35mm, probably more than Odeon and Vue, who I think have just gone completely digital because they don’t show old film. When we actually show seasons of films, genres, and things like that, then we’ll do 35mm. We still need the 35mm facilities, for how much longer I don’t know. V: Do you think it will get to a point where you will get rid of the facilities? CC: It could happen, definitely. But you never know. People said that vinyl would go. People said that when TV was invented that
CC: One of the great things about being in Norwich is that we’re the only cinema in Norfolk of our kind and our size and our quality. So, people will travel to Norwich. Sometimes it’s good to be the only place to come and see these kinds of things, because we get all of that focus. Norwich is a great place. It’s full of people who think differently. UEA and NUCA are definitely responsible for rich filmmaking. We have good links with UEA and NUCA and we see a lot of stuff that comes out of them. We see the quality in stuff that comes out of education and institutions in Norwich. It is the kind of place where you can do things, because you’re not stifled by big city mentality. That means you can have time to create. V: Finally, there are lots of new students coming here to UEA in September, what can you offer them? CC: If you are a new student you get a free membership to Cinema City, which is worth £26. You become a member of the cinema, you get a free ticket, you get a free drink, you get free popcorn, then after you pay £4.50 for a ticket, which is the cheapest in town. You can see the most interesting films in Norwich for the cheapest price, and I would’ve killed for that in my first year at university. We also have slacker’s club - every month a free preview of a new film. Even if you don’t buy a ticket from us, you get to see a free film, and that’s a really cool thing. We’d like to think you wouldn’t go back to other cinemas because you like what we do. We care about what we do and we think it’s pretty good. You’ve got so much free stuff; take the free stuff! words: Kieran Rogers Cinema City is located on St. Andrews Street, Norwich.
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www.concrete-online.co.uk
TELEVISION concrete.television@uea.ac.uk 21.09.2012
summer’s end, new beginnings
As one hit show draws to a dramatic close, another gets set for a thrilling return
PARADE’S END Emma Price The BBC’s latest period drama may not be your usual specimen, but Parade’s End can definitely be said to do its literary origins justice. Adapted by the surrealist playwright Tom Stoppard, the show successfully breaks away from others within its genre by portraying not only the love triangle between an aristocrat, his socialite wife and a young suffragette, but by perfectly depicting the chaos, destruction and decline of Edwardian England. The cast is headed by the much-loved cheekbones of Benedict Cumberbatch (the rest of him also present), star of BBC hit Sherlock, opposite Rebecca Hall (The Prestige, Frost/Nixon) and Adelaide Clemens (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Silent Hill), whose superb performances ensure this is definitely not your run-of-the-mill melodrama. The dramatisation of the wonderfully named Ford Madox Ford’s novel sees English aristocrat Christopher Tietjens and his wife Sylvia (Hall), a beautiful, malevolent socialite whose child may not be his, struggle to keep their
marriage alive in the venemous world of the aristocracy. Against the backdrop of First World War Britain, the characters suffer and fight battles, both internal and literal, to stay true to what they believe in, despite widespread social change and sometimes even their own conflicting emotions. Tietjens’ determination to preserve traditional Edwardian values, “monogamy and chastity – and for not talking about it”, means he will not divorce his wife, even after she leaves him, and remains faithful despite falling in love with the courageous suffragette, Valentine (Clemens). As war breaks out, he declines a job that would keep him away from any fighting, and instead enlists as an army officer, leaving without telling Valentine how he really feels. Sylvia, in his absence, continues to enjoy her high-class socialite lifestyle. Upon his brief return to England he uncovers false rumours that he has had multiple affairs and even a child with Valentine, leading his family to turn their backs on him
with only Valentine’s support. Aside from the central love triangle, we are also drawn into personal stories of other characters affected by the outbreak of war, such as that of Father Consett, a Catholic priest fighting for Irish independence and the persecution of Valentine’s family for their pacifist
Full Series Available on iPlayer
MERLIN Bex White This autumn sees dragons, wizards and mythical legends back on BBC1 with Merlin returning to our screens. Love it or hate it, this family favourite is returning for its fifth series and it is set to be more exciting than ever before as the story now moves on to tackle the most well-known chapters of the legend: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The question is, how true will the show stick to this legend? And does it really matter all that much if they don’t? Following the end of King Uther’s reign, the last series saw Arthur finally becoming king. He fought dragons and went on quests, while all the time fighting to marry his beloved; however, the series ended a bit too well. Arthur and Gwen were married, the evil Morgana had been supposedly banished and Merlin was finally recognised as a worthwhile companion. This new series will see our heroes three years on, and with all new adventures to
