Venue 338

3 Arts Kate Romain 6

Film Willa Hope + Louis Pigeon-owen

9 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 This week’s front and back cover: Dougie Dodds

editorial Editors-in-chief Dougie dodds + niamh Jones

Venue

deputy editor:

Melissa Haggar

his is it folks! Bloody hell, it seems only yesterday we were starting out, designing our first VENUE as its editors. We made a lot of mistakes at first, but don’t worry, we continued to make more as the year went on until finally, our last issue where (touch wood) everything seems to be going well. As a final goodbye I’ve chosen a particularly hard Sudoku, this way you’ll remember us for years to come (as that’s how long it will take to solve it).

All I can say is thank you, to all the editors who painfully devoted their free time to making super sexy pages, to the writers for giving us actual content, and to all of you for reading us. Peace out <3. Dougie

FEATURE

hh myyy. That’s it. This is the end. What- what do we do now? I don’t know, maybe me and Dougie will set up a little magazine in his garden shed, and pretend that we make money. We could eat grass and print VENUE on sheets of loo roll. But really, thank YOU. Thanks for reading and sticking with us. Thanks for writing, thanks for illustrating. Thanks for telling us that you’ve stuck pages of VENUE up in your flat, that you hate our sodokus, and that you wish we’d hosted another open mic. We’ve changed VENUE a lot this year, but corny as it sounds, VENUE has changed us a lot too. So if you see two hobos handing out loo roll magazines in town, give us a pat on the head and drop a quid in our tin can. Niamh

ARTS

T

O

ell, it’s been a funny couple of weeks hasn’t it. T-May deciding to call a snap election, the Corbyn Cavalry manning the battlefields and all of us preparing for another epic war. Let’s face it, most of us are probably feeling panicked, drained and definitely not ready to start term again.

But never fear, in case you need a little bit of entertainment in your life, here at VENUE we’ve got you covered and our fun features are guaranteed to inject a bit of enjoyment into your life before the whole world goes up in flames. Yay! Melissa

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‘...with a bit of elbow grease you can make any pixellated scourge worthy of Venue’ Hear a few words from us and our incredible team of editors about what it’s really like doing our jobs.

You never know, you might want to replace us next year!

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‘...art has evolved, grown, gone back in time and explored beyond the limits that society and preconceived ideas put upon it.’

Tune in to arts to find out what they are talkign about in ‘25 years of Art’

TELEVISION 23 ‘Don’t screw it up Moffat’ Turn to this issue’s television section to find out what we think of the new Doctor Who, hoping the new assistant will stand the test of time!

Concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk

02

Arts 03

Concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk

25 years of art

miriea molina Throughout history, art has evolved, grown, gone back in time and explored beyond the limits that society and pre-conceived ideas put upon it. From 1889 to 1914 art was constantly changing and evolving , as it had been before and as it continued doing after. This period constantly played with people’s and conventions taste and opinions, to become one of the most delightful and experimental artistic periods in history.

In 1889, Vincent Van Gogh painted The Starry Night, which, being one of the most emblematic paintings in history, reflects the experimental relation between art and the painter’s emotion, as well as challenging naturalistic representations of colour and shape through broad strokes. Throughout his work, Van Gogh expresses an interest towards a colourful expressionist style, which evolves from French Impressionism.

Claude Monet’s The Water-Lily Pond (1899) exemplifies Impressionist style, where light

dominates the painting to transmit the observer’s impression rather than the realism of the landscape, offering a colourful, bright atmosphere. Throughout his life, Monet experimented with the eye’s perception of reality and light, studying it, for instance, through the series of the Rouen Cathedral during the 1890s or the Westminster series from 1899 to 1905.

Impressionist artists such as Pissarro, Degas, Renoir, Cassatt and Morisot contributed to the French artistic circles and are also essential figures in the Impressionist movement.

Related to such styles but created in Norway rather than France, The Scream (1893) by Edvard Munch exteriorises the painter’s feelings and mentality by the creation of a red, chaotic atmosphere that transmits anxiety, fear and despair. Found in an entry of his personal diary, Munch wrote “the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red … there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord … and I sensed an infinite scream

passing through nature.”

The start of the twentieth century also witnessed experimental vanguard art such as Picasso and Braque’s cubism. Picasso’s famous proto-cubist painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon was painted in 1907, previously to his Cubist Period where he experiments with geometry and deconstructs images. Also, he engaged in a project together with Braque, using grey colours to represent figures aiming at deconstructing reality in order to simultaneously depict diverse perspectives of it. The cubist movement can be seen as an almost philosophical focus on reality and perception.

The large diversity of the end of the nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth century gave room for even more different forms of art to coexist. From ToulouseLautrec’s posters such as Moulin Rouge: La Goulue (1891) to Composition VII (1913), by Kandinski, the period brings together commercial illustration with the start of artistic

abstraction. The Kiss (1908)

by Gustav Klimt, the main figure of the symbolist movement in Vienna, is well known for its beautiful decorative style, using gold leaf and representations of flowers. Only two years later, Matisse painted Dance (1910), a bright tricoloured canvas that depicts a rhythmic and energetic group of dancers, and Portrait of Madame Matisse in 1906, which expresses emotion through bright, dissonant colours, being one of the best examples of Fauvism. The period allowed Austrian symbolism, abstract art, Fauvism and the emblematic posters of the French Belle Époque to blossom at the same time.

Already settled into Impressionism and Expressionism, this period is composed by the richness of not only French’s Belle Époque artistic circles and movements, but also experimental vanguards and Norwegian and Austria’s unique works of art.

Illustration credits (left to right) Wikipedia by bgEUwDxeI93-Pg, Flickr

by Edgardo W. Olivera, Wikimedia Commons by bildum.de

Concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk kate romain

04 Arts

ian kelly on ballet, biography, and the magic of the rewrite

Ian Kelly jokes at the start of our interview that to Sans ink and remember him from his very this is what brief appearance in Harry sketchbook looks Potter as Hermonie’s dad, The screenshots perhaps slightly undermines see here are his academic credentials. a manifestion And it is true. While Kelly’s mixed media. acting career has taken i n c l u d e s him from Downton Abbey homemade gifs, to Hogwarts, he is also the internet gifs, author of five historical audio, music, stock biographies, including performance Casanova: the story of the Photoshop designs infamous Italian adventurer when put together and author, which is being individual art transformed into a ballet are presented that will grace the stage of online platform Norwich Theatre Royal this called “Newhive”.

April.

Part of I wonder if a ballet was always something he’d always envisioned for the book. Ian tells me ‘never in a million years!’, sounding slightly shocked that we were sitting in a theatre discussing his upcoming ballet at all. ‘It was completely out of the blue, it’s been a fabulous and exciting learning curve.

Yet now I can’t think why I didn’t chase the idea in the first place. It’s the perfect medium for understanding the central concerns of the book’.

There is a huge creative leap involved in translating a book into a ballet, but when I point this out, Ian is undeterred. ‘They are different mediums and that’s fine. Reducing your book down to an essence that can be communicated on stage is not a loss, it’s another creative and intellectual journey with the same set of ideas’. Though

he admits ‘there are things as money’. that are danceable, and p a p e r : insecurity in calling myself B e i n g things that are not. While I am struck by Ian’s m y an “artist” lies in my lack previously trained you may sometimes struggle comment regarding the l i k e . of traditional artistic skills, in filmmaking, I had to communicate plot, you ‘embarrassment of source y o u as well as in what people extremely jaded can put across bigger ideas material’, and I ask how conventionally consider as and frustrated by though metaphor. You gain he decides exactly who o f “art”. I feel almost like a heavy discipline and you lose’. and what he will write T h i s fraud, someone who has that lies in the about, given the wealth never had real disciplinary of filmmaking.

I ask if the collaborative of information and stories training as an “artist”. could open element involved in available.

First and v i d e o , Furthermore, this is the sketchbook and the process was at all foremost, the answer is images, internet and this is what out a scenery problematic, an Ian tells passion. ‘Make sure you’re a n d some may call “post-net them. But one me it was not. ‘I am a writing something you’re t h a t , art”. Anybody could log simply pick up collaborative being because passionate about that gives a s onto Newhive, extract camera, film I am also a performer . I you joy. As soon as someone pieces, some stock images and footage according can’t avoid that discussion is not passionate you can on an pre-packaged icons of their intuition and the celebration of other see or hear it in the prose’. “aesthetics”, mash it up i n c l i n a t i o n s , people’s creativity’. He On a more practical note, conveniently on their online call whatever adds, ‘for what it is worth, he adds ‘one subject leads canvas and call it “art”. disconnected shots it’s sort of a myth that a to another. In the course of m y that are lying in writer is a lone creative researching a topic I will individual. You’re dealing stumble onto something else with people all the the interesting I may decide to time, so there is always pursue’. collaboration going on’.

As ‘a keen social As a biographer (or, historian’, Ian’s main area as he jokes, ‘a social of interest as a writer is historian masquerading as a the eighteenth century. ‘I biographer’) I wonder how am taken with the idea of Ian is able to reconcile the finding a person shaped conflict between writing keyhole in a particular era. something both true and The big historical ideas entertaining. ‘Due to the become part of the agenda embarrassment of source material, true isn’t a problem. The issue is the dramatic narrative. There is an absolute responsibility to take people on a journey and be the finest writer you can be, and sometimes that is a balancing act’.

