qmunicate issue 98 • 15/10/12 • www.qmunicate.wordpress.com
ICONS OF MUSIC Inside: Salmond Slammed - Malachy Clarke , Mental Deviant - Hendrix - Returning Icons - Taken 2 - Youtube Censorship- Ryder Cup Recap
Words of a Boardie Our President takes his turn in the column that will have a different board member discuss their work each issue.
Contents 3 • Words of a Boardie 4 • Diary Dates: Halloween; QMU By-Election; 5 • Toxicity; Language Lost 6 • What Tweet are Twoo?; Salmond Slammed. 7 •Language Lost; qmunicuts 8 • Malachy Clarke: Mental Deviant 9 • Dan Le Sac Interview 10• Remembering Hendrix
Welcome to the first issue of qmunicate for the academic year 2012-13. In the minimal downtime from your intensive studying, debating and general academia-ing, I hope that the Queen Margaret Union is providing everything that you need of a day in University.
To fully take advantage of the QM’s services, you should become a member: it’s completely free and it lasts you until next year. This lets you do simple things like come into the building at night – signing in up to four friends – and run and vote in elections. It also brings benefits such as a 15% discount in the QM Shop, and access to the points system in catering. More generally, it is your membership card to a huge, diverse and vibrant community of Glasgow students, with enough interests, activities and opportunities to keep you occupied for your time at the University of Glasgow and beyond.
The Board of Management are here to make sure that the Union reflects the interests and needs of the thousands of people who use the organisation every day, and they are answerable to you. On the 20th of this month, representatives from the Board of Management will be attending the demonstration in the middle of Glasgow that underline the need for At the start of next month, we will see the first opportunities and futures for you – the students QM election of the year. This is a great chance of Glasgow, and in particular our members. for you to shape the Union as you see fit, defining its direction by casting a vote. If you The QM itself offers a whole bunch of want to go beyond this, you may want to run opportunities for you to develop above and for a seat on the Board of Management – the beyond the lessons of your lecture theatres. student volunteers responsible for everything The many clubs and societies that meet in that the Union does. It’s as easy as submitting the Union can help you develop confidence, a nomination form. valuable life skills and – importantly – meet new people with similar tastes to you. Through However, the Union exists to cater for – and QM committees, you can learn skills such as enrich – the thousands of members that every (amongst many others) writing, presenting, day just want a place to sit with their friends and design, editing, and technical disciplines – such eat, or have a quiet pint with their notes and a as sound and lighting – purely by attending newspaper, or come to Cheesy (or Panda) and and volunteering. Through both committee blow off some steam. It is only through the time, and Board involvement, you can attain valuable enjoyment and attachment of people such as additions to your degree transcript – the piece you that we may ever hope to continue for the of paper given to you upon graduation that years to come. As the student organisations attempts to summarise everything that you that define the University of Glasgow above all have achieved at uni – so that when you leave of the rest come under threat– from forces both the University, you will have written proof internal and external to the University – the that you have a level of skill, involvement and decision over whether or not we may continue dedication that sets you out from those with lies with you. just a degree. [Colum Fraser]
11 •Returning Icons 12 • Mascot Madness? 13 • Chinese Democracy 14 •John and Barry, Jims Bar Philosophers 16 • Recorded Music; Mumford and Sons; State Brodcasters; Jake Bugg; DJ Fresh’ 17 • Live Music: Junebug; Periphery/BTBAM 18 • Movie Reviews: Taken 2; Sinister 19• Arts & Culture: Closer; Wonderland 20 • Tech: Digital Storage; Censored 21 • Sports: Can You Hear the Crickets: Ryder Cup Recap
qmunicate • 3
news
Diary Dates
The best of the QM’s calendar
Halloween! 31.10.12
Halloween at the QM is always a sight to behold. With a decked-out union, costumed revelers, and spooky goings-on throughout the night, Queen Margaret Union’s annual Halloween night promises to be one of the best nights of the year. Last Halloween the place was chock full of amazing costumes - from Bobba Fett to huge Tetris pieces - and this year we expect to see even bigger and even more inventive costumes
with a £100 cash prize going to the winner of best costume! Get your paints, needle and thread out now to be in with a chance of winning some fat dolla. After that a transformed QMU will play host to the best Halloween clubnight in Glasgow - with spooky classic songs from resident legend Cheesy Pop legend- DJ Toast - to match the Halloween fun happening all around the building!
Save your costume memories forwever in our photobooth! Get your cocktails in cauldrons whilst playing fun Halloween games in Jims Bar! You can even take a walk across the hall to catch some classic Halloween films or just spend the night dancing with your dressed up mates in Qudos! So get yourself down the the Queen Margaret Union on the 31st of October, you wouldn’t want to miss a trick. Or a treat.
QMU BY-ELECTION 01.11.12
Democracy is a funny old thing. Unfortunately for the mad and power hungry amongst us it is a funny old thing which is written into the Queen Margaret Union’s constitution.
By turning up to the QM, you will not only gain the largest amount of free confectionary any one person may hope to gain in a five metre walk in their life, you will also be able to help shape the finest institution on this campus.
There will be eight Current Student Representative positions up for grabs and one Former Student Member position. Four of the Current Student Representative positions will have six month terms and four will have year long terms. One of the four six month term positions will only be available to undergraduates in their first year of their course On November 1st you will have as will two of the year long term positions.You’ll the ability (some of you for the even get to quetion them at a Hustings in the first time) to decide who you evening in Jims Bar on the 30th of October. would like to see representing you and making decisions on So get your membership card ready, walk into what happens in your union. the QM and get your vote on. This means that the people who populate the Board of Management here must be voted in by you, the Queen Margaret Union’s most vital piece, the membership.
4 • qmunicate
news
Toxicity
Study finds that Glasgow is the most polluted city in the UK
Glasgow is an undeniably great city. But what is it best at? Arts? Culture? Sport? Nope. Turns out Glasgow is currently number one in the UK for pollution.
‘European Union policy has reduced emissions of many pollutants over the last decade, but in many countries, air pollutant concentrations are still above the legal and recommended limits… [and] air pollution reduces human life A recent study has shown that not only Glasgow expectancy by around two years in the most is the most polluted city in the UK – specifically, polluted cities and regions.’ pollution caused by nitrogen dioxide – but also ranks 5th in Europe for pollution caused The damage it can cause to the environment by the toxic gas. The European Environmental includes acid rain and eutrophication (sudden Agency (EEA) found that Glasgow was one of algae growth, which decreases oxygen levels only 10 cities in Europe to breach the limits in water). Nitrogen dioxide also reacts in the for the harmful gas; Glasgow’s levels were 46.3 atmosphere to create low level ozone, which is microgrammes per cubic metre, above the legal essentially a major cause of smog. European limit of 40mg/m3. London - in the heat of similar issues several years Nitrogen dioxide is given primarily off by car ago - introduced a congestion charge which exhaust fumes and industrial pollution. In has helped to reduce the cities pollution levels. humans, exposure to this kind of pollution WWF Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon has can cause an increased susceptibility to been one of many suggesting the introduction respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis, as well of a similar charge here, ‘congestion charge as worsening existing respiratory conditions for Glasgow has been proposed before and is like asthma. In addition, Professor Jacqueline working well in reducing pollution in London. I McGlade - EEA executive director - stated, would like to see it introduced here.’
