Issue 568

M AGA Z I N E

CUB ISSUE 568

C R E AT E D BY S T U D E N T S , F O R S T U D E N T S

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WELCOME ISSUE

TO

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Grab the tissues, because this is a sad one The final CUB edition of the academic year 2017/18 is here and we can’t quite believe it. It has been such a pleasure editing this magazine over the past year and we are so pleased with how it has turned out. Over the past editions, our highlights have included: Sounds like you hate women but ok- A defence of Rupi Kaur by Peter Whitehead, Oh, My quad Becky, Look at her Squat by Gina Gambetta and Christian Lynn’s Santa Claus is Coming to CUB.

Queen Mary nest after a brilliant three years, we have some lovely send-offs in this piece to get you thinking about life after graduation.

Finally, we would like to say a few thank you’s.

Firstly, we would like to give special recognition to our design team - Linnéa Borg, Raluca Semenescu, Michael Lau Hing Yim, and Mela Baldock - for dedicating so much time to implement our vision for CUB, we could not have done it without you!

Secondly, we would like to give a special shout-out to Christine Stokes from the Students Union who has given us endless support and endless support and constant advice throughout the year… we could not have done it without you and the next Editor-in-Chief will be lucky to have you!

Our incredible student team of 53 editors and 102 writers have continuously provided you with excellent content and issue 568 is no exception.

CUB Magazine has produced some fabulous content to get you through the exam and coursework hell and also articles on what to look If you would like to become part of CUB magazine forward to in the summer break- you are nearly in the next academic year, follow us on social there! media, and make sure to look out for when applications open in May! As everyone is looking forward to summer, it Editors-in-Chief is also the beginning of an end for many of the team's editors, ourselves included. As we fly the

Abigail Hanley & Alice Barnett

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6-7 20-21

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8-9

38-39

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STYLE

8 - 11

ARTS

12 - 15

FEATURES

16 - 19

LONDON

20 - 33

COLUMNS & PHOTOGRAPHY

34 - 37

FILM

38 - 41

MUSIC

42 - 45

UNISEX

46 - 47

EVENTS

Frida Kahlo Beyond Her Aesthetic

“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.”

“I am that clumsy human, always loving, loving, loving. And loving. And never leaving.”

“I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”

- Frida Kahlo

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hen describing Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, it is almost impossible to do so without referring to her unibrow and her upper lip hair. Her work destabilised the perfect, rounded image of beauty and fashion in the 1930s, and in doing so, her aesthetic became a commodity. Like many artists, Kahlo’s life was paralysed by pain, and so this hurt underlines her play with identity, clothing, and self-worth.

For decades, the Frida Kahlo aesthetic has been a trend, and so becoming accustomed with the essence of her being, getting to know who she was, is lost on most of us whom simply look at Kahlo as a figure in celebration of her own beauty, or perhaps celebrates her flaws.

The V&A looks to achieve this very point, and their exhibition, Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up in London this summer on June 16th. The exhibition is a look at Frida, and attempting to gain some understanding of her through her objects and clothing. Curator of the exhibition, Claire Wilcox, whose previous curatorial experience includes Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, Radical Fashion and the 2004 Vivienne Westwood exhibition, brings us an exhibition focused on the way Kahlo constructed her identity.

paint herself. She wasn’t afraid to dress differently to other women or to keep her facial hair – in fact, she celebrated it. She was a very active, intelligent player in the wider social circles that they moved in. There’s a modernity about her, which appeals”. She adds, “If you look at photographs of other women from the time, you can definitely say ‘that’s 1930s’ from the fashions they’re wearing, but with Frida, you don’t get that sense at all. You get a sense of vitality and modernity. I don’t think it’s just about the fact that she’s wearing clothes that weren’t fashionable, It’s more to do with the way she took possession of her appearance, she constructed it, she made it speak for her belief in Mexico and Mexican culture, so it’s sort of political as well – it’s very multi-layered”.

There is something else, without a doubt which fascinates about Kahlo. The exhibition hopes to let us in on her formation of identity, and crucial to this idea, Salma Hayek whom played Kahlo in the 2002 biopic, Frida interestingly notes, “I don't see her as this morbid, sad character and I'll tell you why," she says. “To start with, nobody paints their last painting, knowing that they're dying, and calls that painting Viva la Vida [Long Live Life]. She would wake up in the morning and make an art form of herself; and spend hours decorating herself to go to the market to buy some food, you know, or to stay in the house and paint. This spirit of waking up and transforming yourself into a walking work of art you're not telling me this was a depressive, obscure person”. In other words, Kahlo is a figure that should not simply be known by her ‘look’, but by her person.

In an interview with Dazed magazine, Wilcox stated why she wanted Kahlo to be the focus of an exhibition specifically – “Frida was ahead of her time in many ways. She had a difficult life but she always conveyed a great sort of vitality and energy.

She married the most famous painter in the world Check out the Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up at the time, but wasn’t daunted, and continued to exhibition at the V&A on June 16th.

Words by Kiran Meeda 5

Super Sharp 90s Rave Culture Exhibition at

London College of Fashion Rave culture has its roots stemming from the late 80s when travelling Londoners became inspired by the chill, house-music-charged Ibiza. It was the time of illegal raves that eventually brought to us Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill of 1994. The spirit and the movement have ultimately evolved into myriads of subcultures, styles and genres of music all over the world.

Here is one of the snippets of quotes displayed at the

of dozens exhibition:

‘Entering a rave at the height of jungle was always a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

Imagine walking into a Scorsese movie; it’s all about the style, the music, the attitude, and tension one could touch. Visuals were everywhere; the experience was heightened by the obvious whiff The new London College of Fashion exhibition, of numerous joints, which were an obligatory Super Sharp, curated by Tory Turk, explores companion to the rat-a-tat-tat of the big, the less known echoes of the notorious 80s – bad bassline.’ – Mark Alesky, photographer. the jungle raves and the UK garage of the 90s.

