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EDITORIAL Thursday, 3rd December 2020

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

BOOKS 3 Ho, ho, holiday reads FEATURES 4&5 Shop from students this Christmas FILM & TV 6 Sex on the screen CREATIVE WRITING 7 Progress VISUAL ARTS 8&9 Painting in the pandemic

INTERVIEW

10 Durham Student Action for Refugees FASHION 11 The importance of shopping small this Christmas FOOD AND DRINK 12 & 13 Your ultimate guide to Friendsmas MUSIC 14 DOMAN’s Michaelmas mixtape STAGE 15 Movie musicals in the age of Covid-19 TRAVEL 16 Destination of the month: Cologne www.facebook.com/palindigo Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @indigo_palatinate Have a question, comment, or an idea for a story you’d like to write?

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

It’s the end of term and we’re all experiencing the stress, late nights and eventual relief of handing in that one last essay.

Whether you’re heading home or staying in Durham over the holidays, a break from work is surely welcome and well-deserved.

It’s important to remember that though some of us are lucky enough to be seeing our families again soon, others won’t have that opportunity for various reasons. More than ever, we need to be kind to our friends and those around us in any way we are able to and spread a little festive cheer.

Whether your holiday celebrations have a party of one, are online, or in person, a traditional mulled wine should spread some Christmas spirit. We recommend gently simmering a bottle of red wine with half an orange, 200g of caster sugar, some cloves, star anise, a cinnamon stick and some ginger for about 15 minutes. Stir through and add 150 ml of brandy before serving. For a non-alcoholic option, take the time to make a luxurious hot chocolate by pouring hot milk over some chocolate pieces in your favourite mug. Stir until incorporated and top with marshmallows and whipped cream.

In this edition our editors channel festive celebrations with Food & Drink bringing you the ultimate guide to friendsmas, Books recommend you their favourite holiday reads, Features spotlights student-run businesses to support with your Christmas shopping and Travel takes you to Cologne on a winter break.

We hope this edition helps you to enjoy your holidays to the fullest and you have a relaxing and restorative break.

Hugo Millard and Millicent Machell

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

CREATIVE WRITING EDITORS Jemima Gurney Meadbh Ni Mhorain STAGE EDITORS Isabel C Davis VISUAL ARTS EDITOR Emma Tucker BOOKS EDITORS Millie Vickerstaff Sol Noya FASHION EDITORS Emily Potts FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Constance Lam Meghna Amin TRAVEL EDITORS Emma Johnson Gracie Linthwaite FILM & TV EDITOR Madeleine Rosie Strom MUSIC EDITORS Martha Lily Dean Katherine Pittalis INTERVIEW EDITORS Aimee Dickenson Claudia Jacob

BOOKS Thursday, 3rd December 2020

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Ho, ho, holiday reads!

Books mull over festive reads for the holidays The Books Section books@palatinate.org.uk

‘Mystery in White’ - Joe Rossiter

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ight from its cover illustration – a train stuck in the snow with its front light giving the freshly fallen blanket a warm glow – Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon perfectly captures the essence of winter. The story centres around a group of characters travelling on the 11:37 from St Pancras on Christmas Eve, each with different plans to spend the next day, when the train is stranded. The group venture out in the hope of finding Hemmersby Station and the possibility of making their connections but are quickly caught up in the blizzard outside.

They try to find a refuge while the snow falls and come across a house, unlocked but with no one inside, the fire lit and the table set for dinner. The kettle whistling, but there is no one to make the tea.

Written in the ‘Golden Age’ of detective fiction, the story is cosy but has an edge of danger: the house is warm and welcoming as the characters spread

around it – discovering several suspicious elements in the process – but the prospect of a returning owner, as well as the news of a disturbing event on the train, make for a really compelling read.

Farjeon mixes in the supernatural, with the character of Mr Maltby a member of the Royal Psychical Society. Although on first sight his observations seem far-fetched and misguided, the links presented between Maltby’s studies and the reality of human nature are an intriguing subplot within the house.

This book is brilliant escapism during dark, cold days, with a fascinating plot neatly wrapped up at the climax. It perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the holidays, not just through the setting on Christmas Eve, but also the sensations of winter that come across in Farjeon’s writing: the hazy country lanes, thick, crisp snow and the warm crackling of the fire. With his detailed and sharp description, the reader can feel the tension as the story progresses just as much as the biting cold outside.

‘Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim’ - Millie Vickerstaff For me, nothing sets the festive season aglow quite like the writing of David Sedaris, who’s at his entertaining best when talking of Christmas. With a perceptive eye and aplomb he casts a light on the quirks and charming idiosyncrasies of family and the holiday season, and douses it with his sparkling wit.

His essays ‘The Santaland Diaries’ which were first read by Sedaris in 1992 on NPR, are a must-read or -listen over the holidays (you can easily find them, read by Sedaris on Youtube). He writes of the trials and tribulations of applying as and becoming an elf at Macy’s at the zenith of Christmas mania. His droll accounts as a “cheer”-less and begrudging elf, only hired for his height are hysterically funny and capture the silliness be-

hind the veneer of our continuous seasonal good “cheer” and annual Christmas displays. He writes: “It makes one’s mouth hurt to speak with such forced merriment … I prefer being frank with children. I’m more likely to say, ‘You must be exhausted,’ or ‘I know a lot of people who would kill for that little waistline of yours.’”

“Sedaris meanders through the idiosyncrasies of our festivities” The essays and stories in his book Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - which will also have you ho, ho, ho—ing - draw your attention to the frankly absurd, but still charming rituals and traditions we all ascribe to our festive season. In his essay ‘Eight to Ten Black Men’ he describes the different opening questions he uses whilst travelling abroad, to get a proper sense of the country and its national character. He finds “When do you open your Christmas presents” to be a good conversation starter, as it is generally followed by a deluge of entirely different Christmas rituals. Sedaris meanders through the idiosyncrasies of our festivities, from the sounds that roosters make - from “kiri-akee” in Greece to “coco-rico” in France - to how Saint Nicholas arrives in the Netherlands, accompanied by the eponymous “six to eight black men”. Although Sedaris touches on so much more than just the Christmas season in Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, the stories throughout are marinated in family and culture and their quirks, and that’s surely a perfect reason for festive good cheer!

