Venue 392

It’s time to get sexy and scandalous with this year’s Sex Edition! Love and lust are in the air, with Valentine’s Day happening right this second. Couples are exchanging cards, and going on dates to restaurants, they’re hugging in the Hive or maybe smooching in scholars. What better way to celebrate than by spilling the deets on UEA’s hottest fantasies and funniest tales from the bedroom (or from the lake).

Maybe you spent yesterday with your closest friends, eating takeout and celebrating Galentines or Palentines. Or maybe you’re rejecting the commercialism of Valentine’s Day excess and you’re waiting for the discount chocolate. Either way, we hope you have fun celebrating the love in your life, whatever form that takes.

We’re also celebrating all things queer as February isn’t only the time to get down and dirty with your chosen one, but also the time to celebrate LGBTQ+ history. Whether you’re still figuring your identity out, still deep in the closet, or you’re out and proud, we are celebrating YOU. It doesn’t matter whether you’re out on the stage, or in amongst the crowd, LGBTQ+ history month is a time to celebrate lived experiences and looking towards a better future.

Here in Venue, we’re looking at the art of sex and sexuality; what makes or breaks a sex scene, how has ‘the nude’ evolved over time, and how clothes can empower your sexuality. Whether you’re looking for queer recommendations, or music to get you in the mood, we have it all.

We hope this issue has something for everyone, whether you love sex, or it really isn’t your thing. After all, life isn’t just about sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

And remember folks, it may be getting hot in here, but there’s still a nip in the air (and not the good kind if you know what we mean) so don’t forget to wrap up – hah, get it? Wink wink, nudge nudge – and take care of yourself as we bring in the new semester.

Stay sexy UEA ;)

- Louise, Ray, Lily xxx

Front Cover Art by Louise Collins

Photo Credits: Louise Collins

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Editor: Rosie Kyrin-White

Photo Credits: Unsplash and Wikimedia Commons

By Lily Boag

venue Deputy

The earliest known artistic studies of the human figure were prehistoric cave paintings, created 64,000 years ago. Reborn through the Renaissance, life drawing classes were inspired by the classical world: an ancestral artistic desire to understand the natural body. The observation and study of nude models allowed artists to proportion figurative anatomy, via pencil and sketch. To build bone and muscle using cartridge paper and lead.

People often perceive life drawing as an awk-

Arts

ward or uncomfortable artistic pursuit, a sexual or taboo practice. Perhaps your understanding of life drawing is a room full of voyeurs who look upon the body with judgement, amusement, or admiration. But if you’ve ever taken part in a life drawing class you’ll come to learn that every session creates a safe space for students to appreciate and understand the human body. It’s an environment that welcomes curiosity without sexual objectification. A room that encourages respectfulness towards creative practical study.

I had always avoided life drawing sessions, uncomfortable about the invitation to gaze and gawk at someone’s unclothed body. I imagined myself standing in the centre of the room - barefoot and

exposed. It was something I envisioned in my nightmares. So I couldn’t understand why someone else would feel comfortable modelling nude. Was it necessary? Or ostentatious? Why couldn’t they be fully clothed?

As president of the university’s art society, the first life drawing session I attended was an event I ran myself, and I was anxious about what to expect. Had I set myself up for a total disaster? Would the session be a failure or success? I gritted my teeth, locked the door, and set the timer as the model unrobed. I watched as students picked up their pencils, scrawling on paper while the model posed.

Life drawing changed how I perceived other people’s bodies and allowed me to change how I perceived my own. I’ve always struggled with body image issues, comparing it to those who would confidently put

Life Drawing Desexualises the body

theirs on show. But I realised how empowering life drawing could be when I stopped wishing away my imperfections and finally let go. The students respected the subject of their study: a model standing proudly and reframing their body with each and every graceful pose.

Life drawing helped me break down my internal sexualisation of the naked body through the social lens which claims that in every space, the nude form is vulnerable and exposed. I began to appreciate our bodies for what they are, vessels made from muscle, skin and bone. I rediscovered the beauty of our very entities, the lives they live, and the souls they hold. From freckles and curves, to dimples and wrinkles, our bodies are unique and distinct. Offering shade and colour, edges and folds, we’re breathing, emotional objects that bend, twist, and turn. Life models trust us to capture their bodies in an artistic, interpretive image. Artists trust life models to reveal their bodies by embracing it’s true and original form.

Editor: Rosie Kyrin-White 5 Arts

Zdzisław Beksiński’s Perfect Love by Eddie Murfitt Arts

Zdzislaw Beksinski’s decision to leave his paintings untitled has condemned the art world to perpetually fathom his apocalyptic hellscapes. His catalogue is one of nihilism, thought by many to be allegorical of the horrors of fascism and war, portrayed through the eyes of a Polish Jew who witnessed the effects of Nazism as a child. The human subjects in his art are almost always brutalised, inhumanly thin, and eternally trapped in their own suffering. They are also frequently alone or presented in writhing masses- their identities abandoned.

This is why this specific painting, untitled like the others, is an anomaly. While the aesthetics are in line with Beksinski’s typical style (the warm and dirty tones, the ill, emaciated bodies, and the dystopian void-like setting) the topic is surprisingly tender and intimate.

In the cold world of this artist, contact between people is all too frequently violent, shown in his depictions of torture or his sinister displays of power and fear. In contrast, these two bodies are not bonded in violence or through the symbiosis of the powerless and powerful. They are in fact equal; intertwined, clutching each other tight as if they are the only beings in the world. Their nakedness, while showing the effects of this war-torn world on their bodies, also extends to show each figure’s willingness to be vulnerable when together.

This painting embodies love as solace in solitude. While the rest of Beksinski’s world is cruel and unforgiving, these two figures come together to protect each other. It presents equality, safety and companionship: the perfect love.

Writer

KinkyBoots– The Most Beautiful Thing in the World

By Louise collins Venue editor

At the beginning of February, Norwich Theatre Royal is host to a celebration of love, passion, and identity with the iconic Kinky Boots

Charlie Price reluctantly inherits his family’s shoe factory after the passing of his father, only to discover the financial struggles the company faces. During a trip to London, Charlie meets the fierce and fiery Lola, a bold and bodacious Drag Queen who’s gagging for a sturdy set of stilettos, and he realises she might be the key to saving his factory. The pair, at first, appear to be worlds apart, but as their friendship grows, it comes to show that people can surprise you in many ways

The cast had so much energy, but the standouts had to be Akeem Ellis-Hyman who played Lola / Simon, and Emmie Wright who played Lauren. Akeem was full of life and power, encouraging a celebration of all things sultry. As both Lola and Simon, he had the audience rapt – we couldn’t

take our eyes off Lola’s glamourous self, and our hearts broke as Simon confided in Charlie about his childhood. Emmie had the entire audience laughing with her solo ‘The History of Wrong Guys’ where she detailed Lauren’s dating history, whilst falling for Charlie. She was an iconic character, and Emmie had such a strong voice and a personality to match – never failing to tell other characters when they were in the wrong. The entire show celebrates sex and sexuality in a wonderfully bright way, but Lola’s song ‘Sex is in the Heel’ was a shining moment. It encouraged women, and those who just like shoes, to embrace their sexuality and have fun. Seeing Lola and her Angels (her Drag Queen entourage) uplift the women in the factory was such a beautiful moment, and this cast celebrated it perfectly.

The show lived up to its name, being a stunning blend of camp and kinky, and inspirational and heart-warming. Based on a true story about Steve Pateman and W.J. Brooks Shoe Company, the

true passion and love throughout is palpable.

With an iconic catchphrase of “ladies and gentlemen, and those who are yet to make up their minds”, Kinky Boots couldn’t be more about acceptance. Not only does it speak of accepting others, but the idea that you also need to accept yourself. The show is so encouraging and welcoming to all. Aside from a bit of outdated terminology and a couple of lines which make you say “yikes”, Kinky Boots is a safe space for celebrating queerness. It’s about rocking the boat and stepping into the light, even when it seems easier to blend in. The show celebrates being yourself entirely, closing with the song ‘Raise You Up / Just Be’ which includes the lines “Just be. Who you wanna be / Never let them tell you who you ought to be / Just be. With dignity / Celebrate your life triumphantly.”

The musical encourages us to accept ourselves, to follow our dreams, and to step outside of our own bubbles. But most importantly, it reminds us that everyone looks good in a pair of red heels.

Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Editor: Rosie Kyrin-White 6 Arts

Evolution of the nude

BySienna norris

Features editor

The presentation of the naked body in the art world has been a practice that has endured throughout history. From as early as the Stone Age, nakedness has been configured into artistry for an array of reasons, but mostly as a reflection of social standards, whether that be through body type or nudity itself.

No matter the reasoning of why nude art is a huge part of culture, there has always been opposition to it since it’s often considered erotic, but many famous artists rebelled to present the human body in its natural form. You’ll often find there’s far more female nudity in art than male, and it’s been a debate amongst some feminists as to why this is objectifying, but from my personal perspective, it’s liberating.

Most of my favourite art pieces are nude, funnily enough. I can appreciate the beauty in the swirls of colour or construction of the body’s curves, and I think the female body in particular deserves to be celebrated, but many others do not feel the same. The controversy surrounding nudity as a whole, not just in art, has been carried into the 21st century. One of the biggest examples of this is the censoring of women’s nipples on instagram and other social media platforms. While the male

chest is normalised, women are slandered when topless. My love for nude art has a lot to do with the politics of nudity. Presenting these works in a museum or another cultural setting takes away all of the stigma of the outside world- it becomes just you and the art.

One of the most famous pieces of nude art is Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus in which the goddess of love emerges from the sea. It was painted around 1485, during the Renaissance. I love this piece, and so do others, but I think my favourite nude painting is Lady Godiva by John Maler Collier. Collier, painting this in 1897, depicts a woman on horseback naked. But what people may not know is the original story behind it. Lady Godiva was an 11th century noblewoman whose husband proposed unfair tax laws in Coventry. She protested this by riding a horse through the streets, naked.

