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Thursday 11th February 2016

INDIGO

3 MUSIC Daniel Garel talks us through the evolution of jazz and the key musicians driving the movement forwards 4 & 5 F I L M & TV Year of the Superhero: Ariadne Vu guides us through the superhero films of 2016 6 & 7 F E A T URES Can open relationships really be as fulfilling as monogamous ones?

Isabelle Culkin investigates 8 & 9 V I S U AL ARTS COVER STORY: Olivia Howcroft on the muses who inspired our greatest artists 1 0 T R AV E L Can’t afford to jet off this Valentine’s Day? Seb Johnson has a list of the top romantic UK destinations this February 11 BOOKS Adam Cunnane takes a literary jaunt through the city of love 1 2 & 1 3 F A SHION All hail the Ugly Shoe: Sally Hargrave takes a look at the infallible 1 4 FOOD & DRINK Tight on food money? Indigo cooks up some culinary delights on a budget 1 5 C R E A T I VE WRITING Jacqui Duan’s short story on drag, university and falling in love PHOTOGRAPHY / ILLUSTRATION

Kimberley Anderson Rowina Swan Kenzo Ishida Faye Chua Mariam Hayat Toni Qualey

For your fix of everything arts and cultural, please visit: www.palatinate.org.uk www.facebook.com/palindigo Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @indigodurham

#readpalatinate

This fortnight’s edition of Indigo is about love. Sunday brings Valentine’s Day to the streets of Durham, and the shops are filling up with flowers, gifts and heart-shaped balloons.

Kisses will be shared, love will be declared, and no doubt an impressive amount of Ben and Jerry’s will be consumed. Such is the bittersweet nature of this time of year.

What do you think about open relationships?

I’m not sure I could cope. I can only imagine what it would consist of for me: long periods of weeping, intersected by regular visits to the Facebook profiles of my partner’s lovers. And, probably, large amounts of the Ben and Jerry’s mentioned above. Indigo Features chats to some Durham students about open relationships in this issue, and the resulting comments are very refreshing. While I don’t fancy branching out to other partners, I don’t see the problem with other people doing so, and it’s good to see that other Durham students are as open-minded about the subject In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Visual Arts is delving into the world of artists and their muses. It’s this piece that has inspired our beautiful front cover by Faye Chua, based on Oscar Wilde and his muse and lover, Bosie.

Elsewhere in Indigo, Books is continuing its series on literary tourism with an enthralling article by Adam Cunnane on his travels through the streets of Paris. It’s a mustread for anyone interested in the literary side of the city of love: even if you’re not a big reader, it’s an incredible piece of journalism and a pleasure to read. If Paris is a bit out of your price range for a romantic weekend retreat, Travel has you covered with a list of the best romantic destinations in the UK. It’s all very well and good if you’re in a relationship, but what if your status is a little more complicated than that? Well, we haven’t gone completely soppy. Food and Drink takes to the streets of Durham in this edition to suss out the best student meals on a budget, while Fashion takes a look at the footwear trend that returns year after year: the Ugly Shoe. More of a film buff than a fashion mogul? Film and TV has a round-up of the top superhero films of 2016: it’s looking to be the year of the geek.

EF Thank you to our wonderful illustrator Faye Chua for designing the front page of this issue, and to Illustrations Editor Kenzo Ishida for the back page illustration.

INDIGO EDITORS Ellen Finch YC Chin (deputy) MUSIC EDITORS Jacqueline Duan Will Throp FILM & TV EDITORS Rory McInnes-Gibbons Hugo Camps-Harris (deputy) FEATURES EDITORS Isabelle Culkin Cristina Cusenza (deputy) VISUAL ARTS EDITOR Jane Simpkiss TRAVEL EDITOR Laura Glenister BOOKS EDITORS Hannah Griffiths Ellie Scorah FASHION EDITOR Sally Hargrave FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Charlotte Payne Ariadne Vu CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR Sarah Fletcher STAGE EDITORS Sofya Grebenkina Simon Fearn

WRITERS Daniel Garel Ariadne Vu Isabelle Culkin Isabella Garcia Foster Olivia Howcroft Seb Johnson Jia Wei Luk Adam Cunnane Ingrid Schreiber Hannah Griffiths Ellie Scorah Sally Hargrave Anna Callahan Charlotte Payne Jacqui Duan

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Thursday 11th February 2016

MUSIC

The shape of jazz to come

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Jazz seems to have taken a back seat in the midst of all the electronically-focused pop and dance music that is being produced nowadays. Fighting its corner, Daniel Garel highlights the importance of the genre with an insightful exploration of the artists who have brought it to life

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oday, Jazz is a genre that feels somewhat out of touch with modern music.

As a result, its most exciting new developments remain below the radar.

In popular culture, Jazz has become a cliché, used to provide sophistication and class for adverts and documentaries. Under the surface, however, Jazz musicians in America and the UK are creating new styles and making tangential ventures which will either bring Jazz back to the masses or create a lasting effect on music culture the world over. Here are a few of those musicians who are making an impact on the Jazz scene at the moment.

Kamasi Washington is a saxophonist whose background diverts from the norm of a Jazz player; he was educated as an Ethnomusicologist at UCLA after which his early career included playing with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg on their tours across the West Coast. Now, Washington is branching off from his early beginnings as a pop music session player and becoming a band leader and arranger/composer in his own right.

His most recent album, The Epic, released June 2015, is creating a storm in LA and the UK alike. Bringing together his own Jazz collective, a string orchestra and choir, The Epic provides a musical experience of gigantic proportions. Kamasi’s music is intense.

Most of the pieces, recorded over a mere two days, dash your expectations with fast, frenetic horns and expansive musical vistas which leave you feeling emotionally exhilarated and exhausted at the same time. The power of his blues-like ‘hazes’ in the track ‘ReRun’, somehow manages to meld this expansive choral passage with a moody Latin horn line. Throughout all of this, the character of his own sound is key for Kamasi. His soloing focuses

so much on the linear progression of his melodic lines whilst simultaneously exploiting the timbral potential of the Tenor Saxophone; over-blowing and growls are not uncommon and lead to an awesome and powerful performance throughout his album. For Jazz lovers and pop addicts alike, this is a figure not to be missed; the conflation of so many musical styles, seamlessly blended into a sound that is so unique that it transcends and defies genre.

LA is proving to be the centre of new Jazz culture at the moment. Moving in the same circles as Kamasi Washington is bassist, Thundercat, who, while leading the revival of Jazz in the mainstream, is also taking the tradition of Jazz improvisation and harmony and subverting it into a new culture of sound.

Thundercat, aka. Stephen Bruner, grew up with his father, Ronald Bruner Snr., a famous Jazz session drummer and has been steeped in Jazz since his youth. His early tuition in comping, improvisation and harmony informed and inspired his later career as a solo bassist. His most recent solo mini album (The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam) demonstrates a bizarre approach to harmony and groove. Pieces such as ‘Them Changes’ mix wobbling bass sounds with stripped back groovy pop piano sounds (There’s even a bop-sax solo from Kamasi Washington to fade out.) It’s mad music. It’s crazy music. But it works. Although his sound very much defies categorisation, it’s clear that Thundercat draws heavily on his Jazz background. His ability to improvise on the bass is nothing but virtuosic; just take a listen to his live sets at the Pitchfork performing ‘Them Changes’. Electronics and Jazz converge in Thundercat’s unique composition and playing style. If you get a chance to see him live the UK, be prepared for an awesome experience - a bassist clad in wolf skin clothing….