Leader of the Scottish Green Party, and MSP for Glasgow Patrick Harvie felt that a ‘culture of delay and inaction’ was to blame for the development of this situation, and stressed the need for increased investment in public transport. ‘At the heart of the solution is providing reliable, clean buses and trains and safer routes for cycling and walking. We need to see a much greater sense of urgency from councils and the government’. Turning these solutions into reality however is bound to be a long process, so don’t hold your breath, although you might have to. [Suki McFarland]
Language Lost Cromarty Fisherfolk dialect dies with its last speaker Cromarty, a fishing port on the Black Isle, near Inverness is not normally the centre of any kind of attention. Yet recently this quiet unassuming town has been the last home of the last speaker of the Cromarty Fisherfolk dialect. That is until
last week, when its last fluent speaker, Bobby lacks the syllable ‘wh’, making words like ‘where’ pronounced simply ‘ar’. Other words include Hogg died at the ripe old age of 92. ‘tumblers’ for dolphins and harbour porpoises, The dialect is thought to descend from Norse and ‘At now kucka’ as a friendly greeting. If your and Dutch fisherman, who settled in the area in wanting more ‘droogle-droogle’ is heavy work, the 15th and 16th centuries, moving north from and ‘bauchles’ translates to a word for heavy the Firth of Forth in search of rich and relatively and ill-fitting shoes. untapped fishing waters. Bobby’s death means that nobody speaks this dialect anymore, since Some question the importance of dialects the only other remaining fluent speaker - his that are spoken by very few people, arguing that once a language is no longer useful for brother Gordon - died in April last year. communication it isn’t useful at all. However Luckily, however, all is not lost. The Highland locals consider their local dialects and phrases council has made various commitments very much part of their identity, and celebrates to preserve the various dialects of an area the areas heritage as Norse settlements, in apparently richer than most in linguistic which the Scots language was only introduced variation. Indeed according to Gaelic culture later. website ‘Am Baile’, three Scots dialects were thought to have been spoken in Cromarty. Unfortunately for the Cromarty Fisherfolk Thats a lot for a place that even now only dialect however it is now consigned solely to contains around 719 people. Part of the the world of linguistics academia and local Highland council’s efforts was to compile a 40 history. page guide to the dialect and record the Hogg brothers conversing. Significantly the dialect [John O’Groats] qmunicate • 5
news
What Tweet are Twoo? Study by Glasgow University finds that we are all bird-brained styles are similar to different types of bird. The robin is associated with good email etiquette, with the owl (what with being nocturnal and that) being linked to late-night emailers and the peacock, a famously showy bird, primarily using email to get attention.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow and the University of the West of Scotland have successfully matched emailing styles with characteristics supposedly held by 15 different types of bird. Research was undertaken following a statement from Dr. Karen Renaud, senior lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Glasgow, that email is an important tool in modern life that is used by different people in different ways. For some reason the conclusion was that our emailing
undertake a second study in to whether or not these habits can be broken, or if the only solution is for injured parties to turn their smartphones off when they don’t wish to be contacted. Alarmingly, the study also showed that people may be frequently sending emails to colleagues and friends when it would be Dr Renaud says of the study’s findings ‘It is considered far more appropriate to actually likely most people will be able to identify talk to them. some of their email correspondents with these behaviours and perhaps even recognise their The research team have not yet put together own email style,’ but seemed uneasy when an amusing flow-chart-style personality test, asked whether self-assessment was possible but their findings are published in ‘Interfaces’, given the frightening lack of self-awareness the well-loved journal of the British Computer demonstrated by most people who over- Society. The research department were use their email accounts. Hotmail users were unavailable for comment regarding why advised not to worry about the whole thing. anyone had thought this study necessary, The study found that not only are we more like but it is possible that qmunicate magazine is our feathered friends than we had previously just feeling snippy because we dislike being realised, but also that many find other peoples’ labelled as ‘woodpeckers’, due to our constant emailing habits deeply irritating. It is as yet need to check our emails. unclear as to whether the research team will [Emma Jewson]
Salmond Slammed Booing of Salmond calls into question SNP support in Glasgow The Olympics in London has created not so much a summer of sport, but very much a British one. Glasgow’s tribute to the heroics of this summer was to host an open-top bus – which turned out to be a truck – parade for the Scottish Olympians and Paralympians, followed by a celebration in George Square. What was interesting to note was the angry reaction of the crowd to the presence of First Minister Alex Salmond. The booing of a politician, per se, isn’t a news story. But Salmond’s reception in Scotland’s biggest city represents the SNP’s (relative) systemic failure to fully convince Glaswegians over the issue of independence. This summer’s local council elections in Scotland were very much seen as an acid test for the SNP, and while SNP made impressive gains throughout the country, Glasgow stayed red. Some have speculated that Alex Salmond was the wrong choice of public figure to address the crowd in the first place, given especially that he made the risky move of being rather disparaging about the Olympics, focusing on
6 • qmunicate
Glasgow’s upcoming Commonwealth Games instead. In the event of it this view proved unpopular, and perhaps the crowd were emphasising that.
before, at Hampden Park stadium. This said, however, Salmond has popularity ratings that members of the Westminster cabinet can only dream of.
Salmond has frequently been branded a ‘marmite’ politician, because of the strong feelings he incites on both sides of the fence,. This no doubt accounts for at least some of the booing. Furthermore Salmond has been booed
Any supporter of the SNP will point to the fact that in last year’s Holyrood elections the SNP actually did very well in Glasgow, winning five out of the nine constituencies in the city. Yet the SNP’s success has not been because of an independence mantra, but rather than their ability to prove their competence in government at a time when Scottish Labour have been in disarray. Glasgow’s traditional working class Protestant inheritance of unionism has meant that in Glasgow the independence policy of the SNP has often been a weight around their neck rather than a boon. While Labour’s traditional strength in Scotland has diminished somewhat, the ties to the days when Glasgow was the ‘second city of the Empire’, combined with a preoccupation with socialism rather than separation, have meant that the SNP have a bit more work yet to do before they win over the votes. [David Childs]
news
Get A Bit Of This Euan Hill on the phenomena that is Bitcoins Ever wanted to buy some guns, drugs or prostitutes online? I know I have. Maybe even some strange sexual equipment, all without the inconvenience of, you know, being arrested and/or generally ridiculed? Well there happens to be a semi-legitimate e-currency out there just for you! They’re called Bitcoins and since 2009 they have been providing the missing link between terrorists and the IT crowd that many of us never thought possible. One can either buy some from a number of exchanges and then trade them anonymously, or simply make ones own, and again trade them anonymously. Bitcoins have no central regulating authority or intrinsic worth: their value is entirely based upon what people will pay for them. Of course, this means that there is no government protecting them, so if somebody steals yours then the police really aren’t going to be that interested, even if yours are worth around a quarter of a million dollars. As fate would have it, that is exactly what has happened. On September 3rd Bitfloor - an online bitcoin trading platform - lost over 24,000 bitcoins (about £180,000 worth). The website claims that it was hacked and will attempt to reimburse the parties whose coins were lost. Only six months prior to the Bitfloor
attack some 46,653 BTC (£361,560) were stolen from a completely separate website. In the past year, major attacks have amounted to over 318,100 BTC (£2,465,275) being stolen or maliciously deleted. This number represents about 3% of all coins in current circulation. That’s quite a lot when you think about it . The seemingly constant set of attacks on major websites that form part of the bitcoin economy usually results in an immediate sinking of the currency’s value. This time, though, the currency seems to have weathered the storm and the value on October 1st was approximately S12.50 per coin - a rise of about 20%. It seems that