Illustration by Anna Kuptsova

FEATURES 4

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

Shop from students this Christmas Features spotlights student start-ups that we can all shop from this festive season!

Features Editors features@palatinate.org.uk

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his December is concluding a really difficult year; a lot of students have coped with the uncertainty of this year by setting up small businesses and showing their creativity.

We wanted to use this edition to encourage our readers to do their holiday shoping from these Durham-grown start-ups.

Earth & Ocean creates beautiful jewellery pieces using natural materials. Many of the pieces are made from gorgeous local Seaham sea glass while other earrings are created with brightly coloured polymer clay. Livia set up this business during the pandemic, after picking up and collecting sea glass for many years on beach walks. They are a perfect gift for friends and family, and something really personal and specific to the Durham area. All orders are carefully made, photographed and packaged with love. Have a pop over to Earth & Ocean’s Etsy shop and follow along on Facebook and Instagram, all with the handle @earthoceanearrings.

By Elle Woods-Marshall

ating her own designs as well as taking customised orders.

Her nails are beautiful, handmade and really high quality.

I had never been one for presson nails before Eli’s business, but now I’m rarely seen without them. The nails are customised to fit your nail perfectly and you can make them your own, choosing the length, the shape and the design. You can find her designs on Instagram and Etsy at @elnailzx.

By Milly Munro

whatpheemade was started by Phoebe as a way to turn her hobby into a business during lockdown. After knitting for years, Phoebe enjoys the act of making ‘something physical rather than only studying’ and has continued her business past lockdown 1.0 into the university year. From jumpers to baby blankets and wash-cloths to accessories, her finely-crafted items will make a great gift this christmas. Now feeling that she has got her ‘head round’ how to ‘efficiently run a small business’, she is working on Christmas decorations, so keep an eye out on her instagram account and browse and buy on her Etsy, both @whatpheemade.

By Immy Higgins ELNAILZx is a presson nails business run by fourth year master’s student Eli, who also happens to be one of my best friends. She started the business over the summer, cre-

“hopefully you’ll find something that will bring joy to you and your loved ones”

FEATURES 5

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

cydsline, set up by Durham Graduate Cyd, started at the beginning of the first lockdown in March when Cyd was hunting for a unique present for a friend’s birthday. Wanting ‘something that couldn’t be found on the highstreet and which wouldn’t harm the environment’, she bought some fabric paint and ‘the first cydsline tee was born!’ There are over 30 designs to choose from and you can also ask for a personal customization. Cyd’s favourite design, and a bestseller, is ‘Durham Nostalgia’, an image of the cathedral which she hopes ‘serves as a lovely reminder of all the happy times in our wonderful city.’ With Christmas coming Cyd has just started releasing limited edition wash bags which can be ‘personalized for that someone special this year’. All products are 100% Organic and Fairtrade so you can rest assured that you are shopping sustainably and supporting a fantastic student start-up.

To see the designs and get your hands on a gift follow @cydsline on instagram.

By Immy Higgins

choice, with the option for custom-made orders. Set up over the summer of 2020, Petricolour Project has grown hugely over the past few months, recently taking the steps to have fully plastic free packaging, making this local business a perfect option for buying Christmas presents without coming at any cost to the environment.

There are a variety of different collections on offer, viewable at the Instagram handle @petricolourproject, all of which are handmade with care in our very own Durham.

By Rhiannon Green Siobhan Prints: I always knew my friend Siobhan was creative, but I didn’t realise she drew until, during the first lockdown, she posted a story on Instagram asking if we could follow the new account she’d set up to sell cards to raise funds for the NHS. Since then, Siobhan’s Etsy store has grown, and I’ve even commissioned some prints myself.

Petricolour Project – previously known as TinyTrinketStudio – is a small, independent jewellery-making business run by a fellow Durham student. Specialising in polymer clay earrings, Petricolour Project has additionally branched out to encompass many different styles. From dainty, light-weight clay earrings, to bold statement pieces - there is a huge mix of

Siobhan’s product line has grown from A5 thank-you cards to include movie and theatre prints of various sizes, personalised illustrations, and even customised vinyl portraits. The illustration I have hanging on my wall of one of my best friends and I this summer is a cheerful reminder of sunnier times. The personalisation means that a portrait from Siobhan can make for a really thoughtful gift.

By Sol Noya Carreno

Shopping local and shopping small, if you can, are great ways to make giftshopping more sustainable, ethical, all while supporting small businesses. We hope that this festive season, you’ll take a look at the small shops we’ve highlighted and find something that will bring joy to you and your loved ones. Happy holidays!

All images are sourced via the business’s social media.

Illustration credits: Serena Smart

FILM AND TV 6

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

Sex on the screen Grace Jessop asks why do movies get it so wrong - and how is this damaging to young people?

Grace Jessop film@palatinate.org.uk

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ex on the screen - I wonder what your first experience of it was? My own was a premature viewing of Love Actually aged ten at a friend’s house - her older sister was watching it with her friends and we clandestinely snuck in the room. Being exposed to a universe of Martin Freeman pretending to have sex with “the lady from Gavin and Stacey”, Hugh Grant as Sexy PM™, and Colin-God-of-Sex living it up in the US with all those awfully slaggy Americans, curated by our muchbeloved Richard Curtis was perhaps a fitting entry into the world of sex in cinema: a world filled with sometimes funny and tender scenes, served with shades of sexual harassment masked as amusing kerfuffle’s from terribly-nice British chaps, with a side of fatphobia and general jolly creepiness mixed in. Perhaps I’m being unfair, and Curtis’ 2003 film isn’t that bad at showing sex, due to its nature as a ‘product of its time’ it is in fact vaguely progressive on several counts.

