Issue 263 | Tuesday 17th January 2012 | Fortnightly | Free
UEA’s Independent Student Newspaper concrete-online.co.uk
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COMMENT Page 7
Not for the First time, we aren’t happy
Sherlock nudity: why all the fuss?
>> First’s decision to prevent the 21/22 service stopping at the University has angered both students and residents >> A petition has been launched to combat the changes going through, and has garnered hundreds of signatures
TRAVEL
Richard Joslin News Reporter Plans to change the route of the 21/22 First bus services, scrapping the West Earlham, Bowthorpe, Hospital, UEA connection, were met by a community outcry last week as students and faculty members of the University concerned about the changes spoke out against them. Over 220 people have signed a petition against the planned changes, with many comments on the petition expressing anger at bus company First for doing this after many had bought their £200 annual season tickets. There have also been complaints about the apparent lack of a suitable replacement. Lois Catterall, a second year UEA student with a part time city-
Susanna Wood
centre job living in Bowthorpe, called the changes “completely unacceptable.” She told Concrete: “If the service to the campus is stopped getting to work is going to take a lot longer, and giving up an hour and a half of my day to commute a 6 mile journey is completely ludicrous. I paid £250 for a bus pass that I believed would give me access to a fully functioning service, and now, half way through the academic year, First want to deny me the service to campus.” The Union of UEA Students has expressed its concern in a statement, echoing concerns about the students who bought a bus pass specifically for the 21/22 route to campus only to have it removed halfway through the year. Continued on page 4
Three Hindu chaplains appointed Chris King Editor Following a campaign by UEA Hindu Society, three Hindu chaplains have been appointed by the Chaplaincy to offer advice and spiritual guidance to Hindu students at the University. The appointment of the three chaplains, two of whom, GopalLila Das of Imperial College,
London and Dr. Suresh C. Vasishtha, are based in London, and the other, Shaunaka Rishi, in Oxford, marks a significant victory for the Hindu community at UEA, which has increased significantly in size over the past few years. An article featured in Concrete last year documented a motion passed at Union Council, which criticised the University for appearing not to welcome
students of a Hindu faith. The appointment of the chaplains, whilst appearing to be a concerted move by the University to provide equal facilities and services for Hindu students at the University, was spearheaded by staff at the Chaplaincy. According to UEA chaplain, Marion Houssart: “The Chaplaincy, frustrated that this matter did not move forward, approached several chaplains in the London area.”
Das described the support he would be able to provide to Hindu students at UEA: “On behalf of the other newly-appointed Hindu chaplains, we are honoured to be asked to serve the community of UEA. Our role is to support students in the practice of their faith to ensure they can focus on their studies and contribute fully to University life.” Continued on page 2
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Party hard in vibrant Budapest Chris King
LIFESTYLE Page 17
Will 2012 be your year? SPORT Page 22/23
BUCS clubs: the season so far Laura Smith
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Three Hindu chaplains appointed Address Concrete Newspaper Union House UEA NR4 7TJ Email concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.advertising@uea.ac.uk Contact 01603 593 466 Concrete is published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2011 Concrete BMc. ISSN 1351-2773
Continued from front page: Houssart continued: “We made contact with Shaunaka Rishi Das, Chaplain at Oxford University as well as Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Gopal-Lila Das, Hindu chaplain at Imperial College, London. Later we heard of a Hindu chaplain from London, part-time chaplain to Norwich Prison - Dr Suresh Vasishtha - and we approached him about taking on the role as
chaplain here. None of the above could commit to taking on the role, certainly not full time, but all were prepared to be a Hindu contact in times of need.” Some Hindu students have called for the use of flames in the Chaplaincy building to be permitted, and launched a petition aimed at securing the creation of a Hindu-Buddhist shrine on campus. The petition, which had nine pages of signatures reads: “We the undersigned would be
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Letters should be addressed for the attention of the Editor, Chris King. Letters must include contact details, but we will consider anonymous publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity as necessary. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the newspaper.
James Dixon
No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the Editor, Chris King. Printed by Archant.
Susanna Wood
Editor | Chris King >> concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor | Hannah Britt >> concrete.deputyeditor@uea.ac.uk News Editors | James Dixon & Susanna Wood >> concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Comment Editor | Joshua Resoun >> concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Travel Editor | Greg Lewry >> concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Turf Editor | Becky Hazlewood >> concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk International Editor | Rachael Lum >> concrete.international@uea.ac.uk Lifestyle Editors | Hasina Allen & Rianne Ison >> concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Sport Editors | Matt Scrafton & Chris Teale >> concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk >> concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Chief Copy Editors | Amy Adams & Harry Slater >> concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk
International Isabelle Carty, Rachael Lum Comment Richard Law, Jess Collett, Rebecca Goodacre, Beth Wyatt, Amelia Edwards, Ciara Jack, Greg Manterfield-Ivory,
NEWS
A word from the editor With a new year, comes a new start, as the time-honoured cliché goes. Concrete has the opportunity to go from strengthto-strength this semester, but it relies on the same involvement, dedication and enthusiasm which you, our contributors, have shown to date. Whether you’re writing a feature piece, investigating breaking news stories, or proofing our pages on a Saturday to the cloying, unbearable sound of the Spotify Top 100 playlist, you are vital to our future. If you’re interested in a future in journalism, now is the time to write and consider section editorship. Sadly, as much as we love Concrete, the current cohort won’t be around forever. Finally, Concrete would like to apologise to Michael Drummond, who was incorrectly credited as Mark Drummond in Issue 261. Chris King Editor-in-chief
Contributors/Editorial/Contacts
News Richard Joslin, Chris King, Susanna Wood, Catherine Hardy, Charlotte Cox, Michael Drummond, James Dixon
grateful for a shrine on campus for the traditional practices of meditation and bhakti-yoga, including the use of naked flames.” Houssart said: “We have been approached by the UEA Student Union’s Hindu Society President, Pavrita Chotai, and will be having a meeting later this week to see what we can offer in terms of time and space for worship, and possibly storage space for a few items, but always within our constraints.”
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Chief Photographer | Laura Smith Deputy Chief Photographer | Harriet Jones >> concrete.photographers@uea.ac.uk Distribution Manager | Stephanie Gover >> concrete.distribution@uea.ac.uk Advertising Manager | Chris King >> concrete.advertising@uea.ac.uk
Joshua Resoun Travel Chris King, Cameron Tucker, Lauren Cope, Oscar Hameenaho-Fox, Tom Linton-Smith, Jonathan Stuart Features Beth Wyatt, Lauren Cope Turf Becky Hazlewood, Chris Teale
If you are interested in placing an advertisement in Concrete, visit www. concrete-online.co.uk to view our media pack and advertising regulations, which contain details including sizes and prices. To arrange an advertisement, email Editor Chris King at concrete. editor@uea.ac.uk or call 07515005090. Lifestyle Hannah Britt, Lauren Cope, Bethan Williams, Rianne Ison Sport Matt Scrafton, Kris Nelson, Doug Patient, Chris Teale, Emma Webb, Lewis Dalton, Billy Sexton Copy Editors Amy Adams, Harry Slater, Matthew Weddig, Susanna Wood, Hannah Britt
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New year’s detox for the UEA Library Susanna Wood News Editor UEA students have reacted positively to the Library’s new 24/7 opening hours. A trial period of the 24/7 opening will run from 16 January to July 2012, and will include bank holidays and the Easter break. The initiative should help to ease pressure on Library resources during periods of heavy use. The Library will also be open continually at weekends in response to complaints about the late opening time of 11am on Saturdays and Sundays. The changes come a year after the “techpocalypse,” when information and Library services crashed in December 2010 causing much disruption for UEA students and staff.
Nicholas Lewis, the Director of Library Services, told Concrete: “The Library 24/7 trial has been initiated by the University in response to student feedback through various surveys including the NSS and postgraduate surveys. It should help all those who prefer to study uninterrupted at night and early morning, for example. In particular, it aims to support students who may find it difficult to access the Library during standard hours, perhaps owing to work placements, family or work commitments.” The Library has also unveiled several new initiatives to help students make the most of its resources. One of these, the “more books” initiative, is designed to make it easy for students to let the Library know if they need books which are currently unavailable. The Library is making forays into
social media as students can now tweet the books they want, along with the hashtag #UEAlibrary. The Library is also publicising its wireless printing facilities, which allow students to print work on the Library printers from their laptops. The Union of UEA Students has also responded enthusiastically to the improvements, with Academic Officer Meg Evans telling Concrete: “The new Library opening times could be really positive for students. The Union is pleased that the Library has responded to feedback from students and we’d love to hear what students think about the changes.” Mr Lewis added: “Whether 24/7 will continue depends on how much the service is used during the trial period, so please do use it and give us your feedback.”
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Costa prizes galore Catherine Hardy News Reporter Not one, but two graduates of UEA’s prestigious Creative Writing Programme have won Costa Book Awards. Paedriatric nurse Christie Watson took home the Costa First Novel Award for her book Tiny Sunbirds Far Away, which the judges described as a “vibrant gem of a novel” . Christie said: “I’m shocked and delighted at the news - and my children were jumping up and down in the kitchen last night listening to the radio announcement!” Meanwhile, Andrew Miller won Best Novel with Pure,
“a gripping story, beautifully written and emotionally satisfying”. The two graduates each received £5,000 and are among the five winners from which the overall Costa Book of the Year will be selected. Creative writing graduate Martyn Bedford was also shortlisted for the Children’s Book Award with Flip. Professor Jean Boase-Beier, head of the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, said: “It is wonderful when our graduates receive recognition. We know that they are brilliant, but awards like these are such an honour. Congratulations to Christie, Andrew and Martyn.”
Laura Smith
Graduate job prospects set to improve Charlotte Cox News Reporter A new report on the graduate jobs market published on Wednesday, 11 January revealed that, despite the unsettled economy, there will be considerably more graduate vacancies available for university leavers in 2012. This will be the third consecutive year that the number of graduate jobs has increased. The research shows that
employers, on average, will hire 6.4% more graduates in 2012 than they did in 2011. However, the report forewarns that graduates of the class of 2012 who have had no work experience whilst at university have an incredibly slim chance of getting a job from the country’s most prestigious graduate employers. Furthermore, a considerable 36% of this year’s graduate vacancies are expected to be filled by applicants who have already worked for the organisations
during their studies. Despite the lack of recruitment at many government departments and agencies, graduate vacancies in the public sector are anticipated to increase by a fifth this year, partly as a result of the Teach First scheme which is set to hire 1,000 graduates for the first time in 2012. The majority of employers are not planning to increase their graduate remuneration in 2012; the average graduate salary remains at £29,000 for the third year running. Fields
that are expected to employ a higher percentage of graduates in 2012 are: engineering and industrial companies, IT and telecommunications firms, high street banks, investment banks and retailers. Although these recruitment targets for 2012 are encouraging, graduate recruitment statistics remain below pre-recession levels at the UK’s leading employers. Across all the organisations featured within the report, graduate recruitment in 2012 is
still 6% below the figures recorded in 2007. Moreover, an extra 50,000 new graduates are expected to leave university in the summer of 2012, compared with those who graduated five years ago. Therefore, although the statistics compared to those in 2010 and 2011 seem to be looking brighter, the graduates of 2012 and the following years will almost definitely have difficulty finding full time employment, especially those with little or no work experience.
With the imminent release of the Home Run list, Concrete is keen to hear your housing stories. Email concrete.news@uea.ac.uk with feedback on your letting agents
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NEWS
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Student Library fines nearly top £100,000 James Dixon News Editor Concrete has discovered that UEA students paid more than £90,000 in library fines last year. With tuition fees set to rise, the issue of library fines recently surfaced in the national media. No one enjoys slotting their money into the ravenous withdrawal machines when they are demanding loose change. Library fines however, are an integral part of the borrowing system the University maintains. A recent freedom of information request was sent to all of Britain’s universities by the Press Association. 101 universities responded to the request which saw the University of Leeds come out on top with an annual sum of £1,869,340. The grand total paid by UEA students in fines totalled £92,847.93 between August 2010 to July 2011. Nicholas Lewis, Library Director, commented on the matter: “UEA Library, like all UK higher education institutions, charges fines for overdue items. The main reason for fines is to ensure that books are returned in a timely
fashion so as not to disadvantage other students.” He went on to state: “The income of fines tends to be used to enhance a broad range of services according to current priorities. We are working to contain fines by introducing pre-
overdue courtesy notices from this January, another response to student requests.” UEA has a fine limit of £20 and will permit students to borrow a maximum of 10 books at a time for students in their first and second
years. Students in their third year may take out 15 books at a time. All members of the Library staff also have the power to impose on the spot fines of £5 for the failure to comply with Library rules and regulations.
Laura Smith
UEA excels in national survey Some say that UEA is wonderful, and now the rest of the UK does too. In the recent WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2011, the University gave a knockout performance, appearing in the top eight of every single one of the nine categories. UEA beat all other universities in the UK to claim first place for overall rating, student union and accommodation. In addition, our University achieved an impressive second place for clubs and societies, courses and lecturers and the all important eye candy, as well as coming third for uni facilities. The two remaining categories, which the University came fifth and eighth in respectively, were job prospects and city. UEA is sure to offer all the students that voted in the awards a massive thank you. The award resonates through the University and more importantly, the students themselves. To view the full award results visit www.whatuni.com/ degrees/home.html. Catherine Hardy
Not for the First time, we aren’t happy Continued from front page The Union also pointed out that a third of landlords in the Home Run student housing programme operate in the affected area, NR5, as well as criticising the lack of consultation with students by First. Tash Ross, Community and Student Rights Officer at the Union, described the changes as “really worrying. There seems to have been little thought of the students who use the service, especially given that many of them will have bought a yearlong pass expecting to be able to use the services for all of the academic year. We call on First Bus to review their decision, and consult with students, especially those who have already paid for their bus pass for the year.” Norwich city councillor Samir Jeraj has also protested against the changes. “Public transport is vital and serves
a wide range of people. It is important people have access to the University and to the hospital, and that those routes run all year.” First buses have cited “rising fuel and insurance costs, changes to concessionary fares and reimbursement procedures, as well as reductions in BSOG payments (fuel duty rebate) and council funding” as reasons for cancelling the service, claiming that the planned change is driven largely by lack of demand. A spokesperson for First defended the changes, saying that: “A recent full and thorough review of the 21/22 service revealed that very few passengers are carried between the University and the N&N, and that this particular section of the route is no longer financially viable to operate. It is with regret that the decision was taken to withdraw this part of the service. Despite this withdrawal, there are still two half-hourly services from Earlham Road to
the hospital (Konectbus services three and four).” However, most of those affected remain unconvinced. Alexander George, a UEA law student, told Concrete: “I am a second year, and am having to change my house because of the bus. It’s completely impractical for us to stay in Bowthorpe. First claimed they researched user’s habits, and said that most users were going to the hospital, but in my experience there were just as many people getting off at the University as at the hospital. Everyone I know in Bowthorpe is looking to move for next year, and apart from anything else, it’s going to make competition for houses near campus even harder than it already is, and landlords in Bowthorpe are going to end up with lots of empty houses next year. It just seems to me like a really badly thought out plan by First.” The changes take effect from Monday 16 January.
YouTubed News This issue’s video allegedly depicts four men from the US Marine Corps urinating on deceased Taliban fighters. The marines are heard laughing during the act and appear very relaxed. Since the video surfaced, all four of the marines have been identified bytheNavalCriminalInvestigativeService.Afghanpresident,Hamid Karzai, deemed the video “simply inhuman and condemnable.” Got any suggestions? Contact concrete.news@uea.ac.uk.
NEWS
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Have your say: National Student Survey 2012 If you are a final year undergraduate, make sure you take part in the 2012 National Student Survey, which launches at the end of this month. Ipsos, the company conducting the survey, will email all students in the target group during the week commencing 30 January 2012, inviting you to complete an online questionnaire at www. thestudentsurvey.com. Completing the questionnaire should take no longer than five minutes but by doing so you can make a real difference. “The survey gives us a picture of how students view UEA and its staff, and helps us to pinpoint and spread best practice,” said Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Tom Ward. “It also has a powerful impact on the reputation of the University.” It is very important that as many students as possible take part in this year’s survey. For the data to be deemed sufficiently robust to publish, each subject area must achieve a response rate of at least 50%. Students will be asked to judge the performance of their course in the following areas: teaching quality; assessment and feedback; academic support; organisation and management; learning resources; personal development; and overall satisfaction. UEA has fared particularly well in previous survey, ranking in the top 10 mainstream English universities since the survey began. Make sure you have your say this year. For further information, contact Barrie Osborne (ACAD) x2122 or nss@uea.ac.uk.
Postgraduate open day
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Wonga loan campaign Earlham pub closed again criticised by NUS Michael Drummond News Reporter Following criticism from the National Union of Students (NUS), short term loan company Wonga has removed material from their website which appeared to be targeting students. Pete Mercer, NUS Vice President (Welfare), had said: “It is highly irresponsible of any company to suggest to students that high-cost short-term loans be a part of their everyday financial planning.” He described Wonga’s targeting of students as “predatory marketing”. Wonga had been advertising as an alternative to government backed student loans. Like many other payday loan companies, Wonga make their money by loaning money to customers whose payday comes after any bills need to be paid. Like any loan, the company’s profit is derived from the interest they charge when the customer pays the money back. Currently, government loans are paid back after your income surpasses £15,000. 9% of your salary above this figure goes towards repaying your debt. For courses starting in September
2011, the high street banks’ interest rate was around 1.5%. By contrast, Wonga’s interest rates are infamous, currently 4,214% APR. This, in real terms, would mean if you borrow £1 for a day you will have to pay back £6.56. Considering that tuition fees are currently £3,375, soon to be raised to £9,000, the NUS was responding to student concerns about how dangerous these payday loans companies could be. The page has now been taken down permanently and an apology from Wonga has been put in its place. They have put the criticism down to “misunderstandings,” stating: “We would like to clarify that Wonga does not target students. Yet we do not discriminate against working, adult students who may choose to apply either, because all applications are assessed in the same robust and completely objective way.” However, the statement also pointed out that the main purpose was meant to be to optimise their position on search engines. This gives rise to the question: are thousands of students potentially spiralling into mountains of debt, and is this a fair trade for a better ranking on Google?
The Earlham Arms pub has once again been closed amidst fresh difficulties, despite being recently rebranded. As reported in South Norwich News this week, the Earlham Road pub stopped trading on Thursday, 12 January. The pub has undergone several refurbishments in the last few years. It briefly tapped into the student market in 2010 when it was renamed The Schoolhouse. Its popularity with students also brought trouble as neighbours complained about noise and reported rowdy behaviour, which put the pub’s license at risk. Rebranded as The Earlham Arms five months ago, it was hoping to attract back locals and provide a traditional pub feel. However, dwindling trade has forced the current closure. It has been rumoured that the pub will re-open as a restaurant. Susanna Wood
Arty party at the SCVA
Laura Smith An open day will be held on 18 January to advertise postgraduate opportunities and scholarships. The event will run from noon until 4pm and will feature guided tours around the campus for students from outside of UEA. The University has around 3,000 post-graduate students who make up a 1/5 of UEA’s 15,000 strong population. There will be 40 scholarships offered in the faculty of Arts and Humanities, offering the possibility of full or part coverage
of course fees with a number of scholarships including a maintenance payment of up to £13,590. The faculty of Social Sciences is also offering more than 25 grants to prospective students. A number of project-specific PhD positions in the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences are also available for prospective students to apply for. For more information, visit www.uea.ac.uk/ study/postgraduate/finance.
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A new café/bar is set to be unveiled at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, which will be open all day and into the evening. To celebrate this addition, the centre is hosting the Modern Party, an event which will feature live music, pop-up bars and an exhibition series dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The event will be held on Saturday, 4 February, from 7.30pm till midnight. All students from UEA and the Norwich University College of Arts (NUCA) are invited to attend. Entry is free, as are opinions on art. This opening promises to add a new colour to the SCVA’s already impressive palette of events and dsiplays. James Dixon
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INTERNATIONAL
Taking it to the world Concrete looks into why the chance to live abroad is relished by some, while others see it as a cause for concern
A home away from home Isabelle Carty International Writer “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. For many people it may explain the emigration from their home country with the intention of forging a life for themselves in another one. There are a multitude of reasons why someone may voluntarily or involuntarily leave their birth nation, ranging from fleeing persecution to simply seeking a better life elsewhere. Expatriates (people temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their
upbringing) may initially have been searching for better job opportunities, seeking exciting new cultures, looking to achieve religious or sexual freedom, better educational opportunities or simply joining members of their families who have already built a life elsewhere.
“Indeed, many find themselves adapting to and enjoying a variety of new cultures, even learning new languages, leading to cultural fusion” Essentially, choosing to switch between countries does not equate to a change in
identity. Many people will bring their homes and indeed parts of their home countries with them, whether it is in the form of physical trinkets or a more innate cultural identity that guides their actions and their lives. In this way, their homes are never lost. However, this is not to say that they need to be limited to only one culture. Indeed, many find themselves adapting to and enjoying a variety of new cultures, even learning new languages, leading to cultural fusion. Eventually, communities filled with like-minded people, perhaps from their home country, form around the first settlers in an area, creating a home away from home.
