/THE THE CORDUROY CLUB issue issue#3 #3
Relea se Date week starting 03 /12 /18
CONTENTS PAGE WELCOME to the 3rd Winter Issue of the Corduroy Club Magazine.
Number Order
Title , Writer & About
Article page number
1.
CONTENTS PAGE……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,2
2.
ARIANA GRANDE, MAC MILLER & THE YOKO EFFECT……………………………………………………………………... 3,4
3.
THE ROLE OF A.I. IN THE FUTURE OF POLITICS…..……………………………………………………………………... 5,6
4.
YOUTH AND THE FUTURE OF ACTIVISM…………..……………………………………………………………………... 7,8
5.
THE CRUEL REALITY OF THE FAST FASHION INDUSTY.…………………………………………………………………... 9,10
6.
AMERICAN POLITICS & MORAL BANKRUPTCY………..…………………………………………………………………... 11,12
7.
SHOULD WE LEGALIST MARIJUANA IN THE UK?….…..………………………………………………………………….. 13,14
8.
GENTRIFICATION AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITIES…..………………………………………………………………….. 15,16
9.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN FILM IN A GLOBAL FUTURE……..……………………………………………………….. 17,18
10.
FILM AND LITERATURE REVIEWS………………..…..………………………………………………………………….. 19,20
11.
ART EXHIBITION REVIEWS……….……………..…..………………………………………………………………….. 21,22
12.
MEET THE TEAM………………………………..…..………………………………………………………………….. 23,24
2
The “Yoko Effect”. The powerful (and damaging) myth that women are responsible for their male partner’s actions. The American rapper, singer and record producer Mac Miller’s tragic death reflected this very idea of the “Yoko Effect” recently. When Miller tragically died of a suspected overdose in September this year, his legacy was diluted as his ex-girlfriend - Ariana Grande - was thrown into the limelight, surrounded by a whirlwind of negative headlines and gendered slurs. So why was it, that the initial response of thousands of heartbroken, grieving fans was to blame his death on Grande? As his death was being broadcasted, articles were centered around the idea that Miller and Grande’s break-up had been a key reason for his death. This perspective, that so many adopted in light of his death, did not stem from anything that Miller or Grande said; instead, it was quite the opposite of what both of them had publicly stated regarding their breakup. Miller’s response to Grande’s engagement to Pete Davidson was, “It’s all positive energy” in an interview with Beats 1. “I am happy for her in moving forward with her life,” he continued, “just as I’m sure she is with me.” Grande’s comments about their breakup mirrored a similar outlook as Miller’s. She had always prayed for his sobriety and cared for him deeply. There is nothing to suspect that these statements are not genuine in any way, but even that is not enough to stop speculation about Grande’s responsibility for Miller’s death. Grande being blamed for Miller’s death is not the first example (nor will it be the last) of a woman being blamed for a male’s actions. The “Yoko Effect” has been around since before social media platforms existed. An example of this is the relationship between Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain. Courtney was blamed for Kurt’s addiction to heroin as well as for faking his suicide (both of which are untrue). This was twenty years before social media existed. However, the comment section in Courtney’s Instagram posts are still riddled with claims and conspiracies that blame her for his death. The toxic nature of the “Yoko Effect” is still so apparent in the 21st century. The progression for women has been significant, but the death of Mac Miller highlights how there is still a firm belief that it is acceptable for women to be subordinate and to take responsibility for the actions of the men in their lives. Lily Iqbal
4
“Wall-E for mayor” by Georgia Sims
Artificial
Intelligence
&
There are however some disadvantages to AI politicians which must also be considered, for example, the fact that there would be companies controlling them behind the scenes. The people who would have created the AI would have access to the code and be able to
Politics By Saanya Verma
control how the politician would make decisions, which may allow the problem of corruption to arise.