Back in GMT, Jacob Collier, only 22 years old, has been sparking real excitement and interest in the Jazz world.

Testament to this is the fact that the legendary Quincy Jones (trumpeter and band leader who wrote the famous ‘Soul Bossa Nova’) has identified in the uniqueness of Collier’s talent and sought to support his musical endeavours by taking him on tour across the US and UK. His music as a solo

artist reflects the technological possibilities of the 21st century; his early success was not on stage but through YouTube. A lot of his most popular covers, ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, ‘Close To You’ and ‘PYT’, see an army of Jacob Collier’s invading our tiny computer screens, a technique where he records multiple videos of himself to create a dense vocal texture in amongst a kaleidoscope of other instruments, all self-played. Collier’s talent extends far beyond his instrumental and vocal capabilities; it appears from his videos that there is nothing he can’t play, and play well. His output, however, isn’t limited to the screen – through the Royal Academy of Music he has formed a trio with two of the most talented jazz musicians in the UK - Robin Mullarkey and James Maddren.

With virtuosity such as this, coupled with a masterful grasp of arranging and composition, Collier is definitely one to watch for the future.

This leads us finally to Christian Scott, a trumpeter who represents a remarkable leap forward in Jazz music. In 2001, Scott graduated from Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. Whilst studying, he met Braxton Cox, altoist and composer who, with others, eventually formed the Christian Scott quintet, a group which uses the guitar instead of the piano as the chordal backbone of the ensemble. It was in this creative circle that Scott became the architect of a new sound in Jazz, ‘Stretch Music’ – an amalgamation of musical genres, woven together through Christian’s writing style, and governed by a complex process of melody-dominated writing.

His new album, the aptly titled Stretch Music, introduces us to this new sound which differs significantly from the scene on the West Coast at the moment. Whereas those in LA are subsuming other cultures to produce a cascade of sounds, Scott is actively drawing from hip hop, pop and alt-rock. In terms of his own playing, sound, tone and instrumental colour are everything. In association with Adam’s instruments, he has even invented his own style of trumpet, the Sirenette and the reverse flugelhorn. Listen to the expansive ballad ‘Cara’ to hear his hushed tone in all its warmth and intensity.

Photographs: Kamasi Washington Official, Carl Hyde, Christian Scott Official

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Thursday 11th February 2016

FILM & TV

2016: Year f

The end of 2015 saw the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens – paving the way for the upcoming

DEAD

sequel trilogy. If you’re Ariadne Vu then back in

Februa

December, you were counting the days till you could run to the nearest cinema and get the earliest ticket.

2016 looks all set to be an All Star fest to savour...

SUICIDE SQUAD

We start off the year on a fun note. Meet Deadpool, a ment did not get to shine in his first attempt at superhero movies (hint he is going to deliver. His red suit and disfigured face – the res er (kind of like Wolverine’s) – looks, funnily enough, tremen If you have seen X-Men Origins: Wolverine, you would have caught minutes did not do the character justice at all, comic fans are now his psychotic side and break the fourth wall whenever and howdecided on an R-rating promises some satisfying bloody acthat will definitely lighten up this year’s Valentine’s Day.

August 5th DC has a lot of plans to rival the more developed Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it is expanding its Extended Universe quickly with another big project this summer after the release of Batman v Superman: the Suicide Squad. This is the first comic book movie ever to feature a team of 100% supervillains. Controlled by an intelligent and ruthless woman, Amanda Waller, they are assigned to do all the government’s dirty work so that if anything goes wrong, there is an immediate scapegoat. The theatrical debut of this ‘dream team’ and its enigmatic members will be played by some very promising names: Viola Davis as Amanda, Will Smith as Deadshot, Cara Delevnigne as Enchantress, and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn – who will surely make the perfect crazy girlfriend of Joker. What pumps up the anticipation is the appearance of Jared Leto as the Joker himself – with a completely new and different look compared to the late Ledger’s Joker. Based on the trailer traffic alone, Suicide Squad, which promises a world of mania and sinister (note, under a PG-13 rating), might just beat the Caped Crusader and the World’s Greatest Detective to be DC’s success story this year.

Illustration courtesy of Kimberley Anderson.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: Dawn of Justice March 25th Enough with the Marvel universe. We move on to DC’s biggest movie this year – the battle of the most epic proportions, Batman v Superman.

The reason why it is the most talked about though, mostly surrounds how disappointing Superman was in the first movie and Batman is going to be in the second one. Admittedly, Snyder’s efforts so far seem a bit inferior in comparison to Nolan’s legendary Dark Knight trilogy (who is, as a matter of fact, the executive producer of the Superman reboot), and his unique input of a very unconventional Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, only adds further controversy. However, Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy have such a legacy that his shadow may be too overwhelming to overcome quickly. So let’s just hold all our judgmental thoughts there for a moment and acknowledge what Snyder has to offer this time. Jesse Eisenberg is an intriguing choice of actor and will provide a different interpretation of Lex, hopefully bringing a bit of comic relief to the all-too-familiar dark tone of DC movies. The most recent trailer reveals a number of essential characters in the DC Extended Universe, paving the way for the imminent release of the long-awaited Justice League.

Illustration courtesy of Rowina Swan.

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Thursday 11th February 2016

FILM & TV

for the Geek

DPOOL

Get ready for an exciting 2016, because this is not only the year for all comic fanboys and fangirls (Dark Matter Cafe), but also for the keen

ary 10th

moviegoers who love action. From Deadpool to

tally unhinged and extremely talkative antihero. Ryan Reynolds t, Green Lantern). However, from the look of the trailer, this time, sult of the procedure which gives his body infinite healing powndously more attractive than his green animated suit. t a few minutes of Deadpool on screen, and because those getting a whole Deadpool spin-off where he can show off ever many times he wants. The fact that the producers tion, uncensored cursing and countless dark humour Illustration courtesy of Kenzo Ishida.

Captain America, Wolverine to Wonder Woman, there’s something for everyone this year...

CAPTAIN AMERICA April 29th Captain America is definitely an underrated Avenger. Think about it: Iron Man, with his flashy gadgets and millionaire playboy attitude sure seems more appealing than a guy with an ostensibly propagandist superhero name. But the Cap has got something that other Avenger movies and spin-offs often lack: a meaningful and well-developed storyline. The Winter Soldier definitely impressed some unconvinced fans with excellent visuals and good ol’ action accompanying a plot with suspense, adding to anticipation for its sequel.

There seems to be a theme of battle between superheroes this year. With DC releasing Batman v Superman, in Captain America: Civil War, Captain America and Iron Man will be going head to head. They have already been seen to have fundamentally different thinking and moral views, now the two former allies will formally take opposite sides when the government is introducing plans on superhero oversight and accountability. It would be interesting to see the Cap, as righteous as he has always been, lead the anti-government faction.

Ilustration Courtesy of Faye Chua

X-MEN: Apocolypse May 27th The main plot surrounds Apocalypse, the first mutant on Earth who possesses a Godlike, invincible superpower.Waking up after 5,000 years into the 1980s, and disillusioned with the world, he seeks to establish a new order, or in other words, an apocalypse.

