The event issue 231 22 09 2009

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Thursday 24 September 12.30pm- In the Blue Bar M<:1ture Students' Gathering Thursday 24 September 5.30pm- In the Blue Bar local Students' Gathering Friday 25 September 5.30pm- In the Blue Bar Masters Students' Gathering

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Y拢ARLONG SUMM[R Kat Jones shows us how to adopt summer styles into winter wormers.

1. The tea dress- all lovely

2. Checks- plaid shirts worn w1th

3. Logo tees - we saw

and light and floaty, and made me want to dance

gold av1ators and gladiator sandals were huge Large, overs1zed

between the daisies with no shoes on I These

boyfriend checked shirts, open~ buttoned checks over white vests, sweeping check scarves, the fitted check jackets sported by Kelly Osbourne and availab le

them last summer and here they were again this summer, and probably

dresses just sang summer with d1tsy floral prints; With teamed

next. Words, phrases, images, photos, lyrics, if ever there was a way to represent your

at Topshop, and 111 some cases by the brave few: check tights. Worn

personality and speak your mind then the logo

twee about them became non exist ent. They can sti ll

for an edgy, rocky look, the laidback festival look, the effortless weekend look and the smart

tee was it. With many more things to say, I'm sure words will be

be a stap le of the winter

tailored

ward robe when layered with cardies and knitweJr, and worn with knee-high boots and opaques.

checked out the summer! The winter cousin of summer checks is warm ta rtan of Chmtmas colours;

overflowing into winter. I will be wearing a T-shirt that says, ''I'm Cold" as

jackets or biker leather, or worn over legg1ngs with ankle boots, anything

look,

checks

certa1nly

wear with ;-ich, chocolate browns and texture.

I am already starting to feel the winter chill in the air.

Topshop Student DealLowdown 1. Topshop

TruffleShuffle has a range of retro t-shirts and hoodies that a pp ea I to every student. A particular highlight is their range of merchandise With the logos and catchphrases of tv programmes we grew up with ; including Mr Men , Care Bears, Sesam e Street, Smurfs and many more.

Listen Up! Norwich Tuesday 29t h and Wednesday 30th September.

Exclus1vely for Students (any in da te student ID wi ll be accepted). Each customer receives a 20% discount and a free goody bag, as well as complimentary refreshments. There will also be style advisor qu1ckie appointments, and the best dressedstudentwillgettoskipthequeueandmayfmdthemselveson topshop.com With special hidden prizes each night- keep you eyes peeled to find the orange dot! 2. Topman customers will receive a 15% discount until October. You can also get your 15% discount at the 2 student n1ghts above.

Tops hop are celebrating t he new aca demic year w ith two special st udent offers.

Check out the photo shoot on the opposite page. The shots we re taken around UEA campus by Concrete's

This week we looked at the new line of clothes in Topshop to su1t the UEA student. With a chill in the air, darker evenings and the loom of the cold

Chief

w 1nter months approaching, we were inspired by a slouchy, student look of cosy knitwear, warm scarves and hats, coats and soaks. Think "Back to School" w1th checks and tartan, pleats and blazers, ties and tights but brought up-to-date with edgy accessories and layering of colou rs and texture.

The models are Robert Van Egghen and Fashion Editor Kat Jones.

Photographer, GrPg Mann.


fashion

22sepW9 issue231

1~1 lll \\I \ll\: check shirt £25/yellow cardigan, £26/red tie, £10/navy piped jacket, £70/ gre skinny jeans, £30/ shoes, model's own . ~ \I \\'1 \I/\: grey chunky knit jumper, £32/tartan skirt, £32/ black belt, £25/raspberry tights, £6/black over-theknee socks, £5/shallow grey shoes, £60/pearl necklace, £20/ chunky kn1t headband, £10.

1~1 1)! \\I \ll'i: stripe jersey top, £16/burgundy hooded cardigan, £40/camel mac, £70/navy skinny jeans, £35/ Christmas knit scarf, £14/shoes, model's own

~\I \\'1 \I/\: floral bodice, £20/puppytooth brown trousers, £45/mustard cardigan, £32/tan plaited belt, £15/grey beret, £8/tan leather satchel, £50/brown boot, model's own The Event would like to give a special thanks to Charlie the Stylist at Topshop for all her help, support and input over the photo shoot, as well as kind! loaning us the clothes.

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G[T START[D IN NoRWJCII Kirsten Peter is yo ur guide to wh ere to go and what to see in Norwich t his semester

INTl-l[ CITY

ON CA~IPUS

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Where: it's tucked behind Chapelfie ld shop ping cen tre

Where: If you can't find these after your first week, you're in trouble . In the ce ntre of th e cam pu s, th e big bl ue sign saying Lecture Theatres means its purpose lacks as much subt lety as its architecture.

and Chapelfie ld gardens. Best way to get there is to foll ow the directions to the Theatre Royal, and carry on the same road further still. it's on the right of the road and quite unobtrusive, with a white fa~ade.

The Autumn and Spring International literary festivals are the pride of UEA's public event calendar, and this Autumn's is no exception- the educationa l cathedral that is Lecture Theatre 1 will plays host to new poet laureate Caro l Ann Duffy, popular crime writer Alexander McCall Smith, 2009 Booker prize nominee A.S Byatt and many more. it's worth keeping an eye on the always impressive lin e up, as ad vertised around campus, as it could be that a favourite auth or or poet will pop by.

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Where: it 's that giant white aircraft hanga r type building you can see from Norfolk and Suffolk Terraces. ·

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Home to th e Schoo l of World Art and Museology, th e Sainsbury Centre hosts an array of exciting art and museum exhib its. This autumn, this inc ludes Subversive Spaces, a surrealist multimedia- exhibition including painting, scu lpture and video, ex ploring theme s of wandering the streets an d psychic interiors by modern artists inspired by such masters as Salvador Da li and Rene Magritte. There rea ll y is no exc use not to pop into this remarkab le doorstep re source, not least because it's free entry with your campus ca rd . The ca ke in the cafe is rather good, too .

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Where: That big white building you can see as you stumble • out of the LCR.

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Central hub of the Drama degree programme, the drama studio hosts many a brilliantly acted and produced production, with the celebrated Min otaur Theatre Company, made up of drama students, always providing an eclectic mix of offerings this year beginning with Jim Cartwright's Road, following the lives of cha racters in north ern Eng land under the Thatcher government. As well as this, the UEA Drama Society opens it doors to anyone and everyone willing to muck in and give performing and backstage work a go. Their autumn schedule includes the annual Diversify- a show in which anything and everything goes, including original comedy, play extracts, music and dance. They are kick starting the semester with a performa nce of Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, a tale that explores the redemptive power of theatre. Both organisations provide brilliant theatre at student prices.

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The Garage is the place to go if you want to get involved in the Arts, especia lly if you're a keen dancer. it runs B lot of classes through the Norfolk Dance programme that are open to students including Contemporary, Pilates, Street Dance and many more, including one off workshops with the dance companies performing at the nearby Theatre Royal. Drama and theatre skills are also on offer.

MA I ) I )[ I~ .~I t\I~K 1-J

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Wh ere: Go down Lower Goat Lane off the market, turn right, and then left through the alley when you get to t he beautiful Belgian Monk pub.

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The Madder Market is another of Norwich's small but perfectly formed theatres. Amongst this autumn's line up is the supe rl ative wit of Wilde courtesy of Lady Windemere's Fan, tales from Berlin at war in John Van Drutten's I am a Camera and the Christmas classic Toad of Toad Hall. An interesting eve ning for those interested in costume design comes from th e Maddermaket's costumie r Amanda Greenaway, as she talks you through putting on a show from a different perspective.


22sep~09

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Tu~ CITY CoNTINU[D ... TnÂŁATRI: RoYAL I

Where: If you're on the High Street, turn left up the street by Marks and Spencer and keep going.

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This recently refurbished theatre is an example of modern architecture work done well, with a stylish white exterior ta stefully lit with coloured lights at night. But it's what's on inside that counts. Home to big touring productions with all star casts, this Autumn, look out for a host of treats including da~ce , with the Northern Ballet Theatre performing Wuthering Heights from Septemqer 29th and the prestigious Rambert Dance Company passing through Norwich on their Comedy of Change tour in late November. Light hearted theatre comes in the form of Stepping Out, starring Eostender's Jessie Wallace, the tale of amateur dancers with the hope of putting on a decent show. On a more serious note, an adaptation of the Oscar winning film Rain Man comes to the Theatre Royal, starring Neil Morrissey. Musical fans will no doubt want to drop in on Chicago, which is well worth seeing on stage if you've only ever seen the film. Big comic names come in the form of Jimmy Carr, Simon Amstell and Noel Fielding throughout the season. Finally, in December take your UEA family to see this year's panto, Robin Hood. You can pretend you' re there ironically if you must.

TRf NOR\VlCIJ PtAYliOUS[

Where: Another tricky find, it's well worth it when yo~J do. The Arts Centre is a beautifully adapted church with the cosy Ten Bells pub opposite for post show analysis and drinks. Head down Upper or Lower Goat lane away from the market, towards the river. Turn left onto St Benedict's Street and keep going until you think all hope is lost. Again, it is probably worth taking a map and a compass . The Arts Centre is quite a music based venue and that's-not really our area, but amongst many a whimsical minstrel with a guitar and a dream, we have stand ups Trevor Locke, Alun Cochrane and the brilliant Daniel Kitson, as well as T.S El iot prize w inning UEA Academic George Szirtes in conversation about his poetry. They also offer a range of interesting classes in photo.raphy and creative writing if you're looki_ng to branch out of the university bubble.

