GUS EDGAR-CHAN Venue Co-Editor
Welcome, all, to our freshers’ edition of the sleek new Venue! My name is Gus and I’ll be (half of) your guide for this year. To your right you’ll see nervous second and third years stuffed into the library, and to your left, I don’t know, rabbits (I’ve kind of given up on this metaphor to be honest). But we’re heading forward, and to help you on this journey, fellow co-editor Saoirse has written some tips and tricks on how to survive freshers’ week, Rebecca McDonnell’s Creative Writing section turn its attention to the idea of ‘the new’, and Charlotte Manning has written a fantastic guide to music in Norwich.And to our returning students: welcome back! Now go away, this issue isn’t for you (no, come back, it totally is too). This year we’ve put the ‘new’ in Venue: our features will focus on new Norfolk niceties, we have shiny new icons to work with, and if you’re not captivated by our sleek new design, then you can always give our (new) back cover sudoku a go! Read, weep, laugh - and enjoy. Welcome to Venue!
Johanne Elster Hanson
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Shelby Cooke
Gabriela Williams
SAOIRSE SMITH-HOGAN Venue Co-Editor
Welcome to another year at UEA! I am very excited to take up this roll, and hope you enjoy the bold and eyecatching design that myself and Gus have created for the new Venue. For our first edition, we come to you with the freshers’ edition, with carefully selected content that will hopefully excite and intrigue our new friends. Jodie Bailey, who shares a great piece about ‘The Good Place’ in her own television section, also takes a look at the controversial return of the pencil brow in our fashion pages. Will Rihanna, and her collaboration with Vogue, be the turning point for this 90’s comeback? In our arts section, and with a specific focus on giving freshers a little inspiration in to ways of exploring Norwich, Lucy Caradog looks at the different theatrical venues dotted around this fine city, whilst the inspiration for doing freshers week ‘right’ is discussed on our features pages.
Nick Mason
Icons courtesy of Vecteezy
Rabbit by Fay Austen
Jordan Hunniset
Jodie Bailey
Rebecca McDonnell
The New National Centre for Writing An exciting midsummer evening held this year, featuring the Baileys and Goldsmiths prizewinning Ali Smith, marked the launch of The National Centre for Writing. The organisation is the centre for literature and translation, set in Norwich’s beautiful medieval Dragon Hall. It is home, as the name may suggest, to all things literary. The National Centre for Writing is, as the name may suggest, a well-known place to storytellers, with patrons such as Margaret Atwood, Elif Şafak, J.M. Coetzee, and Sarah Perry, amongst other acclaimed writers. Despite the launch of The National Centre for Writing taking place in the summer of 2018, the organisation actually dates back to the early 2000s, and was initially run by a small team that consisted of only three members. During these years, it grew to become the organisation known internationally as Writer’s Centre Norwich (WCN). A lot took place before the Writer’s Centre Norwich became The National Centre for Writing: in 2012, the organisation succeeded in making Norwich the first UNESCO city of literature in England. UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, which strives to create a peaceful environment worldwide by promoting education, culture, and scientific innovation. Writer’s Centre introduced creative programmes across Norfolk, with the aim to help people discover, share, and pursue their passion in reading and writing, both in schools and in the general community. Many of these programmes involve school and university students, visiting writers and WCN staff, fostering a sense of community through passionate creativity and a shared interest in literature. All university students have the opportunity to volunteer as Creative Leaders, participating in programmes such as Children’s City of Literature, Saturday Club, and UNESCO’S Young Ambassador’s programme. The Creative Leaders’ roles are many, and vary from facilitating creative writing workshops, judging The Young Norfolk Writing Competition, to mentoring the Young Ambassadors, and even escorting Saturday Club students to London to exhibit their work in Somerset House. Several of the programmes have been carried out in schools, at UEA bookable rooms, or, in the case of the writing competition, in venues across Norwich. Dragon Hall’s renovations began in 2017. Now, following the relaunch of WCN as the National Centre for Writing, the organisation offers a brand-new educational space where workshops can be run
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Image: Geograph.org.uk
for children and young adults. In addition to this, other significant physical extensions have been made to Dragon Hall, such as a newly constructed, fully accessible south wing. Since its relaunch, the former WCN, now NCW, enables people to experiment with their writing in a space which offers them financial, physical, and creative resources. The newly built ‘Writer’s Cottage’ - part of the south wing - welcomes writers to reside in Dragon Hall. Currently, NCW is home to 15 writers – a number that we can only expect to rise. Dragon Hall is now a space that can host events and workshops representative of the scale of its projects. The changes that the current National Centre for Writing has undergone enables its significant creative presence in the literary community to be reflected in a physical space, with a greater capacity for bringing writers and readers together. In a recent podcast with Simon Jones, Chief Executive Chris Gribble outlines his sentiments regarding the re-launch: “The changing of the name sort of feels like it’s catching up with what we’ve been doing… really building up the programme, and the size of the programme, and the staff, and the ambition, and the range, and the quality of the work, and the partnerships, and how it feels like the National Centre for Writing sort of matches that scope and ambition” The major changes undergone by The National Centre for Writing make itw a truly innovative venue of storytelling, and we can only wait with anticipation for announcements of exciting projects and events that will be introduced during the coming academic year.
Melina Spanoudi
Theatres and Venues in Norwich
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
MADDERMARKET THEATRE
NORWICH ARTS CENTRE
GRINGOS
For top-of-the-range professional theatre, check out the Norwich Theatre Royal. Situated in the city centre, it showcases a range of productions from Shakespeare to classic operas. No matter what you see, you can always depend on it being of the highest quality!
This is a staple for local affordable performances, from music to amateur theatre to spoken word. This award-winning venue creates a cosy and cool atmosphere, and is an excellent place to discover local artists.
Another space fit for a variation of performances, Maddermarket Theatre puts on shows from musicals to in-house productions (12 each year). It also features stand-up comedy, dance, and contemporary music concerts on a regular basis.
