MESAZINE - Issue 1

Table of Contents

Introduction

Note from the Executive Editor

Suggestions

Interview: Frank Harbers

Groningse Eierbal Review

Media Studies Masters Experiences

Rik’s Recs

Horoscope

Book Reviews

Tukkie Fanpage

Oscar predictions

Ask the Alumni

Interview: Lars de Wildt

MESA Board page

Film Reviews

Recipe: Sweet Potato Stamppot

Comfort Movies and Shows

Game: Connections

Game: Crossword

INTRODUCTION

W ho are we?

The bunch of weirdos in this picture are responsible for this beautiful piece of literary art. The members from left to right are: Karlijn Mertens, Jolanda Zweers, Christiaan Lange, Kim Mulder, Eva Rebecca Swarts, Ginevra Marchesini and Alexia Mihalache

The bunch of weirdos in this picture are responsible for this beautiful piece o f literary art. The members from left to right are: Karlijn M ertens, Jolanda Z weers, C hristiaan Lange, K im M ulder, Eva R ebecca S warts, Ginevra Marchesini and Alexia Mihalache.

W hat is this?

Our goal

As the Magazine club we consider this to be our first child. While we know it’s bad to have a favourite, this magazine will always get the most allowance and has a special place in our hearts.

As the Magazine club we consider this to be our first child. While w e know i t’s bad t o have a favourite, this m agazine w ill a lways get t he most a llowance and has a special p lace i n our hearts.

The goal of the MESAZINE is to provide both entertainment and information to not only students of Media Studies, but for anyone that is interested in media!

The goal o f the MESAZINE i s to p rovide both entertainment and i nformation to not only Media Studies students, but for everyone that is interested in media.

MISSING: H ave you seen our new content?

Do you have any scoops, s tories o r interests t hat you want t o know more about? Leave your ideas i n our suggestion box!

Digital Suggestion Box

Physical Suggestion Box

Does our rapidly increasing reliance on digital processes scare you beyond believe and are you keen on making your life experience more human and tactile? No worries! You can find ye olde suggestion box on the wall behind lecture room 1312.0030 in the Harmony Building.

Name: Dr. Frank Harbers

Residence: the south of Groningen

You might recognise him from his academic work on innovation within journalism or from the infamous Media History clips: Frank Harbers. As an assistant professor at the Media Studies and Journalism department, Frank has had his fair share of media research and teaching at the university. But, who is the person behind these impressive academic titles and accomplishments? That’s what we will find out today!

By: Kim Mulder & Jolanda Zweers

INTERVIEW Frank Harbers

Hometown: also Groningen! Which makes me one of the few home-bred academics here.

Function at the RUG: assistant professor at Media Studies and Journalism department, programme coordinator of the BA, and chair of the employee faction of the faculty council

Field of expertise: Journalism Studies, specifically journalistic innovation, Media History and narrative forms of journalism.

Most challenging part of my career: grading and the administrative stuff: it’s not challenging but it’s not the most fun part of our job.

Favourite thing in the entire world: my 1.5 year old daughter

Favourite music artists: Eefje de Visser, a Dutch singer-songwriter & Marlene Bakker, a singer-songwriter who sings in the Groninger dialect. Oh, and old-school rock and roll, like the Rolling Stones.

Guilty pleasure: whenever I eat ‘knakworstjes’ [Dutch hotdogs], I eat the very first one straight from the can when it’s still cold.

Fictional character I closely identify with: people always say I look like Ross from Friends. I do not necessarily identify with him but that’s the comparison others often make.

We all know you as one of our professors, but how did you experience going to university?

I think I have a very atypical experience because my dad was a university professor. So, when I was three and my parents couldn’t find a babysitter, I was already ‘attending’ university classes. I would be drawing while he was lecturing. For that reason, university sort of felt like home for me. So, it was a rather natural process that I would go to university after I finished high school. I also knew my options early on: I knew you could do a PhD after your studies if you had the interest and the talent to become a researcher. I would say that I was a serious student but I also attended all the social parts: I didn’t get a lot of sleep during those years.

We know that you have a 1.5 year old daughter, but do you have any pets as well? No, no, we basically have an anti-pet policy. My girlfriend is pretty much afraid of animals. It’s also quite a responsibility to have a pet and to treat them well. So, we’ve decided that our life is currently too busy for that. For that reason, whenever our daughter is gonna beg for pets, we’ll try to sway her towards like a goldfish or a hamster, or something.

