UEA’s Student Newspaper
Issue 296 • Free • Tuesday 25 March
Flip to Sport for a five page Derby Day special!
UEA claim historic Derby Day win Exclusive interview with ‘Eddy from Pool’ and captain Nikolas Charalambous Billy Sexton Sports Reporter Derby Day 2014 will go down as a memorable day, not only for those involved competitively, but for spectators who followed the event, be it in person or via the extensive online coverage provided by UEA’s media societies. Derby Day has taken place annually since 2001, and the 2014 contest was undoubtedly the closest encounter between UEA and the University of Essex. Since 2005, the home team has traditionally strolled to victory and the last away win occurred in 2004 when UEA beat Essex in Colchester. Organisers decided to move the competition to a Sunday in the hope that it would yield a more closely contested event and their epiphany did not disappoint. It was clear that Derby Day 2014 was going to be different from recent years as UEA put up much more of a fight to the home team. As blows were traded throughout the day, Essex took first blood with a dominant win in the Futsal, but UEA fought back by recording victories in Women’s Lacrosse, Korfball, Ultimate Frisbee, Men’s Table Tennis and American Football to name but a few. Indeed, it appeared that UEA were easing toward victory only for Essex to pounce back and narrow the gap by emerging victorious in Men’s and Women’s Athletics, Women’s Hockey, Men’s Squash and Women’s Tennis, amongst others. Essex took the lead early into the evening, but grit and determination from both of UEA’s Netball teams and Waterpolo meant that the overall victory would be decided by the ongoing contest at the Pool tables. The rest, as they say, is history. As UEA students sat on the edge of their seats and tweeted in their masses to ensure that #DerbyDay2014 trended nationwide alongside Match of the Day and The Only Way Is Essex (the irony), pool team member Josh Edwards, now affectionately known as ‘Eddy from Pool’, kept his cool to clinch an overall victory for UEA. Speaking to Eddy and his captain Nikolas Charalambous, Concrete discovered that Eddy was aware of the
Will Cockram
situation before he entered the frame said that he wanted to take ‘the opportunity to get a bit of glory’ . Eddy also notes that ‘The atmosphere was great, the football team came down, that made things really brilliant. We got a lot of support from them.’ Nik agreed, and said that he’d ‘never played in a tournament where you’ve got three bouncers between the pool tables. It was almost like a home and away fan base. Like a football ground.’ When quizzed on whether he enjoyed playing under the pressure, Eddy mentioned that he was ‘surprised’ that he thrived in the situation; ‘I thought it would put a lot more pressure on me than I could handle.’
Nik, who won five out of the six frames he played, hopes that the Derby Day win can serve as a catalyst for growth of the Pool club, particularly given that clinching the victory for UEA at Derby Day was merely the tip of the iceberg of a highly successful season. Indeed, the club reached the final of the BUCS Pool championships and it was there that they experienced the most pressure they’d been under all season, having won two tiebreakers in two playoffs to reach the final. At Derby Day, Eddy ‘knew someone else could win it if I had lost so it was a win or win later situation.’ Additionally, this season marked the first time in over 10 years that the UEA
Pool club had sent somebody to the BUCS snooker tournament. Nik’s illustrious background in snooker, where he ranked 7th in the country for under 21s players, helped him on his way to reaching the BUCS final, only to lose narrowly. However, given that the tournament saw 128 players take part, finishing in the top two is a fantastic achievement for Nik and the club. With it costing just £10 to join the club, Eddy and Nik encourage even those with a small interest in the game getting involved given the ‘big mix’ of ability present already. At the end of the day ‘anybody can win’ in pool. ‘It’s eight balls. That’s all it is.’
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concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
Editorial
Editor-in-chief | Sidonie ChafferMelly concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor | Sophie Witts concrete.president@uea.ac.uk Online Editor | Billy Sexton concrete.online@uea.ac.uk Deputy Online Editor | Amelia
Marchington concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News | Andrew Ansell & Lara-Jayne Ellice concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Comment | Zoë Jones concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Global | Ella Gilbert concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features | Bridie Wilkinson concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Environment | Peter Sheehan concrete.environment@uea.ac.uk Science & Tech | Dominic Burchnall concrete.science@uea.ac.uk Travel | Niyonu Agana-Burke concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Lifestyle | Lydia Clifton concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Sport | Charlie Savage & Will Medlock concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk Copy Editors | Stephenie Naulls & Anna Walker concretecopyeditors@gmail.com Chief Photographers | Jacob Roberts-Kendall, Will Cockram & Jonathan Alomoto concrete.photography@uea.ac.uk Distribution Manager | Steph Gover
Issue 296
Contributors
News | Andrew Ansell, Verity Stone, Daniel Falvey, Lara Ellice, Joshua Mott, Ned Samuel, Comment | Stuart Bell, Joe Jameson, Elliot Folan, Graeme Tolley, Geri Scott, Global | Ella Gilbert, Dan Falvey Features | Emily Fedorowycz, Jennifer Johnson, Louisa Baldwin, Environment | Amelia Edwards, Chloe Moore, Ilyas Christofides Science & Tech | Mabon Ellis, Dominic Burchnall, Ryan Musselwhite Travel | Alice Cachia, James, Szumowski, Rachel Parsons, Nick Brown Lifestyle | Ella Sharp, Beth Saward, Lucy Morris, Rebecca Bemment Sport | Billy Sexton, Charlie Savage, Holly Wade, Grace Rundle, Will Medlock, Will Temple, Proofreaders | Ellen Morris, Helena Bradbury, Ella Sharp, Sidonie Chaffer-Melly, Chris Freeman, Emily Fedorowycz, Tom Bingham
Win! Win! Win! Turn to Venue page 23 to win tickets to the April Fools LCR!
Editor’s column Whether you were at the scene or keeping up at home, Derby Day 2014 was one of the most exciting days of the year. It was gut-wrenchingly close all day, with the score staying pretty much neck and neck until the last game. In the end we managed to clinch it (of course), and a UEA legend was born in Eddy from Pool. Turn to the back page for a Sport special on all the action from the day. Aside from Derby Day, it’s coming up to deadline period again. It’s important to take care
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of yourself around those long hours in the library, and Lifestyle have some great articles on how to keep a healthy routine to make sure you’re on top form. Looking ahead to next year, I am delighted to announce that the Editor-in-Chief for 2014/15 will be Geri Scott! We are currently scouting for senior editors, and will be opening applications for section editors before Easter, so keep an eye out. Sidonie Chaffer-Melly Editor-in-Chief
Dear Hayden, The end of the semester is fast approaching and I’ve reached the bottom of my student loan. How do I survive the next few nights out without it ruining my bank balance? Some members of the Concrete team are better budgeters than others. In an attempt to be a self-proclaimed “big money baller”, one particular individual thought it would be a good idea to spend £80 in Mercy. To save him from perpetually buying people drinks in the LCR, he shall remain nameless. Instead, take a tried-and-tested tip from me: withdraw between £20 and £30 out from an ATM before a night out (depending on whether you’ll be in the LCR or Prince of Wales Rd.) and leave your debit and credit cards at home.
‘bumping into me’ in the LCR on Saturday nights. Enough is enough, I need your help. Finishing your dissertation is hard enough as it is without a regular stream of creeps to contend with, so for your own sanity and safety you need to get yourself a carrel. If your friends are feeling up to it, perhaps enlist them as personal bodyguards just in case the guys don’t get the message. Where the LCR is concerned, make sure you aim for the front of the dancefloor. Perhaps it might also be worth forming a prayer circle whilst dancing in the hope that the dregs don’t breach the wall of drunken freshers too. It’s been real, it’s been cute, but it’s not been real cute,
Dear Hayden, My dissertation deadline is fast approaching, so I’m spending a lot of time in the library. In fact, I seem to be spending so much time in the library that I’m now being chatted up by the same men every day. Recently it’s got even worse: now they’re
Tweet of the Week “EDDY FROM POOL CLUB, YOU ABSOLUTE HERO #DerbyDay2014”
@UnionUEA
Contact Us Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593 466 www.concrete-online.co.uk www.concblog.wordpress.com Editorial inquiries / complaints concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk Got a story? concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
Concrete welcomes all letters and emails, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Letters should be addressed to the editor-in-chief, and include contact details. All emails should be sent to concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk. We will consider anonymous publication, and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous article submissions are permitted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the newspaper. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the editor, Sidonie Chaffer-Melly. Published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2013 Concrete BMc ISSN 1351-2773
News
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Issue 296
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Students feel Think Tank Around universities fail to laments Norfolk prepare them for work funding cut to universities
Not enough hospital beds for the mentally ill
Andrew Ansell News Editor
A report by Healthwatch Norfolk and the University of East Anglia has shown there is a concerning shortage of beds for children and young people with serious mental health problems. It has led to some of these patients being kept at home, “probably taking more risks than we’d like”, as one clinician said. The report states that the lack of beds is leading to ‘high levels of risk’ in the community. The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust said it was working to solve the bed shortage.
£260,000 scheme for safer cycling The Norwich Highways agency will introduce contra-flow lanes for bike riders in Magdalen Street and Cowgate, to help form part of an eight mile cycle route. Councillor Mike Stonard said: “It’s going to make significant improvements for pedestrians and cyclists and strengthen our aim to make roads safer. We’re looking to increase cycling in the city and we want to double the numbers using bikes over the next ten years and this should make it easier to cycle.”
Norfolk business leaders back Budget The Norfolk Chamber of Commerce has expressed its satisfaction at the Chancellor, George Osborne’s Budget. Caroline Williams, CEO of the Norfolk Chamber said: “We have been lobbying hard to ensure that the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers was extended and it is good to see that was included, as was our call for an extension of the Annual Investment Allowance.”
Verity Stone News Reporter According to The Times Higher Education it takes graduates approximately 12 applications before they secure a job. The professional networking site LinkedIn commissioned a poll of 2,000 UK students and graduates, called the ‘Students Have Your Say Survey’, to find out about their application experiences. It found that 52% believed that universities did not teach them the skills they needed to find a job. 65% of the participants felt that they were not ready for the ‘world of work’. According to statistics released by UEA, 69.5% of the 93.2% who were in work after graduating in 201011, had a graduate-level occupation.
Apparently postgraduates were even more employable; out of 96% of leavers, 93.6% gained a graduate-level job. UEA is currently conducting a survey of the 2012-13 graduates, and will have statistics published in May this year. Furthermore, The Times Higher Education pointed out that having an online presence improves chances of gaining a job, especially with sites such as LinkedIn, which allows you to interact with potential employers. Forbes.com predicted that in the future CVs will become less common, eventually being replaced by each individual’s online presence, particularly through the use of websites and blogs. Last summer the BBC announced that “nearly one in ten graduates” were unemployed
Fancy writing for News? Email Andrew and Lara at Concrete.News@uea.ac.uk
The funding of Higher Education in England is to be cut nine per cent in real terms before the general election in 2015, according to the university think thank Million+. The recent publication of a letter from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) outlined the distribution of government funding to universities in the 2014/2015 academic year. When taking into account the relaxation of the cap on student numbers which is yet to come into force, Million+ has claimed the allotted money in the letter will amount to a cut in funding. The HEFCE letter detailed that the capital funding to English universities for the next academic year is totalled at £440 million, which includes £160 million for the third year of the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund. Most teaching grant budgets will be cut by almost six per cent, including the main allocation for new tuition fee regime students in high cost subjects such as maths. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills has included a requirement to support an increase of up to 30,000 full time students and support a National Collaborative Outreach Network. With research and knowledge exchange funding ring fenced, any further savings from funding to higher education will have to come from the teaching grant. Professor Michael Gunn, Vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University and chair of the university think-tank million+ said: “The Treasury’s decision to lift the cap on student numbers in 2015 has not been backed up with additional resources other than the promise of additional student loans. As a result HEFCE has been required to undertake a difficult balancing act to ensure that a wide range of activities continue to be funded.” “Given that the Treasury estimated that there could be potentially 30,000 additional students by 2014-15 and there is no inflation proofing of fees or funding, the real reduction is more like 9 per cent. No-one should be in any doubt that cuts of this order will be deeply damaging.”
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concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
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25/03/14
Concrete meets: Undergraduate Education Officer Connor Rand
EXCLUSIVE Daniel Falvey News reporter On the 10th March, The Union of UEA Students (UUEAS) released the list of students who had put their name forward to run for a position as a UEA union officer. Elections took place just one week later, and in the seven days between tough campaigning took place all round the university. Among the candidates running for Undergraduate Education Officer was third year history student Connor Rand. Standing for a more “open union” with greater “academic representation” of the undergraduate student body of UEA, he was announced on the 17th March as the newly elected Undergraduate Education Officer for 2014/2015. Speaking exclusively to Concrete, Rand explained the reasons he believed
“The need to have staggered coursework deadlines is something every student can relate to” the student body had elected him to represent them next year. “I think I had policies that were really relevant to students. I think sometimes people don’t feel engaged [with our student union] because it doesn’t seem relevant. I think what was coming through time and time again when I spoke to people was that whoever you were and whatever course you were doing, I had policies that were relevant to
what you were doing. I think that’s why I won it in the end.” Regarding his policies, Rand indicated that he believed there were two key points which were highly favoured by students, ‘I think the need to have staggered coursework deadlines is something that every student can relate to. People saw that this year’s Academic Officer had made sure that no UEA student had two exams on the same day, so I think that telling people that we could do the same for coursework really made logical sense for people as the next step.” Rand also highlighted that he believed another one of his policies also played a
“I think introducing a printing allowance [for students] was very important” key role in his election. ‘I think introducing a printing allowance [for students] was very important because although printing doesn’t cost most people very much, it allowed a dialogue to be held about hidden course costs and about inequality in our education system. I think people realise these inequalities are there…people don’t budget for printing, and targeting a hidden course cost like that opens a gateway to a much wider discussion about inequality in our education system. The printing allowance, coupled with my pledge to publish course costs for every subject, really won people round.’ This understanding of what students really want and what issues really matter to them is “crucial”, according to the incoming union officer, and he is deter-
Budget fails to follow through for students, says NUS Andrew Ansell News Editor The Budget, announced by the Chancellor George Osborne on the 19th March, acknowledged student issues but failed to answer how the Government will see through their promises, according to the National Union of Students (NUS). The Government announced that it will investigate options to support increasing
“The issue of postgraduate funding remains unresolved” participation in postgraduate studies, but it is unclear how students will be attracted to start such programmes whilst the issue of postrgraduate funding remains unresolved. The NUS has urged the Govern-
ment to consider the cost neutral funding model for postgraduate education it has formulated. Support was expressed for the proposal to provide additional support to small businesses in order to create 100,000 new apprenticeship places. The NUS has warned that for these places to be meaningful action needs to be taken regarding apprentice’s wages, which can legally be as low as £2.68 per hour. Toni Pearce, NUS President, said: “we would welcome any announcement supporting an increase in apprenticeships, but we need to ensure that these are genuine oppertunities. Our own research has shown that the measly apprentieship minimum wage could be a major deterrent for those who would otherwise consider taking one up”.
mined to make sure it remains throughout his time in the role. “I’ve said one of the
“One of the first things I will do is begin a student wide consultation on academic issues” first things I will do [as an officer] is begin a student wide consultation on academic issues because, while I can think about what students want, to have a full sample and to use that as a barometer to measure my actions against is going to be really important. Doing that as a starting point will be really crucial. And I think it’s quite simple, I think one of the reasons students don’t feel engaged is because after the elections, they don’t know for the rest of the year what the union does for them. I think part of that is a communication and publicity problem. How many students know they got their exam timetable two weeks earlier this year because of our academic officer? Not enough.’ Another area that Rand is clear that
News
he wishes to improve is careers guidance for undergraduates. Just a few months ago it was announced that one third of all graduates are unemployed for six months or more. Speaking of the current government, Rand highlighted that he does not believe the coalition “truly believes we need to bring youth unemployment down and that we need to create good employment prospects for graduates” , and implied that UUEAS has to do more in order to compensate for this. ‘One of the things I’ve spoken about a lot in my extended manifesto is [the need for] a career workshop looking at skills to help people. Things like interview techniques, cv writing, showing graduates how to best showcase their abilities…a lot of the problems on that landscape is that there is a lack of job security and a lack of regulation around workers’ rights. And so I think it’s important for there to be education for all students about rights in the work place. Too many young people don’t know their rights when they are in a job, and we need to make sure that they do.’
Labour odds on to win Norwich South EXCLUSIVE Andrew Ansell News Editor Ladbrokes, the high street betting company, has announced Labour’s Clive Lewis as the favourite to win the Norwich South Parliamentary seat at the general election in 2015. Ladbrokes has Lewis 1/5 to replace the Liberal Democrat incumbent, Simon Wright. Wright is 1/8 on to hold the seat for a second term in parliament. The company stated that t is unlikely that there will be a higher price on any incumbent MP. The Conservatives are much further out on 1/16 to win the Norfolk seat. The Latest YouGov poll showed the Liberal Democrats to be lagging behind in fourth, with Labour on 40 holding an
eight point lead over the Conservatives on 32 in second. The poll also showed the Liberal Democrats to be 51 points behind Labour among voters aged 18 to 24. On the issue of education, young people too are far more likely to vote Labour than Liberal Democrat, according to the latest polling information.
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A fifth of student homes are infested with vermin, NUS finds
Lara Ellice News Editor A new study by the National Union of Students (NUS) has revealed that over three quarters of students are unsatisfied with the conditions of their home. ‘Homes fit for study’ revealed that over half of the students that took part have condensation, almost half have mould, and a quarter have slug and mouse infestations. Over half have had problems with contacting landlords and having repairs sorted. The research also showed that over a third of students are getting into debt in order to pay the upfront fee that ensures them a property. Over a fifth of students are borrowing money from friends, family and partners in order to meet initial housing costs. A third also struggle with energy bills, and a quarter are unaware of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The NUS commented that an end to letting fees would ensure that students know more about the cost of renting, enabling them to budget better. They are also calling for proper regulation of letting agents. NUS Vice President (Welfare), Colum McGuire, said: “Although there’s a commonly held perception that poor quality student housing is a rite of passage, it is both disgusting and unacceptable that students should live in vermin infested housing in this day and age. “Our research has raised alarming
health and safety issues and we are calling for more effective enforcement of standards to ensure students’ homes are fit for study.” The NUS is urging the Government to ensure that local councils have the resources to deal with local housing issues. 41 per cent of students surveyed only started looking for a house because they were scared of not having one, and 21 per cent signed their contracts seven or more months before moving in. This can become an issue if a friendship group changes, or if students drop out of university.
Chief Executive of Shelter, Campbell Robb said: “No one should be forced to live in a home that is a danger to their health and wellbeing - so these findings are shocking. “We hear from young people every day living in unsafe rented homes, dealing with rogue landlords, struggling to pay sky-high rents, or paying out hundreds in unfair letting fees. “This can’t carry on. The government must do more to improve our broken rental market, and make sure that every landlord provides the safe and decent home that we all deserve.”
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The study showed that only a third of students used house hunting services provided by their university or students’ union, and many turned to friends and family for housing issues instead of official services. With the help of the NUS, student unions will work closely with their institutions to improve student experiences, using initiatives such as accreditation schemes. The 6,696 responses to the survey were gathered from students currently in higher education in the UK.
Survey reveals the changing Prejudice persists at Oxford habits of students Ned Samuel News Reporter
Joshua Mott News Reporter A Sodexo study has revealed the changing motivations and habits todays student. Almost two thirds of students were found to choose to study at university to increase their earning power, up from 36 per cent in 2004. 10 percent also said the jump in fees had forced them to change the degree they were originally planning to do. A quarter of students responded that they had gone to university because of parental pressure. The level of socializing between students has dropped since 2006 when 33 percent spent five hours a day or more so-
cializing. Today this number had dropped to 10 percent. 75 percent are spending up to five hours a day studying since tuition fees have been tripled. Since 2004 the number of university
“75 per cent are spending up to five hours a day studying” applications has dropped by 8.7 percent, which may be atributed to the hike in fees. In 2004 only 2 percent of students saw themselves leaving higher education with debts over £20,000, compared to today’s 58 percent. Furthermore, a fifth of students will go into their overdraft whilst 17 percent expect to graduate with debts exceeding £40,000.
The continued existence of racial prejudice at Oxford University has been revealed in a project called “I, too, am Oxford”. The project has a similar format to the “I, too, am Harvard” initiative that inspired it, with photos of ethnic minority students holding up whiteboards that remark upon racism at the university. One board reads “If you ‘don’t see race’, how come we don’t see that in the admissions statistics?” Elsewhere, two young women hold up boards saying “Yes my hair is real! Do not touch without asking!” More than one student attacks the concept of a “Bounty” – someone who is white on the inside. Among many racist quotes from other students is “You do know they only accepted you because
you’re black?” The project has been praised by many commentators, a rival project denying racism and elitism at Oxford has mobilised.
