Issue 76 - April

THE MAGDALEN ISSUE 76 APRIL

Behind the Dunfessions: An interview with the mind behind Dunfess.

Our Time at the Magdalen: A Team Piece The experience of working in The Magdalen, as told by the team.

Are You the Sound Girl?

Being a woman on work experience.

EXPERIENCE

DUNDEE’S FREE MAGAZINE

THE MAGDALEN

A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR IN CHIEF

Experience is why we’re all here.

The pursuit of it has brought you here, to Dundee and ultimately, to pick up this Magazine. Inside this month’s issue, you will find innumerable facets of student life put into print through the lens of the stories we have chosen to tell one another. We have found stories of ingenuity in the projects of student fashion bloggers, the hunger for art in our guide to practical theatregoing and our critical optimism of new developments in our analysis of the V&A effect.

To dedicate a whole issue of The Magdalen to something as broad as “experience” could only be done in the last issue of the year.

This will not be a self-serving last hurrah as my final editor’s letter. If I had been asked to draft what I thought my last letter would be in September, it honestly would have been.

However, in the months since, I have learned an awful lot more than how to copy edit effectively and crank out 1600 words at the drop of a hat. I have learned that the team Barbara and I built last year, with the overriding desire being only that it was one forged in meritocracy, is a group of some of the most talented and enthusiastic writers and editors Dundee has to offer. They should all hold their heads high as this editorial term draws to an end in the knowledge that they have contributed to a worthwhile and vastly improved window into the lives of their colleagues and friends.

The Magdalen has become so much more than a magazine. It has become a true representation of the lives of Dundee students.

We take great pains to make sure that we are in a position to continue sharing the experiences of our colleagues at Dundee by getting out there, on the ground and making sure that the story of our students is not dictated by me sitting in my office. It is lived, written about and read by the people it most directly affects and, in my opinion, that is what we should always have strived to as a student magazine.

It would be inappropriate to end this letter in a Frasier-esque soliloquy because to me, that would imply that just as the show lived and died with Frasier’s radio show, so too the Magdalen would end with me. This is not the case.

So long as some first year can be tempted along to the media tent at Fresher’s Fair and encouraged to put pen to paper to share their experiences, we still have a decent shot at being a relevant outlet for creativity and curiosity during the decades to come.

There will always be more stories to tell, all that has changed is who will be sending them off to print each month.

Murray Glen

APRIL

ISSUE

76

A NOTE FROM YOUR CREATIVE DIRECTORS

With this semester coming to a close and this being our final magazine before the summer break, we really wanted to try make this month’s issue something special. It’s strange to think that the next Magdalen we will work on after summer will be fully redesigned and redone by us! It’ll be sad to leave the template Molly and Olivia left us but we’re both really looking forward to creating something new and fresh for everyone going into the next couple of semesters.

We hope everyone has a fantastic summer and good luck with all the exams / finals / stressful situations that are coming up this month!

Neil Connor Helena Lindsay

03

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 04

EDITOR IN CHIEF Murray Glen SENIOR DEPUTY EDITOR IN CHIEF Barbara Mertlova DEPUTY EDITOR Alastair Edward Letch

CREATIVE DIRECTORS Neil Connor Helena Lindsay PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGERS Domas Radzevicius Victoria Sanches ILLUSTRATION MANAGER Fraser Robertson

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Alexander Ferrier

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Maria Radeva

COMMUNITY EDITOR Sarah Jayne Duncan

LIFESTYLE EDITOR James Houston

CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR Kiera Marshall

OPINIONS EDITOR Rose Kendall

CURRENT AFFAIRS EDITOR Mary Erin Kinch

SCIENCE EDITORS James Dale John Ferrier

FASHION EDITOR Emily Fletcher

COPY EDITORS Erin Campbell Beth MacLeod

WITH THANKS TO Claire Hartley VPCC

COVER DESIGNERS Domas Radzevicius Fraser Robertson

CREATED IN ASSOCIATION WITH DUSA

PRINTERS The Magazine Printing Co. www.magprint.co.uk mpc@magprint.co.uk

06 FEATURE 14 CREATIVE WRITING 17

COMICS AND QUIZZES

30 COMMUNITY 34 CURRENT AFFAIRS 40 FASHION 44 INTERNATIONAL 46 RECIPE 48 LIFESTYLE 54 OPINIONS 58 SCIENCE 68 WHAT’S ON

CONTENTS

20 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

05

Feature - The Magdalen - April December

OUR TIME AT

THE MAGDALEN: A TEAM PIECE

So you want to be a student journalist?

Or, are you super keen to find out more about the mindsets of the people who made this issue? (...I promise we are all sane‌) Then feast your eyes on the accounts and shared stories that the team have come up with, as a way of remembering the past year and giving you, lovely readers, an insight into what goes on at

06

Words by The Magdalen Team!

December April - The Magdalen - Feature

Alastair: Deputy Editor-In-Chief As I’d previously been the community editor for two years, prior to taking on the role this year as ‘Deputy Editor-in-Chief’, I can safely say that these three years have been a pretty snazzy whirlwind.

Sure, there have been frustrations at my own writing and editing abilities (when you remind yourself of a typo a week after sending off an issue… the pain is real). Equally though, I doubt that there has been a more satisfying experience to have gone through over the last three years. When you spend quality time writing a piece that comes from the heart and meets the expectations of the interviewee… those are the moments that really butter my croissant.

When I started in second year, with a really poor grasp of writing, I was overjoyed to be offered a co-editor post on the Community Section. I couldn’t believe that someone wanted to read the wordspaghetti that I slung about! I’m pretty sure that I started to rock about the campus with the “Look at me… I’m a journalist now” type of attitude… despite not actually being a qualified or published journalist.

Eventually, I realised that it is a lot more than strutting about with an air of authority. The memories of connecting to the team for the first time over a pint of cider at The Union, discussing yearly ambitions and expressing hype over what might transpire really sends me to a positive place.

I soppily admit to shedding a tear when the first piece (co-written with my co-editor at the time, on volunteering in Dundee - which you should all totally do if you get the chance) was published. It looked real nice, in short part thanks to the bombass design team over the years, and while there is a pretty gnarly typo on the last few paragraphs, I was proud of how it all came together.

Fast forward to today, after three years of the finest teamwork and panic over writing good content, I can safely say that the experience has been one I’ll hold onto. It is in no sense idealistic and nor can I say that I’ve fulfilled the trope of drinking coffee in the early hours wearing a trench coat, waiting on a revolutionary scoop. Instead, I’ve been blessed to meet so many people of all walks of life and will remember this year as intense fun.

Design by Neil Connor and Helena Lindsay, Illustration by Fraser Robertson

07

Feature - The Magdalen - April December

Rose: Opinions Editor

Kiera: Creative Writing Editor

August 2018: I was interviewed at 5am, in my pyjamas, by the Magdalen editors and subsequently, somehow, found myself in charge of the Opinion section. Having written for every issue of the magazine the year before and felt like I was on the outside of a bubble, it was lovely to be accepted into this great team of creatives, organisers, designers, writers, editors…

I joined the Magdalen at the start of my postgraduate studies. It’s something I really considered getting involved with since my first year of undergrad. I originally applied for the position of community editor and arts and entertainment editor. However, Murray offered me the position of creative writing editor as we both agreed that due to my creative background as an art and philosophy graduate, I would be most suited to this role.

Joining the Magdalen has been challenging in terms of time management with university, evening work and other extracurricular activities. However, I haven’t once regretted taking up the role as I have become a better person for it. I have had the opportunity to work with and network at local events including V&A Dundee, Hotpotch, Cooper Gallery and Writers Read. Best of all, I have had the pleasure of working with such talented and loyal contributors every month.

Very few of my contributions to the Magdalen this year have happened from Dundee though, starting with my interview, when I was working in an American summer camp, had to get up at 4.45am thanks to the time difference, and jog around the lake to sit in the wifi hotspot. And then, whilst on ERASMUS, I was told (in jest) that it was unacceptable that I missed editorial meetings because, sadly, DUSA does not cover travel expenses to and from Belgium. Editing articles has kept me busy on several long coach rides across Europe and I’d find myself excitedly checking the Opinions section submissions folder an hour before the deadline because of the time difference. I’ve received articles on a huge variety of topics, including ones I didn’t realise you could have opinions about! I’m so happy I have been able to work remotely and still be part of the Magdalen team this year and hope to continue to be so, hopefully from closer to home next year.

08

The Magdalen offers so many opportunities for professional development. I finally plucked up the courage this year to write my first theatre review on Dundee Rep’s “Yellow on the Broom” and Scotland’s travelling community. I wish I had taken many more opportunities that were available to me at the time, although I think I underestimated the workload of masters! This doesn’t mean that the Magdalen hasn’t provided me with the invaluable skills and experience to take these opportunities in the future.

If you’re even thinking about joining the Magdalen – do it! There is also plenty of opportunity to rise through the ranks, something I perhaps left too late in my university career, so don’t wait! Thank you, Murray, Barbara and the Magdalen team, I can’t believe it’s already over! I’ll miss it very much.

December April - The Magdalen - Feature

Emily: Fashion Editor

Maria: International Editor

I was originally roped in to apply for the Fashion Editor position by my friend, the Editor-in-Chief of Magdalen at the time, not really knowing what I was getting myself in for – or that I would still be here three years later! I’ve had a blast, not only getting to write about fashion, but discovering new writers, viewpoints and friends through the process. I have always been writing, but this magazine gave me my first works in print, and I can remember how proud I was to flick through the pages to my first, glitter-filled, published article. I still take multiple copies of each issue home every month to share amongst my family!

Snowy greetings from Canada!

It’s hard to explain just how much effort goes into this FREE magazine. There is a (mostly) well-oiled machine behind each issue and I’ve loved watching and helping it evolve in design and content over the years. Magdalen Magazine is a pretty perfect example of the University of Dundee – fun, intelligent, and opinionated. It can be a tough job, and one I probably shouldn’t be doing during my postgrad, but it’s one I love all the same. All I can say is that all our hard work is so, so worth it. It will be bittersweet picking up this issue, the last that I’ve been a part of. Thanks for having me, Magdalen!

I still remember my first week in Magdalen and the first editorial meeting we had. It was like entering a classroom for the first time, combination of anxiety and excitement. Meeting Room 2 was where my journey began from. I didn’t know anything about how Magdalen actually worked. I am still not 100% aware of what’s happening until the last minute, but I know that I can truly rely on the whole team.

Magdalen is like a jar of candies – every issue has a different taste and colour and makes me bounce with enthusiasm. It’s the same thing every month calling my parents, sending copies to Bulgaria, comparing our magazine with the one here. For some it may sound time-consuming, but it’s worth every second.

I have always loved writing. But, editing! That’s something different. Being an international student is a tough job. This inspired me to stop writing only for myself, but to help raise the voice of other international students. The best thing is the diversity of Magdalen. I can write, read or edit things from all aspects of life – from current affairs to recipes. How cool is that?

09

Creative-writing Feature The Magdalen - The Magdalen - April - December

Molly and Olivia: Ex-Creative Directors Look we don’t belong here anymore But we can’t seem to let go So we’re going to tell you a story About what we know We began with single articles Learning one page at a time Some of those first designs Could be labelled as a crime A few years down the line We saw an opportunity arise We became Creative Directors Uh oh, watch out, surprise!

We first adapted to the style But then turned it on its head Reworking the entire magazine To our new look instead It took a bit to learn the ropes And we made a few mistakes Shockingly this role Was not a piece of cake We messed up legibility And printed a cover wrong Put the wrong date on the spine Even after designing for so long We promise we weren’t all bad We managed some things well And with help from our team The magazine looked swell We worked with so much talent From different kinds of groups And we had lots of fun Rallying the design troops Although our reign is over It’s nice to pass the crown And see how the next leaders Turn the style upside down.

10

Neil and Helena: Creative Directors We both joined the Magdalen very recently actually (last month!), so it’s fair to say we’re still going through the adjustment period for everything at the moment, but even already it’s definitely been quite the experience. Now that we know what we’re doing (kinda) it’s a load of fun! We’re both learning loads being here and can’t wait to see what other stories we’re going to have this time next year.

As this year comes to a close though, and we lose a large portion of the existing team that showed us the ropes, we are both genuinely sad to see you leave, but it’s exciting to think about what’s next for us and the Magdalen. Hopefully, we can keep up the high standards you’ve all set throughout the year and keep the magazine looking great!

December - The April Magdalen - The Magdalen - Creative - Feature writing

James: Science Editor My work as Science Editor for this magazine has been incredibly fulfilling. Very quickly, I became engulfed with the power of media and communication – it is such a wonderful thing! I am exceptionally grateful to have been afforded such a fantastic opportunity, and the chance to both write and edit articles discussing a huge variety of science related topics, both locally or globally. Seeing your own writing in print is massively rewarding, and I can only recommend more readers to do it!

