Ella Haigh delves into the world of conspiracy theories
Pg. 4
Pg. 16
2 5
Hello and welcome to this edition of the HNC Echo. This magazine is a result of the hard work of our students who participate in our journalism enrichment.
I am incredibly proud to introduce this edition of the NHC Echo - our journalists here worked hard to bring you a variety of interesting topics as diverse as climate change to hip hop. I hope you enjoy reading their articles as much as I did.
Hayley Doyle
Enrichment Lead – HNC Echo
4
The truth is out there
Ella Haigh 10
The evolution of hip hop
Corey Bradley 12
Is F1 a real sport
Faith Roche
18
How to be optimistic
Summer Arnott
The HNC Echo is written for students, by students. It is a part of our enrichment offer, with our writers independently developing their own ideas and content. Please note therefore that the magazine contains the individual views of our young people, and any views expressed are not necessarily those of HNC. The College is not liable for any inaccuracies or incorrect content. We hope you enjoy the creative efforts of our students.
or is it?
The truth is out thereThe truth is out there -
Ella Haigh dives in to exploring some popular conspiracy theories and why some of us discount them, and how some of us genuinely believe that as they say, the truth is out there.
Conspiracy theories are all around us, particularly in today’s digital world, but can we believe them or is it all lies?
There are probably millions of conspiracy theories. Some have a nugget of fact behind them, some of them seem to have appeared out of thin air.
In this article we’ll be taking a look at some of the more common ones, and unearthing some views on them.
The truth is out there -
This conspiracy theory suggests that members of the Royal Family supposedly planned the car crash that killed the ‘people’s princess’. On the night of the 31 August 1997, the paparazzi pursued a black Mercedes-Benz driven by an intoxicated man who did not have adequate control of the vehicle. In this car was Princess Diana, her then boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and his bodyguard. The speeding car suddenly crashed in a tunnel in Paris and unfortunately for those in the car the only survivor was the bodyguard. The death of the ‘people’s princess’ massively affected the British nation as grief swept over Britain with almost 2.5 billion people watching her funeral live a week after the incident.
blew up so much that in 2004, the Met Police were required to re-investigate the accident, and although many people also believed and blamed the royals, there was no credible evidence to support the theory. So, can we believe this speculation or is it too twisted to tell? What do ordinary people think? To find out, I spoke to some current HNC students.
My first interviewee indicated that this was one of their favourite conspiracy theories. I asked her why this was:
“I like the different perspectives regarding what led up to her death and am interested in the backstory of the Royals and their involvement in the car accident.”
article by Ella Haigh
The death of Diana remains a key one, even many years after her sad death.
The father of Dodi Al-Fayed believed something sinister was the cause. He blamed the Royal Family and MI6. This allegation
When I probed this further, and asked what her thoughts of the media’s involvement (or not) she commented:
“I know that Diana wrote a letter before her death which sounded very dodgy as she believed that her life was in danger and that her husband (Charles) was planning her death. I also believe that the ambulance purposely delayed taking her to the hospital therefore she didn’t get the help she needed.”
This student clearly believes this theory, and I was curious to know if this meant she believed in other common theories that were out there, such as aliens. She said:
“I don’t believe in aliens; I think it is strange to believe that aliens exist and that they come down to Earth in their UFOs. I don’t think it is possible for aliens to be so intelligent to be able to build ships and travel around the universe like they are explorers, it doesn’t sound believable. Although, I do believe that there is something out there in space, aliens no, but something else maybe.”
After this interesting interview, I wanted to explore further how much my fellow students believe in the concept of a conspiracy theories. This student - who wishes to remain anonymous - was asked for their opinion and shared what she believes about conspiracy theories:
“I think that some can be understandable but others not so much as they can be quite stupid.”
She then told me about her favourite conspiracy theory, which focuses on the concept of a disappearing plane into a black hole:
“I think about how you could lose a plane and how it stayed in the air for that long without using up all the fuel, how did the people not change at all in their appearances or age? It’s quite strange if you think about it.”
I was then intrigued to find out why if she believed in the disappearing plane theory, why did she discount the possibility of life on Mars?
She said: “I don’t believe in aliens, it sounds stupid; how do you can come up with a fictional character for like a comic or film and then believe that they are suddenly real and actually living in the same universe as us?”
I pushed her for more answers on what she thought on the disappearing plane theory, so wondered what her thoughts were on the media’s outlook on it, she commented:
“Well obviously a plane doesn’t just go missing it has a tracker so it should have been tracked, or the tracker must have disappeared, so that would create chaos in the media and fear within planes for the public. And when it suddenly turns up 5 years later it’s obviously going to create a panic in the media as it’s not a common thing that should naturally happen.”