Gringos Mexican Tequila Bar on Prince of Wales Road is where the UEA comedy society Headlights host their comedy events, so be prepared for some student-focused stand up and improv.
THE BIRDCAGE
UEA DRAMA STUDIO
Various student theatre groups showcase their productions in the Congregation Hall’s Drama Studio. This is a great way to support your fellow students’ creative endeavours, and is convenient for those located on or around campus.
The Birdcage pub in Pottergate is host to an array of performing arts, perhaps most notably several monthly comedy nights. They also host art exhibitions, music nights, and poetry open mics.
Lucy Caradog
Concrete Book Review
The End by Karl Ove Knausgård For a decade now, there has been a continual debate among Norwegian intellectuals about the ethics of virkelighetslitteratur, or autofiction. The debate was sparked in 2009 by the publication of Karl Ove Knausgård’s autobiographical novel My Struggle, and now the last volume is published in the UK under the title The End. Does this book then represent the end of Knausgård’s everyday struggle? The end of his turbulent relationship with his father? Or is this book, brim-full of thoughts on the art of writing itself, really the end of Knausgård’s literary career? Knausgård’s struggle was quickly heralded as a sensation, but many also saw his project as ruthless. Across six volumes, he describes his own life as well as the people around him in brutally honest detail. No action is too small, no train of thought too big; at one point he rounds off a paragraph with “Oedipus is blind, Hamlet and Jesus see with open eyes in the darkness.” and begins the next with “I got up, rinsed the plate and put it in the dishwasher”. His style - elegant and pondering - grants the basic and boring events of everyday life a distinct literary value. Knausgård’s circle reacted strongly to their characterisation in a narrative they couldn’t control. Several Image: Public Domain Pictures
disowned him publicly and accused him of exposing his surroundings whilst hiding behind the novel. My Struggle 6 was not published until the end of 2011, which meant that Knausgård experienced the mayhem surrounding the publication of the first three volumes whilst writing the sixth. This makes The End a rather extraordinary work of something like meta-autofiction; he wraps up his autobiographical literary project by turning the overwhelming reactions to the project itself into literature. Knausgård’s anguish in relation to these reactions makes up a large portion of The End: “If there was one thing I feared in myself, it was not being reliable... Where did my version come from?” UEA alumnus Don Bartlett has split the rather monumental task of translating the 1000-page book with Martin Aitken. They deserve praise for making Knausgård’s shifts between intellectual musings and everyday life appear natural in English, and they have also made the wise choice to leave some words and phrases in the original Norwegian and Swedish. The End proves an endlessly readable struggle – as always with Knausgård.
Johanne Elster Hanson
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A Very Short Introduction to The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Nestled on the edge of campus, The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is a much underappreciated art gallery that many students only discover come graduation. Aside from standing in as Avengers HQ in the Marvel Universe and being a study area for History of Art students at UEA, the Sainsbury Centre is the home to the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury collection. The gallery also plays host to a range of temporary exhibitions. Failing to take a tour of the permanent collection until you want those obligatory graduation pictures with the Henry Moore Reclining Figure might well be one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a UEA student. Moreover, with both the permanent and temporary exhibitions being free to students, and with free guided tours available to everyone, there really is no reason to avoid taking some time to enjoy this unique, world-class collection of artworks. The Sainsbury collection, which includes over 1400 artefacts originating from across the globe, initially began with Sir Robert’s purchases of artworks by the likes of Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore. With little to no knowledge of art, Sir Robert bought these works purely on gut instinct, purchasing what appealed to him without any consideration of contemporary fashions. Mother and Child, one of the numerous Henry Moore’s in the Sainsbury collection, was one of these early buys, purchased when Moore was unknown to most and disliked by those who were familiar with his work. Throughout their marriage, art collection became a joint venture and passion for Robert and Lisa Sainsbury. Their budding collection of radical 20th century pieces expanded and branched out to include what was at the time unfairly deemed ‘primitive’ or ‘tribal art’ - now much better appreciated as ‘world art’. Works by major artists such as Picasso, Moore, Giacometti, Degas, and Bacon took their place in the domestic setting of the Sainsbury home, and were accompanied by world art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. These pieces would have been positioned in the couple’s home to be enjoyed, much like the Ede’s collection at Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge.
When the time came to consider the future of
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Photo: Wikimedia Commons
their collection, Cambridge alumnus Sir Robert offered to donate the collection to the University of Cambridge. However, unhappy with the prospect of the collection being divided between the Fitzwilliam Museum and The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the collection found its home on our campus. With the help of a £3 million donation from their son, David, the Sainsbury Centre building was created to house the collection. The Sainsbury Centre was the first public building to be designed by the architect Norman Foster, and it celebrated the 40th anniversary of its opening this year. It is the vast flexibility and tranquillity of this space that enables visitors to appreciate these artworks and artefacts in a way that is similar to how they would have been in the Sainsbury’s home. There are no sections or specific walkways; the space is free-flowing and permits its viewers to draw their own connections between the pieces. Furthermore, as the permanent collection is often rearranged there is always something new to discover for regular visitors. Aside from the considerable collection of Henry Moore sculptures, there are many other pieces as part of a campus-wide sculpture trail, a map of which can be found online or provided at the gallery reception. The Sainsbury Centre also includes other famous favourites such as Walking Hippopotamus, a 3000-year-old ceramic sculpture from Egypt; Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer aged 14 in bronze (which was initially badly received upon its original unveiling as a wax sculpture, and was subsequently never again exhibited during Degas’ lifetime); and you can thank the Sainsbury’s in person for their careful curation as you pass the bronze portrait busts, cast by Epstein, of Lisa and Robert Sainsbury themselves. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is open Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday-Sunday 10am-5am, with guided tours running at 11am and 2pm Tuesday-Sunday.
