The event issue 238 26 01 2010

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I 24

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word performance .Is n lcshuncnllo the Rlack llag ~onlman's early

l 980s punk rock credenHals bullltere was plcnl:y lo offer l1i sludenl fan lmsc. As l1is days of learlng up slancs ncross Llw \Vcslern worJJ ~zzle oul. Henry nolh.ns lms fallen ln love wall lravcl. lmL nol of t-Ile convenHonalklnd.lle visils plac s lhal many go oul of ll1etr way lo avoid tmJ rehtrns wHl1 la] s llml wmJJ runaze even ll1e mosl cyiucal tmJ worl<l weary. Rolhns lms

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Mind the DUbstep

across llw globe. Don't miss lum nexl lime! llon voyage, Grace xx

fashion

26jan l 0

lssu e238

con ere le. fashlon@uea.ac.uk

CIIARITY IIOP CIIARM Feeling a little broke after Christmas? Then open your mind to the wonders of the charity shop ...

Everyone can picture a stereotypical charity shop: small and dusty and crammed with old clothes that haven't seen the light of day for a very long time. Rails are hung with chiffon blouses and old ladies' nightgowns, next to overflowing baskets of baby clothes. Videos from the 90s, and china ornaments from the Victorian era that have been donated because some poor soul has died, or a mother has decided to have a good clear out. However, this is not always the case. Although there is still an eclectic mix of goods for sale, none are without a whimsical charm that just can not be found on the high street. Charity shops are fast becoming fashionable, with Kate Moss donating to her local Oxfam and even Victoria Beckham has been snapped in these second-hand stores. You may have caught the TV programme Mary Queen of Shops last year, where presenter Mary Portas took on a mission of transforming the humble charity shop in to a real high street contender. With this public interest and celebrity input, the charity shop is sure to have a status upgrade. Sti ll undec 1ded' Then bp low are th e argum ents for and Jga 1mt finding fash 1on Without the expcnsr

Grace Alien I love charity shops; actually, I'm addicted to them. Although I can understand why some might not immediately appreciate their scruffy charm, I have to say that nothing beats the high induced by finding something really, really great. The thing is to be discerning: avoid picking up armpit-stained Primark t -shirts, or foul old bras and swimming costumes. But jackets, coats, shoes and t hings like bags or hats are great to get stuck into - I have found both a Whi stles and a Jil SandNs jacket in the Sue Ryder Care off Earlham Road. These are things of quality, things that, if stumbled upon in a vintage shop, would be snapped up without reservation .

AGAINST

Jarries Higgins

The benefits of shopping in charity shops are few and far between . Yes, you might get a little buzz out of giving money towards charity, but you are also spending money on yourself. More to the point, it's probably not something you'll wear either. So, not only are you buying something for yourself, you're not appreciating it. Most people who donate clothes and the like to charity shops are the relatives of the recently deceased, wishing for their loved ones' clothes to go to a good cause. This is a very admirable thing to do, however, the clothes rarely go on to be sold. On average, 74%* of clothes donated to charity shops are bagged and ragged, not fit for sale. The other 26% of clothes are placed on racks for other elderly customers to view.

Home furnishings are also a fantastic thing to look for - old drinking glasse s, jars, beautiful fabric s and picture frames are incredibly cheap and so similar to anything you might find in an

The quality of the clothes that do go on sa le is often a little dubious. it could be the best news in the world that, after graduation, you find yourself shopping for a suit for a job interview and come across one in a charity shop for about a tenner. Probably not the best moment ever when you turn up to the interview with a fly that won 't do up and both buttons missing from the jacket.

antique store . lt is all too ea sy to be put off by poor lighting, bad music or general disorder, but once you get pa st these thing s and experience the thrill of spending 拢2.00 on a beautiful coat those doubts will be long forgotten, and you too will be a charity shop addict . And this is without mentioning th e gloriou s fact that in procuring your jacket you are helping (however margin ally) a gre ater c~use . See, everyone wins!

Bottom line? Donating money to charities through people on the street shaking buckets, anonymous cheque or direct debit are much more rewarding ways than buying clothes from a charity shop, not liking them, and as a result never donating to charity again. "St . Christoph er's Hospice Accoun ts 2009

CIIARITY ON Ill[ W [R can路cer care -.;

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www.breastcancercare.org.uk

www.ejfoundation .org

www.deliciou scouture .com

Breast Cancer Care provides vital information and emotional support not only to those with a breast cancer diagnosis, but also their familie s, friend s and ca rers. In their trademark colour of pink, find a choice of t-shirts, polos, hats and jewellery.

EJF are selling a selection of 100% organic and fair-trade designer t-shirts for men and women, with all proceeds going to help Environmental Justice Foundations international work to protect the planet. Designers include Giles Deacon, Zandra Rhodes, Christian Lacroix and Luella Bartley.

Thi s site has a lovely selection of women 's hoodies and t-shirts. 10% of each sale goes to Great Ormond Street 's Children's Hospital, The Eve Appeal which he lps fund research into all four gynaecological cancers, and Help for Heroes, where money is spent on helping wounded service men and women rehabilitate.

fashion

26)an10 issue238

concrele.fashlon@uea.ac.uk

NoRWICII CIIARITY SIIOP: This community store is found on Lower Goat Lane in the town city centre and is open Monday-Saturday 9am4pm. The general feel of the selection is eccentric, with an abundance of mismatched furniture, ornaments, books, records and clothes. The clothing section is reasonably large, the majority being men's fashion and all the garments are clean, of good quality and are neatly organised . There is such a great choice for male students

lacking in cash as there are smart, collared shirts, polos and tees, jeans, hoodies and sweaters, suits, jackets and coats on offer. ' There is a pretty jazzy tie section too . Many suits are just 拢7 and are in impeccable condition. The women's section, despite its relatively narrow range of styles, boasts a surprisingly wide range of sizes, from size 6 through to size 22. There is just as much variety in men's sizes too. There is a large array of accessories for women

More Norwich charity shops: British Heart Foondation, 64 London Street. The Sue Ryder Charity Shop, lOA Earlham Road. PDSA 4-6 Queen's Road.

British Red Cross, 88 St. Benedict's Street. Oxfam, 8-10 Magdalen Street Break Charity Shop, 99 Unthank Road.

Tm;: SALVATION ARMY The money collected by The Salvation Army is spent on providing programmes and support in homeless centres, drug rehabilitation centres, schools, hospitals, medical centres and the emergency services. Some current results of this to make up for the lack of clothes, with shoes, bags, scarves and jewellery. Both the jewellery and bags are high quality, and scream vintage without the expensive price tags. As well as affordable clothes, there are exce'llent deals on furniture; they do a "starter pack" deal which includes 路 basic items such as chest of drawers, sofa and chair, for very reasonable

charity include: - 3,200 homeless people given food and shelter every night in 57 centres. - 636 elderly people accommodated every night in 17 residential centres. - 50 nurseries and playgroups. price. A deiivery service is 路 also provided . So if you are looking for fashion, but without the high cost, then head on down to charity shops, and with a bit of rummaging you are sure to find something to tickle your fancy. Thank you to the two lovely men from The Salvation Army shop for agreeing to loan clothes for the shoot.

The Event would also like to thank the shop Just Add Water, that allowed us to use their window space for the photo shoot. Just Add Water is found on 25-27 Bedford Street in the city centre. lt sells a wide range of sports and leisure wear and offers a variety of alternative labels under one roof.

GoK WAN WANTS You1 Gok's Fashion Fix is returning for a third series and the programme's producers a~e looking for your help! They need a group of six friends or work colleagues to help them put high street fashion to the test. If you're 18 or over and fancy testing this season's high street fashion to see which ones come out on top, please contact the em ail address below! goksroadtesters@ endemoluk.com

arls

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ART>RÂŁVl[W>PlJOTQ(;RAPI-lY > SNAP IIAPP)' Alice Brunt and Jane Bird head down the No rw ich Arts Centre t o rev iew a years' work in Project 365 They say a picture says a thousand words. So, entering the gallery at the Norwich Arts Centre and eyeing its biggest ever exhibition, Project 365, is like walking into a room of babbling voices. The exhibition features the work of three photographers from Norwich (Natalie Beal, Alexandra Bone and Tim Caynes) and Belgian musician Wixel. Consisting of 1095 photos and 12 music records, its sca le is truly staggering. Project 365 began on New Year's Eve 2008, when Natalie and Alexandra set themselves the mammoth task of taking a photo everyday in 2009 . In Brussels, Wixel and friends were undertaking a simi lar cha llenge, by pledging to make a new record every month. Alexandra found Tim on Flickr, Norwich Arts Centre approached Wixel, and so Project 365 was born. Only on closer inspection can you fully appreciate how great a feat Project 365 is and the dedication behind it. Whilst some of the subject matters are ju st everyday occurrences, Alexandra admits some were the 'desperate result of many hours wondering what to take a photo of on a particular day'. Project 365 has tested these artists not used to strict self-imposed deadlines. Natalie confesses it

I'll never try to work at this pace again, but it's something I'm glad I did .' The fact these artists kept a New Year's promise makes Project 365 more inspiring. Natalie says: 'When I started the project, I had no idea it would be something I would end up

subjects include underground bunkers and abandoned houses expla ins : 'This photo project has led to some really good experiences and it documents some of th e best times I've had in my life ... I' m also slightly scared however, as you can tell a lot about me as a person from

What is special about the exh ibition is the fact that each time you vi sit, you will definitely discover something new. Project 365 command s you to take a close r look at th e world around you.

sometimes was 'a bit of a burden and inspirati on was hard to find at times.' Wixel says: 'I think

exhibiting. But here we are, pictures printed and in place for all to see.' Alexandra, whose

photographs and it feels a little strange to sha re this with so many people'.

The exh ibition is now on unti l 6th March. Entry is f ree, 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.

of urbanisation, wealth and poverty. Expect to be confronted with a deluge of costumed figures, from maid's outfits, panda hats, sailor uniforms and elaborate geisha get-ups. One notable photograph that drew my attention was composed of an old man , holding a cat, in the middle of a busy metropolis street. He

Andy Crouch 's work is particula rly fascinati ng, since he captures the changing features of Britain, observing in particu lar a variety of shop signs, which include Friday Bingo, Fun Zone, Fresh ly Cut Sandwiches, and Barber Shop. Crouch explores the notion of community, concentrating on small, local shops (which are

seems unaffected by the cars whizz ing past him, and pa ss ers-by stare at him with looks of

sadly disappearing). The two artists engage with their geographically different cultural surroundings. Alt hough they both paid attention to huge ly different societies, their work is fiawlessly integrated in the exhibition . A photo of a British cafe stands next to a photo of a Japan restaurant . Crouch has said he aimed to 'encompass anything quirky and co lourful in Norfolk', whilst Sapey became absorbed in Japan's 'fiuorescent and dizzy culture, and followed its eccentric youth tribes which ram raid the 20th century for ins piration'. The exhibition is not only entertain in g due to its oddball subjects, it also makes th e viewe r look at the world from a different perspective.

Carolina Bodmer gets lost in transl ation at the Sainsbury Cen tre Your East, the current photography exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre for Visua l Arts, foc uses on the work of Andy Crouch and Andi Sapey, two Norfolk-based photographers whose eccentric and vibrant compositions of Norfolk and Japan assemble together brilliantly.

St rolling through the exhibition, what is first striking is the subject matter in the photos, both artists capture moments of the strange, quirky, and odd. Andi Sapey offers us a glimpse in to the wacky goings-on in Tokyo society whilst demonstrating the extremes

bemused humour. This static and idiosyncratic moment contrasts hugely with the fast -pace of the technologically-driven city surrounding t he man. All of the photos are saturated in vivid , bright colours, and contain no labels, forcing me to distinguish between the two photographers.