A disappearing plane, how strange is that? Or is it?
The Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 set off on the 8 March 2014 carrying 227 passengers. What seemed to be a normal flight from Malaysia to Beijing changed drastically as it became the greatest mystery in aviation history. The flight started off as a normal flight, but around 38 minutes after take-off it lost communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and then it disappeared off ATC’s radar but was found by military radars deviating off its original path. It again left radar, crossing over the Malay Peninsula and the Andaman Sea. All passengers and staff on the plane are presumed dead with this being the deadliest incident in Malaysian Airline history, yet nobody really knows the truth.
So, do you believe that the mystery plane disappeared in the air or is it all just a hoax, a lie to deceive us? There are so many conspiracy theories travelling in the air around us, for example: Aliens, little or big creatures surviving above us in the never-ending depth of space. Is this believable? Creatures travelling in UFOs during the night and creating havoc for our farmer, stealing cows and creating crop circles in their fields – is that true? Or perhaps the Bermuda triangle, also known as the Devil’s triangle, an invisible entity in the water making a ship or plane that travels over sink or crash into the water. Now is this a coincidence or is there actually something in the water making all these tragic incidents happen?
Are all these conspiracy theories actually just theories or do they all have something in common of being scientific mysteries? What do you think about these? Are they real? Or are they just stories passed on through generations?
Maybe the truth isn’t out there at all?
Planning for the future – what happens when you don’t know what the road looks like?
El Booth writes about how saying yes can help shape your future.
At College, a lot of emphasis is placed upon having a ‘vision’ and plan for the future. But whether you’re nervous about having to settle on one thing, or don’t really see your plans aligning with your current A Levels or BTECs, the good news is that there are a multitude of options out there. As scary as it might seem at first, nothing is permanent, which means that life is full of different decisions and directions you can take it.
This idea can be best explained using Sylvia Plath’s ‘fig tree’ analogy. She describes how the central character envisions her life branching out before her like a fig tree, with each fig representing a potential future for her life. However, when she sits and worries about which fig to choose, she begins to starve, misses all the opportunities presented to her and watches the figs “wrinkle and go black, and, one by one (fall)… to the ground.”
When you imagine all the things you could do, the directions you could take in life, it is natural for it to feel overwhelming, or for the pressure to choose to unsettle you. The right response to that feeling is to just ‘grab a fig’.
Speaking less metaphorically, if you start going down a path and realise you don’t like it, you can change course. How many people signed up for an A-Level and made a quick change at the start of college? And how were they able to do that? - By learning from their experiences in their original enrolment. Similarly, in the world of work and life after or outside of college, you never know until you try.
Every work experience, parttime job, apprenticeship, volunteering role (you name it), develops your skillset. Whether you go into something with high expectations and it fails to meet them or feel as though you’re settling for something that isn’t quite aligned with your big dream, you can reframe that by thinking about what you’re actually learning. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, you’re picking up transferable skills all the time.
When you’re thinking about branching out, gaining experience and moving towards your career goals, don’t let too many ‘What Ifs’ wear you down. If you never start, you’ll never get anywhere. There’s no such thing as a wrong choice if it leads you to making the right one.
After you’ve done the difficult thing and taken chances, you can figure out what works for you. For example, I spent a summer volunteering for a carriage-riding charity. Through that, I learnt that I really didn’t like working with horses but also gained an understanding of my strengths and weaknesses. Going into new things after that, I knew what to avoid and what to look for. That knowledge is invaluable.
All of this to say, you should absolutely chase any opportunities you can find that have the slightest chance of helping you out in the future. Despite what the pressure placed on us might lead us to expect, your choices aren’t definitive and the plentiful number of options available isn’t something to be intimidated by. Really, it’s a privilege of the modern world that Sylvia Plath’s Esther could not garner. So, start grabbing some figs!
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.
...You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.
Amelia Earhart
Save the globe
Climate change is something we are all aware of. But what small steps can we take to try and shape a better future? Millie Shaw investigates
We tend to think about climate change as something that will potentially affect us, and something that future generations will need to worry about, when in fact it is happening now in this very moment.
To put it simply, climate change is the gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth. This refers to longterm shifts in temperatures and weather patterns and shifts such as volcanic eruptions and sun activity. So, why does this happen?
Deforestation: the cutting down of forest contributes to global warming as trees act as a natural ‘carbon sink’ and take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Therefore,
when trees are removed, the carbon emissions are released back into the atmosphere, limiting nature’s ability to withhold the emissions.
