3 Arts Kate Romain 7 Film Willa Hope + Louis Pigeon-owen 10 Fashion Emily Claridge 15 Creative Writing Hugo Douglas-Deane 19 Gaming Kirsty McAlpine 23 Television Denise Koblenz 27 Music Alice Mortimer + Lois Young Art And design assistant: Emily Mildren
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This week’s front and back cover photo:
Concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk
Mary Dodds
editorial Editors-in-chief Dougie dodds + niamh Jones
Venue
deputy editor Melissa Haggar ssue 333. My friends, we are half the Devil, or maybe his younger brother, I don’t know, we don’t keep in contact as much as we used to. This seems like a fitting start to the second term, deadlines and responsibilities closing in from every side, but fear not! VENUE is here to supply that much needed breath of fresh air, humour, and culture to relax you into a sense of misplaced security. We have a great selection of articles in this issue, ranging from Film’s comparison between president (*Sobs*) Trump and Citizen Kane, all the way to Music’s exploration of female artists and their struggles in the music industry, fantastically titled ‘Old, Sexless, and Dull?’. I hope you all had a good Christmas and a happy New Year to you all xx Dougie
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ew year, new me. I’m joking, aren’t we all just the same old grumps that we were last year? I’m not a firm believer in New Year’s resolutions, but if it works for you, then go for it. Just remember that those hardcore juice fasts are a load of hokey, the wellness detoxes that you see online with all raw ingredients are also hokey, and the little Christmas pooch that you gained is adorable. If you’re going to try something new this year, how about a bit of Dungeons and Dragons? We’ve got a brilliant piece on starting up your own campaign in this week’s Gaming section. I love D&D sessions, they’re great for getting you out of that stressed mind-set, relaxing with your mates and escaping to any universe you want to hide in. I’ve been a glorious half-demon barbarian old lady, an eight foot tall dragonborn warrior that just wants to be a bard, and a clumsy mage with lightning powers. That last one resulted in a few accidental fires. So this year, just try something creative, something new that you’ve always been wanting to try. Don’t be anyone else but yourself. New year, same lovely you. Niamh
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Film
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‘Many parallels can be made between Donald Trump and the character depicted in what is often referred to as the best movie ever made: Citizen Kane’ Mixing politics with Film, what could go wrong? Citizen Trump! Read Film’s terrifying comparison between Donald Trump and Citizen Kane.
FEATURE
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‘I think there should be laughs in everything.’ 2016 has been a rough one, and we’ve lost a lot of famous folk. Our feature this issue looks at but a few, alongside their most poinient quotes about the Arts.
Television 23 Do you like Sherlock? What about Doctor Who? Yes? No? Well, fuel your love/hate in the TV section this issue with their fantastic reviews of the new seasons.
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Arts 03
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The Importance of Panto
- location -
‘Oh no she didn’t!’
Every year thousands of people across the UK are proud to state that they do indeed attend a Christmas pantomime, and they love it! It’s the perfect piece of family entertainment with ‘something for everyone’, or so we’re told. But what exactly is ‘something’ and what is it referring to, really? We’ve put together a list of the best bits about any panto, and what they mean to us as an audience.
Abi Steer
E- AUDIEt pNutsCa lot of people
ing tha ent for The one th requirem e th is s mime er it’s off panto n. Wheth o ti a ip ic singing mind audience part e stage or th The first thing that comes to ff o in a lot of is of booing the villa dmother, o g when discussing pantomimes y ir fa bers of ces and along with the ious mem sc course the multitude of dan n o -c lf by such a panto the more se arrassed b m songs. You can always count on e l e ty of it – ures; our society fe the beau s to have a range of musical feat t’ a th t no need , and nonsense. Bu There is . love songs, upbeat dance numbers se n se n theatre ated it is pure no g in that in rr that one catchy chorus that is repe u c c o part of ing can’t for anyth any other n o t over and over again until you c a p ny im enjoyed, th at to have a seen and e b help but sing it under your brea to g e d ma ce smilin course life. It is e audien th work three weeks later. This of p It e e . k e ason children and mayb holiday se is not helped by the masses of stressful e ise and th o n h g out e u thro to mak screeching it very badly and very le p g o e p es somethin rds. But encourag ipate in ic of tune for even longer afterwa rt a n p e v d e an king about? be heard lves, ma se isn’t that what pantos are all m e it b th an at little fairybigger th ildren th Getting you so involved in the h c f o st you that the shye tale brought to life in front of fident. n o c for it more you can’t help but think about days afterwards?
- Music -
- Story -
- script -
I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, theatre is without a doubt the best place, aside a visit to Santa Claus himself, to instil the magic of Christmas in people of any age. There is something special about the ‘magic’ onstage being so close and tangible that lends you to think that there might, just might, be some truth behind it. But let’s not forget the Most themselves! theatres families will attend a local theatre to watch a pantomime and I cannot stress enough how important this is for them. Christmas is the busiest time of year for any business, and for many smaller theatres it is the only time that they really show what they can do. So even if you do nothing else next Christmas, please drop your local actors a visit. I promise it will be worth it.
nine times Okay let’s admit it – is definitely These days out of ten, the script it’s impossib le to go two a pantomime, entertainmen feet in the the best part about t world witho ut stumblin pretend that kind of rete g upon som even if you have to lling of a cl e as sic tale; whe the blatant glorified Dis ther it’s the you don’t understand ney versions or a darker nt of Grandma. to the origin tale, closer sex references in fro al telling. W e just can’t innuendos are escape them The point is the . d up in tutus But pantos right there, dresse are just so different, so with all signs personal. A and sparkly lights close and lthough you know that them, and going to en everything pointing straight to d happily ev is er after you ca notice. It just hope that C n’t help bu the kids don’t even inderella es t ca pes her step even funnier. Rapunzel le mother, and serves to make them aves her to w er, and that the innuendos, will be alri everything But moving on from ght in the en d. There’s an the puns and difference he important the sheer quality of re, I think, be tween the m on screen an t be denied. I agic we see terrible jokes canno d the magic w e see on stag the stories and one liners e. Although know, I know. Puns may essent ia lly be the rible. But you are often ke same there are terrible, just ter y difference s – different anyway, right? different se characters, ttings, differ can’t help but smirk en t songs, whi to both ad a few to break ch reiterate ults and ch You might even steal il dr en alike th ner once the ending can at a happy out over Christmas din come abou t in different w hausted. think that’s ays. And I crackers have been ex beautiful.
Photo Credit: Wikicommons
04 Arts
Concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
Van Go(gh) to amsterdam Beverly ann devakishen I recently visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and was deeply moved by the artist as a person. The museum let us travel through the world of Vincent Van Gogh, telling us about his life. From his family life to his years in a mental asylum, the different stages of his life were depicted through his paintings. It was amazing getting to see his works that are less famous than the paintings Sunflowers and Starry Night. His portraits, for example, are just as magnificent as these betterknown works. I was intrigued by the way Van Gogh was able to portray his subject’s personalities solely through his depictions of their faces. For example, the museum displayed a few portraits that he painted of peasants, and one could observe the serious expressions of each individual subject, with a solemn glow in their eyes. Vincent believed that peasants’ proximity to nature and simple way of living made them somewhat pure. His interest in peasants culminated in a famous piece, The Potato Eater, arguably the most moving piece he did on peasants. It is a painting of a poor family gathered around a table for a meal of potatoes. The dark colours and bony hands of the peasants indicate the harsh lives that the family led, yet the act of eating a meal together also Photo by Mary Doods
Don’t do drugs kids. do art
signified the way they put their individual hardships aside to care for and spend time with family. It truly is a touching piece. I personally enjoyed the section of the museum that showcased the art that Vincent Van Gogh did during his stay in a clinic called Saint-Remy. There were many paintings of flowers that were just as admirable as his Sunflowers piece. One could really appreciate the way he blended different coloured strokes together to create beautiful and lively petals. The way the museum arranges his paintings helps visitors to see a pattern, a common thread among the pieces that he did during a certain time or based on a certain subject. For me, noticing how his flower paintings are so consistently vibrant was awe-inspiring.
While in the asylum, Vincent also painted scenery. It was within this collection of paintings that I discovered the piece that moved me most: The Garden of the Asylum. It was a garden drenched in red, symbolising the term ‘seeing red’, used to describe the mental sufferings of the patients there. Greys and greens contrasted with the red, and the whole effect of his colour scheme made me feel a sudden anxiety. I learned from the description next to the painting that Vincent had painted it this way to allow viewers to empathise with the mental and emotional chaos of many patients. I appreciated the way the museum included short paragraphs on certain paintings, as learning about the context of his works helps one enter both Vincent’s world and mind.
Overall, the Van Gogh Museum is definitely worth a visit, especially if you want to get to know the artist as the brilliant human being he was.
Arts 05
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video artists Rosa Watson On the start of a new year, we are already hit by the dreary news commentary of the pitfalls of 2016. So, we are unsurprisingly walking into 2017 with not quite the usual bouts of optimism. However, stumbling across new quirky video artist Rachel Maclean, has unveiled a startlingly new perspective. Rachel Maclean’s It’s Whats Inside That Counts series is one of her most popular works currently exhibited in the Tate modern, but it is most probably not everyone’s cup of tea. The videos featuring strange noseless Simpson-like creatures flying around in pink skies could be accused of being an improper art-form. Yet if this is true, why would there be such an interest? For these videos, using bright colours and idyllic dream landscapes, satirise rather than parody the modern defects of society.