Jodie Bailey
5 ways to survive FRESHERS By Saoirse Smith-Hogan
WEEK
1 Boogie-ing on a budget
Budgeting is hard, and we all know it. Bored? Eat. Bored? Drink. Bored? Online shop. There are endless ways to rinse your money as a fresher, but don’t let it be the end of you. Sticking to a weekly budget, and deligating a certain amount of money to food, small daily purchases, fun activities and the sesh not only introduces a sense of control and allows you to have a grasp on life, but it also induces happiness. Allowing yourself to buy a coffee on campus, or going on a day out with new friends, means you don’t miss out on any potential bonding time, and are free from any of those worrying texts from the bank.
3 The Earlham explorer From cats, to rabbits, to sheep and horses, Earlham is open to an array of creature comforts. What’s more, Earlham park is home to the fluffiest dogs around. Sensing your newness to the city and you mild homesickness, the dogs will each bound across the greenery, flatten you to the ground and show you affection like no other. Not only is this a guaranteed way of making you happy, but taking a step out of student accommodation, and going for a walk around your new neighbourhood, allows you to reflect on your new circumstances, and settle in to your home for the next year. If Earlham isn’t big enough to wet your appetite, there are neighbourhoods such as three-score, the golden triangle, and even pockets of hidden places within town, which will give you a grasp on Norwich as a whole, and will also force you to think about your second year living location (a decision made around christmas time).
4 Crushing the comfort zone Stepping out of your comfort zone and tackling any anxiety you may have over new beginnings is one of the hardest parts of freshers. It is very easy to stay in your bubble, but everything being ‘easy’ is not what university is about. It is about testing the waters, finding your feet, and figuring out who you are, which can only be done by throwing in the comfort towel. Confidence, or at least pretending to be confident, is the key to success. Talk to that person who kept cracking jokes that tickled you, sit next to that girl in the lecture who is tapping away by herself, and smile at that boy who keeps looking over at you in the square. You never know - little actions such a these could potentially be a starting point to some wonderful friendships.
Image: Pandark, DeviantArt
2 The butterfly effect One of the biggest worries of a fresher is naking friends. Frequently asked questions such as ‘will I find anyone like me?’, ‘will I make friends in my flat? Or on my course?’ echo around the freshers population. But, this isn’t something that you should worry about. There are different stepping stones in life that all require you to be open and sociable. So, starting your new phase of life at university should be no different. With over 200 sports clubs and societies floating around campus, UEA is open to a whole host of opportunities. If you find something you are interested in, but don’t want to face it alone, drag a flat mate along to a taster session with you. All clubs and societies are open to the most amateur skill, so even if you don’t find it as stimulating as you would have liked, the experience will be memorable.
5 Being a boss Staying organised and balanced is the key to fresher’s week, and beyond. Although it is first year, allow yourself a little routine in life, to stay motivated. Know when your lectures and seminars are, and make sure that you semi-know when you have work due in. Go to the sports and societies fayres, write down a list of taster sessions and big meets that appeal to you, and know when your nights out are. This allows you to make the most of your first two weeks of freedom by staying busy every day. Moreover, letting your hair down after a very productive day, is the first step to a succesful adulthood.
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The Magic of Nostalgia
University students: we’re not yet adults, but no longer children. It’s an odd dichotomy; we can take out thousands of pounds in loans, but we can’t quite figure out how to boil an egg. As the new term begins, we are faced again with the push towards adulthood, yet a desire to be pulled back into childhood. To help you settle back into your contradiction of existence as a uni student, Venue’s film editor has compiled a list of films that makes her feel most nostalgic for time past and the ease of fictional worlds (...disassociation, essentially).
THE HARRY POTTER SERIES
There truly is nothing more nostalgic than returning to the magical and mystical world of your favourite childhood series. Chronicling the teenage years of a boy wizard, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends have mesmorised millions of kids throughout the years. He has also taught important life lessons, like the value of friendship, the power of love and the courage needed to conquer evil. But, he’s also a reminder of the innocence of childhood; a reminder of a time when your imagination could play and embrace the wondrous world of fantasy without your adult sensibility and practicality ruining the fun.
BREATHLESS (dir. Jean-Luc Godard)
Jean-Luc Godard’s masterpiece, Breathless, helped to change the course of cinematic art. This French New Wave film broke many boundaries of cinema by creating its own unique and innovative style that would go on to influence many filmmakers to come. The film follows a suave and handsome criminal (Jean-Paul Belmondo) and his American girlfriend (Jean Seberg), as they hide from the law in the coolest and most effortless way possible. The film, noted for its radical editing and philosophical themes, reinvented cinema at a time when the art form was stagnating. Breathless reignited my passion for cinema - watching it for the first time was like being a kid in a candy shop - I became completely enchanted by its whimsical atmosphere and charming but poignant dialogue. Each time I watch it, it reminds me of when I first discovered the power of cinema and how a film can go beyond entertainment to inspire and excite.
WRECKERS (dir. Dictynna Hood)
Starring a young and pre-fame Claire Foy and Benedict Cumberbatch, Wreckers follows the journey of a husband and wife, who, after moving back to his childhood village and rekindling with his traumatised brother, have to navigate their new lives while the past begins to suffocate them. Stylised like a dream, Wreckers has an air of melancholic nostalgic about it, making you feel immediately as if you lived this life before. The quiet sadness the film emits and the slow unfolding of the story produces deep-rooted emotions, making you sympathise with these tragic characters in their pursuit of comfort, security and love.
THE KING’S SPEECH (dir. Tom Hooper)
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Despite my academic endeavours and my burning need to bring down the social hierarchy, I am a sentimentalist at heart, and also an American; plus you and I both know we can’t get enough of the royals. The King’s Speech chronicles the ascension of a stuttering and reluctant King George VI (Colin Firth) to the throne during the formative years of the Second World War. Tom Hooper’s beautiful film becomes almost like a painting, with its hazy colour pallet and perfectly composed shots. It’s hard to watch Hooper’s film and not feel an immediate sense of nostalgia - like looking at a Renaissance painting in a museum. You become engulfed in this romantic world and feel as if it is a memory from your own past (if only we were all wealthy aristocrats in our past lives, eh?).
