Concrete - Issue 259 - 25/10/2011 by Concrete - UEA's official student newspaper

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Issue 259 Tuesday 25th October 2011

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Concrete UEA

Selling out at the speed of sound

Comment, p9

Comment’s Big Debate addresses the issue of free speech in private institutions

Travel, p13

Sam Langan recounts his time travelling through Eastern Europe

Features, p17 Chloe Hashemi

• Fans were queuing from 12.30pm on Thursday for tickets going on sale at 10am on Saturday • Coldplay paid for pizzas to be delivered to hungry fans in the Hive • An extra 100 tickets were put on sale days later, and snapped up in minutes by those who missed out in the queue Rianne Ison News Reporter On Saturday 15 October, 1,200 tickets for the intimate Coldplay gig at the LCR had been allocated after fans queued for up to 48 hours prior to the sale date. It was announced earlier in

the week that Coldplay would be performing in conjunction with Radio 1’s Student Tour. The tour will see DJs Fearne Cotton and Zane Lowe broadcast their shows directly from university campuses. Fans began queuing at 12.30pm on Thursday 13 October, with Phil Deadman at the very front.

At its absolute peak, the queue of approximately 900 people spiralled from the Union House entrance to the other side of campus. Officials from the Union of UEA Students decided to disband the queue to prevent people who would clearly be unsuccessful in purchasing a ticket queuing

overnight. They therefore issued fans with a raffle ticket which entitled them to register their details later that evening. The Hive was opened at 11pm on Friday evening to provide warmth for the lucky individuals who had received a raffle ticket.

Concrete talks to Fearne Cotton ahead of Radio One’s Student Tour

Lifestyle, p18

Continued on page 2

inside venue this fortnight: • Music review Laura Marling’s performance at Norwich Cathedral

>> p4

• Forza Motorsport 4 is put under the microscope in Wired

>> p14

• Film give the lowdown on Real Steel

>> p16

Concrete talks to bus driver Clive Ashcroft ahead of the return of “Clive Cares”

www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

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comment p8-10

travel p12-13

features p14-17

lifestyle p18-21

international p22

turf p23

NEWS

Selling out at the speed of sound Coalition proposes new Continuted from front page As a sign of their gratitude, Coldplay rang the University and organised for pizzas to be delivered to the first 100 people in the queue. Di Anderson, central support and marketing manager for the

Union of UEA Students, stated: “Coldplay contacted us via the promoter and said that the band were so delighted with the loyalty of their fans that they would like to reward them with pizza for waiting so patiently in the cold.” In addition to this, on

Thursday 20 October, 100 more tickets went on sale online. However, all of these had completely sold out very shortly after their release. The gig coincides with the release of Coldplay’s eagerly anticipated fifth studio album, titled Mylo Xyloto. Concrete is published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2011 Concrete BMc. ISSN 1351-2773

UEA’s Independent Student Newspaper Address Concrete Newspaper Union House UEA Norwich NR4 7TJ

Email concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.advertising@uea.ac.uk Contact 01603 593 466

Letters should be addressed for the attention of the Editor, Chris King. 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. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the Editor, Chris King. Printed by Archant.

Contributors News

Rianne Ison, Susanna Wood, Beth Wyatt, James Dixon, Chris King, Dan Pirozzolo, Catherine Hardy, Michael Drummond, Joshua Resoun, Frances Mckeown, Richard Joslin

Comment

Samantha Rogers, Ciara Jack, Laura Holroyd, Tom Cannon, Sophie Witts, Harry Theaker, Rebecca Goodacre, Joshua Resoun

Travel

Sam Langan, Kimberley Sparkes, Drew Nicol, Jessica Ball,

Features

Wil Hanford, Lauren Cope, Samantha Rogers

Lifestyle

Freya Barry, Hasina Allen, Rianne Ison, Jess Beech, Vicky Cann, Emily Burt, Grace Carruthers, Curtis Goodes, Che Witcher, Ally Kayler, Jennifer Woods

International

Ingrid Kornstad, Isabelle Carty, Robert Norris

Turf

Becky Hazlewood, Simeon Jackson

Sport

Chris Teale, Billy Sexton, Kris Nelson, Chris King, Lewis Dalton, Emma Webb, Matt Scrafton

Copy Editors

Amy Adams, Harry Slater, Beth Wyatt, Andrew Westcott, Alex George, Nikki Cox, Harriet Smith, Matthew Weddig, Rachel Knott, Susanna Wood

A-Level league table Chris King Editor

The Coalition government has floated the possibility of a national league table of A-Level students. The proposal could see up to 90,000 pupils ranked according to exam results, a move which may assist universities in selecting the brightest candidates from amongst a growing number of top-grade passes. Yet the radical proposal, seemingly the brainchild of Education Secretary Michael Gove, has caused parental outrage and may well be interpreted as a further blow to fair and free access to higher education.

Academic Officer of the Union of UEA Students, Megan Evans, commented: “The proposal to rank A-Level pupils is potentially very dangerous. Not only will it make access to top universities even more elitist, it could have serious consequences for future job prospects.” Analysis of the league table idea has revealed that one mark could see potential students drop by 1,000 places in the rankings, a daunting prospect indeed for those hoping to progress into higher education. Other pitfalls of these proposals, were they to be adopted, could include an increase in appeals against exam results, and a culture of inferiority amongst those ranked lowest in the table.

Photographers Chloe Hashemi >> News (p1) Max Hetherington >> News (p3) >> Sport (p27)

Laura Smith >> News (p4, p5, p7) Lizzie Margereson >> News (p5), Sport (p25, p26, p27, p28)

Editorial Editor | Chris King >> concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor | Hannah Britt >> concrete.deputyeditor@uea.ac.uk News Editors | James Dixon and Susanna Wood >> concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Comment Editor | Josh Resoun >> concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Travel Editor | Greg Lewry >> concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Features Editor | Lauren Razavi >> concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Lifestyle Editors | Hasina Allen and Rianne Ison >> concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk International Editor | Rachael Lum >> concrete.international@uea.ac.uk Turf Editor | Becky Hazlewood >> concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk Competitions Editor | Sam Tomkinson >> concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk Sport Editors | Matt Scrafton and Chris Teale >> concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk Chief Copy Editors | Amy Adams and Harry Slater >> concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk Chief Photographer | Laura Smith Deputy Chief Photographer | Harriet Jones >> concrete.photographers@uea.ac.uk

Ashleigh Berryman Drew Nicol >> Travel (p12) Hasina Allen >> Lifestyle (p20)

Ally Kayler >> Lifestyle (p21) Gary Neesam >> Sport (p27)

NEWS

Editors: James Dixon & Susanna Wood Email: concrete.news@uea.ac.uk

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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

3am closing proposed for LCR Beth Wyatt News Reporter Plans that could see the LCR’s licence extended have just been announced. The Union of UEA Students (UUEAS) is aiming to secure permission to open the venue until 3am on Saturdays. Currently, the LCR only remains open until that time on special occasions. Attendance at the venue fell dramatically at the end of the 2010-11 academic year, and while the LCR has regained popularity since the beginning of the semester, the move to keep it open longer has been generally well-recieved by students. However, the Union has encountered opposition from local residents, who believe that an extension of the licence would prove disruptive. Tash Ross, Community and

Student Rights Officer of the UUEAS, said: “The Union wants to respond to its members who are asking for the LCR to be opened later on Saturdays,

however, if complaints from local residents regarding noise continue then our application for an extended license may be rejected, and we will not be able

to continue opening until 3am on a Saturday. It is important that students leave the venue quietly and considerately if they want extended opening hours to stay.”

Max Hetherington

Richard Dawkins set to speak at UEA Eminent scientist Richard Dawkins will speak at the University on Wednesday 26th October as part of UEA’s Literary Festival. The event, which is sold out, will give Dawkins an opportunity to talk about his new book, The Magic of Reality, and field questions from the audience. His visit is not without controversy: Dawkins is a supporter of AC Grayling’s New College of the Humanities, a brand new private university in London. This has led to hostility from some University members, who believe his appearance at a state institution is inappropriate. The Union of UEA Students proposed a motion to boycott the event at Union Council, but a decision was not reached. Susanna Wood

Norwich fights to protect disabled people against cuts James Dixon News Editor On Saturday 22 October, Norwich participated in the Hardest Hit Campaign, a national string of protests against cuts to disabled people. The protest and march started at Chapelfield Gardens, where protestors assembled at 11.30am, with the march beginning at noon. An estimated 450 protestors took part in the protest which saw

them progressing through the city centre and returning to Chapelfield Gardens where a rally was held from 1.00pm onwards. The protest took place in conjunction with 12 other Hardest Hit rallies across the country which were organised jointly by the Disability Benefits Consortium and the UK Disabled People’s Council. The marches were organised in response to the government’s proposed welfare reform bill. Steve Wynard, co-chair of

the Hardest Hit coalition, has stated: “they [the government] are still planning to take £2bn from disabled people receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA). They are also cutting £1bn from contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).” The Hardest Hit campaign focuses on the idea that disabled people are the least capable demographic of society in relation to dealing with cuts. Disability can often prove expensive due to the nature of disabilities, whether

psychological or physical, thus leading disabled people to heavily rely on the DLA. The Hardest Hit Campaign states that they are “particularly concerned” about the government’s consideration of completely removing the “mobility component” of the DLA: a measure that allows disabled people in residential care to receive money for transport costs. The Campaign worries that this could lead to seclusion and isolation from society as some disabled people may be trapped in their own

homes. Whilst UEA is not a stereotypically disabled-friendly campus, there are a number of measures in place to improve travel and access for the disabled contingent of students. A number of UEA students were in attendance at the rally along with Matt Myles, Communications Officer. He stated that “there was a great turnout” to the event and that the “Union was supporting it [the rally] as part of the Stop the Cuts campaign.”

Union Council motion threatens military presence on campus Susanna Wood News Editor A chaotic first Union Council of the year took place on Thursday 19 October, with the biggest controversy surrounding a motion to ban the Armed Forces society. This encompasses the Cambridge University Officer Training Corps (CUOTC), Cambridge University Air Squadron (CUAS) and Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit, from recruiting at SocMart and other Union-

organised events. The motion, which was not passed, was proposed by Liam McCafferty, one of the nonportfolio officers of the Union of UEA Students. It outlined a number of reasons to prevent the societies from recruiting, including the belief that the Union’s alignment to the Stop the War campaign should also mean it doesn’t support military conscription at its events for ethical and moral reasons. Furthermore, the motion accused the societies in question of

using “economic conscription” to recruit on campus, stating that the society is “deliberately exploiting the fears many students have of increasing fees and low levels of graduate employment, and is both misleading and unethical.” Whilst the army does pay for the higher education of some students wishing to join after graduation, the Cambridge University Officer Training Corps estimates that one in 10 of their members actually join the army after graduating. Whilst trips are supported by military funding,

the OTC offers no financial aid for university courses. Many members of the societies involved were frustrated by the lack of transparency regarding the publication of the motion, with most only finding out through word of mouth. Tensions were raised further in the meeting by the suggestion by Liam Mccafferty that the motion be withdrawn due to the late running of the meeting. This happened at 10.30pm, when many society members had sat through three and a half hours of attempting to put forward their

case. Thanks to the intervention of Community and Student Rights Officer, Tash Ross, the motion was forced to continue, giving the societies a chance to defend themselves. Though it was rejected by the Council overall, the motion was in fact amended to state that the Armed Forces society should only recruit at the Careers Fair rather than the Societies Fair. This has left some members of the society concerned that the original motion will be revived at the next meeting.

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NEWS

Editors: James Dixon & Susanna Wood Email: concrete.news@uea.ac.uk

Youth unemployment reaches record levels Dan Pirozzolo News Reporter The latest figures show youth unemployment is now the highest it has been since records began in 1992. The total number rose by 77,000 in the last quarter to 991,000, and John Philpott, Chief Economic Adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, warned that this figure looks set to exceed the psychologically significant one million mark next month. These latest figures mean nearly a million of the now 2.57 million who are jobless in the UK are below the age of 24. While the national unemployment rate is 8.1%, the rate for youth unemployment

has now reached 21.3%. Ian Brinkley, centre director at The Work Foundation, said: “Unemployment among young people between the ages of 18 and 24 is increasing twice as fast as for the workforce as a whole and there has been a dramatic increase in long-term (more than 12 months) youth unemployment.” John Salt, director of totaljobs.com, said: “High youth unemployment is rightly getting [media] attention with the prospect of a lost generation of young people who are unable to get their foot through the employment door.” A recent survey of the UK’s largest companies suggests that youth unemployment is set to increase even further, after two thirds of those who took part

signalled that the situation would get worse before improving for young people. 27 out of the 50 largest employers in Britain, who hire 1.03 million workers between them, completed the Newsbeat survey about jobs and the economy. The most common answer, when asked to name the biggest single obstacle to employing more young people, was a lack of basic skills followed by inexperience. Most felt too many young people were leaving school, college and even university without the basic skills they needed to find work. Susan Anderson, director of skills policy at the Confederation of British Industry, said: “Employers don’t expect young people to leave school “job ready”,

but they do need to have these essential foundation skills on which they can build throughout their careers.”

The identity of the firms involved in the survey were kept confidential to encourage open and honest answers.

Laura Smith

Find that perfect house with... Home Run

the largest provider of student housing in Norwich Home Run is the Housing Bureau run by the Union of UEA Students for UEA Students; it’s recommended by UEA and considered the best and safest way to find your home. Home Run provides a free listing of rooms, flats and houses available throughout the year and compiles the annual housing list released in January.

ueastudent.com/housing

call 01603 592505 or pop into the Union Advice Centre.

NEWS

Editors: James Dixon & Susanna Wood Email: concrete.news@uea.ac.uk

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Bus prices going up... again Catherine Hardy News Reporter With inflation on the rise, student bus prices are set to augment at the end of the year. Currently priced at £200, the First Bus UEA Annual Student Ticket will increase to £210 in November. This is £30 more than the cost of £180 offered in September 2010, a significant price jump. The increase comes in response to higher expenses as a result of inflation, particularly the perenially growing cost of petrol. However with a two way return currently setting students back £3.90 a time, the student bus pass does offer students significant savings of approximately 65%.

www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

Occupied!

Laura Smith

Olympic architect speaks at university Michael Drummond News Reporter Philip Johnson, the architect behind the new 2012 Olympic Stadium, spoke at the annual Norfolk Association of Architects in UEA’s own Lecture Theatre. Held on October 13 the conference heard about Johnson’s work designing the main stadium for the London 2012 Olympics. The building will form the epicentre of the games and can seat up to 80,000 people. Graduating from the Bartlett

School of Architecture, Philip Johnson went on to design Greenwich Yacht club as well as directing other residential schemes in London. Following this, he joined Populous Architects where he worked on the new Ascot Racecourse which reached completion in 2006 on budget and on time. The Olympic Stadium is designed to seat tens of thousands of people, but this number can be reduced after the Games. Speaking at the conference, Mr. Johnson described his hopes for the venue’s versatility, imagining

YouTubed News A rather sobering one this fortnight. Coming all the way from China, this video shows a female toddler being hit by two vans, later dying in hospital from her injuries. The worldwide media has reacted with horror to the passersby who clearly ignore the small girl, named Wang Yue, lying on the ground. Judge for yourself by searching the title “Toddler Hit-and-run Sparks Outrage in China” or check out the link on concrete-online.co.uk.

its use for concerts as well as lots of other sports. There has been some controversy over the ownership of the stadium after the games with various football clubs interested. The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has decided that the stadium should remain in public ownership and be rented out. Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics said: “Ending the current sale process and looking for a leasehold solution will remove the current uncertainty”. With its future secured it looks like the Olympic Stadium will endure for years to come as a reminder of the London 2012 games.

Lizzie Margereson Joshua Resoun News Reporter The Occupy: Norwich protest began on Saturday 22, with an estimated 100-200 people gathering in Haymarket before marching on City Hall. Dozens of individuals have been camping in Haymarket to protest against the inequalities of capitalism. Ian Barker, a protester outside Topshop, said: “One thing that needs to change is the inequality of wealth. The important purpose of us being here is to get people to think about the current system and how we can change that.” The campaign was influenced by Occupy: Wall Street, which

began in New York City on September 17, inspiring similar campaigns across the Western world. Occupy: London Stock Exchange protesters placed themselves outside St. Paul’s Cathedral as part of the movement. Commenting on how long the Occupy: Norwich campaign will last for, Ian Barker said: “We will stay as long as we feel we are being useful”. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said that units had observed the protests but no offences had been committed, it had been “very peaceful.” The campaign for Occupy: Norwich is expected to continue until the end of the year.

University of Wales disbanded James Dixon News Editor The University of Wales (UoW) is to be effectively abolished after a recent BBC Wales exposé on fraudulent UoW diplomas being sold at a partner institution, Rayat London College. Overseas students were offered fast-track MBAs that exempted them from much of the work involved and subsequently allowed them to apply for a UK Visa. Since this revelation, Raylat College London has had its

privilege of recruiting overseas students revoked. BBC Wales also found that a pop star, Fazley Yaakob, had two fake degrees and was fronting a Malaysian college offering UoW degrees, further damaging the prestigious reputation of the institution. UoW, a former umbrella institution with 120 years of history, featured universities such as Swansea Metropolitan, Newport and Trinity St David. These institutions have withdrawn the UoW accreditation from their degrees with Swansea Metropolitan and Trinity St

David seeking a merger that will continue the UoW brand in an almost unrecognisable form. The two merged universities will offer accredited degrees under the royal charter of Trinity St David, which is 190 years old. Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, Prof John Hughes, described the UoW as a “toxic brand”. Meanwhile, Education Minister Leighton Andrews stated that the UoW “probably requires a decent burial”. The UoW has had a proud and honourable history, but it is one which has been blackened in its final moments.

1 0 , 0 0 0 students graduate

An insight into the nerves and

NEWS

Editors: James Dixon & Susanna Wood Email: concrete.news@uea.ac.uk

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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

world News from around the world and the past fortnight, brought to you by Concrete Libyan dictator dies

Colonel Gaddafi has been killed, and thus deposed as leader of Libya after 42 years in power. Gaddafi seized power in a bloodless military coup, and was overthrown by the rebel National Transitional Council after a bloody civil war. Gaddafi was killed in Sirte on 20 October 2011, after being found hiding in a pipe. Graphic images of Gaddafi’s death were quickly broadcast around the world in the aftermath.

US to pull out of Iraq

Barack Obama has announced that all US troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year. He stated that the US “leaves Iraq with our heads held high.” Obama added: “The tide of war is receding.” Almost 39,000 US troops remain in the country after nine years since President Bush announced the intial invasion of Iraq. The 2011 deadline was set by the Bush administration which Obama is duly honouring after, 4,408 US deaths in Iraq.

Bristol killer admits guilt

Vincent Tabak has admitted responsibility for the death of Joanna Yeates. However, he has pleaded guilty to manslaughter rather than murder. Tabak stated in court: “I still can’t believe I did that,” referring to his alleged action of discarding Yeates body on a roadside verge. Tabak continued to describe his actions as “something horrendous.” The trial continues, with Tabak having denied that the attack was sexuallymotivated.

thailand

flooded

Thailand has faced the worst flooding for a decade, with 340 lives claimed so far. The Northern provinces were intially the worst hit areas. However, the flood water has begun draining southwards and is endangering the capital, Bangkok. Authorities wish to drain the water to the east and west of Bangkok thus avoiding the central area.

Malaria’s possible vaccine

A possible vaccine for malaria has shown promise after extensive clinical trials in Africa. The vaccine, made by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, has been shown to reduce the chance of infection by half. Annually, 225 million people are infected with the disease.

Man assaulted at Karma Kafe Chloe Smith is new Economic Secretary Frances Mckeown News Reporter A man was left unconscious after an assault at Karma Kafe in Norwich city centre on Sunday. The 26 year old was involved in a confrontation on the stairs, and was knocked unconscious after falling and hitting his head. The ambulance was called at around 3.40am on Sunday 16th October, to the bar on Bedford Street. He was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital but his injuries were described as ”not immediately life threatening” by an East of England Ambulance Service spokesman. He was discharged from hospital the next

day, before returning for treatment to facial injuries. Two men, aged 26 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of causing Actual Bodily Harm, and have been released on police bail until December 8. As the victim lost consciousness the offence is more serious than common assault. The charge of assault occasioning ABH carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment. In a post on their website, Karma Kafe stated: “We have very few incidents here at Karma Kafe. We are a late night establishment that has a good reputation and safety comes first”. Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact the Police on 0845 456 4567.

Laura Smith

Richard Joslin News Reporter Conservative MP for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, has been promoted by David Cameron to Economic Secretary to the Treasury. The appointment comes in the wake of the Liam Fox scandal, which has forced a minor reshuffle of the cabinet. The twenty-nine year old has been viewed as skyrocketing in position by her party colleagues, but the Prime Minister seemingly gave her the job in the mistaken belief that she was an accountant. Mr Cameron reportedly referred to the post as “Not daunting surely for someone who was a chartered accountant?”, to which the Norwich North MP replied: “Er, well, actually Prime Minister, I wasn’t an accountant. I was a management consultant in an accountancy firm.” George Osborn, the Chancellor, is known to be a friend of Miss Smith and is sure to welcome her appointment. Others may see the move as a response to Ed Miliband’s Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, which included a lot of young and female MPs. Smith garnered some criticism when, in the wake of the London riots, she called for “anti-social families” in Norwich to be evicted from their homes

as punishment. In a statement Smith said that those “who abuse the community they live in, or let their children do so, should know they run the risk of losing their home.” The Union of UEA Students non-portfolio officer, Liam McCafferty, posting on the lookleftnorwich website, scathingly criticised

her comments: “The sheer irrationality of such a statement is a sign of much more than just a plain lack of common sense. It betrays a faltering of confidence by sections of the ruling class in their ability to conceal the real cause of the riots behind populist rhetoric... the hypocrisy at work here is frankly astounding.”