Science is deeply interesting, referring to systematic fields of study, and the knowledge gained from it.

Translating scientific discoveries into a compelling story is a challenging task, especially in our partisan era filled with “alternative facts”. Science is committed to exploring truth, and I was beyond pleased to publish articles covering topics such as the value of scepticism and critical-thinking, religion, female and LGBTQ+ representation in scientific fields, and respect for evidence. The commitment of science to objective truth achieves results such as antibiotics and vaccines, rocketing astronauts into space, and uncovering ground-breaking cancer treatments.

Balancing a commitment to both The Magdalen and Nightline Dundee, as well as my academic work, has been really challenging. However, as a result of my work here, I have met science communicators from as far away as Canada, and sat on a panel dedicated to separating sense from nonsense on the scientific stage. I hope that the insights shared in this magazine will inspire readers to get involved in science–media communication, and ultimately strengthen the dissemination of scientific results.

Media plays a key role in the communication between scientists and the general public, and I am proud that The Magdalen is a part of it. Thank you for having me!

Mary Erin: Current Affairs Editor When Murray sent me a message asking me if I would be interested in working with The Magdalen as the Current Affairs editor, I genuinely thought it was by accident. Writing has always been a passion of mine, but to be an actual journalist? I didn’t think I was capable of something like that. Some days I still don’t. Being a journalist this past year has brought me incredible opportunities and chances to meet amazing people that I have learned so much from. I have learned how important writing is to me, how to improve my writing and a whole new set of skills as an editor. Invaluable skills that I will be using for the rest of my life. I have no doubt about that and I have no doubt that the things I learned about myself, my strengths, weaknesses and my limits have changed how I see the world and how I see myself. I don’t see myself as a journalist.

It may be hard to understand but it’s the truth. This year has been amazing and I probably wouldn’t change it for the world because everything happens for a reason. If I hadn’t been the Current Affairs Editor then I wouldn’t have known that whilst I may be very good at writing and crafting a message or idea, that I have a good head for investigative journalism and editing, it is not what I want to do with my life. And that’s ok. Sometimes you need to try something, try something with all the effort you can, to know it’s not for you. How else would you know otherwise?

I’m not saying for a minute I haven’t enjoyed it here, I have. However, this is about reflecting on my experience and offering what advice I can. Just because you are good at something, it does not mean you have the responsibility to then do that thing.

Just because you are good at something, it doesn’t mean you have to make it your career. Most of all though, just because you are good at something, just because you enjoy doing something, it can still be something that doesn’t actually make you happy. Don’t put that pressure on yourself. Go into everything with an open mind and a determined heart, you’ll find your way eventually.

11

Creative-writing Feature The Magdalen - The Magdalen - April - December

Barbara: Senior Deputy Editor in Chief To say it’s been a rocky road would be a heavy understatement. If you think joining a fully studentrun magazine that publishes monthly, comprising aspects of writing, editing, design, illustration and photography, will be a breeze, perhaps just based on the fact that our copies are handed out for free; let’s just get it out there and say you probably couldn’t be more wrong. What is, however, undeniably true, is that it will be one of the most rewarding things you’ll have ever done.

About this time a year ago, I was rather awkwardly hanging around at a photography exhibition put up by the then Magdalen team, not really knowing anyone or anything about the processes of what it takes to get my typos-filled Opinion or International piece to the state it is when we all pick it up on campus. It was also then that the soon-to-be Editor approached me with a suggestion to join the team.

In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have laughed as a reaction, but I truly did think the smartly-dressed man whom I’d seen presenting himself as a true journalist countless times before must’ve been joking about wanting to work with someone who absolutely no one on campus knew.

Little did I know we were going to become amazing friends, and an almost invincible team who - with the indispensable aid of everyone involved in the process from writers through to the editorial team, and equally the design side of things – got 68 pages of content to print every month. (Distribution to be addressed next time.)

My point is, I have gained professional experience that not much could compare to. But more importantly, I have had my life enriched by people whom I probably wouldn’t have otherwise met and just browsing through the names detailed in the credits at the bottom of each page of this year’s magazines – that would have been a hell of a shame.

12

December - The April Magdalen - The Magdalen - Creative - Feature writing

Murray: Editor-in-Chief As bad as it sounds, I would not be writing this as Editor of the Magdalen without JAM Radio. I remember walking around Freshers’ Fair in first year with Lewis Kennedy, who would go on to be Jam Manager, and glancing at the Magdalen while he was signing up for Radio. A few articles in the Current Affairs section later (my first story was on Trump, how original) I was sitting in Tower Cafe with the latest issue, proudly showing it off to my friends and saying that my one ambition for University was to be the Editor of this quirky wee magazine. I didn’t realise that in my quest to fulfill that ambition, I would interview Senior Staff, Politicians, Sports Stars, The Chuckle Brothers and most importantly, students! My motivation to take part in the Magazine changed drastically from doing it because I wanted to be a journalist, to wanting to keep it up just to hear what projects, stories and scandals people had to tell me about. I became driven to show students that The Magdalen is not just a student magazine, and they themselves are not just students. They are activists, artists and truly inspirational, it was up to us to show them that people are desperate to hear their stories. I cannot recommend enough the rush of covering a take over of Tower Building by Student Activists, a political party conference or the changing face of our city and seeing the words what were once typed up in the cold on a smartphone being enjoyed by random students on Campus.

13

Comics - Writing Creative The Magdalen - The Magdalen - December - April

Go On

Even though I’d stop, the rest would continue The clouds would keep on wandering, cars would get stuck in the never-ending traffic, new buildings would be constructed for the newborns to settle in, and people will continue to rush through the street to try and complete their ever growing list of daily tasks.

Life would find a way, it might slow down for a bit, but I’d pick right up.

The wind never stops blowing, as doesn’t the rolling tides that keep on crashing on the outrock while splashing foam all around.

A new spring would sprout forth green, and the sky would still reflect the dreams that live within our hearts.

As I walk upon the waterline I hear the seagulls looking for supper, and despite food being scarce they’ll find a way to feed their younglings.

When I hold my head down, someone’s there to remind me to pick it right up: was it the passerby I recognized, the art shop’s salesman telling me about his life story or the sight of a toddler laughing.

The sun sets and ends a chapter, but a new one is due to emerge and that’s why I put on my shoes and step outside no matter how I feel.

14

Words by Daniel Pukkila, design by Lisa Dyer, photography by Domas Radzevicius

April - The Magdalen December - Arts - The and Magdalen Entertainment - Quiz

Intoxicating You laugh with your mouth open and I can see all the way down your throat. A piece of spinach is stuck between your teeth. Your breath smells like beer and cigarettes. Your face is so close to mine, but I know you aren’t going to kiss me. So I kiss you. It starts off with closed mouth, innocent. Your hand goes in my hair, pulls my head down a bit.

My heart beats faster and I can feel my clothes sticking to my body, licked with sweat. Your lips taste like tangy flavoured melon which reminds me of late summer nights in the south of France.

Your tongue taste bitter from the beer, kind of like the first time I drank tea unsweetened. You push me on your bed and as my body is being tangled together with yours, my nose catches the scent of your bedding on a winter morning and I can feel the aroma of our friendship in the sheets underneath us.

I close my eyes while your whispering breath is telling me I’m beautiful.

I imagine you’re someone else and I’m someone else, and that we’re strangers meeting each other for the first time. Pretending we care about each other instead of just seeking another distraction.

I kiss the tip of your jaw and taste salt. I bite your earlobe. I can feel your smile on my neck. You are so intoxicating, but I do not know how to get away from you.

Word by Lizzie Husum, photography by Immanuel E Lavery, design by Helena Lindsay

15

Arts and Writing Creative Entertainment - The Magdalen - The Magdalen - April - December

Blown by the Hot Wind Can you recall the old days, the times we dreamt outdoors?

Together we passed strands, drove on the motorway called life.

How many cups of coffee did we consume, only not to fall asleep and miss anything?

In poorness, but complete bliss we slept, waved goodbye to the countless aircraft that took off, and welcomed the ships that were arriving home.

On the watchtower, I glance at the one photo we took, while the streams of air remind me of the storms we faced.

Now they go through me, as I can’t even recognize the man in the picture to be myself.

The small lodge house is falling apart, but I still paint the unfulfilled dreams we once held dear to us.

Nowadays I walk to hear the sound of the hot wind; the notes I scribbled back then say that a fresh breeze is approaching, but a handful of faces sight the emptiness around.

I have many acquaintances, but can’t talk to even one of them.

I hear steps, are you still running?

I can’t tell why I sat in my father’s old crimson airplane, but I’ll let the hot wind blow me away.

16

Words by Daniel Pukkila, design and illustration by Gosia Kepka

ASTRONOMY

BANTHO -LINUS BANTHO -LINUS

AND MANUSCRIPTS

BANTHO -LINUS

BRECHIN

ASTRONOMY

TO COLLECT BOOKS

YMONORTSA

FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE CLEARGY

YMONORTSA

SUNIL- OHTNAB

YMONORTSA

SUNIL- OHTNAB

ASTRONOMY

1792

ITS AIM:

YMONORTSA

FOUNDED IN TheWAS possibilities are endless

SUNIL- OHTNAB

YMONORTSA

Take a look at a new book

ASTRONOMY

ASTRONOMY

!"#$%&'#()*+,*-."/%%*0&12#$%'

YMONORTSA

New Experiences are closer than you think....

BANTHO -LINUS

April - The Magdalen - Comics

Illustrations by Aimee Adams (above) and Helena Lindsay (below)

17

Quiz - The Magdalen - April

HOW SHOULD YOU SPEND YOUR TIME

THIS SUMMER I have a bit saved up yea

Let’s be blunt.

How much money you got?

Do you want to do stuff with your Need to spend more time with my pals friends, or live personal experiences?

I want to go out and do something new

Travel!

Get your bags packed and just choose where you wanna go! The world is your oyster 18

Words by Dundee Quiz Society

Camping!

Grab a tent, your mates, and disappear off into the hills for a day or two. Just check the weather first!

April - The Magdalen - Quiz

int

I’m totally sk

How do you feel about the outdoors?

Love it! I’ve been in the city too long I prefer a real roof over my head

Be honest, how hard have you worked this year? flat-out, I’m exhausted

Road Trip!

Jump in the wagon and hit up some airbnb’s. Just decide who’s on DJ duty before you leave!

Chill Out! Maybe spend some time with your family and just relax?

Not at all really...

Work!

Suck it up and get a job!

Design by Neil Connor

19

Arts and Entertainment - The Magdalen - April

REVIEW : MIRROR T

hroughout his prestigious career as a director, Andrei Tarkovsky managed to develop a reputation for being a rather (to put it crudely) “artsy” auteur. From his films’ insistence on slow and selfindulgent pacing, to the insertion of highly philosophical dialogue that suggest pretensions of them aspiring to “literary” merit, Tarkovsky’s films always prove to be brimming with self-confidence at the very least. Even so, despite him often dabbling in elements of avant-garde cinema even within his more accessible films such as Stalker and Solaris, I’d consider it quite the stretch to strictly refer to Tarkovsky as an “arthouse” director as some often do. This is because, in my view, Tarkovsky’s filmography can be described as belonging to one of two categories: the first being films that, despite their arthouse

20

influences, do little to alienate the viewer and the second being his film Mirror.

Existing as a partially fictionalised retelling of Tarkovsky’s own childhood, Mirror depicts the troubled lives of a young boy named Ignat and his mother over the course of the former’s pre-adolescent years. Should you plan on viewing the film for yourself some time between now and your kicking of the bucket, do keep the above plot summary in mind, for those are the only concrete narrative details which can be gleamed upon a first viewing. Through a combination of the film’s completely nonlinear narrative structure, to the way in which esoteric visual and dialogue clues are the primary means by which said narrative is conveyed, Mirror (more so than any other Tarkovsky film)

Design and illustration by Clémence Jaron

wears the “arthouse” label on its sleeve. For someone like me sitting behind a keyboard and typing about it, this makes levelling scrutiny towards the film problematic, as like many works in the arthouse genre, so much is open to subjective interpretation.

What I can do however is praise the aspect which the film through almost all other aspects to focus on: It’s aesthetics.

As stated prior, the film communicates the majority of its narrative through visuals and does so exceptionally well. This is not only because the narrative, despite its unconventional structure, never feels incoherent, but also that these aesthetically driven scenes effectively manage to convey a particular emotion to the viewer with minimal to no dialogue. The scene in which Ignat’s mother washes her hair

April - The Magdalen - Arts and Entertainment

in a crumbling room and also the iconic opening shot of the farm scene are perfect examples of this—each conveying their respective emotions of despair and nostalgia with perfect clarity.