A leak detected: the great brain drain Rachael Lum International Writer As geographical boundaries are broken by transportation technology, it is easy for anyone to travel or migrate to places all around the world. Good as it may be for an individual’s quality of life, this is often an anxietyprovoking thought for every country. Human capital flight, or brain drain, refers to the large outflow of skilled manpower leading to a nation’s loss of intellectual and technical resources. The majority of the emigrating human capital are made up of educated students eager to find better opportunities. African countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya often suffer the worst hit as they are subjected to high unemployment rates and better working conditions elsewhere. According to a report by the United Nation Economic Commission for Africa, since 1990 at least 20,000 African professionals have left the continent every year. Inadequate education and
health facilities as well as human rights abuse also force youths out of these nations. The Network of African Science Academies recorded that onethird of African scientists worked in developed countries in 2009.
“Ironically, the knowledge transfer that unites the global fabric and meets the countries’ occupational demands buys these potential graduates their ticket to the world” “The brain drain is putting a huge strain on the continent,” claimed Deputy Director of the International Organization of Migration, Ndioro Ndiaye. He has estimated that Africa pumps in around $4bn to replete this shortage. Iran, Malaysia and China are among the other top countries experiencing severe brain drain. Given the choice, students are avid to pursue their higher education overseas. Ironically, the knowledge transfer that unites
the global fabric and meets the countries’ occupational demands buys these potential graduates their ticket to the world. The International Monetary Fund recorded Iran as the country with the highest brain drain of the 90 countries observed. Similarly, China saw 70% of its students studying abroad opting not to return to their home country. Another dominant factor of
the brain drain is the political uncertainty within the countries. Rigid social restraints and oppressive conditions influence the diaspora of politically active youths in Iran. Likewise, the lack of religious freedom and corruption pose a similar threat to Malaysia. What can be done to aid the brain drain is to narrow the gap that leaves graduates yearning
to move abroad and nurture their talents elsewhere. African governments have recognized the devastating effects of the situation and taken efforts to reverse this phenomenon. Fundamentally, the desired improvement of this issue depends on whether the governments of the respective countries are able to make changes to attract and keep their valuable capital assets.
COMMENT
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The end is nigh With the end of the world approaching, Richard Law is still yet to be convinced by the soothsayers of the Mayan prophecy “In the beginning, God created the Maya calendar and saw that the Earth would be utterly dependent upon it and doomed once the calendar ends.” I think we can all agree that this is the most devastating omission from Genesis since the discovery of dinosaur fossils. Oh, speaking of omissions, the fruitcakes at the conspiracy factory forgot to mention that
the Mayan calendar is not really ending at all. The date of the supposed coming apocalypse, 21 December 2012, is actually when the current baktun cycle ends and the 14th cycle begins. A baktun is a period of 394 years, and, uncannily, it was in 1618 that the world last ended. Funny how we’re still here. Of all the apocalyptic visions our thumbless friends have been
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would imagine that an object supposedly four times the size of earth and frolicking about in our atmosphere would be a little bit conspicuous. Call me misanthropic, but some part of me wishes these
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nutty masochists could be right just so they’d go back to where they came from. At least that way the rest of us could continue to use the good old Gregorian calendar, and, dare I say it, get on all right.
salivating over, my favourite is the theory that Earth will collide with a large planetary object called Nibiru. Nibiru was booked to collide with us in 2003, but unfortunately couldn’t make it and instead is coming back later this year for a second go. Now, I don’t wish to appear cynical and I’m all for a free fireworks display, but I
A scandal in sexism The state of truth With the second series of Sherlock just finished, Jess Collett laments the outrage directed towards the nudity of episode one The jewel in the otherwise uninspired Christmas scheduling was the return of Sherlock, the BBC modern re-imagining of the classic Victorian detective. The first episode, entitled A Scandal in Belgravia, saw Irene Adler play a dominatrix femme fatale who beats Sherlock into submission … with a riding crop. It was funny, it was clever, and it had lots of nudity, both male and female. Of course, I couldn’t enjoy it for long before “the sisterhood” began to kick up a fuss. “The sisterhood” is what I like to call a small group of modern feminists who are outraged at anything that offends the very notion of
femininity. If you can read between the lines, I don’t like these women very much. They seem to take a perverse pleasure in ruining the things I enjoy and making me feel like a lesser being because I disagree with them, as if I am “letting the side down” and every female icon in the annuals of history is staring at me with a disapproving look and tutting while doing so. The problem seems to lie in the fact that Ms Adler uses her body to get what she wants from the men around her and uses sex as a weapon. Uh, why not? Why can’t she use what she was given
to gain advantage over some very powerful and dangerous men? If I want to be very pedantic, I could claim this whole scenario is sexist to men. Look at the strong minded detective: his brain has turned to mush because of a woman. Men are so easily manipulated by women! All a woman needs to do is flirt with a guy, and he’ll stumble his way through the world just to get a text from her. Is the feminist idea that men must always be driven by the physical and women only by the intellectual? Let’s put the ‘sexism’ goggles away ladies and put them away for good.
in journalism
With questions being raised about the quality of news reporting, Rebecca Goodacre asks the ultimate question: What is the role of the press? This week, the public editor of the New York Times, Arthur S Brisbane, offered a question to its readers: “Whether and when New York Times news reporters should challenge ‘facts’ that are asserted by newsmakers they write about”. Then, the Guardian reported the overwhelming response from the readers was a rather indignant “yes”, pointing out that surely this was a journalist’s job in the first place. To a certain extent they were right. A journalist should be expected to go in search of the truth and make it public. The average man and woman have a right to access information, and it is a journalist’s duty to provide this. However, this is in many ways an overly-romanticised and overly-simplistic approach to the role and art of journalism. Although we deserve to know what’s happening in the world around us, there needs to be a line drawn as to what constitutes “challenging facts”, and where it becomes outright accusatory and skewed reporting. Brisbane’s main focus for his article is politics, and whether the statements of politicians should be questioned for truthfulness
when reported. I can imagine that playing “spot the lie” in political speeches would be an endless game, and doing so would distort the newspaper by whose faults they most readily examine. This would inevitably result in mainstream American newspapers, much like their television networks, becoming politically charged and openly biased. If the reporting quality of Fox News is anything to go by, this type of shift will do nobody any good.
“The average man and woman have a right to access information, and it is a journalist’s duty to provide this” So, where does that leave us for balanced and impartial facts? With the massive flaws uncovered in modern journalism in 2011, it is time we start asking questions much like that of Brisbane’s. What role should the journalist play? Are they there to uncover the facts and relay them to us as they are presented to them, allowing members of the public to decipher them as they wish?
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The Big Debate
For Beth Wyatt
Against Amelia Edwards
With the Olympics drawing closer, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee set for June, and the economy having yet to recover:
Is 2012 the year things finally get better? Yes, 2011 may have been a tumultuous year, with the instability of the Euro, the government’s cuts beginning to bite and the unforeseen chaos of the August riots in London, but the country can persevere and enjoy a successful 2012. Forget the foreboding that the world may end and instead revel in the hope that this year may be the year that brings us together. The royals are set to expand on 2011’s successes, notably the spectacular wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, by embarking on a tour to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Queen is a fantastic figurehead for this country, carrying out her duties admirably, and it will be the perfect time for everyone to show their respect for her. From March, the Queen and Prince Philip will be visiting as much of the UK as they can and other royals, such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will be journeying abroad. Highlights in England will include special exhibitions, jubilee lunches and a massive concert at Buckingham Palace.
“Forget the foreboding that the world may end and instead revel in the hope that this year may be the year that brings us together” The Queen’s 60 years on the throne is a wonderful thing to celebrate, but the event everyone is anticipating most is the Olympics. London has hosted the Games twice before, in 1908 and 1948, and both were triumphant spectacles. The 1908 Olympics were originally to be held in Rome, but Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1906 and London stepped in, with only two years to prepare. Despite this, the Games were widely praised and Great Britain finished first with 145 medals (a lot to ask for these days). The success of the 1948 Olympics was even more surprising, given
that London again stepped in at the last minute and of course the more significant fact that the Second World War had only ended three years previously, a war during which London was bombed heavily.
“London has hosted the Olympics twice, and both were triumphant spectacles” The 1948 Games brought the world back together after it was ruptured by Nazi tyranny. Great Britain performed less admirably that year, coming in 12th place (23 medals) with the USA (84), Sweden (44) and France (29) topping the table. However, after the success of the British team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (4th with 47 medals) could a comeback be on the cards? The indications are all there that we have some great contenders. Athletes such as Rebeeca Adlington (swimming), Chris Hoy (cycling) and Victoria Pendleton (cycling) all gained gold medals at the Beijing Games, with Adlington doing the double and Hoy the triple. Other British favourites also competing at the London Olympics include paralympian Ellie Simmonds who won two gold medals at Beijing for swimming, triple jumper Phillips Idowu, former world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis, gymnast Beth Tweddle and Andy Murray, who may stand a good chance if he can conquer Nadal and Djokovic. The subject of who will be in Britain’s football team will no doubt induce a vast amount of coverage. The main question is, will the team be wholly English or will Wales give up and let Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale play? The Olympics is set to be the British event of the century, despite the fact that the tube will be horrific. My only complaint is that tug of war (which was an Olympic event from 1900-1920) has not been resurrected. Spoilsports.
The number of doom and gloom prophesies concerning 2012 have been growing steadily in preparation for the year itself. From being hit by another planet to devastating earthquakes which will kill-off most of the Earth’s population; from being hit by solar flares to a reversal in the rotation of the earth, if the end-of-the-world pedlars are to be believed, our planet is irrevocably doomed. Not being a scientist, however, I cannot comment on the possibility of us all dying. I merely mention it to show that, well, you never know. Back in the world of the more predictable and everyday, will 2012 be the year things get better? I think not.
“The UK will either go into or stay in recession for the first half of the year. All told, it looks as though, in terms of the economic situation, not only is 2012 unlikely to be an improvement on 2011, it might even be worse” We can look back on 2011 as an awful year: a year of cuts, rioting and phone-hacking, but you have to remember that, at the beginning of the year, it was easy to be optimistic. It’s always easy to be positive at the beginning of each new year, and it has to be remembered that the end of 2011 was particularly bad, which makes it all the easier approach 2012 with optimism. One of the things which made 2011 seem so bad was the economy, which didn’t pick up as much as was hoped. At the moment, it looks like 2012 is only due to get worse. The NIESR (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) has predicted a 70% chance of a double-dip recession while the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development) and Standard Chartered have both
predicted that the UK will either go into or stay in recession for the first half of the year. It looks as though, in terms of the economic situation, not only is 2012 unlikely to be an improvement on 2011, it might even be worse. “But the UK is going to be hosting the Olympics,” I hear you cry. This is true, and it will probably bring many small businesses a long-awaited boost. However, the question is: will the Olympics be good? Will they bring us national pride? Hopefully the games will run smoothly, but there have already been a few worrying jolts. Ticket sales have been confusing and tickets have been extremely difficult to come by. There has also been talk of spot fixing, with Olympics organisers being worried that the credibility of the games could be called into question. In 2011, on the other hand, the Royal Wedding – smaller than the Olympics but still an occasion for Britain to show off – went very smoothly, with donations of over £1m being made to UK charities.
“The UK may be hosting the games, and they will probably bring many small businesses a longawaited boost. However, the Olympics have already yielded a few worrying jolts” Ultimately, the events of next year are impossible to predict accurately. Nonetheless, it is naive to think that, just because 2011 seemed bad the next year must be better. 2012 is likely to be as bad as 2011, and it could just possibly be worse – and after all, when you think about all the little details, 2011 wasn’t so bad. But you probably don’t have to worry about it being the end of the world. Just check out Nasa’s website, and rest assured that it probably won’t happen … just yet.
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Ready, steady, crook With the economic situation having affected us all, including celebrity chefs, Ciara Jack isn’t too worried Earlier this month, police arrested the hobbity chef, Antony Worrall Thompson, for pilfering cheese and wine in Tesco, in what has to be the most middle class offence of the year so far. Presumably, he was in a hurry to transport the goods to Isengard. Frodo, I mean, Antony said: “I am of course devastated for my family and friends, whom I’ve let down and will seek the treatment that is clearly needed.” His tone suggests that the insensitivity of what he’s done is the moral equivalent of kicking the family rabbit over the garden fence or punching a stranger in the face. The numerous breathless reports of the incident seemed to paint the
image of a man in chef’s whites exiting wildly through an open set of chiming supermarket doors with a plasma screen television wedged under his arm. Whilst shoplifting should never be condoned, when in the public eye, if one slips somebody will see. It shouldn’t affect his career, and it will probably be soon forgotten, if not parodied and mocked on comedy shows. He can still bring a £5 bag onto Ready Steady Cook, and present his choice of food, and then take out all the items he’s concealed in his pockets and shirt sleeves. At least he hasn’t careered off the rails in the same style as Charlie Sheen. Whilst he isn’t bi-winning, he does know how to bi-one-get-one-free.
Diane’s dilemma With Diane Abbot’s Twitter comments causing a stir, Greg Manterfield-Ivory looks at the underlying issue of freedom of speech in the public realm Diane Abbott’s comments on Twitter recently provoked controversy, largely because she used the phrase “white people” (enough to make any Daily Mail reader scream about doublestandards) but also because she added that they “love playing divide and rule.” Regardless of whether she is right or wrong (and an examination of history indicates that she is probably right), the reactions to her tweet were frighteningly severe. Politicians on the right and the left came out to say that a liberal society could not tolerate such racism. But what they failed to address was society’s approach to free speech. Abbott was not calling for racist action against white people, she simply condensed a historical observation to fit the medium of a Twitter discussion. If people feel that they can accurately interpret Abbott’s 140 character message as one of prejudice, then they should do so without calling for that message to be retracted. She
should be afforded the same freedom of speech, especially on her personal social networking account, that anyone else would expect. By all means take offence, but understand that Abbott’s right to freedom of speech overrules any right you feel you may have to not be offended. Disagree with her and debate her, but if in doing so you call for an apology, a retraction (or in the case of Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi) a resignation, on the grounds of “having caused offence,” then please understand the paradox of using your own freedom of speech to silence someone else’s.
Ode to the tyrants With the age of the dictator fast coming to an end, Joshua Resoun looks back on the more interesting tyrants of history Dictators are an enigma. They have come in all shapes and sizes. They have risen to, and fallen from, power all over the world, in every region, in every part of history. And they have always drawn criticisms. They are, on the whole, known as tyrannical, oppressive, controlling, and downright insane. And yet, there is just something about absolute power, about having total reign to do whatever you want whenever you want, that has always drawn curiosity and fascination from democrats, intellectuals, and average citizens alike. In May this year, the latest in the mockumentary series from Sacha Baron Cohen, entitled The Dictator, will grace our screens with what is sure to be 90 minutes of entertainment gold. The film parodies the recently fallen leader of Libya, Col. Muammar Gaddafi, as well as current events in Syria, and the regime style of Saddam Hussein, the former tyrant dictator of Iraq. In true Baron Cohen fashion, the film doesn’t hold back on the controversy. It tells “the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.” However, until the film is
released, let’s take a quick look at the last few centuries of human history and highlight some of the more interesting tyrants who have “lovingly oppressed” their countries … To start off, the founder (and first and only president) of North Korea, the one, the only, Kim-II Sung. He is easily one of the most intriguing figures of the 20th century, outliving both Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong (his fellow communist dictators in the mid-20th century), and he is enshrined within North Korea’s constitution as the Eternal President. His birthday is a public holiday, and because of his constitutional position, even after his death in 1994 he is still the country’s president. Not bad. Plus, unlike his successor, he did not spend his days looking at things. Next on our flash tour of history, is the exception to the tyrannical rule. He is a national hero, a great general, and most importantly, he possessed one of the best beards to have ever grown in Italy. If you haven’t guessed it, his name is Giuseppe Garibaldi. The leader of the Expedition of the Thousand in 1860, and one of the great contributors to Italy’s union, he was, by self-proclamation, the Dictator of Sicily. Despite this he was not only hugely popular in Italy, but also on an international
scale. Clearly not all dictators are bad. Back to the 20th century now though for our final dictatorial highlight. He was, by all rights, democratically elected in one of the world’s most praised electoral systems. He was elected not for one decade, not for two, but for three. That’s right, a whole 30 years of being prime minister. Although not a true tyrant, Lee Kuan Yew has been described as a “benevolent dictator” by some. He transformed the island nation of Singapore into a world class “Asian tiger,” and the trade for the entire South Pacific flows through Singapore’s ports. Who says elective dictators cannot be progressive? The word dictator is such a harsh word. It was never a bad word before Julius Caesar refused to give up power way back when. Before you cry out that I’m endorsing despotism, I’m not. The world would be a better place without tyrants, but if I were given the opportunity to call myself Supreme Leader and rule forever, I think I would. Such a title would certainly spruce up my gravestone and the giant statue of myself that I would obviously build would make an impressive landmark. If I did become a dictator, I would dominate somewhere sunny. After all, who wants to rule in the shade?
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Budapest: the new centre of Europe Chris King
Chris King ventures to the Hungarian capital Budapest, finding a city swaying between the painful memories of its past and its party-mad present, while providing visitors with some of the most stunning vistas in Europe The Danube glows in the piercing yellow light of the castle on the hill, standing majestically above, and reflected in, the serene river running gently below. You are in Budapest, a city where beer flows more freely than water, and a handsome lifestyle is within the reach of even the most modestly endowed traveller. Commodity prices are almost a throwback to another epoch; cigarettes cost just £1.70 a pack, and in some of the more obscure, hidden gem bars located in the Sixth District, beer can be purchased for 100 forint (the incumbent Hungarian currency), or just 25 pence. Once the troublesome, rebellious second city of the imperious Austro-Hungarian empire, Budapest now attracts backpackers and travellers from
all over the Commonwealth, notably Australians and Canadians in their droves. Its nightlife is legendary, and rightly so. It ranges from the ultra-cool ruin bars (run-down from the outside but buzzing within), to basement clubs and even a “retro disco” open 24 hours adjoining Nyugati station, for those who prefer to rave whilst the city sleeps. You’ll never want to stay in. The city gets you drunk, and keeps you so. With the plethora of hostels owned by fun-loving English speakers, you won’t struggle to find somewhere homely, wild and central to bed down. If you sleep much at all, that is. The temptation to stay out all night, for those who can handle a drink or two, can be overwhelming. But fear not, Budapest has
plenty of hangover cures. A trip to the ancient baths at Szechenyi, taking in the magnificence of the Heroes’ Square monument along the way, is a must. Heated to 38C, and located outdoors, they are the ultimate means of relaxation. Also vital is a visit to the Citadel for a panoramic, breathtaking vista of the Danube, its several bridges and the city skyline. In general, Budapest can be explored at your own leisure. It is hard to ignore the city’s many scars; the House of Terror offers a particularly harrowing insight into the hidden evils of the Hungarian regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany in World War Two, and the Communist dictatorship which followed. In a similar vein, the memorial on the Danube Promenade memorial, made up of the shoes of Jews killed by
the government during the war, is easily the city’s most poignant feature. Shoes, scattered and cast in iron along the banks of the river, lie with flowers and candles located beside. It is a sobering sight in this city of excess and wanton enjoyment. Budapest was always the riotous, badly-behaved brother to clean, safe, sophisticated Vienna. Enslaved by the Communists in 1944, it rose up 12 years later, only to be subdued by the statesponsored brutality of the USSR. Nowadays, just one monument to the Red Army’s “liberation” remains, and it could yet be removed. Put down for so long, Budapest now enjoys the sort of international renown normally reserved for its more illustrious western European neighbours. So go on, what is your excuse?
Getting there > Flights from Gatwick or Luton cost around £150 for an Easter visit.
Stay for > A week is more than enough time to see the city and get used to having a perpetual hangover.
A place to stay > CarpeNoctem hostel offers a unique experience, costing around £10 per night. If it is fully booked, try its sister hostels, CarpeNoctem Vitae, or the aptly-named Grandio Party Hostel.
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Shop and party like the king of Hong Kong Cameron Tucker checks out the party scene in Hong Kong, sampling some of the best bars and clubs that the Asian city has to offer Arriving off the plane at the world’s busiest airport, Chek Lap Kok, one is hit with the stifling humidity of one of the most cosmopolitan, vibrant and diverse places on earth. Hong Kong’s biggest appeal is its abundant, and relatively cheap, shopping scene. Markets to malls, HK has it all. Like so many of its south-east Asian neighbours, HK is home to a number of street markets and by day and night the streets of Mong
Kok and Stanley are lined with hundreds of stalls selling a wide variety of garments and novelty souvenirs. More upmarket products can be purchased at one of the many shopping centres that are scattered across the region. From Pacific Place in Central, to Festival Walk in Kowloon, HK presents any tourist with a choice of worldclass boutiques and the finest luxury stores. HK is also renowned for its
lively party scene. The names Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) and Wan Chai (the Wanch) are notorious for the seasoned partygoer. Though constantly revamped and reshaped, these two places have been the centres of HK nightlife since the colonial days. A night out in the Wanch will undoubtedly bring you to Carnegies, with its hallowed bar which you can dance upon as the night progresses. A trip to HK’s red light district is not complete
Travel writer Lauren Cope runs down her best, first and worst holidays
Best Rome
First Menorca
Worst Anglesey
Perhaps a variety of factors, such as the boiling hot weather, made this holiday so good. Or maybe it was just Italy’s captivating capital, but Rome was my best holiday. Seeing famous landmarks such as the Colosseum was fascinating, and Via Condotti catered to the shopaholic inside me. The Italian food is amazing, especially Baffetos: Rome’s best pizzeria. Only well-researched travellers know it, but go early to avoid queues and Baffetos will serve the best pizza you’ll ever have. I had the special, the one with egg and bacon on top.