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Shelby Cooke
REVIEW: BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee’s adaption of the bizarre true story about a black detective infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) makes it clear throughout that he is here to do more than provide fun 1970s window dressing to draw his audience back into the disco and corduroy era. While the idea of addressing past media as ‘problematic’ remains contentious, Lee creates characters who embrace the culture of the times, yet who can still criticise it in a modern way. Our undercover lead, Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), and Patrice Dumas (Laura Harrier) debate the merits of earlier Blaxploitation characters. The pair dance to Motown hits before Dumas is pulled over and assaulted by a cop. While some contemporaries may be satisfied to just mention
Super Fly without the sex work and show the disco scene without the police brutality that followed, Lee is determined to destroy the ‘groovy’ perception that many still have of the 1970s. Lee also turns his gaze towards the type of nostalgic content that appeals to the KKK, fleshing out their characters by showing what kind of media has informed their ideologies. By using footage from Gone with the Wind, Lee offers the audience a glimpse into the past that keeps the KKK alive today. Gone with the Wind still has ardent defenders who decry any attempt to address the implicit racism in the film, so Lee intersperses the footage with a gaffe-prone KKK speaker highlighting what the group is fighting for, showing how easy it is to find their shared values.
In fact, the leader of the group, David Duke (Topher Grace), tells Stallworth how he thought Hattie McDaniel’s Mammy was like a second mother to him. Lee argues that while this kind of romantic view of the past may have widespread appeal, it is still worth looking at why the only time Duke says something almost positive about African Americans, it is in relation to a house slave. However, at its best, BlacKkKlansman challenges how we can re-examine the media of the past to influence our reading of the media of present. Being aware of historic wrongs continuing through the decades won’t stop you from enjoying Stranger Things, It or even Gone with the Wind, but it might make you think more about the injustices that existed behind the scenes.
REVIEW: The Incredibles 2
The Incredibles 2 begins where the original left off: the destruction left in the wake of the family’s last mission has prompted officials to ban superheroes (again). Two mysterious, wealthy siblings, however, give Elastigirl the chance to redeem their reputation. This new project will ultimately lead her and the other Incredibles into the path of a new supervillain, the mind-controlling Screenslaver. Pixar, predictably, has created a visually dazzling family film that juggles genres and flows between scenes with ease. A jazzy Michael Giacchino score maintains a fast pace, while the film’s structure is carefully managed. The Incredibles 2 bursts with colourful characters, old and new, and thankfully, Image: Wikimedia Commons
director Brad Bird resists the temptation to over-use his best. He keeps audiences guessing about the seemingly endless powers of baby JackJack, and saves costume designer Edna Mode for when the central storyline begins to tire. Thankfully, little time is wasted on introductions or backstories of new characters. Instead, audiences are trusted to make their own estimations, increasing our investment in them. The film is set in a fantasy metropolis, designed to address political and cultural concerns. It exposes the failures of ‘damage-limitation’ political systems, where officials opt for turning a blind eye over facing the repercussions. Crooked politicians, to whom the concept
Harry Routley
of ‘doing good for the sake of good’ has become alien, are unable to recognise the benefit of superheroes who only wish to do what’s right. Meanwhile, a new supervillain hypnotises the public by taking advantage of their attachment to screens. The Incredibles 2 doesn’t feel like a money-grab. It lacks some of the magic of its predecessor, but this sequel is rich enough in plot to satisfy the pickiest of Pixar fans. Fun though it may be, there’s a surprisingly serious tone at its centre. It’s pleasing to see Pixar continuing to resist underestimating the imagination and understanding of children, using the ‘family film’ as a tool to get them thinking about important social issues – all while giving them a great time.
Charlie Hunt
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REVIEW: Winnie the Pooh “Your life is happening now,” says an exasperated Evelyn Robin (Hayley Atwell) to her husband Christopher (Ewan McGregor) after learning that he cannot come away for the weekend. It seems a strange sentiment, given that much of Christopher Robin is about escape, moving back into that rosy sentimentality of childhood. It’s a movie about Winnie The Pooh, for Pete’s sake! Jim Cummings, 30 years on, still provides the same dulcet tones of Pooh bear, while Piglet (Nick Mohammed) stumbles about, muttering of “haycorns”. Is anyone who has come to watch this film interested in living in the present? It is this odd tug-of-war that makes Christopher Robin such a disjointed watch. Initially, its plot revolves around Christopher Robin (now aged, war-hardened and overworked) helping his old friend Winnie The Pooh get back to The Hundred Acre Wood. This becomes muddled by Christopher needing to reconnect with his family, who he has neglected in favour of his work. It is when the film hones in on the former part of the plot
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that it shines. Pooh’s strange philosophical ramblings, often said midway through scoffing honey, (“I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I’ve been”, or “Perhaps we do overcomplicate things”) contrasted with Christopher’s anxious bumbling is both amusing and charming. More importantly, any Winnie The Pooh fan can feel their own cold hearts warm slightly as they, like Christopher, slowly begin to reembrace their childhoods. Marc Forester and his writers understand this much: that nostalgia is always longing for a time when the simple was profound. It is a shame then that - as Evelyn Robin’s line suggests - this isn’t the message of the film. Rather, once Pooh and Christopher separate at the film’s midpoint, the nagging ‘live in present’ thread rears its ugly head like an awoken Heffalump. Christopher Robin must make up with his wife, he must engage more with his daughter (Bronte Carmichael) and he must, um, present a new expenditures plan.
Images: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Snapped out of their nostalgia induced trance, the Pooh fans begin to wonder how all this playing about in the woods relates to what is happening right now. Sure, Pooh and the whole gang are along for the ride, but if anything, this muddies the film’s purpose further. If Pooh and others had vanished from the film, then Evelyn saying “Your life is happening now” would make a great deal more sense. Instead, the film wants us to both embrace nostalgia and simultaneously be more in the present moment, like the Schrodinger’s cat of whimsical childhood classics. None of this is to say that Christopher Robin is a bad film. Its first half is charming; even the messier second half has its moments. But for a film that wants to revere simplicity, its message about nostalgia and the present is incomprehensible and contradictory, lacking the lucidity and succinctness of Pooh’s philosophy.
