Indigo Issue 738

indigo 28.02.12

2

Tuesday 28th February 2012 | INDIGO

indigo

O

Indigo Editor: Larry Bartleet indigo@palatinate.org.uk

contents

editor’s letter

ver the past issues, perhaps I’ve been too flippant in my editor’s letter; I’ve decided to go a bit more serious, and discuss something I care about. Like N-Dubz, when they helped children with enduring charity single ‘I Got Soul.’

What a song. That it was a great PR opportunity was superfluous to them: they really cared about those kids.

Following on from the DSU and LGBTa’s Pride Week last week, I thought I’d write about a couple of issues facing gay people. The most recent census found only 1.5% of the UK population is LGBT. If you’re not part of this minority, what do you imagine being gay is actually like? In some countries, it can get you ostracised, incarcerated or even killed: this is a pretty terrible state of affairs. Petitioning at www.allout.org can make a real difference.

In light of these prehistoric views, we are extremely lucky to live in a modern country like the UK. People are generally accepting.

They tend not to burn your house down. But minor things could still be addressed. Like, for example, use of the word ‘gay’ in a negative way. Homophobia seems to be conditioned into society by the word; from a young age, people call anything bad or annoying, and therefore undesirable, ‘gay’. So it’s not unreasonable for LGBT people to find coming out difficult: when everyone’s using the word negatively, it doesn’t exactly give off great tolerance vibes.

Even the most accepting of my friends use the word this way without thinking about it. Although some gay people don’t disagree with using the word pejoratively, I do. It’s technically a homonym, but you’re kidding yourself if you think it hasn’t got roots in homophobia. Whichever way you slice it, calling bad things ‘gay’ is hardly going to reduce homophobic attitudes. It’s probably only said out of habit, but at the same time, it reveals a colossal lack of imagination.

We should be rid of the ludicrous equation of ‘gay’ and ‘bad.’

I also commonly encounter stereotypical views of LGBT people enforced by TV. It’s great that LGBT people are commonly seen in the media, but representations are often lazy and clichéd. Frequently what we see is true of certain members of the LGBT community, but isn’t a genuine cross-section. It’s not good for the public to be fed such a monochrome image of gay people, because as a result, there is little variation among gay role models and public figures.

I hear things like ‘He likes musicals, you’d think he was gay’, which seems harmless enough, but saying this kind of thing instantly reveals that you patronisingly view all gay people as one entity with identical opinions. Straight people can be as dissimilar as Ross Kemp and Noel Fielding; it doesn’t follow that all gay people should be the same. What makes people interesting is that they don’t agree on everything – we should value these differences. Maybe it’s the fear of not being considered normal that makes people homophobic and prejudiced, but why care about being normal? Normal is boring.

If you gained nothing else from Pride Week, I hope that you’ll at least be brave enough to tone down the careless homophobia, folks.

Because we all know that homophobia is really gay. LB

i4&5: “I can’t believe this is my job”: Gabriel Samuels talks to Made In Chelsea stars, Hugo and Spencer

i6&7: Get SORTED: Molly Fowler finds out about chef Ben Ebbrell’s online cooking project

i8&9: Out of Our Depth: Our contributors review music from genres they aren’t used to i10: Little shop of Wonders: Vintage shop discovery in Durham’s Indoor Market

i11: London Fashion Week: Autumn/Winter 2012/13 round-up i12: Don’t mess with our heritage: P.D. James doesn’t hit the mark with her Pride and Prejudice sequel i13: A Nightmarish Reality: Niall Oddy reviews Hild Bede Theatre’s production of 4:48 Psychosis i14: Cinema’s Hidden Treasures: Three films for a rainy day

i15: Iraq: Getaway or stay away? Dominic Daly discusses travelling in Northern Iraq

the indigo playlist The Sitcom

Happy Endings is E4’s newest show about a group of friends, set after two of them split up at the altar. Self-aware, modern and kooky: think How I Met Your Mother, only funnier.

The Play

ACT presents an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the gothic cautionary tale set in Victorian London, at The Assembly Rooms Theatre, 1st-3rd March, 19:30

The Gig

The ex-Durham student King Charles, who has supported the likes of Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale, performs at Durham’s Live Lounge on Saturday 3rd March, 19:00.

The

Concert

Durham Univeristy Orchestral Society performs the world premiere of John Stanford’s second violin concerto in Durham Cathedral on Friday 2nd March, 19:30

The Album

Dry The River: Shallow Bed The folk band, performers at Vane Tempest Sessions back in 2010, release their debut on 5th March. It’s ‘folky gospel music played by a post-punk band.’

INDIGO | Tuesday 28th February 2012

features

Features Editor: Sarah Murray feature@palatinate.org.uk

The danger of the quote board: parents Photograph: Kevin Harber

3

Mrs Elvet sorts you out indigo’s very own Agony Aunt solves all your problems Dear Mrs Elvet, I’m heading abroad next year to Barcelona and I’m going to miss Durham. How can stop myself from becoming homesick for this lovely city?

Future ex-pat - Van Mildert

The awkward moment when...

T

...your parents read the quote board

he quote board (a.k.a.

‘The Bog-Sheet’) is a staple medium of student humour; no Durham student house is quite complete without a cork board proudly displaying the year’s worth of laddy chat, banterous double entendres and cringey flippant comments immortalised in post-it notes and biro scrawl.

This is not initially awkward; it is a beacon to visitors proudly declaring that “yes, that’s right, we are a funny bunch. In fact, here is a concise summary of this year’s most hilarious moments for your delectation”.

The awkward umbrella is only extended on the occasion of the ‘parental visit’. I’ll set the scene: a friend’s parents were visiting from America and on their first night in town I invited them, along with eight others for a meet-and-greet Germanthemed supper. I was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches to my Bavarian sausage plait when they arrived. As I dusted off my apron and went to say hello I heard the moth-

er’s voice from the next room proclaiming, in a confused and yet cheery American accent, the most awkward sentence I will probably ever write: “What’s this? I got a bald fanny?” The irony being, of course, that none of the offending quotes were actually mine.

“

I heard the mother’s voice from the next room proclaiming “What’s this? I got a bald fanny?”

I am much more disposed to say things like ‘Crumbs Alive!’ and ‘Oh My Giddy Aunt!’ than to make proclamations about the state of my nether-regions.

The bald fanny was my absent housemates’, along with

the ‘licked nipples’, and highly questionable claim by one housemate that she could ‘eat a 6lb baby’.

I regret to inform you that I spent the rest of the dinner overcompensating for my error in the form of nervous chat which inevitably led to ‘oversharing’.

The evening genuinely ended with me doing my incredibly inappropriate ‘epileptic fit impression’ to a doctor (the girl’s dad) and an epileptic friend whilst, all the while, my own voice was shouting inside my head “STOOOOOPP! WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING????!!!”

I feel at this point I should dispense some ‘Advice to Avoid Awkwardness’ but frankly, after such a tragic display of socially inept behaviour all I’m really in a position to say is this: if you feel yourself about to do an impression of a pretty traumatic medical condition, DON’T.

Miram Skinner

As an undergraduate I lived in Paris, sucking up the sights and sounds of the Rive Gauche as well as the men. I must admit I missed my dear Durham most terribly, and kept a picture of dear Klute in my wallet at all times. But never fear, one can survive this long-distance relationship. Barcelona doesn’t seem so different to Durham really; there are fortresses and huge cathedrals and even a bailey. Find your Klute and your tweed-bedecked gentleman (or lady) and you’ll be right at home!

Dear Mrs Elvet, I had the most fantastic Valentine’s Day! My boyfriend of all of three weeks arrived at my house in the morning armed with champagne and a basket of gourmet goodies to cook me breakfast. He then arranged for a treasure hunt around Durham where I discovered all manner of treats, including a Tiffany bracelet.