Your East runs from Friday 8th January to 28th January at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts .

arls

26jan10

issue238

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TII[AJR[> Ill[ RSC> TII[AJR[ R[VAMP David Biggins tells us about changing times at the company that's best for the bard . . The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, in Stratfordupon-Avon, hasn't been open since it last showcased Gregory Doran's Coria/anus, starring William Houston, on the 31st March 2007. Since then the old theatre has been partly demolished and fully renovated, in a venture that has cost the Royal Shakespeare Company over one hundred million pounds. Although the structural changes have reduced overall seating numbers, they have given the old proscenium style theatre a thrust stage, designed to make performances a far more intimate experience for both players and the audience. In 2007, the furthest seat away from the stage was twenty seven meters, now in 2010 it is a mere fifteen meters. The renovated theatre is expected to open in the latter half of this year, and there has been much speculation as to what will be the first, likely blockbuster, production. Tantalizingly, the recently knighted Sir Patrick Stewart has hinted that he would like to play Falstaff sometime in the near future, opening the doors for either of the Henry IV plays, or The Merry Wives of Windsor , however, there has so far been no

on of completed work Sl;a,kat._

tre,

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confirmation from either Stewart or the RSC of a production in the works. \he company is going to have a hard time topping recent productions; since the closure

liT[RATUR[> UIA WRIT[R's CoRN[R>Porr> ST[PIIANI[ lru Just two years after her MA in Creative Writing at UEA, and in the midst of a PhD in Philosophy, Stephanie Lea I has published her first collection of poetry with Penned in the Margins. Titled Metrophobia, the reader is told the irony of the meaning; 'fear or hatred of poetry'. Those who have ventured into the spoken word events

Trevor Nunn's King Lear (starring lan McKellen and Sylvester McCoy) in 2007. If you cannot wait until next winter then there's still time to catch Gregory Doran's latest production, a funny and at times rambunctious Twelfth Knight starring Richard Wilson as Malvolio (a destined casting) and a scene stealing James Fleet as the sweetly useless Sir Andrew Aguecheek. You can catch the play at the Duke of York's Theatre, London until the end of February. Furthermore, if you are feeling daring ansd wish to venture outside of Shakespeare, Dennis Kelly is staging The Gods Weep throughout March - a much anticipated production, largely due to the return of Jeremy Irons to the RSC after 23 years of absence.

the Ao>rel

in Norwich are likely to recognize familiar favourites including At/, which she often introduces as about a boy who is suing her for writing said poem. Along with the alternative take on Acfam and Eve, On the Discovery of the Orgasm, as well as Somethin' which the reader is told is to be read in the East Tennessee accent she adopts for the performance. A talented performer, the publication of this book shows that her talents work just as well on the page. The poems range from the humorous Egging Mr Vasey's and The Fruit Salad, to the poignant What it els like to miss you and Davis, and lines like 'I slipped; you cracked your head on that rock trying to save me'. Words are weaved like a tapestry so that even the most literal lines have deeper metaphorical meanings. Leal pins down raw human emotion and relationships with successful conviction, which can be seen in the characters of Lucas and Gabrielle in one poem that presents obscure personality traits in a list, managing to give both a sense of the two people and their relationship with one another. On each turn of the page lies an original and clever poem, each unique from the rest. lt is a collection of poems that tell of war, humanity, animals, history, society, love and pain. Combat your Metrophobia; buy the bookand see the words come alive at the Birdacage on February 17th. Carmina Masoliver

of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the RSC has staged some spectacular plays, such as Gregory Do ran's headline grabbing Hamlet (starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart), but mo'st notably

For more infomation on the RSC and the changes it is making to its theatres go to http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/ default. asp For updates on what's happening at the RSC and interviews with those involved follow them OQ Twitter @RSChttp://twitter.com/TheRSC

Housing Fair Tuesday

Housing Socials

Tuesday 2 rd February I Hive I 5.3opm Thursday 11 th February I Hive I 5.3opm If you're looking for housemates, or need to flnd an extra housemate to flll a gap, pop along to the Housing Socials to meet other stude.nts in a similar position! You never know, you could meet that perfect housemate who loves Hollyoaks 1 Football I Music 1 Reality TV as much as you do!

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February I LCR l1oam - 4pm

•••••

.e• unaon~· ••

Or UEA

• •

STUDENTS

•

••. ~·· .

This is your opportunity to prck up loads of info about housing. Stalls around the LCR will feed you with house-hunting tips, information on flnding the perfect housemates, how to get your tenancy agreements explained and more. We'll have loads of experts to give you all the information you need for a hassle free year ahead.

Home Run List Released only on www.ueastudent.comfhomerun on Tuesday February, free of charge! Find your perfect house from the hundreds available ...

gth

26jan10

crear1ve wriiing

issue238

Slowness of Summer A beacon in the sky A timeless watch Revolving around us, everything Waking us .in the morning And sending us into darkness when it dies The never ending fire. Creating light in this dark world. As old as time itself. Unaware of the life it brings. Without it, all life would be without existence, Seeds to be kept in the dark, never being able to grow and flourish. That beacon in the sky. Watching over us high.

Hannah Griffin

The Sea I didn't think you could hear it, or if you could you didn' t mention it. The sea was sighing, small lazy waves whispering lamentations over the shingle; listlessly pushing pebbles up the beach, then drowning them in its salty shroud. You said today was not at all perfect; this was no day for a picnic. A few rain drops fell on my face, I brushed them away, it couldn't rain, not today lt was overcast; almost foggy, there was A sea mist creeping slowly in . You stopped talking, you called the dog back and packed up the picnic- half started- and sat in the car, waiting, but not patiently, for me. I stood on the shore and waited for the sun to break through the slushy sky; lt was Sunday; and the only day we could be together, but you didn't want to put your feet into the icy water. The sullen sky hurled snow at us, frozen flakes that were swallowed up by the sea.

Do you feel the cold winter wind? Whistling across rooftops, Slamming against doors, Sending a chill through the rafters, You can't miss it. Can you see the snowflakes? Gently twirling down in spirals, Slowly, but surely filling up driveways, Clogging up alleys and roads, Rendering treacherous the safest mounts? Little wafer-thin crisps of ice Little would you know lt wore a mantle of power Strong enough to wreck mayhem, Yet it melts between my palms. Coating everywhere with this white skin From the highest mountain Down to the lowliest plains. In the midst of the winter, A calm descends everywhere. The tranquility exuded by whiteThe color of peace Seren ity pervades the atmosphere Yet strange to hear of death then . That treacherous snow Gives no heed to whom or what it covers. Even the ravines and potholes receive its shelter. lt covers all and sundry Like the blessed sunlight God gave. The icy roads lead to the doom of many a driver All due to the deceiving nature of snow. A marked difference from Harmattan. at least, the color of blood reigns then. Covering all things in a fine red mist, Leaving a haze of dust in everyone's wake. Jane Harmattan

Anicka Ueckermann

Next issue's theme: Pl:l!rl ll!~lr\:\lT Email your submissions to: concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk by the 4th February

I feel my self sinking My internal clock slowing Calming down Gone is the traffic, noise, rush Rush rush Instead Is replaced by silence Interrupted Only by crickets and the occasional bird This is relaxation As I slip into silence In this place in the sun This is peace. Hannah Griffin

The Raln Here it comes again! Going pit-a-pat against the windows. On the roofs and everywhere See how it freshens everywhere and leaves us with the air pure And the refreshing scent of clean earth . Seeming so meek and gentle Yet at times, I ponder Why it comes with the force of the hurricane, The fury of Leviathan . Wrecking mayhem and destruction Upon the lush fields, homes Trailing muddied earth in its wake. But it is a necessary ill we can't do without For it possesses the power To make or break a man ! Anon

Jnvoca.Hon Oh my God! help me. I am your weak slave. Instruct me how I can see the light even in my grave. Teach me to plant a tree and to be forever brave. I am yours and I have to be. I have to remind and pave my life is a torment and a sea of sorrow and dullness like a cave. Enlighten my life in order to flee from this world like a dove.

Ashraf Zidan

lelevision

2Gjil nl 0

lssuc2J8

con Cl'dc.lvJ lg lla]@uca.ar .u k

IIRO IS DIAD.

LoNG Livf SIIOWTIMf AND AMC.

Television takes a look at the cable TV power vacuum left by HBO's lack of a flagsh ip drama. The Home Box Office is no more ... well that's not particularly true but it got your attention. Admittedly HBO still has a pretty firm grasp on quality scheduling, with True Blood entering its third series in the US, idiosyncratic polygamytest Big Love in its fourth and the slightly illjudged male prostitution dramedy Hung still hanging on. But where is The Sopranos? The Wire? The shows so important they demand a definitive in front of them. HBO may sti ll be

kicking but right now not very hard, and in their place the competition are moving in. In the red corner is AMC, with their stalwart Mad Men still owning the 50s neuroses market and new series Breaking Bad mixing drugdealing with terminal cancer to surprisingly productive effect with a third series already on the way. Whereas in the blue, Showtime also has its estab lished series Dexter four se ries deep and new dramedy Nurse Jackie providing

the laughs. Back in the day HBO owned quality cable TV, now they're all at it. This is a warning to HBO as to what happens wh en they slack off. Well to be honest they're not. Out in the spring comes Treme, from the creator of The Wire (and starring several of the cast mem bers ) offering a portrait of the musicians making a living in post-Katrina N~w Orleans. Baardwa lk Empire on the other hand co mes

NURSÂŁ }ACKI[ Oddly wistfu l for a black comedy, Nurse Jackie .comes boasti ng a cast of ca bl e television's fi nest, featuring Six Feet Under's Peter Facinelli and sta rring Ed ie Fa lco- fresh ly poached from Oz and The Sopranos . The show shines when compared to the BBC's usua l Casualty/Holby City hosp ital fodder and in 30 minutes packs more punch, emotion and humour than the others as they languish over an hour. it's ironically short and sweet for a series revo lving around a nurse's punishing work hours, and while it never leaves you dissatisfied wit h the ha lf-hour fo rmat you w il l yearn like a pill-popping New York practitioner

wh en the credits ro le and the withd rawals are alrea dy setti ng in. Jackie is an unusual role for Falco, wh o brought more then just the combo of sharp style and accent to the famed New Jersey fami ly, and here in the lead role she appears a more roun ded character whose acid wit can make the most overconfident young doctor hang his head, and yet offers care and compassion to the most obnoxious of patients. In thi s way, Jackie herself is as much a paradox as the tragi -comic format as she appears as both the ever-suffering healer with the patience of a saint and the vindictive drug-addict, breaking any rule of medicine or law to get vengeance on those that wrong her. The dialogue is always as sharp as a scalpel,

and w hile you're forever trying to work out if you like t he characters you're never in doubt t hat you want t o stay in th eir company - if only to hear their next heavily barbed sentence. The rivalry of doctor/nurse/patient has made many a Scrubs summing-up moment but never has it felt like such an intense and gripping war-zone. Nurse Jackie is startling in its originality and will leave you wondering why the 30 minute format has always been the strict domain of broad comedies. From the beginning of Jackie's shift to the moment she arrives home, she- like the show- is always full of surprises and will keep you intrigued to learn more about her before she clocks out. Ella Fairh urst

This amazing new AMC drama, Breaking Bad ,is undoubtedly one of the best thing s to grace our TV screens since sliced bread adverts. Its difficult content is dealt with in such a mature, reasoned and poetic way you ' ll be gasping for more before the episode has even ended. Chemistry teacher Waiter White (Bryan Cranston of Malcolm In The Middle fame) discovers he has lung cancer and appears to skip all the stages of grief and land directly on acceptance. He's not angry at the inevitable end of his own life - rather his on ly worry is for his pregnant wife and his disab led teenage

son. And so he does what any self re specting chemistry teacher wo ul d do: strikes up a business deal with a meth dealer and cooks the product so he can provide for his family from beyond the grave. Breaking Bad is essentially the story of a man's rite of passage occurring in the latter days of hi s life as the news of his terminal illness frees him up to do all the things he's never had the guts to before, from using his chemistry knowledge to James Bond-effect, channelling a hard -boiled Bogart in high -risk drug deals. The slow burning nature of the drama drags early with some ill-judged plot lines but it soon picks up with a barrage of shocking plot twists. There is a wonderful chemistry (a hem) with th e

cast, and both the characters and relationships between them are so fu lly rea lised you' ll wonder if all of your quiet high school chemistry teachers were in the drug trade. As mentioned before, early episodes showed promise but were too weighed down by the creators writing themselves into a narrative corner to really rea lise their potentia l, but if you've got time to let this original new series find its feet it will reward you in with a drama that stands against Weeds as a series about the middle-classes dealing drugs that raises the stakes to a suitable layer of genuine threat- after all compared to Weeds, Breaking Bad is in a whole other class.

When critics take a breath from tell ing you The Wire is the best show you ' re not watching, they often go on to ta lk about Mad Men. it's true that a cursory glance at viewing figures says that the odds are in their favour and w hil e comparisons to Sam Mendes' dul l Revolutionary Road are as easy as they are unfair, it's undeniab le that Mad Men is a slow burn . Unfolding like an episodic novel, the AMC series has a lot in common with HBO's stories from the streets of Baltimore, but without the promise of a drive-by to draw in viewers. Clearly Mad Men is a hard sell, which has a hearty irony considering the subject. Its drama

covers the ins and outs of a 1950s Madison Avenue advertis ing agency, and with the sexual politics of the time being what they were that description is often quite literal. Its appeal is in the miniature: a veiled put-down overheard by t he wro ng perso n; t he smal l faux-pas that causes the client to walk out the door - these may not be matters of life or death but the dedicated viewer the series tends to attract grows to unde rsta nd t hat fo r these people image was everything. Mad Men is not a series you dip into or put on in the background. it demands your attention and if you give it you wi ll find a deep, interwoven narrative that simply cou ld not be told in any other medium. Where TV succeeds is in the weekly revelation, never melodramatic,

instead the series revels in the emotional weight of small sle ights in a precarious time and place in American history. Each character pursues their own motives, collectively building a house of cards that can only stand on the understanding that nobody breaks the charade of deception and hypocrisy. This description may be frustratingly nebulous but to te ll you specifics of 'he did this so she did this' would ruin t he fun, not to mention fal l short of the series appeal. If you have the time and make the commitment, purchasing the first series will pay dividends. If not then, Mad Men wi ll remain the best TV you 're not watching- that is assuming you've seen The Wire. Josh Butler

M icha Butler

from Martin Scorcese and Steve Bu sce mi and centres on Atlantic City during Prohibition. Add to that Steven Spielberg and Tom Hank's upcom ing Pacific and you've got a solid attempt to reclaim the quality crown. Bu t until then it be longs to the contenders below. After all a little competition never hurt anyo ne and if t he res ult is a ba rrage of sho w s like these, then let the battle rage on.

