MAGAZINE
CUB
celebration
Issue 5 7 8
Editor’s note Dear readers, As your Editor in Chief, I am thrilled to welcome you to issue 578 of Cub Magazine. I hope you’re raring to go with your celebratory drink, whether that’s a hot chocolate with whip cream… or three shots of vodka, because what’s to come is a fantastic read! In truth, the hardships endured from the start of the pandemic will never be dismissed or forgotten, but here at Cub we have agreed that our achievements since then should be commemorated, no matter how big or small. There’s only one slight concern… ...celebration is a subjective experience. Dependent on a person, time, and place. Reliant on mental health, success, and space. So essentially, there is no absolute definition of celebration, but rather differing interpretations from person to person.
As a result, we have learned that whilst everyone’s experiences are different, there are certainly ways we can teach, help, and shape each other’s perspectives, in order to better our mindsets and enjoy the aesthetics of everyday.
So how on earth can we establish some common ground?
So, here’s to you! An individual whom which I hope will recognise how to be happy with how far you’ve come and realise how you can conquer anything after reading our words.
This semester, our writers have challenged the matter by discovering how the essence of celebration is integrated into our lives and not just during the holiday season. Through film, poetry, music and current affairs, the act of honouring important events and achievements have been extensively researched.
Love from,
Randhi Weerasekara 1
Contents
3 Team Representation
5
7
Columns
Features
9 11 12 13 Film
Identity
Inkpot
Identity
14 15 17 Inkpot
Muse
Muse
19 21 23 25 Music
Style
London
2
Unisex
Mee CUB team
2021/2 3
et the senior am!
1/2022 4
COLUMNS
The Extraordinary Ordinary By definiton, to celebrate is to acknowledge an important day or event with a social or enjoyable activity. What do you reckon? Personally, I believe it’s the intangible and immeasurable moments that live within the reminiscent filing cabinet in your head, only to be revisited in times of loneliness, that you truly celebrate.
a group of friends w i t h nothing but each other
T
ime is a familiar concept to all of us. I like to think of it as a person of angelic omnipotence who will define your life with breath-taking moments. Like the Grim Reaper, they observe you and unconsciously we look over our shoulder to see if we can escape the clock and steal back a few unmeasured breaths for ourselves. I’m not talking about living or existing. To be alive is to have a moment consume you, to project out of your body and into the world, knowing that when you are sitting at eighty years old, you’ll talk of that moment with such grandeur and stature, that others will smile with you. Let me tell you about the extraordinary people who made me feel most alive… Early September 2019, the frosty sun glaring through the classroom window, a room full of strangers who had absolutely nothing in common apart from the daunting fear of university, started to chat. There were four. One boy, who dished out compliments like they were raffle tickets, became one of the strongest characters I had the pleasure of knowing. Throughout
the deadline struggles, to the switching of careers, to battling mental illness, he carried everyone with him on his journey. He never surrendered to the demons that hung above him like the stars in the night sky. He instead used his pain to decorate the lives of others with joy, appreciation and kindness, a real artist. I hope you, in time, see yourself how we see you. One girl, consumed with determination and desire for life, love, and success, but who was also intensely shy, became one of the most hardworking and loved girls of our year. She loved deeply; platonically and romantically, never crumbling from the heartache of those who left, but used it to rebuild her confidence and make known those who were important to her. She created hours in the day to make sure they’d
Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash
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COLUMNS
Moments in Time -Amelia Avent
made her voice known, projecting the most powerful words into the world. Mind you, I wouldn’t like to be on her bad side. And eventually someone, well, more than a few listened, and she ended up with a timeless love affair and such a promising career. I hope you live so beautifully. And then there was me; an outspoken girl with a funny accent who turned those beautiful strangers to best friends. Late September 2021, sitting on the green, feeling the last of the sun on our skin, a group of friends with nothing but each other, started to laugh. That was a moment I knew I was utterly alive. We had the world in front of us, but we didn’t want it, we just wanted that feeling of unapologetic acceptance to last for a little while longer.
the extraordinary
And I imagine late June 2022, that group of friends will start to cry. Knowing our time was as extraordinarily ordina__ry as the people you see in the street. But it was ours, however short-lived it may have been.
people who made me feel most alive get through. I hope time rewards you for your humility. Another girl, who could create a comedy show from nothingness, had one of the most intelligent minds our generation had ever seen, and came to be one of the most successful and genuine women I’d ever known. Loneliness and defeat stuck to her for a while like a magnet, but she always
I dream that, when we grow old either gracefully or disgracefully, we will talk so fondly of those moments with the knowledge that those strangers saved each other. So, this is what I celebrate. And I will continue to celebrate those people who made me feel the most alive and where we stole back a flicker of time from time itself. Dedicated to the people that saved me.