Comment
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concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk
The ethical issues behind the Pistorius trial
Stuart Bell Comment Writer Did you hear that a South African man is on trial for killing his girlfriend? Of course this is not an isolated incident, and it happens with depressing frequency much closer to home, but this trial is particularly interesting because the man is famous. And white. And an Olympian. And his girlfriend was a model. And he does not even have any legs! I know what you are thinking: this should be on TV. Well it is. The trial of Oscar Pistorius for the alleged murder of his long term girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is being broadcast all over the Western world and beyond. What you may not know is why it is broadcast at all, after all, in the UK we do not have cameras inside courts. The argument in support of broadcasting a criminal trial revolves around transparency and the idea that it will allow the public to hopefully see justice be done. Also, it theoretically protects against injustice
by allowing a greater level of scrutiny on the trial procedure which makes any corruption or bias less likely to happen, or at least more likely to be spotted. However, there is another side to broadcasting which seems to treat
the whole affair as one big reality TV programme. For example, if you watch Sky News you will be constantly shown pictures of the formerly happy couple before Sky roll their opening credits to what they call ‘The Pistorius
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Trial’. In which, the now unhappy Mr Pistorius stands solemnly against a black background while a tune quite obviously orchestrated to sound like the dramatic music from the fictional legal TV series, Silk, plays. They then intensely analyse every aspect of the trial with emotive words such as “shocking” and “troubling” being thrown about. This naturally can create a very warped view within the wider public who falsely believe they understand every detail of the case because they saw it on the news. Now, while in this trial there is no jury to be influenced, it would take a near super human judge to not be affected by the massive public feeling towards Pistorius and therefore the independence of the judiciary could be seriously undermined. Oddly, the media coverage also means that if he is judged to be innocent of murder the question of his potential guilt will still hang like an albatross round his neck as literally millions of people have already reached their conclusion. Is this justice?
Closing the North/South divide Joe Jameson Comment Writer @CommissarJ The debate over the North - South divide has long been one of generally friendly rivalry, but many are now saying that it has become a true economic severance. Since the 1980s and Thatcher’s reign it has become increasingly easy to spot Britain’s ‘two speed’ economy as the south slowly pulls away from the rest of the United Kingdom. The issue, many argue, is that the South is simply too economically dominant as a region, and that the North of the country is suffering as a result. It is interesting to note that investment in Scotland’s traditional economic forces is still quite high, shipbuilding on the Clyde, still a major employer. The North of England, on the other hand, no longer has its industry sector to rely on and lacks investment
from sources which the economy panders to; the tertiary sector. On the whole the UK’s economy is service based, with a vast amount of money made in retail, banking and service industries, this tends to lean towards urban areas, but also attracts investment from corporations who want to employ talented qualified individuals. Theoretically, this should be a win-win for every region of the county. However, the reality is that London is simply the employment hegemon of the UK. That investors like setting up shop in large cities, sometimes right next to universities, is not something unique to the UK; it’s the case all over the Western and developing world. This tends to be where the disposable income is spent, as well as where infrastructure projects, like London’s Crossrail I and II are most likely to be built. This means that more people can commute, move and work in one particular urban hub. What is unique to the UK is that we don’t really have a second City, London simply absorbs all of the available cash and then some. Those of you who caught Evan Davis’ BBC series Mind the Gap, will know that one of the key issues with the UK is the
systemic London bias within the economy. Davis’ garners the opinion of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who claims that we don’t need to spread the “jam” (economic growth) around the “ryvita’’ (country) because, as we pile on more jam it will naturally spread itself out. Boris’ grasp on economics may be contested by some, but his argument does theoretically makes sense. However, this simply isn’t economically sustainable. The Southeast can only
support and house a finite number of people, and London can only grow for so long. The North of the country must be opened up to investors; projects like HS2, the construction of a high speed rail link between London and cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds, are vital to the country’s economic future. The UK is not London, nor is it the South of England; if this country is to have any chance of economic recovery, the North must be allowed to grow.
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Comment
What should a student union do? Elliot Folan Comment Writer Last week, UEA students elected their new Student Union Officers on a record turnout. To many students, the Student Union can seem distant and confusing, with its role unclear. In general, it’s there to provide services to students such as the LCR, Hive, Shop and Advice Centre – and to represent students’ interests within the university and in society at large. But, as readers will have noticed last week, those who want to run our student union have differing views on what its role should actually be. So rather than ask, “What does the Union do?” – a question asked often enough – we should ask instead, “What should the Union do?” From the perspective of this writer, the answer is clear. Firstly, a student union should provide decent services that are run democratically. The LCR, Waterfront,
Hive, Bar and Shop should be affordable, their staff should be treated well and students and staff should have democratic input into how those services are run. Secondly, a union should encourage action to make our campus and our world a better place. It should take stands on big social issues like climate
change, austerity and inequality, and mobilise students to take action on those issues. Thirdly, it should represent students within the university system, much like a trade union. And just as trade unions are not afraid to strike if company management refuse to give in, a student union should not be afraid to
take public and confrontational action when university management refuse to put students’ interests first. Finally, a student union should be a safe space; it should ensure that students from all backgrounds feel safe and secure from oppression in their union and in society, free from racism, sexism, homophobia or ableism. Over the next year, the new Union Officers will get to put their vision of a student union into practice. They’ll confront such issues as the cost of student living, exam feedback, bad landlords, inequality in education and student employment. But they’ll also have to deal with controversies over the union’s management restructure, with cuts to university spending, with plans by the university to increase accommodation fees and with countless other issues. So, to conclude: we need a student union that takes a stand on issues of injustice and inequality on our campus and in our world, and I hope that the new officer team does exactly that.
Tony Benn: Britain’s conscience Graeme Tolley Comment Writer As Tony Benn passed away recently and the obituaries rolled in, rightfully commemorating a life of great service to the working class, one is left to wonder at the vacuum created by his passing. This article will not reiterate here a chronology of his life, his career as an MP and cabinet minister, the policies and institutions he helped establish. Instead, it will take a few words to draw attention to some of the beliefs he articulated with clarity and a persuasive rhetoric that few others managed. Throughout his speeches and writings he would reiterate the need to ask the powerful five questions: 1. What power have you got? 2. Where did you get it? 3. In whose interests did you exercise it? 4. To whom are you accountable? 5. How can we get rid of you? To which he would add: “only democracy gives us that right. That is why no-one who has power likes democracy and that is why every generation must struggle to win it and keep it; including you and me, here and now” (2005). These are words most people can relate
to, yet few rarely consider their meaning and implication. It strikes at the heart of what a democracy should mean: the voting system, the accountability of what those in power promise and what they actually do, what (and whose) interests these people represent and whether this creates conflict within their public role, and the role of central and local government in the administration of services and policies that affect everyone on a daily basis. The idea that governments and politicians should seek to be truly representative of the people that elected them appears to be a self-apparent truth, yet one Tony Benn wholeheartedly followed and many others have neglected. Benn’s fundamental faith in the intelligence and integrity of people was at the heart of his political beliefs and socialist outlook. He did not believe in verbally attacking individuals but instead sought to deconstruct and analyse the institutions and structures that encapsulated them. He would not castigate the Queen for her role in the monarchic system but recognised her as a victim of circumstance; instead, taking issue with the hereditary structure of monarchy and peerage: “If I went to the dentist and just as he started to drill, he said, ‘by the way, Tony, I am not a dentist myself but my father was a very good
dentist,’ I wouldn’t be altogether happy”. It was through such intelligent, insightful and oft-humorous remarks that Tony Benn was able to engage large numbers of people from diverse backgrounds and show them a vision of
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a world that could, and should, be better. The absence now in British politics of his social and political commentary will be sorely missed and the vacuum it creates on the Left will be one that is not easily filled.
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Is there hope for graduate employment? Geri Scott Comment Writer New research conducted by graduate job website Totaljobs has shown that nearly 40% of graduates are still jobhunting six months after graduating, whilst a quarter are still unemployed after one year. Given these statistics, is there hope for graduate jobs in the current economy? Despite a fall in total unemployment to 7.1%, as reported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in late January 2014, the survey found that almost half of all graduates questioned wished they had stayed away from academic courses and opted for “something more vocational” instead. Indeed, a report published by the ONS in 2013 found that 47% of graduates employed within six months were working in jobs that did not require a degree.
This view has been supported by Mike Fetters, the director of Totaljobs, who said: “Although a degree is an essential qualification for some industries, school leavers need to think more carefully about which route to employment is best for them as some may be more suited to an apprenticeship scheme.” However the problem for current students and study leavers is not simply finding graduate employment, it goes beyond this to the endemic problem of youth unemployment in the UK. Statistics released in February 2014 show that in October-December 2013, 917,000 young people aged 16-24 were unemployed. Although this is down by 58,000 on the previous year, many job seekers are having to work in long unpaid internships just to get their foot on the career ladder. Those who have taken the vocational route may not be much better off either, as government figures show that a fifth of apprentices are paid below a measly £2.68 per hour. This intense competition in the labour market has created an effect where those with graduate degrees are working in lower skilled jobs, and those who would have formerly taken these
positions are further squeezed out of the labour market. However it is not all doom and gloom; resilience seems to be the key when applying for graduate roles. The ‘Students Have Your Say’ survey conducted in mid-February, found that graduates applied for, on average, 12 positions before landing a job. For graduates who have been meticulously preparing their perfect CV for months, 12 applications may not seem so bad. Companies are also committed to creating jobs for graduates, with
totaljobs.com
BT recently announcing they will be creating 100 new graduate jobs in East Anglia as part of a wider national recruitment drive. Alan Percy, head of counselling at the University of Oxford, reminds graduates that: “The key thing is to look at how you can keep encouraging yourself and how other people can encourage you. Make sure you look after yourself. Rejections can feel personal, but remember that employers really know nothing about you other than what is on your CV. Don’t allow it to undermine your confidence.”
10 Global Trouble in paradise? Venezuelan protests escalate concrete.global@uea.ac.uk
Ella Gilbert Global Editor Chavez may be gone, but socialism lives on in Venezuela. Chavez’s successor, Nicholas Maduro, faces extreme pressure from antigovernment forces within the country. Since January, protests have been kicking off all over Venezuela in response to social and economic problems. What started out as sporadic student protests in the Andean region turned into more widespread opposition against creeping inflation, and shortages of basic foodstuffs, like cooking oil and toilet paper. People are also angry about some of the world’s highest crime rates and other social ills. Although some of the demonstrations are peaceful, some have turned into violent clashes with riot police. The socialist government, which has largely been responsible for vast improvements in the country’s level of welfare, has focused its attentions on Western areas like San Cristóbal, where much of the violence has taken place. Student protests sparked off here in February, and the level of violence has since been ramped up – the official death toll stands at 28. The most recent death was that of a municipal employee removing barricades in a middle class neighbourhood. The National Guard has been called in to remove barricades in many places, such as the town of Rubio, near San Cristóbal, where 16 people were allegedly injured with rubber bullets and tear gas. In some places, peaceful protest is being met with state suppression and heavy-handedness, though elsewhere antigovernment protesters have seemingly instigated the violence. President Maduro has arrested opposition leaders such as the
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Mayor of San Cristóbal, Daniel Ceballos, for inciting “irrational violence”. He has been condemned for breaching the terms of his office, and failing in his duty as mayor. María Corina Machado, another opposition leader, has also been admonished by the government, which is trying to strip her of her political immunity so that she can be tried. Machado, who came to power in 2003 on the back of an attempt to oust Chavez, funded by the US, has been labeled as elitist, and out of touch with the country’s poor. The Chavistas in the government (and out) would like to see her tried for destabilising the government;
she has encouraged people to stay on the streets, and was largely responsible for the escalation in violence between youth and anti-riot forces since February. The government would probably like to discredit her as an opposition leader too, however; she has been influential in projects such as ‘The Exit’ campaign, which seeks to end the 15 years of socialist rule in Venezuela. Latin American socialism has taken a battering recently with the death of Chavez, the handover from Fidel to Raul Castro in Cuba, and the general zeitgeist that seems to whisper of an end to the golden years of radical South American politics. However,
it is still the last bastion of socialism, and people are far more resistant to neoliberal ideology, which is largely seen as US imperialism, than in places like Europe. It is easy to see the hypocrisy in Maduro’s actions, however, when he cracks down so violently on an opposition movement he labels as ‘fascist’. Maduro still has support, but he is no Chavez – he lacks the charisma. It is easy to imagine a time in the near future where hard-line actions such as have been seen, combined with existing grievances, may tip the scales in favour of anti-socialist sentiment and leave Venezuela on a slippery slope to freetrade conservatism.
China strengthens links with Zimbabwe Dan Falvey Global Writer Crimea’s expected annexation to Russia following the ‘more than convincing’ referendum carried out last week has made headlines in all the broadsheet newspapers. As one might expect, the West has heavily criticised the move, calling Russia’s change in borders an “illegal act”. However, while Russia’s move is one that has shocked and angered many national leaders, officials may also wish to look closely at Africa. It appears that over the last few years, China has begun a subtle invasion of the continent and in particular, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has been under the control of the dictator, Robert Mugabe, and
his ZANU-PF party (Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front) for the last 34 years; except now, evidence has emerged that implies that Mugabe has been on China’s payroll. Confidential Central Intelligence Organisation documents leaked last year imply that the superpower bankrolled Mugabe’s political party as well as providing high level military officers to support the local army in poll strategies in order to secure the re-election of Robert Mugabe to political office in 2013. Further, sources close to those involved have implied that a secret deal has been struck allowing Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister, and someone who received military training in China, to succeed Mugabe as President
when he dies. China clearly has strong links with the African country in terms of its military. Although the exact military agreements between the two countries has been kept secret, there have been claims that a large number of Chinese troops are operating in the Marange diamond fields; an area which has since been cordoned off as a high level security zone. Although it is mere speculation, the argument has been made that China’s military involvement in Zimbabwe is merely to provide bargaining power against countries such as the U.S. Scarily, the heavy investment, both economically and in military occupation, is also happening in countries surrounding Zimbabwe, such as Zambia and
Mozambique. It has been suggested that China is aiming to take control of Africa slowly from the south upwards; militarily, and via investment in natural resources like coltan and copper. No one can deny that the international community needs to keep an eye on the situation in Russia and are right to be concerned with the bloodshed in Crimea. However, it would not do them any harm to keep a careful eye on China’s actions. Just because they have not spilled blood does not mean that their actions are harmless. Zimbabwe has provided China with a key strategic air force base which, should they choose to use it, could situate them perfectly for the use of ‘gunboat diplomacy’ - decision-making through the threat of military force.
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Eating disorders and awareness
Emily Fedorowycz draws our attention to common eating disorders, and discusses why it is important to promote an awareness of them. Food is great. With so much variety and so many delicious things to enjoy it’s no wonder that so many of us have an obsession with it. But it’s also something that is inescapable. No matter who you are, you need to eat to live. For those who have built up a complex, negative relationship with the way that they eat, having food as a necessity can be a burden. The problem with eating disorders is
“In each instance, there is a lack of control with over or under eating and an attempt to regain control, which reproduces unhealthy behavior that most of them aren’t to do with food itself, but to do with controlling what goes in and out of our body, or gaining a particular body shape. This need for, or lack of, control is what seems to drive the three main disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and Binge Eating
Disorders (BED). Anorexia is typically fuelled by the body image the media presents, with skinny models and beauty magazine ‘bikini bods’, so there’s no wonder that this is a common disorder for our generation. As a group very engaged in current media, we are constantly sent a message of an unattainable body image. This can lead to an obsession with trying to achieve it, and feeling a lack of selfworth if we cannot. Bulimia follows the same thinking, but it is driven by the guilt that arises after overeating for comfort, and a desire to rapidly rectify the situation by ‘purging’ or throwing the food back up. Finally, BED comes down to a lack of control that fuels itself in a vicious cycle. Compulsive overeating may occur in order to comfort feelings of inadequacy or depression. The guilt and lack of control while eating then leads to more comfort binge eating and feelings of inadequacy. In each instance, there is a lack of control with over or under eating and an attempt to regain control, which reproduces unhealthy behavior over and over again.
photo: Flickr@ Christy Mckenna
In defence of Student Politics
In light of the recent Union elections, Features writer Jennifer Johnson argues why we should care about student politics Given the number of Union election campaign flyers that found their way underfoot last week, it is not a stretch to claim that ours is a generation disillusioned by political pageantry. The ubiquity of campaign advertisements across campus seems ironic in light of accusations that UEA students are largely apathetic towards the politics of their Union. Low voter turnouts have plagued recent elections, and there can only be two explanations: students are either unaware of the services and opportunities that the Union offers them, or they blatantly don’t care. Mass indifference is a trend with nasty implications - today’s students are set to become a key demographic in the next national election, and a passive consensus does nothing for democracy. Not to suggest that voting for new Union Officers is some sort of dress rehearsal for a performance that involves ticking boxes with names next to them,
“Students are either unaware of the services and opportunities that the Union offers them, or they blatantly don’t care.” but it can’t hurt to practice raising your voice in an arena in which it can be heard. The fact is, our Student Union officers are perhaps the most transparent political
figures any of us will ever encounter. Their influence can be exercised in a perceptible way, and their progress can be traced across campus. No other politicians will ever have the capacity to meet your needs on a near-personal basis. For this reason,
“The fact is, our Student Union officers are perhaps the most transparent political figures any of us will ever encounter.” we need not be disillusioned with Union politics, but take advantage of just how accessible our officers are. Ultimately, the Union is a charity whose sole function is to enrich the lives of students. To ignore its existence is to disregard a wealth of resources and must, quite frankly, strike officers as a bit ungrateful. Granted, the political posturing that leads up to elections may be seen by some as gratuitous or over-the-top. Perhaps the excessive presence of flyers and posters gives students the impression that there are already an adequate number of parties involved in the world of Union politics. At university, it is easy to feel as though you have enough on your plate. Between the stresses of coursework, paid work, and extracurricular involvements,
it could prove difficult to see where research into Union electoral candidates might fit into a given day. However, I am reluctant to place blame for apathy at the polls entirely on the voters. The services offered by the Union—the shop, the pub, clubs and societies, etc.—seem like such an engrained part of life at UEA that it is easy to forget that there is a democratically-elected force behind them. The Union needs to do all that it can to make students aware of its role in their lives and ensure that all available lines of communication stay open. It doesn’t matter whether dialogue is spurred by an increased physical presence in the Union offices or through online means. Ultimately, if the Union comes to feel that it has exhausted all outreach opportunities and student interest is still tepid at
best, then it is the student body that deserves a reprimand for its disinterest. Inquiring minds will always question what motivates a desire for power, even in those involved in small-time Union politics. There is no question that serving as an officer looks great on a CV, but those of us that condemn Union electoral candidates as career opportunists overlook their genuine desire to do good. Behind the fervent
“Behind the fervent flyer-ing and campaign slogans are students with a desire to improve the lives of their peers.” flyer-ing and campaign slogans are students with a desire to improve the lives of their peers. Winning an election will doubtlessly boost anyone’s ego, but the hard work of Union Officers truly begins once campaigns have concluded. As students, the only effort required of us is to pose pertinent questions—we must ask candidates what they intend to do for us, and once they have been elected we must ask for our officers’ help where we need it. This is the only way for our Union to be productive and mutually beneficial rather than just functional.
Though anorexia is one of the most commonly known eating disorders, in fact, only around 10% of disorders fall into this category. Bulimia makes up 40% of disorders, but the other 50% mostly consist of people who fall into the normal body weight range but who have all of the symptoms of the main three disorders. This means that around half of eating disorders will be harder to identify because they might not be physically evident in the individual through being under or overweight. This makes it even clearer how important it is to reassure sufferers that they can and should get help, and how to do so, in case their symptoms go unnoticed. Some may argue that we all have certain symptoms of eating disorders, as many people occasionally binge eat or suddenly restrict their diet for quick weight loss, but this does not compare to the seriousness of the full disorders. The reality is more than just a collection of symptoms; eating disorders can take over people’s lives, infiltrating every
moment of every day, and can damage the individual psychologically as well as physically. I’ve seen this personally in one of my family friends, who suffered in silence for years but outwardly kept smiling, until the effects the malnutrition was having on her immune system became apparent when she was diagnosed with cancer last Christmas. This year, she has finally received the attention she needed. At the start of this month Eating Disorder Awareness Week gave us a chance to widen the public understanding of this problem, but awareness needs to continue. NEDAwareness studies show that 70% of 18-30 year old women are unhappy with their body image, and 43% of men feel the same. Everybody is vulnerable to low self-esteem. With negative body image perceptions being the primal instigator for eating disorders, we need to combat the cause as well as helping those suffering from its effects. Hence, students at UEA have launched Operation Beautiful, a project where post-it notes with compliments and
inspiring quotes are stuck on bathroom mirrors around campus to empower students and bring a positive view to
“The reality is more than just a collection of symptoms; eating disorders can take over people’s lives, infiltrating every moment of every day, and can damage the individual psychologically as well as physically.” body image and self-worth. Being happy and content with who you are is the message we need to promote if we want to combat eating disorders at the root, so as Operation Beautiful have justly said: “Be kind to yourself; you deserve it!” To find out more about Operation Beautiful UEA, you can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/OperationBeautifulUEA. Eating Disorder Awareness Week was organised by B-eat, who offer support and information at https://www.b-eat.co.uk.
Megabus: the perils of cut-price travel
Louisa Baldwin shares her story of the trials and tribulations of the student-friendly coach service After months of nagging I finally agreed to undertake the almighty journey to visit friends at the University of Exeter. I realised my 315 mile quest from east to west would not come cheap, and my fears were realised when a £145 return figure appeared on the National Rail website. Despite an attempt of my friend to mitigate the financial burden by paying half, I realised there was only one other option - the Megabus. Megabus has a reputation for being the popular mode of transport for many a student. At £20 return it was a fraction of the cost and, as a bonus, the coach went directly from campus, so no taxi would be needed to get to the train station. Seems ideal, right? Sadly the luring prices disguise the reality - the cramped, noisy, pigeon-infested reality. I set off at 5.45am Saturday morning and although a little weary and
“Megabus has a reputation for being the popular mode of transport for many a student.” disorientated as I had not seen before midday on a Saturday since the Christmas holidays, I was reassured by the prospect of napping on what I thought would be an empty bus. However, it seemed like many others needed to get to London
technical fault and we weren’t all going to die, we set off again along the M4. Not long passed until the next Megabus fiasco. Taking my UEA water bottle out of my bag I noticed it had become slightly misshapen. In rectifying this issue I failed to realise the nozzle was facing the girl sitting next to me, and proceeded to squirt her in the face. Wanting the ground to swallow me up and after apologising profusely, I spent the next two hours facing the
photo: wikicommons
at this unearthly time, and much to my dismay I didn’t have two seats to myself. My anguish intensified when my fellow coach passenger decided that this would be the perfect time to listen to her heavy metal playlistfailing to understand the basic concept of a personal music player may I add. Arriving at London Victoria Coach Station at 8am, vowing that stern words would be had under the influence of jägerbombs if I saw her in the LCR in the near future, I took my seat and waited for my change to Exeter. The march of the pigeons ensued as they flocked in through the automatic doors and took roost on top of the monitors pecking at crumbs on the floor. Clinging onto my sausage roll for
dear life, I breathed a sigh of relief when my coach was finally ready to depart.
