Issue Four: Baby, This Love I Have

Editors’ Letters

Olivia Taylor

When I wrote my first article for The Orbital Magazine, I had only just started my first year at Royal Holloway University. I took myself to London, sat in Westminster’s Emmanuel Centre, and listened to Emily Ratajkowski talk about her book, My Body. When I got back to my student accommodation that evening, I copied my notes onto my computer and spent the next week perfecting my first piece.

When I took on the role of Senior Culture Editor in my second year, I had my first experience of editing. Working for the Culture Section felt like I could get a real insight into people’s passions and interests. I would often be called nosy; I told myself it was just curiosity.

When I was chosen as Editor-In-Chief in my final year, I realised that my curious, creative hobby could be something I could take further. And so, after three brilliant years with Orbital, I will hopefully be taking my journalism even further. I have met some amazing people and had some memorable experiences. I am also so grateful for Beth, who has been the best Deputy Editor (and friend!) I could ask for. I can’t wait to see what is in store for Orbital next year!

To me, intention is everything. Minnie Riperton in ‘Baby This Love I Have’, sings about the challenges of communication: “My words may not convey just what I’m feelin’.” The lyrics constantly refer back to trying. Intention and effort are, I think, often intertwined. We must remain aware of our impact, but if we know we have the right intention, we should be able to remain hopeful that it will have the desired effect. If it doesn’t, we listen and learn.

Unsurprisingly, having loved every second of editing articles across all sections, my own for this issue lands in the Sports section once again. Intention matters not only within sport itself, but within the power sport holds on a social, cultural, and political level. This year is brimming with major events, such as the UEFA European Football Championship and the Paris Olympics, and with that comes important conversations that need to be had about how the media and the public respond, and what the intention of these responses are.

Being the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Orbital Magazine has been an unbelievably beneficial experience, and I hope everyone who has been a part of what we have created or has consumed our material can say the same. Journalism matters, and student journalists deserve the opportunity to invest in their future through writing for a student publication. It is a privilege to have been a part of that alongside such a talented creative team.

Beth McCowen

Editorial Board

Editor-In-Chief: Olivia Taylor

Deputy EIC: Beth McCowen

Senior News Editor: Madelaine Gray

Associate News Editor: Ilayda Kaplankiran

Senior Opinion Editor: Ella Hearn-Zhang

Associate Opinion Editor: Hurashia Daley

Senior Culture Editor: Daniel Pepin

Associate Culture Editor: Bernardo Wendrownik

Senior Lifestyle Editor: Tia Martello

Associate Lifestyle Editor: Katherina Hoi

Senior Sports Editor: Carmen Vallejo-Anderson

Associate Sports Editor: Liberty Simons

Senior Creative Writing Editor: Anna Diedrichsen

Associate Creative Writing Editor: Mieke Nel

Agony Aunt: Eleanor Atterton

Head Illustrator: Meghan O'Brien

Associate Illustrator: Maya Baker

Guest Illustrator: Tabitha Turner

Want to get in contact?

WE HAVE AN ANONYMOUS CONTACT FORM AVAILABLE AT LINKTR.EE/ORBITALMAGAZINE ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN EMAIL US EDITOR.ORBITAL@ROYALHOLLOWAY.SU OR MESSAGE ANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

The views expressed within this magazine are not representative of Royal Holloway, University of London, or Royal Holloway Student's Union, or any author/editor except the individual who wrote the particular article.

News Revisit: When Will He Call It?

By Madeline Sidgwick

Well, he called it! After much speculation Rishi Sunak finally stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street and declared July 4th as the day that the public will, finally, have their say on who makes up the next UK parliament. However, I’m sure that many of us have a lot of questions on why now? And what will come from an election that will undoubtedly make it into the history books.

Firstly, the way in which the election was called was to say the least, questionable. Whoever thought of sending the Prime Minister outside in the pouring rain without an umbrella, I have many questions for you. The sense of pathetic fallacy was definitely overwhelming. But the poor weather was not the most chaotic element of the announcement by a long shot - the deafening playing of D:Ream’s "Things

Can Only Get Better” distorted the entire announcement. Not only do the lyrics resemble popular opinion but the song also represents New Labour’s 1997 successes in their campaign and subsequent landslide majority. This also brings into question, Starmer; is he capable of pulling off a 1997-like landslide? This is a question truly looming in the back of people’s minds, as the Labour leader faces accusations of being uninspiring and less than charismatic.

In terms of being a strategic move, calling an election now seems undoubtedly strange. With the first YouGov polls predicting Labour a 194-seat majority and Reform UK gaining significant support, now seems like an odd time for the PM to go to the polls. Evidently Sunak wants economic stability to be the fighting issue of

the vote, as inflation figures have recently improved. However, with Labour and Conservatives economic policy not, in my opinion, differing a substantial amount, economics doesn’t give the Tories enough power to be successful at the polls - especially after THAT mini budget. After watching the first of the TV debates I cannot help but feel slightly underwhelmed with the performances of the main party leaders. The constant referral to the past “my record this” and “my father that”, is not what I believe is needed in relation to such a defining election. The return of Nigel Farage presents a large threat to the Conservatives, a threat that the Tories simply do not want to address. It is evident that the General Election 2024 will be defining, but in which ways I honestly could not predict.

And so, as my original question of “when we he call it?” has been answered I think it is now important to ask ourselves “can things only get better?”

In the age of pop psychology and armchair experts, it seems like everyone’s a detective. Meticulously dissecting the intentions behind every tweet, post, thought, or conversation. But while we’re busy analysing motives, are we overlooking the impact of people’s actions? The phrase ‘actions speak louder than words’ is popular for a reason - it’s true. However, motivations and intentions only get you so far. It’s what people do that matters, as that’s what impacts and changes us. It’s very easy to get caught up with your interpretations and theories about what others think of you or their intentions towards you however, as tempting as it may be, don’t let your overthinking and overanalysing get to the point that you forget someone’s actions and behaviour towards you. But why do we care so much?

We’re never going to truly understand anyone else’s thoughts but our own, yet I won’t act like there isn’t some utility in trying to figure out people’s intentions. Interpersonally, they play a pivotal role in shaping dynamics and fostering trust, intentions can be and are useful. When we communicate openly and honestly, our motivations are laid out for all to see, helping to foster authentic connections. Vice versa, deceitful motives and veiled motives can

Opinion

Baby, Tell me, What’s Your Motive?

By Ella Hearn-Zhang

I think this desire to know what everyone is intending, thinking, and feeling stems from a desire to make sense of a chaotic world. Nothing is predictable or stable anymore, and people long to have a space where they can map out every single thought and explain away every irrational theory, just because they can control their hypotheses and narratives. Obsession with intent can lead to a dangerous and subjective reality in which the ends justify the means, so long as the reasoning is deemed ‘pure’. People can be quick to excuse bad behaviour if it’s perceived to come from a good place, failing to hold those to account for the harm they cause. This can be the case for someone’s favourite celebrity, a politician, or a bad friend in your life that you’re trying to make an excuse for. Actions are important because they have observable consequences. Accountability and responsibility are based on what people do, not on what someone was thinking or intending to do. It’s time to shift our focus away from intentions to actions, from asking ‘why’ to ‘what’. It’s time we started observing, not hypothesising.

Intentions aren't static. Things

can change. Introspection and self-awareness are key when navigating life. I would be very surprised if any readers seriously held onto opinions of people, concepts, or things that they had 5 years ago. This isn’t to say that motivations and intentions are useless, they aren’t, they help distinguish us from others and influence how we navigate the world. But hopelessly overthinking every interaction, text, conversation, and bit of gossip overheard, just to try to understand what someone was thinking when they produced that, doesn’t do anyone any good. A fixation on dissecting intentions can lead to false realities, as we project our thoughts and assumptions onto others. Rather than assuming we know someone’s motivations based on our thoughts, we should engage in open dialogue and active listening to truly understand their perspective. By shifting our focus from speculating about intentions to empathetically engaging with others, we can foster better relationships and practices. [cont’d] Someone’s intentions will show through their actions, as they’ll think about something and follow accordingly. Trying to make excuses for good or bad behaviour by playing a guessing game with their “true” motives will do nothing but waste your time. So, baby, tell me, what’s your motive?

Here’s Your Permission to Lose the Plot, Sort of...

When it comes to plot-driven stories versus character-driven stories, I prefer the latter. When the decisions of the characters are what drive the story forward, I find, and I hope you do too, that it makes for a far more dynamic reading experience. Why?

Firstly, let’s establish the difference between plot and character-driven stories. In a plot-driven story, the actions and events are emphasised most. In a character-driven story, the focus is more on the development of characters, from their motivations, goals, etc. An example of a plot-driven story would be J. R. R Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Why does Frodo go to destroy the One Ring in Mount Doom? Is it because there is something within his character that wants to, or is he told he must by Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Fellowship? (Hint: it’s the last one). There is nothing specifically about Frodo as a character that makes him the Ring Bearer. If he was substituted for any other character in the story, the goal to destroy the Ring would be the same. Therefore, the story is plot-driven. Emphasis is placed on destroying the ring, not Frodo’s character and its development.

Alternatively, the recent Netflix series ‘Arcane: League of Legends’ is heavily character-driven. Despite Arcane being a TV series, and LOTR being a book series, both are comparable if we focus on their storytelling aspects. In

By Alana Bowen

Arcane, Jinx wants to apease her adoptive father; Mel wants to prove that it is possible to lead with pacifism; Catlin wants to be a good enforcer. The emphasis is on the character's desires.

The key difference between plot and character-driven stories is must vs. want. In plot-driven stories, the goal is external to the character. The protagonist(s) must do something, and their decisions are impacted by what they must do. However, in character-driven stories, the goal is internal. A character wants something, and they make the moves to get it, they intend to get what they want, by any means possible. Their decisions drive the plot, rather than the plot driving their decisions. But why do we prefer stories that are controlled by characters? I’d argue it is because we are also characters. People are characters.

When big things happen because a character decides it, it heightens the stakes! The protagonist has the power to alter fate? Cool! However, the danger of plot-driven stories is that their characters risks becoming 2D if they only exist to fill a placeholder, such as the Hero, the Teacher… the Villain.

The question is: Is this good writing? It is not. It’s cliché.

How many stories have you read where the bad guy is just a thirdact obstacle that the main

character must overcome for… the sake of plot, rather than being an ever-present threat with their own goals and motivations? Sadly, we see it all the time. Lord Voldemort typically only shows up at the end of Harry’s school year to push the plot towards its climax. When writing, see your characters as what set off a chain reaction. Character-driven stories frequently question, inspire, provide insight, and offer escape. Understanding your character arc means understanding your plot, and so working with intention.

Image: Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Words have always mattered, but we often don’t recognise the power they can hold. Words carry potency and meaning, so how we communicate them is crucial. Our cultural understanding of how we use words in speech or writing has changed. To many, this is the era of “Cancel Culture”. For some, this is a beneficial development, for others, it threatens free expression. The new phenomenon of Cancel Culture has awakened the world to the strength of words. Consequently, what we say and the objectives that drive them are more crucial than ever.