Images by Alex Motoc on Unsplash
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FEATURES
Let’s Bring it Home! A Culmination of 55 Years of Hard Work to Get to the Euro 2020 Final for England: A Celebration Gone Wrong - Ilina Kabra
Wembley Stadium, Sunday, 11th July 2021 -
Crowds of England football fans cheering can be heard echoing around Wembley, as Bukayo Saka steps up to take the fifth penalty in the Euro 2020 Final against Italy. He runs, shoots, his foot connecting with the ball, and looks utterly heartbroken as Gianluigi Donnarumma saves the penalty. The goalkeeper diving to his left to whack the ball away from the goal, crowning Italy as the Euro 2020 Champions. With Saka’s miss happening moments after Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho both missed their penalties; England lost the shoot-out in the Final. In The Rolling Stones’ song, ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, frontman Mick Jagger sings, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well, you might find, you get what you need”. England did not end up getting what they wanted, but the tournament got them what they needed—a celebration after the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic!
Image by Ellen Kerbey on Unsplash
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FEATURES
a strong message in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.
The Euros symbolised hope and normality in these strange times. The success of the Three Lions was the high point of the last two years for some England fans. Scenes of jubilation occurred in every city in the country. As England secured a place in the final, sealing a tough 2–1 win against Denmark, fans of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and identities crowded the streets and celebrated in pubs, bars and at home up and down the country. Beers flying through the air the moment a goal was scored, chants of “it’s coming home” and “Sweet Caroline” as England moved one step closer to sealing a place in history. With England fans around the world hailing the players as heroes, the win brought England a moment of joy and a celebration that was desperately needed.
Taking the knee had been a controversial topic in the build up to the Euros. In June 2021, the UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, called taking the knee “gesture politics”, arguing that fans booing the gesture was a choice. She was then criticised by footballer Tyrone Mings following her words about the Euro 2020 Final when she stated on Twitter that she was “disgusted by the racist abuse on social media”. He replied, tweeting: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens”. Influential figures deserve kindness and respect, not racism
CELEBRATION TURNED TO CHAOS
“
However, hidden behind the The knee - a symbol celebrations of each match It’s important to remember of unity against all England won were elements what Gareth Southgate achieforms of racism ved throughout the Euros. He of nationalistic pride and rowdy hooliganism, which frequently turned violent has created an atmosphere in the national team and racist. The detestable behaviour by home where the club that one plays for does not matfans, however, was not heard over the noise that ter once you represent your country. There is this was thefurthest England had got in a major a sense that he has selected his players based football tournament since the 1966 World Cup. on their ability and skill, not based on their club. Directly after losing the final, black players in the England team were subject to a storm of online racist abuse. After missing penalties, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka were the targets of abuse on social media: their accounts being bombarded with racial slurs and monkey emojis. This sparked national outrage from players, managers, clubs, pundits and politicians around the UK and the world.
England made incredible, praiseworthy achievements during the tournament. They scored 11 goals and conceded only 2, and the team defeated Germany for the first time since 1966 in a major tournament knockout game. Although England could not cross the finish line this time, The Three Lions did the country proud and the accomplishments of the squad at Euro 2020 are historic and deserve to be celebrated. They brought people together and have inspired future generations.
Footballers in the Premier League have taken a strong stance on racism by taking the knee as a “symbol of unity against all forms of racism” since June 2020. Both in qualifying games and during the European Championships, England players took the knee for anti-racism, sending
Italy may have won the physical trophy, but England won something even better. A team that will go on to perform in many tournaments to come. A squad with kindness.
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FILM
I
n summary, Festen’s plot revolves around a patriarch’s 60th birthday party. Extended family and close friends are reunited in what intends to be a celebration of life but instead for oldest son Christian (Ulrich Thomsen), the gloves come off and a scandalous secret is laid bare. For those who are not familiar with the Dogme filmmaking movement, it was established by Danish filmmakers Lars Von Trier and Vinterberg in 1995, with key technical features being the strict adherence to handheld camera, authentic performances and the use of natural lighting. Over 20 years after the film’s release, this unique aesthetic still unquestionably creates a radical, authentic viewing experience. For me, Dogme’s aesthetic make-up and Festen’s dark humour are paralleled within contemporary British and American television. Whether this be The Office, The Thick of It or more recently
Succession, the blend between fluid handheld camera movement and dark subject material has proven to be a popular combination. Whilst it is true that these examples do not adhere to all the fundamentals of Dogme, its influence nonetheless is visible. Praise must be given to the cast, specifically the siblings played by Thomsen, Paprika Steen as Helene and especially Thomas Bo Larsen as their chaotic younger brother Michael. For a style of filmmaking that relies heavily on authentic performances, these actors encapsulate the messy, sibling rivalry dynamic. Larsen uncompromisingly, provides consistent laughs throughout the film, being the central point where serious subject matter is played off for humour. One scene comes to mind around halfway through, where Christian is kicked out of the party by a trio of men including 9
FILM
FESTEN EXAMINED In keeping with this issue’s theme, and with its upcoming Criterion Collection release, what better film to look at, than Festen (The Celebration). Except, director Thomas Vinterberg’s film is anything but a celebration; instead, it is a strenuously dark tragicomedy, that aims for humour in the face of alarming, taboo subject matter. I must confess I’d never heard of the film, nor had I heard of the Dogme filmmaking movement that it adheres to. Nonetheless, it is fair to say that Festen lent itself to an intriguing viewing experience, one whose influence I saw clearly in contemporary British and American television. -William Coade
violence are not alarming, but both are presented in a way that successfully relieves the viewer from the uncomfortable action beforehand.