“Sadly the luring prices disguise the reality-the cramped, noisy, pigeoninfested reality.” Half an hour into the second leg of my journey the fire warning light began flashing, which worriedly the driver didn’t seem too concerned about. After another 15 minutes or so he finally decided it might be a good idea to check, which meant an agonising 20 minute wait on the hard shoulder. After he realised this was a
“My fellow coach passenger decided that this would be the perfect time to listen to her music, failing to understand the concept of a perconal music player.” window with my iPod in-avoiding eye contact with my victim at all costs. The Megabus is undoubtedly the first choice for cut-price student travel. However, your cheap as chips journey will only be bearable if you follow my tried and tested method, as I did on the way back home. Find two seats to yourself, put all your bags on the seat next to you, face the window with your Ipod in, and-most importantly-pretend to be asleep. Good luck, Megabus travellers. You’ll need it.
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Environment Planet Earth may Genghis Khan’s empire of mild weather be more blue than concrete.environment@uea.ac.uk
Amelia Edwards Environment Writer Genghis Khan may owe his success to a period of excellent weather. A recent study of tree rings in Mongolia has shown that the rise of Khan’s empire in the early 13 th Century coincided with the mildest, wettest weather in more than 1000 years. The Mongol empire was impressive by many standards. Covering modernday Korea, China, Russia, Eastern Europe, India and south-east Asia, it was the largest continuous land empire the world has ever known. Through studying the tree rings on a selection of ancient Siberian pine trees that date back nearly 2,000 years, American tree-ring scientists have discovered that the years from about 1180 to 1190 were ones of intense drought, and that they were followed by a period from 1211 to 1225 of sustained rainfall and mild weather. This change in the weather would have led to unusual plant productivity, which was essential to Genghis Khan’s success. Each Mongolian horseman is said to have had up to five horses, and without the plant matter to feed them, expansion simply would not have been possible. Amy Hessl, a tree ring expert at West Virginia University, said “The transition from extreme drought to extreme moisture right then strongly suggests that climate played a role in human events. It was not the only thing, but it must have created the ideal conditions for a charismatic leader to emerge out of the chaos, develop an army and
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The Mongolian Steppe, the heart of Genghis Khan’s empire
previously thought Chloe Moore Environment Writer
Flickr: Johnny Shaw concentrate power. “Where it’s arid, unusual moisture creates unusual plant productivity, and that translates into horsepower. Genghis was literally able to ride that wave.” The same tree ring studies have shown that, since the mid-20th Century, the region has warmed rapidly and that recent drought years have become more extreme than during any year these trees have experienced. This worrying trend has encouraged the Mongolian population away from the steppes and into Ulaanbataar, the country’s capital, where roughly half the population now lives.
Genghis Khan Genghis Khan, otherwise known as Temujin, was the “Great Khan” of the Mongolian Empire. His early life was one of nomadic hardship, but he went on to lead the Mongol conquest of much of Eurasia. At his death, the empire spread from the Western Pacific to the Caspian Sea. Peter Sheehan. Below: flowers bloom on the Mongolian steppe.
Last week a study, published in the scientific journal Nature, provided the first direct evidence that parts of deep Earth are hydrous, with possibly as much water trapped in Earth’s transition zone as there is in all the world’s oceans. For the last few decades, scientists have been trying to understand whether the deep Earth is dry, wet, or wet in patches. Prior to the new findings, ringwoodite, a mineral that contains water within its structure, had only been found in meteorites. However, the presence of the mineral within a diamond from the Earth’s mantle provides the first terrestrial evidence confirming that water is present within the deep Earth. The research was conducted on a diamond from a 100-million-year old kimberlite rock from central-west Brazil that was brought to the surface through volcanic eruptions. It was found to contain the mineral ringwoodite, which is thought to only form in the transition zone, which is between 410 km and 660 km beneath the Earth’s surface. The results revealed that the diamond has a water content of approximately 1.0%. Although this value may appear insignificant, ringwoodite makes up an extremely large proportion of the deep earth, with this acting as a major
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Panasonic and China’s state-owned pollution problem Ilyas Christofides Environment Writer Panasonic has announced that it will offer a wage premium to workers sent to China to account for the healthrisks of China’s dangerous levels of smog. Levels of pollutants including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have repeatedly reached more than 400 micrograms per cubic metre, more than 16 times the World Health Organisation’s safety guideline. This denunciation of China’s environmental stewardship is not the first. Environmental damage in China is a result of an unprecedented emphasis on energy production. Whether this is excessive is debatable considering that their 2012 emissions of CO2 equivalent were 6.2 tonnes per capita, a number which is dwarfed by the 17.6 tonnes
emitted by the USA. It is unfortunate that China boasts abundant coal reserves because, of the three fossil fuels, coal is by far the most harmful. Contrary to public belief, however, this is not the only cause. It is also a result of unclear and insufficient policy-making and enforcement. The vast recent increase in societal actors and a wider variety of priorities increase the chance of inaction and conflict during the policy-making process. What is more, often the ownership ties between the state and localities are mere formalities. In high-growth areas, understandably, the ability to provide electricity is a fundamental metric for judging a governor. This, along with a system that has constantly encouraged maximum economic growth, means that localities often make autonomous decisions that ignore or evade national regulations. In Rousseau’s The Social
Contract, he claims the size of the population determines the nature of the government: perhaps this disconnection between state and locality is unavoidable beyond a certain extent. In addition, on accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2001, China turned the ministries of Coal, Petroleum and Electric Power into state-owned enterprises. The result was an energy policy void, with previous ministerial experts now working for energy companies. Though the several bureaus and committees created to replace the ministries possess a great deal of authority on paper, they lack the resources to tackle the pressing smog issue. China’s energy firms are the clear agenda-setters and this is certainly reflected in the quality of the air and the steady rise of the pollution-related death count.
20th Century Fox
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend ... but geologists find them interesting too. And why should girls have all the fun? repository for water that may contain an ocean’s equivalent, or more, of water. Looking beyond Earth, ringwoodite is also expected to form deep within other planets, suggesting that water may be stored in the mantle of rocky planets, including Mars. Further research will aim to predict the amount of water trapped within the interior of other planets in our galaxy, as well as understand exactly how Earth’s plate tectonics control the processes by which water is recycled deep within the mantle.
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Gravitational ‘smoke’ from the big bang
Mabon Elis Science Writer In a landmark new study, astronomers have found strong evidence of the exponential inflation widely believed to have occurred during the first fleeting moments of the universe following the big bang. Unveiling their work, they also showed the first direct evidence of the gravitational waves that accompanied this inflation: the last untested prediction of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. When the universe began 14 billion years ago, it expanded by 100 trillion times in a small fraction of a second. This left an afterglow known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). It was also predicted that such an expansion would produce gravitational waves – ripples in space-time, much like the waves on the surface of water following a disturbance. The Bicep2 project was established to search for these ripples. Gravitational waves, which are also produced by celestial systems in the presentday universe, leave behind them a
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polarisation pattern known as B-mode polarisation. Primordial gravitational waves – those predicted by inflation – would leave such a pattern in the CMB. It is evidence of this polarisation that makes Bicep2’s results exciting. “Detecting this signal is one of the most important goals in cosmology
Looking hot Dominic Burchnall Science Editor Heat vision has typically been the reserve of pit vipers, rattlesnakes and individuals with access to very front heavy goggles. But now in addition to the plans to add micro-circuitry which will allow for a Terminator-esque information overlay to the world, engineers from the University of Michigan have developed an infrared sensor minute enough to install in a contact lens. Most current thermal vision goggles have to be as bulky as binoculars, particularly for long range detection, as the current use systems require a lot of cooling to work efficiently. The key to this new technology involves a substance with a single molecular layer carbon structure, called graphene. Being so miniscule allows, it allows the integration into technology such as contact lenses. However, up until very recently the main stumbling block was to find a way to get enough of a current generated from the light which struck the graphene to stimulate a response. In order to circumvent this obstacle, Zhaohui Zhong and the other researchers started to analyse the current itself, rather than try to use it to generate the power for a signal. They began by putting an insulating membrane between two sheets of graphene, one of which already held an electrical charge. When light struck the non-charged graphene, the little charge
which is generated passes through the membrane, leaving behind a signature of positively charged holes which can then be analysed to identify the pattern of light which struck the surface. The prototype for this technology is already remarkably small, being only the size of a fingernail. If it could be integrated into a contact lens, the applications could be fantastic, and not just for anyone who wanted to try out having a superpower. For search and rescue, it could be invaluable for finding survivors trapped beneath rubble or snow. Energy conservation could be improved by searching for heat loss in a building with an augmented eye. Paramedics could check for internal bleeding or assess the severity of burns with thermal imaging, and could make driving at night or in low visibility conditions much safer for everyone.
Credit: Brad Plummer, SLAC Sourcewire
today,” said John Kovac, who led the experiments and is one of four principal investigators on the Bicep2 collaboration. He and his international team travelled to the South Pole to conduct their experiments. “It’s one of the driest and clearest locations on Earth, perfect for observing the faint
microwaves from the big bang,” he said. The work will now be scrutinised carefully by cosmologists in order to confirm the results. If the work is proved to be correct, it is likely to lead to a Nobel prize. Initial reactions from physicists are full of cautious optimism, with the Bicep2 team themselves amazed at their apparent success. “This has been like looking for a needle in a haystack, but instead we found a crowbar,” said Clem Pryke, one of the principal investigators. “Gravitational waves are a new frontier in astrophysics and cosmology,” said Ed Daw from the University of Sheffield after the discovery was announced. “If today’s findings are accurate then it will further strengthen our understanding of how the universe formed.” The theoretical physicist Andrei Linde helped to establish inflation theory in the 1980s. “It’s amazing because many great intellectual discoveries are never confirmed at the time when the authors are still alive,” he told science journal, Nature. “I’m not dead yet, and they are already seeing this gravitational wave signal.”
A mammoth task Ryan Musselwhite Science Writer Since 2003, when French and Spanish researchers seemingly reversed time and revived an extinct species of wild goat (the burcado), the process now dubbed “deextinction” has been linked with bringing back other species from the depths of time. A discovery last year of a highly preserved 47,000 year old mammoth in eastern Siberia, has recently led scientists to believe in a possibility of reviving the giant that has been extinct for over 3700 years. Muscle and adipose (body fat) tissue were able to be isolated, as well as haemolysed blood containing intact erythrocytes. Other organs were also so well preserved that solid particles thought to be kidney stones and even the contents of the mammoth’s last meal and could be accurately ascertained. This highly preserved mammoth specimen has enabled the likely collection of intact DNA, fuelling the discussion for the cloning of a mammoth into existence and becoming “de-extinct”. The act of “de-extinction” isn’t without its difficulties and moral uncertainties: in fact the Revive and Restore Organisation was founded to tackle these problems. One issue in resurrecting the mammoth is the selection of a surrogate mother. The closest living relative of the mammoth is the Asian elephant and it remains to be seen how close a relative it truly is. It
also raises the question as to whether the process of giving birth to a mammothelephant hybrid would exert too much stress on the host elephant mother. Another issue is the question of habitat and nurture. It is now known that the last surviving mammoths lived after the ice age meaning the tundra climates of today would be suitable for a mammoth. However, the first mammoth would be born and raised by an Asian elephant, an animal that has not evolved to survive in the tundra, let alone equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to raise a mammoth in this foreign climate. The “de-extinction” of the mammoth may soon become a possible reality in a few decades and less of a ‘Jurassic Park’ style fantasy. But without knowing the full story of nature vs. nurture in regards to a mammoth, maybe reviving a species more adaptable to current environments and ecosystems or preserving endangered species and habitats is the correct way to honour one of natures’ extinct giants.
The Royal BC Museum, Canada.
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concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk
Issue 296
25/03/14
Travel
The ultimate festival experience
Alice Cachia Travel Writer It’s summer 2014, the week before you go to your festival and you suddenly realise you haven’t prepared anything. Well, fear not. With this step-by-step guide on how to plan your festival trip, you’ll
be prepared for an amazing few days, whatever the weather! The first thing to consider is how you’re going to get to the festival because parking is expensive. If you go with a large group then it might work out cheaper to split petrol and parking costs that way, but it’s more than likely that it is much cheaper to take a train. Book your
train tickets as early as you can because they’ll be ridiculously cheap in advance, and having a 16-25 railcard cuts costs significantly, too. Following on from this, it is worth thinking about your camping situation as early as possible. Buy a tent that is larger than the number of people staying in it; the worst thing when arriving at your campsite and pitching your tent is realising you’ll have no leg room because your rucksack resembles a small child. Buy a tent which is reasonably cheap because it will be inevitably be destroyed by both the weather and drunken people. Don’t forget to bring blow up pillows, groundsheets for your tent, a mallet to pitch your tent with, and roll mats to make it slightly more comfortable when sleeping. You don’t need to buy these just yet, but invest in a few disposable cameras rather than bringing your digital one. Disposable cameras will capture the essence of your festival trip without the option to delete embarrassing selfies, and if they get lost then it’s not the end of the
world. Following on from this, a cheap Nokia phone is essential for its longlasting battery life, as well as its ability to survive drops and spillages. Top it up by £15 and this should last you for the duration of the trip. Even if the weather says it’s going to be sunny, bringing a pair of wellies with you is going to be key to the survival of your feet. Unless you want to stand in mountains of rubbish and bodily fluids towards the end of a festival day, wellies will protect your toes from fellow festival-goers and rowdy mosh pits. Start saving money now: after the music has finished for the day, you’ll want to go out and explore the fairground rides, the clubs and meet new people. To do so, alcohol is usually a must and, of course, incredibly expensive in the arena. Save a little bit of money away from your student loan or salary each month and, come summer, you won’t have to worry about working extra shifts in order to fund your festival trip. Start planning now, and you’ll have less stress in the run up to your festival, and much more fun throughout its duration. Happy festival-ing!
Granada: Spain’s best kept secret James Szumowski Travel Writer Granada, in the province of Andalusia, is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in southern Spain. Its location makes it possible for holiday makers to spend half a day sunbathing at one of the beaches of the Costa Tropical, and then take an hour long drive to the ski resort which held the 1996 Alpine World Ski Championships. A pretty good location for a settlement, then, which is probably why the Moors chose it to site their best known piece of architecture; the stunning Alhambra. Originally built in 889, the palace and citadel started life as small fortress. Eventually deserted, its ruins were converted in the 11th century by Moorish king Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar to the palace we see today. This was then officially named the residence of Yusuf I, the Sultan of Granada, in 1333, marking its first use as a royal palace. The Alhambra is one of Spain’s most visited tourist attractions, so booking in advance is crucial. A visit in the off season will result in a quieter and less strictly monitored visit, meaning the palace can be strolled around at one’s own pace, rather than being herded through like
cattle. Tickets are cheap, around 14 Euros for the gardens and all three palaces. The stunning carvings, architecture and tiling - as well as the views of Granada and the surrounding mountains - make the trip up more than worthwhile. With a bus service running from the town centre as well, the Alhambra is accessible to all. Famous in Spain for the prestigious University of Granada, which spreads across five campuses around the city, Granada could easily be described as a student hotspot. With 80,000 students the university makes up roughly a fifth of the population, something that doesn’t go unnoticed. Student bars and cafés are everywhere, which makes a nice change from the Irish pubs seen in similar tourist havens around Spain. The lack of direct flights from the UK mean that Granada remains one of the few coastal Spanish cities unspoilt by the English language. A small amount of Spanish is useful, but not completely necessary, as with most places things can normally be worked out. The thing Granada is arguably most famous for is its free tapas culture. Tapas (meaning ‘cover’ or ‘lid’) was originally a piece of bread served with drinks to stop flies or other insects nipping in to the glass for a swim, but eventually evolved in to the Spanish speciality we all know
today. In Granada, however, this tradition never truly changed, and so now dishes like mini hamburgers, calamari, cod with a creamed spinach sauce, Iberic pulled pork with caramelised garlic and various different versions of salsas, dips and nibbles are brought out with every drink ordered. This is such a reliable regularity that many find that over their stay in Granada they never actually order or pay
for any food whatsoever. Granada is a beautiful example of an unspoilt Moorish-Mediterranean city in Southern Spain, with everything a 5-10 minute walk away. Boasting some of the most beautiful scenery in the world; gorgeous little side streets to get lost in and free food everywhere, it’s only a matter of time before it’s overrun with tourists, so get ahead of the curve.
Travel
25/03/14
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concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk
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A not so ideal Spring break
Rachael Parsons Travel Writer The all-American spring break is probably one of the most long awaited short holidays for hundreds of college students. Usually taking place in March, the week long holiday is characterised by thousands of overly excited college students flooding the beaches by day and overcrowding the clubs by night. Some of the top Spring Break destinations include Miami, Panama City, Daytona Beach and the Bahamas; so pretty much anywhere with sun, sea and a whole lot of alcohol. One of the most popular and crowded spring break
destinations is the infamous Cancun. Located in south-eastern Mexico, Cancun is a renowned tourist destination, with sun, sand, clear blue sea, delicious food and lovely resorts. Whilst it may sound perfect in writing, in reality Cancun is not the ideal spring break destination it may seem. The nightlife in Cancun is wild, lively and never ending. The city never sleeps and neither do the students. Many of the clubs and bars, especially the smaller ones, tend to have an open bar once entry fee is paid. With bright lights, loud music, the alcohol flowing and lots of dancing it is no wonder these clubs stay open till the early hours of the morning. However, students wrongly assume
that Cancun is very cheap. In reality the clubs are overpriced, have ridiculously long lines to get in and are genuinely overcrowded inside. Cancun’s biggest club Coco Bongos tends to ask $70-$80 for entry, and if you’re lucky you may get a few free drinks with that! Drinks tend to be overpriced and are not worth the pain of sipping ridiculously cheap brands of alcohol (no Smirnoff Vodka here!). In terms of safety, Cancun looks sketchy. The streets are very dirty with a lot of litter and an unpleasant smell, as well as a lot of scammers. Many parts are guarded by heavily armed police holding huge guns who are not to be messed with. Tourists are very vulnerable and can be easy targets for theft, especially at night and when intoxicated. Always stay with friends, never go anywhere alone, keep an eye on your drinks and always have a mobile phone and emergency cash with you. With regards to the weather, Cancun is almost perfect for spring break due to its tropical climate. In March the weather in Cancun is usually very hot and humid which is ideal for the spring break atmosphere. Sun block is essential and a hat and sunglasses will help too. However, Cancun has the tendency to rain a fair bit so be prepared for some
dark clouds and showers especially in the afternoons. There is very little to do on a wet day in Cancun, so take advantage of the sun while it’s there. If you’re tired of all the drinking then why not spend a day exploring ancient Mayan history at Chichen Itza. Built by the Mayan people, Chichen Itza is filled with ancient ruins, archaeological pyramids, temples and a whole lot of history. There are many tour companies which provide a full day excursion to Chichen Itza including a coach, food and stop offs at markets and landmarks. It’s a nice way to see somewhere outside Cancun and get a top up on your history. However, it’s understandable that viewing historical landmarks may not be a student’s ideal way to spend spring break. Overall, Cancun really isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Although the weather is lovely and the beaches are beautiful, the overpriced nightlife, the scamming of tourists and the genuine look of the place are off putting. Cancun really is no different from one of the Greek party islands, except it’s pricier! With places like Panama City, Miami and California being known to host some of the best spring breaks, Cancun should definitely not be a number one pick.