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news p2-7

travel p12-13

The changing seasons

features p14-17

lifestyle p18-21

COMMENT

Response: Boycott Stupidity, Not Israel Laura Holroyd defends the tactic of boycotting Israeli goods

With the chaotic weather that October has brought coming to an end, Samantha Rogers reminds us all about the importance of tackling climate change Global warming has been a prominent issue in society for decades now, with groups of people continuously lamenting about the future of our planet, and the importance of recycling cardboard, plastic, glass and food. Slowly but surely, the effects that the experts have been commenting on for years now are just beginning to surface. Many have been ignorant in the face of global warming, often believing that it will only affect the planet when their great, great grandchildren are alive, and when the current generations have long since died. However, in the past few years it has become noticeable that the effects of a changing climate are becoming an insistent problem. From large blocks of ice breaking away and melting in

the Antarctic, to a huge decline in snowfall high in the Rocky Mountains, it is clear that the effects of global warming have already begun and are occurring faster than previously anticipated. It is important to try and get everyone, not just those at UEA, to understand that their everyday actions are ultimately affecting the planet, not just for the years to come, but in the world today.

“The effects that the experts have been commenting on for years now are just beginning to surface” This October has, if anything, been proof of this. The first weekend of this month was the hottest on record, and the one just gone may well have been the coldest.

Top: Record temperatures hit the UK, some as high as 30C Bottom: Mere days apart, ice and snow blankets some parts of the UK

It is high time everyone realises exactly what is at stake when they use unnecessary amounts of unrecyclable material. Reuse your plastic bags, take the bus, walk, cycle and recycle. Get Green Happy.

Be Werritty quiet, we’ve caught ourselves a Fox With the resignation of Defence Secretary Liam Fox, Ciara Jack looks over the relationship of Fox and his dear friend, Adam Werritty Liam Fox has been no stranger to moral controversy, having bemoaned the increase to the UKs aid budget in light of targets set by the UN. Yet the final kiss of death to his ministerial career was hiring his old friend, Adam Werritty, as his unofficial special advisor. Fox has since resigned, but let’s take a look at the reasons why he jumped off the Conservative ship before Cameron pushed him… Or, no, might have pushed? Let him out

via the kitchen window? Had him round for tea and then asked him to leave? Fox sprouted from the grassroots of the Conservative Party, and is said to have been conducting a “maverick foreign policy”. Perhaps though maverick is a word that sounds a bit dangerous when placed in front of foreign policy. In fact, I would not want maverick put in front of a number of things, including: airline pilot,

electrician, and bomb disposal officer. Speech impediments aside, Werritty had been attending both family holidays and governmental overseas trips with his old pal Fox. Not only that, but he was sporting a business card which listed him as Liam Fox’s adviser. Grassroots Tories bayed for Fox to keep his place as Cameron stated he would refuse to bow to the media’s jeering, and would therefore take his time to establish an inquiry into Fox’s activities. I do agree that our moral code should not be set by the media, but in this instance he has clearly breached a moral code that is already in place. Cameron’s deliberate swanning about may suggest yet another instance of a cosy and biased approach to dealing with the career of a personal colleague. The Fox case highlights one of the coalition government’s serious flaws; that it is still a gentleman’s club. If the best man at your wedding can be your unofficial political adviser, then perhaps the system is not as tight as it should be. That being said, it could make for some humorous after-dinner speeches.

The campaign to boycott Israeli goods was criticised in the previous issue of Concrete. I, however, keep the belief that the tactic of boycotting goods can be an effective way for civil society to express their displeasure with certain practices and policies. When other methods of redressing an injustice, such as international law, have failed, boycotting is the most effective and peaceful option left. Boycotts have been proven to enact change in the past, and have even been attributed to the fall of the apartheid regime of South Africa in the 1990s.

“When other methods of redressing an injustice have failed, such as international law, boycotting is the most effective and peaceful option left” I agree that Israel has the right to exist, and it should be able to participate in the exchange of goods and services. However, they do not have a right to benefit economically from the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories; especially as this is at the expense of the Palestinian’s economic wellbeing.

The West Bank is a prominent example of economic exploitation. Israeli businesses take advantage of a cheap Palestinian workforce who are, on average, paid half the national Israeli minimum wage, work in poor conditions, have no pension plan, do not get sick pay, and do not have the right to form trade unions. Although I do support the boycott of Israeli goods, I also believe that it is extremely important to promote Palestinian goods which give the average Palestinian more economic independence. Buying Palestinian goods can help develop the fragile economies of the Palestinian people. Their products such as olive oil, dates, and soap can be found in supermarkets [they are also being sold by the UEA Palestine Solidarity Campaign]. If you are against the tactic of boycotting goods, then I implore you to take positive action and buy Palestinian goods. Until the day comes when Israel ends its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories, I will continue to boycott Israeli goods, and to use the power I have as a consumer to enact political change throughout the world.

What to do with the EU? With Parliament debating the possibility of an EU referendum, Tom Cannon argues that it is time for Britain to forge its own path With the Eurozone on its knees, I believe that it is high time to give the British people a referendum on our membership the EU, and over the next few weeks, Parliament will be debating on whether to do just that. Prompted by a People’s Petition that received more than 100,000 signatures, the British public are, one step closer to being asked how we feel about the European project. Already the political elite appear to be preparing to kick the issue into the long grass, but this is a question Britain can no longer afford to ignore. With cuts in almost all areas of public spending, it is almost maddening that Europe has managed to escape the entire debate unscathed. Moreover, with the rising

diverse economies of Asia and Latin America, it is ridiculous that our politicians still cling to the European ideal. It is time Britain looked further afield for our continued prosperity and reclaimed our democracy from the political encroachment of the EU. No longer should Britain linger in a protectionist bloc that has failed economically and politically. We must seek free trade with all nations and take a global view that suits the 21st century. The next few weeks are going to be some of the most important weeks for the future of Britain. Let’s hope our political representatives have the foresight to give us a referendum and let the British people choose the path of freedom and prosperity.

COMMENT for Sophie Witts

Editor: Joshua Resoun Email: concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk

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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

THE BIG DEBATE

against Harry Theaker

As Trinity College bans the participation of Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party, in a public debate, Concrete asks: Should the tenet of free speech be upheld for all, no matter the opinion being expressed?

In a country such as ours, it seems strange to find ourselves debating the democratic values which are the foundations of our society. Yet, the very mention of the British National Party, or its leader Nick Griffin, still serves to ignite staunch protest from even the most vehement supporters of free speech. The latest development for the BNP comes from the decision of Trinity College Dublin, to ban Nick Griffin from attending a debate on immigration, despite the BNP being an antiimmigration party. The argument which supports bans such as this is simple. By giving a public platform to extremists somehow serves to legitimise their opinions. This is not necessarily the case, rather, doing so tends to allow such views to be dissected and debated as they should be. The BBC was widely criticised for inviting Griffin to participate on “Question Time” in 2009, yet the scrutiny awarded to the BNPs policies and its leader exposed both as contemptible. Griffin’s views may be abhorrent, but disallowing such individuals the right to speak freely only panders to his selfprojected “underdog” persona, one of being misrepresented and excluded by the ‘political class’ and the mass media. The BBC invited Griffin to speak on “Question Time” on the basis that he BNP had recently won two seats in the European Parliament, an incident that would warrant an invitation to any small party, regardless of their political views. In doing so the corporation upheld its responsibility of equal representation and undermined the BNP’s claims of media exclusion. Another fear which commonly gives cause to refuse controversial parties to participate in public debates is that it will somehow increase their support. Considering the

example of Griffin, this fear is largely unfounded. Yes, there is a risk, but the views of parties such as the BNP are extreme, and it will take more than hearing Griffin speak to make someone a staunch BNP voter. Allowing such people to speak can have the opposite effect. Admittedly the “Question Time” coverage was overwhelmingly anti-Griffin, yet when given the chance to speak he came across poorly to viewers. Much of the negative reaction to his appearance centred on his uninspiring performance and incredibly distasteful remarks regarding immigration and homosexuality. Though Griffin initially boasted a surge in BNP membership following the air date, this has ultimately failed to translate into anything of significance. The dreaded increase in popularity expected in the 2010 general election never materialised, nor did it in 2011, when the party lost 11 of its 13 local council seats.

“Freedom of speech is a democratic value upheld by the overwhemingly majority of British citizens” The issue of free speech is bigger than Griffin, and that of the BNP. Freedom of speech is an important tenet of democracy, and is a democratic value which is upheld by the overwhelmingly majority of British citizens. It is all too easy to set these values aside when someone expresses an opinion we do not agree with, yet democracy is meaningless if we are so ready to remove the rights of those whose opinions may be too left-wing, or rightwing, for our own taste. By refusing the likes of Griffin their basic freedom to speech we only aid them in undermining the basic, decent, democratic values of our society which they challenge.

THE FACT BOX 27 November 2007

Oxford University Students’ Union hold a debate with Nick Griffin, and David Irving

11 February 2009

Dutch MP Geert Wilders refused entry to the UK

6 November 2009

Nick Griffin appears on the BBC’s “Question Time”

22 July 2010

Nick Griffin has his Buckingham Palace garden party invite revoked

25 May 2011

American radio host Michael Savage refused entry in England

11 August 2011

David Cameron contemplates limiting online communication for those involved in the London Riots

14 October 2011

Nick Griffin banned from a debate atTrinity College

First of all, we must distinguish from past contentious discussions about the liberty of certain controversial politicians to make “public” speeches. Public is the operative word here, we must decide how “public” an organisation is in order to state whether they can legally select who they want to participate in a debate, and whether they are bound by free speech to allow even those who hold opinions that are deemed offensive and inflammatory a chance to discuss their beliefs in a public debate. Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party, is one such controversial figure whose latest ban from a debate on immigration at Trinity College Dublin, has reignited the free speech debate. In 2009 he appeared on BBC “Question Time”, and I will concede that this was controversial in itself, but his appearance on “Question Time” is different to his proposed appearance in Dublin.

“I may allow someone to say what they want in my house, but I have the freedom to decide whether I let them in” As unsavoury as it is, the BBC is constitutionally and morally obliged to allow Griffin to partake in shows such as Question Time. In fact, I would go as far as to question the BBC’s position in that the selection of the other guests, and the tone of the show did not unfairly bias the debate with the pre-determined aim of shouting down one individual, even if I consider Griffin a hatemerchant. The BBC is funded predominantly by licence fee payers. It therefore stands to reason that they should operate with the unflinching compulsion to represent the views and grievances of the general public, however abhorrent they may

be. If a publicly funded, statesponsored organisation like the BBC begins to ignore opinion polls and selectively represents opinions according to their own agenda, then that is when freedom of speech becomes truly eroded, and people need to start quoting Voltaire. The obligations of universities, however, are quite different. They are not obliged to allow speakers who may provoke disruptive or violent protests to take part in debates. As Peter Knight, Vice Chancellor of Birmingham UCE, states: “[Universities] dangle uncomfortably in the void between the public and private sectors.” However, like it or not, universities are technically private entities. They are of course bound by free speech, but by the same token, condemning an independent body (like Trinity College) for deciding that certain speakers would be inappropriate, and thereby refusing to allow their participation, is itself an infringement of academic freedom. I may allow someone to say whatever they want in my house, but I have the freedom to decide whether or not I let them in at all. This can of course work both ways. The National Union of Students’ (NUS) “no platform’ policy”, aimed at ensuring controversial speakers do not take part in debates at universities, has caused a number of conflicts between the NUS and several institutions. For example, Durham University had to cancel a debate featuring BNP members after threats from the NUS to transport thousands of protesters and to instigate a “colossal demonstration” at the university. My point is that universities are autonomous organisations and should not be bullied by the NUS, the government, or the media when deciding who features in their debates.

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COMMENT

Occupy: the London Stock Exchange As a fresh wave of protests hit London, Rebecca Goodacre looks at the new breed of protester this movement has spawned For many years now the stereotypical anti-capitalist protester has been one of “soap-dodging hippies” who tie themselves to chainsaw doomed trees. Yet, unfortunately for the protesters, these stereotypes do not get taken seriously by those in positions of power or influence. Whether this is fair or not is another matter entirely. Yet what “Occupy: Wall Street”, and protests here in the UK have done is create a new type of protester. The average Joe. This new addition of a mainstream element into the anti-capitalist movement has

made the entire protest scene much more intriguing. These are not extreme left-wingers wanting to revolutionise our society, overthrow the government and banish all forms of capitalism. Rather, they are fighting for a bit more fairness and equality. So how long can our government, and almost every other Western regime, continue to watch their everyday citizens, who pay their taxes and work hard, become so disenfranchised? The government cannot ignore these citizens, as the protests are reaching many

towns and cities across the UK. On Saturday 15 October they reached Norwich, and one of the protesters was UEA Masters student Ella Chappell: “I feel like we are at a turning point globally, and I felt it was vital to be part of that.” The issues raised by the protests seep into the everyday lives of us all. It feels, through the turbulence of the last decade, that things have finally come to a peak. Inflation has hit 5.2%, and 8.1% of the British population are now unemployed. If no repair comes soon, something drastic is bound to happen.

The Libyan revolution is far from over With the death of Colonel Gaddafi, the Libyan civil war has officially ended; Joshua Resoun looks ahead to the challenges that face the country After eight months of brutal conflict, Libyan’s civil war has finally come to an end with the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The National Transitional Council (NTC), recognised by the United Nations as the sole governing authority, has placed the number of deaths at 30,000, and the financial cost in the billions of dollars. Yet despite the jubilant celebrations which erupted over Libya as news of Gaddafi’s death spread, the revolution is far from finished. Several challenges now face the NTC, and the new government will have to move fast if it hopes to create a stable, democratic foundation.

As with any new regime, security becomes the prime concern. Unlike in Egypt however, which has seen the military take a prominent role, the NTC hopes to maintain effective civilian control of all security forces. The main problem is, however, that during the conflict nearly all of the Libyan people became armed after organising themselves into city militias. Convincing these militias to surrender their weapons will not be an easy task, but the NTC executive head, Mahmoud Jibril, has planned to create local security companies which will not only assist the police force in maintaining law

and order, but will also give employment to those militiamen who do not want to disarm. This may sound like a good idea, but the tensions that exist between rival militias may spread over to new security companies. The greater concern though is that creating too many security companies raises the threat of a return to the authoritarian style of law and order reminiscent of the Gaddafi regime.

“The new government will have to move hard and fast if it hopes to create a stable, democratic regime” Security aside, the NTC must also face the costs of rebuilding Libya’s natural resources. Oil wells were damaged, food supplies burnt, gas lines burst and water pipes destroyed throughout the eight month conflict. Major reconstruction work is needed across Libya. Tripoli itself has been stabilised, yet the more rural areas of the country will continue to face rising fuel costs, power outages and water shortages throughout the winter months. Until oil production recovers, financing this rebuilding will prove a problem for the NTC. Before the conflict, Libya was producing 1.3 million barrels a day; current production has

only just hit the 430,000 mark, far short of what is needed to bolster Libya’s economy. There is a role, however, for the international community to play in Libya’s reconstruction, and the United States, benevolent as always, has promised the NTC $11m in aid. This money has conditions attached, one of which means that the majority of the money must be spent on locating and destroying the thousands of shoulder-to-air missiles that disappeared during the civil war. This will assist in stabilising the region, yet it is of little help to the thousands of Libyans who lost their homes and jobs as a result of the conflict. These problems may seem daunting, but the actual construction of a new system of government is the greatest challenge facing the NTC. Libya, unlike its Arab Spring counterparts in Tunisia and Egypt, has never experienced elections, even the mock elections of the aforementioned countries. Building the political and bureaucratic institutions to support the democratic process will be of immense difficulty to the NTC. If you look at any of the ex-colonial states in Africa and the Middle East, Libya suffers from what is known as tribalism. Although it is not as extreme as elsewhere (Somalia, Iraq, and Rwanda amongst others), it could cause problems for the new

government. Tensions do exist between the various provinces in Libya, and in creating a new elected legislative may cause problems during the elections, scheduled for 2013. In these each province will vote for its own local political party. A fragmented legislative body may undermine the new government’s authority, but it could also help protect from the resurgent tyrannical element which threatens any new state. Establishing a stable political process, though, is by far the biggest challenge which Libya has to overcome.

“The actual construction of a new system of government is the greatest challenge facing the NTC” Naturally, the events surrounding Libya are far too numerous to discuss here. Confusion about the death of Gaddafi, the whereabouts of his second son, Saif al-Islam, the role that the international community will play, and so on. What is for sure, however, is that the Libyan people have overthrown a brutal dictator through popular revolution. They now have the power to forge their own destiny. Libya’s problems are not insurmountable, and its people seem committed to democracy. Let us hope that this is enough.

COMPETITIONS1

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Crossword

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ACROSS 1. Novel that has been recently released as a film (8)

3. Mesoamerican culture infamous for human 2

sacrifice (5) 4. Edible raw fish (5)

4 5

6. The name of Gwyneth Paltrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first child (5)

13. Discovered of penicillin (16) 7 8

14. To modify or build according to personal

preference (9)

12 13

15. Award (8) 16. A baked pasta dish (7)

18. Communication between minds by some

means other then sensory perception (9) 20. Third album by UK artist Tinchy Stryder (11)

18 19 20

21. The study of chemical processes in living organisms (12)

22. A violent, tropical, cyclonic storm (9) 22

DOWN 1. English pianist, composer, presenter and bandleader (12)

Competition

2. Capital city of Oman (6) 3. German sports manufacturer (6) 5. New Zealand try scorer in their World Cup triumph (12)

We are giving away two tickets to see Tinchy Stryder at the Waterfront on Friday 12 November. Doors open at 6.30pm. Those attending will be able to stay on after the gig and enjoy the Waterfrontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meltdown club night - which lasts until 2am - free of charge. To be in with a chance of winning, bring your completed crossword to the Concrete office by midday on Monday 7 November. You will be contacted by telephone and email if you have won. Name: Telephone number: Email address:

7. Promising but petulant Manchester City forward (14) 8. 1964 war film starring Michael Caine (4) 9. The largest Chinese province in terms of population (8) 10. Austrailian prime

CONTACT DETAILS

minister (12) 11. To disregard (7) 12. Flightless bird of New Zealand (4) 17. A burrowing mammal (6)

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news p2-7

comment p8-10

travel p12-13

features p14-17

lifestyle p18-21

TRAVEL

Travelling behind the former Iron Curtain Sam Langan explores Eastern Europe’s occupied past and vibrant present, as well as the benefits and pitfalls of modern day tourism in the region Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, millions of tourists from the West have shuttled across to the east of Europe. A world that for decades was under the tight grip of Communism is also a world of magnificent architecture, iconic scenery and some of the most naturally beautiful locations known to man. Since the Iron Curtain fell some 20 years ago, countries in Eastern Europe have had revolutions, wars, changes of governmental infrastructure and even a dictator or two. This hasn’t put off huge businesses putting

their stamp on cities across the Baltic states and even as far as the Black Sea. Capitals such as Riga, Warsaw and Prague, once dressed and furnished with the red of Russia, are now littered with American fast food outlets, sports shops and other capitalist institutions. However, it is not America that has taken advantage of Eastern Europe’s change of identity and ideology. Latvia and Estonia have become synonymous with British stag weekends. Cheap beer and cheap women is the grotesque image laid upon these idyllic

countries and from personal trips to both countries, it is hard not to agree that it is something of an industry out there. Throughout the week the city is quiet, quaint and tranquil. But, come Friday, the main square becomes a labyrinth of noise and embarrassing public behaviour. Most groups of men behave themselves, but the odd few ruin it for the rest. The Interior Minister of Riga a few years ago voiced a widely-held opinion that tourists from other countries treat the city like their playground. Riga and Tallinn (the capital of Estonia) aren’t big cities, so a

bit of volume and discrepancy can echo throughout their old towns and mysterious, twisting lanes. But looking into the history of such countries you can see why they are so patriotic. Russia, which occupied much of Eastern Europe and the Baltic states for a huge part of the 20th century, saw the people of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia as a lesser people. Uprisings from underground guerrilla groups were common throughout Russia’s reign. In all three countries there are monuments to the many who dedicated their lives to fighting back against the oppressive regime. As a consequence, people from other countries who treat these places with little respect are not going to be looked on lightly, and rightly so. Other countries east and south of the Czech Republic (looked upon by many as the doorway to the rest of Europe) include Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and the Ukraine. All with their merits and places of interest, the advantage of these countries is the Carpathian Mountains. Travelling in Poland during the summer my fellow backpackers and I explored Krakow for the weekend and after two nights

of exhilarating electro music we were in need of rehabilitation. We journeyed from Krakow to Poprad in Slovakia and enjoyed two days of hiking, fresh air and peace in the Tatra Mountains, the highest peak of Carpathians. It was a perfect alternative to the vibrations and hectic lifestyle of the city. The further east of Ukraine, the further you delve into undiscovered territory. More like Western Asia, Georgia and Armenia are off the tourist trail, and so provide great satisfaction to the independent backpacker. Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is stunning and Kutaisi, its second city, holds two Unesco World Heritage sites. It would be a crime not to mention Russia as a top destination in Eastern Europe. Although English is generally not well spoken, Moscow and St. Petersburg claim a good number of British visitors each year. These are just two cities in a vast landscape that stretches to the ends of the earth. The TransSiberian Express is one of the only transport systems that lets people see the rest of Russia. Commencing in Moscow, the track runs all the way to Asia.

