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the festival guide

smart drug?

+ mental health awareness month + the effects of caffeine + best campus films

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3 F O O D & DRINK Lunchboxes for the exam season and the effects of that all important caffeine.

4 & 5 F E ATURES Removing stigma and increasing support during Mental Health Awareness Month.

6 & 7 M U SIC A quick peak into the festival season.

8 S TAGE Does Durham’s bubble effect get in the way of an honest review?

9 F I L M & TV The best films on campus.

1 0 FASHION B r e a k i n g d own fashion’s strangest buzzwords for the sartorially uninitiated.

1 1 B O OKS ‘Girl Online’ and the ghostwriting controversy.

1 2 & 1 3 TRAVEL A year abroad in Lebanon and the difference between travelling and tourism.

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V I S UAL A RT S The not so black -and-white photogprahy exhibit at the Photographers’ Gallery.

15 C R E AT I VE WRITING Coffee and the stranger.

For more arts and lifestyle articles please visit www.palatinate.org.uk www.facebook.com/palatindigo @palatindigo Cover image by Kate Wilkinson, Maurice Samely, Cherry Cheung and Jonathan Thorneycroft Illustrations by Mariam Hayat

Kate Wilkinson (dept. Sraddha Venkataraman) - indigo@palatinate.org.uk

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urham welcomed us back this term with a strong hint that summer is on its way, but it’s hard to enjoy the sun when you’re cooped up in the library. In this edition, Music gives you something to look forward to. Planning post-exam freedom makes for the perfect procrastination and what better way to spend a long weekend than at one of the big (or small) summer festivals? From Glastonbury in Somerset and the End of the Road in Wiltshire to Primavera Sound in Barcelona and Positiva in Latvia, we’ve got them covered (p. 6-7).

Third term means exam season and it’s the time of the year when finalists in particular come under pressure. In just under two months a cohort of us will be graduating - but not before we’ve squeezed out all our accumulated skills and knowledge from the past three to four years in a couple of hours-long paper.

Exams are anxiety-inducing for most people but for those suffering mental health issues they can be particularly daunting.

Mental health awareness month this May is therefore well timed.

It’s easy to feel isolated but hopefully the increasing visibility of mental health issues will encourage us to be more conscious of those who are suffering, often in silence. It can be difficult to know how to help but reaching out to a friend can make all the difference, as Features reports (p. 4-5).

The empty coffee cups are stacking up high in the Palatinate office at the moment, forming a leaning monument to our caffeine cravings. Caffeine comes to play an ever more intimate part of our lives this term but what effect might this have on our health? Food and Drink gives you the information you need (p. 3).

Have a good Easter term, stay healthy and stay happy! See you on the other side…

KW

INDIGO EDITOR Kate Wilkinson

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DEPUTY INDIGO EDITOR Sraddha Venkataraman BOOKS EDITORS Atifa Jiwa Florianne Humphrey CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR Celeste Yeo FASHION EDITORS Jessica Ng Megan Magee FEATURES EDITORS Zosia Eyres Ellen Finch (deputy) FILM & TV EDITORS Jonathan Peters Caroline France (deputy) FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Adrian Chew Shalaka Darshane MUSIC EDITORS Anastasia Symecko Will Throp (deputy) STAGE EDITOR Isabelle Culkin TRAVEL EDITORS Oliver Collard Naoise Murphy (deputy) VISUAL ARTS EDITOR Frances Marsh

WRITERS Tuki Daniel Sofi Ruiz Sophia Smith- Galer Danny Zhao Jane Simpkiss Amy Price Adrian Chew Francesca Bull Hannah Evans Gaby Rattner

Megan Wallace Jonathan Peters Collette McKenny Isabella Culkin Sally Hargrave Will Thorp Anastasia Symecko Jasmine Watkiss Roy Manuell Lara Santos- Ayllon

PHOTOGRAPHY / ILLUSTRATION

Venus Loi Francesca Bull Mariam Hayat Jonathan Thorneycroft Sophia Smith-Galer Danny Zhao

Sofi Ruiz

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Adrian Chew and Shalaka Darshane - food@palatinate.org.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

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the unsung merits of a lunchbox Francesca Bull gives you a few tips on how to stay healthy through exam season by preparing quick and easy lunchboxes

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ow that I walk home lugging Tesco bags, live in a shared house, and proudly whip out my packed lunch and fork outside the library, I feel one step more immersed into the world of adulthood.

Living out of college is an invitation to lunchtime creativity and, as a healthy lifestyle blogger, I love easy, cheap, cheerful, and nutritious meal preparation.

I’ve been filling, fridge-ing, and enjoying my Tupperware containers for many months now, so I have been through the best (achieving yummy and aesthetically pleasing creations), and also the worst (a.k.a leaking lunch boxes…oh dear).

Here are some of my ideas and tips so that you can get your packed lunch on point.

1. To avoid leakage, don’t put dressing in your Tupperware!

It also helps if you wrap your container in a plastic bag.

2.

Do you have limited time to cook?

Here are my favourite quick and easy sources of protein: boiled eggs, tofu (this is nice when fried in Cajun spice or cumin), presliced chicken or turkey, cottage cheese, nuts, broad beans, and chick peas.

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Frozen vegetables are super handy, cheap, and a lot less fiddly to prepare than a salad. I like to buy the mixed pack with sweetcorn, peas, red pepper, carrots, and broccoli – for extra colour!

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Carb-wise, if you have around ten minutes of prep time, whole grain pasta or microwaved sweet potato are your best friends. Two minutes? Couscous is your calling (simply add boiling water and let it expand), or microwavable brown rice (when mixed with a spoon of pesto it will take you to cloud nine). But what if you’re running out of the door?

The speediest option is to grab some whole grain crackers, rice cakes, or slices of whole grain bread!

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I like to prepare meals either the night before or two days in advance. What better way to procrastinate on a Sunday evening than by meal prepping for Monday and Tuesday…?

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An even more efficient option would be to simply make a huge dinner, halve it, Tupperware-it and fridge-it!

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And finally: don’t forget your fork, or you will have to resort to buying an overpriced sandwich and eating it with the sad knowledge that there is a beautifully handcrafted lunch still chilling in your bag.

www.cescapesca.com

Photographs by Francesca Bull

by Adrian Chew

caffeine habits

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n the year 3000, between studying fifth-dimensional thermodynamics and analysing the poetry of alien civilisations, students will hopefully have automated caffeine doses injected into their bloodstream via nanochip. Unfortunately until then, we’ll just have to settle with what we have.

“At one extreme is one Durham girl who was hospitalised in 2007 after drinking 14(!) shots of espresso in under 4 hours.”

We’re advised to limit our caffeine intake to 300-400mg a day, but how much does that actually mean? Hopefully the simple list we have shown here can help with figuring it out. But obviously it must be said that caffeine affects all of

us to different degrees, and how something is prepared heavily affects its caffeine content.

Tea leaves release more caffeine the longer they are brewed, and instant coffee yields substantially less caffeine than a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

But more importantly, pills are significantly stronger and fast-acting than liquids consumed over time, so monitoring how much you ingest is vital.

cannot truly replace a good night’s sleep and that the obvious thing here is to listen to your own body.