Kota Kinabalu: A gem in the shadow Nick Brown Travel Writer When someone mentions Borneo, one usually thinks of the rainforests and the wildlife that can be found there, or that the population is less developed than the rest of emerging South East Asia. Kota Kinabalu is the state capital of Sabah, a state in East Malaysia. Located by the South China Sea, surrounded by the mountains and rainforests of the Kinabalu and Crocker Range national parks and home to a hugely diverse mixing pot of cultures, Kota Kinabalu is the perfect retreat for those wanting to experience the culture that moulded Malaysia into what it is today. Possibly the perfect way to start experiencing the city is to catch a ferry over to the islands of Pulau Mamutik or Pulau Manukan. Upon arrival there is a small conservation fee, all the islands off the coast are part of a national park, and the fee allows for the natural beauty of the islands to be maintained. On and around the islands a visitor can find many opportunities, most of them are
surrounded by coral reefs which attract many divers and snorkelers, especially around Pulau Mamutik. The islands are also covered in rainforest and mangrove swamps, so if hiking or jungle trekking is your thing then there are many trails to be followed. On these trails you can get a glimpse of the type of wildlife that can be found throughout Borneo, including pied hornbills, macaques and monitor lizards, the latter of which can sometimes be found roaming the beaches around the edges of vegetation. Although these islands are ideal for some ‘R&R’, there has been a warning issued recently by the Kota Kinabalu police about visiting Pulau Gaya. This Western tip of the island has recently experienced a rising crime rate in one particular village, inhabited by illegal immigrants. So as long as you avoid this area, you’ll still be able to experience the island like you would with all of the others. When the sun starts to set, usually at around 5pm or 6pm, it’s time to leave the island as many activities finish for the day. Walking back to the jetty, especially on Pulau Mamutik, you can see hundreds of sea urchins lining the shallow sea
beds, most of which get brought to the mainland for restaurants and market stalls. Sailing back to the mainland only adds to the experience as you can see the stunning sunset over all the islands. Once you set foot back onto the mainland, the best thing to do is walk over to the pasar malam (Night market). These markets are possibly one of the best ways of experiencing Bornean culture first hand. This is particularly true at the pasar malam, where you can experience cuisines from all over Malaysia. These range from Malay kuey teow (fried noodles with seafood) to traditional Indian
curries. It is also the perfect opportunity to try food from the Kadazan-Dusun tribes, which can only be found in Sabah. Once you’ve filled your stomach, you can wander over to the Filipino market. Here you can find traditional crafts from all over South East Asia and plenty more varieties of food. Kota Kinabalu is perfect for those that want a relaxing beach holiday or for those that are just passing through on their travels around Malaysia, but Kota Kinabalu and even Sabah as a whole are ideal places to find diversity, amazing wildlife and absolutely stunning natural beauty.
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Issue 296
25/03/14
Lifestyle
Keeping skin healthy under stress Ella Sharp Lifestyle Writer Having fresh and healthy skin may not be your number priority when you have dissertation deadlines and the only thing keeping you going is that Saturday night LCR – but having healthy skin should not be underrated. With a few simple tips and tricks you can keep blemishes at bay without drilling into those laborious library hours. For the ladies among us, and we can’t stress this enough: remove your make-up! Sleeping in your post-LCR smokey eye will damage the fragile skin around your eyes. Furthermore, the longer you leave on the waterproof mascara, the harder it is to remove. Frantically scrubbing at your eyes the morning after will only lead to even more skin damage. Invest in a decent eye make-up remover rather than going for the cheap and cheerful make-up wipes; they may seem a lot quicker and easier, but the harsher chemicals and rough texture will dry out your skin and may lead to break outs. The best way to remove face make-up, as well an ensuring healthy, clean skin is to get into a really simple routine: cleanse, tone and moisturise. Yes, this is for the
guys too. Cleansing your skin with a decent cleanser will get rid of make-up as well as unclog pores. There’s no need to reach for a super expensive cleanser either; a mid-range one will be just as good. Using a toner after gets rid of even more dirt and closes your pores. Finally, and most importantly, moisturise; even if you are prone to oily skin. Moisturising is integral to having healthy skin and it will keep your skin in good condition for the years to come. Choose a moisturiser with an SPF in for the day time, so your skin is super protected. If this all sounds a bit technical, don’t worry! Picking up these products is super easy and shouldn’t cost over £10. They will last a good few months too. Another way to ensure your skin is bright, healthy and looking good for the upcoming summer months is to eat and drink the right foods. We shouldn’t have to spell out that chocolate and greasy foods won’t do your skin any favours; but by adding a few key ingredients into your diet your skin will absolutely thank you. Stocking up on Vitamin C rich foods, such as oranges and sweet potatoes, will help heal any spots and blemishes. Nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts, as well as fruits like avocados, contain heaps of Vitamin E which promote cell growth; your skin will look brand new after just a few weeks. Try
taking almonds or hazelnuts onto campus for healthy seminar snacks, or roast some sweet potatoes for dinner; adding these foods into your diet isn’t that hard. Of course, we must mention to keep
your skin, as well as your body, in great condition by drinking plenty of water. Replace that bottle of Ribena or Coke with a bottle of water and you’ll be on your way to great skin in no time!
Getting a good night’s sleep Beth Saward Lifestyle Writer It’s essay season and that means late nights spent in the library frantically writing and stumbling sleep deprived into lectures and seminars. But sleep is vital to achieving and performing at your best this time of year. There are several things that can impact negatively upon your sleep. Obviously there are emotional factors such as anxiety and stress brought about by looming deadlines. Pain, colds and headaches can all affect sleep. But something as simple as a change in your daily routine or environmental factors such as too much light, noise or a change in temperature can have an effect, not to mention drugs and alcohol. The NHS says one in three people in Britain suffer from poor sleep. Regularly missing out on sleep can put you at increased risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes whilst also shortening your life expectancy. We’re all familiar with the common symptoms of sleep deprivation including fatigue, short temper and a lack of focus. You feel irritable, suffer from headaches,
can’t focus on your work and feel like your brain is cotton wool. Continued lack of sleep results in decreased concentration, impacts negatively on your mental well-being and can lead to you nodding off during seminars and lectures. Getting enough sleep makes you feel more rested and better prepared for tackling those deadlines. Sleep also boosts your immunity, can help you lose weight
and improve your mental health, reduces risk of diabetes and heart disease and also increases your sex drive. It’s all about having a regular sleeping routine; going to bed and waking up at the same time every day and avoiding napping. You should start getting ready for bed about hour before you plan on going to sleep. Use this time to relax. Try not to take your problems to bed with you, as hard as that
is sometimes. Regular exercise during the day can help you sleep but it’s important to avoid exercise within three hours of going to bed unless it’s something relaxing like yoga. Go outside on a regular basis: exposure to natural light helps maintain a healthy and natural sleep rhythm. On the subject of light, try turning off your laptop and phone an hour before you go to sleep as the lights negatively affect your circadian rhythm. You should only really use your bed for sleeping and sex. Train your brain to see bed is a place for these activities and not for work, going on Facebook or watching Netflix. It seems obvious but avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol and nicotine before going to bed. Nicotine and caffeine are stimulants and alcohol can disrupt sleep later in the night. Similarly avoid going to bed hungry or too full. Finally don’t force yourself to go to sleep. If you know you struggle, remove clocks from your bedroom so you’re not watching the time. Get up after half an hour of tossing and turning and do something relaxing in a separate room. Go back to bed when you feel sleepy. And try not to worry too much about those deadlines.
Lifestyle
25/03/14
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
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Norwich’s finest coffee shops
Lucy Morris Lifestyle Writer Step off the 25 bus from university into town, and you will immediately be confronted with a Starbucks, Nero’s, Costa – or all three. But what about Norwich’s lesser-known coffee shops? Concrete steps away from the chain coffee stores, and into the narrow streets of Tombland and The Lanes to bring you a list of Norwich’s lesser-known coffee shops. Café Warings If you come from London and your experience of coffee served in furniture stores has formerly been limited to the Edmonton IKEA where they once had a riot over £4 end tables, then Warings is a revelation. This cafe is situated inside the high-end central Norwich furniture store which shares its name, and where the surroundings are as tasteful as the coffee: even the cushions cost over £200! While the coffee is just as high-end (Saeco Aroma espresso machine, anyone?) its price is, thankfully, somewhat more friendly to a student budget. They also do a great range of teas from teapigs. 24 Cattle Market, NR1 3DY.
The Window Coffee Definitely the cutest coffee shop on our list, this store claims to be the UK’s smallest café. While Window’s compact size and homey vibe definitely extends to its lower-case lettered signs and menus, their coffee wields an outsize influence. Hand-made by champion barista and café proprietoress Hayley, it’s come fifth in the annual UK Barista championships. The café’s wonderful house blend and twee philosophy make it well worth a visit. Don’t forget to say hi to Daisy the coffee shop dog! 25 Wensum St., NR3 1HY Mustard Coffee Bar Situated in the original Colman’s
Mustard Shop, this indie café serves up history alongside the coffee. Fittings and fixtures from the old store are still visible, though sometimes hidden underneath the constantly changing local art displays in store. The shop is somewhat unique amongst coffee stores in Norwich, in that the team hand-roast all their coffee beans. 3 Bridewell Alley, NR2 1AQ The Little Red Roaster Another store which insists upon hand-roasting its beans, Red Roaster is situated just outside the city centre area of Norwich. One advantage of this store is the sheer variety of specialty and artisanal coffees on offer - with on-site roasting and
hand-grinding, dedicated coffee-snobs swear by it. 81b Grove Road, NR1 3RT. Cherryleaf Coffee House Very much the go-to destination for Norwich yummy mummies and stressedout parents, this coffee shop is notably less youth oriented than the others on our list. Perhaps because of this, it’s remained somewhat off the radar for the majority of Norwich students. Offering a variety of hot food (including continental breakfast) and some decent coffee, however, it’s worth your while, provided that you don’t mind running into the odd lecturer. 50 St. Giles Street, NR2 1LW Stranger’s Coffee One for the artisan fans, Stranger’s promises ethically sourced, specialty coffee made with painstaking care. Their signature macchiato, the ‘Apple Mac’, is made to a formula so obsessive as to make the most stringent of Silicon-Valley coffee nerds blush. Inside, the roughhewn wooden counters and instagramperfect décor will be familiar to anyone who frequents the Bicycle shop, or any of Norwich’s other hipster-ish haunts. English students, I’m looking at you. 21 Pottergate, NR2 1DS
The best beaches in Norfolk Rebecca Bemment Lifestyle Writer The surge of spontaneous sunny weather recently makes it the perfect time to head to the beautiful coastline of Norfolk. With coursework and exams looming, what better way to spend those few free hours with friends on the beach. Perfect for walks, sunbathing and sporting activities, it’s the perfect escape from the pressures of university. And with so many beaches nearby to Norwich; it’s a great way to relax with friends. With 93 miles of coast, Norfolk provides a whole host of places to visit. And here are just a few of the most popular and attractive beaches that Norfolk has to offer. Cromer has always been a popular resort for people of all ages what with its traditional pier, opportunities for water sports, and a range of local seafood. In this bustling town you will find an array of restaurants, cafes, and shops as well as art galleries accompanying the beach, perfect for an afternoon away from revision. Similarly, Hunstanton, also known as ‘sunny hunny’, offers a beautiful
stretch of Norfolk coastline. With a gorgeous beach and activities such as boating trips and pitch and putt, this is a popular place to visit on hot days. Not far from Norwich, it is easy to get to and is well worth a visit. Also, Holkham offers a four mile stretch of beach, perfect for walking. With its brooding beach, it is famed for its eerie and breath-taking atmosphere. It has been voted the best beach in the UK according to a recent survey of travel writers, suggesting that is unspoilt stretch of beach is still as popular as ever. Equally, Sea Palling is a vibrant village that offers a range of exciting activities such as wind- surfing, cannoning, and jet-skiing as well as being voted an excellent swimming beach. Whether you want to experience these activities or to observe the beauty of the beach itself, it provides a long stretch of coast to suit whatever you want to do. And with a pub, shop and café, it’s the perfect place to eat and drink in this weather! And finally, Cley-next-the-Sea, another perfectly preserved expanse of beach, less known than Holkham and Hunstanton, offers a little less
bustle. A stony beach with a backdrop of marshland makes it a real walking beach. Not famed for its attractions, the real reason most people come to Cleynext-the-Sea is for its peacefulness and sheer beauty, not needing a bustling town to overshadow its beautiful scenery. So whatever you’re looking for, there is a mass of Norfolk coast that
is perfect for getting away from the ongoing work load of university. Whether you want something with a bit more activity or just want an afternoon of walking, there are plenty of choices that are easy to get to via public transport. Norfolk is famed for its scenery and with the weather like it currently is, it seems an ideal time to explore it!
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Issue 296
concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk
25/03/14
Sport
UEA Pool steal the show in Derby Day finale Josh Edwards wins Derby Day 2014 for UEA in a stunning encounter against Essex. Charlie Savage Sports Editor
Editor’s column Charlie Savage Sports Editor Derby Day is always a special moment in the UEA sporting and social calendar, but 2014’s edition is one that will live long in the memory of spectators and participants alike. A Derby Day in Essex will inevitably be harder to get excited about from a UEA perspective– for one, the majority of our students are still in Norwich and two, the away side normally lose. But 2014 was different. The media coverage for one was impeccable. Testament to this was how closely involved UEA students on campus felt to the events over 60 miles away in Essex. Seeing the results for ‘#DerbyDay2014’ on twitter showed just how enthusiastic everyone became as students both past and present willed UEA over the line. Throughout the day it was hard to escape the rapport and togetherness of the UEA students that sets it apart from other Universities. Both players and fans were united in their support that culminated in a brilliant atmosphere around the campus – it felt like a home event. Heading to various different events, it was heartening to see other UEA clubs support a variety of sports that perhaps would not generate the same notoriety otherwise. It was fitting that UEA Pool won the crucial game to secure Derby Day and was a success story that warmed the hearts of the whole UEA community. There were members of Football, Rugby, Hockey, Tennis, Cheerleading etc. getting behind six players, boasting a terrific skill, to a level that they certainly would not be used to, nor expected. It would be fantastic if this support didn’t have to be just for one day. Every Wednesday there are great BUCS sports taking place all over campus, and the extraordinary backing that only UEA students can give should be present at each one. Derby Day 2014 was, for many, the highlight of their University career – but there is no reason why UEA students cannot show that same level of enthusiasm and passion for a whole variety of supports throughout the year. It is up to us to ensure that Derby Day 2014 can leave a legacy that will affect the lives of every UEA student every single week for years to come.
UEA 19 Essex 11 In a historic battle at Wivenhoe, UEA claimed victory over Essex in Pool and in doing so crowned the away side victors of Derby Day 2014. The team headed into this fixture on the back of some great form - winning the BUCS pool championships in Great Yarmouth - and were determined to use that momentum to steer them to victory. Nobody could have predicted quite how much would be riding on the last event in Essex, as the expectant crowd huddling round the three pool tables were treated to a fitting climax to a brilliant day. Both sides had six players competing each, with 36 frames to play for. Captain Nikolas Charalambous was consistently emphatic in his victories – only losing out once to an opponent and keeping his nerve to beat perhaps Essex’s strongest player by several pots.
Even when news filtered through to the players that victory would clinch Derby Day, UEA players were unwavered as they maintained a steady lead against Essex throughout the tie. In the race to get to 19 frames, UEA were always comfortable. Tim James, Daniel Winterbourne, Torr Cumming and Daniel Keeble were all valiant in the victories as each frame filled the travelling support with hope of a Derby Day win in Essex for the first time in 10 years. James was particularly impressive – losing once and winning four of his fixtures. But it was Josh Edwards who was the hero of the day. As the score was locked at 18-11 Edwards knew that a UEA win would not only win the frame, secure victory in the pool, but also have his University rejoicing a miraculous Derby Day win. With both players down to the last ball, Edwards kept his nerve to sink the black and immortalise his name into UEA folklore. As news began to filter back to Norwich, captain Charalambous expressed how proud he was of every single member of his squad: “I know how much of a team we are and had no hesitation in knowing if we would win or
not.” “The difference between us and Essex, I would say, is that ‘we play like it means nothing, when it means everything.’” UEA players were given the honour of lifting the Derby Day trophy, and how fitting a tribute that was given the strength in character they showed on the day – a perfect end to the perfect year for UEA Pool.
Photo: Will Cockram
Netball seal emphatic win against Essex Holly Wade Sports Correspondent
UEA 42 Essex 19 Both the Netball 1s and 2s took on the Essex 1s and 2s respectively in Essex this Derby Day. UEA spectators filled the grassed area around the outside courts to cheer on the girls and help them towards their wins. The 1s game began with the UEA centre pass and this soon lead to a goal with the ball in the capable hands of goal attack Alex Makin. Essex were particularly aggressive, consistently barging the girls but the umpires failed to penalise them for this. Centre Sally Grice was on fire with some particularly good intercepts. The Essex attack were particularly scrappy and the defence of Charlotte Moorhouse, Rachel Dean and Hannah Matthews capitalised on this by turning around the ball for the UEA
advantage. UEA pressurised Essex particularly well. There were some great passes from Moorhouse and both her and Dean grabbed the rebound incredibly well. By the end of the first quarter UEA lead 9-1. By the second quarter Essex attempted to step up their game but they could not make this stick as UEA consistently got the ball back towards Makin and shooter Hayley Lewis. Matthews had some particularly good intercepts of Essex balls and Asha Williams as wing attack was solid and strong in her performance. By the third quarter UEA were leading 15-5 and there seemed to be no real way for Essex to make a comeback. The home side continued to be aggressive. UEA had a brief change around with Lewis moving into wing attack and Williams taking the role of shooter. Whenever the ball was in the hands of Williams she rarely missed and enabled UEA to extend the score to 29-8. The fourth quarter was undoubtedly UEA’s finest as they scored continuous
goals and Essex failed to score any. The UEA support was incredible, spurring the girls on and denying any chance of Essex success. The game finished 44-8, an incredible end to the netball season for the team. On the adjacent court the 2s were also playing hard, leading against Essex for the duration of their match. Essex 2s proved equally aggressive as their other team but shooters Maddie Ewer, Deyonte Abbott-Lewis, Fiona Bull and Helena Bradbury performed well to keep the goals coming. Some star performances came from the rest of the team, consisting of Samy Gibson, Becky Borrows, Alex Harvey, Jess Johnson, Ella Crook, Lucie Downs, Emma Wilcox and Jane Botcherby. The girls performed incredibly well as a team and finished their match with a strong 42-19. Both the netball teams had great matches and helped UEA on their way to an away victory. With this being their final matches of the season it was great to see both teams win and show just how strong they, and UEA, are.
Sport
21 Women’s Lacrosse ease to Derby Day victory Grace Rundle Sports Correspondent
25/03/14
shooters with Moji Adegbile a force to be reckoned with on the tackles. The goals kept rolling in, with UEA looking like the sure winners. But a yellow card for Annie Porter brought the side down to eleven
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on the field, forcing them to play safe, so as not to jeopardize their sensational comeback until they were back on even numbers. With twelve minutes to go in the final
half, UEA were three ahead, but another goal for Essex ensured tensions remained high. One more goal for UEA finalised a score of 9-6 to seal Team UEA’s first victory of Derby Day 2014.
UEA 9 Essex 6 After finding out that Essex were top of their BUCS league UEA knew they had drawn strong opposition, an opening goal from Essex only confirmed these suspicions. However, following a series of tough games recently, UEA entered with the confidence of having an experienced squad. UEA quickly found themselves three goals down before Susannah Cant put one away for the visitors. There was frustration from both sides as the ball struggled to move out of the midfield, and the umpire warned the captains about illegal tackles. With the fear of cards being given, the game became much cleaner. A timeout called by Essex worked in UEA’s favour; a change of tactics led to increased possession and more shots on goal. The second half gave UEA their chance to shine; Milly Heelan moved the ball effortlessly from defence to the
Women’s Hockey secure 3-1 Derby Day victory Will Medlock Sports correspondent With the overall score line tight and the end of the day looming, the women’s hockey side took to the synthetic pitch backed by a partisan away following. Positioned on a slight mound behind the enclosed pitch, choruses singing the praises of UEA and individual players rang out from the visiting fans, only serving to increase an already tense
atmosphere. The women, in UEA’s traditional navy and yellow, started the match brightly, camping themselves in the Essex half for long periods. Despite not being able to take advantage of a number of goal mouth scrambles, the confidence continued to flow through the away team. Louise Patterson saw shots in quick succession blocked as UEA pressed for the opening goal. However, the hosts were defending resolutely and countering through the impressive number 13.
Essex grew into the match as the half wore on and almost took the lead when a shot deflected just past the post. Unfortunately, UEA didn’t heed the warning sign and fell behind when the ball was slapped home from close range. The goal lifted the vastly outnumbered home supporters and ensured it was UEA who blinked first in an edgy encounter. Anna – Lena Otzen embarked on a strong run but couldn’t get her shot away as Essex continued to ride their luck in their own half. It seemed inevitable that a UEA goal would come, but the home side were proving clinical in front of goal. UEA were dominating possession but were punished at the back every time Essex came forward. This increasingly frustrating pattern continued when an Essex forward tapped in after a cross had been driven across the face of goal. With UEA shooting towards the majority of their supporters in the second half, a comeback seemed likely. However, Essex caught the visitors cold immediately after the interval when the home number seven neatly worked her way out of a tight corner before driving the ball towards goal. It was difficult to tell if the cross-cum-shot had taken a deflection on its way in but either way UEA were facing a near impossible task. The visitors continued to press, winning a number of set pieces which were dealt with consistently by the home
defence. As the game looked headed for a deceptively convincing score line, UEA finally hit the back of the home net through Jessica Wilson to offer hope for the final five minutes. However, Essex held on to claim an important victory, leaving the girls dejected at the harsh result. While the 3-1 score flattered Essex, the UEA side could take mild consolation from the fact that they were the better side but lacked the luck that Essex were granted.