“the softcore erotica which has bled its way into the mainstream” Despite some faults, Love Actually is perching in a middling space, leaning towards the ok, on the spectrum of problematic sex scenes in film. More uncomfortable issues live elsewhere: the softcore erotica which has bled its way into the mainstream. 50 Shades of Grey is a primary guilty party, portraying a misinformed version of fetish-sex. It feels difficult to criticise this to a certain extent; I don’t intend to shame or blame cinema

that shows ‘unvanilla’ sex in any way, nor the people who enjoy having kinky sex. But the way in which this kind of sex is portrayed in this film is not only a poor take on BDSM according to many members of the community, but in addition removes much of the human connection and communication involved in the practice – not like the controlling and at times unconsenusal behaviour seen in 50 Shades. Emily Sarah, a fetish model further points out in an interview with the Guardian that in real BDSM sex there is plenty more imperfection, ‘smudged makeup and spit and sweat’.

If mainstream cinema can’t portray kinky sex vaguely right, then mixed messages that seep through the cracks of pop culture could result in damaging consequences for young people learning about what they think is hot in sex and how they conduct themselves in achieving that in their relationships. Pushing, grabbing, hitting, slapping - there are many things that in a consenting adult relationship are perfectly permissible. But in other contexts, sexual or not, these things can quickly and easily constitute abuse.

Arguably, the joke of a film, 365 Days which Variety summises as ‘a vacuous idiot is kidnapped by a hot, rich mafioso and given 365 days to fall in love with this objectionable ludicrous softcore fantasy’, which elegantly pardons kidnapping, gives a pat on the back to rape culture and is awash with misogeny aplenty,

was facilitated by the already questionable 50 Shades. The fact the film went viral on TikTok with (predominantly) teenage girls claiming it to be a foundation of super sexy content speaks for itself - if young people are exposed to problematic sex on mainstream channels, therefore purifying it somehow, they’re going to digest it as more acceptable, and in turn accept it.

Of course it’s not all bad, and there are many demonstrations of funny and fumbled consentual sex in cinema in accurate portrayals, which people adore and rave about - we want to see familarity in film, albeit a slightly prettier version of familiarity, including in its sex scenes. Although of course it’s not strictly cinema, there’s a reason you’ll find Google drenched in opinion pieces on the portrayal of sex in Normal People - its focus on consent, trust and importance of mutual respect was somewhat ground-breaking.

Despite the fact sex has been used as a device in film for decades (not just to show beautiful young people tentatively having their first sexual experiences with one another) must we accept that the only alternative to spot-on portrayals are morally questionable situations? I hope not, and I hope that we quash the narrative that is traversing through screenplays that women only find pleasure in pain.

Image Credits: Eric Lucatero via Unsplash

CREATIVE WRITING Thursday, 3rd December 2020

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Progress Emerson Shams investigates the creative writing process in this article and poem Emerson Shams creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

Write - Write - Write.

It seems to be my life.

Always another essay due, gosh it’s exhausting.

I wonder how people actually enjoy this?

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riting was always my Achilles’ heel, something I had to do, but it always took me down. In school, my teachers were all just content with telling me to look elsewhere skill-set wise. But now, my writing skills have transformed from my greatest weakness into my strongest weapon. And in 2020 it’s become even stronger.

Stories - Tales - Information.

Jumbled up in my head.

Too much to speak, and lost immediately.

And no one seems to want to listen.

My path to writing started in IB, when my English teacher finally recognised the stories I could tell, worked with and encouraged me to write anything from scripts to essays. And by the end of my first year at Durham, the foundation she gave me led to remarkable results. I am proud of myself, because it took me putting in the time, but nothing I can do today can be done without thanking her.

food did. I began writing so many food articles, that I might have been half the bylines published in the section last year.

I’d weave together recipes with time and compassion, trying to share my passion with all. But I loved the other sections too, Creative Writing allowed me to foster my poetry and even try short stories, and, by lockdown I was a creative writing machine.

My creative writing path, however, started on rough terrain. During my first year and an especially hard time in my life, my therapist recommended I keep a journal through the week to monitor my feelings. But, as the time persisted, the senseless scrawlings turned into, at times, macabre poetry. The medium helped me escape the hole I’d dug for myself, the words building a sturdy ladder. However, without the downs, I felt nothing to write about, to write for. And thus, I became dormant for one year more.

When my second year ended and summer began, my mind started to wander with long lost stories inside my head longing to be let out. I was a storyteller as a child, still am one now. But before, the words wouldn’t be written nicely, even speaking them was a difficulty. But I decided to finally put pen to paper and begin. And with those freed from my head, the real work began. This summer I did something I never thought I would be able to, write prose. Poetry was short and easy, mathematical in a way. Scripts had been conversations I simply transcribed.

Now, something you’ve probably already figured out if you’ve read this far is, I am dramatic. I know and won’t apologise for adding flavour to my life through hyperboles of words. Ah, hyperboles, the one literary device I never got wrong. It’s been my good friend these last few years. So, when that writing itch came back at the end of summer, no amount of self-doubt could keep it away. It was like a gnat, that just would not die. Alas, I had to try and that I did, I began writing for the student papers, any column I could try, just looking for something to stick. And like honey,

But I have begun to draw and create worlds where my heroes defy odds and stand in for representation I did not have.

I’ve started books now, with plans for more. I take my degree, which I love, and I weave it in to make stories unlike others. Ones which care about all cultures, ones which will hopefully be as hopeful to someone else as they are to me. I write for me, but when I saw a comment on A03 - where I had published a short story - saying they had cried with me, I knew my heel was healed, and my pen sharpened.

My therapist says I should write…I don’t know.

I was told I’d never be good at that.

Oh gods, this is freeing.

What started as a journal has morphed into poetry.

Sad - Emotive - Beautiful.

I’ll stick with this.

Short and Simple.

Maybe, I’ll write a review or two.

Maybe some recipes. Yes, this is easy.

Stories are still stuck in my head…

Covid - Isolation - Hyperfixation.

There’s more to the story.

I can’t get it out of my head.

I write.

I finally write tales so long.

I cry as I write.

I feel their pain and their pleasure.

Write - Pain - Pleasure.

