UEA’s Student Newspaper
Issue 293 • Free • Tuesday 11 February
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concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
Editorial
Editor-in-chief | Sidonie ChafferMelly concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor | Sophie Witts concrete.president@uea.ac.uk Online Editor | Billy Sexton concrete.online@uea.ac.uk Deputy Online Editor | Amelia
Marchington concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News | Andrew Ansell & Lara-Jayne Ellice concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Comment | Zoë Jones concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Global | Ella Gilbert concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features | Bridie Wilkinson concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Environment | Peter Sheehan concrete.environment@uea.ac.uk Science & Tech | Dominic Burchnall concrete.science@uea.ac.uk Travel | Niyonu Agana-Burke concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Lifestyle | Lydia Clifton concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Sport | Charlie Savage & Will Medlock concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk Copy Editors | Stephenie Naulls & Anna Walker concretecopyeditors@gmail.com Chief Photographers | Jacob Roberts-Kendall, Will Cockram & Jonathan Alomoto concrete.photography@uea.ac.uk Distribution Manager | Steph Gover
Issue 293
Contributors
News | Rob Drury, Elliot Folan, Andrew Ansell, Daniel Falvey, Emily Rivers, Lara Ellice, Ellie Green Comment | Geraldine Scott, Eve Lacriox, Joel Taylor, Zoe Jones, Joe Jamson, Harry Mason Global | Hannah Fillier, Ella Gilbert Features | David Humfrey, Sara Boughen Environment | Jacob Beese, Marta Cataland, Amelia Frizell-Armitage Science & Tech | Dominic Burchnall, Ian Roberts Travel | Isaac Kean, Lucy Morris, Alice Cachia Lifestyle | Georgie Ellis, Lydia Clifton, Beth Ryan, Lucy Morris, beth Saward, Emily Fedorowycz Sport | Moji Adegbile, Will Medlock, Jack Lusby, George Harmer, Kelly York, Elizabeth Leddy, Charlie Savage Proofreaders | Lucy Mayhew, Calyssa Erb, Anna Farqulaarson, Ella Sharp, Chris Freeman, Eugene Ararski, Molly Pearson, Ella Morris, Rebecca Hedger, Charlotte Standeg, Jennifer Johnson, Steph Naulls, Anna Walker
Thanks to Will Cockram for taking our cover photo and to Sophie Pischedda George Smith for modelling!
Editor’s column The Sex Issue is here! This issue is always so much fun, and we have had loads of laughs in the office reading the more creative sexual fantasies. You can find all the results on page 12 - 13, along with some of the best answers that were submimtted. Alongside the Survey we’ve got some sexy content to get you in the mood. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner there’s some romantic recipies in Lifestyle to bag you the perfect date, while Environment looks at the unexpected impact
Editorial
11/02/14
that condoms have on nature. Speaking of condoms, make sure you look out around campus for our very own Concrete branded condoms! This issue also takes a look at the darker side of sex, with Global and Travel both looking at the impact of sex trafficking. Sex is fun and talking about it is important. Stay safe, get consent and have a good time. Sidonie Chaffer-Melly Editor-in-Chief
Dear Hayden, Do you think it is ever acceptable to have sex with someone in the LCR? Short answer: no. You’ll almost certainly get caught and ain’t nobody got time for an indecent exposure lawsuit. Plus the LCR floors are sticky enough... However, if, in a moment of drunken stupour you decide that it might be a good idea to sow your wild oats to the sound of Pitbull’s ‘Timber’, make sure it’s consensual. Bonus points for using one of our promotional Concrete condoms. Dear Hayden, I like to spank my lover with old issues of Concrete. We’d both like to know how you feel about this. Honestly, I’m just glad to hear that you’re being environmentally friendly. Biodegradable kink is so in this season, so well done. Might I suggest making sure Venue is still inside your copy of Concrete next time though? The thicker the better.
Tweet of the Week “If you’re at Norwich #UEA and rely on the 25A to get to UNI, a little tip for you... Don’t.”
@maximoose94
Dear Hayden, Ever since Union Council’s renovation under the #whatif? campaign, I’ve begun to develop a fetish for our Union Officers. Now I can’t look up at the full-time officers faces on the Hive walls without feeling all hot and heavy. I’m at my wit’s end, what do I do? While I would ordinarily endorse any kind of awareness of your Union, you might want to think about curbing your keen-ness just a tad. When voting opens for the new positions on 24 February, you may want to escape the campus bubble for a good week or two. You’ve been warned. It’s been real, it’s been cute, but it’s not been real cute,
Contact Us Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593 466 www.concrete-online.co.uk www.concblog.wordpress.com Editorial inquiries / complaints concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk Got a story? concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
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, Sidonie Chaffer-Melly. Published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2013 Concrete BMc ISSN 1351-2773
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concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
UCAS figures show Vice Chancellor slams rise in university Coalition’s stance on immigration applications Daniel Falvey & Andrew Ansell News Reporter & News Editor
The number of applications to study in Higher Education in the United Kingdom increased by 4% compared to last year, figures released by UCAS reveal. The increase saw 5% of 18 year olds from England applying through UCAS to study on Higher Education courses. The statistics also show that the number of females applying to university is significantly higher than males. The gender divide in education is an increasing issue. This year, statistics provided by UCAS highlighted that 87,000 more women than men applied to study at a Higher Education level, averaging two female applicants for every male applicant. Mary Curnock Cook OBE, Chief Executive of UCAS, said: “Young men are becoming a disadvantaged group in terms of going to university and this underperformance needs urgent focus across the education sector.” The data released by the organising body also indicated that the gender gap is particularly wide among lower income households. Ms. Cook said that “on current trends, [the gender divide was so extreme that it] could eclipse the gap between rich and poor within a decade.” The university think tank Million+ welcomed the rise in applications, which shows that younger students from more disadvantaged backgrounds are nearly twice as likely to apply to university than a decade ago.
Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of Million+ said: “Rising applications from those from more disadvantaged backgrounds is good news for the economy and will deliver lifetransforming opportunities for thousands of young people. However, there is still a long way to go to close the participation gap, significant regional variations and a growing gender divide, so this is not a ‘job done’.” Speaking to Concrete in November, the Business Secretary Vince Cable justifed the government’s raise of the tuitons fees cap partly on the basis that there had been no adverse affect on applicant numbers. In response to a Freedom of Information request made by Concrete, the University of East Anglia has refused to disclose the number of applications the University has received from prospective students seeking to study at UEA in September 2014. The University believe that as UEA will not finish recruiting in the current cycle until the start of the next academic year, the release of “incomplete information” could unwittingly deter applicants. Britannica.com A spokesperson for the University revealed that undergraduate applications for the academic year beginning in September 2013 were down on the previous year. This was claimed to be the result of higher entry requirements for a number of courses. Despite this, those accepted to study at UEA for the current academic year exceeded plans as a result Photo: Bill Smith of “high calibre” students choosing UEA through clearing.
EDP Emily Rivers News Reporter UEA’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Edward Acton, has warned that UEA’s British students will suffer if the government’s rhetoric on immigration sees the number of international students studying at the university fall. Figures released last month showed the first decline in the number of nonEU international students studying in British universities. Professor Acton claimed that “the Home Office is stabbing us in the back” at a time when Britain should be trying to protect its market share because of other countries increasing their efforts to attract overseas students. Professor Acton, who chairs a task force on student visas for Universities UK, said that international students are part of UEA’s main business and, if their numbers decline, the quality of what UEA can offer could go down. He said: “If there is a decline, it would be very negative for home students. It would mean that unit prices would tend to go up, and there’s no country in the world where international students are currently a higher proportion than in Britain.” However he denied that universities use overseas students, who pay up to £14,000 a year to study at UEA, as a ‘cash cow’. It was said that the higher costs of recruiting and supporting them reduced
the financial advantage. UEA’s ViceChancellor cited research that shows that for every ten international students, six British jobs are supported, which suggests that UEA’s 3,000 international students support 2,000 local jobs. He added: “It is extremely good for the University. It means the culture is much more stimulating for home students. On the whole, British students are pretty cautious about going abroad. Another way of them becoming conscious of how rapidly the world is changing is for them to meet people from other countries.” Concrete recently reported that Sir James Bevan, the British High
“Professor Acton claimed that ‘the Home Office is stabbing us in the back’” Commissioner to India had said that Britain has set “no limit” on the amount of foreign students that can come to its universities, in a bid to encourage more international students to study in the United Kingdom. Both Sir Bevan and Prof Acton have stressed how Home Secretary Theresa May’s policies are damaging international students’ perceptions of studying in the UK, and how there have been suggestions that foreign student numbers should not be included in immigration numbers due to their £6 billion economic value.
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concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
Issue 293
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News
UEA students High blood pressure protest against loan has epidemic potential, sell off UEA research finds Rob Drury News Reporter A scientist from UEA is warning of a greater potential global threat from high blood pressure than previously thought. Along with professionals from the London School of Hygiene and
“Governmental responses to hypertension are worse than how AIDS was treated in the nineties”
Elliot Folan News Reporter UEA students protested against the sell off of student debt last Thursday 6th January, urging local MPs and UEA management to oppose the privatisation of the student loan book. The proposal, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in last year’s Autumn Statement, would see the loans of students who studied in the 1990s sold to private debt collection companies. Carrying red boxes above their heads to symbolise “the burden of debt”, the students rallied in the LCR and then marched to the Registry, chanting their demands for free education and a publicly owned student loan book. The protest culminated in the Square with a mock auction of student loans. Rosie Rawle, Communications Officer at the Union of UEA Students, said, “This protest does not mean that we accept tuition fee rises, nor are we trying to make the best out of a done deal. “Education is a public good, and should not be managed as a commodity. The urgency, however, of a bad deal becoming worse, means we must take action now. Our end goal is free education.” Norwich South’s Liberal Democrat MP, Simon Wright, has not signed an Early Day Motion condemning
the policy. Mr Wright told Concrete that he “has sought reassurances from Ministers that borrowers will be protected”, and said that “the Government has ruled out changing the terms of interest rates for existing student loans, even if they transfer to private ownership”. He added: “One of the conditions set ensures that borrowers whose loans are sold are not in a worse position than they would have been had the loans not been sold”. Speaking to Concrete in November
“Norwich South Liberal Democrat MP, Simon Wright, has not signed an Early Day Motion condemning the policy” the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, called the loan sell off “a perfectly sensible thing to do”. Student campaigners, however, were not comforted by Mr Wright’s assurances, pointing out that any pledge ruling out a change in interest rate terms was not legally binding and interest rates could easily be raised by a future government. A UEA spokesperson said: “We will be working with and through Universities UK, in their discussions with ministers, to ensure that current funding proposals, including the sale of assets, are a sustainable basis for the development of the sector.”
Tropical Medicine, Professor Peter Lloyd-Sherlock from UEA’s School of International Development has stated that governmental responses to hypertension are worse than how AIDS was treated in the nineties. Writing with a sense of urgency, the group discuss in the International Journal of Epidemiology how the current
global procedures for the treatment of hypertension were, worryingly, “too little too late”, asking “Can we not wake up earlier this time, before millions have died?” A contributing factor to the lack of action on the matter has been said to be the fact that hypertension is a noncommunicable disease, aggravated by bad diet and little amounts of physical activity. Such a situation is not appealing to the public who fund scientific research, the group have discovered. While noting the disease is indeed non-communicative, the associated behaviours of poor diet and exercise are proving to be infectious. Similarly, social consequences have been discussed as factors increasing cases of hypertension, with the research finding “as with HIV, hypertension can be both a cause and a consequence of poverty.”
University boosted by E.U funding Andrew Ansell News Editor A £2m research initiative from the European Research Council (ERC) will fund a project by the University of East Anglia that will predict how the Artic will cope with global warming. During the five year project the construction of a sea ice chamber, using state-of-the-art computer models, will reproduce the chemical exchanges between the ocean, sea ice, snow and the atmosphere in the polar regions. Lead researcher Prof Roland von Glasow from UEA’s Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the School of Environmental Sciences, said: “We will focus on the links between melting sea ice and snow, and the changing chemistry of the troposphere - the lowest
10km of atmosphere. This is important because the troposphere is home to concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosol particles which play key roles for our climate. “By constructing a unique sea ice chamber in the laboratory we will be able to understand more about the chemical exchanges taking place. This will eventually allow us to make better predictions about the effect of global warming on both the arctic and the rest of the world.” The ERC, which receives thousands of proposals for funding, aims to produce scientific excellence in Europe. European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: “These researchers are doing ground-breaking work that will advance our knowledge and make a difference to society.”
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Early human footprints Around Norfolk discovered on the Norfolk coast Jane Hedges becomes first female Dean of Norwich It has been announced that Reverend Canon Jane Hedges is the new Dean of Norwich. She is the first female Dean in the Cathedral’s 900 year history. Reverend Hedges will be installed as the Dean of Norwich at a special service at Norwich Cathedral later this year. Reverend Hedges commented on the announcement: “My move will be both exciting and challenging. I am particularly looking forward to working with Bishop Graham and his senior staff team, and getting to know Chapter colleagues and the community at the Cathedral as we explore together how to take forward its ministry within the Diocese in imaginative ways. “My family and I are looking forward to getting to know people throughout the Diocese and to exploring the beautiful countryside and coast of East Anglia and to welcoming people to our home in the Deanery.”
Government announce King’s Lynn will receive £1m of flood money Floodgates in King’s Lynn will be refurbished, thanks to a £1m project by the Environment Agency. The project is one of 42 that will see 67 floodgates rebuilt in order to protect 447 properties. Area manager for the Environment Agency. Julie Foley was delighted with the announcement that money was available for the project due to the expense of clearup and repair as a result of the floods. Communities secretary Eric Pickles has announced that the government has provided an extra £130m to maintain flood defences before next winter.
Lara Ellice News Reporter Scientists have found the earliest human footprints outside of Africa in Happisburgh on the Norfolk coast. The 800,000 year old footprints are evidence of the earliest Northern European humans. Dr Nick Ashton of the British Museum has described the footprints as: “One of the most important discoveries, if not the most important discovery that has been made on [Britain’s] shores.” Dr Ashton further stressed the
importance of the findings on human history, saying: “It will rewrite our understanding of the early human occupation of Britain and indeed of Europe.” Dr Ashton, recalling the discovery, stated that he and a colleague found hollows on the beach which clearly resembled human footprints. Soon after the discovery the footprints were washed away by rain and waves, but Dr Ashton and his team were able to capture them on video. The film will be shown at the Natural History Museum later this month. The 3D scans taken of the footprints
enabled Dr Isabelle De Groote of Liverpool John Moores University to confirm that the footprints belonged to five people: one adult and four children. Professor Chris Stringer, Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum, also commented on the finding: “This discovery gives us even more concrete evidence that there were people there. We can now start to look at a group of people and their everyday activities. If we keep looking, we will find even more evidence of them, hopefully even human fossils. That would be my dream.” The findings have been published in the science journal Plos One.
Facebook reluctant to act on ‘NekNominate’ drinking craze Ellie Green News Reporter Facebook has refused to ban ‘NekNomination’ videos after the craze has been held responsible for the deaths of two young people. Jonny Byrne, 19, and Ross Cummins, 22, are the first victims of the viral ‘NekNomination’ drinking game sweeping social media sites. The game involves posting a video online in which participants down a pint of alcohol and then nominate another person to do so within the next 24 hours. Facebook users have supported Irish Minister Pat Rabbitte in calling for a ban on ‘NekNomination’ links and videos on the site. However, Facebook have refused, stating that the posts do not violate their user agreement. The game may sound like just another form of alcohol fuelled student fun, but it has
proved to have fatal consequences. Jonny Byrne died after jumping into the River Barrow as part of his nomination, while Ross Cummins was found unconscious in a house in Dublin and died in hospital shortly afterwards. A spokesperson for Facebook said that they aim to be a platform where people can freely share content, as long as it is not directly harmful. However, binge drinking is a recognised form of self-harm, with 1,220,300 hospital admissions related to alcohol consumption in 2011/2012 in England alone. Exceeding eight units is reported as binge drinking, and ‘NekNomination’ encourages nominees to go far beyond these limits. An anonymous Facebook user reported a ‘NekNomination’ page for self-harm issues, but received a notification that the page would not be removed. Although a Facebook ban would help bring an end to this dangerous game, Rabbitte stated that the young people
taking part have to take responsibility for falling for the “stupid ruse”. Drinking games are no novelty, but ‘NekNomination’ has highlighted the irresponsible attitude some young people have towards alcohol. Patrick Byrne, brother of Jonny, is using social media to combat the spread of the game. By changing his Facebook username to ‘Stop NekNomination Before it’s too Late’ and actively tweeting against ‘NekNomination’ he hopes more lives will not be lost to alcohol and peer pressure. Fionnuala Sheehan of Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society warned of the dangers of consuming large amounts of alcohol very quickly. She said: “The consequences of consuming so much alcohol in a short period of time can range from alcohol poisoning to even unconsciousness.” Ms Sheehan added: “It can also lead to a loss of control which can lead to a person making themselves vulnerable to danger or getting into dangerous situations.”
Comment
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concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk
The Mask You Live In
Zoe Jones Comment Editor @3oeJones
go through those pages quite intently. Having said this, there’s more to what makes a man - or a woman for that matter - than how accurately they match up to society’s expectations of masculine and feminine. Men have particularly intimidating ideologies instilled into their cultural makeup. From a young age we passively absorb traits and qualities that as a male or female we are expected to have. Girls like pink; boys like blue. Boys play with Action Man; girls play
To be masculine is a concept that can, and should, be interpreted in a number of ways. Although that might seem like a fairly idealistic and probably quite loose notion, the trending movement The Mask You Live In really encourages us to reflect on what it means to be masculine. If you were to search ‘define: masculine’, the result would be “to have qualities or appearances traditionally associated with men”. Synonyms include powerful, red-blooded and vigorous. In images, there’s page after page of built, muscular and oiled up men; and one did
with Barbie dolls, arguably there is some biological truth why boys enjoy toy cars and girls like dolls, but cultural emphasis on certain expectations can result in sinister outcomes. Hypermasculinity is often born out of this assumption of ‘how to be a man’. When boys are told to ‘man up’ their whole life, a phrase we’re all too familiar with, they’d be forgiven for believing that they have to suppress their emotions in order to fulfil that instruction. Emotional
YouTube: The Representation Project
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repression is dangerous, whether you’re a man or a woman – aggression and depression is often a result. The suicide rate in men is three to five times higher than it is in women, and that’s a concern worth exploring. Isolating yourself and refusing to express
“People should not be ordered by how society expects them to behave” your emotion in fear that it lessens how masculine you are is wrong and people should not be ordered by how society expects them to behave. Your worth as a human being is not measured in how fast you can neck a pint. To cry is not weak. Misogyny is not an admirable quality. Whether you’re brave, smart, resilient, resourceful; whether you like baking, or sports, and maybe occasionally shed a tear at Coronation Street – that does not make you any more or less of a man or woman. Your characteristics should not be accredited to a cultural label; you’ve earned those qualities for yourself.
The sex ambition Who’s your daddy? This brings up a serious issue, is sex ingrained in young adult life? In so much as, do we think that we need
“Is sex ingrained in young adult life?” Joe Jameson Comment Writer @CommissarJ It is a truth universally acknowledged that a UEA student must want to complete the Five Ls. Putting my literary crimes aside, the Five Ls are something which should perhaps be addressed. For those who are unaware, the Five Ls are the five locations on campus that, if you’re a ‘proper’ UEA student, you must have sex - the Lake, the Library, the LCR, the Lecture theatre and, worryingly, the Launderette.
“Are the Five L’s a myth?” Are the Five Ls a myth? A thing of legend, designed to instil awe and, maybe, reverence into the unknowing fresher? What is for sure is that they are bloody ridiculous. If at any point you feel as though you’re missing out because you’re lacking one of the Five Ls, you may need to rethink your priorities.
to have sex because it’s something that ‘young people do’? Although I doubt that anyone is going to be jealous of a friend bragging about their progress through the Five Ls, is there the chance that bragging about them might cause some to worry that they’re not enjoying student life? This seems highly unlikely. I mean, who in their right mind is going to brag about getting lucky in the laundrette, for crying out loud? If they are truly something you aspire to, then good luck to you! The issue that is of more importance here is the possibility of social pressures, such as these, skewing the perception of the importance of sex in young adult social lives. It is both less important and more important than one might first believe; despite what certain areas of the media claim, sex is not the only thing that people our age get up to. At the same time, it is very important, as it is not something to be considered lightly. Sex is very emotional and intimate. What is ultimately vital is that you are comfortable wherever, and with whomever, you have sex.