I haven’t seen a lot of nude art in the flesh (no pun intended) but there’s a statue that I came across a few years ago that has always stuck with me. I was in Ilfracombe, North Devon, when I saw a gigantic statue of a nude pregnant woman. This was Verity, created by Damien Hirst fairly recently. When I took a closer look at her I saw that the other half of her body was showing what’s beneath the skin’s layers:

her foetus, the milk ducts in her breasts, and everything in-between. But she also holds a sword and the scales of justice whilst standing on a pile of books. To me, she’s a figure of strength.

There is so much more to what nude art is than what is conveyed on the surface. Although it’s traditionally seen as a representation of ideal bodies in history, it’s also the human body in all its vulnerability. No matter what age, race, or height you are, we all share that vulnerability in nakedness and for me, that is what the nude conveys - a shared yet privatised experience.

PhotoCredits:WikimediaCommons

KinkyBootsPhoto Credits: Richard Jarmy

Editor: silver Constantinides Books

By silver

constantinides books editor

Dear readers, welcome to 2023! I hope you’ve had a restful winter break. You may be considering picking up your latest reads from secondhand bookshops to save some money? Perhaps, as we endeavour on our new modules, you are looking for the best place to pick up some course texts? You might also just be wanting to get you or a loved one a literary treat! No matter what your needs for books this new year are, Leo and I return with Part Two of your compendium of bookshops so you will never be left without a clue in Norwich’s beautiful bookstore

Walking into this shop feels almost indescribably homely, like walking into the book collection of a beloved relative. With bargain secondhand books leaving even the floors covered, this one is your best bet if you want to give a preloved book a new home at a bargain price— who could say no to £2.95 a piece? The staff were oozing with enthusiasm about books, and as much as I’m no historian, I can tell that this is a safe bet for any history lover; there was an entire room dedicated to historical fiction, biographies and accounts which are not to be missed.

2. The Dormouse Bookshop: 29 Elm Hill

(Secondhand)

This shop is so sweet and nostalgic I almost wanted to jump for joy, but that wouldn’t have been a good idea—the name dormouse most likely is a reference to its tiny size! What makes this shop so quaint is the fact that the books are mostly vintage or rare copies of classics. Whilst you won’t be finding the latest contemporary novel in there, the aesthetic beauty of Penguin Classics lined up more than makes up for this. Here we have yet another shop with extremely friendly staff. After all, it says a lot about the shop when the staff are so dedicated to their field and willing to help you! This one can be a little pricey, especially as you veer into first edition territory, but it will be more than worth it if you’re looking for a vintage classic.

3. Undercover Books (located in Looses Emporium): 23-25 Magdalen Street (Secondhand)

Undercover Books is the best place to make an afternoon of visiting. Firstly, try not to get

lost in Looses—I know that it took me a good half an hour of observing the many curios of the downstairs floor before I even thought about going upstairs! As you make your way there, you will be greeted with rows upon rows of second hand gems. The informal, slightly chaotic setting allows for hours of getting lost amongst books of all calibre, many of which come from the bookseller’s own collection throughout the years. You’ll even find books in different languages! The seller was helpful to a fault and so willing to discuss his vast collection. He never once tried to sell me a book, but rather discussed literature with me; it was like talking to an old friend. If it couldn’t get better, you can finish off your visit with a homemade drink and bite to eat at the café downstairs.

4. Abstract Sprocket: 29 St Benedicts Street (Independent)

Nerds, unite! Whilst whether comics and manga can be considered books has been debated for years, I didn’t want to leave this one out for those of us who enjoy visual art just as much as the written arts. The world of comics, manga and graphic novels can often feel a little intimidating and even exclusionary, but

The Bookshops of Norwich: Part two

Photo Credits: Pixabay, Unsplash

scene.

1. J.R. & K.K. Ellis secondhand booksellers: 53 St Giles Street (Secondhand)

the atmosphere in here was welcoming with staff ready to give their recommendations for any taste, and I was never once made to feel stupid for not being well-versed into the world of comics. The books were well-priced, spanning new editions and back issues. If the promise of great quality comics isn’t enough, you may be tempted with anime merchandise, including shirts, collectibles and figurines. It’s little wonder this place has such dedicated regulars!

5. Amnesty Bookshop: 82 St. Benedicts Street (Second hand)

This bookshop, I believe, is heavily overlooked by stu-

dents. It offers a cosy ambiance in which you are free to study or read, no purchase necessary—but who could resist getting a book at such a low price? You’ll be sure to find something for you in this shop, including plenty of signed copies, and if the wide selection of books weren’t enticing enough, your proceeds will go to Amnesty International, so you can feel good about donating to charity as you take your new reads home! In addition to being a bookshop, Amnesty doubles as a welcoming community space with events that champion diversity, including writing workshops, book launches and craft sessions. If you’re looking to hear from LGBT+ authors or creatives in Norwich, this one is for you.

Growing up with heteronormative literature: did it make me queer?

By ella hamlin

books writer

Looking back on my childhood, as a now openly bisexual woman, is interesting to say the least. I have naturally examined every small part of my life, prior to the significant realisation of my desire to kiss women and have considered what it could possibly have been that made me realise I was queer. Was it the small piece of sapphic representation that I saw in Glee? Was it watching Gok Wan on television after school? Was it the queer couple I saw holding hands while walking down a street in Brighton in 2008? Perhaps. But I must give the least credit, of realising I definitely was not straight, to the books I read.

Children’s literature is unavoidably heterosexual. When it comes to addressing a romantic relationship it’s primarily man and woman, whether those stories are fantasy, dystopia, animal tales, war, or even picture books. Fantastic Mr. Fox was one of my favourite books growing up. I loved the way the animals were brought to life, and the rivalry of woodland creatures versus humanity. The central family are the perfect example of the ‘nuclear’ family: Man, woman, and their one child.

Of course, as a child I did not question this dynamic at all. It just seemed normal. But if the roles had been different, would I have questioned that as

well? If the infamous novel was ‘Fantastic Mrs Fox’ and the titular character was married to Ms Fox and had one child, would I have read the novel differently?

I always find it fascinating revisiting my childhood favourites and thinking about how a novel or plot may have influenced my growth. Something that children’s literature lacks is LGBTQ+ representation. Exposure to different relationships was non-existent for me growing up. I had a deep fascination with love and romance and the boymeets-girl plot line. Being bisexual, my attraction to men was fuelled by the novels I read. I felt sane for wanting what the characters in my books had. Yet, the sense of safety and peace that I gained from reading about love was overrode with panic and anxiety once I realised I may not only be with a man in the future. I suddenly found myself not being able to relate to the characters I once idolised.

In literature, the relationship between a cis-man and a cis-woman is still advertised to us as the ‘norm’. It leaves little to no room to be able to think positively about relationships that do not fit into this traditional binary. It’s not asking for much to want to see your sexuality reflected through a character, yet the thought of transforming a classic fairy tale trope into a WLW novel is still sickening to some. People all over the world are arguing that exposing LGBTQ+ content to children is not necessary, claiming it’ll infiltrate the minds of youth with

ideas that simply are not needed at such a young age. Yet, growing up reading books where heteronormative relationships were the prime example of love, did not make me heterosexual.

So, maybe it was reading about these ‘straight’ characters that did in fact make me queer. It made me realise there was something missing from the relationships that were presented to me. Whether literature chooses to continue spotlighting heterosexual relationships or introduces new homosexual relationships, LGBTQ+ children will still be LGBTQ+ children.

Photo: Unsplash

Alternative Valentine’s Day Reads: A Gentleman in Moscow

I don’t think you could ever find two phrases as polarising as ‘Valentine’s Day’ and ‘investment banking’. They don’t tend to end up alongside each other very often, and when they do it’s usually in the kind of romance books that end up stacked in second-hand bookshops or conscripted into the Hollywood School of Creative Bankruptcy, where a big-shot CEO repents his capitalistic ways and settles down for a quieter life in the countryside making daisy chains alongside their soulmate of one week. But from this unholy union, a titan of modern fiction has emerged – a former investment banker turned author, Amor Towles, and his second novel A Gentlemen in Moscow.

I am a little late to the party regard-

By leo henry

books writer

ing this particular novel (although hopefully the upcoming TV series starring Ewan McGregor will both revitalise interest and attract new readers), but on this Valentine’s Day I feel an overlooked central tenet of the book ought to have its due. The strength of the book is in its characters and the love they share, yet this love is rarely romantic in nature. There are deep and meaningful gestures and commitments of paternal and platonic, familial and aesthetic love running throughout the book, imbuing the reader with an overwhelming contentment and newfound satisfaction with life upon completion.

The titular character is reborn. The hotel, at first a mere port in a revolutionary storm, becomes his

mighty castle; his court counts firebrand poets, misanthropic chefs, diligent clerks, homesick generals, salt-ofthe-earth celebrities, a one-eyed cat and a surrogate daughter, but they are much more like family than servants. Towards the end of the novel, what was once a stationary building has been transformed into a pillar of ecstatic beauty of the universal brotherhood and shared love of humankind. I was very lucky to speak to Amor Towles during a virtual Q&A at my local bookshop a couple of years, and I could tell at once he puts a lot of himself into the main character and his bonhomie - an expression of the greatest gratitude for love of all stripes.

A Spotlight on Talia Hibbert By

louise collins venue editor

Brown also living with chronic pain – Hibbert herself has fibromyalgia – and the two protagonists in Act Your Age, Eve Brown, are autistic, like Hibbert. Her books often also deal with grief or mental health, and they always include trigger warnings.

On top of all that, the books remain sexy and intimate in a number of ways. They are about unabridged love and lust, and the importance of communication; whether that’s your struggles, your needs, or your wants. The books reject the prior notions as to what a romance lead looks like, and work against gender norms in wondrous ways. As well as being flirty and fun, they’re utterly beautiful. I think they’re particularly important as they speak so much about self-love and self-confidence, as well as being an utter embrace of sexuality.

For the longest time, I believed myself to be anti-romance, until I joined Bookstagram, and was met with an abundance of romance authors. One, in particular, stands out to me as someone spotlight-worthy. She’s an author I’ve spoken about numerous times, and even interviewed last year.

