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Fashion - Film - Music - Features - Arts - Food & Drink - Photos - Travel - LGBT+

Sex Issue

The

CONTENTS

Fashion - Film - Music - Features - Arts - Food & Drink - Photos - Travel - LGBT+

ISSUEâ€Š118

The

Sex Issue

Ed.Note Do or Die Features Fashion Travel Food & Drink Arts Books Music Film Photos

4 5 6 12 20 23 29 32 34 42 50

Editor's Note Some statisticians suggest that there are people who think about sex once every six seconds. It’s surprising that they have time to think of much else. I wonder how, during the five seconds that elapse between one sexual thought and the next, there is even enough time for their brains to undergo the necessary cognitive processes that ensure survival, like breathing. The throngs of sexually-hungry hen and stag parties that pulse through Cardiff’s streets on a Saturday night do little to dispel the myth that we are a nation of sexobsessed, liquor-sipping deviants. The sight of some of these men and women, costumed in the most horrifically provocative manner, also suggests that people do have time to think about something other than the act of sex…they have time to think about how to achieve their next conquest as quickly and easily as possible. While going on a night out provides the ideal conduit to sexual satisfaction, the behaviour of some, including myself, following a skin-full of alcohol shows compromised judgement. It’s important to remember that while sex is an integral part of a healthy and happy lifestyle, the sexual realm is one fraught with risks and dangers. This issue of Quench discusses all things sex, highlighting the importance of STD awareness, deconstructing sexual myths and taboos, and exploring the importance of tolerance towards the LGBT+ community. However, further to thrashing out the grittier aspects of sex, Quench has also dedicated a sizable portion of the magazine to subtly sexual lingerie and a tongue-in-cheek approach to sex in films and music.

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I hope you enjoy the issue. Stay sexy, Cardiff. Gavin Jewkes (Editor)

Do or Die

Lucy Trevallion urges you to save a friend from sending drunken booty texts sary, but look out for a revealing face lunge from your straight-when-sober friend. But perhaps the worst of all, the only one that results in concrete evidence the morning after is… the drunken texter. Below are five drunk student texts and reasons this Valentine’s Day we should take a better care of our drunken friends, or perhaps just hide their phone. ‘come ovr for sexy time? I hav wind’ (this was meant to say wine) THIS IS A MASS TEXT. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I AM? ‘I’m really horny but your probs asIeep. Jus so you know, I would ruin you.’ ‘This is mum.’ hafr, ir hu sofri,oops. tiun fie bed. jus woiken uo in sfhiwer, hbd so crihjlu. sorrui." (This was meant to say: "Hey, I am sorry, Oops. Time for bed, just woken up in shower, hand so crinkley. Sorry!", after waking up at 5.45am in the shower alone with the water running, with ridiculously wrinkly hands.) ‘Can you seng with all the colours of the mountain, can you paint with all the colours of the winddd?’ ‘Wasted?’ ‘Im pocohantaassss’

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When you hear the club rep yell ‘I THINK SHE NEEDS HER PANTS TAKEN OFF’ you have two options. Option 1) Peel the knickers off your drunk friend while she grinds topless in a paddling pool, in the middle of a nightclub, surrounded by dozens of men with camera phones. Or B) don’t. This was the decision that faced a certain young lady’s ‘friends’ in Oceana who regrettably chose option 1. This Valentine’s please DO share the love and look after your drunken friend, in order to save them from dying of embarrassment. Perhaps next time buy a sister a kebab, instead of letting her reveal hers to the world. Like a childish experiment, guzzling drink can cause an unpredictable Jekyll and Hyde situation. Introducing your friend, previously sane, now the crier. ‘Ah, looks like there’s a wait for the taxi.’ ‘Oh god (sobbing) this is just too horrible. I just can’t do this.’ ‘Fuck what’s wrong?’ ‘I just (sob)… and the floor is grey and... (snotty tears everywhere) I don’t know, I just can’t, OK?’ Or perhaps your friend will become the terrible flirt. ‘You play Frisbee? OMG Frisbee is my favourite thing ever (twirling hair) I just love how it’s, er, round, and (touching his arm) like flies everywhere.’ Perhaps instead you will get Miss Resentful ‘Shall we head to Live Lounge?’ ‘Yeah sure, thanks for telling me.’ ‘Of course I’d tell you, silly.’ ‘Oh, like you told me on Jack’s birthday in 2009, when I got left alone? Super.’ Or even the bi-curious-when-drunk; no words are neces-

Features

Porn: The

Hypocritical

Taboo

James Rawlings deconstructs the taboo surrounding everyone's most guilty pleasure

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Many words of sexual connotation have slipped through the ‘vulgar net’ and into common vocabulary. Think back to the humble beginnings of ‘dick’, which is now more of an insult than a name for something between one’s legs. That being said, the word porn still manages to make the best of us blush. Porn is, and has been for many years, a growing trade, with ‘smut’ moving from the top shelf into our homes. With an estimated worth of £13 billion per annum, the industry has a revenue that rivals those of Microsoft, Intel, Google, and the like! No longer is it the seedy domain of the stereotypical fan, the ‘lad’ or the ‘dirty old man’, but the educated of both sexes now admit to dabbling, which has undoubtedly contributed to soaring audience figures. Recent studies reveal that over 42% of Internet users browse porn sites, and that in the US alone, 30,000 are using every second. Therefore, regardless of how many deny it, some of us must be using it! But why is it that we are so reluctant to own up to it? It’s more acceptable to rack up and boast about the notches on one’s bedpost; but masturbation and its wingman (porn) remain unsociable and taboo subjects. An entrenched criticism of the industry is that it forms unrealistic expectations of sex and of sexual partners. But, in the YouTube generation, we all have the possibility to star in our own movies, or for the more retiring, watch the carnal antics of other ‘clueless’ amateurs.

One of the pillars of University, the night out, has an undeniable sexual agenda. Admittedly, dancing and drinking can be fun in itself, but nothing beats a ‘happy ending,’ and you can’t hide the sexual tension behind a grind. It’s undeniable that many go out with the sole intention of getting a pull, so why not cut out the middle man, save yourself the hassle and expense, and alternatively log on and ‘get off'. There are some downsides to porn, and the finger of blame has been pointed at the industry for an increase in cases of sex addiction, relationship breakdowns, subsequent job losses and personal problems, as well a surprisingly decreased libido among users. Therefore, use responsibly, if you don’t wish to get your fingers burnt (mind the pun). Think back to school and college, where sex was the ultimate medal of honour, the badge of pride that we all wore smugly on our shoulder after losing the ‘V plates’; so, why are we so quick to clear our internet history after a cheeky porn session? We are told that society is over-sexualised, so why is it that we become so prudish when it comes to watching others ‘making love’? If talk of porn makes you blush, it’s probably your guilty conscience. If you’re yet to lose your porn virginity, I hope you’ve been inspired to enjoy the cheap thrill. After all, curiosity killed the pussy, but you should have seen the smile on his face. James Rawlings

Features

Let's ShAg

The biggest problems we still face are the common misconceptions surrounding sexual health. Just a few examples are:

HIV/AIDS is only a problem in for drug users and in the homosexual community. (Actually the highest numbers of sufferers of HIV are in the 16 – 24 heterosexual category)

S.h.A.g stands for Sexual Health Awareness Group. They are a student led organisation based in the Student Volunteering Centre (SVC) on the 3rd floor of the Student’s Union. Our Drop in Sessions are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12 – 4. • We provide advice and information. • We provide condoms; Regular, Large, Trim, Extra Safe, Rough Rider and flavoured as well as Femidoms, dental dams, pregnancy tests and lube all for FREE. We aim to help and educate all of Cardiff University students about their sexual health. We believe that safe sex should not be expensive sex. • We supply free non medicinal contracep tion and pregnancy tests. • Run a drop in centre. • Raise money for related charities • Promote sexual health • Condom drops on Union nights Young people account for nearly half of all STI’s diagnosed in the UK In 2010 16 – 24 year olds accounted for 65% of Chlamydia cases diagnosed 1 in 10 young people have Chlamydia 1 in 10 men think that Chlamydia is a flower Most common STI’s are Chlamydia, Herpes and Genital Warts

And lastly: remember, no glove no love :)

Condoms protect against all STIs (Condoms only protect from passing on STIs through body fluid contact – not skin to skin contact – therefore you are still at risk from Herpes, Genital Warts and Pubic Lice)

The Pill will protect me. (No, it really won’t – all that does is reduce your risk of pregnancy)

Being in a relationship reduces the risk of catching an STI. (Not unless you are both virgins or have both been tested – you don’t know how many people they may have slept with before you)

There will be obvious symptoms if they had an STI (Be honest – how often have you turned the light on to get a proper look at the person down there before you have spent the night? Also – some STIs have NO symptoms at all. You could be a carrier and never know but still pass it on to others)

People who go to STI clinics are dirty and promiscuous and will be found out. (All STI testing is completely confidential – it doesn’t even go on your medical records. It is suggested that if you are sexual active you should get a full STI screening every year – better safe than sorry) Now most of the above may appear that I’m trying to scare you- and I am. There’s no point in trying to convince young students in their sexual prime that they shouldn’t be having sex. They should be. It’s a wonderful part of life and should be experienced and enjoyed to the full. What I am saying is that a couple of seconds of embarrassment while you fumble around for a condom seems a lot less mortifying than telling the future love of your life that you have Herpes and it’s here to stay. Kay Stevens, ShAg Representative

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You want a scary list? Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Herpes, HIV/ AIDS, Genital Warts, Hepatitis A,B & C, Trichomonas, Bacterial Vaginosis, Vaginal Thrush, HPV and Public Lice. This is how many sexually transmitted infections there are just waiting to be passed on.