The new generation card is played by Bryan Singer, with the introduction of young Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Jubilee and Storm (with a badass mohawk). That aside, the return of Quicksilver alone has already got approval, after his brief yet amusing and cheeky appearance in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Director Bryan Singer has definitely raised the bar with Days of Future Past, which was an extremely ambitious and hugely successful project. With a time traveling plot line, Singer was able to have the best of both worlds by bringing back the beloved original X-Men to join the no-less-adored new cast, and basically change the entire X-Men history since 1973. Therefore, there is definitely a lot of pressure on producing an adequate sequel; but I have faith in Singer and his magic with the X-Men franchise.

Illustration courtesy of Mariam Hayat

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Thursday 11th February 2016

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FEATURES

David Bowie’s body and Bette Davis’ eyes How I came to terms with my gender identity, and began to define myself on my own terms

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Story by Anonymous

’m transgender. Except I’m not. Except I am.

Basically, it’s complicated. But why does it have to be? Nothing is ever black and white in this world, as we all know, but why is it that gender still seems to be coded in such binary terms? Yes, I know that steps are finally being made in the right direction towards representing those who are gender queer, but the world has a long way to go until the gender norms that have defined human history are eradicated completely. Transgender rights are acting as a trail blazer in this respect, but there’s still a lot of work to be done until those who don’t identify as either wholly ‘male’ or wholly ‘female’ are represented as they should be. What follows is the story of how I came to terms with my own gender identity and how I came to realise that categories such as ‘transgender’ and ‘non-binary’ only go so far in helping us make sense of who we are.

To try and categorize one’s gender identity into one single defining statement is more constricting than liberating ‘You’re a straight, white male. You don’t understand.’ It’s a statement I regularly hear whenever I try to show my support for a person or a movement. I wont lie, in a lot of ways they’re probably right, I don’t fully understand because on the surface it’s true, but it’s still a statement that hurts me on the inside. Underneath it all I’m not male, neither am I female. I know I’m not agender, but I’m somewhere in between, straddling the two piles God decides to throw us into dependent on whether we have a vagina or not. From birth, we’re implicitly forced to conform to certain standards of behaviour, dress and appearance in order to get ahead in the world.

Don’t try and pretend that we’re not. It’s still a problem and it’s not going away anytime soon. Sometimes I feel like I’m male, and sometimes I feel like I’m female, and to try and categorise one’s gender identity into one single defining statement is more constricting than liberating, at least for me.

But I’m sure there are others who feel the same way.

I remember that when I was at prep school I would always be called gay because of all the usual childish things: I hated sports, loved theatre, make-up and generally conforming to all the stereotypes one would associate with being queer. We were teenage

boys; you can’t expect anything else. I hated it but ultimately got used to it. So much so that I started to believe I actually was gay. By sixth form I thought I’d discovered myself: no one cared anymore and it was considered okay, even in the backwater of provincial Exeter. I experimented with boys – nothing too racy – but it never satisfied me. Most of all I was uncomfortable with it because it just wasn’t me.

Increasingly, I came to realise that I wasn’t conventionally camp and I definitely wasn’t homosexual, or even bisexual. Even if I may have appeared camp to the outside observer, there was a subtle difference. Instead, I discovered that the way I moved and the way I sat was not entirely camp but what some could perceive as ‘feminine.’

Because of my body it just suggested the illusion that I was merely camp, and I started to use this to my advantage. I didn’t care if people thought I was gay, so I hammed it up, did what I wanted and generally appeared ‘camp.’ It was only later that I realised it was a desperate attempt for the woman inside me to scream out for release, through an admittedly heavily distorted lens.

University has been fantastic in helping me realise who I am. I’ve finally found a friendship group that’s extremely open to any deviations from the straight/ cisgender norm. So much so that I was finally confident enough to come out, slowly, to my friends. This was back in Easter Term last year and, I must admit, it was the most liberating time of my life.

I was able to just say it like it is. Even if I wasn’t acting upon it by appearing like a woman, people understood what I felt like and were supportive of the journey I was ready to take towards freedom: freedom from the shackles of one’s sex.

Suddenly, however, reality hit home. I realised that the confidence I felt was sheltered in a delicate ecosystem of tolerance. I realised, first of all, that I could never come out to my parents. It would be too awkward to say the least and I’m too scared to take that leap, especially whilst I’m still financially dependent upon them. I wouldn’t like to say that they wouldn’t be accepting, but I don’t think my relationship with my mum would ever be the

same again. I did, however, come out to my friends at home. This was harder than I thought. Although they were ultimately accepting, their tone was considerably more abrupt than I had anticipated. I was met with the suggestion that it was ‘just a phase’ and that I ‘only thought like that’ because I was ‘you know, into theatre and prancing about onstage.’

This lack of understanding reminded me that the real world wasn’t as tolerant as my friendship group.

Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about ‘coming out’ so to speak is trying to explain ‘what I am’ to people. I can’t have gender reassignment surgery, nor would I want it. I’m happy with my penis, I just wish it wasn’t there all the time.

It sounds indecisive, but that’s what I’ve got to deal with on a daily basis.

However, what frustrates me the most about dealing with it, is that I shouldn’t have to. But I certainly don’t have the confidence yet to just flaunt our still heavily rigid gender barriers as I’m scared of the repercussions.

What frustrates me the most about having to deal with it, is that I shouldn’t have to So where does that leave me now? It’s a good six months on since I first came out and I’m still just the same person as I always was. Still trapped in this body and caged in these clothes, but a little happier.

I know what I want and what I want to be, it may just take a little longer to get there than I anticipated. Why, it was only a week ago that I did something I thought I’d never be brave enough to do. It was a Saturday, I woke up, showered, got dressed and walked to my rehearsal. What was different you ask?

Under my coat I was wearing a ‘girl’s’ top. My chest was freezing but my heart was racing upon leaving the house. I strutted down the road listening to Kim Carnes’ ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ and cried (so cliché, I know). I knew it didn’t matter if I was wholly ‘male’ or wholly ‘female.’ I knew, in that brief moment, that underneath it all, I was wholly me.

Photographs: David Bowie by Jean-Luc Ourlin via Flickr;

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Thursday 11th February 2016

FEATURES

Let’s get physical

Open relationships can be just as fulfilling and dangerous as monogamous ones

Story by Isabelle Culkin

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couldn’t hack an open relationship. It would become a pity fest for one, filled with nothing but trust issues and serious jealousy. A lot of other people agree, and monogamy is generally keen to stick around as the relationship form of choice.

However, there is little evidence to prove that humans are naturally monogamous. Monogamy remains the ‘done thing’. Well, almost. A study by Joan D. Atwood PhD and Limor Schwartz MA suggested that “while percentages of extramarital sex (EMS) vary from study to study, it can be estimated that 50-60% of married men and 45-55% of married women engage in extramarital sex”. The Office for National Statistics has also suggested that 42% of marriages will end in divorce. The numbers would suggest that finding ‘the one’ is as outdated a concept as ever, and yet it still remains enshrined in the way we choose to live and love.

Even just asking the friends and colleagues who study in Durham, their response was immediately negative. However, when pressed further, many people were able to visualise situations in which an open relationship might perhaps be desirable.