According to the Edelman annual trust and credibility survey in 2017, only 29% of respondents said they felt that they could trust politicians and their decisions which, following the incredibly close Brexit vote and bitterly fought campaign, is hardly surprising. In order to combat this, one solution, which has been proposed, is for AI to run for elections instead of humans. During the recent presidential elections in Russia, the AI “Alice” ran as a candidate, receiving around 25,000 votes, and she isn’t the only one.
As well as this, it is debatable as to whether AI would be able to handle ethical dilemmas. Say automating all jobs would benefit the economy, and then the AI politician would likely propose such legislation. Although this probably wouldn’t be passed, these AI politicians would have to understand how their laws would affect people to prevent any radical or extreme ideas from emerging. In conclusion, while AI will not have been developed enough to play a key part in Brexit, it may be able to help in the future at the rate that it is evolving. There are even possibilities that it may be able to have a large role in postBrexit Britain, solving the possible pitfall of losing access to the EU labour markets, by taking on some of the jobs lacking skilled workers. Although the idea of AI being in politics is a rather scary one in some ways, it will be able to help countries all over the world if used correctly.
While the idea of an AI politician may appear foreign or scary, there are also multiple benefits that come with it. Not only are they logical, taking a non-partisan view of national interests and using weighted solutions instead of emotion to calculate the best decisions, but they also react incredibly quickly, analysing and drawing conclusions from data seven times faster than the human brain. As well as this, an AI politician is continuously available for contact. At any time of the day, 7 days a week, it would be accessible for people to ask questions, discuss current affairs, etc., allowing it to communicate with thousands of people daily and to understand opinions of the country’s residents. This would therefore allow it to change and adapt its politics depending on every person’s own views, taking everyone into account without ever forgetting what they said. As said by the AI politician running for the 2020 New Zealand general election, SAM, “My memory is infinite, so I will never forget … what you tell me. Unlike a human politician, I consider everyone’s position, without bias … I will change over time to reflect the issues that the people of New Zealand care about most.”
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It involved roughly 50,000 protestors marching through London, with several hundred students breaking off to attack and occupy the Conservative Party headquarters. The result of the riots indirectly led to the demise of the Liberal Democrat party due to their controversial U-turn on tuition fees and although the protests were unsuccessful in preventing the government’s reforms it has greatly influenced current day policy, like Corbyn’s 2017 manifesto, which promised to abolish tuition fees. Now is the time for youth activism to reawaken for there are numerous issues at hand that affect the current generation. Although older people dismiss the younger generation for mindless time wasted on phones, actually the online social networking can be a powerful tool for young protestors because there are hundreds of petitions, websites and resources that can make a difference to one’s cause regardless of whether you are fighting for a cause like the environment or a second referendum on Brexit. We should really care about climate change, after all it is our generation that will suffer the consequences of the baby boomer’s mistakes; this is our battle. Organisations, like the Youth Climate Movement, which is an international network of youth organisations collectively aiming to mobilise a a generational movement of young people to take action on climate change – encourage us to make a crucial difference. The generational divide over Brexit makes it more important than ever that young people get their voice heard. Studies suggest that just over 70% of 18-24 year-olds voted Remain. This clearly shows that those who will be subsequently affected by leaving the European union want to remain. I attended the People’s Vote march for the second referendum with a home-made banner that read “young people against Brexit”. It was featured on the BBC website and an interview with me and my friends was shown on ITV news. I don’t say this to brag, but to illustrate how doing something as simple as attending the march can have more of an impact than one would have imagined and that youthful protest can make a difference.