Adam Maric-Cleaver
University capsule wardrobe With the new term approaching, and a new cohort of fresh faced freshers getting ready to make the leap, it seems a good time to remind us all of some essential items to come armed with.
Fancy dress
Even if you’re only half-heartedly sociable, you’ll more than likely end up roped into some kind of fancy dress social. Honestly, I just brought my old school uniform with me…
In a drastic change of tone, you need to indulge in the ultimate comfort item – student accommodation can be chilly places unfortunately.
A dressing gown
While we’re on the subject, if you’re in halls, you’ll have the
Much like your token ‘nice’ outfit, you probably won’t break this out too often, but it is nice to have a little somethingsomething to make yourself feel a bit more put together
While we’re on the subject, there’s always the stress of trying to find a white sheet for
A token ‘nice’ outfit
Don’t be fooled by the Welcome Ball – it’s not an opportunity to break out a snazzy dress, but the society balls are pretty fab so it’s nice to be prepared for them. Lady B Loves has some beautiful and affordable vintage style clothes if that’s your jam.
Tracky bottoms
Storage in student accommodation is about as good as the heating, so shirts, skirts and trousers that you can dress up and down are absolute life savers. Black jeans can do dinner and casual; vest tops can do summer and winter fashion; button downs can do job interviews and seminars.
A statement piece.
A white sheet
the toga parties that isn’t one that you actually want to sleep on. Primark on St. Stephens Street will forever and always be my number one for bedding.
Diverse pieces.
joy of 4am fire alarms (whether they’re scheduled or otherwise). A small splurge on a cosy dressing gown – try Marks and Spencer’s on Rampant Horse Street – makes them infinitely more tolerable.
Something artsy
I know, I know, we’re not all arts students, but embracing the stereotype is worth it if it means an excuse to try the vintage weigh-and-pays that are usually held in St Andrew’s Hall.
Imelda’s on Guildhall Hill is a feminine option, sevenwolves is fab for more masculine or androgynous styles.
Sliders or flip-flops
I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them out in public, but I wouldn’t be caught dead in the kitchen with bare feet.
A UEA hoody
Because do you even go to uni if you don’t own any uni merch? Obviously, the shop(su) is going to be the only one to come through for you on this front.
Becca Allen
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The razor’s edge: Rihanna’s Vogue cover
Throughout history we have seen Hegelian dialectics at work; ideas and trends swing back and forth from the extremes like a pendulum until they synthesise and settle – beauty and fashion are no different. For a long time, women everywhere have embraced natural and full-bodied brows, with the likes of Cara Delevingne and Lily Collins championing the trend. Yet, it seems we could only go so long until the spectre that is the ‘pencil-brow’ would return with a vengeance. Rihanna’s Vogue cover for the September issue shows the superstar wearing a dramatic look akin to those of film actresses from the 1920s. Their makeup was infamous for being dark, defined, and heavy so that it would be visible on camera. Rihanna’s own brows have seemingly vanished without a trace in the shoot, and instead a faint
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etching hovers on the browbone – a stark reminder of what is so evidently missing. The problem is that our love affair with big, bushy, natural brows is not yet over, and I’m certainly not ready to become overly-friendly with my tweezers in order to board the 1990s nostalgia train that’s speeding into our A/W18 trends. I will sport my pristine trainers, I will revel in my corduroy jacket, and I will even wear a tartan skirt with pride. But pluck my brows out of existence? It is a step too far, and a step backwards at that. Only this year have we witnessed the rise in popularity of Frida Kahlo, well-known for wearing (and accentuating) her natural monobrow. The speed at which her image, her artwork, and her feminism have found their way into the mainstream media is exciting. Women wear their natural brows with pride, and, perhaps
Image: Unsplash
sparking from this, the conversation about female body hair has opened up. We forget how beauty and fashion have the power to become political, and I fear that the return of the pencil brow speaks volumes about where these conversations might be going. In our digital landscape, a simple Vogue cover may not appear to have much importance for non-Vogue readers, but Vogue covers matter. They challenge and change the trends, shaping what we will see on the red carpets, and what will also eventually trickle down to the high streets. For the time being, our beautiful and bold brows are safe, but the pencil-brow is coming for them. The pendulum’s been on our side for a long time already, it is only a matter of time before it swings back.
Jodie Bailey
Image Top: vecteezy, Middle: Wikipedia, Bottom: veronicagibson, deviantart.
ICON: AARON PHILLIP
Recently signed to a major modelling agency, 17 year old Aaron Philip embodies everything to be admired about the ever-changing world of fashion. Philip is a ground-breaking model, artist and social activist who is unapologetically herself. With bleached blonde hair, the most instagram-worthy pout and a genuinely iconic style, it is no wonder that ASOS and Paper Magazine have placed her on their platforms She’s black, she’s trans, she’s disabled and to quote @uea_outfits she is without a doubt a ‘Model of the Moment’. Reshaping beauty, fashion and art, Philip is a refreshing reminder to always live your dreams – an ideology that is so present on our campus. Like Aaron Philip find what makes you you and cultivate it.