People most frequently cited a long distance relationship as one where they can most obviously see an open relationship as being feasible. Mark*, a second year student, sees how it “would happen if people were long distance” but couldn’t understand how it would work if people “saw each other every day”. “I wouldn’t personally but I can see how if you’re away from your girlfriend or boyfriend for months you might want some sort of release.”

Georgia*, another second year student, can see the appeal. “I could see it working in a long distance relationship situation if you wanted to go to two different universities and you wanted to fully integrate, but not lose someone you love.” Georgia met her current boyfriend in Durham, a fellow Durham student, and they have been together for over a year. “It’s not what I would like to do. I think it comes down to what you’re like as an individual and what your relationship situation is like.”

Long distance is definitely a factor in some

cases. Jack*, who also studies at Durham, has been with his boyfriend for over three years, and they have been in an open relationship since going to university. “It was a good moment to explore further with things, I think if neither of us had gone to uni or we had gone to the same uni, things might have got more difficult, and we might not have necessarily stayed together.”

Angjela, a second year International Relations student at the University of Birmingham, has a very different opinion. Having been with her boyfriend for over two years, most of their entire relationship has been spent long distance. Despite the distance, she finds “the idea of being with someone else unappealing” and she would rather have a “weekend every month [with him], then nothing at all”.

It all seems to come down to what people want from a relationship. Molly* admits she doesn’t “see

Finding ‘the one’ is as outdated a concept as ever, and yet it still remains enshrined in the way we choose to live and love them as the same type of relationship; it’s like a different category, not that you can’t feel the same thing, but that it’s a different category, a different thing. I don’t understand it. I don’t judge it, I just can’t imagine feeling that way.”

Georgia also sees monogamy as the basis of her relationship with her boyfriend. Were he to suggest an open relationship, it would “fundamentally change how we define our relationship, and I would reserve the right to say no.”

Jack is well used to hearing people tell him he doesn’t have a ‘proper’ boyfriend. How much sex a couple has doesn’t have any bearing on the value of their relationship. “I feel personally affronted because that is obviously not your place to tell me what the person who I love is to me. There are people who are boyfriend and girlfriend who have zero

sex, who I would be like ‘huh, that’s a strange relationship’. For them, sex has very little to do with their relationship; for me, sex also has very little to do with it.”

Georgia agrees that sex has different purposes and fulfils people differently. “It’s dumb we only have one word for sex. The English language is so restrictive.” She compares monogamous and casual sex, and suggests that they fulfil different needs.

Jack seems to agree. “People think about sex in surprisingly old-fashioned ways; it surprises me how seriously people take it, because I always thought of it as something incredibly fun.” Sex needn’t be loaded with so much meaning. “Obviously sex can be extremely deeply and emotionally investing, but I feel people are asking very deep, existential questions about something that is essentially another human process.”

Unlike Jack, Molly has a more negative experience of open relationships. “One person always wants more: they stay involved with that person but the other person wants more. I guess I have a tainted perspective of people getting hurt.” Angjela also agrees that she has only ever seen people get hurt.

They stress that it’s difficult to establish whether people are on the same page in their relationship.

Jack to a degree agrees, and doesn’t propose that this lifestyle choice is for everyone. “You have to be very confident in how you feel about each other”.

People at large seem to consider open relationships as particularly dangerous because you might develop feelings for your other sexual partners. Jack acknowledges the risk, but proposes that “if anything it’s more possible to fall in love with someone when they’re the abstract ideal.” After all, there are other ways of falling in love that don’t require sex.

What is abundantly clear is that no one relationship is the same. Monogamy isn’t the only definition by which people can have a relationship. What works for me won’t necessarily work for you. If you get your kicks with more than one partner, I’m going to be the last person to stand in your way. *Names have been changed to anonymise participants.

Note: Open relationships here refer to relationships where partners are permitted to have sex with other people, as opposed to a polyamorous relationship.

Photograph: Michelangelo Carrieri via Flickr

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Thursday 11th February 2016

VISUAL ARTS

The Spanish Acquisition

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Isabella Garcia Foster explores the impact the new exibition of world class Spanish art will have on Bishop Auckland

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ishop Auckland: an unassuming market town at the heart of the Vale of Durham perhaps one of the least likely places you would expect to find a nationally significant collection of Spanish artwork.

Yet over the next few years the area will see the unfolding of major developments that are set to revive its ever-dwindling economy and put its name back on the map as an important destination for fine art, both within the UK and beyond.

Set to open its doors to the public in the summer of 2018, The Auckland Castle Trust is injecting £5.5 million into the creation of an exhibition that will display masterpieces by several major names in Spanish Golden Age art, including El Greco, Velázquez and Francisco de Zurbarán.

The latter artist’s work has already played a major role in the history of this town: another reason why investment banker and philanthropist, Jonathan Ruffer, is dedicated to funding such a noteworthy project.

Despite the gallery’s seemingly bizarre location, he insists that the exhibition will in fact be building on Bishop’s existing heritage. In 2010, Ruffer acquired Zurbarán’s individual portraits of Jacob and his Twelve Sons, now hanging in their rightful home at Auckland Castle.They were bought in the 18th century by a previous bishop that lived in Auckland Castle, the palace of the Prince Bishops of Durham, to promote religious tolerance towards the Jews in a community dominated by Catholics.

Ruffer has masterminded this new gallery in conjunction with another nearby exhibition on the history of religious faith that will open in three years’ time, as he is committed to documenting the town’s past.

The chosen setting for this Spanish art gallery lies at the heart of the town, in the charming Market Place, a three minutes’ walk away from Auckland Castle. The architects responsible for the construction of the gallery space will be preserving the

striking terracotta Victorian Gothic facade of the old Backhouses’ Bank whilst renovating its interior with a modernised extension through the adjacent building.

This will allow the new gallery to house larger works as well as the paintings already purchased at auction such as Christ on the Cross by El Greco, and others that will be on loan from other galleries, for example Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross. The curatorial director, Chris Ferguson,

looks forward to mounting the exhibition and collaborating with The Prado Museum and other galleries, stating that “this is like a sacred mission for [him]: to help regenerate this town and the region as a whole.”

Once fuelled by the coal industry that burned out due to industrial decline, Bishop Auckland has suffered in recent years following the recession.

Disheartened residents can only hope that Bishop Auckland will rise from the ashes as a result of the efforts being made to build on such a rich history.

The town is really getting behind this project, investing its resources in helping to restore Bishop Auckland to its former glory. The local council is

working with the town’s college to set up Auckland Academy in a bid to mobilise the youth and provide them with apprenticeships, thus helping the community by preparing them to handle the predicted influx of visitors.

Although the residents welcome the prospect of rebooting their local economy, many of them doubt that these new tourist attractions will encourage the anticipated 200,000 tourists a year to flock from far and wide to see the exhibition. The collection will be of much interest to art enthusiasts, but whether the changes being made to entice potential visitors to commute will inspire them enough to make the journey is another matter.

It is an ambitious undertaking to say the least: however, Ruffer says that he takes pleasure in the challenge ahead, especially since holding an exhibition of such grandeur is a privilege usually reserved for the prestigious galleries of our capital city. It is estimated that this cultural investment will raise roughly £3 million annually, so the town’s residents are anxious to see the project lift off the ground and take effect.