Soon the style will be named the ‘OFF-KEY Except the usual background information Mosch’: bright colours, total looks, expensive Gucci often presented at the entrances, the exhibition loafers and ‘emperor’ attitudes would become the was narrated by the people who had first- attributes of loud and proud garage girls and ‘rude hand experience of the raves, those who boys’. If you were called a garage girl or a 'rude were there at the time, the enthusiasts, boy', then you were avid fashionistas/raver-goers. photographers, DJs and ardent ravers of the 90s. ‘…to be a ‘rude boy’ you had to be someone who didn’t Super Sharp shows how by the time 90s were in full give a shit, you were unapologetically standing out and swing, the rave scene has changed, deeply inspired unapologetically dangerous looking’. – MC NYKE by the Italian fashion. At the turn of the century brands like Versace, D&G and especially Moschino came to epitomise the youth culture of 90s London.

review:

Influenced by the American hip-hop culture and the multi-colours of the Italian fashion, the financially struggling youth has come to develop something fascinating in the plethora of subcultures. At first, the youth culture would mix Iceberg, Moschino and Versace pieces with the classic baggy ravers’ pants. But, as the music tastes changed from jungle to UK garage so did the styles. The dress code became stricter, and the music started to attract more females.

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ST YLE Today, in a world of fast fashion, bloggers and constant online presence trends tend to have a fleeting lifespan. Subcultures, as they were back in the 90s even the 00s, are no longer as pervasive.

done it, I still felt that I lacked something. I wish I could still read or watch some of the curator’s commentary, that could have shed some more light into the background, the references made in quotes and of course about the negative side Super Sharp has reminded me of exactly that of the 90s because nothing can ever be perfect.

– the subcultures, and the way they evolved in the organic mixture of music, fashion, changing Personally, I would recommend this exhibition; tastes, attitudes and the self-transforming society. you end up feeling like you had a nice chat with a once passionate diehard party In addition to that, I have to praise the timing of animal. However, some background reading the exhibition. What I am starting to observe these beforehand or even after might help you build days is an increasing interest in both rave culture a better picture of the decade’s subculture. and the 90s fashion among millennials. A lot of the young people today feel somewhat nostalgic about The exhibition will run until the 21st the times they were not even born in or were too of April 2018 at London College of young to remember and fully appreciate them. Fashion, 20 John Princes Street, W1G 0BJ. Although the exhibition’s primary purpose was to tell the story through the words of the Words by trailblazers and people who have been there and Karla Noor 7

Words by Connor Gotto

School’s (almost) out, which means it’s finally time to trade in those textbooks, get your life back in check, and take some quality time to do exactly what you want to do! We’ve rounded up the best books, shows and exhibitions on offer over the next few months because, well, we’re nice like that…

So, what are you waiting for?

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The long-awaited stage show detailing the life of a living legend, Tina Turner’s story is a testament to one woman’s strength, resilience, and immense talent.

In 1976, after performing as one half of the husband and wife duo Ike and Tina Turner for 16 years, Tina fled her notoriously violent husband with just 36 cents in her pocket, and a career seemingly in tatters. Tina: The Musical tells the untold story of a woman who rose from the ashes and, at the age of 40, started over and became one of the world’s biggest selling artists.

Packed with hits such as ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, ‘Proud Mary’, and ‘Simply The Best’, Tina: The Musical is set to be the musical of the summer.

Tina: The Musical opens on March 21st 2018. Tickets are on sale NOW.

The Future Starts Here, V&A

ARTS

Tina! The Musical, Aldwych Theatre

pocket for a cheeky drink afterwards too! You’d be a fool not to, really!

Hamlet shows from April 25th 2018 - August 26th 2018. As You Like It shows from May 2nd 2018 - August 26th 2018.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman

Set in Glasgow, Eleanor Oliphant explores the fine line between living and surviving. Eleanor is perfectly happy in her solitary routine, but when an unannounced act of kindness comes her way, she has to learn to adapt her lifestyle or lose what she knows is good.

Centred on finding confidence and overthrowing inner demons, Honeyman writes an unsuspectingly thought-provoking account of the effects of change.

Not only forcing the reader to adapt their view of Eleanor herself, one is led to reevaluate their own life, and analyse the habitual ruts that we all fall into at one point or another.

A chargeable shirt that can power your phone and a robot baby seal called Paro that could help with dementia are just two of the exhibits at the V&A’s The Future Starts Here. Offering some of the most cutting edge technology (as well as some duds that never really made it), the exhibition explores what’s next for the human race, giving an insight as to just what the next Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is available on few years might look like.

HarperCollins NOW. If it’s going to change the world, you’ll likely see it here first… from smart cities to towel-folding robots, there’s something for everyone in this revolutionary flight to Three Things About Elsie, by the future!

Joanna Louise Cannon

The Future Starts Here opens on May 12th 2018 at the Grounded in real life relationships, Three Things About V&A. Elsie is the captivating tale of 84 year old Florence Claybourne, who relies upon best friend Elsie to evoke memories of the past, else they be lost, along with part Hamlet & As You Like It, RSC Celebrating 21 years of the ‘new’ Globe, the RSC of herself too. are opening their 2018 summer season with two of An ever present secret and the mystery surrounding the Shakespeare’s most popular plays, Hamlet and As You true identity of Gabriel Price (who looks suspiciously Like It. like the troublesome Ronnie Butler, thought to have Both written around 1599 - the year that the original died in 1953) are secondary to the relationship between Globe Theatre was built - each will place focus on the two women, which evokes both an admiration of the story and storyteller, with the company exploring their bond, and a reflection upon one’s own relations. the unlikely similarities between the plays. Rife with Three Things About Elsie is both captivating and themes of politics and corruption, as well as gender identity and exploration, this RSC double-bill fits the heartwarming, perfect for a long, lazy afternoon in the sun. current political climate perfectly.

