Arts say “Happy Birthday” to Robert Burns
In this issue...
8
Fashion
, Dear Readers tion/deadline ta r e s is d y o g to the gre we have tw s d a e A silver linin h r u o g. ng above keep us goin to n o cloud hoveri z ri o h re ms on the eloved squa b r u glistening ge o f o e with e promis ntly), along re a These are th p p (a n o o en- etime s ite will be op n g /I opening som a v a L t a news th t boogie be- s la e n o the breaking r fo again in time really is the It r. e m ing its doors m u s k up for the oing! So we g s u p e fore we brea e k n a e- in life that c ipping Snak s to little things rd a rw ty e looking fo nother quali a g in s should all b s e n it re teps and w Contest’ befo g n o bite on the s h T n io e ‘Eurovis evening of th too long! nt! e of The Eve
joy this issu Hope you en
h& From Alanna
Chloe xx uea.ac.uk t@ n e v .e te concre
The Event Editor-in-Chief Fiona Billings Editors Alannah Wells and Chloe Pew Latter Fashion Editor - Jessica Hamilton
Regulars and Feature
Deputy Fashion Editor - Flora Wong
Contributors - Josh Butler, Rachel Conquer, James Curtis, Megan Evans, Karine Wach-Donovan, Christopher Wilson
Contributors - Jessica Hamilton, Adam Hickmott, Jodie Free, Rosie Lumley, Ellen Nash, Emily Prichard, Jack Stones, Flora Wong
Arts Editors - Melissa York and Matt Ramsay Contributors - Jennifer Abbott, Matt Ramsay, Ian Smith, Melissa York
Creative Writing Editor - Penny Boxall Contributors - Sophie Playle, Katie Speller, Emily West
Wired Editor - Karl Davies Contributors Paul Bygrave, Karl Davies, Grace Simpson
TV Editor - Kirsten Peter Contributors - Eleanor Brown, Josh Butler, Stephanie Cross, Ella Fairhurst, Shaun Kitchener, Mark McKenzie-Ray, Kirsten Peter, Kate Slemmings
Music Editor - Sarah Christie Deputy Music Editor - Rob Morbin Contributors - Rowena Akbareian, Matt Bull, Sarah Christie, James Halling, Gemma Henzley, Sam Hill, Shaun Kitchener, Ed Leftwich, Izzy Lockhart Smith, Carmina Masoliver-Marlow, Steph Mckenna, Duncan Vicat-Brown, Nicola Williams, Karine Wach- Donovan, Tiff Woosley, Daniel Youmans
Film Editors - George Gilbert and Colette Lilford Contributors - Will Heppa, George Gilbert, Michael Hammond, Colette Lilford, Liam O’ Brien, Elizabeth Poole, Adam Scales, Ian Smith, Laura Wignall, Christopher Wilson
Listings Editor - Natasha Barnes Competitions Editor - Jonathan Clark
p.4 - 3PORTSWEAR SPECIAL p.5 - !N INSIGHT IN TO WHAT DESIGNER 0ETER *ENSEN HAS BROUGHT TO THE FASHION WORLD
Arts
p.6 - /UR REGULAR FEATURES LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT THEATRICAL AND LITERARY DELIGHTS YOU CAN EXPECT THIS FORTNIGHT p.7 - 7E SAY (APPY TH "IRTHDAY TO 3COTLAND S MOST RENOWNED POET 2OBERT "URNS
Creative Writing
p.8 - 9OUR POETRY AND PROSE
Wired
p.9 - 7E INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF ADVERTISING IN GAMES
TV
p.10 - 4HE APPEAL OF THE PERIOD DRAMA p.11 - 4HE NEW THE OLD AND ALL THE 46 GOSSIP YOU NEED TO KNOW
Features
5IF
p.12 - 3OME OF OUR REGULAR FEATURES YOU ALL LOVE p.13 - /UR PICK OF WHAT RADIO HAS TO OFFER
Music p.14 - p.15 - p.16 - p.17 -
/UR MUSICAL TIPS FOR !LBUMS OF THE FORTNIGHT 3INGLES OF THE FORTNIGHT )NTERVIEW WITH -INDLESS 3ELF )NDULGENCE FRONT MAN *IMMY 5RINE
Film
p.18 - 7E REVIEW -ILK AND 2ACHEL 'ETTING -ARRIED p.19 - 7HAT S UPCOMING AND THIS FORTNIGHT S NEW RELEASES p.20 - $6$ AND lLM RELEASES THIS FORTNIGHT p.21 - #ROSSING 4HE &INAL &RONTIER HOW 3TAR 4REK HAS BECOME MAINSTREAM
What’s On
p.22 - 4HIS FORTNIGHT S HAPPENINGS IN .ORWICH
Competitions
p.24 - #ROSSWORD 3UDOKU AND 'IVEAWAYS
Event Ratings Outstanding Excellent Good Mediocre Tragic!
04
fashion
“the latest and most admired style in clothes and cosmetics and behaviour” the event
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
FASHION Vs. SPORT
SPORTSWEAR SPECIAL
4HE SUMMER OF SAW THE 6 ! HOST AN EXHIBITION THAT EXAMINED THE OFTEN COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FASHION AND SPORT ! SURPRISINGLY SMALL SHOW IT NEVERTHELESS HAD SOME HIGH IMPACT PIECES WHICH ABOVE ALL PRESENTED SPORTSWEAR AS PERHAPS THE ONLY MODERN FASHION WITH WIDESPREAD APPEAL 5NTIL RECENTLY SPORTSWEAR S SOLE FUNCTION WAS PRACTICALITY AND COMFORT 4HE S WAS THE lRST TIME A SPORTSWEAR PIECE THAT COULD ALSO BE WORN AS A CASUAL OUTlT WAS SEEN WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE POLO SHIRT 4HINGS HAVE PROGRESSED RAPIDLY n TODAY SPORTSWEAR ARGUABLY EPITOMISES THE SOCIETY WE LIVE IN &ROM @CHAVVY TRACKSUITS TUCKED INTO SOCKS TO THE *ACK 7ILLS TUCKED INTO 5GGS BRIGADE SPORTSWEAR IS THE EPITOME OF URBAN LIFE 4HE FASHION WORLD HAS BEEN QUICK TO CAPITALISE ON THE CONSUMER MARKET FOR SPORTSWEAR )TS DEBUT IN HIGH FASHION CAME IN WITH THE lRST COLLECTION BY 0RADA 3PORT WHICH AIMED TO BLEND THE COMFORT AND PRACTICALITY OF SPORTSWEAR WITH THE STYLE APPEAL OF HIGH FASHION .OW FASHIONABILITY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF MODERN SPORTSWEAR 4AKE FOR EXAMPLE THE RAPID TURNOVER OF FOOTBALL STRIPS !NOTHER KEY AREA THAT THE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTED WAS THE EDGINESS OF SPORTSWEAR )T SHOWCASED INNO VATIVE WORK FROM !ITOR 4HROUP S @7HEN &OOTBALL (OOLIGANS "ECOME (INDU 'ODS COLLECTION AND 4HE %VENT S PERSONAL FAVOURITE THE & 4IGER TRAINERS n SOLD IN A CAGE INSTEAD OF A BOX 7HILST THE BRIGHT EDGY TRACKSUITS AND TRAINERS ON DISPLAY WERE VISUALLY STIMULATING THE DESIGNS ALSO POSSESSED AN UNDERCURRENT OF VIOLENCE PERHAPS HINTING AT THE VIOLENT ASSOCIATIONS WITH SPORTSWEAR IN MODERN SOCIETY )N AND SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF SCHOOLBOYS MURDERED IN 0HILADELPHIA AND $ETROIT FOR THEIR TRAINERS REVEALED A STRIKINGLY HORRIlC SIDE TO THE MASS CONSUMPTION OF SPORTSWEAR )N THIS COUNTRY WE ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE NEGATIVE ASSOCIATIONS OF SPORTSWEAR ON THE STREET 3PORTS WEAR HAS MOVED FROM A PRACTICAL FORM OF CLOTHING OR A FASHION TREND TO A SIGN OF TODAY S AGGRESSIVE DISPOSABLE CULTURE *ESSICA (AMILTON
*ANUARY IS THE TRADITIONAL TIME TO DUST OFF THOSE TRAINERS AND HIT THE GYM IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE WEIGHT GAINED OVER #HRISTMAS 7E VE PICKED SOME GREAT SPORTSWEAR TO MAKE SURE YOU LOOK YOUR BEST WHILST WORKING OUT
SWIMWEAR: HIGH END TO HIGH STREET
3PEEDO a 3PEEDO SIMPLYSWIM COM *ODIE &REE
'UCCI
(AWAIIAN PRINT BIKINI TOP a "OTTOMS a BOTH .EW ,OOK
$OLCE 'ABBANA $+.9
0OLKA DOT SWIMSUIT a !CCESSORIZE
CHIC Vs. CHAV 'IVEN THE RISE OF @INDIE KIDS WEARING LABELS FORMERLY ASSOCIATED WITH CHAVS THERE SEEMS TO BE DEBATE ON THE STATUS OF GARMENTS SUCH AS THE TRA DITIONAL POLO SHIRT &OR EXAMPLE HIGH STREET BRAND &RED 0ERRY COULD SURELY SHRUG OFF ANY NOTIONS OF CHAV WITH RECENT SMART -OD LOOKS AND COL LABORATIONS FROM *IL 3ANDER S #REATIVE $IRECTOR 2AF 3IMONS TO 3WEDISH !NN 3OlE "ACK AVANT GARDE #OMME DES 'ARCONS AND "YAM 3HAW GRADUATE *ESSICA /GDEN 4HOUGH MAYBE SOMEONE LIKE $EVVO WOULDN T GET THE DIFFERENCE ANYWAY REGARDING SUCH FOREIGN JIBBERJABBER AS hLIKE A BIT POSHER INNIT v 7ITH A REVAMP ON THE ICONIC LAUREL LOGO USING MULTICOLOURED YARN AND SUPERSIZING THE BRAND SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO ESCAPE ITS PAST 4HE @IRONIC USE OF NEON TRAINERS HOODIES AND CHUNKY CHAINS A LA 5FlE OR !MERICAN!PPAREL HAVE ALSO BLURRED THE LINES BETWEEN TRENDY AND CHAV ALTHOUGH HAILING FROM &RANCE AND !MERICA THEY PROBABLY DIDN T ANTICIPATE THE EFFECT OF THESE LOOKS IN %NGLAND WHILST @VINTAGE ,ACOSTE CARDIGANS AND THE USE OF "URBERRY SCARVES HAVE BECOME POPULARISED BY 3PITALlELDS MARKET AND "RICK ,ANE VINTAGE STORES )S THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID LOOKING LIKE YOU RE OUT ON THE MERK AT #O /P TO BUTTON UP YOUR POLO SHIRT AND TURN THE COLLAR DOWN !NOTHER KEY GIVEAWAY IS YOUR HAIRCUT OR LACK THEREOF 3TICK TO THE EVER POPULAR DOUBLE MULLET OR GEEKPIE AND YOU LL GET AWAY AS A TRENDSETTER &LORA 7ONG
fashion fashion
05
“Something, such as a garment, that is in the current mode:” concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
the event
TOP TRAINERS
DESIGNER PROFILE: PETER JENSEN
7HEN THINKING OF SPORTSWEAR IT TENDS TO CONJURE IMAGES OF GYM JUNKIES WEARING THE LATEST IN BREATH ABLE NYLONS OR THOSE CRACKLING POLYESTER TRACKSUITS 7E SEEM TO FORGET THAT IT CAN BE MADE OUT OF NICE ORGANIC MATERIALS LIKE REAL COTTON 2IGHT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE INNOVATIONS IS 0ETER *ENSEN PIONEER IN SAVING THE MUCH MALIGNED NAME OF SPORTSWEAR (AILING FROM $ENMARK LAND OF GLACIAL BLONDES *ENSEN HAS MADE ANOTHER IMPRINT ON THE ,ONDON FASHION SCENE WITH HIS NEW RANGE FOR SPRING SUMMER #OMPRISING WITTY UPDATES OF THE TRACKSUIT SUBSTITUTING THE TEDIOUS HOOD FOR A CHIC TURTLE NECK ALONG WITH THE SIMPLE MEN S WHITE TENNIS OUTlT WHICH IS UPDATED WITH mASHY GOLD EMBLEMS AND NEATENED UP CAP SLEEVES THIS OUTlT ECHOES THE CLASSIC CLEAN LINES OF &RED 0ERRY THE ORIGINAL "RITISH SPORTSWEAR BRAND !PPROPRIATELY &RED 0ERRY RECENTLY COLLABORATED WITH *ENSEN ON A CAPSULE COLLECTION IN A SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RENEW ITS IMAGE /F *ENSEN S OWN DESIGNS THE TYPICAL HUNTING JACKET DIVIDES OPINION SO SOON AFTER THE BAN ON BLOOD SPORTS BUT HAS PROVED POPULAR WITH CELEBRITIES LIKE !LEXA #HUNG (OWEVER THIS RANGE IS PROBABLY MORE APPROPRIATE FOR FASHIONISTAS LOUNGING AROUND ON THE EDGES OF TENNIS COURTS NOT SO MUCH FOR HARD HITTING PLAY AT 7IMBLEDON *ENSEN EVEN MANAGES TO TRANSFORM VISORS CREATING INTERESTING EYE CATCHING QUALITY BY ENCRUSTING THEM IN JEWELS AND PRODUCING THEM IN A SHADE MORE lTTING FOR BLACK TIE THAN A GAME OF &RISBEE )T SEEMS WITH THIS RANGE THAT PRACTICAL SPORTSWEAR IS NOT *ENSEN S MAIN OBJECTIVE WITH HIGH END DESIGN SHINING THROUGH FAR MORE STRONGLY 3URELY THIS CAN ONLY BE A POSITIVE THING AS PEOPLE TAKE SPORTSWEAR FAR TOO SERIOUSLY !FTER ALL THEY REALLY ARE CLOTHES TO HAVE FUN IN AND WHAT COULD BE MORE FUN THAN PLAYING A MUDDY GAME OF lVE A SIDE IN AN OUTlT WORTHY OF ,ONDON &ASHION 7EEK
3CHUH #ASTLE 3TREET a /NE OF THE RARE EXAMPLES OF A FEMALE SPORTS SHOE THAT STILL RETAINS ALL THE DAINTINESS OF A SMARTER COUSIN ,OOKS GOOD WITH PRETTY MUCH ANY OUTlT EVEN FAIRLY SMART ONES
*$ 3PORTS a 0OSSIBLY A BIT EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT LOOKS LIKE A STANDARD TRAINER BUT THEY RE PER FECT FOR THOSE WHO DON T WANT TO WEAR RIDICULOUS STYLES AND COLOURS BUT STILL FANCY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT
-AIN 3OURCE ! 0OTTERGATE a 'OOD STRONG SOLE SO THEY RE ACTU ALLY USEFUL FOR SPORT BUT THE HIGH TOPS AND STRONG CONTRASTS OF COLOUR MEAN THEY LOOK EYE CATCHING WITH A PAIR OF JEANS
2OSIE ,UMLEY AND %MILY 0RICHARD -AIN 3OURCE ! 0OTTERGATE a 'IRL S TRAINERS OFTEN LOOK TOO BULKY ON DEL ICATE FEET BUT THESE ARE QUITE NARROW AND HAVE FAIRLY THIN TONGUES ! GREAT CHOICE WITH SKINNY JEANS FOR A WALK AROUND THE PARK BUT THEY ALSO MAKE WEARING JOGGING BOTTOMS AND AN OLD T SHIRT TO THE GYM LOOK THAT LITTLE BIT MORE FASHIONABLE $OGlSH "EDFORD 3TREET a BUT CURRENTLY IN THEIR 7INTER 3ALE FOR a THESE TRAINERS ADD INSTANT EXCITMENT TO ANY MAN S WARDROBE POSSIBLY A BIT h.EW 2AVEv WHICH IS OF COURSE NOT CONSIDERED QUITE SO FASHIONABLE NOW BUT $IZZEE 2ASCAL HAS A PAIR VERY SIMILAR AND IF THEY RE GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM
3CHUH #ASTLE 3TREET a 0ATENT LEATHER HIGH TOPS THAT ARE SOLID ENOUGH TO SKATE IN ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT KEEP THEIR SHINE FOR MUCH LONGER IF YOU DO !LSO COME IN GOLD FOR THOSE WHO THINK LIME GREEN IS A BIT TOO MUCH
SPEND ON TREND: FROM DESIGNER TO HIGH STREET
0INEAPPLE a *UICY #OUTURE a
,ACOSTE a
+APPA **" 3PORT a %LLEN .ASH
#ATlSH %XCHANGE 3TREET a )F YOU FANCY A PAIR OF HIGH TOPS BUT AREN T HAPPY WITH LOOKING LIKE YOU CAME STRAIGHT OUT OF A GYM IN THE MID S THEN THESE DOWN TO EARTH LEATHER JOBBIES ARE FOR YOU 0LUS THEY RE HALF PRICE SO YOU DON T HAVE THE CREDIT CRUNCH AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO BUY THEM
!DAM (ICKMOTT *ACK 3TONES
arts arts
06
“The The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements”
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
the event
Word
Play
!HOY !RTS 2EADERS -ORE CRAZY ADAPTATIONS AND RETURNING ICONS AS ALWAYS )T S BEEN AN EXCITING ONE FOR THE OLDIES THIS LITERARY FORTNIGHT !FTER AN YEAR HIATUS NEW 7INNIE THE 0OOH STORIES ARE TO BE WRITTEN DESPITE THE FACT THE AUTHOR ! ! -ILNE IS DEAD $AVID "ENEDICTUS THE NEW AUTHOR HAS HAD HIS MAN USCRIPT APPROVED BY THE "OARD OF 4RUSTEES NOW IN CHARGE OF THE FRANCHISE AND THE NEW STORIES ARE TO BE PUBLISHED ON TH /CTOBER !LBERT 5DERZO THE YEAR OLD ARTIST RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE !STERIX AND /BELISK CARTOONS IS SELLING HIS STAKE IN THE COMPANY THAT PUBLISHES IT MEANING THAT THE SERIES CAN BE CONTINUED BY OTHERS AFTER HIS DEATH 4HE #OSTA "OOK !WARD WENT TO YEAR OLD $IANA !THILL@S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 3OMEWHERE 4OWARDS THE %ND )T ENCOMPASSES IMPORTANT EVENTS IN HER LIFE AS WELL AS THE TRUTHS OF OLD AGE AND THE GRADUAL DECLINE OF HER SEX LIFE
4HE OLDIES FARE WELL IN 7ORD THIS WEEK AND 0LAY KEEPS YOU UPDATED AS ALWAYS ON WHAT S TO BE SEEN IF YOU RE OF A THEATRICAL PERSUASION AROUND .ORWICH 4HEATRE IN &IVE PREVIEWS 7EST 3IDE 3TORY AT THE 4HEATRE 2OYAL STARRING 5%! $RAMA STUDENT "ETHANY "UGG 4HE %VENT 2ECOMMENDS THE RE RELEASE OF 4OVE *AUSSON S &AIR 0LAY AND *ENNIFER !BBOT EXPLAINS EXACTLY WHY IT IS THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE TO EXAM DEADLINE STRESS OUTS -EANWHILE ON THE FEATURES PAGE WE CELEBRATE THE TH "IRTHDAY OF 2OBERT "URNS THE 3COTTISH .ATIONAL 0OET AND ALL ROUND DANDY WHO CHANGED LANGUAGE AS WE KNEW IT %NJOY THE FORTNIGHT -ELISSA AND -ATT !RTS %DITORS