Ultimately, however, Mirror proves to be as hard of a film to recommend as it is to talk about.

It’s an exercise in aestheticism; nothing more and nothing less. If that’s exactly what you’re looking for, then you’ll likely love it.

Others however, should probably look to other films in Tarkovsky’s library if they wish to find a more holistic experience.

«

[...] a partially fictionalised retelling of Tarkovsky’s own childhood

»

Words by Jack Loftus

21

Arts and Entertainment - The Magdalen - April December

Review: The Favourite

Towards the end of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Oscar-nominated film, The Favourite, I could feel gleeful disbelief bubbling in me- was he really going to end it here? Like that? He did, and for a moment the cinema sat in silence, before I turned to my friends and we burst out laughing. Later, rambling about it to my dad, he asked if I recommended it to him. To which I had to quickly backtrack. There are many reasons why The Favourite is a great film, but like many great films it’s not to everyone’s taste.

There’s an intense silliness to the whole thing that makes it more of an experience than anything else. Every time the camera cuts to yet another fisheye shot of an excessively coordinated room full of bewigged noblemen, harpsichord blaring in the background (I never knew how aggressive a harpsichord could sound!), you were never quite sure what to expect. It’s unmistakably comedic, mostly from the juxtaposition of court officialdom and the actual actions of the characters- Emma Stone stomping down a magnificently decadent corridor muttering, “Fuck, fuck, fuck…” has a lovely irony to it.

But Lanthimos stretches this comedy into the realm of the outright bizarre: one memorable scene involves watching a naked aristocrat get pelted with tomatoes in slow motion.

But despite being purposefully pretentious and strange in self-aware comedy, the film retains a sharp sense of direction. We follow Abigail Masham (Stone) and Lady Sarah (Weisz) as they manipulate and woo their way into Queen Anne’s (Coleman) affections. Amongst the

22

intricate sets, garishly made up male nobles and distant war with France, these ambitious women- cut out in their monochrome costumes- are the ones ruthlessly navigating the court politics. By the end of the film none of them are sympathetic, but all of them are flawed, detailed and intriguing characters. Worth noting is Olivia Coleman’s (deservedly) Oscar winning performance as Queen Anne, whose character walks the tightrope between comedy and tragedy, and swings between emotional extremes in every scene.

If you can let yourself go along with the absurd antics of the film, it becomes an entertaining break from reality with a steely undercurrent of politics, character and gender to carry you through. If not, it could be a bit like standing in the union sober, watching everyone else having the time of their life while being too embarrassed to join in.

Words by Mareth Burns, design and illustration by Emma Turbitt

December April - The Magdalen - Arts and Entertainment

How a trip to the theatre can cost you less than a night out You may think that theatre is ridiculously expensive, with tickets well out of your price range. But if you know where to look it doesn’t have to be that way.

Many theatres are encouraging young people to visit by offering some amazing deals. Take a look below and treat yourself to a night of theatre magic!

Dundee Rep: 2 for 1 student tickets on Tuesdays for select ensemble productions. Can book online, over the phone, or in person.

Capital Theatres: At all 3 venues (Festival Theatre, Kings Theatre, The Studio) you can buy £10 student standby tickets for most of the shows. These are available from 12pm on the day of the performance.

Just turn up at one of the box offices in person, and make sure you take your student ID! They also offer a 20% discount at the Festival Theatre café up to 5pm.

Donmar Warehouse: YOUNG+FREE scheme. Every year they offer thousands of free tickets to under 25s. Sign up to the mailing list and enter the ballot for tickets. Tickets usually released on the last Friday of every month for the following month’s performances.

National Theatre: Entry Pass - free membership scheme for anyone aged 16-25. For every performance a limited number of £7.50 Entry Pass tickets are available in advance. Entry Pass members can also bring a friend aged 16-25 for just £10. Access to exclusive workshops and events; 10% off café, bars, and restaurants; 10% discount in the NT bookshop.

Royal Shakespeare Company: Anyone aged 16-25 can join their free ‘RSC Key’ scheme and get £5 tickets for all their London shows, including Matilda.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: If you join tickets26, their free membership scheme for people aged 26 and under, you can get £5 tickets for all RCS shows. These can be booked in advance on the website.

Scottish Venues Scottish Opera: Under26 tickets – £5 or £10 depending on location. Offered best available seat and can book in advance.

Almeida Theatre: Under 25s can get £5 tickets for a selection of performances of each production.

These tickets go on sale ~3 weeks before previews for a production start.

Young Vic: £10 tickets for every production for full time students and people aged 25 and under.

Limited availability, so booking in advance is recommended. Wicked: Student tickets available from the box office on the day of the performance for £29.50. Best available seats.

Words by Beth MacLeod, design by Molly Porteous

23

Review: OpSoc Presents Loserville

Arts and Entertainment - The Magdalen - April December

24

Design by Molly Porteous

O

riginally created by James Bourne from Busted and composer Elliot Davis, the musical Loserville arrived in Bonar Hall early this March, presented by Dundee’s own OpSoc. Dundee University Amateur Operatic Society recently celebrated their 55th anniversary, making them the oldest society on campus, which itself perhaps is reflected in the impressive turn out at all four evenings of their show.

The story loosely based on the album Welcome to Loserville by pop-punk band Son of Dork made for an energetic performance, emphasised by powerful singing voices, bright costumes and had just the right touch of drama added to it.

Taking the audience right back to early 1970’s, the opening act reminisced of times long before social media and internet communication. Michael in the leading role, portrayed by Ross McNeil, brings back memories of high school days for especially those geeks amongst us who understood computers a little better than the rest of our classmates, but maybe at the cost of some basic social skills.

As we progressed through the show, more characters stereotypical for the school years were introduced, ensuring that each member of the audience could to some degree resonate with the stage. Feelings of representation were particularly elevated by the mastered selection and role-allocation of the cast, where the believability resulting from near-professional acting surpassed many expectations.

Two dynamic acts provide exploration of timeless themes of friendship, popularity, self-

April - The Magdalen - Arts and Entertainment

confidence, youth and love. All the while in the background persist questions about education and career building, societal expectations and pressures arising alongside scientific developments. Noticed could be even hinted comparison with today regarding progresses in tackling gender inequality, demonstrated by the ambitions of the female lead Holly to become the first woman in space.

Melodies accompanying each part were brilliantly executed by OpSoc’s live band and Bourne’s borrowed lyrics quickly got under the audience’s skin, immersing us all into the moment.

Doubtlessly in need of pointing out was also the skilled lighting management and eraappropriate digital effects.

One of the early productions of Loserville in 2012 received substantial criticism for being somewhat of a cynical attempt of fitting into the contemporary wave of mainstream musicals depicting a high school setting, while revolving around awkwardly indistinct plotlines. It presumably didn’t help that concerned West End production was heavily promoted around London with an overflow of posters beaming the slogan “Love Grease or Glee, you can’t fail to love Loserville”. This being said, OpSoc’s ever-present marketing, both campus-wide and online, seemed to achieve what it had set out for, and despite a higher-end tickets price range for being a student performance, the audience of Bonar Hall did not see an empty chair too many.

And what’s more, judging by the loud response prevailing throughout the night, it is safe to say the show was not a purchase to be regretted!

Words by Barbara Mertlova

25

Arts and Entertainment - The Magdalen - April

‘More Popular Than Disney World’: The trouble with Ted

Trailer Discussion: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile 2019 promises to be a relatively good year for film, with many beloved titles getting modern remakes, and a few interesting originals in the works as well.

However, one film due to be released over the coming months has already begun to draw a raft of controversy.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is a biographical thriller about the notorious Seventies serial killer Ted Bundy.

Watching the trailer, one might confuse it for something in the same genre as the likes of Kick Ass or Watchmen. Not a comic-book film per se, but a nonetheless fun take on an otherwise gritty and violent tale. Set to an exciting, upbeat soundtrack, the trailer offers viewers mere glimpses of violence between copious shots of Zac Efron being handsome and charming. In fact, it opens almost like a romantic comedy- Efron’s Bundy and Lily Collins’ Elizabeth Kloepfer (Bundy’s real-life girlfriend) locking eyes across a busy bar before cutting immediately to a shot of him ripping her shirt off. Cute.

The key area of controversy with the trailer comes from moments like these; be they sexy, tender, or funny. To someone unfamiliar with the Bundy name (unlikely, given the rise in popularity of true crime documentaries), this could be just another quirky, offbeat rom-com-thriller. The only hint of dread comes within the trailer’s final moments, up until that moment the unknowing viewer would have relatively little to really fear.

Other viewers fear that producers are giving Bundy what he would have wanted; a handsome Hollywood actor playing him on the big screen, years after his death (a notion eerily reiterated with Efron/Bundy’s gleeful declaration that he is “more popular than Disney World”). Bundy has long been painted as a criminal genius and the trailer appears to give further credence to this unwarranted legacy- upping the quirky charm just enough to turn a misogynistic narcissist into a sort of warped anti-hero.

Despite these criticisms, the trailer is not entirely without supporters. There are those who suggest it is deliberately misleading, as the film is based on Kloepfer’s book (which begins just as any innocent love story might, only revealing his darker side over the duration of their relationship). The film’s director Joe Berlinger describes this as a kind of “psychopathic seduction” and promises that the last thing the film is doing is glorifying him, though viewers will no doubt come to their own conclusions upon its release.

26 26

Words by Niamh Pirie, design by Neil Connor

April - December The Magdalen - The - Arts Magdalen and Entertainment - Community

R e v i e w: T h e I l l u s i o n i s t Sylvain Chomet’s 2010 film The Illusionist came about from a leftover script written by French silent comedy giant Jacques Tati. Shown as part of the DCA’s 20th Anniversary Celebration it is a film that truly comes alive on the big screen. The film is set in the 1950s, at the beginning of Rock and Roll and youth culture. It follows a stage magician in his efforts to continue performing, even as the world is moving on before his eyes. He finds himself performing in residence in Edinburgh, where most of the film is set. The way the filmmakers capture Scotland is truly breath-taking and there have been few animated films that truly evoke the atmosphere and style of the country so perfectly. He uses his act to impress a young girl he meets in the highlands, only for her to follow him to Edinburgh, believing totally in the magic she sees. It is this that gives the film it’s drive and emotional heart as we watch a young girl mature and grow throughout the film in tandem with the illusionist growing weary and run down. The film relies purely on visuals with no dialogue given to any of its characters. This greatly helps the film’s universality with no language barrier getting in the way of what is a simple and touching story.

M a g i c i a n s

The animation is a triumph with the Illusionist himself modelled after Tati and the animators deftly capture his slightly awkward size and hunched posture as well as his saddened, tired facial expression. As well as this the background environments are brought to life with an excellent eye for detail, Prince’s Street bustles with life just as much on the screen as it does today in real life, the highland’s scale and desolation draw you in and a final shot of Arthur’s Seat is truly something special.

While the film is bittersweet there is still plenty of humour to be found, a drunk Scotsman who brings The Illusionist to the Highlands and a very bad tempered Rabbit are two highlights. This mix of sadness and humour reaffirms the film’s central message, that in life things are both happy and sad, often at the same time. As we watch the Illusionist’s realisation that his days as an entertainer are over, we also watch the Girl blossom into a young woman who is ultimately ready to move past ideas of magic and move on into the wider world she has grown into.

d o

n o t

e x i s t

Words by James Kirkpatrick, design by Neil Connor

27

Community Arts and Entertainment - The Magdalen - The - December Magdalen - April

S. Craig Zahler: A Retrospective F

or a film about the hunt for savage troglodytes, S. Craig Zahler’s directorial debut Bone Tomahawk is surprisingly touching.

Richard Jenkins, known to most of us as the father from Step Brothers, gives a wonderful performance as the ‘backup deputy’ Chicory. His whimsical musings regarding the dubious authenticity of flea circuses, and the problem of reading a novel while in the bath, are a welcome counterpart to the brutal intensity of the central narrative. Kurt Russel plays Sheriff Hunt, who, alongside Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Jenkins, sets out to save local doctor Samantha from her fate at the hands of barbaric cannibals.

Zahler carefully avoids further degradation of Native Americans by making his antagonists nearly unrecognisable as humans, with a grey pallor and demonic howl. A minor appearance from Zahn McClarnon (Fargo’s Hanzee Dent) makes clear that these aren’t the usual ‘Red Indian’ stereotypes.

Bone Tomahawk takes a familiar journey and instills a fresh sense of unease into the canyons

28

Design by Renato Costa

once traversed by family-friendly cowpokes like John Wayne. What makes this film so brilliantly uncomfortable is the level of inhumanity that the audience is subjected to. There isn’t a particularly large body count, but when violence does occur, it is stark and nauseating in the best way possible.