Michael, yet whilst the group berate and at times cause physical harm to Christian, Michael insists they go easy on him as he is “still my brother”, despite Michael being the key perpetrator of violence. Yet, whilst this provides humour in this specific scene, Michael’s cynicism and ignorance creates discomfort in others. It goes without saying that Vinterberg’s and Mogens Rukov’s screenplay does not shy away from the extreme (perhaps, this is the point). From the second act onwards, Michael is used as a vehicle for racist abuse towards Helene’s boyfriend Gbatokai. This for me, creates an uncomfortable viewing experience and fails to provide the humour the screenwriters intend. For a film that hinges on the dynamic between extreme subject matter and humour, the racist humour here is an uncomfortable step too far. This is not to say that the scandalous family secret or the
It is fair to say then, that Festen’s raw aesthetic, comprised of natural lighting, fluid handheld camera movements and authentic performances remains as radical as it perhaps was on release. Vinteberg’s film is satisfyingly uncompromising. It refuses to wrap up its conflicts in a bow, and even after 105 minutes in Christian’s world, we’re not given an answer to whether things are really on the up. In that sense, Festen is a film and Dogme a style of filmmaking that does not shy away from harsh reality, and one which leaves the viewer curious to delve deeper into this intriguing filmmaking movement.
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IDENTITY
Lights Lights
in
I
t’s certainly not difficult to recognise when the winter months have finally descended upon us; frosted windscreens and early nights mark the beginnings of a cold and dreary season. Many feel this sudden drop in temperature and the all-encompassing darkness which comes with British wintertime to be quite overbearing, some even experience what Norman E. Rosenthal reported to be ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’. In the midst of such bleakness, the festive season emerges as a beacon of light both figuratively and literally. The abundance of celebratory events allows for the regular use of fireworks, decorations, and upbeat music which serve to both warm the heart and defrost red-noses.
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the way in which these festivities brighten up the winter months and help people cope with the otherwise quite bleak nature of the season. Especially in winter, light acts as the glue which brings communities together and sparks joy in the face of darkness. Entire towns gather around their town Christmas tree to watch the decorations being switched on, Halloween finds neighbours knocking on each other’s doors in search of sugary treats, and Guy Fawkes Night has families huddled tightly together through chilly winter nights as they gaze in awe after fireworks rocketing into the sky. The dark winter days can be tough, but there are ways to cope with these difficult nights – recommended treatments include lifestyle measures such as getting as much natural sunlight as possible, exercising regularly and managing your stress levels, or even trying out a light therapy lamp which stimulates exposure to sunlight. Light is the essence which creates life, both literally and figuratively – it’s the source of energy for processes such as photosynthesis and also acts as a sign of hope, and so the diverse multitude of celebrations that come forth to celebrate and gratify light come as no surprise. These celebrations bring forth light in other forms too; the light in the joy of one’s smile or the laughter of a child. No matter how dark and dreary things may seem from time to time, you can rest assured there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. - Amanda Perumal
Image by Marcell Strauss on Unsplash
Throughout the many festivities of Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Guy Fawkes Night, and even Halloween, light emerges as a central theme. Diwali, a celebration of light itself, lasts five days and symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The preparation of succulent sweets and the prayers made offer a sense of tranquillity and safety which brings joy through these dark winter months. As for Christmas, though some may disprove, festivities begin early as shops brighten their windows with glittery displays and iridescent lights. Christmas music fills the air and with a stroke of luck a blanket of snow might coat the ground, each icy crystal itself acting as a refractor of the decorative lights around. Fans of the renowned television show Doctor Who might remember when the Scrooge of their Christmas special remarked that all these celebrations seemed to cultivate the message “Well done, everyone! We’re halfway out of the dark!”, perfectly encompassing
the
dark
IDENTITY
Why Do We Celebrate Birthdays? stories and the articles I had encountered whilst re-
Image by Wu yi on Unsplash
-Ying Ying Gao
Celebration has alway been a way for humans to remember and acknowledge events that happen in our lives, whether they be national events or even special moments between families. Different cultures, religions and countries all have different celebrations, however, an event that is celebrated most common is perhaps our birthdays. Celebrating somebody’s birthday is a way to show our appreciation and affection for them. It is a day for us to make them feel special and loved. Even though it has alway been a celebration that most of us have carried out, I doubt many of us know the origins of the celebration of our birthdays. In fact before writing the article I had very little knowledge on the history of us celebrating our birthdays and when researching I had different articles popping up making the whole research process quite interesting to read. The idea of celebrating birthdays dates back to 3000 BC, ancient Greeks at the time believed that everybody had a spirit with them. Everytime that it was their birthday, it was believed that the spirits would come out and that was what they celebrated. The ancient Greeks believed that the spirits were alway watching over them and protecting them so it was important to acknowledge them and show their appreciation when they decided to come out on their birthday. However, there are many different versions when reading different articles and journals so I thought I’d also share more than one. Most of us here are familiar with the tradition of sticking candles in our cakes as part of our celebration. However, did you know that this may have originated from the idea that on the day of our birth we attract evil spirits. By lighting candles was a way to get rid of the evil spirits as evil spirits were believed to be scared of the light. Although I could not find the exact origin of why we celebrate our birthdays, it was interesting to understand the different stories behind. But more importantly, the thing that all the