Where : This one's trickier to find . If you ' re in the centre of the city by the market, head out towards the river and look for signs. If you can find the Art School, you're nearly there, just go over the bridge, but it might be worth looking online before you head off! A smaller venue with an incredible line up, it strengths lie in its diverse comedy offerings and smaller touring productions. In September, you can check out UEA alum and Radio 4 stalwart Arthur Smith set the world to rights, appreciate the art of the music video with Radio 6's Adam Buxton and wonder about the almighty with Marcus Brigstocke in God Collar. October includes a performance of the classic ballet The Nutcracker and a visit from Stewart Lee, who's recent Comedy Vehicle on the BBC, was essential viewing for comedy fans. His show If you prefer a milder comedian, please ask for one is not for the easily offended . November offers up some _Shakespeare, with Othello on offer for fans of the bard. This is just the start of what they offer, so grab a leaflet, see what you fancy and go and find out why people rave about the Playhouse bar, a favourite hang out of the art students next door.

TIII: t0Rill1 Where : Just behind the market. it's that massive glass building that will blind you from reflected light. The Event is going to tell you a secret now that is much to its detriment. The Forum has a pretty impressive library at the back, and if you're an English student, they sometimes have books that the UEA Library doesn't because another 120 people wanted them. Well, not anymore, but there we go. If you're just looking for something to read, it has a pleasing layout with suggested books to read, a bit like a Borders. Except the books are free when you sign up. Result! The Forum also hosts Comedy Store at the Forum, which at times has hosted Michael Mclntyre, Russell Howard and Alan Carr, so catch the likes of Mike Gunn, Addy van de Borgh, Gordon Southern and Adam Bloom before they become household names through a much hyped TV show, or else fade into obscurity. Also, pop in to check out Fusion, The Forum's free art project, a massive curved screen, showing photos and telling stories.

JIJ[ CASTl[ I Where : In the centre of Norwich, near to the entrance to the Castle Mall, funnily enough.

NoRWlCII ARTs CfNTRf

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As well as oodles of history, a large teapot collection and enough Taxidermy to satisfy anyone who has ever thought a zoo is a little too active for their liking, the Castle is home to a pretty nifty art gallery. Until October 4th it features an exhibition on contemporary art and i_mprisonment. No Visible Means of Escape explores punishment, surveillance and the psychology of imprisonment. Following this, the gallery teams up with the Tate and Sheffield and Tyne and Wear Museums to present a work that questions identity and nationality, called Great British Art?


8

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~nse pW~l Iss u e~]

Smile

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Never too Old Today is the day. To go out and play but am I too old, to start to unfold. Should I think of my age or just go into a rage, who cares but me? I could climb a tree, if I really wanted to be free .

Let me live and be given the privilege of virtue in an estranged world where mora ls are not si tcoms and I can squeeze sand between my to es and be sure the surf will wash away all the grain when I lay to rest in the turbulent serenity of t hat content and luster-soaked shore .

D Smith

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One M an's Birth is One M an's Prison Seasons

Let me live in an adobe house w ith a sun-squashed skylight with variegated skins busied around my land awake ned each morning with a moist, t ropica l kiss and a harlequin of Paradise songbirds marching on the baked brow n of my sandal wood porch . Let me die away from your world of leprous and perverted skyscrapers casting immortal shadows of microclimate over each owned head and hand hands which hold tearfully to holograms of green and buy, buy on the whim of a crystallized billboard subliminally castrated in a dehumanized exchange of wrinkles and paranoia for pixels in a portrait and a handsome, shiny avatar waiting to be in se rt ed.

Anon .

The life of buds born into the dark, Condemn~d to a life in damnation, Do glory those who will someday come home, But pray for those men with graves set in stone.

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No Delusion of Elysion .

A smile costs nothing but gives much. lt enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give, it takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it and none so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, Fosters good will in business and is the countersign of friendship. lt brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is natures best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a Smi le. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

Each bud blooms in season's fall, The petals float upon the surface, But never quite sink into the abyss . A nation's saplings spore a pledge, To protect its soil and minerals dear.

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crear1ve wriTing

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The land which bestowed its spirit in me, The pride and courage, which spurns my hand Upon the spirits of land afar. Each country bears its burden's weight, I must stay strong to relieve its arms Of the tyranny and one man's hatred.

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You remind me of spring's finest bloom, as each breath you give is a soft sweet tune. As autumn approaches and the leaves go brown, you still stand stro ng and proud. The winter is so raw and harsh . Yet you still burn bright in this wretched dark. The coldness pounds a~d pounds every bone in my body but my heart is kept warm by remembering a fine somebody. The summer produces luminous light and tender warmth and your gluttonous kindness makes me want to launch, high in to the air free. Although the seasons change you are always still part of me.

Grant me extinction from your lyrics that con sume our minds and soak our modern homes w hile preaching the glory of ignorance and excess like Holy verse to the naked microcosm that are beamed through gold-flaked wire and burnt through our eye sockets at every branded and mirrored street corner played at maximum volume to drown out th e neighbors and discussed with monosyllabic sounds on every zombie network. Let me live outside your cage of insurance brokers and florescent lights and spinsters and talentless deities and unreality television and economic cataclysm and Nazi-democrat politicians with hypnotic smi les and pceset rad io stations and unmade beds and satanic popes and franchised solipsist s and contemporary classics written in a day and individualists dressed in un iform and rent.

Stephanie Cross

Kirsty Brook

Writers Block To soothe my soul I begin writing but it begins to sting. The ink whirls across the page but it is not writi ng what I want it to say. The blue squiggles join togeth er, as I clutch the book which is bound by leather. The leather cover is cool, however as I write I feel such a fool. Th is is not who I am as I hide behind a character. I grab a bar of soap and watch the bubbles lather. I wash my hands of this evi l plot and look at the clock as it goes tick tock.

Let me be free and what 1?11 do for you is this : ?l?ll let you fuck and exploit your world and your people and I won?t rally the masses to spoil your cause just let me live in an adobe house away from you with a vegetable patch and a starry view, 1?11 not sing the elegy of this world with you? so sa id the lonely phanta sm obsc ured in a swarm of vain face s and listless tones.

Matt Spriggs

Next issue's theme is

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Email your submissions to: I lose t he fi ght w ith the pen and _l stop to discover w ri ters block

concrete.creativewriting@uea .ac.uk by the 30th September


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PRIMfTIMf - RIG RROTIIfR DOWNLOAD - TRUf RLOOD it hasn't been cool to like Big Brother for a good few years now. Since Nikki, Pete, Aisleyne, Grace et al. kept us glued back in 2006 the show has been gradually declining in media coverage, viewership and, arguably, quality. This year the drop in ratings was so severe that Channel 4 decided against recommissioning the show beyond next year's eleventh season . it's a shame really because, surprisingly,

Big Brother 10 wa s one of the best series in the show's history. Not because of dramatic twists or over-complicated tasks, but because of storylines that emerged between the housemates. The tangle of men won over by Irish magnet Noirin was fascinating, the level of rule -breaking was addictively infuriating, and super-bitch Bea was just brilliant. But what really made this series stand out was all the small things. One-off moments like Lisa and David going into central London dressed

as aliens, the hilarious drunken moments from the adorable Sophie, tantrum -prone Rodrigo 'meeting the Queen', Marcus' "graveyard shift" being interrupted by his mischievous housemates. There were moments when, for the first time in years, it was actually credible to think of Big Brother as a social experiment rather than a heavily staged, ratings-driven television drama. Proof enough, that just leaving well chosen idiots to get on with it, without too much interference from ratings-hungry producers, does make for good TV. A special mention must also go to the revamped eviction shows, where Davina " So listen ... " McCall was joined by two panelists, usually one celebrity viewer and one psychology expert. The views of the so-called celebrities' were quite hit-and-miss as the weeks went by, but the introduction of the Clever Person to the panel was fascinating and provided a real insight into the behaviour the housemates displayed. Top marks to Davina, a lady whose presenting style has often divided opin ion, for being on remarkably good form throughout. This year the show received a minimal amount of press coverage, compared to extensive supplements and columns in past years, and that inevitably dented the show's popularity. The media decided before the series even launched that it was going to flop, but the reality was that it was actually rather brilliant. Perhaps it was the simplicity of the tasks, perhaps it was the nostalgia of its tenth anniversary, or perhaps it was just the excellent variety of genuine idiots; whatever the reason, Big Brother 10 was a strong run, and hopefully BB11, the last ever series (on Channel 4 at least) will be even better. Shaun Kitchener

Nrnr SusoN RoLL-CALL

The new US television season looks set to be one of the greats, with exciting new shows galore and promising new plotlines for old favourites; with news and announcements coming thick and fast. There is news of recently cancelled Chronicles star· Summer Glau joining the cast of Dol/house this year, along with a

Paris Hilton guest role in Supernatural and a Rumer Willis appearance in 90210. One show we all thought was over is cult comedy Scrubs, which will in fact be returning, albeit with a major makeover and a depleted cast. According to sources, while most of the regulars will be returning for the new season,

There has been much anticipation surrounding this weird but wonderful new HBO series. it deals with a concept that many vampire related TV series have restrained from exploring in depth : that vampires are capable of living in peace among humans. Not only that, but they are also capable of developing meaningful, and even at times endearing relationships with the object of their blood-

tamers at Merlotte's, the local hick bar. Th is is thanks to Bill, one of the few vampires willing to enter the mainStream who receives wide spread derision from the locals and Sam Merlotte, Sookie's boss and admirer, for his troubles Admittedly, there's a lot to get your head around in True Blood. There is the ever-present metaphor of alcohol, not so subtly embodied in the mother of Sookie's friend, Tara constantly cursing in a drunken haze and regularly talked about in references to discrepancies in the

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lust, even if the majority of the vampires are the same evil blood drinkers we've learnt to scream in delighted horror at. While there's a little of the traditional mixture of fear and undertones of disgust at the overacting and halloween costumes which seem to stereotype most TV vampires. This can be overlooked as, to the credit of the show, this does not divert from the essence of the plot, which revolves around Sookie Stackhouse, the orphaned, telepathic 25-year-old, who quickly finds love and a developed understanding of vampires, much to the disapproval of her cus-

Sarah Chalke and Zach Braff will only return for several episodes, presumably to ease the t ransition into the new set-up. This season will see the launch of the brand new Courtney Cox comedy, Cougar Town , while Ugly Betty, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother will be returning . While sure-fire hits such as Lost and 24 were already in the bag come decision time, shows such as Chuck were renewed only to have their budget and season length significantly slashed. Network bosses were also angered when Dexter and Mad Men footage was leaked online before their air dates, while the start of Dollhouse has recently been pushed back. However, Sci-Fi channel has announced that they will be running the show just three weeks after it begins in America, m_eaning we get to see it sooner than ever. Other exciting new projects will include new Jerry Bruckheimer creations, The Forgotten, following a group of amateur detectives as they attempt to identify unidentified corpses; and medical drama, Miami Trauma .

