Redbrick Issue 1503, Vol. 83
UoB failing in ‘hard to reach’ areas
Friday 22nd February 2019
Arts funding is essential to modern Britain
News Comment 3 10 Guild Elections Commence
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The return of Super Mario Maker
A tribute to Gordon Banks
Gaming Sport 27 37
Next year’s officer team hopefuls launch their campaigns pages 6-7
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Erasmus Grants Under Brexit Threat
In the event of a no-deal departure from the EU, thousands of students could be denied the opportunity to study in Europe Birmingham rallies against Brexit during the Conservative Party Conference earlier this year photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Charlotte Gill News Reporter
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Erasmus scheme may no longer allocate funding for UK students. This could mean an estimated 17,000 students would not study in European universities as of next year. The Erasmus programme enables students to study or train abroad for 3-12 months as part of their degree by providing a grant from the European Commission. The UK government initially assured that it would ‘continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from [...] cultural exchanges such as Erasmus+.’ Now, it ‘aims to minimise the impact on projects
in a no-deal scenario’ and ‘will need to reach [an] agreement with the EU for UK organisations to continue participating in Erasmus+.’ On their website, the University of Birmingham says: ‘As we leave the EU, the University of Birmingham will continue to nurture and value our European partnerships, collaborations and the contributions of our EU students and staff. ‘Nationally, the University of Birmingham is working with the Russell Group, Universities UK and other organisations to influence the Government and put forward the strongest possible case for universities. We are calling for the UK’s continued engagement in EU research and innovation programmes, as well as sustained aca-
demic and student mobility including access to the EU programmes which support this.’ As the future of UK participation is currently unclear, this raises the question of whether negotiations will take place in time for Britain’s departure from the EU next month. Universities UK, a higher education organisation with which the University of Birmingham is connected, is pushing the government to urgently address the Erasmus scheme so that financial support can be ensured. It has launched a campaign demanding that the government commits to funding study abroad placements for 2019-2020 and beyond in the case of a no-deal Brexit. Alistair Jarvis, the Chief Executive of Universities UK, has insisted that students should not miss out on the many benefits which the ‘life-changing opportunity’ of studying or training abroad can bring. Beth, a second year English Literature student, told Redbrick that the grant ‘definitely did help to make the decision [to go abroad] as it makes seeing the world and learning a new language a much more viable idea – it gives you so many new skills, and,
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for me, is going to help me become more adventurous and confident in the long run.’ Hannah, a second-year who is hoping to study in Lyon next year, added that the uncertainty is ‘stressful’ and without a grant, she ‘would be struggling a lot more than initially thought.’ A fourth-year student who took part in Erasmus last year commented: ‘I definitely would have reconsidered doing a year abroad without my Erasmus grant. I do English, so it’s not like I had to go abroad because my course required it.’ For Modern Languages students, a year abroad is compulsory and the Erasmus grant can greatly help to fund the experience. A fourth-year French and German student told Redbrick that her teaching assistant wage was delayed in Germany for two months and ‘without the Erasmus grant, I would have struggled to cover my rent and other incidental costs.’ Redbrick has reached out to the University for further comment regarding the future of its involvement in the Erasmus scheme, but is yet to receive a response. www.redbrick.me
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Friday 22nd February 2019
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Letter from the committee... Until this year, I hadn’t actually been very involved in any societies during my time at the University of Birmingham. Whilst tabletop gaming is a wonderful hobby of mine, I never put much time into it, settling for attending the occasional social event hosted by the Computer Science Society instead. I most certainly hadn’t even remotely considered partaking in a student publication like the one you’re reading, though my work on techmanity. co.uk, a tech blog I work on with some friends, helped steer me in this direction. So when Tom Galvin, our previous Lead Developer, was scouting for someone to replace him last year, it only seemed appropriate for me to give Redbrick a shot. I honestly didn’t think I’d get the job, but hey, what could I possibly have to lose by trying? Since then, working on Redbrick with the rest of the team has been an absolute joy, and has thrown me into the deep end when it comes to doing what I enjoy at a professional level, which I believe is the best way to learn: on the job. In the same way that many of our contributors aspire to enter the world of journalism after they finish their studies,
using Redbrick as a means to experience what that world is really like out there; so too has it been exciting from the get go to manage the technical aspects of a publication that just had its 83rd birthday this month and has thousands of readers weekly – and the age and scale of Redbrick has shown itself to me in some extremely intimate ways, with many a laugh had upon discovering some long forgotten aspect of the website laying dormant on our servers (rest in peace, cringey recruitment video from 2010). The experience this year hasn’t been all song and dance, though, with many a conversation had about the manner in which our content makes its way through the proofing system we have in place and obligations towards the Guild of Students, but Redbrick undoubtedly strives first and foremost to be a paper that represents true journalism, and to that end, hopefully the work of this year’s fabulous committee will allow this wonderful society-publication to run more smoothly for the next 83 years to come, and then some. It must be said, however, that you have to be a bit of a mole to do my job, so if you run for Lead Developer at our AGM on
March 14th (which just so happens to be Pi Day) make sure you’re not afraid of the dark(!) From the – needless to say, very swanky – dungeons, we salute you.
Jivan Pal Lead Developer
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Friday 22nd February 2019
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13-Year-Old Boy Admits His Role in Stabbing at UoB School Tom Leaman News Editor @tomleaman_
A 13-year-old boy has taken responsibility for his part in a triple stabbing outside the University of Birmingham School, which happened on December 10th. The boy, who is set to be sentenced on March 7th, confessed to two charges of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm and one charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Two 14-year-olds and a 13-year-old have been released on bail. Investigations are ongoing.
On Monday 10th December, West Midlands Police described a ‘major incident’ after ambulance services were called to Weoley Park Road at approximately 4:20pm. The scene was attended by five police vehicles, multiple ambulances and an armed unit. The injuries of the three teenagers stabbed were not thought to be serious. On the same day that the BBC reported that the 13-year-old admitted to his role in the crime, another stabbing incident occurred outside Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College in Highgate, Birmingham. A 16-year-old boy was reportedly stabbed in the chest on
Wednesday 13th February and he died on Friday evening when his life support machine was switched off. According to the BBC, the victim ‘died in hospital with his family around him’ after remaining in a coma. Following the incident, a 16-year-old male has been charged with attempted murder. West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell said: ‘This is a tragic outcome and a dreadful loss of another young life to knife crime. My sympathies are with this young man’s family in their time of grief.’ The 16-year-old accused is due at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.
Police cordon off an alleyway on Heeley Road following a stabbing in October 2018 Credit: Erin Santillo
UoB Fails to Attract Students From ‘Hard-to-Reach’ Areas Megan Stanley News Editor @oh_itsonlymegan
The University of Birmingham is failing to attract students from hard-to-reach areas, new data from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) has revealed. Out of 5,370 full-time students who started university in 2017/18, only 360 (6.7%) students who attend UoB came from low participation neighbourhoods. Low participation neighbourhoods are places where less than 20% of students have gone on to attend university after secondary school. Looking at a student’s home postcode can determine whether they live in a low participation neighbourhood. In the West Midlands, HESA statistics show that 13.2% of students who attend university are from low participation backgrounds.
Despite holding an Access to Success Conference last semester, which is dedicated to improving the access to university for low income students, UoB has the lowest figures compared to other Birmingham universities.
“UoB has the lowest figures compared to other Birmingham universities” A spokesperson for the University of Birmingham said: ‘We remain committed to ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to study with us. We work with over 250 schools and 25,000 students in the region alone, running a wide range of programmes to raise
aspirations amongst those groups Midlands for the National who are traditionally underrepre- Collaborative Outreach sented in higher education. Programme (NCOP), which ‘We work from a range of focuses on local areas where highindicators, which includes a er education participation is focus on low participation lower than might be neighbourhoods, to expected, we work with ensure a balanced 5 other universities in approach and these the region to support show that we are students from dismaking good advantaged backof UoB students progress in widengrounds access ing participation. Higher Education,’ come from lowFor example, the the UoB spokesparticipation number of students person added. neighbourhoods joining us from a A second-year BAME background Biology student told has increased by 29% Redbrick: ‘I guess it’s since 2017.’ good the University works UoB also runs an Access to with students in schools but the Birmingham scheme, which sup- admissions statistics aren’t reflectports applicants during year 13. It ing their work.’ offers a reduced admissions offer A final-year Geography stuto students who complete the pro- dent said: ‘People in low particigramme. The scheme is only pation areas might not actually available to students from disad- want to go to university. A degree vantaged backgrounds. doesn’t equate to success and ‘As the central hub in the West some people might not be happy
6.7%
at university. I feel like we’re constantly saying that people should go to university but what about apprenticeships?’
“People in low participation areas might not actually want to go to university” Across the UK, the number of students entering university from low-participation neighbourhoods increased by 0.2% compared to the previous academic year. However, the same data shows that students from state schools going to university fell to just below 90% last academic year. This is the first time the stats show a decrease since 2010.
ValeFest Announces First Charity Natalia Carter Comment Editor
The University of Birmingham’s student-run festival, ValeFest, has announced that the first charity to be involved in this year’s event is St Basils. Last year, ValeFest raised £40,000 for multiple charities through their programme of festival activities. The festival is set to take place on Saturday 8th June this year, with the same aim to raise money for charity. Founded in 1972, St Basils is a Birmingham-based charity aiming to help individuals aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They help over 5,000 young people each year
across the West Midlands. The charity offers specific services in Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the Wyre Forest. St Basils identifies that they have ‘a range of prevention, accommodation, engagement and support services all aiming to help young people rebuild their lives.’ They aim to break the ‘no home – no job – no home’ cycle of homelessness by building confidence and skills to aid employment opportunities. One of seven charities who joined forces with other charities, businesses and health professionals in May 2013, St Basils is part of the ‘End Youth Homelessness Alliance.’ The Alliance aims to
reduce the chances of homelessness by raising awareness and advising the government on the causes of youth homelessness and what can be done to prevent it. ‘The crux of the campaign centres around the idea that we can’t end youth homelessness on our own.’ They look to ‘organisations and groups to pledge their support’ to aid in their aims being achieved – and this year, it appears that ValeFest will be one of these organisations. ValeFest’s secretary, Kezia Johnson, said: ‘We are very proud to be working with such a great charity that contributes so much to the local community.’ She also said that ‘we have other charities to be announced soon, so keep an eye out for that.’
Peter Saxon
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NEWS
Friday 22nd February 2019
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Higher Education Financial Crisis Causes Cuts to University Staff Christina Manns News Reporter
As the financial crisis in the higher education sector worsens, staff at UK universities face an uncertain future. Heavy budget deficits at universities across the country have prompted institutions to make cuts to try and save money, and their staff members are now at risk of redundancy. Bangor University is cutting its budget by £8.5 million to try to offset the deficit, now making a further 60 employees redundant after 110 took voluntary redundancy last year. Cardiff University is also mak-
ing staff cuts to deal with its £22.8 have faced backlash from those at million deficit from last year, risk of losing their jobs. Staff at announcing that 350 jobs Edinburgh’s Queen will be cut over the next Margaret University five years. are holding strikes to Speaking to the protest the BBC in December, University’s curthe university rent plan to cut said, ‘we are, and 10% of jobs. The will be, working University of Cardiff University with the trade Kent has recentunions to ensure ly joined the list staff took that we have their of institutions voluntary input as proposals which plan to are developed. make employees redundancy ‘It’s very imporredundant to cope tant that any proposwith a large budget als we put forward in deficit. order to meet the challenges Nick Hillman, director are robust, fair and workable.’ of the Higher Education Policy Cuts across UK universities Institute, has pointed out the dif-
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ficulties facing the university sector at this time, saying that the ‘competitive market, Brexit, dip in the number of 18-year-olds, and huge policy changes’ have plunged many UK universities into financial uncertainty. Hillman added that ‘a university going bust is more likely than at any other point in the last generation.’ It was revealed in recent months that three unnamed UK universities were on the brink of bankruptcy, relying on short-term loans to stay afloat. Another unnamed institution was loaned an emergency £1 million by the Office for Students after it ran out of money to cover bills. This loan has since been
repaid. Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, criticised the government’s handling of the situation, saying that universities going bust would be a ‘disaster for thousands of students and staff’ and a ‘devastating blow for entire towns and cities.’ This comes after Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said, ‘there is an expectation that in a small number of cases providers may exit the market altogether as a result of strong competition.’ This increase in competition between universities has been linked to the trebling of tuition fees and the removal of the cap on student numbers.
UCAS University Applications Rise Aishwarya Chandran News Reporter
The number of students making applications for 2019 entry into university has increased for the first time since 2016. According to UCAS, figures currently stand at a total of 561,420 students applying for courses at higher education institutions. This is almost 2,500 more applications compared the this time last year. Applicants from outside the European Union (EU) are also up 9% with 63,720 applications. EU applications have increased by 1%. Experts are suggesting that a weaker pound makes the UK a cheaper place to study, which may be an extra incentive for interna-
tionals students to apply. Clare Marchant, UCAS’ Chief Executive, said, ‘in this time of uncertainty, it’s welcome news to see more EU and international students wanting to come and study in the UK.
“It's welcome news to see more EU and international students wanting to come and study in the UK” ‘Alongside this, demand from UK 18-year-old students remains strong, despite the falling num-
bers of this age group in the population. The unexpected rise in the application rate from English 18-year-olds, against the population trend, signals that they still recognise the challenges and rewards of full-time undergraduate study.’ In England, 38.8% of 18-yearolds have applied to a UK university – a 1.4% percent increase on the application rate in 2018. Despite this, it is still a 1.8% fall overall in the number of 18-yearolds applying. More students from areas of low income have contributed to the increase in admissions to university. UCAS stats show that 23.2% of people who are categorised as living in the most disadvantaged areas of the UK have applied, which is an increase of 1.3% since
2018. Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK states, ‘we are also pleased to see a record-high in the percentage of young people from disadvantaged areas applying to universities.’
“They still recognise the challenges and rewards of full-time undergraduate study” Speaking to The Independent,
Nick Hillman, director of th eHigher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) think tank said: ‘There is so much uncertainty at the moment with Brexit but getting a degree is almost an insurance policy against future problems. ‘We know that the people that are most worried about Brexit are young people. ‘They are the ones who think, rightly or wrongly, that the future has been made more difficult for them.’ Redbrick spoke to a final year International Business with Communications UoB student on their thoughts of this rise. They said: ‘I’m happy that more people are applying to study at uni. Universities these days offer so many variations of degrees, diplomas and apprenticeships to help students realise their potential...’
Norwegian Students Urged to Avoid Studying in the UK Due to Brexit Florence Jones News Reporter @Florence_Jones_
Norway’s minister for Higher Education, Iselin Nybø, has urged students to avoid UK institutions for their Erasmus year abroad due to ‘uncertainty’ resulting from Brexit. Speaking to NRK, the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, she said: ‘There’s so much uncertainty because of Brexit. If you’re a student or plan to travel out of Norway to study this Autumn, I recommend that you look at other countries other than Great Britain.’ Nybø was reported saying that students may not be able take their exams or complete their studies in the event of a no-deal
Brexit. While Norway is not a member of the EU, Norwegian students participate in the Erasmus exchange programme which offers students a partly-funded year abroad as part of their degree. Under the withdrawal deal proposed by Theresa May, Norwegian residents in the UK and British residents in Norway will continue to have the same rights after Brexit; but, this is not guaranteed in the event that we leave the EU without a deal. Last week, the European Commission set out measures to protect the scheme. They aim to honour the placements and grants of students already overseas at the time of a no-deal exit. However, the future of the UK’s participation in the programme remains uncertain.
The German academic exchange service DAAD has also been encouraging academics to turn down British University jobs due to uncertainty about future working and residence conditions. In 2016, more than 20% of researchers at the highest-ranking universities in the UK were EU nationals. If researchers choose to leave the UK after Brexit, not only will the UK lose a significant number of students, but also academics in teaching and research posts. This warning adds to the recent fear among UK universities about falling rates of European students and academics. Overall, the number of EU students enrolling into Russell Group universities fell by 3% last year after a number of years of steady growth.
Dannyman
NEWS
Friday 22nd February 2019
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Warwick Students in Group Chat Scandal Will Not Return to Uni Emily Darby News Reporter
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, Stuart Croft, has said that the two male students who made rape threats in a group chat will not be returning to the University, despite a previous decision that would have allowed them to return to campus to continue with their courses. Of a number of individuals who threatened to rape fellow students – using misogynistic, racist, anti-Semitic and ableist language in a group chat – one was given a lifetime ban, while two were originally banned for 10 years and another two were excluded for a year. The University then changed its mind on 31st January after an appeal, which saw Warwick’s disciplinary panel decide to allow the two men with decade-long
bans to return after just a year. This u-turn would have allowed the two male students to return to study on campus at the same time as the women they had threatened. After widespread protest condemning the reduced sentences, Warwick has since confirmed that the two men whose suspensions were reduced shall not be returning to the University. In the days following the decision to allow them to re-join, the University received widespread backlash, with alumni, MPs and academic staff writing to the institution to express their upset over the decision. The head of University of Warwick’s English department, Professor Emma Mason, addressed Vice-Chancellor Stuart Croft in a letter that read: ‘We wish to express strong and renewed support for those students harmed by these posts, abhorrence at the con-
tents of the posts, and a deep concern about the decision to reduce the terms of suspension.’ There was notable upset on social media too, with many users choosing to name the students who had made the threats, and some even including screenshots from the group chat in question. An open letter, penned by one of the women targeted in the group chat, was published by The Boar, the University of Warwick’s student newspaper, on Wednesday 30th of January. Addressing the University’s lenient and reduced sentencing of the group, the female student, who has remained anonymous, wrote: ‘I feel terrified at the prospect of having these boys in my seminars and lectures, as they sit there feeling guilt-free. ‘Knowing that I may have to come face to face with them again just to continue my education is unacceptable,’ she added.
Richard Vince
After it was revealed the two students were being given permission to return, a petition directed at the Vice-Chancellor gained 70,000 signatures protesting the decision. It was revealed shortly after by Croft that the two men had themselves decided not to return to Warwick.
“We wish to express strong and renewed support for those students harmed by these posts” Students challenged the University over their lack of involvement in the decision-making process when it was revealed that the two men made the choice not to return rather than the final decision coming from the University. In light of this outcome, hundreds of students took to the streets to protest the University’s handling of the incident on Wednesday 6th of February, attending a ‘Reclaim Our University’ demonstration on the University’s campus. Organisers of the protest posted the following statement on Facebook: ‘The University is sending a message [that] this behaviour is acceptable, and the rehabilitation of those who glorify sexual violence is more important than the safety and education of those they seek to attack.’ Elliot Mulligan, co-editor of The Boar, explained: ‘Students feel the wrong decision was made in the first place so there is still a lot of anger about that.’ With thousands of students still unhappy with the University’s overall response to the situation, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, Sir David
Normington, said that there will be ‘a thorough, external and independent review’ of the institution’s disciplinary processes. Liam Jackson, President of the Warwick Students Union, commented on the ‘considerable unease’ still felt by the students after the appeals. He said, ‘We remain shocked by the content of the group chat, and our stance continues to be that sexism, racism and oppression of any kind have no place within our community.’ In the days following these events, a number of posts defending the Warwick students’ group chat appeared on the Brumfess Facebook page, which is an anonymous confessions page run by University of Birmingham students.
“Students feels the wrong decision was made in the firt place so there is still a lot of anger about that” These comments were condemned by UoB’s Guild of Students’ Women’s Officers, Alif Trevathan and Holly Battrick, who posted a statement on their Facebook page. They said: ‘“Jokes” like those are a perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and rape culture that can, and often does, lead to violence against women and minorities. They normalise these kinds of violence, and must not be tolerated.’ After attending last week’s protests in Warwick, the Women’s Officers added: ‘All students deserve to feel safe on campus, not exclusively those protected already by their privilege.’
Pollution-Related Deaths in Birmingham Predicted to Increase Diana-Andreea Mandiuc News Reporter
Statistics by Public Health England suggest 1 out of 18 deaths in Birmingham are caused by air pollution. In 2017, 460 deaths across the London were connected to fine particulate air pollution, whereas in Birmingham the figure is closer to 500. The World Health Organisation recommends annual levels of PM2.5, which is the level of dust,
soot and smoke particles that are normally connected with road vehicles. As the levels of air pollution increase, it is predicted that deaths will increase by 6%. Reportedly, long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of death, stemming predominantly from cardiovascular causes. In contrast, short-term exposure to high concentrations of air pollution can exacerbate lung and heart conditions. ‘Having an estimate for the loss of life attributed to air pollution is one way to measure its impact, but sadly it doesn’t tell the whole story,’ affirmed Chief
Executive of the British Lung Foundation, Dr. Penny Woods. The World Health Organization currently imposes limits on air pollution levels, which the British Lung Foundation are calling to be included the upcoming Environmental Bill. They are also calling on ‘Clean Air Zones’ in towns and cities throughout the UK which are most polluted. Jenny Bates from Friends of the Earth, an international network of environmental organizations, said ‘It is children who are among the worst affected by dirty air, and this can lead to worsened asthma and even children grow-
ing up with smaller lungs. ‘The solution to this health crisis lies in city mayors and local authorities using their powers to restrict the dirtiest vehicles from the most polluted areas and encourage people to leave the car at home.’ Redbrick spoke to a final year student who said, ‘It’s not really surprising considering how much traffic there is in Birmingham. It’s the second biggest city, after all.’ The statistics further show that in 2017, 5.1% of all deaths in England were caused by fine particle air pollution. Despite its recent implementa-
tion of a Clean Air Strategy, the government is struggling to match the recommended air pollution levels. These are put forward by World Health Organization for the next year in order to reduce the risks that air pollution poses. After the strategy was launched, the UK’s Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said ‘air pollution poses the single greatest environmental threat to human health.’ Hancock affirmed the need to reduce pollution for good health, but this ‘a duty of government’ as ‘no-one can tackle air pollution alone.'
NEWS
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Friday 22nd February 2019
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Guild Elections: An Insight Into Your Presidential Candidates for 2019 Redbrick Elections Editor Tom Leaman interviews the candidates running for Guild President in this year's student body elections The four candidates listed were interviewed by between Saturday 2nd and Tuesday 5th February. A fifth candidate, Michael Stephens, did not contact Redbrick for an interview. The candidates are listed alphabetically by surname.
mental health provisions. He says that some of the University’s selfhelp guides, which he has used himself, ‘are really good’ but are too difficult to access: ‘I’m not too sure if many students know they exist or where they can find them.’ He says that improving the layout of the University’s website or app could be beneficial.
Ramyar Ahmed
“Ahmed praised the ‘great achievement’ of Reece Patrick Roberts' Selly Express”
Second year student ‘Reliable Ramyar’ Ahmed says he has two main policies in his campaign to become the next Guild President: ‘My selling point number one would be affordable meals across campus,’ begins Ahmed, stating that ‘there aren’t many nice affordable meals’ available for students. The second key manifesto On the subject of student safepoint for Ahmed is a scholarship ty, Ahmed praised the ‘great to fund cultural events on campus. achievement’ of Reece Patrick He gives the examples of the Roberts’ Selly Express service, Christmas funfair and ValeFest as saying ‘hopefully, we’ll continue examples of large-scale social that.’ events that are already He would also ensure held at UoB, but that the University is held Ramyar has a vision accountable to the where ‘any indipromises it makes vidual or society regarding this issue. can ask for fund‘From my undering to put on a standing, I don’t social event on think there’s a a big scale.’ safety committee, He believes so that could be a that this scheme potential commitcan emulate the tee we can set up spirit of the 2022 and if anyone has Commonwealth any issues they can Games, which he come to them.’ Ramyar Ahmed says will be ‘a celeAhmed is the curbration of cultures and rent secretary of the identity, and hopefully, Commuter Society, a comwe can really ignite that within mittee member for diversity and our campus.’ He says that the pro- inclusion within the POLSIS posed scheme, which would department, and a Guild of reflect the diversity of UoB’s student body, could fund ‘any suitable and feasible’ event. Regarding the funding for the scheme, he tells Redbrick: ‘I think that’s not really difficult. We can get donations from alumni or students can even fund it ourselves – selling Krispy Kremes is always really good.’
“My selling point number one would be affordable meals across campus” He also suggests that money could be donated from ‘the local council, as it could be a partnership with the Commonwealth Games. If we can show the evidence that it will have a positive effect on the local community, I’m sure the local council would like to get involved too.’ Ramyar’s manifesto also shows his desire to revamp how students access the University’s
Students NUS delegate. He believes these experiences would make him ‘a very open’ leader who ‘is a good listener’ and ‘will accept views that are different to mine.’ He ended his interview by affirming that students are ‘so powerful’ and, if he was elected Guild President, he would ‘engage with students more and ‘make sure their views are represented.’
Svenja Peters ‘I was actually inspired by a Brumfess post’ about ‘what the Uni’s getting away with,’ firstyear Psychology student Svenja Peters tells Redbrick when describing her motivations to run for Guild President. While Peters admits that she has had limited opportunities to climb the hierarchy of societies as a first year, she has confidence in her ‘slightly more radical approach’ to getting the University to act on the wishes and needs of stuPhotoSoc dents. Peters believes that the biggest issue currently affecting students at the University of Birmingham is access to mental health services. She says that provisions currently in place, such as Guild Advice, need to be both better publicised to students and expanded to ensure that students get the support that they need.
One issue she perceives is that some students do not know how to access the services that are currently in place to be able to get ‘discreet’ and ‘safe’ mental health support.
“I was actually inspired by a Brumfess post about what the Uni's getting away with” By better-informing students of the services that are available and expanding them to include more professionals, Peters believes the University will be better equipped to provide support for students ‘whenever they need it.’ When discussing Selly Oak, Peters admits that she is ‘a bit nervous’ about moving into the area when she starts her second year of study. She says that the high volume of posts on the Facebook page ‘Fab N Fresh’ is a factor in this, as it shows a variety of different types of crimes happening close to the University on a regular basis. Regarding improving the situation, Peters believes that the University could do more to fund student safety, saying: ‘I think the general issue is that the University doesn’t spend the money where it
should be, but on what they think is more important, like advertising and aesthetics.’ Peters again raises the idea of promoting schemes that are currently in place, such as street patrols. Peters also told Redbrick that she wants to ensure that the Selly Express continues to be funded into the future. Peters also wants funding to be ‘redistributed’ by the University to ensure that accommodation is affordable for all first-year students. To do this, she says that she would ask the University for a breakdown of how tuition fees get spent, so that she can show students where the money could be reallocated. She also told Redbrick that she is considering attempting to introduce a reduced fee for students from a lower-income background to make costs ‘less of a barrier’ for prospective students.
“I think the general issue is that the University doesn't spend the money where it should be” Peters pledges to improve the WiFi networks in the library, as she says it is ‘very frustrating’ for students trying to do research when the WiFi is faulty, particularly for students writing their dissertations. She said: ‘I think that’s one of the easiest things to get fixed, to just get better access to WiFi in the library on all floors.’ Key Guild Elections Dates: To keep up-to-date with Guild Elections campaigning, here are some key dates for your diary: Monday 25th February: Campaigning and voting begins across campus and online. Voting opens at 10 AM. Friday 1st March: Campaigning ends and voting closes. Voting is open until 4 PM. Saturday 2nd March: Votes are counted by the Guild of Students. Results are announced. You can watch this on our live blog, or with BurnFM or GuildTV. For full coverage of the Guild Elections campaign and for indepth interviews, please visit www.redbrick.me/news/guildelections and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@redbricknews)
NEWS
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricknews
Joshua Williams Lifelong Birmingham resident Joshua Williams makes it clear that his experience working in mental health ensures that his welfare-related manifesto points are more than just a ‘token element.’ He suggests that there are three main issues facing the University’s mental health policies: funding, accessibility, and follow-up support. While he says that the University generally scores well in league tables regarding mental health funding, he believes that ‘there is more that we can do,’ such as ensuring that no students have to wait more than 10 weeks to access counselling services. Summarising his mental health policies, Williams tells Redbrick: ‘I want people to know this is something I’m deeply passionate about. I want to enact a lasting change for all students that speak out and say “I’m not ok.”’
“I want to enact a lasting change for all students that speak out” Another of Josh’s manifesto points is introducing nurse-led sexual health testing to campus, which he says is ‘vital’ to ensure that students can get professional help on campus as an alternative to using sexual health testing kits provided by charities such as Umbrella, which he says students may find uncomfortable or embarrassing. Another manifesto point of Williams is to introduce a Care Leaver Part-Time Officer role, as he says that students who have come to University from the care of a local authority have high drop-out rates. ‘The whole point of part-time officers is to represent under-represented groups on campus and make sure everybody has a voice.’