Being both a professor and a parent can be very stressful, so how do you relax?

I like to play tennis, go out for dinner or drinks with friends or colleagues, and just do nothing. For example, I love to lie on the couch and binge a series. I know that it’s terrible, but sometimes I indulge when I watch something - sort of, remotely - while also scanning some social media. I think it’s a waste of time because sometimes I’ve tuned out on both screens and don’t register anything on either screen, but sometimes it does help for relaxation. I try not to do it too often, but sometimes it’s nice to just indulge.

as a born and raised Groninger, do you have any favourite spots in the city?

I have many! The first spot that comes to mind is Der Witz, the little bar at the Grote Markt. It was a regular bar of a friend of mine. We would always go there immediately after an exam to have a drink. So, that was one of my favourite places. Oh, and I lived at the Oosterhaven and there you had a bar called ‘Peter Pan’ [Harbour Café nowadays]. It wasn’t the typical somewhat sad neighbourhood bar with the gambling addicts and alcoholics but it was a nice mix of students and regulars. Peter Pan played a central role in my student life, I think I’ve celebrated all my academic achievements there.

Have you ever lived anywhere other than Groningen?

Well, I’ve lived in Berlin for half a year during my master’s. And, when I was very, very young (I think when I was around three years old) I lived in the United States for half a year. This was when my dad was a visiting professor there. But, to be honest, I don’t really remember that.

As a media scholar, what is your favourite way to consume media?

Books. Very old school. It’s not necessarily the medium I use the most but it’s definitely my favourite. I always say that I should read more. Not just because there’s so much to read but also because, ultimately, I find it the most relaxing way to consume media. There’s no distraction. I use my phone too much, probably, and that’s sort of scattered, quick content. When I’m on holiday and get the chance to unwind and just read a book for a couple of hours, that’s by far my favourite way of consuming media.

Do you have any book Recommendations?

Ooh, book recommendations, yes! I teach a course on literary journalism, so I really enjoy reading non-fiction novels - narrative forms of journalism that are still factual. I would highly recommend the book Rosa Lee by Leon Dash. It’s a really great story and, at the same time, an insightful analysis about the black underclass in the United States. Apart from that, I am a big fan of the work by Arnon Grunberg. His novels are peculiar, pessimistic, and absurdist. Not necessarily nice and cosy reads but very interesting. I would recommend Tirza. It’s a terrible, terrible story but it’s still very captivating. De Joodse Messias is also a very absurdist book by Grunberg, which I really enjoyed.

What about movies?

When I was younger, I watched an arthouse movie called ‘Fucking Åmål, which I would recommend because it’s a really good movie with a great final dialogue. I enjoy watching some of the Marvel blockbusters as well, I’m an omnivore in that sense. My favourite Marvel character is Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man! So, I would also definitely recommend Spider-Man 2.

Now onto the more professional questions, why did you become a professor at the RUG?

For me, the idea of pursuing an academic career was something that I got to know from up close, because my dad was a professor. I liked the idea of having the freedom to delve into research on specific topics of my own choice. I did my BA in Dutch literature and really liked it. And I saw that I

was good at it in terms of the grades I got, which made me think: “Oh, maybe this is a career for me.” Then I was also a bit lucky, because there weren’t many PhD positions available around that time. Marcel Broersma, who was my phd supervisor, had a large research project for which he was hiring two PhDs. He focused on the form and style of journalism, which had a close connection to the narrative forms and literature which I studied in my BA. So, that’s how I moved to Journalism and Media Studies.

What do you think students should know about the work of a professor?

I think they should know that professors are not just teachers. 40% of our work is - or should bedevoted to research. So, while I sometimes feel a bit vain in assigning my own work for the course readings, I think it’s good to signal that we’re part of the research community that contributes to the theoretical and empirical knowledge of our fields of expertise. We are constantly juggling our time between research, which often has more longterm, less immediately pressing deadlines, and teaching with its more short-term deadlines. This is quite hard for a lot of professors, because we want to deliver good quality education to make sure our students get the knowledge and feedback that they need, but at the same time we need to protect our research time. We are enthusiastic but busy people, and also just humans. Something that’s also important for students to know is that we’re very approachable: so, if you have any questions we’re generally very open to just have a chat about it or answer an email - although sometimes we do forget about an email because we get so many of them. But that shouldn’t deter you from either resending it or coming to find our room to see if we’re around!