Unfortunately my single friends did not have as memorable a day and are bothering me with their continual rants about ‘men’. How do I stop their constant complaing? It’s really killing my buzz!

Annoyed – St Mary’s Darling, there’s nothing more off-putting than a woman scorned (or single), unless of course you’re single and the woman in question is in a perfect relationship. I have

experienced both sides and know which I prefer to reside on. Practically, I’d suggest you invest in a pair of ear plugs to cut out their incessant crying. If you really want to shut them up however, why not arrange for them to go out with your boyfriend’s friends. It might mean future Valentine’s days will be spent in competition and not complaints.

Dear Mrs Elvet, Why are people so mean? This week I’ve been yelled at on the train about my large suitcase, chastised by my lecturer over “not putting in effort” and reported to my JCR (in the most embarrasing of ways) for having a male visitor in my room. Whatever the reason, the people in question have not acted politely, they’ve just become angry. I have a good mind to stay cocooned in my room until the summer!

Upset – Josephine Butler My dear, let me say this. Certain people have very ‘small’ feelings, and in order to make themselves feel ‘bigger’ they love to exert their power in whatever way they can. Be it leaving you as a lover or giving you short shrift on public transport. My advice is two-fold. Picture them naked and vulnerable in your head, with you laughing at their, uhum, parts. And secondly, harden up my girl. You’re never going to get any where in life if you get upset at the smallest issue - and you literally won’t get anywhere by staying in bed (unless you’re joined by a welloiled Italian!)

Eleri Watson and Sarah Murray

4

Tuesday 28th February 2012 | INDIGO

cover story

“I can’t believe this is my job” Gabriel Samuels caught up with Hugo Taylor and Spencer Matthews, stars of Channel 4’s Made In Chelsea, on their recent visit to Durham

K

icking back with cocktails in the secluded VIP corner of Durham’s Whisky River, Hugo Taylor and Spencer Matthews, the male leads of Channel 4’s popular docudrama Made In Chelsea, are more than happy to oblige as yet another swooning Durhamite asks for a photograph with camera in trembling hand. Given the attention they have received from female party-goers so far tonight, you get the impression that this happens wherever the pair set foot in the UK. Surely it must get tiresome after a while?

“

I laugh sometimes when I’m made to look sad on the show when really I was having a great day

Matthews is emphatic: “Never.

We’ve only been in the public eye for a year but I’ve never found it irritating in the slightest, and not just because we like the attention. Being on the show has allowed us to go to incredible places we would never normally visit and meet people we would never normally meet, and we’re so grateful to our fans for supporting us along the way. I sometimes get asked to do five or six of these hosting events a week but not once have I thought ‘This is becoming such a chore’. It’s so great to meet all these people who enjoy watching the show as much as we enjoy filming it”.

“We just feel so lucky for what we’ve been given”, adds Taylor between sips of champagne, “The reception the show has received in the past year has exceeded any of our wildest dreams, we’re just enjoying the fame while it’s here. Nights like this with lovely surroundings and wonderful people for com-

pany... they remind us how lucky we really are”.

Due to filming commitments our celebrity hosts don’t make an appearance until 10pm, a full two and a half hours after doors opened to ticket-holders, but the screaming, clapping and pushing that greets their arrival indicates that the hundred strong crowd (at least ninety of which are female) are just glad the pair have graced Durham with their glamorous presence.

Taylor, patently the shyer of the two stars, is particularly keen to voice his excitement about the whole experience.

“It’s our first time here but I love this city already: the history, the people, the student vibe.

I went to university in London so I missed out on this kind of community”. His eyes flick over to the growing throng of fans huddled on the edge of the VIP enclosure. “Sometimes I can’t believe that this is my job”.

Only a year ago neither heartthrob had ever signed an autograph before. Eton-educated Spencer, 23, started out as a PR manager for a series of London venues before becoming a broker with City Index, a job he has now relinquished to explore the media opportunities that have been offered to him in the past year: “I’ve put my work in fi-

nance on hold for the time being, which I think is for the best. I’ve been told by city management that a place will be available for me should I choose to come back which is very kind of them, but I just want to try something different for now”.

Hugo, 25, went to Harrow before joining Spencer in PR circles and describes himself as the Chelsea crowd’s go-to guy for fashionable places in London to “see and be seen”.

When the concept of Made In Chelsea was proposed to the cast in early 2011, both men, who were best friends before filming began,

jumped at the chance to be on television together. Taylor never had any doubts about the idea: “It seemed like an absolute nobrainer for us at the time, so we signed up straight away. I just thought ‘I’m going to be on TV, having fun with my friends and getting paid to do it’. How could we say no? It’s a dream job”.

Over two series and a Christmas special the show, a large portion of which remains dedicated to the complex romances of Taylor and Mat-

thews, has accumulated a legion of well over half a million viewers per episode since its debut in early May. “We both watch the show but I make sure to switch over whenever I appear on screen”, Taylor concedes. “I have so much fun during filming but watching myself is too embarrassing for me to handle. I don’t know how Spencer does it”.

Matthews admits to being less bashful than his close friend “As long as I stay sober during filming nothing shocks me too much when I eventually see it on TV. During Series One we would have a few drinks before the cameras came on but we’re definitely more professional about it now.

“The show is so well-edited that sometimes our words get twisted slightly and important things don’t make the cut, which makes you wish it was more of a fly-on-the-wall kind of programme, like Jersey Shore.

I laugh sometimes when I’m made to look sad on the show when really I was having a great day and the

Hugo Taylor and Spencer

INDIGO | Tuesday 28th February 2012

cameras caught me looking pensive”.

Gossip and rumours about the misdemeanours and love lives of major characters have followed in the press, something Matthews remains philosophical about: “I treat this as a profession now, and I accept that these stories go with the job. There were reports that I smashed up a Lamborghini in a race last year which as a car lover I find a bit upsetting! I don’t let rumours annoy me anymore though; we always bear in mind that this whole fame thing is a bit of a facade and not something to be taken too seriously”.

The show is returning for a third series (“That’s partly why we’re so late”, says Taylor, “We’ve been busy filming all day”) due to be broadcast in the

Indigo Editor: Larry Bartleet indigo@palatinate.org.uk spring. Matthews, reported to be leaving the show after Series Three to pursue a media career, can’t contain his excitement for upcoming series. “All I can tell you is that I open the first episode by doing something never done before in a reality show”, he grins. “It’s going to be massive, I can’t wait. If this is going to be my last series I’m going to make sure it’s a good one”.

Taylor, who was left red-faced at the end of Series Two after public revelations of infidelities during his relationship with Millie Macintosh (“I haven’t really spoken to her since all that”), is looking forward to a quieter series this time around.

“I’m definitely going to have an easier time. My new girlfriend who I’m living with is appearing in the show which I’m very excited about, so hopefully everything will be more settled, although you never know with Made In Chelsea.

“The show is going to go much deeper in exploring the way we interact with each other as characters, with a lot more substance to individual relationships. The fans are going to love it”.

“

I have so much fun during filming but watching myself is too embarrassing

In the early hours the bar begins to empty out and the friends from Chelsea head out into the cold February night, still encircled by girls and happy to have their pictures taken every few seconds. “I still have to pinch myself sometimes, I don’t think it’s ever really going to sink in”, says Matthews.

“It becomes so surreal at times that all you can do is go along with it and take every opportunity that is presented to you. We’re just enjoying fame while it’s here and trying to stop it from getting to our heads”.