My family went to Menorca once and returned six times. It’s more low-key than neighbouring Majorca, putting the spotlight on relaxation with stunning beaches and beautiful taverns serving delicious tapas. My recommendation for food is the fishing town Fornells; the King of Spain regularly dines there! We mainly stayed in Son Parc, which has Menorca’s only golf course, its famous beach and a beautiful swimming pool. It’s a very social place; I even went donkey riding in the forest with a friend and her family one year!
Although peaceful and steeped in history, the island just off Wales lacked entertainment and I have memories of walking through forests, across fields, around lakes. Beautiful, but not very scintillating. Add the constant pouring rain and haunted Henlly’s Hall Hotel where we stayed, and it’s clear that this was not the ideal holiday for a child. Our bedroom had a locked door which apparently lead to a room that had been destroyed and was now just full of bats. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep there.
Travel Memories
without a visit to Swindlers, Typhoon and Xperience, all places that will promise you an enjoyable time. While the Wanch does have its highlights, LKF is really the place to go. Begin your night at Marlin, with its wide selection of HK$20–60 (£1.50–5) shots, and at Stormies, where rock’n’roll classics belt out and HK$40 (£3) vodka jelly syringes are always on offer. If you are feeling competitive, you can also participate in Marlin’s famous 10 shot challenge. It’s pretty selfexplanatory: down 10 different shots in as fast a time as possible. All 10 shots are for free if you get on the leader board. As you continue to soldier on, make sure you party it up in the stylish Likuid, schmooze in China Bar, and dance the night away in Club 97 or Graffiti. HK is also a playground for the young, and the young at heart. One of the territory’s massive draws is HK Disneyland. With a total area of 22.4 hectares, HK Disney is the smallest in
the franchise, and provides an intimate all-ages experience, in which you can meet all your childhood heroes. The region’s other theme park, Ocean Park, is a jewel in the HK crown. Recently revamped so as to compete against her Disney counterpart, Ocean Park has adrenalinepumping rides, thousands of exotic animals and world famous cable cars which transport you across the grounds. Last, but by no means least, the city skyline is a truly spectacular, must-see attraction. By far the pièce de résistance of HK culture, the harbour front is unlike anywhere else on earth. Consistently displaying one of the best New Year fireworks displays anywhere in the world, the HK cityscape provides an unforgettable experience for all. Whether you are observing the TST side of the harbour, or the island side, the skyline is testament to the ingenuity and innovation of the Hong Kong people, and helps explain why Hong Kong is Asia’s World City.
Top 3 places to go in 2012 1) London, United Kingdom
Always in the “best places to visit” list, 2012 promises to be truly special for the city. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Dickens’ 200th anniversary and some big sporting event proclaimed to be “the greatest show on Earth.”
2) Santiago, Chile
Chile’s capital city is starting to emerge as a hot destination in South America, with a growing economy and the freedom to go from snowy slopes to the beach in the same day.
3) Pyongyang, North Korea
With the death of Kim Jong-Il, media interest in this secretive country has sky-rocketed, and so too has the independent traveller’s intrigue. You’ll need a guide to get around, but North Korea presents a unique challenge.
“I spent three weeks travelling around eastern Europe, starting in Budapest then moving onto Serbia. I saw Jamiroquai at Exit Festival in Novi Sad and even met one of the Gorillaz who bought me multiple beers!”
“This summer I went on a grand tour of Europe taking in cities such as Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Warsaw and a few in Germany and France. I then rounded off August with a beery week at the Edinburgh Festival.”
“I was fortunate enough to visit Yangshuo, Guangxi Province in China. If natural beauty ranks high on your list of travel must-haves then you can’t go far wrong in visiting Yangshuo: a truly awe-inspiring destination.”
Oscar Hameenaho-Fox
Tom Linton-Smith
Jonathan Stuart
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Should international students be wary of studying in the UK? Features writer Beth Wyatt looks into an issue which has attracted media attention following the murder of an Indian student in Salford, but which had previously remained largely hidden below the surface As millions of families across the globe were celebrating the beginning of a new year, the relatives of Anuj Bidve were attempting to come to terms with his senseless death. Anuj, 23, an engineering student from Pune, India, was shot dead at point-blank range in what was believed to be a racially-motivated attack whilst visiting Salford, Manchester, with a group of Indian friends on Boxing Day. His killer was Kiaran Stapleton, 20, who has described himself as “Psycho Stapleton” in court. Bidve was laid to rest in India on 7 January and that same week, hundreds of people paid their respects at a candlelit vigil in Salford. Later this month, his university, Lancaster University, will hold a memorial ceremony and a memorial book has already been set up. Anuj’s father Subhash, who discovered his son had been murdered on Facebook, praised Anuj’s qualities when Chloe Hashemi
outside Westminster on 5 January 2012. He described his son as “really straightforward, very disciplined, very softly spoken and very friendly to everyone, and a very good son to me. “I wanted to give him the best. As a father that’s what I wanted. He was a very great asset not just to India but the whole globe. That was the kind of work he was doing.” Mr Bidve also spoke of his concerns that other international students may be in danger whilst studying in the UK. He said: “It was really unfortunate that I lost my son. But I feel myself, as a father, this should not happen again because a lot of Indian students come here for their education and they go back to their own countries. “I humbly request to you all, kindly do justice for Anuj and kindly make sure that students who come here for their studies ... they have their own studies and go back to
their own countries.” Mr Bidve’s comments have been echoed by the Indian press, which is fearful for the thousands of Indians studying in the UK. In 2009-10 there were 38,550 Indian students and they still form a third of all non-EU students in Britain with China, which boasts 57,000 students. After a series of racist attacks and murders were carried out against Indian students in Australia in 2009, formerly a popular university destination, the Indian press leapt into a frenzy which has been attributed to the 46% drop in Indian applications that year. After Anuj’s death, an Indian website published an article stating “How Indians can avoid getting attacked in the UK.” This newspaper coverage prompted the president of Universities UK, vice-chancellor Eric Thomas of the University of Bristol, to speak out on 6 January. Professor Thomas
sent a letter to popular English-language newspapers such as the Hindustan Times and the Times of India stressing that Bidve’s death was a “loss for us all” and a “terrible event.” Thomas attempted to reassure the Indian press that British universities take active steps to ensure the safety of their foreign students, offering “induction and orientation sessions for international students which includes advice on safety. We at Universities UK would want to reassure current and future Indian students and their parents that this kind of incident is, thankfully, exceptionally rare. Compared to other countries, the UK remains a safe and tolerant country with low levels of violence and street crime.” Nevertheless, the concern remains for universities that overseas students in general may now house fears about the discriminatory treatment they could receive
in this country. This begs the question, are the international students studying at our institutions in danger? In 2011 there were cases of attacks on international students other than Anuj Bidve. One defining image of the August riots in London was of Malaysian student Asyraf Haziq being mugged by a gang of youths. The men falsely offered Haziq assistance, as he had facial injuries, before stealing items out of his bag. Haziq’s ordeal was uploaded onto YouTube, where it was viewed over one million times. Another incident occurred on Boxing Day when an Israeli student was set-upon by four men in Brighton. The gang, who allegedly used racist terminology, punched and kicked their victim before following him to his home and then throwing a bottle at the house. The student experienced minor injuries including a deep cut to his jaw. Detective Constable Emily Hoare said: “This is being investigated as a hate crime, as racist language was used during the assault and we believe the victim’s evident ethnicity motivated the suspects to commit this offence.” In October 2011, two of Bournemouth University’s academics, Dr Lorraine Brown and Dr Ian Jones, compiled an investigation into racism levelled at international students. They gave 153 individuals, all postgraduate students enrolled at a university in the south of England, questionnaires. 49 individuals assented that they had been exposed to racism, with 11 students of this figure Indian and 11 Chinese. The most frequent examples of discrimination aimed at the students were being sworn at and told to go back to their own country. Physical assault and aggressive laughter were also cited, in lower quantities. This minority of the students questioned were left frightened after their experiences, but it is important to note that many participants acknowledged that racism was a global problem and that actually Britain was safer than some of their countries of origin. A study from ForeignStudents.com conveys the brighter side of living for international students. All of the London students quizzed confessed that they had settled into the city quickly and loved its busy vibe. The obstacles that they had encountered were mostly problems relating to the language barrier and the fact that they found it difficult to meet British people. This evidence is crucial at this time to remind international students that the majority of Britons welcome their presence. The tragic murder of Anuj Bidve should not serve to frighten overseas students. Rather it is a sad testament to simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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A headline was all it took Features writer Lauren Cope analyses the impact of professional journalism on the outcome of a landmark legal decision The Stephen Lawrence case has been described as the biggest, racially-motivated, unsolved murder of our generation, taking 18 years to come to a conclusion after police incompetence and a lack of evidence. So, why have we recently seen a successful end to the case? As well as new evidence and persistence by the Lawrence family, it has a lot to do with a man named Paul Dacre and a headline that “paved the way to justice.” At the time, the murder wasn’t a focus in the media. Although a brutal stabbing that resulted in the loss of a young man’s life, most newspapers stood away from what was reported as a “tragedy that the south London press chronicles week in, week out.” But one editor, Paul Dacre, and his newspaper separated itself from the others and carried a torch for the case: the Daily Mail. It didn’t start quite so positively. After the death, Doreen and Neville Lawrence began their own fight for justice, resulting in a protest riot. The Daily Mail, when reporting on this, used a photograph that seemed to imply that they “had caused the riot,” which was completely false. Rectifying this mistake started with an absurdly coincidental link. Neville Lawrence had done some building work at the house of Paul Dacre and was able to contact him and ask: “How could you do that, and you know me?” This seemed to spark something in the editor and the Daily Mail quickly became supportive of the Lawrence campaign. It seemed the actual human contact had bought the murder closer to home. “The human spark had turned into a flame.” This was epitomised by a headline the Daily Mail published in 2007: “Murderers. The Mail accuses these men of killing. If we are wrong, let them sue us.” A bold statement, making the case impossible to ignore and reinforcing the democracy in journalism. Commentator Jonathan Freedland wrote: “It was, without question, the Mail’s finest hour.” It’s undeniable that Paul Dacre’s campaign was a tower of relentless support for the Lawrence family, but throughout the convictions the role was downplayed by various media outlets, including the BBC. The
Guardian and the Telegraph, however, gave it the credit it deserved. David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Jack Straw amongst others also saluted the Mail’s battle. This is helpful in a Leveson context, fighting some of the bad vibes with good journalism. But it is perhaps significant on a more basic level.
“It had a lot to do with a man named Paul Dacre and a haedline that “paved the way to justice” It is touching that the editor of a national newspaper remembered the nice guy who did some building work at his house and used his position to help him, even sending £1,000 to the charitable foundation that Doreen set up. It is poignant that despite false stories, celebrity gossip and rumours, this campaign shows that journalism, at the end of the day, is still a people’s profession.
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Durban deliberations decide our climatic future Turf editor Becky Hazlewood looks at the mixed outcomes following the December 2011 Climate Conference Global climate change is a global problem and one that requires global action for a global solution. It was with this in mind that world leaders met in Durban last month to battle it out in a two week climate conference. The event concluded in an all-night showdown, when an agreement was finally made at 5 o’clock in the morning. The conference was needed to determine countries’ commitments to carbon emissions reductions to replace those laid out by the 1997 Kyoto protocol. Unfortunately, said protocol had a limited impact in reducing global warming, seeing as the USA failed to ratify, Australia managed to wrangle an
actual increase in emissions and developing countries escaped scot free without having to make any reductions. This is a moral dilemma which had to be addressed this year, with China and India becoming world leaders in carbon pollution. The last two years’ conferences have left many scientists and the environmentally aware tearing their hair out over the nature of political debating, which usually results in outcomes that allow governments to carry on with business as usual, while the planet slowly continues to fry. Last year in Cancun, two weeks of deliberating ended in the issue being “parked,” an easy way of not having to worry about
climate change for another 12 months, and an escape from the harsh reality that emissions are showing greater annual increases than ever before, and we are experiencing some of the warmest years on record. This year’s conference also looked doomed from the outset. China and India were set on renewing Kyoto, which would allow them to continue to emit freely while their economies develop, leaving the developed world to shoulder the burden. It also seemed highly unlikely that Japan, Canada or Russia would agree to any level of cuts to their emissions, all three not wanting to risk any dent to their economies. It was the EU commissioner for climate change, Connie Hedegaard, and the Indian minister for affairs, Jayanthi Natarajan, who managed to save the day and prevent another Cancun-style disaster. The two made a deal in which India agreed to join the emissions reductions treaty. This was of great importance, as India’s emissions are currently increasing by 9% a year, making them the world’s third highest emitter of greenhouse gases. The success of the conference was largely accredited to the strategy of the EU, which entered the debate with clear goals for what it wanted to achieve: a new legal treaty to be signed by 2015
to replace Kyoto, which will be implemented by 2020. However, the glimmer of hope that followed the end of the negotiations was tragically short lived, as Canada decided to pull out one day later. Canada’s environment minister, Peter Kent, criticised the whole notion of the protocol and saw withdrawing as a way of saving Canada from $14bn of debt, forecasting that targets would never be met. The worldwide problem of climate change requires participation from all countries if there is to be any hope of avoiding dangerous levels of global warming. Once one powerful country refuses to sign, the probability of others following suit increases, as governments cling to short term economic interests. Whether or not other reluctant nations will follow suit and leave the treaty has yet to be seen. There are still many barriers to implementing the agreement, monitoring emissions and avoiding dangerous climate change. While governments continue to deliberate, NGOs and scientists argue greater cuts are needed and worry that we may be locked into a catastrophic four degree rise in global temperatures. The only thing certainty is that we are already in a frantic race against climate change and more needs to happen, and faster, if we are to have any hope of winning.
Climate chaos The risk to Britain, France, Spain, Australia, Turkey and Kenya: in figures
24%
will experience water shortage
72%
more at risk from river flooding
160,000
affected by coastal flooding
55%
cropland damaged for agriculture
120,000
affected by coastal flooding
99%
cropland less suitable for agriculture
97%
cropland likely to become degraded
375%
increase in those at flooding risk
Double success for researchers in ENV Chris Teale Turf Writer Two lecturers in UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences have received prestigious awards. Professor Bob Watson was given a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year Honours list, while Professor Ian Bateman received a Wolfson research merit award. Professor Watson is also the director of strategic development at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, based at UEA, and chief scientific adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). In addition to this, he chaired the UN’s Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from 1997 until 2002, with his work on climate change being recognised. After news of his knighthood was made public, Professor Watson said: “I am delighted and humbled by this honour, which implicitly recognises the value of scientific knowledge in national and international environmental policy formulation. Of all the honours I have received this is very special, not only to me but also to my family and friends.” Professor Bateman’s Wolfson research merit award from the Royal Society makes him just one of 18 holders of the award nationally, which provides up to five years of funding for the
recipient. He was chosen having been one of the main authors of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment report, published in June 2011. This looked to estimate the value of the natural world by analysing the benefits humans gain from nature. Professor Bateman was full of praise for the Royal Society, the national academy of science in the United Kingdom, saying: “I am delighted and feel very privileged to receive this honour from the most important institution for scientific progress in the world. The Royal Society has been at the forefront of research and innovation for more than 350 years. It’s wonderful that they are leading the way in
bringing together research from multiple disciplines to address
the complex real world problems facing society.”
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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 17th January 2012 - Issue 263
Second semester, second chance We’ve probably all had a very lazy, laidback, turkeyfilled four weeks off, with plenty of time to reflect on the fun packed winter term of 2011. Perhaps in some cases we weren’t as focused on assignments as we could have been, spent more time in the pub than the library, or felt that secretly we could have done better. But it isn’t too late, another term is still ahead of us, and there is enough to get back on track. The same thing happens at the beginning of each term. We tell ourselves that we will work much harder this time, not go out as much, not drink as much, not spend as much and instead spend more time in the library. However, while we have every intention of doing this, the temptation of that cheeky night out can easily triumph over a night in spent reading. After weeks of our once good intentions slipping, the inevitable mid-term lull will hit around week five and six when the reading and assignments slowly creep up on us. The key is not to put too much pressure on ourselves, because at the end of the day the university experience is as much about enjoying yourself as preparing for the big bad world outside of UEA. Staying focused can be hard, but it will pay off in the end. Setting targets of completing an assignment, spending an extra hour in the library, and attending all lectures can all be reasons to justify enjoying yourself. We are paying a lot of money to put ourselves here, so we might as well take advantage of what we can learn. At the end of the day, we are here to give ourselves the best start in life, which begins with hitting the books. Bethany Paxman
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LIFESTYLE
Take a weight off your mind this year Hannah Britt Lifestyle Writer I was in Marks & Spencer the other day purchasing some milk. As I stood in the queue, my eyes glanced over the magazine covers on the cleverly placed stand near the tills. “The diet secret Victoria Beckham can’t live without,” yelled Woman’s Weekly. “How Jen Hudson lost 8 stone,” Now retorted. As I was looking at those front covers, it occurred to me that the two things they assume that women are most interested in are celebrities and weight, especially the weight of said celebrities. Heat magazine had a particularly nasty cover: “The best and worst beach bodies of 2011,” it read. The words left a sour taste in my mouth. How dare they? I thought. I bet the editors of Heat aren’t all size 0 with double Ds and cheekbones you could chisel ice with ... The thing is though, we do care about this stuff. We want to know the diet secret that Cheryl Cole can’t live without. We strive for perfection. We want to know how to achieve it. We laugh at those who fall short because it makes us feel better about ourselves.
I am no exception to the odd fad diet. I’ve tried many, from running in a bin bag, to eating nothing but cabbage soup for a week (well, that’s a lie, I didn’t quite make it to a week before giving up ...) As far as I can tell, they all have one thing in common: they don’t work. Take the cabbage soup diet. What the glamazons in charge of the glossy pages at Woman’s Weekly won’t tell you is that eating only cabbage soup gives you chronic gas. And it makes your breath smell like a foot that’s not been washed in several years. A girl cannot live on cabbage and cabbage alone, so try this diet at your peril. For those who dare, you can expect to remain ravenous at all times and fart every time someone makes you laugh. Not very fabulous. I also once tried the Atkins diet, for which I wasn’t allowed to eat potatoes. For the Irish in me this was, as you can imagine, a nightmare. I began to hallucinate potatoes. My housemate would talk to me about her day and her head would morph, before my very eyes, into a potato. It was only a matter of time before I crept into her room at night with a knife and fork ... Needless to say, I didn’t last very long on
that diet either. For 2012, my explorations into the world of the fad diet have been put on hold. This year, my resolution is not to get thin,
to diet or to find out what Alexa Chung eats for lunch. It is to be happy in the skin I am in and to encourage others to feel the same way. Starting with you.
“UEA is wonderful”: highlights of 2011 Lifestyle writer Lauren Cope reflects on some of the most memorable campus moments during the past year
Keep Cups
Pimp My Barrow
Derby Day
The Hubs
Last year saw the arrival on campus of a new eco-friendly initiative: Keep Cups. The reusable cups are perfect for not only keeping your hot drink warm, but also giving you a discount each time you purchase a beverage on campus. The first batch of these brightly coloured thermal cups sold out before many could get their hands on one, but they’re back in stock for 2012.
The annual charity event, where students get creative with a themed wheelbarrow and costumes, returned this year bigger than ever with nearly 2,000 taking part and £10,000 raised. It made newspaper front pages in the city, and we saw some incredibly creative ideas, including a Teddy Bear’s Picnic theme.
This year students from Essex came to UEA to attempt to beat us on our own turf. Beautiful sunny weather made it an enjoyable day for everyone, particularly UEA students, who won by a resounding 41-10. This year we will travel to Essex campus to retain our title.
Last semester saw the much anticipated opening of the Hubs. The new administrative system, which replaced the school offices, caused some confusion at first. Love them or hate them, most people can at least now navigate them.
Closure of the School of Music Although not a “highlight” in itself, the controversial closure brought about a strong and determined protest by UEA students, which was supported by the Union of UEA Students. They occupied the Registry and battled for what they believed in … a brave and admirable display of loyalty to their school and University.
Coldplay One of the best highlights of 2011 was Coldplay coming to our very own LCR. Students queued overnight to get their hands on these exclusive tickets. Not only did Coldplay perform their biggest hits to a sell-out crowd, but they also took part in a Radio 1 Live Lounge hosted by Fearne Cotton, which was broadcast from our very own Blue Bar. Some lucky third years even won a competition and had Fearne round their house for breakfast! It was an amazing event for UEA and a bragging point for us all.