He says this role would ensure that ‘people like me can look at the Guild and see themselves represented and know that they have a place to turn to for support for specific issues related to being in the care of a local authority.’ Moving onto the topic of student safety, ‘Just Josh’ says that the ‘vulnerable’ student-dominated population of Selly Oak means that forging and maintaining a strong relationship with West Midlands Police is an important target. One factor in this is ‘promoting services such as the Blue Line scheme, PhotoSoc where the University has trained five students to become special constables.’ He believes that publicising such schemes could be important in helping the student body feel safer in Selly Oak. Finally, another Selly Oak policy proposed by Williams is ‘a comprehensive guide on lettings agents in Selly Oak,’ which he sees as something ‘that can be done over a short period of time.’ If elected, this system would compile students’ experiences of housing and lettings agents operating in the area. As President, Williams would ‘ensure inclusivity and accountability,’ saying that the officer team is such a success because it’s made up of a diverse group of people who come together ‘to fight for the common cause’ of improving the student experience at UoB. ‘Yes, I may be running for President, but that doesn’t make me more important than the Welfare Officer or than the LGBT Officer.’ Reflecting on his decision to run, Williams told Redbrick: ‘I think it’s important to stand up for what you believe in.’
“I think it's important to stand up for what you believe in”
Le’Shaé Woodstock
07
and an outdoor cinema. Woodstock told Redbrick that she did not support the development of the site, calling it ‘a huge space that could have been utilised for something else,’ but has since adopted a ‘now it’s here, let’s use it’ attitude. These events on the Green Heart, particularly in the run-up to exam season, would offer students a way to relieve stress and spend time with friends, making this an important point for her.
Interviews with every FullTime Officer candidate can be found on Redbrick’s website.
“Safety is the top priority”
Education Officer:
‘I’m a leader, but I really value the people around me,’ says Psychology student Le’Shaé Woodstock, who also works as a Black Student Experience Researcher at the Guild. Under her leadership, Woodstock would aim to implement a Fab card, which would follow the example of other students unions in giving students ‘unlimited access to Fab and Sports Night’ as well as a drinks discount at Joe’s for a yearly fee. Another of Woodstock’s key manifesto points is to extend the Selly Express service so it also serves students living in To improve and Harborne, Selly modernise the ‘oldPark and fashioned’ process of Edgbaston. To finding housing in get the Selly Oak, University to Woodstock proposcommit to es a Guild Lettings funding the app, which would s c h e m e , allow students to Wo o d s t o c k review their landsays that meetlords. To get a lot of ings with the reviews on the app University’s senquickly, she would ior management incentivise downloading PhotoSoc team, including the the app and reviewing Vice-Chancellor, could landlords, such as by offerbe beneficial to explain that ing £1 Domino’s Pizza. ‘safety is the top priority.’ Finally, Woodstock discussed Extending the Selly Express is her Guild trips and activities mansomething that she says would be ifesto point, which would be especially useful to students who aimed especially at international live outside of Selly Oak, giving students to help them integrate the example of medical students into the University community. If who live in Harborne to be closer elected, Woodstock would introto the Medical Centre. duce day trips to key Birmingham In lectures, Le’Shaé has often and West Midlands attractions felt ‘extremely uncomfortable’ such as Cadbury World, the Sea after hearing culturally insensitive Life Centre and Stratford-uponor disrespectful comments from Avon. lecturers, and she views cultural awareness training for members of staff within both the Guild and the University as a way to protect minority students. For Woodstock, the root of this issue seems to be a lack of exposure to diversity and cultural education for staff, as she told Redbrick: ‘I believe education is the key to helping cultural awareness - if you’re not brought up in a way to be aware of other cultures, you’re not going to Woodstock concluded her know.’ interview with Redbrick by sayAnother of Woodstock’s cam- ing: ‘My main motivation is to pus-based manifesto points is to help students have a positive ensure that the Green Heart is experience, no matter where utilised during the Spring and they’ve come from.’ Summer, such as for live music
“I believe education is the key to helping cultural awareness”
Activities and Employability Officer: Ryan Ginger Amy Hodgkiss Interviewed by: Charlotte Gill, News Reporter Current Officer: Robyn Macpherson
Muhammad Abd-us-samad Jodie Brown Amanda Sefton Interviewed by: Aneesa Ahmed, News Reporter Current Officer: Adam Goldstone International Officer: Yousef Alqurashi Maria Araos Casas Wei-Lun Chen Ifeoma Odum Joanne Park Interviewed by: Emily Darby, News Reporter Current Officer: Joanne Park Postgradute Officer: Tobiloba Adeyemi Hadia Choudri Andrea Davis Mohamed Elgenidy Interviewed by: Erin Santillo, Editor-in-Chief Current Officer: Jessica Small Sports Officer: Josh Dooler Simon Price Interviewed by: Liam Taft & Megan Stanley, News Editors Current Officer: Simon Price Welfare and Community Officer: Alexander Chantrell Amelia Gibbins Interviewed by: Megan Stanley, News Editor Current Officer: Izzy Bygrave
Editor’s Pick
News Editor Tom Leaman writes on the importance of students voting in the upcoming Guild Elections
Compiling these pages (and online content for every candidate) has demonstrated just how much effort goes into allowing Guild Elections to go ahead from so many different people. From Guild staff to four of the media groups covering the campaign to the candidates themselves running to get elected, the behindthe-scenes effort to allow this campaign to take place on a yearly basis is understated by many. With 23 candidates running for seven full-time positions, the importance of students taking part in this process vitally important. As I hope the outline of the presidential candidates above demonstrates, each position is being
campaigned for by an eclectic and diverse mix of candidates, who do genuinely want what’s best for the University’s students.
“Each position is being campaigned for by a diverse mix of candidates” This year, the Selly Express has become a symbol of what the officer teams stand for. In his campaign, the current Guild President, Reece Patrick Roberts,
made the service one of his key manifesto points, and the fact that it became a part of the University’s fabric over the past four months is a testament to what the officers can achieve. This is before the eleven PartTime Officers are considered: Reclaim the Night, taking place on March 8th in the city centre, is being organised by Alif Trevathan and Holly Battrick, the two Women’s Officers. While it would be difficult to summarise the achievements of every officer in this space, these two examples show the power held by the officer team, as they both tackle issues directing thousands of UoB’s students.
While the achievements of the two officer teams are admirable, the democratic turnout for the elections seems comparatively underwhelming. In 2017 according to statistics from the Guild, 8,507 students voted out of a student population of over 34,000 – only around a 25% turnout. With only around a quarter of students taking part in Guild Elections, it could be argued that the turnout must increase for the officers to truly be representative of (and accountable to) the entirety of the University’s diverse student population. With complete coverage of the campaign available on the
Redbrick website, BurnFM’s airwaves and through GuildTV, all of the information is readily available to make sure your voice is heard over the next week. With free Domino’s for all voters being offered at the Guild on Thursday 28th, there’s no excuse for not voting!
COMMENT
08
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickcomment
Poll of the Week: Guild Elections
We asked students at the University of Bimingham whether they thought the upcoming Guild Elections are relevant, and whether it affects university life “It is good that students can have a united voice on issues that matter to them” Ye s
No
.3 %
66
.
33
7%
Are Guild Elections Relevant?
“Most of the policies aren’t enforceable or are really vague” “Those elected are not in term long enough to make any real significant changes” “Nothing ever really changes despite who’s elected” “This is one of the only ways for students to have a say in what happens at the University”
Emily Chapman Comment Editor
With Guild Elections on the horizon, we asked students whether they thought the elections themselves and their results actually had an impact on their university life. A resounding number of responses told us they viewed the elections as merely a charade aimed to quell the concerns and demands of students, but that the outcomes were ultimately irrelevant. In written responses, students generally said that the Guild Officer team and the whole election process are just for show and to tick a box, and that they don’t make a real difference to university or student life and wellbeing. A number of students also noted how they felt the elections were a popularity contest, and ‘just a way to glorify a BNOC.’ It can be seen how students feel left out of what goes on in the Guild, but some
still find it encouraging how there is still the guise of student representation. I think that ultimately, whether the Guild actually make a difference or not, if students do not feel as if this is the case, and still feel ostracised from an organisation meant to represent them, then the point of Guild elections (although perhaps not totally irrelevant), are definitely missing the mark.
Take part in our polls: Redbrick Comment Contributors
@RedbrickComment
Making Tough Decisions is the Price of Being a Good Parent Katie Price shouldn’t be shamed for her parenting choices, argues Catrin Osborne Catrin Osborne Comment Writer
For over a decade, the British media have obsessed over Katie Price’s unpredictable drama. From botched boob jobs to that horrendous cover of ‘A Whole New World’, Katie’s life has been lapped up by the tabloids. However, Katie’s recent decision to put Harvey, her severely disabled son, in residential care sheds light on a key misjudgement within our society. Parents that seek professional care for their children should not be labelled as lazy but as logical.
“Parents that seek professional care for their children should not be labelled as lazy” Katie Price revealed that she plans to put her son in residential care from Monday to Friday. Harvey Price, aged 16, suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome which leads to severe weight gain and learning difficulties. Alongside this, Harvey has autism and partial blindness caused by septooptic dysplasia. As well as Harvey, Katie has four younger children: Junior Andre (13), Princess Andre (11),
Jett Hayler (5) and Bunny Hayler (4). On ITV’s This Morning, she explained that due to his learning difficulties Harvey frequently scares the younger children by waking them up and shouting. Not only does Harvey struggle socially, he poses a physical threat to the family. Due to his disability, Harvey is 6’2 and 24 stone. In the previous year, Harvey has smashed eight iPads, four TVs and an abundance of windows. This has built up to around £7000 worth of damage. On 13th February, Katie shared a photo to Instagram showing the boarded-up windows caused by one of Harvey’s outbursts. Shown in their BBC interview, Harvey does not have a concept of why smashing items is wrong without Katie having to explain it. Siblings of disabled individuals are significantly more likely to suffer from stress and anxiety disorders. Though Harvey can be loving to his siblings, he lacks an understanding of his own actions. Katie’s decision balances the wellbeing of her children, as she will have quality time with Harvey on weekends whilst ensuring that the other children are not overlooked. The decision is not only in the best interests of her other children but Harvey himself. Since she plans for him to board at a specialist school, 24/7 attention will be given to Harvey. Subsequently, there is a higher chance that he will attend his lessons, which he is refusing when living at home.
Disabled children have significantly lower educational prospects, partially due to low attendance. However, Katie’s decision was met with a flood of critical tweets. Her decision has led her being labelled a ‘bitch,’ ‘scum of the earth,’ and ‘so unlikeable.’ The rhetoric focuses on the idea that Katie has failed as a mother and that seeking residential care is a ‘weakness.’
“Katie's decision was met with a flood of critical tweets” As of 2017, there were 410,000 elderly people in care homes. If we find it socially acceptable to put the elderly in permanent care, why is the Prices’ situation different? Like dementia or Parkinsons, Harvey’s learning difficulties require constant attention. Some may argue that it is immoral to leave a child in care. However, nearing 17, Harvey is becoming an adult. With his large stature and aggressive mood swings, Harvey is no longer the harmless child that he used to be. Abandoned by Dwight Yorke, Harvey’s biological father, Katie has brought up Harvey for sixteen years primarily on her own. There lurks a sexist undertone to these comments due to the expectation
for women to be nurturing. A negatively impacting their woman that doesn’t meet the health. impossibly high expectations of Children’s disabilities require motherhood is automatically specific attention, especially with demonised. someone like Harvey who has a Due to Katie Price’s party- combination of disorders. Whilst goer reputation, plenty have criti- parents can research their chilcised the celebrity as a bad moth- dren’s conditions and find perer. Pictures of her partying in a sonalised techniques to support deserted student nightclub recent- them, professional carers have ly added fuel to the criticism. been trained. Around 66% of Some have forgotten that Katie unpaid carers in England feel that Price’s income is built on public they lack support from healthcare meet-ups and advertisements professionals. The Carer’s such as this. This is not a Allowance provides finandebate as to whether cial support, but carers Katie Price is a decent deserve training person or should be and wellbeing ‘cancelled.’ From assistance her cocaine themselves. If addiction to full-time supporting her carers feel m o t h e r unsupportthrough her ed, it is terminal illrational people leave work ness, Katie is those each day to beome that neither entirewho can ly angelic nor afford to a full time carer problematic. will seek The backresidential (Carers UK) lash against care. Katie Price has The stigma highlighted a curagainst Katie rent issue. In the Price’s situation United Kingdom, more sheds a light on the than 600 people leave their work United Kingdom’s unsatisfaceach day to become a full-time tory treatment of unpaid carers. carer. It is a personal choice Seeking professional assistance whether one decides to become a for a disabled loved one should carer for their loved ones. not be stamped as lazy. Parenthood However, being a full-time carer is an individual affair and Katie eats away at one’s own selfhood Price is protecting his siblings – 83% of unpaid carers have and offering her son a better qualreported cases of their care work ity of life.
600
COMMENT
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickcomment
09
What Happens Next? Issy Campbell argues that universities must do more to support students who don’t want to pursue postgraduate education Issy Campbell Deputy Editor
I am 21 and I have no idea what to do with my life. Final year is drawing to a close, but there are many of us are still none the wiser on what we want to do. Some may have come to university with specific pathways in mind. These may have stayed constant, but more likely, most have completely ventured away from their 18-year-old career goals. Not enough is being done to bring ease to the minds of the hundreds of thousands of students who aren’t sure what happens next. There has been a surge in the number of students attending university over the last decade. And, whilst it’s fantastic to see so many people now have the opportunity of higher education open to them, are we really seeing what this increase is telling us? What to do once you’ve finished sixth form or college can be an extremely difficult decision, although one arguably now made easier by the accessibility of university.
“There has been a surge in the number of students attending university over the last decade” There are so many different universities to choose from, with 11 right here in the West Midlands. On top of that, each university offers a varying range of courses – in fact, UoB offers up over 300 for undergraduate study alone. In 2016-17 it was reported that 2.32 million students were enrolled in Higher Education in the UK, with 1.76 million of them being undergraduate students. University seemed like the logical step for me once I’d completed my A-Levels, and it certainly looks like many other people felt the same way. No one really expects a 17 or 18-year-old to know exactly what to do with their life, yet there we are sending off our applications for our favourite
mattbuck
subjects, career-driven courses or sometimes for areas we’ve never even studied. That being said, going to university makes great sense if you’re unsure what you want to do at 18. It gives you time, it provides opportunities through societies and helps to narrow down some of your interests. And yet, despite my three years of independence and further education, I’m still clueless as to what I want to do. I wouldn’t change my decision to come to uni, it’s opened up a world of possibilities and new-found hobbies, but honestly that’s almost the problem. When deciding what I should study, my decision was definitely based on continuing what I enjoy and ensuring that I wasn’t committing myself to a certain type of career path like law or medicine too early. Hence my decision to study Ancient and Medieval History. Sure, perhaps it is a bit niche, but everyone told me history was perfect as it provides you with so many transferable skills. That’s probably true, as is for most humanities subjects, but now I’m nearing the end of my third year, it’s left me with more anxiety than I was expecting. The University offers workshop after workshop after workshop on ‘how to get into x, y and z,’ but that doesn’t mean much if you have absolutely no idea what you may possibly want to go into. Countless others are in the same position, dreading the question ‘so, what are you doing after you graduate?’ when you see extended family members over the holidays. For a lot of people, a master's is the answer – yet again we, or for that matter the universities, are telling ourselves further education is the solution. There have been a number of informative events and talks helping final years navigate masters applications and courses for UoB as well as elsewhere, but master’s degrees should not be being used as a way to prevent being an ‘adult’ for as long as possible. Some people, of course, want to go on and study something at a higher level, perhaps to even enhance career options or because they have a passion for the topic. But, it seems all too many of us are starting to consider it, because once again, we don’t know what else to do. Graduate schemes are also becoming ever popu-
University Enrollment Rate (HESA)
lar, with the promise of job security and with many offering experiences across a range of departments, and I’m not surprised. Initial applications, however, can take days to prepare and they are so competitive you need to apply to a number to increase your chances of securing a job. Final years are expected to juggle their work alongside researching and prepping for these various schemes and interviews. On top of that, sometimes the sheer number of applicants means you don’t even get a response, and if they tell you you’ve been rejected it’s unlikely you’ll get any feedback. Is the constant stress and that horrible feeling of rejection really w o r t h g o i n g through if you’re not really sure the scheme is even in something you want to do?
Universities are failing to offer the help and support to those who don’t feel any of the above options are the answer. There have been no talks from alumni who felt the exact same way but have gone on to achieve amazing things or advice that doesn’t end with the email address for the careers department. Instead, they are just adding to the mounting pressure that we are already feeling as graduation looms ever closer.
“Students who are unsure about their future should not be made to go through it on their own” More needs to be done to offer services of support and advice for those who don’t have a job, or further education opportunities, lined up after they graduate. Where is the advice to people who want or need to move away from home, but aren’t sure if it’s possible unless they get a graduate job? Why are there not workshops offering tips for those looking to fill out
over-sea visas or travel alone? Where are the fairs that display information regarding valuable non-educational qualifications and courses on offer? There are so many different opportunities open to us after we leave, but there is a fear embedded in many mindsets that a year out is not the answer; for some it’s even an admission of failure to succeed. Universities are simply not doing enough to help the thousands of students who feel so uncertain about their future. It is not enough to just have an STA on campus, the University should be actively seeking to highlight that being uncertain is okay and certainly not anything unusual. Students who are unsure about their future should not be made to go through it on their own. I’m sure some people will argue we should just do our own research, that we should just Google travel companies or apply to 9-5 jobs via indeed. com. But the lack of acceptance around post-uni gap years, is forcing so many of us into jobs we don’t want, master's we don’t really care for and wasting our time and energy that should be focusing on our degrees - as well as enjoy the last few months of undergraduate life. We are all going to have to work until we are about 95-years-old these days, so I reckon we can probably afford to have a few years off to find our feet.
10
COMMENT
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickcomment
‘The Object of Art is to Give Life a Shape’: So Let’s Fund It Cutting arts fundings excludes the working class, argues Abby Spreadborough Abby Spreadborough Comment Writer
The arts are the lifeblood of modern day Britain, but they are under threat. Often regarded as inessential, the arts are slowly being erased from the national curriculum and cut back in our major cities. We have a rich, but not so diverse, cultural history in this country. A combination of Brexit, and losses in local council and lottery funding have meant losses for some of the UK’s most beloved institutions in recent years. These cuts have set a dangerous precedent. The arts are often seen as expendable in contrast to the essentials such as healthcare, education and welfare. Yet they deserve to be elevated once more, to be seen as essential in continuing Britain’s legacy of producing world class art for future generations. Already, there has been a total loss of £1 billion since 2010. This included a share of £2.5 million annual funding for some of London’s cultural hotspots including The National Theatre, The Southbank Centre, The Royal Opera House and The Royal Shakespeare Company. However, in a more promising development, the government have pledged to give approximately £42.5 million of the funds to arts institutions outside of the capital between 2018 and 2022. Whilst this will combat the London-centric nature of the arts, providing other urban and regional communities a chance to access greater arts-based opportunities, the £1 billion total loss still stands.
“A combination of Brexit and losses in local council and lottery funding have meant losses for some of the UK’s most beloved institutions” For years the capital has provided rich and varied offerings from British born artists such as Turner, Blake and Constable at the Tate Britain and National Gallery. It too displays cutting edge, modern exhibitions at smaller venues such as the Serpentine and Saatchi gallery which is currently running a Black Mirror-themed exhibit. The British public would not only have less access to such institutions but so would many of the millions of tourists who
visit London each year to experience British culture. Thus, Britain would not only lose out on displaying its artistic heritage but would also lose out on the vast sums of money which millions of tourists bring in each year. In the UK we are lucky enough to share in a culture which is democratic. Many of London’s finest galleries as well as those in Birmingham, such as the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the Ikon Gallery, are free to the public. Our national collections are accessible to all, which is especially important as art is often perceived as being the preserve of the upper classes. Continued cuts may reestablish this notion and exclude vast audiences from viewing the art on display at these museums as prices for entry may be introduced. This would alienate whole groups of society from the arts as well as reducing the likelihood of artists emerging from these groups.
“Continued cuts may [...] exclude vast audiences” We can already see this cruel alienation occurring at thousands of state schools up and down the country. As many as nine in ten secondary schools have said that they have had to cut back on lesson time, staff or facilities in at least one creative arts subject. Many have also cut extra-curricular clubs after reporting a lack of specialist staff. Alarmingly, Ofsted appear to not be especially concerned about this rapid decline. Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman recently said that academic subjects were the best route to higher-level study, particularly for working-class children. Whilst it is certainly true that few people are destined to be great artists, the enjoyment of the creative arts and even the appreciation of the arts is nevertheless essential. The removal of the arts would push state schools further toward becoming exam factories. If the arts were to be erased completely, our schools would no longer produce well rounded, open minded individuals with a vast skill sets. Instead British schools would churn out exam robots, and with changes to the national curriculum at GCSE and A Level, this already appears to be happening. New specifications which place greater emphasis on a single set of final exams at the end of two years of study have created a highly pressurised environment. In this context, the arts can be a much needed break from study. As expressed by Spielman, a culture exists of discouraging
working class children from taking arts-based subjects, whether that is as early as selecting their GCSE options or deciding to go to a specialist arts college. Even when undertaking a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature I have come up against this. Literature, much like music, architecture and theatre are thought of as being dominated by the middle and upper classes and are impossible for working class people to crack. However, within regards to fine art, sculpture or more contemporary performance and conceptual art this attitude is at its most severe. The trope of the starving artist often prevails, this is an individual entirely committed to their art but suffering for it financially whilst their family struggles to keep them afloat. For many being an artist is seen as impractical, even a burden, when in reality it is essential. Working class artists and art lovers are crucial when it comes to levelling the playing field and engaging a wider audience. Figures of authority such as Spielman should not be guiding working class children away from the arts but should provide them with the opportunity to experience them and choose them as viable careers if they so wish. It is especially important that students are granted this opportunity at a time when mental health is a major issue for young people. Practicing at least one creative art has been shown to help individuals manage their mental health. Art therapy is often prescribed as treatment for depression and anxiety. In staging, painting, singing or writing about these complex emotions, practicing the arts is a reminder of our shared humanity. It is a cathartic exercise not only for the individual but for whole communities. The Arts on Prescription project based in Cambridgeshire has demonstrated the value of the arts in treating long term mental health conditions. They provided participants with a chance to experience working in artistic mediums from sculpture to printmaking and reported that 76% saw improvements to their wellbeing. At a time when mental health is such a pressing issue, not only within the NHS but within schools
too, it is not only a great shame that the arts are being underfunded but it is illogical too. This wider trend of losses to the arts isn’t being replicated within all sectors of society. Private schools which have a long-established reputation for outstanding arts education will not suffer as state schools will. As they are funded by paying students and not by the government, they may provide their students with specialist facilities, expert teachers and chances to take subjects such as Classics and Art History which are simply unheard of at many state schools. These privileged students go on to dominate the arts sector. For example, in performing and visual arts 18.2% of employees have working class origins whereas in film, TV and radio this figure drops to just 12.4%. A recent report for Arts Council England demonstrates racial ine-
quality as well, BME people are even more under-represented with a mere 9% working at the council itself and only 4% in major museums.
“It is not only a great shame that the arts are being underfunded but it is illogical too” Simply put, Britain’s major cultural institutions do not reflect modern day Britain. Consequently, Britain’s art doesn’t reflect its audiences, leaving them disillusioned and perpetuating the notion that the arts are a domain of the elite. Cuts to arts education in state schools only support this myth and ensure that little progress will occur in regards to representation. It is vital that funding is allocated to the arts once more, if not to create more artists then for the enjoyment and wellbeing of future generations.
Open Clip Art Library / j4p4n
COMMENT
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickcomment
11
HMV Must Evolve to Survive High street shops need to adopt new strategies to stay alive, argues Hannah Lay Hannah Lay Comment Writer
Shortly after Christmas, HMV announced it had fallen into administration. The annual sales figures were lower than they needed to be and a disappointing Christmas had done little to save them. This is the second time in six years HMV has had to call in administrators. We have already seen the closure of high street staples such as Toys “R” Us, Poundworld and Maplin. House of Fraser has also been in administration. Analysts have called this the ‘death of the high street.’ Towns filled with empty shops are becoming the norm. We seem to be losing the heart of our towns at a rapid rate. So why are we witnessing the death of our high streets and what can be done to stop this? Let us focus on HMV first. In 2013, HMV first fell into administration, blaming competition from online retailers such as Amazon for low sales figures. Amazon offers most, if not all of what HMV sells, and often for lower prices. Combined with Amazon Prime, a free next-day delivery service for members, it is not difficult to see why customers prefer the online giant. Amazon offers both lower costs and con-
venience, two important things for shoppers. The BBC reported that ‘one in every five pounds we spend is now via the internet.’ As well as Amazon, HMV faces competition from streaming sites such as Spotify or Netflix. These sites offer a huge range of products all for a monthly fee (that is often less than the price HMV would charge for one CD/DVD), all from the comfort of your own home. With HMV falling back into administration again this year, evidently, these problems have persisted. The Guardian reported that ‘spending on physical music, video and computer games has fallen from £5.7bn to £2bn in 10 years.’ With figures like this, it seems like HMV has no hope in regaining its status as the staple shop for entertainment media. It is important to not undermine HMV’s success though. Despite the declining market, HMV remains a market leader in entertainment. The retailer accounts for nearly 1/3 of physical music sales in the UK and nearly a quarter of DVD sales. HMV maintains power in an albeit dying market. Perhaps the greatest problem for HMV is that customers no longer want physical copies of their favourite film or album, they’re content with streaming it online. If this is the case, although pessimistic to say, it seems unlikely
that HMV will ever fully recover. As already mentioned, other stores have fallen victim to the ‘death of the high street.’ However, there is no pattern of the type of stores that are suffering. The casualties range from electrical retailer Maplin to budget retailer Poundworld. Evidently, it is not just online services driving stores out of our towns. According to The Week the current business rates system is crippling high streets. Business rates are a tax on property used for business purposes and experts say they are too high. If sales in high street stores are already suffering, a crippling business tax is another hurdle that stores cannot afford to jump over. In October 2018, the Chancellor announced a financial package to rejuvenate high streets and provide business rates relief to some retailers. However, only retailers classed as ‘small businesses’ would benefit which means struggling high street chains will continue to be crippled by the tax. Fortunately, for now HMV has been saved. Doug Putman, the owner of the Canadian entertainment retailer Sunrise Records, has stepped in to buy some of the existing stores. But seeing as this is the second time in six years HMV has been in administration, what can this businessman do that others have failed to? The current
publicised plan is to close some stores that have been identified as underperforming. This will allow the retailer to focus on continuing the success of the other stores. As well as this, Putman has said he will focus more on the sale of vinyl records. With the current vinyl revolution and widespread popularity of vinyl records this seems like a smart move. The purchase of at least some HMV stores means fans like myself can breathe a sigh of relief for now. Although, ever the pessimist, I am not sure closing a few stores and selling more vinyl will be enough. To cope with rising business rates, the retailer has to increase sales across the board not just in one area. Also, to compete with the convenience of online
retailers, HMV must create an experience for its customers, something that will make shoppers want to actually leave their house to go to their local store. An example could be hosting live events in stores, something which already happens in some areas. Or potentially, having listening booths – something my dad reminisces about fondly – so that customers can sample new albums before committing to buying them. Strategies like this are not going to attract everyone; some people are too big a fan of the online revolution. However, if shopping on the high street can become an experience again, I am sure many would flock back. It would be a shame to see our high streets die before our eyes.
Wikimedia Commons / Mtaylor848
UoB is Becoming Parasitic
Cities should not have to accomodate the constant demands of growing British universities, argues Alex Cirant-Taljaard Alex Cirant-Taljaard Comment Editor
On the front page of the previous issue of Redbrick, the details of the University’s plan for new accommodation to be built on Pritchatts Road were laid out, alongside the strong resistance from Birmingham City Council. One might assume that, as a student, I would be in favour of the plans. The state of housing in Selly Oak is dire, and some new purpose-built accommodation to add to the 7,000 spaces the University already owns may be exactly what we need. However, it is not as clear cut as that. More housing for students isn’t necessarily always a good thing, especially not for the local area. I think it’s important to think about the wider impact of continuously expanding the boundaries of the student area, and the negative effects it has on the local community. Selly Oak and areas of Edgbaston in the last 20 years have undergone a process of ‘studentification,’ which housing academic Phil Hubbard explains as the ‘influx of students within privately-rented accommodation in particular neighbourhoods.’ Selly Oak is one such neighbourhood, the majority of which is nearly
90% student occupied. Selly wasn’t always a student area, and traditionally UoB students tended to live nearer to Weoley Castle and Bournville.