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Essex second half comeback shocks UEA
Charlie Savage Sports Editor
UEA 2 Essex 2 UEA men’s first football team surrendered a two-goal lead against Essex as the point was shared in scorching conditions in Colchester. The match drew a huge crowd, who were certainly not disappointed by the drama and quality produced over the 90 minutes by both sets of players. UEA set up with a 4-1-4-1 system, seeking to catch Essex on the break at every available opportunity. The opening stages began cautiously, as both sides looked to acclimatise to the weather conditions as well as the boisterous crowd covering the perimeter of the pitch. Ryan Chapman’s set pieces were a constant threat to the Essex defence and it was an inch perfect delivery from the midfielder that forced the away side into the lead. From just inside Essex’s half, Chapman swung in a ball that decieved the whole defensive line. An attempted clearance eventually came off Ryan Fletcher and, more through luck than judgment, found its way into the back of the Essex net – cue
delirious celebrations from the travelling support. It wasn’t long before UEA doubled their advantage. After a measured through ball from Graham, Fletcher found himself locked in a one-on-one dual with the opposing defender. It was the Essex man who blinked first as he went to ground in a last ditch attempt to foil UEA’s goal-scorer. Despite seeming to mostly get ball, the referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot, and after a spectator delay, Chapman held his nerve to send the keeper the wrong way and send UEA
fans into ecstasy. The home side offered disappointingly little in the way of attacking options, but this was largely down to the way UEA had set up. Luke Graham was the linchpin of the UEA team and served to be a constant thorn in Essex’s side during the first half with his strength and expert reading of the game. Heading into the second half, UEA would have been forgiven in thinking they were cruising towards a Derby Day victory – but it was one momentary lapse in concentration that undid all their hard
Photo: Jonathan Alomoto
Sport
work. A ball into the box from the right flank somehow found its way through the whole UEA defensive line, only failing to elude the Essex front man who tapped in from a yard out with their only meaningful chance of the game. UEA were certainly rocked after that sucker punch and within a minute Essex’s comeback was complete. After a rare sloppy moment in midfield UEA lost possession to an Essex striker, who ingeniously found the top corner of the net whilst surrounded by men from just inside the box, giving Alex Kibbey no chance in goal. Heading into the final moments of the contest, it was only the away side who looked like getting a winner. Chris Martey and Joe Jones both caused Essex serious problems on the wings after coming on, but UEA lacked the clinical finishing that would have won the game. UEA dominated the game for all but two minutes and captain Gwion Ap Dafy summed up the feelings of a depleted squad at the full-time whistle: “After leading 2-0, coming off the field at the end with a draw feels like a loss.” “It’s a harsh lesson for the lads, but I’m sure this will make the squad stronger. We’re still fighting in our BUCS league, and although today was not meant to be, we will use this as our motivation to make sure we put things right in the coming weeks.”
Excellent Crowther inspires Rugby rout Will Medlock Sports Editor With the day beginning to take shape, UEA women’s rugby team cruised to an emphatic 70-0 victory over their Essex counterparts. As results filtered through from around campus, it appeared that the bid for the title would go down to the wire,
Photo: Jonathan Alomoto
ensuring any UEA point won would be significant. Before the women’s rugby side could earn their own crucial point, a number of obstacles stood in their way. A delayed start to proceedings, due in large part to the absence of a qualified referee, caused unrest. Padding around the goalposts was also a requirement that the UEA side insisted on having. The tenacity
that the team would show in abundance throughout the course of the game was being displayed with interest before a ball had been kicked. UEA’s number 1, Claire Thomas, also revealed her frustration that the Essex team wanted to play 20 minute halves, as opposed to the conventional 40. Once a referee was found, and the rules were settled upon, UEA settled into their stride and never looked back. It is
not an exaggeration to say that the hosts did not cross the UEA 22-metre line on one occasion in the first half. The pace and drive of Nina Crowther saw her claim five tries in the first half. There was an air of inevitability whenever the UEA number 10 slalomed her way to the goal line, the outcome already known. The dejected Essex side knew it more than most. Alice Rayner assumed the role of serial salt rubber in the wounds of Essex as she consistently added the extras to Crowther’s tries to condemn the Blades to a first half obliteration. Thomas, Alice Edwards and Rebecca Edwards also claimed tries for UEA after rucks near the goal line. Essex found some belief in the second half, despite the 50-0 scoreline. The home team’s number eight appeared the most likely to slip through the UEA backline. The visitors, happy to soak up a little pressure in the early afternoon sun, found their rhythm once more. Alice Edwards appeared to claim her second try of the match, but the referee blew for a foul. Moments later, Hannah Trafford took advantage of UEA’s mainstay in the Essex half, taking the tally to 55-0. Naomi Sadoff came off the bench to claim another try before Crowther and Alice Edwards added more points to round off a sumptuous p e r f o r m a n c e .
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UEA Cheerleading controversially draw Holly Wade Sports Correspondent Derby Day got off to a fun and energetic start with the cheerleading as the UEA Angels took on the Essex Flames. The girls all looked very lively in their fun and glittering outfits. The Flames began with their pom dance, performed to a range of Beyoncé music, always a winner for the crowd. The girls were incredibly in sync with strong presentation. There was a relatively small group of Flames and it was later revealed that their team is also their competition squad so they were very much expected to win. The cheerleading moved on to the Angels stunt performance, opening to the Black Eyed Peas. The girls really held their shapes in the air well and had perfect timing. There were some great gymnastic tumbles and flips, and the girls moved out of their lifts elegantly. The performance as a whole was very upbeat and the ending was particularly dramatic. The Flames then took their turn to perform their stunt routine. There was a lot going on and, at points, it was difficult to fully engage with everything happening at once and so quickly. One
Photo: Patrick Sumner-Stokes
girl was dropped and, unlike UEA, the Flames struggled to keep her up in the air. Their moves as a whole seemed difficult, but were performed with a strong energy. The girls weren’t always in sync, but their ending was very theatrical and added to their overall performance. The finale of the cheerleading came with the UEA Angels pom dance. The girls performed brilliantly with huge energy and an amazing performance, their facial expressions really showing the fun they were having. The dance was upbeat, fun and engaging for the audience and, as the Angels had a much bigger group of girls performing, it was more unique. After around 20 minutes of deliberating the results were in. The Essex Flames won the pom dance, as was expected due to their usage of their competition squad, and it was a draw for the stunt performances. The judges clearly had huge difficulty in choosing the winner and with both universities dropping a girl in their stunt routine the outcome was fair. Overall, the UEA Angels performed fantastically and were robbed of a win in their dance section. The fun and engaging performances from all of the competitors were a delight for all of the spectators and got the day off to a great start.
Double penalty drama envelops men’s football Will Temple Sports Correspondent
UEA 3 Essex 3 A controversial decision to award a penalty to Essex meant that the UEA men’s second team had to come back late on to claim a 3-3 draw in a thrilling encounter in Wivenhoe. After taking the lead through Gary Hargreaves, UEA fell behind after two quick goals prior the interval. The boys in blue then equalised with Bradley Nelson, before a penalty for either side meant that the teams were forced to share the spoils on Derby Day. Despite being one of the standout contests on UEA’s triumphant Derby Day, the match started slowly, with neither team wanting to give anything away in the opening exchanges. The first incident of note fell to the hosts. An in-swinging corner evaded everyone except an Essex defender, whose header was ruled offside, much to the delight of the travelling UEA support who made their presence known throughout. The deadlock was eventually broken
by UEA, after a sustained period of dominance. After some great jinking wing play, the ball fell to Hargreaves 8-yards from goal and he sent an unstoppable shot past the goalkeeper’s despairing dive. After being saved by the officials previously, it was another free kick from
Photo: Will Cockram
the left that brought the Essex equaliser. Although the initial flick-on was saved brilliantly by Kavi Luchowa, there was nothing he could do with the follow up as the Essex man stole home. Failure to deal with set-pieces began to look like it could be UEA’s downfall
when Essex took the lead on the stroke of half-time, with a thundering header from another free-kick finding the net. The score line was harsh on UEA, who had more of the play in an edgy first half. Essex started the second half as strongly as they had finished the first with their big number 10 proving to be a good outlet. However, UEA managed to find their way back into the game thanks to the endeavour of Nelson. A hopeful ball forward was chased by Nelson, who then beat the goalkeeper in the air to nod the ball home. In an ever changing game the score line once again swung in favour of the hosts, when they were controversially awarded a penalty. When Essex’s substitute striker attempted to round the Luchowa, the referee pointed to the spot, claiming that the keeper had tripped the forward. Despite the challenge appearing a clean one and the front-man staying on his feet, the big striker dusted himself down to send Luchowa the wrong way. However, there was still time for one more twist. Hastings was scythed down in the area, allowing Alex Willerton to convert the resulting spot-kick. Although UEA had achieved a credible draw, the sense of injustice left them wondering what might have been.
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Issue 296 Derby Day special 25 March 2014
Photos: Jonathan Alomoto, Patrick Sumner-Stokes & Will Cockram
VENUE
ISSUE 296 Ciara Jack
concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
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VENUE
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your spring wardrobe Bonjour! Welcome to the penultimate issue of Venue, and sadly for us editors, the end is nigh. Fortunately the beautiful sunshine has put a spring in our step to carry us through the rest of the coursework period. This month has seen some absolute blockbusters in the cinemas, both art house and multiplex. The Grand Budapest Hotel has been a favourite for many, with both razor sharp and slapstick humor, that at times is reminscent of black and white comedies. This and the impressive visual dedication to almost every frame has made it a box office favourite. We also have our very first ‘10’ rating in our film section, so flick to page 18 to see our review of Under the Skin.
CREATIVE WRITING a delicious theme
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Meanwhile, please visit http:// Editor-in-Chief | Sidonie Chaffer-Melley www.concrete-online.co.uk for Venue Editors | Hayden East and Ciara Jack information on being a senior editor Music | Editors | Jack Enright and Alex Flood for Concrete and Venue 2014/15. Music Contributors: Alex Flood, Jennifer Johnson, Imi Launchbury, Charlie We want your meticulous editing, Methven, Molly Pearson writing skills and creativity, so please Fashion | Editors | Madz Abbasi and Ella Sharp do get in touch! Fashion Contributors: Gemma Carter, Rachel Hayllor, Helena Urquhart Arts | Editor | Callum Graham Have a wonderful Easter holidays! Arts Contributors: Callum Graham, Katie Kemp Creative Writing | Editor | Holly McDede Stay cute, Creative Writing Contributors: Jasmine Flores, James Machell, Jake Ciara and Hayden Reynolds, Rosanna Le Rossignol, Stoyo Stoev, Isabella Thompson Gaming | Editor | Callum Graham Gaming Contributors: Joe Fitzsimmons, Sam Emsley Television | Editor | Robert Drury Television Contributors: Rebecca Bemment, Katie Dolan, Rob Drury, Melissa Haggar, Holly Wade, Reoghan Walsh Film | Editors | Holly Wade and Adam White Film Contributors: Matthew Atwood, Adam Dawson, Neven Devies, Daisy Jones, Luke Keleher, Chris Rogers, Adam White, Competitions & Listings | Editor | Saul Holmes
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MUSIC
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
UP AND COMING: NEW ARTISTS
Music Editor ALEX FLOOD picks his cream of the emerging crop
miketrampetv
Ah. A new artists piece. The perennial opportunity for any budding writer to prove his credentials as a hipstercome-music bod of the highest order, consciously shoe-horning every last drop of pretentiousness he possesses into several hundred words of “who’s that” and “never heard of ‘em” journalistic gold. Who cares, right? Well, anyway, a smattering of bands and solo artists are making waves in the industry currently, from Scandinavian pop princesses to young hip hop generals from the Big Apple, and in the least pompous way, here they are. First up are post-punk Danish trio, Shiny Darkly. Although the holders of perhaps the worst band name since Alex Turner and co. thought Arctic Monkeys was an apt description of four scrawny loons from Sheffield, Shiny Darkly produce a sound that sits somewhere between the broody, sinister gothic rock of Joy Division, and Jesus and the Mary Chain’s apocalyptic blaze of feedback and general anarchy. Early tracks ‘He’s Suicidal’ and ‘Dead Stars’ add new life to a genre long bereft of any originality, and set the tone for the highly anticipated
release of these guitar-Vikings’ debut EP Little Earth, out March 31 2014. Next in the six-string arena are late bloomers Posse. Purveyors of slacker, indie-rock a la Songs: Ohia, this trio from Seattle have just released their sophomore album on the rather tellingly named label, Beating a Dead Horse. Speaking about the eight-track effort, Soft Opening, singer Paul Wittman-Todd describes his inspiration as coming from “delay pedals and 27 years of disappointment,” hardly the talk of a band enamoured with their own success. Yet it’s undeniable that Soft Opening is an exquisite melange of blooming, rippling guitar lines and intricate vocal interplay between song-writing duo Witman-Todd and Sacha Maxim, that transcends a tired genre in a similar way to the Danes, Shiny Darkly, except they don’t sound ever so slightly like a cheap Lou Reed knockoff, albeit in a good way, and without the sarcasm. Following in the footsteps of fellow pop-noir darling Lana Del Rey is the glamorous Dutch vixen, BEA. The twenty two-year old chanteuse is of British parentage making music in Amsterdam,
and is in possession of perhaps the silkiest and smoothest cat-like croon of her generation. Something of an industry secret, her PR people have been scrambling to keep BEA’s own brand of cathedral-pop under-wraps as much as possible. Only one track, ‘Breadwinner’, three minutes of haunting, synth-laden R&B, has seen the light of day (or the internet); yet this has been sufficient to cause many a Pitchfork executive’s head to explode all over their precious Macbook screens in outbursts of ‘unsigned’ ecstasy. One thing we do know, though, is hipsters will be wearing clogs come Christmas, and maybe not even metaphorically, you never know with them. As for hip hop, after the revolutionary explosion of new artists in 2013, things have gone a bit quiet on the rap front. Of course Chance the Rapper has jumped to the forefront of the genre, yet many of the other ‘next big things’ of yesteryear have been revealed as slightly less incendiary than first thought. Many of the Pro Era collective have dropped off the map since Joey Badass put them there single-handedly in 2012, although the much anticipated
follow-up to P.E.E.P : the aPROcalypse is definitely worthy of attention (The Secc$ Tap,e 2, released February 14), despite the lack of solo material recently. Perhaps the biggest news item on the agenda is the continued collaboration between young gun Bishop Nehru and hip hop titan and mask-toting nut, MF Doom. Thankfully putting the lyrical trash of fellow hype-men Dillan Cooper and Vic Mensa in the shade, the rapper from Rockland County’s joint-album with Doom is due out later this year, and just might be possibly maybe the best hip hop album since Doom’s own 2004 effort Madvillainy. Perhaps the most impressive endorsement of Nehru’s talents are legendary wordsmith Nas’s recent declarations that Bishop is “the future of music.” It appears the world is yours, Mr Nehru, don’t blow it like so many of your peers appear to have done. In other, more high profile news, Kanye West continues to be the hardest working moron in music, although a misunderstood one at that, and Win Butler still hasn’t washed his hair, despite my complaints.
MUSIC concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
25.03.14
SOUNDS OF THE SYNTH
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MOLLY PEARSON ponders the recent musical resurgence of the synthesizer
creativedigitalmusic.com
Synthpop, like so many other genres of popular music, emerged in the UK as a backlash to punk rock in the eighties. Rejecting punk’s stripped-down realism, early synthpop artists strove instead for artificiality, and their primary instrument, the synthesizer, formed the backbone of the decade’s music. Bands such as Duran Duran, Soft Cell and Spandau Ballet enjoyed commercial success in Britain and the States, and synthpop’s influence permeated through musical movements as diverse as New Romanticism, gothic rock and early industrial. The nineties, however, saw the genre decline in popularity in favour of guitar-driven grunge rock more directly inspired by punk. Why is all this relevant? Because synthpop is making a comeback. Popular music has been based around guitars for the past two decades. But recently, a different sound has splashed into the smooth waters of the mainstream. Truth be told, a synthpop revival has been on the cards for
some time. From the largely ignored epiphanies of Crystal Castles and The Postal Service back in the early noughties to the saccharine commercialism of Owl City, plenty of modern bands cite the style as one of their influences, and now, in 2014, synthpop shows every sign of dominating the industry as it did once before. Though plenty of bands – Sound of 2013 nominee CHVRCHES among them – are focusing specifically on synthpop, plenty of rock bands are also splicing it into their sound, with varying degrees of success. Bombay Bicycle Club, who hail from Crouch End in North London, are one such band. Bombay’s setlist for their gig at the LCR on the 10th March tellingly omitted successes from older albums in favour of new material from synthpop So Long, See You Tomorrow, and while singles ‘It’s Alright Now’ and ‘Feel’ were as well-received here as by critics, one wonders why a band whose first two albums were so grounded in indie and folk rock felt the need for such a radical
stylistic swerve. That’s not to say that Bombay haven’t handled the shift with aplomb, and the same can largely be said about Panic! At The Disco, whose fourth album Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die is a rocksynthpop hybrid through and through. Their trippy, synth-laden and obscenely catchy single ‘The Vegas Lights’ for instance, crashes straight through naff and out the other side, achieving guilty pleasure status in much the same way that Fall Out Boy’s ‘My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark’ did, eight months before. But one of the most delightful aspects of the album is its conscious homage to one of the darkest synthpop albums of the eighties – Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine – which mingled the peppy feel of early Depeche Mode with a nihilism that paved Reznor’s way to becoming an industrial icon. This is never more evident than in the melancholia and relentless beats of ‘Far Too Young To Die’ and ‘Girl That You Love’; it’s
obvious that Panic! have done their matrixsynth.com homework with this album. Though a lot of their material is overly auto-tuned and falls short of real innovation, a band capable of material as original as that of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’, and who are only finding their feet within the synthpop genre, promises great things in the future. Most bands whose singles charted in the UK in the noughties were of a certain formula. Their songs followed in the footsteps of grunge rock, which in turn followed in the footsteps of punk. Guitars, electric or acoustic, were staple of their music and synths did not often feature. So why are these ‘emo-pop’ and ‘pop-punk’ bands turning to a more eighties-inspired sound? Perhaps for the same reason that synthpop evolved in the first place – as a reaction against guitars and against punk. Maybe this is the dawn of a new era, and by 2020, pop music will be based around synths once more. Who knows? It’ll be interesting to see.
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ELBOW THE TAKEOFF AND LANDING OF EVERYTHING Jennifer Johnson
Take a moment to conjure the image of a chart-topping pop sensation in your mind— is she youthful? Impossibly attractive? Are her songs manufactured in Simon Cowell’s pop laboratory according to an algorithm that has been proven effective by dozens of starlets before her? If yes, you likely envisioned the kind of primped and preening human being usually stationed at Number One. You probably didn’t picture five middleaged Northern men touting Mancunian
MØ NO MYTHOLOGIES TO FOLLOW Imi Launchbury
Karen Marie Ørsted – better known as MØ (pronounced Muuh) - has compiled
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MUSIC
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ALBUM REVIEWS accents and prog-rock influences. In many ways, Elbow’s success would appear unlikely, but with the March 10 release of The Take Off and Landing of Everything, the band found themselves at the apex of British popular music: the top of the charts. Elbow’s appeal is uniquely localised; they never found much success outside of the UK. Perhaps this is because they deal in the sort of rainy-day aphorisms only useful for soothing an island of cynical souls. Album opener ‘This Blue World’ chronicles a union that once flourished under a pervasive layer of cloud. Vocalist Guy Garvey speaks of a lost attraction spurred once more by “an urgent morse in the gentle rain.” He urges a one-time love to “plot your course on the windowpane” as though the road to their amorous reunion has been charted by raindrops— hardly a cheery sentiment. The Take Off and Landing of Everything simultaneously laments and glorifies the emotional stasis of middle age. Unfortunately, breakups sting as much at 40 as they did two decades ago, but apparently a rowdy piss-up remains the age-old cure for heartache. On ‘Fly Boy Blue/Lunette’ Garvey confesses: “my old friends are a serious habit,” and claims “I’ll still want a bottle of good Irish whiskey and a bundle of smokes in my grave,” though he also cedes “I’m reaching the age when decisions are made.” He is a man newly aware of his own mortality, but not yet ready to relinquish his youth. Despite the weight of Garvey’s lyrical
subject matter, there is no more sonic melancholy present on this record than on any of Elbow’s others. The group has virtually made a career of pairing sombre string sections with vaguely romantic sentiments. However, they’ve largely managed to evade mawkishness or sentimentality in a way that bands with a similar shtick (think Coldplay et al) have not. In Elbow’s defence, there is a lush, mellifluous quality to their work which only adds credibility to lyrics that might otherwise be soppy. Garvey’s grand, philosophical gestures are continually understated by the band’s nuanced instrumentals. The reverbed guitar on the album’s title track is so rich it almost scintillates. The mellow ‘Honey Sun’ reflects something of the golden quality of its title; electric guitar slides are drizzled across a tambourine beat while
a funky selection of synth and electronic based songs on her debut album No Mythologies to Follow. MØ – which means ‘maiden’ or ‘virgin’ in Danish - started off her music career as a rapper and released a number of provocatively named tracks. However since switching to singing she has found much more success and is signed to RCA Victor and Chess Club Records who also represent the likes of Everything Everything, Swim Deep and Laura Mvula. The album was created through a series of emails between MØ and Vindhahl, where he would develop the music and she would record the vocals over the top. The resulting tracks are surprisingly cohesive and the technique has worked well for the album. Producer Ronni Vindhahl – of No Wav. - has created a collection of songs which is overflowing with beats, pulses, and creative harmonies; every space of every song has been filled with sound. This album has its routes in themes common to the life of every early twentysomething. From the carefree easiness of ‘Don’t Wanna Dance’, to the earnest
heartbreak of ‘Never Wanna Know’, MØ reflects a lifestyle that her audience can relate to. In the same way, her influences clearly reflect the beginning of a new wave of music – one which has grown up in the nineties and naughties. This Scandinavian creates an electro-pop which has nods to a range of artists including Grimes, as well as Lykke Li, Lana Del Rey and even the Spice Girls. Make sure you check out her recent cover of Spice Girls classic ‘Say You’ll Be There’! The beats in ‘Red in the Grey’ coupled with impressive vocals show off the talent of the 25-year-old. These effects work perfectly in contrast to the brass and glockenspiel elements of ‘Pilgrim’ and with the melancholic tones of ‘Never Wanna Know’. MØ never limits the range of this album, introducing an almost tropical beat in ‘Slow Love’ which is coupled with even more glockenspiels. (Any album which sneakily uses a glockenspiel has my vote!) In ‘XXX 88’ another successful juxtaposition is made between the sticky electronic beats and MØ’s smooth harmonies, Diplo’s presence
Garvey waxes lyrical on escaping “broken devotion.” If The Take Off and Landing of Everything has one message it is this: it is never too late to start afresh. ‘New York Morning’ reveals Garvey’s poignant, newfound infatuation with the city. Somewhere, thousands of miles away from home, he achieves a reconciliation not present elsewhere on the record— he sings, “oh my God, New York can talk/ somewhere in that talk is all the answers.” Elbow may not be a band with all the answers. They haven’t quite settled into mid-life cynicism as impressively as a group like The National has, but they continue to offer up consistent, if not inventive, albums.