Manufacturing products: the manufacturing industry produces emissions mostly through the burning of fossil fuels to produce energy. An example of this is the manufacture and production of cement.
Transportation: almost all cars, trains, buses, trams, planes and all other modes of transport run on fossil fuels. As a result, transportation is a major factor contributing toward greenhouse gases (this issue is now even more prominent with the expansion of global trade).
Producing food: making food requires energy to run specific machinery and tools. Additionally, food miles are a huge contributor towards this. Some foods travel across the globe just to end up on your plate!
Global warming is causing sea levels to rise in two ways. The first way is glaciers and icesheets such as those in Antarctica which are rapidly melting each day and therefore adding increased amounts of water to the oceans and seas. Secondly, as the water continues to warm, the ocean is expanding (thermal expansion). As a result, this enforces major physical impacts upon humanity, for example, major coastal flooding of areas which can be detrimental to villages or towns is nearby areas and can destroy and damage livelihoods. Melting sea ice can also result in loss of habitats and wildlife declining.
Did you know? 13 cities could be underwater by 2050
to survive tomorrow
globe today
Is there anything that can be done to help?
To put it simply, climate change and sea levels rising is an issue that cannot fully be stopped as the issue is too significant. However, to some extent there are little things we can tweak and change to mitigate...
5 top tips on how we can all make a little difference
Change your main energy sources to renewable energy (solar, wind, tidal)
Limit fast fashion purchases
Avoid retail brands such as Shein and PTL
Buy local foods/shop locally
Limit food miles and shop closer to home with locally sourced produce
Turn off unnecessary electrical supply Light switches/plug sockets
Green your transport!
Take advantage of sunny days and walk to the shops!
From the Maldives to Venice and several other places located around the world, the next 25 years are crucial as large portions of these places could be submerged and underwater fully! If we all made small changes then collectively we can make a big impact and preserve the world we live in.
Want to read more? You can take a look at some trusted resources here:
How climate change worsens heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and floods - BBC News https://www.bbc. co.uk/news/scienceenvironment-58073295
9 things you can do about climate change https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ stories/climate-action/
The evolution of hip hop
Corey Bradley gives you an insight into the story of hip hop and why you should be inspired
If you asked the average hip hop fan what the most influential year for hip hop was, they would most likely list a year between the late 1980’s and early 1990s, which is also known as the ‘golden age’ of hip hop. These marked moments in the development of hip hop as a genre, such as in 1986, with Run- D.M.C’s ‘walk this way’, marking hip hop’s first breakthrough into the mainstream, or 1988, marking the release of the critically acclaimed ‘Straight Outta Compton’, from NWA. It’s safe to say that 2024 is one of the last years that a hip-hop fan would even think of in terms of future influence and importance to the genre, however I am here to argue otherwise.
A new type of sound has developed over 2024 and is seen throughout both hip-hop and R&B producers adopting more soulful influences, with a lot of elements you would see featured in a genre such as Jazz. Many of the biggest artists in 2024 have adopted this element, including Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, and SZA. Although these aren’t the only artists who have adopted this style and not the first, they have brought this style to the mainstream, highlighting a new era of hip-hop which has seen the entire genre, especially production/performance wise, changing forever.
Tyler The Creator’s ‘Chromakopia’ was released on October 28 2024, breaking his tradition of releasing an album every 2 years. There are many other conventions that Tyler broke in this album, such as him not having two songs in one on the penultimate track, which has been a staple for his albums since 2009, and this is important as it represented the core theme of the album, breaking the norm of the genre.
Where other rappers would have made expensive songs to be played at clubs and be upbeat, possibly revolving around personal flexes and how good their lives are, Chromakopia takes a slower and introspective approach. Tyler takes us through heavier topics with slower production and mellow beats, such as in the track “like him”, where he openly talks about how his missing father figure leaves him with a feeling of emptiness, or the track “hey Jane”, discussing his fear of being a father and the emotional trauma that the mother may go through if he isn’t present in the child’s life.
This is very important as it has been a theme throughout 2024 to air out personal stories and viewpoints which may not have been tackled in previous years. To talk about airing out personal viewpoints, especially between artists, we must discuss the Kendrick Vs Drake ‘beef’ - and I think beef is an understatement - as the effects of what came out of this ‘beef’, may have changed the genre forever.