Catching an STI isn't a problem – a quick course of antibiotics will fix it (STIs such as Herpes, HPV, HIV and Hepatitis A,B&C have no permanent cures – you are stuck with them for life)

Features

Pornomania Hannah Jones explores how the x-rated and explicit pornographgy may be thrusting a little too deeply… Pornographic images are everywhere, from TV and magazines to music videos and the internet – hey I even wrote an essay on pornography as part of my course last year! It has become such a widespread phenomenon today, with the industry apparently making more money than the film and music industries put together. But how did we get here? Over the last 30 years, something which used to be such a taboo is increasingly feeding into the mainstream; we watch programmes such as “Sex: how to do everything” or even “Sex and the City” as a regular evening's viewing, without being offended by their explicit pornographic content. Our modern society is founded upon a rejection of the virtue of moderation and self control, we overindulge today on everything from food and clothes, to technology and entertainment. This is extended into how we see images, as consumers today we get bored so quickly that advertisers and other image creators are constantly trying to compete with each other to shock us, and in

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"It’s changing the way we see culture and the way we live our lives.

doing so they portray more and more controversial images to please our ever-evolving desires. And the internet just takes this to another level, with the rise of free pornography just a few clicks away online it has become incredibly easy to view not just a few pornographic images or videos but hundreds or even thousands of new images whenever you want. But because of this ease of access, it is also a bit worrying to think about who may be viewing these sites, studies show half of children over nine have seen graphic sex on the Internet – I never saw such things as a child but children today live on the internet, one mistaken click and their innocence is compromised! You only have to comb through the Facebook or Bebo profiles of a few of today’s young girls, many of whom look like soft-porn stars in training, to witness how many want to be seen as sexy. Pornography is so woven into the fabric of our lives that even the dolls on sale in toy shops come wearing fishnet stockings and stilettos. It’s changing the way we see culture and the way we live our lives. Some have argued that it has changed society for the better. For example Professor of Law Anthony D’Amato found that incidents of rape in America reduced by 85% in the past 25 years since pornography has

Features

But it’s not just men who are watching and enjoying pornography regularly, what about women? It is still such a huge taboo that women never speak of let alone admit to, but apparently women are being naughty online just as well as men! Studies show that one in three women watch porn online and a 36 year old Brazilian woman recently won the right to watch porn and masturbate at work – “to relieve her intense anxiety”. So no shying away from the topic now ladies, we know a third of you are secretly doing it. To be honest, it’s incredibly hard, (excuse the pun...) to see the pornography industry disappearing from our everyday lives anytime soon, and I find it a little disturbing to think how we have reduced our interests to something which was once a very private and special thing between two partners and made it a more successful part of our culture than the legitimate film and music industries! But what on earth could happen next, porn videos being displayed on public billboards? The most rich, famous and dreamed about celebrities being porn stars? Real live porn stars coming into schools to show kids how it’s done? Explicit sex scenes being woven into our evening's viewing of Eastenders and Emmerdale? Who knows where the porn industry will take us next, let’s just hope it doesn’t take over from other aspects of society that keep us cultured....

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He explained that by watching pornography regularly the viewer ‘gets it out of their system’, so lonely Kevin from down the road no longer needs to go out and sexually abuse real women to uncover the mystery of women and sex because he’s got Veronica the school teacher and Stacey the babysitter online to satisfy his needs, and that’s just the first ten minutes – at least it’s keeping him off the streets! In the past, the sight of a woman’s ankle was considered shocking and erotic. But today, internet porn has thoroughly de-mystified sex. Times have changed so much that some high school teachers of sex education are beginning to show explicit porn films to their students in order to depict techniques of satisfactory intercourse! However, this de-sensitising of sex has also been said to be incredibly damaging for real relationships and marriages. I was surprised to read that musician John Mayer quoted in an interview with Playboy Magazine “I would rather jerk off to images than have sex”. Shocking right?! Surely the closeness and intimacy of a real life relationship would mean much more? But his reasoning is that images online are forever new and exciting and different – constantly driving his motivation that little bit further than the same woman each night in the flesh. Obviously, that must be damaging for any serious relationship John Mayer may get into- as poor unlucky in love Jennifer Anderson found out – “dumped for his obsession with twitter” Hmm....

Features

THE GREAT STD TABOO Kate O'Connor asks whether we should be so clinically embarrassed about checking ourselves out.

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Fraping is funny, isn’t it? About once a day or so I get to have a little chuckle at the expense of a very red-blooded, straight friend that, according to my news feed, has apparently burst out of the closet in spectacular fashion, or one that appears to be very publicly and graphically venting their sexual frustration. I mean anyone that spies an opportunity to link the phrase “furiously and frantically fubbing” with a friend’s name in a public arena and doesn’t grasp it with both hands is guilty of committing crimes against comedy, surely? Now I find the idea of rubbing sand into ones pubic hair in an effort to “make the crabs feel more at home” as hilarious as the next person, but a few weeks ago I saw an STI-based frape that got me thinking: “[Joe Bloggs] wishes STI clinics were open on a Sunday – waiting for my test results is killing me!” this status was followed by a comment along the lines of “FFS... frape” and promptly deleted. I’m wondering why the frapist thought that this would be the best way to humiliate their unsuspecting, un-logged-out friend? Why the embarrassment? We all share some pretty intimate (and gory) details with each other these days. When I go on a third date, my female friends pack me off with clean-shaven legs and a handbag bursting with condoms and wait expectantly for the obligatory morning-after-the-night-before text, probably along the lines of “The eagle has landed! In fact it swooped in twice last night and once again this morning... LMFAO ;) xXxXx” etc. I’ve come to accept that I’ll never have a comprehensive grasp of what constitutes ‘man chat’, but I know girl talk. Girl talk is scary, graphic, and deeply personal. But rarely, if ever, do you come across girl talk involving STIs. Let’s face it, nobody wants to discuss their itchy lady-garden with their mates, and even fewer people want to hear about it. So, in a world where you get lad-points for sharing the details of acrobatic feats of daring in the bedroom, why is the last taboo something as important as STIs? I won’t bore you with reams of statistics and horror stories. We all know why we don’t want them. STIs lead to itchy-rashy-gunky-yuck, infertility and, in extreme cases, even death. Not

cool. When young adults (aged 19-24) account for more than half of all STI diagnoses, it’s something that the majority of us will come into some sort of contact with during our time at university. Why then do we insist on seeing it as something either hilarious or dirty?

In a world where you get ladpoints for sharing details of acrobatic feats in the bedroom, why's the last taboo something as important as STIs? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not entirely guiltless when it comes to passing judgement on the topic of STIs. Take for example ‘The Phonecall’. During the summer I was dating a rather lovely Australian banker whilst I was doing an internship in the City. We went on a few dates, had a nice bit of sex, one split condom (oops), I came back to uni in September and that was that. I thought nothing more of it. One sunny afternoon, whilst having a catch-up coffee with an ex-boyfriend (because I like to think I’m that grown up and sophisticated...) I received a phone call that could only have been timed worse had it happened whilst I was having an audience with the Pope. The same Aussie bloke rang to tell me that he had been diagnosed with Chlamydia, and I should probably get myself checked out. Ouch. Two things about my reaction made me realise just how judgmental I was being. The first was that it wasn’t the fact that I’d slept with someone else that made me feel embarrassed about the company I was keeping at the time I received the call, it was the fact that I’d slept with someone that had potentially given me Chlamydia. And the second was that after breaking the news to me, said dishy Australian beefcake asked me if I fancied meeting up again the next time I was in London, and I practically told him to shove his date, and nowhere near my vagina, thank you very much! The next couple of weeks of waiting were horrendous. I told a couple of close friends,

Features

Whilst we are vigilant about not bringing a screaming, pooing dependant into the world, we often overlook the necessity of looking after ourselves

My mother has a mantra that she encourages me and my siblings to live by: “Be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful.” But after three pints, half a bottle of red and numerous Jagerbombs ‘careful’ doesn’t always play an active role in the throws of passion. And even for those of us that do, honestly, hand on heart, always practice safe sex, things go wrong - condoms split. The pesky things. We’ll run to the ends of the earth to ensure that we have access to the morningafter pill. I for one know that I’m far too selfish a person to be a candidate for motherhood right now, and I’m sure most of my friends have similar sentiments about themselves. But whilst we are so vigilant about not bringing a screaming, pooing dependant into the world, we often overlook the necessity of looking after ourselves.

Anyone who’s been to the STI clinic on Newport road will tell you it’s a time consuming and awkward experience. Having to spend several hours waiting to face a stern-looking lady-doctor who asks you, poker-faced, which orifices you favour whilst ‘hiding the sausage’ is unpleasant at best. But, my goodness, I’d rather endure that unpleasantness every time I changed sexual partner than the chronic discomfort that STIs bring in the short term, and the life-changing devastation they can lead to in the long run. What would make this experience a little more palatable would be the active support and encouragement of all my friends, rather than feeling it necessary to be staunchly tight-lipped and secretive about it. I will unashamedly admit that I enjoy having sex, so if being tested regularly is what it takes to ensure I can lead a happy and healthy lifestyle, so be it. Let’s stop discussing STIs in hushed tones whilst being battered by waves of embarrassment. Rather than passing judgement, let’s accept that STIs are a part of everyday life and actively encourage each other to seek advice, testing and treatment. Kate O'Connor

Sexual Health Wales Helpline: 0845 684 8484 Cardiff Walk in Clinic Open - 8.15-11am WeekdaysCardiff Royal Infirmary, Newport Rd.

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who were very sympathetic, but I was terrified of other people finding out, for fear of being labelled or judged. Thankfully I got the all clear, but I’m also really grateful to the Aussie for braving phoning me to tell me, just in case. Before that, I never would have thought to get a routine check up. I wonder how many of us do?

Fashion

Sophisticated

Sex-Appeal Photography: Brenna Mack Styling: Hannah Davies, Leonie Roderick, Lucy Trevallion Models: Lauren Benham, Rosy Edey, Jodie Orza Make-up: Jenny Keegan Hair: Katie Sands All lingerie provided by: Boux Avenue

Left: 'Marlena' Body, Black, £32 Right: Lace Boost BabyDoll, Black Mix, £36

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As Valentine's Day falls upon us, Quench fashion proves beautiful underwear can deliver sophisticated sex appeal.

Fashion Rosy wears: 'Darcy' Corset, £65 Black 'Frilly Milly' briefs, £8

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Jodie wears: 'Callie Cutie' Teddy, ÂŁ24 Watch, Model's Own

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Fashion

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Left: 'Aliyah' Short Chemise Set, Animal Print, £32 Right: 'Lyla' Balconette Bra, £24 'Lyla' High Waisted Brief, £14

Students get 10% discount with a valid NUS card at:

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Fashion

Travel

Travel Photo of the Fortnight

Berlin, Kurfürstendamm, by Christopher Webb

Sun, Sea, Sex: Child Prostitution in Brazil

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Think of Brazil and imagine cavorting around carnivals and lounging on Copacabana beach, Caipirinha in hand. South America’s largest country draws millions of tourists to its vibrant and musically-charged environment every year. Attracting around five million international visitors in 2010, it would seem that Brazil hosts a thriving tourist industry. Compared to its South American neighbours however, it continually slumps in World Tourism rankings. 21 million tourists flocked to Mexico in 2010 alone. In an attempt to boost numbers, an estimated 18 million is set to be pumped into the country in time for the World Cup and the Olympics. It seems somewhat odd that global voyagers aren’t so enticed by Brazil’s sprawling coastline, jungles, energetic metropolitan hubs and the kind of weather that we Brits can only dream of. Despite its natural charms however, Brazil harbours a dark underside that has been relentlessly exhibited by the media over recent years. It is no secret that its children are being prostituted, attracting an unwanted type of tourist and repelling others from choosing it as a holiday destination. In a stomach-churning BBC investigation, Chris Rogers witnessed the industry first-hand in Brazil’s Recife, commenting that young girls didn’t attempt to mask their age whilst being flaunted in front of Western tourists. In the re-

port he notes, ‘One clings to a bright pink Barbie bag, and they hold each other's hands looking terrified at the possibility of potential custom.’ This statement surely underlines the sickening contrast between what childhood should be, and the sordid reality. These street-dwelling children work to fuel their families and often to sustain their drug habits. Earning roughly £3.50 per hourly session, the money makes little difference unless they secure several clients a day. Regular sex with strangers often leads to severe sexual health problems. Brazilian authorities have been working hard in recent years to police the ‘favelas’ or slums in order to curb crime and improve tourism. Charities such as Happy Child International, are also working to build safe shelters for the children. This has resulted in decreasing numbers of child prostitution in 2011, but the problem is still rife. It’s a shame that such a landscape and culture is marred by the grotesque, sexual exploitation of children. Those that travel to Brazil should bear in mind that amongst its many wonders, there remains a dark sex trade, and hope that Brazil will strive to eradicate it. Those interested in reading more about the issue or contributing to save Brazilian children from their torment should visit http://www.happychild.org. Lia Martin

