Indigo 819

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EDITORIAL Monday, 17 June 2019

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www.palatinate.org.uk

FILM & TV 3 Six Films To Watch Before Term Starts FEATURES 4&5 A Letter to Myself & Society Spotlight

INTERVIEW

6 Treble Trouble: A gendered problem?

STAGE 7 In Conversation with Annie Rigby BOOKS 8&9 Durham Book Festival & Home Comforts MUSIC 10 Working Men’s Club FOOD 11 First-Year Survival Kit FASHION 12 & 13 DeMoo Madness CREATIVE WRITING 14 Pushing perspectives VISUAL ARTS 15 Leading the way TRAVEL 16 Hungry Ghosts: The Seventh Month

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Email indigo@palatinate.org.uk Logo: Chloe Wong Front Cover: Anna Gibbs

Freshers’ Week is a mixed bag; full of awkward conversations, an overwhelming amount of alcohol and friends who are potentially with you for life- or not.

It’s often said you shouldn’t pin all of your expectations on Freshers’ Week and the first term, but it’s hard to feel like that when it’s currently your only experience of your home for the next three years. This being said, enjoy it, take it one day at a time and the rest will come naturally. There are so many groups where you can find your feet other than college, and it’s important to be aware of what’s out there.

Palatinate is here to hold the university to account, but indigo is here for you to write about what you love, we like to think we have a section for every interest. We’ll be taking a more human approach to news stories this term as well, making sure student voices are heard, as well as offering some more lighthearted articles for you to read.

In that vein, we’ve catered this Freshers’ Edition of indigo to those who are trying to find their feet in Durham.

Features has a letter to their past self, with words of reassurance that Durham will become a home; Creative Writing shows that it’s ok to remove yourself from everyone else as university life becomes overwhelming; and Fashion looks at Durham-born sustainable fashion brand DeMoo. We hope that indigo becomes a placefor you to express yourself over the comingmonths. Most people who work on the paper find themselves more invested that they thought they would be after a while, and hopefully that extends to your Durham experience as well.

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INDIGO EDITORS Shauna Lewis Carys Frost (deputy) FEATURES EDITORS Kleopatra Olympiou Mary Bradshaw (deputy)

CREATIVE WRITING EDITORS Open

STAGE EDITORS Martha Wrench Gabriella Sills (deputy) VISUAL ARTS EDITORS Faye Saulsbury BOOKS EDITORS Imogen Usherwood Lotte Hall FASHION EDITORS Molly Goetzee Freya Ellingsen(deputy) Hugo Millard(deputy) FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Elle Woods-Marshall Imogen Higgins TRAVEL EDITORS Abir Mishra Alex Bicknell-Cummins (deputy) FILM & TV EDITOR Aadira Parakkat Madeleine Rosie Strom MUSIC EDITORS Matthew Prudham Theo Golden INTERVIEW EDITORS Kiara Davies Rachael Brown

FILM & TV 3

Wednesday 2nd Octobrr

Six films to watch before term starts Olivia Moody rounds up six must watch movies to start the new term ByOlivia Moody film@palatinate.org.uk

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here are a copious number of films that can be watched in preparation for the start of a new term, whether you want to feel that Elle Woods motivation or remind yourself why you’re at university, there’s one for everyone.

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Legally Blonde

The 2001 classic follows former sorority girl and fashion-merchandising student Elle Woods in her efforts to obtain a law degree from the prestigious Harvard Law School. Although Elle, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, undertakes this challenge in an attempt to win back her ex, she defies expectations in landing a sought-after internship and evolving into an exemplary student.

Elle Woods isn’t representative of the average law student, I’m not sure a video introduction with mimosa in hand would grant you admittance now, and likewise her university experience isn’t the typical one. But, watching (or re-watching) Legally Blonde is a great way to get yourself motivated for the coming academic year – and there’s even a sequel.

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Starter for 10

Adapted from David Nicholls’ novel of the same name, Starter for 10 stars James McAvoy and Benedict Cumberbatch, and follows a fresher at Bristol University as he competes for a place on the University Challenge team.

Unlike the other films on this list, Starter for 10 really depicts what life can be like at a quintessentially British university. The comedy-drama explores some of the realities faced by freshers: cripplingly awkward parties, too-intense-for-their-own-good societies, uncertain and often misguided romances, all the while trying to keep on top of an increasing mound of work, to which many students will be able to relate

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Pitch Perfect

Set at the fictional Barden University, the first two films of the Pitch Perfect trilogy explore the ins-and-outs of society life at university. Following the Barden Bellas, an all-female a cappella group, the film presents how a group of women come together through a shared love of music and performing.

Covering a wide range of musical genres and featuring a series of comedic scenes, Pitch Perfect is ideal for watching with your friends in the lead up to first term.

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Mona Lisa Smile

Set at Wellesley College, Mona Lisa Smile is a film intended to inspire and encourage. It depicts the arrival of a grad student (Julia Roberts) at an allfemale liberal arts college.

As she comes to the ealisation that students are being measured more on their worth as future housewives than on their education, she begins to teach them the real value of learning.

Carrying a profound underlying message, Mona Lisa Smile sees a group of young girls defy the expectations imposed upon them by family tradition and their academic institution; it might even inspire you to go above and beyond expectations in the coming year.

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Dead Poets Society

The male twin of Mona Lisa Smile, Dead Poets Society offers as similar message about the value of learning and how much it can change our lives.

As Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) begins his senior year at an elite male-prep school, he is exposed to the maverick teaching of John Keating (Robin Williams), who teaches him and his class the beauty of literature and how it can impact your life.

A poignant performance from the late Robin Williams and a reminder of how much teachers can impact our lives; Dead Poets Society is definitely a watch for those who are trying to remember our love for our subject.

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The Riot Club Undoubtedly required watching if you want to prepare yourself for Durham, The Riot Club follows the privileged members of a fictional all-male, dining club in Oxford.

Based on the play Posh by Laura Wade, the entitlement of the characters, their actions and the lack of consequences all ring too true as the thinly-veiled portrayal of the Bullingdon Club becomes angry, violent and above all, an unfortunate insight into the darker parts of elite universitiy life.