Bone Tomahawk’s practical effects are wonderfully visceral, each bullet feels heavy, each impact carries true consequences. Unlike westerns of old, when countless extras would fall, theatrically clutching their chests, the audience feels every wound as their own.

Two years later, Zahler released Brawl in Cell Block 99, starring Vince Vaughn as a big scary bastard with cinder blocks for fists. Before the ten-minute mark, Vaughn’s Bradley Thomas has already beaten the hell out of a car, this automobile being the luckiest of his victims. Bradley is a hulking recidivist who, after being blackmailed with the death of his wife and unborn child, must smash his way through the prison system in order to reach his target in the draconian Redleaf Correctional Facility, overseen by

April - December The Magdalen - The - Arts Magdalen and Entertainment - Community

Django Unchained’s Don Johnson. Unlike in Bone Tomahawk, Zahler embraces the sillier aspects of grindhouse cinema by setting his film in a world where everybody’s bones have been replaced by celery stalks. Zahler’s camera sits still in the corner and watches from a safe distance as Bradley batters his way through various unlucky goons. Similarly effective practical effects are employed, however, some are far from convincing.

Whereas Bone Tomahawk looked excellent, with a suitably bleached palette that aptly reflected the barren, harsh landscape, Cell Block 99 is lacking somewhat. There’s an awkward blue tint over much of the film that, instead of creating any particular mood, reminds us too harshly that we’re watching a low budget movie. On the whole, Cell Block 99 is dafter than Bone Tomahawk, and as a result, these infractions can generally be overlooked. Even though both films are fairly pulpy, they manage to

pull off a fairly affecting emotional climax.

Zahler’s upcoming Dragged Across Concrete sees Vaughn return to play one half of a corrupt cop duo alongside Mel Gibson. The pair turn to criminal behaviour after being suspended for abusing a suspect, undoubtedly leading to more bonecrunching and grisly foley. One must admit that Zahler’s films are not entirely perfect, with Bone Tomahawk being clearly superior to Brawl in Cell Block 99 (not to mention the questionable diegetic tracks used in the latter). We must hope that Zahler doesn’t follow the same trajectory as Neill Blomkamp, whose output (beginning with the acclaimed District 9 and ending with the lacklustre Chappie) has seen a swift decline in quality.

Dragged Across Concrete has no specific UK release date as of yet, but is likely to be in cinemas before the end of the summer. We wait expectantly.

‘. . . each bullet feels heavy, each

impact carries true consequences’

Words by Alexander Ferrier

29

Interview - The Community - The Magdalen Magdalen - December - April

Behind the Dunfessions: An Interview with the Representative of Dunfess

Already, the fear of writing this piece is getting to me. I’m looking at everyone that walks past me.

What if I am doing something that is strange? Am I being written about on the Dunfess Facebook Page?

Probably not‌ For Dundee students and University Staff, these questions have probably waltzed through your mind. The Facebook Page, recently attracting mass attention and praise, has generated great paranoia and equal hilarity. Perhaps you like someone, but never got the chance to get to know them? Or maybe you get really irritated by a fellow library-goers taste in death metal? Do you have a shared love for a lecturer and want to know if other students feel the same?

There is now a space for you to vent your thoughts and share your stories. Although inescapable and fear inducing, Dunfess has also united groups together over a niche brand of Dundee-centric humour. Yet, as I sit nervously ensuring that I am completely by myself, I am curious to know how this humour is managed.

With over 800 published confessions and over 3000 likes at the time of writing, the Dunfess page has also attracted a degree of notoriety; with specific content from the page being regarded as cyberbullying or acceptable forms of persecution.

Just as people can share thoughts of admiration for others, much of the content can also belittle and undermine the confidence of those around them.

Although this perspective cannot generalise all the comments as slanderous, the risk this page can pose is potentially catastrophic. As to understand more about how this site keeps its head above the water whilst maintaining originality in its humour, I was fortunate to interview one of the representatives of the page.

30 30

Even before meeting, I was psychoanalysing everyone that walked past the coffee shop. Could the couple with the pram be orchestrating this page and documenting student trends? What about that traffic attendant? They look slightly suspicious, right?

As the representative arrived, I was more assured.

My initial belief that I was about to encounter a Bond villain, with a full row of golden teeth and crew of buff henchmen was swiftly quelled. After settling down and getting back into the realms of normality, we started to talk about how people responded to Dunfess. I asked about the potential harm that this page could cause, as it can be compared to similar apps like Yik Yak or Whisper, where the bullying remarks are perceived as comical.

In response, they talked about how their initial response to a campaign against Ask.fm had motivated them to create a page that could also be more considerate. They wanted to get into setting up a page to support new people coming to Dundee, as a source of good humour and insights into certain themes and trends within Dundee’s student community. Equally, they expressed awareness around how platforms like Dunfess can be used for the wrong reasons. They agreed that there was challenge to this, as they did not want the page to go down that path of making the platform an acceptable outlet for hate speech or alike.

Rather, to stay true to the motive for creating a resource for students looking to fit in, the people behind the page take active measures to edit, omit and prevent specific messages from going up on the wall.

April April -- The The Magdalen Magdalen -- Community Community

Where they can mitigate potentially toxic remarks, which was something that confessional predecessor platforms either cared less for or couldn’t control easily, they reminded me that people who submit anonymous posts to the page are also anonymised.

Their IP addresses are not picked up and personal information is not disclosed to the page.

While the representative assured that this is essential to protect submitters, they expressed that this anonymity would also prevent Dunfess from being able to reach out and signpost submitters who are struggling. They mentioned how they will receive messages frequently that raise a cause for concern, however, because of the anonymity, they cannot be held accountable. To address this, from the inception of the Facebook Page, Dunfess has established that the page is not the same as a support service. Dunfess cannot replace these roles and states a set of rules as to what will be posted.

Additionally, in response to the concerns raised by the student community, they posted a pinned link to where people can find support for being heard.

Dunfess explained that this regularly comes up and it is one of downsides when trying to mediate content. A lot of people will also repeatedly send the same stuff in, even when it hasn’t been published, in an attempt to get something up. They emphasised that content would be omitted if submissions were repetitive, hateful, a vendetta or were lacking in humour (such as an attempt at humour but perhaps so personal that the community would be confused by the intended joke). It is a hard process to manage, as they explained that researching into the nuisances of each joke is time consuming. They will look into past comments frequently and will gauge specific trends, as to determine the relevance of submissions to the community. The page was designed not to be about fulfilling individual satisfaction, but more focused on covering what students as a whole found important.

Where the page could easily be used for the benefit of those who created Dunfess (as it could be an outlet for personal bragging or pride), the representative expressed that the page would only work if it benefited the student community.

While I was assured that Dunfess was considerate of their community, I was curious to know more about the criteria that they work by, as Dunfess has the power to decide what is and isn’t posted.

Understandably, there are concerns around how this works, as people expressed on the page how embarrassing it would be to not be “funny enough” to be published.

31 31

Community - The Magdalen - April

In remarks to the page being used as a marketing ploy, the spokesperson laughed about how the community initially saw Dunfess as a creative advertising strategy from OPSOC (the first post being a response to their promotion of their production “Loserville”). It was no surprise that there were rumours as to whether Dunfess was created as a sidearm to DUSA’s student-oriented marketing strategy. While the spokesperson said that this would make sense, Dunfess wasn’t designed to be used this way and actively prevents businesses from bluntly advertising on the page. It is not uncommon for student-confession pages to comply with businesses (with larger pages in the UK being able to make a lot from potential deals), the stance taken

by Dunfess is that it is meant to be guided by public interest and aimed to benefit the community. If there is a problem with how a business markets an item or event and students pick up on that, then the page acts as a way for customers to interact with business through presenting such criticisms.

The spokesperson emphasised that not all critical comments are intended to cause harm, with many of the targeted victims expressing humour around how they were ‘called out’. In the instance of objectification, the representatives of the page pay close attention to when posts are harmful and will be responsive to the community if people identify comments that are targeted.

Aside from the more toxic remarks, for student bodies, this page operates as free advertising for many societies, with people recognising, interacting and discovering the existence of groups in Dundee.

It’s explorative and can allow for communities to be represented (with the spokesperson expressing satisfaction with the many well nuanced Northern Irish submissions that raise awareness of Dundee’s unique student makeup).

As they explained, if there was a particular concern around the way that a business is run or a flaw with student services and academia, then it is within their interest to keep posts up and not remove posts that are major concerns for students. Where this may have previously opened up further controversy, the platform invites staff and the University to explore the issues that are presented. Rather than letting an issue go silent, the page serves as a way for voices to be heard.

Rather than letting an issue go silent, the page serves as a way for voices to be heard.

With the expectation to be representative, there becomes a commitment to look out for posts that may persecute or offend people. I asked about how Dunfess can challenge the themes that may be harmful: the unwanted sexual objectification of students and/or university staff, the conflicts between different sporting societies and the classic relationship between Abertay and Dundee students.

Simply, a lot of comments can be very mean.

32 32

Words by Alastair Letch

April April -- The The Magdalen Magdalen -- Community Community

In monitoring the page, this burden is not taken on lightly. As the page is managed by a very small team, the demand to be consistent whilst entertaining is an added stress on top of academic life. Between exploring into current themes on the page, scheduling posts and responding to people’s concerns, the process is very time consuming.

Although the call out for more moderators is evident of the pressure Dunfess is put under, there was also a degree of satisfaction with what has been created. They are responsible for a community of users whilst remaining out of the spotlight. They never expected to see the page grow to what it has become and are fully accepting of the page potentially dying off in 6 months’ time. However, for now and the immediate future, they are proud of what the page is capable of and look forward to seeing how things pan out.

Design by Leah Cameron, photography by Olivia Graham

33 33

Current Affairs - The Magdalen - April

Are You the Sound Girl?

How do we value and perceive work experience students?

You sit and fidget in front of your mirror. Hair up or down? Do I try to look my age or do I try to look older? Each item of clothing is carefully picked out.

You want to look capable. Like an adult. An errant thought runs through your head as you look at your dress: “Is this too feminine? Is this too soft?”. When I step into that office will they see a girl playing dress up or a woman acting the part? Acting like she belongs.

For many women, this experience will be a familiar one. The struggle in finding the balance in being assertive and being perceived as bitchy, the struggle in knowing that to some, any sort of obvious femininity is a sign of weakness and subservience. It is certainly not my intention to say that all women think this way, but I do believe that most, if not all, are aware of at least how others can hold true to those attitudes. You in yourself might not care how

34 34

Words by Mary Erin Kinch

your assertiveness is perceived, but you recognise that misconception and stereotyping is a likely possibility.

In the professional sphere, this experience can vary. However, during work experience placements specifically, there are a myriad of problems. Firstly, there is the unfortunately common belief that students on placement are simply there as free labour and can be handed off to deal with all the unpleasant tasks that not only won’t let them learn anything, but set a dangerous precedent for said student on how they value themselves and how they could value others in future. Obviously, if a student is there on work experience they will not have the training or experience of the professional staff. That’s the point. They are there to learn, observe and quite possibly contribute to what will hopefully be their future industry. How are any

April April -- The The Magdalen Magdalen -- Current Current Affairs Affairs

industries supposed to develop and evolve for the next generation if the current generation are either not able to undertake placements at all or if said placements are not in any way helpful?

There is a culture developing in society in which the value we assign to people and to their work is becoming twisted. Not only are we having to work harder for less, but that which is being classed as “valued work and experience” is becoming less attainable and more superficial. We hear horror stories of unpaid internships, scrambles for graduate jobs that pay minimum wage, the neverending cycle of automated rejection emails and the frustrating requirement for “at least a year’s experience”. It’s a vicious trap to be caught in. You want a job, they tell you that you need experience.

You go to work somewhere different for said experience, they tell you that you need experience to work for them. You go to another place, they say they can offer you something on a volunteer basis.

That’s great, isn’t it? If only rent and bills could be done on a volunteer basis.

This reporter has had her own good and bad experiences during professional placements.

Strangely, they were both in one placement together. Specifically, my worries regarding the gender balance of the office. However, there was actually only one male reporter there and despite spending a fair amount of time on my placement shadowing him, I never felt like I was treated anything less than an equal. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for all those we interviewed. Whilst being introduced to a local councillor, I was standing in between the cameraman and the reporter, holding the boom mic. During the introductions, I was looked up and down then skipped over by him. I wasn’t just invisible, because he had noticed me, I was irrelevant. Well, my manners and pride would not allow me to let this pass so, I introduced myself. The councillor seemed very surprised I was able to form a coherent sentence. His response to my introduction was to ask if I was “the sound girl”. First of all, any person who is working in a newsroom is clearly not a child. Take away the gender specification from that and you have someone, a local councillor, asking if a young woman holding sound recording equipment for a national news organisation is a child. Secondly, I find it very hard to believe I would have been called “the sound boy” if I were a man. Chances are I wouldn’t have.