searching was that they all highlighted the importance of peace and appreciation when celebrating our birthdays. I believe that we have kept the traditions of birthdays being a time that is full of positivity and greatness. Just before ending the article I’d like to share a few different countries and their way of celebrating birthdays. In South Korea on someone’s birthday it is quite common to eat/drink Seaweed soup Mi-yeok-guk ( 미역국) it is usually served at breakfast but it derives from the fact that during pregnancy or even postpartum mothers drink this replenish themselves of nutrients. So it kind of links to idea of respecting and showing their appreciation for their mother. In China when it is someone’s birthday it is very common to see them eat a bowl of noodles, known as the Chang Shou Mian (长寿面) (长寿面) the name itself represents longevity- the idea of living a long and happy life. It’s not a particular recipe you follow, in fact, different regions will have particular toppings and ingredients that they choose to use to tailor to each one’s taste. In Ghana people typically celebrate their birthdays with home cooked traditional foods, a typical dish that is made is Oto, it’s made with mashed yam and boiled eggs and this dish can even be eaten on other celebrations not specifically for birthdays. In Russia when celebrating somebody’s birthday it is quite typical for elder relatives or even older friends to pull on your ears. They usually pull your ears upwards as a way of hoping you will grow taller, although it is less common within younger generations but some Russians continue with this tradition. Another interesting thing to note is to not wish somebody an early birthday as it is considered a bad omen. Overall, it was quite interesting to research more about the history of celebrating birthdays and I hope you enjoyed reading the brief history of why we celebrate our birthdays. If there is someone’s birthday coming up soon then make sure to wish them a Happy Birthday and make them feel appreciated and loved. 12
INKPOT
It was art, a crimson spree liberal with shots. None had posed more unhurriedly, beaux. Unabashedly I asked, "Monsters, monsters on the wall, is this my humor afterall?"
Hollow my heart forever echoes The limitless infinity Hostage to thee scars beyond effigy Touch not the edge, I’m ablaze The holy fire, the chanting gargoyle My religion, a new gospel Pagan emotions, mediaeval institutions The new crusade, the new fiend Unapologetic like the wind Repent why leave it unknown Beguiled the mind desires A deity lovelorn, my truth Not what men have thought And nothing sweeter.
-Aditi Sigar
Image by Victoria Strukovskaya on Unsplash
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INKPOT
November the 5th Thinking of the fireworks outside Blasting off in quick succession Like missiles And Bullets How privileged am I That I can listen to these sounds And know They are producing something beautiful A plethora of colours across the sky There are many that can’t say the same. In Gaza, These sounds mean the loss of a home. A legacy, a life Reduced to rubble and tears. In Palestine, Children shake their fists At the sky Inviting explosions For throwing some rocks.
The world loves to celebrate The West loves to forget Or ignore – I can’t decide Which is worse.
In Syria, Babies are woken from sleep. They cry in tandem With the sound of the guns.
The fireworks don’t sound So Comforting Anymore. They sound bloody And Broken As they light up the dark Painting the sky With a mural of guilt.
- Khadijah Majid
Illustration by Saif Ul Alim Ahmed
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MUSE
this is MY body [ Trigger Warning: This article is a personal piece which deals with extremely sensitive topics and issues surrounding consent, sexual assault, and rape. Reader discretion is advised and please read at your own risk. ]
Image by Anthony Shraba on Unsplash
Being a woman, in my experience, means constant control and pressure surrounding the authority of our bodies. Whether it’s from the clothes we wear, to who owns and has the right to our reproductive organs, it seems as though the patriarchy always has ownership of what is rightfully ours. If our clothes are too ‘revealing’ then we’re ‘asking for it’ or we should not be allowed to have abortions because it is our duty to save a ‘life’. We are expected to have sex with men because that’s the role we are supposed to fulfil and if we do not we are being a ‘prude’ but if you have too much sex to fulfil your own needs you are a ‘slut’. And eventually when they do not wish to listen to our ‘no’ our right is completely taken away, and results in sexual assault. Rape is how our bodies get taken away from us, violated and disrespected. In January 2013, An Overview of Sexual Offending in England and Wales was released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Home Office which revealed that approximately 85,000 women and 12,000 men (aged 16-59) experience rape, attempted rape, or assault by penetration in England and Wales alone every year. That is roughly 11 sexual offences every hour. Yet only around 15% of those who experience sexual violence report it to the police. This under-reporting statistic alone shows not only the physical control the perpetrator has over their survivors of assault, but also the mental control. They are too scared to report, too scared to remember.
