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EDITORIAL Thursday, 18th February 2021

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www.palatinate.org.uk/category/indigo/

BOOKS 3 Bell jars, then and now FEATURES 4&5 Keeping sane in the lunacy of lockdown FILM AND TV 6 Loving the art when you loathe the artist CREATIVE WRITING 7 Creativity in lockdown INTERVIEW 8&9 Meet The 93% Club

VISUAL ARTS

10 Winners Announced FASHION 11 25 years of Dirty Girls: What the 1996 cult documentary taught me about fashion, feminism and female identity FOOD AND DRINK 12 & 13 ‘Spice’ up your Galentine’s...

MUSIC 14 LGBTQ+ artists leading today’s music scene STAGE 15 Inside Durham Drama Festival TRAVEL 16 Travels on my plate www.facebook.com/palindigo Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @indigo_palatinate Have a question, comment, or an idea for a story you’d like to write?

Email indigo@palatinate.org.uk Logo: Chloe Wong Cathedral Artwork: Anna Gibbs Front Cover: Alexandra Baker

Last weekend we all celebrated the most divisive holiday of the year: Valentine’s Day. It can be strange to think that there is a day on which we have communally decided to celebrate love. For those of us who are happily in love or secure in their singledom, Valentine’s day can seem like the perfect holiday, it involves chocolate, words of affirmation and our favourite people. However, for many reasons others might struggle with the emphasis on happy couples and the curated highlight reel that is social media.

In recent years we have seen a rise of the healthy trend of ‘Galentine’s’ and ‘Palentine’s’, which encourages groups of friends to get together and celebrate the platonic love between them. This year has been isolating for many people in many different ways. So, more than ever it is important to celebrate love in all of its forms and appreciate the relationships - romantic or otherwise - that continue to support you through thick and thin.

Our perfect Valentine’s drink has to be a Cosmopolitan. You will need 35ml of vodka (bonus points if you can find a glittery one!), 15ml of Cointreau, 45 ml of Cranberry juice, and 15ml of freshly squeezed lime, shake it all together with an ice cube until nice and cold, then pour and drink. For a non-alcoholic alternative, blend cranberry, lime juice and ice for a refreshing mocktail.

In this edition, Food and Drink offer even more ‘Galentine’s’ cocktails, Travel explores the world through their cooking, Books look at lessons we can learn from ‘The Bell Jar’ and Visual Arts interview our competition winners!

If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love, actually, is all around.

Hugo Millard and Millicent Machell

INDIGO EDITORS Hugo Millard Millicent Machell FEATURES EDITORS Aadira Parakkat Elle Woods-Marshall Immy Higgins

CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR Jemima Gurney

STAGE EDITORS Charlie Barnett Issy Flower VISUAL ARTS EDITORS Carys Stallard Emma Tucker BOOKS EDITORS Millie Vickerstaff Sol Noya FASHION EDITORS Emily Potts Erin Waks FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Constance Lam Meghna Amin TRAVEL EDITORS Emma Johnson Gracie Linthwaite FILM & TV EDITORS Madeleine Rosie Strom Alex Rigotti MUSIC EDITORS Martha Lily Dean Katherine Pittalis INTERVIEW EDITORS Aimee Dickinson Claudia Jacob

BOOKS Thursday, 18th February 2021

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Bell jars, then and now What insights into mental health can we gain from Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar? Nicole Howlett books@palatinate.org.uk

TW: this article discusses mental illness and suicide attempts.

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hen considering parallels with our present situation, in the midst of a deadly pandemic that has changed the course of many of our lives, Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar is perhaps not the book many of us would call to mind. Plath’s semi-autobiographical bildungsroman, set in the north-east of the United States in the 1950s, details Esther Greenwood’s decline into insanity as she struggles against the ‘bell jar’ of social conventions imposed upon her by American culture. The Bell Jar depicts the difficulties of being a talented or creative woman in 1950s America. Unable to make herself conform to society’s model of femininity, Esther finds herself at odds with the culture she lives in. Excluded from society by her perceptions of it but unable to break free of its pressures, she eventually tries to escape by attempting suicide.

“the shape of the bell jar has changed in the twenty-first century” Though the shape of the bell jar has changed in the twenty-first century, the pressure to fit into a socially prescribed role remains oppressive. People are still praised for the achievements that fit society’s definition of success, leading us to believe that happiness results from fulfilling the role society expects of you.

University, in particular, is seen as a time where you are supposed to achieve successes that prepare you for the future, whilst you are simultaneously expected to be living “the best years of your life”. Ho-

wever, as for Esther, the reality for many students is very different.

Esther begins the novel in New York, where she is supposed to be making the most of a lucrative placement at an important magazine; however, she struggles to feel anything other than numbness and disillusionment both with her life and the state of American society. At the end of her placement, she fails to get into the writing course she wants and is forced to return home for the rest of the summer.

In the small town of her childhood, she comes into conflict with her mother and the people who knew her as a child, who have very different aspirations for her future and no longer really know her. Her mother expects her to be ordered and reasonable whilst her mental health declines further and further, leading Esther to resent her mother as the embodiment of society’s repressive attitude.

Over sixty years after Esther’s fictional departure from New York, students in the UK in 2020 had to leave university abruptly and with little warning due to the threat of coronavirus. The months that followed were characterised by enforced social isolation in our childhood homes, where many people may have had to confront the distance between the hopes and dreams of their childhoods and the realities of their lives as young adults.

The things that people had hoped for, such as placements or internships, were no longer part of this new reality. Instead, many people were compelled to spend much longer periods of time with only their thoughts for company.

When Esther returns home in The Bell

Jar, the frustration of loneliness becomes even more acute as she realises that she is not understood at all by those around her. No one is even willing to recognise that she is ill. Her frustration at being unable to fit in with the world she lives in leads her to try to drown herself, enacting the idea of being “swallowed up” by the world. After this fails, she takes an overdose and buries herself in the basement of her childhood home, symbolically enacting her return to the ground she came from, before society tried to mould her into someone else. Though Esther’s attempted suicide is tragic, it ironically gives her the catharsis she needs to become freer from the pressures of her society and become her own person.

