The Iconoclast - Issue 10

SUMMER 2020

THE END OF AN ERA

SIXTH FORM MAGAZINE

POLITICS, ARTS & OPINION

ISSUE #10

WHY BLACK LIVES MATTER MATTERS

MASKED TIMES

BY OLIVIA STARR

Contents 3. Locked Down 8. Acceptance 9. Black Lives Matter 13. Iconic 15. Happy & Inglorious 19. Paranoia, Greed, Neglect 25. The Forgotten Continent 27. Escape 31. Coming Out 33. Stream 39. Modern Man 41. Enough Excuses 43. News in Haikus 45. End of an Era

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Joe Dobbyn Olivia Starr Daniel Bellamy Tobi Smith Izzie Blair Ellie Allen Florence Earnshaw William Moody Chloe Manning Scarlette Gilby Katie Lee Zoe Balaam Mamie Michael

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EDITORIAL

f you put the back covers of the last four editions of The Iconoclast next to eachother you would see the beginning of a rainbow. In reality, all this was an overly ambitious folly of mine that I hoped would encourage me to keep making enough magazines until I completed it. Naturally, this never happened so it leaves me searching for a deeper metaphor I could invent to attempt to rationalise and explain the decision I made when I began editing this magazine in February 2019.

Here’s what I came up with: it represents the diversity of thought that makes this magazine so unique. The Iconoclast, thanks to pioneering minds long before me, is a platform for ideas and creation that is totally free. There is no smothering spotlight nor a passive-aggressive comments section. It represents liberty to think and express concepts which are often brave, sometimes controversial and always crucial to our progression as a society.

This is the final edition of The Iconoclast. It is at the very heart of our name that when the new takes over, the old must be changed, challenged and replaced. As King Edward VI Sixth Form closes and makes way for a new community and a new culture, it is our duty to do the same. I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

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ON THE COVER: “Masked Times”

by Olivia Starr

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LOCKED DOWN DANIEL BELLAMY

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with art by Olivia Starr

s I lazily recline on my sofa – one arm carelessly tossed over the armrest, my head lolling lifelessly over the edge and my feet thrust up into air – my dusty mothball of a brain begins to conjure up several pressing questions.

When will this lockdown be over? How will I keep myself occupied in the time? Why, oh why, does my back ache so much? All important questions that I’m sure have been on all of our minds of late.

But if you can picture me contorted into this alien position, with the curtains closed, a tea stain smeared around my mouth and endless reruns of Love Island dancing before my near lifeless eyes, your most prominent question might be; ‘is he all right?’ The answer to that question, dear reader, is ‘no.’ I am very far from alright; I miss my friends and I miss my many enemies.

But these are sacrifices it seems one must make in order for this nightmare to end. This is the general opinion of most, aside from those who clearly know better and take little Timmy for a day out to the beach anyway because Fiona from Facebook worked out that was linked lockdown to some deep state conspiracy. We can all be grateful for people like Fiona. But I digress, we are all sick and tired of this endless slog of nothingness. What is the point of this seemingly aimless ramble of an article, I hear you ask? Well dear reader, I am about to take you on an incredible journey through my mind and the apparent lack of originality and creativity that currently lurks there.

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My first idea for an article was to write an advice piece for how to stay strong in this dystopian world we live in. It would not only aid in calming certain tensions, but it would give people like Fiona a step by step guide on how to survive this apparent hell on Earth (that doesn’t just consist of ‘raging against the machine’). Preach your heart out Fiona, the world is your lobster.

This plan fell apart rather quickly, as I soon realised, I was in fact the primary target audience for said advice article and really wasn’t the right guy to start running my mouth on how well I’m doing. I’m not in the Fiona camp of anti-vaxers and flat-Earthers, mind you, I’m in the Derek camp of those who have been resorted to lifeless shells of men by this pandemic and who really can’t be bothered to do anything about it. I need help.

Now, my next idea was technically perfect for me; an article on my school years and how they impacted me as a person. This also came to a sticky end, however, as I realised my life really wasn’t all that interesting. It was full of sitcom style failures, but nothing that I could use to wave my lookhow-impressive-I-am banner. I could talk about the time I got stuck at the top of an A-frame for half an hour because I was too scared to climb down the other side. I could talk about the time I threw up on the bus ride to the London trip, all over my trousers and schoolbag in front of my surprisingly judgemental Year 5 classmates.

It was around this point I realised that it wasn’t the quarantine that had ruined me – had always been a shambling mess of an individual, quarantine just allowed me to ‘shine.’

What I really wanted to do was call out all Every afternoon I wake up, fall out of bed, the people I grew to, in the most pantomime shamble downstairs, fry some eggs, make way possible, hate/loathe/despise over the some toast, eat, sit for an hour watching years of school and detail just how repugstupid videos of nothing, have an hour long nant they are. A chance to expose the three shower, get dressed (sometimes), eat lunch, witches from Macbeth, who just happened sit and watch more videos of nothing until to work at my primary school, for example. dinner, eat dinner, go to bed at 3:00am. If this is the kind of advice that you wanted I’m sure many loving parents would reto hear, then I’m kicking myself right now, spond with ‘oh well they’re just doing cause that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I their jobs; they want the best out of you.’ haven’t even touched on the night I woke up, I’m sorry, but the child catcher from Chitshambled downstairs and ate a whole chick- ty Chitty Bang Bang was just doing his en breast at 4:30am. The amount of cheese job but I’m fairly sure he could be charI’ve been eating has been equally ungodly. acterised as, at the very least, ‘a bad egg.’

This is my life. I have now just resorted to a gelatinous, slightly depressed, blob, who But what’s the point in focusing on the ragnever changes out of his dressing gown. ing bitterness that apparently dominates my sordid heart. What’s been one of the few reUnless you need advice on how to lose warding things to witness over the course of your neck in five weeks, I don’t think I’m this quarantine has been the colourful sense the man for the job. People have been post- of togetherness and community people are ing about their daily runs, different projects demonstrating. Be it our reinvigorated pride their working on, or just the sheer joy at for the NHS or the deeply moving Black spending time with the family, since this Lives Matter movement we are seeing at the lockdown began. Go and read one of those! moment, we are proving to be a resilient soYou’ll find far more uplifting and inspir- ciety, despite all those Fionas out there. My ing stuff from those people than me. You droning would do nothing but add bitterness can see now why an advice article from me into the world and right now, I’m sure we can would really be to the benefit of no one. all agree, that is something we can do without.

“The Multiple Faces of Lockdown”

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My third and final idea for an article involved violence in the media, a topic I regard with particular fondness because it’s one of the few things I claim to be a minor expert on and has absolutely nothing to do with this accursed quarantine talk we can’t seem to escape.

add to this. The real reason I didn’t want to talk about violence in the media was because as much as I hate hearing about the coronavirus and lockdown, it is important, and I daresay healthy, to discuss it.

Carrying on as normal and discussing the Does watching violent things usual schlock I fill this magazine with would make you violent?