people just can’t seem to get enough of these things, and drug and gun dealers are getting more tech savvy. As well as the excitement of crime, Bitcoins are interesting in that they are a significant departure from currency as we know it. Dare I say it, they might even be the future. For now, though, they are providing access to tantalising illegal purchases like never before by being very different from traditional curency, and totally out of government control. Normally the supply of money in a system is regulated by a central authority, either a national bank or a federal reserve. This bank is then expected to keep track of who owns what, which transactions are valid, to make sure they are irreversible, issue new bills and to make sure nobody is cheating. Bitcoins remove the need for regulators by using a system in which members of the network verify which transactions have occurred. Every Bitcoin is part of a ‘block’ which records every transaction that every coin has ever undergone. One has to synchronise with the network and all the blocks - and since every member does this - Bitcoins can only be considered valid if over half the users agree that the block matches exactly with everybody else’s block. In order to cheat the system, dishonest groups need to exceed the computing power of all the honest computers combined. But what about new coins? To make a bitcoin a computer runs an algorithm to try and find a solution to a problem by trial and error. This can take a very long time and many different computers can join together to pool resources and then share the coins. The difficulty in solving the problem is pre-programed to change based on the computing power making new Bitcoins (or mining as it is known) and on how many Bitcoins currently exist. This combats inflation. Furthermore more honest people making new Bitcoins secures the system against dishonest attacks. Phew! Did you understand all that? Some (including the FBI) say that they are a dangerous funder of terrorists, drug dealers and tax cheats. Others claim that it is simply doing away with the need for banks. Whatever they are, they are certainly gaining traction. [Euan Hill]
qmuni cuts The column that mixes important news that’s brief with silly news Unless you’ve spent the last week with your head stuck in a bin you can’t help but have seen the story about the Aberdeen man who did get his head stuck in a bin. Firemen had to be called to cut open the bin and set him free. Apparently he was looking for his hat, but what his hat was doing in the bin is anybodys guess. • Anton Muscatelli has had his appointment extended and is now expected to stay in the role of Glasgow University principal until 2019, an extension of five years. • The University’s student finace sub-committee have suspended the QMU’s block grant contribution - over £60k - until at least November. They are doing this in order to improve campus services. • The University’s student finace sub-committee are on the verge of agreeing a £4m development investment in the GUU. They are doing this in order to improve campus services. • A farmer in Oregon, USA has been eaten by his pigs. Terry Vance Garner, 69 never returned from feeding his pigs one night. Later his dentures and pieces of his body were recovered from the pig enclosure. The lesson is, never let you animals watch Snatch. • A woman in Aberdeen was suprised at breakfast the other day to find a snake in her cutlery drawer. The black, red and white snake, was named Spooner by RSPCA who arrived on the scene. It’s thought the snake escaped from captivity in the local area. • Lastly in the series of bizzare animal stories from recent weeks a man in Morayshire has avoided getting an ASBO from the local sherriff, despite owning 50 German shepherds! Neighbours complained that the constant barking and smell is ruining their homelife. Criminal charges had been brought against John Dibidan before for keeping his pack; he was imprisoned in England, and in 2006 the Highland council issued him with an antisocial behaviour order for the same offence. Yet, happily for Mr Dibiden this time he avoided an ASBO on the grounds that his numerous dogs are his ‘family’, and therefore have the right to an undisturbured ‘family life’. qmunicate • 7
features
Malachy Clarke Mental Deviant Our new magazine columnist talks facial hair
This issue I am going to talk about beards. That’s right, baby, motherfucking facial fuzz. I don’t care if you’re male or female, straight, gay, bi, pansexual, everybody wants a sweet beard on or near their face. Below I will outline just a few reasons why if you are male you should grow a beard. If you are female, too bad. I guess you could use these as reasons to convince your boyfriend/ partner to grow a beard, or you could take to wearing a prosthetic one. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been clean shaven since I was fifteen. If you speak to people who know me
they usually describe me as ‘that guy with the beard and long hair’ so obviously I have been a fan of the beard since way back when. Anyway, here are the reasons you should cultivate some facial hair if at all possible (and if it’s not then invest in a good fake beard): 1. Chicks dig it. They really do. In Finnish ‘sideburns’ translates to ‘thigh tickler’, and if we can’t trust the Finnish on matters of romance, who can we trust? I’ve struck up a fair few conversations based on my facial hair. I always offer to let people touch it cause it feels kinda like how I imagine cats feel when they are stroked under the chin (fucking awesome.) Being bearded also means that when you come up from eating a girl out your chin drips like fucking Niagara Falls. I once fucked a girl who was a squirter, coming up from that was like those photos of Olympic swimmers gasping for air. I don’t give a fuck what you guys say; when I come up from a girl and there’s a mini-version of Noah’s Ark going on down there it’s fucking hot. You practically need a hair dryer to stop your chin dripping.
or some shit your beard may be the difference between life and death. You could even grow a full on wizard beard and use it to keep your friends warm too. 3. Automatically makes you look like a bad-ass. Seriously, have you ever seen a guy and thought “damn he would look way more bad-ass without that beard”? No. Of course you haven’t. No-one ever has. That’d be a ridiculous thing to think or say. Nothing makes a man look older, wiser and all over more impressive then a majestic piece of facial hair. Beards are so fucking badass they’re the only part of your body with BEAR in the fucking name. 98% of Fortune 100 Companies CEOs are clean shaven. On the flip side 98% of lumberjacks, warriors and hard-ass motherfuckers have beards. I think we can all agree we’d rather be hard-ass lumberjacks then pansy ass suit-wearing business shits.
4. It makes a handy storage space. When your beard gets thick and long enough you can use it to hold stuff. Mine is mostly used to hold leftovers and bits of food I want to save for later. But if you have the commitment and time 2. It keeps your face warm. I guess this is less to craft a full on fucking wizard beard you can impressive because you could just use a scarf store your wallet and keys and weapons and or something but fuck you. A beard is a 100% shit in there. organic, natural way to keep your face warm in the winter. I mean it doesn’t keep you really Basically I guess the point is that, guys, you warm like central heating or a hot water bottle should grow a beard, and ladies you should get but it definitely helps keep the chill off your a man-friend with one, cause no matter how little baby cheeks as they go red and raw in the awesome you think you look now, you’ll look like harsh reality of Glasgow winters. Also if you’re a fucking hundred times more awesome with a ever trapped on a mountain or in a snow storm bad-ass beard going on. Abraham Lincoln had a beard and he freed the slaves in America. You wanna be like Lincoln right? Unless you’re some kinda racist. Now I’m not saying not having a beard makes you racist. I’m just saying, Nick Griffin doesn’t have a beard. [Malachy Clarke] The views expressed above do not neccesarily represent the views of qmunicate, the Queen Margaret Union, or the Federal Bank of Canada
8 • qmunicate
features
features
DAN lE SAC INTERVIEW Asking questions of the man who fills the space between the words.
After years of performing with Scroobius Pip, Dan le Sac is cutting it out on his own. His debut solo album unsuprisingly shows off Dan Le Sac’s skill but is much more than tricks, it’s a solid record of great tracks. The album’s tongue-incheek title ‘Space Between the Words’ reflects his jovial character and parodies his former role with Scroobius Pip. We caught up with him just before he embarked on a British tour, which is unfortunately lacking in Scottish dates.
You’ve obviously got a great sense of humour, do you think that’s been to your benefit in your career?