Talia Hibbert is a body-positive romance author, dedicated to telling diverse stories. All of her books feature disability rep, body positivity rep, or more often than not, both at once. Writer of the Brown Sister series, Hibbert’s works fit into the #OwnVoices category, as the protagonists she writes about mirror how she identifies, with many of them being Black women. Her Brown sisters are all plus-sized, with Chloe

Honorable mentions

Rachel Lynn Solomon: Solomon, in her words on her website “writes about imperfect people falling in love”, with a list of books for both teens and adults, with excellent representation of Judaism.

Casey McQuiston: McQuiston is a ‘new adult’ romance writer, who writes romance stories about queer young adults in beautiful ways.

Photo: Pixabay

By Louise Collins

Venue Editor

Age 8. We sit in the playground, your hair in a long braid down your back, mine in pigtails. You tilt your head, looking at me for a second, and I feel a sudden urge as the bell rings. I lean forward and kiss you on your cheek. Your face blushes pink and I giggle before grabbing your hand, dragging us both back to class.

Age 13. We’re walking the hallway of sec-

Editor: Clem Hailes Creative Writing

ondary school, gossiping between classes. A boy in the year above watches you as we walk past, and you throw him a coy smile, before turning back around and whispering to me, linking your arm through mine. I feel a bubble of frustration as you tell me you think he’s cute, as you wonder whether he’ll ask you out.

Age 18. We’re celebrating your birthday. We’ve spent all night dancing and flirting with guys, getting free drinks. You whisk me away to the bar, stopping shortly as we round the corner. Your face is flushed with alcohol and your hair is wild from dancing. I can feel a slight layer of sweat coating my forehead. You lean forward,

I do too. Before I know it, your lips are on mine, as sweet as the cocktails we’ve been drinking, and the music fades away. All that matters in that moment is us. You’re kissing me, and oh. Oh shit. The next day, you tell me you had the best night, but you don’t remember anything. I nod, agreeing, my head pounding. But that’s a lie. I can’t forget.

Age 20. We’re at different universities, separated by hours instead of ten minutes. We talk all the time. We take it in turns to visit each other, but the gaps between have been getting longer and I’m scared you’re pulling away from me. I miss seeing your face every day, I miss watching films with you, when you rest your head on my shoulder. I miss seeing the way your eyes sparkle when you’re trying not to make a dirty joke.

Age 21. We’re screaming at each other. Your

Finally – A Sapphic Love Story

face is scrunched up and red, and tears are streaming down my face. We’ve never fought like this before, not even close. I tell you that your boyfriend is a piece of shit. You call me a liar, pathetic, obsessed. My heart physically breaks.

Age 22. After months of not speaking, you turn up at my house, sobbing. “I’m so sorry” you breathe out, before collapsing into my arms. We sit down and you tell me everything. We catch up, and we hold each other, and it’s just like old times. Just like that, the cracks in my heart begin to heal.

Age 23. “I’m in love with you,” I finally admit, the alcohol giving me confidence, alongside your look. The look that I swear I’m not imagining. You pause, not saying a word. The panic builds, before you lean forward, closing the gap. My breath hitches before your lips collide with mine. Music rings out, and all I can see is stars. When we break away, panting, you say one word. “Finally.”

Photo Credits: Unsplash (all)

HANNAH SMOKES A CIGARETTE

in a moment I can only recall in monochrome she is Bardot, la nouvelle vague standing next to her I am Gainsbourg in a beanie and she removes the cigarette from its box

her eyes are the only colour for miles a light show featuring every shade of blue she chips away at my outlines until my sense of self dissolves completely the lighter sparks and my heart drops with the internal reminder that James is going to wear her down to him she is the girl next door to me she is the revolution

One Girl after Sappho

“Like the wild hyacinth flower which on the hills is found,”

your scent confounds me, nectar sweet yet deadly, meet me halfway, grow steady my dear near thistle and vain narcissus, mythos is merely a gnarly old tree, bark still clean of thick sap, I have an axe to make it bleed, if only you’d let me pluck you to wear you on my chest and watch you wilt.

(my ephemeral love)

A sip, trip and a fall (into bed)

BY Sophia Braithwaite creative writer

Hannah smokes a cigarette

Hannah smokes a cigarette, white hair blowing in the wind

Hannah smokes a cigarette, and she is electric Hannah smokes a cigarette, and time is standing still

October finds its way back to me

my lungs blackened and fingertips yellow in a plot twist I should have seen coming Hannah was a cigarette saleswoman

BY Clara Comini creative writer

Your hand in mine limbs intertwine yours and mine so divinely merged I can barely tell where you start and I begin to understand our elemental difference you: a phosphorus night-light sulphurically incinerated :me invigorated by a thorough smothering, friction burn incoming. and darling, I hold your hand in mine (I’ll reattach it later, pinky promise.)

Les Deux Magots, Paris. It must have been pre-determined by historic flirtations when we met; the eatery that hosted many lovers of Djuna Barnes, that united Picasso and his life partner, that Hemmingway’s few wives likely sought escape from...really it could be the most famous meet-cute of the 20th Century, perhaps I should go to the library to-

Rings. The panic had set in, I hope she couldn’t see it in my eyes.

On all but the wrong finger. It did not end as I’d hoped in that little café, though destiny had aligned us again, in a suitably sensual bar, and there she sat.

Slender fingers wrapped around her cold glass. That did not end so well, likely due to my blathering.

Shit, she’d seen me. I must have been gawping. She was coming my way. Okay, legs crossed, hair sufficiently flicked, smile- with teeth. It looks weird without.

Her legs seemed never to end, a dangerous path I so longed to explore. They were heading my way, stalking their prey. She sat on the barstool beside me and raised

BY Libby Hargreaves Concrete Editor

a manicured hand to the bartender.

“Un Vierre Carre s’il vous plaît, avec la cerise...and for my darling here?” She turned to me and I was thankful I was gazing at her lips, and not any lower, so I could comprehend her offer.

“The same, please. Cheers. Thank you.” For the love of all things holy why couldn’t I just sit and look pretty? She’d ordered me a drink, did that mean my previous impression was forgiven? Was she just here to tease me? Honestly, I didn’t care. Her half-buttoned shirt perfectly framed her breasts, a slip of lace peaking from beneath leading my imagination to unbridled sensuality.

She noticed and offered me a small, kind smirk. She saw through me, through the layers of awkwardness and anxiety, right into my core- where the temperature was steadily rising. My cheeks became flushed and I was faintly aware of her talking to me, a lullaby encouraging me to bed.

It was easy. We fell into a rhythm and soon our drinks were empty and her hand led mine into the night.

The Princess’s Weakness

“Remove your helmet, unless you are not chivalrous.” Dagger point to her neck. Wall to her back. It was done. The battle was done. She was undone. The strongest vigilante in the kingdom undone by some unsophisticated swordplay from a proud villain.

The Black Knight. Five time raider of the castle treasury. Four time thief. Three months to track down. Two minutes of battle. One humiliating defeat.

The Princess cut her knee up into her vanquisher’s armour. To do more damage to an already battered body: that was her right as Princess. A bruised knee before the inevitable slit throat. Better to go down bruised than soft and compliant and fucking pathetic.

“Remove it,” The Black Knight said, no change in her tone. She knew she had won. Yet the Princess carried herself as if she were triumphant. She stuck her fingers under her helm, prising it off her damp skin, and tossed it to the side. Red curls tumbled around her shoulders.

“Oh.” The Black Knight’s leather gauntlet creaked. Her blade wavering at the Princess’s throat. The Princess smiled. “Apologies, your Majesty, I ought to have been more gentle.”

The Black Knight snatched a handful of red hair and yanked her head back against the wall. Hard. The Princess pressed herself closer to the Black Knight. She laughed, air sharp in her lungs. “Is my captor too scared to unmask herself?”

The Black Knight easily unclasped her battered helmet, tossing it to the floor next to the Princess’s. The Princess’s leather fist creaked. They were close. Her breath in her mouth. At least three summers passed since she last had someone in her mouth. The armour always stayed on at the slightest intimacy, and it was impossible to kiss through a cast iron helm. Now she was laid bare, no helmet, no constant, perfect control. The blade pressed more insistently to her throat.

“How is it that I have defeated the self proclaimed strongest knight?”

The Princess laughed. “Men are weak and stupid. I’ve never fought a woman before.”

“If men are so weak and stupid, why do you pretend to be one?” The Princess held herself in her head. None of this was important. No point honouring a criminal’s mind with her inner, neglected truth. A truth so neglected she could barely see it herself.

“It’s interesting, you know?” The Black Knight tossed the dagger across the stone floor, pressing insistently closer. “I am the better swordsman yet you far surpass my physical strength. You could easily push me off. But you don’t.”

The Black Knight grasped her cheek. “Why don’t you push me off? What makes you weak for me?”

The Princess ground her teeth. It was weak to feel ways about women. She held her fist at her side, ready to strike. But it shook. It was weak to feel ways about women. It was weak to give yourself to them. Better to case yourself in metal, save one hand, and take. She stood, uncast, exposed by a criminal so cocky she would reveal her face.

The Black Knight’s hand tightened in her hair. “Rumour is that you can take anything. A blow to the head. A stab to the heart.” Her fingers traced down the Princess’s face. “Being smashed into a wall.”

“I can take anything,” The Princess said. The Black Knight laughed. Her hand fell to the Princess’s waist. Metal clad fingers snuck under a plate, slicing a leather strap. Armour clattered to the floor. The Princess stood, not trembling, not thinking. Hold-

By Clem Hailes Creative Writing Editor

ing herself in her head. This was still a battle she could win.

“So you really can take anything?” The Black Knight’s hand dragged down the exposed tunic. From her waist, to her hip, itching on the buckle of her belt.

The Princess stood firm. No thief could make a mess of her. “Anything.”

Her touch would affect her as little as a blow to the head. She never felt anything. She had wanted to, lying in her bed most of her youth dreaming of such touches but when they came, fumbled and drunken, they meant little to her beaten body. She would tell them to hurt her, shove fingers down her throat while she stared at the ceiling, forcing noises from her mouth that did nothing but echo in her hollow chamber.