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MUSE
Trying to find the ability to celebrate our bodies after such violations is extremely hard. Becoming a victim can feel disempowering and weak, and it is tough to try to pull yourself out of the flashbacks and thoughts. Survivors of assault can regain control of our bodies, it does not have to define us and we do not have to abandon our ambitions and our life. I urge you to take back your power and take back what is RIGHTFULLY yours, which is YOUR BODY. Taking this message, to ‘live out loud’ is so valuable, as to live out loud means to not live in silence, to not live a life where you let your assault define you or believe it was your fault. You have the right to say no and it is your choice to do what you want with your body and if that is ever taken from you, it will be hard to recover, but you have every power to regain your autonomy, because you deserve to. As Viola Davis puts it, ‘Living out loud is long
after you’re gone – you leave something on this Earth that’s bigger than yourself’. However, whilst I encourage all these messages, I would be lying if i said my own personal sexual assault did not effect me. I still haven’t regained control of my body, I do not feel strong or powerful. I still cry about it, I feel weak, hopeless, like I cannot trust anyone with my body again, somehow including myself. I do not know how to move past it, or deal with it, and in fact as a young woman I find it hard to celebrate my body after an assault. But I am trying, and that has to count for something, and it's something to be proud of. Sources: 1. About Sexual Violence in Rape Crisis England and Wales, https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/ about-sexual-violence/statistics-sexual-violence/, accessed 8th November 2021. 2. Viola Davis Shares Personal Stories of Sexual Assault During Powerful Speech at Rape Foundation Event, https://people.com/tv/viola-davis-gives-personal-and-powerful-speech-at-rape-foundationevent/, accessed 8th November 2021. 3. How to Heal From Sexual Assault Knowing You’re Powerfully In Control, https://www.yourtango.com/ experts/britt-macfarlane/controversial-effective-way-move-after-rape, accessed 8th November 2021.
Image by Anthony Shkraba on Unsplash
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- Chandni Gugar
MUSE
My Faulty Pancreas
Learning to Love My Imperfect Body
On the 4th of November 2019, four weeks after moving to London to start university, my life changed forever after my GP told me, “I think you have Type 1 diabetes.” Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas stops producing insulin which controls and converts glucose (sugar) into energy. Untreated Type 1 diabetes will eventually lead to death, however, the injection of insulin multiple times a day can regulate glucose levels. Two years on from my diagnosis, with the support of family, friends, medical technology, my hospital team and the diabetic community online, my diabetes has turned from my worst nightmare into a part of my life that I celebrate for making me unique and strong. My journey must start at my diagnosis, where after finishing my conversation with my GP, I immediately fled home to my parents who took me straight to A & E at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The hospital confirmed my diagnosis and within 24 hours had sent me home with blood testing kits and a leaflet that contained the frightening reality of my new life. It sounds silly how much of a shock my diagnosis was, as I had felt unwell enough to request a blood test, but I fell victim to the classic thought “it will never happen to me.” I had blamed my symptoms on becoming a vegetarian and my busy new social life. I was losing a lot of weight, had no energy, was constantly thirsty and was going to the toilet so often I couldn’t sleep through the night. Luckily these symptoms all disappeared as soon as I started injecting insulin and I returned to university two weeks later ready to begin my new diabetic life. Illustration by Saif Ul Alim Ahmed
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MUSE
Ironically, my biggest fear with my diagnosis wasn’t that I had a life changing long-term health condition but was the way I had to treat it; by injecting insulin every time I ate food. My greatest phobia has always been needles, so to inject multiple times a day was utterly terrifying to me. To help this fear, my nurses suggest I wear a Freestyle Libre device which connects to my phone to monitor my blood sugars, saving me painfully finger pricking every hour. The Libre is the size of a two-pound coin, sits just under and on the surface of my skin and is changed every two weeks. This little device has changed my diabetic life and allows me to scan my sugars on the tube, in class and even in the swimming pool. I was initially apprehensive about getting my Libre, questioning how I was going to feel beautiful and confident when everyone would know I had an imperfect body? As a young woman, going on a night out was suddenly scary and I used to cover my Libre with a plaster to try and feel ‘normal.’ A few months into my diagnosis I simply got tired of hiding a device that kept me alive. Embracing my Libre as my cool robot accessory, I bought some funky stickers to match it to my outfit and haven’t hidden it since. Mentally, embracing my Libre helped me feel positive about my body and when strangers stop me in the street curious about my Libre, I love giving them a quick demonstration. This helps educate them and celebrate medical devices that are not only life saving but life changing to all people living with health conditions. There is currently no cure for Type 1 diabetes which can get exhausting as monitoring it never stops, however, social media has connected me to other young, diabetic women who post powerful photos with their diabetic technology, proving you can look beautiful with a chronic health condition. Meeting a diabetic stranger and them instantly understanding me in ways others can’t relate to is like being part of an exclusive dead pancreas club. November is my diaversary but is also world diabetes awareness month and world diabetes day on November 14th, where incredible diabetic individuals are celebrated by organisations like Diabetes UK and JDRF. Wearing my Libre makes me feel beautifully powerful by visibly celebrating medical technology that saves my life daily and grants me the freedom to live it to the fullest. Diabetes has given me a strength I never knew I possessed and for that I am thankful. I urge anyone with a health condition to seek support and remember that whilst it is a significant part of your life, it doesn’t define who you are. Fenella Jenkins