Ja s s ad, a l : e ndaabro c ee Scabadly r G x ve rs... e eha ove S et ho bs disc r c w n Seurists Jenki o tt

It's

jus t o

One of the Casanovas, perhaps...

experiences and vulnerability abroad. There were incidents whereby local boys would target women who had not yet tanned because they were newer to the Island and less aware of what was going on. One local even laughs at the coded language used to describe the unity between local and tourist, ‘You finally lanced her.’ With masculine rivalry high among young Greek men, their promiscuous techniques earned them the title of ‘Kamaki’, literally translating to harpoon. As this band of lovers became legends, it wasn’t long before the Island’s reputation became a hotspot for women looking for a bronzed Adonis to show them the ways of ‘love’. With no competition from the olive-skinned Greek girls, the Island honed fierce sexual appetites which were easily satisfied. But less-than-candid memories and a questionable 70s wardrobe was not the only thing the ‘Kamaki’ left behind. It is estimated that the sexual explosion resulted in countless pregnancies and a rise in AIDS. It is little wonder that Greek media outlets have been kept under strict orders not to expose and discuss this sexually explicit era of Greek history.

Jack Jenkins

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With shows like ‘Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents’ and the blurry recollections of our own post Alevel indiscretions, it’s unsurprising to hear that cheap cocktails and a tan aren’t the only things which compel us Brits to flock abroad in our droves. Some of us will scrunch our noses up at how tourism has cheapened the culture of the likes of Magaluf and Zante. It’s all too easy to sympathise with the locals who have had their streets marred with neo-clad teens lying in a drunken stupor in the road. Yet, step back to the 80s to the Greek Island of Rhodes and it is apparent that this empathy is not always justifiable. After the recent collapse of a seven-year military dictatorship, the Island still heavily regulated the independence of women and made sure that unmarried ladies were kept at home. It’s not hard to imagine that the hoards of women from Britain and Scandinavia were the perfect opportunity for the Greek Casanovas to brush up on their wooing and sample foreign delicacies. Yiannis Klouvas, 55, the owner of Rhodes’ most famous nightclub of the era (Hi Way), remembers those seedy days, "Greek women wouldn't leave the house. Our sisters had no chance of going out, although we were out every single day." Yet it is perhaps more unsettling to learn of the true predatory nature of some Greek boys, which sheds light on our own in-

Travel

THAILAND: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE CURTAIN

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Thailand is a famous destination for sex tourism, with ‘ping pong shows’ making it onto the mustdo list for young travellers and families, alike. Sex seems to have become the Eiffel Tower of South East Asia, and as I embarked on my gap year, I had high hopes for what lay ahead in this land of lady boys and sex shows. My travelling companions and I had earmarked the notorious Bangkok red light district as a compulsory stop-off. The Western perception of Thailand is that it is a place for boundless indulgence in all things sex, and many British people, who take advantage of this trade, put it down to ‘experiencing the culture.’ But when much of the industry is aimed at, and created entirely for tourists, is this right? This did not occur to me until I was strolling through the streets of Patpong, lined with groups of young women outside establishments advertising ‘Thai Massage.’ As we stared open mouthed at the blatant prostitution, a local man approached us and promised to take us to the best show in town. And quite a show it was. Ping pong balls, strings of beads and darts were inserted into women’s genitalia before being shot out into the audience. One woman even put a pen into her vagina and wrote ‘Welcome to Thailand’ on a sheet of paper, before jumping down from the stage to hand it to a stunned, yet thrilled tourist. As the naked women gyrated on stage, I found myself oddly drawn not to the explicit sex acts, but to their faces.

I had expected, perhaps somewhat naively, that they would look sexually liberated. Instead, I saw humiliated and degraded young women, who grimaced rather than smiled as Western tourists revelled in this so called ‘cultural experience.’ Furthermore, I felt extremely uncomfortable by the fact that many of the performers looked like mere adolescents. Of course, this was only one of many ping pong bars, but I know other travellers who too have felt ashamed for paying to see this apparently ‘harmless’ entertainment. Legal policies are often ignored in Thailand, and as tourists get drawn into the fun and exciting nature of a new sexual realm, I fear that the real dangers of the sex industry are ignored. Away from home, people seem less inclined to think through the moral implications of this type of sexual theatre. The sex trade has become a voyeuristic opportunity for family holidaymakers, as well as a means of sex for foreigners. What is it that makes sleeping with a prostitute OK when it is abroad? What is it that makes watching young women perform explicit sexual acts on stage OK when it is abroad? It seems odd to me that we, as tourists, are happy to pump revenue into this potentially unsafe industry, so long as it stays contained a plane ride away. Victoria White

Food & Drink

THE POTTED PIG

vegetarians. So as my dining companion went for the shank, I took the plunge and ordered the Potato, celeriac and Montgomeryshire cheddar gratin. And I can sincerely say that it was the tastiest gratin I have ever tried (and believe me, my Nan makes a mean one). The top was crisped to perfection and the notes of garlic that hit the taste buds were followed by a creamy yet strong cheesiness. It came with purple sprouting broccoli that were served Al Dente and offered a fresh contrast to the buttery goodness of the gratin. I sneaked a bit of the other main to discover that the lamb fell off the bone and the thick red sauce poured over the carrot and swede mash was to die for. We ended the night with home-made chocolate ice-cream that was more like thick frozen chocolate mousse and quite frankly I could have eaten a whole tub. With main meals starting from £9, even the most frugal students can afford to dine here. And with a lunch menu for a mere £10 for two courses, there really is no excuse not to. So if you are fed up of going to chain restaurants, pop down to the Potted Pig. I dare you to hate it. Tors White

Restaurantreviews

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A lot of you won’t have heard of the Potted Pig. Despite its central location on High Street in town, it is hidden underground and is easily bypassed without a second glance. But it is certainly not a place to be ignored. As you descend the stairs that reach underneath the city, an old bank vault that has been stylishly converted into a unique restaurant emerges. The authentic brick walls are contrasted with metallic light fixtures and the dark wood and leather furnishings create a cosy yet sleek atmosphere. Like many students who enjoy eating out, I make the most of offers provided by chain restaurants. And as much as I love a good Pizza Express, I have to admit that going somewhere new was exciting. The Potted Pig stocks a large choice of gin and as an avid gin drinker it was refreshing to be addressed by a barmaid with such extensive knowledge. She recommended Hoxton which is infused with grapefruit and coconut, perfectly accompanied by fentimans botanically brewed tonic water. Let’s just say I’m in love. Having settled down with my new favourite drink, it was time to face the menu where I was impressed by the clarity and conciseness of the options and prices, and any queries we had regarding the ingredients were met by the waiter with an unpatronising friendliness. To start I had the Potted pig, a chunky pâté-like dish consisting of pork cooked in its own fat, served in an authentic glass jar with two slices of lightly toasted brown bread. I loved how it was served in such a simple manner and the pork was packed full of flavour. Next it was onto the main course and as an avid carnivore, the Lamb shank seemed an obvious choice. However, I wanted to see if a restaurant so passionate about meat could cater well for

Food & Drink

Can you eat your way to

JUCIER JIZZ?

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Ladies (and gentlemen), be it one night stands or long term bf ’s, it seems there is always one area of bedroom antics in which we find our men lacking; a tasty reward at the end of the arduous task of the blowy. But fear not, by a bit of gentle prompting, you can get your man eating all the right things to banish that bitter aftertaste (and that covert spitting). Men: listen up! We’ve all heard that pineapple will sweeten the taste of seminal fluid and similarly grapes, apples, melons and cranberries - all rich in fructose. In turn, these foods reduce the salty taste of gentlemen juices. Cardamom and cinnamon work, too. However, it’s not all about what you can eat to improve the taste; unfortunately, many components of a student diet will need to be eradicated in pursuit of that perfect mouthful; alcohol, cigarettes and red meat are some of the main offenders along with garlic and onions (which are sulfur rich), spices and fish. Dairy products and veggies of the cauliflower family are a no-no as well. Looks like it’s a case of staying on the straight and narrow, but here at Quench we wanted to challenge the hearsay and put the advice into practice. Somehow we’ve managed to find three gamefor-a-laugh couples on which to conduct our experiment. We’ll be keeping their identities under wraps for the sake of their modesty, so let’s call them Adam and Eve, Kermit and Miss Piggy, and Fred and Wilma.

The experiment Now each of the guys were restricted to a bland, alcohol free diet for three days, followed by three days of their specific diet, which they followed as closely as possible and during which the amorous girlfriends had to abstain from any lip service so as to make any changes to the norm as distinct as possible. We then asked the girls what diet they thought their man had been on, the fresh fruit, the garlic and spices or the meat marathon.

Food & Drink

Couple Two: Kermit and Miss Piggy The Diet: Fruit, fruit and more fruit Miss Piggy guessed: Correctly Kermit says: “It actually made a nice change to eat something healthy whilst at Uni but the part I really hated was not being allowed any alcohol throughout: Not easy when all your friends are out on post exam piss ups.” Miss Piggy: “I noticed a difference though, a massive difference, the taste was absolutely less strong than normal, and although I wouldn’t go as far as sweet, it wasn’t salty like normal, just bland.”

Couple One: Adam and Eve Diet: Garlic and Spices Eve guessed: Correctly Adam says: “To be honest I found the diet pretty easy to stick to, I’m a big fan of spicy food anyway so it was fine but I did wonder whether Eve would cotton on as I’m sure my breath smelled constantly of garlic.” Eve says: “Actually you did a good job of covering it up with chewing gum, I didn’t notice but there was definitely a noticeable difference in the taste, it was a lot stronger and a lot less palatable, it’s difficult to describe but I would say maybe…pungent?”

Couple Three: Fred and Wilma Flinstone

Diet: Meat Marathon Eve guessed: Incorrectly

So there we have it boys, do yourself and your ladies a favour and improve your flavour, there really is no excuse...