Someone makes a statement or post on social media. When the news breaks and the world cries out for blood, the currents shift, and that individual is "cancelled," shunned, or left with a permanently ruined reputation. Cancel Culture indicates that the words we use must matter because in many cases, words have the ability to perpetuate inequality or dismantle it. You may think that this gives words too much power, but saying the incorrect thing today means not only the end of your career, but potentially the destruction of human civilisation (or so everyone says). Cancel Culture originated by holding obscenely wealthy public figures accountable for any wrongdoing, mostly because they are absurdly affluent, but the criteria has since expanded to include everyone. Maybe even you, some day.

Blurred Lines

By Hurashia Daley

is a noble trait, but it’s an arduous responsibility to undertake, especially when you don’t know what a person intended. Projections and misinterpretations are common on social media. These projections and misinterpretations are especially common when someone is brave enough to speak on a political or racial topic. Misinterpretations can stem from others who leap to the notion that you have committed a sin. Then, given the facts of their assumption, they now have every right to treat you as if you were deserving of continuous harassment.

Bearing witness to such hatred is a shock to the system; a moment of vulnerability (expressing an opinion) is weaponised against you. Once you have unleashed your thoughts, the debate spreads so quickly that you will have to accept your new moniker. Whether you are labelled an "idiot" or a "terrible human being," it is impossible to explain away your comments. The miscommun

ication has already turned into misinformation, and you are now eternally remembered as the “person who once said...”. In those moments that feel like they last a lifetime, you are no longer a person but distorted into a joke for at least three days. Ruminating within you is regret, but remember, you only had a few characters to convey your point. You think to yourself, "If only they knew what I really meant," but they would believe you were lying, so you ignore social media for a few days and hope this never happens again. However, just a few months later, you are under fire for the second time because misimpressions are the norm. Words do matter, but as we traverse this digital age, our intentions will never truly reach a phone screen. We need to consider whether we are cancelling what the person said or what we believe they said. Casual misinterpretations come at a tremendous cost for many innocent bystanders hence it is critical to read between those blurred lines.

Why the ‘Will-They-Won’t-They’ Trope Should be a Narrative of the Past

By Madeline Sidgwick

From Friend’s’ Ross and Rachel to One Day’s Emma and Dexter, the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ trope has dominated popular culture. The romanticism of a long love story and the endurance of trials and tribulations once seemed so desirable to me, but as I get older, I have become increasingly frustrated with this portrayal of romantic relationships. Now I understand that to engage readers and audiences, writers must include conflicts between characters, or potentially even devastate audiences with an unexpected death or the response of “It’ll pass”, but I feel that this doesn’t always need to be the case.

Call me a romantic, but I think we can all agree that sometimes a happy ending is comforting. I want positive closure for both my favourite fictional characters (and myself) as I start to cry on the last episode of every series I watch. Although fictional heartbreak is strangely comforting, I believe this is because we have seen it before. As an undeniably hopeless romantic audience, we have gaslit ourselves into thinking that the ups and downs of the ‘will-theywon’t-they’ trope is more likely to play out in real life than the Disney narrative.

Although a cliché, I truly believe in the proclamation of “if they wanted to they would”. Feel free to disagree with me, but if Normal People’s Marrianne and Connel are meant to be then long distance would work; if One Day’s Dexter had stopped messing

Emma around for so many years, I would like to believe they would have reached individual happiness sooner. It’s also important to address the position of female characters in such tropes, who are always presented as chasing the emotionally unavailable Mr Big or determined to change the Hot Priest. It’s rare that we see a female protagonist being chased until it is too late. Therefore, as engaged audiences and feminists we must address how women are constantly left heartbroken or fantasising about the overly sarcastic guy. Guys who often have nothing to offer but good knitwear, who for 2 episodes appeared to be Prince Charming.

Upon indulging in the works of Dolly Alderton and Annie Lord, I have grown to enjoy the more realistic narratives of romantic relationships rather than the turbulence that I was previously accustomed to. Alderton’s 2023 release of ‘Good Material’ presents male protagonist Andy trying to navigate life after a sudden breakup. I thought that the book was both enlightening as the rare topic of male heartbreak was explored, but I also found immense comfort in the absence of the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ trope. The fact that a male heartbreak was so new to me really highlighted how little the unavailable female and heartbroken male trope has been explored in literary discourses. By illustrating that you don’t need to chase your ex or fantasise about what life will be like if you ever get back together Alderton’s

fiction becomes more realistic, progressive, interesting, and in my opinion, less frustrating.

Especially when re-indulging in my favourite TV shows or movies my frustrations can’t help but build as miscommunications and relocations break apart fictional couples. My idealistic self wants these characters to end up together happily ever after, but my pessimism rises when I see these fictional tropes into real life. If they don’t text you, or tell you how they feel or make the effort to do long distance then I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they are not worth it. After witnessing the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ trope both fictionally and in real life, I have decided that they should be a trope of the past. Therefore, upon my 100th rewatch of ‘Friends’ I am certain that I will be shamelessly urging Rachel to move on from Ross.

Image: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

Most of us are familiar with the phrase ‘intention’ and somewhat are aware of what this could entail. When friends or family experience drama or a sense of gossip it is not unfamiliar to question ‘well what was your intention?’ or to exclaim that ‘this was not my intention!’ if a case of Chinese whispers occurs. But does knowing our intention really matter? We seem to be concerned with people’s ambitions of an outcome; if I intended to make someone feel good by making them a cake, however, I then find out they hated cake, it is fine because my intention was good. But doesn’t this seem bizarre as the person was disappointed with my actions of making them a cake, this can often be seen in everyday language of ‘well it’s the thought that counts’ but this did not change the actions or emotions of disappointment. The bottom line here is that we, as humans, are incredibly concerned with the reasons behind our actions, whether they are positive or negative.

Perhaps this is reflected in the criminal justice system as someone who has intent to break the law often receives a harsher repercussion than those who claim

What is the Point of Intention?

By Keira McTernan

to have no intent. The question begs whether intention genuinely matters within everyday life, excluding scenarios of law breaking, justifying our intent seems to be an everyday occurrence. For example, I intend to make a cake therefore warrants my actions of going to the shops to buy ingredients. The debate of ‘free will’ cannot help but seep its way into this discussion of intent. The cake scenario can be developed with free will in mind, I have free will therefore do as I please so why not bake a cake if I feel like it. Intention, free will and moral responsibility can all amount to acting consciously and with ambition, and god knows modern society is deeply conscious of ambition, especially with our generation.

While pondering on the topic of intent it becomes evident that justifying our reasoning takes up a lot of our time, it enables us to judge whether we like a person by listening to their intentions which can be incredibly useful in the long-term as you can surround yourself with people who you deem to have good intentions. However, even within everyday life our intentions are questioned,

this can now seem like a hassle when we must justify our actions to nearly everyone who asks. I am sure many people within university have been asked what they study and why. Many may respond to such a question as ‘oh I just really like X subject’ or ‘X subject leads to the career I want’ or, maybe, hopefully not, ‘I don’t know X subject merely pays well in the future, but I am not interested in it at all’. Within this extremely short example we tend to order them in a way to provide adequate justification, we possibly may suggest that the last answer is not a good enough intention for spending 3+ years in a field of study but why would this not be a good enough reason?

Anyhow when applied to the real-world intentions are incredibly useful, by assessing whether someone intended to break the law or if this was an accident. Or within everyday life it allows us to decide on who we want to spend our time with and allows us to flourish into the people we want to be, because, I remain adamant that the majority of people do and aim to achieve good intentions.

Culture

A Review of The Last Dinner Party’s Prelude to Ecstasy

The all-female band that jumped up the charts in early 2024 with their hit single ‘Nothing Matters’ have released their much-anticipated debut album: Prelude to Ecstasy.

A curated visual persona and songs themselves that work together to create a refreshingly real attitude towards life and love, something that is so often hidden and obscured. Prelude to Ecstasy by The Last Dinner Party is a must-listen for any lovers of ABBA, Kate Bush, and Bowie.

Despite being released in April 2023, ‘Nothing Matters’ only took to the skies in January of this year, after becoming popular across social media - perfectly timed with their incoming album release. The Last Dinner Party’s debut takes you through a journey of female rage and performance art. Prelude to Ecstasy went to number one in the UK and the band has gained global recognition after appearing on Graham Norton and The Late Show.

In a Rolling Stone interview about the purpose of their music, Georgia Davies (Bassist) spoke on contemporary music and how it seems to ‘apologis[e] for itself before it even has a chance to say anything, so we wanted to be totally unapologetic’. Their antithetical approach to the modern

By Becky Ward

times explores the art of truth and loud expression.

The prelude itself is a classical symphony with strings and bass. The blend perfectly encapsulates the unique venture taken by these women. Front woman Abigail Morris’ belting voice and expertise perfectly complements the orchestral tones that run through the album’s veins. The airs of the band are pure renaissance punk decadence, with corsets, lace and a permanent regal stature taking centre stage, because aesthetic is everything.

The album itself is a celebration of all things feminine: the good, the bad and the ugly. With song titles like ‘The Feminine Urge’ and ‘Portrait of a Dead Girl’, there is no surprise that themes of motherhood and female suffering take precedence in a Prelude to Ecstasy. Lyrics such as: ‘Here comes the feminine urge, I know it so well / To nurture the wounds my mother held’, making references to generational trauma. In ‘Portrait of a Dead Girl’ Morris sings ‘And I wish you had given me / The courtesy of ripping out my throat’, showing rage in the face of blind kindness and cowardly mercy.

The band's ethos is to rebel against the modern musical trends of apathy and the 'too-

cool-for-school’ approach. These women are here… they’re angry and they’re loud and they are not saying sorry.

The interlude ‘Gjuha’ is a drawnout deep melody and resembles a communal prayer. It grows to a head, and ends abruptly, followed with the staccato piano of ‘Sinner’ immediately casting your mind into an eclipse of fast paced elation that provides an excellent introduction into the second half of the album.

The penultimate song ‘Nothing Matters’ creates an up-beat, whimsical melody that starts bringing the high-stake emotions of the album to a close. The last song, ‘Mirror’ takes on a slower pace that reflects on the last 40 minutes. Ending with the repeated ‘I fade away’ after an entrancing ballad, this song invites explorations of vulnerability, identity, and self-reproach - bringing to a head the question that echoes across the album: ‘Who am I if not the people I love?’

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The Best Books of Spring 2024

By Daniel Pepin

2024 is shaping up to be a memorable year for literature. We have already some sublime works, hopefully, setting the precedent for the rest of the year. Micheal Cunningham returned to novels after a decade-long hiatus in Day. The acclaimed Japanese cult classic Butter by Asako Yuzuki saw its English translation publication. Percival Everett, riding the success of Erasure’s film adaptation American Fiction winning best adapted screenplay at the Oscars, released James – an imperative and heart wrenching retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s voice. It is definitely a good year to be a reader. And as spring gives itself over to the heady mix of stress and freedom of summer, I thought I would share my four favourite reads of 2024’s first quarter.

My Friends by Hisham

Matar

My Friends follows Khaled as he takes a stroll through London after dark and reminisces about his relationship with Mustafa and Hosam, and how all three became instrumental in the Libyan Revolution against Muammar Gaddafi. My Friends tackles themes of brotherhood, loss, and what homeland really means when you have a new life somewhere else. There is a real comfort and warmth to this book despite its

often-challenging material. Matar’s mature and introspective prose lends the whole book a reassuringly solid feel, sort of like your dad telling you a story. Yes, there are ups and downs, trials and tribulations, but you know really that everything will be okay in the end.