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26jan10 lssue238

concrele.l:vJlgiW@uea..ac.uk

DoWNLOAD - Ill[ VAMPIR[ DIARI[S

PRIMiliM[- Ill[ P拢RSUASIONISTS it's still a little early to tell if The Persuasionists is going to be good. Due to the nature of publication deadlines, another episode will have aired by the time of reading, so if it has been accepted as the new zeitgeist or is being burned in effigy I apologise for this message from the past sitting oddly on the fence . it's definitely the sort of show you want to love, with an outstanding comedy cast including Adam Buxton (of Adam and Joe), beautiful blonde Daisy Haggard (Man Stroke Woman and Psychoville) and not forgetting Simon Farnaby who is instantly recognisable from his appearances in The Mighty Boosh. Cast aside, the first episode was interesting to say the 路 least. The set up does to Mad Men's advertising agency what Scrubs made of ER's emergency room . it's very camp and very kitsch . That said, Persuasionists is still quite funny. Viewed from an ironic position the camp, canned-laughter comedy is enjoyable but take it away and the show verges on sexist, racist and is laden with class prejudice. lt makes punch lines

of the working class, middle class and Italians (if that is what Farnaby's accent is supposed to be) along with many other uncomfortable jokes about sex and mothers. The problem is this: the show has too much potential to be just another cheesy prat-fall sitcom and some zinger lines really hit home, suggesting the writers had more in mind for it than to land on the cutting room floor of BBC2's supposedly cutting-edgecomedies. Here's hoping we see something big next week/last week- does someone die? Micha Butler

Enough has already been made of The Vampire Diaries' similarities to its cinematic counter-part Twilight - despite the fact that the TV show is based on a set of novels written a decade before Twilight was even a glint in a Mormon's eye. Yet its adaptation takes everything it c~n from the new craze for blood-suckers and runs with it. So similar are the two, if some shots and set pieces were placed next to each other, the only difference would be its persistent fog effect and lack of acting ability on show. With that sa id, there is still a lot to love about the series. As proven by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, brooding vampire angst and teenage issues are a match made in heaven; especially when there's a forbidden romance in the mix. Diaries tells the story of recently orphaned Elena (Nine Dobrev- lacking some of the human vulnerability of Buffy or Bella) who is instantly attracted to new boy Stefan's mystery, sultry good looks and sallow skin. They begin to fall for each other, only for Stefan's equally undead brother Damon (lan Somerholder) to

throw a crucifix into the works. it is with the realisation of Damon that the show truly succeeds. With the ever increasing trend of humanity-grieving vampires that have littered our screens of late, an uruepentant bad boy is refreshing on so many levels. While never ground-breaking, The Vampire Diaries has much to offer in suspense and Gothic romance, largely resisting the temptation to descend into full fang-opera. Caroline Preece

DRAM[DY: Wllrn Ill[ );'[[LING's GoN[ ANo You CAN'T Go ON The typical remark rolled out by TV critics when a show has been categorised as a 'comedy drama' is that it will fail to live up to either claim. You can see where their scepticism comes from when you see the typical British offerings to the genre, where the label hangs limply off anything domestic and starring a harassed and bumbling Caroline Quentin or Pauline Quirke. If you will excuse a quick dalliance into the early noughties such an offering was Down to Earth, in which a rag-tag fam ily from the city

transfer to a farm and lightly amusing scrapes with cows and tractors ensue : ln the same vein we have the more recent Wild at Heart, where a rag-tag family from the UK transfer to a safari park and lightly amusing scrapes with lions and anthrax ensue. See also Life Begins, which focused on a forty-something divorcee, or the recently broadcast Mr Eleven in which Michelle Ryan discovers that finding a husband is one of those topics that walks the line between light hearted drama and witless comedy. These 'dramedys' have all the qualities of a weak cup

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lt is without doubt a good thing that women with disabilities are being represented in the make-over format, nevertheless With A Difference doesn't deliver much in the way of explanation for why it needs to be done as part of a three-part disability special. In the show, campaigners Tash and Nikki are fighting for women with disabilities to be represented among high street stores; in their words : "The more you see it, the more it's a reality." However, rather than drawing attention to their 'difference', these women could have been included in a regular normal episodes of How To Look Good Naked as they have in the past, which would highlight that many women's body issues are the same whether they have a disability or not. Despite this, there are positive messages gleaned from the show. In this week's episode 40 year old Tracy has the typical Gok revelation that despite having issues with body confidence she has a figure many women would be envious

make the most out of it. Gok offers some valuable advice on clothes to wear for wheelchair users, drawing inspiration from Hollyooks actress Kelly-Marie Stewart who acknowledges the practical clothing complications of being in a wheelchair, without allowing her disability to dictate her style. So far the show seems to be achieving what it set out to. Gok has returned Tracy's confidence - and judging by internet forum responses, the confidence of many other wheelchair users too -and now he is starting to raise awareness for those with disabilities in the fashion industry. But still that subtitle hangs uncomfortably; like a touching Channel 4 documentary with an exploi!ative name, With A Difference tries to tell disabled women that their issues are no different to any woman's- and the irony of that just doesn't quite sit right. Nicole Fassihi

of tea : cosily domestic but ultimately bland and individually forgettable, the tea bag of comedy is dipped into the tepid water of drama, and not left long enough to brew, allegorically leaving behind someth ing lukewarm and bland . Not in America. With shows such as the much lauded Glee and Nurse ~ackie proving it's possible to cover issues such as death, sexuality, infidelity and amputation with a bitter sweet shot of humour, we are left asking ourselves what the problem is in the UK. Unlike here, comedy drama in the US either layers its

dark issues with darker humour, or is clever enough to acknowledge the prevalent humour in everyday life, from the tawdry to the tragic, and self aware enough to poke fun at itself to boot. Programmes like Channel 4's Shameless show the balance is possible to strike this side of the pond, but otherwise a nation famed for its quality sitcoms and a spattering of great dramas needs to wake up and smell the coffee : because weak tea won't do. Kirsten Peter

Excuse me but I am uncharacteristically excited. Not only is Joss Whedon (Joss Whedon!) going to direct an episode of Glee (Glee!) but allegedly Fox are in talks to sign Neil Patrick Harris to star in it (NPH!) This is good news because not only has Joss proved he can guest direct without betraying what m~kes the show great (apparently the vampire bat on the American Office was just a coincidence) but NPH has proved himself master of comedy musicals in both Or Horrible's Sing-along Blog (created by Joss - sense a theme) and the musical number from the lOOth episode of How I Met Your Mother - which I've been holding out to watch and then caved in to write this article. Dedication. With this news it's difficult to care about the rumours of Jennfier Lopez cameoing as a lunch lady or Justin Timberlake as a dance partner for Mr. Schue (though Timberlake is not without the funny, as he proves in Jizz In My Pants and Dick In A Box). Endless parentheses aside, in other guest writer news, Stephen Fry has passed up the

chance to write an episode of Doctor Who though, as expressed his interest in writing for the new doctor sometime in the future. Shameless starts again soon - you know the deal by now - as is Grey's Anatomy, Skins, Desperate Housewives and Secret Diary of a Call Girl, so plenty for the guys ... There's always Ice Road Truckers which has recently taught me that watching ice road truckers is about as interesting as being one must be . In easy target news, Adrian Charles grows a beard that makes him look like either a hairy baby or a furry peach. Meanwhile his ITV competition Harry Hill is in talks to move to Sky, which when coupled with Simon Cowell slanting towards Vegas suggests that ITV will be in desperate need o(a reason for people to tune in; more than Wild at Heart and Billie Piper being a prostitute - though a cross-over could be ratings gold. So that's it. 2010 is proving to be a lot like 2009 except now people talk so much about Obama because he's proved to be neither the Messiah nor the Anti-christ. Tune in to Rock & Chips to see Jay from The lnbetweeners play young Del Boy to see how little times do change. Josh Butler

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lssuc238

concrele.wire @uca.ac.u

<GAMING> < R£VIfWS > [W SUP[R MARIO From the moment New Super Moria Bros. Wii started, this reporter was hooked. Each level is a showcase for why Nintendo are so great at making Mario games. A simp le idea, such as the pillars of sand erupting from the ground in one course is introdu ced and then evolved throughout the level. The game gets you used to the concept, then spins it around, pushes it (and you) further, until it leaves you flushed with satisfaction when you have it mastered perfectly. And then the next level is something comp letely different. All the levels (and there are lot, with several secret ones popping up where you least expect them) are brand new, alth ough many do involve concepts from previous Moria titles . They're different enough though to feel like pleasing nods back to older levels, rather than· simp le re -workings. The original OS New Super Mario Bros. and this Wii version share many simi larities - the world layout for example, including levels punctuated by boss level castle stage s, warp canno ns, Boo Houses and Toad Hou ses for gaining power-ups - though eve rything seems evolved from its predecessor. For starters, the game is definitely harder than its OS predecessor. In fact, it 's one of the trickiest Mario games released of late. As such the "Supe r Guide" really is an excusable addition to give less experienced players a helping hand - and indeed if you don ' t need to use the feature, you'll probably never see it. To be clear on how it works, it appears as an item block at the sta rt of a course if you fai l more than eight times . You can then watch Luigi completing the level to give you some pointers, although you're abl e to swap seamlessly back

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to playing as Mario anytime throughout Luigi 's play-through to get back in the action yourself. lt wouldn't be unfeasible to rush through the game and comp lete it in six to eight hours, but our completed save was a lot more than that. You'll find it impossible not to stop and try to collect those Star Coins, and replay levels to try and find all the secrets. Needless to say, it still take s a very long tim e to comp lete it. Power-ups are now accessible from an inven tory you can pull -u p anytime you're on the world map screen, allowing you to pick one of the many power-ups you've got in stock for the level ahead. Stuck trying to beat a boss just as regular Mario? Re -try the level with your funky Propeller suit on! Once again, power-ups are winnab le in Toad Houses, though these now contain mini -games for you to play to deci de which power-ups you get. Large enemies now also stalk certain areas of the world map, dragging you into a fight level where you must defeat them and save Toads

for a reward . Also new are the 'save the Toad' missions, where you re -play levels where a Toad has been hidden, and must locate him/her/it and then carry them to the exi t to save them. Getting frustrated with a level? Need some more power-ups for your inventory? it's easy to wile away a good deal of time stocking up doing this sort of thing . Control -wise the game's interface co uldn't be more sim ple and intuitive to use. You are, after all, using the controls that have been Mario-standard for more than 20 years . 0-pad to run, and then two buttons (1 and 2 here, rather than A and B) to run and jump. A shake of the Wii -mote gives you a spin jump, while the motion controls are sometimes used for angling platforms on-screen. The game has just t he right number of power-ups, with regulars suc h as the Fire Flower, Star and Mini Mushroom making a return, alongside new items - namely the Propeller Suit and the brilliant Penguin Suit, which sees you gain grip on ice, more

manoeuvrability in water, the ability to slide through enemies and blocks, and allows you to throw ice balls . Epic . Graphically the game looks very polished, with smooth 30 graphics throu ghout, and all enemies rendered with a sheen of grap hical polish unseen in any side-scrolling Mario game. The title also sounds a treat too, with some brilliant reworkings of classic themes, along with some catchy new ditties thrown into the mix as well . The game isn't perfect and there are some small camera issues when in multiplayer, especially on the vertical castle stages - whil e others charge ahead, players can get caught behind . Also, the collectable Star Coins are no longer used up unlocking Toad Houses, instead unlocking movies of gameplay secrets, tips and tricks . By travelling to Peach's Castle, you can exchange your hard-earned coinage for videos of how to get unlimited 1-Ups in levels, or where the secret exits are . lt is surprising Nintendo had chosen this to be the use for the Coins ... this is pretty much what YouTube is for, but again, it reinforces the whole 'helping hand to the new player' aspect Nintendo is going for. Oh, and there simply aren't enough Yoshi levels! There are only a handful in the game, spread too far apart. Nintendo - you tease us by bringing Yoshi back, and then have him run off at the end of the few levels he's in. Tut. Oh, and th ere's no online play, but we're sure you knew about that alrea dy. Sigh. Tom Phillips Available on Nintendo Wii

Price: £45

~):)/ J()