To be honest I’ve never thought about this as being like a career choice. I don’t think I’d enjoy life if I took everything seriously. That’s something good about Scottish people, actually - in comparison to English people, they don’t moan as much. Like, you hear English people go on all the time about the weather I’ve noticed in a lot of your videos you have and their lives and stuff and if you’re Scottish a pretty major vinyl collection, any real gems it’s just like ‘You’re moaning, shut up.’ in there? When are we going to get a chance to see The funny thing is that’s only about a third of my you again here in Scotland? collection, I live in a little box flat so I can’t really keep them here. Most of them are in storage. I don’t know! I know I’m coming up soon to Mostly just old jazz records and stuff like that Aberdeen but that’s miles away from you guys that I’ve found in amongst charity shop rubbish in Glasgow. We were meant to be coming up with these great, great B-sides that I’ve always three times on this tour to Glasgow, Aberdeen wanted to sample but never really got around and then Inverness, but the Glasgow guys to. weren’t paying enough and Aberdeen fell through because we found out the guy owed You decided to release your Album onto us like thousands and so we had to take the Soundcloud for people to listen freely, what decision not to go to Inverness: it was so out was the thought process which lead you to of the way of the rest of the venues, so it would this decision? have killed us to get up there. It’s like an elevenhour journey. So basically we couldn’t come up Honestly it was just trying to counteract this because of bastards in Aberdeen and Glasgow. whole torrenting thing, so if people want to get But I really really like coming to Glasgow, the music for free at least they’re getting it from playing there and I’ve got mates up there I’d me, so they can in some way take part. like to see so I’ll try to get up soon, I’m actually People are always going to steal music. pretty pissed off, ahh probably should have said gutted instead I guess.
There are some great guests on this tour you’re going on now, such as Pete and the Pirates, you seem to have almost a hitlist of these great artists. If you did have an actual list who would be on top of it right now? As in people who I would murder? As in people who you would like to bring on tour. Because that would be a pretty long list man I thought you were insinuating I should just run around the world murdering people. There are a lot of credible artists out there, people like PJ Harvey, but I don’t know, man - someone who would be fun, like I don’t know, the Pope or someone? I reckon he’d be quite fun. Well thanks a lot, I wish you luck on your tour and hope to see you up in Glasgow some time soon! Thanks man, I hope so too if I make it through this fucking throat infection. The last couple of days I’ve just been feeling so run down, last night was like hell, I’m just there lying in a Travel Lodge like ‘Please don’t let me die, don’t let me die in a Travel Lodge!’ That’s got to be one of my top 5 worst deaths, death by infection in a Travel Lodge. Oh God, I’m going to have to write an album now called ‘Death in a Travel Lodge’. [Laughs] [Tom Kelly]
qmunicate • 9
features
icons of the REMEMBERING hENDRIX Marc Barr remembers a legend Every young person that has picked up a guitar has imitated one of their idols at some point. Whether you stood in front of your mirror doing Pete Townshend’s windmill arm, duckwalking like Angus Young, or tapping like Eddie Van Halen, none have quite had the resonating and lasting effect of Jimi Hendrix falling to his knees, pulling the guitar to his face and playing with his teeth - all before destroying the stage with his Stratocaster and setting the guitar itself alight. When asked why he’d done it, Hendrix replied, ‘It was like a sacrifice. You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar.’ Talk of sacrifice really was appropriate as, following his death, he became something of a religious figure in the music world, a deity only rivalled by figures like Lennon, Dylan or The King himself. But how did a notoriously timid and reclusive young man from Seattle become one of the greatest musicians of his time? After failing to graduate from High School, Hendrix enlisted in the military where he reportedly slept with his guitar in his bunk and was routinely disciplined for childish behaviour. He was then famously discharged for being ‘apprehended masturbating in [the] platoon area while [he was] supposed to be on detail.’ After that somewhat colourful exit from the army he began working as a rhythm guitarist for many well-known R&B and soul artists, such as Little Richard, The Isley Brothers, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson. Again he lost his job as a result of his irresponsible attitude, this time being too drunk and high to make the tour bus on time. Some people have a talent for debauchery. Shortly after this - in 1966 -, Hendrix moved to London to form The Jimi Hendrix Experience
10 • qmunicate
with Mitch Mitchell on drums and Noel Redding Lee Hooker – and the modern rock n roll music on bass. that we hear today. Other guitar legends, such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, and Duane Even the name of the band oozed genius, Allman have partly attributed their success to as though hearing them play would be a the influence Hendrix had on them; in the style defining experience; there would only be a of their playing, their use of effects and their before Hendrix and after Hendrix. It wasn’t far willingness to push musical boundaries. All off for most established musicians at the time. used the blues as a starting point, but pushed Paul McCartney, The Who, and perhaps most the envelope into something totally more famously Eric Clapton all spent endless hours by transcendent. The Hendrix influence can also his side, as though they wanted to be infected be heard powerfully in contemporary guitarists by whatever magic ran through his veins. Pete such as John Frusciante, Jack White or John Townshend later lamented that after seeing him Mayer. in concert for the first time he couldn’t take The Who seriously any more. Clapton also admitted So why talk about Hendrix now? Well, the to being obsessed with trying to emulate him, 18th of September marked the forty second leaving the gig in a hurry so he could get home anniversary of his death. An odd anniversary and practice, yet all the time knowing he never to celebrate, yes, but the truth of it is that could match Hendrix’s talent. This from two of you shouldn’t need a nice round number the most revered guitarists of all time. to remember your heroes. The music world owes a lot to the man and I feel he should be The Jimi Hendrix Experience only released celebrated every time you hear a guitar riff you three studio albums – Are You Experienced, love, or when you see pictures of your favourite Axis: Bold As Love, and Electric Ladyland - yet, musicians in a questionable state of disrepair. despite this, became one of the most influential He wrote the book on excess, tore up the book rock bands of all time. The Experience toured on how to play electric guitar, and re-wrote a lot, but most importantly played the great his own, leaving blank pages for everyone music festivals of the day. Woodstock, The Isle that followed to build upon what he started. of Wight and Monterey Pop festivals were the His untimely death may have been a blessing first ever events of their kind, and started the in disguise, as he remained truly brilliant trend of music festivals that we know today, throughout his short but superlative career. It’s shocking decent society. His performaces were always more tragic when a once great musician fantastic and gave music festivals the kick goes rubbish, as many of the surving giants start they deserved. Hendrix’s manipulation of the 60’s did in the 80’s No one can ever say of the electric guitar changed the way others about Jimi Hendrix ‘I liked his early stuff, but…’ would approach it in the future, bridging the You just have to listen and accept that that was gap between his blues heritage – guitarists before Hendrix, this is your world after. Lightnin’ Hopkins, Robert Johnson, and John [Marc Barr]
features
music world RETURNING icons Max Sefton talks about the ageless icons we have today Gwen Stefani is surely a god; rock singer, fashion designer, and - overall - a pretty awesome woman. You can imagine my delight when, 11 years after my dad drove me to Sainsbury’s to buy their last studio album Rock Steady (the first album I ever bought) No Doubt finally got around to releasing some new material, their new record Push and Shove. She is arguably one of the most influential and successful female rock singers of all time, but like many of her female peers - she might not always get the credit bestowed upon her male counterparts. Artists like Dave Grohl, Billie Joe Armstrong and Noel Gallagher often top polls and best-of lists for being the best songwriters, musicians and frontmen, but there tends to be a distinct lack of women of the same era and beyond who have remained as relevant and critically accepted as these guys, especially as everyone - rock god and goddess alike - is starting to get older.
breakthrough Dookie was released only a year before Garbage’s eponymous debut, still enjoy success and critical acclaim 20 years after their emergence. Perhaps it is down to talent: are Nimrod and Warning significantly better than Version 2.0? Or is it easier to market a 40 year old man than a 40 year old woman? It seems when a male musician reaches a certain age, he is knighted a “Rock God” and becomes a living legend - album sales never falter, they get first billing at music festivals, and a guarantee they’ll be on the front cover of Q at least twice a year. The long line of female musicians, however, appear to be forever on their own “CHICKS WHO ROCK” lists as opposed to being placed equally with the men. Whether you consider their judgement valid or not, the last time the Brit Awards bestowed the “Outstanding Contribution to Music” award to a woman was in 2000.
a musical and cultural climate alien to what they were once used to; teenagers don’t want to hear the new Smashing Pumpkins record, they want to hear David Guetta and his many friends screaming about how much fun they’re having in the club. We are constantly being told about “the next big thing”, watching more exhausting seasons of the X Factor and looking out for “the one to watch” rather than enjoying what we actually have. This explains why bands like Garbage and No Doubt face so many challenges re-entering the game: their audience as well as the industry has changed, and they will be subject to scrutiny if they wish to make any impact.