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

For the study of classical reception, and classics as a whole, this book is like nectar. The scene is Sicily 412 BC post catastrophic Athenian invasion. We follow the beautiful friendship of ingenuous Lampo and more sophisticated Gelon as the poverty-stricken potters with an ironic love for their enemy's forte: Athenian drama. Lampo and Gelon have the idea of staging a full-blown production of Euripides’ Medea using the Athenian prisoners as actors. Killing two birds with one obol

they’ll become rich, and the Athenians will not starve to death. Lennon’s exceptional concept is matched with a frenetic pace and emotive, richly simple language unlike any other classical novel or retelling. Glorious Exploits' absurdity is a shield behind which lies something profoundly human.

How I Won a Nobel Prize by Julius Taranto

Perhaps with the most enticing title on this list, How I Won a Nobel Prize is a novel for our time. With scandals, allegations, and political incorrectness commonplace at universities, sometimes it feels like the easiest solution is just shipping these unsavoury offenders out to sea. Welcome to the Rubin Institute. Based on an island off the coast of Connecticut, this institute is staffed by those cancelees, criminals, and deviants who teach what they want with no interference from US based

Image: Photo taken by Daniel Pepin

education policies to students who can study there completely debt free. Helen is our surrogate, and we watch as she and her partner, Hew, navigate the Rubin Institute and battle with the question: should intellectual advancement be inhibited by social morality?

Change by Edouard Louis

So, this novel is sort of cheating. Edouard Louis’ latest novel Change was originally published in his native French in 2021 so technically, this book is not a 2024 release. However, the English translation, by John Lambert, only arrived this year. Change is autofiction, recounting the real story of Edouard’s desire to change his very self and climb to the upper echelons of society while modifying details here and there to enhance the narrative. Having said that, his narrative requires little augmentation. A meditation on masculinity and class; Louis’ life from his poor, provincial working-class home, to the bourgeois Amiens, and finally to the beau monde of Paris, is provocative, vulnerable, and speaks to a very common obsession to reshape oneself. Louis surely has a gift for telling an incredibly personal story that I can see shades of myself in.

...

These books are all unique. They tell individual stories in individual ways and yet, you can’t help but see emerging thematic similarities. Alienation, masculinity, exile, personal and social change, and an overwhelming desire for everything to work out.

These are all, I think, quite evocative of the world today. How can the Peloponnesian War and cancel culture teach us similar things? I am always amazed how literature captures a snapshot of its time no matter the context of the literature itself. Let’s hope the rest of the year follows suit.

What Are we Reading?

By Olivia Taylor and Beth McCowen

Olivia: As an English student I have found it hard to keep up with 'reading for pleasure' when I am constantly reading for my degree. However, as I have come to the end of my time at Royal Holloway Univeristy, I have started reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck. So far it has been a great read. I love Steinbeck's use of langauge and imagery. It is also the kind of novel that gives me a nostalgic twinge for the novels I read throughout my degree. I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a (somewhat) more modern day literary classic.

Beth: I recently read The Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh. I absolutely love a crime novel and she is one of my favourite authors of that genre. Her books are always so dark and twisty, and I think I am yet to predict any of their turns. This one in particular is really well written and gripping, and it’s the beginning of a series with a really engaging protagonist, so I can’t wait for the next one.

Image: Ed Robertson via Unsplash

STEM subjects are for boys, humanities are for girls. Law enforcement and medicine are for men, nursing and teaching are for women. It sounds old fashioned said so bluntly, and it is; but even in 2024, the message sticks around. Whether explicitly stated or subliminally assumed –we’ve likely all heard the “I cannot operate on this man, he is my son” brain teaser – the impression remains among many that there are certain jobs better suited for certain genders. In the UK, still, nearly 80% of engineering students are male, while over 77% of education students are female.

Advocates for wider, visible representation use the phrase “you cannot be what you cannot see” to illustrate a simple fact: if you do not see a space for yourself in certain careers or fields of study, it takes an awful lot more courage to try. When the real world lags in progress, fictional characters can serve as a powerful tool of representation.

Dana Scully, a medical doctor, FBI Special Agent, and all-round badass, first appeared on screen in The X-Files’ 1993 pilot. From the very first episode, the show flips many established stereotypes on their heads. Scully’s male partner, Fox Mulder, is a true "believer", who is often swayed in his deductions by that which he wants to be true. He is mopey, dreamy, affable in equal measure, and in many ways ends up taking on the traditionally "female" role in the partnership – it is Scully who is afforded the complex arc over the course of the series, while Mulder remains more constant. Scully is the sceptic, the scientist, the one who absorbs the facts and then draws logical conclusions, even as the world around them offers

The Scully Effect

By Madelaine Gray

little in the way of logic (for those who don’t know, the titular X-files examine unexplained phenomena, where the usual rules that Scully so adores don’t quite seems to apply).

This isn’t just performative subversiveness; Scully is not a character who serves as a cardboard cut-out of the “woman in a man’s world” archetype. Instead, she is allowed space to be feminine, too: she is brave but not fearless, she wants children, and the contrast between her science-based approach to her work and her strong Catholic upbringing serve as one of the foundations of her characterisation. She is sometimes stubborn and often uncompromising; she is consistently multi-faceted, never one-dimensional. She has a realistic – and relatable – thirst to prove herself, admitting in the pilot that, when recruited, she accepted a job at the FBI despite her medical degree as she saw it as “somewhere [she] could distinguish [herself]”. She is ambitious, and this is not mocked or discouraged, by the show itself or by those around her. In a throwaway comment in an early episode of the mid-90s, Mulder states that in 2023, Scully will be running the FBI. He sincerely means it, and given what we know of her, this is certainly not beyond her capabilities.

But Scully is sometimes demeaned or diminished within the world of the show on the basis of her gender; she is not superwoman, and the wheels of misogyny keep turning even in fiction. She deals with this diminishment

without acquiescence, without conceding that this must simply be "the way things are". Scully does not deem this treatment acceptable, and so we, as viewers, share her frustration. “’Baby’ me,” she famously says in one episode, “and you’ll be peeing through a catheter.”

TL;DR, Scully is super-cool, often relatable, and a feminist icon by anyone’s reckoning. She is unabashedly ambitious, highly competent, and she served as an influence for many of television’s more recent female characters.

Frequent think pieces consider aspects of Dana Scully as varied as her fashion (starting off with the budding, shoulder-padded normcore of the early ‘90s)*, her character arc (paved with trauma, crises, and nearly thirty years of ageing), and her romantic life (perhaps the least fascinating part of her character), but less journalistic attention is given to her widely-cited influence on the career choices of young women who tuned in each week to The X-Files, beyond the odd throwaway line in a wider article.

‘The Scully Effect’, as it has been dubbed, is a case in point of the transformative power of authentic representation. It deserves more attention, and more consideration.

It all started when Gillian Anderson, who played Scully, started receiving letters upon letters from girls and women entering the medical world, science world, or law enforcement world, telling her that Scully inspired them. Anne Simon, science advisor on The X-Files and college level biology professor, began asking her classes about the show, and found

that half of the women in her classes were influenced by Scully to study the subject.

After many years of anecdotes and hearsay, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media conducted a study and concluded that American women who regularly watched The X-Files were 50% more likely to have worked in a STEM field. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of women that work in STEM cited Dana Scully as their role model, with the same number saying that she increased their confidence that they could excel in a male-dominated field. The most frequent words that respondents came up with to describe the character were “intelligent”, “smart”, and “strong”.

Academic assessment of this effect is ongoing and debated, but one thing remains clear: The X-Files opened the eyes of many young women, who saw Scully and thought, "I want to do that." They saw a female character who exemplified those qualities they identified, and began to see them within themselves, too.

Was it Chris Carter’s (creator of The X-Files) intention to encourage a generation to shuck off gender roles and forge their own paths? Probably not. But when writers produce well-rounded female characters who feel, behave, and think like real-life women, their endeavours and achievements suddenly seem more possible for us non-fictional denizens.

I will forever admire Dana Scully and all that she represents, even if the Scully effect hasn’t worked on me directly. More than anything, it has got me thinking about how the representation in the film and television I watch has impacted

me over the years. If it weren’t for CJ Cregg of The West Wing, would I have sought out political communication modules throughout my degree? Would I have flirted with the idea of studying criminology were it not for Emily Prentiss of Criminal Minds? Without Sharon Raydor of The Closer, would I have realised that being liked does not always mean being right? Did Sarah Jane Smith teach me about the power of never listening when someone says you "cannot"? If it weren’t for fellow redhead Dana Scully herself, would I be so determined going toe to toe with men I disagree with?

Most importantly, if I hadn’t consumed so much media in which women are afforded positions of power, seats at the table, and strong, unsilenced voices, would I have developed the confidence required to put myself forward for some of the opportunities I have experienced over the years? Would I be so unshakable in my belief that "ambition" is not a dirty word?

Maybe I would, without all of this. Maybe the Scully effect is more isolated in era and scope than I am assuming, and due to growing up in a world with increasing gender parity, and

parents who never diminished my dreams, it was natural that I would develop as I have. Maybe I am attributing too much of society’s progress to a single female character from the 1990s. Still, thirty years after the series started, when I mentioned the topic of my next article, a friend told me that Scully gave her the self-belief to study science and apply to university, with the question WWSD (What Would Scully Do?) remaining a mantra in her life. As the Geena Davis Institute’s CEO stated: the characters, images, and storylines in media shape our everyday lives in profound ways. Just as you are what you eat, perhaps you are what you watch.

These days, 61.58% of medicine and dentistry students in the UK are female. I won’t put this one down to Dana Scully, don’t worry. But a shift in the last thirty years has thrown open the doors to previously male-dominated fields. Representation, in both fiction and reality, has undoubtedly played an essential role in normalising young women following their dreams, wherever they may lie. That is something to celebrate.

*Writer’s note: articles about fashion, specifically pantsuits, on television are very cool, actually.

In her song ‘Baby, This Love I Have’, Minnie Ripperton passionately sings, ‘I hope you recognise what’s right before your eyes’, ‘I’m trying to show you that I love you’, and ‘Trying to show that I care.’ She sings about an intense love she has for another, a sort of yearning and desire for reciprocation in a song that is often the subject of soul/RnB music. Women within this genre include Helen Folasade (lead singer of Sade) and Amy Winehouse, as well as the more contemporary examples of Rihanna, Ari Lennox, and SZA. Despite their different backgrounds and ages, all these women express a desire to be felt, loved, and, most importantly, to be understood.

Having listened to the song, I was inspired to conduct an interview with a close friend based on themes and how they exist in our environment and the current time.

Before I conducted the interview, I listened to the song, and a few words came to mind: love, yearning and care. After jotting the words down on a notepad, I framed a few questions with them in mind. As my interviewee requested, I started with a reasonably straightforward question to get the conversation flowing via iMessage, instead of in person.

R.O. Would you say the themes she addresses in the song are relevant today? Or would you say we live in a loveless society?