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past which match in horror valu e even the vil est vamp ire. Th is adds to the attraction of the show as it balances a humanistic"interpretation of good and evil w ith the supernatural in a way wh ich enables the characters to have emotion- · al depth . Even the vampires have to obey certain rules. When Bill is accused of murdering a fellow vampire, he is put on trial and awaits his punishment. No one is above the law, even if the vampire law does in fact mean an awful lot of innocent vampires sentenced to all sorts of gruelling, Hammer Horror-style torture. If you haven't downloaded the series or sent off for your box set of True Blood yet, it's not one to miss, so do it soon and those lucky enough to have satellite can catch the final two episodes on FX, Fridays at lOpm . Ella Fairhurst

Two shows generating a lot of buzz are science-fi ction show Flash Forward, billed as the new Lost, and FOX show, Human Target, based on the DC comic of the same name. While Channel 5 has received the rights to the former,

no air date has yet been announ ce d. Also starting this season are Twilight offspring, The Vamp ire Diaries and controversial Mischa Barton vehicle, Beautiful Life (pictured far left) topping off what promises to b.e a m emorable year. Caroline Preece


10

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61ST [MMY AWARDS Josh Butler takes us through this year's stellar nominations. Th e most important date in the tel evision

for Tin a Fey's 30 Rock. In a controversia l move,

calendar this year fa ll s on Sunday, the 20th of

this year the televisers suggested editing down

September. Like the Oscars for small-screen stars, the Emmys bring together a wide variety of

the acceptance speeches of shows with lower viewing figures in favour of more popular

ta lents too often overshadowed by their silversc re en cousins and put them centre stage. This year's awards are presented by the impossibly

series such as Lost (5 nominations). While this may have made sense from a populist point of

for comedy and drama which recognises the great difference in talents required for each . There are also awards for particular nuances of

view the proposal was quickly quashed by an outraged online community who argued that

the TV medium; Lie To Me and True Blood are both nominated for best intro seq uence and

dign ity.

an awards show stap le having eo-presented th e

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Coca-Cola are up for an awa rd fo r their heist ad.

lesse r-known Creative Art s Emmys last year with Scrubs star Sarah Chalke as well as performing

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it's fun to see Steve M artin, Ju stin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston nominated for guest

Interestingly, a few of the shows up for nomination are stil l Am erican exclusive which

a hi larious, Hugh Jackman-style summary song

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spots in comedies, as well as Michael J. Fox, Brenda Blethyn and Carol Burnett in dramas.

begs the question whether if they become big winners will the rights be bought up over here?

Also of interest is the fact that the Flight of the Conchords' song 'Carol Brown' is nominated for best origina l music alongside Hugh Jackman's aforementioned Oscar performance thereby realising Chri s Rock's prediction that an acto r could get an Emmy nomination while at the

All this competition lends a natural drama, but while it may sound cliche it's truly the taking part that counts. Seeing all of these

charismatic Neil Patrick Harri s of How I Met Your Mother and Doogi e Howser, who is now

at this year's Tonys. If the Emmys are the TV Oscars, the Tonys are the Broadway Emmys you owe yourself a YouTube visit for that. Harri s himse lf is nominated for an Emmy for best sup porting comedy ac tor for hi s role as Barney on How I M et Your Mother, one of four nominations for the show. However, this is nothing compared to the 16 nominations for the tri lby-doffing Mad Men, 17 for Drew Barrymore TV-movie, Grey Gardens and 22 nominations

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the whole point of the Emmys was to bring attention to deserv ing shows. Indeed, in the catego ry for best comedy and drama writing fou r out of five are episodes of 30 Rock and Mad Men, respectively, so to

enjoyable quirk of an award show that cou ld teach the Oscars some tricks. One nice touch is having separate awards

Oscars.

suggest cutting down the screen time for these shows seems contrary to the spirit of awards

The exciting thing about the Emmys is that the top categories are never a sure thing .

shows. This high nomination count is itself an

Who will win between Dexter and House or

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Jul ia lou is-Dreyfus as Christine in The New Adventures Of Old Christine-

House- FOX Lost- ABC

Showtime

Toni Collette as Tara Gregson in United States

Mad Men- AMC

Hugh laurie as Dr. Gregory House in House FOX

Of Toro - Showtime Mary-louise Parker as Nancy Botwin in Weeds

Gabriel Byrne as Pau l in In Treatment- HBO

- Showtime

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Sarah Silverman as Sarah Si lverman in The Sarah Silverman Program - Comedy Central

Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men - AMC Simon Baker as Patrick Jane in The Mentalist -

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Sally Field as Nora Walker in Brothers & Sisters - ABC

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Glenn Close as Patty Hewes in Damages - FX Networks

30 Rock- NBC

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Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson in

Entourage- HBO

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - NBC

Family Guy- FOX

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson in Mad Men AMC Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko in Saving Grace- TNT

Flight Of Th e Conchords- HBO

Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson in The Closer- TNT

How I Met Your Mother- CBS The Office- NBC Weeds - Showtime

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have tried before. Be low are this year's nominees and winners.

01 '1\L\ \' Ili \'C ; \ \' 1~1:\TL\l PI I()C\/ . \ ~ 1 ~ 11 Robot Chicken - 'Robot Chicken: Star Wars

Bryan Cranston as Waiter White in Breaking Bad- AMC Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in Dexter -

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shows being acknowledged is a great reminder that there are some true geni uses working behind the scenes of the idiot box and it's also a chance to check out some shows you may not

Episode 11' South Park - 'Margaritaville' The Simpsons- 'Gone Maggie Gone'

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Robot Chicken referred to with an incongruou s

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Damages - FX Networks

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pitted against veterans of television like Sally Field and Elizabeth Moss. lt is great to see the titles of cartoon series like American Dad and

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock - NBC Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly in Samantha Who?- ABC

Breaking Bad- AMC

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hitters like Glenn Close and Holly Hunter are

American Dad - 'Sixteen-H undred Candles'

Big Love- HBO

Dexter- Showtime

Entourage and Family Guy is anybody's guess .

Of particular interest is the best ac tress in a drama category where this year cinema's big

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Sum:s Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock- NBC Jemaine Clement as Jemaine in Flight Of The Conchords- HBO Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk in Monk- USA Jim Parsons as She ld on Cooper in The Big Bang Theory- CBS Steve Carell as Michael Scott in The Office - NBC Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper in Two And A Half Men - CBS

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Canvas offers you a chance to decide what goes on the page. If you have a particular hobby, interest or talent that you would like to display here, whether it be just a single article or a collection of articles that you would like to guest edit, please email concrete.event@uea.ac.uk

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<GAMING> < Rrn£ws > RAn1AN: ARKIIAl\1 AsYL~t the flow of the game than not. Putting the nostalgia and setting aside,

to be honest, it would be rather stupid if the great Batman died because he fell down a hole, especially given the number of times he has

the gameplay is excellent, with hand-to-hand combat being the order of the day, in keeping

various films, series and comics. Keeping that in

with the Batman's no-gun policy. At first glance,

mind, the game allows a couple of seconds for

it might seem that the relatively simple hand to hand combat system - which consists entirely of clicking either the left or right mouse button

Batman to use his grappling gun (another of his many useful devices) to save himself from inevitable death. This is very satisfying, it feels

- could become repetitive and boring quickly. However, with a variety of very well animated combat techniques at his disposal rather than

right, and avoids the flow of the game being interrupted. The game is very immersive, with

just simple punches, kicks and some combos,

interactive cinematics that let the player be a

the game avoids this very repetitive combat. The attacks he produces appear powerful -

part of events while exposition is taking place, controlling Batman and the camera almost all

inmates are thrown across rooms, heads are slammed into the floor - whilst remaining

the time. Adding to the immersion is the way

chance to avoid a death that would interrupt

Over the last decade, there have been quite a few Batman games with high production values

nostalgic, they expect a certain gritty realism and graphical quality for their hard earned cash

and equally high expectations placed upon them. Batman Vengeance, originally on the Nintendo Gamecube, was a fun nostalgia trip

-and this they get, in gratuitous quantities. Full use has been made of the setting; Arkham Asylum. Gotham City's high security

for fans of the Batman Animated series of the 1990's with its cartoon-like visual appearance and the original voice acting cast including Mark

prison for the criminally insane allows for suitably grim gothic architecture which is