The answer be in poor taste because, quite frankly, we may shock you, it is, ‘probably.’ need to talk about this. As I said people are frustrated, and in some cases probably I mean it sort of depends of the kind of per- frightened. The purpose of this magazine is son you are, I guess. If a toddler watched to create a sense of community and if the Game of Thrones, would they have the sud- community is collectively burdened with the den urge to get into a political war with a pressures of quarantine, we need to look out rival family and murder their enemies at for one another and talk about the problem. a wedding? Probably not. If a young person watched another person on TV beat So, what can you take away from this mesomeone with a hammer would they be andering, dare I say flippant, ramble from a influenced to replicate this behaviour quarantine-crazed mad man? Well take this. should a quarrel arouse? Possibly. It’s a The world is a confusing, eventful place long and tedious debate to be had and one right now and there is probably a lot of tenthat has been argued time and time again sion in our society that is in desperate need by people far more intelligent than me. of being relieved. Don’t moan or complain about how poorly you are handling it, don’t Do I think that programmes like Love Is- look for grievances of your life past or preland, or beauty pageants are far more harm- sent to rant and vent to the world and most ful to our society than people calling each certainly don’t ignore the issue entirely. other ‘bitches’ on Grand Theft Auto? Yep. Self-esteem or lack thereof is the biggest Keep positive and stay safe. Talk to others killer in our society. But you can see why in your community who are suffering likeI didn’t choose this as a topic of discussion wise and may be in desperate need of your for my article, because you are all intelli- support. Take this as a lesson on how to be gent people, so you know all this already. human. I think I slightly threw up in my mouth writing that, but I’m serious. How I’m sure your quarantine mood would not we react to this situation defines us, be we be improved by a Derek like me coming a Fiona, a Derek, or something else entirely. along and lecturing you on information You may have gathered that I am not exactly you’re already privy too. All that would coping well in this lockdown, but that’s why achieve would be patronising you and frus- I’m here – to remind myself that things, in trating you. As I’m sure you’re all already the end, will be fine. No matter how much to some degree frustrated with being cooped cheese you find yourself living off. up inside for this long – I see no reason to

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ACCEPTANCE

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TOBI SMITH

hether it is a relationship, a job or not being able to finish your last year of school, it is not within your control, so the only thing you can do now is accept it and move on.

without you wanting it to do so. Also, a quote from the stoic philosopher and Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius says, “how much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it?”

Personally, I have been dealing with a lot of things since before COVID-19 plagued us, so my mind was even more scrambled when I realised that I’m not going to complete my last few months of school, or even take my exams. I felt lost, like my work for the past two years was all for nothing and I’m sure a lot of others felt the same.

Whether you like or dislike stoicism, I think everyone can agree that always trying to retaliate can make the situation worse than if you were to accept it for what it is, think it through and then work it out.

In 2019, a study was published looking at ‘happiness and hope’ for the patients suffering with multiple sclerosis. It was found that through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) they were able to significantly improve their mood compared to the control group.

However, I now have a lot of time (a little too much time perhaps) to reflect on everything that has happened so far. I realised that the more time I spend dwelling on the circumstances I can’t control or haven’t been able to control, the less time I have to focus on the circumstances that I can influence. For example, I can’t change the fact that the world is now suffering from a pandemic, but what I can do is lessen the chance of spreading it by staying at home.

Not only is it about looking at what you have the power to do, but also looking at the bigger picture.

If you’re always focused on what is happening in the present, you’ll never be able to see the possibilities that lie ahead, so the chances you have of thriving in the future become slim to none.

This idea of acceptance is a way to help you get to that future you want.

Although you can never truly stop thinking about what has happened or what is happening, accepting it gives you a way to progress and process things with a clearer mind. Everything in life is an opportunity to learn, and learning helps you become wiser than your past self.

Stoicism has teachings that tend to reflect this. Stoics don’t brood over their circumstances nor do they impulsively react to them, no matter what it may be. Their principles are to have self-control, not get attached to external things and accept everything as it is. These methods supposedly give you an easier way to be content and happy within yourself, as it is said that nothing can make you happy or unhappy

Additionally, another study published in 2013 examined life satisfaction and feelings of control in elderly people. It compared those living in residential care to those living in the community. They concluded that those living a more satisfied life in old age were able to accept the things they can and cannot change and willingly adapt to their surroundings. They also found that being more accepting in circumstances where control is limited enables more fulfilment.

Both articles present the idea that being able to accept and adapt to what you are granted in life can change your outlook. I understand that it is easier to say than to actually do and I would be lying if I said otherwise.

However, I’ve been in tough situations where I’ve had to accept life for what it is, such as when two of my relatives passed away in the same year. There is no real preparation for such an event, so it’s hard to judge how much it affects you. With that being said over time I accepted that it was something I couldn’t change and was able to adapt to my new normal. Had I kept it as a constant negative thought in my head, my A levels would have suffered, though now that doesn’t really matter anymore.

Acceptance is a very important aspect of life that everyone needs to partake in, so that we can all reach our full potential. Nevertheless, you are the only person who can control what you see in front of you, both metaphorically and literally.

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BLACK LIVES MATTER IZZIE BLAIR

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e’re often taught about the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s but not of the Civil Rights Movement here in the UK. We’ve heard of the Little Rock Nine, what about the Mangrove Nine?

We’ve heard of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, what about the Bristol Bus Boycott?

Through this selective history of Black civil rights, we distance ourselves from atrocities committed in and in the name of our country.

Britain’s History: British Slavery was banned in 1833 through the Slavery Abolition Act. Following the success of the industrial revolution and trade becoming direct between America and other countries, Britain recognised it no longer needed slave-based goods to economically prosper.

Two years ago, HM Treasury stated that in 1833 “the British government used £20m [£16bn today], 40% of its national budget, to buy freedom for all slaves of the Empire.” Further stating that “millions of you [UK citizens] helped end the slave trade through your taxes.”

Whom was this money being paid to? Surely those who had suffered most from slavery?

In reality, this “debt” was still being repaid to the slave owners’ descendants, through taxpayers’ money, as recently as

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2015. This immense sum of money was not to “free slaves” but to ‘line the pockets’ of the 46,000 British slave owners as compensation for losing their “property.”

The notion that UK taxpayers helped to “buy freedom for slaves” is a satisfying but misleading one. This idea uses the capital and benevolence of abolitionism to provide a means of redeeming Britain’s troubling colonial past. As opposed to financially supporting those who had been oppressed for centuries by us, Britain paid money to stop slave owners complaining about Black people receiving basic human rights. Whilst there may have been no striking alternative at the time, nearly 200 years later we should not still be conveying the narrative that we ended the slave trade whilst ignoring out own involvement in its presence and maintenance.

This is an on-going theme within Britain, often downplaying or denying our central role in the transatlantic slave trade, whilst simultaneously claiming credit for the end of slavery, expecting this to undo all other wrongs.

The first British ship to transport slaves was captained by John Hawkins in 1562. This lasted for over 300 years. It was our ship owners who earned profits of more than 50% for each voyage transporting slaves. It was us who established the Bank of England through the

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money gathered from the slave trade by merchants and landowners. It was us who transported an estimated 3.4 million Africans in 11-12 thousand ships to the British colonies in the Caribbean, North and South American and numerous other countries. Our history is tied to slavery and racism as much as America’s.

Britain’s Present: Racism in the UK hasn’t gone away. It has just become veiled by new terms: “anti-immigration”, “hostile environment” and responding with “but” to any conversation about racial injustice.

The British Nationality Act (1948) gave citizens of the UK and its colonies the right to settle in the UK, encouraged to do so as a way of boosting the economy in a post-war Britain. As those who moved to the UK had a legal right, they were told they did not need and never received documents upon their arrival.

Any work or schooling was not officially documented, other than the same records as those given to UK born citizens. This group of immigrants were dubbed the Windrush Generation.

In 2012, the Hostile Environment policies came into place. Theresa May, Home Secretary at the time, stated it was to create a “really hostile environment for illegal immigrants.” The Windrush Generation now needed documents they were never given by the government to prove to the government that they were here legally. Unable to prove their citizenship, they lost homes, jobs and contact with loved ones after being wrongfully deported in masses. The Home Office made a profit of £800m between 2011 and 2017 through these policies. The policy remains in place and those most affected have yet to receive compensation. The Windrush generation suffered at the hands of modern governments due to the decisions of past governments. Our history with racism lingers.

systemic racism. For example, in education just 4% of Black school leavers attend a Russell Group university. Then when applying for jobs, UK-born Black workers were paid 7.7% less than UK-born White workers with similar occupation and education characteristics. This is one of the highest gaps on these terms among all ethnic groups.

The fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017 perpetuates these racial inequalities, existing within the richest borough of London. Tenants of the building had, for years before the fire, been raising concerns about how the local council were cutting corners on the safety of residents and refusing to listen to their comments. In 2014, £10m was spent on a regeneration project to improve the aesthetic of the building to surrounding conservation areas and the onlooking luxury tower blocks. The added exterior material has been blamed for allowing the blaze to spread so quickly through the tower. The experiences of the residents of Grenfell are part of a larger structural inequality in general, and housing in particular, in which residents (who are often, though not always, ethnic minorities) are pushed out of quality housing in favour of regenerating the city for affluent, and largely White, renters and buyers.

Racism in the UK is both overt and subtle and is both systemic and institutionalised.

In 2017, the Lammy Review showed that whilst Black people comprise 3% of the overall population of England and Wales, they currently make up 12% of its prison population.

Stop and Search rates within the UK between April 2018 and March 2019 were 9.5 times higher for Black people than for White people (38 for every 1,000 and 4 for every 1,000).

In 2018, figures from the Home Office showed that 12% of incidents involving the use of force that had been recordIn the UK, if you are an ethnic minority you ed by police were against Black people. are more likely to live in poverty than White people, (35.7% vs 17.2%). This could be Racism within the UK is engrained and present. due to a number of reasons stemming from

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The UK is not innocent, despite what we want to believe. The narrative of “it’s just America” is a dangerous and misleading one, directly undermining the racism and discrimination still felt by Black people and other ethnic minorities within the UK today. The least racist is still racist.

ple to educate us. Hold yourself accountable for educating yourself and those around you.

Advocacy means going beyond having conversations with people who already agree with you. It is time to have those uncomfortable conversations with family members and friends.

“Privilege, particularly White or male priviWhy Now? lege, is hard to see for those of us who were The Black Lives Matter movement, under this born with access to power and resources. name, has been present since 2013, founded It is very visible for those to whom priviby Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal lege was not granted.” – Francis E Kendall.

Tometi. However, a “Black Lives Matter” movement has been present throughout history. John Boyega, the black actor known for his role in Star Wars, has been protesting in LonIf you’re active on social media, you will be don. He gave a speech at the Black Lives more than aware of the current prominence Matter protest in Hyde Park and stated: “I of the movement, specifically following the don’t know if I’m going to have a career murder of George Floyd by the Minneapo- after this but f*** that.” Many White celis Police Department on 25 May this year. lebrities such as Lewis Capaldi, Billie EilUnfortunately, George Floyd’s death is one ish, Timothée Chalamet and Madonna have among too many. Both American and British. also protested and used their platforms, and most likely will receive no backlash in their This is not just a political issue; it is a hu- wider career for doing so. Protesting against man rights one. This is not a movement a violation of human rights should not that should be labelled as a social me- cause someone to fear for their job security. dia “fad” or one which should simply fade away as people get bored by the sharing According to the Harvard Business Review, and the hashtags. It also shouldn’t have research repeatedly confirms that those with taken another death to be paid attention to. ordinary privilege have the power to speak up on behalf of those without it and have particIn a day and age when everything is filmed, ularly effective influence when they do. It is saved and shared, it is near impossible to shy an unfortunate but real fact, which means that away from the injustice faced by Black peo- our education and understanding of the issue, ple and other ethnic minorities, still, in our as White people, is paramount to the wider supposedly liberal society. For that reason, it support of the Black Lives Matter movement. is becoming increasingly more important to address issues such as systemic and institu- However, we should not be speaking for sometional racism and identify White privilege. one whose experiences we do not and could never understand. Use your voice to project Ethnic minorities are being failed by the sys- Black voices and experiences further. Use your tem that we, as White people, created and time to educate yourself in order to speak out want to believe in. It is not their job to fix it. against injustice, racism and discrimination.

The idea is to speak out and with but not over.

Why This Should Matter to Everyone Listen. Learn. And, if necessary, unlearn.

Do not let this be an issue forgotten. Do not become complacent because “others are talk- As young people, we are the generation ing”. As White people, this is just as much our influencing change. Don’t let the generabattle to fight. It is not the job of Black peo- tion after us have to do the same thing.

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LISTEN

Code Switch About Race Pod Save the People Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast The Diversity Gap

DONATE

National Bail Out The Innocent Project Black Visions Collective Discrimination Law Association Show Racism the Red Card

IT IS TIME TO LEARN WATCH

13th Ava Duvernay See You Yesterday Stefon Bristol Selma Ava Duvernay The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution Stanley Nelson The Hard Stop George Amponsah

READ

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge.

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla

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ICONIC JOE DOBBYN

To forge a new world, we must first destroy the old. It is an ideal this magazine stands for – a new generation finding a voice and dismantling the dearly held views of the past. The Iconoclast is more than a dramatic name for a student journal; it states our belief in the rebuilding of our culture.

Iconoclasm as an idea is vague and mercurial and, in some senses, it can be brutal and absolute. The mysterious and possibly insane pharaoh Akhenaten erased his kingdom’s past when he abandoned Egypt’s traditional religion in favour of the all-powerful sun god Aten. The faces of the old gods on temple walls were chiselled away and an entirely new culture was forced into existence.

After his death, Akhenaten too was erased.

Stories like this are distant and almost comical, but with iconoclasm we run the risk of creating a destructive and reckless

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force that puts short-sighted goals ahead of long-term progress. We are not like Akhenaten. Our brand seeks to challenge thoughts, but not to destroy them. Through choice words and scrutinised sentences, we express our minds in order to shake at the cores of the institutions and ideas that hold our society in an obsolete past.

The toppling of slave-trader Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol last week, ignited the debate over modern iconoclasm raises a question: what should our relationship with our murky and often shameful history look like in 2020?

To answer this, we must look at three questions: who we remember; how we remember and why we remember.

Many believe that who we remember is predetermined – history has given us stat-

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ues and it is not our job decline them. The protestors that tore down Colston would disagree. Their belief (and it is equally justified) is that those who embody views that were evil then and evil now have no place on the reverential plinths we give to those who change the world for the better.

But as soon as we expand this question beyond the undeniably evil – Colston in Bristol, Cecil Rhodes in Oxford and Nathan Bedford Forrest (whose likeness can be found across the United States despite his leadership of the Ku Klux Klan) – we encounter problems. The simple binaries of good versus bad and remove versus revere are simply not compatible with most of history’s pre-eminent figures. Churchill, Nelson or Napoleon could not be simply branded as ‘hero’ or ‘villain’ as they conquered evil while propagating it themselves. A blanket form of iconoclasm would have to be blind to the nuances and the complexities that we must accept and engage with in order to bring about lasting societal change that is more than cosmetic.

Iconoclasm is not limited to antiquity.

Throughout time it has oscillated in its appearance and its power. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 culminated with the US military staging the 21st century’s most memorable iconoclasm. As Sadaam Hussein was brought down by the rope tied around his neck, the hate and oppression that statue represented continued to loom. The region is still fractured, and the ideology lives on. This destructive iconoclasm took the place of the propaganda it sought to purge.

That is not to say that iconoclasm always takes this face. In the French Revolution, when art was seen as a symbol of the elite and therefore enemy, a battle began between revolutionaries who wanted the old world forgotten and those who understood the value of preserving the story of a nation.

The Louvre, a palace captured from royalty, became the new home for statues and memories of the ancien régime. And here, as they so often do, the French got it right.

Those revolutionaries, despite blood being spilled for their cause, knew that in the right environment, symbols of a world they abhorred could serve a purpose. The concept that even the most troubling memories should be preserved and made examples of succeeded. France leads the world in its relationship with its heritage, which is often far more distressing than our own.

Effective iconoclasm takes the form of a change. In the case of a statue, a change of environment, a change of presentation and, in the end, a change in our relationship with them.

This leads us on to why we should remember. Many would argue that it is a question of historical pride versus modern values, but this again is dangerously simplified. The aims of iconoclasm are to forget and to move on. To direct precious anger and passion towards icons of the past distils a complex and deeply rooted problem down to a poorly carved lump of stone. When Cecil Rhodes eventually steps down from the walls of Oriel College, will Oxford’s problems of inclusivity and elitism be solved? No. We may feel less guilt because we will no longer look our past in the eyes but rates of prosecution for black people will still be three times higher than for white people, black people will still be nearly 10 times more likely to fall victim to Stop and Search and ethnic minorities will still be twice as likely to live in poverty.