Is there a certain researcher you look up to?

Many of my colleagues, really! ‘Cause I think we are in the luxurious position that our department is made up of so many excellent researchers that do really interesting stuff. Next to that, one of my old professors in the Dutch department, Gillis Dorleijn, comes to mind. He was so knowledgeable and at the same time so extremely cheerful and fun in lecturing or supervising. He talked to you like you almost like a peer, even if he was vastly more knowledgeable about basically everything.. He did everything: he was a great teacher, a great researcher and he managed the programme in a really nice way. Just a very nice person in general. So, that’s someone who really inspired me as an academic. It reminded me that I don’t want to just

be a good researcher or teacher but also just want to be a nice person.

Is there a moment during your teaching which you fondly remember?

Many moments. Moments where you think it clicks with the students. For instance, the very first year that we started with our BA programme. Back then it was a small programme, we had around forty first year students. They were the guinea pigs and they knew that. But they were also a special generation because they got to experience everything for the first time. We felt like we were in it together. So, that whole year was special and I have very fond memories of that period. It almost felt like a startup experience.

What research project are you the most proud of?

I think I’m the most enthusiastic about my current research project about journalistic innovation. But that’s generally the case, I think, because then it’s new and you’re very engaged. I’m also proud of my PhD project because there I basically changed disciplines and acquired quantitative methods that I had never used before. But, at the same time, that was my PhD research, so I think I know more now, hahaha.

Lastly, what is professional advice you would give to all media students?

Focus on what you enjoy. It’s really hard to write an essay or thesis on a topic which you dislike, so allow yourself to research what you enjoy. And, enjoy your time as a student, try to realise it while you’re studying. It seems always afterwards that you really value the time that you had. Even though I really enjoyed myself, I think I could’ve had more moments to think: “Wow, it’s really nice to be in this position!”

Curious about Frank’s research? Check out the following articles:

• Harbers, F. (2023). Digital Storytelling as Sociotechnical Imaginary: The performative power of journalistic innovation discourse. Journalistica 17(1): 64-90.

• Harbers, F. (Expected 2024). The value(s) of journalistic ‘innovation’: Developing a critical conceptualization and research agenda. In: Routledge Companion to Digital Journalism Studies. Banjac, S., Swart, J., Cheruiyot, D. & Eldridge II, S. (eds.). 2nd ed. London/New York: Routledge

• Smeenk, K., Harbers, F. & Broersma, M. (2023). The Journalist in the Story: Conceptualizing Ethos as Integral Framework to Study News Production, News Texts and News Audiences. Communication Theory 33(4): 213-222.

• Wijfjes, H. & Harbers, F. (eds.). De Krant. Een cultuurgeschiedenis. Amsterdam: Boom

The novel follows Eilish, living in modern day Dublin with her family, when one evening the unthinkable happens. Eilish stares out of the kitchen-window when she hears a knock on her door. On her doorstep are two police officers from Ireland’s newly instated secret police, they’re looking to interrogate trade unionists. They’ve come for her husband.

The state of the nation goes from bad to worse to hopeless; protests, violence, and disappearances of loved ones, the reader tags along as Eilish tries to navigate the chaos that ensues and keep her family out of harm’s way.

The brilliance of this novel, in my opinion, is that it takes the concept of a totalitarian state that is typical of a dystopian novel, but instead of setting the story in a futuristic or imagined environment, it is placed in our own contemporary Western society that is recognizable to the reader, making this fictional story feel ominously real. There’s familiarity in inconceivable circumstances.

Book Review

Prophet Song

By: Eva Rebecca Swarts

The novel Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, awarded with the 2023 Booker Prize and the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, is worthy of a spot on the bookshelf of any modern literature enthusiast. This dystopian novel echoes the totalitarian and surveillance-driven oppression, made familiar by the fictional worlds of Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale, Orwell’s 1984, and the recently resurged popularity of the Hunger Games series, but installs it in a setting unique to this genre that leaves the reader deeply shaken.

Lynch’s writing grips you from the beginning and doesn’t release until the very end. The knock on the door, the defenseless feeling, is a premonition of what’s to come. The horrors triggered by the drastic political circumstances infiltrate Eilish’s home and family from the first page. A unique element to Lynch’s writing style is the lack of quotation marks to indicate spoken words. Instead the dialogue melts into the general prose, morphing speech, actions and thoughts into one sequence, which emphasizes the urgency that is felt throughout the novel.

