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Tuesday 10th May, 2011 • Issue 256 • Twitter: @Concrete_UEA
£9,000
Lecturer discontent revealed Danny Collins
Editor
UEA announces intention to charge maximum fees from 2012/13 Fee waivers of up to £3,000 for students from low-income families
Paul Skennerton
Susanna Wood
News Reporter
After months of speculation, the University of East Anglia has announced their intention to charge the maximum tuition fee level of £9,000 per year. The University has submitted their request to the Office for Fair
Access (Offa) to charge the maximum amount of fees for UK students for all undergraduate degree courses from 2012 onwards. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Edward Acton, has defended the rise in fees as necessary to maintain small class sizes and excellence in teaching that ensures UEA’s position as one of the top 20 universities in the country,
with UEA also stating that a third of all new undergraduates will qualify for some sort of financial support. If approved by Offa, students from lower income households will receive up to £3,000 in fee waivers, and there will be a large number of scholarships available to highachieving students. MPs voted in December to allow
fees for home students to rise to £6,000 a year, with a limit of £9,000 in ‘exceptional circumstances’. UEA is not alone in its decision; according to The Guardian, almost 75% of all English universities and university colleges plan to charge £9,000 for at least some of their courses. All universities in the 1994 group, of which UEA is a part, will be
charging £9,000 in 2012. Norwich University College of the Arts is planning on charging £8,500 for its undergraduate courses. The Union of UEA Students has expressed that it is “disappointed” with the decision. Offa will announce whether or not the plan has been approved in July.
2 NEWS
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Editor:
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Danny Collins
Deputy Editor:
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Chief Copy Editor:
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News Editor: Comment and Opinion Editor: International Editor: Features Editor:
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Turf Editor:
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ISSUE 256
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Chris King Rob Schatten
In this fortnight’s Concrete... News
3-7
Opinion
8-9
Travel Features
10-11 12-14
Lifestyle
15-16
Turf Focsoc International Sport
17 18-19 20 21-24
...and Venue Fashion
4-5
Arts
6-7
TV
8-9
Creative Writing Wired Film Music Listings Competitions
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
A note from the Editor So here it is, the final issue of Concrete for this academic year. I couldn’t possibly go to print without thanking many of those who devote a tremendous amount of time and effort into producing this newspaper. The amount of voluntary hours put in by Concrete’s writers, photographers, proofreaders and sub-editors every fortnight is consistently staggering and impressive. I have to thank everybody who has contributed to producing Concrete this year, no matter how small a role they played. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to a few individuals without whom there is no way the paper could be produced. Davina Kesby, Duncan Vicat-Brown, Fiona Howard, Steph McKenna and Mia Wecker have all been absolutely integral to the paper this year, and I owe them a huge thank you – and probably a pint or two. I must also thank Greg Mann and Laura Smith for organising the photographs that bring the paper to life. Whether it’s been a student riot or a muddy Wednesday afternoon on Colney Field, they’ve never failed to produce fantastic photography for the paper. Concrete will be back next year in the infinitely capable hands of Chris King, who will undoubtedly do a fantastic job – even if he is a QPR fan… Good luck, Chris! Finally, I’d just like to urge all of you to get involved! Concrete is your student newspaper and a chance to air your grievances, review your favourite band or showcase your sports club. Concrete is what UEA’s students make it, so get involved and help make it even better!
Danny
11 12-13 14-16 17-22 23 24
Features
Famous Faces
Greg Mann
Laura Smith Jean Wills
Rob Schatten
Contributors:
Sam Lewis, James Schofield, Matt Scrafton, Ruth McKeller, Ian Hobbs, Carl Silverstone, Ashley Johnston, Laurne Razavi, Laura Holroyd, Emma Galal, Rachel Lum, Isabelle Carty, Susanna Wood, Hester Lee, Robbie Laird, Kayonazz Kalyanwala, Steph Mckenna, Alexander Ross, Matt Deane, Clair Price, Alex Mansell, James Hughes, Rebecca Hazlewood, Rob Schatten, Emma Williamson, Roisin LeStrange, Will Lacey.
Sam Lewis speaks to the leader of the Green party, Caroline Lucas, on her recent visit.
Comment and Opinion
8
He’s bin caught Concrete is published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2011 Concrete BMc. ISSN 1351-2773 Letters should be addressed for the attention of the Editor, Danny Collins. Letters must include contact details, but we will consider anonymous publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity as necessary. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the newspaper.
Proofreaders: Ann Hartigan, Susanna Wood, Stacey Knapp
Ashley Johnston asks if Pakistan implicated in hiding Osama Bin Laden
was
No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the Editor, Danny Collins. Printed by Archant.
ISSUE 256
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Tuesday 10th May
Evolve internship scheme launched A UEA-funded scheme has launched with the aim of increasing graduate employability in an increasingly tough job market. Evolve offers 4-12 week internships that vary from marketing to science and technology. Previous interns have worked on projects ranging from monitoring wild bat species to producing short commercial films. Throughout their placements, graduates are given continuous and active support by the Evolve team who work closely with the host organisation. Evolve’s Business Development Manager, Julie Schofield, emphasises that the scheme is “mutually beneficial” for both graduates and local businesses, as internships offer a “cost effective way for businesses to inject fresh talent...whilst providing the graduate with a paid placement that offers real graduate-level experience.” The scheme, which is funded by UEA, has currently found placements for 201 graduates since January 2010. 58% of those available for contact have subsequently found graduate-level employment as a result of their internship. In order to apply you must be a graduate and able to work in this country. Final year students can sign up to the scheme and can start an internship when they have passed their degree. To find out more visit: http://www.uea.ac.uk/ nbs/intern Claire Price
Norwich City promoted to Premier League Carrow Road will host Premier League football next season as Norwich City Football Club have been promoted. After being promoted to the Championship at the end of the 2009/2010 season, the Canaries have seen further success this season, achieving a further promotion. The team are set to parade through the city on 10th May in order to celebrate their promotion, just as they did when they were promoted to the Premier League in 2004. For more on this story, turn to the Sport section.
NEWS
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Acton “convinced that UEA’s position is exceptional” Danny Collins
Editor
Vice-Chancellor Edward Acton has insisted that UEA can meet the ‘exceptional circumstances’ set out by the Coalition Government to justify charging £9,000-a-year for undergraduate degrees from 2012. Speaking to Concrete after the announcement of the intention to charge maximum fees last month, Acton said: “We were struck by the phrase [exceptional circumstances], and took it rather seriously. We are convinced that UEA’s position is exceptional.” “UEA has always been amongst the top five or six for student satisfaction, vying with Oxford and Cambridge.” “UEA is one of the two universities in the top 20 who have a remarkably inclusive social profile.” Asked which specific improvements the University
would look to make given the increased fees, the Vice-Chancellor said: “I think the central ones are around the staff/student ratio. Almost everything in our discussions with academics and students about things we would like to improve depend upon having greater amount of academic time available for advising, tuition, academic feedback and the lifting of 2:1’s to 1sts.” “Secondly, enhanced facilities for laboratories, the library and, yes, IT support.” Concrete asked Acton what the University would do to encourage students from poorer backgrounds to overcome the daunting barrier that the fees will undoubtedly provide. “We have to make sure poor families know that they do not have to find any money up front.” “We mustn’t deprive countless young people of life chances by telling them that you have to find
the money up front. Then there are also significant fee waivers.” “If I was allowed two words to label this, I would say ‘don’t call it
a debt, call it a special tax liability’. You will have a liability to the tax man, which is who will collect it.”
UEA Law students ousted from Earlham Hall Matt Deane
News Reporter
Law students have been left shocked by a decision to move their school to the Registry as ViceChancellor Edward Acton is set to move into Earlham Hall, which has housed the Law School since it was established in 1977. The Vice-Chancellor of UEA, Edward Acton, has announced that it is his intention to vacate the Registry building and move to Earlham Hall, providing a ‘swap’ for the Law School, who in turn will be able to occupy part of the current Registry building. During the University’s summer holidays in 2010 Earlham Hall had an emergency evacuation due to severe structural damage, leading to the building becoming derelict. Since then, the Law School has been ‘temporarily’ moved to Blackdale School, next to the
overflow car park. The move has proven to be highly unpopular with both students and teachers, with a lack of private offices, insufficient heating and the terrible location of the building only a few of a long list of criticisms, leading to one Law professor resigning in protest. Law students have an affinity to Earlham Hall, a unique ‘selling point’ of UEA with potential applicants. In a debate aimed to ease student’s worries about the state of the Law School, current students were keen to make sure that potential students are not going to be ‘tricked’ into choosing UEA by not being told about the situation. Recent developments have shown that, contrary to initial beliefs, the Law School will not be returning to Earlham Hall when restoration is complete. Speaking at the Earlham Hall
Earlham Hall, which has housed the Law School since 1977
debate before Easter, Head of the Law School Alastair Mullis attempted to ease student’s worries by insisting that Earlham Hall was “no longer fit for purpose, if it ever was”, arguing that restoration of Earlham Hall would cost £25million, providing a stumbling block due to recent cuts in University funding. This figure however, includes a ‘major improvement’ in facilities, which many law students would
happily sacrifice in order to keep Earlham Hall part of the Law School, especially when money seems to be available to facilitate Acton’s plans. The move has anger amongst law students, who feel that it is not an action in the interest of the Law School. Acton’s refusal to communicate his views to the law student’s personally,further created controversy amongst UEA’s lawyers.
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Essay competition worth £200 opens The 2011 Student Essay Competition is now open to all UEA students. The initiative is part of UEA’s Live/Learn marketing campaign, which aims to bring out the University’s merits both in terms of academic and social activities. This competition, now in its fourth year, provides an understanding of how students juggle their responsibilities at UEA. Through the inspiring accounts, it is hoped that students can develop their confidence and personal motivation. This year, the first prize has been doubled to £200, a courtesy of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor’s Fund. There will also be prizes for runners-up. Prize winners will be receiving their awards at a small celebration held by the Dean of Students, and their essays will be posted on UEA’s website. Those who are interested should write an essay responding to the question: ‘Live/Learn’ – How do you balance your studies, social life and paid work as a student at UEA? There is a maximum limit of 2000 words. However, since there is no limitation to the style of writing, students have the choice of experimenting with different styles to tell their stories. The deadline for entries is 20th June, 2011. For more information regarding this competition, contact Catherine Butcher at catherine.butcher@uea. ac.uk. Rachael Lum
Library experiencing record numbers As the exam period takes a hold on students, the Library is experiencing a record number of visitors. Students are struggling to find space to study, and the Library is urging users to respect the Silent and Quiet study zones, so that others can revise in peace. In addition to this, they have asked students to realise that “reserving” study space, by leaving belongings, prevents others being able to study. Nick Lewis, Library Director, said: “Library staff will do their best to assist you if you experience problems, but we’ll have more success if everyone follows the guidelines”.
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
Local elections and AV referendum see Liberal Democrats lose ground • Liberal Democrats punished by voters at the polls, losing 748 councillors across England. • Voters unconvinced by AV system, with referendum result being a resounding “no”. James Schofield
News Reporter
Voters across the United Kingdom went to the polling booths last week to cast their votes in local council elections and to decide whether the electoral system for general elections in the UK should be changed. The Conservative party now have control of 157 councils in England, with Labour controlling 57 local councils. The Liberal Democrats suffered heavy losses, retaining control of just 10 councils. In Norwich, the Labour party have 18 seats on the city council, with the Green party bringing their total number of seats up to 15. The Liberal Democrats have four seats and the Conservative party losing two of their councillors, retaining just two seats on the council. The referendum posed the question to the electorate, “Do
you want the United Kingdom to adopt the ‘alternative vote’ system instead of the current ‘first past the post’ system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?”. 68% of the electorate voted No to the referendum, with a low turnout of just 42%. The Alternative Vote (AV) system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. A clear majority of over 50% is needed, with the next preference being taken into consideration if the majority is not reached. In contrast, the first past the post system gives the seat to the candidate who gains the most votes, regardless of the size of the majority. The referendum was held due to the Liberal Democrat mandate to seek electoral reform. The first past the post system currently used to elect MPs to Westminster has been labelled a “tired system, propped
up by dinosaurs, that has failed Britain” by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Clegg’s argument for the ‘Yes’ vote attacked the established political order in the United Kingdom, denouncing the lack of pluralism and the provision of “safe seats”. Prime Minister David Cameron threw his weight behind the ‘No’ campaign, creating a potential rift in the coalition. He argued that the new system would undermine the
principle of “one person, one vote” and that AV would “damage our democracy permanently”. The result is a bitter blow for Clegg, who also saw his party annihilated in council elections across the country. The fall-out from the tuition fees argument, just one of a series of what his rivals are calling “broken promises”, has led to calls for a challenge to his party leadership.
the ballot form, lead to a voting extension of 24 hours. The investigation is still on-going but Tom Dolton, Deputy Returning Officer for the election in question, said: “one such improvement for the future is fully integrating the voting system into Portal so students will no longer have to log into a 3rd party website or wait for a voting email”. This idea was in fact due to be implemented before the elections but was delayed due to the campus-wide network crashes of the ‘techpocalypse’. Allegations of preferential treatment by the Deputy Returning Officer have been dismissed after findings by Al Powell, Chief Returning Officer, found no evidence of wrong doing. Powell stated: “having completed an investigation into both of your
concerns I am writing to inform you that I am happy and satisfied with the conduct of both the Union and Tom Dolton”. Further controversy arose when one candidate for the NUS Conference position exceeded their budget, as set by the Union, and was removed from the election. This news added to the pressure surrounding the events of the elections, but Tom Dolton stated: “I do not feel that this election was run in an unfair or uneven manner so the results stand”. Further fallout from the election has seen newly elected Academic Officer Kirsty Callaghan decline to take up her position within the Union. Instead Kirsty has opted to study for a two-year Masters and Graduate Assistantship at the University of Wyoming, comprising
a tuition fee waiver. On her decision to not take up her position, Kirsty said: “this is not a decision I have taken lightly”, emphasising the fact that she did not know about her award until after the elections were underway. and campaigning had begun. Kirsty went on to say: “I learnt a great deal while campaigning and was excited and hopeful about what I would work towards if elected”. The position of Academic Officer will now be recontested, alongside the other un-filled posts in a byelection due to take place from the 17th May. The other positions to be filled in this by-election are: Ethnic Minorities Officer, Mature Students’ Officer, Women’s’ Officer and one Non-Portfolio Officer, which are all part-time positions.
Voters took to the ballot box to cast their votes in local council elections and the AV referendum last week.
Investigation into Union Elections after failure of voting system Alex Mansell
News Reporter
An investigation into the 2011 Union Elections, which were marred by controversy, is currently underway. The group, made up of both student officers and students, is exploring the limitations and issues which arose as a result of some of the most controversial elections of recent years. The group will be evaluating the flawed electronic voting system, and how to improve it for future elections. The voting system came in for some criticism after approximately 970 students were not sent voting tokens, and therefore couldn’t register their votes. This, coupled with another error which saw one candidate running for the position of Academic Officer omitted from
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Students raise money for charity in 1000 mile bike
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
Daily Telegraph blogger defeats UEA in legal challenge • University appeal to Press Complaints Commission over comments made by Telegraph blogger James Delingpole. Rebecca Hazlewood
News Reporter
Eight students from the University of East Anglia are participating in the Varsity Triple Crown Challenge, a 1000 mile bike ride around the UK over a period of 10 days. The Challenge raises money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and Combat Stress, charities set up to help those who have served in the Armed Forces. The team from Cambridge University’s Officer Training Corps (OTC), of which the students from UEA are members, will compete against their Oxford rivals in a challenge which takes them through all three countries of Great Britain. Departing in mid-September from London, the team will first cycle to Edinburgh Castle before heading back south to Cardiff Castle, and then completing the final stretch eastwards towards London. The Challenge has support from the newly-wed Royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as other public figures including Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman MBE and London Mayor Boris Johnson. Johnson commented that he is “full of admiration” for all of the participants. The students from UEA participating are Tom Betts, Alex Yorke, Hufsah Khan, Rich McLellan, Katie Reillis, Michael Cannon, Trevor Aslan and Hannah McInroy Naylor. Final year student Hannah commented that the challenge is “probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most exciting.” Further details on the challenge can be found at www. va r s i t y t r i p l e c ro w n c h a l l e n g e . co.uk, where you can support and sponsor the participants. James Schofield
UEA returned red faced from the ruling of the Press Complaints Commission, following a battle over the abusive comments and accusations made about the University and its staff by the Daily Telegraph journalist James Delingpole in his online blog. A famous climate change sceptic, Delingpole revelled in the events of ‘climategate’ last year, when the private emails of Professor Phil Jones were leaked onto the internet. The unfortunate wording of some of the emails provoked a worldwide whirlwind of uncertainty regarding the integrity of the research carried out at the Climatic Research Unit. Delingpole has used a number of unflattering descriptions of UEA
including calling the university a “standing joke” and saying that the CRU has “grotesque inadequacies”. Since then, four inquiries have found no evidence of research fraud and UEA’s name has been cleared. In his blogs at the time Delingpole described Professor Jones as “disgraced, FOI-breaching, email-deleting, scientific-method abusing”. He described UEA’s scientists as “untrustworthy, unreliable and entirely unfit to write the kind of reports on which governments around the world make their economic and environmental decisions”. To top it all he refers to the work of CRU scientists as being “shoddy” and “mendacious”. UEA brought these three particular comments to the
Students dismayed by library closures Rob Schatten
News Reporter
Students who remained on campus over Easter once again faced widespread disruption to their study efforts as the Library, along with all other University facilities, was closed for six days over the Easter weekend. The closure meant that no-one was able to access the Library’s six floors of books or journals, causing sizeable disruption to those still scrambling to finish dissertations or begin revision. The closure period is nothing new - it is, in fact, written in the contracts of University staff that they are entitled to a six-day holiday over Easter - but the lack of prior warning of the closure caught out many returning from home, who had been unaware of it in advance. The Academic Officer for the Union of UEA Students, Rachel Handforth, has told Concrete that “in the future communication to students about when library
closures are happening could be improved.” Library Director Nick Lewis agrees that the period of closure can be seen as excessive. “I agree that it does inconvenience some students who wish to use our print collections,” he told Concrete, but felt that this had been mitigated by the fact that “much of our online provision and 24-hour PC access [was] retained” throughout the Easter break. Mr Lewis said he had received three “formal complaints” over the issue. “I am sorry people have been inconvenienced,” he added. “We will look into this further but it is important to recognise it as part of a wider University context.” Rachel Handforth agreed that the problem should not be blamed on the library. “This is a University policy, and so there was no actual decision to close the library.” The library staff were, however, able to keep the building open over the bank holiday weekend, and Mr Lewis said the library was staffed by volunteers on Friday April 29th
attention of the PCC, believing them to be in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code. The Commission sided with Delingpole, on the grounds that because the comments had appeared in a blog, readers would be perfectly aware the comments were subjective. Furthermore, the Commission drew attention to the fact that the blog provides a mechanism for complainants to respond to blogs and state their views. Displaying responses and alternative viewpoints of readers therefore provides readers with the full context of the dispute. Professor Trevor Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor for research, said: “The University complained to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) that blog posts on the Daily
Telegraph’s website by James Delingpole were misleading, inaccurate and contained distorted information in breach of the Editors’ Code. “We are naturally disappointed that the PCC did not find in our favour as we felt that Mr Delingpole viciously attacked individuals and over-stepped the boundaries of free speech and fair comment.” Delingpole hasn’t hesitated in celebrating the outcome of the ruling. “This is a massive victory not just for me and Telegraph blogs, but for bloggers everywhere – especially those doughty souls around the world who are battling against establishment lies, bullying and cover ups to try to reveal the truth about the corrupt, mendacious Climate Change industry”, blogged Delingpole.
Laura Smith Library closures caught out students who were hoping to revise over the holidays
and Monday May 2nd. “The bank holidays are much closer to the exam period and so we anticipated there would be more [need for the library] on
those two days,” he said. “We rely on staff goodwill to volunteer, so not surprisingly it is easier for us to obtain volunteers the week after Easter than during Easter itself.”
ISSUE 256
Tuesday 10th May
UEA study finds asthma pill just as effective as inhalers A new study led by scientists at UEA has discovered that an asthma pill is just as effective as using an inhaler. 650 patients were followed for two years and found that tablets called leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) managed the disease equally successfully as steroid inhalers for patients with mild asthma. Currently sold under the brand names Singulair and Accolate, the pills are currently recommended as being third or fourth in asthma management steps. However, the results of this research may see an increase in the use of tablets rather than inhalers. Professor David Price, who was the lead author of the study, said: “We hope these findings will increase the options for healthcare professionals when prescribing for this common but disruptive disease”. This research also opens up possibilities for sufferers who struggle to use inhalers, as well as those who cannot use inhalers owing to side effects. Co-author Dr Stanley Musgrave of Norwich Medical School at UEA added: “LTRAs are easy to use and can help patients control their asthma effectively and improve their quality of life”. Eight per cent of the adult population in the UK suffer from asthma, with 1.1 million children being affected by the disease.
Employability week to take place
As graduation looms for many students, the Careers and Employability centre have put together a programme of events for Employability Week, running from 6th-11th June. The events being run include: ‘Pick and Mix’, a series of workshops about CV’s, applications, interviews, as well as international careers and networking; Global Opportunities, which involves International companies participating in a global virtual recruitment event. In addition to this, Employability will be taking to the Square offering advice, guidance and career information in the sunshine. More information for the week can be found on Blackboard and the Careers and EmployAbility web pages.
www.concrete-online.co.uk
NEWS
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UEA London opened • New centre aims to foster links with Government and businesses in the capital. • £120m Study Centre utilises the newest technology to facilitate learning and teaching. James Hughes
News Reporter
The University of East Anglia’s reputation as a prestigious academic body has been further enhanced by the proud unveiling of its new franchise, UEA London. The building, which was officially opened on 4th April, is situated in the heart of London’s bustling and recently renovated Spitalfields area, just outside of the financial district. UEA London is set to join the hub of top international universities that make London the highest ranked ‘global university city’ in the world, according to a review carried out by RMIT University, Melbourne. A statement from the UEA website lists the aims of the new campus as: “to enhance the employability of our graduates, raise the University’s international profile and foster links with influential Government and business communities in the capital.” The location of this new centre will provide the University with an unparalleled platform from which to achieve this set of aims. The Chief Operations Officer of UEA London, Martin Halsall, said: “I think most people would accept that London is an extraordinary
city…we should make sure that we make the most of what it has to offer.” The £120m Study Centre boasts state-of-the-art facilities with some of the newest and most advanced technology in its classrooms, ensuring that its students will gain the optimum from their academic experience. The centre also has its own builtin resource centre, lounge area and café, to facilitate out-of-classroom learning and socialising. “The idea of the centre was that the students who were predominantly in the 18-25 [age] bracket should come in and feel that the centre’s a cool place to be, and I think we’ve achieved that”, Mr. Halsall added. A variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are available at UEA London including Finance Management and International Diplomacy. The centre’s main vocation lies within the realms of business management but it does acknowledge its UEA origins. The MBA in Strategic Carbon Management, offered by UEA London, is a world first, combining business studies, relevant to that of a global city, with an environmental emphasis that has become synonymous with the University of East Anglia.
UEA London was officially opened on the 4th April
UEA takes a walk on the wild side Susanna Wood
News Reporter
UEA Volunteers has received a £9000 grant from the Big Lottery Community Wildlife Fund to help create a wildlife trail in the UEA grounds. The trail, which will be a picturesque 2-3 mile route alongside the River Yare and will circumnavigate the UEA ‘Broad’, also provides opportunities for students to volunteer for conservation management, surveying and providing guided walks. Elaine Sherriffs, of UEA Volunteers, said: “The aim is to provide a well marked trail around the campus which informs and raises awareness of the biodiversity
and conservation management. The grant from the Lottery Fund will pay for four interpretation boards and a way marking along the Wildlife Trail.” “Raising awareness of environmental sensitivity should contribute to the protection of the rich biodiversity of the site... it will be a lovely walk for UEA students, staff and the local community to appreciate all the campus has to offer.” UEA Volunteers has worked alongside local community groups, such as Friends of Eaton Park and the Yare Valley Society on the project, as well as UEA’s own Wildlife and Conservation Society and Iain Barr, who lecturers in Ecology.