be had, and even a recast Mordred is set to return no doubt bringing havoc along with him – a character whom this series is to be played by little known but appropriately older actor, Alexander Vlahos (The Indian Doctor). In the past the series took liberties with the legend, yet new episodes will tackle very well known narratives so it will be intriguing to see the balance that the writing team have struck between the legend and narratives more suited to TV. However, the true question is, do the Merlin plots really matter? What more do viewers want for when they have dragons and quests? It’s highly unlikely it will lose viewership due to not sticking to the legend at this point- with thrilling new ways of portraying ancient magic and those ever wonderful special effects, who really needs a good plot? The new series is due to return on October 6thswords and horses at the ready!
views. These characters, alongside others, provide an in depth view of this war-torn generation. For Christopher, the war has made him see Edwardian ideals in a different light, marking a potential new beginning, but will he be able to let go of his past to move on with the future?
TELEVISION 21.09.2012 concrete.television@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
pet hate venting:
NEW GIRL
PRESENTERS Gabriel Gavigan
Beth Webster It’s not really a secret that New Girl is arguably one of the biggest TV guilty pleasures around. People either love it, hate it, or say they hate it, but are actually counting down the seconds until the next episode. And who can blame them? It’s cheesy, predictable and a little annoying at times, but honestly? That’s what makes it so good. With a cast headed by the ridiculously cute and quirky Zooey Deschanel (500 days of Summer, Elf), and the catchiest theme song around, it’s no wonder the show has gained a following here in the UK, as well as in the US, with the series opener averaging at about 1.2 million viewers on Channel 4. Along with its trashy yet addictive story lines, New Girl has a likeable list of supporting
characters, with the neurotic, yet adorable Nick, the self-proclaimed sex god Schmidt and the ever-angry Winston, all of which make it, in my opinion, a good all-rounder. If you’re the type of person that enjoys deep, complicated shows with clever dialogue and actors deserving nothing less than an Emmy Award, then New Girl probably isn’t for you. If however, you’re more inclined to those light-hearted shows that don’t involve much brain power, or you’re a lover of jokes that are so bad, they’re good, then go for it. You can catch up with the last few episodes on 4oD now, just in time for the series to end here in the UK on Channel 4, Tuesday 15 September.
Boasting plentiful amounts of archive footage, lashings of CGI and bags of enthusiastic recreational violence, some may mistakenly believe that 20th Century Battlefields has all the ingredients needed for a great BBC documentary. Sadly, the constant distraction of cliche presenter habits overpowers almost all of the good in this particular episode of the five-part series, and in double-concentrate form. Journalist Peter Snow and his son Dan (The One Show’s very own “history hunter”) share the job of roaming through South Korea, trying to look back at the 1950s war there, however their time onscreen appeared riddled with exhausting activity. Peter loomed pensively out the windows of moving trains, coaches, cars and boats. If he had not occasionally rumbled out a portentous statement about General MacArthur or the 38th parallel, it could have been a public transport special. His son on the other hand never stopped walking. Whether Dan started off squatting in a swamp, leaning on a wall or lumbering at the camera like a hairless gorilla, you just knew that when he was done talking he would accelerate out of the shot, brows beetling in contemplation of some unseen goal. Dan-walks-out-of-frame was used in back-to-back segments, sometimes with him heading back in the same direction he had just come from. On
15 some occasions, a segment would consist only of Dan and his walking, and in these instances a little voice-over was provided in order to give some sort of relevance. One particularly strange editing decision saw footage of American marines scrambling over the seawall at Inchon, ducking as bullets flew overhead, juxtaposed with Dan scrambling up the present-day beachfront like a very late extra in Saving Private Ryan. The real tragedy is that someone must have thought all this would create drama. Good documentary presenters plant a human face on the maps and newsreels, but in the case of 20th Century Battlefields, Peter and Dan seem more often to be nothing but distractions from the subject at hand. Unsurprisingly, the final shot was of father and son walking somewhere along the North-South border, reunited in their unceasing motion at last.