A balancing act that can involve foregoing an academic detour, that may be poignant but is not necessarily relevant for the sake of your reader: ‘You’re begging a lot of time off people. A book is a big investment of time as well

but personalities are equally important. If you can get memory card a “film”. This the big ideas as well as the medium of art allowed for personalities, then you have g r o w n the pseudo-instantaneous something worth reading’. emotional/intellectual t h e expression I so badly wanted Finally, I ask Ian if there is and needed. It might seem any advice he would give to a c t coarse to some, but I always someone who wants to be in O n e treasure raw and fresh the writing or performance t h e i r personal expression in art. industry. To my surprise, s k e t c h It also interests me that this this is the question that b e f o r e parallels to the internet stumps him the most. He c a n n o t culture of today, where pauses to consider, before t h e i r everything has been made telling me that once again s o m e convenient, commodified the answer is a combination t o and ubiqitous. With respects of finding something you’re a n d to that, such forms of art passionate about ‘and just t h e n do seem like a legitimate, getting out there and doing satirical retrospective. This it’.

90’s baby is just grateful t h e i r for a place where she can Aspiring writers particularly should not be afraid to get out there an write, because ‘the great thing about modern technology is the rewrite.

I’m always in awe of 18th and 19th century writers who wrote long hand. For us, it doesn’t matter if our first draft is rubbish; we can just rewrite it’.

Image credit to Norwich Theatre Royal

Arts 05

Concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk

Louise Doughty at uea

abi steer

abi steer reports back on the uea literary festival

With her seventh book, Apple Tree Yard, recently having been adapted as a drama by the BBC and her most recent book being nominated within the New York Times Book Review Notable Books of 2016, Louise Doughty is in the perfect position to discuss the ins and outs of the practicality behind writing and publishing without too much trouble.

What is immediately clear from meeting her, however, is her dedication and love for her work and its subject matter which she discusses at length over the course of the evening.

After the introductions, the event begins with Doughty providing a generous outline of her latest novel Blackwater, somehow without too many spoilers, and an emotional reading of a particularly intense and enigmatic section of the novel. In her description of Blackwater and the processes she went

through to develop it, she displays a clear love for Indonesia, particularly Bali, which is where much of the novel is set.

The genocide and eventual revolution in Indonesia in the latter half on the 20th Century resounds deeply in Indonesian culture today, but Doughty encourages you not allow this to dissuade you from visiting, speaking with nothing but praise for the entire island nation and her experiences there.

The discussion moves away from the structure of the novel and focusses instead on the details and specifics, often leading back or comparing this work to the previous success of Apple Tree Yard. The key difference immediately noted is that, unlike most of Doughty’s novels, Black Water features a male protagonist who often makes remarks which could be considered sexist. Doughty explains that, although

she is known for writing about women, the story and circumstances put forward in Black Water would not have been historically or statistically correct with a female protagonist.

She moves on the discuss Harper (the protagonist) in more detail stating that his behaviour and feelings towards himself are a metaphor for Indonesia and the current cultural movement that the nation is still experiencing.

After a little more discussion on the morals discussed within the novel and a brief mention granted to the articles written about Doughty in The Sun after Apple Tree Yard, the floor is opened up for audience questions. Despite the passion with which she discussed her work and the history on which it was based, the audience fell back on what they knew and instead asked questions about Apple Tree Yard and Doughty’s experiences in

having her novel adapted into a drama. She announced that she was unusually happy with the adaptation and had been involved with much of the work that went into its development, an experience which she would not have received had it been adapted into a film.

The evening ends with Doughty reading a piece from Ann Patchett’s memoir on the difficulties of writing and the importance of selfforgiveness in creating art before the audience congregated in Lecture Theatre One, and then onto Waterstones for the chance to mingle and have their books signed.

Overall the experience was enjoyable and incredibly eye-opening; an excellent way to spend a quiet Wednesday evening.

Image credits (left to right) Amazon Books, Louise Doughty Website, Amazon books, Goodreads

Concrete.film@uea.ac.uk

get out

06 Film

oscar huckle Get Out is Jordan Peele’s (one half of comedy duo ‘Key and Peele’) directorial debut. It is a comedyhorror about a couple, Chris Walker (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), who embark on a weekend trip to Rose’s parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener).

Chris is worried that they won’t accept him due to his African-American heritage.

Whilst this initially does not appear to be an issue, there is a constant ominous feeling that builds throughout the

gus edgar The year is 2029 and the X-Men are essentially a thing of the past. No, this isn’t the state of a post-superhero fatigue movie industry, but Logan, an exciting and unique remedy to that superhero fatigue. Right? Not exactly.

Much has been touted of Logan’s grittiness, but the truth is that the film is so preoccupied with maintaining its image of a rugged, sombre superhero flick unlike, anything we’ve seen before, that it forsakes any notion of basic storytelling. The plot, a relatively simple outrunthe-government narrative, is thrusted by chunky exposition delivered through a phone video. This is in keeping with Logan’s wildly inconsistent method of informing its audience. The film is prone to obvious dialogue, characters

film that something isn’t right, ultimately developing into a crescendo of tension.

Get Out is an innovative and intelligent comedyhorror that is meticulously crafted and endlessly cineliterate. The concept behind this film is very original and is highly critical and satirical of the post-Obama presidency.

Rose’s father even states in a recurring line that he “would have nominated Obama for a third term.”

Its final third is particularly impressive as the narrative

starts to gradually unravel, culminating in a collection of shocking sequences. It also features an interesting score

by Michael Abels that is an eclectic mix of neck-prickling strings and melodic themes.

The cinematography by Tony Oliver is also thoughtful and well-judged.

The film is not without flaws though. Several scenes prior to the big reveal are quite unnecessary and if this film wasn’t in the hands of such a talented director, it is very possible that the film

could have fallen apart. Also, there is nothing particularly noteworthy about the performances: the cast are competent but nothing more.

Get Out is proof that the horror genre is once again at a high and it can be added to a growing list of sophisticated and atmospheric horror films that have been released over the last couple of years. If Peele continues to come up with equally ambitious ideas, he will go far in the film industry.

log an

reinstating what we already know in order to make sure everyone’s caught up...yet half of the world-building is kept at arm’s length from us, director James Mangold obviously believing that a ‘mature’ drama like Logan must have information hushed up, going overboard with sub-context to the point where the film barely gives its audience anything to work with. So we’re aware of the emotional torment of Professor X and Wolverine, but are frustratingly disconnected from it.

And let’s talk about that emotional torment.

Wolverine’s emotional baggage is only outmatched by the baggage of the plot; Logan is an intimidating 141 minutes, bloated by a secondact stretch riddled with

convolutions before petering out in an underwhelming finale. Yet, despite the considerable amount of time afforded to these characters, the catharsis Logan sorely seeks goes missing, owing to the film’s insistence on forcing drama rather than letting it reveal itself. Director James Mangold doesn’t so much evoke emotion as ram it down your throat, and so the only emotional torment that actually gets through to the worn-down audience is one of boredom.

Image: Flickr, BagoGames

Film 07

Concrete.film@uea.ac.uk

beauty and the beast

eva wakeford

In Disney’s latest live-action remake, we are taken back to a story that we all love for always being incredibly ahead of its time, yet undeniably classic, Beauty and the Beast. A tale of how the beautiful, strong and intellectual Belle (Emma Watson), sacrifices her freedom in order to spare her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) to remain within the Beast’s castle. Yet, over time she begins to see the trapped humility and humanity that resides in the hearts of not only the live household ornaments, but in that of the Beast (Dan Stevens). It is a story that reminds us that we are all more than we think we’re capable of.

I definitely had my reservations on how I would respond to Emma Watson’s portrayal of Belle, but found myself overjoyed with how beautifully she portrays the muchloved character.

Likewise D a n Stevens’ performance as the Beast must be equally commended for striking that perfect balance between sardonic and sarcastic humour and for the mirthless anger of his disposition.

Overall, thePhoto developing chemistry Credits:Flickr throughout portrayed by Watson and Stevens was

absolutely charming to watch.

Respectively, other members of the title casting including Luke Evans (Gaston), Ian Mckellen (Cogsworth), Ewan McGregor (Lumiere) and Emma Thompson (Mrs Potts) gave hilarious, energetic and impressive performances.

The original storyline and musical numbers remain intact, with a beautiful and arresting score throughout composed by Alan Menken.

However, the film does contain a number of minor changes, including a couple of new songs that did not feature in the original animation, and scenes expanding on the Beast’s past, Belle’s endeavours in inventing, and a back story surrounding the absence of Belle’s Mother. Indeed, these

changes successfully worked to give more substance to certain moments and characters, in particular the question of Belle’s absent Mother, giving Belle (an already courageous, strong individual) a heightened sense of wanting to explore beyond hers constraints.

Whilst this live-action remake is a massive event regardless, the matter of director Bill Condon welcoming the much anticipated first gay Disney character, Gaston’s devout right-hand man, LaFou (Josh Gad) was in itself a phenomenon.

Heightened by the obvious unrequited situation, Gad gives a brilliant performance with his sidecomments and tongue-incheek attitude throughout which are incredibly pleasing. The film has many other subtle references of acceptance, however Disney has a long way to go. But whatever, we’ll be holding out for a gay Disney Princess someday.