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Aquarius
Gemini
Libra
January 20 - February 18
21 May - 20 June
23 September - 22 October
Pisces
Cancer
Scorpio
20 February - 20 March
21 June - 21 July
23 October - 21 November
Aries
Leo
Sagittarius
21 March - 19 April
22 July - 22 August
22 November - 21 December
Taurus
Virgo
Capricorn
20 April - 20 May
23 August - 22 September
22 December - 20 January
The coming year will be one of your best, Aquarius! Due to your intelligent and sociable nature you will not only have a fantastic academic year but also a thriving social life. You love to be with your friends, but you will discover in 2012 that you can also be hugely independent and this is when you tend to produce your greatest work. Why not try a morning by the lake to spend some time working on your coursework? That way you can focus on the task at hand and see the great results.
Just because your star sign is a wet fish doesn’t mean you have to be! Neptune’s presence in your sign this year means that you will find more direction in life than ever before. Indecisiveness about how to spend the long summer will cause some stress but try not to get too worked up as the summer will sort itself out. Put more effort than usual into your costume for a fancy dress LCR in March as you will meet an interesting person who could make a major difference to your university experience.
2012 is your year and as the moon conjoins with Uranus, the planet of luck, you will be witnessing a considerable amount of change, which will result in both love and money. Don’t waste time sitting in the library procrastinating and wondering when your lucky break might come. Instead, be patient and work hard: that’s your only way to the top. This year may present some obstacles, but as long as you remain positive and upbeat the end of the academic year should be fantastic!
Last year was tough at times for you, Taurus, but don’t worry, 2012 is set to be a much better one. On New Year’s Day, Jupiter, the planet of joy and happiness, entered your sign and will stay there for six months. An unexpected boost to your bank balance in February will brighten the cold winter months, but be careful not to spend it all at once! Luck is on your side for the first half of this year so consider popping into one of the banks on campus and opening a savings account and watch the interest build. Be wary of rabbits in June.
Geminis are renowned for being extremely strong characters, even in the face of adversity. Routine is not a word often connected with Geminis as they like to seek out the unusual and unexpected. In 2012 you’ll change: at times you will be adamant about one idea, whereas the next day it will bore you senseless. However, with your upbeat attitude you will combat any problem that comes your way and some exciting nights out in Norwich’s hotspots will cause the boredom to subside and allow fun to take over!
You’ll be a lot happier in 2012 and as one of the kindest signs you deserve to be. Cancers have a way of blowing things out of proportion, and so what you think is a major disaster may only require a small effort to set straight. Take advantage of the beaches close to Norwich during the early summer months for a break after a busy spring. The new moon in Cancer falls in July, so if there are going to be any major changes in your life, like moving or starting a new job, this is the right time to start. Just enjoy the good times and go with the flow.
This is your year, Leo! You have an advantage that other signs don’t have in the upcoming months. You will feel motivated and on your way to reaching your goals. However, you have to remember to be dedicated and avoid distractions, especially during August as some grand plans will commence. This is a year to work hard, but also to play hard; you will have a fantastic day at fun in the sun in the Square. Sometimes you will have to go slowly, but whatever you’re wishing for will come true this year!
Virgo, can expect your bank account to grow in 2012! At the start of the year, Jupiter, the planet of abundance, will be in Taurus, the sign of money, and both of these things will be coming your way. You’re destined to complete some interesting projects this year, which will open up new and exciting opportunities. September is a pivotal month and whether or not you’re satisfied with your present situation, your planets are creating better prospects for you so your circumstances are going to get better. However, don’t think this means you can slack, you still need to take notes in Lecture Theatre 1.
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Libra is the sign of balance and members of this sign are said to have impeccable manners. This year, however, Saturn, the planet of obstacles, will be passing through your sign, therefore you may experience frustration. However, do not be alarmed as along with a challenge comes success and you will resolve these issues. Make sure you make the most of July: work hard but take days to relax in the sun with your friends. It’s also time to get creative so you can use this time to work on a masterpiece.
This is the year for you to embrace the new! You’ve been stuck in the same old habits for too long. Try sitting at a different table in Zest, or drink in the Red Bar instead of the Blue. Remember: changes can be good for you, even if they don’t work out as originally planned. The new moon in Scorpio falls in early November, so you can expect some interesting developments around your birthday. Don’t turn down a surprise offer from an old friend over the summer months. Saying yes could result in an unforgettable event.
As always, Sag, your curiosity knows no end. You’re probably desperate to know what is in store for you in 2012. Well, for one thing, you may do a lot of traveling. You like to go on adventures, especially to places you haven’t yet had a chance to explore. A casual walk through Socmart this week will lead you to discover a new interest. You thrive on learning new skills, so whether your new hobby is hula-hooping or portraiture, don’t waste any time in becoming an expert and making a new group of like-minded friends in the process.
Congratulations Capricorn, you are a member of perhaps the most practical sign, but be careful not to always think with your head. How you react to a secret that will be revealed to you in the Hive during the spring could change one of your relationships forever. So make sure you think through decisions. Although you hate to show any weakness, don’t let pride stop you from asking for help if you need it in September; this is not a sign of weakness! Remember: if your friends and family don’t have the answer, you can always get in touch with me, as I’m happy to help!
“Welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and New Year’s Eve with family and friends. My top three tips for success in 2012 (apart from reading your horoscope) are: work hard, play hard and enjoy your time making friends with some of the kindest people you could ever wish to meet. I wish you all every happiness for the future. Love to you all and take care, Clive.” Contact Clive at: clivecaresconcrete@gmail.com
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LIFESTYLE
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End of the world? A likely story... Is the end really nigh? Hannah Britt shares her opinion on whether the world will end and what we should do about it This year, 21 December 2012 to be precise, is allegedly the end date of a 5125 year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. I know right, what? Let me explain. Some say that this date marks the start of time in which Earth inhabitants undergo a spiritual transition. Some say it will be the beginning of a new era. Some say the world will simply end as the Earth collides with a bloody massive black hole. It all sounds pretty dark, doesn’t it? So, the world is meant to end in 2012. Well, don’t put down your issue of Concrete just yet. I wouldn’t rush out right now in a mad panic to bulk-buy bottled water and Spam. Did you know that the world was also allegedly supposed to end on 21 May 2011? Oh you’d forgotten about that hadn’t you? It’s alright, I’ll let you off. So have most people. Unless the world actually began to end on 21 May last year and it is just ending really slowly, taking its sweet time to selfdestruct, I think it’s safe to say that particular prediction was false. As for the next planned doomsday of 21 December, I for one am sure not on the edge of my seat. I do wonder though, if perhaps it will end in Australia first? Perhaps we will mutter how terrible this end
of the world malarkey is in into our morning bagels as we watch the Australian apocalypse on Sky News. The fact is though, that if the world does end, no amount of Spam will save us. What are you going to do: build a bomb shelter out of Spam tins? Instead of mumbling darkly about the end of the world, maybe we should get off our arses and do something to ensure that “our last year on earth” is a good one. How annoyed would you be if the world ended and you had never gone cliff jumping in southern Thailand? If you’d never told that person how you felt? If you’d never tried Quorn instead of beef mince? You would be fuming. In a world full of conspiracy theories and doom-mongerers (I may have just made that word up, but hey why not, the world might be ending soon) this is not a how-to article on how to survive the end of the world. Instead, it’s an order to get off the sofa and do something, anything. Ronan Keating got it spot on when he sang “loving each day as if it’s the last, dancing all night and having a blast.” Such an inspirational guy. So, perhaps this time next year, all that’ll be left of the world
will be cockroaches, a couple of tins of Spam and Justin Bieber. However, I very much doubt this will be the case.
Regardless of the rumoured impending doom though, and aiming wholeheartedly to sound just like Oprah, let’s make 2012
the best year of our lives! And, if I’m wrong and the world does end on 21 December ... well, you can shout at me the day after.
Home Run: let the hunt commence Lifestyle writer Bethan Williams welcomes you to the mind-numbing tedium and absolute panic of house hunting There are several things that all students should know about house hunting. Not the sensible bits of advice like: “always ask to see the gas certificate” and “remember that there really are enough houses to go around” (though those are important and correct) but rather the cold, hard facts. The truth is, looking for somewhere to live will be one of the most miserable experiences of your student life. You will get stressed out. You will want to cry. You will begin to think that your future housemates are idiots. You will want the house that nobody else likes. You will see perfectly nice people from your course looking at the same house as you and
you will want them to fall down the stairs so that they can’t sign the contract first. You will listen to a dozen landlords trying to lie about the damp patches on the wall. It will only last for a week or two, but it will feel like an eternity. The only words of advice I can offer to help any prospective house hunters through the fear and the panic are these: take a deep breath. When you walk into the Hive following the release of the Home Run list, and see hoards of people furiously searching through it and shouting about the fifteenth viewing they’ve just booked, take a deep breath. When you go to your seminars and the usual awkward first seminar silence is replaced with
someone gleefully informing you that they actually found a house before Christmas, take a deep breath. When the landlord
of your chosen abode asks you for an astronomical amount of money in order to seal the deal, take a deep breath (and pay up).
House hunting is not fun but once it’s over, it’s over and you never have to think about it again. That is, until it’s time to move in …
LIFESTYLE
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Detox recipes for 2012 Lifestyle editor Rianne Ison shares recipes that will give you a healthy kickstart for the new year
Smoothie Raspberry and blueberry Everybody’s in the same boat at the start of the new year, having eaten far, far too much and probably treated themselves to the odd tipple too. New year, new start and the most popular resolution is to get fit and shift those dreaded Christmas pounds. So, why not try this delicious smoothie? Rich in antioxidants, it will help you to detox naturally and will aid you in your quest to get fit and healthy for 2012. Follow this simple step by step guide and if you feel particularly inventive, create your own smoothie recipe. Ingredients > 1/3 cup of blueberries > 1/3 cup of raspberries > 1/3 cup of pomegranate kernels > A banana > Water to thin
Recipe 1. Prepare and wash the fruit. 2. Place the blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate kernels into a blender. 3. Blend thoroughly until smooth. 4. Cut the banana into small chunks and add to the mixture, before blending once more. 5. Add water to thin the mixture. 6. Serve immediately.
Salad Carrot and apple Salads are often thought of as boring and tasteless, however this salad is one with a twist. Inject some excitement into your new detox diet with this flavoursome and unique dish. It’s ready to eat in no time at all and is the perfect quick bite. You can make it as your packed lunch for university or simply serve as part of a healthy dinner. This recipe serves 2-4 people as either a snack or a meal, so it is the perfect choice for you and friends. With minimal ingredients you can just grab them from your cupboard and voila! Ingredients > 1/2 cup of raisins > 2 red apples > 2-3 baby carrots > Mayonnaise > Lettuce leaves
Tip: To make your smoothie on a student budget, take a trip to the frozen section of the supermarket and buy frozen berries. They are much cheaper than fresh ones.
Recipe 1. Simmer raisins for five minutes in water. 2. Core, peel and dice the apple in to small bitesize pieces. 3. Grate the baby carrots and add these to the bowl, along with the raisins. 4. Blend with two tablespoons of mayonnaise. 5. Serve chilled on lettuce leaves and enjoy.
Tip: For a change, serve with a baked potato and chicken, the perfect accompaniments to complement this salad.
Sweet Guilt free carrot cake Ingredients For the cake: > 175g dark brown soft sugar, sifted > Two large eggs > 120ml sunflower oil > 200g wholemeal self-raising flour > 1½ level teaspoons bicarbonate of soda > Three rounded teaspoons of mixed spice > Grated zest of an orange > 200g carrots, peeled and coarsely grated > 175g sultanas
For the topping: > 250g low fat soft cheese > Two teaspoons vanilla extract > One rounded teaspoon ground cinnamon For the syrup: > 20g caster sugar > 40g dark brown soft sugar > Juice of ½ small orange > One dessertspoon lemon juice
Recipe 1. Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3 (170C). 2. Begin by whisking the sugar, eggs and oil together in a bowl for 2-3 minutes. 3. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and the mixed spice into a bowl. 4. Stir the mixture and then fold in the orange zest, carrots and sultanas. 5. Pour the mixture into a prepared tin and bake on the centre shelf of the oven for 35-40 minutes until well risen. 6. While the cake is cooking, make the topping by mixing the ingredients until light and fluffy, then cover with clingfilm and chill for 1-2 hours. 7. Now you need to make the syrup glaze. To do this, whisk together the fruit juices and sugar in a bowl. 8. When the cake is done, quickly spoon the syrup over it as evenly as possible. 9. Leave the cake aside to cool, giving the syrup time to be absorbed. 10. When the cake has cooled completely, remove it from the tin and spread the topping over. 11. Dust lightly with cinnamon and cut into square pieces.
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SPORT
A preview of sport in 2012 Sports editor Matt Scrafton looks at some of the biggest sporting events this year has to offer, and gives seven reasons to tune in if you can’t be there
Six Nations 4 February-17 March
Despite being the current holders of the Six Nations Championship, England will have a lot to prove after their World Cup debacle that ended in a quarter-final exit last October. France and Wales will probably be the tournament favourites after their successful World Cup campaigns, which saw Warren Gatland’s side finish fourth, while the French were narrowly beaten by New Zealand in the final. England have a lot to prove, but this tournament could be used as a transitional period in which new head coach Stuart Lancaster can get to grips with the position.
UEFA European Championships 8 June-19 July
15 of Europe’s elite international sides have the almighty task of stopping Spain winning the European Championships for the second time in a row in Ukraine and Poland this summer. Also the current World Cup holders, Vicente Del Bosque’s men meet Italy, the Republic of Ireland and Croatia in the group stages. For England, they qualified for the tournament without too much trouble, but will have to do without Wayne Rooney for their opening two games in a group that includes France, Sweden and Ukraine.
Wimbledon 25 June-8 July
After a supreme 2011 for Serbian Novak Djokovic, he will return to Wimbledon in the summer hoping to regain his title. The usual culprits, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, will certainly be hot on the tail of the current number one, while Briton Andy Murray is still hunting for his first major trophy. While a Wimbledon win would be the ultimate victory for the Scotsman, he might be better off concentrating on the US Open, where his style is more suited to the hard courts.
Tour de France 30 June-22 July
After a highly successful year that saw Mark Cavendish win the Green jersey at the Tour de France whilst helping Britain to World Championship gold, the Manx rider is hoping to go one better in 2012 by securing a Tour de France and Olympic double. With his new team Sky, Cavendish will ride alongside fellow Briton Bradley Wiggins, who has every chance of competing in the general classification in this year’s tour. However, he will face tough competition from last year’s winner Cadel Evans, as well as the Schleck brothers and Alberto Contador. But for Cavendish, the Sports Personality of the Year winner, the sky really is the limit.
London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics 27 July-12 August
After seven long years, it’s finally here. Undoubtedly, the 2012 Olympics will be the highlight of this year’s sporting calendar. The likes of Usain Bolt, Paula Radcliffe, Roger Federer, Jessica Ennis and Tom Daley will grace some of London’s best sporting facilities in their quest for Olympic gold, the pinnacle of any athlete’s career. Lucky enough to get hold of a ticket? Or will you have to settle for a place in front of your television screen? Either way, make sure you don’t miss it.
Ryder Cup 15-20 September
After Europe’s sensational win at the Celtic Manor resort back in 2010, they travel to Illinois, America in September in search of a second consecutive victory. The side, who will be captained by Jose Maria Olazabal, will hope to avoid a repeat of the thrashing they received the last time the tournament was held in the States. Despite being on foreign soil, Europe will probably start as favourites after a stunning year for some of their leading players, most notably Darren Clarke, winner of The Open, Rory McIlroy, who triumphed at the US Open, and world number one Luke Donald, who leads the money lists in both Europe and the US.
ICC World Twenty20 18 September-7 October
After an incredible 2011 for the England cricket team, they will travel to Sri Lanka in September to begin the defence of their World Twenty20 title. Paul Collingwood led England to their first ever global trophy last year when they beat Australia in a one-sided final in Barbados. Now captained by Stuart Broad, England will hope to build on a year that included a first Ashes victory down under for 24 years, and a whitewashing of India on home soil that elevated them to the number one test side in the world. Aside from the Twenty20 competition, England will also be kept busy with a host of test matches and one-dayers against the likes of Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
SPORT Editors’ Column
With his appointment of eight-time grand slam winner Ivan Lendl, Andy Murray has taken a decisive step towards winning that elusive first major title. While Lendl is relatively inexperienced as a coach, his playing pedigree and the similarities between his career and Murray’s will surely be of great benefit to the Scot. Lendl won his first grand slam in 1984 at the French Open, in his fifth major final, a run that began in 1981. In a golden era of men’s tennis similar to that of today, Lendl suffered defeats at the hands of greats such as Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors, before finally overcoming John McEnroe at Roland Garros in a five set thriller. This in itself means he will truly understand the heartache that accompanies defeat in a grand slam final, and will have a better understanding of what Murray requires to overcome the three greats that stand in his way: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Lendl’s training methods and honest approach will also be of enormous benefit to Murray, who has been criticised by journalists, fans and former players for sometimes being too negative on court, in playing style, and demeanour. He may be untested as a coach, and it may take more than a change in personnel to deliver Murray a grand slam victory. However, this is a crucial step towards this goal, and gives fans of the Scot renewed optimism going into the four grand slams in 2012. Chris Teale
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So You Think You Know Taekwondo?
www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 17th January 2012 - Issue 263
People often claim the Olympics to be such a great event due to the opportunity to check out the often overlooked sports that you normally wouldn’t get the chance to watch. So, I’m putting it out there: make sure you tune in and catch taekwondo during London’s summer spectacle. The term taekwondo loosely translates as “the way of the fist and foot.” It is a discipline that combines many soughtafter qualities, namely combat techniques, self-defence, exercise and general feel-good factors. It was made an official Olympic event in 2000 at Sydney, Australia, proof of the highly competitive nature that can be witnessed at the top echelons of the sport. Here at UEA, the taekwondo club has over 40 members, and is expecting more to sign up during this semester. Despite the competitive nature of the sport, the club haven’t featured in any major competitions for a few years now, preferring to focus on changing people’s attitudes and their way of life for the better. In this aspect, club captain Luke Cotsicoros suggests the
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society have been extremely successful, stating that the art “can be very therapeutic and a release for tension and worries.” Having said that, Taekwondo do hold an annual in-club competition, where anyone is welcome to join. The event has proved to be a big success in the past, something that is typical of the welcoming and friendly atmosphere within the club, noticeable during their training sessions, that are directed by a team of fantastic instructors. Whilst the trainers have a great sense of humour and make the sessions as enjoyable as possible, they know how to keep tabs on the group at the same time. UEA Taekwondo train on Tuesdays and Fridays, starting at 8pm and finishing at 10pm both nights in the Sportspark. They have some of the lowest joining and session fees of all UEA sports clubs. Why not come and have a look and see if you like it? You can find the club on Facebook by searching for UEA Taekwondo. Matt Scrafton
FA score own goal with Suarez decision Sports correspondent Kris Nelson examines the legal implications of the FA’s conviction of the Liverpool star Before writing any article on Luis Suarez and the incident that occurred in the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United, it is important to make clear that the Uruguayan striker deserves his eight game suspension. Whether it is acceptable in Uruguay to use the derogatory term he directed towards Patrice Evra, in the context that he did, is irrelevant. The bottom line is that it is not acceptable in our culture and Suarez, a player with a history of controversy, must again face up to the consequences of his actions. However, with that said, the Football Association (FA) must also learn from this unfortunate set of events. The way they have conducted their investigation falls below the standards which would be deemed acceptable within a court of law and begs the question: why should the arena of an FA hearing be any different? For instance, it has transpired that the FA conducted an interview with Patrice Evra on 20 October, which was recorded. However, not only was no
transcript made, Suarez’s legal team was not provided with a copy of the tapes before the hearing went to trial. The question of the substance of the interview is besides the point. The omission alone implies that the two parties were not on an even footing from the outset. Again, the fact that Suarez was later given an opportunity to examine the material is irrelevant. By that stage the horse had
already bolted and Suarez was facing an uphill battle to prove his innocence. More importantly, when deciding whether there was a breach of the infamous E3 rule, the FA adopted an objective test. This is illogical as it imposes a stricter standard than expected within criminal law, which operates under a subjective mantra for similar offences under the Public Order Act.
Putting all arguments of being a role model in the public eye aside, it seems highly unfair to hold Suarez to a higher standard on a football pitch than expected of the general public in everyday life. As critics of our game often say, footballers are still people behind the glitz and the glamour, something which must be reflected in the standards they are to abide by. Even more so, as evidence infers that Suarez knew what he was saying would be considered insulting to Patrice Evra (ignoring the flimsy culture barrier explanation), the same result would have been reached under a subjective test, with the added benefit of safeguarding the rules for future incidents. Overall, the FA’s handling of the whole affair just isn’t good enough. As John Terry is likely to be subjected to a similar commission for his alleged racial abuse of QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, it will be interesting to see whether the FA can rectify this with a strong showing or sink further behind with more lapses in logic.