The Bell Jar is a novel that can speak to anyone feeling isolated and oppressed by the constraints of society, even in a very different cultural context. In 2021, as the pandemic continues and we have to continue to step back from society to an extent, The Bell Jar provides key insights into the importance of taking time to find what truly makes you happy, rather than what fits into society’s definition of happiness, in order to protect our mental health.

Illustration by Samantha Fulton

FEATURES 4

Thursday, 18th February 2021

Keeping sane in the lunacy of lockdown Features contributors share the creative ways they’ve been coping with the lockdown Features contributors and editors features@palatinate.org.uk

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t’s 1am, and my housemates and I stand over a laptop, mouse hovering over the “Buy” button. Finally, we click, and that’s it - seven bundles of wool ordered to our house. Crochet is the newest in a long line of crafts that our little group has taken up across last term and since January 5th, after four of us found ourselves stuck in Durham thanks to England’s newest lockdown.

Soon, my flowers had surpassed me in height, opening up into bright yellow circles; a row of suns growing out of the ground.

It’s turned into a regular part of our week; whether it’s clay modelling or gouache painting, we gather around our kitchen table to have a go, chucking on whatever Netflix show we’re watching. It’s become a meditative activity, even though we’re not often all working on a similar project.

Now it’s Fe b r u a r y.

Sleet and snow are swirling outside, and sunflower planting is impossible. Yet during the winter lockdown the world outside has remained a source of structure, solace, and sanity. Early on the first of January, I climbed the nearest hill to watch the first sunrise of the year. Since then I have been taking advantage of the short days, climbing up that same hill twice a day to watch the sun rise and set.

Crafting together also means that we take time away from our screens, where we work and study seem to be always waiting, and breaks up the day. It means we spend time together outside of sitting and watching Zoom lectures on the kitchen table.The art we’ve created so far isn’t so bad either!

If you’re living with housemates, or even with family, I can definitely advocate the power of craft: just ask the colourful drawings all over our walls.

By Elise R. J. Garcon Last lockdown I stressed out over what to do with an excess of sourdough starter, bulk-bought books that I still have yet to read, sat on the sofa with the aim of completing Netflix, and spent hours compiling Zoom quizzes. It wasn’t until late summer that I learned that the world outside offered the best escape from the pandemic panic.

Last summer I found solace in a packet of sunflower seeds. As the world around seemed to crumble under the strains of Covid-19, I managed my fears and anxieties by focusing on the growing shoots outside my living room window. Growing sunflowers added a sense of purpose as well as structure to the long summer days, with the growing stalks requiring watering, supporting, and the occasional re-potting.

“This month I have learned that no sunrise or sunset is the same” While the days of this month have seemed to collapse into one another, with lockdown shaping each one into a mundane cycle of study-eat-sleep-repeat, watching the sky has allowed for some sense of daily differentiation. This month I have learned that no sunrise or sunset is the same. Each one brings different shades to the sky, displaying a unique and distinct beauty.

On the days when I wake up tired, the knowledge that a kaleidoscope of colour is formulating outside drags me out of bed, forces me to change out of my pyjamas (which I could otherwise stay in all day), and leads me into the cold morning.

As evening draws in, the same anticipation leads me away from my computer screen and out into the fresh air. Even on the days when snow or summatives have kept me inside, making the time to stop and stare out of the nearest east or west-facing window has helped me retreat from the stresses of lockdown and find calm in the craziness of Covid-19.

By Carys Stallard While the U.K. was experiencing its first of many lockdowns in 2020, I found myself cocooned in an apartment in Hong Kong with my family, grappling with the loss of a term’s worth of university memory-making. Amidst the sudden change, I felt like a hedgehog in a sandstorm, coiling inwards and waiting for the winds to calm in due time.

However, I soon began to realise that the storm was perhaps not going to disappear with the same suddenness as its onset. And turns out,my introverted tendency of sinking into solitude when times

FEATURES 5

Thursday, 18th February 2021

get tough was perhaps the worst thing I could do for my sanity and my interpersonal relationships. In an effort to course correct, I resolved to make time to check in with people, some of whom I hadn’t properly spoken to in months. In the heat of such resolve, I made the decision to put up an Instagram story asking people for their email addresses. 11 people signed up; and we began corresponding through weekly or monthly emails.

In the process, I’ve reconnected with a classmate from primary school, kindled a friendship with someone I’d only previously known through mutual friends and social media interactions, and reminisced and caught up with my childhood best friend. Now, during the U.K.’s third lockdown, I find myself similarly cooped up

with my family in Hong Kong, and one of the few things that keeps me from spiralling is this new weekly ritual of sitting at my desk and replying to my emails, practicing the habit of leaning on others for support and holding their grief in return.

By Aadira Parakkat I’ve always enjoyed listening to podcasts, but this latest lockdown has got me hooked on one in particular: The Penguin Podcast.

Delving into the archives has uncovered some real gems; from Zadie Smith illuminating her brilliant novel Swing Time to Nigella Lawson making my mouth-water as she chats about her first cookbook ‘How to Eat’. The simple premise of each author bringing three items that inspire and shape their writing provides a clear structure that keeps the conversation focused and engaging. If I’m sorting out washing

or waiting for the kettle to boil, I’ll be sure to hit play and lose myself in one of these lively and interesting conversations.

By Immy Higgins

“During January I felt like all the days were blurring into one” During January I felt like all the days were blurring into one. After the warm, fuzziness of Christmas Day and the unusual New Years countdown over Zoom I was struggling to find something to look forward to as we were entering another lockdown. During this time I have realised that I need at least a pocket of time each day to do something different, to make each day feel like it counted. So I have embarked on learning a new skill: crocheting.

From Zoom calls with a family friend who kindly taught me the stitches to planning future projects for my mates (including a much wanted frog bucket hat) and constantly updating my nan and grandad on my progress, crocheting has opened up a way to make time in each day to be creative and connect with others. Most importantly, having ongoing projects that I can work on each day and setting goals I can work toward has helped me find nuggets of motivation to get through the seemingly never-ending days.

Whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed with uni work, I can pick up my hook and yarn and create something for me or others to make them smile. Finding an activity to channel my creativity uses the time I used to spend on social media before I came off of it; the big difference is I come away from a crochet session feeling happier and more relaxed, something I personally never felt after hours of scrolling on Facebook or Twitter.

By Elle Woods-Marshal

Illustration made by Aadira Parakkat via Pixabay

FILM AND TV 6

Thursday, 18th February 2021

Loving the art when you loathe the artist Charlie Barnett grapples with the ethics of consuming films made by problematic but popular people Charlie Barnett film@palatinate.org.uk

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recently watched cult classic, Seven.

The film confirmed the prowess of director David Fincher, and revolutionised the genre of detective thriller.

The production holds up remarkably well 25 years later, and the gritty aesthetic has trickled into the vocabulary of every modern cop show. However, the choice of Kevin Spacey to play perverted killer John Doe now feels stomach-churningly uncomfortable. Spacey has faced accusations of sexual assault by 15 people. His own brother admitted, “His fans love the sinister characters he plays, but he’s not acting, that’s really him.” Is it ever possible to separate art from the artist, especially when the two seem so intertwined?

try and ignore the disturbing similarities between his lyrics and the accusations levelled against him, rationalising about the death of the author, but that doesn’t change the fact that the streaming numbers go up on Spotify, and the track is gaining revenue. Consuming the music and films of these creators puts pennies in their pockets, and feels like forgiveness and a strange complicity.

But where can we draw the line? Is it still okay to listen to my battered Michael Jackson CD because I bought it years ago? What if I pirate the music instead, and then nobody

“The problem lies in the glorification of these creators”

This question is particularly pertinent right now, as actors Armie Hammer and Shia LaBeouf have become embroiled in accusations of abuse. Screenshots that are allegedly between Hammer and an anonymous woman have been leaked, including disturbing conversations about cannibalism and sexual violence. FKA Twigs has also recently come forward with a lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf, citing “relentless” abuse.

Do these revelations mean that it’s time to tear down the Call Me By Your Name poster, and snatch the Transformer figurines away from our younger siblings? People often approach the debate of whether art can be separated from its artist from very theoretical viewpoints. Barthes’ theory of the death of the author can certainly hold truth; the intentions behind someone’s creations don’t have to reflect their own views.

But the financial framework and power dynamics that surround these influential figures are very real. Whenever the grey tones of the Weinstein Company logo appear at the start of the film, a dark shadow is cast on the rest of the production. Whenever an R. Kelly song comes on at a party I immediately skip. Listening to lyrics fetishising young girls and violence from a man accused by so many women of abuse is sickening. I could

It takes a small village to produce a blockbuster film, and arguably we shouldn’t condemn something because of one team member’s actions. We should remember that the success of Call Me By Your Name wasn’t just reliant on Hammer’s performance, but Luca Guadagnino’s direction, and Chalamet’s dreamy long looks into the sunset. But it doesn’t feel quite that easy. By consuming their content, the artist’s institutional power that facilitates such abuse is only strengthened.

The more I stream a Johnny Depp film, the more likely it is that the accusations of abuse against him will be overlooked in favour of the box office appeal he brings.

can financially gain? How do you reconcile the love you have for a piece of music or film, with the knowledge that someone who does monstrous things created it? It is a complex issue with no straightforward answers. Josephine Livingstone, new republic staff writer suggests that we should prioritise our own interpretations of art, away from the creator. “If they don’t get to dictate how I interpret their films, then they don’t get to control anything about the film industry. We, the viewers, do.” By refusing to associate the artist with their art, we take away their interpretive power and reclaim it for ourselves.

We are not hard pressed for creators, and there is no excuse to promote people who abuse their position of power.

Would someone who is not in the public eye, or as privileged, be afforded the same forgiveness? The problem lies in the glorification of these creators. Someone who is a talented artist can also be flawed and cruel. We can admire the beauty of Roman Polanski’s work, without turning a blind eye to his crimes. It’s a difficult problem to resolve and one that relies on our own individual principles. The outbursts of Shia LaBeouf’s character against his partner in new release, Pieces of a Woman, feel even more harrowing in light of FKA Twig’s allegations. When actors align so disturbingly with the characters they play it feels impossible to truly separate art from the artist.

Image: Maximilian Buehn and John Bauld

CREATIVE WRITING Thursday, 18th February 2021

Creativity in lockdown

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Trying to be creative in lockdown: an aspirational destination?

Honor Douglas creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

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he first lockdown was a phenomenon, the whole world slowed down, and people finally had a chance to read books, watch films, relax, and exercise.

The second lockdown showed the ‘keep calm and carry on’ spirit of the British public, and life felt relatively normal even though the word ‘lockdown’ was heard often. However, this third lockdown is a completely different ballgame.

“I simply want to cocoon until Boris sets us free” Even though we are nearly halfway through, this lockdown feels neverending. It seems as though you wake up, do nothing all day and then end up back in bed. It is no surprise, therefore, that sleep patterns have disappeared, and every small action feels like a massive effort.

It feels as though I have been watching TV and films, reading books and making banana bread since March. If you’ve been doing the same thing for nearly a year, there is no doubt that you’re bored – particularly when you were anticipating being back at university for the second term.

While the first lockdown managed to foster my desire to be creative, the third

lockdown has certainly hindered it. I have the same amount of free time in this lockdown as the first, but instead of wanting to fill my time, I simply want to cocoon until Boris sets us free.

Disappointed by my sluggish behaviour, I set out to rectify it. Bored of reading and looking at a screen all day, I decided to give podcasts a go. To kill two birds with one stone, I decided to go for a walk while listening.

Put simply, listening to podcasts has completely changed my mindset; I feel inspired to write, create, put myself out there, and try something new. After trying a few different ones, I found interviews in which various people talk about their journey to success and the various bumps along the way were the most inspiring.