TII[ L[G[ND or Z[LDA: SPIRIT TRAcKs When the first trai ler for The Legend of Ze/da: Spirit Tracks was revea led in late 2009, it barely

created a stir with gaming outlets describing it as " Phantom Hqurglass but with trains". Several months have passed, and there is a lot more to be excited about. Phantom Hourglass drew complaints from media outlets, mainly its apparent cas ual ga me play, pure touch based control syste m and it's over rel iance to return to the games main dungeon on no less then four occasions . Spirit Tracks appears to have taken these complaints and improved them . The surprising story of Spirit Tracks is definitely stronger. Set in a newly formed Hyrule in which the games title train tracks seem to be vanishing, Zelda requests Link's aid in the matter. lt is here where the games most eyeraising element comes into play with the ki lli ng of Princess Zelda short ly afterwards, turning her into a ghost that on ly Link can see . In doing so she fulfils the role of both the games guide but

also that of a secondary companion to Link on his adventure . The interactions between Ze ld a and Link provide most of th e games humour although they do tend to dry up as the game progresses and gameplay takes over. The Tower of Spirits performs the role of the previous games main dungeon. However the player can skip any areas of the dungeon that they have already fini shed on previous visits, which wa s not the case in Phantom Hourglass. Returning with new items though , will unlock new treasures. The touch system remains wi t h one new mechanic and a minor improveme nt that now allows Link to roll with a simple double tap gesture. The games new control addition is the ability to switch between Link and the ally Phantom that can be controlled at variou s points within the game. Movem ent is drawn on scree n then control is switched back to Link which should allow for both combat tactics and some new takes on old franchise puzzles however the system ca n feel a little bit clumsy

mea ning frustrati on isn't uncommon. A beautiful idea with frustrating control issues seems to be Spirit Tracks signature . The game also features a new instrument: the pan pipe . The pipe is contro ll ed by blowing into the microphone of the OS and moving the pipe on the lower screen. Th is takes a little while to get used to, especially when fines se is required and the correct tempo needed. lt can turn a two minute musical puzzle into a twenty minute ordeal. The train itself suffers from this issue but it is also where most of the games joy comes from. Movement on the tra in is done by drawing the route you wish to take on the trac~s with the stylus, as the game progresses more areas to explore are unlocked. This makes the game feel small at first but as the game progresses a great se nse of achievement is felt as each new place unlocks. The only problem with the train is the stopping mechanic which saw this reviewer go back and forth past a stop several times before

finally getting used to it, but it's a minor niggle in an otherwise enjoyable mechanic. Overall Spirit Tra cks is a wonderful experience; it doesn' t add anything new to the series and takes a while to separate itself from its predecessor, but it's definitely a game Zelda fans will love and hopefully a game that non fans will love too . Luke Jennings-Hatt Available on Nintendo DS

Price: £35

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26jan10 lssue238

YAIIoo fNTfRS fRAY AGAINST SfARCII CrnsoRSIIIP Last week Google announced that it had been the target of hacking attempts to access the G-Mail accounts of some of its users. Now Yahoo, rival firm to Google, has said it was the target of cyber-attacks as well. Attacks on Google were specifically aimed at the G-M ail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, although David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer, has described this as a primary goal, implying the culprits had other intentions too. Calling it a "highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google," the company are the first to make a major concern of cyber-attacks emanating from China which the computer security industry has said is nothing new. Drummond added "we have discovered that the accounts of dozens of U.S.' China- and Europe-based Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties," and blames the security breach on a combination of malware and phishing seams. As a result the company has expressed a firm desire to cease censorship of its search engine results in China, and said it would seek a way to operate free of censorship while remaining within the bounds of Chinese law. So far, no changes have been made to the search engines operation in China, with content filters still in place. Google and Yahoo avoided accusing Beijing directly for the attacks, leaving the possibility that the attacks were down to the actions of conventional black-hat hackers open, but government involvement is suspected and in any case both firms oppose the digital censorship imposed by the state. In response, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu stated

"Chinese law proscribes any form of hacking activity" and that internet access in China is 'open' and free of restriction . US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has now called for the Chinese government to investigate the cyber attacks, and has urged companies to refuse to implement "politically-motivated censorship". Both companies have comparatively low market shares in China, but still serve millions of users. Whilst Yahoo has only gone as far as supporting Google's objection to digital censorship, though, the latter company has announced that if an agreement cannot be reached with the Chinese government it will pull out of the country all together, and its website, Google.cn, will be no more. This is the first time in its eleven year history that Google has raised the possibility of ceasing operations in a country and whether or not they are serious about this intention is debatable. China is a massive market that Google is sure to want t.o take advantage of, with approximately 350 million Internet users; a consumer base that generated ÂŁ618 million last year. At present, Google holds a third of Chinese search engine market, falling behind the most popular search engine in the country, Baidu, which holds 60% of the market. In contrast, Yahoo has kept China at a distance and does not operate its own service in the country. Instead it owns a 40% stake, bought in a $1 billion deal, in the massive Internet business Alibaba, which runs the Yahoo assets based in China, as well as a slew of other subsidiary businesses. This may not be as much as an investment in the Chinese digital economy as that made by Google, but it is certainly still substantial, and Alibaba have described the criticism from Yahoo as "reckless". The Chinese government has stated

that all enterprises will be able to continue operations in the country "according to the law", essentially reinforcing their position on net censorship. Links they wish to see removed from search results include pages focused on Tibet or the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, as well as pages covering other topics Google agreed to censor in 2006~ when the Google.cn was first launched. The security breach that reportedly allowed the digital incursion to take place exists in some versions of Internet Explorer, Microsoft's widely-used web browser, alttrough a patch has been rushed out to update the security of the browser. Microsoft is also insisting that Internet Explorer 8, the latest incarnation of the software, is far more secure than previous versions. However, both the French and German governments have advised. citizens to

switch to alternative, more secure browsers such as Firefox or Opera. With as many as twenty other businesses from a variety of industries attacked online, Google and now Yahoo have brought to public attention a situation that is testing for a government already heavily criticised for repressive policies, and puts more pressure on it to reduce the degree to which it restricts access to information. Fortunately for advocates of freedom of information, digital information is easily the hardest to control; there is simply too much of it and it is uploaded more quickly than any organisation can hope to remove it. However this has not stopped the Chinese government from trying to impose control and they will, for the time being at least, continue to do so. William Moran

,YouTUR[ ro R1~T ~1ovu~s If you log in to this website expecting to gamble you are going to be somewhat surprised ... there is not a roulette wheel in sight. The concept is simple: the top left box shows the person you are talking to, the bottom left box shows you on your we beam and to the right of these is an MSN-style chat window. All sounds fairly normal so far but this is where the roulette bit comes in. By logging on, you are connected with a "random stranger" (as the site so pleasantly describes them) and you are able to communicate with them through chat and we beam. However, if you don't like the look of them, you just press F9 to move on to the next person. Chat Roulette is to be approached with caution: the people you will encounter are bizarre at best, vomit-inducing at worst. The site seems to attract a dangerous mix of voyeurs and exhibitionists, making for interesting viewing or a captive audience, depending on your motives. With the popularity of this website spreading through UEA like wild fire, don't be surprised if you meet one of your fellow students in a way you have never seen (or have wanted to see) them before.... Grace Simpson

You Tube is to launch a new movie rental service an January 22nd, Initially with five films being made available. The films, from the Sundance Film Festival, will be available for $3.99 (ÂŁ2.50) per film and will be viewable far a 48 hour period following payment, In a style similar to that of Microsoft's film rental service provided through Xbox Live. However, they will also be going up against Apple's extremely popular !Tunes Store. The fledgling service will only be available In America Initially. This kind of Internet use Is becoming more widespread and, requiring high speed, large bandwidth connections, will contribute to the growing strain on Internet Service Providers to continue providing high quality services. Some have resorted to throttling bandwidth

and capping download amounts, often citing fair use policies as justification for this . This Is particularly a problem In the UK, where ADSL2+ technology Is being implemented on a wider scale - but this falls behind other European nations which are switching to fibre -optic connections as standard, and is even more obselete compared to Japan's network Infrastructure. What this mean~ Is that to enjoy media-Intensive, often high definition services onllne, Internet connections will become more sophisticated but more expensive. The first five films available for rent through YouTube In the US will be "The Cove," "Bass Ackwards," "One Too Many Mornings," ''Homewrecker" and "Children of Invention ." Richard Joslln

26jan10 lssu e238

MAIN {:[AJUR[ With the global recession raging on after several years, it is surprising that few films have drawn upon the economic crisis as a source of inspiration . One such film however, is Up In the Air, which sees George - Clooney star as Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert employed by cowardly bosses to fire their no longer needed employees . Living out of a suitcase, Ryan's job allows him to travel acro ss America with no permanent home, leading an isolated life of endless business class flights and anonymou s hotels, yet a life that he finds strangely comforting . Thi s existence to which he

has become so accustomed , however, becomes threatened when his boss hires the young and ambitious Nathalie. She is developing a video conferencing system that will enable terminations to be committed from a single location, potentially forcing Ryan to finally embrace as home. somewhere Clooney offers an engaging (if transparently Oscar-craving) performance as Ryan, a lonely, jaded and displaced figure approaching his mid -life Crisis; a role with definite echoes of Bill Murray's Academy Award nominated turn in 2004's Lost In Translation. The film's most memorable character, however, is Nathalie,

played by Twilight star Anna Kendrick . .Initially seeming to be a brash and arrogant gogetter, this is in fact revealed to be a barely sustained fa~ade : mid-way through the film, she shows herself to be emotionally unhinged and dissati sfied with her life,

Trading in路 her usual sleek and stylish persona, in All About Steve Sandra Bullock plays Mary, the scatter-brained, hyperactive crossword compiler, who fa lls in love with CNN camera guy Steve (Bradley Cooper) . Steve does not reciprocate her feelings and believes, when he cuts the date short, that it will be the last time he sees Mary. However, Mary proceeds to stalk Steve whil st he is on location filming various news reports, and as expected, chaos ensues. This is by no means a laugh-a-minute film . At best , a few forced chuckles may escape from lips everywhere, but that is being rather optimistic. Most of the humour in the film

brothers' derives from Steve and his The Hughes directorial collaboration, The companions and, as in most Sandra Bullock films, there is Book Of Eli, tackles some issues. religious a reliance oil physical comedy, weighty which on this occasion fails to There are twists in the plot that fluctuate between being deliver. The characters are all two perplexing and rewarding. Confusion aside, it is dimensional and it is hard nonetheless an entertaining to get involved in the plot as the characters lack the two hours. ability to connect with the The black and white audience. The character of cinematography exacerbates the post-apocalyptic Mary fails to rouse any feeling of empathy, because she is just 1 bleakness. Silhouettes stalk so annoying. All About Steve is the barren landscape; law is a dull film seriously lacking in 1 non-existent, and cannibalism humour, therefore a film to I is rampant . Denzel Washington is the lone yet determined miss. protagonist who wanders RacheiCoxon perpetually West. His path crosses that of megalomaniac Carnegie (Gary Oldman), and step-daughter Solara

2/10 1

fearful that she will not realise her dreams of marriage and motherhood, and providing the film 's few poignantly humorous moments. Despite utilising America's economic hardships as a backdrop for the film's narrative, Up In the Air is far

from a political film . Rather, it is a slow-moving, emotional an eloquent think-piece; on whether meditation profess ional achievement is enough to validate a person 's life, or whether it is only through the love of family and friends that life's purpose can be found . Clooney's character states that his life's ai m is to accrue ten million air miles, for whi ch -he will be rewarded by having his name printed on the side of a plane. With a sharp awareness of hi sown mortality, he seeks to secure a lasting monument to his existence, yet it is a monument which ma sks his life's fa ilures; most affectingly the failure to build

any meaningful relationships with other human bei ngs. While it certainly provides much to think about, Up In the Air ultimately exhausts its reservoir of ideas fairly early on, and begins to drag, becoming tiresome barely after the half-way point. Nevertheless, adhering to the tried and tested formula of high profile leading man heading up a serious and emotional narrative, Up in the Air w ill no doubt be rewarded Oscar nominations with galore .

Colin Diamond (Ray Winstone) comes home one night to hear his wife, Liz, announce she is leaving him for another man . The normal responses; shock, denial and anger, ensue. Colin, however, takes his jealousy to the extreme. He beats Liz until she tells him the name of her lover, then enlists his group of aging gangster friends to kidnap the man in question . At first it seems the film will not develop beyond crude and sexist banter and a presentation of masculinity that is outdated and dull. Colin's assortm ent of friends, such as the homophobic Old Man Peanut (John Hurt) versus the suave and overtly gay Meredith (lan McShane) amu sing provide some

moments, but are a little overacted. Winstone, however, comes into his own as Colin asks to be left alone with the victim. He gives a completely convincing performance of the hallucinations Colin experiences as he contends with guilt and regret. The latter half of the film is more interesting, as Colin's wounded pride, together with the encouragement of his violence-hungry friend s, conflict with his love for his wife in deciding the prisoner's fate .