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MUSIC
What Makes the Perfect Christmas Pop Song? There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays than with the perfect playlist, so let’s take a look at what makes a Christmas classic… As the festive season is upon us, it had me wondering what it is that makes a timeless Christmas classic. Is it heartbreak and betrayal that somehow manage to captivate the holiday spirit? Maybe it’s flawless vocals and a lyrical wishlist? Could it be the reminder that Christmas is a time to reflect and take care of each other? Or perhaps simply a sweet song The 80s laced with festive traditions! To best answer Wham!’s 1984 release ‘Last Christmas’ is arthis question, I had a peek at the Christmas hits of the past few decades, to work out what guably one of the most popular Christmas makes them such well-loved, timeless tracks. songs of all time. The bouncy intro to this festive track would have you think it’s a celebration of the joys of the holiday season. But what perhaps made this single the success it is, is its melancholy themes of loss and heartbreak, with a glimpse of hope. Contrasted with the soft, melodic beat, George Michael’s lyrics bring a relatable tone to this classic.
“ Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away This year, to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special
”
Illustrations by Saif Ul Alim Ahmed
As Wham! puts it, whether it’s heartbreak, betrayal, or just a bad Christmas, you can spend the rest of the year looking forward to the next one, and perhaps finding your ‘someone special’. I suppose that’s the ultimate message of the song; no matter what goes wrong throughout your year, you’ll always have next Christmas… and Wham!’s 1984 classic, to get you in the spirit!
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MUSIC
The 90s By the time we reach the 90s, it’s Mariah’s fun-loving classic ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ that has everyone hooked for the holidays! While so much can be said for this 27-year-old hit, it’s hard not to start with Carey’s powerhouse vocals. Indulging us with melodies and vocal scales that outshine most pop songs, let alone Christmas songs, it’s hard to ignore, as Mariah belts out her very short Christmas list.
The charitable single has been released first in response to the famine in Ethiopia, and again in 1989; a third time to benefit the region of Dafur, Sudan following war and genocide; and most recently to raise awareness for the Ebola outbreak in several African countries. With somber lyrics and a supergroup formed of, at times, miss-matched voices and talent, it’s difficult to decipher how this track has stood the test of time for almost four decades since its original and indisputably best release. But I just want you for my own I think what always draws people back to this More than you could ever know tragic anthem, no matter the version, is its reMake my wish come true flection on our blessings, its urgency to look All I want for Christmas is you, yeah after others, and of course its charitable conThese lyrics over the uptempo beat, make for tributions. Christmas is the time for giving! a catchy and widely appealing tune. While it’s The 10s more of a secular love song, the pop queen’s The 10s brought us pop sensation Justin Bieincorporation of nostalgic Christmas themes ber’s sweet Christmas song ‘Mistletoe’. The - such as a wishlist to Santa, stocking on the cheery beat met with pleasant melodies, fireplace, or presents under a tree- create and lyrics packed full of holiday nostalgia, one of the most loved Christmas anthems! creates a single reminiscent of Mariah CarThe 00s ey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’ or Destiny’s As we reach the 00s what makes the per- Child’s holiday hit ‘8 Days of Christmas’. Reindeer’s flying through the sky so fect Christmas hit becomes a bit less clear, high especially in the UK, with many of the I should be making a list, I know prestigious Christmas number 1 spots beBut I’mma be under the mistletoe ing filled by X Factor winners’ singles, With you, shawty with you as opposed to the festive favourites we Much like the songstresses before him, Bieber all had on replay throughout the decade. creates a pop/r’n’b record that just so happens Though notably in 2004 Band Aid 20 to centre on Christmas, and mostly the relatatopped the charts, with a rendition of the ble theme of love. His smooth voice makes for 1984 classic ‘Do They Know It’s Christan easy listen, with the stripped-down track mas’. The original record-breaking track was credited with showing off his vocal abilities. one of the highest-selling of its decade, and even beat ‘Last Christmas’ to the top of the It would seem that what each of these clascharts, holding its place there for five weeks. sic Christmas tracks have in common are:
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You ain’t gotta feel guilt just selfless Give a little help to the helpless Do they know it’s Christmas time at ll? Feed the world”
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a relatable tone, catchy lyrics, and an ability to create nostalgia using some of our favourite holiday traditions. With these winning components, Christmas hits are able to stand the test of time and become central to celebrations in households, cities, and countries throughout the world.