Matthews, stars of Made in Chelsea Photograph: Alan Clarke Photography

5

Catherine Bradfield asks what makes Made In Chelsea a guilty pleasure for Durhamites

B

y now most of you will have come across Made In Chelsea or MIC, the ‘dramality’ series starring wealthy twenty-somethings from Chelsea.

Following Spencer Matthews and Hugo Taylor’s appearance at Durham’s very own Whiskey River on Valentine’s Day, we have decided to reflect on the show a little and think about whether Durham has much in common with MIC and its cast.

If you asked ten Durhamites where they came from it is probable that a fair few of them would hail from London or in very close proximity.

It seems that a good number of these London-Durhamites do indeed come from a similar area of London as the Made In Chelsea cast.

Although they are perhaps a more exaggerated kind of posh than most Durhamites, it is true to say that the stereotypical Durham student (the Rah) isn’t a far cry from the wealthy, endlessly cocktail-drinking characters from Made In Chelsea, perma-tanned from all their exotic holidays. Spencer and Hugo may have felt quite at home in Durham last week.

We asked a die-hard Made In Chelsea fan (who claims to be the show’s biggest fan, evah) what they thought on the topic and it appears they have some very strong views.

“People at Durham are Made In Chelsea wannabes. If you go to Market Vaults on a Friday night all you can see are wannabe Made in Chelsea people”.

It seems that our fan is quite protective of the show’s image and also offers some other interesting views. Her favourite character is Jamie Laing because “he is like the bitch” but offscreen Ollie Locke is the funniest, with his Twitter page being a great source of amusement for many people.

Interestingly, she points out that Hugo is “overshadowed wrongly by Spencer as he is much more perceptive and has a dry sense of humour” which, she

adds, would make him a good date.

Even as the biggest ever fan of the show, she did say there was one thing she didn’t like: “the constant pouting is unnecessary, Caggie and Millie are the main perpetrators”.

“

The stereotypical Durham student isn’t a far cry from the characters of MIC

Finally when asked what her favourite thing about the show was, she replied simply “Francis skateboarding”. Which, we can all agree, did come as a bit of a shock; a wealthy entrepreneur, dressed in a suit, skateboarding up and down the more upmarket streets of London and then falling off was rather comical.

Although we may slate some characters from the show for being so exceedingly posh (Mark Francis) let us just have a quick look at some of their backgrounds and decide whether we would rather be in their position right now, instead of trudging through mounds of work and trying to figure out what on earth to do at the end of our degrees.

Spencer’s family own the exclusive Eden Rock Hotel on St Barth’s, Francis Boulle is a diamond mining heir, Hugo heads up PR for some of London’s finest entertainment venues, Fredrik is a model, Amber has her own online jewellery boutique, Caggie is a singer-songwriter, Jamie is heir to the McVities fortune (his great-great grandfather invented the digestive biscuit and the Jaffa Cake)... the list goes on.

So chilly Durham or sunny St Barths? I think I know where I would rather be.

All of Alan Clarke Photography’s shots of the event are available at www.alanclarkephotography.co.uk/your_pictures.html

6

Tuesday 28th February 2012 | INDIGO

food & drink

This bunch of old university mates prove student cooking is a fantastic way to eat well, make friends, and have fun in the kitchen Photographs: SORTED

Get SORTED Ben Ebbrell from the SORTED team talks to indigo about his passion for getting Britain’s students cooking

Y

ou know some people who are just innately successful? Well, Ben Ebbrell is definitely one of them. Trained as a professional chef, he decided fresh out of university - after a string of successful dinners for friends and an inspirational yet boozy pub discussion that he wanted to teach young people how to cook. Thus, SORTED was born.

Grabbing a handful of uni-

versity chums and harnessing his passion for helping those aged 18 - 30 to have more access to cooking, he took recipes into the 21st century by not only bringing out two cookbooks tailor-made for budding young chefs, but by publishing recipes online through Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and his very own SORTED website.

With a huge variety of recipes ranging from ridiculously

quick and simple to slightly more complex and impressive, the SORTED team know what students want, and how to give it to them.

If dishes like Thai-style tuna burgers, gorgonzola gnocchi with spinach and toasted walnuts or a Baileys souffle-style ice cream sound as mouthwatering to you as they do to us, then you need to get SORTED. Their cookbooks include sections like “Brain Food”, fea-

turing the best nosh to boost your energy pre-exams, and “Morning After”, showcasing foods that don’t want to make you hurl post Klute quaddies.

How very useful.

We caught up with the charismatic Mr Ebbrell to discuss his hugely successful career, what made him go into food, and to ask if he had any tips for all our keen cooks in Durham. He had plenty.

When did you first realise that you wanted to go into a career in food, and how did you go about doing this?

I kind of fell into food really. I’ve always loved the stuff and both my parents are good cooks (not trained… but selftaught), although I never saw it as a career. As soon as I was old enough I got myself a weekend job, it happened to be in a pub, I ended up cooking and have never looked back!

INDIGO | Tuesday 28th February 2012

After an A-Level in Food Technology I wanted to continue on the food vibe so did a university degree in ‘Culinary Arts Management’ at University College Birmingham and simply followed the dream. SORTED emerged out of a friendship group from home during my time at uni and has grown from there. Not exactly where I saw myself ending up… but I love it.

No two days are the same and what I do never feels like work.

In that sense I’m very lucky!

Who are some of your favourite chefs?

For me, there are tons. I adore Michelin starred food on special occasions, but my real passion lies in creating simple everyday food and passing that information on to others. Chefs who don’t over-complicate food but let it speak for itself are high up in my favourites. For example, Rick Stein, a food hero is a very natural guy who promotes great food wherever in the world he goes. In the same vein I think James Martin, Bill Granger and Nigel Slater are all brilliant at producing and presenting great tasty grub that isn’t too pretentious.

Who inspired your passion for food?

I was inspired, and still am, by the friends around me. When I realised what they were eating at university and that they needed a bit of insight into what was possible with food without too much hassle I was spurred on to show them. This sharing process expanded to friends of friends and then moved online where it has continued to grow for the past few years.

What is your favourite thing to cook?

That’s almost impossible to answer! I love many types of food and different dishes hit the spot on different occasions.

Warming, comfort food like homemade soups or sausage

and bean casseroles are great for this time of the year.

One favourite though is the lamb tagine (http://sortedfood. com/lambtagine) on our site… it’s quite an old one but still a firm favourite. Why not check out this and a few other recipes on our website. Watch the videos, give them a go and let us know what you think.

“

My real passion lies in creating simple everyday food and passing that information on to others

At the end of the day it’s not all about the food you cook, it’s also about who you cook it with and then who you eat it with.

What have been some of your biggest kitchen disasters?

There is no such thing as a disaster, only a learning curve.

What’s the worst that can happen? So a meal doesn’t quite go to plan - then you’ve learnt for next time, right? Just experiment and if you’re really unsure then why not give it a go it with friends and make it a joint effort. Having said that we’ve all had some clumsy moments… and working in front of cameras when you’re cooking makes for extra trouble! Take a peek out some of our outtakes and bloopers to see what I mean! http:// sortedfood.com/bloopers1

What advice would you give to students coming to university for the first time?

For fear of repeating myself… team up! Other students around you are in the same boat so work off each other. If you share a kitchen as well then even better. Wait til you get there, club together and buy a microwave, a sandwich toastie machine and

Food & Drink Editor: Molly Fowler food@palatinate.org.uk a stick blender. These bits of kit will make cooking up quick, healthy and cheap snacks so much easier throughout the year.

Make nights in with your mates as good as the nights out by cooking up some great simple food to share and get in a crate of beer or few bottles of wine. Social cooking is the way forward!

What advice would you give to students interested in a career in food?