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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 17th January 2012 - Issue 263
Canary Corner
by Doug Patient
The busy Christmas period is traditionally seen as an opportunity to guage whether a newly-promoted side has what it takes to survive in England’s top division. Games come thick and fast, with no time to recover before the next test. This year’s festive period was no different, but Norwich City have emerged with from it with pride. To start with, two tough trips away, Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers on 17 and 20 December respectively, both of which generated two creditable draws (1-1 and 2-2). A week later came a home match against high-flying Tottenham Hotspur, and it proved to be a disappointing evening. Norwich lost 2-0, with Gareth Bale in irrepressible form. New Year’s Eve then saw the visit of Fulham to Carrow Road, with Simeon Jackson scoring a stoppage time equaliser to earn the Norfolk side a 1-1 draw. City completed a superb double over Queens Park Rangers this season, with a 2-1 win on 2 January, a game most notable for Joey Barton’s controversial sending-off. The magic of the FA Cup then arrived in the city, as Championship side Burnley visited on five days later. There was no upset this time as
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the Canaries showed their class, demolishing the Lancashire club 4-1.
“Norwich will surely achieve their goal of staying in the division” Finally, the Canaries made light of a tricky away tie against West Bromwich Albion, which ended in a hard-fought 2-1 win, Steve Morison bagging the winner. This leaves Paul Lambert’s side in ninth place, remarkable considering they were in languishing in England’s third tier in 2009. If the first half of the season is anything to go by, Norwich will surely achieve their goal of staying in the division without too much difficulty. It is, however, widely regarded to be the strongest league in the world, and as Hull City can testify, a good first half of the season does not necessarily make survival inevitable. The Tigers had been pushing for a European place at Christmas, but one win in the second half of the season meant they only stayed in the division by one point. Examples such as this need to be taken note of as City seek to consolidate their position in the league table.
concretebucsindex
Pl. Team
P W D L
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
5 5 4 3 6 3 3 6 4 4 7 7 5 5 5 5 3 5 4 4 5 5
Hockey W1 Lacrosse M1 Table Tennis M1 Tennis W1 Tennis M1 Fencing M1 Golf Netball W2 Badminton M1 Badminton W1 Rugby M1 Rugby M2 Football M1 Football W1 Football M2 Netball 1 Lacrosse W1 Tennis M2 Squash M1 Futsal 1 Hockey M1 Rugby W1
5 4 3 2 4 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1
0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0 1 1 1 3 2 2 4 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 2 4 4
SPORT
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Diff.
Win %
23 11 22 16 8 5 1 -5 -4 -2 60 -24 -6 -3 -1 17 -9 -2 -10 -6 -24 -117
100 80 75 66.67 66.67 66.67 66.67 50 50 50 42.86 42.86 40 40 40 40 40 33.33 25 25 20 20
Review: Men’s Football I Emma Webb and Billy Sexton look at the year for Men’s Football and Table Tennis Currently sitting in fifth position in the BUCS MARS Midlands 1A league, UEA Men’s Football I have begun the 2011/2012 season with an equal mix of dominant wins and hard losses. They kicked off the season with a last minute victory over newly promoted Warwick back in October. Men’s Football have book-ended a turbulent first half of the year with triumphs and earned seven points from five games to date. Along with three points against Warwick and a hardfought November draw at home to Nottingham Trent, UEA maintained a very successful away record at the beginning of the season, beating the first team from floundering Oxford 2-1, and Canterbury Christ Church 4-2 two weeks later. Their winning streak could not hold up against formidable top of the table Loughborough II, however, resulting in a 3-0
loss at Holywell. The devastation carried over to the following week, where Men’s Football suffered a tumultuous 5-0 defeat at home to Nottingham. As a result of these two losses, UEA currently have a goal difference of –6, presently the worst figure in the league. The tables turned for UEA in the BUCS MARS Trophy third round, with a truly satisfying 4-1 victory at home against local
Greg Mann
rivals Essex. This success puts them through to the quarterfinals, where UEA will be pitted against Brighton Men’s II away on 1 February. With five more league games to look forward to, in addition to the promise of progression in the Trophy, there is no doubt that UEA Men’s I can learn from last year’s losses and move on to enjoy a repeat of the series of victories secured at the beginning of the season. With a vast difference in points between them and lastplaced Oxford, and having shown the potential for great success at home and away, Men’s Football I have everything to play for in the next three months. There is also a chance of repeating the victory against Essex at the annual Derby Day, due to be held this year in early March. Don’t miss it. Emma Webb
Review: Men’s Table Tennis After narrowly missing out on promotion to the BUCS Premier Division last season, Men’s Table Tennis have had a close to perfect start to the 2011/12 campaign, as they lie third in the Midlands 1A table. Having lost just one game to league-leaders Nottingham Trent I, UEA look to continue their impressive run into the new year. They’ve had strong results against a number of teams, defeating Birmingham
II 12-5 and thrashing Nottingham II, 15-2. UEA also find themselves in the quarter-finals of the BUCS Table Tennis Championship after a remarkable 12-5 result against Imperial College, London I, a BUCS Premier South Division outfit. Table Tennis now face a tough fixture against St Andrews I, a team they beat in a play-off encounter last season, who currently top the Laura Smith
Scottish 1A Division and have won all eight of their matches this season. So long as the team steer clear of injury, they have a real chance of succeeding in both the league and cup this season. Progression into the semi-finals of the BUCS Championship is a real possibility and UEA are more than capable of mounting a challenge in the league against Nottingham Trent I and Birmingham I. This season has the potential to be the best for UEA Table Tennis for some years. However, of the eight teams left in the Championship, six are teams who play their matches in the premier divisions, and thus UEA could have their work cut out. Yet we should not be too pessimistic. Among the men’s teams at UEA, Table Tennis are on one of the best runs of form, which we hope to see continue in their first game of 2012, an away tie against Warwick II. Billy Sexton
SPORT
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www.concrete-online.co.uk Tuesday 17th January 2012 - Issue 263
UEA sport: the season so far Concrete’s Billy Sexton and Lewis Dalton look back at the past few months of action for two of UEA’s leading clubs
Review: Women’s Hockey Women’s Hockey are able to boast after having the best start to the 2011/2012 BUCS season among all 30 UEA teams. They currently have a 100% record, and are sitting comfortably at the top of Midlands 3B division. Club captain Chantelle Farrell hopes that the ability to field a strong team in remaining games and remaining lethal in front of goal will result in the continuation of a fantastic winning streak. Hockey have had a number of fantastic results so far, demolishing Warwick II 9-0, breezing past Leicester I 7-0 and scoring four without reply against Nottingham Trent II. Yet the highlight of the season came in their 6-2 win over Harper Adams. With a horrendously early start and many players having to attend lectures, UEA headed off with just nine players. Couple this with a broken finger for one player and another
taking a hit to the head, hockey were pleased to start and finish the game strongly. Grace Day deserves a mention for scoring her first goal and inaugural hattrick in a BUCS game. Despite good progression in the BUCS Midlands Conference Cup, the league remains the
focus for Women’s Hockey, and if they maintain their form, they can look forward to certain promotion and playing a higher standard of hockey next season. League rivals Nottingham III have a game in hand and are set to visit the Sportspark on 29 February, in a game that looks
set to determine who will be crowned league champions. UEA will be looking to take confidence from their previous encounter with Nottingham, in which they were 3-2 victors in November. Farrell applauds the whole team for their dedication this season, especially due to the amount of hours hockey have spent travelling. As well as being top of the league, Women’s Hockey have a fantastic goal difference, Milou de Bour and Felicity Williams pivotal in attack and scoring five goals each. Sophie Simpson deserves a mention too, conceding just seven as ‘keeper. Women’s Hockey play their first game of 2012 away to Oxford Brookes III on 25 January and ought to be confident in their ability to maintain their winning streak.
Laura Smith
Billy Sexton
Review: Men’s Lacrosse It would be fair to say that UEA Men’s Lacrosse have had a sterling start to the season. With wins against notable opponents like Loughborough and Nottingham, the Eagles currently sit in second place, and will be promoted if they can hold on to their current position. They have established themselves as a team to fear, with a never say die attitude and an aggressive streak which often sees bodies broken by the end of games. This season has seen a shuffle in positions with the departure of several players, meaning a new, inexperienced goaltender holding the fort between the pipes. However, with arguably the strongest defence in the league, run by Josh Sutton, the rest of the team are able to play free-flowing lacrosse, switching from the rapid aggression of a tenacious midfield, to an attack
which for what it lacks in size, it makes up for in its ability to dodge through numbers. The Eagles have seen a new captain step up in the form of Lewis Dalton, while a number of the old guard have come to the forefront of the team’s game, with the likes of the Ben Dickson and Rob Gale raking in the most goals so far.
Meanwhile, experienced freshers Alex Watt and Steven Van de Put have immediately fought for a place in the first team, as new recruits Ross Field and George Tucker show themselves to be future elites. The second half of the season pits UEA away to Lincoln in the first round of the cup, a team they have already beaten this season.
Meanwhile in the league, the Eagles look to hold on to second spot, with their last game of the season being a home tie against league leaders Leicester, a very winnable match. Men’s Lacrosse has blossomed in recent years, but 2012 looks set to be the year of promotion. Lewis Dalton
Laura Smith
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Khan granted rematch Matt Scrafton Sports Editor The World Boxing Association (WBA) has ordered a rematch between Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson after their first fight was won by the American fighter on 10 December in contentious circumstances. The decision was made due to “questionable decisions” on the part of the match referee, as well as the intrusion of a mystery figure during the scoring process in the original bout. Bolton-born Khan lost the first fight along with his WBA and International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-welterweight titles thanks to a split decision. Khan was also docked two points for pushing, in an evenly-contested fight that caused controversy for weeks. The WBA said the end result was “impacted by referee Joseph Cooper’s questionable failure to credit Khan with a knockdown in round one, and his questionable decisions to deduct points from Khan in rounds 7 and 12.” Khan himself queried the presence of a mystery man who seemed to be distracting the judges at ringside and was also seen handling scorecards. The previously anonymous character was later revealed as Mustafa Ameen, who has previously provided voluntary work for the IBF. Ameen was later seen celebrating with Peterson’s team at the end of the bout, and his actions will be investigated in a hearing on 18 January. The WBA also declared that Ameen’s appearance was unlawful but he “seemingly communicated with fight officials throughout the fight.” In response to the decision to re-play the bout, Khan said: “I’m pleased that justice has been done. All we ask as sportsmen is for a fair and level playing field when we compete.” However, the rematch may not be straightforward. So far only the WBA have agreed to the rematch, while there has been no official word from the IBF. If the IBF fail to agree to the rematch, Peterson may be able to relinquish his WBA title rather than give Khan a second chance.
VENUE
Concrete’s fortnightly culture pullout
issue 263 | 17/01/2012
fashion | talk street chic | p. 13 tv | reflect on black mirror | p. 17
Photo by Laura Smith
music | review the maccabees new album | p. 4
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Wanted 6 Union Part Time Elected Officers (4 non-portfolio, Environment and Ethics)
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Contract period 1 year April 1012 - March 2013
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We are looking for 6 UEA students of any age or nationality who have the dedication, energy and enthusiasm to volunteer help us take the Union forward in very uncertain times. If you are interested in making real change for students UEA gaining a unique experience that will set you up for virtually any career – then this might be the role for you. You will receive training, be able to attend conferences and gain a variety of work-based skills, experiences and development opportunities.
Wanted Union Full Time Elected Officers
Successful candidates will be expected to:
Contract period 1 year July 1012-July 2013 Salary: 16k Hours of work: variable
Support a variety of activists and volunteers
We are looking for 4 UEA students of any age or nationality who have the drive, energy and enthusiasm to help us take the Union forward in very uncertain times. If you are interested in representing the interests of students to the university and wider community, and improving students day to day university experiences, as well as meeting new people, being challenged on a daily basis and gaining a unique experience that will set you up for virtually any career – then this might be the role for you.
Wanted 6 Union Part Time Elected Officers (International, Mature, Disabilities, LGBT,
(Academic, Communications, Community and Student Rights, Finance)
The Student’s Union is an £11mn turnover charity run by students for students. We employ 100 permanent staff and up to 500 student staff. With the decline in alcohol sales in the LCR and Pub, the introduction of £9k fees the future will be challenging. Our full time Officers will help shape the future direction of the Union. Alongside you salary you will receive full training and offered fantastic development opportunities. You will be expected to: Successful candidates will be expected to Lead Union Campaigns and Democracy Improve the day to day experience of students at UEA Represent Students at University Committee’s Be Trustee of the Union AND the University* Be a director of the Unions two limited companies Support and train a variety of activists and volunteers *Finance and Communications Officers
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UEASTUDENTELECTIONS.COM
Become a member of the Unions Student Officer Committee Implement Union policy agreed by Union Council Be a Trustee of the Union* Lead Union Campaigns and Democracy to improve the day to day experience of students at UEA *2 part time officers are elected by the Student Officer Committee to sit on the Unions trustee Board
Womens’, Ethnic Minorities)
Contract period 1 year April 1012 - March 2013 We are looking for 6 UEA students to represent our Equal opportunities groups on campus. If you have the dedication, energy and enthusiasm to volunteer help us take the Union forward in very uncertain times. If you are interested in making real change for your students peers at UEA and gaining a unique experience that will help you develop real skills – then this might be the role for you. Our equal opportunities officers represent the voices of their peers through campaigns, awareness, and bringing their own experiences to the Union If you are a students who self-define as Gay, Lesbian, bisexual or transsexual, a student with disabilities, from British ethnic minority, International, mature, or a woman and want to ensure that your peers a represented effectively to the Union and the University then we want to hear from you.You will receive training, be able to attend conferences and gain a variety of work-based skills, experiences and development opportunities. Successful candidates will be expected to; Become a member of the Unions Student Officer Committee Implement Union policy agreed by Union Council Leading Union campaigns based on the needs of their peers Support a variety of activists and volunteers
Wanted 4 NUS Delegates
Every year, the Union sends four elected NUS delegates to the National Union of Students’ National Conference. This year, it’s taking place in Sheffield from Tuesday 24 April to Thursday 26 April 2012. The role of an NUS delegate is to represent and vote in line with the policy of the Union of UEA Students. It’s a really good way to get involved with the national student movement, vote in the presidential and vice-presidential elections and represent the views of the Union on a national level. The Union of UEA Students is a registered charity England and Wales no 1139778
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www.concrete-online.co.uk
VENUE CONTENTS
ssue 263 | 17.01.2012 ditor-in-Chief | Chris King | concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
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enue Editor | Alex Throssell | concrete.event.uea.ac.uk So it’s a new year and Nina Simone’s seminal lyrics are wafting through the heads of many. To be honest though, it’s the most overrated time of the year isn’t it? I hate to be the metaphorial ghost Of Christmasses to come to all of you, but it just seems the older you get the worse the experience becomes. That said, my dad got a mini train set this year, which was frankly badass. New Year’s Eve is always a massive anti-climax though, that’s a fact, and the first few weeks of January make you feel terrible too...
Ah well, Concrete still exists, and that reassurance brings more unadultered joy than any
festive season ever could. For the first installment of the year this issue of Venue has been delightfully easy to edit. Most of you won’t notice, but I’ve also made a few stylistic changes to bring in the new year; just some little things that might make Venue an award-winning publication come the Guardian Media Awards in September...some of you might think I’m looking too far ahead, but Seb Coe has been plugging the Olympics for longer than I can remember, so I think it’s okay. I hope you all have a great 2012 and enjoy the new, revitalised Venue.
Alex Music | Editors | Alex Ross & Jordan Bright Music Contributors> Alex Throssell, Oliver Balaam, Lottie Allen, George Hamilton-Jones, Rianna Hudson, Jordan Bright, Alex Ross, Lizzy Margereson, Kristabel Ewers, Emma Price, Hannah Britt, Freya Barry. Wired | Editor | Josh Mott Wired Contributors> Joe Fitzsimmons, Josh Mott, Tom Mott, Leo Hunt, Andrew Wilkins. Fashion | Editors | Hannah Britt & Milly Sampson Fashion Contributors> Hannah Britt, Becky Eans, Emily Pearse, Harriet Smith. Arts | Editor | Emma Webb Arts Contributors> Miranda Hutchinson, Alice Austin, Rhianna Hudson, Sarah Boughen, Jennifer Grimes. (NB. The Don Pasquale review in Issue 262 was written by Hannah Thomson not Harriet MacDonald)
Film | Editors | James Burrough & Anna Eastick Film Contributors> Sam Warner, Samantha Rogers, Tom Moore, Matt Francis, Eliot Fallows, James Bearclaw, Sam Langan, James Lillywhite, Alica Austin. TV | Editor | Matt Tidby TV Contributors> Matthew Clare, Oliver Balaam. Competitions | Editor | Sam Tomkinson.
Photo by Laura Smith
Creative Writing | Editor | Ella Chappell Creative Writing Contributors> Alex Lambert, Geoffrey Delaney, M. Abbasi, Abby Erwin.
MUSIC
17.01.2012
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
album reviews the maccabees given to the wild
4/5 When the band film an achingly beautiful teaser video for their new album as the Maccabees did for their third album Given To The Wild, it’s probably fair to expect something majestic from the record. Straight from the eponymous intro track this desire seems to have been satisfied. The start of the album washes over you with delightful ease; the soaring climaxes in the first few tracks being the culmination of the Maccabees’ new sound. There are times that the layers of instrumentals could do with being rolled back a little, but when these first songs are so emphatic it’s difficult to pick too many holes. A number of tracks in and they start to push the boundaries a little bit. Forever I’ve Known channels the ethereal haze of their cover of Walking In The Air, and Glimmer seems to strip things back a little more; it’s brilliantly serene and actually sounds a lot like something from Foals’ Total Life Forever, another stereotypically “indie” band who reinvented themselves with their latest album. Everybody grows up, and this is a significantly more mature record. The pop hits
enter shikari a flash flood of colour
2/5 Enter Shikari’s third album is a strange one. Opening with System in which Rou Reynolds delivers a diatribe comparing capitalism to a collapsing house, before segueing into a wistful reflection on his childhood and finally into a genuinely stirring call to arms. Like the rest of the album, the track is bursting with ideas and schizophrenically changes direction every 30 seconds. It works here, but other tracks aren’t so lucky. Sssnakepit, for example, is all over the place. Reynolds opens the track by singing the chorus but, quickly bored, decides to piss all over it with Pendulum grade “dubstep”. Alternating between screamo, dubstep and drum & bass the track concludes with contrived studio banter, Chris Batten remarking “fuck that was shit”. He’s on the money. Ghandi Mate, Ghandi is named after one of these terrible skits and suffers similar genre-mashing problems. Furthermore, the track doesn’t start for nearly a minute because of Reynolds’ political grandstanding. The band’s valid but
are gone. We’re a long way from Toothpaste Kisses, and from the majority of the record that’s not a bad thing at all. Their new sound is stunningly powerful, yet manages to be vulnerable at the same time. It’s wrenchingly emotive but feels invigorating all the while, and it’s actually when they veer away from this new direction and try to appease their old listeners that the Maccabees lose their way a little. Pelican, despite being the first single, is the weakest track on the album. It’s buried in the centre of the tracklisting, but is miles away from the beating heart of the record, and feels infantile in comparison. They’re almost there, riding on the cusp, flirting with greatness, but there are fleeting lapses in concentration that stop them short and you worry, because it’s not mind blowing, whether there’s an air of “forgetability” about it all. The songs are amazing when you’re listening to them, but after a while there’s the danger that, like a cold breath billowing out into the misty winter air, that they’ll just fade away. Despite everything that goes along with a record nowadays you have to judge it on the songs alone and the harsh reality is, unless you achieve something absolutely astounding, there is always going to be a feeling of “what if?” The Maccabees were close, but no cigar this time.. Alex Throssell
simplistic politics can maintain a facade of depth in lyrical form but speeches do them no favours. Arguing With Thermometers works marginally better and is probably the world’s first fully realised punk/dubstep hybrid, but that still doesn’t make it very good. Thankfully, Shikari’s genre-bending doesn’t always lead to disaster, as long as it retains some semblance of structure. For example Meltdown’s brutal guitar and synth combination succeeds because there is always a heavy breakdown around the corner. Similarly while Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide only builds towards one breakdown, when it comes it’s a well earned and intense payoff. Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here attacks the stale state of the music industry (and centrist media) and it’s got the chops to do so. In Pack of Thieves, the band allow the chorus to carry the song and resist the urge to add skits or dub, resulting in an upbeat and cohesive track. The album concludes with Constellations which, while a touching ballad, is too often ruined by Reynolds’ clumsy lyrics. A frustrating album, there are a handful of good tracks, but they are easy to miss between the front-loaded bad ones and that dastardly wobble bass. Oliver Balaam
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17.01.2012
guided by voices let’s go eat the factory
4/5 After seven years of silence, one of the 90s’ most acclaimed lo-fi indie rock bands are back with the “classic line-up” not seen together since 1996’s Under The Bridge, Under the Stars. Joined by Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Greg Demos and Kevin Fennell, Robert Pollard forcefully reminds us that Guided By Voices are not just “that 90s indie band” but are striving for expression rather than fitting into their given genre. Let’s Go Eat The Factory is a collection of eclectic tracks with inspiration from post-punk, progrock and indie pop to name but a few. The album consists of 21 tracks lasting just 42 minutes, tuning us into the fact that these guys have been around far longer than most and there is no way they are playing strictly by the rules. The album is disjointed, with many tracks feeling unrefined. My Europa, for example, delivers the homemade fuck-around charm of an album made in your basement with some friends that you haven’t
trailer trash tracys ester
2/5 The buildup of Trailer Trash Tracys is something Venue was blissfully unaware of until reviewing this, their debut album. There is a fine line between albums which mesmerise with their sonics and production, alluding to a dreamlike alternate perception of the world, and albums which wash themselves out and lose impact. Venue is afraid to say that Ester suffers the problems of the latter. The child at the sweetshop comes to mind. The first track, Rolling Kiss the Universe, commences with tape-echo sounds and BBC Radiophonic Workshop type effects. Think pre-Darkside of the Moon Floyd or Hendrix’s Axis Bold as Love paired with the melodics of the Dandy Warhols in a space rock mood. From there, the song segues seamlessly into You Wish You Were Red. Red represents the other half of the Trailer Trash Tracys equation: bass lines reminiscent of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks television theme, arpeggiated electric guitar accompaniment and electronic
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
album reviews worked with in over a decade. Beginning with a repeated punchy riff and scratchy vocals, Laundry and Lasers gives us a sense of bizarre familiarity; while exploring new genres, Pollard’s raspy tones bring us back to their 90s sound. This album continues in full force, housing some truly memorable tracks, such as Doughnut for a Snowman, whose simplistic melody and surreal imagery create a warm, comforting track. I defy anyone not to use the replay button. While these two tracks stood out as firm favourites when listening, others deserve the right to be mentioned with great praise. The Unsinkable Fats Domino takes a simplistic strong root with an obvious 90s flare, while Hang Mr Kite creates a heavy, sombre feel. However, continuity is still kept with the lo-fi recording style and Pollard’s recognisable tones. Although steering away slightly from their 90s triumphs, Lets Go Eat The Factory is an album to listen fondly over. Despite some tracks veering on the edge of throwaway, songs such as Laundry and Lasers and Doughnut for a Snowman confirm the Guided By Voices as neither dated nor about to leave again anytime soon.