It would affect her as much as a blow to the head. She was not backing down to anyone. This was not surrender. This was a different kind of battle that she would win.

“Even this?” The Black Knight dragged her hand to the Princess’s thigh. She thought she’d won the battle, the way she smirked, the rush of hot air across the Princess’s cheek. The Princess kept her jaw clenched tight, not one to unravel under a thief’s touch.

“Coward. If you’re going to do that, do it properly.” The Princess grabbed her hand and placed it exactly where she wanted it. She hoped she couldn’t see the shake in her left boot, the beast of her heart pulsing through her palm. The Black Knight froze, the Princess’s hand over hers and her hand over the Princess. The Princess kept her mouth shut, stared up into dark eyes with malice and wanting and nothing.

She would make that knight crumble. But for now she would be steady.

Photo: Unsplash

Editor: Tshequa Williams Fashion 14

Photo Credits: Unsplash

By Silver Constantinides fashion writer

Reaching my teenage years, my unusual dress sense labelled me as an outsider. My knee length shorts and anime hoodies were comfortable and showed off my personality, but my peers laughed, gossiping about how I looked “like a middleaged man ready for a hike”. Perhaps I did look like a man on a hike, but I was wearing something I liked, right? Sadly, I soon crumbled into conformity. Girls in my class were beginning to delve into the terrifying world of lingerie, and I felt it was time to overcome my fear of

Victoria’s Secret and join in.

I hated double push up bras. Uncomfortable, lurid thongs that dug into my labia. I knew it wasn’t me, yet I was told to make my body desirable. I drained pocket money on body suits, diligently shaved every inch to prove I was a force to be reckoned with at house parties. However, in my quest to blend into a hypersexualised femininity, I lost sight of my happiness.

Tumblr became a source of frustration. People beamed like sun rays, with shaved heads, unconventional makeup looks, unique fashion choices. They spoke of empowerment, feeling sexy with body hair showing through sheer panties. It made me want to cry. I had been told my entire life that I had to wear itchy pink lingerie, to iron my hair and

contour my boobs. Why did these people get to be sexy wearing what they wanted?

After years of hating myself into something others might love, I shaved my head in my miserable university kitchen. It was ruined by bleach and straighteners, years of trying to be sexy for people I barely liked. This was a pivotal moment. I realised how beautiful I was with nothing to hide behind. I soon stopped wearing bras for my own comfort and to embrace my small chest. My love for all things sparkly increased, celebrating my body with glitter dust, experimenting with more forgiving lingerie and boxer shorts. Who cares if they were for men, or if they were out of the ordinary? I was looking in the mirror and liking what I saw for once.

As I progressed through uni, doubt still crept in when getting intimate with others. What if my chest looked too small with no

bra? Should I tone down the eyeliner for something a bit conventional? Yet I recalled how miserable it felt to constantly fuss over a look that isn’t really you and opted for wearing a set that was comfortable for me, that made me feel sexy. Going into these relations as myself made me enjoy them more. It was when I embraced my own sense of style and my body for all its flaws that, at twenty, I was able to show myself naked in for the first time. Now I have a steady boyfriend I love dressing up for him, and while he supports everything I wear, he tells me that I look the most beautiful when I am wearing something that makes me feel good about myself.

I can’t change the way my body naturally is; forcing it to look into a socially desirable way made me miserable for so many years. It was only when I celebrated what I was born with and made myself up in a way that truly is for me, was also when I fell in love with the way I look and soared in confidence.

Dressing Confidently is the Sexiest Thing You Can Do

A Titan of Youth Culture: Vivienne Westwood

By henry tuppen FASHION writer

On the 15th December 1992, an iconic designer stepped through the gates of Buckingham Palace to accept an OBE. Many saw accepting the honour as a direct contradiction of everything she stood for. However, with one photo, Vivienne Westwood showed the world she wouldn’t change for anyone or anything. With this famous decision to accept her OBE ‘commando’, she had managed to insert herself into the mainstream elite of not only fashion, but the world as a whole, while maintaining her rebellious spirit.

As the head of one of the few woman-led independent brands, Westwood was a feminist icon, with Naomi Campbell describing her “strength… in a business dominated by men” as a key influence on her career. Westwood’s critiques of world governments on issues such as climate change extended her influence beyond the runway, with Bella Hadid calling her “my inspiration and idol in all things”. Although her

work was, is, and always will be iconic, the woman behind it was equally momentous.

The punk movement was Vivienne Westwood. While artists such as the Sex Pistols may have provided its sound, Westwood constructed its image. Westwood herself stated “I was punk before it got its name”. A lot of the punk movement can be seen as superficial, rebelling for the sake of rebelling. Yet from her early days in the fashion industry, to her death last year, Westwood’s design was packed with political and social commentary. She dedicated her life to supporting youth culture and the downtrodden in society. “I am always trying to protect the underdog”.

While punk exemplifies Westwood, she was so much more. Despite her pivotal role in the movement and her almost unrivalled role as the crafter of its image, Westwood transcended the movement, and to narrow her down to this subculture is a disservice to her illustrious life and career. Vivienne had a wonderful ability to move with the times while also maintaining her core

THE FUTURE OF FASHION

By Lizzie Bray FASHION WRITER

With the TikTok-ification of fashion continuing into 2023, ‘gorpcore’ is here to stay. Layering, loose fit, and anything cargo defines this trend, and with the practicality of the pieces, it is set to withstand the mainstream-clothing-curse. Gorpcore incorporates fleeces, windbreakers, and classic dad trainers which are the bones of any cold climate wardrobe, even when gorpcore becomes so last year the items will always be pragmatic. For now, however, it is one of the hottest streetstyle trends carrying over from last year. Now evolving into maxi skirts and crotchet shrugs, Adidas Sambas are becoming the staple shoe.

Elements of the ballet aesthetic are starting to blur with gorpcore. Ribbons, ballerina flats (yes, they are making a comeback), fun tights, and sheer fabrics are ideal for the transition into spring.

On the topic of unexpected comebacks, the TikTok-ification of fashion has also done the impossible; it has made me a low-rise jean convert. When I thought something couldn’t be revived, low rise everything has been giving the much-favoured high-rise bottoms a run…and I don’t hate it. A pair of platform sandals, a low-waisted ruffled skirt, a bandeau, accessorised with a pendant choker is the Lizzie McGuire summer outfit of my dreams.

An element of the noughties we’re bringing into summer is the Sex and the City attitude. This is all about ruffles, flowers, unconventional belts, chunky chokers (not to be confused with the 2013-tumblr phase) and fabulous colourful shoes. Strong influences of the 90s off-duty supermodel are never going out of fashion, and with the return of Kate Moss on the runway, it is more relevant than ever. Different elements of this era are constantly picked up and dusted off. For example, if anything,

values and image. Her ability to evolve when others couldn’t, and to look past contemporary trends and create her own style, allowed her to remain not only relevant but at the heart of contemporary youth culture for over five decades.

Her obsession with the hallmarks of the British establishment, whether it be her love for Victorian and Regency fashion, or her adoption of tartan and Harris tweed, gave more power to her subversive message. Her pieces played into the sexualisation of women in the fashion industry while also making the models look powerful and totally in control. Her mastery of tailoring meant her often outrageous work was still flattering, while also shocking and surprising.

Dame Vivienne’s legacy can be summed up by the eclectic tributes on the day of her death. From stars of the 1970s such as Yoko Ono, to the supermodels of today like Bella Hadid, and many students of UEA. Vivienne Westwood touched so many throughout her life and her work will continue to do so for generations to come.

2023 will be the year of denim. Double denim. Timberlake-and-Britney-at-the2001-AMA’s sort of denim. Ideally this rejuvenates the popularised cowboy aesthetic - watch out for bolo ties and embellishments. Metallics, definitely silver, and two-toned jewellery are also on the radar. Metallic jeans? Even better.

All in all, hopefully this elevates the popularised Y2K trends and creates a culture of investing. Trends are inescapable but this is where thrifting and charity shopping become so favoured amongst Gen Z. Sites like Depop may have become inflated, but the sustainability of supporting small business and recycling garments is a trend in itself and where quality is concerned, favourable against mainstream retail stores. Therefore, this idea of investing in one or two items that will stand for the test of time is the way forward in disregarding fast fashion.

Editor: Tshequa Williams Fashion

Is Fashion Art? Paris Couture Fashion Week 23

By

Tshequa Williams | fashion editor

Ever since we welcomed in the new year, the fashion world has firmly been focused on the fashion weeks taking place in fashion capitals across the world. At the time of publication, it is currently New York Fashion Week. January ended with Copenhagen Fashion Week, next week is London Fashion Week, and towards the end of the month is Milan Fashion Week. The fashion week calendar is always super busy, but it is beautiful in its expression of creativity and inspiration.

As much as I would love to cover every runway, it’s a lot to squeeze into this Venue article! Instead, I am going to focus on the one that has gained the most attention recently – Paris Couture Fashion Week.

Couture fashion is anything that is handmade and one-of-a-kind, made spe-

cifically for a client, and is characterised by high quality design and materials. Haute Couture, or in translation from French ‘high dressmaking’, is regulated by a very specific strict set of guidelines. According to Business of Fashion, “members must design made-toorder clothes for private clients […] using an atelier”. Showcased in January and July, “Haute Couture houses must present a collection of no less than 50 original designs”.

Paris Couture Fashion Week certainly showcased some impressive designs, starting with the Schiaparelli show which went viral on social media, for the show and the guests. Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry took inspiration from Dante’s Inferno, using the terrors encountered in the first circle of hell as hy-

per-realistic elements of the collection. The three terrors, a leopard, a lion, and a shewolf, were created in a faux taxidermy style and attached to models on the runway and Kylie Jenner, who wore a Lion head on the front row. Alongside these statement symbols of sin, Roseberry played with silhouettes and elements from menswear, combining suits and pinstripes with exaggerated hourglass shapes and bustiers.

Still, it was the animals that stole the show, as well as Doja Cat, who arrived literally head to toe in 30,000 red Swarovski crystals – an onlooker exclaiming “Do you think she’s come as the devil?” according to Vogue. The show sparked controversy from animal activists for displaying dead animals and glamourising the poaching of endangered animals.