So, whether art enthusiasts do decide to flock from far and wide to lay their eyes on this exquisite exhibition or not, Bishop Auckland’s new gallery will soon proudly boast the largest collection of Spanish paintings in Britain - a dazzling asset to the art scene of the region.

Photographs: (Above ) El Greco ‘ Opening of the Fifth Seal’ Image by CEA+ via Flickr Creative Commons; (Below) John Lord via Flickr Creative Commons

@visualarts_palatinate

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Thursday 11th February 2016

VISUAL ARTS

Does the muse move you?

Olivia Howcroft discovers the muses who have inspired some of our greatest artists

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ver t h e centuries artists have gained inspiration through their fascination and adoration for their muses. Their paintings let the viewer gain an insight into their emotional conquests, their inner demons, and their fantasies.

Whilst a muse can drive the work of an artist, they can, at times, be a hindrance to the completion of works. This has never been more so than for the figurative artist Francis Bacon and his muse George Dyer.

Bacon is renowned for his emotionally charged and raw paintings, where his energy was focussed on depicting London’s Soho neighbourhood. Here he met George Dyer, who became a prominent part of Bacon’s life.

Despite having numerous lovers in his lifetime, none of them made such a mark as Dyer. Their relationship was turbulent and fuelled by passion, but blurred by alcoholism and dependence on Dyer’s side.

The 1966 ‘Painting of George Dyer Talking’ is painted in a regal ruby red, Dyer irradiating nervous energy, vulnerable, curled up into a ball. The walls of the room are curved around Dyer, who is in the centre of the room; Bacon’s world revolves around Dyer. When George tragically died of an overdose in 1971, Bacon still opened his exhibition only a couple of days after. But his grief and morning for Dyer was shown in the painting entitled ‘Triptych -August 1972’ which compromises of three paintings strongly unified in colour and composition.

In the middle painting, Bacon and Dyer are passionately entwined. Dyer is the most damaged and fragmented of the bodies, his eyes shut, dead. Whilst the left panel is a portrait of Dyer, the right panel is a self-portrait where Bacon’s face is barely discernible through the distortion, and there is a pink splash at his feet:

his life is leaking out of him.

Romantic love tends to be the most common connection between sitter and artist. However, this is not always the case. Gainsborough, the 18th century English landscape and portrait painter, was particularly fond of painting his two daughters Mary and Margaret. He painted them throughout their childhood and adulthood, tutored them in painting and sent them to an exclusive boarding school in Chelsea. His pride and enjoyment in watching his daughters flourish is undoubtedly the intention behind his art.

There are seven known paintings of his daughters, the most famous being ‘The Painter’s daughters chasing a Butterfly’ painted in the mid-

1750s.

Here, it is clear that the innocence and fleeting enchantment of childhood, the endless wonder and curiosity with nature and the novelty of life, charmed Gainsborough.

His subjects are a celebration of what Gainsborough sees to be beautiful and cherished. It could be said that Gainsborough’s approach to life is presented in his paintings of his d a u g h t e r s, for his

daughters possess a young zest representative of his enthusiasm for socialising.

Gainsborough, however, did strongly feel the need to protect his daughters from what he perceived to be the faults of society. He wouldn’t allow their vanity to spoil them. His wariness in this respect is reflected in Margaret, the older daughter, as she holds back, yielding to her rather impatient younger sister.

Margaret is quite happy to look rather than touch, aware that if she touches the butterfly’s delicate wings she may damage them. It could be argued that Gainsborough’s own wish to preserve the delicate and the beautiful comes through in this painting, and that he sees himself in both his daughters, the eagerness of Mary and the inspection and careful admiration of Margaret.

Photographs: (Left),by CEA+ via Flickr Creative Commons (Right)

by Mira 66 via Flickr Creative Commons

Thursday 11th February 2016

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TRAVEL

Romantic Retreats

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Seb Johnson tells us his top UK destinations for a Valentine’s weekend on a student budget

alentine’s Day is looming just around the corner, and with student loans being stretched more thinly than ever, that long weekend in Paris is looking more and more unlikely. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get away this Valentine’s. We’ve compiled a list of the most romantic UK getaways for a weekend away – and made sure they won’t break the bank.

Bath: A World Heritage City, Bath is steeped in history and culture that will keep you and your other half busy for hours. A trip to the Roman Baths is of course a necessity. There you’ll see the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple and Bath House, as well as objects sacrificed to the Goddess Sulis Minerva.

If you’d rather be relaxing in a bath, however, then a visit to Britain’s only natural thermal spa (Thermae Bath Spa) will do the job. Boasting over 50 different treatments to choose from – including a range of couple’s treatments and packages – an open-air rooftop pool and prices from as little as £13, you’d be crazy not to take a dip.

Be sure to pop into one of Bath’s many museums, too: the Holburne Museum of Art, set in the idyllic Sydney Gardens; the Fashion Museum, with over 60,000 pieces dating back 500 years; and the esteemed Jane Austen Centre will all keep you thoroughly entertained. The city itself is stunning, and you could easily spend an afternoon strolling around the picturesque Georgian streets indulging in some retail therapy. If the weather is nice be sure to pack a picnic and visit one of the city’s many parks: the Royal Victoria overlooked by the Royal Crescent is especially charming.

York: A forty-five minute journey on the train from Durham, York doubles up as a lovely weekend getaway or just a romantic day and dinner out.

York is in many ways pretty similar to Durham: it has its own Cathedral (commony referred to as York Minster), and its own Castle, although the one in York is considerably larger than ours! As the Roman capital of the north, York, or Eboracum as the Romans called it, is another city with a rich history and culture which the two of you can explore. You can spend hours strolling through the narrow, sometimes slanted, streets, moving from one cosy tea shop to another or stopping in one of the plentiful pubs. Its ancient surrounding walls will ensure you never get lost, as you can always navigate from them.

York has a wealth of restaurants: the Blue Bicycle, once a brothel, offers especially intimate booths if booked in advance. With return ticket prices as cheap as £23 from Durham, York is definitely a viable option this Valentine’s Day.

Edinburgh: A beautiful city that every Durham student should visit whilst living so close to Scotland, you could spend a day or a week here without ever getting bored. The first stop has to be Edinburgh Castle.

Perched on Castle Rock, an inactive volcano, it is as good as castles get: boasting terrific panoramic views, it is the home of the famous crown jewels of Scotland, or the Honours of Scotland as they are otherwise known.

For couples who like a challenge, hiking up to Arthur’s Seat is definitely worth it for the stunning scenery and the chance to picnic beside a Loch (weather providing of course.) Stroll down one of the oldest streets in Edinburgh, The Royal Mile, to absorb the history and culture of this great city and see its many monuments.

Some of you might like to complete the tourist experience in style, by buying a kilt or two and embarking on the Scotch Whiskey Experience, where you’ll learn about the making process before enjoying a tasting session. If you’re after a quieter, more romantic evening the city has plenty to offer: a food lover’s dream, it boasts more restaurants per head than anywhere else in the UK. Illustration: Toni Qualey

Single this Valentine’s? Visit Palatinate Online to read Pamper Yourself: 8 Places to be Your Own Lover

by Jia Wei Luk

Photographs: Jia Wei Luk

Interested in writing for us? Email travel@palatinate.org.uk

Instagram: @palatinatetravel

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Thursday 11th February 2016

BOOKS

Around Paris in 80 minutes We take a literary jaunt through the city of love with Adam Cunnane

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urham. Mid-winter. As I anxiously anticipate the predicted snow, the warm inlets and coves of autumnal Paris seem a long way off. Under climes, warmer in retrospect than reality, I was about to set off upon a literary tour of this hallowed city.