Hamill of Star Wars fame as The Joker. Batman:

enhanced with good use of atmospheric lighting. The events of the game take place at

efficient. The Dark Knight wastes nothing. There are also a few somewhat obligatory slow motion effects, showing Batman taking out the Joker's henchmen in brutal style. These effects are fairly ubiquitous in the gaming world today, but here they are well done and are rather satisfying to watch. Furthermore, it could be argued that asking the player to memorise every attack Batman knows is unrealistic, given that

escaped just that scenario countless times in his

Mr. Wayne and his expensive crime fighting suit becomes worn, bruised and ripped as the game progresses. it's a reminder that Batman is not superhuman (although sometimes it seems like he is) and his night of constant combat in a complex filled with insane criminals does take its toll. In almost all other games, your character will look at the end of their adventure just as they did when they first embarked on it. That is

these attacks number in the thousands. Having

not the case here. What exists in this game is the kind of thing

Your enemies make use of the gothic, dated des1gn of the asylum and its multitude of dark

said that, brutally punching your enemies is not the only way to defeat them, and players have several of Batman's crime fighting devices at

fans would normally expect to see in the comics or two recent movies, not the cartoons. it's certainly a Batman for a more mature audience

developer until now. Since the first screenshots were released, Rocksteady Studios have created stupendously large amounts of interest with

alcoves and corners to take cover, guard areas, hide and ambush the Dark Knight at every turn. However, the architecture also works for

hand to give them an advantage, for example the well known Batarang, which Batman carries a lot of in his famed and ever trusty utility belt.

and even if you weren't a fan of the 1990's series or even a fan of Batman in general, it's still well worth the investment.

a Batman game with a starkly realistic visual style created using a modern game engine. it's

Batman. Batman is not Superman, and if he is shot at for too long, the chances are the bullets are going to penetrate his body armour, and everyone's favourite urban legend will die an inglorious death. In the event that the odds are

Combat is not the centre of this game. Players will be asked to fill the role of 'The World's Greatest Detective', by following clues

William Moran

and solving puzzles. There are also some elements of platforming to Arkham Asylum,

\'Ill I 111 I it's awesome, even if you're not a Batman fan

where players will be expected to make well timed leaps and scale obstacles, but if platforming isn't your thing, don't be put off.

Available on PC, Xbox 360, PS3. Price: £30 {PC)

were, it must be said, pretty crap games. Since

night (as if it this wasn't to be assumed, given it's a Batman game) and this means all light

then, no other developer has risked attempting

sources are either artificial or non-existent.

to create a game for a franchise that seems perfect for the gaming medium. That is, no

Dark Tomorrow and Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu

set in an Arkham Asylum overtaken by criminal lunatics, once again features the original voice acting cast of the 1990's animated series and it's awesome.

not on your s1de, players can choose to escape to higher ground, onto one of the many gargoyles

This is certamly a game aimed at fans of the animated series. Not only does it feature the original cast, but it's clear the developers are

that protrude from the walls of the facility. it's a little absurd that the criminals can't keep track

Whereas in most games where this kind of

aware that fans of the show who were hooked on the series as kids have grown up, and

of you just because the massive black bulk that is Batman is jumping above them a lot, but this

gaming is involved, if you miss-time a jump or mess it up some other way you fall to your

whilst looking back the cartoon is quaint and

reporter would certainly far rather have this

horrible death, in this game you're Batman. And

C.\V[ Snmv Taking up the role of an android with amnesia

better is that because it's not a very graphically demanding game, almost any computer can run it with ease.

that has crash landed onto a floating continent, you are tasked with defeating an evil Doctor

With Cove Story you will lose hours of your time but you won't regret one minute of it.

who attempts to enslave the population. This

Whether you download the fr~e PC version or purchase the updated WiiWare tltle, 1t will be time well spent enthralled in the world of Cave Story.

may sound mcred1bly cliche, and you may be right, however where Cave Story stands out is not in its plot but in its execution. Cave Story gained its small fan following for all the right reasons; created by one man over seven years this labour of love is one of the most addictive games in recent times. lt boasts play times longer than some retail gJmes with seven alternate endings, hidden levels, and upgradable weaponry. What's

Vaughn Highfield Available on PC, Wii (Review based on PC version) Price: Free {PC) I TBC (Wii)

I ()

{Review based on PC version)

I

£50 {360/PS3)


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<INifRNfi> I Kiron Ward recently met Sam Norman, also aka 'Samwell', on a flight to New York and took the opportunity to interview him about his popular viral song and video What What {In The Butt}, which deals with various facets of human nature.

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way you are. As long as you're not doing drugs, 'cause drugs are bad!

Till

[\'1\'T: Where did you find the inspiration

for 'What What,' and were you thinking of tolerance when you wrote it?

lt was written in less than five minutes. You see in 'What What' some of my annoyances, but I always try to do it in a polite way. Some people would disagree. Like the flaming symbol which people just need to get over. Of course it can be interpreted in many ways! Truth be told, it wasn't even in the original video. I told 'em to put it there and make it flaming. Not burning, flaming.

Bible is like any other good book, take from it what you need. I did it 'cause I knew it'd piss off people. lt was actually meant just to be funny, but then in retrospect, after I really thought about why I should do that, I just thought that it's about my own frustration with 9rganised religion and how intolerant it can be. That's all.

r111 [\'I \1: How do you respond to people who think 'What What' makes gay people look like they are gay first and people second?

S\\l\\'lll:

Well no, that's completely stupid. Gay people aren't straight people, we're different, and that's okay. The more you try to assimilate into a straight society, the more you lose yourself We are fun people, we are funny people, we are different people, we see life for the most part through rose-coloured glasses. I get it from people who are just like 'oh God, what is this?' At the end of the day, it was meant to be an entertaining video, get over yourselves!

Till [\'1 \'T: So, when we were coming off the plane, you told me you wanted to share your message with the world.

S \\l\\'111:

Yes! Or at least as much as I can. I'm just one of those people who makes sure everyone counts. Because when you grow up in any society, every country has those standards, those things you should do and shouldn't do, and when people don't fit in to those standards you're very ostracised or shunned, you're either too this or you're too that, and it just makes people crazy and causes so much strife and disdainment and just bad vibes towards people. And all you have to do is start learning to respect people! We still haven't learned that. So with my music, I try to just let people be entertained. Say what you have to say, but you don't have to be all like grrr. I just want people to realise that you are okay exactly the

Swiss company Goldmund has announced they are producing a new Blu-Ray player that will cost $135,000 (£81,760). The company, which specialises in producing and selling high-end audi~ hardware, will be creating only fifty of these hand-made players in all, justifying the enormous price tag by claming they are "pushing technology above any existing levels". with the machine. Although they claim the device "offers the ultimate performance in playing today's supports with an exceptional mechanical construction and finish without any cost compromise," they have been criticised for producing the device only with Profile 1.1 and not including a wireless network antenna or ethernet port to allow the device to connect to the Internet, thus

'1111 [\'I \T: Favourite films/books/music?

S \\l\\'111: When I made the song it had nothing to do with trying to be political or trying to convince people about one thing or another. I said what what in the butt simply because I had a group of girlfriends who would always talk about my butt. They would look at it and say, 'oh, I wish I had your butt.' They would grab it, and I would be like 'Oh, what what in the butt, you weirdos,' and that's how the song started.

S \'1\\'111: Till [\'1 Yl: What's the difference?

S \'1\\'111:

Oh, here comes the political part, I was trying to stay away from it and I can't. I grew up in a very religious part of the south where religion is king, and as you get older, you begin to understand things, and I think religion should be used as a means of comfort. The

I love Pretty Woman: every gay man's dream! I've been a fan of Julia Roberts forever. I'm not a big book reader. I like books about Russian history and the ocean, especially sharks. For music, Janet Jackson and Madonna, duh.

Samwell's new song Protect, Respect will be available on YouTube soon.

ma.king it impossible to download updates or access BD-Live features, something significantly cheaper Blu-Ray players such as the Playstation 3 can do easily. As well as Blu-Ray discs, it plays

<erno> hm . I ' ve lost a mach~ne .. literally iost . 1t responds o ping , it wo.rks completely , I just can ' t figure out. where in my apartment it. is .

DVD's and CD's and is multi-regional. However these features will struggle to convince skeptics the massive expense of buying the Blu-Ray player that will be forever stuck at Profile 1.1 is really worth it, even if it is an expertly crafted machine. William Moran

<Thumb> do you know of any rr3.jor organizaL.ot•s that are similar to the CDC? <:::..ucent.> who? <~humb> center for disease control <Lucent> i said WHO <Thumb> what? ~ ' m asking you <Lucent> World Hea:th Organ~zation

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t拢SIIVAL DIARI[S 2009> > > > > > > > < SONrSP-Il[Ir[> <KNIRWOI{TII> < AlJ(~ UST 1ST- 2ND> S,\TI 'Ill),\ y After sharin g a tax i to Knebwo rth wi t h t hree

acts can be mostly found at the Bohemia ten t ; w it h Attack ! Att ack! providing an en ergetic sta rt

giganti c, ha iry, rain-drenched tattoo artist s, we

to th e aft ern oo n, followed by Swedish heroes

are left fee li ng exci t ed but a little disorie ntated

Dead By Ap ri l, who leave me gleefu l but deaf as a doorpost, followed by Corey Taylor's chilled

as we set up camp and t hen set off to the arena We ca t ch Tak ing Back Sunday and Skindred ea rl y on before Abb a tribu t e band Bj orn Aga in arr ive and I sudd enly fee l tha t t he ci der stand is ca ll ing me in th e oppos ite direc ti on. Next are The Used, who are good but not re markable, foll owed by Coh eed & Ca mbri a, w ho give it th eir rip -roaring all after be ing

acoustic si nga long. Two so ngs into surprise guests Machi ne Head, I get stun g by a wasp and he ld ca ptive by First Ai d, wh o are determined to ma ke me fi ll out 5 pages of medical informati on before handing me so mu ch as a plaste r.

bu mped dow n to t he cram ped Bohemia te nt.