4HE .ORWICH 4HEATRE 2OYAL PRESENTS THE .ORWICH AND .OR FOLK /PERATIC 3OCIETY S 7EST 3IDE 3TORY 3TEPHEN 3ONDHEIM S ICONIC MUSICAL IS SHOWING ALL NEXT WEEK "E SURE TO CATCH "ERTOLT "RECHT S 4HE 4HREEPENNY /PERA AT THE .ORWICH 0LAYHOUSE WHICH WILL BE RUNNING UNTIL 3TU ARDAY TH *ANUARY 5%! S VERY OWN -INOTAUR 4HEATRE #OMPANY IS STAGING !N )DEAL (USBAND BY /SCAR 7ILDE ON 7EDNESDAY 4HURSDAY AND &RIDAY OF 7EEK FOUR AT PM IN THE $RAMA 3TUDIO !S ALWAYS THE TICKETS CAN BE BOUGHT AT THE 5%! "OX /FlCE IN THE (IVE OR AT THE $RAMA 3TUDIO ITSELF ON THE NIGHT OF YOUR FANCY 4HE .ORWICH 0UPPET 4HEATRE IS TILL RUNNING ITS -ARIO NETTE 0UPPET 7ORKSHOP SO GET DOWN THERE AND LEARN SOME NEW SKILLS 9OU KNOW IT LL COME IN HANDY FOR AN ,#2
-ELISSA 9ORK
4HE %VENT SPEAKS TO "ETHANY "UGG A 5%! $RAMA STUDENT WHO IS PERFORMING AT .ORWICH S 4HEATRE 2OYAL THIS WEEK AS PART OF THE CAST OF 7EST 3IDE 3TORY 4HE MUSICAL RUNS FROM *ANUARY ST AND TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FROM JUST a 4HE .ORWICH AND .ORFOLK /PERATIC 3OCIETY IS ONE OF %AST !NGLIA S PREMIER AMETEUR MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANIES AND HAS PERFORMED AT THE 4HEATRE 2OYAL EVERY YEAR SINCE EXCEPT FOR DURING THE WAR YEARS AND WHEN THE THEATRE WAS SHUT FOR REFURBISHMENT 2ECENT PRODUCTIONS INCLUDE 4ITANIC AND *ESUS #HRIST 3UPERSTAR 7EST 3IDE 3TORY IS BASED ON 2OMEO AND *ULIET BUT SET IN -AN HATTAN S 7EST 3IDE (ELL S +ITCHEN IN THE MID S /NE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTIONS OF ALL TIME IT IS BEING REVIVED ON "ROADWAY AT THE 0ALACE 4HEATRE FROM -ARCH TH THIS YEAR (OW DID YOU lRST GET INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION 7ELL ) WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET TO SEE WHAT ASSORTED SOCIETIES WERE DOING AND SAW THAT THE .ORFOLK AND .ORWICH /PERATIC 3OCIETY WAS PRODUCING 7EST 3IDE 3TORY )T WAS SUCH A GOOD OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE ) LOVE THE MUSICAL ) DIDN T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT ) D GET A PART BUT ) DID AND IT HAS BEEN SUCH GREAT FUN !LL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION ARE LOVELY
-ELISSA 9ORK
Theatre in Five
3O WHAT DO YOU LIKE SO MUCH ABOUT 7EST 3IDE 3TORY 7HERE DO ) START ) JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT )T S A GREAT MUSICAL 7HAT ABOUT BEING PART OF A LARGE CAST 7HAT IS THAT LIKE 7HILE BEING EXPECTED TO PERFORM AT A HIGH STANDARD IT IS A SOCIAL THING AS WELL 4HE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY ARE SO FRIENDLY 7OULD YOU LIKE TO PERSUE PERFORMING AS A CAREER 7ELL ) AM DOING A DRAMA DEGREE AT 5%! AT THE MOMENT ) HAVE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN AMATEUR DRAMATICS SINCE ) WAS VERY SMALL (OPEFULLY ) WILL CARRY ON DOING IT AS A HOBBY AND IF ) GET A CHANCE ) WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO LOOK AT IT AS A CAREER )F ) GET THAT OPPORTUNITY ) WILL CERTAINLY TAKE IT -ATT 2AMSAY
ASWELL SO IT S BEEN GREAT 7HAT IS THE PROCESS OF GETTING A PART )S IT HARD WORK 9ES IT S VERY HARD WORK 4HE SOCIETY EXPECTS A VERY HIGH STANDARD BUT THEY ALSO MAKE SURE IT S FUN TOO
7ITH THANKS TO *OHN "ULTITUDE 0RESS /FlCER AT THE 4HEATRE 2OYAL FOR HIS CONTINUED ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
The Event RecommEnds 9OU MIGHT NOT RECOGNISE THE NAME STRAIGHT OFF BUT YOU MAY WELL HAVE HEARD OF THE -OOM INS 4OVE *ANSSON IS THE 3WEDISH CREATOR OF THE HIGHLY ECCENTRIC ADVENTURES OF THE &INN &AMILY -OOMINTROLL AND HER BOOKS FOR ADULTS BEAR A LOT OF RESEMBLANCE TO THE FOLKSY STYLE OF HER CHIL DREN S STORIES &AIR 0LAY READS MORE LIKE A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES THAN A NOVEL EACH CHAPTER ENCOMPASS
ING A SEEMINGLY SMALL EVENT IN THE LIVES OF TWO WOMEN ARTISTS LIVING TOGETHER ON AN ISLAND *ONNA SKETCHES CARVES WOOD TAKES PHOTOS AND MAKES lLMS WHILE -ARI WRITES 4OGETHER THEY GET LOST IN THE FOG OUT ON THEIR lSHING BOAT WATCH MEDIOCRE COWBOY lLMS AND DEVELOP A SUDDEN INTEREST IN CEMETERIES 4HE BOOK mOATS LAZILY ALONG SKIMMING ACROSS THE TENDERLY SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP OF -ARI AND
*ONNA AS THEY EACH TRY TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE OTH ER S WHIMS AND ODDITIES 4HESE STORIES SEEM SO MODEST AND SO SPARING WITH BOTH PLOT AND LAN GUAGE THAT IT CAN BE DIFlCULT AT TIMES TO DECIDE WHETHER NOTHING IS HAPPENING OR ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING 7HICHEVER IT IS THOUGH READING A CHAPTER OF &AIR 0LAY IS A LITTLE LIFT WHEN DEADLINES START GETTING TOO MUCH *ENNIFER !BBOTT
arts concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
07 the event
Happy Birthday, Rabbie Burns!
4HE EVENING OF 3UNDAY TH *ANUARY SAW THE DOWNING OF COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WHISKY AND THE RECITAL OF GREAT TRACTS OF 3COTS DIALECT VERSE )AN 3MITH TAKES A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF 2OBERT "URNS ON THE TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH 2OBERT "URNS IS 3COTLAND S NATIONAL POET AND ONE OF "RITAIN S MOST POPULAR IF LEAST LIKELY CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CULTURE 7HY AFTER TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES IS 2OBERT "URNS SUCH A BIG DEAL (ERE ARE SOME REASONS "URNS WAS A CHAMPION OF THE COMMON MAN "ORN IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES AS ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN TO A FARMER IN !YRSHIRE HE WAS MORE IN TUNE WITH THE ORDINARY MASSES THAN ANY OF HIS LITERARY CONTEMPORARIES !MERICAN POET 7ALDO %MERSON DESCRIBED HIM AS THE POET OF hTHE POOR ANXIOUS CHEERFUL WORKING HUMANITYv 4HE FULLEST EXPRESSION OF HIS EGALITARIAN IN STINCTS WAS HIS SONG ! -AN S ! -AN &OR ! 4HAT WHICH WAS QUICKLY ADOPTED AS AN ANTHEM BY THE ANTI SLAVERY MOVEMENT 5NSURPRISINGLY LATER ON SOCIALISTS CLAIMED "URNS AS ONE OF THEIR OWN ! TRANSLATION OF HIS WORKS INTO 2USSIAN SOLD A MILLION COP IES AND IN THE 3OVIET 5NION HONOURED HIM WITH A COMMEMORATIVE STAMP (OWEVER "URNS OBVIOUSLY HAD APPEAL FOR CAPITALISTS TOO AS THERE ARE MORE STATUES OF HIM IN .ORTH !MERICA THAN OF ANY OTHER WRITER "URNS WASN T AFRAID TO CRITICISE THE ES TABLISHMENT &OR EXAMPLE HE EXPRESSED HIS CONTEMPT FOR 3COTLAND S CENSORIOUS 0RESBYTE RIAN #HURCH IN THE POEM (OLY 7ILLIE S 0RAYER WHEREIN A SUPPOSEDLY ULTRA PIOUS MEMBER OF THE CHURCH PRAYS TO 'OD AND UNWITTINGLY RE VEALS HIMSELF AS A SCHEMING BITTER DRUNKEN
LECHEROUS HYPOCRITE "URNS HAS A MASSIVE CULT THAT KEEPS HIS MEMORY ALIVE 4HE lRST "URNS SOCIETIES BEGAN TO CONGREGATE IN HIS HONOUR IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH )N THE lRST CENTENARY OF HIS BIRTH ALMOST EVENTS WERE STAGED n OF THEM TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE "RIT AIN AND THE 53 4ODAY IT IS CLAIMED THAT THERE ARE MORE SUCH SOCIETIES IN 2USSIA THAN EVEN IN 3COTLAND "URNS SUPPERS ON *ANUARY TH ARE MARKED BY RECITALS OF HIS GREATEST POEMS SPEECHES PIPING AND MUCH CONSUMPTION OF WHISKY AND HAGGIS 0RAISED AS THE hGREAT CHIEFTAIN O THE PUDDIN RACEv IN "URNS !DDRESS 4O ! (AGGIS HAGGIS IS SURELY THE ONLY OFFAL BASED FOODSTUFF TO HAVE A PIECE OF WORLD CLASS LITERATURE DEDI CATED TO IT "URNS INVENTED THE CONCEPT OF THE DOOMED DECADENT ROMANTIC POET ,ONG BEFORE "YRON AND 3HELLEY WERE PAINTING THE TOWNS OF %U ROPE RED AND PROVING THEMSELVES MAD BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW "URNS HAD EARNED HIMSELF A REPUTATION FOR DISSIPATION BOTH IN THE PUB AND IN THE BEDCHAMBER (IS LOVE OF STRONG DRINK IS OBVIOUS IN POEMS LIKE *OHN "ARLEYCORN WHILE HIS PROMISCUITY LED TO HIM SIRING AT LEAST A DOZEN CHILDREN WITH AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT WOMEN n A COMMON JIBE AT THE TIME WAS THAT YOU COULD SEE HIS FACE IN EVERY PRAM ON %DINBURGH S 0RINCES 3TREET )N KEEPING WITH HIS DECADENT IMAGE "URNS DIED AT THE AGE OF n THOUGH NOT FROM LIVER FAILURE OR SYPHILIS BUT FROM A RHEUMATIC COM PLAINT HE D HAD SINCE CHILDHOOD "URNS IS CONTROVERSIAL n AND THE ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE RAGED ABOUT HIM OVER THE CENTURIES HAVE HELPED TO KEEP HIS FAME ALIVE -UCH DE BATE HAS CENTRED ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WITH "URNS OBVIOUS CHARACTER mAWS DESERVES SUCH VENERATION !T THE START OF THIS YEAR RIGHT WING 3COTTISH HISTORIAN -ICHAEL &RY CAUSED A STORM WHEN HE DENOUNCED "URNS AS A DRUNK EN MISOGYNISTIC PHILANDERER WHO WAS THE VERY LAST HISTORICAL lGURE THAT MODERN 3COTS SHOULD LOOK UP TO 5NWITTINGLY &RY S CRITICISMS ECHO TABLOID CONCERNS ABOUT THE SORT OF ROLE MODELS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GET FROM THE LIKES OF !MY 7INEHOUSE AND 0ETE $OHERTY 4HOUGH "URNS IT MUST BE SAID WAS BET TER LOOKING THAN 0ETE $OHERTY AND SINCE THE "URNS PENNED !ULD ,ANG 3YNE GETS BELTED OUT ANNUALLY AT .EW 9EAR CELEBRATIONS IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY OF THE WORLD HE CLEARLY HAD MORE SUCCESS AS A SONGWRITER TOO
Phrases given to the world by Robert Burns h$O OR $IEv h#LEAN AS A 7HISTLEv h/F -ICE AND -ENv h&AST AND &URIOUSv h4IME NOR 4IDEv h-AN S INHUMANITY TO MANv h4HERE IS NO SUCH UNCERTAINTY AS A SURE THINGv
08
creative cre ative writing “any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, forms” the event
concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
What I Did This Holiday
This week’s theme is “Shutters”
(through the shutter of my camera)
Closing Shutters 3NAP (ALF A PEN THE EDGE OF A PASSPORT SOME CHEWING GUM BOOK WITH COVER AND lRST OR SO PAGES NOW FOLDED BEYOND REPAIR n CAMERA HAS ONCE AGAIN GONE OFF INSIDE OF BAG 3NAP
!LL THESE YEARS ) VE mOATED THROUGH LIFE A SOFT TRANSLUCENT BARRIER SHIELDING ME FROM THE WORLD WRAPPING ME IN A SOOTHING EMBRACE 4HE BRUSH OF YOUR LIPS AGAINST MINE TRANSFORMED MY VULNERABLE BODY AND MADE MY ORGANS MELT INSIDE ME INTO ONE INDE STRUCTIBLE MASS !FTER THE BUZZING THRILLS AND SWEATS OF OUR lRST MOMENTS TOGETHER YOU HUMBLED ME
6IEW OUTSIDE BUS TO (EATHROW 4REES BLURRED BENDING BOTH BY THE RAIN THE WIND WHIPPING THROUGH THE BRANCHES AND BY THE SPEED OF THE BUS %VERYTHING ELSE COVERED IN FOG 3NAP
"UT NOW MY HEART IS BANGING AGAINST MY RIBS TRYING TO ESCAPE THE FATALDAMAGE IT WILL SOON RECEIVE NOW MY SKIN IS TIGHT AND RIPPLING WITH FEAR NOW COLOUR HAS SLIPPED FROM THE WORLD AND ALL ) SEE ARE LOOMING SHADOWS WAITING TO ENGULF ME IN A VIOLENT AND FREEZING GRIP
5NATTRACTIVE AIRPLANE INTERIOR WHY HAVE PLANES AND HOSPITALS TEAMED UP IN THE INSISTENCE ON NAUSEATINGLY COLOURED WALLS FRAMING SPECTACULAR SCENE OUTSIDE -ILLIONS OF TINY LIGHTS GLOWING BENEATH THE CRISP #HRISTMASSY AIR ,ONDON AT IT S BEST 4AKEN TO AVOID SPEAKING TO RATHER DODGY LOOKING NEIGHBOR @) M BUSY READING TECHNIQUE HAVING FAILED 3NAP
) CAN SEE IN YOUR EYES HEAR IN YOUR VOICE SENSE IN YOUR MOVEMENTS WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO TO ME 3O PLEASE ONE LAST KISS BEFORE YOU DO THIS ) WANNA BE SEDATED
3OPHIE 0LAYLE
! SEA OF SAND n THE BREEZE FORMING WAVES THAT LAZILY DRIFT OFF INTO THE HORIZON WHICH SADLY ISN T A BEAUTIFUL BLOOD COLOURED SUNSET BUT IN FACT WHITE SKY !T THE EDGE OF THE SHOT A STARTLED CAMEL LOOKS UP n GLARING AT THE PLANE 9OU CAN ALMOST HEAR IT TUTTING @"ACK IN MY DAY PLANES INDEED 3NAP "UILDINGS 3NAP 3AND 3NAP 2OCK 3NAP 3AND WITH ROCKS TO THE LEFT AND A HINT OF A BUILDING TO THE RIGHT 3NAP $OLPHIN 3NAP 7ATER WHERE DOLPHIN SEEMED LIKE IT WAS INCLINED TO BE BUT OBVIOUSLY HAD CHANGED ITS MIND LAST MINUTE 3O BASICALLY WATER 0ICTURE REPEATED TIMES 3NAP 1UICK SUCCESSION OF BOAT SKY AND lNALLY A LOT OF WATER 3NAP TAKEN ON CHEAP DISPOSABLE CAMERA ! SERIES OF PEOPLE WITH VARIOUS BODY PARTS MISSING AS IN WRONG CAMERA ANGEL n NOT HIDEOUS MASSACRE 3NAP 0ICTURE OF ANNOYING WOMAN TAKING PICTURES IN AN AIRPORT 7HY PEOPLE INSIST ON TAKING PICTURES IN AIRPORTS OR MALLS IS BEYOND ME 5NLESS IRONICALLY LIKE THIS ONE OF COURSE
Juan Gris, 1921
Her eyes. +ATIE 3PELLER
.EXT WEEK S THEME (IGHWAY 3END YOUR POETRY PROSE AND SCRIPT UP TO WORDS TO CONCRETE CREATIVEWRITING UEA AC UK BY THE RD &EBRUARY 7RITING NOT ON THE THEME IS AS ALWAYS VERY WELCOME
(ER EYES TIGHTLY CLOSED LIKE DAMP WOODEN SHUTTERS ON A SMOOTH WHITE FRAME
%MILY 7EST
wired “Slang; extremely excited, nervous, disoriented, concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk
9 the event
Sponsored by Gamestation Find us in Castle Mall!
Feature
Incoming
-ARKETERS ARE lNALLY REALISING THE POTENTIAL OF COMPUTER GAMES FOR ADVERTISING 4HE DEATH OF GAMING OR A CHANCE FOR DEVELOPERS TO MAKE GAMES CHEAPER +ARL $AVIES INVESTIGATES GAME ADVERTS )N PREVIOUS YEARS COMPUTER GAMES ONLY CARRIED ADVERTS FOR AUTHENTICITY $EVELOPERS WERE MORE CONCERNED WITH GETTING A FOOTBALL TEAM S SHIRT SPONSORED IN THEIR FOOTBALL GAME THAN CREATING REVENUE FROM IN GAME ADVERTISING (OWEVER TIMES ARE CHANGING AND NOWHERE IS THIS MORE PERTINENT THAN THE RECENT ADVERTISING FOUND IN "URNOUT 0ARADISE WITH %! S RACING GAME TEMPORARILY FEATURING IN GAME ADVERTS FOR "ARACK /BAMA S ELECTION CAMPAIGN 4HE /BAMA ADVERT HAS IN PAR TICULAR CAUSED QUITE A STIR AMONGST THE COMPUTER GAME PRESS 4HE MAINSTREAM MEDIA HAS LABELLED THE /BAMA ADVERT A HUGE SUCCESS ESPE
CIALLY AS IT TARGETED TYPICALLY APOLIT TICAL YOUNGER VOTERS 3OME SEE IT AS AN INDICATOR THAT GAMING IS lNALLY RECEIVING THE RESPECT OF MAINSTREAM ADVERTISERS AND COULD BOOST THE ECONOMY OF THE COMPUTER GAME IN DUSTRY /THERS ARE MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS WITH SOME EVEN LAMENTING THE RISE OF SUCH PRACTICES )F YOU THINK ABOUT IT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE TREPIDATION THE PROSPECT OF TEL EVISION ESQUE ADVERTS EVERY MINUTES WHILST PLAYING A GAME IS ENOUGH TO SEND SHIVERS DOWN THE SPINE 7HILST THIS IS AN EXTREME PRE DICTION THINGS LIKE PRODUCT PLACE MENT IS ALREADY BECOMING INCREAS
INGLY PREVALENT /NE MAJOR POSITIVE WITH INCREAS ING ADVERTISING REVENUE IS THE POS SIBILITY THAT IT COULD FUND THE DEVEL OPMENT OF COMPUTER GAMES EVEN POSSIBLY MAKING THEM FREE 3OON BRAND NEW GAMES WILL DISTRIBUTED FOR FREE DUE TO IT CONTAINING ADVERTS 1UAKE ,IVE IS ONE EXAMPLE ! RETURN TO THE ARENA lRST PERSON SHOOTER FOR THE SERIES ID S NEW GAME IS ESSEN TIALLY 1UAKE ))) !RENA PLAYED INSIDE YOUR WEB BROWSER %! IS ALSO RELEASING ITS OWN FREE &03 ,IKE 1UAKE ,IVE "ATTLElELD (E ROES IS DESIGNED FOR LOWER SPEC COM PUTERS TO ALLOW MORE GAMERS TO PLAY IT 7ITH A CARTOON STYLE NOT DISSIMILAR
Why Don’t You Try...