I.W. "Yes definitely. I think it is important to people, it’s what moves us.”

I agree. Love moves us and conjures an innate desire to show and reciprocate with others; as

For Lovers Only

By Rukhe Omo

Minnie beautifully expresses, she is trying to show the recipient/ lover of the song that she cares. The way she sings suggests that there is a connection between her and the person she is addressing, which is why she so confidently wears her heart on her sleeve - I wonder if it would be different if the lines were blurred and the concept of casual/’undefined’ style relationship, where vulnerability is sparse, centred her lyrics. This leads me to my next question…

R.O. Minnie’s lyrics express a lot of vulnerability, she sings ‘Oh, you may not understand just why I show my hand.’ Being vulnerable can be challenging, do you find it harder to be vulnerable and express desire?

I.W. With all the current stresses of the world today I think people are afraid to be vulnerable. It’s popular to live and love more privately so we get less insight into their devotions or passions, particularly romantically. Maybe this could be helped if people could open up in spaces they feel comfortable, sharing their experiences of love with their friends/ communities openly (without judgement).

Most definitely, I share the same sentiment. The fear of vulnerability is often rooted in the fear of failure, especially in romantic relationships, as we usually put the other on a pedestal and see them as a prize. Hence, when it does not live up to our expectations or goes “wrong”, it feels embarrassing to have been so invested in something that did not last. This

is interesting as this is not always the case with platonic relationships; on the topic of types of relationships…

R.O. What is your preferred type of love? E.g. platonic or romantic, family and why?

I.W. My preferred type of love is probably platonic or romantic. I feel like these are the relationships where I share and learn the most about myself.”

Of course, especially when you choose who you let into your life. With family you are, to an extent, expected to have this linear connection and mutual understanding of one another, which is only accurate sometimes since, as individuals, we grow and change, and sometimes who we are doesn't fit with familial expectations. Hence, the emphasis on platonic and romantic love as we age, as the people we surround ourselves with usually fit our values for that specific time.

R.O. Lastly, would you say your sexual preference impacts the way you show love and care? What can your preference do to create an environment where women (or yourself) can be passionate/vulnerable? Or have patriarchal ideals ruined it, and men have to be the initiators of the love while women take a step back?

I.W. Yeah I’d say so. I think the problem is that often men and women’s values don’t align (e.g. different love languages, different expectations of romantic relationships, different fears etc.) For women to be vulnerable, men need to show a level of compassion, tolerance, trust etc., it’s all about understanding and wanting to understand each other.

Communication and honesty are vital to the success of any type of relationship and allow us to feel love and care. However, to achieve that, we must be honest with ourselves first, which then again requires a level of vulnerability and humility we should all seek within ourselves; otherwise, you may wonder if that person “recognises what’s right before their eyes”.

Overall, Minnie highlights the timeless nature of emotions. While her ability to sing so openly about her feelings is admirable, it speaks to a larger conversation of lack of communication and openness in relationships, irrespective of time. As a society, we should champion and prioritise communication in relationships. This involves creating safe and supportive environments where

Speak

In 2019, Taylor Swift’s track masters were sold to Scooter Braun, taking away her ownership of her own music. But Swift has not backed down without a fight, re-releasing her own version of her old albums to take back ownership of them, with the re-recordings of ‘Fearless’ and ‘Red’ making her more popular than ever. ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ continues her journey to claim her music back, a journey that has been so innovative as to make her even more of a cultural figure in the industry. Her original 2010 album was a diary of messy emotions, encapsulating her experiences as a woman entering adulthood and detailing the issues that come with it. This project aims to bring back those volatile emotions of growing up, and Swift can invoke them back in a form of nostalgia in an old generation of fans.

The lyrics remain the same, but the production and vocals are all that matters in this re-recording, seeing whether they remain the same or are made even better in the new version. Swift’s vocals are clearer than ever, not losing any

individuals feel comfortable sharing their feelings, regardless of societal expectations. Ultimately, embracing honesty and vulnerability can lead to greater understanding between individuals, contributing to more fulfilling relationships.

Now (Taylor’s Version)

By Tahseenah Khatun

emotion in her voice, and still being able to capture her 20-yearold self, more than a decade later. The album doesn’t remain completely the same, with elements of the production changing in many songs, and with such changes producing various results. One of the most noticeable changes in this re-recording was the line change in ‘Better Than Revenge’, from the previous, problematic one to ‘He was a moth to her flame, she was holding the matches.’ The original line, receiving backlash for its misogynistic undertones, was changed to a more clever and witty one, giving further depth to the song itself. ‘Enchanted’ still retains that whimsy, mystical production that delightfully compliments the lyrics very well. The album opens with ‘Mine’, the vocals clearer than ever before yet still managing to retain that youthful spark of a first love exemplified by its cheery tune and wistful lyrics. ‘Sparks Fly’ also counts with a stellar-loud production, pairing well with its lyrics. The subject matter varies in each song, from the need to still appreciate your youth in ‘Never Grow Up’, to a

tribute to her fans in ‘Long Live,’ but Swift can still capture those emotions and experiences into one cohesive project.

Swift takes it a step further and makes it completely all her own with the vault tracks. These tracks were originally written when ‘Speak Now’ was released in 2010 but not released until now, showing how only she truly knows the album, and no one can take that away from her. ‘I Can See You’ is a sly country song with sultry lyrics. ‘When Emma Falls in Love’ is a sweet song, with one of the stand-out lyrics ‘Cause she's the kind of book that you can't put down’, proving Swift’s top craftsmanship. Swift has invigorating chemistry with Fall Out Boy on the guitar driven ‘Electric Touch’. The album ends with ‘Timeless’, a song paying tribute to her grandparents’ love for each other and instilling hope in the listeners. Many things have changed, and many have stayed the same. Swift as an artist has changed since the original 2010 album, but her emotions remain the same throughout.

‘This is where I’m supposed to be’:

An Exploration of Destiny and Human Connections in Past Lives

By Charisse Hau

Over the centuries, people have been debating on the topic of free will and predestination. In the early modern period especially, God’s will and humanity’s free will was often discussed. While there are lots of debates on religious and political implications of free will, Past Lives zooms in on destiny and fate within human relationships, offering a new perspective on how destiny connects people.

Past Lives hinges on the idea of in-yun and explores the intricacies of human connection. Nora (played by Greta Lee) repeatedly reunites with her childhood sweetheart Hae-sung (played by Teo Yoo) over the course of twenty-four years. Nora married Arthur (played by John Magaro) while Hae-sung remained single. The film depicts their relationship and multiple encounters and farewells. Past Lives contemplates on human relationships, as well as the immigrant experience, exploring the intersections of culture. A major concept introduced by the film is in-yun, similar to the concept of destiny or fate in Western cultures. In-yun can be defined as the ties between two people over the course of their lives; one's connection with certain people or things.

"Destiny is something that comes to you, and you can't really stop it," the director Celine Song said in one of her interviews.

Although Song says this, is destiny truly unstoppable? If there is destiny and fate, then why would people need to make decisions when everything is destined? Clearly the film shows us multiple moments of decision-making: Nora’s family’s decision to emigrate to Canada, her moving to New York and becoming a writer, Hae-sung trying to reconnect with Nora. All these moments require human agency in making the decision. There is intention in Hae-sung’s searching for Nora online, and the subsequent travel to New York twelve years later to meet up with her. Conscious decisions are made at every moment. Life does not happen on its own. Then what the concept of in-yun offers is not how life is

predestined, or how people do not have control over their fate, but rather, how it shows every decision made has a possibility of past connections. It is a way of reading life in retrospection, but not in speculation of the future.

While in-yun is a way of interpreting life and our relationships in retrospect, it still creates questions of why do we end up with the person we are with right now? Would in-yun necessarily explain all our encounters and relationships? Two-thirds into the film’s runtime Arthur poses hypothetical questions to Nora on what if she met someone else at the writers’ residency. Nora replies:

"This is my life, and I’m living it with you […] This is where we ended up. This is where I’m supposed to be."

There is a tension between her own agency in her choice, and how life ends up where it is at. In the film, in-yun is often used to portray the relationship between Nora and Hae-sung. There is love in their relationship, however, they are not lovers.

But in-yun seems to be never used to describe the relationship between Nora and Arthur, perhaps due to its cultural significance of being an Eastern concept, or that their relationship does not need in-yun to justify. In-yun then becomes the

Image: Ronny Rondon via Unsplash

justification of the unexplainable ties and connections in life. The relationships that cannot be fully articulated through simple terms of family, lovers, and friends, are validated through in-yun.

In-yun is the thread of connection between people that transcends time and gives us another interpretation into farewells. There are three farewells significant to the plot of the film. The final farewell signifies not only the farewell between Nora and Hae-sung, but also Nora leaving her past self behind. This final scene cuts back to when Nora and Hae-sung parted as children, but at night instead of morning. Hae-sung addresses Nora with her Korean name Na-young, just as he did when they were kids. The mise-en-scene of this shot is particularly notable as the screen splits into two halves: Hae-sung and the slope on the left, and Nora and the steps on the right. The silence that penetrates the scene creates a heavy emotion that only releases when Hae-sung

takes the cab and Nora walks back. Nora bursting into tears is her letting go of emotions that she has been holding onto unknowingly. That grief is not only from leaving Hae-sung but also from leaving her past, childhood self."Na-young, what if this is a past life as well, and we are already something else to each other in our next life? What do you think we are then?"

"I don’t know."

"Me neither."

"See you then."Hae-sung’s words bring in another layer of meaning and emotion to the farewell. His final words before leaving "See you then" can mean seeing her another time, but also see you "at that time." This brings a deeper resonance to his words – he may even see her in their next life. The farewell is not definite. It is not the end.

If in-yun ties two people together from the past, then it may also

connect people in the future. However, as I proposed, in-yun is not a justification of how life will just be predestined in the future. What in-yun does, is it lightens the weight of farewells and enhances the beauty of connection. In-yun highlights how precious our encounters are, regardless of whether people will reunite. It does not dictate our choices in life, but it offers a deeper meaning to our human connections, making these connections more precious, and asks us to appreciate them.

Destiny is crafted in such a romantic and cinematic way in Past Lives that asks us to reconsider human relationships and connections in our lives, and how they can carry more weight than we think. Just as Greta said in her interview, we too can "realize through this idea of in-yun maybe that capacity for love is much more boundless than we ever knew and how completely overwhelming and beautiful that discovery is."

Lifestyle Cruelty to Animals on Social Media: An Interview with Dr Kieschnick and

Felix Porée recently collaborated with Panpathic Communications to interview Dr Dustin Kieschnick and Dr Katie Lawlor. Dr Kieschnick holds a Doctorate of Psychology as a graduate of the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium as well as being a licensed clinical psychologist, and Dr Lawlor holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Stanford and specialises in the human-animal bond, grief, and pet loss.

Felix spoke to them about animal cruelty and its links with social media. Human value systems, animal intelligence, animal abuse and trauma are all discussed below in the transcribed interview.

Felix Porée: Why do the algorithms show animal cruelty videos to those particular people? In other words, those videos exist, but how prevalent are they? How likely would anyone see them unless they were looking for them?