In Royal Academy magazine, Anna Coatman compares her to feminist artists Cindy Sherman and Lynn Hershman Leeson. The fact Maclean dresses up as each character in It’s What’s Inside that Counts is inspired by the work of Sherman, and the exploration of female identities within her photographs. The theme of false beauty is depicted in Dolls Clothes 1975. It is also explored in Maclean’s nightmarish video Eyes 2 Me starring a garish doll and a male voiceover, demonstrating a masculine dominance within the entertainment business. There is also an obvious connection between the camera-headed woman in Lynn Hershman Leeson`s photograph Shutters in 1986, and the multitude of iphones showing how technology can be used to undermine rather
than strengthen the public. This is even more apparent in the title We Want Data projecting Maclean’s hatred of contemporary cultures of narcissism and the selfie. However, unlike Sherman or Hershman Leeson she has looked beyond just the contemporary. The use of both eighteenth century figures and Egyptian scenery in Lolcats highlights how expectations from the past are still prominent within our culture. The alarming alien like creations give off a futuristic vibe. Yet, as mentioned earlier Maclean’s work is also positive, encouraging change and solutions. For the title itself It’s What’s Inside that Counts encourages viewers to drop their ‘narcisstic’ selves. Despite her cynicism of the millennial generation, she is also supportive of it too. Her
choice of using video rather than a more traditional media such as paint reveals an appreciation and acceptance of technology. Video is more than just one of many art-forms: video contains music, acting and animation. It involves green screen, photoshop and inserted commentary from political speeches. Not to mention the carefully designed and bizarre costumes involving complex prosthetic makeup. Her video Over the Rainbow is inspired by legendary The Wizard of Oz and mocks celebrity culture. Even more importantly, the fact her work can be viewed on Youtube and her website makes her work more accessible to a wider audience. So, shake off your mid-winter blues and prepare to be amused if not slightly alarmed by Rachel Maclean’s wacky imagination.
Photo by Mary Doods
Veuue Book Review
-the Venue Book Review-
The Strays Kate Romain
The Strays is an impressively ambitious debut novel by Emily Bitto that has been highly regarded in Australia, and for good reason. Bitto has authored an incredibly human book that tackles various themes head-on. The intensity of friendship between young girls is explored through the relationship of the narrator, Lily, and her best friend Eva, daughter of unconventional artist Evan Trentham. Eva has the life Lily did know she desired until she visits the Trentham household and becomes enraptured with their bohemian way of life that is so different from her own. She longs to be free to roam the utopian garden as Eva does with her two sisters. For a time, she must content herself observing the many artistic inhabitants of the house, Evan’s ‘Strays’, from afar. It is a life that Eva leads, and Lily covets. When Lily is invited to move into the Trentham household, this life becomes a reality for her, as she becomes formally admitted into Eva’s world. Bitto paints a beautiful picture of adolescent female friendship and complexities that accompany this; the pride, love and envy that young girls come to feel for each other as they navigate the world with one another. As the narrative progresses, so does the intensity of the themes explored, for in time Lily comes to realise that it is Evan’s daughters who will pay the price for his lifestyle. The final chapters of the novel explore particularly dark and challenging themes that have the potential to be used clumsily, or as a cheap plot device. Bitto sculpts this section of the narrative particularly subtly, and with deep sensitivity. Though the storyline may seem a familiar one, the novel’s greatest success comes from creating characters who are both deeply flawed and sympathetic. The framing of the narrative by an older Lily reflecting on her time with the Trentham’s gives another layer of depth to Lily and the Trentham family. Lily is an empathetic narrator in her presentation of well-rounded characters, who while may not always be likeable, are always to some extent understandable. The novel provides no easy answers; the reader grows up alongside Lily and the Trentham sisters, before observing the divergent paths the four girls take as adults. We are left to draw our own conclusions. The Strays is an extremely readable novel that navigates the complex themes of friendship, sisterhood, parenthood, and belonging, with great maturity and care.
The Northern Lights Dougie Dodds
The Northern Lights, bet that’s a title you haven’t heard for in a while. Philip Pullman’s masterpiece, because ladies and gentleman that’s exactly what it is, brings readers into the world of Lyra Belacqua, a young ‘orphan’ living at the very grand Jordan College in an alternative reality Cambridge. The world is much like we know, but there are a few differences. If you’ve ever dreamed about having your own Pokemon then this might take your interest, as every character has an animal companion called a demon. The story revolves around Lyra and her adventures into the clutches of armoured bears, witches, child catchers, and… well, i’ll let you find out the rest. I’m currently re-reading the series, years after my Dad and I used to sit in long car journeys and listen to them on audiobook, and it’s even better than I remembered. There was a film, The Golden Compass, which was alright, but I wholeheartedly recommend reading The Northern Lights and the rest of the His Dark Materials series.
Film 07 abi steer Simply put, Moana is the most relatable and realistic princess that Disney has ever produced. Not only is she adventurous and brave and dedicated to her people, but she is also incredibly normal. She argues with her father, ties her hair up when she’s busy, and gets frustrated when things don’t go right. Rather than create some type of unattainably sweet and perfect princess, Disney have taken this opportunity to reinvent princesses perfect for the 21st century, going so far as to script Moana refusing the title of princess. I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Jack Barton Everything that needs to be said about Martin Scorsese has already been said, he is a fantastic filmmaker and everybody knows it. Silence, is a passion project, a historical and religious journey that has been in the works for nearly 20 years. Set in the 1600s, Silence tells the tale of Father Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Garrpe (Adam Driver) as they set off to Japan in order to bring back their missing and supposedly apostatised mentor, Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson). Catholicism in Japan has been criminalised due to the largely Buddhist culture and through trying to find Ferreira the two are able to bring hope to civilians that are broken and disparaged, due to the country’s decision to
moana Also, rather unusually for Disney, Moana is not romantically involved with any person throughout the film. It is not suggested once, despite the fact that she spends a large portion of her screen time travelling with a male companion. It’s so refreshing to see a story for young girls highlighting friendship as such an important aspect of life. Dwayne Johnson is hilariously funny as Maui, the immensely egotistical yet disheartened demigod, who accompanies Moana on
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her trip alongside HeiHei, the constantly confused chicken. But perfect princess aside, the film itself is phenomenal. As is always expected of a Disney film it is beautifully animated and the music can only be described as stunning and perfectly themed. The story itself is exciting and, from what I have researched, relatively accurate in terms of the source material, or as accurate as is realistic when considering the breadth
of Polynesian culture. It is inspiring and heartwarming, reinforcing the positives of sustainable living and has achieved the almost miraculous act of introducing the pacific islands to mainstream animation. As a lifelong Disney fan, I can honestly say that this is one of the most interesting and emotional films that Disney have produced in quite some considerable time. Definitely add it to your to-watch list.
silence disregard their faith. Andrew Garfield works wonders within Silence, carrying the film even through its struggling stages. Driver and Neeson are also great, but they always feel side-tracked by Garfield’s performance and the sensational handful of Japanese actors (Issei Ogata, Yosuke Kubozuka and Shin’ya Tsukamoto, to name but a few). When something works, it exceeds. Cinematography is poetic and performances are excellent. Unfortunately, Silence often feels sluggish and immovable. The first act adopts a natural and forwardthinking progression, while accomplishing a meaningful and respectful pace. It is when Silence enters its second act that everything slows down considerably,
there is hardly any narrative movement and things come to a halt. Silence is a powerful film, it asks an audience to understand the binding force that faith can be to a lot of cultures and the how removal of
it can be breaking. When it does struggle, Garfield and the very strong supporting cast carries the film momentously. While it may not be Scorsese’s best, it is definitely a landmark of his strengths: to be able to form ambitious and meaningful stories.
Image: Flikr
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Rogue one
08 Film
sophie bunce Whether you are a diehard fan or someone looking for £10 well spent at the cinema, Rogue One is the film to see. Its huge success has contributed to the UK box office reaching its highest ever total in 2016 and shows that, once again, the Star Wars universe has us all starry-eyed. With a great performance, by Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, the audience is immersed in her turbulent life as a rebel and the daughter of Galen Erso, the builder of The Death Star. The film is set between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, and shows Jyn leading the rebels against all odds to capture The Death Star in a mission to disable it. There is a sense of nostalgia created by including well known Star Wars motifs throughout. With shots of R2D2 and C3PO, hologram messages and the overarching theme of good vs evil, the film is
recognisably from the Star Wars franchise. Rogue One also acts to sew up past plot holes and join together the disorganised world of Star Wars franchise. However, unlike The Force Awakens which at times relies too heavily on nostalgia, Rogue One stands alone. The film's success does not depend on loyalty to the franchise and its characters to hold the audience's interest. Instead, this is encouraged by a strongly driven plot and wellexecuted climaxes. Highlights include one of the final scenes where Darth Vader emerges wielding a lightsaber in perhaps the most captivating and terrifyingly brilliant combat scene Star Wars fans have ever seen. Another notable mention is the use of sharp humour introduced by reprogrammed Empire droid K-2SO. The droid offers comedy through sassy quips and insults which provide laugh out loud entertainment alongside the seriousness of Jyn and the rebel’s struggle. However, with regret, it must be acknowledged that the film has its faults.