It may be easier for Dave Grohl to release the next Foo Fighters album when he isn’t being assessed on why he wore that navy blue t-shirt to the NME Awards than the likes of Karen O, but all these once-great bands will be conditioned to adapting their sound, look And they gave it to the Spice Girls. and overall appeal if they want their music to succeed in the mainstream. If they want to. In When was the last time we saw the an interview for Bullett Media regarding the incomparable Debbie Harry grace the cover of return o f Garbage, Shirley Manson said: music magazines, or taking the main stage at a major UK festival? It is perhaps just part of our “I feel like the tiger in the jungle who’s allowed celebrity-centred culture to categorise women to keep doing business because the younger in music more than men; Gwen’s the MILF. La tigers allow her to operate, and I feel grateful. Roux, the bitch with the hair. Courtney Love… But I don’t want to pretend I’m young. I’m not what can we say about her? A troubled singer going to play that game. I’m not going to freeze whose personal life has overshadowed her my face to sell a record.” undeniable talent, or a shameless drug addict living off her genius late husband’s royalties? Maybe all’s not lost, after all.
Edinburgh’s finest - Shirley Manson - reunited with Garbage earlier this year to release Not Your Kind of People, their first record in seven years. In the mid-90s, Manson was renowned for her outspoken attitude and was already in her late twenties when Garbage was beginning to become part of a cultural zeitgeist- an old maid in comparison to Lady Gaga or the alarmingly foetal One Direction, acts who have achieved incredible success in such little time. For a band that became renowned for its pioneering fusion of technology and music, their achievements - and at the very least their music - have been forgotten as the musical landscape has shifted dramatically over the Regardless of their gender, however, the rock past 20 years. Yet bands like Green Day, whose stars we grew up listening to are now facing [Max Sefton]
qmunicate • 11
features
MASCOT MADNESS
Sean Iles tries to find a way to accurately portray Glasgow in the form of a foam costume.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games have a mascot. His name is Clyde. He is a thistle with legs, and his dad is Billy Connolly. Well, a cartoon sailor with the voice of Billy Connolly. So Billy Connolly’s Cartoon Sailor Clone. Or Billy Connolly but dressed as a cartoon. Watch the Youtube video and then decide for yourself. It’s a good wee film. Everyone’s in 2D and they live in a world entirely soundtracked by Paolo Nutini’s ‘Growing Up Beside You’. But is Clyde the Thistle an accurate representation of the city of Glasgow? Can a plant successfully portray our sophisticated blend of different cultures? Can it showcase our contribution to science? Does a cartoon with leaves for arms look like the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh? Do we even have thistles in Glasgow? Can they play sport? Can they win the European Cup in 1967? Can they win more trophies than any other football club in the world? Can they be Partick Thistle and be second in the Scottish First Division? Glasgow is one of the most of the UK’s most diverse cities, and was European City of Culture in 1990. Is Clyde up to the job of depicting all that? This is a debate that has swept through the city, and can be heard in all of its café’s, places of learning, and respectable drinking establishments. If you can hear it over the sound of the natives bitching about England and eating deep-fried Mars Bars, that is. In the Tartan & Caber-Tossing Factory, we are all divided on what best represents Glasgow. But we are all agreed that the highland equivalent of a nettle does not best represent our regional identity. So me, Hamish and Jock have come up with some other suggestions. Should the 2014 Commonwealth mascot be a burning effigy of Frankie Boyle? Pursued by crying English, Welsh and Irish schoolchildren? All armed with knives and torches? Or should our mascot be a giant robo-policeman, giving everybody fines? How abou a giant photo of the riots at Kelvingrove Park last year? A skyscraper sized poster of
12 • qmunicate
that man punching the police horse and then this, that we should stop being so uptight. it turning round and kicking him in the face? That we should just sit back and enjoy the eleven days of sport that are on offer. Whilst all of these suggestions are fantastic. They can’t sum up Glasgow. No one They are probably right. The Commonwealth image can convey Glasgow’s grey entirety. Games aren’t about chasing a sentient thistle down Buchanan Street, cornering him at St. Apart from this one: what our mascot should Enoch’s Square and then kicking him to death be is all 1,750,270 residents of the Greater because he doesn’t adequately represent your Glasgow Area. We could all walk around the diversity enough. The Commonwealth Games velodrome a bit, calling the stewards wankers, are about which country can hit each other and then we can all just fuck off back to the hardest. They are about: can a Kenyan our tenements to do our knife-sharpening. man break a Jamaican man’s nose in under five minutes. They are about watching Chris Killjoys are of the opinion that Clyde the Hoy’s Bane-like legs go really fast round a Thistle isn’t meant to sum Glasgow up. They wooden circle. They are about pretending say that he was designed by a little girl for a to yourself that the Commonwealth Games competition. They say that he’s just meant to be are as big as the Olympics. So let’s just stop a good bit of marketing, not a representation all this. We shouldn’t hate Clyde. We should of an entire culture. That all you’ll do with support him and spend our time hurling him is put him on a tea-towel and then sell xenophobic abuse at non-Scots. Because that’s him for £19.99 at Commonwealth Shops. why we bid for the Games in the first place.. They say that we’re reading too much into all [Sean Iles]
Made in China
On China’s economic growth and the ‘ghost cities’ it has spawned It’s no secret that China is an economic powerhouse. When the (albeit largely Western) recession hit, the Chinese economy didn’t stop growing, it merely slowed down in its headlong growth. Which I thought was frankly impressive. However I, like many others, had assumed that this growth was largely funded by exports. This is a pretty easy assumption to make when a worrying number of things I use in everyday life all have “MADE IN CHINA” stamped on the bottom, but apparently not.
where, despite repeated efforts from the Chinese government, there is no interest in moving in. These cities (and indeed, shopping malls, amusement parks and the like) are symbols indicative of a potential bubble about to burst on the Chinese economy. The problem is, broadly, that no one wants to move into these places because no one has moved into them, even though many of the buildings in Kangbashi have been sold. And there’s no sign that anyone wants to move in, either.
I’ll stress right now that I’m not an economist, so this is gonna be pretty basic level stuff, but, essentially, the massive growth of the Chinese economy has largely been funded by investment in building projects. Now this made sense twenty, even ten years ago, when they were building power stations and railways but, increasingly, this mad drive for investment has led to projects being built without taking into account any level of public demand. The centralist planning of all building works has led to the development of dozens of sites all over China, designed as cities, shopping centres, even a faux English town called ‘Thames Town’, complete with cobbled streets, a chip shop, and a pub. The problem? There was no public demand for these developments. They were centrally planned and developed without any public interface.