-Sophie Harman
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STYLE
Celebrating the New Year in Roaring 20’s Style
- Image by Rahul Bandit on Burst
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STYLE
Throughout the pandemic, jokes were made that once we were on the other side, we would experience a new roaring 20s era. But 2021 started in a lockdown with more restrictions across the country, and there was little opportunity to celebrate the new decade in full 20’s style. Although we may not be fully on the other side yet, 2021 saw a return of a celebratory atmosphere with parties and nightlife. So this New Years, we hope to see a return of the usual 1920’s themed parties. The decade following the First World War was defined by celebration and parties. The roaring 20s is infamous for its recognisable, luxurious and extravagant fashion styles. More recently, films such as the Great Gatsby popularised the 1920’s aesthetic. Everyone wants to throw a party and be Jay Gatsby, or at least party as hard. New Years Eve parties often take on the theme of the Roaring 20’s, and this New Years is set to be no different. And so with New Years Eve parties comes the ultimate question of what to wear. If attending a 1920’s themed party, you probably already have a vague idea in your head of your final outfit. A fringed, flapper dress with a feather headband, and strings of long pearls? This is the usual image conjured in our mind when talking about the 20’s and parties, but of course this was not everyday wear. These stereotypes have been constructed through films and media since the 20’s, and are usually historically inaccurate. However, the 1920’s did represent a break of traditional clothing rules. Dresses became shorter, but still covered the knee; not as rebellious and scandalous as we may think. Women’s clothing was loose fitting, with long lines and scoop necks. Makeup was also popularised for the first time, but was mainly focused on eyebrows, cheeks and lips. These changes appeared drastic to people at the time, used to much more conservative dressing. To portray this contrast in dressing, media and films accentuate these new features such as much shorter dresses and heavier makeup than is actually accurate. Therefore, we need to take these ideas of roaring 20’s fashion with a pinch of salt. But at the core of these styles was still a liberation of women from what they had previously worn. Moving away from long, structured dresses, designers recognised that clothing for women needed to be comfortable and wearable, with more women going into the workforce. And so although the reality of 1920’s fashion isn’t as fitting for your 1920’s themed party, it still represents a celebration of a new decade, new freedom enjoyed by women, and new boundaries of fashion. A 1920’s themed party is still the ultimate opportunity to celebrate; dress up with full glitz and glamour. You may not want to wear a long line loose dress with low heels, but why not adopt the real sentiment behind 20’s clothing; celebration of freedom! Although it may not be totally historically accurate, you can celebrate the new year in 20’s style, albeit with a modern twist. -Lydia Southwood
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LONDON
E
Notting Hill C arnival
ach year on August Bank Holiday weekend, Notting Hill comes alive in a spectacular celebration of Caribbean Culture. Fun and vibrance are at the heart of the carnival: throughout the weekend you can expect to see miles of colourful floats, extravagant outfits and lots of dancing. There’s plenty of music catering to all tastes: Reggae, Samba, Blues, Dub, Calypso, Brazilian Samba and many more genres across the various sound systems and live stages. There are over 300 stalls serving delicious food where you can pick up some Jamaican Jerk Chicken or Trinidadian roti.
So why did carnival start in Notting Hill? Tension in the area had been increasing throughout the 1950s. The UK’s new welfare state needed workers, so the government implemented the British Nationality Act. The legislation invited the populations from former colonies to work and become citizens. More than 300,000 of those who came to the UK were from the Caribbean. Many settled in Notting Hill and Brixton, where they were subject to racism, discrimination and violence by their white neighbours.
This escalated into the Notting Hill Race Riots of The celebrations have grown significantly- the 1958, where white gangs known as the teddy boys first carnival in 1966 had just under 500 people launched an attack on the black community. The attending! Now, millions come to the event, and it is rioting lasted almost two weeks, and many were Europe’s largest street festival. injured and arrested. The origins go as far back as the 19th century to Trinidad- where the enslaved were forbidden from masquerade balls held by French plantation owners. In response, the African population developed their own traditions. They replicated costumes with natural products and used steel pans rather than drums, which they had been banned from using. They celebrated in their own way through traditional dancing, music and satirising the slave owners. The festivities continued after their emancipation in 1838. Today, Notting Hill Carnival draws on these traditions and celebrates freedom whilst preserving important elements of culture. 23
LONDON
A Celebration of Identity
Funding has also been a challenge. Ansel Wong, the former chair of the Notting Hill Carnival Board, highlighted the lack of government financial support prior to the pandemic, making the past two years particularly hard hitting. The cancellations In response, Claudia Jones (a Trinidadian human rights activist) laid the foundations for carnival. In and move to an online format meant that perform1959 she set up a small-scale event in St Pancras ers have struggled a lot financially. However, the town hall to highlight solidarity and strength within 2022 dates are set, and Notting Hill Carnival will the Caribbean communities. The event was taken take place once again from the 27th to the 29th of outside by Rhaune Laslett and Andre Shervington August. seven years later. Their aim was to entertain local children as well as getting the residents involved. Despite the challenges faced over the years, it is widely acknowledged that carnival is integral to With the introduction of a procession and steel pan by Russell Henderson, Notting Hill Carnival was London. It is rooted in rebellion, emancipation and taking pride in identity. Notting Hill Carnival is more born. than just a street festival- it’s a celebration of Today, up to two million people attend each year and culture, and a way of keeping traditions alive. After two years of cancellations, you can expect the carit contributes significantly to London’s economy. It’s a weekend filled with people coming together to nival to return even louder and livelier than before! dance, eat good food and celebrate. But its increasing popularity has led to some new concerns.