Photo Credit: Annie Spratt via Unsplash.

FEATURES 4

Wednesday 2nd Octobrr

A letter to my past self Imogen Usherwood reminisces on her time at Durham, and offers a word of advice to her first year self.

By Imogen Underwood features@palatinate.org.uk

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ood morning,

I say that because it’s 5:59am on Sunday 30th September 2018, and your alarm is about to go off. In less than a minute, you are going to wake up, and by lunchtime you’ll be somewhere new, that special state of existence known only as ‘at university’.

I look back on you now, only a year since you were me, and already I know we are not the same. You will change so perceptibly and remarkably in the next three terms that, when you return in September next year, to frep for a whole new set of first-years, you’ll recognise them only as someone you used to be. Right now, you are naïve, earnest and frightened.

You are socially awkward on occasion and prone to the anxiety that has followed you everywhere. In a year’s time, you will still be all those things, in a way – but you will also be confident, capable and, actually, kind of cool (well, as cool as you can be in Durham, which isn’t very). You’ll discover skills you didn’t know you had, find yourself put in charge of projects and plans that would have terrified you in sixth form. And, you know, you’ll actually pull them off.

“eventually you’ll claim your three years as your own.

You will acquire a lot of things this year.

A taste for cherry coke (which everyone else will tell you is disgusting, but they’re wrong), a few hundred Facebook friends, a few circles of good friends, a ridiculous quantity of stash, the ability to discuss the use of space in Jane Austen’s Emma. Even-

tually, you’ll acquire a sense of belonging too, in this strange home-from-home made up of you and 20,000 other students. You will laugh and cry and write and read and go out and stay in and fall apart and reassemble yourself so many times over, until your patchworked form resembles someone new.

This city, which today will feel alien with strange twists and turns, will become a sort of home. The cathedral, that giant, will

emerge as a symbol of comfort, a kind of anchor to point the way back when you get lost among the hill colleges or at the train station. Its quiet interior will become a good place to pause when you need some time to yourself. You’ll develop a fondness for the brutalist concrete of the DSU and learn that, did you know, the architect of Kingsgate Bridge was the design engineer for the Sydney Opera House? Durham will become so familiar that you’ll seek more, go on trips to Newcastle and Seaham and Beamish, and will count down the days to the end of term when you can see a different set of streets. This place is beautiful, but you need to get out now and again, trust me.

This room, this tiny set of bed, desk and wardrobe on the top floor where you can see the trees and the central courtyard, is yours for the year. Look after it, for it is uniquely yours. It is a tiny pocket of calm in what will quickly become your busy existence. You will have fairy lights and cushions and a tiny succulent named Colin bought at a plant sale, because you’re a fresher so all these things are virtually compulsory, but they also make it feel like home. One day, you will find yourself saying ‘I’m going home,’ where once you’d have said ‘back to college’ or ‘to my room’ or ‘the flat’. And you won’t notice when this happens, because nothing will feel strange about it. Without realising, you’ll have finally started living in Durham, not just existing in it.

You will meet so many people this year, and you will regard all of them as smarter than you, more talented, more worldlywise, capable, experienced – more deserving. Each student here will have this kind of glow about them, which you’re going to find terrifying. At first. It sounds odd, but you’ll learn to love it – you will recognise this place as a lighthouse for brilliant human beings, where ambition is contagious. Eventually, you’ll learn to count yourself among these people. Eventually, you’ll remember that you earnt your place here as much as they did. Eventually, you’ll remember that you belong here, and eventually you’ll claim your three years here as your own.

It’s 6am. This, the first of so many days to come, begins. Good luck.

Best wishes, a second year.

Photo Credit: Maddie Flisher

FEATURES 5

Wednesday 2nd October

Society Spotlight: Classics Society James Hua encouages studemts to try something new and explore Classics Society

By James Hua

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hen people say Classics, many immediately think of a niche subject with some pretentious, highclass people who have little relevance to or interest in the world of today.

My experience working with the Classics Society this past year has proved just how contrary this perception is to the aims and operations of the Society – and just how we’ve been working to open up to new ideas, viewpoints and voices.

The mission of the society is not to rant about Classical literature, history, art, philosophy, and archaeology as Socrates once might have done in Athens’ agora. It’s quite the opposite – turning the spotlight to you, we want to make the benefits and opportunities of the Classics accessible to everyone. Being on the exec last year, I had a unique opportunity to pilot this forward and appreciate how many people it helped.

Last year, I was Academic Affairs Officer, which means that I organised academic talks given by lecturers from Durham’s Classics Department and external speakers, for all Durham students. The primary goal was to choose exciting speakers who would talk on a wide range of subjects in an accessible way.

It was so fun. We had talks ranging from ancient maths, science, inscriptions, and the birth of languages to Ovid and the ‘Me Too’ movement, Homer, law and literature, ‘ugly’ art,

and ‘unruly women’ in Greek sanctuaries. And Socrates. Controversial opinion - in some ways, I learnt more from this variety than my actual lectures. Prioritising accessibility, we introduced ‘Workshops’ to foreground the interdisciplinary intersections between Classics and other subjects: Prof.

Cuomo’s “Chickens of the Sixth Indiction”, marrying Maths and Classics, was a big hit. The point is, we want to engage everyone: from the most academic-minded to the most casual listener.

And as Socrates might posit, the party never ends. This year, the theme of our academic talk series centres on how we can use the Classics constructively today: ‘Classics and the world of today: Interdisciplinarity’

“from the most academic-minded, to the most casual listener Hopefully, this has had some positive impact on our members. Our past Academic Affairs Officer, Arved, won the DSU Award for Contribution to the Learning Society two years ago.

The Classics Society was nominated for that last year. But that can’t come close to capturing the brimming enthusiasm in the air. Showcasing this, last year we created an online blog, Ostraka. It’s grown to the extent of being retweeted by multiple Classics personalities and has seen some frankly amazing pieces from both one-time writers to weekly bloggers.

One of the most popular subjects is Classical Reception – how later cultures interacted with the Classics.

