Issue 1500

Redbrick Issue 1500, Vol. 83

Friday 7th December 2018

The true meaning of Christmas

The best games of the year

Comment 8-9

Gaming Travel 26-27 30

FREE

How to spend Christmas abroad and love it

Five sporting moments that defined 2018

Sport 40

Redbrick Celebrates Its 1500th Issue pages 12-13

Front cover design by Laura Kirk INSIDE: Redbrick Music and Redbrick Film Present The Best Albums and Movies of 2018

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Friday 7th December 2018

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Letter from the committee...

Issue 1500... wow. This is a such milestone in Redbrick’s history and it is an honour to be a part of it. We were first established back in 1936, with issue one being published in February of that year.

We have come a long way since then, with every committee having placed their mark on our paper. We have undergone countless logo changes, numerous redesigns of our front page, the introduction and now re-introduction of our crossword as well as gaining many new sections along the way.

But perhaps our biggest change was way back in 1962 when our name changed from Guild News to its modern incarnation, Redbrick. Our paper has been an essential part of university life for 82 years: we have reported on every major campus story, a notable one being the 1968 Aston Webb sit-in which is being commemorated today in the Great Hall, where you can find reprinted issues of our original story. But focusing on the present, this 1500th issue is celebrated with the fantastic artwork of Laura Kirk featured on our front cover. We love it.

From my own personal journey, as a writer, to as a Music Editor last year, and now as one of the Deputies, Redbrick has become so much more than a society to me. It has helped boost my confidence,

improved my time management and probably most importantly I have gained the most amazing friends. A special mention must go my fellow ex-Music Editor Thom Dent, who has done a fantastic job as Print & Features Editor so far this year. Whilst I miss putting together those pages every other week, it has been amazing to see the new team take on the challenge so well.

Over the course of the paper’s existence we have become so much more than a mechanism in the University’s superstructure.

We are a platform for Birmingham’s students to springboard into the world of journalism, broadcasting, marketing and academia amongst many more. Our alumni stretch far and wide and it is inspiring to see what so many have achieved. I have the utmost confidence that our current members will also go on to do great things and prosper in any career they find themselves in.

Looking at the nearer future, we have our Media Ball just around the corner. And although we were unable to get the venue we had originally planned for due to delays with the contracts approval, we (alongside the other Guild media groups) have rallied together to organise an alternative in rapid speed. The Media Ball is

a great opportunity for all the student media groups, which perhaps surprisingly don’t always get to mingle, to come together and celebrate all our hard work this side of Christmas. With speeches from all the Presidents, we can learn of each society’s challenges and triumphs as well as their plans for the New Year.

Lastly, a thank you to all committee, editors and writers for being so understanding regarding the current issues we have been facing, with our online content in particular. However, I could not write an editorial without saying a huge thank you to my fellow Deputy Editor Kat Smith, who is quite honestly the ying to my yang, and also to our Editor-in-Chief Erin Santillo for his constant support and fantastic leadership.

Oh, and as this is our last issue of term, Merry Christmas everyone! We will see you back in 2019.

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Issy Campbell Deputy Editor

Want to be featured? Send us your photos at: deputy@redbrick.me and/or tag us in your photos by using #redbrickinstagram

Online this week at redbrick.me...

SPORT

MUSIC

FILM

LIFE&STYLE

xpLosION 2018: Birmingham Lions Lose Out To Swansea Titans

Redbrick Meets: Becky Hill

Review: Crazy Rich Asians

Keira Knightley Bans her Daughter From Disney Films

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Erin Santillo editor@redbrick.me

Deputy Editors Issy Campbell Kat Smith

News Editors Tom Leaman Megan Stanley Liam Taft Sophie Woodley

Film Editors Lucy McCann Todd Waugh Ambridge Josh Woods

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Comment Editors Natalia Carter Emily Chapman Alex Cirant-Taljaard Amelia Hiller

Television Editors Niamh Brennan Morgana Chess Jessica Green

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Print & Features Editor Thom Dent print@redbrick.me

Digital Editors Jonny Isaacs John Wimperis digital@redbrick.me

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Marketing Secretary Theodore Wrigley marketing@redbrick.me

Social Secretary Sorcha Hornett social@redbrick.me

Travel Editors Laura Botia Evangeline Hunt travel@redbrick.me

Life&Style Editors Yasmine Kennedy Sophie Kesterton Imogen Lancaster Ellie Silcock lifestyle@redbrick.me

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Culture Editors Olivia Boyce Natalie Welch culture@redbrick.me

Gaming Editors Christopher Hall James Law Imogen Mellor Sam Nason gaming@redbrick.me

Music Editors Emily Barker Letty Gardner Harry Hetherington Kieran Read

Food&Drink Editors Emily Calder Lydia Waller

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food@redbrick.me

Sci&Tech Editors Francesca Benson Katie Jones Will Nunn tech@redbrick.me

Sport Editors Isabel Baldwin Jake Bradshaw Elizabeth Conway Jack Simpkin Harry Wilkinson sport@redbrick.me

Editorial Assistants Corinne Atkinson Alex Cirant-Taljaard Romana Essop Roisin Evans Charlotte Gill Thea Grattidge Nicola Maclean Owen Milner Sam Nead Katie Norris Eliza Power Amy Rogers

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The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the editor.

Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

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UoB’s Women Officers Show Solidarity Sophie Woodley News Editor

On Sunday 25th November, the Guild of Students’ Women Officers, Holly Battrick and Alif Trevathan, hung a banner saying ‘We Believe Her’ on the bridge by the Guild.

The 8 metre long banner was inspired by a ‘number of things,’ Holly and Alif told Redbrick.

They said, ‘we wanted to make sure that whatever we did was as visible and arresting as possible.

Putting up a banner meant you had to engage with it.’

One of the reasons for creating the banner was to raise awareness for the ‘UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women,’ which took place on Sunday 25th November.

This day aims to raise awareness of the women and girls who have been affected by violence that manifests itself in physical, sexual and psychological forms, and to show that the scale of this violence is ‘often not seen to its true extent.’

“Putting up a banner meant you had to engage with it” According to the United Nations, sexual violence and harassment, intimate partner violence, human trafficking and child marriage are some of the forms of violence women might face.

Holly and Alif also spoke to Monday 26th November Redbrick about the UN’s day, marked the start of the Guild’s explaining that it ‘signifies the ‘Sexual Health Awareness and start of 16 days of action Guidance Week,’ (also known as against violence ‘SHAG’ week) which the banagainst women.’ ner also aimed to raise They both stated awareness of. that this is The week involved ‘reflective of activities and events to what we see raise awareness of sexwomen on here on our ual health and safe sex, campus,’ with as well as many other campus as many as 1 in issues such as taboos experience sexual 3 women at and misconceptions assault UoB experiencaround sex and sexualiing sexual violence ty. or assault of ‘some Holly and Alif told description.’

Redbrick they were involved in Holly and Alif said that the events throughout ‘SHAG week,’ banner ‘highlighted how campus such as ‘pleasure workshops,’ in has become a microcosm of wider which they aimed to be ‘transparsociety, and what we do here ent’ whilst having ‘open convercould have impacts further afield. sations.’

It’s a way of creating waves.’

Holly and Alif also shared a

1 in 3

post on Facebook’s ‘Fab N’ Fresh’ page, with pictures of their banner, which gained over 700 likes.

They explained their motivations behind the banner, saying that ‘actions sometimes speak louder than words.’

Redbrick spoke to Becky Soars, a UoB student who posted positive comments on the post.

She said, ‘I am proud of my University for supporting the voices of women who have experienced sexual harassment or violence. At a time when almost 2 in every 3 girls have experienced sexual violence or harassment at school in the past year, messages like this from educational institutions are vital.’

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, please visit the Guild website to find the support available for you.

Holly Battrick and Alif Trevathan

‘Access to Success’ Conference Held at UoB Megan Stanley News Editor

On Wednesday 14th November the University of Birmingham held a conference dedicated to supporting first-generation university students, encouraging them into success while studying.

The conference was held in the new Hotel and Conference Center on Edgbaston Park Road in partnership with the Accelate and Access Foundation.

The Accelerate and Access Foundation promotes social mobility through education in the UK. The conference was attended by members from over 50 higher education institutions from across the world and featured speakers from the US and the UK, with the intention of sharing initiatives.

The conference focused on how to increase access to firstgeneration students and support them once they are admitted into university. First-generation students often lack cultural capital, meaning they often struggle to

navigate the simpler elements of university and can’t turn to their parents for advice or guidance.

First-generation students may also come from low-income families, which means financial struggles can also impact their university experience.

The US keynote speakers were Jay Davies, Director of First Year Student Enrichment at Dartmouth College, and Princeton University’s Associate Dean for Access and Inclusion, Dr. Khristina Gonzalez.

Davis shared insight into the First Year Student Enrichment Programme (FYEP) at Dartmouth.

Introduced in 2009, the programme includes a pre-orientation session that helps students transition into university life.

Similarly, Gonzalez discussed the Scholars Institute Fellows Programme, which is designed for students from lower-income backgrounds to assist with their entrance into a different academic and social culture. The two also discussed the importance of students celebrating their first-generation status with

visibility days, or even week-long events.

A UK perspective on the issue was expressed by Michelle Morgan, Associate Dean of Student Experience at Bournemouth University. One key aspect she Sophie Woodley

highlighted was that many jobs in the UK didn’t require a degree until recently, meaning that firstgeneration students aren’t necessarily from low-income families.

Morgan further added that UK universities aren’t funded by alumni or donors as much as American colleges, meaning that funding often has to be used elsewhere which can create blocks when trying to help first-generation students. Concluding her talk, Morgan said that more needs to be done for postgraduate first-generation students who are often overlooked.

After the presentations, audience members were invited to direct questions to a panel. Featured on the panel were UoB Biosciences graduate Sadhika Yasmin and second-year English Literature and Language student Georgia Wiley.

Both students took part in the University’s Access to Birmingham (A2B) programme in Year 13 at school.

The A2B programme is aimed at students who have little experience of higher education. After

completing and passing the programme in sixth form, the UoB entry requirements are reduced by two grades. In 2018, A2B had over 350 entrants to the University. It is available to students from the West Midlands who come from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds which might affect their chances of meeting normal entry grades.

Wiley told Redbrick: ‘The event was really insightful. It was interesting hearing from American speakers how university works for them and what they are doing to help those who are the first in their family to attend university.

‘As a UoB student, I am proud to see my university doing more to broaden participation, helping those like myself transition into university life.’ Wiley added.

Do you have any opinions on this article? Contact us @redbricknews

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Redbrick News Investigates: Fuel Poverty in Selly Oak

News Editor Liam Taft spoke to students, a local MP, and Welfare and Community Officer Izzy Bygrave to learn more about the issue of fuel poverty for students Liam Taft News Editor @liam_taft_

Redbrick News has found that a number of University of Birmingham students living in Selly Oak and Harborne could be experiencing fuel poverty. A number of factors, such as the increasing cost of heating bills and poorly insulated housing, could lead UoB students to fall under the category of being ‘fuel poor.’

Those who are regarded as being fuel poor cannot afford to keep their homes adequately heated. Fuel poverty occurs when fuel costs are above the average median and, if the occupants were to heat their homes to the recommended temperature (21°C), the cost of doing so would bring them below the official poverty line.

One in ten families in the UK experience fuel poverty, but students are often left out of these statistics. A report published in September 2018 by Elsevier argues that official definitions of fuel poverty fail to incorporate students. If fuel poverty is considered using a ‘low income, high costs’ definition – which states that fuel costs should be no higher than 10% of household income – the authors suggest that many students should be considered fuel poor. What’s more, students don’t fit the criteria for government fuel poverty assistance, so they cannot access benefits to help heat their homes.

The West Midlands is facing a fuel poverty crisis, according to the Oil Firing Technical Association, with 14% of homes in the region being classed as fuel poor. In both Selly Oak and Harborne, sub-regional data from the government finds that 20.3% of houses are considered to be in fuel poverty. Selly Oak, in particular, has a high student population, with nearly half of the population being aged 18-24 - which suggests that a number of UoB students could be part of these fuel poverty figures.

“Students don't fit the criteria for government fuel poverty assistance” Redbrick conducted a survey with 134 participants and found that 85.5% of respondents living in Selly Oak or Harborne wish that their homes were warmer in winter. 34.3% described their homes as ‘cool’ and 31.3% said that their homes are ‘very cool’.

Nearly two thirds (64.2%) admitted to wearing outdoor wear – such as coats, scarves, and gloves – indoors during the winter months to keep warm.

There are several consequences of living in a cold home, such as the development of mould and slug infestations, with 62.7% of people stating that they experienced these problems. Cold homes can also lead to physical and mental health issues. A 2011 report by Friends of the Earth found that those facing difficulty paying bills were four times as likely to experience anxiety and depression.

One person commented on Redbrick’s survey saying: ‘Last year I actually became ill and my asthma worsened as a result of damp and poor heating.’ Another person also experienced issues with asthma over the winter months, claiming that they were in a ‘constant battle’ attempting to regulate the heating in their room so that their health issues improved.

well as other essential living costs, in order to keep up with their heating bills.

These results could have been influenced by unusually cold temperatures last winter, with the ‘Beast from the East’ plummeting temperatures below zero, but this data has previously been recorded by the National Union of Students (NUS) in 2017. From a pool of 2509 responses, 49% said that their house was uncomfortably cold in winter and 42% struggled at least from time to time to pay 85.5% of UoB students wish their homes were warmer in winter their energy bills. Although these results are slightly higher than Raising energy prices across population rent privately, but this those found by Redbrick, the sam- the UK could also have contrib- figure is much higher for students. ple was much larger and takes uted to these figures. Earlier this These short tenancies reduce stuinto account student housing year, the Department for Business, dent’s bargaining power with nationwide.

Energy, and Industrial Strategy landlords to make improvements But why are students forecasted that fuel poverty regarding energy efficiency. In facing fuel poverty? across the UK could wors- Redbrick’s survey, 81.7% of The authors of the en as a result of increas- respondents said that, when they Elsevier report ing energy prices. All have asked for an energy effisuggest that most six of the UK’s ciency rating from their landlord, students live in major energy sup- they have not been provided with pre-1991 houspliers have raised one. What’s more, over threeing, which is their prices, which quarters of respondents (84.6%) not energy effiis likely to widen said that their landlord did not folof houses are cient. Houses the ‘fuel poverty low through with their request for fuel poor in Selly gap’ built before the between new boilers, radiators, or updated 1990s often household energy heating equipment in their propOak and have solid walls, bills and what the erty.

Harborne meaning that there tenants can afford to The government recently is no cavity to insert pay. Energy UK, the launched a consultation into enerinsulation. With many trade association for the gy efficiency in the private rented of the houses in Selly Oak energy sector, told Redbrick sector. From April 2018, landlords and Harborne predating the 1990s, that the increase in prices is as a of privately rented homes must it’s likely that poorly insulated result of the wholesale cost of ensure that their properties have housing partly contributes to fuel fuel, which has risen by 30% in an Energy Performance Certificate poverty in the area. Poorly insu- the last year.

(EPC) rating of E. Yet many suglated houses require more energy One major reason why stu- gest that the onus should be placed to heat to an adequate tempera- dents are experiencing fuel pov- on landlords to a greater extent to ture, which in turn increases costs erty is because most students live reduce heating costs in their propand could put students below the in the private rented sector on erties. The authors of the Elsevier poverty line. short-term contracts. 18% of the report suggest that there should be

20.3%

“I actually became ill and my asthma worsened as a result of damp and poor heating”

37.3% of UoB students struggle to pay their energy bills

More than a third of those surveyed (37.3%) said that they struggle to pay their heating bills and 82.8% admitted to actively avoiding heating their homes to reduce costs. Several people said that they sacrifice buying food, as

Issy Campbell

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Millie Gibbins

incentives for landlords to mandate minimum efficiency standards.

Speaking to Redbrick, Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe agreed that landlords need to do more to tackle fuel poverty. ‘I believe landlords need to make much more effort to properly insulate the properties they rent out,’ he said. Selly Oak housing is ‘often run down and poorly maintained, with extensions tacked on the side which have minimal insulation.’

McCabe favours conditions on energy efficiency being attached to a tenancy ‘in much the same way as an energy performance certificate is attached to a house sale.’

Redbrick asked Housing and Community Officer for the Guild of Students, Izzy Bygrave, whether she agrees with placing more restrictions on landlords. She responded saying: ‘Absolutely.

The Guild would certainly welcome calls for the government to introduce requirements for landlords to make their homes more energy efficient – helping to reduce household bills and lower the number of students living in fuel poverty.’

“I believe landlords need to make much more effort to properly insulate their properties” Fuel providers are also partly responsible for preventing fuel poverty. As a result of an Energy Company Obligation scheme introduced by the government, suppliers must improve the energy efficiency of low income households. All properties that have received energy efficiency measures must now meet an EPC rating of E. Many reports have been critical of the government’s attempts to close the fuel poverty gap. A report by the Energy & Utilities Alliance finds that many schemes that have been introduced are not fit for purpose. For example, new switching schemes have led to high exit fees when tenants are

looking to leave their energy contracts. The latest government statistics find that the average fuel poverty gap decreased by 4.4% in 2016, but a report by The Guardian also finds that the government will miss their fuel poverty targets by more than six decades.

Government fuel poverty assistance schemes have helped some, but students do not qualify for support. Izzy Bygrave was keen to point out the services that the Guild offer to students experiencing fuel poverty. ‘If any student is experiencing difficulties: struggling to pay bills, buy food or keep up with other living costs, I’d advise them to go and speak to Guild Advice straight away,’ she said. ‘We can help alleviate debts with hardship funds for those experiencing financial difficulties.’

T h e University told Redbrick that they are ‘committed’ to supporting students who need financial help. Students are encouraged to apply for a Student Support Fund - a means-tested fund that is open to all students and offers bursaries of up to £3,000. ‘If any of our students are experiencing financial difficulty,’ they said, ‘and have already taken advantage of the existing means of support open to them (such as student loans), then they are encouraged to apply for the fund for help.’

Redbrick’s survey found that 35.1% of people do not know what fuel poverty is, suggesting that some students may be in fuel poverty without even realising it.

Izzy Bygrave said that this was ‘incredibly unsettling’ and pointed out that the Guild are working to raise fuel poverty awareness.

The Guild are also working with Marks Out of Tenancy, which will allow students to rate their house and landlord, thereby giving future students a more accurate impression of household expenses and living standards.

This, they hope, will improve living standards in Selly Oak and Harborne, with landlords working harder for a more favourable review.

Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of regulations for landlords to improve vulnerable households to an EPC rating of E. Students who have concerns about the energy efficiency of their homes can contact the Birmingham City Council’s Private Rented Sector team. Or, if students face financial difficulty, they are encouraged to contact Birmingham’s Financial Inclusion Partnership, which provides financial advice and guidance.

Energy UK told Redbrick that students facing high bills should consider switching suppliers, which could save ‘significant amounts’ of money. However, they recommend speaking to landlords to implement energy efficiency measures, which is the ‘best way to keep bills down in the long term.’

A small number of respondents in Redbrick’s survey suggested that there may be other factors that affect why students can’t heat their homes.

One person told Redbrick: ‘I feel me and my friends have put ourselves into situations where we prioritise other non-essential costs, [such as] socialising and nights out.’ A final-year History student said: ‘Perhaps some students find themselves in a position which could seem like fuel poverty, because there is a belief that heating is expensive and therefore simply don't turn it on, in the hope to save money. For me, I feel I could spend more money on heating, but choose not to, because it seems like a huge waste of money.'

However, Redbrick data and research from the NUS, as well as a report from Elsevier published earlier this year, indicate that many students are in genuine need of fuel poverty assistance.

NUS and Elsevier data suggests that fuel poverty is an issue that affects students nationwide.

Similar studies to this have been carried out with students from the University of Sheffield, but the scope to expand this research extends much further. Obtaining

49%

of students say their house is 'uncomfortably cold'

more data may put pressure on the government to provide fuel poverty assistance to students who cannot afford to heat their homes.

On a local level, the authors of the Elsevier report recommend that students engage with local authorities to address areas that need targeting with energy efficiency schemes.

“UoB are ‘committed’ to supporting students who need financial help” It’s not certain whether data from Redbrick’s survey indicates that UoB students are living in fuel poverty. Without the results of a specific calculation through government guidance, it is not possible to ascertain whether a house is in fuel poverty. However, the fact that 20.6% of respondents consider themselves to be fuel poor, 37.7% struggle to pay their heating bills, and 82.8% actively avoid heating their homes to reduce costs makes a strong case to suggest that fuel poverty may

be an issue amongst students in the area.

The ‘Beast from the East’ is set to make a comeback this winter, with temperatures predicted to fall to -5°C. Students are encouraged to heat their homes to the best of their abilities and seek support from the Guild, the University, or Birmingham’s Financial Inclusion Partnership if they face financial difficulty.

Redbrick News would like to remind you that if you are unsure as to how to operate your boiler or heat your house effectively, to please seek the advice of your landlord.

If you’ve been affected by fuel poverty and want to have your say, please contact us on Twitter - @redbricknews

64.2% of UoB students have worn outdoor clothing inside

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University Education Does Not Close Gender Pay Gap Sophie Woodley News Editor

A new study has been conducted which is the first to compare the benefits of a university education with the earnings of non-graduate workers.

Graduate pay figures have recently been collected by the Department of Education which show that degree qualifications are not enough to bridge the pay gap between men and women.

The figures were collected from tax data and analysed by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), which looked at who benefits most from attending university in England.

According to the IFS, male graduates receive a 6% income boost after graduating from university, compared to those who leave school and go straight into the workforce.

In comparison, female graduates receive nearly 50% more than non-university educated women, which equalises them to income levels of non-university educated men.

Both female graduates and male non-graduates earn £30,000

on average by the age of 29, according to the IFS. Redbrick spoke to Laura, a final year English student, who said, ‘I don’t think it's fair. It’s not fair that women have to pay more and earn less by the end of it.’

Jack Britton from the IFS said that women had the most to gain from a degree, as those without a degree received ‘far less pay’ than men without one.

Britton states, ‘For women, going to university is a very good investment, for men it’s less clear – there are a large class of men doing courses that have zero or negative monetary value.’

The Guardian suggests that Sam Gyimah, recently resigned higher education minister, has used the IFS figures to highlight the benefits of going to university in England; he claimed that 85% of students get a ‘significant, positive return’ from higher education.

He continued on to say: ‘it is also clear from the analysis that there are a clutch of courses at certain universities which are not delivering the financial outcomes for students’.

The IFS analysts have also

concluded that people who went to university tended to have better exam results from school, so would be expected to have higher earning careers.

This is based on figures in longitudinal observations which followed those who took GCSE exams between 2002-2007.

IFS 2018 statistics, which examine mean real earnings of those aged 29, show that women with at least 5 A*-Cs, with no higher education, earn roughly

£20,000.

Men who also have no higher education, however, earn roughly £10,000 more with an average of £30,000.

Nicola Dandridge, the chief executive of the Office for Students, commented, ‘universities should scrutinise this data carefully, and some will need to ask themselves tough questions about how well they are preparing students for life after graduation’.

News Writer

On Wednesday 21st November, the 44th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings, three steel trees were unveiled outside the entrance to New Street Station as a memorial for the victims of the 1974 attacks.

A minute’s silence was held for the 21 people who were killed after two bombs exploded in the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs in the city centre 44 years ago.

The new, tree-shaped sculptures each have seven leaves, and all 21 leaves have the name of one of the victims inscribed on them.

Amongst the 250 people gathered at the unveiling were families of the victims, as well as members of the Birmingham Irish Association, campaign group Justice4the21, and Network Rail, who worked closely to bring the project to life.

182 more people were injured on the night of the attacks, in pubs just metres away from where the new memorial has been unveiled.

Local artist Andhura Patel, who spent three years designing and creating the sculpture, spoke of its importance on the central location of the memorial site: ‘As people come through into the city, it’s the first thing they will see. It means a lot – it’s a very significant piece of work and I am very honoured to have been involved in it.’

Underneath the structure, a

plaque reads: 'This memorial stands as a testament to our grief, in the hope that the 21 will be ever rooted in this place; and as a symbol of peace and unity at the gateway of our city.’

Among those invited to the event was President of the Jaggery University of Birmingham Irish Society, Charlie Goan, a secondyear Political Science and International Relations student.

He told Redbrick about the significance of the unveiling: ‘Wednesday night's memorial unveiling was a poignant reminder of the darker days of Birmingham.

Redbrick

pub bombings did to our city, and the hope we have for the future.’

The events of the pub bombings are still under investigation.

It was widely reported at the time that the IRA was responsible for the bombings, however, the case became known as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Britain

"A poignant reminder of the darker days of Birmingham" 'It was an honour to attend on behalf of the University's Irish Society and pay my respects to the 21 victims of the 1974 attack.

'The only way we can build bridges going forward is through reconciliation and respect.'

Chief Executive of the Birmingham Irish Association, JohnatM Maurice Malone, also spoke the service. ‘As a group incorporating the Irish community, the victims’ families, the city, and the university, we wanted to create an inclusive and healing memorial which could reflect both the damage the

Andreea Manduic News Editor

Ivan Hernandez

Memorial for Anniversary of Pub Bombings Emily Darby

Two Year Degrees to Reduce Tution Fees

Tom Leaman

after six men were wrongly imprisoned for 17 years.

A new inquiry will begin in February next year, 28 years after the convicted suspects, who became known as the Birmingham Six, were released from prison.

Plans to cut three-year degree programmes to two years have been confirmed by recently-resigned Universities Minister Sam Gyimah.

The plan is still awaiting Parliamentary approval, as annual fees are proposed to rise to above the current £9,250.

The idea, which has been discussed since 2017, is for universities to charge higher annual fees for shorter overall courses for students studying in the UK. A ‘fast-track degree’ will reduce the study period to 45 weeks and will also help the government lower the tuition fee loans for those students.

Courses will be more intensive following this decision and this new plan would cut down the fees, saving 20% (£5,500), according to the BBC.

"A 'fast track' degree will reduce the study period to 45 weeks" Gyimah confirmed that this intensive degree will benefit ‘mature students and those who commute,’ mentioning as well the ‘undeniable financial, academic and personal benefits.’

According to Gyimah, universities will be able to offer a dynamic choice for students by implementing this degree.

If the two-year degree plan is approved, these kind of courses could be implemented starting from the following year, said the Department for Education.

The government hopes that this new way of studying will encourage a rise of students in universities because of its flexibility. Students with different commitments relating to family or work will be able to follow the study path they want to and also save money for accommodation and additional costs.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, Sir Anthony Seldon, believes that shortened degrees will be beneficial for students, although he suggests that some universities will find this transition hard to restructure.

He said: ‘We would like the universities minister to engage in discussions with us in order to assist independent providers who offer two-year degrees.’

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News Analysis: Birmingham’s High Rate of Homelessness Revealed Rebecca Hall News Writer

A recent report by Shelter has revealed Birmingham’s high rate of homelessness, with 1 in 73 people in the city homeless.

In total, the number of homeless people living in the West Midlands is 23,800. Within this, Birmingham is ranked as the ‘worst area’ for the issue in the region, and 22nd nationally.

The numbers relate to official figures, but it is expected that many more than this are homeless. This means Birmingham’s problems are likely to be bigger than the figure reported.

As a way to combat the problem, the city council paid £3.3 million to local B&B’s who pro-

vided rooms for the homeless. A recent Birmingham Live investigation revealed at least 160 desperate families were living in B&B rooms across Birmingham for multiple weeks at a time.

Redbrick spoke to Caitlin, a first year student, who said, ‘Everyone sits in the relative safety of their Selly Oak houses with heating and water. And we complain about so many issues, obviously we face issues but these recent statistics make me realise we need to think and do more for those that are constantly vulnerable.’

Shelter attributes the growing problem to a combination of unaffordable rent, frozen housing benefits and a severe shortage of social housing. Vicky Hines,

Manager of the Shelter Birmingham hub, said that ‘it is unforgivable that thousands of people in the West Midlands have been swept up by the housing crisis and now have no place to call home.’

Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said: ‘As this crisis contin-

Garry Knight

ues to unfold, the work of our frontline services remains absolutely critical.’

As Christmas approaches, many people take time to reflect and give back to the community.

As a result of these new statistics and cold winter weather worsening the situation, homelessness has taken centre stage in efforts to give back over this festive period.

On the night of November 30th a charity event was held in the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral to raise awareness for homelessness. St Basil’s, an organisation which combats homelessness for people aged 16-25 in the West Midlands, organised the event.

St Basil’s stated, ‘It is a chal-

lenge but it's great fun too and you'll be joining together with lots and lots of other like-minded locals all trying to help this great cause.’

"As Christmas approaches, many people take time to reflect" In 2015, 400 people took part, followed by 600 in 2016. This year, the number of volunteers and amount raised is expected to have risen, as 860 people registered for the event.

2022 Commonwealth Games Delays Closure of Birmingham Musuem Lorna Darknell News Writer

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery was due to close in late 2019 for redevelopments, but this has now been pushed back to after the city has hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

The three-year closure was announced as part of plans to modernise the 19th Century Grade II listed council house complex, which the museum occupies part of.

This redevelopment will address outdated electrics; however it will also result in the museum losing 6,870 square metres of the space it currently uses.

The public statement from the

museum states: ‘Birmingham City Council are proposing to reschedule their modernisation works on the Council House complex until after the Commonwealth Games in 2022.'

"It was due to close in late 2019 for redevelopments" This will mean that Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery will no longer be closing in late 2019.

‘This does not change our ambitions to redevelop the muse-

Editor’s Pick

um. We will continue to plan the new displays and public facilities so that work can begin onsite sometime after 2022.

‘Thank you to everyone who visits and supports the museum.

We will keep you updated on our exciting plans.’

Arts and Culture Blogger & Writer Ruth Millington told Redbrick: ‘It’s excellent news that the museum is staying open until 2022. It gives Birmingham the chance to showcase its important cultural collection and history, including Pre-Raphaelite paintings, to visitors in the run-up to and during the Commonwealth Games.’