ICON: LUCY MOON @iamlucymoon
Rachel Crockart
Lucy Moon uses her blog, Instagram and YouTube to showcase her personal style and I admire her simple capsule wardrobe and, particularly, her thoughts on sustainability. The capsule wardrobe has become a huge trend amongst bloggers; it’s creating a new generation of people who are moving away from the fast fashion we all know and love, and realising the need to think more about the environmental, social and economic impact of the clothes we choose. Lucy Moon’s classic, fresh and simple style of mom jeans, t-shirts, jumpers, big jackets and Dr Martens or trainers resonates well with my own style and she inspires me to buy less clothes. Monique Smith
ICON: DAVID BOWIE
From the androgynous avant-garde icon of the 70s, to the cold, calculated cruelty of the thin white duke’s sharp suits, this ‘real cool cat’ was an icon across completely different planes of fashion. He even put together jeans, a t-shirt and a very 2000s tie on his Reality tour! His style’s influenced many current icons, such as Janelle Monáe and Lady Gaga. After his tragic death in 2016, we’ve been flooded with photoshoots taking tribute, with most using the blue and orange colour scheme of ‘Life on Mars’ as a shorthand for rock star cool and defiance. Lois Arcari
Goodbye:
A bittersweet farwell to the Urban Decay Naked palette
It’s a shock to anyone that’s picked up a makeup brush: Urban Decay recently announced that its original Naked palette will be discontinued. Since its release in 2010, it set the bar for what makeup lovers everywhere wanted in a neutral tone palette. Founder, Wende Zomnir, described, through crying eyes, the goodbye as being ‘bittersweet’. You’re not the only one that’s crushed by the news. A funeral was held for the palette with top beauty influencers such as Christen Dominique, Kandee Johnson, and Nicole Richie in attendance; a truly fitting farewell. asked her team to choose the
The original Naked palette changed our perception of neutrals. The twelve shadows alone, provided us with limitless combinations and endless looks that could get you from casual to runway. However, Zomnir (the creator) took to Instagram to give us some hope in this dark time hinting at new releases based on the legacy of the original Naked: ‘Saying goodbye to the OG NAKED is bittersweet. We shared a history. We shared a soul. I will forever miss her, but we plan to turn the grief into even more greatness. Urban Decay will continue to thrive in Naked’s memory and honour just wait and see.’
With there already being several variations of the palette (Naked 2 and 3; Naked Basics; and Naked Heat) and Naked Cherry on the way, it seems that since the brand has created more modern variations of Naked, it discontinues its older palettes (remember when U.D. announced the discontinuation of the Naked Smoky Palette?). It seems that there is some hope if you don’t already have ownership of the original - the price has been marked down and the palette is currently on sale. So, I’m off to grab one before they go!
Karma Young
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FRESHERS’ GUIDE TO NORWICH GUS Favourite place to eat:
Logan’s is a fantastic (and fantastically affordable sandwich bar - with a handy student discount to boot.
Favourite place to drink:
If you want to drink cheap, go to The Bell Hotel. But you can’t beat the atmosphere and setting of The Playhouse.
Favourite club:
If there’s an event at the Bedfords Crypt, go for it don’t even think about it. You should never pass up an opportunity to party at Miami Nice.
JORDAN Favourite place to eat:
My favourite place to eat in the city has to be either the Bia Vegan Diner in Norwich Market or Moorish Falafel on lower Goat Lane - sorry, I can’t decide!
Favourite place to drink:
To drink would be Turtle Bay because not only do I want cheap cocktails but also jerk chips.
Favourite club:
IZZY
If you’re a history buff (or simply an old person like me), nothing is better than Norwich Castle. Perched in the middle of town, the castle provides a fantastic day out learning about the history of your new city.
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Favourite place to drink:
Favourite activity:
Favourite club:
SHELBY If you enjoy abstract and quirky plays, visit Norwich Playhouse. Supporting new playwrights and local performers, Norwich Playhouse is the perfect place for a fun night out with your new mates.
Gonzo’s do some unbelievable ‘messy fries’ - toppings include a whole cheese board and parmesan and truffle. Combining those with their equally incredible halloumi burger is every cheese lover’s dream.
Loft, obviously.
The Plantation Garden hosts outdoor screenings during the summer.
Favourite activity:
Favourite place to eat:
A traditional twist on the modern concept of cocktailing, Mr Postles Apothecary caters to all your crazy potion requirements.
For something fun and quirky to do I’d recommend taking a day to check out charity shops, vintage stalls and antique markets around Norwich, especially St.
Favourite activity:
SAOIRSE
Favourite place to eat:
Basically anywhere from Norwich Market (Churros & Chorizo is my fave).
A-List (sad, but true).
Favourite activity:
The Bowling House located on the town end of Dereham road combines bowling with cocktails - perfect as an ice breaking activity.
JODIE
Favourite place to eat:
Turtle Bay (who doesn’t love 2for1 rum cocktails?).
For something different, I love to grab lunch in Lower Goat Lane, at either Finnie’s Juice Bar or, if it’s a special occasion with a friend, at Biddy’s Tearoom - booking for that is essential.
Favourite club:
Favourite activity:
Favourite place to drink:
Loft!!!
Favourite activity:
The tower at St John’s Cathedral has some great views of Norwich at the top!
After having a bite to eat, it’s great to explore the quirky independent shops in the lanes, particularly the antiques centre at St Gregory’s church you never know what you might find in there!
FEATURES FAVOURITES HOLLY Favourite place to eat:
Go to The Green Grocers if you are looking for a tasty vegan fry up. For take out food, Take Thai is the best in Norwich! It’s restaurant quality food, but you get to stay in your pjs.
Favourite activity:
There’s a cool antique/ vintage indoor market inside St. Gregory’s in the city - it’s fun to look around and free (unless you end up buying a thing or two).
NICK
REBECCA Favourite place to eat:
Blue Joanna. A gourgeous wee hidden gem on Unthank Road which does Asian street food.
Favourite place to drink:
The Bell Hotel for a cheap drink or Frank’s Bar for a cracking cocktail.
Favourite club: Obviously Loft.
Favourite place to drink:
Gringos Tequila Bar: it’s got all the tequila you could need.
Favourite activity:
Watch a film in a medieval hall at Cinema City.
Favourite activity:
I don’t have any favourites when it comes to food and drink. But I would like to recommend to all new international students the fun and quirky activity of watching the English pass each other in a corridor or on a set of stairs (this counts as a cultural activity).
Favourite activity:
Pitch and Putt in Eaton Park is so much fun, especially on a nice day.
Favourite place to eat:
Grosvenor Fish Bar because it’s got fish the size of a baseball bat.
JOHANNE
GABRIELA Favourite place to eat:
LOFT!
The Library Restaurant (especially for Literature students).
Favourite place to drink:
Be at One is the best cocktail bar in Norwich and they do great ice cream based drinks.