Design and Illustrations by Cait Maxwell

35 35

Current Affairs - The Magdalen - April

had to make a point to introduce myself in the first place. When I did tell him my reason for being there, again, he seemed shocked. What is so shocking about young adults carrying out work experience?

Or perhaps young women? If elected members of government cannot conceive that young women have the ambition and drive to forge a career in any industry, but particularly a traditionally maledominated one, what does that say about them?

About our government and how they value the younger proportion of the electorate?

Thankfully, that interaction was not representative of my entire placement. On my last day, there was a shortage of staff and it turned out that the only person available to carry out two interviews was me. I was privileged to hear the producer of the day argue on my behalf,

36 36

telling her boss that I was not just a work experience student but that I was a fully competent adult and that I should be treated as such.

That more than anything else taught me where our problems as a society lie. We place value on what it says on a piece of paper, on a grade transcript, over actual human interaction and experience. We have adults working with preconceived notions that they make no effort to change, and we also have adults who see the value in the person before all else.

Often, it is only when you see it done right, that you begin to understand how wrong it had been up until then.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur?

December Magdalen - Current Affairs Got an- The idea?

Student Team

Come & speak to our student team!

#ThinkAskAct

Denny

Stephanie

Daniella

Ryan

Ethan

Joana

Location

Contact Us

Follow Us

Unit A, Heathfield, Old Hawkhill, Dundee DD1 5EN

entrepreneurship@dundee.ac.uk www.dundee.ac.uk/entrepreneurship

@UoDEnterprise

37

Fashion Affairs Current - The Magdalen - The Magdalen - December - April

It Isn’t By Occident Questioning the culture and impact of coloniser-centric academic discourse and steps we can take to shift and expand our frame of reference.

Are you proud of the British Empire?

Britain’s global dominance, then it probably isn’t worth the BBC’s time.

This is likely to be one of the most divisive questions in Britain today. Conservatives and traditionalists aside, even the most ostensibly progressive people you encounter, it affects us all. Those that may support minority rights, wealth redistribution and equality in all forms will often still feel unable to complete the leftist sweep by denouncing the legacy of Empire. In one of the strongest undercurrents of British nationalism, it seems almost everyone at some level feels a sense of inflated self-worth that it was our country that brought more territory under control of one government than any other in history.

The legacy of Empire of course, does not only concern the British.

The Imperial Age has left us with relics that perpetuate a Eurocentric world view. From the distortion on our world maps that makes Britain appear the same size as Madagascar despite the latter being over twice as large, to the notions of what should be considered a “developed” and “developing” economy, and most influentially, the global dominance of European languages.

It is this sort of nationalism that fuels so much of the media that we are exposed to, and have always been exposed to, because there’s seemingly a guaranteed audience for it. If our screens aren’t filled with Jeremy Paxman waxing lyrically about the mighty benevolence of the British Raj, or yet another adaptation of a Bronte/Austin classic romanticising the age of

38

Words by Rory Bannerman

Specifically within the realms of Academia though, there have been calls recently to “decolonise” the curriculum; but what exactly does this constitute? It first made news when SOAS in London declared it was pursuing this policy and was followed swiftly by tabloid hysteria spreading the idea that the institution was going to erase the contribution of western philosophers in some sort of vendetta. In reality, it aimed at introducing a more culturally diverse curriculum in courses such as philosophy, so that they weren’t entirely dominated

by Plato, Nietzsche and other Europeans. Which, given that SOAS stands for the School of Oriental and African Studies, only begs the question -why wasn’t this already the case?

“Decolonising the curriculum” also featured in the manifesto of the newly elected President of the School of Humanities at Dundee. It will be interesting to see what change this bring about. For one, this writer has always been impressed by the globally balanced narratives that are provided by Humanities lecturers at this University. The recent introduction of a range of new modules such as ‘The African Novel’ for 3rd year English students, and the 2nd Year History module ‘Imperialism and Decolonisation’ have already helped widen the scope of cultural perspectives available in the MA programme.

I believe a fantastic example of how properly contextualising Empire can be done well comes with the first history module that students at Dundee encounter: The Rise of Atlantic Empires. It may at first glance sound like a very Eurocentric course and granted, taught elsewhere, it may well have been. Yet, its

Designed by Helena Lindsay

April - The Magdalen - Current Affairs

success lies in the context which surrounds the exploits of Columbus, Cortes and Raleigh.

It provides a view of the Atlantic World as a whole of the African Empires of Mali and Zimbabwe, the ruins of the latter believed

by Europeans who discovered them to be the work of ancient Greeks, so ingrained were their notions of cultural superiority. It explores the Age of Colonisation being provoked bythe Ottoman Empire shutting down the silk roads, spurring Europeans to find a new route to the markets of India and China, so intertwined was Eurasian trade.

Further discussed is how the major reason behind European Powers being able to dominate the Americas was not so much having superior technology or Indian submissiveness to a superior culture, but rather to 95% of Native Americans dying of European disease.

In one of the most underrated lecture slides, though one that certainly stuck with me,

there is an overview of the relationship between Empire and Environment. That the temperate climates of Europe and China make it far easier for complex civilisations to develop than in the heat, disease and dense terrain and of Sub-Saharan Africa, Amazonian America and Southeast-Asia, and that despite this, many have succeeded. If this contextualisation was more widespread, then this would go so far to undermine dangerous ideas of inherent European (or indeed Chinese) cultural, societal or racial superiority.

I would hope efforts to expand “decolonising the curriculum� would involve following this model. To remove or sideline European history, literature, philosophy and culture would ignore the issues rather than treat them. It is far better to provide a well-rounded context that protects against dangerous narratives, and to teach a diverse syllabus that provides useful insight to the world beyond the Mediterranean.

Design by Helena Lindsay

39

Fashion - The Magdalen - April December

Dee.garms: The Street Style Instagram You Need to Follow Dee.garms is a new street style Instagram account run by six DJCAD students; Taylor Dewar (@taylor_dewar), Lewis Kennedy (@Lewiskennedy1), Jessie Delatousche (@delalat), Ben Morris (@benmorris1998), Justine Matthew (@its_a_small_town_) and Kirsten Cronie (@_kronie_). I sat down with one of the founding members, Taylor, to talk about the inspiration behind the page, fashion in Dundee, and to learn how Magdalen readers can get involved‌

40

April - The Magdalen - Fashion

Tell us about Dee.garms!

Dee.garms is an Instagram page specifically for the style of Dundee. The way we word it is that Dundee is the city of design, but you never actually get to see the people who make the city. So, we wanted to create an Instagram to show everybody what the style of Dundee is.

What is the aim of the account?

The main aim of the account is to get people talking about the style of Dundee, and to see what people are wearing. That’s why we started doing these little questions in the captions, like ‘how would you describe your style?’, ‘what’s the best part of your outfit?’, and ‘how did you pick your outfit today?’, because some of the answers are quite funny! If you look at Jessie’s caption, she says, ‘I picked these trousers because I didn’t want to shave my legs today, but they’re my favourite trousers as well.’

It’s about bringing a bit of humour and showing the people of Dundee. It’s also for our dissertation module where we had to make an Instagram, so our other main aim is to get people involved.

What made you start the page, and what was your inspiration?

Our main inspiration was that a lot of us are interested in fashion, but there’s not a lot of street style in Dundee. But there is a style to Dundee. You have people in Glasgow and Edinburgh doing these street style accounts, but there’s none here. We did find one, but it hadn’t been active for about three years, so we thought we’d start our own. We’ve got a lot of coverage of it already, so it’s obvious that it was needed.

Is the account only aimed towards students?

At the moment it’s mostly student based because a lot of the people featured are our friends. We never realised that taking photos of people is awkward!

But the page is for everybody. We’ve been trying to find a trendy old person for a very long time now!

Right now, the page has introductory photos, but what can we expect to see from now on?

The first six posts were the team, so these are the people that run the account and do the design.

From now on, it’s going to be the real people of Dundee. We’ve got couples, we’ve got people that we just met on the street, and we’ve got business owners as well. Also, we’re trying to grow that little community to make it go further.

The captions feature the people photographed sharing why they chose to wear that outfit. Why was this important for you to include?

It was important for us to include because we wanted to create a personal connection with the person who is looking at the Instagram. But it is also to show what Dundee is as a personality. When we started the account and people were asked, ‘why did you pick this outfit?’ and the answer was ‘Because it’s the only clean clothes I had to wear,’ we thought that was funny and it makes the page less formal. We found a lot of the style accounts that we were looking at were very glossy and perfected, whereas Dundee isn’t that. Dundee is kind of gritty and we wanted to emulate that in the captions and the photos.

What do you think it is about Dundee that lends itself to such great fashion?

I think because it’s made up of all different people.

Dundee is such an international city. There are so many different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds.

There are also many different shops, like Arkive, CARTOCON, and the general high street. But because there’s not a great high street in Dundee, a lot of people go elsewhere to places like Depop or buy in bigger cities like Glasgow. We want to promote these businesses that not a lot of

41

International Fashion - The-Magdalen The Magdalen - April - December

people hear of. There’s the art school here, the university, and then there’s all these different companies that have different styles and ideas, so we’re trying to focus on that, rather than saying that we’re the most stylish city ever.

How can Magdalen readers get involved?

You can get involved by following our Instagram at @dee.garms or you can use the hashtag #OOTDEE. You can also message us on Instagram, and we can come with our cameras and take photos of you!

What are your thoughts on defining personal style?

I think a personal style can change, and a lot of times you don’t need to define it. However, from a designer’s perspective, we’ve learned that a personal style emulates you as a designer.

Obviously, you’re told a lot of the time that you dress for the job that you want. For instance, I only stick to the same three colours and I don’t really do anything else. But there’s a lot of people that we’ve asked who say that it depends on the day, and that’s the kind of thing that we want to get across. There are different types of people, and different types of style, so when we ask people to describe their style, it’s not that that’s you all the time – it’s you on that current day. Eventually we’re wanting people that have described their style to us to do another post maybe a month later where they’ll be wearing something completely different, just to show that style is completely fluid and that it’s not a straight path.

42

Would you say you have learned anything from the process?

Fashion photography is very difficult! It is so hard to capture what you’re seeing. There have been a lot of times where we’ve had someone wearing many layers, and those layers make the outfit, but it’s so hard to get that on camera. And people actually hate to get their photos taken! I know we’re the generation of selfies, but people crumble taking photos. You get some people who are completely fine with it, and then people who take one shot and that’s it. But I’ve learned that Dundee people are the nicest people. We’ve spoken to loads of people who aren’t students, or people we don’t know, and they’ve been so up for chatting with us and getting to know us and what we’re doing. I’ve learned a lot from that, that there’s no fear in asking.

Design by Olivia Sharkey, photography by Dee.garms

December April - The-Magdalen The Magdalen - International - Fashion

I think a personal style can change, and a lot of times you don’t need to define it.

Do you have any advice for people struggling with personal style?

Just do what you want! I struggled with what other people think of me, but now I’m surrounded by people who literally do not care, and that has pushed me more than anything. I think for inspiration, try not to just look at designers and fashion people, but look at art for inspiration, at sculpture and architecture, because that’s sometimes where you find something that you really, really like. I know for a lot of my friends, it’s more about comfort, so dress in whatever you feel comfortable in. Lewis put it quite well in his caption where he said, ‘I wore this green shirt because I don’t want to just be monochrome,’ and I really like that. I think it’s quite cute that even just wearing a bit of green is pushing the boat out for him. I think that’s something that everyone should take into consideration.

Would you say that the internet and social media is a bigger inspiration now, rather than street style or traditional media?

Yeah, definitely. There have been so many things for me, especially Asian street style, shapes that I never even thought would suit me. Seeing it on other people gives me that boost of confidence to do it. A lot of people we’ve spoken to have said that. They said they’d seen this on someone and decided that they want to try it. I think it’s also pushed people outside of their box, because

it’s very hard to be original now. People wear mental things to get out of that box, and I love that. I love seeing people wearing colours and textures that I would never even think about pairing together. I think Instagram has been one of the main outputs for that, and you can see how people are changing up the style industry.

And finally, is there anything else you would like our readers to know about?

Jessie wanted me to share that we should all start thinking ethically about fashion. It’s extremely difficult in Dundee, and I think that we don’t know where our clothes are coming from is something that should be pushed. Dundee used to home the jute industry, it used to make all our clothes, and now I can’t think of anywhere that has clothes that are only from Dundee. I think if anybody could start making Dundee fashion, that would be great!