And that’s precisely what we want. It’s for everyone, for today. We’re not ivory-tower students. It’s student-run, for students. We want to hear your thoughts on Homer, on Spartan history, or (alas) BoJo.

My team has done so much more. We held a Classics University Challenge, sympotic socials and a ball in Durham’s Cathedral, fresher drop-ins, LGBT+ month, movie nights, and so much more.

And that’s a potion more dangerous than Medea’s when stirring some great opportunities this year. As the father of history, Herodotus, would say, we need you, not just boring Greek Classicists, to reach these humble hopes.

Photo Credit: Caleb Miller via Unsplash

INTERVIEW 6

Wednesday 2nd October 2019

Treble trouble: A gendered problem?

An interview with Anna Lapwood, Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge

By Oscar Elmon Editor-in-Chief editor@palatinate.org.uk

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horisters at King’s College have an unbeatable start to life.

These are the words lauded across the website of the famous Cambridge College, and they are difficult to disagree with. But the question remains: is there a place for girls?

You would be hard pressed to find anyone unfamiliar with the choir and its famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which celebrated its hundredth anniversary last year and has become a staple part of Christmas celebrations worldwide.

However, Lesley Garrett’s claims that defenders of the all-male intake are ‘backwards looking traditionalists’ has thrown the choir, and others like it, into a debate surrounding equal opportunity in the Anglican choral tradition.

Image: LornaRPhoto via LinkedIn

I spoke to Anna Lapwood, Director of Music at Pembroke College, to ask: is proposing that all-male choirs accept female choristers really the best way forward?

‘From the outside it may seem simple: we need more girls singing, so get them to join King’s too.The reality is much more complex: adding girls would either mean halving the number of boys who could be choristers, or halving the number of services they sing.’

‘The truth is that many more schoolage girls sing than boys. The boys need as much help as they can get, and the choral tradition is a key source of nurture and encouragement for young male singers. As someone who is regularly having to book singers, I have never struggled to find sopranos or altos, but often find it hard to find tenors and basses.’

In light of Lesley Garrett’s ‘backwards looking traditionalists’ remark, Lapwood continues ‘I certainly don’t regard myself as a backwards looking traditionalist, and I defend allmale choirs on an almost daily basis!’

To Lapwood, improving opportunities for girls is a more effective solution: ‘King’s provides a tantalising glimpse into our cloistered world...it is therefore the obvious target for those looking for a quick and easy solution.’

‘I feel it should be about creating more opportunities instead of diluting pre-existing ones.’

‘The reality is that all-male choirs are already in the minority, and be getting rid of the most high-profile of the all-male choirs, the likelihood that the rest of them survive is slim.’

‘With the right amount of motivation, determination, and money, it should be possible to create an equivalent opportunity for girls without hav-

ing to sacrifice the education of boys’ I asked Lapwood about the opportunities that she has been creating for girls since taking up her position at Pembroke College three years ago: ‘I realised I had a responsibility to create as many opportunities as possible.

When I was growing up, there weren’t really any young female organists or conductors visible as role models to me, so I didn’t even consider it as a career.’

‘I set up the Pembroke Girls’ Choir to coexist with the girls’ choir at St. Catherine’s College. The girls get to see a female conductor and organist on a weekly basis and several of them have already expressed an interest in organ and conducting lessons.’

Lapwood also believes that there are benefits to practicing choral music as a gendered activity: ‘The girls love singing together, but they also love the sharing of the challenges that girls encounter as they grow up.’

“It should be about creating opportunities” We conclude with a discussion of the other problems facing choral singing: ‘Race and class are both big issues; the Pembroke Girls’ Choir strives for a 60:40 state:private ratio, but obviously there is still much more that needs to be done.’

‘Ralph Allwood and James Day’s Pimlico Musical Foundation has been doing great things to offer a musical education to children of all different backgrounds.

It’s almost impossible to tackle everything at the same time, although I wish I could!’

STAGE Wednesday 2nd October

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In Conversation with Annie Rigby

Gabbie Sills speaks to the director of DST’s production of Lord of the Flies, Annie Rigby.

By Gabbie Sills stage@palatinate.org.uk

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it is. It’s easy to decide you’re not good enough. It’s worth just keeping your eyes peeled for opportunities, trying to seize them and making the most of them. I started my career delivering school drama projects, and I learnt as much from that process as I did in the rehearsal room. I think taking every opportunity you get really seriously is important. As is having a good bunch of mates or family around you who will support you when you’re feeling down.”

he Lord of the Flies’ starts DST’s year a little earlier than usual. For any Fresher who want to get a taste of just what DST is capable of, this is the perfect opportunity. It marks the first professional venture between Durham University and the Gala Theatre. I spoke to director Annie Rigby about the show to find out more about what the production has in store for audiences.

What drew you towards Lord of the Flies?

“We talked about lots of different options, from Shakespeare to contemporary plays, before we made the decision. I think something that we were very conscious of was having a younger cast. I can’t remember who first suggested doing Lord of the Flies, but as soon as it was mentioned as an idea, it got a hold of us very quickly. I think this is particularly because of what’s going on at the moment politically.

It’s extraordinary to be staging a play about democracy falling apart while parliament is prorogued and we’re seeing protests across the country.”

How has working with students been?

It’s been great working with the students! The brief was always that this is a professional production, so I’ve not really modified how I am working. I’ve been amazed at how hard they’ve been working, in the preparation that they’ve done, thinking about their characters and learning lots of lines, and also in the rehearsal room, keeping on top of what is a really busy show with lots to remember for them.”

How would you describe your approach to working on a play?

What do you want the audience to take away from the show?

“A lot of the theatre I make is new, forming something from an idea. So, in some senses it feels like a great relief to work on a play where that work has already been done! And this is a brilliantly written narrative. Nigel Williams has written an extraordinary adaptation.

It’s really exciting finding the rhythms, meanings and dynamics that are embedded in the script. I think it’s always about trusting that what is there is written for a reason, and then making decisions about how it can be staged. My approach is about allowing the performing company to work out how they can inhabit the characters, rather than me trying to put something onto them that either doesn’t fit or quite make sense.”