I re-read and woah.

I like it.

It’s not bad.

I share it.

I think no one will read it.

Someone comments: you made me cry too.

Keep writing.

Keep planning.

Keep telling tales.

One year has passed.

I write the stories that need to be told.

Book - Play - Poem.

I write.

Illustration byAlicja Sek

VISUAL ARTS 8

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

Painting the pandemic Student artists on heroes, lockdown, and the importance of artistic practise Carys Stallard Visual Arts Editor visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk

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his week the Visual Arts team caught up with the artists behind the entries of the 2019 Student Arts Prize to hear about their works, their experiences of balancing student life and artistic practise, and the influence of lockdown upon their work.

Here’s what they had to say…

Lizzie English After contemplating the complex topic of diversity, I began painting my competition piece in January alongside my studies. My friend, Augustine Ihm, a Cranmer Hall alumnus, was the perfect subject for my painting: epitomising my experience of diversity in Durham, as a black, adopted, gay, religious, mature American student. I titled my acrylic painting ‘Papa Gus’: a nickname for Augustine, with Papa signifying his potential career as a vicar and him acting as a fatherly figure to St John’s College students.

that can be understood by the majority.

However, if there are any scholarly matters that I so heavily cultivated during my time at Durham as an Anthropology student, it would be the knowledge that reality is not objective nor consistent and that our understanding of the world is always evolving. We construct pictures in our head based on how we socially premised our knowledge of objects, things and relationships. We learn from a young age how things should be ‘drawn’ and look like. Through arts these homogenised interpretations of the body can be challenged.

I chose to place a black body at the centre of my artwork to unapologetically celebrate diversity and normalise art featuring black models as non-stereotyped characters. Despite being exposed to discrimination, Augustine spreads joy with his bright smile and big personality, which I hoped to capture in my painting.

This summer, I was delighted to be selected for the final five of the competition and I was truly astonished to receive the most public votes for my artwork, placing as the People’s Vote Winner.

I continue to enjoy painting alongside my studies, having recently set up my own small business creating personalised wood slice artwork. I look forward to thinking about what I might create for this year’s Student Art Prize Alra David My work is a representation of the diverse perceptions of the body. Standardised forms of human bodies are deeply entrenched in our culture and society. We tend to paint or draw a picture of things

My artwork was made during one of the Durham University Arts Society’s life drawing sessions. I remember wanting to interpret the model’s body through abstraction. So, rather than trying to draw the model’s body through my humanoid perception of it I tried to feel the model’s feelings instead. I communicated this through the colours I used and interpreted her poses through different shapes and forms. The drawing is spontaneous – I drew as I interpreted the model’s body and mood. The work ended up being a depiction of how the mind can go against the social currents and undergo instantaneous and diverse conceptualisation of the body.

Anna Horwich Coping with lockdown has been challenging for everyone and we have each had to find our own way to do so. For me, art was key.

“art gave me a sense of connectedness when we were all feeling isolated” I have always liked painting portraits and I decided to paint people who inspire me. I started with my godfather who is a doctor and then branched out to Tom Croft’s ‘Portraits for NHS Heroes’ initiative. Under this scheme, artists reach out to individual key workers and paint their portraits from a photograph, sending it to them afterwards to thank them for their hard work in the fight against the pandemic. In total, I painted five portraits of NHS staff, both male and female, some in full PPE kit and others in more casual attire. I am currently working on a bigger piece highlighting NHS workers, to submit to next year’s Durham art competition whose theme is heroism. knowing and have worked with in previ-

VISUAL ARTS 9

humanity. In these moments, we become elegant and unprecedented artworks ourselves. I do believe that art is natural, simple, inclusive, yet, powerful because it is the collection of the free and unique expression of every mind.

Art gave me a sense of connectedness when we were all feeling isolated. Not only is there connection between the painter and the canvas, but there was sense of community among artists participating in the initiative. For me, art is a go-to activity in times of stress. Whether the macro world is driven by a pandemic or whether my micro world is driven by exam and deadlines, the painting process remains the same. Art provides me with a sense of normality and control and gives me refuge when I need it.

Elly Brimacombe The student art prize was a great portunity to get involved with the artistic community at Durham. My piece was a portrait of Chloë: a wonderful and engaging young woman with Down’s Syndrome whom I have the privilege of knowing and have worked with in previous art projects. I hope to encourage the viewer to question our preconceived assumptions of beauty and art, and stress not only the importance of diversification but also of freedom and empowerment.

I have recently submitted a piece of work for the international HART Prize for Human Rights’ Creative Competition and I am proud to have been awarded 3rd place. My piece, which is an etching of a photograph I took when I visited AlMadina Souq in Aleppo in 2008, is very close to my heart. It represents a bus-

tling hub of everyday activity and trade at the heart of the city, many parts of which were tragically destroyed in 2012. My contact with them was ephemeral however I hope that I have portrayed a glimpse of the lives of these innocent people, and of a culture which has been so catastrophically destroyed. I often use my art as an expression for a greater cause or to try and spark a conversation or personal thought.

Zihan Zhou I am Zihan, a second-year computer science undergraduate and the creator of the artwork ‘Kaleidoscop’ which discussing the issues of diversity. I started my first art lesson at three and eventually finished advanced sketching at the age of fifteen. I think the most valuable thing I gained from my artistic education, besides the skills, is a sense of imagination and the courage to be different. I have been interested in digital art for a long time because I believe it provides a broader, more comfortable, and more applicable creation workflow. I am particularly interested in digital designing, painting, photography and its recreation.

I don’t think the creation of art has to be deliberate; it is quite natural in our lives.

Each moment we experience is compound of actions, ideas, feelings, sensations and experiences that only belong to us. The happiness of art comes from free and unique expression. There are always some moments we show the beauty of

Ouissal Harzie I believe that we are all artists in our own different ways. We immerse ourselves in art on a daily basis, we instinctively become story tellers even in our most insignificant conversations. Painting happens to be my favourite way of sharing my interior interpretation of the world surrounding me with others. I feel touched by a song, a photograph, a conversation I happen to overhear on the bus, and I reconstruct the emotions borne of that “touch” with colours.