The V&A have started doing sewing classes, and remake classes, and I think that should be pushed more, especially towards students, because we are going to be the new world. I know that’s so cheesy to say, but I think teaching us now is going to create such a change in the future!

Thank you to Taylor for chatting to me about all things fashion! If you would like to get involved with Dee.garms then visit @dee.garms and send them a message, or hashtag #OOTDEE. Words by Emily Fletcher

43

International - The Magdalen - April

44

Design by Lisa Dyer

December April - The Magdalen - International

Most people are in the pursuit of happiness.

Are you one of them?

If so, this article might be just what you need in order to get some answers and take the right first step in the direction towards this goal. And who knows, maybe one day you are going to look back and think – “This was the article that changed my perception of material things, experience, and helped shape my beliefs into the way they are today”. Then again, you might disagree with me and not even think twice about it. I guess only time will show.

The general consensus in the world is that happiness is the best indicator of health in a person. There is also a common agreement amongst people that money, to a large extent, doesn’t matter and that it cannot buy you happiness. This is not entirely untrue. In the grand scheme of things, money is irrelevant as you will not take a dime with you when you die. However, it can vastly improve the quality of the life you are living. What is of great importance is how you spend them.

Our brains work in a peculiar way. They push us to create a very logical assumption that if we buy a physical object, because it lasts for a longer time than a one-time experience, such as, a concert or vacation, it will make us happier. However, happiness over material things quickly fades. The excitement we get from that new phone, computer or clothes, quickly vanishes into the background as we get accustomed to the objects in our daily lives. I remember the time when I really wanted a new

computer. I had waited for years and when my parents finally managed to save a buck and buy me that new computer, I quickly came in to the realisation that I was not as happy as I thought I would be. Moreover, few days after that, I have forgotten there was something new to begin with.

On the other hand, lately, I have been thinking a lot about the times in my life when I was really happy. Fortunately, none of them are related to something material. Despite being short, the holiday that I had over the last summer was one of the highlights of my year. The amount of joy I have experienced during those three days was far greater than the phone I had bought for myself few days prior.

This is a testimonial that not only are experiences more lasting, but they are also more memorable.

While they are designed to be fleeting, they provide a high level of arousal and memorability due to the anticipation factor. The simplest example of that is going to a concert. I am a big fan of Linkin Park. A few years back, I heard that they were coming to my home town, so I marked my calendar not only for the date of the show, but also for when the tickets go on sale. I remember the excitement I was going through while awaiting the purchasing of the ticket and then going to the show after I had secured a spot. Attending this show was an entire experience and not only a singular moment.

moved to Scotland, I was quick to realise the pros and cons of living here. I was sure that the nature in my home country was the most beautiful thing in the world, but a trip through the Highlands made me realise that even though Bulgaria is always going to be the most beautiful country to me, there are places out in the world that can rival that beauty.

Furthermore, I have experienced the cultural differences between the two countries. And even though I often do not agree with some points of view around here, they taught me how to be more thoughtful, compassionate and humble.

You can really like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is connected to those things, but nonetheless they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are a part of you. We are the sum total of our individual experiences.

Unlike material possessions, experiences can introduce you to a new perspective, life lessons and the importance of gratitude.

Take moving to another country, for example. Up until when I was 19, I had lived in Bulgaria. When I

Words by Georgi Koichev

45

Recipe - The Magdalen - April

Vegan BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Perfect for wraps, on top of pizza and homemade bao buns!

Ingredients 1 tbsp vegetable oil● 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 tsp ground cinnamon● 1 tsp cumin seeds● 2 tsp smoked paprika● 2 tsp Tabasco 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar● 4 tbsp BBQ sauce 200g can chopped tomato 2 x 400g cans young jackfruit in salted water

Method 1. Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onion until very soft, for around 10-12 mins. Add the cinnamon, cumin and paprika to the onions and cook for a further 2-3 mins. Next add the Tabasco, vinegar and bbq sauce and mix well before adding in the tomato,the drained jackfruit and 200ml water. Leave to simmer gently, covered, for 30mins

46

Words by Taylor Dewar

stirring every 5-10 mins to help break down the jackfruit, then take the lid off and cook a further 10 minutes.

2. Once cooked, use a fork to make sure all of the jackfruit is well shredded. Check seasoning and add another tbsp of BBQ sauce if necessary for extra stickiness.

December -April The Magdalen - The Magdalen - International - Recipe

Design by Ellen Chestnutt

47

International Lifestyle - The- Magdalen The Magdalen - April - December

48 48

Words by Andrew Forbes

DecemberApril - The- Magdalen The Magdalen - International - Lifestyle

The V&A Museum of Design emerged as part of the £1bn regeneration programme for Dundee’s derelict waterfront. Having taken 10 years of planning, and controversially costing £80 million, great waves of anticipation were generated in the local area prior to its opening on the 18thSeptember 2018. Seven months on, it is relevant to assess whether or not the V&A has managed to fulfil the hopes of having a positive, far reaching impact in the local area.

Aesthetically speaking, there can be no dispute about the visual impact of the building. Kengo Kuma (the architect for the V&A) stated that the building’s inspiration came from the cliffs that are present along Scotland’s north eastern coastline.

When visiting the museum, I overheard tourists referring to the building as resembling something from Star Wars. Whether one grasps the buildings relation to nature -or rather envisages a star-ship -on first glance of the structure is irrelevant. One thing is clear; the design is original, impressive and eye-catching. The positioning of The Discovery (the ship which Scott and Shackleton took on their first expedition to Antarctica) alongside the V&A landmark, ensures that the waterfront dazzles any passers-by with its visual beauty and rich history.

The large investment was not made with the sole intention of aesthetic pleasure for those visiting the museum. The project has seen success in creating a number of new jobs for those in the local community. During the V&A’s construction, local subcontractors were employed and32 staff have been employed within the building for the purposes of security, catering and to ensure the day to day running of the vicinity. The museum has had a knock-on effect for local businesses too. A number of local restaurants and cafés carried out renovations, and employed more staff, in order to meet the anticipated rise in demand that would come with the masses travelling to Dundee.

The continual success of the V&A will be determined by whether or not it can manage to maintain the same level ofattraction for visitors that it has had since opening. It was predicted that the V&A would reach 500,000 visitors within its first year of operation. Only three weeks after its doors opened for the first time, the V&A reached the 100,000 mark for visitors. Furthermore, The Courier reported that by late November over 250,000 people had visited the alluring landmark. These statistics show that in this sense expectations have been surpassed, and many of the articles you can find online are

filled with praise for the international appeal the building has drawn to Dundee’s waterfront.

The local economy has had other benefits from the V&A’s establishment. Dundee Heritage Trust have noted that the gift shop at Discovery Point has experienced close to a 70% increase in sales since the V&A’s arrival. Moreover, the DCA has acknowledged an increase in visits to the building, along with a rise in gallery attendance, since the museum opened to the public. These are just two examples out of many that could be given.

Thevarious restaurants, cafés and shops present along, and nearby, the waterfront will also have felt the benefits at the sudden surge of tourists in the area who find themselves in need of service.

However, with only seven months having passed, now is not the time to be complacent. Towards the end of last year, Tara Wainwright -the marketing and audience’s manager for the V&A -spoke of collaborating with partners to promote a number of local events in the building to sustain the interest of the wider public. Curiosity had me reading through the Trip Advisor web-page reviews written by those who had visited the V&A. It appeared that change is necessary to ensure that the boom experienced in the first few months of the V&A’s opening is maintained.

The online reviews expressed concern for the underwhelming feeling the exhibitions had, with complaints focused towards the lack of variety in the museums displays. The café had also received ridicule for being extortionate and for its use of plastic cutlery. While the visual impact of the building earned nothing but praise, the exhibitions and inner functions of the building resulted in the average rating for the experience being a Very Average ‘3/5’. These complaints must be addressed promptly if success is to be sustained.

The museum’s purpose is to regenerate Dundee’s waterfront, and this will be achieved if the building can continue to attract visitors with a combination of intriguing exhibitions and exciting events.

Overall, the V&A has managed to exceed its expectations in a number of areas that have been previously discussed. Given the large amount already invested in the museum, and with there still being a great interest for the site, I have little doubt that if the exhibitions are developed and adapted to the needs of the public that the V&A (and consequently Dundee) will thrive for years to come.

Design by Betty Boo Onion

49 49

Lifestyle - The Magdalen - April December

Egg-cellent

Easter Treats

As Spring approaches there is often the idyllic image painted of daffodils blooming, lambs bleating, longer nights and warmer temperatures.

However, with exams looming on the horizon, the student life at this time is not so perfect. Although our nights are long, they are spent in the silent section of the library, dreaming of summer freedom.

Nevertheless, we should appreciate this wonderful time of year, and what better way to do so than enjoying some of the tasty recipes Easter has to offer. After all, Robin Williams did say “Spring is nature’s way of saying let’s party”.

Here are some super quick and easy Easter inspired recipes that will make you a very popular flatmate at this time of year.

Shredded Easter Nests Ingredients: • • • •

200g of milk chocolate broken into pieces 85g of crushed shredded wheat 2 x 100g bags mini chocolate eggs (Cupcake cases)

Method: 1. Melt the chocolate in a small bowl placed over a pan of barely simmering water. Once melted, pour the chocolate over the shredded wheat and stir well to combine.

2. Once combined, spoon the chocolate wheat into 12 cupcake cases and press the back of a teaspoon in the centre to create a nest shape. Place 3 mini chocolate eggs on top of each nest. Chill the nests in the fridge for 2 hours until set.

You can use any type of chocolate for the decoration on top, so do not feel limited to mini eggs!

50 50

Words by Kirsty Cameron

April - The Magdalen - Lifestyle

Crème Egg Brownies Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

200g Dark Chocolate 200g Unsalted Butter 3 Large Eggs 275g Caster Sugar 90g Plain Flour 35g Cocoa Powder 1 pack mini crème eggs, halved 6 standard crème eggs, halved

Method: 1. Preheat your oven to 180C/160C fan and line a 9” x 9” square baking tray or oven proof dish with greaseproof paper. Alternatively, grease your dish then lightly dust it with an evenlayer of plain flour, there should be no excess flour sitting in the dish.

2. Melt together the butter and dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of boiling water, or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until melted –being careful it doesn’t burn! Leave to the side to cool to room temperature.

3. Using an electric whisk or hand whisk, whisk together the eggs & caster sugar for a few minutes until the colour has turned pale, is very mousse like, and is double the original volume of the

amount of eggs and sugar. You will know it is done because when you lift the whisk up out of the mix it should leave a trail for a couple of seconds before disappearing.

4. Once whisked, pour the cooled chocolate and butter mix over the eggs and fold together carefully.

It might take some time but be patient –you don’t want to knock out the air you made up on the previous step.

5. Once completely combined, sift the cocoa powder and plain flour on top of the chocolate mix and then fold together again –still being careful to not knock out the air!

6. Once combined well, fold through the halved mini crème eggs and pour the mixture into your prepared tin and even it out with a spatula.

7. Place the halved crème eggs on top as you like and bake the brownies in the oven for 30-40 minutes. The brownies will be ready when a fork comes out nearly clean from the middle of the brownies. Do not be scared if you think they are not ready, they will firm up once they have been left to cool in the tin.

You can swap the crème eggs for caramel or Oreo eggs, or if you are feeling adventurous you can use a combination!

Design and Illustrations by Cait Maxwell

51 51

Lifestyle - The Magdalen - April

THE DUNDEE EXPERIENCE

‘I’m happy to say I will leave Dundee Uni not only with a degree, but with so much more’.

Two years ago when I came to the University of Dundee, I did so to obtain a law degree. And while I am on track (hopefully) to do just that, I have gotten so much more out of my time here than an understanding of Donoghue v Stevenson, a grasp of some EU treaties, and a few more letters after my name. Don’t get me wrong, the legal education has been top class, and it was only slightly surprising to see Dundee ranked by the Guardian as the third best law school in the UK behind Oxford and Cambridge, two schools that had a few hundred years of a head start.

But it’s the things I have done in addition to my studies that have made my Dundee experience so rewarding. Living in a new city for the first time and being a mature-ish student at 25, it would have been easy to just shuffle to and from class and not

52

Words by Rory Mellis

get too involved with campus life. Fortunately, that’s not what I did.

The uni of course has no shortage of sports, societies, and activities to get involved with. I joined the rugby club, knowing from experience that his was one of the best ways to make pals over a couple of civilised lemonades on a Wednesday night. Having played before I became a semicompetent part of the squad but, being in a new place, I also wanted to have a go at something I’d never done before. I picked squash. I was pretty terrible, but it was a fun club to be part of thanks largely to a very engaging committee (I was chuffed to see the club captain elected sports union president a year and a half later).