(Mila Kunis) . In a land where unwanted literature is burnt and no one reads, Carnegie is hell-bent on acquiring books until he finds the one he seeks. This futuristic Dark Age limbo, exists to oppose the idealized time referred to as Before. A war and a nuclear event, 'The Flash' (occurring prior to the film's narrative) seemingly obliterated most of humanity. Everyone wears sunglasses, everyone is triggerhappy. Though devoid of a mind-blowing plot, audiences will certainly remain engaged . Vimbai Mukwenha

3/1o l

Michael Lovelock

6/10

Emma Featherstone

5/10

.. Ttl 06702240240

26jan10 issue 38

15 â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

Brothers is the new film from Irish director Jim Sheridan, a remake of a Danish film of the same name. Brothers revolves around the lives of Sa m Cahill, his wife Grace and his brother Tommy. Sam, a proud marine and loving husband, is about to ship off to Afghanistan leaving Grace at home with their two daughters while Tommy has recently got out of jail. The differences in the brothers' nature is a source of tension within the family. Things get worse for the Cahill family when Sam's helicopter is shot down in Afghanistan. Seeing Grace is unable to cope, Tommy becomes more involved with his family,

becoming a father figure to his nieces. Grace and Tommy

Brought up in poverty by his abusive father, Jack Parsons (Jesse Bradford) is a reckless junkie, apathetic to his college studies and what he sees as his purposeless existence. In a quest for enlightenment, he attempts to join an exclusive fraternity, forcing himself into a series of terrifying and bizarre initiation rituals. Bombarding the viewer with jarring jump cuts, shaky camera work, fast and slow motion sequences, and with a narrative structured around a succession of

become closer through their mourning but the situation changes when Sam returns. While Brothers has a great cast in Maguire, Portman and Gyllenhaal, none of the three give particularly good performances in the film; they are not believable as the characters they are portraying. lt is a film dealing with war, but does not have anything to say about war itself. lt examines the underlying tensions of family relations but does not take anything pertinent away from the examination. Bert Wardlow

3/10

confusing flashbacks, Perfect Life demonstrates edgy and experimental ambitions. Whilst the film begins promisingly - seemingly about to unfold as a tale of childhood hardship and trauma - it swiftly descends into a plotless and incoherent mess. The film attempts to explore the hallucinogenic consciousness of a drug addict, in which the boundaries between the real and the imaged disintegrate; it becomes impossible to tell what events actually occurred

If a soppy film about how a father attempts to raise his young son after the death of his wife sounds appealing, then The Boys are Back is a must-see film. The acting is magnificent, with some suggesting that an Oscar nomination is heading Clive Owen's way, for his portrayal of the single parent. Th.e shots of Australia are breathtaking and beautiful. If the film could be marked on these two credentials, then The Boys are Back would be placed amidst Hollywood royalty. However, the plot (which is apparently based on a true story) is absent in quality. With a lack of a matriarch in the house, cue a stereotype of an emerging pile of dirty

dishes and secondly . the Six security guards, for disappearance of any house the Eagle Shield Armored rules, meaning A.rtie (Nicholas Company (led by Matt Dillon) McAnulty) can jump into decide to steal the $42 million that they are supposed to the bath and kick a football around the house without be protecting. lt seems to punishment. Joe Warr (Owen) be a fool proof plan as long is a successful journalist who as all involved are up for the can afford his eldest son a I challenge. So what could private education, yet does possibly go wrong? Quite a not think of hiring a maid to I lot as it turns out, and not just clean the house. The Boys within the storyline. Previous heist films like The Are Back could have chosen to show how Joe's parenting Bank Job, Ocean's Eleven and skills progress, but even at the I maybe even The Parole Officer all had one thing in common; end of the film, Artie is still a brat like he was when the they easily got the viewer on opening credits rolled. the side of the dashingly daring thieves. Instead Armored pits James Galloway audiences firmly against them, removing any tension from an increasingly stagnant plot. lt is not as if the acting is

particularly bad. In fact credit is due just for the sheer effort in attempting to breathe some life into the flat characters that they have been given. Milo Ventimiglia is inexplicably cast as the world's most boring cop, whilst Laurence Fishburne does his best as an implausible psychopath. lt is only Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) who provides any interest, playing an Iraq war veteran who has not exactly returned to the United States in a blaze of glory. lt will make audiences wonder whether Armored could have been much, much better. Michael Blunt

and which did not. However, its central character is a tired cliche; the self-destructive teenager incarnated in countless films throughout the decades; even the supporting cast of Jack's friends and lovers are flat and uninspiring. Top marks for effort; bottom marks for execution.

A snappy, smart and unexpected treat, {500} Days of Summer is a rom -com for people who really don't like rom-coms. Eloquently charting the birth, life and death of a relationship, the script by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber keeps things fresh by playing with the narrative and mixing up the story's chronology; by juxtaposing the peaks and troughs of being in love, the good times and the bad sit right next to each other, making both all the

more resonant. Outstanding work comes from indie darlings Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey create Deschanel, who lead characters that remain human and entirely likeable throughout. Mark Webb's direction syncs perfectly with the film's cool, quirky tone, painting a relatable twentysomething landscape of nights out in the city, the grind of daily work and the ambition of achieving something truly great in the future.

{500) Days Of Summer is also wonderfully funny, with some of the very best moments recalling the daft sense of fun that can come with love. A different entry into a well worn genre, {500} Days of Summer is entirely worth 95 minutes of the audience's time .

Michael Lovelock

4/10

3/10

5/10

Liam O'Brien

8/10 -

2Gianl 0 ;SS II I!~n s

CtN[M!\TIC CLASSICS > ALI[N (1979)

RAT[D OR SLAT[D? A Ll([ IN ON D~I~RLAND

A REVOLUTI()N!\t~v Sci-tl

M arch 2010 is shaping up to be a little more interesting th an previo us yea rs, as t his yea r sees th e release of Tim Burton 's adaptati on of the well kn own children's book A/ice 's Adventures in Wonderland (a.k. a. A/ice in Wonderland) . Alth ough thi s is th e first ti me Burton has adapted the tale, it has a long history with th e distributor, Wait Disney. Disney's association wi th Alice goes back to 1923 where 21 -year-old Wait Di sney mad e a short film named A/ice's Won derland as part of a seri es of shorts intended to estab li sh his re putati on as a fi lm maker. Whil e th e fi lm had a mi x of hand drawn characters and a rea l actress, it w as an impress ive feat of film making. Years later, a sil ent film series, The A/ice Comedies (based on thi s ea rly short) went into producti on and was one of th e works whi ch helped establi sh t he Disney Brothers Studio, as it wa s th en known .

vers ion in 1933. Tim Burton is, in many peo ples o pini on, t he perfect choice of director for an updated version of Alice's ta le. He has a hi story of working for Disney, having started out in t he ind ust ry as one of th eir animators. Also, his uni que fl air fo r t he visu al is sure to go hand- in-ha nd with Lewis Caro l's imagined wond erl and . Not only will we be w itnessing Burton 's version of wonderla nd come to life on the big scree n, but it shall also be presented in th e shiny new 3D format . Burton's AI ice is not a straight adaptation of Carol's boo k, but is in fact mo re of a sequ el. Feat uri ng an adult Alice (Mia Was ikowska) th e film is set 12 yea rs aft er th e origin al sto ry and foll ows Ali ce as she once again fall s down th e fa miliar ra bbit ho le. Burton has stated th at he feels previous ad aptation s have never established much of an

Wit h th e world having gone James Came ron-mad over the rel ease of Avatar, it was inevitable that his old er fil ms like The Termin ator and Aliens would domin ate th e Christm as televi sion sched ul e. With out Ridley Scott's origina l 1979 flick, Alien, Cameron would not have been able to write, prod uce and direct the sequel, Aliens, which has been claimed tim e and ti me again to be one the best sequel s of all time. So what 's thi s Alien all about? In the sma llest of nutshells: spaceship pickup radi o t rans mission from distance planet, crew explores it, alie n infects crew mem ber, th en Alien kill s th e rest of th e crew one-by-o ne. Sounds like a typica l sc i-fi fi lm ? No. Wh at makes thi s fi lm stand out, from oth er sci-fi films is th at it is a horror film first and a sci-fi film seco nd. By only seei ng the creatu re in its enti rety at its horrifi c birth and th en only seeing glimpses of it in it s

by Em pire magazin e as th e greatest 18-rated mome nt seen in film history. Still chilling to day and perfectly executed by th e cas t, fa ll ing ove r and bursting into hysteri cs (Ridley Scott had purposely fai led to tell th em th at fake blood would also be bursting out of th e chest) . What adds an extra dimen sion to th e film is that the casting was superb and

Wa it Disney wa s said to be particu larly fond of th e Ali ce story and return ed to th e tale several time s. Although Snow White was the first feature length Disn ey produ ction, Wait Disney had actu ally wanted that honour to go to Ali ce. Unfo rtun at ely for him , Paramount beat Dis ney to th e punch, releas ing a live acti on

emotional attachment to th e character. He th erefore w ants his version to have more of an emotio nal gro un ding and feel like a complete story, rather th an a seri es of strange events . Not only does A/ice in Wonderland make use of th e acti ng ta lents of such Hollywood heavy weights like Ann e Hathaway and

at least 10 yea rs younge r), th ey are not glamorou s and non e of th em are wo rthy to be la bell ed as heartthrob s. The film is full of so many 'first tim es'. An original marketing camp aign revea led nothin g about th e Alien. The mi nimalisti c t heatrica l poster co ntain ed th e spaced-o ut lette rs of the title, a si ngle

later. Wh at more can I say to you to implore you to see it? Th e dea l breaker I can assure you is the Alien, by far th e best character in th e movi e. On e of the best movie villa ins of all tim e and you' ll never think of ai r vents in th e sa me w ay agai n.

Bert Ward low

aweso me adulthood, stalkin g and atta cking th e crew of th e Nostromo, th e audien ce can only guess wh at other tri cks it has in -between its many tenta cles. If you are too lazy to watch the film, th en at least YouTube the chest-burst ·scene; thi s alone merits th e Osca r win for Vi sual Effect s and w as voted

to take the ro le of th e Gree n Lantern . o In sequ els new s, Mega n Fox has appeared as a li kely candid at e to play Lara Croft in Tomb Raider 3 . lt may sound like an all t oo obvious rumour but th e movie is being prod uced by t he same company as Transformers. Scream 4 is also in t he wo rks. Th e movie t hat in spired Scary Movie may ju st manage to out parody t he parody. • Other film s to look forward to are Jo hn Cena's emotion al roll ercoa ster M y Bro ther's Keeper, the Rock inexpli cably appearing as th e tooth fairy

in... The Tooth Fairy, and Julia Rob erts pro bably not breaki ng rom -co m gro und in Valentin e's Day . Here 's hoping th at Johnny Depp in A/ice in Wo nderland does not let us down . • lt is also aw ard time in th e movi e wo rld. Ricky Gervais wa s not warm ly received by t he critics as he prese nted thi s year's Go lden Globes, being ca ll ed 't ame', 'te rri ble' and 'predictab le' amongst oth er t hings . Praise · did come his w ay in the shape of wre st le r Mickey Rourke however, who st at ed "I th ought he was cool ". And who's to argue ? o · Avatar scoo ped Best M ovi e

Drama at th e award s, beati ng off Th e Hurt Locker and lnglourio us Basterds. James Cameron also to ok home th e Best Director award. Th e Hangover rig htfully too k Best Comedy, Up Best Ani matio n

and Th e White Ribbon won Best Foreign Film . o Th e Su perbowl of aw ard shows is less th an two month s aw ay however. The Oscars t ake pl ace on M arch 7th and t he nomina ti ons w ill be ann ounced on Febru ary 2nd so place your bet s now. Fo r the first time ten film s w ill be nominated for the Best Pict ure Oscar. Wi de ly tipped movies include Precio us, A Serio us Man , The Lovely Bon es and a Geo rge Cloo ney doubl e wh ammy with Up In Th e Air and Th e M en Who Stare at Goats. Michael Blunt

o The 2000s was the decade in which the superhero movie was re born on th e big scre en. Judging by th e movi es in th e works for 2010, it looks as ifth e next ten years are going to be no different. Mu ch specul ati on surround s wh o will be playing whi ch hero/sidekick/love interest . Robert De Niro and Jude Law are apparently going to be appea rin g in Thor, part of the bui ld up to th e inevitable Avengers movie w hi ch wi ll also featu re Iron Man and Th e Hulk . Meanwh il e, Spiderman fans will surely be psyched to discover t hat th e next fi lm

in t he f ranc hise wil l feat ure neit her director Sam Raimi nor lea d man Tobey M agui re . lt will instead focusing on th e hero's high school days. M ea nwh ile, reports suggest th at Anton Yelchin and Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) w ill fig ht it ou t

Alan Rickman, the fi lm also make s use of Briti sh t elevisio n st ars, w ith Steven Fry as the Ches hire cat and M att Lu cas as Tweedl edum and Dee respective ly. The film also marks t.he seventh time Ti m Burton has worked w ith hi s long ti me partn er in crime Johnny Depp and th e sixth ti me he has worked with hi s mu se and spouse Helena Bonh am Carter. The th ree last wor ked together on th e awesome Sweeney Todd so th e fact they are together proves w ell for fans of AI ice. Although Tim Bu rton's weird vi sual and goth ic styling may not be not be everyone 's cup of te a, it is a pretty safe bet to say hi s version of A/ice in Wonderland is going to be unl ike anything else showing in cin emas th is yea r.

rea listi c. The mean age of the cast was 34 (different to most horror film s wh ere th e cast is

cracking egg wi t h th e caption " In space no-one ca n hea r you screa m". A frightening, yet si mple trail er also revea led littl e about th e Alien, w hich heavily influence d later marketing ca mpaigns such as The 8/air Witch Project and Cloverfie/d . Alien gave us the first serious female acti on hero, at a tim e when fema le activi sm was ripe. Ell en Ripley w as ignored by both her superiors and subordinates alike before th e alien ran amok on the spaceship. However, she is t he only character to remain ca lm and t hen leads th e remain ing crew ; a th eme th at is maintained by Cameron in th e sequel. lt was Sigourney Weaver's first major fil m role, w ho was contin uously cast in sci-fi film s in th e fo llowi ng deca des (including Avatar) . lt was Rid ley Scott 's first major blockbu ster; howeve r, he coul d not emulate the kind of box office and critica l success he had with Alien until he direct ed Gladiator twenty-one yea rs

Ja mes Galloway

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NrnrsTfP > Tllf DURSTfP INVASION This week The Event delves into the ever-growing genre of dubstep, looking at its history and origins, defining artists and its place in the Norwich music scene ...