Caffeine overdose is not often heard of, but it is still a very real phenomenon, and the amount of caffeine that triggers this can vary wildly. At one extreme is one Durham girl who was hospitalised in 2007 after drinking 14(!) shots of espresso in under 4 hours. But there are also reports of cardiac attacks triggered by “only” 2 cans of Monster.

Tea (mg per cup): 14-70 (Black), 24-45 (Green) Coca Cola (mg per can): 34 Instant coffee (mg per cup): 57 Espresso (mg per shot): 47-75 Red Bull (mg/can): 79 Monster (mg/can): 160

Between popping espressos, Red Bulls and Pro Pluses, it is important to remember that caffeine

Photographs by Zach Beauvais and Greg Rodgers via Flickr

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Zosia Eyres (Ellen Finch- dept.) - features@palatinate.org.uk

F EAT U R E S

mental health awareness

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Following the Germanwings disaster, Hannah Evans discusses the importance of combatting the mental health stigma

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very one of us will be directly or indirectly impacted by mental illness at some point during our lives. In the UK, 1 in 4 people suffer from mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. This could be a family member, colleague or close friend, or we may find ourselves afflicted. Mental health illnesses are far more common than we may think, and according to the World Health Organisation, by 2020 depression will be the second largest cause of disability worldwide, behind heart disease.

Educating others and ourselves is key in banishing myths and stereotypes, and highlighting how normal such issues are However, individuals suffering from mental health problems are frequently stigmatized and alienated. People’s prejudices and ignorance about mental health issues have created misconceptions and stereotypes, isolating those afflicted. This misunderstanding of issues has led to the polarisation of attitudes. In many cases, mental illnesses are either considered dangerous and should be feared, or are selfish illnesses that do not exist.

The recent Germanwings tragedy in the French Alps led to a string of tabloid headlines that no doubt reinforced such stigma towards mental health, alienating those that suffer and inhibiting recovery.

Reducing stigmatising attitudes is not only key to educating the public about what mental health is and how common mental health problems are, but is also vital to promoting recovery. In the UK today 9 out of 10 sufferers will experience discrimination, most commonly in the workplace. However, there are things that each of us can do to tackle stigma on a day-to-day basis.

Education has a crucial role in banishing misconceptions about mental health disorders and normalizing them. Mental health issues affect millions of people in this country, with the most common forms of illness being depression, anxiety or a combination of the two.

In fact, we all live on a spectrum of mental wellbeing, which each of us slides up and down throughout our lives. Research has shown that in many cases mental health illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder, have genetic roots.

However, ignorance about such conditions has led to the polarization of opinions.

Those afflicted are either considered unstable

and dangerous and so should be rejected from society, or they are selfish, suffering from a ‘fake’ illness, and so should be to blame. We should seek to understand and support mental health issues, not label them as fearful, shameful and incurable conditions. Educating others and ourselves is key in banishing myths and stereotypes, and highlighting how normal such issues are.

Another key element of reducing mental health stigma is communication. The way in which we communicate with those affected by mental health illnesses is powerful.

Language is capable of reinforcing stigma and damaging recovery and relationships. Stigmatizing language is still prevalent in our vocabulary. Those afflicted are often termed as “retards”, “crazies” and “psycho”.

Just last month reports by the UK’s tabloid papers led to headlines such as “Mental Pilot Deliberately Crashed Plane”, “Madman in Cockpit” and “Why On Earth Was He Allowed to Fly?” This form of communication is hugely damaging, misleading and inconsiderate, suggesting that all those suffering from depression are a threat and should not be allowed to work.

This miscommunication has been an on-going issue. Following the emergence of Frank Bruno’s mental health problems, The Sun led with the in-

In the UK today, 9 out of 10 mental health sufferers will experience discrimination famous headline “BONKERS BRUNO LOCKED UP!” Clearly the use of alliteration in selling newspapers was more important than accurate and fair reporting.

However, just as important as communication in reducing stigma is listening. Through listening without judgement comes support and empathy, and only with support is recovery possible. Listening to people with mental health issues with dignity and respect is crucial to encouraging recovery. Offering help based upon mutual respect and understanding is hugely valuable. It is capable of replacing feelings of isolation and rejection with a sense of agency and personal worth. It can empower and inspire. Recovery can be supported by these disarmingly simple attitudes and actions. The whole notion of recovery is underpinned by the possibility of hope that there is a positive future and all those suffering have a place in it.

Illustration by Mariam HayatImage by mattza via

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Zosia Eyres (Ellen Finch - dept.) - features@palatinate.org.uk

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F EAT U R E S

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month: stigma and support

Collette McKenny gives her advice on how to provide support for the people in your life dealing with mental health issues

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s many of you may know, May has been used across the world as Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949, with Mental Health Week occurring in England this year from the 23rd-30th May. Since the beginning of Mental Health Month, much of the media coverage has focused on the stigma surrounding mental health, or how best to seek help for mental health illnesses. Both of these areas of mental health are extremely important and deserve as much awareness as possible, which has been achieved as a fantastic consequence of Mental Health Awareness Week.

However, there is one area of mental health that is covered much less by the media: how to support someone you know and love whilst they battle with mental illness.

I am lucky enough to have two amazing best friends, one of whom I have known for over eight years, and one of whom I have known since coming to university. And, like many others, they have both experienced mental health illnesses at some stage in their lives. I have often felt at a loss over how to help them, having had no experience of mental health illness of my own, and so decided to undertake some research into how you can best support someone who is suffering from these illnesses in the hope that, as a result, more people have the confidence to reach out and help anyone they know and love who they believe to be suffering with mental illness. From researching this advice, I now feel like I can be more supportive of my friends when they need me most, which is, without a doubt, the most important thing that anyone can do.

So, firstly: take time to talk to them, and listen to what they say. After having talked about this with my friend, she said that the most comforting thing for her is to know that someone is there for her to talk to whenever she is feeling down.

Whether that is a phone call, a coffee break or an evening together, knowing that someone is there to listen to them, and there to talk to without judging how they feel, is one of the most important ways of supporting someone struggling with mental illness such as depression or anxiety. Talking, and listening, is a way in which you can let your loved ones know that you are there for them, and gives them the opportunity to talk about anything they’re worried about, without having to face the possibly daunting prospect of bringing the subject up themselves. Discussing how they’re feeling also helps you be better informed about their experiences and, should another depressive episode occur, will allow you to be more supportive of how they’re feeling in the best way you can and, hopefully, help them feel more comfortable talking to you about it again.

However, don’t try and force the issue. Mental health illnesses can make people reluctant to be

forthcoming with emotions, feelings and worries, often due to the stigma surrounding these issues that make people embarrassed or fearful to speak out. Instead be relaxed, engaged and open; knowing that you are there to talk about the latest GoT

walls is important for anyone, but especially so to reduce the risk of a depressive episode or anxiety attack brought on by stress. So, making time for revision breaks such as going out for coffee, going for a walk, or even just visiting each other in YUM, will help any friends suffering from mental health illnesses around a peak stressful period.