Dustin Kieschnick: I’m not sure if the algorithms specifically identify particular individuals, but we know that folks who are interested in animal ethics will be more in the range of where these videos land. We do know that many social media companies have content curators that monitor cruelty-based content, but we also think but can’t confirm that it tends to be much more human-centric. In that way, folks who are engaged in animal advocacy are bound to see these types

The Psychological Effects of Witnessing

Dr Lawlor

By Felix Porée

of videos. They’re bound by the nature of what they’re interested in to be more exposed to them instead of necessarily being targeted with the content.

Katie Lawlor: If we knew how the algorithms worked, we’d be billionaires. We met at Stanford at the boom of the start-up period. I know that if I watch one video on a particular topic, I will get ten more. I would identify as an animal lover, but because I follow one hashtag that leads to another, an example being the orcas stranded in ice off of the coast of Japan, where I saw 50 videos from 50 different organisations, I will see a lot of distressing footage.

FP: Do you think that there is a symbiotic relationship or compounding effect where one who sees a video sees ten more, then even more?

KL: Absolutely. If you start engaging and resharing, people will start to send you more, and you might gain a following. When the pandemic started, I was working in a women’s clinic. I always wanted to work more with animals, grief, and loss and was told that this is a fringe movement. When we were all sent home, I got the courage to start an Instagram account which has grown beyond my wildest beliefs. I started as an animal lover, and people send me 50 videos a day asking if I can share. Because I am getting

all of these messages, I feel like the algorithm’s perfect variable.

DK: On the other side of that, when one thinks about content creators who produce this content, they are, in many cases, walking a line. In some cases, you cannot create a movement to action without giving a full depiction of what is happening. You do run the risk of pushing people into a state of avoidance where they are overwhelmed and have seen too much of a thing. This is where people might go into a more traumatic response which I think is often unintended as it really is a fine line between not giving enough information so there is no drive to action.

KL: I have a very good friend who is on the board of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, which is based in Namibia. I was talking to her exactly about this and she said we get so many views when we share a video of a cute baby cheetah, but that is not what we’re raising money for. We are raising money to stop the poachers and those who kidnap cheetahs. If we show that, we lose followers. So, where is that fine line between documenting and demonstrating the truth and showing those with the money we need for donations what they want to see?

FP: It is interesting to hear that it has become commodified, and you have to show the people what

they want.

FP: How has social media affected this bias in the treatment of certain animals? Is this bias justifiable given the special kind of 'contract' we make with domesticated animals, particularly pets?

KL: Absolutely, and I was just looking at some figures. Social media has given a tremendous platform to individuals to make a name for themselves. There are domestic animals that have a celebrity status on social media. Bloomberg says that the pet industry is worth $320 billion, and that is supposed to go up to $500 billion by 2030. What can be really disheartening for me is seeing a million comments when there is a domestic animal abuse situation which gets local news coverage and an outpouring of crowdfunding, but then to see a lack of attention given to a captive animal for entertainment. I think it is really tough when we see the people we admire who have massive followings promoting makeup tested on animals, wearing leather or fur. Kendall Jenner just wore a fur jacket, and that’s horrible. No judgement, but she has 50 million followers, especially young girls.

FP: I also think, regarding fashion, people use pets as accessories. You have some dog breeds, such as the Pug or the French Bulldog, who have been bred into misery for fashion. These are interesting cases as when people think of using animals, they think of fur, not the living animals.

KL: Absolutely. For example, Demi Moore’s dog was the hit of the holiday season.

FP: What are your thoughts on the fact that we will often find it more traumatising to witness abuse on domesticated animals than wild?

DK: I think it really comes back to this larger animal ethics question where there are some where we feel more outraged about than others. If we tie it to folks’ value systems where, almost universally, you will find that folks are very opposed to cruelty against domesticated animals. When it comes to animals for food, there is a value system where so many people don’t see it as cruelty or trauma. There is a segment of folks who will absolutely experience it as horrific.

KL: It is both actually. There are those who say they are an animal lover but will order a steak at a restaurant, so they’re cat or dog love. They really do have the best intentions at heart, but they see livestock as work or food; they don’t make the distinction. I’ll give the example of the famous photo of the turtle with the straw in its nose. There are now no plastic straws in the US because that image was so powerful. You protect what you love, and that is the psychological grounding for this.

DK: It is a generalisable bond; it is the same idea as even if we don’t have children, we see child abuse as abhorrent. If we have a dog and can relate to having a domestic animal and what that bond looks and feels like, we can generalise that to other situations and say, ‘Oh, this is really traumatising’. If I don’t have that bond with a cow for instance, I don’t feel as tied to it.

KL: Slaughterhouses have done a

phenomenal job of hiding it.

DK: There is so much of it that is not front and centre. If we come face to face with the reality of what taking a life is and looks like, if we all had to conduct the butchering for our own meat, I imagine there would be many more folks saying this is cruel and something I can’t do.

FP: It is interesting to me how, culturally, we hide a lot of abattoirs, but in other cultures, it is less of an issue. This also makes me think of the arbitrary line of what animals can and can't be eaten in other cultures, even animals that are domesticated such as horses and dogs.

KL: This is such an important thing to talk about. For instance, we were really excited to see Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy, but in one of the episodes, they kill a rabbit on TV, and we have one running around. This was jarring, but having lived and spent time in Africa and having come back from Costa Rica, where they have a huge street dog problem. It is difficult to go to a culture that doesn’t have the financial stability that our culture does and say, ‘No, you can’t use these animals for the work that you need to do or no, you can’t eat these animals’ when their populations are starving. This is a really sensitive issue, and a younger, more naïve me would have jumped into it, but not having travelled, it would not be appropriate for me to weigh in on, and I haven’t lived that life.

FP: You have the exact same thing in environmental ethics, you have two billion people who just cannot afford to not use plastic.

KL: This is it exactly; how am I supposed to tell a mum not to feed her children this when the option is this or death?

FP: Does the philosophical or religious worldview of someone directly change the amount of trauma one has or how they view the suffering or abuse of an animal? For instance, does one with a pessimistic outlook exhibit less ‘care’ than one with a more optimistic outlook? Different religions have different views, such as Jain vegetarianism and Buddhism’s reincarnation; how do these thought systems affect one’s amount of trauma?

DK: It is very relative. So much of what we hear is based on the idea of sentience, and the more sentience we think another being has, the more empathy we have and the less likely we are to allow that being to be subjected to cruelty. I think it really is a function of worldview and values, but it really is relative to ‘how do I actually conceptualise this other being’.

KL: To bring a personal lens to it, having grown up very Catholic and seeing the Bible being used to justify the slaughter of animals, such as in Genesis or people using different passages to spread their view. Also, having worked with a lot of veterinarians who say that it is ok when a pet is dead as they are in Heaven makes me wonder about this life. What about their care and treatment in this life? People’s religions and ethical views play a huge part in these kinds of conversations.

FP: This is true, and I think an example could be most people not checking the ground to make sure that they’re not standing on

an ant unless they’re a Jain, but they would take extra care not to stand on a puppy if they knew there were puppies in their house.

FP: Does our perception of the intelligence level of the animal affect the amount of empathy one has when viewing its suffering? Somewhat related, how do differing perspectives on the inherent value of animals influence our reactions to and responsibilities regarding online content depicting harm to them?

DK: There are two things happening at once; there are the individual morals and value systems and the definition of what makes something traumatic. In the DSM, which outlines the criteria for mental health disorders, one of the qualifying criteria of PTSD is someone having to experience a traumatic or series of traumatic events. These are defined as something life-threatening or a threat of serious injury to yourself or someone close to you. Depending on your ethics, this could be an animal. So, when we look at this, it gets complicated because we can’t really predict with a degree of certainty whether someone will perceive an event as traumatic. Sometimes, a person will experience a traumatic event and be OK over time; sometimes, folks will experience a sea of traumatic effects and not show signs until hitting a critical mass. This is generally the more appropriate fit when it comes to social media and depictions of cruelty to animals. All of that is to say that trauma and ethics are a spectrum, and sometimes it is a concoction more than anything.

KL: The amount of education and campaigns that are out there on social media is astounding.

Cows, for instance, can form quite complex societies and are more intelligent than we give them credit for. There is the popular line that pigs are as smart as a three-year-old. Well, my nephew is three, and she is pretty smart. Most people don’t fall asleep in front of an academic journal; they need something simple and easy to understand, so showing the intelligence of animals in this way is powerful.

FP: Peter Singer does this really well in Animal Ethics.

KL: Yes, yes, absolutely.

FP: How has the historical evolution of societal attitudes towards animals influenced our current perceptions of animal cruelty, and in what ways has social media accelerated or challenged these historical perspectives?

KL: Look at Laika, the first dog in space. In 1957, the Soviets sent up this dog on Sputnik 2, and they had no way of bringing her back. Recently, there was a report that said she probably burnt to death or overheated. With the rise of social media, this would absolutely never happen today. With a phone in our hand, we always have a voice. In 1957, we didn’t unless you worked in news or politics. We could argue that social media has been tremendous in this aspect as it makes opinions heard in real-time. It gives people on the front lines the opportunity to share what is really happening.

FP: How does the way animal cruelty incidents are framed or narrated on social media impact public perceptions and emotional responses, and what role does narrative framing play in shaping ethical considerations?

DK: I’ll go back to what I mentioned before. There is a fine line between cultivating awareness and overwhelming the people you are trying to bring in.

KL: We gave a presentation at Oxford this summer, and a lot of the feedback said that they wouldn’t have known about these things happening without social media. There is also compassion fatigue, which is why we see such high suicide numbers in veterinarians. Social media can pull us in because it can make such a difference, but there is no foreseeable end ever to how much we can give. In the past, when we had less global engagement in our lives, we might burn out at work, but now there is the threat of burning out on social media viewing these things and shutting down.

DK: There is a platform bigger than anything in history that will allow us to say, ‘Hey, this thing is wrong’. I think back to my past before social media, and engaging on social media allowed me to think about meat being eaten and think, ‘Oh, this now disgusts me’. Part of this evolution has been being exposed to different viewpoints challenging my notions, which social media has given me. But it can also go the other direction too.

KL: The Wayne Hsiung trials in Sonoma speak to the power of social media. Wayne and his colleagues captured sick hens on farms on video. The farms sued him, and he was found guilty and went to prison for 90 days. We would never have known about it without social media and the ability to distribute the work he and Direct Action were doing. You can use it as a tool, but there are

FP: Does one’s lack of proximity with the animal, knowing that it has already happened if it is a video, and one might be thousands of miles away, affect the trauma one has from viewing animal abuse material?

DK: I wonder if it is more a form of emotional proximity as opposed to physical proximity. This goes back to my previous answers where seeing cruelty to any being we think shouldn’t be feeling cruelty affects us.

KL: If you look at Cecil the Lion, this was thousands of miles away, but people saw that and felt connected to the Lion. This case has a massive ripple effect, and there was a call to ban animal trophies on international flights. This had such an impact, and no one would have known about this without social media. It can put us on the front line at any time. There is no longer any physical proximity, it is all emotional now.

FP: Is it possible that there is an overlap in our reactions toward child abuse and animal abuse? Does this relate to our infantilisation of the animal kingdom, possibly as an expression of anthropocentrism?