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Fred says: “To be honest I found the diet pretty easy to stick to, I’m a big fan of spicy food anyway so it was fine but I did wonder whether Eve would cotton on as I’m sure my breath smelled constantly of garlic.” Wilma says: “Actually you did a good job of covering it up with chewing gum, I didn’t notice but there was definitely a noticeable difference in the taste, it was a lot stronger and a lot less palatable, it’s difficult to describe but I would say maybe… pungent?”

Restaurantreviews cont...

Music

New Year:

NEW VULCAN

While most of us have spent the beginning of January worrying about how to whittle down the weight we put on over christmas, the team at The Vulcan Lounge in Cathays has been preparing for the opening of their newly refurbished kitchen and new look menu.

food@gairrhydd.com

The buzzing student pub now has an open kitchen, complete with a pizza oven, so you can watch executive chefs, some of whom are known to have worked in Cardiff's most prestigiuos restaurants such as The Meating Place on St Mary St, create beautifully crafted gourmet pizzas before your eyes. The list of toppings are mouthwatering. You can choose from selections such as Margherita: simply tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil, Diavolo: pepperoni, roasted peppers and chilli, Pollo: free range chicken, red onion and smoked mozzarella, Vegetariana: roasted peppers, griddled aubergine, artichoke and mushroom, Prosciutto Funghi: buffalo mozzorella, rocket and parma ham, Quattro Stagioni: oven roasted ham, mushrooms, artichoke and olives, Quattro Formagi: smoked mozarella, parmesan, goats cheese and gorgonzola and my personal favourite, Della Casa, with fresh tomatoes, olive oil finished with rocket, parma ham and buffalo mozzarella. And what's more, they're all 241, so you can be doubly gastronomically delighted for as little as ÂŁ5.45. Be sure to try out their tasty italian start-

ers, too. Starters include, Bruschetta Caprese and soft dough balls with a creamy cheese sauce, or a fresh salad as a side. The Vulcan Lounge now also has a fully fitted Juke Box, so you can taylor the tunes to your taste. There's a selection of real ales on offer such as Doom Bar too, as well as bottled beers like Corona and Peroni and Pilsner on draught. For cash-strapped students and for the frugal minded, pre-lash prices start at 5pm and end at 8pm every weekday. As if 241 pizza wasn't enough.

241pizzas

Simone Miche

LGBT+

'GRINDR'ING FOR IT? My (straight, female) housemate looks baffled as I try to explain Grindr, again. Mind you, she’s probably in pretty good company here. It’s likely that Reginald Fessenden (the austere early twentieth century inventor of the first mobile telephony devices for ship-to-shore communication) did not anticipate that eighty years later, a handheld gadget based on roughly the same principle could be used to locate and fraternise with nearby homosexuals. With around 3 million users in 192 countries, Grindr’s smartphone-owning homo-locator is enormously popular. The number of users in the UK jumped by 30,000 after Stephen Fry mentioned it on Top Gear. Logging on you can immediately see pictures of, and chat with, nearby gay, bi- and curious guys in your vicinity. But is this any more than technologically advanced cruising? As long ago as the

Like the GAY  community, Grindr is  far more COMPLEX  than stereotypes  suggest

eighteenth century, parts of London such as the Royal Exchange and St James’ Gardens, were notorious meeting grounds for sodomites, and the evidence we have suggests many of these liasons were brief and anonymous. Fastforward a few centuries and what’s changed? The language certainly has – sodomy is no longer a capital offence and gay men won’t be hung for public sex acts. Yet the stereotype that gay men are pre-eminently promiscuous remains. Surely the popularity of apps like Grindr support this? A recent study of sexual habits amongst men who sleep with men showed that a majority of men surveyed had had sex with two or less partners in the last year. Meanwhile, a US study has shown that around 2% of gay men were having 98% of all the gay sex reported. It seems reality and stereotype are very different. The same is true of Grindr. It prefers to market itself as a “networking app”, and this is perhaps less euphemistic than it sounds. Whilst you can use it to send pictures of your penis to nearby strangers, or meet for blissfully anonymous sexytimes, you can also meet like-minded friends for a coffee, or chat online. Like the community that uses it, Grindr is a far more complex and multifaceted phenomenon than the stereotypes suggest.

lgbt@gairrhydd.com

Hector Roddan looks at the new ways gays are hooking up and asks whether the gay community is inherently promiscuous...

LGBT+

Sexual health is important, but many people are unaware that lesbians and bisexual women can contract STIs. Kate Boddington tells all....

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It’s not about who you’re sleeping with, it’s about what you’re doing and whether you’re having safe sex or not… For example, do you know what a dental dam is? And who actually has a supply of latex gloves on hand? But while it might be quite obvious that plenty of people go and get tested for STIs, if you are lucky enough to have a cervix then you should also be getting a cervical smear test. This isn’t ever anyone’s favourite topic (except mine…) but it is important. Because the virus that causes cervical cancer is passed through bodily fluids, it isn’t having your cervix bashed by a penis, or being drenched in semen that puts you at risk – it’s contact with anyone else’s bodily fluid. So yes – lesbians and bisexual women, that includes you. All women in Wales are offered a smear test as soon as they reach the age of 20, so if you haven’t had the pleasure of ever visiting a gynaecologist then it’s a joy that should certainly be recommended! There are a range of confidential information and support services for students of all genders

and sexual orrientations in Cardiff. Information on cervical smear tests is available from your GP, or from NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647. ShAg is a student-led drop-in service based on the third floor of the Students' Union which offers free condoms and promotes sexual health. Walk-in STI testing and sexual health advice is available from Cardiff Royal Infirmary on Newport Rd. They also operate young persons (under-19) and female only clinics, see http://tinyurl.com/CardiffGUM for details.

It’s not about who you’re sleeping with, it’s about whether you’re having safe sex or not…

Ar ts

Would the chance to see Hollywood stars in all their glory get you running to the theatre? It’s true what they say, sex sells and although the theatre is no exception it’s very easy to get it horribly wrong. It’s hardly a revelation to claim that sex is difficult to portray on stage. Either people will appreciate raw and uncompromising portrayals of it or they will dismiss it as pretentious and trying too hard. Alternatively, if one disapproves of these sex scenes then they risk being seen as too uncultured to 'get it'. Despite themes of lust and passion being no stranger to the theatre, it is these reasons which still cements theatre as an often taboo art form. But as a nation obsessed with celebrity and sex, what better way to fill seats then have our Hollywood greats shed their clothes and distract us from the real grittiness of the subject matter? German productions of Sarah Kane’s ‘Phaedra’s Love’ have been known to have actors perform oral sex on stage. Whilst opinions are divided as to whether this is shocking for the sake of it, or a realism pushed to its limits, we still remain obsessed with sex. These days, many actors see sex and nudity as a way to prove themselves devoted to the craft. Who wouldn’t want to try and imitate the success of McKellen? But for many theatre-goers it’s a chance to see every inch of their Hollywood idols who dilute the intensity of these scenes. You only have to remember the stir Daniel Radcliffe’s appendage caused on his Equus run to appreciate how sexually obsessed we are as a nation. It’s hardly surprising that most talk was about Harry Potter’s wand rather than any artistic integrity of the production. The problem with this cross-over from screen to stage is that sex is raw subject matter and needs to be executed in an entirely convincing way. After all

did anyone forget that when the curtain closed on Equus that they would be seeing Alan Strang later that year confronting ‘you know who?’ Are we just sacrificing art to fill seats? Then there’s Sienna Miller who failed to impress critics with her flat performance of the title character in Strindberg’s Miss Julie, circa 2009. As the play relies on brutal themes of sexual depravity and the deconstruction of social classes, Miller’s growing CV of charmless blond-bombshell was set to be broken by her Broadway debut. As the play itself only includes three characters, it would seem that the gravitas surrounding Miller would ensure commercial success but as New York Times critic Ben Brantley said, ‘the audience is laughing when it should be recoiling.’ The honesty and often ugliness of sex is lost by chiselled and bronzed Hollywood stars trying to take a page from Jude Law’s book. The 2011 film adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s, The Deep Blue Sea sees Rachel Weiss fill the role of Hester, an aging, insecure woman clinging to a younger man- or at least that was Rattigan’s version. Terence Davies glosses over sexual repression with a cast eager to shed their clothes and showcases Hollywood’s reluctance to portray sex as sordid or complex. But is casting movie stars in these roles just a way to glaze over serious subject matter? By the time we all get flustered over Oscar winning genitals, the chances are we’ve forgotten the point of the scene. Without worrying about audience numbers or awkward reactions, it seems as if the theatre has avoided risk and cheapened itself. Jack Jenkins

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Sex on Stage

Arts

Senseless

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The facts show that when it comes to writing careers in the theatre and beyond, sexism is still denying women access to the stage door. Kirsty Allen looks at the rise and fall of the female writer on the London stage and opportunities for you to start your writing career here in Cardiff.

It’s a well known fact that women are still trying to smash through the glass ceiling, but lesser known is the struggle for budding female dramatists to have their voices heard. Countless, conventionally beautiful women grinning from the pages of glossy magazines give the impression that acting is the one profession where females can make an impact, but it is simply a Hollywood veneer. A report by a feminist theatre group, Sphinx, showed that 23% of theatre directors were women and just 17% of all plays written and performed in the UK were by female authors. When it comes to being centre stage, women are still being left speechless. The death of the acclaimed playwright Shelagh Delaney in December, who shot to fame in the early sixties after the phenomenal success of her debut A Taste of Honey, prompted the question of where the Delaney’s of today are hiding. At just 17 years old, Delaney had been to the theatre for the first time two weeks before sitting down in her Salford front room to pen her smash hit. The story of a schoolgirl who falls pregnant by a Nigerian sailor and endures a pregnancy that isolates her from the community was picked up by Joan Littlewood, now considered to be one of Britain’s most visionary directors, and her Theatre Workshop company based in the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. The story of a Salford schoolgirl was a hit from the East End to the West End and finally made it to the silver screen in Tony Richardson’s kitchen sink classic. Despite the rush of award-winning success, Delaney faded into obscurity unlike her male contemporaries. Over the last few years, London has embraced the trend of the twenty-something female playwrights who dabbled in drama societies and dropped out of English Literature degrees to pursue wildly successful theatre careers. Well, that was the story of Polly Stenham, who shot to fame in 2007 at 19 years old, after dropping out of UCL to write her debut

play, That Face. Stenham consequently packed out the Royal Court and was dubbed ‘the kind of debut that only comes along once in a generation.’ Yet the generation also produced Lucy Prebble, creator of the Secret Diary of a Call Girl series, and Skins writer Lucy Kirkwood, to name just a few of the bright young things whose preferred choice of writing medium is still the stage. The writing talents of Stenham and her contemporaries are brilliant, bold and still making an impact in the West End and beyond, but the point is that these talents are coming out of the likes of UCL and not out of Lewisham. The world is not a stage for young women in East London, or the West Midlands or South Wales or it’s a world that they feel they don’t belong to. Yet these stories are more vital than seeing yet another variation on the theme of messed up middle England because they haven’t been heard before. It’s time to fill the hole in the fabric of the British theatre that for too long has been made from middle class monotony. Interested in writing? Its My Shout are looking for six short film scripts to develop in collaboration with BBC Cymru this summer. Go to www.itsmyshout. co.uk for further information. Behind the scenes at the shiny new Sherman Cymru (the building site next to the Union which is due to open in February) there is a team looking to develop new work. Go to www.shermancymruco.uk for more information on courses, workshops and young writers schemes. Theatre Company Agent 160 will produce two nights of theatre at Chapter all written by women playwrights on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February. www.chapter.org