Talking, and listening, is a way in which you can let your loved ones know that you are there for them

episode or Nigel Farage’s latest tie choice will hopefully encourage your friends and loved ones to feel more relaxed and trusting of you, and will lead to discussion of any worries in their own time.

Secondly: exam time is a stressful time for any university student, but can be even more problematic for those suffering from illnesses such as depression and anxiety. So, make sure that your loved ones and friends have someone to take breaks with out of the stressful revision/exam routine. Maintaining contact with the world outside of Billy B’s four

Thirdly: be patient. Many people suffering from mental illness can be frustrated with themselves due to a belief often that it is their own fault that they feel this way, as opposed to a chemical imbalance in the brain that occurs through no fault of their own, and may feel misunderstood or alone.

You need to show anyone suffering from mental health illness that they are not alone, that you are there to help them through it all, and that you will not be critical of their emotions. In being patient, you will often learn to understand their behaviour more and, in some cases, be able to identify what may trigger a particularly bad episode, and thus encourage them to take any action needed to prevent it getting worse.

Finally: remember that you are not a medical professional. One of the worst feelings in the world is the feeling of helplessness, which many people suffering from mental health illness feel on a daily basis. However, this can also be felt by people trying to be supportive of loved ones, and not knowing how best to support someone can make you feel like the worst friend in the world. But mental health issues are illnesses at their base and only qualified professionals can deal with these illnesses in the best way possible. Encourage your loved ones to speak out and seek help, and support them as much as possible through the process of doing so. But most importantly, be there for them whenever they need you, and let them know that you are there to help them every step of the way.

If you believe that someone you know is suffering from mental health illness, there are numerous avenues of support: Mind infoline: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 Visit your local GP Samaritans: 08457 90 90 90 DU Nightline: 0191 334 6444 Photograph by Feggy Art via Flickr

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Anastasia Symecko (dept. Will Throp) - music@palatinate.org.uk

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Glastonbury, Somerset Will Throp

End of the Road, Wiltshire

WOMAD, Wiltshire

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unning from the 4th to the 6th of September at the Larmer Tree Gardens, End of the Road Festival is a magical, musical smorgasbord of alternative, quirky goodness set in the heart of rural Wiltshire.

The line-up this year is not to be sniffed at; Sufjan Stevens will be making his first ever UK festival appearance, and the likes of Tame Impala, The War on Drugs, Laura Marling, Future Islands, Django Django and many more brilliant bands are set to play.

Whatever the year, EotR promises a cracking line-up. The End of the Road promoters are always on point with the booking of about-to-befamous bands (Dry the River and tUnE-yArDs were present and correct when I first went in 2011).

Several little-known, up and coming acts that, unless you’re a super-indie-hipster-musico, you may not recognize. Don’t feel bad though - to combat this, End of the Road provides their very own 2015 Spotify playlist, so you can peruse these unchartered musicians fuss-free.

Alongside the array of music to delight your eardrums (and maybe destroy them a little

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too), there will be comedy sets and workshops, as well as a cinema, a woodland library (perfect for the literature enthusiast eager to cool off after piling into a sweaty tent full of unwashed festival goers… lovely), a psychedelic light up disco dance floor in the woods, healing massage therapy tents, and a multitude more… All will be revealed.

I also mustn’t go forgetting food and drink!

EotR allows no culinary delight to fall by the wayside. Speaking from experience you will be spoilt for choice. Last time out, there was a bright red, Double-Decker bus full of tea and cake. There are sure to be curries, Mexican food, Chinese, Caribbean, Moroccan, pizza, smoothies and yoghurts, tons of delicious vegan and vegetarian options… whatever delectable morsel you crave, it’s waiting for you at the End of the Road.

But now let’s talk money. Tier 4 tickets are now on sale at the price of £195 for an adult weekender; as far as I know, EotR have never offered day tickets. For those struggling with a pitiful student bank account (who isn’t?), the deposit scheme allows you to pay £45 now and the rest by the 15th June. Unfortunately, unlike a handful of very kind festivals, End of the Road does not offer a student ticket option, unless you think you can pass as a 1317 year old and blag a “youth” ticket. Only for the brave - and the stupid.

End of the Road is an all-ages-friendly festival with a magical, free spirit atmosphere and marvelous music. Go to listen to the bands you love, or to find new loves. Eat Goan fish curry to your heart’s content, paint your face, party in the woods, and make some dreamy summer memories.

From my own experience, it’s worth every penny.

talent, and every year I’ve come away with an armful of new CDs and lists of tour dates. I find that not having a strict list of ‘must-sees’ really allows you to fully enjoy the festival experience – rather than constantly hiking stage-to-stage and trying to squeeze to the front past drunken revellers, you can wander around until you hear something you fancy, with the stages being small enough that you don’t need to worry about being there half an hour early to get a ‘good spot’.

And if none of the bands take your fancy, there’s so much more to do – with opportunities to join workshops in activities as diverse as drumming, cookery, and poetry. Not just stages and drinking dens, WOMAD has areas dedicated to ‘wellbeing’, where you can partake in admittedly strange ways to ‘rebalance’ your chi or settle the mind; and a ‘Global Market’ where you can enjoy some absolutely fabulous international cuisine.

k, let’s get one thing straight. Glastonbury is the greatest festival on earth. From the 24th – 28th June this year, 135,000 punters will once again drag their sorry tents and mud encrusted wellies out for a weekend of musical majesty in Pilton, Somerset.

“If you’ve got a golden ticket to this year’s Glastonbury then strap up, dust down those wellies, and get ready for the best weekend of your life”

The festival’s rise is well documented, and this year promises nothing if not a continuation of this exponential trajectory. The Eavis family have once again outdone themselves with a stellar lineup this time around.

Foo Fighters will finally get their opportunity to raise the roof with a Friday night headline

Jasmine Watkiss

Anastasia Symecko

he ‘World of Music, Arts and Dance’ festival was founded in 1980 by Peter Gabriel, and now has events all over the world. However, to keep this simple, I’m going to extol the virtues of the UK branch, which takes place in the grounds of a stately home in fair Wiltshire from the 24th - 26th of July. (If you’re feeling more adventurous though, perhaps try out WOMAD in Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, or Italy.)

In my opinion, WOMAD is the music festival for people who don’t like music festivals. I know this might sound lame coming from the music section editor, but I just don’t really enjoy festivals (don’t fire me!) – the people are annoying, the stages get overcrowded, and to be honest I’m not a big fan of the camping bit either. This dislike possibly stemmed from Reading 2012, when someone peed into my wellington, while I was wearing it. But regardless of all this, festivals are a great way to see some amazing live music.

WOMAD may not have too many ‘big names’, although Ghostpoet will be gracing the stage this year, but that’s all part of the fun. WOMAD focuses on showcasing a range of international

Festival Season Previews

slot on the iconic Pyramid stage – the thought of Dave Grohl igniting a 100,000 strong sing-a-long of ‘Best of You’ is surely not one to be missed. Equally intriguing is the booking of Kanye West as the Saturday night headliner – while the man is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars on the planet right now, there is still a sense that he (like Jay-Z in 2008) has something to prove when he brings Yeezus to the masses come June. The final headliner remains (at the time of writing) a mystery, yet we can rest assured that whoever claims the spot, it will be special.