As part of this overhaul, the former Poolway Shopping Centre in Yardley is being made home to

a new collection and cultural centre, as well as the new headquarters for Birmingham Museums Trust.

The Yardley site will house the museum’s collections, total-

ling around one million objects, and will make these more accessible for visitors to view. The Trust have said the plans for this will be unaffected by the Museum closure delay.

N Chadwick

News Editor Megan Stanley explores the social media challenge that is encouraging people to donate to food banks this Christmas A big part of Christmas is family, friends, and joy. A big part of the celebration is food and overindulgence, however more families are expected to turn to food banks this festive season.

My family have never had to worry about putting food on the table, so I can’t imagine what it must be like to need food assistance, especially at Christmas. A new social media challenge is demonstrating the best of humanity and highlighting another important element of Christmas: spreading good will and doing good deeds.

Members of the public are filming themselves filling trolleys with donations for foodbanks as part of a new social media chal-

lenge. This new internet fad has been described as a ‘Christmas miracle.’

The trend first began when Watson Harrop, a member of the traveller community in Bishop Auckland in County Durham, challenged his friends on Facebook.

‘This Christmas, there's going to be children going without food and that's the problem for me,’ Harrop told the BBC. The challenge has reportedly spread worldwide and foodbanks across the UK have thanked the generosity of the public, especially the traveller community where the trend began.

The BBC has reported that a food bank in Coventry has

received enough donations to feed people into the new year, because of the work the challenge has done.

"More families are expected to turn to food banks this festive season" The Trussell Trust, a charity that co-ordinates food banks across the nation, reports that more people will use food banks this Christmas compared to other years.

Data shows that last December,

The Trussell Trust foodbank network provided 159,388 three-day emergency food supplies, of which 65,622 went to children.

This is almost a 50% increase on the monthly average for the 201718 fiscal year.

It is expected that this December will be the busiest month PxHereon record for food banks and the charity is encouraging early donations so volunteers can deal with the workload.

The Trussell Trust has said that the rise is due to extra pressure from winter temperatures, as families across the UK struggle to cover the basic costs of energy bills alongside food and other essentials.

Emma Revie, chief executive

of The Trussell Trust, said: ‘Christmas is supposed to be a time for joy but what we’re seeing is the festive period becoming increasingly stressful for more and more people across the country.

‘Ultimately, it’s unacceptable that anyone should have to use a food bank in the first place.’

This social media challenge is a prime example of how good the internet can be. People across the nation have been inspired to donate to food banks and help those in need.

If you feel inspired to donate, the Guild of Students food bank donation can be found behind reception.

08

COMMENT

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickcomment

The Meaning of Christmas

Art by LT Ronald M. Mastin

As we prepare for the Christmas break, some of Redbrick Comment's contributors told us their plans for the holidays, and what the festive season means to them Holly Pittaway

Peter Amor

Abby Spreadborough

Amelia Hiller

Marina Johnson

Comment Writer

Comment Writer

Comment Writer

Comment Editor

Comment Writer

Ho-Ho-Hold on – I have to work on Christmas day?

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas is a time for giftgiving, relaxing with family and, of course, going to work in a hotel from the hours of ten in the morning till four in the afternoon, right? When I tell people I have to work on Christmas Day, the overwhelming response I receive is that of pity – ‘Oh that’s so awful’, ‘Poor you’, ‘That must be terrible’ and so on. But if they’d just let me explain, it’s actually not so bad.

See, working on Christmas Day has its perks. Not only do I get to spend the entire shift unashamedly donning a Santa hat or a pair of reindeer antlers, I also get a free glass of prosecco on arrival, and my share of the staff Christmas dinner leftover from serving merry hotel guests.

Another perk (and now I don’t mean to sound like a materialistic snob) is the money. Christmas day calls for double pay, plus the diners are so grateful that anyone would actually be mad enough to turn up that they usually leave quite a hefty tip, and when you’re a student, every penny counts.

There are worse things one could spend their time doing on Jesus’ birthday. I know if I was at home I’d pretty much spend the entire day sat on my sofa surrounded by discarded wrapping paper and stuffing my face with as many chocolate oranges as possible (this sounds like a good plan, but after you’ve conquered three or four you’ll probably begin to regret the decision). Wherever and however you are spending Christmas , have a good’un!

It may not surprise you to know that, like a growing number of people, I am not religious. This does mean that the so-called ‘true meaning of Christmas’ (that of celebrating the birth of Christ) is fairly meaningless to me, and therefore also calls into question why I bother celebrating the holiday.

To explain why I do, we must first take a brief look at history. Long before Christianity, various cultures and religions had been happily celebrating a festival at around the middleto-end of December for many years. Notably, the Romans had been celebrating Saturnalia from the 17th to 23rd of December for several centuries, and various Germanic peoples had also been celebrating Yule, which tied in with the Winter Solstice that many pagans still celebrate today. It seems, therefore, that celebrating around this time of year is nothing new or unique.

Furthermore, Christmas (and the run up to it) is a time when everyone seems to get a little happier. It is refreshing to see smiles on otherwise miserable faces, and know that people are genuinely looking forward to something. When the day itself comes, one can let go of the usual inhibitions surrounding eating, drinking and being merry. The only fly in the ointment is the pressure to have the ‘perfect Christmas,’ but one is perfectly at liberty to ignore this and do Christmas whichever way one wants to.

My perspective on Christmas is something which has evolved continuously across my lifetime. As a child, I attended a Catholic school, meaning we had a nativity, carols and Mass to tell us all that Christmas was about one thing: the birth of Jesus Christ. Whilst this idea of Christmas was certainly a reality for many of my peers, some of us were often more concerned about what it was Santa was going to leave us under our trees.

As an adult, I no longer regard Christmas so much as a religious holiday but more so as a secular one. For me, and for some who had a similar religious upbringing, Christmas has evolved into something else. As I grew up and made decisions about the faith I was raised with I re-evaluated my idea of Christmas. Today I think of Christmas as a time to reflect on the year and spend time with friends and family.

This idea is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, particularly so amongst young people. In the past Christmas was very much a religious holiday as Christianity was the default religion of the UK. Nowadays nearly 50% are nonreligious, yet given the excitement around Christmas, the holiday is clearly here to stay. I don’t believe this transition is anything to mourn. As a nation evolves and diversifies, inevitably so will its traditions. There are some that will hold on to the traditional religious idea of Christmas, and this is equally as valid as my own view of Christmas. The festive period is what you make of it.

Christmas is the happiest time of year for me, and that’s mostly because it’s the only time that eating twelve mince pies is even remotely socially acceptable.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t strongly associate Christmas with cheese boards, chocolate and copious amounts of Yorkshire puddings. Basically, I don’t think there is anything better than enjoying Christmas dinner with my family and then continuing to snack constantly up until the New Year. It’s torturous waiting to be able to actually eat any of the food in the fridge though, as after my parents have finished doing the food shopping I am strictly forbidden to snack on the Christmas food until Christmas Eve. But it’s not all about the food. It’s a time for being grateful and appreciating your family and friends and, as cliche as it sounds, spreading Christmas cheer. I’m not religious but I feel strongly that this time of year is for recognising how lucky I am and appreciating time spent with family and friends over the holiday season.

In my opinion, there is no better way to do this than catching up with loved ones over a mince pie and a festive hot chocolate with whipped cream.

For me, Christmas means depression. It acts as a magnifying focus for a lot of the things that set me off. Alongside the literally darkening days and Seasonal Affective Disorder, my birthday is also within days of Christmas. Both celebrations are expected to cause a certain amount of joy and excitement, but when I am too numb it is very isolating when the world goes mad for happiness. Those of us with low self-esteem can find birthdays hard anyway, as they are designed to celebrate you, which feels hypocritical.

This is exacerbated during the festive season. I have a friend born on the 25th, and his response is to get a bottle of red wine and lock himself in his room for the day. I tend to mutedly play along with the spirit of the season. It can be quite a struggle when I am particularly low, to engage with emotions and feelings I just don’t have.

Christmas is when family comes first and that can be really rough when family is tough. Society is bad in general when family is difficult, and this is heightened at Christmas. There is a particularly high weight of expectation of love, forgiveness and connection for families at Christmas, and it can be exhausting to have to buck that narrative.

This year a number of friends from Edinburgh to London are joining my family Christmas.

One is trying to enjoy their last few months in the UK before their visa expires.

COMMENT

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickcomment

Tom Leaman

Lydia Waller

Alex Cirant-Taljaard

Sophie Woodley

Emily Chapman

News Editor

Food&Drink Editor

Comment Editor

News Editor

Comment Editor

On November 19th, Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ broke into Spotify’s UK Top 50, coming in at number fifteen. That, in short, is too early. It’s not that I dislike Christmas. When mid-December rolls around, I’ll gladly join in the festivities, particularly those that are in some way linked to excessive consumption and German-esque Christmas markets.

However, I don’t think anything quite encapsulates the ever-increasing secular tendencies of the UK quite like Christmas. While church attendances dwindle and the number of people who identify as Christian drops seemingly yearon-year (of the UK’s population under 24.3% consider themselves Anglican, while only 5% identify as Catholic), the number of days over which Christmas is being celebrated seems to be on an unstoppable upward trend.

Comment’s Poll of the Week in early November found that 30.8% of University of Birmingham students consider it acceptable to start celebrating Christmas that early. This means there is a significant number of people who jump the gun to celebrate the holiday, the origins of which are now being overlooked more than ever.

I’m not saying that it should be compulsory to be an avid Christian to celebrate Christmas - I know I certainly don’t fit into that category - but I do think that more respect ought to be paid to the holiday’s background, whether that’s through the media giving a bit less coverage to Coca-Cola or the (slightly disappointing) John Lewis advert, or through being a little more charitable as a nod to the icon which Christmas is supposed to respect. And maybe tone back the celebrations, at least until the first window of your advent calendar opens.

Claude TRUONG-NGOC

Being a Catholic (or the best lapsed Catholic I can be), Christmas still holds a sacred meaning to me. In an age and generation where Christianity and commonality in religious views is ever-differing and decreasing, it is almost niche for people to still celebrate Christmas as a festival of the birth of Christ. I love that nonreligious and non-Christian people still choose to celebrate Christmas as a time to show affection and appreciation to the people you love and simply just celebrate the value of human interaction over good food and through wintery weather; yet I as a Christian still see Christ as the centre of all this. For me, Christmas is a celebration of all the light Jesus brought to the world and seeing people of all walks of life and beliefs come together to cherish one another and practice charitable love is part of that light. A multi-faith, intersectional celebration of merriment, charity and love for one another is exactly what I think Jesus would want, particularly amongst this Christmas’ political and international climate.

For Christmas to properly happen for me, a few key events need to take place. Firstly, as is tradition in Italy, a gift is exchanged on the 6th of December - St. Nicholas Day. This is when Christmas properly gets going, and from then things get perpetually more festive as the month goes on. My usual playlist slowly gets superceeded by my Christmas one. A big part of my Christmas is also the tree, which in my family has always been a real tree. Despite being a huge pain to maintain and also quite environmentally unfriendly, it is critical that a real tree is sourced. Plus, four fifths of my family don't eat meat so I reckon we've already done our bit for the planet.

It may seem so far that my Christmas is heavily reliant on a load of very materialistic events occuring. But each of these things has deep emotional value for me, to the point where I get very annoyed if something isn't right. However, recently I've realised that as long as at Christmas you're surrounded by the people you care about, it doesn't really matter what else happens.

That being said, I would like to take this oppurtunity to say that the one thing no amount of warmth and love will make me come to terms with is the BBC moving Doctor Who to New Years Day. Who the hell do they think they are?

They have quite literally ruined Christmas for me and all of the other 21-year-olds unable to let go of what is esentially a children's show.

If anyone from the BBC is reading this then I hope you're happy with yourselves, you bastards.

Christmas is something that I look forward to from the moment September begins (some would say early, some would say acceptable). So, it’s the lead up to Christmas that means the most to me; the lights, the music, the food, the shopping - I could go on.

From late October onwards, shopping malls like Birmingham’s Bullring and Cabot Circus in Bristol fill with keen Christmas shoppers. The buzz and excitement in the air as people slowly prepare will never get old for me.

But it’s not only the shopping that adds to the long and loved build up to Christmas.

The christmas songs are a key part for me. I listen to Christmas songs when I’m getting ready in the morning, when I’m working in the library, or when I’m cooking dinner - pretty much any chance I can get. But what makes it bearable is the wide variety out there; ranging from Christmas classics like Mariah Carey to modern tunes from Ariana Grande, I’ll never get bored. For me, there’s something about Christmas songs that brings everyone together and instantly changes my mood.

Christmas is all about the markets as well. The small, cosy, wooden huts combined with a cold December evening is perfect for me. Ranging from the beautiful Bath Christmas market, to the buzzing, merry Birmingham market, these are a key part of the build up to Christmas. Christmas for me is of course about family, friends, parties, food and general festivities. I could go on. But at the root of it all is the cosy exciting months before December truly kicks in. The build up to Christmas is what makes it so special for me, and as I write this listening to Christmas songs in the Redbrick office, I can’t think of a better time of year.

09

We all make the same connections when we hear the word ‘Christmas’. The colours, the smells and the sounds. Holding that warm mug of mulled wine, watching reruns of Blackadder and playing the same version of trivial pursuit that everyone already knows all the answers to. Every December, my family and I put up the same decorations in the same places, listen to the same music, watch the same films and eat the same food as we did the year before.

It’s just muscle memory now, and my Mum could decorate the tree in her sleep. Although some people might find this repetition monotonous, I love it. As the calendar year draws to a close, my family and I come together and take part in the same traditions in preparation for another, inevitably crazy, year ahead. It is this act of resetting, effectively, that I find so comforting and familiar about Christmas.

The ability to slow down and enjoy the festive season differs so greatly from all the other holidays throughout the year.

Starting my second year at university, my Dad starting a new job and my parents moving away, Christmas has become the idea - as it is for many people - about returning to the family home, resting and resetting so we are ready to live our separate lives again. With our own lives and the world around us ever-changing, the comfort blanket that is Christmas means it is very much my favourite time of the year.

10

COMMENT

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickcomment

Has the Internet Killed Print Journalism?

Jonathan Korn argues that the internet age signalls the death of print journalism, but insists that Redbrick still thrives in print form Jonathan Korn Comment Writer

‘Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.’

Winston Churchill was not talking about print journalism, but he easily could have been.

The Independent, a newspaper with a circulation of nearly 400,000 in 1993, has disbanded its print edition. The Sun has seen its readership drop by a half in ten years. Across the UK and the Western world as a whole, print is mortally wounded with little hope of a miraculous recovery. Instant online news and a lack of journalistic innovation indicate the death knell of broadsheets and tabloids alike, with seemingly no newspaper spared. Be it through the BBC, Twitter or Buzzfeed, the wealth of online resources through which one can instantly access news makes waiting half a day for a few sheets of A3 which tell you what you already knew seem a little pointless.

Editors and journalists struggle

to captivate audiences with the written word anymore, and even when they do, a newspaper’s ‘highlights’ are instantly made accessible online anyway. Far from the end of the beginning, journalism in print appears to be nearing the beginning of the end.

“Across the UK and the Western world as a whole, print is mortally wounded with little hope of a miraculous recovery” In our internet age, there is a paradox in that journalism is easier than ever, whilst journalists themselves are struggling more and more. Those who write articles have a wealth of information from which to do so, but the problem is that readers know this, and can simply

cut out the middleman by finding the information online themselves. Journalists do not help themselves here, as pulling easy-to-access information from online rather than digging deeper is often too tempting to resist.

This is luxury that columnists of the past did not have.

However, it means that as a source of truly reliable and well-researched news, print journalism falls well short of where it should be.

Johannes Gutenberg (the inventor of the printing press) seems to have been superseded

by Mark Zuckerberg. However, in amongst the doom and gloom, one bright spark remains: Redbrick.

The University of Birmingham’s newspaper has had a remarkable life since its inception in 1936. Reading editions and looking at images dating as far back as 1959 has allowed me to gaze into the bright light of its history, and the continuity is remarkable.

Social action projects in support of refugees are just as much a feature of editions past as they are of those today. Passionate debates about the state of British

politics still dominate the central pages of the Comment section. And the paper’s commitment to focusing on local and university issues crucial to its student population is no weaker in the era of May and Corbyn than it was in that of Wilson and Thatcher.

“Instant news means the articles we read in print are rarely groundbreaking or original” This is not to say the paper hasn’t changed. Newspapers ultimately reflect the views of their readers as well as shaping them, and reading editions of Redbrick past and present reminds this author of just how different 2018 is to the 1960’s.

Apartheid South Africa was a regular topic of discussion in editions past, which serves a healthy reminder of how far the world has come. However pas-

sionately we argue about the single market and income tax rates today, arguments about separate drinking fountains are a thing of the past.

Stylistically, shorter titles and more dramatic font were the order of the day both in national newspapers and in Birmingham’s equivalent. Even something this seemingly innocuous should sound alarm bells.

The less excitable style we see today simply reflects the fact that news is just not as enticing anymore. Instant news means the articles we read in print are rarely groundbreaking or original, and whilst Redbrick appears immune (so far) to the decline of the paper, even the most optimistic of observers cannot fail to notice the warning signs that the digital age brings for those in print.

Seventy years of news is no mean feat, and Redbrick should be proud of its long history. Its continued success is a reflection of the hard work writers and editors put into it. And whilst it is hard to see anything like a rosy future for print journalism at large, Redbrick in print form appears to be here to stay.

COMMENT

Friday 7th December 2018

11

@redbrickcomment

A Frosty Reception for Iceland

Hannah Lay explains why she feels it was right for Iceland's 2018 Christmas advert to be banned Hannah Lay Comment Writer

I’ll admit that adverts are not my favourite thing. They interrupt TV programmes, are often overly cliché and you end up seeing the same advert repeatedly.

However, at Christmas, my opinion goes full circle. I love a good Christmas campaign. I feel like this love started with the John Lewis advert about the snowman in 2012 and since then Christmas adverts have developed a cult following with thousands waiting anxiously for the John Lewis advert among others every Christmas.

This year the fun of Christmas adverts has been mired with controversy. Iceland’s Christmas campaign did not even make the TV. The advert depicts a young girl whose room has been invaded and destroyed by an orangutan. The girl asks the orangutan what he is doing in her room and the advert cuts to clips of bulldozers destroying rainforests, which are the orangutan’s home.

The orangutan explains that humans are destroying his home in order to obtain palm oil to use

in food and cosmetic products.

The advert closes with a dedication to the ‘Twenty-five orangutans we lose every day’ and a promise from Iceland to remove palm oil from all own-brand products by the end of the year.

It was an emotive advert which opened my eyes to the problem of palm oil. However, the advert has been banned for being too political. According to an article on the BBC, the advert had been made by the environmental organisation Greenpeace.

The regulatory board that approves TV ads, Clearcast, had required Greenpeace to prove they were not political advertisers before it was possible to broadcast the advert, which they were unable to do. Clearcast stressed that they were not trying to say that the message within the advert was political but that its affiliation with a political organisation breached advertising law.

The answer to the question of whether adverts, Christmas or otherwise, should be political is always ‘no’ because the law explicitly states that this is not allowed.

Yes, the advert itself Photograph from Pixabay was discussing an environmental issue, a fact that in itself is

not political. Yes, the advert was cute and very informative.

However, given its affiliation, the decision taken was, in my opinion, for the best. If this advert was allowed to be broadcast, how many more subliminally political adverts will slip through the net? If regulatory boards are not strict, how can we know that the next Christmas advert we watch has not been produced by a different political organisation?

Some argued that this seems to have been a bit of publicity stunt. Iceland would have been very aware of the law on advertising when they tried to broadcast the advert, yet they still pursued the campaign. If this was the case, it has worked tremendously well. At the time of writing, the advert has received 5.3 million views on YouTube whilst the BBC reported that it had had over 13 million views on Iceland’s Facebook page and over 90,000 retweets on Twitter.

Arguably, Iceland have done better out of the advert being banned than they would have done had it been broadcast normally.

Despite the potential drive for publicity, it should be recog-

nised that Iceland have committed to removing palm oil from all of their own brand products; a significant step in helping the environment. Even if the advert was for publicity, Iceland are still doing their bit to make a change. Also, an article from the Independent reported in January that Iceland was the first supermarket in the UK to commit to going plastic free in all of its own brand products within five years. This is a similar environmental policy move which could be evidence that the Christmas campaign is just part of Iceland’s efforts to improve their environmental impact rather than just gaining publicity.

Something that also struck me about I c e l a n d ’s Christmas campaign was the lack of reference to Christmas itself. Most, if not all, Christmas adverts I have seen

make at least a minor reference to the holiday season. However, this was not the case for Iceland.

Yes, the advert was unsuccessful because it was political, but it also failed in achieving its purpose: to promote Iceland’s Christmas campaign. Whilst I'll remember this advert, it won't be because it gave me any Christmas cheer.

Zoosnow

Poll of the Week: Are you able to manage your work/life balance?

Redbrick Comment asked university students if they felt they were able to adequately balance university work with extra-curricular activities, part-time jobs, and other commitments 8%

“There is just so much to do...it's constant stress"

2

Are you able to manage your work/life balance?

2%

No

0.

Ye s

9.

7

Amelia Hiller

“I've had three years to 'perfect' the balance at uni and I still struggle, particularly over the Christmas break ” “I have so many assignments and readings and not much free time at all” “I only have six contact hours per week so it's not exactly strenuous” “The independence that university brings is a huge learning curve for managing work/life balance”

“I prioritise my work so I know when to say no to other commitments”

Comment Editor

This week, Redbrick Comment posted on Fab ‘n’ Fresh to collect responses from University of Birmingham students regarding their work/life balance. Just over 70% of respondents told us that they didn’t feel they are able to manage this balance, with university studies, part-time employment and other pressures meaning that they struggle to find time for themselves. Some people commented on the fact that the more behind they feel they are, the less motivated they are to do work, therefore creating what one individual called a ‘debilitating’ spiral effect. As well as this, one person stated that lack of communication between module staff results in deadlines being grouped extremely close together, which places more stress on students at certain periods of the year. Those who stated

that they found their work/life balance manageable cited reasons including having a good sleep routine, and planning work ahead so that they know when to turn down other commitments.

But it’s not always as simple as this, which I think is obvious from the poll results. If you need to work to afford to enjoy university, or if you’re a member of society or sports team, then it starts becoming a lot more difficult to manage a workload, and that’s when the balance starts to tip heavily into towards ‘work.’

Take part in our polls: @RedbrickComment Redbrick Comment Contributors

12

REDBRICK

7th December 2018

A History of Your Student Voice For 82 years, Redbrick has been the student voice of the University of Birmingham.

Although we have changed our look over the years, most significantly changing from Guild News to our current title in the 1960s, and now share our readership with several other fantastic media groups at the University of Birmingham, as a publication we are as strong as ever.

by Erin Santillo Since we were established on February 5th 1936, Redbrick has won countless awards, covered greatly significant national and international events, and even been embroiled in scandals that the editorial teams of the time would rather forget. To summarise this rich history in only two pages has been a challenge, but we hope that this feature piece offers just a hint at the huge volume of content that we have produced over the years.

Today we operate out of the media centre in the Guild, producing a 40-page newspaper every fortnight during term time and maintaining an award-winning website 24/7. Staffed entirely by volunteers, this is far from a simple operation. In fact, we currently have over 300 members writing, proofreading, editing, formatting and uploading entirely original content. It is a simple fact that without our members we wouldn’t exist.

It is also a fact that Redbrick, like other student publications across the country, has had its fair share of struggles over the years. We pride ourselves on our editorial independence and the ability to reflect the student voice regardless of pressures from above, but these are values that successive generations of members have had to fight for.

In an era in which ‘fake news’ is far too readily available on our devices and low-quality, sensationalist journalism is gaining popularity, there has arguably been no better time to advocate for the survival of student media.

This year we are celebrating 1,500 issues of Redbrick. When that reaches 2,000, the publication may well look very different.

However, at its heart, Redbrick will always be written by, and for, the student voice.

tobogganing session (which was strangely linked to the ‘sudden death of His Majesty King George V’ a few days later); and a Cocoa Redbrick’s first incarnation, Guild shortage in the University womNews, came about as a reaction to en’s accomodation, a crisis so a series of controversies sur- serious that, according to Guild rounding what was at the time News, ‘the warden has threatethe University’s only real student need to stop the cocoa ration publication, The Mermaid, which unless this menace ceases.’ Vital had become embroiled in contro- journalism indeed.

By its second issue the paper versy with the Guild of Students.

Our paper’s progenitor and first was already under threat of colEditor-in-Chief, J.M. Pike, was lapse - a lack of advertisements however quick to stress in his meant a complete absence of editorial that Guild News had funding for the publication arisen due to Mermaid's failure to (despite its name, Guild News reflect Birmingham’s student were not yet funded by the Guild voice - ‘The Mermaid has no of Students). The back page of its fixed policy, and as far as can be first few editions were left blank, seen, has no intentions of form- divided into several potential ing one.’ advertising spaces that were yet to be filled due to claims that ‘students do not spend money’ (a and statement which, as we well know, is an outrage). ‘Have no doubt Thom Dent about it,’ wrote Pike, ‘it is not the mere existence of Guild News The policy of Guild News, that is challenged by these words then, was clear from the outset: it - its is the student himself - every would endeavour to ‘reflect in its student.’

The paper soldiered on, and outlook the spirit of the time and of the University.’ Its first attempts with its 100th issue Guild News to do this resulted in some enter- finally recorded its first profit - to taining, if menial, reports of such commemorate the occasion a breaking stories as a student beech tree was planted on the site of the Barber Institute. The following issue’s front page praised ‘the magnificent response from the whole University,’ and stated that ‘if the keenness of our staff and public ensure continued progress [...] Guild News will indeed become, once and “The all, for Un i v e r s i t y Newspaper.”’

Eighty years on and, despite a name change in 1962, this paper is still the Official Student Newspaper of the of University Birmingham and remains, as its very first issue declares, Students' ‘The Mouth-piece.’ As a bonus, we have managed to struggle on while reducing our costs by a full 100% - the The first printed photograph in the paper, 100th issue cost a May 6th 1936. Subject is D. Cosnett, a UoB full penny! student and Olympic high jump trainee.

Guild News

1500 issues later, the story of how Redbrick amplified the students of the University of Birmingham

and the swinging 60s In countless ways, the 1960s are remembered (and often sung about) as a period in which the times were a changing. Perhaps the most seismic turn of events across the entire decade was the great ‘Redbrick’ rebrand of September 28th, 1962.

Surprisingly, little was originally made of the decision to change our name - not even in the pages of issue 617, our paper’s first under the Redbrick moniker.

The only mention across this entire edition is in its masthead, which read ‘Redbrick [...] formerly Guild News.’ When the decision to rebrand was first reported earlier that year, it was so with little pizzazz: ‘At a meeting of the Guild Council on Monday it was decided to change thename of GUILD NEWS to ‘REDBRICK’, as a shorter title is needed.’ The paper’s new name had apparently been deemed ‘suitable’ - strange, when now Redbrick has become so synonymous with the students of the University (in our humble opinion, of course).

Birmingham’s campus was subject to a number of its own changes and notable events during the 1960s. The architecture of the Edgbaston campus began to take its modern shape with the construction of the now-infamous Muirhead Tower. Known during its construction phase as the ‘Arts-Commerce Tower’, the glass-and-metal monolith which most students now regard as something of an eyesore was, as in Redbrick’s first report of the building process, described as ‘The shape of the future,’ part of a ‘comprehensive development plan’ intended to maximise the potential of the Edgbaston site.

Nowadays, it would seem that the University’s students tend to be less enthusiastic at the potential of our latest ‘comprehensive development plan.’

This is not to say that campus

Enoch Powell, a controversial visitor to campus in 1967

was without its controversies during the 60s. The racist politician Enoch Powell was guest at a meeting of the Debating Society in December 1967, arguing that ‘Socialism and a Free Society are incompatible’ - a reasonably innocuous event, but given Powell’s notoriety by the end of the decade, one which the students of the University would not look back on with fondness.

Elsewhere ‘Carnival’, an annual event held by University of Birmingham students and the precursor to today’s Carnival Rag society, became infamous during the late 1960s for their costly publicity stunts across the city.

The most famous of these, and also the most damning for the event’s reputation, was the planting of a fake WWII bomb underneath Constitution Hill in the city centre - a hoax which prompted a mass evacuation of the area and a bomb disposal unit having to be called in. The ‘bomb’, an empty shell stuffed with leaflets advertising the ‘67 Carnival, had spent three weeks in the student union before its planting.

Redbrick were the first paper to break this story, and the outcry which followed involved Birmingham’s chief constable calling for the Carnival to be banned across the city.

Fortunately for the future society, and for the charities it has continued to raise money for, Carnival reformed in the wake of this disaster, creating the Carnival Rag which today is UoB’s largest

society and does crucial work for both the University and the city.

The most significant event to occur at the University of Birmingham during the 1960s was unquestionably the 1968 student occupation of the Aston Webb building, an event which celebrated its 50th anniversary last week (and which the Guild of Students has this week been proud to celebrate). Discussed at length by Jenny Wickham in our last edition, this was the most significant voicing of student opinion in our university’s history - and Redbrick, as ever, was on the front line. Our issue from November 27th (published on the date of the occupation’s first night) has been reprinted by the Guild to commemorate the event, as an example of how Redbrick helped to amplify the student voice during this momentous turning-point for student representation on campus.

One issue the Guild have not reprinted however (which we are thankful for) is one from March of 1968, in which a Redbrick review of their ‘Student Role’ report (which outlined the demands of the then unrepresented student populace) stated that the report was significant enough to merit ‘no need for sitins or demonstrations.’ But then, you can’t have everything.

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REDBRICK

7th December 2018

Campus at War

Although Redbrick is a university student newspaper, we have always had our eyes on the international news agenda, including covering conflicts that have shaken the world.