Images: Murray Lewis
whiplash (2014) This film never ceases to amaze me; Whiplash will increase your blood pressure more than any thriller ever will. With unbelievable music to accompany equally incredible performances from Miles Teller and JK Simmons, Whiplash tells the story of a student’s undying love for jazz, whatever trials and tribulations it may bring. - Willa Hope
green room (2015) Characters in Rogue One were p o o r l y formed as the film failed to establish them in a short t i m e f r a m e . Previously, the franchise has benefitted from having several films to build characters and has since relied on connections with them to drag audiences through the film's weaker moments. But Rogue One didn’t present strong enough individuals to invest audiences in their fate, which meant that their deaths weren’t overly upsetting. It was sad so many of them died, but I doubt you can remember their names. Overall, writers Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, and director Gareth Edwards offered audiences a thrilling film full of excitement and action which expanded the Star Wars universe at the expense of character development. However, it is a safe bet at the cinema nonetheless.
Patrick Stewart as a neo-Nazi, a punk-rock held hostage, mayhem, comedy, violence ... this film basically speaks for itself. Not only does Green Room bring amazing dialogue and edge of seat thrills to the table, but it also grapples with the many moral shades of grey, even making the most detestable fascist skinheads likable and uncomfortably human. Green Room also gets the thumbs up for subverting horror film tropes and pushing the often stagnating genre in new directions. - Louis Pigeon-Owen
we need to talk about kevin (2011) The author of the adapted book once marvelled that there was “no sensible reason” for children, and that it was “amazing that […] anyone chooses to reproduce at all”. This sentiment lingers in this haunting tale of family bonds, and will leave you questioning how far a mother’s love can really go in the darkest of times. - Willa Hope
Concrete.film@uea.ac.uk Film 09 CITIZEN TRUMP Pierre-Yves Bezat
This is it. Trump will propose legislation, conduct America’s global affairs and make all the moral and political decisions required of a President. And if this new situation looks like a movie script, many parallels can be made between Donald Trump and the character depicted in what is often referred to as the best movie ever made: Citizen Kane.
be found concerning their behaviour. Both are characterized by their certainty, their disregard for the truth, often denouncing then supporting. They also give birth to a lot of polemics and are completely unprepared for the elected function they apply to.
both of their opponents. In his 1916 campaign, Charles Foster Kane claimed that “Every independent poll shows that [he] will be elected”, before adding that his first official act if he’s elected “will be to appoint a Special District Attorney to arrange for the indictment,
The movie deals with the life of Charles Foster Kane, a billionaire whose dying word is “rosebud”. And, with Kane being extremely famous and controversial, when a journalist tries to discover the reasons behind this by interviewing those who knew him well, successive flashbacks tell us more about the eccentric tycoon as the movie progresses. The first similarity between Trump and the billionaire Kane is contained in their background. Indeed, both of these public figures inherited an empire from their family. Both of their wealth consists of: shops, buildings, media, boats, factories (we could easily imagine Kane owning TV shows as well if they had existed back in 1941). Indeed, it doesn’t matter which types of media they own, these two personalities are creations of mass media and at the same time masters of it. Many other links can
Image: Louis Pigeon-Owen
Another resemblance between them: their vocabulary. To counterattack his opponents, Kane keeps answering that “he is, has been, and will be only one thing - an American”, a sentence easily transposable into Trump’s mouth. More surprising are the words used to describe the lying polls and the prosecution of
prosecution, and conviction [of his opponent].” 100 years later, Trump created another polemic by pronouncing exactly the same words against Hillary Clinton in the middle of their public debate. But beyond these similarities, Donald Trump constantly refers to Citizen
Kane as his favourite movie of all time. In Variety’s book The Movie that Changed my Life, in which 120 celebrities have to pick one film, Trump said “Citizen Kane is sophisticated and innovative in every aspect”, adding that “its perspective on power is compelling, as are the characters and the storyline, yet it remains enigmatic.” Beyond this broad and frequently made analysis, Trump also justified his fascination with this movie. Indeed, he explained it to one of his biographers, Timothy L. O’Brien, by relating himself to the actor/director of Kane, Orson Welles, stating “I loved Orson Welles. He was totally fucked up. He was a total mess. But think of his wives. Think of his hits. He was like this great genius that after 26, never did it. He became totally impossible. He thought everybody was a moron, everybody was this, everybody was that; if he had a budget he’d exceed it by 20 times and destroy everything. He became impossible. I loved that.” So, what if the explanation behind Trump and his brutal shifts in opinion once he’s been elected was down to the fact that he’s always acted like his favourite idol? What if he never had any real beliefs throughout his entire campaign, apart from those inspired by Citizen Kane?
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Fashion
How to Beat Winter IT’S FINALLY GETTING COLDER. TIME TO WRAP UP AND LOOK AFTER YOURSELF.
CHARLOTTE MANNING
Treat your lips...
If your lips are feeling dry in the cold winter months, invest in a lip scrub such as Popcorn from Lush (£5.95) or if you’re feeling like getting crafty in the New Year then make your own! Granulated sugar, oil/honey and some flavouring such as peppermint oil works well and tastes good too.
and treat your hair If your hair is feeling a bit frizzy or dry in the winter months a change of haircare products might just sort it out, anything with products such as argan oil in it will be super moisturising and leave your hair feeling silky smooth.
freebies are best... Try all the free samples you get in magazines or in the shops, you might end up finding your new favourite product!
...so are cheap things
Winter sales are fantastic for buying staple items such as coats, bags and trousers that will see you through until next winter.
coconut oil always Coconut oil works wonders. This multipurpose oil was raved about in 2016 with good reason. It can be used for cooking, moisturising and to make your hair silky smooth
Permanent Glitter...
Spray a little bit of fixing spray onto your eyeshadow brush before applying your favourite eyeshadows for a creamy and extremely pigmented finish; this especially works well with glitter! Photo: WikiCommon
Megan Baynes
no blusher, no problem Out of blusher? Use a retro technique. You can use lipstick for a similar effect and a lovely rosy glow.
your skin is important Always take your make-up off before bed; your skin will thank you for it in the morning. Go easy on those makeup wipes, they upset the pH balance of your skin and cause breakouts.
Fashion 11
Concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
Tips for the New Term
EMILY CLARIDGE
1
Get yourself organised.
As much as you may want to avoid it you are going to have to do some work and that work is much nicer when you have a load of lovely notebooks, pens and folders. Buying stationary is basically doing work right? I’m currently on the search for the ultimate wall calendar as I think it’ll get my shit together. If my wall calendar isn’t going to help me write my dissertation then I don’t know what is!
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If you can get a head start on some of your work, do.
Even if it’s only a tiny bit you’ll be grateful you did when the work starts piling up. Do that weekly reading for once in your life. The LCR will be so much more fun when you know you’re not behind in the first week.
Meg
an Ba ynes
3
Buy yourself an item of clothing that will make you excited to get dressed in the morning.There’s nothing worse than waking up and
not liking what you’re wearing it just puts you in a bad mood for the rest of the day. It could even just be a necklace or some shoes but treat yourself. I’ve personally made the big brunette to blonde change and I’m hoping the seminar leaders will notice the effort I have made for this term.
4
Plan a great breakfast. It could be for your work timetable day or just because you know you’ll be hungover but nothing is worse than stale cereal and some mouldy soya milk. Go shopping the night before and buy a load of pancakes or fruit or croissants, whatever it is you like. It will put you in a good mood and it’s proven a good breakfast helps you concentrate better.
5
Get a good skin routine going.
It will make yourself feel better in the mornings not waking up with panda eyes every day. Plus it’s a relaxing way to end the day with a little pamper session, I got the Decleor Neroli for Christmas (I’m not even sure what a serum is?) and you have to ‘raindrop’ it over your face. Trust me you feel fancy. Illustrations: Elley West
Concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
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Fashion
...and the Rest of 2017 6
Pat yourself on the back for making it through the week.There is nothing wrong with congratulating yourself and you should be proud of yourself for doing little things, don't ever let anyone put you down for being happy that you did a little thing well. University can be tough for a lot of people, so good for you for going and getting through each week. So plan something to treat yourself with at the end of the week. Even if it's a little thing like buying a magazine you like, painting your nails, getting drunk at Loft, whatever floats your boat! Just know that you’re doing well and this term won’t be so bad.
7
Remember that it is not the end of the world. Getting a bad grade or having to do a presentation you don’t
want to are little things that when you’re 40 you’re not even going to remember so don’t be too hard on yourself, honestly you’re probably doing much better than you give yourself credit for.
Photos: WikiCommon
NIAMH JONES
8 9
For the love of god drink some water. It’s been a few weeks since that Christmas booze and a few days since first VK-drenched LCR of the year, and you don’t want to be dehydrated when the winter viruses hit. Don’t overly detox, it is possible to drink too much water and that’s no good for you either. Just put down the fizzy drinks and pick up the tap water.