What started as a small and seemingly harmless argument spiralled into a public spat with Drake and his perceived wrongdoings in the industry. There is too much detail to discuss as I could write an entire article about this itself. I’m instead going to talk about the domino effect that occurred following the beef (and the most important song) which most people don’t realise is playing out in front of our eyes. Following the global success of ‘Not Like Us’ recognising Kendrick as ‘winner’ of the beef due to the success in the global charts, and the public voicing
their support for him, Kendrick released an untitled song to his Instagram, which has eventually developed the title of “Watch the Party Die”.
This song follows Kendrick Lamar’s long-standing frustrations with the music industry, specifically hiphop culture and the media. Although this song was released shortly following the beef, this was not a diss track, this was a critique on the entire industry.
This song follows many things, such as corporate wrongdoings tied to the industry and the big names associated with it. What Kendrick proposes is that we must “Watch the Party Die”, basically saying to move on and advance hip hop, we must abandon the genre and its conventions entirely, and enter a new age of hip hop, which has already seen its effect. Artists like Doechii, Tyler the Creator, and even Kendrick himself have all released genre bending albums this year which break the codes and conventions of hip hop and its only becoming more prevalent, with many upand-coming artists producing this style of hip hop rather than the gangster rap genre which caused hip hop to enter in the mainstream in the first place.
Kendrick’s “Watch the Party Die” – which is all about the huge players who most of us know- is becoming truer every day. With the recent scandal with P-Diddy, Jay-Z, Beyonce, and many other big names getting heavily criticized by the media, we are truly witnessing the death of traditional mainstream hip hop, and I truly believe 2024 was the biggest year in hip hop history,
as we are entering a new age and leaving the conventions behind. Following the release of the Mac Miller album following his untimely death, and many up-and-coming hip-hop artists, such as one I happened to find whilst writing this article called Katjay, and another one who sounds eerily similar to Tyler the Creator called JoJo, adopting this new style, 2025 is continuing the theme of this new age of hip hop.
If I’ve piqued your interest, here is my top 5 hip hop albums of the year:
1. Chromakopia- Tyler, the Creator. Chromakopia is an introspective insight to a lot of personal struggles which Tyler has had to overcome, with his signature production and popular features, there is going to be at least something that you can get out of this album. There are no misses in this album, and it continues to be replayable and introspective despite how many times I have listened to it.
2. GNX- Kendrick Lamar. Following his beef with Drake, Kendrick Lamar surprise dropped his album GNX which has had a lot of acclaim due to its amazing production, the usual lyricism by Kendrick, and features from artists such as SZA who has become a fan favourite when paired with Kendrick Lamar as their styles mesh extremely well.
3. Alligator Bites Never Heal- Doechii. Once again an introspective insight into an artist’s life, however Doechii expresses these moments in her life in a more comedical and satirical way, acknowledging her past and accepting it and growing upon it. If you are a fan of Lauryn Hills flow, you will enjoy Doechii’s as she is inspired by this.
4. Dark Times- Vince Staples. A heavy album, showing an artist’s true vulnerability and despair, the best album of this year in turns of storytelling, if you prefer deep and meaningful artists this album covers that perfectly.
5. Blue Lips- Schoolboy Q. Schoolboy Q’s long-awaited return paid off in a spectacular fashion, with stellar lyricism and rich production, this is probably the most consistent album of the entire year.
Formula 1 is not just a sport; it’s a relentless pursuit of perfection where every millisecond counts. One wrong move made could cost the lives of many.
What does it take to build a machine that can race at over 200 mph, yet stop on a dime? The world of Formula 1 is as much about engineering marvels and sportsmanship than it is about sheer courage. In today’s article we shall be marvelling over whether F1 is a real sport or is it ‘cars going round in circles.’
A sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which individuals or teams compete against each other for entertainment or achievement. Each of these factors of this definition can be seen to be correlated with F1. F1 drivers are athletes who undergo rigorous physical training. They need exceptional reflexes, strength, and stamina to endure the high G-forces experienced during races. In races on average, through high intensity corners, drivers experience 5G which affects both their body and their cars. However, some can experience a peak force of 8G. As a result of the harsh
forces they experience, despite the excessive training they do on a regular, F1 drivers lose 2-3kg per race. A F1 calendar hosts 24 races in the year. This means that within a year of racing a F1 drive can loose up too 96kg due the physical exertion they experience.
Furthermore, in the high-speed world of Formula 1, G-forces place extraordinary demands on a driver’s neck muscles. These athletes must be able to withstand forces up to five times their body weight, particularly during cornering and braking manoeuvres. For example, Lewis Hamiliton is 73kg, meaning that he could withstand 365kg of force against his neck.
