v
The truth about internet dating!
Brand new Internet section makes its debut! Arts explore lesbian literature for LGBT month
In this issue...
8
ers,
Dear Read
Wired
p.9 - 7E LOOK AT A FEW GAMES THAT MIGHT TAKE YOUR FANCY THIS FORTNIGHT
TV
p.10 - 4HIS 6ALENTINE S $AY WE REMEMBER OUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE 46 COUPLES p.11 - 7E ALL LOVE WATCHING A BIT OF TEENAGE ANGST SO WE INVESTIGATE HOW IT S PORTRAYED c.uk
Fashion Editor - Jessica Hamilton
Internet Editors - Alannah
Deputy Fashion Editor - Flora Wong
Wells and Chloe Pew-Latter
Contributors - Alice Dijksterhuis, Sam Elliott, Charlotte Faultley
Deputy Internet Editor - Jack Clark Contributors - Samuel Elliott, Helen Thomas, Alice Violett
Contributors - Bernadette Schulz, Sufia Shahnawaz
Deputy Music Editor - Rob Morbin
Creative Writing Editor - Penny Boxall Contributors - Sarah Blake, Stephanie Cross, Johnny Kemeys, Elizabeth Wherrell
Contributors - Chris Bullock, Cat Davis, Izzy Lockhart Smith, Michael Moore, Will Newton, Alec Plowman, Jenny Robins, Duncan Vicat- Brown,
Film Editors -
George Gilbert and Colette Lilford
Wired Editor - Karl Davies Contributors Wilson
Paul Bygrave, Christopher
Contributors - Micha Charles, Will Heppa, Elizabeth Poole, Caroline Preece, Duncan Vicat-Brown, Chris Wilson
TV Editor - Kirsten Peter
Listings Editor - Natasha Barnes
Contributors - Eleanor Brown, Josh Butler, Lindsay Harris, Mark McKenzie- Ray, Cathy Peters, Caroline Preece
Competitions Editor - Jonathan Clark
Creative Writing
Editors Alannah Wells and Chloe Pew Latter
Music Editor - Sarah Christie
p.8 - 9OUR POETRY AND PROSE ON THE THEME @HIGH WAY
Editor-in-Chief Fiona Billings
Melissa York and Matt Ramsay
p.6 - /UR REGULAR FEATURES LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT THEATRICAL AND LITERARY DELIGHTS YOU CAN EXPECT THIS FORTNIGHT p.7 - 7E MARK THE OCCASION OF ,'"4 MONTH
The Event
Arts Editors -
Arts
lannah xx .a vent@uea .e te e r c n o c
p.4 - 7E EXAMINE THE SURGE IN COSMETICS SALES AND YOUR OPINIONS ON PATTERNED WOOLLY JUMPERS p.5 - 3HOPPING WITH 4HE -ALL .ORWICH
gu- e to our ‘re y b d o o g y e In- d to sa ction on th ’ve decide e e s w w e e u n s as d is n This this topic w llo to a bra e e h m ti d t n u a o , e b riting was a lar’ pag rested in w ught that it te o in th e is W e n . t. o terne is concrete ent! If any v s E s e e r h d T d a in ec- e email included d for the s for now th le , e n e o p ti c s e e s y e your for the c.uk. Keep .a a e oon. u t@ n eve , coming s p u o r g k o bo ing a tion’s Face ork organis w t a d r a h k, so have been ll this wee a m M a e te h n T io h this, Our fash shoot wit ething like m le fashion o s ty s If . k r 5 o e is Y New ck out pag ry section e e h v c e , u n o o y ti e n r atte k out make sur , grabs you tors. Chec e u ls ib e tr g n in o c th ou or any e. Go on, y out for new g k a o p lo h c e a th e p of always on es on the to s s e r d d a il the ema want to! er know you ay! Wheth d ’s e n ti n y! py Vale a great da say is Hap e v to a ft h le p u s , t’ d All tha r love nd single o a e e fr e ’r you
e and A Love Chlo
Fashion
Internet
5IF
p.12 - /UR BRAND NEW )NTERNET SECTION
Feature
p.13 - 'AMES CONSOLES REVIEWED
Music
p.14 - 4HE BANDS THAT .ORWICH HAS TO OFFER p.15 - !LBUMS OF THE FORTNIGHT p.16 - 3INGLES OF THE FORTNIGHT AND THIS FORTNIGHT S MIXTAPE p.17 - ,IVE GIG REVIEWS
Film
p.18 - 7E REVIEW 4HE #URIOUS #ASE OF "ENJAMIN "UTTON AND LOOK AT THE CAREER OF !RNOLD 3CHWARZENEGGER p.19 - .EW RELEASES AND THIS FORTNIGHT S l LM NEWS p.20 - $6$ RELEASES THIS FORTNIGHT p.21 - 7E EXAMINE THE /SCAR NOMINATIONS
What’s On
p.22 - 4HIS FORTNIGHT S HAPPENINGS IN .ORWICH
Competitions
p.24 - #ROSSWORD 3UDOKU AND 'IVEAWAYS
Event Ratings Outstanding Excellent Good Mediocre Tragic!
04
fashion
“the latest and most admired style in clothes and cosmetics and behaviour” the event
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE 4HE SUBSTITUTION OF LARGE EXTRAVAGAN CIES FOR SMALLER LUXURIES IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC DIFl CULTY COULD PARTLY EX PLAIN THE JUMP IN SALES OF COSMETICS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS 2ECENT l GURES FROM , /RÏAL "EIERSDORF AND 3HISEIDO SHOW THAT IN PARTICULAR THE SALE OF LIP STICK HAS SURGED IN RECENT MONTHS ,IPSTICK IS THE ULTIMATE FEEL GOOD IN DULGENCE IT HAS THE POWER TO MAKE THE WEARER FEEL SEXY WITHOUT THE COST OR GUILT OF A WHOLE NEW OUTl T 0OWERFUL WOMEN HAVE LONG BEEN SEEN TO HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH LIPSTICK #LEOPATRA HAD AN EARLY FORM OF LIP STICK MADE FROM CRUSHED CARMINE BEE TLES WHICH GAVE A DEEP RED PIGMENT %LIZABETH ) MADE BRIGHT RED LIPS AND PALE FACES FASHIONABLE IN TH CEN TURY "RITAIN WHERE LIPSTICK WAS MADE OF BEESWAX AND RED STAINS FROM PLANTS !ND OF COURSE DEEP RED LIPSTICK WAS A SYMBOL OF SEDUCTION FOR THE SCREEN SI RENS OF THE S AND S
Cosmetics sales soar during credit crunch
,ASTING &IX LIPSTICK FOR AT "OOTS a
#LINIQUE ,IPSTICK a a TOWARDS THE +ISS )T "ETTER CHARITY -AYBELLINE -OISTURE %XTREME ,IPSTICK a
*ESSICA (AMILTON
FOR AND AGAINST: PATTERNED JUMPERS
!T l RST GLANCE THE CHUNKY PATTERNED JUMPER IS A DIFl CULT TREND THE KITSCH INDIE JUMPER IS MORE LIKELY TO BE ASSOCI ATED WITH YOUR GRANDMA S DODGY KNITTING THAN COUTURE FASHION (OWEVER ON CLOSER INSPECTION IT S ACTUALLY A VERY WEARABLE AND PRACTICAL LOOK 4HINK LESS DODGY S CHILDREN S TELEVISION PRESENTER AND MORE RETRO AND KITSCH -ATTHEW 7ILLIAMSON &URTHERMORE THIS TREND DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE 3IMPLY POP INTO YOUR LOCAL CHARITY SHOP AND PICK UP THE MOST GAR ISH CREATION POSSIBLE TEAM WITH WET LOOK LEGGINGS OR WOOLLEN SHORTS WITH SOME CHUNKY SOCKS IF A GIRL OR SLIM l TTING TROU SERS TUCKED INTO MILITARY BOOTS IF A BOY AND YOU TOO CAN JOIN THE 4OPSHOP FASH IONISTAS ! WOOLLEN JUMPER CAN ALSO BE EXTREMELY m ATTERING HIDING ANY LUMPS OR BUMPS PERFECT FOR THOSE hFATv DAYS WHEN YOU RELISH THE CHANCE TO MOPE #HARLOTTE &AULTLEY AROUND YOUR SQUALID BEDROOM RATHER THAN ENTER ING THE 5%! LIBRARY #HARLOTTE &AULTLEY
4HE WOOLLY JUMPER IS A PECULIAR BEAST )TS PATTERN AS BUSY AS THE FUR OF AN !FRICAN 7ILD $OG REm ECTS ITS SMELL A MALTING MUTT S BAS KET ! DOG ON ITS LAST LEGS CAN BE PUT DOWN WHEN IT HAS SUFFERED TOO LONG WHEN IT IS NO LONGER OF ITS TIME 7HO COULD DENY THAT THIS WOULD BE AN ACT OF KINDNESS )T CAN BE CREMATED OR BURIED SIX FEET UNDERGROUND HAVING FOREVER LEFT THIS WORLD 4HIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE WOOLLY JUMPER YEARS AGO BEFORE IT BECAME POST MODERN BEFORE IT BECAME ANTIFOLK )T S BACK FROM THE DEAD BUT DEAD ALL THE SAME )T S LIKE A GREYING ,ABRADOR STUFFED NOSTALGICAL LY BY ITS OWNERS )T S A DOG THAT TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE IN A LIVING ROOM )TS MASTERS LISTEN TO "ARRY -ANILOW S @TIMELESS RENDITION OF -ANDY WEARING THE CARDIGANS THEY BOUGHT YEARS BACK NOT KNOWING THAT THEY AND THEIR WARM WINTER WOOLLIES ARE JUST ANOTHER LUMBERING ANACHRONISM IN THE POSTMODERN FUNFAIR 3AM %LLIOT
fashion fashion
05
“Something, such as a garment, that is in the current mode:” concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
the event
MAKE UP TREND: RAINB RAINBOW PALETTES
)N THE GLOOM OF "RITISH WEATHER COMES THE ELECTRIC PALETTE OF %UROPEAN MAKE UP WITH DESIGNERS TREATING US TO A CASCADE OF COLOUR ON THE RUNWAYS -ODELS WERE SENT OUT ARMED WITH HEAVY MAKE UP IN SHOCKING NUANCES BOLD AND DEFINITIVE IT SENDS A CLEAR STATE MENT TO THE MASSES #OLOUR )S )N .OW HERE AT 4HE %VENT &ASHION WE HESITATE TO CONDONE THE @IN THING BUT WE LOVE THE FEELING THAT COMES WITH PENCILLING EYES WITH A STREAK OF EMERALD GREEN OR DASHING ON A SLICK OF SCARLET LIPSTICK 3HOW STOPPING EYES WERE TEAMING BACKSTAGE IN -ILAN WITH MAGENTA CORAL AND SAPPHIRE MIXES IN EVERY DIRECTION )F YOU DON T FANCY HEADING TO /PTIC LOOKING LIKE A NU RAVE RAINBOW NEVER FEAR THIS LOOK IS DEFINITELY ACCESSIBLE 7ITH MANY LEADING BRANDS EXTENDING THEIR RANGES TO COPE WITH THIS DEMAND FOR STATEMENT COLOUR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO GO AS FAR AS YOU WANT KOHL PENCILS IN TEAL EYE SHADOWS IN GOLD LIPSTICKS IN SHOCKING PINK THE CHOICE IS YOURS )N THIS DAY OF 0RIMARNI AND 4OPSHOP IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO FEEL DIFFERENT SO A NEW AND VIVID ADDITION TO YOUR MAKE UP ROUTINE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE )F YOU ARE LOOKING TO UPDATE YOUR STYLE OR JUST FANCY TRYING SOMETHING NEW EXPERIMENTING WITH SHADES AND COLOUR IS SURPRISINGLY LIBERATING TRY ADDING FALSE LASHES AND DIAMANTE DROPS TO FRAME THE EYES AND YOU WILL WONDER HOW YOU EVER LIVED WITHOUT THEM !LICE $IJKSTERHUIS
‘NEW YORK STYLE’ AT THE MALL, NORWICH 4HE -ALL .ORWICH HAS TEAMED UP WITH 4HE %VENT TO GIVE l VE LUCKY READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE #ONFESSIONS OF A 3HOPAHOLIC WHICH OPENS AT 4HE 6UE #INEMA ON &RIDAY TH &EBRUARY &OR YOUR CHANCE TO GRAB TWO TICKETS TO THE HOTTEST l LM OF ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION
7HEN DOES THE NEW #ONFESSIONS OF A 3HOPAHOLIC l LM OPEN AT 4HE 6UE #INEMA IN 4HE -ALL .ORWICH 4O ENTER PLEASE SEND YOUR ANSWER PLUS NAME ADDRESS EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER TO 0INSTRIPE 02 AT 4HE &OLIE
9ARMOUTH 2OAD
"LOl ELD
.ORWICH .2 ,'
#LOCKWISE FROM ABOVE RIGHT "LACK TOP -ADHOUSE a *EANS -ADHOUSE a "LACK NECKLACE .EW ,OOK a 7HITE SHOES 0RICELESS a 0INK CABLE KNIT CARDIGAN .EW ,OOK a "LACK m ORAL DRESS .EW ,OOK a "LACK PEEP TOE SHOES 0RICELESS a "EIGE COAT -ADHOUSE a "LACK WOOL DRESS -ADHOUSE a 'OLD BANGLES .EW ,OOK a 'OLD KNOTTED NECKLACE 0EACOCKS a "LACK CORK SANDALS 0EACOCKS a "LACK CARDIGAN -ADHOUSE a 0INK CAMI .EW ,OOK a .ECKLACE .EW ,OOK a 0INK BOW CLIP SET OF TWO .EW ,OOK a
7ITH SPECIAL THANKS TO *ULIA 2AISIN &LORA 7ONG *ESSICA (AMILTON AND 4HE -ALL .ORWICH
arts arts
06
“The The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements”
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
the event
Word
Play
'OOD FORTNIGHT
7ORD IS SORRY TO REPORT YET ANOTHER WINTRY LIERARY DEATH *OHN 5PDIKE WHO WON THE 0ULITZER 0RIZE TWICE FOR 2ABBIT IS 2ICH AND 2ABBIT AT 2EST DIED AT THE AGE OF AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH LUNG CANCER (E WAS ALSO THE WRITER OF #OUPLING AND 4HE 7ITCHES OF %ASTWICK )N SLIGHTLY MORE LIGHT HEARTED NEWS 3EBASTIAN "ARRY WAS AWARDED THE #OSTA "OOK 0RIZE RECEIVING a FOR 4HE 3ECRET 3CRIPTURE /DDLY THE BOOK WAS DESCRIBED AS hm AWED IN MANY WAYSv 4HE CHAIR OF JUDGES -ATTHEW 0ARRIS HILARIOUSLY HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT "ARRY S NOVEL @ THERE WAS A LOT WRONG WITH IT )T WAS m AWED IN MANY WAYS ALMOST NO ONE LIKED ITS ENDING &OR SOME THIS WAS FATAL ) DON T THINK THE ENDING WORKS NO BODY THOUGHT THE ENDING WORKED "UT THERE WAS A FEELING AMONG THE JUDGES THAT MANY GREAT WORKS OF LITERA TURE ARE ALSO m AWED v -ELISSA 9ORK
(E MAY BE BEST KNOWN AS THE DIRECTOR OF BIG SCREEN HITS 4HE (OURS AND 4HE 2EADER BUT 3TEPHEN $ALDRY #"% l RST MADE HIS NAME WITH THE .ATIONAL 4HEATRE PRODUCTION OF * " 0RIESTLEY S CLASSIC PLAY !N )NSPECTOR #ALLS 4HE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED PLAY IS CURRENTLY ON TOUR AND ARRIVES AT .ORWICH S 4HEATRE 2OYAL ON -ARCH RD RUNNING UNTIL THE TH 4ICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AND CAN BE BOUGHT FROM AS LIT TLE AS a (ERE HE SPEAKS TO 4HE %VENT PRIOR TO HIS ARRIVAL IN .ORWICH
7ORD THIS WEEK BRINGS NEWS OF YET MORE PRIZES AND DEATHS WITHIN THE LITERATI AND 0LAY ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE "ARD TO THE .OR WICH 4HEATRE 2OYAL AND A HOST OF ACOUSTIC SHOWS AT THE .ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE WHILE THE 0LAYHOUSE GETS ALL COMICAL 4HEATRE IN &IVE TALKS TO DIRECTOR 3TEPHEN $ALDRY #"% AHEAD OF THE APPEARANCE AT .ORWICH S 4HEATRE 2OYAL OF * " 0RIESTLEY S CLASSIC PLAY !N )NSPECTOR #ALLS WHICH TAKES TO THE STAGE AT THE START OF -ARCH /UR FEATURE AND BOOK REVIEW THIS WEEK PAYS HOMAGE TO ,'"4 (ISTORY MONTH THIS &EBRUARY "ERNADETTE 3HULZ DISCUSSES THE GRAND LEAPS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE AREA OF GAY LITERATURE 4HE %VENT 2ECOMMENDS GAY !FRICAN !MERICAN LITERATURE IN THE SHAPE OF 0ASSING BY .ELLA ,ARSEN 4OODLES
-ELISSA AND -ATT
4HE .ORWICH 4HEATRE 2OYAL WELCOMES THE RATHER EXCELLENT IF WE DO SAY SO OURSELVES 0ROPELLER 4HEATRE #OMPANY 4HE MODERN ALL MALE CAST WILL BE STAGING 4HE -ERCHANT OF 6ENICE AND ! -IDSUMMER .IGHT S $REAM NEXT WEEK 9OU VE MISSED "ASIL "RUSH UNFORTUNATELY (E ENDED ON 3ATURDAY THERE S ONLY 3HAKESPEARE NOW %MMY THE 'REAT 3ARAH 'ILLESPIE AND THE 0LAY THE -U SIC !COUSTIC 3HOWCASE IS ON AT THE .ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE "E THERE BE ARTY 4HE .ORWICH 0LAYHOUSE IS PLAYING HOST TO -OCK THE 7EEK FAVOURITE 4ONY 0ARSONS AND FELLOW COMICAL TYPES 4HE #OUNTERFEITS WHO ARE @HILARIOUS ACCORDING TO *ERRY (ALL -ELISSA 9ORK
Theatre in Five
5NIVERSAL ARE LOOKING AT THE $6$ SALES OF -AMMA -IA AND GOING hWOWv BUT ) AM JUST GIGGLING AT THE SIDELINES AT THE MOMENT 4HE MUSICAL HAS BEEN AT THE CENTRE OF OUR LIVES FOR l VE YEARS 4HE IDEA THAT ) D SPEND TWO YEARS PUTTING IT BACK ONTO CELLULOIDx ) JUST l ND THAT FUNNY AT THE MOMENT -OVING BACK TO !N )NSPECTOR #ALLS DO YOU THINK THE AUSTERE SETTING AND THEMES WILL HIT HOME IN CREDIT CRUNCH "RITAIN 4HERE IS THIS PROFOUND RECESSION HITTING AND A PIECE OF WORK WHERE )NSPECTOR 'OOLE COMES OUT AND CALLS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND COMMON PURPOSE AND AGAINST THE IDEAS OF SELl SHNESS AND GREED IS SOMETHING THAT ) THINK AUDIENCES HERE UNDERSTAND HUGELY