Wrap up warm.
It’s always cold in Norwich, especially with that Easterly breeze. Invest in a massive scarf, like the ones in Zara’s sale at the moment. Wrap it around your body under your coat as well as around your neck, that way you can keep extra toasty. Get a woolly hat, but one that actually has wool in it. It will be breathable and won’t have the holes that the wind will just whistle straight through.
10
Do a mass clear-out of your room.
Go through all your belongings and do a big zen clear out. Having less junk surrounding you will make your work and living space feel more breathable. You’ll feel on top of everything if you get rid of the old tops of four years ago that you might wear again, or maybe wear to a costume party. It’s never going to happen. Chuck it all out my friend.
Megan Baynes
‘Death is just another path, one that - Gandalf The White we all must take’
As with every New Year, everyone is constantly wondering about what’s to come. Conversation is repeatedly drawn towards the future, as we all get the thrilling opportunity to create our own unique, if sometimes bizarre resolutions which may or may not be sustained throughout the coming months. Yet let’s put a hold on this forward gazing stance for a moment to reflect upon the incredible people we lost in the arts in 2016. What follows is a short list of just some of the musicians, actors, designers and writers who sadly passed away in the last year and quotations from each of them, offering some food for thought for 2017.
Leonard Cohen, singer-songwriter, poet, novelist and painter, 21st September 1934- 7th November 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Rama ‘Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash’. Alan Rickman, actor, 21st February 1946- 14th January 2016. Photo:Wikimedia, Marie-Lan Nguyen ‘I think there should be laughs in everything. Sometimes, it’s a slammed door, a pie in the face or just a recognition of our frailties’. Prince, singer-songwriter and record producer, 7th June 1958-21st April 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Penner ‘Real music lovers are actually my favourite kind of people because they like to know, rather than just be told what to think’.
Edward Albee, playwright, 12th March 1928-16th September 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, UH Photographs Collection, 1948-2000 ‘A play is fiction-and fiction is fact distilled into truth’.
A.A. Gill, writer and critic, 28th June 1954-10th December 2016. ‘Facts are what pedantic, dull people have instead of opinions’.
Carrie Fisher, actress and writer, 21st October 1956- 27th December 2016. Photo: Flickr, Gage Skidmore ‘Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die’.
Gene Wilder, actor, screenwriter and director, 11th June 1933-29th August 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Ebay (As Willy Wonka) ‘A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men’.
Debbie Reynolds, actress, 1st April 1932- 28th December 2016. Photo: Pixabay, Skeeze‘Even the greats find it hard to be really excellent, but you have to keep striving’.
Sharon Jones, soul singer, 4th May 1956- 18th November 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Kallerna ‘They said I was too fat, too black, too short and too old. And look at me now’.
Umberto Eco, novelist and critic, 5th January 1932-19th February 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo ‘I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had an underlying truth’. David Bowie, singer-songwriter and actor, 8th January 1947-10th January 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, AVRO ‘What I like my music to do to me is awaken the ghosts inside of me. Not the demons, you understand, but the ghosts’. Sonia Rykiel, fashion designer and writer, 25th May 193025th August 2016. Photo:Flickr, Nicolas Genin ‘It doesn’t matter one damn bit whether fashion is art or not. You don’t question whether an incredible chef is an artist or not-his cakes are delicious and that’s all that matters’.
George Michael, singer-songwriter and record producer, 25th June 1963-25th December 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Frantogian ‘You’ll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart’. Zsa Zsa Gabor, actress, 6th February 1917-18th December 2016. Photo: Rogers and Cowan Talent Agents ‘Macho does not prove mucho’. Harper Lee, novelist, 28th April 1926-19th February 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Eric Draper ‘I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks’. Maurice White, singer-songwriter, record producer and bandleader of Earth, Wind & Fire, 19th December 19414th February 2016. Photo: Wikimedia, Eriik ‘Music is a creative process that comes from the heart. It’s a feeling, a vibration that we ride on’. John Berger, art critic, novelist, painter and poet, 5th November 1926-2nd January 2017. Photo: Wikimedia, Ji-Elle ‘Emigration, forced or chosen, across national frontiers or from village to metropolis, is the quintessential experience of our time’.
C. Writing 15
Concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
new, new, new
I’m a big fan of sci-fi. It imagines what could be, rethinks what is, and looks to the future, not only in a premonitory and cautionary sense, but with wondrous of awe. 2016’s been a bit crappy. I’m not just talking about dead celebrities, but Brexit, Trump, Aleppo (and the many other ongoing troubles in the Middle East), so let’s look instead to the future and consider The New. - Hugo Douglas-Deane
Silent, fast speaking new year - benedetta mancusi
the night before the night i first got drunk - thai braddick
To the unheard voices, To the feeble voices , (Only whispers at midnight.) To the strong minds, limbs, lungs and hearts, Whose voices are unheard, Feeble, For they have to listen And be strong. For they have to talk wisely And be strong. To the fireworks minds, To the injured minds who only know how to dance And walk. To the mad ones, Jack Kerouac’s pals. To those who are yet to find a new home, To those who are ready to find a new home, To those who are not ready to talk. To those whose tongue can not keep up with the thinking flow. And to the silence. Always the silence. Mother silence, Sister silence, Brother silence. To the silent ones. To those who Do not kiss their silence goodbye, When somebody tells them: “Talk now, Talk slowly, Talk wisely!”.
The night before the night I first got drunk was the night before my eighteenth birthday, and I was with my friends. We talked about what type of drunks we thought we’d be as we laid on a park roundabout, belly-up, staring at swathes of indigo – it was a cloudy night and we opened our mouths to scream at dog walkers and industrial estates, lights flickering, machinery audible from outside.
But if words are scraping the silence off your throat, spit the silence out in the form of ink. Speak fast or do not speak at all. Last year I was reading a poem titled “Fast Speaking Woman” written by Anne Waldman. I am a fast speaking woman, I have always been one. Teachers, parents, friends: “Could you speak more slowly?”, “You need to learn how to articulate words clearly”, “Speak slowly! Speak clearly!”. Speak slowly. Speak clearly. My tongue can not keep up with the thinking flow. And that’s fine with me. My only New Year’s resolution is to start speaking even faster. My only New Year’s resolution is to keep swallowing commas and words like tears of joy. I speak fast or I do not speak at all.
What else could estate kids do? We thought we were celestial and we filled light-polluted night with dreams of stars and named ourselves as such. My friends were Moon, Sun, Star. We dreamed a lot of new experiences, of what would be and how it would be “What type of drunk do you think you are?” I asked. Moon (because her heart was bright and round like hay bales; harvested and tied into shape) said to me – “I think I’d be a motherly drunk.” I said, “That fits.” She sat up cross-legged, her arms cradled in her lap and five months later she would say, “I probably shouldn’t drink”. When I asked “Why?”, she held her boyfriend’s hand and showed me the blue line of a pregnancy test. She named the baby after her sister and her mother and in the future I hoped these two children would find themselves and not just ‘family’ – that’s no life for someone who can control tides. Sun (because her ego was big and bright and hot to the touch; we orbited around her) said to me – “I’m an aggressive drunk.” I said, “How do you know?”, and she said nothing and smirked and spun the roundabout suddenly and with force and I lost my train of thought for a second. “Oh, ok,” I said, dizzy. Sun had already moved to the swings and she was determined to arc over the top. Five months later she went over the top and fell back down and swore to never try again – she’s just trying to centre herself, cool down her inferno. I hope one day she can. Star (because there were many of her and she worked so hard to shine the brightest; she was so distant) was half asleep and she said to me – “I want to be surprised.” I said, “You’re braver than me.” We later found out she just got sleepy and everyone was disappointed. In five months we’d planned on going to the same town for university – to room together and get a flat with spider ivies and loft windows. We’d buy milk and bread and oil paints and used books. But plans change and people move on and instead she’s moving a sea away. I miss her already. “What about you?” They asked. “I don’t know yet. Not a poetic one, I hope.” I’m bad enough when sober. “Even if you’re not, I’m sure you’ll write a poem about it anyway.” They retorted, sipping capri-sun pouches and snorting. “Never.” I lied. I was planning star charts already.
Concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
16
C. Writing
new - eva wakeford There are some memories Where I’ll fold down the page And tuck them away safely to be relived Through unrestrained tears of laughter, With two hands clasped around the frame that Immortalises us. Others I’ll fling into the fire Like a coin being thrown into a fountain, Wishing nothing but the hope that The East Wind will sweep up the ashes.