From the transition of animation to live-action, not once does it feel like the story has lost its original aura and enchantment.

With credit to the CGI and visual style, expect a plethora of decadence and grandeur in each scene. From first song to the last, expect to be moved with nostalgia, and caught under the film’s spell.

Illustration: Louis Pigeon-Owen

127 Hours (2010) This biopic tells the unbelievable story of Aron Ralston (James Franco), a hiker who, after running off course, lands trapped between two boulders for 5 days. This, often gruelling, film examines his emotional struggle and his selfamputation of his arm in his escape. An incredible story of human survival, but not one to watch on an empty stomach.

- Willa Hope

the propaganda game (2015) The Propaganda Game is not your usual North Korean documentary. Emulated by positive YouTube channel Fun For Louis, the documentary aims to cut through the propaganda to meet real North Korean families. In doing so, we witness the careful set up of beatific nuclear families eating cold food after many takes, the re-use of specific citizens in different scenes around Pyongyang, and a lot of strange, empty buildings.

Watching this movie in the current climate seems like a good shout, since the victims of another Korean war will be its own population.

- Niamh Jones

the nice guys (2016) Watch for a guaranteed chuckle. I mean, it’s Ryan Reynolds and Russel Crowe in the 70s, investigating the murder of a dead porn star.

What’s not to love?

- Niamh Jones

08 Film 25 scenes that made cinema today

Concrete.film@uea.ac.uk

James Mortishire, Louis Pigeon-Owen & Willa Hope

1993...

1999 - American Beauty

2012 - Skyfall

There can never be a more iconic image in cinematic history than the girl in roses from American Beauty.

In a film that was full of horrific moments, nothing stood out more than the shot of the little girl in the red coat, symbolising that war affects us all.

2000 - Gladiator

MGM and Sony went big for Bond’s 50th Anniversary by creating the biggest cinematic explosion to date - until Spectre’s release 2 years later.

1994 - Pulp Fiction

2001 - Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

1993 - Schindlers List

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No film speech will ever compare with the biblical vengeance of Jules (Sam L. Jackson) in this Tarantino classic.

1995 - Braveheart

The powerful ‘They may take our lives’ speech and furious battle cries will forever cement this battle scene as one of the most epic in cinematic history.

1996 - Trainspotting Trainspotting was a film that told us what life really was behind our sugar-coated ideologies and the ‘choose life’ scene showed us how.

1997 - Titanic Titanic showcased one of the most iconic film scenes of all time and became an instant classic because of it.

1998 - Saving Private Ryan

20.

Filled with blood, death and the screeching of bullets, this is one of the most brutal and fast-paced film openings and captures the brutal realism of war.

Gladiator had it all: action, romance and adventure. I think it’s safe to say we were thoroughly entertained.

No scene ever taught us companionship in such a tearful way like the beginning of the Fellowship’s journey at Rivendell.

2002 - 28 Days Later

16.

Opening with the infamous scene of empty London, this film turned the tables on the horror-zombie genre for years to come.

2003 - Love Actually The Christmas classic has got far too many heart-warming scenes, but the queen of them has to be Mark’s silent declaration of love for Juliet.

2004 - Mean Girls In a film filled with memorable quotes and memes, Mean Girls showcases the best and the worst of teenage girls in high school.

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2005 - Brokeback Mountain

One of the most emotional endings of all time has to be when Ennis (Heath Ledger) breaks down over the memories encased in Jack’s shirts.

2006 - Pan’s Labyrinth The escapades of a young girl climax in this terrifying scene of a blind monster with eyes in his hands.

2013 - Frozen

2007 - Juno

The highest grossing animated Disney film of all time Frozen is still just as popular now as it was up release – as is its classic anthem, ‘Let It Go’

A gorgeous moment in teen cinema: Juno and Paulie’s melodious final send off is absolutely heartwarming.

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2008 - The Dark Knight 2014 - Birdman Heath Ledger’s Joker will be remembered as the character’s most iconic depiction and has set the benchmark for the future.

2009 - Avatar

Avatar may not have been one of the first amazing scifi films but it was certainly central in the creation of the vast cinematic worlds we see today.

2015 - The Revenant The film that finally won DiCaprio an Oscar had the most brutal scenes, but none were worse than the bear attack.

2010 - Black Swan

Explosive in its constant conflict of the beautiful and the grotesque, the scene where Portman removes a feather from her skin is one of many excruciating moments.

2011 - Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 The Harry Potter franchise was a global phenomenon, so when it all came to an end in 2011 it was the end of an era.

While its technical achievement is unique throughout the whole film, Michael Keaton in his underwear in Times Square will never be forgotten.

2016 - Deadpool Deadpool wasn’t the film that defined the superhero genre, but it did change the way in which audiences and studios perceived them.

2

2017 - Moonlight

The swimming lesson scene in this stunning film has, without a doubt, earned its place in cinematic history of iconic moments.

...2017

Credits L-R: , Clker, Wikimedia, Railtransportation, OpenClipart, Wikimedia, The One Ring, Sign of the Deathly Hallows, Clker, OpenClipart

Fashion 9 Photo by: HeartFoto

Concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk Photo by: HeartFoto

Norwich Fashion WeekBY EMILY CLARIDGE

Photos by: HeartFoto Photo by: Megan Baynes

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Concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk

F

ree gin and tonic in hand, canapé in the other I am ready to experience Norwich Fashion Week. After being very unfashionably early I wondered into Norwich OPEN and the ego boosting VIP area to begin the first show of the week featuring Norwich retailers like John Lewis, Jarrolds, Robert Oliver and Gallyons. Further chaos ensued as I tried to find my seat and was amazingly presented with a front row seat with my name on it. There was a definite feeling of ‘won’t all these fashion people realise I’m like 12 anytime soon?’ but apparently they didn’t and I had a VIP seat the rest of the week!

Not to mention the continuing free gin and champagne. Don’t even get me started on the goodie bags. OK, back to the fashion. The retailers show was a mirage of structured trousers and flowing blouses. It seems the bodycon is well and truly a thing of the past and what we are seeing this summer is light weight fabrics creating length and shape through contrast.

Jarrolds showing how to balance culottes with a bold yellow blouse

Photo by: Megan Baynes

or a flowing white tunic and straight leg trousers. An uplifting collection of oranges, muted pinks and blues were signalling that spring is well and truly upon us. As athleisure is a thing of the past for womenswear it has made its way to menswear with a collection of block coloured shorts and polos from Elements.

A special mention is needed for the incredible hair and make-up at the Dipple and Conway show, the third show of the week it was a rollercoaster of tasteful plaits, coloured eyeliner, full body paint and opera singing. If you are ever thinking of going to any of these shows the hair and make-up one would be a must see. Paintopia featured some jaw dropping full body paint not to mention the robot and silver man (seriously). The whole show felt like a performance and kept you interested as it flitted between its four themes of Shakespeare, burlesque, contemporary and Sci-Fi (hence the robot).

The Norwich Designers show featured some unreal statement jewellery from Stoned and Hammered which shows

Photo by: Megan Baynes

Fashion

that the statement earring trend is here to stay. I was very impressed by the ethically charged local brand AK Threads which featured some incredible bib dresses that will brighten up any summer wardrobe. As a brand that supports and empowers disadvantaged communities in India you can wear their lightweight summer cami dresses without any guilt.

AK Thread’s ombre indigo shirt is the first on my shopping list at the end of this week and I would recommend checking out their website (did I mention there was a sale on?).

All in all it is a week full of talent and beauty, from body paint to culottes, opera to ball gowns.

It reminds you what a hub of creativity Norwich really is, as they say, a fine city.

Photo by: Megan Baynes

Fashion 11 Shoe Trends

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Concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk

twenty

By Sophie Bunce

As the weather gets warmer our feet are finally freed. Forget the winter months in heavy boots and fur lined trainers, spring is here to let us shop for strappy sandals once more. 5 key trends seen on the runway this season include sling back heels, classic pumps with a twist, toe ring sandals, ankle boots and trainers.

It seems that this season all eyes are on our feet and I for one can’t wait. This almost justifies the hefty price tags that come with the spring/summer collections most lusted after items, such as the Saint Laurent Opyum pumps, which see the return of the full YSL title, after being shortened to SL by Hedi Slimane in her time as creative director. It doesn’t matter if the UK summer is grey, these will put a spring in your step. The return of coveted styles and images, like YSL, show that this spring/summer old is the new ‘new’. The 80s and 90s trends still also hold their place

on the runway, and it seems as if they’ll never leave, in the form of classic white trainers with every outfit and boots your parents will remember owning. 80’s styles and 60’s prints allow experimentation with footwear. But if this is all too much the slingback heels, pictured at Dior, offer a welcome return of a familiar friend. One thing to remember this season is - keep it classic but with an edge.

Switch up your look in the new spring/summer season with your new best friends. A new pair of shoes.

five

trends of

2017

womenswear Trends 5

By Emily Claridge

Straight Leg Trousers

I know it’s near blasphemy to suggest anything but the skinny jean but a white straight leg trouser will be your greatest friend this summer.

Structured Blouse Orange and Yellow

The bodycon is out and stiff but lightweight fabrics are in

These have always been colours of the summer but go hard or go home with block coloured blouses and skirts.