Prophet Song couldn’t be more relevant to our current world. Totalitarian states, rebellion, war, refugees, and genocide, are all realities that have been terrorizing the globe for years and years. Yet they seem inconceivable in our Western democracies. That is what makes the setting of this novel so crucial, as it puts these injustices into perspective. We watch as these horrifying scenarios play out in other places and to other people, seemingly far removed from us, but experiencing it from a white & Western perspective might exactly be the reality check that we need.

Book review Yellowface

By: Alexia Mihalache

It’s her name on the cover but the she doesn’t own the words

June Hayward and Athena Liu are two old friends who met during their freshman year at Yale studying with the exact same goal in mind: to become successful writers. Or at least, they can be considered friends if it means stealing a manuscript from your friend’s desk and publishing it under your name.

Unlike her Asian American friend who seems to have won the lottery, thriving in her career as a gorgeous woman with the publishing world at her feet, June is an unsuccessful writer, whose debut novel didn’t even win the appreciation of her editor. But the light at the end of the tunnel reveals itself when one night the two friends celebrate Athena’s Netflix deal in her apartment. In an unfortunate sequence of events, the bestselling author chokes on a piece of pancake and dies before June’s eyes. The next thing she knows is that she signed a deal for publishing The Last Front, based on her friend’s manuscript.

But guilt is more powerful than success and soon enough Athena seems to follow June every step of the way.

Yellowface is a satire to the world of publishing, where luck weighs more than hard work, where good marketing can skyrocket careers and race is the determinant of how many figures a salary has. Kuang tells the story through the voice of an unreliable narrator, who despite the fact that she became famous through plagiarism, manages to obtain sympathy by bringing the miserable past as Athena’s friend to the table every chance she gets.

What Kuang did with Yellowface is quite different from her previous work. Her debut novel The Poppy War, which later became a trilogy, is categorised as a historical fiction, with fantasy elements and a violent setting covering the tragic past of China in the last century. Following a similar theme, but with a shift to the 1830s England, Babel is her first standalone book meant to criticise British imperialism through the acts of four students at Oxford University, making the novel appeal to dark academia lovers. But Yellowface proves that the ugly truths of present times aren’t less impactful than history and its forever invading question “Is this what really happened?”.

This book is for those who have the courage to test their understanding of ethics through a story that captures the wicked side of a highly romanticised industry. Personally I was not immune to June’s talent of making it look like she is the victim. I kept swinging between wanting her to be caught and taking her side when the hate she received on social media felt too heavy.

I think this is where Kuang’s gift lies: it puts the reader in a judge’s position but when evidence is both in favour and against the protagonist, suddenly it’s not that easy to reach a verdict.

by: Eva Rebecca Swarts

Ask the Alumni Ivandzhelin

Bozadzhieva

By: Alexia Mihalache & Eva Rebecca Swarts

Media Studies is a programme that opens a lot of doors in terms of professional careers. It offers a variety of courses, both theoretical and practical, and several tracks to choose from in the second year. While this broad spectrum seems exciting, it can also create some uncertainty for students who have a variety of interests and do not exactly know what suits them best. That’s why we have talked to alumnus student Ivandzhelin Bozadzhieva to ask her about her experiences after finishing university. Hopefully, this will relieve some of your anxiety regarding life after your studies.

Could you tell us a bit more about yourself?

I’m Ivandzhelin, and I’m 25 years old. When I’m not busy with work, you’ll find me curled up with a good book, doing a yoga flow, or admiring art in one of the many museums in Amsterdam. And if I had to choose one guilty pleasure, it would definitely be reality TV – think Real Housewives or RuPaul’s Drag Race. I just can’t resist the drama and fabulousness!

What years were you a media student at the RUG?

I started in 2018 and graduated in 2021.

When you were a Media Studies student, what track did you choose to follow in the second year?

I choose Politics and Global Citizenship as my track.

Did the track you chose influence your career after university? If yes, how? If not, why?

Politics and Global Citizenship had some

influence on my career. My choice of Masters was because of the track as I continued on in the political field by doing a Master’s in International relations (IR). Yet, by the time I graduated from IR, I had realised that a career in strictly media/marketing was better for me.

How was finding your very first job after graduating university?

I applied to my fair share of jobs before landing my current one. The journey got a bit disheartening with all the auto-reply messages I kept getting, but I didn’t give up. I was determined to land a job, and guess what? I did! Now, I’m absolutely loving what I do. It just goes to show that persistence pays off, and I’m thrilled with where I ended up in my career journey!