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can definitely be heard in the production. The main criticisms are that it is perhaps a little long for a first album and that despite that, there aren’t that many new tracks. The album lacks overall direction and this is down to the fact that most of the material has been previously released in separate EP’s. Whist the range in musicality is impressive it can also be confusing and potentially a shorter, more pulled together collection would have proved more effective. Interestingly, the album name sake No Mythologies To Follow is underwhelming and essentially over produced. Overall, however, the album is a success and shows off the talents of MØ. There is definitely more to be heard from this Scandinavian, and with the generally positive reception of the album I’m sure that we will. Album highlights are ‘Never Wanna Know’, ‘Maiden’ and ‘Waste of Time’.
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LIVE REVIEW BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB LCR 09.03.14 Charlie Methven Flyte’s lead singer Will Taylor’s modest but certainly likable stage presence was a good fit with his band’s music: pleasant, guitarbased pop furnished with frequent wholeband vocal harmonies and handclaps. Occasionally keyboards are added to that formula, notably on ‘We Are The Rain’, whose introductory flourish of synth earns your favour even before the equally lovely chorus. This unassuming, inoffensive music is likable enough; Taylor shows a knack for the sort of simple, memorable melody that marks the loveliest Beatles songs, and he and his bandmates have the affable quality of a young band happy to make pop music that doesn’t want or need to be anything else. Check out ‘Over and Out’ for a taste. The name Rae Morris should be familiar to anyone who’s glanced at the full credits for the headliner’s new album. Morris
provides the female vocal on the first and last tracks of So Long, See You Tomorrow, as well as on ‘Luna’, its new single. Few of Morris’ own songs are as upbeat or as texturally dense as the ones she guests on; she favours slow songs with sparse, atmospheric arrangements which highlight her piano and vocals. Hearing delicate yet mature music drift from this nineteen-yearold newcomer at a keyboard, it’s impossible not to think of Kate Bush; in particular on ‘Way Back When’, with its soft chords and multiple addresses to “dear god”. On ‘This Woman’s Work’ Morris’ beautiful, intelligent performance showed why she makes such a good touring partner for Bombay. As anticipation for the headliners rose, so too did seven circular screens on stage. The screens’ purpose was soon revealed; as Bombay arrived and burst into ‘Overdone’, the animation which is separated into frames on the cover of So Long, See You Tomorrow was brought to pulsating life. Over the next hour, dynamic images of snakes, tigers and paradisiac rivers cartwheeled across the screens to create a gig that was as much a visual experience as a sonic one. Bombay have clearly decided music as vital and vibrant as theirs deserves
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to be played in front of something better than a logo-embossed bed sheet. It’s a commendable, exciting decision, and this reviewer hopes it will inspire other acts to explore similar cross-sensory techniques. Every song from So Long, See You Tomorrow made an appearance, as well as old favourites like ‘It’s Always Like This’ and ‘Lamplight’, rejuvenated by the presence of a three-piece brass section. It would have been interesting to hear this brass trio and backing vocalist Liz Lawrence help reinterpret some songs from 2010’s acoustic Flaws, but this album sadly remained conspicuously absent. Nonetheless, the set Bombay did deliver was confident,
technically excellent, and just a lot of fun. Singer Jack Steadman dedicated ‘Whenever, Wherever’ to Shakira. Occasionally, a band delivers a performance that leaves you wishing you’d just listened to the record at home. With their musicianship and those dazzling visuals, Bombay Bicycle Club proved that live music can be a brand new, genuinely spectacular experience. In a recent interview, describing the lyrical, musical and visual aesthetic of Bombay’s new album, Steadman said “it’s just a big loop”. If only that sense of continuity extended to the durations of their live show, because this reviewer wanted it to go on forever.
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25.03.2014
www.concrete-online.co.uk
SMOKIN’ North West even makes an appearance!
Winning Derby Day Everyone looks better with a trophy
#BanBossy The new campaign fronted by Victoria Beckham and Beyonce
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
SHRUGGING OFF WINTER RACHEL HAYLLOR talks spring jackets
As the days get longer and the weather starts to heat up you’ll be looking for ways to spice up and accessorise your ensembles while making sure you keep up with the demands of the unpredictable East Anglian Springtime. Well look no further, because Venue has compiled a list of Spring staples that will keep you cool in the sun, warm in the shade and make sure you’re looking impeccable whatever the weather has in store!
Kimye in Vogue
FASHION
A kimono is the lightest option for a cover-up on a spring day and works as a quirky alternative to a cardigan. The featherweight material and airy cut makes this option ideal for when the temperature inevitably and unexpectedly
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Floral Bomber Jackets The throwback nineties sports jacket look is back with a vengeance and androgynous enough for both guys and girls to pull off with ease. Not only is it light and soft in texture (ideal for a spring day), it’s an opportunity to add colour and edge to your look with a retro print. Clash genres by mixing the masculine style with a seasonally-appropriate floral print. For guys, the key is all in the fit and the fabric, go for a bright, block colour like red or blue to brighten up your look and make sure you stand out from the crowd. A bold geometric or graffiti style pattern will create a nineties vibe, so make like Will Smith with some ‘fresh prints’ and earn yourself some serious fashion points. Kimonos Hot day and not sure what to wear? Don’t sweat it, a kimono has you covered!
skyrockets - as a bonus it’s also great for protecting your skin from harmful UV rays and the scourge of sunburn. Venue
loves the effortless femininity of a floaty kimono, which is a surefire way to dress up an outfit and add a touch of elegance. Blazers This androgynous wardrobe staple can often be seen as overly stuffy or fussy but a blazer is without doubt a failsafe way to add some collegiate class to any ensemble. Lighter than most jackets, the smart cut of a blazer is flattering for both men and women, creating sharp lines at the shoulders and lapels that can dress up the look of a t-shirt and jeans. For a chilled out St. Tropez look go for a cream coloured or pastel blazer that will bring out the beginnings of your summer tan and make sure you’re looking snappy for your seminars. Cardigans The spring season is all about introducing some colour and panache to your look with nautical themes, pastels and tailoring proving popular year after year. This preppy item will make a smart addition to your wardrobe as it’s a lightweight piece that can be paired with pretty much anything. It will also keep you warm on those chilly spring nights. Choose a crew neck pastel number for some bookish Rory Gilmore appeal and accessorise with a stack of books and a look of sheer panic for a natty revision-chic look.
NOTHING UP THEIR SLEEVES GEMMA CARTER reveals the limits of menswear
CHOKIN’ Flip Flops It’s still March. No.
In the pervious issue we stated the designs by Ti’en were by Shamir Sami, when in fact they were by Shahmir Sanni. Apologies for the mistake.
Walking up and down any high street it’s clear to see that girls are overwhelmed with variety and choice - yet for boys it’s a completely different story. Looking from one shop window to the next there isn’t much variety at all – all the male mannequins are carbon copies of one another. There doesn’t seem to be a happy medium between standard styles and menswear that is a little bit more outrageous and attention grabbing. Shops on the high street seem to have a universal “check list” for menswear and the variety from store to store is seriously lacking. This “check list” seems to consist of staple items for any male wardrobe such as denim and chequered shirts, skinny jeans, printed tees and sweatshirts. Now here at Venue we are a big fan of all these pieces, but honestly how many times can you see the same aztec print before it becomes boring? From shop to
shop the only thing that seems to vary is a slight change in the colour palette but really that doesn’t make much difference at all. This lack of choice means that many boys have at least one item in their wardrobe that is the same as their mates. When asked what he thought of menswear on the high street a second year student said, “It’s pretty frustrating because all your clothes end up looking the same even though they’re from a different shop. I’m not really that into following trends but I still like to look good, but the lack of variety has made me lazy and, when I have money, I end up just buying the same things over and over again.” Some brands, like River Island, have a shot at thinking outside the box but often the result of this isn’t for everyone. With summer approaching there has been a burst of multi-coloured magic
onto the catwalk and high street. A trend that could not be further away from conventional men’s fashion is techno colours and prints. We take our hats off with anyone brave enough to give this trend a go but it’s so different from the norm that most guys would shy away – or be blinded by the luminous shades of pink and green. Another Spring/Summer 2014 trend that has appeared on the high street is the tunic. This Asian-inspired cover up favoured by designers such as Spencer Hart is definitely for the more daring. The tunic is a favourite with more outthere stars like Will.I.Am, who has a style that is undeniably out of this world. Not one to make such a strong statement with your clothes? You could always take a look at TOWIE’s Charlie Sims who loves a tunic, but wears it in a more subtle way than Mr. Will.I.Am.
FASHION concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
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25.03.2014
Photographer: Hannah Schiff, Stylist: Helena Urquhart, Model: Clare Bartington
IT’S A SPRING THING!
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Helena Urquhart It is easy to see florals are huge this season. Big on the high street as well as the catwalk, everywhere from Topshop and Miss Selfridge to the higher ended brands such as French Connection have their own take on this Spring/Summer staple. Undoubtedly florals can be a bit daunting – think Kim Kardashian’s maternity dress at the Met Gala last year – a controversial piece if there ever was one. Looking like you’ve just stepped out of your Grandmother’s living room is every girl’s fear when they wear such a bold item of clothing. However a huge amount of florals on the market at the moment are fun, easy to wear and are set to make you stand out from the crowd. Floral trousers or shorts should be a staple in every girl’s summer wardrobe. They instantly add something interesting to the outfit and can be dressed up or down.
Paired with heels and a big statement necklace they look great for a night out. Alternatively they can be styled with a flattering t – shirt or blouse for a fabulous every day look. Now is the time many of us are attending job or internship interviews and floral trousers paired with a smart blouse make for a great interview outfit. Tip: do not pair floral top and floral bottoms – this is just set to be a style nightmare. Keep the top fairly neutral to balance out the loud bottoms or vice versa. Another great staple that is a must for everyone this summer is a beautiful floral dress. Again, this is perfect because it can be dressed up or down. Ideal for those weddings that you will undoubtedly have to attend this summer, or even just for a stroll around the lake paired with simple pumps or converse. Topshop have some great bright floral dresses at the moment but a lot of
the small vintage shops in Norwich have some excellent undiscovered treasures too. However, it is not necessary to just stick to trousers and dresses. Try a floral swimsuit this summer, they are fun, sassy and look fantastic. There are a number of floral blazers on the market too, these are not for the fainthearted but will undoubtedly look great if pulled off well. Floral accessories are also a staple this festival season. Floral garlands are a must for nailing that bohemian vibe, paired with denim shorts and a crop top, this look is bound to be a winner. Whether they are prints on key staples such as trousers and dresses, or on accessories such as a statement necklace, florals are the way to go this Spring/Summer. They are fun, pretty and you certainly won’t be a wallflower in wearing this trend!
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25.03.2014
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EVIEW:
ARTS
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
UEA HEADLIGHTS REVUE 2014
Callum Graham
Callum Graham UEA Headlights Comedy Society’s annual revue show took place last week. Sketch comedy was the name of the game with comedy-trio Bad Bread headlining, the charity event was organised to showcase UEA’s comic talent and to raise money for UEA’s Nightline service. Sketch comedy by its very nature is hit-and-miss so it was a brave decision of Headlights to stage it live in a one off show. The evening began with a sketch based on the song Fame and its mispronunciation (it’s pronounced Fah-may for those who don’t know) and the laughs started rolling in. Although there were laughs from the audience throughout, at times they seemed a little few and far between. It seemed that the problem was that often the idea for the sketch was extremely strong but the sketch itself wasn’t long enough to do it justice. For instance, one sketch followed
a detective scouring the stage with his magnifying glass until it turned out he was looking for love all along. This got a big laugh, yet the sketch was no longer than minute at the most and it seemed that Headlights missed an opportunity by not having the character reappear in other sketches. Headlights really did nail it with the St. Budget’s Church sketch, which featured a church economising by rushing through baptisms, marriages and funerals one after another. An honourable mention for Elliot Wengler, who not only was the main organisational force behind the event, but also his priest character in the St. Budget’s sketch was one of the funniest of the night. One of the most original sketches of the revue show was the Coalition sketch. In it, Derren Brown set up a secret TV show to remove the moral scruples of every student’s favourite politician, Nick Clegg. It was a great idea for a sketch and it worked well with the lively audience who
heckled and jeered as Clegg was swept up by a pantomime-like David Cameron. Again though, this sketch was an example of a really strong idea that needed just a little more tightening to really bring out its potential. Nick Clegg is an easy target, so it would have been refreshing to have him satirised in ways other than his u-turn on student fees. The main reoccurring sketch from Headlights followed the fictional boyband Paro-D, whose breakup and inevitable money-motivated reunion was told through a series of mockumentary videos projected above the stage. It was unfortunate that this sketch dominated much of the Headlights portion of the night as it was easily their weakest. The mockumentary clips were poorly filmed and rather scrappily edited. If this effect was deliberate it was lost on the audience, most of the transitions from scene to scene were poorly timed and often cut off those on screen before they had finished
speaking. The finale of the Headlights half was the live all singing all dancing reunion of Paro-D. To be blunt, it was more awkward than it was funny – with even the members of Paro-D looking embarrassed at times. It all looked under-rehearsed and quickly written which was a shame, as like many of the sketches, the initial seed of the sketch had a lot of potential to be funny. Bad Bread wrapped up the second half of the night with their sketch-based Edinburgh show. The comedy trio made up of Bips Mawson, Anthony Craven and Tom Goble used the Rom-Com theme to tie their sketches together in a hilarious line of quick paced and clever routines. Their timing was perfect and their obvious enjoyment of performing really helped them to form a connection with the audience. Overall a great night and definitely something for Headlights to build on for future performances.
REVIEW: UEA LITFEST Katie Kemp ‘Tonight, we get three writers for the price of one.’ So goes Henry Sutton’s preamble to the evening’s talk. He is, of course, here referring to the subject of the night’s discussion - John Banville and his various personas. The Wexford-born writer may be better known under his pen name, Benjamin Black, whose works were the focal point of the hour-long discussion. Banville first started writing as Black around the early 2000s, with his first novel Christine Falls being published in 2006, following thirty-five years of writing as his true self, John Banville. The third writer Sutton alludes to (who could perhaps be recognised as an extension of Banville himself ) is Raymond Chandler, a crime fiction writer of the mid-1900s. The discussion kicked off with the mention of Black’s reworking of Chandler’s best-loved detective, Philip
Marlowe, in his most recent novel The Black-Eyed Blonde. ‘So what made you decide to inhabit the character of Marlowe?’ Sutton prompts. Banville claims it was his agent’s idea above all: ‘Like me, he is prone to boredom, and I tend to walk in to things with a lack of responsibility.’ The question itself was perhaps somewhat uninteresting to Banville, as his response hinted at a slight case of this said boredom. However, the momentum picked up soon enough and Banville proved a very entertaining conversationalist and, naturally, a very great story teller. It was easy to feel absorbed by Banville’s words. He has a frank way of talking which is truly endearing, and an intense wit which is reflected in his work. When Sutton asked ‘what did you find most difficult about getting inside Marlowe?’ Banville replied, ‘I didn’t find any of it difficult.’ For Banville, there is something in all of us which is fatally weak, and
this is why Marlowe was a fascinating character for him. He went on to discuss the appeal of Marlowe as a character: ‘he is baffled in the face of the world, he is willing to admit that he doesn’t understand.’ I got the sense that Banville could relate to this feeling. There was certainly an indication that Banville wanted to pay homage to Chandler and the character of Marlowe for the way in which they subvert the genre of crime fiction. Banville claims that writing as Black is somewhat freeing. The works of Banville and Black contrast significantly due to genre difference, and a difference in intensity. A Banville novel can take years to complete, whereas a Black novel will take a few months. ‘I like to put a Banville novel to the side,’ he claims. When asked by a member of the audience how he separates Banville the writer from Black the writer, he indicated that Banville has no interest in plot, character and dialogue. ‘He is
interested purely in writing poetry in the form of prose.’ It’s fascinating how he compartmentalises the two so distinctly; although I suspect the two are more interchangeable than Banville suggests. A very insightful moment was when Banville was asked when he first knew he would be a writer. In response, he gave a wonderful anecdote from his childhood. He told how he used to take his dog out for a walk and sit down in a wood alone, then proceed to interview himself on having just received the Nobel Prize for literature. He had a wild imagination even then, and it would not be contained. The most memorable part of the evening must have been when Banville expressed with such clarity, ‘fiction is a miracle’. For Banville, translating words into images and ideas is the essential truth of fiction. It is the task which the writer hands over to the reader on finishing his work and something he expressed as being key to the art of literature: the collaboration of writer with reader.
ARTS
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25.03.2014
UEA DRAMA SOCIETY’S SPOTLIGHT
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CALLUM GRAHAM reviews a night of six original plays
CargoCollective
Callum Graham
Sunday night saw UEA Drama Society’s annual Spotlight show featuring six original plays from talented writers here at UEA. The night was compered by Ollie Partington and Lucas Burt who brought great energy and lots of laughs from the outset with their well worked routines. The night began with Freddie Van der Velde penned The Ghost Writer. The play definitely had two distinct halves, the first demonstrating a diverse range of character with Lewis Garvey and Amber Muldoon satirising the role of the Hollywood agent with a caricature like fervour. Tom Eaton performed well as the timid struggling writer bringing his script, and himself, into the pearly white jaws and manicured claws of the movie executive world. The play took a turn towards the surreal with the appearance of Tom Mason and Ali Dunk playing characters from the script who had seemingly walked into real life. In a rather jarring turn, it was the kisses between Mason and Dunk that were played upon for the biggest laughs. In a play with a lot of quickly-paced and cleverly written dialogue it seemed a shame to rely on such a dated tactic. How would the kisses have been received if they’d happened between a man and woman, or woman and woman, or any variation you care to think of? At a guess, some sitcom inspired wooing, or even cat-calling – but it seemed that the joke was simply that two men were kissing. Part of the reason that the joke struck so jarringly was that throughout
the rest of the play the comedy relied on great timing, high levels of physicality and an otherwise extremely strong cast. Charlotte Spencer’s Second Midnight put the world of celebrity culture under the microscope. The play started well yet descended pretty rapidly into farce with the majority of the cast laughing uncontrollably on stage. Some of the moments, like the exploding beer cans, were genuinely funny - yet the dialogue was often muffled in attempts not too laugh so it was slightly difficult to understand. Overall an enjoyable play that lost most of its potency in the fits of laughter on stage. Sam Day’s surreal Fargle! The Earthlings Are Coming was next on the running. The physicality of the cast was impressive, and the way that the narrative was split between the Martian Parliament and the ‘Welcom Earthling’ party back on Mars really worked well. Although at times the political weight of the dialogue was a little expositional it was small price to pay for a play with such clear moral messages. Queue For Paradise was billed as ‘The Essex Hunger Games’ and found four characters created by Stephan Drury queuing with a sinister determination for the opening of the new “cheaper than Aldi” Paradise Shopping Centre. Lu Smith really brought out the vulnerable side of her elderly character in the opening monologue and the cast really worked well together as a whole, with laughs, jeers and groans coming from the audience in equal measure. The play
did seem to end a little too quickly and with a bit of a rush, meaning that some of the potential to explore the characters’ situation was lost. The penultimate show of the night was Ellie Whitaker’s A Quiet Night In and her portrayal of an LCR pre-drinking session. It was a recognisable scene to everyone watching - with funny dialogue and great performances the friendship between the four housemates was really believable. There are many plays where an actor’s inability to seem drunk draws you out from the action, this was not one of them. Alice Haskell, Briana Taylor, Sian Duggan, and Hannah WalmesleyBrowne all did great jobs of seeming just the right level of drunk to be able to maximise on laughs without resorting to slap-stick or farce at any point. Ollie McFadden was fantastic as the stuck-up hipster boyfriend and really did justice to the hilarious dialogue. Harry Denniston’s Phoney was a definite highlight of the night. It concerned two heavily South-London thieves, played with great energy and convincing accents by Ed Jones and Gus Glassborrow, and finds them hiding from police having just mugged a couple at knife point. The dialogue and direction were balanced well to give the audience such vivid rounded characters without seeming at all over the top. Things took a sinister turn as the phone they had stolen started receiving text messages that, with some ambiguity, told of something terrible happening to the person they had stolen
from. The ambiguity of the texts worked well and the tension was really racked up throughout which gave the comic moments of the play an even greater punch. There were some great setpieces which looked well-rehearsed and ran smoothly. Overall an intelligently written play with good direction and equally strong performances from its two characters.