Limp Bi zki t are the gu il ty pleasu re, w ith 'B reak Stuff' ge nerating the biggest and most

Bu ll et For M y Valentine are a triumph, attracti ng a huge cro wd with th eir meta l anthem s, desp ite

imp ressive circle pit of t he weekend . Bac k at Bo hemia, Cancer Bats and Architect s

having to fi ght aga in st t he rain. Headl in ers Linki n Park are fl aw less in t heir

are a back-t o-back t hrashing wa ll of noise t hat help build th e anti ci pation for Nine Inch Nai ls.

delivery tonight but th e sou nd dec k let th em

Trent Rez no r is as transfi xing as eve r, but many peo ple see m di sappoi nted by his stubborn

down by kee ping th e volu me ridic ulo usly low. A th ree song mi ni -set from Chester Benningto n's side project also int errupt s t he atmosphe re by

refu sal t o pl ay any old favour ites except Hurt. Ave nged Seven fold prove their worth as

being completely naff and forgettable .

ta lented m usician s (fidd ly gu it ar solos included)

Meta ll ica mark the closure of the first UK

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and as long-practised showm en, but the crowd get so vio lent most people have to back off ha lf

Son isphere festival, and the main draw of the

ears, however, we' re not too fu ssed so we stick to the ' 5 songs and we've seen it' plan before

weekend for most. From the beginn ing it 's

heading back to the nest for more drinking.

The day I have rea lly been waiti ng for. The best

wa y t hrough.

obv ious that th ey w ill be a treat for the eyes and

< GLt\ST() N I~ l !I~Y > <JllN[ 24TH-2 8TH > Till 'llSI ),\ y Arri ving at Glas to nbu ry is like arr iving at no ot her fes ti va l I've ever bee n to. The sheer elation that surro un ds yo u is so mehow all-consum ing and

it. With the sun bli sterin g bare sk in, pints of cider warm ing and th e Jazz World fi eld literally heav ing w ith ecstatic fans, Rolf Harris' set was bloomi ng fantasti c. Undoubtedly t he king of

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1230 - Arr ived at Vi ct oria Park bri ght and early. Saw Fanfarlo w ho were great, bearin g more t han a littl e rese mblance to Arcade Fire. 13 15 - Drifted into a tent enticed by love ly noi ses, discovered Sian AI ice Group. Simu lta neous ly fe ll in love with th eir ep ic, noi sy nood ling and lead

Glasto '09!

truly impossi ble to ignore. The sun is shini ng and we're happy. And then it happened . The

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1810 - Mumford and Sons, in a tent out o f th e now torrential rain . Best set of the day. Th ere aren' t enough adj ec ti ve s to do them ju stice as a live ba nd. Met Jon at hon f rom The Te m per Trap, w ho was ve ry nice. The Big Pin k played a

si nger Sian Ah ern .

1400 - Lunch , soundtracked by Errors, who we re unremarkable. 15.00 - Wande red through th e Village Gree n, watche d an int ense onion peeling co ntest,

news of Mi chae l Jackson's dea t h surfaces : a se nse of hyst eria sweeps t he ca mpsit es and th rea ten s t o overwh elm th e w ho le weeke nd . Maybe so me sort o f coun se lling se rv ice should be set up?

t hen sa w The XX. M ass ive hype, mass ive shrug. Th eir int rica te melancholia didn' t t ra nslate to a festiva l stage, and th e ' no smilin g, sudd en

As t hey say, tomorrow is anoth er day and al t hough not forgott en, MJ is forced to take a

movement or blink ing' routin e annoyi ng. Le ft ha lfway t hroug h.

back sea t. Let th e festi viti es begin ! The Oth er Stage was t he place t o be t his most-drizz ly of Fri days. Th e M accabees we re suitably joyo us,

1600 - Arrived an hour early for The Horrors and caught The Temper Trap, who wowed wi th a th ree guitar attack and singer Dougi 's

Wh ite Li es maj esti c an d Lady Gaga - we ll ; th ere rea ll y are no words to desc ri be th e guil ty pleas ure t hat is th e Gaga. I thin k I love her a little bit.. M ayb e she co ul d seize M ichae l's t hrone ' '

S.\Tl 'Ill),\ y Rol f came, he co nquered and we loved him for

The firs t chord of Blur 's se t fill s me wi t h eup hori a. This is what I'd been waiting fo r. Th e set -list is a dream, thou sand s of people are sin gi ng in harm oni ou s unison and you ca n't help t hinki ng, in th ese clos in g mom ents of th e festiva l th at life rea lly does n't get m uch better than t hi s. Until next ye ar, Glastonbury, we love you .

was

ju st

surpri singly gorgeous fa lse tto . Lovely surpri se. Even rain didn't stop us dancing. 1715 - Still raining. On came Th e Horro rs, loo king like Joy Div ision at Halloween , exce pt fo r Farris who managed to look genuine ly scary in a woolly j umper. Set cleverly ign ored the first album and as a res ult was stunning, alth ough

Gemma Henzley 路 marred by so und issue s.

blinder, but bizarrely fa il ed t o engage most of the audience. 2115 - Mogwoi arrived la te after a weak Skreom set. They' re fanta stic but we left ea rl y t o catch .. 2130 - Mystery Jets, w ho reward us wit h ... a medi ocre, almost hit free se t. Cheers lad s. 2230 - On a tra in and t he lady oppo site said she went to t he Eels gig in Brigh ton t hat I had to mi ss . I hate her. Duncan Vi cat-Brown


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< < < < < < < < t£STIVAL DIARifS 2009 <R£ADING> <RICI-IMOND PARK> <AUGUST 28TII-30TI-I> Music Editor Paul Cook shares his experience of what was an epic Reading Festival 2009. J='RJDr\Y I was in the arena first thing waiting for the superbly energetic Dananananaykroyd in the NME tent. Singles Black Wax and Some Dresses had the packed out tent jumping and bouncing in fresh-faced festival joy. Funeral for a Friend and The Horrors graced the aftE:rnoon line-up but both suffered from sound problems, an issue that plagued the first day of the festival. If it wasn't the high winds carrying the sound away from the crowd it was that the performers were unable to hear themselves properly. Aside from apparent on\-stage and crowd sound problems the evening's headliners Kings of Leon were fantastic. I was blissfully unaware of the sound issues, enjoying the frenetic Faur Kicks and Taper Jean Girl right at the front. A top class headline act for the first night, especially after the lacklustre and monotonous Kaiser Chiefs.

SATl 'RDAY Saturday didn't get going until the midafternoon when Eagles of Death Metal came onto the main stage to deliver some classic American rock before Londoners Enter Shikari played to a huge crowd, dust clouds and all. A typically energised Maccabees rounded off the afternoon with some of their best, fun filled tracks but lan Brown's time on stage was one of the worst sets of the weekend as he proved that he has lost all ability to sing in tune . The final two acts of the night were very

different indeed, The Prodigy gave a careerdefining rendition of everything from Breathe to Omen and The Arctic Monkeys performed a set consisting mainly of new material. In fact it was only Crying Lightning and the older gems that had the crowd in full voice. A solid performance nonetheless.

the stunning sets by The Joy Formidable and The Temper Trap in the Festival Republic Tent to the heaving, pile-up that was The Prodigy and

albeit exhausting, festival experience.

SlTNDr\Y Sunday begun with a film- Shane Meadow's 'Le Donk', a witty tongue-in-cheek tale of a roadie wannabe rockstar (Paddy Considine) started off the day with a lot of laughs. By the afternoon a duo of bands in the NME tent, Metronomy and Passion Pit, both proved to be popular fan favourites getting the crowd warmed up for the evening's headline giants Radiohead. The day ended with a four band blockbuster of Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, fourthyear-in-a-row veterans Bloc Party and the aweinspiring Radiohead . The music got better and better until I was stood open mouthed listening to Thorn Yorke and co open their set with the rarely performed 'Creep'. Spine-tingling and once-in-a-lifetime spring to mind! I returned to my tent to find that the legend of the 'Sunday night madness' was well and truly correct. Tents aflame, we spent the evening enjoying the warmth of the bonfires and the early morning after getting no sleep whatsoever. For me, the weekend was bookended by two amazing headline sets; Kings of Leon and Radiohead, with everything in between, from

Bloc Party. lt all made for a

tr~ly

memorable,

COMPETITIONS • COMPETITIONS • COMPETITIONS • COMPETITIONS

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7/ 10 it's a reli ef t hat Turn er's best qualities aren't

are stand out track s, however the rest of the

sac rifi ce d fo r success. The sing-a- long moments are more obvious

alb um does not lie in th eir shadow. One song that won't grab you initially is Hocus

th an before; howeve r, being clearly designe d

Pocus, the chorus see ming du ll and repetitive.

for pl ay ing live, they can sometimes fa ll flat. Ce rtain sing le and nailed-o n hit lsabel is easi ly

However the lyrics, " .. .jokers, barr isters, beasts, policemen, thieves ..." show there i:s a fu sion of the present w ith language reminiscent of

th e singe r-so ngwriter's most tender song, so undin g like a more intimate vers ion o f Mu se's

Three albums into his solo career, Frank Turne r is taking himself se riou sly. Opener Live Fast Die Old announces that "I used to act like I

didn't care ... but the truth is I was just scared". Poetry of the Deed finally shows him to be

confident in his talent and aiming high. The D.I.Y. ethic of ea rl ier records is put aside slight ly, demonstrat ed by Alex Newport manning the des k (th e first tim e gu itarist Ben Lloyd has n't produced). A bigger sound is th e resu lt, but live reco rd ings ensu re th at the al bu m reta ins a raw element. Thi s balance does n' t always work, but

Sta rli ght, bu t oth er attempts at slow numbe rs

stories in histo ry t ex tbooks, making co nn ec ti on w ith t he album title.

aren' t as successful. Faithful Son is certainly hea rtfelt, but comes off a litt le cheesy and un com forta bl y personal. Turner's best lyrica l