When Political Life imitates Art: the timely return of The Thick of It The hit satire returns for its fourth and final series, with lasers set to kill and coalition politics in its sights Matt Tidby Very few satires can be credited with narrowing the gap between politics and reality, but when leader of the opposition Ed Miliband uttered the word “Omnishambles” in the House of Commons to describe the U-turns of the coalition, The Thick of It transcended its already hallowed reputation, and reached new levels of cultural prevalence. What a perfect moment, therefore, for the show to return for a fourth series, focusing on the troubled, gaffe-ridden world of coalition politics. Creator Armando Iannucci and his writing team alternate their focus, episode to episode, on the two competing camps of our new political landscape, but the real joy lies in the insidious bickering and plotting within both the government and the opposition, often fanned or fuelled by the famously innovative, baroque swearing of chief Labour enforcer Malcolm Tucker (the BAFTA-worthy Peter Capaldi). The writing and performances continue to complement
each other perfectly, with particular praise for the drole asides and eloquent rage of adrift Tory cabinet minister Peter Mannion MP, superbly realised by Roger Allam (Ashes to Ashes, Parade’s End). One particular sequence in the first episode sees him left helpless and uninformed in the middle of launching a coalition policy he doesn’t understand - it is painful to watch but impossible to ignore. Worryingly, as the show precisely eviscerates the subjects of U-turns, ineffective opposition and erratic Lib Dems, the viewer is left with a very unsettling sense that the show isn’t far divorced from the present reality of Westminster. Whereas previously the writing always felt on the right side of fictional, the rarely coherent and often farcical stories that have erupted regularly from SW1 in recent years leave this series feeling like a fly-on-the-wall documentary edited without government supervision - a gaffe that would probably fit perfectly into any future episode.
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CREATIVE WRITING
21.09.2012 concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
A selection of Poetry Do you Remember
Robin Hood’s Bay
By Ellie Reynard
By Kate Duckney
Daddy, do you remember what you told me? Beside the mechanical tigers in the gift shop at London zoo? Do you remember that we were too late to see them feed the lions? So I watched you work back at the office.
Away from the other children
I saw the gull dent
working together to dam
the crab against a rock
the stream, to the place
as if it was the birth-crater
where the seaweed reeks
of a soft head, and felt
and spills like the entrails
the carnivorous lurch
of the Jurassic shadow
to take it in my hand,
I imagine beneath boats.
to stand over
Ate biscuits.
the stone.
Drank juice. Daddy, do you know why I was there that day? Because I haven’t the faintest clue. Oh and Daddy.
Creative Writing at UEA
Is what you said back then still true?
Hello, freshers (and anyone else who’s interested)!
An Indistinguishable Diagnosis By Madz Abbasi Why is the vision cloudy,
I shall need to see you again:
And the colour flushed pale from the cheeks
As the moments in between grow
Exposing bare bruised bitten skin
Like lethal doses of kryptonite You’ve hired Time to assassinate
There seems to be aching and pain,
This. Me. Us,
All strength sucked away,
And all because
Left like a flimsy glaze-eyed doll, Leaning alone against the cold wall
The first and most important thing to remember
up to the Concrete Creative Writing mailing
about creative writing is that it’s open to
list at the Big Meet. Additionally, you might
everyone. By no means do you have to study
want to seek out the Creative Writing Society
English literature or any other arts subject.
at SocMart and join them too, to meet a whole
In fact, you don’t even have to have written
bunch of like-minded people and be introduced
anything creative before. If, like me, you’ve been
to the wonderful world of Norwich literature.