Schiaparelli has always been about spectacle and surrealism, and it is in the nature of couture to exaggerate and create avant-garde art with their pieces. The collection aimed to reference art and hell, while subverting the idea of nature (and to an extent the use of fur in fashion) with a photorealistic representation of animals which deliberately blur the lines between man and nature in creation. “Was it nature? Or was it man?”

Although for many Roseberry’s vision was lost amongst such a shocking spectacle, and saw social media descending into a frenzy debating whether this kind of fashion was art, the show notes explain how the show reminds us that there “no ecstasy of creation without the torture of doubt”, no heaven without hell, no fashion without art.

Photo Credits: Unsplash

By Tabby bartlett

MUSIC WRITER

The possibilities of artificial intelligence seem to be infinite from personalised advertisements, social media to healthcare and manufacturing, AI has rapidly integrated into our everyday lives, without many of us even realising.

But just how valuable is this machine learning technology to the music industry, an industry that largely relies on human creativity, human experiences, and human expression.

Some argue that AI is the future, evolving music in ways never heard before. Others argue that its destroying creativity and threatening legal frameworks.

Undoubtably it’s a hot topic of debate.

The music industry historically has experienced turbulence from futuristic technologies, particularly with the movement towards online platforms so, this is not the first-time musicians have been sceptical about a futuristic technology.

On one hand, AI systems could enhance music, generate in sites and creative opportunities to anyone with access to the internet. From user prompts, AI systems can efficiently automate texts, images, and sounds in just a few minutes.

Meaning you could, from your bedroom, produce music almost instantaneously.

Already AI has been used to suggest lyrics, melodies, and album art.

Holly Herndon, self-described as a “computer musician” is an AI-generated music pioneer. She uses AI powered vocal clones to generate her music.

Holly believes that lap-

tops are “the most intimate instrument[s]”. Her AI-music feels dystopian and powerful. With Holly constructing a vocal clone it raises the issue of intellectual property and legal protection. How would the future look with AI vocal clones?

Already, websites such as Draky.it are surfacing. Draky.it is an AI backed website which allows fans to generate Drakelike songs from any prompt within minutes. Its enabling fans to be creative on an algorithmically generated platform to itch that scratch before the next drop.

In January Nick Cave, the Bad Seeds fronter, expressed major concerns for AI within the music industry after a fan sent him a ChatGPT AI-generated lyrics in the style of his work.

Nick Cave lyrics generated by ChatGPT:

“[I] walk the streets, with my head held high/I’ve got my demons, but I’ll make them fly/I’ll dance with the devil, and I’ll play his game/I’ll be the one, to call his name”. “I’ve got the blood of angels on my hands/ I’ve got the fire of hell, in my eyes/ I’m the king of the abyss, I’m the ruler of the dark/ I’m the

one that they fear, in the shadows they hark”

- Mark, Christchurch, New Zealand.

After receiving this, Nick voiced that the AI generated lyrics were “a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human” and that real songs arise from “complex, internal human struggle of creation”. He stated that “The apocalypse is well on its way.” Given that Nick is currently engaged in the depths of song writing for a new Bad Seeds album, AI generated lyrics hit home.

He stressed that song writing is “a blood and guts business” that “requires something of me to initiate the new and fresh idea”.

He ended with “there is a line in there that speaks to me...I have got the fire of hell in my eyes and it’s ChatGTP”.

AI is a powerful tool which could generate new in sites and new creative opportunities, but it must also be remembered that this technology could interfere with the raw beauty of music.

Or will it perhaps be the start to a whole new era, re-writing the foundations of the music industry as we know it? An exciting but scary thought.

So, AI in the music industry... embrace or fear?

the future of music production: Artificial Intelligence

Photo Credits: Unsplash all

top

Taylor Swift’s music video for Lavender Haze spread a lot of joy as her love interest was acted by Laith Ashley, a transgender man. In the spirit of spreading more love, I wanted to share some LGBTQ+ love songs to vibe, dance and in some cases cry to. As a disclaimer, I’d like to say that they’re not in any kind of order, no tea, just vibes.

By Badriya Abdullah deputy Concrete editor

be accepting of who you are.

This song had me in a chokehold for the majority of summer last year. With the early 2000s rock vibe, this is the ultimate “you should be with me instead of that other person” song because...well that’s what this song is all about. I’ll admit I’ve never been in that situation before but nonetheless this is the perfect song to daydream about the situation where someone finally realises they should be with you.

I’m going to place this into the ‘self-love’ category (so I could have an excuse to put another rock song into this list). It’s a great middle finger to help you embrace yourself unapologetically even if it’s for a few minutes.

4. for the girls - Haley Kiyoko

Haley Kiyoko is a certified queer icon and this song is just preppy, upbeat and perfect for dancing in your room dreaming about summer. The music video is also a hilarious parody of ‘The Bachelor’ if you’re down for a good laugh too.

We’ve all had doubts about love, and sometimes it’s hard to gauge if taking the next step (or even the first step) is right for us. Keiynan’s song asks us to embrace those fears but to be open to love. Whether you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community or not, may this song give your the courage to ask that person out, or even just embrace and love yourself a little bit more.

This song is just sexy and I love it. The pinnacle of sapphic desire, chef’s kiss, 10/10. It’s upbeat and a really fun song to dance to.

9.

The first of the “going to make you cry songs” with a music video to match. Ever love someone so much but you can’t express it until it suddenly overwhelms you and all you can do is shout it out?

This song is your answer. It’s also the perfect song to serenade someone to, especially if they’re called Ashley.

The song title itself comes from an Arabic phrase meaning “you bury me”. Sometimes your love for someone can feel so strong that you feel like you can’t live without them, and this song encompasses that emotion completely. Whether you want to cry or slow dance, this song would be the perfect choice with its minimal instrumental and beautiful lyrics.

Another one to make the people cry. ‘Boys in the Street’ narrates the tale of a father and his gradual acceptance of his gay son. The journey of coming out and having your loved ones be accepting of you is a slow one at times, but whether your family is blood or chosen, they should always

If you haven’t had someone ask you what your love language is by now, I don’t know where you’ve been. Whether it’s quality time or acts of service (my top two love languages) expressing your love and being receptive to how other people express their love is important. This is highlighted by Kehlani’s song and their desire to learn their partner’s love language so they can give them exactly what they need.

10. Happiness is a BoyMatthew Orgel

We’re ending on a happy note, I promise. This song has only been released recently but it is so beautiful. A piano ballad that throws away the notion of having to love ‘a right way’ in order to feel happiness.

1. she knows it - Maddie Lindermann

2. Ashley - Zolita

3. EAT ME - Demi Lovato ft. Royal & the Serpent

5. Kiss the Boy - Keiynan Lonsdale

6. Ya’aburnee - Halsey

7. Boys in the Street - Greg Holden

8. she calls me daddy - KiNG MALA

Love Language - Kehlani

10 songs to have on yout valentines playlist this year (spoilers it’s very gay)

“this song is just preppy, upbeat and perfect for dancing in your room”

Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Unsplash

sex playlist advice

Soooo... sex playlists. Many people have one, many people use them, but not many people know where to start. Do you just add a load of Doja Cat? And a generous amount of The Weeknd? With a smidge of Cigarettes After Sex? Now, to help all of you sex playlist virgins out there, I undertook an extremely academic research project, using only the best resources to get my answers – my private Instagram story.

With numerous responses from a whole range of people, I finally have the answers to the best saucy tunes out there!

Upon approaching this article, I was a bit sceptical since not everyone has the same music taste. Whilst some prefer mainstream, others prefer alternative, and whilst some prefer some heavy bass tones, others opt for softer, more intimate ambiances.

So, in exploring all of the suggestions my close friends story had for me, I have picked a range of tunes which should fit whatever atmosphere you’ve got going on.

From Arctic Monkeys to Hozier, there’ll be at least a few songs which will become absolute staples within your sex playlist.

So, without further ado, here are the top 25 songs which everyone should be adding to their sex playlists...

1. Dreaming of you – Cigarettes After Sex

2. Pillowtalk – Zayn

3. Redbone – Childish Gambino

4. Self-control – Frank Ocean

5. Tear you apart – She Wants Revenge

6. Call out my name – The Weeknd

7. American Money – BORNS

8. Streets – Doja Cat

9. White Roses – Casual Sex

10. Love songs (remix) – Kaash Paige, 6LACK

By anonymous music writer

11. Hit Different – SZA, The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams, Ty Dollar $ign

12. Often – The Weeknd

13. Cherry – Lana Del Rey

14. Better – Khalid

15. Sweater weather – The Neighbourhood

16. I wanna be yours – Arctic Monkeys

17. Talk – Hozier

18. BABYDOLL – Ari Abdul

19. Wicked Games – The Weeknd

20. HEARTBEAT – Isabel LaRosa

21. Love me to death – Nikki Idol

22. Wrong – MAX

23. Yeah, I said It – Rihanna

24. Woman – Emmit Fenn

25. I’m yours – Isabel LaRosa

Hopefully, these give you a good idea of what the average sex playlist looks (and sounds) like. Whether you’re coming away from this article with a whole new playlist or have just taken one that sounds like it fits your vibe, do your friends a public service and tell them all to spruce up their sex playlists with these gems. Afterall, there’s nothing like music to get you in the mood.

“there’s nothing like music to get you in the mood.”

Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Unsplash

By Lizzie Bray

Film Writer

The framework for any headlining noughties romcom is boy meets girl, obstacles prevent said boy and girl from being together, complications ensue, ultimately leading to boy and girl’s realisation that they were just meant to be together. Somewhere in between is Hugh Grant in a dress shirt, reading a Jane Austen novel, and dipped in chocolate. The novelty of what to expect from a romcom is what makes them a sickening, guilty pleasure: the coffee shop meet cute, the

Editor: Tom Porteus Film

makeover montage soundtracked by an ironic Britpop tune, and the grand running-through-the-airport declarations of love.