What different jobs did you have throughout the years? What were your roles and what did you learn from them?

In university, my focus was on student associations. I wore different hats, from committee member to chair, and I also served on the MESA board in 2018-2019. These experiences were a crash course in organisation, research, teamwork,

and shouldering responsibility. They shaped me in more ways than I could have imagined, and I’m grateful for the valuable skills I gained along the way!

What is your current job?

I’m a junior content marketeer at HousingAnywhere. We are a rental marketplace where people can find their new home. My day-to-day tasks include creating content for the blog page, SEO optimisation, keyword research, and some graphic design. It’s a really fulfilling job, and my team is awesome. Bonus: I’ve got this stash of random trivia about the countries and cities I write about – it’s like a mini adventure every day!

How did you find this job?

On LinkedIn.

What was the hiring process of this job like?

I went through a round of interviews and did an assignment. From my experience and that of friends, that’s usually how hiring processes go so everyone applying can expect a similar process.

What are some tricks for convincing the employer you are the best candidate during an interview?

Here’s what I’ve learned: your work speaks louder than any pitch. Be genuinely you, applying for roles that match your skills. It’s a bit cliché, but it works. No need to inflate your abilities or go for jobs that don’t align with your expertise. Trust me, I’ve been there. Every time I applied for something out of my wheelhouse, it didn’t pan out. When I was applying for HousingAnywhere, I was confident in my skills, leaned on my strengths, and didn’t promise more than I could deliver. So, stay authentic, focus on your strengths, and let your capabilities shine!

What does a day at your work look like?

Every day is different and depends on how far along I’m with my tasks for the week. Typically, I kick off the week by diving into research on a specific topic for my articles. I check out what’s already out there and brainstorm how I can bring

something unique and useful to our readers. Then it’s all about writing, editing, and sending it over for approval. Once that’s wrapped up, I tackle other articles and tasks on my plate for the week.

Do you feel your studies prepared you well enough for the job market?

Yep, it’s a bit of both. Media Studies, being a research-heavy program, sets up academics for success. Even though I didn’t take that route, Media Studies taught me invaluable skills in researching and critically evaluating information. And guess what? Half of my job now is all about diving deep into research.

What was your favourite thing about studying Media Studies?

There are many things I enjoyed about Media Studies. But if I had to choose one it would be the people. You go to university to get education and start your career but I think we often overlook one of the best parts: the friends we make. I met some of my best friends and created unforgettable moments because of Media Studies.

Were you a member of MESA?

Absolutely! I spent several years in different roles. I started off as a member of the Travel Committee during my first year. During my second year, I was the Commissioner of External Affairs in the MESA Board.

What did you like the most about the University of Groningen? Do you consider your mesa membership to have been beneficial? Yes I do. It taught me responsibility, got me on top of my organisational game. I learned how to balance work and school, and even embrace my extroverted side. It was like a crash course in life skills, and I wouldn’t trade those lessons for anything!

s this what you expected your life to be like after your studies?

Back in university, I wasn’t fixated on immediate post-graduation plans. Of course, I had aspirations and a loose roadmap of where I envisioned my life in the next 10-15 years but not for 2 years after graduation. But from what I’ve seen so far, it’s better than any expectations I might’ve had.

What are your thoughts on networking?

I think it can be beneficial if you know how to do it.

If you were to back to university, what would you do differently?

If I could turn back time, I’d kickstart my career earlier. Starting work sooner would’ve meant amassing more experience by the time university days wrapped up. Hindsight wisdom, right?

What did you like the most about the University of Groningen?

I’ll repeat myself and say the people. Theory comes and goes, but the connections you made along the way shape who you become as a person. Oh, and the library! I loved going to the Universiteitsbibliotheek and just spending the day there. Whether I would actually do any studying was questionable.

What would be some pieces of advice for current students who are unsure of what career they want to pursue after finishing university?

If you can, try out different things. Media Studies is a broad study, so it can be difficult to narrow down what career path you want to take without dipping your toe in several fields. Also, don’t feel any pressure to continue working in a field you don’t like. Make sure that the career you choose brings you joy because it’s what you’ll be doing every day.

Today

Interview with Lars

This month

How do I sign out from RUG?

Is Tukkie homeless

Essay not working why

How do bugs have sex?

Leaving cult, how?