Gaming Great
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
The Sims
4HE MERE MENTION OF A REAL TIME STRATEGY 243 GAME IS OFTEN ENOUGH TO CONJURE UP STEREOTYPICAL IMAGES OF AN OVERWEIGHT MALE SOMETHING HUDDLED OVER HIS COMPUTER IN HIS PARENT S BASEMENT SO YOU D BE FOR GIVEN FOR PASSING OVER A LARGE PART OF THE #OMMAND #ONQUER SERIES 4HE LATEST INSTALMENT 2ED !LERT WAS RE LEASED OVER #HRISTMAS ON THE 0# AND 8BOX AND IS SHORTLY TO BE RELEASED ON 03 2ED !LERT IS A WAR GAME PLAIN AND SIMPLE 4HERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT FACTIONS AVAILABLE ALL WITH DIFFERENT TANKS INFANTRY AND AIRCRAFT AND THEIR OWN CAMPAIGN (OWEVER THE ESSENCE OF THE GAME NEVER CHANGES THE PLAYER
7ITH 4HE 3IMS HITTING THE SHOPS NEXT MONTH IT IS DIFlCULT TO SEE HOW -AXIS COULD POSSIBLY IMPROVE THE AL READY HUGELY SUCCESSFUL SERIES *UDG ING BY THE VAST DEVELOPMENTS MADE SINCE THE ORIGINAL GAME WAS RELEASED IN WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE FRANCHISE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPRESS &OR THOSE UNSATISlED WITH THEIR MONOTONOUS EXISTENCE OR WITH MASS ES OF SPARE TIME 4HE 3IMS ALLOWS YOU TO PLAY 'OD OVER EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR 3IM S LIFE FROM BIRTH TO DEATH 'ONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN A BABY WOULD MI RACULOUSLY APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER A PASSIONATE KISS YOUR 3IM HAS TO hTRY FOR A BABYv AND GO THROUGH
INEVITABLY HAS TO BUILD UP A HUGE ARMY USING ALL AVAILABLE MEANS AND RESOURCES AND THEN WIPE OUT THE EN EMY FORCES USING A COMBINATION OF TACTICS SKILL AND OVERWHELMING lRE POWER 4HE REAL MAGIC OF 2ED !LERT IS ITS ACCESSIBILITY PLAYERS WHO ARE NEW TO THE GENRE WILL FEEL INSTANTLY COM FORTABLE WITH THE LAYOUT AND CONTROLS AND THE IN GAME VOICE ALERTS KEEP THE PLAYER WELL INFORMED AND IN CONTROL !LL OF THE MISSIONS ARE FOUGHT ALONG SIDE AN !) COUNTERPART ALTHOUGH YOU CAN CHOOSE TO PLAY THE MISSIONS VIA ONLINE CO OP IF YOU SO WISH /NLINE MATCHES AGAINST OTHER PLAYERS ARE ALSO SUPPORTED 0AUL "YGRAVE
TO 4EAM &ORTRESS THE TITLE IS DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO LESS DEDICATED GAMERS WHO FEEL OVERWHELMED BY #OUNTER STRIKE AND OTHER HIGHLY COMPETITIVE ONLINE GAMES 4HE MOST OBVIOUS BENElT IS THAT SALES lGURES WON T BE QUITE AS IM PORTANT AS THEY WERE BEFORE THERE FORE PUBLISHERS MAY BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT MORE @RISKY TITLES THAT OTH ERWISE WOULDN T BE FUNDED )T MAY ALSO HELP DEVELOPERS WHO STRUGGLE DUE TO WIDESPREAD PIRACY OF COMPU TER GAMES (OWEVER WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF "ATTLElELD (EROES ET AL ADVERTISING IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO THE INDUSTRY
Street Fighter IV 4HE LATEST INSTALMENT OF THE CLASSIC SERIES HAS ENTERED A NEW DIMENSION 7HILST THE SERIES HAS HAD $ ITERA TIONS BEFORE IN THE FORM OF THE SPIN OFF 3TREET &IGHTER %8 THIS IS THE lRST IN THE MAIN SERIES #APCOM HAVE STRIVED HARD TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH ARTISTIC STANDARDS SEEN IN PREVIOUS GAMES WHILST MOVING THE SERIES FORWARD
Starcraft II 4HE lRST 3TARCRAFT IS STILL PLAYED SOME YEARS AFTER BEING RELEASED 4HE FOL LOW UP IS MUCH ANTICIPATED FOR FANS OF "LIZZARD S BEST KNOWN SERIES ,IKE ITS PREDECESSOR 3TARCRAFT )) IS A REAL TIME STRATEGY GAME AND WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR -AC OWNERS
STAGES OF PREGNANCY AND ALL ITS LOVELY SIDE EFFECTS SUCH AS MORNING SICKNESS FULL BLADDERS CONSTANT HUNGER AND SLEEPINESS 3IMS ALSO GO THROUGH RE ALISTIC LIFE STAGES GOING FROM BABY TO ELDER AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN UNTIL THEIR INEVITABLE DEATH /NE OF THE BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS OF THIS MULTI PLATFORM GAME IS THAT PEOPLE OF ANY AGE GENDER AND EVEN THE COMPUTER SHY CAN ENJOY BUILDING MANSIONS DROWNING THEIR 3IMS IN THE SWIMMING POOL OR CHEATING THEIR WAY TO FORTUNE 4HE 3IMS IS ADDICTIVE PROVIDING HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT WHERE ALL WRONGS CAN BE CORRECTED WITH A PRESS OF #TRL : 'RACE 3IMPSON
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin 9ET ANOTHER lRST PERSON SHOOTER GETS YET ANOTHER SEQUEL )N FAIRNESS & % ! 2 IS ONE OF THE BETTER SHOOTERS RELEASED IN RECENT TIMES PROVIDING A GOOD BLEND OF CLOSE QUARTERS ACTION WITH GORY HORROR %XPECT MORE OF THE SAME ON 8BOX 03 AND 0# +ARL $AVIES
10
tv
“Television Television (often abbreviated to TV) is a widely used telecommunication system” the event
concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
The Past is Another Channel 4HERE IS MORE TO COSTUME DRAMA THAN #OLIN &IRTH IN A WET SHIRT 4HE %VENT LOOKS AT "RITAIN S BEST LOVED 46 GENRE
Tess of the D’Urbervilles 4HE THEMES OF DEATH SORROW AND ENDLESS PAIN WHICH ARE INmICTED UPON A YOUNG LADY IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD THINK WOULD MAKE COM FORTABLE VIEWING FOR YOUR AVERAGE 46 VIEWER BUT THE RECENT ""# ADAPTA TION OF 4ESS OF THE $ 5RBERVILLES HAS BEEN A SURPRISING SUCCESS 4HE PROGRAMME MANAGED TO EN GAGE AN AUDIENCE OF MILLION OVER THE FOUR PART SERIES WHICH MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST WATCHED COSTUME DRAMAS IN RECENT YEARS )TS GLORIOUS SETTINGS IN THE 7ESSEX COUNTRYSIDE HAVE CAPTIVATED THE AUDIENCE AND COMBINED WITH THE HARROWING POR TRAYAL OF 4ESS PLAYED BY 'EMMA !RTERTON WHO ALSO STARRED IN 1UAN TUM OF 3OLACE AND 3T 4RINIANS LEAVES YOU RUNNING FOR THE TISSUE BOX
7HAT MAKES THIS DRAMA SUCH A SUC CESS )T HELPS THAT 4HOMAS (ARDY CREATED SUCH AN ENGAGING NOVEL AND THAT THE TENSE SCENES BETWEEN !NGEL AND 4ESS WERE WELL ACTED &URTHER MORE IT ENGAGES THE AUDIENCE S IM AGINATION OF WHAT SOCIETY USED TO BE LIKE IN COMPARISON TO MODERN DAY LIFE 4OP HATS AND CORSETS ARE ALSO IN CLUDED AS EXPECTED IN ANY COSTUME DRAMA (OWEVER YOU HAVE TO QUES TION THE AUTHENTICITY OF WHETHER SOME OF THE SET PIECES USED WERE REmECTIVE OF THE TIME PERIOD 9ET IT APPEARS THAT THE ""# HAS CREATED ANOTHER WELL CRAFTED DRAMA
3TEPHANIE #ROSS
Lark Rise to Candleford 2ETURNING FOR ITS SECOND SERIES THE ""# BRINGS US AN INDULGENT GUILTY PLEASURE IN THE FORM OF ,ARK 2ISE TO #ANDLEFORD "ASED ON A SERIES OF SEMI AUTOBIO GRAPHICAL NOVELS BY &LORA 4HOMPSON WE ARE TRANSPORTED BACK TO TUMULTU OUS VILLAGE AND COUNTRY LIFE IN TURN OF THE CENTURY %NGLAND )T HAS ALL THE INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR A 3UNDAY NIGHT DRAMA BRILLIANT COSTUMES WITH INTRICATE DETAIL QUAINT SCENES OF FAMILY LIFE WITH MORE THAN A TOUCH OF OVER SENTIMENTALITY THROWN IN HANDSOME ELIGIBLE BACHELORS AND WITTY DIALOGUE TO RIVAL !USTEN 4HE CONTRAST BETWEEN CLASS AND WEALTH IS BRILLIANTLY DISPLAYED BY THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE RElNED $ORCUS ,ANE THE POST MISTRESS IN #ANDLEFORD *ULIA 3ALWALHA AND THE COMEDICALLY
UNFORTUNATE #AROLINE !RLESS OF ,ARK 2ISE PLAYED BY $AWN &RENCH 7HAT MAY SEEM TO BE MINOR EVERYDAY OC CURRENCES QUICKLY ROCK THE VILLAGES OF ,ARK 2ISE AND #ANDLEFORD CREATING ENOUGH SCANDAL TO HAVE EVERYBODY INCLUDING THE VILLAGE BUSYBODIES 0EARL AND 2UBY 0RATT IN A mUSTER OF EXCITE MENT 7HILST POSSESSING ALL THE QUALI TIES OF A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE PERIOD DRAMA ,ARK 2ISE TO #ANDLEFORD ALSO TACKLES SOCIAL ISSUES OF THE HISTORICAL PERIOD IN PARTICULAR THE PROGRESSION OF WOMEN S RIGHTS AS $ORCUS CHOSES TO RUN FOR THE ROLE OF 0ARISH #OUNCIL LOR ,ARK 2ISE IS THE ULTIMATE ESCAPISM FROM ESSAYS AND THE DEPRESSING STATE OF CURRENT AFlARS +ATE 3LEMMINGS
Bleak House "LEAK (OUSE IS A PARTICULARLY GRITTY #HARLES $ICKENS NOVEL BASED ON THE DECEPTION OF THE RICH THROUGH LAW AGREEMENTS AND IN THE TRUE FORM OF A SOAP IS FULL OF DEVASTATING FAMILY SECRETS AND HEART RENDERING ROMANC ES !LL THESE QUALITIES COMBINED GIVE "LEAK (OUSE AN EDGE OVER ANY BLAND SITCOM OR CONSUMER DRIVEN REAL ITY SHOW YET RETAINS THE SAME SLICK SPEED OF PLOTS AND CAPTIVATING CLIFF HANGERS AS FOUND IN A TRADITIONAL SOAP SUCH AS %AST%NDERS )T WOULD BE WRONG HOWEVER TO LABEL THE RECENT ADAPTATION OF "LEAK (OUSE AS YET AN OTHER ATTEMPT TO ADAPT A CLASSICAL DRAMA TO THE SOAP FORMAT TO lT IN WITH THE MODERN EXPECTATIONS OF A SIMPLE YET THOUGHT PROVOKING BIT OF
TELEVISION "LEAK (OUSE IS CERTAINLY MORE THAN THAT WITH ITS UNBEATABLE CAST WHICH INCLUDES THE ACTRESS !NNA -AXWELL -ARTIN AS THE LOVEABLE BUT FEISTY %STHER AND CONSTANTLY ENGAG ING STORYLINE WHICH NEVER CEASES TO ENTERTAIN EVEN IF ITS FAST PACE DOES SMOTHER THE AUDIENCE AT TIMES )T IS TRUE TO SAY THEN THAT A SOAP STYLE DRAMA LIKE "LEAK (OUSE CAN WORK WITHIN THE SAME CONlNES OF A SOAP IN HALF HOUR SLOTS NORMALLY AL LOCATED TO SOAPS WHICH WORKED FOR "LEAK (OUSE DUE TO ITS ENTICING CLIFF HANGERS DELIVERED IN THE SAME WAY AS $ICKENS INTENDED BUT WITH AN ADDED SENSE OF PACE AND EXCITEMENT FOR THE AUDIENCE DERIVED FROM THE USING THE TRADITIONAL SOAP FORMAT %LLA &AIRHURST
Life on Mars 'LAM ROCK mARES DODGY SIDEBURNS AND POLITICALLY INCORRECT COPPERS MAY NOT SOUND LIKE THE CONVEN TIONAL BRAND OF COSTUME DRAMA BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT ,IFE ON -ARS COULD BE CLASSED AS JUST THAT 3ET IN S -ANCHESTER THE AUDIENCE FOLLOW THE LIFE OF $) 3AM 4YLER *OHN 3IMM A ST CENTURY DETECTIVE WHO lNDS HIMSELF BACK IN THE DECADE WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG BOY #LASHING OVER THE PROCEDURES OF THE POLICE FORCE WITH SUPERIOR OF lCER 'ENE (UNT 0HILIP 'LENISTER IS ONE THING BUT FOR 3AM AND FOR THE AUDIENCE THE REAL MYSTERY IS HOW HE GOT BACK TO IN THE lRST PLACE (OWEVER THE ""# HAS TRIUMPHED IN MAKING ,IFE ON -ARS AN IMPRESSIVE
MODERN TAKE ON THE SOMEWHAT PRE DICTABLE COSTUME DRAMA 'ONE ARE THE CRAVATS AND PUFFY DRESSES AND IN THEIR PLACE COMES THE COMPLETE JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN THE CONTEMPORARY GLORIES OF HI TECH LIVING AGAINST THE GUT INSTINCT METH ODS OF YESTERYEAR WITHIN THE POLICE FORCE ,IFE ON -ARS ISN T OVERLY NOS TALGIC AND IS CERTAINLY NOT QUAINT IT S A VERY DIFFERENT TAKE ON A WORN OUT GENRE BOTH IN TERMS OF ITS COS TUME AND DIALOGUE &ORGET *ANE !USTEN ADAPTATIONS ,IFE ON -ARS IS GRITTY AND INVOLVING AND HUMOROUS YET INTRIGUING ALL AT ONCE
%LEANOR "ROWN
tv
11 the event
concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
Primetime: Lost, Sunday, 9 PM, Sky One
)T HAS BEEN ALMOST EIGHT MONTHS SINCE ,OST WAS LAST SEEN ON OUR TELEVISION SCREENS BUT ON *ANU ARY TH THE PENULTIMATE SEASON WILL RETURN WITH A TWO HOUR PREMIERE 4HE lRST TWO EPI SODES OF SEASON lVE WILL PICK UP FROM LAST YEAR S SHOCKING lNALE 2EMEMBER *OHN ,OCKE DEAD IN A COFlN $ID YOU SEE "EN MOVE THE ISLAND RIGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES 7HY DO THE @/CE ANIC 3IX HAVE TO RETURN TO AN ISLAND THEY JUST SPENT FOUR MONTHS AND FOUR SEASONS TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM 7ORRY NOT AS THE ANSWERS TO THESE CLIFFHANG ERS ARE THE BASIS OF THE STORY THIS YEAR *ACK WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO GATHER THE RELUCTANT SURVIVORS UNDER "EN S INSTRUCTIONS AND RETURN THEM TO THE ISLAND 7E WILL ALSO DISCOVER THE NEW LOCATION OF THE ISLAND BUT IT S NOT SO MUCH WHERE THE
REMAINING ISLANDERS ARE BUT WHEN 3EASON lVE WILL NO DOUBT RAISE MORE QUES TIONS THAN IT ANSWERS AS IT BRINGS THE STORYLINES OF THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO THE CAST TO THE FOREFRONT $ANIEL &ARADAY S KNOWLEDGE OF TIME TRAVEL AND HIS JOURNAL ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS TO THIS SEASON AS IS #HARLOTTE ,EWIS QUEST TO LOCATE WHERE SHE WAS BORN -ORE IMPORTANTLY WILL WE EVER lND OUT WHAT THE BLACK SMOKE MONSTER IS ALL ABOUT 7HO IS *ACOB AND WHY DOES HE LIVE IN A CABIN 7HAT DOES 3UN INTEND TO DO OVER HER HUSBAND S @DEATH AND WHY HAS SHE ALLIED HERSELF WITH THE VILLAINOUS #HARLES 7IDMORE !RE $ESMOND AND 0ENNY DESTINED FOR A HAPPY ENDING !S PREVIOUS SEASONS HAVE PROVEN ,OST IS NOT NEW VIEWER FRIENDLY AND THE OPENING EPISODES ARE NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE !NYBODY LOOKING
US TV
(OW 46 LAND WORKS ACROSS THE POND
"RITISH SHOWS COME AND GO ALL YEAR ROUND BUT IT S DONE WITH MUCH MORE EFlCIENCY OVER IN THE 53! 4HE !MERICAN TELEVISION SEASON TYPICALLY RUNS FROM LATE 3EPTEMBER THROUGH UNTIL -AY WITH THE MOST POPULAR SHOWS AIRING IN EXCESS OF TWENTY EPISODES EACH YEAR )T S NEARLY THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THE NETWORKS WILL BE LOOKING AT THE RATINGS OF THEIR HIGH PROlLE SERIES AND DECIDE WHAT WILL STAY AND WHAT WILL GO )T S A CUT THROAT BUSINESS AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR PRODUCERS TO GET NERVOUS 3OME SHOWS ARE ALREADY AWARE OF WHERE THEY STAND &OR EXAMPLE ,OST WILL DElNITELY BE RETURNING NEXT YEAR FOR ITS lNAL SEASON AND $ESPERATE (OUSEWIVES IS SET TO REMAIN ON OUR SCREENS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO YEARS -EDICAL DRAMA %2 IS DElNITELY COMING TO AN END AFTER YEARS ON THE AIR AND IT S BEEN CONlRMED THAT 0RISON "REAK HAS BEEN AXED AFTER SEEING ITS RAT INGS PLUMMET 2ELATIVELY NEW SHOWS $IRTY 3EXY -ONEY AND 0USHING $AISIES HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT NO MORE EPISODES WILL BE ORDERED WHEN THEIR SECOND SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE 3INCE LAST YEAR S WRITERS STRIKE SOME OF THE COUNTRY S MOST POPULAR SHOWS HAVE STRUGGLED TO CLING ON TO THEIR AUDIENCES AND ARE NOW IN REAL