Ar ts

Reviews

Circus Of Horrors The now infamous Circus of Horror’s latest offering, The Ventriloquist, gave Swansea a slice of Venice Beach freak show chic; the flame haired, sword swallower, the half naked lady in a bell jar and the dwarf with a Henry the Hoover attached to his penis gave the tourists a bashful giggle but you definitely can’t bring the kids. The penis act was, of course, excluded from the Britain’s Got Talent audition, which the Circus was a favourite to win last year. The Ventriloquist is arguably more alternative than ITV allow for. (The same penis also managed to swing a bowling ball from its bell end, after giving the Grand stage a damn good Hoover.) The bell jar lady may have chatted with Fern and Phil but Circus of Horrors really isn’t This Morning stuff. The Circus does all kinds of taboo little numbers, like dropping the 'f' word, smoking on stage and playing rock music rather loud. Dr Haze, the Circus’s creator, certainly doesn’t expect his freaks to have good theatre manners but put the naughty aesthetics aside and they do have bril-

liant, ballsy and (literally) gut busting talent. Well, perhaps talent isn’t the word for it. Having the ability to swallow swords whole must mean you have to be careful with your soup spoon. Whether the Circus is a showcase of the weird and the wonderful. or a gallery of the socially burdened, it gives a show unlike any other and if you can stomach it, you should experience it.

I remember the last time our English teacher handed out an anthology of poetry around the classroom followed by an audible groan. Contemporary dance, much like Carol Ann Duffy, just isn’t for everybody. If, however, you begin to turn bizarre movements into messages, it can speak to you just like the GCSE poetry that once left you perplexed. National Dance Company Wales striking Spring programme does just that, and its words are beautiful and bold. The angular silhouettes of Eleesha Drennan’s choreography for Phantoms of Us pack an opening punch to an intense and emotive programme. Occasional soloists embodied the pathway to individualism, isolated from the Company who moved in sync to powerful strings and towards a horizon drenched in orange spotlights. Phantoms is the least affecting of the trio but it communicates the anticipation of anybody breaking away from life as they know it. For a future graduate like myself, National Wales Phantom’s message was as significant as a looming dissertation deadline. Dance Company Ohad Naharin’s deceptively simple choreography in Bolero Kirsty Allen was comprised of primary shapes and isolation repetition that alluded to the two female dancers as mechanical toys. Bolero’s sense of repression was heightened by Black Milk, which exuded freedom, defiance and unity in every brilliant step. Naharin’s piece seemed to be driven by base instinct and tribal harmony as the five male dancers supported one another to perform a succession of barrel turns, leaps and rapid pirouettes before partaking in a surprisingly sensual mud bath. It is, however, the Grammar of Silence that communicates best ‘the intimate poetry of words left unsaid’ and ironically, which speaks the loudest to its audience. Despite the painful interludes of the duet, Grammar is at once empathetic and utterly rapturous. Soaring arabesques, sidekicks and turns weave together into an uplifting performance that pierced the stage with the sheer joy of speaking, being heard and finally, being understood. NDCW’s Spring tour presents poetry crystallised in contemporary dance which can be understood by anybody who wants to take the time to do so and proves that sometimes, a pirouette can speak louder than words.

arts@gairrhydd.com

Kirsty Allen

Books

Bad romance Ever cringed at a badly-written sex scene? Let Alice Hughes introduce you to the Bad Sex Awards

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There are some things best left to the imagination. Tony Blair’s sex life – that’s one. If you’ve ever been unlucky enough to have found yourself reading the passage in his memoir A Journey which recounts a particularly memorable night with wife Cherie, you should have come across this gem of a stomach-churner: “That night she cradled me in her arms and soothed me; told me what I needed to be told; strengthened me. On that night…I needed that love Cherie gave me, selfishly. I devoured it to give me strength. I was an animal following my instinct.” I’m so sorry to remind you about Tony Blair, and even more so to introduce you to his steamy bedroom antics, but it’s all for a good reason. At the end of last year, the Literary Review announced the winner of its annual Bad Sex in Fiction Awards, a prize that aims to draw attention to crude, badly written and often arbitrary sex scenes in contemporary fiction and for which Blair was longlisted in 2010. The 2011 prize went to David Guterson for the very unlovely love-making scenes in his fifth novel, Ed King. Amongst those named and shamed in previous years are a number of high-profile writers including Jonathan Franzen, Sebastian Faulks and even Blair’s partner-in-war-crime Alastair Campbell.

And for all our conjugal inadequacies as a nation, it’s not just British authors who find themselves in the running for the prize. Haruki Murakami, the Japanese author whose novel IQ84 has had critics falling over themselves to praise, almost pipped Guterson on account of this little beauty: “A freshly made ear and a freshly made vagina look very much alike, Tengo thought.” Well, Tengo - you'd better think again. As entertaining as the Bad Sex in Fiction Awards are – and indeed they provide a great counterpoint to the more highbrow affairs of the Booker et al – wouldn’t it be a sensible idea to have a ‘good sex’ awards as well? After all, judging from the amount of acclaimed writers to have experienced a bout of authorial dysfunction in the bedroom, it seems to be far more difficult to write a good sex scene than a bad one. Just as such moments in films are rarely anything but awkward or unrealistic, the majority of sex scenes in literature, too, seem perfunctory and clumsy. Most authors’ attempts at invoking carnal bliss are more likely to have you writhing in laughter than in pleasure. Surely it would make sense to recognise writers who can write sex scenes that are, well…sexy? Alice Hughes

Unromantic Reads

Books

Want nothing to do with sweet nothings this Vday? If so, why not arm yourself with a few of these unromantic novels in preparation for the dreaded 14th… Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré There’s no room for passion in le Carré’s spy thriller centred on the hunt for a Soviet mole in the ranks of the Circus, an elite department within MI6. Based on old-fashioned intelligence gathering techniques rather than the high glamour and action of a James Bond adventure, it’s no less compelling and will have you guessing the identity of the traitor until the final pages. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver This former winner of the Orange Prize is based around the love (or lack thereof) between a mother and emotionally distant son, Kevin. Although bleak and harrowing throughout, it’s an interesting contribution to the nature/nurture debate.

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene Yes, it’s got a love story in it, but it’s also got gangs and shooting! A bittersweet story of doomed young love that is also the subject of a recent film starring the fantastic Andrea Riseborough. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Brutal murder? Check. Severe misogyny? Check. This novel, the first in a trilogy featuring journalist Mikael Blomkvist, is perfect anti-Valentine's reading matter and is a gripping thriller to boot. Alice Hughes

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Room by Emma Donoghue Inspired by the Fritzl case, this fictional account of a woman and her child imprisoned in a tiny room after being kidnapped by a stranger, is told from her son’s perspective. A great way to avoid the Valentine’s Day schmaltz – if you can ignore the terrible writing, that is.

MUSIC What's sex got to do with it?

S E X S E X music@gairrhydd.com

S E X

Whips and chains, gyrating hips, outfits that could have come straight from Ann Summers- and this is only talking about a Rihanna music video. In a world where sex is invariably used to sell almost anything, music has constantly been at the forefront of pushing boundaries to a new extreme. However, we have to question why it is that many female superstars of this day and age choose, or are told, to prance around in next to nothing all in the name of art. Now don’t mistake this for a rant about the sexualisation of culture - I don’t want to sound like a 50 year-old, but why is it that Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, all of whose main fan base is either female or gay need to be so sexually explicit? I suppose it all started when I was at a Saturday’s concert. The crowd was made up mostly of girls, and the few boys had obviously been dragged along by their girlfriends; yet, when the five of them strutted on stage their outfits didn’t really leave much to the imagination. Of course as a female I could marvel at their slender physique, perfected through a strenuous gym regime and avoidance of carbs, but all I could really think was ‘put some clothes on, I don’t want to see your rib cage’!

Perhaps I’m just being a prude, but I don’t want my 14 year old sister to dress like her idols, let alone dance like that at her age. The epitome of this concern comes in the form of two pint-sized Essex girls who became Internet sensations from a You Tube rendition of Nicki Minaj’s Super Bass. Aged 8 and 5 , they are seen rapping along to lyrics that would make your parents shudder. In fairness, they may not understand the lyrics yet but there is nothing stranger than seeing a child utter the words ‘when he give me that look/ then the panties coming off, off ’. It’s all got a bit too much- sometimes I turn on MTV in the middle of the day and feel as though the images I’m seeing would be better suited at a more appropriate time. If being a strong, independent female artist has now become synonymous with wearing next to nothing and writhing around a bed then what impression is this giving younger generations? Is this constant bombardment of overtly sexual images sending out the best message? As female artists attempt to be seen as 'edgy' or 'controversial', the further it moves into the realm of soft pornography. I know sex sells but come on people is this really want we want to see? Emma Wilford

'Sex in the air/ I don't care I love the smell of it'

Music

SEX-O-GRAPH A diagrammatical display of this year's most enticing and not-so exciting album releases The Shins' longawaited fourth studio album is due in March.

Expectations are high for the follow-up to

Calvin Harris

aaah. They're baack.

award-winning debut.

If the singles are anything to go by, the LP should be a real treat. Can Swedish pop band

Miike Snow

Fingers crossed Scotland's

'paddle' into the charts?

finest Biffy Clyro return to their earlier style

The Cribs

Madonna

Album no.5 and not a Smiths member in sight.

Again? Really?

Stone Roses Bit sceptical - maybe leave it alone boys.

'When he give me that look/Then the panties comin' off, off '

music@gairrhydd.com

Mumford & Sons Aaaah-aa-aa-

The xx's Mercury

Music

2012:  the year to come A selection of the hottest new acts set to blow your mind this year...