composing fiction since you were first able to
Thanks for reading and I look forward to your
spell “cat”, then great. Similarly, if you’ve simply
submissions.
had a fantastic idea for a short story floating about for years, why not put pen to paper and try writing it? If you’re afraid it’ll be rubbish, don’t worry about it – you never know until you
Serious or stupid,
try, and you might surprise yourself. Whatever
Pointless or profound,
your situation, if you’re even remotely intrigued
Cause, cure,
by the idea of writing some prose or poetry
Questionable...
rather than just reading it, don’t forget to sign
18
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GAMING
concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk 21.09.2012
Review: Guild Wars 2
Simon Sampson
Guild Wars 2 is the latest offering from Arenanet and while it isn’t the holy grail of MMO game design it certainly makes large steps in the right direction. From the moment you first enter the world of Tyria, it’s immediately apparent that the crew at Arenanet at have an excellent
eye for detail. In most MMOs you will have to wait until your character is at least mid-way to the level cap before you begin experiencing more impressive, larger scale content, but here you’ll see these cinematic encounters right from the tutorial. The game world looks and feels fantastic, whether you’re taking in the landscape or laughing at a particularly funny exchange between non-player characters, the attention to detail is breathtaking. The game doesn’t just impress aesthetically however, it makes bold changes and deviations from the MMO genre template. Traditional questing has been replaced with dynamic events - encounters that players will discover naturally as they explore. It makes the world feel much more alive. The combat system is fast paced and enjoyable, allowing for a high degree of customisation without overwhelming new players. This is especially noticeable in the two separate player vs player modes,
both of which are immensely enjoyable. Perhaps most important however is the game’s sense of community. Players are encouraged to work together rather than made to compete, as they are in many other MMOs. Loot will be awarded to anybody involved in a fight and not just the player who dealt the most damage. Similarly tasks are not exclusive – one player chopping down a tree will not prevent another player from doing so and you are rewarded for reviving others who have run into trouble. Not to say that the game is without its problems; aspects of the personal story are tedious. On occasion the cinematic experience was spoilt by poor sound design, a shame given Jeremy Soule’s amazing soundtrack. For example in one key stage of the story, a scene is played out in utter silence as if audio files were missing entirely. There are also currently issues with world vs world queues, which can be hours long at peak times. Once you do get in there’s also no guarantee that
your PC will be able to handle the large numbers of characters, which can harshly impact the performance of some systems. Indeed, while large scale encounters look awesome, they don’t always play as spectacularly. Rarely presenting a challenge, boss encounters often become tedious, with enormous pools of health requiring players to attack for long periods of time without changing their strategy. This is especially unfortunate as these really are signature encounters for the game and should show it at its best, which they currently do not. It is important to remember though that MMOs generally tend to take time to mature. In truth the issues are few in number and are hugely outweighed by the sheer quality of the game. Furthermore the problems that it does have will likely be addressed with time as existing content is refined and new content is added. Today Guild Wars 2 is a great game and tomorrow it could be even better.
Review: Counter Strike Global Offensive Raymond Mak
Counter-Strike started life as a mod for the PC game Half Life and has since become one of the most popular multiplayer shooters around. Its
latest iteration, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, maintains the series’ tradition of tough but fair gameplay but adds some much needed features and modernising touches to get new players off the ground. At first glance, it looks like another Call of Duty clone but it’s a different beast entirely. Twitchy trigger fingers and a penchant for unloading your gun into someone at first sight are habits that will net you more deaths than kills. CounterStrike is, unlike Call of Duty, a teambased game that rewards a methodical approach. Being active on voice chat, knowing the maps back to front and thinking one step ahead of the enemy can end a round in 30 seconds or less. Indeed the synchronised spawn system allows players to roughly predict where they will likely collide with the enemy team. This creates an interesting layer of pre-emptive strategy, with experienced players watching likely enemy paths or taking unusual routes to throw enemies off their scent.