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1. Benga ft. Coki ·- Night

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2. Skream- Midnight Request Line 3. Caspa & Rusko - Cockney Thug

Dubstep, for those that don't know, is an electro The club Forward» and Big Apple Records both sub-genre that has grown from an amalgamated encouraged dubstep, and, along with radio mix of Jamaican dub and scratch styles during plays by the legendary John Peel, helped the the past decade. Dubstep has recently had a genre gain popularity. From around 2005 the number of artists huge influence on modern dance circuits, both underground and mainstream. lt is simple to creating instrumentals using the 'wobbly bass' look back at the developments of the genre in and 'skittish beats' grew massively; producers · the UK, as it grew rather slowly; beginning with such as Skream and Benga continued to play, Croydon based producers Benga and Skream, with Coki, Rusko, Caspa, Burial and many others now still pre-eminent artists, creating 'wobbly' also beginning to follow the trend . From 2009, basslines and unconventional beats to provide . the scene exploded into the mainstream, and it variation at the typical drum and bass nights. is now almost impossible not to have heard a

currently claims to have over 8000 tracks in development, many. of which, created with anotller Big Apple Alumni, and dub pioneer Benga . Skream's work is considerably darker and more aggressive than his more commercially successful counterpart, taking more of an overt influence from UK garage. In the process he subsequently helped to shape the sound of grime; Wiley particularly cites him as a major influence on his early production. Listen to the production of Wiley's track What Do You Ca/llt? and then Midnight Request Line by Skream, widely regarded as one of dubsteps most recognisable crossover hits despite its dark, melancholic, confrontational sound . Also note the similarities in terms of epic change of key and tempo. Skream has released two albums with a third, tentatively titled Outside the Box, set for release this year. The title alludes to the continued evolution of his trademark bleak urban soundscape with jazz cited as a current source of inspiration . His 2009 remixes of tracks by artist such as Bat For Lashes, Toddla T and La Roux (the latter's song In For The Kill is transformed from a musical car crash into a hypnotic noir quagmire) elevated his status as a producer beyond the underground into cultural saliency, to the extent that he embodies dubstep's globalisation, accentuating his crossover potential. 2010 could be the year that Skream reaches the commercial success of his friend Benga . Peel ignited the flame, extending dubstep to a mass audience; Skream is buoyantly carrying the torch. Oliver Brooks

4. Burial - Untrue 5. La Roux - In For The Kill {Skream remix) 6. Benga - World War 7 7. Chase & Saxon - Saxon 8. Kissy Sell Out - The Kiss 9. Rusko - Jahova VIP 10. Scratch Perverts - Stand By

Alex Throssell

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The dark tones of dubstep provide an aggressive alternative to radio-friendly dance music. A very early supporter of the scene, paying testament to its emergence and complementing its left field, hedonistic appeal was the late, great John Peel who started to infuse it into his shows as early as 2003. In his last show of 2004 Peel ranked dubstep tracks by Distance, Digital Mystikz and Plasticman within his top fifty tracks of the year. The endorsement (while exemplifying Peel's ability to identify new phenomena) acted as a catalyst, solidifying the scene and providing dubstep musicians with a mainstream forum and platform from which to create a fullyfledged genre, that seven years later has developed into a global youth movement. Like Peel, Oliver Jones aka Skream, was at the forefront of the dubstep movement, producing tracks in 2003 at the age of 15, using simplistic bedroom software, epitomising the populist DIY roots of the genre's inception . Working at Big Apple Records, in Croyden, Jones swiftly gained cultural capital and extended his technical capabilities; he

dubstep track. Chase and Status are producing a more listenable type of dubstep and drawing massive crowds. However, Night by Benga & Coki is still one of the most successful dubstep tracks and surely Skream's ubiquitous remix of In for the Kill by La Roux was one of the biggest tracks of the year, if not the decade. And luckily for you, if you have been left feeling intrigued by this taster, head down to Po Na Na on Thursdays and it will give you your fix.

Whilst many might see the genre of dubstep as a chaotic clash of sounds and samples, Benga works hard to dispel this myth. Instead, Benga is the Feng Shui of dubstep with his minimalist approach to 2-step rhythms and commitment to keeping his music as stripped back as possible. There's.. no unnecessary padding. Each part is placed with intent and precision . Without doubt one of the forefathers of the genre, Benga (the stage name of Croydonborn Beni Uthman) has been working solidly on creating distinctively 'wobbly' additions to the still infantile genre since the early 2000s. Benga's rhythms also step away from the usual 135+ bpm that is associated with dubstep, slowing it down and focusing attention onto the two or three key components of each track. Benga stays faithful to the roots of dubstep more than any of his competitors often fusing Caribbean percussion with the staple electronic ingredients of dubstep's diet. Having moved further into the instrumentalonly department of dubstep with recent album Diary of an Afro Warrior, Benga's lyric-less tracks stand out as some of the most pure and loyal to the genre and should be first port of call for anyone with a vested interest in dubstep. Paul Cook

CASPA & RusKo

Caspa and Rusko are the other face of the dubstep coin . They are a duo of DJs that have thrived in creating music that is full of intertextual references, samples and varying changes of pace and style. Having collaborated on FabricLive 37 they both went from strength to strength in a matter of months. Now considered to be two of the leading producers of the genre, Caspa and Rusko take F' a typically eclectic approach to layering several sounds and 2-step rhythms within their tracks to create a complex yet harmonious mixture. Experimentation forms a crucial basis for the genre of dubstep and DJs such as Caspa and Rusko continue to keep the ethic at the forefront of their production . Mixing classical elements as displayed in Cockney Violin goes a long way in displaying the possibilities of the genre whilst releasing dancefloor hits such as Cockney Thug . Yes, Caspa has a thing about the East End (despite hailing from the other side of the city) . Several cheeky nods to Danny Dyer and the films of Guy Ritchie pepper Caspa's material and give it the distinctive, light-hearted edge that it is known for. Paul Cook

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DunsT£P NoRWICII>Q&A POW! DJ Guise tells The Event why the genre of dubstep is a vital part of the music scene in Norwich, the rea sons beh ind it s adoption and the future of one of music's fast growing movements in years ... What wou ld you say are the reasons behind the success of dubstep in recent years? Though dubstep has been around for some time, with earliest releases dating back to 1999; it has always been a disti nctly underground sound . Over the past few years however electronic music and more notably, DJ culture, has begun to play a much bigger role in the 'going out' experience. The average indie music lover will now likely know of dubstep producers such as Skream, Benga, Caspa and Rusko. Along with its inherent ability to make people move, the exposure dubstep is gaining worldwide both on the radio and in articles such as this are integral to its success.

What about it 's success in Norwich? Dubstep wa s always going to end up in Norwich as the music scene here is heavily influenced by dub and D&B . These genres have been very present in Norwich for as long as I can remember; ca ll it a natural progression that dubstep wou ld end up being popular here. There's something to be said about the trickle of tastes both in fashion and music coming from London, though. Norwich was quite quick to catch on! When did you first start to realise t hat dubstep was a genre t hat music student s of Norw ich w anted to hear? Friends and I started playing dubstep beats at club nights when I was first introduced to the genre, probably mid-2007.1t was slow to catch on and we found that girls particularly despised it. However, now, I think dubstep mainstream appeal is really growing and people are requesting dubstep tunes rather t han standing about looking bemused. I believe this has a lot to do with the amount of

indie remixes being created. They're very accessible to everyone and most are easy listeni ng. These kin d of remixes have definite ly been a catalyst in transferring the genre to the mainstream. The production element of dubstep has come on a great deal too, listen to Joy Orbison's Hyph Mngo for an example of how good dubstep can be. Was it's inception an instant success, or wa s it a lengthy process before dubstep gained popularity in t he city? lt was far from an instant success. Back then when dubstep relea ses were relatively sporadic, it had such a dark, techy and somewhat abrasive sound . As you can imagine, people coming into clubs wanting to hear something like Justice vs Simian Mobile Disco's We Are Your Friends were not amused . The thing is, though, I love that sound. There's something very industrial, raw and gritty about it, like it's almost trying to do something subliminally. The booming success of dubstep of late is more to do with image. lt seems to be quite fashionable to like dubstep. Call me a cynic but I think there's sti ll plenty of hange rs-on that probably don' t actually like the music if they are honest with themselves. Naysaying aside though, there's plenty of electronic music enthusiasts in Norwich that do like dubstep. You only have to look at the attendance of nights when dubstep DJs are present to see that. it's definitely a grower!

Would you like to see dubstep becom e more a part of t he mainstream music industry? Well, recently Chase and Status were signed by Mercury, a subsidiary of Universal. Currently, Skream and Benga are in the studio forging steel for the Magnetic Man album as they've been signed to Columbia Records. it 's inevitable that dubstep is going to become mainstream. I'm happy for the genre to grow and gain notoriety because I'm confident that there'll always be the underground sound. This way, there's something for everyone . Where do you see dubstep going in t he near fut ure? Any signifi cant changes you can foresee? Like any music genre, sub-genres are born . This isn't any different for dubstep, it has already begun . Terms such as, future garage and autonomic are being chucked about. The most important part is that it stays as an 'experimental' music genre and doesn't become form ulaic, to me, that wou ld mark it's death . With thanks to Bet hany Bull Tickets are on sale now for the POW! LCR takeover: .J

Who do you feel are the defi ning artist s of the genre at present and w hy? There's so many to mention, I'll reel off a list of the greats based on creativity and production ability... the best of the best! Digital

"TI-IANK You J:"oR Il-l[ MusiC-At!" Although there still exi sts an average-sized portion of the world that in sists they 'don' t do musicals,' the genre of musical theatre has been around since 1866 and a prominent part of many cultures since then . Beginning with what historians have decided was the first musical ever, The Black Crook, technological and cu ltural advancement has allowed musica l theatre to progress into spectacu lars; allowing ideas for set designs, stunts and cost umes as well as music to be almost limitl ess. But now, in a Great Britain that sees millions tune in to so-called ' reality TV' and the hardly spectacular lives of Jordan and Peter, the t heatre is becoming lost; musical theatre even more so . Every now and then something new hits the West End to the most astounding attendance - The Lion King, Wicked and We Will Rock You continue to run with sold -out performances daily. But in an almost undermining sense, creation s with seemingly little imagination or purpose are rumoured or actually come to fruition - Bad Girls : The Musical for instance, or the terrifying prospect of a musical based on the life of the late Jade Goody. In a West End of award-winning scores and costume, it seems impossible that thes e later additions cou ld possibly ever co-exist beneath the same genre umbrella . Les Miserables still remains the longest-running musical ever, yet a steadily decreasing percentage of people have now actually seen it. Whilst considered amongst the 'classics' of musical theatre, amid the likes of Evita, Cats and Chicago, these are frequently overshadowed by their own film adaptions.

Mystikz, Skream, Benga, Joker, Silkie, Joy Orbison, Pangaea, Breakage, Distance, Kryptic Minds, Martyn, Mala, Coki, Emalkay. Research, give them a listen.

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'I' d1 1 avr pow a p Get them from the website above or UEA Box Office and keep an eye out on Facebook and in next issue's The Event for more details on this year 's biggest club night!

Emma Webb asks if West End become saturated w ith pop culture spinoffs and grand iose movie rema kes at the expense of the " real" musical s?

Overturned, there are classic movies adapted for the stage Grease, Dirty Dancing, Fame - that whilst made great viewing

both on and off the stage, may only have drawn audiences because of their previous commercial success, and only appreciated as such . The newest musicals to hit the stage are those following a new craze of 'jukebox musicals' - using the hits of globally successful artists to create a new play. Mamma Mia! was first, based on the songs of Abba, which was unsurprising ly turned into a hit film with an all-star cast. We Will Rock You has considerab ly more credibi lity, as it can't be debated that the songs of Queen have always harboured a theatrical tens ion and lend themsel ves far better to a stage environment than Abba ; certainly more than Take That (who have also become part of the jukebox musical scene) and generally more than most bands or artists that might end up being considered for this kind of project. There is a new world attached to the events of We Will Rock You , and it is this kind of imagination that has captivated audiences, which is what much of modern musical theatre is lacking. What the future holds for musical theatre is hazy. Perhaps the hits of Michae l Jackson in a West End spectacular, followed by a lukewarm presentation of Girls Aloud number ones, or a rickety staging of t he life and accomp lishments of Dizzee Rascal? Or maybe a second wind of creativity that sees someone, somewhere, developing a perfo rmance that can sit amid the cla ssics and re scue the musical from obscurity.