KL: I know that Peppa Pig is big in the UK, but that is your bacon. Or that cosmetics are tested on Mickey Mouse or the gang from Paw Patrol. We grow up feeling so connected to animals, but because of our society, there is a bigger disconnect the older get. There is an interesting psychological theory called the Terror management theory that states that humans avoid death anxiety. If we went around all day with

the true understanding that this is impermanent, we couldn’t function. By othering animals, putting them in cages, eating them, or wearing them, we become the rulers of the world.

FP: How much of an overlap is there between people who view animal abuse material and people who later go on to commit animal abuse?

KL: The Animal Legal Defence Fund’s latest view cited that numerous studies have documented the multifaceted links between cruelty to animals and violence to others, including domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and antisocial behaviour. We call this ‘the link’. It is not always the case that someone will commit animal abuse and then move to humans, but if you want to abuse, you tend to go for the easiest thing. For kids and animals, this tends to be pets.

FP: This is very similar to a lot of serial killers who start of small with animals and then move on to humans.

KL: There was a huge case actually this week that set a precedent for us. A 15-year-old Michigan student killed four students. The mother was found guilty of manslaughter, but one of the things that came out in court that she missed was him abusing animals and putting them on social media. In this case, his abuse did graduate, but it is more to do with the proximity and control one wants over victims.

DK: The hallmark of antisocial personality disorder and in kids conduct disorder is this lack of empathy. Part of that or one of the criteria for diagnosis is torturing repercussions.

and killing animals; this is a huge red flag, so to speak, for the future development of empathy-devoid personality traits.

KL: But where is the research on whether or not this is genetic or a choice?

DK: We don’t know if this is a genetic predisposition or severe and persistent trauma, or perhaps a mixture.

FP: I think this is more of a question for all early development psychology, not just animals.

FP: In reference to trauma, is there an added element of guilt due to how the modern world has exploited natural habitats?

KL: I would say 1000% absolutely. We are here in San Francisco, but during the pandemic, we moved to Lake Tahoe, which has a huge population of bears. The bear community has really developed in the last 100 years, but in the summer of 2023, 70 bears were hit by vehicles, and 40 died immediately, with others dying soon after. For me and others who care, there is a tremendous amount of guilt. There was a GIF going around last week about shark-infested waters, and I just thought: ‘They are not shark-infested waters. We can’t go into an animal's home or habitat and then be upset when wildlife or the native animals for that place interfere with our living. This is a very human-centric view, and there is an extraordinary amount of guilt. If you follow US politics, you’ll just see ‘build build money money money’, and you’ll see that with one presidential candidate.

DK: The guilt is relative, really.

FP: What differences are there in the characteristics of trauma associated with human-on-animal as opposed to animal-on-animal violence?

DK: That is a really tough one because there is an element of animal-on-animal violence which is regarded as the natural way of the world. There is something about human-to-animal violence which, based on your ethical view, can be seen as unnatural.

KL: This is really interesting if you look at California’s cock-fighting. If you see it in the wild, like when I saw Cheetahs go after their kill, this is natural, and we don’t want to interfere. But when humans get animals to fight, it is unnatural, and those types of cases are starting to get a lot more attention as they are for entertainment.

DK: A huge aspect of trauma is the fact that it is something that doesn’t happen every day or it is something out of the ordinary. If we think about this as an injury, it is something that doesn’t happen every day to individuals.

KL: That is why there is a lasting impact because something is happening to you that you can’t prepare for.

FP: You are saying the same thing that I think. It is natural for animals, but as human beings who have the cognitive awareness to choose not to do it, when we do, we are playing a different game than animals or existing in a different sphere.

KL: This is exactly it. For instance, we are both vegan, but our dog needs to eat meat. All of this has nuances and is complex.

FP: Are there psychological defence mechanisms that individuals employ when exposed to traumatic animal cruelty content on social media, and how do these mechanisms influence their subsequent behaviours or attitudes? Have you observed any cultural variations in how people from different regions respond to animal cruelty content on social media, and how might cultural perspectives influence the psychological impact?

DK: I do think that there are defence mechanisms, but they are implemented at different times. Part of the experience of trauma is almost the breakdown of coping mechanisms where your experience is beyond your ability to cope. This is where we see the variation in something that happens once when someone has PTSD or a series of events where someone eventually breaks down.

FP: We sometimes call this a ‘cognitive opening’ where a traumatic event can lead one to almost having a shattered ego that needs to latch on to something; this thing could be good, or it could be awful.

DK: That is such a great point because so much of how we conceptualise trauma is a shattering of a worldview, a world going from safe to unsafe. In some folks, the pain is so great they cannot see the pain in others.

KL: After a traumatic event at the hands of another, we might tell ourselves that others cannot be trusted. Some veterinarians might feel imposter syndrome after failing a surgery. Trauma changes how you view the world.

FP: Can certain types of media

literacy mitigate the psychological effects of animal cruelty content, and what effective coping strategies can individuals adopt to maintain their mental well-being while engaging with such content?

DK: One technique we teach cultivates awareness like a checkin. When you engage with something, you should look at your emotional response afterwards, how you view it, and whether it stays on your mind. Does it remind you of previous events, creating a cumulative event? Am I finding myself preoccupied days or weeks afterwards in dreams or during the day when I notice intrusive thoughts plying reels of it? Do I also start to notice things in my body, feelings of fatigue? What I noticed when dealing with lots of people who have trauma is that I would be fine during the week, but at the end of the week, I was completely exhausted; there was something about it that would stick with me physically. There is a really good book called ‘The Body Keeps the Score’ which is about how folks experience trauma in their bodies. Part of what we try to do is tell folks to really be attuned as it tells you that there might be something you need to process, and then there are different ways to process such as relying on support, exercise, or journaling. You need to find a cathartic release, and this will also help you rebuild coping mechanisms.

KL: You need to have boundaries around it. If you are doing this at work, shut your laptop when you are finished and keep to that limit. It could be something as simple as I am going to limit myself to 30 minutes of footage. If there is something to give you your agency back, such as reminding

yourself what you have done.

FP: So you are creating different spheres of being, for instance, having a specific room or laptop that allows you enter a different mental state to view this content.

DK: Yes, you have to create a sort of containment.

KL: I worked in a sleep hygiene lab, and the rule was never to have a computer, phone, or TV in bed, as the bed was just for sleep. Compartmentalising aspects of your life sounds simple but can help you maintain boundaries.

FP: What specific research areas at the crossroads of animal ethics and social media require further exploration, and what strategies or interventions might be investigated to tackle the psychological challenges arising from the online portrayal of animal cruelty? How should society balance the freedom of expression with moral considerations when representing animal cruelty on social media?

KL: We are just at the advent of this question. The government is thinking of putting massive fines on social media companies that allow this content. The impact that social media engagement has on children and their views will be a topic for decades to come; it changes how we view the world.

DK: Specifically on social media, the definition in the DSM of trauma says that one cannot have experience of a traumatic event via a digital medium. I think social media has changed this.

FP: When I was analysing footage of civilian drone strikes in the Middle East, we were mandated

our own person to talk to 24/7 if we needed to. They knew that, even though I wasn’t in Iraq or Syria, I needed a person to talk to about what I was viewing.

DK: This is such a huge area of future study as the depictions that people are viewing as so much more real. I spent some time in the military, and those doing the drone strikes were exhibiting aspects of PTSD. People don’t often think about this in the animal advocacy world, but we have talked with lawyers on cruelty cases who said that they noticed within themselves changed. When we spoke at Oxford, people came up to us and said: ‘Thank you for naming this or talking about this’. We know this happens in the community but people don’t talk about it because people might think that they shouldn’t feel this way. Exploring this through additional research is necessary.

KL: This is one of the reasons we were so excited; well, it is hard to say excited when you are talking about animal cruelty, to talk about this. The DSM, which is in its fifth edition, does not include the virtual aspect of trauma and doesn’t include animals; right now, it has to be humans. What makes this fascinating is that in order to get insurance to cover mental health in this country, you have to get a DSM 5 diagnosis; that is how we bill.

FP: One of many problems with the US healthcare system.

KL: HAHA. Indeed. Totally. One of many problems. That is really, at a practical level, massive as it excludes hundreds of people who work in animal welfare.

Setting Your Intentions: The Commodification of Manifestation

By Victoria Humphrey

Intentionality has long been a pillar of New Age spirituality. William Atkinson’s 1906 book Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World brought this to the attention of the populace. Spirituality is no stranger to ridicule; astrology once regarded as a valid field scientific enquiry has now been reduced to feminised delusion. In recent years, alongside the explosion of the cyber realm, efforts have been made repeatedly to not only dismiss the plausibility of spirituality but also to quell its openness and accessibility.

One need not search for long on platforms like Amazon, Temu, or TikTok before one is inundated with content and products promising a kind of capitalistically backed, enhanced version of spirituality. What was once found within nature and the self can now be found in a vertical video. Practising mindfulness and intention setting is no longer enough unfortunately, you now must have your

mass-produced manifestation book, journal, oracle deck, glass crystal-topped pen, candle, and mug before you ever even think of participating within the Laws of Attraction. While many of the aforementioned items are sure to bring a certain amount of aesthetic joy to their owner, their existence at all surely begs the question: why does intentionality have to come with a price tag?

What has become clear is that there is a certain social validity ascribed to an object via its commodification. The popularity of spirituality is, at least in part, influenced by its merchandising. For if Mr Bezos regards it as having monetary significance, its spiritual significance must also be true. This issue undoubtedly affects more products than just those related to spirituality. Buying into trends, listening to influencers turned drop-shippers, and being unable to start a resolution without purchasing something first, speaks to a wider

untangle our intentions from the intentions of those who wish to profit from them. Who am I if not an amalgamation of my Pinterest boards? How lucky am I that with one swipe my aesthetic can be sold back to me!

The journey to authenticity and a clear perception of your unadulterated, intentions, whether that be regarding your material items or mental perceptions, is hallmarked by an ongoing struggle. In a world of unrelenting flux, it’s difficult to hold onto a strong perception of self, anyone experiencing this struggle should feel far from ashamed. Ultimately, resisting commodification begins with being mindful of your individual intentionality and finding satisfaction in being led purely by such. Spirituality, nor personal satisfaction, should be behind a paywall.

I will not buy a manifestation water bottle.

I will not buy a manifestation water bottle.

Image: Christian Lue via Unsplash

Embracing the Pursuit of Happiness: Navigating Life Beyond Checkboxes

By Tia Martello

In the whirlwind of academia, where the relentless pursuit of knowledge often collides with the ever-looming uncertainty of the future, it's all too common to find ourselves ensnared between the rigid lines of a to-do list and the elusive quest for true fulfilment. It was amidst this summit of deadlines and aspirations that I stumbled upon a profoundly resonant TikTok by Theo Von, where his candid musings echoed the sentiments of many: "I don’t know if I’m living sometimes or just doing a to-do list."