9OU HAVE HAD A BUSY TIME OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WORKING ON 4HE 2EADER AND PREPARING FOR THE "ROADWAY OPENING OF "ILLY %LLIOTT 4HE -USICAL (OW HAVE YOU COPED WITH THAT ) WAS GETTING UP BETWEEN l VE AND SIX EACH MORNING AND WORKING IN 4HE 2EADER EDITING ROOM USUALLY UNTIL LUNCHTIME 4HEN ) D REHEARSE IN THE THEATRE DURING THE AFTERNOON NIP BACK TO THE EDIT ROOM WHILE THE CAST WAS ON THEIR TEA BREAK AND THEN BACK TO THE THEATRE FOR THE EVENING REHEARSALS AND INTO THE PRE VIEW PERFORMANCES
)T WAS RATHER WONDERFUL HAVING TWO VERY DIFFERENT FAMILIES IF YOU LIKE ALL WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD 7E DID ALL GET TOGETHER SOMETIMES AND THE l LM CREW CAME TO WATCH "ILLY
(OW WAS THAT 7ELL YOU VE GOT AROUND PEOPLE IN THE THEATRE WHILE THERE ARE JUST UP THE ROAD WORKING ON l NISHING THE l LM
4HERE ARE RUMOURS THAT THE MUSICAL VERSION OF "ILLY %LLIOTT IS GOING TO BE TURNED INTO A MOVIE TOO )S THAT GOING TO HAP PEN
3O !N )NSPECTOR #ALLS IS A PLAY WE CAN ALL RELATE TO !S WE MOVE INTO THIS EXTRAORDINARY TIME AS THE ECONOMY TANKS AND COMMUNITIES BECOME MORE UNDER THREAT THAT CALL TO ARMS OF 0RIESTLEY S IS ONE WHICH WILL BE RELEVANT ) M DY ING TO SEE HOW !N )NSPECTOR #ALLS RESONATES IN THIS ECONOMIC CLIMATE -ATT 2AMSAY 7ITH THANKS TO *OHN "ULTITUDE 0RESS /Fl CER AT THE 4HEATRE 2OYAL FOR HIS CONTINUED ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
The Event RecommEnds -ANY READ 0ASSING AS A NOVEL WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE l GURE OF THE TRAGIC MULATTO OFTEN USED BY !FRI CAN !MERICAN WRITERS TO ADDRESS THE RACE PROB LEM 4HE COMPLEXITIES OF RACIAL DIVISION AND AS A CONSEQUENCE THE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH RACE AS A CULTURAL SIGNIl ER ARE READILY ENGAGED 4HE AUTHOR .ELLA ,ARSEN WAS OF BIRACIAL PAR ENTAGE WHICH WAS CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN BY HER PEERS DUE TO THE IMPENDING PROBLEM OF ALLOCAT ING HER TO A RACE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CATE GORIES OF IDENTITY AT A TIME WHEN THIRD GENERATION EMANCIPATED !FRICAN !MERICANS STILL EXPERIENCED MARGINALIZATION AND RACISM
!LTHOUGH 0ASSING HAS GAINED SIGNIl CA NT CA NONICAL RECOGNITION FOR IT S MANIFEST CRITIQUE OF EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY RACIAL ATTITUDES IT IS ALSO EQUALLY AS WORTH Y A READ DUE TO ITS EXPLORATION OF A B LACK LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP ! SIGNIl ER OF BOTH SEXUAL AMBIGUITY AND CRITIQUE OF THE PATRIARCHAL AND REPRESSIVE SYSTEM OF S !MERICA (ISTORICALLY DOMINANT PERCEPTIONS OF SEXUAL ITY AND RACE HAVE BEEN EQUALLY AS OPPRESSIVE AS EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF FORCEFULLY ALLOCATING PEO PLE INTO CATEGORIES THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COM FORTABLE WITH "OTH BLACK PEOPLE AND HOMOSEXU ALS HAVE BEEN OSTRACIZED FOR MERELY EXISTING
4HE DECISION BY .ELLA ,ARSEN TO INCLUDE A DAR ING AND INNOVATIVE LESBIAN SUB NARRATIVE IN HER PLOT NOT ONLY GIVES RECOGNITION TO B LACK LESBI ANS BUT IN HIGHLIGHTING THE LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE RACE PROBLEM SHE PRESENTS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO INTELLIGENT BLACK WOMEN VIRTUALLY UNPARALLELED IN THE WHITE MALE DOMINATED LITERARY COMMUNITY OF THE EARLY TWEN TIETH CENTURY ! REVOLUTIONARY NOVEL NOT TO BE UNDERESTI MATED BY READERS 3Ul A 3HAHNAWAZ
arts Homosexual Histories
07
the event
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
&EBRUARY IS ,'"4 MONTH SO 4HE %VENT MARKS THE OCCASION BY LOOKING BACK ON LESBIAN LITERATURE THROUGH THE AGES "ERNADETTE 3CHULZ REPORTS %VERYONE HAS HEARD OF /SCAR 7ILDE THE 6ICTORIAN POET AND PLAYWRIGHT KNOWN FOR HIS WITTY IRONIC STYLE AND HIS SEXUALITY SO UNACCEPTABLE TO 6ICTO RIAN MORALITY THAT IT GOT HIM JAILED IN 7ILDE S ENDURING FAME BEGS THE QUESTION WHY THERE IS NO FEMALE WRITER OF THE SAME STA TUS AND INFAMY 4HE ANSWER MAY PARTLY LIE IN THE FACT THAT WOMEN S WRITING WAS GENERALLY LOOKED DOWN UPON AND EXCLUDED FROM THE LITERARY CAN ON UNTIL MUCH LATER 7ILDE WAS ARRESTED UNDER THE #RIMINAL ,AW !MENDMENT !CT WHICH MADE hGROSS INDECENCYv BETWEEN MEN A CRIMINAL OFFENCE .O SUCH LAW EXISTED FOR WOMEN WHICH MEANS LESBIANS COULD hGET AWAY WITH ITv MORE READILY THAN GAY MEN COULD !ND YET LESBIANS SUFFERED PERHAPS AN EVEN WORSE FATE FOR IT INVISIBILITY 4HAT BEING SAID MALE WRITERS OF EROTICA IN 6ICTORIAN TIMES WERE OFTEN FASCINATED WITH THE IMAGE OF THE h%XOTIC 3APPHISTv THE THEN CURRENT TERM FOR FEMALE HOMOSEXUALITY )NTERESTINGLY ENOUGH BOTH THIS TERM AND ITS MODERN VERSION DATE BACK TO THE EARLIEST KNOWN LESBIAN POET n 3APPHO OF ,ESBOS )F WE IMAGINE LESBIAN LITERATURE CONTAINED WITHIN ONE BOOKSHELF THEN 3APPHO S POEMS ABOUT HER LOVE FOR OTHER WOMEN WOULD BE AT THE VERY BOTTOM IN A SHELF MARKED "# (ER WORK WAS BANNED BY THE CHURCH FOR ITS hINm AMMATORY CONTENTv AND THE SILENCE SUR ROUNDING LESBIANS IN LITERATURE WAS ONLY REALLY BROKEN IN THE MODERNIST ERA WHERE STYLISTIC AND SEXUAL EXPERIMENTATION AND OPEN MINDEDNESS OFTEN WENT HAND IN HAND 4HE LESBIAN BOOKSHELF WAS BEGINNING TO LOOK A BIT FULLER THAN IT HAD FOR PREVIOUS CENTURIES AND FOR THE l RST TIME WOMEN S EXPERIENCES WITH OTH ER WOMEN WERE NOT JUST BEING WRITTEN ABOUT BUT ACTUALLY PUBLISHED 4HE ESTABLISHMENT S REACTION TO THIS WAS PREDICTABLY SCANDALIZED AND REPRES
SIVE CENSORSHIP FOLLOWED SUIT 4HE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS IS 2ADCLYFFE (ALL S 4HE 7ELL OF ,ONELINESS n A GLOOMY NOVEL ABOUT THE FATE OF GAY WOMEN CHARMINGLY CALLED hINVERTSv BY ITS AUTHOR )T WAS BANNED IN IN AN hOBSCENITY TRIALv AS THE AUTHORITIES BELIEVED IT TO BE A SOURCE OF CORRUPTION &OLLOWING THIS OVERTLY LESBIAN THEMES IN l CTION WERE TABOO FOR DECADES TO COME )NTERESTINGLY THE SAME MONTH AS (ALL S NOVEL WAS BANNED 6IRGINIA 7OOLF S NOVEL /RLANDO WAS PUBLISHED 7OOLF WROTE IT AS A HOMAGE TO HER LOVER AT THE TIME 6ITA 3ACKVILLE 7EST WHO HERSELF WAS NOTORIOUS FOR HER m AMBOYANT AFFAIR WITH AN OTHER DAUGHTER OF HIGH SOCIETY 6IOLET 4REFUSIS !LTHOUGH /RLANDO INCLUDES ANDROGYNY GEN DER BENDING AND ALLUSIONS TO LESBIAN LOVE IT WAS RECEIVED POSITIVELY ! FEW DECADES LATER THE S AND S SAW THE EMERGENCE OF LESBIAN PULP l CTION SUCH AS THE "EEBO "RINKER #HRONICLES PLAYING WITH BUTCH AND FEMME THEMES IN AN ERA OF RESTRICTIVE MORALITY !LL THIS WAS SOON TO CHANGE THE STUDENT UPRIS INGS OF AND THE WOMEN S MOVEMENT MADE 7ESTERN SOCIETY A MORE OPEN PLACE 4HE S SAW THE CONm UX OF LESBIAN AND FEMINIST WRITING THERE WAS AN OUTPOURING OF PO LITICAL POLEMICS AND LITERARY CRITICISM BY WRITERS SUCH AS +ATE -ILLETT !NDREA $WORKIN AND !UDRE ,ORDE TO NAME BUT A FEW !LSO WORTH MENTION ING IS 2ITA -AE "ROWN S LESBIAN COMING OF AGE CLASSIC 2UBYFRUIT *UNGLE PUBLISHED IN 4HE BODY OF LESBIAN LITERATURE IS GROWING AND WIDENING IN SCOPE (ERE WE HAVE SUCH HIGHBROW NOVELISTS AS *EANETTE 7INTERSON WHO IS KNOWN FOR BEAUTIFUL EXPERIMENTAL NOVELS THAT PLAY WITH CONCEPTS OF TRUTH AND l CTION AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND META NARRATIVE !NOTHER POPULAR WRITER IS 3ARAH 7ATERS WHOSE ATMOSPHERIC HISTORICAL NOVELS CONTRAST RICH WELL RESEARCHED DETAIL AND SITUATIONAL COM EDY WITH ACUTELY REALISTIC PORTRAYALS OF LESBIAN LOVE IN MORE REPRESSIVE TIMES -INORITY WRITING IS GAINING MORE CRITICAL RECOGNITION AND POPULARITY IN RECENT YEARS THE 53 ESPECIALLY IS NOTABLE FOR THE EMERGENCE OF BLACK AND WORKING CLASS WRIT ERS WITH LESBIAN THEMES PERHAPS MOST FAMOUSLY !LICE 7ALKER S NOVEL 4HE #OLOR 0URPLE 7RITING AGAINST ALL ODDS WE VE GONE FROM A FEW DUSTY TOMES IN THE ANCIENT 'REEK SECTION TO OVERm OWING SHELVES FOR MODERN AND CONTEMPO RARY LESBIAN WRITING POETRY PROSE PULP l CTION AND HIGHLY LITERARY BOOKS INCLUDED )T S A LIBRARY ANYONE CAN BE PROUD OF AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY A SHELF WON T BE ENOUGH TO CONTAIN IT
08
creative cre ative writing “any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, forms” the event
concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
This week’s theme: “Highway” Highway )T IS OFTEN SAID THAT THE JOURNEY HOME FEELS QUICKER THAN WHEN YOU SET OUT n EVEN THOUGH IT S THE SAME DISTANCE BOTH WAYS 3TEPHEN REm ECTED THAT IT FELT TRUE ENOUGH FOR HIM (E WAS ALREADY HALFWAY ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND HAD ONLY TAKEN HIS LITTLE HORSE TWO WEEKS )T HAD FELT LIKE MONTHS WHEN HE WAS STARTING OUT TWO YEARS AGO !S HE LET 2ED HIS HORSE CHOOSE HIS OWN PACE THROUGH THE FOREST 3TEPHEN SUPPOSED WHEN YOU WERE DREADING WHAT YOU WERE TRAVELING TOWARDS THE JOURNEY WAS BOUND TO DRAG (E LIFTED HIS HEAD BACK AND LOOKED UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS HUNCHED ABOVE THEM ALL 4HEY WERE SHROUDED IN A BLUE MIST BUT 3TEPHEN KNEW ABOVE THAT THE PEAKS WERE SNOW CAPPED AND ETERNAL 7AR WOULD NEVER ALTER A MOUNTAIN THEY JUST LOOKED DOWN UPON THE LAND AS ALWAYS 7AR !LREADY HE WAS FORGETTING IT ALREADY IT WAS MORE FADED THAN YESTERDAY AND A WEEK FROM NOW WOULD BE MORE FADED STILL 9ET SOMEHOW IT WOULD ALWAYS MANAGE TO HAUNT HIM AND SEEM SO VIVID 3UCH COMPLEX THINGS AS WAR COULD DO THAT 3TEPHEN WAS RIDING THE HIGHWAY WHICH CUT ALMOST DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE LAND WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER MEN 4HEY WERE BATTLE SCARRED AND WEARY BUT OUTWARDLY WERE JOVIAL ENOUGH 4HEY DRIFTED OFF DAY BY DAY IN ONES AND TWOS BACK TO THE VILLAGES THEY HAD BEEN DRAFTED FROM 3TEPHEN CLOSED HIS EYES AND FELT THE STEADY HYPNOTIC RHYTHM OF HIS BRAVE LITTLE HORSE UNDER HIM AND LISTENED IN ON THE MEN HE RODE THE HIGHWAY WITH 4HEY COMPARED INJURIES AND TOLD JOKES BUT MOSTLY THEY TALKED OF THE FAMILY THE WIVES AND CHILDREN THAT AWAITED THEM 3TEPHEN SENSED THAT THESE ARMORED MEN WERE EXCITED AND IMPATIENT TO GET HOME 7HETHER THEY WERE LOSERS OR VICTORS THEY WERE VICTORS THEIR WIVES WOULD BE ALL TOO PLEASED TO SEE THEM 4HEY COULD TASTE HER HOME MADE CAKES NOW 9ET HE FELT DIFFERENT (E DID NOT KNOW WHY BUT AS 2ED S HOOVES ATE UP THE HIGHWAY AND HE REACHED HOME MUCH FASTER THAN HE LEFT HE FELTxNERVOUS 4HE MEN WERE WELCOMED AS HEROES THAT NIGHT IN A TOWN ALONG THE HIGHWAY AS THEY HAD BEEN IN THE COUNTLESS OTHER TOWNS /NCE THE HORSES AND MEN WERE FED AND WATERED AND HAD TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT n 3TEPHEN LAY BACK ON HIS BLANKET AND STARED AT THE CEILING (E WAS TWENTY TWO (E HAD THREE BROKEN RIBS AND A SON HE HAD NEVER MET (E HAD A WIFE HE D BARELY KNOWN .OBODY EVER TOLD YOU WHAT TO DO WHEN THE l GHTING STOPPED 9OU DIDN T HAVE TO BE GEARED UP ANYMORE 4HE MOUNTAINS STILL WORE SNOWY CAPS AND THE HIGHWAY MARCHED ON AS ALWAYS
@&IRST DAY OF (IGH SCHOOL AND OH YES ON THIS l RST STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN -UM DEMANDS THAT ) WEAR A COAT 9EP THAT S IT MY SCHOOL LIFE l RMLY DOWN THE PAN FROM THE WORD GO ) MEAN COME ON WHO WEARS A COAT THESE DAYS &ASHIONABLE ONES MAYBE BUT WE ARE TALKING A BIG OLD PUFFY BLACK THING GIVING ME A CLOSE RESEMBLANCE TO THE -ICHELIN -AN @) WILL NOT HAVE YOU GETTING ILL AND THEN INFECTING BOTH ME AND YOUR FATHER (ERE COMES THE HYSTERICAL IRRATIONAL AND COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE CONCLUSIONx"LOODY MENOPAUSE )F ) EVER MANAGE TO MEET A GIRL WHO ISN T MORE INTERESTED IN PONIES AND BOY ZONE THAN ACTUAL BOYS NO MATTER HOW INADEQUATE AND FAR WORSE LOOKING THAN FUCKING 2OBBIE 7ILLIAMS OR WHATEVER THE WANKERS ARE CALLED ) MIGHT BE SHE BEST NOT ACT LIKE THIS @3O YOU WILL WEAR THIS COAT OR YOU 7),, "% '2/5.$%$ &/2 ! -/.4( $ON T PULL THAT FACE YES ! -/.4( 3O THAT S THAT SETTLED 0ROBABLY WON T HAVE ANY FRIENDS TO GO OUT WITH ANYWAY AFTER TODAY AND ANY THOUGHTS OF GIRLS ANY DECENT ONES ANYWAY ARE POINTLESS BUT ) D RATHER AT LEAST HAVE THE FREEDOM FOR LONELY WALKS TO THE POST OFl CE TO BUY CHOCOLATE AND CRISPS TO DROWN MY SORROWS 3URE TO BE ADDED TO BY MY RESULTING OBESITY 4HE GRAVEL CRUNCHES OMINOUSLY BENEATH MY SICKENINGLY UNCOOL #LARKS SHOES ANOTHER SUPERB JUDGEMENT THERE -UM EXPERT IN TEENAGE FASHION !S ) SPOT THE OTHER GUYS THROUGH THE THIN FOG STANDING BY THE BUS STOP
ALL PUFl NG AWAY IN TYPICAL OLDER STUDENT @) M COOL BECAUSE ) SMOKE ILLEGALLY STYLE A FEELING OF PURE TERROR WASHES FROM THE ENDS OF MY EARS AND THROUGH MY @WRAPPED UP NICE AND WARM ARMS 7ELL THERE S NO TURNING BACK NOW THEY VE SEEN ME /H GOOD THEY VE SEEN ME )S THAT A SMIRK ) SEE )T S THE JACKET DEl NITELY BUT NO HOPE TELLING THEM @-Y MUM MADE ME WEAR IT HARDLY THE WAY TO ESCAPE RIDICULE (EY GUYS ) M *ACOB YOU RE NEW PUNCHING BAG FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS NICE TO MEET YOU /H SHIT 'ETTING CLOSE NOW ONLY A FEW MORE STEPSx!H THANK GOD THE COLD BACK WALL OF THE BUS SHELTER 2EFUGE OF THE &IRST 9EAR )TS HERE THAT ) l RST MEET !DAM ! SMALL KID SMALLER THAN ME BUT ON THE PODGY SIDE ) WAS IMMEDIATELY GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT HIS SHOES WERE NO BETTER THAN MINE HEAVY AND POINTED WITH LARGE LACES m OPPING OVER THE FRONT (OW DID ) EVER DOUBT YOU MUM #LARKS HAS MADE THE GRADE 9EAH RIGHT
BUT AT LEAST ) M ON THE LEVEL WITH SOMEBODY (E WAS NOT HOWEVER
WEARING A COAT BUT HIS UNIFORM l TTED HIM BADLY WHICH ) SAW AS A FAIR TRADE )MMEDIATELY ) JUMPED ON HIM AS AN ALLY A COMPANION FOR THE COMING AND WITHOUT HIM POTENTIALLY LONELY AND EMBARRASSING LUNCH BREAKS @ *OHNNY +EMEYS
%LIZABETH 7HERRELL
4HE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION 4HE MAN IS ON A MISSION YET THE TYRES BEGIN TO GRUMBLE AS THE GROUND STARTS TO RUMBLE 2ED GREEN YELLOW BLUE
THE SCREEN IS WHIZZING WITH A TECHNICOLOUR HUE 3EATBELTS STRETCHED THE PASSENGER PERPLEXED
3TOP TURN RIGHT
ADJUST YOUR SHIRT AND TIE !ND BREATHE AS THE DRIVER SIGHS @*UST ANOTHER DAY ON THE HIGHWAY 3TEPHANIE #ROSS
Next week’s theme is “Gravity”. All poetry, prose and script up to 400 words is very welcome - send your writing to concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk by 13th February.