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This album, pre-empted by a great degree of hype and tantalizing single releases in 2009, their debut album has already been attributed with 'Album of the Year' claims. it is unsurprising to see why; it is simply so well written and so well polished that the songs are a joy to listen to, and even if your mind wavers, the swash of sound is almost hypnotic and calming as it passes through you without complaint. Of course, your mind will rarely waver as the rather strategic placement of the more upbeat, familiar tracks excites the avid listener. Opener Clarion Call is an instant hit with a hugely euphoric instrumental break halfway through,

9/10 whilst Doubt and Counterpoint show Delphic's synth-savvy leanings, providing a new twist on 80s resurgence electro-pop. Delphic's riffs, percussive beats, choral harmonies, melodies and pulsing synth drones throughout Acolyte all come together to quench the thirst for fresh new music, and, more importantly, seem to grasp the more hopeful mood of the country; finding the balance between atmospheric beats and catchy tunes. The title track is a near-9 min.ute instrumental dance epic: its juxtaposing textures, from the tranquillity of the intro through the driving bass and layers of synth, provide the culmination of the themes throughout the album. Another stand-out track, Halcyon, sounds like Friendly Fires at a Bloc Party dance set - and the list of notable tracks goes on . If there is one flaw to the album it is just that; not all of the tracks can be as good as others, and so some are lost, undermined by the brilliance of other songs on the album. However, in looking at the album as a whole, the future of the band and the prospects for music in 2010, it seems that Delphic really have (to paraphrase one of their lyrics) "given us something we can believe in". Alex Throssell

After flying out to LA and spending a reported half a million dollars on recording new material for their follow up to Liberation Transmission, Welsh rockers Lostprophets, dissatisfied with how the tracks sounded, decided to scrap everything and start again. Around two years later and with a different producer, the band have finally released their highly anticipated fourth studio album; The Betrayed. it starts as it means to go on with an opening track full of dark sounding guitar, gritty drum beats and typically forceful vocals from lan Watkins_. This leads into Dstryr/Dstryr,

punchy guitar riff and aggressive screaming lyrics it definitely portrays the band at their most brutal. Next Stop Atro City matches this in ferocity and has a heavier guitar solo which wouldn't look out of place if played alongside crowd favourite Shinobi. A Better Nothing exhibits a piano intro, building into another fast paced tune filled with aggression. This continues the 'dark' themed element promised by the band in numerous int~rviews. The rest of the tracks on The Betrayed vary from solid sing-along, 'choppy' guitar efforts like ... Jolly Good Felon to drab, forgettable songs which will remind fans of the groups' previous effort, Liberation Transmission. Although this album may not be the complete, affinitive sounding album influenced strongly from the bands early career that all their fans will have hoped for, it is sure to bring similar (if not more) success and opportunities than ever before. it shows the group fighting back against their critics under great pressures from an ever increasing fan base that continues to request music of a similar genre to their first records. A definitive Lostprophets album worthy of their stage presence, hardcore edge and A-list rock band status. Seb Crane

Tni: IMAGINI:D VILLAGI: [MPIRI: AND Lovr

These New Puritans have begun the decade with a bang. To be ·exact a bang of a six-foot high Japanese Taiko drum. This bang (from an instrument used frequently on their new album Hidden) will reverberate around the music of the next decade, influencing anything that is made after its release. Its sonic makeup is so original that it sounds unlike anything released in a conventional album style before. This factor ultimately makes Hidden massively important as well as inevitably massively influential. Due to this factor, referencing Hidden as a derivative is near impossible. Its sound would

be more suited as a soundtrack to an epic postapocalyptic movie than a conventional record. it is sparse and bleak, with only the occasional bassoon or vocal from band leader Jack Barnett piercing the brilliant haze of These New Puritan's sinister drone. This musical texture contrasts debut album 2008's Beat Pyramid, released almost exactly two years ago. Their debut was much more direct; critics described it accurately as post-punk, "Mark E. Smith fronting Gang of Four". Hidden couldn't be further than this desfription. Its subtle confidence and sophistication distances it completely from Beat Pyramid. These elements are created by the brilliantly incorporated classical instruments and choral vocals. But crucially, Hidden also has backbone; big beats and big tunes are still very much prevalent. First single We Want War and sixth track Fire Power provide the album with big tunes and give it mainstream accessibility. These New Puritans early demos indicated that the band clearly had potential to make something special. Beat Pyramid wasn't quite it, but with Hidden, the band have made their magnum opus- a truly great album of our time. James Hailing

Empire and Love is the third album from folk music project The Imagined Village, exploring the multiculturalism of modern Britain. it is a surreal experience, completely distinct from mainstream folk music as it interweaves so many different influences, instruments and styles. The songs frequently blend into an echoing, confusing polyphony, that prominently alludes to traditional Indian music; and the wordless backing vocals give the music a haunting, spiritual quality, as well as bridging the boundaries of language. it makes sense that a project aiming to

7/ 10 capture British multiculturalism would sing a few British classics, but it is surprising that Slade's Come on Feel the Noize would be a first choice. However, the cover is a gem, bringing intense emotion to the song and slowing it right down to focus on the lyrics ('I don't know why' gains particular emphasis, sung as a worldweary, melancholic motif.) it is, in fact, probably the highlight of the album. Scarborough Fair, the other famous cover, also deserves a mention, though its interpretation is less revolutionary. However, the band does admirably, creating an earthy, many-layered version, altering not only in instruments but also in timing. The Lark in the Morning (with vocals from Jackie Oates) is also brilliant, as is Sweet lane and Space Girl. The Event's main criticism of Empire and Love, however, is the similarity of the songs all have a similar tone, and are sung in similar timing with the same instruments. As a result, listening to the entire album can be tiring, and is best interspersed with music of different genres in order to be appreciated fully.

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When Supergrass' bassist Mick Quinn broke his back during a bizarre sleep walking accident, the remaining members Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey decided to create The Hot Rats to stave off boredom during hi s recovery. Teaming up with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, they set out to create Turn Ons, an album of covers in a similar vein to David Bowie's Pin Ups. Much like that album, The Hot Rats debut is somewhat hit and miss. While some of the rockier tracks are a natural fit, such as

don't suit Coombes' voice or the stripped down instrumentation. The Hot Rat s are occas ion al ly gu ilty of sticking too closely to the formula of the original song, such as the unimaginative version of Roxy Music's classic, Love is the Drug. Coombes' vocals don't compare favourably with Bryan Ferry's, and the saxophone is tinny and synthesised. The worst cover on the album however, is undoubtedly th e Pink Floyd track, Bike. Thi s is probably one of those so ngs that should never be covered; it's just too weird to be done well by anyone other than Syd Barrett himse lf. Bizarrely, Coombes' felt it appropriate to croon throughout the so ng, which fee ls totally at odds with Barrett's orig in al delivery. The Hot Rats borrow from a wide enough cannon of influences to keep th e album interesting. it's enterta ining enoug h as throwaway pop, but Gaz and Danny should probably return to what they do best and release a new Supergrass album. Jack loughran

There's a tendency for modern pop artists to try and throw too much into the mix. The likes of La Roux, Florence and, arguably the worst offe nder, Owl City, write pretty melodies but drown them out with waves of unnecessary electronic effects and pointless st udio tweaks, ending up with a crowded sound that 's confused and ultimately forgettable. Phil Spector got it right with his 'wa ll of sound' production technique, but the wealth of sounds now avai lable to recording artists seem to leave them with the

impression that more is better, and showing off becomes the order of the day. Which is what makes Beach House's new album , their third LP, such a refresh in g change: it 's a master class in economy. Victoria Legrand's gorgeous, strangely asexual vocals are overcast by unnecessary noise. Gently picked guitars, programmed drums and barely audible bass lines sp iral around her beautiful melodies, bathed in warm synt hs and filled out with light electronic flourishes. The finished product is like a dream -pop Spoon, minus the arch cynicism. Even when things get a little epic, such as on Used to Be or the mesmeri zi ng antichorus of Norway, all elements blend perfectly. Legrand talked abou t having 'more clarity than w e've ever had before', and it shows. Other highlights include opening statement of intent Zebra and the understated Silver Soul. Add Norway, and you have one of th e best openi ng sa lvo's in recent memory. Thanks to a combination of discipline, youthful innocence and exce llent songw ritin g, Beach House have delivered the first truly great album of the year. Duncan Vi cat-Brown

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The concept of an echo is not complex. Wikipedia describes it as "the reflection (and/or repetition) of a sound". To experience thi s phenomenon for yourself, sim ply stand in a tunnel and say your name out loud. Low and behold, it is repeated back to you in exactly the same voice in which it wa s spoken. The concept of this song is not complex either. In fact, the chorus is perhaps less enjoyab le than repeating one's name in a tunnel. lt literally cons ists of the word echo, echoed. lt is difficult to find words to express an opinion on this song; suffice to say that aher one listen, there is now sick on the keyboard. lt would be generou~ to compare this to a Girls Aloud B-side. Unfortunately, Girls Can't Catch are probably goi ng

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Ad am Young of Owl City - the 23 -year-old talent behind the laptop - topped the US charts with his debut single Fireflies and is likewise climbing in

to beco me the biggest new act of 2010. From a purel y historical perspective, it will be intere sti ng for future histo ri ans to look back at the release of this song as the definitive moment when music truly died. To conclude, listening to thi s is unpleasa nt. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and hair loss. If you experi ence any of these, please report to your local GP immedi ately. Jack loughran

th e UK. Thi s rare, one-man musical marvel is undoubtedly influenced by Postal Service/ Ben Gibbard, and Death Cab for Cutie for that matter. This electronic-pop number has been regarded as a 'rip off', however, conjuring up quirky sounds and blips, Owl City is most definitely reviving Postal Service's beats and melodies with a prettier and sweeter twist of course. He gets carried aw ay speaking of hopes and dreams but lyrically it becomes fantastica lly dreamy and purely magical. lt is unconventional and playful, whi ch gives it an added appea l

Poor Marlene. First you get a spoon stuck in your heart, then you lose all your Deutchmarks. So Marlene

and positively captures the heart. With his youthful and w arm vocals following th e songs' wonderfully infectious beat, it becomes a winning comb inati on. lt is highly recommended that you check this out and decide for yourself. There are subtle differences, but this song has perfect ly ca ptured and restored the electronica-vi bes pion eered by its predecessors .

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begins, punchy and fresh, strong and compelling. it 's hard not to get caug ht up in Lightspeed Champion's funkladen sound and heartfelt vocals; simultaneously cynical genuine, and abso rbing . Marlene, however, becomes mired by a heavy and theatrical chorus which slows the song down so much as to suck the life out of it. Things become too bogged down; the defiance the song sta rt s with descends into the sound of a man lost, pleading with you to share hi s anguish. it's too much. The theatricality peaks with Morrissey-es que refrain:

'And everybody knows you wanna baby/and God knows everybody wants one too'. lt reverts back to the former tightnes s, but the transition is too sha rp, the effect is lost. Marlene sure is likeable, at times loveab le, but it's a shame the vib rancy it begins with can't be maintained for th e rest of th e tr ack.

Thomas Moore

26jan10

mUSIC

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LIVIMus c A live performance surely is an interactive experience, however the disappointingly low turn-out were unable to warm to Damien Kulash's attempts to create a firey atmosphere. Despite his undoubted charisma and the occasional satirical swipes at the crowd he could not carry the music, the rest of the band and most importantly, his audience. lt has to be said that after the first half of the set all hope that had existed within the venue appeared to be dwelling at the bottom of the nearby river. Following a less than lukewarm response to the OK Go! trump card, the one-time YouTube sensation Here lt Goes Again, it was clear that the band would struggle to maintain anything more than a competent performance as their own personal

brand of mediocre rock failed to dazzle. However, it was at this point that Kulash's interludes imbued with sarcasm showed he was determined. not to let the gig to be remembered solely as a disappointment. A lively performance of the band's new single This Too Shall Pass, in which Kulash displayed a sense of showmanship,

temporarily dashing any inhibitions of the audience and achieving what had seemed impossible; managing to whip up a certain sense of fervour, with the crowd bellowing the chorus back to him as he descended into the midst. This, coupled with a highly original performance of What To Do using only the underrated musical medium of hand bells provided a lull from what was an otherwise unmemorable night. lt has to be said that the highlight of their performance arrived when the band decided to deviate from their usual sound. Kulash's personality aside, the Chicago rockers failed to demonstrate any form of innovation as their performance plodded along, going nowhere, like a runner on their infamous treadmills. Sean Harris & Michael Bond

LAURA VIJRS > ARTs CrniR[ > TIIURSDAY 21 si JANUARY Let it be established first that Laura Veirs doesn't lack in dedication to her work. Having just entered the seventh month of her first pregnancy, it would have been understandable if she had been averse to the idea of spending two gruelling months on tour across Europe and her native United States. Thankfully, in support of her seventh album July Flame with her rotating band The Hall of Flames, this poetic folk singer-songwriter continues to show her usual sparkling determination. Her bandmates Nelson Kempf and Eric Anderson, members of The Old Believers and Cataldo respectively, prepared the welcoming crowd with two solo sets, their minimalism counteracted by enthusiastic banter and warm deliveries. While Kempf stuck to picking clean electric guitar, suggestive of an earthier

early Bright Eyes, the tall bearded figure of Anderson also took to the acoustic guitar and banjo, showing diversity in his rich tenor whilst throwing in a sharp Magnetic Fields cover. When Veirs eventually tpok to the stage in her flowing maternity dress, opening with the celebratory Carol Kaye, there was an immediate vibrancy. The unassuming songs

of July Flame revelled in being live; Sun is King attained the hazy quality of summer, while the yearning of its eponymous track became haunting in its intensity, keyboard notes twinkling like stars begging to be noticed as the choir exploded into its final calls of 'Can I call you mine?' Veirs's main strength lies in her ability to portray resolve with fra ilty. Though the steadfast tone of older track Cast A Hook was followed by her skilful conduction of the audience to 路accompany the choir in To The Country, the concert ended in doubt. 'I wanted to make something built to last,' Laura sighed airily in July Flame closer, Make Something Good. She needn't worry, as she certa inly succeeded that night. Chris Ogden

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Having been challenged by a friend to become vegan for a month, Bruce Sigrist discusses the virtues of veganism and the problems faced by those practicing the dietary lifestyle.