What advice would you give to aspiring directors/actors?

“Give it a go! There are so many people lined up to tell you it’s really hard to become a professional director or actor or designer, and of course

“I’m very keen that the audience think about now and the repercussions of democracy falling apart. I think we’ve been really fortunate; I’m thirty-nine and I’ve grown up in country that has felt problematic, unfair and challenging at various times, but has always felt safer than it does not. I think there’s something really dangerous at the moment about dismantling the structures that give people a voice. What happens if you start playing fast and loose with those structures? It’s really frightening. So, I want the audience to think about where we’re at, the importance of us exercising our own democratic rights and not taking them for granted.”

Why should people come see Lord of the Flies?

“It’s a fantastic piece that’s got lots to say about today because it’s performed by a really amazing company that are full of talent, energy and commitment. It’s an incredible story and it really doesn’t let go of you.”

The Lord of the Flies is on at the Gala Theatre from September 30th to October 5th.

Poster Credit: Durham Marketing Team

BOOKS 8

Wednesday 2nd Octobrr

Durham Book Festival: Highlights Imogen Usherwood and Lotte Hall look at the events for this October.

ByImogen Usherwood & Lotte Hall Books Editors books@palatinate.org.uk

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s we approach autumn, it seems only fitting that we get cosy with a new book.

This October, Durham welcomes its annual Book Festival and if the programme is anything to go by, we are in for some extremely exciting events this year. Why not attend one of the following among fellow book lovers and find yourself a new autumn read?

The Gordon Burn Prize - 10th October, Durham Town Hall

The Books section has been reviewing the entire shortlist for this much anticipated event, and we cannot wait to see who will take the prize! Shortlisted novels include Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls, which rewrites the Iliad with a focus on its female victims, and This Brutal House by Niven Govinden, which takes the riotous New York nightclub scene of the queer com-

An Evening with Roger McGough - 7th October, Gala Theatre

One of Britain’s best-loved poets, host of BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please and the author of over seventy books, McGough brings his new collection, joinedupwriting, to Durham. Spanning friendship, family, war and politics, this promises to be an enjoyable evening in the company of a true literary giant.

Professor Selina Todd of Oxford University collaborates with the acclaimed novelist Kerry Hudson to explore the working class from her personal work Growing Up, Getting Away and Returning to Britain’s Poorest Towns. Todd’s research focuses on working class history, having grown up in Newcastle Upon Tyne herself. In particular, her interests in inequality and women’s lives in modern Britain are reflected in her book Tastes of Honey, where she explores the 1958 play A Taste of Honey. You can then see a screening of this play on the same day at 7pm in Durham Town Hall with an introduction from Todd.

This promises to be an insightful exploration into women, class and local history.

A Room of One’s Own - 12th October, Gala Theatre

In her seminal feminist essay, Virginia Woolf said that in order to write, a woman needed a basic income and a room to herself. To commemorate A Room of One’s Own on its ninetieth birthday, DBF have commissioned three writers to discuss what they need to thrive as literary women. Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and advocate for freedom of speech. Kerry Hudson is an acclaimed novelist, whose latest book, Lowborn, is a personal exploration of poverty in today’s Britain. Suzanne Moore is a journalist and regular Guardian columnist, who won the prestigious Orwell Prize for Journalism. This should be a fascinating evening for anyone interested in the legacy of female writers in the last century.

David Nicholls: Sweet Sorrow 8th October, Gala Theatre

A highly anticipated interview with the prolific author of One Day, which was previously turned into a film. David Nicholls is back with a touching story of childhood love, Sweet Sorrow.

The interview with Claire Malcolm will be followed by a screening of the 2015 film Far From the Madding Crowd, for which Nicholls wrote the screenplay.

Mark Haddon: The Porpoise 9th October, Gala Theatre

Having made his name with bestseller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, master storyteller Mark Haddon introduces his new novel, The Porpoise. Based on Shakespeare’s Pericles, it tells of a newborn baby, the sole survivor of a plane crash, who is raised in isolation by an adoptive father. A strange suitor arrives, but knows too much and is forced to run for his life.

Kerry Hudson and Selina Todd: Women and Class - 12th October, Durham Town Hall

munity and uses them to present a story of civil resistance. The other nominees are Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo, Lanny by Max Porter, Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires, and For The Good Times by David Keenan. The winner will receive £5000 and a month’s writing retreat at Gordon Burn’s cottage.

This is just a glimpse of dozens of events taking place from the 5th to the 13th of October, all on the doorstep of any Durham student. It is well worth taking a look to see

if any of the events pique your interests.

Poster Credit: Durham Book Festival

BOOKS 9

Wednesday 2nd October

Home Comforts: Reading for Homesickness Constance Lam contemplates on the books which have helped her feel at home.

By Constance Lam

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rom the eighteen varieties of potato served at my college’s dining hall, to the narrow cobbled streets of the city centre, Durham University seemed at first glance to be the furthest place from home, where I was surrounded by skyscrapers and shops that closed long after 5pm. Prior to embarking on my university studies, I remember trying to decide which books to bring, leading me to contemplate the most important books to me throughout my entire life.

My eyes landed upon the small, brown, tattered cover of Adeline Yen Mah’s memoir Chinese Cinderella, which I read religiously from the ages of 6 to 8. As the title suggests, upon the arrival of her stepmother, the structure of Yen Mah’s family life changed irreparably. However, unlike Caucasian Cinderella, whose problems were solved by a benevolent fairy godmother, handsome prince, and new shoes, she dealt with the abuse of her stepmother and death in the family through reading.

Durham University seemed at first glance to be the furthest place from home Inspired by King Lear, Yen Mah eventually won an international playwriting competition, prompting her to consider studying abroad. In simple prose, Yen Mah’s memoir excellently foregrounds

the struggle of self-definition, a nuanced glimpse into the complexities of Chinese family structures, and the beauty of literature as escapism and a support system. More importantly, it inspired me to keep reading and encouraged me to pursue my interests in English literature abroad in the UK. Another novel which played a very important role throughout my early adolescence was Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, which details the lives of a mother and daughter (the narrator) who immigrated from Hong Kong to New York, but eventually face exploitation by their relatives, who own a sweatshop in Chinatown, resulting in poverty.