My work is naïve, raw and unpolished, I just smear the canvas with wild unbound figures without contorting them to fit a style creating a chaotic visualisation of tension. What I honestly enjoy more than painting is designing the characters; I usually paint without any reference to real life. It is gratifying, but also intimidating to capture a figment of imagination with pigments etched on the flesh of a canvas.

“I paint to reinvent, to intensify and to share” The most daunting thing about painting is sharing one’s work with others, it almost feels like denuding a part of your soul. In the end, it is all about transferring a sentiment and expanding that “touch” to invite others to see the world with your eyes and feel it through your heart. For me, I paint to reinvent, to intensify and to share how the world touches me.

Image Credits (from left to right): Alra David. Anna Horwich, Zihan Zhou Head to the Billy B entrance to see more works from the Student Arts Prize 19/20. in the entrance to the Billy B

INTERVIEW 10

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

Durham Student Action for Refugees “It’s purely out of luck where you’re born in the world” Claudia Jacob & Aimee Dickinson Interview Editors indigo.interview@palatinate.org.uk

cultures and can bring about diversity and multiculturalism, which for me is a huge benefit in any society.” Bella also alludes to the tendency for the media to create a negative bias around migratory discourses: “semantics matter here. Using the words ‘refugee’ and ‘migrant’ interchangeably causes problems for both populations. It can have real consequences for the safety of refugees, as blurring these lines obscures the importance of legal protection that countries should by law ensure to refugees.”

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tudent Action for Refugees (STAR) is a national charity made up of 34,000 students across the UK, who collectively campaign for a more inclusive environment for refugees. STAR is comprised of 50 groups at universities and colleges across the UK as well as a national team which co-ordinates and supports these groups. This academic year, a group of Durham students, headed up by Ella Turney (President) and Bella Malvaso (Vice President), set up a STAR group here in Durham. Interview Editors Claudia Jacob and Aimee Dickinson speak to Ella and Bella about their previous involvement with refugees and asylum seekers, STAR’s initiatives for the year and the problematic media discourse which enshrouds the subject

Ella tells us that her interest in STAR’s work was sparked when she worked with a refugee organisation in Amman as part of her year abroad, which got her thinking that she “wanted to make more of an impact regarding the rights of refugees and asylum seekers back in Durham.”

She explains: “I completely recognise my huge privilege to be able to attend a university in a safe country, where I don’t need to worry about persecution, and I

wanted to try and use this privilege for good”; after all, “it’s purely out of luck where you’re born in the world.”

Both Ella and Bella highlight the problematic media portrayal of the refugee plight, emphasising “I think people forget that refugees are real human beings, with real families and real-life goals. They aren’t people coming to ‘steal our jobs’; they’ve been forcibly displaced for reasons such as persecution and violence and are forced to seek safety elsewhere.

No one wants to leave their homes forcibly, and I think we would all benefit if we held a more tolerant attitude to people whom we perceived as different. In reality we are all much more similar that we realise, prioritising our family, friends and safety.”

“using the words ‘refugee’ and ‘migrant’ interchangeably causes problems for both” She adds that the media doesn’t focus nearly enough on the positives of migration in today’s society: “through this forced migration, we learn about other

Bella explains that “one of the biggest misconceptions that people believe is that most refugees flee to Europe. We see this in media coverage that regularly shows refugees arriving in Greece or Italy. However, figures show that at the end of 2019, 73% of people displaced were registered in countries neighbouring the one they fled.” The group hopes to break down some of these fallacies through their work this year.

Ella picks up specifically on the tendency of big news corporations to dehumanise refugees through their choice of images which often show people packed into boats, hence the thinking behind STAR’s Michaelmas term ‘SafeRoutesSaveLives’ campaign. The idea is that “STAR members take pictures of origami boats (to raise awareness of the unsafe routes asylum seekers are forced to use in order to reach the UK to claim asylum) around Durham and upload these to their Instagram accounts. We’re going to make a collage of all the boats with mythbusting facts about why asylum seekers are forced to risk their lives daily through crossing one of the busiest shipping lanes in Europe.”

Ella concludes that “everyone is invited to come to our meetings (every Tuesday at 5:30pm) and to follow our social media.”

The importance of STAR’s work can’t be over-emphasised; after all, for those who find themselves in the position of seeking asylum, it really can be a situation of life or death.

Illustration by Sophie Draper Photography by Durham STAR Instagram

FASHION Thursday, 3rd December 2020

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The importance of shopping small this Christmas Phoebe Abruzzese explains how crucial it is to support small businesses in the pandemic Phoebe Abruzzese fashion@palatinate.org.uk

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his year has been a difficult year for us all, but especially for small business owners. They’ve had to totally turn around their business model during one of the worst recessions this country has ever seen. But, through all this, young creatives have rolled with the punches, and adapted to a new way of working. As the festive season draws near, it’s more important than ever to support the small companies, rather than Amazon and the man who is set to become the world’s first trillionaire.

is replaced with another, equally lowquality item.

mega conglomerates and late stage capitalism provide you with.

People are locked in this repeating cycle, likely spending more in the long run on multiple cheap items. Rather than spending more on a one-off quality item, people are opting for the cheapest and easiest option, whether that be purchasing a handmade dress from big fast fashion corporations like Missguided over a small business like By Megan Crosby, or purchasing stocking fillers from Waterstones instead of using uk.bookshop.org.

In addition, these small, cottage industry type businesses are often run by a tight knit group of friends of family members, so you know that people are being paid a decent wage for their time, no matter whether they’re coming up with product launches or packing orders.

Amazon’s success, and the success of other huge, fast delivery online stores, results from the modern shopper’s want for both convenience, and the instant gratification of a parcel through your letterbox the next day. Whilst this model is great for Bezos and the other big fish at the top, the quest for low prices when still maintaining large company profits leads to the exploitation of sellers, warehouse workers and the environment.