Lottie Allen
drum sounds and other various bleeps and bloops. It also encapsulates the album’s key annoyances: a distorted lead vocal washed out with reverb and over-eagerness to pile on the echo. The confectionary approach is fun but risks making you sick. This is not to say that the album does not have strong fundamentals, but that they are all too often obscured. Strangling Good Guys is a clear example of a track which has the meat and potatoes of interesting ideas but keeps its light under a sonic bushel. The principle sonic offender is the treatment of Suzanne Aztoria’s vocal. Smearing the vocal impairs the diction and makes discerning the lyrical content difficult and often impossible. At the same time there is little sonic pay off as the music does not need her voice for its tonic; the voice as instrument considerations do not trump the frustration of hearing singing without making out the words. While this is going on, the album is testament to strong performances from all members which makes Venue feel it is something of a wasted opportunity. Hopefully this is something that can be improved upon next time as, despite the low score, the album demonstrates the possibility of better work in the future. George Hamilton-Jones
MUSIC
MUSIC
17.01.2012
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
06
soundtrack to the apocalypse Venue’s
music writers tip the artists set for fame in mankind’s hour of impending doom
...
gotye
kindness
bobbie gordon
grimes
Gotye is a Belgian-Australian singersongwriter, (real name Wally De Backer) whose third album Making Mirrors shot to the top spot of Australia’s Aria album charts within its very first week of release. Without a doubt, the man has something. His single Somebody That I Used To Know from the forthcoming album was released at the end of December, and is a brilliant track. The song is perfectly fitting with the popular indie/alternative scene, but Gotye definitely has something unique of his own, making him stand out in the sea of indie pop. While the track has seen a little radio airplay in the UK, it is not yet getting the attention it has in Australia where the single shot to number one. So if you’re looking for something new to start the year, then Gotye may just be it. His new album Making Mirrors will be making its UK release on February 13, making Gotye definitely one to look out for this year.
Way back in the heady days of 2009 Kindness (aka Adam Bainbridge) dropped strippeddown funk classic Gee-Up. This sole track was followed by Pitchfork, the NME and the Guardian tipping him as one of the next big hopes for music. It was only 107 seconds long. Bainbridge proceeded to release an excellent reinterpretation of the Replacements’ chronically under-appreciated Swinging Party and that was it. He disappeared, spurning the immense media attention to apparently live out his remaining years in Berlin, leaving a whole host of questions and no answers. Fast forward to the twilight of 2011 and Kindness returned with slow burning disco-funk hybrid Cyan: the first single released in anticipation of his debut album World You Need A Change Of Mind, out in March. With a fully-fledged EP, and an aura of mystery surrounding its creator (much like Wu Lyf), Kindness is sure to rise to prominence this year.
Young, vibrant and eccentric London girl Bobbie Gordon is set to be the next big sound of 2012. After singing with some of music’s biggest names (Cee Lo Green, Adele, Skepta) and being a permanent member of Noisettes, Bobbie has decided to take the reins and embark on a solo career. Her debut EP Matters of the Heart, released in late 2011, offered a soulful infectious melody with a hint of intimate folk pop. Unique in voice and appearance, Bobbie has been compared to Lily Allen, Corinne Bailey Rae and fellow band member Shingai Shoniwa (Noisettes) for donning bright African prints, candy coloured heels and floral accessories. Bobbie’s vocal talents have also been a big hit in the dubstep scene with the likes of Nififty Five and Bondax using her voice on their tracks. 2012 looks bright for rising star Bobbie Gordon. With tour dates in hand she is down to be a big success.
Claire Boucher, who uses the alias Grimes, is a Canadian electro-pop artist set to release her third album at the end of February. Taking inspiration from a variety of sources, Grimes’ music is typically convoluted yet underpinned by a traditional pop hook. Heavy on the use of synth, keyboards and loops: this “all things” electronic approach to music lends itself to inevitable comparisons with fellow ethereal-pop artists such as St Vincent and Zola Jesus. Boucher’s vocals, however, distinguish her from her peers. Her high-pitched delivery provides her records with a unique sense of otherworldliness that has been rivalled only by Kate Bush. After supporting Lykke Li throughout 2011 and signing with record label 4AD (who have Bon Iver and Deerhunter, amongst others, on their books) Grimes now has the support and exposure to make 2012 a break out year with Visions, out 21 February.
Rianna Hudson
Jordan Bright
Kristabel Ewers
Lester Kent
toy London-based psychedelic pop fivepiece TOY describe their sound as “sweeping motoric europia”. Since playing their first live show as a band last summer they have rapidly gained popularity by supporting the Horrors and playing at some of London’s most popular festivals including Field Day and 1234. TOY’s musical influences come from a wide range of genres including
punk, psychedelia and krautrock, as well as from bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Television and the Velvet Underground. With an album due out later this year, judging from their synth-heavy debut single Left Myself Behind, TOY are certainly ones for the future. Emma Price
07 Norwich’s
17.01.2012
MUSIC
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
a damn fine city
music scene has had a lot of adjusting to do over the last couple of years, but
promising years in recent memory.
As super-twee folk pop loosened its chokehold on the record industry last year, this fine city had to adjust. Norwich’s history of folk music is as rich as the cliché is strong; on the whole the banjo plucking bumpkins on tractors did the ideal groundwork for the crew cut University students to step into their place and take cues from Mumford and Sons and Noah and the Whale. But, as the latter proved with their at times glorious synth-drenched third album, there’s only so far that an acoustic and a desire to say the word “sweetheart” can take you. For proof, look no further than last November’s Livewire Unsigned. The mandatory folk-pop, charming as it may have been, was outnumbered and outgunned by big guitars and bigger egos and the excellent Kodeta ran away with first prize. Jace Gilkes’ distortion-drenched guitar and disturbing knack for melody will lead to parallels being drawn with early Biffy Clyro, but there’s a little more to it than that, not least Andrew Todd’s destructive, metronomic drums. With their debut EP out in February and a rapidly growing reputation as a thrilling live band, theirs is surely a name that will be on the lips of the city’s music heads this year. Their EP is launched at Epic TV Studios on February 24. Cakes and Ale have been in that position of promise for a while now. But unlike so many others that Norwich has produced, their reputation has been justified not least by their excellent debut album Five Shillings, Three Bushels of Corn and a Milchgoat, released late last year. Flickering with arrogant ease between the darker moments of Tom Waits and delicate pop, their near sold out headline show at the Arts Centre last year showed that their cult following could easily spill over
Alex Ross
Clockwise from top: Kodeta, The Broken Seas, Feral Mouth, Helsinki Wins that only Devendra Banhart or Elliott Smith can be compared in their difficulty and eventual reward. 2012 could well be one of the most exiting years for Norwich’s music scene for a long
guitarist turned soul singer beat the American artist Frank Ocean, who has worked with the likes of musical power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z, to the top spot. Azealia Banks comes in at number three. The New York MC was voted NME’s coolest person of 2011. Despite this, she still gets a big thumbs up from where we’re standing. Her single 212 is definitely worth getting your lugholes round if you haven’t already. At number 4 we see Skrillex making
time. We’ll be down the front at The Arts Centre and The Waterfront, and more than ever we’ll be cramming into the bars and pubs that are the lifeblood of the city’s independent music. See you there.
BBC’s best bet for 2012, but nomination alone Venue’s Lizzy Margereson looks at the shortlist ...
has been chosen as
highly coveted in itself, so
The BBC Sound of … list has come quite a way from its first appearance in 2003 where 50 Cent and Electric Six were tipped to conquer the scene, and last year Jessie J and Nero were nominated for success in 2011. The lineup for 2012 promises to be no less musically diverse. According to this year’s list we are going to be seeing a return of the men, with Michael Kiwanuka heading the list of 15, the first male artist to lead the list for 4 years. The session
is one of the most
looks at the local acts that look set to light up the next year.
onto the streets. Feral Mouth too have been parading their bluegrass stylings around any venue that will have them. A million miles away from the twee indie kids with acoustics and patchy beards, the fivepiece sound like they’ve been plucked from a Louisiana dive bar after a few fights and a drug-fuelled love affair. Their as yet untitled follow up to Olympus Chympus is released this year. A conversation with even the most casual gig-goer in Norwich can turn solemn and mournful with mention of the sorely missed Violet Violet. However, Fliss Kitson has reemerged alongside Matt High (ex-Bear) and Alex Hill in The Broken Seas and the buzz that surrounded them over summer has not died down. Comparisons with PJ Harvey are often thrown around all too easily, but Hill’s vocals really are that haunting and High’s fuzzy blues-infused guitar battles with Kitson’s drums with infectious, industrial energy. They play Olives Cafe in early February and it shouldn’t be missed. In amongst all this, with few live shows and little fanfare, Helsinki Wins has slowly emerged as one of the most astonishing talents of the last year. Her early acoustic demos proved that, as a songwriter, Abby Thomas has something slightly out of the ordinary, but two new songs released early in 2012 have done more than just secure that status. Now with a full band, Helsinki Wins is the sound of a genuinely unique talent, honest, fragile and defiant in equal measure. It’s a million miles from the middle-of-the-road singer-songwriter dirge that’s so often dragged through pub gigs. Instead, there’s the oddly fragmented lucidity of Bon Iver, the unashamed melodies of Manchster Orchestra and a voice so unique
Michael Kiwanuka
2012
an appearance (incidentally, did anyone know he used to be in From First to Last?) Apparently the trendos are rebranding his subtle blend of dubstep, hardcore and a bit of noise, brostep. Although already a wellrecognised DJ, Skrillex is predicted to make more mainstream appearances throughout this year. Number 5 introduces Scandinavian electropop duo Nikki and the Dove. Reminiscent of the likes of Lykke Li, with big
is
basslines and sweet‘n’sour soulful vocals, the EP’s The Fox and The Drummer were released in 2011 and are well worth a listen. That just about sums up the top 5. but there are plenty more on the full list with artists ranging from gravelly Cash ‘o like Jamie N Commons to urban girlband Stooshe. It is safe to say that according to the tastemakers at the BBC, whoever they may be, 2012 will be an eclectic year of electro, urban pop, hiphop brostep and a soul revamp.
MUSIC
17.01.2012
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
interview
08
hannah britt and freya barry talk to dappy Er ... You say something right now that nobody has ever said before and we’ll put it in a song. For example, Rihanna came up with “Umbrella ella ella...” And I came up with “Mamma thought I wouldn’t make it, but now she’s leaving on a spaceship”. I talk about giving her facelifts and things like that.
Once again, in the name of Concrete, we find ourselves outside in the rain. This time, we are waiting for Dappy, the infamous N-Dubz member with a reputation for trouble. We’re apprehensive. Will he give us an interview? Perhaps he’ll have his bodyguard put us headfirst into a bin for bothering him ... We needn’t have worried. When Dappy arrives, our apprehension vanishes quicker than you can say “na na naii”. He is charming, as are his team, and they invite us onto their tour bus: a vision of red leather and low lighting. We sit, and the interview begins.
[We feel flustered, Dappy seems to be giving us a lyric exam ...] You mean like when you reference Facebook? It stood out and it kind of jarred, because no one had ever said it before. And it’s realistic, I mean, we Facebook stalk people all the time! We probably shouldn’t admit that ...
Hey Dappy, how are you enjoying your stay in N-town? I come up here sometimes to relax. I come up here with my two kids and I stay in that hotel, you know the big one with the golf course? We stay there and we go to the shopping mall. We get mobbed sometimes. We like coming to eat at Wagamama’s. I like Chicken Gyozas with soy sauce. But you have to eat with chop sticks otherwise it just doesn’t make sense. A fork is cheating.
Exactly! But it’s true! You just have to think of lyrics that are clever and that nobody has ever done. So is that the advice you would give to a budding musician? Yeah, don’t try and copy what you’ve heard. Say something, write something, sing something that hasn’t sounded like that or hasn’t been said like that. It gives you an advantage for it to stand out. They might say it stands out like shit. Or, they might say it stands out like wow!
In Wagamama’s you have to ask for a fork don’t you, so it’s embarrassing. I can’t handle the shame man! Is being a solo artist more nerve-wracking than being in a band? Well, I’ve sold this place [the LCR] out with N-Dubz numerous times and we’ve always rocked this beautiful little intimate venue. The other day I was doing arenas and smashing it by myself. But coming to these small little venues, it’s just you and them, intimate or what? It’s one to one, so if you make a mistake they’re going to hear you. I told my guy just before, I’m kinda scared. I look left, there’s no Tulisa, no Fazer. But I’ve started off well. I have a number one hit with No Regrets. We love No Regrets, it’s become a Concrete office anthem. That’s amazing! It’s power to the people music. I’ve got a second single coming now, it’s called Rockstar and it features Mr Brian May from Queen. Oh NICE! How did that come about? Well he complimented my No Regrets track at the Q awards and he said I should win an award for lyrics or something, for writing a good song. And I was like wow. I saw the footage and I reached out to him and I told him it was an honour for him to say that about my song, I’ve got this second one called Rockstar, what a coincidence, would you like to be the rockstar that does the famous solo at the end of my song? Is there a future for N-Dubz then? Let Tulisa be the bitch on X Factor because
we love her for doing that. We do love her. Did you watch? Yes, of course, I wanted T to win with all my heart. If she didn’t win I’d have been upset. Do you consider yourself to be a role model? One sec, [Dappy turns to his tour manager] am I getting a haircut today? I look a bit stubbly ... Sorry, where was I? Yeah, look at me as a role model, I got the right advice for these youths whether they come from a negative environment or a rich family. I can show you how to be cool, how to get around life and be wealthy and live happily ever after. Rockstar baby! Do you think that you’re misunderstood in the press? Yeah, but you know like I said, live for the moment, you only live once, no regrets. Really, no regrets? I often wake up after one too many Jagerbombs and think: “oh no ...” Well, I regret not being there for my second child’s birth. That’s something serious to regret. But other than that, fuck the world, in the politest way possible, just do your thing.
Do your children know that you’re famous? Yeah my little one, Gino, he knows. He goes “Daddy’s song, daddy’s song”. He sings “no rewets, no rewets” because he can’t say the “g”. You should get him to guest on a track ... Yeah man, I recorded him on a mic saying a lot of fraf and I autotuned it. It sounds really funny. What would you say to him if he wanted to be famous? First of all I would make sure that he’s good. If he’s not good then I wouldn’t lie to him. If he ain’t good, I’ll let him know he ain’t good. You have to tell people the truth. It’s the most important thing. If you ain’t got a hit, I’ll know. I can’t lie to someone. That’s why it’s so important to be unique and come out with different phrases that no one has said before. People make trying to make it in the music business so hard, when it can be so easy if you know what to do. It’s like, what hasn’t someone ever said in song before? That’s what could make a good song. You see what I just said to you?
But I guess if it does stand out for being shit ... like Friday by Rebecca Black ... then at least people are talking about it. I mean, that girl must be raking it in! Inspirational ... Do you have any musical inspirations right now? Of course, I like someone called Gotye right now from Australia. He has a song called Somebody That I Used To Know. You guys should check him out. I’m basically inspired by melody structures and top lines from the 1980s. People are afraid to expand their knowledge of music these days. They just put a hood on and talk about guns. I can talk about guns and knives ... but in a metaphorical way, you know what I’m trying to say? Do you feel like a lot of urban music has been watered down and become more mainstream? Yeah it has because we’ve opened the doors. I mean, we’ve been going for like six years now. It’s everywhere. Look at it now. Before it just used to be N-Dubz, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk ... Dizzy before that and So Solid Crew. And now look: Wretch, Tiny, Example, Dappy, Devlin. People are coming out. We’re starting to muller it now. We’ve got control. A lot of the Americans are taking our sounds. They replicate what they hear from over here, the drop to the floor sounds. They’re taking notice. You need unique artists like us to keep on setting trends.
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WIRED
17.01.2012
2012’s
concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk
most anticipated
10
by joe fitzsimmons 2011 was both a significant and enjoyable year for gaming, and will almost certainly be remembered as an important year in the medium’s history. We had blockbuster hits, indie success stories and a variety of innovations and advancements for the industry. The bar is therefore set pretty high as we move into 2012, but after eyeing the release schedules it looks likely that not only will 2012 measure up to the previous year, but may even surpass it. Here then, are Wired’s five most anticipated games of 2012.
diablo
3
Diablo 3 makes it on to our most anticipated of 2012 for two reasons. Firstly, the chance to return to Sanctuary to quest ourselves to breaking point again is almost certainly going to be one of the entertaining highlights of the new year. Secondly, the much hyped auction houses might well become one of the most important innovations in online gaming in recent years. Micro-transactions have been around for a while, but the opportunity for players to amass real currency though playing and trading in-game could very well revolutionise how we play online, and may very well mark the start of gaming for profit. We can only hope Blizzard is up to such a monumental challenge.
luigi’s mansion
2
The original Luigi’s Mansion developed a cult following and fans have been calling for a sequel to the excellent but disappointingly short adventure for years. Judging from trailers it appears the sequel will follow a similar style of play to the original: exploring mansions and using Luigi’s poltergeist to capture ghosts. It has been confirmed that a greater variety of ghosts will be included than in the original, meaning new challenges and new capture methods to learn. There will also be more environments to explore, no doubt a response to criticism from many fans that the original’s mansion had little in the way of variety.
the last guardian
The release of The Last Guardian has been a long time coming, but it looks like spring 2012 will be when we finally get our hands on Team Ico’s third title. Developers of Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus, Team Ico are famous for their beautifully designed games and high level of story telling, and early looks suggest that is exactly what we will be getting. A puzzle platformer in the same vein as the original Ico, it’s very likely we’ll be referencing The Last Guardian again in 12 months when we come to name our games of the year.
bioshock infinite
Bioshock is often praised as one of the greatest shooters of the current generation, and a new instalment in the series was always going to be met with excitement and high expectations. The decision to take the setting out of Rapture to the sky city Columbia was met with scepticism from some, but the chance to experience Bioshock’s style of FPS/RPG gameplay in a completely new setting, based around a new philosophy (Columbia is said to be a jingoist utopia as opposed to Rapture’s objectivism) is an interesting appeal.
the wii u
It might at first appear that Batman: Arkham City, Darksiders 2 and Ninja Gaiden 3 are not exactly the most anticipated material. These games have, however, made it on to our list not because we are looking forward to playing them, but because of what they might mean for gaming in general. With the scheduled release of the Wii U for late 2012 developers have begun to announce titles they hope to bring out on Nintendo’s new system. After the Wii’s successful but often ridiculed game library, are Nintendo trying to create a game library to rival that of the Xbox 360 and PS3? Will we see a Nintendo console taken seriously by third party developers again?
warcraft’s new hour of twilight patch Even if you have never played World of Warcraft, there is a very good chance you have heard of it, whether it’s Chuck Norris shouting at you from your TV, or a flashing ad banner on a website, WoW has gained a significant hold over popular culture since 2004. The massively popular multiplayer online game has consisted of thousands of epic quests, dungeons, raids and battlegrounds for eight years and does not show any sign of slowing down. The Hour of Twilight is upon us, and with it comes WoW patch 4.3. Adventurers accompany ex-Horde leader Thrall and the noble Aspects as they call upon the Horde and the Alliance for aid. They must retrieve an artifact, no longer in existence, from the distant past and to do so explorers will embark on a perilous
journey from Azeroth’s apocalyptic end to the Dragon Soul’s point of origin during the shattering War of the Ancients. Included in the patch are three new epic dungeons: End Time, which shows the grim future of Azeroth should its defenders fail to stop Deathwing; Well of Eternity, in which a brave few must travel back 10,000 years in an attempt to retrieve the Dragon Soul; and Hour of Twilight, where Thrall and the Dragon Soul must be safely escorted to Wyrmrest Temple so that the assault on Deathwing can begin. Also arriving in patch 4.3 is the raid finder. This new feature allows players to quickly and easily form a raid with 24 random people for a specially tuned version of the Dragon Soul raid. Tom Mott
11
17.01.2012
In the age of digital crispness and X number of mega pixels it is often refreshing for budding photographers to go back to using film cameras. Lomography is a cult photography movement that encapsulates this yearning for the old school, for the simple basics of photography itself: the capturing of a moment in time. As hobbies go, digital photography can be an extremely expensive one with even entry-level SLR cameras costing upwards of £200 and advanced, professional grade models costing from around £1000 to £5000. This does not even include the cost of various lenses, flashes, battery packs and other accessories and photo editing software programs such as Adobe Photoshop. However, like any other artistic medium it is possible to have all the gear and no idea of what actually makes a good photograph. This is where lomography and lomography cameras come in. Lomography cameras tend to be very cheap, cheerful and often rather quirky. For example, the Pop 9 camera takes nine identical images all at once. Another camera, the original and probably the most well-known lomography camera is the Diana +, which was released in 2007. It is based on the Diana plastic camera, which was manufactured in the 1960s by the Chinese Great Wall Plastics Co. The lomography model Diana retails at around £50, obviously much cheaper than its digital counterparts. Another enjoyable beginner’s camera is the £25 Holga 120N which is manufactured in Hong Kong.
what is lomography? One of the charms of lomography is the unpredictability of how your photo will turn out. One of the repercussions of the cheap build quality is what are known as light leaks. These can be either incredibly irritating or a blessing in disguise, as light leaks often produce interesting effects on the finished image. A downside can be when a whole roll of film is ruined when the back of one’s camera falls off. Another charm of lomography is the small amount of pictures you can take on each role of film (12 on a 120mm film roll). For someone who is used to digital cameras where you can take as many photos as you want and delete them immediately, this can initially feel jarring. However, once you get used to this you in fact find yourself thinking much more about the composition of your photograph, which in the end often means you come out with a better image. Some models like the 120N, allow you to take multiple exposures on the same frame, which makes for some remarkable overlapping effects. Lomography is not just for those who want to break away grasps of technology, it is a fun medium, which, will ultimately teach you more about photography and make you more appreciative of the photos you have taken. For more information on Lomography and plastic camera photography try plasticcameras.wikia. com and lomography.com.
