Venue 383

ARTS / BOOKS / FASHION / CREATIVE WRITING / MUSIC / GAMING / FILM / TV / VERA VENUE

383

VENUE

2

editorial Another week, another Venue!

How’s everyone doing, as we are halfway through the semester and, wow, isn’t it strange how dark it’s getting at 5pm? But don’t despair, Christmas festivities are just around the corner, and we have lots of cheering reads to get you through these cold evenings!

Norwich, as ever, wows us with its multiple events and opportunities around our pretty city. If you are wanting a fun day out, the Gaming section has you covered with an explorative look into the multiple boardgame cafes around the city, perfect for a day out with flatmates or friends. Also, from the 12th-21st of November, Norwich Film Festival will be highlighting the work of local filmmakers and actors both online and around Norwich in iconic locations, so get your ticket while you still can!

The arts should always be a safe space for creativity, and we want this paper to be a celebration of arts and local talent. However, we also cannot ignore the recent threats to the nightime music scene.

We are shocked and saddened by the recent spiking incidents in some of our favourite clubs and bars around Norwich. These spaces should be areas to dance, let loose and relax - not to feel unsafe.

Although many, including us as an editorial team, are feeling disheartened by these recent occurrences, we know that the Norwich nightlife still has so much to offer and we hope that we can all go out soon with peace of mind. Norwich nightline is available from 8pm - 8am every night of term time at 01603 597158, if you ever need guidance on the issue. Stay safe.

We hope you enjoy Edition 383, Best wishes, Elizabeth, Hamilton and Molly.

Photo: Samuel Baxter (from L to R, Deputy Editor Hamilton, Venue Editor Elizabeth and Deputy Editor Molly)

Arts - Jack Warren

Music - Tom manning

Books - Louise Collins

Gaming - Holly Jackson

Fashion - Zorsha Taylor-Suich

Film - Laura Patterson

Creative Writing - Izzy Murphy

TV - Ben Smith

Front Cover Photo by Samuel Baxter (www.samuelbaxter.uk)

contents Arts ................................................................... 4 Books ................................................................ 7 Fashion ............................................................ 10 Creative Writing ............................................ 14 Music ................................................................ 17 Gaming ............................................................. 20 Film .................................................................. 24 TV ..................................................................... 27 Vera Venue ..................................................... 31

3

4 Fishnets, Feathers and Frank’N’Furter: A Rocky Horror Experience

Arts

Double Feature, singing our hearts out to Damn It, Janet, putting our torches on for Over at the Frankenstein Place,

By Louise Collins

and being a community within every song. My favourite moment was during Time Warp, when every member of the audience stood up and danced. I’ve been to the theatre

On Bonfire Night, I went to see The Rocky Horror Show

a ton of times, but this was hands down my favourite

for the first time in my life, and let me tell you, it was a

audience experience. It didn’t matter how old they were,

firecracker of a show.

their sexuality, or gender identity; everyone was defying

Going to see Rocky Horror is basically a rite of

norms and coming together as one.

passage for any theatre geek, particularly the queer

I always knew it was a cult classic, and I knew I was

ones, and I can’t believe it has taken me 21 years before

going to love it, but I truly never anticipated to enjoy it quite

seeing it. As is tradition with Rocky Horror, I dressed

that much. I knew some of the basics of the show, but each

up, donning my fishnets and feather boa, and I joined

turn had me on the edge of my seat and fully absorbed in

the line of Frank’N’Furters, Rockys, Magentas and

the proceedings. Everything was acted stupendously; Brad

Columbias. It was rare to see anyone in regular clothes,

and Janet’s fear, Magenta’s sex-crazed state, Rocky’s utter

and you couldn’t move for big hair, stockings or feathers.

innocence, and Frank’N’Furter’s absolute godliness. There

As I took my seat, I was already grinning from ear to ear,

is no show like this, and I can understand why it’s been

taking in the pure joy radiating from the audience. As a

so popular for so many years. Here’s hoping The Rocky

theatre nerd, I roughly knew what type of night I was

Horror Show stays running for as long as can be.

in for. As a Rocky virgin – both film and production – I couldn’t have predicted any of it.

As the campest show I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot – I can’t recommend this production enough. It’s a

Within ten minutes of the show starting, I was in

show full of innuendos, sweet transvestites, and science

stitches. For anyone unaware of the Rocky Horror

fiction. I have never had such a queer experience, and Hot

proceedings, the tale is broken up by a narrator who

Pattootie, I loved every single second of it.

comes out to make passing comments on the show and the wacky characters. His role depends on audience participation and quick wit, and he did not disappoint.

Throughout the evening, Phillip Franks, who took on the role, reacted perfectly to the audience’s heckling, having my friends and I in stitches. It stays topical, poking fun at the government, whilst never being too serious, and the satirical lines landed every single time. It isn’t a show dark-humour way. It’s chock full of sex; sexy characters, sexy costumes, sexy dance moves, and sex itself. With most of the cast – and audience – in fishnets and stockings, it’s rare to see someone fully covered, and that’s one of the magical factors of this show. Everyone can be themselves in all their camp glory.

Right from the beginning, the audience were in full participation mode, calling back to the characters, jeering at the appropriate places, and even singing along. We were swaying as one to Science Fiction –

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

for the faint hearted - and not in the racism disguised as

25

Arts

The best Norwich art galleries to visit this winter

By Elizabeth Woor array

great spot for those who perhaps feel

and looks at how neutral hospital spaces

of galleries for you to explore this

they’ve exhausted the local art scene.

can be transformed into artistic spaces.

winter. Whether you’re an old master’s

The gallery regularly changes their

It’s certainly an ambitious project that

enthusiast or more of a modern art

exhibition space to feature artwork

focuses on something more unusual.

lover, there’s something for everyone.

by emerging talent from across the

If you’re looking for art that comes

Not sure where to start? Below are just

globe. So, expect some exciting names

from further afield, then a hidden gem

a few recommendations to keep you

in the near future! For those who

situated in the heart of the city is The

busy on your days off over the next few

are looking for a slightly different

South Asia Collection Museum. The

months.

Christmas present idea, they also sell

site holds a unique collection covering

Norwich

has

an

abundant

the arts, crafts and cultures of South

Of course, we have to start with the Sainsbury Centre. Situated right on campus, there’s no excuse to not visit this world-class centre of art. Officially opened in 1978, the museum was commissioned to house the donated collections of Robert and Lisa Sainsbury.

“You never know, you might stumble across something incredible.”

Asia and the surrounding area. As its free to visit, why not explore the rich material on offer at this museum?

There are so many more that should be mentioned: Outpost Gallery, Norwich

Cathedral,

Anteros

Arts

Foundation, Crypt Gallery at Norwich

Along with their permanent display, which features the likes of Henry

eye-catching, original prints that you

School, The Assembly House, and of

Moore and Amedeo Modigliani, the

can get your hands on.

course, Norwich Castle and Art Gallery.

gallery is currently hosting temporary

Another personal favourite is The

The Norwich artistic scene is growing

exhibitions exploring Grayson Perry,

East Gallery, which is run by Norwich

and evolving all the time, so now is

Leiko Ikemura and Constructivism in

University

Hosting

a perfect time to get involved and

Britain since 1951. All of which are not

internationally renowned artists and

see what’s on offer. You never know,

to be missed.

curators, the space is a perfect spot to

you might stumble across something

visit if you’re in the city centre. Their

incredible.

the

exhibition,

Arts.

gallery family is Moosey. Having only

newest

titled

‘Hospital

opened up its doors last month, it’s a

Rooms’, begins on the 16th November

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The newest addition to the Norwich

of

6

arts

How theatre is helping create conversation about mental health: An interview with play write Mark Daniels I really struggled at the start. I had

work to keep me going, but for true

by Sophie Colley

play to do something bigger than to just entertain people.

creative work that I love doing, I had a real blockage. What kept me going

The Arts have always played an

was the rest of the creative industry,

important part in asking questions about

After being met with such incredible

some people were finding ways to make

mental health, but post-lockdown how

audience

reviews,

things online and putting out briefs for

do you think this dynamic has changed?

show

competitions. That’s where this play

I think it has made it even more

Coronavirus – A Great British Farce,

started. This theatre company wanted

important. Not overlooking the way

based on his own diaries from lockdown,

ten-minute plays written in lockdown,

things can impact mental health is

is coming to The Garage in Norwich on

so I went and opened my diaries and

something the Arts can really help with.

the 18th November.

started from there. It was other people

Watching a play, listening to a piece

in the creative industries supporting

of music, all of these things are really

each other that got me through.

nice ways to enjoy something. Because

playwright

reactions

and

Mark

Daniels’

Could you start off by telling me about the play itself?

So,

it’s

a

comedy,

it’s

it’s an enjoyable experience you can

surreal,

absurd, theatre. It’s weird. It’s about a

Despite the comedic tone, there

then subtly bring up a deeper message

guy called Joe who is on his own in a

are obviously some difficult themes

without people feeling like they’re being

flat in lockdown, and in the first scene

explored. Would you say that this play

lectured about it, people are much more

there’s another character on the stage

does seek to engage people in questions

open. It’s a really nice way to open up

who is called Speaker. You assume she’s

around mental health and being mindful

these conversations.

a politician as she’s on a podium at one

of how things can affect us?

of those press conferences, and Joe

Definitely. People really did take

Finally, are there any messages that

begins to answer back to her, and she

both sides of it. There’s a clearer

you would like people to take from the

starts to answer back to him. You’re not

message in the darker bits that this guy

play?

too sure at the start but it descends into

is struggling, because he’s on his own.

I think it’s that we’ve all been through

this surreal conversation, it goes into

He gets more addicted to the media,

this surreal experience and it’s worth

complete gibberish, for the audience

the information, the paranoia, because

acknowledging it and not pretending

its really funny but for him it’s quite

he doesn’t have any other distractions.

it didn’t happen, and a great way to do

stressful. It is satirizing the media we

There’s a clear theme of loneliness and

that is through laughter. It can be very

have today.

how that can impact somebody, which I

cathartic to laugh at these situations

think a lot of people have a much bigger

and then that can open up some really

appreciation

interesting

The relationships between mental

for.

We’ve

partnered

health, creativity, and lockdown affected

with a charity called Campaign to End

everyone differently but was there any

Loneliness. At the end of the show, we

particular moment or event that sparked

have a speech to make that link clearer

your ideas?

to the mental health issue, and use the

conversations

with

people around you.