Two years before the outbreak of World War II, we reported on the general discontent of students towards Neville Chamb erlain’s foreign policy of appeasing Nazi Germany following the crumbling of the League of Nations.

Being the son of the University’s founder, Joseph Chamb erlain, and a UoB alumnus, naturally the focus of the publication fell on the prime minister.

This focus continued as the country hurtled towards international conflict, with an issue published on 16th March 1939 considering the possibilities of nego-

tiating peace. As we now know, these efforts failed.

Our output over the subsequent six years included articles about how to stay safe on campus during air raids, the importance of arts degrees as a way of preserving culture, and the role of academia in wartime, including one piece from a Dr Waidson on how he was expected to submit to Nazi traditions when gaining his doctorate in Germany.

Furthermore, the publication’s unique student perspective on war continued after VE Day in 1945, when an editorial encouraged compassion for the ‘large percentage of ex-service students among the freshers’ in order to avoid further ‘division.’

Although they were not quite as close to home as WWII, Redbrick also voiced the student opinion on the Vietnam War in 1968 and the Gulf War in 1991.

Using student surveys, with a striking resemblance to our ‘Poll of the Week’ today, the publication revealed that a majority of students were opposed to war, although the actions of politicians had made conflict in the Gulf regrettably ‘necessary.’

Redbrick proved through its coverage of international conflict that, despite only having an office in Birmingham, it could focus its unique student lens on events of global significance.

Predictive Powers What staggers the most, looking 8 years later, the paper gave ligence to become an established back on Redbrick’s 1500 issues, is another vision of the future. In an figure in the world of football, not how closely our publication can be 1997 interview with then-Aston Villa just now but in the future as well.’ used to track the most significant footballer Gareth Southgate, the After a summer in which the nation events of the past 82 years. Even in future England manager discussed rallied behind an England side which those instances where the news itself with Redbrick the possibilities of his for the first time in years looked was far from home, Redbrick jour- going into coaching. ‘Southgate has capable of bringing football home, nalists were able to provide shock- certainly got the potential and intel- these words certainly read prophetic. ingly immediate coverage of a plethora of the 20th (and 21st) century’s most historic moments.

In the later years of the 1980s, this paper continually published reports and opinion articles on the issues that would eventually cause Over the years we have been able thinking about our past is proud. the collapse of the Soviet Union. In to celebrate a number of special To celebrate our 750th issue, the an article from October 1988, enti- occasions and monumental Redbrick team looked back to tled ‘Purging the Kremlin,’ Redbrick issues. Issue 153 published on the past to once again trace their claimed that USSR leader Gorbachev the June 21st 1940 celebrated 5 development, noting where the ‘must succeed or go’ amidst the dire years of Guild News’ existence. paper stood today was a far more straits of his Communist party - as With an editorial from R. L. Kirk, secure position than ever before. history later revealed, he would not the paper looked at the past and They had finally received the succeed, and the Eastern Bloc fell just ended with looking toward the backing and support of the Guild, a couple of years later. future. His concluding statement as well as being well-established On November 9th, 1989, an arti- was set to be reminder for the across campus. cle was published journaling one committees that went after his, student’s travels through Eastm and to be an outlet which benefits by West Germany, focusing particularly not only members but the wider on life on either side of the Berlin student population. 78 years Issy Campbell Wall. Mere hours after the printing later, we are certainly doing just of this issue, the first pieces of con- that. crete would be hammered from the Whilst they may have felt Looking into Redbrick’s hiswall, signalling the end of Germany’s tory, it is evident that every sin- Redbrick was ‘the only real medisplit regime. gle person who has spent time um of communication’ on cam-

Celebrating our past

The Voice of the Students

Opinion has always been at the heart of free speech. We are privileged that journalism is a unique means of communication with the power to evoke change in thought and action. After looking back on the archives of our paper, the history of Redbrick shows just how a student paper can be a force for good.

by Kat Smith From the importance of abortion rights to LGBT solidarity, Redbrick has embodied the voice of the student body and historically supported pivotal moments in our history.

Back when we were called ‘Guild News’ in 1940, the Founder’s Room was transformed into the Women’s Common Room. A satirical article lamented over the ‘tragedy’ of the event, despairing at the occurrence. In addition to the feminist tones of the satire, it’s good to see a sense of humour was alive and well at UoB even when the name of our paper was significantly less fun.

50 years ago, an editorial called ‘Powell Not Worth Shouting About’ ridiculed the Conservative MP’s ideas in the wake of his infamous so-called ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. Several student protests over the Wolverhampton MP’s racist tirade were also reported on in the late 60s, including a notable issue in which we broke the story of the Guild President, Mike Terry, being arrested at an antiPowell demo in 1969.

Redbrick continued to voice student opinions on affairs which are still relevant today. In 1969, Redbrick helped to amplify the University’s early pro-choice

stance, standing in solidarity with the opening of abortion clinics and reiterating the existence of the Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service. Only this term, Redbrick interviewed the current Women’s Officers Alif Trevathan and Holly Battrick about the threat pro-life groups pose to the student body.

1988’s ‘Don We Now Our Gay Apparel’ editorial demonstrated compassion for the LGBTQ+ community in the midst of the AIDs crisis. Knowing how many mainstream media outlets demonised the community, this support feels even more important. Acceptance and celebration of diverse sexualities and genders is something this paper takes very seriously, with ‘Hate Crimes are Not Punchlines’ written recently by Comment Writer Velvet Jones iterating the severity of verbal hatred on online platforms. Comment has championed LGBTQ+ rights, with ‘Spotlight On: LGBTQ+ Students’ providing a platform for students across the University to discuss their experiences, both good and bad.

An editorial in 1990, titled ‘Capitalising on Mandela,’ warned that his release did not equate to the end of apartheid, claiming ‘now would be the worst time to opt for starry-eyed complacency when nothing concrete has been gained.’ We are not only as eloquent in our opinion writing now, but also as bold in our rejection of ignorance and complacency.

It’s exciting to see parallels between the history of Redbrick and the publication of today and feel connected to people across the years. We hope to retain our identity as a paper when it comes to current affairs: outspoken and just. Although we are now an entirely politically neutral paper, the Comment section still provides a powerful platform for UoB students to voice their individual thoughts, no matter their political affiliation or standpoint.

pus at the time, we today certainly do not, now a part of the professional and fantastic review wider media groups that work sections, without whom Redbrick tirelessly to provide students would certainly not be the same.

Today we are a fusion of the with news, reviews, opinions and traditional newspaper of our entertainment.

The closest celebratory edi- early history, and the more tion to us today was back in 1988 relaxed fashionable issues of the with the printing of issue 1000. 80s. But something that has The 80s saw Redbrick enter a remained constant from 1936 to more magazine-like phase: sto- the present, and will remain conries were not printed on our front stant as long as this paper shall cover and reviews began to grow exist, is that we are The Student’s in popularity. As someone who Mouthpiece. entered Redbrick writing for the music section, it is amazing to see how we have now established such

September 11 - Redbrick on the Ground 17 years on, the magnitude of 9/11 hardly needs explaining.

Searching through the annals of Redbrick’s past, we stumbled across a brutal read, one of the most affecting pieces the paper has ever produced. 2001-2’s Editor-in-Chief, Tom Royal, was in New York City on that fateful day, what was supposed to be the final day of his travels. He depicts a city utterly broken by the attacks: the sadness, the confu-

sion, the anger, the hurt, the terror.

by Jonny Isaacs Alongside his stunningly bleak take on President Bush, Royal grapples with whether he should have done more, whether he should have rushed to the

World Trade Center; he laments his inability to donate blood due to American fears of mad cow disease; most poignantly, he wonders what it means that he had planned to be at the WTC just two hours after the plane hit.

The article, raw and impactful as it is, offers little in the way of answers to these questions. It has few notes of positivity as to what is to come. In that way it is quite prophetic and speaks to the power

This article was made possible through the archives of the Cadbury Research Library, and specifically through the work of Redbrick’s many archivists from the past 82 years.

of student journalism as an outlet of wisdom is often ignored. In the thousands of articles Redbrick has published, few endings have moved like this one: ‘If there is a God, fine: God bless America, but more importantly God help America. And if America chooses unwisely then, well frankly God help us all.’

The World Trade Centre, photographed

by Redbrick on September 10th 2001

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TRAVEL

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New Year’s Eve Across the Continent

Eva Hunt and Laura Botia give a run down of Europe's best New Year's Eve celebrations Laura Botia Travel Editor

Eva Hunt Travel Editor

London Since 2014 London’s firework show has been ticketed, and this year is no exception to the sell-out event. If you really want to see the fireworks and have missed out on a ticket, here are a few of our favourite spots to catch a glimpse of the magic. London in general will be very busy on the night, so try not to bring a large backpack, and maybe leave the heels at home.

“Watching the fireworks from Tower Bridge could not get more ‘London’ if you tried” Primrose Hill is a 76m hill that looks across the whole of London – get here early and don’t forget to bring a hip flask.

Watching the fireworks from Tower Bridge couldn’t get more 'London' if you tried. The atmosphere is always amazing, but it can get a little crowded. Standing on any bridge will be windy and cold, so don’t forget to wrap up warm.

The Clapham summer festival South West Four is making its New Year's Eve debut, hosting a club event at the O2 Academy Brixton. Headlines include Nosia, My Nu Leng b2b Redlight, Dimension – all of which are favourites among UoB students.

Tickets are currently totalling £42.81 after booking fees, so not a cheap night but a guaranteed great time if you are into that type of music.

The London New Year’s Day Parade starts at 12 noon, January 1st on Piccadilly, and boasts over 10,000 participants from across the globe to perform for a street audience of more than 500,000 people. The Parade features performers such as the City of London Brass Band, Donkey Breed Society, and American Cops and Classic Cars – just to name a few.

There will be a Street Food Village at Waterloo Place at the junction of Pall Mall, offering global cuisine from 11am until 4pm. The Parade is proud of its fundraising for London charities, and has raised or donated over £1.5 million since it started.

Transport for London are offering free travel across London from 11:45pm on New Year’s Eve

until 04:30am on New Year’s Day. There will be a special all-night service on most underground lines, with tubes running every 2-8 minutes in central London and every 5-15 minutes in outer areas.

Berlin Germany’s capital city is known for its world-class nightlife, therefore it will come as no surprise that it is one of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve. Known widely as one of the biggest street parties in Europe, this free event sees the descendance of thousands of Berliners and tourists alike to enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebrations. The festivities take place on a two-kilom e t r e stretch

Barcelona Plaça d’Espanya hosts Barcelona’s official New Year’s Eve celebration. This free event starts at 11:30pm and lasts 30 minutes to bring in the new year at midnight. People flock in their thousands to watch the spectacular firework display around the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.

The tradition in Spain is to eat twelve grapes in time with the twelve dongs at midnight – it is a lot harder than it sounds! The saying goes that if you can finish all twelve in time then you will be

Reykjavik Although there is no official firework display in Reykjavik, there are t h o u sands of private

between Brandenberg Gate and Victory Column. A firework display kicks off the New Year at midnight and the party continues through until 3am with live music, light and laser shows, DJ sets and food stands from all around the world.

This event is free of charge, therefore it comes as no surprise that this is the most popular way to spend New Year’s in Berlin.

However, if you’re fed up with fireworks and want the party to continue all night long then try one of Berlin’s famous clubs.

Offering unlimited drinks and music until dawn, Haubentaucher is starting off their party with prosecco on arrival from 10pm.

Expect a fusion of House, RnB, Hip Hop, etc. to bring in the New Year.

To continue the New Year’s celebrations head over to Poble Espanyol who will be celebrating their 30th year of hosting the New Year’s Eve celebrations with three different rooms offering food and music until dawn. Alternatively, the biggest club in town, Razzmatazz, is also offering something for everyone this New Year’s Eve with five rooms, different DJs and a roof terrace.

There are two ticket types for this event – one starting at 10:30pm and one starting at 12:01am, meaning you can either spend the whole night there or get there after the fireworks.

blessed with good luck for the new year.

“As well as fireworks, bonfires are also an Icelandic custom on New Year's Eve”

firework displays that are put on all across the city. The fireworks generally start at 11:30pm and continue through to the New Year, with approximately 200,000 people getting involved in the spectacle every year. As well as fireworks, bonfires are also an Icelandic custom on New Year’s Eve, usually lit in the lead up to midnight and enjoyed with Iceland’s traditional liquor, Brennivín. Only a stone’s throw away from the centre, Öskjuhlíð and Skólavörðuholt are the best places to watch the city light up at midnight.

Iceland’s temperatures can drop as low as -19 degrees in the winter so be sure to wrap up warm!

Edinburgh Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the

Scottish celebration of the New Year, starting with a traditional Torchlit Procession on the 30th December. Torch carriers walk from the historic Royal Mile to Calton Hill where the fireworks

“Germany's capital city is known for its world-class nightlife, therefore it will come as no suprise that it is one of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve” are lit and the procession ends.

On the 31st, around 80,000 people descend upon Princes Street under the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. They attend the iconic Concert in the Gardens which, this year, will feature Franz Ferdinand. As well as incredible live music, there is also DJs, outdoor bars, food, not to mention the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks that light the sky above the Castle.

At midnight, the cannon on Edinburgh Castle is fired on the stroke of midnight and is immediately followed by the firework display.

Bear in mind that all these events are ticketed. As they are on different days, they require different tickets for each, therefore you might have to buy multiple tickets if you’re planning on attending all of the celebrations.

Amsterdam New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam starts with the traditional countdown to midnight, followed by a firework display over the River Amstel. Crowds gather from 9:30pm onwards in the main squares: Dam Square, Rembrandtplein and Nieuwmarkt, although many people head out onto the streets at midnight and set off their own fireworks, so wherever you are you will inevitably see the sky being lit up.

Festivities then continue all across town, with street parties lasting well into the night, however the Awakening’s party at the Gashouder is the most distinctive venue for a New Year’s you will definitely never forget. It takes place in an industrial gas holder built in 1902 and features multiple international DJs. Tickets are priced at €46.25 which is fairly reasonable considering you can party on until 8am on New Year's Day.

FEATURES

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Deck the halls with...

Mind+Solve

Issue 1500 Puzzles compiled by Issy Campbell, Alex Cirant-Taljaard, Thom Dent and John Wimperis

The Redbrick Christmas Crossword 2

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Across 2. Canadian stocking filler (7,5) 6. Vegetable grows (7) 7. Scourge of your parents’ teatowels (8) 10. Often checked twice (4) 12. A band for after sleighing (5) 13. Victorian Grinch (7) 15. A busy place this time of year (9) 17. Je suis le fils de dieu... not I! (5) 18. Far from silent decoration (6) 20. Hera did mix it up. It is a Christmas movie! (3,4)

Down 1. Sounds like you’re here, many gifts (8) 3. Deliciously mixed hut scents (9) 4. Decorates tree, as Buble (7) 5. Batman smells (6,5) 8. Cashew lampooned by its friends (3,5) 9. Jonas goes marching in (5,4) 11. Cold reversal hiding, won something (4) 14. Santa’s real helpers are within ourselves (5) 16. A classic Christmas gift (5) 19. Immaculate Berry (4)

First Lines The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels, songs,

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poems and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.

‘On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound - a sound a friend had told me I’d never hear - the ringing bells of Santa’s sleigh.’

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‘Welcome to my Christmas song / I’d like to thank you for the year’ 17

‘You don’t like flying, do you?’

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Anagrams

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These 10 artists have all released popular Christmas songs - but can you unscramble their names?

Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me.

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LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1a. Balderdash; 1d. Blue Rinse 2. Lawful; 3.

Hairline; 4. Lottery; 5. Replica; 6. Lotus Flower; 7. Antidote; 8. Effigy; 9. Skeletal; 10.

Miser; 11. Fiction; 12. Kilogram; 13a. Print; 13d. Paprika; 14a. Colon; 14d. Celiac; 15.

Extrapolate; 16. Joie de Vivre; 17. Cinnamon | First Lines: The Bad Beginning (Lemony Snicket); ‘Ob La Di, Ob La Da’ (The Beatles); Toy Story (Pixar) | Anagrams: 1. Jacob Rees Mogg; 2. Jeremy Corbyn; 3. Michael Gove; 4. Theresa May; 5. Nicola Sturgeon; 6.

Phillip Hammond; 7. Caroline Lucas; 8. Nigel Farage; 9. Diane Abbott; 10. Boris Johnson

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1. HAIRY CAMERA 2. HUGE PESTO 3. MAP RELUCTANCY

4. RITA TAKETH 5. JIBBERS UNITE 6. CYBORG BINS 7. SWEATER HEISTS 8. VENT SHAKINESS 9. INLAWS MILADY 10. BAD DINA

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Correction: Issue 1499’s ‘Hard’ sudoku contained an erronous digit - namely, the ‘7’ in its rightmost middle box. This should have been a ‘5’, and we apologise for the misprint. Ed.

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Redbrick’s Albums of the Year 2018

MUSIC Redbrick’s music writers have put their heads together for a definitive list of their Albums of the Year. 2018 saw some excellent pop records, notably Christine & The Queens’ beautifully powerful sophomore album Chris, and Empress Of’s elegant and joyful Us. Tom Misch’s smooth and timeless Geography also comes under this pop title, adding a new jazz twist. Beyonce and Jay Z worked together on collaborative record Everything Is Love, whilst Florence & The Machine returned with her poetic venture High As Hope.

Equally dreamy and immersive was Beach House's 7. Earl Sweatshirt’s recent release Some Rap Songs has gar-

16th February US Girls In A Poem Unlimited

Thom Dent If this record was indeed a poem, it would probably read something like T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ – a sometimes incomprehensible sprawl that touches upon as many styles and topics as one mind could conceive of. Meghan Remy, the particular mind responsible for U.S. Girls, has crafted a record that leaps from bubbling vocoders to blaring walls of brass, from glitzy disco barnstormers to brooding psychedelia. The extraordinary thing about In A Poem Unlimited is that it manages to be so stylistically erratic while still delivering wave after wave of utterly magnificent tracks.‘Velvet 4 Sale’ is a bizarrely cinematic opening track made all the more intriguing by Remy’s soft, Kylie Minogueinvoking voice, which floats over the top of wailing guitar fuzz and a forceful drum groove. ‘M.A.H.’ is the badass rebel daughter of Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’, taking in drone strikes and the hypocrisies of the Obama legacy and spitting them out in one snarling slice of dancefloor glitter. Where the album gets darkest, and possibly its finest moment, is on ‘Incidental Boogie’, a track as danceable as it is threatening, ominous synth loops and reverberating sonar pings melding underneath a spoken-word diatribe. There are too many great songs on this record to give each its due credit – it is an experience best listened to, rather than simply read about.

nered a lot of popularity among our writers, as did Travis Scott’s vivacious Astroworld. Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s Kids See Ghosts project and Daughters’ You Won’t Get What You Want both garnered rare perfect scores from the Internet’s Busiest Music Nerd; the latter album brought cacophonous and overblown industrial rock back to the fore.

In the wider hip hop sphere, Brockhampton emerged from their own ashes, and veterans Lil Wayne, Pusha T and Nas all released projects.

In another year of overtly political releases, IDLES, NoName and JPEGMAFIA manage to address the state of play while avoiding the tired clichés that hampered other releases.

Experimental electronic releases and innovative hip hop continue to push the boundaries of their respective genres, and so continue two of the decade’s prominent music trends as the 2010s near their end.

The full list of Redbrick's Albums of the Year is available on www.redbrick.me

15th March Skee Mask Compro

James Rodker If this year has taught me anything, it’s that when you get older you stop finding it fun when it snows. The first few months of 2018 were seriously bleak: January through to March was a frigid, apocalyptic hellscape. Skee Mask’s Compro managed to give the Beast from the East a soundtrack befitting of its glacial menace, an hour of bitter ambient techno sliced across the face with gritty breakbeat sleet winds. ’50 Euro to Break Boost’ is a stifled groan from the other side of the storm. Its drums smack like a migraine whilst a guttural cry from far off church bells sits anxiously in the background. It continues on much the same for the remainder of the track because when you’ve found a riff so simple yet so teeth clenchingly poignant there’s really not much more that needs to be done. ‘Soundboy Ext.’ takes Skee Mask’s trek up breakbeat mountain to its dizzying peak. It’s a 1000mph centrifuge loaded with celestial harmonies and punches to the throat. The relentless drum n bass on tracks such as this might make you feel a bit queasy if they weren’t interspersed between some gorgeous ambient sections. ‘Vli’ is one such section; a towering, pulsating moment of clear skies burrowed between the blizzards.

All in all this record is a masterful deluge of break techno, a suitable homage to that winter we had that was awful and it snowed a lot.

19th January JPEGMAFIA Veteran

Greg Woodin

16th February ionnalee Everyone Afraid To Be Forgotten

Alexander Brooks

Whether JPEGMAFIA is spitting vitriol over Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s animalistic ululations on ‘Real Nega,’ crooning over a chorus of frenetic pen clicks on ‘Thug Tears,’ or fantasising about showing up to an altright rally with a weapon on ‘Rainbow Six,’ Peggy doesn’t let up the intensity for a second. His targets include self-proclaimed ‘feminists’ with friends that beat women, and the pernicious problem of colourism in hip hop. Hell, there’s even a song on here called ‘I Cannot Fucking Wait Until Morrissey Dies.’ Clearly, there’s plenty of anger on this record, but there’s also plenty of humour, and you get the feeling that at least some of the polemic is tongue-incheek – most notably on ‘Libtard Anthem,’ which calls out the self-righteously fakewoke. But the production is by far and away the star of the show: glitchy and dissonant, the instrumental accompaniments to Peggy’s politically-charged raps are unremittingly bleak and nihilistic, bleeding into one another in a stream-of-consciousness fashion. You’ve probably never heard hip hop quite like this before.

Since her mid-2000s reinvention from folk singer-songwriter to art pop auteur, Jonna Lee has consistently carved a niche for herself. Everyone Afraid to be Forgotten is Lee’s first self-produced record, and deepens this legacy. Experimenting with trap-inflected EDM ('Joy'), Italo-disco ('Not Human') and ambient ('Here is a Warning') widens her sonic palette, while her melody writing skills remain largely unrivalled in the synthpop world. As well as widening her influences, she opens up from the enigmatic lyric writing that characterised her previous work—she tells the listener that she does not 'bargain with selflove,' and that 'I don’t remember promising my life and soul to bring you all bliss,' in a sharp rebuke to obsessive fan culture. Her soaring vocals are especially impressive on 'Simmer Down.' She sounds weary, battle-hardened—but when she tells the listener that 'I still have fire/Simmer down, simmer down,' you believe her. It will be utterly fascinating to see where Lee takes us next.

4th May Jon Hopkins Singularity

11th May Playboi Carti Die Lit

Kieran Read

Andrew Pollard Jon Hopkins manages to evoke the universe’s terrifying immensity on Singularity's first half, and the serene stillness of deep space in its second, all without saying a word. If this description sounds pretentious, it’s only because this album made me feel things. The delicate build of 'Emerald Rush' gives way to coarse electronics that jerk in and out over a thumping drum, creating probably the most danceable tune Hopkins has ever produced. There’s a similar, although unmistakably distinct, development on ‘Neon Pattern Drum’, where initially faraway noises converge hesitantly until the underlying beat snaps in, making the entire soundscape immediately clear. As the percussion dissolves at the end of ‘Everything Connected’, though, Hopkins pulls back to guide us into the record’s ambient second half. It’s stargazing music; best listened to lying flat in a grassy field or on your bedroom carpet, pondering your place in the endless void.

Kieran Read Die Lit is a lot of things. It’s a mission statement of sorts, the logical endpoint for a generation of Soundcloud and ‘mumble’ rappers. It’s a zeitgeist riding piece of art, a project that unites audiophiles, hip hop heads, meme accounts, music purists, chart dwellers and critics alike. It’s a sonic space where verses that consist solely of ad-libs not only make sense, but are exhilarating, rendering anyone who completes 16 coherent bars untouchable (Skepta, Nicki Minaj, Lil Uzi Vert). It’s Pi’erre Bourne’s greatest production to date. It’s an imperfect, lengthy opus that should render Playboi Carti alongside the likes of Soulja Boy, Chief Keef and Young Thug as a modern rock star and innovator. It’s a reconstruction of what rap can or should be, a punk album. It’s an absurd, sugar high phantasia of woozy ambient synth pads, video game samples and skull-rattling bass that aim to blow out your speakers and shake your house to the ground. Die Lit is awesome.

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Friday 7th December 2018

www.redbrick.me

31st August IDLES Joy As An Act of Resistance

Christian Nasillo With Joy as an Act of Resistance, the Bristol-based punks have put out a sophomore album that has surpassed their muchacclaimed debut Brutalism. From angry and explosive to vulnerable and brutally honest, this album pulls no punches and takes no prisoners as the band give the metaphorical finger to expectations of what it is to be a rock band in Britain in 2018.

The blistering guitars, cacophonous drums and trademark feral snarl of frontman Joe Talbot interlope in a beautifully defiant, unrelenting sonic assault on the eardrums.

Lyrically the album is ambitious and extremely powerful, a grief filled masterpiece and a lesson in catharsis, ‘I’m Scum’ deals with notions of class and politics and features Talbot’s trademark wit, and immigration is celebrated in ‘Danny Nedelko.’

Idles deal with themes of toxic masculinity, Brexit, and more. Inspiring and unapologetically bold, this is a triumphant and gutwrenching exploration of love, joy and human expression.

26th October Roman Flügel Themes

17th August Mitski Be The Cowboy

Francesca Benson With Be the Cowboy, Mitski explores parallel themes of intimacy and isolation in a startlingly candid manner. The album is both a captivating and intensely cathartic listen, and a masterfully made piece of guitar-led indie pop/rock. Songs vary between punchy tracks like ‘Why Didn’t you Stop Me?’, and more atmospheric and pensive pieces such as ‘A Horse Named Cold Air.’ Opening track ‘Geyser’ sets the album’s turbulent tone well, opening on a piercing organ fading into a piano ballad for but a few seconds before warlike drums propel the song into a fittingly explosive finale. Each of the 14 tracks contain a complex narrative precisely executed and condensed into an equally complex musical form. ‘Nobody’ has received the most attention, and it is well-deserved, as a disco-esque, upbeat instrumental house track filled with heartbreaking verses. The chorus is simply the word ‘nobody’ repeated over and over, but key changes in the last chorus give the song a loneliness-induced hysteria mirrored by the rest of the album.

9th November Objekt Cocoon Crush

14th September NoName Room 25

Harry Hetherington NoName builds upon her impressive Telefone mixtape to create this year’s truly standout hip hop release. Her hushed vocal delivery is deceptively dark, and it reflects the veneer of her glittering new home. ‘LA be bright but still a dark city,’ she states, half-whispering; ‘Welcome to Beverly Hills / Welcome to Vicodin, I took the pills.’The album evokes the 70s and 80s cultural experience, sampling films and funk-era guitars on tracks like ‘Blaxploitation.’ On ‘Self,' she offers ‘Maybe this your answer for that, a crack era / The Reagan administration’. That legacy is traced all the way to modern-day state brutality, and her monologue of a violent cop: ‘A demon ‘bout to get me, he watching me kill his mom [...]

Why, oh why my house getting bigger, corruption turn me on.' As prominent as the nods to funk and neo-soul is the album’s jazz instrumentation, on tracks like ‘Montego Bae.' The track includes an excellent hook from Ravyn Lenae, and the album generally makes great use of features (see also Benjamin Earl Turner’s verse on ‘Part of Me’). The best parts of Room 25 are also the most confessional, reaching their pinnacle on ‘Don’t Forget About Me,' a reflection on death and family. ‘The secret is I’m actually broken,' she says, and ‘if I have to go, I pray my soul is still eternal / And my momma don’t forget about me.’

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26th October Robyn Honey

Alexander Brooks On Honey, Robyn moves away from the melancholic pop that brought her international acclaim. First single ‘Missing U’ starts out in characteristically Robyn fashion— glistening synths, soaring vocals, and heartbreak-stricken lyrics inspired by the death of her best friend. However, half-way through, the song disintegrates—there is no final chorus, her vocals lower in pitch, the beat slows down. The rest of Honey follows this formula, taking its auditory cues more from dance music than pop. 'Human Being' sees Robyn discussing humans as 'a dying race' alongside detuning synthesisers and layered vocal harmonies. 'Send to Robin Immediately' samples Lil Louis’ 1980s house classic 'French Kiss.' and the chorus of 'Between the Lines' is punctuated by garage-inspired synths, as Robyn intones about a relationship so intense, 'we’re making diamonds.' There are some more unusual moments on the album—on 'Baby Forgive Me,' an ambient house cut, Robyn is accompanied by distorted male vocals, and is inspired by Deee-Lite on the spoken word 'Beach2k20.' The title track may be Robyn’s greatest song to date, her vocals soft and soulful, synths lush and warm, house beats complex and syncopated, the entire song gentle and fluid. On the closing song, 'Ever Again,' however, the taut, Prince-esque synth funk explodes into colour as she triumphantly sings 'I’m never gonna be broken hearted ever again!' After the album’s detours through grief and loss, Robyn rediscovers joy.

The People's Choice Theodore Wrigley The mysteriously titled Themes is perfectly embodied in the album artwork. A labyrinth of brush strokes, Flügel is the artist. Ambient noises, mellow and uplifting, cut through with a sporadic electronic beat in ‘Theme 1.’ Finding its way through gentle piano with a crescendo of noise in ‘Theme 3,' the kingpin of German dance music begins to find his flow. Perfect alongside a morning’s study, new thoughts and ideas can sporadically form as a result of the melodies in combination with your surroundings. A darker middle section of quirky techno with a rising bpm, bleeping reverb and accentuated bass shows the versatility of Flügel, the album a contrapposto of sharp and relaxed elements. He finishes on ‘Theme 13’ fading back into an ambience that cores the track, paralleling the hum of life. Each theme has a distinctively different feel, maybe a nod to his background, raised in a Germany host to many different subcultures; he collated a wide range of influences, he could literalize these inspirations with a vast musical ability. But perhaps instead of trying to understand a direction or coherency in Flügel’s work the abstract album should be left to intrigue to truly appreciate it.