F1 is a highly prestigious and expensive sport that requires a massive amount of skill from the drivers, engineers, mechanics, owners, and directors. When it comes to the car itself, it is an incredibly complex and meticulous process to create the car. It involves the combined efforts of hundreds of specialists over many months. When it comes to design, engineers cannot just create a car, they must follow tight and strict regulations which help level the playing field across the grid.
As of 2024, each team on the grid must be able to produce two functional cars that drivers are happy with and are able to drive. These cost an average of $41 million USD, (which is equivalent to 32,977,683.75 Pounds Sterling) which then means that two F1 cars are worth 110 average priced houses in the UK. If that does not put into perspective the sheer cost of F1 as a sport, for
a full grid of cars, it will cost $410 million dollars which is equal to, 1100 houses’. There are many other sports that are extremely expensive to run and maintain, sports like football, rugby, and tennis. If we were to just associate sports with the price they cost to run, why is F1 singled out when it slots into the jigsaw puzzle?
Another that makes a sport a genuine sport is the fanbase and the support they have. Formula 1 has a massive global fan base. In 2019, the total cumulative TV audience reached 1.922 billion people worldwide. The sport’s popularity continues to grow, with significant increases in viewership across various markets. In terms of social media, Formula 1 has 24.9 million followers across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. These statistics aren’t including the driver’s personal accounts which are highly popular and followed by fans and members of the public.
The cost of Formula 1 tickets can vary significantly depending on the race location, time of year, and availability. On average, a 3-day Formula 1 ticket costs around $488 USD. However, prices can range from as low as $184 USD for races in Hungary to as high as $1,500 USD for races in Las Vegas. Because of this, many people feel unattracted to the sport as it is expensive and hard to watch in person. But those who do attend live races help contribute to the running of future F1 races. The revenue generated from each Formula 1 race can vary significantly based on factors like location, sponsorship deals, and attendance. On average, hosting fees for F1 races can range from $20 million to $50 million USD per race. This includes the fees paid by the host country to Formula 1 Management, as well as revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights.
Formula 1 enjoys immense global popularity, captivating millions of fans with its thrilling races and high-speed action. The sport has a vast international reach, with races held in iconic locations
such as Monaco, Silverstone, and Spa, drawing audiences from all corners of the world. With a dedicated fan base passionately supporting their favourite teams and drivers, F1 hosts a large viewership number on television and online platforms.
The financial strength of F1 is evident, with revenues in the billions and continuous growth attracting more fans and sponsors. Additionally, F1’s commitment to sustainability, including plans to introduce 100% sustainable fuels by 2025, further enhances its appeal and influence. This combination of exciting races, global presence, and a focus on sustainability solidifies F1 as a highly popular and influential sport. The use of sustainable fuel has helped them grow even more popular as it shows that they are trying to combat the issues of fuel usage.
F1 embodies the spirit of competition, with drivers and teams striving for excellence and pushing their limits to achieve victory. The sport attracts top talent from around the world, fostering a multicultural environment that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. F1’s global reach is evident in its expansive calendar, with races held on five continents, drawing millions of spectators and viewers. The passionate fan base and the intense rivalries between drivers and teams further underscore F1’s status as a legitimate sport. The reward to not just the driver but to the team and the supporters when they win helps bring people together and celebrate together.
Is F1 a Real Sport?
A debate that has been going on since the beginning. Take a look at what Faith Roche thinks
In conclusion, Formula 1 is undeniably a sport that combines physical prowess, strategic thinking, teamwork, and engineering excellence. Its global appeal, competitive spirit, and commitment to sustainability make F1 a dynamic and influential part of the sporting world. So, the next time you watch an F1 race, remember that it is not just a display of speed and technology but a testament to the incredible athleticism and ingenuity that defines the essence of sport.
If this article has sparked your interest in this sport and you
wish to watch or begin to learn about F1, there are many ways you can do this. Below are some sites that may help you.
Get Involved in Formula 1
How to become an F1 driver: Money, dedication, talent and more
How to thrive in 2025
Maddison King explores how you can replace procrastination with productivity for progression
Even though as College students you have a full plate of things which were due yesterday, self-care is the top priority on the endless “to do” list. It seems impossible to find balance in and amongst the chaos of the every-day college life.
But fear not!
Here are 5 solutions to progress forward… even if you are in the midst of a 5-page essay.
Assignments due tomorrow and you haven’t even started? Here’s your solution:
Set yourself half an hour: 25 minutes of hard work with no distraction. And when I say no distraction, I mean no phone, no music and no gossiping with friends. When 25 minutes is up you get 5-10 minutes of distraction with no work. Repeat this cycle until your assignment is finished to perfection!