Stripes

The pin stripe is back in any and every way. Whoever said stripes weren’t flattering hasn’t found the right outfit.

Bathrobes Photo by: Megan Baynes

Pretty much the best trend to come out of fashion week is the ‘is it a robe is it a coat?’

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Concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk

By Emily Claridge

Fashion

Menswear Trends

5

As the athleisure trend leaves the womenswear world we see a spike in brand hoodies, 90’s street wear, and jogging bottoms this season. To brighten up a boring summer staple of shorts use block colouring with a sports tee. Pastels have long since been a firm favourite for summer wear but for mens formal wear pastel is making its debut. Try a pastel blazer to bring something different to your usual summer suit. You can also dress down the blazer with a roll up jean, to sock or not to sock is the real question with this trend.

Mods and rockers have long since been in competition but this year you don’t have to pick a side.

Switch daily between your bomber jacket or lightweight parka.

5

Hair & Beauty Trends

By Emily Claridge

The high ponytail Orange nails and lips

Coral is back and here to stay. If you are more of a tame fashion wearer you can bring a pop of colour with your make-up this season.

The small flick cateye

The cat-eye has always been a classic but a tame flick right in the corner of your eye is the subtle way to wear this classic look.

The half-bun

Also known as the ‘I don’t have time for a fringe deadline week hairstyle’ the half up do is perfect for an easy summer look.

Cleansing oils

A winner in skincare essential oils are a must have.

ACCESSORY TRENDS

5

By Emily Claridge

Photo by: Megan Baynes

The statement earring is staying strong as this seasons boldest and hottest trend. You can mix and match or traditionally coordinate just make sure the bigger the better. When it comes to earrings, size matters.

The likes of Kim Kardashian have already brought the corset to casual wear but this summer the trend is far more accessible with small corset belts and thick waist cinchers to bring an edge to your outfit. Pair it with flaired light trousers (I know, I know, no one likes a flair but trust me) and a structured blouse. 80’s retro shades have been made

cool again by Selena Gomez and Kendall Jenner, I’m talking matrix style thin shades, they can’t quite cover your hangover but you at least look cool. Arm cuff’s easily put some oomph into an outfit that could otherwise be dull, just watch out for the arm cuff tan line that is not such a hot look.

Would it even be summer if I didn’t start talking about bum bags again? Don’t worry I won’t try and convince you to get one but the cross body bag (in any form, fanny packs included) has been seen on runways and hopefully in your wardrobe soon!

Editors in Dougie Dodds Melissa Haggar Being a co-overlord of VENUE has given me a lot of things; from an alarming amount of grey hairs, to an iniability to look at badly formated text, but most importantly it’s given me a bloody good year (and a very inflated ego) x

Would it be immensely cheesy to say being the dep-ed of VENUE has been incredibly inspiring? From reading people’s great content to bearing first-hand witness to some epic design skills from the VENUE overlords; this role has been truly life-changing.

Arts Kate Romian

chief Niamh Jones Shall I compare VENUE to a summer’s day? Thou certainly have made me sweat a lot. Aside from being the most rewarding thing about my university career, VENUE has given me ideas for a new career path, made me a lot of new and talented buds, and has given me the tools to get going in life. I’ll miss you, VENUE.

Film Willa Hope

Being the arts editor for VENUE has been a great opportunity. I have (just about) learnt to use Indesign, I have hosted an open I think my favourite aspect mic night and art exhibition, and I’ve senn my ideas printed of being Film Editor for every other week. I’ve been able to build a relationship VENUE has been being able with Norwich Theatre Royal, and have reviewed two plays to take a few hours out of (I get first dibs on all the shows), and have interviewed your week to do something the stars of Thriller Britt Quintin, Ian Kelly, and have creative and different. I’ve seen and reviewed Bernard Hill live in conversation. I been able to watch an obscene get invitations to exhibition, as well as press releases number of films for ‘work’, meet for different arts related things going on in Norfolk. amazing people as well as learn I’ve learnt loads about editing and writing, and I think to master a number of graphic being the arts editor for VENUE really helped me to design programmes - it also looks get my place on the Biography and Creative nongreat on your CV! fiction MA next year. It’s also helped me realise that I want to write in the future. It’s such a good thing to do, I would really recommend it.

Film Louis Pigeon-Owen After a few days scratching my head about the ins and outs of InDesign, it was time to geek the f$£k out!

Editing for the Film section was a cinematic soup from blockbuster hits to obscure indies, cheesy editors’ columns to opinion pieces, we explored everything from African American identity in cinema, through method acting, to white-washing at the Oscars. It was a genuine pleasure reading everyone’s contributions, and I often got so immersed reliving the films through reviews that I had to keep reminding myself I hadn’t actually seen them all. Also, the view from the office onto the square makes you feel like an evil overlord, so that’s cool too!

Fashion Emily Claridge From free gin and tonic at Norwich fashion week to approaching people I think look cool around campus the fashion editor life never fails. Does it mean I’ve worn less all black or kept to a skincare routine? Well... not exactly. Have I worn anything but the same one outfit to the lcr this past year?

OK, no, but still! Where else can you learn InDesign, Photoshop, facemask recipes, how talented UEA writers are and how bad you are at sudoku other than in VENUE?

m

n

Creative W. Hugo Douglas-Deane As Creative Writing Editor it’s my privilege to read through everything and anything that is submitted by UEA writers each issue. I have been intrigued, astounded, horrified, confounded, amazed, and warmed by the breadth and quality of the submissions. There are so many interesting stories coming out of this campus and the people here, and it has been so much fun reading this year’s.

Televison Denise Koblenz Working as TV Editor is great! I mean, I can’t think of any other job where you can justify binge watching the newest Netflix show as valid research! I have to admit, there was some frustration, and maybe even the occasional tear (mostly due to our shared drive crashing or InDesign being a little shit and refusing to cooperate). But in the end, amazing articles from dedicated writers and that feeling of authority and importance you get when sitting at those Macs in the Media Office made it all worth it!

Music Lois Young My primary aim as music editor is to discover what people think and feel about music. It is very personal, so I like writers to contribute their thoughts and feelings, producing pieces such as a break-up playlist and a discussion of the power of music to conjure memories. I think it is also important to have fun as an editor of arts sections, so funny or satirical piece definitely have a part to play - these have been the most popular with both writers and readers.

Gam ing Kirsty McAlpine My main job as the gaming editor of VENUE is filling all the blank pages where people haven’t written for me, and simultaneously being too tired and run down to respond to emails from people offering to write for me. By the end of the year it was just me and my dependable regulars. It’s pretty rough finding licence free pictures too, but with a bit of elbow grease you can make any pixellated scourge worthy of VENUE.

Mus ic Alice Mortimer If life is music then the music editor role is a dream.

Think playlists, album reviews, live reviews, interviews and think-pieces. This gives you or your writers access to music on early release, free gig entry to shows you review and the opportunity to chat to some of your favourite bands and artists. As a section music has a much larger relationship with PRs than others within Venue - crucial with regards to securing interview and review opportunities. We get press releases and exciting opportunities flooding into the inbox everyday. The music section has a huge online presence due to the sheer amount of content created by writers attending gigs and reviewing records. A really exciting role!

Art + Des ign Emily Mildren

No comment...

C. Writing 15

Concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk

25 pieces

Normally I receive around 8 or so submissions each issue, so you’d think that sourcing 25 pieces of writing from 25 different people might be a bit difficult. Yet here we are with 3 pages filled by words written by UEA’s creative writers, and they’re a diverse bunch too; many are not LDC or AMA students, some have confidence in their own writing, some do not, some writing to speak out, others as therapy, some for laughs. As we are celebrating Concrete’s 25th anniversary, it seemed fitting that I field as many submisisons as possible to show this breadth of talent from what is such an exciting and creative university. So here’s to them, to Concrete, and perhaps to you.

- Hugo Douglas-Deane

Lately if Palms Jay Stonestreet

split - zein sa’dedin

Lately if palms taken up a way made ending least harm sure any way may more learn?

Mistakes crumble in saying always and tonight astronomy calendars a carrying on of the day.

Expeditions paid in tons of love and living.

Put together, marked for changing and we can rain entropy the softest drops can.

A Boy at the Bar - Liam Heitman-Rice a beautiful mess - tom cascarini She is in distress. That much is certain. Her white hair sweeps around wilder than the wind. Her skin, thicker than sweat, dribbles down past her smile. Black strokes scar her skin. But she is strong. She blends as one with the hazel world around her. Lipless, weak and fettered, she stands still beautiful. With a dark painted smile, her abashed eyes shut, you see her scars up close.

Every blemish of her cheeks, her paper skin ripples, but with her canvas flesh still beneath. From far away, she is whole. But she is just as perfect.

All I have to do is say ‘Hi’. He’s not going to stab you, is he? No, you idiot. Right, just go up there and stand next to him, buy a drink – yes, finish the one in your hand and get another one. Don’t worry about your hair, it’s fine IT LOOKS FINE. Do I smell alright? I’m not really sure, maybe I shou—GO AND SAY HELLO YOU IDIOT WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE? Yeah, but it might be embarrassing.

Well it’s no more embarrassing than dithering about here and staring at him like a twat, is it?