I admit I am fan of nostalgia And reminiscence followed by that aching sigh of what was, But it is what is coming, what is unforeseen That I stride towards. Those cherished moments yet to be detangled from the web of my future, And entrapped within a 4x4 frame.
mauve and green — sandra tse
F
oams rushed in,
licking the edge of the surf, then retreated again with a hissing sigh, just as it had done a decade ago. Clio had never known this beach to vary. The icy fingers around her gloves tightened almost instinctively. The sea moved as if it had done so for eternity. Wind ruffled her skirt, teasing her ankles. The December sky was darkening quickly, sharpening shadows in places Clio had not noticed. The gloves were coarse in her hands, but she was reluctant to unclench her hands all the same. Perhaps superstitiously she thought they would run away. Half a century ago the beach was brighter. She remembered as if it was yesterday the soft, warm sand under her feet, the salt-tingled air. The sun had sank onto the horizon as if dipping into a bath. Once, they had spotted the silvery curve of a dolphin fin… Sure, it had been summer. Clio had had the energy of youth that she cannot muster now. And her friends had been alive. It was strange to Clio how the world went on, even after they had gone. The shrill laughs, the shouting voices and Frank’s off-tune guitar replaced by stunning silence. Never again will Helen paint in the sand with her toes, whispering to them the stolen kisses with Adam that she thought was a secret, and which everyone knew about. Yet the sea goes on the same. She looked down at her gloves apprehensively. Her niece had given them to her, as a Christmas present, after the orange pair Helen knitted for Clio’s twentieth birthday fell apart. Helen passed away three years afterwards. Her niece knows nothing about her, Clio thought with distaste. The gloves were brand new, the department store logo and washing instructions still intact. No doubt manufactured in some distant part of the world, one of those Asian countries or another. The mauve and moss green, in an attempt to celebrate the holidays, were mashed together to form lop-sided snowflakes. Throw them in, she said to herself. The thought seized her suddenly. Her mind was blazing with the idea. One throw – hadn’t she been on the baseball team? Surely she hadn’t forgotten it all – and she would never need to see the gloves again. Her niece’s voice came back to her, her voice battling the noise of the chatter as she paraded the Christmas table, let’s just focus about something else, Aunt Clio, it’s not helping anybody…mum wants you to come with us to Italy, don’t we, mum? It’ll be fun, if only you’d leave this darn place…of course we want to listen to you, but how can we, you’re always distancing yourself into the fucking past! Clio starred down at the patches of mauve and green between her fingers. They were the colour of rotten fruit. But her niece had insisted that she must have them. Helen, she thought with bitterness, would never have done that. But would she? A gut-wrenching feeling stabbed her. Helen had given the pair of orange gloves to her with almost the same intensity Clio had insisted that knitted gloves were hideously outdated, but Helen hadn’t listened. Clio had worn them out of a pure act of friendship. Then, after Helen’s death, it had been habitual, habitual almost for five decades. Helen’s warm, dark eyes and dimpled smile rose to her mind’s eye. She pushed against the image rising in her mind, but it was as fruitless as the sand that gets dragged into the sea. She hadn’t thought of Helen, the real Helen, in a long time. But she know Helen would have wanted her to wear her niece’s present. Clio slipped on the gloves. Warmth spread through her fingers. Helen’s gloves had thinned over the years, and Clio had forgotten what new gloves felt like. The sea leaped in and out, as it had for millennia, sighing in the wintry air.
C. Writing 17
Concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
new - jack carey “Make it new,” he muttered, sliding the final pin into the he had been promised, the static gave way to a sombre by me of blinded I fell behind deadwatched eye. as topBinded right corner the banner. He let did it goI, and message. Dead eye disclosedlike thisaexposed globe closeray. to closed, it sagged downwards giant white manta WrittenI sigh. On my theinworld whirled was wishwashes, I wish. “The people of Britain are a brave people, a courageous across its watch surface, large,watches bright lettering NEW NEW Wishing days stopped to stop daze and glaze my eyes glazed, it’s pish.however there is no shame in surrender, there is NEW! LIMITED TIME ONLY ! people, I count as a cunt, can’t canter, see I see my stupid stupor, my no eyes sear.in accepting the odds. In doing so we preserve a shame Sear the lively life I’ve loved and lived here, Hear, Hear! At least I can hear. Patrick Murdoch stood back and admired his handiwork. semblance of peace and of…”
“Make it new indeed!” he laughed, spitting onto the hard __________________ tarmac as he did so. He didn’t know where he remembered Patrick had always hated the PM. Gutless leftie, he thought the saying from. Maybe from one of the chapters of the ever and tweaked the nob. Deafened I defend dead-ends of death, detest thishis test I attest. growing pile of self help and business acumen books wife mouths licks lips and unrest. hadMovies boughtmove him.me Shemove oftenout leftofthem deliberately nextlapse, to hisinto “President Trump has welcomed the arrival of the new Silence in islands of white wight noise annoys quite quiet I riot, and rot. cigarettes or favourite tea mug. She wasn’t exactly subtle. visitors. ‘I love the way they are doing things. Great things Rot away and weighed down way down in doubt for grotty earsI might I forgot. add. Tremendous plans with our new friends. I’ve Muffled my muscles ache and ate til gone, the shrill gong is knotted A faint wind ruffled the banner and Patrick watched the alwaysnot saidfor it!’me. His comments are in response to the…” For mewarp it wavers like waves thatthe weave I bereave the sea; at least I can see. lettering and expand. Under banner lay his in small show room, the windows were still dusty and a SOLD sign was His hand twitched once more and the radio dipped in and out still propped lazily against the door. The estate agent had of static. shaken Patrick’s hand and taken his money, but hadn’t even “So what are we calling them Chris? Surely not Aliens, bothered removing the sign. because I’ve seen E.T and these guys look more human than the guys down my local!” Bastard. He thought, rubbing his hands together as the wind picked up from a faint breeze to a more aggressive frozen “Well that’s the thing, as of yet we aren’t too sure…” gust. If the weather carried on like this, he wouldn’t be able to entice anyone for the grand opening. He had even paid for Patrick Murdoch switched of his radio and looked outside. a radio advert with the last dregs of his savings, which should He sat in his car, parked just in front of his new show room, be airing at 10:30 AM. Patrick checked his watch. If that one of the only cars actually in the show room. He huddled fat bugger at the radio station hadn’t screwed him over as up close to the steering wheel and exhaled loudly. They well. He’d also taken Patrick’s money, gleefully stuffing the picked today of all days to try some type of prank, some sort cheque into a small metal box, his chubby hands sweating of idiot-brained YouTube video for teenagers to drool over. bullets. Surely that’s what it was. Surely. Now Patrick stood on the freezing tarmac, staring blankly as he thought about all the money that had been siphoned out of his account and into the building which now stood before him. MURDOCH’S MOTORS, AUTO TRADING BUY AND SELL! Soon his bank account would be ticking up slowly but surely, in the steady manner of a petrol pump metre. As he watched his banner sag and sway a smile crept onto his face and set up camp. Patrick Murdoch’s new business was not the only new addition to the world that day, and as the wind died out, the human race collectively held their breath. At 10:30 AM Patrick turned the dial of his radio sharply to the left and listened carefully as the static gave way to the first inklings of comprehensible sound. The smile he had happily amused on his face left suddenly with no intent on coming back. Instead of the upbeat jingle promoting MURDOCH’s MOTORS,
“Excuse me sir, is this your shop?” Patrick turned to look. Outside his car was a young man. Broad-shouldered, blonde and muscular, his eyes glowed like embers. He gestured to the show room. The skin tight black top he wore clung to his outstretched arm. Patrick’s eyes narrowed. “It’s closed, haven’t you heard, aliens have landed!” Patrick wiggled his fingers in mock terror. The young man smiled a sickly crescent. “We come in peace,” his eyes glowed red. Patrick Murdoch sat on the cold tarmac, now a pile of smouldering ash.
A New Year’s Haiku — judith howe A caterpillar The date, Does not ask for change It simply flies on Illustrations by Hugo Douglas-Deane
Gaming 19
Concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk
D&Dip your feet into D&D Don’t be Orcward
Helen Jones A new year means trying new things, and if you’re a gamer who’s still unacquainted with the world of Tabletop RPGs then do I have some recommendations for you. If you’ve played your share of MMOs and RPGs like World of Warcraft or Fallout then you’ll probably find yourself already uncannily familiar with the granddaddy of video games: Dungeons and Dragons. So here are introductions to my top three games for anyone looking to start something new this year.
Dungeons and Dragons (3.5/5) D&D: the multi-headed beast that dominates our conception of Tabletop games as fiercely as any of the game’s dragons. The game deserves it’s critical acclaim and it’s current resurgence, even appearing in mainstream tv shows like Stranger Things or IT Crowd. This shows a gratifying acceptance of all things nerdy after D&Ds sordid history as the embarrassing outlet for bespectacled geeks and the kickstarter of a moral crisis across 1980s America over it’s Satanic undertones. Depending on where you want to jump in there are premade campaigns and settings from Dragonlance to Eberron, but the real beauty of the game is that it’s open for the Dungeon Master to
delve into writing their own settings and stories populated with unique monsters and mysteries. At its most traditionally Tolkienesque the game will have you playing as Elf rogues, Halfling wizards, and Dragonborn warriors as you quest, loot dungeons, and slay dragons. D&D itself has gone through many different editions in it’s time, and you’ll find widely varying opinions on which is best, but broadly editions 3.5 and 5th are the most often recommended. I suggest starting with 3.5 if you’re not afraid of some complex rules and want all the advantages of serious depth and enough additional rulebooks to keep you busy. For brand new players I still recommend 5th edition, the most recent, as it’s a far more streamlined easy-topick-up version of the classic game. Don’t look into 4th unless you’re doing a degree in advanced mathematics, you’ve been warned. But honestly for those of you who want the Dungeons and Dragons experience you’ve heard of but aren’t ready to drop a ton of money on special dice and the Player’s Handbook I recommend Dungeon World: a straightforward introduction to the world of Tabletop RPGs that’s available for free online and
Photo Credits: Flicker, Wikicommons
only needs some six-sided dice and good friends to start playing.