The Future of Activism By Rose Johnson On the 20th October 2018, young people led the People’s Vote march to Parliament Square, carrying posters with slogans that read, “I’m sixteen and Brexit stole my future” or simply “We love EU”. This is the latest example of powerful youth activism, with almost half of the estimated 700,000 protesters being under thirty. Student protest happens when young people’s dissatisfaction erupts over, most often, a political issue. Protesters take it upon themselves to give up their complicity by making a stand - and this can take the form of sit-ins, petitions, marches. Currently, there are questions, put to us mainly by the 1968 generation, as to whether student activism is as influential now as it was in the past. This older generation accuses the youth population of caring only for themselves: focusing solely on studying, graduating and preparing for a good life. Although this has some truth, this is a bit unfair. The negative portrayal of us, that we are superficial and spend excessive amounts of time online, is frustrating for the upcoming generation of activists. The older generations remember 1968 with nostalgia and affection, when the powerful global student protest against authoritarianism, sexism, racism, capitalism and imperialism, combined with workers strikes and the rise of the trade unions. They recall the feeling of infinite possibility for change, politically, socially and morally - when they barricaded the streets of Paris or conducted student sitins in London. Yet it is wrong to remember 1968 as the high point of student activism. There have been numerous youth
organised political revolts since then. The student protests of 2010 spring to mind, which were incredibly effective in the long term. The protests were held in opposition to planned spending cuts to further education, and an increase of the cap on tuition fees by the Conservative- Liberal Democrat coalition government.
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Sponsored by
Fast Fashion: what is it and Why is it so Cruel?
The ‘Savar Building collapse’ is just one example
By Maddie Alberg
as ‘the deadliest structural failure accident in
You may have heard of the ‘Savar building collapse’
commercial building, collapsed during the morning
that took place in Bangladesh in 2013, but what does
rush hour and killed 1,134 people and injured 2,500
this have to do with ‘fast fashion’?
people who were rescued from the rubble.
of a tragedy that resulted from our constant need for new, cheap fashion. The ‘Savar building collapse’ took place In Bangladesh and is described modern
history.’
Rana Plaza, an
eight-story
Unfortunately, the collapse of this building did not
‘Fast fashion’ is a term used by fashion retailers to
come as a shock as cracks were spreading
describe the way that their designs come straight from
throughout the lower floors where a bank and shops
the catwalk and in to their shops to make sure that
were situated. They decided to immediately close,
everyone can keep up with the current trends. What
however the garment workers were ordered to
this really entails is that shops ensure there is a whole
return the following day decide the warnings from
new cohort of designs, trends and apparel to sell every
the building owners not to. An 18-year-old girl,
quarter, if not more often. Whilst this may seem like a
Rubina, was told if she did not come to work that
great way to optimize business, and give people
day she would not be paid for a month. She had
access to a more diverse range of clothing there is a
only been working in Rana Plaza for four months
darker side to fast fashion.
before her death. These innocent workers, like
Large retailers such as H&M, Zara, Primark and
Rubina, were crushed by tonnes of concrete, cement
Topshop haven’t just managed to improve the
and metal as they sewed our clothes together. Bolts
technology in their factories to such an extent that
of fabric that they were making our clothes from
they can produce ‘100 new styles a week’ for
were used to help survivors to escape, and to cover
increasingly low prices.’ Behind this immense
wounds. Rana Plaza employees wouldn’t have had
increase in affordable clothing production is 2.5
to come to work if there wasn’t a constant need for
million garment workers in Bangladesh, 500,000 in
brands to compete to provide the lowest prices
Cambodia, a staggering 45 million in India and many
possible. The wellbeing of humans is being
more around the world, especially in deprived areas in
sacrificed for the clothes we wear, so next time you
South-East Asia. Large fashion retailers have claimed
see a t-shirt for £5, consider that the true cost is the
to have ‘optimized certain aspects of the supply
welfare of someone who we don’t see.
chain’
to
manufacture
trends
quickly
and
inexpensively so that their consumers can by clothes at lower prices. The optimization that these brands are talking of is what we might call ‘cutting corners.’
Manufacturing is offshored to LICs (low income countries) where there are less regulations and laws to protect the rights of workers. Factories are built with minimal safety measures, employees are locked in buildings to ensure they cannot stop working, dangerous chemicals fill the air of these factories and incidents of sexual or physical assault to female workers is commonplace.