Ovoo 9OU SEE THEM BESIDE WHAT PASSES FOR THE HIGHWAY IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD PILES OF BRANCHES OR STONES FESTOONED WITH WHAT LOOK LIKE SHREDDED BLUE PLASTIC BAGS )T S ONLY WHEN YOU GET CLOSER TO THE HEAPS THAT THE COLOUR STOPS BEING PLASTIC AND BECOMES SOMETHING APPARENTLY SILK 4HE GUIDE BOOK CALLS THEM KHADAG PRAYER SCARVES AND THE BLUE ONES ARE THE SKY MADE TANGIBLE 3TOP WHATEVER VEHICLE YOU ARE TRAVELLING IN AND GET OUT INTO THE DUST OR THE MUD 7ALK UP TO THE HEAP OF LUCKY BLUE SKY THAT HAS FALLEN FROM ABOVE 3TART AT A CERTAIN POINT OF ITS EDGE AND WALK ABOUT IT THREE TIMES ALWAYS CLOCKWISE /NCE YOU VE DONE YOUR WALKING ADD AN OFFERING VODKA OR MONEY IF YOU RE A VETERAN ROCKS TO INCREASE THE PILE OR A PURPLE m OWER IF YOU ARE A NOVICE #USTOM IS OVER AND YOU ARE FREE TO GO 4RAVEL WELL AND FAR 9OU VE ENSURED A SAFER JOURNEY ALONG THE HIGH WAY 3ARAH "LAKE
wired “Slang; extremely excited, nervous, disoriented, concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk
9 the event
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Skate 2 EA Black Box Xbox 360, PS3 Killzone 2
)T S BEEN YEARS SINCE THE l RST 4ONY (AWK S 3KATEBOARDING GAME WAS RE LEASED ON THE 03 &OR NEARLY A DEC ADE THE FRANCHISE HELD A STRANGLE HOLD OVER THE GENRE WITH GAMES RELEASED IN TOTAL 3O IT WAS TO THE SUR PRISE OF MANY WHEN %! CHALLENGED THIS DOMINANCE BY RELEASING THE l RST 3KATE IN AND TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY MORE WHEN THE GAME ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE A CRITICAL AND COM MERCIAL SUCCESS 3O NOW HERE WE ARE MONTHS LATER AND %! HAS RELEASED 3KATE BRINGING THE PLAYER BACK TO THE l C TIONAL CITY OF 3AN 6ANELONA ! LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE l RST GAME DUE TO A LARGE CORPORATION MOVING INTO
THE CITY WRECKING THE POPULAR SKATE SPOTS AND DEMONISING THE SKATERS 3O IT S UP TO THE PLAYER TO MASTER HIS TRICKS AVOID THE SECURITY AND GET HIS FACE ON THE FRONT OF THE NATIONAL SKATEBOARDING MAGAZINES )F YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE l RST GAME THE MAIN DRAW WAS THE REVOLUTIONARY @m ICK IT CONTROL SYSTEM 2ATHER THAN PRESS BUTTONS TO JUMP OR PERFORM TRICKS YOU USE THE LEFT THUMBSTICK TO ROTATE YOUR CHARACTER S BODY WHILE THE RIGHT THUMBSTICK IS USED TO @OL LIE YOUR BOARD OR TO PERFORM VARI OUS TRICKS 4HE BENEl T OF THIS SYSTEM IS THAT EVERY TRICK AND MOVE IN THE GAME IS AVAILABLE FROM THE VERY BE GINNING YOU NEED ONLY MASTER THE
CONTROLS TO ACCESS THE FULL RANGE ON OFFER 4HE SYSTEM MANAGES TO @FEEL LIKE SKATEBOARDING WHERE YOU l ND YOURSELF PRACTICING FOR A PHOTOSHOOT FOR HOURS JUST TO SEE WHAT MOVES YOU CAN PULL OFF TO CATCH THAT PERFECT PIC TURE !NOTHER MAJOR UPGRADE IS IN THE @BAILING SYSTEM 4HE PLAYER CAN NOW CHOOSE TO DELIBERATELY LOSE CON TROL OF THE BOARD AND TO MANOEUVRE HIS CHARACTER INTO A MID m IGHT POSE BEFORE CRASHING PAINFULLY BACK TO EARTH %VERY MAJOR ACCIDENT IS SCORED ON HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING AND HOW MANY BONES YOUR CHARACTER MAN AGED TO BREAK SO EVEN THOSE BRAND NEW TO THE SERIES WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE
IT A GO 4HE LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY ARE WONDERFULLY RENDERED THE TRAFl C AND LOCALS ARE EVERYWHERE AND THE CHARACTER CUSTOMISATION TOOL HAS BEEN MASSIVELY IMPROVED FROM THE l RST OUTING 4HE GAME ALSO INCLUDES A PLETHORA OF ONLINE AND MULTIPLAYER MODES TO PLAY AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS WHETHER YOU FANCY TRICK MODES OR THE APTLY NAMED @DEATHRACES /VER ALL 3KATE IS A WORTHY SUCCESSOR TO THE INITIAL GROUNDBREAKING TITLE
+ILLZONE WAS 3ONY S @(ALO BEATER THAT UNFORTUNATELY FOR 0LAYSTATION OWN ERS COULDN T HOLD A CANDLE TO "UNGIE S KILLER 8BOX EXCLUSIVE 'UERRILLA 3TU DIOS ARE BACK WITH A VENGEANCE WITH WHAT SEEMS A VASTLY SUPERIOR SEQUEL RIGHTLY WORRYING THOSE AT -ICROSOFT 4HE STORY CONTINUES FROM THE l RST GAME WHERE ONCE AGAIN YOU l GHT THE TYRANNICAL (ELGHAST
0AUL "YGRAVE
Prototype
Why Don’t You Try...
Gaming Great
Burnout 3: Takedown
International Superstar Soccer 64
7ITH THE RELEASE OF "URNOUT 0ARADISE 4HE 5LTIMATE "OX THIS WEEK IT IS IM PORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE FRAN CHISE HASN T ALWAYS BEEN SO CRUSH INGLY DISAPPOINTING "URNOUT 4AKEDOWN THE LAST TITLE IN THE SERIES TO BE PRODUCED BEFORE THE TAKEOVER OF DEVELOPER #RITERION BY GAMING GIANTS %! IS ARGUABLY THE BEST RACING GAME OF ALL TIME 3O WHAT MAKES "URNOUT SO GREAT &OR STARTERS THE ABSENCE OF THE POINTLESS %! ENCOURAGED GIMMICKS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE RECENT INSTAL MENTS OF THE FRANCHISE SUCH AS THE POORLY EXECUTED OPEN WORLD MAP IN 0ARADISE 4AKEDOWN ADDED HUNDREDS MORE TRACKS CARS AND TROPHIES TO BE
UNLOCKED THAN PREVIOUS "URNOUT TI TLES 4HIS IS A DEEP YET PURE "URNOUT EXPERIENCE 3IMPLY FAST CARS AND BIG CRASHES AND LOTS OF THEM TOO 4HROW IN MULTIPLAYER MODES THAT ONLY NEED ONE CONTROLLER INCLUDING THE INFAMOUS CRASH MODE A TOP NOTCH SOUNDTRACK AND VISUALS THAT STILL STAND UP TODAY AND YOU HAVE YOURSELF A TRULY COMPLETE "URNOUT PACKAGE 4HE GLORY OF SMASHING YOUR WAY TO VICTORY WITH SWEATY PALMS AND MELTING EYES HASN T BEEN REPLICATED SINCE BOTH IN THE SERIES AND OUTSIDE OF IT "URNOUT 4AKEDOWN TRULY IS THE GREAT RACING GAME #HRISTOPHER 7ILSON
! LITTLE KNOWN FACT NOWADAYS +ON AMI USED TO HAVE NOT ONE BUT TWO FOOTBALL SERIES +ONAMI S 4OKYO BRANCH MADE THE 7INNING %LEVEN SE RIES WHICH WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE IN %UROPE TODAY AS 0RO %VOLUTION 3OCCER (OWEVER +ONAMI ALSO USED TO MAKE ANOTHER SERIES MADE BY THEIR DEVEL OPERS IN /SAKA IN *APAN IT WAS CALLED *IKKYO 7ORLD 3OCCER AND KNOWN IN THE WEST AS )NTERNATIONAL 3UPERSTAR 3OCCER OFTEN ABBREVIATED TO )33 7HILE 0RO %VOLUTION 3OCCER IS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE A TRUE RE ALISATION OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME )33 ATTEMPTED A MORE @ARCADEY FEEL AL LOWING FOR SLICK PASSING AND MADE YARD SCREAMERS MORE REGULAR 4HE
SERIES CULMINATED IN THE SEMINAL .INTENDO ITERATION )NTERNATIONAL 3UPERSTAR 3OCCER 2ELEASED IN THE GAME BOAST ED GREAT GRAPHICS AND TAUGHT CONTROLS COMBINED WITH THE . S FOUR PLAYER CAPABILITIES 5P AGAINST THE APPALLING &)&! AND &)&! QUITE POSSIBLY THE TWO WORST INCARNATIONS OF &)&! EVER TO GRACE A GAMES CONSOLE )33 WAS EASILY THE GREATEST FOOTBALL GAME OF ITS TIME !S 0RO %VO BECAME MORE POPULAR )33 ENDURED A LONG AND PROTRACTED DECLINE UNTIL ITS EVENTUAL DEATH A FEW YEARS AGO ! SHAME AS )33 SHOWED WHAT AN EXCELLENT SERIES IT WAS +ARL $AVIES
!N INTERESTING NEW TITLE FROM 2ADICAL %NTERTAINMENT THE MAIN PROTAGONIST HAS PSYCHIC AND SHAPESHIFTING ABILI TIES 0ROMISING A SANDBOX EXPERI ENCE 0ROTOTYPE LOOKS LIKE IT WILL ALLOW CUNNING PLAYERS DEVIOUS METHODS TO COMPLETE AN OBJECTIVE
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena 4HE PREVIOUS 2IDDICK TITLE %SCAPE FROM "UTCHER "AY WAS A REAL BREATH OF FRESH AIR ! SURPRISINGLY DARK AND BROODING TITLE THE CLAUSTROPHOBIC GAMEPLAY CREATED A DEEPLY ATMOSPHERIC EXPERI ENCE 4HE NEW GAME AIMS TO BUILD ON THIS VIA THE CURRENT HARDWARE AND THE DEVELOPER IS PROMISING A REMASTERED VERSION OF %SCAPE FROM "UTCHER "AY TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE NEW GAME +ARL $AVIES
tv
10
“Television Television (often abbreviated to TV) is a widely used telecommunication system” concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
the event
Love is on the Air
"E THE THIRD WHEEL TO YOUR 46 THIS VALENTINES DAY AS YOU SNUGGLE UP WITH THESE LOVELY COUPLES
Will and Grace /K SO MAYBE HOMOSEXUAL 7ILL AND HIS STRAIGHT ROOMMATE WOULDN T BE TOP ON MOST PEOPLE S LISTS OF GREATEST 46 COUPLES 4HEY DON T GAZE LOVINGLY ACROSS THE ROOM AT ONE ANOTHER THEY DON T ENGAGE IN PASSIONATE LOVE SCENES AND THEY DON T MARRY ONE ANOTHER AT THE END OF THE SERIES "UT DOES THAT MAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP ANY LESS IMPORTANT .OT AT ALL 4HE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE TWO STILL RUNS HIGH AND THEIR AFFECTION FOR EACH OTHER IS SECOND TO NONE )T IS A RUNNING JOKE AMONG THEIR FRIENDS THAT THEY ARE LIKE A @MAR RIED COUPLE AND INDEED THEIR ABILITY TO l NISH EACH OTHER S SENTENCES CREATES AN IMAGE OF AN OLD MARRIED COUPLE BICKERING OVER THE DINNER TABLE 4HE STRENGTH OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP WAS SUCH THAT 'RACE S LOVERS OFTEN FELT THREATENED BY 7ILL AND MANY VIEWERS WANTED THEM TO GET TOGETH ER DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENT SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS 'RACE MAY HAVE TRIED TO DISTANCE HERSELF FROM 7ILL BY MOVING TO AN APARTMENT ACROSS THE HALL BUT THEIR INABILITY TO LIVE APART FROM EACH OTHER FOR LONG WAS REVEALED WHEN SHE MOVED
BACK SHORTLY AFTERWARDS 4HEIR RELATIONSHIP MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PLAIN SAILING BUT AS IN THE BEST PAIRINGS THEIR ARGUMENTS ONLY SERVED TO MAKE THEM STRONGER 7ILL AND 'RACE MAY NOT BE THE l RST TWO PEO PLE YOU COME UP WITH WHEN YOU THINK OF 46 S BEST COUPLES 4HEY MAY NOT EVEN BE THE LAST "UT THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST AMUSING AND ENGAGING ON 46 ,INDSAY (ARRIS
Alice and Hugo ,OVE IS AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IN SITUATION COMEDIES THE GROWING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN OFFER SOME OF THE BEST QUIPS FROM THE NUTTY MARRIAGE OF &RANK AND "ETTY IN 3OME -OTHERS $O @!VE @%M TO THE RATHER DUBIOUS ASSOCIATION BETWEEN 3GT 7ILSON AND -RS 0IKE IN THE IMMORTAL $AD S !RMY PROVID ING SOME OF THE MOST GENUINELY FUNNY MO MENTS THAT "RITISH TELEVISION HAS EVER SEEN /NE OF THE MOST ENDEARING AND UNMISTAK ABLY CHARMING COUPLES IN THE MODERN SITCOM HAS TO BE THE PAIRING OF THE NAÕVE !LICE 4INKER AND THE HUMOROUS (UGO (ORTON FROM ""# S 4HE 6ICAR OF $IBLEY 3INCE THE VERY START OF THE
Ross and Rachel )N HIGH SCHOOL 2OSS 'ELLAR HAD BEEN IN FATUATED WITH THE BEAUTIFUL 2ACHEL 'REEN )N THEY MET AGAIN AND EMBARKED ON A DECADE LONG WILL THEY WON T THEY ROLLERCOASTER RELATIONSHIP (OWEVER TRUE LOVE S COURSE NEVER RAN SMOOTH AND TRAGIC MISTIMING HAUNTED THE COUPLE -OST NOTABLY 2ACHEL ONLY REAL ISED SHE STILL LOVED 2OSS WHEN HE WAS DAYS FROM MARRYING %MILY (ER m IGHT TO %NG LAND TO PREVENT THEIR MARRIAGE ONLY RE SULTED IN 2OSS UTTERING THE IMMORTAL LINE h) 2OSS TAKE THEE 2ACHELxHAx%MILYv 6EGAS SAW A SECOND TRAGIC h) DO v 4HIS TIME THOUGH THE BRIDE WAS 2ACHEL AND BOTH SPOUSES WERE FAR FROM SOBER )N SPITE OF 2OSS S ATTEMPTS TO STAY MARRIED TO 2ACHEL WITHOUT HER KNOWLEDGE hTHE WORLD S WORST HANGOVERv HAD TO COME TO AN END 7HETHER OR NOT THE COUPLE WERE OF l CIALLY hON A BREAKv WHEN 2OSS SLEPT WITH HOT 8EROX CHICK #HLOE WAS ANOTHER
CONTENTIOUS ISSUE )T FORMED THE MEAT OF 2ACHEL S PAGE hFRONT AND BACK v LETTER TO 2OSS AND WAS THE REASON FOR THE COU PLE S SPLIT IN SERIES THREE )N SPITE OF ALL THIS THE OVERWHELM ING FEELING WAS THAT THE COUPLE SHOULD BE TOGETHER 7HO COULD FORGET THEIR l RST LONG AWAITED MOONLIGHT KISS IN THE COF FEE SHOP /R THEIR ALL TOO PUBLIC NIGHT OF PLANETARIUM PASSION "Y SERIES EIGHT THEY EVEN HAD A CHILD TOGETHER 4HEY WERE hLOBSTERSv MEANT TO BE )N SPITE OF ALL THEIR m AWS 2OSS AND 2ACHEL ACHIEVED THEIR (APPILY %VER !FTER IN THE SEASON l NALE 7HEN 2ACHEL DISEM BARKED HER m IGHT TO 0ARIS BOUND FOR HER DREAM CAREER IN FASHION TO LIVE INSTEAD WITH THE MAN WHO HAD ONCE DONNED HIS FATHER S TUX TO PREVENT HER FROM BEING DATELESS ON PROM NIGHT 2OSS AND 2ACHEL S STATUS AS THE CLASSIC 46 COUPLE WAS EN SURED #ATHY 0ETERS
SHOW THE CHARACTERS COURTED EACH OTHER IN THE WAY A COUPLE OF LOVE SICK SCHOOL KIDS WOULD DO IT S OBVIOUS THAT THERE S AN ATTRACTION BUT WHETHER THE DIMWITTED DUO WOULD EVER MAN AGE TO DELIVER THAT ELUSIVE l RST KISS WAS ANOTH ER MATTER ENTIRELY )N FACT THE l RST KISS SCENARIO WAS THE TOPIC OF AN ENTIRE EPISODE OF THE SHOW WHICH SOON LED TO !LICE AND (UGO S COMICAL AND OVER THE TOP WEDDING COMPLETE WITH "ECOME AS !L ICE S FAVOURITE @HYMN AND THE 4ELETUBBIES AS BRIDESMAIDS )N FACT THE PUBLIC LIKED THE EPI SODE @,OVE AND -ARRIAGE SO MUCH THAT THEY VOTED !LICE AND (UGO S HOLY UNION AS THEIR FAVOURITE 46 WEDDING OF ALL TIME 4HE REASON WHY !LICE AND (UGO ARE SUCH A WINNING COUPLE IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THEY RE SO INNOCENT THE SCRIPTED SEXUAL INNUENDO IS WONDERFULLY UNDERPLAYED BY %MMA #HAMBERS AND *AMES &LEET AND IT S EASY FOR THE AUDIENCE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY REALLY ARE JUST A PAIR OF CLUE LESS YOUNGSTERS IN THEIR l RST PROPER GROWN UP RELATIONSHIP %VERYBODY SAY hAWWWv %LEANOR "ROWN
tv
11 the event
concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
Primetime: Mad Men, Tuesday, 10:30 PM, BBC 4
*UST SO WE RE CLEAR -AD -EN HAS A HORRIBLE TITLE 4O THE CASUAL OBSERVER IT SUGGESTS ZANINESS AND FUN AND -AD -EN IS ANYTHING BUT THESE THINGS )TS TITLE COMES FROM THE NICKNAME GIVEN TO THE NOTORIOUS AD MEN OF S -ADISON !VENUE AND THE SERIES CHRONICLES THE DRAMA OF THE AGENCY 3TERLING #OOPER AS THEY WATCH THEIR MARKET LIV ING THROUGH THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION AND YET CON TINUE TO PURSUE THEIR SECRETARIES LIKE SPORT )T S THE KIND OF PRESTIGIOUS !MERICAN TELEVI SION THAT THE ""# ARE EXCELLENT AT ACQUIRING ADVERTISING PROLIl CALLY AND THEN BURYING ON ""# &ITTINGLY THESE ADS DO THE l CTIONAL AD MEN PROUD BY PROl CIENTLY SHOWCASING THE DRA MA BUT AS THEY TRY TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THAT h4HIS IS SOMETHING NEWv SOME KIND OF #HI