Josh Mott
retro column: pikmin It’s easy to look at rows of games about grizzled space soldiers and forget that gaming can be about more than firing guns in a series of grey industrial buildings. Ladies and gentlemen, Wired gives you Pikmin, a 2001 strategy game released for Gamecube, which is one of the most whacked out gaming experiences of all time. Pikmin is the story of Captain Olimar, a tiny space explorer who crashes on a mysterious planet. The atmosphere is toxic and his life support will only sustain him for 30 days, and his ship is in ruins. He desperately needs to repair the ship and get the hell back home. Fortunately, he meets the Pikmin, an equally tiny race of plant men who can be controlled by his whistle. The pikmin are weak individually but powerful together, and can lift objects many times their size, including your ship parts. Like all great games, Pikmin has simple and deep gameplay. You have 30 days to repair your ship: there are 30 ship parts scattered over the 6 zones and you need 25 of them to escape. Each day lasts 15 minutes of real time, and at nightfall you must take off in your ship to escape dangerous nocturnal monsters. Any Pikmin left behind at night
WIRED
concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk
(2002)
are devoured. If you fail to repair your ship by day 30, it’s game over. The game is a frantic race against the clock, and to succeed you must rigorously plan your days and be an excellent multitasker. Pikmin will automatically carry ship parts or dead monsters back to their nest, but they aren’t good at defending themselves en route and it’s up to you to make sure they get their valuable prizes home in one piece. The game is both cute and vaguely creepy: the pikmin follow your orders blindly, and monsters aren’t shy about killing them in vast numbers. That said, watching Pikmin swarm over a vast creature is reminiscent of watching army ants devour entire cows. The corpse is taken to their nest and transformed into more Pikmin, who rally forth and kill again. Occasionally, one wonders if freeing the Pikmin was the right thing to do. Pikmin is hard to find for Gamecube, but was re-released for the Wii in 2009. If you’ve ever wanted to play a tense puzzle-strategy game starring a horde of primary coloured genocidal carrot men, this game is for you. Leo Hunt
appy corner: stick cricket After receiving copious amounts of critical praise, the Stick Sports franchise took the next best step when they released the Stick Cricket app for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android phones. The online version of the game by far seemed the most deserved of an app crossover due to its brilliantly addictive yet simplistic gameplay. Players take control of batsman from a wide variety of international teams and play out a series of innings against numerous opponents. Gamers need only tap to the left or right of their screens to direct the oncoming ball either out into the stands or into the hands of a catcher. Sixes and fours can be achieved with perfect timing, whilst slower reactions will cost players the game. Anyone familiar with the rules of cricket will instantly know their whereabouts but Stick Cricket helps lay out the foundations of the game for any player to quickly pick up and play. The app features a wide variety of different game modes including a training academy, a beat-your-best score innings test, world domination, world cup and two player. The world domination mode is probably the most entertaining section of the game as it places gamers against every international team from Canada to South Africa. Teams
get progressively harder the further players progress, ensuring games remain both entertaining and equally challenging. Minor criticisms of the game can be said of its lack of depth. Players are restricted to only batting with the idea of bowling or catching completely left up to the AI. A more complete translation of the cricketing experience would only have helped boost the appeal of this game. Nonetheless, Stick Cricket remains one of the best sporting apps on the market. Its pick up and play nature with an abundance of game modes means anyone can enjoy this game for hours on end. Andrew Wilkins
FASHION the hotlist
17.01.2012
There
seems to be an air of
vibrancy
12
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
for spring/summer
2012.
It’s
time to
revitalise
smokin’ your look by introducing
Chai tea The fashionista’s drink of choice this spring.
bold colours to your wardrobe. Key colours to look for this season where eveningwear
is concerned are candy apple red and electric yellow.
statement colours: go for a classic
Think
Hollywood style red dress with matching lipstick for a Sale holidays It’s cold. It’s time to escape.
yellow with beige or contrast with a sultry pink.
accessory which will add a
touch of charm
spring, an item of clothing made popular again by
Bowties 2012 is the year of the Androgyoslut.
The
pencil skirt is sure to add an air of
points
in
2012
with pastel mixes.
glamourous
Also hot
take on this look. wear
this season are oversized hats,
to an outfit.
The pencil skirt
is a piece to
The Iron Lady, the new biopic of
elegance
and
sophistication
Layer
soft shades for a
an
invest
in this
Margaret Thatcher.
to any wearer.
Finally,
light and dreamy
get
extra style
look.
chokin’
Emily Pearse
Diets Pass us another Snickers please
the art of being ruthless The new kitten heel We just don’t like it.
Looking like Frankie Cocozza Maybe it’s time for a new hair cut for UEA’s Jared Murphy.
After daring to embrace the dark world of January sales, I can safely say that I have learnt a few tricks of the trade with regards to surviving a full day of clothes hunting. On stepping into your average high street shop, in this instance a New Look, I was reminded of a scene in the film Mean Girls of barbaric females going head to head in what would appear to be some sort of monster apocalypse. I momentarily look on (half amused, half frightened) to see a woman resembling a cornered bear as another fellow sales-goer encroaches into her territory. We are all too familiar with the animalistic mentality of a woman on the hunt for the perfect, bargain priced New Year’s frock, and most of us cannot be held responsible for what we will do to get it!
So what should one do in order to return to your comfortable abode in one piece? (Give or take a scratch or two: those ladies on a mission are vicious and unforgiving). First, it is essential to note that you must have an inclination as to what you want out of the sales, whether it is a sequin-covered sparkly number or a sleek and chic LBD. There is no point allowing oneself to become distracted by a fancy flat shoe display if, speaking from experience, you already have enough to wear a different pair for every day of the month. Stay focused. Sales have that sneaky ability to entrance us into purchasing unnecessary garments – often we get home and wonder if someone drugged us before we bought those fingerless gloves embossed with sheep. Shops also pose the ‘price tag problem’.
This is simple to avoid as long as a highly trained shopper does not succumb to a garment just because there is an enormous ‘£3’ sticker emblazoned upon it. Try it on. Look in the mirror. Hide the price tag: is it “wow” or “put it down now?” If it’s more grandma than grandeur save those three precious pounds for another wiser item deserving of your cash. With these simple steps, as well as having several trusted friends at your side, you can get through the January sales with ease. But, always remember: never provoke a mother armed with a pram and several bawling children. The consequences are dire.
Becky Evans
FASHION
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
Photo: Adam-Peter Hicks; flickr.com/adampeterhicksphotography
13
17.01.2012
street chic So. Your head is suffering from a four week long Christmas hangover, you’ve put on what feels like two stone from over-eager starved student eating. All the clothes in your wardrobe are either sequins or holiday sweaters, both of which seem plain wrong in January. But it’s still too cold to whack out the floral dresses. You go shopping only to try on some size six yellow skirt in the sales that can’t exactly hide your newly developed Terry’s Chocolate Orange muffin top, and your New Year’s “get fit” regime has already failed. Sound familiar? Welcome to January. Like it or not, it happens to us all, and, in the corny but all-too-familiar words of Hairspray, “you can fight it or you can rock out to it”. This month’s Vogue argues that the answer is “escapism”: reminisce over your
2011 self and avoid the uncertainty of January. But that’s what we do every year, and I don’t see Januarys getting any easier. So, apologies to Alexandra Shulman, but how about a new tactic: embrace this season and its lack of safety and experiment with new styles. The magazines and shops are pushing next seasons’ trends but we’re still stuck in freezing cold Norwich, so if they won’t tell you how to do it, look to the streets. A key element of fashion that magazines seem to miss is that it isn’t constricted to a mere industry bubble. The pavements are the true reflection of society’s cultural and demographic changes and, this month, we should celebrate this. Fashion provides the moodboard and inspiration for designers, proven by the hundreds of up-andcoming street fashion blogs available online.
As a student, having to choose buying dinner over any decent fashion magazine, the campus square automatically became my source of inspiration. It’s a fresh change from seeing the regurgitations of designer labels in shops that are way out of a student’s budget. Instead, street fashion is personal. The people photographed on the blogs scream “cool”, intensified by those mini fact files which are often put alongside their image, making the models, and therefore fashion in general, relatable. Reading about the process behind their outfit [which vintage markets they use, how they pieced their outfit together, whether they’re acing their computer science classes or flunking geography] brings fashion to a new dimension rather than just a bunch of size zeros staring up at you blankly from the
page. The creator of street fashion blog bible The Satorialist, Scott Schuman, started his website with the idea of “creating a two-way dialogue about the world of fashion and its relationship to daily life.” It is this dialogue, personality and interaction that provides a refreshing change from the usual system. So I’m not saying boycott all fashion magazines in 2012 and wear bumbags or socks with sandals for the rest of the year in protest of the fashion industry’s inability to relate to real life. But next time you’re wandering around the UFO, soak up the fashion scene, the next “it” girl could be closer than you think. Harriet Smith
ARTS
17.01.2012
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
the cambridge list by robert clear
The premise of The Cambridge List, a selfpublished book by Robert Clear, is intriguing. The Greek gods, taking up residence in the head of a failed Cambridge classics student, have come up with a list of lecturers they want killed. The rather unappealing hero of the book is James Connor, and over the course of the book, with the Greek gods in his head, he works his way through the list. This idea is patchily pulled off. The concept
itself is clever and as the book progresses, the quality of the writing improves. However, Clear never really escapes writing over-melodramatic prose. At times, particularly earlier in the book, it isn’t entirely clear whether Clear is attempting to be funny, and if he is, he rather fails. That said, the plot itself is fairly entertaining and clips along at a reasonable pace. The book is a times reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s style, but lacking the appealing main characters and his wit. Throughout the book there are almost no characters who garner any sympathy at all, with the possible exception of the Muse. There is at times a strong sense of misogyny, mitigated only by the fact the author clearly dislikes most of his male characters too. There is a sense of gleeful voyeurism and darkness during the murder scenes, which, regardless of the rest of the book, will probably upset more sensitive readers. This clearly shows one problem with self-published books: marketing is one of the things publishers do well. There is no indication, in the marketing of this book, of the level of violence and sex it contains. This reviewer confesses to being rather sensitive to violence, but suspects that any film made of this book would garner an 18 certificate purely for one particular murder scene. The ending of this book is rather inconclusive and is clearly leaving room for a sequel. Should one appear, this reviewer does not have any plans to read it. Nevertheless, The Cambridge List is fairly
entertaining once you read beyond the initial pages and Clear stops writing about how the main character’s “erection breached the elasticated perimeter of his boxers and poked its own head over the parapet.” This book escaped one of the problems with self-publishing: it is clearly well proofread, although it would probably have benefited from a professional editor. It might appeal to readers with a dark sense of humour. One potential selling point is that it is set in Cambridge, but any readers attracted to that aspect should bear in mind that there are many far better books available which are set there.
charles dickens and david madden
Attempting to complete a Dickens novel is not an easy task. The genius created all the characters we feel we know: the sickly Uriah Heep, with his long, clammy hands and his sycophantic manipulations; brave little Nell; the trickster Fagin; and most memorable of all, the person we all fear to be, Miss Havisham. David Madden picks up where Dickens
playhouse
16
celebrates
years of comedy,
drama and dance in norwich
Miranda Hutchison
the mystery of edwin drood by
left off heroically and leaves no questions unanswered as he determinedly leads the reader to a finale that exceeds expectations. The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a classic murder mystery tale. We’re introduced to Drood (by Dickens himself) as a young, somewhat spoilt, man who is betrothed to the English rose of Cloisterham, Rosa Bud. His parents have passed on and he is left to be raised by his seemingly doting uncle Jasper. In classic Dickensian style, the names themselves allow Madden to unravel the story. Drood’s death can be interpreted in his name, which unmistakably resonates with dread, and Jasper’s with whisper, secrecy and conspiracy. We have the angelic Mr Crisparkle; the wandering Helen and Neville Landless; and the unpredictable philanthropist Mr Honeythunder. It is reassuring to know that even up to his death, Dickens never lost his ability to push the boundaries of imagination and create characters as tangible as ever. Dickens leaves the novel before we know who killed Edwin Drood. All we do know is
the
14
that his Jasper is in love with Rosa, that Edwin Drood was threatened by Neville Landless, and nothing has been found of Drood except his shirt pin and his watch. It is left to Madden to unravel the clues and notes left by Dickens, and make as informed a decision as possible as to who killed Edwin Drood and what becomes of the other characters. The novel clearly states where Dickens’ section ends and Madden’s begins. The latter emulates Dickens’ techniques and adopts the characters as his own. Surprisingly, the sections flow together seamlessly and Madden does an outstanding job of implementing a Dickensian style of writing. The pace of Madden’s narrative however, taints his completion with a slight sense of haste, and rather than continue the story, he simply brings it to an end. Inevitably, despite Madden’s convincing work, the magic of Dickens’ writing is lacking. Without Dickens, The Mystery of Edwin Drood will always be unfinished. Alice Austin
In December the Norwich Playhouse celebrated its 16th birthday, meaning it can now buy its first lottery ticket, indulge in legal sex and drink beer, wine or cider with a meal in a pub or restaurant if bought by an adult. The Playhouse opened in December 1995, the result of a six-year-long project funded mostly by private individuals and small businesses. Prior to its life as the venue we know and love today, the building functioned as a variety of establishments, previously serving as a warehouse to a motorcycle dealer, the head office of the Norwich Mercury newspaper, and a Greek restaurant. Today, The Playhouse functions as a hub for excellent entertainment in theatre, comedy and music, along with a bunch of other wonders, such as The Playhouse Bar, a great place to relax and have a drink before or after a performance. The Playhouse has welcomed many big names to its intimately-sized stage, including a host of marvellous comedians such as Al Murray, Mark Watson, Russell Kane, Chris Addison, Jack Whitehall and a recent surprise visit from Michael McIntyre. It has also hosted a variety of theatre productions from Shakespeare to children’s puppet shows. No other Norwich venue can more perfectly embody the cliche that there is something for everyone. Rianna Hudson
15
17.01.2012
sleeping beauty
It is easy to forget just how good pantomimes actually are and think that they can only be enjoyed by children and merely tolerated by their parents and other relatives. However, a visit to the Theatre Royal pantomime Sleeping Beauty would quickly remind anyone that this British theatre genre can be enjoyed by everyone. What was most impressive about Sleeping Beauty was the sheer effort clearly put into it on all parts, though little less would be expected from a professional show such as this. The design team deserve special commendation for the outstanding effects used throughout the performance. From the inflatable thorns which surrounded the princess’s castle to the flying time machine to take our heroes from the 1870s to the 1970s, the effects were superior to the average pantomime. Another highlight was the character of uncle Leonardo, a professor (the owner of the time machine), played brilliantly by David Gant. Gant, who was clearly more used to playing Shakespearean characters, brought a touch of irony and sarcasm to the performance, particularly with his rendition of The Time Warp, including all the actions and his fantastic voice, perfect for telling the traditional fairytale.
ARTS
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
-
theatre royal
Although it is important to remember that pantomimes are intentionally very lighthearted, and this kind of entertainment is to be expected and rejoiced in, it is difficult for pantomimes to avoid becoming tiresome after an extended period. Thankfully, this is a trap which the production fell into only a couple of times, including a rather tiring, dull and repetitive chase around the stage involving ghosts and the two main comical characters: Muddles (Andre Vincent) and his mother, the dame, Nurse Peggy (Richard Gauntlett). Vincent and Gauntlett provided great entertainment through the performance and played their characters perfectly, but a point was reached where unless the audience member was under 12 years old, one had clapped along more than enough times. The Theatre Royal’s Sleeping Beauty was just what was needed to commence the festive period for all those lucky enough to see it. It included a great cast who were clearly enjoying themselves as much as the audience and had enough songs to revive any musical performed at the theatre over the past year. Although aimed primarily at those young in years, Sleeping Beauty remained good fun for all those young at heart. Sarah Boughen
this week in arts history The 21 January marks the 62nd anniversary of the death of the writer George Orwell. Author of the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four and the allegorical novella Animal Farm, Orwell also wrote four other novels, three fictionalised documentaries based on his experiences and countless essays and pieces of journalism. While usually known as George Orwell, in true Orwellian fashion that was actually Eric Arthur Blair’s pen name. Growing up, Orwell went to Eton school where he was briefly taught French by another dystopian novelist Aldous Huxley. After leaving Eton, Orwell spent time as a police officer in Burma and then lived in London, Paris, finally returning to his family home in Southwold, Suffolk. Orwell also fought in the Spanish civil war, something he describes in his novel Homage to Catalonia and as a result gave his name to a square in Barcelona. In the second world war he worked supervising cultural broadcasts to India which were made to counter Nazi propaganda, but quit his job when he realised what little effect these broadcasts had. It was around this time, in 1943, that Orwell started work on Animal Farm, a novella that uses an animal allegory to
represent the events of the Stalin era before the war. Orwell’s final book, Nineteen EightyFour, was finished in 1948, two years before
... 1950
his death, and the reversal of the final two digits of the year gave way to the iconic title of the novel. This dystopian novel is a vision of the future under a totalitarian regime, where even thoughts are policed, and describes what happens when the main character attempts to escape the tyranny of the state. As one of the most well-known dystopian novels it encapsulates Orwell’s fears about the breakdown of democracy and the disastrous effects that a revolution could have. Nineteen Eighty-Four and its dystopian themes had a great impact on popular culture. Words such as thoughtcrime and doublethink are both terms coined from Nineteen Eighty-Four’s fictional language Newspeak and refer to how thoughts can be controlled by the state. The television show Big Brother also gets its title from Nineteen Eighty-Four, taken from the name of the dictator of the novel. The impact of George Orwell’s life can still be felt now, not only through his contribution as a writer but through the minutiae of how society regards the state and even democracy. Jennifer Grimes
CREATIVE WRITING SPOTLIGHT Q&A with UEA writers. This week - Alex Lambert
What are you studying? Research master’s in biomedicine.
What’s your favourite word? Fuck. A friend of mine once waxed lyrical to me about the joys of the many connotations of the word. Plus, it’s pretty satisfying to say.
How do you defeat writer’s block? I don’t. I have to wait for a long time for ideas to free themselves up naturally.
What inspires you? Making connections between things. When I make connections between things myself or when I’m moved by something or overcome by something.
Who are your favourite writers? Murakami, Ginsberg, Tim Lilburn. Ginsberg was my introduction to poetry.