Harry Mason Comment Writer @HarryMason19 Accepted wisdom states that if something is the subject of a Vince Vaughn movie, it must be a weighty topic worthy of serious discussion. So without further ado, let’s discuss sperm donation! Students are known for going to extreme lengths to earn an extra buck – those Mufasa costumes for the LCR Disney night don’t come cheap – but is selling your own DNA a step too far? As Mark Ruffalo testifies in The Kids Are All Right, it’s easier than giving blood. And compared to our egg-donating friends of the fairer sex, it’s an easy, non-invasive and - depending on your stamina quick process. Consider it getting paid for something you’d probably be doing anyway, with the bonus that you can see your swimmers being frozen all science fiction-style before stomping out in a stupor of virility, beating your chest and thumping your club on the ground as you shout, “I am man! I make child!” Sounds great, no? But steady on, because it doesn’t just stop there – there’s the small matter of producing another human life to consider, too. As of 2005 donors can waive anonymity, giving potential children the option of
tracking their papas down. And as Mark Ruffalo would also testify, that can open up a whole new can of worms. For some, not knowing their father leaves a great sense of emptiness (although, speaking as an East Midlander, unless you get a Jeremy Kyle paternity test then having no idea about your father’s identity is basically standard). What would you think if your little ‘deposit’ came back someday as a grown adult wanting to be a part of your life? Donating sperm clearly isn’t the ‘get in, get out’ one-off job that selling a kidney on the black market is. Then again, providing the love juice doesn’t automatically make you a parent, and no matter how curious you might be about what became of your donation, there’s every chance that any possible offspring will consider you their father on a strictly biological basis alone. Although donors are rarely used to create more than two families – meaning you’re unlikely to become a real-life ‘delivery man’ – sperm donation is something that can have long-lasting and unexpected repercussions, and should not be undertaken lightly. That said, any man willing to help childless couples - even if his motives are purely financial - should surely be commended. And, you know, with rent day fast approaching, sometimes needs must…
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concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk
11/02/14
Issue 293
Comment
Payback porn problems
Eve Lacroix Comment Writer Hunter Moore, kingpin of the revenge porn website IsAnyoneUp.com, was arrested on 23 January by the FBI for “conspiracy, seven counts of unauthorised access to a protected computer to obtain information and seven counts of aggravated identity theft.” The website encouraged men and women to send naked pictures of exlovers without their consent, to publicly discredit them. Considering the pictures were sent knowingly, they were thus considered the property of the receiver. The arrest comes as a sigh of relief for many men and women all over the world, for despite his high profile, Moore has avoided arrest until now because laws do not clearly state his
Joel Taylor Comment Writer Super Bowl advertisements; at $4 million for 30 seconds it’s almost possible to justify the hype that surrounds them each year. Whether artistically spectacular, creative and clever or simply funny; whether kept under wraps until the big night or teased relentlessly in the preceding weeks, there’s always a large degree of anticipation to see what will fill the premium spots. Last year, however, GoDaddy caused a stir for seemingly the wrong reasons. The website design company’s advert spawned an anti-sexist social networking campaign by the organisation ‘MissRepresentation’ to call out sexist adverts with the hashtag #notbuyingit. On first viewing, the GoDaddy advert seems fairly innocuous. A model-esque woman sits next to an overweight, nerdilydressed manchild with a laptop. They kiss. For a long time. The camera zooms in to nothing but their intertwined mouths. This, explains the advert, represents the GoDaddy hybrid which combines sexylooking websites with excellent technical capabilities and support. The advert is a lot of things. It’s weird. It’s eyewateringly weird. Maybe it’s offensive to IT professionals. One thing it simply isn’t, however, is sexist. It isn’t hard, watching it, to predict that so-called ‘Social Justice Warriors’ would pounce on it, but when all it does is describe a sexy woman as sexy and show her kissing a
practices were illegal. Following an FBI investigation and subsequent lawsuits, the site was closed down in 2012, only for Moore to open huntermoore.tv which included, once again, photos published without the subjects permission, as well as directions to the houses of the victims. Revenge porn is a breach of privacy and can be very harmful to victims’ reputation, causing them to lose jobs and credibility. It is also a painful form of betrayal if the sharer was someone they once loved and trusted. Writing for the Guardian, Annmarie Chiarini explained how she had been a victim of revenge porn by her exboyfriend, and wrote of her “shame and embarrassment” when faced with “victim-blaming.” She was shocked US laws could do nothing to protect her, and suffered post-traumatic-stresssyndrome.
Double standards are highly prevalent in the case of nude pictures. It is easy to list off the top of one’s head a whole list of celebrity leaked picture scandals concerning women, such as Scarlett Johansson. Yet men’s photos are brushed off as funny or silly and receive very little backlash, such as Jamie Foxx and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, who
both laughingly took the incidents in their stride. Although it can be a fun way to show
a special someone you’re feeling frisky or to keep the flame alive during time apart, it is a very dangerous practice. Trusting the receiver is very important, and it is essential to remember that nothing dies on the internet, even if you’ve deleted it. Many pictures have come from hacked webcams, phones, or computers. With the teenage and university age demographics being notably adept at the sexting trend, we have another worry to add to our list. Not only must we think about preventing pregnancies and STDs, but also monitoring privacy and security. Small things you can do are cover up your webcam when it’s not in use, and put passwords on your phone and laptop. Make sure you delete your photos once they are sent and ask the receiver to do the same after viewing. Just think twice before you send that photo, it’s too cold to get naked anyway.
not-so-sexy man; it’s hard to justify their outcry. They pick the low hanging fruit nearly any advert that shows an attractive woman - and missappropriate it to their cause, ignoring the fact that just as many adverts, if not more, use similarly unrealistically attractive men in their marketing. Unfortunately, they are missing the wood for the trees. The force most damaging to women is, simply, themselves. Their self image. Fear. Just look at the eating disorders blamed on runway models being skinny. The makeup adverts making girls feel ugly if they don’t
cake themselves before leaving the house. Girly magazines! Christ, Cosmo does more damage to girls and young women in one issue than any Super Bowl advert; “Not putting out for your boyfriend? You’re 13 now, he’ll just dump you! Oh you ARE putting out? Well okay, but your technique is probably bad and he’ll dump you anyway. Try rubbing Tobasco on your downstairs to really spice things up #YOLO.” Recently the same celebrity bikini photo was printed in a ‘lad rag’ and a ‘girly’ mag. For the boys? “Phwoar, hot celeb shows off her curves!” For the girls?
“10 worst celeb bikini bodies!” Which one is more damaging? The problem is that in essence Social Justice Warriors, a lot of feminists and a lot of men’s rights activists are going out of their way to be offended. A Lynx advert showing hot women flocking to the scent isn’t objectifying women, just as a Diet Coke advert showing women tricking a man into stripping off his shirt to reveal his chiseled torso isn’t objectifying men. The word sexism is used too liberally and it devalues the label to lash out at innocuous things like this. Personally, this writer’s #notbuyingit.
jewishledger
#NotBuyingIt
Flickr: bran.dan
Comment
11/02/14
Issue 293
concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk
Let’s talk about sex, baby
Geraldine Scott Comment Writer @Geri_E_L_Scott Let’s talk about sex. No, not in the awkward way your parents did with strange metaphors and terrifying diagrams, but in the sense that it’s never what you imagined. That’s partly because before you had seen any real person naked in a sexual setting, you had probably seen some form of pornography. In fact it was found last year by the then new adult website, Paint b Bottle, that porn websites rack up more visitors each month than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined. On the whole there is no problem with that, but there are massive differences between the scripted settings of XXX and genuine experiences. Welcome to the world of lube, awkwardness and the essential after-sex wee. Let’s be honest here, the very wellendowed star could be licking the bottom of a girls’ little toe and she would be
Flickr: andraskormos
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writhing in pleasure. Now girls are just as into sex as guys are, but it takes a little more than this suggests to get things going. In the world of porn there is no foreplay; going from zero to full penetration is the only way to go. There is no body hair. None. At all. Unless your search terms are more specific. Sadly real people have jobs to go to, bills to pay and food to buy so they can’t spend all day shaving every inch of their skin to resemble the smoothness of a bowling ball. It’s just so theatrical! Nobody likes to swallow so much that they would rather have that in the morning than a coffee. Nobody is ever 100% sure that what they are doing is working, or getting anywhere. For sure, nobody is overly pleased about seeing a huge penis without the slight twinge of dread. The most unrealistic portrayal of sex in porn, however, are the noises (or lack of). Whilst your average clip will not be short of fulfilled moans, grunts and dirty talk, what it will miss is the giggling, the weird noises that the human body makes and the swearing when you bang your head on the headboard for the fifth time. Whilst most people may know to take porn with a pinch of salt, as a bit of fun, it’s crucial that it is kept that way and not used as a tool to educate about sex and relationships. Now that is cleared up, back to Pornhu- I mean Twitter!
10
concrete.global@uea.ac.uk
Issue 293
Global
11/02/14
Sex trafficking - modern slavery
Hannah Fillier Global Writer Freedom is highly valued in today’s society, and a right which the majority of us are able to enjoy. Although the days of slavery are seemingly long behind us since its abolition during the 19th century, slavery in the form of human trafficking is still widespread across the world. Trafficking involves being bought, sold and transported against your will, often including the use or threat of violence, and is the world’s fastest growing global crime. It is thought that at least 30 million people are currently in slavery today, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 1.2 million children are trafficked globally each year. Although a large proportion of trafficking is for labour
purposes, sexual trafficking is what usually hits the headlines, and is disturbingly common. In 2012, 61% of all cases identified in the UK were for sexual exploitation, and 28% of cases involving children were for the same purpose. Figures suggest that 80% of those trafficked into the sex trade are women, and that 50% are under 18. Add to that the thought that 70% of women trafficked are sold into the sex industry, and it is enough to make your stomach turn. The industry is valued at a shocking $32bn, trading in rape, abuse and exploitation of some of the most vulnerable people in the world. For the majority of us, our understanding of sex trafficking comes from films such as Taken, which highlight the horrendous nature of the crime and its consequences. However, we can often think of it as a phenomenon which only exists in big
budget films, or as being confined to areas of Eastern Europe. However, discoveries of sex trafficking happening in the UK demonstrate that this is not the case. The National Referral Mechanism, a framework set up in 2009 by the UK government to help victims of trafficking, analysed the top ten countries of origin of minors passing through their system, and found that the UK was fourth on the list. Sex trafficking is happening in this country, in this county, in this city, and has even been found happening on campus. In September 2010, a Channel 4 Documentary The Hunt for Britain’s Sex Traffickers revealed that in 2008 a student living in halls of residence at Colman House had been arrested and accused of sex trafficking. This is not just an issue which affects people living thousands of miles away – this could be happening to someone
on your street. But this doesn’t mean there is no hope. Instead the proximity of this issue means that it is easy to get involved in helping the people affected by this crime. The Stop the Traffik society at UEA was founded in 2010 by a committed group of students, and has achieved a lot in this time: raising awareness on campus, providing stickers with information to taxi drivers who may unknowingly transport people being trafficked and holding a conference for over 100 local people to inform them of how they can get involved and spot the signs. This term the society is planning to host a screening of Taken combined with a short talk from the CEO of Stop the Traffik. For more information on this, or to get involved in the society follow @ UEAStopTraffik on Twitter or email h.fillier@uea.ac.uk.
Sex: the universal taboo Ella Gilbert Global Editor Sex is a taboo across the world, and was until very recently a significant taboo in the UK. The 1960s and the Summer of Love began to change peoples’ perceptions of sex and sexuality, but our Victorian, prudish sensibility still holds out in some places today. Despite the atmosphere of the heady love-laden days of the 60s, sex was off the mainstream agenda until the end of the second wave of feminism in the 1980s, and even then, it was a radical conversation topic. But, like cheese hedgehogs and aspic, most people now seem happy to leave sexual taboos in the 1970s, where they belong. Older people are embracing sexuality outside of traditional institutions like marriage, statistics show, with a 2011 study exhibiting the lowest numbers ever of over 85s who believe sex outside of marriage to be ‘living in sin.’ The departure from sexual taboos in the UK is partly to do with increasing secularism. Modern taboos about sex are associated with religion in places,such as the Philippines, Nigeria, and Egypt. Regardless of which religion we are talking about, it seems that wherever faith is strong, sex outside of structures like heterosexual marriage is considered wrong. Sexual encounters between young couples must be kept under wraps in the Middle East, and you have to be particularly clandestine if you are homosexual. A rise in the number of ‘temporary marriages,’ which are not
state-sanctioned and can last for short periods of time, attests to changing attitudes and a desire for more sexual freedom. Sexual frustration as a result of continued suppression of men and womens’ sexuality leads to aggression – an Egyptian journalist, Ali al-Gundi, was arrested and threatened with a beating for having an unopened condom in his pocket when driving home with his girlfriend late at night. Alongside trends of modernisation and/or Westernisation in the Middle East, there are also trends of conservatism. Many women are opting to cover themselves more fully in public, sometimes in response to increasingly overtly sexualised Western trends and imports, further exacerbating the cultural divide between men and women. Gundi says “oppression brings out perversion in people,” alluding to men’s fear of the “feelings women provoke” in the absence of acceptable interaction. It may be true that all this sexual tension leads to violence – many young men cannot afford to get married, after all, and it is often young male police officers that will arrest couples for suspected sexual activity. Homosexuality is even more taboo than sex alone in many countries. In the Philippines, gay men have to posit themselves as camp caricatures, acting up to stereotypes in order to be accepted in society. Their sexuality itself, however, is not discussed; to contemplate the idea of gay sex is anathema in such a Catholic country, where only six months ago a bill proposing sex education and reproductive health awareness
Photo: Giovanni Dall’Orto was shouted down by the church. It is something that tears many religious homosexuals apart – it can be hard to reconcile one’s faith with one’s sexuality in cultures where religion is very traditional and conservative, whether it’s Christianity, Islam or anything else. The issue is especially poignant with the opening of the Sochi Winter Olympics on Friday and amidst a sustained campaign to highlight the homophobia of the Putin administration, as featured in last week’s edition. Religion and sexuality are not mutually exclusive – indeed, even conservative clerics accept the notion of pleasurable sex within marriage, and there have always been periods of relative religious liberalism – it is all up to interpretation. Perhaps the progressive trends shown in recent years – the legalisation of gay marriage, increased debate about the rights of women over their bodies, abortion and sexual abuse, will continue to shape our perceptions of the ultimate taboo, in the UK and across the world.
• • •
•
• •
Stats corner
Women and girls make up 98% of those trafficked into the sex industry. 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. Children and teenagers who get a proper sex education are 50% less likely to have an unwanted pregnancy than those who recieve abstinence only or contraception only education. 65% of LGBT+ secondary school age teenagers in the US are sexually or verbally harassed because of their sexuality. Almost half of all conceptions to under-18s in the UK in 2011 led to an abortion. The record-holder for having the most children is a Moroccan emperor, who supposedly sired 342 daughters and 525 sons: that’s a lot of sex!
Features
11/02/14
Issue 293
concrete.features@uea.ac.uk
11
Why we watch porn
David Humfrey looks at the attraction of the ’fantasy’ of pornography, and what this says about its viewers. Our primary desire is happiness. Sex, success, money – we desire these things because we believe that they are synonymous with, or accompany, happiness. We may set ourselves grand ambitions – I want to be a writer, I want to be a musician, I want to be a movie star – but still we cannot separate these ambitions from what they signify. Consumerism works on the same premise: the false belief that if only I had this one thing, that shirt, that car, that computer, my life would be complete. It works on the illusion that life, like a game, can be completed. Life is something that, through making the right choices, solving our problems, and acquiring the right possessions, we can perfect. We believe that there is a limit; true happiness is attainable
“Porn works because it is a fantasy”
it is a fantasy. A fantasy world in which the viewer can witness what life would be like if the limit to sexual enjoyment really could be extended indefinitely. The women are always willing, orgasms flourish every twenty seconds, and there is no world outside – nothing else matters but the enjoyment and happiness of the individual. But it also depicts fantasy and, paradoxically, reality, which is the problem people have with porn, how can this be so? Well, first of all, you have ‘Amateur Porn’: videos made by anyone and everyone. These can be uploaded with or without consent – a woman (it is typically women) can take a naked photo of herself, send to her boyfriend, and, following their break-up, find the image online. This heightens the reality of porn, primarily because it is not staged and, one assumes, the people in it are not being paid. This adds a
and will come when we reach it. Porn, I believe, works on a different premise. Much like women’s magazines – such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour, which every issue offer new sex tips and tricks to enhance one’s sexual enjoyment – porn works on the premise that sexual satisfaction can never be achieved. There is always something you can try that will enhance your experience, and this process goes on indefinitely. On a basic level, porn works because
dangerous layer of reality to the fantasy that all women are secretly up for it. Secondly, and this works both in ‘Amateur’ and ‘Professional’ porn, what the viewer watches is, essentially, reality. Of course, these people may not be enjoying it, they may be getting paid to do it, and they may be taking long breaks between shots, but the reality is that they are doing it. Take away the details and what you are left with is the reality that this woman in this video is doing what you are watching and wanting her to do. The camera never lies. Although you acknowledge the surroundings and the context to be fictional, within that fictional context you glimpse the reality: people out there do do these things – they must, after all you are watching them do it. When the principal character, in Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s film, Don Jon, tells us, “real pussy’s all good, but I’m
photo:wikicommons
sorry, it’s not as good as porn”, we understand what he means. Why? Because porn, far from being simply a substitute for sex, is an entirely different thing altogether. Sex serves an entirely different role in porn than it does in real life. It sounds obvious, but it’s not. That’s why, as in Don Jon, you often find that people who are in relationships watch porn. Not because it’s necessarily ‘better’, but because it’s an entirely different experience. The brilliance of porn lies in the fact that it is the perfect fantasy through which the viewer can glimpse just the right amount of reality – we know it’s not real, but that doesn’t completely take away from the hope that it could be. And what is it that we want to be real? The way they have sex? No. Porn portrays a world in which sex is everything – the apex of happiness. It is a utopia in which even the most mundane acts – ordering a pizza, going to class, working in an office – provide the possible basis for euphoric enjoyment that goes beyond humanly pleasure as we know it – a world in which nothing else matters. In the world of porn, it isn’t just the opposite gender that always want sex, but you as well. Your multiple, oftenconflicting real-world desires become one manageable, renewable desire that can consistently be fulfilled. Sex isn’t just sex – it’s an act through which we can be truly happy. Sex is everything.
Let’s talk about sex
Sex still seems to be considered a taboo by our society. Features writer Sarah Boughen looks at the dangerous effects this has upon our culture. Sex and relationships are complex, daunting and confusing, but in today’s society there is no reason why they should be anything but fun, exciting and thrilling. Yet it seems that sex and sexuality remain a major taboo in our so-called open-minded society, despite the constant bombarding of sexualised imagery and attitudes which surround us. Sex and sexuality are something that we all explore and experience in some way in our lifetimes, so isn’t it time we just talked about it? Recently, the House of Lords rejected the notion of compulsory, age-appropriate sex education in all state funded schools. The bill, supported by Baroness Jones, planned to educate young people of all ages not only in the mechanics of sex, but on other issues including same-sex relationships, friendships, and the importance of consent in addition to issues surrounding sexual violence. In our present society, it seems quite remarkable that such a bill does not already exist. However, in late January this bill was rejected 209 to 142. Sex and relationship education is
vital to helping young people develop healthy relationships in later life. With nowhere left to turn - perhaps for fear of embarrassment - there is a certain trend for young people to turn to online pornography as a type of sex education. Online porn undoubtedly creates unrealistic expectations of a young person’s future sexual relationships, possibly making the sexual learning experience even more complex and confusing. Baroness Kidron highlighted that young people who are searching for answers to their sex-related questions often find themselves in “a world of non-consensual sexual violence.” It is this point which highlights the importance of open conversations about sex and sexuality away from judgement and released from taboos. It is surely better for young people
to learn about sex and relationships through conversation than overly glamorised movies and unrealistic porn. It can be understood that such teachings should not necessarily come from a school environment, rather from parents and family members. Conservative peer Baroness Eaton expressed worry about the quality of the teaching of sexual education in schools. This is a valid concern. Undoubtedly, the best way to approach the subject is in a relaxed and honest manner, and it may be hard to picture many of your old school teachers being able to do this. However, many young people are not exposed to healthy, open and loving relationships, and would truly benefit from being shown alternative attitudes to these matters. There is a growing movement to encourage sex positivity amongst all of us. Perhaps most notably, Laci Green, the avid Youtube sensation, regularly publishes videos in her Sex+ series. In her videos Laci puts an end to those scary myths about the happenings of losing your virginity, expresses how great sex can be - as long as you do it right, she’s
an advocate of lube - and helps create realistic expectations of what sex is. She speaks frankly and casually about matters which are often surrounded by shame and embarrassment and makes them accessible to everyone, something which she should be commended for. Not only does Laci provide tips on how to have good sex - her best tip being simply to talk to your partner about what you like - but she also attempts to lift the stigma attached to women’s sexual behaviour by highlighting how the general rhetoric around sex is in place to oppress women. It is difficult to comprehend how even today, sex remains a taboo in so many aspects of life, particularly in policy making. It is time we were rid of the aftermath of Victorian attitudes to sex. Perhaps it can be suggested that as our generation will one day make these policies, these attitudes may soon evolve. Overall, the answer to creating sex positive attitudes is simply to talk about it. Sex is not something to be embarrassed or ashamed about, it is a part of life to be enjoyed and should be openly discussed and embraced.
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Issue 293
concrete.features@uea.ac.uk
Features
11/02/14
Gender
First time
11-15- 8.38%
21-30- 0.68%
Female- 54.22%
Under 13- 2.22%
16-20- 3.59%
31+ 1.71%
Male- 44.21 %
13-14- 5.64%
21-30- 3.76%
15-16- 29.23%
31+ 3.42%
Transgender- 1.57%
Orientation
17-18 -41.71%
Yes- 9.61%
19-20- 17.44%w
Gay- 7.26%
21-22- 3.59%
Lesbian- 1.31%
22+ 0.17%
0- 7.69%
No- 89.54% Unsure- 0.86%
Sexual Partners
4.6- 15.38%
Had sex in a public place?
Yes- 88.98%
1-3- 44.44%
7-10- 10.09%
Yes- 54.81%
No- 9.73%
4-6- 20.68 %
11-15- 3.93%
No- 43.64%
Unsure- 1.29%
7-10- 15.73%
16-20- 2.91%
Unsure- 1.55%
1-3- 57.61%
Had unprotected sex? Yes- 70.66%
Where would you go for information?