These were some of my favourites that I would recommend if anyone is feeling their less-creative selves:

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day

Elizabeth Day brings in the broadest range of interviewees. She makes them so comfortable that they share their failures with her. Not only is this idea innovative, but the podcast encourages mistakes and bumps in the road – a phenomenon rarely seen in the media.

David Tennant Does A Podcast With…

Where most interviewers meet interviewees for the first time, David Tennant takes a different approach. He interviews famous friends and colleagues and injects elements of his own life in the conversation. While he sometimes seems to enjoy talking about himself a bit too much, the comparison between elements of his life and the interviewees’ provides an interesting conversation and often inspires.

Grounded with Louis Theroux

Louis Theroux is an icon. His podcast is fascinating – he gets stars to open up about unheard elements of their personal lives and feel at ease. The stars also seem to be fans of his, meaning that we get to hear a bit about his life as well as theirs.

Desert Island Discs

There are thousands of these to listen to from so many different backgrounds.

Must admit that Kirsty Young is a better host than Lauren Laverne, so scroll further down and find some of these archived ones.

These podcasts are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you’re feeling less creative, they are certainly inspiring and encourage creativity. These podcasts reminded me that every person’s journey in life is different and that you make your own luck. There is no set method for success and doing your best at the moment is undoubtedly enough.

If this lockdown isn’t going to foster creativity, force creativity on yourself. A change of mindset is necessary; turn off the depressing news, spend some time outside and off the screen, and let your mind stir. Create, create, create…

Illustrations by Samantha Fulton

INTERVIEW 8

Thursday, 18th February 2021

Meet The 93% Club The society levelling the playing field between state and independently educated students Claudia Jacob Interview Editor indigo.interview@palatinate.org.uk

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he 93% Club is a UK-wide charity that provides a national social mobility network, dedicated to levelling the playing field for students who were educated at state schools who account for 93% of the population, but face exceptional inequality when it comes to obtaining opportunities at university and in the workplace. This in turn gives employers the opportunity to reach state school students in a way that they have previously been unable to do.

The Club boasts an impressive list of sponsors, including Bright Network, Teach First and Accenture, and now has a staggering 32 clubs at various UK universities, after it was founded at the University of Bristol just five years ago.

Durham’s own club recently won Bright The Club also recently won Bright Network’s ‘Society of the Year’ award for ‘Impact on Campus’, a tremendous accolade for a network that was established so recently. Interview Editor, Claudia Jacob, speaks to the executive committee about the ways that the pandemic has exacerbated student class divides, their aims for 2021, and how the club is working to make Durham University a more inclu-

sive space.

Palatinate recently discovered that the number of students admitted to Durham from independent fee-paying schools has risen for the third successive year to 37.8%, meaning that 61.6% of students were admitted from state-funded schools in 2020-21, a fall from 63.4% in 2019-20 and 65.7% in 2018-19. It’s clear that Durham’s 93% Club has its work cut out for them.

“your postcode should not limit your academic potential” Given that Durham University has a particularly high percentage of independently educated students (a higher percentage than Exeter, Edinburgh and UCL), Vice President, Cara Thompson, highlights the need to create a safe space for students “struggling with imposter syndrome”. The team achieves this by

holding regular socials, sending out a weekly newsletter, organising networking events to boost skill sets and, more recently, introducing college representatives to target larger groups of students, and deconstruct some of the prevalent exclusive cultures at Durham.

Corporate Liaison Officer, Cara Hart, explains that they ultimately aim to “place students on a level playing field” with their independently educated peers, by running events to build confidence and equip students with the necessary skills for their futures. Secretary, Caitlin Evans, emphasises just how essential this community has become since the start of the pandemic, adding: “now more than ever, it is so important to feel like a community even though we’re not all in the same place”.In light of Epiphany Term being conducted completely online, President, Georgia Carter, stresses how frustrating the assumption is that everyone can easily adapt to studying at home “when this is not the case for many students”.

She adds that as well as disruptive households, lack of adequate studying conditions and internet connection potentially posing problems, “being a first-genera-

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tion university student, there is often a barrier where family members don’t really understand the commitment to work that is required of you, as they haven’t had the same experience”.

A Freedom of Information request from Palatinate last year revealed that just under 20% of undergraduate students at the University are confirmed first-generation students. This is significantly below the estimate UK average, which suggests as many as half of all UK university students could be in this position.

“only 20% of undergraduate students at the University are confirmed firstgeneration students” Treasurer, Rhys Cooper, emphasises how these inequalities are equally applicable to A Level students, adding that “currently, in the pandemic, A Level students from underprivileged backgrounds don’t have the funds to access online resources and private tuition is not an option”. Georgia says that as a club, they were outraged by the A Levels algorithm scandal in August 2020: “It was so important for us to speak up about this as

a society, because as individuals we really resonated with the students who had been disadvantaged, as this could have been any one of us”.

Rhys is “proud to fulfil the role of Treasurer, where [his] financial skills help the society to fully achieve its aims, coming from the most underfunded state school in Northumberland”. For Education Outreach Officer, Brooke Taylor, it’s the club’s “ability to reassure state school students that they deserve their place at such a highly ranked university”, that makes her passionate about the 93% Club’s values. Caitlin wanted to be part of the club because she wanted “to be part of a space which caters to the voices of those from state school backgrounds in higher education, who are largely underrepresented”.

Georgia stresses that due to the discrepancy between state school and independently educated students at Durham, the club has a more “support-and community-based approach, rather than just focusing on careers and skills”. She stresses how “alienating” it can be to arrive at Durham and feel as if you don’t fit in, something which they’re hoping will be alleviated somewhat due to the support network they’ve been implementing through their network of college representatives. Caitlin emphasises that “we want to reduce the divide between privately and state educated students, so that everyone feels accepted and deserving of their place in Durham”.