A wildlife trail is to be created in the grounds of UEA
Anyone interested in volunteering or finding out more
about the trail should drop into the EmployAbility office in the Square.
Comment
Issue 256 Tuesday 10th May
Osama Bin and gone
With the attack and execution of Osama Bin Laden in his hideout in Pakistan, questions have been raised about the role of Pakistani military. Was Pakistan helping to cover the tracks of the world’s most wanted man? Ashley Johnston discusses
Ashley Johnston
On the 1st of May, 2011, approximately 8:40pm BST, after a forty minute fire fight, Osama bin Laden, architect of the September 11th terrorist attacks, was killed with a single shot to the head by US special forces team, Seal Team Six. After months of preparation, Osama was found in the city of Abbottabad, just 35 miles north of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. On Monday, President Obama addressed the world to confirm that Bin Laden had been killed. The final raid on Sunday was attentively watched by the White House inner circle, comprised of the President’s most senior aides. President Obama is alleged to have said, ‘We got him’ after the news had been announced that the al-Qaeda chief had been killed. Bin Laden was identified using DNA and facial recognition technology before a funeral service
was held aboard USS Carl Vinson. The body was washed and shrouded in accordance with Islamic law before finally being buried in the North Arabian Sea. After the news of Bin Laden’s death was announced, scenes of revellers in New York City and Washington DC celebrating his death were broadcast across the world. Placards and flags were waved in jubilation and even fireworks were set off, as thousands gathered at the site of Ground Zero and went on celebrating and drinking into the early hours of the morning. Despite all the atrocities that Bin Laden has committed and all the innocent civilian lives he has taken, there is still something somewhat ignoble about rejoicing in his killing. The reports and images published in newspapers and shown on news channels globally, portray scenes of partying, in contrast to the Aljazeera news channel in which reporters’ accounts of the death were made in a solemn and sombre manner. One American reporter even high-fived a co-reporter on
air which could be deemed as inappropriate and unnecessary, especially given the severity of the situation.
“Despite all the atrocities that bin Laden has committed there is still something somewhat ignoble about the rejoicing of his killing.”
The families of the September 11th victims have reportedly said their deaths have been avenged. Nevertheless, the stark reality of the situation is that nothing will possibly be able to recompense the loss of a loved one or give closure to the haunting prospect of further terrorist attacks. Obama has said that, the death of Bin Laden meant the world was ‘a safer place’. Despite this critical development in the fight against Terrorism, it still remains that the fight against al-Qaeda, however, is not over. The Daily Telegraph reported that a radical British
Muslim, Anjem Choudaru, claimed that “Britain is more likely to face a 7/7 today than ever”. Speaking to The Times Jack Straw also said that, ‘the killing of Bin Laden does not of itself make the world a safer place…. In the short term, the risk of terrorist reprisals has probably increased’. The threat of terror attacks is more apparent than ever as realised by the heightened security checks. For the mean time, the US and the UK must remain vigilant for the threat of lone wolf revenge attacks whilst the computers, documents and hard drives seized from the compound in Abbottabad are meticulously poured over in order to assess the potential threats from al-Qaeda. Pressure to release the photographs have, for the moment, been curbed, as President Obama stated there was sufficient evidence through DNA test results and his own jurisdiction of the photographs to know that, “it was him” and there was no need to release them. Obama was wary of the incitement to violence the photographs might cause, saying: “We don’t trot out
this stuff as trophies”. Obama later stated the photographs are not to be used as a ‘propaganda tool’ and for now the world is to trust his judgement. Arguably, at some point the photos will undoubtedly surface, and until our curiosity is cured, more conspiracy stories will unfold. More relevant to the situation as a whole is perhaps Pakistan’s involvement and President Zardari of Pakistan’s claim that, “Bin Laden was not anywhere we had anticipated he would be”. For a nation which appears to be in denial about the extremism in their midst, the political unrest and their sympathy and allegiance to Osama, I find it incredibly dubious to believe that Pakistan was completely unaware that it was housing the world’s most wanted man. Surely the decision to keep Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence out of the loop is enough to suggest the US feared they might already have ties to Bin Laden and might tip him off?
UEA 2011/2012: Some suggestions As another academic year draws to a close Carl Silverstone takes the opportunity to voice some ideas on what could be improved for next year
Carl Silverstone
1. Block Facebook in the library – it would take five minutes for IT staff to implement, and would improve efficiency of study massively. The majority can’t resist a peak at their news feed. If UEA want a more financially viable way of rising in the league tables than hiring new lecturers or building a new lab, just change the library firewall. The Big Issue seller on campus’s dog is called Issue, so when he shouts for his dog every two minutes, he’s killing two birds with one stone. That’s the type of efficiency we can look to achieve in the library next year.
2. The food available on campus is OK - emphasis on mediocrity. Café Direct would not survive in a real consumer market. Put Café Direct in the heart of Norwich and see how long it lasts. Less than a day. Put Starbucks on campus and look how long the queue would be. Around the lake. Girls love Frappuccino’s - which are, I recently discovered, just a milkshake by a stupid name. I’m digressing. I’m not encouraging putting a high street coffee shop on campus. My point is this; how hard is it to make a Starbucks, Costa, whatever, coffee? It’s flavoured milk. Copy what they do, buy identical machines and produce the same product. Put some pretentious wafers by the tills, hire some younger, quicker staff, and we’re cooked – the free Wi-Fi is already in place (but don’t name the drinks grande, tall and venti; ridiculous names for idiots).
“The Big Issue seller on campus’s dog is called Issue, so when he shouts for his dog every two minutes, he’s killing two birds with one stone. That’s the type of efficiency we can look to achieve in the library next year”
High street coffee shop brands have evolved to be a consumer dream. Copy them identically. Café Direct is a poor imitation. 3. At the Union Elections, students blast posters and banners on every inch of the square for a week; it looks like a factory producing pictures of nerdy looking students has blown up on campus. Most people really don’t care who the new Finance Officer is. But, when I put up posters for the KAOS fashion show or my UNICEF events (both raising money for dying kids), security claim posters are strictly prohibited. Surely some misplaced priorities? 4. Another charity cake sale in the Hive – really? If you’re in primary school and still wet the bed, then a lack of originality in fundraising concepts is understandable; fair dos, bake a cake and sell slices for 20p in the playground (farcically,
the ingredients often cost more than the price of the cake). This simply constitutes raising awareness, and suggests that raising awareness is the most important objective for student charities. There is an expression, ’tears don’t save lives’ - which is to say, so what if everyone is ‘aware’ of a current disaster. To the person suffering and in need of aid, the fact that some middle class people are now ‘aware’ of their predicament is neither relevant nor helpful is it? Money, however, is relevant; provision of medicine or whatever it is that the charity delivers is of genuine importance. And ironically fundraising events normally raise more awareness that so called awareness ones. So, charities of UEA (with certain rare exceptions), drop baking cakes and awareness campaigns. Raise some money – write a cheque not a recipe.
ISSUE 256
COMMENT AND OPINION 11
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Tuesday 10th May
The Debate: The Royal Wedding What were you doing on Friday 29th April 2011? Were you part of the 24.5 million people who tuned into the BBC and ITV coverage of Kate and Will’s big day? Or did you decide to do something better with your day off?
FOR Emma Parrott Let’s guess. You heard there was a wedding on. You checked out the bride, reckoned she looked okay if a little, you know, boring. Heard you got a day off. Figured ‘I’m a student, makes no difference to me.’ Day before, someone mentions ‘Prince William’s marrying that bird tomorrow’ and you grunt back. After all, there’s nothing interesting about the Royals; they’re there for the tourists, right? Nevertheless, come Friday 29th April 2011, everyone seemed to give in. I for one found myself putting up Union Jack bunting, making cupcakes and painting my nails red, white and blue. At one point I was even caught out having a little sob as she walked up the aisle (admittedly I once cried at a Tetley tea advert but the sentiment remains nevertheless). I even found myself not wanting to be violently sick at the sight of David Cameron going out to shake hands with campers on The Mall.
“Come Friday 29th April 2011, everyone seemed to give in. I for one found myself putting up Union Jack bunting, making cupcakes and painting my nails red, white and blue.”
So how comes we all ended up getting so carried away with it? Why did people travel from across the world to camp on the streets of London? Why did millions of us spend our day off sat in front of the TV watching Huw Edwards attempt to fill hours of broadcasting time? The truth is we all enjoy a love story, a fairytale. Yes, Kate
Middleton was hardly Cinderella, but she’s no blue blood. Her family’s journey is reflected up-and-down the country; as Cameron calls them, ‘the sharp-elbowed middle classes’. Then there was the look on William’s face as he said to his bride “You look beautiful.” You’d have to have the heart of Piers Morgan to not be warmed by that. And let’s face it, Kate must really love him if she’s willing to take on his nightmare of a family... Yet the day even managed to give the Royal Family a human face. There was the younger brother making cheeky remarks and eyeing up the fit, younger sister of the bride. Then there’s the young, grumpy bridesmaid who looks in constant need of a pee. The grandfather who is always just seconds away from making a racist joke or patting your sisterin-law’s bottom. The grandmother who turns up with a blanket over her lap. Not interested in the soap opera, romance or the pageantry of it all? Well, here’s an oldfashioned idea. Patriotism. National pride. Not just of the football variety but real, actual pride in all that is British. I’m normally the first one to scoff at silly Royalists, dismissing them as BNP supporters in denial. Yet what was clear on 29th April 2011 was that us British, we love a good party, be it on the streets of London or anywhere else. I myself could be found drinking champagne on my village green and dancing with my OAP neighbours that evening. I have never even spoken to my neighbours before. That is the beauty of days that bring the nation together. Oh, and don’t talk to me about wasting taxpayers’ money; last year the Royal Family cost each taxpayer just 67 pence. Put your hand up if you lost more than that the last time you were in the LCR... If I still haven’t managed to convince you then here’s my parting shot. My Nan cracked open the bubbly at 11am and we were all still drinking into the night. Any excuse, right?
The Royal Wedding: some numbers Following the service there was a 2,400 MW power surge - cup of tea anybody?
There were 5,500 road closure requests for street parties
Kate’s dress train was 2.7 meters long Diana’s was 8 metres
AGAINST Alexander Ross
Amongst the pomp, circumstance and careful posturing of Prince Charles’ son’s wedding, Chris Hollis – one of a team of BBC journalists considered to have hit Ferne Cotton’s lofty levels of superstardom – found yet more interview-worthy campers amongst the throngs of loyal royalists in Hyde Park. “She looked like a princess” said the seven-year-old girl subjected to the BBC’s rigorous interview techniques, “and it looked like her dress was floating.” There is an unwritten rule in television that dictates that one should never work with children or animals. And yet, in speaking to an entirely unprepared schoolchild most likely unable to recite her four times tables (N.B. I do not judge her for this), Hollis unwittingly uncovered the truth behind the royal ordeal – this girl’s punditry, infantile and vacuous as must be expected, was no less mature or insightful than any other. The blanket news coverage that dominated every media outlet for the days and weeks approaching the event, nauseating as it was, has had to be questioned and ridiculed. UEA’s own Arthur Smith gave voice to the sentiments of the 35% of the nation who ‘couldn’t care less’ according to polls – “What I hate most is the assumption that I care, when in fact I very much do not.” That even the BBC chose to ignore the twelve Libyan rebels gunned down by friendly fire on the morning of the wedding was not unexpected (I’m as sure as anyone that their final regret was not getting to see ‘that dress’.) But such extreme focus seemed out of touch. This was, after all, the first Royal Wedding of a celebrity-dominated 21st Century
and to the average observer, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge or Cornwall or Camberwell or whatever, are no more important than the cast of The Only Way is Essex or Chelsea or Camberwell or whatever. The difference is that, unlike celebrity news, the Royal Wedding was able to escape the inner pages of Heat and the Daily Star and unleash itself upon the front page of every newspaper in the country. Instead of a seven-year-old’s opinion, punditry was deferred to paid journalists who told us how ‘sensational’ the day was and how ‘elegant’ the bride looked, taking for granted that, of course, all any girl really wants is a big fairytale wedding with a prince. The sevenyear-old would have told us that for free.
“That even the BBC chose to ignore the twelve Libyan rebels gunned down by friendly fire on the morning of the wedding was not unexpected (I’m as sure as anyone that their final regret was not getting to see ‘that dress’.)”
But for all of the time-wasting soul-sapping round-the-clock coverage, the Royal Wedding boiled down to a matter of relevance and modernity. Inevitably, if we condone and promote an outdated institution like the Royal Family and promote their rituals, we condone their outdated moral code – the subjection of women, the consent of dictatorial regimes (how the invitation of dignitaries from Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain slipped under the radar is baffling) and the idea of God-given superiority. Seven-year-olds can be forgiven .
Travel
Issue 256 Tuesday 10th May
Finding faith amidst Malawian multitudes Laura Holroyd gets a hands-on taste of life in the heart of an African community, discovering the importance of religion in one of the world’s poorest, yet most precious, countries, Malawi.
M
alawi is not exactly a tourist destination; yet volunteering offers travellers an invaluable insight into a unique and vibrant way of life. Staying with a Malawian family and becoming part of the local community enables you to develop a true understanding of how people can struggle to provide for their families whilst still maintaining a generous and open spirit. Malawi is the seventh poorest country in the world, food prices are high and wages are low. Public services suffer from a general lack of funding and are therefore finding it difficult to provide an adequate level of service. This means that foreign aid, which supports many of these institutions, is crucial to the development of industry and welfare of the people. Although it is in no way comparable to the hardships faced by ordinary Malawians, as a Westerner, adapting to life in such an under-developed country can be a challenge. Despite the fact that they listen to American music and have some of their clothes imported from China, Malawians ultimately have their own unique culture that is essentially cut off from the Western world. One essential aspect of the Malawian way of life is religion. The church provides a very important means of support and encouragement for the local community. In Malawi, eighty percent of the population are Christian
and regularly attend church services. Last year, I stayed with the Reverend’s family in the small village of Mtunthama. As an agnostic Westerner, it was hard to adapt to the fact that religion had become a fundamental part of daily life. The Reverend conducted a three hour long service in Chichewa inside the small and stuffy church, which was crammed with eager worshippers. Malawian church services are uplifting, and display a total
“Malawian church services are uplifting...quite unlike anything you would find in the Church of England”
devotion to God through singing and dancing, quite unlike anything you would find in the Church of England. An example of how Malawians find fulfilment through their faith is the celebration of Good Friday. In the small village of Mtunthama, at five in the morning, the Anglican Reverend and his family were preparing for the coming celebrations. The congregation of All Saints Anglican church was to walk for three hours in the blistering sun in order to re-enact the crucifixion of Christ. Throughout this arduous walk, there would be regular pauses in order to kneel and pray on the street,
and it was impossible not to stand out amongst a sea of kneeling and dedicated worshippers. On reaching our destination, the Passion play continued as people pushed their way to the front in order to get a better view. The women and those children who were too tired to attempt to join in fell down in an exhausted heap under the trees, relieved to have made it. The women gossiped in Chichewa, whilst the children crowded around the ‘Mazungu’ (a term meaning ‘white person’ in Chichewa and other African languages). Fascinated by my ‘white’ skin and my inability to speak Chichewa they began to pull and tug, begging for stories and songs. It would seem that being a Westerner in Malawi makes you into some kind of bizarre pied piper or children tamer. They delighted in being able to use their broken English, endlessly repeating the greeting ‘Mazungu, how are you?’ until they became so enthused that it was impossible to reply to the incessant chanting as it left no room for response. Malawi is an incredible place, but you must be aware that it is also a land teeming with paradoxes. Your experiences in the country may not always be positive and it is often hard to deal with the cultural differences. Overall, though, the experience is immensely valuable and those encounters with the Malawians will always remain precious.
Exciting times in Egypt Emma Galal Travel Writer
In light of the violent political protests that erupted earlier this year it may seem strange to be encouraging travel into the depths of Egypt. However, as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have deemed the country to be a relatively safe place to travel once again, many are returning to the Saharan sunshine, and it is not difficult to see why. For the sun seekers in search of relaxation and nightlife, Sharm el Sheikh is the place to be. Yet Sharm is the Vegas of the Middle East and does not reflect the abundance of experiences that this nation holds. The hustle and bustle of the Cairo streets and souks propels its wanderers into an eclectic melting pot of cultures, religions, fashion and food. It goes without saying that the Giza pyramids and the ancient Sphinx, are integral parts of any trip here and a journey along the Nile in a traditional felucca boat is equally unmissable. Yet just east of the capital hides a paradise in the form of several desert oases amongst vast
stretches of untouched landscape. In place of the pitfalls of tourism, these areas have olive groves, natural springs and salt lakes that are reachable by camel, quad bike or selected tours for the less brave-hearted. With diving experiences comparable to those of the Great Barrier Reef it is unsurprising that water lovers flock to the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada, Taba and Marsa Alam in order to obtain their adventure fix. The port of Alexandria offers an insight into the future of a modernised Egypt while a trip South to Luxor provides spiritual escape. Despite the recent turmoil, Egyptians continue to welcome tourists with their renowned hospitality in a country attempting to move towards a new era whilst retaining its vibrant past.
The rise and rise of Singapore Tom Hunt Travel Editor
With a plethora of childhood memories stored up, returning to Singapore after a decade away was a delight rather than a disappointment. For a tiny little island supporting four million people, dependent entirely upon their friendly neighbour Malaysia for essential water supplies, Singapore is adamantly independent, but is fast outgrowing itself. A perpetual construction site in 2000, it remains so today, as sparkling twenty-storey apartment blocks replace their squatter six-storey predecessors. Everywhere cranes tower above half-finished high-rise homes, leaving the brightly-coloured authentic Chinese shop-houses far below. It is in these smaller streets that the same old spirit lives on. Wrinkled women heave wobbling stacks of damp cardboard down the roads on trolleys, puffing and panting in the severe humidity. Through open doorways the sweet waft of joss sticks drifts out, a pleasant antidote to the fishy stench
of the Wet Market and the rows of prickly durians; a tropical fruit so pungent it is banned on all public transport. Eels slither to and fro, trying to avoid the clubs of the vendors and fearful frogs croak as men reach down for them, then, grasping the lips, literally turn them inside-out in a flash, as nonchalantly as if rolling up a pair of socks. Taxi drivers may grumble about “much change, much change”, but essentially the city is much the same, if a little taller and more denselypacked. It has always had farreaching ambitions, which, despite its disadvantages, it continues to achieve, proudly hosting the first Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Heading for its fiftieth birthday in 2015, Singapore, the bizarre experiment launched by Lee Kuan Yew, continues to hold together, proving its success despite the odds.
Issue 256
TRAVEL 11
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Tuesday 10th May
Open the Chinese Treasure Chest of Jinan, ‘City of Springs’ Lauren Razavi checks out China on the trip of a lifetime, spending three weeks in Jinan, with the Study China Programme, a cultural immersion experience open to all UK undergraduates. Known as the ‘City of Springs’, Jinan is a travellers’ treasure-trove of art, heritage and natural beauty, begging to be explored
J
inan, known as ‘the city of springs’, is the capital of the Shandong province in Eastern China. This remarkable location – small by Chinese standards, but much larger than the average UK city – combines a mish-mash of traditional Chinese heritage with the ever-growing Western cultural influences that put a Starbucks and a McDonalds on every street corner. Located just a few hundred miles from the Chinese capital of Beijing, Jinan has largely escaped the throngs of tourism that has encapsulated many of Asia’s neighbouring notable cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong, as well, of course, as Beijing itself. While Western brands and businesses are undoubtedly there in Jinan, the city still seems to be secure in its own identity, demonstrating perfectly the subtle conflicts being encountered in modern China today; it’s as if a tangible deal needs to be struck between the contemporary and the ancient to establish the boundaries of both. In Jinan, however, such peculiar issues don’t seem to be affecting everyday life too much. The locals are overwhelmingly friendly; from the smiling street sellers to the excitable young children who’ll gasp and grin their way through an encounter with you. Though a Westerner will be subjected to blatant stares from the
older generation, it takes nothing more than a simple ‘nǐ hǎo’ to break the ice and elicit a chuckle (the chuckle itself probably due to the intrinsically terrible Englishspeaker’s pronunciation of their Mandarin greeting). The staring, of course, is not something to be taken personally; it’s easy to forget as you walk the streets of such a vast and urbanising metropolis that China’s borders have only been open to any kind of foreign visitors – let alone gawping, liberal tourists – for twenty years.
“Ascending the 7,200 stone steps up to the mountain’s peak is viewed by locals of all ages as something of a pilgrimage...taking days to complete”
Jinan has historically boasted the title of cultural centre in China and is notable for housing many influential artists over its long and vibrant history. For more than 4,000 years, the Shandong region of China has been infamous for its Black Pottery, a particular style of traditional folk art that produces beautiful handcrafted sculptures and pottery. Additionally, Jinan flaunts its own unique variety
of delicious cuisine, one of the historic Eight Culinary Traditions of China. Jinan’s food emphasises freshness, crispness, tenderness and aroma, and fish is frequently offered, given the proximity of the Yellow River, running directly through the city of Jinan. This foodie heritage is apparent in the never-ending stream of weird and wonderful street food on offer through the day as well as the vast array of tucked away restaurants offering all kinds of delicacies. The downtown district of Jinan – primarily known as a shopping area – reveals the reason that Jinan has earned the title ‘city of springs’ over the course of its history. Central Jinan is home to the Daming Lake, a picturesque and seemingly infinite lake that marks the meeting point of Jinan’s seventy-two Famous Springs. Surrounded by grassy park areas and featuring an array of fresh, hyperactive water flows, the natural beauty of the area contrasts confusingly with the KFC-covered streets just a few hundred yards away from the Daming Lake’s entrance. Nearby is the Baotu Spring Park, once declared “the first spring under heaven” by the Emperor Qian Long in the eighteenth century, and regarded as one of the prominent tourist attractions in Jinan. As well as housing the Baotu Spring, the Park houses other members of the seventy-two Famous
Springs collection, and this gushing and foaming scene is complimented by various bamboo pavilions and pagodas erected in the accompanying Bamboo Gardens. With springs and lakes thrown haphazardly into the city centre, this strange landscape of old and new seems to represent the pattern noticeable in much of China in 2011. There’s an inherent spiritual quality to daily life in China, showcasing the important heritage of the everyday local. A morning walk through the popular park areas of Shandong University’s Jinan campus
will provide a perfect picture of this; serious-looking professionals and elderly OAPs drop their bags to the ground and sychronise themselves into a beguiling waltz-like practise of T’ai Chi. Such a scene is incredibly humbling, but the whole ritual seems almost uncomfortably uninhibited to the average Western visitor – at least compared to the rat-race of London or Manchester, perhaps. A three-hour drive away from Jinan is the breathtaking Mount Tai, located just north of the bordering Shandong city of Tai’an. The mountain is one of Five Sacred Mountains in China, and residents of Eastern China have regarded it as a place of worship for more than 3,000 years. Central to the spiritual aspect of Mount Tai and its history is the Dai Temple, sometimes called ‘The Temple of the God of Mount Tai’ and located at the foot of the mountain. Erected during the Qin Dynasty (221206 BC), its design is a replica of the imperial palace, making it one of only three able to claim such features. Ascending the 7,200 stone steps up to the mountain’s peak is viewed by locals of all ages as something of a pilgrimage, sometimes taking days to complete and incorporating a unity-building camp-out somewhere on the way up. Stories of watching the sun rise or set from its peak are spoken about with a wild, spiritual mysticism that suggests it’s an experience like no other. Just moments after such a vivid and meaningful description, tour guides and friends rejoice in explaining that the most popular brand of beer in the Shandong province is named after the transcendent Tai mountain. For more information and to submit an application, please see www.studychina.org uk.