Azealia Banks

Dry The River This five-piece from London create beautiful folk-inspired songs with a rock edge. Lead singer Peter Liddle’s voice is steeped in emotion on each song making for a truly magical listen. EW

Foul-mouthed New York native Azealia Banks has become hot property after the release of her catchy electro-rap mash 212. Dubbed the new Nicki Minaj by critics expect to hear a lot from her soon. EW Listen to: 212

Listen to: No Rest

Niki & The Dove

Maverick Sabre After featuring with such artists as Chase & Status, Wretch 22 and Professor Green, Maverick Sabre is finally ready to show us what he's made of. With an album due in March, keep an eye on this one, as I think you'll be hearing a lot from him. PK Listen to: I Need

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Alabama Shakes What better than some good old blues and rock n roll? That's exactly what this Alabama (unsurprisingly) based band bring to the table. Although they're not well-known on this side of the pond their music exudes a retro-soul vibe. EW

This Swedish duo create electro-pop at its best. Although they have been around for a while they too appear to be getting more recognition and acclaim recently. Creating ambient and haunting songs, their music is catchy yet quirky. EW Listen to: The Drummer

Music Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Providing one of the more interesting band names to come out recently, TEED aka producer Orlando Higginbottom creates chilled out electro, power pop songs that are effortlessly catchy. EW Listen to: Garden

Spector

Daughter

Support slots with The Killers and Florence and the Machine in 2011 suggest big things for this London-based five-piece. Their witty, minimalistic power-pop is catchy yet haunting. JS Listen to: What You Wanted

With two stunning EPs under their belt, the Brighton-based boy-girl duo’s next move is eagerly anticipated. Words can’t describe the sheer beauty of Elena Tonra’s incredible voice. JS Listen to: Home

Delilah Snapped up by Atlanitc Records at just 17 years of age, 2012 is lining up to be a great year for this young singer song writer.. Having already featured on Chase & Status' Time we are just now starting to hear what this young star is capable of and so far its been impressive! PK

Listen to: Go

Don't forget that it's time to buy your tickets for this year's festivals. Isle of White- £190 Green Man- £110 End of the Road- £150 Outlook- £135 Benicassim- £155 Exit- £95+ Bestival- £170

music@gairrhydd.com

ON SALE NOW:

Music

ALBUM REVIEWS The Maccabees

Howler

GIVEN TO THE WILD

america give up

6/10

Top Tracks: *Pelican *Alya *Grew Up At Midnight

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Released barely a week into the new year, The Maccabees’ new record was like a shining light at the end of a long, dark, Christmas compilation-shaped tunnel. Given To The Wild easily takes the crown for ‘first exciting release of 2012’, and hit single Pelican, with its stabbing chords, catchy vocals and rushing melodies, paved the way for an album of punchy pop-rock anthems. The record, however, could not be more different. The opening tracks gradually build from timid ambience into a crashing chaos of racing tempo and harmony, while Feel To Follow’s tender verses lead to a euphoric rush of chorus. Soft and twinkling, Glimmer demonstrates the band’s newfound interest in experimental sampling, with layer upon layer of swirling gorgeousness, and the swooping dynamics and bleating guitars of Forever I’ve Known confirm that this is an album of atmospheric contrasts. This clear departure from their indie-darling past is definitely refreshing. But with no real stand-out tracks, the first half of the album is at risk of blending into one great mass, and the familiar jolt of Pelican comes as somewhat of a relief. Grew Up At Midnight provides a sweet conclusion to the album that The Maccabees probably hope will catapult their musical career. Nestling somewhere in between shoegaze and psychodelia, Given To The Wild is certainly not what I expected, but it's a grower, and it’s pretty damn good. Jo Southerd

6/10

Top Tracks: *Back of Your Neck *Free Drunk *Told You Once

Howler are a band with a certain level of expectation. Snapped up only a couple of months after their formation by Rough Trade, a company whose roster included Belle & Sebastian and The Strokes, Holwer have been championed by the likes of BBC, Guardian and NME for months, with the latter naming the band 3rd on their list best new bands for 2012. Even before America Give Up hit the shelves, comparisons had already been made to The Strokes, which is not so surprising when you hear that Rough Trade travelled to America to see this band off the back of an EP. So what is the result? Holwer are a band that encompass the revival of 70s pop surf rock, yet such comparisons can be more detrimental than encouraging. Where as Is This It kicks off with tracks like The Modern Age, America Gives Up delivers the innocuous Beach Sluts, leaving the stand out songs of Back of Your Neck and Free Drunk lingering at the back. The result being an album that turns up with some ok to not-so-ok tracks lumped into a mesh before leaving on a very positve note. In other words, America Give Up is inconsistent, yet promising - but doesn’t quite live up to the hype. In the end, it’s a fairly typical rock debut from a band that will go on to better things, and there's nothing wrong with that. Phil Kenny

Music Lana del rey

First aid kit

born to die

The lion's roar

*Radio *Blue Jeans *National Anthem

Since her explosion on to scene with her viral hit Video Games, Lana Del Rey has become one of the most talked about ladies in music. Yet despite appearing to be a champion of the viral age her success is tainted with questions surrounding her authenticity. It’s no surprise then that I was sceptical going in to this hotly anticipated album after countless criticisms and lack lustre live performances. However, it defied my expectations and is, in short, spectacular. Opening with the titular Born to Die, a dark and swathing ballad, Del Rey’s voice oozes oldschool glamour that permeates through the rest of the album. There is a sinister undertone throughout with constant referrals to death, yet Del Rey’s self proclaimed ‘Hollywood Sad core’ perfectly conveys angst-ridden love, whether in the haunting Summertime Sadness or in the more radio-friendly National Anthem. Blending a unique mix of retro-pop songs, hip-hop and a hint of gothic drama, Born to Die undoubtedly makes Del Rey stand-alone from her contemporaries. Her songs are steeped in emotion making for an epic listen and although her voice is at times a little weak it adds to the ‘Lolitagot-lost-in-the-hood’ persona. This album is mesmerising from start to finish, demonstrating a distinctive take on the modern pop song. Say what you like about Lana Del Rey but this girl can create a hell of a song, and whether she did it herself or with the help of her millionaire dad - does it really matter? Emma Wilford

8/10

Top Tracks: * EmmyLou * To A Poet * The Lion's Roar

Authenticity is a big question in music nowadays. If you haven’t got the background to prop-up your musical style then you’re in for a drubbing from critics and bloggers alike. It must be said, First Aid Kit have not encountered too much scepticism. But, the idea of two Swedish girls making an Americana record has still ruffled a few musical feathers. Johanna and Klara Soderburg have created a record with a maturity well beyond their years (born in 1990 and 1993 respectively). Lead single Lion’s Roar is a dazzling folk epic combined with the pitch-perfect harmonies that brought them to the fore in 2007. It actually sets a tone of loud and raucous traditional folk that isn’t met throughout the rest of the album; second single Emmylou brings the Americana feel that is brilliantly pursued throughout. Stand out tracks, however, seem to be the quieter moments, the sweeping To a Poet and I Found a Way are a strange mix of American country of the Fleet Foxes-esque tradition. One feels at times they could have let loose and taken a wild trek though the folk-rock neck of the woods, but I suppose therein lies the sincerity that underpins the record as a whole. It sounds authentic. Who cares if they are from Stockholm? As far as I knew this album could have been made in some shack in Tennessee. A fabulous and sincere sophomore effort which I am sure will bring them much, and well deserved, acclaim. Matt Tilling

music@gairrhydd.com

9/10

Top Tracks:

Music

INTERVIEWS Xpress Radio's James Bradshaw speaks with Ben Duffy, lead singer of Fenech-Soler as they support Example on his UK Tour

You’ve been to Cardiff before, haven’t you? You came earlier in the year, is that right? We did, yeah. I can’t remember the name of it but it was like some kind of festival in the day, in the centre of town. I can’t quite remember it, but it was an eclectic line up!We didn’t actually play it on the last tour, which I was always really annoyed about, so it makes being here tonight all the more sweeter really! To finally get back really. Now you as a band, you’ve been together since 2006, but touring for only a couple of years, is that right? Yeah, about 2006 is when me and my younger brother, Ross, who plays guitar in the band, and the other guys in the band, who were from a couple of villages quite close together in Northamptonshire, got wrapped up in the whole electronic coming back thing of 2006. We wanted to know how to make it, so we bought laptops, and just did everything at home, really! So, you’ve always liked the same sort of music then? We all kinda have different tastes; Andy is really into quite heavy stuff, like Slayer and Metallica and things. It doesn’t really translate into our music, but we all listen to lots of great stuff. We all know if we listen to something and think it’s shit, or if we think it’s good. Your music is very easy to move to, very bouncy music, is that a fair thing to say? Yeah certainly! There was never a real, kind of serious sentiment behind the band or what we were doing, wasn’t any sort of observation on society or anything serious. It was a case of we made the first record at home, it was a real outward perspective thing. Whereas there were lots of albums we liked, we just tried to translate that into our own 10 track album, basically!

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The album came out last year, and was in the iTunes top 10! Yeah! It’s weird y’know, because it is a difficult day and age to sell records, and especially in the UK we’re really singles driven. There’s a real emphasis on top 40 and all that stuff. We’ve just continued to work hard and slowly built ourselves up, and I think we’re not this thing where we have a massive first record and then disappear for a cou-

ple of days and come back with a smaller second record. We’re working on our second record now, and the idea is to get that out and just steadily build really. You’ve been getting a lot of compliments, from those such as The Sunday Times, NME, Q, The Guardian… even the Metro! Yeah definitely! It’s strange, in terms of print press and people liking us, when we put the album out there was Q and NME and all these magazines that we were quite scared of in a way. Because obviously they judge your work, they all gave it really good reviews! Going beyond that, we haven’t really been a massive print press heavy band, but we seem to have just been going out and doing shows, and with the backing of Radio 1 stuff, have built up a fan-base! To a certain extent, the selling out of venues, is bigger than a lot of bands who are really print press heavy. It’s interesting. You’ve supported a lot of big names recently, like White Lies, Kelis, Robyn, and Example tonight for example! Yeah we get along with Elliot (Example) and the rest of the band, who are really nice guys. I’ve known Elliot for a while, bumping into him at festivals and we’re always chatting about music, sending stuff to each other. I think whatever people think of his music, he’s kinda controlling! Him and Ed Sheeran and a few others in the country are really controlling it, it’s impressive! So for us it’s a fantastic platform for us to go and play on. It’s nice to do the supporting role, people still don’t really know who we are, some people do, and it’s nice to just warm people up and not play for too long basically! That’s the key! Are you looking forward to ending the tour? Are you going to miss it? Any plans to relax? Yeah, I said yesterday when we were in our hotel, “I could do this for a year”, it is quite a privilege to travel around with your best mates to play gigs. It can be hard work, but I think that any band or artist that ‘calls it hard work, and it’s really difficult, boo hoo etc’ is just talking absolute rubbish! It’s amazing, it’s really good fun. We’re gonna have a week off for Christmas, then I’m gonna go to Europe on my own for about 10 days to go and write lyrics.