DANGER OF BEING AXED /NE SUCH SHOW IS (EROES WHICH LAST YEAR LOST MILLIONS OF VIEWERS AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO EVER SINCE (OUSE AND "ROTH ERS AND 3ISTERS NEITHER OF WHICH REALLY TOOK OFF IN THE 5+ HAVE SUFFERED A VERY SLIGHT DROP BUT ARE STILL PERFORMING AMIABLY AND SHOULD HOPE FULLY BE RE COMMISSIONED )T S RARE THAT A SHOW MANAGES TO IMPROVE ON ITS AUDIENCE NUMBERS BUT 'OSSIP 'IRL HAS DONE JUST THAT 4HE FANTASTICALLY TRASHY SERIES FROM THE CREATORS OF 4HE / # HAS ENJOYED A RATINGS SURGE THIS YEAR AND WORD OF MOUTH HAS HAD A GREAT EFFECT ON IT )T S NOW ONE OF THE COUNTRY S MOST TALKED ABOUT SHOWS AND IT WOULD BE A HUGE SURPRISE IF IT WERE TO BE CANCELLED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS 4HE SHOW IS STILL VERY MUCH ON TOP FORM AND HERE IN THE 5+ YOU CAN lNALLY CATCH THE SECOND SEASON ON )46 ON 7EDNESDAY EVENINGS 4HE GLOBAL RECESSION WILL OBVIOUSLY BE A HUGE INmUENCE ON WHAT THE NETWORKS CAN AFFORD TO CARRY ON PRODUCING SO WITH BOTH BUDGETS AND RATINGS BEING CONSTANTLY MONITORED &EBRU ARY WILL CERTAINLY BE A NERVE WRACKING MONTH IN THE !MERICAN TELEVISION INDUSTRY 3HAUN +ITCHENER
TO START WATCHING THIS AWARD WINNING DRAMA HAD BETTER BEGIN AT SEASON ONE THOUGH IF YOU SAVOUR ANY OF YOUR FREE TIME YOU SHOULD PROBA BLY KEEP AWAY BECAUSE ,OST CAN REALLY TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE 4HE CONVOLUTED PLOTLINES AND TIME TRAVELLING NARRATIVES MAKE THE SHOW ONE OF THE MOST CONFUSING IN TELEVISION HISTORY BUT ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AS WELL #RITIICS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY POSITIVE ABOUT THE OPENING EPISODES OF THE NEW SEASON AND ,OST LOOKS SET TO CONTINUE ITS SUCCESS !S ALWAYS ANY ANSWERS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN ,OYAL FANS WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED THOUGH BE PREPARED TO SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF EVEN MORE AS THE SEA SON PROGRESSES !S ,OST GEARS UP TOWARDS ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED SERIES lNALES IN TELEVISION HISTORY LET US HOPE THAT THE TIME WE HAVE IN
VESTED INTO THE SHOW HAS BEEN WORTH IT AND LOY ALISTS ARE REWARDED WITH A SATISFYING ENDING h7HAT DO YOU MEAN @IT WAS JUST A DREAM v -ARK -C+ENZIE 2AY
TV Classics 3IX &EET 5NDER )F YOU WEREN T BAWLING BY THE END OF THE 3IX &EET 5NDER lNALE @%VERYBODY S 7AITING WHEN IT AIRED IN !UGUST YOU EITHER ! WEREN T WATCHING n SHAME ON YOU OR " ARE A LIAR 4HE SHOW BEGAN EACH EPISODE WITH A DEATH THAT WOULD BE SIGNIlCANT TO THE UNDERTAKING &ISHER FAMILY AND IN A SHOW THAT PERPETU ALLY COURTED THE GREAT TABOO IT S NO WONDER IT SHOWED LITTLE FEAR TOWARDS LESSER CONTROVERSIES SUCH AS A LOVING INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIP BE TWEEN TWO MALE CHARACTERS ONE OF WHOM BE ING $AVID EASILY THE MOST NUANCED CHARACTER TO APPEAR ON TELEVISION AND PLAYED BY -ICHAEL # (ALL WHOSE TALENTS NOW SEEM WASTED AS HE CURRENTLY STARS IN $EXTER PLAYING THE PRACTICALLY CARTOONY ANTI HERO OF THE TITLE 3IX &EET 5NDER SHONE IN ITS STAND OUT EPI SODES FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED WEEPY lNAL EPISODE WHICH TOOK THE FORMAT OF THE OPENING
DEATH AND USED IT TO END WITH A CATALOGUE OF THE INEVITABLE DEATHS OF EVERY MAIN CHARACTER TO THE BLIND SIDING @4HAT S -Y $OG THAT BEGAN INNOCUOUSLY BY mITTING BETWEEN VARIOUS STORIES BEFORE SPRINGING ON $AVID A CAR JACKING THAT THE EPISODE RELENTLESSLY FOLLOWED UNTIL THE CHAR ACTER WAS ON HIS KNEES IN A POOL OF KEROSENE WITH A GUN BETWEEN HIS TEETH 3IX &EET 5NDER WAS NOT YOUR AVERAGE FAM ILY DRAMA NOR WAS IT AS ISSUE BAITING AS OTHER SHOWS THAT ACTIVELY PURSUE CONTROVERSY )T TOLD THE STORY THAT WAS THERE AND TOLD IT IMPECCABLY 7ITH CREATOR !LAN "ALL NOW WORKING ON THE TRULY "UFFY ESQUE 4RUE "LOOD FOLLOWING A MIND READER WHO lNDS COMFORT WITH VAMPIRES IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT STORY HE CAN UNEARTH THERE *OSH "UTLER
Heard it on the grapevine (EAR THAT EAR SPLITTING SOUND 4HAT S THE MIXED SCREAMS OF DELIGHT AND ANGUISH OF THOUSANDS OF ADOLESCENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THEIR BE LOVED 3KINS RETURNS TO #HANNEL &OUR BUT WITH OUT THEIR BELOVED FAVOURITES OF 4ONY 3ID AND #ASSIE ET AL "UT WAIT AN ALCOHOL QUAFlNG 4OPSHOP WEARING SECOND THERE THESE NEW PEOPLE SEEM AWFULLY FAMILIAR 7E HAVE THE LOVEABLE STONER IDIOT FORMERLY #HRIS NOW #OOK THE ENIGMATIC SEXY ONE SWAPPING %FFY FOR HER BROTHER 4ONY 7E HAVE THE ODD DREAMY ONE WAS #ASSIE NOW 0ANDORA EXACTLY THE SAME CHARACTER EXCEPT MADE ABOUT TIMES ODDER AND DREAMIER (OWEVER IF THE lRST EPISODE IS ANYTHING
TO GO BY 3KINS HAS SQUEEZED OUT OF ITS TELEVI SION EQUIVALENT OF EMO SKINNY JEANS OF SERIES TWO AND ENDED UP LIKE THE lRST SERIES WITH JUST ENOUGH WIT TO GET AWAY WITH THE PURE RIDICU LOUSNESS THAT THEY PUMP INTO YOUNG IMPRES SIONABLE MINDS )N OTHER NEWS -ICHELLE 2YAN HAS BEEN CAST IN ONE OF THE $OCTOR 7HO SPECIALS WHICH MAY UPSET MANY FANS WHO WERE COUNTING HER TO JOIN 5%! S NEWLY APPOINTED FAVOURITE SON -ATT 3MITH COME THE NEW SERIES IN /H AND 4HE $AILY -AIL HAVE OUTED THE 3TIG LEADING @AN INSIDER TO COMMENT h)T S LIKE TELLING PEOPLE &ATHER #HRISTMAS DOESN T EXIST v 7HICH IS EQUALLY SHOCKING NEWS +IRSTEN 0ETER
regulars feature
12
the event
ight tn r o F e th f o p u o r g Facebook ‘I love the ‘English (Pirate)’ language setting on the new Facebook’ %VER WONDERED WHY PEOPLE WERE RAVING ABOUT @0IRATE &ACEBOOK IN THEIR STATUSES AND THOUGHT h7HAT IS THIS APPLICATION THAT ) CANNOT lND v 7ELL APPLICATION IT IS NOT @0IRATE &ACEBOOK IS IN FACT A GENIUS LANGUAGE SETTING THAT SEEMS TO TRANS PORT YOUR &ACEBOOK INTO VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH 0IRATES OF THE #ARIBBEAN 'ONE ARE THE TITLES WE RECOGNISE SO WELL @&RIENDS @)NBOX @3TATUS 5PDATES AND @0ICTURES AMONGST OTHERS )NSTEAD YOUR PAGE NOW READS @-E (EARTIES @"OTTLE O -ESSAGES @2ECENT 4ALES AND @0ORTRAITS RESPECTIVELY 0OKING HAS BECOME STAB BING YOU NOW @SCRAWL ON WALLS AND &ACEBOOK CHAT IS SIMPLE @PARLEY (OWEVER ONE OF THE FAVOUR ITES HAS TO BE THE REPLACEMENT OF @FRIEND REQUEST WHICH SIMPLY READS @ SORRY LOUT THINKS THEY RE YER MATE 4O CHANGE TO THE LANGUAGE IS SIMPLE CLICK ONTO SETTINGS ACROSS TO LANGUAGE AND SCROLL DOWN TO h%NGLISH 0IRATE n "%4!v 7HILE THE LANGUAGE INITIALLY PROVIDES GREAT HUMOUR IN PARTICULAR THE CHANGE OF SPELLING FOR THE DIFFERENT MONTHS SUCH AS @*ANUARRRRY THE LAN GUAGE SETTING DOES QUICKLY BECOME VERY CONFUSING AND YOU MAY lND YOURSELF DELETING GROUPS PIC
TURES AND MAYBE EVEN FRIENDS .EVERTHELESS 0IRATE &ACEBOOK IS DElNITELY A LANGUAGE YOU HAVE TO EX PERIENCE WHETHER YOU MANAGE TO DO SO FOR A JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS OR MAYBE A FEW WEEKS DEPENDS ON YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF PIRATE DIA LECT 4HIS GROUP SIMPLY RECOGNISES THE GREATNESS OF THE LANGUAGE AND WITH MEMBERS IT IS CLEAR THAT MANY SHARE THIS LOVE )T BOASTS THAT IT IS hTHE BIGGEST %NGLISH 0IRATE 'ROUP OF &ACEBOOKv AND FEATURES MANY PICTURES OF PEOPLE DRESSED AS PI RATES !RRRR +ARINE 7ACH $ONOVAN
concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
Where are they now? Stuart Miles 4HOSE WHO GREW UP IN THE S COULD NOT HAVE FAILED TO WATCH AN EPISODE OF "LUE 0ETER AND THE CHANCES ARE THAT YOU MAY WELL HAVE WITNESSED THE PRESENTING EXPLOITS OF 3TUART -ILES "EST KNOWN AS A PRESENTER ON THE LONG RUNNING CHILDREN S SHOW FROM TO HE SHARED THE SCREEN WITH SUCH CHILDHOOD FA VOURITES AS +ATY (ILL 4IM 6INCENT AND $IANE ,OUISE *ORDAN WHILE ENGAGING IN THE NORMAL "LUE 0ETER PRESENTER EXPLOITS SUCH AS SKY DIV ING AND NOW IRONIC OBLIGATORY CROSS DRESS ING IN THE "LUE 0ETER 0ANTOMIMES -ILES LEFT THE SHOW IN AFTER COM PLAINING THAT IT WAS hOUT OF TOUCHv WITH THE DAYS YOUTH GENERATION HAVING ALSO COM MENTED ON THE BADLY HANDLED DISMISSAL OF FELLOW PRESENTER 2ICHARD "ACON (E HAD ALSO FAILED TO SECURE THE THEN VACANT POST OF 0ROGRAMME %DITOR (AVING LEFT "LUE 0ETER HE GUEST PRESENTED FOR VARIOUS TELEVISION PRO GRAMMES INCLUDING )46 S $IAL ! $ATE AND THE 3KY INTERACTIVE GAMING CHANNEL 3KY 6EGAS ,IVE )N THE MEDIA -ILES HAS MADE NO SECRET OF HIS SEXUALITY DESCRIBING THE EXPECTATIONS FOR "LUE 0ETER PRESENTERS TO BE LIKE !CTION -AN hSMOOTH ALL OVER WITH NO GENITALSv 4HIS HAS LED HIS CURRENT WORK AS A DAILY PRESENTER ON 'AYDAR 2ADIO AND THE DEBUT OF HIS DRAG STAND UP ACT AS hTHE PEOPLE S HOSTESSv 3TELLA
2ATNER AT THE %DINBURGH &RINGE &ESTI VAL (E HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE SOME HEADWAY AS A COMIC GETTING INTO THE lNALS OF #HANNEL S 3O 9OU 4HINK 9OU RE &UNNY A COMPETITION FOR NEW ACTS FOR THE &RINGE #LEARLY 3TUART HAS SHOWN THAT FOR SOME AT LEAST THERE IS LIFE AFTER CHILDREN S TELEVISION AND "LUE 0ETER
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*AMES #URTIS
13
the event
concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
Wireless Wonders
4URN OFF THE 46 STAY AWAY FROM THE CINEMA $ELVE INTO THE WORLD OF RADIO 'ET READY FOR SOME AURAL PLEASURE
Radio Drama "EFORE TELEVISION BECAME AN ACCESSIBLE COM MODITY PEOPLE USED TO TUNE INTO THE RADIO FOR ENTERTAINMENT -ANY RADIO DRAMAS HAVE BEEN BROADCAST OVER THE YEARS BUT WITH THE BIRTH OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MANY NEW WAYS TO EXPERIENCE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF SHOWS IS THE RADIO DRAMA DESTINED TO BE SCRAPPED OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD STAY 7HAT WITH (IGH $ElNITION 46 SET TO BECOME A REGULAR FEATURE IN MANY HOUSEHOLDS PARTICULAR LY AFTER THE DIGITAL SWITCHOVER THE ENJOYMENT OF SITTING DOWN AND WATCHING YOUR FAVOURITE SHOW HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER 4HERE IS A LOT MORE VARI ETY IN TODAY S TELLY GUIDE DUE TO THE HUNDREDS OF CHANNELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THE MANY NEW AND EXCITING GENRES THAT CONTINUALLY APPEAR ON OUR SCREENS 7ITH THIS IDEA IN MIND IS THE RADIO DRAMA REALLY NECESSARY !FTER ALL GIVEN THE CHOICE MOST PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY CHOOSE TO BE ABLE TO BOTH WATCH AND LISTEN TO A SHOW RATHER THAN ONLY
BEING ABLE TO HEAR IT /NE MUST CONSIDER HOWEVER THAT MANY SUC CESSFUL TELEVISION PROGRAMMES HAVE ARISEN FROM RADIO DRAMAS AND COMEDIES AND THAT IF IT WERE NOT FOR THIS MEDIUM THEN MANY SHOWS SUCH AS ,ITTLE "RITAIN WOULD NOT BE RUNNING AND MANY FAMOUS FACES WOULD NOT BE KNOWN -ANY RADIO PLAYS HAVE ALSO BEEN ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE MEAN ING THAT BOTH TELEVISION AND THE THEATRE HAVE BEN ElTTED FROM THIS MEDIUM *UST BECAUSE A SHOW CAN ONLY BE HEARD DOESN T MEAN THAT IT CAN T BE ENJOYED 3INCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME STORIES HAVE BEEN TOLD BY WORD OF MOUTH SO THINKING THAT RA DIO DRAMAS ARE POINTLESS BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY HEAR THEM IS UNJUSTIlED )F YOU STILL NEED CONVINC ING WHY NOT CHECK OUT SOME OF THE RADIO DRAMAS THAT ARE ON OFFER OR EVEN TUNE INTO THE $RAMA 3OCIETY S 2ADIO 3HOW ON ,IVEWIRE TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR FELLOW 5%! STUDENTS 2ACHEL #ONQUER
Radio Four Comedy 4RYING TO SELL 2ADIO TO A GROUP OF STU DENTS SEEMS LIKE AN IM POSSIBLE TASK /N THE SURFACE 2A DIO IS THE STATION THAT PLAYS 4HE !RCHERS AND STARTS ITS DAY WITH THE 3HIPPING &ORECAST WHICH IS HARDLY A PROMISING START (OWEVER THOSE SO QUICK TO WRITE 2ADIO OFF AS SOMETHING ONLY YOUR PARENTS LISTEN TO ARE MISSING OUT ON A GREAT THING THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN BROADCASTING IS THAT 2ADIO IS FUNNY %VERY WEEKDAY EVENING AT PM WEDGED BE TWEEN THE NEWS AND ANOTHER EPISODE OF RURAL RADIO SOAP IS THE COMEDY HALF HOUR 4HE SCHED ULE BOASTS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES FROM PANEL SHOWS TO SITCOMS AND SKETCHES /NE EXAMPLE
IS THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SATIRICAL PROGRAMME 4HE .OW 3HOW WHICH PRESENTS POLITICAL COM MENT IN THE FORM OF SKETCHES SONGS AND MON OLOGUES 4HE SHOW IS AS FUNNY AS ANYTHING SIMILAR YOU D SEE ON TELEVISION RELYING MORE ON SHARP SCRIPTS THAN LAZY VISUAL GAGS TO MOCK THE WEEK S HAPPENINGS 2ADIO HAS ALWAYS HAD A GREAT TRADITION FOR BEING FUNNY )T GAVE 4HE -IGHTY "OOSH AND ,ITTLE "RITAIN THEIR DEBUT BEFORE THEY WERE BOOSTED ONTO THE NATION S TELEVISION SCREENS %VEN THE POPULAR SERIES (AVE ) 'OT .EWS &OR 9OU WAS BASED ON THE FORMAT OF RADIO SHOW 4HE .EWS 1UIZ 2ADIO ISN T JUST ABOUT MUSIC AND 2ADIO COMEDY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS SO TUNE IN AT PM AND CHECK IT OUT 9OU MIGHT LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR -EGAN %VANS
Place to be seen this fortnight.
..