Features
Issue 256 Tuesday 10th May
SPOTLIGHT ON the Danny Collins visits the new UEA campus in heart of London’s financial district.
U
EA London is as impressive a building as it is a concept. Standing on the very cusp of London’s financial heartland, it stands some 36 stories tall, rivalling in stature the buildings within its vicinity, many of which house the capital’s most illustrious business names. It is a statement of intent for UEA’s ambition to cement itself a place at the top table of the higher education system; and becoming the first non-London university to establish a campus in the city is a bold indication of this intention. After its official opening last month in a ceremony attended by Vice-Chancellor Edward Acton, alongside a host of MPs, ambassadors and dignitaries, Concrete visited UEA’s new London location to find out more about the University’s newest campus. The campus’ location is a melting pot of diversity within London, on the border between the banking district surrounding Liverpool Street, and the highlyfashionable Shoreditch. Student
accommodation is provided in Bethnal Green and Whitechapel, now increasingly affluent areas a far cry from the povertystricken image of them portrayed in a GCSE students’ Jack the Ripper coursework. The main accommodation block, however, comes with the Nido Tower, a 36-story building situated directly behind the main teaching facility. These modern rooms may lack some of the character of Norfolk Terrace, but for what they miss they make up for with location, design and comfort. This said, with the cheapest accommodation in the tower coming in at £220, it is mouth wateringly expensive compared to the price of accommodation in Paston House or Norfolk Terrace. The main teaching building is situated just two minutes’ walk from Liverpool Street Station, and on its doorstep sees Petticoat Lane Market bring a throng of shoppers past the campus’ doors every weekend. In an agreement between UEA and City University, London, UEA teaches City’s students in exchange
for use of City’s library, sport and social facilities; it is an agreement which currently sees 580 City and UEA students work alongside one another presently, with 900 expected by September, and 1500 when the campus is running at full capacity. Those students will also have access to a Fitness First gym, which is situated in the basement of the building. The range of courses that the campus offers is symbolic of an academic modernity that stays true to UEA’s motto of ‘Do Different’. The obvious business benefits that can be gained from a base in the capital have been allied with UEA’s traditional strengths: an MA in Strategic Carbon Management sees a combination of the Norwich Business School and the renowned Environmental Science School; Creative Entrepreneurship aims to instil an entrepreneurial spirit into UEA’s creative minds. Students at the building have access to some of the most modern teaching facilities in the country today, with computers installed into desktops and interactive
whiteboards in every classroom. However, despite this, the campus did not escape the effects of UEA’s ‘techpocalypse’ computer crash back in December, with both the phone and computer networks also going down. That UEA was able to fund such a project at the heart of one of the world’s most expensive cities during a recession is actually a result of the financial crisis itself. A dramatic decline in demand for property in the banking district gave UEA the opportunity to acquire the UEA London premises. This opportunity to set up a base in London will provide many possibilities for UEA in future, as Dean of UEA London, Dr Richard Harvey explains: “Firstly, UEA London will educate students to a very high standard, and that will be its primary focus.” “Secondly, it gives advantages in relation to influential people and companies. It’s a lot easier to drop into London, and to an extent Norwich is fairly impracticable. UEA London will be very effective at also acting as shop window for
the University.” “[At the opening] ambassadors of developing countries were talking to UEA academics. It was fantastic to see. We’ve had visits from MPs, diplomats and the London Chamber of Commerce” Of course, though, despite the obvious benefits of the new campus, the University will face challenges in adjusting to life in the capital. Dr Harvey said: “UEA London will have to be run reasonably close to capacity to maintain costs.” Whatever the challenges it will go on to face, UEA London is indicative of the University’s ambition to further enhance its reputation. Where it faced criticism and derision in the direct aftermath of the ‘Climategate’ scandal last year, the subsequent investigation and vindication put UEA in the global spotlight as an institution of real world-class pedigree. It will, then, be hoped that the University’s arrival into the City of London will continue to showcase UEA’s credentials for years to come
14 FEATURES
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“The balance is working together with other parties but also keeping your integrity - that is where the Lib Dems might have over stepped the mark!” Sam Lewis interviews Caroline Lucas during her recent visit.
campaigning for political reform, saving public services and abolishing tuition fees. Lucas has had a highly successful career within the party, working as a press officer, councillor in Oxford and then MEP for South East England before she was elected MP for Brighton Pavilion in May last year. She explains her transition into politics stemmed from her growing political understanding and concern. This was crystallised during her time studying English Literature at Exeter University, where she became involved in local anti-nuclear campaigning: “It was a consuming passion because at that point in the mid 1980’s it really did feel that the future of the planet was literally at stake due to the spread of nuclear weapons. And indeed in many ways it still is.” Speaking to the Spring Conference just a few months ago, Lucas referred to her party as the real opposition to
the coalition. When asked to describe to UEA students what this meant, she said: “When you look at some of the worst of the coalition policies, whether that is to do with tuition fees or the privatisation of the NHS, or what they are doing with schools, actually the beginnings of all this happened under Labour - they are deeply compromised to the extent to which they can provide a rigorous opposition because they are so contaminated by their own history in that respect.” The Greens have a strong voice in Norwich, and remain the largest opposition party on the Council following last week’s local elections with 15 seats. Deputy Leader, Adrian Ramsay, also doubled his vote share when he stood as a parliamentary candidate for Norwich South in the 2010 general election, and Lucas puts money on him joining her in Parliament in the near future.
Earliest memory: Being in a pushchair in the garden and smelling freshly mown grass.
time.
Proudest moment: It would have to be winning Brighton. It was very much a collective moment as it really felt this was the culmination of so many years of work by so many people. It was winning when the whole system was stacked against us.
The best thing about university was: Friendships.
The worst thing about university was: Missed opportunities. I felt quite unprepared for university and didn’t find out about lots of the things it had to offer until it was too late. Favourite film: Life is Beautiful starring Roberto Benigni. This is a controversial film set in a concentration camp that has you laughing and crying at the same
Thursday 10th April
with
aroline Lucas certainly has a lot on her shoulders. Not only is she Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales but she also stands as the only Green voice in Westminster. Lucas admits, during her visit day to Norwich ahead of the local elections, “it can get a bit lonely in Parliament, although I am on my own it does feel that I can still get things done by working with others on a case by case basis. The balance is working together with other parties but also keeping your integrity - that is where the Lib Dems might have overstepped the mark!” When Lucas joined the Green Party in 1986 it was a minor, leftfield party centred on environmental concerns. The picture couldn’t be more different today with a growing presence in the European Parliament and on local councils. The Greens have shed their image of only being a single-issue party and are currently
In another life I’d be: I would love to be a human rights lawyer for people who are really struggling and left out of the justice system.
ISSUE 256
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Most important lesson life has taught me so far: That the majority isn’t always right. Most treasured possession: Photograph albums.
If I could pass a new law tomorrow it would be: It would have to be internalising environmental costs.
Guilty pleasure: Eating far too much chocolate and drinking a bit too much wine.
Of all the places I have been to in my life I would recommend: Can I have three? The beaches of Anglesey in Wales, Arezzo in Tuscany, and Brighton because it really does have everything. I feel so lucky to be representing it of all the places.
My most overused word or phrase is: Sorry I’ m late!
In the year 2050 I expect or hope to find: That humanity has woken up to the fact that there are some real opportunities in the years ahead to get our relationship with the plant and each other right. I hope that I realise in 2050 that we took that opportunity, rose to the moment and didn’t just let it pass. If it does pass and we don’t tackle climate change the year 2050 could be extremely bleak.
Simon Partridge
ISSUE 256
LIFESTYLE 15
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Tuesday 10th May
Evening meals for spring satisfaction Brie and caramelised onion tart
Jerk chicken accompanied with coconut rice and kidney beans
Emma Galal
Lifestyle writer
Ingredients: • 4 Chicken thighs • 4 Garlic cloves • 2 Onions • 2 Red Peppers • Pineapple Chunks in juice • 2 teaspoons each of Sugar, Salt and Pepper • Jamaican Jerk seasoning • 1 Tube of tomato puree • 1 Pint of water • Jamaican Jerk Seasoning • All Spice • Soy Sauce • Cinnamon • Nutmeg • Ginger • Rice • Coconut Milk
•
1 Tin of kidney beans or beans of your choice
Marinade the chicken for at least four hours before cooking in order to let the spices to fully infuse the chicken pieces. Heat a pan with two tablespoons of Olive Oil and fry the coarsely chopped garlic and the onion together. After two minutes, place the marinated chicken into the pan and brown on either side for four minutes. Throw the sliced peppers and any other vegetables of your choice into the pan along with a combination of the marinade spices. When the peppers have softened a little bit, squeeze three quarters of a tube of tomato puree into the pan along with a pint of water and the juice from the tin of pineapple. Keep the dish on a
simmering heat, continuing to season with the herbs, salt, pepper and sugar. At this point you can add some scotch bonnet peppers if you desire a fiery dish. Leave the pan to simmer for thirty minutes. Proceed to boil two cups of rice and four cups of water in a pot with a tin of kidney beans including the brine. When the rice has almost absorbed all of the water, add the coconut milk and a sprinkle of pepper. By now, the jerk chicken should have a shallow layer of dark oil and residue at the top of the dish,:remove as much as possible with a spoon. Finally, put the pineapple chunks in the pan and allow them to cook through in the heat of the mixture. Serve the rice and chicken together with fried plantain to complete this staple Caribbean dish!
a select few who whips and chains excite. In an age where experimentation is en vogue however, the practice of flagellation, electro-masturbation and erotic humiliation are still somewhat frowned upon. You never saw Carrie Bradshaw and her contemporaries discussing safe words over eggs benedict. Thing is, for all the metaphorical beating around the bush, the actual action of beating around the bush is still very much illegal in the UK. So, why do consenting adults put their records at risk in the pursuit of that illicit orgasm? Blindfolded and cuffed to a bed whilst a trusted sex partner has their nasty way with you, you could
easily forget you were in your grimy Unthank bedroom. And that, my prospective disciples of deviant debauchery, is what it all boils down to. The apparent freedom to be whoever you want in your day to day life is stripped away when you are, however momentarily, forced to live in your escapist fantasies. You are devoid of the many selves and paranoias that make up your everyday thoughts and are instead allowed, in fact forced, to entirely give yourself up to the moment. The prospect of giving yourself over to absolute pleasure may at first cause you to baulk. We spend our time managing every moment of our lives and the idea of giving up that control when
Unchained adventures into the erotic Roisin LeStrange Lifestyle writer
From your childhood crush on slave Princess Leia (in that bikini!) to the moral quandary as to whether to clear your search history after looking at saucy images of Dita Von Teese on Google, you’ve probably subconsciously dabbled in the sordid world of sadomasochism more than you first thought. Fact of the matter is that pop culture has been just as dirty. The last 12 months have seen HMV’s shelves awash with album covers swathed in PVC clad broads that would usually be sold in a paper bag. Whether it be Christina Aguilera or Rihanna, it’s obvious it’s not just
Emma Williamson
Lifestyle writer
Ingredients • • • • • •
200g of ready made Puff Pastry 140g of Brie 6 Onions 2 cloves of Garlic 50g Butter Fresh Thyme
In a large pan heat the butter. Dice both the cloves of garlic and peel and slice the onions into segments, adding both to the pan along with the thyme. Cook the onions and garlic on a gentle heat for half an hour, or until they are soft and caramelised, stirring regularly. Preheat the oven to 220°C. Roll out your puff pastry until
you’re at your most vulnerable may seem strange. However, when the boundaries demand complete presence in the moment, you are free from all the personas of your societally conditioned self; your hang-ups, your insecurities, bank loans and electricity bills are subservient to an altogether more
it is roughly a centimetre thick. Carefully place the pastry onto a baking tray and score a border around the pastry about 2cm for the edges. Prick with a fork and blind bake for ten minutes. Once the onions and pastry are cooked, spread the onions and garlic out over the pastry leaving the border free. Brush some of the remaining oniony butter from in the pan around the border. Cut the brie into pieces and scatter over the onions. Sprinkle over some thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper. Cook the tart in the oven for roughly 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden. Slice and serve hot or cold.
primal version of you. At a time when you’re meant be growing up and working out who you are, taking a moment to get to know the altogether more primitive you may be no bad thing. Hell, if nothing else you’re almost guaranteed a happy ending.
Lifestyle
Issue 256 Tuesday 10th May
A volunteered hand will clasp one in return Concrete looks at the various opportunities available to students in the volunteering sector during the summer month ahead Susanna Wood
Lifestyle writer
Summer is almost here. As memories of freezing mornings stamping through snow dissolve into a pleasant haze of baby bunnies, a glimmering lake and a cool cider in the Square, UEA has only a few weeks to go before practically four months of freedom. As long as the prospect of doing nothing is pretty appealing during the time the exams are going on, the long university summer break is also an opportunity to do something a bit different. Of course, there are always those lucky sods who manage to keep themselves perpetually occupied and are jetting off somewhere exciting or have landed themselves some snazzy internship. Yet, for those who didn’t get their summer planned out ages ago - i.e. most of us - there are still lots of options to gain a bit of experience, particularly in the volunteer sector. Applying for a job where you know you aren’t going to get paid seems like a bit of a no-brainer for the average student, yet doing some volunteering could actually be seen as a long-term investment. With summer jobs hard to come by, and graduate prospects looking bleak,
volunteering is a good way to build skills and get some experience. There will be opportunities to meet new people and helping with a constructive project, either social or environmental, should be rewarding in an altruistic way. Regarding volunteering, there are three paths that can be taken for a student on their long summer break. Firstly, there is the option of overseas volunteering. This has the added glamour of being abroad and practically on a holiday (albeit a working one). The downside may be that you will probably have to pay a small fee to the organisation running your trip, though it is likely that food and accommodation will be provided.
“Doing some volunteering could actually be seen as a long-term investment”
UEA Volunteers currently has a wide range of vacancies in all sorts of overseas capacities, ranging from BUNAC volunteer projects which could take you as far afield as Africa or Southeast Asia, to summer camp volunteers in sunny Spain. Another option is to go abroad with an organisation such as WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on
Clive Cares
Dear Clive,
I’m a concerned student at UEA. My female housemate recently received a present from us for her birthday. As a joke we bought her a sex toy. I am now concerned because we can hear her...using it... frequently. She has started spending less time with us and I feel like I am losing my friend to an object. Please Clive. Tell me how to wean her off. Worried student
Clive says: Is this for real? It sounds like a storyline from Eastenders! It certainly sounds like your joke backfired! May I suggest talking to your friend and explain you would like more quality time together. Perhaps more social activity may be needed! Good luck and take care.
Organic Farms). Particularly popular with students, WWOOFers work on organic or ecologically sound farms in exchange for food and board with the farmer. Being a volunteer ensures flexibility, and many countries participate in WWOOF schemes. Hungary, Lithuania and Poland also offer free membership, so it’s worth checking out www.wwoof.org to see what is available. A second option for summer volunteering is through a UK work camp. These are often on conservation sites such as those organised by the National Trust. You can sign up to work for a week or longer on a particular project, branded as a working holiday, and they often take place in the
most picturesque parts of the British countryside. Examples of camps available to sign up to at the moment on the EmployAbility website are conservation projects in historic locations in Scotland, and opportunities to work on canal restoration in England. Alternatively, volunteers are needed in holiday camps for disadvantaged children. Staying in the UK is a cheap alternative to going abroad. Once again, it is normal to pay a small registration fee, but accommodation and food is usually provided. There is also the option of volunteering locally in Norwich or even in your hometown. One website, www.doit.org, lists all the volunteering organisations countrywide and has a search
facility to help find vacancies. While it may not seem as exciting as going abroad or working on a camp, living at home is a further way of saving money while also enjoying the benefits of volunteering. It is also possible to tailor your volunteering to suit a future career. A good place to start for anyone who is interested in volunteering is the EmployAbility job shop in the Square. Elaine Sherriff is available during opening hours Wednesday-Friday to give advice on volunteering schemes in UEA, Norfolk and further afield. There is also an event called The Edge in June which is specifically designed for graduates looking for voluntary work, but may also feature some volunteering for the upcoming summer.
UEA’s favourite bus driver, Clive Ashcroft, answers your questions and worries
Email Clive your concerns anonymously to clivecaresconcrete@ gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook: Clive Cares
Turf
Issue 256 Tuesday 10th May
Metamorphosis or meltdown? Following the revelation that environmental activist group Climate Camp are shutting down Hester Lee reports on the changing face of the green movement Hester Lee
Turf Reporter
The emissary note from Climate Camp on the 27th February, 2011, declaiming its cessation of national activity is footed by a quote from Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese mystic who is embraced by many antiauthoritarian movements. The quote reads, “When storms come, some build walls, some are thrown by the wind, others build windmills”. So which of the three has the Climate Camp movement heeded? It would seem at first glance that they have opted for the second, thereby undoing their own rhetoric, for in their own words, ‘anything but co-ordinated action is doomed to fail’ (although lack of adequate materials might have hindered their ability to build windmills). Why then, disassemble the largest grassroots climate activist group in the country? If anything, the movement needs such a body to help co-ordinate and discuss in the face of testing international times. There are many reports from within the movement that the decision surrounding the deconstruction of the camp was embroiled in controversy and in-fighting unbecoming of the
consensus decision-making process, culminating in the unauthorised publication of their statement of ‘metamorphosis’ on the internet. Many attribute this to unwillingness on the part of its creators to see a cherished and idealised image of the camp, and its aims, evolve into something new. For projects such as this it is imperative that there is a continuing discussion of motive and tactic, and if the original model does not suit the situation then it must be moulded to fit, not thrown in the trash. This leaves us the question: had a National Climate Camp really run its course? The fact that, in an almost reactionary fashion, a regional climate camp has been set up in a disused school in Lewes, Sussex seems to suggest not. There are, however, differences in the way the Climate Camp in Lewes has been run. Local issues of green spaces, permaculture and workshops relating to sustainable living have been prominent, and while direct action was planned at the culmination of the week, it did not become such a divisive element. The Climate Camp in Lewes is, at the time of writing, hoping to stay at St. Anne’s School and create a
Has radical action group Climate Camp really run its course? community space that promotes a sustainable, anti-capitalist and welcoming way of living. This holistic approach combines aspects that a temporary climate camp never could; it has already held meetings with the local council and residents to discuss a plethora of issues, and although being a regional camp, has attracted workshops from activist groups nationwide, with regards to both direct action and
positive grassroots action. The impact of Climate Camp undoubtedly lives on. Inspiring actions at Heathrow and Drax power station are indelible, and give courage to all involved. It will be hoped, then, that without the shaky infrastructure of Climate Camp to coordinate such actions in the face of continuing and growing climate crises, events like these will continue to happen.
Is Climate Camp still relevant and needed? The answer lies in the cutting of the Marine Renewable Energy Subsidies by the Coalition, in the renewed investment in nuclear energy, and in the multiplicity of stark warnings that humans must curb their excesses. So long as climate change continues to be ignored or belittled there will be a need for radical action.
Your river needs you!
Next year...
UEA Boar Club’s Robbie Laird encourages you to get involved with a River Yare clean up this month
Union Environment Officer Will Lacey looks forward to next year’s environmental challenges
Robbie Laird Turf Reporter
What would you normally be doing on a sunny day in May? Stressing about exams? Stressing about not stressing enough about exams? Or perhaps curled in bed with the curtains closed wishing you hadn’t celebrated quite so hard the fact that you don’t have to stress about exams for another year or even ever again? If this all sounds a bit too familiar and if in a fit of inspiration brought on by yet another record breaking heat-wave you have decided to get outside and make the most of it, then why not come and do something worthwhile. On May 21st the UEA Boat Club,
along with other UEA students and the Norwich river community will be doing their bit to keep our city a fine one (to paraphrase Stephen Fry) by staging a big clean up of the River Yare. The river is part of the beauty and charm of Norwich that is part of the reason that many of us decided to spend 3+ years of our lives here and it is enjoyed by students, local people and tourists all the year round. Unfortunately, there’s always those who don’t respect areas of natural beauty and dump rubbish and waste into the river which endangers wildlife and people alike. The river runs through the heart of Norwich, all the way to Great Yarmouth and the North Sea. Don’t worry though, we‘re only going to be
cleaning a small part of it near the football stadium known as the new cut, near Yarmouth Road. Everything you need to help the clean-up will be provided and hopefully we’ll have some drinks and food available for you after all your hard work. We’ll be starting off from the boat house on the river at 10:30 am and finishing about 1 pm . For further details you can find us by searching Yare River Clean-up 2011 on Facebook. So come on UEA, let’s get our wellies on, pull on some gloves, grab a litter-picker-upper-thing and head off to the pub at the end of it all with a warm fuzzy feeling, a Norwich that’s a little bit more lovely and a touch of light sun burn to show for our efforts.
Will Lacey
Environment Officer
As the year draws to a close the Union looks to the future of the environmental movement on campus and what plans are in store for next year. Continuing on from the progress we made this year our focus will be on four main areas: Firstly we’ll make UEA Clean Up better organized and more effective. There are already plans in motion to use vehicles to rescue everything, from kitchenware to clothes to books, that is thrown away in the big end-of-year halls clear out. Secondly we’ll make being sustainable easy. No one coming to university wants to be told what to do so we’ll be working to make
things easy, so that being green isn’t an inconvenience. Watch this space for news on the brand new sustainability plan we have been developing. Thirdly, we’ll be bringing the Union into your life. Emails don’t do it anymore (did they ever?) so it’ll be great to see people face to face and make what we do real and important. Finally we’re going to make your Union more sustainable by developing new and better policies. A couple of years ago I was doing A-Levels. Now, as a 2nd year student, I’ve been elected by my peers to once again have the opportunity to shape a multimillionpound organization. I won’t waste it!