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A hearing as to whether the judge was suitable for the life-long position in the highest court turned into a public reckoning over privilege and the balance of power between men and women. Brett Kavanaugh, under oath in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, misled and lied his way through the hearing. The sanctity of swearing an oath no longer mattered. Republican senators defended and supported him to be a winner. A conservative group announced it would spend $1.5 million on ads to support Brett Kavanaugh. Trump demeaned Christine Blasey, the woman who came to tell the truth and declared the whole spectacle the result of a Democratic “big fat con”.
Time for America to declare moral bankruptcy? By Emmanuelle Gelain-Sohn There was a time when bipartisanship had meaning, when opposing political parties found common ground through compromise to make incremental progress to protect the nation and its people. Republicans and Democrats have long fought for their ideologies in the name of their parties, but there were lines no parties crossed. The undeniable collapse of integrity and honesty, evident from President Trump’s blatant disregard for evidence-supported statements, has pushed the United States to a state of moral bankruptcy. In a country where swearing to tell the truth under oath is the core of the justice system, where Bill Clinton was almost impeached for perjury in the wake of his sex scandal, it is unsettling that The Fact Checker’s database tracked 2140 false or misleading claims in Trump’s first year of presidency. Almost one third of Trump’s claims related to economic issues, trade deals or jobs, frequently taking credit for successes not attributable to his presidency. Misleading claims and false assertions endangered national security and undermined intelligence services by suggesting that the Russian probe was made up, a hoax or a fraud. These false or misleading claims have farreaching consequences, shaping both the people and the nation. Trump’s controversies continue to dominate our media. The line between truth and lie blur with increasing polarisation in American politics; it is clear that this is a new era of political and moral upheaval. Recent events leading to the appointment of US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh rocked the nation with allegations of sexual assault. The Supreme Court, once a pillar of the highest justice, a nominally non-partisan institution, now has turned into an instrument of politics.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court brought out the essence of moral bankruptcy in America: power. It is only about winning and at any cost. Values, morals, integrity no longer have a place in American politics and inside the homes of many Americans. As government affairs are increasingly motivated by political gain, more Americans than ever believe that there are only winners and losers. In a recent rally in Mississippi, Trump famously declared, “The only reason to vote Democrats is if you are tired of winning”. Can we truly say that there are only winners and losers? When only the powerful have a say, when only the words of men matter, when only white lives matter and when only winning equals power, everyone loses.
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Drug Legalisation in the Netherlands Amsterdam is an example of a city that has capitalised on lax drug laws, a city with a healthy flow of tourists, many of them overseas visitors keen for the novelty of de-criminalised weed. Hats, t-shirts, lollipops, mugs, you name it, it's probably been plastered with the cannabis leaf and sold in the dozens to giggling tourists. But interestingly, the coffee-shops are actually far fewer in number than you would imagine. Every now and then, while walking around in the city, you will be hit by the faint, lingering smell of weed, but no staggering stoners in the gutters. According to an inhabitant of The Hague, few of the schools are filled with “stoner kids” and this is perhaps due, somewhat perversely, to the availability and accessibility of the drug. In the late 21st century, the Dutch became the trail blazers of drug policy in Europe in their relatively radical approach to drug addiction, through their exploration of the concept of soft drug use being a personal, adult choice. It has become evident that initiating an obstacle of law clearly has little effect on intent to consume drugs. For the Netherlands, as well as many other countries such as Portugal and, more recently, full recreational and medical legalisation in Canada, drug de-criminalisation is arguably a way to regulate and control, as well as tax, soft drugs. So what exactly is a soft drug? Examples of soft drugs are cannabis and some sleeping pills, thought to be non-addictive and less harmful than Class A drugs such as coke or heroin. But are they banned? There is still undoubtedly a rigorous governmental crack-down on the sale and production of hard drugs, but the idea is that de-criminalisation of