This isn’t to say the game is inaccessible to new players, indeed the addition of a training course helps to teach the basics. It covers everything from planting and defusing bombs to the importance of firing in bursts. The narrator is engaging, humorous and informative which makes the tutorial fly by. However, there are lessons that Counter-Strike can only teach through gameplay meaning that new players will often watch matches unfold from the post death screen rather than playing. Veterans will be most at home with the Classic Casual and Classic Competitive modes. Casual is more lenient, turning friendly fire off whilst Competitive is the closest thing to vanilla CounterStrike. New game modes include Arms Race and Demolition. In these modes you don’t need to buy weapons as killing enemies will reward you with new weapons. In Arms Race players race to level up their guns as fast as possible and have to finish the round with a knife kill. Demolition uses the bomb defusal
scenario and mixes it with the levelling gameplay of gun game to create a faster and more streamlined game. These two new modes provide a more frantic and arcade feel and represent a good entry point for new players. One major complaint is that the game doesn’t have a large selection of maps and it’s irritating playing your fifth consecutive match in de_dust or de_dust2. The official maps have been given a fresh coat of paint and have been tweaked in their layout to keep old players on their toes but the selection is still predictable. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a solid entry to the highly revered series. By rejecting auto-aim, kill-streaks and other peripheral distractions it still provides the team-based gameplay of its ancestors while helping newcomers ease in through the new game modes and the weapons course. If you are tired of the modern shooters and are ready for a challenge you should give this reinvented classic a try.
GAMING
21.09.2012 concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk
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@Concrete_Gaming
Summer of Arcade
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Oliver Balaam Summer is a traditionally tepid period for game releases. Unlike film fans, who get big summer blockbusters all season long, gamers are expected to make do with old stuff or, god forbid, go outside and soak up the sun. Fortunately while big publishers wait for Christmas, independent and downloadable producers have in recent years come out in force to fill the summer gap. The most notable example of this is The Summer of Arcade, a festival of independent talent that Microsoft host on Xbox Live every summer. Now in its fifth year it still supplies fantastic games but some critics argue that it’s lost steam and indie credibility along the way. They might have a point. This year’s festival opened with Tony Hawks Pro Skater HD which while aesthetically counter-cultural, is produced by Activision, one of the biggest publishers in the world. The game isn’t all that great either: the HD coat of paint is splotchy at best and the new engine results in laggy controls and unpredictable physics. The remake also removes features present in the 13 year old original: local multiplayer options, the park editor and half of the soundtrack. It’s a real shame because the game’s unique core mechanics can still be thrilling but with THPS2 is readily available on eBay, nobody should accept this prettier downgrade. 2/5
the limitations of the Kinect hardware and attempt to sidestep them by working in broad strokes. In short bursts they’re successful, with varied power-ups and shot types keeping the gameplay interesting. In these bursts Wreckateer’s cathartic chaos can be enjoyable but longer sessions expose the repetitive design, workmanlike graphics and uninspired level design. It’s one of the better Kinect games around but unfortunately that’s not saying much. 2/5 Luckily the next course more than made up for a disappointing pair of hors d’oeuvre. Created by the independent Spanish studio Tequila Works, Deadlight is an ambitious side scrolling zombie survival horror game with a aesthetic so polished, cohesive and relentlessly downbeat that it’s impossible not to become engrossed. Sometimes this visual treat comes at the expense of gameplay, with the protagonist’s animations taking precedence over control fidelity, but this only becomes a problem in a few overly elaborate platforming sections. This minor flaw does nothing to detract from what is otherwise a memorable, exhilarating and moment filled journey with an involving, if improbable plot. 4/5 Hybrid, the penultimate festival entrant, distils the multiplayer cover based shooter in an attempt to find its essence.