“Selly Oak and areas of Edgbaston in the last 20 years have undergone a process of ‘studentification’” However, as the numbers of students enrolling rose exponentially, demand for cheap accommodation boomed, leading to the buying up of houses for the purpose of subdivision and student letting. It is clear just from glancing at my bedroom that it was not originally supposed to be for that purpose, and many other students live in houses which have been refitted in such a way. This would not be such a problem if it weren’t for the proliferation of flimsy partition walls and badly built extension which sap the heat out of houses, leading to huge energy price increases. Alongside a sharp downturn in housing quality, studentified areas
also become inhospitable to nonstudents, even those who have lived there all their lives. Most student’s body clocks are warped so massively that someone yelling nonsense outside your window at 3am probably won’t phase you, because you’re likely still awake cramming for exams or watching Hell's Kitchen. But imagine being a normal person and having to live next door to a student. I’d hate to live next door to myself, I’m awful. There’s lots we can do as students to make things nicer in our local area but ultimately a number of students this high is always going to have a major impact on the community. I mean, it’s no wonder so much crime happens in Selly, it’s probably got the highest density of MacBook Pros in the West Midlands. Demand has skyrocketed in part due to the lifting of the student admission cap, with enrolments at UoB rising by nearly 1,000 in the last five years. But, if numbers are up, and students are being crammed into tighter and tighter spaces, wouldn’t purpose built accommodation be the answer? No, not really. I mean it might help the University, but, and this may well be news to certain people in the upper echelons of the UoB hierarchy, not everything is about what is best for the
University. Birmingham isn’t just the city which UoB happens to be in. It is its own city with its own rich history, yet it has become a host to several universities. This isn’t a Birmingham-specific issue either. There is a streak of imperialism running through contemporary higher education, with large swathes of land bought up for student use. So, yes, maybe these new townhouses would help relieve some of the strain. But, ultimately, they’re still feeding in to the larger problem. Plus, despite the official line being that UoB is ‘not aiming at the highest price possible,’ something tells me a townhouse right outside the University is going to be a little bit financially out of reach for many students.
“There is a streak of imperialism running through contemporary higher education” What is the solution? The tension will not let up on its own, and UoB is continuing to fight to ensure its plans come to fruition. Already, the Vice Chancellor has
stated he intends to cap student numbers, but it feels like that ship has already sailed. In drastically reducing student numbers, I worry we may end up cutting working class kids out of higher education entirely, as universities tend to favour those from well-off backgrounds. Maybe we should campaign to stop sixth-forms and colleges from cramming the idea of universities down students throats. It is not the be all and end all of human experience, and there are plenty of non-HE opportunities. I can’t count how many times I’ve met someone at university who says they only attended because they weren’t sure what else to do. The only thing that is certain is that at the current rate, UoB’s influence will continue to spread throughout the city, with little thought for the impact it is having on Birmingham residents. Sure, UoB have just signed up for to the ‘Civic University Agreement’, which will mean that UoB will have a role in solving many of Birmingham’s biggest problems. But, in my eyes, UoB is one of Birmingham’s biggest problems, and I question how useful this agreement is until universities like UoB start taking a good look at the impact they have had, and continue to have, on local communities.
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Redbrick Film’s FILM
With the 91st Academy Awards next Monday, we look at Best Actor
Who will win? Rami Malek has ridden a wave of goodwill since Bohemian Rhapsody’s release in October, weathering storms regarding disgraced director Bryan Singer's conduct on set and the production troubles the film faced after his removal. The Freddie Mercury biopic meanders from cliché to cliché just as its subject refused to; Malek comes alive in the closing musical scenes but his work is more of an impression than a rounded performance. The major awards ceremonies have been able to look beyond such lifelessness: he has BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild awards under his belt already, buoyed by nostalgia for Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody’s status as a crowd-pleasing offering in a weak year for the Best Actor category. It is a shame that the entire project feels too gutless to deserve these accolades.
Who was snubbed? Outside of the Academy's narrow view, there has been a glut of amiable male performances this year, particularly Ryan Gosling’s muted turn in First Man which demonstrates his formidable dramatic instincts. The greatest snub, however, is Ethan Hawke in First Reformed, a tour de force performance from an actor who should have won multiple times already. He has the great disadvantage of choosing subtle, complex roles which defy the Academy’s penchant for flashier fare, a habit exemplified by his character in First Reformed, who experiences a crisis of faith while serving as the pastor of a fading church. He’s no Freddie Mercury, but he offers a multifaceted character whose flaws are as interesting as his virtues. Sam Denyer
Best Actress
Who should win? The success of Malek’s, ahem, toothless performance is doubly troublesome because he is competing against both the reliably good Willem Dafoe and the deserving winner, Bradley Cooper. Already snubbed for his directing of A Star is Born, his film will win Best Original Song (for the remarkable ‘Shallow’), but this consolation is a disservice to his heart-rending performance as alcoholic singer Jackson Maine. The film itself is not perfect, particularly when the focus shifts too heavily to his character in the second half. Regardless, he gives a genuinely compelling performance and does so while creating a novel cinematic character and an original musical voice. That he is able to match Lady Gaga for charisma instead of being outshone by her speaks volumes to the effectiveness of his work in depicting both their relationship and his character’s musical talent.
Best Picture What will win? Alfonso Cuarón’s sweeping, semi-autobiographical epic is nothing less than a masterpiece. It is simply beautiful in its raw, human portrayal of the lives of a family in the Roma District of Mexico City: a snapshot of pure, unbroken humanity. Cuarón is in complete control of his visual craft here, even more so than his previous effort, Gravity. Everything about Roma screams perfection; from its masterful direction to its cinematography, its incredible performances to its superb screenplay – we have truly never seen anything like it before, and I doubt we will again. Its BAFTA win for Best Film helps its chances at Oscar glory, and it will fully deserve it. Only nine other foreign language films have ever been nominated for Best Picture, and none of these have won – Cuarón’s strikingly beautiful film more than deserves to be the first.
What should win? Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman is a film that takes no prisoners. Sometimes hilarious, at other times terrifying, the story of Ron Stallworth is an outrageous one to adapt, and Lee is perfect for it. He pulls absolutely no punches in his direction, with some brilliantly on-the-nose parallels between David Duke and Donald Trump. At first these put me off slightly, but by the film’s end I realised that this was Lee’s aim the entire time: he’s done with subtlety, with treading lightly around the prevalence of racism and the KKK in America. BlacKkKlansman is a railgun, Trump is the target, Lee is the man to pull the trigger. Its message is one of urgency – that something needs to be done, and that it needs to be done now. It is the film we all need right now, and if the Academy cannot see that, then maybe we should be aiming at them, too.
Who will win? Olivia Colman’s portrayal as the frail queen Anne in a ravishingly luxurious society of duck-racers, pineapple-eaters and rabbit-keepers is wonderfully complex. Having already claimed her BAFTA for Best Actress it is no surprise that she is a clear frontrunner for this year’s Oscar grab. Within Yorgos Lanthimos’s Georgian epic The Favourite she struggles to keep her head afloat surrounded by sycophantic aristocrats and nefarious relatives. And yet, amidst this environment of disgusting wealth, she seems to generate a sense of pathos for these royals. Within her performance, she is delightfully comedic yet engenders significant sorrow as her health deteriorates and she begins to question the morality of her choices. Her dichotomous relationship with the audience is spellbinding, leading the front amidst a wonderful selection of actors alongside her. It seems that this royal may well have some more gold to add to her collection. Why was this nominated? I can’t believe I am even having to say this: Bohemian Rhapsody should not have a Best Picture nomination. It is not that great. It is barely even good. It is mediocre at best, thanks to its focus on being a Queen jukebox musical rather than actually doing anything interesting with the legend of Freddie Mercury. All it has going for it are its entertainment value and Rami Malek’s decent performance – there is very little else of merit here, and it has nothing to say about Mercury’s famous contraction of AIDS. This is barely dealt with. It is heavily implied he has sex with a few nameless male extras, but that is all the film does. And let’s not even start on Bryan Singer, its director. I could name tens of films released last year more deserving of a Best Picture nod than this mess. What were the Academy thinking? Matt Taylor
Who should win? Yalitza Aparicio could well make history if she wins this year’s Academy Award for Best Actress. Her performance in Roma as Mexican maid Cleo is sheer brilliance. Working for a middleclass family we follow her closely as she comes to terms with love, loss and yearning lamentation for a life that she so desperately wants but is unable to receive. Within her acting, she provides insight into a powerful humanity seldom seen in the Hollywood spectacles of today. Aparicio leads you down her rabbit hole of despair whilst giving you time to contemplate on the hope that she never ceases to surrender. Despite her subtle nature, she is undoubtedly the loudest person in the room; glowing with brilliance as she takes a stand against history for her performance. She is a stark reminder that there is a whole world of cinema beyond Hollywood, and we certainly need to see more of it. Who was snubbed? Emily Blunt was unfairly snubbed for a nomination this year for her terrifying performance as protective mother Evelyn Abbott in A Quiet Place, struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity has been wiped out by monsters with indestructible skin and hypersensitive hearing. Granted, due to the dire nature of her situation, Blunt was unable to fully wow audiences through her dialogue and typically exuberant disposition. Despite all this however, one did get the sense that she achieved something remarkably special. With as little dialogue as possible, and through sheer acting alone she brings onto the big screen a sense of pure terror rarely witnessed in the rehashed horrors that we have become so accustomed to. Blunt may not have been heard, but she has certainly made others look in her direction. Tom Smith-Wrinch
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Oscar Picks for 2019 what will win, what should win, and what the Academy got wrong Best Cinematography
What will win? Now that this category will be televised after all at this year’s Academy Awards, the Best Cinematography category will be one to watch in this competitive year. Picking up the gong for Best Cinematography in its big BAFTAs haul, Roma will likely be the Academy’s pick for this category. However, as a wildcard pick Lukasz Zal’s work on Cold War and Robbie Ryan for The Favourite could also be potential winners. Zal won the award with Cold War at the American Society of Cinematographers and given the Academy’s long history of favouring the English period drama (The King’s Speech, The English Patient, Chariots of Fire), The Favourite could also be a contender. It is a film very firmly pushing the genre forward into a more experimental style, featuring ultra-wide lenses, long tracking shots and one hallucinogenic bunny crossfade. Yet although it ticks a lot of boxes on paper for what the Oscars would usually go for, Roma seems like a more apt choice, particularly since Emmanuel Lubezki picked up the statuette for Cuarón’s previous film, Gravity. What was snubbed? Having been snubbed at recent awards ceremonies and by the Academy in general, Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here deserved at least a nomination for its outstanding visual storytelling. Tom Townsend’s camerawork in the film, alongside the editing and Joaquin Phoenix’s superb central performance, really capture its conflicted central character. It is truly a story told through images, and there are many jaw-dropping visual moments throughout that show cinema at its best. It remains one of the most underrated films of this year on all fronts.
What should win? Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma is one of the most beautiful films of this decade, and the visual style remains crucial to the story it tells. It is a deeply personal film for Cuarón, reflecting on the setting of his childhood in 1970s Mexico City, and for this he takes up the role as cinematographer as well as writer and director. The trademark long shots he used in Children of Men and Gravity are present here, but they are far from the action set-pieces displayed in both. Roma confines the personal and political within the same frame: one particularly shocking scene depicts, in one 360-degree shot, moments from the Corpus Christi Massacre of 1971 and the central character searching for a crib for her unborn child. The film is grand and sweeping when it needs to be, but also indulging in the smaller moments of life, and Cuarón captures it all perfectly. Sam Zucca
Best Animated Feature
What will win? The 2019 Academy nominations for Best Animated Feature can be considered a good selection. It includes prominent animated hits, such as Incredibles 2 and Wreck It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet. Japanese hit Mirai and Wes Anderson’s stopmotion-animated Isle of Dogs also each earn a spot. But the favourite is surely Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which has had a successful run in the awards season so far, including a grand sweep in the (animation-specific) 2019 Annie Awards and the win at the Golden Globes. Spider-Verse has also enjoyed great critical reception and has been commercially successful enough to claim the attention of the Academy, who have a history of overlooking lesser-known movies or foreign productions.
What should win? Of the movies nominated, Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse succeeds in two regards: pushing the craft of animation further and telling a compelling story to the broader audience. Spider-Verse employs a new form of comic-esque animation, with great visuals and stunning use of colour. It has had a resoundingly positive reception from audiences and critics alike, with spinoffs already being green-lit. Incredibles 2, its most significant adversary, simply did not push such boundaries. Whilst enjoyable, it did not gather as positive a critical or audience reception as SpiderVerse. The ‘Disney’ factor has proved critical in previous races – such as the 2015 Oscars, which included Big Hero 6 (Disney Animation) beating out How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Dreamworks). This year, though, the competition prior to the Oscars continues to resoundingly be geared towards Spider-Verse. What was snubbed? Many of the movies nominated are justified, with no significant snubs to be seen. However, it can be argued that the weakest link within the Best Animated Feature category is this year’s Wreck It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet. Though enjoyed by audiences, there are perhaps other movies that could have filled the final ballot, such as Illumination’s The Grinch, which is having an extended successful box office run. Another potential alternative could have been Aardman Animations’ Early Man – if only for its trademark stylistic use of stop-motion animation. This category has diversified in the past, nominating different forms of animation such as with Laika Studios’ Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings. Alisha Shah
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Best Director
Who will win? The Academy has a very hardfought directorial category this year, one of the best in a while. When looking at this year, the nominations are mostly deserved. Both Pawel Pawlikowski and Spike Lee created fantastic stories and some of the most memorable endings of 2018 with their respective entries, but even with that said, two films are the clear front-runners in the eyes of the Academy. Whilst Alfonso Cuarón’s efforts in Roma are getting widespread acclaim, another is rampaging through award season and will probably claim the trophy. The Favourite immediately grabs you with its desire to be dramatic, a film made by a filmmaker wanting to draw attention to his process. Yorgos Lanthimos does this with a flourish, providing some superb pace and unique camerawork whilst giving space for his fantastic ensemble cast to work their chemistry and magic seamlessly. Apart from wavering in the final act, The Favourite has all the makings to win. Whilst it could be argued that Cuarón has a better chance due to his previous success with Gravity, The Favourite has all the momentum in the world heading into the Oscars right now, and very little appears to be stopping it. Who should win? Of all the films on the list, none have the classic touch of Pawel Pawlikowski. Cold War stood out in a year of great foreign films, not just as an amazing reckless love set against an unpredictable Europe, but as an effort that felt like a refreshing blast to the past. Pawlikowski evoked classic Hitchcock films like Vertigo with a meticulous attention to detail, allowing every scene to breathe and have life. Whilst many efforts this year were memorable, few had the level of expertise shown here. Every scene in Cold War felt necessary. Every scene left memories and reflected the romance and rockiness the film weaved together brilliantly. No director achieved more nuance in their film than Pawlikowski, a man who deserves the award easily. Who was snubbed? There are so many snubs in this category, mainly of women which is concerning. One of the most talked about is Lynne Ramsay for You Were Never Really Here and another being Steve McQueen for Widows. However, the biggest one must be Debra Granik. No director over the last year felt so fresh and got so much emotion out of a relatively simple story. Granik’s film, Leave No Trace, gave us so much this year: its beautiful framing of the city of Portland, a greatly impactful ending, a perfectly paced film, and Thomasin McKenzie’s breakout performance. Granik gracefully stirred themes of acceptance, growth and isolation from society. Her snub is criminal and sadly predictable. No one built such a beautifully entrancing film as poignant as Granik. It’s a film that will be a cult classic and the Academy will be foolish for missing this one. Alex Green
Page 12 Images (top to bottom): AMPAS, Fox Movies, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Universal Pictures Page 13 Images (top to bottom): Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures
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Ben Henley-Washford MONDAY 26TH NOVEMBER BurnFM Head of Sport THE INDIE LOUNGE @Burn_FM FROM 7.30PM
The sports team at Burn is very close to my heart. It was my first introduction to the station, and it has been a pleasure to be entrusted with its management and development. Week to week, we cover BUCS fixtures, from hockey to rugby, to football, all the way to ultimate frisbee. It’s a chance to widen people’s sporting horizons, both across our audience, and on our team. Alongside these weekly responsibilities, we cover larger University sporting events, and this weekend was the BUCS National Finals. BUCS Nationals is a weekend of sporting heats, semi-finals, and finals between athletes from all British universities. It is held in Sheffield over the course of a weekend, and is now in its 10th year. By their own estimation, the competition sees over 6,000 athletes from different British universities compete, facilitated by over 500 officials and volunteers. It’s a fantastic student sport event, and the BurnFM Sports team has been covering the final day of the competition for over 5 years now. Therefore, myself and my deputy Alec Knowles were excited to carry on the tradition. We travelled up to Sheffield in one cramped car in the early hours of the morning, an uncomfortable journey to say the least – it would be worth it though. Alec and Jake Davies headed over the the English Institute of Sport to cover the athletics, whilst myself, Emily Marshall, and Sophie Taylor set up at the Ponds Forge pool ready to cover the swimming.
BurnFM
These finals are often dominated by the sporting elites of Britain: Loughborough, Edinburgh, and Stirling. Therefore, we weren’t expecting to see many Birmingham golds, or even medals, but we were quickly proved wrong. On Sunday, in the events that we were fortunate enough to cover, the University of Birmingham managed to secure two golds, two silvers, and a bronze in athletics, as well as a bronze in swimming. It was a fantastic display of sporting prowess, not just by Birmingham, but by all universities in attendance. Moreover, for student journalists to get the chance to cover an event of this scale is an opportunity that really does only come around once a year, and something that I am so grateful for: it gives us a chance to give our team members experience covering live sporting events of this scale. After a busy few weeks covering Nationals this weekend and Lockdown the weekend before, the team finally has a chance to rest and review before preparation for our coverage of the next event begins. A well earned rest for a brilliant team.
This ad space will be seen by over 1000 students across campus. Make it yours. Discounted advertising for University of Birmingham societies, only in Redbrick. Contact marketing@redbrick.me for details.
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Step into The Theatre of Light and Dark
Trips Through Life and Imagination Former English student David Hamilton has his 7th book out in December. It is Step into The Theatre of Light and Dark: Trips Through Life and Imagination. A book of experimental poetry as advertised in the Literary Review.
www.davidhamiltonauthor.co.uk
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Friday 22nd February 2019
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Mind+Solve
Issue 1503 Puzzles compiled by Thom Dent and John Wimperis
The Redbrick Crossword 2
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Across 2. An accident in the throat (6) 4. Qualified to measure temperature (6) 5. Again, a gift. On behalf of (9) 7. The way there sounds rough (6) 9. Island of many hills, contains three other words (9) 11. The last thing heard at Fab (6) 13. Nickname for Courtney’s friend (7) 16. Remove this if you need to (8) 18. Misquoted python from last edition (4,2,5) 19. Tap road to transform into something compatible (7)
Down 1. Eight down gets moved up (8) 3. Cat wins the dirty way (7) 4. Suave monsieur does excite good atmosphere (8) 6. Doctor’s orders contain acting device (12) 8. Worker hires phone company (8) 10. Little space amidst seminar rowdiness (6) 12. Poison spears (5) 14. Australian koo harbours a deep resentment (8) 15. Playwright makes flour (6) 17. Cover in gold, sounds like union (4)
First Lines
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The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels,
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songs and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.
‘We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. The floor was of varnished wood, with stripes and circles painted on it, for the games that were formerly played there; the hoops for the basketball nets were still in place, though the nets were gone.’ 17
‘She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak’ 18
‘I feel like you're driving me to a court martial.’ 19
Anagrams
Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me
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In a world where nobody has heard of them, can you rearrange the words below to find the names of ten famous Beatles songs?
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LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1a. Highbrow; 1d. Harrow; 2. Bulletin 3. Big cheese; 4. Data; 5. Upfront; 6. Hospital; 7. Isolate; 8. Democrat; 9. Mason; 10. Taj Mahal; 11. Awash; 12. Palindromes; 13. Nirvana; 14. Bewitch; 15. Hidden; 16. Scalp; 17. Viaduct; 18. Camera; 19. Pentagon | First Lines: Fifty Shades of Grey (E. L. James); ‘Disco 2000’ (Pulp); Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly) | Anagrams: 1. The Favourite; 2. Black Panther; 3. Bohemian Rhapsody; 4. A Star Is Born; 5. Green Book; 6. BlacKkKlansman; 7. Isle of Dogs; 8. First Man; 9. Cold War; 10. At Eternity’s Gate
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4. ROMEO GET TECH 5. EMU CHEESE THORNS 6. ICY MR VADER 7. DEFIANT HAILEY 8. EL TIBET 9. STAUNCH BIKERS 10. YEARLONG BRIE
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My Favourite Place in the World: From North America to South New Zealand, Redbrick Editors share their Niamh Brennan Television Editor
Banff Banff National Park quickly became one of my favourite places in the world because, even in April when the ski season was coming to a close and most of the winter activities had finished for the year, we were always kept busy in many of its awe-inspiring locations. In the quaint town of Banff itself you can find big brands alongside the work of local artists, whilst just outside you can take a gondola to the top of the mountains or
explore the National Park itself, where I had the amazing opportunity to spot bears roaming around freely in the park. From the eerie Banff Springs Hotel, which looked like it was taken straight from The Shining, to the incredible glacial turquoise waters of Lake Louise, each landmark felt they should have been provinces or even seperate countries, but they were all located astoundingly within this one national park. Banff is one of the most incredible places John Lee I have ever visited, and I have no doubt I will return in a different season to see what else it has to offer.
Thom Dent
Print & Features Editor
Tilburg Tilburg is not the most attractive place in the Netherlands. Nor is it anywhere near the best holiday destination. There’s not all that much to do, apart from a huge street carnival that comes to the city every July. I came to Tilburg, unknowingly, in the midst of the Kermis last summer – in reality, although it attracts hundreds of thousands each year, it’s little more than a glorification of what you can find in any English park across our own summers. Nonetheless, I spent six weeks living in Tilburg and fell com-
Gaming Editor
Iceland Park, a place where - with nerve Just a short flight from the - you can jump across a chasm UK, Iceland is perhaps best known between the North American and for being cold and fairly desoEurasian tectonic plates. late, but the quirky archiHowever, the most tecture of the capital, magical places can be Reykjavik, the mulfound when leaving titude of lava the tourist buses Francesco Ugaro fields and the behind. In 2013, chance to wittaking a wrong ness the turn led me past a Northern Lights beach formed make the Nordic entirely of black island definitely rocks and, to my worth a visit. surprise, Hodor The typical riding a quad bike tourist trail onto the Game of involves a dip in the Thrones set. hydrothermal Blue If you’re not fussed Lagoon, a spraying from about getting a suntan, the mighty Gullfoss waterfall and Iceland is certainly worth consida trek around Thingvellir National ering.
tions. Despite the relaxing nature Issy Campbell of the country, there is still an Deputy Editor abundance to do, including fun activities and great nightlife. If you visit Vang Vieng, you must Laos grab a canoe and cruise Although by no means unpop- down the Mekong ular with travellers, Laos is still River, stopping for often missed with those exploring food at restauaround South East Asia. Resilience Its loca- rants along the tion between Vietnam and Fitness way, or for a Thailand provides an effortless quick caving journey between countries, espe- expedition if cially if you are aiming to travel you’re brave from Hanoi through to Chiang e n o u g h . Mai. Smaller than its neighbours, L u a n g Laos is no less impressive. Not Prabang is a only does this country have a must – find a beautiful landscape to show off, spot on the with mountainous terrain that Mount Phousi leaves you in awe, as well as look out, and impressive French colonial archi- watch a sunset tecture – it has a laid-back atmos- like you’ve never phere. This comes as a real breath experienced before. of fresh air, in comparison to Toward the south of the when travelling in parts of the city is the famous Kuang Si watermore popular traveller destina- fall where you can take a refresh-
ing dip in the stunning blue water. Bizarrely, however, before you reach the waterfall you can walk through the bear sanctuary, home to some really cute and extremely large moon bears. Vientiane, the city’s capital, is another well worth visit as it’s home to some of the most stunning temples in South East Asia. Laos is everything a traveller could ask for, and it should not be overlooked by perspective backpackers. I promise, once you’ve been Laos will always hold a special place in your heart – it certainly does for me.
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for the first time. I bought a guitar from a thrift store and painted it. Every night my friend and I would smoke and write albums. Tilburg is not a thriving tourist destination. It’s a terrible place for a holiday. But as a place to live, even for six weeks, I couldn’t have asked for more.
Imogen Mellor Grenada Whenever anyone asks where I’m from, I normally boast of Grenada. It’s a tiny country in the Caribbean towards S o u t h America with a smaller population a n d even smaller notorie t y . Having visited freIain Grant quently, it features my favourite view in the world. My mum was left a house on the side of a mountain, which overlooks about a third of the island, a lot of sea, the town Sauteurs and Carriacou in the distance. You can even see Sugarloaf, which is basically a small hill out at sea. It’s my favourite place in the world as it’s practically untouched by the
Erin Santillo
pletely in love. I worked night shifts in the bar of the city’s only hostel and became friends with the other people working there, who came from all over the world. We had bikes and rode out to the puishaven on sunny days. We made art in the hostel car park. We triangulated the perfect route from our home to the local toastie shop (Toasty Business) and back via the nearest koffeeshop. In true Dutch-tourist fashion, I ate truffles
outs i d e world. To really understand the Caribbean, you need to sit out on a porch playing cards for a couple hours, watching the sun set and listening to the crick-
Alex Cirant-Taljaard Comment Editor
Zadar I’m rarely a fan of extended holidays, and would rather take 3 smaller weekend breaks than one week-long holiday. So when I say I could happily spend a fortnight in Zadar, one of many beautiful cities in Croatia, you katkaZV can be certain it is one of the best holiday destinations in Europe. Croatia has boomed in popularity recently, due to a combination of good food, hot weather,
ets chirp as the island goes from a vibrant green to dark hue illuminated by the stars and streetlamps. I must add however, the rum is pretty good too.
and relatively low prices. I’ve stayed in a hotel in Croatia, but it was once I spent time in an AirBnB in Zadar that really fell in love with the city and country. Combining rolling hillsides with pristine ocean and a smattering of tiny sun-soaked islands, Zadar is the perfect place to run away to if university is getting too much. The Sea Organ, an art installation which creates a harmony using the tide is a must-see, as well as the nearby Krka national park, whose waterfalls I saw on literally every person's Instagram feeds last summer.
FEATURES
Friday 22nd February 2019
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Redbrick Editors’ Choices favourite places in the world, and why you should visit them too John Wimperis Digital Editor
Athens A short way inland from the ethereal coastlines of the Saronic Gulf, stands the city of Athens. Most of us have learnt of Athens’ past, but nothing can prepare you for how present it remains. The Acropolis shines above the city and, in the centre, relics of the ancient city burst into the modern world every few streets. This is impressive and there really is no experience on Earth like standing on the Acropolis. Yet the spirit BBC of this first of democracies, however,
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anarchist quarter, where intellectuals and socialists adorn the streets with graffiti, placards, and public debate - or, having a chat over a frappé with any of the locals, you’ll see why this city was the first to share power among the people.
Evangeline Hunt doesn’t reside in these ruins but rather in the energy of the modern city. You can find today’s Athenian orators and philosophers in Exarchia, the
Travel Editor
Vietnam Not exactly off the beaten track, but Vietnam is a must-visit for anyone travelling in South East Asia. What made Vietnam so special for me was the fact that it had absolutely everything – vibrant bustling cities, breath taking scenery, incredible food – what more could you want? Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City bookend the country, where you can sit on the side of the road drinking coffee with sticky rice, watching utter chaos unfold on the roads in front of you. Be careful when crossing the road, as there are no rules on the Vietnamese streets. Mopeds, cars, bikes and people swerve inbetween one another, with constant horn-honking blaring in your ears.
Hoi An sits halfway up the country, where the Ancient Town offers laid-back colonial French vibes. Explore the night markets where bright coloured lanterns will illuminate your path, and you can get a suit tailored for next to nothing. Head to the beach to relax in the sun, while swimming in sea water that is as warm as a bath. The scenic Halong Bay is at the north end of the country – spend a couple of days on a boat sailing around the thousands of limestone karsts. Explore the hidden caves along the way, and sail around the floating villages where civilians live entirely on water. Every corner of Vietnam is rich in culture and history, which is everything I look for when travelling. Taking a cooking class in a must in Vietnam, where a fusion of Asian flavours combine to make unique dishes. The north of Vi e t n a m can get suprisingly cold in the winter, so be prepared with ingo66 a few extra layers that you wouldn’t otherwise need in South East Asia. That being said, temperatures rarely fall below fifteen degrees, which still feels warm in comparison to the UK. I must warn though – Vietnam is loud, chaotic and crazy. Expect to leave with a headache – but a camera full of photos and a love for Vietnam that will make you desperate to return.