Similar to Chinese Cinderella, the narrator uses her academic success as a form of uplifting her family from their circumstances, despite grappling with a language barrier, racism within her monolingual English speaking community, and authority figures who would question her intelligence and intentionally exclude her, while coming of age at the same time. The constant translating between English and Cantonese in the narration, coupled with the highly relevant themes of transitioning from a bilingual culture at home to a monolingual culture in the West, helped prepare me with the skills I needed to study at university away from home.

As a student of English Literature, I encounter a lot of poetry, but should read a lot more of it than I already do. Without hesitation, I can tell you now that my favourite poetry anthology is Loop of Jade by Sarah Howe, who was born in Hong Kong and raised in the UK, and is ethnically half Chinese and half British.

Her poems explore the concept of home, family, and Chinese and British culture,

and every poem is a delightful surprise as she plays with language and makes it her own. The imagery she uses is highly allusive and specific, yet the emotions her poetry evokes are almost universal.

I had the privilege of meeting her two years ago after she kindly performed a free poetry reading at the University of Hong Kong. In awe with her presence and her poetry, I was too shy to tell her how much I enjoyed her work. However, after my year at university, where her work was one of the pivotal forces that helped me define my identity, I am certainly confident enough to tell her what I just told you.

Regardless of where you come from and where you will go next, I hope that the work of these writers will help give you comfort when you’re struggling to find your place in a new environment, inspire you to try your best and keep striving to learn more, and give you hope and determination to enjoy coming of age in university.

Illustraiton: Navya Lobo

MUSIC 10

Wednesday 2nd Octobrr

Class of 19/20: Working Men’s Club Saddleworth post-punk upstarts Working Men’s are tipped by Q Magazine as the saviours of guitar music ByMatthew Prudham Music Editor music@palatinate.org.uk

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ow excited are you to head on your first headline tour in October?

We’re excited - all the sold-out shows should be fun, and we’ve never done that before. We’ll go into it with an open mind and see what reaction we receive.

mer of hope in the ever-dying scene.

Your latest single “Teeth” holds both an angry bite and a blissful dancefloor rhythm – what’s the meaning behind this song?

How important have BBC Introducing been so far to the band?

I’d say Steve Lamacq more than anybody, but they’ve also helped us out a lot. Steve is a proper pusher, before Introducing got onto us he was the first. I give them a lot of credit too, especially for putting us on Radio 1 and the local radio stations. For ‘Teeth’, I sent my home demo on my own into Introducing and they played it under a pseudonym - so credit for that, as they played it even before it was it was a Working Men’s Club tune. It’s a big deal - pushing new, young bands.

Do you still stand by “the reason there aren’t as many popular guitar bands right now is because they keep reproducing the same shit.

No one should be surprised it’s dying”?

I mean yes, but there’s a glimpse of hope. It has been really boring for a long time. Guitar bands are picked up by a major label and then are pushed into something that’s quite...bland Of course, music must be commercial. But it’s also interesting to hear people trying to make different music and be unique. Bands like Fat White Family, who I wouldn’t say are a guitar band - they’re important and a glim-

and they might hate my band if they heard us. In 50 years when all those indie bands are forgotten about, I think people will still be talking about them.

They’re open about what they like and dislike - it’s not about fame.

Just speaking out and saying, I dislike this band ‘cos they’re shit.

No one says that. Everyone is too scared that the press guy will say, “No, don’t print that.” You should say stuff - as a musician you have a voice - when you get a bit of attention you have the right to say what you think.

You’ve spoken recently about the two directions that the band could go – either becoming ‘the saviours of guitar rock music’ or treading a path of non-alignment - what do you most want to do?

Could you do both of these at the same time?

It’s about being angry with people, about insecurity and getting really bogged down, and annoyed, and frustrated, wanting to kill yourself, you’re that upset. It’s about something driving you to the point of insanity - and I believe the music and the words, and the vocal delivery expresses that.

What artists do you consider crucial in the track’s influences and development?

It’s not obvious, but for me personally Sleaford Mods they’re a truly relevant band.

I think it’s very refreshing to hear a band like them. They don’t give a shit

I think that’s what we’re trying to do, really. At the end of the day, we still must sell records. You conform to an extent and we’ve always tried to do that - it’s still getting a buzz out of your music which is the most important thing otherwise you don’t want to do it. If you completely conform, it’s boring, and if you decide to ignore everything that people are saying and what they want, then no one will listen to your music.

Finally, three artists that Durham students should add to their playlists?

Fat White Family, Sleaford Mods, Viagra Boys.

Image Credit: Abigail Shii

FOOD & DRINK 11

Wednesday 2nd October

First -Year Survival Kit Immy and Elle offer three quick, easy recipes for when college catering doesn’t quite cut it

By Imogen Higgins & Elle Woods-Marshall Food & Drink Editors food@palatinate.org.uk

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urham’s hummus society achieved fame after its BBC coverage in February. As a proud member, my love for the dip is immense. Baptising ritz crackers with mounds of hummus marked key moments in first year. Feeling unsatisfied by college dinner, a new friend’s suggestion that we buy the snack had my full support. Hummus’ many varieties makes it a simple, reliable refreshment to bond over. My favourite for dipping equipment is ready salted Walkers but other crisp flavours, or healthier vegetable options, can be used. For a time in second term my friendship group could not eat anymore hummus because we had gorged ourselves extensively. Thankfully, withdrawal symptoms arose and our hummus feasts recommenced.

ply a whizz in the microwave allows the marshmallow and chocolate to melt into gooey bliss. Constructing these stacks of sticky sweetness is an ideal way to create shared memories with friends.

Do not underestimate how friendships in Fresher’s year can be formed, and flourish, over food.

Elle’s Top Three College Kitchen Friendly Memories Pizza Bae-goals

This is a favourite as it’s cheap, easy and makes for a good snack or on-the-move lunch on the way to a lecture. You can even take these to a study date (hence the name).