To Kindle or not to Kindle? No. I like something about the feel of the book. The pleasure of reading is not entirely in the text. There is something about the feel and smell of a book, and where you are when you read it.
Do you prefer handwriting or typing? Handwriting. I carry a small notebook and a pen in my bag. I only type things up when I’m editing them.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s inspired you? Having the life scared out of me when a fast train passed through a dark station.
Where do you write? Anywhere. On the move: buses and trains.
You enter the pearly gates. What would you want God to say to you? It’s an open bar.
17.01.2011 concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
POETRY CORNER
16
“ “ ” ” “ ” evasion into the blue
'
i m crashing under heavy tides
by M. Abbasi
by Geoffrey Delaney
I step into the looking glass Blue-green mirror under the sky With faded stripes of cotton clouds In gentle breeze passing me by,
I'd like to go down to the ocean And walk too far. I'd spend nineteen years building a castle But a heavy tide will wash it away.
Coated in its wetness Silvery under the sun I have lost the dry warmth I felt As the sea and I become one,
Funny how a cool tide is so much slower, it laps, and it wades, and it winks, and it simmers it surrounds in a womb of warmth, radiating. Tides, Waves and Rushes can be controlled. But not by me. I fear the if more sudden than the now, And I'm in too deep for such a shallow victory.
We lay close together It never leaves my side I taste salty joy and sadness But these moist tears are not mine,
Now I am waiting for those waves to wash away my anxiety And leave something new, something wanted, Something that can relate, and be related to. Like a desert island - only perfect when isolated.
There is a silence in the water And soft stillness in the waves Like the clouds all my landish troubles Slowly begin to fade, Beautiful blue drowns them all - Indifference to a floating mind Yet should they really be mourned for If already lost to ebbing tides?
I'd walk back from the shore, retreat like I always have. And one day, I think I will go down to the ocean. If it's any consolation, I'm still thinking of you.
To the surface, to the edge New waves wash calmly over me I know this ocean-solace will end Revealing my reality...
by Abby Erwin
grey, hard-toothed sisters, tossing and grinding against the prows of ships. You fell from stern clouds,
I clawed my way onto the rocks, scraping my cetaceous skin on scabs of barnacles. You call me beauty, but I am a webbed thing,
You did not conceive me gently in the belly of the sea; the churning salt of your reluctant lover was only there to break your fall.
a handful of flesh, forced entry to the heart of a whirlpool. Dragged by riptides from my brackish womb, I crowned at the surface.
sly and sticky as a raw-meat anemone, the seasick swell of your severed
The waves weren’t soft that day, fanning like wheat, announcing their fecundity with pearly beards of foam; they were
Half-formed, gasping with salted lungs, no shell rose to cradle me, no gauze to cover my nakedness. Brined and cowering,
aphrodite
coupling. I will wreck you, fathers, on these barren cliffs. My breasts are garlanded with mussels like strings of black teeth, trophies of sailors beached by tides, coughed from the bosomed prows, the broken ribs of their ships.
creative writing events An evening with Mark Seddon :
“Whatever happened to radical journalism? Can it revive?” This is a must-hear talk for anyone interested in politics, the role of the news media and how it has evolved. The Forum. Tuesday 24 January., 7:30pm.
17
17.01.2012
concrete.tv@uea.ac.uk
TELEVISION
“I AM SHERLOCKED”
THE BBC’S BRILLIANT REDISCOVERY OF ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE’S DEFINITIVE DETECTIVE IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER After the bloated “event” television of the Christmas period, it would seem that the BBC were saving our best present as a cure for the New Year blues. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’s slick updating of Sherlock returned to our screens, with A Scandal in Belgravia: a cleverly written and well-conceived episode which found the detective seeking to retrieve illicit royal photographs from the wily possession of the beautiful Irene Adler. Loosely based on Conan Doyle’s original A Scandal in Bohemia, the episode kept broadly to the formula of the first series. The humour that makes Sherlock so watchable continued to work well between stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman and, combined with the development of Holmes’ relationship with brother Mycroft, has helped audiences to better understand the erratic detective. This otherwise intelligent and witty episode did suffer from some pacing issues and sometimes felt more like three episodes that had been pushed together into one long story. Nevertheless, the script again achieves what so many other TV adaptations have failed to do: bring a classic character to a modern audience in a populist style, without losing the essential essence of the stories. Furthermore, the visual quirks and nifty camera work that made the first series so visually arresting are even better than before. The foregrounding of technology via onscreen text is almost old hat for the show now, but surrealist camera work, for example, where Sherlock’s bed rises
up behind him to prevent him “falling”, are truly innovative and mark the show as aesthetically different from the vast majority of its rivals. Of course, when 8.75 million people tune in, there will always be criticism; the portrayal of Irene Adler as a lesbian and dominatrix has caused alarm in some quarters, with accusations of pre-watershed “indecency” as well as questions over the gender politics at play. That Adler does not defeat Holmes as she does in the original, but is both defeated and then saved by him, seems to be an odd decision. Of course, it is not known what the ever enigmatic Moffat and Gatiss have planned, but as it stands, this failure of the canon’s most prominent proactive female character seems to reenforce a very male dominated character set and, unless remedied, could remain a missed opportunity in an otherwise strong TV series. This all-too-short second run of Sherlock has got off to a promising start, and with adaptations of arguably two of the most well-known Holmesian yarns completing the series, namely The Hounds of Baskerville and The Reichenbach Fall, there’s never been a better time to don your dramatic coat and sweep about urban settings looking for crimes to solve. Or, perhaps more sensibly, enjoy this joyously clever and erudite version of a true cultural legend.
Matthew Clare
black mirror: a reflection (Avaliable on 4oD) December is always a great time for TV. Old favourites return for Christmas specials and because you’re home for the holidays, you can even watch them without those pesky TV licencers sticking letters through your door. What holiday TV isn’t known for, however, is edginess or innovation, which is why Charlie Brooker’s three part miniseries Black Mirror was such a fantastic and unexpected treat. In the first episode, The National Anthem, a princess is held at ransom. The demands: the prime minister must have televised sex. With a pig. This premise might seem crass, but thanks to sharp writing delivered with po-faced sincerity
by a fantastic cast, it becomes an oddly believable, amusing and ultimately tragic critique of media-led politics. Unfolding like a bonkers episode of The Thick of It, it’s clearly inspired by the superinjunction debacle, displaying a populist government with a slender understanding of social media being completely dominated by it. Brooker is never one to rest on his laurels and the second episode showed this by trading up political satire for dystopian sci-fi. Even more allegorical than the first, Fifteen Million Merits shows human kind reduced to drones that pedal on machines all day long to earn credits. They spend their credits living vicariously through their
onscreen avatars, a concise critique of media-led consumer culture. Unfortunately, commitment to this dystopian critique comes at the cost of the sharp writing of the first episode and this one trudges along at a deliberately melancholic but unexciting pace. Towards the end things go from allegorical to autobiographical for Brooker, as his protagonist Bing goes from revolted critic to vacuous presenter. Indeed, the X Factor-esque presenters in this episode were the highlight, but even they were too one dimensional to provide much more than a few laughs. It wasn’t bad by any stretch, but it paled in comparison to the first. The final episode, The Entire History
of You, imagined a near future where all memory is stored in tiny chips in our heads. While this episode arguably had the least to say, it was the most successful in terms of drama, packed with well-observed social tension and perfect performances. In short, Black Mirror was crucial television; a lot of modern dramas omit or awkwardly misrepresent technology to the same extent that Victorian literature used to omit sex, losing believability in the process. It was refreshing, then, to see a series tackle the issue so directly and even more so to see it done with a wit like Charlie Brooker’s. Essential viewing. Oliver Balaam
FILM
17.01.2012
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
18
the iron lady Director: Phyllida Lloyd Country: UK Starring: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent If you mentioned the notion of sympathising with Margaret Thatcher to a group of radical students, you would be more likely to win the lottery than gain any positive sort of response. But although The Iron Lady does paint a somewhat (bear with me) respectful portrait of the polarizing former PM, it is more a piece for its star, the legendary Meryl Streep to once again prove her indelible versatility. The rest of the film... well, we’ll see. The film charts the rocky climb of young Margaret Roberts – from a Conservative
grocer’s daughter to her eventual, but inevitable fall from power at the clawed hands of her own party – in a series of flashbacks from a dementia-ridden Thatcher. In her geriatric state she also makes ‘contact’ with her late husband Dennis, played eccentrically but faithfully by Jim Broadbent. With these limited circumstances she does everything from share a twee dance with Dennis to grumble over the price of milk. Although they ease the pace of the film these scenes do tend to drag on slightly, even to the point of viewer discomfiture; and the story of her journey, though more thrilling, seems to embody more of an average recreation commissioned by the BBC than
a major award-contending picture. But what distinguishes it is that performance. ‘Marvellous’ Meryl takes all of Thatcher’s persona and physicality and makes it her own, rather than providing another generic, deep-voiced impression of the ‘not-forturning’ Lady. Indeed she endows a more human factor that is rarely attributed by Thatcher-loathers, concentrating on the person behind the hard image. Sometimes the performance could be seen somewhat melodramatic, but Streep masterfully blends this with rousing substance. She is aided by artful direction from Phyllida Lloyd, which comes somewhat as a surprise from someone whose one other major film credit is Mamma
Mia!. Nevertheless, Lloyd and Streep have a chemistry that keeps the drama focused, averting the fear that Maggie might break out into ‘The Winner Takes It All’ at any given second. In short, The Iron Lady is not a classic. Yet it does serve as a faithful portrait of an inflexible woman; and whether you disagree or not with her divisive principles during her time in politics, you cannot help but admire her courageous spirit. Ultimately it is Streep’s flawless performance that holds the film up to an acceptable standard, which is wholly deserving of that long overdue third Oscar, and then some. Sam Warner
19
17.01.2012
FILM
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
sherlock holmes: a game of shadows
the girl with the dragon tattoo
After ending the first movie with the start of a new mystery to be solved, audiences knew that there was going to be a second instalment on its way. However, like most sequels, this one was approached with caution by audiences who were worried that it would not live up to its predecessor. Fortunately, Guy Ritchie did not allow this film to fail. Sherlock Holmes: A Games of Shadows, is a refreshingly good movie that holds many of the same qualities of the first while also introducing something new. The cinematography of this film is simply outstanding, with many astonishing locations. The storyline itself is grittier and
the direction style follows through with this extremely well, leaving a very sombre feel to the film. Yet, thankfully, it wasn’t all doom and gloom as Ritchie managed to incorporate the light, fluffy humour from the first movie. Of course, the pairing of Robert Downy Jr. and Jude Law probably helped with that as well. Unlike the first movie, this one is rich with raw emotion that truly lets you get into the depths of the characters. It is better than the first, simply because it is different. It is a film with good entertainment value. Samantha Rogers
In 2009, Niels Arden Oplev released his unflinching adaptation of the best selling The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, reinforcing the foundations laid the previous year by Let the Right One In and allowing modern Swedish cinema to enter the mainstream consciousness. While the latter lost a great deal of its charm in being remade to suit American sensibilities, David Fincher’s treatment drips with the same disturbing combination of grace and rancour as the original. An achingly stylish opening credits sequence and a score full of electronic dread composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross become all but insignificant upon the introduction of the nymph-like Rooney Mara
the artist
betrays not just love for the period, but in fact respect in terms of what people achieved with what seems an unthinkable restriction today. From the opening scene to the end credits, every frame brims with character, every scene is a lesson in ingenuity, every character alive with feeling, every moment alight with the magic of cinema. Jean Dujardin’s capacity to create very visual characters is only highlighted in a speechless narrative about a silent-film star’s downfall after the emergence of sound while
newcomer Bérénice Bejo’s charm is not unlike that of the silent era girls her character refers to. Conducted by an enthralling near-constant soundtrack by Ludovic Bource that twists and turns according to the pattern of emotions unfolding on the screen, The Artist is a superb achievement in that it avoids becoming a parody of itself (and its roots) and ultimately holds itself as one of the most beautiful films in recent years. James Bearclaw
We live in an age in which homage, tributes and other patchworks of retro-filmmaking have become vehicles for cultural nostalgia and the appreciative dismissal of technique and style now perceived as outdated. With silent film The Artist however, director Michel Hazanavicius
as the eponymous ‘girl’, Lisbeth Salander. While Mara clearly owes a large part of her performance to her predecessor, Noomi Rapace, it is far from a simple impression. Rapace’s stern, androgynous visage which seemed to constantly be keeping a barrage of emotion at bay was what captivated audiences in 2009. Now Mara, whose softer features do not betray any particular feeling, has made the character of Lisbeth her own through a more reserved, yet no less confident, portrayal. One can only hope that, should the rest of the ‘Millennium Trilogy’ be remade, it does not suffer the same nosedive in quality as its Swedish counterpart. Tom Moore
ranter’s corner
Find me a person who does not recognise Pulp Fiction as a spectacular work of art and I will consume my hat. Actually, if we’re ingesting headwear, find me another who fails to fall in love with the intricacy and wailing desperation of the star-studded Magnolia, or a human shell cold enough to feel no radiating warmth from Richard Curtis’ Love Actually. These ensemble films all contain an artfully satisfying quality of coincidence and unquestioning connection. The characters interweave flawlessly, leaving no room for scepticism. Why then, with Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve, has Garry Marshall decided to force this respectable genre into an angry headlock, grab a handful of dead-eyed celebrities, and proceed one by one to ram each of them up its arse? With a desperation not unlike a horse on ice, Marshall makes unfathomably wild connections between the characters, such as Zac Efron being Sarah Jessica Parker’s little brother, even though there has to be close to thirty years difference between them. Their mother must have given birth to Efron at the age of (at least) 65. Marshall would be doing the film world a colossal favour by terminating this embarrassing procession of abominable performances and painfully unoriginal ideas. Maybe the next one will be “Pancake Day” and we can beat him to death with a frying pan. Alice Austin
FILM
17.01.2012
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
mission: impossible
goon
It would be true to say that Goon is the best film this reviewer has seen this year. However, it is still extremely early days and there is little hope at all that Goon will become a seminal film of 2012. The two stars are given, firstly for Sheann William Scott endearing performance as Doug Glatt, an out-casted and dim-witted ice hockey player. Doug has a talent for beating people up rather than playing hockey but somehow finds himself on the Halifax Highlanders team. His kind heart, and his ability to punch men to the ground, manage to unite the whole team giving them a shot at the play-offs.
The second star is for the semi inspirational plot which reminds us of the importance of being a team- a lesson everyone can learn. Sadly, the rest of the film relies on scenes of violence and repetitive swearing and it soon becomes tasteless and unfunny. Goon tries it’s hardest to climb out of the cheap and tacky comedy pile- a pile filled with films like Norbit and The Ringer. Unfortunately it never quite succeeds and instead falls back into the heap of fleeting comedies which few of us rarely remember. Matt Francis
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ghost protocol
In the most part, Mission: Impossible succeeds in capturing the magic of the first film, even 15 years after its release. The film centres on the closure of the IMF, led by Ethan Hunt (Cruise) after they are accused of destroying the Kremlin during a botched mission. Bird does what he excels at by telling a simple, gripping story with nice, clean and more importantly, exciting action sequences. It should also be said that watching this film in IMAX will give you a much more forceful and immersive experience than a standard screening (please note that M:I 4 is preceded by a ‘Prologue’ for the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises and you will definitely
want to see that on a bigger screen). The new and returning cast does an excellent job in constructing stunning action that’s well-matched with funny and sharp dialogue. However, the one annoyance with this film was the rather uninspired female roles, but this is not the only blockbuster to be accused of such a thing in recent years. The spark is definitely back in the Mission: Impossible franchise and that spark manages to ignite a fuse that’s been running since 1996.
with them all being suitably cryptic, and the mixed reaction to Tom Hardy’s Bane voice (which, rumour has it, is being tweaked for the release), we still have no real idea. The superb cast list (which boasts Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard) and that fact that it is set eight years after The Dark Knight aside, all we have to go on are scraps of rumours.
A Liam Neeson sighting here. An image of Catwoman there. Yet many questions remain. Has Batman left Gotham for good? Will Bane break Batman’s back, as in the comics? Will Ra’s al Ghul reappear and how? All of these, and the hundreds more, can only be answered in two ways. One is purely to speculate. The other is to claim ‘In Nolan We Trust’. 20th July 2012. Put the date in your diary.
Eliot Fallows
preview james lillywhite on what you might expect from the dark knight rises 20th July 2012. That is the date etched into the minds’ of film buffs across the world. The date that Christopher Nolan finally unleashes The Dark Knight Rises, the concluding instalment in his Batman trilogy, and the last chance to see his unique take on Gotham’s finest. A follow up to the massively successful The Dark Knight, this final film carries a huge weight of expectation. Loved by critics and fans alike, the 2008 movie took over $1 Billion worldwide. Nolan, since then, has made Inception and has received nominations from BAFTA, the Academy and many more for his direction and screenwriting work. The phrase “In Nolan We Trust” has become a mantra for fans around the world. All of this means that The Dark Knight Rises can legitimately lay claim to being one of the most anticipated releases of all time. A lot to live up to then. But it seems that if anyone can live up to that kind of hype, it is Nolan himself. A director who has
always managed to balance the commercial and artistic sides of filmmaking perfectly, Christopher Nolan has elevated himself to the top of his game. His work on the wonderful Memento in 2000 shot him into the spotlight and since then he has gained the reputation of someone who can take alterative cinema to the mainstream. The mind-bending Inception, the backwards Memento, the magical The Prestige; interesting and complex films which shouldn’t, by normal standards, have made as much money as they did. Proof then, that you can be both clever and commercial (take a note Michael Bay). Nolan is perfect to live up to his own reputation as he strives for the challenge of taking his own vision and story to the masses. He hasn’t failed yet and you would be a fool to bet against him here. So, what of the film itself? With two trailers and a six minute prologue now released, one would think that we would know more. But
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the popcorn chart top
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FILM
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
venue’s best films of
2011
motivational films
tyrannosaur
super
8 we need to talk
pay it forward
(2000)
After The Sixth Sense, Haley Joel Osment would only manage a couple of other Hollywood films before dissolving into complete obscurity. He appeared in this flawed but positive movie about a high school student who invents a movement that encourages one person to change the lives of three people at a time. The idea begins to sweep American and a mission is on to find the person who introduced it. It’s a corny yet charming piece. In short the film’s about changing the world, what’s more motivational than that?
all about my mother
(1999)
Pedro Almodovor’s 13th film is unashamedly a film about women. In the director’s unique flair he celebrates and dissects all the components that make up the female form. The film follows Manuela whose son dies in a car accident. She then travels to Barcelona to find the father of her son and is caught up in the lives of the women that he loved and ruined. The film’s motivational moments come when the women in the film, all damaged yet strong, come together to help one another. Almodovor’s film comes with a variety of subtexts but the power of women coming together in the face of adversity is a strong, positive, thematic message.
rocky
(1976)
A fine motivational film doesn’t come much better than a sports flick and Rocky is the mother of all sports flicks. All of the Rocky films are the epitome of motivational
Americana: work hard and reap the benefits. Refreshingly the first film is actually the least patriotic compared to the rest of the series giving it the most universal appeal as small time boxer Rocky Balboa takes on the champion, Apollo Creed. The film includes an infamous and heart pumping training montage as well as brutal and pugilistic boxing match that feels raw even in 2012.
milk
(2008)
Milk is the true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected into major office in California. Around the start of the film, just before his 40th birthday, Harvey is a closet homosexual living in a New York in a sterile job. In just under eight years from he transformed sexual politics in America all senses and became an icon of his generation. ‘Without hope, life is not worth living’ says Harvey, a truly motivational statement.
touching the void
about kevin
tinker tailor soldier spy
submarine
(2000)
It’d be a slight travesty if the top of the list wasn’t a documentary. After all, what’s more motivational than real life? The film follows two climbers that attempt to mount one of the toughest mountains in the Peruvian Andes. It’s told by the three men who were on the disastrous expedition in a series of talking heads which is juxtaposed with dramatised footage of what happened during the climb. It’s not just a film but an experience. After 90 minutes of quite literally looking down the abyss into certain death, one can only feel motivated to appreciate life in all its forms and glories. Sam Langan
the king’s speech
Drive
COMPETITIONS
17.01.2012
concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk
crossword across
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1. Group with motto “who dares wins” (3) 3. First UK top 40 number one of the year (8) 4. African country which still uses the shilling as its currency (5) 5. To exclude, by general consent, from society (6) 8. Emperor of the Mongol Empire (11) 10. Capital of Latvia (4) 11. Location of UEFA Euro ‘96 (7) 13. Largest species of tiger (8) 15. Technical term for bad breath (9) 16. European country with a longer coastline than the United States (6) 19. Name of the victim in the UK version of Cluedo (6)
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2. First managerial casualty of the Barclays Premier League season (10) 6. Greek king who married his mother (7) 7. Juliet’s family in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (7) 9. Originator of phrase “I think therefore I am” (13) 12. The amount of prime numbers are there between two and twenty (5) 14. Organ which secretes insulin (8) 17. The colour of the Northern Line on the London Underground (5) 18. Boy band member who featured on Celebrity Big Brother (7) 20. Sport in which a sand wedge may be used (4)
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