Go for it! There are so many opportunities in the food industry beyond that of a chef. You’ve got to have a passion for food obviously, but it doesn’t all have to be about high-end food. At SORTED we love the sharing and teaching part. It’s not Michelinstarred cooking or even anywhere close… it’s much more about social cooking. You have to follow your dream, so if you want to go for it then do. Experience is of great value though, see if you can get a placement or internship somewhere to start… it’s great for earning a wealth of knowledge.

We say kudos to a team so interested in getting students cooking. In an age where Subway is always around the corner and the number for Dominos is most likely memorized, it’s refreshing to be handed the tools to get up off your backside and cook something fresh, fun and delicious with your friends.

With such first rate help, we can guarantee your university cooking will be sorted.

Molly Fowler

P

To read the full interview, go to palatinate.org.uk

7

SORTED’s New York style baked cheesecake

4

. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and vanilla in a bowl until smooth . Beat in the flour, then eggs one at a time . Place the biscuitlined tin on a baking tray, then pour the mixture in . Bake for 45 minutes before switching off the oven and leaving the door ajar so the cheesecake can cool.

When the oven is at room temperature transfer the cheesecake to the fridge . Put the brown sugar, lemon juice and blueberries in a pan and simmer for 1 minute, then leave to cool. . Serve a slice of the cheesecake with a spoonful of the blueberry compote

5 6 Ingredients: 250g Nice biscuits 125g melted butter 500g cream cheese 135g caster sugar 1 lemon 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 tbsp plain flour 4 eggs 200g fresh blueberries 2 tbsp brown sugar Method: . Crush the biscuits into fine crumbs and stir through with melted butter . Line the bottom of a loose-bottomed baking tin with the crumbs, about 1cm thick . Chill the base in the fridge and preheat the oven to 160°C

1

2 3

7 8 9

If you’re interested in learning more about SORTED or giving some of their recipes a try then log on to their website at sortedfood.com, check out their SORTED YouTube channel, or buy a SORTED cookbook at amazon.co.uk.

8

Tuesday 28th February 2012 | INDIGO

music

Reviewer: Joe Ennis Job title: Devout metalhead Music taste: All types of metal

No melody, repetitive drumming and lyrics that make less sense than a physics textbook written entirely in Sanskrit. As initial impressions go these aren’t good ones and unfortunately repeated listening doesn’t do much to change them.

From the title alone you can tell that Nicki is angry at someone (a cursory Google search suggests Lil’ Kim) and if I was going to review this purely as a diss track then I could probably say a few nice things. It certainly gets its point across (she really doesn’t like Lil’ Kim) and some of the insults are bordering on clever. But, as a song, it falls far short of the mark.

The lack of any backing beyond the incredibly repetitive Reviewer: Tim Hurst Job title: Vice President of Full Collapse, Durham’s longest running alternative music event Music taste: Heavy and alternative rock Track reviewed: ‘Jupiter’ by Holst (Classical) This piece is full of energy from the start. The orchestra builds tension wonderfully throughout the first minute before switching to a much more light hearted melody.

The piece changes smoothly

Reviewing music is inherently cursed by the fact that you only genre aficionados and threw them into the deep end of a comp was not pretty at all...

Joseph & David were the stars of Vane Temp

Photograph: Josh Pasden

between contrasting emotions and conveys them perfectly. I particularly enjoy the shift in focus of different sections of the orchestra to help convey the different moods of the song, such as the light jumpy xylophones emphasized during the happier sections is swapped for bowed violins as it gets moodier.

I don’t often listen to orchestral music but I have really warmed to this piece due to its use of dynamics and timbre. I am a fan of the percussion in this performance; often this can be a factor which turns me off classical music.

classical

Photograph: cjggbella

Out of our chart

Track reviewed: ‘Stupid Hoe’ by Nicki Minaj (Chart)

drum track means that the song really does rest on its lyrics and they just aren’t good enough, rhymes rely far too much on Nicki’s rather ‘interesting’ pronunciation.

There’s some potential here but it would be better for her to leave off the bitching for a song with some musical integrity.

‘Joseph & David’ – the most imaginatively named band since the debut single of Anaal Nathrakh - offer up this next iteration in the ever-increasingly bland sub-genre of folk commonly known as ‘The O.C. Breakup-or-Death Background Music’.

‘Falling Wood’ slots nicely in to place along with eternal greats such as Damien Jurado – ‘What Were the Chances’ and Trent Dabbs – ‘True Love Goes’.

The gentle cooing of Joseph and/or David gently coaxes the listener inside a comforting blanket of audible delight,

lulling them into a false sense of security before asphyxiating them with the plastic bag of indifference.

This is a song that is designed to illicit emotions (presumably about ongoing deforestation… we’re not sure) for those who ‘like to talk about their feelings’.

For all our criticism, one line in particular did resonate with us: “Falling wood / Don’t you know that time will save us?” we only wish that we could save the time that we lost on this song.

Reviewers: Wilf Odgers and Tom Moore Job title: Student promoters of Body Language club night Music taste: Drum and bass, house, dubstep Tracks reviewed: ‘Falling Wood’ by Joseph & David, above (Folk) ‘You Like White Women, I Like Cigarettes’ by Howler, right (Indie)

INDIGO | Tuesday 28th February 2012

Music Editors: Jess Denham and Will Clement music@palatinate.org.uk

depth

Reviewer: Octavia Lewis Job title: Publicity Officer for Musicon, Durham University’s professional classical concert series Music taste: Classical, jazz, big band

y review what you love. indigo took six pletely contrasting style. What ensued

pest’s Christmas gig last term Photograph: themmp.tv

Track reviewed: ‘Raise Your Weapon (Noisia Remix) by Deadmau5 (electronica)

Gunesque sun glasses on the youtube recording.

But talking of great music, Musicon’s Festival of East Asian Music anyone?

P

To hear these tracks, go to palatinate.org.uk

Photograph: Hyunji Choi

electronica

How on earth to start?

Analysing a piece, to me, means stirring up the tiniest dregs of enthusiasm for a piece’s ‘rich harmonic language’ somewhere around 3am, when confusion about what on earth to write about gives way to the helpful lucidity of sheer panic.

‘Rich harmonic language’ here wouldn’t get anywhere.

Perhaps this is what Darth Vader could have sounded like if he took to electronica. The remixing is the most impressive. It’s clean and tells a whole new story while overlays of the original sound throughout remind of the opening, but never gain a foothold. Could the conclusion ever have been predicted?

Somewhere near the beginning there was a hardly perceptible change from piano to elec-

tronics; then modification took over; tonality was bent; and the beat became all-encompassing.

If I had to relate it to a more classical form, it could, perhaps, function as a theme and variations? Perhaps.

It’s the little things that make me happy, and I really like this, from the details of the mixing to the robot with the Top

9

folk Of Their Sexual Orientation, Gender or Racial Background, I Like Cigarettes (Although I Recognise That They Are Detrimental To My Health and That Smoking Makes Me A Bad Role Model To Younger Generations)’.

Musically, this track offers little in the way of originality, but that’s to be expected from a genre famous for being utterly devoid of new ideas.

That NME determined Howler the third best new band of 2011 is a sure a sign as any that an inevitable decline into (more) obscurity awaits. Goodbye Howler.

Howler have been widely tipped as the new Strokes Photograph: Aurelien Guichard

indie

Whisky and painkillers. Two words that spring to mind when faced with a life filled only of the back catalogue of Minneapolis band ‘Howler’, proponents of Nu-Post-Apocalypse-Rock – a world where Distorted Guitar Strumming is king, attended to by his unerring mistress, PostRelationship Angst.