Literary tourism, I am excited to learn, has become all the rage since my trip to Paris. The website Literary Tourist now provides literary highlights for the most frequently visited European countries, as well as for some further afield, such as Chile and Japan. Picking a city at random (Barcelona), the website allows me to find details of all the ‘Indie Bookshops’, ‘Literary Places’ and ‘Literary Hotels, Bars and Cafes’ that are of interest in the city. Pascal Mercier wrote in his Night Train to Lisbon that the way to understand any city is through its literature.

Literary Tourist, therefore, brings us closer to understanding the lifeblood of a city, to grasping fragments of its past and desires for its future.

To Paris, then.

Armed with a copy of Camus’ The Plague, I began at Les Deux Magots, tucked away in St-Germain-des-Prés.

I managed to grab a table outside in the shadow of the nearby church; trees, dappled brown, partially obscured it from view. After the long walk from the metro station to here (about five minutes), I decided that I needed refreshing, and a black coffee and croissant saw to that. It is here, perhaps in these very seats, that Sartre and de Beauvoir would meet. Downstairs, the French Resistance discussed the war effort, in bold defiance of the Vichy regime. The café acts as a beacon of tolerance, embodying the power of literature and ideas to rebel against the status quo. Unfortunately, this was not something that I could convey to the toilet attendant in my stammering French.

Trying to ask about the meetings of the Resistance, I crucially stumbled over the words for ‘meetings’ and ‘Resistance.’ Alas, some things go best unsaid.

It is here, perhaps in these very seats, that Sartre and de Beauvoir would meet.

Next up, passing the words ‘Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité’ stamped proudly into a wall, I arrived at no.

13 on the Rue des Beaux-Arts. Now an opulent five star hotel, called inventively (or perhaps just simplistically) ‘L’Hôtel’, this was where Oscar Wilde passed away quietly in an upstairs room. Though this was off limits when I arrived, the receptionist kindly let

me explore the grandiose environs of the ground floor. Ignoring the refurbishment, I could very much envisage walking upon the same floorboards as Wilde, in his languorous final days. He wrote that he could “resist everything except temptation”, so perhaps, like me, he would have been partial to the scallops and white truffle (€75), which jostled with the venison (€54) on the menu. Or perhaps the afternoon tea and massage on offer here, if indeed, it had been offered in his day. Unfortunately, I was lacking the €200 necessary to make use of this ‘Afternoon Retreat’, so I pressed on.

My route then took me under the shadow of Notre Dame and, taking the scenic route (basically wherever you go in Paris), I walked back over the Seine towards ‘Shakespeare and Company Paris’. Worth noting are the Parisian bridges adorned with padlocks, which I passed on my way.

Are they tacky and consumerist, or a genuine expression of a love striving towards permanence?

I’m tempted to say the latter, but I always wondered what happens if people break up. Do they return to the bridge with a lock-cutter and throw the padlock lamentably into the Seine?

Or is it just a reminder of potentiality, transience and what could have been? There is a word in Arabic, Ya’arburnee, which means a desire to die before a beloved, because life will be meaningless without them. I like to think there is something of that embodied within these padlocks.

To do this bookshop justice in my remaining 126 words is like trying to do justice to a sunset, or a moment of boundless happiness. ‘Shakespeare and Company Paris’ is basically my Nirvana; upstairs, they have a quote on the wall which reads ‘Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise’.

That is their ethos here; struggling writers can stay free of charge, provided they work in the bookshop and read one book a day. On another wall, scraps of paper are pinned, written by visitors from all over the world. One is from a woman who lost her husband; this is the only place where she can still feel his presence. Their love is eternal under these walls.

With thanks to TimeOut Paris (www.timeout.com/paris), which provided the loose basis for my walk and some background information.

If you have taken any literary trips recently, why not write an article for our Literary Tourism series?

Email us at books@palatinate.org.uk.

Photograph: JD from Flickr

Literary Power Couples Ingrid Schreiber Pip and Estella in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations (1861) The best love stories don’t have to have happy endings. In fact, I love this romance precisely because it’s so messed up and unfulfilled. Too often literary relationships tend towards being superficial and self-indulgent, portraying an intense and passionate affair between two people without acknowledging the pain of unrequited love or the disappointment of the eventual realisation that imagination always trumps reality. Pip’s love of Estella is one of fascination with her embodied unattainable perfection; theirs is a story that reminds me we all inhabit our own worlds, encountering others but often not truly understanding them outside of what they represent to us. Some readers might hold onto hope that she will somehow break the cold spell of her upbringing to make him the exception to her cruelty – but it doesn’t happen.

Their doomed love story is what makes the bildungsroman so addictive and the complexities of their family backgrounds ultimately allow Dickens to convey his criticism of class differences as selffulfilling and illusionary. It’s refreshingly realistic that Pip finds love, not in the conventions of courtship as a gentleman, but in the family and friends he once chose to ignore.

Hannah Griffiths Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliott in Jane Austen’s Persuasion (1818) In contrast to the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and proud Mr Darcy of Austen’s most famous work, Pride and Prejudice, Anne and Mr Wentworth are much more restrained. Persuasion is certainly overshadowed by its predecessor, but its presentation of a relationship is refreshingly subtle and complex. Anne and Mr Wentworth are a great literary example of love lasting ‘when existence or when hope is gone’. Their love seems more genuine as it is less showy, with the most passionate declaration of love revealed in a letter.

Ellie Scorah Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (1847) As a young teen, Jane and Rochester seemed to me the ideal passionate romance, but each time I revisit it, certain elements become more and more uncomfortable: the age gap, the flirtation with Blanche Ingram, the small matter of his hidden away wife... They may have a feisty, fiery connection, but I think when Jane took to the moors she should have kept running!

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Thursday 11th February 2016

FASHION

Pretty Ugly Sally Hargrave looks to the most surprising footwear trends of the past few years

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hen it comes to the ever-changing tide of what’s on trend, there is no predicting what will stick around for long enough to make a difference in the fashion world. Surprisingly enough, the most significant and lasting footwear trend from the past few years? The Ugly Shoe.

In a manner reminiscent of the Ugg bootridden years of the Noughties, when it comes to

However, the ugly shoe represents more than that – it is demonstrative of the freedoms that we now have in regards to our style choices. Developing a personal style is both encouraged and admired in the 21st century. fashion-forward footwear, the uglier the better. It all started two summers ago when seemingly out of nowhere, Birkenstocks, the shoe that had previously conjured up images of hippies and German tourists, hit the fashion big time. On the catwalk, in high fashion editorial shoots and on the streets, Birkenstocks, and most notably the Arizona sandal, were the shoe of the summer. And this was not just a flash in the pan for the German footwear company – two years on and the chunky straps are still a wardrobe staple for the fashion-conscious.