Making symbols of a problem disappear undoubtably feels like progress but destructive iconoclasm does not fix our history. It hides it.

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ELLIE A

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Patriotism. A word that is perhaps more suitable in the vernacular of a seventyyear- old than a seventeen-year-old. It emanates a sense of early 20th century wartime propaganda; the type to claim that ‘your country needs you’. In a modern society, though, the concept of patriotism may be tinged with a bitterness that only hindsight can provide. Now more than ever, it is a grey and undefined area, and what it means to be patriotic is under scrutiny. It begs the question, in a country of accessibility and free information, can one ever be truly patriotic?

This question first rooted in my head on a Monday morning in late September.

My peers and I were in the process of walking a group of Chinese exchange students to our school. The planned route took us through a historic town centre of Bury St Edmunds via the ruins of the Abbey – the idea being to introduce the exchange students to a part of our heritage and culture. Things were progressing on-schedule until it was time to leave the Abbey and make our way to the school, where English students were waiting to meet their Chinese counterparts. Instead, our departure was delayed because staff wished to film the Chinese students partaking in a small show of national pride. By chance, the exchange trip had coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party seizing power in China.

The Shanghai contingent spent a painstaking amount of time perfecting and reperfecting their parade lines: resulting in multiple takes of the same song, the same coordinated flag-waving, and the same stringent marching formation. Meanwhile, we could only stand by and take in the surreal event in a somewhat bemused silence.

The sight of such unfettered devotion to a country and its governing powers was unfamiliar to us, and it felt disrespectful to talk between anthems that the students knew by heart. What struck us most was the nature of such unquestioning devotion. One amongst us highlighted the simple fact that these children had never been taught a full account of the Communist Party. No revolutions or rebellions.

No Tiananmen Square. No famines. Just success and triumph and glory.

APPY & LORIOUS HOST OF OTISM HE UK

This experience, and the questions it provoked, have arguably little to no relevance in our own country. Patriotism does not tend to influence our everyday lives in Britain – instead it tends to peak at particular events or holidays that are celebrated on a wide-spread scale. The 2012 London Olympics, or the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are prime examples of the euphoria that can be generated around our national identity. However, on an interpersonal and individual level, we don’t tend to exhibit overt patriotism. While a British citizen may know the words to God Save the Queen, they probably haven’t taken part in a military parade; the sight of which is considered a standard display of pride in North Korea.

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PICTURED: The military parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2009

In fact, being a ‘proud patriot’ in Britain often comes with connotations of racism or elitism hidden under a veneer of chauvinistic intention. It is a term commonly employed by the most deplorable in our country, such as the EDL. Furthermore, our government and leaders, including those of opposing parties, regularly change - celebrating a government ruling for 70 years is something that simply wouldn’t happen in the UK. Thus, there is little sense of legacy or loyalty in our country beyond the current state of affairs. Even our Royal Family, despite enduring for hundreds of years, is fading as a symbol of national pride. Increasingly, The Queen, and what she represents, is viewed as dated and out-of-touch. However, it does force one to consider that, if we have the choice to be patriotic, should this choice be affected by the truthful state of our country?

Indeed, Britain’s past is arguably just as murky as China’s, and it would be innately hypocritical to exclude it. Unlike China, communication and freedom of information

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is a cornerstone of British society: this transparency leads the exposure of problematic events, both historical and modern. Predominantly, the UK was built on the back of inhumane practices. Like many Western powers, we benefit from the exploitation of Asian and African countries by our ancestors to this day. Our economy is a product of colonialism, slavery and inequality, and it is no coincidence that most LEDCs are located on the very continents that Britain robbed of value.

Furthermore, modern controversy is fed to us by news outlets that are more accessible than ever. Can one be proud of a country where members of our Royal Family use private jets to travel between countries while advocating for climate crisis awareness? Can one be proud of a country of football fans that condemn racism while simultaneously exhibiting implicit biases every day? Can one have pride in the so-called ‘United’ Kingdom when divisions between constituent countries are wider than ever before? Where I can identify as ‘English’ over ‘British’ on my UCAS form?

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That being said, there has been an unde- acts of selflessness or bravery by British niable increase in the sense of national people, such as the story of Captain Tom. I identity over the past few months. As a love British culture: Shakespeare, Bohemigeneration that is yet to experience a ma- an Rhapsody, Harry Potter. I like to engage jor conflict like the First or Second World with politics because I care about what War, we are feeling for the first time what it happens in government. Simultaneously, is like to live in a society where patriotism I condemn and abhor parts of our country is actively encouraged. I mentioned earlier both present and historical. I believe we are how the Royal Family are increasingly per- a deeply divide nation, but I also believe ceived to be a symbol of outdated values, ignorance to this isn’t necessarily bliss. and yet The Queen’s recent address was met with hugely favourable reviews from While it may make most of us feel uncoma range of British citizens. This rise in na- fortable to consider our country’s misgivtional pride is predictable: psychologically, ings, it is important to acknowledge the humans seek stronger reality of them. There is alliances to their social no way of changing his“THERE IS NO tory but at least we have groups during times of hardship, and CoronaWAY OF CHANG- the freedom to learn from virus has demonstrated ING HISTORY it. We are able to stand that our most fundamenand call out injusBUT AT LEAST up tal identity is often our tice, attend the climate WE HAVE THE march, retweet that artinationality. During this period there has been FREEDOM TO cle. In a sense, this is a nothing more vital than of patriotic devoLEARN FROM IT.” form essential key workers tion equal to flag-bearwho have kept the couning and parade marchtry functioning and put themselves at risk ing, because it shows a dedication to the while doing so. It is ironic then that the ma- future of one’s home nation. A subtler, jority of these essential roles remain starkly quiet pride is still pride, nonetheless. underpaid, often by the state, and that these nurses, cleaners, bus drivers – to name a Where we are born is a lottery, but it defew – have predominantly non-British ori- termines whether we get to use that innate gins. Can one be proud of a country that is desire for identity in a positive way. If you riddled with class divides, wealth inequality are born in China, you will be raised to be and unfair wages? Or should we take pride patriotic without question. If you are born only in key workers, that are often neglect- in the UK, you have the opportunity to ed by the very people we vote into power? question. In most parts of the world? People have much bigger and more pressing There are evidently many potential answers matters to think about. To have the choice and layers to these questions; none of which to be patriotic is therefore a privilege. It is can be fully encapsulated in a single article. a chance to do and be better than before, In terms of patriotism, I personally feel an and what is more patriotic than that? immense sense of pride when I hear about

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T

his series is an exploration into montage within photography, inspired by the artist duo Gilbert & George. Montage as a process was a key component of the German Expressionist film movement to create a surreal and distorted world that portrays people’s psychological states through the imagery. From this I took three current issues and portrayed the associated emotions through the use of montage. The photograph you see now focuses on the emotions of paranoia and fear in these times of the coronavirus. I have use the symbol of the hands as a metaphor for the virus and changed the colour to an acid green to stand out from the red and oranges of the rest of the photo to show the hands as an imposing threat to our civilisation.

PARANOIA GREED NEGLECT

BY FLO EARNSHAW

SUMMER 20

GREED

This is about the climate emergency. For this I wanted to present the emotions of regret and greed which you can see through the sand timer running into the persons mouth showing how thanks to greed and consumption, time in running out.

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SUMMER 20

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NEGLECT For the final photograph I focused on the rise in homelessness in the UK. Through scale and colour I wanted to convey the feeling of neglect and show the divide in wealth within the country.

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SUMMER 20

THE FORGOTTEN CONTINENT WILL MOODY

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hilst the wheels of the world economy have ground to a halt and gone into reverse, the continent of Africa will suffer the most.

simply because it is too expensive, and these countries are already up to their shoulders in debt. People are therefore forced to travel on densely packed buses or trains making the risk of infection higher. Africa is vulnerable.