Shadowrun If you’re itching to see the upcoming Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell movies then perhaps you could kill some time by jacking into Shadowrun: a game set in a cyberpunk dystopia where you play as a team of shadowrunners dispatching targets, infiltrating megacorporations and hiding out from Lonestar patrols. The games’ character creation is incredibly detailed with humans, orks, elves and more all with the possibility of cybernetic upgrades. You’ll play as deckers, street samurai, and shamans as you traverse the William Gibson inspired sprawl from Seattle to Neo-Tokyo. The combat system isn’t the easiest to pick up and there’s a definite learning curve for the rules in general, but any computer cowboy worth their deck should be able to crack Shadowrun’s matrix.
Vampire: The Masquerade Vampire is celebrated for a far more story-based approach than its dungeoncrawler counterparts, focusing on the lives of vampires as they struggle to survive in the underground world of Kindred clans and
vampire-hunters. While the rules may seem confusing at first once you’ve mastered the concept of dice-pools Vampire is a fantastically straightforward game. The urban-fantasy setting has incredible depth with a range of vampiric bloodlines and supernatural disciplines to sink your teeth into. But what is ‘The Masquerade’, you ask? It’s the pretence of normality we vampires put on so the blood-vessels don’t get in our way. Seriously, there are a ridiculous number of Tabletop RPGs out there, much more than the few big titles I’ve had time to suggest here. Gather your party, or if you want to fly solo you can always find groups using the Roll20 app or by heading down to our very own UEA Games Soc. These games are as silly and specialised as you can make them, whether you fancy playing as competitive anime maids (Maid RPG), comic book superheroes (Masks), fighting betentacled monstrosities (Call of Cthulhu), daring the court politics of Westeros (ASOIAF RPG), battling the Sith (Star Wars), or riding around the old west as Mormon cowboys purifying the land from sinners (No really: Dogs in the Vineyard). So why not roll the dice and try out some good old-fashioned pen and paper roleplaying?
Concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk
20 Gaming
The Battle for Battle for MIddle Earth When there’s life there’s hope, and need of vittles Tom Bedford When people talk about the best real-time-strategy games they discuss the likes of the Total War games, or the Command & Conquer games, or the Age of Empires games, but there is always one franchise missing – The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth. Alongside the sequel - The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II and its expansion The Rise of the Witch-king they made up perhaps the best Lord of the Rings video game franchise. The games, which saw you acquire resources scattered across the battle maps in order to build buildings and create an army to destroy your enemies, were pure fun. You could fight battles taking place during and before the films, or wage your own wars in modes that let you conquer MiddleEarth yourself. Whether you played with classic heroes and armies or created your own
warriors and troops, leading your favourite armies and characters from the wider universe on to completely non-canon victories was always a blast. The games were for the most part welldesigned and pure escapist fun which cared less for adhering to the rules of the franchise as much as letting you absolutely destroy Minas Tirith with your Rohan army. Yet after the 2006 release of BFME2’s expansion the franchise went quiet. The licensing expired and DICE Los Angeles moved on to less successful projects. The franchise was forgotten. This was a shame not just for fans of the games but fans of Lord of the Rings and strategy games in general, as the games combined all these things. But with the revival of interest in the film franchise with The Hobbit films and
the recent announcement of a new Lord of the Rings film (well, a biopic on J.R.R. Tolkein), the perfect time for a revival of the franchise is now. Real-time strategy games have never really been unpopular and a new game focused on The Hobbit films or the expanded universe has the potential to do really well. Since there are over ten years since the last game, there are many ways in which Battle for Middle Earth III could improve. As well as changing the focus of the game to the prequel series and updating the graphics, many mechanic changes would make the games much deeper. A greater focus on resource harvesting as a means to success and online play, a feature rather troubled in the original games, would make the games more strategic and enjoyable. Or potentially a
smaller squad focus could been used, as with the recent XCOM games which seem to be the most popular strategy games currently. A real-timestrategy version of XCOM would be an interesting game, and would fit The Hobbit’s story of a party on an adventure. There is never a bad time for Lord of the Rings games as the franchise enjoys enduring popularity, but for such a good franchise as the Battle for Middle Earth games it would make sense for DICE Los Angeles to make one. They need a good project to work on – and what better than a franchise they have experience working on? And real-time strategy games could put work into making themselves more accessible - nothing would make them more accessible than a huge franchise like The Lord of the Rings. Is there any reason not to make this game?
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Gaming 21
Concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk
Pokemon Sun and Moon Would be about 20 hours shorter without all the fucking chatter Kirsty McAlpine The Pokémon franchise returned again in November 2016 with Pokémon Sun and Moon (or Pokémon S&M – what an unfortunate abbreviation), and brought with it a startling deviation from the norm. Gyms are now gone and have been replaced with trials and grand trials, many of the original Kanto Pokémon have had a complete redesign, and HMs have been removed and replaced with specific nonplayable assistant Pokémon. As you can imagine, these alterations have completely mixed up the fundamental formula of such a wellestablished game series, and the reactions are a mixed bag to say the least. Firstly, the graphics have taken a massive leap from the previous generation; sprites are more developed, more hairstyles and colours are available, and the environment is spectacular. The new generation is still using the new method of models rather than the original sprites, and this allows for huge versatility with mini games and interaction with your battle-ready pets, which, as always, gets my seal of approval. The new monsters are all welcome additions to the family, rounding the total population to a tasty 802. Some of the designs are a bit of an acquired taste, such as in the case of the weird anchor Pokémon Dhelmise, or the perfectly cuboid bug Charjabug, but many of the
designs are spectacularly innovative and deserve great praise. Lycanroc, for example, is a personal favourite, as is Drampa who makes a very interesting dragon type. The starters are all pretty decent besides the final fire evolution which looks a bit like a janky Terry the Tiger. Also, I can’t fault the new trial system. Originally I was sceptical – like babies, I hate change, and struggled to adjust to the idea that gyms were to be altogether removed from the game. However, my mind was quickly changed. I think the new system is fantastic. It removes the necessity for towns, allowing the environment to show greater variety of biomes and landmarks. Instead, the islands are divided into sections, with each section correlating to a Pokémon type. As a consequence, these sections are themed, such as in the case of the ghost section, featuring a derelict beach comprised of creepy ashy black sand and an abandoned supermarket. The trial involves taking photos of creepy supernatural happenings, which was massively enjoyable. It has proven to make the game extremely fun, interesting, and varied, and I’m hugely in favour of this new direction. This also serves to greatly increase the game’s length, which reaches a meaty thirty hours or more. While I don’t expect future games to also
have trials, I am impressed with the innovation shown in this new instalment and would encourage potential players not to be put off by this change in direction. A brilliant innovation introduced to streamline the process of travel and eliminate the problem of irritating ‘unforgettable’ HMs taking up the space otherwise occupied by more useful moves, is that of new ‘pager’ Pokémon. These Pokémon are added to your inventory along the storyline and function as living HMs. Each has a specific purpose, such as the rock smashing Tauros or the flying Charizard, and together they add a brilliant new feature to the story. No longer is space wasted on ‘HM slaves’, or valuable move space assigned to the irritating ‘cut’ function, and this receives some serious approval. My main gripe would be the same as in more previous instalments: the sheer level of cut scenes and scripted moments. In the more recent editions of Pokémon, the storyline has become far more guided in its execution; unlike in the initial games where storyline was largely driven by character exploration and typically avoided excessive chunks of dialogue, Pokémon Sun and Moon is saturated with unnecessary chatter. Exposition is forced down the player’s throat at every opportunity, with NPCs
waiting along the linear route constantly hassling the player. I understand that the newer games might wish to tread a bit closer towards the realms of anime and in doing so create more cut scenes and character development, but I’m here to play a game. I’m not interested in watching some weirdly proportioned teens with crap hair sweating it out over some arbitrary plot development we all figured out four hours ago. I’m quite impatient - I like to make progress, not follow scripted events for far longer than necessary. What Pokémon NPCs could say in 10 words, they say in 10,000. Regardless, however, I totally recommend. The new games may frighten the ‘true fan’, but if you don’t appreciate seeing the games you love from a new angle, then are you really such a true fan? This new instalment adds an incredible flavour of variety whilst remaining keenly loyal to the roots of the series. It’s a must have for Pokémon fans.
Illustration by Kirsty McAlpine.
what are you looking forward to this year? “The new Star Wars film. Straight up. That’s it. Not much else.” Niamh Jones I'm looking forward to Concrete's 25th anniversary in April because I can't wait to meet all the old editors and contributors who have “I'll be seeing Radiohead in Manchester in July!!
gone on to do amazing things. Plus the free wine.
(and graduating of course).”
Megan Baynes
Hugo Douglas Deane
Scandal is coming back. Lots of drama and coats.