Most importantly, within a few weeks of arriving I had managed to track down a collection of

April - The Magdalen - Lifestyle

similarly mature-ish students on my course. This group would go on to just about keep me sane through some long library sessions and stressful exam diets, and we’ve had some fun times together too. I realised recently, as four of us were enjoying OpSoc’s excellent production of Loserville together, in which the fifth of us was starring, that I can confidently (if somewhat cornily) say we will be lifelong friends.

In terms of the friendshipsI developed in that first year, it was also a strange experience to get to know plenty of recent school leavers who would sometimes look to me for guidance and advice under the laughable impression that at 25 I was a proper grown-up who knew what was going on. Needless to say, as we approach the end of our second year this illusion has been shattered.

Going on to my second year I got more involved in the clubs and societies that had been so welcoming and provided so much enjoyment in my first year. I found myself on the committees of the Dundee University Law Society (DULS) and the University Rugby Club as external trips coordinator and 1stXV vice-captain respectively.

This was the kind of extra activity we are told looks great on applications for graduate jobs, and I was keen to get an edge in the competitive field. At times it felt like I had taken on more than I could handle, and I came close to breakdowns in the library on a couple of occasions. However, I have just about managed to hold down these positions without an adverse effect to my academic performance, and my involvement with both committees led to some incredible moments. Due to the

rugby club having a captain that is more injury prone than Michael Owen, I had the opportunity to lead the teamout on a couple of occasions, most notably in a famous league win away over St Andrews (there is no better feeling!). On the DULS side I had the pleasure of being involved in the Law Ball at Dunkeld House Hotel, which was without doubt one of the most enjoyable weekends of my life (what I can remember of it that is).

It has also been an incredible two years to live in the city of Dundee. Seeing the regeneration of the waterfront and the official opening of the V&A has been a pleasure. It has been a fun and friendly place to learn and study.

I’m not quite there yet, but I’m happy to say I will leave Dundee Uni not only with a degree, but with so much more.

Design by Rachel Park

53

Opinions - The Magdalen - April

A LETTER TO THE JAKES OF THE WORLD We all know a Jake. There’s been a Jake in every P.E. class I have ever had. He can be most commonly found in the comments of your Instagram posts, he pops up on your girl nights out but his favourite stalking ground is the unsuspecting privacy of your DMs. It’s basically a fact of life, an uncomfortable reality that as girls we just accept. Since what would be the alternative? Do we call out every single Jake in the world? Do we try and correct their ignorant and primitive ways? Would they even listen if we did? Even the concept sounds exhausting.

I came across this particular Jake when my friends and I relaunched the university’s Feminist Society earlier this year. I have always been a feminist, even if I haven’t always felt comfortable labelling myself under such a divisive term. Our society dilutes its meaning, degrades the real message by branding modern day feminists as ‘man-hating’, ‘prudish’ or my personal favourite ‘feminazis’. It’s ludicrous to me that someone who is fighting for equal rights for both genders can even be put in the same sentence as someone who preaches about an Aryan master race.

Whether I used the term or not, I have unconsciously lived by feminist values, by the belief of both equal opportunity and rights regardless of gender for as long as I can remember. It has been my own personal mantra since I was a child, learning it by heart alongside my times table. I grew up blissfully unaware of misogyny and chauvinistic behaviour, I never felt disadvantaged or that I couldn’t do anything simply because I was a girl. My parents always told me I could be anything I wanted to be which just simply happened to be Belle from

54

Words by Rebecca Carey

Beauty and the Beast for the longest time. Now that I have mostly accepted that I am unlikely to become a Disney princess anytime soon, I see the world a little more clearly. Sexism isn’t always as obvious as you might think and sometimes it rears its ugly head in the most unlikely places. Don’t believe me? Just look at Laura Bate’s Everyday Sexism Project and see for yourself.

While I have treasured these values my whole life, I haven’t always acted on them. When we saw that the society was disbanding, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to practise what I preached.

It was really exciting taking over a society, especially since until that point my involvement in university, out-with my studies, had been limited. Within a couple of weeks, we were up and running- a brand new committee, with almost 40 members- bouncing ideas off each other. We had big plans - lots of mind maps - but nothing that I would say that was particularly radical. No bra burning in sight! This is why Jake’s message came as such a surprise.

At that point, we had simply introduced our new committee. How offensive can a picture and someone’s favourite food be anyway? Apparently, it was enough. At this point, it didn’t matter what we said or did, it was unlikely he had read anything on the page anyway. It was simply the fact that we, as women, had chosen to be visible, associate ourselves with an idea that he didn’t agree with and have the arrogance to exist out in the open.

The shame!

As a society, we debated our response. We deliberated even answering at all. We didn’t want to give him a platform for his misogynistic ideas,

April - The Magdalen - Opinions

expose the committee to any unnecessary harm or insult and we did not want to give him any of the attention that he so clearly craved. The problem is, we just couldn’t let it go. We were angry and hurt, we hadn’t even had a chance to run an event without becoming targets. It didn’t seem fair to let him get away with it. Joke or not, these kinds of comments reinforce this kind of intolerant behaviour. Jake stands for every reason why we still need feminism as a movement, why we believed so strongly that our university still needed a feminist society and why we had fought so hard to make it happen. It was clear that we couldn’t just do nothing but equally, we knew that responding in anger wasn’t going to get us anywhere and would in fact fuel his warped perception in the long run.

As a society, we want to be as open and as inclusive as possible and will stand up for the rights of all our members to exercise this freedom. It might be exhausting and feel pointless at times but we have to stand up to the Jake’s of the world and at least we can do it together.

Design by Neil Connor

55

Lifestyle -- The Opinions The Magdalen Magdalen -- December April

Student Bubble The Overgate, Spoons, Pure Gym, Duke’s, Clarks Bakery, Riverside pitches, the ‘big’ Tesco… These student landmarks effectively trace the parameters of the student bubble in Dundee.

Geographically, students need not wander much further than the length of the Perth Road to find everything we need to satisfy our daily desires for take-away food, dark nightclubs, sticky-carpet pubs (and trendy, hard floor bars), a multitude of shopping opportunities and the facilities to exercise at three in the morning, should the mood strike us. But the bubble is metaphorical too. When was the last time you spoke to someone in Dundee who wasn’t a student?

I think for me it was asking an elderly couple if the third chair at their table was free in a café last Tuesday. As a student dominated city for 9 months of the year, how

56

much of Dundee do we actually encounter, and much is simply catering to students, cocooned in our own world, before the realities of adulthood kick in?

How many of your friends laughed ‘Scumdee!’ or elderly relatives looked concerningly over the rims of their glasses, referencing Dundee’s rundown reputation, when you announced you’d be moving to Dundee?

You’ve been confused by this reputation when all you’ve been confronted with is the pristine squares of green grass at Slessor Gardens, American-movieesque barbeques on Magdalen Green and the height of modern conveniences; 24 hour Clarks Bakery, to take care of every hungover need. The shiny, touristready face of central Dundee and the scheme to regenerate the waterfront conveniently overlap

Design and illustration by Grace Neillands

with our student bubble, again insuring we rarely encounter the day-to-day inhabitants who make Dundee tick.

Finding Cineworld feels like the quest from a dystopian novel as you venture away from the reassuring familiarity of the student centre and you’re led through streets unrecognisable as Dundee because it never occurred to you that Dundee has neat rows of semi-detached houses with garden gates like any other city, instead of endless student flats.

How many months of people asking ‘Have you been to the Law yet?’ did it take you to A. realise that the Law is indeed a hill and not a pub, and B. haul your way to the top, be faintly surprised that there’s a whole rabbit warren of streets, old factories and

April - The Magdalen - Opinions

little, cardboard brown buildings stretching out behind the hill, and then take a panorama which decidedly ignores these newly discovered boroughs of Dundee?

Going to Club T is an exciting prospect in that you might pull someone who isn’t a student and therefore are guaranteed to avoid situations like settling down in the library, making yourself right at home before glancing up, making eye contact with that girl from Saturday night and spending the next hour and a half actually studying because you refuse to raise your eyes from your textbook again for fear of awkwardness. Dundee is a small world, without the anonymity of studying in a huge city.

With student halls, Premier, ISE and the Union, you could happily live within a radius of a

few hundred yards and not be lacking. Why would you need or want to set forth beyond the university campus? For some it’s quite comforting to bumble along using ‘It’s okay, I’m a student’, as an excuse to stay within the neat little parcel of student amenities which have little bearing on the real Dundee. But sooner or later, you’ll graduate and your student discount will run out, the student club nights are filled with freshers, and without societies and clubs, empty nights start to stretch out in front of you.

Many courses boast internships and local industry connections but somehow these feel removed from ground-level Dundee. It’s community connections we need, that will build relationships between students and the rest of working, living Dundee.

Dundee and Abertay Universities proudly produce hoards of highly qualified graduates each year.

But with little connection to the actual city of Dundee, how many stick around to find out what Dundee has to offer to young professionals beyond the V&A and great sandwich deals?

Many see Dundee as the stepping stone to Edinburgh, Glasgow or London because they never see the potential that real-world Dundee has. With student-tinted glasses on, it’s difficult to find a place for yourself in Dundee after graduation if all you’ve ever known is the student bubble.

Words by Rose Kendall

57

Science - The Magdalen - April

Fast-Track to Better Grades Can Drugs Make You Smarter?

I

magine coffee. Now imagine Red Bull. Now imagine both, but a dozen times stronger.

Cognitive enhancers promise to improve productivity, creativity, motivation, quality of memory and alertness among students. While debates are strong across the medical community from doctors to bioethicists, and psychologists to neuropharmacologists, students are still turning to drugs and supplements ahead of upcoming exams to improve academic performance.

Self-medicating, and participation in illegal online drug trafficking, has been steadily increasing on university campuses. It has been reported that over 1 in 5 academics have used Nootropics -nicknamed “smart drugs�. These pharmacological cognitive enhancing substances include drugs, supplements, and other substances that may improve cognitive functions such as executive functions, memory, or motivation.

Although there is insufficient evidence for their efficacy, some dietary supplements have been linked to executive functions which let people plan, organise and complete tasks. While some small trials may have reported some cognitive benefit, larger high-quality trials have largely failed to find any clinical benefit. The only exception may come in the form of Vitamin E supplementation among older adults with moderate dementia.

One study randomly assigned either a placebo or an active supplement of Ginkgo Biloba to university students. The results showed a significant improvement in episodic memory tests but no

58

Design and Illustration by Anna Freeman

effect on working memory. Researchers also reported no effects following six weeks, suggesting young people develop a tolerance due to reduced postsynaptic receptor binding after reviewing EEG studies. An earlier study failed to show any positive impact, and reported a decline in performance on speed of attention tasks. The conflict between studies highlights the problem with small trials, which are prone to false discoveries.

A meta-analysis combined the results of thirteen studies, concluding Ginkgo Biloba had no impact on memory. Despite the number of published studies on supplements such as Ginkgo Biloba, still little is known about the effects of acute doses on cognitive function. Based on the limitations and conflicts found in the current research, any claims of improvement in memory function appear unsubstantiated. The lack of evidence paves the way for more solid, rigorously designed research investigating performance in episodic and working memory tests.

While supplements are easily sourced in local health and nutrition outlets, more and more students have turned to illegal online drug trafficking, sourcing prescription drugs used to increase concentration and stamina while studying or cramming. ADHD medications include amphetamine-type substances that slow the reuptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline in neurons, allowing more dopamine and noradrenaline to affect surrounding neurons. Dopamine and noradrenaline levels increase in situations of stress, to ensure better focus.

April - The Magdalen - Science

Adderall, an illegal Class-B substance, is said to increase focus and concentration, even during the most mundane tasks. According to the article Abusing Adderall, amphetamines were used in the trenches of World War II to increase alertness and fight fatigue. Despite the fact it’s not even licensed for prescription, and illegal, Adderall has more recently been used illicitly as a study aid, party drug and weight loss aid. While Adderall, and similar medications such as Ritalin, may improve focus, it does not necessarily maintain focus on one single task, and has been shown to improve focus on other tasks.

A recent study showed that drugs such as Adderall can actually impair brain function in healthy students hoping for an intelligence boost. Beyond the cognitive effects, the physiological risks are not fully understood either. Professor Tim Hales, Head of Neuroscience at Dundee University, says students could be risking their long-term health by taking them.

“In the short term, some of these drugs may not be harmful, but we don’t know about their potentially harmful cumulative effects. Different students will respond differently, particularly when taking other medications, alcohol or recreational drugs at the same time.”

Underlying cardiac arrhythmias can go undetected, but introducing prescription stimulants could cause serious, and potentially fatal, cardiac problems.

Other side effects can include tremors, insomnia, sweating, anxiety, paranoia and psychosis. With

the rising cost of university tuition, social pressures and partying, students are feeling pressure to work harder and obtain better grades while balancing an active social life, and therefore risking their health.