Editor: JAck Warren

the

7

BOOKS

Elizabeth Day talks Motherhood, Fertility, and Failure at UEA Live

by Louise Collins On 27th October, UEA Live was joined

by Journalist and podcast host, Elizabeth Day, in discussing her current projects and latest novel, Magpie. Day starts off by joking about the plot twist of the book, and the trouble she has explaining Magpie without spoiling it.

Magpie is a psychological thriller focussing on a young woman, her partner, and their new obsessive lodger. The book has themes of motherhood, mental illness, fertility and what it means to be a woman.

As a writer, Day only understands her themes once she’s finished writing, truly realising what interests her as she completes more books. One of her recurring themes is the idea of what constitutes mental illness, pointing out that we have a history of ‘othering’ mental illness. In explaining this, she says she “wanted to show how someone can live with a serious mental condition” whilst showing “a great deal of humanity” remains, especially considering how demonised mental illness can be in literature. Her writing has a focus on unreliable narrators, but it’s important to her that they’re always sympathetic. “We’re all unreliable narrators in our own mind,” Day claims, which is why she doesn’t

want to create unlikeable characters, Day is a journalist, hosts her podcast as it ignores the multifaceted nature of How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, and mankind. has several non-fiction books published. All these occupations link together for Day, like a mosaic, as her podcast explores the human condition which feeds into writing her characters. Her journalistic training helps her meet deadlines, and the broadcasting, she claims, “has just been a delightful present.” When describing her array of careers, she claims, her favourite of them all is writing books, as “I do genuinely feel most myself when I’m in the flow writing on my own.”

When asked about her writing In giving advice to new writers, process, Day explains she is a very Day states, “the key to great writing is character-first novelist. Rather than authenticity.” If you’re trying to write drowning in post-its scribbled with like other people, you’re more likely to plot points, she had a sheet of paper fail than if you write as yourself from with character description and basic your experiences. Day emphasises setting points. It is more important for that your voice is unique, and you’re her to write into the voice of the char- best when being yourself. Whilst disacter and to understand them. Howev- cussing her podcast, and how it has er, with Magpie this was different. She inspired her in her own life, Day says, knew, at the start, what the themes of “talking about failure has an extraordithe novel were and what the major nary way of stripping back your preplot twist was going to be. By having tence and making you vulnerable and three characters set in one house, she honest.” After hearing this, I, for one, heightens the sense of claustrophobia know which podcast I’m listening to next. and oppression her narrators feel.

As well as being a fiction novelist,

“the key to great writing is authenticity.”

Photo: Louise Collins

8

books

#BookTok: Worth the Hype?

By sienna Norris If you’re not familiar with the concept of BookTok, it’s a communal space for the readers of TikTok where books are recommended and discussed between users. It has benefitted people all over the world.

I’m not ashamed to admit that when looking for a book recommendation, BookTok is the first place I check, and it’s helped me discover some spectacular reads which I’ve devoured throughout the summer. However, I can’t help but ask, would I have found some of these books if I hadn’t stumbled across this phenomenon? BookTok has been around for a while, but during the pandemic, many book-lovers turned to this community in order to cure their boredom. BookTok has almost 23 billion

views on the hashtag alone, and it has skyrocketed book sales for smaller authors as well as creating a digital space for readers to connect.

I love to read, but I don’t read as much as I would like to. I tend to drift in and out of the habit of reading before bed, but over the summer of 2021 I fell even more in love with reading, which I didn’t think was possible.

Many of the books I’ve read recently were endorsed on BookTok, and I feel that without this platform I wouldn’t have encountered authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid and her book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (my new favourite) or The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, amongst many more names that I hadn’t heard of before.

Not only has BookTok given me a new zone to further my book collection, but it’s encouraged me to only purchase second-hand books, or download books on my kindle to slightly help the environment. It’s a space dedicated to ethical reading, or at least in my experience of it. In my somewhat biased opinion, BookTok is definitely worth all the hype!

Cli-Fi: Exploring the World Through Children’s Fiction

By Louise Collinss Mitch Johnson studied English Literature and Creative Writing at UEA and is now a published children’s author. His books expose injustices of the world whilst still being fun and accessible to young readers.

In October, Johnson conducted a talk as part of the Norwich Science Festival, discussing the power of children’s literature, particularly climate fiction.

Children’s fiction has a rich history of discussing environmental destruction, which Johnson points out may be due to the prevalence of animal characters, dealing with hard topics in fun, comfortable ways.

In his talk, Johnson recommends a wide range of books, including The Giving Tree, The Last Bear, and Green Rising. These books all focus on climate change or taking the world’s natural resources for granted. In discussing The Lorax, they compare versatility with our tendency to overuse plastic.

What stands out to Johnson is how The Lorax places the responsibility in the hands of the reader, and the idea of hope it finishes with. The Last Bear

Photo: Unsplash uses real science and statistics to not only inspire fiction, but to help it really make an impact.

Johnson has worked on several projects surrounding cli-fi and climate change, including The Living Book, an immersive experience which inspired young children to express their views on the changing world. The project explores the future of our planet, imagined by those who will have to live with our consequences. It is an incredibly moving and emotional project, because the desperation felt is palpable.

In discussing his own works, he described Pop as exposing the “topsy turvy logic of capitalism” and shedding light on the dangers of allowing one corporation to have so much power. Johnson stated that he never realised how affected he would be by the science he read in researching his upcoming book Spark. Many of us ignore the fact that our offspring will be witnessing the loss of resources, and the loss of species which we have taken for granted, but cli-fi makes us face these issues head on. Johnson stated,

“the true power of cli-fi is to put a reader in a place where they can reflect on the impact we’re having on the people coming after us.”

Whilst Johnson wants his books to be a light on the problems caused by mankind, he ultimately wants to contain an element of hope. He wants to give a reminder that things can change if only we step up, and that, yes, things are heading into destruction, but there’s always hope for a better world.

“[cli-fi] is not escapism, it’s actually something that engages directly with the problem.”

BOOKS

9

Mitch Johnson and the Importance of Cli-Fi

by Louise Collins What is the most influential text you’ve ever read, Before his talk at Norwich Science Festival, I got to and why would you recommend it to others? sit down with Mitch Johnson and ask him about his novRegarding climate change and Cli-Fi, The Lorax by els, and the impact he hopes they are having.

Dr Seuss. It takes no time to read, but there’s something about the accompanying pictures that has an added imCan you tell us a little about your books? What are pact. It’s so accessible, it’s fun, and sad and tragic, but the common themes? it’s very true. We’re seeing this happen on planet earth Kick is about an Indonesian boy who works in a and the tale isn’t silly, but moving and impressive. sweatshop making football boots, Pop is about a girl who finds the secret recipe to the world’s most popular Finally, are there plans to write Cli-Fi for older readfizzy drink, and focusses on plastic pollution and cor- ers? porate greed. Spark, which comes out in February, is I would like to write for adults, not necessarily Cli-Fi, about a boy trying to find safety in a world decimated but there aren’t any solid plans at the minute. Now, I reby climate change. They all tackle some sort of issue – ally love writing for children. They’re so responsive and whether social, economic or environmental. enthusiastic, and there’s so many possibilities with that Some might say you’re indoctrinating children because of the social and political themes. What’s your response?

I’m trying to counteract some of the indoctrination children already experience. Children only start to fully understand advertising when they’re 11 or 12 years old. So, young children are being manipulated by companies with no defence against it. I’m trying to restore a little balance and reveal the more negative side of corporations, allowing us to question what we’re being sold. These conversations are important because they’re incredibly urgent, and if you can’t face them in the safety of children’s literature, how are you meant to do it in the real world where everything is at stake?

age group, and I already have so many ideas.

Who, or what, do you take your inspiration from?

I was initially inspired by other writers. Now, it’s the knowledge that my work could have a positive impact on people in the real world. Thinking I can make a small contribution or be part of the solution is really motivating and inspiring. We’re in a golden age for children’s fiction and other authors are always making me want to do better.

What made you want to write political children’s fiction?

The idea of Kick took form as a short story for my creative writing dissertation at UEA. I was sure this kind of book already existed, and when I found that it didn’t, I thought that was a real shame, and I wondered what other areas children weren’t exposed to. They’re more receptive than people realise, they have a real sense of right and wrong, and writing for that age group is really rewarding. But children’s fiction isn’t just for children, it can be for adults too.

Photo: Unsplash

EDITOR: Louise Collins

10

Fashion

an interview with Colorifix: the next by zorsha taylor suich

On the 24th of October 2021, Norwich Science Festival hosted the event ‘Hello Future Fashion’, a panel of those representing their companies calling for a change in the fashion industry. One of these panelists was Duncan Rowe, the CTO of Colorifix, whom I had the pleasure to interview about Colorifix’s revolutionary methods in biotechnology.

Colorifix was founded in 2016 after synthetic biologists Jim Ajioka and Orr Yarkoni learned of the impact of chemical dyeing on the environment and local health in Kathmandu, Nepal. This occurred during their quest to develop biological sensors monitoring heavy metal contamination in drinking water. Several investor partners - such as Cambridge Enterprise and H&M - have helped them succeed in their company aims. Since then, the company has won Andam’s Innovation Award, with some companies and designers even following suit to adapt to their processes.

At the start of this interview, Rowe

Q - Firstly, how does your process of dyeing clothes work, and how is it more sustainable than the traditional method?

A - Firstly, traditional dyeing involves vast amounts of energy, water, and chemicals. Reducing water during the dyeing process is nothing new, however, for chemicals, the limited progress in this area is due to the slow implementation of regulations concerning chemical dyeing processes. More than 70 chemicals are involved in the traditional method, some of which are understood to be toxic or carcinogenic. Over decades, this buildup has inflicted a lot of damage upon local ecosystems.

Our team at Colorifix calls for a change in the industry. We wish to do so without intervening in garment workers’ lives in affected countries, such as with production speed - as people’s livings will often depend on fast production.

The Colorifix biological dyeing process involves natural pigments and biotechnology. We first use the genetic information from open genomic databases describing nature’s organisms (animals, plants, insects, microbes). We then use their DNA to locate the exact genes that lead to the organism taking on its pigment.

Next, we engineer a microorganism with this DNA, and this microbe produces the desired colour.