And yet, these projects are continuing to be built, because the only way the Chinese economy can continue to grow at a rapid pace is to continue investing, to continue building. The problem is that this can’t continue forever. China has seven to eight million new workers entering the workforce every single year, and they all need employment or the government risks losing legitimacy. However, there will come a point (and we’re rapidly approaching it) where this simply isn’t sustainable any more. The Chinese government cannot keep pouring money into these projects and then having them sit empty for years. All these projects do is bolster GDP artificially, and yes, they create jobs, but sooner or later, China’s reserves will run dry, and the game will be up.
For example, Kangbashi, Inner Mongolia is a would-be perfect city, with museums, sports fields, even theatres, but little-to-no population. It’s just one of many ‘ghost cities’,
So what’s going to happen? Well, the Chinese government has just announced a huge stimulus package in order to speed up quickly decelerating growth. However, the figures announced by the CCP and their local-level governors are somewhat suspect. Every local
provincial and city government is announcing inflated figures for the forthcoming stimulus package, in the hope of attracting more foreign investment. Corruption no doubt plays a part here too, with China’s well established history of using personal contacts, or guanxi, to expedite projects, or to inflate figures to aid potential investment for private business contacts. So if and when the bubble bursts, what will the effects be? Well, the only honest answer is that we don’t really know, other than it’ll be bad. We can glean some clues by looking at Spain and the Republic of Ireland, which are both in severe financial difficulties themselves, but if the same thing happens to China, it’s going to be on a much, much bigger scale. Which, aside from the economic problems, could change the face of politics in China. The Communist Party has largely gained legitimacy by their ability to claim that they’ve been making China better, and huge economic growth has been their evidence. If the Chinese economy crashes, and suddenly there’s a nation of 1.3 billion people looking for someone to blame, their first port of call is going to be the Communist Party. And that same party which has been using inflated figures, outright lies, and violence to maintain control on their populace will find their legitimacy and their power under severe threat. [Bryce Johnston] qmunicate • 13
John and Barry; jims bar philosophers
[Sean Iles]
Want more qmunicate? We hear you. that’s why we’re putting plenty more of this wonderful content online over at: www.qmunicate.wordpress.com With exclusive online content including regular columns on sport and films, regular fashion features, travel features and game reviews to whet your appetite .
14 • qmunicate
qmunicate • 15
BABEL Babel,
Mumford & Sons
The band has been said to have a ‘nostalgic’ style, and airy yet soft tracks like ‘Kittiwake’ and ‘Trespassers’ in particular leave you pining for days gone by. The band retains its accent in its vocals, which is reminiscent of Frightened Rabbit and Admiral Fallow. The final track, ‘New Year’s Day’, rounds this emotional yet satisfying journey off in a suitable fashion, and there is a real sense of musical ending, much like the end of the year that the song deals with. In The Ghosts We Must Carry, State Broadcasters have proven that they can bear the burden of producing good music. You should be happy to add another great Glaswegian folk band to your list, and rightly so. Well worth a download and a listen. [CL] Jake Bugg is young. Very young. So young in fact that his rapid progress made this reviewer briefly re-assess his life to date. As a precocious 17 year old he was already playing the main stage at Glastonbury and, a year or two on, is releasing his debut album on Mercury Records.
JAKE BUGG Jake Bugg
16 • qmunicate
the latest offering from London indie/folk band Mumford & Sons does a damn fine job at doing exactly what they do best. Musically, it’s not far removed from their 2009 debut album, Sigh No More, but nobody can deny that they know what their fans like. It’s a fine line between being interesting enough to attract new listeners and deviating too far from the sound that established you in the first place. Babel provides a good variety.
THE GHOSTS WE MUST CARRY State Broadcasters
I remember listening to DJ Fresh a few years back on Escape from Planet Monday, which was a great album that made use of clever samples and fun beats. As Fresh has grown in popularity, he seems to have been pressured to make more mainstream music, a suspicion that is evidenced by almost every track Most burgeoning songwriters on this new album. tend to channel the music of their early teens; on his self-titled debut The flair and style that Fresh used Jake Bugg chooses to delve a little to have in his tracks is replaced with further back to tunes that were generic beats and catchy hooks. originally conceived around the Guest vocalists also become an time that he was. overused gimmick. Whilst a lot of the tracks sound interesting on The album starts promisingly, paper (Prof. Green & The Fray share with strummy three-chord single a track), the only one that stands ‘Lightning Bolt’ and the cheeky out as being any fun is ‘Fire Over ‘Two Fingers,’ which sounds like Water’ featuring Juliette Lewis. something The Coral might have done, had they grown up drinking Not only is little of his early style White Lightning in a field. left here, the album even features a lukewarm re-hash of ‘Gold Dust’ Although the tracks peter out with Ms. Dynamite replacing the towards the end, it’s still a difficult original vocalist. There’s moving record to dislike and at least proves on and expanding your style, and that Bugg is more than just the then there’s just plain selling out. indie-pop Justin Bieber. To borrow the old hipster cliché, I [MS] preferred his earlier stuff. [RC]
‘Broken Crown’ is the epitome of everything Mumford & Sons, building flawlessly to a climax, only to cut away at the last minute and finish with a delicate vocal that stays with you after the song has finished. Other highlights include ‘Reminder’ (echoes of Paolo Nutini) and first single ‘I Will Wait’, an exchange between instruments and acapella vocals that come together for an inspiring finish. Although the album provides great variety, each track is undoubtedly Mumford & Sons. [YL]
NEXTLEVELISM
DJ Fresh
ALBUMS
MUSIC : RELEASES
The second album from State Broadcasters is like being trapped in a glass case of emotion. Its subtle beginning in ‘The Only Way Home’ starts you on a journey of emotional music, laced with visceral orchestral moments, and sweet, sad, slow sung verses.
PERIPHERY/BTBAM Garage, 03/10 What a night of prog metal madness! Two and a half hours of impressive musicianship, insane vocals and mindblowing arrangements. Before Periphery and Between the Buried and Me lay waste to the Garage, London based Safety Fire put on a greatly entertaining show and do a good job in warming up the crowd. Mostly clean vocals alternate with harsh shouts and are accompanied by lightning fast, complex blasts and tapping.
any vaguely comprehensible time signature.
JUNEBUG
ABC2, 28/09
Scottish four-piece Junebug bring their fierce and fun sound to a support slot at Glasgow O2 ABC2, with a set showing impressive variety and professionalism. The band only formed in 2011, but you could easily think they’d been playing together for years; they have a friendly ease with each other and it doesn’t take much to see that they really enjoy themselves on stage.
introduce each other. ‘Pictures in Motion’ is probably the standout, beginning with a brooding and introspective combination of bass and vocals, and Owen’s technically impressive guitar solo, followed by a smooth and skillful tempo change.