“I’m looking forward to graduating and never
Perfect for taking your mind off those deadlines.
writing another essay in my life. There comes a day when you just don’t need some dude with a PhD to tell you whether you’re clever or not.” Emily Claridge
Oh and How To Get Away With Murder, everything that was pushed back by Trump’s inaugeration. Emily Hawkins
“Would it be sad if I said Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson? Like seriously, who isn’t looking forward to that? And getting my Masters Degree, I guess.” Melissa Haggar “Finishing Gilmore Girls and getting my life back!” Emily Mildren “A widely anticipated new record from the virtual band Gorillaz after a 7 year hiatus!” Alice Mortimer “Getting my life back on track and purchasing a canal boat. Maybe.” Dougie Dodds Photos: Mary Dodds
Television 23
Concrete.Television@uea.ac.uk
Sherlock
jodie Bailey
The Prodigal Show Returns
Now I love Sherlock just as much as the next person, and I would consider myself a Sherlockian without any shame, but after that abominable Christmas special last year there is no doubt that the Sherlock team needed to make season four start on a stronger note. It certainly managed to do that. Whilst we had to put up with some over-thetop watery foreshadowing throughout the episode we could at least understand and follow the plot without any issues. Although, many may struggle to understand the motivations of some of their favourite characters… Typically, Sherlock’s season openers have always had a brighter and more comedic tone, but whilst in The Six Thatchers we certainly start on a brighter note with the swift arrival of John and Mary’s baby, the episode quickly takes a darker tone than what we are used to. Each season of Sherlock has become progressively darker and more serious, and it looks as if this season is set to be the darkest yet, with the trailers ominously proclaiming that ‘It’s not a game anymore’. Devout Sherlockians should not have any issues with this series which the cast and crew claim to be the best yet, although be warned that series creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are not shy about bringing in more shock twists and changes than before.
For the rest of this run, I would be wary about making any predictions after the events of episode one, but in The Lying Detective we will be introduced to Culverton Smith (Toby Jones) – purportedly the main villain of this series and a monster of a man. What his intentions are for the detective duo are unknown, but meanwhile we have Moriarty’s ‘posthumous game’ looming over Sherlock and John, and the teasing of the mysterious ‘other brother’ who Mycroft continues to mention. With the season finale entitled The Final Problem, which is the title taken from the short story that inspired the plot of season two’s finale The Reichenbach Fall, it is fair to say that fans of the series may be worried that this is Cumberbatch’s last outing as the sociallyawkward genius detective. Again, we face the fear that this series of Sherlock may well be the last, even before season four had begun filming, Moffat said he would be surprised if the BBC could secure Cumberbatch and Freeman for more series due to their Hollywood fame. The phenomenal success of the show and the popularity
of its lead actors may well be its own undoing as the two actors are increasingly in demand in the film industry. In an article for The Telegraph, Cumberbatch himself has also hinted that this may be his last time playing Sherlock Holmes as
he wants to prioritise on his personal life and young family. However this series plays out, fans should brace themselves for more shock twists and be prepared for any outcome. Illustrations by Dougie Doods
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24
Doctor Who Dan Struthers When did it stop being cool to bring up in conversation that you watch Doctor Who? For many it would be the end of David Tennant’s run as the energetic suited and impressively side burned 10th Doctor. Post-Tennant, admitting to still watching Doctor Who is usually greeted with a chuckle or a mocking smile, in my experience anyway. Maybe it is just the inevitable taboo of being an adult and watching what is considered by many a children’s show but it feels like confessing a sin when saying you still watch Doctor Who nowadays. Often the way to deliver the bombshell is “I watch Doctor Who” followed by “but it’s not very good anymore” almost in defence, to stop the automatic judgement and preconception that comes with the words Doctor Who. Doctor Who used to be the trendy TV show in the mid 00’s, the water cooler talk, the show that boasted an impressive cast; cemented by Christopher Ecclestone’s severely underrated performance as a haunted Doctor and the extremely likeable Billie Piper along with superb direction from head writer Russell T Davies. So, what happened? Is it just a case of growing up or is the show declining in quality? Probably an equal amount of both, but the show seems to be struggling to pull in
What Happened? the seven or eight million that earlier series pulled off, instead managing a very average five to six million last year. Perhaps this is due to lack of audience interest in a show that has been around for more than 10 years, or because the shadow of David Tennant’s beloved Time Lord still looms over the show, even six years later. Episodes now seem to be very hit or miss and this may be due to Steven Moffat’s head writing duties, he seems to be a less consistent writer when he has to worry about the shape of the series as well as delivering quality episodes like he used to. Constantly tuning in to Doctor Who every week feels like rooting for a football team that you love and have been loyal to for many years but who constantly lose and are ridiculed by everyone. Dragging this metaphor out for a bit longer, the team may have been suffering for the last few seasons but with new managements and a few transfers there still lies hope for them. This new management includes Chris Chibnall who will be the new head writer from 2018, and he may be the answer to shaking up the stale formula but Chibnall has not had the best track record concerning Doctor Who. Let us not forget, he wrote the forgettable episode 42 which involved a man possessed by the power of the sun killing the rest of the members of his spaceship. He
also reintroduced the world to the Silurians (two of the slowest episodes from Matt Smith’s debut series), penned Dinosaurs on a Spaceship (nowhere near as fun as the title suggests) and wrote The Power of Three – probably his best effort but the ending was a little anticlimactic. Strangely enough it is his non-Who writing that is his strongest. He was the unofficial head writer of Torchwood for the first two series, and even though the first episode he wrote was about an alien who kills its victims through orgasm (yes, really) he steered it to a very emotional series two finale which displays some of his best writing to date. He also wrote the BBC’s The Great Train
Robbery, penned two episodes of the fantastic Life on Mars and created the ITV juggernaut Broadchurch, the latter of which may have overstayed its welcome as it plods on to another series next year. Is there any chance that Doctor Who can be cool again among an older generation? Not very likely, but like the loyal fan I am I will be quietly cheering my team on through relegation and management changes right until the very end.
Television 25
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Oldie But goldie The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Beth Papworth In retrospect, the 1990s television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has provided fans with fun, excitement and humour for the family and younger generation. This golden oldie featuring the much loved Will Smith has engaged viewers from the onset due to its catchy killer theme song that conjures 90s nostalgia. It is an important show that offers multiple narratives of what it means to be black in America, giving the audience a loveable, tongue in cheek male protagonist who vacillates between different races and classes.
Fresh Prince was attractive at the time because it portrays a black American experience that has not been presented on television yet. The Banks family lead a life of extravagance and expense in comparison to Will’s poorer financial status, struggling to comprehend the wealth of the Banks’ lavish world. Ultimately the audience identifies more with Will, a charismatic rapper, over a stuffed suit!
of their race and class issues is one of the show’s major strengths. Educational and informative, it is a witty
and humourous show that has produced a hundred episodes due to its unfailing popularity and success!
Ultimately, the willingness of the Fresh Prince writers to explore the characters understanding Image Credit: Vikipedia
The OA
A Surprisingly Disappointing Netflix Original Harriet Griffiths Ah, Netflix. How spot on you have been for the last couple of years. You have created a loyal viewership with the success of shows like Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black. Basically, you are on easy street as far as quality programming is concerned. What a shame that The OA does not live up to this impeccable standard. And oh, how I wanted it to be good. The premise, without giving too much away, is tantalising. After being missing for seven years, a young blind woman named Prairie returns home to her
adoptive parents with the sudden ability to see, refusing to explain what happened to her. The next few episodes see Prairie gradually reveal her story to various cast members piece by piece in a plot that increases in pace, but quickly decreases in emotional calibre.
overwhelmingly positive reception of Stranger Things released earlier in the year. The fashionable lily white, somehow stifling aesthetic of suburban America in the trailer sealed the deal. It is almost annoying that the plot did not maintain this promising standard.
The promotion of the series, however, cannot be faulted. The first trailer was dropped only a week before the entire series came out, promising an intriguing mystery thriller, perhaps modelled this way in response to the
While the scenes and characters develop – Prairie befriends various vulnerable characters to share her story with – we get the impression that, although there was an attempt to flesh out the supporting characters’ backgrounds and home life,
these individuals were only provided as two dimensional figures to which Prairie would talk at for a few too many episodes before any of the action was taken that was promised in the first episode. Overall, although some of the onscreen visuals of the show were impressive, and some supporting cast performances were terrific (I am looking at you, Phyllis Smith), the plot fell far too short of being a satisfyingly gripping and intricate experience that we have come to expect from a Netflix original series. Illustration: Google Images
Music 27 New Releases
nick mason Night People You Me At Six
Concrete.Music@uea.ac.uk
and the 7 1 20 Names Set to Boss It
tony allen
Pundits have recently been getting excited about a whole host of new British artists who are ready to own 2017. Here are just a few of the key names to remember…
You Me At Six have had their fair share of triumphs. They have also had a lot of underwhelming events. Previous album Cavalier Youth impressed at first, but left little lasting impression besides a handful of good singles. It is with great trepidation I approached Night People, but it feels like their most natural record yet. Think big, rock openers, feeling and atmosphere over pop-punk riffs and hints of Dinosaur Jr, The Killers and Biffy Clyro. And no, that isn’t as messy as it sounds.
chris grosset Run The Jewels 3 Run The Jewels
Rap duo El-P and Killer Mike dropped their third fist pumping, pulse driving, politically stimulating album this Christmas. The first half of the record blasts no-holds-barred bangers of which RTJ fans will adore the production and sampling, particularly in booming track ‘Talk To Me’. The second gets more political with hauntingly intimate production, a highlight being ‘Everybody Stay Calm’. Overall a witty, catchy and stimulating album that can only be said to further raise the bar set by their last two.