Commercialisation has become a significant problem. According to Fiona Compton, a historian and a - Deanna Harrison 24
Images by Pinar Mavi and Glodi Meissi on Unsplash
carnival ambassador, these brands are often unaware of the context behind the event and just want to make profit. Another issue is the gentrification of Notting Hill, which has led to excessive policing. This has been a problem since the 70s, where the media attempted to link the event to crime and disorder. Things haven’t seemed to change much; in 2014, Stormzy (who was performing that year) responded to a tweet by the Metropolitan Police. They mentioned the carnival alongside an unrelated drug seizure. Stormzy called out the hypocrisy and highlighted that these types of comments seemed reserved only for black events.
UNISEX
Celebration of Female Queer Artists There have been so many important and inspiring LQBTQ+ women artists in history, who’s voices and legacies are often understated. To commemorate the remarkable contributions of LQBTQ+ women artists, ranging from literature to music, I’ve shared a few of their stories to continue to remember and appreciate their genius. - Beatrice Zanca
Ma Rainey
was an extremely influential blues singer and was one of America’s first African-American professional blue singers, dubbed as the “Mother of Blues”. Her emotional lyrics and her incredible, powerful sound influenced a generations of blues singers to come. Recording amongst the likes of Louis Armstrong and Thomas Dorsey, Rainey became a household name and a cultural icon in the blues scene. Rainey was proudly, unapologetically openly bisexual, and often referenced this in her lyrics. As a black women in the 1920’s her boldness and openness to explore her own identity and sexuality is extremely brave and inspiring, unfortunately this is also the reason Rainey has somewhat overlooked and forgotten. A recent new film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has aired on Netflix to commemorate the great artist and continue to give Rainey the praise and recognition she deserves. renced this in her lyrics. As a black women in the 1920’s her boldness and openness to explore her own identity and sexuality is extremely brave and inspiring, unfortunately this is also the reason Rainey has somewhat overlooked and forgotten. A recent new film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has aired on Netflix to commemorate the great artist and continue to give Rainey the praise and recognition she deserves.
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Images by Dana L. Brown, Jes Burgess, and Jon Beaupre on Flickr
UNISEX
Audre Lorde
is my favourite writer; I’m constantly raving about Lorde’s books and poetry and recommend them to everyone. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name is my alltime favourite, it’s an ode to all the women that shaped her life, and how her different identities shape her life and how these identities affect her experiences. Lorde’s work mixes between different genres and styles, with a distinct poetic and visceral language, the emotion expression in her work is extremely moving. Self-described as “black, feminist, lesbian, poet, warrior, mother”, Lorde dedicated her life to feminism and political activism, through the exploration of her black female identity and her critiques of the prevalent injustices in society. Lorde was extremely critical on white, middle-class second-wave feminism, and was extremely influential to critical feminist thought as she argued all forms of oppression are interrelated. Lorde’s work continues to inspire and offers the language to explores one’s own identity as well as the tools to continue to fight against oppression and injustice in our society. through the exploration of her black female identity and her critiques of the prevalent injustices in society. Lorde was extremely critical on white, middle-class second-wave feminism, and was extremely influential to critical feminist thought as she argued all forms of oppression are interrelated. Lorde’s work continues to inspire and offers the language to explores one’s own identity as well as the tools to continue to fight against oppression and injustice in our society.
Wendy Carlos
is an incredibly important musician and pioneering composer. Primarily associated with electronic music, she helped to develop the first Moog Synthesizer, which became the first commercially available keyboard. Carlos’ rose to prominence with their pioneering album Switched-On Back, a synthesized adaptation of Bach’s classical museum, winning Carlos three Grammy Awards. Carlos’ continued to have an incredibly successful career, releasing electronic and experimental albums, and composing the score for Kubrick films and Walt Disney Productions. Carlos began to experience gender dysphoria at an extremely young age and transitioned the same year as Switched-On Back was released. However, Carlos was fearful of public reaction, therefore using a wig and stick-on sideburns she disguised herself a man for TV appearances and continued this disguise through her public appearances. After years of hiding her true gender identity, Carlos disclosed she was a woman, and began to advocate for transgender rights. Carlos is an incredibly gifted musical talent, and an incredibly courageous transgender women who decided to live her life authentically.
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To Martina Arnhjell, for showing me how to walk around with a cup of coffee, celebrating each and every day.
Image by Yiran Yang on Unsplash
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