Freddie Clark As a producer under the Objekt moniker, TJ Hertz has always felt most comfortable at the stranger forefronts of techno.

However, Cocoon Crush is a departure from even Hertz’s last album, Flatlands, which only occasionally flirted with the naturalistic and humanist soundscapes that Cocoon Crush firmly squats in. The tracks on this project refuse to be mistaken for sweaty or utilitarian club tools. Rather, they take the form of insects burrowing under the skin of the listener, questioning the boundaryAriana between acoustic and electronic.

Grande ‘Lost and Found (Lost Mix)’ serves to sweetener usher the audience into an idyllic rainforest clearing that has its realism tugged away as aspects begin to halt and whir in reverse.

The acid runs of ‘Silica,' the insatiable lead melody of ‘Secret Snake,' the broken drum sequences of ‘35’ like Autechre at their most hesitant; techno is undeniably scattered throughout the DNA of this album.

Yet the agonised soundscapes that Hertz articulates within each track transcend any electronic foundations they might be structured around. Cocoon Crush is unconcerned with the confines of the club. At 6 AM, Hertz is taking us by the hand and leading us into what no one can be sure is the real world.

Ariana Grande Sweetener Daisy Kirkaldy Ariana Grande's Sweetener has been voted our Album of the Year. Released a year after the Manchester Arena bombing, it acts as a perfectly poised tribute to everyone affected whilst preaching a convincingly feasible mantra of self-confidence and bravado. For me, it’s Grande’s new found maturity, anthems such as ‘God is a woman’ and the heartbreaking honesty behind some of the lyrics that make it my favourite release of the year. Grande probably didn’t need the name-drop collaborations of Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliot, as their lacklustre features leave something to be desired. It is instead the unapologetically upbeat songs that earn this album the acclaim it’s achieved. Grande stated she ‘just wanted to give people a hug, musically’ - an aim which she fulfills,

and then some. The almost sickeningly optimistic ‘breathin’ draws upon mental health and the all-too-familiar partnership that is our generation and anxiety. These impressive stimuli through the medium of genuinely enjoyable pop songs combine to create a belter of an album that I am sure will dominate the charts for the foreseeable future. Since its release, Sweetener has evolved into an iconic amalgamation of bouncing back, female empowerment and positivity. Superfan or Devoutly Sceptical, I strongly suggest you give it a listen, or thousands, as in my case.

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CULTURE

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickculture

Redbrick Meets: Kathryn Hunter Olivia Boyce sits down with Olivier Award-winning actress Kathryn Hunter, as she rehearses for the RSC's upcoming production of Timon of Athens Olivia Boyce Culture Editor

Olivier Award-winning actress Kathryn Hunter has played many of theatre’s greatest roles, from her acclaimed performance in Kafka’s Monkey to a gravity-defying performance as Puck in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Julie Taymor. No stranger to the RSC, having starred in productions including Antony and Cleopatra and King Lear, Kathryn is now in rehearsals for the production in which she will soon take to the stage of the Swan Theatre, this time playing the formidable Timon in a new production of one of Shakespeare’s lesser known gems, Timon of Athens.

Culture Editor Olivia Boyce sat down with Kathryn to discuss her upcoming performance, advice for those wanting to enter the profession, and just what it is that leads her to return time and time again to the RSC. Olivia: You are currently in rehearsals for Timon of Athens, in which you will be playing the title role. How are you finding the rehearsal process so far?

Kathryn: I'm loving it. There's a fantastic team of people, and that makes all the difference.

Our director is wonderful and there's a lot of trust, so we can go and discover the play. If there's trust, then even if you hit bits where you are less certain, it’s a glorious thing. I think that comes across in a production.

You must have seen productions where you think ‘there's something weird about this’, and then you discover people aren't quite on the same page.

Olivia: It's been quite a while since we've seen a major production of Timon of Athens, either on the RSC stage or elsewhere. What do you think it is about this play in particular that leads to it being one of the lesser produced Shakespeare plays?

Kathryn: It may be because it is thought to be co-authored by Middleton, but we do also know

that Shakespeare is definitely there. It's probably one of the later plays, and I think it was thought of for a long time as unrelentingly dark and pessimistic.

When I first read it about 10 years ago, I didn't see that. You know how it is - people form an opinion, such as Beckett is doom and gloom, but when you actually do it he's not the poet of despair. His work is really inflected with light, hope, and faith in humanity, and I think the same applies to Timon of Athens.

“We need stories they’re another kind of nurture, and we need to keep believing that.”

It begins with somebody who has a credo: that all human beings are good, that this is our nature, that we are capable of great generosity, care and compassion for each other. Timon's credo is that we should share - it's almost socialist, or a kind of Christian socialism. It's that wonderful 'we are born to do benefits' - that's what we were born for. I love that in Shakespeare, all these kinds of big questions that we have, such as what we are doing and why? We're born to do benefits - that's it. As long as we're caring for each other and doing things for other people, we're on the right track.

Timon gets betrayed by her friends, and something is so cracked that she reverses her credo. She says 'let's get rid of human beings as a species, and let us have the world ruled by animals. Human beings are vicious, selfish, egotistical... let's get rid of them.'

However, when you come to do the play, you realise that although she's become this “Misanthropos” hater of mankind, when people come to visit

her and she says she wants to be alone, she keeps engaging with them. There's something in her that can't help engaging with people, looking to teach them something, to share something, or to reverse their logic.

Then of course, the suicide could be seen as a big dark 'oh my god, have I come to the theatre and paid 20 quid to hear somebody cursing and then committing suicide - please!', but myself and the director feel that Timon’s suicide is a kind of a letting go. Timon, as I’m playing her, seems to say, ‘it’s not in my time to create this utopia – maybe the people who come after will embrace it’, and that’s what we’re trying to give in the play. There is a huge amount of light. And the other delight is that in the second half, which again by reputation is known as curse after curse, there’s lots of humour and that’s very Shakespearean, such as the gravediggers. There’s that sense with Shakespeare where you are appalled at what human beings can do, and then go, but humans are ridiculous and wonderful as well.

Olivia: You mention this play as having these extremes of light and dark moments – what is it like as an actor, to play Timon throughout the journey that she goes on, from the trusting philanthropist to someone who seems to oppose everything they once stood for?

Kathryn: To rationalise it, I’ve created a backstory. Perhaps she’s lost her family, and so she creates a new family with her friends and this community, and has found a reason for living as one does sometimes. When there’s been a trauma, you go ‘I’ll put all my energy into this.’

Once that is destroyed, there’s this great crack – that’s how I justify it. I think, as Apemantus says, ‘The middle of humanity thou never knewest’ - she’s a little bit a nature of extremes. In modern terms, maybe we might say bipolar, or perhaps an element of that, from these big highs of living to a darkness, somebody who has that in their psySimon Annand

Paul Stuart

che. Of course, Shakespeare didn’t use those terms, but you sort of sense it. It’s a process of discovery. At first I thought ‘hate, hate oh my god, hate.’ But hate you think, what is hate? It’s usually grounded in pain – perhaps there’s other kinds of hate, but I think the root of hers is in pain.

She thinks, ‘to free myself of that pain of rejection in a way, I arm myself with this’ – ‘I don’t need anyone, I have a plan’ – so it’s somebody working something out, and hopefully that journey is something that the audience can follow. We’ve all been on journeys, whatever age you are, of this works, that doesn’t work, how do I strategise?

Olivia: Within this production, we have Lady Timon as opposed to Lord Timon, and though this is quite a revolutionary choice for this play, in actuality you’ve played roles within Shakespeare traditionally played by men many times before, such as Puck and Lear. Simon Godwin (the director of Timon) has said before that there are a lack of roles for women within the canon, particularly as they get older – do you think casting such as this goes some way to addressing that?

Kathryn: I think it does. I really commend Greg Doran’s approach, that it has been the policy this season to address that balance in terms of representation. After that, it goes further afield, in terms of representation of other cultures. Theatre is a place of the imagination, and by re-gendering in any form - I’ve seen Mark Rylance play Cleopatra and Adrian Lester play Rosalind - it’s just a kind of a new way of seeing. As long as it is done hopefully well, I think it makes you curious.

Olivia: A sort of breathing new life into a piece people think they know, perhaps because of a specific way they’ve seen it done, rather than as it could be done differently now?

Kathryn: Exactly. I am playing Timon as a woman, but I did play Lear as a man, because I think he’s so patriarchal, as is Richard the Third. I think that, when women play men’s roles as men, there’s this. I remember playing Richard the Third, and the seduction scenes, I found really easy. I thought, why is that? I suppose, playing women as women, you’ve been on the receiving end and you know the tricks, so you can go, oh yeah, and they were really fun to play.

Olivia: Finally, to draw everything together, I’m going to ask another of those tricky awful questions - if you could give a single piece of advice for prospective actors and theatre students, what do you think that would be?

Kathryn: I would say, to encourage you to believe that we need to tell stories, and to find the stories that you need to tell and that you think need to be told. Find your connection to them, and of course this will make a difference. We need stories - they’re another kind of nurture, and we need to keep believing that.

Timon Of Athens runs at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-UponAvon, from December 7th to February 22nd. To read the interview with Kathryn in full, go to the Redbrick website.

CULTURE

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickculture

19

Review: BRB’s The Nutcracker Bill Cooper

Sophia Donnelly Culture Critic

The Birmingham Royal Ballet’s 2018 production of The Nutcracker by Sir Peter Wright at the Birmingham Hippodrome is gloriously captivating and enchanting, beautifully capturing the magic of Christmas.

The festive favourite, set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, follows young Clara and her mesmerising dreams the night before Christmas. She is swept away into a magical winter wonderland with an evil Mouse King, life size toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes, and a Sugar Plum Fairy.

Young pupils of The Elmhurst and Royal Ballet School do not fail to impress in the opening scene where they move confidently and with grace, managing to blend in with the professional dancers.

The skills and technique they have already acquired at such a young age are displayed in their exceptional performances, which are certainly a credit to the outstanding teaching provided by some of the best

ballet schools in the world.

John Macfarlane’s exquisite set design truly comes to life as Clara’s dream begins. The Christmas tree and fireplace grow in size, giving the illusion that Clara is shrinking to the size of her toys. This scene change is one of the most incredible spectacles of the piece, and prompted gasps of amazement and spontaneous applause from the audience.

“The Nutcracker

by Sir Peter Wright ... is gloriously captivating and enchanting, beautifully capturing the magic of Christmas”

Fairy showing exceptional strength of pirouettes and César Morales' performance of the Prince displays phenomenal strength in lifting his partners with such ease and grace. The demanding role of Clara is played sublimely by Karla Doorbar as her delicate precision and grace make her perfect for the role which she plays beautifully. But the moment everyone is waiting for is the pas de deux of the Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy. The pas de deux is danced to perfection

by Momoko Hirata and César Morales. Hirata demonstrates impeccable technique and expert precision, moving elegantly between complex steps while playing to the dynamics of the dance, drawing on moments of light and shade throughout which creates a breathtaking performance.

In this captivating Christmas must-see, enormous sets, exquisite dancers and a full orchestra combine to make the perfect Christmas treat.

Samara Downes plays a splendidly glittering Snow

The Nutcracker is on at the Birmingham Hippodrome until the 13th of December.

Why Audiobooks Are Worth Listening To Issy Campbell Deputy Editor

Some people will see the title of this article and automatically disagree that an audiobook cannot be compared, held to the same level or even considered over a real book. Many of those people may have also never listened to one.

Book-lovers may be quick to comment that audiobooks are lazy - although, for some that might be their appeal. They may argue it’s not as fun when you can hear the characters instead of creating them in your head. But no one ever really says that about WestEnd shows do they? Books don’t work for everyone and often I’ve found they haven’t worked for me. Sometimes it can be because you feel like you don’t have time, or sometimes it’s as simple as forgetting to take the book with you in the first place. Audiobooks allow those who find reading a book harder than they’d have hoped a chance to still enjoy them.

Just because it’s read to you instead of by you, shouldn’t automatically make it taboo. We should have a far more open mind when it comes to media platforms of literature as they can be a benefit for numerous reasons.

On the Go The most obvious benefit of an audiobook is that it’s mobile.

Audiobooks are the perfect go-to as you’re walking into uni, driving into work or even just doing odd jobs around the house. It can be really hard to actually find the time to settle down and finally read that book you’ve been dying to get your teeth into when you’re trying to balance a number of other things in your schedule. If like me, you find yourself unable

to sit still and need to be doing something, even when you want to relax, an audiobook can become your saving grace. It offers you the chance to take the most of those moments, it could even be as short as 10 minutes, but you’re able to immerse yourself into a story without needing to find that quite place to sit and read. You’ll know if it’s a really good book when you’re suddenly taking every opportunity to listen to it.

You’ll be eager to find those little moments to pop your headphones in so you can get to the next part of the story.

“Audiobooks are the perfect go-to as you’re walking into uni, driving into work or even just doing odd jobs around the house” Having audiobooks on your phone also means if you forget your hard copy, no problem. You don’t have to sit on the train and just watch the scenery go by bored out of your mind. Or scroll twitter relentlessly as your brain cells beg for something more stimulating. Sure, music may be your preference, but if you’re anywhere near as indecisive as me, I can’t ever choose what playlist I want to listen to and by the journey’s half up I’ve either only just started listening or skipped nearly every song after half way. Instead, if I pop on an audiobook, I can pick up exactly where I left off and know it’ll be there to come back to. A journey that at first seemed

like a terribly mundane one, just got a lot more interesting.

On Holiday For me, audiobooks really come into their own on a holiday.

On cold wintery days like we’ve seen recently, I’m sure we can all just imagine ourselves reading our books with no pending deadlines or worries on a lovely white beach somewhere super-hot. And whilst that sounds so dreamy, it’s sadly exactly that; a dream. I doubt anyone has ever read a book on the beach and truly thought it’s relaxing. If you do, you’re either lying or you always sit in the shade. There is no way you can get comfortable trying to read a physical book whilst sunbathing. If you want to lie on your back, you have to prize the book above your face and then your arms hurt. You can turn over to your front with the book directly in front of you, which is equally as discomforting. Perhaps you can prop yourself up, rest your book on your stomach, but then what about tan lines? Or the sun cream residue now on the bottom of your book. If you’ve just come out of the sea or the pool and your hair is dripping on the pages, or maybe your hands weren’t properly dried and now you’ve got damp fingerprints on the pages. There are a number of unrelaxing qualities about reading on the beach.

Audiobooks however, are the answer to all your problems. You can get as comfy as you’d like and listen freely without needing to squint, roll over or dry down before getting into the story. This also applies to trying to read a book in the bath too. Again, another fantastic idea in theory, but in practice not quite what you had hoped. Plug your phone into a speaker and just listen to the book

out loud and avoid all the hassle for an actual relaxing bath. Of course, kindles are also useful for this kind of thing, but people who usually argue for the book over audiobook may be those who also argue kindles aren’t the same either.

“For me, audiobooks really come into their own on a holiday” Sleeping A common question I get when I tell people I love to listen to audiobooks is ‘doesn’t that just make you sleepy?’ And honestly, it does sometimes. But no more than reading a book does. I can’t argue reading a book before bed is one of the best ways to unwind and relax. But, one of the most irritating things for me, is trying to read ahead of bed and finding myself dozing off in between sentences. It means I’m not really taking in the book and I’ll just have to go back to where I started because I’ve probably missed something. Audiobooks however often come with ‘sleep timers.’

This means, you can put an audiobook on before bed, set it to go off in 15, 30, 45 minutes or just until the end of the chapter, and so you can unwind without the worry of losing where you stopped and having to reread it. Some people won’t mind rereading, but again if you find it hard to grab moments to read as it is, you don’t want to be rereading the same chapter again or you’ll never finish.

Clearly then, audiobooks have a lot of advantages, and you definitely can’t knock it until you try

it. And Amazon can offer you the perfect way to dip your toe into the world of audiobooks. Sign up to ‘Audible’ and you can get a free 30-day-trial to download and pick one book from a very extensive library selection. You can then either sign up to monthly subscriptions, or simply buy audiobooks as and when you please.

The first option is great if you’re an avid reader, but if you’re more infrequent I would just stick to buying them outright.

If you’re looking for recommendations, my top 3 audiobooks are: When you disappeared by John Mars.

This book kept me on my toes for the entire 9 hours. I could not put it down, John Mares is a fantastic author and you’ll be gripped from the intro. The actors are also amazing and you really understand their characters from the delivery of their most mundane lines. I listened at every single opportunity I got.

I Am Watching You by Dawn O’Porter Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden, this audiobook is the perfect holiday choice. I read it whilst on holiday this year and found it to be the perfect companion to sunbathing on the beach as I didn’t want to leave because it would mean I had to stop listening.

Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham If you need an audiobook to help you relax before bed, this is the one. The narrator, Sean Barrett, has the most incredible voice. You will not want to stop listening for that alone. The story is also really interesting too.

20

MUSIC

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickmusic

Redbrick Meets: Hinds Letty Gardner Music Editor

How is the tour going so far?

Ana: Yeah good, it’s only been five days, but we’ve never done such a long UK tour. It’s very special, we’re playing in so many cities.

How would you describe your song-writing process?

Ana: There are always two different moments. One of the moments is the four of us, everyone working on their instruments together at the same time. And then there’s always another moment when it’s Carlotta and me looking for guitar chords and melodies. Sometimes the melodies come before and then we bring them to the group, or sometimes we’re just jamming and we have a cool sounding instrumental part and we try and look for melodies after that.

Who would you say are your biggest influences?

Amber: I think they’ve always been the same for us. Black Lips, Mac Demarco, The Strokes, Bob Dylan.

Ana: It’s hard for us to find new inspiration that is on that level.

What’s the music scene like in Madrid?

Ana: It’s totally different. It’s so small compared to the UK. People only go to shows on the weekends, and they’re not really used to going to that many shows.

They don’t know that there’s underground music. They don’t know what punk is. I mean, I’m talking about the majority of the people.

Amber: When people in Madrid go to a show it’s like a stadium show. Big places, big bands.

Ana: There’s not the culture of supporting smaller bands. Like over here it’s a cultural thing, families go together, we get so many dads that bring their children or just friends coming together. Everyone can be related through music, every kind of relationship can go to a show but in Spain its like, oh it’s for young kids to lose their shit and then go home. You know, it’s not taken that seriously.

Was it easy to get gigs there or is it easier in the UK? Ana: We were lucky. There is a tiny scene in Madrid of about three bands, we’re all best friends, we all live with each other. One person helps designs the posters for one band, and someone else borrows the other’s amps, you know, it’s a really tiny community. None of us knew each other from before, we met through music. If you are into city music, you’re going to know the ten people [that] there are in that scene. It wasn’t especially hard because we didn’t have the expectations to get where we are now. No one in Spain thought anyone in Spain could do what we did. It was more like, we’re starting a band, the main goal is to play, we’re never going to get paid, it’s just for fun and for music, and suddenly it became a big thing.

Can you recommend any bands from Madrid?

Ana: Actually yeah! The Parrots, they tour the UK a lot.

Madrid’s scene is growing, it’s getting there.

Amber: I would say The

Parrots and Los Nastys. They sing in Spanish and that’s cool. And Baywaves come to the UK pretty often too. They played with us on our last London show.

What advice would you have for young bands?

Ana: I would say try as hard as possible. Nothing’s gonna come easy, especially nowadays, when everyone works so fucking hard.

Amber: Especially with social media, I feel like there’s so much of everything that it’s really hard to stick out. You really have to be something different.

Ana: Just fucking work a lot, don’t take anything for granted.

For example, when we didn’t have any shows, no manager, no fans, no anything, we had a schedule.

We would say, ok this week we’re going to finish two songs, we’re going to start another one, and we’re going to learn how to play with guitar picks instead of our fingers. You know, you’ve got to take the tiniest things seriously because it’s the only way you’re going to move. One thing that always worked for us was really begging promoters to let us open a show.

Amber: Make a lot of noise with the local openers.

Ana: So now the local bands who open our shows, we take them on tour. So many bands that we’ve seen randomly were the local bands, so we make them come on tour with us.

How do you think your sound has developed between your records?

Ana: Both of the records really represented where we were at, where the band was. And we had such an early success in our band’s career. We started playing and we

started getting attention pretty soon after, and this was all fuelled into our recording. In the first record you can tell it’s a very baby album, really DIY, really lo-fi because we didn’t have good guitars or good gear, we didn’t really know how to play. You can tell; it’s really reflected on the record.

And then the second record, you really can tell we had been touring for 3 years, non-fucking-stop, and so all our lives were now dedicated to that. I think it’s cool that both of them are pictures of the moments of when we recorded them.

What are you listening to on tour?

Amber: Everything! Music constantly. Kali Uchis was on the whole summer.

Ana: The drives have been so short that we’re not even listening to that much. It’s so intense, and we have four or five more weeks.

It’s crazy because you don’t have a break, but it’s fun of course.

What are your aims following the release of I Don’t Run? Amber: Headlining Glastonbury.

I saw you guys opening John Peel in 2015, would you want to return to the festival circuit?

Ana: Did you! The first one, yeah. We were on like midday, opening the John Peel Stage. But as for festival season, we want to take a break. We want to start writing again. To write the next record we need a break for that.

We’re really bad at saying no to offers, because we fucking love playing, we love festivals especially. We should focus on our writing. I think everyone can appreciate a little piece of Hinds.

Upcoming Events Editors’ picks: Gilles Peterson, Hare & Hounds, 14th December Playing in the intimate 250-capacity Hare & Hounds, Gilles Peterson’s upcoming show is not one to miss. The BBC 6 Music DJ who started out his career on pirate radio stations will be bringing his genre-spanning set to Brum in what is sure to be an exciting and feel-good set.

Wikimedia Commons/ Casey Moore

Mystic Brew, Cafe Artum, 15th December The confines of the Cafe Artum, tucked away on the corner of Corporation Street, plays host to a wealth of hip hop talent. This new, monthly event will feature local producers and beat-makers like Joe Corfield, Dylan The Infamous, Sigmund and Gumsoul.

Best of the rest:

Live Review: Unknown Mortal Orchestra Tom Armstrong Music Critic

When they finally opened the doors of the O2 Institute, I initially followed the people before me in the queue, but was quickly directed elsewhere when my ticket was scrutinised by a member of staff.

Walking into the small, empty concert hall upstairs, I realised that I had been first in line to see Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and that the people I had been following were there to see some other act. Fools.

I discovered UMO when a friend introduced me to the song ‘Hunnybee’ from their fourth album Sex and Food. I became a fan instantly – it was mellow, funky, and frontman Ruban Nielson’s watery guitar tones and high-octave vocals conjured an emotive and colourful musical realm. In their second album release this year, IC-01 Hanoi, Nielson took influence from eastern music to produce an entirely instrumental project that expands UMO’s aural landscape. Going into their gig, I was interested to

see how the unique atmosphere of their music would translate to a live performance.

I was not disappointed. All of the show’s technical and performative features interacted meaningfully to create a contained sensory experience, representative of the band’s psychedelic musical identity. The lights were projected in colourful beams that would dance and fade into different shades to complement each song’s rhythm and tone; the band would seamlessly transition from one song to the next, often adding instrumental sections with improvised solos; the carefully chosen setlist formed a narrative of rising and falling energy as the slower songs gave way to more vigorous ones, like ‘American Guilt’.

The band opened with my favourite UMO track ‘From the Sun’. The gorgeous twangs of Nielson’s strings rang out over the crowd, accompanied slowly by a perfectly harmonised vocal melody, tasteful synth and groovy percussion. At the song’s close, Nielson’s guitar solo lasted several minutes longer than on the record, as he stepped off the stage, walked

around the audience and then, like Moses parting the Red Sea, made his way back through the middle of the crowd until he came shoulder-to-shoulder with me, still soloing away. It was at some point during this incredible sequence that I asked myself, why wasn’t this sold out?

The performance was a family affair, with Nielson’s brother Kody on the drums and his father on keys and various brass instruments. Long-time bassist Jake Portrait was also present, contributing funky low-end riffs and competently providing high-end vocal harmonies when required.

Nielson’s vocals were passionate and refreshingly raw in comparison to on record – his acapella performance of ‘Not in Love We’re Just High’ being the highlight on this front. Kody’s drumming was precise and appropriately punchy, shining through most noticeably in his performance of ‘Multi-Love’, which also featured a blasting drum solo. Nielson’s father was a welcome addition to the ensemble, particularly when getting involved in some jazzy improvisation on the trumpet at

the end of ‘So Good At Being in Trouble’. He occasionally slung on a saxophone for other jazzier numbers, though to my disappointment the sax wasn’t utilised for a performance of ‘Hanoi 6’, the single from their instrumental album.

Though I found UMO to be an immensely enjoyable live act, the crowd felt slightly subdued – undoubtedly an audience with enthusiasm matching that of the band would have improved the atmosphere. On top of this, the gig was noticeably fleeting. The addition of three or four more songs to the setlist would not have made the concert too bloated.

My only other complaint is that none of the material from IC-01 Hanoi was performed. I later found out that the live debut of ‘Hanoi 6’ was performed two days later at the Royal Albert Hall in London. My bitterness about this can’t quite detract from the overwhelming fondness with which I look back upon seeing UMO live – the feeling of being totally engrossed in the band’s sound is quite unforgettable, and I would jump at the opportunity to see them again.

Objekt and Jane Fitz, Lab11, 7th December Hozier, O2 Academy, 8th December Popcaan, O2 Academy, 8th December Razorlight, O2 Institute, 10th December Denzel Curry, O2 Academy,14th December Gilles Peterson, Hare & Hounds, 14th December Lily Allen, O2 Institute, 14th December Cause & Affect, Lab11, 15th December Tokyo Disco, The Mill, 15th December

MUSIC

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickmusic

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‘Alternative Ulster’: A Guide to Punk in 1970s Belfast

Ollie Davis discusses the importance of the punk movement during the Troubles Ollie Davis Music Critic

While the punk revolution exploded across Europe and America in the mid-70s, its impact on Northern Ireland and especially Belfast was significant. Amidst the bitter sectarian violence of the Troubles in 1970s Belfast, there was, for a time, a safe space away from bombings, paramilitary groups, and military checkpoints.

A portion of Belfast youth was able to come together, unconcerned with religious and political divisions in their mutual love of punk.

By the late 70s Belfast had been devastated by a continuing conflict between predominantly Catholic, Republican paramilitary organisations and predominantly Protestant, Unionist ones. As the violence spiralled out of control, the British Army had been brought in to support local police in 1969 but, while attempting to keep the peace, had only added to the violence. The infamous ‘Bloody Sunday’ massacre, in which British troops shot down 28 unarmed protesters in the Bogside area of Derry, is a testament to this fact. Caught between these groups were thousands of teenagers trying to survive in hostile and divided communities across Northern Ireland.

“Belfast youth came together unconcerned with religious and political divisions in their mutual love of punk” For these teenagers, the usual trappings of typical teenage life were hard to come by. Due to the violence, Belfast city centre was cordoned off by steel fencing and checkpoints known as the ‘Iron Ring.’ Combined with strict curfew laws and the constant threat of violence, nightlife in Belfast was understandably nonexistent. While there were some venues, almost all bands rejected playing in Belfast due to the risk of violence. To compound the problem any group wanting to tour in Ireland had to pay high insurance premiums for transporting their equipment over the Irish Sea, due to potential hijackings and bomb scares.

However, by 1977 this musical isolation was changing. While there was no physical presence of a music scene, the youth of Belfast were introduced to punk through radio and TV by presenters like John Peel on Radio 1 and Dave Fanning on RTE Radio 2. The former would introduce the world to Belfast legends The Undertones when he played ‘Teenage Kicks’

on the radio for the first time.

Meanwhile, Terri Hooley opened the seminal Good Vibrations Record Shop, which provided punk fans with the latest artists and sounds. As well as the record shop, Hooley setup Good Vibrations Records, a self-funded record label exclusively signing home-grown Belfast punk bands.

The band Rudi was the first, but others soon followed such as The Outcasts and Protex.

However, those that landed the most commercial success were local heroes The Undertones.

Hooley’s project was massive both for the bands involved, who wouldn’t have been picked up by the large record companies and for the Punk movement in Belfast as they now had a growing local music scene.

“Belfast hosted punk rock and New Wave giants such as The Sex Pistols and Siouxsie and the Banshees” That same year another seminal event occurred when The Clash announced they were to perform in Belfast. This would be the first time a well-known punk band had played in Belfast, and the effects were enormous. It solidified the punk scene in a moment of self-realisation as the crowd who went met other likeminded people and realised the full extent of the punk community in Belfast. It also attracted people from both Protestant and Catholic communities who forgot sectarian divisions, and united in their love for the music.

Following suit, other large bands began to play and from 1978-9, Belfast hosted punk rock and New Wave giants such as The Sex Pistols and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Even The Ramones came over from the US once they realise the extent of punk’s popularity in Northern Ireland.

“Punk was a common ground that bridged the gap between hostile communities” Nevertheless, the majority of gigs were performed by the local punk bands as the scene thrived.

Part of this was due to the legendary Harp Bar which opened its doors to punk rock in 1978. As these new bands were barred from most established music venues, it

quickly became the centre of the punk scene in Belfast. A place of escapism, away from the violence and prejudices of the troubles outside its doors.

Punk came at precisely the right time for the youth of Belfast.

By the late 70s war weariness had begun to seep into both communities due to the increased violence of the early 70s and prolonged hardship of the military occupation. The anarchic nonconformist culture and DIY ethos of punk lent itself perfectly to winning over disgruntled youths and outcasts who had become alienated by the sectarian rhetoric and oppressive conditions of living in a war zone.

As an artistic medium, punk could be used as a form of escapism as songs like ‘Teenage Kicks’ exemplified. If the violence around you is so normalised, then why not sing about other life events, like getting laid.