FocSoc
Issue 256 Tuesday 10th May
Celebrating Refugee Britain
Nana Varveropoulou
Tobias Madden
Steph McKenna Deputy Editor
At the start of the academic year, many postgraduate students will recall receiving a spontaneous gift from the University - a free copy of Hisham Matar’s In the Country of Men. In the weeks that followed, a number of events were held, from reading groups to discussions with Matar himself, as a platform for academic discussion and a way to meet new people on campus. In the wake of the novel’s success - which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and translated into 22 languages - Hisham Matar is returning to Norwich in June to launch the publication of his new work, Anatomy of a Disappearance. In a fantastic evening of readings at the Playhouse, Matar will be joined by Tahmima Anam (author of the A Golden Age, The Good Muslim) and International Cities of Refuge writer Philo Ikonya to celebrate Norwich’s commitment to literary achievement and freedom of speech, as well as its status as England’s only City of Refuge. The evening also comes as part of a wider network of activities and events that will be taking place in June across the city, in celebration of national Refugee Week. It is undoubtedly a little known fact in the student community that Norwich is named as a City of Refuge; we are extremely proud to say that after joining the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) in 2006, we remain the only city with this title in the United Kingdom. The aims of the programme are to “promote cross-cultural tolerance, dialogue and understanding; generate a better understanding of issues faced by asylum seekers and refugees; and create opportunities
for different group to engage with and relate to each other.” This is achieved through a large and varied cross-arts education program, that extends from closed sessions within local schools to more open events for the general public. Historically, Norwich has been home to a range of people from all over the world. We had the largest concentration of refugees in Britain in the 16th and 17th century, and many of today’s population are descendents of these individuals known as the Strangers. The media has had a huge impact in warping conceptions of refugees and asylum seekers in Britain. These groups have met with increasingly hostility from members of the general public, who do not realise the full extent of their situation. Refugees seek flight from their own countries often because they are in danger from war, totalitarian regime or human rights abuses; and it is much more difficult to seek and maintain permanent residency in the UK as people may believe. Leading many of the local arts education events is the Writers’ Centre Norwich, a literary development organisaton that focuses on the artistic and social power of creative writing. It is their belief that writing and storytelling is an inspiring and successful way for people to come together and better their understanding of one another. Writers are often forced to become asylum seekers and flee their home countries from persecution: in 2008, Guobiao Jiao became the first Norwich writer-in-residence, and was allowed to seek residency in the city whilst continuing with the writing of his novels. This was also an opportunity for Guobiao to
showcase his work to the general public in an environment that was free from censorship and harm. All year round community projects such as school events and workshops held by The Writers’ Centre are used as a platform for exiled writers, which forms part of a wider aim to raise awareness of refugees and asylum seekers. Coming together with schools, libraries, museums and other local institutions, Norwich has proved itself to be one of the most open and conscientious cities in the country. As summer approaches and
Want to get involved?:
Refugee Week http://www.refugeeweek.org. uk/ Shahrazad: http://www.shahrazadeu.org/
Simple Acts: http://www.refugeeweek.org. uk/simple-acts/ campus life begins to wind down, a huge variety of exciting (and often free) activities will be taking place across the city to celebrate Refugee Week. Refugee Week, which runs from 20-26th June this year, is a UK-wide program of events which helps to connect different social groups and celebrate the positive contributions that asylum seekers have made in Britain. Few people may realize the huge developments and profits that have been made thanks to such people: from big companies such as Marks and
Spencers’ and Burtons, to historical icons from Albert Einstein ato Sigmund Freud. Since its conception in 1998, Refugee Week has gained huge national success with over 450 events being held throughout the UK in 2010. This years’ focus is ’60 Years of Contribution’ in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, the first international law that outlined the term ‘refugee’ and defined how those seeking asylum should be treated. In addition to ‘World Voices for Refugee Week’, Norwich will also play host to a inspiring range of free events that are open to the general public: from talks by war correspondent Jacques Kalume, to ‘One Small Suitcase’ (A Simple Act) and food tasting events featuring cuisine from around the globe. Cinema City will also be screening ‘Welcome’, an immigrant drama, on Monday 21st June. W h i l s t a r ra n g e m e n t s for the events are still underway, organisers are keen to find volunteers from the student community who
would like to contribute towards raising the profile of this important event. Opportunities include helping to maintain the national website, managing the facebook page and helping to distribute Refugee Week programmes around the city and on campus. If you are interested, please email Pa Musa at pamusa@menter. org.uk for more details. Tickets are available for ‘World Voices for Refugee Week with Hisham Matar, Tahmima Anam & Philo Ikonya’ now. 22/06/2011, 8pm, Norwich Playhouse. £7/£5 conc. Available online at www. writerscentrenorwich.org.uk or at the UEA Box Office.
Issue 256
FOCSOC 19
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Tuesday 10th May
Mile Cross Speaks
Kayonaaz Kalyanwala Media and International Development Group
Over the last 5 months, a group of postgraduate students studying Media and International Development at the University of
East Anglia have been working with Future Radio, Norwich’s local community radio station, to bring a wider range of local voices to the radio. After spending time in a local community centre in the Mile Cross area talking to residents about their views and opinions of
Norwich, students produced a sound documentary and various short sound bites reflecting the voices of local people that are soon to be broadcast on Future Radio. In July 2010 Future Radio was officially re-launched on a new frequency. Working out a way to reach new audiences was one of the
‘I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world but Norwich always draws me back’
main tasks that the students at UEA decided to undertake. The group of students working on this project is extremely diverse. It consists of people from all over the world - China, France, Germany, India, Nepal, Thailand, Uruguay, USA as well as right here in the UK – and also from a range of backgrounds – including media professionals, photographers and people with development experience. Echoing this thought, Ana Libisch said: “it was an interesting experience that challenged our capacity to work as a heterogeneous group with different skills and expectations.” With an entire range of experiences behind them, each contributed something unique to the project. A lot of thoughtful planning and endless cups of coffee later the team came to the decision to go into the community and see what it thought of the radio and its role in the community. While interviewing people, they asked them what they felt about Norwich, what they’d like to see changed and what they would want a radio station like Future Radio to do for the community. While most
of the interviews took place at the Norman Centre, some others were taken on the streets of Norwich. Through something as simple as sound bites, the project has managed to simultaneously increase promotion for the radio by raising awareness about it to its new audiences and has also brought the audience to the radio. It also serves as research, for the station gets to hear people’s views on what is expected of them. Rather than letting the opinions collected go unheard and turning into just another piece of research which is of no interest to others, the final product was a short sound documentary collating these sound bites which provided material for the radio and also for the Future Radio website. The fact that the people will be able to hear themselves on a radio goes one step further in including the audience in the radio. ‘’It’s great to be able to get a whole range of different voices heard, it closes the gap between radio and its community’’ said Amy Richardson, one of the students working on the project.
International
Issue 256 Tuesday 10th May
The great language barrier?
From accents to dialects and pronunciation to slang, Concrete International explores the challenges the English language presents for an international student at UEA
A question of dialects Rachael Lum
International Writer
A single language can be shared by a nation and yet be vastly differentiated when spoken. No doubt this is a culture shock most people find when they enter a foreign country. Regardless of whether one is familiar with the language, being introduced to a world where a language is shaped by different cultural backgrounds can be rather confusing. This is one of the strange things about language. From the accent a person speaks in, it can be easy to locate roughly where they are from, where they have been or even what they have been exposed to. British English and American English are two forms of the language that have become widespread from the increased
exposure in mass media and social mobility. Nowadays, it is not so much the use of different words, since people generally understand that ‘elevator’ and ‘lift’ work in the same way. It is the way the same words are pronounced differently that gives an accent that distinguishable quality. That, however, is no more perplexing than the regional dialects of a country. Even within the same nation, the language is painted by a spectrum of local colours. All it takes is one conversation to disclose where a person is from. The result of this can be baffling. Take as an example the evening meal at around 6pm. Is it called ‘tea’, ‘dinner’ or ‘supper’? In countries like Australia, New Zealand and even the northern regions of the UK, ‘tea’ is considered the proper term. ‘Dinner’ is used in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore
as well as other regions of the UK while at times ‘supper’ might be used interchangeably, as in Canada and the Philippines. In the UK, two individuals reading out a similar sentence can sound entirely different. Ask several people to pronounce the word ‘castle’ and you might find yourself caught in an endless debate between the Northerners and Southerners. Unless you are in a formal situation, there are usually no right or wrong ways of speaking the language. On the bright side, this shows how unique each country is. Often the local colours are borrowed from the palettes of other languages. The hybrid of accents and languages create the slangs that become exclusive to a group of people. In many ways, they work as linguistic in-jokes of the community.
Is this a carstle or a cassle? Dinner, supper or tea?
specifically with regards to the spoken (rather than written) language. There is not only a difference in accent or the pronunciation of words but many American phrases simply do not translate to British English and vice versa. Still, there are many phrases that have stood the test of time. Certain Shakespearean phrases, for example, are frequently uttered without the realisation that this is indeed what they are since they are now so ingrained
recently, the advent of internet or ‘text speak’ has resulted in the creation of a type of shorthand composed of frequent abbreviations and acronyms that can require some getting used to. For those learning English as a second language, it can be quite difficult since direct translation from their mother tongue can be nonsensical and accents can be difficult to decipher. Still, the same can undoubtedly be said for any language - but there are certainly benefits to learning English. Books, magazines, and newspapers written in English are available in countless countries around the globe and English is the most commonly used language in the sciences, with up to 95% of all scientific articles being written in English even though only half of them came from authors in Englishspeaking countries. Ultimately, English is a language that will continue to evolve by incorporating and absorbing aspects of cultures from around the world, making it more than just a commonly spoken language and more of a way to merge cultures and countries allowing for a sense of unity and global communication.
One was tongue-tied as the fair play vanished into thin air
The evolution of English Isalbelle Carty
International Writer
The English language has evolved greatly from its humble beginnings as fragments and fusions of other languages and dialects. The language has gone through many phases with influences from Germany, Scandinavia, France, the Netherlands and Denmark along with borrowings from Latin and Greek. Through invasion, invention and global expansion, English has now become the most widely spoken language in the world. It is now referred to as the lingua franca or alternatively, the language used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue. Due to the significant assimilation of the aforementioned European languages, modern English consists of a very large vocabulary. The Oxford English Dictionary lists over 250,000 distinct words and this count does not include either technical or colloquial terminology. Over time, the language has been shaped by both people and location. For example, American English can be quite different to British English,
“The Oxford English Dictionary lists over 250,000 distinct words...”
in everyday language. If your lost property has “vanished into thin air”, if you are “tongue-tied”, if you insisted on “fair play”, suspected “foul play” or had “too much of a good thing”, you are continually quoting Shakespeare. In a similar manner, other influential texts and authors have also left their mark on the English language. From one generation to the next there are evident changes in the spoken English language. Most
ISSUE 256
Tuesday 10th May
Golf loses a true master James Scho�ield
Sports Correspondent
The gol�ing world mourned the loss of a true great on Saturday with the passing of Seve Ballesteros, at the age of 54. The Spaniard was diagnosed with cancer three years ago. During an illustrious career that spanned 31 glorious years, Ballesteros won �ive majors and 87 titles overall. He made his �irst mark at The Open in 1976 where, aged just 19, he �inished second, tying with gol�ing great Jack Nicklaus. He won the Masters in 1980, the �irst European to do so, and became the youngest man to don the green coat until Tiger Woods in 1997. Repeated successes in the Ryder Cup brought him fans and support across the world. Seve was respected throughout the world of sport as a �ine sportsman and as a charismatic, charming �igure. Tributes have �looded in for him from across the world of sport. Current world number one Lee Westwood described the loss of “an inspiration, genius, role-model, hero and friend. Seve made European golf what it is today.” Ballesteros’ fellow Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, currently tennis’s world number one, also had high praise for Ballesteros. “Seve was great, a model for all Spanish athletes who had the good fortune to meet him and play golf with him.” A minute’s silence was held in his honour during the third round of this weekend’s Spanish Open.
Seve Ballesteros, who passed away on Saturday from brain cancer
SPORT 21
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Final hurdle awaits United Sports correspondent Matt Scrafton looks ahead to a European battle royale at Wembley Stadium Both Barcelona and Manchester United won their �irst European Cup at Wembley, the home of English football. The two giants will return to London on the 28th May to contest the high-pro�ile climax of this season’s Champions League. United reached the �inal following a 6-1 aggregate win
over a disappointing Schalke side. The �ixture was virtually as good as over following United’s 2-0 �irst leg victory in Gelsenkirchen, secured in spite of the best efforts of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. It was far from a typical cagey encounter. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men carved out chance after chance
Indefatigable: United veteran Ryan Giggs opens the scoring in the �irst leg
and it looked as though the team in red might endure a frustrating night without a pivotal away goal. Yet United’s patience �inally paid off, as Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney scored within quick succession of one another just after the hour mark. The second leg appeared a formality, and Ferguson seemingly agreed as he produced a line-up that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a third round Carling Cup tie. However, his side didn’t let him down, running out comfortable 4-1 winners. Yet it was Barcelona who �irst made it to the �inal, following their 3-1 aggregate win over rivals Real Madrid. Similarly to the other semi-�inal encounter, the tie was almost as good as over after the Catalans 2-0 �irst leg win in the Bernabeu. Madrid sat back and contained their opponents in an attempt to counter Barcelona’s incisive, patient tika-taka football. However, Mourinho’s plans were thrown into ruins when Pepé was given his marching orders
Jose Mourinho
following a dangerous lunge on Dani Alves. The sending off permitted the visitors to utilise the space more effectively, predictably allowing the majestic Lionel Messi to grab two goals; the second of which was amazingly similar to that great goal scored by his compatriot Diego Maradona. Despite Messi’s brilliance, the game was blemished by distasteful antics from both sides that one can only hope won’t be repeated in the �inal. Fortunately, the second leg was played in a more appropriate spirit, with the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw that allowed Barcelona to progress to their third �inal in six years. Now Ferguson has the small task of conjuring up a game plan to counter the brilliance of Pep Guardiola’s sparkling out�it. In order to claim his third Champions League trophy with United, his side will have to come up against perhaps the most daunting opposition of all time.
RIGHT or WRONG?
Concrete Sport’s Danny Collins and Chris King debate the big sporting issue of the past month: Did Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho get his tactics right in the Champions League, and can his subsequent comments be justi�ied?
For the defence: Danny Collins For the prosecution: Chris King The special one is not so special any more, the critics will tell you. He’s especially defensive, especially controversial, even, but not special. Jose’s star is supposedly in the decline. That seems to be the media consensus following Real’s drubbing at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s brilliant Barcelona side. Criticised for approaching the two-legged game with a defensive attitude that led to a dismal affair lit up only by the brilliance of Leo Messi, the critics rounded on the man who dared to try and undermine Barca’s ‘total’ football. Why they rounded on him is altogether ridiculous. Mourinho is a pragmatist of the highest order. He understood that to stand toe-to-toe with Barca was to be ripped apart. Barcelona are one of the greatest sides to have played the game. Real could not compete in a game of �lair. Mourinho was criticised because it didn’t work, this time. Had Real nicked a goal, it was perfectly feasible that they would have won. It worked in the Copa del Rey a week before, when they defended to within an inch of their life, and then Ronaldo stole a goal at the end. Had Muhammed Ali lost to George Foreman in 1974, his ‘rope-a-dope’ tactics would have been widely derided. As it was, he won, and it became a glorious victory. Had Mourinho ground out a victory, it would have been lauded as a masterpiece of defensive, counter-attacking football. The line between derision and acclaim is �ine, and Mourinho fell the wrong side this time, for once. The truth was that Barcelona were too good. Even a manager as gifted as Mourinho cannot compensate for Lionel Messi.
Jose Mourinho: unquestionably one of the greatest managers of the past decade. However, I hold him primarily responsible for his side’s calamitous night in the Santiago Bernabéu. His tactics were a triumph of the mentality of the modern game; rather than attempting to win the match, Mourinho not only tried to ensure his Real side didn’t lose it, but if anything seemed content with keeping the score down to avoid overt embarrassment. Herein lay the source of Madrileños’ shame; at home, in the penultimate stage of the most prestigious cup competition in world football, with a team boasting in�inite attacking potential, and costing over £400 million to assemble, Mourinho was willing to cede defeat before the match had even begun. Many have pointed to Barcelona’s dominant possession statistics – 73% opposed to Real’s 27% – but this has never been a guarantee of victory. Indeed Arsenal, with a trophy for six years, are a testament to this. By utilising Pepe as an anchor in mid�ield Mourinho essentially carried out a ‘vote of no con�idence’ in his team’s ability to attack, and seemed to be caught up in the ‘Barcelona myth’ of this unplayable, indestructible team we should all admire. What made the dismal �irst leg worse was Mourinho’s attitude, searching around for anyone to accept culpability but himself. Personally, his �ive match UEFA ban vindicates my view, and I can’t help but feel that they perhaps should slap another game on to punish the Madrid boss for robbing us of what ought to have been the greatest game of the season.
22
SPORT
The Tractor Yard While East Anglian rivals Norwich celebrate promotion to the Premier League, Sports Editor Robert Schatten looks back on a mixed end to Ipswich Town’s season Few will blame Ipswich Town supporters this summer as they stare jealously up the A140, watching with envy as their Old Farm neighbours celebrate promotion to the Premier League. Contrasted with the Canaries’ fairytale chase for a double promotion, Ipswich’s ninth season in English football’s second tier continued to show little early promise for a return to the Premier League. After a strong first two months, a protracted slump between
October and January saw Town lose 12 of 17 league games, and resulted in the departure of Roy Keane. The one positive under Keane this season was Ipswich’s run to the semifinals of the League Cup. Following a 1-0 upset of West Brom in the quarter finals, the Tractor Boys enjoyed a glamorous two-leg semi-final with Arsenal, in which they took a famous 1-0 win at home before running out of steam at the Emirates Stadium. Under Paul Jewell, Ipswich have seen significant improvement in
their approach and style of play. The team have moved comfortably clear of the relegation struggle during the spring, and in eight games over the last four weeks Town have summed up their season and their recent Championship history - by winning three games out of four, then losing three out of the final four to creep to the end of the season. Connor Wickham and David Norris provided the goals in a 2-1 triumph at Burnley on
subsequent rounds as he earned a place in the final, to face the then world number one John Higgins. In an enthralling final, Trump was eventually undone by Higgins by a score of 18-15, as the youngster’s mistakes were punished by a player described by Steve Davis as ‘the best snooker player I’ve ever seen in my life’. The first two sessions of play in the final were pulsating, and saw Trump open up a 10-7 lead after two century breaks and enjoyed very high rates of success in both his potting and safety shots. The following day, Trump was
in the lead by 12-9 before Higgins bounced back and won five consecutive frames. It was Trump’s turn to fight back, and the momentum swung his way again a few frames later as the youngster levelled the match at 14-14. However, the young Bristolian made a number of errors, and Higgins sealed victory by a final margin of 1815. However, this display and his previous victories have shown Judd Trump to be a true star in the making, and hopefully one that will help bring the game of snooker to a new audience.
Rising star Trumped Chris Teale
Sports Correspondent
Recently, there has been a distinct lack of enthusiasm surrounding the sport of snooker, and its recent World Championships at the Crucible in Sheffield. However, now that the tournament is at an end, snooker appears to have found a new rising star, who many hope will help bring the game to a new, younger audience. Judd Trump, a 21-year old from Bristol, has been a professional since 2005, but this year has seen the man touted as snooker’s next sensation rise almost out of nowhere to the upper echelons of the world rankings. Trump first became noticed after winning the China Open in early April, climbing into the top 16 in the world rankings and earning qualification for the World Championships. Soon, Trump was making regular appearance on the BBC, with such legends of snooker as John Virgo and Steve Davis touting him as a star of the future. When he was drawn to face Australian Neil Robertson, the 2010 champion, very few gave Trump much of a chance. However, Trump’s 10-8 victory gave the best display yet of his considerable talents and an aggressive style of play that is rare at present. What followed was even more unprecedented, as Trump knocked out Martin Gould, Graeme Dott and the highly-rated Chinese player Ding Junhui in
ISSUE 256
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Benefits of experience: veteran Higgins held his nerve on the final day
concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk
April 2, before a Josh Carson double fired the Tractor Boys past Crystal Palace. Following a thrilling 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough, Town recovered their form to edge past Bristol City with another goal from Carson (pictured), the latest exciting talent to emerge from the club’s lauded youth academy. But then, of course, came the most humiliating performance of Town’s season the dismal 5-1 annihilation at home to Norwich. The drubbing administered by City was coupled by an a b so l u te ly woeful Ipswich
performance, and will surely live long in the memory of Suffolk football fans. It certainly seemed to haunt the team, as Ipswich went on to lose two of their three final games of the season, a 2-1 win over relegated Preston sandwiched between 4-1 and 4-2 away defeats, to Swansea and Leicester respectively. There, is, however, hope for the future. The second half of the season has seen very genuine progress under Jewell’s new system, and the end-of-season hammerings were mitigated by Town’s crippling injury problems over the last month. With a strong summer in the transfer market, a revitalised Town have the potential to challenge for the play-offs next year - provided they show more mental toughness than has been their recent hallmark.
Testing times ahead for England’s new elite Sam Tomkinson
Sports Correspondent
This summer could be a tough one for England’s cricketers, as they welcome the number one test nation and World Cup winners India. Before this clash England will also meet Sri Lanka, who demolished them at the World Cup in Bangladesh last month. England will be going into their test series buoyant, though, after an emphatic Ashes victory. Sri Lanka should pose a straightforward challenge; despite boasting a strong batting line up headed by Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, the lack of bowling options is a severe weakness. The retirements of world record wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan and fast bowler Lasith Malinga have left significant holes which have not been filled. England, on the other hand, have a problem of too many options. The batting order picks itself, with the open number six spot under immense competition from such emerging players as Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara and James Hildreth. This will be a difficult choice for the selectors. Although Bopara turned down the money-spinning Indian Premier League to play firstclass cricket, his modest average suggests that he has not found the form he needed to show. Morgan, in choosing to play in the IPL, has lost some integrity and also some form - as he regularly watches others score runs while
waiting for infrequent appearances. Hildreth, too, has had a quiet start, but as last season’s second-highest run scorer and coming off a highly successful winter with the England Lions, he is seen by many as the likely choice. The bowling department has incredible competition, providing they stay fit. Graeme Swann is an obvious choice, but picking a seam attack will be incredibly difficult. All bowlers played a significant role in Australia, with Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett providing ample cover for Stuart Broad and Stephen Finn. The form of Chris Woakes should not be ignored; he shot into prominence with 6-45 in a recent ODI against Australia. After a poor World Cup, James Anderson will be looking reinstate himself 3rd in the Test side. India will provide an incredibly stern challenge for whoever England chooses. With an experienced and brilliant batting line up complemented a savvy bowling attack England will have their work cut out. Even though England has the potential to win both test series, in ODIs they go in as firm underdogs. After a poor display in Australia and an erratic World Cup England have gone through a changing of the guard as Alistair Cook leads a team who are striving to find a balance that works for them. Question marks loom over Cook as a performer in shorter format, however, his figures are promising and he led the team well in Bangladesh.
ISSUE 256
Ian Hobbs
Sports Correspondent
Norwich City reached the promised land of the Premier League after an extraordinary 20 months at the club. The club’s turnaround in fortunes since that 7-1 hammering on the �irst day of last season has been sensational. Following that fateful day, Norwich appointed the master of their downfall, Paul Lambert, and the Canaries have been soaring ever since. Lambert was a relative unknown in management circles before his appointment, but was an accomplished player who won the 1997 Champions League with Borussia Dortmund - notably marking one Zinedine Zidane out of the �inal. Norwich’s promotion charge to the Premiership really gathered pace at the start of April with a fantastic 6-0 win over Scunthorpe, with Grant Holt and Simeon Jackson both grabbing majestic hat-tricks. The only real blips in their charge were a defeat at Swansea and a draw to away at Watford. The real highlight of April for Norwich fans and players alike was the 5-1 demolition of Ipswich Town at Portman Road. It had been expected to be a close encounter but Norwich always looked in control and were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to a neat �inish from Andrew Surman and an unfortunate own goal from Gareth McAuley. The lethal display of counter-attacking football saw Norwich add another three goals thanks to Jackson, Russell Martin and on-loan Liverpool star Dani Pacheco. As if that astonishing win wasn’t enough to get pulses racing, the Canaries managed to stay ahead of closest challengers Cardiff with a 3-2 win over Derby County. It was all square until the 96th minute when man of the moment Jackson completed his second hat-trick of the month with a fortunate but vital goal. If results went their way Norwich could seal automatic promotion with a win away at Portsmouth in their penultimate game of the season. This hinged upon Cardiff losing at home to the pride of the North, Middlesbrough. Fortunately the Welsh side choked, as they have done in many previous seasons, meaning that just three points were needed to secure a return to the top tier of English football for the �irst time in six years. Norwich fans would’ve been biting their
Concrete Sport Editor Chris King introduces the latest City legend
SPORT 23
www.concrete-online.co.uk
Tuesday 10th May
Back in the big time
On Saturday 8 August, back in 2009, Bryan Gunn’s Norwich City were humiliated at Carrow Road, losing 7-1 to Colchester United having been relegated to League One the season before. The result was the Canaries’ worst ever home defeat in their entire history, and undoubtedly the nadir of their recent history. What a difference two years has made. Having moved to install Paul Lambert, manager of the U’s on that terrible day, as Gunn’s replacement, City rejoined the Premier League at Fratton Park - their second consecutive promotion - courtesy of a goal from striker Simeon Jackson. This prompted jubilant scenes of celebration from Norwich fans across East Anglia and on the South Coast, who could have been forgiven for thinking this day would never come.
nails as their side missed some guilt-edged chances early on, but Championship player of the month Jackson once again grabbed the winning goal by heading in David Fox’s beautiful cross shortly after half time. The 1-0 win brought delight to Lambert, who described the Canaries’ back-to-back promotions as a ‘miracle’. In the �inal game the party atmosphere at Carrow Road was fantastic as Norwich �inished the season with an enthralling 2-2 draw against Coventry City.