Most importantly, they’re two of Shakespeare’s best - Three Things About Elsie is available on HarperCollins NOW. and, at £5 per ticket, you’ll have enough left in your

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When I think of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, I think of a renowned Belgian dancer and choreographer who has always had a knack for blending together different art forms. His ballets, be it his debut Rien de Rien or any of his following pieces, have never been solely about dance. He has always used multimedia and imagery to support his choreographies, often makes use of shifting and varying decors, and there has always been a storyline for the audience to follow, combining dance with some form of drama. He has always experimented with different forms of performance art.

I knew all of this when I walked into Barbican centre, as I had seen a couple of his pieces before. Nevertheless, Sidi Larbi’s fully fledged, three-hour-long theatre production very much caught me by surprise. His reboot of father of the manga-genre Osama Tezuka’s Astro Boy features sensational visual effects, a fully Japanese cast alongside Japanese dancers, extraordinary puppets and as always, some impressively graceful choreographies.

Sidi Larbi Cherkauoi performing The script is based on a 2003 remake of Astro Boy written by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. The story follows protagonist Atom, his 10

PLUTO

at the Barbican

Review: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s

younger sister Uran, detective Gesicht and his wife Helena, all highly-advanced robots living in a futuristic world where someone is destroying the world’s most advanced technologies. Portraying a universe where the line between robots and humans is thinner than ever, Pluto pushes audiences to think further. It is not a story about robots and humans, or robots against humans, but rather, it depicts an ominous tale about hate, love and human nature. Pluto is performed in Japanese with English subtitles, but this wasn’t disturbing or distracting at any point.

The skill of the staging and décor is exceptional: the show begins with the closure of a screen showing images of advanced robots and manga drawings.

The scene changes constantly; Sidi Larbi works on multiple levels and different screens. The whole play moves on with the high-speed energy of a comic strip: no scene lasts for more than a few seconds before it gives way to the next. All characters are shadowed by dancers who manipulate the actors on the one hand, acting as puppet-masters, and the scene on the other hand, constantly shifting a set of stone panels around to create dozens of different backgrounds, rooms and staircases. Atom, our main character, is at one point sucked into an enormous balloon-like substance at the low-point of the play, when the world faces nuclear devastation. Robots and monsters are brought to life with incredible sound and visual effects. The video and set design is, in short, spectacular.

But this was also the downside of the play - three hours is a long time to spend watching an animated comic book. Cherkaoui’s choreography, when it occurs, is sophisticated and elegant. Unfortunately, his theatrical (and universal) language of dance sometimes seemed eclipsed by detailed dialogues, an overly complicated plot and myriad technical effects. He managed to transpose the traditional manga comics vibe to the scene, remaining faithful to its energy, ethnicity,

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graphics and scale. He also successfully combined literature with dance, theatre, film and performance, topping it off with a storyline that invokes self-reflection and evaluation of humankind. My only problem is that he may have overdone it: the plot, the effects, the length – it may have all been just a little too much.

Words by Charlotte Rubin

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I am the message, the message is change.

The title of this piece is a little nod to Arthur Jafa’s exhibit last October called ‘Love is the message, the message is Death’.

In it, Jafa stitches together footage documenting African American culture in the United States. It is everything from rap to police brutality, including historic footage of the 1960s civil rights mobilisation, all scored by Kanye West’s ‘Ultralight Beam’. It is an honest and uncompromising depiction of the presence of Blackness. It transcends prepackaged titbits of black culture that the media thrives on appropriating, forcing us to engage more than just scrolling past a clip of a cop murdering a man in front of his screaming wife and child.

Words by Sara Trett

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F E AT U R E S

••• Having provided that context, the similarities between Arthur Jafa and I end. This article is not meant to hold a mirror up to the masses. It is far, far less than a call for justice and recognition for a systematically oppressed community. Quite anticlimactically, this article (as its title suggests) concerns me (or more accurately, the “me”s that have been, are, and might well be in the future).

I graduate in three months. In three months I will be a graduate. Three years ago, I was barely-makingit-through-A-levels. In that time, unsurprisingly, I’ve changed — an inevitable consequence of time passing. Five years ago, I remember (shamefully), when I wrote an article for my high school’s magazine detailing why I did not want to label myself a feminist.* I would like to clarify, that I now whole-heartedly identify as a feminist: the world is not a fair and equal place and sometimes that’s just life, but in the case of gender inequality, that’s institutional, and I’m sick of it. Back then, I was anxious that people would get the “wrong” idea.

With all this going on, all at different speeds, you can start to feel stationary. In reality, you’re always moving and growing steadily as an individual. I have to thank my time at university for showing me that, because it genuinely just dropped me into the deep end. Suddenly I had all this choice, and no one telling me what to choose, so (of course) my first response was to not explore any choices and live life as a comfortable studious hermit. I was so caught in the habit of focusing on the future, some indeterminately distanced end point, that I just didn’t make use of all that was happening in the now.

Three years later, and I am desperate for more time. Not just to put off the inevitability of the real world, but because there’s nowhere else that offers hundreds of opportunities to explore new things on a platter. I never got a chance to play ultimate frisbee, or run for student government. I mean, I have learnt that I don’t want to be a waitress, and I prefer coursework to exams, but what if I was meant to be an artist, and just haven’t figured it out yet!?

I’m scared of the future, and I’m scared of having wasted my past. I fear change, but I also feel like I haven’t changed enough. I probably gave myself the answer to all my issues a few paragraphs ago: I’m twenty-one. I keep thinking there’s certain things I should have done by now, but that’s just false… There are no expectations, time frames, or milestones save the ones we set ourselves. It’s time I realise that things come and go, and it’s better to I may have misled you once again. This article just enjoy them for what they are while they last. is also not about feminism. But maybe the way I keep changing topic is proof in point. I think At a certain point, we must look directly at this article is about fear. Because I am terrified of something we find uncomfortable or unsettling and change. I always thought that if I could figure out confront it, engage with it, progress from it. In that who I was, I had a starting point for the rest of my sense, maybe Jafa’s exhibition isn’t that irrelevant. life. No one told me that identity and self are both It’s about tuning into what’s actually happening transient. And my god, is it tiring being constantly around you, trying not to let your anxieties distract in motion. University is one of the strangest things you from the awareness that you’re changing, and I have had the pleasure of experiencing in my short that is incredible. You couldn’t pay me enough twenty-one years. As a friend just reminded me, in money to be the exact same person I was at any high school we were all told to strive for our future point in my life. I’ve done, and know, so much more. goals, accelerate our thoughts past the present and And at least for this exact moment, I trust that no try to pin our identities down in 4000 characters. matter what, that’s how I’ll always feel. So, let’s go.