The team wants to emphasise that its community is wholly inclusive, so long as everyone involved supports their aims as a club. Georgia explains that “our soci-

ety is not about segregating students but about working together. Some of our reps have had a mixed or solely private education, but by getting involved they help promote social mobility and show that they want to create a more inclusive community”. For her, the most tangible effect they’ve had “is creating an inclusive community within our university. We have made a supportive environment for state educated students and this is something we’re extremely proud of. We’re also being more widely recognised as a group by the University, meaning we are able to support and offer our insight in order to help make change happen”.

The 93% Club as a whole has ambitious plans for 2021, including an Employability Week, a 93% Club podcast and a national bursary scheme. The Durham club is also in the process of setting up a mentoring scheme, pairing students with professionals in an industry in which they’re interested. They’ve also been given the opportunity to discuss how to make events within the careers department more accessible as well as having discussions with the academic departments about the challenges facing stateschool educated students and the ways they can help to improve their experience.

Because ultimately, as a Durham student, it’s each and every student’s job to ensure that our community is as inclusive as possible, regardless of individual privilege.

Image: The 93% Club Illustration: Anna Pycock

VISUAL ARTS Thursday, 18 February 2021 10

Winners announced

Visual Arts interviews the winners of Palatinate’s Illustration & Photography competition Visual Arts Editors visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk

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isual Arts is excited to announce the winners of the illustrations and photography competition, Lainey Lin and Alexandra Baker! The theme for the competition was Durham, and students were encouraged to be as creative as possible in capturing the spirit of their university city. The winning entries can be found on the front cover of this issue.

Alexandra Baker Winner of the illustration competition.

Talk us through your work and what inspired it.

My piece is made up of two pictures.

The first is a picture I took just before first term, when it was still sunny. It’s of my friends in a boat right next to one of the bridges in Durham. When I had finished I thought it was missing something, so I incorporated a completely different picture of the castle and few houses into the background.

While I was working on my entry I had very limited art supplies because of the lockdown. I’m locked down in Poland and most of my materials were in the UK. However, I did find some pastels, some acrylic paint, and a pen that I could use.

I made a base of oil pastel, layered some acrylic paint on top, then used the pen to provide the sketches and outlines.

What is it about Durham that captured your artistic imagination?

The first time I came to Durham I found it so fairy-tale-like and beautiful. It

felt magical, like a small fairy town. What I really wanted to capture was the magic of Durham. No matter what the weather, Durham always looks so beautiful.

“composition is very important”

You mentioned lockdown’s impact on your competition entry. Do you feel that the pandemic has impacted you as an artist?

The pandemic has made me draw a lot more and made me try new things. I’ve actually learned a lot of new artistic skills because of the lockdown. For the first time I’ve had time to sit down and mess around with stuff, while before the lockdown I was really busy with lectures and work. Lockdown has helped find time to sit down and focus on my art.

Lainey Lin Winner of the Photography competition

How do you balance art and student life?

I’ve never had a problem balancing art and and student life. Whenever I have a free moment I just sit down and start to draw. When I have a study break or decide that I’ve done enough studying for one day drawing helps me relax. I’ve found it very helpful.

What advice would you give to fellow or aspiring student artists?

I always tell people that art should be a source of fun rather than stress. It’s not a chore that you need to do, or something you need to get perfect. When I sit down to draw I certainly don’t strive for perfection. I just play around with different media and different shapes.

If something doesn’t work out I try and make it pretty and if that doesn’t work I just start over. I just play around and try to have fun.

What camera did you use to take the winning entry?

I used a Canon EOS M5o Mirrorless camera.

Is photography a hobby or something you hope to persure in the future?

I became really interested in photography last summer. I was doing my foundation year at Queen’s campus, so when we had online classes I decided to use photography as a way to get outside.

Where was your photograph of the cathedral taken from?

I took the photo at sunset down by the river, right next to Hild Bede College.

What kind of photography are you most interested in and why?

I’m mostly interested in photos of people or buildings. I would love to take more landscapes in England in future after the lockdown has lifted.

Do you have a favourite photographer or artist?

I really like David Hockney.

Why do you think photography is important and what makes this artitsic practice distinct?

I think composition is very important, but I am most sensitive to colours.

Images provided by Alexandra Baker and Lainey Lin.

FASHION 11

Thursday, 18th February 2021

25 years of Dirty Girls: What the 1996 cult documentary taught me about fashion, feminism and female identity What does it mean to be a ‘dirty’ girl? Eleri Crossland investigates Eleri Crossland fashion@palatinate.org.uk

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round the time of my second year at university, I happened to stumble upon Dirty Girls, a short documentary filmed by a then-L.A. high-schooler named Michael Lucid. Filmed in Lucid’s own school in 1996 and edited in 2000, the film follows a group of female eighth-graders, mocked and ostracized by their peers for their investment in riot grrl culture and their supposedly poor personal hygiene.

how I loathed having body hair and began to shave my armpits obsessively.

“so much more than a nostalgic glimpse into mid-90s high school culture”

Cruelly coined ‘Dirty Girls’ by their peer group, the documentary provides these girls with a platform to discuss the inspiration behind their grungey dress sense and share their experiences of social exclusion and bullying, along with their radical feminist convictions, surprisingly well-articulated for a group of thirteen-year-olds and expressed creatively in the form of handmade zines.

“[it] would have worked wonders on my own internalised anxieties” However, despite my teenage self’s shared belief with ‘Dirty Girl’ ringleader Amber in the importance of being different, I firmly believe that watching this documentary as a thirteen-year-old would have worked wonders on my own internalised anxieties and obsessions as pertaining to normative feminine grooming and beauty routine.

From the age of twelve, I can remember how terrified I felt at the prospect of being seen in public without makeup. I couldn’t have cared less about what anyone thought about the side-fringe that covered half my face, but god forbid anyone taunted me for having greasy or matted hair. Even now it breaks my heart to look back at

male peer, who accuses the group’s feminist agenda of being misguided, due to the fact that they are ‘not really women’.

Although today I have managed to overcome these fears and feel much happier seeing increased representation of female celebrities with body hair in mainstream media outlets, I cannot turn a blind eye to the ongoing identity misconceptions and anxieties as pertaining to personal grooming, beauty and self-presentation, deeply rooted in misogyny, racism and homophobia, which no doubt continue to shape the experiences of young people growing up today.