The actual relationships, however? Not a fan. Yes, we all dream of heartthrob Colin Firth swooping in to save the day over our blue leek soup, and one day hope to cross off ‘serenaded with a boombox’ and ‘be chauffeured on a lawn mower’ off the bucket list. But the terrible truth is Danny Zuko and every other love interest with great hair are, indeed, toxic. The Notebook’s Ryan Gosling threatens to fall from a Ferris wheel until McAdams agrees to go on a date with him. Twilight’s Kristen Stewart gives up her entire life for

R-Patz, a hundred-or-so year old vampire that watches her sleep, and Meryl Streep is in fact not the devil in Prada, it is Hathaway’s unsupportive boyfriend who I never remember the name of. The ultimate, reciprocated toxic relationship is between the so-vain characters of Andie Anderson and Ben

Barry in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Despite their phenomenally unromantic and rather manipulative origin story, Andie eventually gives up her dream job to be with Barry, a guy she knew, you guessed it, ten days. Yet, it is the Daniel Cleaver’s and Johnny Castles of the world that leave this genre wrapped up in cotton wool. All in all, Ryan Gosling sending handwritten letters every day for a year without a response is downright romantic and I, too would depressingly

stare outside my window for a few months if my vampire boyfriend vanished into thin air.

It’s the hopeless romantic in us all that cling to these notions, seemingly questionable notions, of love because we do have an incessant need to prove love conquers all and blah, blah, blah. In real life, a handful of our favourite romcom relationships do not stand a chance, possibly down to the fact if any other person apart from Ryan Gosling harassed me for a year, I’d call the police. A good thing for us, they remain in the perfect world of Richard Curtis and therefore, I will continue to route for Ferris wheel hangouts and duetting Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain as a passive aggressive way to say I love you.

However, now and again the ‘so bad, it’s good’ rule cannot justify everything…you were not on a break, and you should’ve stayed on the plane, Rachel.

The Beauty of Toxic Love in Cinema

Photo Credits: Unsplash, Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash

Editor: Tom Porteus Film 21

What makes a good sex scene?

By Joseph Collins

Film Writer

The cult classic film High Fidelity features a scene in which Rob Gordan (played fantastically by John Cusack) rekindles his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Laura. Sat in the front seat of her car, Laura explains that she wants to get back together, and feel something other than the misery she’s been under recently. The scene is about changing your mind, about coming back together, and about the fact that sex (partially through mere pleasure, partially through emotional closeness) is used to deal with tragedy. It is, arguably, an example of a very good sex scene.

A good sex scene should not aim to please or titillate

any particular member of the audience. There’s rarely a real need for a sex scene to be especially crude; it’s a cheap thrill that demonstrates laziness on the director’s part. A bad sex scene relies purely on people’s bodies: on shapes and on curves. Bodies, interesting as they are, cannot, on their own, demonstrate interpersonal connections.

A good sex scene, however, should be used to explore the emotional complexities around relationships. Sex is rarely a purely practical endeavor; it’s not really ever just about kids, or merely about pleasure. A good sex scene should reflect

this. The scene should explain something, it should explain what a character wants, or what they don’t have. It’s enlightening that it is said that we have sex, with someone, as opposed to do sex with someone. When you’re having sex with someone, you are having them, to embrace one another is to almost belong, even for a moment, to the other. A good sex scene can show how sex can be used to try and hold someone emotionally close, to try and have them. Sometimes, as is the case with Rob and Laura, physical intimacy is so intertwined with emotional acceptance that the two are almost one in the same. A good sex scene shows this. A good sex scene can show how sex brings people back together. Of course, pleasure cannot replace

connection, but it is impossible to completely separate the two. Connection breeds physical closeness, and vice versa. Even when done in the front seat of a car, in a clumsy fashion, with minimal room and damp clothes, sex can represent an endearing and sweet example of how emotions grow and change between two people. And how, sometimes, people come back together.

Weird and Wonderful Movie Crushes

Strange crushes, admit it we have all had them at one point in our lives one way or another. I know I have, from attractive anthropomorphic foxes to evil villains and even sexy serial killers, let’s walk you through some of the most unusual media crushes that still manage to get you feeling flustered when they pop up on screen.

Nala from The Lion King, Oh, dear lord! Shout out to Eddie Redmayne who shares this adoration for her. The animators knew exactly what they were doing with this one, everyone remembers the “Can you Feel the Love tonight,” scene where Nala lays back onto the grass and gazes deeply into Simba’s eyes. Pure sexual tension.

Continuing with anthropomorphism, a favourite of mine is Gill from Finding Nemo. We love the dark and mysterious archetype. Its suave and sexy. Plus, anyone with battle scares is infinitely hotter, even if they are swimming about in the ocean blue.

A couple no brainers to add to the

list are Jessica Rabbit, and Lola from Shark Tale. Stunning in their red capacity and both overly sexualised women, problematic elements aside, simply gorgeous.

Moving swiftly on from animated cartoons (although I could literally talk forever about them) I’m hitting it off with Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct. A seductive serial killer of her unexpecting male victims! Her erotism, persuasion and intellect seem to capture the entire audience. Say what you want about killers but intellect in any capacity is inherently quite attractive.

Speaking of attraction… humour. It’s goddam sexy and no one can convince me otherwise. Anyone that can make you laugh is immediately more attractive and that goes for celebrities too. Without a shadow of a doubt Jack Black in School of Rock is and always will be an all-time favourite guilty crush of mine. His wit and chaos are second to none. It’s the same with Seth Rogen, a man who is not stereotypically attractive, but

BY Ray Khawaja Venue Deputy

his humour manages to light everyone up.

Now for some honourable mentions: these funnily include Gadget from Chip ‘n Dale, Robot from Lost in Space and Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch Yes, I know it’s a cat, but you’d be surprised what a 500- year- old witch who tried to take over the world can do to you. Basically, a bad-boy crush which is my eyes is totally valid.

And there you have it, most definitely an interesting assortment of crushes but valid non the less.

Credit: Unsplash

Credit: Unsplash

Editor: Tom Porteus Film

LGBTQ+ Heroes of Film

By LOUISE COLLINS VENUE EDITOR

Credit: UnsplashCredit: UnsplashCredit: Wikimedia Commons

Queer representation in film has always been an interesting topic of conversation, some people claim there’s too much, others state that the representation is of a poor standard, and many, like me, agree that, quite frankly, there isn’t enough. Although, recently, queer representation has been a lot more mainstream. In this article, I’m going to discuss some of my favourite queer representations on screen, and behind the camera.

Now, the idea of an ‘LGBTQ+ hero’ is interesting because what does it mean? Does it mean that they’re simply an iconic character, or is it that they’re heroes in the film they’re in? Well, I’m going to look at both, because honestly, queer characters can be so heroic to baby queers, simply for existing.

First off, we have those who can be considered actual heroes. Benoit Blanc from Knives Out has been making the rounds on social media for his incredible playsuit, as well as his suggested husband played by Hugh Grant. Blanc’s heroic solving of crimes and protecting of the innocent has made everyone fall in love with

him. Deena from Fear Street is one of my favourite lesbian characters of all time. She’s so determined and fights so hard for who she loves, and she doesn’t shy away from her queerness. Based on a true story, we have Lola/Simon from Kinky Boots. In the film, their sexuality is left ambiguous, but their stunning performances as a Drag Queen leaves an audience wowed. Also based on a true story, we have the main gang from Pride. The way this wonderful group of queer men and women worked together to save a mining town is so utterly moving, and the characters, and the real people they’re based on, are true LGBTQ+ heroes.

Other queer characters that stand out to me are Alexandra and Sin-Dee from Tangerine. They are both transgender sex workers going about their day tracking down Sin-Dee’s cheating boyfriend. Jamie New in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (based on the musical of the same name and based on a real story. Jamie New is a gay drag queen who celebrates all things camp in such an unforgettable way. Danielle in Shiva Baby provides ex-

cellent representation of both bisexuality and Judaism in this comedy film written and directed by Emma Seligman, a queer director and screenwriter.

Which leads me on to the LGBTQ+ heroes behind the camera. Celine Sciamma, for example, is a lesbian screenwriter and director who dedicates her work to portraying gender expression and sapphic love. She has consistently protested gender inequality and sexual harassment in the industry, as well as created incredibly moving films such as Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Similarly, Alice Wu is a lesbian director and screenwriter known for her queer films The Half of It and Saving Face. Greg Berlanti director of The Broken Hearts Club, a semi-autobiographical tale of his life, and Love, Simon is publicly gay, and many of his other films are dedicated to the queer experience.

I could have spoken about so many more characters and filmmakers, but hopefully this piece has been a good enough introduction to LGBTQ+ heroes in film.

By millie smith-

clare tv editor

As February comes around once again, it can be welcomed with an audible groan from some. But whether you are spending Valentine’s Day coupled up, with friends, or as a chilled evening for one, it is the perfect time to dive into the love stories on the small screen. So why don’t you grab a hot

Editor: Millie Smith-Clare TV

drink of choice, whatever heart-shaped snacks you have lying around, and cosy up to watch these TV recommendations of both the sweet and messy depictions of love.

Normal People –Based on Sally Rooney’s critically acclaimed novel of the same title, this 12-episode series follows the complex relationship of Marianne and Connell. It follows their love story from their high school years to their college studies in Dublin. This series manages to encapsulate the realistic riseand-fall of young love.

Fleabag – Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s brainchild, Fleabag, is the perfect exploration of human connections. We painfully relate to Fleabag as she desperately attempts to stay afloat in the world of dating and relationships. The raw and human longing between Fleabag and the Hot Priest in the show’s second season, makes for both beautiful and gut-wrenching viewing. (Sidenote: be prepared to go on a rollercoaster of emotions)

Feel Good – This semi-autobiographical series depicts the character Mae, a stand-up comedian, who is a recovering addict. Her life is further complicated as she navigates her messy new relationship with her closeted girlfriend George

Valentine’s day tv recommendations

Sex Education – This quirky comedy drama series refreshingly discusses love, sex and relationships in an open way. At Moordale High School, socially awkward Otis decides to create an underground sex therapy clinic with savvy and rebellious Maeve. Otis draws upon the knowledge gained from his mum’s day job, a sex therapist. If you fancy a relatable and witty watch, which balances compassion with humour, this is well worth a viewing!