The very idea that at the age of fifteen we’re told to narrow down our interests, with a potential *I apologise for the excessive use of italics. They career path in mind is absurd. (I mean, I absolutely are there to indicate increasing embarrassment did it, but it was still absurd). Six years later and which makes me physically tense when I look I feel even more clueless than I did back then. back at my life and relive these moments.

The negative stereotypes of the movement were enough for me to just practise a sort of internalised feminism that didn’t contribute to wider discussions, especially about why Feminism needs its name as a brand for people to unite under.

For someone who did a lot of writing as a kid, how ironic that I should be so afraid of a single word.

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Final Year Reflections: Harpreet’s take: As we come to the end of our degrees, it’s inevitable to reflect on our university experience. From seminars to lectures, coffee catch-ups to all-nighters, all which have shaped our time here.

When applying to university, a message I heard a lot from those who had been through the experience was “I have become a wellrounded person.” It’s a common phrase predominantly used in guidance for applicants in UCAS leaflets, about how to stand out in the university’s admissions department, and even more so in the content concerning employer’s requirements of a potential employee.

In my opinion, to determine if somebody is “well-rounded” is subjective; to believe that there is a universal definition of a “wellrounded” student that can be applied for to every student works to limit its possibilities of representing diverse student experiences.

The question of ‘what university has taught me’ suggests that I need to split my social and academic lives to give the correct answer, when, in my experience, I can say it is a mix of these apparently distinct lives. I have spent three years studying a course I (mostly) love, working with intelligent, ambitious students in thought-provoking seminars. It has been rewarding, yet I can only say this in reflection.

Going to university can be uncomfortable. No one can tell you what your experience will be like, but you are given a verdict by many others, before you get the chance to try it yourself. It is possible to have high expectations of university early on, and the realities of student life can be disappointing, leaving you unpleasantly surprised.

If you are dissatisfied with your time so far, do not feel discouraged.

When you take up a new opportunity, things change. You don’t have to, as in my case, become an Editor for the student magazine for this to happen. Even turning up at the next fresher's fair, having a chat with the person running a stall, emailing a society for information, and researching the opportunities available to you is a step in the direction of experiencing new things. There is a lot out there for students, so think about what you would like to do during the time you have at university. Rather than comparing yourselves to the experiences of others, take a step out of your comfort zone.

It’s undeniably a different experience for everyone; that said, I would advise you to explore all available options. Before you make excuses and dismiss potential opportunities coming your way, ask yourself: why shouldn’t I try this? What’s the worst that can happen?

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F E AT U R E S

What University Taught Us Saarah’s take: My advice is, whatever it is, just do things. University is what it is; it offers an array of subjects and a countless number of societies, but each individual's experience is unique. The annoyingly clichéd phrase "university is the best time of your life" is just that: annoying and cliché.

Whilst many do feel this way - hence allowing it to become a cliché in the first place - it can be pressurising to live up to this standard.

Having “the best time” is subjective; what someone deems a fantastic university experience may be my absolute nightmare, and vice versa.

I think university can be more aptly described through another, better fitting, cliché: it’s what you make it. Re-adjusting your expectations lessens the pressure to live up to an idealised image of uni. Experience it as you would like to, without contorting yourself to fit into various friendship groups and situations that you have no desire to be in, only for the sake of trying to live up to this vague idea of "the best".

On the flipside, I found it very easy to slip solely into my academics, getting comfortable and making it, for the majority of my time here, the totality of my experience. And whilst there is nothing wrong with this if it’s what you want to do, it wasn't my conscious decision. I just got comfortable as exciting opportunities passed by.

Eventually, I said yes to more things which resultantly elevated my experience. Overtime, I've learnt that the most important thing is to take ownership of my time and experiences, because the truth is, life goes on whether you actively steer it or are a passive passenger.

Don't let university be something that simply happens to you, but take it as an opportunity to stretch yourself, and not only academically.

I think this is where some of that "university is the best time of your life" nonsense holds up. We're in this almost unaccounted for time of faux-adulthood; we get to experiment and make mistakes, most of the time without dramatic consequences. So use this time to do things, whatever and however small or grand they may be. If you're in your first or second year and aren't that involved but wish to be, though unsure of how to, I encourage you to take a step. Whether it’s striking up a conversation with that random person you keep bumping into between classes, or joining a society; these small things can add up to more exciting things (they did for me), giving you a fuller university experience and more meaningful memories to cherish.

Words by Harpreet Pal & Saarah Ahsan-Shah 15

M y Q M Jo u r n e y 16

LO N D O N University allows us to transition into adulthood; not the buying a mortgage, sharing a cat and opening an ISA kind of adulthood, but a taste into the realities of adulthood and what it entails, with these three years, becoming the most life-changing three years you’ll encounter in your entire life.

You learn to make money last for longer periods (not that I succeeded much in that), you develop a phobia of checking your bank account at the end of the day after going out - but in hindsight it was worth the experience, you learn the perfect ratio of coffee and red bull to pull an all nighter, you learn how to liaise with strangers, that first glimmer of independence and freedom, and how to make the best meal deal combination because you spent all your money at Nando’s the first month you got your loan.

All while still maintaining that sweet 40% pass rate.

I remember having a horrendous time to begin with. The entire first year was a blur, and I’m amazed I even passed into second year. I hardly did my readings (shamelessly relying on spark notes to help me out). I even went back to my old college to visit my careers advisor who assured me that it’s all going to be okay and to give it a chance.

Back then I was questioning everything that led up to this moment and if I had made the right choice, and looking back at it all now, she was right.