Alternatively, it could confront the conflict as Stiff Little Fingers did with anthems like ‘Alternative Ulster’ and ‘Suspect Device’. As punk historian Toby Mott stated in Punk Troubles: Northern Ireland – ‘[Punk was] a creative high point in both British and DIY culture. But, in Northern Ireland, it was much more significant.’

In a conflict which spanned from 1969 to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, and claimed the lives of more than 3,500 people, 52% of which were

civilian casualties. The punk scene created a space for young people to enjoy their youth and a common ground that bridged the gap between hostile communities, a space imbued with an alternative ideology that pacified the rhetoric of sectarian violence.

In today’s world with the

extreme DUP government in power and a Brexit deal potentially creating a hard border for Northern Ireland, fears of a resurgence of violence are increasing.

It could be useful to reflect on how music has been a force that can unite communities when so much has divided them.

Single Review: A$AP Rocky - Sundress Callum Russell Music Critic

‘Sundress’, A$AP Rocky’s first solo release since latest album Testing, sees the Harlem Rapper build upon ideas of experimentation and psychedelia, but just as with his previous studio efforts, it again falls short of the mark.

With production from Tame Impala, Danger Mouse, Hector Delgado and Syk Sense, Rocky garners diverse and surprising support, resulting in a bizarre, experimental melting pot of genres. To an extent, this has its merits, with the vast jangly soundscapes associated with Tame Impala strangely cooperating with a classically old school Danger Mouse drum beat to create a distinct feel.

However, the issues with such a diverse production become apparent within the structural elements of the song. An over-reliance on echo and reverb, in tandem with the lack of a clear hook, makes for a track which seems

confused and uncertain as to its direction, particularly considering the fact it verges on the shorter side. As with Testing, whilst ‘Sundress’ is compromised by its structural confusion, Rocky’s vocal aptitude does keep the track interesting.

His trademark smooth tone, diction and delivery is as always solid, seldom missing a beat, and whilst the lyrical content is fairly simple, it provides a candid and genuine feel.

“Rocky garners diverse support, resulting in a bizarre melting pot of genres” Regardless, it is difficult not to feel disappointed by Rocky’s efforts on this single, particularly in light of his excellent features on recent Tyler, The Creator

tracks. So often have A$AP fans been teased with witty imagery and unique, idiosyncratic flow that it’s frustrating to see such a talented orator settle for what could arguably be described as pop-rap.

Perhaps my willingness for Rocky to reach his artistic peak is behind such disappointment, but there’s no doubt that this is far from his best work.

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FILM

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickfilm

Redbrick's Picks: Top Films of 2018 Redbrick Film collectively mine the last twelve months for cinematic gold

Kat Forbes

Film Critic

Utøya: July 22 My favourite film of the year, by far, has been Utøya: July 22. The film covers the 2011 Norway attacks by a right-wing extremist, Anders Breivik. On July 22nd 2011, a car bomb exploded in the government quarter of Oslo. On the same day, a second attack took place on the island of Utøya at a summer camp. On Utøya, Breivik opened fire on the children of government officials in an attack that lasted 72 minutes. Through these terror attacks, Anders Breivik murdered 77 people.

I was fortunate enough to watch Utøya: July 22 at the BFI London Film Festival and this unforgettable opportunity definitely increased my great love for the film. I had the privilege of seeing a live Q&A with director Erik Poppe and lead actress Andrea Berntzen, as well as three survivors of the Utøya attack. Poppe emphasised that the film was used to bring focus back to the victims of the acts of terrorism. In Utøya: July 22, Breivik is never shown; only the results of his actions are seen.

Poppe decided to limit Breivik’s exposure in his film because he felt like there was no need to showcase the terrorist anymore than the media had already.

“It is stifling, intense ... heartbreaking” The film predominantly consists of one 72-minute take following one of the victims experiencing the attack on Utøya island. Through this continuous journey with Kaja (Andrea Berntzen), we get the closest we can ever get to understanding what it’s like to go through a terrorist attack. The sheer intensity of the film almost makes you want to take a break halfway through, thus creating an incredibly unique cinematic experience.

I have never experienced a film like Utøya: July 22; it is stifling, intense, heartwarming and heartbreaking. It has been a brilliant year with many amazing films, and Utøya: July 22 is the best.

Tom Smith-Wrinch

Film Critic

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri In order to comfort myself against the oncoming onslaught of Christmas hordes, tacky adverts and overall yuletide joy, I saw fit to reminisce over the standout films of the year. One, in particular, that certainly left a deep impression upon me was none other than Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

“[Three Billboards] seeks to uncover our basic humanity” Without giving too much away, we follow Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) and her search to find the answers to her daughter’s brutal murder. With the help of her titular three billboards she questions the fabric of her Corn Belt town, demanding harsh truths from local police (Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson) which results in an equally heart-wrenching and heart-warming finale. With such sharp dialogue and comedic wit, this black comedy seeks to uncover our basic humanity: who we are and what we are to become.

McDormand’s performance is unquestionably the standout of the year: she seems to capture the integral human spirit, our resilience against adversity, and, somehow through it all, she leaves you both laughing and crying as you leave for the car park. This dramedy offers so much more than simple performance, it provides emotional truth that is seldom seen on the big screen these days, sardonically taking on intrinsic values and beliefs.

Much like the billboards, this film holds firm for what it stands for, capturing yet questioning human nature and ultimately shedding much-needed light upon the darkness that comes with such tragedy. Incredible performances, outstanding dialogue and a story that fundamentally connects with audiences on a deeper, emotional level create a modern masterpiece of raw sentimental cinema.

Kat Smith

Deputy Editor

Sam Denyer

Film Critic

Alex Green

Film Critic

Ellen Macleod Trace

A Quiet Place

Thoroughbreds

Film Writer Leave No

John Krasinski’s masterpiece has become known as a horror film capable of making you cry, and the reputation is well-deserved. Atmospheric, suspenseful and stunning, I cannot identify a single flaw with A Quiet Place.

The film centres on a postapocalyptic world where humanity has been nearly wiped out by creatures who can only find and kill humans by hearing them. As the tagline goes, if they hear you they hunt you. At an advantage because of their deaf daughter and consequential knowledge of sign language, one family have managed to build a life for themselves in spite of the omnipresent threat.

The main cast, consisting of just four actors (Krasinski alongside Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds), carry the film with their exceptional talent and emotion. Simmonds’ reallife deafness makes the casting even better, breaking the unfortunate pattern of the able-bodied being cast in roles that should be reserved for the disabled. Oh, and also, if Blunt doesn’t win the Best Actress Oscar, I will personally lead the uproar.

Olivia Cooke and Anya TaylorJoy are a formidable leading duo in Thoroughbreds, a teen thriller that makes Heathers look like child’s play. It shares Heathers’ snark and homicidal plotline but courageously plunges to even darker depths. It helps that one of its main characters, Cooke's Amanda, has a mental disorder which has left her emotionless.

Cooke is a skilled performer and avoids playing outright psychotic; Amanda is much more nuanced than that. She understands society's quirks and injustices but lacks the capacity to care; acting blank may sound simple but it goes against every dramatic instinct possessed by actors as good as Cooke. She may be jarringly neutral to the events around her, as evidenced by the opening scene where she euthanises her crippled horse, but she is not a soulless husk.

The quasi-Machiavellian world of Thoroughbreds makes these traits all too desirable.

Leave No Trace is a brilliant exercise in minimalism, treating its audience with respect and intelligence. The film follows a father and daughter who live in the woods and are brought into manmade civilization. It is difficult to describe Leave No Trace, as it is best experienced with no foreknowledge. It received a limited UK release over the summer, so missing it was excusable.

But film fanatics that have seen it will tell you that few films were as powerful this year.

“If Blunt doesn’t win the Best Actress Oscar, I will personally lead the uproar” Themes of love, sacrifice and survival permeate the otherwise dark story to create a movie with magnificent depth. The threat of the monsters are catalysts for character development and the fundamental themes of family and love to come to light.

Alongside the likes of Get Out, I hope A Quiet Place marks the beginning of horrors and thrillers that have more depth than just ‘how long can we keep the viewers up at night?’

I never thought I would refer to a horror film as beautiful, yet here we are.

“[Thoroughbreds] makes Heathers look like child’s play” Taylor-Joy's Lily is a comparatively emotional young woman, who begins to use her relationship with the apathetic Amanda to help address her stormy relationship with her stepfather. Inter-generational conflict is a given (it is a teen movie after all), but Thoroughbreds turns this up to eleven. The plot the pair concoct leads them to Tim, played with sweet charm by the late Anton Yelchin, who exposes fascinating quirks in their bizarre relationship.

First-time director Cory Finley just about manages to maintain his world's credibility even as the plot begins to strain belief. The converted will find themselves increasingly willing to jump in the deep end of this pool of noirish exchanges, visual flair and unhinged femininity.

Just don't be surprised if Amanda and Lily try to drag you down to the bottom with them.

“Few films were as powerful this year” The spellbinding performances of Ben Foster and breakout star Thomasin McKenzie as Will and Tom share an incredibly natural chemistry as father and daughter. The film's emotional core is provided here, as this relationship is used to dance between themes of alienation from society, coming of age and acceptance effortlessly.

Accompanied by a well put together script and some brilliant direction from Debra Granik of Winter’s Bone fame, Leave No Trace is a film with so much nuance delivered in its 109minute runtime, which flies by with some strong pacing.

Oregon is beautifully depicted, its lush tones and calming outdoors portrayed with fantastic cinematography and camerawork. The score suits all these understated elements to a tee along with its completely satisfying ending. Whilst films like Lady Bird, Cold War and The Breadwinner all reach these dramatic emotional payoffs, few have done it with the grace, nuance and welcoming atmosphere that Leave No Trace has.

It’s less a film, more a realistic portrayal of the tragic coming of age that every parent must face and learning to accept the inevitable: that as the world moves on, so must children move on from the safety of their parents.

Leave No Trace is utterly powerful and heart-wrenching, and the excellent craftsmanship, cohesiveness and brilliance makes it the best film of the year.

FILM

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickfilm

Rhys Lloyd-Jones

Film Critic

Avengers: Infinity War Avengers: Infinity War was a shot of adrenaline to the Marvel formula. It did the unthinkable, bringing together ten years' worth of larger-than-life characters who, individually, have fought to save the world time and time again. The Russo brothers unite these heroes under a streamlined narrative that merges their personalities seamlessly, and present them with stakes that are both grand and also personal. The film is a triumph in every sense. The action showcases such a unique blend of so many different heroes, powers and tricks in some of Marvel’s best sequences. Watching Doctor Strange magically propel SpiderMan into a flying kick, followed by a missile from Iron Man, is not something I ever thought I would see in a superhero movie, but this film gives it to us. The humour perfectly counterweights the film’s somber tone, giving us both laugh out loud dialogue and moments of tragedy that pull perfectly on the heartstrings.

The Russo brothers are the masters at the helm of this grand epic that rewards Marvel fans for attending each of the eight-

Samuel Zucca

een previous films. The challenge of balancing this number of characters seemed insurmountable, yet each hero is given their own time to shine in the sun; even if it is just for ten seconds of action. The pace of this film does not falter: it moves swiftly, leaping from planet to planet in an intoxicating whirlwind of excitement. Infinity War feels like more than a film. It is more akin to a cinematic event, and one that delivers on ten years of hype and build up.

Film Critic

Lady Bird Coming of age films seem to be everywhere in 2018, and that can no doubt be attributed to the wealth of ground-breaking films that have sprung from this genre in the past few years. From Moonlight to Boyhood to 20th Century Women, character-driven stories still have a lot of presence in an otherwise franchisedriven cinematic landscape.

Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut Lady Bird is an excellent example of this.

Saoirse Ronan plays the selfnamed ‘Lady Bird’ (formerly Christine) in her last year of high school in Sacramento, California, her eyes set on a future in college. Although set in 2002, the film is radically different to the kinds of high school movies that emerged in the 90s and early 2000s. Lady Bird is written sharply yet delicately.

Aside from a few shocking moments that bookend film, it is mainly a depiction of life in motion.

The dialogue is smart and funny, feeling real without having the tedious rhythm of everyday conversation – the characters interrupt, ignore, and talk over each other. It may seem

“Infinity War was a shot of adrenaline to the Marvel formula” The highlights of the ensemble include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Robert Downey Jr. as the role he could play in his sleep by now, and Josh Brolin as Thanos, a villain as complex and grounded as the heroes Marvel have now perfected, giving us the single best villain in the MCU. Infinity War deserves the number one spot simply for succeeding with such a task. It just helps that it more than succeeds, it shines.

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simple, but this is done in a way which utterly convinces you that these are real people. The characters and relationships are beautifully constructed, particularly the tenuous understanding Lady Bird has with her mother Julie, played by Laurie Metcalf.

“Lady Bird is written sharply yet delicately” Lady Bird may not be one of the most remembered films of this year, particularly since it accompanied a large list of Oscar contenders, and did not pick up any of the five it was nominated for. Perhaps the greatest accolade I could give Lady Bird is one for its understatement, even within a genre that is very downto-Earth anyway, it does not flout the same kind of narrative experimentation that Moonlight or Boyhood exhibited. Instead, it shows a gradual journey: from wanting to escape your home and its empty landscape, to seeing and understanding how rich and full of life it really is. It’s a simple idea, but one that is capitalised on to great effect.

Images: Nordisk Film, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Focus Features, Bleecker Street, Walt Disney Studios and Universal Pictures

Review: Ralph Breaks the Internet

Disney Pixar sets another high-score with this self-referential Wreck-It Ralph sequel Matt Taylor Film Critic

Who doesn’t love a good Disney movie? Especially with the excellent run that Walt Disney Animation Studios have been on for years now: since 2010’s Tangled, the studio has released hit after hit (both critically and commercially – two of their latest releases have broken into the top 10 highest-grossing animated films of all time). Based on this winning streak, it should not be a surprise to anyone that the studio’s latest effort Ralph Breaks the Internet (sequel to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph) is a glorious addition to the Disney canon.

Its plot is a rather innovative one; faced with the closing down of arcade game Sugar Rush, Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope must venture into the Internet to find a way to save her game.

Once in the Internet, they are faced with a mountain of pop culture to wade through in order to find what they’re after.

“The film’s pop culture references are one of its smartest aspects” Interestingly enough, the film’s pop culture references are one of its smartest aspects. There has been plenty of buzz online about the state of modern film and its constant yearning for nostalgia or general pop culture references (look at some of the backlash around Ready Player

One, for example), but Ralph handles it surprisingly well.

There are plenty of fun realisations of general internet features (for example, each person using a browser is given an avatar in the Internet’s virtual world, and these are transported in pop-up vehicles when moving from one site to another), and plenty are hilarious (a pop-up blocker is a personal favourite, and Twitter is adorable). As you might expect from a Disney film, there are plenty of references to Disney properties. A good chunk of the film’s second act takes place in ‘Oh My Disney’ – a website full of vlogs, quizzes, news, and generally all things Disney. There are brief sections with characters from Star Wars and Marvel, and several longer sequences with various Disney princesses. The princess scenes are particularly interesting; it’s no secret that the traditional stories are problematic (to say the least) in their messages to young children, but these scenes see the princesses owning these issues before later subverting them. They are a fun addition to the film, and a particularly selfreferential joke is among the film’s biggest laughs.

Speaking of laughs, this is a very, very funny film. There are a surprising amount of meta jokes, but they never feel too much – it is packed with Easter eggs, but it does not forcibly beat you over the head with them, resulting in an incredibly well-balanced style of meta humour. There are plenty of great character moments too, but these do not feel quite as smart or funny as the more referential stuff and, unfortunately, not every joke lands. Things get off

Walt Disney Studios

to a very shaky start before we get going properly, with a weird mix of toilet humour and foreshadowing jokes that seem like they should be much more serious than how they are treated.

Having said all that, do stick around for a hilarious mid-credits scene (it is very much worth your time).

“The way the film ties things up just does not satisfy” Cleverly, given the wide scope and breakneck pace of the whole thing, the emotional focus remains on Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman). Everyone else (the film has a huge supporting cast, including Gal Gadot, Bill Hader, Alan Tudyk, Jane Lynch, Jack McBrayer, Taraji P. Henson and Alfred Molina, to name but a few) is merely a supporting character, and the film is all the better for it, as this gives Ralph

and Vanellope’s relationship plenty of room to breathe and grow. While their rapport is perhaps not as complex as it was in the first film, it is every bit as entertaining.

Reilly and Silverman have perfect chemistry, bouncing off each other wonderfully in their comedic moments, and tugging at the heartstrings in the more serious ones. The big focus is on Vanellope’s boredom in her own game and her wanting to find something bigger, but this does not sit well with Ralph, who is perfectly content with the same old routine every day. The Internet’s introduction into the arcade allows both Vanellope to branch out and Ralph to try and come to terms with the possibility of having to let her do her thing. It is both well executed and well explored, and is suitably entertaining to boot.

“Reilly and Silverman have perfect chemistry”

But as much as I would love to say that it is all great fun and games, it sadly isn’t. I already mentioned the film’s rocky start, and the ending is no better. The introduction of the eventual villain feels rather contrived, and the way the film ties things up just does not satisfy, emotionally or narratively. It’s not that it is a bad ending, per se, just that it does not really gel.

Despite its wobbly beginning and ending, the rest of Ralph Breaks the Internet is an absolute delight, offering laughs, thrills, and emotions aplenty. A surefire hit for Disney.

VERDICT: While not all as delightful as you might want it to be, Ralph Breaks the Internet is mostly delirious fun. It is at once a great character episode, an interesting social commentary, and a hilarious ride – definitely one for the whole family this Christmas.

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TELEVISION

Friday 7th Decemberr 2018

@redbricktv

The Best Christmas TV Specials

TV Editors and Writers give their top festive telly picks to snuggle up and watch by the fireplace this Christmas

Jessica Green Television Editor

Daisy Andrews Television Writer

Doctor Who

Outnumbered

After a long day of unwrapping countless presents and stuffing your face with endless roast potatoes, there is nothing you want more by the evening than to sink into the sofa and tune in to BBC1 to be amazed by the latest Doctor Who Christmas Special. And that’s precisely why we saw devastation up and down the country when it was announced earlier this year that Jodie Whittaker’s festive episode would not in fact be taking place on Christmas Day, but would air in 2019 instead. It’s a good job, then, that Netflix has a stack of the Timelord’s older Christmas Specials to keep us ticking over until January 1st; my personal favourite being Season Six’s ‘The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe.’

A throwback to the (glorious) Matt Smith era, this Narnia-esque special follows the Doctor as he becomes the carer for war-widow Madge and her two children Cyril and Lily in 1941. Everything starts going horribly wrong when Cyril goes through a portal to a sinister, snowy planet and the Doctor and Lily end up searching the alien forest for him, closely followed by a concerned Madge. Things become rather tense when it is revealed that the area is due to be drenched in acid rain sooner rather than later, and Cyril encounters some rather daunting creatures made out of wood.

A welcome change from some of the darker Christmas specials though, we see the family safely reunited and returned home by the end of the episode. Madge is even able to save her husband’s life and guide him home in time for the big day. With its perfect blend of festive joy and timey-wimey stuff, this episode is a definite re-watch this Christmas.

Personally, my favourite Christmas Special has to be the 2009 Outnumbered episode.

Being nine years old has not aged its humour one bit, and the episode opens on a shot of the house we know and love, with an outburst from Pete: ‘Ben. Karen. For the last time, they are not lightsabers, they are toilet brushes!’

A highlight is Pete and Sue’s (worryingly) real issue of lying to an insurance company and their attempts to convince Karen to lie for them, which adds to the ongoing bedlam caused by Ben. The young children remain the stars of the show as they manage to get their arms stuck down the back of a radiator and watch some wildly inappropriate TV. Their improvised dialogue remains witty and hilarious throughout.

No other Christmas special quite encapsulates the fun as well as the stress that comes with Christmas like Outnumbered. But the main reason I love this episode so much is that it confronts family struggles which are so difficult at the festive time of year.

Sue’s worrying about her dad being in a care home reminds me of my own grandma being in one over Christmas a couple of years ago and how hard it was for my family. I feel that Hamilton and Jenkin, the directors of Outnumbered, poignantly highlight the joy and laughter that can be brought to people at Christmas by coming together in times of struggle.

Catrin Osborne Television Writer

The Office Whilst the majority of Christmas TV paints an idyllic, snowy portrayal of life, The Office Christmas special is brilliant in its sheer realism. In-keeping with the depressing humour that made the original show so appealing, the two episodes act as a documentary catching up with the characters’ lives since we last saw them. From David Brent’s unbearably awkward appearances at nightclubs to Dawn Tinsley’s illegal residence

in America, the first episode reflects the strangely unsatisfying vibe of Christmas.

Living up to the previous episodes, the special is filled with the awkward humour produced by the inventive ‘mockumentary’ style.

Some of the The Office’s funniest sequences reside in these two episodes, such as David Brent’s excellently parodied music video for ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’.

However, even The Office allows its viewers one Christmas gift. Running throughout the first two series of the show, Tim and Dawn’s will-they-won’t-they relationship seemed to be nothing more than a fantasy by the end of series two. However, the Christmas special at last gives the viewers what they desired, finalising it with Tim and Dawn’s kiss.

Far from the perfect Christmas typically plastered on TV screens, The Office captures the disappointing aspect of the festive season whilst still leaving a smile on the viewer’s face.

Morgana Chess Television Editor

Gavin & Stacey Nothing says Christmas quite like watching Smithy drive along, belting out Band Aid’s classic ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ as it plays out from his rusty car's stereo. As goes the iconic, muchmemed moment from the Christmas special of Gavin & Stacey.

The episode is as hilarious and warm-hearted as is to be expected, bringing together the whole cast of lovable characters as the Welsh lot travel down to Billericay for Christmas (in Dave’s coach of course). Bryn has his mistletoe at the ready, and marvels at the wonder of mint Bailey’s. Mick prepares the turkey while Pam frets about being a fake vegetarian. And Gavin and Stacey have a big announcement to make.

One of the best moments is

watching the group unwrap a solitary Celebration chocolate each as their presents from Ness and Dave; we share in the collective pity for Pam as she gets the Bounty. Things later heat up and there is an incredible wine-fuelled argument between the Welshies and the Essex gang where Bryn is forced to plead, ‘Pam, let’s not turn this into a race issue.’

The whole thing is, of course, hilarious. The episode leaves you feeling fuzzy and festive in the run-up to Christmas and is definitely worth a watch. As Nessa would say, ‘Oh Oh Oh, Merry Christmas.’ It’s a true christmas cracker.

Niamh Brennan Television Editor

Friends ‘The One With the Holiday Armadillo’ is one of the most iconic Friends episodes of all time, never mind the best of the Christmas specials. Ross’ frantic attempt to introduce his son Ben to Hanukkah and to his Jewish heritage results in an evening spent with Santa, Superman and the infamous Holiday Armadillo.

It’s a hilarious reminder to viewers that whilst they may be celebrating Christmas, you should never forget that not everybody does. And it does so in the most Friends way possible. When Ross can’t rent a Christmas-themed costume to reassure Ben that Santa won’t forget him this year, he instead rents an Armadillo costume and desperately tries to make a link between the Armadillo, Hanukkah and Christmas. And he succeeds, allowing Ben to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. He even gets a visit from Superman in the form of Joey, who is trying to help Ross out with a better costume.

If you’re not religious, that’s no problem. Phoebe’s ‘Holiday Skull’ reminds everyone that the Holiday Season is simply what you make it. It’s the traditions that you have with the people you spend it with that matters.

TELEVISION

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricktv

Christmas Ads: The Good and The Bad

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Top TV Picks for December

TV Critic Tom Denham tells us what he thinks of this year's variety of festive adverts Tom Denham Television Critic

As early as mid-November, the public is bombarded with a mass of Christmas advertisements depicting a wide range of shiny new gifts; jewelry, perfumes, hairdryers, watches, toasters, toys... the lot. Advertising departments employ numerous tactics to showcase their products in the best light possible, and many keep to an obvious formula that increases their chances of making sales.

However, some adverts do stray into more imaginative realms. They seek to promote a message of festive love and compassion through narratives with depth or unique aesthetic styles.

Transnational corporations which already hold strong consumer rates have more freedom in not having to overtly display their products (which more often than not disrupts any narrative that the advert hitherto has attempted to build). These Christmas ads are often considered to be more touching and are the ones to evoke a more profound reaction in their audiences.

ingly awful. Here are the five that caught my attention this festive season; though not necessarily for the right reasons.

Richard Mushet

Aldi The supermarket has recently presented ‘Kevin the Carrot and the Wicked Parsnip.’ Narrated by Jim Broadbent, Aldi tells the story of an evil parsnip who bitterly takes hostage the family of his arch enemy, Kevin the Carrot.

However, as the true ‘King of the Veg,’ Kevin successfully saves his wife and children through scaling the assault course of a Christmas dinner. Overall, the ineffective puns and poor narrative of Aldi’s advert fall flat, at its best providing a minute of low-brow entertainment for children.

KFC A lone chicken is seen journeying, battling the conditions of a snowy winter landscape. With a touch of the wild-west thrown in, the chicken encounters a turkey; naturally they have a stand-off, and of course the turkey flees, leaving the chicken as victor. A banner appears: ‘Turkeys come and go, but chicken’s here to stay.’

And so, we may deduce that KFC’s Christmas message is... to keep on eating KFC.

ABC Murders BBC1 Christmas Period

around numerous houses delivering Christmas presents and carrying out the ritualistic eating of the mince pies and drinking milk.

However, no houses have left any carrots for the reindeer to nibble!

Nevertheless, a 24/7 McDonald’s restaurant saves the day, which allows Santa to purchase hundreds of carrot sticks for his reindeer. Apart from creating excitement surrounding the possibility of reindeers visiting this winter, the McDonald’s ad doesn’t achieve much; at the least, it reminds us to be ‘#ReindeerReady’.

receives a piano from his family for Christmas. The visuals are accompanied by ‘Your Song’, a well-known Elton song which featured in the 2010 John Lewis advert. The fascinating scenes range from Elton excitedly performing at a packed-out stadium to playing at a family party as a teenager.

Although charming, the advert has received some negative responses concerning the cost of production and the celebrity’s paycheck. However, John Lewis has responded: ‘The speculation [surrounding] the costs associated with this year’s ad is wildly inaccurate.’ It has been noted that Sir Elton requested for a portion of his pay to be donated to the Elton John Charitable Trust, which supports many charities across numerous causes.

“Many [advertising Sainsbury’s departments] keep Sainsbury’s steps it up a notch McDonald’s this year with ‘The Big Night’, a to an obvious heart-warming depiction of a chilSimilarly to KFC, McDonald’s dren’s nativity performance. formula that is limited in terms of a Christmas Beginning with a nervous North “[John Lewis’] themed advert; after all, creating a Star singing the opening lines of increases their festive narrative which also adver- ‘You Get What You Give’ by the fast-food can only be done in New Radicals, the performance advert has received chances of making tises so many ways. Ironically, their erupts into an extravaganza of some negative 2018 ad centres around possibly singing and dancing. Featuring sales” one of their only products which some fantastic costumes, includresponses won’t cause type 2 diabetes, and ing a turkey drummer and set of For 2018, the Christmas one you rarely see being pur- fairy lights (plug included), and concerning the adverts have ranged from bril- chased: the carrot bag. The narra- fireworks, the nativity receives an liant, to average, to embarrass- tive follows Santa’s journey enthusiastic burst of applause cost of production from the parents. The children’s real parents featured in the audiand the celebrity’s ence and were intentionally kept away from castings and rehearsals paycheck” until the shoot day, achieving a genuine reception of amazement.

The story of facing fears and parental pride is joy-provoking, matching the final message ‘We give all we’ve got for the ones we love.’

John Lewis

Aldi

Due to previous successes, John Lewis has gained a reputation for creating touching, comic, and visually captivating Christmas adverts, which are always greatly anticipated. This year’s ad tells the story of Sir Elton John’s life in reverse-chronological order.

Moving through eleven stages, the narrative follows the success of Elton’s musical career to the moment in his childhood he first

Overall, as an Elton John fan, I found this year’s John Lewis advert poignant and nostalgic. In accordance with its message that ‘some gifts are more than just a gift,’ it serves to emphasise the significance of the meaning behind gifts and their power to express a particular thought about the recipient.

So, are Christmas adverts just an attempt to sell a product, or are they something more than that?

Are they a piece of art; a story; an attempt to evoke Christmas merriness in audiences? It changes advert by advert, company to company – but the Christmas period of 2018 has undoubtedly offered us a good mix.

Call the Midwife BBC1 25th December

Les Misérables BBC1 Christmas Period

Luther BBC1 Christmas Period

26

GAMING

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickgaming

Redbrick Gaming's Redbrick Gaming has whittled down its top

6: Pokemon Let's Go: Pikachu and Eevee (Switch)

Pokemon Let's Go - it is the Pokemon game that has resonated the most with me personally.

Roaming with my Pokemon beside me or communicating with Pikachu really made me feel like I was exploring each route again for the first time.

While the game is certainly easier than one may expect, this didn't change my opinion of it. Its rich post-game content gave me hours of fun, from catching all 150 Pokemon to battling the toughest trainers around.

The removal of wild encounters had me sceptical at first but now I cannot imagine the franchise going on without this change; it removes so much unnecessary annoyance and prioritises (for me at least) catching them all, which is the focus of the franchise at its heart. Finding Pokemon physically in the overworld is enjoyable and truly immerses you in the world for the first time in a long time, I felt like a trainer.

Pokemon Let's Go doesn't reinvent the wheel, but what it does change cements it as one of my favourite adventures. While it's fair to say the game caters to younger players, this is only a good thing - the depth is still very much present for veteran players, while newcomers are introduced to the Kanto region much the same way many people were when Red and Blue were released over twenty years ago.

“I felt like a trainer” My eleven-year old sister, for example, was overjoyed to play with Eevee and explore, what was to her, a brand new land.

While I wasn't sure about the franchise returning to Kanto yet again, her excitement and engagement with the game put all my reservations to rest.