The Office (US) , S2 Episode 16: ‘Valentine’s Day’ – The usual antics of Dunder Mifflin are as present as ever in this holiday-themed episode. The office celebrate Valentine’s Day, with upset caused as salesperson Phyllis is inundated by gifts from Bob Vance (of Vance Refrigeration).

Photo Credits: Unsplash

(played by Charlotte Ritchie).

Editor: Millie Smith-Clare

The best LGBTQ+ couples on our screens

By lily boag

venue deputy editor

With Valentine’s Day and LGBTQ+ history month, February marks the perfect time to celebrate young queer love. So where better to start than exploring the most memorable LGBTQ+ couples on our screens?

Based on Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper graphic novels, the heart-warming Netflix series of the same name proudly presents young queer love in its purest form while tackling real queer struggles like casual homophobia. A romance slowly unfolds as schoolboy Charlie falls for classmate Nick Nelson. One moment stands out in the show: Nick embracing his bisexuality as he comes out to his mother, in an emotional heart-to-heart over a cup of tea.

Falling for each other in the fifth season, Willow and Tara on

Buffy the Vampire Slayer are considered by many as an iconic and ground-breaking LGBTQ couple for television in the early 2000s. As one of the first examples of bisexual or lesbian representation for audiences at the time, in many ways, the show encouraged young queer women to accept and embrace their sexuality. The show offered a heart-warming glimpse into the world of young queer love, but where Heartstopper succeeded, was in ensuring queer characters could thrive without death or disaster looming.

In Sex Education , Eric and Adam’s relationship has always been divisive. After Eric fell for his school bully, feeding into harmful LGBTQ+ tropes, he embraces his identity as an openly gay Black man. Aspiring to be out and proud, Eric tackles homophobia at school and overcomes issues of cultural acceptance with his Nigerian family. Adam greatly evolves as a character, coming to terms with his own bisexuality. Although their relationship was troubled from the start, it’s important to acknowledge that it helped them carve their way towards queer self-acceptance.

From the moment she moved to town, Rue was mesmerised by Jules. The inseparable pair shared a love so intense, their friendship spiralled

into a romance that ended up in turmoil and heartbreak. While Rue’s drug addiction in Euphoria leaves her depending on Jules to pick up the pieces, Jules withdraws from being accountable, crumbling under the pressure. Like much of the show, their toxic relationship is romanticised and glamourised. But with Jules identifying as a trans queer woman, Euphoria offers a glimpse into love without boundaries, showcasing a queer relationship that enables freedom of sexuality and gender identity, something that does not break them, but brings them closer together.

Set in the Chicago South Side, where families struggle to survive day-to-day against a life of poverty and crime, Shameless follows the lives of the notorious Gallagher family who will do anything they can to get by. In a queer twist on the girl-next-door trope, Ian Gallagher falls for Chicago gangster Mickey Milkovich who comes from a violent criminal family in the neighbourhood. Despite the odds against them, their complicated relationship stands strong through thick and thin. They’re a couple who are willing to fight for all that they have, both emotionally and physically, and throughout eleven seasons, they overcome it all.

Realness and Romance – Exploring our obsession with reality TV dating shows

I am a self-professed reality television junkie. I have seen every episode of The Real Housewives of Cheshire . I can recite different scenes from Celebrity Big Brother . But there’s something about reality romance shows that fuels a collective obsession. Love Island has just returned for its ninth series, First Dates has a primetime slot, and Married at First Sight had record viewing figures last year. What does it say for our collective psyche that we love reality dating shows? What’s so fascinating to us about watching people stumble through the awkward flirting and hand-holding stage?

I think there’s two parts to this. Firstly, the lack of competition. Sure, on Love Island , there is a competitive element to try and win £50,000 for the first-place couple, and I don’t doubt the inevitable six-figure deal with Oh Polly or Pretty Little Thing is a nice bonus. But sometimes, the couples who stick together, even if they don’t win, make for the most compelling storylines. It’s the journey they took to get there, watching them fall in love (albeit in a very strange environment) that gets us invested. The couples I’ve been invested in

By izzy millen tv

writer

have been the ones where we’ve got to watch their relationship bloom even if there’s been other clear frontrunners for the prize money.

Secondly, humanity. Everyone remembers their first date, their first kiss, and the first time they said “I love you” to someone. When we’re watching First Dates or The Millionaire Matchmaker , you’re seeing snippets of people’s first dates. Sometimes it’s the disastrous ones that stick in our minds, where someone completely puts their foot in it, and you’re curled up yelling “NO!”. But watching people get butterflies, desperately trying to make a good impression, and then developing a little crush – there’s something about it that fills my heart.

Love is something we all want and deserve – and getting a little taste of people finding love gives you a little glow. I love love, and I truly believe it makes the world go round. So, seeing people perhaps starting their own great love story is something I’ll continue to watch forever.

Hot and Heavy vs. Cringe and Crude, Part 2 – The Best and Worst of Sex Scenes in TV

BY Louise collins and ray khawaja venue editor

and venue deputy editor

Last year, I (Louise) wrote ‘Hot and Heavy Vs. Crude and Cringe’, all about the best and worst sex scenes in film. Well, this year, I’m back to talk about TV, and I brought a friend. And, oh boy, do we have some steamy and uncomfortable scenes for you.

Best –

Kate and Anthony, Bridgerton S2, E7 – Unlike Season One, this season only shows one sex scene between the main pairing, but wow, what a scene. Kate and Anthony are utterly obsessed with each other as the season progresses, the tension slowly building until they can’t keep their hands off each other. As Anthony lovingly undresses Kate, it’s hard not to fall for the ravishing rake.

Mae and George, Feel Good , S2, E2 – As the pair start using dirty talk, the communication & the reassurance is so encouraging to watch. There’s so much humour and emotion within the scene, and it definitely hits a level of ~spice~.

Marianne and Connell, Normal People , E2 – The first time they have sex is so awkward, tender and honest, showing all the messy realities that come with sex. In a way which TV often glosses over, this is a refreshingly accurate portrayal of two people figuring it out along the way.

Lucifer and Chloe, Lucifer , S5, E6 – After four seasons of sexy slow-burn, our resident dashing devil Lucifer and everyone’s favourite Detective Decker finally make love. It’s hot, steamy, and full of devotion. As the camera pans away,

Chloe moans his name, with ‘Tether Me’ playing, it’s hard not to find this scene “incredible”.

Worst –

Jonah and Amy, Superstore , S3, E22 – now, this show had us all begging for Jonah and Amy to get together, and when they finally did, it was stunning. However, they forgot about the hidden camera, accidentally livestreaming their lustful lovemaking. The audience is torn between cheering them on and cringing with discomfort.

Joe and Beck, You , S1, E3 –this entire show is problematic and has awful sex scenes when you think of the power imbalance, however, the first time Joe and Beck have sex is HORRIFIC to watch. The poor guy (well, not really) orgasms ten seconds after he enters the unlucky woman. I genuinely think I screamed out of second-hand embarrassment.

Homelander and Stormfront, The Boys , S2, E5 - An insanely good TV show but the sex... ouch! Not what good sex looks or feels like. When Homelander and Stormfront fuck, it is unnecessarily aggressive. Don’t get me wrong rough sex can be sexy and fun but if you had the type of Superhero foreplay these guys were having, you would end up with more broken bones than a boxer.

Time for the honourable mentions …

New Girl - Jess and Nick’s first kiss in S2 E15 had ALL of the passion without any sex.

The line “I’d meant some

thing like that” holds so much emotion – especially when you add the breathlessness into the mix. 10/10 kiss, will not stop thinking about it.

Fleabag - The God-damn intensity of this kiss in insane and lives rent free in my head. The passion after Father tells her to kneel brings so much fire... hot.

Sex Education – This show is fantastic regarding discussions about sex and sexuality however so many of the sex scenes, especially with Otis, are a bit too awkward, albeit completely realistic, to enjoy.

Now, our definitions of best and worst aren’t necessarily conducive to how hot we actually think these scenes are, but it often depends on the context and how quickly the hotness turns into a cold, cold shower. So, we hope you’ve had fun with this piece – we know we did!

Photo Credits: Unsplash

Editor: Jess Clifford Gaming 27

By Samuel Kirk

games writer

The phrase “censorship in video games’’ conjures images of enraged YouTube thumbnails and commentators fuming over the removal of a provocative pose. However, this is an issue deeper than Overwatch skins. Politics and video games are indivisible. Censorship proves that video games have the same cultural weight as films or television. FIFA 17, a team’s players could be clad in a rainbow kit to show support for LGBTQ+ rights, and it was

banned from the Russian version of the game. There is a long history of moral panics associating school shootings with violent video games. Games are deemed to be so affecting as to warrant these kinds of discussions and political actions, therefore they can be subject to a similar level of analysis as more traditional media. The maxim “video games are art” means that they can be viewed critically, and within our current cultural context.

events from World War Two. In Germany the game does not allow you to view the portraits of key Nazi political figures and swastikas are replaced with iron crosses, and this seems reasonable. Furthermore, no matter where you play the game you will find no mention of the holocaust. Whilst there might be an argument for including the event in the name of historical accuracy, or so as not to forget and obscure the tragedy, it is also reasonable to assume that a strategy game mainly concerned with drawing battle plans and ahistorical “what ifs” would not be equipped to handle such a serious topic with the gravity it requires.

in terms of severity, but I find it interesting how the famine is not only included, but actually affects the gameplay.

Paradox Interactive’s flagship title, Hearts of Iron IV, omits certain key

However, Hearts of Iron IV also contains mention of the Bengal famine of 1943, and how the British government refused to import food. This article is not the place to compare the famine and the holocaust

Censorship in Video Games

The game itself says “Recruitment numbers for the army have also dropped considerably as more and more people refuse to leave their homes to fight for a government that does nothing to help them” And this provides a negative percentage to the amount of troops you can recruit. So why is this genocide included? I’m not calling for its omission, but rather a questioning of where the line is when it comes to censorship. As video games become art, are these not the questions we should be asking ourselves?