Feel like you have only done college work all day? Here’s your solution:
Go outside. Rain or shine, a good breath of fresh air can make the smallest of differences. Sometimes it is easy to forget that the outside world exists when we have done nothing but consume information all day.
Feel isolated? Here’s your solution:
Get comfy. Have a chat with your comfort person. Watch your comfort show. Eat your comfort food. Entertain your brain with things that make you comfortable.
Feel tired and ready for bed even though it is only 6:00pm? Here’s your solution:
Listen to your body. You are probably ready for bed because guess what… you’re tired. Have a 20-minute nap.
If you feel like you don’t have time, take a shower and do some self-care. This will prepare you for tomorrow and allow reflection on your feelings. It might even wake you up slightly.
Whatever you do, do not drink caffeine! It is not the morning. Have something like fruit to keep your energy up.
Completed all your assignments and have “nothing” to do anymore?
Wind-down. Read a book. Light a candle. Chill. Make sure everything is ready for tomorrow.
How music can have positive impact on your mental health
Freya-Rose Lynn investigates how music can boost your mood
Millions of people listen to music, and it is of course incredibly popular with young people. It has been found that music has beneficial qualities and is emotionally and spiritually uplifting, perhaps even healing.
Many songs address mental health issues both directly and indirectly. One of the direct songs is ‘1-800-2738255’ by Logic. This song’s name is America’s suicide hotline number which lead to a significant increase in calls since the song was released.
Approximately 10,000 extra calls were made to this hotline, showing that music can lead to change. The song features lyrics like ‘I want you to be alive’ as the boy in the video is shown to call the suicide hotline. Music can support mental health by being relatable so people see that they are not alone in their feelings.
An indirect song is ‘brutal’ by Olivia Rodrigo where she states, ‘I’m so insecure’ and ‘I’m anxious and nothing can help’. Whilst this song is not explicitly about her mental health
experiences, people that listen may feel heard if their favourite artist is talking so openly about their own experiences. Also, songs like this promote speaking about how you feel and what you can do about it. Youth Music’s Sound of the Next Generation report (2019) found that 85% of young people in England between the ages of 7-17 said that music made them feel happy. This is important because it can be an escape for many people and allow them to forget about the current events in their life; good or bad.
The NHS says that one in five children and young people in England aged eight had a probable mental health disorder in 2023, and from MixMag, 86% of Brits said that music helps their mental health and personal relationships. Uplifting songs help to improve emotions as it causes our brain to produce serotonin and dopamine, which evokes feelings of joy and happiness and helps to relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. Also, upbeat music correlates with increased energy and positive emotions. Calming music has been found to decrease anxiety by reducing the heart rate and blood pressure.
From some friends, ‘feel-good songs’ have been described
as ‘Alright’ by Kendrick Lamar, was described as upbeat. dogs’ by Blake Shelton was a happy place song about ideal lifestyle. Also, ‘Umbrella’ was described as a song which friend who was going through time. Another is ‘Super Graphic Modern Girl’ by Chappel Roan described as a song to make awesome, and it has a good
So, what music makes you Make sure you save your favourites your Spotify playlist.
have a your
Lamar, which ‘I’ll name the was described as love and an ‘Umbrella’ by Rihanna which helped a through a tough Graphic Ultra Roan which was make you feel good beat.
you feel good? favourites in
How to be optimistic
In our second piece exploring mental health, Summer Arnott explores why positivity can boost your mood and promote good mental health Fun fact
Optimism is the tendency to expect the best possible outcomes and focus on the positives of a situation. It’s a mindset that focuses on the good aspects of life rather than the bad. By gaining an optimistic mindset you will improve your mental health, help increase your resilience and maintain a positive outlook on life and its challenges.
1To change your mindset, you need to shift your perspective of life, and optimism starts with how you look at the world. Stop looking at challenges as ‘impossible’.
2Visualisation is a powerful tool for gaining optimism; the more you manifest the more you will get. If you believe you want to get to a destination, then you will.
Being optimistic is not about ignoring the challenges that life throws at you, but instead having a positive approach to them. By practicing optimism, you will see your life change to a more positive, and enjoyable place.
An optimistic person thinks the best possible thing will happen and hopes for it even if it’s not likely. Optimists tend to live on average 11 to 15 percent longer than pessimists.
As Winston Churchill once said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
BornLearntCriminalCriminal
Kayleigh Pegram investigates whether it is nature or nurture that causes people to commit crime.
The theory of Nature vs. Nurture is very popular within Criminology and the legal system, as it argues whether criminality is an inherited trait through birth or if it’s a learnt trait through childhood and upbringing. So, the question is, what do you think? And will your opinion change after reading further?