/UR ONE AND ONLY # , ) 6 % ON HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL BE HOSTING A FREE @THANKYOU PARTY ON HIS NUMBER BUS TO SHOW HIS APPRECIATION FOR EVERYONE S SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR HIM AND HIS BUS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS %VERYONE IS WELCOME
4HE FUN BUS PARTY WILL BE HAPPENING ON
-ONDAY TH *ANUARY 0ICK UP TIMES FROM THE 5NIVERSITY #HANCELLERS $RIVE WILL BE AT PM THEN 7AVENEY 4ERRACE AT PM 4HE BUS WILL THEN PROCEED TO 3OUTH 0ARK !VENUE #OLMAN 2OAD AND 5NTHANK 2OAD lNALLY ARRIVING AT /PTIC AT AROUND PM
Mayo and Kermode on 5 Live h3LUMDOG 3QUAREPANTS v ! PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF IRREVERENT ALMOST PUNS CHAMPIONED BY -ARK +ERMODE AND 3IMON -AYO ON THEIR CRIMINALLY UNKNOWN RADIO SHOW ,IKE THE BEST TALK RADIO ITS STRENGTH IS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF TWO PERSONALITIES BANTERING AND DEBATING 4HE UN SCRIPTED RADIO FORMAT ALLOWS +ERMODE THE FREE DOM TO LAUNCH INTO HIS VITRIOLIC RANTS LEAVING -AYO TO REIN HIM IN +ERMODE MAY BE THE lLM CRITIC BUT -AYO IS FAR FROM UPSTAGED CHALLENGING +ERMODE S SOMETIMES OVERLY ART HOUSE FOCUS AND PLAYING DEVIL S ADVOCATE OR AT LEAST THE PUBLIC S WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAINSTREAM &AR FROM BEING SIMPLY TWO MEN LOCKED IN A ROOM THE SHOW IS EXCELLENT AT ALLOWING THE LIS TENERS TO CONTRIBUTE AND FREQUENTLY PROVE THEM SELVES AS WITTY AND INFORMED AS THE GOOD DOCTOR HIMSELF 7ELCOMING LIVE RADIO LISTENERS PODCAST
DOWNLOADERS AND ONLINE WEBCAM VIEWERS IT S ALSO A GREAT EXAMPLE OF RADIO EMBRACING NEW MEDIA TO SURVIVE AND WHILE +ERMODE SOMETIMES MIMES AND GURNS FOR THE CAMERAS -AYO THE CON SUMMATE IF UNNERVINGLY TIMELESS n PROFESSIONAL IS ALWAYS THERE TO REMIND HIM HOW RADIO WORKS &ILM CRITICISM ON TELEVISION HAS THE BENElT OF SHOWING FOOTAGE BUT OFTEN LEADS TO THE WOOD EN CUE READING OF *ONATHAN 2OSS ON &ILM WHEREAS RADIO ENCOURAGES IMPROVISATION 7HERE ELSE WOULD YOU HEAR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN @)KEA +NIGHTLY AND HER 0IRATES OF THE #ARRIBEAN CO STAR DESCRIBED AS hBEING LIKE TWO CHAIRS MAT INGv &OR ANACHRONISTIC QUIFFS WATCH +ERMODE ON #ULTURE 3HOW BUT FOR TRUE +ERMODIAN TIRADES AND @WITTERTAINMENT TUNE IN TO 2ADIO ,IVE 4HURS DAYS PM *OSH "UTLER
Fighting Talk on 5 Live 2ECENTLY TELEVISION SPORTS PUNDITRY HAS BEEN ON THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL INTO REPETITIVE EX PRESSIONS OF THE OBVIOUS &RANKLY ,INEKER AND CO JUST AREN T DOING THEIR JOB ANY MORE 3O THANK THE ,ORD FOR #OLIN -URRAY AND HIS PANEL OF NON CELEBRITIES &IGHTING 4ALK AIRING 3ATURDAY MORNINGS ON 2ADIO ,IVE IS THE PLACE TO SATISFY YOUR CRAVINGS FOR PUNDITRY )T S SIMPLE FOUR CON TESTANTS MADE UP OF JOURNALISTS PUNDITS SPORTS STARS AND COMEDIANS HOST #OLIN -UR RAY AND A POINTS SYSTEM BASED ON COMEDIC NOISES 7HAT MORE DO YOU WANT 2EALLY THIS SHOW IS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER SPORTS SHOW BECAUSE OF ITS BRUTAL HONESTY &OR EXAMPLE WHEN ASKED WHOSE CAR THEY WOULD BUG A RESPONSE WAS !LAN 3HEARER BE CAUSE hHE HAS TO SAY SOMETHING INTERESTING
SOMEDAY v &OLLOWING A ROUND UP OF THE SPORTING WEEK IS @!NY /THER "USINESS A ROUND IN WHICH GUESTS COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING E G "OVRIL AND @$EFEND THE )NDEFENSIBLE WHERE NO MATTER WHAT -URRAY SAYS THE lNALISTS MUST AGREE %XAMPLES INCLUDE h,ET S GET OFF /* S CASE n HE S A SINGLE FATHER FOR GOODNESS SAKE v AND h4HE HAKA IS LIKE 2IVERDANCE n BUT GAYER v 4HIS SHOW IS BY FAR THE MOST HILARIOUS PROGRAMME THE ""# PUTS OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN A LAUGH AND SOME WITTY SPORTING PUNDITRY ON A 3ATURDAY MORNING 0LEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST AND LISTEN TO &IGHTING 4ALK #HRISTOPHER 7ILSON
14
music
“any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds;”
the event
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
Bright Young Things
%VERY MUSIC MAGAZINE 46 STATION AND PASSING PUNDIT HAS SPENT THE LAST MONTH TELLING YOU THEIR MUSICAL TIPS FOR BUT FOR ALL THIS SOME TOP NEW TALENTS HAVE STILL SLIPPED UNDER THE RADAR 4HE %VENT AIMS TO RIGHT THAT WRONG 7E PRESENT YOU WITH SOME NAMES TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF YET
Blackhole Flashguns Inner City Dwellers 3INCE THEIR INCEPTION IN *ANUARY "LACKHOLE HAVE BEEN BUSY MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES ON BOTH THE HARDCORE SCENE AND THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT "UT IN LIBERATED AT LAST FROM THEIR ! ,EVELS THEY HOPE TO BRING THEIR BRAND OF FEROCIOUS PUNK TO A WIDER AUDIENCE 4HEIR DEBUT ALBUM IS BEING PRIMED FOR MASS CONSUMPTION AS WE SPEAK AND &EBRUARY SEES THEM EMBARK ON A HEADLINE TOUR OF THE 5+ 4HEIR %0 (ARNESS ALTHOUGH A LITTLE OUT OF DATE IN TERMS OF THEIR LIVE SET LISTS GIVES A SOLID IDEA OF WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS SPITTING OUT ALL THE BILE AND PENT UP ENERGY YOU COULD EXPECT FROM A SMALL TOWN BAND FROM (EMEL (EMPSTEAD ,EAD SINGER 2ICH IS IN POSSESSION OF THE HALLOWED #ARTER SUR NAME AND IS INDEED LITTLE BROTHER TO &RANK AND 3TEF #ARTER FROM 'ALLOWS "UT AS THEY ARE KEEN TO EMPHASISE "LACKHOLE ARE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BAND 7HILST 'ALLOWS FOCUS ON PROVOKING REVOLUTION IN THE RANKS "LACKHOLE MAINTAIN THE MORE HUMBLE AND OVERALL MORE HEALTHY DESIRE TO SEE THEIR AUDIENCE DANCE )N NEED OF EXERCISE &ORGET THE GYM 'O TO A "LACKHOLE GIG IN STEAD .OTHING IS MORE LIKELY TO ERADICATE THOSE #HRISTMAS LOVE HANDLES
&LASHGUNS ARE A FOUR PIECE "RIGHTON ,ONDON BASED BAND CON SISTING OF LEAD GUITARIST AND SINGER 3AM *OHNSTON BASSIST 'ILES 2OBINSON KEYBOARD PLAYER /LLY 3CANLON AND DRUMMER *AMES 7RIGHT 4HEIR SOUND CLEARLY ORIGINATES FROM S AND @ S POST PUNK NEW WAVE WITH THE BAND HERALDING 4ALKING (EADS AND 4HE #URE AMONGST THEIR INmUENCES 9ET THEY RE ALSO DISTINCTLY CONTEMPORARY LIKE AN EVIL -ACCABEES OR A SLIGHTLY LESS UP THEM SELVES "RITISH VERSION OF 4HE +ILLERS )N $ECEMBER OF LAST YEAR THEY INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED THEIR lRST SINGLE 4IMEHOUSE "LUES WITH ONLY SOLID COPIES PRODUCED ALSO SAW &LASHGUNS COURAGEOUSLY PULL OUT OF THE HIGHLY REGARDED 2OAD TO 6 COMPETITION A CONTEST IN WHICH THE WINNERS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN 6 &ESTIVAL 4HEY LEFT THE COMPETI TION CITING THE hPRESSURES OF SCHOOLv AS THEIR REASON SHUNNING THE POTENTIAL SUCCESS THAT PREVIOUS WINNERS 4HE 9OUNG +NIVES AND "OMBAY "ICYCLE #LUB HAVE SEEN .EXT UP FOR &LASHGUNS IS THE RELEASE OF NEW SINGLE ,OCARNO CREATED WITH ICONIC PRODUCER 3TEPHEN 3TREET "LUR "ABYSHAM BLES 4HE 3MITHS 4HE BAND ARE ALSO EMBARKING ON A TOUR OF THE 5+ AND SHOWS IN !MSTERDAM AND !USTRIA
(AILING FROM %AST ,ONDON )NNER #ITY $WELLERS HAVE FORMED THEIR OWN DISTINGUISHED SOUND WHICH THEY LIKE TO CALL h2OCK AND 2OADv 7ITH INmUENCES FROM )CE 4 TO 0RIMAL 3CREAM )#$ BLEND TOGETHER ROCK HIP HOP AND REGGAE 4HEIR MUSIC CAN BE DESCRIBED AS h2AGE !GAINST 4HE -ACHINE GOING DOWN THE PUB WITH $ON ,ETTS AND 4HE #LASHv 4ALKING ABOUT INNER CITY CULTURE THEIR LYRICS ARE GENUINE FOCUSED ON ISSUES THAT SURROUND THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE ,EAD VOCALIST 0ATRICK IS NO STRANGER TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HE -# ED FOR 'OLDIE S -ETALHEADZ HIS UNCLE WAS PART OF DUO -ICHIGAN AND 3MILEY AND HIS YOUNGER BROTHER IS HALF OF "ALIS TIQ "EATS THE PRODUCERS WHO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE BAND )#$ ALSO INCLUDES 3TAPLETON BACKING VOCALS #HRIS "OOTH GUITAR *AKE 2OMMER GUITAR 3AM 2OMMER BASS AND 3TEPHAN 3ILER DRUMS (AVING RECENTLY SUPPORTED 2ONI 3IZE ON THE 5+ LEG OF HIS 2EPRAZENT 4OUR )#$ ALSO OPENED THE PRESTIGIOUS 3PRING %IGHT .OKIA &ESTIVAL IN !USTRIA ALONGSIDE -IKE 3KINNER AND 2O BYN AND THEIR ALBUM LOOKS SET FOR RELEASE LATER THIS YEAR (YPED FOR BIG THINGS BY 7ILEY AND 'OLDIE SOME OF THEIR TRACKS ARE AVAILABLE TO HEAR ON -Y3PACE AND 9OU4UBE
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)ZZY ,OCKHART 3MITH
*AMES (ALLING
Polly Scattergood
The Ruskins
'RADUATES OF THE NOW INFAMOUS "RIT 3CHOOL ARE ALL TOO OFTEN THOUGHT OF AS MANUFACTURED TOSH UNABLE TO BE CLASSED AS @REAL MUSICIANS 4HE +OOKS ANYONE "UT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A RAY OF HOPE EMERGES FROM THE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS STREAM OF NEXT BIG THINGS TO LEAVE THE ACADEMY 0OLLY 3CATTERGOOD IS ONE SUCH MUSICIAN WITH A REPORTED SONGS TO HER NAME (ER -Y3PACE CITES 0OLLY S MAIN INmUENCES AS AMONGST OTH ERS $AVID "OWIE ,EONARD #OHEN AND 2ADIOHEAD BUT MORE SUBSTANTIAL COMPARISONS COULD BE MADE WITH THE LIKES OF +ATE "USH AND )MOGEN (EAP 3CATTERGOOD S ETHEREAL TONES ARE TRULY HAUNTING 3HE IS ALSO AN INCREDIBLY SKILLED STORY TELLER MUCH LIKE FELLOW "RIT 3CHOOL ATTENDEE +ATE .ASH (OWEVER UNLIKE .ASH 0OLLY S STORIES ARE DARK TALES OF DEATH LOSS AND THE PAINFUL REALI TIES OF GROWING UP ALONE %VEN AMONGST ALL THIS MISERY 0OLLY S VOICE IS COMFORTING DELICATE ALMOST LIKE AN OLD FRIEND SHE MAN AGES TO THAW EVEN THE FROSTIEST OF HEARTS 0OLLY S FOLLOWING IS RAPIDLY GROWING AND FANS YOUNG AND OLD ARE FALLING UNDER HER SPELL 7ITH A DEBUT ALBUM DUE OUT IN -ARCH COULD BE A VERY HAPPY YEAR FOR THIS MOST MELAN CHOLIC OF MUSICIANS
3TICKERS ARE SCATTERED ROUND ,ONDON MARKING THE TERRITORY OF THREE PIECE )SLEWORTH BASED BAND 4HE 2USKINS AND WITH EACH STICKER THEIR REPUTATION GROWS +NOWN LOCALLY FOR AMAZING LIVE SHOWS LEAD SINGER %AMON OOZES CHARISMA OVER THE CROWD WITH A VOICE FULL OF PASSION WHILE PLUCKING HIS GUITAR DRUMMER $AVE PLAYS WITH ENORMOUS ENTHUSIASM SHOWN BY HIS SMILE AND BASS IST 2ICKY WORKS HIS MAGIC lNGERS OCCASIONALLY HAVING BASH AT SINGING 2EGULAR COVERS RANGE FROM %NGELBERT (UMPERDINCK S 1UANDO 1UANDO 1UANDO TO 4HE #ORAL S $REAMING OF 9OU 4HEIR OWN MATERIAL IS ORIGINAL AND EXCITING THE MUSIC UPLIFTING AND THE LYRICS BOTH CATCHY AND CLEVER h) THINK #INDERELLA S GOT THE TWO OF HER HEELS STASHED DOWN THE SIDE OF HER BEDv %AMON SINGS ON HIDDEN GEM $ON T BE 3ILLY *OE WHICH TELLS THE TALE OF UNRE QUITED LOVE AND TEENAGE TEASING )NmUENCES INCLUDE +INGS OF ,EON *AMIE 4 AND *OHNNY #ASH WHILST ALSO BEING PARTIAL TO A BIT OF +ATE .ASH .-% HAVE DESCRIBED THEM AS hTHE MISSING LINK BETWEEN COUNTRY SKA AND INDIEv WITH A SHARP SOUND AND STRONG ,ONDON ACCENTS 4HEY VE BEEN PLAYED ON 2ADIO /NE AND 8&HEADLINED THE )4# &ESTIVAL AND GRACED THE STAGE OF #ARLING !CAD EMY )SLINGTON 7ATCH OUT FOR THOSE STICKERS NOW
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+ARINE 7ACH $ONOVAN
Tubelord 4UBELORD ARE A THREE PIECE BAND FROM +INGSTON UPON 4HAMES 3URREY WHO PLAY SORT OF A BIT CRAZY BUT A BIT POPPY BUT WELL CATCHY POST HARDCORE WHICH mIES IN AND OUT OF BEAUTIFUL HARMO NIES DISCORDANT NOISE AND UN IGNORABLE HOOKS #ONSISTING OF COLLEGE FRIENDS *OSEPH 0RENDERGAST $AVE #AT MUR AND 3EAN "AMBERGER TO DATE THE BAND HAVE RELEASED TWO SINGLES AN %0 AND A SPLIT v WITH FELLOW FANTASTIC BAND 4ELLISON 4HEIR LAST RELEASE WAS THE SINGLE ) !M !ZERRAD BACK IN 3EPTEMBER WHICH APPARENTLY IS WRITTEN ABOUT KILLING THE AUTHOR -ICHAEL !ZERRAD 4HAT READS TERRIBLY BUT IT MAKES FOR A BRILLIANT SONG 4HE BAND HAVE DESCRIBED THEMSELVES AS SOUNDING LIKE h"IFFY #LYRO HAVING FUNv WHICH IS EVIDENT AND FURTHER COMPARISONS WOULD PLACE THEM IN THE REALMS OF A HYPERACTIVE &OALS AND A LESS SCREECHY "LOOD "ROTHERS )NTRIGUING THEY MOST DElNITELY ARE %ITHER WAY THEY MAY NOT BE EVERYONE S CUP OF TEA BUT 4UBE LORD MOST DElNITELY HAVE A VERY VERY BRIGHT AND NOISY FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM
$OWNLOAD THIS .IGHT OF THE 0ENCILS 'EMMA (ENZLEY
#ARMINA -ASOLIVER -ARLOW
.ICOLA 7ILLIAMS
music
15
“(music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments” the event
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
Albums Franz Ferdinand 4ONIGHT &RANZ &ERDINAND $ESPITE !LEX +A PRANOS TAKING TIME OFF TO PRODUCE THE LAST #RIBS RECORD &RANZ &ERDINAND HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME AWAY (AV ING RECORDED AND RELEASED S REMARKABLY UNDERSTATED 9OU #OULD (AVE IT 3O -UCH "ETTER LITTLE OVER A YEAR AFTER THEIR SELF TITLED DEBUT HAVE &RANZ NOW LEFT IT A BIT LATE TO STAY GUITAR POP S ART DARLINGS %NTER 4ONIGHT &RANZ &ERDINAND .EW SINGLE 5LYSSES CRAWLS INTO LIFE ALL STAC CATO BASS AND RIM SHOT SNARE DRUMS WITH +A PRANOS HUSHED VOICE SNEAKING INTO THE MIX 4HEN WITHOUT REALISING IT &RANZ S NEW FOUND LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE SQUELCHY SYNTH OOZES INTO THE FRAY PROVOKING THE SAME KNEE JERK DANCE mOOR REACTION THAT THE BOYS FROM 'LAS