Since then, season after season, the ugly footwear trend has continued to be revived and updated. At the helm of this revolution is Phoebe Philo, the creative director of Céline. Cut slightly too high, with an unnaturally ruched elasticated top, Céline’s famous glove shoes are anything but conventionally aesthetically pleasing. And the soon-to-be It shoe of 2016, released at Céline’s Resort 2016 collection, is no prettier. Deemed by Nicole Phelps, the Director of Vogue Runway as “even stranger than Philo’s glove-leather pumps,” the pointed-toe Babouche is set to storm the style scene for 2016.

So what has brought about this fixation with frumpy footwear?

Many see the surge in more practical,

comfortable styles of shoe as a sign of a wider lifestyle change among modern men and women. As healthy eating, holistic lifestyles and more sustainable forms of fashion filter into

our daily life through social media, consumers have become more concerned than ever before with both the provenance of their clothes and with the comfort levels of what they wear.

However, the ugly shoe represents more than that – it is demonstrative of the freedoms that we now have in regards to our style choices. Developing a personal style is both encouraged and admired in the 21st century, and this has allowed men and women the world over to contradict traditional views of what fashion entails.

All hail the Ugly Shoe!

Online...

Oh Boy

Victor Schagerlund looks at London’s new take on menswear.

“Previous limitations of menswear were eroded during the latest edition of London’s fashion week for men as a new generation of designers took over the catwalk.

It was these younger talents who stood out this season, challenging convention and redefining masculinity and menswear.”

2016: The Trend Report

Anna Callahan looks at 2016’s fashion forecast.

“Fresh out of Central Saint Martins, Mimi Wade will perhaps be the brightest rising star of 2016.”

Photographs: clockwise from top: Topshop JUNO Soft Glove Mid Shoes, £59; Celine Ready to Wear S/S16 Look 6; Arizone Black Suede Sheepskin, £73.89. via littletreeshoes.com

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Thursday 11th February 2016

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FASHION

Shopping on a Shoestring Budget Anna Callahan demonstrates how to revitalise your party wear on a student budget

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ow that we are a few weeks back into term, the time has come to look forward to the mass of balls and fashion shows coming up over the next few months. With so many events, most of us are faced with the struggle of finding the right balance between budget shopping and looking good. This Epiphany term, we hope to make you realise that there is no need to splash out in order to look your most stylish. Summative deadlines may be looming, but there is always time to put an outfit together. Whether you’re an online shopper or hope to find something in Durham itself, Palatinate Fashion is here to help you find an outfit on a budget.

While Durham may be limited on the fashion front when it comes to affordable options, there are a number of options that fit the bill. Topshop, New Look, Miss Selfridge and H&M all have a number of student-friendly choices in all sorts of different styles. Topshop also boasts an impressive

jewellery collection if you want to add a little something to make your outfit stand out. And for the boys, Topman is the obvious goto for a smart yet affordable suit.

Durham clothes shops are few and far between, however, and sometimes they don’t have the greatest selection on offer. For the busiest of us, online shopping is often the quickest and easiest way of finding an outfit for that big event. Wellknown online shopping sites like ASOS often save the day for anyone facing sartorial stress. ASOS caters for a whole spectrum of budgets, from those who are willing to invest in quality clothing, to students attempting to save their student loan for the summer holidays and the steady stream of balls and events at Durham!

Boohoo and Missguided are geared towards the cheaper end of the price scale, yet both have impressive ranges of formal and party wear. Pretty Little Thing is perhaps the most affordable online shopping website. With every dress under £37, they have something for everyone. They have a huge range of dresses, co-ords, skirts, fitted trou-

Quality and value for money put the Outnet on Palatinate’s go-to list for affordable party dressing sers and tops and they will have something for you whether you’re looking for something simple or something more on-trend. And if it can’t get any better, they usually offer attractive money-off or delivery deals.

Shoes: a vital part of any outfit and sadly, often the most expensive. However, look no further than Public Desire. You’ve probably heard of it, as it has taken social media by storm over the past few months. It offers on-trend and affordable footwear.

With most heels under £35, they are the perfect solution to party dressing on a budget. If you’re stuck, try pairing some of their trademark lace-up heels with a little black dress, and you can’t go wrong.

For those who want quality without the price tag, the Outnet might be the perfect solution. This hugely successful online shopping site is effective-

ly an online outlet, boasting an impressive range of designer labels at hugely discounted prices – most of its products have at least 50% off. To give you an idea of the bargains that the Outnet has to offer, you can bag a pair of Michael Kors metallic

ASOS caters for a whole spectrum of budgets, from those who are willing to invest to students saving their student loan for the summer holidays heels for just £65 (reduced from £130) or a Karl Lagerfeld satin mini dress for £134 (was £335). This may not be at the bottom of the budget scale, but quality and value for money put the Outnet on Palatinate’s go-to list for affordable party dressing.

Finally, if you want something different, a browse on the Internet or social media - particularly Instagram could help you find new labels and online sites to suit your style. And it’s not all about the bloggers – don’t be afraid to ask that girl where she got her dress!

Photographs (clockwise from above): Public Desire Rachel High Heels in Black Faux Suede, £29.99; Misguided Silky Floaty Maxi Dress, £35; Karl Lagerfeld Milly satintwirl dress, was £335 now £134 on theoutnet.com

Find us at: Instagram @palatinate_fashion Facebook: Palatinate Fashion

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Thursday 11th February 2016

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FOOD & DRINK

Cheap as Chips (but so much tastier!)

Food and Drink Editor Charlotte Payne takes to the cobbled streets of Durham to investigate typical student meals

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fter living out for a term, it can become difficult to try and find recipes to cook that are cheap, quick, and easy to make.

Sometimes cooking after a long day seems daunting, and, contrary to popular belief, the easiest and cheapest option is not to pop into Urban Oven. It’s sometimes hard to make a student meal that’s cheap, nutritionally balanced, appetizing and quick to make, which is why Palatinate Food and Drink have taken to the streets of Durham to find out what other students enjoy as an easy, quick student dinner. Find some inspiration here!

Studies have shown that the average student spends approximately £32 a week on food, meaning that sometimes something has to go in order to save money for a night out – and often that’s from the food budget. However, through careful choice of ingredients and taking advantage of deals – and the treasure trove that is the Tesco reduced section – it is certainly not impossible to put your (however limited) culinary skills to good use and cook up something delicious!

Easy additions to make your meal better:

- Add as much veg as you can – often these can take little time to cook (think tomatoes, spinach, frozen peas, sweetcorn) and can add substance and colour to your meal. And let’s not forget the importance of your five a day!

- Use fresh herbs – they’re often in the reduced section at Tesco, and a few basil leaves, some coriander, or a sprig of rosemary can really make a difference, especially in comparison to those ancient dried herbs you probably

have at the back of your cupboard. And if you’re looking to spruce up your meals further, any herb looks pretty as a garnish.

- Branch out – don’t just stick to chicken or mince; fish is often cheaper in comparison (look at the salmon or smoked haddock next time you’re in Tesco), and meat substitutes like Quorn or Tofu are often an option – even for meat eaters – as they are usually half the price some meats (and if you put them in a strong sauce, you can’t really tell!).

Miriam, 3rd Year – Vegetarian risotto is my favourite! Asparagus risotto is a staple, but courgette and thyme is also delicious.

Risotto is quick, you often make enough for the next day, and it’s easy to adapt to whatever you have in the fridge– and whatever vegetables you choose to put in it, it’s a healthy dinner choice!