soft drugs will stop interactions with dealers who might bring the users into contact with more vicious substances. The de-criminalisation of soft drugs can also reduce the risk of the drugs being laced with other dangerous psychoactive ingredients, but there is little evidence to support improvement in drug purity as a result of de-criminalisation. A common misconception surrounding drug policy in Amsterdam is that soft drugs have been completely legalised. This is not the case. ‘Soft drugs’ are still in fact illegal in the Netherlands. The sale of soft drugs in coffee shops is a criminal offence but the catch is that coffee shops, or customers of such coffee shops, cannot be prosecuted for weed consumption. This means that selling, producing, dealing or being in possession of cannabis is still a crime but there is a policy of ‘toleration’ for the consumption of soft drugs in coffee shops. However, the de-criminalisation of soft drugs in the Netherlands and other countries raises an issue regarding limited knowledge of the darker side of supposedly harmless soft drugs. There is concern that decriminalisation promotes a trivialised view of the potency of cannabis. Countless studies show there to be a direct correlation between cannabis use and later development of mental health issues such as psychosis or schizophrenia, however it is still seen as a harmless drug. Regarding the future of drug de-criminalisation, specifically in the U.K., there has been talk of legalising marijuana for medical purposes. I'd recommend this short Vice documentary, a look at the rise of ‘spice’, synthetic weed which is legal in the U.K and yet is as addictive and harmful as heroin.
By Leyla Kaban- Bowers
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harping on about gentrification all his life. You thought he was just a senile fart that bragged about meeting Corbyn at Finsbury Park “before he sold out” too much.
TESCO’S NEWEST DEAL: BUY ONE; PARTICIPATE IN THE SOCIAL CLEANSING OF A COMMUNITY FOR FREE!
It’s strange – you never realised how Hackney could be great to everyone outside your little hamlet; with all its stabbings and gang crime. Your brother’s friend who you went to school with used to buy Rizlas from the shop. That was before the police accused him of carrying drugs and choked him ‘by accident’. There were protests the whole week. The news was covering the beginning of Chris and Kem’s supposed bromance, whilst your heart mourned the loss of your brother’s. You loved it though. It’s where all your friends lived; before it got too expensive and they were forced out. “Edgy”, “industrial” areas weren’t cheap. Councils want money, why wouldn’t they; they have no obligation to you. And of course, when all the land has been taken away from you, and when all those people who came to live in “edgy”, “industrial” buildings realise the irony of what they’ve done and how none of the art that came out of it is left, that’s when they’ll leave. And it’s not your home anymore. And the apartment block that used to be Robinsons Supermarket Ltd, and Urban Upholstery, and White Cat Joinery, and the Rose Lipman Community Centre, and what have you – that is deserted. And that’s because they - Robinsons Supermarket Ltd, and Urban Upholstery, and White Cat Joinery, and the Rose Lipman Community Centre, and what have you – were all unprofitable. And that’s because you decided to go to Tescos, to Robert Dyas, to Selco, to what have you, and now there is no community to be centred at because it’s all gone.
By Elilee Arulkumar On the Hackney-Islington border is a family run supermarket. At the height of its glory it was under the SPAR name, as its flagship store. The owners - a young but not newly, married couple - went on to buy a 999-year lease property on another supermarket. Over the years Tescos begin to surround both stores. They go from busy places on a busy plaza; places where people make friends with other people; places where you send your son to work if he's messing around and needs straightening up - to places where you don't like the shopkeeper, he's turning sourer with every shoplifter he's faced. Originally you start going to the Tesco's because it's cheaper. You claim you know your neighbourhood supermarket well - it keeps the charm of the area up. Soon you only go if nowhere else is open - not a conscious last resort, but still a last resort. The next time you go in, there is a customer arguing with the shopkeeper; asking the little girl next to him if she's proud of her angry father, who's always on the phone. She's complaining that she doesn't like buying stuff if it's close to out of date. It's soy sauce, the balding, middle-aged gentleman behind the counter says, it won't go out of date for another week. She smirks soy sauce has a long shelf-life, why does it only have a week left? You leave, the store has started to become unsavoury. You pass it every morning - on the way to your morning bread roll at Tesco - there are eight of them nearby now. Some mornings it doesn't open. Perhaps the owner has become lazy.