Favourite activity:
Quazar is great for laser tag!
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UEA’s own: Marigolds “The band have a massive year ahead of them”
Marigolds, image credit: Tom Seago
Sounding like the lovechild of emo-rockers Tigers Jaw and the latest wave of British indie, Marigolds have fast become one of Norwich’s most notable local bands. Fronted by UEA Politics and Media student Joe Maguire, and completed by Lydia Whiting, Tom Goulding, James Lapping and Davey Perkins, the 5-piece rose from the ashes of local emos Southlakes and have fast made a name for
themselves. They have supported Turnover and Gaffa Tape Sandy, played Washed Out Festival in Brighton with the brightest and best of the UK DIY scene and dropped their infectious single ‘Slept Out’. Having recently reshuffled their lineup, with Lapping joining as drummer and Whiting taking up keys duty, the band’s new and revitalised sound is set to take them
to the very top of the UK underground. With new single ‘Much to Me’ set to drop before the year’s end on Beth Shalom, things are only going to get bigger for the Norwich quintet. The band have a massive year ahead of them, with a support slot for Husky Loops at Waterfront Studio on 16th October and more shows and music to be announced.
Nick Mason
1000 Shows of Punk: Ducking Punches
“It was totally a stopgap that got out of hand”, Dan Allen tells me. What started as a solo project in friends’ living rooms is tonight a full band who have sold out Karma Kafe for a three stage celebration of the UK DIY punk scene. Norwich’s own I Said Goodbye open proceedings on the main stage. Bubbly and energetic pop-punkers, the band provide a flurry of upbeat tunes. Other Half follow mere seconds later down two flights of stairs. Jagged and lively, frontman Cal Hudson races through
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janky punk songs with manic energy, eventually filling the small downstairs of Karma Kafe with bodies to match. Back upstairs, up and coming rockers Gender Roles continue their U.K. lap of honour with another amazing set. Captivating the main stage one of the best catalogues of any young band about, they find themselves right at home in the 300 capacity attic. Scene veterans Apologies, I Have None, follow with their emotive punk that summons all like a flame in the darkness. Setting the stage for the headliner’s coronation,
they assert themselves as a powerhouse of live and meaningful punk that has been in short supply in recent years. As the evening grows late, it is the men of the hour who take the stage. With a blistering 45-minute set that shows just what punk rock can and should be, Norwich’s own show exactly why they’ve managed 999 shows to this point with no sign of stopping. Streamlined, powerful and scream-it-fromthe-chest honest, this is the coronation Dan Allen and co have waited all these years for.
Nick Mason
A Musical Guide to Norwich LCR
The LCR is the most iconic venue in Norwich, with many headline acts gracing its stage in recent years. It’s the crowd that seems to keep them coming back, as we’re often told that we’re one of the best lot to perform to, and feature as a stop on most mid-sized tours! The host of names to visit the wonderful land of Noz sees no sign of slowing down, as Jorja Smith, Slaves and Tom Grennan are all set to play in the next few months.
Norwich Arts Centre
Norwich Arts Centre is a much more low-key but very characterful venue, being named NME’s Best Small Venue of 2014. A great venue for acts rising up in the music
ranks; Ed Sheeran, Nirvana and Coldplay all played in the earlier stages of their careers. Critically acclaimed bands Bloody Knees, Black Honey and Goat Girl are all performing in October, so make sure not to miss out on these!
groovy Bad Sounds appear soon, as well as UEA’s very own Gladboy who will be launching their EP in October, accompanied by Bag of Cans, Bull and Strip Mall - what a treat!
The Waterfront
The Mischief
The Waterfront, another UEA venue appealing to a more alternative crowd than its counterpart, is never short of upcoming gigs. As well as playing host to student club nights every Friday and Saturday, it puts on an awful lot of gigs throughout the year, and it’s great at recognising and discovering local talent as well as more well-known acts (Stefflon Don performs in November). Livewire favourite the
Although primarily a pub and a UEA student’s pre-drink place of choice on a Thursday, The Mischief is absolutely wonderful and is always worth a mention when it comes to great local gigs; they seem to pop up every now and then and they’re never one to miss. Gigs at The Mischief can get absolutely wild, so make sure you’ve got a pint in both hands to prepare yourself…
Charlotte Manning
Move-in Movers: A freshers’ week Playlist
Hockey Dad - I Wanna John Howard - 3 Years Be Everybody
With a pop-ed up Nirvanaesque riff, this song will instantly inject you with all the energies of the Aussie duo, distracting you from the anxieties of starting a new life and coming into your own. Zoe Dodge
Alex
Cameron
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Running Out of Luck Let these delicious synthy beats carry you, and your new 20 pan kitchen set, up (or down) the stairs. This 80s inspired masterpiece will make you walk with the smug confidence of Joseph Gordon-Levitt in that scene in 500 Days of Summer after spending the night with the girl of his dreams.
Zoe Dodge
It’s not just the title of this melodic 1973 demo that could well fit your time at UEA. If you’re feeling apprehensive, listen to the vivid descriptions of uncertainty at a new setting: “I’m gonna make it” sings Howard in the rousing chorus – and however you’re feeling now, so will you. Tony Allen
Paul Weller - I’m Where Foxing - Gameshark I Should Be Weller’s confident, swaggering 2015 power-pop attempt is another one to lift the mood once you’re done unpacking. You’re here on merit, get out there and own your time at uni! Also, I loved Weller long before university – listening to your old favourite songs can really help if you ever feel overwhelmed or homesick. Tony Allen
I’ll never forget my first day in the Zigs. Having finished unpacking, I proudly hung up a flag of Foxing’s artwork for their debut The Albatross on my wall. ‘Gameshark’, from their latest album Nearer My God, has all the energy and insanity of freshers’ week. Just ignore the lyrics about the world ending in nuclear inferno.