The gaffer
Most managers, if they are lucky, become club legends after years of loyal service and perhaps one or two promotions. What Paul Lambert has achieved at Carrow Road in two years is nothing short of inspirational; not only was he the Colchester United manager at the time of that thrashing, but he has made Norwich the Pride of Anglia once again. Manager of the Season last year, I doubt anyone would object if that were repeated. A tremendous effort.
The big three Concrete Sport veteran and lifelong Norwich fan Ian Hobbs selects his players of the season
1) Grant Holt - Undoubtedly a deserved player of the season. Having scored 21 league goals and leading from the front as captain, his hat-trick against �iercest rivals Ipswich Town gave him a place in Canaries folklore. After starting his career in the Unibond Premier League, he’ll �inally get a chance to play in the top tier of English football.
2) Russell Martin - The right back has played every minute of every league game for City, another who wasn’t expected to be a top performer in the Championship but has lived up to his nickname of the ‘Norfolk Cafu’. He has come on leap and bounds since last season, scoring �ive times in the process, including vital goals against QPR and Cardiff.
3) Andrew Crofts - My only differing opinion to that of the of�icial fans player of the year, I have gone for Andrew Crofts over Wes Hoolahan. He’s been an unsung hero and always works tirelessly, never giving up on any lost cause and chipping in with a few goals from mid�ield. His fantastic season has earned him a place in the Welsh national side.
sport
‘El Farcico’ fallout Criticisms and defences of Jose Mourinho’s tactics have appeared all over the media recently. Concrete Sport wades into the mire...
Masters Snooker Rising star Judd Trump caught eyes aplenty on his run to the Masters final at the Crucible
Canaries fly Championship nest
• Norwich City return to the Premier League after a six-year absence after securing second spot in the Championship • Simeon Jackson’s winner caps incredible season for the Canaries, and guarantees back-to-back promotions
Athletics finish with a flourish Ruth McKellar
Sports Correspondent
During Easter UEA Athletics competed in the annual BUCS Outdoor Championships at Bedford. A fantastic performance saw the most successful event in years, with seven semi-finalists and two finalists. The outstanding performance of the weekend came from the men’s 4x400m team who ran a fast and tactical race to ensure their place in the final as well as breaking the club record on their way. They continued this strong performance in the final to
run even quicker and finished 5th. Steve Garrett and Oli Palmer competed in the 400mH, both reaching the semi-finals. Palmer ran a gutsy first half to put him in contention in his semi-final but was greatly affected by the strong headwind in the home straight whereas Garrett ran even quicker to break the club record for a second time to earn his place in the final, where he finished 6th. It was also a busy weekend for fresher Charlie Roe who broke the high jump club record and also competed in four other events. Amar Sangha ran well in the 400m to qualify
for a semi-final and Chris Blandford was unlucky to miss out on javelin qualification. The distance runners also ran well but quick heats and strong winds meant they missed out on qualification. More competitions next term will give athletes many chances to hone their techniques. It was a small team for the girls but Lydia Growns got UEA off to a great start by qualifying for the 1500m semi-finals. Ruth McKellar qualified for semi-finals in both the 100m and 200m, making it her most successful championships to date.
UEA’s Charlie Roe leapt to a huge 6.47m in the Long Jump
NEW DR WHO
GAMES OF 2011
DOUBLE REVIEW
our verdict
our top ten so far
metronomy
worth a watch?
who’s number one?
album and gig
p.8
p.12
p.18
venue ISSUE 256 10/5/2011
< MUSIC > review TYLER, THE CREATOR .21 < FASHION > feature THE ROYAL WEDDING .4 < ARTS > coming soon PHOTOSOC EXHIBITION .6 p
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Samuel Lay
venue ISSUE 256 10/5/2011
Editor-in-Chief>Danny Collins| concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Venue Editor>Duncan Vicat-Brown| concrete.event@uea.ac.uk Deputy Venue Editor>Fiona Howard
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk| Fashion Editor>Kat Jones Deputy Fashion Editor>Hannah Britt Fashion Contributors> Kat Andrews, Sue Ecclestone, Emma McKee, Hannah Britt, Kat Jones
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk| Arts Editor>Liz Jackson Arts Contributors> Susanna Wood, Greg Mann, Emma Webb, Duncan Vicat-Brown
concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk| Television Editor>Tasha Golley Television Contributors> Matt Tidby, Natalie Stephenson, Beth Wyatt, Amy Adams, Kathryn Deighan, Tasha Golley
concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk| Creative Writing Editor>Robert Van Egghen
And now, an uncensored and deeply selfindulgent fAREWELL from the editor... Let’s see if I can fit an obscure reference in here somewhere...
It’s been a funny old year. Somewhere in between the endless trips to Zest, the startlingly lengthy office-based conversations about underwear and spending what seems like forever trying to write editorials that don’t make me sound like an insufferable plonker, it actually ended up being a lot of fun. In fact, the whole three years have been a blast, from my first acne-riddled features and drunken social shenanigans in first year, to the charmingly ramshackle socials I was actually responsible for and my quote unquote work as ‘Deputy Editor’, a position which was invented to give me something to do other than be the office tea boy who never actually made any tea. Huge props to my infinitely more talented and industrious Deputy Ed Fiona, without whom this shit would never have got done, to my splendid editorial team, who’re far better at this than anyone has any right to be, and to our contributors, who’ve consistently surprised us by being brilliant. You clever, clever bastards. Ta ta for now, faithful reader. I wonder what I’ll do now. Say, don’t that picture look dusty.. See, I warned you that something like that would happen.
Have a life!
Creative Writing Contributors> Leo Hunt
n a c un
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concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk| Wired Editor>Vaughn Highfield Wired Contributors> Josh Mott, William Moran, Vaughn Highfield
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk| Film Editor>Paul Martin Deputy Film Editor>Catherine Watts Film Contributors> Radosava Rudulovic, Lorna Pontefract, Samantha Rogers, Josh Mott, Andrew Wilkins, James Burrough, Helen Jones, Lathaniel Dyer, Steph McKenna, Anna Eastick.
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk| Music Editors>Alec Plowman & Alex Throssell Music Contributors> Steph McKenna, Emily Pritchard, Sean Purdy, Rianne Ison, Alex Ross, Jordan Bright, Fiona Howard, Alex Throssell
concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk| Listings Editor>Georgina Wade Listings Contributors>Georgina Wade
concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk| Competitions Editor>Henry Croft Competitions Contributors>Henry Croft, Fiona Howard
• Body-shaping Vibro Plates - slims, improves circulation no sweat, £35 for 24 10 min sessions • Collagen Skin Treatment Booth - diminish scars, wrinkles, age-sports and stretch-marks - £75 for 12 10 minute sessions • Super-fast 48 tube tanning cubicle - £25 for 72 mins (£2.50 for 6 mins)
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FASHION
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
God Save McQueen
“This is such a fashion moment, you have no idea!” squealed a BBC reporter when Kate Middleton’s dress was finally revealed. Surely the concealment of both dress and designer is the best kept secret in fashion ever? Sarah Burton took over the creative reins of Alexander McQueen after his tragic suicide in February. The fashion world watched with baited breath, claws at the ready, as she tentatively carried on the late designer’s legacy. Would she succeed or fail? As Kate stepped out of her car, we got our answer. The dress was a triumph. She did McQueen proud.
Smokin’
There was some serious sexual tension between Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton. He definitely wants a piece. And who can blame him?
Turbans Can’t afford the exotic holiday? Be a traveller in your home town. Pick up this one at asos.com for £8.
Prince Harry gave the bridesmaids Wiggly Worms in the carriage to keep them entertained. This little cutie kept hers for the official photograph. Bless.
If we look good as Carole Middleton when we’re 56, we will be VERY happy!
Our favourite quote from the wedding... Will to Kate as she appeared by his side at the altar: “You look beautiful.” Heart melting.
Pimms O’clock Summer sun, lovely mates, long, lazy evenings - I make that Pimms O’clock, don’t you?
Rock Your Shades
Topman’s new range in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, protect your eyes, give to charity, lap up the sun - good times.
Chokin’
Men in Swimsuits
Wrong on so many levels. Men take note. Avoid at all costs.
SunBurn
The Queen has never been known for her warmth. However, she seemingly snubbed Camilla at the wedding, greeting Charles and ignoring his wife. Was it a genuine Three year old cutie, Grace van mistake? Or should her new title be “Queen Bitch”? Cutsem made us giggle throughout the wedding coverage. She did NOT appreciate that balcony...
The team at Alexander McQueen were praised for keeping tightlipped about Kate’s dress. It has since come out that they were never actually told who they were creating the dress for!
LOL.
We Want One!
Is it just us...or does Princess Beatrice’s hat look a little like a uterus? Lovely.
It’s not just William who gets to take Kate home...
Pippa Middleton wore McQueen like her sister. Critics all over the world praised how effortless she performed her duties as maid of honour.
The Facebook Group.
“Pippa Middleton Ass Appreciation Society” - why on earth are you not a member yet?! This is never a good look. So Slip/Slop/Slap for safety in the sun.
Fashion 05
Issue 256 10th May 2011
The Good Life; Step back into the 70s Who doesn’t have a dad who loves Felicity Kendal as Barbara in The Good Life?! Well, who can blame him? Miss Kendal was an effortlessly gorgeous icon of the seventies, and we can all learn a thing or two from her style as we approach the summer of 2011. Men, think of the unkempt but ultra cool style of Mick Jagger. Watching classic sitcoms, basking in the sounds of The Clash or The Rolling Stones and rummaging in the wardrobe of your parents will get you in into the groove for fashion’s latest summer trend.
With Thanks To...
Ethical Clothing: Where Do You Stand?
New Look in the city has had a face lift; now with a much larger mens section and all students have 20% discount. Special thanks go to Sue, Manager at New Look, and Photographer, Belinda Gillet.
More and more high street shops are beginning to introduce a limited amount of ethically created garments as the fashion industry is constantly under media scrutiny. Four Venue writers share their views on ethical fashion below. Kat Andrews: The issue of ethical clothing causes me a constant battle between my conscience and my bank balance. No one should be forced to work for almost no money and I hate the thought that I almost certainly wear clothes that were made in those circumstances. But as a student I don’t have much choice. There is just no way I can afford ethically made clothes whilst I’m living off a student loan. However, the prices need to be high enough to ensure the people making them get fair wages, so I will need to find a way to afford them. Sue Ecclestone: Its great to have something that is not only comfortable to wear, but also is comfortable in mind that no-one was exploited in making the t-shirt. Emma McKee: The t-shirts are surprisingly soft, and have a nice fitted shape. A classic tee is a must for every wardrobe, being ethnically made is a great bonus. Hannah Britt: I know I should care about ethical clothing. But I really don’t. If it looks pretty and it makes my legs look amazing, then I will probably buy it even if it has been made in some third world country by a twelve year old. Shoot me.
Kat Jones Has Left The Building For my last ever issue as Fashion Editor I wanted to go out with a bang! So thanks to Luke Nash for modelling 70s style with me. I hope you’ve enjoyed my fashion ramblings.
ARTS
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
Literature - Michel Faber - The Crimson Petal and the White In the wake of the BBC’s stellar 4-part adaption of The Crimson and the White, there has been renewed interest in Michel Faber’s 2002 bestseller. A shocking exploration of Victorian society, the novel remains a challenging, yet insightful read. With the enduring popularity of Victorian novels,
especially those of Charles Dickens, George Eliot and Thomas Hardy, we are under the impression that we know our nineteenth century counterparts well. However, the opening pages of The Crimson Petal and the White shatter any illusions of familiarity. The narrator challenges our perceptions of Victorian typicality, reminding us to ‘watch our step’ as we descend into the darkest recesses of London’s underworld. And what an underworld it is! The reader is quickly introduced to the motley assortment of shameless whores, drunken aristocrats, perverted doctors and mad wives that populate this inventive yet meticulously researched novel. At the centre is Sugar, a fiercely intelligent prostitute, whose only real source of entertainment is imagining vicious punishments to inflict on her clueless customers. She is ‘acquired’ by wealthy soap magnate William Rackham, and the story follows her journey from the sordid brothels of St Giles Street to the oppressive opulence of William’s Notting Hill home. It is not, however, Pretty Woman with corsets. Men are painted with an unforgiving black brush; there are no true saviours here, for everything comes with a price attached. Don’t expect to find traditional romance between the pages of The Crimson Petal
and the White. The social progress of the protagonist is ambiguous, with the question remaining as to whether Sugar has moved from one type of prostitution to another, albeit more respectable one. This book is also not for the delicate of constitution. Violent sex, bodily functions and home abortions are all examined in gruesomely unpleasant detail. These are paired alongside Sugar’s own damaged psyche: equally sordid, she is a true product of the dark side of Victorian society. Faber’s postmodern eye allows him to write all this with the benefit of Freudian hindsight, which means it doesn’t feel like shock for the sake of it. Our repulsion of the obscenities in the book also highlights a tension between sexual repression and depravation, the former exemplified by William’s wife Agnes at the upper end of the social strata, and the latter by Sugar at society’s depths. It deserves recognition as a deeply subversive feminist text, as it plays with our perceptions and expectations of sexuality and love particularly within its setting. Our own expectations of what the book should be are proved to be a misplaced fantasy in the reality of Victorian living. Susanna Wood
Art - UEA - PhotoSoc Exhibition Landscapes and Buildings; covering most aspects of photography and displaying the variety of talent the photography society has to offer. A top five was chosen for each category, including an overall winner whose work was framed and four runners up whose work was mounted - which are all on display in the exhibition. The variety on display in the exhibition is the main appeal, showing what photography has to offer as an art form. Some of the photos show quick thinking to brilliantly capture a moment such as the emotions of a victorious embrace, while others highlight the importance of well thought out and organised composition. Some photos simply draw your attention to beautiful and interesting sights which otherwise might be ignored, such as light shining through leaves or the intricacies of a mushroom. Whatever your interest in art, hopefully there is a photograph on display which causes you to look twice, and appreciate the art of photography. Greg Mann PhotoSoc would like to express thanks to the Anteros Arts Foundation for hosting the exhibition. For information on events and art courses on offer at the Anteros Arts foundation visit www.anteros. co.uk. Also thanks to Norwich Picturebox for the high quality prints and general support and encouragement. For printing, mounting and framing service you can find Norwich Picturebox at Stall 45 in Row B of the market.
Lizzie Margereson
The art form of photography can find itself somewhat undermined in this digital age. The potential and beauty of film photography as displayed by darkroom artists such as Jerry Uelsmann are almost forgotten (Jerry who?), while the accessibility of modern digital cameras means if you can’t sing or paint at least you can ‘give photography a go’. Those photographers who possess the artistic vision, flair, creativity and technical skill required to produce ‘works of art’ often go unnoticed unless they give in to the commercial expectations of photography and offer a free 10 x 8 once you spend over £200 on cheesy family photographs. In contrast to this, the Photography Society at UEA is here for all those students with an interest in photography and is keen to help students nurture and express their talent. Now the Photography Society has given their members an opportunity to display their talent in an exhibition hosted by Anteros Arts Foundation in the King of Hearts Cafe on Magdalen Street, showing the hard working academics at UEA can compete with their city rivals at Norwich University College of the Arts. Members were asked to submit their best photos for scrutinous selection by Anteros Arts Foundation founder John Hemmant who grouped the entries into six different categories: Abstract and Still life, Animals and Nature, Documentary, Landscape, Portraits and Urban
Arts
Issue 256 10th May 2011
07
Literature Feature - The Pitfalls of Fanfiction Fanfics; at best, they’re harmless yet inferior homages, at worst, they’re narcissistic, illegible canon-rape. Fanfiction is as consistently awful a genre as Happy Hardcore or the films of Danny Dyer. Ever wondered what would happen if Ginny and Draco shagged each other’s adolescent brains out, or if Edward Cullen and Sookie Stackhouse crossed the divide and got it on? Life’s much, much too short. However, there is one particular entry to the genre that comes highly... recommended. My Immortal, initially posted on fanfiction.net in 2006 by a user charmingly named bloodyrists666, is a Harry Potter fanfic in 44 parts. Its protagonist is one Ebony Dark’ness Dementia Raven Way, a diedin-the-wool ‘goff ’ with a rogue’s gallery of admirers and an attention to wardrobe detail that puts Patrick Bateman to shame. Join her and her pals Draco, Vampire (née Harry) and B’loody Mary Smith (née Hermione) as they fight Voldemort, self harm (but only recreationally), have anatomically unlikely sex, avoid molestation of the Hogwarts staff, from most and attend a startling number of gigs in Hogsmeade. Dumbledore wears an Avril Lavigne branded cape and swears like a trooper. Snap and Loopin (guess who) are alarmingly
persistent paedophiles. The number of chapters that end with Draco killing himself runs well into double digits, an event which is always met with shrieking, hysterical grief from Enoby (who often has a go at her own wrists as a means of relaxation after a bad day). Despite this, he often appears unharmed
in the next scene, with no fanfare whatsoever; that’s just Hogwarts for you, man... The spelling and grammar are, at first, actually quite good, as bloodyrists666 (real name Tara Gillespie, rumoured to be a thirteen year old American girl living in Dubai) was lucky enough to have her best
buddy bloodytearz666 proofreading for her. Unfortunately, following a fight over a stolen MCR hoodie, tearz leaves rists to her own devices, leaving in her wake a grammatical disaster the likes of which the world has not seen before or since. Rumours abound that My Immortal is nowt but a lengthy, meticulously detailed fake, and there’s certainly a good case for this theory. But there’s a point where all sense and rational thought go so far out of the window that you’d either have to be insane or a genius to make it up. Case in point; just before (spoiler alert!) killing Voldemort at the end, during a Mexican stand-off with actual guns, Enoby pauses to deliver this gem: ‘I cried sexily I just wanted 2 go 2 the commen room and slit my wrists with mi friends while we watched Shark Attak 3 and Saw 2 and do it with Draco but I knew I had 2 do somefing more impotent.’ So, if you’ve got a spare evening, and strong sides, stick on a Bloody Gothic Rose 666 CD (well of course Enoby’s got her own band...) and step into a magical world of pot cigarettes, old-timey swearing, heavy-duty mascara, satanism and ‘passive frenching’. But please, no Preps. Duncan Vicat-Brown
Literature - Richard Bach - Illusions
Richard Bach’s Illusions will be 44 years old this year and it continues to strike chords with readers in the way all potential classics do. Bach tells the story of a new-age Messiah who has decided to leave his job of being a Messiah (and a car mechanic) as modern followers do not want his message of the word of God, just the miracles that entertain them. He decides to pass the knowledge onto an unsuspecting apprentice – a lonely barnstorming pilot from Illinois. The two men strike up an unlikely alliance and innocently perform miracles around the Midwest, until the earthly mission of Donald Shimoda, Messiah, is complete. In Shimoda’s possession is his own manual, ‘The Messiah’s Handbook’, which is frequently quoted by the author and
used as a point of reference by the reluctant pilot-turned-miracle-worker, Richard. Its profound, often sarcastic genius is akin to ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ as it features in Douglas Adams’ novel of the same name, and on its own provides some much-needed practical wisdom and advice, for character and reader alike. Companionship and spirituality are at the heart of Illusions as it questions all that we call reality and its function in life. Bach means to tell us that reality itself is fiction, an illusion we create for ourselves, and to that end, we are all free to do what we want to do. A tempting idea; one that might cause readers to walk out on the job in which they have never found fulfilment, or spend a month’s wages on a guitar they have always wanted to play. Put simply, Illusions is a book with one simple message: do what makes you happy. Always. Casting a delicate balance between tales of morality and the miraculous, Bach has written a story for happiest days and darkest times. Bach creates a world in which dreams are real and living is false, and it forces the reader to answer the questions most of us choose to ignore – if what you’re doing doesn’t make you happy, why are you doing it? If even the Messiah has the right to march through his adoring crowds, and proclaim, ‘I quit’ and make himself a new life, us mere mortals are certainly free to do that. Read on a good day, Illusions will reaffirm your faith in life, and more importantly, yourself. On a bad day, it might just save your faith completely. Emma Webb
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TV
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
PRIMETIME> Doctor Who BBC One Saturday, 6:30pm
For those who’ve been living in a parallel universe, Doctor Who is the longest running science fiction programme of all time. It follows the mad, funny and scary adventures of a very old, very wise and very silly alien called the Doctor, who zips about time and space in his TARDIS (That’s ‘Time and Relative Dimensions in Space’), saving planets, battling monsters and showing bored young ladies (and sometimes John Barrowman) the wonders of the cosmos. The key to the shows longevity (it started in 1963, after all) is the concept of regenerationwhen he’s about to die, the Doctor can change his whole body whilst still being the same man, which is jolly handy and a bit cool too. Doctor Who regularly returned to our screens in 2005, after 16 years away, and has enjoyed a well-deserved renaissance, becoming the centre-piece of the BBC One schedules. The Sixth Series since the revival materialised onto our screens this Easter, with former UEA student Matt Smith clearly loving every minute of his second year as The Eleventh Doctor. The opening two-part story, The Impossible Astronaut and The Day of the Moon, was a dark, dramatic and unashamedly
intelligent beginning to the series. Lovingly crafted by head writer Steven Moffat (He does Sherlock too), drops the Doctor, his friend Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), her erstwhile husband Rory (Arthur Darvill) and the enigmatic River Song (Alex Kingston), into a compelling mystery involving the terrifying ‘Silence’, the 1969 Moon Landings, President Nixon and an unexpected death. “...it still remains as clever, confident and entertaining as anything else on TV.” Whilst the show does now seem to be overly obsessed with foregrounding the paradoxes of time travel as a narrative device, it still remains as clever, confident and entertaining as anything else on TV. Matt Smith is an enchanting leading man, and the standard of writing, cinematography and production design is simply extraordinary. With an episode written by fantasy legend Neil Gaiman and the reveal of the identity of the elusive River Song to look forward to, now is the time to hop on-board the TARDIS and enjoy British TV at its best. Matt Tidby
DOWNLOAD> Campus Channel 4 Tuesday 10pm
Created by the team behind Green Wing, Campus follows the humorous goings-ons of a university campus from the perspective of the staff, setting up a wide range of possible ‘kerfuffles’ to be had. It has to be said that its link to Green Wing is both a blessing and a curse; being compared to such a critically acclaimed show with such a strong cult following will create an instant audience.Some might say that Campus should be judged independently and as the series is continuing it’s getting funnier and less forced, but the polarizing character of Vice Chancellor Jonty de Wolfe smacks of the unwanted G.W character pile. The surreal and bizarre element that was mostly found in G.W’s Sue White is present in him, but he’s also incredibly racist and sexist. A far more offensive David Brent, he uses accents and stereotypes as well as offensive words for various kinds of people. There’s disagreement over whether this is disgusting or hilarious but it’s certainly gone past ridiculous. We shouldn’t just focus on him; it turns out that the nerdy maths lecturer is possibly striking up a love triangle with the post grad student and the ‘sexy’ English lay-about,
A tribute to the man behind the nation’s favourite sitcom... Dubbed “The Dickens of Comedy”, John Sullivan was the creator and writer of many British comedy classics including Citizen Smith, Just Good Friends and of course arguably the nation’s favourite and most loved sitcom Only Fools and Horses. At its peak it would be watched by 20 million viewers, a feat that can only ever be reached today, by worldwide events such as the royal wedding. Only Fools and Horses follows the loveable Trotter Brothers, which consists of Del Boy and Rodney running their ‘dodgy’ business Trotter’s Independent Traders out of the now iconic, three wheel yellow van, in their efforts to become ‘‘millionaires’’ by the next year. Unlike many sitcoms today, it struck a chord with the British public as we as an
audience could relate to all the trials and tribulations, the brothers faced over the years. Which is more than likely due to the fact that much of Only Fools and Horses was based on Sullivan’s own experiences, of living as a working class family in London. Sullivan was able to create a heartfelt and genuinely affectionate relationship between the brothers Del and Rodney. With Del willing to lay down his life for his brother, in one memorable episode Del defends and is willing to take a beating for his brother. Sullivan also created pure, laugh out loud comedy gold from the unforgettable chandeliers falling down, to the classic Del falling through the bar. He created the memorable catchphrases of “lovely jubilee” and “Rodney you plonker” as well as adding
in a touch of French lingue in the form of Del boy, coining the phrases bonjour, bonjour or mange tout (my pleasure) at any possible moment. Although Only Fools and Horses originally aired in the 1980s, the show is a timeless classic that has become seamlessly interwoven in British television history. With two successful spin-off shows The Green Green Grass and the prequel Rock and Chips, there is still a clear interest and appeal in the characters and show today. The making of a classic comedy sitcom that can be watched time and time again is an incredible feat and is clearly the marking of a true comedy genius that will never be forgot. Natasha Golley
Matt Deer who the VC calls ‘Professor Queer’. Yes, really. Also, the admin randoms are sweet and are beginning to interact with the other characters which can’t hurt. Everyone’s beginning to sprout personalities! “It has to be said that its link to Green Wing is both a blessing and a curse; being compared to such a critically acclaimed show with such a strong cult following will create an instant audience.” Other positives? It’s good to see British comedy is trying a bit harder to compete with the invasion of American quality, but they can’t stop here. They can’t be so lazy as to use such similar characters to G.W! Plus they missed out Alan Statham played by the brilliant Mark Heap who is probably one of the best parts of the show. Are the writers foolish as well as lazy? Simply put, don’t download Campus right now, download Green Wing instead. Then again, the latter was probably thought of as “Teachers set in a hospital”. Natalie Stephenson
TV
Issue 256 10th May 2011
9
The Sound of Music This issue, Venue takes a look at the musical madness, taking over TV.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Glee Monday E4, 9pm
After the success of teen franchise High School Musical, there was a gap in the market for a music show which could appeal to many ages. Step forward Glee. With its medley of misfits, Glee portrays the minefield that is an American high school – its characters struggling with life, love and ‘slushie’ facials. A smart move was replacing invisible Matt with new favourites Sam ‘Bieber’ Evans and Lauren Zizes. It has also been refreshing to see the talents of Brittany and Mike Chang take on a more prominent role. When discussing Glee, it is impossible not to mention Sue Sylvester. With the way that Jane Lynch’s wonderful/horrible creation attacks students. It is surprising that she is allowed to set foot in a school, let alone teach there. The show would be at a loss without her put-downs, especially ones which concern
Will Schuester’s curly locks. However, the programme does have a few negatives. Some episodes this series have been disappointing and a few songs uninspiring. Having said that, the mash-ups are genius and the regionals episode, in which the cast sang original songs, was heart-warming. One worry is that the characters will fall flat in time and that the plot will weaken during a third series. If New Directions lose at nationals they will be disheartened once again, but if they win where will the storylines head? Nevertheless, Glee provides viewers with light-hearted fun and so should be enjoyed while it’s still at its peak.