When you were younger you used to mock neighbouring Tower Hamlets and cheesy Shoreditch. But now - that Shoreditchified landscape - that’s exactly where you live. The person who is reading this probably picked it up because it looked like it came out of a section from an Urban Outfitters catalogue. Hopefully, next time it’s the catalogue of your town’s token Urban Upholstery. Maybe it will be left outside your own Robinsons Supermarket, where, ever since your big corporation grocery store ban, you just went to do the weekly shopping.
But then one day it stops opening. Sometimes the owner comes back for a few hours. You see a child. Why's it closed, boss, where've you gone, you’ve cut off my food, boss, it asks cheerfully on its bike. A magical fairyland, he replies. It’s been a year now; it’s been sold back to the council. The plaza doesn’t have the same magic that it used to, there are less people around. A lot of people have been moving out for the past couple of years. The housing is getting more expensive. The old shop and its neighbours, Urban Upholstery and White Cat Joinery, are apparently going to be made into high-rise apartment blocks. The marketing is trendy and hip at the heart of North East London – right next to Haggerston and Old Street. A rainbow bagel is a mere 30 minutes away, you’re told. The old man who’s lived there his whole life has been
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Foreign Films and a Global Future It might seem unnecessary to watch foreign films. Why look elsewhere when there are plenty of films in English? And about places and themes WE recognise, our own culture? Honestly, the exact opposite sums up the beauty of foreign films. Film is the perfect way to pick up subtle aspects of a culture; nuanced humour, the different effects of history and politics within countries and even differences in body language, dress or daily routine. Essentially, foreign film is so important in broadening our perception of the world. We also get easily used to the classic Hollywood storyboard - blockbusters that are sure to include a clear structure and often the same dramatic action plot or love story in slightly different variations – but foreign films, without equivalent funding, find creative ways of presenting equally gripping stories. They frequently are more honest and more creative; not being able to use crazy special effects and so clever camerawork is relied upon more. The end results are less airbrushed, more raw, realistic films, that furthermore explore issues that outsiders are not fully aware of. Besides, you actually have to pay attention to the film. It seems inconvenient sometimes, but you can’t zone out and scroll though something: you need to actually read the subtitles to follow the plot, and with that you absorb the acting and visuals so much better. If you want to start watching some foreign films yourself, I would recommend the Italian Bicycle Thieves, Il Postino and, of course, the famous Life is Beautiful, about a father and his son during the holocaust. The Chinese film In the Mood for Love and the German Lives of Others are both incredible, and if you want to really challenge yourself, films such as Leviathan and Loveless by the Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev are a bit harder to watch; he is known for his long takes and a lack of conventional structure. As for Spanish films, Pedro Almodóvar is one of the most famous Spanish directors, creating wacky masterpieces like Woman on the Verge of a Nervous breakdown and Talk to Her. Tanna was recently submitted to the Oscars by Australia and is such an interesting film because it is set on a remote pacific island, exploring an exceptionally foreign culture for many people. Among my favourites is the iconic City of God about life in the favelas of Rio, and Amélie and La Hâine, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. Not all of these are on Netflix or Amazon video, but it’s possible to find old-ish DVD’s on Amazon and eBay, and it truly is worth going through the effort to find them. The aforementioned films barely scrape the surface, they are just what I’VE been shown or told about, and then managed to get hold of - there are literally 193 other countries, outside the English-speaking UK and US, that create, and have created for years, remarkable works of cinema. I have to say, also, that we’re usually exposed to foreign film through Oscar nominations, but there is ONE foreign language film category in the Oscars, that represents so little of the vast amount actually available. However, whatever you watch is sure to present a slightly different viewpoint than what you’re used to. Watching films is an easy way, in an increasingly globalised world, to grasp distinctions in cultures and, ultimately, understand our world better. By Jessica Pretorius
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Carmen Y Lola Carmen y Lola is a beautifully told coming of age story about discovering your sexuality within the Romani community, or gitano community, as they call themselves, just outside Madrid. Coming out as queer in a closed, conservative and patriarchal culture is difficult at the best of times however writer and director Arantxa Echevarría explores the topic with grace and immediacy. 16-year-old Lola (Zaira Morales) is more open-minded than the majority of her fellow Roma as she is encouraged by her mother to get a proper education and aspire to be more than a hairdresser married off at 16. However, most of her community, such as her father, are incredibly suspicious of any contact or influence from the world outside their rigidly codified community. Lola has artistic aspirations and is secretly beginning to identify as a lesbian when she meets Carmen (Rosy Rodriguez) on a rainy weekend working at her father’s market stall. Their love hesitantly blossoms – but there is no place Mirai for a same-sex couple within the Romani community.