Jamie T hasn' t changed but progressed, bot h mus ica lly and in terms of his lyrica l subject matter; touching on world iss ues in a perso nal

mome nts come

familiar

way. Spider's Web sums up the message of t he

ground, remaining inspiring even on a third reco rd of similar themes. On Dan 's Song he

album with the metap hor of the web connecting everyone in th e world . Thi s is shown most

describes a summer ahernoon drinking beer in the park, ask ing "What's more important th an

powerfully in th e lyrics describing how children in Gaza "point at me in my pyjamas" and tell

when

he

revisits

days like today?" and "What student could give a different answer"? His attitude of "let's grab

it's late ahernoon and The Event is hungove r and listening to Jamie Ts new alb um Kings & Queens, which seems appropriate as much of

Poetry is a slight ly uneasy record ; it sho uld make

his lyrics are doused with references to alcohol. At first the album seems more polished than th e previous Panic Prevention, however it ha s a lot of variety, using live clips of crowds at

Turner the star he deserves to be, but the big

the start of The Man's Machine and slowing to

rock sou nd never qu ite meshes with his st yle.

amore aco ustic track for Emily's Heart, as well

life by the thro at and live it to pieces" is sti ll refreshing against a landscape of stereotypically negative rock.

him to get out of bed. lt is an image we can all relate to, as by watching th e news most t ake a passive position with regard to any negative information given. Political references are dealt with in an honest and down -to-ea rth way, pla ci ng them somewh at paradox ically with anecdotes of girls such as Martha and Susie. As a who le, the

However, it proves that as a songwriter he still

as making use of various samples from other

albu m grabs your attention and has an honest

get s better and more varied with every album. Wi ll Donova n

arti st's music. Sing les Sticks 'n' Stones and Chaka Oemus

yet up lihing, inspiring feel. Carmina Masoliver

MUS[ IJ I[ l{[SISTt\_~~([

of t he album, in fac t, see ms strangely familia r; Exogenesis: Symphony Part I (Overture) is almost indi stingui shable from t he Lord of the Rings soundtrack. Yet the mai n probl em with

to get writin g. Voca lly, Lott is like a breezie r Ade le; rest rained when needed but effortlessly ca pabl e of hand ling the various vocal ac robatics. Cry M e Out fo r example, complete with the

With so much critical attention on newcomers like La Ro ux, Flo rence and Little Boots, it 's a mi racle th at an eighteen -year-old popst ar like Pixie Lo tt has managed to breakt hro ugh. She's th e only female so loist in history to make her ch art debut at number one wi th out fi rs t winnin g som e fo rm of TV show ; and now, ah er four yea rs of preparation and tw o hi t singles, she's fin ally unleashing her debut album. Turn it Up is probably wh at would happen if yo u locked Amy Win ehou se, Duffy, Rihann a and Nat as ha Bedingfi eld in a stud io an d t old th em

6/ fO

brillia nt opening line "I got your e-mails, you ju st don' t get females", is an almighty break-up

The Resistance is its attem pts at poetry

ba ll ad th at fi nally lets Pixie's voice prove what all t he fu ss is about.

2001 -

In th e pa st - a very long time ago, about Matt Bellamy had a penchant for

sc reaming. This was excellent, he sc reamed so much th at t he word s were freq uent ly drowned

Impress ive ly, t hrough all the soa rin g choru ses and shattering fina les, she always so unds be lieva ble. On Gravity she successfully plays th e emotio nall y-ba ttered girl frie nd, and o n t he heart-breaking Nothing Compares she

eno ugh. Undisclosed Desires, fo r examp le, wovld be an enjoyable experience if lines like

sou nd s ge nuinely crushed. The album packs a pun ch with th e up-tempo tunes as we ll . Here

"Soothing/1 ' 11 make you feel pure/Trust me/ You can be sure" were blasted into obscurity

We Go Again doesn't soun d that different from any ot her RedOne collaboration, but it's

a dancea bl e stormer nonetheless; Jock is a ridicu lously ca t chy ode to a past love and the br illi ant titl e t rack is an optimistic song about rea li sing you' re bett er off as fri ends ahe r all. Turn it Up won' t change t he world, and it's unli ke ly to attract th e sa me ca libre of acclai m as La Roux and eo, but thi s is noneth eless a perfect forty minutes of refres hi ng co ntempora ry pop. Let 's ju st hope it does n' t take anoth er four yea rs to make th e fo ll ow- up. Shaun Ki tchener

out. Nowadays he screams here and there, in moments of particular intensity, but not nearly

Still buoyant in the wake of their Wembley Stadium shows in 2007, Muse reti red to an und erground bunker beneath Lake Como, It aly to begin work on t hei r fi h h st udio albu m. Th ere was ta lk of paranoia, reinvention, and surviving so lely on ti ns of baked beans. Surel y a ma st erpi ece awaits? How eve r, wit hin the first mi nute of th e openi ng song Uprising, it is clear tha t ve ry littl e in t he way of origin ality has occurre d. it 's j ust Supermassive Black Hole w ith less sexua l f ru st rati on and mo re globa l conspiracy. Much

by a healthy wail. Bellamy want s to speak in a " language that they ' ll und erstand ", but thi s should not result in a glut of cl iches and trite rhym ing. And no, the so lution is not to tran slat e it into Frenc h (a n ill advised surprise on Track 8). Never th eless, The Resis tance is by no mea ns a disaste r. Guiding Lig ht and Unna t ural Selection are ge nuin ely brilli ant songs, and th e dive into a 3-part class ical symph ony at th e end shou ld be ap plauded for its brave ry. Unfort un ately, too oh en th ere is th e nagg ing fee ling th at w e' ve hea rd it all befo re. lsa bel Lockhart Smith


l

22se}:ll09 issue23 1

mUSIC

17

SUMMbR IllGllllGIITS PLAC£RO

·RATIL£ J."oR Tu[ S N

8/ 10

Placebo, the band who sound-tracked adolescence and self-discovery, have returned with a mature reflection on their gritty, emotionally honest and somewhat selfindulgent history with Battle For The Sun . "All of my wrongs ... come back to haunt me" is the perfect lyric as the band regress back to their angst filled years with new drummer Steve Forrest.

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Kitty Litter is an ideal opening track, being fast-paced yet melancholic and echoing classic titles from Black Market Music like Special K. Fans who were unimpressed with Meds will certainly recognise a bit of Sleeping With Ghosts in Ashtray Heart and later Bright Lights, with both songs capturing that blurry feeling as life passes by. The title track offers a new angle for those who revel in the old Placebo sound

but still want to hear something refreshing, whilst the new fans will no doubt be left with an impression so strong that they are sent reaching for the back catalogue. Devil In The Details and Speak In Tongues bring the tone back down to an angry reflection on the past (much like Black Eyed) but with a more thorough and mature angle. lt is difficult to measure how well these tracks serve the rest of the album because they lack the cutting Placebo edge that made them who they are, but perhaps th1s serves as a sign that the naivety and confusion that we all experience in youth will eventually pass on . Nevertheless, Julien bnngs us back to classic ground with that powerful bass, and Happy You're Gone reminds us of the innovation and spark that we have all grown to love about this band. For new listeners and die-hard old school fans alike, Battle For The Sun delivers a perfect taster of what Placebo were and are still about. Mike Hammond

8/10 Through various sources over the past months, we have been informed that the Sheffield four piece's third album is a trek into the realms of the strange; a bastardized and Americanized record resultant from a self-imposed exile in the Californian wastelands and a big brother figure in the form of producer Josh Homme. Perhaps unsurprisingly, none ofthe pre-reports really hit the nail on the head when regarding Humbug, which seems to simultaneously support and subvert expectations. In several ways, Humbug picks up where Favourite Worst Nightmare left off; the eerie sixties psych leanings dominate the record with little respite. The punchy guitars of the band's yore are replaced with reverby, lingering and fuzz drenched tones coupled with the intraspective and almost mystic lyrical delivery of Alex Turner. However, the move doesn't always pull off. Indeed, the record's second half lags in places. By the time that Cornerstone makes an appearance, exclamations of "ok, we get it, what next?" could be forgiven. Nonethe-

less, high points such as Position Approaching (whose disjointad riffing is reminiscent of Frances Farmer... from Nirvana's In Utero) dispel any major criticisms of the content. Turner's lyrics h<11ve, in the past, been heralded as an apt commentary on 21st-Century England, but what He has penned for Humbug occupies a space of limbo between the monotonies of British existence and spectral rapping from an astral plane. Largely introspEtctive, his conveyances of heartache, demented paranoia and twisted sadomasochism ("ybu sharpen the heel of your boot and you press it in my chest, and you make me wheeze/then to my knees you promote me") are undeniabl~ the album's highlight. In short, Arctic Monkeys are not stranded on the high seas of strange as many commen tators would have you believe. Humbug's experimentation coupled with a enduring sense of song structuring shows a group not lost, but well on the way to finding a new direction. Alec Plowman

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18

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MAIN fiATURf ADVfNTURfLAND After his recent success with h1t film Superbad, the Simi larities cannot be ignored as director

Adventure/and is set in 1987, with Mottola

Greg Mottola storms the big screen once again with Adventure/and. Recent college graduate

soundtrack and the relaxed pace of the film.

clearly being a fan of this era by his choice of Occasionally, th1s slow pace almost becomes slightly dull, but Mottola, who also wrote the

Ja m es (Jesse Eisenburg) longs to move to New York to pursue a career 1n journalism with his

scrip t, avoids this by ensu ring the story is kept witty and sharp. With laughs aplenty, such as James risking

forever weed-smoking buddy Eric (M ichael Zegen). but his financia ll y chal lenged parents force him to undertake a summer job. When lesse is not qualified enough to be a waiter at a di ner, he reluctantly accepts a job at loca l theme park Adventureland, Pittsburgh's answer

getting knifed over giving a giant toy panda away, Paulette placmg eye patches on toy bananas when they "ran out of googly eyes" and Bobby's com1cal "James. am I say111g that

to Disneyland

right?", Adventure/and IS a hoot. Th1s warrn -

The quirky characters employed there are demonstrated from the outset by the presence

hearted comedy might not have anything vastly different about it then other coming of-age

of an oddball park attendant and overly eccentric eo-workers Bobby and Paulette, played

films, but the qual1ty of the cast, characters and script makes it one to watch.

bnlliantly by Bill Had er and Kristen Wiig. lames' colleague Em (Knsten Stewart) catches h1s eye and he soon loves her worldly and carefree

Eliza beth Poole

attltude, desp1te going on a date w1th 1n park stunner Lisa P. Troubled Em IS then exposed as having an affair with married mamtenance man

going script. The casting is almost faultless, with

Mike (Ryan Reynolds). throwmg a spanner mto her and James' relationship, whilst occasionally unnecessari ly compl icating an otherwise easy

Martin Starr bemg partlcularly funny, and 1t's good to see that Kristen Stewart has other facial expressions than looking sexually promiscuous,

aka Twilight lames Eisenburg is also fantastic as the soc1ally awkward lames, but all of the characters are very likeable, even the guy who enjoys punching his peers 1n the nether reg1ons.