Back in our politically correct reality, the title ‘You Like White Women, I Like Cigarettes’ treads a fine line between absurdity and moral abhorrence. Perhaps they should adopt the alternative, more considerate offering: ‘You Like All People Regardless

10

Tuesday 28th February 2012 | INDIGO

fashion 2 1

4

7

Poppy wears: 1950s French lace corset, £25; 1980s Monsoon acid floral print pencil skirt, £12; Genuine Whitby Jet cross pendant, £40. All Vintage @ Durham Market. Shoes model’s own.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

6

Vintage college jersey, £16, Vintage at No.14 Plaid shirt, £16, Vintage at No.14 1950s Rabbit fur collar, £19, Vintage @ Durham Market Lilac sheer blouse, £18, Vintage @ Durham Market Levi’s cut-off stonewash shorts, £18, Vintage at No.14 Vintage brown clasped moc-crock bag, £14, Vintage at No.14 1950s white cosmetic bag, £25, Vintage @ Durham Market

Photography by Quin Murray - www.quinography.com Model: Poppy Wright, Van Mildert College Styled and directed by Olivia Swash

For more photographs from the ‘Little Shop of Wonders’ shoot, visit the Palatinate website.

Thanks to Karen, Joyce and Mike at Vintage @ Durham Market. Also to David and Victoria at Vintage at No.14.

Little shop of wonders...

3

5

O

n the streets of Durham, where Topshop and Superdry are glaringly obvious to all, it is sometimes hard to get away from the ubiquitous high street.

However, tucked away snugly in the back right-hand corner of the prestigious and fruitful Indoor Market are two hidden gems full of vintage treasures. Vintage at No. 14 was started up in October 2010 by the Stephensons, a couple who had both previously worked in the fashion industry. Here you can find cute cut-off Levi’s denim shorts, plaid shirts and real leather clutch bags sourced from the same place as Urban Outfitters.

But lucky for us, the stall sells them for around half the price!

If you’re around on a Saturday, a browse around their outdoor stall may land you with a colourful college jersey or a customised DIY pin-up tote bag. With a student discount of 10% with a valid NUS card, it’s hard to say no.

“

Items have their own history and unique story to tell

Just around the corner from No. 14 lies another exquisite stall, Vintage @ Durham Market, run by Karen Storey. She has been in the business since 1997 after pursuing her love of all things vintage after helping her grandma run stalls in the village hall as a child. Karen tells indigo that she does it for the love of the vintage objects and the lively and chatty customers as opposed to making money out of her beautifully eclectic stall. A dazzling range of antique jewellery, retro household trinkets and vintage leather luggage adorn the shelves and cabinets, while 70s floaty maxi dresses jostle for space with elaborate fur coats. Many of the goods retain sentimental value, coming from people around Durham who bring in their old items to sell. Items often have their own history and unique story to tell - part of the lure of buying vintage nowadays.

Sophia Chan

INDIGO | Tuesday 28th February 2012

Fashion Editors: Olivia Swash, Ella Cole and Sophia Chan fashion@palatinate.org.uk

London Fashion Week

Jonathan Saunders

Mary Katrantzou

Burberry Prorsum

Rising star Jonathan Saunders was this year’s BFC/ Vogue Designer Fashion fund award winner. His fall collection offered up slick tailoring in minimalistic lines, with a wide range of references. His version of granny-chic came with oversized cardigans and jumpers belted over geometric print shirts, while a sporty aesthetic was evident in his classic V-neck knitwear and brightly coloured visors. The jackets and coats featured a painterly geometric patter, whilst the colour scheme was splashed with rich tones of bright red and jewel green. The final pieces of the show included oriental floral embroidery over mesh tops and dresses.

Last year’s recipient of the Emerging Talent award at the British Fashion Awards, Mary Katrantzou showcased a much lauded collection. The colour schemes were based on “every day, mundane items”, using prints of clothes hangers, old-fashioned phone dials and teapots. A bizarre pink and yellow dress featured a “pencilpencil skirt” made entirely from fanned HB pencils. Impracticality notwithstanding, the collection was executed with her flair for graphic prints and sculptural shapes. This included necklines of cascading ruffles and Elizabethan ruffs, while empire line dresses featured gorgeous origami-esque floaty skirts.

This season Burberry went for the traditional English country theme, including many hunting and riding references based around autumnal shades of mustard, plum, brown and olive.

The classic trench was given an update of a peplum tweed side panel, while velvet was included in many jacket and skirt combos. Accessories featured heavily, including scrunchie princess bow belts over coats, and gold fox, owl and hound heads adorning weekend bags. The finale was suitably dramatic, with fake rain showering onto the glass roof of the show venue whilst the models sauntered out holding umbrellas against a cascade of gold foil.

This year I was lucky enough to gain a work placement during London Fashion Week with the British Fashion Council. Shadowing their work gave me a unique insight into the workings of Somerset house. I was able to see various exhibitions put together, as well as some of the front show action - the way in which seating hierarchy and press coordination was managed, and, of course, the shows themselves.

I expected my role to be a

rather unglamorous experience; but it surpassed all of my expectations. Armed with my BFC VIP pass, I had unrestricted access to all that the week had to offer, a highlight of which was undoubtedly the fashion week launch breakfast, where I heard speeches given by Sir Phillip Green and Harold Tillman whilst sipping champagne with fashion royalty. Quite a change from my previous work experience where I foud myself dragging a clothes rail around Selfridges

car park.

I also did a bit of celeb spotting and saw Alexa Chung and Gemma Arterton at the Issa show.

However, of course it was the shows that took centre stage and I was fortunate enough to attend a few. Felder Felder introduced their ‘Blonde’ collection, an army of statuesque fair haired models in dusty pink and metallic hues interjected with caramel furs and sheepskin in cocoon silhouettes.

11

Sophia Chan checks out the key shows of the Autumn/Winter 2012-13 season

Erdem Fashion’s darling for romantic florals, Erdem introduced new colour combinations of purple, acid yellow and royal blue for the new season. The darker colours made for a distinctly edgier feel to the collection, with a beautiful mix of leather paired with lace. There were oversized tweed coats with sculpted necklines, whilst the lace and tweed combinations created some interesting prints. The shoes

by Nicholas Kirkwood were highly covetable, with ankle boots nailed onto Perspex heels.

Erdem delivered an eminently wearable collection, a highlight of which was the overlay of lace over floral prints on the simple, tailored knee-length dresses.

E.Tautz Menswear is becoming increasingly important at LFW, and a menswear week will be featured for the first time in June. E. Tautz showcased impeccable Savile Row tailoring inspired by the works of industrialist sculptor Richard Serra. Dark muted tones were offset by brilliant scarlet, while battered fedoras created an interesting silhouette. Oversized coats and scarves were designed for protection against British weather but retained elegant forms of traditional tailoring. A scarlet coat contrasted with black trousers provided a dramatic ending to a well-crafted collection.

Illustrations by Ella Cole

LFW intern: An insider’s experience on rubbing shoulders with fashion’s elite

“

I had unrestricted access to all that the week had to offer

Issa took the audience on a ‘trans-Siberian journey’ with a mix of eclectic paisley prints and

elaborate embellishment akin to that on Russian Dolls, together with furry cossack-style hats.

My favourite, John Rocha, was inspired by a winter landscape, with silk, lace, wool, cashmere and lambskin grounded in black and highlighted by gold, navy and green. The LFW experience feels quite detached from real life, but the way it mixes fashion with events makes it the perfect way for anyone to be involved in the industry.