During first term, making friends is the priority. When lunch starts to wear off, you will start to crave an energy kick.

Toast the bagels to a golden brown and then add a pasta sauce base, a sprinkle of cheese and any other toppings you like. Pop these beauties in the microwave for 2 minutes, until the cheese becomes deliciously melted.

Enjoy immediately or even later on for that cold pizza for breakfast vibe.

Instead of buying a pack of Tesco’s hobnobs, or a Greggs doughnut, try making s’mores. From chocolate digestives or graham crackers as the sandwich, to Cadbury’s chocolate buttons or Nutella as the filling, the options for ingredients are plentiful. Sim-

Shopping list: 2 medium sized mugs of Rice Krispies, half a large bar of milk chocolate (50g), half a large bar of dark chocolate (50g), a tablespoon of hot chocolate powder, 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 generous squeezes of golden syrup and cake cases (optional).

If you ever fancy a bit of baking on a Sunday afternoon,these are definitely for you.

They’re chocolatey and perfect to share with corridor mates to help them smile after a bad day. These are fun to make with friends but clean up afterwards to dodge the cleaners dis-

Chocolate crispy treats

covering a chocolatey mess. Snacking along the way is, of course, called for.

Pop the chocolate squares and butter into a bowl and microwave on a low heat to avoid burning it, checking every two minutes until melted. Grab a tea towel before taking it out because it is HOT; I realised this too late. Mix with the Rice Krispies in a bigger bowl, adding the syrup and hot chocolate powder. Either make into balls (adding more syrup), scoop into cake cases or spread the mixture on a plate to make them into crispy cake bars. Refrigerate and eat with a good cuppa.

‘Too many essays, my brain is scrambled’ eggs on toast

Shopping list: 2 eggs, 1 tablespoon of butter, a dash of milk, salt/pepper: Who knew you can make scrambled eggs in about 3 minutes in the microwave! Eat these eggs straight out of the cup with a dollop of ketchup (or Sriracha sauce for a spicy twist) or on some slices of buttery toast. The classic addition of beans would make a more substantial meal or even add a sprinkling of cheddar for a cheesy eggs-travaganza (had to make the pun).

Crack 2 eggs into your mug and whisk with a fork, add the milk and butter (in cubes to make it easier) and whisk more. Put the mug in the microwave on a low heat setting for a minute to make sure the butter melts, and then increase to a medium setting. Check every 30 seconds and whisk for around 4 rounds. The eggs will gradually become fluffier. Be careful not to overmix them to keep the light, airy texture.

Image Credit: Unsplash

FASHION 12

Wednesday 2nd Octobrr

DeMoo Madness DeMoo founders discuss the beginnings of the clothing brand and where it’s going next

By Molly Goetzee Fashion Editor fashion@palatinate.org.uk

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ames: Jess Patel (JoBo), Sas Patel (Trevs) & IndiaTaylor Smith.

Year: Third Year- India is currently on her year abroad.

Roles: We all chip in everywhere where we can and all take on a variety of roles.

What made you decide to start DeMoo? Sas: Jess and I have always been into up-cycling clothing and redesigning unwanted garments. During our sixth form years we were constantly rummaging around charity shops and scouring eBay for designer clothing which we would patch up and sell on Depop. We did this for around 18 months or so, and managed to make enough to fund both of our interrailing trips around Europe, as well as our leavers trip to Ibiza! We never thought about turning this venture into an actual business until we met India at Durham.

During our first year we seemed to have a wealth of time, so the three of us decided to venture into the ‘Toon’ and see what the charity shops had to offer. It came to our attention that every charity shop we visited in Newcastle was brimming with high quality jeans and denim jackets. Returning to our student accommodation that afternoon, with bags full of designer denim, it was India’s idea to turn our creative skills into an enterprise.

We decided on the name ‘DeMoo’ as it represents what we do. The ‘De’ is for our focus on denim, and the ‘Moo’ is for our signature cow print trim which was the first design we created. DeMoo originally started with the jeans, but headbands were our second Einstein moment. We had the idea of turning the jean trimmings into wearable headbands. We currently have 23 different

headband styles, each named after different DeMoo-ers (customers). Sustainability is at the core of DeMoo. In everything we do, we focus on promoting a stance against fast fashion. It is estimated that over 300,000 tonnes of clothing ended up in landfill between 2017-2018.

Charity shops often cannot cope with the sheer amount of denim waste, resulting in shipping to landfill sites. We know what we do isn’t much, but at least by purchasing DeMoo’s up-cycled jeans, our customers are on the right path in moving away from ‘throw-away’ fashion.

How does DeMoo run at the moment?

I n d i a : Until now, it was always just the three of us running everything from our student house in Durham.

We lived together in 2nd year so it was pretty easy to coordinate everything, but India has just started her year abroad in Argentina so things have become slightly more complicated. We launched a brand ambassador scheme on 30th July this year. Having been ambassadors for Soap & Glory, Amazon, Deliveroo and STA travel, Jess and I have really seen the value

in being part of such a scheme. We are hoping to pool together our ambassadors’ which range from photography, modelling, sketching, textiles, finance and entrepreneurship to name a few, to really propel DeMoo to new heights.

“In everything we do, we focus on promoting a stance against fast fashion” What’s been the most surprising thing about starting a business?

India: For me, I’d say the most surprising thing has been how fast, and easy, it was to grow!

The three of us never intended for DeMoo to turn into a huge enterprise, but somehow it seems like that has happened!

We’ve had people coming up to us in the streets of London, on the tube and at parties or nights out congratulating us on DeMoo’s success and asking us about it. We featured in 20 fashion shows around the UK in just 6 months, been approached by numerous bloggers and student journalists

FASHION Photo Credit: DeMoo Jeans

studies. I’m completely okay with DeMoo being prioritised because I genuinely love the creating and making of it all, and am very proud of the success we have achieved so far.

Advice for aspiring Durham brands:

for interviews, and have also been featured on TV! It all seems like a bit of a dream, as in my head I just think of it as a little business we founded as freshers.