Struggled with performance?
No- 28.09%
Medical centre- 52.06%
Unsure- 1.25%
How many minutes does Taken part in role play? sex last? Yes- 23.46% Less than 5- 2.58%
No- 73.37%
5-10- 7.06%
Unsure- 3.17%
15-30- 37.87%
What is most important in a partner?
30-45- 20.65%
Appearance- 48.81%
45-60- 5.85%
Humour- 66.54%
More than 60- 3.10%
Intelligence- 56.86%
10-15- 22.89%
Have a one night stand?
Similar Interests- 44.06%
We’re all familiar with the romantic status of UEA’s 5 L’s. But despite their hype, 82.33% of you have yet to experience a passionate tryst at any of them. Of those that have, it
“A bible themed pun erotica: “Behold
Internet- 74.15%
No- 62.73%
Masterbate?
Respect/Attitude- 44.06%
my forbidden fruit!” “feel my burning
Friends or family- 28.73%
Unsure- 3.27%
Yes- 86.23%
Comfortable around friends/family-
bush” “let me nail you to the cross! Get
Unsure- 1.07%
responses.
9.32% that do say it’s only ok if “your partner is a dickhead,” and punnily, “to win the card game Cheat”
all.
Religious Beliefs- 2.74%
Unsure- 1.08%
cheat on a partner. Those of the
Sexual Compatability- 28.52%
Unsure- 2.57%
No- 6.42%
nurse were among the most popular
as the least enticing location of them
Yes- 34%
NHS or GUM clinc- 35.73%
believing it is never acceptable to
fourth and the laundrette arriving last,
Potential Future- 13.53%
Yes- 92.51%
school pupil and teacher and doctor/
the LCR in third, the lecture theatres
No- 39.04%
Feel increased pressure No- 12.22% to have sex since coming Unsure- 1.55% to university? If so, how often?
here at UEA, with 82.63% of us
popular. The library came second,
Political persuasion- 3.11%
Union or UEA advice centres- 2.15%
play. Princess Leia, Captain America,
was the UEA Lake that proved most
Yes- 58.39%
Use contraception?
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concrete.features@uea.ac.uk
23.46% of you have taken part in role
Threesome?
Sexual Partners at UEA
Have you had sex?
Issue 293
We’re quite a morally pure bunch
Heterosexual- 81.86%
Bisexual- 9.58%
11/02/14
23.03%
“Friday 2nd April 1982. I’m Denis
reading for the second COMING!””
Thatcher, she’s Margaret; I walk into
Feel comfortable talking about sex?
the emergency room at Downing Street, she is alone, she’s just declared war on the Falklands I tell her that
Yes- 27.97%
Rarely (e.g once a month)- 15.03%
Very comfortable- 47.91%
Ever had an STI?
No- 69.47%
Occasionally (e.g once a week)-
Fairly comfortable 44.65%
Which?
Yes- 8.02%
Unsure- 2.58%
31.06%
Uncomfortable- 7.44%
community in general won’t like that.
Condom- 68.17%
No- 88.95%
She say’s she doesn’t care. We make
Femidom- 1.13%
Unsure- 3.03%
Daily- 21.04%
Had sex under the influence?
Have you had anal sex?
Yes- 90.31%
Combined pill- 42.75%
Other people’s sex lives impact your university life?
Frequently (e.g twice a week)- 32.87%
“Ryan Gosling”
the Argentines and the wider political
passionate love for hours.”
Progestogen-only pill- 11.11%
Which?
Yes- 19.45%
Yes- 40.63%
No- 9.14%
Contraceptive injection- 1.88%
Chlamydia- 43.14%
No- 74.18%
No- 57.99%
Unsure- 0.55%
Contraceptive patch- 0.75%
Gonorrhea- 15.69%
Unsure- 6.36%
Unsure- 1.39%
Diaphragm/Cap- 0.94%
Herpes- 11.76%
Given oral sex?
The coil- 3.77%
Hepatitis- 25.49%
How important is sex in romantic relationships?
Feel confident with your naked body?
Yes- 96.71%
Very confident- 16.58%
“A threesome with Stephen Hawking
Implant- 11.30%
Human papyloma virus- 25.49%
Very important- 49.54%
No- 2.77%
Fairly confident- 57.01%
and Kim Kardashian. Narrated by
Dental Dam- 0.75%
LGB- 9.80%
Fairly important- 44.24%
Unsure- 0.52%
Not confident 25.14%
Public lice- 13.73%
Not important- 4.20%
Recieved oral sex?
Unsure- 1.28%
Scabes- 13.73%
Unsure- 2.01%
Yes- 96.19%
Difficulty obtaining contraception or sexual health appointments from UEA services?
Unsure 0.35%
Do confidence issues ever affect your sex life?
Very important- 23.72%
Own any sex toys?
Yes- 50.64%
Yes- 7.33%
Fairly important- 56.75%
Yes- 38.57%
No- 44.24%
No- 66.19%
Not important- 17.15%
No- 60.38%
Unsure- 5.12%
Unsure- 0.36%
Unsure- 37%
Unsure- 1.05%
Yeast infections- 37.25%
How important is sex in your life overall?
HIV- 7.84%
Syphilis- 9.80%
No- 3.47%
Morgan Freeman.”
“I do want to be Gandalf sometime in the future though. The White Wizard sounds like a porn name when you think about it...”
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concrete.environment@uea.ac.uk
Issue 293
11/02/2014
The condom conundrum
Environment
Jacob Beebe Environment Writer You might not think it, but contraceptives have a detrimental effect on nature, whether it be an influx of hormones into the environment, or the build-up of physical detritus. And so, with a stiff sense of British awkwardness, environment asks: what is the environmental impact of contraception? The contraceptive pill contributes to a significant environmental issue. Key ingredients include progestin and oestrogen. These can be transferred to the water supplies once nature has run its course. There are many subsequent problems that arise when compounds such as ethinyloestrogen, become present in water courses. It has been suggested that they affect the endocrine systems of humans and fish; they are often known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs may also affect natural hormonal messaging within organisms. For example, in fish they disrupt normal physiology, affect bone formation, and can even lead to the “feminisation” of males. In turn, this could cause behavioural or physiological changes, precipitating a population decrease. In humans, excess oestrogen has been connected to some cancers. However – just in case you are considering ditching the pills in order to save the fish – studies have shown that other sources contribute a much higher percentage of EDCs than the pill. As for condoms, they tend to be as environmentally friendly as they are
Marta Catalano Environment Writer
Flickr: wader visually appealing. The issue with these curious and frankly rather amusing little entities lies within their chemical composition. Many are produced from latex – that is, from tree rubber – and are therefore biodegradable. Despite this, the stabilisers and preservatives “I said no!” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: antediluvian reactionary or eco-visionary? Photo: Peter Sheehan
used with the latex often prevent natural decomposition. The problem worsens with contraceptives formed from polymers such as polyurethane or synthetic rubber. As with other plastics, they do not biodegrade. Instead, they lie in landfill and can cause significant respiratory issues for wildlife – they are, quite literally hard to swallow… What developments can we expect
to see in the future? Different filtration methods can be tested to minimise disruptive hormone influx in water supplies. But beyond this, efforts to improve contraception’s poor environmental record have not yet hit the spot. A somewhat misguided grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop “better” condoms appeared to completely disregard environmental considerations. And some rather gruesome research has looked at waste bovine tendons as a potential source for naturally biodegradable collagen lattices that might serve as a substitute for latex or polymers. But that may well turn out to be a case of “thanks but no thanks”. The social, economic and health benefits of contraception vastly outweigh the negative environmental issues that it causes. So for the time being it seems that, though sex can be safe for us, it is bad for the environment.
Drug trafficking hastens the destruction of the rainforest Amelia Frizell-Armitage Environment Writer Global rates of deforestation are at a record high. Although forest still covers around 30% of the planet’s surface, current estimates predict that the world’s rainforests could completely disappear within the next 100 years. A growing body of evidence is now indicating that, amongst many other factors, drug trafficking could be contributing significantly to the deforestation of Central America. Since 2006, a crackdown on drugs in Mexico has forced Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTOs) into Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. These countries, with thinly populated areas and corrupt governments, are particularly attractive to both growers and traffickers of cocaine and marijuana.
Has climate change paused? The oceans provide the answer
A sharp rise in extensive forest loss in these regions between 2007 and 2011 has coincided with increased drugs flow. Evidence to show a causal relationship between deforestation and DTO activity is thin, partly due to dangers associated with research, and partly because records of DTOs’ illegal activities remain classified. Despite this, recent studies have identified various key mechanisms to explain the relationship. DTOs bring large amounts of violence to an area, causing governments to look the other way, rendering areas unsafe for conservationists, and displacing indigenous populations. This enables roads and landing strips to be carved out of the forest to aid drug transport. In addition, pre-existing landowners such as oil palm growers and timber traffickers become involved with DTOs, benefitting through monetary gain, and allowing them to expand their activities further
into the forest. The DTOs themselves can get involved in agriculture in order to mask their illegal activities. The result is never-ending conversion of forest to agriculture. The introduction of tighter drug eradication policies compounds these problems as both growers and DTOs move into more remote regions to avoid crackdowns. The remoteness of these areas goes hand in hand with ecological sensitivity, and the environmental effects of their destruction can be substantial. It is clear then, that drug policy is in fact conservation policy. Interdisciplinary research is required to quantify the extent of the correlation between deforestation and drug trafficking. Solid evidence can be used to inform policy makers. What is more, well thought out drug policy reforms are required to help reduce pressures on remaining areas of rainforest.
The oceans continue to accumulate the heat, while the myth that global warming stopped in 1998 carries on gaining popularity among the public. This claim, which was recently supported by Georgia Tech climate scientist Judith Curry, fails to take into consideration that the land surface and the atmosphere are only a small fraction of the Earth’s climate. The entire planet is accumulating heat, including the oceans. According to data gathered by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the oceans are one of the most important indicators of global warming as they store about 90% of the additional heat trapped by greenhouse gases. The atmosphere can only store about 2%, because it doesn’t have enough heat capacity. The UN report on climate change published on 31 January, reported that “concentrations of CO2, CH4, and N2O now substantially exceed the highest
H2OCHSFCFCs 4 6C F N20 2 6 Carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas...
concentrations recorded in ice cores during the past 800,000 years”. This results in continuous heat accumulation in the oceans. A 2014 study by Kevin Trenberth, a renowned scientist who was a lead author of two IPCC assessments, shows that, unlike the atmosphere, the oceans continue to warm at a fast rate, and that this is consistent with the global energy imbalance observed by satellites. Further analysis of NOAA’s data reveals that over the last 30 years this continuous accumulation of heat energy has been equivalent to that released by detonating 4.5 Hiroshima atomic bombs every second. Previous climatic transitions have been natural, but the evidence clearly shows that the current changes are not. Nor are they likely to abate. While some scientists try to find supporting evidence for global warming having paused, the so-called “slowdown” applies only to the surface of our planet. The oceans, meanwhile, continue to warm apace, with potentially devastating effects for rising sea level, marine ecosystems, and the global climate.
Science & Tech
11/02/14
Issue 293
concrete.science@uea.ac.uk
A very distinct perfume
Dominic Burchnall Science Editor. Some show it with a love song. Others may show it with a wedding ring. But in lemur lovers, the strength of their union is marked by the similarity of their smells. Scientists at Duke University, North Carolina, studied the behaviour of six pairs of Coquerel’s sifakas before, during and after they mated. They also looked at the chemical makeup of the sifakas’ scent marks – the sticky goo that both sexes dab on their surroundings when courting. Before reproducing, sifakas spend a lot of their time leaving these scents on tree branches, while also investigating their partners’ scents. After mating, their scents become more similar to each other. “It’s like singing a duet,” said Christine Drea, who led the study, “but with smells instead of sounds.” Coquerel’s sifakas are one of many
endangered lemur species found only in Madagascar. The behaviour of lemurs – particularly that of social species – has been the subject of many studies, in part owing to their female-dominant social structure, which is rare among primates. As well as starting to smell like their
“It’s like singing a duet with smells instead of sounds” partners, lemur pairs begin to mirror each other’s marking behaviour as they become familiar with one another. “When one member of a pair started sniffing and scent-marking more often, their mate did too,” said Lydia Greene, who collected the data. She and Drea describe this as a “getting-to-know-you mechanism during the period of bond formation.” Greene thinks scent marking may also
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be a way for the males to work out when it’s time to mate. She said: “If two animals have never reproduced, the male doesn't necessarily know what the female smells like when she's in heat, because they've never gone through this before.” Interestingly, although the similarity of partners’ scent profiles is a good measure of their strength as a reproducing couple, the length of their time living together before mating has no effect on their scent similarity or later reproductive success. The next step will be to look at how sifakas’ chemical signals compare with those of some other lemurs where social behaviour has evolved independently. This could help determine the purpose of these chemical messages. One possibility is that they advertise couples’ bonds, much like in some bird pairs, where vocal signals become similar. “[They could be saying] we’re a thing,” suggests Greene. “We’ve bonded. Don’t mess with us.”
Astronaut apparel Reach out and touch Ian Roberts Science Writer Having been dormant for decades, it seems the space race is heating up once again. Only this time shooting for the moon is regarded as a tad unambitious. The competition this time is to see which of the government backed space agencies or private companies will be the first to put a person on Mars. While a lot of attention has been afforded to those competing to put a human being on the Red Planet, others have been focusing their efforts on ensuring those first pioneers will survive the next giant leap for mankind. Compared to the near vacuum found on the moon, suits allowing perambulation on the Martian surface will need to withstand much harsher conditions. According to readings from satellites orbiting the red planet, those venturing out onto the surface away from the safety of a base will need to be wary of temperature extremes as low as -150 ˚C, as well as 125 mph dust storms. To this end, Dr Gernot Groomer has designed and built the Aouda:X, a 45 kilo survival suit which takes inspiration from medieval armour plating. As well as the protection needed to allow survival in the barren Martian expanses, the suit also incorporates a staggering array of computers and biometric sensors, which monitor the wearers’ power reserve, communication systems, air supply and other life support, as well as allowing for eating and drinking in the confines of the helmet. There is also planned to be a VI assistant
to help give explorers a heads up on any vital information, such as distance to a predestined location, or the remaining levels of oxygen or battery life left before a return to base is required. Dr Groomer will have to push his designs nearly as hard as the Martian expedition will have to push themselves, as he is part of a “spacesuit race”; other teams of designers and engineers are fabricating their own designs for the next generation of space suits, such as the NDX-2 from NASA, and MIT’s Biosuit. Read more about these on the Concrete website:www.concrete-online.co.uk.
Dominic Burchnall Science Editor Up until very recently, for those who have had to endure the loss of a limb the best alternatives available have been facsimiles, which are perceived as a poor substitute for the real thing. This measures in strange contrast to science fiction, where those with artificial limbs are usually depicted as being stronger, faster, or more durable than their organic counterparts. Now, however, the gap between fantasy and reality may be about to be breached. A collaboration between the EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Switzerland and the SSSA (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies) in Pisa. Italy has produced one of the first bionic hands. What makes this hand so special compared to other prosthetics is that, rather than just sitting in place over the end of the wrist and being controlled by muscle contractions in the upper arm, as many current models are, the LifeHand 2 actually connects to the nerve endings which remain in the subjects arm, allowing a computer algorithm to translate the electrical potential impulses from the nerves into mechanical movement. The LifeHand 2 builds on the
technology of its’ predecessor, LifeHand, which used similar technology to become the first thought controlled prosthetic ever. What makes LifeHand 2 so remarkable however, is that it doesn’t juat allow the nerves to send signals to the mechanical fingers; it allows the fingers to send signals back.Each fingertip is coated with pressure sensitive nodes which feed back to four separate electrodes implanted in the median and ulnar nerves. A reverse version of the computer program which allows the nerves to send signals to the hand then transmits the feel of what the hand is touching to the brain, allowing the sensation of touch to be restored. The first man to test this was Dennis Aabo Sørenson, a Danish man who lost his left hand in a fireworks accident nine years previous. It took three weeks to implant the sensory electrodes into Sørenson’s long defunct nerves, and to ensure they were still operating correctly and were unaffected by scar tissue forming around the implants. Due to regulations however, he was only allowed to use the hand for a month before effectively undergoing a second amputation, though the attending scientists are confident the electrodes could remain in place for years without degrading. The work now will be to refine this technology until Dennis Sørenson can get his hand back for good.
Credit: Brad Plummer, SLAC Photo Credit: Aouda.X universetoday.com
Photo Credit: LifeHand 2 Credit: SpaceX
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concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk
Issue 293
11/02/14
Sun, sex and Malia
Alice Cachia Travel Writer If you’re looking for a fun, relatively cheap clubbing holiday with friends, then Malia is definitely the perfect location. With the clubbing strip only 180 metres away from central hotels and apartments, you have no excuse but to go hard or go home! At around £350 for flights and accommodation for a week, Malia is one of the cheaper options for 18-30s clubbing holidays, and one that needs to be experienced. If you go for one such deal, then almost everything is taken care of. You’ll have a brief coach ride to the main apartments, upon arrival, and a dedicated resident advisor always on hand. The journey is easily spiced up with a game of ‘Never Have I Ever’ and what better way to get the sexual atmosphere going, and find out who likes what. You’ll find accommodation reasonably clean and comfortable, although you won’t be spending much of your time in your room unless you’ve got company! On the first night out, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the clubbing
strip so you know where you’re going when you’re stumbling home at stupid o’clock every night. Whilst it’s always nice to stumble upon the undiscovered, on this kind of holiday you need to hit the hotspots. In Malia you’ve got three main clubs on the strip that you’d be crazy not to check out during your trip: Bar One, Club Safari and Club Reflex. With poles on the tables and free alcohol from the bar staff if you’re brave enough to dance on the counters; Bar One is small but vibrant. Club Safari is opposite; one of the largest clubs with famous DJs, such as Calvin Harris having played there. The music generally what’s current on the charts and you’ll get all the big holiday groups in here so it is perfect for pairing off members of your group with the opposite sex. Club Reflex is definitely not to be missed! With 80s music including songs from Grease, alcohol will fuel your dance moves. Here you can get a Sex on the Beach and three shots for just five Euros so it is definitely worth visiting! The sexual talent in Malia is varied and the ratio of men to women is pretty much even so if you do want fun, then you have plenty of
choice. The ‘walk of shame’ the next day does not need to be so shameful when you can see at least ten other people also walking home, but get ready to nurse the hangover from hell. During the day, explore the quaint villages as you soak up the sun. The idyllic scenery and exotic flowers will show you a different side to Malia that is equally captivating, with friendly local
Travel
residents who will tell you which parts of Malia are worth seeing. Additionally, trips to waterparks can be arranged for a fairly cheap price so make sure you have enough money to get the most out of your holiday. Going abroad with a group of friends is definitely the best way to spend a week of your summer, so bring your cameras along and prepare yourself for a week of sun, sex, and Malia!
Top five unique and steamy hostels the opportunity of joining the Mile High Club. Hi Ottowa Jail – Canada For the deviant traveller, there is this jail hostel. Its rooms may be behind bars, but the hostel boasts its own underground bar ‘Mugshots’: a welcoming watering
“...supposedly haunted, with the three people who were hanged there as prisoners...”
Alice Cachia Travel Writer For students, hostels are a knight in shining armour when travelling. They provide cheap rooms with amazing locations, and the chance to mingle with other hostel-goers. Here are Concrete’s favourite five hostels from around the world that offer a unique, steamy and sociable stay.
Jumbo Stay – Sweden A grounded Boeing 747 212B plane provides a unique hostel experience. Rooms start at £42 a night for the cheapest, and their best room will set you back the sky high price of £190 a night. That luxury comprises a stay in the pilots cockpit with panoramic views and even an en suite. This renovated plane has been transformed from economy class cabins to minimal modern bedrooms. Whilst the prices may be a bit extravagant for the student backpacker, the hostel does boast
hole for like-minded criminals to meet. A night in a cell at this prison will cost a mere £32 a night, rather than a scar on your criminal record, and will be far more comfortable than the real thing. The hostel is supposedly haunted, with the three people who were hanged there as prisoners roaming the place of a night. Providing the real-life scary movie experience, it is a good choice for the unconventional couple. The Rising Cock – Portugal Set on the party scene in Portugal, this hostel has sex as its namesake. Nominated in 2011 as the 3rd best party hostel in the world, it will not disappoint. For £27 a
night, The Rising Cock will give you free breakfast, free Wifi and a 5 min walk to the beach. The hostel unashamedly plays on the party sex scene, with the website describing how ‘The Rising Cock was erected’. Wombats – Germany This party hostel in Berlin boasts a great social scene. For its cheapest room, travellers are looking at around £16 a night, which is remarkably low. Rarely is there sighted here a traveller over 25, as is reflected in the party scene in this hostel. The bar is sleek and stylish and travellers often dress up to the nines to experience it. Reviewers say that ‘if you don’t meet anyone here, then you won’t meet anyone anywhere’. A Beary Good Hostel – Singapore Rather than the previous steamy hostels, this one is a regression to the much longer slumbers of childhood. For a stay in a hostel covered with teddy-bears, travellers are looking at a very affordable £13 a night. With its central location in Singapore, what it lacks in its steaminess it more than makes up for with its comfort and locality.