Oblivion - Rose mee You,

A Stirring Letter - Alice Vickery

There are so many ways to satisfy the senses;

listening to the world under the bath water, dripping your fingers in hot wax,

turning the pillow like a refresh button,

skidding across the scratched wooden floor in newly-washed socks,

blowing a silver chain into your hand, tipping over the top of the rollercoaster and forgetting about breathing...

But the best senses are those that don’t satisfy, they stir.

And your lips whisk me away.

Love, Me

They say that to overcome our fears we should confront our fears. But how do we confront death? The very thing that condemns us to oblivion, where everything suddenly becomes nothing.

It seems coping mechanisms allow us to create a world where we are permitted to live eternally, somewhere afar and even above. Yet no matter how much we may wish it, we cannot truly know whether such a fantasy is rather our reality. Of course, no one has ever lived to tell the tale. So we all live on, ignoring our inexorable ends. Perhaps ignorance is bliss after all.

Concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk

C. Writing

16

THE BLUEST - Benedetta Mancusi

A blank page. That’s where all the monsters go to rest, eat, laugh and chat.

Who have you scared? Whose legs have you broken? Whose breath have you made shorter and shorter and...

A blank page. It makes the spine shiver — meanwhile the wolves in my head are seeking for pretty garlands to eat.

A blank page, everything’s blue.

A blank page, i am not afraid.

A blank page, snake skinned thoughts. A blank page has been violated.

The joy of a burning page.

Colourful Connotations Judith Howe The room is still blue.

Blue like hope, like old paint, like home, Like summer sky, like my eyes.

I don’t know why I’d thought it would have changed colour; Some things stay stoic to time’s turbulent tides, I’m not planning on being one of them.

Hands dipped in the paint pot, New colour; everywhere.

He Bleeds Autumn Alexandra Parapadakis Your skin like the yellow brick road, and what is it that creates that rush of blush?

I’d love to shovel out your flesh or drill through your cheeks to reach those autumn leaves, that grow behind the golden weeds, the red leaves that were never green.

No, never new, they never grew, they stayed and they remained: Dying, but never dead, thriving, behind your face of golden thread.

For Now - Emma Wallington you’re willing to let me hold when we’re not fucking and this is new to me I don’t think anyone has wanted me in this capacity before and I know this wont last past the summer I know but for now you make me Happy.

you

a haiku – gus edgar Knock knock. Who’s there? Hike.

Hike who? No it isn’t, it’s one syllable too long.

Don’t Ask Me To Love You Amanie Mathurin

I will carve your Past into the ridges of my Backbone, & wear your scars across my Soul as if they were my own.

Don’t ask me to Love you...

Because I will rip open my Chest & offer you my Heart to build a Home.

Don’t ask me to Love you, if you’re not ready to bear the weight of a love written in Stone.

Crinkled pigeon - jenny moroney violent shards buried in soft down feathers rustled but there will be no flying a brown pupil sunken sadly I think you look at me? sitting by the water’s edge I’m fed up too chest blown up to your nose slapping your hairy toes you bob along

birthday - jordan hunnisett The cake is going stale on the table and the lemonade, well, it’s all gone flat.

She sits on the floor in her little dress and Mum stands at the window, on the phone, saying, ‘No worries, it’s just such a shame that no one came!’ to this sad, cold, child’s birthday.

December Evenings - Adam Robertson Charlton The sun sets on another low, ineffectual day, Over which its tired arc all but cleared the treetops.

Here, in the twilight of the century’s sixteenth year, It seems one awakes to the dying of the light.

In the early gloom of every evening, Christmas decorations shimmer listlessly, Alone in a sad crowd of black-clad shadows; Marble tombs in a busy burial ground.

untitled – Bobbi Sleafer-Nunes

Her eyes were ignorant to blinking As she hunted for the worldly magic Yet as she searched for the beauty in it all She forgot her own

In every home from Dover to Scotland’s Oban, Curtains screen young and old from the cold, And from the fear that leers through the glass: The fear of another failed and fading year.

C. Writing 17 Breath – Y. Bird

Concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk flight - rahul mehta

You blind, told me one once you like—the smell of the city one deaf gus edgar He was welcome here. An unwanted hug at the airport, and now I think I understand Binded by me blinded I fell behind did I, dead eye. a smug generic banner waved in his face. The queues because it’s your breath that engulfs it Dead eye disclosed this exposed globe close to closed, I sigh. at nameless, faceless, grey buildings. The babies’ cries it world whole.watches whirled wishwashes, I wish.

Onand myswallows watch the and the waiting. The eternal waiting.

Wishing days stopped to stop daze and glaze my eyes glazed, it’s pish.

I count as a cunt, can’t canter, see I see my stupid stupor, my eyes sear.

Sear the lively–life I’ve loved and lived here, Hear, Hear! At least can not hear.

HeI was wanted here. Bricks through windows, untitled Lucy Caradog marches on streets. Dodging bullets only to be met __________________ We go our separate ways, bags packed with faded old with ballots. Stretched social services, mouldy flats, memories and new shining cutlery, looking back at Deafened I defend dead-ends death, detest thisspace test I attest.and babies’ cries. So much for Western paradise. So silhouettes and silence, thenofforward at empty Movies move me sound. move out of mouths licks lips and lapse, into unrest. and deafening much for nights at sea where a friend one day was a Silence in islands of white wight noise annoys quite quiet I riot, and rot.

Rot away and weighed down way down in doubt for grotty ears drowned I forgot. corpse the next.

Muffled my muscles ache and ate til gone, the shrill gong is knotted not for me. new year - anna Forhappy me it wavers like waves that nunn weave I bereave in the sea; atCleansed least I can by see. the Mediterranean’s holy water, Mr Tommy Clay is thirty-seven years old. He works in finance; he knows this is boring. Tommy thinks his company ask too much and pay too little. His boss is an asshole. Tommy is married to Pauline Clay. She dyes his work shirts pale pink and puts tomatoes in his sandwiches even though he hates tomatoes. Sex is infrequent and mediocre. He has two children.

Mr Tommy Clay pins his New Year’s resolution to the notice board in the kitchen. This year he hopes to work out that unfortunate podge around his middle.

reincarnated as a refugee.

aggressive Apple - made for you Sophie Chapman Yeah it’s just not okay cool but it’s not really nice but it’s not okay good though lol but I dunno why did I have a bad idea to lol but it’s not really good enough for me you to know what I want forever

Work - niamh jones A key question harriet griffiths Do dogs get bigger, or does the world shrink around them? asking for a friend.

It’s not easy Squeezing bunioned feet into a squeaking patent stiletto And trainers don’t take well to Fifteen year old boy feet Like moist sponge hat you’ve left underneath the washing up bowl to rot Next to the plughole They smell just as bad As the baked bean you dropped down there last week.

Valentine’s Day - Katherine Leaver I speak in riddles to mask the simplicity of myself and you speak in science to make me think you’re made of marble but acid rain dissolves your shell and if I’m lucky you let me look inside so I can remember when I’ve forgotten that I am honoured to even know you you look up from the puddle and you have never looked more handsome than you do with your body torn apart by the storm I am sorry I created I speak in retrospect so everything I say is just a dress rehearsal, and you speak in silence to make me think you don’t care as much as I know you do I can’t begin to count all the times you’ve used your body to protect mine and as acid rain falls on us once more, I’d like if you’d let me return the favour Illustrations by Hugo Douglas-Deane

crack hugo douglas-deane A flicker as the most important photo of my life jitters on my broken screen and i miss the pivotal moment

Gaming 19

Concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk

without rime or reason charlie nicholson RiME’s been on my ‘to-watch’ list since it wandered across my broadband connection following Gamescom 2013.

Boasting Windwakery visuals, Ico-ish exploration and cryptic monuments that reminiscent of Colossus, it was surprising how fresh a game embedded in such recognisable franchises appeared. Perhaps a lot of that’s was down to a deliberately mystical plot.

Where am I? What’s up with that H.G Wells bot in the trailer?

Whispers around RiME have circulated for quite some time. Drafted during development of their first game in 2012,

zelda rip-off, or next greatest adventure? developer Tequila Works envisioned a survival-RPG, incorporating ‘old-school action’ with Tower Defence.

Tagged as ‘Gauntlet meets Minecraft meets Jason and the Argonauts’, design pillars detail a ‘dynamic’ day/ night cycle: During daytime, players hunted, crafted and prepped bases, while nights involved protecting said bases from enemy ‘hordes’. With a loose plotline following a youngster’s escape from a mysterious curse, Tequila’s break from Deadlight’s linear zombiedom was titled: Echoes of Siren.

After approaching Microsoft in pursuit of publication, Echoes was rejected for lack of online mode; the company’s focus on social-features around the new Xbox One made elusive singleplayer affairs l i k e Echoes a

dicey investment, ultimately leading to Sony’s interest in publishing as a PS4-exclusive. Siren became ‘RiME’ imagining those rapidly-frozen vapours covering cold environments.

Though I respect Tequila’s past decisions to delay the game, it’s no secret that mountingexpectations accompanying protracted dev-cycles can lead to collapsing pressure.

Creative Director, Raul Rubio Told PCGamer about his worries after the Gamescom reception likened RiME to ‘giants’ like Windwaker and Ico: “Do people expect it to be a Wind Waker?...Fuck!”