GOW USED TO SUCH GREAT EFFECT PREVIOUSLY &ROM THE OUTSET IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS &RANZ &ERDI NAND S STRENGTH AS SAMEY AS IT MAY BECOME h) VE FOUND A NEW WAY v CROONS +APRANOS BUT THE QUESTION IS WHETHER &RANZ THEMSELVES HAVE FOUND A NEW WAY 4HERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFER ENCES FROM THE NOW UBIQUITOUS &RANZ &ERDI NAND SOUND THE EFFECT HEAVY BASS LED NATURE OF THE MELODIES DO STAND OUT YET YOU CAN T HELP BUT FEEL THAT THE TRACKS FOLLOWING 5LYSSES 4URN IT /N .O 9OU 'IRLS AND 3END (IM !WAY ALL HAVE A SIMILAR BASS AND RIFF BASED FEEL AND STRUCTURE $URING AN INTERVIEW THE BAND WERE KEEN TO POINT OUT THAT THE TRACKS WRITTEN FOR THIS ALBUM CAME FROM hCUT AND PASTEv MELOD IC JAMS SOMETIMES LASTING HOURS THAT WERE SHAPED INTO hGOOD SONGS AND NOT SINGLESv POSSIBLY EXPLAINING THE LACK OF VARIATION .OT NECESSARILY A BAD THING BUT NOT THE NEW DEPTH THAT PERHAPS SOME WERE EXPECTING (OWEVER &RANZ BOLDLY LULL THIS RECORD BACK ONTO TRACK IN THE SHAPE OF "ITE (ARD A HONKY TONK PIANO BALLAD THAT STEPS INTO A GREAT S POP STOMPER )T S ALSO CLEAR THAT &RANZ HAVE LEARNT FROM THE SESSIONS THEY SPENT WITH MANY
DIFFERENT PRODUCERS DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE ALBUM 7HAT 3HE #AME &OR DIVERGES FROM TIGHT OVER PRODUCTION INTO A RAW GARAGE ROCK JAM SHOWING TO GREAT EFFECT WHAT THE BAND MEANT BY hEXPERIMENTING WITH LO AND HI lv IN THE STUDIO 4HE BAND HAD REMARKED THAT THEY D
GONE FOR A MORE hDIRTY NIGHT TIME FEELv )NDEED THE LYRICS ARE DARKLY WITTY BUT CON TAIN NONE OF THE SEEDY DISCO POWER OF HO MOEROTIC CLASSIC -ICHAEL FROM S &RANZ &ERDINAND 7HERE THE BAND REALLY BEGIN AND
lNISH EXPLORING THE NEW ELEMENTS OF THEIR SOUND IS THE EIGHT MINUTE STRETCH OF ,UCID $REAMS A HALF FUNKY GUITAR SONG BEFORE MU TATING INTO ELECTRO DANCE IN THE STYLE OF *USTICE OR 3IMIAN -OBILE $ISCO 4RULY AN ORIGINAL LIS TENING EXPERIENCE IT SHOWS THAT THE BAND ARE SLOWLY EVOLVING IN A REMARKABLY DIFFERENT WAY TO THE NOW STADIUM DRIVEN &RANZ EMULATORS +AISER #HIEFS OR "LOC 0ARTY 0LEASANT LULLABY +ATHERINE +ISS -E ENDS THE ALBUM SHARING SIMILAR LYRICS TO PREVIOUS TRACKS AND ENDING 4ONIGHT IN A BLURRED MEMORY !LL IN ALL IT IS NOT A BAD ALBUM AND DEl NITELY WITH ITS FAIR SHARE OF REALLY GREAT DANCE POP SONGS 4HEY ARE STILL THE &RANZ PEOPLE KNOW AND MORE OF THE SAME IS NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING BUT THEY WILL BE LEAVING SOME TO WONDER WHETHER THE EXPERIMENTATION DIDN T GO FAR ENOUGH )N THE MYRIAD OF GUITAR BANDS OUT THERE AT THE MOMENT WILL &RANZ &ERDINAND CONTINUE TO GET THE LOOK IN THEY DESERVE 3AM (ILL
Emmy The Great &IRST ,OVE
The View 7HICH "ITCH
Red Light Company &INE &ASCINATION
%MMY 4HE 'REAT S lRST SINGLE CAME OUT ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO TO WIDE CRITICAL ACCLAIM 3O WHY HAS IT TAKEN UNTIL NOW TO RELEASE HER DEBUT AL BUM WHILE HER ANTIFOLK FOLK WHAT S THE DIFFERENCE AGAIN COMPATRIOTS HAVE BEEN GOING PLATINUM AND GAR NERING -ERCURY NOMINATIONS 4HE ANSWER MAY PARTLY BE THAT %MMY S LYRICS ARE USUALLY IN CHARACTER RATHER THAN THE CONFES SIONALS OF HER CONTEMPORARIES AND PARTLY THE VAST NUMBER OF CULTURAL REFERENCES IN HER SONGS FROM ,EONARD #OHEN TO $IANE #LUCK THAT SEEM TO DEMAND A SHARED KNOWLEDGE THAT A MAIN STREAM AUDIENCE MAY NOT HAVE "UT NOTE THE @SEEM &IRST ,OVE S TRACKS ARE UNDERSCORED WITH UNIVERSAL EMOTIONS SUCH AS THE SPECIlCITY OF S MIND NUMBING 46 MARATHON EXTENDED TO THE FEAR OF A WASTED LIFE A PARTICULARLY STUDENT FRIENDLY SONG !ND ALTHOUGH SOME TRACKS ARE CLASSIC ANTI FOLK lNGER PICKING FRAGILE VOCALS THIS DOESN T MEAN A LACK OF CHORUSES %ASTER 0ARADE S LYRIC DETAILS A DISAVOWAL OF #HRISTIANITY YET WAS CATCHY ENOUGH TO BE PLAYED IN .ORWICH 4OPSHOP THIS WAS OVER A YEAR AGO AS WELL THEY RE ALMOST TOO FASHIONABLE FOR THEIR OWN GOOD 7E !LMOST (AD A "ABY IS A PAR TICULAR POPPY HIGHLIGHT WITH ITS S GIRL GROUP BACKING 4HREE YEARS HAVEN T LED TO A PERFECT DEBUT %VERYTHING 2EMINDS -E /F 9OU DRAGS OVER ITS NEAR SIX MINUTES BUT IT S AN INCISIVE POETIC WORK AND YOU CAN THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS %MMY WASN T SWAL LOWED UP BY THE SCENE 3ARAH #HRISTIE
4HE DESIRE TO HURT THIS ALBUM IS AL MOST IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTRAIN &IRST OFF THERE S THAT PAINFULLY BAD TITLE 3EC ONDLY 4HE 6IEW S lRST OFFERING (ATS OFF TO THE "USKERS IS ABOUT AS -/2 AS INDIE ROCK CAN GET WITHOUT ACTUALLY BEING 4HE +OOKS !ND THIRD THEY ALL LOOK ABOUT "UT NEVERTHELESS TIME TO PUT THE SENSIBLE JOURNALIST HAT ON BECAUSE 7HICH "ITCH IS ACTUALLY NOWHERE NEAR AS TERRIBLE AS IT SHOULD BE )N FACT IT S PRETTY GOOD !FTER THE STALL OF LAME COMEDY OPENING TRACK 4YPICAL 4IME 4WO lRST SINGLE &IVE 2EBECCAS IS A RIOT WITH POUNDING DRUMS AND ARENA SIZED GUITARS PROPELLING A CATCHY AS COOTIES VOCAL )T EASILY SURPASSES ANYTHING ON THE lRST ALBUM AND SEEMS DESTINED TO DO THE SAME TO INDIE DANCE mOORS THAT 3AME *EANS DID TWO YEARS AGO 4HE REST IS A SCHIZOPHRENIC AF FAIR CAREENING BETWEEN STATELY BALLADS AND !$$ ROCKERS WHICH MOSTLY WORKS ALTHOUGH WHOEVER SUGGESTED RAPPING ON ONE TRACK /NE /FF 0RETENDER NEEDS A SLAP AND TO BE HONEST THEY COULDN T BE MORE OBVIOUS ABOUT THEIR INTENTIONS UNLESS THEY HELD UP A SIGN SAYING h7E HAVEN T MADE (ATS OFF TO THE "USKERS 0ART v 7HILE THEY HAVEN T EXACTLY GROWN UP THEY HAVE AT LEAST STOPPED TRYING TO BE 4HE ,IBERTINES THIS TIME CHOOSING TO PITCH THEMSELVES SQUARELY BETWEEN /ASIS AND 4HE &RATELLIS ! LITTLE OVER AMBITIOUS MAYBE BUT THIS SOLID EFFORT IS CERTAINLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
&INE &ASCINATION DEBUT ALBUM FROM INDIE QUINTET 2ED ,IGHT #OMPANY IS DUE TO BE RELEASED -ARCH ND AND WILL BECOME ONE OF THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF )T S A SHAME THEN THAT THEIR SOMEWHAT IRONICALLY NAMED OPENER 7ORDS OF 3PECTACULAR IS RATHER UNCOMFORT ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE LISTENER HAVING TO TOLERATE AWKWARD FALSETTOS AND PREDICTABLE PROGRESSIONS 4HE ALBUM DOES BRING SOME IMMEDIATE HOPE FROM THE SUCCEEDING SONG 3CHEME %UGENE A SONG PUMPED WITH FRIENDLY BEATS AND MULTI VOCALS WHICH IS FURTHER FOLLOWED BY !RTS AND #RAFTS A SONG DEEMED SO GOOD TO BE CLASSIlED AS :ANE ,OWE S (OTTEST 2ECORD IN THE 7ORLD AND 'REG *AMES 2ECORD OF THE 7EEK !T LEAST 2ADIO /NE LOVE THEM 5NFORTUNATELY THOUGH THE HOPE IS SHORT LIVED 4HE ALBUM LACKS THE INDIVIDUALITY THAT A DEBUT DEMANDS IT IS IN A WORD FORGETTABLE )F THE ALBUM WAS RELEASED lVE YEARS AGO BEFORE THE EMERGENCE OF BANDS SUCH AS -ORNING 2UNNER AND !IR 4RAFlC IT MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINAL BUT BECAUSE OF THE LATE TIMING WE PRE DICT THAT THEY LL FALL INTO THE ABYSS OF THE UNKNOWN OR UNREMEM BERED ALONG WITH 2OYWORLD "UT WE LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE 3O FOR NOW IF YOU VE BEEN IN A BOX FOR HALF A DECADE OR ARE GENUINELY EXCITED BY PREDICTABLE EVER PRESENT INDIE WE CAUTIOUS LY DIRECT YOU TO THEIR -Y3PACE PAGE WHERE YOU WILL lND THEIR BEST lVE SONGS -ATT "ULL
$UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
16 the event
music concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
Lily Allen 4HE &EAR
Tommy Sparks ) M ! 2OPE
LOOKS LIKE IT MAY SEE THE RETURN TO SUCCESS OF MUCH MA LIGNED -OCKNEY LASS ,ILY !LLEN 7HETHER YOU THINK HER MUSIC IS FRESH AND THOUGHT PROVOKING OR DERIVATIVE AND DULL THE FACT REMAINS THAT WITH THE RELEASE OF HER SECOND ALBUM )T S .OT -E )T S 9OU AS WELL AS HER lRST 5+ TOUR DATES IN OVER A YEAR SHE S EVEN DROPPING INTO OUR VERY OWN ,#2 IS LIKELY TO BE AN OTHER YEAR DENSELY POPULATED BY HER CATCHY BRAND OF POP !ND IN ALL HONESTY SHE DESERVES THIS SUCCESS AS 4HE &EAR IS A GEM 3ARDONIC LYRICS A SUPERB !LICE )N 7ONDERLAND ESQUE VIDEO AND THE TONAL SIMPLICITY THAT WORKED SO WELL IN HER ,ITTLEST 4HING COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A REALLY INTERESTING LEAD SINGLE 3HE S CLEARLY MOVING ON FROM HER @RETRO STYLING HAVING DITCHED THE EVER PRESENT -ARK 2ONSON AS PRODUCER AND THAT COMES ACROSS HERE /UT ARE THE EASY WITTICISMS AND PUNS IN COME SUBTLER RE MARKS %SSENTIALLY THE LACK OF THE UNFORGETTABLE CHORUS THAT SO TYPI lED HER EARLIER SINGLES THIS IS NO 3MILE WILL PROBABLY MEAN THAT 4HE &EAR IS NOT THE TRACK THAT SWEARS !LLEN INTO THE VAULTS OF SUPER STARDOM BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT AFTER EVERYTHING THE GIRL S MORE THAN ALRIGHT STILL $ANIEL 9OUMANS
4HE GENRE OF THIS TRACK IS RE ALLY QUITE HARD TO PUT YOUR lNGER ON 4O BEGIN WITH IT S ALL A BIT ELECTRO BUT THEN IT SWANS INTO WHAT SOUNDS A LITTLE SOMETHING LIKE -USE 4HE LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING THAT 4OMMY 3PARKS DELIVERS HOWEVER IS NOTHING SHORT OF INNOVATIVE 4HE SORT OF THING THAT YOU MAY WELL lND ON AN EPISODE OF 3KINS DURING A CRAZY CRAZY PARTY SCENE ) M ! 2OPE IS A TRACK THAT MERGES TOGETHER DIFFERENT MUSIC TO CREATE A SOUND THAT REALLY IS SOMETHING ELSE 2EMINISCENT OF *USTICE AND "LOC 0ARTY WE PREDICT THAT 4OMMY 3PARKS WOULD SURE KNOW HOW TO GET A CROWD GOING 4HE UNUSUAL CHORD PROGRESSIONS THAT ADD A FRESH LAYER TO THE MAIN BULK OF THE TRACK ARE WEIRD BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT )T SORT OF WORKS )T CAN BE REPETITIVE IN PLACES BUT THIS ONLY ADDS TO THE TOTALLY CATCHY NATURE OF THIS TUNE /N lRST LISTEN THE LYRICS CAN BE HARD TO CATCH UP WITH BUT GIVE IT SOME TIME AND THEY SOON START TO MAKE SENSE .OT ONLY THAT BUT THEY RE ALSO PRETTY SUPER hBABY WE CAN SING SO CLEVERv INDEED 3O IF YOU FANCY SOMETHING THAT S A BIT DIFFERENT LOOK OUT FOR 4OMMY AS HE S SURE TO GET SPARKS mYING
Boys Like Girls 4HUNDER
Kid British ,EAVE ,ONDON %0
Only In America...
4IFF 7OOSLEY
4O TAKE A POPULAR SONG AND +ID "RITISH ARE LAUNCHING THEM MANY HIGH HOPES INTO AN EX SELVES INTO VERY OPTIMISTI PENSIVE STUDIO ONLY TO MAKE THE CALLY (AVING JUST RECORDED THEIR END PRODUCT SEEM WILTED AND lRST ALBUM WITH 3TEVE $UBB LIFELESS NEXT TO ITS ROUGH DEMO #HEMICAL "ROTHERS SET FOR RE MUST BE QUITE FRANKLY EMBAR LEASE THIS SPRING AND ABOUT TO RASSING TOUR SUPPORTING THE %NEMY ,#2 0RIOR TO THEIR MAJOR CONTRACT TH !PRIL +ID "RITISH HAVE EVERY WITH #OLUMBIA "OSTON POP REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC -USI ROCK FOUR PIECE "OYS ,IKE 'IRLS CALLY IT WOULD BE A POINTLESS TRY SHOWCASED A HANDFUL OF DEMO TRACKS ONE OF WHICH BEING AN ING TO PIGEON HOLE THESE GUYS AS THE MUSICAL INmUENCES ARE SO ACOUSTIC VERSION OF 4HUNDER &OR A RELATIVELY GENERIC SLICE OF SEN ECLECTIC SKA HIP HOP INDIE ELECTRO AND REGGAE ARE ALL EVIDENT TIMENTAL POP PUNK PIE IT WAS FAIRLY IMPRESSIVE 4HERE WAS SOME )NSTANTLY FRESH AND FUN +ID "RITISH EMPLOY GOOD CLASSIC HOOKS THING IN THE BREATHLESS VOCALS OF FRONTMAN -ARTIN *OHNSON THAT THAT STICK IN YOUR HEAD INSTANTLY WITH ADMITTEDLY SIMPLE BUT EAS MADE THIS STORY OF YOUNG HEARTBREAK SWEET AND SEMI SENSATIONAL ILY IDENTIlABLE LYRICS 7ITH THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF A GOOD LOOKING LINEUP AND A SOUND 4HE %0 KICKS OFF WITH 3HE 7ILL ,EAVE 4HIS TRACK IS SO ENERGETIC REMINISCENT OF POPULAR PREDECESSORS .EW &OUND 'LORY AND !LL IT PRACTICALLY BOUNCES A CATCHY CHORUS TEAMED WITH A LICK lLLED !MERICAN 2EJECTS SUPPORT SPREAD FROM 53 TO 5+ WHERE THEY CEL GUITAR AND DRUM BACKING YOU WILL BE SINGING ALONG BY THE END EBRATED A SELL OUT TOUR IN OF THE TRACK ,EAVE ,ONDON IS A MORE HIP HOP REGGAE AFFAIR ON A 3O WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SINGLE RELEASE BECOMES A POL RELAXED DOWNBEAT BUT EVEN MORE ADDICTIVE TO LISTEN TO %LIZABETH ISHED STUDIO RENDITION )T S STRIPPED OF ITS SHAKY ACOUSTIC SENSITIV IS A RETURN TO INDIE BUT FAR MORE SKA BASED THAN 3HE 7ILL ,EAVE ITY THE ACCENT NAG O METER IS PUSHED UP A FEW NOTCHES AND A ROLL NOT AS CATCHY BUT JUST AS FUN 4HAT S WHAT +ID "RITISH S APPROACH ING PIN IS TAKEN TO *OHNSON S VOCALS RENDERING THEM DRASTICALLY TO MAKING MUSIC SEEMS TO BE (AVE FUN THE REST WILL FOLLOW mAT 3OMEWHAT ANNOYING AND COMPLETELY UNREMARKABLE 7E RE HOPING FOR MORE OF THE SAME FROM THE ALBUM 3TEPH -CKENNA %D ,EFTWICH
7HEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IT S SURPRISING HOW MANY SUCCESSFUL "RITISH ACTS ARE VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE !T LANTIC 4HE CHANCES OF ANYONE IN THE 3TATES KNOWING THE WORDS TO 4HE -AN 7HO #AN T "E -OVED OR THE COMPLETE DANCE ROUTINE TO ,OVE -ACHINE ARE PROBABLY QUITE SLIM 3O BY THAT LOGIC THERE MUST BE A FAIR FEW HIGHLY LISTENABLE !MERICAN ACTS WHO HAVE NEV ER BEEN LAUNCHED HERE IN THE 5+ AND WITH THAT IN MIND WE VE COMPILED A QUICK GUIDE TO A COUPLE OF BANDS FROM ACROSS THE POND THAT YOU D BE WISE TO LEND YOUR EARS TO
The Cab
4(% #!"