In this process, we witness a return to

nature by using DNA codes from nature that make enzymes as the chemical catalyst - as opposed to the synthetic route. The synthetic route will make chemical dyes through the use of petrochemicals, made via fossil fuels.

We scale the process to make pigments from microorganisms through the process of fermentation. With fermentation, comes reduced energy costs alongside our efforts to reduce water and excess chemicals.

This works by having microorganisms grow via renewable feedstocks made from cheap and natural plant-based materials or sources.

The microorganisms convert carbon from carbohydrates into pigment. It is this pigment that is transferred directly onto fabrics without the need for any additional chemicals as part of the biological dyeing process. All in all, we have finetuned a faster, more efficient, and low-energy method of dyeing clothing.

On Colorifix’s official website, their featured introduction features the subtitle “Going Back to Nature”. As seen here, the team aims to use the naturally occurring codes of nature - rather than using petrochemicals - to generate new colours.

The colours also reflect the natural hues seen within the environment, implying a new segue for fashion and its interesting relationship with colour. With nature’s colours on the clothing rack, I wonder if this will prompt us to think about the textile industry’s impact on our beautiful world?

Photo: Unsplash

“With awareness comes momentum - so we get our story into the big wide world”

and I first discuss Colorifix’s revolutionary dyeing process.

Fashion

11

Leading Company Calling For Change

Photo: Wikimedia Commons Q - Your CEO Dr. Orr Yarkoni said in The Eastern Daily Press that “We (Colorifix) don’t compromise on the quality of the product just because of sustainability”.

He expands on this to talk about financial sustainability and preventing “social disruption” with limited change to infrastructure in your methods. Why is this so important in the grand scheme of revolutionising fashion and other industries?

A - For instance, Nepal has experienced a lot of damage to its natural watercourses.

Colorifix wants to give countries relying on textile imports (China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc.) another option in order to avoid further water pollution. The textile and fashion industries are huge in these countries. Our mission is not to take that source of work away, but to provide work assuring that ecosystems are intact - thereby preventing disruption of local communities.

People’s livelihoods, on top of sustainability, is an issue at hand. Colorifix recognises that in order to prevent social disruption, people’s way of living needs to be maintained. Through our method of a closed fermentation vessel to extract pigment, chemicals are not spilled out in the open. Therefore, people can still work without there being an adverse environmental impact.

Q - H&M have backed your research, subsequently launching their “Colour Story” earlier this spring with an emphasis on eco-friendly dyes. With your CEO rejecting sustainability as a mere ‘trend’, do you think your work could

reform fast fashion’s status as a wasteful, polluting industry in the long term?

A - H&M, the single lead fashion company investing in Colorifix, is a huge help in boosting our mission. Colorifix is only a few years old, so this is a big achievement in such a short amount of time. Through demonstrating their colour story, comes awareness. “With awareness comes momentum - so we get our story into the big wide world”.

Regarding the image of fast fashion, there is hope for reform. In Norwich Science Festival’s Hello Future Fashion panel, I was asked what I’d do personally.

See, my school uniform in the 1980s had a lot of leeway, and so I stood out wearing a tan jacket all the time, while the others wore all black. Years later I didn’t see how I could get rid of it. During the 90s, a lady who sold vintage clothes took it in, and suddenly my jacket had value once again.

I suppose I hope that fashion essentially ‘recycles’ - that clothes regain value time after time - rather than people throwing them away. An overall reduction in consumerism would be ideal.

The rate of Colorifix’s impact in such a short time indicates how urgent the industry is for other options. I found it interesting how Rowe mentioned the recycling of fashion, in which I then commented on how second-hand shopping and older styles were becoming more popular among young people. I then asked Rowe about individual designers such as Stella McCartney, who promotes sustainability in her public statements,

and the general impact of a celebrity face or ‘influencer’ promoting their company.

Q - With Stella McCartney using your method in her V&A exhibition, what does this then mean for individual designers as opposed to fashion companies?

A - Working with McCartney and her brand was an important leap. She is generally confident in showcasing companies alongside her mindset of sustainability. Her perspective is extremely important, and can definitely shape other designers’ points of view. As designers, public figures, and influencers - this then strengthens the dialogue in regards to the field of fashion and textile companies.

Q - Lastly, do you see your research having a long-term, global impact? Do you think everyone will comply, and why so/ why not?

A - It is inevitable that things will have to change. The current way of doing things in the industry is unsustainable and has limited potential to survive. Colorifix’s techniques may as well be adopted. I have faith in its potential, considering its recent successes of H&M’s ‘Colour Story’ and Stella McCartney’s exhibition. So yes, I do think that we will have an impact.

A big thank you to Duncan Rowe and Colorifix for agreeing to this interview, and for transforming the industry into a more sustainable environment for fashion - a mode of self-expression that we here at UEA all know and love.

12

Fashion

Mary Quant - Defining an Era and Inspiring the Future of Fashion by louise collins Mary Quant has had a huge i m p a c t o n t h e f a s h i o n i n d u s t r y.

There is a very good chance that some clothes you wear today can be traced back to the f o u n d a t i o n s s h e l a i d . H o w e v e r, unless you are a fashion-geek, you may have never heard of h e r. Yo u m a y a s k w h o s h e i s , or what did she create? Mary Quant is credited as one of the creators of both the miniskirt and the hotpants, both of which revolutionised fashion.

Despite being an iconic f a s h i o n i t e m t o d a y, h o t p a n t s have had a scandalous reputation. Quant is accidentally r e c o g n i s e d a s t h e i r c r e a t o r, a s her shorts in the 1960s were originally meant to be worn u n d e r m i n i d r e s s e s . H o w e v e r, they had an amazing liberatory impact on fashion h i s t o r y.

In response to the midiskirt, midiskirts came about. At the time, the short-shorts came as a direct backlash against the a t t e m p t a t m o d e s t y. Wo m e n , men, and children all wore them until they became associated w i t h t h e s e x i n d u s t r y. T h e y then took a backseat in fashion, unless worn as p a r t y - w e a r.

Icons such as Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue brought them back during the turn of the millennium, for them to become a clubwear statement piece by the 2010s.

Since their creation, hotpants have been included in w o m e n ’s uniforms, from cheerleading to air hostesses. In 1971, the Philadelphia Phillies

baseball team introduced the Hot Pants Patrol, a group of female ushers wearing hotpants jumpsuits. This retired in 1982 due to pressure from feminist organisations. But I wonder if they would be seen as liberating today?

Even n o w, hotpants are included in uniforms for cheerleading groups and ‘breastaurants’ such as Hooters in the U.S.. There is a lot of discourse as to whether these uniform requirements are liberating or sexist, though I believe it is dependent on the person or reason for the person wearing them. They are also popular among gay men in pride parades, as a way to express their pride in their b o d y a n d s e x u a l i t y. H o t p a n t s have a dual status. But, there is no denying that they are r e v o l u t i o n a r y.

Another item associated with liberation is the miniskirt. In the 1960s, Quant wanted skirts to be easy to move in. Listening to her customers (often the youth), she responded to their requests to shorten hemlines.

Whilst Quant is credited as the c r e a t o r, s h e a l s o c r e d i t s t h e young women on the streets at the time. The miniskirt has a n i n c r e d i b l e h i s t o r y, b e i n g named after the Mini car banned in European countries for inciting sexual misconduct - with women fighting to wear them to the workplace.

Miniskirts have dipped in and out of fashion, but they are

still here today in some form.

Ty p i c a l l y, t h e r e a r e t h e s k a t e r skirts, midi skirts, circle skirts, a n d t e n n i s s k i r t s p o p u l a r t o d a y, but fashion is forever changing.

W h o i s t o s a y t h a t Q u a n t ’s s t y l e w o n ’t c o m e b a c k w i t h a b a n g ?

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

13

Fashion

Funky Trousers and Groovy Garms – How 1970’s Fashion is Stayin’ Alive by tabi fielding Photo: Unsplash

I f I w a l k e d a r o u n d U E A’s c a m p u s right at this moment, I am almost certain that I will see someone donning flared trousers, platform boots, or some sort of groovy print. Why is it that Generation Z are reconceptualising looks from decades ago, bringing back the Disco Era in all of its glory?

The answer is not all that black and white. In fact, the boldness and vibrancy of the clothes themselves can give us some idea.

Life as a student during a global pandemic has meant that fashion choices have often been limited to pyjamas or an occasional workout set. Since

being back on campus, there is a feel-good spirit alongside the freedom to navigate outside.

We a r i n g s o m e t h i n g f u n k y i s then one of the best ways to liberate oneself in response to the restrictions imposed upon young people these past couple o f y e a r s . We h a v e g o n e b a c k t o the 1970s, the diverse decade in which clothing (trends, subcultures, and identity) meant self-expression, more than any decade before.

Looking back to the origins of funky prints and Disco styles, we may think of James Brown and the genre of Funk originating in African American communities in the 1960s. Funk was a rhythmic, danceable form of music, compiled of a mixture of jazz, soul, and R&B. This c e l e b r a t e d o n e ’s i n d i v i d u a l i t y, and the “African spirit”, with its use of colourful stage outfits (something that would be relevant to hip-hop later on). During the 1970s hippy movement, h o w e v e r, t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f a n t i establishment ideas meant that clothing was rich in psychedelic themes, geometric designs, and culturally diverse inspirations.

70s fashion has seemed to have m a d e a r e s u r g e n c e t o d a y, t o o , a s taking a trip to one of the many vintage stores in Norwich has become a typical weekend for a UEA student.

The key message here is that people want to make a statement with their outfits, perhaps to

convey confidence, p o w e r, a n d i n d i v i d u a l i t y. W h e t h e r o n campus or high-fashion shows, 1970s fashion is timeless, never failing to invoke a cultural response. For example, Harry S t y l e s i m i t a t i n g M i c k J a g g e r ’s sensual stage presence in androgynous statement garments never fails to impress fans and the media.

This idea of 70s fashion having this timeless, evocative presence in our timeline is important now m o r e t h a n e v e r. T h i s i s a t i m e t o celebrate those who came before us, the hard times experienced, and the diverse influences that m a k e u p o u r c l o t h i n g . H o p e f u l l y, the 1970s will be Stayin’ Alive a little longer - for us to head to the vintage shops in time!

Photo: Unsplash

EditOR: Zorsha Taylor Suich

14

creative writing

What a wonderful winter world

By Louise collins Even before you open your eyes, you know it’s brighter than usual. Something has happened overnight.