This seemingly simple yet profoundly introspective statement became the catalyst for a cascade of reflections, particularly poignant as I stand on the precipice of completing my third and final year of university. With graduation on the horizon, the perennial question of "What's next?" reverberates incessantly in my mind. Should I chart a course towards a master's degree, plunge into the unpredictable realm of freelance work, embark on a gap year adventure, or surrender to the security of full-time employment? Yet, as I meticulously weigh these conventional paths against the backdrop of my own aspirations, a palpable sense of discontent arises. It begs the question: How can one break free from the embrace of societal expectations and carve out a life that is not dictated by a predetermined checklist of achievements, but rather guided by the pursuit of happiness?

elusive. In a world saturated with an abundance of options and laden with towering expectations, the task of forging our own path can often feel like an insurmountable feat. However, amidst the labyrinth of uncertainty, I've come to embrace the profound significance of embracing the present moment. Instead of fixating on a distant destination, perhaps the true essence of fulfilment lies in revelling in the raw beauty of the journey itself.

The allure of pursuing passion and happiness is undeniably enticing, yet tinged with an intense sense of trepidation, particularly for those of us navigating the tumultuous waters of our twenties. The fear of settling for mediocrity, of resigning oneself to a life devoid of true joy and passion, casts a long shadow over our aspirations. And so, I've come to recognize that the key lies in embracing the now, in relinquishing the urge to meticulously chart a linear course, and instead, allowing ourselves to be swept away by the spontaneity of the present moment.

Many of us have been entertained with tales of how our predecessors, be it our parents or other influential figures, navigated life's uncertainties, often surrendering themselves to the capricious whims of fate. They didn't possess all the answers from the outset, and neither should we. The illusion of a predetermined path

serves only to stifle our creativity and suffocate our capacity to explore the boundless tapestry of life's possibilities.

So, as I grapple with the daunting question of what lies beyond the threshold of graduation, I find solace in the profound notion that perhaps, just perhaps, the journey itself is the ultimate destination. Instead of relentlessly striving to fulfil society's rigid checkboxes, I am committed to embracing the uncertainty, trusting in the enigmatic process of life, and allowing the fire of my passions to illuminate the path ahead.

The pursuit of happiness transcends the confines of a destination to be reached; it is a journey to be savoured, an odyssey characterised by the willingness to embrace the unknown, to chase fleeting moments of joy, and to forge a path uniquely our own. And though the future may remain shrouded in a veil of uncertainty, I am emboldened by the unwavering belief that true fulfilment lies not in the destination, but in the boundless expanse of the pursuit itself.

1AM.

The Intention of Growing Up

By Evelyn Fernandez-Jarvis

Pondering about what I am meant to be doing? What am I here for? What is my purpose? These recurring questions are in a loop. Round and round in my mind. Some souls, the lucky ones, seem to be so decisive and definitive. They know what to do with their life, since they could walk, talk, and move around in the world; their burning passion soars through their actions and words. But the lost souls, the ones in the background, off-stage as people may put it, what are they meant to be doing. Do we simply cheer on others, feeling empty? I used to believe that this passion would come to me, but I realised you have to seek it out. To be lost, you must have the courage to feel found, but courage requires confidence in yourself. We ask ourselves, how do we do this?

Work harder. But have fun. Figure out what you want in life. But settle down. Remember that these are the so-called “golden years”. But have your priorities straight. And most importantly, have the intention of growing up.

Constantly in university, these themes are all that consume the minds of young people. The main questions surrounding what it should mean to grow up, of what path we should be taking to place our intention in the right areas. While trying to maintain this perfect and impossible balance to have everything figured out. We are constantly hearing the same words in a loop ‘to be living our best lives', but this constant

pressure to do this has the subsequent opposite effect.

The stress of this idealistic life is simply what keeps many of us lying awake at night. Whilst most of us may have a hard time admitting it, many of us suffer from procrastination, lying awake at night with the intention that tomorrow is when we wake up at 6am, go on a run and do everything on our to-do list, we soon wake up the next morning tired, with bad hair and bad weather because we live in the UK and to our utmost surprise we lose motivation and end up having a movie marathon. Maybe tomorrow? Right?

Obviously, I am not emphasising a life where you do nothing, instead, I am stating that we do not wake up one day with everything figured out. This intention of growing up looks different to everyone and eventually, you will figure out the answers to most of these questions.

Nowadays, social media fills our screens 80% of the time and we see these amazing lives where people have a house and an incredible lifestyle routine, but seem to miss out on the McDonald's takeaway delivery or the fact that some days they do spend the entire day in their PJs. Or that it is hard to find the motivation to continue when you have nothing figured out.

The intention of growing up seems to be creeping up on many of us. If you work too hard then you are focusing too much on

your future, but if you are having too much fun then you are forgetting the intention of growing up. But there is no perfect balance, and this imaginary lifestyle that most of us have in our head is in fact “imaginary.”

The main point of growing up is trying to figure out what are the best options for yourself. As long as you know what your next foot forward is, like your 10am lecture, or even what you are having for dinner, then guess what, you are doing well. Enjoy the moment that you are currently in, even though having a plan is good, remember to not compare yourself to the people around you or online. Sometimes it is easy to forget what reality is and what is not real.

University is like this odd bubble of people “pretending to be adults” whilst they are all trying to make the right options, crossing their fingers that it is the right one. Elle-Louise’s monologue, The Panic Years inspired me to write this. I thought it summed up what most of us feel, but are too scared to admit.

I realised that this pressure to make sure that you are living your best life was actually making me spiral into a field of panic, however, when you start to not care about what others think but also, more importantly, the judgement of yourself, you find it easier to find the interests that you want to pursue and find the motivation to get the tasks on your never-ending to-do list ticked off.

Sports Euro 2024: The Tournament to Highlight England’s Racism Problem Once Again

The UEFA European Football Championship is well underway, as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions look to take home a major piece of silverware for the first time since 1966. The nation’s campaign was off to an unconvincing winning start with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Serbia, as they embarked on their journey to Germany off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Iceland in a tense Wembley friendly.

Back in 2020, England would make it all the way to the final in home territory, before falling short at the final hurdle in a penalty shootout against Italy, the now-reigning champions. The day was somewhat overshadowed by a number of England supporters essentially breaking into the stadium, causing chaos as violence broke out and away fans were victimised. The vulnerable were in harm’s way, and the police and stadium security were given the impossible task of trying to keep 90,000 people safe from the risk of crowd surges, abuse, or other incidents (see Netflix’s new documentary, Attack on Wembley).

Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka are three Black English players who were unable to convert their penalty kicks effectively on this occasion. With an unfathomable amount of pressure upon their shoulders, exhausted after the game went to extra time, the Three Lions were understandably devastated in solidarity with their fans, as they looked on to see Italy lift the trophy.

Perhaps naïvely, many did not forsee the further atrocities that

By Beth McCowen

would follow an already-tainted summer’s day in European football. Immediately following the crowning of the new victors, Sancho, Rashford, and Saka would be subjected to an abhorrent slurry of racist abuse. The incessant targeting of players of colour was a damning indication of the amount of racism continuing to take place in this country, and an astounding example of people’s willingness to vocalise bigoted, discriminatory, dangerous attitudes.

From persistent overt abuse and harmful chants to bias and microaggressions, the world of football has long been a place where, unfortunately, hatred seems to thrive. Whilst much work has been done by the likes of the Premier League and the Football Association to ‘Kick It Out’, the game is clearly not yet a safe space for all minorities. England on an international level seems to remain hostile, and it is often young Black players who bear the brunt of the unacceptable attacks. Why?

After the aforementioned 1-0 Iceland defeat, a conversation about the mistreatment of England’s Black footballers was reignited. Despite coming on as a late substitution, Saka's face was plastered across the pages of several mainstream newspapers. Many were, rightly, quick to point out the irony of this, raising valid questions about why journalists were choosing to scapegoat

specific individuals rather than critiquing the team’s performance as a whole.

Lewis Hamilton and Ian Wright have been among the sporting legends to speak out against racism, with Versus also making a statement across all platforms. There is no denying the frustration that can be felt as the fight against hate sometimes appears futile, but as a collective, journalists cannot stop asking ‘why?’ Why did so many outlets choose to make Saka their focus? Why do so many ‘football fans’ still see racism as acceptable? Why does this pattern of a rise in discrimination often seem to coincide with major tournaments? What do those who perpetuate racial discrimination want to achieve? How is it still being allowed to happen?

This article does not have the answers. It encourages you not to stop trying to find them, not to stop challenging prejudice when you see it. Whether you are a fan or a writer or anything in between, pay attention. Ask questions. Don’t accept racism as ‘a part of the game’, listen to Black voices, be a part of breaking the cycle and making sure football is really for everyone. The media should play a part in breaking down these barriers, not building them up, but it won’t if nobody challenges it.

The Olympics. The pinnacle of the sporting world and the ultimate dream for athletes, often symbolised by the iconic five rings inked on a limb once achieved. Every 4 years, the world’s best athletes show their pure strength, wowing us with the natural potential of our bodies (emphasis on the natural). Strict regulations and testing help protect the games from doping and ensure all athletes have equal opportunity without performance enhancing drugs boosting the chances for an individual. There have been many controversies over the years with podium topping athletes being stripped of medals due to failed doping tests (Tyson Gay, Ben Johnson and Lance Armstrong to name a few), but one is left wondering what the results would look like if everyone was ‘allowed’ to dope? Enter the Enhanced Games.

The Enhanced Games have the potential to launch this December with five event categories: swimming, weightlifting, track and field, gymnastics and combat sports. Sounds pretty standard, but no. The twist is that athletes are allowed to use substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, for example, weightlifters can take anabolic steroids to lift more, and runners can take erythropoietin to quicken their pace. To sum it up, it’s the Olympics on steroids.

The Enhanced Games: A look into the Olympics on Steroids

By Finty Trussler

The man behind the idea, Aron D’Souza, has secured the backing of billionaire venture capitalists, and the ‘for-profit’ ethos behind the games hopes to tempt athletes away from the traditional competitions with eye-watering prize money up for grabs; to say that his idea has caused controversy is an understatement.

The common first reaction to this is bewilderment and there’s been no holding back in public criticism. World Athletics president Lord Coe stated that anyone partaking in the games is “moronic” (BBC, 2023) and Travis Tygart, US Anti-Doping Agency CEO, told CNN that it would be “a dangerous clown show, not real sport” (CNN, 2023).

The primary concern here is the safety of the athletes taking the drugs that affect our natural internal systems with unknown side effects. Elite sport is about pushing the limits and seeing what our bodies can handle, but despite D’Souza’s talk about being “safety-focused”, it will test the tolerances of the human body to unnatural substances. Furthermore, with the amount of cash being pumped into the Enhanced Games comes immense pressure on athletes to take as much enhancing measures as possible to produce results, no matter the cost. D’Souza’s all about giving athletes control over their bodies,

which is great, but it’s hard to ignore the pressure they could face to use under-researched drugs to produce results. Taking PEDs and pushing your body to the limit presents serious risks to health; anabolic steroids, for example, have many health complications according to the NHS. With no solid scientific backing on many performance enhancing drugs, the athletes are stepping into uncharted territory.

One thing that the Olympics offers is equity with all nations having equal opportunity to qualify and compete in the games, but can the same be said for the Enhanced Games? Yes, it is open to all athletes around the world, but medical research and accessibility to PEDs is a struggle in less wealthy nations. Those with limited access to thorough medical research and investment leave their athletes more vulnerable to taking a gamble on PEDs without proper guidance. Another pillar of the Olympic Games is the prestige and rich history that is entangled in the brand. D’Souza’s version of the Olympics may well create a divide between athletes, nations and has the potential to cause international relationships to deteriorate.