Genetic theories believe that a person will have inherited their criminal tendencies through DNA passed on by their biological parents, and as such, anyone with a criminal biological parent has a possible predisposition to criminality.
Many studies suggest this to be true, such as Osborn and West finding that sons with criminal fathers were more likely to have a criminal record. This being the nature
aspect of criminality, one could argue that being born to criminal parents wouldn’t have any impact on your family or friends simply because it wouldn’t be relevant. Where your parents are criminal and other members of your family aren’t, it’s likely that following genetic theories, your family would equally be predisposed to criminality and would be generally unaffected. To have an impact on those around you, you would have to act on your predisposition to criminality rather than just having the inkling to commit crime, as without any criminal actions, it wouldn’t mean anything that your biological parents were criminals.
Twin studies support the idea that there is a heritable trait increasing the likelihood of criminality. This is by comparing the biological and environmental factors influencing twins and their behaviours. Identical twins share 100% of DNA, where Fraternal twins only 50% of their DNA, therefore
there should be a higher concordance rate in criminal behaviour in identical rather than fraternal twins. Christiansen’s 1977 study of 3586 sets of twins found that the concordance rate for crime in identical twins was higher than fraternal twins, for example 35% of male identical twins were criminals compared to 13% fraternal, and around 21% of female identical twins were both criminals compared to 8% fraternal. This data suggests that the aspect of criminality is entirely genetic, as where DNA is 100% the same in both twins, they were more likely to both be criminals.
Adoption studies remove the criticism of the shared environment of twins where they would be living with their biological parents as reasons that twins commit crime. In some circumstances identical and fraternal twins are adopted into different families, meaning they have different environments and upbringings. If genetic influence is indeed a better factor of criminality than
environmental influence, adoption studies the same concordance as twin studies. Mednick Hutchings 1975 that when twins’ and adopted fathers criminal record, then of twins went on crime, where the father did but bio figure rose to 11% the bio did and the didn’t then 21% committed criminal difference between figures does suggest criminal genetics as such can be passed through parents child’s future criminality, where they didn’t know the biological
This places significant emphasis on the criminality is a genetically inherited trait and environmentally trait, focusing more side of nature compared nurture. However, theories are quite as their explanation is quite narrow as all other possible
CriminalCriminalor
influence, then studies would show concordance rate Mednick and study found twins’ biological fathers had no then 10% on to commit the adopted bio didn’t, the 11% and where the adopted of twins criminal acts. The between these suggest that genetics are real and passed down to cause a criminality, even didn’t live with or biological parent. significant theory that genetically and not an developed more to the compared to However, genetic quite reductionist explanation to crime as it ignores possible factors
influencing criminality, but in involving scientific studies it shows some correlation in criminality. It also applies statistical evidence suggesting that criminality is more likely to be genetic than environmentally influenced. To conclude, the studies mentioned discussing genetic theories have a wide range in explaining criminality itself but not in explaining other factors or certain crimes.
Other theories for crime believe that genetics has little or nothing to do with whether someone becomes a criminal or not. Such theories include social learning theory and operant conditioning, both being individualistic theories. Operant conditioning is a theory by Skinner stating that behaviour is developed due to reinforcements of that, as we can learn criminal behaviour through the punishments received. In Skinner’s 1938 study he placed a rat in a box with a lever on one side, the rat then accidentally pulled the lever and realised that it would receive food for moving the lever. This led
the rat to move the lever deliberately to get food, showing that when we are rewarded it can reinforce our behaviour. An example of a type of reinforcement is negative, this is where there’s a removal of something bad to elicit the correct response. This can cause someone to move towards criminal behaviour where it removes negativity or where it brings positivity such as where you were starving and needed to steal to earn money to eat then that criminal behaviour would remove the negative feeling of starving and bring the positive of being able to eat.
Bandura’s social learning theory is the belief that children take part in observational learning due to their exposure to different role models in society such as teachers, friends, and family. The belief of this is that we observe the behaviour of these role models and imitate it later on. In 1961 Bandura conducted the bobo doll study to test if children learnt social behaviours through observation and imitation.
This found that children who witnessed aggressive models played with the toys in a similarly aggressive way compared to children who saw a non-aggressive model playing calmly. Children in the study were also found more likely to imitate same sex adults, the boys being more physically aggressive but both boys and girls being equally verbally aggressive to the toys. This concludes that criminality comes from environmental factors such as role models compared to the idea of genetics influencing criminality.