Of course, Glastonbury offers so much more than big name bookings – the full scale of the lineup is too extensive to list here – and a great selling point that the Pilton bash prides itself on offering is something for everyone. Whether you intend to spend the three days conked out of your head in the Stone Circle, immersed in the mesmerising setting of Shangri-La, or watching the sun set over Worthy Farm, Glastonbury will facilitate experiences that you cannot recreate anywhere else. With over one hundred stages across the 900-acre site, if you’re bored of Glastonbury, then you’re bored of life.

Sadly, the sheer dominance that Glastonbury poses over the festival circuit means that if you haven’t got your ticket by now then you’re too late – this year, tickets sold out in just 25 minutes.

The bright side is that you’ll get to watch all the action across the BBC, with extensive coverage across the weekend. It might not be the real deal, but at least you won’t get quite as muddy in the process.

If you’ve got a golden ticket to this year’s Glastonbury then strap up, dust down those wellies, and get ready for the best weekend of your life.

Image: Viktor Hanacek

“WOMAD is the music festival for people who don’t like music festivals”

So if you’re up for something a little bit different this summer, I strongly urge you to consider WOMAD. At £165, tickets will set you back less than the £200 for the larger festivals, and it’s worth it for the experience. By this I don’t mean watching bands for a couple hours, drinking for the next few, and then crashing out till lunch – I mean spending every hour trying something new and exciting, taking advantage of the full weekend rather than just the few hours between sleep and drunk.

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he Ultra Music Festival (UMF) is a worldwide event with some of the biggest names in the electronic music scene. Hosted in cities from Tokyo to Miami, the festival cannot be missed by those who live waiting for the beat to drop.

Last summer I was lucky enough to have a first-hand experience of Ultra-Europe. The event is hosted in Split, Croatia. While 2015 marks only the third year that UMF has taken place here, it has already become the place to be during early July (this year the 10th - 12th of July).

Split lies on the breath-taking coast of the Adriatic Sea. A picturesque town dabbled with archways and cobbled pathways strewn in all directions, one would never picture it as the heart of the pulsing vibe which this festival brings. The town centre remains peaceful, as the venue, the Poljud Stadium, is near the coast heading north from the town (still only ten minutes by cab). There is

Anastasia Symecko (dept. Will Throp) - music@palatinate.org.uk

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Ultra Music Festival, Croatia

Lara Santos-Ayllon

economical accommodation both in the town centre as well as nearing the stadium, enabling different settings on preference. The layout allows the perfect balance between relaxing morning strolls amongst quaint cafes and restaurants as well as a beach getaway, tied in with the adrenaline of the festival’s blasting line-up.

Easily on par with other major electronic festivals such as Tomorrowland, the UMF is three days of intensity during which one’s spirits will never once die down. With people arriving from all around the world, the tumult of nationalities, electric atmosphere and excited chants will keep you buzzing for hours on end. Last year’s line-up included major artists such as Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto and Hardwell on the main stage. Five AM survivors are spoilt for choice as closing artists surprise the audience with sunrise firework shows to accompany the blaring tunes.

For those who have not yet had enough, the festival then moves to the paradisical island of Hvar, where the setting is made more intimate. It becomes the ultimate pool party where artists DJ just a few metres away from the audience. Words fall short to describe the ongoing, tangible euphoria as artist after artist spin notorious tracks whilst surrounded by people who, just like oneself, only need the perfect company - and music. This festival is made up of everything and everyone. You will become Ultra.

All that is left then is for you to grab your jumbo flags, face paint, colourful tees (and, of course, your flower headbands), and escape to a three day summer paradise which will overwhelm you with memories of welcoming atmospheres, unforgettable people and, most importantly, amazing music which will buzz in your ears for days.

variety provides both security and excitement. This year’s line up will include Robert Plant, Kasabian, Placebo, Basement Jaxx, St. Vincent, Tom Odell and Jungle to name but a few.

and has an almost surprising amount going for it considering its affordability.

While a comprehensive bar service operates across all the stages, if you fancy a change of scene, why not head down to the beach where you can enjoy a drink in one of the cocktail bars or whilst sitting on the coastal dunes? Maybe even attend a beach party or get involved with sports in the Baltic Sea? Other activities abound by way of ball pits, a market with a particularly impressive clothes sale, firework displays, hairdressers to tend to your festival needs and a vibrant food court with health foods and both American and local cuisine on offer. For food, you can also try out some of the restaurants in the surrounding area.

If I had to sum up Positivus in one phrase it would be as a hidden gem. The festival is a sea of smiling faces with an infectious positive energy.

Don’t miss out on the magic.

Positivus, Latvia

Gaby Rattner

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ositivus. The name really does say it all when it comes to this Baltic festival.

Considered to be the most renowned festival for music and the arts within the Baltics and with a current capacity of 40,000, the festival continues to attract larger audiences every year whilst maintaining its sense of intimacy. This year the festival, in its ninth year, will be running from the 17th to the 19th July. Situated in Salacgriva, a coastal town set in amongst the traditional, idyllic Latvian countryside, the three-day festival, with its unique atmosphere, large variety of musical acts and both a beach and wood setting on offer, looks set to be an unforgettable experience.

The line-up is certainly diverse, but I can almost guarantee that you will find yourself loving the majority of acts. Full of artists you will have heard of, those you have always wanted to see, and those best described as the next generation of promising, emerging talent soon to hit the limelight, the

“Don’t miss out on the magic”

The friendly, safe and welcoming atmosphere could best be described as relaxed thanks to its natural setting. Latvia is a nation proud of its landscape and this emphasis on nature certainly translates into the festival. Hammocks tied between the trees in the woods beneath a sea of fairy lights and colourful puppets are a common sight to behold. The carefree energy exhibited from the natural atmosphere fosters moments of relaxation and thrill. But what makes Positivus special is that although it has the traditional feel of a festival owed to its setting, it is somehow far more enchanting

Primavera Sound, Barcelona

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eclared ‘Artists’ Favourite Festival’ at the 2014 European Festival Awards in January, Barcelona’s critically acclaimed Primavera Sound is back this year celebrating its 15th birthday.

Perhaps you haven’t heard of it? You probably should have. For the past couple of years it’s been the hottest ticket in the European festival world, welcoming an amazing Arcade Fire headline slot last year, with Queens of the Stone Age joining the revelry as well.

As is the case with many milestone anniversaries, the party at Primavera is even bigger this year hosting one of the most notoriously elusive, unequivocally must-see bands of a generation - The Strokes. The last time they played Europe, the majority of us were still doing A-Levels. Variety however, is what makes Primavera special. Globally speaking, it maintains the big names: Alt-J and

Roy Manuell

The Black Keys stepping up to headline the Thursday and Friday nights respectively. Primavera also boasts the musically important innovators of old on its line-up - the ‘godmother of punk’ Patti Smith gifting Barcelona with both an acoustic set and her debut album Horses in its entirety.