How do you balance uni life with running a business?

Jess: I’m going to be completely honest and say that this summer has been the most hectic of my life. I think we really took for granted being in Durham and sewing in the comfort of our student house. During exams we received 30 headband orders practically every single day which we would have to make from scratch each evening after a long slog at the library. All I wanted to do was to go to bed and see my friends, not sew in my bedroom! The real motivation comes from being able to visually and verbally see the extent of DeMoo’s success. We definitely had some real ‘pinch me’ moments. For example, going for drinks in London or attending 21st [parties] where girls would be wearing our products. Or friends spotting DeMoo on the beach abroad! Going into final year managing DeMoo is going to be tough, especially without India in the flesh. Somehow seminar prep, dissertations, job applications and DU Lacrosse matches will also have to be squeezed into the chaotic mix. I guess my answer is that we don’t really balance work with running a business. This is probably a bad attitude to have but in the end, we will all get a degree in some variety, but not many will be able to say they ran their own business alongside their

13

Wednesday 2nd October

Sas : Just go for it!

University is THE time to let your ideas manifest into something concrete.

First year was the perfect time to start DeMoo because we had so much free time and if we hadn’t, we would probably just end up going to the pub more and spending more money. After university, you are never going to be surrounded by so many talented people who can help out in designing, event planning, photography, videography and illustration ever again. We are constantly shocked about how many messages we get from students all over the UK wanting to help out for free and get stuck in with spreading theDeMoo word.

So just go for it! Who cares if you start something at University and it doesn’t go to plan?

“University is the time to let your ideas manifest into something concrete”

Who is a business woman that inspires you?

India: Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, is someone the three of us have very much looked up to throughout the DeMoo journey. DeMoo started out much like The Body Shop did. Like Anita, none of us knew the first thing about running our own business therefore the first 6 months were definitely a trial and error period. However, I believe that without this organic growth, DeMoo would not be what it is today.

Our business journey is very much aligned with Anita’s, and her environmentally conscious practices are what we attempt to mirror within DeMoo.

What’s the next step for Demoo?

India: Our new headband range is launching imminently and in accordance with our new Brand Ambassadors, each of them will have a new band named after themselves. With third year setting in, we aren’t going to daunt ourselves with too many big projects. We will, however, be supporting a handful of charities through Durham events and platforms such as Aggression Session and OddBalls. We’ll also be teaming up with Amazon to give out some huge giveaways via our social media channels.

CREATIVE WRITING 14

Wednesday 2nd Octobrr

Taking some time for yourself It’s important to look after yourself during Freshers’ and beyond

By Shauna Lewis creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

I

t doesn’t have to be said that starting university is stressful.

It’s busy, nerve-wracking and nearly every conversation you have for the first week is slightly stilted and awkward. We start with Freshers’ Week, possibly the most socially intense experience some people have ever had, and we finish it exhausted.

Then we’re rushed into lectures and seminars and deadlines and it feels like it doesn’t stop from that point onward.

The impact this can have on mental health is varied; some people thrive off of the environment, it makes others want to retreat to their bedroom, never to emerge. There are serious long-term effects as well and it’s important, no matter what kind of person you are, to do what you can to look after yourself.

Durham University Poetry Society Whether it’s performing at an open mic night or contributing to the DU Poetry Society’s journal The Gentian, Poetry Society offers a safe and inclusive environment for creativity to flourish. In a society where people are experimenting and finding their voices, and actively creating a space for different perspectives to be heard, it’s probably one of the most welcoming environments Durham can offer. Thorn, a cross-arts platform based in Dur-

DST Another place for imagination, Durham Student Theatre (DST) is a place to try out dozens of roles amongst likeminded people. If it’s script writing you want to try out, then talk to Pitch Productions or submit a piece for Durham Drama Festival; either way, people are open to your ideas. DST shows can also be a fun way to escape the academia of Durham for a while, without emptying your purse completely.

Imogen Usherwood, Editor of DST First Night, says “DST was one of the first activities I engaged with at Durham. It offers a unique creative platform for any and all students; from performing to directing, producing, lighting and sound or even writing. No idea is too abstract and creative visions are limited only by physical possibility. It’s a great way to engage in some very exciting creative projects, and meet like-minded creatives to share those experiences.”

There are so many ways to do this; we’re often told that creativity, such as drawing and writing, can help us relax.

Research commissioned by GoCreativeEscape, revealed that nearly 87% of students in the UK agreed that using ‘creativity as therapy’ has improved their mental health and wellbeing. It’s not just a soft self-care technique promoted by Instagram influencers, it can actually make a long-lasting difference.

There are so many societies in Durham which will help you develop a creative outlet. Obviously, you don’t have to join these groups, and if writing in a diary at home or drawing in your own time allows you the time to look after yourself, then that works too. Often though, it can be hard to force ourselves to take that time out, especially when we’re surrounded by people who seem to be constantly working. In this case, societies can be the best way to force yourself to take some time for yourself.

of others and, whilst it is always a bit nerve-wracking, it is so much easier within the safe and supportive environments that these platforms create.”

Us! ham, also offers spoken word poetry as well as mixed arts events, if you’re looking for alternative and more varied ways to spend some “you” time.

Slam Team member and Thorn facilitator Karishma Sangtani says, “Over the past two years, open mics have provided invaluable spaces for me to express myself creatively and become familiar with the act of performing. For me, performing poetry often involves allowing myself to be vulnerable in front

Creative writing will always be open to submissions, whether this be as a result of one of the section editor’s prompts online, or whether you pitch it by email. Self-doubt can often be a big part of the writing process, but know that university is a space to find your voice and sometimes fail, in an environment where it is safe to do so, and almost welcomed.

Photo Credit: Maddie Flisher and Alasdair Harriss

VISUAL ARTS 15

Wednesday 2nd October

A whistle-stop art tour of Durham (For those who don’t want to write) ByAnnabelle Garfield visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk

I

f writing is not the one, check out all the visual activities you can do in Durham, whether that involves looking or doing.