Charlotte Perks-Taylor

12

Tuesday 28th February 2012 | INDIGO

books

Books Editor: Izzie Bengoechea books@palatinate.org.uk

The Darcys’ idyllic lives are disrupted by the surprise apperance of Lydia in P.D. James’ reworking of Austen’s classic Photograph: Delaney Chambers

Don’t mess with our heritage P.D. James’ effort to recreate the world of Austen in Death Comes to Pemberley is brave but clumsy, writes Stephanie Southall

I

congratulate P.D. James on what is a brave attempt to sequel the novel widely accepted as the pinnacle of Jane Austen’s literary works.

However, I cannot award a more positive adjective than ‘brave’, as Death Comes to Pemberley attempts to incorporate a second-rate murder mystery into Austen’s world, which falls far short of, and appears frankly bizarre in relation to, Pride and Prejudice.

Although James evokes the Darcys’ and their contemporaries’ nineteenth century quotidian lifestyle through a light spattering of cultural references, such delicate nuances are heavily outweighed by an abundance of spectacularly clumsy similes in the latter half of the novel.

Not only do such unnecessary attempts at a more interesting narrative style utterly reject

the traditional English heritage around which Pride and Prejudice revolves, but add a weight of irrelevancy and poor penmanship which betrays James’ literary inferiority, and blemishing the overall outcome of the sequel.

“

Delicate nuances are heavily outweighted by spectacularly clumsy similes

What with a scandal of illegitimate children, an unlikely criminal and far-from-original

use of Wickham as a target for prejudice, the plot of Death Comes to Pemberley appears a far more fitting companion piece to the recent hyperbolic film adaptation, as opposed to Austen’s complex commentary on Regency society. Even James’ phrasing reflects more that of Emma Thompson and Deborah Moggach in the 2005 film adaptation, rather than the original words in the 1813 novel.

Another of P.D. James’ failings is the narrative style, and in particular, the controversial neglect of Austen’s best-loved protagonist Elizabeth Bennet.

James disregards the stylistically limited omniscience narration employed by Austen, which complemented so well contemporary nineteenth century male and female social etiquette.

Consequently, her subject matter is exclusively male-oriented

and therefore largely excludes the lady of Pemberley. What with entire scenes within her novel comprising solely of male characters, the reader is left (unsurprisingly) dissatisfied, and this bizarre choice eventually fractures the sequence of the entire story.

If James’ intention was to continue Austen’s Pride and Prejudice on a similar level, I’m afraid she has fallen short. However, she offers Austen fans a light read and possible conclusion for the Bennet sisters, so perhaps they will be somewhat content.

But do not be disillusioned; despite being a brave attempt, it lacks the talent necessary to continue one of the greatest novels in the English language. It is but another rather trashy sequel which Austen would likely find ridiculous, if not offensive.

Sarah Lovell explains why Tolkien’s The Hobbit is the perfect remedy to those mid-term blues

“I should like to know about risks, out-of-pocket expenses, time required and remuneration, and so forth” - by which he meant: “What am I going to get out of it? And am I going to come back alive?”

Fussy, fretful and bordering hysterical, Bilbo Baggins never leaves his house without his handkerchief. Indeed, with no hat, no stick and no pipe, how can a hobbit survive? For anyone familiar with perhaps Tolkien’s best-loved work, you’ll know that there’s no good in frivolity because ‘adventures make one late for dinner’.

Yet for all his angst, Mr Baggins has perhaps more than any fictional character to teach about moral fibre in times of darkness (preferably devoid of Wargs, Shelobs and Orcs).

For a truly inspiring lift to your month, Mr Baggins sets a spirited example for the most timid of temperaments, proving that ‘backbone’ isn’t just for the Striders among us.

A flawless blend of comedy and commotion, a voyage through the Misty Mountains will dispel the thorniest of essays and ignite a spirit worthy enough of the infamous Fellowship. Leaving no cave unturned, Tolkien’s triumph reveals the definition of ‘true grit’. Definitely for the faint-hearted!

INDIGO | Tuesday 28th February 2012

stage

Stage Editors: Anna Bailey & Sarah Johnson stage@palatinate.org.uk

A nightmarish reality

Photograph: Harry Gatt 4:48 Psychosis Caedmon Hall

«««««

Niall Oddy

W

hat compels us to watch a play that deals with mental illness? Are we seeking entertainment, or something deeper? Hild Bede Theatre’s adaptation of 4.48 Psychosis offered the latter in a well-acted and extremely creative production.

From the beginning the audience is plunged into the action as it becomes apparent that fellow audience members, sitting behind and next to us, are in fact characters in the play.

Throughout, the fourteen actors in the cast oscillate between the stage in front of us, the space behind us and the seats next to us, pushing past without an ‘excuse me’, unceasingly in character. They touch us, talk to us and hand us pages ripped from a book.

We thus become more than spectators. We are objects, springboards for the characters to act against. And we do not know what to do. Should we look at the stage?

“

We become more than spectators. We are springboards for the characters to act aginst

Or at the character sitting at our feet and untying our shoe laces?

Or at one of the others amongst the audience? Or away from them all? We feel on edge, uncomfort-

able. Which is precisely the point.

We are forced to question ourselves, to wonder how to react and how to feel about the raw, chaotic emotion on display.

This then is the creative ingenuity of director Hannah Brennan.

She has taken Sarah Kane’s script, with its lack of plot and its absence of stage directions and characters, and put the dialogue into the mouths of fourteen different characters.

Lines repeated, lines chanted in unison by all, lines whispered, lines screamed; we see the suffering of many, a collective pain that drags us into the nightmarish reality. Crucially, the excellent cast are more than able to portray this.

The performance is at its best when the cast interact with one another. There is violence, and there are brief moments of tenderness and glimpses of love – hope amongst the despair.

When the doctor, who spends much of the play circling menacingly around the audience, comes forward to say to his patients the lines that do not help them, we are forced to consider how society regards mental illness. The weakest element is the script itself: powerfully affecting when simple (“I don’t want to die” repeated in unison), the more elaborate formulations, such as “the chronic insanity of the sane”, leave us cold.

All in all, this production of 4.48 Psychosis – commendable for its vision and its execution – was perhaps not enjoyable, but was nonetheless thought-provoking and powerful.

Everybody gets footloose at Queen’s Campus Footloose Infinity Musical Theatre

«««««

Elissa Churchill As I boarded the X1 bus on my way to the ARC Stockton Arts Centre, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Infinity Musical Theatre’s Footloose. The show promises to be a high-octane, toe-tapping musical and I did have my doubts as to whether the company would be able to replicate the vitality of the rock ‘n’ roll era.

However, by the time I was

heading home on the aforementioned X1, I could proudly say that I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Footloose revolves around city boy, Ren McCormack, who shakes up the small town of Bomont, where dancing is prohibited. Harvey Oppermans, in the role of Ren, is a very capable leading man, charming and with a fine voice. Tanya Burton, as reverend’s daughter Ariel, displayed a very pretty and engaging singing voice, but occasionally lacked purpose.

However, the show’s real strength was in the characterisation of the other townspeople.

Phil Hindle should be commended for his sympathetic

and mature portrayal of Reverend Shaw. Helen Moore and Chloe Taylor both gave notable performances as mothers torn between their love for their children and their social duties.

Their understated and subtle performance of ‘Learning To Be Silent’ was simply beautiful.

Highlights included Alex Callaghan’s dim-witted cowboy Willard, an audience favourite, with his surprisingly strong number, ‘Mama Says’, as well as Tsemaye Bob-Egbe’s highly energetic rendition of ‘Proud Mary’. This created an incredibly dynamic start to Act 2 that created an energy that carried the rest of the show.

The show was a joy to listen

to, thanks to the impeccable musical direction of Luke Robbins-Ross and his band, which brought old classics to life.