Sorcha Hornett Social Secretary
Laura Botia Travel Editor
Sorrento Boasting cities like Venice and Rome, Italy is an obvious choice for many travellers. And, whilst the northern cities are nice, if you venture slightly further south in the country, you will come across a little town called Sorrento, which happens to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and by far my favourite place in the world. Its location on the Amalfi Coast features some of the most spectacular views; the Sorrentine Peninsula, in par-
ticular, has unbelievable panoramic views over the bay of Naples, Moutn Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri. Summer is the perfect time to fuly experiemce all t h a t Sorrento has to offer, so m a k e sure you grab a gelato and head down to one of the m a n y beaches that line the town's surroundings. Fresh fruit is grown locally in the hot climate of the summer season; how-
ever Sorrento is most famously known for its lemons – of which it has an abundance. A variety of small antique shops line the narrow streets, offering fresh lemon biscuits, more limoncello than you could ever imagine and even lemon chocolate (try it before you judge)! It is also a short ride away from Pompeii, where you can discover the ancient city as it was before Mount Vesuvius wiped out the population – it’s definitely worth a visit if you're a history lover! Situated on the coast, the seafood here is always fresh and unbelievably tasty; the prawns are the biggest I have ever seen! With a tranquillity that is sure to calm even the most anxious of travellers and an obsession with lemons that is unparalleled, what more could you really want from a holiday destination?
Dubai Dubai’s perfect year-round weather and stunning architecture is what makes it one of my favourite places in the world. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit on multiple occasions, but somehow always in late August when the temperat u r e reaches up to 45 degrees. T h e heat gives you the perfect excuse to lounge around and enjoy doing nothing on the idyllic beaches. Or, if you’re looking to escape
James Law Gaming Editor
New Zealand South Island It’s not the ‘sexy’ part of New Zealand. I understand. The capital and largest cities both reside north of the Cook Strait, as well as tourist hotspots like Hobbiton. But I find a beauty in the south that is underappreciated. My family hails from the tiny student city of Dunedin, home of the world’s steepest street that my dad claims he used to walk up for school. Go west from there for Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, continue to the stunning Te Anau and its glowworm caves, as well as Fiordland national park, home of the world’s most amazing glacial valleys. Get on a ferry to the south and visit the almost uninhabited Stewart Island, housing just 400 people and a whole bunch of kiwi birds. I could talk for days about my favourite place in the world. If you get the chance, pick up a backpack and give it a shot.
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the heat, the Dubai Mall is the second-largest mall in the world and home to 1,200 shops, the ideal place to spend a day hiding from the sun. A must-do while you’re in the country is visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The architecture is unlike anything else, and the views from the 148th floor are unrivalled. Arch_Sam Dubai is unlike any other place I’ve visited in the world. It literally encompasses the word ‘extra’ and that’s exactly why I love it.
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CULTURE
Friday 22nd February 2019
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Review: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake
Alice Landray reviews Matthew Bourne's exquisite interpretation of Swan Lake at the Birmingham Hippodrome
Johan Persson
Alice Landray Culture Critic
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake was exquisite, in every sense of the word. Having, admittedly, not had the pleasure of experiencing many ballets previously, I was excited, albeit a little apprehensive, when I was presented with the opportunity to watch Swan Lake at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday night. Afterwards, I was left in a state of awe. The elegance, beauty and power that flowed around the stage throughout the performance was unlike anything I have witnessed before: each outfit so carefully thought out and beautifully crafted, each character so genuine and animated, each individual’s talent so profound. If you are able, Matthew Bourne’s S w a n Lake is a must-see. Bourne adapted the traditional storyline of Swan Lake for a contemporary audience. What was particularly impressive about this interpretation of the
ballet was the use of gender. The original story of Swan Lake can be seen as falling into line with historical gender stereotypes, sticking to an all-too-familiar, safe, and arguably popular, fairy-tale about a beautiful princess and a handsome prince who, despite a sorcerer’s best efforts, fall hopelessly in love. Instead, Bourne embraced the strength and grace of male ballet talent and Tchaikovsky’s emotive music to create an alternative storyline which connected with the essence of the ballet and resonated more powerfully with a 21st century audience. Prior to this re-vamp, Bourne expressed to The Telegraph that: ‘As long as you approach the music in a truthful way, I don’t see why it must always have the same steps and the same images.’ It is this conscious and heartfelt connection between the new story, created in the context of a modernd a y world, and the traditional music which, I believe, has led
to such a widely popular reception across the UK. Although it was a risky move by Bourne, the magic and tragedy has been retained, and the story made more captivating.
“The elegance, beauty and power that flowed around the stage throughout the performance was unlike anything I have witnessed before ... each character so genuine and animated, each individual's talent so profound” Along the same vein, a particularly poignant scene was that in Act 1 where the Prince dances with his mother, the Queen. The use of lighting and shadow, combined with a relatively empty stage, enhanced the feelings of
sadness and desperation – a son who desperately yearns for his mother’s love and approval, and a mother who can’t hide her disappointment. The way the dance ensues, with reaching motion and aggressive contact, is somewhat reflective of current issues faced by teenagers and y o u n g adults, mirroring the struggle to fit in to modern-day society. Also enjoyable was the tasteful weaving of comedy in the scenes, particularly in the first act, especially striking because it was perhaps something that I did not expect from the performance. Each character held their own: you could watch each
person on stage and they would be entertainingly absorbed in their own storyline within the ballet. It made the performance even more engaging, and I was surprised to find myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions. Of particular note was the ‘girlfriend.’ Performed by Katrina Lyndon, the character was played in an outstandingly witty way. However, for those of you concerned, fear not, this added comedy was tasteful and complementary to the traditional appeal of the ballet, and the tragic end was as emotionally poignant as I could imagine it possible. Bourne’s production of Swan Lake successfully ruffles the feathers of traditional ballet and whips the audience up in a current and emotional form of magic. All photographs by Johan Persson.
CULTURE
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickculture
19
Review: The House on Cold Hill Frankie Rhodes Culture Critic
As a particularly squeamish person, reviewing a production about ghosts was something that I certainly had reservations about. When the curtains of Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre opened to a pitch-black scene, I was ready to spend the next couple of hours or so hiding behind my notebook. However, The House on Cold Hill was a production that managed to be chilling without relying on endless over-the-top jump scares, and was generally an impressive modern take on the classic ghost tale.
“The House on Cold Hill has succeeded in being entertaining, convincing, and of course frightening” Adapted from a novel by bestselling author Peter James, and inspired by true events, the play focuses on a family moving in to a decrepit Georgian mansion in the Sussex countryside. Whilst parents Ollie and Caro are excited about their new-start, their technology-addicted teenage daughter Jade is disappointed to have moved away from her friends. Screeching water pipes and a dodgy internet connection appear to be the only unusual quirks about their new home, until inexplicable things start to happen, and the family can no longer
ignore the local rumours about the sinister history of the house. The production employed all of the usual ghost-story-stereotypes: old, shadowy mansion, naïve newcomers, a middle-aged hippie with the ability to communicate with ghosts, slamming doors and the like. Yet, it was also able to incorporate modern day technology into the plotline in a way that I had rarely seen achieved before (or at least not beyond the realm of Netflix dystopian films). The family’s new gadget, an Amazon Echo, became an important part of the descent into horror, and elements of FaceTime were brought in via teenager Jade. This cleverly demonstrated a 21st Century response to the horror genre, however at times it could have been executed in a more convincing way. Persephone Swales-Dawson’s performance as Jade, for example, displayed high levels of energy, but sometimes failed to capture the essence of the moody-teenager constantly glued to her phone. It felt at times as if this was a storyline aiming to appeal to the youth yet quite obviously having been written by the older generation, meaning that it lost an element of its up-to-dateness. Having said that, one thing that the cast were able to expertly capture was the sense of a family unit. Rita Simmons (who is most famous for her role as Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders) brought with her that cockney sense of family loyalty in her role as Caro, whilst Joe McFadden as Ollie was able to embody the chirpy, lovable yet slightly hopeless man of the household. With Persephone adding to this dynamic as the reluctantly devoted daughter, it was easy to forget that you were watching renowned soap stars, as for the duration of the play, you
felt as if you were watching a real family. This added important weight to the storyline, as you really cared about the characters, and were constantly rooting for them to triumph over their ghostly perils. Yet, the family appeal of the production did not take away from its spookiness, and whilst the play was far from an X-rated horror, it was able to effectively induce tension and fear. As the jump-scares were not as innumerable as they often are in horror films, they appeared out of nowhere, and struck when you least expected it, making them incredibly powerful. The production was able to generate a general atmosphere of eeriness, with subtle ghostly projections, whispers and sinister knocking being among the chilling effects. Beyond this, the layout of the stage was such that you could
only see a small part of the indicatively huge mansion, so that characters emerged from dark corners that you didn’t even know existed. A gauze panel towards the right of the stage was illuminated on several occasions to indicate someone (or something) outside, trying to get in, which for me was one of the most harrowing effects. Despite this, the production was able to deliver several comical moments without taking away from its frightening elements. A sudden ghostly apparition, followed a few seconds later by an exclamation of ‘Jesus!’ or ‘what the hell!’ from Joe McFadden, left the audience stunned one moment and bursting out in laughter the next. Supporting characters such as Annie the quirky medium (portrayed by Tricia Deighton) and Fortinbras the local Parish Priest (portrayed by Padraig Lynch) pro-
vided much material for laughs. However, one supporting character whose story was left unresolved was Charlie Clements, who took on the role of Chris the geeky technician. Whether left open for the purposes of a sequel, or carelessly forgotten, his plot line remained disappointingly unsettled. Still, perhaps a general feeling of unsettledness is inevitable after witnessing a production involving ghosts. It is undoubtedly difficult to take a cult genre and make it appeal to a mainstream theatre audience (or several audiences across the country, as this production is set to tour). Yet The House on Cold Hill has succeeded in being entertaining, convincing, and of course frightening, with attempts made to adapt to the interests of modern viewers.
Helen Maybanks
Review: Six Sara Cowen Culture Critic
It is rare to witness a truly groundbreaking piece of theatre, but Six, the female empowering, history extravaganza, is just that. The stage is dark, and as the eerie sound of the infamous phrase ‘divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived’ rings out, a spotlight is shone on each wife, in full Madonna-inspired Tudor regalia, and the audience is catapulted into a 75 minute romp through the Tudor period – think Little Mix doing Horrible Histories. The age-old rhyme is given a new lease of life, remixed, made sexy and completed with power ballads, fluorescent ruffs, sequins and accompanied by an all-female band The Ladies in Waiting. Reminiscent of Hamilton, the show is forging a new way to teach the public our most beloved stories from history (or herstory as these women call it). The opening line, ‘Welcome to the show, to the histo-remix,’ sets the scene for an hour of strong female talent. Each wife is given her own song, with
Adele style vocals, Britney Spears sass and a German electro-pop song ‘The Haus of Holbein (ja).’ It seems the cocreators Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, fresh graduates from Cambridge, aimed to replicate the songs from the most beloved female pop stars. The show revolves around a competition to deem who is the
best wife, each one making her case with a song. Katherine Howard (Aimie Atkinson) argues she’s clearly ‘the ten amongst these threes.’ Anne Boleyn (Millie O’Connell) is ‘sorry, not sorry,’ and Anne of Cleves (Alexia McIntosh) is ‘the Queen of the castle.’ Through these songs the wives are able to finally tell their stories from their point of view,
and to articulate the pain suffered at the hands of Britain’s most infamous tyrannical King. Beneath the glitter and powerful vocals is really a strong expression of survival in a male dominated world. Take Katherine Howard’s tale of a girl groomed from the age of thirteen by manipulative men, expressed with the desperate line: ‘He just
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cares so much it feels legit / I think this guy is different.’ This was repeated for each man who abuses her. Catherine Parr (Maiya Quansah-Breed) who ‘had no choice,’ represented the women married over and over again as their only option in life. The show strikes the balance between a thrilling and funny exploration of history. It’s sprinkled with jarring moments reminding you of the pain and suffering, glossed over by slick dance moves from Carrie-Anne Ingrouille and costumes designed by Gabriella Slade. Each costume is individual with a clear nod to the Tudor period – think huge sleeves and corsets – but are brought into the 21st century with fishnet tights, sequins, studs and metallic colours. This show is a fresh, daring and dynamic piece of theatre, paving the way for the rise of this new way of telling historic tales to the masses. Clearly the often impossible-to-please London audience now has a taste for pop musicals, and if I were you, I’d keep an eye on the creators of this show to see what period of history – sorry, herstory – they’ll tackle next.
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MUSIC
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickmusic
Album Review: Le Butcherettes - bi/MENTAL Jake Sandy Music Critic
If, like me, you’re unfamiliar with the Mexican garage-punk scene, then you’d be completely forgiven for missing the release of Le Butcherettes’ fourth studio album, bi/MENTAL. The lack of mainstream attention it has received is far from indicative of its quality as, over fifty minutes, they continually impress with a stylistically mixed range of tracks that marry deeply personal lyrics with energetic instrumentals delivered with their trademark self-assured swagger. Given the eclectic blend of genres in their music, labelling them as simply a ‘garage-punk’ band is a definite misnomer. Having said that, the album’s opener ‘spider/WAVES’ definitely lives up to this billing with its sticky-as-treacle lead guitar and low-fi production reminiscent of the early work of bands like The Black Keys. However, where the band breaks free from these compari-
sons is the vocal performance of the band’s enigmatic frontwoman, Teresa Suárez Cosío (commonly known by her stage name – Teri Gender Bender). Her ability to flit nonchalantly between different styles adds an extra level of complexity to the songs and allows her to organically blend seemingly disparate musical influences into single tracks. Take the aforementioned opener: the classic punk vocal aesthetic is offset by the occasional interspersion of lines delivered in an ethereal style reminiscent of Kate Bush.
“The band are able to organically blend seemingly disparate influences” Cosío’s stage name is a clear nod to the band’s subversion of the supposed masculinity that is inher-
ent in the musical genre they occupy, so it is of little surprise that feminism and other social issues are brought to the fore in their music. The album’s third track ‘strong/ENOUGH’ is an empowering ode to reclaiming control over your destiny following the breakdown of a relationship. The powerful delivery of lines such as ‘I’m smart enough, grown enough / My heart is headed out the door / Don’t need your abuse no more’ is a stark reminder of the mental strength it can take to leave a toxic relationship. Another standout feature of this album are its bold production choices, emblematic of a band that are self-assured in their own ability and have complete creative control to actualise their vision. From ‘la/ SANDÍA’, a song entirely in Spanish with shimmering synthesiser notes accentuating a funky bassline, to the stripped-back opening to ‘in/THE END’, whose acoustic simplicity provides a stark contrast to the busy mix of drums and electric guitar in many of the other tracks. This is clearly a
meticulously-planned album by a band who take their art extremely seriously. My only real criticism centres around the track ‘mother/HOLDS’ where the mix is littered with discordant screaming which, frankly, borders on unlistenable. Of course, the point of its inclusion is to make the song a difficult listen, which is understandable given the bleak nature of the lyrics. However, it’s such a jarring change of pace that it feels shoehorned in to add some wholly unnecessary ‘edge’ to the tracklist. Overall, though, it’s difficult to begrudge one minor misstep on an album that is otherwise jam-packed with innovative ideas. After listening to this record, it remains a mystery as to why it has garnered little to no attention from UK outlets, so for now it will remain a magnificent hidden treasure, patiently waiting to be discovered.
Music Critic
The crowd was buzzing like a tenyear-old on their fifth cup of coffee. This was well before French Kiwi Juice even got out on stage at the Olympia in Paris. Amongst the audience, the mix of French and heavily-accented English bore witness to FKJ’s spread of popularity beyond France. He strolled out on stage in his bright-white ‘atomic’ jacket, his signature dreadlocks swishing. With little need or time to address his audience between the whoops and whistles of anticipation, he began to play. One touch of the keys elicited an excited roar of approval from the crowd. One drop of the beat and the room was fully caffeinated and bouncing off the walls. As a multi-instrumentalist and DJ who arrived on the House and Electronic scene around 2012, Vincent Fenton has been labelled ‘the future of French
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Touch.’ French house is a style of house music that flew out of the 1990s as an electric melting-pot of sound. Its influences range from jazz and soul, electropop and hip-hop, to American and European disco music. Fenton’s own influences include jazz, blues, funk and gospel, even before he started exploring electro. His music has grown in popularity since collaborations such as ‘Losing My Way’ with Tom Misch (2016), and ‘Vibin’ Out With (((O)))’ (2017). He certainly has a knack for creating a great range of scenery within his soundscapes. His songs can transport you from the feeling of your heart floating up in the air, alongside the gentle melodic lines of synth and piano, to riding the sensual waves of his alto and tenor sax solos. Then suddenly, yet with seamless transitions, the entrance of the beat throws you up on new shores, where your hands and feet and hips are possessed and you have no choice but to bop and sway to the rhythm. With such a talent for making this attractive and addictive music, simultaneously nostalgic and hopeful, FKJ was always bound to appeal to any listener with a soul.
Within t h e Olympia’s red walls and black doors, it would be safe to say that no amount of pre-concert beverages were in any way required to get the entire room
moving to the music. FKJ was the vibration that set the circuit alight from the second he appeared. His stage-presence captured the eyes and ears of his audience, who he kept in a time-frozen trance for the whole set. The atmosphere was as electric as the music.
“He soared above us, with his magical sax and keys improvisations” As he began to play, three seethrough projection curtains descended across the stage. Blurred city lights behind a rainsoaked window accompanied the chill beat of his opening song. Throughout the set, I found that the contrast of FKJ’s dramatic silhouettes created by white and coloured spotlights, along with the projections only added to the epic performance. The clips included a gorgeous golden sequence of ‘(((O)))’, the vocalist, singing and dancing to ‘Vibin’ Out’. Also, the stunning sunset and ocean horizons during ‘Skyline’, then later two flaming orange figures grooving along or riffing on the sax either side of him during ‘Tadow’, which had everyone clambering for their phone cameras. Had this effect been badly executed, it could have easily taken away from the experience. However, the bold display only served to intensify the atmosphere and creative vibe. Attempting to get us clapping and cheering in a unified rhythm, FKJ looped us and before we knew it, we had our very own live
Editors’ Picks: An Orchestral Rendition of Dr. Dre: 2001, The Mill, 1st March Orchestral re-imaginings of classic hip-hop instrumentals have found a keen audience in the past few years (the popular live rendition of Madvillainy springs to mind). The massive, layered instrumentation of a live band feels like a match made in heaven when twinned with tracks from this, Dre’s classic second album. Listen out especially for their versions of ‘Still D.R.E.,’ ‘Forget About Dre’ and ‘What’s the Difference.’
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Live Review: French Kiwi Juice Flick Hemming
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jam session. He soared over our messy, overly-excited chant, with his magical sax and keys improvisations. His general switching between instruments was mostly fluid, impressive and fairly subtle. However, there were a few moments where the movement on stage verged towards frantic as FKJ lunged from instrument to instrument. I envisioned what would unfold if he slipped, and sent instruments flying in the huge effort to avoid losing his rhythm. However, to give him credit, despite this, he never once lost it: the beat, his flow, or his cool. At the end of the set, the appreciation and applause died into a ripple of disappointment as the pause and expectation of an encore hung in the air. I began to silently congratulate FKJ for not boring or tiring the audience, keeping us guessing and wanting more. However, our patience was rewarded as the river of couples heading to the doors dried up, and much to our delight, the white jacket reappeared. His encore was accompanied by an earthquake of rumbling, matched only by the appreciative feet that had caused worrying reverberations underfoot during clear favourites such as ‘Tadow’, ‘Losing my Way’ and ‘Skyline’. Whether or not I have succumbed to bias, under the spell of his enchanting saxophone solos or the epic extent of his coolness, FKJ may just have hit me with my best gig yet. From his first funky slide on the bass, to his humble bows of thanks and wishes of ‘bonsoir Paris.’ I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled to discover where he will ride those sound waves to next.
Flickr / Justin Higuchi
Billie Eilish, O2 Institute, 2nd March Fast becoming a chart-topping pop musician within her own right, LA-based Billie Eilish will be playing Birmingham’s O2 Institute next week. Since her debut single ‘Ocean Eyes’ went viral, gaining over 215 million streams on Spotify, Eilish has been supplying her loyal and growing fan base with hit after hit. Set to release her debut album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? at the end of March, this show will be the best time to see Eilish in a relatively small setting, before her debut propels her to even wider fame. Best of the rest: Percolate (Denis Sulta, Krywald and Farrer, Willow), The Mill, 22nd February Seth Troxler, Lab11, 23rd February Mothers, Hare & Hounds, 26th February Skepsis, Lab11, 2nd March Itchy Feet, The Jam House, 5th March Eliza, Hare & Hounds, 7th March Nightmares on Wax (DJ set), Hare & Hounds, 8th March Stiff Little Fingers, O2 Academy, 8th March
MUSIC
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickmusic
21
Redbrick Meets: FEET
Music Critic Christian Nasillo meets Coventry rockers FEET to discuss creating a new record label, their DIY attitude and the resurgence of British guitar bands Christian Nasillo
Oh yeah definitely, there’s definitely a shift you can see happening. You mentioned IDLES, that’s an excellent example, it feels like ‘bands’ kind of phased out for a while in a strange way. I guess that’s easy to say from the perspective of being a band member, but with IDLES that’s just good to see, because they deserve it, they’re amazing. Which is also good to see because it’s sort of creeping back into the public consciousness. Band music isn’t just ‘done with,’ there’s still so much to do.
Music Critic
If you haven’t already heard of FEET, you soon will. The Coventry indie-rockers have had a whirlwind year: after releasing their debut single ‘Petty Thieving’, they received high praise from NME and DIY Mag and hit the road in the summer of 2018 for a slew of festival appearances and support slots with Declan McKenna. Now they’re ready to kick off 2019 with their first national headline tour, which comes to Birmingham on the 9th March at The Bristol Pear. I had the pleasure of chatting with Harry from the band. Firstly, how are you today? Pretty good, today’s the last day of our finishing off recording our first record actually, it’s all pretty exciting stuff really. It’s sort of been getting a bit crazy with the last couple of days, finetuning, listening to the same sections of song over and over for hours and just ploughing everything into it that you can. When did you start (self-created record label) Clapped Records? In the past couple of months really, we were umming and ahhing about whether or not to do a record deal. We had conversations with our manager about the benefits of both, and we decided that in the long run it would be a bit more beneficial to have our own record label, especially if things don’t work out, the hardships of being in a band, in a very popsinger songwriter-esque world.
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We thought this would be much more exciting, we’ve got stuff planned for the record label so hopefully we’ll be able to do some stuff with other bands. We want to put on nights and have a ‘Clapped’ night, starring a band or a few bands. We want to take the extra step and go a bit weirder, have like a magician or somebody playing FIFA in a corner or whatever it might be, whatever comes to mind, we’ll just try and make it work. We’ve only really had that idea in the last week or so, it’s all things to look forward to. Is the DIY attitude important to the band? Yeah, before we got ‘picked up’ – so to speak – by our managers we just sort of bowled around in Coventry, because the music
scene there was never very impressive. It’s all club nights, DJ nights, sort of pop stuff. Being people who love band music and the live scene we put on a lot of our own shows in Coventry and just wanted to continue that, then when the idea came to us to have our own record label it was, ‘that’s DIY, that’s cool.’ I guess we just want to do as much DIY stuff as we can before it gets phased out. You’ve talked about the ‘pop singer-songwriter’ aspect to music, is that your view of the music scene in Britain right now? For example, IDLES have been nominated for a BRIT award, do you think there’s starting to be a more shift in focus to more guitar-driven punk style music?
Live Review: Valeras Jamie Fowler Music Critic
Embarking on their first ever headline tour, Reading’s fivepiece alternative rock group Valeras played a killer set at The Sunflower Lounge. Combining the layers of three guitarists, skillful drumming, a powerful bass, frontwoman Rose’s sweet vocals and an occasional cowbell, the band’s sound is more dynamic than ever. Not only have their pumped-up melodies and evocative lyricism continued to impress, but the stage presence of the members exudes a striking charisma that captivated the audience. Opening with the methodically-paced ‘Colour Me’, one of the singles from their Knives and Flowers EP, the band carefully built the crowd’s energy up before erupting into a crescendo of symbol crashes and guitar riffs, holding us at that level for the rest of the gig. The guitarists continued to deliver when performing ‘The Mask’ and during ‘Painkiller’ the chanted chorus met equivalent hype in the crowd. The band followed this up
with their recent single ‘Ricochet (Nunca Morira)’, where the instantly catchy banger pulled all in attendance into a head-bobbing trance. The vibe was electric, and the performers appeared like they had been doing this for decades. Returning to where it started, the title track of their EP was next, remaining as infectious and elaborate in its detail as ever. From the same project, the heartfelt vocals kickstarted ‘Ashes’ before an epic drum pattern led to the drop of the guitars, the rock-heavy atmosphere descending again.
“Valeras’ sound is more dynamic than ever” Unreleased song ‘Gun’ was next up, with an intensity and assuredness that was impressive for artists so young. One of 2018’s singles, ‘Intentions’, closely followed, where the audience was instructed to dance by the lead singer. Displaying a fun and groovy side to the band, the youth-
ful anthem was ripe with alluring vocals and a memorable rhythm that was one of the key takeaway moments from the gig. ‘Honey’, an unreleased tune, was the penultimate song. The passionate performance, which saw Rose come out into the crowd, along with a surge of energetic instrumentation, suggested that when the song is eventually released it is sure to be met with positive reception from their fans. The finale came in the form of the single ‘Louder’, which was certainly the case as the crowd responded with applause and cheers to the rip-roaring closer. The main takeaway from the show was this: a very talented group of people have clearly learned a lot from supporting great bands like The Wombats and Fickle Friends, and are certainly able to pull off an immensely satisfying tour of their own. If you get the opportunity to see them at any gigs or festivals in the future, don’t miss out. Valeras is a name you’re going to be seeing a lot more in the next few years.
Am I correct in saying you wrote ‘English Weather’ in a barn in Bedfordshire? Pretty much yeah, we had an early incarnation of it towards the last sort of days in Coventry, but with those sorts of things you just keep writing and keep changing things. We actually recently listened to our version from Coventry because we just found it on an old laptop, and the one we’ve just released is so much different, so much better, it’s got a lot more going for it, a much clearer vision. It’s always nice to work with a producer as well, because it’s like a sixth mind for us. I’ve seen you guys described as indie rock/indie punk, how do you feel about that? Do you think those genre labels reflect your influences? Ah that’s such a hard question! Sometimes yes, sometimes no, because we sort of spent this time in the barn as you mentioned earlier, writing our songs, curating our sound, but for every song that’s going on the record there’s two and a half songs that have just been binned off because we just didn’t think that they were good enough, or we didn’t want to sound like or be ‘that’ band. But there has been a sort of shift in the way we sound, it’s much less ‘polite indie’ and it’s got a little bit more going for it and we think it’s more exciting. We’re going to be playing these songs for at least another two years before we think of doing a second record. There was like a pivotal moment when it was just like, ok we don’t want to be like the classic twangly jangly indie band that ‘Macho Macho’ and ‘Back Seat Driver’ would sort of lead you to believe that we are, and I think ‘English Weather’ bridges the gap between that and some of the other stuff coming up from the record. But yeah, I guess what we’ve sort of been labelled as ‘indie punk rock.’ I guess indie is the term you would use, but I think indie is such an umbrella term that you sort of have to subcategorise it, just like for a laugh we’ve been calling ourselves ‘crease-pop,’ like when someone makes a joke and you go ‘ahh that’s crease,’ we just got drunk one day and were just like ‘oh, we’re a crease-pop band.’ We never want to seem too serious in interviews, [...] and no-one really knows what it means, not even we do [laughs]. What are your influences as a guitarist?