NESE 7HISPERS OCCURS ALONG THE WAY BECAUSE ALL THAT SEEMS TO GET THROUGH TO THE VIEWER IS h4HIS ISN T FOR YOU v !ND THAT S BECAUSE -AD -EN ISN T FOR YOU )T S SLICK HAIRED PHILANDERERS IN AN OFl CE SMOKING DRINKING AND COPULATING LIKE THEY VE GOT MONEY RIDING ON WHICH ORGAN WILL PACK IN l RST )T S 4HE )4 #ROWD BEFORE COMPUTERS OR JOKES BUT YOU SHOULDN T ALLOW THAT TO DISINTER EST YOU BECAUSE TRUTH BE TOLD -AD -EN ISN T REALLY @FOR ANYONE IT JUST EXISTS LIKE THE 7ORLD -USIC SECTION IN (-6 UNDERAPPRECIATED AND YET ANNOYINGLY CONl DENT #OMICALLY SURNAMED CREATOR -ATTHEW 7EINER WHO HONED HIS CRAFT ON LATTER SERIES OF 4HE 3OPRANOS AND -AD -EN CONTINUES THE TRADI
Teenage Kicks (OW ADOLESCENT ANGST IS PORTRAYED ON OUR 4ELLY "OXES 4HIS WEEK SAW THE LATEST FROM THE KIDS OF AND 3KINS AND THEIR POST MAKEOVER ATTEMPTS BUT DOES A FRESH NEW CAST AND A BRIGHT CLAIM TO PORTRAY WHAT @REAL KIDS ARE UP TO REALLY WIPE OUT THE SINS OF THE OLD /F COURSE 3KINS HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED THIS AS ITS PRIMARY GOAL AND WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW CAST TAKING THE REINS THIS YEAR ITS SET OUT TO ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS IT ENJOYED IN ITS l RST TWO SERIES *UDGING BY THE l RST OUTING IT HAS 4HE WRITING IS WITTY THE PLOTS EQUAL PART HUMOUR AND INDIVIDUAL DILEMMA AND THE CHAR ACTERS HAVE REAL POTENTIAL TO IMPRESS 4HEIR DECI SION NOT TO FOLLOW ITS ORIGINALS TO UNIVERSITY HAS PAID OFF AND MANY OTHERS HAVE FOLLOWED SUIT IN RECENT YEARS /NE 4REE (ILL FOR EXAMPLE WHILE ORIGINAL LY FOLLOWING THE LIVES OF !MERICAN TEENAGERS CHOSE TO PASS THEIR COLLEGE YEARS BY OPTING IN STEAD TO JUMP FOUR YEARS INTO THE FUTURE FOR ITS l FTH SEASON AVOIDING THE TRAPS SO MANY OTHERS HAVE FALLEN INTO 7ITH THESE TYPES OF DRAMA LOS ING POPULARITY FOR TODAY S SAVVY TEENS IT HAS BE COME CRUCIAL FOR SHOWS TO REVITALISE THE FORMULA IN SOME SIGNIl CANT WAY TO ACHIEVE ANY KIND OF SUCCESS 'OSSIP 'IRL ARGUABLY THE MOST POPULAR OF ITS TYPE AT PRESENT HAS DONE JUST THAT MIXING THE TROUBLES OF TEENAGE LIFE WITH THE EXCESSES OF HIGH SOCIETY IN A WAY 4HE / # COULD NEVER GET QUITE RIGHT 3MALLVILLE TOO HAS BECOME SURPRIS INGLY MORE @GROWN UP THIS YEAR WITH A NEW WRITING TEAM AND SEVERAL MAIN STARS HAVING DEPARTED THE SHOW HAS CHOSEN TO DISCARD ANY SOLID IDEA OF THE CHARACTERS AGES LEAVING AUDI ENCES WITH MUCH MORE ADULT FEEL AND MATURE PLOT LINES 4HIS IT FEELS IS WHERE THE NEW VERSION OF
HAS FALLEN DOWN 7HILE IT HAS STILL PROVED TO BE FAIRLY POPULAR IN THE 53 SO FAR JUDGING BY ITS UNIMAGINATIVE PLOTLINES AND ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS THIS MAY BE SHORT LIVED 3ADLY IT S JUST ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE IN THIS CASE QUITE LITER ALLY 4HAT IS NOT TO SAY IT ISN T ENJOYABLE ENOUGH IT JUST DOESN T SEEM TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUALITY TO DRAW VIEWERS WEEK AFTER WEEK )N THESE TIMES OF A MEDIA CONSCIOUS YOUTH TEENS MAY BE OPT ING INSTEAD FOR MORE SELF REm ECTIVE AND AUDI ENCE AWARE SHOWS SUCH AS 3KINS AND 'OSSIP 'IRL WITH THOSE LESS ORIGINAL OPTING INSTEAD TO MOD IFY THEIR FORMAT OR TARGET AUDIENCE IN RESPONSE 4IME WILL TELL BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE MOMENT FOR SQUEAKY CLEAN PICTURE PERFECT REPRESENTATIONS OF TEEN LIFE IS OVER #AROLINE 0REECE
TION OF SHARPLY WRITTEN ESOTERIC DRAMAS COM ING FROM THE STATES 4HE DRAMA IS BUILT AROUND THE THREE CENTRAL PLAYERS WHO GRADUALLY MADE THEMSELVES KNOWN IN THE SLOW BUBBLING l RST SERIES $ONALD $RAPER n THE STOIC STAR OF 3TER LING #OOPER 0ETE #AMPBELL n YOUNG HOT SHOT WHO USES m ATTERY BLACKMAIL AND CONNECTIONS TO CLIMB THE LADDER AND OVERCOME HIS COMPLETE LACK OF CHARM AND 0EGGY /LSEN $RAPER S OLD SECRETARY NOW THE l RST FEMALE COPYWRITER IN THE COMPANY S HISTORY WHO WOULD BE THE SERIES GOOD @GUY IF IT WASN T FOR HER SUBTLE AMBITIONS !ND THESE THREE POWERS ARE CONTINUOUSLY GRAZ ING EACH OTHER S EGOS EACH IMPERCEPTIBLE SLIGHT AND SCRAPE THROUGHOUT THE SERIES BUILDING UP LIKE GRINDING TECTONIC PLATES SO THAT WATCHING
-AD -EN IS LIKE OBSERVING A NATURAL DISASTER ON THE HORIZON GROW EVER CLOSER AS EACH CHARACTER ORCHESTRATES SOME TERRIBLE FATE UPON THEM SELVES !S WE ENTER INTO THE SECOND SERIES 0EGGY IS HOLDING A PROMOTION AND #AMPBELL S ILLE GITIMATE SON #AMPBELL HAS INFORMATION THAT SUGGESTS $RAPER IS A LYING DESERTER AND $RAPER IS A NEWLY MADE PARTNER IN THE COMPANY THAT IS RUINING HIS MARRIAGE )T S NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO WATCH THE SERIES TWO PREMIERE ON ""# THIS 4UESDAY )T MAY NOT BE TO YOUR TASTE AND IT MAY NOT HOOK YOU BUT IT S A CHANCE TO OBSERVE AN IMPORTANT SHIFT IN TELEVISION DRAMA EVEN IF IT ISN T FOR YOU *OSH "UTLER
TV Classics #APTAIN 0LANET AND THE 0LANETEERS
h%ARTH &IRE 7IND 7ATER (EART 'O 0LANET v &OR SOME THE S WERE REALLY THE BEST OF TIMES )T WAS A DECADE FULL OF CHEESY TELEVISION SHOWS DEl NED BY THE AMAZING THEME TUNES THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM -ANY OF THESE PROGRAMMES ARE CURRENTLY ENJOYING A REVIVAL THANKS TO THE STUDENT COMMUNITY WHO AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORT ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR BYGONE DAYS )T S OFTEN THE CASE THAT THE MELODIES ACCOMPANYING THE OPENING OR CLOSING CREDITS HAVE MADE THE SHOWS SO POPULAR WITH PAST AND PRESENT VIEW ERS 9OU CAN T BEAT THE COMBINATION OF A GUITAR ROCK TRACK AND GENIUS LYRICS h#APTAIN 0LANET HE S OUR HERO GONNA TAKE POLLUTION DOWN TO ZERO v 7ITH #APTAIN 0LANET THERE WAS MORE THAN JUST A ROCKING THEME 4HIS PROGRAMME HAD A MESSAGE )F YOU HELP TO SAVE THE PLANET YOU THE VIEWER COULD ALSO GET YOURSELF A POWER RING 4HESE WERE BASED ON ONE OF THE FOUR ELE MENTS OR IF YOU REALLY WANTED THE l FTH POWER (EART WHICH ALWAYS SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS TAGGED ON AT THE END AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT )RONI
CALLY h(EARTv JUST DOESN T SEEM TO INSTIL THE SAME AMOUNT OF PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM AS SAY h&IRE v OR h7IND v WHEN YOU RE l GHTING THE BAD GUYS 4HE l VE 0LANETEERS +WAME ,INKA 7HEELER 'I AND -A 4I WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER BY 'AIA THE GODDESS OF %ARTH 4HEY CHAMPIONED THE SURVIVAL OF THE PLANET AGAINST POLLUTERS NATURAL DISASTERS AND CRIMINALS 9OU COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON THE BADDIES TO PUT UP A GOOD l GHT POLLUTING RIVERS WITH TOXIC SLUDGE FELLING AND BURNING TREES IN SOME OUT LANDISH SCHEME "UT IF IT BECAME TOO MUCH FOR THE 0LANETEERS TO HANDLE THE EAGER EN VIRONMENTALISTS WOULD COMBINE THEIR RINGS AND SUMMON THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF #APTAIN 0LANET 7ITH HIS GODLIKE POWERS AND A STRIK ING APPEARANCE #APTAIN 0LANET REPRESENTED ALL THAT WAS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY IN THE WORLD PUTTING RIGHT ECOLOGICAL WRONGS !S IF THE #AP TAIN AND HIS DEFENDERS HADN T DONE ENOUGH FOR THE PLANET THEY ALWAYS ROUNDED OFF THE EPISODE WITH A @0LANETEER ALERT INFORMING VIEWERS ON HOW THEY COULD HELP THE ENVIRONMENT WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY DELIVERING A MORAL MESSAGE 2EMEMBER hTHE POWER IS YOURS v .OW THAT S EDUTAINMENT -ARK -C+ENZIE 2AY
...www feature
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“...interconnected networks allowing communication among millions of computers” the event
concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
internet://Usefulsites
internet://Welcome! 7ELCOME TO THE BRAND NEW )NTERNET SECTION )NTRODUCED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND BY YOU 7E ALL USE THE )NTERNET ON A DAILY BASIS SO IT ONLY SEEMED RIGHT TO GIVE IT A MENTION 4HIS )NTERNET PAGE WILL TAKE AN INFORMATIVE LOOK INTO BLOG SITES USEFUL WEBSITES WE HAVE STUMBLED UPON ALONG WITH SOME INTERESTING FACTS AND l GURES %NJOY )F YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR THE NET AND FANCY DIVULGING YOUR KNOWLEDGE PLEASE EMAIL CONCRETE EVENT UEA AC UK TO l ND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
HTTP WWW TED COM 4%$ )DEAS 7ORTH 3PREADING IS A LECTURE EVENT l LLED WITH SPEAKERS FROM MANY DISCPLINES 9OU CAN WATCH ALL THE LECTURES ONLINE AND LEARN ABOUT RESEARCH AT THE CUTTING EDGE FROM STRING THEORY TO ARCHITECTURE TO MODERN LITERATURE 4%$ HAS IT
HTTP MATHWORLD WOLFRAM COM !N INCREDIBLE RESOURCE FOR ALL SCIENTIl CALLY INCLINED STUDENTS %SSENTIALLY IT S AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ALL THINGS MATHEMATIC AND MARKETS ITSELF AS hTHE WEB S MOST EXTENSIVE MATHEMATICS RESOURCE v
internet://PostSecret
http://postsecret.blogspot.com )NITIATED BY A MAN WHO LEFT A POSTCARD IN A LIBRARY BOOK 0OST3ECRET IS NOW A WORLD WIDE hCOMMUNITY ART PROJECTv BASED IN -ARYLAND 53! THROUGH WHICH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SHARE THEIR UNTOLD SECRETS WITH THE PROJECT S CREATOR &RANK 7ARREN AND MULTITUDES OF VISITORS TO ITS WEBPAGE 0OST3ECRET S CONCEPT INVOLVES AN ARTISTI CALLY CONVEYED SECRET DISPLAYED ON A POST CARD BEING ANONYMOUSLY SENT TO 7ARREN AS A hSPIRITUALv RELEASE hWITHOUT ANY SOCIAL
ON HER WALL (E MUST PRETEND TO BE SPEAKING JUST TO HER BUT HIS WORDS WILL BECOME A CHORUS REPEATING AGAIN AND AGAIN AS HER FRIENDS READ THEM 4HEY ALL HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT HIM THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO OFFER EITHER FACE TO FACE OR IN A &A CEBOOK MESSAGE 4HEN HIS LANGUAGE WILL RING AGAIN PERHAPS TO ANOTHER SUITOR WHO SEES THE WORDS AS A KIND OF TERRITORY 4HE STUDENT KNOWS THIS SO HE MUST FASHION A SELF THAT IS EAGER BUT NOT TOO EAGER .ICE BUT NOT TOO NICE #OOL BUT NOT UNAP PROACHABLY COOL 4HE IRONY OF IT ALL IS THAT WHILE HE SEES HIS &ACEBOOK IDENTITY AS PRIVATE PROPERTY HE HAS NO CONTROL OVER ITS INTERPRETATIONS IN THE PUB LIC SPHERE !FTER HE WRITES HIS POST PROVIDING HE DOESN T DELETE IT HIS WORDS CEASE TO BE HIS 4HE CONNEC TION BETWEEN HIS WRITING AND HIS ORIGINAL INTENTION WILL OVER TIME ENTER A PROCESS OF CONTINUAL LOSS
"UT MANY TAKE THEIR INTERPRETATION WHICH CAN ONLY EVER BE MOMENTAR ILY TRUE AS UNIVERSALLY TRUE 4HE GIRL MAY INVESTIGATE HIS PREVIOUS WALL POSTS AND SEE AN ) LOVE YOU THAT HE FORGOT TO DELETE OR A LADS ON TOUR COMMENT HE MADE WITH IRONY HE THOUGHT AS THOUGH HIS INTENTION HAS ANY BEARING AT ALL ON HIS POST S RECEPTION 4HE WRITING ON THE &ACEBOOK WALL IS PRODUCED IN A CONTEXT IN WHICH ITS MEANING IS SO m UID SO DEPENDANT UPON AN ACT OF READ ING THAT WE CAN NEVER FULLY GRASP IT !S A RESULT OF THIS MAKING A l XED INTERPRETATION OF ANOTHER PERSON S ONLINE PRESENCE WILL ALWAYS INVOLVE A PROCESS OF MEDIATION AND LOSS 4O INTERPRET A PERSON IS l NE BUT THE IN TERPRETATION SHOULD BE AWARE THAT IT IS AN INTERPRETATION THAT IT IS NEVER IN ANY WAY l NAL 3AMUEL %LLIOTT
internet://FacebookGroupOfTheFortnight 4HE ONGOING PETITION TO STOP GRADU ATION IN THE #ONGREGATION (ALL CONTINUES WITH THIS EVER GROWING FACEBOOK GROUP $ON T FORGET TO l LL IN A @#HANGE OF 'RADUATION 6ENUE POSTCARD AND HAND IT IN TO 5NION (OUSE RECEPTION
The Generation Gap
PROVED TO BE A DIFl CULT AND COMPETITIVE YEAR FOR THE SEVENTH GENERATION OF GAME CONSOLES -ICROSOFT S 8BOX 3ONY S 0LAYSTATION AND .INTENDO S 7II HAVE ALL ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AS SERIOUS CONTENDERS IN THE GAMING MARKET OVER THE PAST YEAR )S IT TOO EARLY TO DECLARE ONE THE OFl CIAL GENERATION @WINNER AS SOME HAVE ALREADY DONE 0AUL "YGRAVE INVESTIGATESx
COURAGE THAT CHARACTERISE 0OST3ECRET AS A HAVEN FOR THOSE NEEDING SUPPORT !LTHOUGH IT DOES NOT DIRECTLY BESTOW MONEY OR COUNSELLING TO ITS FOLLOWERS 0OSTSECRET HELPS THOSE SUFFERING TO HELP THEMSELVES AND TO REALISE HOW MANY OTH ERS THERE ARE IN IDENTICAL SITUATIONS -ANY COMMENTS ON THE BLOG EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THIS REASON 3O 0OST3ECRET ALONGSIDE (OPELINE ARE HELPING SAVE LIVES IN MORE THAN AN UNCONVENTIONAL WAY (ELEN 4HOMAS
internet://youtubesonginterpretations
internet://Facebook.Stalking 7HEN ) THINK ABOUT &ACEBOOK ) IM AGINE A STUDENT IN THE ,#2 OBSERV ING A GIRL S MOVEMENT FROM A DIS TANCE (E KNOWS THAT HE RECOGNISES THAT FACE THAT DRESS AND THAT WIDE SMILE (E HAS IMAGINED THE SMELL OF HER PERFUME "UT HE MUST WALK UP TO HER AND ASK 7HAT IS YOUR NAME (E KNOWS IT BUT HOW COULD HE LET HER KNOW THAT HE KNOWS IT 3HE MUST ASK HIS NAME TOO FOR SHE HAS ALSO LOOKED HIM UP 4HEY MUST SPEAK TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT EACH OTHER LIKE A PAIR OF METHOD ACTORS 7HAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LIKE (E KNOWS THAT SHE LOVES 4HE +INKS SO DOES HE AND HOPES THAT THEY LL GET ALONG 4HEN ) THINK OF &ACEBOOK AS A KIND OF DYNAMITE THAT OBLITERATES THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPHERES 4HE WALL POST EMBODIES THIS !FTER THE ,#2 HE RE TURNS TO HIS m AT AND WRITES A POST
COSTv (E ONLY SETS ONE RULE THE SECRET MUST BE TRUE 0OST3ECRET HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED INTO A SPONSOR FOR (OPELINE A CHARITY SUPPORT ING SUICIDAL INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR WHOM 7ARREN HAS VOLUNTEERED FOR THREE YEARS 4HE POSTCARDS REPRESENT THE TALENT OF THEIR CREATORS IN THEIR PRESENTA TION THEIR CREATIVITY AND YET THE DIGNITY AND AUDACITY STILL RADIATE OUT OF EACH IN DIVIDUAL PIECE AND IT IS THIS SINCERITY AND
the event
concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
I don’t want to graduate in Congregation Hall!