Despite the negative noise, the main attraction of the Enhanced Games is the stack of money up for grabs to triumphant athletes. D’Souza is offering US $1m prize

(at least) for any athletes who break records like Usain Bolt's 100m sprint and with billionaires backing D’Souza’s brainchild, it’s likely we will see prize sums increasing, only strengthening the financial incentives to athletes. The financial perks are bringing back many retired Olympians to compete like Aussie swimmer James Magnussen, who’s keen to “juice to the gills” to win big (Guardian, 2024). Post athletic careers can be tough to navigate for those who have spent every day since their teenage years laser-focused on their sporting career. Then, retirement comes round, and some feel lost without a purpose. For sports that have not got a stable pay

structure, income streams become dry and leave athletes struggling financially if they have no fallback plan. This is particularly true for athletes whose careers come to an abrupt end due to injury. The Enhanced Games gives retired athletes a chance to cash in and find their competitive drive again with millions up for grabs; it becomes a matter of financial need.

The science behind the project has potential to be ground-breaking in exciting advancements for the relationship between science and human potential. If D'Souza's team follow through on their promise to ensusre safety amongst atheletes, it could lead to medical breakthrou-

ghs in discovering new drugs, after all, penicillin, insulin and many more medical cures were discovered by accident.

Despite D’Souza’s confident swagger, the marketing push for the Enhanced Games has been crickets and no one really knows about it. But when the launch comes around, it could be the next big thing. Why? Because it’s rebellious, the perfect mix to captivate attention as well as nations now being pumped up to get away with doping. I will definitely be tuning in to see if those PED’s rock the boat and smash records, or if D’Souza and his billionaire buddies fall at the first hurdle.

Image: Bryan Turner via Unsplash

Since coming to University last year, my life has been defined by the two sports I play. Between playing Lacrosse for the Women’s First Team and Captaining the Women’s Football Third team this year, I cannot imagine what my university experience would look like should I have chosen not to take up playing sport. As a student representing Royal Holloway in sporting fixtures, I am one of hundreds of Student Sport Club members split across the Student Union’s 38 Clubs. With so many students involved with so many clubs at the University it is worth asking; what do we, as students, intend to get out of playing sport?

While researching for this article, I interviewed students who belonged to numerous groups including Women’s Football, Women’s Rugby and Lacrosse. What primarily stood out is that no one began playing sports for any one reason. Instead, different students across different sports had various reasons for taking up their chosen activity. For Megan Young, the current president of Royal Holloway’s Women’s Football Club, it was a desire to put herself out into the community

The Aim of the Game: What Do We Intend to Get Out of Playing Sport at University?

By Issy Trapnell Hoyle

and make friends that led her to playing Football at University. Megan began playing Football as a young child. When being taken to watch her father’s own football games with her mother and sister as a young child, she was always keen to get involved. Eventually, her father entered her into her own team where she played throughout her youth. While it was the sport itself that initially drew her to play as a child, it was the community of University Sport that kept her playing. However, Megan has gotten more out of Women’s Football than the friendships she hoped to find. When first joining she intended ‘just to turn up and play and hopefully make friends’ yet, three years, two varsity victories, a Crest Award and Full Colours later, she is now leading the continually expanding women’s football club at Holloway.

From a President who has played their sport for many years to a student who took up something new this year, I interviewed Daisy Clarkson, a second year Film Production Student who took up playing lacrosse six months ago. Having many freinds who played Lacrosse throughout their first

year, Daisy had seen how inviting the club was and wished to take up the sport herself. While she was initially enticed by the numerous events the club took part in throughout the year, such as a Boat Party, Colours Ball and weekly socials, it was the community she found within the team which led to her staying in the club. Daisy played for the Women’s 2nd Team this academic year and found that “Having such a nice and supportive captain and coach made a real difference” and motivated her to stay in the sport. In addition to playing BUCS Games for the Women’s 2nd Team every Wednesday, Daisy also took up Mixed Lacrosse, playing LUSL Games for the Mixed 2s on Sundays. This was more than Daisy initially expected to get out of playing Lacrosse, telling me how she “never intended to play mixed sports” but found the atmosphere of mixed lacrosse ‘really chill and welcoming’ and as a result, attended mixed training and played matches with the mixed team throughout the season.

Outside of Lacrosse, another sports club on campus that is perhaps one of the most

welcoming to beginners is Royal Holloway’s Women’s Rugby Club. After a Club of the Year Victory at Colours Ball last year, the club is still going strong this academic year. I interviewed two of their committee members, President Rachel Wickett and Volunteering Officer Ailbhe Samson about what drew them to the sport and what they wished to initially get out of playing Rugby at University. Rachel is currently undertaking a Research Masters and is in her third full year of playing Rugby for the club. She took up Rugby at University upon her sister-in-law’s suggestion and hoped to gain new friendships and strength out of the sport. After playing for three years she, like Megan, has gained a wealth of experience through her committee roles including her

current presidency and hopes to carry the skills forward with her in the future and into the workplace. Volunteering Officer, Ailbhe Samson, also started playing rugby at University. After meeting the team at Freshers Fair in her first year, she was enticed by how friendly the club seemed and felt it would be the right sport for her at university. While she first joined to get involved with a sport and keep active, she has gotten far more out of rugby than she initially expected to. Her work as Volunteering Officer this year, a role that helped the club win the Fundraising and Impact Award at Colours Ball 2024, allowed her too to develop new skills that she can take beyond her role within the club in the coming years.

Having spoken to a total of nine people across four different sports, both committee members and non-committee members, a pattern began to emerge. While people intended to get many things out of playing sport, from friends to fitness, almost everyone seems to have taken more from playing sport at Royal Holloway than they initially intended. With the sporting season steadily drawing to a close, we must look forward to next year and ask the question; what could you, yes you currently reading this article, possibly get out of joining a sport next academic year? With so many possible answers it becomes clear to see why close to 2000 students dedicate a large, and possibly too large, part of their time at university to representing the Bears.

Image: Issy Trapnell Hoyle

The Kiss

By Abi Shaw

note: this poem is based on Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”

There is no kiss in this box room hung with string

make it romantic they said make it holy they said make it golden & still there is no kiss in this meadow cut with green.

I want to wear her roses he said cloaked in patchwork he sewed her dress a garden & still there is no kiss.

They swayed with the open-mouthed ovals of the earth you made me your church the flowers sang & still there is no kiss. hands clasped hands choked head bent they grew with the poppies & still there is no kiss.

consume me golden she said use it all she said & let this burning bush prove still in the last of your paint: there is no kiss.

Creative Writing

With the theme of Intention on their minds, here are several creative pieces from Orbital's Creative Writing team!

The Light

By Kayla Delaney

I glow into your eyes. I cannot find The shine that reflects in your smiles.

The lamp whose light must be damped, The sun who hurries to set; Brightness brings only complaints Of blinding eyes; better yet, Angle away the burning fire Or keep it low, and bearable too, But never consider the gift That is sharing this light with you.

The sun that blinds the people Brings growth to the flowers below; The fire that spits embers at their feet Keeps the nestling visitors warm. In the light there is happiness and joy to be found, Protection and freedom and love, unrestrained, unbound

In requital and I, yes, I, can bring that here.

I may never see the light that you see, But the reflection from you is enough for me.

I say I want to be close to you but I mean I would rather live anywhere but here

By Maddy Pope

I send you letters and you never reply and I think about finding you after a long time and forcing my words down your throat like stones. I want words that can carry. I want you to be heavy. I want to hit you over the head with a rock. I think about darkness and the inside of my body like a wound that never forms and never heals. I feel like I’m trying to look out a window but I can’t because my reflection is in the way.

I want you to think of me when you see open spaces.

I will tell you expanse is just another word for nothing the apocalypse in the present tense. I want you to tell me that a thing is dead when it has no reflection. I want you to look in the mirror and see me there alive.

I think about everything as a type of weapon but I don’t know what you are. I don’t understand what wound you would make or how I can make it. I want to hurt myself on you. I will tell you most things come down to the sword and how well I can fall on it.

I will tell you I am excellent at falling and that I haven’t reached the end yet.

Hopeless Endeavor

By Ruby Caballero-Roff

Drawbacks and missed aims Misery through flowing flames,

Passion and strive it gets rebuilt Lack of ambition leading to guilt,

Entering a realm I don’t belong Purpose growing the movement strong,

Optimal score inching away As failure is now the one displayed,

A respectable try to clear the stain Stand up straight to begin again

Dear Davison

Dear Davison,

I have reached the end of my undergraduate degree. For me, and I am sure quite a few other students, this feels like a really overwhelming milestone. I am worried about my future. I feel like I have lived in a student bubble for three years, made great friends and had great experiences; I am sad this has to end. I don’t have anything lined up for after I graduate so now I feel stuck and unprepared for the real world. How do I overcome this feeling of future fear?

Graduate fear is an unforgiving feeling. After three years of living in a ‘student bubble’ it really is not easy to find your feet once it is popped. However, I would definitely say there are ways to make this journey easier.

You say that you don’t have anything lined up after graduation, but maybe that is a good thing. Perhaps a couple of months away from relentless studying would help to clear your mind and allow you to think about what you want to do next. If money is an issue, which it usually is for new graduates, find yourself a pretty laid-back summer job and focus on yourself. Saving some money and working on yourself will put you in a much better position for when you decide on your next steps.

Also, remember that when I say next steps, these steps don’t need to be the ones that move you straight into a career that you will stick to for life. Everyone has different career intentions (take a shot every time this issue mentions intentions) and therefore everyone has a different journey to take. Some people will graduate and jump straight into a job that they will progress through for the rest of their lives. Some people will have several different jobs and careers until they find the right one. There is no better option, only the option that works for you. Do not force yourself into a career that doesn’t make you happy. I am assuming that you are in your 20s… who wants to be miserable in their 20s?

There is a lot of pressure on graduates to make decisions about what comes next. This is somewhat understandable, but at the same time, I think those of you experiencing this right now, should know that eventually you will fall into something you love. If you work hard, and follow a passion, you will succeed.

The Crossword

Across

2. a thing measured, spent, and lost (4)

5. to encourage, motivate (7)

6. a particular audience for advertising executives: alternatively, an aim or goal (6)

8. rough version or idea (7)

11. champion, victor (6)

12. well-meaning, optimistic (8)

14. make a path of your own (5)

15. rules not overtly expressed: alternatively, a Natasha Bedingfield song (9)

16. difficult or annoying: alternatively, a synonym for attempting (6)

18. aim, intended finish (4)

19. give it a try - verb or noun (7)

20. aspiration, vision (5)

21. accomplishment, favourable outcome (7)

Down

1. not a dirty word - having strong aspirations (9)

3. something earned, or a firm belief (5)

4. waiting without complaint - noun (8)

7. to record: alternatively, written text (8)

9. the (answer) of life, or a definition (7)

10. we all think we have it, but few truly do: alternatively, something developed through navel-gazing, perhaps (4-9)

13. head empty? alternatively, not showing consideration (11)

17. with a satisfying outcome (9)