Thus starts a theme with

By Sam Nason

on the wall, ready for the police to pick up. However, long these Spider-Man PS4 is a prime police arrive, you shall be perched example of a developer thoroughly upon a roof somewhere, waiting understanding the concept for the next bunch of of their game and pulling misguided thugs to it off to a T. Insomniac amble like flies into had one mission, to your spidery web. make the player feel From weaving like the Web-head, through the legs of and through the attackers; to Game Awards power of simple unleashing storms of controls, a beautifully webs with the aim of nominations built – quasi-living – countering the brutish open world; and beats of baddies; to phenomenal attention to flying through the air at detail, they pulled it off breakneck speed to reach your spectacularly. chosen mission, Spider-Man is I’d defy any game this year to just so satisfying to play. replicate the irresistibly awesome The way the game makes you feeling of being perched above truly feel like a protector, like the the New York skyline, soaking in friendly neighbourhood Spiderthe mandarin sunset; when Man is a triumph. A perfect suddenly you catch wind of a testament to Stan Lee and his mugging. You quickly dive favourite hero. towards the ground, cast a web to break your descent and within seconds you’re sat on a lamppost

By Tom Martin overlooking the crime. Bravely you fight off the attackers and before long they’re just ornaments

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By Alex Green

5: DELTARUNE (PC) DELTARUNE was dropped with very little warning and expectation.

Those who loved the previous game Undertale, had come to never expect a sequel (or even another game surrounding that Universe) but were ecstatic to be given one. Although DELTARUNE is the shortest game on this list, it wasn’t any less of a fulfilling and enjoyable experience, especially when you knew characters from the previous game and saw easter egg after easter egg. This expansion on the Undertale universe came with an exciting new way to battle and talk to opponents - an even more detailed world to roam and a cliffhanger that I can’t wait to have explained away. It really is something special.

DELTARUNE is a reminder of what gaming could be. Not something based off of money or merchandise, but a true passion project where the game and all its nuances are beloved by fans. The art. The writing. The music. The game play. They are all gorgeous and wonderful and you will love playing every part of

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and provides great variety in the driving. From drifting tightly round the street corners of Edinburgh, to speeding down long countryside roads in a Lamborghini Aventador, to bouncing off road in the Jeep Trailcat, the variation in racing, combined with the game’s new seasons mechanic – changing season every 2 real world weeks from beautiful sunny skies in the summer to tranquil frosty winter – actually solve an issue many car games have that owning various cars and not sticking to one is necessary. The game is jam-packed with exciting bits. From stunt driving for a director, to road racing and beyond, Forza Horizon 4 is committed to justify its price.

Although it may be the most fantastical version of Britain ever depicted, it is truly mesmerizing at points how pretty every car, lake, road and sky are. It’s no wonder Playground was acquired

by Microsoft earlier this year, as Forza Horizon 4 is probably the most satisfying, gorgeously crafted racer this year, and easily my game of the year.

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As a huge fan of the Forza Horizon series, I liked the third instalment from 2016 but felt it didn’t entirely work. The idea of making you the boss of the game’s titular Horizon festival felt contradictory to a series all about absurd fun and racing. Giving you responsibility in the series just felt strange and unnecessary. This was ditched for Forza Horizon 4 in favour of the traditional route of working your way up the ranks. This game splits differing events into series and requires you to rank up in series to unlock new events and gain influence to compete in the series’ infamous showcase events.

Truly, Forza Horizon 4 has all the makings of a game of the year.

Playground Games’ commitment to excellence is so refreshing in an industry where some AAA developers settle for the bare minimum. An incredibly massive, diverse range of vehicles all feel fun to drive with the game really nailing every driving mechanic required in a great racer. This is complemented by the UK setting,

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DELTARUNE. In other games you may hate a stealth section *ahem* Spider-Man *ahem* but we'll forgive it because of story arc or something. I can’t say there was one area of the game or one type of interaction I dreaded because every part of it added something to it’s feeling and meaning.

“I can't stress enough how important this game was” I can’t stress enough how important this game was this year.

It’s free. It’s enjoyable and it cut through a lot of negative sides of the gaming industry. It couldn’t even disappoint anyone really because there was no hype around it previously. I think it deserves such a big shout out because the sentiments of Toby Fox (creator) and the game in itself are purely about creating an experience for people to enjoy.

By Imogen Mellor

Toby Fox

GAMING

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickgaming

Games of the Year

games of 2018. How many have you played?

2: Super Mario Party (Switch) If you’ve ever needed to ruin a friendship or induce a divorce, then Super Mario Party is the perfect game. If you play to win – and you should play to win – then you will have to at some point betray the trust of the people you hold most dear. Sure, it looks friendly, and Nintendo have put a big emphasis on co-operation (with the high-fiving mechanic being a typically cute inclusion), but it is about as brutal as games come. So why play it? If it is nothing but untold misery and heartbreak, why does it deserve to be ranked so high?

Simply put – there is no feeling on God’s green earth better than that of claiming sweet victory in Super Mario Party. After making a ‘Sophie’s choice’ between stealing coins from your dad or stealing coins from your girlfriend, you stand alone, victorious.

Gameplay-wise? It’s classic Mario Party. A board, some dice, a few minigames (which thankfully

27

Gaming at a Glance

strike a good balance between motion and button controls).

Hearthstone’s Rastakhan’s Rumble Released

“Nothing but untold misery and heartbreak”

Blizzard’s popular card game Hearthstone released its last expansion of the year, ‘Rastakhan’s Rumble’, adding over 100 cards into current play. Bound to shake up the way the game is played by casual and competitive players, players are excited to see the new meta decks that arise.

But what really makes this game special is despite the arguments and tension it creates, after every time I play it with someone new, they always ask me if they can play again. Few games seem to care about local multiplayer these days, so it’s nice to have a game that’s encourages you to sit round a TV with a group of mates again.

Even if it does sometimes end with someone’s head being put through the coffee table.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate The long anticipated addition to the Smash series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, is released today.

With an incredible amount of content added from previous games like character combinations and hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to play. Whether you want to play the story mode where you save all the Nintendo characters, as Kirby is the only one who survives, fans wait to see if this installment is all it’s hyped up to be.

By Alex Cirant-Taljaard

Just Cause 4 If any game was Michael Bay’s films personified, it’s the Just Cause franchise. The fourth installment was released on the 4th of December yet faces some criticism in that it plays and looks too similar to it’s predecessors.

Despite this, Just Cause 4 looks like it will be able to satisfy that demolition and destruction itch in many a gamer.

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Ga Matt Makes Games

Return of the Obra Dinn is my game of the year. Since playing the short demo three years ago, I’ve been super excited to play the full version. It’s a relief that the game didn’t disappoint, and even exceeded my initial expectations dramatically. Lucas Pope’s latest work began as an experiment in crafting a two-tone world that’s extremely striking at first glance and reminiscent of early Macintosh games. How the hell has he managed to cram so much detail in this 3D boat using only two colours? It’s absolutely nuts.

There’s a massive amount of interaction between the game’s limited systems. Using deductive reasoning and a stopwatch that shows you the moments of each crew member’s death, you have to work out the fates of the unfortunate crew of the Obra Dinn, piecing together a bunch of events in a non-linear fashion and taking note of extremely intricate details. It’s the best ‘detective’ game I’ve ever played, actually challenging the player to come to their own conclusions based on Nintendo

By Christopher Hall

1: Return of the Obra Dinn (PC)

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great assist mode so you can enjoy the game however you want.

It’s one of the best platformers and it’s definitely something you should play. There have been a few fantastic games in 2018 and Celeste is most certainly amongst them.

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In a year of some great releases, Celeste stands head and shoulders above almost everything else that came out this year. Its fantastic platforming, stellar soundtrack and lovely art style all make for a pretty great game. However, what really is surprising here is that the story is actually good. Certainly one of the best stories for the genre. A young girl is trying to climb a mountain but has to deal with her mental health issues as well, something handled in a relatable and empathetic way. It also works in harmony with the gameplay where you will find it difficult to get through each level and Madeline, the player character, will also share your struggle.

When it comes to level design, its excellent with nailing a balance between introducing new concepts and building on these concepts.

Along with brilliant movement options (making for a great game to speedrun) this means Celeste excels on a gameplay level.

Celeste achieves pretty much everything it strives for, almost without error. If you’re not so good at platformers, Celeste has a

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Red Dead Redemption 2 Online

the evidence. Many games, both indies and AAAs, have tried to make the player actually play the role of a grizzled problem-solver, understanding the situations put before them without hand-holding or convoluted tricks. Obra Dinn makes this work an absolute treat.

The only thing blocking you off from solving the mystery of the titular ship is your own Sherlockstyle observation and deduction.

It's bloody fantastic. Each fate you solve makes you feel like a super-smart-yet-troubled genius.

I’m not the only one who has praised this title, as Return of the Obra Dinn has been critically acclaimed across the board. I’ll always appreciate a great game not made by a huge studio, as they usually try to do something different. Return of the Obra Dinn is a prime example.

Return of the Obra Dinn is a triumph, and will remain lodged in my brain for years to come.

By James Law

As with other Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2’s online mode has gone live after weeks of the story mode of the game being released. Although online it is still in it’s initial beta phase, on the whole players have reported it as just as much fun, if not more fun, than the story mode. With very similar gameplay as the story mode, if you have enjoyed Red Dead so far, than the online mode is right up your street.

Redbrick Gaming Live Stream At 6pm on the 7th to the 8th of December, Redbrick Gaming will be taking part in a 24hr Gaming Live Stream in aid of a fantastic charity; Special Effect. We will be playing games of all genres and types at various levels of tiredness throughout the day. From Overwatch to Monster Prom and more! Come watch, donate or hang out with us then!

Special Effect is a fantastic charity who do wonderful work helping people with disabilities play video games, by developing and altering tech just for them! They find creative ways to help those who want to enjoy the gaming experience that we are so privileged to have every day. Tune in if you can!

- From The Gaming Team

FOOD&DRINK

28

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickfood

Festive Comfort Food and Wellbeing Food&Drink's Harriet Laban tells us why we can justify a few Tea extra roast potatoes during this Christmas season Fads Harriet Laban Food&Drink Writer

Laura Mosley Food&Drink Writer

To Sainsbury’s it seems nothing screams festive more than a Christmas dinner inspired tea.

Priced at only £1, the two foodbased flavours – pigs in blankets and Brussels sprouts – are an alternate spin on your typical winter warming treats. I tried this seasonal, meaty tea to see if I could get into the spirit.

I sampled the pigs in blankets flavour and was first struck by the interesting design of the box. The cover showcased a relaxed, sleepy pig underneath a blanket – pretty funny I guess as the pig itself seemed oblivious that the tea inside is advertised as a smoky ‘bacon’ sort of taste with sage and rosemary. Thankfully, as it is vegan, no pigs were harmed in the making of the tea. Their slumber may resume.

“[Like] I was drinking somebody’s leftover gravy” The smell of the teabags is overpowering and once I had left one to brew, the smell continued to get worse.

If Christmas is supposed to be joyful, this tea drinking experience was quite simply the opposite. Think Scrooge, if this Dickensian character had somehow managed to project his Christmas woe into tea. Although I am aware the tea itself, lapsang souchong, is supposed to be smoky, I thought that maybe I would be able to get more out of the cuppa than simply the feeling that I was drinking somebody’s leftover gravy. The tea is drinkable, although it would be better off poured onto a roast dinner than for dipping your bourbon in.

If you’re looking for budget and have incredibly low standards then this might be the Christmas tea for you. But if you actually have any regard for your taste buds then maybe treat yourself to something from Whittard this Christmas.

Lydia Waller

Chicken soup, chocolate, sticky toffee pudding – just some of the foods we turn to when we need some self-love. These are the dishes that we tend to crave when we are in need of an edible safety blanket; foods which are stodgy, carb-rich, and calorie-filled. They bring us feelings of warmth, safety, and nostalgic sentimentality when we need a reminder of happy times and the feeling of being cosseted. They are not necessarily the best for our bodies, but they create a warm glow in our hearts.

For many of us, the winter months have an effect on our moods which can have underlying influences on our overall wellbeing. The nights get longer, and we find ourselves seeing far fewer hours of daylight – especially if you don’t wake up until lunchtime! Colder weather and gloomy evenings can leave us feeling very low. For those with mental health problems, winter can worsen certain symptoms. It is at this time of year that many people start to turn to comfort food for a mood boost, and it is all too easy and quite normal to slip into bad habits when all you are thinking about is snuggling down.

Using comfort food to combat the winter blues can be helpful for all sorts of reasons; perhaps it

reminds you of warm, cosy evenings at home, or of dinner surrounded by family. What comfort foods overarchingly seem to substitute is exactly what the name says: comfort, a feeling of security, of emotional support, of a warm hug from someone close to you. The endorphin oxytocin is the same one released when eating our favourite chocolate as when getting a cuddle from a loved one.

Comfort foods are known to be social surrogates, a non-human experience which creates a feeling of connection within us. While at uni, it is very easy to turn to food instead of the people who can give you the attention you might need.

Food will always be there for you, especially as families are often

bring the instant gratification which many people substitute for real happiness. Only eating a wellbalanced, healthy diet can truly affect your mood in a positive way for an extended period of time.

However, comfort food can fight against feelings of loneliness, due to the associations we often hold with the people we care about most. This can be a great thing, especially if you are an international student. Eating a dish from your home country can make you feel a little closer to those you left behind when you came to the UK to study. It can help the time go by faster before you return home.

Comfort food has both its joys and its downfalls.

The crucial thing to remember is to eat it in moderation. Munching down an entire tray of brownies can certainly have the opposite effect to what is desired, leaving you feeling bloated and worse for wear.

However, a homemade goody or two never hurt anybody, and is unlikely to have any lasting ill-effect.

Honey Coach Ask yourself, can eating an entire batch of baked goods make you feel any better ing can veil deeper issues. These than you did before? If it can’t, need to be addressed, especially if then remember that it is important comfort eating becomes compul- to share your concerns, and even seek professional advice. Food on sive.

Believing that comfort food its own is not life changing; a difcan improve your mood and help ferent mindset towards it can be. your mental health long term is certainly a mistake. Chocolate biscuits, sponge puddings and crisps hundreds of miles away, or when your friends are caught up in their assignments.

Unfortunately, eating these foods can often do more damage than good. Instead of seeking help, many people reach for the foods which bring them most comfort. It is very easy to eat your feelings but not do anything more practical to sort them out. When used as a coping mechanism, comfort eat-

Cruelty-Free Christmas Food Food&Drink Writer Josie Hart questions whether vegetarians and vegans are losing Christmas traditions in their dietary choices Josie Hart Food&Drink Writer

Owning up to being vegetarian or vegan around Christmas time usually results in a bombardment of, ‘It’s not really Christmas without the turkey, though’ or ‘You must take a day off for Christmas’. With vegan/vegetarianism on the rise in light of environmental and ethical concerns, the debate has arisen over whether skipping the pigs in blankets or turkey means the Christmas tradition is lost.

In recent years, food and drink have taken centre stage in the debate surrounding whether Christmas tradition is deteriorating. Take, for example, the scandal over the Starbucks plain red cup.

Controversy erupted when Starbucks announced that they would be serving their festive drinks in plain red cups to promote inclusivity. This shows how passionately some feel that food and drink play a major role in Christmas tradition. But with the spirit of

Christmas and family in mind, it can be hard to see why a nut roast should cause controversy at the dinner table.

Asking a sample of students on the University of Birmingham campus whether missing the meat means you are not having an entirely traditional Christmas, it was found that most could accept " the fact that p e o p l e should be able to adapt as they wish, while most noted they would still stick to the meat to make the most of a traditional Christmas dinner. But what does it really mean to have a ‘traditional’ Christmas? If you were to speak to a range of families around the world about their Christmas day antics, it’s inevitable that there

would be vast variations in the chosen proceedings. Even in the UK, each person seems to have different ideas about how Christmas is done. Despite it being unlikely that anyone truly takes in a summary of a year after a few glasses of celebratory bubbly, some would say watching the Queen’s speech is a Christmas day essential, whilst others are indifferent or unaware of it being on. Similarly, some may not let a Christmas pass without Brussels sprouts, " whilst others may deem them too repulsive to even have on the table. With this in mind, can we determine a right and wrong way to do a traditional Christmas meal?

Even the stereotypical traditional Christmas meal has changed

Even the stereotypical traditional Christmas meal has changed over time

over time. It wasn’t until the 20th century that turkey started to be considered characteristic of a traditional Christmas dinner. Before this, pheasant or goose pies could be found on the table at a Christmas dinner. If ideas of a traditional Christmas dinner have changed in the past, who’s to say that a nut roast, alongside non-vegetarian options, couldn’t become an essential for an inclusive Christmas meal?

Nevertheless, some stay strong with the belief that Christmas is not Christmas without the stereotypically traditional Christmas dinner. Even some vegetarians choose to go flexitarian for the day for the sake of maintaining tradition. Regardless of whether you go for a veggie option or are adamant on a traditional bird with all the cuts and trimmings, one tradition that’s non-negotiable and here to stay, is that Christmas Day is to be spent enjoying quality time with loved ones. So maybe pass on the judgement next time someone opts for a meat-free meal.

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbrickfood

29

Selly Sainsbury’s: The Place to Stock Up Let Christmas This Christmas?

Food&Drink Editors Emily Calder Be-Gin and Lydia Waller review Selly Oak's newest superstore Emily Calder & Lydia Waller Food&Drink Editors

Open as of the 21st November and ten years in the making, Selly Oak’s newest superstore could not have opened its doors at a better time. The new Sainsbury’s hosts an ‘experimental’ format which is packed to the brim with ways for shoppers to stock up for the festive season. Food&Drink’s editors visited the gleaming new superstore to see just how impressive its set up and range of products would be compared to other local supermarkets, and check out the long-awaited flagship ‘food court.’

The store all in all is extremely impressive – not only is it huge in size, but we were struck instantly by both its vast range of food products and its clean and tidy organisation. We initially ventured into the notably vast ‘chilled range’ which stocked a wider variety of products than either of us had seen in a supermarket previously. With range of vegetables expanding to obscure ‘kalettes’ and ‘buttonhole kale,’ and over 30 types of olive in one fridge section, there is no shortage of exotic fruits and vegetables. Additionally striking is the extensive range of vegetarian and vegan options, including not only products from ‘Fry’s’ and other renowned plantbased brands, but a wide selection of better-priced Sainsbury’s own branded products.

Whilst the generic chilled section is extremely useful and will have shoppers filling their baskets with foods that they may struggle to find elsewhere, venturing into the ‘cupboard’ section revealed more delights. As a lactose-intolerant individual, I found the FreeFrom section to be larger than in other supermarkets and it included festive delights such as gingerbread men and advent calendars, as well as generic pastas, baked goods and breads. Sainsbury’s also caters to the health-fanatics with a stunningly detailed ‘Health Section.’ The aisle is bright and well organised, with sections for ‘Sports Nutrition’ encompassing a range of protein powders and supplements, alongside a fridge filled with protein shakes.

Further down the aisle one can find a ‘Wellness at Home’ section encompassing medication-related needs, and (our personal favourite) a ‘Seeds and Teas’ section which offers a range of herbal teas and health foods. Alongside this, the ‘beauty’ section of the store is also well-equipped to rival Boots or Superdrug, stocking brands

such as L’Oreal, Collection and Revlon and an entire section dedicated to false eyelashes.

In keeping with the festive season, the superstore additionally provides a wide selection of reasonably priced stocking fillers that could be perfect ‘Secret Santa’ gifts; furthermore, Christmas-lovers can browse a wide range of miniature Christmas trees and decorations. Shoppers also benefit from an impressive range of Christmas foods designed to cater for all, with Christmas Dinner supplies and tips bookended onto every aisle. Those looking to stock up on booze for the festive season may also wish to visit the alcohol aisle to browse a wide selection of craft beers and spirits.

The gin range is especially impressive!

In terms of catering, the ‘deli’ section of the store is both big and beautiful. Shoppers can take food home to heat up for a quick meal, choosing from a classic ‘antipasti’ section, curries, pizza and hot chicken. The prices were additionally fairly reasonable, with a tikka masala priced at £3.50 and bombay potatoes at £1.50. The nearby patisserie also looked extremely appealing as it boasted hand-finished cakes and products from Patisserie Valerie.

Whilst the Patisserie Valerie products were admittedly more pricey, the patisserie also offered a range of Sainsbury’s own branded bakes at a more reasonable price. As well as a Sushi Bar and hot pizza to go, shoppers may also head for the ‘food court’ in which they can choose from Chinese food, Indian food, a generic supermarket kitchen and a coffee shop.

The range here is unlike anything either of us had seen in supermarkets before, and the large seating area was quiet and had plug sockets; Sainsbury’s may therefore be a hidden gem for a quick meal during deadlines.

Although the superstore was ‘super’ in every sense of the word, it did fall short in a few categories. Primarily, our expectations of the food court. There was a lot of anticipation built up in the 10 years of the shop’s making that there was going to be an exclusive food court to give this retail novelty the extra wow factor. As BirminghamLive quoted, it is ‘Sainsbury’s first eat-in food market,’ which circulated much excitement around its opening.

However, the most disappointing factor proved to be the food court. When we arrived to see the options, we came across a large, colourful and clean seating area, surrounded by 3 catering options: ‘Fresh Kitchen’ of Sainsbury’s, ‘Wok Street’ and ‘Taste of India.’

Issy Campbell All three of these kitchens had minimal choice on display, in what is arguably a peak time for weekly shopping, on a Monday after work. Many of the hot options appeared to have been left out for hours under the hot lights, particularly the Fresh Kitchen’s ‘turkey dinner,’ which was almost congealed in its own gravy.

Everything on Fresh Kitchen’s counter looked not so fresh and quite frankly, school-dinneresque.

Bearing in mind the aim of supermarket food courts is to provide a convenient (in nature and price), nice and easy eating option for the flustered shopper, a cold turkey dinner with no stuffing or pigs in blankets left, or branded curry or rice bowl for approximately £7 each, is not really ideal.

You are probably better off getting a cake and coffee, although the cakes averaged at £3.65 because they were from Patisserie Valerie, or going to Sainsbury’s own deli counter and taking a freshly made curry or pie home and eating it from the comfort of your own home, not the sad canteen with one hot wok dish left stewing unde the hot lights.

Not only this, but there were minimal vegetarian, let alone vegan and dairy/gluten free options, on all the counters. Being a vegetarian I was left with a veggie chilli jacket and salad for £3.80 and Emily the two last sausages of the day and lukewarm chips heated up with a lashing of gravy for about £4.00; filling and satisfying for the price but not exactly the choice and quality the exclusivity of this store’s food court was advertising.

We could not fault the extensive range, full stock and organisation of the store itself, only point out the obvious that it is a bit of a walk out of the way for those living in the heart of Selly high-street and a little more expensive for the daily shop, when the UoB student’s trusty friend and provider Aldi is just down the road.

It appears, quite naturally, that this store is more for the local working families, to get everything they need for the cupboard to the household to the wardrobe in one place and it works tremendously for that purpose. It also works for the student, too, but more so if you are looking for a particular ingredient, FreeFrom or dietary requirement foods, especially if you have people with these needs at your flat Christmas dinner. In that case it is definitely worth the walk to get everything you need for a cracking flat roast this Christmas.

Deputy Editor

While mulled wine has always been a drink to celebrate the Christmas festivities, it has new competition: hot gin. Coined by Sipsmith Gin, this hot gin is the latest winter-warmer.

But Hendricks have caught onto the craze too and now offer their very own version of hot gin.

Sipsmith are offering what is an amazingly fresh twist on the popular drink for both students and non-students alike: Hot G&Ts. Unlike mulled wine, Hot G&Ts are not as typically found and you might not find it in every single market or on offer in every bar this winter, but that is only because it’s so unique. If you can’t wait to try and find a Sipsmith spot that is offering these winter cocktails, you can actually make them for yourself at home. They are perfect for cosy nights in, dinner parties and definitely will work at quite literally any time on Christmas day. You are able to get your hands on all the ingredients needed to make a Hot G&T via the Sipsmith website, where they also give you the instructions. With only 4 ingredients and 4 steps, it is also far easier than you think.

Ingredients: 50 ml of Sipsmith gin 25 ml of tonic syrup Hot water Orange twist (for a garnish) Method: 1) Add the gin and tonic syrup together in a mug or heatproof glass 2) Stir well 3) Add hot water 4) Add the orange twist to garnish And yes, you read that right, tonic syrup. But, don’t let this put you off, the syrup is needed in order to create a Hot G&T to keep the taste that so many of us adore.

If you are not that keen on G&T normally or perhaps you have a sweeter tooth, why not try the Gingerbread Hot G&T? The only difference is the syrup used. A bit sweeter in taste, and arguably more festive too, it offers another unique aspect to the cocktail. Both tonic syrups can be pre-ordered from the Sipsmith website now.

However, if the Sipsmith cocktail isn’t quite taking your fancy, then perhaps Hendricks’ version will. Their ‘Hot Gin Old Fashioned’ is fairly similar to the Hot G&T, with the same warming and fairly strong taste. Whilst their hot gin is not exactly a ‘twist’ on the G&T, rather a sweeter cocktail, it can definitely still be a great mulled wine alternative.

Ingredients: 50 ml of Hendrick’s Gin 10 ml sugar syrup 3 dashes of Orange Bitters 50 ml of boiling water Method: 1) Gently heat all three ingredients in a pan 2) Add the boiling water and stir well 3) Serve in a teacup or tankard with orange garnish They too also offer a more festive-inspired option called the ‘Hot Spiced Apple.’ Arguably harder to create as it does require more ingredients and spices, but the method is again fairly straightforward. Both the recipes, ingredients and methods can be found on their website.

Really, all it comes down to is your preference for gins and if you prefer sweeter cocktails or not. For me, the Sipsmith Hot G&T with Gingerbread syrup is the winner here. It is unique in flavour, but not as herbal as the original option. Hot gin is definitely in this winter, and when it is so easy to make there is really no excuse not to give it a try at home yourself.

Sipsmith

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TRAVEL

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricktravel

Spending Christmas Abroad Travel Writer Carrie Gerard shares her thoughts on travelling during the festive season and how it can be an eye-opening experience Carrie Gerard Travel Writer

For some people, the thought of spending Christmas abroad must be bizarre. If you are away for the holiday season, you’ll miss out on all of your family’s Christmas traditions: you won’t get to walk the dog on Christmas day, you won’t get to eat your grandma’s roast dinner or play drunken card games with your cousins and you definitely won’t be able to watch the Queen’s speech or the Doctor Who Christmas special. If going away for the holidays means that you miss out on everything you love about Christmas, than why on earth would you go?

“Three of the usual traditions of Christmas - family, decorations and presents - were missing from my Christmas day” It’s true, being away for the holiday season can be hard. I spent the last academic year studying abroad in Canada and in some ways my Christmas felt noticeably un-festive. Spending Christmas abroad meant celebrating without my family. Although I squeezed in a couple of Skype calls with

home, Christmas Day was mainly spent with university friends. As my friends and I were staying in an Airbnb for the season, we did not have festive decorations or a Christmas tree. Plus, as a group of relatively broke students who were spending all their money trying to stay afloat in Canada, we did not exchange presents either. Three of the usual traditions of Christmas – family, decorations and presents – were missing from my Christmas Day. And yet I wouldn’t have changed it in the slightest.

Christmas spent abroad is an eye-opening experience. Seeing how different cultures celebrate, or don’t celebrate, the festive season is invaluable. Christmas is surprisingly different in every country, even amongst Western societies which share a similar culture. In Canada I had a genuine ‘white Christmas’, and for some of my Australian exchange friends it was the first time they had seen snow. I was lucky enough to spend Christmas day on the ski slopes, followed by a trip to a snowy outdoor hot tub - things that are simply impossible to do in England! However, for my friend who did a year abroad in Melbourne, Australia, it was hot.

30 degree weather meant that Christmas Day was spent at the beach playing volleyball, followed by a BBQ Christmas dinner cooked on the balcony (Tim Minchin’s song ‘White Wine in the Sun’ finally makes sense). These two versions of Christmas Day could not look more different.

If you travel to Asia, Christmas might even be unrecognizable.

Two years ago I spent Christmas

in Myanmar, a country that is 85% Buddhist and where the holiday is barely acknowledged at all. Yet in Japan, despite the fact that it has such a small Christian population, the season has undergone huge commercialisation.

Christmas Day sees people lining up outside KFC after a marketing campaign in the 70s convinced the Japanese population that this is what Westerners eat for their Christmas dinner. Anywhere you go in the world, Christmas is going to look profoundly different – and this is why going abroad at this time of year is so enticing.

“Christmas is suprisingly different in every country, even amongst Western societies which share a similar culture” Believe it or not, there is more than one way to celebrate this holiday, and seeing how the rest of the world does is an enlightening experience.

As universities increase their mobility each year, more and more students are studying abroad. You never know – you might be having your own international Christmas soon.

TRAVEL

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricktravel

31

The Alternative Fireworks Experience Maddie Bourne Travel Writer

Anyone that’s attempted to crush themselves and risk injuring a body part for a chance to get their Christmas shopping done on Oxford Street in December knows just how ridiculously busy London’s main attractions can get over the festive period. Therefore, it’s no surprise that when contemplating watching the city’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display from the Southbank last year, a friend of mine exclaimed to me, ‘Noplease don’t do it!’.

Her reasoning for the panicked outburst: she’d been a couple of years back with her family, and they had all detested every second. Firstly, it’s likely to be minus temperatures and freezing, therefore the festive party outfit will have to be swapped for thermals and a Michelin Man-esque getup, and secondly, attempting to catch a tube after a bout of Auld Lang Syne with all the other revellers would make even a lover of tight spaces incredibly claustrophobic.