Music Phil Kenny caught up with hotly-tipped newcomers Howler when they came down to the Union to play an exclusive show in the Taf ahead of their gig at Buffalo Bar

howler

"I enjoy walks on the beach, all types of dogs… and sunsets" before delving into an argument with second guitarist Ian Nygaard over which of the Mighty Ducks films was the best and why Green Ranger was the greatest Power Ranger. Obviously not a band who take themselves too seriously. Yet when it comes to music, Howler are a band who are clearly doing what they love to do. "Our music is just a collection of pop songs that are just.. kinda dirtied up a bit" says Gatesmith. And this is certainly true for their well-received EP This Ones Different, but America Give Up seems less so. "Yea definitely. Well it's not that it's less poppy, the songs are the same level of popiness, it's just how you hide the fact that they’re pop songs? I wanted Howler to be a rock back and not an indie disco band "This kid just goes into his basement and comes back with the amazing tunes" explains Nygaard. But Gatesmith doesn’t seem to type to brag, "No I just bring the songs to the band and let them do their very best to them". "We had our first stage dive in XOYO in London, jumping off and shit’ boasts Nygaard. Unlike some bands who seem to fear the intrusion Jordan and Ian seem to love the crowd interaction. "We were kinda freaked out but it was cool as shit". So what does the future hold for Howler, a band surrounded by so much hype and expectation after just one record. "Yea we're definitely working on a new record. Hopefully trying to put a new single out this summer, not quiet sure when but there’s defiantly new stuff on the way".

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Outside of Cardiff ’s Buffalo bar, Jordan Gatesmith exits Howlers tour van in a Ramones-esque leather jacked with a laptop in one hand and a bottle of JD in the other. "I love the UK - I can’t drink back home". A modest entrance for a band that are being championed for great things in 2012 by the likes of The Guardian, BBC and NME. And I was curious as to what I’d find when the tour van doors open. Yet nineteen-year-old Gatesmith seems unphased by the hype. Formed out of boredom in 2010, before Howler, he had been in several other bands without any success. "I was starting new bands what seemed like every other week it seemed. We had a metal band for a while. We had one called Gay Animals, another called A-Cups, but none of them really lasted that long". When asked what made Howler stand out he just laughed, "That was the only one that got signed". In fact he wasn’t telling us the whole story. Based on one EP, UK-based Rough Trade flew out to Minneapolis to see the band live and snapped them up. “It all happened quite quickly" recalls Gatesmith, I was just in my house one day and I got a phone call from England saying that Rough Trade and NME were sending people out to our next gig and next thing we were signed. I didn’t know what to do, I just walked round like a zombie for a week". Yet since then Howler have been chucked around the media, recently appearing 3rd on NME’s bands to watch. "Wow I didn’t know that" says Jordan, clearly one of the few not keeping a tab on his own hype. But after spending some time with the band this becomes less surprising. When asked about themselves, Jordan Gatesmith jokes

45 41

film news

Hammer in the Slammer. Famous for playing the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network and soon to appear as Snow White’s Prince Charming in Mirror Mirror, Armie Hammer recently spent a day in jail, when authorities caught him in possession of brownies and cookies laced with marijuana. Hammer seems unfazed by the arrest, laughing off his recent antics by joking about how handsome he looked in his mugshot; "what you didn't see, is there was a make-up crew there, really, to do the whole thing...”

India to miss out ON GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO  With David Fincher refusing to cut any scenes from his The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake, India's Central Board of Film Certification, (CBFC) have refused its release despite much anticipation. Usually, full frontal nudity is simply blurred out, but the scenes in question, including two love making scenes, a lesbian scene and a brutal rape scene, have been asked to be cut. Mumbai-based Sony Pictures India stated “while we are committed to maintaining and protecting the vision of the director, we will, as always, respect the guidelines set by the Board”.

Monty python reunion  The surviving members of Monty Python are making a comeback! Sadly not onscreen, but through lending their voices to Terry Jones’ latest or CG/ live-action sci-fi farce Absolutely Anything. The group are voicing key roles as a group of aliens who endow an earthling with the power to do "absolutely anything," to see what a mess he'll make of things, which is precisely what happens. According to director Terry Jones “it's not a Monty Python picture, but it certainly has that sensibility.” The uber-talented Robin Williams is also set to voice a character.

FILMS BRING 20m BOOST TO GLASGOW According to new figures, recent Hollywood films and other productions have boosted Glasgow’s economy by £20.15m. Brad Pitt’s zombie flick World War Z has been the biggest contributor, bringing £3.33m over its 17 day shoot. Cloud Atlas starring Halle Berry and Under The Skin with Scarlett Johansson also played important roles in such an increase. Glasgow City Council leader, Gordon Matheson, said: “The hard work of Glasgow Film Office has most certainly paid off. Such a figure underlines the financial importance of attracting film, broadcast and advertising productions to Glasgow.” FI

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Got twitter wit? Send your 140 character film reviews to @QuenchFilm for a chance to be in the next issue!

Film

trailer trash Moonlight Kingdom  Release: may 2012

The name of Wes Anderson conjures up various cinematic tropes for the initiated indie film fan: minimalist title sequences, revival pop music, children acting too old for their age, adults acting too young for their age, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. The trailer for his latest provides all of the above in glorious abundance – Moonlight Kingdom is Anderson through and through, possessing the subtle wit and beautifully uncooperative tone reminiscent of previous mastery in Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic. If the alternative leanings and primary-coloured aesthetics don’t do it for you, perhaps the film’s impressive cast will: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton and Harvey Keitel join some of Anderson’s regular collaborators, making Moonlight Kingdom one of the writer-director’s most anticipated releases to date. MA

A B C D

Think you know your sex scenes? Decipher which films these memorable scenes are from and find out how much of a cinephile nympho you really are.

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A) When Harry Met Sally B) Love and Other Drugs C) Cruel Intentions D) Twilight: Breaking Dawn E) Titanic F)Basic Instinct

Answers:

Sex on Screen... Sex on screen has always caused debate, Morten Wright questions whether it is artistic or just a shameless ploy to lure people to see average films enhanced by soft porn?

Gratuitous Or Necessary?

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Film

Knocked Up introduced the world to Mr Skin and if you were inclined in such a way to browse through it, then the results for one actress in particular, Monica Bellucci, would be disturbingly varied. Shoot ‘Em Up is lowbrow and action packed, rushing from gunfight to gunfight, each set in a more ridiculous scenario than the last. The most ridiculous was undoubtedly when Clive Owen and Bellucci were interrupted mid coitus by some unruly chaps with guns. Rather than stopping and running away, the pair carry on regardless while Owen occasionally shoots a bad guy before the climax of the fight is reached at the same time Owen reaches his. In contrast stands Gaspar Noe’s nausea inducing Irreversible, where the act of sex is used as a

valid plot point. The events unfold in reverse order with the camera constantly moving as the motives behind Vincent Cassel’s rampage through the Parisian clubbing scene gradually become clear. The sickening shooting style is abruptly brought to a halt to focus on the rape of Bellucci, as she leaves a drug-addled party captivating audiences in the most stomach turning fashion. Quite frankly, it seems absurd that the same actress would be involved in the unashamedly gratuitous example of sexploitation in Shoot ‘Em Up just five years after audiences were shocked by the necessarily graphic rape scene in Irreversible.

Film

With the release of Shame, the debate over sex on film has found its way onto centre stage again, especially in terms of addiction. Steve McQueen’s second directorial effort is unflinching in every sense. The tale of sex addict Brandon’s life falling to pieces around him is the perfect example of artistic bravery, as no effort is made to tone down the content, and rightfully so. While it refuses to back down in this way, the resultant mix bag of sex scenes are examples of both subtlety and excess which never degenerate into pornography. For a more sideways glance at the issue of sex obsession, controversial director John Waters’ A Dirty Shame, takes aim at everything from conventional perceptions of moral decency to taboo and religion. On the whole, it is fairly uneven, with most genuine laughs matched by massive misfires; this is none more evident in the entertaining but messy final act, which constantly switches between a zombie-like apocalypse of lust, as seen by the ‘repressed’, and a victorious carnival of sex and self expression, as seen by the ‘liberated’. It may prove far too close to the knuckle for some viewers

but there is entertainment to be had and, if you look hard enough, a moral message can probably be found, but it will probably be a bit different to the ones Aesop’s fables taught you when you were young.

Art, Smut Or Both? The debate over sex on screen will most likely never reach its conclusion, as there will always be some people who see any nudity on screen as a disgrace and perversion. The age-old saying is that art imitates life. So, while Shame and Irreversible focus on the more uncomfortable aspects of sex, they do at least ring true as opposed to the absurd exploitation seen in Shoot ‘Em Up. John Waters’ was knowingly, and sarcastically, parodying this exploitation to show the absurdity of some use of sex on screen. Sometimes it is art and sometimes it is smut, you just have to make your own mind up over which you would rather go to watch.

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Sex Addiction On Film

Film

FILM RevieWS THE ARTIST Dir: Michel Hazanavicius Cast: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman

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For those of you who caught just a glimpse of the various headlines including “Filmgoers demand refunds for The Artist,” I must highlight that this was neither due to film quality or cracks in the silent movie genre, it was simply due to ignorance. When going to a silent movie, expect a silent movie. This unfortunately wasn’t the Liverpool Odeon’s official statement when refunding a number of punters earlier this week. However, for those who think they know what to expect from this film, think again. The Artist, free from special effects and sound recording, is the most engaging and inspiring film we are likely to see this year. I admit at first the idea was not appealing, but picking up Golden Globes for best actor in a musical or comedy (Jean Dujardin), best musical or comedy film and best score, is the very least this film deserves. Of course this film is not completely silent. The music running throughout brings life, character and a great sense of fun to the actors and themes that delve deep into the hidden darkness behind the glamour of 30s Hollywood. Perhaps it’s this very lack of audio that makes this cinematic experience far superior, enriching and immersive than others. Yet it could be its touching affection to black and white cinema, or its effortlessly brilliant cast or even its storyline making the plight

of Chicago’s Roxie look like a Barbara Windsor biopic. Personally, the cast steal it for me. It’s becoming a well used phenomenon, that sticking relatively unknown actors in lead positions in a big budget film is a sure-fire way to bring a sense of individuality to the picture, no preconceptions, no other image of the actor. Jean Dujardin is an immediate screen icon. To derive so much laughter and warmth from an audience without words, is indeed the work of an artist. Evidence of this was an applause that rippled through Cardiff Cineworld, and with Brits too reserved to clap plane landings, this certainly is a testimony to the rousing nature of this film. The leading lady is another face that steals the hearts of all those who watch her. To see such skilful actors master the craft of a silent movie in modern day cinema is a magical experience and one that was lost for over 80 years. This may be the greatest love letter ever written to the history of cinema, but it’s a dark one; heart wrenching and without a shadow of a doubt, a masterpiece.

10/10 .