Photo Credits: Unsplash all

“Politics and video gams are indivisible.”

“are these not the questions we should be asking ourselves?”

Editor: Jess Clifford Gaming

The Hidden world of Strip Clubs in VR Chat

By Jessica Clifford

games Editor

VRChat is a free game where players create their own spaces to go to and communicate with others. It is best used with a VR headset where avatars are capable of lip syncing, blinking and more with eye tracking, but it can also be played in ‘desktop mode’ with just a PC. With the ability to fully customise your character, it allows people to represent themselves in ways that they perhaps would not be able to in real life. This can be affirming for people who are questioning their gender, sexuality and it allows expression for those who simply want to change their style. It was also extremely popular in the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdowns, where friends met to simulate hanging out. My partner and his friends did this by creating a fake version of their local nightclub, with one friend being the DJ and the others having been assigned roles so they could go on a night out while we were all in lockdown. It is a great tool and can be used in many different ways.

Club DD is a space in VR chat where performers from around the world, including the US, England and Iceland, congregate and put on showcases to express themselves, but you would not know it. Not unless you knew someone in the community who then invited you to discord. And once you have made your way to the server, the underground world opens up to you. Some clubs are mainly for talent and dance and others are NSFW, where performers imitate sexual acts creating a unique distinc-

tion from IRL (in real life) clubs where touching is forbidden. There are various dance styles such as hip hop, pole and exotic, outsiders tend to call these spaces strip clubs but within the community they are simply called dance clubs.

ShuuCheri is the owner of Club DD. In the real world, she works as a VR Games Designer and virtually, she performs within VR Chat. I spoke to her recently and we discussed why people enjoy performing in VR chat within these communities. She emphasised the overall joy in performing that people experience. This can be in part due to the factor of anonymity “A lot of people find joy and relief of their stress and burdens when they’re performing but the anxiety and fear of being seen on stage or having performances become tangled with their personal or professional life is rough for them. But being able to have an anonymous performance persona as whatever character they want is empowering to us all’. The ability to perform in an NSFW way can be liberating too, with the ability to not have their IRL person attached to their avatar allowing expression and opportunities that are not there in the real world.

Sex work is still taboo in the world we live in now, even with the expanded awareness and acceptance of platforms such as Only Fans it is still a difficult transition from the world of sex work into the ‘professional world’, and even harder to maintain both. Sexual expression is a similar issue, where we are constantly told to be conscious of what we post to social media so that we do not give off ‘the wrong impression’ and wound our future prospects, or jeopardise what we have now. Safe spaces like VRChat which provide anonymity are incredible in this aspect, the way they provide the ability to try something new, express your sexuality or as ShuuCheri said ‘get spicy’ in a safe environment is a pioneering way that the internet and the gaming industry

is allowing for self expression. I know many people who say that if they could do it without revealing their identity, they would join OnlyFans to make content for money. VRChat solves that problem, although it is currently an underground community.

When the VR headsets were first made, I doubt that publishers were looking for them to be used in this way, or the other NSFW usages such as dating and sex simulators, VR porn experiences, and more. But that is the exciting thing about technology, once it is produced it is malleable to be utilised in the ways that users see fit, often in ways that the producers themselves did not think of. The world of VR porn, strip clubs, sex work and more will expand as the years go on and technology gets more advanced, allowing more people to express themselves in a non-hazardous environment and without detriment to their personal and professional lives. These VR experiences keep more than just your identity safe as well, with the inability to be touched physically in real life nonconsensually, although the concept of consent in VR chat is something that needs to be explored more, and the ability to simply log off when you are uncomfortable.

Overall VRChat Dance Clubs like ClubDD are a space of expression and fun, and a great example of what can be done with the internet and advancing technology, I really look forward to seeing how the world of online interactions will change in the coming years and especially for more places for people to express who they are.

Photo: Clubdd_vr Instagram

Photo: Clubdd_vr Instagram

Gaming 29

Editor: Jess Clifford

Sexualization of Female Characters in the Gaming Industry

The sexualisation of female characters has been a topic of debate for a while, but the premise sits in the why?

Why are these characters so overly sexualised?

What makes the creators choose this?

Is this because of a male-dominated industry?

One where men are prompted to play more to satisfy a sexual fantasy about an animated character?

When first beginning the research into this article, I happened to google a list of female video game characters, just to see what came up. One of the first links led to a list that ranked the ‘Top 50 Sexiest Female Characters of All Time’- this was without any suggestion of a more erotic nature in the search.

It can be said that the gaming industry has improved in inclusivity in recent years, with a roughly 50/50 ratio between male and female gamers, according to Statista. However, the fix on the hyper-sexualisation of these characters remains popular.

The issue with this is the impact it can have on harmful stereotypes, it reinforces an idea that women are sexual objects to be desired, drawn with usually revealing clothes and unrealistic body standards. It can be argued they are there to be sexualised by players and promotes the idea that these characters are nothing more than the intimate pining of an outdated, problematic notion.

Such examples of these characters are Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, Chun Li from Street Fighter, and Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII- female characters who have been created in the intention of fighting but have been overtly sexualised without reason. It can be said that this is the marketability of video games, the use of these characters sells the games, but it’s the use of these tactics that become dangerous to gender stereotypes.

Getting back to my previous point on the unrealistic body standards these characters also promote, for any young gamers coming into the industry, it can change their view on what an adult women should look like. For any female-identifying gamers, who are perhaps in their young teens, and are already in a complicated times in their lives- these de-

By jess Gibbs games Writer

pictions of the ‘ideal’ female body in these games may cause a really damaging effect to their development.

In the opposite sense, for all young players, it may cast a detrimental and objectifying outlook on women. It creates the idea of sexualisation in their heads, and, in our evolving society, it is a step back from the progress of powerful female protagonists that have been seen in other forms of media.

However, classic overtly sexual female video game characters have been being adapted to our modern society, such as Lara Croft- who in more recent adaptations has been seen more covered rather than her outfits from the 1990s- which for one of the most ‘wanted’ video characters is an improvement.

Both female and male game characters are sexualised, with detailed abs, and intimate body parts being depicted as larger than the average person. All in all, it is a large problem that remains in the industry, and is one that needs to be acknowledged and addressed for us as a society to progress from.

Photo Credits: Unsplash

Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons

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Clubbing FOMO from anon

Anne Glia

TW: Substance Abuse

Q: I’ve never thought it was wrong to not enjoy clubbing, and neither have any of my friends. After struggling with mild substance abuse for a while, I decided to go clean off mostly everything, during which I realised I don’t like clubbing, so I’ve decided to just stop going to clubs. I’m so fortunate that all my friends respect this; we hang out in other capacities, and I’m never made to feel less for choosing to stay sober or not wanting to go to a club. Sounds good, right?

But I still can’t stop feeling like I miss out when they go clubbing. Logically, I know I’m not missing out on much; the same music I hate played on repeat while people stand around awkwardly. I know my friends go clubbing because they enjoy it and they are well within their right to do this. Obviously, I can’t expect my friends to stop because it makes me miss clubbing; that’d be ridiculous! But I’m confused as to why I still miss it. Do I miss my party days, getting drunk or high? Why do I still feel terrible even though I know I wouldn’t enjoy myself? What do I do to stop feeling like I’m missing out?

A: Hey! Thanks so much for your submission, especially for bringing up an important issue of university culture.

Firstly, a huge well done to you for being able to take control of your substance abuse issues, that’s an amazing achievement. Taking accountability for yourself and putting the action plan in place to prioritise your well-being is huge, you should be so proud of yourself. It’s really great to hear that your friends are respectful, and it’s clear that you are genuinely friends not just going-out mates if you’re hanging out in other capacities. These are both super positive aspects, however, the issue of feeling like you’re missing out, I totally get. It’s a really common feeling, also known as FOMO (fear of missing out), that many students share, yet it doesn’t get spoken about enough. I feel like because drinking and clubbing culture is so deeply ingrained

into university life, it completely ignores the fact that not every student is going to align with these values, and therefore, it may make students (you?) feel that they’re missing out on an aspect of university that’s integral to the culture. I believe this is such a misconception, yes clubbing and drinking can be popular amongst young people, but I think it’s important to remind yourself that this then doesn’t negate the fact that people are allowed to not enjoy clubbing, it is a thing! It’s possible!

From an advice standpoint, I think you need to really allow yourself to listen to the part of you that doesn’t enjoy clubbing, you could even write down a list of all the reasons you hate it, so that when you begin to reminisce on your clubbing days you read it and remind yourself of the not so rosy reality. Looking back on the past with affection and romanticising it is something so common to people, it’s so easy to reminisce because it’s happened, it’s almost safe to go back there if that makes sense. But don’t let your brain fool you! Remember the crap music, the way it made you feel, the negative impact it had on your lifestyle, the substance abuse, all of it. Ground yourself into your true reality of how clubbing really made you feel, and what kind of person you were during your clubbing phase. It might not actually be a bad

idea, if you are still feeling the FOMO, to actually go clubbing again with your friends (provided you are sure this won’t make you slip into a substance addiction) just so you actually remember clubbing for what it is in your experience, not through romanticisation of it. The other thing I would suggest is maybe taking up a new hobby. Join a sports team or society at UEA to occupy yourself with a different activity, this should hopefully distract you and introduce new people who perhaps share the same distaste for clubbing as you do. Branching out in different social areas of your life may help you to develop meaningful relationships outside of a clubbing environment. At the end of the day, there really is more to uni than clubbing, so show that to yourself!

Again, thank you for your submission, and I hope these tips help!

- Alexandra

About Anne

Hi! I’m Alexandra and I’m this year’s Agony Aunt for Venue, Concrete’s Home of the Wonderful Senior Writer and I also study BA Sociology. My love for chatting combined with my “mum friend” nature is why I thought this role would be a good fit for me. For my role as Anne Glia, I’m aiming to provide a place where people at university can express the negativity of their experiences through placing an importance on the fact that every and all feelings are valid. I think students need to have their voices heard and expressed by other students to know that they are not alone, and most importantly it is okay to feel how they do.

Photo credits: Unsplash