However, each year when you pop on the TV to watch the cele-

brations unfold as time hurtles towards midnight, thousands continue to crowd the banks of the Thames to link arms and ‘ooh ahh’ at the fireworks shooting from the London Eye. One attendee took to review site, Tripadvisor, commenting that they had a ‘great time’ and that the ‘atmosphere was fantastic’. They ‘got chatting to people from all around the world including Brazil, Holland, Spain and Italy’. Something that strikes special with the London fireworks display is that you find yourself in a community of strangers, all bonding over this mutual entering a new year. That’s a special quality about the human race: we all come from varying backgrounds, with differing life experiences, but we can bond over some sparkles in the sky and the promising hope of another 365 days. Although the event is now ticketed, in an effort to stop so many people from turning up and creating a security risk to the evening, it’s not stopped thousands upon thousands getting involved in the festivities.

If the chance to watch the fireworks from the banks of the Thames is your thing, tickets for the 2018 display cost £10 and you

can book up to four per person, via websites such as See Tickets.

There are six viewing areas for the event- Blue, Red, Pink, Green, White and the Accessible Viewing Area. There are also multiple entrances and exits – you must choose one when booking your ticket, to maximise your best chances of getting to your selected tube stations before they shut due to safety proceedings. Now, the cost of these tickets actually seems reasonable: we often pay to watch our local Bonfire Night celebrations, so it isn’t much more to see arguably one of the best, if not the best, fireworks display the UK has to offer. The meaning behind making people pay also seems reasonable: in order to maximise the event for those who really want to go, it cuts out those who wouldn’t be willing to pay, and therefore would be less fussed about attending. Cutting down numbers should equate to easier routes to travel home.

Nonetheless, the panicked words of my peer may ring in your head as you hover over the ‘checkout’ button. That certainly happened to me. Therefore, I propose the ‘Alternative London Fireworks Experience’.

Last year, to see in the New Year, I stuck my head out the balcony of an Ibis hotel in Wembley as the city lit up. With Wembley Stadium situated to my left, and a view of a diddy London Eye, Shard, Gherkin and Houses of Parliament in the distance, not only did I get to witness the fireworks display in miniature town scale, I got to witness the vast city explode in technicolour. Local houses, other venues, whole communities and football pitches took their turns to celebrate the new year, and I got to watch it all from

above, in the comfort of my fluffy pyjamas and plastic cup of Prosecco, on the thirteenth floor.

There were no crowds; no standstill tubes; no police officers to remind of the constant threat on security. Just myself and my boyfriend, a quiet hotel room, and a rainbow London. The hotel room probably cost less than the New Year’s tickets, extortionate prices of booze and tube tickets combined. Whichever way you choose to see in the New Year, make sure it’s the right way for you.

Chris Chabot

Britain's Best Christmas Markets Sorcha Hornett Social Secretary

Christmas markets are the perfect way to get into the festive spirit, here is a round-up of the best markets from around the UK that aren’t too far from Birmingham:

workshop there is something for everybody. But, be warned it can be a fairly expensive trip, yet it will without a doubt get you in the festive spirit!

Bath The Bath Christmas Market is only around for 18 days in total (November 22nd – December

Blackout_Photography

host Edinburgh’s traditional Christmas market, and with it lasting until early January you can stretch your festive celebrations well into the new year. The market offers a unique shopping experience with plenty of crafters, artists and gift shops along with a big wheel and a Star Flyer chair ride. Alongside the market is the Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar, a twofloor bar that will serve lots of different whisky cocktails and hot toddies to keep you warm after wandering the Christmas market.

Manchester If you’re looking for variety then Manchester delivers exactly that. There’s a European market in Albert Square, a German-style market at St Ann’s square and French-themed stalls at King Street, so whatever you’re in the David Dixon

London London seems like an obvious place to visit when searching for the perfect Christmas market as it’s only around an hour and a half by train and there are so many different options. Check out the Southbank Centre Winter Market (November 9th-December 27th) which has a hideaway serving cheese-themed food and a bar selling spicy mulled wine and cider which promises to be your classic traditional Nordicinspired market. If you’re feeling a bit extra, then Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland (November 22nd – January 6th) is perfect for you. With a big wheel, ice skating, circus shows, an ice bar, comedy clubs and an ice sculpting

9th) and features over 180 fairylight heavy stalls set up in the beautiful Georgian streets. Nearly everything is either sourced or made locally so you’ll be supporting Bath’s small businesses – there is something for everyone, from ceramics to personalised gifts. The market is also going green this year as decorations will be made using recycled plastic bags and bottles, and not to mention there will be plenty of food stalls and lots of mulled wine to keep you warm. With trains to Bath from Birmingham under two hours, you can definitely make a day trip out of it.

Edinburgh East Princes St Gardens will

mood for you can find it here.

Alongside the markets there is also fairground rides in Cathedral gardens and food stalls at every location. Make sure to try the Yorkshire Pudding wraps, mulled gin and Dutch frites. The market at St Ann’s square was Europe’s most instagrammed Christmas market last year, so you know you can count on getting that perfect Instagram too.

Brighton If you’re looking for something different this Christmas, then Brighton has you covered. This year, over three weekends in November and December, local artists will be opening up their homes, studios and workshops to sell their products directly to shoppers under the Artists Open Houses scheme. This community

event includes artists with learning disabilities, ones that have experienced homelessness, established professional artists, as well as young and emerging ones.

If you’re looking to purchase a quirky Christmas present, then head down to Brighton to find something just that little bit different.

“These markets offer everything and are the perfect place to get into the festive spirit” Birmingham Finally, make sure to visit the wonderful Frankfurt Christmas Market right here in Birmingham, which has been running for over fifteen years. It is one of the largest German markets around and takes over the whole of Victoria Square. They serve lots of traditional German cuisine and beverages including pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts, glühwein and weissbeer, along with the usual favourites like mulled wine and waffles. There is also a big wheel, which gives you perfect views over Birmingham, and an ice rink. There will also be a market at Birmingham Cathedral on Colmore Row which will have a whole range of locally sourced gifts and food.

Depending on what you’re looking for, these markets offer everything and are the perfect place to get into the festive spirit this Christmas.

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LIFE&STYLE

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricklife

On the Fifth Day of Christmas Life&Style Gave To Me...

Five Ways to Give Sustainably Life&Style's Marie Millwood shares tips on how to keep festive spirits high and carbon footprints low in the upcoming holiday season Marie Millwood Life&Style Writer

‘Sustainability’ is the current buzz-word of the media. Wherever we click or read, we are faced with gloomy facts and figures about the deteriorating state of our planet that can leave us feeling helpless, especially around Christmas and New Year - a time of celebrationg and looking to the future.

Of course, as a country we should be making a huge collective effort to improve the environment. But smaller-scale changes made by individuals should also not be underestimated in terms of the difference they can make.

Christmas is a particularly important time to do so. There are a few easy ways you can do this. Mindful gift-giving impacts not only your own footprint, but can inspire others too. In the long-term, this could help shift society away from the current culture of materialism and disposability.

So, without further ado, here are five ways to be more sustainable this holiday season.

The Hidden Gems of Charity Shops A simple way to save money and be eco-friendly is to embrace charity shops. While you might have to be prepared to do some digging, the significantly cheaper prices make this worthwhile.

What’s more, you can rest easy knowing that you are doing your bit for the planet by reducing the number of unwanted goods that go to landfill, while simultaneously donating to a charitable cause. You can also be sure that whatever you find will likely be

unique: a full length zebra print dressing gown? Sign me up. Two unopened inflatable sumo suits for £10? Yes. A super long replica of the 4th Doctor’s scarf? Take my money. And if you so desire to buy something new, try to do your Christmas shopping from independent stores - buying locally not only helps businesses in your community, but also limits your carbon footprint. Remember, quality over quantity also applies to Christmas.

Store in Style This year, reusable food and drink containers have become more and more trendy. Brands such as Chilly’s, Thermos and KeepCup are selling insulated food pots, reusable straws, water bottles and coffee cups with a selection of decorations to suit any taste. So why not treat your friend to a

Sustainable Contra Costa Network

Clean Giving Other gifts that will help your friends in their own efforts to be sustainable are long-lasting toiletries in eco-friendly packaging.

Bars of organic soap are great smelling stocking fillers and are packaged in decorative recycled paper.

Shampoo bars are also a unique gift that come without any plastic packaging. They are also often made of all natural ingredients and minimal preservatives even more reason to make the switch from bottle to bar in your self-care routine.

If the people you are buying for are not into ‘smelly stuff,’ how about some personalised cotton handkerchiefs, a reusable razor handle or some face cloths as an alternative to disposable makeup wipes?

Pink Peppermint Design

To Wrap Up Now, what to wrap this all up in?

It may be a surprise that normal wrapping paper is rarely recycled since most have a thin layer of plastic film to increase their durability which means it cannot be recycled. It must also be completely free from Sellotape and have no glitter or foil embellishments - a rarity at Christmas time.

Recycled wrapping paper can be found in some select boutiques, but it will probably end up costing

more than your present budget!

Simple brown paper tied with string or festive ribbon can achieve a simplistic, yet classy look. Old maps can also be found very cheaply in charity shops – I picked up six vintage OS maps of France for 20p in place of wrapping paper this year. Another option if you are feeling fancy could be to wrap the gift in fabric offcuts, which can add a unique touch to a gift.

snazzy water bottle they can feel proud to pull out in a lecture, instead of that squashed old orange juice bottle they use again and again? These items might be pricier, but a gift like this is particularly great as it will cut down on damaging plastic waste.

Pink Peppermint Design

Parties Over Presents A way to ensure a memorable Christmas while doing your bit to combat materialism is to boycott traditional gift giving in favour of a party or other social event, such as a dinner party, wine and cheese night or game night. Gather a group of friends together and agree that instead of presents for each other, you will all make contributions to said social gathering, such as decorations, food, drinks, games or films. This way, you will have a chance to make mem-

ories with friends which will probably long outlast a present that will likely be forgotten about within a few months. Alternatively, experiences make excellent presents and are great for those people who insist they do not want any more ‘stuff.’ From spa days or afternoon tea, to bungee jumping or quad-biking, hundreds of different ideas can be found on websites such as Virgin Experience Days and Red Letter Days.

You may say ‘why bother?’ But the amount of waste produced over the festive season is staggering. In fact, 300,000 tonnes of card packaging and 227,000 miles

of wrapping paper is thrown away, most of which will end up in a landfill. So now is as good a time as any to live and give a little greener.

LIFE&STYLE

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricklife

33

Meghan Markle: Is Being a Hollywood Star a Fashion Faux Pas? As the newest member of the royal family, Markle is subjected to countless rules and regulations when it comes to her wardrobe. But are they outdated and unecessary?

Romana Essop Life&Style Writer

Since her highly anticipated and celebrated engagement to Prince Harry, some have noticed a change in Meghan Markle’s style, claiming it has become more conservative and traditional. Prior to the announcement of her engagement just over a year ago, the actress frequently posed on the red carpet in strapless mini dresses and classy trousers alike. But with her new title, the Duchess of Sussex seems to avoid these looks. Fans presume this is not out of Markle’s choice, but rather is a result of her newly acquired stylists and advisors who are keen to adhere to royal expectations.

Yet, it seems that Markle’s personal fashion tastes have still had too much influence on her public appearances, as she has reportedly been told to stop dressing ‘like a Hollywood star’ and ‘start dressing like a royal.’ Her supposed shift towards a more traditional wardrobe is apparently not enough to meet the expectations of the royal family.

This is perhaps confusing that she is subjected to criticism from her new family, amidst contradictory praise and admiration from much of the British public. Global

fashion brand website ‘Lyst’ named her the third biggest fashion influencer of 2018 (only behind Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner), which suggests that she is idolised for her style regardless of whether she is subverting royal expectations or not.

Whilst there are undoubtedly adaptations Markle will have needed to make in her adjustment to royal life, are these criticisms of her fashion sense too harsh? Is it not enough that she is adored for her charity work and engage-

ment with the public? It is true that she has a much larger following now than before she was involved with Prince Harry, and she is now regarded as a very different type of ‘celebrity,’ with much more responsibility and influence. But the importance of how figure-hugging or ‘unfeminine’ her wardrobe choices are is to be debated.

After the announcement of her and Prince Harry’s engagement, Meghan’s characteristics were largely celebrated and welcomed

Getty Images

for their atypicality compared to other members of the royal family – her age, her race, her status as a divorcee. We must therefore question why her supposedly unconventional, individual and modern dress sense should not be equally celebrated. Is it not about time the ‘traditional’ royal fashion began to shift?

“Markle could be the perfect pioneer for a royal transition to popular style” Given that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have already begun to change stereotypical perceptions of the royal family by increasing close engagement with the public and various charities, Markle could be the perfect pioneer for a royal transition to popular style. This is an especially promising opportunity since Harry and Meghan have been voted the most relatable members of the royal family; a sense of public approval which perhaps could be furthered by the Princess’ display of an on-trend and genuine choice

of clothing. By contrast, sticking to the rigid restrictions of a ‘royal’ wardrobe could dangerously create a sense of distance between Markle and the British public; associating the royals with a certain level of entitlement and difference.

Besides, claims that she is dressing too much like a ‘Hollywood star’ are perhaps unfair given that this was her legitimate career before she gave up acting to focus on charitable work and her duties as Britain’s newest princess. We can presume that her Hollywood style was created from her own interests in fashion, and thus was a conscious personal choice from day to day.

Can requests for Markle to change her style be more widely regarded as requests for her to change herself?

What’s more, the Duchess’ established position as a feminist and advocate for gender equality is unlikely to make her content to comply when the Queen insists that she avoid wearing suits and jeans. It would be a shame to see Markle’s passions and beliefs silenced by the family she happened to marry into, and so I hope that she agrees when I say: it is time that rules and labels stopped determining what we wear, so wear what you damn well please.

Out with the Push-up and In with Au Naturel

Life&Style writer Elizabeth Winter discusses how modern day women are redefining female sexuality through resisting the patriarchal push-up bra Elizabeth Winter Life&Style Writer

In recent fashion, the hoisted, corset-style cleavage as a representation of femininity has been replaced by the less rigid, natural silhouette of the female body. The sale of push-up bras has declined dramatically over the past year, specifically by 45 percent in the second half of 2017, being replaced by its modern, more comfortable contender of the bralette, and other unwired and unpadded alternatives.

Despite the primary focus of a bra being to provide support and comfort, since the introduction of the Wonderbra in 1964, bras quickly became sexualised as to create a centrefold for the male gaze. In recent years, however, sales of the push-up bra have diminished: women are refusing to succumb to the heteronormative ideal of ‘feminine’ sexuality. Instead, these women are either going braless or opting for the more comfortable styles, a relaxed alternative to its padded, restrictive predecessor.

Defined as the bra without wires, the bralette and its radical growth have disrupted half a century of patriarchal influence over women’s underwear. Combining the comfort of a sports bra with the details of intricate design, it achieves the primary goals of a bra whilst resisting outdated ideals of sexuality.

“Redefining what is sexy outside the bounds of the male gaze” The push-up bra has long produced an image of falsity for women, displaying the female body in a light that is not real, placing women in a position where they must contort to please those around them. But in response to these changing times, brands like Calvin Klein, Urban Outfitters and ASOS have been offering simpler, sportier style bras focused on comfort and body positivity, adapting

to the demands of this day and age.

When discussing the issue of the push-up bra, it is impossible to ignore Victoria’s Secret, whose brand has been built upon selling a fantasy to women and creating bras designed to mimic surgical procedures. Today, in an era where body positivity promotes individual beauty that is not defined by societal expectations, Victoria’s

Secret faces a problem. Namely, many women are outgrowing the falsity that fuels its campaigns.

Despite the free-the-nipple campaign, popularity in going braless, and the general growing female empowerment in the fashion industry, the company has continued to sell unnatural looking cleavage as the ideal to women.

The 2018 Victoria’s Secret fashion show demonstrated this exact refusal to adapt. Ironically, many of its models, such as Kendall Jenner, publicly flaunt their natural figures and sport the no-bra look; yet simultaneously strut along the catwalk in enhancing push-up bras.

Already in the frontline as lacking acceptance of the female body in all its differences, Victoria’s Secret has continued to be scrutinised for their constrained presentations of women. The company even goes so far as to flaunt their ‘fantasy’ bra as the centrepiece for each show. Perhaps they are unaware of the irony that this material conceptualisation of ‘fantasy’ is in fact becoming less and less the fantasy of the modern day

woman.

Despite the mixed messages of some of the Victoria’s Secret models, celebrities like Lady Gaga act as an empowering figure to advocate for the braless look. In her October Vogue cover she leans towards the camera in a low-cut dress, but her cleavage is in its natural position. She is seen through a lens where her natural beauty is at the forefront.

Women nowadays are redefining what is sexy outside the bounds of the male gaze, and the decline of the push up bra is just one example of this. But beyond this, women are standing up to societal expectations and wearing whichever bra they so wish, amidst a movement towards placing femininity in the hands of the individual to define.

The decline of the push-up bra reinforces the concept that female existence is more than whatever bodily features a Wonderbra can create. Tracing the evolution of the bra tells us a lot about feminist history and explains why the bralette is thriving during a time when politics and style are increasingly intertwined.

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SCI&TECH

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricktech

International Space Station Turns 20 Will Nunn

Sci&Tech Writer

The 20th of November marked the 20th Anniversary of the International Space Station (ISS) beginning construction with the launch of the Russian Zarya module in 1998. This was shortly followed by the American Unity module, setting in motion a 13 year long construction effort with contributions from 16 nations.

Following fierce competition for dominance in space by Russia and the US during the Cold War, the ISS stands as a symbol of scientific ambition and international cooperation.

It is widely stated that the ISS is the single most expensive object ever built, with the cost of construction and operation as of 2010 being estimated at $150 billion.

The intent of the program, and the reason for all that expense, is to provide a permanent scientific

base in space from which unique research can be carried out. The station features extensive scientific facilities, with exterior sensors and interior laboratory space equipped for a broad range of measurement and investigation.

Though building such a well equipped laboratory would be possible (and far easier!) on Earth, recreating the microgravity experienced on the station would not.

These conditions allow unique data to be collected.

In April 2013 the station’s cosmic ray detector, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), made observations which supported the theory of dark matter.

This theory was first proposed in the 1930s and suggests that socalled dark matter accounts for around 23% of the mass of the universe. The substance is unobservable, it does not reflect or absorb light, and would supposedly not be composed of protons and neutrons like the rest of mat-

ter as we know it.

Matter, in the everyday sense, is composed of subatomic particles; namely protons, neutrons and electrons. These particles each have antimatter forms which are annihilated upon colliding with matter particles. The AMS detected far fewer electrons than it did their antimatter equivalent positrons, coming from all directions. This suggested these particles did not originate from specific places, but instead from dark matter all over the universe.

Perhaps the most significant findings the ISS has provided opportunity for have explored the impact of long term space flight on human beings. Many astronauts have spent considerable periods in space. Last year Peggy Whitson returned from the ISS, following 289 days in space (665 over her whole career). Time spent in space results in a reduction of bone density and muscle mass due to the lack of strain from

gravity. To counteract this, astronauts are required to spend two hours a day exercising.

60% of astronauts who spend over 6 months in space experience worsening eyesight. This is caused by a buildup of spinal fluid behind the eyeball distorting its shape, future studies will look into designs for glasses or contact lenses to counteract this problem.

These issues tend to go away upon their return to the surface.

Studies into the impact of long term space flight provide crucial knowledge to assist in the next steps of space travel: long term settlement on the moon and then on to Mars.

100 years ago the mere existence of the ISS would have been unimaginable. That it is possible, has been built and expands human understanding as it does is a testament to science’s curiosity, human ingenuity and our ambition as a species.

Wikimedia Commons

Coffee to the Bitter End

Investigating a possible genetic explanation for your preference for tea or coffee Farhana Alam Sci&Tech Writer

Drinking a cup of tea has long been considered a quintessentially British custom, but this image has become endangered by an increasing preference for mugs of coffee.

It would be easy to explain this change by the influence of the USA, especially TV sitcoms, or by the globalisation of coffee brands. However, new research indicates that genes controlling bitterness perception may play a role in a person’s preference for tea or coffee, as well as the quantity consumed.

The research was carried out by scientists collaborating across Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, USA, and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, and was published in Scientific Reports. Two sources of data were utilised, the first of which was a large twin

study in Australia. The second set of data came from the UK Biobank, which contains information collected from over 430,000 men and women in the UK, aged 37 to 73, between 2006–2010.

This includes genetic data, health information, and answers to questions on drinking habits. Data from the twin study showed that people of European ancestry have three specific variants of taste receptor genes, which result in an increased perception of bitterness from either caffeine (present in both coffee and tea), quinine (present in coffee and tonic water), or propylthiouracil (PROP, which is a hyperthyroidism medication, known to have a bitter taste).

Surprisingly, individuals genetically predisposed towards perceiving greater bitterness from caffeine showed an increase in coffee consumption and were 20% more likely to become heavy coffee-drinkers (more than four cups per day). They were also less likely to drink tea. Conversely,

those who perceived greater bitterness from quinine or PROP showed reduced coffee consumption, but an increased preference for tea, with a 4% or a 9% increased likelihood of being a heavy tea-drinker (more than five cups per day) respectively.

Interestingly, people who perceived greater bitterness from PROP exhibited decreased incidence of heavy alcohol consumption, especially red wine. This supports previous findings showing that heightened PROP perception is associated with a stronger perceived intensity of alcohol, with a consequent reduction in intake.

From an evolutionary perspective, the ability to perceive bitterness acts as a warning system, as many bitter substances are toxic to the human body. The researchers explain the paradoxical findings in terms of learned positive reinforcement behaviour, whereby a higher bitterness level of caffeine is associated with a bigger

psychostimulatory ‘hit’, resulting in increased coffee-seeking behaviour and intake. Quinine and PROP are both more bitter than caffeine; in fact, the bitterness of coffee is mainly due to quinine.

This may explain why people more sensitive to quinine or PROP have an aversion to the intense bitterness of coffee, but prefer the less bitter taste of tea.

Although statistically rigorous, the findings from this research should be taken with a pinch of salt (or sugar...), as the data on beverage consumption was based on self-reporting, which is prone to recall bias. Furthermore, the increase in coffee consumption observed with stronger caffeine perception was very small: only an average of 0.02–0.15 cups per day. Finally, as with many studies into genetic predispositions, these findings cannot necessarily be generalised to people of non-European descent.

Creature Feature: Pygmy Marmo-set for greatness

Wikimedia Commons

Kat Smith Deputy Editor

Pygmy marmosets (cebuella pygmaea) are the smallest monkey in the world, with adults weighing just 100g that’s a large tomato in non-scientific terms. Their home is the rainforests of South America but the size of the ‘pocket monkey’ makes them highly difficult to observe in their natural habitat.

These tiny monkeys have impressive communication skills, with 15 different calls in their vocabulary as well as their use of posture and facial expressions to interact with each other.

Perhaps more than any other monkey, they are connoisseurs of the tree.

Their specially developed teeth mean they can create holes in trees to obtain sap (the main component of their diet) while their long tails and sharp claws allow them to climb and balance with expert skill. Their low weight also allows them to dance up to the canopy treetops, out of predators’ way.

R e c e n t l y, scientists discovered that ‘pygmy marmoset’ is a name given to two species in South America, respectively residing north and south of the Amazon. It is unclear which variety of pygmy marmoset will keep its name.

Though their conservation status is at ‘least concern’, the biggest threat to pygmy marmosets is the pet trade. In fact, most search results include some mention of keeping the monkeys as pets.

Smaller than a hamster, the monkeys have become a symbol of wealth in China where they have been illegally bought for prices around $4,500. Baby pygmy marmosets can die from depression after being separated from their family.

The likes of the RSPCA are campaigning against having primates as pets, and hopefully in the future these stunning creatures will stop having to pay the price for their cuteness.

SCI&TECH

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricktech

The Dawn of Designer Babies Courtney Kousser Sci&Tech Writer

The possibility of creating specifically designed babies is a topic that has given rise to contentious ethical debate for decades. While selecting or editing embryos in favour of certain attributes may seem like a phenomenon of the distant future, the company Genomic Prediction in the United States has recently announced their advanced technology that would allow parents to screen for several complex traits, most controversially low intelligence. This process would give the option of excluding embryos during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) that have a high risk of having ‘mental disability,’ defined as an IQ of 25 points below average. While Genomic Prediction explicitly states that this will not be used to select for embryos with the potential for abnormally high intelligence, cofounder Stephen Hsu claims it is entirely feasible and states ‘I think people are going to demand that.

If we don’t do it, some other com-

pany will.’

The screening of embryos during IVF has gone on for decades, with tests able to determine single gene or chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s syndrome or cystic fibrosis. However, this new approach will allow for the prediction of conditions with multiple genetic risk factors. As embryonic DNA is notoriously unclear, the method enables the prediction of the entire genome by using the parents’ DNA and novel algorithms, with a 99% accuracy rate.

Genomic Prediction takes advantage of advances in DNA sequencing and machine learning to make risk prediction profiles for complex conditions and traits, not only intelligence, but also heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, idiopathic short stature and inflammatory bowel disease.

Statistical analyses on the information collected from these processes provides a “polygenic risk score” which forms the basis of the screening.

The newly announced intellectual screening has sparked a cascade of comments and criti-

cism. Some experts believe this service is harmful to the advancement of diversity and inclusion, while others state that this is positive progression toward increasing children’s quality of life.

However, many argue that this puts us on a slippery slope towards selecting for aesthetic preferences, such as eye colour, height, and specific talents. The public should soon consider where the lines of morality are drawn and who should create the boundaries: the government or the individual?

A survey by the Royal Society in early 2018 showed that 76% of people in the UK support genome editing of embryos to correct diseases. Currently, UK laws do not support this type of embryo screening or editing, and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority approves screening for a limited list of specific genetic disorders. However, legislation might change once the UK leaves the EU, especially conidering the amount of public support.

The potential uses for this new technology are numerous, from

screening for debilitating birth defects to identifying high risk of future obesity, diabetes, depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

However, this topic begins to cross into ethically grey areas and humanity must consider the cultural ramifications of designing aesthetically pleasing or intellectually advanced children.

Furthermore, as there is no single cause for these complex traits, there may be unintended consequences of these screenings. For example, a polygenic risk score in favour of high intelligence has also been correlated with an increased risk of autism. While this seems like a far-fetched scene from a science fiction movie, Genomic Prediction’s “Extended Preimplantation Genetic Testing” hit the markets in September of 2018. This technology along with recent, unproven, claims of Chinese scientist He Jiankui successfully creating the first babies with edited genomes provide evidence that humanity now stands at the precipice of the designer baby era.

AI: Gaming the System Francesca Benson Sci&Tech Editor

Just like humans can learn from experience, so too can computers.

When given sample data, artificial intelligence networks can be trained in a process known as machine learning to recognise patterns or perform specific functions, such as identifying spam emails. AI can even learn from its mistakes, using positive or negative feedback to alter how it functions to optimise its output. One factor that can lead to weird and wonderful results using AI is the fact that commands given to the network need to be very clear for proper functioning, AI does not share our concept of what an odd

way to do things would be. In some cases, AI can take vague commands very literally, simply taking the path of least resistance to reach the end goal without knowing what the user actually wanted to happen.

Victoria Krakovna, a research scientist at AI company DeepMind, has compiled a list of some of the most interesting examples of this phenomenon titled ‘Specification gaming examples in AI’. In one experiment, the program’s goal was to generate creatures with bodies built for speed. This was achieved by making the creatures very tall, so that they would reach higher speeds on their way down as they fell over.

Another algorithm was made to take a list and output a version

in a sorted order, however the output was always blank. It turns out that this is because a list with nothing in it was technically a sorted list.

One slightly alarming example involved a simulation of life.

Energy was needed for virtual creatures to survive which they gained by eating, but the designers had placed no energy cost on giving birth. One population evolved to produce many offspring and then ate them, as the rules in this scenario essentially rendered children as free food.

Alongside the examples of AI appearing to game the system, there are also examples in the list that demonstrate AI finding solutions or identifying patterns that may not have been obvious to a

human. A robotic arm which was instructed to move a block into a target position achieved this by moving not the block, but the table it was resting on. One AI was fed images of skin lesions in order to help it identify skin cancers, but one unexpected result was that the AI learned that in the sample images given skin lesions pictured next to a ruler were more likely to be cancerous.

Unusual as they may seem, these examples of AI gone awry shows how AI could help us think outside the box and find creative solutions that we may have not even considered.

Bricking It: Wombat Mystery Solved Imogen Claire Sci&Tech Writer

Wombats, the grumpy and tubby Australian marsupial, poop in cubes. It is the only known species on the planet to poop in cubes. That fact on its own is fantastically weird and you're already committing this to memory to impress at the next house party or night at the pub - you must be so worldly and travelled to know wombat digestive tract trivia. All levity aside, it is a mystery that plagued zoologists, surfaced in their nightmares, threatened to topple the animal kingdom itself.

Why? Why do wombats poop in cubes?

These dark days are over. A group of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology presented their work on the wombat's cubic conundrum at the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics' annual meeting in

Georgia. The team used the bodies of Tasmanian wombats euthanised after traffic collisions to investigate their research questions. Comparing these intestines with those of pigs, a balloon was pushed through the digestive tract to see how the tissue accommodated the balloon.

What the researchers found was that the wombat intestine wall is variably flexible in the final 8% of the organ, which alternates to create the cube shape. Pig intestines do not possess such irregularity in elasticity, and so the mystery is solved. But, the motivation for this phenomena is still unknown and so the evolutionary advantage of a six-sided poop will be revealed.

Wombats are intensely territorial animals, greeting any intruder to their home base - which could range up to 23 hectares, centred around their burrow - with unmetered aggression. Producing 80-100 cube poops each night,

wombats use the poops to mark territory very effectively. The shape stops droppings from rolling away from the site, and the animals will even stack their poops to communicate and attract other members of the species.

The practical implications of

these findings are slightly intriguing. At present, artificial cubes of soft materials are produced by cutting or moulding. Researchers suggest that this could be a new approach to effectively building cubic shapes with appreciable structural integrity.

This Week in Sci&Tech...