Yet what makes the festival undoubtedly stand out is how it manages to balance and satisfy the diverse social perceptions of what constitutes ‘cool’. From James Blake to Interpol, Run the Jewels and Tyler the Creator to Simian Mobile Disco, Primavera ensures that indie kids, hipsters and hiphop aficionados can all revel together in what the festival has to offer this year.

Of course, there’s also the benefit of it’s in Barcelona - so you’re more likely to get kicked out of Klute than to find rain at Primavera. When the sun does inevitably shine, Belle & Sebastian or Jungle

will accordingly arrive to provide the soundtrack for the summer.

In terms of cost. it’s in Spain, so it’s going to be fun and cheap – the festival ticket itself is around £150 - and unlike its British equivalents you can afford to swap the mud-threatened boots for a pair of off-colour, expendable 2-euro boat shoes.

Perhaps equally tempting, you’re in for a bit of Blur at Benicassim this year, which admittedly boasts a pretty hard-hitting line-up; Florence & the Machine and The Prodigy promise to bring their anthemic antics to the East Coast this year. Nevertheless, just remember that there’s only one Spanish city this summer in which you’ll be able to get loose to that raucous opening riff of ‘Reptilia’ as it crashes out across a 70,000 strong crowd. Come the 28th - 30th of May, the only place to be is Primavera Sound 2015, Barcelona.

Image: Jonathan Thorneycroft

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Isabelle Culkin- stage@palatinate.org.uk

STA G E

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the difficulties of reviewing in durham Amy Price discusses whether it’s possible to give an honest review in Durham

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heatre reviews are funny things. They are rarely ‘front-page news’, and yet there is an urgency with which they must be written and published. Opening nights in Durham are rapidly followed by closing nights – shows last a maximum of a week, if not only two nights – leaving producers to fiercely chase up reviewers from each different reviewing platform until they have some snippets to proudly put up on Facebook.

However, there are some quite fundamental difficulties in writing these reviews, which puts a strain on their integrity. So many reviews are bland, whilst so many others are unnecessarily cruel. Palatinate’s own Stage section has sometimes come under fire for being uncritical in its approach.

Why is it so hard to write 500-750 words about a Durham Student Theatre production?

The ‘Durham bubble’ is partly to blame. Despite the Palatinate’s policy that “no reviewer should be personally invested in a production”, it is highly unlikely and impractical to expect that a reviewer will not know anyone at all involved with the show.

It is actually very challenging if you unexpectedly find yourself having to review your estranged college wife or your second-cousin-twice-removed in a way that won’t cause any upset. Objectivity is nigh on impossible when you have to see your subjects off-stage; you really don’t want to be the

It is actually very challenging if you unexpectedly find yourself having to review your estranged college wife bitch who pointed out the blocking was a bit crap…

Perhaps Palatinate must also admit fault with itself here.

Since the introduction of ‘preview pieces’ to promote shows, contributors have worked increasingly closely with production teams. It is not uncommon for a writer to be interviewing the cast at the beginning of a week, and then reviewing them at the end of the week. Even if you do not really know the people you have met, the blood, sweat and tears shed over the projects have certainly been made personally known to you. The previews have a value in promoting student theatre to the student body via the student’s newspaper; yet the cost of this, is the writer having to flip from friend to foe.

Moreover there is a little voice in the back of your

head that questions whether you are in any position to judge the performance. Every production demands high levels of commitment from its cast and crew, so what gives you the right to tell them these efforts have been wasted? You struggle to find good amongst the bad, trying to placate them with

The blood, sweat and tears shed over the projects have certainly been made personally known to you the fact their curtain-call was well-timed, whilst simultaneously questioning whether the director’s vision was even vaguely appropriate.

Equally, it is easy to be impressed by hackneyed theatrical flourishes. Kudos is given to over-done, stereotyped theatre that lacks imagination, because a reviewer may feel it should be credited as they can’t quite express why it wasn’t good.

Then there is the degree of judge- ment. No student production is going to be worthy of

the West End, and it seems unfair to judge them against normal theatre standards. They don’t have the budget, the performance space, or technical capabilities to be able to create National Theatreesque shows. A reviewer therefore cannot help but be more lenient. Especially when you see what a production is trying to achieve (regardless of whether it actually succeeds).

Nonetheless, this becomes a trap that so many fall into. By giving credit for effort as opposed to effectiveness, a poor show can be given a good review; ‘Oh it was unpolished, but Sondheim is notoriously hard so well done anyway’ is as luke-warm as writing can get. ‘Student Theatre’ becomes an excuse, an expression associated with the painfully amateur.

This may all seem quite pessimistic. But reviewing is vital to the Durham Student Theatre scene.

Theatre criticism can help to validate the hard work that goes on, and recognise the performances that go above and beyond their ‘am. dram.’ origins.

It’s about balance – that a review is about respect, and that it should acknowledging the good and the bad in a fair and reasonable way. But maybe this is a tepid conclusion in itself? Maybe this article should be more divisive so that this makes for a better read.

I guess it depends on just how much ‘drama’ you want.

Image: Mariam Hayat

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Jonathan Peters (Caroline France - deputy) - film@palatinate.org.uk

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F I L M & TV

campus classics

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Megan Wallace and Jonathan Peters select the perfect films for revision season Election

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kay, so you’ve probably seen Reese Witherspoon do her turn as the super ambitious, nothing-can-stop-me-now Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: not only does this girl get into Harvard, she scores a seriously impressive internship and ends up being the top of her class!

Yeah…personally, I find that film less “inspiring” and more “intimidating” – by the end credits I always end up rocking back and forth on the floor, eating Nutella from the jar, in the knowledge that I will never be as accomplished as this fictional character. Now, if you’re looking for a Reese Witherspoon movie that actually will give you hope and make you crack open the books, I would seriously recommend Election.

Cute nineties Reese does a turn as Tracy Flick, a plucky over-achiever who decides that she will become student body present – and crush anyone that tries to stand in her way. Her outright determination is completely what you need to get you in the revision mood and it’s nice to have a reminder that, if you work hard enough, you will achieve your goals! But, yeah, I guess that’s not really the point of the film…any of you that have seen it know that much of the comedy comes from Tracy’s increasingly deranged behaviour when things don’t go exactly her way and her history teacher’s (Matthew Broderick) futile attempts

Animal House

to thwart her well-laid plans. Tracy is repeatedly portrayed as being a grating, type-A kind of girl but hey, she has perfect grades, refuses to buckle under pressure and then gets into Georgetown and ultimately into politics – at the end of the day, annoying those around you is a very small price to pay for getting on in the world.

After re-watching Election at the start of the holiday I wrote two essays, started revision and got a summer job sorted: take it from me, Tracy’s sweater sets and perky ponytails are pretty much all you need to motivate you to get your life in order. And I mean it.