This isn’t rare; just last year No Man’s Sky’s bizarre slog of survival, actionRPG, space-simulator and supposed-MMO mechanics reflected a stressed attempt to accommodate multiple (conflicting) audiences.

Encouragingly, Tequila seem committed to focusing their strengths.

Having acquired the rights from Sony last year, RiME will be published by Grey Goo creators, Greybox and 6ft.

It will now feature multiple island ‘levels’ (rather than being completely open), and you’ll no longer be required to sit down and have a sandwich every so

often to stay alive.

Trailers also offer charming creature design, with glimpses of Okami-like foxes and formidable meatchickens that pursue our inquisitive protagonist.

The change also distances RiME’s Switch release from ‘Zelda rip-off’ territory; elusive storylines, survival components and cell-shaded aesthetics are all still enjoyed by many in Breath of the Wild, so an ability to wander sparkling, mystical terrain without eyeballing stamina bars could appeal to those less-charmed by the survivalist direction Nintendo took with their latest Hylian walkabout.

Of course, that’s subjective speculation. But from what I’ve seen so far, RiME charms as an intimate, exploration-driven adventure in the Team Ico vein. It’s also got a scary meat-chicken in it. I’m quite pumped for that.

Photo Credits:RodrixAP (Flickr)

Concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk

20 Gaming

Welcome to Atmosfear

Pay a small fee to be insulted by a weird old man

Lois Young For anyone who wants to tell me that board games are dead, I’ll give them a bat round the face with Atmosfear.

This is a board game-DVD combo, with the objective of picking up six different coloured keys, within the 49 minute time limit, to reach ‘The Well of Fears’

(the fears of the players are written down and put into a box in the middle... you can do embarrassing stories or anything you fancy really to spice it up a bit).

Up to six players make their way around the board by rolling a dice, and face various inconvenient obstacles on the way. To

make things harder the ‘Gate Keeper’ appears on the DVD now and again to test one of the players.

Now, this guy is a total prick, I’m telling you now.

Basically, he’s some halfdecayed git who shouts insults at you and your mates... sound appealing yet? My personal favourite

was his saying to one of my mates “ughhah! You’re so ugly, no wonder you don’t get any dates” – so he’s not one for a self-esteem boost.

With the majority of Amazon reviews at five stars, pick up Atmosfear and give it a play – you won’t be disappointed!

Image credit: Rajesh Mishra @ Public Domain Pictures (Dungeon) Image credit: FLICKR BAGOGAMES (YOOKA-LAYLEE)

Yooka-Laylee banjo-KaZOOIE CREATORS RELEASE biggest love/hate game of 2017 NIAMH JONES Fans of the 3D platformers of old, get ready. Hold onto your butts, because the muchloved makers of Banjo-Kazooie are back with Yooka-Laylee, and they’re running all your nostalgic feels to the highest level. Dubbed the ‘spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie’, this adorably retro game will have you flying head-first into your childhood, back to the days of Jack and Daxter and that tricky Rayman 2: The Great Escape. So why has this game spawned the biggest love/hate divide of the year so far ?

3D Platformer collectathons have been much-missed, with gamers across the globe kickstarter-ing this project up the wazoo. It reached its goal of £178,000 in thirtyeight minutes, and topped off a cool million in twentyone hours. Notice the pound sign folks, Playtonic are an English company. It seems as if English gaming companies are on fire recently, with

Hello Games, Jagex, and indie brands like Failbetter all becoming big employers as they expand. Capitalising on people’s nostalgia worked for Playtonic, with a soundtrack CD sent to backers composed by the original Banjo-Kazooie composing team, and exclusive updates sent via email. When the game came out, people flocked to their devices to play it, sick of being teased with tantalising game footage and snippets of sweet soundtrack.

Trump-esque ‘Capital Bee’, who has decided to nick all the books in the ‘Verse so he can monopolise the publishing market. Your moves are fantastically animated, and have such groovy names as ‘fart bubble’ and ‘tongue whip’, and these give you the tools to plug away at this platformer. Oh, and there’s an arcade game on every level, quiz minigames, and Mario Kart-style racing. There’s a lot packed in, and a lot to love.

into thinking that this game was designed for them. This clashes with the child-like aesthetics of Yooka-Laylee, but matches up with all the in-jokes within the game, as well as the slightly-too-adult character of Laylee and her rude dialogue. Combined with lack of checkpoint system, difficult mini-games, and some janky camera work that can make your head spin, we can begin to understand why this game isn’t so peachy for everyone.

Now we come to the game itself. The adorable little Chameleon Yooka, sporting the equally cute bat, Laylee on his head, bumbling about five different worlds filled with puzzles, hilarious characters and a plethora of new mechanics to learn and enjoy. Guided by a slightly questionable snake in trousers (yes, he’s a trouser snake, take from that what you will) you attempt to piece together a magical book stolen by the

So why is this game so controversial? Well, some people have moved on, claiming that the game is out of its time and should stay where it belongs. Some people even complain that people are blinded by nostalgia, and that hipsters refuse to move past the good old days of 90s gaming. Online forums discuss the game’s difficulty, claiming that it’s too hard, especially for a new generation of wee gamers who could be fooled

But hey-ho. It’s designed for a specific audience, so what? Most games are. And arguably, Yooka-Laylee is a hell of a lot more accessible than Dark Souls or Monster Hunter, which are undeniably tailored for their clientele, yet still ultra popular. So take a punt on this little gem, have some fun bouncing around the game and getting weepy at the graphics on the N64 ‘shader mode’. Either way, you’re bound to crack a smile.

Gaming 21 Helen Jones

Concrete.gaming@uea.ac.uk

MASS EFFECT: ANDROMEDA

With the launch of Mass Effect: Andromeda there were a few things that fans were eagerly anticipating: awesome galaxies to explore, exotic planets, beautifully designed space-tech weapons, but most importantly, sexy new aliens with which to get your groove on. BioWare have a sordid history with giving players endless options for character romances and Andromeda is no

Cora Harper

exception.

However, the new game’s characters have been made into far more individual personalities, no longer simply representatives of their particular race, and many now have sexual preferences which will mean the player may be shut down on the first step towards romancing a crew member. Ergo, a guide to romancing in Mass Effect:

Jaal

Andromeda is all the more crucial.

So here’s an introduction to all the romanceable crew members that we’re aware of so far – and notes on who isn’t interested so you don’t end up heartbroken like I did in Mass Effect 3: hopelessly flinging myself at Joker until the game tragically interpreted my attempts as ‘thinking of him like a brother’ and informed me

Gil Brody

Race: Human Preference: Scott

Race: Angara Preference: Scott/Sara

Race: Human Preference: Scott

Cora is your second in command, a competent woman who should have replaced your father upon his death but has now found herself supporting you, instead, as Pathfinder. With a background as a Huntress, a Commando with incredible biotic abilities, Cora comes across as a fearless soldier.

People see her as tight-laced, but go beneath the armour, and you’ll find a woman who dreams of gardens breathing new life into an alien world.

Jaal is the newest and sexiest of Andromeda’s alienraces. A native to the galaxy, Jaal is an Angara, and joins your crew to study humanity and aid you in fighting the Kett.

We still don’t know quite what romancing Jaal looks like, with the game only just released at the time of writing, so I encourage you to head out and expand your horizons. He does, after all, have a wonderfully deep voice…

Gil, once a street kid with an aptitude for mechanics, is now the Chief Engineer aboard the Tempest. You might recognise his voice as Gethin Anthony, Renly Baratheon from Game of Thrones, and Gil is a similarly smooth-talking guy.

All you really need to know is that he’s up for strip poker, but only with Scott. (Strip poker sadly not pictured here.)

Suvi Anwar

Race: Human Preference: Sara Suvi is somewhat an anomaly aboard the Tempest: a Science Officer, yet also deeply religious. Suvi sees the universe as a fascinating riddle to be solved, and is driven by her religion to study God’s creations. She’s certainly worth sitting down and debating with, though you can tell she gets tired of justifying her spirituality.

Peebee

Race: Asari Preference: ScotT/Sara Peebee is an alien-tech researcher who barrels her way into your team. A hyperactive, fast-talking Asari, Peebee often gets caught out by her own tongue, but her unapologetic enthusiasm for space exploration makes her one of the most charming members aboard the Tempest. Peebee is always hurtling on towards the next exciting thing, so if you’re looking for some fun with no strings and zero-gravity – perhaps she could be persuaded to stick around.

that he fancied EDI instead.

First things first: Lexi T’Perro, the Asari Doctor aboard the Tempest, who many people already decided to try and romance due to her similarity to Liara from the previous games, and the announcement that she is voiced by none other than Natalie Dormer – is not a romance option. Not for Sara or Scott Ryder. Sorry, folks, she’s just not that into you. But

Liam Kosta

Race: Human Preference: Sara Liam used to be a cop, part of the crisis response unit back on the Citadel, but restless and impatient with the confines of police duty he struck out and joined the Andromeda initiative to seek a bigger role in life. He’s chatty, funny, and puts up a good HUS-T1.

Vetra Nyx

Race: Turian Preference:Scott/ Sara In her own words Vetra “initiative wrangler, provisioner, gunner, and everything in between.” She’s a doer, not a talker, and she might be my new favourite.