How to grow a moustache like Lars

2024

Why does a crate have 24 beers?

Please explain heat death of Universe

10 things to do during lectures

Can you hold things without thumb?

How to light fireworks?

Where do I buy fireworks?

“Cunk on Earth – Media Studies AI Edition”

Lars de Wildt

By: Ginevra Marchesini & Karlijn Mertens

Mesazine

Have you ever wondered what would happen if AI took over our jobs? What kind of crazy stories would come out of it? Well, that is what we tested with this interview.

Is it a surprise that Media Studies is the most popular study choice in the year of 2024? Not to us. Because it’s not. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting field of study and very close to our real lives (according to us media students). We have interviewed Lars de Wi ldt, an assistant professor in our department, teaching ethnography, audiovisual culture and media theory courses as well as researching conspiracy theories and games.

The questions for this interview were AI generated, channeling a friendly chat, letting the software spiral down into weirder and weirder questions about media studies and its role in our lives. The popular TV show Cunk on Earth inspired the style of this interview with dead beat questions, attempting to be smart and funny.

Let’s dive in, and see where ChatGPT brings this interview with Lars de W ildt about media!

Is there a hidden agenda behind media theorists insisting on using complex jargon, or are they just trying to keep the secrets of media analysis away from the common folk?

Mesazine Lars

I don’t see a difference between the two. I feel like people like Baudrillard, Derrida, and maybe even Foucault use difficult words, to not arrive at a final meaning. It’s not like they don’t have a point, but maybe we don’t have to arrive at a full single meaning. They’re not just saying things, but their views could be said in a more straightforward way. American scholars like Judith Butler take these difficult wordings, and create something that is actually better to understand. The difficult language writing is not per se good, but the writers were doing something very important.

Mesazine

If media studies were a reality TV show, what would be the tagline for the upcoming season?

It’s really boring actually, because in the end we’re all just people working in an office. So maybe ‘the office’ but boring? Office humor is never great, because you never want to risk insulting people.

Mesazine

Lars If media studies were an animal species, which one would it be and why?

Lars

A platypus, it’s difficult to classify. An animal that has a duck face, a beaver tail and a hamster body. It is part Communication scholars, part literary scholars, theory, philosophy scholars and partly sociology. It’s not a chameleon because they try to hide, I could never blend in as a sociologist. When I meet sociologists, I tell them I’m a media scholar. And when I meet media scholars, I tell them I’m a sociologist. I’m a permanent imposter. Not cool

Mesazine

Do media studies professors secretly judge their students based on their choice of favorite reality TV shows?

Lars

Yeah, of course. Not badly, but yeah. We want to know what you’re watching. But of course, we’re judging. It’s hard to not judge. It’s convenient that I liked the Barbie movie, because everybody wrote about it for audiovisual culture

Today

Interview with Lars

This month

How do I sign out from RUG?

Is Tukkie homeless

Essay not working why

How do bugs have sex?

Leaving cult, how?

How to grow a moustache like Lars

2024

Why does a crate have 24 beers?

Please explain heat death of Universe 10 things to do during lectures

Can you hold things without thumb?

How to light fireworks?

Where do I buy fireworks?

Mesazine

Do you have any favorite conspiracy theories?

Lars

Yeah the lizard people one. For me it captures everything. Where basically people think that every important decision made in the world is made by people that we think are humans, but are actually shape shifting lizards. It combines illuminati and secret governments, and the shift since the 80s that we are no longer afraid for outsiders like communists and nazi’s but we’re afraid for our own governments. The distinction between us and them has kind of left, all of that is captured in the lizard one. It’s so absurd that it's hilarious, but I’ve interviewed so many people that are truly convinced by this theory. It's also absolutely insanely exhausting

Mesazine

What's the deal with secret societies? Do they have cool handshakes, or is it just a fancy version of a book club with more mysterious snacks?

Lars

I don’t think I’m allowed to say. I hope the illuminati has good snacks, they better.

Mesazine

Is the Loch Ness Monster upset that it doesn't get as much media coverage as Bigfoot? Is there a PR agency specifically for mythical creatures?

Lars

There are trends in which conspiracy theories are popular. In general we’re not so much into the secret monster thing any more. When I was young there was this Discovery Channel programme about a genre that was only about spotting bigfoots, loch nesses, and chupacabras, but just not really into that right now. They’re marginalized in the conspiracy world. But bring back Loch Ness!