Getting down in the Dam Wish you were here? Kimberley Sparkes Travel Writer The beauty of being a traveller living in the UK is that Europe is right on your doorstep, eagerly anticipating your next sneaky term time weekend break or a cultural/drinking/beach holiday without the lengthy long haul flights. One of my favourite destinations is the Dutch capital Amsterdam. In February I went to “the Dam” for a two night, three day break with The Cocktail Society at UEA. We went by coach, which is a gruelling 24 hours each way but so much fun at the same time. You get to know everyone, have a laugh and see parts of France and Belgium. We arrived mid-afternoon and dropped off our bags at a very cheap hostel. Four people in a dorm room is a good way

to go if you are on a budget, and if you go on a coach tour they usually arrange everything for you anyway. At first we didn’t really have that much of a plan and just spent the first afternoon walking around getting lost in the maze of beautiful canals, bridges and backstreets. There are trams everywhere which allow you to get around the city easily. We were pretty tired after travelling, so we ended up crashing in one of the many little cafes to have a cuppa and a cookie and soak up the very chilled vibe of the locals. That night we hit the city centre on a bar crawl. We had an awesome time and definitely got to see the well-renowned crazy bars full of stag and hen parties ,and the bright lights of a certain red coloured district. The next morning we built up our Dutch courage to pull ourselves from our hostel beds

to make the most of the day as tourists. There are loads of things to do in the city, but my highlight was exploring Anne Frank’s house. Walking around the actual house where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis for two years, and seeing her actual diary laying open for all to read is a powerful experience. Leaving, deep in thought, I needed some Dutch craziness and fun to lighten the mood. Sitting in a giant clog in the middle of Dam Square and posing for photos on the “iamsterdam” sign (Europe’s answer to the Hollywood equivalent) was just the cure. Plus the Sex Museum, a real eyeopener that you could only truly expect from Amsterdam, just tops the experience off. The trip was just over £100 for coach and accommodation. There are also loads of student tour companies to choose from, so get looking.

This photo was taken looking out over the idyllic and incredibly picturesque area of Rome known as Trastevere. This area in the centre of the city is perfect for a

couple looking for a lively and romantic evening. Restaurants and shops of all kinds line the river bank, and the cobbled streets behind hide no end of charms.

CONTACT DETAILS

Ashleigh Berryman; Drew Nicol

TRAVEL

Editor: Greg Lewry Email: concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk

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Roaming cheaply in Rome

From resort to refugio in Mexico

Student ID when you visit either the Forum or the Colosseum and you will find that they offer a 50% discount, which is a big saving when full price is £15 per person. Saying that you’re a student will also help in haggling with street vendors who always compete for your cash. Local people love the flow of students visiting every year to marvel at the beauty of this ancient city. Remember, your identity as a student can be used to open many opportunities during your stay, and at a more favourable price. If you’re planning on visiting the Vatican, be aware of the time you arrive. The queues during peak times can be several hours. Late afternoon is best, as the majority of tours which clog up the queue will have trundled back to their buses by then.

Jessica Ball explores both sides of the Mexican balneario resort Puerto Vallarta, taking in the beach life whilst volunteering in a local orphanage

Drew Nicol Travel Writer With all the history and culture that Rome has to offer, it has become an expensive holiday destination, especially for students on a budget. Luckily, there are many ways in which a savvy traveller can enjoy all that this magnificent city has to offer without spending a fortune. When it comes to eating out, don’t settle for the first place you find. A lot of the time, restaurants will offer what appears to be a good deal, but the place next door may give you exactly the same for half the price. This is especially true in popular areas such as Piazza Navona. Walk a few yards down a side street and you will see food prices fall dramatically. Remember to flash your

Top five travel tweeters Twitter has become a major haven for travellers across the world to share advice, blogs and news. From airlines announcing their latest cut-price air fares to globetrotters updating where they are in the world, Twitter has become an essential item on the packing list of every traveller off on an adventure. Concrete Travel has scoured the Twittersphere to bring you the top five travel tweeters you should follow. 1. @BootsnAll Indie travel website based in Chicago that does daily “Top 10” articles on a plethora of travel subjects ranging from the best ideas for RTW trips to the “12 of the world’s most fascinating cemetries”. Inspiring travel advice, espceially for those planning long trips abroad. 2. @lonelyplanet “Tweeting and retweeting the best in travel” from the most respected travel guide publishers. Articles and deals from the world of travel tweeted from LP’s offices

in Australia, USA and UK. Half a million followers can’t be wrong. 3. @AndyExplores UEA graduate who is off to the Pacific islands of Tuvalu for nine months to help start up and develop the Scout movement there. Bound to be a fascinating insight into life in one of the most remote locations on Earth. 4. @nomadicmatt American man who has been travelling around the world for the past five years. Links to inspiring articles about breaking out of normal life and exploring the world on his website as well as insights and tips to where he is in the world at the moment. Great advice for inexpensive travel and how to make a living out of travel. 5. @BUNAC_UK Work and volunteer organisation that tweets questions and competitions as well as advice on working abroad. Also tweets great travel stories submitted by participants as part of their “Travel Experiences” blog.

Spending the summer working in an orphanage in Mexico sounded like a dream. As my housemate and I touched down in Puerto Vallarta airport, without suitcases, in the pouring rain and with a particularly sociable cockroach hovering round our feet, it did not appear to be how we had imagined our tropical adventure. Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast is a city famed for raucous spring breaks and wealthy American tourists. As the gay capital of Mexico it boasts a vibrant district which attracts thousands of visitors annually. This area of Vallarta is full of shiny new buildings, towering hotels, top class restaurants and shopping centres. However, just a few streets behind the resorts you will find a very different Vallarta. Locals crowd round taco vans, front rooms are opened to make shops, and old men sit selling horchata from jars. The orphanage, Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, is a real godsend for the children of Puerto Vallarta, where volunteers are valued and made to feel welcome. After helping in the kitchen moving chicken carcasses into individual bags and sorting the good blueberries from the rotting, it could have been easy to regret coming to Mexico to work, but the staff and children at the Refugio made it amazing. Listening to a little boy who speaks no English sing every word to Justin Bieber’s “Baby” was just one of the more surreal moments. The children were wonderful and it was heartbreaking saying goodbye to them.

Puerto Vallarta is surrounded by beautiful beaches such as Los Muertos, the eerily named “beach of the dead”, and Mismaloya, where we spent an hour swimming to an island to find it covered in enormous blue crabs & had to beg a ride back on a water taxi. The local tour operators were incredibly friendly and open to price negotiations, though not always to the seemingly strange needs of delicate English travellers. On one boat excursion a friend got his finger crushed between a boat and the dock. With his finger split open and blood pouring down his arm he was told, whilst pale and shaking, that “In Mexico we do not worry about these things” and asked if, for a few pesos, he would like to pose for a photo with a large iguana. Age old Mexican traditions go hand in hand with the 20th century in Puerto Vallarta. I visited the town of Nogalita twice, once to play on the extreme aerial zip line course spanning the length of the valley and once to take part in an ancient sweat lodge ritual. Both were incredible experiences that could not be more different. This is the charm of Puerto Vallarta; the new sits comfortably next to the old. Men sell traditional huichol artwork in shops next to Señor Frogs, the chain of restaurants, bars and clothing shops. The recently remodelled Malecon is a great area for nightlife in Puerto Vallarta. As well as the obligatory Señor Frogs, there are many clubs and bars, often kitsch and over the top, playing eclectic mixes of music. Vaquita is

a themed milkshake bar, serving up alcoholic milkshakes as clients dance on giant cow-print bunk beds. In between clubs, tequila shops stay open late, offering their wares to tourists. Upon seeing us drinking from bottles of water, we were asked whether we were “on vacation? Or probation?” The locals have adapted to the new market of spring breakers admirably, none more so than the taxi drivers who have been heard to offer “You want a taxi? No? Girls? Men? Do you want to party?” Vallarta has a relatively low crime rate compared to the rest of Mexico, although the police presence is reassuring. My expectations of what Mexico would be like were replaced by something far better than I expected. It was not the stunning beaches or glorious tequila sunrises that made Puerto Vallarta such an incredible place to visit, but it was the life, the experiences, the tastes, sights and sounds. I will always remember swimming in the sea in the middle of the night, the taste of papaya and pacifico beer and sitting on the roof of the apartment overlooking the bay enflamed by lightning bolts.

Essential Puerto Vallarta Population: 255,000

State: Jalisco

Demonym: Vallartense

How do I get there?

Puerto Vallarta’s airport is served by major American airlines flying mainly from Los Angeles and Phoenix.

When to go?

Vallarta is very busy during the College Spring Break period, but this is the best time to go climate-wise as the summer months can be intolerably hot and busy with American families.

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FEATURES

Does student politics matter? At a time when the whole nation seems to be losing faith in the British political system, Wil Hanford debates the importance of student politics While the majority of people would agree that political activity is important on some level, when asked “Does student politics matter?” the general response runs along the lines of “hmm... well, maybe, not really.” This feeling was personified by the disappointing turnout in Union elections; the Academic Officer was determined following a turnout of just seven hundred and sixty one votes. Yet when faced with a more specific question such as “Does your sports club deserve more funding?” or “Do you want to be able to trust your landlord?” the response is more positive. This indicates that students care about the issues, but for whatever reason they don’t care about the body whose selfappointed mission it is to solve them. To a certain extent this is remarkably similar to national politics. How often do we hear people claim that they do not care about an election because the result will not affect them, only to loudly complain that they hate the government a few years later? The crucial difference, of course, is that the government is recognised as having power. The role of the Student Union (SU) is primarily to give students a voice, but having a voice is of no use if those you are speaking to have no ears, and it is of even less use if you have no hands to implement what has talked about. This is the fundamental issue with student politics: does it have any impact? Are the policies of the Union Council implemented? Most crucially of all, how are student’s lives now different to how they were before the 109 policies listed on www.ueastudent.com, were declared? Tash Ross, Community and Student Rights Officer of the Union of UEA Students (UUEAS), asserts that SU policy is implemented in the majority of cases, with the only exceptions being where a policy is unworkable or irrelevant. An example of a policy currently being implemented is Hindu worship on campus. It was noted that the Chaplaincy did not have the facilities to accommodate

“Everybody deserves to have their voice heard... the opportunity to participate... and to remember their experience of participating” Tash Ross Community and Students Rights Officer

“Student politics matters because it’s a great opportunity to get involved in shaping your time at university. This doesn’t have to mean being aligned to any political party but rather taking the opportunity to stand up, have your voice heard and shape your experience at university. If there’s something you want to change, getting involved with the students’ union is a great way to do it - whether you want to change something within the university or on a national level, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved” Meg Evans Academic Officer

Hindus, and this is now being rectified. For those involved this has the potential to be very significant, but for those not it will in all probability pass them by. Of more interest to the majority is the issue of tuition fees. In this department, the UUEAS has to be credited for pressuring Simon Wright MP into honouring his pre-election pledge to vote against any increase in tuition fees. This is a unique example of the Union extending its influence beyond the confines of student politics and into the realm of national political debate. These two examples of successfully implemented policy, one concerning only a small minority and the other serving a whole range of people, demonstrate the great variety of Union policy. The UUEAS website provides a complete list of recently approved policies, which range from the mundane to the ridiculous, controversial, and even ingenious. For example, were you aware that the Union now prints its documents in Century Gothic as opposed to Arial? Why? Because this saves £2000 per year in ink costs. This can now be spent instead on subsidising sports clubs and societies, an important development because, for the first time, sports clubs and societies are going to have to start seriously budgeting. UUEAS Finance Officer, Rob Bloomer, explains that the continuous growth in sports clubs and societies, coupled with declining revenue from the LCR, and Union Bar has resulted in less money having to be shared out among more people. When asked whether the cost of running the LCR could be reduced by staging student bands, Mr. Bloomer said that he had no aversion to it, but added that this would be difficult to advertise. The expansion of SocMart into the Hive shows just how popular our sports clubs and societies are, and their importance to students. Mr. Bloomer also argues that involvement in student politics is “The best way for students to have the opportunity to take charge and decide what clubs and societies exist, and what events

take place.” As our beloved sports clubs and societies are funded by the revenue gained from events, his second point is vitally important. It should be clear by now that student politics matter. Whether you have noticed it or not does not change the fact that it affects

you. The houses you live in are owned by landlords approved by the Union, the contract you signed can be checked over by lawyers paid for by the UUEAS, which subsidises the clubs and societies you participate. These issues matter, and student politics allow you to engage with them.

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international p22

turf p23

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Editor: Lauren Razavi

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Editor: Lauren Razavi Email: concrete.features@uea.ac.uk

FEATURES

Student loans and managing your money Lauren Cope looks at the financial costs of moving from halls to a new house, and the expensive nature of university life in general Every student has experienced the ‘loan excitement’; when first laying eyes upon the glistening sum of money Student Finance England has deposited. It seems that anything is possible: no item too expensive, no cost too great. “How could anyone

spend £1200 in three months anyway?” Slowly, it will dawn on you that after a few nights out, an excited shopping trip and the expenses of everyday life, it’s actually quite easy. While most students struggle with money to some extent during their

time at university, it is arguably second years who find it hardest. Moving from comfortable halls to a real house is quite a shock to the system, and comes with a whole new set of costs. Having to calculate and divide money to include rent

and bills can be a culture shock and forces most students to budget for the first time in their lives. While houses are normally a little cheaper than halls, it’s incredibly important not to become complacent and to make sure that monthly rent is saved away somewhere safe! With water, electric, gas and internet bills coming out at different times it’s hard to keep track of your money, especially with a large house. Virgin Media are known as the best for students, offering the cheapest prices and your landlords will have normally sorted out your electricity and gas, so second years aren’t totally alone. Transport prices are hiked up in second year. Gone are the days of waking up ten minutes before a lecture and staggering down to Lecture Theatre 1 or the trek to Thomas Payne. Getting the bus everyday into UEA is a “wake up an hour before you go” routine, and an expensive one at that. A return from UEA to most of Norwich costs £3.90. It soons adds up if you’re paying

for it daily. Buying a bus pass from the Travel Office can feel like an enormous expense, but will without a doubt become invaluable. Textbooks are another shocking expense to challenge the bank account, with some students paying nearly £300 out for textbooks this year… ouch. So do student loans cover this sort of expense? It’s undeniable that the beginning of each year feels like a stretch. Plenty of one off payments can feel like the loan has evaporated before it was even there. Although things will settle down as the year draws on, planning ahead for bills, getting your rent in on time and getting any big one-off payments out of the way when the year begins makes the adjustment a lot less stressful. It may seem as though money from Student Finance doesn’t match the outgoings, even those who get grants and bursaries, but with tuition fees set to rise for the next intake of students and the cost of living on the rise all the time, perhaps this year’s students should consider themselves lucky.

How we approach Halloween today Samantha Rogers examines the increasingly consumerist pattern of contemporary Halloween celebrations and their impact on our society Halloween, or “All Hallows Eve”, as it was formerly known, is a day that has transformed throughout history and different countries. The true origins of this holiday have been unknown for a considerable amount of time. What is known is that it is the day before the Christian “All Saints Day”, and that it was the day of the Pagan Celtic festival known as “Samhain”, the celebration of the last day of summer and approach of darker days. But what does Halloween stand for in society today? These days, it’s traditional for children of all ages to dress up in spooky costumes, and go trick-ortreating. This has been happening since the Middle Ages, albeit it worked slightly differently back then, and actually originated in Britain and Ireland despite it now being more associated with candy-obsessed America. More common with young

adults, on the other hand, is the idea of a Halloween party where guests will dress up and celebrate the evening with friends in their own home. This can entail alcohol and games, such as apple bobbing and pumpkin carving, or could involve a more “relaxed” evening of watching horror movies. It is this fascination with watching horror movies that Hollywood has taken advantage of by consciously releasing new horror movies every single year around the end of October, allowing audiences to get into the mood for the creepy night on the horizon. However, not everyone gets involved with this festive holiday, some refusing for religious reasons, such as certain Christians who believe the holiday is too oriented with pagan worship. Whatever the choice, it’s quite clear that this holiday is an extremely commercialised one,

with confectionary companies, fancy-dress shops, and supermarkets alike all competing to sell the best “scary” products. This generally involves bat-shaped stickers and sweets, skeleton and spider-web decorations, and spooky costumes, the most infamous being witches, devils and vampires. It is due to this that the real origin of Halloween has become lost, but is that really a problem? Does the lack of proper knowledge about the day stop people from celebrating? Even if people did know, would that stop the celebration? After all, we can still bring ourselves to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day, a celebration of a historic terrorist plot against parliament. Halloween may be more of a scam these days but this does not stop us from celebrating in style; spooky, horrifying style. And why should it?

FEATURES

Editor: Lauren Razavi Email: concrete.features@uea.ac.uk

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INTERVIEW: Fearne Cotton Concrete’s Chris King and Hannah Britt discuss music, fashion and Justin Bieber with Fearne Cotton ahead of Radio 1’s Student Tour You’re on the radio. Do you feel pressured to look good in public even though all the public get of you is your voice? Well I love dressing up anyway so whether I was going to the supermarket or to the studio, where there are a lot of paps outside, I absolutely love putting outfits together. Obviously I have my down days where I just whack on a pair of yoga pants and flip flops like I did this morning, but I don’t really feel pressure about what people think of me or what they see of me. I just like getting ready and putting outfits together. If you see a bad picture of yourself does it upset you? Oh God no. I mean, it happens a lot! You just get on with it. Everyone has bad days, when you’ve got greasy hair and toothpaste down your top. Unfortunalty, if I do get photographed in that way quite a lot of people will see it. You can’t untag it when it’s in a magazine can you? Yeah, exactly. Have you ever had a nip slip? No, I’m not one of those girls who’ll wear a top with no bra underneath. Absolutely not. Do you think it’s a good music scene right now or are we in a bit of slump? There seems to be a lot of electro pop out at the moment, whether it be Katy Perry, Rihanna, Cher Lloyd, One Direction, people with the same sort of sound. But I actually think that there’s also a lot of people with really great diverse music out there too that is new and up and coming. People like Ed Sheeran, Noah and the Whale, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kasabian ... there are a lot of people out there making really diverse, different music. So, I think there is a good mix on the whole. The younger end of the market ends up getting swept along with what’s really popular, but people can make up their own mind whether they listen to that or whether they reach out and look to other genres. Radio 1 is really good at representing a good mix of what’s going on. There was a phase a while back, when I was doing

kids TV, when there were a lot of boy bands, and now there’s a more indie movement. There are always these waves, nothing ever sticks around for too long. But, on the whole, I think that the music industry and the diversity of it is looking pretty healthy at the moment. Do you find it hard interviewing a band, or someone you really don’t like? No, because I don’t think there’s anyone in the music industry that doesn’t deserve their place there. I think that whatever their journey is, whether it be through being in a band for years with your best mates, or through a reality TV show, they all have a talent or a skill that’s got them to where they are. I’m not the sort of person who’s going to sit and judge them. There are some people I’m naturally really intrigued to find out about, bands that I love. And, of course there are others that I don’t care about as much but that might mean it’s a surprising interview that something quite interesting will come out of.

“There seems to be a lot of electro pop out there at the moment, whether it be Katy Perry, Rihanna or One Direction. There is some really great diverse music out there too though, that is new and up and coming. People like Ed Sheeran, Noah and the Whale, Bombay Bicycle Club and Kasabian” On the subject of bands and acts that you don’t like ... is there anything you’d like to tell us about your relationship with Justin Bieber? Oh yeah, we’ve got a complex relationship. (laughter) It didn’t start off that great to be honest. At Radio 1’s big weekend, a couple of years ago now, he kind of walked out of an interview because I’d annoyed him by

asking him about a tattoo. I wasn’t meant to know about it, even though it had been published in several national magazines. But anyway, I decided that it would be a great idea for him to come on the show and chat this out with me. So, he came on my radio show and we had a discussion. He didn’t apologise so to speak, he just said “let’s be friends”. And now I think we’re mates. He tweeted “Hello” after the interview and told all his followers to follow me. I think there’s a genuine friendship blossoming there. What a beautiful story. Have you got his phone number? No, we didn’t go as far as to swap the digits. But, then again, that could be slightly wrong considering I’m 30 and he is about 17 ... But he is hot property right now though … it could be a good one to bring out at parties? What, prank call Bieber when I’m drunk? Yes. That’s what Concrete would do. On the subject of age, do you think that you’re still going to be in this business when you’re 40? Is there an ageism on the radio as there seems to be on TV? Well, I’m 30 ... so 40 is actually only 10 years away! I’ve been working in this industry for 15 years so it doesn’t feel like it’s a massively distant time away. I think you go through your own phases during your career, making you want to move on from things. But I don’t think there’s an ageism. If you feel that you’re relevant to the type of music which is being played, and the audience that are listening, then there’s a job for you. I think you expect to move on from projects in TV and radio, that’s just natural. After a certain amount of time, the next person takes over. I wouldn’t want to be stuck doing the same thing for too long anyway, it would get stagnant. Is that why you branched out into your clothing range for Very and, more recently, your

make up range for Boots? Yeah it’s definitely important to do other things and if the opportunity is there, why not branch out, experiment and see if it works? With the clothing line, it has worked and I’ve been very fortunate. I absolutely love doing it; it’s exciting getting to try my hand at other things. How much creative input in the design do you actually have? Complete input. I sketch everything out, draw and make moodboards for quite a long while, a couple of months at least. Then I meet up with the creative team at Very to work out what prints we might use, to see if they’ve found some vintage prints from somewhere, for example. We work through ideas, then technical sketches are drawn out. We get samples made up, then we change things again. I’m right there throughout the process until it hits the website. I am very involved, it’s really fun. Do you still get star struck? The only time I’ve been properly star struck, to the point where i didn’t know what I was doing, is when I went to this exhibition and Jimmy Page was there. He’s my absolute hero. I got introduced to him and I just froze, I had absolutely nothing to say. I was a blithering wreck. We had a photo taken where I looked like an overexcited little gibbon. That was probably my un-coolest moment. Ever. Have you spoken to him since? I haven’t actually no. I sort of want to in a way because, obviously, he’s my hero. But, on the other hand, I’d like to eradicate that moment from my memory forever. Has Leigh Francis given you a complex with all the banter from Celebrity Juice? No, in real life we’re excellent friends. So it’s all said in utter jest, perhaps even with an injection of love. He’s very lovely and it’s all just for the TV show, he’s not like that in real life. We’re very good friends.

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LIFESTYLE

Let’s do the Time Warp again 101 tips Lifestyle writer Freya Barry enjoys an afternoon shopping trip to a bygone era at the Norwich Vintage Fashion fair On October 9th - a sleepy Sunday in Norwich - the UK’s biggest roaming vintage fair hit town. Having already visited over 25 cities and festivals so far this year, the Vintage Fashion event flooded St. Andrew’s Hall with 40 stalls from up and down the country. Each was full to the brim with a vast array of vintage clothing, jewellery, arts and crafts, food and homeware. For an alternative day

out filled with eclectic items from bygone eras, events like these are the ultimate indulgences.