Something magical. Your eyes flutter open, darting towards your bedroom window, where a sliver of light peeks through. A small smile flashes onto your face as you sit up, noticing the cold, crisp air for the first time. Even through the smallest gap, you know.

It’s bright white outside.

It’s snowing. Standing up and pulling your duvet around you so you’re swallowed by it, you shuffle to the window, holding the cover with one hand, drawing the curtains back with the other. Your smile widens as you take in the sight before you.

Your whole garden is covered in a thick, bright layer of snow. You can barely make out the steps out of your conservatory, it’s that deep. It’s a winter wonderland, and snowflakes of all sizes are still falling, finding their place in the white abyss. The conifers outside your window look like they’re straight out of a Christmas tree farm with their sprinkling of snow, and you can’t help but feel the excitement bubble up. It’s a week until Christmas, and the hope it’ll be a white one is ever-growing. You quickly pull a pair of your fluffiest socks on, wrap yourself in your dressing gown, and head along the corridor.

Sinking into the window seat in your living room, looking out onto the falling snow, you breathe in the scent of rich hot chocolate. The steaming mug in your hands heating you up and taking over your senses.

The thick dollop of whipped cream and the smattering of marshmallows look straight out of a Christmas movie, but you don’t care if you look cheesy; you’re too content at this moment. You’re curled up tight, cushions surrounding you like a nest. You hear the click of a camera, and turn around, noticing your brother for the first time, capturing you in all your comfort.

An hour later, you’re both wrapped up warm.

You’re in your favourite knitted sweater and fleecelined leggings. Three pairs of fluffy socks keeping your feet warm, and your new winter coat zipped all the way up. The pair of you cross the road, meeting up with your cousin and your friends, who live just down the street from you. Their cheeks are tinted pink from the cold, and you know yours will soon join them. As the five of you start walking, desperately trying to keep yourselves warm, you take in the freshness of the still almost-untouched snow. It’s still

falling, and it’s already thick, but you’d never pass on a walk through the forest in this weather; not with all these stunning sights to be seen.

Soon enough, the five of you have become too cold just walking, and you find yourself in one of the surrounding fields, throwing snowballs at each other with absolutely no loyalty to anyone; it’s every man for themself. You’re dodging snowballsas best as you can, but just as you throw the perfect arm, seeing it hit your cousin smack bang in her shoulder, you see a flash ofwhite before your face stings with cold. Your brother lets out a victorious whoop before you can regain your senses and you’re bolting after him, speeding to get your revenge.

An hour later, the five of you are back in your living room, socks on the radiators, pants in the dryer, blankets wrapped around you. Your faces are all bright pink, and your hair is soaking wet, but you’re all wearing the same matching grins as you look out onto the winter wonderland in your backyard, and plan for tomorrow’s activities.

Photo: Unsplash

creative writing

15

an ordinary man, an extraordinary day By hamilton brown Mr Jones liked to think that ordinary was better. If you’re ordinary, you’re neither noteworthy for being smart, nor noteworthy for being dumb; neither talented nor useless. If you’re altogether B grade – do a bit of everything relatively well – then you slide right past others’ peripheral visions.

He took pride in the fact he was born on a Tuesday, a very ordinary day indeed; had a job as a barista at a Marks and Spencer’s café, a very ordinary job indeed; and had a wife and two kids, a very ordinary family indeed.

He liked his job; it wasn’t particularly taxing, but there was still a skill to be had for it, in terms of latte art. But then again, there wasn’t an inordinate amount of pressure placed on him for that skill to be honed.

Nobody really cared if their coffee looked like a heart or a phallic appendage, and the lack of expectations made him feel safe.

Nearing the end of his Thursday shift, Mr Jones put through his customer’s order with a smile. ‘Thank you! Who’s next, there? Ah, James Gordon – how’re you today?’

James shrugged, ‘Yeah, good.’ But his dejected features and furrowed brows explained otherwise. This insular body language looked rather incongruous on his solid frame and large stature. ‘Just the usual, cheers, David.’

‘A cappuccino, please, Karen!’ Mr Jones called to his colleague as he scanned through James’ usual cheese and mushroom toastie. James checked his watch, and as he did so, Mr Jones caught a glimpse of a Chinese dragon illustration snaking down his arm. ‘New tattoo, eh?’ he said, perhaps a little too energetically to counterbalance James’ mood. ‘Makes that sleeve of yours complete, now doesn’t it?’

‘Cheers mate,’ James snorted politely, but his limp reply lacked any of the jovial laddishness that frequently dominated his tone.

‘I hope you have a lovely half day today, James. Maybe take your daughters to the park? Your toastie will be ready shortly, OK, friend?’

Mr Jones was a creature of habit. A habit was something comforting, to be enjoyed; nothing could go wrong if one continually revolved one’s life round a series of actions, the way the sun orbits the earth. But, as he entered the newsagents at seven forty-five for his morning newspaper, James Gordon was the person that occupied his mind most habitually. If something was bothering his regular customers, then it was bothering Mr Jones. The elusive cause of James’ gloom buzzed inside Mr Jones’ head like a fly pelting on glass, scouting for an open window.

Suddenly a small pistol was thrust into his face. Orders were barked at him by a balaclava with eyes. ‘I’m sorry?’ he asked, coming into consciousness and away from James Gordon.

‘Get on the floor now!’ the balaclava thundered, shoving his gun to Mr Jones’ forehead.

He complied sedately. Sitting on the linoleum, he unfolded his paper and turned to the astrology section, to look for answers as to why this day had become so unordinary. Particularly for one who was born on such an ordinary day as Tuesday, and works in M&S. Perhaps it was because he was a Leo, he reasoned. Judging by the vague yet ominous prophecy he read, it was just a bad day for Leos. He wondered whether the person writing this supposed someone born under his star would get caught up in a robbery today, or if the inauspicious message meant they’d lose an umbrella, or some such ordinary item.

Whatever the reason for this speedbump in his life, Mr Jones had never experienced such a ruckus before. But somebody had to do something. And, judging by the hopeless elderly gentleman behind the till and the pregnant woman with her crying toddler, it looked like the stars were calling on him to diffuse the situation.

Read the full story at https://www.concrete-online.co.uk

16

creative writing

A divorce from tradition By bella hatch

2012. Christmas with Mum. You’ve been told to act normal, so you’re singing while you bring the coal but now you’re singing solo. There’s still just as much food, just as much drink, but no matter how full you stock the cupboards, something in the kitchen is missing. The tree is up, the lights are on, but you walk in on Mum struggling to light the fire herself. She turns and rolls her eyes and laughs, cracking a joke about needing a man about the house. The joke falls cold. The front door has been left open, and you sweep the snow back outside. There’s an empty space at the table, but no one mentions this. The turkey is dry in your mouth. You pull a cracker with your brother and he wins. This time there’s no chuckle and ruffle of hair from Dad as he passes you his own paper hat. Mum tuts and gives you hers, but it’s not the same.

2013. First Christmas with Dad. It’s been the same year but everything is new. He’s still living in his best friend’s spare room, and as they cook they joke about how it’s just like being back at university, but with better wine. Dad gives you a glass, handing it over with a wink, and tells you not to tell Mum. You don’t mention that there’s so much you don’t tell her now. You eat roast potatoes from a bag and store bought green beans, pigs in blankets fresh from the freezer burnt to crisps around the edges because “the football highlights are on, I bloody forgot to check the oven!”. The tree is smaller, and Dad apologises about there being less presents this year. You want to tell him it was never about the presents, but you just smile and hug him tighter than usual.

2014. Christmas at Mum’s. There’s a new name under the tree, just one present addressed to the newcomer. Cautious teenage eyes follow Mum as she fetches the present and gives it to her recipient, followed by a kiss. The empty space at the table has been filled, but no one mentions this. You walk in on him lighting the fire, and he cracks a joke about how your mum has said she needs a man about the house. The joke lands cold. The fire is slow to light, and the warmth eks slowly from the room. Your dad calls, and you tell him about the newcomer. Dad has nothing nice to say about him, but his swearing makes you laugh. When Mum asks what’s funny, you shake your head. You’re unhappy, but she doesn’t have to be anymore.

2015. Christmas at Dad’s. The new house smell still hasn’t dissipated, and half the rooms stand bare save for mountains of cardboard boxes. On Christmas morning you slide around in your socks on the polished wood, and heat milk over the stove for hot chocolate. You share bacon sandwiches while sitting on cushions on the bare living room floor, Christmas carols leaking from the tinny radio. Dad wraps a blanket around your shoulders while the turkey is roasting, and you duet Christmas songs for the first time in three years. Mum calls, and you tell her about the overcooked carrots, and she sighs and says Dad could never get them right. She wishes you a Happy Christmas and when you say it back, you think maybe this year you really mean it.

Photo: Unsplash

EDITOR: Izzy murphy

Music Becky Hill: The Powerhouse at LCR

17

by phoebe lucas Becky Hill is one of the top pop artists of the century. With hit after hit in the charts, it’s no wonder her gig at UEA’s LCR was sold out. With a voice like hers, the LCR was an ideal venue that truly showcased her vocal talent and stage presence.

Before Becky took to the stage on October 15th, we had a set from R&B soul singer Richard Fairlie. A charismatic singer-songwriter, Richard intertwines the sounds of hip-hop and R&B in his music.

After his set, Fairlie came down into the crowd to take photos and chat to his fans. With reactions like “Richard signed my hand, I’m never going to wash again!”, I’m sure Norwich will be a gig he remembers.

About half an hour later, Becky Hill walked on stage and opened with the classic, Heaven on my Mind.

Immediately the crowd were singing along and in the mood for the next hour and a half of Becky Hill bangers!

She then dove straight into Afterglow, an unexpected surprise as I assumed she’d close the gig with this single. An excellent choice from her nonetheless, as her engagement with the crowd heightened.

Hill goes on to talk about her debut album, Only Honest On The Weekend, released this year that she encouraged everyone to go home and listen to. Becky spoke of how proud she was to finally have her own album and proceeded to share the vulnerability she felt writing particular songs like lessons and perfect people. The latter being an especially emotional rendition, stripped back to its acoustic form with just Becky, her guitar, and honest lyricism.

It’s also worth highlighting how

Becky mentioned the exhaustion of doing 17 shows in 3 weeks, as well as on this particular night having an ear infection in her left ear. Considering she didn’t feel 100%, there’s no doubt she absolutely gave it her all.