So it's a new year, a new decade and business as usual for the swarms of ambitious January re solutions. Between stopping smoking and abstinence, charitable donations and staying in contact with Uncle Geoff, the will to diet is inevitably going to linger on the backs of many peoples' minds. When this popped up in conversation with my vegan friend not long ago, she challenged me to exagge rate this resolution and live life sans meat and dairy for a month. On paper, this looks like a piece of cake. With over 250,000 active vegans in this country, it's easy to scorn at the task and assume this is just a case of saving money, careful shopping and a renewed relationship with Linda McCartney and the toilet. For a passionate carnivore, however, things are easier said than done; I'm twenty days in and would kill for a gritty post-LCR hamburger. The first obstacle is in the little annoyances that take you by surprise . A nice warm muffin neither looks nor smells like an egg, but is guilty as sin . The apparent alternative to meat Quorn - contains dairy and the great British cup of tea needs its milk. Even alcohol is surprisingly vegan intolerant; most beers, wines and ciders use a clarifying agent called isinglass, which is inspiringly sourced from fish bladders. The time and effort spent avoiding these products is taxing and admittedly quite impressive. Some vegans go a step further by boycotting materials like leather, wool and silk, and there are even those (fruitarians) who will only eat foods that have fallen naturally from a plant, without being harvested. Even if you disagree with the reasons for veganism, the dedication to their cause is nonethele ss impressive.

Veganism does not stop at dietary choices. Vegan s do not wear leather, wool or other materials taken from animals. Many products include animal derivatives .such as perfume, cosmetics, toiletries, alcoholic drinks and vitamins and supplements. Finding out the contents of such products requires research and dedication to the cau se.

According to Dictionary. com, the term vegan was coined by Donald Watson to distinguish those who abstain from all animal products from those who only refuse to eat animals. For vegan recipes, try simpleveganrec ipes.com, veganvillage.com and vegansociety.com for all things vegan . c -

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World Vegan Day is on the 1st November every year, commemorating the birthday of the Vegan Society, which was founded in 1944 by Donald Watson and Elsie Shrigley.

There are approximately 250,000 vegans in the UK.

Granted, some problems can be solved with nifty loopholes. A cup of coffee, for example, can be whitened (and curdled) by simply adding soya milk. My response to the alcohol problem was simply to ignore it: I'm a student, I need to draw the line somewhere, and no one appreciates the guy who fumble s for an excuse as to why they won't down the dirty pint. Asides from that, the diet is just a case of compromising and replacing whatever delicious meat you've missed with mushro~ms, vegetables or anything that路 feels remote ly chewy. Linda McCartney also becomes a saint; her range of hot dogs, sausage rolls and burgers can emulate the flavours surprisingly well. Some imitations, however, cannot be made. For all the moral and ethical goodness veganism promotes, there is no decent excuse for the suffering it causes with the consumption of 'Sheese', the dairy free alternative to fromage . Claiming to be a ' realistic' substitute, Sheese is inexcusably horrible, so much so that a reasonable case could be put forward to illegalising the stuff. Its offensiveness is not just in the vile taste, but also in the claim that Sheese simulates specific flavours such as cheddar and mozzarella. lt is no more representative of cheese than a scrubbing sponge . Having nearly finished this month long ordeal, I'm getting close to vaguely understanding how to comfortably get by on a vegan diet. The passion for the cause is reason enough for some, and with enough forward planning and a good routine it does turn into a relatively smooth journey. For someone who loves meat, however, it can be tedious and frustrating, and

ONLY 拢20 A LESSON!

definitely reason enough to grumble whenever someone offers you a cocktail sausage . On a final note, if there are any proud vegans reading this, beaming with the knowledge that I've done my part in reducing meat consumption, rest assured: for every animal I didn't eat in January, I' ll be devouring ten next month . Captain America's Hamburger Heaven will soon see a lot of business.

26jan fO

venue

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Video> Piayhouse>8pm>£9.50 *Monk lnc>Arts Centre>8pm>£4 *Sports Night>bar>9pm>free

*Salsa Lesson> H•\ ~ >5pm>£2 *Bar b4 LCR> LCR>8pm>free *Aiex Horne>A t~ C t >8:30>£8 *Australian Beach Party> LCR>10:30 >£3.50

TIIURSDAY 4TII *Film>Funny People> L 1>7:30 >£2.75 * Jeff Lang>Arts Centre>8pm>£8 *The UEA Factor> bar>8:30>free *Silent Disco>LCR>lOpm>£5.50

WmN[SIMY 27TII *Kerrang! Relentless Tour> >6:30 >£15 *UEA Literary Festivai>Don Paterson > 1>6:30>£6 *Manic Vision 2>1./\ r >7:30>£6 *Midlake>A l tr >8pm>£12.50 *Sports Night> >9pm>free

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llnmmmm *Union Councii>Ll' >7pm *Film>500 Days of Summer> >7 :30 >£2.75 *Limehouse Lizzy>V. >7:30>£12.50 * Allegri String Quartet>U h I Mu , >7:30>£4 *Live Music Night>b u >8pm>free *The Wrong Woman> rt ~ t m > 8pm>£5.50 fn iDAY 9TII *Nominations for Union Council open *Music@ 1> 1b1~ >1pm >£4 *Nathan Fake> •1 r >8pm>£8 *SocNight> 1r >8pm>free >8pm>free *Bar b4 LCR>

\ 11 1l 11 P HllCHT )I • ( lnnovatively designed by Norman Foster in the early 70s, the resulting building remains revolutionary in the history of museum design, The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is one of around a hundred university museums in the UK which are regularly open to the public, and · is on ly a stone's throw away from the student accommodation of Norfolk and Constable Terraces. In 1973 Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury donated their collection of world art to the University of East Anglia, and the Sainsbury Centre first opened its doors to visitors in 1978. lt was the Sainsburys' hope that students, academic staff and the general public would grow to appreciate the works on display in much the same way as the Sainsburys themselves had done, by being able to look frequently and closely at them without the distraction of too much museum-style text and labelling. Over the next sixty years, he and Lady Sainsbury added works by both estab lished and, perhaps more interestingly, emerging European artists. With the advice and encouragement of a handful of dealers, the collection also grew to

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~1Ml *Film>Desert Hearts> *Rory McVicar> >7:30>£3 *Iglu & Hartly>

*Film>Dorian Gray> LT >7:30>£2.75 *Tinchy Stryder>Lt R>7:30>£14 *Confusions> Puppet Theatre>7:30>£6 *SocNight> b, r>8pm>free *David Doherty> PI yh u >8pm>£10 *80s Night & Hit Parade>Vv >lOpm >7 :30>free >£3.50 I

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*Quiz>b 1>7:30>free *Jamie T> lt >7:30>£15

include objects from cultures around the world representing more than five thousand years of human creativity. When the Collection was offered to the University in 1973, it numbered around three hundred works but, by the time the Centre opened five years later, housed in Norman Foster's cutting edge architecture, three hundred had become six hundred. Now, the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection contains more that one thousand seven hundred objects ... and it is still growing! The most recent addition is an ornamental antler comb collected by Kings Lynn native Captain George Vancouver on his voyage across the Pacific in the late 18th century, and is one of the earliest documented pieces to have been collected among the 'Tiingit' people. On a wider scale though, this ancient artefact is one of 10 objects to tell a history of Norfolk and its place in the world,. lt was incorporated as part of 'A History of the World', a BBC and British Museum partnership project, which uses museum objects to tell local and global stories in new ways with internet, television and radio. But, if historical artefacts don't float your creative boat, the Sainsbury Centre has a lot more to offer. With previous exhibitions ranging from Indian artists' responses to

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religious intolerance, riots, terrorism and the nuclear stand-o!f with Pakistan, (Aftershock: Conflict, Violence and Resolution, 2007) to work by contemporary artists who have found inspiration in the preoccupations of surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Renee Magritte, (Subversive Spaces, 2009). The diversity of this inspirational space continues. The Sainsbury Centre's most recent exhibition, entitled Your East, (available for viewing until the 28th of January) displays two fascinating projects by Norfolk based photographers Andy. Crouch and Andi Sapey in their colourful and striking depictions of both Norfolk and Japan, a seemingly unusual comparison at first with the locations geographically far apart, but brought together by the artist's similarity in their approach and

vibrant style. Alternatively, from the 9th of February t the 23rd of May 2010, two more exhibition will be open for viewing. The first, Th Anderson Collection of Art Nouveau, is remarkable. representative of the breadth o Art Nouveau design and is considered on of the most exquisite privately assemble collections in the country. lt includes jewellery furniture, glasswork and metalwork featurin the fluid organic lines and whiplash curves that characterised European styles in the last years of the 19th and early years of the • 20th century. The second, The Artist's Studio, explores the changing ways in which artists have represented their studios: as sociable or theatrical spaces; private rooms for reflection; or sites for bohemian or alternative lifestyles, featuring paintings by artists including Paul Cezanne and photographs by Bruce Bernard and Perry Ogden. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts can be contacted on 01603 593199 and is open Tuesday - Sunday lOam - Spm, Wednesday lOam - '8pm and is closed on Mondays. More importa ntly, admission for students is free! www.scva.org.uk Laura Riggs ._

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1: Likely to cause public debate and outcry (13) 7: The only Eng li sh king to be Great (6) 8: Cerea l made of oats and dried fruit (6) 10: The cu rren t holde rs of the African Cup of Nation s (5} 11: To hit shuffl e o n an MP3 player (9) 12: Monastery, famo us one at Westmi nste r (5) 15: The abi lity to see {5) 17: Mexican spirit, served as a shot with salt and lemon (7) 18: Someth ing or so meo ne w ho irritat es (8) 19: American unive rsi ty in Con neticut {4} 20: A system of ranking, placing some things above others {9}

1: A box fo r packagi ng {5) 2: Very good or stylish (5} 3: When a space shuttle returns to ea rth's at mosp here (7) 4: Meeting again after a period apart (7) 5: A hormone used to contro l diabetes (7) 6: Doct rin e of governme nt non- intervention {7, 5) 9: One wh o believes God is unknown or un know ab le (8} 12: Green liqueur wit h very high alco hol . co nte nt, associated with France {alternate spe ll ing) (7) 13: Scottish wind instrument (7) 14: M anch ester Un ited's longest serving manager, Matt _ _ {5 )

16: A jewe lled small crown worn by wome n (5)

I-I or CHIPTHJ([IS! To celebrat e the return of Hot Chip to the LCR we have a pair of tickets to t heir gig on Ho~ ~h ip 24/2/10 to give away, courtesy of the Union. The M erc ury awa rd no minate d elect ropop band re lease their new album One Life Stand on 1/2/10 and th is to ur is the first cha nce to catch new material from it live, alo ngside earlier hits like Boy From School, Over and Over and Ready for the Floor. To be in with a chance of w in ni ng this great prize just bring your comp leted crossword or sudoku to the Concrete Office by 5/2/10 . Name:

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Youth In Revolt, th e new film based on th e novel by C. D. Payne, opens on 5/2/10, and cou rtesy of Moment um Pictures you could be watc hing it in style thanks to a great goody bag!

The co ming of age com edy stars M ic hae l Cera as Nick Twisp, wh o ti res of being a du ll teenage r and adopts a rebellious new id entity as Francois Dill inger to try and get th e girl of his drea ms {Porti a Doubleday). With a great cast of top comic talent, including Steve Bu scem i and Zach Galifianakis, t he re 's plenty of laughs guaranteed.

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Th e Conc rete Office is on the top floor of Union House and sign posted from the top of the stairs. Come and see us to drop off competition entries or to talk to our editors if you want to get involved in any of our sections\

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Rrrr TicKrrs GIVD\\VAY Reformed rockers Reef are embarking on their first tour in ove r seven yea rs in Ap ril, and we've got two tickets to their show at the LCR on 18/4/10 to give away, courtesy of the Union. The ori gin al line up of one of th e best British acts of . . . .~~ th e 1990s and ea rly 2000s return afte r a long abse nce, playing hit s like Co me Back Brighter and LCR favorite Place Your Hands. Thi s is definitely a gig not to be missed, no one wa nts _ _ _ _ _ _...._

You co uld win t his fantasti c goody bag of ca p, t-shi rt and w allet to help develop you r own wi ld side, inspired by t he fil m!

to wait another seven years! Th e Somerset rocke rs were re nown ed for th eir constant touring and phenomenal live shows and t hi s reu nion promises to have th e band back and better than ever!

For you r chance to win e- mail th e answer to th e foll owin g questi on to concrete.competitions@ uea.ac.uk by 2/2/1 0:

To be in w ith a cha nce of w inn ing just e-mail the answer to th e fo llowin g questi on to Concrete. co mpetiti ons@ uea.ac. uk by 5/2/10:

Wh o plays Nick Twisp's dad Geo rge in the film?

Wh at is the name of Reef's seminal second al bum ?

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