In comparison, oftentimes, small creative businesses are run by a handful of people, who put their heart and soul into products they make by hand, and are motivated not by raking in the big bucks, but by sharing passion for their craft in an ethical and sustainable way. Buying small and handmade, you get a totally unique piece, often customisable or made to measure, accompanied by unparalleled customer service from people who want your item to last as long as possible, rather than the scheduled obsolescence that

“these mega companies have caused ... the ‘chuck it out and buy another’ consumer mentality” These mega companies have caused an economic culture centred around the ‘chuck it out and buy another’ consumer mentality pervasive today; low prices are put above quality, subsequently meaning the item breaks after only a few uses and

The South London Makers Market (@ asouthlondonmakersmarket) is a perfect example of creativity adapting to the current climate. Borne out of the dream of two small-shop-advocating sisters, Daisy and Liv, online markets take place a few times a month, and have absolutely thrived through the current restrictions.

Each maker, usually operating out of bedrooms-turned-studios, sets up a digital market stall, featuring the most drop dead gorgeous items from their range, as well as one-off pieces only available at the market.

Their Instagram feed is full of success stories – oftentimes students who’re creating and making products alongside their studies. No matter how gloomy and unending lockdown has seemed, browsing through each colourful stall and chatting to sellers on market day reminds me of the resilience and ingenuity of the young creatives.

So, have a day at the (online) market, buy your mum a hand-knit hat (@ myivoryroom), your partner a box of brownies (@lustrebakery), and yourself some elegant candles (@ alinacandles). After the year we’ve all had, we deserve it, and so do small business owners still pursuing their dreams.

Illustration: Alexandra Barker

FOOD & DRINK Thursday, 3rd December 2020

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Your ultimate guide to friendsmas From mulled wine to mince pies, Food & Drink offer their tips Constance Lam & Meghna Amin Food & Drink Editors food@palatinate.org.uk

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hh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year again … even if it’s mainly virtual … and it’s summative season. After the year we’ve had, it’s fair to say we’re looking to celebrate getting through it in any (safe and socially-distanced) way we can, and as Market Square’s Christmas lights get turned on, and Tesco’s start running out of their stock of mince pies and mulled wines, the best celebration of this time of year is Friendsmas.

For the freshers who haven’t yet faced the chaos of a friends Christmas dinner, to the third-years who still haven’t quite reached the peak of juggling trays in and out of the oven, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to get you through your end of term feast.

Starting with the prep, don’t forget to book your grocery delivery slots, and with lockdown in full bloom, trust us when we say it’s never too early. Chase those friends who haven’t transferred their share yet, double-check the vegans are happy to sort their own, and add as many bottles of mulled wine as you can before you hit the unfortunate alcohol delivery limit.

“by far, the most important part of any Christmas party is the alcohol” Mulled Wine By far, the most important part of any Christmas party is the alcohol. And for students, mulled wine is definitely a sophisticated treat. Whether you’re drinking straight from the bottle (although we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it

cold like that), or trying your best to infuse spices, orange slices and whatever else you’ve found to garnish, into a pan on the hob, our best advice is to heat it gently, take it slow, and don’t assume it’s the same as Sangria. Although red wine isn’t a personal favourite of mine, there is something so seasonal and cosy about the spiced wine, and if you’re a non-alcoholic or just prefer to stick to the bellinis, Whittard’s do the yummiest instant mulled wine tea.

Though some people espouse a ‘less is more’ approach in the kitchen, during Christmas we can definitively agree that ‘more is more’. And what better way to improve Christmas dinner than to stuff the turkey with more delicious food? My friend’s mum prepares a sausage stuffing, made with good quality meat, sage, and onion. To this, she adds dried cranberries and chipped chestnuts, infusing the turkey with more Christmassy flavours.

To go alongside your pre-dinner drinks, whilst you settle for some Secret Santa surprises, or daringly start a game of Monopoly, decently priced sharing platters from Tesco and Iceland will provide you with plenty of treats before the main delight.

If you’re feeling extra ambitious this year, why not try the Turducken on F.R.I.E.N.D.S? Joey Tribbiani was able to single-handedly devour this trifecta of roasted chicken, duck, and turkey, all while leaving room for dessert, so bonus points if you can too!

The Mains How could we forget the mains? For most people, a turkey is the centrepiece of any successful Christmas dinner: the best turkeys are juicy, tender, golden-brown, and filled to the brim with flavourful stuffing.

“during Christmas we can definitively agree that more is more”

One of my closest friends has been counting down the days until Christmas dinner since the first of November. Every year, he eagerly awaits the turkey, which is intricately prepared by his mum, and served with a tantalising array of sides (including her famous Yorkshire puddings). She rubs seasoned butter under the turkey’s skin, and places a quartered onion and sliced lemon into the rib cavity.

“the best turkeys are juicy, tender, golden-brown, and filled ... with flavourful stuffing”

The Sides As far as student Christmas feast rules go, each side is dedicated to each student. So if one over steams the carrots, at least the potatoes and parsnips are in other people’s hands (and also, other people’s ovens). The thing about student ovens is there’s never enough space. And you will realistically need different temperatures, and definitely different times.

Whilst there remains a debate over whether Yorkshire puddings qualify for Christmas, there’s at least six sides that are vital for Christmas dinner: parsnips, potatoes and carrots (as said), the all-important stuffing (Aunt Bessy’s frozen do the perfect job), controversial cranberry sauce (more there to look pretty on the table than actually placed in anyone’s plates), and the gravy. Top tip for the gravy: stir the granules

FOOD & DRINK Thursday, 3rd December 2020

(we won’t even pretend anyone’s making it from scratch) straight into the measuring jug, keep the kettle topped-up and boiled, and just make more as you go (instead of a very messy humongous batch at the beginning of the night which goes cold before anyone’s even carved the turkey).

The Desserts Without a doubt, Christmas pudding is an unforgettable mainstay at the dessert table during the holiday season. It’s even better when you light it on fire, but definitely a challenge to replicate in a student house.