Venue’s Spotlight Awards Best ‘Leading’ Actor: Ed Jones/Gus Glassborrow (Phoney) Best
‘Supporting’ Actor: Lewis Garvey (The Ghost Writer)
Best ‘Leading’ Actress: Alice Haskell (Quiet Night In) Best ‘Supporting’ Actress: Amber Muldoon (The Ghost Writer) Biggest Laughs: Second Midnight Best Script: Harry Denniston (Phoney) and Ellie Whitaker (Quiet Night In) Best Director: Rob Henderson (Phoney)/ Alyssa Rasmus (Quiet Night In) Best Play: Phoney
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CREATIVE WRITING
25.03.2014
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FOOD. LET’S ALL EAT FOOD.
PEACHES
TIM
Isabella Thompson
Rosanna Le Rossignol
She sat with her chin pressed into her palm, a cigarette balanced between the fingers of her other hand. Her nail polish was chipped and last night’s mascara clung in lumps to her long eyelashes. She still looked beautiful. She glanced at me and I looked away, straightening the napkins I had placed on the table. The last light of the evening fell across the bowl of peaches, their pink skins streaked with gold. ‘Thanks for dinner,’ she said. ‘You’re welcome. I’m sorry the chicken was slightly over cooked.’ ‘No it wasn’t. It was delicious.’ She exhaled and the smoke curled above our heads. ‘What did you roast the potatoes in? They were so crunchy.’ ‘If you sprinkle flour on them before putting them in the oven, they crisp nicely on the outside without drying them out.’ She ran her finger through a droplet of gravy and smiled. ‘Do you remember that time we all went and stayed at Ellie’s beach house? You wanted to impress that girl, oh what was her name...’ ‘Linda.’ ‘Yeah, Linda. And Rob told you the best way would be to put a potato down your swimming trunks.’ ‘Do we have to relive this?’ I groaned. She laughed and pressed her gravy-covered fingertip on the end of my nose. ‘It was just so funny when she sat on your lap and it–’ ‘I was drunk!’ I said, wiping the gravy off my nose. ‘It was a joke then I completely forgot it was there!’ She sniggered. ‘Linda was boring anyway.’ I picked up a peach and bit into it. She watched, her lips slightly parted. The soft flesh melted against my tongue and a droplet trickled down my chin. She rubbed it away with her thumb. Our eyes met. ‘Do you want one?’ I said, my voice barely a whisper. She looked at the bowl and sighed. ‘No. No, I don’t like peaches.’
Not thinning, caving. Little caverns full of corners full of shade in every place the rest of us allow ourselves the base indulgence; ample insulation. Pull yourself together; eat a chip, and chip away at Tim. You ‘No, thanks’ it, with Tim ventriloquist. We’re sharing you with him, with Tim. When butter in your dish we slip, and spike your tea with sugar, it’s not you we do it to. It’s Tim whose spindly limbs the pinchers pierce your back for. Tiny Tim’s our target. And we see you, yes we do, we see you. See you shield and tend to him, yet we can’t understand. We don’t have Tim.
@UEA140STORY HUNGRY Jake Reynolds I’m reflecting myself in codes, in bytes and bites of mirror snacks, jaws gnash at smashed glass, thirty in shards, mouths foam over and I’m hungry, hungry as the air. Signals lines of baguettes, prisms rotund, their bellies coves, eyes low. Now follow our breadcrumbs, eat our ginger, who’s afraid of the wolf? I’ve found a new way to be, a recalibrated me, famished, ravenous on the night and her minions, plump on crows, on crows in fog.
Have we found a new way to forage and feast? Is beauty the flavour, the substance the beast? I’m swimming in the dizziness, the gulps, the clump of fats, ash roof slats we stand on atop a disused stairwell, pianos tickle the appetites, the bass the belly rumble. Crumbling, a building, smog a vapour, my lips wet with it, teeth bared, collars upturned, lessons learned, a greedy tongue lashing, lashing for the night.
James Machell My memories scathe by the nose Brandished in war - open sky – A thread through fields of clothes, A point, a chalice - do and die – A sunset to wander – Poets know And shiver - know the reason why – A grand fruit bowl – Olive sleeps By Monroe arms the Cherry is let slip www.beauterunway.com
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There’s a restaurant opened near me where they serve only famous last meals. I went in last night and nearly choked on the ‘Ted Bundy’.
Resurrections in my throat, friends in their glutton coats and reflections licking lips at me, at meat, at gums, red, aching.
VARGAS GIRLS
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OTHER GIRLS Jasmine Flores
HUNGER Stoyo Stoev
“Yo, Baby! Got some fine tits there!” She walked, kept walking. “Where you going!” “Hey!” “Bitch! Keep walking away! Dumb whore.” This is not an isolated incident. Darcy Malone is an average woman. Not the best looking, not the worst. But she has woman parts, and that is enough for some people. “I’d chew you up and spit you out,” she says to herself. She meets a friend in a bar at eight p.m. The two ladies order drinks. A man squeezes between them, addresses her friend. “Hey, Beautiful, can I buy you a drink?” “No.” “Oh don’t be like that…” He puts a hand on her waist. She swipes it away. “Playing hard to get, huh?” “I can show you a good time.” She looks at Darcy and blinks S.O.S. “Sorry,” Darcy says, intervening, “My friend has a boyfriend.” “Yeah,” her friend agrees hastily. He apologizes and leaves. Her friend sighs. “Boyfriend Fake McFiction comes to the rescue once again.” Darcy pitches her voice low and starts imitating the young man. “Sorry! Didn’t know you were already someone else’s property!” Her friend snorts, joining in with a salacious hand on Darcy’s waist. “Don’t know the meaning of the word ‘no,’” she says in her own imitation. They laugh loudly and sip their drinks with conspiring smiles. “Chew him up and spit him out,” they say. After another drink her friend says, “Bet you ten bucks that guy who’s been following you around will tell you ‘you’re not like other girls.’” Darcy spits. “You’re on.” Nigel McPuke, his name actually sounds something similar to that, wears a trilby (and thinks it is a fedora), claims he’s a ‘real man,’ and sometimes whines about those mythological ‘feminazi’s.’ He follows Darcy around trying to ‘woo’ her. She finds him amusing when he’s not being utterly irritating. On Thursday he insults her favorite female character on that one TV show for predictably irritating and dumbass reasons such as being ‘whiny,’ ‘bitchy,’ ‘annoying,’ or some other gendered insult. On Friday he says he prefers the ‘natural’ look on women and starts listing various trends (basically all of them) in women’s fashion he doesn’t like. On Saturday he says she’s not like other girls. “Owe Rachel ten bucks,” she says. But her brow twitches. This is somehow more irritating than any other petty misogynistic thing he’s said. “I’ll chew you up and spit you out,” she says to him. “What?” Darcy decides she’s had enough. She grows three times in size. Her mouth opens up; teeth growing sharp, shiny, and dangerously white; her tongue lashes out; saliva drips. She swoops down and eats Nigel McPuke, chews his grotesque form, crunches his bones until they are digestible pieces. She swallows. “I am Other Girls.” She laughs. It is loud and spreads out across the sky. It turns into a call for the Other Girls. “And we will eat you all.” She retches, spits his shriveled form back out. “Disgusting.”
Mummy is probably dead. She hasn’t come home for two days now. She’s never stayed out for that long. What is worse, my little sister is dying also. I have been listening to her faint moans for the past four hours. I dare not look at her, I do not want to see her like this. We are out of food. Mummy promised that she would bring some, but she is gone now and I do not know what to do. Bugs will keep me from dying for a while, but in the long run they are not enough. And I can’t feed them to my sister, if she remains in the same state. If only mummy was here, but she isn’t. She always told me that she might be gone some day, that then I will have to take care of my sister. I will have to grow up. I take a deep breath and go to my sister’s bed. She looks so fragile, like a blade of grass. I can count her ribs, mummy taught me how. She said that it is better to count by ribs, because they are more than your fingers and, unlike fingers, their number can never change. I whisper tender words into my sister’s ear and kiss her. I need to go, find food. I hesitate before the door. Mummy always told me that I shouldn’t go out alone. She said that men are insane, hungry and their hunger is not only for food. How can you be hungry for something else than food? How can you ignore this razor that is always scraping the inside of his stomach? It’s time to find out. I open the door and step outside, in Bamako. I wander the streets looking for food and coin, but they are too valuable, no one throws them away around here. I will need to get them in another way. There is a shop down the street, maybe I can ask the salesman to lend me something to eat. On my way, I am distracted by a colourful picture. A “poster”, mummy used to call it. It has people on it and they look so plump and healthy. So pretty and enticing. They embrace each other in a hug, happy smiles across their faces. I want to be like them, but I can’t. I sigh. Mummy said once that the rich men give us those posters, because they hate us. They hate us so much that they want us to feel jealous and sad, because we can’t be like them. She said that they hate us so much that they have a city that they named after our country to mock us. Malibu they called it. A paradise on earth where there is no lack of food, there’s an excess. There is so much food there that people throw it away. I would give anything for something to eat, even if it’s dirty and rotten. I wouldn’t dump it like those people. I hate them, just like they hate me. I hate their bodies, the way they treat us. They are not the centre of the world. I reach towards the “poster” to tear it up. ‘Hey...’ A man yells. I look at him. His eyes are full of anger, but as soon as he sees that I’m a girl, they change. The anger is replaced by something else – hunger. It’s not the hunger for food. I run. He is faster, stronger. I can’t outrun him. How can you outrun hunger itself? I turn right, into a narrow alley. It is a mistake. There is a river In front of me and I can hear the breathing of the man behind, there is nowhere to run. I take a deep breath and jump into the river, “the crocodile river” my people call it. The waters open to swallow me. ‘The only salvation from hunger, dear’ my mother used to say, ‘is death.’
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GAMING concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk
Joe Fitzsimmons Modern warfare has long been a touchy subject in gaming. Atomic Games’ Six Days In Fallujah attracted widespread criticism in 2009 for recreating one of the most destructive military operations in the Iraq war. Having the player take the role of a U.S Marine, the game was accused of not showing adequate respected to the recent victims of the conflict. The controversy surrounding the game remains a hot topic in the discussion of violent representation in the media, despite it now being five years since Konami withdrew plans to publish it. 2012‘s Spec Ops: The Line developed by Yager gave us a Conradesque delve into the horrors of war, that struck many as a direct criticism of the glorification of western military force in the recent installments of the Call Of Duty Series. It seems now gaming has moved into even more delicate territory in its attempts to shake off the immaturity stigma concerning armed conflict. Developed by 11bit studios, This War Of Mine attempts to show the devastation of modern warfare in one that has so far been absent in the gaming world. That
Sam Emsley Dota 2 has seen a meteoric rise in popularity over the last 2-3 years with millions of players now regularly enjoying the game. The MOBA format has also cultivated an active and growing competitive scene which was kickstarted by Valve themselves. The International was, at the time, the biggest e-sports tournament to date boasting a prize pool of $1.6m, far exceeding any previous tournament ever held in any game.
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THIS WAR OF MINE of civilians, displaced citizens, and those caught in the crossfire. With the tagline ‘not everyone in war is a solder’ This War Of Mine promises to depict those made powerless by a conflict around them, where the power to act is beyond them, and instead survival has become the only goal. In the initial press release, lead designer Michal Drozdowski says ‘This can happen in your city, in your country… It’s about time that games, just like any other art form, start talking about important things.’ No doubt referencing current conflicts in the likes of Syria and Egypt, 11bit seems keen to hammer home the ‘every-man’ nature of the story. Perhaps Drozdowski may be to harsh in his claim that video games have yet to start talking about important things. The opportunity though, to view conflicts that many of us see the likes of on our television screens everyday through the eyes of those who suffer the most, and are acknowledged the least, is one that gaming could do very well to address. Set for a release later in 2014, with a proposed initial system launch of PC/ Mac/Linux, This War Of Mine certainly
sounds promising so far. Whether 11bit studios are up to adequately represent such a complicated subject whilst
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simultaneously creating a compelling interactive experience, no doubt a monumental task, remains to be seen.
.zippykid.net media.aintitcool.com
FREE TO PLAY: REVIEW Valve made a documentary about this called Free To Play, which finally saw its release for free on Steam. The documentary follows the lives of three of the players, Clinton ‘Fear’ Loomis, Danil ‘Dendi’ Ishutin and Han ‘HyHy’ Yon. The three players originate from America, Ukraine and Singapore respectively and share their stories of how they came to find themselves at the tournament and the
stress and risk professional gaming places on individuals. Whilst the film is first and foremost a showcase of the game itself and essentially a marketing tool to attract new players, it heavily features human elements that force the viewer to truly feel for the player and understand the difficulty they experience in attempting to pursue their dreams. The most interesting story belongs to HyHy who has a family which constantly reiterates the importance of study and academia over his passion for gaming. His aunt openly berates him over his choices, belittling his decisions, and his father is also less than supportive. It seems as if everybody is disapproving of his gaming career, even when he has the chance to win $1m. Fear also has a difficult time convincing those around him. Because Fear was living in America, but on a European team, he would regularly stay up all night in order to practice with them, something which forced his mother to kick him out of the house. Dendi also speaks of how he used his gaming to console him after his father died of cancer. The production quality is also exemplary; the cinematography is professional and the
graphics allow the viewer to understand complex game mechanics and theory by expressing them visually. There are also interviews throughout with the commentator for the event as well as managers of teams and other players at the tournament give their opinions and statements providing further insight into the world of competitive Dota. It should also be noted how accurately the documentary creates the feeling in the world of Dota at the time. It speaks about EHome, a supremely dominant Chinese team at the time who were huge favourites to win the tournament, and allows the viewer to understand how they became such a force but without becoming too technical so that anybody can see the strategy and thinking behind their success. Free To Play is the first documentary of its kind and has set the bar for future documentaries about the competitive scene. It manages to find the perfect equilibrium between appealing to current players through interviews and insight into the scene, but also tackling the unseen difficulty behind competitive gaming which will draw viewers who aren’t familiar with the game.
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TELEVISION
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concrete.television@uea.ac.uk
HE IMMORTALITY OF TALENT
SHOWS
TALENT SHOWS GO ON SEEMINGLY FOREVER; WE EXPLORE WHY
Melissa Haggar Oh, Talent Shows. They have been around since what seems like the dawn of time, and as the years have rolled by some still stand strong. Perhaps the most memorable (and seemingly neverending) is music Mogul Simon Cowell’s baby - no, not the literal one – The X Factor. With the arrival of the eleventh season hitting our screens later this year, and with Simon and Cheryl Cole back to ‘grace’ our screens, the show seems unstoppable. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Dancing on Ice, whose Ninth series recently marked the end of its run on television. So, what makes for a successful and long running TV talent show? Apparently, we Brits just love programmes where we can see other people succeed and fail in equal measure. With long-running talent shows like The X Factor there is always an auditions round; a chance to see an array of ‘talent’ parade across our screens vying for attention. And it would
The Guardian seem with every good ‘act’, there is inevitably around 30 more not so good. The eccentric, the wacky and sometimes the downright crazy, all seem to manage to ‘entertain’ in a similar manner to all the so called ‘good’ acts. This is perhaps why shows like The X Factor and Britain’s
Got Talent garner so much appeal and are sustainable – they feature a variety of hopefuls, instead of just the best of a bunch. So, maybe we as a nation just enjoy seeing people try to realise their dreams and become a mega superstar – or maybe
W1A
When the London Olympics came to a close in 2012 it brought the sad end to BBC2 comedy series Twenty Twelve, based around the group of people who were organising the event. But now Head of Deliverance Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) has been offered a job at the BBC and this brings us to new series W1A. The first episode was also Ian’s first day on the job and it brought with it plenty of gags that follow on from the first series; Fletcher struggling with his fold up bike to name just one. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout, the most comedic coming via the dulcet tones of David Tennant as the narrator of the mockumentary.
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we just love being entertained by those who don’t. It’s clear that talent shows do inevitably come to an end (as is the case with Dancing on Ice), but they still seem to have some of the longest runs on television. As is the nature of TV talent shows, they are often claimed to be democratic because they are (allegedly) decided by the public vote. Perhaps it is this sense of democracy and public control that keep viewers tuning in. If audiences like an act, they have the ability to ‘save’ them from elimination, which puts the public in control of the outcome, giving them a level of power. With more TV talent shows cropping up, like The Voice and RuPaul’s Drag Race, it seems that a certain amount of ‘talent’ will never be wiped completely from our screens. So whether you love them or hate them, it would appear that these types of programmes are able to attract loyal, large and frequent audiences, which pretty much ensures their continuation.
The introduction of new faces really added to the episode with a bumbling new intern who managed to confuse himself over coffee, two colleagues named Ben and Jerry, and Sarah Parish as Head of Output attempting to commission new programme Britain’s Tastiest Village. The episode stepped up a notch with the return of Jessica Hynes as Siobhan Sharpe, her comment on Snog, Marry, Avoid saying all that need be said about her character. Though the repetition of the gags may not be to everyone’s taste it most definitely adds to the fun and humour of the show. Somehow watching Ian struggle with his bike never seems to get old. There are only three more episodes of this new series and Venue are already praying for its renewal.
Katie Dolan Following the recent announcement that BBC3 could be axed as an on-air channel, the iPlayer is in the process of re-inventing itself for the occasion. The axing has come as a shock to many, not to mention the numerical nightmare as to whether BBC4 will remain named BBC4, leaving a gaping hole where Three once was. On a positive note however, the revamped iPlayer is creating a space for the techsavvy audience. So what will be changing? With the introduction of services like Netflix and Sky-on-Demand, the BBC is stepping up its game. The ability to personalise your schedule is on the cards for iPlayer, allowing them to whisk viewers away from competition for the entire evening. It will be even easier to watch too, as you will be
able to switch seamlessly between several devices mid-programme, not to mention the new 30-day catch-up for those moments you somehow missed. Another feature is ‘pop-up TV channels’ for broadcasting one-off festivals and events; basically what BBC3 did on TV, but online. A final feature which seems suspiciously similar to Netflix is that the BBC will be creating original productions for iPlayer, so instead of just being catch-up they will be an on-demand service too. Could this mean an increase in the licence fee to cover costs? Ultimately the BBC is attempting to retreat from its place as traditional broadcaster by creating a sleeker next-gen iPlayer. Programmes will even be available on iPlayer prior to broadcasting, blurring the boundaries between television and internet.
TELEVISION concrete.television@uea.ac.uk
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HAS TELEVISION NEWS FALLEN?
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We explore whether established TV news has had it’s day Rebecca Bemment Ask most people how they get their daily news and the majority will say it’s not through the traditional means of sitting in front of the TV tuned into BBC news; but rather with a phone or laptop scrolling through social media sites. A few years back, before the hype of social media, the way to get our news was to watch the TV, read it in the newspaper, or hear it on the radio. And all these forms were seen as legitimate and as something we could trust, knowing that the information being told to us was likely to be reliable. But recently there have been discussions as to whether recording news on phones, either in the form of images or videos, is becoming a more trustworthy form to relay current affairs. Something that has been argued is that this brings them closer to the real version of events; and similarly that hearing news reporters who are not at the scene and have learnt of the events in order to tell this to viewers is not as
Gigoam accurate and doesn’t hold the reliability of seeing it first-hand. It appears that social media has gained prominence in representing the news in the purest form. So what does this mean for the previously legitimate TV news? Taking into account the recent axing of BBC three, it seems that using the TV as a way to get the real news and information is
LIFE & DEATH ROW
Life & Death Row is a BBC Three series telling the story of capital punishment in America. Each episode looks at different cases where prisoners are facing the death penalty; flitting between interviews with the inmates themselves and detailing their crimes. The show also interviews the family members of both victims and inmates, looking at how the death penalty and the crimes themselves have shaped their lives. It’s clear that the root of the programme is the eternal debate that rages across America; is capital punishment truly justice? By looking at the questions rather than the answers, Life & Death Row is entirely impartial. From the various interviews, we’re able to glean the
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becoming less frequent. People want their news quickly and constantly, seeing things as they really happen. For instance, sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Buzzfeed – what with their colloquial form – suggest that it is a more real representation of what is going on. Having a team of producers, analysts, reporters and presenters for the TV seems
less so; a more staged version of current affairs perhaps. However, social media platforms can equally be seen as hiding what is ‘real’. Instagram filters hardly present things in their truest form and can equally be argued as representing an exaggerated version of reality. Both TV and social media can be manipulated by external forces. We can change a photo or video, and just because it may have recorded the event in the time that it happened, it doesn’t mean that we can say that it is more reliable than a news reporter presenting the event information to us on the TV. The internet has certainly taken the lead in amassing news consumers and how we take in our news updates today, and the displacement of the TV is something that has become unavoidable as a result of this. However, despite the way we absorb the news having changed dramatically, this doesn’t mean that either form can be argued as being more reliable than the other. Both mediums can be manipulated and exploited.
points to each side and consider them individually. It is perhaps this that makes the show so intriguing and interesting. Life & Death Row doesn’t force the viewer to elicit emotional reactions; there are no close-ups of crying families or devastated inmates; neither is there melancholy piano music or Maxwell’s notoriously tear-jerking This Woman’s Work playing in the background. The subject is dealt with diplomatically and indeed, beautifully, as every aesthetic of the show is outstanding. If you’re looking for a good way to let off some steam and have a good cry, then don’t watch Life & Death Row. If, however, you are genuinely interested in the varying politics and opinions behind capital punishment in America, then Life & Death Row is a must-see.