Travel
11/02/14
Issue 293
concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk
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Amsterdam: Two sides to the sex trade
Sex, drugs and commercialisation Isaac Kean Travel Writer It’s easy to feel lost in the big city. That’s the thing that makes thinking of Norwich as a proper city difficult, no matter where you are you never quite manage to feel lost. Maybe it’s the quaint, middle-class, traditional, atmosphere or maybe it’s the un-ironic self-proclamation as ‘a fine city’ upon your entry. It could even just be the fact there aren’t any prostitutes tapping at you from behind fluorescent red glass doors. It’s not just the endless cobbled streets and winding canals that make Amsterdam such an easy place to get lost; you could have a map, a compass, an iPhone, two sherpas and a licensed tour guide, and you still wouldn’t be blamed for not really knowing where you are. Although, that could just be the drugs. Probably the best way to describe walking along the alleyways of the city’s infamous red light district is like some dystopian future where sex is a service no different to getting a haircut. Parents lead their children by the hand past glowing windows with a distinctly continental ‘no big deal’ attitude. We bemoan the objectification of women in our society, but this is surely something else entirely. When half-naked women shine out on either flank as you stroll down a dark and narrow street, parading their bodies and trying to usher you in with a not-sosubtle rattling of the door, it’s not difficult to view them as a product – a commodity available for a couple of hundred Euros. Defenders will tell you that the legalisation and regulation of prostitution
has a positive effect, decreases human trafficking and limits the excesses of the sex trade. This may very well be the case, there’s no denying that it makes it easier to keep watch over the dark aspects of prostitution. Nonetheless, there’s something inescapably odd about reducing this to a business. There are no niceties involved, no upstairs lounge fit for comfort. Just a quick glimpse through the glass reveals a small room containing nothing more than a mattress, a sink and a curtain she pulls across the see-through door so the public can’t watch; that’s a separate service entirely. The commercialisation of sex and drugs is probably one of Amsterdam’s most striking attributes. Bulldog, the ‘Wetherspoons’ of coffee shops, sells you factory produced pre-rolled joints in cardboard packs of four with a little logo on the front and ‘Bulldog’ written down the side of each one in green writing. It’s surreal, but in some ways this consumerist approach can be comforting. Not having a clue how to roll or how to straighten out when you’ve smoked it too fast - orange juice, incidentally - isn’t met with ridicule but with understanding and advice, these people want to sell you this stuff and laughing at people who don’t know the difference between hash and skunk doesn’t make a sale. This isn’t a city to ‘find yourself’, it’s one to lose yourself, but with such an immersive culture, that’s not such an awful thing.
Life behind the red tinted glass Lucy Morris Travel Writer The average Amsterdam ‘window girl’ works 8-11 hour shifts, renting out her ‘window’ for 150 Euro’s per half-day and charging an average of fifty Euro’s per twenty minute session. Strolling through Amsterdam’s De Wallen Rossebuurt, just ten minutes south of the city’s central railway station and a world away from the country’s more understated charms, the prostitutes plying their trade from the window-fronts of the quaint, Medievalstyle houses are illuminated by that famous rosy glow. Policemen stroll past, and white underwear glares under the blacklight – while the occasional harsh, blue light, shining out incongruously amongst the streets full of red, indicates the presence of male and transgender sex workers. It’s certainly a striking sight – and to many Britons, a rather unnerving one. But how does Amsterdam’s system of legalized prostitution actually work? And what are the benefits, other than the obvious? Legalised prostitution is a relatively recent phenomenon in Amsterdam. A ban on brothels in place since the 19th century was only lifted in 2000, and since then the industry has been regulated via a licensing system. Window prostitution, brothels, ‘private houses’ and escort services through agencies are all legal – if they have a licence. Owners and operators of prostitution businesses also require a licence and the police carry out regular checks to ensure they comply with the regulations. The most important rules are that women may not be forced to work as prostitutes; that they must be of legal age; and a legal resident of the European Union. The licensing system has increased the girls’ safety and brought about a sharp reduction in illegal practices and the exploitation of children. Prostitutes now work in secured surroundings with cameras angled in front of every window, and police patrol the area. In these
brothels, there is a ‘panic alarm’ available at the press of a button. Clean linen and towels are provided, and legal prostitutes have access to unlimited free STD checks, as well as social services and assistance. Legalisation, however, has proven insufficient to bring a complete halt to all abuses in the sex trade. Women continue to be exploited through forced prostitution and human trafficking, with many of the worst offenders simply moving their operation underground into unlicensed brothels. Organised crime is also a problem – one 2005 report concluded that a large number of legal prostitutes in Amsterdam were being abused and forced to work by pimps and criminal gangs, and that the goals of legalization were failing. Amsterdam, however, has recently introduced measures to combat these failings. In July 2013, the minimum legal age for prostitutes was raised to 21, brothel windows were required to close between 06:00am and 08:00am, and window operators were required to draft a business plan setting out how they ensure good working conditions for the prostitutes. Healthcare services have also been expanded to include escorts and prostitutes who visit private homes – a further step to protect those behind the ‘red curtain’. Those curious to visit the district and see exactly how Amsterdam’s sex trade works, without hiring a prostitute, are also in luck. A new, educational prostitution museum named “Red Light Secrets” has opened on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, aiming to provide a literal window into the world of Red Light prostitution. The Amsterdam tourist board also itself provides an English-language guide for how to behave in the district - photographs are especially verboten. Meanwhile, ‘Condomerie’ provides the largest range of condoms in Amsterdam. And be sure to check out the statue dedicated to “the unknown sex worker” in the Old Church Square. The plaque on the statue reads simply; “Respect sex workers all over the world”.
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Issue 293
Lifestyle
11/02/14
The wonderful world of fetishes
Beth Saward Lifestyle Writer When talking about fetishes, perhaps it’s better to start off on a slightly dull note and define what one actually is. A dictionary definition is that a fetish is ‘a form of sexual desire in which pleasure is gained from a particular object or part of the body’. It’s different to being attracted to something as it’s not simply enjoying how something looks but gaining sexual pleasure from it. You could, for example, say that you’re attracted to redheads without having a fetish for them. There are three different types of fetishes: media, which focuses on materials such as rubber, leather or silk, form, so lingerie would fit here, and ‘animate’ which refers to human features such as feet, hair or bums. With the popularity of 50 Shades of Grey, bondage play and BDSM in general has become a more mainstream fetish. There is even a 50 Shades of Grey line of sex toys, bondage gear and related products. But it is not the definitive guide to the BDSM (or Bondage, Domination, Sado-Masochism) scene, and there are problems with it. For
many people BDSM is something that is solely confined to the bedroom whether that involves some light bondage in the form of fluffy handcuffs or more hardcore sado-masochistic whipping and other pain play. Another surprisingly common fetish is podophilia or the foot fetish. There’s even an Instagram entirely devoted to pictures of feet. The name really gives it away here:
it’s the love of feet. Foot fetishists find feet attractive and often get turned on by kissing, licking or sucking on them as well as by simply watching them wiggle. Interestingly, there is current research into the possible link between increased foot fetishes and high rates of sexually transmitted diseases. If genitalia are out of bounds due to infection, apparently feet are the next best thing! Some of the more unusual fetishes out
flickr: andreanna moya photography
there include katoptronophilia or being turned on by having sex in front of mirrors and nasolingus, otherwise known as enjoying sucking on a person’s nose. There are some, however, that just seem to go together perfectly. If you have knismolagnia then you get turned on by being tickled and should hope to find someone who has titillognia: a love of tickling others. Clowns are often seen as a source of fear, especially by people who’ve seen too many horror movies, but coulrophiliacs can’t get enough of them. People who are climacophiliacs must have to plan their sex lives carefully as a fetish falling down the stairs, the meaning of climacophilia, can’t be a healthy habit. And then there are those with nebulophilia whose love of fog must be difficult to satisfy outside of cold and damp England. Fetishes are as varied and individual as humans are themselves. Some of them are deemed to be more acceptable and more mainstream than others, some are problematic and downright illegal. But one thing’s for certain: typing the words ‘list of fetishes’ into google will definitely prove to be an eye-opening, and in some cases eyewatering, experience. Hot oil on the genitals anyone?
Long distance sex Emily Fedorowycz Lifestyle Writer This issue is all about breaking the taboo. So yes. When it comes to the sexual nature of long distance relationships it would seem there’s either three options. Firstly, you may commit yourself to abstinence of all things of the sexual nature until you next see your beloved. Patience is a virtue. Second, you might be lucky enough to have a partner that has the means or stamina to travel to you at the drop of a hat for an urgent booty call. We don’t all have that luxury. The last option is to keep your cheeky bean happy while on your lonesome. There’s no shame in it. It is instinctively engrained in us; our bodies our biologically dispositioned to be baby makers. It’s the way of life. Literally. So we might as well embrace it. With loving, sensuous arms. But you can still have a bit of fun with your partner while they’re a few hundreds of miles away. You could buy some erotica together and read it one chapter at a time, discussing after each what things you would love to do to one another. Or write your own erotica. Write a chapter each and then send the ‘story so far’ to your partner, for them to continue. Not only will it be a fun process, but a saucy keepsake too. Plus, old fashioned phone sex too hasn’t gone stale yet… it’s only
got better, alongside better technology. In a new age of webcams and improved instant messaging, we now have pictures to help illustrate our saucy sexts, along with so much more to experiment with. The distance can even be an advantage in some cases, as it can give you a chance to voice some of the things you may be to shy to suggest faceto-face. Let the fantasies out, and don’t hold back! Talking about everything you’ve done and want to do in the future can make the anticipation for your next meeting even more exciting. A top tip to consider as well, before beginning your textual intercourse, might be to put together some sexy messages, all ready to go. That way you don’t have to interrupt your handy work to reply, instead you can simply send off your pre-written ammo. Sextactular. Skype has also revolutionized long distance relationships and allows us to get at least some visual gratification. Naughty photos can be sent over new apps such as Snapchat and can also be a great way to add some excitement to the long stretches apart. You can add some games too for some extra amusement. See who can take the sexiest pic, or play a tantilising game of “guess the body part” by sending an unrecognizable close up. If they guess correctly, promise an extra five minutes of their favourite foreplay as a reward. If they lose, you get the bonus
instead. If you’re a board game lover, why not spice up some old classics such as Connect 4 or Scrabble by logging on to an online server and playing a strip version with your partner? Make your own rules. For every word over four letters take off an item of clothing. Have a giggle as you get naked and realise how bad you are at spelling. Plus, we wont have to wait long for some revolutionary and rather futuristic ways to deal with sex and long distance relationships. The Kissenger robot is due to be released soon, which is a pod that you kiss at the same time as your partner. It works via Bluetooth and supposedly reacts to your
mouth movements and the pressures of your lips on the pad to create some sort of virtual kissing for your partner. Not sure how good a robot kiss could be, but hey. Durex too are developing a design of “Funderwear”, with an app that goes with it, so that you can touch your partner from anywhere across the globe. Nifty. Although, with such a personal app you definitely would not want your friends to get ahold of your phone. “Frape” all of a sudden would have a whole new meaning… Nevertheless, until these new fangled gadgets are launched, there is plenty to keep the long distance lovers both pleased and assured. I mean, pleasured.
Lifestyle
11/02/14
Issue 293
concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Meeting the parents
Beth Ryan Lifestyle Writer Meeting the parents; an inevitable occasion in every new relationship, usually riddled with sweaty palms, self-awareness and bad jokes on both sides of the table. The build-up to the meeting incurs a particular kind of discomfort; a blend of reluctance, hope, and provisional embarrassment. But the chances are that your nerves are unnecessary. The simple truth is that most parents want their children to be happy if you are the source of this, you can only go wrong to a certain extent. There are, though, a few things you can do to limit any potential damage. Pre-meeting mirror check Within the first minute of meeting someone, they will already have formed an opinion of you. Daunting. It’s pretty self-explanatory, really opt for the less offensive items in your wardrobe and avoid black eyes or last night’s smeared make up. Appearances, at least at first, matter. Beware of the classic American highschool hickey, purple and red, shoved in the face of a confused parents, wondering just what you got up to last night with their beautiful, innocent child.
The last thing you want is your partner’s parents imagining the two of you in the bedroom... A pre-dinner mirror check, then, as well as a during dinner one, may save you a bit of embarrassment and get rid of that piece of brocolli stuck in your teeth. Flatter, Flatter... stop there
The better you make them feel about themselves the better they feel about you. But nobody likes a sycophant. Laughing at dad jokes is a must, but stop at ten seconds or you sound sarcastic. Throw in a décor compliment, but keep it simple something along the lines of ‘I love these scatter cushions Mrs Jones’ is a real winner with
flickr: oooh.oooh
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those anywhere near middle-aged or middle-class. Judge for yourself… Remember that you won’t be the only one trying to impress. Parents of university aged offspring are cloying more than ever on to their precious son or daughter and everything that comes with them. More often than not, they want you to like them. Now is also your chance to look out for warning signs. Is his recent hair loss really a temporary stress related phase or does his dad’s bald head say otherwise? Maybe she will laugh just a bit too whole heartedly at her grandma’s racist jokes, or perhaps he’ll display the kind of filial affection which can only signpost him as a chronic mummy’s boy. Try, though, not to worry too much. Even the most seamless of people struggle to give the perfect first impression; we’ve all heard the anecdote of Marilyn Monroe’s first encounter with Arthur Miller’s mother. Marilyn excuses herself to use the bathroom, and, ever self conscious, turns the tap on full to cover the sound of her peeing. Later Arthur asks his mother what he thought of Marilyn. ‘Very nice girl’, she replies, ‘but she pees like a horse.’ So even if the dreaded event results in a few embarrassments, at least you’re in good company.
A history of pubic hair
Lucy Morris Lifestyle Writer We’ve all seen, heard or experienced ourselves the public debate over the pubic hair-removal phenomenon. Whether people – largely women – decide to keep their full bush intact, or dare to bare “down there” has become a surprisingly public issue, with internet articles and Guardian think-pieces alternately deriding those who don’t shave as being repulsive and unhygienic on the one hand, and berating women who do wax it all off as brainwashed ‘anti-feminists’ on the other. But what of the history of pubic hair – and its removal? Where did this curious phenomenon come from – and how do ‘pubic hair trends’ even get started? Concrete gets down and dirty to discover the real history of pubic hair removal. Ancient Times Pubic hair removal was on-trend for the ancient Egyptians. Considering pubic hair ‘uncivilised’, both women and men employed such methods as bronze and flint razors, a primitive form of ‘sugaring’, and home-grown depilatory creams made from such bizarre
ingredients as arsenic and quicklime in their quest for total hair-removal. Ouch. The ancient Greeks plucked out women’s hair, often as soon as it started to appear on a pubescent girl’s body, using tweezers. (‘Virgin waxes’, where girls just entering puberty have their first pubic hairs immediately waxed off, are, startlingly, not a new trend.) Being able to devote the time and money necessary to obtain a perfectly smooth pudenda (incidentally, also the Latin word for ‘shame’ – yep) was regarded as a status symbol. Early modern period During the Renaissance, Italian books featured a litany of hair-removal methods - but curiously, none for men. 16th century doctors recommended hair removal on the grounds that too much represented an “imbalance of
flickr: vince42
the humours” that also made a woman ‘manly’ and unattractive, “intelligent, but disagreeable and argumentative”. Full bush, however, was the trend for most women for most of modern history. Catherine de Medici, a noblewoman of the same era allegedly forbade her ladies in waiting from removing their pubic hair. And by the time Elizabeth I came to power in England, she would set a new fashion for hair management, in which she would leave the hair on her body untouched - but removed her eyebrows entirely. Prostitutes did shave the hair down there, mostly as a way to prevent infection with pubic lice or fleas, but would then cover up the shaved hair with a miniature ‘pubic wig’ known as a merkin – and these date back to the 1400s. (This means that those rather
bald-looking poonanis sported by the prostitutes in TV’s Game of Thrones may, in fact, be moderately historically accurate - but noblewoman Melisandre has no excuse!) 20th Century For much of the Victorian era, full bush was the norm - and it continued as so right up until the invention of the bikini. While women did then depilate their bikini line, for a while that was as far as it went. 70s full bush was a notorious trend in Playboy and Penthouse, as each strived to show more than the other without being deemed obscene. (Implausibly, it was generally agreed that nude photographs were not pornographic unless they showed pubic hair or genitals.) In the 80s, extra trimming became de rigeur, as changing pantylines (v-front bikinis, anyone?) the rise of comparatively hairless porn and eventually episode of Sex and the City engendered change. Interestingly, Playboy only did its first totally-hairless nude shoot in 2001, though it’s quickly become their norm since then. And whatever your choice of pubicgrooming, there’s likely historical precedent for it.
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Issue 293
11/02/14
Lifestyle
Super sexy chocolate and strawberry cake Georgia Ellis Lifestyle Writer Both chocolate and strawberries are proven aphrodisiacs, so why not combine the two for double the sensual power. This recipes is much easier than it’s long list of ingredients suggests, follow it carefully and prepare to wow your loved one. Ingredients • 350g of caster sugar • 225g of plain flour • 2 eggs • 85g of cocoa power • 1 ½ tsp of baking power • 250ml of milk • 125 ml of vegetable oil • 250ml of boiling water • 2 tsp of vanilla extract To decorate • 1punit of strawberries • 200ml of double cream • 200g of milk chocolate
Method 1. Firstly, remember to preheat your oven to 180 C. 2. Next, place all the cake ingredients apart from the boiling water into a large bowl and whisk until the mixture is smooth. 3. Then add the boiling water to the mix, a little at a time, this will make the mixture very runny. 4. Divide the mixture into two sandwich tins and then bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. 5. When baked, leave to cool before icing and decorating. 6. For the icing, gently heat the chocolate and the double cream until the chocolate has melted. 7. Cool the icing slightly. 8. Ice the top of one of the cakes, putting the other cake on top. 9. Use the rest of the icing for the top of the cake. 10. Crop your strawberries and decorate the top of your cake however you want. Enjoy!
Flickr: amsfrank
Love heart biscuits
m Lydia Clifton Lifestyle Writer A quick and easy baking treat to share with friends or a loved one. Ingredients • 150g butter, room temperature • 75g caster sugar • 225g plain flour • 2 tblsp vanilla essence • Icing sugar • Sugar roses • Edible glitter Method 1. Dice the butter into a bowl. Tip in the flour, sugar, vanilla essence and a pinch of salt. Gently rub in the butter with your fingertips and bring the dough together into a ball. Wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes. 2. Preheat the oven to 170C gas mark 4. 3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll to about ½ cm. Cut out heart shapes and lay on a lined baking tray. Bake for 15-25 minutes. Leave to cool. 4. Decorate biscuits with icing (add a small amount of water to the icing sugar) and dip into edible glitter, or use a little icing to glue on sugar roses. Leave to set before eating.
flickr: superturtle
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concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk
Issue 293
Sport
11/02/14
BUCS REVIEW: Mixed fortunes for basketball and rugby As the women’s basketball team were defeated in their top of the table crunch match against Cambridge at the Sportspark, the women’s rugby side claimed victory in their first match of the new semester.
George Harmer and Kelly York Sports Correspondents
Editor’s column Charlie Savage Sports Editor Ever since George Best charmed the world with his majestic feet and pop star good looks, the potential to exploit sportsmen and women for their sex appeal has been seized upon by marketers. Best was the first, but he certainly was not the last. Every sport in the world is so dependent on the commercial revenue that television, advertising and image rights bring that sex is now a crucial tool in ensuring money continues to flow into sport. Whereas in the early decades of the twentieth century most spectators watched sports purely for the love of the game, there are a whole host of reasons why someone would sit down to enjoy competitive diving, for instance. Olympic silver-medalist Tom Daley has over two and a half million followers on twitter. Talented athlete though he is, it is safe to assume that a significant proportion of those followers have been amassed by his good looks that many teenage girls (and boys) become infatuated with. The old adage ‘sex sells’ has never been so apt as it is in modern sport. This does not mean that talent has become irrelevant, but the inflated transfer fees that football clubs pay for players account for much more than their services on the pitch. You are just as likely to see Fernando Torres posing for a photographer than you are to seeing him celebrate in front of a sea of blue at Stamford Bridge. Sex does invariably sell in sport, but what links all the great sport sex symbols of the modern era has been their incomparable talent. While Torres’ form has been indifferent at Chelsea, he will still go down as one of the great strikers of his generation, and has won all the honours a professional footballer can win. It is not enough to rely on looks alone in sport, and while it may help in selling shirts and attracting fickle support, what the average fan asks for more than anything else is natural ability and dedication. Regardless of how the commercial aspect of sport develops in the future, that is something that will never change.
UEA Women’s B’ball Cambridge
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The UEA women’s basketball team headed into the biggest game of their season against top of the table Cambridge knowing that a win would see them sit in pole position to claim the Midlands 2B title. However, the visitors took all three points to all but seal their champions status. The chance to move one point ahead of Cambridge with two games to go saw the biggest and most vocal crowd of the season turn out to support the Panthers. The home side started slowly in the first quarter, with Cambridge able to assume a commanding grip on the game. Having calmed themselves down, UEA began to close the gap in the scoreline that Cambridge had established. It was evident that the Panthers
were giving their all, with outstanding support from the bench and the partisan crowd in the balcony. As Cambridge began to pull away, the hosts were buoyed by Antonia Feilhauer hitting a magnificent three pointer on the buzzer at the end of the third quarter. With the away side now only eight points ahead, the hosts began to believe that the comeback was on. However, Cambridge’s Ashley showed her quality to condemn UEA to defeat. Ashley, who scored 28 points, played Division 1 at University in America, making her one of the stronger opponents that UEA have faced this season. Cambridge closed the game out, meaning that two UEA wins from their final two matches would still not be enough for them to claim the title, providing Cambridge win their next match. With only four players in the side from the team that played last year, there is plenty for the Panthers to be proud of as they look to close the season out in style.