For something that will create less of a fire hazard, try making a Christmas cake with your housemates. You get the best of both worlds: not only can you enjoy the delicious flavours of Christmas pudding, you can also have even more fun rolling fondant into different shapes. If you don’t like dried fruit, make any flavour of cake you want — chocolate is always a firm favourite.

Now is the time to shamelessly display your creativity: the artists among us might create a whole Nativity scene. The less artistically inclined (myself included) may create

questionable fondant monstrosities.

I have yet to meet someone who dislikes eating gingerbread. This year, I’ll be begging my housemates to make gingerbread cookies with me, and possibly to build a gingerbread house. The beauty of gingerbread is its versatility: you can buy premade mixes, or you can make your own from scratch, and it will still be delicious.

Deck the halls of your gingerbread house with icing in any colour of your choice - go wild with the decorations! Your landlord might not like you sticking blu-tack on the walls, but in your gingerbread house you’ll have free reign.

“deck the halls of your gingerbread house”

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The Entertainment If you’re feeling adventurous, play some games in the kitchen with your housemates! With the remaining uncooked root vegetables (baby potatoes and brussel sprouts) and toothpicks, compete to see who can create the best sculpture.

My friend created a brussel sprouts ferris wheel that managed to spin - can you top that? Luckily, none of these vegetables will go to waste, as they can be used afterwards.

Better yet, you can play this game on Zoom with a bigger group of friends!

And after the massive food coma hits, you’ll want to pass the time: preferably sitting down. You could go the traditional route and screen all the classic Christmas movies - every Home Alone film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Love Actually, Elf, The Polar Express, and more. This is the perfect way to recover from a massive meal: or if you’re like me, this is also the ideal opportunity for more snacking. Mince pies, anyone?

Illustration by Verity Laycock

MUSIC 14

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

DOMAN’S michaelmas mixtape Kat Pittalis interviews George Bone about DOMAN’s exciting new project for students Kat Pittalis Music Editor music@palatinate.org.uk

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s a result of the implementation of lockdown restrictions in Durham, the music scene has been affected greatly particularly with the inability to host live concerts and showcases. However, Durham’s Original Music & Alumni Network (DOMAN) have successfully found a way round this problem with their brand new Michaelmas Mixtape.

Over Zoom, I spoke to George Bone, the alumni relations officer for DOMAN, to discuss this brilliant concept and to understand DOMAN’s overall aim and impact they wanted to achieve with the Mixtape.

“people still have a voice and regardless of whether it’s in cyberspace or together, that voice needs to be heard” In normal circumstances, DOMAN would hold an ‘end of term showcase’ to provide the opportunity for Durham students to perform their original music to the wider community. However, this has not been possible this term due to the unfortunate lockdown restrictions, meaning the society had to think outside of the box to provide a way for Durham students to still have the opportunity to promote their original music. Most societies and colleges have turned to ‘Virtual Open Mic’ events but DOMAN wanted to be original and stand-out against this current trend and

thus, the Mixtape was born. George described the Mixtape as being “a compilation album of Durham’s original musicians and their talents, where it is not necessarily based on one culture but on multiple influences in one collective output.”

The overall goal of the Mixtape is to highlight that despite the Arts being knocked down and stretched by the consequences of the pandemic, it does not mean that artists persistence and creative output should go unnoticed.

The Mixtape features all self-produced and self-mastered original music, highlighting a spectrum of styles and genres. George comments that another goal

songs on the Mixtape were produced through sending files back and forth between each other. Discussing their creative output, the artists described their style as being ‘Art-Rock’ with a combination of sounds that listeners can hear on their debut album ‘Scary Earth’ as well as the tracks featuring on the Mixtape.

They see the Mixtape as being “the next best thing from live performances when it comes to new people hearing their music” and as an exciting way to share their original songs with the wider community.

DOMAN have gone above and beyond to continue allowing original music to take a precedence in Durham and providing students with these incredible opportunities to let their voices be heard in the wider community.

with the Mixtape was to emphasise that “people still have a voice and regardless of whether it’s in cyberspace or together, that voice needs to be heard”.

“DOMAN have gone above and beyond to continue to allow original music to take a precedence in Durham”

One group that are headlining the album are the winners of DOMAN’s Michaelmas song-writing competition, first year South and Van Mildert students Sam White and Ed Osborne, who form the band Escher. Due to Covid, the two have faced the challenge of not been able to meet in person to create their music.

The Mixtape is set to be released on Spotify on 10th December and on Apple Music a week later. As well as this, all of the songs on the Mixtape are excitingly going to be featured on a special episode of Purple Radio’s ‘Undiscovered Artists’ on Monday 14th December at 8pm so be sure to check it out and put that in your calendars!

This meant the overall creation of the

Image by George Bone

STAGE 15

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

Movie musicals in the age of Covid-19 Natalie Rengger discusses the rise of musicals making their way from stage to screen Natalie Rengger stage@palatinate.org.uk

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or a genre once consigned to the scrap heap, the movie musical has been doing remarkably well of late. An adaptation of The Prom will premiere on Netflix next month, In The Heights arrives in cinemas next June after being postponed by coronavirus, and a Dear Evan Hansen film is currently in pre-production. There’s been a rise in mainstream popularity of such films since the success of The Greatest Showman, La La Land, and the like, and both The Prom and In The Heights are ripe for adaptation, telling stories about love and community with underlying political threads that suit the cultural mood right now perfectly.

“film audiences don’t suspend their disbelief the same way theatre audiences do” The casting looks promising. The Prom’s Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep are clearly relishing their roles as selfobsessed Broadway stars who descend on a small town to support a young lesbian refused entry to her prom and James Corden is comfortable as ever in bringing the comic relief. In The Heights will see Anthony Ramos reprise his role as streetwise yet bumbling bodega owner Usnavi, and up-and-coming actress Melissa Barrera make her cinematic debut as the young and ambitious Vanessa.

Both will do well in the roles, but the real stand out for me has to be Stephanie Beatriz as Carla. She’s a side character, but a memorable one, who brims with a bubblegum sweetness so like Beatriz’ own persona that

it’s hard to believe she’ll be acting.