With a background in smuggling and mercenary-work Vetra has all the street-smarts and skills to get what she wants, and doesn’t let anyone get in her way.

Image credit: Flickr: Bago Games

Television 23

Concrete.Television@uea.ac.uk

Doctor Who

hannah Ford Last month it was announced that Doctor Who’s new companion Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie and introduced to the public last year in a first series teaser, is going to be the show’s first ever openly gay companion, with her sexuality said to be revealed in her ‘second line of dialogue’. About bloody time, many people, including myself, decided. Mackie’s character already looked set to be a brilliant addition to the Who-Universe, bringing a breath of fresh air to the show which has arguably suffered weak storylines the last few series (remember when it went all political last series? And do not get me started on that awful anti-abortion ‘Kill the Moon’ episode).

From the first trailer, Bill appeared more down to earth, bringing the fun and comedy back to Doctor Who, with shades of Catherine Tate’s hilariously brilliant companion Donna Noble (you know, back when David Tennant was the Doctor, Moffat had not yet taken over, and the world was a much nicer place).

‘Please don’t screw it up again, moffat!’

Bill is also only the second ever non-white assistant, after Freema Agyeman’s Martha Jones. Doctor Who has featured other openly gay or bisexual characters, such as Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and River Song (Alex Kingston), but Bill, the first main character to be gay, is a big step forward for the show.

But whilst this is more than welcome news, both for fans of the show, and for all of us who define as LGBT+ and who are crying out for more representation, there is certainly some apprehension, too. Let us not forget, Steven Moffat certainly does not have the best track record with writing and characterising LGBT characters.

Weird

servant/master, human/alien lesbian relationship with Madame Vastra and Jenny, anyone? And even River Song, who was ‘outed’ as bisexual by Moffat on Twitter in 2012, and could be seen talking about her ‘second wife’ in the 2015 Christmas special (although the word ‘bisexual’ was never explicitly mentioned), has suffered from poor writing and storylines, turning a promising character into one of Moffat’s overly confusing plot techniques. And that is just Moffat’s work in Doctor Who. I will not even go into the mess he made of Sherlock.

Of course, it is great for such a popular show, particularly one which younger viewers and families enjoy,

to feature LGBT+ characters, but, crucially, it has to be done well, not just be done.

Mackie dismissed the fuss by saying that ‘it shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st century.

It’s about time, isn’t it?’, and Moffat similarly told people to stop the fuss, wondering why people saw it as a big deal.

Well, Moffat, I’m glad you asked. For LGBT+ individuals, seeing ourselves represented on TV is a big deal.

Representation has gotten better over the previous years, with shows like Crazy Ex Girlfriend, Broad City, and Empire (although the amazing and always iconic Cookie still dismissed bisexuals as “wishy-washy” and “confused”. Baby steps people), there is still a worry that it will not be done well, and that old, harmful stereotypes will come into play - especially when you are at the helm, Steven.

So while we wait to see how Bill will develop, and how her sexuality is dealt with, we ask one thing: please do not fuck it up again, Moffat!

Illustration: Murray Lewis Background Image: Wikimedia, Gamemasterz

Concrete.television@uea.ac.uk

24

Television

25 Years since...

Rachel Innes If there is one thing that British sitcoms have taught us, it is that we sure do love to laugh at people who have no idea what they are doing. We delighted in Basil’s complete inability to efficiently run his hotel in Fawlty Towers, took dark pleasure in Dylan Moran constantly walloping Bill Bailey over the head, verbally and physically, in Black Books, and inevitably groaned at Howard Moon’s series of progressively grander failures in absurd radio series-turned-sitcom, The Mighty Boosh. Jennifer Saunders’ cult show

Absolutely Fabulous is no exception.

First aired in 1992, AbFab revolves around PR agent and magazine editor duo Eddy and Patsy, played perfectly by Saunders and Joanna Lumley. They have little knowledge of the ‘real world,’ and care only about fame, money, drugs and alcohol, and the conflict that arises when their ways of getting these

things become disrupted. The pair are a truly irredeemable twosome, and though you are led to sympathise with Eddy’s straight-laced daughter, watching Lumley’s Patsy snarl insults such as, ‘oh, you little bitch troll from hell,’ in her direction, it is nothing short of some of the greatest British sitcom material of all time.

The series was revived in the form of a feature film in 2016 but was, inevitably, disappointing.

The downright terribleness of Eddy and Patsy just did

not translate to the big screen, and it ended up a shoddy amalgamation of toned-down jokes alongside a revolving door of unnecessary celebrity cameos. But fear not! Whilst the film may not have been a success, it does nothing to taint the original episodes of the show, which manage to survive rewatch after rewatch without losing their brilliance. So if, somehow, you have yet to experience the special kind of joy that comes with watching AbFab, race to Netflix and allow this show into your life immediately.

Image Credit: Lucy Caradog

House of Cards Dan Struthers Early 2016: House of Cards season four is released.

Barack Obama is still President. Britain is still a part of Europe. Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston are an item.

Innocent times. However, as this all came crashing down towards the end of 2016, the most interesting thing will be to see how House of Cards season five deals with these big changes. As Trump sits on his throne of skulls in the White House, Brexit becomes the word of the year and Hiddleswift is no more (okay, obviously they will not deal with the last one) the eyes of the world turn to this Netflix original. The past few months alone have felt

Season 5 returns on 30th May!

like an episode of House of Cards with a sprinkle of Black Mirror as we are left with a controversial President who has in turn triggered public outrage, not unlike Frank Underwood’s rise to power at the end of season two.

When Kevin Spacey stated on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015 that the person who Frank Underwood addresses when he looks straight at the camera during his monologues is Donald Trump it was greeted with laughter and applause but now it seems he may not have been joking.

Like Trump, Underwood is ruthless towards his

opponents and the press, constantly battling various accusations against him and currently riding a wave of unpopularity. House of Cards is certainly not in danger of ever becoming too outlandish or ridiculous as the political world seems to be hot on its heels, replicating the seemingly outrageous events we watch week in and week out on the small screen.

This means that come 30th May the gripping House of Cards will take centre stage and we can see how closely it dares to address the current political climate, whether that be explicitly or with a more subtle touch.

The recent teaser trailer does not reveal much for what the upcoming season has in store, just the American flag hanging ominously upside down, reflecting the political turmoil in the series and perhaps by extension that which threatens to engulf the real world too.

One thing is for certain however, this month the public waits with baited breath to watch the actions and repercussions of the controversial and tyrannical President who haunts our dreams at night. And of course they look forward to watching House of Cards too.

Image Credit: Wikimedia, Dbenbenn

Television 25

Concrete.television@uea.ac.uk

Melissa Haggar In case you have never heard of the mysterious happenings in Rosewood (maybe you have been trapped in the equally eerie Ravenswood?), then feel free to think of this as your guide to all things ‘A’.

If none of this is making sense then you probably have not been tuning in to Pretty Little Liars and its fabulous frenzy of murders, killer outfits and on-point teen drama for the last seven years.

Starting off as a simple teen show centring on a group of girls at a highschool who start receiving texts from their dead friend, it slowly evolves into a high-intensity guessing game that rivals Cluedo…except instead of Professor Plum and Miss Scarlett we have Ezra Fitz and Scarlet hooded macs – same thing, right?

Spencer (Troian Bellisario), Aria (Lucy Hale), Hanna (Ashley

Benson), Emily (Shay Mitchell) – and most recently Alison (Sasha Pieterse) and Mona (Janel Parrish) – have often found themselves victim to the A-Team (killers with an affinity for black), ever since Mona donned the infamous menacing black hoodie and gloves way back in season two, and let’s face it, they have not had an easy ride. We have seen them almost be sawn in half, pushed off a train in a coffin, get shot, find out they are a secret twin and get run over by a car (oh yeah and Toby’s house exploded…whoops), so it is obvious to say that they deserve a break, and perhaps the second half of season seven can give it to them, by unmasking the ultimate Uber A who has been behind everything.

partaking in the lengthy guessing-game as to who is behind the killings. Is it creepy and mysteriously absent Wren? Or perhaps the original A, Mona? Or is this some convoluted attempt by Melissa, Jenna or Lucas to get back at the girls (for what we are sure will be some ridiculous and drawn out reason – but hey, we still love it)?

Suffice it to say, everyone will breathe a sigh of relief as long as it is not back-

The only thing more satisfying than watching our Pretty Little Liars do what they do best is

Image Credit: Wikimedia, ABC Family, Denise Koblenz

from-the-dead Sara Harvey or Cece (please god no), and would it not be the ultimate treat if it was one of the main four themselves? Whoever it is, we will uncover the answers soon as Pretty Little Liars begins its final countdown to the second half of the last season.

Googbye from venue

Goodbye from VENUE

Music 27 TONY ALLEN

Concrete.Music@uea.ac.uk

Musical 25

Images L-R: wikimedia, egghead06; wikimedia, jen keys; wikimedia, Auréola; Flickr, Fionn Kidney

Madelene Aldridge

icons at

Symphony Clean Bandit (ft. Zara Larsson)

Florence Welch

In 2011 25-year-old Florence released her second album Ceremonials to commercial and critical success. The album debuted at number one in the UK charts and she was later nominated for two BRIT Awards.