As the numbers COVID-19 infection rise daily, it can be a terrifying spectacle but Sub-Saharan countries such as Angola are driving blind with no testing of their own.

Health infrastructure is often poor, meaning they lack the basic equipment, such as bandages and soap. There are few hospitals equipped with proper facilities and staff usually only have basic training, relying on foreign medical experts to lead the way. Smaller health budgets mean they lack the stockpiles for an extended crisis, and they cannot afford the large-scale spending needed to tackle this emergency. The lack of state aid and a basic welfare system means that people are forced to work even if they risk the life of themselves or their family.

The humanitarian scale of this problem will be huge, and it might be too late, but the economic issues will be long-term. When the stock markets crashed, it spurred the western world to inject a huge fiscal stimulus much vaster than ever seen before – trillions of dollars were spent in order to protect the economy and stave off a second ‘Great Depression’.

Compared to western countries there is no form of debt relief for businesses or a furlough system to keep people safe. This is

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Even so, in two weeks 6.5 million Americans found themselves unemployed (now totalling 36.4 million as of 28 May). But Africa was hit harder with large scale ‘reverse capital flow’. This means investments were withdrawn in favour of safer bets like gold or American treasury bonds.

Sub-Saharan governments are struggling to raise money because interest rates have risen, and firms have seen their debt to equity ratio skyrocket. Firms for no fault of their own are

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penniless. Meanwhile, nations like South Africa have seen its exchange rates fall by 20% since the start of the year compared to the dollar and Namibia has seen a 25% drop.

This too has resulted in costs of importing increasing meaning that much-needed medical equipment is more expensive than ever.

The Pandemic has resulted in a massive fall in global demand that African economies are reliant on to export their commodities and low value-added goods. The consequences in the short-run are harsh: a loss in jobs, increasing levels of debt and a slowdown in growth, but the long-run consequences are more punitive. Africa will likely see large-scale disinvestment which means infrastructure will degrade and the capacity of the economy will likely fall causing future generations, in an already impoverished area, to have less. Absolute poverty is predicted to increase from 632 million people to 655 million – this is people living on a daily wage of less than $1.90.

COVID is estimated to push over 49 million into extreme poverty, says the World Bank, and in a continent of 1.3 billion, it is predicted potentially 1.5 million people could lose their lives.

Nations will be deprived of key workers dragging them back from years of progress. With the destruction of firms and the loss of talented workers, innovation will likely stagnate too as few private firms survive. Without innovation economies struggle and Africa will be left further behind.

Politically, Africa is famed for crookery and corruption and tumultuous times leaves all nations vulnerable to political mood swings as we saw from the financial crisis. On one hand, countries could become more isolationist and authoritarian, imposing protectionism to make them less vulnerable to the outside. In 2008, nations quickly imposed tariffs resulting in food prices rising significantly in East Asia – making the situation worse. On the other hand, and hopefully what will occur, nations will realise that our sluggish response and ‘every man for himself’ attitude has resulted in a worse crisis and thus we will choose to cooperate more by removing barriers to trade. Increasing

trade will allow countries to specialise and do what they are best at – making everyone better off. This is especially true in Africa where the key to growth is through exogenous factors – foreign aid, foreign experts, and foreign machinery. The lack of global leadership and coordination this time has resulted in our sorry state of affairs and hopefully next time we will be more prepared.

The key fact to note is although international trade may have spread coronavirus, it was political isolation and the will not to act whilst others struggled which proliferated it.

To tackle the issues ahead for Africa, the West needs to offer a helping hand. Firstly, we need global cooperation and a reduction in the barriers of trade. This will allow for more integrated economies which are more efficient and able to cope with these sorts of events. Secondly, the global community needs to double-down on standards and regulation and pressure China to improve its health and safety, where wet markets (reported to be the source of the virus) are all too common and slaughterhouses are a cesspool of disease. Finally, we need to increase foreign aid through any means – for example, in the numbers of soldiers used to help distribute goods and the funding for hospitals and education. The last 10 years has seen foreign aid as a percentage of GDP fall which is wrong.

Foreign aid can help countries provide the essential services for a decent standard of living and a prosperous economy by letting nations come to terms with their debt. The AIDs crisis was only controlled thanks to the efforts of foreign cooperation and assistance, 11 million children have been rescued from malnutrition thanks to these efforts and, growth on average has been 1-2% faster per year by rooting out corruption and increasing stability. The sooner Africa can stand on its own two feet the better. If we don’t act, we may see another 20 years of Sub-Saharan stagnation and even more years of high child mortality, low literacy levels and persistent gender inequality – leaving a continent 40 years in the past.

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SUMMER 20

ESCA OLIVIA STARR’S

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APE 26

SUMMER 20

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u r i n g l o c k down, art has become a form of escapism. It helps find focus and provides freedom which can be challenging during this time. However, my joy for art and exploring some of my favourite photographs has delivered release and brought light into the difficulties of this time.

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SUMMER 20

COMING OUT CHLOE MANNING

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ince being in quarantine, I’ve had the desire to come out. To be honest, I even have a whole speech written on my notes page ready for the social media post cliché. However, LGBT+ people across the globe have been advised to “think hard” before coming out whilst in lockdown.

uting to depression and general ‘wear and tear’ of the body. It can also lead to the development of internalised homophobia. This is when an LGBT+ person takes the biases and prejudices against the queer community and turns them in on themselves. For some, coming out is a way to relieve these feelings and accept themselves.

This advice was given by the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT), a charity that cares for homeless LGBT+ people, as they feared there may be negative responses from family members during this lockdown. Research by AKT found that 25% of UK adults would feel “ashamed” to have an LGBT+ child, and 20% would worry about how other family members would react.

LGBT+ people often fear telling their family the most, as these tend to be the people, we’re closest to and rely on. A survey by the UK Government found 24% of LGBT+ respondents weren’t open at all about their LGBT+ identity with the family members they live with. This percentage was higher among 17- and 18-year-olds, where it almost doubled. This is likely because younger people rely more on their family members for essentials such as food and shelter as well as emotional support, which all become at stake.

As a member of the LGBT+ community, I know that coming out to my family is something I will inevitably have to do. These figures worry me, as I’m sure they do other closeted queer people, and they may cause people to stay in the closet for longer periods. The uncertainty about how others will react is one of the major reasons why some LGBT+ individuals choose not to disclose their sexuality and/or gender identity to others, often for many years after they accept it themselves. This can have serious impacts on the mental health of these people.

Feeling as if you must hide your identity from people can be isolating and stressful. LGBT+ people are at an increased risk of developing mental health disorders and isolation is believed to be one of many explanations for this. Stress and fear raise cortisol levels in the body, contrib-

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Although these figures seem high, it also means that over half of the respondents live openly.

This is very positive. I understand that in certain situations it is actually safer to remain in the closet, however, in this generation LGBT+ people are finding it a lot easier to come out and be accepted than they may have years ago. This is because of the changes in societal views creating safer environments for LGBT+ people.

This change has led to coming out being a celebratory event for many queer people, as I personally believe it should be. Whether it’s done by hopping out of a wardrobe dressed in rainbows or just in a conversation, it is often a very memorable event for everyone involved

and can have a huge number of benefits.

For many individuals, coming out is seen as a display of self-acceptance and can lead to people feeling much happier. It gives a sense of freedom and allows individuals to live their lives without feeling as if they have to hide part of themselves. When Ellen Page, an actress who has starred in Inception and XMen, came out in a speech in 2014, she stated she was “tired of hiding… and lying by omission”. This is a feeling many openly LGBT+ people recall feeling before they came out.

people in their lives, such as their friends and family. In reality, the majority of LGBT+ people find themselves having to come out on many occasions throughout their whole lives, whether it be a new workplace or when meeting new people.