Following a successful touchdown on Mars, NASA’s InSight probe has returned its first images of its view across the Elysium Planitia. This region is a vast lava plain near the Equator of the planet. The probe will then begin analysing the ground for ‘Marsquakes’ and begin drilling to take readings under the surface.

Google employees have signed a letter in opposition of the company’s development of a censored search engine in China. Their service would allow the Chinese government to blacklist certain search terms and manipulate the information people see. This comes after employees walked out of their offices in protest against the way sexual harassment claims were dealt with by the company.

Knickers, a giant cow in Australia, has gone viral.

Towering above the rest of his herd at 6ft 4in he stands 8cm short of the world record holder, an Italian steer called Bellino. His colossal size has saved him from the slaughterhouse, since he is simply too big for a production line to deal with.

The Amazon rainforest is worth an estimated $8.2 billion in annual revenue a year if it is left standing, finds a new study undertaken by economists and agricultural engineers which was published in Nature. They say ‘the forest should unambiguously be saved when measured in a purely economic sense.’ The colossal ecological impact could cause such significant changes in the local ecosystem and weather patterns that the result could be huge losses for the local agricultural industry in spite of the short term gain of expanded arable land.

Images: wikimedia commons

Wikimedia Commons

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SPORT

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricksport

Health&Fitness: How to Stay On Track with Your Fitness Goals over Christmas Alex Kirkup-Lee presents some ideas in how to mingle festive fitness with the festive spirit over the Christmas holidays Alex Kirkup-Lee Sport Writer

Christmas is notorious for being the time of year when we sit inside, watch movies and eat lots of food. It can be hard to resist the endless amounts of chocolates, mince pies, and prosecco; and it can be hard to drag ourselves out of the house and go to the gym.

But Christmas does not have to be like that. This article will demonstrate how it is possible to both enjoy Christmas whilst still staying on track with your fitness goals.

“Fitness is not just about staying physically healthy, it is about staying mentally healthy also”

Plan your workouts and be realistic Make a diary of social arrangements so you have a clear idea of when they are. Avoid planning workouts after nights out if you know you are not likely to make them (although sometimes exercise can be good for clearing all the hangover out of your system).

It is advisable to be realistic with the amount of time you have. If you usually do four workouts a week but only realistically think you will be able to fit in two or three over the Christmas period then that’s okay. Be consistent in the amount of times you workout per week. This means when January hits you won’t be struggling to get back into exercising after a break.

It might be a good idea to workout in the morning before a social event, as then you will feel like you have earned an evening off. Getting up a bit earlier to workout also means you can get your workout done before any social arrangements come up in the day.

During the Christmas period time is plentiful: this can be used productively if you schedule it properly. Working on assigments, exercising and family-time are all within the realms of being productive. Even though Christmas is a time to chill, it is important not to completely lose rituals used during term-time, as when January comes it can be overwhelming to force yourself back into the habits you worked so hard to build during term-time.

Sometimes less is more

Indulge in lowcalorie treats

Try Christmassy Balance is the Activities key

Christmas workouts do not always have to be long sessions. We often only feel like we’ve done a good workout if we have worked out for at least an hour and then feel sore the next day, but neither of these are measures of how ‘good’ a workout is. 30 minutes or even 15 minutes is sometimes enough, and if that’s all you can fit in, then doing something is better than doing nothing.

Try to push your body more in a shorter space of time, taking shorter breaks between exercises.

Doing a 15 minute HITT session or using the Tabata training method can be a great way to get your heart rate up and fit in a good workout in a short space of time.

If it is too cold to go outdoors, working out at home is a great alternative. Invest in some dumbbells and resistance bands, which will allow you to add load to a range of exercises, and make bodyweight exercises more challenging.

The Freeletics app or Nike Training Clubapp both have quick but challenging workouts that can be done at home!

There are also plenty of YouTube videos which provide great inspiration for less time-consuming workouts.

Most of the extra calories we consume over Christmas will come from snacking, which is hard to resist when there are treats around the house and chocolate on the tree. However, there are a myriad of low-calorie, high protein treats that are just as tasty. Health Span have created a hot chocolate that contains 18g slow release casein protein, and 20g less sugar than the average Cadbury’s hot chocolate, providing a great alternative to your favourite hot drink!

MyProtein have also released a prosecco flavour BCAA for Christmas, which could help motivate you to workout. Grenade have also created gingerbreadflavoured protein bars.

There really is a range of treats available that are both nutritious and festive. They sometimes might be more expensive, but treat yourself. It’s Christmas. It is also important to remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with indulging in the ‘unhealthy’ foods such as chocolate and mince pies. You just have to be reasonable and maintain a balance.

Calories are calories, just earn at least some of them and don’t wait until your Christmas dinner to get all your veg in!

Working out over the Christmas period and having fun do not have to be two separate entities. There are lots of Christmas activities taking place that are also great exercise. Why not try ice-skating to get you in the festive spirit?

The Ice Skate Birmingham outdoor skating rink is open now until January, so you have plenty of time to practice your skating skills! Or if you fancy something a bit different and don’t have enough money to go on a winter holiday this year, the Snow Dome in Tamworth means you can practice skiing or snowboarding on real snow. Long walks with loved ones could also be great cardio (although I would advise not to confess cardio being a motivation to spend time with them!).

Alternatively, if being in the cold really is not your thing, lots of gyms offer festive fitness classes over the holidays, which can be a great way to motivate yourself to train while still getting into the festive spirit.

There is also the option of doing a ‘12 exercises of Christmas workout;’ a variety of which can be found online. This is just another fun way of combining Christmas and fitness spirits.

It is certainly okay to take time off and it is completely normal for people to struggle over the Christmas period. It is okay to miss a workout and say yes to spontaneous social arrangements.

Fitness is not just about staying physically healthy, it is about staying mentally healthy also, so do not feel guilty about taking time off to spend time with friends and family. Ultimately, this is better for your mental health than turning down social arrangements because you are dieting or need to fit your workout in. Obviously doing this all the time could hinder your progress, but it is important to understand that if you are fit and healthy the majority of the time, you deserve to enjoy social events and take time off.

It is important to remember, however, that Christmas does not last forever, and if you are mindful of what posotion you want to be in come the New Year, you will certainly not regret the allowances of productivity you put in over Christmas. Having fun during time-off always feels better if you have earned it: this applies academically and exercise. For a stress-free Christmas, balance is the key.

Pixabay // skeeze

SPORT

Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricksport

Need for Speed: Emphatic Qualifiers Win for UBMRC Sport Writer Andy Brennan brings us all the latest from a seasondefining week for the University of Birmingham Motor Racing Club Andy Brennan Sport Writer

University of Bath Motorsports

The UBMRC (University of Birmingham Motor Racing Club) had their first round win in over a decade and secured their spot amongst the elite in university karting with their victory in the Saturday qualifier.

The 2019 British Universities Karting Championship (BUKC) Qualifier held at Whilton Mill in Northamptonshire determines the class that the universities compete in for the coming year. Competing in eight heats and taking the results from the best six, it determines whether they’ll be fighting amongst the karting kings for the BUKC trophy or skirmishing with

the Intermediate or Rookie classes. For many universities, it is the most important day in their calendar.

Birmingham are no strangers to speed as they have consistently qualified in and battled amongst the elite classes. However, with an incredible four heat victories, including two from Club President, Simon Morton, Birmingham’s ‘A’ team have established themselves as a true force to be reckoned with for the upcoming 2019 season, beating favourites Oxford Brookes and Loughborough to qualify first above all 52 university teams competing to sit atop the Elite class.

“Such an astounding result has not happened for more than 10 years” This is a momentous day for the UBMRC as such an astounding result has not happened for more than 10 years. To find out more about the meaning of this and to learn more about the club as a whole, I (AB) caught up with

Club President Simon Morton (SM).

AB: Can you summarise the importance of the BUKC and what this result means?

SM: The BUKC is the highest level of student karting in the UK and is a crucial part of the club’s activities. It’s so important as it allows Birmingham to compete against the best student drivers in the country.

AB: How is this year different to previous BUKC qualifiers?

SM: We have always competed towards the front of the BUKC but this result was a statement of championship ambitions that the club has never had before. Our round win at the qualifiers – against the best teams in the competition – was a huge result as such a thing has not happened in over a decade!

AB: What are your feelings moving forward?

SM: The championship has to be the aim for our ‘A’ team now.

There are seven or eight really strong teams and we’ve got to put ourselves right in the mix. There’s a long way to go but we’ve made a huge statement and should carry our moment forward.

AB: Finally, can you tell us about Birmingham’s other teams and how people can get involved?

SM: Sure! We have five teams competing this year, all of varying skill levels. There’s plenty of opportunity to get involved, so head over to our social media and get in contact with the club.

Everyone can race in the BUKC!

Simon Price Sports Officer

Really impressive few weeks for University of Birmingham Motor Racing Club! Their ‘A’ team has won their qualifier for the British Universities Karting Championships, with that being the first time they have ever won a round overall. Their social media through instagram has also been impressive with the club introducing their racers before their races!

They have shown great preparation leading up to these qualifiers and I am glad they got the result they wanted! Get involved with the club on their Facebook page (UBMRC), and on Twitter as well (@UBMRC).

Sports Club of the Fortnight: Sailing Jack Simpkin Sport Editor

lenges they face as they fight for BUCS points and victory once again in February, identifying both Exeter and Southampton as their stiffest opposition, ‘a lot of the southern unis are big sailing unis, but I think we can try and give them a run for their money.

The aim is definitely BUCS points for one of our teams at the Team Racing Championships.’

Unlike the Fleet Championships, where all 67 boats race against one another, in the team event each university submits a team of three boats to race against another team of three.

Over the event, Birmingham’s team could face up to 21 other teams in their pursuit of glory.

Not being a coastal city such as the likes of the aforementioned Exeter or Southampton, Birmingham’s sailors train on Bartley Reservoir, but Heath, who has sailed since the age of seven, was keen to make clear that that should not put them at too much of a disadvantage, ‘everyone trains of reservoirs, but maybe we

have a slight disadvantage to southern teams because sailors who have sailed a lot before may be more drawn to the southern unis, because they have very long, established, reputations.’

Whilst the club does have its sights set on the upcoming team championships, they also offer ‘Social Sailing’ for those who have never tried it before, and a development squad for anyone with a bit of experience. For those social sailors, there is the opportunity to take part in beginners courses that are run by qualified instructors who volunteer their services, each course comes with the opportunity to obtain a qualification that is recognised nationally at the end.

Regardless of age, experience, or ability, the UoB sailing club welcomes everyone into their friendly club, whether that may be someone looking to learn new skills on the water, or someone aspiring to build on any previous experience they might have.

Fresh off the back of some superb results at the recent University Sailing Fleet Championships, the University’s sailing club are full of confidence heading into the next biggest challenge of their season in February, the Team Racing Championships. Having put forward four boats in total, out of the 67 that took part, our three men’s boats secured 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishes, meaning they qualified top of the rankings ahead of next year’s all-important event.

We caught up with UoB Sailing’s Commodore, Emily Heath, this week, to find out more about the club in light of their recent success. First a foremost, Heath was quick to praise the commitment and hard work of the club’s sailors in achieving such fantastic results, identifying how they wouldn’t have been possible without such determination, ‘I don’t know last time Birmingham last got a BUCS team medal so this is a really big achievement for the club. We’re definitely aiming high for the inTraining February.Times: team racing Championships.’

Team Training: Semester 1: Sundays from 9AM Despite boasting a former Semester 2: Saturdays and Sundays from 9AM sailing world champion in Giles Social Sailing: Wedensday Afternoons Kuzak, Heath and the club are If you'd like to find out more, e-mail the club at: UoBSCcommodore@ under no illusion as to the chaloutlook.com, or find them on Twitter @UoBSailing.

A note from the Sports Officer: Simon Price Sports Officer

I chose Sailing as my ‘Sports Club of the Fortnight’ as they have quite frankly smashed it out the park! In their fleets championships hosted by Warwick, their mens teams came home with, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place, which saw them finish 1st overall! The club has also played a huge part in helping club member George Paxford raise a huge £5,165 in just three weeks to fund a new wheelchair that meets his needs.

The good work done by the sailing club has been brought up in a number of my management meetings now and I just hope they continue the good work ahead of their Team Racing Championships.

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Too Harsh on José?

Jake Bradshaw Sport Editor

Over the past few seasons, I have not been shy to criticise José Mourinho. His tactical choices, his team selections, and the public humiliation of his own players have not gone down well with me, and have left me feeling little sympathy for the situation the Manchester United manager now finds himself in. The mainstream media has likewise jumped on the anti-Mourinho bandwagon, with the biggest names in punditry gleefully heaping the negativity onto the Special One’s shoulders.

Recently, however, I have found this negativity a little excessive.

On the face of it, with two wins in their last six Premier League games and being fifteen points behind league leaders and hated rivals Manchester City (at the time of writing), United’s season is not going well. Despite a solid 81 points and second place in the league last season, United find themselves languishing outside of the top-four positions in the current term.

But does this justify the media’s treatment of the Portuguese manager? Let’s imagine for a moment that Mourinho celebrated a winning goal from his team by running onto the pitch, as his Liverpool counterpart Jürgen Klopp did during his side’s last-minute derby winner against Everton. The voices in the media, such as former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who claim such celebrations show passion and that they want to see these moments in football, do have a point. Most of us prefer a manager who wears their heart on their sleeve. But how far does this extend?

A parallel can be drawn with United’s Champions League victory against Young Boys, when the much-maligned Marouane Fellaini scored in added time to give Mourinho’s men the win. In a sudden burst of relief, Mourinho grabbed a nearby drinks bottle carrier, and hurled it to the ground.

Criticism was quick to arrive at Mourinho’s doorstep. The suggestion that Mourinho did it to draw attention to himself was prevalent amongst these, but this is hardly justified. After a fairly poor game from a United side that, with no offence intended to the Swiss team, should have won the game at home comfortably, Mourinho should be forgiven for expressing his frustration and relief at a late winner which took his side into the knockout stages of the competition.

It may well be that Mourinho’s attitude is a factor. Whereas Klopp was apologetic after his antics, Mourinho seems unmoved, attacking those pundits who criticise him. But I must admit, I have begun to feel sorry for him. Win or lose, celebrate or not, people moan about him. Then man can’t win, and I think we should stop being so critical about his personality, and focus more on the severel under-performing players at his disposal.

SPORT

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Friday 7th December 2018

@redbricksport

Who’s on Pole? Birmingham Hosts 2018 Sports Personality of the Year Sport Writer Dan Hague gives his top picks for 2018's Sports Personality award Dan Hague Sport Writer Evening Standard

this event we preview some of the best candidates to claim the main prize at the Genting Arena.

Harry Kane The Front Runner

Sports Personality of the Year will be returning to Birmingham on 16th December. In anticipation of

An integral part of England’s achingly beautiful World Cup campaign; Harry Kane is the most obvious candidate for Sports Personality of the Year. Captain and talisman, he was consistently England’s best player. Kane’s most significant achievement was winning the Golden Boot, a feat no Englishman had achieved since

Gary Lineker in 1986.

Not only is Harry Kane a top drawer striker, he also has an understated and charming demeanour.

Geraint Thomas The Outsider If I asked you to name a road cyclist, two names would probably spring to mind: Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.

However, this year Britain’s best cyclist has been a Welshman by the name of Geraint Thomas.

After the Jiffy-Bag scandal at the

start of the year, Team Sky desperately needed a win. Up stepped Geraint Thomas. Since 2012, Great Britain have won the Tour de France every year bar one.

Geraint Thomas is the friendly face who claimed the title in 2018.

He has shown the drug cheats that if you work hard, your dreams can come true.

Championships has been described as the ‘performance of a generation’ by Neil Black. In the 100m, she broke the British record with a world leading time of 10.85 seconds. Nonetheless, it was in the relay where her pedigree shone through. Running the anchor leg she carried Great Britain from third to first.

Dina Asher-Smith

“He has shown the drug cheats that if you work hard, your dreams can come true”

The Dark Horse It has been a stellar season for Dina Asher-Smith. Her golden treble at this year’s European

European Exodus: Should More Young English Talent Move Abroad?

Ben Thomas Sport Writer

Twelve games into the Bundesliga season, it’s safe to say that Germany might well be on its way to establishing itself as the new home of English football.

The London-born pairing of Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) and Reiss Nelson (Hoffenheim) are on track to become teenage record-breakers after putting shots at Premier League careers with Manchester City and Arsenal on the backburners. Having amassed ten goals and six assists between them so far this campaign, they have dazzled with an exuberant combination of raw skill and blistering pace.

Staggeringly, Sancho and

Dortmund striker Paco Alcacer have combined for a goal every 49 minutes this season – making them the most prolific combination in Europe’s top five leagues.

Should this Germany unveiling of English talent leave a bitter taste in the mouths of hardened English footballing fanatics, or is it now the time to embrace the globalisation of football and accept that long gone are the days of an England team made up solely of the red of Manchester United and the blue of Chelsea?

The childhood friends have followed the ever more attractive route to Europe and its continental football finishing school of sorts, as the Premier League continues to struggle to reap the rewards of the seeds that the FA have lavishly been ploughing into

local footballing communities.

Crucially, it is not that these two are the first to have tried this pathway, with players such as Eric Dier plying his footballing trade abroad at Sporting Lisbon before joining Tottenham. There is an increasing sense that the grander narrative surrounding the ‘European experience’ is shifting towards one that is wholly supportive.

The emergence of England’s forward-thinking manager Gareth Southgate has appeared to make the European pathway entirely more plausible. Significantly, while the previous rhetoric that surrounded the notion of young players taking their talents away from the shores of the British Isles was one of a lack of mental and physical toughness, now they are

perceived as bold and determined opportunists, not content with earning lucrative pay-checks from the Premier League pine-wood.

This shift has rewarded players like Sancho, who was called up to the England squad for the Nations League games against Spain and Croatia in October, and has put an end to the discriminatory and blinkered disregard for talent lurking beyond the borders of Blighty.

Therefore, if it is indeed England’s Euro 2020 squad that is the ultimate goal for up and coming talents, then, with the absence of dinosaurs such as Sam Allardyce, who laughably urged Ademola Lookman to choose Derby County over the allure of RB Leipzig and the Champions League, more should take confi-

dence knowing that a move to Europe now has the potential to boost their chances with the Three Lions. The national set up has finally enlightened itself to the fact that the financially-fixated Premier League is no more an asset than it is a hindrance for our next generation.

Man City Core

Copa Libertadores: Tie Moved to Madrid Amid Fears of More Violence The biggest game in South America has been moved to now be played in Europe Isabel Baldwin Sport Editor AFP

Following fan violence towards opposing players, the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca

Juniors on 25th November was forced to be postponed. The match was abandoned after reports that a number of River fans attacked the Boca Juniors team bus leaving players and police suffering from cuts from broken glass and the dizzying effects of tear gas that the police used to control the attack.

Following the ugly scenes, it emerged that the Buenos Aires derby was rearranged for the 9th December at a different location, in different country and even a different continent: the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. Yet, despite suggestions the River Plate ‘mafia’ were instigators in the attacks, the

club issued a statement claiming the club is 'in no way responsible' for the clashes that led to the abandonment of the original final and refusing to participate in the rescheduled event more than 6,200 miles away, leaving the fate of the final up in the air.

“The denial of a match is the price they pay for hooliganism” On one hand, it does seem pitiful that South America’s Superclassico has to come to such

an end, with thousands of fans tragically losing their right to watch the final live. Yet, many fans only have themselves to blame, if the denial of a match is the price they pay for hooliganism.

However, this is not a unique case but rather another occurrence in a stream of events that has thrust footballing hooliganism back into the sports spotlight. The attack by Roma Ultras that left Liverpool fan Sean Cox in a coma before last season’s Champions League semi-final, the launching of beer bottles at the Manchester City team bus by Liverpool fans during the first leg of their

Champions League tie, clashes between England and Russia fans during the 2016 Euros. These are just a few of the many examples that have marred the footballing scene in recent years. Football has always been filled with unabashed passion, yet heightened tensions between rival fans should be remembered for belonging to the 1980s and the peak of hooliganism, far from the supposed sophisticated, modern game.

Whether it is through police, club or federation control, it is clear the rise of fan violence in football needs to be tackled before the game is lost to the ‘age of unplayable fixtures’.

SPORT

Friday 7th December 2018

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@redbricksport

Sri Lanka 0-3 England Review: Can England Reach World Number One? George Garrett looks back on an impressive tour for Joe Root's England George Garrett Sport Writer

Reuters

Roll back to eight months ago, when England’s test cricketers were in disarray. Thumped 4-0 by the Australians down under, brushed aside by New Zealand after Christmas, then losing to Pakistan at the Home of Cricket: Lord's. It was a torrid few months

for England’s Test XI. Eight months later, there is a new feel to this England side.

Comfortably beating world number one India in the summer, and more recently wiping the floor with Sri Lanka, thrashing them 3-0 in a whitewash series win: the first away whitewash win for 55 years. Times are changing.

Batting woes are beginning to be amended. England’s lower order have shown they possess the ability to inflict damage through the likes of Jos Butler, Ben Foakes, Moeen Ali, and Sam Curran. Jonny Bairstow, more by luck than judgement, seems to have claimed the vacant number three spot, whilst captain Joe Root was back to his best with a phenomenal hundred in Kandy.

The same could be said of England’s spinners. The left arm of Jack Leach, combined with Moeen’s off-break and Adil Rashid’s leg-spin proved a menacing and perfectly-balenced trio, all taking over 12 wickets in the series.

“There is a new feel to this England side...

Times are changing” What’s more impressive with this England side in recent months is that they win close games.

Beating Sri Lanka in Pallekelle by 57 runs, and in Colombo by 42 runs; Root’s men have found a

knack of finding ways to win when they’re up against it.

Compare this to the Ashes last winter, when England would fold whenever they desperately needed someone to put their hand up.

Significant progress has been made.

Of course, we should not get ahead of ourselves, as England will come up against greater tests over the next 18 months. Not forgetting Root has won eight out of the eight last coin tosses (odds of 256-1), lending England a significant advantage. However, an England side without Alastair Cook holding the innings together, nor having to rely on Stuart Broad and James Anderson to take the bulk of the wickets, and still winning, can only be a good

The Final Four: Nations League Finals Preview Jake Davies Sport Writer

On Monday, the draw for the inaugural UEFA Nations League Finals took place in Dublin, pitting England against the Netherlands in the second semifinal (6th June 2019), with Portugal facing Switzerland in the first fixture (5th June 2019), both at Porto's Estádio do Dragão. The quality of the tournament has already surprised many, and now that preparation for the Finals can get underway, it’s time to analyse the progress these semi-finalists have made and decide who stands the best chance of winning the first ever Nations League?

sign.

With the home Ashes looming next summer, things are beginning to look a lot brighter for England. Before then, they travel to the West Indies, then face Pakistan back on home soil. Win those, they’ll be well on their way to world number one for the first time since 2012.

It has been an impressive transformation. It would seem the Root era has begun.

Cricket fan? Listen to The Corridor of Uncertainty on Burn FM with George Garrett and Alec Fleming, every week on Mondays at 8PM.

Logo credits (L-R): PFF; SFA; RDFA; FA

Portugal

Switzerland

Holland

England

Following an unlikely victory in the European Championship in 2016, Portugal has remained a solid and dependable squad, fuelled by the discovery of new talents in the last two years including Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva. Andre Silva in particular has proven himself as a reliable striker, scoring three goals as his side overcame Poland and Italy to reach the finals. With Cristiano Ronaldo maintaining his goal scoring prowess at new club Juventus too, Portugal are looking like strong candidates to take the trophy next summer.

The surprise package in the inaugural UNL Finals, Switzerland defied the odds to top their group by crushing Belgium 5-2 in their last group stage fixture. Star players including Liverpool's Xherdan Shaqiri, Arsenal's Granit Xhaka and Borussia Mönchengladbach's Yann Sommer form the backbone of the team, whilst Haris Seferovic, who incidently plays in Portugal with Benfica, has emerged as the strongest forward option, scoring five goals in four games in the group stage. The underdogs of the competition, the Swiss could pull off a shock in June.

The Dutch are undergoing a resurgence under former Everton and Southampton boss Ronald Koeman, achieving the spectacular feat of topping a group that contained both Germany and France, despite not even qualifying for the World Cup in Russia this year. Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk leads a powerful defence, with Lyon's Memphis Depay spearheading the attack, scoring two goals in the group stage.

Momentum seems firmly in their favour, thus the Netherlands will prove a formidable opponent in England’s semi-final.

England are on an upwards trajectory. Ever since their journey to the semi-finals of the World Cup this summer, the side have continued to improve, with impressive victories over Spain and Croatia to get to these finals.

Youngsters such as Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho have shown great promise, whilst Sterling has finally found his feet in the International game with key group stage goals. Positivity surrounds the new-look England and although it may be too soon to say it, I believe the UNL could well be coming home in 2019.

Luka Doncic: A Teenager from Slovenia Turning Heads in the NBA

Sport Writer Luke Bosher looks at Luka Doncic's start to life in America Luke Bosher Sport Writer

When the Dallas Mavericks traded up to sign Luka Doncic from Real Madrid back in June, expectations were lower than they might have been for the third overall pick of the draft. Doncic was coming off the back of being the youngest ever EuroLeague MVP and winning a title, but questions were asked pre-draft about his athleticism and ability to match the pace of NBA basketball, having never completed a serious strength and conditioning program. However, Doncic has con-

summately answered these questions and made himself an early frontrunner for 'Rookie of the Year'.

Doncic has entered the league with poise and calmness seen in few rookies, and looks assured without being arrogant. This was aptly demonstrated by his display against the LA Lakers, where without excelling offensively as he has in other games, he made several impressive defensive plays including a double block on Lebron James no least. From watching the game, it was evident that Lebron already has plenty of respect for the Slovenian, a sure sign that he is making waves

across the league.

“He already possesses the hallmarks of a great entertainer and leader on the court” What is perhaps most impressive is that Doncic is guiding this Dallas team to a position few thought they would be in, especially after a 3-7 start in a tricky Western Conference. He already possesses the hallmarks of a great entertainer and leader on the court; much like the Steph Currys and

Giannis Atetokounmpos of the game, he makes you want to watch the Mavericks play because he is probably going to do something special.

Whether Doncic and Dallas can sustain their good form remains to be seen, as Doncic himself only finished the EuroLeague post-season two days before the 2018 draft, and it is not unheard of for rookies to tail off due to fatigue. Whilst this might happen this season, the skill level that Doncic is operating at; his handles, shooting and intelligence at both ends of the court, means that he very much looks like a future star of the league.

Eurohoops

07.12.2018

SPORT

Matthias Hangst / Getty Images

Top 5 Sporting Moments that Defined 2018 Sport Writer Kit Shepard looks back on another epic year in the sporting world Kit Shepard Sport Writer

Another gripping and nail-biting calender year of sport is coming to an end, so as we approach Christmas and New Year, we've taken a look back on some of the very best moments across the world of sport in 2018. Here are Kit Shepard's top five picks:

5. Justin Rose reaching World Number 1 Justin Rose has put together a very solid career but, heading into 2018, was yet to become golf’s number one ranked player. That all changed this year, when a string of strong performances, culminating with a runner-up finish at September’s BMW Championship, ensured he reached the top of the world. Rose became just the fourth Englishman and the first since Luke Donald in 2012 to achieve this position, putting him in an elite group.

eral superb individual efforts, has almost always fallen short in Cleveland due to the lack of competence, or in this case common sense, from his team-mates.

3. Serena’s Supremacy Ended in Ugly Circumstances Serena Williams is one of the world’s most successful athletes but, after being beaten by Naomi Osaka at the US Open Final in September, she lost more than merely a tennis match. As she slipped towards a straight sets defeat, the ferociously competitive Williams lost her cool, accusing the chair umpire of sexism in a sensational rant after he gave her a first code violation for illegal communication with her coach. The confrontation overshadowed an exceptional display from the 20-year-old Osaka which, after a year where Williams has failed to win a Grand Slam, was further evidence that the American’s utter dominance of women’s tennis may be over for good.

4. Bizzare ending to Game 1 of the NBA Finals

2. Cook’s Fairytale Farewell

The highly-anticipated opening game of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors was decided, comically, by a player being unaware of the score. With under five seconds remaining and the encounter tied, Cavs guard J.R. Smith dribbled out the clock believing his side were winning, inadvertently forcing the game into overtime, where Cleveland would be soundly defeated. This cataclysmic lapse epitomized the Cavaliers career of basketball superstar LeBron James who, despite sev-

After a stellar 12-year career, England’s all-time leading run scorer Alistair Cook retired from international cricket in 2018.

He did not go quietly however, as the former captain scored a superb 147 in his final test innings in a victory over India at the Oval. The moment Cook reached his century was powerful, poignant and perfect, as the entire ground gave him a prolonged standing ovation to recognise the achievements of one of the leading batsmen of his generation. England would go on to win the Test Match comfortably.

1. Dier Breaks the Penalty Curse Last summer’s FIFA World Cup will be remembered for all the right reasons but, as an England fan familiar with only disappointment and heartache, one moment stands out. When Eric Dier converted the Three Lions’ fifth penalty in their last 16 shootout with Colombia, he sealed England’s first ever spot-kick success in World Cup history, sending the nation into a frenzy. Not only did this moment banish the demons of all those heartbreaking defeats but, after finally surviving a shootout, anything seemed possible, including winning the World Cup. Ultimately, as we all know, football did not come home, but Dier’s penalty gave us a small taste of what it would feel like if it ever does.

INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK:

Whitewash Review

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SPOTY Preview

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UoB Motor Racing

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Honorable Mentions: • • • • • • • • •

France winning the World Cup Europe thrash USA at Le Golf National in the Ryder Cup Rob Cross winning the PDC World Darts Championship Ireland winning the Six Nations and beating the All Blacks Real Madrid winning a third consecutive Champions League Anthony Joshua beating Alexander Povetkin LeBron James going past 30,000 NBA points Lewis Hamilton's fifth F1 title Tyson Fury's boxing comeback Have we missed any? Let us know on Twitter @redbricksport