There was a good mix of new songs off the album as well as playing all her well-known hits, so no one was disappointed. Before explaining how she doesn’t do encores, Becky ended her set with Wish You Well, a perfect final choice in my opinion.

Often branded as a ‘singles’ singer, it was clear Becky was determined to prove those wrong and that she can in fact write her own album. With questions like “why release a debut album now, after being in the industry for ten years?” Hill had high expectations to meet which she absolutely smashed at the LCR.

Why Bands like Jungle are Important in 2021 By finlay porter

When Tom McFarland and Josh Lloyd-Watson burst onto the scene under the name Jungle in 2014, it seemed that the UK’s electronic scene had a new pioneer. A few years later, they returned with their second album For Ever, a slow, melancholic affair largely inspired by both members of the duo’s recent breakups. That was 2018. Now, in 2021, after the past eighteen months of lethargy, they are back with a powerful message.

Loving In Stereo (2021) is Jungle’s latest studio album, and is a punchy and vibrant collection of grooves dedicated to positivity. Gone is the mournful self-indulgence of For Ever, replaced with funky beats and a broader soundscape, with accompanying strings, choirs, and even guitars all adding to the blend of genres. While the album is still unmistakably Jungle, it is clear they

are developing their sound through collaboration with other artists.

Bas and Priya Ragu accentuate Jungle’s influences of hip-hop and soul respectively. And they have broadened their group into a mysterious collective of passionate musicians which likens them to upand-coming group SAULT (whose producer Inflo worked with Jungle on this album).

Jungle’s passion for innovation and collaboration has extended beyond their music into their music videos – having produced one for each song on the album. The videos, set in an old fort in Dover, are each shot in one take. The choreography is above all else free and contemporary, and it’s inspiring to see Jungle showcasing some of the UK’s finest in physical theatre and cinematography – an industry which was hit exceptionally

hard during the pandemic.

Besides continuing to drive innovation in their scene, and collaborating with other artists, Jungle’s latest album is chiefly important due to its message of positivity. The album was forecasted Keep Moving and by singles Talk About it . Both are upbeat dancehall records, embodying the therapeutic aspects of music whilst conveying a serious message about overcoming sadness and conflict in our relationships. Jungle have found their groove again and have packed this record with upbeat tracks that are bound to get your foot tapping.

Positivity is in high demand in 2021, and Jungle have delivered just that in a package which reaffirms the collective’s position as innovators in the UK music scene.

18 Music Newton Faulkner at The Waterfront, with Support Acts Nati Dreddd and Sam Brookes By sam gardham

Nati Dreddd played lively, strummed pop songs and two covers. She seemed nervous but belted rowdily in her own Scottish accent, which is a welcome thing in a world of bland transatlantic voices.

Her best-performed song was her last, an old Gaeliclanguage stomper. She said, “It’s really fast, I cannae breathe when I sing it so I might pass out.”

Sam Brookes: pensive-sounding, drifty singersongwriter. He had a massive voice – in falsetto he went part theremin, part whale song, and part Thom Yorke.

His earnestness was impressive. Singing a long high note with his eyes closed and his mouth hanging open, he looked unguarded and animalistic. He said he completely forgot where he was.

Then Newton Faulkner – who stood amid a semicircular one-man band setup of electronic drum pad, two guitars, three microphone stands, two keyboards, and foot pedalboards.

His twenty-one song set was drawn from across his seven albums. Aside from a cover of Teardrop by Massive Attack, it was all self-written – mostly pop anthems with big choruses, energetically performed throughout.

This sound is endorphin sugar for people who listen to him. Tonight’s stage-to-back-wall audience called out requests and a couple of declarations of love. The words to old cigarette-lighters-in-the-air hits like Dream Catch Me were chanted out. At times the atmosphere was of a cosy campfire singalong transplanted to a sevenhundred-capacity venue, and he encouraged this by separating the audience into three for parts of some

songs, giving each group a different repeating phrase to sing.

‘Cosy’ is a word very applicable to Newton Faulkner. He’s never radically changed his music. You know what to expect from him, he’s reliable. A nd yet he’s mindful to try to avoid monotony: tonight, using live loops played on his drum pads and/or keyboards, he varied the textures of many songs. Sometimes this went well, as in the several instances when he layered intricate guitar loops, but it also threatened to bring its own sameyness: the pounding four-to-the-floor bass drum and tambourine hits used to invigorating effect on opener Smoked Ice Cream later got reused too often. Perhaps he would be better-served by a band.

These ornamentations aside, his guitar playing speaks for itself. His tapping on I Need Something was how Eddie Van Halen might have sounded if he’d played on a Damien Rice album. A nd with Hit the Ground Running , Faulkner gave an acrobatic justification of his singing, which has grown in skill over the years.

Despite his affableness, he seemed slightly wary of the audience: at first he played with his eyes fixed leftof-centre on the far wall, and he later told a cautionary story about meeting an unnerving fan. But he must know most of them are a benign bunch. A striking moment came toward the hushed end of I Need Something when much of the crowd unexpectedly sang along, ‘I need something to believe in / because I don’t believe in myself’.

Interview with Newton Faulkner By sam gardham Newton Faulkner - English singer, guitarist, and songwrite - and I are talking about the song Killing Time from his new album. It’s a cathartic, hopeful anthem about the difficulty of last year’s lockdowns.

“I think I take the responsibility of putting things out into the world quite seriously,” he says. “It definitely intensified when I had a child – my son’s ten.

A nd also just generally in life, I think the stuff that you put out into the world tends to loop back around.

It’s a mixture of the butterfly effect and just generally wanting to make people around me happy. So I believe

that if you hold the door open for someone they’ll be nicer to everyone else for the rest of the day, and it’s a ripple that runs through every thing.”

This remark is characteristic of him. He’s a very pleasant chap – a fact clear as he speaks over Zoom from his home recording studio where, emblematic of his boyish enthusiasm, a toy Optimus Prime helmet is mounted on the wall.

“But then,” he continues, “there’s a song on [the previous album] called Alright , and the main tagline is ‘What if it’s not going to be alright?’”A nd in fact, it hasn’t been.

Music “Now, I don’t want to go too deep into this, but after the [new] album was finished I basically had a small mental breakdown. There was a huge amount of intense personal stuff that happened just before the lockdowns and during the first few there were some fairly horrendous things going on. It was bad, a bad time. A nd all of that was while I was making this record. A running theme of the record is acceptance, which now seems ironic because it’s turned out that the reason I was singing about it was because I knew it was actually what I needed to do. I thought I was already doing it – but wasn’t. It turned out what I was actually doing was locking it in a small box and just being like right, it’s only going to open if I get totally pushed over the edge. It was very much an old-school British stiff upper lip ‘Oh, carry on, let’s keep going, moooove’. A nd then when I’d finished making this record suddenly two, maybe even three years’ worth of emotional baggage hit me like an absolute brick and I totally broke.”

He’s candid about what seems to have been both a fundamental difficulty in his life and an integral part of his identity, for years: “You have an album that does ridiculously well in your early 20s, you just get thrown out into a whole tornado of a world that didn’t slow down for such a long time. A nd I think I didn’t really have to think about much other than just keeping going for like a really long time. I remember when it stopped and I was like, what is this thing. Don’t I have to be somewhere?

No you don’t, you’ve been working solidly for six or seven years, so we want you to take a break. It really panicked me, I was like no I can’t … Entertainment in general is such a strange way to spend your time. You can really dig yourself some holes. Most people tend to go mad at one point or another.”

He mentions that, for a long while, he excessively relied on performing as a source of personal validation.

The absence of live music last year meant he had to deal with this.

The opening track of the new album Sinking Sand is troubled in tone but aside from some introspective moments, the other songs mostly don’t convey the darker state of mind he had while recording them – at least, not musically. Repeatedly, there is sumptuous production and colourfully outsized choruses – a friendly, extroverted personality translated into sound. It’s clear that music is a positive force for him, a way of usefully repurposing personal difficulty. A nd, while we’re still talking about his gigging experience, he makes sure to emphasise why he lives this vocation in the first place: “I absolutely fucking love it.”

I ask him about his favourite gigs he’s done – one

19 of which, he says, was the A lbert Hall in Manchester three years ago, where “something magical happened”: “I almost felt like I was watching it … I think there’s an element of outof-body experience with gigs, because you have to try to put yourself in the minds of people watching and try and work out where you should go next … A nd it’s those moments. It’s definitely that that drives me more.”

“As a conduit for connection?” I ask.

“Yeah, music as a form of communication.” So, I ask why is the new album called Interference (of Light) ?

“I started just digging around and found this scientific principle of the interference of light, which is when light hits oil on water – and it’s these colours that appear, these kind of swirls. A nd I got really excited by the idea of trying to recreate that musically. Because it’s a general lack of rules in terms of the ways that the colours are: they’re not geometric patterns – they’re very loose and swirly. A nd they’re very intense. Which I really like the idea of musically, because it definitely filtered through the whole album in how I approached the instrumentation. Because, normally I’m like, well we don’t have brass on any thing else, so we can’t suddenly have loads of brass on one track, it would be weird.

But with this I was like, do you know what, it’s just another bold splash of colour … Like Sinking Sand – loads of the tracks are out on their own stylistically and sonically.”

Faulkner is discernibly in a different phase of his musical career to when he started out. He says that with this album he’s moved past the need to centre his songwriting around the acoustic guitar, and that the more accessible, homemade aspect of modern music production has been creatively liberating. A nd yet the public only gets to hear a narrow sliver of his growing eclecticism: when I ask if he would consider going completely left-field with future music, he explains that there’s plenty of things he’s recorded “with weird little instruments” which he hasn’t shared with the world because they’re “just really weird”. Intriguing – I hope he releases them one day.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

EDITOR: Tom manning

20

Gaming a day exploring the games cafes in norwich By holly jackson

As some of you may know, there are several gaming cafes in Norwich, which are a fun trip out whether you’re looking to play board games or video games. I spent a day exploring these cafes and seeing what they’re all about.

1. The Games Table - Located in Lower Goat Lane This board game cafe was the first place we went. For a more casual experience, which we opted for, you simply pay £1 for the table and buy yourself a drink. This gives you an hour to play some classic board games, such as Guess Who, Connect 4, and Jenga. We played these three games and had a great time. If you’re after a more intense gaming session, for £6 per person, you can rent out a table for four hours, which gives you access to an extensive library of games (and believe me there was a lot to choose from!). There is also a wide range of board games available to buy if you wish. I found The Games Table to have a very fun and friendly atmosphere, and is a great place to go with friends.