University was, without a doubt, one of the best things I ever did, not necessarily because of where I was but because of the overall experience that university has to offer, which helped me grow as a person, branch out of my shell and, be who I am today. Queen Mary is more than just a space to work in. It’s brought to life by the people who are a part of it, and now in my final few weeks, I can look back at my journey and happily say that I came here to study something that I loved, met some great people on the way, and have a lifetime of memories that I will forever cherish.

University can be a daunting yet

magical

University was a big deal in my family, and everything was leading up to that final academic chapter in my life.

For me, there was never any question about me not going to university. It was just something that my family always encouraged me to do. I managed to get good GCSE’S, slightly questionable A-Level grades, and an ambition that I was going to make something out of myself, and make my mother proud.

experience

My journey came with its trials and tribulations, and it wasn’t an easy ride, but its one that I am proud to be a part of.

Words by Nasaybah Hussain Photograph by Matthew Cheung

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My journey would have been incomplete, if I hadn’t have met some great people along the way, everyone has a different story to share. Here is a glimpse of some of the journeys and memories created at Queen Mary:

Fahima Rashid

Final Year Economics Student

“My journey at QMUL has been very volatile, from regretting my enrolment to being sad that I’ll be graduating soon. On my first day, I had quite a big culture shock.

Coming from East London, I expected QMUL to have a similar social scene to what I was used to, but on my course, I was a minority, and the first practicing Muslim people had met.

During my first semester, I made friends but mainly stayed to myself and became introverted, which is completely unlike me. I didn’t enjoy my semester so decided the best thing for me to do is study abroad next year so I would spend less time at uni. In my second semester, I decided that its time for me to start making an effort with people and I spoke to new people and made new friends. During this time, I was also accepted into studying abroad at the University of Pennsylvania, and I was so excited to experience a new setting with the re-emergence of my confidence. However, towards the end of my second semester I was in two minds. I was enjoying my time at uni and was worried that if I left and came back, things would go back to how it was when I first started uni - bored, unhappy and trapped.

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I decided that I should take a risk and study abroad, especially as I commute to QMUL. This by far was the best decision I have made during my time at QMUL. Having a clean slate and starting again, I promised myself that I would not make the same mistakes. I would be friendly and engaging and make an effort to socialise with others.

This semester abroad changed who I was and made me more sure of my values.

When I came back to QMUL for my second semester in second year, I had changed. I was more engaging, less worried about hearing ‘no’ and started to interact with new people.

I joined societies and made new friends, and since then, I have been continuing to be myself. My third year at QMUL has been my best, and now that I’m leaving, I know I will miss it and the people here. For anyone reading this, don’t be afraid to try out something new, immerse yourself in everything university has to offer, and you’ll have the best time.”

Abdullah Shah

Final Year Computer Science Student

“Throughout my QM journey I’ve learned that university is about getting to know yourself, so while you’re buried in essays and impending deadlines, just remember to take time out for yourself. I’ve spent just as much time in the gym as I have in my lectures and looking back, I would not have it any other way. I have made great friends and got to know what defines who I am. Queen Mary was an amalgamation of the sort of place I wanted to be a part of; diverse, challenging and exciting.

The journey through university won’t be smooth; It’ll get rocky to the point you’ll catch yourself wondering ‘should I get off this roller-coaster.’ It’s important to succeed but no more so than learning the lessons from your failures, and when you look back over the years spent at uni, you’ll be that much prouder of the face staring back at you in the mirror and the person you’ve become.”

LO N D O N Harpreet Pal

Final Year English Student

Uzma Patel

Final Year Maths Student

“When I think about the highlight of my last three years, there’s always a common factor; the friend’s I’ve made. With them, I’ve shared a lot of laughter, love, and memories I will forever remember with a huge smile on my face. From sitting in the library to going crazy at Hail Mary, I adore my friends for making my time at Queen Mary memorable!

Don’t be afraid to talk to and meet new people, get involved in societies and remember to enjoy the things the university experience has to offer!”

Hansel Rodrigues

Final Year Joint Honours English and Film Studies Student

“I joined Queen Mary in 2015 to study a joint honours English and Film degree. When I look back on it all, one thing I’ll remember is all the crazy things that had happened at France House (there was an eel on the welcome mat one day - I still have no idea why!). Another thing that I’ll remember is the really great seminars where you leave with a sudden buzz as you start to feel pretentiously intellectual; and finally, being able to live in Central London, and all the craziness that comes as a result of it - not to mention the very interesting neighbours I’ve had over the years.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from my journey at Queen Mary (and I know this might sound cliche but its true) is that you should, honestly, make the most of every opportunity that comes your way, or at least give it a go. For a lot of us, we won’t have the luxury of living in Central London for much longer, with so much free time, so we may as well make most of it while we still have that time. “

“My journey through QM has been, put simply, pretty challenging. My main priority being working hard, I wanted to learn as much as I could.

During my (dreadfully exhausting) time studying to pass my A-level exams, going to university felt like the perfect escape. A well-deserved break from sitting ridiculously hard exams.That said, I had the mindset of working as hard as I could, so first year, for me, was about my reading and my essays. English is about opposing arguments; it’s important to talk to people, only then will you understand your opinions. If you’re learning about literature, you’re learning about history, psychology, gender studies or political contexts.

Whichever module you pick, you are discussing the arguments of prominent thinkers.

My journey through QM has allowed me to learn more about my self: my expectations, work ethic, and social side. So my advice for all first years, current second or third years, and finalists. Yes, you can still have a brilliant experience at uni, once you make a conscious decision. And no, it’s not too late. It never is.”

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Girl (Friends) on Film Female friendships don’t always get a good rep, and that’s okay; girls and women are complex creatures. How could we expect their relationships to be straightforward?