Mesazine

How do you plan to incorporate Ti kTok dances into your lectures to keep up with the latest trends in media consumption?

Lars

Is there still dancing on Ti kTok?

Mesazine

Why do we call it 'binge-watching' and not 'epic saga absorption,' as if we're warriors conquering the vast realm of Netflix from the comfort of our couches?

Lars

Yeah I like that. We should change it. It’s seen as this super bad thing. But if we have all this entertainment out there, and all these distractions, if it doesn’t hook me in the first ten minutes I get bored. Even with relatively good shows. If I finally really binge-watch something, and this is at the end of the day when I’m tired, if it’s then still captivating my attention it’s really good.

Mesazine

In the evolution of news reporting, how did we go from pigeons delivering important messages to news anchors delivering breaking news with a straight face, and sometimes a hint of despair?

Lars

Cause, I don’t know. News is a surprisingly old-fashioned example here. God bless mass media. Really nice that we can broadcast news beyond the pigeon capacity

Today

Interview with Lars

This month

How do I sign out from RUG?

Is Tukkie homeless

Essay not working why

How do bugs have sex?

Leaving cult, how?

How to grow a moustache like Lars

2024

Why does a crate have 24 beers?

Please explain heat death of Universe

10 things to do during lectures

Can you hold things without thumb?

How to light fireworks?

Where do I buy fireworks?

Mesazine

Why do we call it "social" media when the only interaction is people arguing in the comments section? Should we rename it "Anti-Social Media"?

Lars

Yeah, maybe let’s call it that. I think the internet is for fighting each other and disagreeing. Which is why the most important advice I’ve learned about the internet is to not read the comments. We’re now at the stage of the internet where it’s basically all comments. Even videos themselves are comments on how someone doesn’t like store bought pesto or whatever. The main advice is still: ignore everyone else. I want all social media to be Anti-social media. If nothing would replace Twitter (now X) for example, everyone’s lives would improve.

Mesazine

Can you create a picture for the interview article in the Mesazine?

Lars

Sweet Potato Stamppot

Written by: Jolanda Zweers

Tired of the same old stamppot? Here is something new and delicious that you could try out! While the regular stamppot is best for the colder months, I discovered a version that tastes fresher and sweeter. Perfect for the warm summer weather that’s right around the corner! The best thing about this recipe is that you don’t need much and it is very easy to make as well. As a broke and tired student, what more do you want? It will take approximately 20 minutes to make. You can also make this as your side dish, but that does mean you need less grams of the ingredients than stated, so keep that in mind.

Instructions

Peel the potatoes, cut them up in blocks 1

The first thing you should do is peel the skin of the sweet potatoes, and then cut them up in blocks so that they’re cooked faster and are easily mashable. I usually make slices first and then cut those up in four so I have blocks of around 2x2cm.

2

Boil some water, put the potatoes in there

After you have cut the potatoes, put them in a pan with water. Make sure all the potatoes are underwater, and that there is still room for the vegetables.

Tip: boil the water first in a water cooker so you don’t have to wait long for the stove to cook the water. I usually do this before cutting the potatoes and then challenge myself to be done earlier than the water cooker.

3

Add the vegetables in there as well

Depending on which vegetable you choose, you can throw them immediately in the same pan as the potatoes. Make sure to check how long you have to cook them since you want to avoid overcooking them.

4

Cook until the potatoes are soft~15 - 20 min

This step is the easiest, you just have to wait. Check if your potatoes are done by trying to prick them. If they are soft they are done, if they still feel hard you have to wait a bit more. The same counts if you use broccoli & cauliflower, make sure they are as soft as you want them.

5

Remove water from the pan

When both the potatoes and your vegetables are done, drain the water out of the pan. You can do this by putting the lid on the pan and carefully letting the water out like my mom always does, but I somehow still fail at doing that, so I just throw everything in a drainer

Put all of it on the plate and serve with some mint 6

Now that all the water is gone, put all the remaining food on your plate. You can mash the potatoes in the pan if you have a lot, but I usually just mash them with my fork on my plate to lessen the amount of dishes. Sprinkle some mint on it and you’re done! The amount of mint depends on what you like, I prefer a lot of it so that’s what I do. Culinary that’s maybe not the best option, but I can encourage it if you like the taste of fresh mint.

Since this recipe is pretty simple, you can always adjust it to your liking by adding other ingredients you like. Try adding some lettuce, or use other herbs and spices that would match with the rest. Hope that you like it and

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