10.

Remember to clean your bathroom floor. Wet feet plus a dirty floor equals dirty feet! It’s something often overlooked that can be proper mingin’!

“For an alternative day out, these are the ultimate indulgences” It was a veritable delight for the senses, with the clothing racks bursting with beautifully maintained items ranging from dainty 1940s tea dresses to brash 1980s leather jackets. There was something here for every fashionista with a taste for the unusual. Gone were the racks of identikit high-street items. Instead, every piece was unique with a history and invoked the most wonderful sense of nostalgia. Never again need you be the girl (or boy) who encounters someone else working your look; the quirky vintage elements on show could add an individual twist to any outfit. It wasn’t by any means all about the clothes, however. The homeware and arts and crafts all hailed from a range of eras

-Alex Valentine

11.

First years: keep your keys on you at all times, just in case the cleaner locks you out of your room. - Jess Beech with the emphasis on interesting items that would make excellent gifts or unusual ornaments. For students bored of a simple poster instructing them to “Keep Calm and Drink On”, these stalls offered plenty to spruce up a house at prices even students can afford. The venue itself was perfect for the event, with plenty of space for browsing at your leisure with old-fashioned cakes, macaroons

and tea for fatigued shoppers. There was also live music from a rockabilly band and a vintage party and beauty parlour. The friendliness of the stallholders and their love of all things vintage was definitely contagious and made the day a perfect one for introducing vintage virgins to the scene, as well as those wanting to explore the ever-growing vintage scene in Norwich.

Clive Ashcroft: the man who cares How do you feel about being UEA’s favourite bus driver? I’m sure there are many people with their own favourite bus driver, I’m just one of many drivers who do their best to provide a service. My main concern is the students’ safety and I do feel very privileged and honoured to be liked by so many awesome people. I wish them every success and happiness for the future!

Was the transition from UEA’s favourite bus driver to Agony Uncle difficult? My transition to Agony Uncle was my way of giving something back to the students for all their kindness, so I found it very easy to say yes when asked by students from “Concrete.” I just hope that I don’t bore the reader and

The dos and don’ts of University life

that I can help somebody with their questions.

you received last year from one of the students?

When you’re not working, what would be your idea of the perfect weekend in Norwich?

That’s a tricky one! I only seem to remember the silly ones, like, are you going to the next stop? [Laughs] I would just like to take this opportunity to welcome all the new students and hope they make lots of new friends and have a great future, take care everyone!

When I’m not working my perfect weekend would be some quality time with my family. My son who is a lone parent is raising two children and has done me proud, so I try to help when I can! He still knocks on my door and says; “Daaaad, I’ve run out of petrol!” [laughs]

Special thanks to Clive Ashcroft for taking the time to speak with Concrete. Remember whatever the problem, worry or issue: Clive Cares. Send in your letters and questions for Clive via email to clivecares@gmail.com.

12.

For the love of God, think about whether you’re doing the right course. There is such a thing as “too late to change.” -Duncan Vicat-Brown

13.

Invest in a good alarm clock, and if you find early mornings a challenge, take regular naps during the day! -Michael Dabner

14.

If you’re in first year, pay your rent for the term as soon as your loan comes in. That way you don’t have to worry about overspending. -Michael Marren

15.

Never be afraid to just walk up to somebody and introduce yourself, chances are you might make a brilliant new friend. -Nat Matthews-Graves

16.

Lifestyle Editors Hasina Allen and Rianne Ison

Take a calculator and divide your fee for the year by the number of hours you will spend in lectures and classes over the whole year. When you see how much you’re paying per hour, skipping that 9am session wont seem so tempting.

interview UEA’s favourite bus driver Clive Ashcroft,

- Helen Vicary

in anticipation of the triumphant return of Clive

If you have a tip you would like to share with the rest of campus tweet us at: @Concrete_Lifest #101tips

Finally, what was the most interesting query

Cares

TheHome&GardenSpecial

LIFESTYLE

Editors: Hasina Allen & Rianne Ison Email: concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk

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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

Lifestyle offers you a hand in turning your University accomodation into the perfect second home

Pennies not pounds - personalisation on a budget How to make your room your own without breaking the bank Jess Beech Lifestyle Writer Putting your own stamp on the blank canvas of a student room can be difficult when on a tight budget. The realization of how many VK’s home ware costs makes it even less appealing. When making your room your own on a budget, start with the walls. Fill your wall space with as many snaps from nights out and the family album as possible. A number of online stores offer free prints when you sign up, so it is a great way to make your room feel instantly homely without breaking the bank. Decorating your walls does not have to stop at photos. You can pick up inexpensive posters, bunting and lights from many places. Even pinning up patterned scarves makes for an unusual wall hanging. Try and find things in budget

Create a mood board of inspirations for your ideal room shops that look expensive. Wilkinson sells a fake glass decanter for under £1, instantly

bringing a touch of class to your home. Remember that the little

details count. Items such as photo frames, candles and trinkets do not cost much but can make a real statement. Also, candles and incense are a brilliant way to remove the smell of damp that lurks in so many student houses. If you see homeware that you like, at prices you cannot afford, re-create your own versions of them. You can pick up materials to make items such as pillow cases in haberdashery shops, or even re-work the fabric from unwanted or charity shop clothes. Look in charity shops for real bargains. There are so many places within Norwich, one of them is sure to have what you are looking for. Having a plant or flowers in your room will automatically make it feel a bit brighter, especially as winter draws in. Remember, do not spend too much on homeware as, in the same way as clothes, you may not like it come next year!

Green fingers and fairy lights Vicky Cann Lifestyle Writer Now gardening may not seem like the obvious student pastime, but with minimal effort and a low budget you can discover that wanting hominess which can transform your abode from generic student digs into a personalised new home. One way to do this is to cultivate your outdoor space with things a little more alive than the tired garden furniture and battered washing lines lurking in many student yards. You could either scatter your patio with decorative flowerpots, cheaply purchasable from Wilkinson, or plant a couple of small bedding plants. These not only look beautiful outside, but they can also be picked to brighten up your house if you feel the rooms

are looking a little dingy. Another way to liven up your garden, and your meals, is to plant some basic herbs, such as basil or coriander. These are easy to grow and save you money on seasoning. Like flowers, you can scatter them in beds, or simply nab yourself a plant pot and arrange them by the door, so they are easily accessible. They also provide genuinely lovely aromas to ward off less appealing student house odours, such as week-old takeaway, or, if your housemate had a particularly unfortunate end to their LCR night, the poorly concealed remains of an ill thought-through Corkie’s burger. Planting in your garden will also attract desirable wildlife like butterflies, as opposed to the unwelcome variety consequent of less wholesome garden fillers (ancient pizza boxes, say),

A cheap plant pot can become your one-stop herb garden although from experience I can confirm that these will draw their own ecosystems eventually! To complete the personalisation of your garden, why not grab some scissors, pins and string and rig up some bunting? You could even recycle

old clothes instead of buying material. Fairy lights are also an attractive, affordable way to give the final flourish to your student garden; providing a glowing backdrop and homely atmosphere, guaranteed to make your house a central social hub.

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Editors: Hasina Allen & Rianne Ison Email: concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk

LIFESTYLE

How to make your house into your home Shop until Lifestyle writers offer their personal decorating tips and a brief peek into their homes you drop Where to go for stylish student home decor

Top left - Room 1 >> Emily Burt Top right - Room 2 >> Grace Carruthers Bottom left - Room 3 >> Jessica Ball Bottom right - Room 4 >> Curtis Goodes

It is true to say that a student can never have too many posters, although it is also essential that you use white tack on the walls. My posters mostly came from the campus sales, and are interspersed with cardboard props from a charades game. Mirrors are great for decoration because they create an illusion of more space, which is always useful in student halls! The top of the wardrobe is a fancy dress zone, displaying all the LCR essentials and relics of drunken nights out. Try to be inventive with your bedroom- after all; these are four walls you’ll be looking at a lot this year.

As the most sociable room of a house, the lounge requires a homely ambience which is both inviting and relaxing. Comfy cushions and snug throws are essential to compensate for the warmth a student budget simply cannot cover all winter long. Create a more intimate setting by dotting candles around the room and hanging fairy lights as a substitute for harsh, overbearing lamps. Opt for neutral shades such as creams and beiges (remembering that this will no doubt be your place of refuge for the 24 hours following a heavy night), and add splashes of colour to liven things up.

Lengths of interesting material can really make a room feel homely as well as being pretty useful in keeping a sort of boho tidiness when thrown over mess. Pile of dirty laundry? Voila! A chunky looking bean bag that smells of dirty laundry. Baked bean/facepaint/red wine stains on the wall? Hey presto! An artfully draped feature wall. Pillows, posters, fairy lights and a million fliers from all over are a must, as are the photos of family and friends back home. Just make sure you tack the picture of your Nan up over your text books rather than your vodka collection, or you’ll just feel guilty.

Decorate your room based around your interests to quickly make it feel more like your own space. Anything can be stuck to your wall, not just posters. Favourite CD or LP covers, pages cut out from magazines or books, scraps of wallpaper samples and doodles of your own can all be stuck together to make a bedroom feel more personal. Old scarves or blankets can make good wall hangings, and add a nice touch to any room. Charity shops, junk retailers or flea markets have many weird trinkets and peculiar decorations to make any room more individual and enjoyable.

Emily Burt

Grace Carruthers

Jessica Ball

Curtis Goodes

Recycle with Lifestyle: making Concrete bunting Hasina Allen Lifestyle Editor This week’s “Recycle with Lifestyle” shows you how to turn your finished Concrete into chic bunting to spice up any wall. Whether you only whip it out for parties or have decided to jump on to the “kitsch is cool“ bandwagon this bunting is easy to make and an effective home

accessory. Take four sheets of the latest Concrete and paint one side of each sheet yellow. Once that has dried, paint the other side green, then cut into equal triangles. Thread a piece of string or ribbon through the triangles, and once they are all attached spread them along the length of the ribbon evenly. Finally, tie knots at both ends and your bunting is ready to take pride of place!

Wilkinson is new to Norwich this year. This established store really does have it all at extremely reasonable prices. Whether you’re looking for plants, mirrors or some simple candles, this really is the place for you. A definite must is you are looking to decorate on a budget.

Evolution is a privately owned establishment in the heart of the city. It is filled with photo frames, wall hangings and some great art work to brighten your walls. The best bit is that if you buy five items over five pounds you are entitled to a free five pound voucher courtesy of an Evocard. Bargain shopping at its best!

Looses Antique Flea Market takes place every Saturday 124pm on Magdalen Street. Head to Look in this “Aladdin’s Cave” for unique bargains and one of a kind purchases that are likely to stay part of your décor for years past your student experience.

Hasina Allen

Primark is everybody’s favourite high street store and their home section is fantastic. On the, albeit untidy shelves, you will find cushions, shower curtains and throws to personalise your home.

LIFESTYLE

Editors: Hasina Allen & Rianne Ison Email: concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk

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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

Supper and a sweet snack in seven steps

Ally Kayler

EASY BBQ CHICKEN Che Witcher Lifestyle Writer

Ingredients: Chicken drumsticks 1 Large Onion For the sauce: 5 Tablespoons Soy Sauce 5 Tablespoons White Wine 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar 1 Level Teaspoon Mustard powder 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Puree

FRUIT & CRUMBLE BARS 1. Place drumsticks in square glass dish. 2. Chop onion and sprinkle over chicken. 3. Make sauce in a frying pan over low heat. 4. Pour over chicken. 5. Cook for one hour at around 180 C 6. Turn drumsticks over half way through. 7. Serve with rice.

Tip: Add some roasted yellow or orange peppers for extra flavour!

Ally Kayler Lifestyle Writer Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup hard margarine 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 cups blackberries, cut in halves 3 cups of strawberries, sliced 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Society Spotlight: Drama Jennifer Woods Lifestyle Writer As one of the biggest and most inclusive societies on campus, DramaSoc caters for all students, whatever their background or level of experience in the world of theatre. Our main aim is to offer members as many opportunities to engage in the dramatic arts as possible. DramaSoc continues to make play-making its primary objective. Each semester we hold three to four productions in a variety of venues both off and on campus, including our annual musical in the spring semester,

still yet to be announced. We aspire to choose a wide range of productions that will entertain, challenge, and move our audiences. All productions are entirely student-run, from acting, to directing, from producing to stage-managing or designing. The list goes on. This year we have created even more opportunities for members to get involved. Fortnightly, we host drama workshops where members can learn more about different aspects of theatre through various exercises and games. We will also be running theatre trips to see touring productions at the

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. 2. Base and crumble: in a medium bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in the margarine. Add beaten egg. The dough should be crumbly. Pat half of the dough into the greased pan. Place the pan and the remaining dough in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling. 3. Filling: place the fruit in a large bowl and pour lemon juice over. Mix gently. In a separate bowl, whisk

various professional theatres that Norwich boasts- as well as socials to its bars and clubs! We hope to continue to offer even more creative opportunities for our members this year, and for all other students, even more opportunities to watch them at work! Get in touch! ueadramasoc@ gmail.com, Facebook: UEA DramaSoc This semester’s line up: >> “Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme” by Frank McGuinness 26th-28th October, 7.30pm Drama Studio >> “The Real Thing” by Tom Stoppard 7th-8th November, 7.30pm

together the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pour over the fruit and mix gently. 4. Let the fruit mixture sit for a few minutes. 5. Spread the fruit mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining dough over the fruit layer. 6. Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the top is slightly brown. 7. Cool the bars completely before cutting into squares. Tip: Make sure you grease the pan to stop your bars coming out in pieces!

Norwich Puppet Theatre >> “Gormenghast” by Mervyn Peake and John Constable 23rd-25th November, 7.30pm Drama Studio

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INTERNATIONAL

With Halloween and Diwali in our midst, Concrete investigates the cultural intricacies of the darkness and light

Creatures of the Night Ingrid Kornstad International Writer Humans have always been afraid of the dark. It comes upon us every night without fail, and it can hide anything. It's no wonder then, that all over the world, people have populated the night with fearsome creatures. Originating in Eastern Europe, the vampire is wellknown to all: an undead being which drinks blood. But there are other bloodsuckers out there. The Ewe people in Ghana tell stories of the Adze, a creature which takes the shape of a firefly and flies into people's houses to drink their blood. There is also the Colombian Tunda, which takes the shape of a woman and lures people into the forest to eat them. The night is also an opportunity for spirits to gather. In Japan, the Hyakki Yakō would assemble in the summer. The country's demons come together at night to tour through the streets, bringing death to anyone who sees them.

The Nightmarchers of Hawaii are slightly more benevolent. They are the ghosts of ancient warriors who march past old battlegrounds on holy nights. Finally, we have the Norwegian Åsgårdsreia - restless souls who gather on Christmas night and take with them anyone who has not finished their Christmas preparations.

“It’s no wonder, then, that all over the world, people have populated the night with fearsome creatures” Death belongs to the darkness, and its creatures reflect that. In Ireland, the banshee's scream means death. The woman-shaped Ciguapa, from the Dominican Republic, wails outside a man's house if she falls in love with him, foretelling the demise of his wife. And finally, closer to home, the Black Shuck haunts Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, taking the form of a big, black dog. So watch out when walking home at night.

Diwali: the festival of lights Isabelle Carty International Writer Over the years, more and more people have been exposed to the Hindu celebration of Diwali (26th October). Deepavali, as it is also known, means “an array of lights” in Sanskrit and signifies the victory of light over darkness. To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Therefore, lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction of all negative forces such as violence, injustice, oppression and suffering, through knowledge. Due to this, many may also refer to Diwali as the festival of lights. On Diwali, the goddess Laxmi, a symbol of prosperity, is worshipped. However, Hindus celebrate the festival for different reasons depending on their origins. In North India, Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana from a 14-year exile and war in which he vanquished the demon king Ravana. It is believed that

the people lit oil lamps along the path to light the royal family in the darkness. The festival is held on the final day of the Vikram calendar. The following day marks the beginning of the North Indian new year. In South India, Diwali often commemorates the conquering of the Asura Naraka, a powerful king of Assam, who imprisoned tens of thousands of inhabitants. It was Lord Krishna who finally

subdued Naraka and freed the prisoners. Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year, as South Indians follow a different calendar. Reasons for celebration aside, the lights that are lit signify a welcome to prosperity and the fireworks are to frighten away evil spirits; so in the coming weeks, keep an eye out for the fireworks that will light up the night sky.

Thai economy bears the burden of floods Robert Norris International Writer Since floods first hit Thailand in June this year, there have been more than 350 deaths and over a third of Thailand’s provinces have been seriously affected. The flooding has now reached Bangkok, with a number of suburbs to the north of the city already submerged in water. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has claimed that the flooding is a national crisis and the authorities are doing all they can to try and solve the issue. Mrs Shinawatra stated: “This problem is very overwhelming. It is a national crisis so I hope to get co-operation from everybody.” It now seems impossible to protect the whole of the capital from the flooding. Currently the government is trying to work out which parts of the city should effectively be sacrificed

to prevent the floods from damaging the whole of Bangkok. The floods have had a

profound effect upon the country’s economy, with Thailand’s central bank claiming

that the damage to industries has amounted to over 100bn baht (£2.1 billion). It has been

reported that 3.5m tonnes of rice paddies have been damaged Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rice - and that roughly 1000 factories have been shut down. Japanese electronics giant Sony has postponed the launch of many of its products due to the disruption the flood has caused.

“It now seems impossible to protect the whole of the capital from the flooding. Currently the government are trying to work out which parts of the city should be effectively sacrificed” The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Prasarn Trairatvorakul has warned that growth this year may be more than one percent point less than the 4.1% forecast. However, analysts say the loss could be twofold if Bangkok is seriously affected.

TURF

comment p8-10

travel p12-13

features p14-17

lifestyle p18-21

international p22

sport p25-28

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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

10,000km to Durban in just two months Becky Hazlewood reports on the Greenhouse Trust Café’s virtual journey to raise awareness of the next Climate Change Conference in South Africa Nestled amongst the historic buildings of Bethel Street, from the outside the Greenhouse Trust Cafe seems to be pretty much like any other eatery. Looking past the collection of highly appealing cakes and steaming cups of coffee, you’ll find that first impressions can be deceiving. There are several things which make the Greenhouse Trust a little less ordinary than your average Panini outlet. Beyond the abundance of minimally packaged, local, fairtrade and organic produce, the Greenhouse Trust has gone a few steps further, indeed, several leaps further in reducing its environmental impact and Carbon footprint. From the 200m of recycled paper used for the roof insulation to the photovoltaic panels in the courtyard garden, the whole building is a feat of creativity and structural ingenuity. This has been recognised by the

Sustainable Energy Academy (SEA), which calculated that the top floor of the building has made efficiency savings of 82%. An impressive transformation for a historic building that was bought in a semi-derelict condition back in 1993 Owned by a charitable trust and run by volunteers, this is a fantastic example of achievable energy efficiency improvements.

“The solutions to climate change are available and we in the rich nations need to demand action” The Greenhouse Trust acts as Norwich’s environment centre, hosting many events and local environmental projects. This October and November, a virtual journey taking the 10,000 kilometre journey from Norwich to Durban aims to raise awareness of climate change issues and pressure the government in the

lead up to the next international Climate Change Conference. People will be walking, cycling, swimming and running to meet their targets, raising sponsorship money to go towards supporting the Greenhouse’s climate change education work. So far, it seems to be working. Despite not having started to really publicise the event yet, £500 has already been raised and 2675km travelled. Building Manager “Tigger” from the Trust was pleased with the response so far. “People are signing up, particularly via our Facebook page. Most just want to be part of the journey rather than collect sponsorship, but equally, given how fundraising is getting tougher, it’s been good to see that folks are wanting to engage with this issue.” A regional co-ordinator from the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, which represents around 11 million people, has even moved

into the Greenhouse, and will be staying there until the end of the Durban Conference. Highlighting the issues at stake in the Durban conference is vital in fighting climate change. The virtual journey is important “because all the major political parties have parked the issue. The solutions to climate change

are available, they can help reboot the economy and we in the rich nations need to demand action. Another ‘Copenhagen’ type disaster promises the stuff of nightmares for us all.” For more information on the Greenhouse Trust and the virtual journey visit www. greenhousetrust.co.uk.