Beth Wyatt
That 70’s Show
So from the outset just to warn you – do not expect good singing. This isn’t opera, this is comedy actors being funny and also attempting to do some song-singing. And it is funny! Fez is in a school musical pageant and his enthusiastic imagination helps the music spread into his life. Of course only suitably 70s songs are used. “Happy Together” originally by the Turtles is a literal dazzler with cheesy special effects and dancing abound. The most amusing part of the episode is probably seeing the grumpy father, Red Forman, breaking out into song, especially as you see in the outtakes that he struggled the most. It’s nice to only hear him talk of putting his foot in someone’s arse once or twice for a
Nowadays, almost every TV show out there has done a musical episode. But, as with high school girls in love with sexy brooding vampires, Buffy was doing it before it was cool. And for a long time, whenever a new show announced their foray into the world of showtunes and choreographed dance moves, comparisons were made to the season six episode, ‘Once More, With Feeling’, as one of the originals. Sure, as it approaches its tenth birthday, it’s beginning to look a little dated. But for all the closet Buffy fans, still secretly debating the time-old question of Angel vs. Spike, it will always have a special place in their hearts. Buffy was consistently a show which tried to push boundaries and do new things, which is one of the reasons
it remains popular today – it created an icon. Any strong female leads (sadly lacking in most current television) are still compared to sassy, beautiful, kick-ass Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Geller). And ‘Once More, With Feeling’ was another of the show’s triumphs, with catchy tunes, and often surprisingly strong vocals. But it wasn’t just a musical for musicals’ sake. The array of styles were all tailored to the characters’ own personalities, and furthered not only the plot of the episode, but many of the series’ current story arcs. Huge emotional secrets were revealed as they helplessly sang their feelings, with repercussions lasting the entire series. And it was all rounded off with a rousing number and dazzling kiss. Perfect. Amy Adams
Grey’s Anatomy
change. His dad dancing wasn’t too terrible, either. The slight problem is that with the show being a tiny 21 minutes, fitting the 5 songs in makes it feel a little squashed. It makes Glee look quite impressive with their arrangement of epic ballads and emotional showtunes. It also means that witty banter is minimal but what the hell, they shot 20-odd episodes across 1000 seasons (exaggeration, yes!) so we shouldn’t complain. It adds some new spice to what turned out to be a long lived show. An episode to re-watch if only to see Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) sing badly with a lisp.
Natalie Stephenson
In all honesty season seven of Grey’s Anatomy seemed promising. That was until the creator, Shonda Rhimes, used the shooting bloodbath from the Season Six finale as an excuse to increase the show’s melodrama to unimaginable heights. Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) has had a dramatic love life, she is pregnant by her best-friend, Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Danes), while at the same time is trying to cope with the return of her lesbian lover, Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw). During a fight in the car on the way to a romantic getaway, Arizona proposes. Though before we get an answer their car crashes into a truck. Thus begins the musical episode. The music is revealed through Callie’s
out of body experience while she watches her and her unborn baby fight for survival. The medical jargon gets complicated and the storyline is already insanely overdramatic, but the singing makes the episode. Having chosen songs made famous by the show and lead by Sara Ramirez (a Tony award winner) it is astounding to hear how well these television actors sing. This musical episode could be compared to marmite: you either love it or hate it. If you do watch make sure you have a box of tissues by your side; Jessica Capshaw’s emotional performance alone made me cry within five minutes of watching. Kathryn Deighan
CREATIVE WRITING
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
Tarantula Heaven - A Short Story by Leo Hunt The desert exists in every direction, forever. There are no walls, no fences, and for as long as I’ve been here I’ve never seen the same rock or valley or cactus twice. I tread across the harsh sand softly, wearing light socks and no shoes. My clients are extremely sensitive to vibrations, especially when sleeping, and a light touch is required at all times. I wear a thin white suit and a large brimmed hat. In my right hand, I’m holding a pair of steel tongs, and in the other I have a plastic bucket filled with mice. The mice are lightly sedated and can’t do anything more than squirm whenever I tilt the container. Every ten steps I stop and extract a mouse from the bucket with the tongs, and drop the animal down onto the ground. The mice are disorientated by the bright light and extreme heat, and if they’re not too heavily drugged they will stumble towards the nearest rock, looking for shade. This is, unfortunately, where most of the clients can be found during the day and the mice are swiftly devoured. The desert lasts forever and my bucket of mice never comes close to being empty. I’m unsure whether this constitutes the whole of Mouse Hell, or if there are other subdivisions that I’m unaware of. Mice get eaten by an awful lot of animals, so I’d presume that Mouse Hell overlaps with at least Cat and Owl Heaven to some extent. Snakes eat mice too, if I remember correctly. Murphy, who’s been here longer than any of us, says that certain snake species used to be included in Tarantula Heaven, although there were lots of complaints from the clients and eventually an identical but separate desert was created for the aforementioned snakes. Politics. As I approach the next outcrop I see a few of the clients are awake and waiting for me in the lengthening patch of shade. One of them rears up and waves its fuzzy legs in dismay. ‘Waiting,’ it says, straight into my head, ‘been waiting.’ ‘Yo,’ I reply, ‘it’s meant to be Pete out here. I’m covering him as well today, alright? Just let’s be cool about this.’
clients wasting no time in draping their forelegs around their prey and sinking their fangs into the neck or back. The moral questions raised by this job are considerable. I think what bugs me the most is - what exactly constitutes a good tarantula? Was there a tarantula bible that I was unaware of? Do they have commandments? Thou shalt hide in holes. Thou shalt eat the flesh of the mouse. Tarantula shall never kill tarantula. Boy tarantula may not lie with boy tarantula, for that is sin. Then there’s the mice. How do mice sin? Did they speak out against God in between shitting under my floorboards and chewing their way into my cereal packet? What exactly did they do to deserve an eternal cycle of being eaten by spiders and then reappearing in my bucket? If someone has the answer to these questions, they are obviously a lot higher up the chain than anyone I’ve met. Another hundred steps, another ten distributions of mice, and my buzzer goes off for break time. Hey, I do get breaks here. This isn’t Hell. I’m just on probation. I do my time, feed the clients, and eventually I get my ticket to the big white gates. I also get cooked meals three times a day. I reach out with my right hand, find the silvery handle of a door hanging in the air and pull it open, stepping into the steel cold dining room. The dining room is white and silver and exists in every direction, forever. The air smells of honey and soft music plays from speakers on the ceiling. We’re not in Heaven but I know that when we’re here we are closer. I queue with the other workers, all of whom are wearing white. Nobody talks. I find that I’m holding a plastic tray although I don’t remember being given one. The chef is made of golden tubes that run with fire. His wings are folded behind him; jeweled eyes blink amongst the feathers. He gives me brown bread, slices of ham, broccoli, baked beans, custard and jam for dessert. As always I find that there’s a seat empty right next to me and I sit down to eat. I’m sitting with Burroughs and Hugh and some other men that I don’t know.
‘Waiting,’ says another of the spiders.
‘Ham,’ remarks Burroughs, pushing a strand of black hair back behind her ear.
‘Mice now.’
‘That’s right,’ I reply.
‘Man feed. Feed feed.’
‘I got tuna fish,’ she says. She holds up her sandwich. Burroughs only ever wants to talk about lunch.
‘Waiting.’ ‘Alright be cool, be cool. Here. Here it is.’ I dip the tongs into the bucket and let fly with rodent bodies. The mice - brown, grey, black - hit the dust with small thumps and are immediately pounced upon by the spiders, who don’t even bother to say thanks. The drugged animals don’t have a chance to get away, the
‘I had that yesterday,’ I say. Burroughs thinks that we’re in Hell. Sometimes when I’m walking through the desert with my bucket of mice I wonder if she’s right. When it’s lunch time I’m sure she’s wrong. Hell wouldn’t have baked beans. ‘Do you think we’ll get lunch in Heaven?’ asks
Hugh. ‘I would imagine so,’ I say. Hugh only ever wants to talk about Heaven. ‘I’m not so sure,’ he says. ‘How so?’ One of the supervisors drifts overhead. The beat of her wings sounds like a distant waterfall. Our steel table is briefly bathed
in golden light and the smell of fresh cut grass. ‘You never see the supervisors eating,’ says Hugh.
‘Feed feed.’
‘They don’t eat anything,’ says Hugh ‘because consumption is sin. It’s not our fault though, because we were made to eat.’
They follow me, hairy flowing across the parade. They wave at me and grasp at the trousers, trying to get
‘Right.’
‘Man feed now.’
‘Which is why,’ he says, ‘I’m not eating anything anymore. If we cease to consume we will enter Heaven.’
‘Very bad.’
Hugh is always full of this stuff. Desperate to find some way of tricking the system, to get a sniff of those white gates. When it becomes clear he’s serious about this, I take his biscuits and avocado and Burroughs takes his black pudding. We chat shit for a while and then the buzzer goes again. Burroughs looks pained. She works in Shark Heaven, which I’m led to understand is a rough gig. I give her a nod goodbye - doesn’t pay to get too close - and step back into the desert. The noise and smell and coolness of the dining room is cut off and the heat closes around me like a fevered grasping hand. I am carrying the bucket of mice and the tongs are once again held in my gloved right hand. I start to walk. I don’t know in what direction and I’ve decided it doesn’t matter. I do ten paces, twenty, thirty. I don’t lift any of the mice out of my bucket. None of my clients are fed. I am not a productive cog in the afterlife engine. After seventy, eighty paces, the clients start to become restless. This is their paradise, this is their eternal rest and joy. They demand fresh prey and they demand that it be regular. They hear their caretaker pass but the prey is not provided. The clients are disturbed and they begin to emerge from their holes.
‘You feed us.’
‘They eat manna,’ says Burroughs.
‘Wait,’ they say. ‘Not proper.’
b o d i e s sand in grim their forelegs back of my my attention.
‘Is rest. Our place.’
I turn around to look at the clients. There are at least a hundred now, squatting on the sand and rocks. I wave the silver tongs at them. ‘I’m not feeding you anymore,’ I tell them. ‘What what?’ ‘I refuse to be part of this anymore,’ I say, ‘I don’t see why your heaven should be someone else’s hell. Why is your heaven eating these mice?’ ‘Eat nice.’ ‘We like.’ ‘Well I’m not doing it anymore,’ I say. They start to clamor and complain. I expect one of them will lodge a message with the supervisors. Let them. I’m not doing this anymore. I’ll even become a part of Leech Heaven if they want, but I’m not helping create a heaven built on suffering and consumption. Spiders can’t sin, and neither can mice. I think the only one creating the sin here is me. I walk on across the desert that exists forever and I feel at peace. After a while I see something, far away on the horizon. It’s very small, and a pure glowing white. I start to walk towards it.
WIRED
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk
CLASS OF 2011
This academic year has been a relatively high-quality one for video games. The staple annual releases return with the likes of Fifa and Call of Duty, but there has also been an injection of new titles such as Bulletstorm, the MMO Rift for the PC and Super Meat Boy on the Xbox Live Arcade. What follows is a list of the top three all round games of the academic year, the Class of 2011, the honours students if you will. Narrowing the vast release catalogue down to three has been very difficult indeed and here are the rest of the Wired Top 10: 10. Mortal Kombat 9. Dead Space 2 8. Assassins Creed: Brotherhood 7. Super Meat Boy 6. Killzone 3 5. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm 4. Call of Duty Black Ops #3 Fifa 11: Just beating Black Ops to the number three spot is Fifa 11, a staple for any student with a PS3 or Xbox 360 simply because it is such a great communal game. EA Sports fine tuned the playing mechanics of the game this year leading it to overtake the Pro Evolution series in terms of game play realism. The sheer number of teams and game features leads players to haemorrhage hours honing
their skills. New features for this edition includes the ability to play as the goalkeeper in player pro mode. This, however, is not recommended unless you enjoy the sensation of standing in a field watching twenty people run around in front of you. Nevertheless, modes such as the Ultimate Team do posses very addictive characteristics. In this mode you collect and trade virtual trading cards containing players, kits, stadiums, and balls. This mode allows players to trade and play with each other over Xbox Live or PSN. Overall Fifa 11 is the most complete edition of the series so far with players being able to sink many, many hours into the “beautiful game”. However, if you have not bought it yet you might as well wait till Fifa 12’s release in October. #2 Sid Meier’s Civilisation V: The Civilisation series has been an essential part of any PC owner’s catalogue for many years now but Civilisation V has reached new levels of greatness. One could play on this game for many years and never fully complete it or touch on all the depths of the gameplay system. Again like Fifa 11, Civ V is highly addictive; one campaign alone could take up well in excess of six hours. The graphics a r e wonderful and act to maintain the slightly cartoony
does not store on the system. What makes it a key issue is that in an era w h e r e everything is done using the internet, on the mover or using a computer; it brings a crushing realisation that maybe even now we aren’t quite ready for the technology we have forged for ourselves. 77 million user accounts being taken is not something to baulk at, nor something to be taken lightly; it is an issue that needs wider coverage as it could happen to millions more who use t h e Apple App Store or the Android Marketplace. Unfortunately for Sony the PSN hack hasn’t been the end of the confusion, now Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) (which is responsible for its online PC gaming market, with titles like Everquest and DC Online),
Wired 13
ARE THEY TECHNICALLY WORTH IT? style of the series. The game play is enthralling as players strive to dominate the world in one of many ways including wiping out all other civilisations or building a space ship. It is almost impossible to win without entering i n t o combat with your opposition ,but the system has been refined t r e m e n d o u s l y, almost to the level where players are driven to seek out war with opposing factions. T h i s game is absolutely remarkable on all levels showing that the PC is still relevant as a gaming platform as it would be impossible for a game of this complexity and magnitude to exist on the consoles. An absolute must for anyone with a PC capable of running it. #1 Portal 2: Portal 2 is yet another achievement for Valve. Portal 2 goes to great lengths to show that games really can compete with films, theatre, and literature as a comprehensive art form. It is clear to see the lengths to which the developers have gone to create a truly spectacular experience. Many critics have commented on the relatively short campaign length. However, a play through of both the single player and multiplayer campaign will
NETWORK PROBLEMS On Wednesday 20th April Sony’s Playstation 3 and Playstation Portable online service, Playstation Network (PSN), was taken offline. This seemingly unannounced and unexpected move threw the gaming world into chaos, as that very weekend two of the years big hitters, Portal 2 and Mortal Kombat, launched worldwide and millions of users were left unable to play them to their full potential. Having noticed that their security systems had been broken, Sony switched off their online service to investigate and repair. After nearly a week of being offline (and with promises being made about its return after some large scale maintenance), Sony revealed easily the worst gaming press release of the year; over 70 million passwords and account details had been taken, and along with that the possibility of all registered credit and debit cards. For a service that has more registered users than the entire population of the United Kingdom, that’s one hell of a big deal. What makes this a key issue for the year is not that Sony profusely claims that users data was encrypted on their system, nor is it that to use a credit card on PSN you need to enter the cards security code, something that PSN
Issue 256 10st May 2011
has lost the details and credit cards information of around 17 million users, and so has been taken offline to be repaired. Nicely enough Sony realise they have to do a lot to regain consumer trust. They are starting by giving a years free subscription to anti-fraud service, as well as giving all PSN users a month of Playstation Plus (a bonus subscription service), and on top of that PS3 users have the choice of two out of four free games from PSN, and PSP users get a similar offer on PSP downloadable games. Sony are saying that the network will be up shortly but at the time of going to press the network is still down. Vaughn Highfield
take around ten to twelve hours. The games graphics are s u p e r b with huge underground spaces
2011 has been the year for technology. It’s been full of new and exciting inventions that have and will shape the future. Already its been the boom of 3D TV technology, the start of smaller and faster computer chips for better and faster smartphones. 2011 has even been the year where 3D has been surpassed by hologram imagery, although that is something still in massive R&D, but it shows that this year already is the year where the wind of change start for the technology industry. However alongside these great strides in the technology world there have been many fumbles, some fumbles that seem to have managed to still garner praise from some, and other inventions that just crash and burn. Wired has put together three of the popular technologies that ultimately aren’t worth the time of day yet people use them, abuse them and will clamber over others just to get their grubby mitts all over those shiny exteriors.
away underneath it all is the iconic Sony Playstation pad for playing games. Sounds pretty wonderful right? It even comes preloaded with five games from the Playstation Store for free! Shame the entire thing was such a shamble. Both Vodafone and O2 delayed launch of the handset as it did not meet their quality standards on launch. As for the Playstation functionality of the phone its severely limited to PS1 games that have been uploaded and any currently compatible titles. You cannot use your previously purchased PSN titles or PS1 titles on it either. Surely something with the clout of Playstation should be superbly integrated?
and back facing camera, long battery life and a newer processor. Sounds like Apple are onto a winner doesn’t it? However despite it selling and leaving Apple Stores across the country looking like they had been hit by a natural disaster it was a rather lacklustre product. Tablets that were already on the market surpassed the abilities of the iPad 2 and for many people using Android is much more accessible than Apples integrated OS. Ultimately as market pioneers, Apple should have taken the tablet market a huge leap forward again, rather than just updating theirs to the standards of its competition.
#3 SonyEricsson Xperia Play Known to many as the Playstation Phone, and the worst kept technology secret in the last few years. Sony’s little portable phone baby runs on the latest Google Android Operating System (Gingerbread), boasts a very nice 4 inch AMOLED screen for high resolution images and if that wasn’t enough tucked
#2 iPad 2 Here is a successor to something that many ultimately called pointless in the first place. The iPad was revolutionary, and as usual Apple saw a market space, created it and now rule it. However the iPad may have been the tablet everybody was after, probably purely down to aesthetics and marketing, but it was quickly made obsolete by its competitors. The arrival of the iPad 2 on the tablet scene should have surely fixed this situation, and placed Apple squarely back on top to quash those who believed their product to be superior. The problem is it didn’t The iPad 2 boasted a thinner profile, a front
#1 (Any location check in app thing) Ok this is a little bit of a cop-out seeing as it isn’t a single product or invention, and some of them have been around sine before 2011, however many have only come into prominent use this year. In case you are not aware these applications allow the user to ‘check in’ at a location and gain points or inform others that they have ‘checked in’ at these places. Applications like Foursquare allow one person to
become a ‘mayor’ of a location for signing in more than anybody else at that place. All sounds like a little bit of fun between friends but then Facebook got on board, even Twitter has managed to jump onto the location locomotive. Thanks to location check in apps built into Twitter and Facebook on iPhones, Blackberry’s and Android devices, a Facebook news feed can become a torrent of who’s done what and where. A stalker’s dream. However unless you are that aforementioned stalker this is by far the single most annoying development of technology ever created. Who cares if you’ve just popped to the Tesco that’s not down your road but in fact the next road over! Or if you tweeted something about t h e events happening in Lybia but in fact you are sat in your comfy home in the Midlands? It seems pointless to include such a feature into anything you do unless you want to tell all those you know that now would be the ideal time to rob you blind, because you just popped out to the cinema unexpectedly for the evening. Vaughn Highfield
CHARITABLE FUN
TWEET THIS!
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The UEA’s Anime Society and Games Society joined forces late last semester to raise money for charity as part of the Union-backed Charity Week. They did this by putting their best skills to use and holding a video games event, involving casual multiplayer exploits as well as a tournament. With a range of platforms to hand, from N64 to PS3, eight courageous twoplayer teams stepped up from the crowd and matched their skills in Rock Band, GoldenEye, Street Fighter and more, battling for glorious victory and the ultimate prize – a £10 voucher each. In a display of great dedication to the cause, the winners of the tournament chose to donate those prizes to charity. There was also an auction which raised £90 (thanks in no small part to Haruhi Suzumiya). In total, their combined shenanigans were able to raise over £300 for Alzheimer’s Research UK. As the President of AnimeSoc put it: “With our powers combined, we are epically epic! Thanks to everyone who was there and to anyone who offered support!” The groups hope to hold a similar event next year.
Some of the best, most interesting or just downright funny people tweeting right now!
Here’s one of the choice facebook groups doing rounds at the moment!
Boxee
Fun links to pass the time between socialising and learning.