Adele Clean Bandit follow up the success of Christmas #1 ‘Rockabye’ with a mellower single, this time with 19-yearold Swede Zara Larsson. The ‘Lush Life’ singer tells us about the harmonious joy of love to the Cambridge band’s characteristic tropico-classical backing.

3AM (Pull Up) Charli XCX (feat. MØ) The standout track from Charli XCX’s recent mixtape is a collaboration with rising Danish star MØ. Clearly influenced

by Charli’s PC Music connections, the pair combine to create a moody song thanks to MØ’s husky tones with a late twist.

In 2015 Adele released ‘Hello’, the first single from her third album 25 which broke the record for most views in 24 hours on YouTube and shot to number one all over the world. 25 became the fastest selling album in UK and US chart history.

Katy Perry

After the release of her hit single ‘I Kissed a Girl’, Perry had a widely successful 2009.

She featured on everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure song ‘Starstrukk’ by 3OH!3 and won her first BRIT for International Female Solo Artist.

David Bowie In 1972 David Bowie released his fifth and arguably one of his most iconic albums Ziggy Stardust. Bowie’s album and persona ‘Ziggy Stardust’ were widely loved across the UK and helped catapult him to stardom.

Chris Martin

2002 - the year in which front man Chris Martin turned 25, was a big one for Coldplay. The band’s second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head released to critical acclaim and multiple awards, including NME’s Album of the Year.

Coldplay also won a Grammy in 2002 for their album Parachutes.

Mireia Molina 3WW alt-J

Beyoncé

Back in 2006 Queen Bey released her second solo album B’Day to coincide with her 25th birthday. The album debuted at number one all over the world. 2006 was also the year Bey starred in the Oscar nominated film Dreamgirls and embarked on a world tour.

Alex Turner Meaning a desired upcoming album release, alt-J’s newest single ‘3WW’ smells of sex. Singing about a sexual encounter, the song mixes an acoustic guitar akin to The Door’s The End and a relaxing and captivating beat.

As always, alt-j enchant with a delightful and experimental sound.

2011 was a busy year for the Monkeys. Alex Turner wrote and performed all six tracks for the coming-of-age film Submarine, and releasing the band’s fourth album Suck It and See in the June. Turner also contributed towards Miles Kane’s Colour of the Trap.

Amy Winehouse 2008 was a standout year for Amy: she performed at the BRITs alongside longterm friend Mark Ronson and won five Grammys including Best New Artist for her album Back to Black. Winehouse was also nominated for Album of the Year.

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live review:

Amy Bonar

GLASS ANIMALS

Third of May/Odaigahara Fleet Foxes

@ the LCR

In a music buying industry of new releases coming out dominated by streaming on vinyl and its availability Chris services grossetsuch as Spotify, in a vast amount of highApple Music, and vinyl street likethat Sainsbury’s, lass Animals; an Tidal, indietronica four chains energy washed over the crowd. has managed to stake its Tiger, and Urban Outfittters For the some, though, it’s piece perhaps best and most This blossomed straight from outset Fleet Foxes have returned to bless our place as a nostalgic, cultural people of all ages and genrea more. Whilst still retaining deftly described as the result of a with set opener ‘Life simply Itself’, about in whichmaking ears once product in the physical music preferences are buying up elements of their distinctive sound a BBC survey, hypothetical indie love affair between the audience changedstatement. from a Ingroup – the soaring melodies and intricate market.

According to theranging records.competing for space on 48%the of dancefloor vinyl buyers did not Alt-J and MGMT. Their music, harmonies – this track feels more bold BPI, 2016 brought more than the enjoying vinyl they bought, from the covertly rhythmic to the overtly into a collective soakingplay up and and experimental. In eight minutes, million UK record alternative sales, it music surely comes This we’re taken andwas 7% adidn’t even own a on a journey of sweeping lively, 3.2 presents a refreshing toSo, the together. pleasant motions, from the majestic, to the which is 53% more than theseem down the cultural turntable.

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While many excitement to the venue. The crowd was Animals have taken with their new there album,are create craze; with old jostling artists for billions of tracks,alternative ‘genius’ lyrics reasons forthemes the comeback of largelyretro made of students a balancing and bringing out front new and music and andThey vinyl, most for come space close to the this maderecommendations, for with catchy beats. returned an down to young artists producing on ‘perfect’ digital sound, has with Aliceofmortimer the latest listener’s appreciation a friendly if not a little boisterous crowd. encore and finished release the basis of nostalgic and deprived‘Pork listeners of the the artist’s creative When Glass Animals came on70s the audience Soda’ which cemented their night in ability in Liability 80s style.

Vinyl’s imperfect, value ofNorwich actuallyas discovering, the extensive production of were bathed in the light of a statement one to remember.

Lorde warm and immersive buying, and owning a piece of pineapple disco ball that floated overhead sound is set often thought retro as light music. LPs fill in this gap with and gave their a fantastic most by their contrasting wholeness, show. complimented classic sounds and old school fragility, and collective worth. production styles. Therefore, have always The group’s performance was an eclecticArtists with the resurgence of retro emphasized the narrative mix of new material and old. They music itself,an 2016’s top vinyl power of song placement in an seemed to have enjoyable emphasis sales include David Bowie’s on the singles off their latest LP album, and from Pink Floyd’s Dark final album, Blackstar, Amy Side supplemented those with their older of the Moon to recently Winehouse’s Backhighlights to Black,of their J.Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only. material.

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As thereaching set went on, the band, listen. and than this. the majority particularly leadWith singer Dave Bayley, You’re In Love With A Psycho ramped up an ever-building wave of Kasabian

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photo: Jon stone

The Leicester lads are back with the first taste of their follow-up to 2014’s 48:13. This is a record that ditches the electronic hues of their last project to “save guitar music from the abyss”, apparently. It’s not the feisty return the title suggests, but nevertheless serves a hearty portion of Kasabian in case you happened to be missing them...

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28 Music

Concrete.Music@uea.ac.uk

Music 29

Concrete.Music@uea.ac.uk

Melodies with Memories

yaiza canopoli After growing up in Germany with Italian parents, there are songs that remind me of my special moments all over the place.

The entire soundtrack of the German movie franchise Die Wilden Kerle takes me back to when I was ten years old, dressed like a tiny pirate, and singing along with my best friend to the terrible lyrics. ‘Back to Black’ by Amy Winehouse was the song we sang over and over on SingStar, scoring around 9600 points, which convinced us that we were going to be famous. ‘Auf Uns’ by Andreas Bourani holds a special place in my heart for, even though it’s usually loved by German football fans, it was played at the CSD in Hamburg in 2014 and now always reminds me of the hundreds

What gives you a blast from the past? of rainbow flags waving in the crowd. Then there are songs by Culcha Candela, which my elementary school class would sing in the changing rooms of our local swimming pool, unaware of what half of the dirty lyrics even meant.

In 2008, my best friend came back from a holiday in Turkey with an iPod she had found under her bed, and her older cousin put some music on it, including Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad album. We listened to it over and over, and ultimately became huge Rihanna fans, obsessively listening to everything she had ever released and finding out all there is to know about her.

Rihanna was also my first live performance experience, so

that show still means a lot to me.

illustration by lois young

There are hundreds of other songs that never fail to bring back good memories.

The Don’t Starve soundtrack reminds me of watching my best friend play for hours on end, complaining that she was being a terrible host for not making me food. Italian songs like ‘I Treni a Vapore’ and ‘Spunta la Luna dal Monte’ take me back to long journeys through Europe, riding shotgun and sharing crackers with my dad. And of course, Bring Me The Horizon will never fail to make me feel like a 12-yearold emo-kid again.

underdog instruments kate feenstra The zither is, if nothing else, a cross-cultural affair, manifesting itself as the Vietnamese đàn tranh, the Japanese koto, the German scheitholt, the Chinese guzheng, and so on. No other instrument that has that ethereal quality that every continent has seemed to make its own.

The thirty-year career of Ruth Welcome and her zither-laden renditions of loved classics proves the point that the zither is as versatile as it is uncommon.

LISTEN:

‘Love Letters’ Ruth Welcome

To some, the autoharp is an extension of the zither.

To be very honest, I am using it as an excuse to talk about PJ Harvey (what’s new). The autoharp creates her album’s beautiful tone, elevating it from a simple war album to something much more spectacularly heart-breaking. The instrument sounds less angelic and more rustic than the traditional zither, sitting well in the rural English feel of Harvey’s album and giving it the bittersweet mood of Englishness that few instruments achieve.

LISTEN:

‘All and Everyone’

The ardin is a tenstring harp originating in Mauritania. What makes it so special? It can only be played by women. The ardin requires a kind of precision and mastery that makes it hard to play well, but get it right and the results are glorious. Noura Mint Seymali is one example, a musician who’s taken the ardin and transformed it into a psychedelic experience, pitting the lush sounds of the instrument against phasers and punk-inflected singing.

LISTEN:

‘Soub Hanak’ Noura Mint Seymali

If you are a Shakira fan (which, by the default of your being a human with ears and/or eyes, I will assume you are) then the panpipe will be an integral part of your musical knowledge. But its utility does not stop at Colombian pop - the panpipes’ sneaky insertion into mainstream music is a (wonderful) phenomenon that has played its way into much music of the last century, calming down our pop with flutey fragile inflections.

LISTEN:

‘All Hands On Deck’