Rob Drury Dr Christian Jessen, in a departure from examining peculiar ailments on Channel 4, recently had some travel advice for us: don’t wear decent brogues or listen to Adele in some parts of the world unless you want to seem ‘too gay’. This wasn’t some new-fangled travel doc; it was Undercover Doctor, Cure Me I’m Gay. Jessen examined global practices in ‘gay cures’, something which has previously been examined in TV; Stacey Dooley’s 2012 Gay to Straight examined its implementation in the US, where it’s a contentious issue (despite Pornhub releasing stats showing the Bible Belt consumes an awful lot of gay porn). What marked Undercover Doctor out was that the Doc tried the cures
out himself, and we were there with him. From the unsettling experiences of Aversion Therapy (a treatment to associate feelings of extreme illness with homosexual thoughts and once available prescribed by the NHS) to the process of Exorcising a person – a practice that is widely seen as unethical. The most striking parts involved Jessen’s personal reactions. He has treated many patients without batting an eyelid on Embarrassing Bodies, so when he’s pushed to tears, it’s really quite something. Seeing the gentle giant visibly shaken by a 16 year old stating homosexuality was caused by the Devil struck home with us. For an open, honest look at an issue not often picked up on, or for an hour of something to get angry about, Undercover Doctor is a fantastic bit of TV.
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AT CINEMAS NEAR YOU
UNDER THE SKIN
Director Jonathan Glazer Starring Scarlett Johansson Cert 15 Runtime 108mins Neven Devies Even with dozens of award-winning commercials and music videos under his belt, UK based writer/director Jonathan Glazer has never been a household name within the milieus of modern cinema. Ten years on from his staggeringly polarising sophomore effort Birth, Glazer returns with an equally bizarre cautionary tale on the effects of contemporary alienation. Amidst an abyss of darkness, a plethora of geometric shapes slowly fade in. Spheres and lines of neon begin to intersect, distorted string instruments begin to resonate, phonetic recitations of the alphabet overlap, merging organically into the score like a brutal crescendo, a mysterious star is born. And so begins Under the Skin, which sees primary performer Scarlett Johansson in a career-defining turn as an elusive alien being who spends her days driving around Glasgow in search of prey. Perhaps the most important aspect of Glazer’s new outing is to consider Under the Skin as a direct subversion to cinema. Far removed from the conventions of the traditional narrative film and with
an oppressively minimalistic use of dialogue, Glazer’s new film plays more like an extended visual arts project. Placing far more concern on mood and atmosphere, Glazer meticulously synthesises the primary elements which create and mould the sensory cinematic experience to stunning effect. The film is, first and foremost, beautiful. Glazer manages to create an excess of hauntingly beautiful visuals throughout, most notably a jawdropping, unforgettable sequence which sees one of her victims whither away from the inside. With only his empty skin remaining as it twists and turns like a ribbon, submerged in otherworldly liquid whilst the remains of his insides cascade torrentially into an indescribable receptacle. The image is perplexing and repulsive; it becomes difficult to look away and this feeling is one which remains through the film. Alienation and loneliness are prominent themes within the ambiguous narrative and it is Glazer’s ability to sustain and heighten this mood consistently for the film’s 100 minute runtime which contributes to its success. Created through excessive use of silences and the jarring juxtapositions between the labyrinthine streets of the urban city and the harsh, mountainous landscapes of remote Scotland - it is quietness which takes centre stage. Even within the narrative, which remains undetailed and highly ambiguous, it is difficult to
Independent
truly understand the events taking place on screen, all of which leads to a sense of being lost and without direction like the film’s protagonist. Whilst the film is clearly not intended as a straight-up horror film, the relentlessly suffocating atmosphere permeates dread and despair throughout, creating an unquestionably horrific experience. Whilst the occasional bursts of brutal violence shock as they would in any other film, it is the usage of wholly abstract imagery which really unsettles. The subversion of the commonplace allows for the natural to appear otherworldly; life itself is forcefully represented as alien. The manipulation of the temporal-spatial reality of the film only serves to heighten the sensation of disorientation, of being alone within a world of implicit torment. Between Johansson’s intimating piercing stares, the subtle yet highly
methodical changes in her body language, all whilst managing to radiate an exquisite, ethereal beauty, this is undoubtedly her best performance to date. She not only carries the film but also creates a relentlessly chilling presence throughout the film. By equal measure cold, methodical, warm and surprisingly human, Johansson manages to create a bewilderingly complex character, one which in any other hands could have easily resulted in a dragging, monotone performance. Ambitious and beautiful, with a knockout central performance, Under the Skin aims incredibly high, and whilst it mildly stumbles along the way, it remains a soaring, mesmerising and hypnotic piece of artistic cinema.
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GREATEST HITS: SCARLETT JOHANSSON
LUKE KELEHER looks back at the glamourous repertoire of the UNDER THE SKIN star
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LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)
HITCHCOCK (2012)
THE AVENGERS (2012)
DON JON (2013)
Lost in Translation has become a cult classic since its release, as well as a critically acclaimed piece with four Oscar nominations in addition to a Best Actress BAFTA. Johansson plays Charlotte, a young college graduate accompanying her photographer husband on a trip to Tokyo, who feels increasingly alienated by his passion for a popular young actress. Johansson’s interaction with Bill Murray creates some truly unforgettable scenes, yet some of the most poignant and touching are with Johansson alone in her hotel room, contemplating the turns her life has taken.
The 2012 biographical comedy-drama centres on the relationship between legendary director Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville during the making of his most acclaimed work, Psycho. Johansson portrays Janet Leigh, Psycho’s star, and demonstrates the notoriously lecherous behaviour of Hitchcock towards many of his young female stars. Johansson has discussed meeting Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh’s daughter, for help with her own portrayal. She was drawn to the role initially by the involvement of legendary stars Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren.
This is perhaps one of Johansson’s best known roles, which has attracted her to the widest fan base and has lead to the creation of a new spin-off series of films focusing specifically on her Black Widow character. Johansson’s filmography includes a wide variety of low budget and independent films, so this example is arguable the most mainstream. The Avengers broke several records, including the fastest film to generate $1 billion dollars. Interestingly, the role only came to Johansson after British actress Emily Blunt was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
Johansson’s portrayal of Barbara Sugarman in Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut centres around her beauty and sexuality, yet with the true dynamic of her character proving to be ultimately unlikeable. Johansson describes her character as ‘very self -absorbed’, not just in the traditional aesthetic sense but also with regards to the manipulation of her own destiny. Barbara is introduced at the beginning of the film as almost unattainable in her beauty, Gordon-Levitt revealing that her character name is taken from the Barbie doll.
FILM
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AT CINEMAS NEAR YOU
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THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Director Wes Anderson Starring Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman Cert 15 Runtime 100mins Matthew Atwood Wes Anderson pulls out every one of his stylistic elements in The Grand Budapest Hotel, and creates an original film that is not only funny but also action packed.
This film adds new elements to the director’s style, adding to the enjoyment. The film has three timelines, 1985, 1968 and 1932, and takes place in a fictionalized European country, the Republic of Zubrowka, on the brink of war. It opens with a young woman visiting a memorial to ‘The Author’ as she holds a book titled ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel.’ From here, the film jumps to an older version of the author talking about his time at the hotel in 1968, where the young author (Jude Law) meets the owner, Zero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham). Zero invites the writer to dinner to hear the story of how he came to own the Grand Budapest.
Again, the film moves back in time to the third and final timeline, 1932, at the height of the hotel’s greatness, just before the fictionalized war. The two main characters in this timeline are M. Gustave H. (Fiennes), the concierge, and his lobby boy, young immigrant Zero (Revolori). This timeline contains most of the film’s narrative. One of Gustave’s sexual partners, an older, rich, blonde woman, has died. At the reading of her will, Gustave receives a painting, “Boy with Apple,” despite her son, Dmitri Desgoffeund-Taxis’ dismay. Knowing he may never get the painting, Gustave and Zero steal it. Dmitri has Gustave thrown into jail for murdering his mother. To clear his name he must find the butler Serge X (Mathieu Amalric), who has gone into hiding. The film’s plot becomes complex because of the number of characters and multiple timelines, but the overall narrative is simple. This simplicity, however, does not detract from the film, as the focus becomes the characters. The cast is simply magnificent, and includes the major players of Wes Anderson films, such as Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson, but they play minor roles at best. Fiennes, Revolori, and Zero’s girlfriend Agatha (Ronan) bring as much life to the screen as the bright colours of the hotel. Gustave constantly attempts to
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be eloquent and poetic, but intersperses these moments with swearing that show his realistic side. In his first major role, Revolori is the perfect pupil to Fiennes’ character. Both incorporate the great deadpan humour audiences expect from Anderson’s characters. The duo at first appear to be the classic superhero sidekick pairing, but quickly moves to a partnership as both of them grow. The characters and set shine due to the film’s cinematography. Shots are generally of a character in the middle of the screen facing the camera surrounded by bright colours and quirky elements from the settings. These angles allow the viewer to completely appreciate the oddities of each character, mainly odd facial hair. Moustaches range from curly (Norton), to the simple (Fiennes), to the drawn by hand (Revolori). These shots also allow each character to gain importance, as there are so many the audience may forget names, but not their distinctive looks. The Grand Budapest Hotel contains many heart-warming moments, along with many elements of other genres, Anderson shows what really matters is love, whether it is between a boy and a girl, a man and an elderly woman, or a concierge and his lobby boy.
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FANTASTIC MR. ANDERSON
ADAM DAWSON explores the (moonrise) kingdom of hollywood’s most innovative artist Wes Anderson has one of the most unique visual styles of any director. Whether you think this a good or bad thing, you can’t get away from the fact his work looks like nothing else. You may say all of his movies are exactly the same, but that’s overlooking the skill it takes to make them in the first place. Besides, an animated film about a fox stealing chickens from an angry farmer is about as far away from a movie about a dysfunctional creative family as it’s possible to be. Love or loathe the cute, twee way Anderson makes his films, there’s no escaping the fact that he certainly has an original eye. There’s a sense of childish whimsy in his films that most people grow out of around the age of six. This is more than welcome when most movies are dark and depressing. It’s always nice to escape to a world filled with bright colours, bizarre characters, and live for two hours in world so surreal it makes you forget how
dull and mundane your little life actually is. That’s the real joy of Wes Anderson’s films – he makes you forget about how dreary the world is most of the time. When you’re soaking in a colour palette that looks like a unicorn has been sick, it’s impossible not to feel as though you’ve been spirited away to a much more pleasing world. There are many famous director/ actor pairings in Hollywood, but none of them seem to understand each other like Wes Anderson and his pal Bill Murray. Murray first popped up in Rushmore in 1998, and since that movie he’s been in all seven of the works Anderson has made since then, including this week’s Grand Budapest Hotel. Murray understands what Anderson’s scripts are trying to do and helps bring them to life in a way only Mr Murray could. There’s a quiet sadness at the heart of most of Anderson’s work, and there’s also quite a bit of sadness in Bill
Murray’s face. Murray and Anderson are totally in sync with each other, bringing a sense of playful melancholy to everything they touch together. No one else could get the right balance of quietly hilarious but also desperately sad like Bill Murray. Some critics (boring ones who pretend to be actual grown-ups) think Anderson just makes the same movie over and over again. This is untrue. Maybe they’re just
too much the responsible adult existing in their 9-to-5 world to see that Anderson’s movies aren’t all the same, they’re just products of his style. Yes, you’ll find bright colours and overhead shots of hands in all of the movies, but that’s just him working in a way that he’s found best suits his unique vision. Like it or loathe it, you’d never mistake a Wes Anderson movie for anyone else’s.
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300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE
Director Noam Murro Starring Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, Jack O’Connell, Various Speedos and abs Cert 15 Runtime 102mins Daisy Jones One film about the scantily-clad ancient Greek army just wasn’t enough. Seven years after 300 pranced onto the big screen, comes a sequel with just as much gore, just as much gusto, and even more six packs. Running parallel to the original movie, 300: Rise of an Empire tells the story of Themistocles (Stapleton) an Athenian idealist defending freedom, despite the fact that Athens had the highest slave population in all of ancient Greece and wasn’t actually a very free place at all. The Persian God-King Xerxes, who appears to have been intercepting Cash My Gold, is hell-bent on world domination, and the only way Themistocles can stop him is by uniting all the states of Greece. But Queen Gorgo (Headey) insists that
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Sparta’s contribution of 300 men in speedos was enough, and Themistocles’ “why can’t we be friends?” approach isn’t cutting the mustard. While this thrilling political wrangling is going on, there’s also a bit of naval warfare. 300: Rise of an Empire has all the stylish violence of the first movie – and then some. The red capes are switched for blue, the jockstraps with skirts, but it’s hard to tell when everything feels like it’s been shot through a moody Instagram filter. About an hour of the running time is taken up with slow-motion shots, and blood spurts out from every orifice, to the extent that 3D viewers will spend most of their time dodging it. The green
VERONICA MARS
Director Rob Thomas Starring Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Percy Daggs III, Enrico Colantoni, Krysten Ritter Cert 12A Runtime 107mins Adam White
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Almost entirely funded by fans through an overwhelmingly successful Kickstarter campaign last year, Veronica Mars exists as a sort-of movie sequel to the cult ‘teenage private eye’ TV series that ran from 2004 to 2007, picking up nearly a decade on from the last time we saw Kristen Bell’s plucky neo-noir detective. Veronica’s a little more cynical and hardened as the movie opens, her investigative smarts and sizzling love affair with tortured rich kid Logan Echolls both retired in favour of an uneventful big city existence with eternally bland boyfriend Piz. That’s until she’s lured back to smalltown Neptune, California when Logan becomes prime suspect in a high-profile murder, Veronica rediscovering her skills in order to solve the mystery and exonerate her ex. Veronica Mars is unusual in that it’s a mainstream movie that has almost
screen is king, and no-one seems to mind that they seem to have wandered into Mordor, or that the moon is enormous. Although our new hero is pretty bland compared to the shouty charisma of Gerard Butler, the most fun character to watch is Artemisia (Green), the commander of the Persian fleet and overall femme fatale in charge. Everyone’s scared of her, even though she looks like Avril Lavigne and tramps around like a moody teenager searching for somewhere to put in her straighteners. We get a bit of backstory on Xerxes and how he got his codpiece of godly power, but he’s not really in the picture, probably because he’s too tall to fit in the frame.
Yes, 300: Rise of an Empire isn’t as good as the original, but ‘the battle of the manboobs: mark two’ does have its virtues. With a sea of perfectly waxed blokes fighting on CGI waves higher than the Gherkin, it’s a bloody, silly mess you can’t help but enjoy. At some points you just have to laugh, although that’s mainly to keep from weeping. If you liked 300 then you really have to see it; if you didn’t, you can probably go without. But come on, we all need a guilty pleasure sometimes.
no obligation to appeal to an audience outside of a relatively niche, pre-existing fanbase. This is cult television brought to the big screen by those who actually wanted it, meaning outside of a brief dump of exposition at the film’s outset, many of the character dynamics and narrative callbacks are left free of any real context to help first-time viewers. It’s not at all a hindrance, but it does call into question why director and co-writer Rob Thomas would then try and create a balance between pure fan-service and a purely self-contained movie. It’s a risk made most clear through the film’s murder mystery, which quickly becomes less a plot device to bring Veronica back to Neptune, and more the film’s central agenda. It’s a serviceable storyline, but one that doesn’t actively utilize many of the characters we explicitly care about. At the same time, the class warfare and political corruption of Neptune, one of the most striking elements of the original series, here provides much of the stronger characterdriven material, leading to a surprisingly sombre final resolution for Veronica and some of her closest allies. But it is given short shrift, underwhelming when it’s the one story that fully exploits Veronica’s fantastically warm relationships with both gang member Weevil and her
protective father Keith. That being said, this is still a solid hour and a half. Kristen Bell slips back into what remains her finest role with confidence and ease; Veronica is again sharp and cute, but with an intriguingly darker edge this time around. Likewise her renewed chemistry with Jason Dohring, a heated charge of sexual longing between them only deepened by the seven-year gap between the series and the movie. It’s also genuinely heart-warming to see the main cast back together again, along with a couple of surprise appearances from past fan favourites. Veronica Mars is not a flawless movie, but as a send-off to a series that didn’t get the perfect resolution it really should have gotten, it works well. Long-term fans will be enamoured by much of what’s here, and it admittedly feels a bit fussy to complain too much about something that felt like an elaborate fantasy back when Veronica Mars was first cancelled. It’s like finding half a cookie at the bottom of what you thought was an empty packet. It’s not perfect, obviously. But it’s still a damn cookie.
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FILM
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
www.concrete-online.co.uk
AT CINEMAS NEAR YOU
Entecy
NEED FOR SPEED
Director Scott Waugh Starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Michael Keaton, Scott Mescudi Cert 12A Runtime 132mins
Chris Rogers Based on the popular video game franchise, Need for Speed follows the story of Tobey Marshall (Paul) as he seeks revenge after a fellow driver causes his friend to crash and leaves him to die in flames by the roadside. Along the way he enlists the help of his crew of mechanics and the daughter of a British
car dealer, Julia (Poots), to help clear his name and ensure that his nemesis Dino (Cooper) is brought to justice. The film is a fairly mixed bag to say the least. There’s a moment in the film in which a character says ‘You know I just came up with that, right now?’, and this is indicative of the movie in general. There are several set pieces that seem to have been drawn out of thin air, added entirely to either pad out the run time or to pull in an audience eager for more. Whatever the reason, the action sequences are carried out with a great deal of finesse and are perhaps the film’s greatest strength. They harken back to a time when action movies prided themselves on doing dangerous stunts for real, and there is homage made to Bullitt and Speed, both in one of the out-of-nowhere driving sequences and in a short drive-in scene. The real stunts, combined with clever use of varying camera types and angles and a full-blooded, pounding score by Nathan Furst (a newcomer worth keeping your eye on) ensure that there are several moments where you worry that vehicles and people are genuinely
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being badly broken. There is also a lot to be said for Aaron Paul, now fresh from his magnificent run in Breaking Bad, who takes a slightly flimsy script and manages to pull off a very fine performance. Imogen Poots does the best she can with what she’s given, though since her appearance in last year’s Filth she has taken a step backwards performance wise. The cinematography is handled with a certain degree of panache, though the retro-fitted 3D adds little to the film, and is unable to save the mostly one-dimensional delivery of lines by the supporting cast, one of whom swings from simply annoying to a little misogynistic, the others (including a previous offender of Michael Bay’s oeuvre) simply feeling like screen filler. Need for Speed is a perfectly fine action movie that sets out with good intentions, has a troubled first half, but pulls it all together before the end, and it’s not unenjoyable. Let’s just hope they don’t ruin the good will with a sequel.
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25.03.2014
www.concrete-online.co.uk
LISTINGS concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk
25th March - 8th April live music
25th March Coasts + Box Of Light Norwich Arts Centre £6 26th March Metronomy UEA LCR £15.50 Blues Boy Dan Owen The Bicycle Shop £5
Vega Birthday Fiesta! Waterfront Studio £3-4
Saint Raymond Norwich Arts Centre £7
29th March
1st April
Dirty/DC (Tribute to AC/DC) The Brickmakers £5
Deaf Havana w/ The Maine + The People The Poet UEA LCR £15
Polar Bear Norwich Arts Centre £15
35 Years Of The Selecter OPEN £16.50
2nd April Jack Savoretti OPEN £12
Walk Off The Earth UEA LCR £15 5th April
Stiff Little Fingers w/ Godfathers The Waterfront £18.50 28th March
30th March
Little Matador + Lyger + White Rhino Waterfront Studio £6
Luke Concannon (Nizlopi) / Jimmy Davis / Grant Ley The Birdcage £6
Alex Highton + Milly Hirst The Bicycle Shop £8
Sam Brookes The Bicycle Shop £6
Lloyd Cole Solo Show Lecture Theatre 1 £18
3rd April
65daysofstatic Norwich Arts Centre £13.50
By The Rivers Epic Studios £8
Boy George w/ Skinny Lister The Waterfront £23.50
The Vibrators + Citizen Fish + Dogtown Rebels + Menshevik Waterfront Studio £10
Onlyjoe OPEN £10
4th April
31st March
Dexters Epic Studios £4-5
Peter Mulvey The Bicycle Shop £8
John Bramwell Norwich Arts Centre £15
Villains w/ Chasing Cadence + Solstice Tsunami Jets Waterfront Studio £6 8th April Curtis Eller’s American Circus The Bicycle Shop £8 The Last Carnival w/ Rampant Horse + Colliers + Room Service Waterfront Studio £7
theatre 26th - 29th March
26th March
5th April
5th April
Un Chapeau de paille d'Italie UEA Drama Studio £5-7
Martin Figura - Whistle Norwich Arts Centre £6-8
Swinging At The Cotton Club The Playhouse £19-21.50
Gossamer Thread's Greatest Show On Earth Norwich Arts Centre £12
CLUB NIGHTS 25th March
29th March
1st April
5th April
Skool Daze UEA LCR £2-5
The A List UEA LCR £4.50
April Fashion Fool UEA LCR £2-5
The A List UEA LCR £4.50
Ciara Jack
COMPETITIONS 25.03.2014
www.concrete-online.co.uk
concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk
the venue crossword
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Across 5. Hump backed desert-dweller (5) 6. Hard casing on a snail (5) 7. What type of cheese is made backwards? (4) 9. Worn by cowboys (5) 11. Centre of the eye (5) 14. Aquatic mammal sometimes seen in UEA lake (5) 15. Expression of objection (7)
Down 1. Mixed fruit drink (5) 2. Part of a flower (4) 3. The first day of April (5) 4. Honey making insect (3) 8. Chaos (8) 10. Japanese martial art (6) 12. Group of student representatives (5) 13. Main student venue on UEA campus (3)
win TWO FREE LCR tickets! #Tuesday 1st April April Fashion Fool LCR TELL US YOUR BEST APRIL FOOLS DAY PRANKS TO WIN! KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THE COMPETITION ON OUR FACBOOK ANSWER IN THE COMMENTS TO WIN!
www.policemag.com
VENUE Ciara Jack