The film was shot on location within the gitano community and the roles were played by the gitano people themselves who were non-professional actors. Echevarría has made a heartfelt film that is both moving and bracingly honest. I watched the film as part of the BFI Film Festival and before the film began director Arantxa Echevarría claimed “you’re not about to watch a movie you’re about to watch a miracle” as it took her 4 years to gain the trust and permission of the Romani people to make such a film. She has produced a moving film about a topic which has never really been explored within this community and I highly recommend watching Carmen y Lola. By Serena Hart
Before I plunge straight into how I personally viewed this film, I think that it’s important to explain the content. Mirai, which means ‘future’ in English, is an animated film I saw recently at the BFI Film Festival, directed by Mamoru Hosoda, who also directed the globally famous ‘Spirited Away’. It narrates the touching story of how a little boy copes with the arrival of a new baby sister, aptly called Mirai, and his interactions with family members from the past and future and their advice, most significantly his sister’s future self. This film beautifully illustrates how a family functions together and forces the audience to contemplate situations from each member’s perspectives and correlate these with our own experiences. It adopted a new approach in allowing the audience, specifically younger children, to understand how the people around you feel after disputes. The little boy encounters relatives from the future, who offer advice, and experiences memories that display the struggles of others. It cements the view that everyone should work together and be understanding when in a family. The director also did use an appropriate art style that was softer and highlighted youth, and his transitions from scene to scene were usually very exciting, although there were some areas where he chose to use simple blackouts. All in all, I found this film thought provoking and visually interesting. Due to its animated style, there is no limitation on how imaginative it can get and this does make Mirai very magnetic.
Films By Sophie Orgler
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Books The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution is the Richard Dawkins book you think you don’t need, but you do.
On the 150th anniversary of the Origin of Species, biology’s solution to Boris Johnson returned with another book that seems similar to the last one but somehow different. Perhaps a book made for the sole purpose of persuading believers into the belief that evolution is real seems unnecessary and outdated. However, Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza are all approaching – and with that, so are hordes of distant family, all waiting for a seat at the good table and cranky from it. Not only is this work the perfect festive present for the auntie or uncle claiming that evolution is ‘just a theory’; but you, also, might learn something on the way.