Like we said, it’s important to take that time for yourself, but it’s completely up to you how you spend it.

Life Drawing Held by the Durham University Art Society, life drawing sessions are a great excuse to sit in silence and focus on something other than your degree for an hour.

With sessions on Tuesday and Thursday each week, the sessions are chilled and you’ve produced something by the end of it- self-care with a satisfying twist. It’s something which you can easily attend by yourself if you need some quiet, or attend with friends for a bit of bonding.

Olivia Amura says, “Life drawing classes provide a calm and welcoming environment to give something new a go, develop a pre-existing talent, or have a bit of fun. I find the experience almost meditative in a way, as it gives you a chance to switch off and truly focus for an hour or so, and hopefully come out with some cool sketches as well!”

Paint & Sip On the lively side of things, Paint & Sip offers students the opportunity to drink and create. If sitting in silence as you create a life drawing isn’t your scene, and perhaps you don’t want your artistic ability scrutinised as much, then Paint & Sip may be the more dynamic activity you’re looking for.

Take a trip to the Cathedral Beginning 8th October, an exciting new exhibition will open at Durham Ca-

thedral’s ‘ O p e n Treasure’ m u s e um. The exhibition will showcase a myriad of maps, charts and atlases from Durham Cathedral Library’s extensive collections, and will also include some early maps of Durham City. With a focus on our historical fascination for discovery, the exhibition will herald some of the finest examples of human voyages. Alternatively, following three year renovation work on the Cathedral, the central tower is now open to the public again. Aside from a closer look at recent repair work to the tower’s parapet, a trip up the 325 stairs will also provide stunning, panoramic views of Durham City.

Visit the Oriental Museum Once you’ve surpassed the madness of Freshers’ Week, if you find yourself with some free time, why not take a trip to Durham’s Oriental Museum?

Nestled between Trevelyan, St Aidan’s and Van Mildert colleges, the Oriental Museum often goes unnoticed given its central location within the hill site.

The East Meets West exhibition is now open until 15th December, which features new locally-produced artwork inspired by both the East and West.

Rachel Barclay, Curator of Durham University’s Oriental Museum, said:

Photo Credit: bodobe via Pixabay “We’re very pleased to be working with Interface Arts. Over the last few years, Interface members have run art workshops for our visitors, so it’s great to display some of their work here.

“The complex interplay of influences from East and West, and the wide variety of techniques and materials used by the artists, combine to make a stimulating exhibition that we’re sure visitors will enjoy.”

Palace Green Library #VisibleWomen is taken from a social media campaign of the same name that aimed to address inequality within the comic artist industry after the 2016 Angoulême International Comics Festival nominated 30 men and 0 women for their awards that year.

As a result, there is demand internationally for women artists to be given equal visibility, assessment and status.

The artists at display on this exhibition are united in their position as pioneering, prominent, and innovative female artists, leading practice within their areas.

TRAVEL Wednesday 2nd October

16

Hungry Ghosts: The Seventh Month Julia Merican discusses the significance of the Hungry Ghost Festival

By Julia Merican travel@palatinate.org.uk

D

uring my lunch break on a Thursday afternoon, I made my usual way down Robertson Quay to grab a bite before returning to work. Walking past the quayside restaurants, an old, familiar scent wafted into my nostrils: burning joss sticks, musky and sweet.

It’s one of those strangely comforting scents from childhood, like the particular fragrance of banana bread or shoe polish, reminiscent of sleepovers at my friends’ more traditional Buddhist homes, or the many shoecaked doorways of distant relatives visited only at Chinese New Year. I noticed a cluster of people chanting and burning offerings in the outside area of a Persian restaurant, led by an elderly man.

“We are, after all, superstitious folk” They were assembled in a way that might have looked sinister to the novice viewer; perhaps bizarre or almost cultish. Yet none of these people were dressed in any sort of uniformity, or behaving with any sort of aggression; in short, this was no publicity stunt or exhibition. They were from all walks of life, clad in everyday clothing to accommodate the sweltering heat of Singapore, praying in a ceremony for the

dead that has come to be known fondly as the Hungry Ghost Festival. A different sort of alfresco dining to the one that restaurant had intended, perhaps.

This isn’t just celebrated in Singapore.

I know it well, too; in Malaysia, I was used to the smell of sweet smoke, minding my step so as not to step on any offerings left for peckish spirits. One of my primary school projects was to make a scrapbook of cultural holidays. I still remember cutting out crisp images of food, fire,

superstitious folk, and like our living, our ghosts certainly enjoy their food.

My grandmother and I were discussing the Hungry Ghost Festival together last week, and I told her I’d seen two prayer ceremonies that day. She smiled wryly and said she was worried I’d been about to say I’d seen something very different.

During this month, we are given licence to succumb to our superstitions quite freely. I’ve heard of people claiming to possess the third eye who refuse to go anywhere near water this time of year: ‘Too many spirits,’ they say, darkly, ‘too crowded.’

The superstitions usually dismissed as old wives’ tales are paid heed to, albeit begrudgingly - umbrellas aren’t opened indoors, clothes aren’t hung out to dry overnight, insects are batted away gently instead of being squashed into brutal death. Every misfortune this month takes on a sombre spiritual significance, thought to relate in some way to our otherworldly visitors.

and heavily painted masks for this one.

The fifteenth night of the lunar calendar’s seventh month is “Ghost Day”, the month itself being “Ghost Month.”

Similar to Mexico’s Día de Los Muertos, this festival celebrates their homecoming, perhaps with slightly more of the trepidation that so often accompanies celebrations in the East. Our spirits are thought to return from the afterlife for revelry and feasting, and the living devote this month to provide them with just that. We are, after all,

The Hungry Ghost Festival is ultimately a reminder of our mortality and how to be at ease with it, one that urges us to remember, and ultimately comforts us with the notion that we will be remembered. Stories like these, fantastical and mythic as they may seem, give sustenance to culture in a time of increasing cynicism, prompting us to find some magic in the mundane. After all, we need our ghosts as much as they need us.

Photo Credit: Thistle Azami via Unsplash