Local organisation still fighting climate change Aiming to move society from oil dependence to a resilient local community, Transition Norwich continues to progress, writes Simeon Jackson Transition Norwich, a community-led response to Peak Oil and Climate Change, celebrates three years "in transition" this month by inviting Rob Hopkins, the movement's founder, to speak here in Norwich. In October 2008, over four hundred people gathered in St Andrews Hall for the group's "unleashing", including former

North Norwich MP Ian Gibson. The event was the start of Norwich's engagement in the international Transition movement, which aims to answer the crucial question: "For all those aspects of life that our community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive, how do we significantly increase resilience (to mitigate the effects of Peak Oil) and drastically

reduce carbon emissions (to mitigate the effects of Climate Change)?" A number of theme groups emerged out of the launch event, targeting each of those "aspects of life”: energy and housing, economics and livelihoods, food and farming, transportation and reskilling. Several of these groups have now evolved into practical projects, such as Norwich FarmShare, a community supported agriculture venture which delivers a locally grown vegetable box scheme to subscribers in Norwich. Transition Norwich has continually evolved since its formation. In the beginning, local neighbourhood groups, known as Transition Circles, worked together to focus on personal carbon reduction. However talking together about issues of sustainability spurned on much more ambitious projects. This includes events such as the the Magdalen Street Celebration, a yearly festival with a low carbon theme, which

this year included a diverse range of events from Japenese drumming to storytelling. Other projects have included a blog “This Low Carbon Life”, which is written by multiple contributors, sharing their unique experiences of low carbon living, and the “Low Carbon Cookbook”, a collaboratively written book of low carbon recipes. The Economics and Livelihoods theme group also renewed itself following a

"gripping" presentation on the financial crisis by internationallyrecognised blogger Nicole Foss in March, and are meeting on Wednesday 26th October to discuss the economic development of St Augustine’s Street and the surrounding area. The third birthday celebration with guest speaker Rob Hopkins will take place on Tuesday 15th November at the United Reform Church on Princes Street at 7.30pm.

facebook.com/ConcreteNewspaper Editor: Sam Tomkinson Email: concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk @Concrete_UEA

www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

COMPETITIONS2

Sudoku Easy 9

1 4

5 8

6 3

9 8

5 2

Word Wheel The rules are simple, make as many words as you can from the grid:

P E

T L

• • • •

Each word must use the central letter Only use each letter once No plurals allowed Words must be a minimum of three letters

U R

Competition In a bumper competition week, we also have two tickets to give away for Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, who visit the LCR on Friday 28 October. Doors open at 7.30pm, and special guests will also be in attendance. Tickets for the event are still available, priced at £19 in advance for NUS card holders. To be in with a chance of winning, just complete the easy and intermediate sudokus and bring them to the Concrete office by midday on Friday 28th October. You will be contacted by telephone and email if you have won. Name: Telephone Number: Email address:

7 6

3 3

5 3

1 4

2 5

5 2

Challenging

Intermediate

SPORT

comment p8-10

Editors’ Column

I had not heard of Dan Wheldon before his tragic death, even though he was regarded as one of the best British drivers in the world. His sad demise highlights some very real safety concerns in the Indy Car series, and will draw inevitable comparisons with Formula One. When drivers Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna both tragically died in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, there were immediate calls for safety to be improved. Since then, changes have ensured that no fatalities have occurred in Formula One. The IndyCar Series can learn lessons, particularly when it comes to track design. Most oval tracks in America are lined by a concrete wall, making for very unforgiving high speed crashes. Runoff areas, using gravel and walls of tyres, would allow drivers to decelerate more effectively, without having the momentum of their car stopped so abruptly. The 15 car pile-up that Wheldon was involved in is also indicative of another problem. There are simply too many teams and cars participating relative to the size of the circuit. Either the number of teams must be limited, or the total drivers reduced. To do this will increase competition for spots in teams, but it would mean that only the very best could compete. These two proposed improvements must happen now. Underneath everything, a human being has died, leaving behind a wife and two children. He did not die in war, or of a serious illness. He died in a sport, while entertaining others. This simply cannot be allowed to happen again. Chris Teale

travel p12-13

features p14-17

lifestyle p18-21

international p22

turf p23

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So You Think You Know Handball?

Kris Nelson Sports Correspondent As new sports clubs at UEA go, handball is among the most upand-coming. Traditionally dominated by Scandinavian nations and played outside, it has evolved into a fast-paced, exciting

indoor sport since making its Olympic debut at Munich in 1972. The game is played between two teams, with seven players each. The objective is for the players to put the ball into the goal of the opposing team using their hands. While it is still relatively niche within the UK, the progressive nature of

www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

handball has been reflected in its selection as a legacy sport for London 2012, and the construction of a permanent handball arena in the Olympic Park. UEA Handball is developing at a fast pace. Formed in 2010, the club has plans in motion to advance after an unlucky 49-27 defeat to the University of Essex on Derby Day 2011. The first step towards avenging that defeat will be a beginners’ tournament on 5 November. This will be Handball’s first national tournament and should serve as a great opportunity to give UEA handball players exposure at national level. This will then be followed up by the National University Championships in February, and hopefully the opportunity to take on Essex again in Derby Day 2012.

the lookout for new members, especially those who have no experience of the sport. Training takes place on Thursday and Sunday afternoons from 1.403pm in the Sportspark, and recently a member has taken coaching qualifications to ensure the training provided is of the highest possible standard. With the society echoing the developing nature of the sport itself, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if one of the lasting memories of London 2012 was the discovery of handball to the general public on a national scale. Why not get involved early and play at UEA?

BUCS results Wednesday 19th October 2011

Badminton Cambridge I UEA Men’s I

3 5

“The handball club at UEA is developing at a fast pace, and has plans in motion to advance after Derby Day defeat”

Football UEA Men’s II LeicesterII

2 1

UEA Women’s I Nottingham Trent II

6 1

Hockey UEA Women’s I Oxford Brookes III

3 1

As a new club, President Thomas Morgan points out that Handball are always on

Netball UEA Women’s I Birmingham III

Rugby UEA Men’s II Northampton I

8 47

UEA Women’s I Nottingham I

10 34

Tennis UEA Men’s I Nottingham III

6 6

UEA Men’s II Northampton I

12 0

43 46

New Zealand secure Rugby World Cup Sports correspondent Billy Sexton sees the All Blacks end 24 years of hurt in the final in Auckland against France

New Zealand ended their 24-year wait to reclaim the Rugby World Cup, edging out France 8-7. The All Blacks had been favourites since the beginning, but France put in a world-

class performance. While New Zealand certainly held the psychological advantage prior to kick off, having already beaten France 37-17 in the pools, they still had to live up to home

expectation. It was a bright start from France, but Tony Woodcock scored the first try in the 14th minute for New Zealand, and from that point on, they never

looked like relinquishing the lead, despite poor kicking from Piri Weepu. However, France did not lose faith and only trailed 5-0 at half time. Stephen Donald slotted a penalty between the posts for a valuable three points for the All Blacks but France responded immediately with a converted try from Thierry Dusautoir, leaving just one point separating the teams. Trinh-Duc had the opportunity to put the French in the lead for the first time, yet his kick went sailing wide and France still trailed. They persisted in attack, but to no avail, and New Zealand held out to become World Champions for a second time. Although France would have been worthy champions, nobody can deny New Zealand this World Cup victory. They hosted a successful tournament and showcased some splendid rugby. They will undoubtedly put up a strong defence of their crown in 2015.

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Editors: Matt Scrafton & Chris Teale Email: concrete.sport@hotmail.co..uk

SPORT

Canary Corner Badminton earn last-gasp win by Chris King Plucky Norwich City upset the odds at Anfield, securing a 1-1 draw against a heavily profligate Liverpool. Captain Grant Holt netted his second Premier League goal midway through the second half to cancel out Craig Bellamy’s opener for the hosts. Goalkeeper John Ruddy was the Canaries’ hero, however, excellently denying Luis Suarez late on. Martin Skrtel and Suarez both hit the woodwork in the first half, where City looked far more akin to relegation candidates than a possible surprise package this season. Holt’s bullet header from Anthony Pilkington’s swinging cross, which left Reina in no man’s land, was a perfect vindication of manager Paul Lambert’s strategy of not being overwhelmed by superior opposition, even when under the most severe of pressure. Against Chelsea, earlier in the season, the Canaries were cruelly denied a point against top four opposition, and at Old Trafford they held their own against title favourites Manchester United.

Lying in eighth at this stage of the season may only fail to surprise Lambert, whose inspirational qualities appear to have seamlessly made the transition from the Championship to the “best league in the world.”

“Lambert’s inspirational qualities have easily made the transition from the Championship to Premier League” The fearless Canaries were at their imperious best back at fortress Carrow Road the week before, easily dispatching Swansea City 3-1 thanks to goals from Pilkington and Russell Martin. Danny Graham replied for the Swans, netting the third goal of the game in the 12th minute, but it wasn’t going to hold back the yellow and green tide. Norwich are fast becoming the wise tip to avoid relegation, with teams such as Fulham, Wigan and Wolves having given no indication that they can match the Canaries’ dominance at home, or tenacity on the road.

Chris Teale Sports Editor

UEA Women’s I Oxford I

5 3

UEA opened their new season in Midlands Divison 1A with a tense 5-3 victory over the University of Oxford at the Sportspark in a tie that went down to the final set of the final rubber. After Oxford conceded two of the singles matches due to a lack of players, the tie opened with two doubles matches and a singles match. UEA’s first doubles pair

struggled in their match, and lost in straight sets to Oxford’s second pair, meaning the away side closed the overall score to 2-1. However, convincing straight sets victories in both the singles and remaining doubles match meant that at the halfway point, UEA led 4-1. In the reversal of the ties, the home side unfortunately could not maintain their momentum, and were under a great deal of pressure almost immediately. The doubles match between the second pairs from both universities ended in a highly efficient straight-sets victory for Oxford, and when the final singles match saw another straight-sets

victory for the away side, there were some nerves in the UEA ranks. However, despite the close 4-3 overall margin, the final doubles pairing managed to hold their nerve in the decisive match. Despite losing a close first set 2624, they then managed to level the match with a 21-13 victory in the second set. It all came down to the final set, but the home pair managed to hold their nerve and win the final set 21-15. This victory secured a 5-3 win for UEA, and sees them make a successful start to life in Midlands Division 1A, where they next face Nottingham Trent I away.

Greg Mann

Rampant Lacrosse run riot against Oxford Lewis Dalton Sports Correspondent

UEA Men’s Lacrosse I 12 Oxford Brookes I 1 UEA began the new BUCS season in Midlands Division 2A with a convincing 12-1 win over

Lizzie Margereson

Oxford Brookes at Colney Lane. The game began with an early face-off win for Brookes which turned into a fast counterattack and an extremely scrappy opening goal for the away side. However, the tables soon turned as almost every face-off was won by the quick hands of Ben Dickson and Peter Fitt for UEA. The clear speed advantage the home team

had was evidently a thorn in the side of Brookes. UEA’s equaliser came from a devastating run through the middle of a dazzled defence by Fitt, who drilled the ball into the bottom left corner. From here on, UEA began to rack up the goals with midfielder Ben Dickson and attackers Rob Gale and Will Rothwell all adding to the score. At the end of the first quarter, UEA were 4-1 up, encouraging captain Lewis Dalton to begin sending freshers out, who all played brilliantly in their first competitive match. The next two quarters saw the goal count increase for UEA, resulting in many of the away side’s players being sent to the penalty box for dishing out nasty blows to UEA heads and necks. However, this increase in aggression and pressure left space at the back, meaning Louis Keveran was able to show a good turn of pace and slip through the defence to score. Two more goals

Lizzie Margereson from Fitt, one from Dickson and two from Gale, made the score 10-1 in the final quarter. This quarter saw fresher Alex Watt, a defender who had moved to midfield, score after moving

into a prime shooting position before letting off an unstoppable side-arm shot that had the keeper beaten from the start. With a final goal from Rob Gale, the game ended with UEA as easy victors.

SPORT

Editors: Matt Scrafton & Chris Teale Email: concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk

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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 25th October 2011 - Issue 259

UEA Pirates set sail for new horizons Sports Correspondent Charlie Harris previews the new season for the university’s American Football side

Gary Neesam UEA Pirates begin this season on November 6 against Brighton, looking to make a strong start to the season. Last time around the Pirates finished with a record of five wins and three defeats, finishing

third in the BUAFL South-East division. They subsequently qualified for the National Challenge Cup playoffs. Unfortunately, the Pirates were defeated in the first round of the competition in an extremely

tough and hard-fought game, losing 17 – 8 to their openingday opponents this year, Brighton Tsunami. Over 25 players are returning to the side from last year’s team, giving the coaches a solid foundation on which to build a team capable of finishing in the top two, qualifying for the elite playoffs and challenging for Uni-Bowl glory. With a new influx of talented freshers this appears a realistic aim. The coaching staff itself is extremely gifted, boasting a European cup and multiple national leaguewinning coach in its ranks. Pirates Head Coach, Bobby Kerr, agrees that this season could be special for the Pirates: “I’m really looking forward to this year. We’ve put in more work over the off season than ever before, and have come back stronger than any time than I can remember in my last 10 years with the Pirates as a player

and a coach. We’ve got talent at all positions, and hope to have a successful 2011/12 season. Our first game is at home against Brighton. They’re a tough side, and we’re already preparing for them.” Looking at the season’s fixtures, the obvious highlight is the opening day rematch with Brighton, which gives the Pirates a change to avenge not only last year’s playoff defeat but also their loss by a single point in 2009. Other matches to look forward to include a trip to perennial national title challengers, Hertfordshire Hurricanes, and the visit of the Lincoln Colonials, who were defeated 20–13 in a tough battle last season. Anyone interested in getting involved with the UEA Pirates can do so via the website, www. ueapirates.org.uk, or contact President David Murphy at d.murphy1@uea.ac.uk.

Rugby slump to Colney defeat against Leicester Sports Editor Matt Scrafton watches a 29-10 defeat for the home side in difficult conditions at Colney Lane UEA suffered their first defeat of the season as they endured a disappointing reversal at the hands of Leicester in tricky conditions at Colney Lane. Following last week’s 50-12 victory in the opening league game of the season, against Nottingham, UEA were hoping to build on their positive start. However, things did not go to plan, and the home side could not get a grip of the game in an uncharacteristically lethargic display. A deceptively strong wind heavily influenced the outcome of the game, as UEA were penned in their own half for the majority of the first period. Unfortunately for the hosts, the wind died down in the second half. Leicester thus had an advantage that they were only too happy to pounce upon. The UEA forwards dominated the early exchanges in the pack, and both sides traded missed penalties in the opening 15 minutes as kicking proved difficult in the blustery weather. Despite the influence of the UEA forwards, they rarely had the opportunity to wield their dominance in the opposition

half as they slipped further and further back towards their own try-line before half time. And the pressure from Leicester paid off as the first points of the game were finally scored in the corner of the pitch. Despite a missed conversion, more were soon to follow only a few minutes later as another try was bundled home for the visitors. This time, there were no excuses for UEA. A combination of sloppy play in the midfield led to a simple turnover and a number of missed tackles on Leicester’s cumbersome number 8, who waltzed through the

backline to provide a simple hand-off to a colleague, who notched another five points. However, UEA ended the half in a perfect fashion as they scrambled the ball home during the final passage of play, which ended 10-7 to the away side. This should have been a morale boosting moment to change the game, yet UEA’s untidy play continued in the second half as Leicester worked plenty of opportunities, with the hosts seemingly void of urgency or enthusiasm. It was only a matter of time until the Midlands side scored again, and they duly

obliged, scoring two more tries in quick succession. A Leicester player was sin binned for the final 10 minutes of the match, yet this had little impact on the result. Indeed, Leicester scored again in the dying moments of the game after UEA gave away possession once more. The final score line, 29-10, was perhaps a little harsh on the hosts. Leicester stuck to the basics and did them well, while UEA never really forced them into making mistakes, and it was certainly a bad day at the office for the Sky Blues. Lizzie Margereson

Marco Simoncelli dies in Malaysian MotoGP race Matt Scrafton Sports Editor Italian MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli has been killed after a disastrous crash during a race in Sepang, Malaysia. The race was postponed only two laps in when Simoncelli’s bike swerved across the track into the path of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards. The crucial blow came as the 24 year old was then knocked off his bike, and as his flailing body slid across the track, the two riders failed to avoid hitting the Honda rider. Simoncelli was left stricken before being taken to the circuit’s medical centre, where he was announced dead shortly afterwards.

“The incident comes only a week after British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was catastrophically killed following a 15 car pileup at the Las Vegas Speedway” Initially, race officials were looking to restart before the extent of the incident was fully revealed. Fans were seemingly unaware of Simoncelli’s death, as bottles were seen being thrown onto the track in frustration. The fatality is the first in MotoGP since 2003, when Japanese rider Daijiro Katoh died from injuries sustained at his home GP. However, the incident comes only a week after British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was catastrophically killed after a 15 car pile-up at the Las Vegas Speedway. Simoncelli entered MotoGP for the 2010 season, and won his first pole position at Catalunya in June this year. His first podium came in the Czech Republic grand prix in August, when he finished third. The Italian proceeded to go one better with a second-placed finish at the recent Australian GP. He was seen as a star of the future in MotoGP and a potential champion next season. Now, his death means that the sport mourns the premature loss of a hugely talented young rider, and his potential for future glory.

concretesport

issue259 25october2011

www.concrete-online.co.uk twitter.com/concretesport

ueasport

>> Lacrosse match report | p26 >> So You Think You Know Handball? | p25 >> Rugby match report | p27

Inside concretesport this fortnight:

• Chris King analyses a couple of strong displays from Norwich City, while Charlie Harris previews the new UEA Pirates season • Kris Nelson introduces the sport of handball, as Sports Editor Chris Teale documents an excellent performance by UEA Badminton

Football snatch a late victory over Warwick Emma Webb Sports Correspondent

UEA Men’s I Warwick I

1 0

On a bright but cold day, UEA Men’s I were visited by newlypromoted Warwick for what would be their first game in a new division. Chuka Obi was the real star of the show, winning the game for the hosts a few minutes from time. The game began with great energy and enthusiasm from both sides. The first half was goalless but nonetheless active, hosts and visitors alike enjoying good chances. Shots were mostly wide, but the goalkeepers were very much kept on their toes. UEA ‘keeper Kavi Luchowa made a particularly impressive save midway through the first half, preventing the away side taking the lead. Danger then arose when Warwick were awarded a free kick, but it was defended well by UEA and came to nothing. The rest of the opening period was littered with several dubious handball accusations from both sides, all of which went unacknowledged and unpunished by the referee. After repeated fruitless attempts to establish a lead, the initial good structure and dynamism was beginning to diminish by the break. The second half saw the determination return, and UEA came almost painfully close to taking the lead in the first few minutes through an excellent effort from Chuka Obi, a constant thorn in the the visitors’ side.

Lizzie Margereson Warwick followed suit with a similarly narrow near-miss not long after. The defending from both sides picked up drastically after two such close calls, Warwick in particular coming into the game far more in the final twenty minutes.

A substitution was called for UEA, and followed by a last-minute Warwick reshuffle, where team captain Joe Bloomfield was taken out of position and two other players substituted. These late efforts proved in vain however, as

another close call was followed by Obi’s late strike, which won the game for UEA. There were many missed opportunities on both sides, due in large part to good defending and poor fortune rather than a lack of skill, and the performance

given by Warwick in face of their impending defeat in the dying minutes was admirable. It is clear they have much to gain from promotion, but UEA can certainly build on this early season triumph and carve out a strong season for themselves.

Got a camera? Want an opportunity to use it? This semester Venue’s front cover will showcase student’s photographs on the theme of ‘Fall’ Email your image, your name and some words describing the photo, to concrete.photographers@uea.ac.uk by November 4th. (Photos will need to be portrait) The winning image will be printed on November 8th and the photographer will recieve two gig tickets.

VENUE

Concrete’s fortnightly culture pullout

issue 259 | 25/10/2011

creative writing | wrote some travel poetry | p. 9 arts | saw cleopatra at theatre royal | p. 13

Photo by Lottie Allen

music | interviewed bombay bicycle club | p. 8

03 IE

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VENUE CONTENTS

ssue 259 | 25.10.2011 ditor-in-Chief | Chris King | concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk

enue Editor | Alex Throssell | concrete.event.uea.ac.uk I’m not sure if any of you have heard the new Gary Barlow endorsed, shamelessly middle of the road, and at times nonsensical Children in Need bastardisation of Massive Attack’s Teardrop, but it’s quite possible the most vapid, dirge of a song I’ve heard recently, and this is coming from someone who’s endured William Shatner, Blazin’ Squad, Maroon 5 and N-Dubz in the space of about 12 hours. I don’t care if it’s a charity single, I’m not buying it, end of. Anyway, the boycotting of children’s charities aside (Political correctness disclaimer: My own actions are not affiliated with Concrete or the Union of UEA Students) this week has actually been pretty impressive. Even with other deadline commitments, absentees and the general apathy that comes from the ever appraoching winter winds, this issue of Venue is arguably our best yet. Major props go out to Jordan Bright who had to witness the dark hours of Concrete’s production Monday, and the rest of my editorial team who have come on leaps and bounds since week one. So, I hope you enjoy it.

Music | Editors | Alex Ross & Jordan Bright Music Contributors> Annie Rhodes, Hayden East, Harry Denniston, Tom Duffy, Matthew Weddig, Joe Murphy, Charles Crisp, Amelia Sullivan.

Alex

Creative Writing | Editor | Ella Chappell Creative Writing Contributors> Alexander Lambert, Laura Westerman, Bethan Williams. Fashion | Editors | Hannah Britt & Milly Sampson Fashion Contributors> Josie Lister, Pandora Key. Arts | Editor | Emma Webb Arts Contributors> Leigh Horan, Greg Manterfield-Ivory, Katherine WIlson, Carl Long.

Film | Editors | James Burrough & Anna Eastick Film Contributors> Matt Francis, Tom Moore, Jack Rice, Radosava Radulovic, Sam Warner, Beth Wyatt, Harry Denniston, Tim Bates, Joseph Murphy. TV | Editor | Matt Tidby TV Contributors> Ellissa Chilley, Bridie Wilkinson, Beth Wyatt.

Photo by Laura Smith

Wired | Editor | Josh Mott Wired Contributors> Josh Mott, Leo Hunt, Andrew Leightfield, Richard Joslin, Joe Fitzsimmons.

MUSIC

25.10.2011

concrete.music@uea.ac.uk

Live Reviews

Photo by Lottie Allen

Laura Marling Norwich Cathedral 20.10.11 For a singer-songwriter whose latest album is permeated with lust and rage, and has at its heart the pulsating presence of a character called “the Beast”, a tour of England’s cathedrals may not have seemed like an obvious choice of venues. But as the congregation in Norwich Cathedral were settled and silenced by a single bell ringing out, and Laura Marling, pale and petite, emerged on stage, the audience knew they were in for a unique and magical service. In a few short years, Marling has developed from a shy teenage performer into a confident young woman, who is prepared to fill huge spaces with her sound. The When

the Bell Tolls tour was announced in the wake of the release of Marling’s third studio album. A Creature I Don’t Know is a bold and blistering masterpiece which shows a new level of maturity and complexity in her song-writing ability. Marling opens with a taste of the new album (I Was Just a Card, The Muse) and an old favourite (Ghosts). Marling effortlessly moves between the sun-drenched dystopia of Salinas, into the eerie and foreboding darkness of The Beast, a song that builds into a powerful and heavy crescendo of sound that rises to fill every crease and crevice in the vaulted ceiling.