By Megan Wallace

A

lmost forty years after its release, National Lampoon’s Animal House is still considered the definitive ‘frat’ movie, with John Landis and Harold Ramis’ film preserved by America’s Library of Congress for its cultural significance, often cited in lists as the funniest film of all time, and its influence marking campus comedies from Fast Times at Ridgemont High to American Pie and even Monsters University.

Viewed with fresh eyes however, is it still any good?

Yes and no. The elements that made Animal House so successful in the first place – John Belushi’s totally unrestrained central performance as rebellious force of nature Bluto, and some typically overblown set pieces from director Landis (including the infamous food fight, and homecoming parade finale that descends into anarchy) – still shine. The film is a driven by a manic energy that has rarely been matched in American comedy, as the inhabitants of Delta House resist the oppressive faculty staff and strive to commit ‘a stupid, futile gesture on somebody’s part’. The film opens with a tour of the snooty and ‘respectable’ Omega House, before the real tone is established as we cut away to a typically riotous party at the Deltas, as motorbikes storm up staircases, beer explodes out of kegs, and debased initiation ceremonies and seduction rituals abound.

Unfortunately, for every sharp line of dialogue or memorable moment that has become etched

into pop culture history – this is the film that spawned a thousand toga parties – there are a lot of jokes that fall disappointingly flat. Much of what might have been considered outrageous and hilarious back in 1978 seems dated in 2015, even rather stale and cringe-inducing. The film drifts frequently into celebrating the worst aspects of what is now recognized as ‘lad’ culture – few viewers could sit comfortably through the scene where Tom Hulce’s Pinto is told by his personified conscience to take advantage of a passed out drunk girl during one particularly hedonistic party. Later, when (both conscious) they finally consummate their relationship, the punchline is that she turns out to be thirteen…

So watch Animal House to fill a gap in your cultural knowledge, to witness the origin of famous lines and scenes that have been countlessly repeated and pastiched ever since its release.

However, don’t quite expect the laugh-a-minute experience promised by its reputation, with much of the momentum stalled by horrendously dated sexual politics that threaten to derail the enjoyment of any first-time viewing.

By Jonathan Peters

Images (top to bottom): Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures

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Jessica Ng & Megan Magee - fashion@palatinate.org.uk

FASHION

fashion explained

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Ever wondered what Normcore, Health Goth and Athleisure mean? Sally Hargrave breaks down fashion’s strangest buzzwords for the sartorially uninitiated.

When it comes to buzzwords, the fashion industry has had more than its fair share. A cursory Google search of fashion jargon brings up hundreds of nonsensical and often pointless sounding words used by the ever-growing fashion industry. ‘Coatigan’ is a case in point (that’s a coat and cardigan combined FYI), whilst the term ‘glittens’ is used in the sartorial sense to describe a pair of mittens which roll back to reveal gloves underneath. The strangest buzzwords to grace the rapidly expanding lexicon of fashion terms in the past few years? Athleisure, normcore and health Goth.

Palatinate Fashion breaks down these enigmatic terms and shows how you can bring cutting-edge sartorial style to Durham this season.

Normcore, a term coined late in 2013, is the notion of dressing in an entirely nondescript, commonplace manner.

This buzzword is a portmanteau of the words ‘normal’ and ‘hardcore’, and it represents the epitome of an anti-trend working to counteract the huge library of subcultures- hippie, punk, gothwhich anyone can now access with just the touch of a button. Men and women alike have embraced this refreshing return to the basics with unisex fashion championed at Uniqlo flying off the rails. To get the look opt for wellmade yet conventional basics from high-street retailers like Gap and Esprit. White shirts, blue jeans, plain tees are the way forward, and make sure to shed the flashy labels that were once the favourite of the fashion industry.

Athleisure, just as the name suggests, is used to describe clothes that supply the budding fashionmeets-fitness market pioneered by international brands like Lululemon and Nike. Yoga pants and workout leggings are no longer restricted to the domain of the gym, with the sports apparel market estimated to hit $178 billion within the next four years.

This trend goes far further than fashion though, it encompasses a whole healthy lifestyle choice to which oversized knits and fashionable yet functional trainers are the perfect accessories.

High-end designers too have jumped on the après-sport bandwagon, with the likes of Stella McCartney producing a line of beautifully made sportswear, and the enormously popular designer clothing website, Net-A-Porter, opening a punny little offshoot site, Net-A-Sporter.

When it comes to fashion in Durham, the athletic-inspired trend is hard to miss, with Nikes and baggy tops a student staple for those perennial late night study sessions and hikes up Cardiac Hill. To take Athleisure to the next level, invest in luxury versions of your favourite leisurewear - think cashmere knits and silk-accented joggers.

Perhaps the most confusing buzzword of the bunch, health Goth was a term that originated from the title of a Facebook blog created by Mike Grabarek and Jeremy Scott, and since its humble beginnings in 2013, this trend has grown by leaps and bounds.

Following on from athleisure’s growing impact on the market, the concept of health Goth combines luxe sportswear with Gothic streetwear. The best examples are found in the Alexander Wang for H&M collection, as well as in the collections of major sportswear brands like Adidas and Nike. Dark colours, tight silhouettes and futuristic metallics combined score just the right points for this growing trend, and if you’re in need of inspiration then look no further than Kanye West in his full-faced Maison Margiela mask, complete with bright white Nike kicks. Still not convinced? Well apparently health Goth has been endorsed by Bill Gates on his very own Facebook page - if it’s good enough for the world’s richest man, who are we to say no?

Photographs courtesy of vogue.com and vogue.es.

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Atifa Jiwa and Florianne Humphrey - books@palatinate.org.uk

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BOOKS

ghost online

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Isabelle Culkin discusses Zoella’s recent ghostwriting controversy

hostwriting is a serious business. Type it into any search engine and you will find a plethora of websites designed to find you the perfect ghostwriter. It’s easier and more transparent than ever to find one, and yet the nature of the business means their employment still remains as shady and secretive as ever.

The legitimacy and acceptability of ghostwriting was recently put into question when it was revealed that the recent book of blogger and YouTuber Zoella – Girl Online – had actually been ghostwritten. Before its release and even on its release, it wasn’t explicitly clear that Zoella hadn’t written the book. When news finally surfaced that it had been ghostwritten, a flood of disheartened teenage fans resorted to taking it out on her on Twitter, and Zoella promptly ‘left the internet’.

However, in a day and age where everyone and anyone is a brand, why is this particularly surprising? Many celebrity clothing ranges and perfumes involve very little influence from the celebrities themselves.

There are various ghostwritten biographies for celebrities who simply do not have the command of English needed to communicate their story effectively. Everyone is aware of this, but no one really complains.

However, there’s something more personable about writing a novel than having your own branded perfume. As a blogger, Zoella’s written thoughts and feelings have been paramount to her success.

Her audience is interested in the Zoella written

by Zoella, not the one forged by another person.

Zoella is clearly a sweet girl, but that was rather the issue in the whole fiasco. The appeal of the blogger and YouTuber is that she comes across as extremely warm and down to earth, and taking credit for a novel she didn’t actually pen did wonders to undermine her own authenticity.