Casting is important. The wrong actor can ruin an otherwise brilliant script, and the right one can turn even the most boring premise into something special. But there are different priorities when casting for the stage versus the screen, and adaptations ignore this at their own peril.

For instance, in theatre, it’s not unusual for an adult to play a child or a teenager.

Under the glare of stage lights, physicality and vocal quality are more important, as the details of an actor’s physical appearance are less visible, and what matters most is a good live singing voice. But on screen, HD resolution makes an adult playing a teenager far less convincing.

This is the trap it looks as though Dear Evan Hansen may fall into. Ben Platt, who originated the role of Evan on Broadway, is heavily expected to return in the upcoming film. The problem is, Platt is a 27-year-old man with a full beard; Evan is 16, and a bit of a late bloomer at that.

There’s no real need for it, either. There are plenty of young, lesser-known actors who have played him since Platt left the show in 2017, who would do an excellent job. 18-year-old Andrew Barth Feldman springs to mind, or 25-year-old Jordan Fisher, who passes for a teenager far better than Platt does.

This is just one aspect of something any adaptation must understand: film audiences don’t suspend their disbelief the same way theatre audiences do. Sometimes, a show that works well on stage is very jarring on screen. Yes, I’m sorry, this means we have to talk about Cats.

“the popularity of movie musicals could be a lifeline” Nothing about that musical is realistic. Nothing about it makes sense— it isn’t really supposed to. And in a theatre, where an audience is suckered by the live spectacle of the thing, not detached from the action by a screen, it works. But when you transfer a play like that to cinema, a medium filled nowadays with CGI so clever you can scarcely believe it isn’t real, two hours of anthropomorphic feline soap opera feel, much like a miscast actor, somewhat out of place. And nothing kills a piece of musical theatre faster than the audience feeling like they’re watching a show, instead of experiencing it.

Right now, the musical theatre industry is going through unprecedented and transformative times. The popularity of movie musicals could be the lifeline it needs to get through this pandemic, but if it wants to make it last, theatre will have to be willing to re-write some of its rules.

If it fails to do so, all we can do is continue to wait for the end of this pandemic. If it succeeds, the movie musical looks set to remain on our screens long after theatres open once more.

Illustration: Samantha Fulton

TRAVEL 16

Thursday, 3rd December 2020

December Destination of the Month: Cologne Hannah Pilkington takes us on a seasonal tour of the German city of Cologne Hannah Pilkington travel@palatinate.org.uk

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ologne might seem like an unexpected choice for Indigo’s December destination of the month, yet this city has a wealth of sights and things to offer tourists and seasoned travellers alike, especially in the winter months. The city is home to an impressive variety of attractions from the famous Cologne Cathedral, amazing architecture in the Old Town, numerous museums and galleries and even a chocolate factory! Cologne also has the most pubs per capita in Germany, so why wouldn’t you want to visit?

From the Chocolate Museum take a stroll or Lime electric scooter (which is so much more fun) across the Hohenzollern Bridge to the prominent KolnTriangle. The panoramic views it offers are not to be missed, with sights of Cologne stretching as far as the eye can see. If history’s your thing then perhaps a Rhine river cruise is your perfect attraction, with everything from hour-long sightseeing tours to romantic evening panoramic cruises on offer.

Cologne at a Glance: Location: Germany Language: German Currency: Euro Cost: Cologne is fairly affordable compared to other German cities, making it a budget friendly holiday option.

Climate: Cologne has a temperate climate. With cool winters and warm summers, it’s a perfect destination all year round.

How to get around: Rail transport is quick and easy to get from the airport into the city.

However, walking or using the Lime electric scooters is the easiest way to see all the sights.

Cologne cathedral is undoubtedly the city’s star attraction and should be anyone’s first stop on a trip to the city. The landmark cathedral, now a UNESCO heritage site as well as being one of Europe’s largest, boasts striking gothic architecture which stands out against the city’s skyline, casting a dramatic shadow. Outstanding views across Cologne and the Rhine can be seen if you can climb the 500 steps up the Cathedral’s southern tower, but if heights aren’t your thing then the incredible interior and treasures inside the cathedral are something you will definitely want to see.

As you wander the historic streets you’ll crisscross into the historic Old Town, bursting with countless alleys and quaint houses that are now small boutiques, shops and cafes. At the edge of the Old Town,

the city opens up to an expansive coastal path which will take you along the banks of the Rhine, with many restaurants and bars to enjoy. If all the walking has taken its toll, then there are countless beer houses to choose from, including the famous brewery Frueh am Dom serving refreshing beer, hearty food and toasty open fires.

Maybe you have more of a sweet tooth, and if so then there’s no place better than the Cologne Chocolate Museum that creates and sells Lindt chocolate. You’ll be taken on a journey through the history of chocolate and finally into the production room where you are met by a giant chocolate fountain, with the best part being the variety of chocolates waiting to be sampled! Once you’ve finished your tour, head over to the café overlooking the Rhine to enjoy a luxurious hot chocolate, perfect for keeping warm on those chilly winter days.

Of course, no December destination of the month would be complete without mentioning some of the amazing festivities that the city offers, even in the current pandemic we find ourselves in.

Germany has always been famous for its grand Christmas markets and Cologne is no exception, as the magic of Christmas can be felt throughout the festively decorated city. Four million visitors flock to Cologne’s Christmas markets every year, drawn in by the seasonal food and drink, music, toys and crafts on offer. Particular highlights include the authentic German pastries, hot chestnuts and of course, copious amounts of mulled wine!

No doubt this year the situation is a little different like in many countries around the world. Unfortunately, the Christmas markets in Cologne have been cancelled this year due to the pandemic as cases are still high across Germany. A mandatory 10-day quarantine is in place upon arrival in Germany from the UK meaning festive celebrations will most likely be at home for many Brits during the holiday period this year.

However, for students on a budget, families, solo travellers and couples alike, Cologne is the perfect destination for a December getaway if you’re thinking about planning a winter holiday for next year… especially if you want to get into the Christmas spirit.

Image: Hannah Pilkington