For this reason, an LGBT+ person’s ‘coming out story’ may span their whole lives with differing reactions and including many different means of coming out. For some people, having someone come out to them could be surprising, they may have questions A further reason to celebrate coming out is to ask, or they could be absolutely thrilled. that it tends to become easier to meet other Each experience is different from the last, LGBT+ people and therefore make more making coming out so unique to each friends (or find people to date). Meeting oth- LGBT+ individual who chooses to do it. ers with shared experiences and being able to discuss them openly can help to break Overall, for many people coming out is not the feeling of isolation that many LGBT+ only a way to relieve the severe mental strain, feel, and that first relationship can often anxiety and feelings of isolation they may be an exciting and memorable experience. feel, but a cause for celebration. If a closeted LGBT+ person’s mind wanders during this As well as this, coming out is often seen as an lockdown, it is reasonable that they may think inspiring and empowering event. It can show about coming out and how it could change other people that they can also come out if their lives. While the advice from AKT is they want to and it can give them someone understandable, as extreme reactions could to talk to about possible worries they may render some LGBT+ people homeless and have. In her speech, Page also stated she had without support, it is simply that - advice. a “personal obligation” as well as “social responsibility” to be honest about her sexuality. For some, it may have taken years to build the courage to think about coming out. A lockComing out is empowering because, in the down shouldn’t stop them from doing this if society we live in, it is seen as an act of a de- they believe their environment is safe, nor fiance. Living as an openly queer person is should it stop them from celebrating. Lockan act of political resistance and a refusal to down or not, there is no real right or wrong adhere to the ‘norms’ of society. Whilst this time or way to come out. It is a personal decimay seem scary, it’s also extremely positive. sion, and no one should feel pressured into it.

It has global implications and helps create role models for people who may be closeted or Personally, it’s been years since I acquestioning their sexuality around the world. cepted my sexuality and whilst I’m out to a lot of people in my life, I’m not out to When I speak of coming out in this man- everyone just yet. While I’d love to post ner, I am mainly referring to when an in- the speech written on my notes page, I dividual comes out to the most important think it’ll stay there for the time being.

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SUMMER 20

STREAM SCARLETTE GILBY

HERE’S WHAT TO WATCH IN LOCKDOWN

With people streaming an extra 170 million hours of television per week since lockdown began, there has never been a better time to watch.

Fear not; whether you are really in need of a laugh right now, or craving a dark, complex plot to distract you from reality, here are some of the newest and most underrated shows to binge over the next few weeks. You can find all of these suggestions on Netflix, BBC iPlayer or All4. Ratings by Rotton Tomatos and IMDB.

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UNORTHODOX

Based on a true story, UNORTHODOX follows the life of Esty (Shira Haas), a 19-year-old girl fleeing from the constraints of her Hasidic Jewish community in Williamsburg, New York.

While it is unclear what Esty is running from in the beginning of the series, her story is told in the form of flashbacks, which show glimpses of an arranged marriage to Yanky (Amit Rahav) as she attempts to construct a new life in Berlin. What started as a dazzling display of defiance and freedom turns into a thriller once Yanky and his cousin Moishe (Jeff Wilbusch) arrive in Berlin to return Esty to New York.

95%

NETFLIX

CELEBRITY SAS: WHO DARES WINS

The newest series of Channel 4’s toughest reality show sees 12 familiar faces undergo the most realistic reconstruction of the SAS selection process, and Ant Middleton is holding no prisoners. One of the most gripping and extreme reality TV options available, CELEBRITY SAS pushes the likes of Katie Price, Joey Essex, Helen Skelton, Lauren Steadman, and many more to their limits in the unforgiving landscape of Raasay, one of Scotland’s most remote islands.

All4

81%

AFTER LIFE

After being one of the most watched shows of 2019, Ricky Gervais returns as the nation’s favourite pessimist in series 2 of the Netflix Original, AFTER LIFE. Still battling with the loss of his wife (Kerry Godliman) to cancer, Gervais’ Tony Johnson shifts from outwardly hating the world to wallowing in guilt at his tentative relationship with nurse Emma (Ashley Jensen), which is only amplified by the decline of Tony’s father (David Bradley). A comedy set in misery, After Life is one to make you laugh, cry, and feel every emotion in between.

73%

NETFLIX

TOP PICK KILLING EVE

The chemistry between work-obsessed exMI5 operative Eve (Sandra Oh) and enticingly loveable assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer) ever-increases as the unlikely pair continue their epic game of cat and mouse. While Eve, Carolyn (Fiona Shaw) and Kenny (Sean Delany) still face the consequences from their explosive actions in the series 2 finale, series 3 of Killing Eve sees Villanelle at her most human and the Twelve at its most vulnerable. With plenty of action, laughs and unexpected twists, KILLING EVE continues its reign as one of TV’s most powerful dramas.

90%

iPlayer

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HIDDEN GEMS MIGHTY BOOSH

Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt’s THE MIGHTY BOOSH is a staple show for fans of whacky comedy. Series one follows the surreal lives of long-time friends Vince Noir (Noel Fielding) and Howard Moon (Julian Barratt) through their adventures while working at an illusionary zoo, while series two and three follow their exploits while living out in Shoreditch, London. Off-the-wall and completely unpredictable, the unlikely pair open the doors to their fantasy-meets-comedy realm of shamans, talking animals, monsters and more.

100%

iPlayer

FLOWERS

Award-winning and delightfully original, FLOWERS is a dark, gothic comedy about a family set in the trappings of dysfunction.

The series starts with the failed suicide of Maurice Flowers (Julian Barratt), a depressed children’s author and begrudging husband to Deborah Flowers (Olivia Colman), who is painfully pretending to be happy. Their children, the Flowers twins, are equally as disturbed, and the series follows the family as they try to bargain their way through relationships, mental illness, and disorder.

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100%

All4

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60 DAYS IN

60 DAYS IN provides a never-before-seen perspective into the reality of being an inmate in an American prison. The reality show follows seven ordinary volunteers as they are placed undercover into Clark County Jail, Indiana at the hands of County Sherriff Jamey Noel, who aims to receive an insight into vice and corruption amongst inmates and prison staff within the jail. The volunteers aim to stay in the experiment for two months across separate wings of the prison, with no knowledge of each other’s presence and strict rules to follow in order to remain strictly undercover. Chaos and drama ensue as prisoners begin to suspect the moles amongst them, and some of the volunteers even begin to behave like inmates themselves.

80%

NETFLIX

RACE ACROSS THE WORLD

RACE ACROSS THE WORLD is an exciting, intimate reality show in which contestants attempt to journey from one side of the earth to the other in pairs without going anywhere near an airport, all for the price of the air fare.

No other show has ever shown the realities of travelling – the good and the bad – quite like this. Especially not with the prospect of a cash prize of £20,000 for the pair who gets to the end destination the fastest. The latest series follows five teams on an epic adventure from Mexico to Argentina, where the contestants ditch their phones, internet access and comfort in an attempt to become champion adventurers.

83%

iPlayer

RAKE

Loosely based around the real-life barrister Charles Waterstreet, the Australian drama follows the exploits of the chaotic, loveable Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh); a brilliant but self-destructive Sydney barrister who nearly always defends a guilty client. While RAKE follows Cleaver’s haphazard career with his assistant Nicole (Kate Box) and solicitor Barney (Russel Dykstra), the series interweaves the barrister’s incessantly dysfunctional family life and relationship with sex worker Missy (Adrienne Pickering) with the barrister’s many personal scandals. Truly a must-watch for any comedy and drama fans.

100%

WANTED

A gripping Australian action series that will forever go down as one of Netflix’s most underrated programmes; WANTED follows the chaos that befalls troubled supermarket cashier Lola (Rebecca Gibney) and wealthy finance worker Chelsea (Geraldine Hakewill) after they unexpectedly meet in the wrong place at the wrong time. Travelling across multiple continents, the two women take up space in an overarchingly male world of corrupt police, politics, and their personal lives as they attempt to unravel their accidental involvement in a complex criminal plot.