Sinead, 2nd Year – I like to make chicken tacos because they’re simple to make, only take about ten minutes and you can have as much flavour as you want. All you have to do is fry chicken, add spice powder, put ready-made tacos in the oven and top with cheese and salsa!

Hannah, 3rd Year – Quinoa with fajita-spiced chicken and peppers because it’s filling and extremely full of flavour – and it’s the only thing I ever cook because it’s so easy! Quinoa also has a higher protein content than other grains and so will keep you fuller for a lot longer.

Laura, 2nd Year – Tesco’s frozen Mexican bean burgers are a staple for me, as they involve very little preparation – you simply put them in the oven from frozen – and they’re really tasty and extremely adaptable!

You can have them with salad, or in a bun, or with veg – they’re a great choice for a quick, cheap, weeknight meal.

Philippa, 3rd Year – I guess pan-fried steak with roasted Mediterranean style vegetables, because it’s cheap, easy, and if you rub the steaks with salt, pepper and some herbs, and drizzle the vegetables with olive oil, it’s also delicious. Whilst it may be Everyday Value steak, not even closely resembling anything you might get in a restaurant, you still feel a little fancy – at least, fancier than the monotony of standard student pasta and tomato sauce. Plus, you can pretty much use any vegetables you like, getting rid of awkward leftovers.

Zoe, 3rd Year – One of my favourite meals is a chicken breast stuffed with pesto and wrapped in bacon – it looks fancy but it’s really easy! You can put it on a tray with some veg to roast for half an hour and it’s cooked – and with minimal washing up!

Photographs: paPisc, jeffreyw and Paleokeittio via Flickr.

Fortnightly Food Myths: Breakfast

by Ariadne Vu Myth: Eggs have cholesterol which is bad for your heart health.

Truth: The level of cholesterol in eggs is not as harmful as that in meat. It does not adversely affect blood cholesterol and besides, eggs are a cheap source of protein, vitamins and minerals.

Myth: Skipping breakfast makes you gain weight Truth: There is no direct link between skipping breakfast and gaining a couple of pounds. However, if you have a proper breakfast, you are less likely to binge-eat or snack on sugary sweets later during the day.

Myth: Orange juice contributes to your 5-a-day Truth: That’s only what orange juice marketers want you to think. Freshly squeezed orange juice has obvious health benefits, but those bottled ‘fresh’ juices? They’re made from concentrates that have been lying around for ages and are loaded with sugar and artificial flavouring.

Photograph: Charles Haynes on Flickr.

Find us on Instagram: #palatinatefood @palatinatefood

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Thursday 11th February 2016

CREATIVE WRITING

The Exhibitionists

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Jacqui Duan shares a dramatic short story about drag, falling in love and university life

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t’s been twenty minutes since they began walking home, and Patrick still can’t believe he’s holding the hand he is. The fingers that he has intertwined with his own are at once familiar and abstract; it’s as though he is holding the offcut of a mannequin, plastic and alien rather than flesh and bone. He counts each square of the pavement that they are walking on, looks up at the stars, and recalls every cliché in every novel he has read about falling in love.

The stars aligned. Our heartbeats were one. We were one soul, one body, one whole. He articulates the thoughts inside his head that have no purpose being uttered, no reason to leave the cradle of his own consciousness.

Olivia is strangely quiet, but that’s probably because she spent most of her energy entertaining the party that was not hers, bedazzling friends who stared at her as though she were a stranger. Olivia, because he can’t quite call her anything else at the moment, is still for the first time, her long gait awkwardly leisurely as though it is unused to a pace anything but running and leaping, sprinting and skipping. Her artificial blonde hair is dimmed to a natural brunette under the flickering lampposts, and her red painted lips seem less garish in the dampened dark. She was the party’s tart and tartan themed darling. He imagines that it must be cold in that short tartan skirt and ill-fitted nylon stockings that have ripped immensely during the course of the night, but he has nothing to offer her of his own. Patrick is thankful for the silence. For once, he would have no retort.

They had begun as usual, with the usual bickering and usual name-calling bouncing back and forth like a game of snooker, sharp and hard-hitting. It’s as though they hate each other but can’t bear to be apart, re-enacting a scene from a French film or a B-grade chick-flick that always seems to leave the girls in tears.

“You’re such a stiff, Pat. For once in your life lighten up and get in with the joke.”

“Sorry I’m not an exhibitionist like you.”

“Exhibitioneré, dahhhhling.”

“Shut up. That’s not even a word!”

“Whatever.I rather think the drawl suits me.”

“Like that skirt?”

“It’s tarts and tartan themed babe. It would be rude not to.”

“Where did you get the lipstick from?”

“Alice. She thought my idea was a scream.”

“Can’t wait to parade you around like usual then.”

“Ouch. That was harsh, Patty-boy.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Whatever, Patricia. We could make a lovely duo.

What’s the saying, unite and conquer?”

“Divide and conquer.”

“No, that’s not the one. I’m looking for the one that puts the two together to make a whole.”

“You’re drunk.”

“On you.”

is standing in the middle of their room, staring awkwardly at the small stained mirror that hangs above their shared sink. Smudges of lipstick still remain where they had been last kissed by a pair of lips unused to the smear of cosmetic; a narcissist’s calling card. The tartan skirt has been abandoned; so have the nylon stockings ripped beyond repair, and there is an unfortunate crumple of a blonde wig lying on the pillow.

“Just going outside for a smoke,” Oliver announces, swiping his lighter from his bedside table. The effort of going out is unusual; normally he would simply push the window open and smoke from inside, but Patrick guesses he is feeling the effects of a rowdy night and needs the calm of the cold night air to steady him. He looks dazed, more dazed than usual, and trips over a pair of Oxford brogues that were lying in the middle of the floor.

But he collects himself as calmly as though it were a part of his theatrical routine, even throwing back a wink to complete the act. Patrick grins, opens his mouth to speak but Oliver has already disappeared. He shuts his lips, licks them wet.

She was the party’s tart and tartan themed darling. Patrick is thankful for the silence. For “Let’s go home, Pat. exhausted.” once, he would have no retort. I’m “Same.”

His hand has been dropped.

Falling from limbo, Patrick winces as his knuckles hit the side of his thigh, fingers throbbing and lamenting the loss of previous heat. The light has been turned on and he realises that he

“Come on. I said, come on! Oh-” (He takes Patrick’s unexpecting hand).

“What are you doing Oliver?”

“It’s Olivia.”

Patrick walks to his roommates bed and picks up the discarded wig, reeking of smoke. He combs it with his fingers and takes it with him to the sink.

He practices a smile, wipes the mirror with his finger and dabs the red paint onto his own lips, practices a grin. The wig fits him perfectly, sliding over his forehead with little resistance. He preens in the mirror, feeling decidedly beside himself and yet wholly at ease for the first time. It is probably the effect of alcohol and other substances taking hold, but Patrick does not fight against the delightful warm haze that enters his bloodstream and colours his perspective. He even, uncharacteristically, blows a kiss at the mirror as though there is somebody on the other side waiting to receive it. Oliver should’ve finished his smoke by now.

Patrick waits.

Biography:

Jacqui Duan is a third year English student at Hatfield. She would rather be writing short stories than her dissertation.

Photographs: Thai Nguyen, DucDigital via Flickr