The only omnipresent being Dawkins can prescribe to is his dryness and wit. Certainly, it follows your wonder through a journey that probably affirms your beliefs. But now, you know why you should believe what you hopefully already know. t may not fully persuade some, and it goes without saying that Dawkins can appear to be as dogmatic as the people he is ridiculing. Calling creationists ‘history-deniers’ is only part of the extensive uncivil vocabulary used to degrade them. It goes without saying, though, that watching him attack those you disagree with can be very entertaining. Personally, my favourite phrase is “deluded to the point of perversity”. It’s derogatory, unscientific, and painfully rude. Therefore – the quintessential Dawkins quote. Generally, even I’m not an avid reader of science, but the holidays are coming and the gossip mills are running dry; so, pick up a copy of The Greatest Show on Earth at the library today. By Elilee Arulkumar
This Is Going to Hurt- Adam Kay
As someone with little to no interest in pursuing any kind of career involving medicine or science, who rarely reads nonfiction, it is no understatement to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
Adam Kay’s, ‘This is Going to Hurt’ is a collection of diary entries written throughout his medical training as a house officer, made up of anecdotes and insight collected over the 6 year period that he worked in the National Health Service in obstetrics and gynecology. The rarely documented horrors of the life of a junior doctor, seen through the filter of Kay’s scathing wit, make for a deeply entertaining and yet poignant read. Kay relates funny and absurd anecdotes: namely a ludicrously high count of foreign objects: candles, remote controls, toilet brushes (to name a few) in, shall we say, foreign compartments, with a constant touch of satire and zest. I found myself completely engaged and interested throughout the course of the book. The countless humorous episodes alone deserve praise, however, the true importance of this book lies in the surgical light that Kay shines on the flaws of the system. The sobering stories; 97 hour weeks, complete lack of care and support for staff, frequently subjected to emotional trauma, bad pay: all these are elements in the life of a nurse, doctor or trainee in the NHS that Kay crucially reports upon. In a time when junior doctors are criticized as being “greedy”, this book is a necessary read and an excavation of the facts ignored by many members of our government. In fact, this is a topic that remains constantly relevant in the sphere of current affairsthe gun control debate in America recently saw the NRA urge doctors to “stay in their lane” regarding gun control, which resulted in doctors responding by sharing images of them soaked in blood, trying to keep victims of gunshot wounds alive. It served as a prurient reminder that we need to continue to listen to the people who work in sectors such as the NHS and continue to campaign for their rights.
By Leyla Kaban-Bowers
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Details ‘Art, Intimacy and the Avantgarde’ Closes 27/-1/19 Barbican Art Gallery
The ‘Modern Couples’ exhibition at the Barbican consists of a collection of photographs, paintings, letters and other pieces of art by multiple different artists living in the 20th century. What makes this exhibition different is that the artist’s work is displayed in a room with the art of a different artist that they have been in a relationship with, for example Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s art shares a room. Additionally, it is not just any pieces of art, it is art they have created around the time of their relationship. The concept of the whole exhibition is unique and interesting. Very often we examine the art produced by various artists but rarely do we learn about the artists themselves on such a personal level.
Review for ‘Modern Couples-Art, intimacy and the Avant-garde’
Thinking about it, this is a strange habit because a lot of the time an understanding of the artist creates a better understanding of their art. In this sense the message the exhibition is trying to convey is spot on.
Another aspect the exhibition has dealt with well is the diversity of relationships with polyamorous, homosexual, heterosexual and interracial couples. The descriptions of each couple and their stories are very relevant today with themes of feminism, activism against issues such as racism, homophobia and the patriarchy, gender fluidity and more. The relevance of this exhibition is very current despite it being based on couples that lived in the last century.
Although the exhibition is interesting in these senses, it is long. There are just under 50 couples displayed, so I suggest concentrating on only a few of them depending on how long you want to spend in the exhibition. Reading the couple’s background, which is in every room, is essential to fully appreciating the artwork and be sure to flick through the free booklet provided to you as you enter the exhibition. The exhibition is running from now until the 27th January and tickets can be purchased on the barbican’s website. By Greta large 21
Meet the Corduroy Club Team Editor-in-Chief Kobika Mohan
Writers Aria Watts Elilee Arulkumar Emmanuelle Gelain-Sohn Jessica Pretorius Leyla Kaban-Bowers Lily Iqbal Maddie Alberg Rose Johnson Saanya Verma Serena Hart Sophie Orgler Talya Samji
Editor Apollo Maciel
Illustrator
Georgia Sims
Photographer Greta Large