86%

NETFLIX

NETFLIX

SUMMER 20

TIGER KING watch INNOCENCE FILES

If the record-breaking TIGER KING has converted you into an avid documentary addict, then Netflix’s THE INNOCENCE FILES should be next on your watchlist. Not just your everyday true crime doc, The Innocence Files provides a dark and often uncomfortable exposé into the surprising frequency of wrongful convictions in the American criminal justice system, and how they can rip lives apart. The shocking documentary follows the work of The Innocence Project, a non-profit organisation that works to exonerate wrongful convictions through the revisiting of DNA evidence. Racial discrimination, forensic scams and corruption are all prevalent and recurring themes in these cases, separated into episodes defined by what went wrong (e.g. witness, evidence, etc) making it a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime or justice.

100%

NETFLIX

SHERLOCK watch WALLANDER

If you’re into eccentric detectives with dark pasts like SHERLOCK, then WALLANDER will most definitely be for you.

In this English-language remake, Kenneth Branaugh stars as Kurt Wallander, a depressed detective stationed in Ystad, Sweden. Struggling to balance his career and his rocky relationships with both his adult daughter Linda (Jeany Spark) and his father (David Warner) who is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease, the series follows Wallander through gruesome murders, disappearances, and personal losses. If this alone does not grab your attention, then the beautifully bleak cinematography of Swedish landscape,

88%

iPlayer

LOVE ISLAND watch TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Missing LOVE ISLAND? No one will judge you if you choose to indulge on Netflix’s ‘disgustingly bingeable’ new dating show, which sees a blend of attractive singles from America, Canada, Australia and the UK attempt to improve their reputations under a set of rules imposed by an Alexa-like virtual assistant, Lana. The rules are as follows: there must be no sexual contact between the contestants for the entirety of their stay, or else the $100,000 up for grabs by the end of the show will be slowly lost. Shallow, dramatic and obscene, TOO HOT TO HANDLE is the provides the perfect option for fans of mindless entertainment.

38%

FLEAGBAG watch CRASHING

If, like most, you are obsessed with the masterpiece that is FLEABAG, then it’s important you become well-versed in another chapter of the Phoebe Waller-Bridge bible: Channel 4’s CRASHING. One of Waller-Bridge’s more underrated creations, Crashing follows several ‘Property Guardians’; a gang of misfits who legally squat in an unused hospital in return for cheap rent and strict rules. Phoebe stars as Lulu, who stumbles back into the life of her childhood friend, Anthony (Damien Molony), and much to the dismay of his uptight new fiancée (Louise Ford), wreaks havoc on their relationship. The group also features French artist Melody (Julie Dray)

82%

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NETFLIX

All4

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BLACK MIRROR watch INSIDE No.9

The disturbingly original stories from BLACK MIRROR are matched, if not beaten, by the five series of INSIDE NO.9 produced by the brilliant minds of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. With every episode linked by the number ‘9’ in some shape or form, each story is completely different and unpredictable from the next. Laughs, tears, terror and action all come together as one across the series, making it impossible to review as a whole. A must watch.

100%

iPlayer

THE OFFICE watch THIS COUNTRY

Likened to ‘THE OFFICE in its glory days’ and set in a very small, very boring Cotswolds village, THIS COUNTRY series 3 sees cousins Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe return to the screen in a mockumentary that captures the very essence of youth in rural England. Written by and starring real life siblings Daisy and Charlie Cooper, This Country is a bleak comedy that comes across as both realistic and equally ridiculous.

96%

iPlayer

IF YOU LIKED

SUMMER 20

KATIE LEE

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odern masculinity was an intriguing theme for me to explore. I studied both the stereotypical representation of masculinity and the changing understanding of what defines masculinity.

This shoot focused on the feminine, soft and

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vulnerable side to males, whilst still being confident within themselves. I was inspired

by Cherry Au’s ‘Queeroes of London’ collection, which focused on showing people accepting themselves for who they are and encourage others to do the same.

MODEL: Henry Skillern

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SUMMER 20

ZOE BALAAM

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ue to the growing awareness surrounding LGBT+ people in modern media there are bound to be controversies. An increasing number of these aren’t based on fact and have been exaggerated out of proportion to be used now as an excuse for homophobia.

These ‘homophobic excuses’, in today’s world, can be seen every time you log on to social media. Almost invisible messages hidden inside seemingly harmless posts may be published innocently but can seriously harm those they target.

An example of this is the rainbow poppy. This poppy was made by a single eBay seller without any official link to the LGBT+ community or the official Poppy Appeal. Despite this, it was used as a ‘homophobic excuse’ that was plastered all over social media. There were posts about how the red poppy was a symbol of all soldiers so there was no need to be pushing the LGBT+ agenda, or that it was red poppies that grew in the fields rather than rainbow. It was argued that the integrity of the poppy and what it stands for was at stake. I found all of these comments within posts on common social media sites.

However what failed to be mentioned was that it’s not just red poppies sold for Remembrance.

There are black poppies for black soldiers, purple for the animals that died and white for peace.

When did you see any of these growing in the field? But more importantly, how often do you

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hear anything negative about these colour variations despite them being more widely available?

So why did the rainbow poppy cause such an outcry? The problem for most wasn’t the integrity of the poppy but rather its perceived link to the LGBT+ community. In other words, it was a ‘homophobic excuse’.

Many pose the argument that the rainbow poppy is a ‘local controversy’ with it being spread across social media rather than mainstream, globalised media – therefore there is little point getting so hung up about it. However, viewing it through the eyes of a LGBT+ person, this form of homophobia can be seen on a daily basis.

On top of this there are a multitude of other examples of ‘homophobic excuses’ that are widespread and commonplace. This is bound to have a negative effect on these individuals.

Disproportionally scrutinizing the actions of the LGBT+ community helps to build and maintain stereotypes. These are often negative and can create self-fulfilling prophecies for the people of the community. This means when they hear something negative via the media about them and their community, although it may be incorrect, due to being constantly subjected to these beliefs they begin to adopt the behaviours being shown. This is because they see no way of stopping the misconceptions being spread and after being worn down they see no other way of stopping it other than take on the behaviour.

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As the stereotypes being shown on the media are often negative, this causes negative self-fulfilling prophecieswithnegativebehaviourstobeadopted.

Within the media there has been uproar over Trans athletes, more specifically male to female athletes (MtF), competing in female sport.

This ‘homophobic excuse’ has turned into a media panic, taking initial worries towards MtF athletes and blowing them out of proportion. It has been portrayed that MtF athletes have an unfair advantage within women’s sport due to their naturally raised testosterone levels.

However, what is rarely mentioned is that MtF athletes can’t compete within women’s sport without chemically lowering their testosterone levels to within the ‘normal’ biological women’s range.

Another argument is that although their testosterone levels have to be within the female range they have already had exposure to the higher levels and therefore will retain some advantages over biological women. Scientific research on this topic is still inconclusive.

This ‘advantage’ would also be present in some biological women as there have been examples of biologically female athletes having naturally higher levels of testosterone that fall outside of the ‘normal’ female testosterone range.

Higher testosterone levels coupled with more androgynous looks can be caused by a sex variation called intersex, which can often go undiagnosed.

These athletes get tested and therefore get criticism. Biologically female athletes with the same raised testosterone levels but who don’t present physically rarely undergo this same treatment.

Trans and intersex athletes are subject to this unfair and dangerous level of scrutiny as they are forced to undergo these invasive tests as well as being pressured into chemically or even surgically altering their bodies.

Many people who push these arguments want to ban MtF athletes from women’s sport, but what’s the alternative? If it is enforced that all athletes compete within their biological sex category there would be uproar. This would result in transgender men competing with biological women. These men would have an unfair advantage as they would have higher levels of testosterone and it would be unethical to require them to stop hormone treatment in order to compete.

Another alternative would be banning Trans ath-

letes all together. This would entail excluding them based on how they were born – again unethical.