UEA Women’s Rugby Bedford
41 0
In spite of the poor weather conditions, UEA earned a resounding victory over an undermanned Bedford outfit. Although smaller, UEA’s scrum was strong and steady against the vistors’ inexperienced forwards. The game was won by the backs, with a series of strong runs ensuring that the visitor’s struggled to get out of their own half. The second half saw Bedford grow in confidence, but they continued to be suppressed by the dominant hosts. UEA’s number 15 Laura Fearnley supplied a sure pair of hands and made strong, positive decisions, earning her the back of the match award. With five wins out of five, UEA stay top of the table, three points ahead of De Montfort. The two meet for the second time this season in early March, where UEA will hope to seal the title.
Women’s volleyball maintain unbeaten run at Bedford Elizabeth Leddy Sports Correspondent The UEA women’s 1s remain unbeaten in their Midlands 2B BUCS league after a 3-0 away win over Bedford. Having only lost one set in the 19 played so far, the team went in to the match with high hopes. However, the league leaders were without captain Natalia de Martino and setter Masha Sillem, leading to an on court team who had rarely played together and with some players in new positions. Instead of taking advantage of UEA’s absences, the home team struggled to score more than 10 points in any set, and could only play a defensive game against the visitor’s strong attacks. While Bedford continuously failed to successfully carry out the crucial first pass, UEA showered them with hits and stand-in captain Sian Warren left both sides speechless after the execution of a perfect pancake, saving what appeared to be a lost point. The growing gap allowed UEA to practise new moves and serves, whilst developing their precision and accuracy as Bedford failed to put up a block against the hits. The lack of rallies meant the referee allowed mistakes to pass, though this didn’t stop the team
in their race to claim all three sets. However, the points lost were due to serving mistakes and hits falling short of the net; mistakes that they cannot afford to make in their upcoming fixtures. The win keeps UEA at the top of the table as the team prepare for the final three matches of the season. Two trips to Anglia Ruskin and Oxford Brookes will conclude the campaign, with a home match against Cranfield to come tomorrow. With four points separating Oxford from UEA, a win against Cranfield would put the women into pole position to claim the title.
Photo: Elizabeth Leddy
MIDLANDS 2B LEAGUE G W L PTS 1. UEA 1s
7
7 0
19
2. Oxford 1s
7
5 2
15
3. Cranfield 1s
6
4 2
11
4. A. Ruskin 1s 1 4
2 2
6
5. Bedford 1s
1 7
3
6. Northampton 1s 8 1 7
2
8
Photo: Elizabeth Leddy
Sport
11/02/14
Issue 293
concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk
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IN FOCUS: GOLF SOCIETY The In focus feature returns to Concrete, as Will Medlock speaks to UEA Golf’s Secretary Sam O’Doherty about the challenges golf faces both at university and on the international stage.
Will Medlock Sports Editor The saying goes that football is a game played by gentlemen and watched by hooligans. UEA Golf Society Secretary Sam O’Doherty is all too aware that another sporting stereotype continues to linger, but hangs over the putting green rather than the football pitch. “Golf in the past seems to have developed this very snooty, middle-class stereotype, which I find very strange as it’s actually a very accessible and friendly sport to play.” This is perhaps one of the more pertinent and persistent challenges that the sport has had to overcome. While O’Doherty is confident that such archaic stereotypes have the capacity to alter and eventually recede, he acknowledges that golf faces distinct disadvantages to other sports at UEA when September arrives. “Golf is often overlooked by students, especially first years, as golf clubs are a big piece of equipment for people to bring up into halls. “Currently, with us playing at Barnham Broom, transport to and from the course is an issue as it is quite far out of town, meaning it restricts a lot of people. Hopefully, moving to Eaton next year will enable us to solve this problem. With the
course situated just off of Newmarket Road, students will find it far more accessible.” O’Doherty concedes that union aid is necessary in order for the society to survive and attract new members. “We have had a great relationship with Barnham Broom, but, for the sake of the society, we feel that it is vital for us to move next year. Getting the Union of Students to support us in this decision would be really helpful.” Despite the issues at hand, the club continue to successfully compete in their Midlands 2B league, having finished second in consecutive campaigns. With five wins out of eight, including home and away victories against De Montfort, the club appear in a healthy state heading into the final league match at Oxford Brookes. O’Doherty would perhaps concur that it is hard to overestimate the magnitude of the next two and a half years for golf. The chance to attract new participants and cement the sport’s status as a mainstay of the Olympic Games rests on the success of Rio 2016. Not since 1904 has the game graced the ultimate international stage, meaning that the poignant moment when the first golfer tees off in Brazil will go some way to deciding whether the sport is capable of branching out. Yet, O’Doherty is apprehensive of the implications of golf’s foray onto the
Olympic scene. “The pinnacle of golf will always be the four majors (US Open, The Open Championship, The Masters and the PGA Championship) and the Ryder Cup. However, I foresee it being treated as it is in tennis; a well respected achievement, but not the pinnacle of a career.” Golfing giant Jack Nicklaus, always one to speak with wisdom, humility and humour, admitted that, universally, children recognise a gold medal above individual competitions, thus championing the positives that the Olympics can offer golf. If there is to be a considerable surge in participation levels, then, initially, it will be clubs in the mould of UEA’s who stand to benefit most.
Photo: Sam O’Doherty
Photo: Sam O’Doherty
Sexist video leaks following Gray’s TV return Jack Lusby Sports Correspondent The fourth round of this season’s FA Cup was always bound to herald a surprise or two. Giuseppe Sannino’s Watford shocked Manchester City early on in their fixture before eventually being strong-armed into submission. Cup holders, but now Championship hopefuls, Wigan Athletic defeated Tony Pulis’ resurgent Crystal Palace in another impressive display. Perhaps most surprising was the return of Andy Gray. Employed as a guest commentator to cover the welcome absence of Michael Owen, the Scottish broadcaster appeared on BT Sport’s coverage of Everton’s routine 4-0 win away to Stevenage. Gray and his long-standing accomplice Richard Keys were ousted from their positions at Sky Sports in 2011, after being caught making derogatory remarks about female assistant referee Sian Massey. This was followed by the leak of further footage, showing Gray making a lewd “tuck me in” gesture towards fellow presenter Charlotte Jackson before a
Sky Sports broadcast. To make matters worse, Keys recently took to Twitter to defend their actions; he branded the treatment of Gray a scandal, with the rationale of “we were bugged.” Unfortunately, the abominable, sexist behaviour of Messrs Keys and Gray is endemic within modern football. Centuries-old stereotyping, of the lesser, domestic female, is nothing new. However, the rise of lad banter culture has only served to perpetuate these issues. Keys and Gray’s approach towards the offside rule, with Gray commenting “women don’t know the offside rule,” is the laziest derogation of women within football today. This could even be seen with the recent release of a 50 pence piece explaining the offside rule, serving to commemorate the 2012 Olympic Games. This is something now intrinsically ingrained within our culture. While the offside rule is an oft-debated grey area within world football, all of these are factors in a stain wearing into the reputation of the women’s game. It is quite likely that the most recent video of Keys and Gray to be leaked was timed to coincide with the return of the
latter to the British media. A week after the Everton game, YouTube channel The Football Ramble released a video of the pair apparently jeering at fellow professional Clare Tomlinson from off-camera with the familiar football chant “get your tits out for the lads”. The authenticity of the video remains questionable, but it is far from out of the question with Keys and Gray. Unfortunately, Gray’s uncanny knack of coining a phrase serves him well within a fickle-natured football fandom. His berserk reaction to Steven Gerrard’s late half-volley against Olympiakos in 2004 will live forever in the memory of many. However, much like an Emile Heskey joke, his presence will forever linger without its discouragement. The reality is that the behaviour of Andy Gray is fundamentally prehistoric, and shouldn’t be encouraged. The fact that the return of Gray to British commentary shores coincides with the release of yet another misogynist diatribe serves to underline how out of touch football punditry is, particularly with women’s football taking such great strides in recent years.
As Sky Sports have shown in recent years, there is a wealth of intelligent and measured young pundits available within the game. Hopefully BT Sport takes note and give someone more deserving a chance.
The Guardian
@concretesport
Concrete Sport UEA
SPORT
Issue 293 11 February 2014
Gray can’t shift sexist tag
Moji Adegbile Photo: Alice Williams Moji Adegbile
UEA women’s lacrosse edged out by strong Leicester outfit Moji Adegbile Sports Correspondent
Under the grey sky at Colney Lane, with rain and high winds prevailing against all, the UEA women’s lacrosse team faced rivals Leicester in their first home match this semester. A close game ensued, with a final score of 15-8 in Leicester’s favour, meaning the visitors moved above UEA in the Midlands 2A league. However, Leicester, UEA, league leaders Nottingham and fourth placed Warwick all have 15 points each, setting up a tense final three games of the season. Both teams were able to showcase the hard work they have put into training after the Christmas break. The weather conditions proved difficult to combat, with the pitch surface affected by the cold and wet weather in the week running up to the match. As a result, ground balls were one of the main features of the game. After a tough opening quarter which saw the hosts fall 4-1 behind, a quick change of tactics and tightening of the defence halted the flurry of Leicester goals. Eilidh Hall, who was also nominated as woman of the match, took
control of the UEA attack. Under her guidance, and thanks to great teamwork and finishing, UEA began to find their rhythm and began scoring freely, with three scored by Kaho Yoshida. Although the eventual defeat opens the title race up, UEA can be proud of the brilliant game they played and can take heart from the fact they were up against tough opposition. The visitors squad included an England star player, who scored the majority of their goals. With a tight defence repelling them, UEA were unable to make up for their loss to Leicester in November. Despite quality opposition and the intense wind and ice-cold rain, the game was well matched and an exciting 60 minutes of lacrosse for all those present.
Photo: Alice Williams
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Women’s volleyball
MIDLANDS 2A LEAGUE G W L PTS 1. Nottingham 3s 7
5
2 15
2. Leicester 1s
7
5
2 15
3. UEA 1s
7
5
2 15
4. Warwick 2s
8 5
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5. Northampton 1s 5 0 6. Bedford 1s
5
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Page 22 In focus: Golf society
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VENUE
SEX ISSUE Will Cockram
concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
11.02.14
VENUE
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CONTENTS
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bombay bicycle club Welcome to Venue’s sex issue! We’re particularly excited about our content this fortnight, and we’re sure you will be too. There’s something for everyone: Music have aimed for the softer side of sex with a romantic playlist, while Television has examined LGBT representation. Creative Writing is a grab-bag of everything from failed relationships to cunnilingus and, for those not-so faint of heart, Arts has pushed the boat out with an overview of Shunga, a Japanese form of erotic art. We’d also like to thank Sophie Pischedda and George Smith for being such great sports during our cover shoot. Getting the silhouette shot right from a technical standpoint was a task in itself, so thank you both for your patience.
FASHION
lingerie shoot
CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS: Venue would love to have some new and original photography for the front and back covers of our publication. In collaboration with UEA Photo Soc, we will be running fortnightly competitions to showcase talent. Whether you make the cover or not, all entries will be featured in our website’s brand new online gallery. To enter, contact Jonathan Alomoto at ueaphotosoc@gmail.com for more details. Stay cute, Ciara and Hayden
16 TELEVISION nudity on t.v.
Editor-in-Chief | Sidonie Chaffer-Melley Venue Editors | Hayden East and Ciara Jack Music | Editors | Jack Enright and Alex Flood Music Contributors: Dean Cassady, Lydia Clifton, Hayden East, Jack Enright, Alex Flood, Callum Graham, Jennifer Johnson, Zoe Jones, Charlie Methven, Bridie Wilkinson Fashion | Editors | Madz Abbasi and Ella Sharp Fashion Contributors: Madz Abbasi, Gemma Carter, Rachel Hayllor Arts | Editor | Callum Graham Arts Contributors: Callum Graham, Beth Ryan Creative Writing | Editor | Holly McDede Creative Writing Contributors: Eve Aimee, Joanna Hollins, Oliver Hughes, Alex Munro, Peter Thorn Gaming | Editor | Sam Emsley Gaming Contributors: Kristan Emery, Sam Emsley Television | Editor | Robert Drury Television Contributors: Adam Dawson, Melissa Haggar, James Szumowski Film | Editors | Holly Wade and Adam White Film Contributors: Madz Abbasi, Matthew Atwood, Neven Devies, Joseph Holness, Rachel Keeley, Silvia Rose, Freddie Van De Velde Competitions & Listings | Editor | Saul Holmes
The Sex Issue
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11.02.2014
www.concrete-online.co.uk
MUSIC
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
INTERVIEW: THE FAMILY RAIN
music editor ALEX FLOOD gets personal with the West Country three-piece
dailyrecord.co.uk musicfromtheeastzone.co.uk
It’s late afternoon when lead vocalist Will Walter’s dulcet Somerset tones crackle into life on the other end of the telephone. He’s calling from his old bedroom at his parent’s house on the outskirts of leafy Bath. Will and his two brothers, Ollie (guitar) and Tim (drums), still live in their childhood home, when they’re not out on tour or in the studio that is, which hasn’t been often over the last few years. In fact, the band has just returned from recording their debut album in Berlin. Entitled Under the Volcano, they “had a really good first album experience,” and when asked about the choice of Berlin’s Hansa studios as the recording location Will replies, “it was a joint decision with the producer (Jim Abiss), it was based around the fact that we wanted to go somewhere exciting and hopefully that would reflect in the album.” Pressed further about the fantastic coup of acquiring Jim Abiss (of Arctic Monkeys and Adele fame) to produce the record, Will expounds: “It was amazing, that was the first point after getting signed we were like, shit’s getting real. It felt like a massive step up when he agreed to do the record.” Will’s overawed disposition is typical of the humble
personality he projects throughout the interview. He’s really just a small-town, down-to-earth lad from Bath, it seems, and that’s the essence of the band’s music too. Asked about the record, (released 3 February on Virgin EMI Records), Will says, “we were hopefully sounding like our take on rock ‘n’ roll music at present, and trying to inject a slight bit of modernity into it, bring it into 2014.” Under the Volcano contains some more unexpected influences too: beneath the ‘neo- Led Zeppelin’ vibe can be discerned a more urban sound, including a guitar line on ‘Trust Me… I’m a Genius’ which was inspired by Dr. Dre’s hip-hop stomper ‘Still D.R.E’. “We were listening to a lot of hip hop when we wrote the record. We were getting back into De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and stuff like that,” Will explains. “We took influence from whatever the hell we wanted, that’s the way to do it.” Will waxes lyrical about happy memories of his time in various bands with his brothers when they were teenagers, trying to graft a living and get noticed by big labels. The brothers played “local pubs and local battle of the bands and mates
mums’ parties and aunties’ parties. We started the proper way, we played to no one for about six years, it was the proper grass roots way of earning your crust.” The Family Rain were also, rather surprisingly, into some rather macho hobbies. “In our early teens we were really into wrestling and skateboarding. We weren’t any good at wrestling because we were all about four foot two, and we were shit at skateboarding. As soon as we started playing instruments we were half decent at it, so we stuck with it.” The Bath music scene, however, left much to be desired according to Will. “Miniscule would be the word, it was tiny. It’s full of good people but there aren’t enough of us, and there aren’t the venues to support anything major.” Will’s passion for what he does is undeniable, and when asked to weigh in on the current state of rock ‘n’ roll and guitar music, he makes an interesting point. “I think a lot of music and in part guitar music currently is based around looking cool, and people listen to stuff on the basis of looking cool. Because it then goes out of trend, that form of guitar music is suddenly discarded; it’s a very throwaway scene at
present.” This is what he is passionately fighting against, and an ideal the band seek to incorporate into their music. “We’re very conscious of coming from our own place, and not worrying what other people think about it.” The interview then moves onto the subject of the band’s genesis, and Will expounds a very interesting fact about the band’s name. “I found a video of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, she did a song called ‘Didn’t It Rain’, and when we were forming this band one of the main things I felt was that the band needed to come from a place similar to where this girl was, because she is absolutely slamming it. The ‘Rain’ part came from that song, and of course we’re all family.” It seems the band are certainly on the up at the moment, with the debut album doing well with both critics and fans. A tour beckons next month, including a headline spot on the coveted NME Awards tour. Will is staying grounded however, and responds to the question of where he sees the band in a year thus: “just another step up the ladder, the main thing we want to achieve is longevity, we don’t want to be a flash in the pan.”
MUSIC concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
ALBUM REVIEWS WARPAINT WARPAINT Alex Flood
January 17 saw the release of the eagerly awaited sophomore effort from LA psychedelic rock band Warpaint. The eponymous record was a lengthy four years in the making, and sees this band of long-legged Marianne Faithful lookalikes
MOGWAI RAVE TAPES Jennifer Johnson
Rave Tapes marks Scottish, Indie postrockers Mogwai’s eighth full length effort, and their most electronically orientated record so far. Produced by Paul Savage (The Delgados), and recorded at Castle of Doom studios in Glasgow, it seems like business as usual for the John Peel favourites, but Mogwai’s Rave Tapes is anything but fodder for the dance floor. The Scottish alternative rock group has made a career out of instrumental doom and gloom, and by this stage their
departing in a markedly different direction. Produced by Grammy-winning, alternative rock guru Flood of U2, Nine Inch Nails and New Order fame (aka Mark Ellis), Warpaint was a complete change in recording process for the band. Instead of writing self-contained songs separately, the girls started by just “jamming and freeflowing on stage,” marking the first time they had collectively written tracks “from the ground up.” The process can be felt keenly throughout the album, producing an altogether more spontaneous and unpredictable sound. Tracks flow far more easily into one another than on previous effort The Fool, and the album as a concept benefits greatly as a result. The first track, imaginatively titled ‘Intro’, immediately sets the darker and more sinister tone present on Warpaint, with Jenny Lee Lindberg’s bass providing the footsteps of doom to this satanic anthem. The intricate, melancholic guitar lines and rumbling rhythm section of follower ‘Keep It Healthy’ prove the perfect backdrop for Emily Kolkal and Theresa Wayman’s lilting, mysterious harmonies sonic niche is firmly established. This is not to say that Rave Tapes, the band’s eighth studio release, is a complacent record, just that it is stamped with all the hallmarks of a Mogwai album, and punctuated by a few subtle innovations. As usual, the band methodically craft soundscapes, evoking moods and textures rather than relying on accessible elements of song structure. Distorted, chugging guitars still characterise the spacious compositions that the band so aptly create, but the addition of electronic elements proves that Mogwai’s sound hasn’t stagnated. The haunting opener ‘Heard About You Last Night’ is arguably the album’s most compelling offering. A gentle, resonant xylophone introduction – so austere it could have been plucked right from Radiohead’s Kid A – soon gives way to five minutes of sombre, arpeggiated guitar chords. The track never swells to a predictable climax, but meanders in a way that Mogwai has never quite mastered before. Synthesisers feature prominently, and almost humorously, on ‘Simon Ferocious’ and ‘Remurdered’. The introductions to both tracks sound like something right out of some horribly pixelated 80’s videogame. Thankfully, Mogwai put their spin on the sound effects, with pitch-bending guitar leads saving ‘Simon’ from industrial monotony. It is almost shocking how well the band incorporate
to float weightlessly towards the intense climax of taut kick drum and vibrant crescendo. Next up is single ‘Love is to Die’, with its continued swirling haze of mystical guitar effects shrouding Kolkal and Wayman’s elfin voices like fog round a tree-trunk, occasionally allowing a vocal breakthrough to proclaim prophetically that “Love is to die, love is not to die, love is to live,” revealing the emotionally introverted disposition the band has adopted lyrically for this album. The esoteric chants and hypnotic house-beat of ‘Hi’, followed by the Roxy Music-esque synth riff of ‘Biggy’ effortlessly showcases the minimalist elements that Warpaint embraces at the core of its being, and Mark Ellis’ influence can be keenly felt. Sixth track ‘Tease’ marks the high point of the album. An utterly sublime mix of acoustic guitars, XX motifs and New Order bass lines combines to produce the best song on the record. The chorus of “nananana” even acts as a kind of unconscious Oasis parody, improving upon the Gallaghers’ favourite refrain
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tenfold. It is not until the back end of side two that Warpaint lets itself down. ‘Feeling Alright’ is structurally poor and ‘CC’ sounds like the soundtrack to a bad horror film. It is here that the bloated track lengths start to be felt and the less-than committed listener will start to lag; but finale ‘Son’ is the final straw. Combining the worst elements of Coldplay’s mushy piano lines and Kate Bush’s wail at its most irritating, ‘Son’ drifts from cliché to cliché before ending in a damp squib of a fadeout. Warpaint in essence simply doesn’t have the staying power to achieve perfection from start to finish. The first side-and-ahalf magnificently portray a band at the top of their game creatively, standouts ‘Tease’ and ‘Love is to Die’ better anything done previously by the California rockers, but a few tracks listed in the wrong places create a feeling of tiredness as the record draws to a close.
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electronic sounds into their sonic vocabulary, and this is just a testament to the confidence they have in their style and musicianship. If anything Rave Tapes illustrates that Mogwai are still the best at what they do— and their capabilities extend far beyond the average bit of wordless post-rock dreariness. ‘Master Card’ is brash and aggressive, driven by rhythmic guitar chords, whereas the sparse ‘Blues Hour’ dabbles in introspection, aided by almost imperceptible vocals. However, Rave Tapes would not truly be a Mogwai album without a couple of rumbling, climactic moments. ‘Blues Hour’ builds to a distorted peak, while the churning
synth and guitar pulses of ‘Deesh’ don’t ever wholly erupt, but grow steadily more intense. Ultimately, Rave Tapes is not a groundbreaking record, but it is inventive within its own boundaries. Surely it isn’t easy to stay relevant after eight albums, especially when a band occupies a musical niche as specific and nuanced as Mogwai’s is. Still, Rave Tapes shows that the band is still progressing—a quality that sets them apart from so many peers in their genre.