Influences are a fluid thing, you can see something in like a film and be like ‘oh I like that sound, what’s that sound?’ We do that so much, it’s such a weird thing, you can never think of an example but we’ll be doing something and someone will go ‘oh that’s mad that sounds like this part from this film’ or it’s got that kind of vibe to it. I don’t know, we always just sort of dick around – so to speak – and just move bits of pedals or whatever and just see what we can find, a lot of it is just trying to fuck up pedals and amps and see what comes out really. Musical influences for me personally, I really don’t know, I listen to loads of stuff. There’s a track recently that all the lead stuff we’ve done is sort of Shuggie Otis vibes, it’s kinda got vibes like that. I mean there’s tonal changes and stuff, where we’ve gone for different guitar tones just from being in London and seeing various bands and going ‘oh that’s sick! I love the way that sounds.’ We had this rule, that we’ve been following for the first record, that we don’t really want the guitars to sound like guitars all the time but also we’ve not allowed ourselves to use any synths or anything that’s not a guitar or a bass or vocals or drums. We haven’t used any synth or anything, we just wanted to challenge ourselves to see what we can come up with, and I think it’s kind of worked. In the DIY article we were in yesterday, they thought Callum’s lead part in ‘English Weather’ was done on a synth and we were like ‘yes! We’ve won!’ Where do you want to take FEET? Where would we like to take it? Out of this shitty weather [laughs]. Out of this shitty English weather? Out of this shitty English weather yeah, pun intended I guess! Um, onwards and upwards I suppose, we’ll see where this record lands us. As I said there’s a lot of sounds on there, if people listen to ‘Back Seat Driver’ and ‘Macho Macho’ we’re not too different but we’re not that happygo-lucky band anymore. There’s a lot of people that have stuck with us and been waiting to see what we come back with because we haven’t really been around a lot since uni. We did the festival tours over the summer and since then we’ve been away writing and playing the odd shows here and there, literally just writing songs. We’ve got ten songs now that we all love but we’ve probably written about fifty, you really need to cycle through the rubbish to get to the good stuff. Hopefully the record comes out, does really well, we’ve got two or more singles to put out then drop the record, and yeah it’d be nice to definitely spend a lot more time in Europe, go over to America and the likes. I mean, any band’s dream is surely just to be in it for as long as possible and self-sustain it, rock and roll, the dream is on.
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Friday 22nd February 2019
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Review: Roma Alfonso Cuarón pays homage to an important woman from his Mexico City childhood Sam Zucca Film Critic
Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón has enjoyed a critically acclaimed and commercially successful career: ever since he got the job directing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, one of the most experimental films in that series, he has created the heavily praised dystopic drama Children of Men and the 3D box office and awards hit, Gravity. His newest film Roma is currently up for ten Academy Awards, yet it is a world away from these last three films. Some of his fellow countrymen have seen more success when turning to English language films, with both Birdman (del Toro) and The Shape of Water (Iñárritu) winning best picture in recent years. However, Roma shows a complete change in direction for Cuarón, to something that is much more personal and something of a passion project of his. The film is focused on Cleo, the servant to a wealthy family living in Mexico City in the early 1970s. She is largely based on Cuarón’s own childhood maid,
according to some interviews, and it is interesting that for such a biographical film he turns to a subject other than himself. Mike Mills used a similar technique in 20th Century Women, writing of the various women that shaped his adolescence. Roma remains even more unique however, as despite Cuarón’s claims that at least ninety percent of the film’s events are from memory, he does not have an obvious presence as a character. The film could be described as an epic, with Cleo at the helm instead of a classical hero like Spartacus or Ben-Hur, and the backdrop being on Mexico in the 1970s rather than imperial Rome. It is a film that asserts that this character has an incredibly significant role to play, both in the family she serves and the society she lives in.
“Yalitza Aparicio... is the driving force throughout the narrative”
Cleo is played by Yalitza Aparicio, who has been nominated for Best Actress for her first ever performance, and she is the driving force throughout the narrative. The film offers a unique but universal perspective, as a servant who must relentlessly deal with tending to the house, looking after four children, and cleaning the driveway which seems to be eternally covered in dog shit. These very small problems are contrasted with her own relationship issues, and the wider social issues of Mexico’s tenuous political situation. The country and its capital existed amidst a legacy of violence, and this is not shied away from in the film. The political background and indeed Mexico City itself seem to live and breathe throughout Roma through some incredibly detailed soundscapes, creating a mosaic of marching bands, gunshots, cars, shouts and singing. These details add much to the film’s style, with the sound design being just as important as the cinematography or soundtrack. There is a patience to the film at times, quietly showing Cleo at work in the house, but also an
"Some major story issues ... drag it into the mire" Participant Media
immediacy in certain moments. It is down-to-earth and compassionate with its focus on love and family, but also chaotic and absurd much like life can be. It is a truly stunning film from start to finish, with a gradual pacing that gives enough time to breathe life into its subject on-screen.
“The film could be described as an epic”
VERDICT: Roma is Cuarón’s best film yet. It has a great chance of winning best picture at the Oscars this Sunday, and if it does so it will make history being the first film not in the English language to win the award. And what a superb film it will be to make that leap.
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Review: The Kid Who Would Be King Joe Cornish's superb cast of kids deliver surpisingly political family adventure flick Matt Taylor Film Critic
Joe Cornish’s second directorial feature has been a long time coming. His last directorial credit was for 2011’s Attack the Block, his debut, that showed him to be a promising filmmaker. Featuring stellar acting from its whole cast (including the thenunknown John Boyega), gripping action, and a bucket-load of laughs, the film quickly became a cult classic. His latest effort, fantasy adventure flick The Kid Who Would Be King, is a massive departure from his first film, but, thankfully, is every bit as fun.
“Cornish has struck ... gold with his casting here” The Kid Who Would Be King boldly decides to create itself from a mix of medieval and modern. This is not a decision that has gone down well previously (take a look at Guy Ritchie’s failed King Arthur movie, or the Taron
Egerton-led Robin Hood film that bombed just last November) – but Cornish manages to invigorate it with new life, creating an exciting and engaging family film, the kind of which we barely see anymore. It follows Louis Ashbourne Serkis’ schoolkid Alex, who stumbles across King Arthur’s sword Excalibur when on the run from school bullies. After meeting grand wizard Merlin (played fantastically by both Patrick Stewart and Angus Imrie), he is left to go on a quest with his friends and protect the world from the dark sorceress Morgana (the deliciously evil Rebecca Ferguson). If aspects of it feel rather retro, like the ridiculously over the top medieval movies of the 80's and 90's, that’s very much on purpose – and it’s glorious. Good child actors are sometimes hard to come by, which is why it’s so surprising that Cornish has struck not tin, but absolute gold with his casting here. Serkis (yes that’s right, Andy’s son) is a delight as Alex – he’s the everyman, the instantly relatable schoolboy, who’s struggling to get along in the world. He’s having issues both at school and at home with his mum, all of which take a
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back seat when Alex’s destiny catches up with him. The wonder on Serkis’ face as he’s forced to fight demons with flaming swords and horses, to trek to Cornwall with only three friends and an old wizard, to leave his mum behind and become stronger, is joyous. We’ve all been Alex at one point in our lives, and that’s part of what makes him so enjoyable. Being a knight suddenly entrusted with saving the world is every schoolkid’s dream, up there with being a superspy or a superhero – through Alex, Cornish lets us live out that dream as if we were schoolkids once again.
“As with Attack the Block, the action sequences here are superb” Alex’s unlikely band of knights are played by Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor and Rhianna Doris, and each is fantastic in their own way. Every character gets their moment, whether it’s learning magic or overcoming their greed, every single beat feels earned, and where it perhaps occasionally doesn’t, we’re so caught up in the magic that we don’t really mind all that much. Angus Imrie makes his silver screen debut as Merlin’s younger form, and is absolutely wonderful. The wizard is as crazy as you might expect, but Imrie imbues the craziness with comedy, helped along by Cornish’s fantastic script. Patrick Stewart makes a big impact with his small role as Merlin’s older form, continuing the craziness in a way that only the ex-Professor X can.
Rebecca Ferguson has an absolute ball as Morgana, King Arthur’s half-sister who believes she has the right to the throne. While the character of Morgana herself, is perhaps underused, Ferguson takes absolute glee in her villainous role, a marked turn from her previous characters in the likes of The Greatest Showman and the two latest Mission: Impossible movies. Morgana’s motivations are simple but to the point, and an explanation of these via a gorgeous animated prologue at the beginning of the film showcases Cornish’s exceptional direction to a tee. As with Attack the Block, the action sequences here are superb. While featuring much less blood and swearing, Cornish’s direction of action is even more confident this time around - each sequence is exciting, coherent, and wellacted and shot to boot, featuring some impressive CGI work from DNEG. His use of CGI is perfectly by the book, used as an enhancer rather than as something to rely on, and it looks a good deal better than many other, more mainstream blockbusters. The skeletal warriors of the undead are actually creepier than those featured in Thor: Ragnarok – the first time we meet one of these is genuinely intense, and really pushes the film’s PG rating in a scene reminiscent of Attack the Block’s initial alien encounters. Cornish also achieves the opposite effect to most other action movies; the final action sequence is by far the film’s best. It’s a scene of utter genius, perfectly merging the film’s medieval ideas with those of a schoolboy. Featuring teachers’ cars with benches strapped to the front as
battering rams, horse boxes suspended from the ladders of the gymnasium, and swimming pool ropes used as tripwires, the scene is never less than stellar. We’re constantly on the edge of our seats, yet left wearing a massive grin – again, Cornish finds that perfect balance between the two that evades so many other films. For all its fun, though, The Kid Who Would Be King is a surprisingly political work. Morgana rises now because of the divisions that rock our world. There are clear allusions to issues such as Brexit and Donald Trump, as well as even more implicit references to the aftermaths of various school shootings in America last year, but somehow do not slow the film down at all. Its ultimate message is twofold - one, that we must unite as one human race if we are ever to make progress, and two, that the time is coming when the kids will take over, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll be able to right the ship. It’s a message the world sorely needs right now, and it’s coming from an indie British fantasy flick. Who’d have thought it? VERDICT: More fun than it has any right to be, The Kid Who Would Be King is a complete delight. Some weaker character moments and an underused villain can be easily forgiven in the grand scheme of things – Joe Cornish knocks it out of the park yet again, and delivers an engaging, exciting fantasy film that carries a fantastic message of unity. One for both the outer adult and the inner child.
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FILM
Friday 22nd February 2019
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Interview: Joe Cornish
Film Critic Matt Taylor sits down with the director of The Kid Who Would Be King Matt Taylor Film Critic
Writer and director Joe Cornish is in a cheerful mood when we meet, and little wonder - the man who made his name with cult sci-fi movie Attack the Block has made a new film that promises to win him an even wider following. My review opposite confirms The Kid Who Would Be King is a lot of fun; and it turns out Cornish had a lot of fun making it. ‘Lots of fun,’ he tells me with a smile. ‘You know, making films is very hard work. It surprised me when I did it for the first time how hard it is, just because of the pressure of time. When I was a film watcher, rather than a maker, I thought that you had ages to think about everything, and I didn’t realise that making a film is like a sort of high-pressure episode of Supermarket Sweep,’ he laughs. ‘Do you know what I mean? Where it costs a lot of money per second, so you’ve really got to move very, very fast. There’s never enough time or resources, so it’s always a sort of kick-bollock-scramble. But yeah, it was really good fun because it was an idea I’d always wanted to do, so there was an element of, sort of, wish fulfilment in the making of it, for me.’ While the legend of King Arthur is a story that has been passed down the centuries, Cornish’s story lends it a new flourish, with a plot he has been carefully nurturing since he was twelve years old. ‘I knew about the sword in the stone through the Disney film, through John Boorman’s Excalibur, and I think even if you don’t know about the legend of King Arthur, most people understand the device of the sword in the stone. And I was always thinking up ideas for films when I was a kid, and I’d just seen E.T., which is about a normal boy for whom something extraordinary happens, and it occurred to me that you could make a sort of British fantasy adventure film by having a modern kid discover the sword in the stone. It seemed to be like a quintessentially British thing; very cinematic, with a big history of legend and film behind it; and something very simple that everybody knew about. And in the 80s, movies were kind of – there was this term called the "highconcept movie", where it’s a very simply dramatic device you could say in a sentence, and then everything kind of grows out of that one simple device. And even when I was 12 or 13, I thought, "wow, that would make a really good high-concept film". He says that he has been in active production on the film since roughly 2015, after he and Edgar Wright stepped away from Marvel’s Ant-Man.
“I opened a door for them, which they ran through using their own, you know, legs”
We talk about the cast, with Cornish keen to sing the praises of its five young lead actors – not to mention casting director, Jessica Ronane. The former have never carried a feature film before and brought with them, Cornish says, an ‘excitement [that energised] the whole process.’ He compares it to his time on Attack the Block, as both shoots were ‘like being a teacher in a school that the pupils really, really want to be at’. The process of finding the five kids was the usual approach of a nationwide casting call for auditions (initial audition tapes used the milk money scene from Stand By Me) that were examined by Ronane, who then chose the best to screen to Cornish. From these, Cornish chose the best to move forward, a system based on ‘complete meritocracy’, where ‘everyone gets the same shot’ regardless of background or acting experience.
“You don't mess around with that kind of actor; you aim high, and we were lucky enough that he was up for it” It’s no surprise that he’s also thrilled by his two veteran actors, Patrick Stewart and Rebecca Ferguson. Stewart plays an older form of the wizard Merlin, and is wonderfully crazy. Cornish wrote the role with Stewart in mind, aiming for an antithesis of the traditional cinematic wizard, ‘You don’t mess around with that kind of actor; you aim high, and we were lucky enough that he was up for it. And, you know the thing about Patrick is that he knows all the other wizards: Ian McKellen, Michael Gambon – he hangs out with wizards, so his main thing was ... he loved the script, but he didn’t want to do what everyone else had done. He didn’t want to be your standard pointy hat/white beard wizard, so I reassured him that this was a very different take on Merlin ... he’s the kind of person that if you saw him in the street you might be a bit worried about him, calling social services or something. He arrives in the world naked and acquires all his clothes as he goes along, so he’s wearing this crazy hodge-podge costume. We gave him hair, and as we know, Patrick Stewart is one of the most famous bald people in the world, so we gave him crazy hair, and he grew a lovely stubbly white beard. And he was brilliant, you know, it was amazing to work with an actor like that: to direct him, and then go behind the camera and watch him reading your lines, that’s a real trip.’ He is also a big fan of Ferguson, who plays the film’s villain Morgana in a deliciously over the top performance. Cornish says he sees her presence as ‘popcorn-y’: ‘I think she’s got a really interesting energy on screen in all her characters. She’s very sort of gung-ho. She hasn’t been in a
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bunch of romantic comedies or anything, she’s usually in thrillers or action films which is really cool. And she just feels ... like a movie star to me. I met her, and she hadn’t even read the script, and so I just talked her through the story in a two-hour meeting, and like you say she’d never played a storybook villain like this, and she loved the idea of shape-shifting, of scaring kids, of playing a larger-than-life character. I’m very lucky that she was up for being in it.’ In fact, the whole experience of making the film is one Cornish describes as a ‘dream come true’, fuelled by a desire to recreate the movies he used to watch when he was younger – what he calls ‘movies for kids, starring kids ... [that have] gone away slightly’. Inspired by movies such as Time Bandits, E.T., Explorers, and The Black Stallion, he aimed to recapture that ‘very powerful’ feeling of ‘movies for kids, with kids ... with a real sense of jeopardy that ... is missing from animated kids’ movies.’ He misses being ‘able to recognise the world in which something is happening, and then for fantasy to enter that world’ – with The Kid Who Would Be King, Cornish has by far surpassed his aims. We move on to talking about some of his other projects, past and present. Among them is his upcoming Snow Crash, an adaptation of Neal Stephenson’s 1992 sci-fi novel of the same name. Cornish reveals that it is now no longer a movie, but a TV series, as Paramount passed on it in favour of the live-action Ghost in the Shell remake, ‘for better or worse’. Stephenson is on board as a consultant/‘godfather’, but is ‘very hands off’. The series is currently in development between Amazon Studios and Paramount, with no current release date. Arguably sci-fi is Cornish’s speciality: his first feature film, Attack the Block, is a Londonbased alien invasion film that has gained a large cult following since its release in 2011. If, for some reason, you haven’t seen it, it’s available to stream on Netflix, and is well worth your time. It starred largely then-unknown actors who have since gone on to do big things: Jodie Whittaker plays the current iteration of the Doctor in BBC One’s Doctor Who, whereas John Boyega is one of the leads in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars sequel trilogy. It’s a source of genuine pride for Cornish -
who clearly keeps a close eye on what his former actors have been up to since their breakout roles: ‘They’ve all gotten where they’ve gotten through their own talent. I opened a door for them, which they ran through using their own, you know, legs.’ That was always an aim of Attack the Block, to ‘give a launch pad to young talent’, which Cornish sees as ‘fantastically rewarding’. When asked about a possible sequel, he tells me that he and Boyega occasionally talk about it – they both seem to feel that ‘there’s something ... cool about visiting those characters some years later, seeing where they’d gotten to in life’. He also confirms that there is nothing concrete in place as yet; it is ‘just talk’ at this point.
envisage Wright’s version of the film, because he still has a copy of their original script. He maintains that it ‘would have been incredible’, and I fully believe him when he says this, but he sadly cannot share any details about the unproduced script, even when pressed. He does, however, mention that ‘a couple of deleted scenes on that Blu-ray ... are actually quite close to [their] script’ but the issue he finds is that ‘Edgar’s scripts kind of have to be made by Edgar. Because when he writes a scene, he doesn’t just write the scene, he knows how he’s going to shoot it, he knows how it connects to the previous shot and the subsequent shot, he knows how that sequence connects to an earlier sequence and a later sequence ... It’s so stitched together, that it’s interesting watching another director direct his script without his technique.’ There’s no doubt that Wright’s cinematic technique is among the best in the business, meaning that, without it, the deleted scene in question ‘doesn’t work’, in Cornish’s eyes. He stresses, however, that he does ‘enjoy’ the finished film, as it is ‘very much Peyton’s movie and there’s a lot of stuff that does work’, despite its being ‘very different’ from his and Wright’s original vision for the character. With awards season upon us, meanwhile, I ask him who he’s backing for Oscar victory, to which he replies that he ‘love[s] all the movies’ and ‘[doesn’t] really ‘get’ awards’: ‘I don’t really understand them. I was the presenter of the film show on Radio 4 one time, and I tried to do a little piece about how silly awards were; because the right movie never really wins – do you know what I’m saying?’ I do; the previous night saw Rami Malek’s mediocre Freddie Mercury impression beat out Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Steve Coogan, and Viggo Mortensen at the BAFTAs, a result I am still, several days later, unhappy about. Cornish makes an interesting comparison here: he cites the ‘power of awards’, and their ability to ‘turn art into sport’ – and he will happily admit that he’s ‘not a sports fan’. It’s a fitting note on which to end, laughter having underpinned our whole encounter. Earlier, Cornish had said he had me pegged as a man ‘who liked childish fun’. After meeting him, I think it’s safe to say the same goes for him too.
“I think Marvel's changed a lot, and there was all sorts of political stuff going on” Particularly fascinating is hearing Cornish talk about his experiences with Marvel Studios, both prior to and after his exit from Ant-Man. I ask if he would ever consider going back to a big studio to make a franchise movie, and he says that he would, ‘I think Marvel’s changed a lot, and there was all sorts of political stuff going on within the company, the company was changing a lot, you know. We were working on that project for years and years, and I think they’ve actually gotten better at working with directors.’ He cites Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok as an example, saying that ‘you can see that level of authorship’ within the more recent Marvel Studios films. He says this change was the reason he and Wright walked away from the project: ‘Edgar and I started on that movie ... right at the beginning of that company’s birth, at a time when they were trying to elevate comic book movies by bringing on auteur directors. And their criteria changed a lot over the years, and that precise moment was a difficult one, where they really wanted to do their own thing, so I think it was the best thing for Edgar to walk away.’ Perhaps most interesting of all, though, are Cornish’s next comments: that he is able to fully
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Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricktv
TV’s Best On-Screen Couples...
TV Critic Catrin Osborne picks out the best and worst relationships that have graced our television screens in recent years Catrin Osborne Television Critic
Jake and Amy Brooklyn Nine-Nine Part of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s fresh take on the sitcom genre is that it doesn’t resort to endless relationship storylines. As opposed to other TV couples, Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago aren’t trapped in a never-ending cycle of arguments and big romantic gestures. Although the first seasons played with will-they-won’t-they, the writers committed to the couple by Season 3. They’re a sitcom couple perfect for the 2010s: Jewish and Hispanic, the female in a higher authority role and a relationship built on humour. The joy of the relationship comes from their mutual respect and constant support, something that TV desperatley needs more of. I think it’s fair to say that this core couple is a major reason why a flood of fan support led to NBC picking up Brooklyn Nine-Nine after it was dropped by Fox.
“The first seasons played with willthey-won't-they”
Pam and Mick Gavin and Stacey
Yorkie and Kelly Black Mirror
Ironically, the title characters fall second to Pam and Mick Shipman as my favourite couple from Gavin and Stacey. Pam Shipman is not without her eccentricities: nonsensical diet trends, fake vegetarianism and a protective streak over her son. Throughout this all, Mick still adores her, whilst never being afraid to challenge her when necessary. As TV tends to focus on the early years of relationships, it’s refreshing to see empty-nesters that have made it past the sevenyear itch. Entering into the twentyfirst century, divorce rates were on the rise, but Pam and Mick refuse to fall into the stereotype of older couples as bitter, tired and sexually redundant. Their relationship is healthy and humerous, the two aspects in any relationship.
Whilst Black Mirror episodes typically consist of technology colliding with the most abominable aspects of human nature, Charlie Brooker subverted expectations with ‘San Junipero’. The episode considers the possibilities of romance within a virtual reality system that allows pensioners to relive their golden years. ‘San Junipero’ provides an intimate portrayal of shifting cultural attitudes towards homosexuality. In Kelly, Yorkie is finally offered a chance to love a vivacious, free-spirited woman. In just an hour, the couple are just as compelling as those built up over multiple seasons. Viewers expected an utterly bleak ending, but in Black Mirror rarity, Brooker treated us to Yorkie and Kelly riding into the sunset together whilst the apt ‘Heaven is a Place on Earth’ rings out. It allowed us a rare glimpse into the potential positives of technology, and gave us hope for the ever-fearful future.
“Yorkie is finally offered a chance to love a vivacious, free-spirited woman.”
BBC
NBC
Ross and Rachel Friends Due to Friends’ status in pop culture, I expected Ross Geller and Rachel Green to be the paragon of love. Instead, what I witnessed was a teenage infatuation and a relationship that barely lasts a season, followed by an endless stream of arguments that became very repetitive and boring. Although relationships shouldn’t be portrayed as idyllic, Ross and Rachel’s bickering is always entirely self-caused. He frequently disregards her career by becoming envious of her boss, and Rachel is equally demanding; writing pages and pages about how he should take responsibility for their break-up. Although ‘We were on a break’ remains hilarious, one must wonder how Ross and Rachel could raise children together if they’re stuck in the same squabble from eight seasons prior. Whilst Chandler and Monica always seem to respect each other and their life choices, the same can’t be said for Ross and Rachel, both when they are together and when they are apart.
Eric McCandless
Fox
“They're stuck in the same squabble from eight seasons prior”
Netflix
Fox
...and the Worst Aria and Ezra Pretty Little Liars
Will and Emma Glee
No matter how much Pretty Little Liars tried to romanticise it, Ezra Fitz was Aria Montgomery’s teacher and their relationship will always remain wrong. There is nothing romantic about a grown man abusing his position of authority to flirt with a sixteenyear-old. Pretty Little Liars attempted to make ‘Ezria’ endearing, however, it was not endearing when Aria, a student, unbuttoned her top to show a tie labelled ‘Wear Me!’ whilst her teacher was leading detention. One can’t help but side with A, their anonymous tormenter, as she attempts to expose the relationship. The overriding abuse of power that underlay Ezra and Aria’s relationship lands them in some of the most toxic TV couples, especially when considering the show’s young viewership.
It’s remarkable that any of the students’ relationships were healthy if they were learning from their teacher, Will Schuester. Will chases after Emma Pillsbury, the school counsellor suffering from severe OCD, and fails to accept her restraints. Despite his ‘pregnant’ wife, Will sabotages his relationship, rarely considering who will be impacted. Will’s poor behaviour skyrockets in season two when Emma begins dating Carl Howell and becomes a carefree version of her former self. Although she is finally escaping the confinements of her OCD, Will sabotages this by tricking her into performing with him shirtless. Even when they are in a relationship, Will continues to pressure her into sex and marriage, which she runs away from the first time. Although they may seem happy, the basis of coming together is incredibly problematic.
Eric McCandless
“It's remarkable that any of the students' relationships were healthy”
TELEVISION
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricktv
Review: Tidying Up
TV Critic Daisy Andrews explores Netflix's new organisation sensation Daisy Andrews Television Critic
Marie Kondo, a 34 year old organisation consultant, recently wrote, co-produced and starred in her own Netflix TV series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. After selling millions of copies of her organisation-guidebooks, her most famous being The Life Changing Magic of Tidying, Kondo has decided it is time to move medium. The show walks us through her tidying method, known as Kon Mari, where she teaches people how to categorise their mess and choose the right places for it, throwing away those items that don’t ‘spark joy.’ Each episode of the show follows a different family at different stages of their life, who all need a re-organisation of the house for different reasons. From ‘The Downsizers,’ to a widow needing to clear her house from grief, to a male student couple who want to tidy to impress their parents, Marie Kondo works her magic. She starts by personally greeting each family’s house before she begins helping them with the tidying process and working through a strict categorical process starting with clothes and ending with sentimental items when the tidying mind-set has been practised and refined. I have watched the whole first series and I am now eagerly awaiting another. I was instantly invested in watching the tidying process take place, and whilst I’m no obsessive cleaner, nor do I spend hours watching videos of people cleaning, I certainly find it satisfy-
ing to see mess disappearing. I did feel the show lacked that ‘wow’ before-and-after factor, however. While there were some hoarders, I didn’t feel that any of the episodes really showcased extreme cases of messy homes and therefore, the tidying process and after effect didn’t satisfy me as much as I had expected. That said, the stories of the families were lovely and it
possessions alongside her own, rather than leaving them until last as Kondo typically recommends. This episode was very emotional and fulfilling to watch, and if you watch no other, I would highly recommend watching this particular one. There is comedy thrown in the series too with unwilling partners and indecisive tidiers, so it’s not all solemnity and sorting. I
Netflix
was great to see how happy they were after they had finished tidying. ‘Sparking Joy After A Loss,’ in my opinion, was the best episode. It was wonderful to watch Margie, a grieving widow, receive the closure she needed by going through her husband’s clothes and possessions. Marie Kondo allowed her method to be adapted in Margie's case, not protesting despite her expertise, so that she worked through her husband’s
promise. Marie Kondo has received a lot of criticism for her Kon Mari method with people commenting that the level of organisation is too extreme and unrealistic. The internet is taking hold of the Kon Mari method and ruthlessly mocking it through a variety of memes. Personally, I think Kondo’s tidying methods, if you have the right mind-set and the motivation, are the perfect way to organise your
home. Deciphering whether something brings you joy, while difficult, is the perfect way to decide whether you keep something. Why would you want to keep things which don’t bring you joy? The one category where I come into conflict with Marie’s method, however, is books. Being an English student perhaps I am prejudiced, but I do not agree with her limit on books to only 30 to be kept in the home. While hoarding is unnecessary and can become an issue, I think books can be more than just a simple possession. People use books to decorate the walls of their homes, their coffee tables, and shelves dotted around the house. If between us, including all our family members, we had only 30 books in our homes, they would feel sparse and unlived in. The age old expression, ‘Tidy home, Tidy mind’ definitely holds a lot of truth, yet I feel there is a line between a tidy home and a home without any evidence of life. Nonetheless, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has certainly inspired me to want to clear my cupboards and go through my wardrobe. Particularly my clothes: my number one hoarding item. Watching this show is enjoyable and motivating when you see the end product of organising your stuff into neat compartments. The perfect show for people who love to watch people tidy, who find it therapeutic, or who just really need the incentive to get organizing.
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Top TV Picks for February / March
Still Game BBC Scotland 24th February
This Time With Alan Partridge BBC Two 25th February
RuPaul’s Drag Race: 101
Amrita Mande gives the low-down on why Drag Race is more than just a reality competition show Amrita Mande Television Critic
Logo/VH1
RuPaul’s Drag Race has never been bigger. Just last year the show won an Emmy; it officially ‘became mainstream’, something RuPaul himself never thought
would happen. All Stars 4 has just ended, season 11 is about to start and we’re just around the corner from the UK getting its own version of the show with Graham Norton and Alan Carr as judges. The show is an incredible success, garnering millions of viewers across the globe. It’s quite unique actually; other competition reality shows don’t usually have such engaged, loving and supportive fans. But I believe the reason for this is that the point of Drag Race isn’t really to find America’s next drag superstar, but we’ll get into that later. Before we delve into the show, let’s not forget how it all started; with RuPaul Charles. It’s LGBT history month and there’s no better way to celebrate drag breaking into the mainstream than looking at a queen who carved a way for herself and others at a time when everything was against them. RuPaul rose to fame in 1993 after leaving the Atlanta drag scene to further their career in New York. He released music, became the face of MAC cosmetics and raised money for AIDS research. He even got his own TV show and
guest starred in TV shows and films. RuPaul made a name for himself at a time where drag and the LGBT community was the butt of jokes in TV shows, the target of abuse and hate crimes and even discriminated against by the government, but he didn’t let that stop him. It’s inspiring how he knew who he was, embraced it and wasn’t afraid to show himself off to the rest of the world. When he first started Drag Race in 2009, not many people noticed. It probably didn’t help that the quality looked like it was shot in the 1970’ s. But even though the show was still in its infancy you could still see hints of the global phenomenon it would grow up to be. The basic premise of drag race is a group of drag queens competing against each other in acting, comedy and design challenges for the title of America’s next drag superstar and 100 thousand dollars. But like I said, the show is not a generic competition reality show. It’s funny and high energy, with the queens getting to show off their personality and sass at every opportunity.