As sisters Harper and Amber themselves state, contrary to their peers’ perceptions the girls are not unaccustomed to showering and are not ‘dirty’ in a hygienic sense.

In fact, while the naysayers berate their unsightly appearance and comment that they look like they smell, it is never explicitly stated that the ‘Dirty Girls’ actually have poor personal hygiene. Instead, their ‘dirtiness’ stems from their refusal to follow strict grooming measures and appear outwardly feminine in a conventional sense, which is directly highlighted by a particularly cruel remark from a fe-

Such mean comments from female peers not only serve to highlight the sad reality of young female internalisation of such gendered physical standards, but also demonstrate the necessity for female solidarity in deconstructing such values.

While the documentary pits the groups’ male and female critics as bitchy and bullying, the ‘Dirty Girls’ instead come across as caring and genuine, one minute cracking jokes with one another, the next expressing their deeply-felt concerns regarding sexual violence and patriarchy.

While the documentary’s grainy Super 8 shooting, 90s fashion and dreamy Liz Phair backing-track certainly makes it aesthetically pleasing to a modern audience, Dirty Girls is so much more than a nostalgic glimpse into mid-90s high school culture. 25 years on, this documentary stands as a landmark in riot girl feminist filmmaking, providing positive representation to social outcasts and inviting us to question why, in an environment where everyone is a critic, we bother to conform.

Ending with footage of Amber dressed in a fluffy feather boa pretending to thank her haters for their unsolicited opinions on her own personal appearance, Michael Lucid’s film is a testament to the power of teenage rebellion, self-love and the not-so-subtle art of not giving a fuck.

Illustration by Anna Kuptsova

FOOD & DRINK 12

Thursday, 18th February 2021

‘Spice’ up your Galentine’s...

Some cocktail recipes inspired by the greatest girl gang of all time

By Constance Lam and Meghna Amin Food & Drink Editors food@palatinate.org.uk

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t is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of some key cocktail ingredients must be in want of a Galentine.

And if you’re anything like us, we’re expecting this Saturday eve to be a far bigger celebration than Sunday, which will just be a day for remaining hungover and reminiscing of the memories of the night before. In true Galentine style, turn your Durham living rooms into mini versions of Rev’s, order some Lebaneat, and celebrate a night of supporting your girlfriends, while we help you out with a few cocktail ideas inspired by the most iconic girl gang there has ever been.

Sporty Spice: Chocolate Espresso Martini Think twice before you call chocolate a Valentine’s Day cliché, because it’s delicious all year round. Chocolate and espresso are an iconic pairing, and together they can add so much excitement to your night in. This chocolate espresso martini is perhaps the best way to kick off Galentine’s Day, giving you the caffeine boost you need for a fun-filled day.

You will need (for four servings): 50g chocolate, chopped (you can use any chocolate of your choice) a good handful of ice cubes 100ml espresso, chilled 100ml coffee liqueur (e.g. Kahlúa) 150ml vodka 4 martini glasses (or if you’re in a student house with no

glassware, 4 mugs) (Optional) sprinkling of cocoa powder (Optional) chocolate shavings 1. Melt chocolate in a microwave or in a heatproof bowl over simmering water 2. Dip four martini glasses into the melted chocolate, ensuring that the chocolate drips inside the glass 3. Let the glasses set in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes 4. Combine all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker (or any sealed container) and shake it!

5. Pour the drinks into the glasses, decorate with cocoa powder and/or chocolate shavings (optional), and enjoy!

Posh Spice: Raspberry Prosecco Nothing screams Victoria Beckham more than some berry bubbly!

You will need (for one serving): 15ml Chambord raspberry liqueur (can be found at Tesco for £8) 10ml pink gin (bonus points if you can find a glittery one) 100ml prosecco Some blueberries or raspberries (or both!) to float on top

“nothing screams Victoria Beckham more than some berry bubbly!”

1. Pour the raspberry liqueur and pink gin into a champagne flute (or a student’s equivalent will do) 2. Top up with the prosecco 3. Add a few berries in for an extra bit of posh spice

Ginger Spice: Apple & Ginger Spritzer Do you have that one housemate or friend who finds everything (yes, even black pepper) spicy? This apple and ginger wine spritzer might change their mind! The warm kick of the ginger ale perfectly complements the sweet apple juice, and we can assure you that some people will want seconds. You might even have to make more!

On Galentine’s Day, any moment could be Wine O’Clock – so let the fun begin with a refreshing, fruity spritzer!

You will need (for four servings): 1 cup Apple juice 1 cup Ginger ale/ginger beer

FOOD & DRINK 13

Thursday, 18th February 2021

1.5-2 cups White wine (Optional) Apple slices for garnish Ice cubes Large jug or serving vessel

“on Galentine’s Day, any moment could be Wine O’Clock” 1. Pour apple juice and white wine into a large jug 2. Add ice and swirl in ginger beer with a spoon 3. Serve immediately

Scary Spice: A Tequila Sunrise Twist There’s nothing scarier than tequila, right?

You will need: (for one serving) 50ml tequila A splash of agave syrup (or plain old honey will do) A squirt of lime juice 60ml pink grapefruit juice Lemonade

“there’s nothing scarier than tequila, right?”

1. Before you even start with making the cocktail, decorate your glass by dipping the rim in water or lime juice, then dipping it into a plate of salt to coat the rim.

2. If you have a cocktail shaker, then this is the time to bring it out – add all the ingredients, apart from the lemonade, into the shaker with some ice, and shake shake shake! (If you don’t own one, we suggest a quick trip to Sainsbury’s or just ignoring that bit and pouring your ingredients into your glass.)