Of course friendships between girls begin early on, in the nursery and primary school stages, but I’d like to argue that high school is when friendships between girls are really carved out. High school tests and tries friendships, and can make and break relationships along the way. They are crucial to our growth and have an incredible impact on who we turn out to be. In the awkward teenage stage of trying to figure everything out, our friendships shape us more than we may know. Though high school friendships can be tumultuous, dramatic, and sometimes damaging, they are also beautiful, formative and necessary. It is no surprise, then, that teenage female friendships are the subject of many of our favourite films; they speak to us in a way only women can understand.

I am sure none of us experienced the full on war that takes place in Mean Girls. I doubt anybody tried to secretly make you gain weight, or gave you foot cream as a spot treatment. I hope nobody created a ‘burn book’ or plotted to turn friends against one another. However, I can be certain that we have all experienced rumors, peer pressure and the break down of friendships. High school is difficult; it is the only place where you are forced to spend eight hours a day, five days a week, with the same people all dealing with varying degrees of teenage angst. It is a surprise some friendships survive at all. But it when it comes to girl friends, loyalty will find a way of overcoming any hurdle.

The loyalty between girls and women, not even always among friends but among complete strangers, is remarkable. In Clueless, Cher is devoted to her friends. Though she may be a bit, clueless in the way she goes about things, Cher always has good intentions. When Cher and Dionne ‘adopt’ 20

new girl Tai, they embark on a mission to transform her. Whether she needs a transformation is another question, but at least the girls are doing what they think is right. The three of them build such a tight friendship that they can overcome arguments and way harsh insults like ‘you’re a virgin who can’t drive.’ Everyone has argued with a friend, and said something they didn’t mean. However, very rarely does this cause a friendship break up; girls and women are blessed with knowing when to forgive and forget, allowing their friendships to withstand even the harshest of storms.

Sometimes, we can forget who we are and what we really need. Luckily, we have our friends there to

C O LU M N S remind us. In Lady Bird, Lady Bird loses sight of what matters to her, and in chasing a friendship, loses sight of her best friend, Julie. We have all gone after something or someone that was not good for us. We sometimes forget who we are. But the beauty is that it happens to all of us. If a friend falls down a spiral of bad decisions and questionable behavior, sometimes all you can do is let it happen and wait for them to come back to you. Julie forgives Lady Bird and welcomes her back with open arms. Their friendship outlasts Lady Bird’s misjudged phase, as female friendships have outlasted so much more.

Friendships between girls and women are incredible things. They are not the stereotypical, catty, backstabbing fake friendships that sadly sink into our perceptions. Yes, we have all had a bad friend or an unhealthy friendship, but that is simply down to women being unique, complicated, endlessly interesting individuals. Once you find your girl friends, your girl gang that has your back and keeps you smiling, you have hit the jackpot. Keep these friends close; they mean more than you will ever know.

Words by Seren Morris

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DEATH OF THE Cancer is dangerous. This is what we all know.

However, the way we think about and deal with this set of diseases in developed countries is potentially more dangerous than cancer itself. The general public regularly asks when we will see “a cure for cancer” and talks about “beating cancer”. In individual cases we use language along the lines of “my aunt beat cancer”.

Why is this bad? It promotes a utopian ideology which is infeasible. To cure cancer is almost to aim for immortality. This idea was discussed in an opinion piece which appeared in the Independent recently.

It is tabloid journalism which is in part responsible for this thinking. Charity adverts are also unsurprisingly fraught with appeals to the emotion and personification of cancer. Laws exist in the UK to prevent claims of a ‘cure for cancer’. Yet this ‘cure’, which is all at once ubiquitous, and just out of reach, remains ingrained in the public consciousness.

The ‘cure’ is ideal for the aim of raising money or attention, but to talk of a ‘cure’ for cancer is to talk of one cure for over 100 different diseases. This is feasible for infection, in which one single species of bacteria causes many different ailments, and one antibiotic can kill many types of bacteria. Cancer represents a fundamentally different problem.

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CURE

Arguably, the ‘cure’ itself is becoming an increasingly outmoded scientific concept. Infections can come back if antibiotics are not used properly. Chronic inflammatory disorders never cease. Viruses can lay dormant for decades. The idea of medicine as an instant solution gained popularity with Paul Ehrlich’s Zauberkugel (‘magic bullet’) in the early 20th Century and peaked with antibiotics in the 1940’s. Bacteria now acquire antibiotic resistance and this marks a significant moment in medicine’s history; agents of disease are tangibly responding to our actions.

However, medicine is entering a new age. We have an immense knowledge of genetics. This is paving the way for personalised medicine; treatment unique to the individual.

To respond to all diseases, whether infectious or cancerous we need new modes of thinking.

The cure is dead, and therapy reigns supreme.

The ‘cure’ is expected to provide instant relief from disease, whilst ‘therapies’ act in many different ways to reduce disease as much as is feasible. In some cases this may be eradication. It’s important that the general public comes to accept that eradication is currently an impossible aim for cancer. It will help cultivate a worldview that is more realistic and more global, perhaps allowing space for us to think about helping other countries improve their healthcare systems.

Words by Harvey Moldon

C O LU M N S

When science employs language to name things, it can do so with excessive objectivity (Interleukin-1, Interleukin-2, Interleukin-3…) or with bizarre carelessness (Sonic Hedgehog protein). Generally though, the community is quite good at staying aware of the implications of the words it uses. You’ll very rarely (or possibly never) come across the word ‘cure’ in modern medical literature, and for good reason, it’s a bold statement. Cancer charities and journalists aren’t under the same peer-review scrutiny though, and that is where the danger of scientific language arises.

Mentioned Today in Headcandy: The Science History Institute on Paul Ehrlich https://www.sciencehistory.org/historicalprofile/paul-ehrlich Interleukins and Sonic Hedgehog https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_ hedgehog_(protein) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interleukin

Opinion Piece by Richard Smith http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ ill-never-give-money-to-cancer-researchcharities-cancer-is-the-best-death-andEveryone should think critically about how we curing-it-would-be-a-a6916891.html use language and authority attached to them; research is not as plain sailing as the media Types of Cancer might have you believe https://www.cancer.gov/types

Photographs by Josh Rawlinson

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Words by Sophie Mitchell

The physical body is eternally bound by the behaviour and language that surround and define it. The language of the body, the words we use on a daily basis to refer to both ourselves and others, varies drastically between cultures, religions, genders, and geographical locations. Despite these differences, one thing is certain — the human body is shaped and altered by the language we prescribe to it.