‘Binder’ showcases Katie’s impressive vocal range and allows her to play with the tone of her voice over the course of each Junebug cite Blondie and Feeder extended note. Harry’s drums amongst their influences, which also carrying a lot of weight in may sound like an unusual the song. ‘Still’ is their sixth song, combination. Sometimes lead which has them slowly getting singer Katie Irvine’s powerful faster, building up to a nice tempo vocals have echoes of Imelda change and powerful climax. May, and in some songs the band have a hint of The Last Shadow The set is rounded off with a Puppets about them. On paper it cover of Black Keys’ ‘Lonely Boy’, doesn’t sound like it should work, allowing the band to let their hair down and the guitarists to dance but in practise it definitely does. together onstage. Junebug have They kick off with ‘Greek’, getting a really entertaining live set and the audience on their side from I look forward to seeing them the very beginning, and a break in succeed. second song ‘The Mill’ allows the members to quickly and noisily [Yasmynn Lloyd]
MUSIC : LIVE REVIEWS
GIGS
After what feels like too short a set, Between the Buried and Me take the musical insanity to another level. Heavier math-core riffs, outof-this-world grunts and mindblowing drum patterns meet with folkish interludes and Pink Floydian psychedelic trips that allow the audience to catch some breath and frontman Tommy Rogers to show off his keyboardPeriphery, originally the billed skills, as well as a formidable clean headlining act, have swapped their voice. They conclude the night in slot with BTBAM as their drummer surprisingly melodic style with a has been injured and had to fly great cover of Queen’s ‘Bohemian back to the States. Replacing him Rhapsody’. is the drummer from Tesseract, who learned tonight’s 45 minute Overall, a great gig, allowing the set within less than 24 hours. The audience to enjoy the heavy brilliant lightshow, the massive wall grooves of the music, but also of sound and the killer groove make with plenty of chins dropping the whole club go mad. Entertaining on chests at the sight of the stage announcements take away amazing talent of pretty much all some of the prog-geekyness of musicians involved. three guitars, none of which have less than 7 strings, and the refusal of [Ansgar Hastenpflug]
qmunicate • 17
ARTS : MOVIE REVIEWS
SINISTER
Director Scott Derrickson How could a film with so much potential and such a reputable director fall so short of expectation? Don’t get me wrong; it was still quite a good film, if you like tension-building jumps and graphic violence. The main problem was that it was trying to be too clever. Scott Derrickson, director and co-writer of this, and the only film to chill me to my very core - The Exorcism of Emily Rose - tried to make a horror film using every quintessential trope the genre contains, while still trying to make it scary. Unfortunately, he failed.
Washed up true crime writer, Ellison, moves his family into a house that was the scene of several murders (even after several people tell him not to). He then has to unravel the mysteries of the deaths, while being terrorised by something which, I won’t lie, looked like a cross between the V for Vendetta mask and the tribal ‘First Slayer’ from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
of my seat trying not to scream at the screen: ‘DON’T GO LOOKING FOR THE LOUD NOISES IN THE DARK!’ Has he not seen Scream?!
All in all, this film is for those of you who want to jump out of your skin, but still want a good 12 hours sleep at night. I’d say you’d probably be a wee bit creeped out, but most horror movie fans will recognise the common pitfalls of the lead This, along with about every stupid character, and not be too surprised. mistake a character could ever make Those who don’t, will leave the in a horror film, detracts from an cinema a little wiser. otherwise nail-biting thriller. This film really has it all. I was on the edge [Lucy Howell]
TAKEN 2
Director Olivier Megaton I loved every minute of the Taken’s over-the-top, action-packed evilthwarting shenanigans. Liam Neeson’s rebirth as an action hero was a joy to behold (and I’m not just saying that for fear of his wrath). Needless to say, I had high hopes for Taken 2.
18 • qmunicate
Kim herself manages to evade their clutches, the film seeming to take an interesting twist: would she have to be the hero and save her parents? (One of the only scenes I enjoyed sees Bryan telling her to run around Istanbul detonating grenades to figure out where he’s being held.) Alas, when Kim finds her father and Most of you will know the routine if gives him a gun, the ensuing hail of you saw the last film, but this time bullets and cursing Albanians is all it’s Bryan and his ex-wife who are too predictable. “taken” during a holiday in Istanbul. Their captors seek revenge: they’re What made Taken good was that relatives of the Albanian human- it became more extravagant with traffickers he obliterated while every scene until it culminated knocking lumps out of Paris to in a small war on a boat. Taken 2 rescue his kidnapped daughter, Kim. didn’t grab me in the same way - no
interesting villains, no interesting deaths and generally no interesting exchanges. The setting in Istanbul presented a wonderful opportunity to use a beautiful city to immerse the viewer in the film, but it was an opportunity squandered. Overall the film was a big let-down. I had hoped that Taken 2 would be akin to Taken on Dragon Soop. Rather, it was like Taken had downed two Smirnoff Ices and proceeded to tell everyone he was totally steamin’: a little embarrassing.
[Calum MacInnes]
CLOSER
Director Mark Westbrook Brand new Glasgow theatre company, Broken Bird, recently performed their debut production of Closer by Patrick Marber, first performed at the Royal National Theatre in London in 1997. Closer is the intimate story of four young adults united in their search for love and lust.
relationships’, the play is refreshingly truthful, bitter and ironic. Avoiding all sweetness and cliché, the play admits to the true nature of relationships in their sad, funny, confusing and scary reality, with no clear-cut fairytale beginnings, middles or ends. The play’s timeframe also jumps around, keeping it fast-paced and riveting to watch.
Set up only this year, Broken Bird is definitely one to watch – a small company made up of director Mark Westbrook’s theatre students, aiming to take contemporary plays into non-traditional performance spaces, which they did marvellously with their use of the rustic ‘The Old Hairdressers’ on Renfield Lane.
Seeing it in its full production gave an even more satisfying experience than the film, with inclusions such as the recurring motif of the Newton’s cradle, symbolising the theme of the play: everyone’s actions affect each other before eventually returning back to them, for better or worse.
Having been made into a major film starring Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen and Julia Roberts (ringing any bells yet?) in 2004, Closer is a well-known play which was done justice by the fantastic performances of each of the four actors. Described as a portrayal of the ‘raw, unsentimental reality of
If you missed this amazing production of a truly interesting and insightful play, Broken Bird will be putting on a stripped down studio version in a couple of weeks. For more information about that check out their Facebook or website at brokenbirdtheatre.wordpress.com [Clare Saltiel]
Director Matthew Lenton A piece described as examining “the allure of the erotic and the invasion of pornography into modern popular culture”, as well as a dark, twisted take on the Alice In Wonderland tale was always likely to have me interested – anything that plays with the subversion of reality and social norms does. Unfortunately, the connection with Lewis Carroll’s tale goes no further than the lead character being called Alice, and the idea of stepping into a world where the rules are different – something not exclusive to Carroll’s works by any means.
The link between sexual violence and pornography was obviously intended to be there, but wasn’t obvious to anyone not looking for it. Wonderland tried to explore this theme with two narrative threads: one of Alice’s introduction into the porn industry; and the other the non-linear story of the mundane psychopath John.
Alice’s power over her situation.
For a piece on pornography, they spent a lot of time skirting around the issue, never quite referring to the porn film they’re making. Where there’s porn, there’s nudity, and Wonderland was not lacking in nudity. If the intention of all the naked bodies was to desensitise the audience, the majority of the nudity My main problem with this play came too late into the production to was that, whilst Alice asserts she is make a difference, and just seemed performing in pornography because a tad too gratuitious. she enjoys sex, and her director insists she has control at all times, Wonderland seemed uncertain about [Becky Male]
ARTS : STAGE & MORE
WONDERLAND
qmunicate • 19
TECH : INNOVATIONS
DIGITAL STORAGE
Max Sefton breaks down some technical jargon Recently, Japanese tech giant Hitachi has unveiled what may be the future of digital storage: a sliver of glass capable of withstanding heat of up to 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also waterproof, chemical-resistant and unharmed by radio waves, promising the opportunity that some remnant of our digital society will survive into future epochs.
out at around 40 megabytes per square inch about the same capacity as a standard CD for anyone who wishes to inflict their music tastes upon future generations. As with all new technological developments though, capacity tends to multiply exponentially. It shouldn’t be long before this format becomes practical for the kind of longterm data storage necessary to store the vast quantities of data generated by our society every day and given to museums, government departments and religious bodies.