Nintendo Wii
4HERE ARE SOME SONGS YOU JUST CAN T l GURE OUT THE WORDS TO SOME SINGERS ARE NIGH ON COMPLETELY INCOHERENT 4HE MAKERS OF @MISHEARD LYRICS OR @SONG IN TERPRETATION VIDEOS ON 9OU4UBE PLAY ON THIS FACT CREATIVELY ILLUSTRATING WHAT THE LYRICS SOUND LIKE OFTEN TO COMIC AND OC CASIONALLY GENIUS EFFECT 5NSURPRISINGLY &ALL /UT "OY ARE AN ABSOLUTE GIFT TO LYRIC INTERPRETERS $ID YOU KNOW FOR EXAMPLE THAT 4HIS !IN T ! 3CENE )T S !N !RMS 2ACE IS LARGELY ABOUT 0ATRICK 3TUMP S INTEREST IN CATS 4HE POPULARITY OF THIS INTERPRETATION IS SUCH THAT THERE S ACTUALLY AN ONLINE STORE SELLING @ALSO INTO CATS MERCHANDISE 3EAN 0AUL "RIT NEY 3PEARS .IRVANA AND .IGHTWISH AND EVEN 3ONGS OF 0RAISE HAVE BEEN SENT UP FOR THEIR AMBIGUITY 7HAT MAKES A GREAT INTERPRETATION VIDEO IS USUALLY A COMBI NATION OF BELIEVABLE CONSISTENTLY SKILFUL MISHEARD LYRICS AND GREAT IMAGES n THE BEST ONES MADE FROM SCRATCH OR EDITED IN GOOD OLD -ICROSOFT 0AINT 4HE ONLY TROUBLE WITH SONG INTERPRE
TATIONS IS THAT YOU MAY NEVER TAKE A SONG YOU VE SEEN INTERPRETED IN THE SAME WAY EVER AGAIN n AND THE UNENLIGHTENED WON T UNDERSTAND WHY 2ECENTLY A FRIEND AND ) WERE IN A CLOTHES SHOP WHEN #HRISTI NA !GUILERA S !IN T .O /THER -AN CAME ON n THE BEST INTERPRETATION OF THEM ALL 7E MUST HAVE LOOKED SLIGHTLY MAD GIGGLING AT NOTHING THE OTHER CUSTOMERS COULD DISCERN IF WE D TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY WE WERE LAUGHING AND THAT #HRIS TINA IS ACTUALLY SINGING @ANAL WITH A MAN IT S TRUE THEY PROBABLY STILL WOULDN T HAVE QUITE UNDERSTOOD ,IKEWISE FOR US THE EXCLAMATION OF @"LASTOISE IS A KEY FEATURE OF 3YSTEM OF A $OWN S " 9 / " 3ONG INTERPRETATIONS HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE TRULY APPRECIATED SO GO ONTO 9OU4UBE AND SEARCH @MISHEARD LYRICS OR @SONG IN TERPRETATIONS FOR BEST RESULTS OF THE BEST #HRISTINA !GUILERAn!IN T .O /THER -AN &ALL /UT "OY n .OBODY 0UTS "ABY IN THE #ORNER &ALL /UT "OYn 4HIS !IN T ! 3CENE !LICE 6IOLETT
.INTENDO S LITTLE WHITE BOX IS NOW A LEGITIMATE PHENOM ENON SELLING NEARLY MILLION CONSOLES WORLDWIDE AND STILL SELLING OUT IN SHOPS ALL OVER THE GLOBE DESPITE BEING OUT FOR JUST OVER TWO YEARS .INTENDO S SUC CESS HAS LARGELY BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO ITS MARKETING STRATEGY 7HILE THE 8BOX AND THE 03 ARE SEEN AS MORE @HARDCORE GAM ING SYSTEMS THE 7II HAS BEEN PURCHASED FOR ALMOST EVERY DE MOGRAPHIC ON THE GLOBE KIDS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS ALIKE HAVE EMBRACED .INTENDO S CONSOLE )TS MAINSTREAM IM PACT IS BEST VIEWED IN SOFTWARE SALES CHARTS WITH 7II 0LAY NOW THOUGHT TO HAVE SOLD OVER MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE AL MOST EXCLUSIVELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT COMES BUNDLED WITH A SECOND 7IIMOTE AND TITLES LIKE -ARIO +ART 7II RARELY DROPPING OUTSIDE THE TOP l VE BEST SELLING GAMES EVERY MONTH IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY WORLDWIDE "UT .INTENDO S SUCCESS COULD BE COMING AT A HIGH
PRICE WAS THE YEAR IN WHICH IT BECAME PAINFULLY CLEAR THAT THE 7II LAGS FAR BEHIND THE COMPETITION IN TERMS OF GRAPH ICS AND POWER 4HE CONSOLE HAS HAD SOME PATHETICALLY INFERIOR PORTS OF POPULAR MULTIPLAT FORM GAMES SUCH AS THE LATEST 4OMB 2AIDER INSTALMENT AS WELL AS FRANCHISES SUCH AS 2ESIDENT %VIL 4HIS HARDWARE DISADVAN TAGE HAS BEEN COMPOUNDED BY A LACK OF NEW AND INNOVA TIVE l RST PARTY SOFTWARE )N THE PROCESS .INTENDO HAS ALIENATED LARGE AMOUNTS OF ITS CORE GAM ING AUDIENCE TRADITIONALLY ITS MOST ARDENT SUPPORTER IN FA VOUR OF THE MORE MAINSTREAM MARKET 7HILE THIS STRATEGY HAS NO DOUBT BEEN EXTREMELY SUC CESSFUL UP UNTIL NOW IT REMAINS TO SEE WHETHER THE MAINSTREAM AUDIENCE WILL REMAIN ABLE AND WILLING TO PURCHASE THE VAST AMOUNT OF 7II @SHOVELWARE DURING THESE TROUBLING ECO NOMIC TIMES WHICH HAS LED TO SUCH HANDSOME PROl TS FOR THE *APANESE GIANT SO FAR
Sony Playstation 3 /UT OF ALL THREE COMPANIES IT WAS 3ONY WHO SUFFERED THE MOST THROUGHOUT "E ING THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THE THREE CONSOLES HAS UNDOUBT EDLY HARMED ITS SALES DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR DUE TO THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND THE REMOVAL OF THE BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE '" MODEL FROM THE MARKET HAD THE UNFORTU NATE EFFECT OF ALIENATING SOME CONSUMERS HOPING TO UPGRADE FROM A 03 BUT TO STILL BE ABLE TO PLAY THEIR VAST GAMING COL LECTIONS 4HIS SACRIl CE OF BACK WARDS COMPATIBILITY HAS BEEN COMPOUNDED BY THE OVERALL COST OF THE CONSOLE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PLAY THEIR OLD 03 GAMES THERE IS LESS INCENTIVE TO PAY THE EXTRA MONEY FOR A 03 OVER THE 8BOX ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON T HAVE ACCESS TO A (IGH $El NITION 46 3ONY S ONE MAJOR VICTORY DURING HOWEVER WAS THE SUCCESS OF THEIR "LU 2AY FORMAT WHICH CAME OUT AS THE WINNER IN THE (IGH $El NITION FORMAT
WAR AGAINST 4OSHIBA S ($ $6$ 7ITH THE FORMAT WAR OVER MANY CONSUMERS LOOKED TO l ND THE LEAST EXPENSIVE "LU 2AY PLAYER WHICH DURING EARLY WAS THE 03 4HIS UNDOUBTEDLY LED TO A RISE IN SALES BY THOSE WANT ING THE 0LAYSTATION AS A MOVIE PLAYER RATHER THAN A GAMES CON SOLE A SELLING POINT UNIQUE TO THE 03 )N TERMS OF GAMES THE 03 SAW A HUGELY INCREASED LIBRARY OF MULTI PLATFORM AND EXCLUSIVE TITLES DURING LEADING TO A LARGE RISE IN SOFTWARE SALES !S WELL AS BENEl TTING FROM GAMES FROM POPULAR FRANCHISES SUCH AS THE 'RAND 4HEFT !UTO SERIES 4HE 03 ALSO SAW THE RELEASE OF -ETAL 'EAR 3OLID LARGELY HER ALDED AS A TECHNICAL GAMING TRI UMPH WHICH HAS NOW SOLD OVER FOUR MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE 4HE FUTURE LOOKS A LOT BRIGHTER FOR THE 03 THE ANTICI PATED PRICE CUT AND THE RELEASE OF 'RAN 4URISMO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR SHOULD HELP 3ONY S CONSOLE PUSH ON IN
Microsoft Xbox 360 PROVED TO BE ANOTHER POSITIVE YEAR FOR -ICROSOFT S CONSOLE 4HE SOFTWARE GIANT CUT THE PRICE OF ALL THREE CONSOLE BUNDLES ACROSS THE WORLD AND ALSO PHASED OUT THE OLD '" BUNDLE FOR A NEW AND IMPROVED '" CONSOLE PACKAGE 4HE CONSOLE HAS ALSO UNDERGONE NUMEROUS SUBTLE MODIl CATIONS SUCH AS ADDING AN ($-) PORT TO TRANSFER HIGH DEl NITION MATE RIAL AS WELL AS UPDATING VARIOUS INTERNAL COMPONENTS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY 4HE NOW INFAMOUS @22/$ 2ING 2ED OF $EATH ISSUE STILL PLAGUES THE CONSOLE HOWEVER PROMPTING -ICROSOFT TO LAUNCH A BILLION WARRANTY SCHEME TO COVER ALL LAUNCH CONSOLES FOR A FULL THREE YEARS AGAINST THE PROBLEMATIC IS SUE 8BOX ,IVE CONTINUES TO GROW IN POPULARITY WITH -ICROSOFT NOW CLAIMING OVER MILLION MEMBERS WORLDWIDE OF WHOM MOST ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE SUB SCRIPTION PAYING @'OLD MEM BERS )N ADDITION DOWNLOADABLE
CONTENT WORTH OVER MILLION HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND DOWN LOADED BY GAMERS INCLUDING GAMER PICTURES ADD ON PACKS FOR VARIOUS GAMES OR l LMS AND VIDEOS AVAILABLE FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL )N .OVEMBER -ICROSOFT RELEASED THE .EW 8BOX %XPERI ENCE AS A FREE DOWNLOAD TO ALL USERS CONNECTED TO 8BOX ,IVE AN UPDATE THAT COMPLETELY ALTERED THE CONSOLES MAIN INTERFACE IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE PERFORM ANCE AS WELL AS BECOMING MORE USER FRIENDLY AND FUNCTIONAL )N TERMS OF GAMES LATE SAW THE RELEASES OF (ALO AND #ALL OF $UTY TWO TITLES THAT HAVE STAYED SOLID AT THE TOP OF THE 8BOX ,IVE MOST PLAYED LIST THROUGHOUT 4HE ALSO SAW THE RELEASE OF MANY @TRIPLE ! EXCLUSIVE TITLES DURING SUCH AS 'EARS OF 7AR .INJA 'AIDEN AND &ABLE WHICH HAS VASTLY HELPED ITS SOFTWARE SALES l GURES )N THE FACE OF TOUGH COMPETITION -ICROSOFT NEED TO MAKE SURE QUALITY AS HIGH AS THIS CONTINUES TO BE RELEASED
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music Norwich Noise “any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds;” concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
the event
Harmonies and Glockenspiels
0ROOF THAT THE GIRLS IN .ORWICH ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THESE LOT WILL WIN YOU OVER BY VIRTUE OF THEIR SUBTLE OBSERVATIONS AND QUIET HUMOUR &RANCIS ,OUIS "EFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE GO TO SEE THIS DUO LIVE )MMEDIATELY 4HEY HAVE ALREADY GENERATED QUITE A REPUTATION THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH AND IT S NOT SURPRISING ONCE YOU HEAR THEIR TAL ENTS FREED FROM THE LIMITATIONS OF A -Y3PACE SITE "OTH &RANCIS AND ,OUIS COULD EASILY WORK AS SOLO ARTISTS SUCH IS THE POWER AND ORIGINALITY OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL VOCALS "UT WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO PROMOTE THIS IDEA TO EITHER OF THEM AS THE HYPNOTIC QUALITY OF THEIR ACT LIES IN THE IN TERPLAY BETWEEN THE TWO VOICES !DD A GUITAR A GLOCKENSPIEL AND A KAZOO OR TWO INTO THE MIX AND THE EFFECT IS UNDENIABLE 4HEIR NEXT GIG IS AT THE 0UPPET 4HEATRE ON THE ND OF &EBRUARY
4HE -IDDLE /NES 4AKING THEIR NAME FROM AN )T S A 7ONDERFUL ,IFE QUOTE 4HE -IDDLE /NES ARE JUST AS VITAL TO YOUR EXISTENCE 1UITE A CLAIM PERHAPS BUT DEDICATE SOME TIME TO THE SONGS OFF THEIR -Y3PACE AND THE REST WILL EXPLAIN ITSELF #OMPRISED OF 'RACE AND !NNA AND ON OCCASION JOINED BY hTHREE EXCELLENT BOYSv CALLED 4HE 3UNDAY "EST %NSEM BLE THEY MAKE BEAUTIFUL POP MUSIC ABOUT THE COMPLICATED STUFF IN LIFE 'OOD !S .EW IS PAR TICULARLY ACE
3CRAPS 4HE THREE MEMBERS OF 3CRAPS )SABELLE 2ACHELLE AND !NNA ARE FANS OF FANCY DRESS RAG DOLLS WITH ROUGE CIRCLES LAB COATED SCIENTISTS BEARS TRUST US THIS IS A GOOD THING 5SUALLY WHEN A BAND ADOPTS A GIMMICK IT SERVES AS A CUNNING PLOY TO DEVIATE OUR ATTENTION FROM THE RUBBISH MUSIC .OT SO WITH 3CRAPS )N A SIMILAR WAY TO %MMY THE 'REAT THEY CREATE ACHINGLY PRETTY SONGS BUT UNDERCUT THEM WITH LYRICS ABOUT DEAD BUNNIES WITH hBRAINS SMASHED OUTv AND hIN TES TINES 9EAH v )T MAY BE DECEPTION OF THE HIGHEST ORDER BUT THEN IT S QUITE AMUSING TO DISCOVER THAT THE CATCHY TUNE YOU HAVE BEEN WHISTLING ALL DAY IS IN FACT ABOUT ROAD KILL OR
Alternative Acoustic
)T FEELS LIKE A COP OUT TO SQUEEZE THESE THREE ACTS INTO THE SAME CATEGORY OR INDEED UNDER ANY CATEGORY 4HEY ARE ALL TOO UNIQUE ! MORE APPROPRIATE MONIKER WOULD BE hJUST REALLY REALLY GOOD OKAY v 4AWNY /WL !FTER THE SUCCESS OF THE -ILKBAR 2ECORDS ,AUNCH .IGHT AT THE END OF LAST MONTH 4AWNY /WL IS SET TO PERMANENTLY ADOPT HIS ONSTAGE BACKING BAND APPROPRIATELY DUBBED 4HE "IRDS OF 0REY !NYONE WHO WAS THERE WILL HAVE WITNESSED AN ASTONISHING PERFORMANCE INCORPORATING TRIBAL DRUMMING WITH SUBTLE ACOUSTICS WITH ROCKABIL LY FREAK OUTS ALL SMOOTHED OVER BY 4AWNY /WL S SINISTER VOCALS 4HE SONGS HAVE THE ENIGMATIC QUALITY OF 0ATRICK 7OLF IN HIS MORE MANLY PER SONA AND THE INTENSITY OF *OY $IVISION )N FACT DURING A MOMENT OF PARTICULAR INTENSITY 4AWNY /WL ENDED UP CUTTING HIS l NGER OPEN ON THE GUITAR $EDICATED TO THE CAUSE THEN
#AKES AND !LE -AKING GOOD USE OF A MELEE OF INSTRUMENTS #AKES AND !LE ARE GATHERING QUITE A FOLLOWING WITHIN THE .ORWICH SCENE -ANDOLINS ACCOR DIONS AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS WE RE UNLIKELY TO EVER KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR INNOVATIVE SOUND 4HE OVERALL IMPRESSION IS ONE OF MEDIEVAL JOLLITY TAKING US BACK TO A TIME WHEN THE MAIN PRIORITY IN LIFE WAS TO HAVE A HEALTHY KNEES UP !ND IN A WORLD AWASH WITH INTROSPECTIVE WHINING #AKES AND !LE PROVE TO BE A REFRESHING CHANGE FOR THE BETTER ,ISTEN TO (UMAN 2EMAINS AND SMILE SMUGLY AS YOU REALISE THAT %AST !NGLIA HAS FOUND ITS VERY OWN "EIRUT
$ANNY 7HITEHOUSE "E WARNED $ANNY 7HITEHOUSE WILL GIVE YOU A LUMP IN YOUR THROAT AND YOU MAY HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM WITH hSOMETHING IN YOUR EYEv (IS GRAVELLY VOICE AND FASCINATING LYRICS CONJURE UP AN IRRESISTIBLE POTION OF 7ILLY -ASON ESQUE HONESTY AND SONGS SUCH AS 3O +ING 3OAK )N AND &EELING THE #HILL ARE EVIDENCE OF $ANNY S TALENT IN HOLDING A TUNE !LSO DON T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE POOR REGARD WITH WHICH HE VIEWS HIS OWN GUITAR ABILITY (E S NOT 3LASH NO !ND THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT
Scream Pop &EMALE VOCALS REIGN SUPREME IN THE PUNK ENVIRONS OF .ORWICH AND THE EVER m OURISHING 2IOT 'RRL MOVEMENT SHOWS NO SIGNS OF LETTING UP 5H/HS )Nm UENCED APPARENTLY BY h4HE $EPARTMENT OF !WESOMEv THIS RAUCOUS TRIO APPROPRIATE MORE THAN JUST A DEPARTMENT OF THE STUFF 4HEY OC CUPY THAT COVETED TERRITORY BETWEEN CHAOS AND CATCHINESS AND SHOULD HAVE YOU PULLING STUPID DANCE MOVES ALL NIGHT LONG )N PARTICULAR LIS TEN OUT FOR THE SCHIZOPHRENIC ELECTRICS OF #HEAT #HEATER IN WHICH FRONTWOMAN .AOMI SUPPLIES THE YELPS BACKED UP BY TWITCHY RIFFS FROM GUI TARIST 0AUL AND DRUMMER ,EE $RIFT 3KATE 3HOP ON 0OTTERGATE ARE SELLING THEIR #$S AND v AT SILLY CHEAP PRICES SO THERE S REALLY NO EXCUSE NOT TO GET INVOLVED
&EVER &EVER &EVER &EVER ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR SHAMBOLIC LIVE PERFORMANCES BUT DON T WORRY THIS MAD NESS IS NOT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE MUSIC AND THE l GHTING IS SURELY JUST A SIGN OF AFFEC TION 4HEY HAVE A BARRAGE OF BRILLIANT SONGS TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO 7HO !SKED 9OU SEETHES LIKE SHAKEN UP l ZZY POP AND +EYS IN THE "OWL MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABOUT NON MONOGAMOUS MARRIAGE 4HEY HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON VARIOUS .ORWICH BASED COMPILATIONS SUCH AS ! 6ERY #HERRY #HRISTMAS 6OL AND 7E RE FROM .ORWICH 6OL &OUR
6IOLET 6IOLET $El NITELY THE MOST WELL KNOWN OUT OF ALL THE BANDS ON THIS LIST 6IOLET 6IOLET S INm UENCE IS EXPANDING OUTWARDS INTO THE ATTENTION OF THE MASS MEDIA SPEWING BLOOD AND GUTS AND DIRTY WORDS IN THE PROCESS 4HEIR PROMOTIONAL PIC TURE SEES THEM VIOLATING A BOWL OF NOODLES THEY CHRISTENED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM "ITCHBOX AND THE SNAPS FROM THEIR 53 TOUR SEEM TO ORIENTATE WHOLLY AROUND BURGER AND CUPCAKE CONSUMP TION 9ES THEY RE PRETTY m AWLESS AND MORE 2IOT 'RRL THAN (UGGY "EAR 'O AND SEE THEM SUP PORT 4HE +ABEEDIES AT 4HE 7ATERFRONT ON TH &EBRUARY )ZZY ,OCKHART 3MITH
music
15
“(music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments” the event
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