@wavveswavves - San Diego based noise/ surfer rock band Wavves’s official Twitter feed. Alongside your staple up and coming bands tweets about local shows and album updates, this account is used to express the everday views of the band. It ranges from the mundade insults flug between them to the profound, and often hilarious, observations of human interaction happening around them. Even if you aren’t a fan of the music, their twitterfeed will continually amuse you.
I hate it when people ask for extra paper in exams. WTF are you writing!?
forming Portal 2’s various test chambers. The puzzles are varied and enjoyable, while still challenging the gamer. Players cannot help but get the feeling that this game was created by people more intelligent than themselves. Another area that stands out is the fantastic voice acting that runs throughout. Steven Merchant and J. K. Simmons of Spiderman and Juno fame provide humour and wit throughout the campaign. The game mechanics are fundamentally gratifying, underpinning this great experience. There are few things more pleasing in video games than using portals, and orange and blue liquid to propel yourself though the air after spending fifteen minutes working how to get to that point. Portal 2 is an early front runner for game of year and it is a truly fantastic example of what the video game medium can achieve. Josh Mott
William Moran
@Garbodor - He’s big, he’s mean and he’s made of your rubbish! Garbodor is one bad-ass Pokémon from the newest entries in the series (Pokémon Black & White for those interested) and ranks in at #569 in the national Pokédex, but that hasn’t stopped Garbodor from tweeting like he is king of the world. Always campaigning for a Garbodor takeover of Twitter and routinely dismissing all other Pokémon as weaker than the mighty Garbodor! Its a pipeline directly into that garbage bag of a mind Garbodor has.
You’re staring at the page, wondering what the hell you are going to write, you look around and there is someone already asking for another work booklet. TWELVE PAGES already steamed through! Your mind starts to wonder what the hell they need more booklets for? Maybe their writing is just massive, literally 3 words a page... Maybe they like to draw pictures after each paragraph, or maybe they are just writing absolute rubbish. This group sympathises completely with you. Its a place of appreciation and wonder at what these people are actually writing. At least its a nice distraction from revision.
We’ve all been there, you’re sat browsing the web and you come across a film or a TV series you have always wanted to watch. Yet you would rather watch it on your TV so you can see it comfortably, maybe even your housemates want to get involved, and your PS3 doesn’t want to play the format so it looks like your only option is to huddle round the computer screen. Not anymore. Boxee is a free to download program for Windows, Linux and OSX that collects all the programs and films freely available online and easily converts it so you can watch it on your tv via your laptop! With added applications such as Mubi and Netflix Boxee can become your central media hub via your laptop entirely for free! http://www.boxee.tv/make
Oli and Alex (James’ Face) This is just one article on a blog full of brilliance. Oli and Alex are work colleagues partners in fun and have apparently never kissed. (Alex is a girl, incase you didn’t know). Their blog is all about observations from their jobs or the mischievous fun they have between them. James’ Face post is especially fun because it takes facebook photos of Oli and ever so slightly changes them giving them a completely different and hilarious tone. Check it out if you want to burn some minutes between revision. www.oliandalex.com/james-face/ You Might Like This The name of the site describes practically what it contains, things you might find interesting. Various witty articles ranging from beautiful photography to the weird and wonderful lives of those Americans who jump into shows like Jerry Springer and Maury. Its a mish mash of excellence... www.youmightlikethis.com
FILM
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
Water for Elephants Dir: Francis Lawrence Release Date: 4/5/11
The hotly anticipated Water For Elephants is an adaptation of Sara Gruen’s best-selling novel which revolves around the life of Jacob Jankowski, played by Hollywood heartthrob Robert Pattinson. Starting as an old man in a nursing home, Jankowski casts his mind back to the 1930s where, whilst studying to become a vet he is told that his parents have died in a car crash. Riddled with grief and battling surmounting debts he runs away to join the circus, using his veterinary skills to earn himself a job. However, don’t let this mislead you, the film and circus itself is rather
dark and twisted, headed up by August (Christoph Watlz) the paranoid schizophrenic ringleader who gives a wonderful but chilling performance following on from Hans Lander in Inglorious Basterds. A first choice for any upcoming psychotic roles as he switches from charming to
old-fashioned aesthetic, with the breathtaking set designs and costumes, that seem to be a rare treat in an industry filled with CGI and 3D films. Water For Elephants displays the circus performers somersaults and acrobatics, adding a sense of awe and magic. The actors all give good performances, Robert Pattinson fits surprisingly
intimidating in a second. Rounding up the leading trio is Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) the wife of August who begins a doomed love affair with Jacob and has some of the most glamorous costumes in the whole picture. What makes the film special and a pleasure to watch is that
With an opening scene that sees our hero being chased by a whole village of angry midgets, you immediately know what you’re in for with Your Highness. Directed by Pineapple Express’s David Gordon Green, this medieval comedy never pretends to be anything but completely ridiculous. The laid back stoner, Prince Theodus (Danny McBride) has always stood in the shadow of his dashing, heroic elder brother Prince Fabeous (James Franco). Resigned to his fate as the underdog, the most daring escapade Theodus embarks upon is chasing sheep and, of course, women. However, all
this changes when Fabeous’s beautiful fiancée (Zooey Deschanel) is captured by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux) and Theodus are forced to join Fabeous on a dangerous quest to save her. Along the way they meet sexy warrior princess Isabel (Natalie Portman) and the three face everything from monsters to paedophilic sorcerers. Sporting mock British accents and prancing around the countryside in ridiculous medieval outfits this film is nothing but a bit of fun. Reliant upon relentless stoner gags and crude innuendos it is certainly not the smartest comedy you’ll see this year. But it is certainly capable of providing some light relief from revision. Lorna Pontefract
Dir: Catherine Hardwicke Release Date: 15/4/11
Red Riding Hood, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is an adaptation of the wellknown fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood. The storyline is that a small village is terrorized by a werewolf until someone arrives to save the village from this monstrous beast. Unfortunately, it does not live up to the standards of such a classic fairytale story. The script is simply diabolical, with corny catchphrases and horribly overdone moments; it just fails. The acting is more horrifying than the so called threat of the ‘big bad wolf ’. Amanda Seyfried tries to extract sympathy from the
it’s not everyday you see such a large creature perform tricks with such elegance and ease. Unable to compare the film to the novel personally, word around the water cooler is that it loses some of its charm but was adapted well enough to capture most of what the book was about and flows smoothly from one scene to another. The film itself is certainly enjoyable and doesn’t leave you unsatisfied. It will most likely attract women; the casting of Pattinson coupled with the epic romance, secures a certain niche audience but that shouldn’t stop others from giving it a try as you’ll be guaranteed a beautiful film and a magical experience. Radosava Radulovic
Your Highness Red Riding Hood
Dir: David Gordon Green Release Date: 13/4/11
well into the time period and is far from the pale, brooding Edward Cullen character which is lucky, and both Jacob Jankowskis (the old Jacob played by Hal Holbrook) do a good job of stitching their roles together to create the lapse in time. But the actors are perhaps upstaged occasionally by Rosie the elephant. Not to say the humans are boring but
audience but simply doesn’t succeed. The two male leads seem to have been cast merely on looks as opposed to talent and unfortunately, not even Gary Oldman can save this train wreck. The only thing saving this film from being a complete failure is the cinematography which is incredibly inspiring and outstanding. Hardwicke also directed Twilight, which, disappointingly, was actually a better film than this. Although it is not its intention, this film will cause you to laugh, so if you’re looking for a good piece of entertainment that is light-hearted and you can ignore the underrated script and awful acting then this is the film for you. Samantha Rogers
Thor
Director: Kenneth Branagh Release Date: 27/4/11
Kicking off the summer blockbuster season is the latest movie from Marvel Studios, Thor. The film begins with astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) discovering Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in the New Mexico desert after he falls from the sky through some strange celestial worm hole. After this the story flashes back to the visually spectacular Asgard to tell the grand back story of the God of Thunder. Thor comes to be banished from Asgard for his foolish ways and finds himself on earth while his jealous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) takes the throne
of Asgard. Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor’s and Loki father provides the necessary shakespearian gravitas for the Norse tale. The greatest achievement of this film is that it does not take itself too seriously; it is trying to be enjoyable and nothing more. It is not making any new ground in cinema but is overall, more than anything fun. Do not go in expecting the director, Kenneth Branagh’s more familiar shakespearian tendencies because here you will almost definitely enjoy yourself. Branagh does a great job of making this slightly farfetched comic book hero movie very entertaining and it will please all including Marvel fan boys. Josh Mott
Film 1 5
Issue 256 10th May 2011
Sucker Punch
Director: Zack Snyder Release Date: 1/4/11 Sucker Punch marks director Zack Snyder’s biggest creative step in the film industry. Combining his own recognised slow motion visual style with a script and story of his own creations and fantasies, his latest film had strong potential to assert Snyder’s image and appeal to a host of action-orientated spectators. Disappointingly, Sucker Punch comes up short in trying to maintain a cohesive balance between impressive visual effects and a compelling narrative. The film follows the escapades of young Baby Doll, played by Emily Browning, who is wrongly persecuted for a crime against her abusive father. She is confined to a
mental asylum with a host of other young women where they continue to revert into their own subconscious realities, as a means of escaping the asylum once and for all. Visually speaking, Sucker Punch will satisfy any fans of Snyder’s previous works like 300 and Watchmen but undoubtedly at times, the extravagant set pieces can come across as overly stimulating, as if Snyder has constructed a variety of absurd music videos, and he can’t quite find a way of making a story out of them. Granted, this is a thoroughly entertaining mayhem of a movie and, despite the plot inconsistencies, it’s worth the admission price, so long as you check your brain in at the front door. Andrew Wilkins
Scream 4
Director: Wes Craven Release Date: 15/4/11
With the surplus of horror remakes gracing cinema screens of late, there seemed no better time for Wes Craven to revive his Scream franchise. The original cast reunites for the fourth instalment, which aimed to deconstruct and scrutinise the conventions of the Hollywood remake. In the fifteen years since the harrowing Woodsboro massacre, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has managed to rebuild her life and write a successful self-help book. The final leg of her book tour returns Sidney to her hometown, where she finds herself amidst a new murder case at the hands of another movie-obsessed serial killer. This new Ghostface follows
a new set of rules, where the murders have to be bigger, bloodier, and more extravagant than before. As with every instalment of the Scream franchise, Scream 4 is undeniably fun. The relentless yet clumsy Ghostface, along with the film’s self-referential humour, are as entertaining as ever to watch. Yet Craven, in setting himself the impossible task, may have shot himself in the foot. The novelty of the original cast reunion wears off quickly and the film is unable to avoid its inescapable predictability. By pointing out that “the unexpected is the new cliché”, screenwriter, Kevin Williamson excuses his own shortcomings, but sadly the franchise will never be as sharp as it once was. James Burrough
The Roommate
Director: Christian E. Christiansen Release Date: 8/4/11
2,000 colleges, 8 million roommates. Which one will you get? This is the uninspiring tagline of the uninspiring film The Roommate. The film follows the story of small town girl Sarah Matthews (Minka Kelly) who moves to LA to go to college. Sarah’s roommate is mentally ill Rebecca (Gossip Girls’s Leighton Meester) who becomes obsessed with Sarah and gets rid of anyone who makes her unhappy. The Roommate doesn’t have much to offer, marketed as a thriller it is far from thrilling. After an hour nothing of note has happened; there has been
no action and no suspense. It is only in the last ten minutes that the film takes off, but even this is done to a mediocre degree. Meester does do a good job with the character of Rebecca and she practically shines beside weak, bland Minka Kelly. The film seems confused about its genre; it has some aspects of a thriller, some of a drama and some of a horror, so as a whole it doesn’t really work. Given its lack of anything impressive it is surprisingly watchable; however this isn’t enough to redeem it and after an hour and a half you are left wandering what it was you just sat through, and hoping you won’t have to do it again.
Helen Jones
Dvd Releases The Tourist
Burlesque
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Release Date: 4/4/11 Hold tight while boat chases and fast cuts dominate this espionage-style film. Angelina Jolie stars, playing an individual wanted in connection with her lover Pearce, who is a criminal who owes money to a gangster named Shaw (Steven Berkoff). In a bid to distract Shaw’s men and the police from finding the real Pearce, Elise selects Frank (Johnny Depp), an American Tourist, as a doppelganger en route to Venice and leads the men after her into confusion. This thriller is full of comedy and romantic kerfuffles; the kind that is
Director: Steve Antin Release Date: 25/4/11
just right for a star like Jolie. Known for her masculine oriented type roles, Jolie’s character is ultra feminine, mysterious and her dresses are elegant as she cleverly dodges her pursuers in this film. Contrast this with Depp’s comical performance and your laughing throughout; It’s not an obvious choice to see Jolie and Depp together, the attempt seems to work and one that is definitely welcoming after watching the
undenying screen rapport both have in this story. A visually stunning piece, though it is by von Donnersmarck, the film could have benefited from more exploration into Jolie and Depp’s characters. Running around the streets and canals of Venice playing ‘hide and seek’ leaves the viewer feeling slightly short changed for what could have been a more promising plot. Lathaniel Dyer
With the emerging trend of abominably stagnant dancechoreography films such as Street Dance, Step Up and Stomp the Yard, it’s been a while since Hollywood brought us something with a little more class. The premise of Burlesque, although unsensational, had the potential to be a scantilydressed, champagne dancing revitalization to the dance layout. Sadly, recruiting Christina Aguilera as the lead protagonist probably isn’t the best start. After small-town girl Ali is hired as a waitress in a downtown Burlesque lounge, she soon realises that business
is failing and manager Tess is seriously struggling to keep ownership of the venue altogether. Cue Christina’s big chance to step up on stage and save the day with her cute-but-not-so-naïve dance routines, out of the blue business strategies and notoriously loud set of pipes. Let’s admit straight off that this is Cabaret part 2, and there is too much squawking and too little cheeky striptease about it. The set pieces are
pretty, there’s a handful of catchy songs and Stanley Tucci and Kristen Bell make welcome additions to the cast. But someone needs to explain why Aguilera’s character acts like a conceited princess, screws up a marriage, doesn’t learn her lesson and still gets the gorgeous guy in the finale. Recommended only for throwback fans of Cher and Cam Gigandet’s abs. Steph McKenna
Issue 256 10th May 2011
16 Film
Coming Soon
Andrew Wilkins looks forward to Hobo With A Shotgun, a future Grindhouse classic in the making.
Interest in Hobo with a Shotgun originally emerged shortly after the release of the double bill feature Grindhouse. This joint collaboration by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez attempted to reignite audience interest with the Grindhouse cinema of the late 1970s where exploitation films were released as late night double
bill features. These films were usually cheap in appearance and used violence, gore and sex scenes to draw in the attention of its audiences. Tarantino and Rodriguez combined their separate films, Death Proof and Planet Terror, into a double cinema release with fake trailers created as a visual interval between the two films.
One such trailer was for a film called Machete, which received impressive critical interest. Robert Rodriguez went on to write and codirect a full length feature, released in 2010 and starring Mexican hard man Danny Trejo as Machete Cortez. Another success story was with Hobo with a Shotgun. This originated as a trailer submitted in a competition
The Popcorn Chart Starter for 10 (2006) Follow Brian Jackson (James McAvoy), as he enrols at the University of Bristol. Set in 1985, against the backdrop of Thatcherism, Starter for 10 is a story of how an average scholarship boy from seaside Essex with a love of knowledge experiments in his first year at University. At Bristol he tries out for the ‘University Challenge’ team and falls under the spell of Alice, his sexually promiscuous teammate. This British film, comedically documents the life of a first year student, and the precious highs and lows of student life. Brian’s curious cocktail mix up with love, drugs, protesting and violence will only get you laughing, reminiscing, and supporting his every move.
Accepted (2006) We all love the University experience, but what if you had the opportunity to create your own University? Would you take it? Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long) did just that. After slacking high school and being rejected from every school he applies, fun-loving
Bartleby opts to create his own institution of higher learning, the South Harmon Institute of Technology, on a rundown piece of property near his hometown. Both him and his friends, including Sherman (Jonah Hill) strive to create a haven of exciting, student learning. The question is, can they pull it off?
Road Trip (2000) I think we’ve all done something we regret at University, and if we’re lucky, it’s not recorded on film. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Josh Parker (Breckin Meyer). When moving to University, after being with girlfriend Tiffany since childhood, Josh hooks up with sexy blonde flirt Beth, and all is captured on video camera. This tape is accidentally sent to his girlfriend Tiffany, instead of a previously recorded one, with Josh telling her about University life. This instigates a hilarious 2,000-mile road trip to Tiffany’s University, where Josh and his friends, including the unforgettable E.L (Seann William Scott) struggle to retrieve the explicit tape.
Legally Blonde (2001) This one’s for you girls out there. When blonde sorority queen Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) gets dumped by her high-flying boyfriend, she decides to follow him to law school, to prove her ability and get him back. After getting into Harvard, there she learns she has more legal savvy than she ever imagined, and soon Elle’s goals become far more ambitious than she ever intended. This University chick flick brings to order all the girl power it can muster. Case closed.
Van Wilder: Party Liason (2002) The most popular guy on campus, making partying his area of expertise, Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds) meets a beautiful journalist Gwen (Tara Reid) who writes a very unflattering article about him. While trying to win her over, Van Wilder dares her to get the true story. This film offers the premise “If you’re going for an advanced degree in partying... Why graduate?” You’re about to find out.
as part of promotion for the Grindhouse feature. Hobo went on to win the competition receiving a sudden emergence of global interest. Trailer director Jason Eisener vowed to transfer the trailer to a full length release and has since kept his promise with the film’s American release in early March and its UK release coming this summer. The confirmation of German star Rutger Hauer as the Hobo lead sent fan boys into hysterics because of his career defining and show stealing turn as the replicant Roy Batty in Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction classic, Blade Runner. Hobo with a Shotgun looks set to reprise many of the successful themes
of original grindhouse conventions, including an emphasis on overblown violence and a detrimental outlook on an urban society. The film will follow Rutger Hauer as an everyday hobo who arrives at irony filled Hope Town to take on the likes of crooks, paedophiles and drug dealers who threaten to overthrow the town into a disarray of violence and crime. Fans of popular superhero franchise should warm strongly to this film, as Hauer’s hobo takes on a vigilante role, akin to the likes of Batman and Spiderman. But where Spiderman uses webs and Batman his faithful Batarang, the hobo will rely on his trusty pump-action shotgun to bring justice to
the criminals that infest and pray on the innocent. No doubt this film will satisfy anyone with a thirst for gritty violence and with a title like Hobo with a Shotgun, it’s clear that this film will be a prime example of ‘what you see is what you get.’ Despite the seeming simplicity of the film, Eisener’s decision to use the outcast image of a hobo as a means of cleaning up and helping a crime ridden town is an ironic and deeply meaningful one. The film has already gone on to high praise during its Canadian and American release which should serve as an accurate precursor for what is to come for Rutger Hauer and his 12 gauge shotgun when it reaches UK cinemas on the 22nd July.
With summer on the way, Anna Eastick takes a look at some university flicks that’ll keep you from missing UEA too much.
MUSIC
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
GIG REPORTS THE BLACKOUT
WAT E R F R O N T 1 0 / 0 4 / 2 0 1 1
Photo by Geraldine Morizet
By now it’s pretty much a given fact that Sean Smith is a cocky little sod. The last time Concrete came across The Blackout was for the 2010 Relentless Kerrang! Tour when he cheekily insinuated that university students were nothing more than a rabble of drugtaking, traffic cone-stealing nymphomaniacs. A year later, and a few weeks after the release of their third full-length album, Hope, fans are out in full force for The Blackout’s sold-out show at the Waterfront. The wall of enthusiasm, completed by armies of young teenagers - both girl and boy - in matching make up and black clothes is equally nostalgic as it is completely mortifying. For the opening acts Hyro da Hero and The Swellers, it’s undoubtedly a benefit, as the crowd are quite happy to lend an ear and bounce around aimlessly to their contrasting sounds. Hyro plays an acceptable blend of hip-hop with heavier rock bass lines, but doesn’t keep up to par with the ‘unique’ label he is trying to pitch. By contrast, Michigan outfit The Swellers are a welcome presence back in Norwich after their first visit supporting Young Guns late last year; playing a fast-paced set of pop-punk that harkens back to the days of 90s American melodic rock such as Jimmy Eat World. When the Blackout take to the stage it’s with a posture of bold self-assurance that is expectedly met by a barrage of noise. They keep the tension under boil by opening with the new album intro ‘Ambition is Critical’ before launching into hit single ‘Children of the Night’, complete with chant-along chorus that bounces back and forth between audience and stage. The set is a tried-andtested blend of old school favourites - from ‘It’s High Tide Baby!’ to ‘I’m a Riot? You’re a fucking Riot!’ - to newly showcased material from Hope, which is met with an surprisingly equal amount of interest and fervency, pretty much sealing the band’s reputation as British teen favourites for another year to come. Things get a little cringeworthy when they start sampling KRS-One’s ‘Sound of da Police’, but there’s generally little to criticise about a band that knows how to deliver a relaxed and expert-sounding performance with enough light banter in-between. Smith, of course, is so relaxed he’s practically horizontal. A few days prior to the Norwich show, he became the centre of a full-scale online riot of flip-flop jokes after he launched into the crowd during a gig to punch a gatecrasher for hitting him with a shoe. No rogue footwear tonight, but there is a tense moment when a repeatedly snide joke about Norfolk’s ‘inbred’ population is met with hostility by even the most devoted of devotees. “I’m joking, I’m joking”, he finally admits, but maybe he needs another year to finally establish when the line is met. Steph McKenna
Issue 256 10th May 2011
18 Music
METRONOMY
LIVE | WATERFRONT | 15/03/2011 It either takes a madman or a genius to pass off LED lights as a cutting edge fashion accessory. On the basis of tonight’s gig, Metronomy front man, Joseph Mount can legitimately claim to be both. Cutting through the gloom of the Waterfront, the now notorious pre-synced lights flicker from the chests of the band as they take to the stage with a new album, The English Riviera. Long known as purveyors of electronic pop, the barely restrained hysteria of sophomore record Nights Out is still present in the band’s live performance but is tempered by a more mature sound and brooding bass line that lurks beneath their latest tracks. Bassist Gbenga Adelekan is the prowling, disquieting force behind a varied set of manic electro pop, tautly handling his instrument as he accompanies Mount with a piercing falsetto. ‘The Look’ is a heartfelt ode to Mount’s hometown of Devon and expertly conveys the atmosphere of an offseason English seaside with a piping melody heady with the nostalgic air of fairground organs. There are no signs of slacking post line-up alteration, with new drummer Anna Prior keeping a tight grasp on the rhythms that make Metronomy’s music so eminently danceable. Live, the cathartic pop of oldie ‘On Dancefloors’ becomes a melancholy dance floor filler with whining synths a euphoric
expression of yearning and discontent. A gaggle of pubescent boys cluster at the barrier to demand old favourites and respond to ‘A Thing For Me’ with such ecstatic fervour that sweaty fisticuffs erupt during the chorus. At moments like this, it’s all too easy to label Metronomy as merely a party band with a fine line in boisterous art rock. Five seconds into current single ‘She Wants’, the realisation hits that they are much, much more than that. A master class in restrained longing, the shrill vocals that so often exemplified their past efforts have been replaced by gentler crooning and serve to highlight the band’s progression. Escaping to the car park to avoid the post-gig 80s night Mount strains to give his verdict on the night over the pounding strains of Cyndi Lauper: “It’s only the second night of tour, so it’s pretty easy-going right now.” As the clammy masses who witnessed the effortless handling of a mid-performance Apple Mac malfunction with an impromptu beer raffle will agree, Metronomy’s ascent to the echelons of electronica will surely be just as painless.