A way of envisaging this concept of ‘speaking through the body’ is to question the words used on a daily basis to refer to the human physical form. In the wake of international women’s day, it is essential to consider words 24

such as ‘woman’, ‘girl’, ‘femininity’, ‘masculinity’, ‘gender’. Undoubtedly, upon hearing or reading these words, certain thoughts, stereotypes and images will enter your mind. This is exactly the effect language imposes upon a human body — it grounds it in the external world, shrouding it with meaning and context. Resulting from this inexorable link between language and the body, science, and particularly the medical study of the body’s health, is heavily influenced by the categories of language that interact with it. This is primarily why words such as ‘disease’, ‘treatment’, ‘infection’, and even ‘cure’, have become such vital terms, and carry influential meaning in the context of the body.

According to his psychoanalytic observations, Freud notes that his patient, Anna O., had a profound ‘absence of adequate intellectual occupation’ which ‘led to a habit of day-dreaming […] which laid the

The language

of SCIENCE

C O LU M N S

Particularly, the word ‘symptom’ carries significant importance when considered in light of influential Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and his Studies on Hysteria (189395). In his notorious exploration into the unconscious lives of women, Freud and his accomplice, Breuer, carried out a series of investigations into what they branded ‘hysteria’ — a psychological disturbance in women that manifests in physical symptoms of confusion, agitation, irritability, overt sexuality, hallucination and psychosis. In the famous case study of a patient named Anna O., Freud delineates how the death of her father, combined with the mental strain of a ‘monotonous life’, rendered Anna bound to a long-lasting stupor. Upon awaking, Freud records that Anna’s countenance was drastically changed; showing symptoms that were to be branded as hysteria.

foundations for a dissociation of her mental personality’. Following this line of thought, Freud concluded that hysteria, and the symptoms it carries, is essentially a physical outburst of psychical (mental) energy and disturbance resulting from an overflow of material from the unconscious part of the mind. Because this psychical energy from the unconscious is so intense, it is inadmissible to consciousness, and therefore manifests through physical symptoms.

What Freud’s theory of hysteria enlightens is the fact that the language of science, particularly that which speaks of ‘symptoms’, ‘treatments’ and ‘cures’, as a resounding effect upon social and cultural constructs. This is most evident as hysteria, and the mental/ physical disturbance associated with it, seeped into the identification of ‘femininity’ — further subjugating women in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to prejudice, maltreatment and inequality. Reflecting upon this time in history, the language in the contemporary world is slowly moving towards progressive equality. The language of science, and all language used globally, has a duty to bodies of all genders, sexualities, abilities and identifies — to understand them, define them, and never to silence them.

Mentioned today in Headcandy: Freud, Sigmund, Studies on Hysteria (1893-5).

SPEakING THROUGH

THE BODY 25

On March 8th we celebrated International Women’s Day.

In the year of #MeToo and Time’s Up, the key push for the year was #PressforProgress; this was centred around motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.

Around the world, there were protests about inequality and celebrations of womanhood. Women took to the streets from Spain, to India. And in London, the day commenced with Westminster being illuminated by evocative slogans.

I want to showcase the achievements of women in this article; however, although those in the usual lists, for example, Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai, overcame massive obstacles of, prejudice, oppression and violence, I want to shine a light on the women who overcame inner demons. These women are no braver than heroines like Michelle and Malala, the latter was shot, and then set up a non-profit organisation, wrote a book and is the youngest person to achieve a Nobel Prize laureate. It’s just that they’ve just been up against some different barriers, their own minds.

My theme joining these women? Magic.

At 17 she was rejected from her university of choice, at 25 her mother died and at 26 she had a miscarriage.

At 27 she got married, but her husband abused her.

At 28 she got divorced and was diagnosed with severe depression. At 29 she was a single mother on welfare and at age 30 she wanted to commit suicide. But, she directed all her passion into doing the one thing she could do better than anyone else. And that was writing.

At 31 she finally published her first book, at 35 she had released four books and was named Author of the Year.

And at 42, she sold 11 million copies of her new book on the first day of release.

This transformative experience relates to the life of an author known by every Millennial, JK Rowling. Writing Harry Potter got her through her struggle. Indeed, anyone who has read the Harry Potter series can appreciate that many aspects of it relate to suffering, but also overcoming it.

Words by Gina Gambetta 26

LEAVE

“

THOUGHTS COULD

DEE PER

SCARS

THAN

C O LU M N S

ALMOST

ANYTHING ELSE. - Madam Pomfrey She’s since been very open and candid about her journey, ‘It’s so difficult to describe depression to someone who’s never been there, because it’s not sadness. I know sadness.

Sadness is to cry and to feel. But it’s that cold absence of feeling — that really hollowed-out feeling…I have never been remotely ashamed of having been depressed. Never.

What’s there to be ashamed of? I went through a really tough time and I am quite proud that I got out of that.’

Next on the list, Evanna Lynch, she battled with anorexia from the age of 11, but reading the Harry Potter books inspired her and she formed a relationship of letters with JK Rowling; who further pushed her towards recovery by promising her the role of Luna Lovegood if she got better. Along with now being a successful actress, she also promotes speaking up about having issues, ‘Sometimes it’s a bit daunting. I still have struggles; problems and I don’t want people to think I’ve got it all figured out. But it keeps me on track.’

So why have my leading ladies been linked to the magical world? In the realm of Harry Potter, anything is possible, even if it seems totally impossible. And actually, that’s a lot like our world; 100 years ago, women could not do basic things, such as, vote, William Gladstone famously said we must keep women away from ‘the turmoil of masculine life’, we couldn’t even go to university.

A century later and things seem almost the complete opposite, we now have access to all these things; we’ve even had two female Prime Ministers, so much for keeping us away.