Named runner up in the BBC’s Sound of 2017 was just the latest in a string of accolades afforded to BRIT Award winner Rag‘n’Bone Man, the stage name of Rory Graham. After several critically acclaimed singles and EPs, his album Human is one of the most hotly anticipated of 2017, after its titular single reached #2. Rag‘n’Bone Man had a more memorable start to 2017 than most, seeing in the new year with an impressive performance on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, which included a duet with Gregory Porter. The soulful twang of Rag‘n’Bone Man, who adorned his curious moniker after watching repeats of Steptoe and Son, is inspired by his admiration of blues masters like John Lee Hooker. The Japanese House is an artist who has been making headlines thanks to an unwavering focus on music in its purest form, rather than her own identity. The smooth, multi-layered synth textures of Amber Bain’s music provide the listener with something new every time. Buoyed by the success of her trio of EPs to date, The Japanese House can look forward to a promising year of new music and live performances.
Teenage sensation Declan McKenna looks set for a busy year. His latest single ‘Isombard’, which confronts xenophobic attitudes, is characteristic of his output to date: hard-hitting lyrics dealing with a variety of gritty social problems, set to a very listenable indie backdrop. After a UK tour, which begins at Norwich’s Waterfront Monday 23rd, McKenna is part of the lineup for California’s Coachella festival in April. Rapper Nadia Rose’s flamboyant videos and effortless delivery have gained her an ever-growing reputation with standout tracks like ‘Squod’ and ‘D.F.W.T’. Rose has been composing rhymes for a while now, but having given up her job to focus on music she is set to continue her rapid rise to fame. Her words are both cutting and fun, and all of this is backed up with memorable beats, which in turn creates a potent recipe for Rose to spread her name and her message this year. Chloe Marriott is very much an artist to put on your watch list. With a host of wellrespected admirers, the singer-songwriter and guitarist hailing from Canvey Island has already landed herself a slew of tasty festival and support slots. It is hard to believe that Marriott is just
nineteen when you hear her almost George Ezra-esque, mature voice on young shoulders. Already busy adding to her catalogue of original blues compositions, much is promised for 2017. Local talents like Maya Law and Peach Club will be looking to capitalise on their 2016 successes, which have included a number of highly rated singles and EPs each, alongside live dates wand BBC Introducing sessions. Unsigned Norwich four-piece The Islas are another group on the up, and will be hoping to bring their brand of indie rock to a wider audience in 2017.
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Huey Morgan on Fun Lovin’ Criminals
28 Music alice mortimer Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect Sundara Karma
daniel jeakins The name Huey Morgan means a lot of different things to a lot of different people in 2017. In the last few years he’s discussed the finer points of British politics as a guest on ‘Question Time’, lent his voice to BBC Radio 2 and endured a particularly memorable meltdown on Never Mind The Buzzcocks. As we meet, his focus is purely on the band through which he made his name, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, and the twentieth anniversary of their seminal debut album Come Find Yourself. Released during the height of Britpop, the album was inspired by tales of urban violence, sex and crime in New York City. “Twenty years ago we produced a record that people still listen to and want to hear us play”, he says with a tangible sense of pride. “That’s a gift, man”. These days Fun Lovin’ Criminals adopt a workmanlike attitude with touring - playing festivals “pretty much every weekend” during the summer and performing their vast catalogue in venues across the world. Huey is the first to admit that twenty years ago, when the band had just been signed by Capitol, his attitude couldn’t have been more different. “When you’re in the charts you’re just collecting money and banging bitches. We didn’t put nearly as much effort into our live performances”. Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ debut has since established itself as one of the definitive albums of the nineties, and Huey is quick to acknowledge
the record’s place in popular music history. “Back then it was Britpop, and us. If I’m being egotistical, I see Come Find Yourself as a really influential record. Back then mixing genres didn’t happen nearly as much as it does now”. “We made that record (Come Find Yourself) in five days. We had to do it that fast because we were terrified the record company was going to change their mind. It was hard to believe they’d given three idiots that much money and let them produce the record themselves. We had the studio for three weeks and spent the two left over ordering takeout from Little Italy [in New York]. It’s safe to say we wouldn’t have a hope in hell of being signed today”. Such a blasé attitude would
simply not be viable in this day and age, and Huey knows better than most just how much the music industry has changed since ‘Scooby Snacks’, the band’s enduring crossover hit, was regularly played on the airwaves. “Still to this day there are people that have never bought music in their entire lives. The industry spent so much in trying to stop file sharing instead of embracing it – all they did was lose valuable time. That’s why musicians aren’t encouraged to be creatively different – today people only care about fame, and the music is suffering for it”. Fun Lovin’ Criminals is set to return to the UK for a nationwide tour next month.
Another new indie band, another debut which does exactly the same as the last. Some decent riffs, a vague ‘political’ statement, aesthetic vocal groans. The Reading quartet’s first LP is not terrible, guitar bands conquer this formula all the time and with great commercial success, but that’s the very point, it’s nothing new. The record just sort of chugs along as lyrically pretentious guitar tunes which simply fail to materialise into anything that makes you want to move or feel.
Georgina Hewison We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service A Tribe Called Quest
18 years later, hip-hop pioneers ATCQ reunite for one final albumand with impeccable timing. In a week of political turmoil, their signature jazz-infused rhymes beautifully combine protest of intersectional hatred with love for the new generation of hip-hop and legacy of member Phife Dawg, who passed away in March. ATCQ pass on the torch with an impressive features list, but never stray from their incredibly reflective flow and individual flair. For old hands and newcomers alike, this is a refreshing dose of 90s attitude.
Music 29
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Old, Sexless, and Dull?
kate feenstra
the struggles of women in the music industry
When it comes to music, we see women left, right and centre. On tour, at awards shows, on TV, on the radio, on every blog under the sun - so how could anyone say women don’t run the music game? Every creative industry has its cross to bear - often it’s the complete absence of older women, women of colour, unapologetic women, fat women, the list goes on. I always hoped that the complexity and bravery necessary to make good music would somehow suspend the rules of real life sexism in favour of a more radical approach, one which would allow women who make great music to succeed. Also, women who produce impressively new, forward-thinking music (the likes of Planningtorock, Olga Bell, Ami Dang), women who have had decade-long careers, but rarely appear in any music magazine’s top 10 list (Diamanda Galás, Tanya Tagaq, Karin Dreijer Andersson). So why don’t we hear about these women? Why are they always secondary to their equally wonderful male counterparts?
narrow. In a recent Facebook post, Björk wrote about the sexism she’d experienced throughout her career ‘women in music are allowed to be singer songwriters singing about their boyfriends… If they change the subject matter to atoms, galaxies, activism, nerdy math beat editing or anything else than being performers singing about their loved ones they get criticized.’ Perhaps this is why pop music (where hits are 4/4 odes to love and sex) is the main genre where women are most represented. But this begs the question are life, death, the universe, euphoria, political subjects solely reserved for Sun Ra and David Bowie? Of course, we could argue that meritocracy is the prime motivator of music, that talent surely transcends sexism, racism, ageism, and general stigma - and yet musicians who do not
conform to specifically unthreatening aesthetic ideals, such as Lizzo or Jenny Hval, rarely get the same ‘genius’ status of Trent Reznor or Jack White. It seems that the strict rules of what you should sing about, look like, or sound like affect even the most successful women musicians long-term. In a moving speech at Billboard’s 2016 ‘Women in Music’ event, Madonna stated - “I think the most controversial thing I have ever done is to stick around.” The kind of unquestioning and uncontroversial career longevity awarded to mediocre pop singers, like Cliff Richard or Michael Bolton, doesn’t easily translate to pop legends who happen to be women Madonna, Janet Jackson, Cher - all who constantly receive overwhelming amounts of criticism for ageing, being too sexy, or not sexy enough, having too
much or not enough surgery, for still writing ‘young music’, for being outspoken and uncompromising. This is significant if we go behind the scenes to the more ‘hands-on’ folks, who forge the songs that we hear - respected and admired for the more ‘pragmatic’ skill of crafting a hit. The Nashville Scene reports that women make up less than five percent of music producers and engineers - and even within this five percent, their credibility is often called into question. In an interview with Fader, producer Grimes spoke of her experiences - ‘I was like, ‘Well, can I just edit my vocals?’ And they’d be like ‘No, just tell us what to do, and we’ll do it.’ And then a male producer would come in, and he’d be allowed to do it.’ If women are underrepresented in this position, restricted in their creative freedom, criticised for ‘sticking around’, then ultimately we have to really question the role of women in music, and where their value is seen to lie - in capability or purely in visibility?
Whilst women musicians are abundant, more s o now than at any other time in history, the mould they are required fit to achieve success is often Illustration: Emily Mildren