My only criticisms would be that occasionally the company lacked energy, most predominantly in the choreography, in which they could have afforded to really ‘cut loose’ a bit more.

There were a few moments of questionable blocking and lighting, but these criticisms in no way detracted from the audience’s enjoyment of the show.

Overall, and by the audience’s reaction, it was clear that a thoroughly good night was had by all. It was an uplifting performance which made my journey on the X1 most definitely worth it.

13

Preview: Rent Sarah Johnson gets the low-down on DULOG’s upcoming production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent from director Doug Gibbs Firstly, could you tell us what Rent is about?

It’s about a group of bohemian friends living through the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in 1980s New York.

It’s pretty heart-breaking in places, but the overall message is one of hope, I think.

Rent is based on Puccini’s La Bohème, to what extent are the two pieces similar?

Musically they couldn’t be more different. La Bohème is a straightup opera, whilst Rent is a rock musical. Obviously the cultural contexts of 1830s Paris and 1980s New York are also pretty different, and the characters in each face different challenges, but in essence both works are about a group of artistic, anti-establishment friends struggling to find their place in the world.

What made you want to direct Rent?

Personally, I just think it’s one of the best musicals ever written.

It also tackles a lot of potentially controversial social and political issues, which can be quite rare in musical theatre, so there’s a lot for me as director to get my teeth into.

You’re the director of the show, what exactly does that entail?

Well, ultimately I have responsibility for every aspect of the show. I decide on the creative direction of the production and direct the actors on stage, and but my role is also to unify all elements of the production, the costumes, the lighting, the music, the set etc, to make sure they all adhere to the same overall creative vision.

Rent in three words?

Gritty. Heart-wrenching. Uplifting.

Lastly, why should indigo readers come and see Rent?

Rent really is unique. It entirely breaks with the standard musical theatre jazz hands stereotype. Its characters are real, flawed people who face real challenges, and because of this it’s very powerful, to an extent you don’t always get in musical theatre. We’ve also managed to assemble an astounding cast who, I promise, will knock your socks off. Rent is going to be two hours of pure, brilliant musical theatre, shot through with reality. See it!

Catch Rent at The Assembly Rooms Theatre, 7th - 10th March at 7.30pm

14

Tuesday 28h February 2012 | INDIGO

film & tv

Alex Leadbeater discusses the contentious issue of the remake What is David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? On the surface it’s a remake of the 2009 Swedish film adaptation of the novel. But it’s also a film of the director’s distinct style; the paranoia of Zodiac, the dark macabre of Se7en and the unflinching, brutal nature of Fight Club.

More adventurous types could call it a potential Oscar contender. Those involved in it would like it to be called something else: a “re-adaptation” of the hit book, not a “remake”.

“Remakes” are often been derided, a dirty word in film circles; cautionary tales such as Gus Van Sant’s ridiculous shot for shot remake of Psycho, and the splurge of Michael Bay-produced horrors such as Friday the 13th keep coming to mind. However, foreign language films present a different animal completely.

There can be something admirable about taking a little-known classic and giving it a massive audience, especially when people are unwilling to read subtitles. The Ring, a close remake of the Japanese Ringu, is often cited as an example. Yet a simple cashin is much more common, and it’s hard to excuse these insulting attempts.

TV isn’t immune either, and it is normally UK shows that provide the victim, with the boundary proving to be culture, not language. Whilst the premise of an office culture is universal (The US Office is now in its 8th season), UK/Mancunian nostalgia simply isn’t, leading to a carcrash such as the US Life on Mars, which ended with a painfully literal interpretation of the title as Sam Tyler finds that he is in fact a hibernating astronaut(!).

But as Fincher showed us this Christmas, if a filmmaker with talent takes their cues from their own culture, the results can be brilliant; the best example being Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-scooping crime epic The Departed.

The broad plot and characters remained, but the Hong Kong feel of Infernal Affairs was used as a jumping off point, not a literal translation, riveted with new themes, such as religion and Bostonian culture.

Ultimately, an adaptation lives or dies by its execution, rather than its content; as long as gifted professionals rather than cashdriven yes-men are at the helm, something really special can be produced.

Film & TV Editor: Ed Owen film@palatinate.org.uk

Cinema’s hidden treasures indigo introduces the best films you’ve (probably) never seen

R

One Hour Photo

Photograph: Fox Searchlight Pictures Mark Kermode once said that what makes a film great is its ability to keep showing you something new, even on repeat viewings: I agree with him.

While Kermode was writing about 70s horror classic The Exorcist, I believe that his theory also applies to Wes Anderson’s absurdist masterpiece, The Royal Tenenbaums.

The films concerns itself with the Tenenbaum family; the divorced parents Royal and Etheline and their children, former child prodigies who have become depressed, barely functioning adults.

The story begins with the revelation that Etheline is going to marry her accountant, causing the uproariously amoral Royal (played by a career-best Gene Hackman) to fake a life-threatening illness to thwart the union

and reconcile with his estranged children.

The plot is utterly labyrinthine, but so is the humour, echoing Kermode’s adage of finding new things. I must’ve seen this film about twenty times, and yet I still find new things to chuckle at, whether a one-liner, a sight gag or even Royal’s crass demeanour. It’s richly textured, and entirely the better for it.

It’s true; this is a strange film. Anderson and Wilson’s absurdist screenplay won’t be for everyone, but for those who like to think about their comedy, it shows both a great director (Anderson) and great actors (Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson… the list goes on) on top of their game. This makes The Royal Tenenbaums remarkable.

Ed Owen

Tyrannosaur Photograph: image.net

obin Williams is a criminally underrated actor, often confined to comedic roles, though capable of much more, as in Dead Poets’ Society and Good Will Hunting (for which he won his only Academy award for Best Supporting Actor).

His unjust typecasting means that even his greatest films don’t recieve enough of the limelight.

This includes the magnificent One Hour Photo. Williams plays Seymour ‘Sy’ Parrish, a perfectionist who devotes his life to his job developing photographs.

By looking at his photos, he is able to assuage the terrible loneliness that hounds his quiet, mediocre life. The story follows his obsession with the Yorkes, a seemingly perfect family who

have used his photo shop for years.

Sy’s loneliness is conveyed by director Mark Romanek in many ways; the subtle distance that is placed between his photo developing shop and the rest of the mall in which he works, the harsh and whitewashed world he lives inhabits. This allows us to better understand what led our ‘protagonist’ to lead such a secluded existence and his fantastical escapism.

Williams’ subtle yet poignant portrayal of an unobtrusive, mentally disturbed man is unforgettable; his acting and narration deftly capturing the true nature of loneliness. It is a travesty that one of Robin Williams’ greatest films is also one of his least known and acclaimed.

Daniel Goncalves

The Royal Tenenbaums Photograph: Touchstone Pictures

In the run-up to this year’s Oscars, talk has been centred upon The Artist, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Drive and Shame.

While many of the sentiments on these films are justified (Extremely Loud is an anomaly on the Best Picture list which will remain undecipherable for generations, Michael Fassbender should have won Best Actor hands down) one film has been criminally absent from the popular debate: Tyrannosaur.

Paddy Considine’s debut was one of the highlights of Sundance 2011 with awards for World Cinema Direction (Considine), Breakout Actor (Peter

Mullan) and Breakout Actress (Olivia Colman), as well as a prestigious Grand Jury Prize nomination.

Considine’s writing and direction of Mullan’s Joseph depicts a harrowing vision of life in the Midlands on a council estate.

But there lurks a palpable hint of a silver lining to those everpresent grey clouds.

It could be a result of the graphic nature of the domestic abuse scenes; the reasons for the film’s omission are unimportant. What is important is that film fans do not display the same negligence of one of the best films of 2011.