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BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB SO LONG, SEE YOU TOMORROW Charlie Methven
MUSIC
www.concrete-online.co.uk
out, traditionalists needn’t have worried. ‘Carry Me’ is basically a one-off on the album. In fact, the song that immediately follows it, ‘Home By Now’, almost seems designed to reassure any listeners that ‘Carry Me’ let down; it’s a duet between Jack Steadman and Lucy Rose backed by simple guitar and a pair of only slightly electro-manipulated piano chords. So, if ‘Carry Me’ didn’t grab you, don’t despair.
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
And then there’s ‘Come To’, which calls you back for repeated listens with an addictively joyous loop which pops up in the chorus - it’s a pitch-altered jumble of oohs and aahs from Lucy Rose. Rose, who’s sung on three out of four BBC albums now and really should be considered an honorary member, gets the mike to herself for a bit of ‘Home By Now’, a beautiful duet between her
on this record mention light or sunlight in some way. That’s not a complaint, of course – the repetition of Steadman’s favourite words is the proof of his unpretentious sincerity as a lyricist. His lyrics are predictable the way your best friend’s facial expressions are, but they’re never annoying. So Long, See You Tomorrow is the fourth great album in a row for Bombay Bicycle
and Steadman. But there’s a new kid on the block in the form of Rae Morris, a nineteen-year-old newcomer who sings on the opener and closer of the album, as well as the well-chosen new single, ‘Luna’. Jack Steadman, as ever, is pleasantly calm and understated, affecting without being overwhelming. Lyrically, Steadman uses his usual style of simple yet poetically suggestive lines. Steadman’s lyrics have always aimed at a kind of poetry, but they’ve never fallen into pretentiousness or irritating obscurity. There’s only so much you can say about sunlight, but Steadman is doing his best to commit it to record. For anyone interested, six out of the ten songs
Club. For this listener, at least, every song was immediately likable and different in its own way, which is a welcome step up from 2011’s sometimes over-homogenous A Different Kind of Fix. At a more experienced and better-resourced period in their career, BBC are willing to shake things up a bit with electronic elements which enhance rather than replace their distinctive sound. A potential contender for album of the year. Oh, and buy a physical copy. You can animate the album artwork by spinning it.
9lives.co.za
At the end of last year, when London four-piece Bombay Bicycle Club dropped ‘Carry Me’, some people took the groaning synth and brash, fidgety percussion as a sign – or warning – that the band’s classic guitar-based sound had been ditched. For the record, this reviewer wasn’t completely convinced by ‘Carry Me’ the first time around. Though its looped ferocity and syncopated enunciation of the title improved after a few listens it is understandable why some long-time fans might have jumped on their own bikes. ‘Carry Me’ is catchy, exciting, and downright impressive, but, unlike the band’s best and most beloved songs, it’s not very beautiful. As it turns
Listen to So Long, See You Tomorrow, and you’ll find an album which delivers the beauty and intimacy to be expected from BBC, along with some unexpected but exciting electronic experimentation. ‘Home By Now’ is one of the loveliest tracks BBC have ever done, but really that accolade could be given to almost every track on here. There’s ‘It’s Alright Now’, built around a marching band-like loop which could be imagined playing at a Disney princess’ wedding. There’s more welcome electronic experimentation in what the band have called a Bollywood sample on ‘Feel’, a cheeky souvenir from head cyclist Jack Steadman’s recent trip to India.
“Taking the day off from his busy touring schedule, Drake surprises me with a trip to the Cayman Islands via his jet. After champagne on a yacht, I find he’s hired an entire restaurant for a romantic dinner. Ever the gentleman, he pays for the whole thing, then flashes me a look that says “just hold on, we’re going home.””
PERFECT MATCH
HAYDEN EAST
“A star lit serenade from Alex Turner with a picnic of black treacle. When the sky starts crying lightning, we’ll embrace in the rain before he asks r u mine? I’ll tell him to suck it and see, and we’ll head back to room 505. But will I leave before the lights come on?”
LYDIA CLIFTON
“Smoke twirls upwards from the end of Debbie Harry’s newly lit cigarette as she considers me with those bulbous blue eyes. Lounging lazily against the back of an armchair in a Soho jazz club, John Coltrane strides onto the stage. “This’ll do,” she says, and orders another dry Martini.”
DEAN CASSADY
We asked our writers to share their musical Valentine’s Day fantasies...
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“The date is in a West Berlin café, with Bowie regaling me with stories of his life while I try not to get lost in his mismatched eyes. We then go to a bar and get ridiculously drunk on cheap German vodka, ending the evening holding hands and leading the room in a loud rendition of ‘Space Oddity’.”
BRIDIE WILKINSON
“My ideal Valentine’s Day would be spent with Nas. We’d take a moonlight stroll through the Projects, free-styling as we share a bottle of Hennessy and smoke endless blunts. He’d tell me that although I’m a white boy from England, his music was always aimed at me, and I’d reassure him that he’s more than just Illmatic.”
CALLUM GRAHAM
“The year is 1938, the mood is thick with a sensual aroma, oozing and suggestive. Across the table looking back at me with intense blue eyes, is a young Sinatra. He picks up a hat left on the next table and places it on my head. “Cock your hat,” he says, “angles are attitudes.””
ZOE JONES
MUSIC concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
“LISTEN, BABY”
11.02.2014
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Music Editor JACK ENRIGHT picks out his top five songs featuring love, romance, and everything that comes with it Love and romance have been inspiring musicians ever since there were musicians around to be inspired. They are subjects that have fascinated artists since the very beginnings of the art form - the Greek lyric poet Sappho (arguably the world’s first ever singer-songwriter) wrote about little else, and that same obsession has continued from classical antiquity right into the modern day. Now they hold a standing not unlike that of salt and pepper - just as those ever reliable seasonings hold mastery over the world of condiments, love and romance still dominate the content of much of our music. Picking just five tracks from this impossibly rich seam is a task of Herculean proportions - but this is Venue, and we were determined to give it a go. First up on the list is the glorious ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’. Even if its legacy was nearly wrecked by an atrocious Diana Ross cover (that spoken word section…) the original Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell version is well deserving of its place on any list of great love songs. With
that unmistakeable intro (from legendary Motown session band The Funk Brothers) leading into Gaye and Terrell’s now iconic duet, it’s a track that has endured the passing of nearly 50 years without losing even a touch of its infectious appeal. If you can listen to that chorus without singing along, then you probably aren’t human. Staying firmly in that soul vein, our next nomination is Ben E. King’s sublime ‘Stand By Me’. Even if this number boasts less of the glitter and glamour of the previous star-studded composition, this is indisputably another masterpiece from the golden age of soul. While it’s not quite the omnipresent musical touchstone that Gaye and Terrell’s offering has now become, the groove and thrum of that double bass intro is still instantly recognisable. King’s vocals, at times elated, at others pained and choked, are the highlight moment of one of the most evocative voices of the 60s. When Dolly Parton released ‘Jolene’ as the lead single and title track of her 1973 LP it was met with near universal praise - even
making it onto Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’. That’s not the version that’s made it onto our list though - we’ve gone with its darker, scarier cousin, the cover penned by The White Stripes. The reason? Because for all its catchy rhythm, Parton’s jaunty version just doesn’t sound pained enough - not considering the lyrical content. When you hear those same lyrics fed through White’s fraught and fragile windpipe, it’s an emotion you can believe in. Our next nomination takes us across the channel for the first time - to Will Ozanne’s wet and rainy London, specifically. Released under his Gang Colours moniker, the beautiful ‘Why Didn’t You Call?’ is a much underrated gem. Telling the story of a fruitless exchange of phone numbers, Ozanne paints a heartrending scene with lines full of subtle, evocative suggestion, laid over his trademark scatter of drumbeats and plaintive piano melodies. It’s the lyrics, though - always a touch vague - that showcase Ozanne’s genius – there’s an ambiguity that
allows the listener to involve themselves with the track, filling in the gaps with details of their own invention. This list has fluctuated wildly from joyous celebration one second, to desperate angst the moment after - and we finally complete this downward trajectory into melancholy dejection with Yeah Yeah Yeahs 2003 track ‘Maps’ . This song (titled as an acronym for ‘My Angus Please Stay’) narrates the breakup of lead singer Karen O with her then boyfriend, and is one of the most touching songs of recent years. Karen O despairingly laments that “they don’t love you like I love you,” but her repeated exhortations are ultimately doomed. Such a track is far removed from Gaye and Terrel’s happy-go-lucky number, but this track is remarkable for the tangible emotion layered upon every word - watch the video online, and you’ll see Karen O shed real, unlplanned tears during filming. Any list of just five tracks could never dream to make everyone happy - we hope that this one has something for everyone.
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BANGIN’
What’s hotting up this month... 62 is the new 22 62 year old model Jacky O’Shaughnessy is the new face of American Apparel’s underwear Get in bed with Concrete Look out for Concrete condoms on campus this week!
Stephanie Seymour The supermodel will be designing her own lingerie line. Hot stuff.
FASHION
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concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
FUSCHIA: FASHION’S FUTURE? GEMMA CARTER talks pink
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and a colour that seems to dominate the high street and magazines at this time of year is pink. A colour stereotypically associated with all things girly and romantic - thanks to age old gender stereotypes and of course Barbie. Pink is a colour that has impacted massively on the fashion world with some legendary looks over the years - as well as those that are best kept in the past. One of the most monumental pink ensembles in fashion history is Marilyn Monroe’s hot pink satin gown in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. This vibrant dress was the epitome of glamour and confidence, emphasising Monroe’s striking beauty and sex appeal. Paired with matching gloves it was an outfit made in fashion heaven and one that is truly unforgettable. Despite this classy composition of pink, Juicy Couture valour tracksuits highlighted how wearing pink doesn’t always go to plan. These valour monstrosities were a favourite amongst “celebrities” such as Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Coleen Rooney. Usually teamed with a pair of bug-eye glasses, an oversized designer handbag and pout it was all a bit much to take. A true example of how too much pink, combined with rhinestones on your
bottom, can get you a fashion criminal record that will haunt you for as long as you live.
Moji Adegbile The majority of the time the trick to wearing pink is to not overdo it unless you’re doing it right – like Miss Monroe. Pale pink is just as effective as a striking shade of cerise. Try a cute little baby pink
tea dress for a subtle but sweet feminine look. Pink lace pieces are also a beautiful asset to any wardrobe if you prefer a more vintage style. Pink isn’t all about being pretty as it can also be edgy and grungy too. Many celebs, like Katy Perry and Fearne Cotton, have made statements by dying their hair different shades of pink. Although maybe stay away from the clown-like candyfloss disaster favoured by Nicki Minaj. Thanks to the attached gender stereotypes many men shy away from the shade. All men can wear pink! Brad Pitt showed his love of pink when he wore a baby pink festival to Cannes Film Festival back in 2009. As well as Elvis and Michael Jackson who were also fans of a bit of pink now and again. Such stereotypes have created a social taboo surrounding men wearing pink, with this idea that it puts their masculinity in to jeopardy. Saying that only “real men” are able to wear pink is as ridiculous as saying that real women don’t wear trousers. It’s about time we forgot about these prehistoric prejudices and established some fashion equality. So, hopefully Cupid’s arrow strikes and you fall head over heels in love with the colour pink this Valentine’s.
THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES
MADZ ABBasi discusses gender in the fashion industry
Gay marriage legal in Scotland! February 4th marks another step forward for equality.
We are living in a decade that is gradually coming to terms with the idea of equality for the sexes, as is recently demonstrated via increased awareness of feminism and LGBTQ rights. Fashion is for the sexes – an obvious statement to make, but is it true? For women, the fashion world is diverse. Androgyny and femininity are popular trends that resurrect on the catwalk year in and year out, to the point that they have even transcended into men’s fashion. Burberry’s latest collection at London Collections: Men, for instance, involved floral prints as well oversized tote bags. An array of fashion magazines debut the latest trends and offer their advice for their style-keen readers, the majority of which are targeted at women. Yes, there’s GQ, Esquire and even some fashion in FHM, but the shelves, in regards to fashion, are ultimately dominated by magazines aimed at and edited by women. Moreover, if you were to name up to five fashion models, how many of them would
be women? Would you know the likes of Andrej Pejic or Jon Kortajarena? If you do, we salute you! All this is not to say that you must know as many LGBTQ and male models as female models, or that women have no right to edit magazines with women as their prime readership or vice versa for men – that is far from the point. We love Lorraine Candy and Dylan Jones. What is being pointed out here is that, although fashion is about “style” (a sexless word), it appears to be tailored to women more than anyone else. We all know style, if anything, is not limited to one gender. Many of the world’s top fashion houses were founded and run by men such as Karl Largerfield and Alexander McQueen. Furthermore, it is surprising that only this year such strong feminine influences and design have descended into menswear. These designs have been doted brave and bold, yet surely if women, who for some years now, have experimented with androgynous looks, feminine menswear in today’s society
should not be regarded as avant-garde? And yet seemingly it is. A similar situation occurs with the 17 transgender models, including Arin Andrews and Katie Hill, who were photographed for Barneys New York’s Spring/Summer ‘14 Brothers, Sisters, Sons & Daughters campaign. It is an incredible and ground-breaking moment in the fashion world, raising awareness for LGBTQ rights. But one can’t help but wonder will there be a time when such models will be admired for their modelling and not because of their gender identity? Change is likely to occur depending on how aware, accepting and open minded we allow ourselves to be. By “we”, Venue means the important individuals of fashion: designers, editors, models, stylists, photographers, and even you – the reader, the consumer, the trend-setter. So is the fashion world ready for increased equality for sexes? You tell us, or better yet, tell everyone.
FASHION concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
11.02.2014
Photographer: Moji Adegbile. Stylists: Moji Adegbile and Stephenie Naulls. Model: Sophie Pischedda With special thanks to Patience Please lingerie for their involvment.
SENSUAL HEATING!
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Rachel Hayllor Picture your underwear drawer: the mismatched socks, the comfortable go-to bra, the baggy laundry-day pants and, of course, hidden under all these, pushed to the back, the matching set. Of the few facts of existence that bind women inexplicably and universally together, the presence of that one set of lingerie is an assured reality of the female experience. That one matching pair not only have the unparalleled power to set pulses racing in the bedroom but can act as a panacea for a number of other predicaments. A good bra and well-fitting pair of underwear are the foundations of any outfit. They can change the way your clothes hang on your body, smooth out the inevitable lumps and bumps, give your bust a boost and make you feel ready to take on the world. Fitted correctly this pair of super underwear holds you in and fills you out in
all the right places and can even help to improve your posture. That’s not to say that your ‘hot date’ underwear is only beneficial on a technical level. Walking around all day in your sauciest scanties with no one but yourself to know about it is like keeping a naughty little secret - it just makes you feel sexier. A woman’s sexuality is personal, private and unique to each person, and lingerie is a great way to express and nurture that sexuality in a way that doesn’t seek approval from anyone else. Whether you favour frivolous frilly numbers, sultry black silk, lascivious red lace or even a kinky corset, there’s a style out there for everyone. Since no one has to know but yourself, it’s a great way to take fashion risks and try out a more provocative alter-ego. Of all the industries to take a hit in the recession in the last six years, the international lingerie market is still going strong. One reason for this is that the market is
built on necessity – every woman needs underwear so demand never ebbs. Another explanation, and perhaps the most compelling one, is that lingerie is a fun way for a woman to treat herself and to feel special without breaking the bank. For students on a tight budget, buying new smallclothes has a similar pick-me-up effect to a pampering session. Even in the male fashion market you find men shelling out a little extra to get designer underwear from the likes of Armani, Calvin Klein and Jack Wills. This works as both a status symbol which inspires confidence and ideally gets the attention of the ladies and also as a satisfying indulgence. So whatever your plans may be this Valentine’s Day whether you’re single or in a relationship, male or female - your first port of call should be investing in a pair of irresistible intimates that will add some sultry sex appeal and make sure that, even in the cold of winter, you’ll be feeling hot, hot, hot.
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ARTS
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SHUNGA: EROTICA FOR THE PEOPLE CALLUM GRAHAM explores the explicit Japanese art
In early modern Japan, thousands of sexually explicit paintings, prints, and illustrated books with texts were produced, known as ‘spring pictures’ (shunga). Official life in this period was governed by strict Confucian laws, but private life was less controlled in practice. Shunga is in some ways a unique phenomenon in pre-modern world culture, in terms of the quantity, the quality and the nature of the art that was produced. Its production was widespread between 1600-1900. For such a popular and prolonged school of art it remains relatively unknown and unexplored. The British Musuem recently held an exhibition of shunga; in his introduction Tim Clark, the curator of the exhibition, says that experts are “pretty sure that everybody in Japanese society from the ruling class down to the ordinary townsperson in the street used and enjoyed Shunga. This is a situation that would have been inconceivable in Europe at the same time.” It’s a shame then that little seems to be happening in Japan to further our understanding of this openly joyful art. As the subtitle to the exhibition suggests - ‘Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art’ - there is much sensuality and, indeed, great humour, in the varied and beautifully detailed works. During the twentieth century, shunga was all but removed
from popular and scholarly memory and became taboo. It’s hard to see how these pictures can be considered offensive or profane; although explicit, there is always a light-heartedness to undercut any risk of overly seedy appearances. Frequently tender, funny and beautiful, shunga were mostly done within the popular school known as ‘pictures of the floating world’ (ukiyo-e), by celebrated artists such as Utamaro and Hokusai. Early modern Japan wasn’t exactly a place of sexual liberation, especially for women; however, the values promoted in shunga are generally positive towards sexual pleasure for all participants. With their focus on lovemaking, whether it is heterosexual or homosexual, in pairs or groups, there is such tenderness, humour and honesty in these works of art. Shunga is also known for its mutuality - pleasure for women as well as the men - and the shared pleasure is obvious in many of the pieces. By far the majority of shunga depict the sexual relations of the ordinary people, the chonin, the townsmen, women, merchant class, artisans and farmers. Courtesans also form the subject of many shunga. Utamaro was particularly revered for his depictions of courtesans, which offered an unmatched level of sensitivity and psychological poise. Tokugawa courtesans could be described as the
celebrities of their day, and Edo’s pleasure district, Yoshiwara, is often compared to Hollywood. Men saw them as highly eroticised due to their profession, but at the same time unattainable, since only the wealthiest, most cultured men would have any chance of sexual relations with one. Women saw them as distant, glamorous idols, and the fashions for the whole of Japan were inspired by the fashions of the courtesan. This fetishisation of the courtesan lifestyle is often reflected in shunga, though an overemphasis on glamour tends to ignore the realities of virtual sex slavery. It seems that Utamaro came closest to representing reality for these women, as they are often tragically depicted dreaming of escape and a better existence. Shunga was probably enjoyed by both men and women of all classes. Superstitions and customs surrounding shunga suggest as much; in the same way that it was considered a lucky charm against death for a samurai to carry shunga, it was considered a protection against fire in merchant warehouses and the home. Although explained away as superstition, the common reason to own shunga was far more libidinous. Separation from the opposite sex for prolonged periods was common; the samurai lived in barracks for months at a time, and conjugal
separation resulted from the sankin-kōtai system, and the merchants’ need to travel to obtain and sell goods meant they could be at sea for months at a time. Much of the evidence suggests that superstition surrounding shunga was maintained simply to keep up appearances, when really the men and women who enjoyed the work were probably looking to just have a crafty wank. Perhaps the most famous shunga ever produced is Hokusai’s The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife (pictured above) which is taken from the book Kinoe no Komatsu (English: Young Pines), a three-volume collection of shunga published in 1814. The zoophilic picture shows a woman, probably an ama (shell diver) receiving oral sex from two octopi. The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife is not the only shunga to show the possibilities of love between woman and octopus, and in fact there are several examples of sultry cephalopod action from Hokusai’s contemporary Yanagawa Shigenobu. No matter your opinion on the value and importance of shunga, it’s undeniable that they offer a view back into the private desires and motivations of a past Japanese culture. It’s easy to forget that figures from the past were real people too, and what better way to bring into focus a distant culture, than to have a brush with its kinky side.