Next up was Wreckateer, from the genuinely independent Iron Galaxy Studios. It’s a Kinect game in which players launch boulders to demolish castles and fortresses, crushing the green goblins that occupy them. It’s not far removed from a certain disgruntled poultry simulator but the 3D design makes sure it doesn’t feel like a rip off. Iron Galaxy understand
The most notable alteration it makes is the total removal of free movement, only allowing player to navigate by aiming to a cover point and selecting it. The player then automatically uses their jetpack to fly to that point. This may initially seem limiting but without freedom of movement, every action becomes a conscious tactical choice. This minimalist
approach creates tight territorial skirmishes where out-manoeuvring your opponent is just as vital as shooting them. Hybrid’s maps are equally minimalist, in keeping with the gameplay, but unfortunately they tend to look bland rather than sleek. Some peripheral features such as kill-streaks don’t fit with the game’s measured approach but on the whole, this is a rewarding and unique experience that focuses on a few basic mechanics and masters them. 3/5 Closing out the festival and restoring much of its dwindling indie credibility was Dust: An Elysian Tail, a side scrolling action RPG designed and programmed by one man, Dean Dodrill. Although a solo project, Dust is arguably the most fully featured game of the lot. It’s got an expansive hand drawn fantasy world full of interesting and talkative characters, a deceptively complex combat system, multiple quest lines and even a fully featured economy and levelling system. Cramming this much content into a downloadable game was probably naive on Dodrill’s part (he planned to develop the game over three months, it took over three years) but the results are audacious, confident and delightful. The combat system is not only fantastic, it represents a modernising step for the entire genre and the digital effects used sparingly over hand drawn art create a palpable sense of motion. The pacing can be inconsistent and the checkpoints frugal at times but Dust is still a fantastic example of everything an indie game can achieve. 5/5 While this year’s Summer of Arcade
didn’t quite boast the flawless line-ups of years past, it still showcased some of the most exciting titles from the an experimental group of artists in an increasingly industrialised medium. At £10 each and with free demos available for your consideration, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check this collection out.
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ARTS
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk 21.09.2012
REVIEW : AN EVENING OF JAZZ Ranjana Gathak Quartet + Seb Rochford and Kit Downes Duo perform at Norwich Arts Centre Marian Davidson Despite a rather hectic arrival at Norwich Arts Centre – where half an hour was spent frantically pulling on all the doors of the churches on St Benedict’s street, until the right one was eventually found – the evening was an overall success. Ranjana Ghatak started the evening’s program with her quartet’s unusual but lovely fusion of jazz tunes and Indian lyrics. She has performed at the London Saddlers Well Theatre and the Barbican, and has a background of learning alongside some of the most acclaimed Asian vocalists in India. It is not hard to see why Ghatak’s music is becoming so popular. At first, the unique blend of music and culture did not seem representative
of jazz, but a new genre of music in itself. The mixture of Asian and jazz styles was dynamic, and the versatile programme showed how well this blend works, in both the lively and melancholy tunes. It was a refreshing experience, and the Ranjana Quartet is one to be recommended as a new experience at the least. The musicians in the second half of the programme were the Seb Rochford and Kit Downes Duo, winners of the BBC Jazz Award for Rising Stars. This contemporary and experimental jazz was interesting. The piano and drums frequently juxtaposed each other, creating a somewhat eclectic mix of occasionally beautiful phrases and brilliant technique, which did
not always go hand in hand. Although there were definitely subtle and clever differences between the pieces, the
music became a little repetitive, but all in all the duo should be commended for their original work.
to the more intimate photographs of the Queen with her children, and a final one of the last photographs of the Queen taken by Cecil Beaton. Throughout the exhibition you can see how Beaton’s style and attitudes towards the public image of the Queen changed - from seeing her as an almost Disney-like princess, through to the photographs of 1968, which are both minimalist and more informal as the Queen poses standing or sitting in rooms at Buckingham Palace. Part of the exhibition also explores
the life of Cecil Beaton, who was employed as a royal photographer from 1939 when he was commissioned to take pictures of the Queen mother. Through photographs of the photographer as well as the photographs that he took, visitors are guided through his life, techniques and inspirations. This exhibition is a thoughtful and thought-provoking look at the role of the Queen for a large part of her reign, set out in a way which is simple and heartwarming.