Although her voice has matured and developed a new strength, it can still become overwhelmed by the almighty sound produced by the accompaniment of electric guitars and crashing drums. However, when the band leave halfway through, Marling acknowledges that “it’s just you and me now” and begins an intimate acoustic set which allows her tremendous talent to stand alone. She includes deeply personal and emotional songs such as Goodbye Old England and Night After Night, as well as a stunning newly written song, which is imbibed with a sense of mystery. Some feel that Marling’s onstage presence, although

endearingly modest, leaves something to be desired. However, part of Marling’s charm is her ability to let the music speak for itself; as she struggled to communicate her hopes for the show, she simply let the sentence hang on “I hope… just that, I hope”. She ended the set with the same old spiel about her disbelief in encores, before playing us out with Rambling Man and the last track of her latest album, All My Rage, a joyous burst of song that leaves the cathedral ringing with an altogether different and thoroughly human call to the heavens. Annie Rhodes

25.10.2011

concrete.music@uea.ac.uk

MUSIC

Live Reviews

Noah & The Whale

UEA LCR 19.10.2011

For an on-campus venue, there are a remarkable range of ages at the LCR, dominated by minor adolescents and their parents, most of who have probably driven to get to the venue. Indeed, for every youthful face in the crowd, there’s a much taller thirty-something either side of them. It’s all rather safe, but it makes sense, as everyone waits for folk-pop purveyors Noah and the Whale in equal anticipation. Charlie Fink is an enigmatic frontman; he keeps audience interaction to a minimum, yet still retains his charm, even when he “forgot what he was going to say”, the crowd simply scream louder in adoration. His vocals are as authentic as ever, particularly on Life Is Life, and is coupled with some crazy guitar solos and violin playing that serve to bolster their live sound. This allows their earlier work to sit comfortably with more mainstream-ready tracks from latest album Last Night On Earth. A sharply dressed Fink declares “the set of 2011 has three sections” which makes it all the more easier to identify the highs

and lows of the night, neatly ordered into a meander. It wouldn’t be rash to assume that, with three records’ worth of material, a typical set list would almost seem like a greatest hits collection. However, besides the bold opening of Give It All Back, the set list simmers to a tiring middle section, dubbed the “romantic” portion of the night, which in actuality, created less than the desired effect, especially given that many of the songs selected came from an album devoted to the breakdown of Fink’s relationship with Laura Marling. Fortunately, the night is saved by a redemptive ending segment, in which the band reel through the standout tracks of albums old and new, such as recent single L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. and fan favourite 5 Years Time. There are undoubtedly sparks of brilliance amongst the waning ballads and forgettable album tracks; it’s just a shame that the night ended before it properly began. Hayden East

Photos by Maddie Russell

Bombay Bicycle Club

UEA LCR 10.10.2011

Three albums later and Bombay Bicycle Club have only gotten better, and tonight the band hurtle through a mammoth set in order to fit in every song their devoted crowd wants to hear, unifying their different-feeling LP’s with their enthusiasm for the music. After a rousing warm-up from fast rising folk-rockers Dry The River, Jack Steadman and his troupe take to the stage as Shuffle’s jittery sample begins to ricochet around the LCR, and by the joyous romp of follower Your Eyes every foot is tapping furiously, while Steadman blasts around at the front, only stopping to offer his trademark voice to the fray. Open House serves as a reminder of how good the band’s oldest material is, and as the audience respond gratefully the band look relaxed and comfortable. The amazingly well-crafted songs swell and contract between choruses; on stage the band sweat to keep up with the pace they have set themselves with their latest album A Different Kind of Fix, which offers more space for sounds and samples as well as the familiar

dual guitar lines. Many different genres and ideas have been expertly woven into the set, and while one or two songs are not quite done justice to live, their ambition is still hugely appreciated. Leave It’s spectacular refrain is circled by its spiralling verses, and after the blue-light disco groove of Lights Out/Words Gone the band re-incarnate two songs from acousticfolk second album Flaws, which the crowd are equally happy with; they chant along to the rather sickly bounce of Ivy and Gold, but the room begins to really stir again when Beggars falls into the pleasantly apocalyptic Cancel On Me, complete with its magnificent ending. A smile spreads across Steadman’s face as every word of Always Like This is sung back at him, and the group seem pleased but focused; keen to give the crowd what they want. This is a live show with brains and brawn, from a band that is as equally for the people as the music. Harry Denniston

Photo by Rosie Bell

MUSIC

25.10.2011

concrete.music@uea.ac.uk

Live Reviews

UEA

UNION OF UEA STUDENTS PRESENTS

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NME Radar Tour | Waterfront 13.10.2011 What a grand and noble tradition is the Radar Tour, allowing those relentless tastemakers at NME to have yet another pop at inflicting a motley array of up-and-coming artists upon the masses. Over the year’s we’ve been blessed with the likes of Crystal Castles, Friendly Fires and La Roux, who have gone on to enjoy success, and others who have fallen by the wayside. (Does anyone remember Team Waterpolo?) Tonight’s lineup is a particularly mixed bag. The festivities kick off with formidably noisy Australian duo DZ Deathrays, filling the venue with gargantuan, thrashing distortion,

and causing the audience to retreat to the far side of the room. After a short, deafening set that careens between frenetic psychadelica and pounding riffage, Deathrays trudge offstage to be replaced by East London ‘doom-pop’ outfit S.C.U.M, embarking on their first tour since the release of debut Again Into Eyes. With their immaculately sculpted fringes and synth-drenched songs, S.C.U.M could not be more different from DZ Deathrays. They also manage to scoop the coveted ‘Most Pretentious Frontman of the Night’ award with lead vocalist Thomas Cohen, thanks

largely to his decision to wear a suit and no shoes, and his tendency to caress his own face. Posturing aside, however, they are sadly just another wearisome 80s-nostalgia band. Finally, the headline act graces the stage. 2011 has been a watershed for Wolf Gang (aka Max McElligott): from supporting Editors in March, then The Killers in June, his star continues to rise. Tonight’s set consists mainly of material from recent (and excellent) sophomore release Suego Faults. The understated disco vibes of Lions in Cages, Where Are You Now and Killers-esque lead single The King and All of His Men are

particular stand-outs, but Wolf Gang is unable to galvanise the crowd. A couple of bold stabs at rapport from McElligott elicit little response from this rather solemn audience. Wolf Gang deliver a solid performance of glittering indie-pop, but had they been given a warmer reception, they probably could have played with more fire and fervour. Nevertheless, given their current trajectory, they will undoubtedly soon be playing to baying crowds wherever they go.

Tom Duffy

25.10.2011

MUSIC

concrete.music@uea.ac.uk

Album Reviews

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds When the long-overdue split finally happened last year, Liam Gallagher gained custody of whatever was left of Oasis and rechristened it as Beady Eye. Somewhere towards the end of their debut album earlier this year (Different Gear, Still Speeding), Liam sang that “Life’s too short not to forgive / You can carry regrets but they won’t let you live / I’m here if you wanna call / Staring at the spot on the wall”, which is a rather hilarious verse for a couple of reasons. The most obvious one, of course, being that Liam and Noel Gallagher’s sibling rivalry is among the most infamous in rock and roll and the two can hardly go a month without

Tom Waits Bad As Me It must be hard being Tom Waits, having to live up to a reputation for consistent brilliance and originality. If Dylan’s recent Christmas album and Lou Reed’s baffling collaboration with Metallica prove anything, it’s that even the best reach a point where they’re just not that good anymore. Clearly nobody has told Tom Waits this, and with Bad As Me he delivers an album that is both instantly recognisable and yet

M83 Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming The double album is a bold statement, which will induce reactions of pomposity and selfindulgence if not pulled off, however M83’s latest effort is primed to dispel such reactions. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is an electric mix of shoegaze tinged electronic dream pop; and that’s just scratching the surface. It sees French musician Alex Gonzalez diverge from predominantly instrumental/electroniclead material, in favour of more pop-based and melodic approach. In tracks such as

having a go at the other one in the news, much less “forgive”. Just as significant, however, is how bad Liam’s songwriting is, which puts the whole thing in a rather hilarious concept of someone who has no idea he lost the breakup. In light of that then, what does Noel Gallagher sound like flying solo at last? Gone are the soaring guitar solos or blaring electric guitars of Oasis. In their place, dominating the music, is a wall of sound composed of strings, choirs, pianos, and horns. The electric guitars are driven rather deeply into a subtle position in the background, only surfacing for a short solo or flourish every few tracks. It’s not as if Noel has no interest in rocking out anymore, but

even the rockier numbers sound more like Coldplay than Oasis. As lush and charming as it all sounds, none of it is particularly inventive or distinctive. Each song sounds very similar to the others, and most are a bit excessive and go on a bit long, which is really the only similarity it has to Noel’s work with Oasis. In short, Noel’s long-anticipated solo outing isn’t quite as brilliant as it’s being made out to be, nor is it (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, but it’s a more fitting evolution for the musicians responsible for it than Beady Eye’s dumbed-down mis-shapen retro rock efforts.

never anything less than inspired. The Captain Beefheart comparison that has followed him in recent years rears it’s head on Satisfied, but for the most part this is quintessential Waits. It certainly wastes no time in letting you know that he hasn’t lost it, with manic opener Chicago offering a slew of urgent horns and primitive percussion so frantic that the entire song sounds as if it’s about to careen out of control. Fortunately for the sake of our ears, the album splits neatly into stomping displays of insanity and more restrained ballads like Talking At The Same Time; a song that seems to have been lifted from a jazz bar run by David Lynch. Having such an extensive back catalogue allows him to pick sounds from each of them; Raised Right Men has the swirling, stomping,

carnival feel of Rain Dogs, while Back In The Crowd could have been lifted straight from one of his Seventies albums. By far the strangest song on the album is Hell Broke Luce, a song so unhinged that it features explosions and the sound of machine-gun fire: even by Waits’ standards, it’s genuinely mad. When the crashes, claps and droning guitars abruptly stop and are replaced by a lone trumpet, it doesn’t even come as much of a surprise. This is the kind of inspired insanity that we’ve come to expect, and on those grounds the album is hard to fault. It may be Tom Waits doing what he’s done before, but when he does it this well, does it really matter? It isn’t a revolutionary record, but it is a brilliant one.

Steve McQueen he strikes a decent balance, reconciling the peak of his past efforts with a fresh approach, culminating in a refined package of what Gonzalez does best. Likewise, Wait displays Gonzalez’s vocal prominence and experimentation, ranging from a hushed whisper to a howling scream, whilst appealing to his melodic sensibilities. The bold Intro (which features an powerful contribution from Zola Jesus) achieves the same effect, smoothing off the hardened edges of the synth melodies that keep this album on its toes. The albums’ highlight and first single, Midnight City, a synth driven infectious track, is rounded off with a fantastic saxophone solo at the end, adding to the 80’s influence that pervades the album. Lyrically, Gonzalez assumes a darker tone, yet he retains the ability to deal with common themes that prone to cliché and exhaustion in a refreshing manner. The double album format gives Gonzalez the freedom to create an immersive soundscape

that combines pop sensibilities- where each crash, yelp or whisper is perfectly crafted, especially in New Map. However, the similarity of both records affirms the belief that they are best viewed as a single cinematic-esque journey and not as a pick ‘n’ mix of tracks. With the album clocking in at just under 74 minutes, this journey feels more lush than laborious. However, whilst the choir-assisted Splendor and the flamboyant My Tears are Becoming A Sea are grandiose moments, they are unable to reach their peak as Gonzalez drenches them in layers to compensate for a lack of direction. Nevertheless, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is an ambitious personal effort which pushes into new territory whilst taking with it the gems of his previous work, culminating in an aural journey that incites the broadest of emotions and relieves itself of the double album curse.

Matthew Weddig

Joe Murphy

Charles Crisp

MUSIC

25.10.2011

concrete.music@uea.ac.uk

Bombay Bicycle Club IInterviewed by Amelia Sullivan

Thanks for taking time to speak to Concrete, it’s great to have you back! How’s the tour going? Jamie (Guitar): Good! Feeling pretty hungover today. Ed (Bass): Incredibly hung-over. Jamie: We were in Lincoln last night. You wouldn’t have thought it but it was one of the best gigs. Our two best gigs have actually been in the least expected places. Ed: In fact they happened to be the two slowest selling places as well. Do you have any fond memories from previous gigs in Norwich? Have you been able to explore the City? Ed: We played on our acoustic tour at the Arts Centre. It was a really nice venue actually. Jamie: Yeah, there seems to be a good appetite for live music in Norwich. We’re a bit out of the way here to have a wander round though. The main fact I know about Norwich, which everyone seems to bring up, is the number of pubs and churches there are. You released A Different Kind Of Fix at the end of August to critical acclaim, has the success of the album taken you by surprise at all? Jamie: Critically its definitely been the best received album. I think it’s always difficult for our actual fans because the album is quite different and if you’re particularly attached to the sound of either of the first two albums then its always going to be hard to instantly like something new. Were there any influences that helped to shape the new sound? Ed: It’s not really a continuation from Flaws at all; it’s more a continuation from the first

album. Flaws was more of a sidetrack so we were kind of picking up where we left off. Songs like Always Like This share some of the electronic elements. Jamie: Rather than having specific artists that influenced the album it was more about a way of making music like they do in a lot of hip hop and dance music. A lot of the songs are built from one idea; taking one loop or riff to the extreme and seeing how much you can get out of it! How did the collaboration with Jim Abiss and Ben Allen come about? Ben Allen is known for his work with Animal Collective and Deer Hunter, what did he bring to the song writing process? Ed: All I listen to at the moment are Ben Allen recordings. He did the new Washed Out album, he did The Givers record, he did the Animal Collective record. Yeah, he’s incredible. He has a unique way of working that really suited itself to what we were doing. Jamie: I think the reason that working with him particularly appealed to Jack was that his studio wasn’t big and fancy. It’s more like where Jack has always made the demos… which is in his bedroom! It was a good environment for being creative. How long did it take to record the album overall? Jamie: The writing process began before we’d even started Flaws so about two years and then it was about 6 months recording it. Do you have a favourite track from the new album? Or perhaps one that you are particularly proud of? Ed: My favourite track to play live is Lights Out, Words Gone and I think my favourite

track to listen to would be Still…which I don’t play on at all. Jamie: I think my favourite song is How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep, and then my favourite song to play live is Your Eyes.

‘up’ on new music as I was when I was sixteen or seventeen. I used to trawl Myspace for new bands. Ed: There’s a band called Repertoire who are really good.

Lets talk about what you got up to over summer. The reaction to your Reading and Leed’s set was amazing… Jamie: Yeah both of those gigs were pretty mad. There were something like 25,000 people in an 18,000 capacity tent at Reading. It was a bit on the edge of being dangerous probably! Reading seemed like a culmination of everything with the album being released on the Monday after so I suppose it was a good turning point for us.

Do you listen to music together on tour? Ed: We used to do that when we toured in a van. We had band CDs and would have a sing along every night. We don’t do that anymore because we’ve got more people on board so it’s more spread out…shame…we should probably do that more!

After performing do you get a chance to don your favourite Wellies and soak in the festival atmosphere? Ed: Yeah we used to, but I think playing in the band has ruined festivals a bit… Jamie: Up until the summer of 2010 we were still camping but I think we’ve gone past that point. Ed: We’ve gotta’ be more professional now. We always went, stayed out and partied, then played the show. Jamie: The first time we went to Glastonbury we played three or four times over the weekend but we weren’t in any state to play most days! Are you listening to any new bands at the moment that deserve a special mention in this issue’s Concrete? Jamie: All the bands that are supporting us are good. Particularly Dog is Dead. They’re really, really good. A band called Theme Park too who are also supporting us tonight. I’m not as

So if you’re not partaking in band karaoke, how do you spend the long hours leading up to a performance? Jamie: (Picks up his water bottle and shrugs) Doing this…. Ed: Complaining about how hungover we are… Jamie: We’ve been trying to go to the gym too. Quite a few of the universities let us use their facilities. Although I couldn’t use the gym today. They said I needed an induction and I couldn’t be bothered! What are your aims and goals for the foreseeable future? Where do you see Bombay Bicycle club in a year’s time? Jamie: We just want to keep writing and touring. We haven’t really done a proper international tour yet, as in going to America for a month. Ed: We’ve spent the last two years recording and putting out albums as opposed to going around touring. So with this album I think we’re really going to focus on promoting.

25.10.2011 concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk

CREATIVE WRITING

poetry corner

- travel SPOTLIGHT

Fast Train Through The Station Alexander Lambert

Q&A with UEA writers. This week - Bethan Williams

I am sitting beside this gravel filled gorge, This steel and soot wound in the earth. Rows of tarnished ladders Climb, in the meditative silence, towards the horizon. A pair of crimson orbs levitate in the stillness, Incandescent guardians of this island in the black.

What’s your favourite word?

I wouldn’t say I have one particular favourite word, but I do like onomatopoeic words like “splurge”.

Without warning serenity’s fragile flesh is punctured. Violent, shattering, clattering Steel tears a tender yielding hole in the silence. Invading, shaking, molesting Our placid isle with sonorous fury.

How do you defeat writer’s block? I find it really helpful to listen to music, particularly songs with good lyrics. Sometimes I might start a poem with a stolen lyric, and then gradually phase it out.

Panic, shaken free from its shackles, Devours its jailors And marches impetuous from The depths of my stomach, Determined to burst out from The brittle osseous bars of its prison.

What inspires you?

Still, Stunned, It is over as quickly as it begun. The air grasps at its eviscerated innards, Quivering it returns them to its perforated belly. Panic retreats And I am left wounded as the silence heals. Photo by Harriet Jones

Next Issue - Wildlife Poems The UEA Wildlife Trail is a new project with funding from the Big Lottery Community Wildlife Fund. The Wildlife Trail around the UEA Lake will help to inform and engage people with the wildlife and provide a route through the site that is enjoyable, educational and sympathetic to the sensitivity of the natural environment. The Wildlife Trail are going to publish a collection of poetry about the nature, history, geography and anything else inspired by the trail. If you would like the opportunity to see your poetry in print, submit your wildlife poems to concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk

I’m president of the Creative Writing Society and hearing the work that people produce in our workshops or open mic nights really inspires me. There are some amazingly talented writers at UEA and I think it’s great that there’s somewhere where people can come together to practise and share their writing in a supportive enviroment. If anyone wants anymore information, they can find CWS on facebook, or email us at ueacws@ gmail.com.

Who are your favourite writers?

A Sonnet To Drown By Laura Westerman Pang in Tom’s jaw –– relentless. He swims in the dark sea of workers –– platforms. The rub of shoulders. Scrunched foreheads. Tired, merciless eyes. Glorious chaos –– tedious. Consumed beneath an auburn clock –– Tom slides and dives, past ladies with fur hats. Screaming child. Guy with briefcase. Guy’s hair: scruffy. Scarf hangs. Dead-like. Melancholy mouth –– he looks a lot like Tom. Tangled with the swarm of bodies. Heat –– inexorable. I can’t –– breathe. I look at the clock. Big hand hits six. It melts –– no time. The cloak squeezes, devours skin. Mind. Woven with a hundred thoughts. I reach a woman –– selling roses. Hand clasps my arm. Grip unforgiving. Her voice bites: “My heart would be black, if I had one” –– words chew the air: “What colour would yours be?”

I’m going to come out with it and say that I absolutely love Carol Ann Duffy. I think she gets a lot of hate because she’s seen as a poet for people who don’t read poetry and because people study so much of her work in school, but I think she’s brilliant. I also really like performance poets like Taylor Mali and Luke Wright.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s inspired you?

I write a lot of poetry about not being able to write poetry, which is a bit of a paradox, but I find writers block to be quite inspiring sometimes!

Where do you write?

In my bedroom, usually at strange times of the night.

Read Bethan’s poems at the Creative Writing blog

FASHION Let’s

25.10.2011

concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk

go round again

Josie Lister on velvet being back in fashion

The Hotlist Smokin’ Beyonce Always be yourself. Unless you can be Beyonce. Always be Beyonce.

Feane Cotton So. Damn. Cool. Turn to Features to read our interview with the lady herself.

Snoods It’s like Siberia out there. Time to whack on the sexiest of all knitwear.

You run your hands through the rails of clothes. It’s freezing outside and your wardrobe just doesn’t cut it when it comes to layering up. You just want to be warm. You’d do anything to be warm. Your fingertips feel the tingle of plush, soft, inviting warmth. It feels a little familiar. There’s a little thrill of nostalgia. Then it hits you ... velvet’s back. Oh yes. And she’s got her game on. Every designer and high street store has been seduced by that vixen of a fabric once more this autumn. It’s warm. It’s luxurious. And honey, it’s oh-so-sexy. You may have moved on, bored with velvet’s games, but don’t be so hasty. Velvet’s changed and she’s more seductive than ever. Designers have taken velvet underground; she’s a little dirty, a little too revealing and more than just a little tempting. So take your velvet fetish to the underwear department and indulge in

fashion’s offering of velvet bralets, but don’t keep them all to yourself like some dirty little secret; let the whole world know your dark side and embrace the classic fashion trend of underwear as outerwear. It screams sexy and the deluxe feel of velvet makes it sophisticated rather than slutty. Thanks velvet. You babe. Still sounding all a little too similar to before? Smelling that old musk of decaying pheromones from your mum’s teenage wardrobe? Want velvet to really prove that it’s grown up? Just check out those heels! Both Topshop and Urban Outfitters are really delivering the goods this year in the downstairs department. Grab a pair of chocka-block, oh so high-heeled velvet boots and feel your feet cry out in gratitude. There’s a style for every

mood: Chelsea boots, chunky heels, ankle boots... velvet’s spoiling us rotten. velvet shoes may sound a little strange but believe me, they’re empowering and sexy. It’s like Beyonce in a shoe.

“Velvet’s back. And she’s got her game on.” For those who lust for the retro 80s vibe of velvet don’t worry, this autumn’s fashion delivering can satisfy your deepest desires completely. The object of your affection? velvet skater dresses. The velvet skater dress is a key fixture in Topshop’s autumn collection and is the perfect dress to don when dancing at those retro discos. With the plush warmth of velvet keeping those winter winds at bay, it’s got to be said that they are the only companion you’ll need to take you out on the town this season. So there we have it. The seductress velvet is back and up to her old tricks but in new, more satisfying ways. Believe me, you really don’t want to miss out on this ... it feels way too good. Now excuse me while I go stroke myself.