2. One Life Left - Located in St Benedicts St Next, we went to One Life Left, which is a video games cafe offering plenty of choice. You can rent a screen for half an hour for just £2.50, or an hour for £5, which is what we did, giving you access to the screen and two controllers. Their menu offers some classic cakes and hot or cold drinks, as well as snacks. There were so many consoles and games to choose from we didn’t know where to start! After browsing the long list of games available, we decided to begin on the Nintendo Switch, and played Super Mario Kart Deluxe 8, followed by Super Smash Bros, accompanied by some cake. We then switched over to PlayStation 4 Pro, and played Sonic Racing to finish off. Again, this cafe had a great atmosphere and very helpful staff, and I would recommend it. It was also interesting to see the range of older consoles there, which I’d definitely suggest checking out, especially if you fancy taking a trip down memory lane. Moreover, One Life Left holds gaming events on different days of the week. If you’re interested there is plenty of information on their website and FaceBook.

3. Slice and Dice - Located in St Benedicts St Lastly, we went to Slice and Dice, which is another board games cafe. It costs £5 per person which gives you four hours to play, and a large selection of games to pick from. Slice and Dice offers a 100% plant based menu, serving sandwiches and hot food, as well as snacks. They also have a wide range of drinks, from milkshakes to cocktails. Here, we had a pot of tea and tried out some games that we hadn’t heard of before. We started off with Pentago, which is a strategy game in which you must line up five marbles in a row. However, after placing each marble, you must turn a quarter of the board 90 degrees, making it challenging. I soon found out strategy games are not my strong point!

Next, we played another game which we hadn’t seen before, called Thrive. This is another strategy game, with some more complex rules that took us a while to wrap our heads around. The aim of the game is to outsmart your opponent and take control of the ‘pond’ (the board). Lastly, we played the classic game of Uno. Again, the atmosphere was lovely, and very relaxed, with soothing music playing in the background. This would be a great place to go if you prefer quieter spaces.

Overall, we had a lovely day out. Our visit to all three cafes totalled at about £25, which is not bad at all considering we didn’t manage to make full use of the time given in every cafe (and bought plenty of refreshments). Each cafe is certainly a bargain, especially the 4 hour slots provided by The Games Table, and Slice and Dice, which is ideal if you’re meeting up in a larger group for some intense game playing. An hour in One Life Left between two players works out at just £2.50 each, which is absolutely a sufficient amount of time to explore several games. Although it is very hard to pick, I think my personal favourite cafe would be Slice and Dice, as they had a lot of obscure board games to pick from and a broad menu, making it a great place to visit at any time of day.

Photo: Holly Jackson

If you’re looking for something new to try out with friends, I would highly recommend visiting these places.

gaming 21 Exploring the highly anticipated update of Animal Crossing: New Horizons By becca patchett If I’m honest, I haven’t been on Animal Crossing New Horizons for two months. My islanders were not pleased to say the least, especially Agnes. After ruffling my hair back into place and ridding my house of cockroaches, I set off to beg my villagers for forgiveness.

The reason for my return to the game was the highly anticipated 2.0 update. After a year of owning the game I had become complacent with my island. The update was scheduled for release on the 5th of November but was released a day early, so I went to explore it.

Isabelle greeted me by announcing that as resident representative, I will oversee ordinances and that I can now go to uninhabited islands via boat trips from the island pier. To find out what an ordinance is I went to see her, where she explained that, as resident representative, I can pass or dismiss ordinances to make life easier on my island. Whenever I want to do this, I can talk to her to ‘review island features.’ To be able to enact an ordinance you have to pay 20,000 bells for ‘paperwork.’ There are four different ordinances: The Beautiful Island ordinance, The Early Bird ordinance, The Night Owl ordinance and The Bell Boom ordinance.

As I was already in the town hall, I checked the Nook Stop to explore its new services! Island life 101 gives you daily advice and information on living on the island. Be a chef! DIY Recipes+ allows you to make a kitchen at a workbench and the kitchen allows you to make food with crops you’ve grown (seeds can be purchased from Leif) or ingredients you’ve collected! The Pro Camera app updates the camera on your phone by using the – button, allowing you to see from your character’s perspective. There are also three new updates to the custom designs app. The Custom Design Pro Editor+ gives you the ability to design face cut out standees, hand held flags, umbrellas and uchiwa fans as well as adding 50 design slots. The Custom Designs Portal means that you can press on the X button whilst on the Custom Designs app to access the online design portal. Custom Designs Patterns+ gives you a wide new range of patterns that you can wear, and put on the floor or the wall by pressing + on the custom design app.

After running around trying out the new features I found Norma in my house which means that islanders can finally invade your personal space like you do to them!

How exciting!

The most highly anticipated part of this update is the return of Brewster. After running around the island trying to find the café, I finally found Blathers with a thought bubble over his head. Blathers ponders over opening a café in their museum to attract more visitors, but mentions that Brewster hasn’t been seen for a long time. He hints that Brewster may be in search of Gyroids and could be on an uninhabited island.

I ran as fast as my ‘B’ button would take me to my island pier to find Kapp’n sitting happily on a boat. Trips on the boat cost 1,000 miles which is fully worth it just to listen to Kapp’n to sing you songs on the journey, which

you can clap along to. When you arrive at the island, Kapp’n explains that the same rules apply on the boat tours as with the plane tours with acquiring tools and if you leave anything on the island, you can’t get it back.

On these islands, there is a chance you may discover rare plants such as glowing moss, and vines growing up the cliffs which you can take back and install on your own island.

Eventually, I found Brewster wandering around an island, so I spoke to him and he gave me a Gyroid fragment. You can bury these in a hole and water them.

When you see the buried fragment puff with steam, the Gyroid is ready to be dug up the next day! When you return to Blathers after your boat adventure, he is stressed because Brewster is a bird that likes to act quickly and therefore will arrive soon, meaning the museum will be closed for a day for construction before his arrival.

I think that is all for the update so if you need me, I’ll be hiding under my duvet for a month or so, running around my island.

Photo: Unsplash

gaming

22

Gaming Giant SEGA to Join Forces With Microsoft By molly phillips There has been debate in the online gaming community about whether the gaming giant was being bought out by Microsoft Corporation, since SEGA published a tweet where they visited Microsoft’s offices.

It has been announced that the Japanese video game company is ‘in principle’ joining forces with Microsoft.

It is an alliance aimed at allowing SEGA to produce games on a global scale, which is accessible via Microsoft Azure’s cloud platform.

For the uninitiated, Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing software. SEGA is not the first gaming company to join Microsoft Azure’s network - Bungie (Destiny) and Krafton (PUBG), have, for example, but SEGA is the latest.

Microsoft’s companionship will allow them to customize their future games.

And it seems to have been a successful endeavour already: Reuters says that the news of the collaboration caused SEGA’s stocks to increase by 6% on the day of its announcement. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Sarah Bond complimented SEGA,

commenting on the ‘iconic role’ that the company have played in the gaming industry over the years.

SEGA, which was founded in 1960, became part of the mainstream of successful video game companies in the 90s with Sonic the Hedgehog, which was a huge hit with players. Their collaboration with Microsoft is saturated with the words ‘future’ and ‘global’, as it marks a new era for the company. SEGA is evidently working with current trends in gaming and communication, as well as anticipating future ones and preparing itself to best suit what gaming might become.

With an increase in 5G and cloud services, video games have never been so easily and readily accessible, and SEGA are using this change to their advantage and adapting to a changing climate of technological advances that ultimately make us more connected.

Yukio Sugino, the president and Chief Executive Officer of SEGA, stated “We are very pleased to announce today that we are considering a strategic

alliance with Microsoft to help develop SEGA’s new “Super Game” initiative as well as build a next-generation game development environment.” Sarah Bond, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft, commented “We look forward to working together as they [SEGA] explore new ways to create unique gaming experiences for the future using Microsoft cloud technologies”.

This forward-focused initiative, dubbed as SEGA’s “Super Game” is an exciting initiative for the gaming world.

It is all part of a plan to make this world a more globally connected entity, and the mysterious ‘super game’ will be a large-scale, online title that hopefully lives up to its name.

Photo: Unsplash

Editor: Holly Jackson

w

24

FILM Asian Representation in Films

Photo: Pixabay

by Melody Chan

The summer release, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has brought a Marvel frenzy around the world. With the appearance of Wong from Doctor Strange, the increasing amount of Asian representation in Marvel Studios reformed perspectives on Hollywood.

has

Shang-Chi is directed by the AsianAmerican filmmaker, Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed The Glass Castle and Just Mercy. With the film’s East-Asian dominated cast, the film narrates an ancient tale of a Chinese warlord named Xu Wenwu, also known as the Mandarin. He inherits ten magical rings and the protagonist, ShangChi who is Wenwu’s son, fights against this legacy.

The dynamics of a father and son relationship is demonstrated with multiple martial arts scenes, presenting and enriching Asian culture. The hip-hop soundtrack is infused with traditional Chinese folklore, immersing the audience into a crossover realm of the Western and the Asian.

A sense of nostalgia and familiarity found its way through my experience of watching the film. This is because of the inclusion of over-dramatic special effects, which reminds me of other Asian films such as

Ip Man and Stephen Chow’s series of comedies. Another familiar factor is the narrative, where the beginning of Shang-Chi is fully narrated in Mandarin.

This was unexpected because Marvel Studios

usually

directs

towards

a

Western audience. Shang-Chi has finally represented the Asian community and its culture, “it does well and I hope that it opens the door for the future,” said Dr Nancy Wang Yuen, the sociologist and author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism.

Before Shang-Chi, other Asian films

will make it to the Oscars and so “we can see more foreign-language films and Asian films.”

The upcoming Marvel film Eternals is directed by Chloe Zhao, a Chinese filmmaker with an Oscar on Nomadland. The film includes foreign cast members namely Kumail Nanjiani, a Pakistani-American actor, who is the first South Asian hero in the Marvel Series. As well as Gemma Chan, a British-Asian actress who previously starred as Astrid in Crazy Rich Asians.