Hitachi researcher Kazuyoshi Torii says “The volume of data being created every day is exploding, but in terms of keeping it for later generations, we haven’t necessarily improved since the days we inscribed things on stones.” No degradation of the data over time means these To the average reader, these new developments magic squares could preserve the information raise several important questions: What will of our society for eons to come . future generations think when they analyse the scribblings of the 21st century? Are we doing Each seemingly insignificant sliver of quartz enough to preserve a record of this period of glass is imprinted with dots representing binary human history? And what will mankind in 2212 data, able to be read by an ordinary microscope. make of all the pictures of cats? Presently, the tiny sheets are two centimetres wide and two millimetres thin. The current incarnation holds four layers of data, working [Max Sefton]
CENSORED
Euan Hill on YouTube Censorship It could safely be stated that YouTube is the dominant way that we view video media online. The convenience of having everything available on a single website is without doubt, but as YouTube inches towards an online video monopoly, governments are poised to use this to censor harmful information with ease.
A more shocking example of censorship occurred recently in the supposedly free and democratic country of Brazil. After a video that heavily criticised a local politician was not removed, a Brazilian judge moved to arrest the top Google executive in Brazil. Although this decision was later overturned, it certainly The most prominent example of this is the trailer turned a lot of heads. to a film called Innocence of Muslims. After appearing online, it sparked a wave of protests Eventually YouTube and Google will have to from across the Muslim world, including a make a decision and as a profitable company terrorist attack which led to the murder of an one would expect corporate interest to come American diplomat. In response to this video, first. They can either stand as a beacon of free some countries, including Sudan, Afghanistan, expression and allow the broadcast of political Bangladesh and Iran, not only requested that dissent, or they can continue to operate in the video be removed, but banned access to countries where governments have decided the whole of YouTube. Other states, including not to put a premium on free speech. Certainly, the governments of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and so long as they act as the only port of call for Russia, simply banned the video in question. It internet video viewers the pressure, both legally is worth noting that it is against YouTube’s terms and financially, will be on allowing authorities and conditions to broadcast hate speech, so, to dictate content. arguably, this issue could not be political at all. [Euan Hill]
20 • qmunicate
SPORTS: IN REVIEW
CAN YOU HEAR THE CRICKETS?
Malachy Clarke overcomes his dislike for cricket to write about it So England played Afghanistan in cricket the other day. I didn’t know it was even cricket season or whatever. Cause cricket is pretty much the most boring team sport known to man.
least impressive sports out there. It mostly seems to involve men in woollen jumpers standing around, with everyone acting like those people you find in one of those weird rural pubs. Cricket authorities even invented I mean if you had to guess a sport that was Twenty20 cricket to make a more exciting invented by England it would be cricket. It’s the fast-paced version to appeal to younger only sport I can think of that involves running audiences. It didn’t fucking work for me. sort of (a little bit), weird terminology like googly and Chinaman (neither of which have I guess England and Afghanistan competing anything to do with search engines or Chinese in an international tournament is kind of a big people), and to top it all off, fucking jumpers deal. I can’t imagine the two teams would enjoy man. What sort of a sport has players wearing each other’s company much. I don’t know jumpers during play? A shit one, that’s what. much about cricket, but I imagine the trashIt’s not even like cricket could be used to talk - or “sledging”, as they insist on calling it - in pick up women, it has to be one of the that match could get pretty heated. I guess in
this instance insults screaming and shouting about killing or taking down your opponent could bring on sinister new meanings. England ultimately beat Afghanistan by 116 runs. That sounds like a lot to me but I’m not entirely sure how cricket scoring works. It’s not exactly surprising though. It’s kind of like at school when the big bully would shove you around all day then beat your ass at football too. Except in this case the bully maintains a continued military presence in your country and then whoops your ass at a sport they invented. [Malachy Clarke]
RYDER CUP RECAP
Alan Compton takes you through the most exciting golf event ever Europe have won the Ryder Cup. It’s a statement that thankfully I’ve grown accustomed to with our remarkable recent record in the tournament, but it is one I’ll never tire of writing. Over the course of the Ryder Cup history, just about every conceivable victory has been observed by the baiting crowds across Europe and the United States. Well, apart from this. Whilst keeping in mind the need to avoid sensationalism, I don’t think that it’s too far a stretch to suggest that this is the single greatest victory in the 39 editions of the Ryder Cup.
of European Golf legend Seve Ballesteros, acknowledged with his figure and initials being stitched on just about everything the European team knew how to stitch things onto, and by the passion in the eyes of each and every one of the team.
With the passion running through the European side and the spirit of Seve Ballesteros channelling through the inspired Ian Poulter what had been seemingly impossible seemed likely and the difficult was coming easy. Thanks to a huge early effort, with Europe winning the first 5 of Sunday’s ties to lead 11-10, Europe went on to complete one of This was not just ‘another Ryder Cup’ for the biggest comebacks in Ryder Cup history. Europe – if indeed such a thing exists – but this Martin Kaymer’s par putt on the 18th secured was the first Ryder Cup since the tragic death the retention of the trophy by getting Europe
to 14 points, and Tiger Woods conceding the final hole to Francesco Molinari meant that Europe had not simply retained the trophy by draw, but beaten America 14½ – 13½ in front of an awe struck Chicago crowd. Seve looked down upon the European side with that trademark smile, and boy, did they give him something to smile about. Congratulations to the European team: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Paul Lawrie, Graeme McDowell, Francesco Molinari, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Nicolas Colsaerts, Ian Poulter and Captain José María Olazábal – you have achieved something quite special that I, for one, will never forget. [Alan Compton] qmunicate • 21
Want to get involved? The Publications Committee meet every Wednesday during term-time at 1730 in the QMU’s board room. This lovely gang put together every issue of qmunicate and run the weekly content over at qmunicate.wordpress.co.uk and would like you to join them for chat and sweeties. It can even go on your degree transcript. Alternatively you can send compliments, queries, comments and restraining orders to: qmunicate.magazine@gmail.com
Your week at the QM… Monday Free Condoms 1200-1600 • Cloak Room Campaigns and Charities Committe 1700 • Board Room Monday Night Music Quiz 2000pm • Jim’s Bar
Tuesday Events Committee 1730 • Board Room Unplugged 2000pm • Jim’s Bar
Wednesday
Thursday
Free Condoms 1200-1600 • Cloak Room
Social Committee 1730 • Board Room
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Free Condoms 1200-1600 • Cloak Room
Live Sport in Champions’ Bar
Live Sport in Champions’ Bar
Publications Committee 1730 •Board Room
Pop Culture & a Piano 1600 • Jim’s Bar
See Bar for this week’s games!
See Bar for this week’s games!
BWNPQ 2000 • Jim’s Bar
Karaoke 2100 • Jim’s Bar Cheesy Pop 2200-2am • Qudos
Credits Editor: Tom Kelly
•Tom Kelly • Euan Hill • Marc Barr • Sean Iles • Ansgar Hastenpflug • Lucy Howell • Becky Male • Claire Saltiel • Alan Compton
Section Editors/Heroes: Emma Jewson • Theo Wheatley •David Childs •Joseph Nelson Photography/Illustration: Sean Iles • Tom • Andrew McAllister • Ali Begg • Sean Iles • Kelly • Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos • Anna Price • Laura Thomas Grunge Textures • digital collagist • dmswart • Ben Houdijk • Mike Mantin Contributors: Suki McFarland • Calum McInnes • Kenny Anderson •Joseph Nelson • Alan Compton• Thanks to: Committee patience • SelfMax Sefton• Malachy Clarke • Bryce Johnston delusion • Colour •
22 • qmunicate
Despite: A large number of calamities • Ourselves • All the parties happening on Saturdays • Indesign going beserk • QMU Internet • Printing courtesy of Forward Graphics