• What do you get when you combme a 1970's

comedy film The Green Hornet has been

mes, re leased December 26th, and whether it's

psychological thriller, Cameron Diaz and the di rector who brought Donnie Darko to life? 2010's The Box.

pushed back from a July 2010 to a December 2010 release date, due to scheduling and the

an accurate portrayal of him or just a "sexed up" Hollywood version.

TRIVIA TIMf • Screenplay writer Linda Woolverton, who previously wrote kid's classics The Lion King and The Beauty and The Beast, is on the case once again for A/ice In Wonderland, set to be released in March 2010. Let's hope this film w il l be just as memorable I

* Wri tten

by/starring Seth Rogen, superhero

amount of special effects due to be used. Let's hope for top form humour as seen 1n Superbad and Pineapple Express.

• As most of you probably know, the Wai t Disney Company IS now proud owner of Marvel

• Avatar is released this December Rumoured

entertainment, now owning all their characters. However, films w1th contracts to existing

to be suence fiction at its best, this film encapsulates a new race of humans, The Na'vi, and the fight for human surv1val.

studiOS (for example, Sony with Spiderman) will not be affected.

• I Love You, New York IS go111g to be released

Are is set for release this December, the story

in October of this year, detailing the interlin!<-

of a young boy's 1magmation as he escapes from the real world into where the wild things

• The much spoken of Where The Wild Things

ing of relatlonships in the c1ty. With stars such as Shia LaBeouf, Bradley Cooper, Hayden Chris tenson, Rachel Bilson, Natal1e Portman and Blake Lively all cast, 1t's gomg to be ,1 beautiful film 1f nothing else .

* After fl o ating to number 1 of the US box office, Otstnct 9 IS expected to be a massive hit here too, w1th 1ts enticing storyl111e and pro ducer Peter la ckson a few of its drawmg points. • Op11110n s eem ~ to be split about Sherlock Ho/

are desperately seeking a new leader. Directed by the infamous Sp1ke Jonze, it 1s expected to be visually outstanding w1th 1ts m1x of real performance, computer an1mation and live puppetry. • Megan Fox's new comedy horror Jenmfer's Body 1s out on October 9th, and looks set to be

another bnlilant showcas1ng of Megan's body. Eliza beth Poole


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19

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0TIIfR SCRffNS

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Michael Bay follows Sa m Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) who is getting over his world-savior status, and out of the overprotection from his parents and Bumblebee. During his time in college, Sam has mental flashes about Cybertronian symbols that turn out to be the key to finding a source of energon on Earth, so now the Decepticons are after him to get that information. The film focuses on the war between humans, autobots and decepticons which parallel current political situations, namely the war between the east and western

Terminator Salvation follows John Connor (Christian Bale) who starts to build up a resistance against the rising robot army that SkyNet is producing to wipe out the human population. While Connor is doing so, it is discovered that one of the survivors is a traitor in disguise and has a secret that nobody would ever suspect. The film focuses on an army of Terminators who roam the postapocalyptic landscape, killing or collecting humans where they hide in the desolate cities and deserts. The film looks into the war between man and machine and earths future as a conseque~ce of this war. The

key issues about the contemporary society, it is flooded with too many effects. Whilst the acting from Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox is fitting, the big action sequences often discarded their true acting potential, representing them as nothing but statues in a universal battlefield. Credit goes to Michael Bay for trying to expressively capture the heightened amount of energy from the film, even if these moments are drowned by too many long action sequences. Adj Scales

1

10

narrative is very one-dimensional, focusing only on the war between man and machine, discarding the emotion that was contained in the first few films. Christian Bale's role as John Connor is only satisfactory, even if Sam Worthington's portrayal of Marcus is better. Whilst one of the films key purposes is to link past events with future possibilities, these two ideas make the film very tortuous and extremely long-winded throughout. Adam Scales

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the Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - is not as the title suggests. The dominant theme to the latest instalment is the turmoil of teenage love rather than the mystery of the Half Blood Prince and its relevance to the final novel/ film . Although the love affairs create substantial drama and comic moments, they do not help to drive the narrative forward, so when we discover who the Half Blood Prince is, the audience is at a loss as to why this is relevant. The film is dialogue heavy and lacking in spectacle, which many expect from the Harry Potter

scene is the pursuit of the Horcrux in which Harry and Dumbledore find part of Voldemort's soul. This scene is only memorable to the rest of the film because of the sheer scale of lnferi that come out of the depths when the water is disturbed . This film is at best watchable, because it ignores the element of spectacle and importance of balance within a narrative, focusing more on romance it feels more like a teen rom -com then Harry Potter. RacheiCoxon

Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde's gothic horror, tells the story of a young man's descent into the shadier side of Victorian London's social scene. After inheriting his grandfather's estate, Gray (Ben Barnes) succumbs to the irresistible influence of his new friend Lord Harry Wotton (Colin Firth), a man who preaches the value of living a life of excess pleasure. Through his teachings, Gray dedicates his life to selfgratification, rejecting all morality and consideration of others' feelings, including those of the painter of his infamous portrait, Basil Hallward. As Gray's list of sins grows, he realises

this life is not without a price as the painting itself comes to embody the corruption of his soul. Visually stylish with dramatic sets, the special effects on the controversially animated portrait itself leave something to be desired. Ben Barnes takes a little while to get into the role but settles in once Gray loses his inhibitions. Colin Firth gives a stunning performance as Wotton. Overall it is a very enjoyable film. Stacey Lardner

Action movie junkie? Welcome to nirvana. From the evil geniuses behind the Crank films comes one of the most intense, exciting, bizarre and downright entertaining fi lms of the year. Set in a future where video game players control the minds of real, live avatars, either in the Sims/Second Life style game 'Society' (which, naturally, is a chaotic mess of sex, luminous hair dye and roller discos) or ultra violent shoot 'em up 'Slayers', where death-row inmates are pitched against each other. There's more plot, which you won' t care about, although it is an engaging vision of a dystopian future, like Minority Report through the eyes of a teenage boy. What will really grab you is the frenetic editing, the breathtaking art direction and cinematography and some of the most ludicrous and thrilling action scenes you' ll ever see . Also, look out for a cameo from Milo Ventimiglia that will literally leave you speechless . Duncan Vicat-Brown

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DVD RfLfASfS Much like the dog himself, Marley & Me is unavoid ably lovab le. The film follows newlyweds John (Owen Wi lson) and Jenny Grogan (Jennifer An iston) through their hunt to find John a career in journalism, the perfect house and happiness. Although Marley at first seems like a bull in a china shop, the Grogan's soon realise he is indispensable to their happiness. Comedy ensues as Marley barks his way through numerous dog sitters, dog trainers and household objects. Dog and pet owners wil l be familiar with how the film explores Marley's effects upon family

life, as he is always th ere with a wagging tail no matter what the occasion. Director David Frankel and the sc reen writers have managed to bri lli antly balance humour with serio us issues, easily taking it from real-life memoirs onto the big screen. In Marley's case, how much is that doggy at the window? Priceless. Elizabeth Poole

The Boat That Rocked brings to life the rock and

roll lifestyle of the 1960s, exp loring the life of those who worked on pirate radio station, Radio Rock. Loosely based on Radio Caroline, director Richard Curtis almost too heavily focuses on the 1960 cliches of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The cast are good enough, with Rhys lfans, Bill Nighy, Phillip Seymour-Hoffman and Nick Frost all making an appearance, but their presence is somewhat wasted. The film mainly follows Carl (Tom Sturridge), who, upon being kicked out of boarding school, tracks down his godfather

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Quentin (Bill Nighy) and sets sail for an adventure he won't forget. Running parallel to this storyline is the government's attempts to shu t Radio Rock down, and the households tuning into Radio Rock, dancing their troubles away. Although the film may have a few believability issues, it is quite enjoyable, with laughs to be had along the way. Elizabeth Poole

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21

RAT[D OR SLAT[D?