Ru Paul's Drag Race is entertaining of course, but behind that there’s real soul. The show gives a platform to incredible drag entertainers who get to show their art to the world and let the world get to know the people underneath all that makeup. They frequently talk about the issues in their community, the struggles they faced growing up and the journey they had to take to love themselves for who they are. RuPaul has created an amazing platform that gives visibility to the LGBT community and lets young people see others they can relate to. It also serves as a launching pad, propelling many of the queens into successful careers after the show. They can find audiences that celebrate their art and have the freedom to grow creatively and push the boundaries of drag. It’s pretty amazing if you think about it. Drag Race uplifts the community, using ‘the competition’ as a means to showcase these performers who have been overlooked for decades. It’s truly a show where everyone is a winner.
The Junk Food Experiment ITV 27th February
After Life Netflix 8th March
GAMING
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickgaming
Why Machinima Mattered
Redbrick's Top 5
“It's obvious Machinima wasn't a saviour to clients, and more of a lesser evil” Machinima presented itself as the home of gaming. You partner with Machinima and you start to be paid for your work. They, of course, took a percentage of your earnings, as any MCN did, but it was better to be paid less for your creations than not be paid at all. In all fairness, channels did get a leg up from some of Machinima’s work. When partnered with them, you also could make content for them and this worked as exposure for some channels. Looking back, for some channels it might be hard to believe that MCN took percentages at all – for legal reasons, some channels required an MCN. Copyright striking videos has become a dangerous and harmful norm in the creative sphere where parodies of and commentary on music, movies, games and TV are threatened although they come under what’s called ‘fair use.’ ‘Fair use’ is when these new videos are different enough from the original that other creators have no fair right to take any legal action claiming copyright infringement. Think How It Should Have Ended or the thousand parody videos on songs like ‘Gangnam Style’ or ‘Call Me Maybe’. Although clearly inspired by original content, they are in fact original content in themselves for making up new lyrics, a new video or a new narrative that isn’t infringing on the purpose of the
12m
PUBG Corporation
primary source. Unfortunately engagement changes the story there are many gaming companies somewhat. Dashie’s content will that don’t see it that way. get anywhere from around or just Nintendo, for example, is above 500k views, down to 350k notorious for taking down in recent weeks. Not exactly ideal gameplay of their titles, although engagement compared to the it can be considered fair use. number of subscribers but not Taking on Nintendo in a legal abysmal by any means. Jerome battle is not something an average however has 5 million subscribers YouTube personality can do, so and the best he has performed on they get away with it fairly often. a view basis in the last month This is a very real threat to a hasn’t even hit 100k views, with channel like The Game Theorists. multiple videos per day but the A video lasting 20+ minutes with average view count looks to hover heavy editing, research, script around 40k. With 5 million writing and sound design takes a potential views excluding random lot of time and money to produce. viewers, it’s almost no wonder To be demonetised by Nintendo why Machinima wasn’t or another company is dangerous sustainable. The paycheques of for their business and, to stop this these YouTubers may have been threat, they may need an MCN bigger in the golden age of with a legal team big enough to be gaming, a couple years ago when ready for these occurrences. Minecraft was all anyone would Multi-Channel Networks, watch, but today when many however, often wouldn’t do more channels are able to monetise than offer the opportunity to be outside of MCNs and companies paid for your work. Services like Machinima couldn’t continue supplied were minimal if you with their practices. weren’t a channel of note, but They were once a necessity their take of these channel’s for gamers but even before their paychecks would suggest they demise, they went from being a actually did something. Videos necessary evil to an expendable from several YouTubers report one. Like I said, it isn’t always little or no real contact with their bad in Machinima’s case. They MCNs and there are even reports did have moments where audience of MCNs tricking creators to sell members enjoyed their animations, their companies for essentially along with their positive exposure nothing at all. of many smaller creators to larger Machinima didn’t do a lot of audiences. Their faults however, what DEFY did, both good and lie in the faults of MCNs. Hollow bad. The Machinima website is companies that were always built still up, and its immediate tagline on exploiting creators for money is ‘Biggest Talent. Biggest that the MCN does very little to Support.’ They claim their services earn. The reign of the MCN seems help their creator navigate the to be changing with the fall of world of online gaming DEFY and Machinima more effectively and however, from find a way to bring untouchable tyrants to their visions to life. mammoth mortals. One of their most Machinima p r o m i n e n t shutting down is creators, Dashie the end of an era Games, has no for online gaming subscribers on official video videos. Where in addressing the the past the name Machinima's main Machinima close, was inseparable channel and none of his from the gaming content has changed. world, the name will The same goes for now fade until the next JeromeASF, no official generation of content video on the situation but it creators will forget about it must be noted that there is a entirely. Maybe it’s for the best consistency between Dashi and but maybe there is worth in Jerome. remembering when sustainable They have massive subscriber content had to flow through a bases, Dashie with 4.6 million third party. Hopefully there are and Jerome with 5 million. more exciting things to come in Successful YouTubers by those YouTube’s ever-flourishing numbers but looking at consistent gaming scene.
5 PUBG
Epic Games
As a long time YouTube audience member, the name Machinima was something I have always been very familiar with. When I first heard of the Multi-Channel Network, I would not have been able to tell you what MCN stood for or what one did, and I certainly would have presumed a company that everyone Gaming related seemed to be part of was one of the ‘good guys.’ With age, and the closure of what was a giant in monetised gameplay, it’s obvious Machinima wasn’t a saviour to its clients, and more of a lesser evil they had to live with. Machinima’s closure was rather unexpected too. The company was acquired by Warner Bros back in 2016, which in turn was acquired by AT&T. As of last December, it was announced that Machinima would become part of Warner Bros Otter Media, the company that owns Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth and Fullscreen, one of the largest surviving MCNs still prominent on YouTube. At the beginning of this year, however, Machinima’s channel became private, all previous content hidden and the announcement was released that it would no longer operate at all. Layoff are confirmed at a hard 81 for now, although, as its assets are in a transitional period, there are those essentially still on board to dismantle the remainder of the company for Otter Media. An explanation of an MCN isn’t exactly easy. Their business practices have actually become something of a topic of conversation after the collapse of another MCN, DEFY Media. DEFY was responsible for the cash flow of several YouTube channels including the famous Game Theorists. When DEFY went under, it took a lot of money with it, 1.7 million dollars reportedly, which those YouTubers are fighting to get back. A Multi-Channel Network is sort of what it says on the tin. It is a company that takes responsibility for a number of different YouTube channels on different levels but mostly revolving around monetary conditions. Being a partner or monetised on YouTube as a single channel was close to impossible in the early stages of the platform.
To get paid to make content would require sponsors or ads on your content approved through YouTube, and so MCNs were built with the purpose of making monetisation possible for channels. There were exceptions to the rule however: some single channels could and would be able to survive without an MCN but when Gaming started to spread into the YouTube sphere, YouTube itself didn’t take on any single channels. This is where Machinima comes in.
4 Fortnite
3
Nintendo
Gaming Editor @ImoMellor
YouTube
Imogen Mellor
Tetris 99
2
Mojang
Editor Imogen Mellor undertakes a post-mortem of the quintessential, perennial gaming multi-channel network: Machinima
Battle Royales
Minecraft Hungergames
1
Apex Legends
Respawn Entertainment
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GAMING
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickgaming
27
News: Blizzard’s Recent Nerfs in Hearthstone James Law Gaming Editor @jamesmaclaw
Blizzard
Blizzard Entertainment’s flagship collectible card game Hearthstone has unleashed huge new card balance changes. They took place on the 5th of February 2019, and are set to shake up the metagame in the months leading up to the next expansion, expected in April 2019. Cold Blood, the Rogue class’ minion buff card, is being increased from 1 to 2 mana, doubling the requirement to play it and vastly slowing down Rogue decks’ potential to snowball their power level and secure games early on, as well as weakening their ability to finish enemies with a huge amount of damage in hand. The main deck this nerf is targeting is Odd Rogue, which relies on
extremely efficient removal with the upgraded hero power that Baku the Mooneater gives them, combined with brilliant board control tools that often lead to opponents being overwhelmed before anything can be done about it. In general, Odd Rogue has dominated the ranked ladder in both Standard and Wild formats, and this change will significantly weaken the deck’s overall power level. Flametongue Totem is a Basic Shaman card, and makes it into almost all of the class’ decks. Its impact is clear - it can be placed on the board and instantly turn weak minions into threats that can deal with enemies effectively. It is most commonly seen in Even Shaman decks, as the discounted 1-mana hero power means that Shaman players can easily and swiftly fill their side of the battlefield with weak token units
ripe for improvement by the totem. This 1-mana cost increase completely removes the card from that specific deck, as it is no longer even-costed, and also makes it tougher to use in other situations, since before the nerf, following a 1-mana minion with Flametongue Totem represented a consistently strong early game for a lot of Shaman decks to take board control. In a more drastic change, Equality has been increased from 2 to 4 mana. This card has been used for a while as a way to clear the board of all minions in controlstyle decks, in combination with Wild Pyromancer and Consecration, both of which can fight for board control well and kill enemy momentum. In recent months, one-turn-kill, or OTK, Paladin decks have increased in popularity, particularly with the Paladin Hero card Uther of the Ebon Blade, who is able to use various synergies to destroy the enemy hero in a single turn. Equality plays a huge part in surviving to this point, particularly against aggressive decks, and doubling its cost means that Paladin decks will have to wait a lot longer into the game before they can reliably remove threats from the board. Very interesting in this case is the fact that in a recent expansion, The Boomsday Project, Paladin received a card that has a similar effect to Equality: Shrink Ray, which changes both the health and attack of all minions to 1, for just a single extra mana point. It’ll be interesting to see in the coming months whether Paladin players decide to play the altered version of Equality or whether they decide Shrink Ray is the way to go. In a change that surprises some, Hunter’s Mark is being doubled in cost as well. This card
used to cost 0 mana back in the early days of Hearthstone, so clearly the developers continue to see such strong single-target removal as a problem going forward. Hunter’s Mark is prevalent in the metagame at the moment because of its significant synergy with Candleshot, the Hunter weapon that makes it into almost every single deck the class has. Despite the fact that Candleshot will be rotating out of Standard format upon the next expansion, it seems that Hunter’s Mark is an issue even without this card. It will be a lot less easy to throw into decks at 2 mana, and with the general power level of Hunter as a class being so high, it’s likely that this Basic card becomes slightly less rampant in the metagame. It still represents one of Hunter’s only single-target removal cards though, so holds a significant amount of value to the class, particularly in less aggressive and more controloriented variations. That’s not the only hit the class has taken. Lesser Emerald Spellstone is going to be increased from costing 5 to 6 mana, a move that weakens one of the strongest cards in the game. A fully upgraded spellstone on turn 5 summons 4 wolves, all with 3/3 stats. That is extremely difficult for anyone to deal with, and only a set few board clears can deal with it early on. Equality, mentioned previously, even struggles to do so, as to combine it with the 2-mana Wild Pyromancer requires a far larger mana commitment than before. Therefore, moving this mana cost up slightly is something that is unlikely to ruin the card’s viability. It is a change that Blizzard and Hearthstone players alike will hope balances out games where Hunter decks steamroll the enemy with a rabid
pack of wolves before they know what’s hit them. Now, foes have slightly more of a chance to respond. The 6-mana slot is strong in the Hunter class though - the Emerald Spellstone will now have to compete with such powerhouses as Deathstalker Rexxar, To My Side, and Savannah Highmane. In general, these balance changes have been well-received in the sense that the wider game will be more interesting when such ubiquitous cards are taken off of their pedestal. Blizzard claim that they do not want these cards to be ‘auto-includes’ in every deck the class has rather than being useful in certain situations.
“In general, these balance changes have been wellrecieved” However, there remain concerns that casual players will be left at the wayside when it comes to nerfs to cards in the Classic and Basic sets – cards that newer and less invested players are more likely to own. Having some of the most powerful cards accessible to most players means that it’s easier to pick up Hearthstone and build a cheap, simple deck. The more the Classic and Basic sets are changed for the worse, the harder it will be to get into the game. Blizzard must be careful that a free-to-play style does not become completely unfeasible in Hearthstone, and there’s a chance that they’re going down a slippery slope when making changes that leave out a large chunk of their player base.
Nintendo Announce Super Mario Maker 2 Sam Nason Gaming Editor @samjnason
Nintendo’s latest Direct presentation featured a number of surprises and announcements not least of which was the highly anticipated sequel to Super Mario Maker, aptly named Super Mario Maker 2. The original Super Mario Maker was a level creation game for the Wii U that allowed players to create their own Mario stages, whether in the theme of the original 8-bit Super Mario Bros. or the more modern and expressive New Super Mario Bros U., amongst many others. Being one of the console’s fastest selling games, a sequel seemed like an inevitability for the more
successful Nintendo Switch, and now it looks like fans have had their wished granted. A brief announcement trailer opened the presentation. Of particular note from the offset was the increase in customisation, the most obvious thing to improve. Creators are able to place slopes into their levels, making their worlds more dynamic than the static square blocks of the previous game. Level pieces, enemies and blocks are now presented in circular inventory-like screens, an easier and more aesthetic system that places every element at your fingertips. Overall the interface looks much more accessible and delightful to use. Showcased after were a host of new features and pieces to add to your levels: customisable Snake Blocks that Mario must stay on
top of, the freaky angry sun from Super Mario Bros. 3 that swoops across the stage to scorch you, and variable water levels in all courses. These features are all in the game, making it the most player-driven Mario adventure to date. Also shown off was the brand new Super Mario 3D World level theme – somewhat ironically played in a 2D setting. The theme maintains the models and look of Mario’s 3D Wii U adventure but snaps it to a side-on plain, creating an odd but pleasing mixture of the two. Elements from the game are retained and able to be tinkered with in the level creator, including the cat suit, climbable trees, glass pipes and exclusive enemies. The trailer did a perfect job of teasing the playerbase without revealing too much about the sequel.
Yet many are already rife with speculation as to additions Nintendo could make to the level-editing application. With 3D World’s heavy focus on multiplayer, some have predicted Luigi, Peach and Toad could very soon be leaping into their levels as playable characters. Others note the new desert theme for levels and are pointing out the numerous others that could be coming our way soon. Whatever the result, the trailer has already shown Super Mario Maker 2 off to be an incredibly versatile and accessible experience that improves upon the original in every way. Nintendo
FOOD&DRINK
28
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickfood
Veganism: Good for Your Brain? Food&Drink Writer Beth Sadler discusses the impact of veganism on mental health Beth Sadler
Food&Drink Writer
Veganism changes lives. With 2019 seeing the largest participation in Veganuary to date, over 250,000 people from 193 countries around the world are expected to have joined the revolution in adopting a plant based diet. With so many reaping the benefits of this lifestyle change, it is interesting that new research has drawn links between veganism and depression. Through social media we are constantly exposed to the countless benefits of this diet. You only have to hashtag ‘vegan’ on
High Carb Hannah
Instagram before your feed is flooded with vibrant photos of delicious dishes that seem to scream ‘healthy’ in every single way. Bloggers such as @highcarbhannah or @just.anothervegan post aesthetically-pleasing pictures of fruit or vegetable based recipes, and we wonder how anyone can ever be unhappy with a lifestyle like this? However, such a restrictive diet can be hard to manage, and often we are left craving the foods we used to love. Is veganism categorically healthy or do we need to rethink? In a study of 90,000 adults in 2018, researchers in France examined the correlation between giving up various food groups and depressive symptoms among meat eaters, vegans, true vegetarians, and vegetarians who ate fish. The symptoms increased with each food group that was given up. People who had given up at least three of four animal-related food groups (red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy) were at nearly twoand-a-half times greater risk to suffer from depression. Considering bloggers such as ‘Freelee The Banana Girl’ promote an all-vegan, all-raw foods diet as the only diet for your health and heart, it is interesting
Just Another Vegan
that there can be such a difference between what research tells us versus what bloggers promote. If studies show such a strong link, why would we ever choose a plant-based diet? Out of all the vegan bloggers, ‘High Carb Hannah’ has always encouraged a plant based lifestyle that is healthy and satisfying. Admitting that she used to have an unhealthy diet based mostly around fast food, she turned to veganism not only for weight loss but also to avoid fatty and sugary foods that are processed and unnatural. Her name comes from her focus around a high carb diet, that requires eating minimal fats and lots of carbohydrates in order
to lose weight. Hannah however is not the extreme, as some have taken the ‘high carb low fat diet’ so far that they have limited themselves to just potatoes. ‘Spudfit’ is a vegan blogger who ate only potatoes for a whole year, promoting the possibility of sustaining yourself on soley this root vegetable. Whether it is just potatoes, bananas, or only raw foods, this extreme vegan diets require a level of restriction that can be dangerous. Social media accounts may promote certain aspects of veganism that albeit may have worked for them, without considering the effects on others. At a time when society is so acutely food conscious, it is not healthy to promote such restrictive lifestyles that people may blindly copy, unaware of the consequences. However, there are some accounts that can prove that going vegan doesn’t have to mean giving up enjoyment in food. Gaz Oakley, the ‘Avantgarde vegan’, is a creative chef who is constantly exploring ways to veganise classic dishes. His Instagram features delicious recipes focused around flavour and enjoyment rather than health. After recently collaborating with Wagamama to create a vegan ramen (including a
vegan egg) it is clear that Gaz believes veganism does not have to be restrictive or boring. For me the key to success with veganism, as with any diet, is to question your reasons why. If you are not truly invested, or perhaps are interested in veganism for the wrong reasons, then it is not hard to see how giving up so much may lead to unhappiness. If you have a passion for the environment or animal welfare, then the sacrifices you make will feel worth it. In essence, veganism is a huge change, so if you want to the leap then make sure you rely on websites such as vegansociety.com rather than your Instagram feed.
Gaz Oakley
A Plant-Based Why We Can All Culture Afford To Go Vegan Jamie Cheung Food&Drink Writer
Over the period of Chinese New Year, I thought it might be interesting to investigate how our relationship with culture is affected by food. Chinese culture, as I have always understood it, is about tradition.My grandparents always drilled into me the importance of food, for my health and wellbeing as well as my relationship with family. As first generation immigrants, my grandparents earnt their rent through a series of service industry ventures (mainly takeaways and cafes) and food is their love language. When they couldn’t express their feelings through words they would use food instead, and trust me, you feel the love when your belly is full of dumplings. For many ethnic groups, in particular the Chinese, food is at the centre of everything we value. No family gathering or celebration of achievement is complete without some form of banquet. Even on a more humble, day-to-day level, meal times are precious and valued highly, especially in a family environment. As I have grown older, however, and made some important moral decisions regarding the food I choose to consume, this relationship has become difficult. Transitioning to veganism has put a lot of restrictions of the kinds of traditional Chinese food I can still
eat. This is not to say I don’t still enjoy Chinese-style food, in fact I probably eat more rice, noodles and stir fried dishes now than I ever did before, but they have been adapted to emit animal products. I find these alterations and, ultimately, compromises troubling for a number of reasons, the most important one being their effect on my relationship with my culture. Veganising dishes you grew up with as a child, the meals that carry some of your most precious memories, can be bittersweet. Sometimes dishes work out great, perhaps even better than the original, and sometimes they aren’t quite up to standard – but either way, they are never exactly the way you used to eat them. In becoming vegan I have gained a better understanding and relationship with food and my personal health but I have lost a part of my connection with Chinese culture. Now when we go out as a family for a traditional meal I look on in awe at the mountains of delicious food I used to adore and the experience is not the same. Of course there are veggie options, but special dietary requirements are not the priority of traditional Chinese eateries. It is obvious that transitioning to a vegan diet is a unique experience for everyone and what must be remembered is that even when it’s difficult, there’s always a reason to carry on. The benefits of a plant based diet, in my opinion, still heavily outweigh the difficulties.
Alice Wibberly Food&Drink Writer
Switching to a vegan diet is one of the best things you can do for making your weekly budget stretch further. As shown by the Vegan Society, ‘veganising’ your meals dramatically reduces the price. A soy-mince alternative to beef for a spag bol saves up to £2 (based on 400g), whilst a lentil ‘shepherdless’ pie substitutes the cost of £3.75 lamb mince for lentils costing as little as 90p. When converting to veganism, processed substitutes are a comforting and simple choice. But it is incorporation of processed meats, vegan cheese products and vegan desserts which begin to raise the weekly food shop costs. The most affordable vegan diet steers clear of these products, opting for beans, nuts, and pulses for protein and finding ‘accidentally vegan’ alternatives. The classic student dish – beans on toast, is vegan. It is also cheap and contains a surprisingly high nutritional content. A 2015 article by Mail Online reported on a 25-year-old British man who had consumed only beans on toast for his whole life, and incredibly, was deemed completely healthy by doctors. Baked beans are high in protein and fibre, wholemeal bread contains a surprising amount of protein as well as containing calcium, and adding a vegan sunflower spread brings in up to 30%
of the daily recommended intake Buy local – again reduces for vitamins A, D, E, B6, B12 and emissions, and also means you Folic Acid. A serving can cost as aren’t forced to buy veg wrapped little as 50p when sticking to in plastic. Markets and local greenbasics. grocers offer competitive prices, But, if beans on toast simply and heading to the stalls later in just doesn’t do it for you, or you the day increases bargaining power can’t face the idea of eating only and chances of price cuts. Heinz for 25 years, there are more Avoid ready meals – they are ways to reduce costs to limit the often unhealthy, making them poor “Makingchoices an for your wallet and your assault on your overdraft: Buy frozen –informed not only is decision it nutrition.isMaking from scratch is often far cheaper than fresh, but worth the time in money saved. crucial to success, will last much longer preventing Lookasout for ‘accidentally food waste guilt. you must understand vegan’ – involves investment in Lose your pride – supermar- the form of time riding small print ket own-brands the should not be of labels, consequences ofbut well worth it. Easyshirked. They are almost always pick items labelled ‘vegan’ often cutting out some just as good as the branded alter- carry a higher price. native. Avoid processed meat-remajor food groups” Bulk-buy – vegan staples such placements – the way to creating as grains, nuts, flour, seeds can be a affordable vegan diet is throwing bought cheaper per kg when you out the idea that each meal should source it right. The Clean Kilo in centre around a faux meat. Digbeth boasts the title of the larg- Sourcing protein from plants is far est Zero Waste supermarket in the more cost effective. UK, and offers a cost-effective Don’t give in to cravings – pay-by-weight system. Also con- vegan cheesecake, ice cream, sider bulk-buying vitamins and chicken nuggets, even cheese – all supplements or getting onto a sub- take a huge chunk out of your food scription programme to save. budget. Basics are boring, but Shop globally – head to your basics are also budget. local Asian superstore to pick up In conclusion, veganism is an staples such as rice and soy sauce inherently cheaper diet due to for a fraction of the supermarket expenses saved on the purchase of version meat. Costs only begin to mount Buy seasonally – currently, when spending money on vegan that’s parsnips, cauliflower, celery, substitutes for meat, cheese, eggs kale, potatoes, turnips, and brussel and desserts. The most cost-effecsprouts. Buying seasonally not tive vegan diet is formed of bulkonly saves money, but also the bought pulses, grains, beans and environment. fresh, frozen, or seasonal veg.
FOOD&DRINK
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbrickfood
29
On Today’s Menu: Very Sad Food
Food&Drink Editor Lydia Waller interviews the minds behind the magic: a platform that celebrates the trials and tribulations of student cooking at UoB Lydia Waller
of University life, through food. we only post the worst meals we about 10 submissions a week. What made you start the see. At the end of the day, all of Some of them aren’t too bad, but Food&Drink Editor account? these are meals that university we’ve had a few that have made us It just started off as a joke students are eating. We do think question the palettes of our folVery Sad Food is a small commu- within our flat last year, one of the this representation is important. lowers. Are there certain times of the nity of 328 followers, on Instagram, guys we live with always makes University is often described as from UoB, who share some of the very dry meals and another gets being the ‘best time of your life,’ year/term where you get more saddest and most disappointing way too ‘ketchup happy.’ It got to which creates a standard that is submissions? the point where we had so difficult to achieve and mainAt the moment we’re looking meals conjured up many photos of ugly tain – kind of like those getting the most submisduring the stresses of food that we felt they student-friendly meals sions we’ve ever had, university life. With needed to be col- on Instagram! When but usually when its nearly 100 posts, the lected in one place it’s built up that coming towards the masterminds and shared – kind university is meant end of term people How central do you think food behind this of like a gallery of to be amazing all seem to get quite is to the university student? comedic account our culinary expe- of the time through adventurous with Food is undeniably central to of sharing sturience. social media and the food they’re university life. You have to plan dents’ culinary Do you think stuff, it can be trying to use up your week to include food shopcrises have built it offers a sense of super disheartenbefore they go ping, you have to actually prepare up a recognition as relief and comfort, ing if you’re having home and we get a and plan out all of your meals for a meme-like platthrough the comedic any difficulties. bit of an influx. the first time, and it is a key point form at the VerySadFood VerySadFood aspect, for students, Hopefully things like What do you get for social interaction, be it just in University. From picthat everyone struggles Sad Food can show not personally, from putting your house kitchen or going out tures of cookies and raw to keep up standards? every moment has to be this project together? for lunch. eggs and butter captioned We think it’s nice to see other incredible for your university Honestly, we just find it quite What do you think is the main ‘protein gains,’ to smashed pickled jars, this account is a highlight people are in the same boat. experience to be a ‘success.’ On funny seeing what people come up reason students end up with ‘sad reel of what it looks like to be a Although it wasn’t our intention, this point, we do understand there with, and it’s nice getting to inter- food?’ Part of it is probably the fact a student who literally has too much we think the account is a welcome is a fine line between the joke of act with lots of different students! contrast to some of the ‘easy stu- sad food and normalising a lack of There’s also the aforementioned lot of us are consistently cooking on their plate. dent meals’ you see on Instagram self care; we never want it to seem solidarity which makes us feel for ourselves for the first time that have about fifty ingredients in like we’re laughing at anyone who better about our own kitchen dis- ever. It’s pretty easy to make nice them, and ultimately just make is struggling with food for what- asters. food at home every once in a you feel sad for eating beans on ever reason. The account’s purIs Very Sad Food largwhile and think you know toast every night. There’s pose is to offer a bit of er than you expected it your way around a definitely a sense of light relief in the form would be? kitchen, but when you VerySadFood solidarity in the sadof ugly meals. The account is have to start making ness. What has been definitely bigger three meals a day Do you think it your favourite than we thought it (and doing the illustrates an honentry? would be. For the shopping to preest depiction of Our favourite first few months, pare for that), it University life? entry is the syr- literally only the can be pretty hard And do you think upy bananas from ten people from to maintain the people should see the 25th of our flat followed motivation to make more of the realiOctober, 2018. We it! Then a few good meals. It is so ties of being a stueven ran a poll to friends began to easy to just cover VerySadFood dent like this? make sure this was interact with it, and it something in beans and We think it is a fairthe correct choice! grew from there. It’s realcall it a day. We contacted the creators of How many submis- ly cool when we get people Very Sad Food to hear about how ly honest representation of who none of us know sending To join the solidarity, follow the idea came about and what they university life, although it is obvi- sions do you get weekly? At the moment we’re getting photos in or commenting. @VerySadFood on Instagram. think about honest representation ously hyperbolic in the sense that
“Hopefully things like Sad Food can show not every moment [at university] has to be incredible”
“University is often described as being the ‘best time of your life,’ which creates a standard that is difficult to achieve”
Food of The Fortnight: Totally Tapas Food&Drink Writer Toby Fenton puts a student spin on Spanish cuisine Toby Fenton Food&Drink Writer
The concept of tapas, with a great number of sharing dishes, has become popular in the UK in recent years. For many years, I have wanted to have a go myself, but I never knew what traditional Spanish tapas really was and how to go about cooking it. Having visited Tapas Revolution, a restaurant set up by Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy, in the Bullring just before Christmas, I was inspired to give cooking Spanish food a go. Since then, I mentioned to a friend how I had made tapas, and they suggested that we host a tapas evening during this term. We then worked out a plan for which dishes we were going to make. We ended up deciding on eight dishes: tortilla de patatas (or Spanish omelette), albondigas, calamari con aioli, pan con tomate and Serrano ham (toasted bread with ham and grated tomato spread on), patatas bravas, espincas con garbanzos (chickpeas and spinach), a tomato
and red onion salad with a herby almond dressing, and finally alitas de pollo a la miel y limon (chicken wings glazed in honey and lemon). If you want to host your own tapas evening, I would suggest that you make 4-5 dishes, so that you don’t give yourself too much to do. Here are two of my favourite tapas recipes for you to try out at home! Albondigas Ingredients: For the meatballs 4 slices of white bread, crusts removed and torn into small pieces 6 tbsp milk
2x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
400g beef mince 400g pork mince 1 clove garlic, crushed A small bunch of parsley, chopped 1 egg ½ tsp smoked paprika Olive oil For the tomato sauce 2 cloves garlic sliced 200ml red wine
Method: Put the bread in a large bowl, pour over the milk and mix together until all the milk has soaked in. Add the mince, garlic, parsley, egg, smoked paprika, as well as salt and pepper, and mix well using clean hands, then roll into small meatballs (this recipe should make approximately 32 meatballs. Heat some of the oil in a wide frying pan and brown the meatballs in batches. When browned, put aside on a plate. When the meatballs are all browned, add a
bit more oil, and add the sliced garlic, allowing to sizzle for a couple of minutes. Add the red wine and boil until reduced to almost nothing. Then add the tomatoes and a little more smoked paprika, bring up to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, before adding the meatballs back. Cook for another 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the meatballs are cooked through. Espincas con Garbanzos Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced ½ onion, diced 300g spinach 1x 400g tin chickpeas, drained ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp salt Method: Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium low heat, then add the garlic and onion until translucent for about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients and allow to cook until heated through and the spinach is wilted, then serve.