Emily Prichard
ALBUM | THE ENGLISH RIVIERA The English Riviera is a really mature album, the new found melancholy is still balanced against the endearingly childish synth melodies and swooping falsetto that Metronomy fans have come to know and love. Joseph Mount has drawn the good bits of his old music and successfully used them to compliment a change in musical direction. The best example of this working is the amazing ‘Corinne’, a woeful lament to falling in love with “inanimate objects, particularly, but not specifically a gun” that utilises both Mount’s previously established talent for brilliantly sheepish lyricism; “I got my heart tied up, got my heart in a bind/She just wants to dance all the time”, and his newfound fetish for soaring, euphoric synth lines, building from Mount wailing over reassuringly electronic drums to epic, falsetto-led funkiness. Similarly, the debut single ‘She Wants’ is gloominess at it grooviest, with Cure-esque bass leading into a bridge characterised by typically Metronomy synth squelches, and ‘The Look’ is a really shimmering, seductive four minutes. There’s a few tracks that hark more obviously back to his wonky electronic origins, noticeably the gloriously warped ‘Loving Arm’, which feels like it’s been recorded underwater, meshing several
awkward melodies together in a way that’s certainly funky, if not necessarily danceable. The songs that feature complete self reinvention are interesting; ‘Some Written’ sounds worryingly like lounge music for the first few minutes, but piercing synth and wobbly arpeggios casually filter into the backing help remind you that Mount at his most laid back is still more inventive than a lot of other musicians, with the kazoo led jam providing a definite highlight. ‘Everything Goes My Way’ is sickly sweet electro-folk, and closer ‘Love Underlined’ is a really odd, messy song, with tense vocals, maraca accents and weird drum patterns building to quick snatches of heavy, dancefloor friendly bass. Whereas pretty much all of Nights Out was single material, there are only a few tracks on this that provoke manic shape-making. It’s a lot less instantly satisfying, and the move away from their previous skewed pop means a lot of the album can feel a little underwhelming. If you can embrace the gloom/groove combo, as well as the preference for acoustic drums, The English Riviera is a really rewarding album.
Sean Purdy
Music 1 9
Issue 256 10th May 2011
GIG REPORTS E L I Z A DOOLITTLE
U E A , L C R 0 6 / 0 4 / 2 0 1 1
She bounded on to the LCR stage, just as she did the charts, with her signature style causing the audience to tap their feet and hum along to her catchy, infectious hit singles. The backdrop which framed the stage captured her fun loving personality with a picture of a gigantic, bright-coloured rollerblade surrounded by numerous flashing lights being the first indicator as to what kind of show it would be: fun, bubbly and although at times captivatingly awkward, incredibly energetic! She opened with the hugely popular ‘Moneybox’ and showed from the very beginning that she is not just a pretty face, but also a great British find; if anything,
sounding stronger vocally live than on her records. ‘Moneybox’ seemed the perfect choice for the opening song with the energy from the audience palpable as the young singer effortlessly strutted around the stage declaring; Take your dollar, your buck, I couldn’t give a penny... This song particularly accentuates how lyrically genius Doolittle’s songs are, taking a simple concept and transforming it into a soulful, twee number. Other highlights included the delightful ‘Back to Front’, witty ‘Mr. Medicine’ and it goes without saying that ‘Pack Up’ set the stage on fire, which is understandable as it rocketed to the top of the charts last summer!
Doolittle also mixed up her set a little with the inclusion of some memorable covers such as Bruno Mars’ ‘Grenade’, which she definitely put her individual stamp on, but unfortunately failed to live up to the original. It must be said that it is rather obvious that Doolittle is new to the pop scene; at times entering into awkward banter with the audience, which often fell flat and began to feel uncomfortable. Perhaps more experience being at the forefront of celebrity culture will ensure that Eliza Doolittle is more relaxed and will know how to work an excitable audience. However, this did not take away from the performance as a whole and in
fact accentuated that Doolittle has not let the fame go to her head and that her feet are still firmly on the ground. As her witty lyrics state she is by name “Do-little, but she does a lot!” and she certainly does do “the best with what she got”: a fun and friendly personality, a stunning vocal range and all in all a fresh, lively and summery upbeat performance, which caused those fast approaching summer months seem to that little bit closer and able to pervade the LCR for just one night
Rianne Ison
Issue 256 31st March 2011
20 Music
CD REVIEWS MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA SIMPLE MATH Say what you like about Manchester Orchestra, you can’t fault their work ethic. Since re-leasing 2009’s Mean Everything to Nothing, front man Andy Hull has found the time to write and record last year’s Bad Books album with Kevin Devine, record the final part of the Right Away, Great Captain trilogy and keep track of his record label, Favourite Gentleman. And yet, he’s still got the time and energy to create something as ambitious and grandiose as Simple Math, an album that Hull describes as “a story about a 23-year old who questions everything from marriage to love to religion to sex”. One thing’s for sure – it doesn’t sound rushed. From the moment that the delicate ‘Deer’ bleeds in to ‘Mighty’, it becomes clear that the Manchester Orchestra have not stood still after losing a drummer and turning 23. Sure, Hull’s gift for crafting sparse, poetic lyrics and laying them over such beautifully
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simple melodies that they could be nursery rhymes is still evident – more than ever in fact. But everything’s bigger. When it’s quiet, you’ve got to move right up to your speakers to hear Hull’s southern drawl, when it’s loud it hits you so hard that you’ve got to use a suit of fucking armour instead of ear plugs and just when you think they’ve found their niche, they rip the whole thing apart and tell you that they’ve ‘got that rock and that roll’ on April Fool, as if they’re drinking in a Nashville dive circa 1974. The title track, at once lazy, chaotic and graceful, is the ideal centrepiece. Sweeping strings frame Hull’s voice and Robert McDowell’s delay-drenched guitar whilst building subtly to a crescendo bigger than the South itself. But the true gift of Simple Math is its sense of coherence beneath ten tracks so radically different from one another. That MO dropped 25 tracks to come to these 10 shows more than anything that there was a story to tell and that this record, a concept album at its core, had to tell it without breaking off on a tangent. Just as The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me ripped Brand New from the spiky clutches of their genre, so Simple Math takes Manchester Orchestra in to a world all of their own Alex Ross
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EXTENDED PLAY #1 Deers are 5 local guys who are very much in a band. It seems obvious to say that, but so often you find acts who are clearly led by a frontman or by a prodigious talent who simply needs backing, but this is simply not the case with the Norwich boys. No one of them is the ‘stag’ of the group, they all know their instruments very well, most of them sing, and in utilising all that they work together to create music they want to hear. Not only are they a talented bunch, but they are industrious too; having formed late 2010 they have already released this EP and have another due very soon. It’s difficult to nail Deers down to one sound, but broadly speaking they are an alternative rock band. That said though, all of the stereotypes that tag suggests are very quickly banished once you have dipped into their EP. Yes, they focus on soaring vocals, distorted guitars and driving percussion, and at just four tracks long it’s a pretty standard release, but the maturity and the musical breadth present is striking, and even more impressive when you learn it was all recorded in a bedroom in a matter of weeks. The proficient guitar work, be it the intricate line in ‘MTS’, the glitchy riff in the middle of personal favourite ‘A Moment of
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Weakness’ or the brutal tone in ‘Dolphins’, is the glue that holds the band together, but it’s by no means the only thing going on. Great lyricism; a solid drummer who throws in fills all over the shop; complex, intertwining three-part vocal harmonies; as well as fairly frequent shifts in tone and rhythm makes each song interesting, but also creates a signature sound which gels the EP together wonderfully. The tracks are all available on the bands SoundCloud (/wearedeers) so go and download them for free and once you’ve caught the bug you may as well go and see them live at The Crypt @ Bedfords on June 8th, it’ll be well worth it. Alex Throssell
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Moon Duo’s latest release Mazes is a glorious mix of contemporary and retro. Album opener ‘Seer’, a harmonically stunted but sonically majestic track, with its fuzzy guitars and deep percussion coaxes you into the record with its obtuse lack of development. After being perplexingly simple for the first three minutes it quickly reaches its apogee during the beautifully warped guitar solo which, in an instant, transports you back to what we thought the 70s was like; sun, LSD and silhouetted girls dancing on rainbow backgrounds and it suddenly makes so much sense. The record manages to hark back to the glory days of rock and roll, but Moon Duo’s brand of en vogue hazy pop also keeps them unwaveringly on trend. ‘Scars’ slows things down and seems more considered; warbling chords, organ melodies and a bit of progression makes the subdued sensation a standout track. ‘Fallout’, a personal highlight, has a beefier guitar tone, a kind of ghost of shoegaze past, which bludgeons you until you sink into the chaotically beautiful crescendo and are again lost in daydreams of shimmering sun. Unfortunately it’s around this point when Moon Duo’s sound begins to drag a little. It’s
not to detract from the remaining pieces as standalones, but as a whole, the album seems to be plagued by too much focus. The songs, which are also fairly long, simply blend together, and whilst that might be translated brilliantly on stage and could provide a great backing to an evening, when listening to the album straight through it leaves just a bit more to be desired. Alex Throssell
Music 21
Issue 256 31st March 2011
RE-CREATIONISM? Tyler, The Creator, the talisman and emphatic ring leader of OFWGKTA, is embarking on a no holds barred journey of self expression, detailing his life experiences as the ‘saviour of hip-hop’. After Bastard shocked the underground hip-hop scene back in 2009, Tyler has returned with the hugely hyped Goblin. Jordan Bright heard it first...
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ight, ‘Yonkers’ goes viral and suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, Tyler, the Creator is labelled as the next big thing in hip-hop. Cue a media frenzy as various blogs/magazines desperate to appear as pretentious wankers attempt to dissect, and intentionally or not, smother with attention Tyler and the rap collective he spearheads: Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. Odd Future proceed to play Coachella and soak the crowd with water pistols; a number of genuinely hilarious shorts are released involving the slow-mo assault on a dustbin and Tyler posing as a middle-aged golfer; ‘Free Earl’ becomes a source of intrigue; and Tyler incessantly rants on Twitter in BLOCK CAPITALS. As you may have noticed, there has been little talk actually concerning his music, with few likely to be aware of his debut album Bastard, let alone listened to it. Not only has the hype been immense but Tyler seemingly has the ability to divide not only public opinion, but that of his fans also. Scan the comments section of any of his videos on Youtube and you will find little else but a slanging match between sets of his fans. Competition between underground gangsters and middle-class ‘hipsters’, old fans and new, to claim Tyler as their own has entirely missed the point. What Tyler and Odd Future are trying to do transcends the petty, and false, divides of race, class or fan commitment. Tyler is simply creating music that he wants to listen to, that he enjoys: taking the maxim of ‘do what you love, fuck the rest’ to, well, the max. Tyler uses Goblin, like its predecessor Bastard, as a form of self-therapy: a release for his pent-up energy, fears and rage. As a result Goblin is at times a deeply personal and revealing piece of work that continues where his first album left off, thus necessitating a thorough listen of Bastard if it is to be fully comprehended. Lyrically Goblin can be at times
provocative, detailing, amongst other things, rape and gratuitous violence. While this is naturally likely to draw criticism, Tyler covers himself well at the start of Radicals, ‘don’t do anything I say in this song, okay, it’s fucking fiction’. In reality Goblin is startling in its uncompromising honesty: tracks Goblin and Golden bookend the album and offer a revealing insight into its creators mindset. Tyler is not the greatest rapper in the world, or even Odd Future for that matter, a fact he freely admits in the title track, but he is masterfully witty, entertaining, dark and, perhaps most importantly, sincere. However, while the lyrics are likely to draw most of the focus it is in fact Goblin’s production that really merits praise: with instrumentals offering a great deal of depth, texture and variety. Tyler is an accomplished producer for the age of just 20, having produced not only his first album but also the majority of his Odd Future cohorts’ as well, and on Goblin he fully realises his potential:,warranting the inevitable comparisons with Pharrell Williams, his idol . Not only do the instrumentals offer considerable diversity, but the precision with which they have been crafted offers a significant contrast to the
frequent brutality in language. Goblin is an extremely varied, yet focused album that takes no prisoners: shooting down everyone, whether it be hip-hop fanatics or Pitchfork devotees. However, it is important to realise that Goblin hasn’t been made to sell copies, garner positive reviews or provoke a reaction. It has been made simply because this is what Tyler, the Creator, loves to do - any pleasure it gives the listener is just an added bonus. What the album truly conveys is youth in its truest sense: ambition, guile, humour and a fuck everything mentality. It doesn’t pretend to be anything but the work of a messed-up 20-year-old kid doing what he wants, saying what he feels and refusing to conform: ‘I’m a fucking unicorn, fuck anyone that says I’m not’. It is this that makes Goblin stand out; the sense that its content is entirely genuine, pleasant or not. Tyler may revel in the arrogance of youth but, given Goblin’s quality, in this case it may well be justified.
Issue 256 10th May 2011
22 Music
THIS IS MY COUNTRY! In spite of it’s status as one of the most influential genres of all time, Country and Western has never exactly had the creedence in the UK of Folk or Blues. This, apparently, is something that has every inch of Fiona Howard fuming, from her Stetson hat all the way down to the spurs of her made-in-Texas cowboy boots. So listen up, y’all! She dun got a gut-danged a story to tell...
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lenn Campbell’s rhinestoned cowboy may not have helped the cool credentials of country music when he stormed the charts in 1975, but the general public may have been a bit too quick to relegate country to the guilty pleasures shelf. ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ by Billy Rae Cyrus, a man now more famous for spawning the 18 year old media machine that is Miley than anything else, didn’t help the cause and could have easily put the final nail in the coffin when it comes to Country and Western. Bar a brief period in 1992, line dancing was never really cool anywhere above the Mason-Dixon Line. But, there’s a lot more to country than silly dances, rednecks, and tassels than you would think. As one of the oldest genres of music, surpassing even rhythm and blues and the birth of the three man band we recognize today, country has remained almost entirely true to its routes. The pilgrims left tyranny and persecution behind when they landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, but they brought with them the folk music of their home country. That, and small pox. Country music sadly became the bastard child of folk. Shunned to the South, it soon became the half-breed offspring of mass immigration mixing styles and instruments from around the world. Through country, the world was introduced to the banjo, via African slaves , and it’s not been quite the same since. Although relegated primarily to country music, try listening to Sufjan Stevens without the twang of a banjo and you’ll find it doesn’t really work. Living in relative obscurity, Country was very much a localized
phenomenon in the early days, suffering without the joys of media to take advantage of. That would change with the inauguration of the Grand Ole Opry in 1925. Even if you’ve never tuned in to the weekly broadcast, you’re sure to have heard of it. Its stage has been home to the biggest names in the genre throughout h i s t o r y, f r o m Hank
Williams in the 30s, of ‘Hey Good Lookin’ fame, to Taylor Swift in 2010. After all, in 1954 a teenage Elvis graced the Opry, sans the gyrating hips that would later make girls throw their best white undies at him. The King of Rock n’ Roll would be nothing without his southern routes: his penchant for fried foods was his downfall after all. And nothing screams Southern like a bit of hillbilly country, which Presley then finessed into the sweet sounds of Rockabilly. You might be able to take the King out of the South but you can’t take the Country out of the King and subsequently everything that followed from The Beatles to Radiohead. There’s no denying that Bob Dylan changed the music world forever, for the better some might say, when he went electric in 1965. Never mind the obvious influence of Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams and Pete Seeger on the sound of his music, it is his song writing that truly makes him a legend. He and his lyrics have consistently questioned the political status quo, ignoring t h a t embarrassment last month when he let the Chinese government censor him. Country and Western, despite its generally right
wing nature, has never been afraid to make a political message. Whether it be Kenny Roger’s subtle protest song to the Vietnam War (or Korean War depending on who you ask) and cry for help in ‘Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town’, the Dixie Chicks vocal derision of President Bush or the more typical patriotism displayed in Toby Keith’s ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue’. It’s not all love stories and regret. That being said it’s got its fair share of love ballads filled with regret and remorse, but the best thing about country music is its story telling. Dylan isn’t just a topical lyricist, his songs are characterized by their intricate narration; drawing on what had already begun in the world of country. Johnny Cash’s revengeful tale of a boy named Sue may be silly, but the chronological story development of it makes it all the better, which is only enhanced by Cash’s famous rhythmic picking. Taking it to another level is the conversation between Kitty Wells’ ‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angles ‘and Hank Thompson’s ‘The Wild Side of Life’ which tells the tale of infidelity from both sides. Bruce Springsteen is currently one of the most famous storytellers about with his tales of love lost and found, and the plight of the common man. Even more contemporary is the work of Frank Turner or Craig Finn of The Hold Steady who are keeping the tradition alive and strong. Not only has the genre influenced everything under the sun but it has also had the highest number of crossover hits compared to any other genre. The leopard velvet vision that was Shania Twain of the mid 90’s may not have impressed you much on the fashion front, but you can’t deny that you too felt like a woman (ed’s note; while some of us are men, for some reason, we can still relate…) Until 2009 and that infamous incident with Kanye West, you may never have heard of Taylor Swift, but she’s ensured that country has made its way back into the mainstream in the UK in a way we’ve not seen since the mid 1990s. It looks like it’s here to stay. Country has done little to change its image in its long history. It could easily be seen as backward relying on the twanging guitars, desperation and stories that made hillbilly country to begin with. Then again when it has been so influential; maybe it doesn’t need to start changing. The development of alternative country and the rising popularity of indie folk country is once again proving its staying power. As you pop on Spotify to listen to Wilco, Beirut, or even some classic Elvis, remember, it turns out you’re probably a little more country than rock n’ roll than you originally thought.
LISTINGS
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN NORWICH May Tuesday 10th * UEA Literary Festival: Edmund de Waal LT1 - 6:30pm (£6) * The Summer of Love - LCR - 10pm (£2 adv) * Shaolin Warriors: Legendary Masters of Kung-Fu - Theatre Royal - 7:30pm (£5.50£22.50) * Burlesque Intermediate Course - The Garage - 8pm (£65 for 5 week course)
Wednesday 11th * Katy B - LCR - SOLD OUT * The British Pink Floyd Show - Theatre
Saturday 14th * Met. Opera: Die Walkure - Cinema City 5pm (£21.50) * The A List + Harmony in the Hive - LCR 10pm (£2) * Brilliant Stupidity – NNF11 - Chapelfield Gardens - 10:30pm (£15) * 999 Summer Classics - Mercy - 10pm (£3-£5)
Sunday 15th * Emerge NME Radar Tour 2011 feat. Anna Calvi and Grouplove - The Waterfront - 7pm (£9)
Royal - 7:30pm (£6.50-£29.50)
Monday 16th
Thusday 12th
* UEA School of Music: Allegri Quartet 13:30pm (£4-£7) * Daniel Kitson - Norwich Arts Centre SOLD OUT
* Summer Sports Day - Mercy - 10pm (free admission with flyer before midnight) * Dining With Alice - Elsing Hall (runs daily until 21st) - 7:30pm (£55 standard, £85 VIP)
Friday 13th
* Peter Doherty - LCR - 7:30pm (£18) * Fright Night - Mercy - 10pm (free admission with flyer before midnight) * The Shining - Cinema City - 11pm (£6)
Tuesday 17th * The Smurf Party - LCR - 10pm (£2) * Panic! At The Disco - LCR - SOLD OUT
Wednesday 18th * Film release: Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides - Across UK cinemas
Re-named, but reformed? Find out for yourself. Peter Doherty will be performing at the LCR this term
Thursday 19th
Saturday 21st
* Westwood: The Live DJ Tour - Project - 10pm (£4.50adv)
* Les McKeown’s Legendary Bay City Rollers -
Friday 20th
Sunday 22nd
* UEA Literature Society Presents: Alice in Wonderland Summer Ball - The Assembly House - 8pm (£16.50) * Ballet Nacional de España - Theatre Royal (runs for 2 days)- 7:45pm
LCR - 7pm (£23)
* WAW Wrestling Presents: May Mayhem Project - 4pm (£10adv)
Monday 23rd * Footloose - Theatre Royal - 7:30pm
Something for the summer It’s the final countdown! The summer term has commenced and with it comes revision, deadlines and the dreaded pre-exam stress. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Many of you will be counting down the days until freedom; for some it will come sooner than others, but have faith, it will come! With this in mind Venue would like to take the opportunity in this last issue of the academic year, to give all its readers
something to look forward to. With no end of amazing things to do in the coming months, Venue will be picking out some of the best (and cheapest) things to do this summer to make it a, cheap, but most importantly, memorable one. For the final weeks of term, the Union have very kindly lowered the prices on all of the Tuesday LCR tickets, so now you can buy the whole terms LCR tickets
from the Box Office at a price of just £2 in advance! With popular themes such as The Smurf Party and Skool Daze mingled with the addition of some heavyweight rookies to the calendar, like The Only Way Is Essex, it should be a rather eventful summer term. Not only that, but the legendary Pimp My Barrow returns to the UEA to wreak havoc on campus and cause great delight amongst hardware stores across the county. Set up in 2006 by UEA RAG, it has been a roaring success every year and this year will set to follow the same pattern, selling out within the first few hours of sale. Expect to see wacky outfits, disguised barrows and of course, the beautiful sight that is the drunken UEA student. For those of you who believe that there is fun to be had outside of the Norfolk borders (madness, we thought so too) then there is also something for you. If you live for thrills and excitement then theme park resort Alton Towers are doing a special introductory offer exclusively for students, where you can buy a day ticket to all the attractions in the park for £20.50 per person. Not only are there incredible rides such as Rita which catapults you from 0-100kmp in 2.5 seconds; there is also a spa,
waterpark and two themed hotels to boot! If rides are not your thing, then Venue would like to suggest a favourite past time of many students: festivals. Beach Break Live has possibly everything the fun-loving student could want. Situated in Pembrey Park, South Wales not only will there be an abundance of sheep and amusing road signs, the festival boasts an eight mile stretch of sandy beach, 500 acres of woodland and a very impressive line-up. With confirmed acts such as: Tinie Tempah, Example, Mark Ronson, Zane Lowe, Magnetic Man, Katy B, Ed Sheeran, Beardyman and Newton Faulker to mention but a few, the music will no doubt be incredible. For the (little) time you won’t be drinking or dancing there are countless activities to take part in such as zorbing, paintballing, surfing, and face painting. All the while you can be complimented and given love notes by the Royal Male, a red-coat-wearing regimental group of softies spreading the love. Phew! All of this can be had for a modest £99 for four days and four nights of pure festival perfection from the 16th to the 20th of June.
Georgina Wade
COMPETITIONS CROSSWORD
Issue 256 10th May 2011 concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk
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1. 1972 Liza Minelli film (7) 4. Spooky (5) 7. Detection device (5) 9. Vertical (7) 10. Inactivity (7) 11. Measuring implement (5) 12. Dictator (6) 14. Clergyman(6) 18. Copious (5) 20. Exhausted (7) 22. Pouch worn with a kilt (7) 23. Diadem (5) 24. Admittance (5) 25. State bordering Ethiopia (7)
1. Transported (7) 2. Emblem signifying status (5) 3. Tropical bird (6) 4. Mistake (5) 5. Dependable follower (7) 6. Go in (5) 8. Relationship between 2 numbers (5) 13. Reinforce (7) 15. Reasoned judgment (5) 16. Improvised musical passage (7) 17. Opportunity (6) 18. Part of a church (5) 19. Ahead of time (5) 21. Take on (5)
WIN This year’s Pimp My Barrow has been more popular than ever selling out in less than 3 hours. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones then try your hand at Concrete’s crossword to be in with the chance of winning yourself a barrow. If you fancy giving it a go and taking part in the highlight of UEAs calendar bring your completed crossword to the Concrete office by 5pm on Friday 13th May. Name: E-mail: Mobile:
Word Wheel The rules are simple, make as many words as you can from the grid: Each word must use the central letter Only use each letter once No plurals allowed Words must be minimum of 3 letters
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