Tom Webb

Film Film

Dir: Guy Ritchie Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris I remember a few years ago there was a period when you could barely wake up in the morning without being greeted by another news story of another planned adaption of Sherlock Holmes. The copyright on Conan Doyle’s work had expired and Hollywood, and the industry in general, was gearing up to milk the character for every penny it could get. The first effort to be beamed out at us was Guy Ritchie’s entertaining, and actually rather good, big budget fare. Then the BBC, under Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis, had their crack at modernizing Holmes with astounding results. And now within just a few weeks of each other, we have been presented with the second installments of both of these. I make this point not to judge one on the merits of the other but simply to point out that while the BBC series has reached new heights, Ritchie’s second effort was only marginally better than the awful prospect of the fortunately abandoned plans of an adaption by the Judd Apatow machine starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Seth Rogen. A Game of Shadows offers up exactly what is to be expected in sequels in this vein, there are bigger set pieces, a bigger villainous threat and new characters and in true sequel form, all of these had their faults. The bar fight was the one entertaining exception to the rest of the action, which

just did not feel as fun as in the first film. Moriarty and his war waging schemes provided ample motivation for Holmes and Watson, but in every confrontation there was a lack of any real confrontation and Jared Harris seemed a bit out of place. Noomi Rapace in her first big film since the Millennium trilogy, was not quite, blink and you’ll miss her, but her character, which could have offered a real emotional drive to the film, was severely neglected. The new addition that really grated on me though, was Steven Fry as Holmes’ brother Mycroft. The character was massively overplayed and exaggerated descending into cheap humour disappointing in a series that has actually offered up some real laughs. Along with these, came the same jokes from the first film but with a little bit less charm. Holmes and Watson are still arguing about whether what they’re holding is in their hand or the other’s face and what has happened to Winston the dog. From here on in I apologise that I must fall into the realm of spoilers and the comparison that I earlier promised to avoid. Anyone with some knowledge of the Holmes canon is probably familiar with the final meeting with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, so when the spanning shot of the castle and waterfall opens the final act of the film, you know what is coming. Of course, you can not go in expecting to see something entirely new when the end is relatively set in stone but whereas the finale of the second series of the BBC effort, which dealt with the same confrontation, has left the audience desperate for more, I am really not fussed if the question mark after The End in Ritchie’s second effort has an answer.

4/10

Morten Wright

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Sherlock  Holmes: A Game  of Shadows

Film

THE SITTER Dir: David Gordon Green Cast: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell, Landry Bender

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Sometimes, all you need from a cinema visit is mindless fun, and the barrel that this latest toiletcom flick openly scrapes used to be filled to the brim with just that – hilarious belly-laughing good times at the local big screen, admittedly without real emotional depth, but still enough to make you choke on your popcorn when the hapless protagonist trips over his girlfriends dog, or something. Unfortunately for The Sitter, recycling the formula from previously successful outings in this genre just won’t cut it anymore. Meet our token obnoxious and chronically irresponsible chubster of a hero, Noah – you guessed it, Jonah Hill plays him. He’s the sort who won’t leave the sofa for a ringing telephone two feet away from him, but you know deep down that he’s got a good heart, because he loves his mum. And so, reluctantly agreeing to babysit for a family friend in order for her to have a good night out, the spiral of outrageous misfortunes begins. From here there’s too-hot-for-him girlfriends, there’s borderline racist gang stereotypes and there’s sure as hell a socially awkward gay teenager. The problem isn’t just that it’s been done before, though: it’s that it’s been done better. Take

psychopathic but weirdly affectionate drug lord, Karl (Sam Rockwell) – he’s the Caucasian doppelganger of Mr Chow from The Hangover, only less funny. The three kids, each with their own pre-pubescent issues that Noah weeds out of them with his all-knowing post-teen wisdom, are likeable enough, but nothing close to the rapturously loveable pair of misfits that Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott are stuck with in Role Models. There are chuckles to be had and semi-relatable moments to inspire knowing glances with your girlfriend, but it’s hardly worth enduring the rest of the clichéd plot for. We know from the beginning that every dent in the borrowed family car will culminate in an equally predictable scrape for the quadrant of main characters, which ultimately makes for an unfulfilling experience, no matter how low your expectations were to begin with. Matt Ayres

3/10 .

ICONOGRAPHy:  David Fincher (Filmmaker) ''The master of thrilling refrain and visually jarring cinematography"

For meticulously murky depictions of the human psyche, David Fincher has deservedly become Hollywood’s go-to director. The scrupulous auteur behind Seven, Fight Club and The Social Network, has so far enjoyed a legendary career spanning 25 years – longer, if you count a childhood of making stop-motion productions Butch Cassidy style, developing a hands-on approach to filmmaking from the very beginning. This practical attitude to movie production led Fincher to eschew the classic film school route; the young filmmaker instead chose to gain experience behind cameras and in the cutting rooms of some of the biggest 80s releases, learning the ropes of the industry with credits in generation defining blockbusters like Return of the Jedi and The Temple of Doom. His debut in directing for the American Cancer Society was perhaps the perfect metaphor for the career that lay before him: it depicted a fetus smoking a cigarette, an image of infected innocence that resonated with likeminded visionaries. This unlocked a directorial door into a wealth of commercials, music videos and, eventually, his first feature film in 1992. However, when Alien 3 proved to be a critical flop, the director buried himself once again in the realm of music promos. Allegedly, a number of heated artistic disagreements had emerged whilst Fincher had worked under 20th Century Fox, resulting in an unfulfilling third installment of the legendary sci-scream franchise. Returning to what he knew best, the filmmaker reclaimed his inventive integrity, collaborating to make memorable music videos for artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson and Nine Inch Nails. Indeed, Fincher’s habit of sticking to what he

(1995) (1999) (2007) (2010)

knew was only bolstered during this transitionary period, and when the right film came along in the form of Seven three years later, he was sure to include a gritty, experimental soundtrack from a likeminded auteur and creative ally, Trent Reznor. Seven is now commonly regarded as the definitive David Fincher film: it was within the shadowed streets of its sinful city that he proved himself to be the master of thrilling refrain and visually jarring cinematography. Similar approaches would be seen in pictures such as The Game, Panic Room, Zodiac and, perhaps most memorably, Fight Club, in which Chuck Palahniuk’s post-modern novel is brought to life with all the grimy aestheticism of an industrial apocalypse. Since paying his dues with such a series of cult classics, Fincher has tested the water of unexplored genres – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button put long-time collaborator Brad Pitt through bold paces, in a Fitzgerald adaptation that sees the titular character aging backwards: from old to young. The Social Network was rapturously received in 2010, providing a disturbingly honest depiction of Facebook’s unchallenged rise in the virtual realm and winning the golden statue for Best Picture last year, whilst his latest, an Americanized remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, is a loyal and engrossing dive into Stieg Larsson’s best-selling book. If you can stomach it, Fincher’s body of painstakingly detailed work is a perfect example of filmmaking done right: thought provoking, aesthetically absorbing and artistically unique. Matt Ayres

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defining  movies: Seven Fight Club Zodiac The Social Network

Photos

A Century of Nude

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The naked form has long inspired creative depictions from appreciative observers. Ever since our cave-dwelling predecessors first got a glimpse of boob and put brush to wall, the human race has tirelessly pioneered novel ways of illustrating the au naturel. The Greeks and Romans, with their modestly endowed marbles and explicit portrayals of coitus, are perhaps the most notable artistes of ancient nakedness. However, they are only two of the countless cultures for which renditions of nudity were custom. It would seem that civilisation as a whole can, unsurprisingly, be united by a common admiration for the body and the activities associated with revealing it. In true industrial style, the last century has seen the production of, uses of, and attitudes towards erotic images undergo rapid changes under the influence of, you guessed it, the camera. Whereas throughout history handcrafted artworks celebrated the naturalness of nudity and the often-spiritual aspects of sex (think the Kama Sutra and tribal fertility symbols), twentieth century technology paved the way for mass printed images and a reduction in symbolic significance of the body. What was once a purely artistic and interpretive endeavour took on a more realist and voyeuristic character, with images of nudity being produced simply for the observer’s visual pleasure. Of course, there are still artists and photographers exploring contemporary nude art removed from simple sexual purposes, but mainstream uses of the photographed human body have somewhat removed the artistic element. In contrast to the suggestive images that saturate today’s pages and billboards (I’m sure I don’t need to give you an example, but Stuff mag’s bikini-geekygadget combos are really quite special), attitudes towards nudity for anything other than art were once reserved to say the least. That’s not to say that those prudish Victorians didn’t harbour an underground market for the erotica that was streaming out of Paris. Soon enough though, these photos found themselves in publications made legit by the pretences of art. Names such as Nude Art for Men and Photo Bits give an insight into this denial of purpose, apparently with no sense of irony. At the same time as magazine industry’s development in size and quality, outlooks on sex were becoming increas-

ingly liberal. In the 1940s the pin-up girls reached the heights of cult icons, their popularity in part fuelled by the millions of horny soldiers in active service at the time. Hollywood stars like Rita Hayworth, Ingrid Bergman and Bette Davis found further fame hanging on the walls surrounding a generation of men. Then came Playboy. The lack of introduction needed for Mr Hefner’s empire goes to show the extent to which soft-core pornography has penetrated society (pun intended). In following decades, magazines of the same vein pushed boundaries of acceptance, gradually revealing more and more skin until there was little else left to do but turn to outright hardcore porn. Publications like Playboy and Penthouse remained in the realm of soft-core, but the 1990s was still the decade of decadence with a boom in photographed sex of all sorts. These explicit developments were then overtaken by a new phenomenon in male culture, the Lad Mag. These removed themselves from the increasingly seedy world of porn, supposedly putting the appreciation back into erotic photography by remaining relatively modest in comparison. Even if this is true, there can be little denying the irreversible impact mass produced erotic images has had on the perceptions of, amongst other things, women, men, sex, love, photography and art. The century of rapid advancement has, in mainstream culture at least, undone the historic spirituality and admiration of the human body. Whether the demystification of sex and the body is open-minded progress or a shift towards shallow and unfulfilling voyeurism is a matter of personal opinion. What I will say, perhaps unnecessarily so, is that all erotic depictions, ancient or modern, artistic or pornographic, are not the authentic that they portray. They are a myriad of interpretations, albeit very realistic since photography, which open up questions of both morality and choice. Especially now, at the time where all has literally been laid bare, it would be easy to feel that what is on offer is merely a reflection of normal attitudes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if most people still retain a deeper appreciation for their objects and actions of desire. Whatever you want to call it, spiritual, thoughtful, natural even, the world of erotic publications won’t ever change it.

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James Cohen is a photographer from London and is currently a 1st year Computer Science student at Cardiff. He first approached photography around four years ago. Seduced by the world of Lomography, this lead to a long love affair with film and many a fond hour was spent slaving away in his college's sixth form darkroom. His plans include integrating his knowledge of photography into his career as a programmer. Check out more of his work out at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesjcohen/

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