Nick Mason
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Fatherson: Sum of All Your Parts Scot-rockers Fatherson revel in atmosphere. Their debut I Am An Island embraced a sense of scale that only amplified the frontman Ross Leighton lamentations of loneliness. Follow up Open Book adopted much the same path with a bit more immediacy and larger instrumentation. However, both fell short on consistency, great songs let down by too similar filler tracks. The task of the band’s third album was to finally produce an album that doesn’t stop and start. Whether it succeeds at this is a matter of personal preference. Tracks like ‘Oh Yes’ is either a fantastic, mid-tempo deep cut
with major Radiohead influence or a dull drudge depending on how much you love ‘Karma Police’, for instance. What is undeniable, however, is that the highs are as high as those of their previous albums, and then some. Opener ‘The Rain’ is a fantastic scene-setter and a future live anthem in the making. ‘Making Waves’ has already seen widespread radio play and deservedly so. ‘Ghost’ and ‘Reflection’ show a darkness the band rarely harness, while album closer ‘Building a Wall’ is a slab of altrock that contains bracing bite.
good album with filler or a great album with variety is a matter of perspective. The band haven’t made a great leap from Open Book, but what they have done is perfect their sound. Leighton’s melancholy is always worth listening to and Fatherson have upped their game to finally give the instrumental the backing it deserves. Even if certain songs wear their influences too clearly on their sleeves at times, Sum of All Your Parts is a welcome addition to the catalogue of one of Britain’s finer rock bands.
‘Sum of All Your Parts’: the clue’s in the name. Whether it is a
Nick Mason
emoji, “enjoy.” And it’s a shame, because at first glance the album is more promising than last year’s pitiful, poppy Revival. Credited are guest appearances from Joyner Lucas, Royce da 5’9”, Jessie Reyez, and even vocals from Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon - though Vernon has since disowned his contribution. There’s a good selection in contemporary producers like Mike Will Made It and Ronny J. And to be fair, Eminem’s verses are as lyrically complex as usual. Though generally meaningless, they’re filled with skilled internal rhyme which dips in and out of double time.
The track ‘Fall’ is perhaps the most problematic on the album, with Eminem slinging homophobic slurs at Tyler, The Creator, and also making light of domestic violence and threats of violence to music journalists, not three months after the most recent attack at Maryland’s Capital Gazette Newsroom. Ever the edgelord, Eminem’s rampant homophobia, misogyny, and general reliance on an offensive shock factor and targeted diss tracks to make sales is cheap and lazy.
Kamikaze: A Tired Album from a Tired Rapper
Eminem’s tenth studio album is as big a disappointment as you would expect from having listened to the artist’s recent work. While the album might have been dropped as a total surprise, Kamikaze themes and content are anything but.
Oh great! Yet another Eminem album with the sole purpose of attacking those who dare to criticise his music? Who could have expected that? From the media to rap fans and other musicians, Eminem continues his personal vendetta where he must prove he is somehow still relevant by taking (very cheap) shots at anyone who suggests otherwise. And, of course Em, it’s definitely everyone else who is wrong. Definitely. Eminem announced Kamikaze with a single tweet: “Tried not 2 overthink this 1…” he said, with a false sense of nonchalance and a middle-finger
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Clearly Eminem did put some thought into the album, almost taking onboard the response from critics of Revival - just not enough. Where this shows most is in the album’s dated and performatively offensive lyricism.
Kamikaze is a tired album from a tired rapper which - and who - only attempts to have any substance at all by being purposefully controversial and discrediting perceived rival rappers, even those who have previously admitted to taking influence from the artist’s earlier, more original work.
Matt Nixon
The Beginning of the End: Telltale’s The Walking Dead: The AJ has grown into what many Final Season Done Running is the first episode of the final season of Telltale’s hugely admired The Walking Dead series. This season, following on from New Frontier - in which we played as Javier Garcia attempting to protect his family from threats both dead and alive - we continue to play as Clementine, who also appeared last season attempting to rescue her young dependent, AJ. Now caring for the boy years after their escape into the wilderness, Clementine has matured from her previous feisty nature. In fact, her actions have become familiar to that of Lee, the convicted man we followed at the start of the series, six years ago. It’s what we all expected. Telltale have been posing Clem in the same axe-wielding stance as Lee in advertising since this season was first announced. It’s also what we all wanted (possibly), if you trust Telltale enough not to push this cyclical nature further and leave Clem the same way they did Lee... Though, from the opening scenes of Done Running it’s clear that Clem has become quite the survivor. Taking on the lessons learnt from her initial guardian, as well as all the other characters she’s met up ‘til this point in the series, Clem has stayed alive while raising AJ in the midst of walkers, starvation, and exposure. And she’s done it well, too. With Clem’s guidance,
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Images: steamXO, Flickr
of us have been anticipating a young boy with frighteningly adult characteristics. And a gun.
If you’ve played the episode, you’ll know that Clem’s interactions with AJ - and therefore the way in which AJ acts in the game are based on the choices you make. The game continues as a graphic adventure where the player controls the protagonist in movement, action and decision; what you do affects what happens in the game. This means that if you want AJ to be a well-behaved boy with good manners, you can try your best to ensure this as Clem. However, this also means that if you want AJ to become a primary-school aged serial killer, you can play a Clem who encourages swearing, rude behaviour and murder. Just keep in mind the consequences of your actions. When I played, the way I acted as Clem meant I put both herself and AJ in some difficulties by the end of the episode. Albeit fun when playing, I’m now terrified as to what the
rest of this season will have in store now I’ve made some dubious choices. As if the worries of your playstyle aren’t enough, in true The Walking Dead fashion, our main characters find themselves in a deadly situation with limited resources. After a rocky start, they land in the care of a group of youths at an old private school, where the adults have left and, at one point, Lord of the Flies is unnervingly referenced. Here Clem meets a host of new characters with very distinct personalities, who have also managed to survive as long as she has but are reaching dire straits. Of a similar age are Marlon, the rugged punk leader with a distressingly calm attitude at times and violent mood swings at others. Violet, a mean and sincere girl with a delicate side. And lastly Louis, funny but idiotic, best friends with some but distrusted by others, and constantly hitting on Clem.