Fashion Fois Gras

Chokin’

Controversy in the world of fashion this fortnight

The Black Wedding Dress

Milan Fashion Week

The Backpack

Snotty noses More common on campus right now than that Jack Wills gilet.

Anna Wintour The ice queen of fashion was deemed a “monster” this week by designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

Janet Devlin wannabes Everyone’s dying their hair orange right now. And everyone looks the same.

Would you? Could you?

Vogue is angry about Italy’s decision to have Milan Fashion Week start during New York Fashion Week. Conde Naste say if they don’t change it back to the original schedule, none of their editors will be attending.

So practical. So naff.

Leather

FASHION

Photo: Laura Smith / Hair and Make Up: Becky Evans / Stylists: Katie Nertney & Jess Beech / Model Charlotte

concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk

Photo: Laura Smith / Hair and Make Up: Becky Evans / Stylists: Katie Nertney & Jess Beech / Model: Charlotte

25.10.2011

lover

Pandora Key on how to do leather the right way Right at the top of my autumn/winter wish list is a Faith Connexion Leather biker jacket. It’s simple, it’s elegant, it’s pure jetblack beautifulness. It’s also way out of my price range so unfortunately it will remain on that list for many winters to come. My justification for this irrational lust is that I see it as key piece for that awkward summer to autumn transitional stage where a jumper doesn’t cut it but a coat is too far. Leather in general is a great way to team pieces from your summer wardrobe with ones from your winter. For example, a leather jacket teamed with a tea dress and ankle boots is a great way of subtly preparing your former sun kissed, microshort clad body for the reality of the cold

days ahead. However, there are certain rules to bear in mind when jumping on the leather train. Firstly, think of leather as an accessory to an outfit, using key pieces to tie it together rather than to dominate. Think Alexa Chung‘s style of matching feminine textures such as a classic chiffon blouse with a contrasting leather skirt to give that delicious tomboy edge to an otherwise mundane ensemble. Secondly, don’t get carried away with leather. Too much and you just look like a dominatrix and no-one needs to sit opposite that in a seminar. Less is definitely more, so as a general rule, if you’re wearing it on your legs, keep it soft up top and vice versa. Don’t get caught

up thinking it works in the same way as double denim; it doesn’t, and you will get awkward questions about where you parked your Harley Davidson. Chloe Sevigny’s 2012 collection for NYC fashion house ‘Opening Ceremony’ is a great example of how to do leather right. She uses leather in all the pieces but mixed with other raw materials, such as denim, to create what she calls a good/bad girl theme. For me, the most notable piece in the collection is a stunning black leather mini dress with laser cut detail fringing the hem, giving the effect of soft lace. Perfect. The most important thing about wearing leather is to have fun with it. It’s meant to be daring, it’s meant to be provocative and

if it sucks in those little imperfect lumps and bumps then that’s a bonus! I’m aware how hypocritical it is that I’m writing this article as I am, in fact, a vegetarian, but fear not fellow creature loving friends. The fashion world does occasionally think of us, and there are many sites/stores that offer faux leather alternatives to jackets, trousers and dresses. Yes, some of these items do look like they belong in the adult section of a fancy dress shop, but others are great. So as the nights start to draw in, I think we should all embrace our inner biker chick. And hey, if you decide it’s not for you, unwanted leather items always work well for Halloween costumes.

ARTS Crossing

25.10.2011

the lines

For all students it is easy to become embroiled in self-pity at being separated from family, friends and the entity that is ‘home’, but, for the majority, this hallowed place is but a train journey away. Most forget or simply neglect to acknowledge just how much more difficult the university life is for those international students who find themselves without all of the above and with a vague sense they have been abandoned in an alien country. Crossing the Lines comes as an insightful, and at times emotional read. The product of the International Student Short Story Competition, held by the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts, the book is a collection of fourteen memoirs of differing degrees of writing talent, though largely this is estimably high. Mainly autobiographical, each entry aims to give an insight into the past experiences and feelings of the writers, and quite often a glimpse of what may be in their future. Some pieces, such as Danielle and The Conversion are more accurately described as stories and as a result are perhaps lacking such a personal response. However, the allusions to drugs and disease respectively within the pieces reveal a sense of danger and constraint, born perhaps of

- Collected

concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk

international tales

the isolation and barriers experienced by the authors. Contrastingly, pieces such as Chinese Seasons in the Heart of England and Shards, written by one of our very own, David Molloy from Australia, beg a more emotional response and although the latter is particularly fragmented and disconnected, it turns out Shards is an accurate title for the author’s style of embedding memories and imagery. This gives insight into the displacement international students often feel, “I felt at home but then it occurred to me that perhaps I was feeling like home never existed in the first place.”(Final Year Crisis - Adji Hafiz Sjadzali). For native readers it can be amusing to perceive what is most unusual about the United Kingdom from another’s perspective. This knowledge is surrendered in most of the pieces, the most common items of scrutiny being the unreliable train service, Cornish pasties, snow and the great love harboured in all Brits of that elusive sunshine. “Crossing the Lines” is a solid source of inspiration for creative writers with the ability to remind us just how much bounty there is to write about on our little island. Leigh Horan

Adam Hills - Norwich Playhouse

Since the title of Adam Hills’ current tour is “Mess Around”, it seemed only fitting that he should walk on stage backed by the Ray Charles song of the same name. However while most comedy shows would have dimmed the house lights at this point, Hills keeps the audience entirely visible at all times. He quickly explains that this is due to his desire to complete a successful comedy tour armed with nothing else but a couple of stories and a genuine interest in the people who have paid to come and see him perform. As a result, the entire show, and the entire tour, is done without a clear script or structure, leaving Adam to rely on audience inspiration and participation. With the lights firmly up, Hills began testing the waters of the people sat in the front row. Some ardent fans of his, who saw the last performance Adam gave at The Playhouse, have brought the same large stuffed monkey they brought before, which the Australian comic immediately starts riffing off. But it doesn’t take long before the penetrating cackle of a woman in the corner catches the attention of everyone in the room. Whilst most comics would only comment on such a distinctively piercing giggle if they could get a cheap laugh out of it, Hills spotted the comedy potential in this woman (Nicky) and investigated her backstory. After mistakenly saying she was single, only to quickly remember she had a fiancé whose engagement ring she had lost and who she had banned from coming to the gig with

her, it was clear that the essence of the show had been found. The rest of the night consisted of Hills taking a phone off one of Nicky’s friends and calling her fiancé (whose nickname was “Jimmy Fat Cock”, or “JFC” for short, a name that her and her friends swore he deserved) with the phone in front of the microphone so the audience could hear too. Culminating in “JFC” singing The Proclaimers’ “500 Miles” down the phone to the audience, with the phone positioned in front of a microphone that was placed at the mouth of the stuffed monkey from the beginning of the evening. Although the Nicky and JFC saga stole the show, there were other highlights that allowed Hills to demonstrate his talent as a comedian. An incredibly romantic elderly couple, a fan of Adam Hills called Adam Hill and a few of the comedian’s well-practiced stories about his daughter and his experiences performing at the Royal Variety Performance peppered the evening with the diversity needed to make a show like this work. Considering the improvised nature of the performance, Hills’ vision of a tour built around the audience seems to be successful when put into practice. It was an evening of well-rounded entertainment and spontaneous humour that showcased his talents as a comedian, as well as allowing the audience to feel a sense of inclusion in the formation of his comedy. Greg Manterfield-Ivory

25.10.2011

Cleopatra was the last of the Pharaohs. The drama of her reign is vividly recaptured in the Northern Ballet’s new production bearing her name. We see her climb to power, as well as her relationships with Caesar and Antony, before she dies at the hand of the god Wadjet, protector of the Pharaohs. As a ballet, it is somewhat unconventional. In the opening scene, David Nixon’s choreography seems broken as Cleopatra (excellently performed by Martha Leebolt) unfurls into typically “Egyptian” positions before one of many pas de deuxs, this time with Wadjet. However, this is soon rectified by the arrival of the corps de ballet, who bring the Egyptian palace to life. The audience is soon thrust into the story of Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy, and quickly understand Cleopatra’s plight. The two argue over the throne and it is not long before Cleopatra’s ruthlessness is revealed, drowning her brother as he bathes. But this soon gives way to a beautiful passage between her and Caesar as she seduces him. Here the choreography settles into traditional arabesques, pirouettes and lifts, Caesar chasing Cleopatra as she jetés across the stage. But even here it lurches back into the more animalistic, the two rolling on the floor as Cleopatra succeeds. Her reputation as a femme fatale is played excellently, the audience left in no doubt as to who is in charge. The orchestra plays a pivotal role in Cleopatra. Where sometimes the choreography leaves the viewer a little cold,

ARTS

concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk

Cleopatra - Theatre Royal it is more than made up for by the score that rises and falls through each scene. The bombastic introduction of Mark Antony (Tobias Bately) is one example. As he tries to woo Cleopatra, her handmaidens block his path. But he is not deterred; youthful and oozing with confidence, he lets his steps speak for themselves: a passage loaded with yet more jetés showing his pure athleticism if nothing else. When he was not dancing, his relationship with his wife Octavia (Georgina May) has the sensation of appearing in a play, not a ballet. The same goes for Cleopatra, who leaves Octavia in no doubt as to where her husband’s affections lie. However the storytelling is the greatest success of this ballet. The set and costumes are fantastic, all evoking the time period and setting, be it Egyptian women in their flowing dresses or Roman men leaping about in their military uniform. It comes as no surprise to hear the dancers undertook acting lessons with a coach from the Royal Shakespeare Company. But its greatest strength is also its weakness. The story tends to take priority over the choreography, raising the question: is this being done to enhance the story, or simply show off the dancers’ ability? That said, it is the asset that is left in your mind at the end of the show. Technically, it may not be perfect, but it has been a long time since a ballet has engaged so fully, and so brilliantly, with the story. Katherine Wilson

This Week In Arts History ... 1992

29 October marks the 19th anniversary of the death of one of ballet’s most talented sons, Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Whilst also a dancer, he is best remembered for his choreography. He was the creator of some of the 20th century’s

greatest dance works, notably Romeo and Juliet in 1965. MacMillan was born to a poor Scottish family in Dunfermline on 11 December 1929. During the 1930s, he and his family moved to Great Yarmouth. Here he met

Phyllis Adams, a dance teacher, who helped mould the ambitions and free the mind of the young MacMillan. At 15, he gained a scholarship to the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School under the stewardship of the godmother of English ballet, “Madam” Ninette de Valois. It was here, for the first time, that he did not feel like the outsider, and his abilities flourished amongst newfound kindred spirits. These feelings of isolation would be the theme behind most of his works; the protagonist of the rebel, the down-trodden and the unhappy. To MacMillan, ballet was not a fairytale but a mirror of human frailty. It was a life long effort for a more honest, theatrical form of ballet. “I had to find a way to stretch the language, otherwise I should just produce sterile academic dance.” With this, he also found a life long struggle against the establishment to break ballet out of entrenched tradition, which he did with honesty and compassion. In many ways, the work reflected the man. He was a tortured soul who suffered

from feelings of rejection and loneliness. Despite possessing prodigious ability in his art, and having danced important roles, he suffered from serious bouts of stage fright. It was this that partially led him away from performance towards choreography. Between 1966 and 1970, Kenneth MacMillan was the director of ballet at the Deutsche Oper. He became director of the Royal Ballet Theatre from 1970 to 1977 and thereafter, until his death, their Principal Choreographer. During this time he also became associate director of the American Ballet Theatre, in 1984. He was knighted in 1983. He married Australian artist Deborah Williams in 1974; the couple had one daughter, Charlotte. He died on 29 October 1992, at the Royal Opera House, of a heart attack backstage during a presentation of his Romeo and Juliet by the Birmingham Royal Ballet Company. During the curtain call, the announcement was made to the company and the audience. Carl Long

WIRED

25.10.2011

concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk

Forza Motorsport 4: Review

The latest instalment in Microsoft’s Forza Motorsports franchise Forza 4 promises to deliver the most realistic driving simulation ever, but does it deliver, or is it just as repetitive as much of the plethora of circuit based racing games on the Xbox 360? In terms of gameplay, Forza 4 has improved greatly over previous titles in the series. AI drivers are more intelligent than in other racing games, often breaking from the racing line if they spot an opportunity for an overtake. On the other hand, they also make mistakes and go cruising off into the gravel pits. However races often seem to be a little too easy, even on the hardest difficulty setting. Like in previous titles, Forza 4 allows players to rewind the race if they make a mistake. This is a useful, if unrealistic feature, especially when you progress to longer races in your career where slip ups can spell the end of your race. However, sometimes the rewind creates problems with the AI, causing them to shoot off the track or brake unnecessarily. Another area of improvement is the games sound design. Each of the 500+ cars has its own unique sound, whether that be the aggressive growl of 70s American muscle or the high pitched scream of a Le Mans car. Other new features include the Auto Vista; a garage containing a selection of unlockable cars which the player can browse. There are

small commentary snippets from Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson about each car which are interesting and amusing. In order to unlock the Auto Vista players must complete challenges on the Top Gear test track. These include knocking over bowling pins and playing car football. The Auto Vista cars are incredibly beautiful and graphically recreated to a superb standard, including the engines and interiors. However the Auto Vista feature is for the true petrol head and others may find it a little dull. In terms of online features Forza boasts more than most. The online auction house returns allowing players to bid on and sell cars, paint jobs, and car setups. New to this edition are Auto Clubs that one can join or create, such as the Fiat Punto Appreciation Club. Regular online

Uncharted 3: Preview Uncharted 3 sees the return of ruggedly handsome Indiana Jon... oh sorry, Nathan Drake, as he sets out into the Khali desert in search of a legendary lost city. Gameplay wise the Uncharted series has always been a mixed bag of 00’s third person action mechanics; free running platforming sections a la Prince of Persia, cover based shooting a la Gears of War and heavy thematic influences taken from Tomb Raider and of course Indiana Jones. Although I don’t think anyone could accuse the series of being original, the first two games proved popular, mainly due to the high levels of polish developers Naughty Dog applied to the grab-bag of ideas. Uncharted 3 looks set to deliver more of the same to fans of the series, with the E3 demo showing Drake engaged in some mischief on board a cruise ship in stormy seas. The game’s art design is very much of the photorealism school. The cruise ship environment looked convincingly storm swept and slippery, with Drake appearing unsteady on his feet while moving around deck. After sneakily dispatching

race modes return, with the addition of new modes like cat and mouse and the exceedingly entertaining car football. Overall Forza 4 offers more value for money than most games on the market, with hundreds of hours worth of content to explore and enjoy. Graphically, the game is stunning especially the all new Bernese Alps location. This is coupled with the fact

that every single car model is beautifully graphically recreated. Forza Motorsport has always appeared in the shadow of its Playstation rival, Gran Turismo, however with this instalment the developers, Turn 10, have firmly placed the Forza franchise at the top of the podium as the most complete driving game of all time. Josh Mott

Retro Column: Resident Evil

some soldiers in a decidedly Metal Gearish fashion, Drake finds himself engaged in a gunfight in the hold of a fast sinking ship (his own silly fault for using grenades in a boat.) He takes out the guards and is then faced with an interesting platforming section set inside the now vertical cruise liner, as water boils into the hold from below. Judging from what Wired saw the gameplay looked slick, the graphics crisp and the gameplay comfortingly familiar to anyone who’s played an action game in the last 5 years. Naughty Dog promises online co-op and deathmatch modes alongside the single player campaign, with possible DLC to follow the release. Although Wired does not think Uncharted 3 will change the way anyone looks at video games, for fans of the series and PS3 owners looking for a well executed action game, Nathan Drake is unlikely to disappoint you. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception will be released in the UK on November 2nd. Leo Hunt

Halloween is fast approaching, and whilst others may look to Paranormal Activity 3 or an old Saw DVD to get their kicks, gamers turn to the “survival horror” genre for theirs. No title better showcases this category than Resident Evil for the Playstation 1. Released in 1996, Resident Evil set the standard for future survival horror games with its nightmarish enemies, macabre setting and, above all, chilling atmosphere. Right from the opening cinematic, gamers were thrust into a sinister world in which a group of Special Forces agents, known as S.T.A.R.S, became trapped in a zombieinfested mansion after investigating the disappearance of their partner unit. Choosing to play as either Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield, players were tasked with exploring their demonic new surroundings in order to find their missing comrades and find a way out, but, above all, survive. Veterans of this game will know how much every bullet counted, with ammunition being a rare luxury players could ill-afford to waste. The sense of dread felt when the player came face to face with some manner of undead beast, only to hear the condemning *click* of an empty handgun is a feeling that fails to be recreated by the gun-toting “horror” games of today. It wasn’t the game play alone that brought Resident Evil such acclaim, but the

atmosphere that Capcom created to go along with it. From flashes of lightning that revealed the silhouettes of creatures at the window, to the unmistakable sound of creaking floorboards in the distance, players were put in a situation where walking down even the most unassuming of corridors became a dire test of one’s bravery. Despite being nearly 15 years old Resident Evil should still be regarded as one of the most immersive, and genuinely scary, survival horror games around. Andrew Leightfield

1996

25.10.2011

Google

Android 4.0, the latest version of the world’s most used mobile operating system, was debuted in Hong Kong last Wednesday (19 October) alongside Samsung’s flagship Android phone, the Galaxy Nexus. Named Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), following the tradition of naming each iteration of Android after a dessert, the new revamp of Android includes exclusive features as well as a complete redesign of the user interface. However, with the iPhone 4S selling millions in its first few days, the competition is incredibly tough. One of these new exclusive features is facial unlock, or facial the recognition screen unlock. The phone cleverly recognises your face using its front camera and unlocks automatically. If this didn’t work well, it could be dismissed as a gimmick no one would use, but according to testers, it works perfectly and is actually faster than manually unlocking the phone. If you have doubts about its accuracy, when setting it up you are required to add a secondary lock code. This means you can still unlock your phone in low light levels, when the camera may struggle to recognise you. It also means others can access your phone if you’re kind enough to share your lockcode. Another of the big exclusive 4.0 features to make its debut with Ice Cream

WIRED

concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk

Sandwich is Google Beam. By using Near Field Communications technology that recent Android phones include, you can now transfer just about anything in between phones by simply touching devices

ICS also comes with a variety of small but great additions that add up to make this the most impressive mobile OS out there. Widgets can be added to the homescreen and resized to suit your preferences. The

together. Webpages, contact info and pictures can be shared instantly and easily by beaming the data. Apple will probably introduce a similar feature next year.

keyboard comes with a spellcheck function and suggests alternatives to the words you’ve typed. There’s also speech to text conversion, allowing you to seamlessly dictate to your

Appy Corner: Scribblenauts Remix Scribblenauts, released for Nintendo DS in 2009, achieved wide critical acclaim for its unique premise of giving the player the ability to spawn anything they can think of in-game thanks to a “magic dictionary” held by the main character, Maxwell. Recently ported to the iPhone, Scribblenauts Remix contains 40 levels from the original (and its sequel Super Scribblenauts) as well as 10 brand new levels, along with various iPhone exclusive features, such as gesture control and use of the iPhone keyboard. The game is very much based around the mechanic of letting the player use their imagination to spawn items and tools that will help them solve the various puzzles the levels throw up in order to collect starities, the ultimate goal of the game. For example, in the first level you are required to retrieve a Staritie which is stuck in a tree and the method by which you do this is left entirely up to you. You could, say, spawn an axe to chop the tree down, or spawn a ladder to climb to the top.

Android

announces new

Scribblenauts remix starts out well; its original gameplay mechanic potentially providing any number of puzzles and challenges, however it soon becomes very obvious that the gameplay does not use this mechanic to its full potential. To put it bluntly, Scribblenauts’ puzzles are not puzzling and it’s challenges aren’t challenging, it’s just far to easy. Almost all the levels can be solved with a combination of a gun, a rope and a jetpack and there’s no incentive to use anything else. Soon you’ll find yourself spawning the same items to complete the same basic puzzle of retrieving something for someone over and over again. In summary, Scribblenauts Remix has exciting potential that is let down by poor level design and a lack of variety. Its also worth remebering that for an App Store game it is relatively high priced (£2.99) and if you’ve already played the original then you’ve already played most of the levels, which means you’ll be paying for more of the same thing. Joe Fitzsimmons

device with no delay. The internet browser has also been improved: you can run 16 tabs; store pages for offline reading and there’s a button to request the desktop version of a site, something that will definitely come in handy. The camera app has also been updated, additions include: on-device photo editing and a panoramic photo mode. Google Books and Gmail have undergone changes as well. The new app carousel is impressive; it allows you to close apps by swiping to the right. ICS also features ondevice data usage monitoring. This means you always know how much internet data has been used and allows you to cap usage. The hardware of the Galaxy Nexus is very impressive. Although not as good as the Galaxy S II, the phone comes with a dual core processor and a whopping 1280x720p HD screen, which puts the 960x640p on the iPhone 4S to shame. Android 4.0 is a very impressive piece of software. It’s incredibly smooth, packed with exclusive features, offers extensive customisation, and is more accessible to the average user than previous versions. Expect to see this OS on a smartphone near you soon. Richard Joslin

On The Wire

MMO DC Universe goes free to play both on PC and Playstation 3. Sony Online Entertainment admitted that the free to play model was one they wished to follow from the launch.

12’s Ultimate team feature. Microsoft has highlighted an issue with EA’s server which is leaving user details vulnerable to hackers. Only a handful of players have been affected so there is not too much to worry about.

5 7

Gears of War 3 tops 3 million sales worldwide in the first week. In an experiment commissioned by the internet retailer Amazon over 2 million virtual monkeys are close to randomly finishing the complete works of Shakespeare, proving the age old theory correct. Despite selling over four million copies L.A Noire’s development studio Team Bondi is set for closure after the company went into administration.

Id Software’s new IP Rage is released. Dark Souls is released, ready to rival Skyrim for this holiday seasons fantasy RPG. This game is very hard so prepare to die a lot!