Zoella and her representatives stressed the ‘collaborative’ nature of writing a novel. Of course collaboration in writing is fundamental to the publishing business; the process of really shaping your novel with the help of editors and publishers is ultimately to the secret of many a novel’s success. However, this is an extremely transparent and well-known proc-

ess, and no editor is expected to rewrite a novel for its author. The issue with much ghostwriting is that it lacks direct influence from its represented author.

Similarly, being an author is not synonymous with coming up with the plot for a novel. A good author is able to take a plot they have derived from say a simple news story or something they saw on the street, and shape it to give it the kind of texture and gravity which a truly mesmerising novel deserves. Some of our greatest literature after all can be reduced to a plot about basically ‘nothing’; the devil is liter-

ally in the details for some of our most loved novels.

Ghostwriting itself is not really the issue. In an industry so hard to crack, it isn’t surprising that some writers turn to ghostwriting to supplement

The real issue is that ghostwriting is rarely about putting the work of an undervalued writer out into the public eye, but rather about a quick fix for money their income. Ghostwriting is ultimately the perfect outlet for a struggling writer. After all, when a ghostwriter is revealed it does provide them with the perfect platform to premiere their own work

under their own name. Ghostwriting isn’t necessarily an admirable route for a struggling author, but it certainly is an understandable one.

The real issue is that ghostwriting is rarely about putting the work of an undervalued writer out into the public eye, but rather about a quick fix for money. Just because a ghostwriter may be happy to do the work, some people are too quick to pretend they’re doing something really noble for their ghostwriter. It’s like bidding in a charity auction and thinking you’ve cured cancer.

You’re misrepresenting yourself, and in doing so you’re neglecting your audience. Your audience has every right to feel cheated because they no longer see the person but the brand.

You commercialise novel-writing as a money-making tool and a book becomes no more than a marketable product.

There are plenty of people who aren’t happy with reducing a well-loved industry to nothing more than money.

Perhaps ghostwriting is a viable option for some, and it will probably be nothing but the norm at some point in the future.

But for now, if your brand is based on selling authenticity, don’t be shocked to find out that by employing a ghostwriter it looks like you’ve also sold yourself.

Photograph by Wild Glasgow via Flickr

Word of the Week

Phantonyms: Words that look like they mean one thing but in fact mean something else e.g. ‘noisome’ does not mean noisy but smelly.

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Ollie Collard - travel@palatinate.org.uk

T RAV E L

learning from lebanon

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Sophia Smith-Galer reports on her slightly unconventional year abroad

here we were, sitting in the sanctitude of our dialect class, when gunfire punctured the air. “Are they fireworks?” we asked meekly. “No,” our teacher replied, “it’s probably a tribute to a martyr.”

Peace and quiet is a distant dream here in Beirut, Lebanon, where roads are still a car-horn, expletive-filled chaos thirty years after the war and generators and water tanks hum constantly. Not forgetting, of course, the spouts of random gunfire.

I study Spanish and Arabic and, having squeezed some time in Spain into my adjacent summers, I have devoted my year abroad to studying in Beirut.

Moving to a country that shares borders with a civil war and butchering pseudo-Caliphate didn’t really bother me at the time - blame the breezy confidence of youth - but it did concern my family. I had obscure Italian relatives ring up my grandmother to tell her ‘Well, I wouldn’t let my daughter go there’ and family friends lit candles for me at church. Despite the funerary farewells I remained adamant that I was going to enjoy my time in Lebanon – and survive.

A word to the wise for those considering doing their year abroad somewhere slightly off the beaten track: do it. As long as the Foreign Office has painted your bit of the map green, there is absolutely no reason to back out.

Durham is a cosy little castle with cosy little pubs, cosy little Patrick’s Pizza and all too cosy, all too little Klute. When you take on the decision to learn languages you make the choice to embrace much more than learning how to count to one hundred and the mythical subjunctive. You embrace new

cultures, new ways of life, new polemics; you learn how to cope with situations you might never have lived through otherwise and you meet inspiring, life-affirming individuals.

Whilst I am not discounting years abroad in more conventional places, take what my friend and fellow year abroader Hannah Azuonye said after working in Dakar, Senegal. “For me, France’s history and culture is as much about the ex-colonies and the Francophone world as it is about the country itself. But it was also a desire to challenge myself that pushed me to find a job in Dakar; France just seemed too straightforward.” If you are the type that likes a little complication in your life – and, as a linguist, this is likely to describe you - why not? “It’s not easy, but there’s no better way to demonstrate your initiative, courage and originality. You’ll learn so much more than a language.”

So, what have I learned? Contrary to the popular belief of the ignorant that the Middle East is a bomb-ridden camel farm, Beirut is cosmopolitan, essentially one big party - something which both my Instagram and liver can testify to.

But Beirut’s skyscrapers cast long shadows over its swollen population of Syrian refugees and frustrated Lebanese. I have seen beggar boys beaten up for being Syrian, or drugged to sleep on the streets by traffickers in the hope that you will feel sorry for them

and give them money - all incentivising me to volunteer for an NGO that supports Syrian youth education here. I have learned how constant, nearby war can desensitise you to conflict and a false sense of security, mirage-like, can hang over an entire society.

The biggest threat to my own personal safety, however, has not been ISIS. In Beirut I have been groped and catcalled; in taxis I have been told I am beautiful as the driver stops the car and tells me to sit in the front ‘so that we can talk better.‘ Men have pulled their cars up to me as I walk on the pavement and try to corner me in order to talk to me and ask if I’m married. It’s not the way you’re used to being approached, and you are far too far away to have a moan on the Durham Feminism Forum. Different cultures involve different behaviours; you’re allowed to be mad about it, but to survive you have to get over it.

I dutifully watch the news every day; the nightmare of the Lebanese borders with Syria and Israel have long been a somnolent normality for the Lebanese and you move with their rhythm. Somebody put up a Hezbollah flag next to my flat and I wave every day to the officer who sits in the massive army tank outside my school.

As Hannah said, what better way to demonstrate your initiative, courage and originality? Take note that some universities (notably Oxford) consider Beirut a no-go zone for their students; use your advantage as a Durham student to just go for it.

With a competitive edge and an inquisitive mind, you’ll be headed a lot further than where your year abroad will take you.

Photographs by Sophia Smith-Galer

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T RAV E L i Danny Zhao reflects on his visOllie Collard - travel@palatinate.org.uk

N D I G O

its to Bruges and Budapest

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This is the paradox of tourism: we leave our homes to experience the cultures of other places; yet our very presence seems to undermine that experience.

In popular tourist destinations, tourism has transformed local economies, and subsequently transformed the cultural environment.

The first thing the hotel reception in Bruges told me was “avoid the restaurants in the town centre at all costs. They are all tourist-traps.”

“Tourist-traps – that’s a funny word,” I thought.

It’s really the tourists who create these traps for themselves.

Tourist-traps are the products of the economy of tourism that we have created and sustained.

After Bruges, I arrived in Budapest and was determined to not be a ‘tourist’. Well, at least I was going to try.