The

Asian

inclusivity

in

films

have tried to re-establish Hollywood

mirrors the need for acceptance in the

stereotypes. Including Crazy Rich Asians,

world today, especially when reports on anti-Asian hate crimes skyrocketed

the first Hollywood story featuring an allAsian cast and an Asian-American lead in 25 years. Based on Kevin Kwan’s comedy novel, he says the level of interest in his work was a global phenomenon, it “just speaks to the universality of the story.”

Another film is Parasite, the first foreign film to win the Best Pictures Oscar award. A notable achievement since Asian actors only made up to 1% of the

by 70% in America in 2020. These Asian directors, actresses and actors would be representatives and role models for Asian kids to look up to.

Grace Han, journalist and Asian Movie Pulse reviewer, claims Eternals would need to “[define] what exactly is ‘Asian’ and when it comes to representation

Oscar nominations in 89 years. Choi Woo Shik, the Korean actor who plays Ki-woo

who exactly [does Hollywood] want to represent.” This is because the right definition can change perspectives,

in Parasite, hopes more foreign legends

forever.

FILM

25 Norwich Film Festival Is Back Better Than Ever!

by Laura Patterson

having this experience once again, returning this year with its largest showcase yet!

excited to be pioneering the event once more, having said, “we’re coming back with a bold programme of a record-number of

From the 12th to the 21st of November, the festival will be screening a wide range of independent films from a regional,

films. Each year, the festival has grown, including the number of visitors. Offering people great cinematic experiences again is an

national, and international scale. All 133 films are thoughtprovoking, powerful, and captivating. Whether it is films

absolute joy to be able to do!”

This is the first year the festival is a hybrid of online and in-

exploring identity and relationships in the LGBTQ+ community, or films concerning the rising topic of the environment, there

person viewing. If you can’t make one of the screenings in person, don’t fret! You can have access to these films and watch

is bound to be a screening suited to your interest.

As Stephen Fry beautifully put it, “watching a film is like

them online until the end of November.

Concrete and Venue looks forward to covering the rich and

a journey to someone’s soul; unique exposure to cultures, personal stories and incredible imagination.” The renowned

emerging talent that is being hosted in our city of Norwich for this month. This festival is truly an opportunity that cannot be

actor and writer is delighted to be a Patron for the festival this year, alongside Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman.

missed.

Photo: Norwich Film Festival

The privilege to watch films in person was tragically taken away from film-lovers last year. Norwich Film Festival celebrates

Other big names will be appearing on the big screen this month. These include Himesh Patel (Yesterday), Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again & Fleabag), David Bradley (Harry Potter), and many more.

If you’re particularly interested in a career in filmmaking, then now is your chance to attend the upcoming panels this month. Listen to real filmmakers themselves, offering tips and tricks to navigate your way in the industry. There will also be a screening showcasing debut shorts by first-time filmmakers to help give you inspiration.

Kellen Playford, the founder of Norwich Film Festival, is

The Last Night In Soho : Review

by Lauren Barrett

is paired astoundingly to each scene and plays a vital role, almost

The Last Night in Soho is Edgar Wright’s newest polarising film.

connecting to the lights and outfits. Having such a visually appealing film with dark topics mirrors the reality of the characters,

Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) comes from rural Cornwall

and it almost seems like a warning for those romanticising the past.

The glamour and aesthetics may be fascinating, but the reality and

with big dreams. Once she gets into London College of Fashion, the excitement of a new life starts, a life not dissimilar to her late mother’s. Her grandmother fears for her, knowing her ‘gift’ sets her apart. After a cold welcome at the university halls, Ellie seeks for a new abode - a bedsit in soho with Mrs. Collins (Diana Rigg). It’s here where her room starts to act as a portal to the 1960’s, finding her body twinned with Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy). Sandie dreams of being the next Cilla Black and it appears to be coming true when she meets Jack (Matt Smith), who “manages all the girls”. It quickly however goes

politics of the time, not so much.

Some films feel too long when they hit the two-hour running time, but The Last Night In Soho leaves you wanting more. The viewer is drawn into both Eloise’s contemporary storyline and the mystery that unfolds in Eloise’s dreams and Sandie’s reality. The connection between the two is questionable at first, but this quickly becomes clearer. Some of the unanswered questions in the film feel right to have stayed that way.

downhill when the set up is less wholesome than meets the eye.

The camera work, the locations, the music: a genuine sense of

I feel the bulk of criticisms towards this film come from those who went in with too much of an expectation of a certain genre or ideas of plot - but this film transcends a definitive category and plays between different tropes. Perhaps the label of horror may

the 1960’s atmosphere is created by every element of the film, feeling as if you’ve experienced it yourself. The soundtrack

disappoint fans of only that, but anyone who enjoys a thought-out plot with stunning visuals couldn’t frown at this new Wright classic.

FILM 26 The Hunger Games - Why The Trilogy Could Have Been So Much Better

Photo: Pixabay

by louise collins

I remember first watching The Hunger Games in 2013, just before Catching Fire came out. I also remember the chills and

and they do hit some of the points.

Unfortunately, the older I get, the more I realise how limited these films are.

characters. Katniss and Peeta were meant to be fresh faced sixteen-yearolds, looking younger than they were

utter shock I felt at the end of the sequel, when Jennifer Lawrence looks directly into the camera, showing all of Katniss’

In many ways, the media and marketing team did exactly what The Capitol did: they romanticised the

due to malnourishment and poverty.

Instead, they were adults, which, in my opinion and many others, took away the

anger clear in her face.

They’re incredible films, and they make

entire thing. Instead of focusing on Katniss’ journey, there was so much

impact of the games. They were meant to be disturbing to the audience because

some amazing points. However, as a huge fan of the books, I can’t help but point out where they completely missed the mark.

Suzanne Collins wrote the dystopia trilogy as a commentary on capitalism and the media – or at least, those are

focus placed on the love triangle. Are you Team Gale, or Team Peeta? That was the conversation everyone was having, but one we were being told to have. An interview moment that still stands out to me was when Willow Shields, who

of their age, and the only actors who made the appropriate impact because of their youth were Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove), Amandla Stenberg (Rue), and Willow Shields (Prim).

There are references to trauma, PTSD,

some very heavy themes within the series.

The Capitol is a rich city, with the people eating to excess and spending money on ridiculous things. The surrounding districts are working class - starving and living in poverty, providing resources to The Capitol. Every year, two teenagers from each district must fight to the death in order to ‘remember the past’, which is disturbingly romanticised by the privileged. The films are visually stunning,

played Prim, was asked that very same question - she answered boldly, at age 11, saying “I’m Team Katniss.” It truly makes you understand how people, like The Capitol, could ignore the horrors of the games.

Another thing which limited the impact was the casting. Now, I will say that Jennifer and Josh played their characters incredibly. However, they were six and four years older than their

and addiction in the films, but they’re so heavily glossed over that it’s easy to miss. Katniss and Peeta are also meant to be disabled after the first film, which is totally skipped over.

As a bit of entertainment and light social commentary, these films are great. But it’s important to recognise that Hollywood did exactly what these films were warning us about.

EDITOR: Laura Patterson

TV

27

The Television Takeover of the MCU

By Caitlin Telford With the release of Disney+, Marvel have been able to expand into new ways of storytelling. Ever since Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment back in August 2009, Marvel has inexplicably become one of the biggest cinema franchises in the world.

With the move to Disney+ this allows the franchise to expand the MCU. However, this isn’t the first time Marvel have branched to television. Until 2020, Marvel had Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D as well as Marvel’s first Disney+ release WandaVision brought together a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda and Vision – two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives – begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. This show was a big step for Marvel as it was their first step in bringing the MCU to the television screen. I think they were successful with bringing something new and innovative to two characters we all know and love.

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, we were given The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. With the move to television Marvel can help shed light on real life issues that are

going on in society, more than they can in movies. This is what sets this series apart from the others in tackling issues from political, racial, and even personal issues to make us think.

Loki is a pivotal series for this new phase of Marvel as fans are given more of an insight to the multiverse. At the core of this show is about identity and the struggle between who you are and who you want to be. Additionally, audiences see a different side to Tom Hiddleston’s character that we haven’t seen before showing a great sense of character development throughout the series.

What If, Marvel’s animated series, allowed them to take the characters we’ve grown to love in different directions while remaining in the MCU for example ‘What If… Captain Carter Were The First Avenger?’.

It’s the sense of surprise which drives this series as the scripts are pacy, whizzing through the highlights of the movies we already know with unexpected payoffs. Each episode revolves around one central change, then resulting ripple effects in every instalment feel well-considered.

Disney is using its MCU shows

to power its Disney+ streaming service worldwide. While each Marvel movie has the potential to gross billions of dollars in the global box office, a streaming service has the potential to make more money. With the release of Marvel shows being exclusive to Disney+ and then movies being released to the service a month or two after the initial film release, the company is hoping to convert its millions of fans into Disney+ subscribers.

The next phase of Marvel is looking bright with the next show Hawkeye being released later this month. I believe that Marvel will create a balance in the fact that they can connect the shows enough so that watchers will feel like they have an inside edge, but not so much that non-watchers become confused. For example, Wanda could make a joke in the new Doctor Strange film that would be funny, but extra funny if you had seen the show.

Photo: Unsplash

28

TV

Review: You - Season 3

By Sienna Norris October 15th marked the day Netflix released the much awaited third season of You, once again following Joe Goldberg, the loveable psychopath played by Penn Badgley, as he becomes transfixed by yet another love interest.

The narrative is told from both Joe and Love Goldberg (Victoria Pedretti), as they navigate suburban life with their new baby, Henry, in the fictional town of Madre Linda, the home of seemingly perfect families.

As Madre Linda’s newest residents devour the American Dream-like town, their tendencies are made all the more eerie by the new distinctive location the show is set in.

However, out of all of You’s seasons, this one has been my least

favourite; of course, I thoroughly enjoyed binge-watching it, but it didn’t have the same feel of seasons 1 and 2. The ending of this season felt quite rushed and unnecessary to much of the fanbase, but some say the fast-paced ending obliges with the thriller genre.

Nonetheless, this season’s cast has been the most diverse thus far, yet there was only one likeable character that didn’t seem to irritate me at any point: Marienne, Joe’s newest obsession. Not only is Tati Gabrielle’s performance as Marienne one of the best in this series, but the character also is an interesting contrast to Joe’s previous romantic interests, Beck and Love. Whether intentional or not, the You creators seemed to let the

power lay in the characters played by people of colour’s hands, not just Marienne, but the local ‘yummy mummy’, Sherry Conrad, too.