James Oliver

INDIGO | Tuesday 28th February 2012

travel

Travel Editor: Alexandra Groom travel@palatinate.org.uk

15

Iraq: getaway or stay away?

Dominic Daly takes a look at an unlikely holiday destination

I

raq is not the kind of place you go to if you want a holiday browsing high-end boutiques and relaxing in tranquil swimming pools.

Certainly the very suggestion of venturing into this region of the world makes people feel uneasy.

Iraq as a whole is very dangerous, especially for Westerners and every week you hear news about bombs and kidnappings that would put off the most heart-strong travellers. However, to the north of Iraq, there lies a gem.

Iraqi Kurdistan is the autonomous Kurdish region in the north, with its own government, its own army and its own thriving culture. With the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the previously oppressed Kurds in the north were able to spread their wings and take off into a new era of social and economic development that was previously impossible under Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime and his hatred of the Kurds.

Wherever you go in Kurdistan you are welcomed almost as heroes, with free food, free taxi rides and a kindness and genuine sense of pride in their region that is hard to find elsewhere in the world.

The three main cities are Dohuk, Erbil and Sulemani and they are by no means run-down, poverty-stricken locations: as you enter the main cities you are greeted by smooth roads, traffic lights and high-rise buildings that show the development of the region since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Most hotels are cheap and in Dohuk we found a very pleasant place to stay, Parleman Hotel, which was £15 a night with friendly concierge that spoke perfect English and boasted that he could speak many more languages as well.

“Dream City”, the theme park located not too far from the city centre provided a cheap and entertaining way to enjoy the night with a rollercoaster and Healthand-Safety-free go-karting.

Erbil, the unofficial capital city in Kurdistan, is built around the Citadel, which some claim is the oldest continually inhabited place on earth. The Citadel is situated on the top of a plateau which gives some great views when looking out over the city from the walls. If you’re lucky enough to visit during the summer, then Sami Abdul Rahman Park is an absolute must, to see thousands of types of flowers in bloom, filling the air with their scent.

For the beer-lovers there is German beer garden called Deutschers Hoff in the Christian quarter, though this is quite a hard place to find, and the beer is very expensive at around £10 a pint. After a few months without good beer though, this place really is a life-saving oasis.

Sulemani is a very diverse city with spectacular malls filled up with such rare items as ‘Virginity Soap’ and a range of fake Kevlar armour. But its clean, well-kept streets hold a very sad history. Visiting the Amna

Suraka museum you see where Saddam’s Ba’ath regime killed and tortured many innocent Kurds in its Anfal campaign.

“

Wherever you go in Kurdistan you are welcomed almost as heroes

One of the most touching places in Kurdistan is the nearby town of Halabja which too holds a horrific story: in 1988 the Ba’athist regime bombed and gassed the town, eventually killing around 15,000 Kurds.

Visiting the museum dedicated towards the memory of these people is very humbling, and when we asked if we could donate money towards the

museum, the owner replied “We don’t want money; we just want people to know what happened here”.

When travelling from place to place it’s impossible not to take thousands of pictures of all the amazing scenes and natural wonders.

The countryside is dotted with waterfalls and gorges that astound and amaze, and most taxi drivers will know a plethora of places to take you to. One of the famous ones is Gali Ali Beg: a waterfall deep in the middle of a gorge which is visited by swarms of tourists from southern Iraq.

Although it’s not quite there yet, Iraqi Kurdistan has all the makings of a great place to travel to: friendly locals, stunning landscapes and a fascinating history.

In ten years’ time it wouldn’t be surprising if Erbil was a holiday destination as popular as Dubai and it’s definitely a place to visit for any aspiring travellers.

Erbil, the de facto capital of Kurdistan Photograph: Dominic Daly

Tuesday 28th February 2012 | INDIGO

Out of our depth Our contributors give different genres a spin i8&9 Get SORTED Molly Fowler interviews the internet chef Ben Ebbrell i6&7 A nightmarish reality 4:48 Psychosis reviewed, i13

the back page crossword

Across: 1 Continuous watching over nation (6) 7 Ontario article bearing television broadcast (2,3,3) 8 A sandy peninsular roaster (4) 10 Coax a lost, pedestrian centipede astray (6) 11 Type of flavouring causes involuntary jerk after expert addition to chips (6) 14 At this point, failing to start before (3) 16 Opportunity will only do it once (5) 17 Catch sight of Yankee especially in advance (4) 19 Bounded casual plod East (5) 21 Work, nearly without end, to acquire skills (5) 22 The man who’s odd jobs, bar one, encompass total (5) 23 Rapper’s toy (4) 26 Anticipate reflecting about base of Taiwan, mostly (5) 28 Pray on street corner (3) 29 Pick up defect when swapping Foxtrot for Tango (6) 30 Position lodgings (6)

online

Stage review: Anything Goes

Gig review: TEED

Music: Radar

Emma Hetherington is impressed by TCMS’ production of the classic musical set aboard a cruise ship.

Luke Stockton reviews DJ Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs’ recent gig at Newcastle’s The Other Rooms

Check out our brand new music suggestions, uploaded weekly. tUnE-yArDs, above, impress with ‘echoes of everything’.

31 Bright but choppy start on Blea Water (4) 32 Harpoon many a knight (8) 33 Greetings to a burgundy bovine?

(3,3)

Down: 1 Mourn sound leg armour (6) 2 End of a breath (6) 3 Musical reminder (4) 4 Barbie’s man may be stylish, but he’s a coward really! (7) 5 Poetic division cannot briefly take on over (5) 6 Strain Watson’s counterpart (5) 8 Estimated position following street is a little higher (4) 9 To decorate in the freezer (3) 12 Start trying to finish (3) 13 Coolly disconnected the capital of Sicily (5) 15 A croaking jackal? (5) 18 Where in Buckinghamshire is so wet all over the place? (5) 19 Directed Edward after dealing with beginner (3) 20 Nosey look at party considering the odds (3) 21 Handled flat Cheddar inside (7)

22 Depart gambling implement (3) 23 Cry out in pain cowardly (6) 24 Stare whilst Lego is pulled apart (4) 25 Further removed than your other half’s parent? (6) 26 Glad, ultimately content, at eighteen (5) 27 Make up for single pitch (5) 28 Cover holy book without the French (3) 30 In which to slip Birmingham hat for a soak! (4) Emily Woodhouse Solutions from Issue 737: Across: 6 M-in-ion 8 Su-pp-er 9 Develop 10 All-ude 11 min-now 12 hope-d 13 plebeian 16 anew 18 energy 19 apple 20 Beauty 22 Myth 23 Bind-weed 26 rules 27 Garden 28 Engage 29 persona 30 headed 31 O-mber Down: 1 UN-glue 2 coddle 3 Oberon 4 C-upid 5 Opening 7 Nee 8 some-one 12 happy 14 lobby 15 Bekah 16 Arrow 17 E-y-rie 18 Elvis 19 Attuned 21 Eternal 23 Bedsit 24 Dynamo 25 Enam -el 26 Repel 28 Eno

photography

We are happy to announce the recommencement of our photography competition for indigo’s back page. Enter your best shots on the theme of ‘March madness’ to be featured right here in the next edition of indigo. Entries must be submitted by 16:00 on the 4th March. E-mail your photo with the subject ‘Photocomp’ to indigo@ palatinate.org.uk. Below is a beautiful shot of Durham by Palatinate’s Deputy Photography Editor, Katie Merchant. To become involved in photography for the paper, e-mail photography@palatinate.org.uk.

Scan the codes with your smartphone to read:

The results of our Popolo competition are in: the winner of the voucher is Jenny Dell, from University College. Congratulations!