I am very lucky to have some really good friends who live in Budapest. One of them even promised to be my ‘full time tour guide’.

Instead of going to popular landmarks, we spent the day just walking through the streets.

I have always enjoyed travelling, but disliked being labelled a ‘’tourist.’’

The Buda Castle is well positioned for a great view of the city. It is ironic that its strategic position and castle walls were once intended to deter invasions from foreigners, but now they are the attraction that lures foreigners in.

Photographs by Danny Zhao

On the high street of Budapest, which was populated by familiar international brands, I found myself subconsciously questioning whether I had really left home at all.

However, when my Hungarian friends took me to this bar on my last night in the city, I was finally convinced that yes, I was in Budapest.

No one in the bar was speaking English. There were live performances from local musicians. There were shoes hanging on the walls as decorations, because apparently the owner of the bar used to work in a shoe factory.

Even though I couldn’t figure out why characters from ‘Happy tree friends’ were painted on the wall, I told my friend: I love this place.

“Great! Take some photos!” He was obviously enjoying the place, too. “But when you upload them, please don’t tag the location. I really don’t want tourists to know about this place.”

the paradox of tourism

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Frances Marsh - visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk

V I S UA L A RT S

‘human rights human wrongs’

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Jane Simpkiss visits the Photographers’ Gallery and finds its exhibition of human rights photography not so black and white

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ith its focus on how photojournalism affects our perception of human rights and human rights violations, The Photographers’ Gallery’s exhibition Human Rights Human Wrongs was always going to be thoughtprovoking. A wide selection of photographs were on display, depicting human rights violations and struggles from the twentieth century, including images from the Civil Rights movement in America, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, closer to home, the troubles in Belfast during the 1980s.

Questions about photojournalistic practice were brought into sharp focus through provocative images of child soldiers or mothers mourning the loss of their children. How does an individual take these photographs without intervening? Do they comfort their subjects afterwards? Do they ask permission? Is it exploitative to photograph protestors being wrongfully arrested and then walk away? How important is it for people in countries unaffected by these events to know about them?

trate its point that caused the exhibition to lose its impact. Whilst nobody doubts the immense importance of the Civil Rights Movement, its very notoriety and the ubiquity of the images from it lessen the impact. Similarly whilst the civil war in El Salvador and the troubles in

what shocked me most about Human Rights Human Wrongs was just how little the images in this exhibition shocked me

The question becomes about how awful human rights violations were then; when really it should be about how awful human rights violations are now It is vital to record and spread awareness of human rights violations around the world both to encourage aid to those in need and to remind us of how precious our human rights are.

This was very much the message of the exhibition. Photographs were interspersed with excerpts from the Human Rights Act, highlighting the importance of free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to be recognised as a person in the eyes of the law. These images were intended to shock, to bring home the importance of our freedom and promoting the freedom of others.

In fact, perhaps what shocked me most about Human Rights Human Wrongs was just how little the images in the exhibition shocked me. Although each photograph undoubtedly represented tragic and horrific moments from world history, walking around the gallery I felt as if I had seen all of these images before. It was only a particularly harrowing image of corpses in Mozambique that elicited a real emotional response. In a time when there has never been easier access to pho-

Photograph: BBC World Service, Youtube

America of late will know that the images of suffering from these places are still very powerful. It was the specific events that the gallery had chosen to illus-

1920s Palestine were bloody and violent periods in history, they are not current events. The viewer is thus distanced from the situation and their response diluted. The question becomes about how awful human rights violations were then; when really it should be about how awful human rights violations are now. Images from Selma in 1965 are still powerful and have an important story to tell (as illustrated by the recent film, ‘Selma’) but photographs from Ferguson or North Charleston would have been far more powerful and thought provoking.

The role of photography in portraying human rights violations is an important one to consider but this role has changed considerably since the twentieth century. We should be asking a different set of questions. Has the Internet affected the portrayal of human rights violations? How do you photograph racial discrimination when signs in front of water fountains are not there to illustrate it? How do you photograph attacks on the LGBT community in Russia under intense censorship laws? How do you distinguish between a photojournalist and someone with an iPhone?

When asking questions about the effect of photography on the future of human rights this exhibition should have included photographs f r o m our present as well as from our past.

How do you distinguish between a photojournalist and someone with an iPhone? tography and news from around the world, it is important to question whether photojournalism of human rights violations desensitises us to the violence and injustice of these atrocities?

Fortunately for the future of humanitarianism this is not the case. Anyone who has seen footage from Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Hong Kong, or

Illustration: Mariam Hayat

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Celeste Yeo - creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

C R EAT IV E W R IT I N G

15

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Why I Love

By Tuki Daniel I love because it is the long cord That unites us in one big accord; I love because it’s the bright fire That gives warmth to this cold empire; I love because it is the colour That brightens the face of my neighbour; I love because it is the long broom That sweeps away the dark clouds of gloom; I love because it’s the timely rain That soothes the wound created by pain; I love because it is the sharp sword That destroys the tall trees of discord; I love because it is the big light That makes this gloomy world shine bright; I love because it is the sickle That cuts the stubborn weed of trouble; I love because it’s the ingredient Without which life would be deficient; I love because it’s the master key That defaces me and makes him we.

Photograph by Venus Loi

Coffee, and Stranger Woes

By Sofi Ruiz She thought this time was going to be different, curiosity would be permanently reflected in their eyes and they would always feel intrigued by what the other had to say. Laughter would constantly be present and they would talk endlessly about their past, their present and what lay ahead of them. At the end, coffee would be cold but neither would have even noticed! He was meant to look casual, friendly and smart. Don´t get her wrong, she was not looking for an uptight intellectual with a suit and a tie, just a friend with stimulating speech and eager to find love and discover the world. Unfortunately the men she dated were always too normal and too comfortable with staying in a small town all their lives and they did not understand the force that inspired her to leave and chase the unknown…It was irritating… There was nothing she craved more than someone who could comfortably express his opinions about studying and working. Instead, people tend to stare at her in emptiness and seem to wait for her to change the subject to something banal, perhaps like what kind of cake she liked best! She never did.

Why was it that she couldn´t connect with any guy she met? It was not a lack of commitment; she tried really hard to answer those texts and kept smiling during dates when all she felt like doing was leaving. It was not an issue of qualification; most of the guys she had met were somehow intelligent and spoke fluently. They were polite and sensible, they were funny…but they were not her. They were not her with her bewitching hazel penetrating eyes and that smile that promised the world.

And the way she talked about everything with such passion everyone would stay still wishing she never stopped talking and those cosy evenings lying on her terrace floor in the most enjoyable silence just holding hands and staring at the stars.

None of them had any idea about constellations but that did not matter, it was not a romance movie. It was the closest to happiness she had ever been…Amy thought this time was going to work, but she finally realised that was not going to happen…

She smiled at the poor man staring at the walls thinking about god knows what and promised to call again even though she never would. Then, coat in hand, she left the café and walked away. And the coffee, the coffee stayed untouched on the table.

Photograph by Sofi Ruiz

comic by Mariam Hayatccomic by Mariam Hayat