Albums White Lies 4O ,OSE -Y ,IFE 4HERE ARE FEW THINGS MORE IRRITATING THAN THE RECENT TREND FOR COMPARING NEW BANDS TO *OY $IVI SION 4AKE %DITORS FOR EXAMPLE *OY $IVISION HAD AN IN TENSE CLAUSTROPHO BIC SOUND WHEREAS %DITORS SOUND LIKE THEY RE PLAYING ATOP -T /LYMPUS !ND IF 3MOKERS /UTSIDE 4HE (OSPITAL $OORS WERE THE SADDEST THING )AN #URTIS HAD EVER SEEN THEN HE WAS CLEARLY PRONE TO MASSIVE EXAGGERATION 4HEN THERE S 'LASVEGAS $OWNBEAT LYRICS BLACK AL BUM COVER REGIONAL ACCENT n YEP THEY MUST BE THE REINCARNATION OF THE GLOOMY -ANCUNIANS %XCEPT THEY SOUND LIKE 4HE *ESUS AND -ARY #HAIN WITH AN EXTRA SCOOP OF 0HIL 3PECTOR SO THERE GOES THAT THEORY 7HITE ,IES ARE THE LATEST BRIGHT YOUNG
THINGS TO BE SLAPPED WITH THE *OY $IVISION TAG AND AGAIN IT S OFF THE MARK 4HE 7EST ,ONDON TRIO ORIGINALLY CAUSED RIPPLES AS A TECHNICOLOR POP ACT UNDER THE MONIKER &EAR OF &LYING WHOSE YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE AND CHIRPINESS BORDERED ON IRRITATING .EVERTHELESS THEY HAD MODERATE SUCCESS EARNING SUPPORT SLOTS WITH ,AURA -ARLING 4HE -ACCABEES AND *AMIE 4 "UT AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED "RITAIN S HARDLY TECHNICOLOR AT THE MOMENT 4HE COLD EST GLOOMIEST WEATHER IN RECENT MEMORY COMBINED WITH AN EVEN FROSTIER ECONOMIC CLI MATE HAVE DAMPENED THE PUBLIC S MOOD SO MUCH THAT S #HRISTMAS NUMBER ONE WAS A TERRIBLE COVER VERSION WHICH TOOK SUBTLETY AND LIT IT ON l RE THEN CHUCKED IT OFF A CLIFF OF AN ALREADY DEPRESSING SONG 4HE DAYS OF -R "LOBBY SINGLES ARE OVER #LEARLY A PERCEPTIVE BUNCH &EAR OF &LYING SCRAPPED THEIR NAME THEIR IMAGE AND THEIR SOUND AND RETURNED AS 7HITE ,IES TO VASTLY INCREASED CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND INTEREST !ND NOW RIDING ON THE CREST OF A WAVE OF HYPE COMES THE DEBUT ALBUM 4HE l RST IMPRESSION THAT THIS ALBUM GIVES IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LIED TO $ESPITE THE *OY
Lady Gaga 4HE &AME
$IVISION COMPARISONS AND THE DARKER THAN DARK SUBJECT MATTER 5Nl NISHED "USINESS IS LIT ERALLY ABOUT DEAD PEOPLE IN LOVE 4O ,OSE -Y ,IFE WON T HAVE YOU GAZING LONGINGLY AT THE RA ZOR BLADES ! BETTER COMPARISON WOULD BE TO )NTERPOL AS THESE MORBID LYRICAL THEMES COME PACKAGED WITH DRIVING BASS LUSH INSTRUMENTA TION HUMMABLE CHORUSES AND EVEN DANCEABLE
IT SOUNDTRACKING ADVERTS OR MONTAGES ON 46 RECENTLY THEN YOU PROBABLY HAVEN T BEEN WATCHING ANY !LSO EXCELLENT IS &ROM THE 3TARS WHICH DITCHES THE %DGAR !LLEN 0OE LYRICAL THE ATRICS IN FAVOUR OF AFFECTING LYRICS CONCERNING A MILLIONAIRE S BREAKDOWN 4HERE ARE NO WEAK TRACKS HERE AND SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE MINUTE RUNTIME ARE NUMEROUS MOMENTS OF GENIUS THE HUSHED MIDDLE SECTION OF &AREWELL TO THE &AIRGROUND THE GUITARS OVER THE BORDER LINE POP ROCK OF &IFTY ON OUR &OREHEADS THE EN TIRE l RST MINUTE OF 5Nl NISHED "USINESS 4HIS IS A DEBUT THAT BRIMS WITH CONl DENCE AND AMBITION CLEARLY THE WORK OF A BAND THAT HAS A GREAT DEAL OF TALENT AND POTENTIAL 4HE SENSIBLE MONEY WOULD BE ON 7HITE ,IES BE COMING A HOUSEHOLD NAME BY ESPECIAL LY AS THEY HAVE SECURED A SPOT ON THIS YEAR S .-% !WARDS 4OUR SET TO DESTROY THE ,#2 IN A COUPLE OF DAYS #ATCH THEM SOON BEFORE THEY GO SUPERNOVA AND START PLAYING THE STADIUMS
BEATS 4HESE ARE COMBINED MOST EFFECTIVELY ON OPENING TRACK $EATH HARDLY THE MOST PROMIS ING OR INSPIRED TITLE BUT IF YOU HAVEN T HEARD
$UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
Various Artists )T S ! -ISERY "USINESS
"UILT AROUND ELECTRONIC DANCE BEATS ,ADY 'AGA S DEBUT ALBUM 4HE &AME ATTEMPTS TO DELIVER A COMMENT ON THE BANALITY AND YEARNING THAT SUR ROUNDS FAME SET AGAINST SOME AWE SOME DANCE BEATS !S A DANCE ALBUM IT IS SECOND TO NONE BUT ,ADY 'AGA HAS BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING SHE WOULD LIKE POP TO BE hTAKEN AS SERIOUSLY AS l NE ARTv 3HE SEEMS TO BE ATTEMPTING TO DO WITH MUSIC WHAT 7ARHOL DID WITH ART AND THIS IS THE DOWNFALL OF THE ALBUM 4HE ALBUM SLEEVE GIVES THANKS TO h!NDY 7ARHOL $AVID "OWIE 0RINCE -ADONNA AND #HANELv AS THOUGH SHE BELIEVES HER NAME SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ALONGSIDE THESE ICONS BUT IN TRUTH HER MUSIC IS LITTLE MORE THAN SHALLOW SEXY POP WITH THE OCCASIONAL MOMENT OF GENIUS (ER INTELLIGENCE SHOWS THROUGH IN SONGS LIKE 3TARSTRUCK A SONG THAT SEEMS TO BOTH GIVE HOMAGE TO MUSIC AS WELL AS ILLUSTRATING THE EMPTINESS THAT ITS POPULARITY CAN MEAN BUT HER INTELLIGENCE FALLS DOWN IN CRASS LINES LIKE h) M BLUFl N WITH MY MUFl N v (OWEVER SHE HAD THE NUMBER ONE CHART SPOT FOR THREE WEEKS AS WELL AS MASSIVE RECORD SALES SO SHE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT 4HE &AME IS A SERIES OF CATCHY DANCE TRACKS WITH MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE IN BETWEEN ITS SHALLOW OVERTURES )T IS NOT PERHAPS THE DEl NING MOMENT IN POP MUSIC THAT ,ADY 'AGA WOULD LIKE IT TO BE BUT IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT ALBUM
7ELL l RST THINGS l RST &OR A COMPI LATION OF SONGS LABELLED !NTI ,OVE 3ONGS AROUND OF THE SONGS ARE SIMPLY ABOUT LOST LOVE IT S JUST LOVE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGST RIDDEN TEAR STAINED ANGLE ! PERFECT ALBUM IF ON 6ALENTINE S $AY YOU WANT TO WALLOW IN SELF PITY WHILE GUZZLING 4ESCO 6ALUE GIN "UT SEMANTICS ASIDE THE COMPILATION MAINLY WORKS A MIX OF EMO SCREAMO ROCK AND METAL KEEPS A DECENT PACE THROUGHOUT 4HE OPENER .ICKELBACK S 3OMETHING IN 9OUR -OUTH BANNED FROM 5+ RADIO BECAUSE APPARENTLY WE ARE ALL PRUDES STARTS THE #$ OFF ON A JOKEY NOTE -OST OF THE STAND OUT TRACKS WILL BE SONGS YOU KNOW "IFFY #LYRO S -OUNTAINS 0ARAMORE S -ISERY "USINESS AND THE BRILLIANT 4RY (ONESTY BY "ILLY 4ALENT DON T NEED ANY INTRODUCTION /THER THAN THE OBVIOUS 4HE -IXED 4APE BY *ACK S -ANNEQUIN IS IRRESISTIBLY CATCHY 'IRLS BY +IDS )N 'LASS (OUSES IS ANOTHER THAT KEEPS YOU HOOKED THROUGHOUT WITH SOME SOLID GUITAR PLAYING AND A VOCAL THAT BEGS TO BE SUNG ALONG TO 4HE ALBUM HAS SOME DOWN NOTES THOUGH !TREYU S $OOMSDAY OPENS WITH A STEREOTYPI CAL METAL RIFF AND FOLLOWS IT UP WITH SOME EMPTY LYRICS THAT CAN HARDLY BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY h$OOMSDAY HAS COME EARLY THIS YEAR 4HE LAST ANGEL HAS DIEDv AND THE LESS SAID ABOUT 'ALLOWS /RCHES TRA OF 7OLVES THE BETTER !LL IN ALL A DECENT MIX OF SONGS AND THE CLOSER !MANDA 0ALMER S ,EEDS 5NITED NEEDS SPECIAL MENTION FOR REMINDING US h7HO NEEDS LOVE WHEN THERE S $UKES OF (AZZARD v #AT $AVIS #HRIS "ULLOCK
Crystal Stilts !LIGHT OF .IGHT 9OU ALL THOUGHT NOISE POP WAS l N ISHED 7E ALL DID ,UCKILY #RYSTAL 3TILTS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE AND EXACTLY WHAT THEY RE DOING WITHOUT HAVING TO RELY ON TIRED S KITSCH TO DO IT )MAGINE FOR A MO MENT THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR POSSES SION 5NKNOWN 0LEASURES 0SYCHOCAN DY A FEW $ICK $ALE SINGLES A 6ELVET 5NDERGROUND LIVE ALBUM AND ! .EW %NGLAND BY "ILLY "RAGG AND YOU THEN SORT OF SQUASH THEM ALL TOGETHER 4HAT SHOULD GIVE YOU A ROUGH IDEA OF #RYSTAL 3TILT S SOUND 4HEY CELEBRATE THEIR INm U ENCES RATHER THAN PLAGIARISING THEM IT S LO l GARAGE ROCK IT S SIMPLE BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IT S FUN 4HE EXTRA LOUD BASSLINES COULD HAVE COME FROM ANY "ELLE AND 3EBASTIAN ALBUMS AND THE JANGLY RIFFS SIT SURPRISINGLY WELL ALONGSIDE THE DRONING VO CALS )F YOU RE A LYRIC FAN THEN THIS ISN T FOR YOU ALL THE WORDS ARE DROWNED IN REVERB AND THE VOCALS HERE HOWEVER HAUNTING AND VULNERABLE ARE MORE DRUNK )AN #URTIS THAN ETHEREAL BEAUTY (IGHLIGHTS INCLUDE OPENER 4HE $AZZLED WHICH CAN ONLY BE DE SCRIBED AS A ROMP $EPARTURE IF ONLY FOR THE BROKEN DOWN FAIRGROUND ORGAN AND 6ERDANT 'AZE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE ,OU 2EED AND 0AUL 3IMON PLAYING TO EACH OTHER IN A BATHROOM .OTHING NEW HERE BUT IT DOESN T NEED TO BE BECAUSE IT S SO WELL EXECUTED 4O CONCLUDE IT S A REALLY GOOD EFFORT PERHAPS NOT STER LING BUT DEl NITELY PRECIOUS ! COMPETENT REMINDER OF A NEAR FORGOTTEN SUBGENRE 7ILL .EWTON
music
16 the event
Guns N’ Roses "ETTER "ETTER THE l RST SINGLE FROM THE MUCH ANTICIPATED VARIOUSLY RE CEIVED #HINESE $EMOCRACY MIGHT SEEM A STRANGE CHOICE TO GIVE BUOYANCY TO AN ALBUM SINKING DOWN THE CHARTS LIKE THE 4ITANIC $ESPITE ITS INITIAL RESEMBLANCE TO THE CLASSIC '.2 ROCK BALLAD OF YORE ONE HAS TO WONDER WHETHER ITS ERRATIC NATURE HAS THE COM MERCIAL APPEAL TO KEEP #APTAIN !XL AND CREW Am OAT "ETTER S SCHIZ OPHRENIC FEEL DOES LITTLE TO DISPEL THE IMAGE OF THE FRONT MAN S REPORTED MOOD SWINGS 6OCALS JARRINGLY SWITCH FROM MELODIC TO GUTTURAL WHILE DELIRIOUS SWEEPING GUITAR SOLOS AND KILLSWITCH HISTRIONICS DO BATTLE WITH LAYERS OF SYNTHESISERS AND PROCESSED LOOPS !S PSEUDO INDUSTRIAL STYLINGS GIVE WAY TO HIP HOP BEATS THE TRACK SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE A MICROCOSM OF TRENDS FROM THE l FTEEN YEARS OVER WHICH IT WAS CREATED /NE COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR CALLING "ETTER DATED OR OVERBLOWN YET THE SHAMELESSNESS OF ITS DE LIVERY MAKES IT SOMEHOW ENDEARING &URTHERMORE STRIP AWAY THE IMMERSIVE PRO TOOLS PRODUCTION VALUES AND YOU ARE LEFT WITH AN INFECTIOUSLY CATCHY TUNE 4HE TRACK HAS SING ALONG POTENTIAL AND ITS THEMES OF LOVE AND LOSS ARE UNIVERSAL IN THEIR APPEAL 7HILE IT MIGHT NOT BE THE LIFE RAFT TO KEEP '.2 Am OAT "ETTER IS AN UNDENI ABLY ENJOYABLE SONG !LEC 0LOWMAN
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
The Foxes "ILL (ICKS !FTER A QUIET TWO YEAR CAREER 4HE &OXES ARE SET TO BREAK THROUGH WITH A DOUBLE SINGLE RELEASE IN -ARCH 4HIS TRACK IS A TRIBUTE TO COMEDIAN PHILOSOPHER PREACHER "ILL (ICKS 3URE IT S A SPRIGHTLY TUNE WITH RAMPANT RIFFS AND A BOOMING HOOK OF hSAID "ILLv YET 4HE %VENT CAN T HELP BUT ASK TWO QUESTIONS l RSTLY DOES THE SONG IN ANYWAY REPRESENT THE IDEOLOGIES OF "ILL (ICKS 7ELL SORT OF ANTI MEDIA BRAINWASHING IS THE THEME 4HE VIDEO DEPICTS hFEARSOMEv MEDIA STORIES m ASHING ACROSS A NEWS SCREEN FROM THE l TTING hSMOKING KILLSv TO h#REDIT #RUNCH 0AE DOPHILESx/H NO 7ATCH OUT v 3ECONDLY WOULD "ILL HAVE LIKED IT 9ES HE PROBABLY WOULD 4HE &OXES HAVE A SIMILAR BITTER BLOODTHIRSTY ATTITUDE "ILL CLAIMED -# (AMMER AND .EW +IDS /N 4HE "LOCK SUCKED THE DEVIL S COCK AND CRIED OUT FOR BANDS TO hPLAY FROM YOUR F ING HEART v 4HESE BOYS ARE CERTAINLY DOING JUST THAT REVIVING SOME REAL S ISH MEATY PUNK ROCK THAT HASN T BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EAR SINCE *ET S DEBUT 'ET "ORN (OPEFULLY 4HE &OXES WILL HAVE A BIT MORE STAYING POWER THAT IS IF THEY DON T EVER SATISFY "ILL S IDEAL GIG CRITERIA IN WHICH THE BAND KILL THEMSELVES DURING THE ENCORE 4HAT WOULD BE PRETTY COOL THOUGH 2OB -ORBIN
The Mixtape The Life Cycle of a Relationship Courtesy of Carmen Simoni h! LOVE LIFE IN A MUSICAL NUTSHELLv "ASEMENT *AXX /H -Y 'OSH !RCTIC -ONKEYS ) "ET 9OU ,OOK 'OOD /N 4HE $ANCEm OOR +ATE .ASH 7E 'ET /N "LOC 0ARTY -ODERN ,OVE 0ATRICK 7OLF 'ET ,OST !RT "RUT 'OOD 7EEKEND "RIGHT %YES &IRST $AY OF -Y ,IFE 9EAH 9EAH 9EAHS -APS 4HE -OLDY 0EACHES !NYONE %LSE "UT 9OU "AT &OR ,ASHES 7HAT S ! 'IRL 4O $O 'OOD 3HOES .EVER -EANT 4O (URT 9OU +ELIS #AUGHT /UT 4HERE ) (ATE 9OU 3O -UCH 2IGHT .OW &RANK 4URNER 7ORSE 4HINGS (APPEN !T 3EA 4HE 3TREETS $RY 9OUR %YES 4HE $ANDY 7ARHOLS 7E 5SED 4O "E &RIENDS 4OTAL 4IME
music musi concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
17 the event
Live Reviews Milkbar Records Label Launch Night
Mongrel
.ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE *ANUARY TH
4HE 7ATERFRONT &EBRUARY ST
!T THE END OF *ANUARY THE !RTS #ENTRE PLAYED HOST TO THE LAUNCH OF -ILKBAR A RECORD LABEL WITH AS YET NO ACTUAL RECORDS TO LAUNCH 4HE EVENING FEATURED THREE OF THE LABEL S FOUR SIGN EES AND WAS HEADLINED BY *EREMY 7ARMSLEY AN ARTIST WHO ERM ISN T SIGNED TO -ILKBAR "UT ENOUGH OF THIS SLIGHTLY LEFT l ELD MARKET ING STRATEGY AND ONTO THE MUSIC &IRST UP WERE #OLD (ANDS A TENDER YOUNG THREE PIECE WITH A SOUND HIGH ON 4HE 3TOOGES AND 4HE #RAMPS LOW ON INDIVIDUAL STYLE 4HEY RE FUN TO SEE LIVE THEIR HIGHLY ENERGETIC PERFORMANCE WAS AN EN DEARING MIX OF GUTSY AND NAIVE BUT MANY SONGS ARE INCHOATE 4HE FACT THAT THESE EARLY WORKS ARE NOW BEING RECORDED WILL CLEARLY ALTER THE BAND S DEVELOPMENT AND IT LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW #OLD (ANDS GROW .EXT WAS 4AWNY /WL A SOLO PROJECT BUT FOR THIS GIG BACKED BY THE "IRDS OF 0REY 4AWNY /WL WAS THE MOST IDIOSYNCRATIC OF THE NIGHT S ACTS WITH STOP START RHYTHMS FRANTIC
PERCUSSION AND FANTASTIC HARMONIES (E S AN ARTIST GENUINELY TRYING TO DO DIFFERENT AND EVEN WHEN HE DIDN T PULL IT OFF TEMPO CHANGES SO ABRUPT THEY DISRUPTED THE AUDIENCE S ENGAGE MENT AN OCCASIONAL LACK OF MIC TECHNIQUE HE REMAINED THE MOST ENDEARING AND INTERESTING ARTIST PARTLY BECAUSE OF HIS BEAUTIFUL BARITONE 4HE LAST -ILKBAR BAND WERE 4HE 2OMANCE OF "ALLOONING A HIGHLY POLISHED FOR ALL THEIR SELF DEPRECATION ACT WHO BOTH LOOK AND SOUND LIKE A REAL PROPER BAND -ORE SPECIl CALLY THEY BOTH LOOK AND SOUND LIKE -YSTERY *ETS MINUS THE HAIR 3TILL COMMENDATIONS TO ANY GROUP THAT NOT ONLY TURNS THE NONSENSE VERSE h/NE l NE DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHTv INTO A SONG LYRIC BUT ATTACHES IT TO A CAN T KEEP STILL #URE RIFl NG POP SONG &INALLY WAS *EREMY 7ARMSLEY S PRIMARY COL OURED INDIE POP (E SHOWCASED SOME CRACKING SONGS BUT ALSO PROVED THAT ITS NOT JUST m EDGLING LOCAL BANDS WHO ARE IN NEED OF QUALITY CONTROL 3OME TRACKS DRAGGED AND IT WAS TELLING THAT HIS TWO COVERS OF .ICK $RAKE S 2IVERMAN AND .EW /RDER S 4EMPTATION PROVOKED THE BIGGEST CROWD REACTION 3ARAH #HRISTIE
-ONGREL IS DEl NED AS AN ANIMAL OR A PLANT RE SULTING FROM VARIOUS INTERBREEDINGS 7ITH AN OCCUPATION OF -ONKEYS ON DRUMS AND BASS A "ABYSHAMBLES OF A GUITARIST AND A 2EVEREND LEADING PROCEEDINGS IT IS AN HONEST NAMESAKE 4HIS DUB REGGAE HIP HOP AND INDIE PROJECT IS THE CREATION OF *ON -C#LURE OF 2EVEREND AND THE -AKERS AND .ORWICH S 7ATERFRONT WAS THE l RST GIG OF THEIR DATE &EBRUARY TOUR )T IS ALSO AN ELEMENT OF THE 2EVEREND S OVERT WORLD MASTER PLAN ALONG WITH -ONGREL S ALBUM RELEASE FREE IN 4HE )NDEPENDENT A MUTUAL CHOOSING AND HALTING WAR IN !FGHANISTAN FOR TWO DAYS h) M GONNA GET THE 4ALIBAN ON BOARD TOOv YES A NECESSARY CON SIDERATION !N ANTI #OCA #OLA LINE PROMPTS ME TO DISPOSE OF MY BOTTLE BEFORE OUR RENDEZVOUS BACK STAGE
Soapbox
Kris Roe
.ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE *ANUARY ST
1UEEN #HARLOTTE *ANUARY ST