I interviewed a teacher at HNC to which they felt held more weight in determining criminology? Nature or nurture? They commented:
“I think nurture has more influence; however, I know that you can’t completely get rid of the nature side of it particularly due to mental health having a clear link to biology. It’s clear that often
becoming a criminal relies on environmental triggers where, for example, someone is predisposed to becoming a sociopath or psychopath, that won’t always lead to that person becoming a criminal where their home life influences them away from committing crime which shows the impact of nurture.
“Another reason why I believe that its environmental factors influencing criminality is because of statistics which show that crime predominantly comes from certain areas where, for example, poverty is a common issue influencing people to commit crime out of need. This is why I feel that it’s hard to judge others as we don’t see what made them who they are. I also think that crime isn’t deterministic as everyone has a choice but for some of us it’s easier to make that choice where it benefits ourselves and others compared to others where that choice towards the right thing is harder and the less natural option.”
Personally, I disagree with this and feel that criminality presents itself differently in every person for a number of varying reasons. For example, why limit the criminal mind
to only two main factors? Similarly, where we see evidence to suggest criminal behaviour from interviews with criminals, do we take it seriously? Or are we just catching the bad criminals?
In a second opinion piece, El Booth explores why you shouldn’t be expected to know everything to be deemed a fan.
Have you ever worn a band t-shirt and been met with the exasperating “Name three songs?”. Have you ever been interrogated on your knowledge of a band or artist, in a way that makes you feel belittled and self-conscious of your interests?
It’s extremely common for people to feel that their likes and interests are invalidated by those with more explicit passion and knowledge. In a world with a plethora of knowledge and information readily available, in-depth details and intricacies of artist discographies and histories and often endless reels of context are expected to be second nature amongst fans. This can be surprisingly isolating for another category of fans – the ones who take music at its raw value. Even if you can’t connect every song to its album, you
can still find them as enjoyable as the fans that commit those details to memory.
As a sample, I asked some HNC students a series of questions to see if they had experienced anything like what I described above.
Have you ever been tested on trivia when you express interest in an artist?
I’ve been asked stupid things like, name three songs or album release years, on the spot
How did that make you feel?
A bit awkward, and made me think: What does that matter? Leave me alone, I like what I like, that should be enough.
Does this kind of thing make you want to learn more about artists/bands?
To be honest, no. It might seem like just an annoying thing someone might say, but it really makes me think “What’s the point?”. And I guess the one person you meet might feel like the whole fan base, and if the whole fan base is like that, I don’t really want to be part of it because it’s so obnoxious.
As demonstrated by this student’s response, being dismissive of someone’s interest and passion based on the trivial facts that they have to hand can make them feel bad. After all, this attitude can be interpreted as arrogance and pride that simply puts people off.
Alternatively though, this condescending approach might be an unintended by product of passion and enthusiasm. In a NOW Toronto article that discusses how ‘mansplaining’ ruined women’s enjoyment of
certain music, writer and editor Alison Lang made the important point that anyone can be guilty of letting their passion turn into being dismissive of someone else’s ideas and domineering the conversation in a way that can be intimidating or off-putting.
She commented that, although “so much of music is so stats-based”, it’s not always a bad thing to be so enthusiastic about the things you love and is perfectly normal to want to find common ground with people on that, calling that totalimmersion “a product of love and total absorption, and it’s a fun way to spend your time” whilst warning that sometimes it can become a “very overbearing and exclusionary force” that can make people feel awful.
Afterall, when you are passionate about something, it feels wonderful to find people who have a shared enthusiasm and – simultaneously – it can be really deflating to not be able to go into all the depth and detail with someone as you’d like to.
I asked another student about being on this side of the experience:
Do you have a particular artist that you feel like you have a very deep knowledge of? Yeah, definitely.
Is it quite common for you to find people with the same depth of interest?
Not really, I get being a casual fan and everything, but with that it’s like, all we can really talk about is our favourite songs... But for me it goes deeper than that, and if you can’t go deeper, the conversation kind of comes to an end anyway.
How does it feel talking to someone about your favourite artist?
If they take them as seriously as I do, then I can connect with someone really nicely, but I can tell if they’re just pretending to be as interested and it’s hard to connect with them. and really when you’re passionate you want to talk about stuff in detail and get to the deep stuff right?
I find that generally we need to have more open communication stream. Nowadays, music is one of the most highly regarded art forms and should continue to be accessible to as many as possible. If we start implementing social barriers to creative expression, then we defeat the purpose of creating art through music in the first place. So yes, we should approach our interests with passion and inquiries but stay incredibly mindful of how our words and actions translate to other people.