3. Top up your glass with some lemonade and if you’re feeling really bougie, garnish with a slice of grapefruit.

Baby Spice: Strawberry Mojito Mocktail

“this one’s for the lightweights in the household” 1. Place strawberries and mint leaves in a pitcher 2. Using a spoon (or any other utensil), mash the strawberries and mint leaves to extract their juices – this process is called ‘muddling’ 3. Slice the limes in half and start juicing 4. Once the strawberries and mint leaves are muddled, pour your lime juice and sprite or 7-UP into the pitcher 5. Add ice as desired, serve in glasses (or just some straws in the pitcher), and enjoy!

And last but not least, we have ‘Baby Spice’ – a sweet yet refreshing virgin strawberry mojito. This one’s for the lightweights in the household, but everyone else will also love them. The vibrant pink hues from the fresh strawberries make this drink perfect for Galentine’s Day! You will need: Strawberries Limes (enough to make 1/8 to ¼ cup of lime juice) Mint leaves Sprite or 7-UP Ice Illustrations by Alex McLaren

MUSIC 14

Thursday, 18th February 2021

LGBTQ+ artists leading today’s music scene Charlotte Grimwade recommends that you listen to these LGBTQ+ artists Charlotte Grimwade music@palatinate.org.uk

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obviously, the pandemic hindered these plans. If anything, Arlo Parks has been able to use the enforced solitude of lockdown to write some of her most meaningful songs, clearly making her an artist to watch.

King Princess broke into the music scene back in 2018 with her debut single ‘1950’. Referencing the 1952 novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, King Princess used the song to explore the restrictions queer people have experienced throughout history. Some of her other notable songs from the past couple of years include ‘Talia’, ‘Ohio’, Upper West Side’, and ‘Only Time Makes It Human’.

King Princess’ soulful voice and ethereal instrumental arrangements contribute to the simultaneously modern and nostalgic sound she has managed to achieve.

Frances Forever started out as a musical project for Frances Garrett, who didn’t expect their hit song ‘Space Girl’ to become quite so popular. With an indie-pop style similar to the recognisable bedroom pop of artists such as Clairo, Frances Forever manages to combine happy melodies with more complex themes and lyrics to create truly enjoyable music. ‘Space Girl’ is one of Frances Forever’s most recognisable hits, having reached over 10 million streams on Apple and Spotify after going viral on TikTok last year. Having recently collaborated with Chloe Moriondo on a new version of ‘Space Girl’, the outstanding success that Frances Forever has had so far highlights the potential for their future music to receive further accolades.

n recent years some incredible LGBTQ+ artists have been emerging and making strides within the music industry. The five different artists featured in this article have been producing ground-breaking music lately that only reflects the start of exceptional careers.

Arlo Parks has been making headlines in the past month with the release of her new album Collapsed in Sunbeams. Some of the best examples of Parks’ poetic song writing include ‘Sophie’, ‘Eugene’ and ‘Black Dog’. Her latest album deals with themes of mental health and self-discovery as she cleverly combines her passion for both poetry and music to make each song feel like a perfectly formed short story.

Before Covid-19, Parks was on track to go on tour with Haley Williams but,

Although some have described Dizzy Fae’s music as a fusion of RnB and jazz, her genre is better understood as lacking definition. Her 2018 mixtape Free Form gave her the opportunity to go on tour as a supporting act for Lizzo whilst working on her second mixtape No GMO. Her music is full of contrasts; from dance hits like ‘Lifestyle’ to more mellow tracks such as ‘Her’ or ‘Indica’, each song captures Dizzy Fae’s almost ethereal exploration of her own queer identity. Fae was classically trained and whilst she brings to the table a new sound that is in many ways reflective of Generation Z, she also effectively incorporates elements of the music she grew up listening to, from Prince to Billy Joel. All of these various influences make for an evidently well-considered sound

that many are intrigued to see progress.

The past few years have been central to the discovery of mxmtoon’s musical identity. The success of her 2019 song ‘prom dress’ established mxmtoon as an artist who effectively utilises dreamy bedroom pop to encapsulate authentic teenage experiences. A recent collaboration with Ricky Montgomery on a new version of ‘Line Without a Hook’ truly exemplifies how mxmtoon’s sound is becoming something more and more artists want to feature and engage with. Some of mxmtoon’s best songs, like ‘unspoken words’ or ‘fever dream’, explore her childhood, Chinese-American identity and sexuality. Her two connected EPs from last year (dawn and dusk) signify the development of a more mature sound.

What might have previously been viewed by some as quite bare arrangements have transformed into rich acoustics accompanied by beautifully simplistic lyrics.

Every single one of the artists mentioned above are redefining the music industry through their distinct lyrics and exciting arrangements. Many of them incorporate their LGBTQ+ identity into the music they create alongside broader themes of adolescence and self-discovery. Not only are these musicians crucially paving the way for a more inclusive industry, but also demonstrating that their already remarkable music is on track to improve and develop with time.

Images via Wikimedia Creative Commons

STAGE 15

Thursday,18 February 2021

Inside Durham Drama Festival The voices behind the Youtube premieres & virtual rehearsals

By Charlie Barnett, Imogen Marchant and Esalan Gates stage@palatinate.org.uk

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his year’s Durham Drama Festival was unlike any other. The festival is a fixture in the heart of our student scene and a much-anticipated event. When Zoom auditions were taking place in November, the appetite for live theatre was ferocious. Anxious auditionees practicing monologues in the hope of standing on a real stage, writers redrafting with the promise of seeing their words performed to an enraptured audience. When lateral flow testing was introduced everybody held their breath in the hopes that come Epiphany term, we would be bustling into AR once more. Of course, this was not to be. Suddenly, production teams had to rethink everything.

A virtual DDF? Zoom rehearsals?

Youtube premieres? The organisers behind DDF and each production team responded to change admirably. Plays morphed into audio dramas, short films, and tantalising previews of fresh writing. This week, Stage turns to those involved to see what their experience of 2021’s DDF looked like.

An actor’s view Coming to Alone at the Edge of the Universe was daunting for many reasons. One: I had a week and a half to learn it. Two: I was performing by myself. Three: I had to self-tape the entire thing. The cardinal rule of acting is never look at yourself doing it. Essentially, all of this was incredibly intimidating; even without the emotionally challenging script, I have never had so many hurdles thrown at me all at once.