%SSENTIALLY THEY RE THE !MERICAN EQUIVALENT OF /NE .IGHT /NLY TOTALLY UNORIGINAL YET MORE THAN CAPABLE OF CHURN ING OUT A FANTASTIC TUNE OR TWO 6ARIOUS &ALLOUT "OY AND 0ANIC !T 4HE $ISCO MEMBERS ARE GIV EN SONGWRITING AND PRODUCTION CREDITS ON THEIR 7HISPER 7AR ALBUM BUT WHILST THEY DO OCCASIONALLY SOUND LIKE CLONES OF EVERY OTHER POP PUNK BAND IN LIVING MEMORY THEY DO OFTEN HIT THE MARK WITH SOME FANTASTIC SONGS 4HE INCLUSION OF A PIANIST IN THEIR LINE UP ADDS AN EXTRA LAYER TO THEIR SOUND THAT YOU D BE HARD PUSHED TO lND IN MANY OF THEIR CONTEMPORARIES %SSENTIAL 4RACK :ZZZZ IS AN ALL GUNS BLAZING POP ROCK ASSAULT RIGHT FROM THE INTRODUCTION AND DESERVES TO BE GIVEN THE I4UNES TREATMENT YESTERDAY IF NOT SOONER
Of A Revolution -ORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS / ! 2 THIS -ARYLAND QUINTET RE LEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM TWELVE YEARS AGO BUT THEY RE STILL EN JOYING MAINSTREAM SUCCESS THANKS TO THEIR INOFFENSIVE SOFT ROCK THAT WOULD lT IN NICELY AT THE END OF A /NE 4REE (ILL OR 'REY S !NATOMY EPISODE $ESPITE ACHIEVING COMMERCIAL SUCCESS WITH THEIR !LL 3IDES ,0 LAST YEAR 2OLLING 3TONE HAVE LABELLED THEM hTHE POOR MAN S 'OO 'OO $OLLSv AND WHILST THEY ARE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO ANY ALT ROCK COLLECTION THEY RE ADMITTEDLY UNLIKELY TO ATTRACT ANYONE NEW TO THE GENRE
%SSENTIAL 4RACK 3HATTERED BECAME THEIR BIGGEST HIT TO DATE LAST SUMMER PROBABLY DUE TO ITS PLEASANT PIANO RIFF AND RADIO FRIENDLY CHORUS .OT TOO BAD AT ALL 3HAUN +ITCHENER
music musi
17
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
the event
Mindless Self Indulgence
7HEN THE +ERRANG TOUR ROLLED INTO TOWN 4HE %VENT WAS THERE TO CAPTURE THE CHAOS 2OWENA !KBAREIAN INTERVIEWED -3) S FRONTMAN THE WONDERFULLY NAMED *IMMY 5RINE ABOUT HIS INFAMOUS ON STAGE ANTICS AND DISLIKE OF ERM MUSIC
2OWENA !KBAREIAN 9OU RE CURRENTLY ON THE +ERRANG TOUR HOW ARE YOU lNDING IT SO FAR *IMMY 5RINE 3O FAR SO GREAT 2! (OW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THE OTHER BANDS ON THE +ER RANG TOUR *5 7E ARE JUST STARTING TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE WE VE HEARD OF A COUPLE OF THEM BUT EVERYBODY HAS JUST MET EVERYBODY NOW )
THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE TOUR IS THAT EVERY BODY HAS A VERY SPECIlC AND DEDICATED FAN BASE AND EACH BAND HAS THIS GROUP OF SPECIlC PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE JUST TO SEE THEM 2! #RAZIEST TOUR ANTICS *5 /H MAN THERE S TOO MANY )T S REALLY ALL ON STAGE BACKSTAGE IS JUST WHERE YOU WANT TO ESCAPE 2! "IGGEST MUSICAL INmUENCES *5 -Y BIGGEST MUSICAL INmUENCES ARE THE FACT THAT ) REALLY DON T LIKE MUSIC -USIC IS SUCH A JOB BUT FOR ME IT S LESS ABOUT MUSIC AND MUSICIANS AND MORE ABOUT THINGS THAT ) LIKE TO DO WHEN ) M TRYING TO RELAX 2! 7HO DO YOU WANT TO TOUR WITH *5 ) D LIKE TO JUST HAVE SOMETHING INTERESTING TO OPEN THE SHOW THAT ISN T A MUSICAL BAND SOME WEIRD AVANT GARDE ACT OR SOME SHIT THAT NO ONE S EXPECTING JUST SO THAT IT WOULD FUCK WITH PEO PLE 4HAT WOULD BE MY FAVOURITE THING 2! (OW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE BAND S NAME *5 ) CAN T TELL YOU THAT IF ) TELL YOU THAT THEN EVERYBODY S GONNA KNOW ) WANT PEOPLE TO WORK IT OUT 2! 9OUR MUSIC HAS A VERY UNIQUE SOUND WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS !ND HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH IT *5 7ELL AS MUCH AS THERE IS STUFF THAT WE LIKE THERE IS A SHIT LOAD
OF STUFF THAT WE DON T LIKE AND YOU DON T WANNA BE ONE THING %VERYBODY IN THE BAND HAS A VERY ECLECTIC TASTE SO WE CAN T REALLY PIGEON HOLE OURSELVES INTO ONE THING 4O BE CONSIDERED ONE TYPE OF MUSIC IS KIND OF BORING SO WE WANTED TO INVENT SOMETHING NEW AND ENDED UP MAKING A VERY INTERESTING DIFFERENT SOUND /N THE ONE HAND THERE S NOTHING LIKE IT SO IT S A VERY UNIQUE THING AND DRAWS PEOPLE TO IT ON THE OTHER HAND THE POWERS THAT BE DON T REALLY GET IT SO PEOPLE lGHT AGAINST IT 2! 9OU VE BEEN CRITICISED IN THE PAST FOR HAVING TOO MANY ONSTAGE ANTICS WHICH MAKES YOUR GIGS LESS ABOUT THE MUSIC 7HAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS *5 ) THINK IT S PART OF EVERY BAND AND RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE JUST KIND OF GETTING INTO THAT 9OU KNOW WE VE BEEN DOING IT FOR TEN YEARS AND ) THINK JUST NOW PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO HAVE A WORK ETHIC WHERE IT S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MUSIC IT S ABOUT THE SHOW AND THE LOOK AND WHAT YOUR TRYING TO SAY AND ALL THAT STUFF 2! 7OULD YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO IMPACT SOCIETY FOR THE BETTER THROUGH YOUR MUSIC *5 ) M JUST TRYING TO CALL IT LIKE ) SEE IT WHICH ) THINK A LOT OF PEO PLE DON T DO ) THINK THE ONE THING WE ARE GOING TO DO IS ALWAYS TELL YOU THE TRUTH -Y LYRICS AREN T GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING OR CHANGE ANYTHING BUT ) M DElNITELY NOT AFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH
film
18
“a medium that disseminates moving pictures;”
the event
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
Main Features
Rachel Getting Married
&ROM THE DIRECTOR OF 3ILENCE OF THE ,AMBS 0HILADELPHIA AND 4HE -AN CHURIAN #ANDIDATE IS A lLM WHICH IS DECIDEDLY MORE COLOURFUL IN TONE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND DIRECTION THAN ANYTHING BOTH THE DIRECTOR *ONATHAN $EMME AND !NNE (ATHAWAY PLAY ING THE HEROINE +YM HAVE EVER DONE BEFORE 2ACHEL 'ETTING -ARRIED CHARTS A FAMILY PREPARING FOR THE MARRIAGE OF 2ACHEL 2OSE-ARIE $EWITT AT THEIR FAMILY HOME 4HE lLM REVEALS THE STRESSES AND STRAINS OF FAMILY LIFE IN THE RUN UP TO A SIGNIlCANT EVENT +YM RETURNS FROM REHAB TO JOIN IN THE WEDDING PREPARATIONS BUT NO SOONER HAS SHE ARRIVED DO THE SISTERLY TEN SIONS SURFACE AND MANY OF THE FAMI LY S SKELETONS COME TO THE FORE 4HE COMPLETE ENTIRETY OF THE lLM IS SHOT IN A HOME MOVIE STYLE AND THIS WAS A KEY ELEMENT WHICH $EMME STROVE TO ACHIEVE ASPIRING TO MAKE THE lLM hTHE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOME MOVIE EVER MADE v 4HE lLM WAS CREATED IN CIRCUM STANCES WHICH STRONGLY NURTURED THE
AND PARENTS 4HERE IS ALSO A HUGE UN DERCURRENT OF BLACK HUMOUR FROM HER CHARACTER +YM EXPRESSED WITH LINES SUCH AS h(I ) M HERE TO PEE INTO A CUPv WHICH IS A WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE UNEASY SITUATIONS IN WHICH +YM lNDS HERSELF 7HILST THE SCREENPLAY FOR THE lLM IS INCREDIBLY GRIPPING THE HOME MOVIE ESQUE STYLE IS AT TIMES QUITE TRYING (OWEVER THE PERFORMANCES OF !NNE (ATHAWAY AND $EBRA 7INGER ARE PARTICULARLY STRONG ESPECIALLY WHEN IN AND AMONGST THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE DIRECTOR WHO MAKE UP THE LARGE CAST 2ACHEL 'ETTING -ARRIED IS AN INNOVATIVE BODY OF WORK WHICH ALLOWS hPEOPLE TO ACTUALLY BECOME A MOMENTARY COMMUNITY OF @REAL LIFE SPECIAL EVENTS v 4HE WHOLE MANNER IN WHICH THE lLM HAS BEEN THOUGHT FULLY PIECED TOGETHER IS LOADED WITH PERSONALITY AND RESEMBLES A FAMILY ALBUM OF MEMORIES INTO WHICH IT IS A PLEASURE TO DELVE #OLETTE ,ILFORD
Dir: Jonathan Demme Release Date: 23/1/09
ACTORS NATURAL REACTIONS TO THE SITU ATIONS IN WHICH THEY WERE PLACED
!NNE (ATHAWAY STATED THAT SHE OF TEN PLAYED SCENES UNSCRIPTED WHICH
CLEARLY COMES THROUGH IN THE lLM S RAW PORTRAYAL OF LOVE BETWEEN SIBLINGS
Milk 4O START WITH A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LATE S 0ERMS WERE UBIQUITOUS CLOTH ING COLOURS OF ORANGE AND BROWN WERE HAUTE COUTURE CARS WERE HALF THE SIZE BUT PRODUCED TWICE AS MANY EMISSIONS AND THE WEB WAS SOME THING IN THE CORNER OF YOUR ROOM )T WAS ALSO A LESS SOCIALLY INCLUSIVE TIME AND IN PARTICULAR THE GAY POPULATION EVEN IN TYPICALLY VIBRANT URBAN AREAS STRUGGLED FOR ACCEPTANCE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY )T IS lTTING THEN GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AS WELL AS THE HYPE PRECEDING IT THAT -ILK DOESN T DISAPPOINT EI THER AS A GREAT PIECE OF CINEMA OR TWO HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT 3EAN 0ENN S MUCH ANTICIPATED PERFORMANCE AS THE TITULAR (ARVEY -ILK IS THE lLM S STRONGEST SELLING POINT ! lNELY JUDGED TURN 0ENN SHEDS HIS USUAL AIR OF INTENSITY AND SLIGHT MENACE TO GIVE A WARMLY COM
Dir: Gus Van Sant Release Date: 23/1/09
PELLING CHARACTERISATION #REDIT TOO SHOULD GO TO *OSH "ROLIN WHO PRO VIDES THE NECESSARY COUNTERPOINT TO -ILK S CHARACTER REPRESENTING THE lERCELY CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY THAT WISHES TO HOLD BACK THE CAUSE OF GAY RIGHTS !SIDE FROM A SLIGHTLY HYSTERI
CAL PORTRAYAL OF -ILK S LATER LOVER BY $IEGO ,UNA THE MAJORITY OF THE SUP PORTING PERFORMANCES IN THE lLM ARE EXCELLENT $IRECTOR 'US 6AN 3ANT SHOWS AN EXCELLENT EYE FOR DETAIL PROVIDING A GARISH BUT FAMILIAR PORTRAYAL OF THE
CITY OF 3AN &RANCISCO WHICH HELPS TO GET THE VIEWER RIGHT INTO THE MINDSET OF THE MEN BEING DEALT WITH AS WELL AS PLACING THE lLM IN A WIDER CONTEXT )N PARTICULAR THE CHOICE OF -ILK AS THE NARRATOR OF THE lLM AND THE WRAP AROUND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS
SHOWCASE THE DIRECTOR S METICULOUS CONTROL OF THE SUBJECT MATTER 4HE ONLY FRUSTRATING ASPECT OF THE lLM IS THAT -ILK S TRAGIC LOVE LIFE IS LARGELY SACRIlCED TO A CONCENTRATION ON HIS POLITICAL ROLE IN THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT 4HIS WAS A BOLD CHOICE BY 6AN 3ANT AND THOUGH IT LARGELY PAYS OFF THE VIEWER NEVER REALLY UNDER STANDS WHY SO MANY OF -ILK S LOVERS COME TO TRAGIC ENDS )T MAY HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE PLACED ADDITIONAL EM PHASIS ON -ILK S PRIVATE LIFE AND TAKE THE CHOICE OF SLIGHTLY EXTENDING THE NARRATIVE OF THE lLM .EVERTHELESS -ILK IS AT ONCE A POWERFUL BUT ALSO ACCESSIBLE lLM WHICH SHOULD APPEAL TO ANY LOVER OF CINEMA 'EORGE 'ILBERT
film
19
“entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of moving pictures;” the event
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
Other Screens
Seven Pounds
Valkyrie
Dir: Bryan Singer Release Date: 23/1/09
3INGER S NEW FEATURE 6ALKYRIE COVERS A PLOT TO ASSASSINATE ADOLF (ITLER LEAD BY #OLONOL #LAUS 6ON 3TRAUFFENBERG PLAYED BY #RUISE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR 4HOUGH THE lLM IS WELL STRUCTURED AND WORKS PERFECTLY AS A DRAMA THE SUSPENSE IS INEVITABLY LOST BY THE FACT IT IS COMMON KNOWL EDGE THE PLOT DID NOT SUCCEED 4HIS STORY LENDS ITSELF TO CIN EMA BUT 3INGERS ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY THIS STORY IN THE STYLE OF A SUSPENSE THRILLER HAS UNFORTUNATELY CAUSED HIM TO MISS SOME POTENTIALLY GREAT MOMENTS THAT WERE WAITING TO BE EXPOSED #OMPLEXITY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS lLM LACKS HOWEVER
Defiance
Dir: Gabriele Mucino Release Date: 16/1/09
ITS SIMPLICITY DOES MAKE FOR AN EASY CINEMA EXPERIENCE AND IF YOU CAN lGHT YOUR WAY THROUGH THE RIDICU LOUS COCKTAIL OF ACCENTS THERE ARE SOME OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES FROM THE LIKES OF .IGHEY AND "RANAH WHO UPSTAGE #RUISE S PREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE 3INGER CLEARLY DOES NOT LACK THE ABILITY TO PUT TOGETHER A DECENT lLM BUT THIS STORY IS SO MUCH MORE THAN GOOD GUYS VERSUS BAD GUYS 3TICK TO MAKING -ARVEL MOVIES "RYAN
-ORE THAN JUST ANOTHER hALL WILL BE REVEALED AT THE ENDv PLOTLINE 3EVEN 0OUNDS IS EMOTIONALLY AND STYLISTI CALLY EXCELLENT 7ILL 3MITH IS ON TOP FORM AS "EN 4HOMAS A MAN WHO IS TROUBLED BY A FATAL ACCIDENT HE CAUSES AND SEEKS REDEMPTION BY BENElTING THE LIVES OF SEVEN IN NEED STRANGERS $ESPITE ALMOST BEING A LITTLE TOO SLOW AT TIMES THE lLM DOES THIS INTENTIONALLY IN ORDER TO CAPTURE THE EMOTION INVOLVED IN ITS MAIN THEMES REGRET GUILT LOVE AND LOSS -ICHAEL (AMMOND !LTHOUGH 7ILL 3MITH STEALS THE ACT ING LIMELIGHT BY SKILFULLY PORTRAYING EVERY EMOTION THAT CAN BE THOUGHT
OF THE SUPPORTING ACTORS ARE JUST AS WELL CAST TOO PARTICULARLY 2OSARIO $AWSON AND 7OODY (ARRELSON )T ISN T UNTIL THE LAST HALF AN HOUR THAT THE lLM REALLY EXCELS ITSELF HOWEVER IT LIVES UP TO ITS REPUTATION AS A TEAR JERKER THROUGHOUT 7ITH NOT A DRY EYE EXPECTED IN THE HOUSE PUSH THE POPCORN AND COKE ASIDE BECAUSE ALL 3EVEN 0OUNDS REQUIRES ITS VIEWERS TO HAVE IS +LEEN EX IN ABUNDANCE
My Bloody Valentine 3-D
The Wrestler
Dir: Patrick Lussier Release Date: 16/1/09
Dir: Darren Aronofsky Release Date: 16/1/09
-Y "LOODY 6ALENTINE $ EFFEC TIVELY MIXES AN @OLD SCHOOL SLASHER lLM WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN YET ANOTHER HOPE TO SOMEHOW REVIVE THE SLASHER SUB GENRE THAT HAS BEEN @DEAD FOR SOME TIME NOW 7HILST THE NARRATIVE HAS MORE OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENT THAN THE ORIGINAL ESPECIALLY THE DEPICTION OF THE INFAMOUS (ARRY 7ARDEN IT IS HARD NOT TO LOOK AT THE $ ELEMENT AS ALMOST A MASK TO COVER UP THE OVERALL SHALLOW PLOT ,OOKING AT IT IN THIS WAY THE AUDIENCE ESPECIALLY @DIE HARD HORROR FANS ARE SUBJECTED TO A RATHER TRIVIAL ATTEMPT TO PRESENT THE SLASHER lLM AS @FRESH AND AU
) M SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT -ICKEY 2OURKE STARRING AS 2ANDY @4HE 2AM IS SUPERB WHAT YOU DON T KNOW IS JUST HOW SUPERB 2OURKE MAKES THIS lLM A LESSON IN CHARACTER ACTING (IS PORTRAYAL OF A BROKEN DOWN @ S MEGA STAR PUTTING HIS LIFE BACK TOGETHER IS AS DARK AND DEPRESSING AS IT POSSIBLY COULD BE ALL THE WHILE CONTAINING A SOMEWHAT UPLIFTING SENTIMENT (OWEVER TO HEAP ALL THE PRAISE ONTO 2OURKE WOULD BE A GROSS IN JUSTICE $IRECTOR !RONOFSKY DOES BRILLIANTLY IN POSITIONING US WITH 2ANDY SHOWING THAT REAL LIFE CAN BE FAR MORE SURREAL THAN A WORLD OF BARBED WIRE BROKEN GLASS AND STA
THENTIC WHEN IN FACT IT IS ONLY THE WAY YOU WATCH THE lLM THAT CREATES THIS EFFECT 7HAT IS GOOD ABOUT THE SLASHER lLM IN THE lRST PLACE THE @GRIT AND THE SIMPLICITY OF VIEWING SOMEHOW GETS LOST IN THIS REMAKE THROUGH THE RATHER COMPLICATED VIEWING PATTERNS !NYHOW THE lLM WILL PLEASE MANY ESPECIALLY NON HORROR FANS AS THE SLASHER lLM IS YET AGAIN THE SUBJECT OF A @NEW APPROACH WHICH WE MUST TO SOME EXTENT CREDIT !DAM 3CALES
%LIZABETH 0OOLE
PLE GUNS /NE FAILING IS THAT 2ANDY S AT TEMPTS TO BETTER HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DAUGHTER DO FEEL RUSHED !FTER YEARS OF BAD PARENTING A FEW SCENES OF FAMILY MELODRAMA DON T QUITE SUFlCE !LL IN ALL THOUGH THIS lLM IS BRILLIANT AND IF YOU ARE PUT OFF BY THE IDEA OF 2OCKY "ALBOA IN TIGHTS DON T WORRY 4HIS IS A TRIUMPH IN EMOTIONAL STORY TELLING AND IN PER FORMANCE #HRISTOPHER 7ILSON