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TRAVEL
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricktravel
Best of Britain: Lake District
Neil Roberson
Alice Landray Travel Writer
If you are looking for a taste of Britain in its most natural form, the epitome of glorious English countryside, you need look no further than the Lake District. Embracing nature in its purest, finest form, and with so many hidden gems, it is no wonder that the likes of the Brontë sisters were inspired to set their infamous romance novels in such a place. Dominated by impressive and mountainous terrain, the Lake District’s stunning landscapes are home to a number of extraordinary pockets of elusive beauty. Nothing compares to the sense of adventure you get when spending a day walking here: stomping up
mountains and along valleys, discovering all sorts of striking and unexpected things.
“It is no wonder that the likes of the Brontë sisters were inspired to set their infamous romance novels in such a place” With such epic scenery, it is unsurprising that this National Park has recently joined other great feats of nature, namely the
Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef, in being identified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A specific example - and the inspiration for this piece - of why I believe that the Lake District is the ‘Best of Britain’ is from my most recent trip to the Lakes, for my friends’ twenty-first birthday celebrations. Accompanied by ten fellow university students, we packed two cars full of warm layers, and a somewhat ridiculous amount of food and drink, and headed away from the ‘Birmingham bubble’ to this magical part of the world. Our weekend away was based around a cosy cottage in a small village, Elterwater, found a mere 20 minutes drive from the larger town of Windermere. Whilst there, the
lack of signal and remoteness of our location meant that we were able to disconnect from the outside world and enjoy every moment as it happened. This, for me, is part of the allure of a break in the Lake District: somehow the impressiveness of the countryside allows you to forget your mobile phone and the business of modern day life for a while and embrace the incredible surroundings. A tribute to the Lake District would be incomplete without mentioning the local residents. Whilst those I have encountered have all been stereotypically old and quirky, their friendliness and willingness to share their knowledge of the local area is special. In the numerous visits I have made to the region, I cannot think of a time where I have walked without
discovering some secret area to the credit of a local’s advice. On the Saturday of our weekend stay, we took a walk, starting and ending at our cottage; no need for a car or other modern-day technologies. We had been recommended a particular route, by a local we met in the pub the previous night, which included a stop at the hidden Cathedral Quarry. The impressiveness of what is essentially a large hole in a mountain was astounding and indescribable. It is such features that make the Lake District as magical as I have emphasised. Take a visit the Lake District. Stand, look, feel, and breathe in the magic.
Bloopers Abroad: France Charlotte Minter Travel Writer
I am halfway through my year abroad in France and the funny stories and compromising moments I find myself in whilst living in this foreign country are not diminishing. After telling a story, I am often told ‘this would only happen to you Charlotte,’ which leads me to think I’m either destined to constantly embarrass myself or simply lack the kind of common sense that would usually help people avoid these sticky situations. I shall let you know once I have reached a conclusion. But for now, I thought I would begin to document some of these tales, and a few of my friends’. For others to laugh (or cringe) at, and to shed some light into the trials and tribulations of an Erasmus student navigating themselves through a foreign land. As some of my close (and less
close) friends may know, I was plagued with an upset stomach when returning from my travels to Bali in the summer, and it failed to make a swift disappearance. It began to take a toll on me mentally and physically and, unfortunately for my friends and new acquaintances, it became all I could talk about – whether it was appropriate to or not. My amazing housemate Ben took the brunt of many in depth conversations about how sick I felt after a low FODMAP, gluten-less, dairy free lunch, as I attempted to try every trick in the book to cure my persistent sickness. We nick-named my stomach ‘tum-tum’ and many discussions regarding her state and well-being were had at length. During the process of attempting to find out exactly what was making my old tum-tum so unhappy, I became quite accustomed to the practice of providing stool samples to various doctors. As
you can imagine, the handover can be awkward and it can easily get embarrassing, even when tactfully done in your own language.
“It wasn't long before I began to realise that I was getting an even more confused look back than the one I was giving” However, I was feeling confident as I approached the ‘laboratoire’ and had rehearsed how to explain in French who I was and why I was there. I walked in with purpose, I gave the man my sample and awaited further instruction. He then proceeded to ask me
some basic questions: my full name, my date of birth etc. I was prepared for this and responded in my best non-cholent, French accent. Suddenly, there came a question I hadn’t expected to hear- he wanted to know ‘le couleur.’ ‘Le couleur?’ I looked at him, puzzled for a few seconds. It had thrown me off, I won’t lie. I hadn’t had to divulge this kind of information previously and I thought it was rather personal and unnecessary to be quite honest. Nevertheless, I responded: ‘Erm, Brun? Je pense’ (I now know this isn’t the French equivalent to brown). It wasn’t long before I began to realise that I was getting an even more confused look back than the one I was giving. I cast my mind back to year 8 French and tried to remember any more appropriate shades on the colour spectrum ‘Marron?’ Still nothing – just a more intense quizzical look.
Thankfully, before I started to attempt any more description, and after some exaggerated charades on his part, it occurred to me that he had not been asking about ‘le couleur’. He had been asking me ‘a quelle heure’ (at what time) had I produced the sample. I swiftly turned a lovely shade of rouge and stuttered the correct answer in rushed and broken Franglais. As I walked home, I was replaying those awkward seconds over in my head and cringing at my stupidity, I then came to the realisation that this would probably be the beginning of many unfortunate misunderstandings, and lo and behold, I was not wrong. My life-long mantra ‘If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry,’ suddenly became more relevant than ever and has been my rule to live by ever since.
TRAVEL
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricktravel
31
International Work Experience Jessica Makepeace Travel Writer
Work experience can be a daunting topic for those coming up to graduation, but there is still time! The University, as well as many external organisations, offer amazing volunteer and paid work experience opportunities all over the world. Sourcing international work experience can be made easy through looking at reviews online and the University's careers network website. Due to the popularity of international work experience, more students than ever are getting involved. This can enhance your job and postgraduate applications, but how can you make your experience stand out? There are a few things to consider when sourcing work experience and
using it to your advantage once you start making job and university applications.
“Sourcing international work experience can be made easy through looking at reviews online” It is advantageous to find experience that is relevant to the course or job you are interested in. However, if you cannot do this, there are still ways you can discuss your experience to help you stand out from other applicants. Of course, classic skills
such as teamwork are perfectly valid but realistically this isn’t unique. Think about how you can make the things you learned specifically relevant to what you are applying for. What will make your CV or application distinct will be to discuss your unique experience. Did you overcome any challenges that others may not have had to face? Did you learn a new language? Did you get involved in the culture outside of your placement? Cleaning a beach in Thailand may not specifically be relevant to the role you are applying for however you can use it to showcase skills such as adaptability, independence and cultural awareness. These are things that can be applied to many roles you may be interested in.
Winter In Amsterdam
International work experience for psychology, education, health and social care Finding work experience relevant to your career aspirations can sometimes be challenging, and it often feels as though you must make a choice between travelling and work. SLV.Global is an organisation that offers the best of both worlds. If you are interested in psychology, education, health and social care, SLV is for you.
“It is advantageous to find experience that is relevant to the course or job you are interested in”
They offer up to 12-week placements in Sri Lanka, Bali and India. The length of the experience can make all the difference, for example on a 4-week placement you would obtain over 45 hours of clinical experience – this could really make you stand out if you are applying for a position that requires hands-on experience. You’ll work within clinical and educational settings such as psychiatric hospitals and schools. The sessions are in place to complement the lack of resources within institutions in these countries and involve everything from yoga to teaching English. The impact of these sessions can be seen just after a few weeks, and it is such a privilege to be a part of. And of course, the chance to see these beautiful countries and emerge in the culture is always a pleasure.
Deputy Editor Kat Smith enjoys a chilly few days in the Dutch capital Kat Smith Deputy Editor
Amsterdam is the destination of choice for many young people wanting to have fun without compromising the compulsory dose of culture expected for a city break. While ‘Dam is stunning in the sun, after going in December I am a fully-fledged ambassador of visiting the home of stroopwaffels and countless bikes in the winter. Why? Let me convince you.
“The art is dotted around the city and is like a metaphorical hug in the cold” The Light Festival Having just finished Edition #7, Amsterdam Light Festival has become a prominent feature in the city during December and January. Featuring artworks from all over the world, many pieces can be seen from the comfort of a boat tour or just from the paths around the canals. The art is dotted around the city and is like a metaphorical hug in the cold. A particular favourite of mine from this year’s light festival was ‘Light a Wish’, which captured the moment you blow a dandelion to get your wish. Going underneath the installation on a boat tour was stunning. Edition #8 will run from 28 November 2019 to 19 January 2020. It's Significantly Quieter Popular with British tourists and numerous stag-dos, it’s hard to spot a local in the summer. Despite the Christmas period
bringing in many too, there is definitely a less-touristy vibe. It’s also a lot easier to get a taste for life there without the noise of men from home infiltrating... We could cycle alongside the locals, take refuge from the weather in reasonably quiet museums and generally be more relaxed. Ice-Skating Located where the ‘IAMSTERDAM’ sign used to live (R.I.P.), the impressive ice rink on Museumplein is a must for visiting ‘Dam in winter. Far bigger and endlessly more picturesque than Birmingham’s, I had a whale of a time skating in ICE*Amsterdam’s little winter haven. The prices were also very decent, being around €10 for 2 hours of skating. And if you’re lucky, the canals might even freeze over and the city is your ice rink. 2019-2020 have not been released as of print, but last year’s ran from 17 November 2018 until 10 February 2019. One of the cosiest places Being cosy in the cold is one of the best feelings...fact. With numerous cafes, independent shops and markets, Amsterdam is like a bowl of soup when it comes to warming you up from the inside. I especially loved the Foodhallen, comparable to Digbeth Dining Club if it multiplied by ten, which offered cuisine from around the world. I got the best burrito bowl and frozen yoghurt I’ve ever tasted, all in this little safe haven from the cold. The Dutch even have a word encompassing this: ‘gezellig,’ which captures everything from ‘cosy,’ ‘friendly’ and generally, feeling all fuzzy inside. You don’t get this cosiness in the blistering heat of summer.
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LIFE&STYLE
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricklife
Reclaim The Night This International Women’s Day
Life&Style Writer Frankie Rhodes explains the origins and significance of the ‘Reclaim The Night’ movement, and gives the details of Birmingham’s first ever march in its support, organised by our very own Women’s Officers Frankie Rhodes Life&Style Writer
As a female university student, the threat of violence is quietly present everywhere: in the dark corners of clubs and during the brisk walk home from campus in the evening, the accounts of friends who have been assaulted or drugged are an ever-present thought. And yet, we live on a relatively safe campus, in a relatively safe area, in a privileged part of the world. But Birmingham’s upcoming ‘Reclaim The Night’ march is not just for the likes of my friends and me, it’s for all women facing sexual and domestic violence. The ‘Reclaim The Night’ movement has a long history in England as part of the Women’s Liberation Movement, occurring for the first time in Leeds in 1977. The 60 women who marched up North Street protested against the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ murders, as well as the general violence that made women feel afraid within their own home town, forcing them into early curfews and restrictions. Now led by the Guild of Students’ Women’s Officers Alif Trevathan and Holly Battrick, in collaboration with GMB Trade Union, this year’s march aims to build on such a legacy and protest the pandemic of violence faced by
women both in this country and around the world.
“Issues of domestic and sexual violence are not ‘women’s issues,’ they are concerned with basic human rights” Due to the rise of mainstream feminism, including the surge in commercialisation, with retailers placing an emphasis on ‘Girl Power’ products, it is easy to assume that sexism is becoming a thing of the past. But aside from empowering t-shirts and inclusive beauty campaigns, individuals who identify as women are still facing a staggering level of violence and discrimination. Laura Bates’ 2013 book Everyday Sexism revealed shocking statistics, such as the fact that 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is still not a crime, and that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be raped or beaten in their lifetime. Such harrowing information can make us feel tempted to shut ourselves
up in our rooms, to not go out late at night, to not wear the outfits we want. This march is saying no to being afraid: it’s reclaiming the night that has been taken away from us. And what better time than now? In the wake of the viral #MeToo campaign, and in a city currently hosting the prominent ‘Women Power Protest’ exhibition, Birmingham is ready for collective action. The march will take place around Broad Street and Victoria Square, with placards strongly encouraged. There are also two guest speakers already confirmed: Preet Gill, MP for Edgbaston, and Lisa Thompson, CEO of the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP). With more speakers to be announced, and placard-making workshops to be organised closer to the time, all that is required now is the marchers. Whilst obviously women-led, this intersectional march is open to all genders, and indeed it deserves universal support. After all, issues of domestic and sexual violence are not ‘women’s issues,’ they are concerned with basic human rights, and tolerating them within society is detrimental for everyone. This march is also a chance to show solidarity with the survivors of such violence, so whether you are raising your placard for yourself, or for your friend, your girlfriend, your mother, or simply a stranger living halfway
Ian Cooper / Liverpool Echo
across the world, it’s equally important that you raise it. With 1,200 Facebook users currently interested or going to the event, this has the potential to be an exceptional demonstration of Birmingham’s resistance to violence against women. But it’s extremely important to continue
to drum up publicity, to share the event on Facebook and to start making placards. For me, this march is about no longer regarding the city at night as a place to be feared and avoided. But next month, we will all bring our different incentives for marching, and join in solidarity. Holly Bagnall
LIFE&STYLE
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricklife
33
The Egg That Broke The Internet: Are The Cracks Beginning To Show? Life&Style’s Emily Burnett reports on how Instagram’s most-liked post attempts to combat the mental health crisis associated with social media either feeling validated or invalidated based on how ‘successful’ our posts are. It can also indirectly affect our mental health, with it often having detrimental effects on our sleep habits and activity levels, both of which can dramatically affect our mood and aggravate any existing mental health problems.
Emily Burnett Life&Style Writer
On 4th January, a picture of an egg was posted on the Instagram account @world_record_egg with the aim of achieving the world record for the most liked Instagram post. And it did just that by receiving a staggering 52 million likes, beating the previous record of 18 million, held by Kylie Jenner - an impressive feat for a relatively unremarkable egg! Over the next month, the account posted four more photos of the egg, with it becoming more and more cracked in each photo, until a video was posted on 4th February which revealed that the account was an advert for mental health awareness. In the video, the egg cracks as a result of the pressure of the attention it has received on social media and encourages its followers to talk to someone if they too feel under pressure. The video also directs viewers to the site talkingegg. info, which has a list of useful mental health links.
“We can become obsessed with the number of likes and followers we have” The followers of @world_ record_egg are encouraged to ‘join the gang’ in the bio of the account, which has a link to a merchandise store. Although the site claims that 10% of profits will go to the charity Young Minds, this selling of merchandise per-
Instagram @world_record_egg
“If an egg can get people to talk about the pressure of social media, then the campaign has undoubtedly been a successful one”
Instagram / @world_record_egg
haps undermines its message somewhat, as it seems that the whole campaign was not just to encourage people to reach out and seek help for their mental health if they feel under pressure from social media, but also to make money from the millions that have liked their posts. Despite this, their message is undoubtedly positive considering
the shocking mental health statistics which have been linked to social media. In 2017, the Guardian reported that in a decade there had been a 68% increase in hospital admissions for selfharm in girls under 17, a crisis which experts have linked to pressures resulting from social media use. Furthermore, it was reported that by the age of 14, one in four
girls and one in ten boys will have or will have had depression. This is likely due to the fact that social media can lead to a fear of missing out, feelings of inadequacy, and the pressure to look a certain way, as well as providing a platform for cyber-bullying. In addition, we can become obsessed with the number of likes and followers we have, leading to us
Therefore, it seems to be vital that something is done about this emerging mental health crisis that has been linked by so many experts to the use of social media. However, it is admittedly ironic that the NHS has reported Instagram, the very platform ‘the egg’ was shared on, as being the social media site which is most damaging to our mental health. According to the BBC, over 3 billion people use social media. Therefore if a link can be made between social media usage and the current mental health crisis, it is crucial that we continue to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and encourage people to open up and reach out. If an egg can get people to talk about the pressure of social media, then the campaign has undoubtedly been a successful one.
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SCI&TECH
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricktech
Can Dogs Be Beekeepers? A keen sense of smell could make canines ideal for sniffing out devastating infections in commercial hives Imogen Claire Sci&Tech Writer
The industrialisation and automation of modern, Westernworld agriculture is a fundamental foundation for how we conceive of and represent the landscape of food production. Yet, commercial colonies of bees remain an integral component in the machination of the industry. Colonies of bees are loaned to farms to pollinate the hectares upon hectares of crops, ranging from the simple straightforwardness of wheat fields to the complex demands of almonds. Apiary inspectors are experts that affirm that these bee colonies – that could be home to almost 60,000 bees in the summer months
– are healthy and will pollinate the crop at maximum efficiency. The inspectors look for anomalous indicators such as deformities in the bees when they remove a frame of honeycomb for analysis, however human error is still possible, and it is a timeintensive task. One section of the hive could appear healthy, although an infestation or disease may have only just begun. American foulbrood is one such threat – a vicious bacterium that will exterminate hive populations ruthlessly, especially when bee health is compromised by a changing climate. Foulbrood spores are in fact problematically resilient as spores will remain in the comb for as long as a century unless the comb and the equipment is burned, which is a
significant economic loss. With tractor-trailers transporting about seven million bees across the United States to pollinate crops, this is an extremely serious issue. Cybil Preston, chief apiary inspector to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, was afforded a grant from the federal farm bill to train dogs to detect foulbrood in hives, due to the success she achieved training her own dog, Mack. Using canines has several undeniable advantages to the beekeeping industry and to the food industry. Their keen sense of smell means the hives do not need to be visually appraised for disease and even the tiniest infection is identified easily. One dog works just as hard as four full time apiary inspectors – Mack inspected an astonishing 1,700
honeybee colonies in two seasons. Training the dogs would take less than a year and with success rates similar to Mack's, dogs would revolutionise the beekeeping and agricultural landscape. Additionally, identification of threats could expand into other afflictions affecting bees, such as chalkbrood, a fungal disease, or nosema disease which develops into dysentery if the affected bees do not leave the hive – such is the case when they are transported in the tractor-trailers. Conclusively, the unexpected pairing of canines and apidae could help to safeguard the possibility of food shortages in a changing climate, and help prevent the extinction of the latter species overall.
Pixabay / PollyDot
Diagnosing Malaria Affordably Sci&Tech Writer Joseph McGrory highlights innovations that could make malaria diagnosis accessible to those who need it the most Joseph McGrory Sci&Tech Writer
Most people don’t even think about it in their day-to-day lives, but malaria is still a massive issue for vast numbers of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that as of 2017 almost half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. It is transmitted by mosquitoes that are infected with a Plasmodium parasite. There are 5 species of Plasmodium parasite with Plasmodium Falciparum being the most deadly. The first symptoms include fever, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhoea, which might be mild and difficult to identify as malaria. If left untreated, however, the patient may go on to have life-threatening breathing difficulties and organ failure. Children are particularly susceptible, with around 70% of all deaths from malaria being children under the age of 5. The way that malaria is usually identified in a patient is by taking some blood from the patient, spinning it in a centrifuge and then examining it under a microscope. The centrifuge (a device that spins things rapidly thus applying centrifugal force to them) separates the blood into its
component parts by mass, with the heaviest things being on the outside and the lightest on the inside. A red blood cell infected with malaria is slightly lighter than a red blood cell that is healthy. This means that infected cells can be found between the healthy red blood cells and the clear plasma and so can be easily identified when viewed under a microscope.
“Centrifuges and microscopes are heavy, expensive and require electricity” So, in theory, it is fairly easy to identify malaria in patients and thus give them the treatment that they need. However, centrifuges and microscopes are heavy, expensive and require electricity. This makes them inaccessible to the people that need them mostrural and isolated communities in the third world. Even just getting the equipment there is tough as it is delicate and can break easily. Therefore, equipment needs to be
cheap, portable and sturdy as well as available for wide distribution. This is where Manu Prakash comes in. Manu Prakash is a professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University. He is an engineer, inventor, computer scientist and physicist. He, along with Jim Cybulski, invented two revolutionary devices - the Foldscope and the Paperfuge. They are low cost solutions to the problems faced with third-world medicine. The Foldscope is a paper based microscope that costs less than $1 in parts and can be constructed from a flatpack in less than 5 minutes. The lens is a tiny glass sphere and the light comes from an LED that is powered by a watch battery. A foldscope kit contains a number of different lenses that can magnify from 140x to 2000x, making them very powerful tools. It can be printed on an A4 sheet of paper and the assembled product weighs less than 8 grams. It is also waterproof and can apparently survive being dropped from a 5th storey window. This makes it extremely portable and durable. The microscope can also work with different attachments so it can be attached to a phone camera or projected onto a wall for study by a large group.
On the other hand, the Paperfuge seeks to address another problem. It is a centrifuge made out of paper that is ideal for medical testing. Inspired by a toy called Whirligig (essentially a spinning button on a string) it creates rotational energy through the pulling apart of twisted strings. This means that it can generate enough speed and power to separate a sample in 90 seconds. It weighs about 2 grams and only costs about 25 cents to make. This makes this simple solution lightweight, portable and cheap, thus overcoming many of the issues that arise in field medicine. These two inventions come from a field dubbed ‘frugal science’ which aims to bring science and technology to the masses to empower everyone and to save lives. These machines are a prime example of this and can help save thousands of lives.
Wikimedia / Alvegaspar
Creature Feature: Kea-ture Feature James Law Gaming Editor
When you think of an animal being a ‘pest,’ you’d probably think of rats in your home during the cold months, or mosquitoes spreading disease and annoyance throughout the world. You wouldn’t necessarily think of a circus of kea, crowds of beautiful parrots which spread their wings to reveal a gleaming orange hue underneath. Majestic beasts endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, they are some of the most intelligent birds in the world. They need to be too. The mountainous environment of fjordland is far from ideal for the survival of most species, so they have to think outside the box. It’s almost like they know the picturesque beauty of Milford Sound is ripe to pester tourists for food scraps and the like. Unlike many bird species, kea are very trusting of humans, which leads to both human support for them and the killing of many, leading to their endangerment. Humans have had a complicated relationship with kea. Tourists love them - when I went to New Zealand last summer I made some kea friends - but locals hate them. Despite their adorable appearance, they feed on literally anything they can find, from human trash to livestock. That’s right, kea have been reported to savagely destroy sheep and horses. Although it’s not known why only some kea have this murderous streak within them. Before the 1970s, the New Zealand government put a bounty on kea bills, such was the human dislike of the bird and the disruption. After this, a census revealed only 5000 kea were left alive, leading to a U-turn that culminated in full protection in 1986. The cultural impact of kea is extremely on-brand. In the classic video game Dwarf Fortress, kea are in the game as odd, irritating pests to steal your items and fly away. They’re super friendly, and you know the ones who survive are extremely hardy. 40% infant mortality rates are tough odds to overcome, so the ones you see deserve every tyre they chomp up, and every snack they steal. One kea even stole a scotsman’s passport. They’re described as the ‘clown of the mountains’ for a reason, so just watch your step and marvel.
SCI&TECH
Friday 22nd February 2019
@redbricktech
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Childhood Leukaemia: Is It Preventable?
Research has indicated a link between childhood leukaemia and infection; Sci&Tech Writer Amandeep Kaur explains how this could help prevent future cancers Amandeep Kaur
Sci&Tech Writer
A comprehensive review of research outlining the genetics, biology, epidemiology and animal model analyses of childhood leukaemia was published in Nature Reviews Cancer in 2018. This landmark study by Professor Mel Greaves from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, for the first time revealed a series of biological and epidemiological events as the cause of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and even suggested it to be a preventable cancer. ALL is the most common form of paediatric cancer with up to 400 new cases diagnosed in children aged between 0 to 14
years every year. First line of treatment, including combination chemotherapy with steroids has shown around 90% cure rates in children with ALL but despite the success rate, treatment period is often long and toxic, resulting in some long-term health problems.
Two ‘hits’ are required Professor Greaves and colleagues’ work with identical twins with ALL led to the twostep hypothesis that childhood ALL is a caused by a combination of genetic mutations and a lack of childhood infection. During foetal development, spontaneous mutations and mutations caused by internal processes are common. The first step involves a genetic mutation as a foetus that
generates a population of preleukaemic cells and thereby predisposes 1 in 20 children to leukaemia. This mutation occurs at random and only 1% of children with this genetic fault go on to develop ALL. The second step involved is vital to the development of leukaemia. A second gene mutation is triggered when susceptible children are exposed to common infections such as flu and viruses. Infants falling ill from an infection may not seem like a big deal, but it is where there has been no exposure to infection and the presence of the first genetic mutation, that it becomes a problem. This is further supported by the prevalence of ALL in advanced and developed societies, suggesting
the disease to be paradox - risen as a result of changes in modern societal views to limit exposure to bacteria and viruses as much as possible. In other words, raising children with the first genetic mutation in ‘ultra-clean’ homes leave them at risk of triggering childhood ALL as their immune systems are not primed to cope with harmless colds and flu.
Early immune education may prevent ALL Our immune systems, particularly in our infant years need to be educated against various infectious agents including bacteria, viruses and parasites via day care attendance and breast milk in order to function correctly and generate
the necessary immune response. Lack of early priming usually leads to an abnormal immune response that tends to be over-compensating and can last too long. In addition to ALL, this ‘delayed infection’ theory is also a common cause of other conditions including type I diabetes, allergies and autoimmune diseases. The biodiversity of the human microbiome – or the community of microbes, mostly found in the gut is reflective of the infectious history of an individual. Professor Greaves and colleagues are currently investigating whether early exposure to certain types of bacteria could prevent leukaemia in mice with aims to follow this research into humans.
Capsules Could Replace Needle Injections Farhana Alam explores a potentially revolutionary new drug delivery method Farhana Alam Sci&Tech Writer
Scientists collaborating between Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have designed an oral drug delivery system that could spell the end for needle injections. They call it an ingestible self-orienting millimeter–scale applicator, or SOMA; a name undoubtedly inspired by the soma pills in Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’. People who live with diabetes mellitus must inject insulin directly into the bloodstream. This is because insulin is a protein and, if
taken orally, would become denatured (inactivated) upon entry into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, due to extreme pH levels and proteindigesting enzymes. Even if the insulin managed to remain intact, it would then need to traverse the thick mucus layer of the GI tract and make its way through layers of cells before it could reach the bloodstream. Furthermore, protein-based drug molecules are often simply too large to be absorbed through the digestive system at all. The shape of the SOMA was inspired by the self-orienting leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) which, much like a Weeble toy, has a low centre of
mass and a curved shape that returns it to an upright position if tipped on its side. This ensures that, following ingestion, the SOMA positions itself in the correct orientation for drug delivery, once it lands on the floor of the stomach. To deliver the actual drug payload, the team loaded dehydrated, compressed insulin onto the tip of a sharp, biodegradable, coneshaped structure, which resembles a microscopic dart tip; they called this a millipost. The millipost is attached to a compressed spring, held in place within the SOMA capsule by a disc of caramelised sugar. Once the SOMA is in the stomach, the sugar dissolves, free-
ing the spring to fire the insulinloaded millipost into the stomach lining. The insulin then dissolves and enters the bloodstream, whilst the SOMA capsule is excreted out of the body. The research was published in the journal, Science, at the start of February 2019. The SOMA capsules were tested in pigs, and showed no resultant damage to the stomach lining, and no visible signs of distress (the stomach does not have receptors for sharp pain). Furthermore, blood-glucose levels dropped after SOMA administration, indicating effective insulin delivery. However, the SOMA only worked effectively when delivered into an empty stomach.