REVIEW : QUEEN ELIZABETH II BY CECIL BEATON Norwich Castle - July 7 - September 30 Amelia Edwards
The V&A Museum’s touring exhibition of Sir Cecil Beaton’s photographs of the Queen at Norwich Castle gives visitors a truly engaging look at the relationship between our monarch and her photographer. It is a small exhibition, divided into four sections of Queen Elizabeth’s life as seen largely through photography, as well as letters and diary entries. The first section, of the Queen when she was a princess, is both beautiful and nostalgic, featuring photographs of the Queen with her sister and mother, as
well as solo pictures in which she wears flowing gowns in flowering gardens reminiscent of films of the time. There is also a screen on which clips of important events from the Queen’s life and a documentary about the life of Cecil Beaton (created by David Bailey) are played. This supplements the other sections of the exhibition wonderfully through the sound alone. From here, you move through Elizabeth’s reign from the very beginining; from a section devoted to the official coronation photographs,
ARTS
21.09.2012 concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
Connor Harvey
In the 11 years since 9/11, we have witnessed its story through the media, through the internet, through conspiracies, and through the arts. It is generally accepted that a cultural response to trauma is a necessary part of a society’s coming to terms with the event. However, it seems that when it comes to handling 9/11, we are a little stuck. How do we cope with trauma in the digital age? The creative marketplace, like the political landscape, has been awash with conversations about terrorism and international security. Post-9/11 literature is a good example
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ARTS POLITICS: TRAUMA IN THE DIGITAL AGE
of how this flooded market is absent of definitive work which handles the trauma well enough to satisfy the thirst for a cultural process. Our beloved alumnus Ian McEwan had a fictional pop at the topic in his novel Saturday, while Martin Amis’s collection The Second Plane focuses on the last days of the terrorist Muhammed Atta. Obviously there is literature out there which addresses terrorism, but has there been a piece which has embodied this specific trauma as successfully as Wilfred Owens’s poetry or Elie Wiesel’s depiction of the traumas of Auschwitz in
his memoir, Night? The bothersome businesses of publishing, political factors, and of course, temporal distance, are logistical explanations for the difference between 9/11 and earlier large-scale traumas. However, it is arguable that because of how 9/11 has been placed in our growing digital world, it is impossible for us to deal with the event as we may have done 50 years before. Namely, a writer’s most powerful tool is to stimulate imagination within his readers, but images of the attack have already been lodged into our memories,
21 and so a post-9/11 writer’s job is, perhaps, done before they even begin. Thoughts and emotions surrounding the event are entirely separate from the reading process because they are tied up with the images and stories we find in the media, rather than those of fiction. Replicating this visual experience creates nothing new, and so ultimately does nothing creative. This is a central difference between 9/11 and other traumatic events in modern history: the aesthetic experience alone is shared by many, and so we are all, to some extent, privy to its trauma.
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UEA ENTS - For all your uni entertainment needs!
EASY SUDOKU
For all you freshers out there, UEA Ents is likely to make a huge impact on your life at UEA, and sometimes you won’t even know they’re doing it. So, what do UEA Ents actually do?
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CROSSWORD COMPETITION - WIN MAVERICK SABRE TICKETS!
London-born, Irish-raised singer/songwriter Maverick Sabre is visiting UEA as part of his biggest ever UK tour, and two lucky Concrete readers will win tickets to hear the soulful singer absolutely free! To win, just fill in the crossword above and hand it in, with your name and email address on the back, to Union House receptin by Wednesday 26 September.