ARTS
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
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11.02.2014
FORM, COLOUR, AND A BIT OF THE OLD IN AN BETH RYAN looks at the implicit sexuality of ANISH KAPOOR’S work
UT
CargoCollective
Anish Kapoor: My Red Homeland
Sex equals controversy ‐ probably the most well established equation in the art world. Think of Manet’s naked Olympia, confronting us with her knowing glare, or Allen Jones’ various X rated sculptures of PVC clad women. But what happens when sexuality is used in a less obvious, confrontational way? Well, a cannon spewing out bloody red wax, a few phallic relics and vaginas carved into just about every surface imaginable is what happens, at least if you’re Anish Kapoor. Kapoor is the artist‐come‐architect who rose with the New British Sculptors in the eighties and came to the wider public eye after winning the Turner Prize in 1991. As seems the prerequisite with any Turner Prize artist, Kapoor’s work is somewhat difficult; whopping great warped mirrors and odd protruding blimp sized blobs of metal pierced with gynaecological holes. Spectacular, yes. But what is it about? Nothing. It is about nothing, about voids and sublime emptiness. And this is where sexuality comes in. Let’s take, for instance, his 1990 series Void Field ‐ essentially, this was a collection of large flat rocks which Kapoor took his drill to, creating (or un‐creating?) mysterious
black holes in the surface of each. Simple, theoretically. In actuality, though, the result is uncanny and disconcerting. His most recent public work, Ark Nova, has a similar effect. Ark Nova is the world’s first inflatable concert hall, a huge purple rubberised creation currently in Japan. Though in many ways it is wildly different to Void Field (and, indeed, to most other things on Earth), it is also characterised by a single hole. And these strange vagina‐esque holes crop up throughout Kapoor’s oeuvre, to variously explicit extents (it requires little imagination to see that Hive, installed at the Royal Academy in 2009, places the viewer firmly in between two female legs). Is Kapoor, then, just a little… sexually frustrated? It wouldn’t be too far‐fetched to suggest so. But there is a reason that these pieces are so disturbingly powerful. They are Kapoor’s means of accessing an otherness beyond our material world. They are internally conflicting, at once symbolising the origins of existence but embodying utter nothingness. To say that they are just sexual seems inadequate; rather, they are representational of an
ultimate unity of internal and external, negative and positive space, and being and non-being. Because sexuality is as close as we get to this unity, this is how we view the empty space. It’s not all ins-and-outs, though. Colour is also integral to what he does. This was most blindingly apparent at his 2009 solo Royal Academy exhibition, which featured a piece called Shooting Into the Corner ‐ a cannon which would intermittently fire globs of crimson wax into (you guessed it) the corner. Complementing this was Svayambh, a train of crimson wax which moved slowly through the rooms of the Academy, painting the place red as it heaved itself along. These pieces were, well, a lot of things. Difficult, again. How do you respond to a huge sculpted mound of bloody red wax, pushing itself around an interminable track like something out of a post-apocalyptic film? These pieces were terrible and stunning at the same time. Partly this is because of Kapoor’s incredible inventiveness, but it is also because of the inescapable intensity of the deeply evocative red. Would the pieces have worked if they were a mixture of
wax with a deep blue pigment? Probably not. And this is why crimson dominates Kapoor’s work. It is the colour of blood, lust, anger, menstruation and flesh. It is the colour of femininity and sexuality, but moreover it is the colour of vitality, and therefore one which we instinctively respond to. But if it all seems a little too gynaecology‐central, there are a few phallic creations lurking in his wake. The Orbit tower comes to mind, the 115 metre high sculpture that Kapoor was commissioned to design for the Olympic park. It is a tower, so its form is phallic. Yet for Kapoor, this would be too simple; it may stand straight and upright, but it is teased by the helix tubes which curve and tangle around it, mocking masculinity. The Orbit, though, is not really where Kapoor’s interests reside. He does not work with outwards, concrete space, but with inwards non‐space. Superficially, this is why his works are preoccupied with the hollow feminine form, through which he can achieve a unity of being and nonbeing. Sexuality, here, is not served up as controversial subject matter, but is integral to creativity.
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CREATIVE WRITING www.concrete-online.co.uk
THE
RELATIONSHIP HAIKU Peter Thorn
The following pieces were published on
@UEA140 STORY
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On her thirty-ninth birthday Ava woke to a cold bed and an empty house. “On dating sites, men and women are looking for different things.” *** That weekend they made love in the hotel and ate good food and drank good wine and when they came home they were happy again, for a time. *** Lad at my stop, smoking. Inhale. Takes me back to you, Jim Mardell. Your bitter tongue, your hand up my leg, outside the Ritz, 73 years ago.
I. Flickr: Matthew Hurst
Alex Munro
A NAKED EGG MAN
We’ve had sex last night and the world feels like a different place to what it was, not really and only slightly but it is. The air in the bedroom is a bit dirtier than before. I’ve tried to cover it up with cigarette smoke like I used to cover my spots in my mums concealer, the really bulging red ones. You can’t really hide how disgusting you are and how disgusting you’ve been. Unless you have Oust: Oust would do the job. That would offend her though. We’ve just had sex and now I’m going to oust the room like you’re some kind of wet shaggy dog. I would prefer her to be a wet shaggy dog right now, I could just put her outside or call up the RSPCA. Then I might feel bad about giving her away though so I’d probably end up keeping her. There’s no escape really is there? She’s been in the toilet for ages, and she locked the door which offended me slightly considering last night I was inside her vagina. The moments gone, normality has come for it, substituted passion with politeness and ‘how the fuck do I get out without looking like l want out’. It’s fine she will go, once she has finished putting on enough make up to make it look like she isn’t wearing any. Eggs are all I have to offer. That says a lot about someone. The man who makes the full fry up is the man she wants to marry and the man with just eggs is the one she’ll end up with because she’s not particularly pretty or even interesting. At least I’m not the guy with ‘just toast’, everyone knows those ‘just toast’ people, even before they take the long pause and then say ‘erm no it’s just toast’. The same rule does not apply to girls. Girls who say ‘just toast’ are usually insanely cool because they’re lives are too fast and exciting for condiments. She probably has a whole cupboard of condiments. I guess I should make it look as if I have been doing something interesting whilst she has been in the toilet. Otherwise she will assume that I assumed she has taken a shit and she has been ages so I should assume that she has taken a shit however I know she is the type of girl who would rather eat shit then shit in someone else’s toilet. Last night she was talking so much about things I didn’t care about, she kept telling me that her sister just had a baby which is good news and great news if you’re the mother or the baby I guess but why would anybody think that I would care. Why would I care? It seems surreal to me that people recycle stories because they were exciting at one point but now there just second hand instruments of torture to fill empty space with. She is silent now and she looks prettier without the word barrier between us. Her face seemed to spill sounds last night, laughing so loud I wanted to close her like you do with those noisy greeting card that sing happy birthday. ‘I have eggs’ I say. ‘Nothing else?’ she says. ‘Maybe’ I lie. ‘Eggs are fine’ she lies. ‘If you have nothing else then I’ll take it’ she continues, using the same logic as a fat middle aged man in a brothel. She will defiantly tell her friends that I offered her eggs. It’s the sort of thing girls tend to say. ‘He offered me eggs’ she’ll say and they will all go ‘oh no’ and nod contemplating the eggs because suddenly they understand the exact kind of man I am. The egg man. ‘Do you have toast’? ‘Yes’ I say, wondering why she is asking about toast when I have the clear upgrade of eggs. ‘Anything to go on the toast?’ she is asking as if she already knows the answer, she thinks I’m just the ‘just toast’ man, the lowest of the low, the sit around in skid mark underwear playing play station man. I panic, what the hell do I have to go on toast? ‘I have eggs.’ ‘Just toast is fine’ she says thinking she is being low maintenance but really she’s just being the fussiest little bitch monkey that ever lived. Why couldn’t she just take my eggs and then I could fry them for her and stand around listening to the sizzling and feeling like I was doing something with my day. Now I just have to put a piece of white bread into her hand, a granary canvas denied all rights of creative expression. Maybe I should give her the crust and then I can stand next to her frying eggs in those circular jelly moulds my mum brought me and she will be stood next to me with nothing but crusty regret to munch on. Last night she spun on my penis. She literally did some spiny thing that she said she learnt through yoga. She looked like a deranged crab and it was great. That was normal then. In the context of the night, spinning round on my penis was normal (and when I say spinning, I mean dragging her body in circles occasionally establishing some sense of rhythmic and stability). Now nothing is normal, we just accidently touched hips and suddenly felt like a hobo ran up to me in the street and jabbed a dirty needle in my side. I give her the bread. I scan the fridge. We both find places to put our eyes that aren’t each other. The sun has stopped frolicking around and is now gutting away darkness with its sharp rays. It’s strangely reassuring. I have milk and bananas. I could make a milkshake for her. If I put a random herb in it, for no reason, she might even think I do yoga too. Sure I don’t actually have bananas but I can put Nesquick; banana-rama in. She won’t know. Lies are easy after sex.
Masturbation sucks, it’s just a poor substitute For warm, happy lovers. II. So, um, would you like, A warm, tasty beverage With me on Thursday? III. God, this is the best. You are a bright flame in my Dingy, low-rent flat. IV. Yes, of course I like The collected works of Keane, Bought with good feelings. V. Lots of love though now, It’s cooled to platonic calm For the best, we hope. VI. People, I’m single! Which really means, bugger me, I’m alone again.
***
TIGHTS FROM LAST NIGHT Eve Aimée Remember those times between the sheets beneath the covers and all that heat? My back would arch so you would know and then we’d fold and fit -but no. Your head will turn to kiss and mine will turn to miss; It smells of hot, sticky hands that are disappointed. I get home drunk, alone, strip off my tights, went straight to bed and fell asleep in a drunken snore. Because sometimes tights from last night are only just tights from last night.
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Poetry, like sex is looked for late at night half-drunk, uncertain of where you are or where you are going. Like sex you’ll never forget your first poem, or the first poet who touched you as if you were there, in the moment of poem with them. For all poems are looking for something else and even sex can blush because, like poetry, sex is just two authors, reader, writer, feeling blindly to something shared and hoping they find it.
CUNNILINGUS Oliver Hughes Do you know what it is like to have an orgasm? It is like revealing to a man the darkest part of your self, something that has previously never been shown to the outside world. Something that you kept at home, kept in your room in the box under your bed for your eyes only – something that was dark and shameful, something wrong. Taboo. My legs are open, wrapped around his sweaty, clammy neck. My feet twine around each other over his back, and I can feel his nerves with my toes that scratch him ever so slightly. My bare legs, shaved in the morning as part of the ritual of preparation, are pricked by the hairs on his back which are suddenly sharp, so sharp. It is not a conscious thing, but I am suddenly aware of pure haptic sensation, and every part of my body feels electrified and alive. If I am not doing something with them, they are dead. I tense, pressing his head further into my crotch. I can feel his stubble, scraping against my bare flesh, sensitive pale flesh that has rarely seen the light of day. His tongue is like silk, lashing over me in soft fluid motions, occasionally jittering and halting, creating experiences in my skin that makes me squeal like a horny teenager. Beneath it all I can feel something building deep within my stomach. I scream. I blaspheme. I say words in sentences I never thought I would have constructed. There was no thought to them, no effort. Just an outlet for all the feeling rippling through my entire body, that has nowhere to escape save for through the screams in my voice box. Everything else builds. Slowly. His breath is hot on me. Every exhalation sends shivers through my entire body and these are amplified. I shake. It is uncontrollable. His confidence builds the more he realises how completely in control of me he is. His lashings become firmer, more direct. I can’t bear it, but I slam my hands into the back of his head, grabbing his hair, twisting it, forcing his head down as I thrust into his face. It must hurt, but I don’t care. I am an animal. My pleasure is all that matters in the world. He is not even human. He is a tool. Something to be used. My nerves were made for this. To bring my entire personality crumbling down into some crazed, drooling animal, lusting after a few inches of male tissue. As soon as I have them I try to get these thoughts out of my mind, My brain is in turmoil, locked in a civil war with my heart. I want this so much. I don’t want him. I want his tongue. I want everything he has to offer me. I want him to die for me. I am despicable, but it feels so good. He is killing me. I want it to be over, and I don’t. I live to die in pleasure’s throes. I become distinctly aware of birdsong out the window. It becomes all I can hear, over the slurps and gasps he makes and something else, a low droning, something I don’t recognise until I realise it is emanating from my own chest. I am a monster. At last, there is release. I can no longer hold the knots in my stomach and so I let go, pushing down, gushing onto his face which recoils, repulsed by the fruit of its labours. He is soaked in my juices. They drip down his beard and onto his bare chest, and for a moment I hope he understands why I am so willing to let his sperm cover my face. I shake. My whole anatomy is locked in spasms of outrage and sacrilegious pleasure. I screech, louder than any previously, trying to form something coherent for no one to hear or understand, or perhaps a cry of worship to whoever made me, destined to become at the foot of a bed to a man and his tongue. I close my eyes and sink back onto the soft sheets, my hands leaving his head and scrunching up the duvet as I let out a long, shuddering sigh. My crotch is burning, every nerve stimulated and awake, yet the rest of me wants to fall asleep in this moment forever. I open my eyes and he is there, no look of concern or satisfaction on his face. He holds his member erect, and shows mere expectation. The pleasantry and the small talk over, the meat of the discussion comes to the fore.
GAMING concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
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THE BLOODBATH OF B-R5RB Kristan Emery The Battle of Hastings, The First World War, The Second World War, Korea, Vietnam: these are all Wars that have shaped our world and the people in it. On Monday 27th January in the world of EVE Online, a war raged that would change the online universe, as almost $300,000 worth of ships and resources were lost in a vicious conflict that lasted 14 hours, setting the record for the longest Battle in any game. EVE Online is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) which simulates a futuristic universe where one can spend their time exploring the enormous map, consisting of hundreds of planets and systems. The game is so in-depth, realistic and complicated it has been likened to playing a spreadsheet, as opposed to the non-stop action and constant stimulation of the casual games filling the market now. This game is for those who appreciate the investment of a world and a life in it. Understanding this helps illustrate the loss that has been felt from this catastrophic battle that will be remembered in the game’s history for years to come, The Bloodbath of B-R5RB. EVE Online is known for their huge
Sam Emsley The issue of sex in video games is something that has plagued the industry for far too long. On the one hand the attempts to include candid sexual encounters have been derided as explicit and disgusting, and on the other hand the needless inclusion of overly sexualised characters (usually women) has caused uproar and protest from many more. There seems to be no safe middle ground for the industry.
Rockstar North
player vs player Battles, and especially so for the fact that there is no respawn. Once your ship is lost, that is it. More than 75 Titan ships were destroyed. They are the largest in the game each costing around 1 Billion ISK (in game currency) equating to $3,000 each. It is not only the money cost but the time, as each Titan takes thousands of hours of resource collection and assembly to create, and all of that was destroyed. But why all this fighting in the first place? A missed payment. The Alliance system is strong and terrifying in the EVE universe and it was the largest of alliances that could participate in the blood bath. The N3 Coalition (N3C) and Pandemic Legion on one side forgot one single payment for a station in which they held their fleets and accessed their resources. This part of the universe is in high demand and the Clusterfuck Coalition (CFC), along with the Russian Coalition, took the opportunity to seize it. With uncanny similarities to the Entente and Alliance of the First World War, these commanding groups clashed with all their might for command of this small section of the gigantic world. The Titan Ships loomed closer as the defence
stood their ground. A moment of peace, as the anticipation, excitement and worry escalated. And then it began, both brutal and beautiful, as these monstrosities fought!
The damage done to this online world was catastrophic; a true world war with serious alliances and dangerous participants. The tragic truth is that it lies unnoticed by the rest of the world.
CCP Games/ Eve Online
SEX IN GAMING Early explicit games were text based adventures with mainly soft-core images, however later games like the Leisure Suite Larry franchise and BMX XXX, seemed to tackle the subject of sex head on and make it the entire focus of the game. Perhaps the most famous inclusion of sex is in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City which allowed the player to pick up and sleep with prostitutes in their car, although the
encounter is not seen. At the time it seemed to be openly inviting uproar and discussion and it did just that. For this and many other things besides, the game was called to be banned, and this was put into action in some countries. Although this was a necessary step; a hugely popular, ground-breaking game, candidly tackling the subject of sex was revolutionary, and after this the industry was far more accepting of sex as a whole. Today far more explicit sexual content can be included, such as in Metro: Last Light. The game allows you to receive a topless lap dance during one section of the game, however unlike in GTA where the action was an interesting aside to an already comical story, Metro seems to have included this to the detriment of their game. In Metro the player enters the sleazy brothel – hangout of the antagonist and his cronies – a seemingly obvious example of the degradation of post-apocalyptic Moscow. However allowing the player to then receive this lap dance from a smiling dancer turns the whole situation on its head. It isn’t actually a symbol of degradation: it’s a device used to include a controversial scene
for its own sake. The game itself was truly unforgettable in every respect, and the fact the developers used this solely to generate comment and publicity is disappointing, as the game could achieve this itself. Later in the game there is a totally necessary sex scene with more nudity which is a perfect example of how sex should be tackled in video games, but the pointless lap dance still taints this success. Other games have tackled the subject by including adult scenes which have significance to the story and serve to aid the verisimilitude and make the game better as a consequence.Recently Beyond: Two Souls managed to do exactly this by handling the topic maturely and ensuring that scenes aided the game. Video games are no longer seen as a childish curiosity – they wish to be taken seriously as pieces of art and it is their conscientious treatment of sex that allows them to do so. However, including sex needlessly to either create controversy or lure an audience into buying the game ensures that the sex itself is a gimmick, and consequently games will be viewed this way.
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TELEVISION
concrete.television@uea.ac.uk
TV VS PORN
HOW IS TELEVISION BATTLING THE PORN INDUSTRY? Adam Dawson
Let’s just get this out there right at the start so we’re reading from the same page. We all watch porn; we’re students, it’s basically expected of us. Honestly, you’re the exception if you haven’t had your mitts in your knicks within the last day. So we all know it’s not a stretch to say porn is unrealistic. How many plumbers do you know with a body cut from marble? Is your Dominos delivery guy a bit too randy? No, thought not. The complete lack of reality has had a knock on effect though. TV has decided to show sex in a much more hilarious, but more realistic manner – a bit awkward, a bit funny, and sometimes not even that sexy. Take the BBC Three sitcom Pramface which isn’t very good but gets sex bang on. The main character loses his virginity in a drunken haze, and wakes up the next morning beside a girl who is full regret and also a foetus. Granted, your first time probably won’t result in pregnancy but it’s the drunken fumbling, awkward undressing, and a slight feeling of regret we’re focussing on here. That definitely wouldn’t happen in
Wordpress: 20poorandfabulous porn – the clothes are on the floor like there’s no tomorrow, there’s no messy groping for the bra clasp or asking ‘is it in yet?’ So let’s have a little talk about The Inbetweeners, that ‘documentary’ about
sixth-formers. Specifically Will’s ‘first time.’ He has Charlotte, a busty maiden, in bed and then proceeds to move his entire body whilst trying (for lack of a nicer phrase) to enter her. This is probably the most realistic bit of sex
on TV, especially sex that shows losing your virginity. No one really knows what they’re doing. Porn would have you believe every single person you meet knows all the dark secrets of the trade. They don’t; no-one does. How could we write about sex on TV and not mention Girls? Doubtless many people will be wailing like a depressed porn star over how much it gets written about, but it gets so much attention for a very good reason. The sexy times it shows are realistic. They have great sex, bad sex, and average sex. It’s probably the least arousing thing you’ll watch where a bunch of twentysomething girls and guys get very naked. Most of the time, we don’t come to TV to see an actual representation of sex. That’s why we have porn. Despite what Mumsnet might think, everyone can tell the difference. Porn isn’t damaging our expectations about sex any more than science fiction makes us think NASA use the Starship Enterprise. They’re different things for different purposes. Long live porn and long live bad, hilarious sex on TV.
NUDITY ON TV
IS IT ALL FOR ART, OR IS IT AN EXPLOITATION? Melissa Haggar One of the most controversial, and seemingly frequent, elements a programme can have is nudity - but why is it so popular? Both men and women are getting their kit off these days and appearing in a wide range of shows which now feature high levels of nudity; True Blood (Hello, Mr. Northman!), Dexter, Girls and Game of Thrones are all TV shows that flash the flesh. It’s no surprise that programmes feature an abundance of naked ladies as opposed to naked guys in order to entice audiences to their programmes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t; but is this an issue? There is no shame in being nude, but is it becoming more frequent to attract attention as opposed to engaging writing? It seems to be more of a case about how people appear nude on television. Often, television programmes will deal with nudity by ‘displaying it in its best light’, if you will. The actors and actresses will be drop-dead gorgeous
Superherofan.net and pose seductively on a sofa, enticing you to watch. What’s more, they’ll be basked in the best lighting to make everything appear more attractive. Most audiences will know that this isn’t exactly an accurate representation of what most people look like naked – but is this really ok?
The bottom line is it is entertainment, and whilst some audiences may prefer to see less of the naked women and more naked men on our screens, it is important to remind ourselves (and for producers to remind themselves) that arbitrary nudity can often be restrictive to a coherent plot line. Whilst some audiences would love
to switch on their favourite programme and see their favourite male/female star cooking their breakfast in the buff, it does beg the question as to why they are doing it. Lena Dunham, (creator and star of Girls) sheds some interesting light on the topic. In a BBC interview, Dunham states she wants the programme to “normalise sex for other people” but that she doesn’t want the sole focus to be put on just the nudity, claiming that when people are “consistently focusing” on how often she is naked, it “prevents people from just being part of the viewing experience”. So, it would appear that too much talk about nudity can take away from the experience and entertainment of watching a programme. With this in mind, should we simply enjoy watching the programmes we like and switch off the ones we deem too risqué? Whatever the case, nudity is an important aspect of our life and if those acting are comfortable with showing their skin and the viewers at home are comfortable watching them, then perhaps it should be embraced? Nudity is only natural after all.
TELEVISION concrete.television@uea.ac.uk
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11.02.2014
THE DARKER SIDE OF SEX
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We take a look at how TV is dealing with sexual abuse Melissa Haggar A difficult topic on television is often one that has real-world impact. And with this, the depiction of highly sexually violent scenes on television can often leave viewers uncomfortable; not only with the scene itself, but also with the way in which television studios have handled a very serious issue. Rape on television has been frequently used over the years as a plot device as a way to further the story by saying “look at us, we’re all dramatic and stuff.” But it should never be like this. What so many studios seem to forget is that rape and sexual violence are serious issues that people experience in real-life; they are not something to be depicted and used so trivially. In case you are now trying to think of some examples of the above, you need look no further than several high profile shows. True Blood is unfortunately guilty of this, with the rape of Tara Thornton leaving viewers angry as to how this furthered her character development or gave any sort of meaning to the plot line. In addition,
Daily Mail
American Horror Story: Coven’s depiction of the rape of Madison Montgomery was completely unnecessary, and just a way for the character to display her power (by killing her rapists). Downton Abbey recently made waves with the rape of Anna Bates. Downton
differs from the previous programs in the way it handled this situation; the effects of this traumatic event on Anna were not swept under the rug, or left unshown like so many other shows do. It was made clear that it was a grave situation and that it needed to be handled carefully. Actress
Joanne Froggatt, who plays Anna, spoke specifically on The Jonathan Ross Show about this stating that she thought it was “a really brave thing to do” and that she believes the way it is written “is not gratuitous at all”. Creator Julian Fellowes has commented on the issue stating: “The whole point of the way we do things on Downton is we don’t do them gratuitously. We are interested in exploring the resultant emotions and the effect these things have on people”. It would seem that the intention behind the use of these plot lines differs when it comes to different networks and channels, and in Downton Abbey’s case this appears to be handled in a more appropriate manner; highlighting the devastation sexual violence can have (after all, raising awareness of this can have positive effects on the real world) and how important it is to talk about issues like this. So, whilst some television programmes struggle to handle sexual violence appropriately it is evident there are efforts to make this a more understood and talked about topic, as opposed to just a device used for drama.