/VER THE LAST YEAR 3OAPBOX HAS ELBOWED ITS WAY INTO OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE AND CEMENTED ITS POSITION AS .ORWICH S l NEST PROMOTER 4HIS HOUR MARATHON IN THE !RTS #ENTRE IS A TESTA MENT TO ITS DIVERSITY SPANNING MUSIC COMEDY AND SPOKEN WORD 4HERE S A FREE LUNCHTIME PREVIEW AND A TORRENT OF OCCASIONALLY INSPIR ING OCCASIONALLY BEMUSING /PEN -IC PER FORMERS BUT THE EVENT REALLY BEGINS AT PM WHEN THE MAIN ACTS START TO APPEAR !FTER AN UN 0# ONSLAUGHT FROM THE ,/, COMEDY CLUB THE DELICATE 3ULA -AE $EANE IS THE l RST MUSI CIAN AND DOES A VALIANT JOB OF SPLICING THROUGH THE BEER MIST !RMED ONLY WITH HER PIANO AND HER VOICE SHE DELIVERS SONGS TINGED WITH 2E GINA 3PEKTOR ISH BEAUTY
.EXT ACT 3USIE 3HOWERS IS A COMPLETE CONTRAST (ER UKULELE LED VIGNETTES ABOUT SANDWICH ES SHIT %NGLISH TOWNS AND AMPUTEES HAVE DRUMMED UP LEGIONS OF SUPPORTERS SINCE HER ARRIVAL IN .ORWICH ONLY LAST 3EPTEMBER %VEN IF THE COLLECTED MASSES FAIL TO CATCH HER MONKEY YOU HAD TO BE THERE HER SET IS A UNIQUE AND ENTERTAINING DOSE OF SARDONIC HUMOUR $ANNY 7HITEHOUSE THEN ARRIVES SHOELESS AND CHARMING 3O +ING 3OAK )N AND &EELING THE #HILL PROVOKE BOUTS OF CLAPPING AND SING ING ALONG BUT FURTHER BACK $ANNY S BEGUILING LYRICS BECOME LOST IN THE NOISE OF THE BAR AND THE DETERMINED DRINKING OF THE CROWD )T S A SHAME THEY MISS OUT ON AN ACOUSTIC SHUFm E INTERPRETATION OF "ILLIE *EAN !S THE FESTIVAL WINDS DOWN THOSE WITH STAMINA MOVE BACK INTO THE HALL FOR THE HEAD LINERS "AMBI 'ET /VER )T 4HEY ARE A BLINDING LIVE BAND AND PROVE THAT THEY HAVE SUBSTANCE ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THAT AMAZING NAME )NCORPO RATING TRADITIONAL INDIE WITH EXTRA LASHINGS OF MANDOLIN AND TAMBOURINE THEY EVEN SQUEEZE OUT A FEW YELLS OF h!RRIBA v FROM THE DANCERS NEXT TO THE STAGE )T S THE PERFECT END TO AN EX HAUSTING BRILLIANT DAY )SABEL ,OCKHART 3MITH
(E RETURNS TO .ORWICH AFTER HIS LAST PERFORM ANCE WITH 4HE !TARIS SIX YEARS AGO AT THE 7ATER FRONT 4HIS TIME THE 1UEEN #HARLOTTE PROVIDES A MODEST STAGE FOR THIS RECENT VENTURE BY THE POP PUNK BAND S LEAD SINGER +RIS 2OE )T ISN T A NOVELTY FOR THE LEAD SINGER TO GO SOLO PERFORM ING ACOUSTIC VERSIONS OF THEIR SONGS FOR EXAMPLE #HRIS #ARRABBA S SHORT TOUR EARLY LAST YEAR PRO MOTING THE NEWLY RELEASED 4HE 3HADE OF 0OISON 4REES +RIS 2OE S TOUR REVISITS THE CLASSIC ALBUM "LUE 3KIES "ROKEN (EARTSx.EXT %X ITS AND IS DESCENDING UPON THE SMALL VENUES AROUND %NGLAND 4HIS IS ENOUGH TO DRAW THE OLD FANS WHO VE HAVE BEEN ALIENATED BY THE RECENT RADIO FRIENDLY ALBUMS TO THE ONCE CLOSED PUB ! HUMBLE AND INTIMATE ATMOSPHERE ENCOM PASSES THE SMALL VENUE WITH +RIS MANAGING THE MERCHANDISE STOOL AND CHATTING WITH EVERYONE AND ANYONE WILLING 3UPPORTING ACTS 2IVERS AND
4HEIR SOUND DIVULGES THE PEDIGREE OF THE MU SICIANS FORMER LINE UPS AND FEATURES THE EMERG ING RAPPERS ,OWKEY OF -ONGREL AND 0ARIZ -ONGREL PROVIDE STORMY MELODIC FOUNDATIONS FOR STRONG COLOURING BY THE MINORITY -#S AS THEY ARE INVITED TO EPISODICALLY SHOWCASE THEIR WARES 0REVAILING CHORUSES ENCOURAGE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION AND SONGS CONTINUOUSLY SKEW BACK FOR OUR CONTRIBUTION WITH AN AIR OF CONSCRIPTION 4HIS TROUPE BASKS IN THE AMALGAMATING ENJOY MENT THAT COMES FROM GENERATING SONGS THAT ARE DIVERSE UNRULY AND OCCASIONALLY NURSERY RHYME 3TANDOUT TRACKS ARE 4HE -ENACE AND (IT &ROM 4HE -ORNING 3UN THEIR DEBUT SINGLE 0ARLEY WITH THE PERFORMERS CONl RMS *ON S LATEST CAUSE GIV ING "LACK !SIAN AND FEMALE -#S THE PLATFORM TO PROGRESS WITHOUT SECURING EDITORIALS IN .-% .OT ALL HIS PROPHESIES WILL BE FULl LLED BUT THE MOMENTUM HE CREATES WILL OPTIMISE THE POTEN TIAL OF THESE ARTISTS 4HE TERM -ONGREL hNOT IN KEEPING WITH WHAT IS CORRECT PROPER OR LOGICALv IS UNDOUBTEDLY THIS BAND S PREROGATIVE h) LIKE REBELS THEY ARE MY INm UENCESv HE SUPPLIES BE FORE SIPPING ON HIS OWN CAN OF #OKE *ENNY 2OBINS
#HERRY "LOSSOM -ELODIES ADD NOTHING TO THE EVENING BUT DON T REDUCE THE ANTICIPATION OF THE CROWD +RIS ARRIVES ON THE STAGE PRESENTING HIS ODD GUITAR STYLE OF PLAYING A RIGHT HANDED GUI TAR UPSIDE DOWN WITHOUT REARRANGING THE STRINGS FOR A LEFT HANDED GUITARIST (E BEGINS WITH THE l RST TWO SONGS OFF "LUE 3KIESx ,OSING 3TREAK AND WITH THE CROWD PROVIDING STRONG VOCAL SUPPORT +RIS PLAYS THROUGH ALL THE !TARIS CLAS SICS SUCH AS 3AN $IMAS (IGH 3CHOOL &OOTBALL 2ULES AND 3UMMER 7IND 7AS !LWAYS /UR 3ONG (E ASKS FOR THE CROWD S FURTHER PARTICIPATION FOR )N 4HIS $IARY TO l LL IN THE BACKING VOCALS (E ROLLS INTO A SENTIMENTAL COVER OF 4HE $ESCENDENTS (OPE REJECTING A COVER OF 4HE "OYS OF 3UMMER A POS SIBLE SIGN OF THINGS TO COME ON THE NEW ALBUM 7ITH LITTLE TIME REMAINING AND REQUESTS m YING FROM ALL SECTIONS OF THE CROWD +RIS TURNED UP THE PACE AND PERFORMED A SECOND VERSION OF ! 3ONG &OR ! -IXTAPE 4HE FREQUENTLY REQUESTED 5P 5P $OWN $OWN ,EFT 2IGHT ,EFT 2IGHT " ! 3TART IS l NALLY PLAYED AS THE PENULTIMATE SONG (E CONCLUDES WITH A CROWD FAVOURITE 4HE ,AST 3ONG ) 7RITE !BOUT ! 'IRL AND A PROMISE TO BE BACK LATER IN THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE NEW ALBUM OUT THIS SUMMER -ICHAEL -OORE
film
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“a medium that disseminates moving pictures;”
the event
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
Main Feature
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (YPED FOR WHAT HAS SEEN LIKE MONTHS ON END 4HE #URIOUS #ASE OF "ENJAMIN "UTTON IS A NOVEL DRAMA THAT ULTIMATELY FAILS TO LIVE UP TO ITS LOFTY EXPECTATIONS )NSPIRED BY A SHORT STORY OF & 3COTT &ITZGERALD $AVID &INCHER S NEW WORK GREATLY EX PANDS UPON THE TALE S SIMPLE NOTION OF A MAN WHO AGES BACKWARDS INTO A MINUTE LONG EPIC THAT REMAINS RATHER POINTLESS 2ARELY DOES ONE FEEL ENGAGED IN THE SUBJECT OF THIS MODERN ODYSSEY THAT CHARTS ODD YEARS OF !MERICAN HISTORY THROUGH THE PROTAGONIST S OWN PECULIAR GROWTH &OR WHILE THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF "ENJAMIN AND HIS OBJECT OF AFFECTION $AISY ARE AD MIRABLY PERFORMED BY "RAD 0ITT AND #ATE "LANCHETT RESPECTIVELY THEY ARE PORTRAYED AS RATHER PASSIVE OBSERV ERS OF THE MOMENTOUS EVENTS OF THE TH CENTURY "ENJAMIN S TURBULENT JOURNEY FROM A SLEEPY REST HOME PAST l RST LOVE WITH 4ILDA 3WINTON S
NARRATIVE THREAD TO TIE "ENJAMIN S LIFE TOGETHER THE l LM REMAINS A DIS JOINTED SERIES OF EVENTS 4HE NON EXISTENCE OF ANY POINT TO THE l LM THEREFORE MAKES ONE FEEL COMPLETELY INDIFFERENT TO THE TRIALS AND TRIBULA TIONS OF THE VARIOUS CHARACTERS 7HILE THE STORY OF A MAN WHO AGES BACKWARDS MAY APPEAR TO BE AN ORIGINAL IDEA THE BOREDOM INDUCED BY ITS LACKLUSTRE STORYLINE MAKES HIS PECULIAR ILLNESS SEEM A COMPLETELY UNREMARKABLE GIMMICK 5NDOUBT EDLY THE l LM WILL RECEIVE SEVERAL PLAUDITS FOR ITS MAUDLIN SUBJECT MAT TER "UT FOR ALL OF &INCHER S TECHNICAL BRILLIANCE 4HE #URIOUS #ASE OF "EN JAMIN "UTTON WILL LEAVE THOSE MOV IEGOERS IN SEARCH OF AN !MERICAN CLASSIC VERY COLD INDEED
Dir: David Fincher Release Date: 6/02/09
7ILL (EPPA MARRIED ARISTOCRAT ONTO A DRAWN OUT SEA VOYAGE WHERE HE BRUSHES WITH THE HORRORS OF 7ORLD 7AR 4WO TO HIS
EVENTUAL REUNION WITH HIS ESTRANGED FATHER AND ORIGINAL SWEETHEART OFTEN FEELS LIKE A MEANDERING LIFE STORY THAT
BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO THAT OF &ORREST 'UMP 4HE DIFFERENCE WITH "UTTON IS THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY
Cinefile: Arnold Schwarzenegger !HHH THE 'OVERNATOR 4HE YOUNGEST EVER -R /LYMPIA AGED JUST WAS THE FORMER HIGHEST PAID ACTOR IN THE WORLD AND IS NOW A SUCCESSFUL POLITI CIAN BEING TOUTED BY MANY AS A FUTURE PRESIDENT BRINGING US EVER CLOSER TO THE FUTURE AS PREDICTED BY $EMOLITION -AN )T CAN HARDLY BE DENIED THAT !RNIE S HAD A HELL OF A CAREER BUT THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON HIS l LM CAREER AC TION HERO OR HOPELESS OVERPAID CRE TIN /R HOPELESSLY OVERPAID ACTION CRETIN 7ELL LET S SEE THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE l LMS THEMSELVES /NLY AN IDIOT WOULD SUGGEST THAT NONE OF HIS l LMS ARE POOR 2AW $EAL 2ED (EAT 2ED 3ONJA 4HE 2UNNING -AN IN FACT BASICALLY ANYTHING WITH A TITLE THAT BEGINS WITH @2 SHOULD BE AVOIDED 3O SHOULD THE VAST MAJORITY OF HIS @COMEDIES PARTICULARLY *INGLE !LL THE 7AY WHICH HOLDS THE DUBI OUS TITLE OF @!RNIE S MOST UNIVERSALLY LOATHED l LM MOSTLY THANKS TO ITS
HEART WARMING MESSAGE BUY YOUR KID EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS FOR #HRISTMAS OR YOU ARE A VERY BAD MAN 7ORST OF THE ACTIONERS IS THE UTTERLY RIDICULOUS
“It can hardly be denied that Arnie’s had a hell of a career, but the jury is still out on his film career” %RASER FEATURING CLASSIC MOMENTS SUCH AS !RNIE l GHTING AN ALLIGATOR @9OU RE LUGGAGE !ND LET S NOT FORGET HIS EXCRUCIATING TURN IN THE CINEMATIC
DISASTER THAT IS "ATMAN AND 2OBIN "UT THERE IS A STRONG COUNTER AR GUMENT 4HE 4ERMINATOR l LMS SEAM LESSLY BLENDED ACTION SCI l AND HORROR WHILST REDEl NING THEM ALL AND !RNIE S PERFORMANCES SUCCESS FULLY SHIFT FROM COLD AND TERRIFYING TO WARM AND COMPASSIONATE 4HE 0REDA TOR S LEGACY MAY HAVE BEEN SHAME LESSLY VIOLATED IN RECENT YEARS BUT THE ORIGINAL STILL HOLDS UP AS AN ACTION HORROR CLASSIC AND 4RUE ,IES WAS ONE OF THE BEST ACTION COMEDIES OF THE S !ND LET S NOT FORGET #OMMANDO SO BAD IT S GOOD NAY INDISPENSIBLE 7HAT OTHER l LM FEATURES THE SAME MAN HAND FEEDING A BABY DEER AND KILLING ABOUT PEOPLE )T S PURE CHEESE DRIPPING GENIUS 4HE SECRET TO WATCHING !RNIE l LMS $O YOUR RESEARCH $UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
film
19
“entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of moving pictures” the event
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
Other Screens
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Revolutionary Road Dir: Sam Mendes Release Date: 30/1/09
7ITH THREE /SCAR NOMINATIONS AND A 'OLDEN 'LOBE ALREADY IN THE BAG FOR +ATE 7INSLET 2EVOLUTIONARY 2OAD HAS HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF HYPE SURROUNDING IT IN RECENT MONTHS 4HE l LM IS "RITISH DIRECTOR 3AM -ENDES SECOND EXPLORATION INTO DOMESTIC LIFE AFTER S !MERI CAN "EAUTY WITH THE STORY FOLLOWING COUPLE &RANK ,EONARDO $ICAPRIO AND !PRIL 7HEELER +ATE 7INSLET AS THEY PREPARE TO MOVE TO 0ARIS IN SEARCH OF THEIR FORGOTTEN DREAMS 0REDICTABLY THIS DOES NOT GO AS PLANNED LEADING TO MANY DOMES TIC DISPUTES AND AN EVENTUAL UNRAV ELLING OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP 4HE MAJOR SELLING POINT OF THE l LM FOR MANY PEOPLE HAS UNDENI
Dir: Peter Sollett Release Date: 30/1/09
ABLY BEEN THE PAIRING OF 4ITANIC S 7INSLET AND $ICAPRIO AND THIS ESTABLISHED CHEMISTRY STILL SHINES THROUGHOUT THE l LM $ESPITE THE BRUTAL INTENSITY OF THE PERFORMANCES THE l LM RELIES ON ITS LEADS FAR TOO OFTEN AS THE CHARACTER S LIVES BEGIN TO UNRAVEL LEAVING THE AUDIENCE CONSIDERABLY UNDERWHELMED BY THE QUALITY OF THE DIALOGUE OR THEIR SOMETIMES OVER STAGED CLASHES
!LTHOUGH QUITE A CHARMING l LM WITH MOSTLY PLEASANT CHARACTERS ES SENTIALLY IT IS GOING NOWHERE 7ITH THE PRODUCERS FROM *UNO JUMPING ON BOARD AND OF COURSE THE ADOR ABLE -ICHAEL #ERA STEALING THE LEAD ROLE IT SEEMS THEY TRIED TO COAST ON THE SUCCESS OF *UNO WITH ANOTHER FEEL GOOD INDIE LOVE STORY BUT SAD LY WITHOUT THE BRILLIANT SOUNDTRACK IRONIC CONSIDERING THE NAME OF THE MOVIE 4HE l LM FOLLOWS A GROUP OF TEEN AGERS LINKED ENTIRELY BY COINCIDENCE OVER ONE NIGHT IN .EW 9ORK LOOK ING FOR AN ALLUSIVE BAND AND A LOST DRUNKEN FRIEND !LTHOUGH #ERA EF #AROLINE 0REECE FECTIVELY PLAYS THE SAME ROLE AS HE ALWAYS DOES YOU CAN T DENY THAT HIS GEEKY AWKWARDNESS WORKS TO HIS FA
He’s Just Not That Into You Dir: Ken Kwapis Release Date: 6/2/09
(E S *UST .OT 4HAT )NTO 9OU HAS BEEN SKILFULLY ADAPTED FROM A BEST SELLING RELATIONSHIP ADVICE BOOK WRITTEN BY 'REG "EHRENDT AND ,IZ 4UCCILLO INTO A SMART AND SASSY ROM COM COM PLETE WITH AN ! ,IST CAST &OCUSING ON MAIN CHARACTERS THE l LM EXPLORES THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF DATING EXPERI ENCES FROM FAILED MARRIAGES TO DATES WE WISH WE HADN T BOTHERED WITH $ESPITE SERIOUS ISSUES SUCH AS AF FAIRS AND RUINED FRIENDSHIPS BEING MENTIONED THE l LM CENTRES AROUND THE FUNNY SIDE OF DATING AND THE COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN BE MADE SUCH AS THE CLINGY MAN +EVIN #ON NOLLY AND THE INCREASINGLY DESPERATE
Film News
SINGLE WOMAN 'INNIFER 'OODWIN 4HE AMOUNT OF WELL KNOWN AC TORS IN THE l LM COULD HAVE MEANT A RUSHED OR FRANTIC PLOT BUT EACH RELA TIONSHIP SCENARIO GIVES THE AUDIENCE ENOUGH TIME TO BECOME ENGAGED BY THEIR SITUATION EITHER l NDING IT FUN NY OR EMOTIONALLY CAPTIVATING 7ITH AN EXCELLENT CAST INCLUDING *ENNIFER !NNISTON "RADLEY #OOPER AND *ENNIFER #ONNELLY (E S *UST .OT 4HAT )NTO 9OU COULD BE ONE OF THE BEST ROM COMS TO ENTER THE l LM SCENE THIS YEAR %LIZABETH 0OOLE
VOUR /NE THING THE l LM MISSES OUT ON IS ANY THREAT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WHOLE OF .EW 9ORK #ITY HAS DE CIDED TO BUY INTO THE TREND h3TRAIGHT %DGEv THAT .ORAH SO PROUDLY AN NOUNCES SHE IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE l LM WITH ONLY ONE CHARACTER WHO DRINKS AND THE TEENS WONDER ING ABOUT AT AM )T S LIKE A MODERN FAIRYTALE MAK ING YOU WISH .ORWICH STAYED OPEN TILL AM NOT JUST (AVANA S KNOW ING IF IT DID YOU WOULD BE PERPETU ALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NIGHT OUT )N SUMMARY A MORE APT NAME FOR THE MOVIE WOULD BE .ICK AND .O RAH S )Nl NITE #HEESEFEST -ICHA #HARLES
&OR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE WAITING PATIENTLY IN LINE AT THE CINEMA FOR THE RE LEASE OF THE 3EX AND THE #ITY MOVIE IT HAS BEEN CONl RMED THAT 3EX AND THE #ITY IS SET FOR A SUMMER RELEASE IN WHAT WILL THEY COME UP WITH NEXT
Bolt 3-D
Dir: Byron Howard & Chris Williams Release Date: 6/2/09
3TARRING THE VOICE TALENTS OF -I LEY #YRUS AND *OHN 4RAVOLTA HERE COMES THE LATEST $ISNEY l LM WHICH SUCCEEDS IN WINNING OVER AUDIENCES BOTH YOUNG AND OLD WITH ITS WITTY CHARACTERS AND ENDEARING $ISNEY CHARM "OLT IS ABOUT A DOG CALLED "OLT AND HIS OWNER 0ENNY -ILEY #YRUS AND FOLLOWS THE LIFE THEY LEAD l GHT ING THE hEVIL GREEN EYED MANv "UT ALL GOES AWRY WHEN "OLT ESCAPES FROM HIS (OLLYWOOD ABODE 7HILST ON THE LOOSE HE MEETS SOME INTERESTING FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY THE MOST AMUSING OF WHICH IS 2HINO A BOLSHY NINJA HAMSTER AND