Welcome week
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concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk 21.09.2012
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1. Famous rabbit trickster (4, 6) 6. ------- Do we really need them? Yes (7) 7. Scottish US Open Champion (6) 10. Amphibious car tested on the River Yare - nickname (9) 11. Anna Karenina’s lover (7) 12. Queen’s photographer - surname (6) 13. Norfolk Paralympic gold medallist (9)
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COMPETITIONS
This fortnight, Ents are putting on a huge number of student events as part of welcome week. This includes parties such as the muchloved T-Shirt Party and the Welcome Party, as well as acts from Maverick Sabre to A Night of Magical Comedy feat. Barry and Stuart and Piff the Magic Dragon. LCR nights Every week Ents put on several nights at the LCR (located in Union House, next to the Hive). Club nights are on Saturdays and offer a variety of different music styles, while Tuesday nights are dressing-up nights. The Waterfront The Waterfront is UEA’s club off campus. Located by the Yare river across from Riverside, it provides club nights and gigs. This fortnight it is hosting Tinchy Strider, Arizona rock group The Maine and the W.A.S.P. anniversary tour among other things. The Pub and Blue Bar On the corner of the Square you can find the Red Bar, which leads into the Blue Bar. The Red Bar serves as a regular pub,where you can drink, chat and play pool and table football. The Blue Bar has more of a club feel to it, with sports night (cheap drinks on Wednesdays), a weekly pub quiz and the occasional horrific and/or brilliant karaoke night.
CAPTION COMPETITION
WELCOME WEEK COMPS
Design a caption for the picture below. The wittiest, funniest or most bizarre caption gets featured in the next issue of Concrete. To win, submit your caption via Facebook (Concrete Newspaper) or Twitter (@Concrete_UEA).
WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS FOR EIGHT FRESHERS’ EVENTS
Nearly Every Day in Welcome Week Visit our competitions page at concrete-online.co.uk/competitions or find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ConcreteNewspaper or on Twitter @concrete_uea We’ll be giving out tickets for nearly every welcome week event as prizes! So, if your flatmates all have tickets for something and you don’t, or if the event you wanted is sold out, come and have a second chance at getting your hands on those precious tickets! Good Luck!
LISTINGS
21.09.2012 concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
25 September - 8 October
Tuesday 25 September
Welcome Week - Jacob Banks Price: Free 12 noon Blue Bar
MELTDOWN + WRAITH Price: £4.50/£3.50 NUS 10pm The Waterfront
Tinchy Strider Price: £12.50 7.30pm The Waterfront
The Welcome Party Price: £13 9pm UEA LCR
Wednesday 26 September Welcome Week - Zane Lowe Electrified Tour Price: £12 10pm UEA LCR
Thursday 27 September Chase and Status DJ Set Price: £12.50 10pm UEA LCR The Maine Price: £11 7.30pm The Waterfront
Welcome Week - Luke + Charlotte Ritchie Price: Free 12 noon Blue Bar Friday 28 September Maverick Sabre + Support from Ms Dynamite Price:£16 7.30pm UEA LCR
Saturday 29 September
Sunday 30 September
A Night of Magical Comedy feat. Barry & Stuart and Piff the Magic Dragon Price: £12.50 8pm UEA LCR W.A.S.P 30 Years of Thunder Anniversary Tour presented by Metal Lust Price: £19.50 7pm The Waterfront Tuesday 2 October Straight Lines + Evarose @ The Waterfront Studio Price: £6 7.30pm The Waterfront
Thursday 4 October DragonForce (Plus Alestorm / The Defiled / Cavorts) Price: £17.50 7pm UEA LCR Dan Le Sac plus special guest Merz Price: £9 7pm The Waterfront Hey Vanity and Floods @ The Waterfront Studio Price: £7 7.30pm The Waterfront The Enemy Price: £17.50 7.30pm UEA LCR
Friday 5 October
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4ft Fingers - 10th Anniversary Tour @ The Waterfront Studio Price: £8.50 7pm The Waterfront Sunday 7 October Azealia Banks Price: £7.50 7pm The Waterfront Monday 8 October Hot Chip Price: £17.50 7.30pm UEA LCR Of Mice & Men @ The Waterfront Studio Price: £10 7.30pm The Waterfront
Saturday 6 October
Andy McKee, Preston Reed, Jon Gomm: Guitar Masters Price: £17.50/ £15 Advance NUS 7pm The Waterfront
Wednesday 3 October Kissy Sell Out Price: £9/£7 Advance NUS 10pm UEA LCR
Photo: Ga Chun Yau
Rumble 17th Birthday Price: £12/£9 Advance NUS 10pm The Waterfront
Photo: Elizabeth Margereson
VENUE Issue 271