11 15

Mass Effect 3 to have a multiplayer component. A four player co-op horde mode will exist in Bioware’s much anticipated title. Details have emerged of possible hacking of Xbox Live accounts in order to get the Gold Pack for Fifa

October

Halo: Anniversary Edition will have Kinect functionality, mainly voice commands though. Forza 4 becomes the fastest selling racing game on the Xbox 360. The new release also tops UK sales charts toppling FIFA 12. The Playstation Vita has a release date. 22nd Feb will be the day on which we will be graced with the Vita’s presence. £279.99 for the 3G version and £229.99 for the Wi-Fi only version.

Batman Arkham City is finally available with Batman, Catwoman, and Robin (pre order from GAME) available as playable characters. More characters such as Nightwing are set for DLC in early November. Blizzard Softwares big conference kicks off today in California. Fans are hoping for the announcment of the new World of Warcraft expansion.

FILM

25.10.2011

concrete.film@uea.ac.uk

Real Steel

Director: Shawn Levy Country: USA Starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly,

Dakota Goyo

With Real Steel, director Shawn Levy has made one of his better films. The director of Night at the Museum and Cheaper by the Dozen takes a more serious approach here and produces a fairly entertaining family film. Any boxing film made after 1976 is always going to be compared with Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky, and it is impossible to ignore the obvious similarities here. With 80 times the budget of Rocky, Real Steel is not quite a rip off and not quite homage. It places the underdog story back in the ring but this time with, you guessed it, robots. Set in the near future, where Robot Wars has gotten bigger than prime time TV, Hugh Jackman plays a down-on-his-luck robot boxing trainer named Charlie. With his son, Max, he decides to train up an old sparring bot called Atom. As they climb up the robot fighting underworld, Atom gets a shot at the big time. The film climaxes with Atom landing a fight with the Apollo Creed of WRB (World Robot Boxing) a robot called Zeus. The relationship between father and son, of course, blossoms nicely towards the

crescendo, and although it is not quite able to match “Aaddrriannn!” it still might make some top lips quiver. This slightly predictable affair is heavy on clichés and will not leave you surprised at any point. From the second Max arrives, you can guess where the relationship is heading between him and Charlie, nor is the final fight particularly shocking. Hugh Jackman’s brooding character is nothing you

The Debt

In The Debt, a remake of the 2007 Israeli film of the same name by Assaf Bernstein, John Madden presents a mission undertaken in 1966 by three Mossad agents to capture and extradite infamous war criminal Dieter Vogel, also known as “The Surgeon of Birkenau” and its fallout 31 years later. Sam Worthington stars as one of the Mossad operatives and, for once, the Australian actor’s expressionless visage is put to good use as the emotionally repressed David Peretz, tormented by the loss of his family in the Holocaust. Worthington gives an understated but memorable performance. Dame Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain predictably produce fantastic portrayals of

haven’t seen before, and his performance is pretty standard; not his best work, but by far not his worst. Dakota Goyo puts in a good performance as Max considering his age, although there is something slightly irritating about him. This is epitomised by the extremely cringe worthy robot dancing scenes. Real Steel is a genuinely good effort at a family film and succeeds on a lot of levels. It’s great fun, it’s got heart, and of course it

has robots punching each other. It may be restricted by its 12A certificate and the 127 minute running time which is not very child friendly. It is by no means a masterpiece, or even the best boxing film you’ll ever see, but Real Steel creates a nice balance between a heartfelt story and good old fashioned robot boxing. Matt Francis

Midnight In Paris

Rachel Singer, a well trained but emotionally fragile agent, as her life unravels in both her past and present. Unfortunately, The Debt’s carefully woven narrative begins to unravel in its unnecessarily protracted final 20 minutes. Devoted to tying up loose ends, the closing sequence is plagued by wearisome scenes which slightly reduce the impact of the film’s tense dénouement. Aside from this, during its quieter moments The Debt is a sharp analysis of the codes of morality, truth, and honour, and the extent to which some must violate them in the name of self-preservation. Tom Moore

A delightfully offbeat contemplation on nostalgia, Midnight in Paris is Woody Allen’s affectionate love letter to the inherently romantic city. Disenchanted screenwriter Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) believes that he was born into the wrong era, and would rather belong to the golden age of 1920s Paris, living amongst the great artists of the early 20th century. Accompanying the parents of his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) on her father’s latest business trip to the city of light, Gil plunges himself into writing a novel, growing distant as he embarks on a series of midnight walks. Whilst Gil is hypnotised by the city’s allure, Inez loses herself to the charm of an

old flame, the obnoxious and pedantic Paul (Michael Sheen). What follows is a whimsical tale of magic and desire, as Gil escapes the trappings of his relationship in an attempt to pursue creative inspiration. Owen Wilson is a remarkably able vehicle for Allen’s trademark self-deprecation and endearing social awkwardness, stumbling wideeyed through a narrative memorable for its sheer audacity. Despite a constant bombardment of literary and cultural references that might be a turn-off for some, the excitement, mysticism, and unrelenting positivity of Midnight in Paris makes this one of the director’s most entertaining films in years. Jack Rice

25.10.2011

Tomboy

After moving into a new house with her parents and sister, young Laure is mistaken for a boy by the kids in her area and she decides to play along, adopting the name “Mikael”. However, with the start of school looming and the continual realisation that she is not the same as the other boys, Laure must come to terms with her assigned sex. Tomboy is an interesting depiction of gender and the inevitable role it plays in the moulding of a child. Although it is comfortable to see Laure in the role of a boy, the supporting characters, especially that of pink-loving, tutu-wearing sister Jeanne, emphasised the differences imposed on girls and boys from the moment they are born. The film is a sensitive and subtle exploration of a girl discovering her sexuality, and whilst there is no giant plot twist or moments of spectacle, it moves at a steady pace and keeps your attention throughout. The performances are extremely natural and as a result, the film comprises of many charming scenes between Laure and members of her family and friends. This French film from writer-director Céline Sciamma is sweet, intriguing and delightfully funny. It will leave you warm and smiling. Radosava Radulovic

Contagion

It’s an epidemic! Hollywood has been plagued (pun intended) in recent years by a slew of disaster movies, however Contagion is an exception. This latest work from Steven Soderbergh centres on a deadly virus that spreads worldwide through the simple act of human touch. Multiple storylines portray the sprawling pandemonium, backed up by a stellar cast including Kate Winslet, Matt Damon and Laurence Fishburne. The strength of the cast does not detract from Contagion’s viral subject matter, containing a stark relevance for our times (à la swine flu). This contemporary significance is further supported by Jude Law’s acrimonious truth seeker, shedding light on the political aspect of the circumstances, as well as the psychological aspect of fear. Unfortunatley, the inclusion of a few stock characters, due to the size of the cast, detracts from the overall action. Nevertheless, the film maintains its pace throughout, keeping the viewer engaged through Soderbergh’s slick direction and the enthralling medical storyline. Taken as a whole, Contagion is a smart thriller that rarely loses its informative drive, allowing the viewer to think for themselves rather than have the four horsemen appear on screen to explain it all. Sam Warner

Slackers Club Attention Slackers! This November, Cinema City brings you Miranda July’s new indie gem, The Future. Sophie and Jason decide to take the next big step in their relationship: they are going to adopt a cat called Paw-Paw. With the big day marked on the calendar, they soon begin to fret over the consequences of their commitment. So, in a last-

FILM

concrete.film@uea.ac.uk

Footloose

In recent years, remaking popular 80s films has been something of a craze. Hairspray was a revelation, but more often than not the second offerings fall flat, such as the lacklustre Fame. Footloose sits in the second category. The film tells the story of Ren MacCormack, who moves to small-time town Bomont, only to find that it enforces a ban on public music and dancing. Whilst struggling to fit in, Ren develops a romance with the preacher’s daughter, Ariel, and fights to revoke the ban. He may grow to appreciate his new life, but sadly there is little enjoyment to come from Footloose. The sense of fun ingrained in the original isn’t present, the only entertaining character being Ren’s friend Willard, whose attempts at learning to dance are hilarious. However, Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough are inferior in comparison to the original leads. Kevin Bacon’s Ren was much more engaging and loveable than Kenny’s. It is also a travesty that so much of the original movie was incorporated; many scenes and even the leads’ prom outfits were transposed. Footloose may have succeeded more if it had taken inspiration from the much-loved West End show, rather than this copycat offering. Beth Wyatt

Ranter’s Corner ditch bid to taste freedom, Sophie and Jason quit their jobs, cut off the internet and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

The Future is coming to Cinema City on the 3rd November. Book your tickets online at www.picturehouses.co.uk

“Welcome to Rantsville”

Harry Denniston takes on Hollywood taglines It is often the case that the taglines on film posters annoy you so much that you actively don’t want to watch the film. They are often ill-fitting, underwhelming and sometimes hilariously stupid, and are at their most dangerous when the film is intended to be taken seriously. Such is the case with the five-star splattered, Cannesendorsed poster for We Need To Talk About Kevin, which sports the tagline “Mummy’s Little Monster.” Not only does this serve to completely undermine the film, it also positively vomits all over both the novel and the film’s compelling take on the nature-nurture debate. Earlier this year, the horror film Insidious provided another example of how self-destructive these lines can be. The poster consisted of a creepy looking house in the background, and then, very much in the foreground, a hell-child with scratched out eyes. The tagline was “Its not the house that’s haunted.” Definitely no second-guesses there, then. The list goes on and on, but it seems that one of the most poetic and harmonious taglines to have come to light so far is the one for 2010’s Clash of the Titans, which advertised itself beautifully with, quite simply, “Titans will Clash.” What more need be said?

FILM

25.10.2011

concrete.film@uea.ac.uk

Talking Movies

Venue discusses the re-release of cinematic classics, from Ghostbusters to The Lion King In the midst of the big budget comedy/action movies and gritty dramas dominating the October box office, there is one film that seems out of place. It has been at number two in the chart for more than two weeks, beating out big budget new releases like The Three Musketeers and Real Steel. In America, it’s actually topped the domestic box office. That film is The Lion King, or The Lion King 3D, to give it the full title, and from Disney’s original expected gross of $12m in America, it has grossed $29m, and its run isn’t even over yet. Not bad for a film released in 1994. The habit Hollywood has of looking backwards for its inspiration is nothing new. From sequels, prequels and gritty reboots, the film industry, perhaps more than any other entertainment medium, thrives on the past. While a few critics have complained against this approach, until now most have forgiven Hollywood these things because many new projects have, feasibly, brought some artistic originality to the table. However, with the development of 3D film technology, and its

acceptance into the mainstream, Hollywood appears to have found a new way to get more money out of its past greats without a spark of creativity; the re-release.

Many have objected to the apparent milking of filmgoer nostalgia, and Disney is not the first to attempt this. Last year, Universal Studios re-released the original Back to the Future to celebrate its 25th birthday. Ghostbusters and Jurassic Park have also recieved cinematic re-releases, and next February, George Lucas is set to re-

Competition This Halloween, Cinema City is excited to bring you a special screening of the digitally remastered Ghostbusters. To be in with a chance of winning two free tickets, just answer: Which member of the Ghostbusters cast appeared as himself in 2009’s Zombieland?

Email us at concrete.film@uea.ac.uk

release Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace in new 3D glory. It’s easy to see the cynical side of all this; it is hard to say just what the 3D adds to the experience, and you can guarantee that many cinemagoers will have The Lion King DVD/Blu-ray waiting for them at home. But supporters could argue that these films are a celebration; a timely reminder of how great cinema can be; a chance for those that missed seeing something unique on the big screen to get

their turn. All of the films referenced above (bar one) are great. They are remembered for a reason. We have The Lion King 3D, but we are unlikely to see a re-release of The Flintstones Movie. And the one thing those critics can’t argue with is the overwhelming number of people who went to see it. Expect more classics to start appearing at a cinema near you, very soon. Tim Bates

Competition Closes: 28/10/2011

The Popcorn Chart Top 5

The Exorcist (1973)

There is a reason that The Exorcist remains such a classic, and the quintessential horror movie of choice. It’s a film that always knows exactly what’s it doing, and never puts a foot wrong. A brilliant, genuinely chilling film that has had none of it’s impact lessened by the fact that just about every horror movie made since has in some way stolen bits from it: Paranormal Activity and it’s seemingly endless slew of sequels, Poltergeist, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, The Amityville Horror. None of these come close, however hard they try. The Exorcist still tops them all.

The Thing (1982)

A monster movie in which we barely see the monster. Instead, fear and paranoia are the villains, as the crew of a remote Antarctic research station begin to realise that something has killed and replaced one of their number. As they begin to suspect each other, the film reaches a claustrophobic intensity, helped by

Not a fan of horror films? Visit our website for Kerr Cameron’s 5 Alternative films to see this Halloween

films to see this

Halloween

the unbelievably gruesome special effects. Maybe it’s the fear of total isolation in the face of death, the horror of not knowing which of your friends is actually an imposter, or just the idea of a huge great monster running around that makes it so scary.

Eyes Without A Face (1960)

Even if you’ve never heard of this one, you’ve almost certainly seen it’s influence in everything from Halloween to the Saw films. A deranged doctor kidnapping women and performing macabre surgery on them to try and reconcile his own guilt was a shockingly original idea back when the film was released, with audience members leaving in shock and one critic nearly being fired for writing a positive review. Fortunately the years since have done nothing to make it any less chilling and disturbing, with the critics who maligned it now hailing it as a masterpiece. An intelligent and original classic.

Evil Dead II (1987)

Shaun of the Dead and Ghostbusters nearly made it into the list, but in the end Sam Raimi’s cult classic, essentially a more ambitious remake of The Evil Dead I, proved more than a match for them in terms of blood and laughs. In how many other films does the hero fight the forces of evil by chopping off his arm and replacing it with a chain saw? Especially surreal considering this is the same guy that

directed Spider Man. Brilliantly funny, insanely violent, endlessly quotable and featuring a laughing moose head. Every movie should have a laughing moose head.

The Shining (1980)

It may be the image of Jack Nicholson smashing down a locked door and manically snarling the iconic “Here’s Johnny!” that immediately springs to mind, but the real scares here come from the Overlook Hotel. Kubrick managed to make the building itself into a terrifying enemy; it’s echoing, cavernous halls, endless corridors and ominous locked doors

would be enough to drive anyone mad. There are rooms where there weren’t before, windows where there shouldn’t be, doors that can’t possibly lead anywhere. It’s an unnervingly nonsensical house of horrors and when Jack reaches for that axe, it’s almost a relief. Joseph Murphy

25.10.2011

HOLY FLYING CIRCUS As BBC 4 resurrect the Pythons, Venue look at why they deserve their legendary status

If you are alive, then chances are you will have heard of Monty Python. For the long dead among us, 1969 saw three Cambridge Graduates, two Oxford graduates and an American animator decide that being incredibly silly was great fun and even better if you could make a television show out of it. Four series later, Monty Python’s Flying Circus had brought forth some of best loved and well known sketches in comedy history. As you sit reading this now, you are probably no further than a few feet from someone who would happily enter into an impulsive recreation of the dead parrot sketch (John Cleese arm gesticulations optional). Not only were the sketches themselves memorable, but the chaotic style with which they were presented still remains a Python trademark. Alongside the television series and the tours which arose out of them, the Python troupe found time to write, direct and star in four films; one of which is still widely considered one of the best comedy movies of all time. Monty Python and the Life of Brian follows the fictional life of a man who, owing to a misunderstanding and despite his continued protestations, is mistaken for the Messiah and develops a following that he cannot

Downton Abbey

TELEVISION

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shake off. To this day it is the most hotly debated topic of Python interviews owing to the religious outcry that greeted the 1979 release of the film. It is this climate of hysteria which Holy Flying Circus (BBC4) has sought to evoke. Writer Tony Roche’s (The Thick of It) biopic, which aired on the 19th, promises all the exaggerated cross-dressing, ironically relevant irreverence, spoken-to-camera asides and perfectly captured Python personalities that fans will recognise and love. As a selfconfessed ‘Pythophile’, I am known to place higher importance in choice of favourite Python than that of Hogwarts house. Of course, there are no wrong answers, as I’ve always found that their ever-hilarious group banter is just one more thing to delight in. While the Python reaction to the biopic remains generally quiet, Terry Jones has tweeted his on-screen doppelgänger, Rufus Jones, to say: “I don’t envy you having to get into bed with Charles Edwards [HFC’s Michael Palin] but it’s all in a good cause. Hope he washed his feet.” And if that isn’t enough to spark your intrigue, Stephen Fry features in the role of God. Ellissa Chilley

Merlin

ITV, Sundays, 9pm

In the first episode of Series Two of Downton Abbey, heir-turned-solider Matthew remarks that “War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter and the things that don’t”. Despite the cheesiness of the line, it does reference the difficulty the show faced as it embarked upon a new series. After being celebrated for its portrayal of the feuds, terribly British romances and stately scandal that dominated the lives of the Crawley family and their staff at Downton, the declaration of war at the end of the last series created a challenge for the writers. Would previous plotlines of inheritance and a dead Turkish diplomat be eclipsed by the outbreak of war? How easily would scenes of bloody trench life intertwine with the grandeur of Downton? What would matter more, story or historical accuracy? It’s true that upon its return the show has been criticized for its confusing timelines and a fumbled dealing of the war. But when the focus is away from the frontline and upon those at Downton, the benefits of a wartime setting become clear.

Characters such as Edith and Sybil, who were previously side-lined by their sister Mary and her suitors, now blossom in their new responsibilities. We see them tending to wounded soldiers, driving tractors and convincing their relatives to turn parts of their lavish home into a functioning ward. Even the villainous Thomas and O’Brien unveil a new side in contrast to their usual conspiring nature. Scenes of Thomas caring for a blinded solider and O’Brien’s empathy for a valet suffering from shell-shock reveal that the baddies actually have hearts. But there is no greater war-induced change of heart than Mary’s, whose unspoken love for Matthew manages to dominate the show, even when the latter is off defending the country. It is here, within its characters, that Downton Abbey finds what matters most, and through them continues to be captivating Sunday night escapism.

Bridie Wilkinson

BBC1, Saturdays, 8:15pm

After weeks of anticipation, Merlin fans were finally appeased when the show hurtled back on to our screens with an emotional two parter. The title, The Darkest Hour, is enough to guess the tone of this series. A myriad of previous episodes were dominated by “hilarious” events, such as Uther marrying a troll, but these have seemingly been swept aside for more ominous happenings. Another clue is that Morgana has turned into an evil goth overnight, her usually immaculate dress giving way to tatty clothes and fierce dark makeup. Clearly living in a mangy cave isn’t doing much for her. The endearing magic (no pun intended) of Merlin’s portrayal of its characters is that whilst Uther was often a terrible human being, you still had a tear in your eye as he passed away. Anthony Head was excellent in his final performance, and Bradley James was also terrific as the grieving son. Lancelot’s death hardly needs to be mentioned, as he will no doubt return. The massive shock of the third episode, besides from Uther dying so early on in the series, was the aftermath of Merlin’s

actions. Hearing Arthur utter “magic is evil,” unravelled everything the young warlock had been trying to achieve. Fans of the two characters, dubbed “Merthur” because of their “bromance”, will now wonder whether Merlin will be able to confess his secret anytime soon. Colin Morgan has to be congratulated not only for his excellent performances as the lead role, but also for his brilliant turn as the older Merlin. The hilarious shuffle and odd, ranting voice make for an entertaining character. We should be seeing more of Elder Merlin soon, as Morgana believes him to be Emry’s destiny and her doom. Alas, with Morgana setting her unsubtle villainous sights on the new king after destroying the old, the tension continues to build. All we need now is an appearance by the adorable, but deadly, Mordred, and one of Gwaine’s classic bar brawls to make this series perfect. The BBC seems to agree as a fifth series has already been commissioned. Beth Wyatt

EMPLOYABILITY Your future career You may have only just arrived at UEA but you should already be familiar with the E word. Which E word do I mean? Whilst there are a few to choose from (employers, enterprise, the latest episode of Entourage or a slice of eggy bread), the most important one is employability, also known as: “What can I do to get a job after graduation?” Before you stick your fingers in your ears and sing “La la la. I’m not listening!” hear me out. The meaning of employability changes depending on who you talk to, but here’s a helpful definition: Employability: a set of achievements, skills, understandings and personal attributes that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, benefitting benefits them, the workforce, the community and the economy. This definition highlights that employability is not just about you and your employer. It’s about your skills going forward and playing an economic and social role in the wider community, here or anywhere else in the world. It’s also about what benefits you, and what helps you to be successful, however you choose to define success. So, wherever you are in your studies, what can you do to keep the E word on your to-do list? In many respects, it’s not that difficult and should form part of your day-to-day study and life.

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About the ‘E’ Word My top 5 list of the week:

GET INVOLVED: If you’re not already in a club, society, volunteering or fundraising then now is the time to start. When possible, take on new responsibilities, offer to organise events, put your name forward and learn new skills. GET THINKING: Whether you have no idea what you would like to do or already have a firm plans, thinking is good. Ask yourself questions like: “What do I enjoy?”, “What am I good at?”, “What gets me out of bed in the morning?”, “How do I access more information about this career?” and “What am I gaining from my studies that can translate into the workplace?” There is a range of resources and help, and people to talk to. Visit Employability.

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GET ADVICE: Careers and Employability are here to help you with these questions through individual appointments, group sessions, information, and events. Your school of study also offers employer talks, presentations from alumni and much more. Talk to us and your school for more details. GET CONNECTED: Use the resources on Blackboard, the Careers and Employability website and external links to employers and careers information (prospects. co.uk). Connect to employers and alumni by attending events here on campus and use these to find out more about what’s possible, what kinds of jobs are out there, and how others have made the transition into work.

GET EXPERIENCE: From one day of shadowing to a summer internship or placement, all experience is good. Employability and UEA Volunteering advertise opportunities, as does your school. Keep an eye on Blackboard and the Careers and Employability news briefing (it drops into your inbox each week). Remember – we are here to help, but only you can take the next steps! Adrienne Jolly is the Graduate Employability Developer in Careers & Employability.

/UEACareersAndEmployability www.uea.ac.uk/careers

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