The statistics around transgender athletes demonstrates the extent to which this issue has been exaggerated. It has been estimated that up to 0.75% of the UK population identifies as transgender, this being around 200,000 - 500,000 people according to the Government Equalities Office in 2018.

In the four Olympic Games since transgender athletes were allowed to compete in 2004 there have been just under 1,500 British competitors.

If the proportions were equivalent, this would amount to 10 transgender British competitors (both MtF and FtM), though if they did have a competitive advantage, this number would probably increase.

However, there has never been an openly Trans athlete at the Olympic Games.

Within other major sporting competitions there have been a few stories of transgender women winning major events but there would be very few people who could name even one of these women. Comparing this to the list of biological women athletes that almost anyone would be able to name it calls into question whether this is so great an issue.

All the evidence, despite how little there is, points towards minimal to no benefit of being an MtF athlete and that, while it is worthy of extra research, it certainly isn’t going to ruin the integrity of women’s sport as the media is trying to make out. Therefore the disaster it was supposed to be, leading to the “downfall of women’s sport”, was an exaggerated media panic based on fiction and scaremongering that was born as an excuse to be homophobic.

This only just scratches the surface of the ‘homophobic excuses’ present in today’s media. I hope I’ve been able to demonstrate how not everything you hear in the media, especially that related to minorities, is true and that when you don’t have all the facts it’s easy to accidently be harmful.

My aim is not to stop people from having an opinion but to help them understand the consequences of opinions that have been adopted and how they are often exaggerated beyond the facts as a (sometimes oblivious) excuse to be homophobic.

I must also stress these excuses aren’t just limited to homophobia and can be extrapolated to most other minorities that face discrimination.

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SUMMER 20

THE NEWS IN HAIKUS Despite popular demand, poet-in-residence Mamie Michael has returned. She has yet again taken it upon herself to improve the news by compressing the headlines down into 17 succinct syllables.

A haiku is a short Japanese poem. A typical haiku has 17 syllables - five in the first and last lines and seven in the middle. It is usually cutting and profound.

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THE ICON

Dominic Cummings caught in Durham rehearsing a Specsavers ad.

Donald Trump just wants you to know that he’s the most least racist ever.

“Coronavirus!”

How many people read that in Cardi B’s voice?

That Carol freakin’ Baskin got Joe’s whole tiger zoo - a conspiracy?

Have you seen Normal People yet? Conell’s chain is just everything.

Whatever is said, excuses made, truth hidden, Britain’s racist too.

Jacinda Ardern New Zealand Prime Minister: A Goddess on Earth.

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SUMMER 20

END OF AN ERA ELLIE ALLEN

A

legacy defines us long after we are gone. It is the culmination of experiences, actions and words that shape a lifetime. In short, it is the immortal and unique impact we leave on the world and the people who follow us, and it is something that is embedded into the culture of King Edward VI School. The concept of legacy is on display in the Lower Hall, where generations of Head Boys, Head Girls and Sports Captains are engraved on mounted plaques. Legacy is forged through our Shanghai Exchange Partnership, which is older than many of our youngest students. It is embodied in the staff who have seen multiple members of the same family pass through their doors. It is carved into stone in the walls of St Edmundsbury Cathedral in the form of students who gave their lives in conflict. Our Sixth Form is an extension of this legacy; an establishment that many of us had heard of long before we applied. Students oftentimes came from a broad background, a variety of establishments, to attend a Sixth Form reputed for its environment both cultural and academic.

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For those who attended Lower School, it was seen as an ideal to strive towards. Within the Sixth Form itself, the bonds formed between Year 12 and Year 13 intensified that general sense of inheritance: every student knew of their precursors and were aware that they themselves would be succeeded in turn. Students knew any claim ‘their table’ in the Foundation Room was only temporary. Before them, it was the hub of another person’s world – the centre of their life for a year or so – and after them it would be passed on to someone else. It meant that the Sixth Form had a shifting face. Each year-group introduced new characteristics, hallmarks or traits which allowed it to evolve into something

different from the last. Whether this was the Sixth Form netball tournament, the infamous Christmas Show, or that daily mad dash at 10:00am for the Sixth Form Cake. In many ways, this distinctiveness acted as a reminder that we were all temporary fixtures within the school. Vital and important placeholders, but in no way a permanent feature. This year proved, more than ever, that this cyclical and ever-shifting motion is simply another aspect to this stage in our education and lives. If anything, it taught us to value and make the most of whatever time we are granted.

Across year groups, though, our Sixth Form’s overarching ideals of community, enthusiasm and involvement remained: they were simply reimagined by every new set of students. Alongside these values certain rites of education also remained a constant. UCAS applications, mock exams, leaver’s celebrations, and the Summer exam series, to name a few. Teachers and staff also acted as a more permanent feature, as individuals who committed their days, and often their nights, to the success of each and every student. From the front-desk staff to members of the SLT, cleaning and catering staff, pastoral support officers and form tutors. People who likely saw you at your worst as well as your best.

Teachers who put on lunchtime study groups, replied to your e-mails, and gave you feedback.

A staff body that welcomed fresh faces every September and yet strived to make you feel important, as an individual and a year group.

It was on Friday 20 March that this cycle of legacy and inheritance came to a close. The class of 2020, the very last of its kind, left King Edward VI exactly eight weeks earlier than expected.

This group is just as distinctive and unique as every other year, and how best to define us? Primarily, we are the year group of change: a group

THE ICON

The Four Heads in the traditional pose. Photograph by Zoë MacLachlan

that frequently faced uncertainty and disarray but never failed to persevere. Those of us who were with the school since the beginning of Year 9 saw the handover of leadership from Geoff Barton to Lee Walker, and between two Sixth Form teams: Stuart Small and Abi Thorpe, followed by Penny Quintero-Hunt and Debbie Quick. We saw the regional move from three-tier to two-tier education. In classrooms, we were one of the first years to experience new GCSE and A-level reform – producing some of the hardest courses and exam series’ that the country has ever seen.

We experienced the opening of Abbeygate Sixth Form College, and the anxiety surrounding Kegsit. In the wake of which, we made our voices heard and convinced the school board to reverse their decision on where we would spend our final year. Beyond Grove Road, we saw political upheaval in the form of Brexit and Donald Trump, the rise of the young activist, and now a pandemic. We protested against climate change, raised vast amounts of money for causes we believed in, and we worked hard for our education even when relegated to the Library, or the C Block sofas. It seems only fitting that our year were the ones to experience exam cancellation, nationwide lockdown, and potential delays to our next steps: ‘unprecedented’ was already in our nature.

Music rang out in the Foundation Room, to which students danced in unworn May Ball outfits. We held an in impromptu quiz, presented end-of-year awards and exchanged gifts.

We shared hugs, laughter and some tears too.

While we were denied of many of those rituals and rites – the May Ball, the Leaver’s celebrations, completing our courses, saying a proper goodbye – we still made the most of our short time as placeholders at the school. Perhaps a small pride can be held in the knowledge that this time there will be no one to reinvent the Sixth Form. That we did it right, for the last time, in spite of everything happening around us.

It seems strange that the Foundation Room, Study Centre, Library and classrooms will never again see a set of bright and brilliant Sixth Form students. Not only that, but the fact that such an important mark in the school’s history coincided with the most unusual of circumstances.

But solace can be taken in the knowledge that the Sixth Form itself continues to impact people. It has altered a vast number of people – whether students, staff, even parents – who create their own individual imprint on the world.

Sporting icon Billie Jean King surmised it best when she simply stated: ‘Create your legacy Despite experiencing a school career defined and pass the baton’. While that baton will no by change, the class of 2020 still embodied the longer be passed between year-groups, it is albest traits that the entire Sixth Form was re- ready being passed through families, between garded for throughout its history. There was no friends, to colleagues and peers. Like those who better demonstration of this than on our last day came before us, we have learned so very much of school. Despite being given less than 3-days’ from our time in King Edward VI Sixth Form, notice, we did what we have always done best: and its final lesson is this one of legacy. make the most out of everything thrown at us.

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