Dir: Edward Zwick Release Date: 9/1/09 $ElANCE CHALLENGES THE IMAGE OF THE *EWS OF THE 3ECOND 7ORLD 7AR PASSIVELY GOING TO THEIR DEATHS FOLLOWING THE TRUE STORY OF THE 2USSIAN "IELSKI BROTHERS 4UVIA $AN IEL #RAIG :US ,IEV 3CHREIBER AND !SAEL *AMIE "ELL WHOSE hREVENGEv IS TO ESCAPE INCARCERATION AND DEATH BY ANY MEANS POS SIBLE 4HEY HIDE OUT DEEP IN THE "ELLARUSSIAN FOREST NEAR THE TOWN .OWOGRODEK WHERE THE "IELSKI FAMILY USED TO LIVE -ORE AND MORE REFUGEES JOIN THE FEARLESS BROTHERS FORMING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY SURVIVAL SKILL IS NEEDED TO STAY ALIVE $ESPITE CRITICISM OF #RAIG S PERFORMANCE HE SHINES AS THE TOUGH AND GRITTY LEADER /NE OF HIS MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IS WHEN HE ADDRESSES THE REFUGEES ON HORSE BACK RESONANT OF (ENRY 6 S MOVING SPEECH BEFORE THE BLOODY BATTLE OF !GINCOURT $IRECTED BY %DWARD :WICK "LOOD $IA MOND $ElANCE IS AN INCREDIBLY MOVING TENSE lLM WITH CHARISMATIC PERFORMANCES FROM THE THREE LEADS AS WELL AS EXCELLENT SUPPORT FROM !LLAN #ORDUNER AND !LEXA $AVALOS ,AURA 7IGNALL
film
20
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
the event
Film Release
DVD Release
Frost/Nixon
Elite Squad
Dir: Ron Howard Release date: 23/01/09
2ARELY HAVE PLAYS MADE SUCH A GREAT TRANS LATION TO lLM AS IN THE CASE OF &ROST .IXON !LTHOUGH THE lRST HALF OF THE lLM MAY DRAG IN PLACES IT LOSES LITTLE OF THE RAW POTENCY WIT AND TENSION OF THE ORIGINAL DRAMA )N DEED THIS PICTURE SURROUNDING THE FAMOUS INTERVIEWS OF IS AS MUCH A POLITICAL THRILLER AS IT IS A BRILLIANTLY SUBTLE EXPOSE OF THE DISGRACED FORMER 0RESIDENT /N THE ONE HAND &RANK ,ANGELLA S .IXON IS EVER THE MOST URBANE AND WORLD LY STATESMAN BUT IN AN INSTANT HE CAN RAIL AGAINST HIS AGGRESSORS IN A TERSE AND
Dir: Jose Padilha Release date: 19/01/09
VENOMOUS MANNER )N MANY RESPECTS THE GENIUS OF 2ON (OWARD IS IN HIS VERY ABILITY TO MAKE YOU SYMPATHISE WITH ONE OF THE MOST DESPISED lGURES IN !MERICAN HISTORY WITHOUT EVER BEING HEAVY HANDED 7HILST .IXON WAS NEVER FORMALLY IM PEACHED THE CLIMAX IN THE lNAL INTERVIEW SHOWS US A DEFEATED MAN WHO APPEARS A SHADOW OF HIS FORMER SELF 7ILL (EPPA
%LITE 3QUAD TELLS THE STORY OF A WEARY POLICEMAN WHO IS TRAINING TWO YOUNG RECRUITS TO 2IO DE *ANEIRO S ELITE "/0% SPECIAL OPERATIONS BATTALION HOPING THAT ONE OF THEM WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE HIM AND HE CAN QUIT TO DEVOTE HIMSELF TO HIS FAMILY (OWEVER THE ROOKIES CHARACTER mAWS LEAD TO FATAL COMPLICATIONS 4HE lLM IMPRESSIVELY CAPTURES THE EDGY RELA TIONSHIP BETWEEN 2IO S AFmUENT CLASSES AND THE SLUM DWELLERS WHO KEEP THEM SUPPLIED WITH DOPE AND COCAINE AND ALSO THE PETTY GRASPING CORRUPTION OF THE ORDINARY COPS WHO WILL HAPPILY NICK AN ENGINE FROM THE PRECINCT S SQUAD CARS TO PUT IN THEIR MOTOR AT HOME (OWEVER ITS PORTRAYAL OF THE "/0% UNIT IS PROB
LEMATIC 4HEY ARE SHOWN AS BEING WHOLLY UNTAINTED BY CORRUPTION n WHICH SEEMS UNLIKELY n AND THERE IS NO COMMENT ABOUT THEIR GUNG HO SHOOTING POLICIES AND INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES )N TERMS OF BRUTALITY THE LATTER LIE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN *ACK "AUER AND !T TILA THE (UN 5NLIKE ITS ILLUSTRIOUS "RAZILIAN PREDECESSOR #ITY /F 'OD WHICH DEPICTED THE PROCESS FROM POVERTY TO CRIME AND VIOLENCE AS A TRAGEDY %LITE 3QUAD FEELS AT TIMES LIKE A 3TEVEN 3EGAL MOVIE WITH A DOLLOP OF SOCIAL REALISM )AN 3MITH
VÀiÌiÊ- > Ê `à 7 Õ `ÊÞ ÕÊ iÊÞ ÕÀÊLÕà iÃÃÊÌ ÊÀi>V Ê Ì iÊÃÌ>vvÊ> `ÊÃÌÕ`i ÌÃÊ vÊ1 ¶ / i ÊÜ ÞÊ ÌÊL Ê>Ê- > Ê `Ê Ê VÀiÌi¶ ÀÊ ÕÃÌÊËÎxÊ« ÕÃÊ6 /]ÊÞ ÕÊV Õ `Ê >ÛiÊ>Ê - > Ê `ÊÜ Ì ÊÕà ÀÊ ÀiÊ v À >Ì Ê ÀÊÌ Ê L Ê> Ê >`ÛiÀÌ]Ê V Ì>VÌÊ i> Ê 7 ÃÊ Ê i> ° Ü ÃJÕi>ÃÌÕ`i Ì° V ]Ê ÀÊ Ê ä£ÈäÎÊx ÓxäÇ
film concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
21 the event
Crossing The Final Frontier
3TAR 4REK IS A FRANCHISE THAT SEEMS TO RUN AND RUN )N VARIOUS INCARNATIONS THE 46 SERIES HAS RAN FOR THE BEST PART OF HALF A CEN TURY )N ADDITION IT SPREAD TO THE BIG SCREEN SPAWNING TEN SPIN OFF lLMS (OWEVER MAINSTREAM SUCCESS IN ITS PUREST FORM HAS ALWAYS ELUDED 4REK ,IAM / "RIEN EXAMINES WHY THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE AND HOW A NEW lLM SEEKS TO CHANGE THIS STATUS QUO
5
NLIKE 3TAR 7ARS OR EVEN NOW $OCTOR 7HO 3TAR 4REK HAS NEVER CROSSED THE BOUNDARY OR AHEM lNAL FRONTIER BETWEEN THE WORLD OF NICHE AND MAINSTREAM 4REK IS SEEN AS A BIT GEEKY A TOUCH DULL AND CERTAINLY NOT COOL 7HICH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BASIC FACTS IS DOWN RIGHT STRANGE BECAUSE ON PAPER THE HISTORY OF 3TAR 4REK READS LIKE A MAIN STREAM SUCCESS STORY !RRIVING IN THE PROGRAMME WAS A REASONABLE HIT FOR 53 BROAD CASTER !"# AS A SMALL BUT LOYAL FAN BASE THRILLED TO THE ADVENTURES OF #APTAIN +IRK -R 3POCK AND THE CREW OF THE 533 %NTERPRISE WEEK AFTER WEEK 9EARS PASSED AND THE FRANCHISE GREW TO ENCOMPASS FOUR MORE LIVE AC TION TELEVISION SERIES AND TEN MOTION PICTURES 4HE SPIN OFFS WERE POPULAR TO A POINT AND THE MOVIES MADE MONEY OCCASIONALLY QUITE A LOT IN FACT BUT STILL GENERAL ACCEPTANCE ELUDED 3TAR 4REK 7HAT THIS WAS DOWN TO IS DEBAT ABLE 7AS IT THE INCREASINGLY CRAP SPIN OFFS ! UTOPIAN VIEW OF THE FU TURE PRESENTED TO AN AUDIENCE THAT WANTED GRITTIER NASTIER SCI l 2UB BISH ALIENS WITH BUMPY PROSTHETIC FOREHEADS 7HATEVER THE PROBLEMS
“On paper, the history of Star Trek reads like a mainstream success story” BY 3TAR 4REK STAGGERED TO A HALT ON TELEVISION IN THE FORM OF 3TAR 4REK %NTERPRISE AND SEEMINGLY WASN T GO ING TO BE BEAMING BACK ONTO SCREENS ANY TIME SOON !ND QUITE FRANKLY NO ONE REALLY CARED &LASH FORWARD TO -AY ! NEW BIG BUDGET SCI l ADVENTURE IS DUE TO
HIT CINEMAS DIRECTED BY WUNDERKIND * * !BRAMS n THE MAN WHO CREATED !LIAS ,OST AND
&RINGE AS WELL AS SPEAR HEADING THE DEVELOPMENT OF #LOVER lELD 4HE CAST OF HIS NEW MOVIE IS COMPRISED OF YOUNG UP AND COMING ACTORS 4HE BUZZ ON THE lLM IS HUGE LY POSITIVE THANKS TO STRONG TRAILERS AND CLIP SCREENINGS THAT LEFT JOUR NALISTS SINGING THE MOVIE S PRAISES LIKE HYPERACTIVE CHOIRBOYS 4HE lLM IN QUESTION IS CALLED 3TAR 4REK AND COULD WELL MARK THE MOMENT WHERE THE FRANCHISE lNALLY MAKES THE WARP JUMP FROM NERDY CONVENTION FODDER TO GENUINE COOL 3O WHAT THEN IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS INCARNATION OF 3TAR 4REK AND ALL THAT WENT BEFORE 0ARAMOUNT 0ICTURES WHO ARE SIGNING ALL THE CHEQUES CLEARLY BELIEVE IN THE lLM AS DOES DIRECTOR !BRAMS WHO TIME
AND AGAIN HAS SUCCESSFULLY BENT THE ZEITGEIST TO HIS CREATIVE WILL 4HE NEW MOVIE IS GOING DOWN THE SUCCESSFUL "ATMAN "OND ROUTE BY @REBOOTING THE FRANCHISE TO TELL WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE ORIGIN STORY OF THE CREW OF THE ORIGINAL %NTERPRISE A KIND OF +IRK "EGINS #ASINO 3POCK AP PROACH 0RE PUBLICITY AROUND THE MOVIE IS AT PAINS TO PAINT THIS AS A REAL ADVEN TURE A BOLD BREAKNECK STORY THAT IS GOING TO BE BIG WILD FUN AND ACCES SIBLE TO EVERYONE !ND IT S THIS LAST ELEMENT THAT REALLY MAKES THE lLM SOUND EXCITING "ECAUSE WHEN 3TAR 4REK HAS BEEN GREAT IN THE PAST IT S BEEN EXCITING FUNNY AND TACKLED BIG IDEAS 4HE BEST EPISODES ARE FAST PACED THOUGHTFUL DRAMATIC AND THRILLING ALL AT ONCE (OWEVER THE BIG IRONY IS THAT 3TAR 4REK AT ITS HEART IS AN IDEA THAT REALLY BELONGS ON THE BIG SCREEN
S 3TAR 4REK 4HE -OTION 0ICTURE WAS AS DULL AS DISHWATER BUT WAS AN EPIC ADVENTURE THAT COULD ONLY
BE SHOWN IN A BIG MOVIE )T SHOW CASED THAT GRAND WIDESCREEN IMAGERY WORKED FOR THE FRANCHISE 4HE SEQUEL S 3TAR 4REK )) 4HE 7RATH OF +HAN IS NOT JUST A TERRIlC MOVIE AND A QUAN TUM LEAP FROM ITS PREDECESSOR BUT A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW EXCITING 4REK CAN BE WHILST KEEPING THE FOCUS ON
“When Star Trek has been great in the past, it’s been exciting, funny, and tackled big ideas”
TRULY INTERESTING CHARACTERS ,ATER lLMS TOYED WITH COMEDY BIG THEMES AND ACTION BUT NEVER TO TALLY GOT THE MIX RIGHT )NDEED THE SERIES FOLLOWING A POOR GROSS FOR 4HE -OTION 0ICTURE NEVER GOT THE BIG BUDGET IT NEEDED TO WORK AT THE CIN EMA AGAIN 4HE POTENTIAL FOR A TRULY GREAT MAINSTREAM 3TAR 4REK FEATURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE n ONLY POOR SCRIPTS OR BUDGET ISSUES HAVE GOT IN THE WAY (OWEVER THE SIGNS ARE ENCOUR AGING THAT * * !BRAMS AND COMPANY lNALLY RECOGNISE THE BOTTLED UP PO TENTIAL OF THE 4REK BRAND AT THE MOV IES AND HAVE MOVED TO UNLEASH IT IN )F THE lLM SHOWCASES THE BIG VISUALS EPIC SCOPE AND SENSE OF AD VENTURE BIG SCREEN 3TAR 4REK HAS BEEN LACKING UNTIL NOW THEN THE MOVIE HAS THE CHANCE TO LIVE LONG AND PROS PER AT THE BOX OFlCE n NOT JUST WITH 4REKKIES BUT WITH ORDINARY HUMANS TOO
what’s on what’s on
22
concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk
27th • UEA Creative Writing Fellow’s reading. UEA Studio. 7pm. Free • Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £8 NUS • The Aussie Beach Party. LCR. 10pm. £3.50 adv • Aviators and Parasite. The Queen Charlotte. 8pm
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28th
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• What Kind of Liberation? Women and the Occupation of Iraq. LT3. 7pm. Free • Australian wine tasting evening. Horse and Dray. 7.30pm • White Rose Movement. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £7 • Liberate! The Hive. 8pm. £2.50 • Sports Night. Union Pub. 8pm. Free
• Film: Tropic Thunder. LT1. 7.30pm. £2.75 • Jeremy Warmsley (Milkbar Records Launch Night). Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £8 • Bar Event: Rock Band. Union Bar. 8.30pm. Free
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y a d Sun
M
5th • Alkaline Trio. LCR. 7.30pm. £16 • Film: In Bruges. LT1. 7.30pm. £2.75 • Uiscedwr. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £8 NUS • BUG - The Evolution of Music Video. The Playhouse. 8pm. £6.50 NUS • Bar Event: Marokart. Union Bar. 8.30pm. Free
30th
• Cara Dillon. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £12 NUS • Bar Event: Bingo. Union Bar. 8.30pm. • Non-Stop 90s + Shine. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS • Now 90s. LCR. 10pm. £4.50 adv
6th • Free Film: LGBT History Month - Wilde. LT1. 7.30pm. • Slip Discs Launch Party ft. W.A.R + Pascal + Go Public. Norwich Arts Centre. 7.30pm. £3.50 • Bar Event: Karaoke. Union Bar. 8.30pm. Free • Ministry of Sound Anthems Tour. LCR. 10pm. £6 NUS • 80s Night + Hit Parade. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS
7th
31st • Soapbox. Norwich Arts Centre. 1pm. £5 • Katzenjammer. The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £10 NUS • Pams House 13th Birthday. LCR. 9.30pm. £9.50 NUS • Meltdown + Wraith. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS
• Mongrel (Arctic Monkeys, Babyshambles, Rev. & The Makers). The Waterfront. 7pm. £8 • The Big Prize Quiz. Union Bar. 7.30pm. £3 per team
1st
2nd
y a d on
4th • The Painted Faces of Norfolk – Talk by Charlotte Crawley. Dragon Hall. 7.30pm. £4.50 • Sports Night. Union Pub. 8pm. Free • Dan Antoploski and Isy Suttie. Norwich Arts Centre. 8.30pm. £10 NUS
29th
y a d s r u Th
y a d i Fr
3rd • John Shuttleworth. The Playhouse. 8pm. £12 NUS • Salt Box Comedy Club (ft. Dan McKee). Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £5 NUS • The Disney LCR. 10pm. £3.40 adv
• Translation workshop - Subtitling Personal Insults: Attenuation or Omission? Arts 2.37. 5pm. Free • The Twang. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £12.50 • Natacha Atlas and the Mazeeka Ensemble. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £10 NUS
• Steve Skaith Band. Norwich Puppet Theatre. 8pm. £10 • Speedometer. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £6 • Andy Parsons Live. The Playhouse. 8pm. Sold Out • Meltdown + Punk’d Up. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.40 NUS • Club Retro LCR. 10pm. £4.50 adv
8th
• Forever The Sickest Kids. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £8 • Andy Parsons Live. The Playhouse. 8pm. Sold Out • Barnado’s University “Pub Quiz” Challenge. Union Bar. 7.30pm. £2 per person
9th • Emmy The Great. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £7.50
competitions competition
24
the event
concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk
h
Sudoku wit
%!39
4O BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING A a "ORDERS VOUCHER BRING ONE OR ALL CORRECTLY COMPLETED 3UDOKU TO THE #ONCRETE OFlCE BY
Win Disaster Movie Packs! (ERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF TWO 6ALKYRIE MERCHAN DISE PACKS INCLUDING POLO SHIRTS LEATHER JOURNALS AND CAPS 4OM #RUISE STARS AS #OLONEL #LAUS VON 3TAUFFENBERG IN 6ALKYRIE BASED ON THE POWERFUL TRUE STORY OF A DARING AND INGENIOUS PLOT TO ELIMINATE (ITLER 4O WIN ONE OF THESE PACKS SIMPLY EMAIL YOUR ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS UEA AC UK BY "RYAN 3INGER DIRECTOR OF 6ALKYRIE ALSO DIRECTED WHICH lLM STARRING (UGH *ACKMAN AND (ALLE "ERRY
4HIS WEEK YOU CAN ALSO WIN $ISASTER -OVIE GOODY BAGS WHICH CONTAIN A T SHIRT $6$ MOBILE PHONE CHARGER AND STRESS BALL $ISASTER -OVIE STARS #ARMEN %LECTRA AND +IM +ARDASHIAN AND PARODIES ALL HUGE NUMBER OF lLMS RANGING FROM )RON -AN TO "# 4O WIN ONE OF THESE PACKS SIM PLY EMAIL YOUR ANSWER TO THE FOL LOWING QUESTION TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS UEA AC UK BY )N WHICH 46 SERIES DID #ARMEN %LECTRA STAR IN ALONGSIDE $AVID (ASSLEHOFF
Crossword
!CROSS
@3TAYING IN IS THE NEW GOING OUT 'REAT DEALS ON BOOKS AT "ORDERS INCLUDING "UY ONE GET ONE FREE ON ALL /XFORD #LASSICS
.AME
7HICH CITY ARE .OAH AND THE 7HALE FROM
(!2$
4HANKS TO THE 5NION OF 5%! 3TUDENTS WE HAVE A PAIR OF TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY TO SEE .OAH AND THE 7HALE AT THE ,#2 ON TH &EBRUARY 4O WIN THIS PAIR OF TICKETS SIMPLY EMAIL YOUR ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS UEA AC UK BY AND PLEASE IN CLUDE YOUR MOBILE NUMBER
-%$)5-
Win Noah & The Whale Win a Load of Valkyrie Goodies! Tickets!
$OWN
(IRED KILLER &OOL $ISCOVER ,IST OF TERMS 3QUASHED CIRCLE -ONARCH /RANGES AND LEMONS (OUSE mAT PAYMENT 2EFRESHING BREAK 3TRONG ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ,AZY 4O SUGGEST
3KILLED MANUAL WORKER #UBE SHAPE 4O LOOK #ANNOT BE CHANGED "ISCUIT IN SHAPE OF A HUMAN 5NTIDY
4O BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING A FREE RETURN TAXI TRIP FROM #OURTESY 4AXIS FROM CAMPUS TO TOWN AND BACK OR INBETWEEN BRING YOUR COMPLETED ENTRY TO THE #ON CRETE OFlCE BY
.AME %MAIL
0ROMOTING HEALTH OF BODY OR MIND 4O ANIMATE "REATHING ILLNESS $ATA