Despite decades of study, a full picture has yet to emerge regarding the cognitive effects of classic psychostimulants and smart drugs. We have yet to see convincing evidence that cognitive enhancement drugs are effective. While evidence suggesting smart drug use is a widespread problem here in Dundee, self-medicating and illegal activity is deeply concerning. Although it’s certainly hard to prevent students seeking an advantage in their academic career, just stick to caffeine!

Words by James Dale

59

Opinion -- The Science The Magdalen Magdalen -- April December

On the 12thof December 2015, with a simple drop of his gavel, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius announced to a cheering auditorium: ‘I see the reaction is positive, I see no objections; the Paris Agreement is adopted’.

This was addressed in a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October last year, in which the world’s leading climate scientists outlined exactly what is at stake between 1.5 and 2°C.

This historic agreement, to which 195 countries are now signatories, was the first truly global commitment to tackling climate change. It acknowledged the titanic scale of the crisis, setting an overall target to keep temperature rise this century to below2°C and, ideally, to keep below 1.5°C.

Their findings were chilling. At 2°C, almost three times as many people will be exposed to severe heatwaves compared to 1.5°C. Ocean acidity is set to increase by 29% by 2050 in a 2°C scenario, compared with 17% at 1.5°C. Coral reefs, whose loss is so often a visceral reminder of our changing climate, are likely to completely disappear under 2°C, compared with a 70% decline at 1.5°C (although that is a minimum estimate).

Just half a degree of difference means a significant further drop in crop yields and fish stocks, 10cm more sea level rise, at least twice as much habitat loss and over 100 million more people exposed to water scarcity.

They conclude that, by limiting warming to 1.5°C, ‘several hundredmillion’ fewer people will be exposed to

This was a clear, but ultimately abstract goal. After all, 2°C looks definitive enough on paper, but it’s hard to visualise. The same can be said for the 1.5°C target, which appears in the text almost as an afterthought.

It’s easy enough to say, but what are the real world differences between the two outcomes?

60 60

Words by John Ferrier

April - The Magdalen - Science

climate related risks compared to 2°C. As if that wasn’t terrifying enough, the report was actually criticised by many for being too conservative, with some commentators highlighting that it did not take into account climate migration -the mass movement of populations away from regions that can no longer sustain them.

As it stands, we will not meet the 1.5°C target, and if we are being realistic, will not meet 2°C either. In fact, according to the IPCC, the world’s cumulative efforts to mitigate climate change currently have us on track for warming of 3-4°C by the end of the century, ‘with the potential for further warming thereafter’. This would be apocalyptic.

In order to meet the lower of the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, global carbon emissions will need to be slashed in half over the next 12 years, with emissions

reaching net zero by 2050. It is hard to overstate the scale of this challenge, and some climate activists have argued that it calls for coordinated national efforts on the scale of the Second World War.

While this is certainly true, researchers have warned that even if we were to implement our most stringent climate policies, we are unlikely to meet the Paris targets due to economic growth alone. In their 2017 study published inNature, the authors Raftery et al. forecast that we have a 5% chance of meeting a 2°C target, and a mere 1% chance of meeting 1.5°C. In simple terms, the problem we face is one of energy.

We live in a world that is structured to generate economic growth, so much so that we habitually measure the health of a nation by increases in GDP. However, a growing economy necessarily produces a direct increase in energy consumption. Whether that is

Design and Illustration by Betty Boo Onion

61 61

Science - The Magdalen - April December

the power required for industrial processes, for keeping the lights on in your office, or simply the diesel that your bus burns on the way to work.

At current rates, the world economy is set to triple in size by the middle of the century. That means triple the energy requirement, and despite our advances in clean energy generation, it is unlikely that we will produce enough to meet this new demand. With the exception of some nuclear power, we will most likely meet this energy demand in the way we have for the past 200 years –by burning fossil fuels.

Perhaps the reality is that we cannot expect to meaningfully combat climate change while also growing our economy, but the difficulty is, it is hard to conceive of a world in which this is not the case. One can scarcely imagine, in a modern democracy, a political party winning an election on a policy of economic stagnation (Brexit notwithstanding). Even if this was somehow acceptable to a single electorate, it would not be sufficient unless these actions were matched worldwide. This would require radical change in the priorities of nations.

On that point however, there may be hope. In recent months we have seen an inspiring wave of climate activism, in particular from school pupils. Following the lead of Greta Thunberg, the 16 year schoolgirl from Sweden whose solo protest ignited a movement, thousands of young people across the globe have staged school strikes to protest the insufficiency of their governments’ action on climate change. This grassroots movement can be a source of optimism –a sign that young generations have the will and the means to rise to the challenge, and to do so across borders. Perhaps they can provide the leadership we so desperately need.

62 62

December - The Magdalen - Science

dusamedia.com/fibre/

dusamedia.com/tayproductions/

dusamedia.com/jam/

63

Science - The Magdalen - April

Britain’s Ambitions for a Nuclear Renaissance in Tatters

I

n the battle between energy sources, the fight between fossil fuels and renewables is often at the forefront of people’s minds. While the war wages on, the products of fossil fuels attack our ozone layer, as the cavalry of renewables aren’t able to supply enough power to win. However, there is another contender often forgotten, or only remembered for its past mistakes: nuclear energy.

Powering homes, hospitals, schools and industries, this controversial source of energy accounts for approximately 20% of the UK’s electricity supply – and over 35% of Scottish electricity supply. Despite public fears, nuclear power could be a very viable alternative to our dying fossil-fuel power plants, and part of the solution to the greatest energy threat in the history of humankind.

Scientists are taking huge steps forward in energy research, however the future of nuclear energy in the UK is becoming an increasing concern. Just last year, the Japanese firm, Toshiba Corp, abandoned its plans for a power station in Cumbria, and another Japanese firm, Hitachi, put its own Anglesey project on hold in January this year. It is becoming glaringly obvious that the fate of nuclear power in the UK could rest on the shoulders of external investments.

This coupled with the fact that seven out of the current eight nuclear reactors are set to be shut down by the mid-2020s, we must ask the question: is nuclear energy the way forward?

64

Words by Sam Ryan

Nuclear energy stations in the UK rely on a process called fission. Enormous energy is stored in the bonds that hold atoms together. This energy can be released when those bonds are broken. In power stations, this process is by firing a neutron at a uranium nucleus, causing it to split and release more neutrons, starting a chain reaction. The energy released heats water, producing steam that spins a turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. Many fears stem from the idea that a repeat of Chernobyl may occur, in which the chain reaction ran awry, and that public safety isn’t assured. However, in the aftermath of the devastating accident, the IAEA’s 5 Codes of Practice, and 50 safety procedures, were revised as an international standard. Today, the risk of a future accident is miniscule, but the consequences of climate change continue to loom over us.

‘Unlike coal-burning power stations, nuclear energy releases very low amounts of greenhouse gases.’

April - The Magdalen - Science

Unlike coal-burning power stations, nuclear energy releases very low amounts of greenhouse gases.

The complete chain, from mining the uranium to the disposal of waste products, is responsible for less than just 1% of the carbon released by nonrenewable resources. Fossil fuels are running out at an alarming rate, but uranium reserves are also expected to last much longer in comparison to coal, oil and gas reserves. So comparatively, nuclear power plants produce renewable, clean energy, and do not pollute the air by releasing copious levels of greenhouse gases which directly impact the ongoing problems with climate change.

Although nuclear power plants are mind-bogglingly expensive to build, the cost of operation is relatively low. However, these sophisticated and expensive constructions, as well as advances in technology, are turning nuclear reactors from health and safety hazards into safe and efficient sources of electricity.

For example, advances in the design of reactors avoid catastrophic damage to the surrounding environment by containing the reactor in a strong shell, even during a meltdown.

form of safe waste disposal associated with nuclear power plants. Radioactive waste is a by-product of nuclear power generation. There are three levels of waste, and whilst low-level waste is widely disposed of using shallow burial, higher levels require thick shielding to protect from the radiation emitted by the radioactive waste; ultimately protecting the general public from dangerous radiation exposure.

However, in spite of the costs, nuclear power is still incredibly economical and superior to many other renewable and clean energy sources.

Nuclear energy deserves better than the antinuclear prejudices and fears that have plagued it, but whether or not nuclear energy remains part of the future UK energy landscape, remains to be seen. It is clear that if we want to slow down climate change, there needs to be a strong push for clean and alternative sources. The UK needs a timely resolution to its urgent problems in energy supply and world-scale threat of global warming.

But in the heat of Brexit debates and a lack of government funding, unless we are able to attain future private investors, nuclear energy is simply not an affordable solution.

Nevertheless, the initial investment in these power plants goes into the billions, with Hitachi losing ÂŁ2.12 billion when it scrapped the ÂŁ16 billion project in Anglesey. There is also added expense in the

Design by Callum Laird

65

Science - The Magdalen - April December

Seeing the World through Virtual Reality I

f you have ever been close to any kind of conventions or have recently visited a tech shop, I bet you have seen some type of “modern reality”. Technological developments have come so far that we are able to use our surroundings to aid us in every aspect of our personal experience and development. If you are still unsure what you will be reading about later on, think about Pokémon Go - people walking around and adventuring to find animated creatures in their respective areas. This is a clear example of augmented

66

Design by Clémence Jaron

reality, one of the three main types of reality technology virtual (VR), augmented (AR) and mixed (MR). In basic terms, you get a visual experience that changes your surroundings in order to produce a new reality. However, is that the full extent of modern computer scientists are capable of, and the advancements that they produce? What if this system can achieve more than just games?

fictional animated world. What makes VR unique is that the reality sets (such as headsets, goggles or screens) require only digital signals that are processed when we move our hands. In this way, it produces visual and sound effects with which we can interact. Opposed to a computer or a phone that requires physical interaction, virtual reality consoles give a whole new opportunity to experience technology in a positive way.

The ultimate goal of pursuing virtual reality is to be able to experience true immersion in a

This is useful for our lives and for supporting scientific research.

December April - The Magdalen - Science

An interesting fact is that VR is the first artificial technology that does not cause any problems concerning laws or intervening in human rights, such as leaking of information or concerns about physical mishaps. However, the data protection of the location of homes which use a VR set for either games or general use, is becoming more widespread and debated as an issue. As the focus shifts towards virtual reality becoming a mainstream console, we see a feedback loop of more affordable and more developed machines being produced.

Having this in mind, scientists are trying to implement both of them into every aspect of our daily lives and to use them in their research.

One of the many applications of this recent technology may surprise most people; it has been widely used in medicine because it provides substantial recovery or relief to some patients.

Although the main financial focus is to be used by game companies as a mainstream console, hospitals currently have a more secure place on the market.

They have shown some positive effects. For example, it has been used to treat mental health by creating various headsets of the virtual reality. They can scan the

human brain and store important neurological information.

Patients who have experienced memory loss are able to take advantage of this, owing to the fact that it shows the ways in which brain signals are altered.

Therefore, it can help further research. Another important implementation is the usage of VR in enhanced surgeries.

VR machines that produce 3D models of vital organs help future surgeons tackle a surgery process. Working with a realworld model that can be altered is what makes a difference in life-saving procedures.

Tourism is another sphere that has recently become popular following the influence of VR. Being able to produce any form of real world imagery provides an opportunity to simulate trips around iconic places. The VR travel apps allow you to visualise a 360-degree environment either imitating or animating popular locations, which people choose to travel. Some common examples are apps employing sights such as the Grand Canyon or the Niagara Falls. Instances of good architecture have also been implemented as options to visit the virtual reality. Further efforts have been put into developing live planetariums that are able

to exhibit space and the Milky Way from people’s homes. A similar approach has been used to reproduce the oceans and the underwater life.

Ranging from household appliances and mass produced video games to movies and locations, we can see the trend of visual and virtual reality to overwrite all digital media.

Technology which relies on human non-physical interaction to produce a response could be implemented to reduce the accessibility issues that individuals have. Not limiting itself to handicapped people, these machines can support us in the sense of electric cars and even everyday work, which would make our society much more technology-driven. This technological advance has been in constant development. It is, however, fluctuating between different states of media and hardware, in order to produce results that would be most beneficial to us. Experience of people could be brought to a balance through the use of VR, which concerns information passed through senses.

Words by Alexander Arnaudov

67

1st April - 1st June

WHAT’S ON

17th MAY

8th - 12th GIE YER GARMS CLOTHES DRIVE

5th

14

DDE CLOSING PARTY

th

ANGUS HALF MARATHON

DJCAD & ARCHITECTURE DEGREE SHOW PREVIEW NIGHT

18th - 26th MAY DJCAD & ARCHITECTURE DEGREE SHOW