Therefore, it would need to be taken at the start of the day and not combined with meals. The team are now carrying out further tests and hope to begin human clinical trials in the next three years. The use of insulin to test the SOMA drug delivery system was an important proof of concept, but it will need to be tested with other active pharmaceutical ingredients. Finally, although no damage was seen to the stomach lining during these tests, this does not necessarily indicate that repeated use of SOMA capsules (as would be required by a diabetic) would be safe.
Microsoft Product Will Help Blind Kids Learn To Code Aishwarya Chandran Sci&Tech Writer
Microsoft have recently developed a program, Code Jumper, which enables children with visual impairments to learn how to code. The physical product contains several pods, each with a specific instruction (code) which represent a particular command. These pods can be joined together to form several different sequences which help the computer to translate those codes into text, colour, and movement. The idea of creating the programme for visually impaired students was first developed by Microsoft’s Project Torino in 2017. Their technology team, in Cambridge, designed the physical programming language, which led to the development of the pods. Now, a charity organisation called American Printing House for the Blind, which aims to help visually impaired individuals, is taking over the research and technology from Microsoft. Through creating this product,
researchers at Microsoft were able to recognise how children interact and use technology by speaking to them directly and getting ideas. This enabled them to develop an engaging programme for children to educate and enjoy. Microsoft’s senior researcher, Nicolas Villar, states that this programme is accessible for all children: ‘if you put this in a classroom, not only is the blind student going to be using this but every student in the classroom is going to want to a crack at this.’ Currently, this programme has been tested in King's College School in Cambridge. One of the students at King's College School, Theo, has been involved with shaping the production and beta testing Code Jumper. His mother, Elin, mentioned how his ‘involvement with Project Torino has been life changing. He’s now doing more complex coding including recently writing a hangman game in Python.’ After four years of research and development, this product is expected to go on sale throughout the UK, US, Canada, Australia and India this year.
Microsoft Wikimedia Commons
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SPORT
Friday 22nd February 2019
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Health&Fitness: Arnold Classic Strongman 2019 Preview Harry Wilkinson previews the Arnold Classic annual strongman competition, geared towards discovering the strongest man on the planet Harry Wilkinson Sport Editor
The Arnold Classic is an annual strongman competition held at the Arnold Classic festival (founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger). Ten competitors – qualified by various means of other strongman competitions – compete in five events, all requiring overwhelming strength to even attempt. The Arnold Classic, along with World’s Strongest Man, are seen as the most prestigious strongman competitions, and winning either (or both, as Hafthor Bjornsson did last year) will prove quite unequivocally that you are the strongest man in the world. This years event, taking place from 1-2 March, will see ten competitors who will fiercely battle it out to prove their place as one of the strongest men on the planet. The favourite has to be Hafthor Bjornsson, who is recognisable
to many as the actor playing ‘The Mountain’ on HBO’s Game of Thrones.
“Bjornsson recentlly deadlifted a monster 474kg in training, and it went up easy” The 6 foot 9 Icelandic giant certainly has earned the role, winning both the 2018 Arnold and WSM after years of frustration, finishing on the WSM podium six years in a row before finally wining it. Now he is finally victorious, he will want to start a period of dominance.
Hathor has two serious rivals or this years competition. Brain Shaw and the younger Mateusz Kieliszkowski. Brian Shaw is a a seasoned strongman competitor, winning four WSMs and three Arnold Classics (2011, 2015 and 2017). Shaw has even working
desperately in an attempt to regain his title from the formidable Hafthor. The ‘friendly giant’ will not give up. Kieliszkowski is relatively young at 26, but has shown great signs of being a future winner in one of the major competitions.
Fininshing runner-up in WSM 2018, the Polish giant is not to be written off for the Arnold this year. His explosive power is pretty much unrivalled, and if he can perform to his greatest capacity, there is every chance of him being victorious.
Arnold Classic Strongman Competitors 2019
Mikhail Shivlyakov (Russia)
Hafthor Bjornsson (Iceland)
Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
Rauno Heinla (Estonia)
Matjaz Belsak (Slovenia)
Olexii Novikov (Ukraine)
Jerry Pritchett (USA)
Jean-Francois Caron (Canada) Brian Shaw (USA) Martins Licis (USA)
The Events Deadlift (with elephant bar) The Deadlift is arguably the best general indicator of overall strength, as the it incorporates pretty much every muscle in the entire body. The Deadlift at the Arnold will use an Elephant bar, which is a longer than the regular Olympic bar you would find at gyms. The minimum starting weight is 340kg, and although this is certainly a gargantuan weight, it will be feather-like for most of these competitors. Bjornsson recently posted a video on Instagram deadlifting a monster 473kg, and it went up easy. Expect him to go for more at the Arnold, or even attempt to break or edge towards Eddie Hall’s 2017 World Record of 500kg.
Austrian Oak Overhead Press The Austrian Oak is a massive log weighing around 195kg, and each strongman must lift it above their head as many times as they can. The log is made of wood, so the weight varies year to year – but it will be around that 195kg mark. Many of the competitors will not manage a single rep: this is one the most difficult events at the contest. For those who cannot lift it, there is a slightly lighter log (but 1 rep on the heavier log coints for more than any on the lighter). This event is very technical – rather than brutish pain endurance, it requires immaculate technique and mastery of form to succeed.
Husafell Stone Carry The Husafell stone is a legendary lifting stone from Husafell, Iceland. Unlike the familiar Atlas stones (sphere and perfectly balannced), Husafell stones are natural and their weight is therefore distributed in multiple areas, unlike a perfect sphere. They weigh around 186kg, and the task for each strongman is to carry them for as long a distance as they can. The furthest distance carried wins around a synthetic goat pen (which has been recreated in honour of where the Husafell carry originated). Strongman competitions seem keen to want to incorporare natural stones into the events, with two this year using them.
Conan’s Wheel of Pain This event involves a long bar that comes from a pivot point with a large weight located in between the pivot and the athlete. The strongman lifts the bar by placing it on the forearm or crook of elbows. When in this position, the athlete moves the implement
Odd Haugen Stone Shoulder This event involves each athlete attempting to lift a 186kg natural stone onto their shoulder for as many reps as possible. Last year Kieliszkowski won this event easily, with his explosive power being demonstrated accordingly. It is an event that may be tougher for the taller athletes, since the taller you are, the higher you need to lift the stone to get it up on the shoulder. Saying that, do not count out the taller athletes (Shaw and Bjornsson) from winning this event, since this slight disadvantage can easily be overcome by their tremendous power.
6ft9 Hafthor Bjornsson, who plays ‘The Mountain’ in HBO’s Game of Thrones, prepares to put a shot. Image: Kent Buckingham
around as far as possible. This is a brutal event due to the way the bar is held – the implement digging into the diaphragm and forearms, making it painful and hard to breath. The event is based off a scene in the film Conan The Barbarian, in which the titular
hero (played by Arnold) moves a heavy arm of a rotating mill as a form of manual labour.
SPORT
Friday 22nd February 2019
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Game of Loans: Why Chelsea’s System Shouldn’t be Criticised
Sport Editor Jack Simpkin explores the Blues' unique approach Jack Simpkin Sport Editor
Chelsea’s January transfer window was marked by the big signing of American Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for £58m, and in typical Roman Abramovich Chelsea-style, he was immediately sent on loan, straight back to Dortmund – making him the 38th player to be on loan from the club at present. Much has been said about Chelsea’s rather unique approach to squad control in this era of football, but I would certainly be one to argue that just because the club operates differently to everyone else, doesn’t necessarily make it a bad way of doing so. Before this loaning culture took hold at the club, starlets such as Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Mohamed Salah were allowed to leave for meagre transfer fees. You will not need me to tell you
John Dobson Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003
where they are now. Through fear of embarrassingly losing out on such talent again, the club have understandably opted to loan players that cannot quite fit in the first team squad, rather than cashing in on them like other clubs do. Perhaps if Manchester City had not been so quick to discard of Jadon Sancho, they might still possess one of the brightest talents in the game, not to mention Brahim Díaz who they sold to Real Madrid in January, he might well be another that has City licking their wounds.
might not quite be ready to play week in, week out, for a club the size of Chelsea, can you blame the Londoners for not wanting to lose them to rivals before they have seen just how good they can be?
in on loan in recent years, mainly in the striking options. This time through fear of over-committing to strikers that may not fulfil their potential, just as they did in the cases of Andriy Shevchenko Fernando Torres, and Alvaro Morata, potential replacements such as Radamal Falcao, Alexandre Pato, and most recently Gonzalo Higuain, have all come in on loan, leaving the club with a financial safety net should they not perform as expected.
“There are only about four players on the planet that can replace Eden “Chelsea are level Hazard, who is to with Manchester “Perhaps if say one of those United for major Manchester City four is going to trophies won in the had not been so come from the 21st century with quick to discard of club's own 16” Jadon Sancho, they academy” The round-a-bout approach might still possess that has also been seen on the is not realistic to think that a touchline with Chelsea’s firing one of the brightest clubItcompeting to win every com- culture is another method I would petition they are in will also have support. As we stand before this talents in the the luxury of drafting academy weekend’s Carabao Cup final, game” graduates into their squad regu- Chelsea are level with Manchester Yes, the examples of players returning from loan to play regularly for Chelsea are few and far between, however, whilst undoubtable talents such as Mason Mount, Reece James, or Tammy Abraham,
larly. There are only about four players on the planet that can replace Eden Hazard, who is to say one of those four is going to come from the club's own academy. On the flip side, the Blues have also seen more players come
United for major trophies won in the 21st century with 16 – that would never be the case if Abramovich had not adopted such a strict culture during his tenure. At Wembley on Sunday, they’ll have the chance to claim the top spot on their own.
Sports Club of the Fortnight: BUDS Jake Bradshaw Sport Editor
When you think of sports clubs, a dancing society may not be what immediately springs to mind. However, Birmingham University Dance Society (BUDS) has recently put on some stunning performances at sports events, playing a large role in entertaining spectators and fans at events such as Lockdown and Engage, as well as performing superbly at national competitions. This week, we caught up with BUDS presidents Emily Banks and Jack Norris to gain an understanding of what makes the club so popular. The club boasts an impressive membership of around 560 people, and this year saw their largest intake of novice dancers yet. "We aim to have as much of a friendly atmosphere as possibly," explains Emily, which is evidently one of
the key reasons why so many people choose to join. Moreover, the club caters to all different levels of dancers, ranging from novice to experienced, meaning anyone can join regardless of ability level or prior training. This year BUDS are taking part in three main competitions, and having performed well in Cardiff, obtaining first place in two judged categories, are hoping to continue this trend with strong performances in Leeds and Loughborough. In these competitions, teams are judged on factors such as the originality, complexity and execution of their routine, and the success BUDS has obtained so far indicates they are on track to continue improving in all these areas. There are five squads within the club, with four performing at competitions, such as Cardiff, and
one focusing on performances at events such as the university's Lockdown, Engage, and Valefest. In terms of dance style, you can find pretty much everything you need at BUDS. "Our most popular style is probably ballet," mentions Jack, but he goes on to give an extensive list of other forms, including jazz, hip hop, and musical theatre. Not only this, but strength and conditioning sessions are run for those feeling their fitness needs a boost. The club also occasionally bring in professional dancers to run training sessions, giving students the opportunity to work with people dedicated to the art of dance. Towards the end of March, BUCS put on a huge annual show with around 300 members taking part in a marathon of multiple dance styles, which will surely bring an impressive end to their activities this semester.
For more information, find the club on Facebook, or follow them on Instagram at @uobdance or Twitter @UoBDanceSociety.
A note from the Sports Officer: Simon Price Sports Officer
This week I have picked BUDS as the latest 'Sports Club of the Fortnight. While BUDS do not fall under UBSport, what they have done for the sport in the last two weeks has been fantastic! Last week there were some huge sporting events in Engage (Rugby Union) and Lockdown (Basketball) where BUDS put on some mesmerising performances to entertain the crowds during the intervals. These large sporting events are vital for the student experience and it is great that we have a society such as BUDS to really bring them to life!
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A Tribute to Gordon Banks Jacob Davies Sport Writer
Panini
On 12th February, Gordan Banks OBE passed away at the age of 81. The former England goalkeeper was part of the Three Lions’ 1966 World Cup winning squad and won two League Cups during a senior career which spanned 20 years and included stints at clubs such as Leicester City, Stoke City and Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Banks began his career at Chesterfield in 1953, before being sold to Leicester for £7,000 in July 1959. He was defeated in the two FA Cup finals he reached with the club in 1962 and 1964, but went on to win the League Cup in 1964. The following year, the Sheffield born goal-stopper took part in England’s famous 1966 World Cup victory on home soil, making a string of important saves in the final of the tournament. Despite his previous successes and being England’s first choice keeper, Banks was dropped by Leicester and sold on to Stoke City in April 1967 for £50,000. In the 1970 World Cup, Banks made one vital save to prevent a Pelé goal which is widely regarded as one of the greatest saves in the history of the sport. Sadly, illness prevented him from playing in the quarter-final, where England were beaten by West Germany. Banks went on to secure his second League Cup in 1972, which remains to this day Stoke’s only major honour. Sadly, a car crash in October 1972 cost him both his sight in his right eye and eventually his professional career. Despite this disability, Banks was named NASL Goalkeeper of the Year in 1977 whilst playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the United States. Across his career, the veteran was named FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year on six occasions and FWA Footballer of the Year in 1972. Highly regarded by both his critics and peers, Gordon Banks was a legend of the sport and will be greatly missed.
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Friday 22nd February 2019
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David Burnell: Why I Turned my Back on Football for Cricket Career at Warwickshire Sport Writer George Garrett interviews a sportsman who faced a tough choice George Garrett Sport Writer
As a 17 year old, there are many decisions to make in life, however I doubt many come close to David Burnell. He had to choose between continuing playing for Watford FC in their academy as a goalkeeper, and remaining in the Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s academy, chasing a contract through cricket. Interestingly enough, he chose cricket. This decision surprised many, including myself. Surely the lure of professional football would have been too much as it is for so many? The dream, the money, the lifestyle? Even so, Dave was prepared to turn his back on football for the sake of his A-levels, something Watford FC weren’t prepared for him to do. ‘Football is selective, and
takes the approach through the BTEC group focusing heavily on training’. If Burnell was to take the scholarship offer Watford could potentially give him, he would have been at the training ground from 8am until 3pm - living the professional lifestyle, gaining his first source of income, fed the dream, but with a substandard education.
“Dave was
prepared to turn his back on football for the sake of his A-levels” ‘It would have been logistically hard for them (Watford) to deal with had I taken my A-levels, as I wouldn’t be getting enough contact time on the training ground for their liking, they want-
ed me there all the time’. ‘No player at Watford will take their A-levels or any other education besides a single BTEC in sport while the figures suggest 96% of the players at that age won’t make it’. The 96% is a staggering statistic. Added to by the fact that in order to give a career in football a go, prospects must dedicate all their time towards something, even though the likelihood is that nothing will come of it. ‘That’s the life of football though,’ Dave admits, ‘it’s a risk a lot of boys are willing to take’. Sacrificing everything for football, placing all their eggs in one basket, disregarding schooling. Football clubs should do more to provide up and coming players with educational qualifications. Through collaboration in schools, universities or other institutions, academies could accommodate dream and reality; not just football but an education too.
David Burnell
Burnell’s dilemma provides a reminder that football should do more for hopeful young players,
as they need more in their life than cleaning Troy Deeney’s boots and training every day.
Boxing Preview: Chris Eubank Jr. vs James DeGale Andy Brennan looks ahead to tomorrow's fight between the two British boxers Andy Brennan Sport Writer
This Super Middleweight clash represents the last chance saloon for both of these British fighters. While they are two generally respected boxers in the British boxing sphere, many experts accept the fact that the loser of this fight will probably never get the chance of a world title shot again. These are two men who have relatively decorated careers, yet
seem to fall when the hurdle is greatest. Eubank Jr has had multiple accusations levelled at his arrogance, as reports have emerged about his refusal to hire a trainer, as he believes his fundamentals are already perfect, when the bout with George Groves taught us they were far from it. However, what cannot be denied is Eubank’s dedication to his craft and the incredible effort he puts into training. A key factor in what will most likely be a slugfest is whether DeGale can match Eubank’s incredible stamina. James DeGale was tipped for
super stardom having made amazing, progressive strides in his boxing ability after his narrow defeat to Groves back in 2011. However, DeGale seemed to pay a heavy price after an all out war with Swedish powerhouse Badou Jack. He managed to retain his belts in the unification match, as the bout ended in a draw, but a heavily damaged eardrum in addition to losing several teeth and a severe concussion has led many to believe that DeGale was never the same. Despite this, many boxing fans see this as DeGale’s swan-
“DeGale looks more motivated than ever, and is determined to finish his career with a scintillating victory” song, and at 33 it is likely that his best years are behind him. Yet
DeGale looks more motivated than ever, and is determined to finish his career with a scintillating victory in what promises to be a very exciting British bout. Of Eubank's twenty-nine professional fights, he has lost only two, the most recent coming against fellow Brit George Groves in Feburary 2018. DeGale boasts a similar record, having won twenty-five of his twenty-eight matches, loosing twice and scoring one draw. Both have previously lost to George Groves, with DeGale's coming in May 2011.
Andrew Robertson: A Study of the Scotland International’s rise to the top of the Game Sport Writer Luke Bosher investigates the meteoric rise of Liverpool's left back Luke Bosher Sport Writer
At the start of the 2012/13 season, Jurgen Klopp had just won consecutive Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund. Contrastingly, Andy Robertson was working in the ticket office at Hampden Park and had just been called up to Queen’s Park’s first team for the Scottish Third Division season. Six years on and the Scottish left back is one of the first names on the teamsheet at Liverpool and is a clear favourite with Klopp. His path to Merseyside was atypical; not a product of any elite academy, Robertson had played for three clubs across four leagues
before securing a move to Liverpool in 2017.
“The Scottish left back is a clear favourite with Klopp” In his debut season at Dundee United, his first professional club, he won the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year in 2013/14, and attracted the interest of newlypromoted Hull City in the Premier League. Spending three seasons at Hull, and despite suffering relegation in 2016/17, his performances
were striking enough to earn an £8 million move to Liverpool. Initially, Robertson was Alberto Moreno’s understudy, but made the left back position his own after Moreno’s injury in December 2016 and has not looked back since.
“His path to Merseyside was atypical” Robertson now epitomises everything good about Liverpool’s style of play, but his ability and value goes beyond natural pace, stamina and willingness to leave everything on the field. His deliv-
ery is a crucial weapon for Liverpool, and his ability to change things up, crossing from deep, swinging them in from the by-line, and hitting them firsttime cannot be understated. No defender has provided more Premier League assists (11) since August 2017, and he has committed only 11 fouls this season.
“Robertson now epitomises everything good about Liverpool's style of play”
Klopp loves him because he is the archetypal modern fullback with ability and intelligence at both ends of the pitch. Liverpool fans love him because of his drive and work he does in the local community. Football fans love him because he is a great asset on Fantasy Premier League. Now the captain of his country, Robertson is surely considered one of the top fullbacks in world football. Career Path: Queen's Park to Dundee United (Free - July 2013) Dundee United to Hull City (€3.6m - July 2014) Hull City to Liverpool FC (€8m - July 2017)
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Friday 22nd February 2019
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@redbricksport
Six Nations: England in Charge as We Reach Halfway Point
Dan Hague looks ahead to a pivotal weekend in this year’s Six Nations tournament Dan Hague Sport Writer
There are plenty of questions to ask as the Six Nations reaches its midpoint. You might be wondering: which sides are performing the best, which players have stood out, but most importantly, who will lift the Six Nations trophy? In this article I will answer these questions and perhaps a few more. England stormed into the tournament with an impressive bonus point win over Ireland. They carried this form into Twickenham with a clinical display that dispatched a dismal French side. England look to have struck a nice balance and are well placed for the tournament. Wales are leading the chase. The only other side still in the hunt for the Grand Slam Wales have won ugly. As Warren
Gatland said ‘[Wales] seem to have forgotten how to lose’. Ireland and Scotland seem to be on level pegging. However, expect an upset or two from the Irish if they can establish their power game.
“This Six Nations can be won be two sides; England and Wales... their contest is a Grand Slam decider” Meanwhile, France have been miserable. After going 16 points up against Wales it seemed as if they might finally have found a balance between power and guile. Yet, after capitulating in the sec-
ond half, France have reverted to type and brought the likes of Mathieu Basteraud into the starting 15. If I am honest, Italy have been nowhere all in the tournament. England have had the majority of this tournament’s top players. Jonny May has transformed himself into a world class winger and Tom Curry has been brilliant. Other notable mentions include Scotland’s Finn Russell who has been mercurial at times and Wales’ Josh Adams who has been Warren
Gatland’s most threatening player. In my opinion, this Six Nations can be won be two sides; England and Wales. Set to meet in Cardiff this weekend, their contest is being billed as a Grand Slam decider. England haven’t lost to Wales under Eddie jones, but there is something special about the atmosphere in Cardiff that may just edge it for Wales. Whatever happens, this Six Nations has been enthralling and that looks set to continue.
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Round 2 Results: SCO 13-22 IRE ITA 15-26 WAL ENG 44-8 FRA Round 3 Fixtures: FRA-SCO - Tomorrow 14:15 WAL-ENG - Tomorrow 16:45 ITA-IRE - Sunday 15:00 Wikimedia Commons / David Roberts
Ajax 1-2 Real Madrid: Can Los Blancos win La Decimocuarto Having lost their Talisman Ronaldo? News Editor Tom Leaman examines the chances of another Real Madrid Champions League victory Tom Leaman News Editor
Despite a shaky start in Amsterdam, goals from Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio secured Real Madrid a 1-2 win over Ajax. While Los Blancos did have some controversial VAR decisions to thank, the result (and the two away goals that came with it) should be enough to help them secure a place in the Champions League quarter-finals for what would be the ninth consecutive year. In those last nine years, Real have achieved unmatched success in the tournament, reaching eight semi-finals and winning four
titles. Unsurprisingly, this period of European success came after their now record goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, arrived at the club from Manchester United.
“This year's competition will be more of a challenge than ever before” Ronaldo scored 114 goals in international competitions for Real, and it’s difficult to see who in their squad is going to be able
to produce that kind of form when it really counts this season. In La Liga, Real have scored 20 fewer goals than Barcelona this season, and their top scorer this season is Karim Benzema with 14 in all competitions; across the 2018 calendar year, Ronaldo remained Real’s leading scorer with 28, despite leaving for Turin in July. This isn’t to say that Real have been rendered toothless since losing their talisman - the strikeforce that started at Ajax is still the envy of most European sides. Vinícius Júnior looked a constant threat against Ajax alongside Benzema and Bale, while Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio are hardly weak options to bring off the bench. However, none of these
options threaten to produce the kind of figures Ronaldo consistently delivered. Add Bale’s longterm injury woes into the mix, alongside struggling options on the bench such as Mariano Díaz, it does seem as if Real’s European monopoly may finally be derailed in 2019. However, it seems reckless to completely rule Real out at this early stage. Despite struggling in La Liga last season, they still managed to see off PSG, Juventus and Bayern Munich over two legs before beating Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev. While Madrid’s history of European pedigree shows that you just can’t write them off, the domestic consistency of other elite clubs - such as Juventus and
Barcelona - show that this year’s competition will be more of a challenge than ever before for Santiago Solari’s men.
Wikimedia Commons / Anton Zaitsev Sergio Ramos lifts the trophy in 2018
NBA Trade Deadline Exposes Uncertainty
Sport Writer Kit Shepard looks at the impact of the Trade Deadline on players Kit Shepard Sport Writer
NBA players have never had it so good. They receive the adoration of countless fans, have access to state-of-art-facilities, and are well-paid, some would argue excessively so. However, the drama in the days leading up to the recent trade deadline exposed that for all the big bucks and little perks, life at the highest level of basketball can have a harsh reality. Essentially the NBA version
of football’s transfer deadline day, the trade deadline marks the annual point in the season where players can no longer be moved to a different team. However, unlike football, players are exchanged for one another rather than for a fee, and their existing contract continues when they are traded, thus they do not have the luxury to negotiate a new deal. In short, if a team wants to make a trade, there is little a player can do to stop it. This lack of control was on full display ahead of this year’s
7th February deadline, with players being discarded brutally. No trade was more coldly executed than the transaction that sent Harrison Barnes from the Dallas Mavericks to the Sacramento Kings, as the 26-year-old found out midway through a game that he had been moved, and was forced to leave the court. Meanwhile, fringe players Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin were both traded three times in the week leading up to the deadline, before being instantly cut from their latest team’s roster. Even
many who were not traded were forced to endure the constant tension of being shipped potentially thousands of miles away in a heartbeat.
“It is impossible not to question the ethics of the deals” Ruthless trades are nothing new in basketball, and players are
well aware of the possibility of being traded when they sign their contract. In the examples above, NBA teams have done nothing wrong legally, and have probably made good business decisions, but it is impossible not to question the ethics of the deals. Aside from a small handful of the game’s biggest names, the prospects of a new workplace, new city and new life permanently hang over players and their families, whether they like it or not, and no amount of adulation or money can compensate for that instability.
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Stephen Pond / Getty Images for British Athletics (SP)
Records Tumble at Arena Birmingham in Müller Indoor Athletics Grand Prix Sport Editor Isabel Baldwin brings all the fall-out from an exciting evening of indoor athletics last weekend Isabel Baldwin Sport Editor
The crowd at the Arena Birmingham witnessed a record-breaking day during the Müller Indoor Grand Prix last Saturday. Laura Muir broke the British Women’s Indoor One Mile record in the final event of the day. The Scot beat Kirsty Wade’s 31-year-old national record by five seconds with a time of 4 minutes and 18.75 seconds. The triple European champion leads the British charge ahead of the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow next month, where she will rally to defend her 1500m and 3000m titles. Muir, however, was not the only athlete to smash a record on Saturday as Samuel Tefera of Ethiopia broke his own world record. The 19-year-old broke the world record for the Men’s indoor 1500m during the IAAF World Indoor Tour meeting in Birmingham last year, and it seems Britain’s second city is his lucky charm as he lit up the track to break the record once again.
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Tefera crosses the line for his record
Many other athletes came close to joining Muir and Tefera in the elite group
of record breakers but none managed to deliver for the Birmingham crowd. Britain’s Holly Bradshaw missed out on the British pole vault record after failing to clear the bar at 4.88m. However, the 27-year-old still managed to put on a fantastic show for the home crowd, beating out Olympic, World and European Champion Katerina Stefanidi to win the women's pole vault.
“The Müller Indoor Grand Prix was most definitely a crowd pleaser” Bingtian Su was the fastest man in Birmingham on the night. The Chinese sprinter stormed to victory in the men’s 60m sprint with a season best of 6.54 seconds. Britain’s Reece Prescod followed close behind in second place with a personal best of 6.53 seconds, meaning only he and CJ Ujah have managed to hit the indoor qualification time of 6.60s before the British squad selection for Glasgow was announced last Sunday. However, both Prescod and Ujah have opted to miss out on the upcoming European Indoor Championships to instead prioritise the World Championships later this year. This humiliatingly forced the British governing body into selecting only Ojie Edoburun - the only viable option based in his 100m time from last summer. Unfortunately, this means Richard Kilty, double-reigning European Indoor 60m champion, will miss out on his chance to secure a historic hat-trick after the sprinter only managed to run 6.63s and 6.64s in Birmingham at the weekend. The Brits were not as successful in the women’s long jump. The women’s
long jump line-up featured five Britons out of a total of six competitors, however, it was reigning Indoor World and European Champion Ivana Spanovic from Serbia who came out triumphant with her fourth-attempt jump of 6.72m. Meanwhile, in the men’s long jump, Cuban sensation Juan Miguel Echevarria leapt to victory with a jump of 8.21m. The 20-year-old, who won the World Indoor title in the same arena last year, secured his World Indoor Tour title in the process. Attracting big names such as Elaine Thompson, Laura Muir, Katerina Stefanidi, Juan Miguel Echevarria and Asha Philip, the Müller Indoor Grand Prix was most definitely a crowd-pleaser. The atmosphere was electric with fans on their feet cheering on the athletes throughout the night.
INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK: Six Nations
“For the city of Birmingham eyes will start to turn towards the Commonwealth Games in 2022” For the athletes the focus will now be on Glasgow but for the city of Birmingham eyes will start to turn towards the Commonwealth Games in 2022. If the Indoor Grand Prix is any testament to the show Birmingham can put on, the Commonwealth Games will most definitely prove the city a chance to show off its star quality. The University of Birmingham will host all the Hockey and Squash events at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
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