Personally, for me, this show is becoming more repetitive and is losing that spark that fascinated viewers upon the premiere of season 1 in 2018, but that’s the whole appeal of the show, right? Season 4 has already been announced, but many fans are asking: do we really need another season?

Review: The Trick

By Benjamin Smith The Trick tells the story of how the work of Philip Jones and CRU on the effect of climate change on global temperatures was stolen in a cyber terrorist attack in 2009, three weeks before the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen. While the script is weak at times, with some bland dialogue and direction, the performances and story lift the film up to be an entertaining and informative testament to the work of climate scientists and the need for action over climate change.

Seeing the UEA campus as a film set, with stars Jason Watkins, Victorian Hamilton, George MacKay and Jerome Flynn, among others, walking along its infamous brutalist walkways and with panoramic views of the ziggurats and science buildings feels slightly surreal.

Seeing somewhere you walk every week in a completely different context on screen gives a sense of pride of the university and the work it has put out.

The TV movie’s focus on

the emotional expense the real people involved in ‘climategate’ and the importance of their work is especially important now, with the recent COP26 conference and the continued urgency for regulations and restrictions to be put in place to lessen the effects of climate change before the planet goes to a state of irreversible change. A larger budget and generally stronger production would have enabled this film to be more developed and to be distributed more widely, but the local access audiences have, with the film premiering on BBC One and being still available to watch on BBC iPlayer, gets the messages of the film across even more, making the topics a more everyday topic of discussion, rather than a dramatised piece of cinema magic for enjoyment rather than serious contemplation.

While the film itself isn’t a standout, the content and history of UEA and the work done here is definitely something students should acknowledge on a wider scale, I for

one didn’t know anything about the events of the film before viewing, making it a definite recommendation for that point alone. Its messages are extremely well delivered, if heavy-handed at times. But with the seriousness of the real topics it deals with, climate change, cybercrime and fake news, it is understandable. A film made for spreading of knowledge than artistic intent, The Trick achieves its goal in spreading the message of why we need to save the planet and trust the scientists.

Photo: Unsplash

TV

29

RuPaul’s Drag Race and Representations of queerness

By Danny Hayes

It is the TV show deemed a “cultural phenomenon”- one that has launched t h e careers of hundreds of drag queens and introduced millions to the art of drag. It has heralded a new facet of queer culture, given us some of the most gagging moments in reality television and produced more gifs than could be imagined. However, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s biggest success is how it has brought queer culture to a wider audience than ever before.

For myself this success can be measured in the level of representation the show has produced in its recent season when it moved channels to VH1. Having originally started on Logo, a channel specifically targeted at LGBTQIA+ audiences, this change brought the show to significantly larger audience outside their original target demographic. This in turn led to the show bring able to discuss topics that affected the original audience to more people than ever. An example of this was in Peppermint coming out as transgender and opening conversations about representation and how drag acted as a safe space for them.

Likewise, this season saw frank conversations about straight passing in Russia, how the Pulse shooting in Orlando affected the community and how to be a better ally. The show allowed the uneducated and curious viewer a glimpse into a different environment to the one they knew, showing them an insight into the wonderful world of modern queerness.

By grounding these serious topics next to comedic moments and real-world people, RuPaul’s Drag Race makes them feel more approachable in a way other shows didn’t quite achieve.

This success has been furthered by the show’s representation of other queer identities than just cisgender gay men. Following Peppermint on season nine the show has continued

to feature non-binary and transgender contestants to great success, with season two alum Kylie Sonqiue Love winning the most recent RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars season. The recent RuPaul’s Drag Race: Down Under also had open discussions about pronouns, with contestant Etcetera Etcetera educating the audience about the meaning of being non-binary and how to have a conversation about this. This also led to one of the best reads in the show’s history during the traditional “The Library is Open” challenge, with fellow contestant Art Simone stating, “Etcetera uses they/them pronouns.

For example, they haven’t been in the top, so we won’t be seeing them in the final”. As a long-term fan of the show, this was nothing new to me since I have been immersed in the community since I was 14, but for the viewer outside this world, this conversation may have been the first time they encountered a conversation about they/them pronouns. By bringing this facet of queer culture into the mainstream the show has opened up conversations those within the community have been having for years, making them less taboo and more understood to those outside it.

In brief, the franchise’s increased success and visibility has led to wider understanding of queer culture and the issues we face on a daily basis. While the franchise has come under fire for introducing these contestants when they became mainstream, I would argue that late representation is better than none at all. Recent seasons have presented queer identities in a way that make them feel normal and gives the viewer a way of seeing them in a new light. While the show may have its host of issues that need to be looked into, I feel that the greater representation of LGBTQIA+ identities is an asset that will continue to attract more viewers.

Photo: Unsplash

EDITOR: Benjamin Smith

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31 VERA VENUE labels, love and lonliness: how to figure out who you are and what you want in a relationship From anonymous Q. “I feel like I’m loveless. I’ve been very confused about my sexuality for a really long time (I have come to the conclusion that if I had to choose a label that fit best it would be biromantic asexual). I’m not sure a relationship is exactly what I want. I’m even less sure if sex is what I want. However, I have a crippling fear of being lonely. I’m super extroverted and love being around people and would love a partner to tackle life with. Do I go looking for a relationship when I don’t even know specifically what, or who, I want or do I risk being increasingly lonely in my 20’s?”

A. Self-love and self-reliance is a topic Thanks for writing in, Anon!

Photo: Unsplash

we’ve covered a few times in this section, but it’s one I’ll never tire of writing about.

Fear of being lonely is not a reason to be in a relationship. In fact, it might be the very opposite. If you wake up every day with the motivation of “I cannot be alone”, then you’re going to end up settling for people who don’t treat you how you deserve, just for the sake of avoiding yourself. Trying to seek out a relationship is extremely unlikely to ever lead to truly healthy relationships.

I also think you should be aware of how sexuality can drastically change, especially in this phase of life. Labels can be super useful when it comes to finding your identity and making it clear to oth-

ers what you’re interested in, but they can also end up doing more harm than good. I know plenty of people who have identified one way their entire lives, only to meet someone who doesn’t fit in with their label and freak out about what to do. Use them with caution - don’t put yourself into a box that you might struggle to escape from in the future.

This issue and these feelings are very complex, and I don’t want to seem like I’m oversimplifying, however I do believe that you would benefit hugely from just spending time alone. You say you want a partner to tackle life with - that partner can be found within yourself.

We’re very conditioned to think that a romance is the ideal partnership, but you are the only person that will be in your

life forever. Why spend all of your time trying to find someone to fit into your life when you could spend that energy on getting to know you?

When I say “date yourself”, I really do mean it literally. Think of all of the things you would do for a partner: buying flowers, cooking dinners, writing love letters: do them for you. Take yourself on all of the dates you’ve daydreamed about.

Study your own face and body in the way you’d look at someone you’re in love with. Enjoy, savour, and embrace your own company. You will feel more whole and content than ever. And as an added bonus, I guarantee you that as soon as you start focusing on yourself, the right person, who appreciates you for all that you are, will stumble into your path.

32 coping with brevement anxiety

VERA VENUE

From dom, 22 Q. “My anxiety has been so bad recently. My auntie died a few months ago and it’s made me worry constantly, and I worry that my friends might suddenly die too. I know it’s irrational and dramatic but I can’t stop thinking it.”

About Vera: Photo: Unsplash

Maja Anushka is this year’s Vera, Concrete’s Features Editor, and on the MA Broadcast and Digital Journalism course. As well as being almost as nosy as she is empathetic, Maja has almost a decade’s experience of making YouTube videos which have covered topics such as mental illness, LGBTQ+ issues, grief, relationships, body dysmorphia, and self-esteem. Her goal for Vera Venue is to promote self-love, mental wellbeing, and healthy relationships, and create a space where people can see that they are not alone.

Dom! A. Hello I’m so sorry for your loss. The death of your aunt has clearly had a big impact.

Though your anxieties may feel irrational to you, anxiety often actually stems from a really productive place. The way our modern world is organised is not compatible with our monkey-brain chemistry, and this is why anxiety is such a huge problem for 21st Century people. Anxiety is, in evolutionary terms, a good thing - for a caveman, worrying about dying is a pretty good way to avoid dying, as it will stop them from doing reckless and dangerous things which could lead to an untimely demise.

The anxieties of the humans who came before us were much simpler, quicker, and easier to solve than the ones we deal with now, but the biological function of stress has not had the chance to catch up. Basically, we’re still running on an old operating system. The way our bodies deal with stress is called the acute stress response (‘fight or flight’), and it is extremely effective when your biggest concerns are running away from mountain lions or hitting other cavemen on the head. Unfortunately, it’s

not quite so helpful when it comes to modern life, as it’s designed to work in short bursts, but nowadays we have stressors that last days, months, and even years before being resolved.

Your brain is trying its very best to protect you. It’s not always super effective at doing so, but that is the original and simplest motivation for anxiety. If you anticipate the worst possible outcome (for example, the sudden death of someone you love) it won’t be such a shock to the system if it does happen. Because we no longer have to worry about dark caves and big animals coming to make us their dinner, our fears have been displaced onto other stress triggers.

In your case, the loss of your aunt has brought up lots of thoughts and feelings about death, and your brain is doing what it does best, which is to think ahead, analyse possible threats to your well being, and let you know about them. This is all to make the very long-winded point that you’re not being irrational or dramatic at all.

You just care about your friends!

I’ve found it hugely helpful to characterise my anxiety as a separate thing to myself. In my mind, it’s this little blob of nerves and worries, and

it’s just telling me what to look out for.

The blob gets it wrong sometimes, like when it tells me that I might get hit by a car while I’m sitting in my living room, but sometimes it gets it right, like when it tells me that walking down a dark alleyway is a bad idea. While you feel your very valid frustrations, don’t forget that anxiety has kept you alive and gotten you this far.

You might find that talking to someone about your grief helps to alleviate your fears about your friends.

The anxiety you have about losing them could simply be an expression of your grief for your aunt, in which case you should try to face the grief head on. You may also benefit from an intensely physical form of exercise, as this could help to get rid of the adrenaline and stress generated by your anxiety in a healthy way.

Lastly, I would recommend talking to your friends about how much you care and worry for them. The feelings you’re struggling with, while frustrating and complex, are also a very sweet expression of how much you love your pals. I’m sure you’ll find that they have the exact same concerns about you sometimes.