$REAMWORKS NEW ANIMATED l LM IS SET TO HAVE A GLITTERING CAST SHOWCASING THE LIKES OF FUNNY MEN 2OBERT $OWNEY *R AND "EN 3TILLER 4HE SUPERHERO SPOOF l LM -ASTER MIND IS PLANNED FOR RELEASE IN .OVEMBER
-ITTENS A STREET WISE ALLEY CAT WHO SHOWS HIM THE TRUE MEANING OF A DOG S LIFE !SIDE FROM THE USUAL $ISNEY BRAND OF EXCELLENCE IN DIALOGUE AND CASTING THE SPECIAL EFFECTS PARTICU LARLY THE $ ELEMENT TO THE l LM ADDS A FURTHER DIMENSION FOR AU DIENCES TO ENJOY !LL OF THIS MAKES "OLT AN EXCELLENT AND HUMOROUS AD DITION TO THE $ISNEY CROWN
#OLETTE ,ILFORD
4HE SWACHBUCKLING TIGHT WEARING HEART THROB IS ASPIRING TO GREATER CLIMBS /RLAN DO "LOOM IS CAST TO STAR IN A NEW SCI l l LM CALLED 4HE #ROSS 4HE l LM IS RUMOURED TO BE SET IN A BORDER TOWN IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND "LOOM S CHARACTER IS A MANhTRYING TO CROSS A MYSTERIOUS BORDER SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS ACHIEVED v &ELLOW CAST MEM BERS ALSO INCLUDE 6INCENT #ASSELL AND /LGA +URYLENKO
20 DVD Releases The Rocker
Death Race
Dir: Peter Cattaneo Release date: 09/03/09
! VEHICLE FOR 2AINN @$WIGHT IN THE !MERICAN /Fl CE 7ILSON THIS COMEDY IS STRAIGHT FROM THE SAME SCHOOL AS (OT 2OD AND "ALLS OF &URY COMEDIES FEATURING STRANGE PEOPLE DOING ODD THINGS 4HIS TIME IT S A SHOULDA BEEN ROCK STAR WHO DRUMS FOR HIS NEPHEW S BAND AND INEXPLI CABLY MAKES THEM FAMOUS 7ILSON GETS THE BEST LINES AS YOU D EXPECT BUT THE REST OF THE CAST ARE EVEN BLANDER THAN THE POP PUNK THAT THE BAND PLAYS /THER WEAK POINTS INCLUDE IRRITATING ATTEMPTS AT RELEVANCE 9OU4UBE MAKES AN APPEARANCE THE TWO MOST POINTLESS AND ABRUPT ROMANTIC SUBPLOTS OF ALL
film concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
the event
Dir: Paul W.S. Anderson Release date: 02/02/09
TIME AND 6ANESSA 2EDGRAVE AND *ANE ,YNCH IN ROLES WITH NO JOKES THEY WERE IN !NCHORMAN AND "EST IN 3HOW FOR 'OD S SAKE /N THE PLUS SIDE THERE ARE SOME CRACKING LINES @,OOK AT HIM IT S LIKE !BERCROMBIE ARE MAKING PEOPLE NOW AND A CERTAIN WARMTH AND CHARM THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HATE IT D BE LIKE KICKING A PUPPY $UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
"ASED ON A QUICK SCAN OF THE DIRECTOR S RESUMÏ IT WILL SURPRISE NO ONE THAT $EATH 2ACE PLAYS MUCH LIKE A DELINQUENT COMPOSITE OF -AD -AX &RIDAY THE TH AND THE &AST AND THE &URIOUS 0 7 3 !NDERSON CAN PROBABLY BE ACCUSED OF MANY THINGS BUT HE CANNOT BE ACCUSED OF NOT KNOWING HIS TARGET MARKET WITH THE REQUISITE GORE BABES AND l GHTS ALL ON SHOW HERE (OWEVER $EATH 2ACE WORKS l NE AS GLIB DELIR IOUS THOUGHT FREE FUN AS *ASON 3TATHAM S *ENSEN PRESUMABLY NAMED SO AS NOT TO CAUSE EXCESSIVE CONFUSION ON SET BATTLES HIS WAY THROUGH A WHIRL WIND OF PLASTIC BADDIES IN ORDER TO RECLAIM
HIS FREEDOM AND SO WIN THE CONTEST OF THE @DEATH RACE 4HE EXPLOSIONS AND SET PIECES ARE l NELY JUDGED AND WHILST THEY HARDLY REPRESENT GREAT CINEMA THEY DO MAKE SENSE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE l LM S UNIVERSE )F A CAR WITH GATTLING GUNS OR A POST INDUSTRIAL CRETIN GETTING CRUSHED BY A GIANT MACE APPEALS TO THE TESTOSTERONE FUELLED CHILD WITHIN THEN THIS SOMEWHAT RISIBLE SLICE OF MA CHINE PORN IS FOR YOU 'EORGE 'ILBERT
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film concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
21 the event
And the Oscar goes to...
3OME RECENT COMMENTARY HAS DECRIED THE l LM WORLD S MOST FAMOUS AWARDS CEREMONY AS INm UENCED BY POLITICS RATHER THAN ORIGINAL DECISION MAKING 9ET AS #HRIS 7ILSON EXPLAINS THE /SCARS NEED TO BE ROBUSTLY DEFENDED AGAINST SUCH CHARGES FOR THIS YEAR S l ELD LEAVES PLENTY OF OPTIMISM THAT THE !CADEMY WILL MAKE SOME INSPIRING AND POPULAR DECISIONS
-
ANY PEOPLE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE !CAD EMY !WARDS HAVE LOST THEIR WAY IN RECENT YEARS 3OME UNPOPU LAR CHOICES HAVE SERVED TO THROW THE GULF BETWEEN PUBLIC OPINION AND THE !CADEMY S CHOICE OF WHO WILL GET THE COVETED /SCAR INTO WIDER PERSECTIVE 4HE RESULT IS THAT THE CEREMONY HAS ATTRACTED SOME MORE UNFAVOURABLE COMMENTS THAN WENT BEFORE )T IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HOWEVER THAT WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH WHAT THE !CADEMY HAS TO SAY THE /SCARS ARE DESPITE THE AT TEMPTS OF THE "!&4!S AND THE 'OLD EN 'LOBES THE BE ALL AND END ALL OF MOVIE AWARDS 7INNING AN /SCAR STILL IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE HOLY GRAIL OF CINEMATIC ACHIEVEMENT 4HIS YEAR IS LIKE NO OTHER AS FAR AS NOMINATIONS ARE CONCERNED 5N LIKE IN PREVIOUS YEARS THERE IS A POS SIBILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE l VE l LMS NOMINATED IN THE HEADLINE "EST -O
“Winning an Oscar still is, and always will be, the holy grail of cinematic achievement” TION 0ICTURE CATEGORY COULD WIN THE GOLDEN STATUE 4HIS MAKES A WELCOME CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WHEN THE AWARD HAS ALWAYS FELT LIKE A ONE OR TWO HORSE RACE -OST NOTICEABLY LAST YEAR WHEN THE AWARD WAS CERTAIN TO GO TO EITHER THE #OENS MAGNIl CENT THRILL ER .O #OUNTRY FOR /LD -EN OR THE $ANIEL $AY ,EWIS VEHICLE 4HERE 7ILL BE "LOOD *UNO AND COMPANY MAY AS WELL HAVE NOT TURNED UP 4HIS YEAR HOW EVER WITH NOMINATIONS FOR 3LUMDOG -ILLIONAIRE &ROST .IXON 4HE #URIOUS #ASE OF "ENJAMIN "UTTON -ILK AND 4HE 2EADER ONLY THE LATTER APPEARS TO HAVE RECEIVED ANY
MENTARY &EATURE "UT UNLIKE PREVIOUS YEARS THESE LACK OF SURPRISES ARE WELCOME 4HE STRENGTH OF THESE l LMS MEANS THAT NO l LMS LIKE THE FORGETTABLE (APPY &EET OR THE GOOD BUT NOT GREAT 4HE )NCREDI BLES WILL UNJUSTLY RECEIVE THE HIGHEST PRIZE IN THEIR l ELD &ILMS THAT TRULY DESERVE THE GLORY THAT COMES WITH AN /SCAR WIN WILL RECEIVE IT 4HIS YEAR IS THE YEAR THE /SCARS HAVE PROVED THEIR RELEVANCE 'IVING -ARTIN 3CORSESE THE INDUSTRY S MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR 4HE $EPARTED FELT MORE LIKE AN APOLOGY FOR NOT AWARD ING HIM FOR PREVIOUS WORK AND WITH OTHER UNDERWHELMING l LMS SUCH AS #RASH -ILLION $OLLAR "ABY AND #HI
“Films that truly de- serve the glory that comes with an Os- car win will receive NEGATIVE PRESS 4HE ACTING AWARDS ALSO DEMON STRATE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF COMPETITION THIS YEAR %VEN THOUGH THE "EST 3UP PORTING !CTOR NOD SEEMS HIGHLY LIKELY TO GO TO THE LATE (EATH ,EDGER FOR HIS TRULY GROUND BREAKING PORTRAYAL OF COMIC BOOK CLOWN AND YIN TO "AT MAN S YANG 4HE *OKER -ICHAEL 3HAN NON FOR 2EVOLUTIONARY 2OAD OR *OSH "ROLIN FOR HIS PART IN -ILK COULD JUST AS EASILY TAKE HOME THE /SCAR !ND WHILE LAST YEAR SAW $ANIEL $AY ,EWIS STROLL INTO (OLLYWOOD AL MOST POSITIVE HE WOULD LEAVE WITH THE AWARD FOR "EST ,EADING -ALE THIS YEAR S FANTASTICALLY RECEIVED POR TRAYALS OF .IXON AND (ARVEY -ILK COULD EASILY STEAL THE BUZZ AWAY FROM -ICKEY 2OURKE S ROLE AS PROFESSION AL WRESTLER 2ANDY @4HE 2AM 4HIS YEAR ALSO SEES A STRONG FORCE OF "RITISH PRODUC TIONS RECEIVING NOMINATIONS /BVIOUSLY 3LUM
DOG S NOMINATIONS DEMONSTRATE THIS ALONE BUT WITH THE ADDITION OF A HEAVILY TIPPED WIN FOR +ATE 7INS LET IN THE BEST ACTRESS CATEGORY AND POTENTIAL AWARDS ELSEWHERE FOR "RIT PRODUCTIONS (APPY 'O ,UCKY AND 4HE $UCHESS THIS YEAR COULD BE ONE OF THE 5NITED +INGDOM S BEST SHOWINGS AT THE !CADEMY !WARDS 4HOSE WHO SUGGEST THAT THESE PAR TICULAR AWARDS DEMONSTRATE A LACK OF RELEVANCE ANYMORE NEED ONLY LOOK TOWARDS THE TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT NOMINATIONS (IGHLY CELEBRATED BY CRITICS AND FANS ALIKE #HRISTOPHER .OLAN S COMIC BOOK CRIME THRILLER 4HE $ARK +NIGHT HAS RECEIVED A STAG GERING EIGHT NOMINATIONS DEMON STRATING THAT THE !CADEMY AREN T AFRAID TO HAND OUT PRAISE TO A BIG SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER !ND WHILE THEY MAY ONLY BE FOR TECHNICAL ACHIEVE MENTS POTENTIAL VICTORIES FOR )RON -AN 7ANTED AND (ELLBOY 4HE 'OLD EN !RMY ARE SET TO PLEASE THOSE WHO USUALLY IGNORE THE /SCARS FOR THEIR GENERAL BIAS AGAINST THE BLOCKBUSTER 4O SPEAK ABOUT THIS YEAR S CER EMONY STRICTLY IN TERMS OF COMPETI TION HOWEVER IS TO IGNORE SOME OF
THE LESSER CATEGORIES )T IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT 7ALL % WILL WALK AWAY WITH THE STATUE FOR "EST !NIMATED &EATURE AND ANIMATED )SRAELI DOCUMENTARY 7ALTZ WITH "ASHIR SIMPLY BASED ON ITS RE CEPTION WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED AS A NOMINATION IS EXPECTED TO LEAVE WITH THE "EST &OREIGN ,ANGUAGE &ILM AWARD -AN ON 7IRE IS ALSO HEAVILY TIPPED TO GET THE /SCAR FOR "EST $OCU
it” CAGO WINNING IN PREVIOUS YEARS YOU CAN BE EXCUSED FOR EXPRESSING SOME BEMUSEMENT TOWARDS THE !CADEMY "UT WITH A BOARD OF NOMINATIONS AS STRONG AS THAT OF THIS YEARS IT APPEARS THE !CADEMY ARE l NALLY REWARDING l LMS THAT DESERVE THE RECOGNITION
what’s on what’s on
22
concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk
10th • China China China!!! opening. Sainsbury Centre. 10am. £4 • Sarah Gillespie. Nowich Arts Centre. 8pm. £8 NUS • When I’m 64 LCR. 10pm. £3.50 adv
y a d es
Tu
d We
11th
y a d nes
• Talk: ‘Money.Sex.Power.Fun. What can Jesus offer me?’. Bill Wilson Room. 1pm. Free • Reel Big Fish. LCR. 7.30pm. £13.70 • Sports Night. Blue Bar. 8pm. Free
12th
y a d s r u Th
• Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. LCR. 7pm. Sold Out • Film: The Incredible Hulk. LT1. 7.30pm. £2.75 • The Hamsters play Jimi Hendrix, ZZ Top and The Hamsters! The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £12.50 • Games Night: Guitar Hero. Blue Bar. 8.30pm. Free
y a d i Fr
ay d r u t a S
13th
• Film: Boys Don’t Cry. LT1. 7.30pm. Free • Music Night: BreakSoc Showcase. Blue Bar. 8pm. Free • Killamonjambo. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £5 • Rawkus + Bullet For My Valentine DJ set. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS
14th • MagiMation II. Norwich Puppet Theatre. 10am. £20 • The Counterfeit Stones. The Playhouse. 8pm. £18.50 • Imperial Leisure. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £6 • Meltdown + Britpoppin’. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS • A List w/ Harmony. LCR. 10pm. £4.50 adv
15th
y a d Sun
• The Three Bears. Norwich Puppet Theatre. 2.30pm. £5 NUS • Children of Bodom / Cannibal Corpse. LCR. 7pm. £16.50 • Pub Quiz. Blue Bar. 7.30pm. Free
16th
M
y a d on
• Cool Frogs. Norwich Puppet Theatre. 2.30pm. £5 NUS • Duncan Oakley. The HIve. 8pm. £4.50
17th • The Town Mouse & The Country Mouse. Norwich Arts Centre. 2pm/4pm. £4 NUS • The Kabeedies. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £6 • Beoga. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £8 NUS • Skool Daze. LCR. 10pm. £3.50 adv
18th
• The Insect Circus. The Playhouse. 2.30pm/6.30pm. £7 NUS • The Tempest by William Shakespeare. UEA Drama Studio. 7.30pm. £3.50 NUS • Comedy Store. The Forum. 8pm. £10.20 NUS • Sports Night. Blue Bar. 8pm. Free
19th
• Imelda May. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £10 • Fence Collective ft King Creosote. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £10 • Its David O’Doherty Time! The Playhouse. 8pm. £10 NUS • Games Night: Rock Band. Blue Bar. 8.30pm. Free • Silent Disco. LCR. 10pm. Sold Out
20th • The Tempest by William Shakespeare. UEA Drama Studio. 7.30pm. £3.50 NUS • Barry Cryer - Still Alive. The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £17.50 • Film: The Duchess. LT1. 7.30pm. £2.75 • Wombatwombat. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £6 • 80s Night + Motor City Magic. 10pm. £3.50 NUS
21st • The Brilliant Bag Show. Norwich Puppet Theatre. 4pm. £5 NUS • Wild Beasts. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £7 • Pappy’s Fun Club: Funergy! The Playhouse. 8pm. £10 • Meltdown + Ska’d Up. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS • Now 90s. LCR. 10pm. £4.50 adv
22nd • Acoustic Music Event. Norwich Puppet Theatre. 5pm. £5 NUS • A Day To Remember. The Waterfront. 7pm. £9 • The Wombats. LCR. 7pm. Sold Out • Pub Quiz. Blue Bar. 7.30pm. Free
23rd • Tonight is Goodbye + Attack Attack. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £7.50 • Flhip Flhop: Everything Happens on the Break. The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £8 NUS • The Monday Night Alternative ft Chris Hicks. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £5
competitions competition
24
the event
Crossword
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Sudoku wit
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,OVELY !PENDAGE ON THE HAND "RITISH SOLDIER 0ERSON WITH ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INFO $ORK
4O BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING A FREE
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RETURN TAXI TRIP FROM #OURTESY 4AXIS FROM CAMPUS TO TOWN AND BACK OR INBETWEEN %MAIL BRING YOUR COMPLETED ENTRY TO THE #ON CRETE OFl CE BY
Smash Hits! 80s Music Giveaway!!! 4HE S THE DECADE THAT GAVE US SUCH @DELIGHTS AS -AGGIE 4HATCHER 7HAM YUPPIES AND THE NEW RO MANTICS .OW YOU CAN RECREATE THE ATMOSPHERE OF THAT SPECIAL TIME WITH THIS COLLECTION OF 3MASH (ITS S COMPILATION #$S TAKING YOU FROM RIGHT UP TO @ &OR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN E MAIL YOUR ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS UEA AC UK BY 3PANDAU "ALLET SUNG A SONG ABOUT WHICH PRECIOUS METAL
Biggie Prize!
4O BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING A a "ORDERS VOUCHER BRING ONE OR ALL CORRECTLY COMPLETED 3UDOKU TO THE #ONCRETE OFl CE BY
@3TAYING IN IS THE NEW GOING OUT 'REAT DEALS ON BOOKS AT "ORDERS INCLUDING "UY ONE GET ONE FREE ON ALL /XFORD #LASSICS
.AME
concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk
4HIS MONTH SEES THE RELEASE OF THE l LM .OTORIOUS BASED ON THE LIFE OF THE LEGENDARY RAPPER "IG GIE 3MALLS &OR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN SOME MERCHANDISE FROM THE l LM JUST ANSWER THIS SIMPLE QUESTION 0UFF $ADDY 0 $IDDY COVERED WHICH 0OLICE TRACK COMMEMORATING "IGGIE S LIFE 3END YOUR ANSWER TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS UEA AC UK BY
Win 5 Football Shirts! 4HANKS TO BRAND NEW SPORTING GOODS WEBSITE WWW MYFOOTBALLKIT COM YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN NEW SHIRTS FOR YOUR A SIDE FOOTBALL TEAM !LL YOU HAVE TO DO IS EMAIL THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION TO COMPETITION MYFOOTBALLKIT COM BY (OW MUCH DOES A TRAINING BIB COST ON WWW MYFOOTBALLKIT COM