Still, it’s lockdown, so - we move.

Once I took a d e e p

breath, though, and with the help of my wonderful directors, I found the experience so liberating. It was challenging, yes, but also deeply freeing. I found a level of new connection; a connection with myself, to the words, to

As a writer/director

the character, in ways that I think are unique to solo performances but also to lockdown theatre. It’s a curious thing, going through the process of getting into character, warming up and learning lines by yourself. Coupled with having to be the camera-woman, lighting technician and sound expert at the same time as the actor made for an experience that forced me to think deeply about every part of making theatre. It helps, of course, that the play was about being alone and isolated and confused. Being shut in the spare room in my house for eight hours while I tried to film a thirty minute piece certainly made me feel like the world was going mad. That said, I’ve come away with a renewed appreciation for every aspect of how performance works. I’m very excited to get back to in-person, live theatre, yes - but I’ll always treasure how fun it was to be able to do what I love the most when the whole world isn’t set up for it.

With DDF, we had two weeks to rehearse, record, and edit together a radio play before the hand-in deadline. Realistically, this meant that we needed to have it all recorded after the first week, so I had time to learn how to use Garageband before the deadline. Directing for radio is a clear departure from directing for the stage; I had to force myself not to comment on facial expression or physicality as we rehearsed, and focus instead on the fact that it is the timbre of the voice that will elucidate character.

Usually, I approach rehearsals with a mixture of creative intent and practicality, as rehearsal schedules are very much contingent on the availability of the cast and the time constraints of simultaneously doing a degree. I like to block shows quickly; if it’s a two-hour show I will usually have a “rough draft” after a fortnight of rehearsing, which means I can go back in to refine and do full runs in preparation for production week (normally the first time we are in the venue). It also means that actors rapidly gain a sense of the play as a whole, which can sometimes be lacking when you are so reliant on the whims of a student timetable.

We are all used to putting together shows inordinately quickly, but this remained a real challenge given the time pressures combined with the fact I have not met half of the cast in-person. It was surprising how quickly we gelled as a team, and it just proves that rehearsals can still be fulfilling and extremely entertaining despite the enormous obstacles lined up before us.

Illustration: Adeline Zhao

TRAVEL 16

Thursday, 18th February 2021

Travels on my plate Travel and Food bring you a series of culinary adventures from home Travel and Food editors travel@palatinate.org.uk

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hese challenging and unprecedented times have fostered resourcefulness and resilience amongst us all. Stuck at home, we have been forced to think of creative ways to recreate our holiday experiences, letting our imagination wander instead of our feet: for us, the best (and perhaps only!) way of travelling right now is to take a culinary journey through cooking!

“Last term, my housemate and I attempted to cook an authentic paella that would do justice to Spanish cuisine, something we’d been dreaming about enjoying in sunny Barcelona. Realising that re-creating that experience through cooking it ourselves was likely to be the closest we’d get to actually visiting Spain this year, we were determined to make our Spanish night a success. Armed with king prawns, paella rice, peppers and a range of spices, it was with surprising ease that we were able to concoct the very tastes of the Med that we’d been craving.

After chopping, sauteing and mixing, the finished result was a magnificent dish of saffron-coloured rice jewelled with ten-

der prawns and red bell peppers. To accompany the dish, we made our own rosé Sangria, using a simple combination of rosé wine, orange juice, frozen berries and ice! To my surprise, it turns out that all you need is a little imagination and a good recipe to be completely transported abroad!”

“Ramen, a Japanese noodle soup, unusually transports me back to a cold evening in Sligo, Ireland. In a small unassuming restaurant where my dad and I were the only customers, we slurped away at a thick warm broth was unlike anything I’d ever had before Although several local Japanese restaurants have ramen on their menu, most of them are not vegan-friendly, so over lockdown I decided to take on the challenge of making my own soul-warming soup. Ramen broth can be made many different ways, but I opted for a vegetable broth infused with ginger, onion, garlic and shiitake mushrooms. To add more depth and ‘umami’ flavour, I added soy sauce and miso paste. While the broth was simmering, I prepared my toppings: crispy tofu, mushrooms, and pak choi.

Spring onions also provided a colourful, crunchy finish, while a drizzle of chilli oil at the end added heat. The first sip not only reminded me of the quaint diner in Ireland, but my tastebuds were transported to the busy streets of Tokyo; the only thing that was missing was a generous cup of sake to wash it all down with.”

“As someone whose current love interest is carbohydrates, I am no stranger to the allure of pasta. Pre Covid-19, I dreamt of swimming in the azure waters of the Amalfi coast, eating my weight in pasta, pizza, and gelato, and re-enacting most of Roman Holiday after graduation, together with my closest friends. The pandemic might have put my travel plans to a halt, but it won’t stop me from eating pasta. “

To travel vicariously through my kitchen, I decided to make my own tomato sauce and tagliatelle from scratch — a significant upgrade from my lunches at uni. I opted to use a recipe by Giulia Ardizzone. I’m still in shock at how simple the ingredients are: fresh tomatoes, onion, basil, olive oil, and your seasonings of choice. Though I spilt sauce on my pajamas, the final result was worth it. As the fragrant sauce was simmering, my lofty plans to make my

own pasta fell apart due to my impatience.

However, I have no complaints - this might be the best thing I have cooked this year” “As someone who hasn’t returned to Durham this term, there is only one thing I’m missing as much as actually travelling to the country of this cuisine and indulging in the authentic tacos, churros and empanadas: Zaps. Having only travelled to Mexico once, the delicious flavours and spices have left an immense impact on my tastebuds, and although the Western imprint of Zaps is more than slightly different, my versions from home aren’t quite the same. In Mexico, tacos are typically softly wrapped with fresh tortillas, rather than hard-shelled like we often find closer to home. The flavours and sauces ooze into the wrap, rather than being dolloped on top of the crunchy lettuce and plastic-like cheese of the tacos I’ve tried to recreate.”

Images: Samantha Fulton