LIBERATING SEX
Is Television fair in its presentations of LGBTQ sex scenes? James Szumowski Sex scenes are so commonplace in media today that when one pops up, there is little to no reaction from the media, its censors or the public. Television has come a long way since The Flintstones were shown in bed together in the early sixties (Fred & Wilma were the first couple to share a bed on TV anywhere in the world) but still one subject proves controversial; LGBTQ love scenes. 1989 saw Eastenders make huge strides forwards for LGBTQ representation as they showed two characters, Colin Russell and Guido Smith, sharing a kiss. This was the first time a male couple had done so on British television, and what should have been applauded was instead described by The Sun as “a love scene between yuppie poofs”. The journey of televised LGBTQ romance took another turn when, in 1994, Brookside showed the first lesbian kiss on British television between characters Beth and Margaret. Interestingly, this scene (and storyline) was much better received than the Eastenders scene, with most
BBC
appearing to accept it almost instantly. The fact the scene consists of two pretty teenage girls raises the idea that maybe it’s not LGBTQ couples that make TV bosses uncomfortable; just male ones. In the noughties, British television continued to evolve its representations; in 2003, Coronation Street finally caught up to Eastenders (14 years later) with Todd Grimshaw and Nick Tilsley sharing the first same-sex kiss on the cobbles. Sugar Rush, the 2006-07 Channel 4 drama
focussed on the life of Kimberley and her love for her new best friend, Sugar. Though received with negativity, this time it was also due to the sexualisation of a main character who was only 15 years old. Skins, following in 2007, followed the lives of young people in modern Britain. Again, with an openly gay main character, Maxxie, portrayed as popular, intelligent and attractive. It’s strange to think that 25 years after the first same sex kiss on British
televison, in a country where same-sex marriage has now been legalized, scenes showing LGBTQ characters in intimate situations are still causing outcry. Eastenders’ character Johnny Carter recently came out to his father, Mick, in intimate, well-crafted and loving scenes. While the response has been widely positive, there is still an outpouring of hatred towards the makers of the programme and the actors in the scenes, with some of the comments directed at the programme making uncomfortable reading on Twitter. It seems that programmes directed at younger and more liberally-thinking members of society have a better track record when it comes to portraying and accepting LGBTQ love scenes. In an age where popular television shows are showing scenes of sexual encounters between heterosexual couples on a regular basis, it seems incredibly backward that scenes consisting of non-traditional , homosexual couples are limited to kissing only; and that even then these scenes cause a negative reaction from members of the public.
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FILM
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
AT CINEMAS NEAR YOU
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Director John Wells Starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper Cert 15 Runtime 121mins Silvia Rose There’s nothing like a funeral to bring families back together. Although in August: Osage County, based on the play by Tracy Letts, it is more of a collision. Set in the dusty plains of Oklahoma, the film is centred around the volatile, hugely tense relationship between the Weston sisters and their difficult mother, Violet (Streep). They are joined by their extended family to mourn the death of Beverly, a poetic, studious man who has committed suicide under the strain of being married to Violet, and to a lesser degree, his alcoholism. The results of this forced family reunion are cataclysmic. The Weston sisters are middle-aged and estranged; the only thing connecting them now is sharing a mother. The eldest, Barbara (Roberts), is strongwilled, controlling and feisty. Though she is going through a separation with her
husband (McGregor), she still manages to assume a self-righteous air. Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) is more calm and complacent. She is the only sister to have stayed in Oklahoma, and therefore bears the brunt of looking after Violet. The youngest, Karen (Lewis), is a self-centred airhead who brings her sleazy fiancée (Dermot Mulroney) to the gathering. They all have their flaws. And yet, what is so beautiful about this film is that we can look past these unattractive features and focus instead on why they exist. The main force behind them, of course, is Violet. She is a racist, pill-popping, chain-smoking, ‘truth-telling’, bold and unapologetic woman. As a mother, she is less than loving. She openly admits that Barb was the ‘favourite’ and she treats Karen like a child, referring to her in the third-person. She also has mouth cancer, which fuels her bouts of self-pity and, most importantly, is a running excuse for her addiction to painkillers. All in all, she is a wreck. But Meryl Streep’s performance is so ballsy, so forceful, that we cannot help but laugh along with her devilish humour, her manic episodes, and her drugged-up slurs. It is tragic, undeniably so. It is the blackest of comedies. What is most affecting is watching Violet descend from a tyrannical
Nanyang Chronicle
matriarch to a sick old woman who is abandoned by her family. Any meanness which might have been forgiven in the past now drives her daughters away. Without Beverly’s mediating presence, her mood swings become unbearable. What is brought to our attention is the cyclical nature of families. Towards the end, Barb ‘becomes’ Violet. Being the most headstrong daughter enables her to stand up to Violet’s taunts (a very entertaining fight at the dinner table is the pinnacle), and this in turn earns her mother’s respect. As the film progresses, we see Barb curse, antagonise and indulge in stubbornness, showing that we can’t escape our parent’s influence, no matter how much they hurt us or however different we want to be. August: Osage County is an unflinching portrait of a family’s pain. (“Thank God
we can’t see the future or we’d never get out of bed”). It captures the deliciously vivid emotion that runs through a family: past ordeals, resentments, precious moments of nostalgia, the inevitability of death. We see just how unfair life is. We learn that we will always be tied to a role that we play out automatically, because of the simple fact of relation. Though the story is heartbreaking, you are left feeling affirmed. The moments of humour and the glimpses of genuine affection ensure that it remains hopeful, without being sicklysweet. It shows us that no one is ‘wrong’, but only hurt in some way.
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REPRESENTATIONS: AGE IN HOLLYWOOD
MADZ ABBASI investigates depictions of age in film in the second of a new series Sex sells onscreen, hard and fast. But as soon as age has its way with actors, they can be whipped off the red carpet and shoved into the dusty ranks of the “hasbeens” and “once-weres” in no time at all.
Movie Wallpapers
Sex appeal is like a dominatrix in Hollywood, the media taking pleasure in punishing the unappealing. Actors are slated if they dare take measures, such as plastic surgery, when faced with the pressures of maintaining the sexy, popular image which the media demands they uphold. Sex appeal for actors in Hollywood is no doubt hypocritical, especially for women. If not criticised for having lost or ruined their “sexiness”, older actors are brutally compared to emerging starlets with half their life experience and double their ability to fulfil a sexy role. Angelina Jolie faced this with the appearance of Megan Fox in Transformers. The dark hair, full lips and smouldering eyes gave the press enough to compare the two and stir up some rivalry. Yet Fox’s looks far outweigh her ability to give a noteworthy performance, so eventually the link between her and Jolie dissolved. It is strange that the first comparison to be made between the two actors was based on physicality as opposed to performance, when
both individuals make a living from performance, of whatever sort. Clearly there is a relationship between acting and appearance, but surely the craft is what is most important. Likewise if female actors are not criticised, they are commended for having “stayed in the game” or for “still going strong”. It is as though age is a natural deterrent in Hollywood and as soon as an actor hits midlife, their career is bound to cease. Is this not a ridiculous notion? It is practically inconceivable to ever criticise Steve McQueen on the sex appeal of his own image or Scorsese’s aging looks (if anything the latter’s full grey head is a visual tribute to his wisdom and experience in the film business). We judge directors, producers, writers, virtually the whole film crew, on the quality of the work they create and not on the extent of their physical appearance, why do we not do the same for female actors? That is not to say male actors don’t feel the scrutiny of the press and the need to satisfy the odd sexual appetites of certain fandom
by maintaining the youthful appearance of their image. Of course they must. However roles for older male actors are far more conceivable in Hollywood today. It is not a challenge to name a number of films in which the majority of the cast are males over forty, such as Inglourious Basterds and the more recent Last Vegas, whereas the same can’t be said for the opposite sex. A recent film that springs to mind is The Heat, in which Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy star. There was also The Hours – with the exception of Nicole Kidman who was 34 years old, the other central actors, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore, were over 40 at the time of filming. However, that was twelve years ago. Today, the chances of seeing a cast of mature, female actors dominate a Hollywood feature are fairly slim, unless they co-star with younger, ‘sexier’ actors. That being said, if Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, Jane Lynch and Cameron Diaz somehow ended up in something together, that would make one hell of a film, sexy or not.
FILM
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
AT CINEMAS NEAR YOU
Chris on Life
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Directors Joel and Ethan Coen Starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund Cert 15 Runtime 104mins Joseph Holness Like previous Coen Brothers’ films such as The Big Lebowski and A Serious Man,
OUT OF THE FURNACE
Director Scott Cooper Starring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Zoe Saldana, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, Sam Shepard Cert 15 Runtime 116mins Matthew Atwood Frequently, films will try to cover too much ground, which results in an anticlimactic ending as well as storylines that appear to be important, but are merely brushed over. Despite its all-star cast, Out of the Furnace commits this mistake, but it also has stylistic moments that allow it to shine. The film centres around two brothers, Russell (Bale) and Rodney Baze (Affleck). Rodney is a soldier who has been affected by the war. In order to make money to help pay off debts and get out some rage, he enters the world of underground fighting. The leader of this ring, Harlan DeGroat (Harrelson), becomes the antagonist, and the man who Russell tries to find when his brother goes missing. The film takes a generic storyline and
Inside Llewyn Davis feels very much like a film about nothing. That’s not to say it’s without substance, far from it, it simply glides from one moment to the next without much thought for any overarching conceit or impending tragedy. The film takes place over the course of a week in the life of a downon-his-luck folk singer, following him as he struggles to fulfil his own dream of being a successful musician. The film opens with the titular character playing a song in its entirety in a small dark venue
attempts to fill it with messages about small-town America and the impact of the recession, as well as commentary on war veterans. Both of these plot lines are eventually lost, and the focus becomes Russell seeking redemption for his brother. Throughout the film there are many interesting developments, such as Russell going to prison, but the time passes quickly and the plot points do nothing for the overall narrative, except attempting to make the viewer sad. There are countless examples of these tangents in the film, as well as random shots that take away from the film. The characters in Out of the Furnace are one-dimensional. DeGroat is terrifying due to his senseless rage. Bale and Affleck bring life to the screen, whilst the rest of the supporting cast do very little other than stand in the background, or play their clichéd parts. For example, Lena Warren (Saldana), Russell’s ex-girlfriend, can only ever talk about babies or getting pregnant. If the characters were fleshed out more, it would have been easier to become attached to them. However, the film tries to grab the audience through unnecessary plot points. Stylistically, the film shines. The camera work is interesting, and the cuts during dialogue move the longer scenes at
to a somewhat ambivalent crowd. This sets a slow pace that, whilst sounding unappealing, actually feels calming. All the music seen on screen was recorded live on set, an oddity in film production, working to create a sense of immersion and honesty. Although not a genre picture in any sense, at times one might easily mistake it for a musical. There’s a song every ten minutes and some are really quite good. It’s hard to sell this film without it sounding boring or pretentious, but those familiar with the Coen Brothers and their unique blend of comedy and pathos will have an idea of what to expect. In truth there’s very little wrong with Inside Llewyn Davis. It doesn’t necessarily aim high in its scope, but it’s executed with a pinpoint accuracy that leaves a very satisfying feeling. Llewyn’s actor, Oscar Isaac, nails the role. We hear throughout the movie, especially from Carey Mulligan’s Jean, about how much of deadbeat and an ass he is. His performance is pitched somewhere between manchild and charming, so it’s believable that the people who surround him are both reviled and enchanted by him. Worth a mention are turns from the
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offensively talented Justin Timberlake as a fellow folk musician. Selling out with a novelty space race song, Goodbye Mr. Kennedy – the standout tune on an already impressive soundtrack. Not to mention John Goodman reuniting with the Coens as an old man in the back of a car. Although robbed by the Oscars in the major categories this year, Bruno Delbonnel has been rightfully nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and he should win. If not for the sheer beauty of this film, for the grievous error of not recognising either Isaac or the Brothers Coen and their respective contributions. It’s hard to recommend this film any more. It is perfect in its own way and the way the ending wraps around to the beginning leaves you feeling as if you could just have this running on a constant loop in the background all day. Its pacing sags a touch when our hero leaves for Chicago, but it quickly picks back up and ends on a truly rewarding note.
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Crave Online
a good pace. The close-up shots bring the most emotion, especially with Harrelson’s character. However, the editing of the film could have been sharper, whilst some shots seem to repeat themselves. For example, there was a shot of the prison, then a couple of minutes later, the same shot, but with snow. Overall, Out of the Furnace is decent. It has the gritty feel it needs due to the
colouring and camera work, somewhat like Winter’s Bone, but the editing and some shot selections do not do it justice. It grabs the viewer, and keeps them engaged, but cannot sustain it throughout the entire two hours.
5
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LONE SURVIVOR
Director Peter Berg Starring Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch Cert 15 Runtime 121mins Freddie Van Der Velde In Lone Survivor, Wahlberg, Foster, Hirsch and Kitsch star as a four man team in mid-noughties Afghanistan whose assassination mission takes a turn for the worst. The film, based on true events and Marcus Luttrell’s fact-based novel of the same name recounting Operation Red Wings, may be forgiven for its sentimentality and overkill of American patriotism due to its very nature as an honouring of lives lost. The opening credits of the film show real-life footage of American Navy SEALS in training complete with inspirational drill sergeant voiceover and pictures of unity within the ranks; at one point a line of cadets float in the sea, holding hands
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and singing hymns through the night. The film’s first act depicts the everyday life of the SEAL team on their US military base in Afghanistan, building up character relationships and an analysis of male comradeship. Everybody has a role to maintain in both work and play it seems, and it is this sentimental calm before the storm that is used in many war-related films to show how a team’s relationships with each other, combined with their discipline, reflect their hardship and merciless killing later on. Unlike Full Metal Jacket, this war film shows the human and caring sides of the soldiers being maintained, not hammered out of them. After a very interesting “what would you do?” situation, which acts as the inciting incident for the merciless assault on the team by Taliban forces, visceral and brutal images of close quarter combat fill the screen and we see the characters deconstructed, both literally and physically before our eyes. Wahlberg’s performance, along with his supporting cast, do justice to the real-life characters as they are chipped
I, FRANKENSTEIN
Director Staurt Beattie Starring Aaron Eckhart, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Bill Nighy, Jai Courtney Cert 12A Runtime 92mins Rachel Keeley
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Adapted from the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux, I, Frankenstein is set in modern-day London and tells the tale of Frankenstein’s monster (Eckhart), caught in an age-old war between gargoyles and demons that could have dramatic consequences for the fate of humanity. At first glance, this sounds like an interesting spin on Mary Shelley’s original tale, depicting Frankenstein’s creation as a muscular being rather than a stereotypical green Hammerhorror monster. However, I, Frankenstein is presented more as an action-film than a horror or thriller. The opening of the film is set in 1795
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away by the trauma of war. Moments of heart-wrenching tragedy combine with their heroism and will to support one another. Both really make you care for the characters, a compliment attributed to the actors, original ‘Lone Survivor’ Luttrell’s source material, and director Berg, who also wrote the screenplay. The film does its job, depicting a reallife situation in which lives were lost, and honours those who fought in a powerful manner. However, as with most factual wartime dramatizations like Black Hawk Down and We Were Soldiers, we are left
with a film that does not raise anything new in relation to the conflict. For that we turn to the likes of Platoon or The Hurt Locker, both fictional films but both raising moral questions about war’s implications on humanity. Perhaps this was not the aim of Lone Survivor, but despite the action, talented acting and story, nothing new is raised on the subject of war that we have not seen before.
with Victor Frankenstein being buried with his journal (a key object in the film) in a graveyard by his creation, who is referred to mainly as “Adam”, but also as “creature” and later “Frankenstein” when he accepts the surname of his creator. Whilst in the graveyard, Adam is attacked by demons before being rescued by gargoyles and taken to the Gargoyle Queen, Lenore (Otto), who asks him to be their ally in the war. But he chooses to fight the demons alone. Fast forward a couple of centuries and Adam is still fighting off demons despite being faced with a modern society. The film’s Gothic tone is reminiscent of the Underworld films in the use of a war between fantasy creatures, with a likely explanation being that Grevioux was also behind the Underworld series. Moreover, Bill Nighy has again been cast, as in Underworld, as a demonic elder, this time in the form of Naberius. On discovering that Adam is alive, the plot focuses more on Naberius’ wish to obtain Frankenstein’s journal so that his scientist Terra (Strahovski) can use it
to reanimate corpses. Naberius’ secret intention, however, is to bring thousands of corpses back to life to form an evil army – a plot device as seen in another Gothic-fantasy film: Van Helsing. I, Frankenstein is certainly not short of explosive fight sequences, however this does often result in a thin plot and dialogue. Whilst focus is placed on Adam and Naberius, most of the demons and gargoyles lack any form of personality, with the exception of Lenore, whose character is only briefly touched upon, along with Terra. Visually the film is impressive – an important factor for a film exclusively showing in IMAX 3D format in most cinemas. Images of gargoyles descending from their Gothic cathedrals and demons exploding into sparks are certainly eyecatching. If you’re a fan of actionfilled fantasy, then I, Frankenstein is for you.
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PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN (1967-2014) With his intimidatingly broad range and fantastically moldable face, Philip Seymour Hoffman was unafraid, throughout his long career, to reflect the sometimes harsh vulnerabilities behind the characters he played, whether it’s his barely-coiled rage in The Master or the sadsack loneliness of his role in Happiness, the unrequited infatuation he displayed in Boogie Nights, or the heartwarming salute to the “uncool” of the world in Almost Famous. His passing leaves behind an enormous hole in modern filmmaking, along with a shockingly vast legacy that includes some of the most iconic and daring cinematic masterpieces of the last twenty-five years. Screen Slam
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11.02.2014
STRONG SEX, GRAPHIC NUDITY
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For Concrete’s Sex Issue, NEVEN DEVIES explores the flaws in film censorship It’s kind of a funny story actually, the implicit hegemonic ideologies which continue to construct, even mould, public perceptions of artistic integrity. For a society which seemingly upholds the value in freedom of speech, there continues to be a dark, hanging cloud which shrouds and diminishes our utopian ideals of unrestricted self-expression. An entity so deeply ingrained into contemporary culture that many barely even question its presence around us - censorship. Okay, maybe it seems a little much to characterise censorship as an unstoppable pseudo-viral conception which threatens the foundations we live upon. After all, cultural changes have forced artistic censorship to adjust onto a more lenient spectrum. It’s a long road away from the wholly restrictive ‘Hays Code’ which dominated Hollywood for the good part of three decades, and yet, for all the slack that film censorship has seen throughout these early stages of the 21st century, there remains one vital element which
seems to have refused to change - sex. Recently, the BBFC released official changes in policies which would see a bigger scrutiny placed on the psychological impact of horror within cinema, whilst frequency of very strong language, which would usually predict an 18 certificate, would see an immediate leniency, a progression which they say reflects cultural changes within Britain. Laughably ironic then, when we consider the board remains proudly stern on its archaic models of sexuality when the rest of the world has rightly moved on. Theoretical constructs surrounding censorship directs that its main principle is to protect the public, primarily children, from witnessing materials which could potentially damage their innocent psyches. And so in a bizarre, illogical conclusion which seems to
plague Anglo-saxon countries specifically, the BBFC continue to imply that sexuality and nudity are inherently more harmful then violence. Shootings, stabbings and a moderated focus on injury are all nicely packaged within the child-friendly 12A ratings, but a simulated representation of sexual intercourse, or a “supposedly” gratuitous shot of natural nudity and BAM!, all hell breaks loose, you’re out of the ball-park and firmly into the minimum 15 rating category. Take Amélie. In its homeland of France, the film found itself rated ‘tous publics’, the UK equivalent of the U certificate. Just over the bridge however, in antiquated Britain, the film was slapped with a 15 rating. Alarmingly, this is not an isolated incident, with these major distinctions between the two neighbouring countries reflecting seemingly intrinsic
polarising attitudes towards sex. Interestingly, with Britain remaining the top European country for teenage pregnancy, the question of the relationship between censorship and active audience participation is heightened. With sexuality in film classifying so high, there is a suggestion that rates of teenage pregnancy should be inherently low. So why does this not correlate with reality? There is no distinct answer, but maybe it’s the physical act of censorship itself which proves more harmful. As humans, we are physiologically drawn to taboo, to participate in acts which are deemed culturally inappropriate. Perhaps then, with sex being presented as illicit and dangerous, the draw to participate in intercourse becomes heightened. It’s a basic hypothesis, but it’s important to consider such questions on the impact of censorship because it remains an unfavourable concept. A power play between the dominating ideals of the ruling institution and those of the public.
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11.02.2014
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