InÂŁ IMAGINARIUM Of DocToR PARNAssus For our first ever Rated or Slated we're going to take a look into the weird mind of Terry Gilliam through his new film The lmaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Many fans of Gilliam are eagerly anticipating the release of the Monty Python star's newest venture on the 16th of October, and not just because it looks as weird and wonderful as his previously directed films, but also because of the surprising cast list, with the late Heath Ledger appearing in his final role, as lead character Tony. This is surprising as Heath Ledger died during the filming process, and Gilliam uses more of his favourites to play "transformations" of Tony : Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell. Having agreed to join the project a few months after Ledger's untimely death, they bring the film back on track,and

have donated their income to Ledger's daughter Matilda. Based on the reviews from RottenTomatoes. corn (which are - of course - the gospel truth) it is already causing quite a controversy, with only 12 critic reviews which are split almost exactly

down t~e middle giving it a not-too-great 42%. Gilliam, known for his fantastical directing style; seems to attract his fair share of mixed reviews, even cult classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is misunderstood by critics- given only 1 star by the ever fierce looking Robert Ebert, but

loved by the fans of Capta in Chaos . The Guardian says that "the film's [Doctor Parnassus] convoluted curlicues are tiring, insisting too loudly on how "imaginative" everything is" and proposes this movie "could be for fans only." lt would be interesting to see if the twists and Gilliam signatures have once again been misunderstood by this critic, or if the film is too complicated for any non -fans to sink their teeth into. Another issue that could tip the film one of two ways is the fractured nature of Gilliam's script writing, and how well this works with the Ledger/Depp/Law/Farrell character Tony. lt is hard to predict how well these elements work together, or if this will confuse his fractious style more. Despite the already mixed reviews, here's hoping this film will be

CINfMAnc CLASSICS> TIIÂŁ Trus CIIAINSAW MASSACRL 1974 In Cinematic Classics we will look back at influential films released at this time thirty or more years ago .For the first time, we will look back at how The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (released October 1st 1974) has influenced the horror genre, particularly the representation of dysfunctional families and their impact on the genre as a whole. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the first horror films that served as an allegory to its adolescent audience stressing a degree of vulnerability to parents, the adult world and monstrous avatars such as recent villains, Freddy, Jason and Michael. What the film really expresses is the idea of a horror audience occupying a marginal position in society, just like the family that is being represented onscreen . This in turn suggests that the family (or viewer) watching such a film shares the same values and beliefs as the dysfunctional family on screen, something that has been of major concern in stud ies of the horror film . Noticeably, it could be said that perhaps

new generation of teenagers that are killed off throughout the film. Leatherface came from a family that did not share t he same values as the 'norm' which in turn leads him to take his sexual frustrations out on the 'sexy' normalteens that are represented in the film . These killings allowLeatherface to release his sexual frustrations on these teens, something that he was not able to do during his deprived

the presumed "teen viewer" of such a film has been perhaps physically, mentally or even sexually abused by their parents at one time or another in their childhood . This in turn force s the troubled viewer to identify with the psychological state of the infamous Leatherface who is the rejected child of that family. We presume that Leatherface has been physically or sexually abused in the past and this in turn leads him to take the se frustrations out on the

youth . The Texas Chainsaw fl::lassacre has lead to more contemporary examples of this pattern such as Wrong Turn (2003) or The Hills Have Eyes remake (2006). These films take place in the woqds and the desert respectively which suggest locations separated from civilization, locations in which these families can take refuge from the 'norm'. Interestingly, The Hills Have Eyes represents a family that are dysfunctional because of nature itself: a nuclear explosion, which suggests that humans themselves are the biggest threat to humanity, an ideology that rests in the centre of the contemporary horror film. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was not the first film to explore the idea of a dysfunctional family, but it is an example that is worth considering when examining the implications involved when looking at people, or families, who are not as 'normal' as your next door neighbour! Adam Scales

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-X V[Nl [ SPOTLJCIJT> NoJ1\VICI I A1 rrs CI~NTI{I~ Co nve rted chu rch t urn ed arts ven ue, t he Art s Ce ntre is sit uated on St. Benedicts Street about 5-10 minutes from th e city ce ntre, and offers perfo rm ance, art, a bar, craft fai rs, an d a range of musica l discove ri es. Per haps most renow ned amongst stu de nts as a gig venu e, th e ce ntre has rece ntly see n such perform ers as Cursive, mum, Alela Dia ne, and Em iliana To rr ini, as well as mo re acc laimed ac ts M use, Co ld pl ay and Nirva na in th e past. Howeve r, it also hosts art ex hibiti ons, educati on cou rses and, as th e name suggest s, anythin g related to th e arts. Havi ng und ergo ne a renovatio n te n yea rs ago, with fund ing from the Nationa l Lott ery, th e Arts Ce ntre boasts a qu aint entrance hall and rece pti on area. it has a ca pacity of 290 for standi ng gig, an d its segregation in terms of rooms means it is not necessaril y

the typi ca l venue for co ncerts, th e ee rie wooden beams across th e ceilmg are far from commo n in the LCR or th e Waterfront. Nonet heless, th e centre suits th e folk outfit s tha t sign up to play; London-ba sed qua rte t Mu mford and Son s are due to play a show on 2nd October, and the modern -folk group Unth anks w ill fo llow su it a coupl e of wee ks later. Th e ve nu e is independently run, so ti ckets for any even ts are availab le from t he ve nu e itse lf as well as thro ugh th e UEA box offi ce, and it has charitable status. it opened in 1977 in a di sused de part me nt store and moved to St. Swi thin's Church shortly afterward s, its current location. Th e ce ntre prid es itse lf in ' big names, small venue' in mu sic, comedy, an d poetry, espec iall y w ith contemporary female come dia ns; Lu cy Po rte r, Jo Ca ul fie ld and Sue Perkins have all recen tly pe rfo rmed in the venue to great acc lai m. Creative cl ubs and courses are also hosted in th e bui lding, in creative wri tin g, mu sica l wo rkshops, and boo k clubs, and t he ce ntre prid es itse lf in show in g Live literature (not dissi mil ar from t he UEA literary festival) and ta lks and performance art s. lt also offers

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ay Bicycle Club>Waterfront>7:30p.m>£8.50

I _I chi ldren's ac ti vi tie s, like co urses and clu bs, readings, and performanc es. For student s new to U EA this year, or indeed tho se older stud ents who have not yet paid a visit, it 's a highly recomended venue, and many would advi se a t rip t here fo r any event. If there is no eve nt sc hedul ed, th e ce nt re is ofte n open and houses a ba r and ca fe wit h free Wi fi , open between lOam and 6pm. The good news is t hat students get 10% off on all food and drink; t he cafe se rves homema de soups, cia batt a breads and teas and coffees . Th e beer ga rd en and sheltered co urtyard are set amongst th e historica l surroundings and chu rch 's build ings, and the cen tre is available fo r hire. Fo r booki ng, grou ps of 10 or more rece ive a co mp lim entary ti cket, ava il ab le for co medy, t heat re and performa nce events. Hele n Thomas The Arts Ce ntre can be contacted on 01603 660352 or by email at boxoffice@ norwich artscentre.co .uk, and the website is norwi chartscentre.co.u k for listings, bookings, an d new s.


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Don't miss your chance to join a club or society and get involved in something that interests you. There's over 120 to choose from!

Sports mart Tuesday 22 September 11am- 4.30pm in the LCR

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Socmart

Wednesday 23 September 11am - 4.30pm in the LCR

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Permanent Revolution at Borders! Come in-store and witness our everchanging revolutionary range of COs and DVDs at great value prices. Pick up a DVD from as little as £3 .99! To be in wit h a chance of wi nning a £10 Borders vouc her, bring one or all correctly completed Sudoku to the Concrete office in Union House by Friday 2/ 10/09. Name: Email:

Down :

1: New Knebworth rock festival (10) 6: The first animal in the dictionary

1: True Blood character, Sookie _ _ _ _ (10)

(8)

2: Action hero who is subject of jokes, Chuck _ _ (6) 3: To rescue (4) 4: Former prime-min ister, Tony _ _ (5) 5: Next to (8) 7: Family (3) 10: A male human (3) 12: One who glues (5) 13: Di recto r of Transformers 2, Michae l _ (3) 15: Doctor House's first name _ _ (7) 16: Aut hor of The Picture Of Dorian . _ (5) Gray, Osca r __ 18: What you do on a chai r (3) 20: Past tense of hide (3)

(9)

19: lndie band playing the LCR thi s term (7) 20: Classic Xbox first person shooter (4)

21: Mogwai head lined thi s music fe sti va l (5, 3) Many of the answers are elsewhere

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The Event!

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Win a set of six study guides! Thanks to publishers Palgrave Macmillan, we giving away three sets of six study guides! Perfect for settling into a new course, or convincing your parents you were getting ready for that first big essay over Freshers week. We have three copies of each of the following guides to give away: Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts & More, Referencing and Understanding Plagiarism, Planning Your Essay, Getting Critical, Brilliant Writing Tips For Students and Science Study Skills .

To be in with a chance of winning a complete set of these guides, bring your completed crossword to the Concrete office in Union House by Friday 2/10/09 with your name and email attatched . Name: Email:

Win a crate of Relentless!

4

2 2

Acro ss:

8: The bl ueprints of genetics (abb r.) (3) 9: To make clothes from wool (4) 10: UEA Drama theatre company (10) 11 : Loud noise (4) 14 : Mu st be broken to make an omlette (3) 17 : The campus centre of vi sua l art s

3

5 3 4 1 6 7 1 8 4 3 3 9 5 4 8 6 1 3 Medium 2 4 8 5 5 6 4 8 2 3 6 8 9 5 1 5 9 3 2 9 8 7 4 3 4 2 3 6 7 9 6 9 Hard 6 2 8 4 5 1 6 5 8 7 7 6 4 9

a.ar. uk

Crossword

Easy 9

11

Courtesy of Relentless, we have three crates of the energy drink to giveaway!

Perfect for long nights dancing, last minute essay panics, or dragging yourself through the morning after the night before, Relentless is a student l!ssentlal.

The documentry series features a huge host of celebrity guests talking about the classic comedy series including Eddie lzzard, Russell Brand and Steven Merchant, as well II!E&I~ as the surviving Pythons.

To be In with a·chance of winning, e-mail .what you need Relentless to stay awake for in 20 words or less to' concrete.competitions@uea. ac.uk to say what V0!-1 need tc? stay awake ·for by Friday 2/10/09. The bestthree answers will each receive a free c111te of Relentless.

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To be in with a chance of winning, just email your answer to this question to concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk by - - - - - ~ ::1 Sunday 26/9/09: Which member of Monty Python also wrote and starred in Fawlty Towers?


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