However, mass inequalities still exist, women still are trodden upon, but if an orphan, with a funny looking lightning bolt scar, or an author who got rejected by 12 publishing houses, or a girl who spent her teenage years in hospital because of a severe eating disorder, can overcome adversity, if we unite together so can we.

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THOUGHTS

GOING Sadly, my time here is closing fast, and I found myself listening to David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech, This Is Water. (In my opinion, it’s probably the worst thing he came up with, despite it being one of his better known.)

In it, he references a story about two guys, an atheist and a religious guy. The atheist says that he has reasons not to believe in God – after all, last week he was trapped in a blizzard, and cried out to God to help him. The religious guy, baffled, says ‘…yet here you are! Surely you must believe?’ The atheist responds by saying ‘No, all that happened was a couple Eskimos happened to come wandering by and showed me the way back.’

I begin with this little didactic story because I am writing knowing that this is, probably, the final column of mine that will go to print. I am writing, then, to the graduating class of 2018, as well as other readers, from other years. I am writing that didactic story – not to prove the superiority of my liberal arts education and thus my ability to riff on meaning – but to remind myself of the way in which some things can only take on significance when viewed after the fact. Things that seem insignificant or coincidental at the time can turn out to be hugely important when viewed in the wider lens of posterity and reflection. This applies to my time at QMUL just as it much as, I imagine, it applies to yours. Throughout my time here, I have been lucky to spend my time with people and lecturers who have made an impact on me that, I suspect, I will only begin to feel the true and full benefits of later on in life.

One of the things I found throughout my time writing for CUB is that I found myself writing a politics column that very often focused in on the government and media treatment of Higher

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What if politics, but too much?

forward

C O LU M N S Education, focusing on tuition fees and free speech issues, and the more I think about it, I realise that it was my profound interest in what a university education meant that inspired that focus. It was my unshakable belief that a university education meant something, that it was always going to be about more than what you learnt in a classroom. Yes, it was, in part, about Hegel or molecules or whatever your degree is about, but I found that it was being reduced to those things far too often. Hacks would write sniffy pieces arguing for things like distance learning and questioning the need for a campus or the need for the humanities. I heard the false dichotomy that the University is somehow separate from the ‘real world’ – one of my least favourite bits of popular wisdom – and, I found, all of those things jarred unbearably with my overwhelming sense that the education that University provides might be about more than the one God-like thing that all students find themselves beholden to: our grades. It is possible, and not at all unwarranted, to call me a hopeless romantic, or clinging on to an ideal of HE. Perhaps I am. Despite all that, I still feel grateful for my time here. I feel like the other things you pick up during a three year degree are much like Wallace’s Eskimos – only significant to those who believe in something a little bit greater.

For those leaving, I imagine we’ll only see the full benefits in time. For those still at Queen Mary, enjoy them.

Words by Peter Whitehead

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Photographers and models: Seren Morris (@serenhmorris) Josie Durney (@josiedurney) Anna Godsman (@bananagodsman)

As we approach this academic year’s final semester, where for some the summer holidays will be less ‘sun, sea and sand,’ and more ‘jobs, internships and grad schemes,’ we look back to a simpler time. CUB photography wanted to capture the feelings of nostalgia for a summer long ago. The feeling of ‘school’s out,’ seemingly endless summer holidays, with nothing to do but play in the park and sleepover with friends.

Nostalgia for a time with no responsibilities, deadlines or pressure; for a time where the biggest decision you had to make was choosing between ice cream flavours. School’s out for summer, and for some, school’s out forever: this may be our last summer holidays, let’s make the most of it.

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P H OTO G R A P H Y

PHOTOGRAPHY

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33 P H OTO G R A P H Y

One flew out of the cub's nest

What CUB Magazine Has Meant to Me and Could Mean for a Prospective Film Journalist Words by Christian Lynn 34

Photograph by Matthew Cheung

I think, first and foremost, that culture is one of, if not the most significant part of our student community. It comes in all shapes and sizes, from all over the world and now is the tumultuous time to embrace it, to advertise it, to give it some forward-momentum. CUB has provided a great platform for this, particularly in terms of film. With the chance to get my voice out there, reviewing new releases and engaging in fiery debates over films that have come under fire from critics and fans, I feel that I’ve been able to contribute to the magnanimous wave of arts and culture.

FILM

A

s with Andy’s farewell to Woody and co. at the end of Toy Story 3, I’m going to have to wave goodbye to CUB Magazine in the coming months. And, as epitomised by millions of people’s reaction to that tear-jerking scene, it’s going to be hard. But this isn’t the time to mope or gloss over what has been a fulfilling experience during my academic studies. Instead, I think it’s worth a moment of reflection, to look back on what CUB has done for me and could well do for you, reader, if you decide to take the worthwhile leap and join Queen Mary’s top arts and culture mag.

offers this opportunity and you should take it with open arms as I have.

It’s not all fun and games, admittedly.

The pressures of uploading every week can feel daunting in the shadow of assessments and the abundance of reading material dumped on your lap, within the first week of study. But this is the thing, CUB welcomes personality and passion. I mean, my fellow CUB writers have had to suffer through a number of articles detailing why Blade Runner 2049 is a masterpiece, as well as countless conversations over a pint or two. But these were written/spoken with a serious affection for their subject and I see that that’s always been welcomed at CUB. So it’s no longer a chore, it’s not something else added to the ‘Thingsto-do’ list that we’ve all got stored away on our phones. It’s an opportunity to let out some secluded energy: if you’ve got a film or series or director or genre that makes you feel the same way, write about it! Your voice needs to be heard.

The world of film is your oyster, so it’s time to crack that bitch open and see what you find. With CUB, I discovered a desire to review nigh on every release that’s out there, give each and every film their due. I want to look at major movies and consider them in a different light, explore the hidden recesses of the filmmaker’s craft. The same goes for you. If you’ve got an idea, write it down and send it in. Don’t keep it bottled up, make sure that the world knows just how important Barry Jenkins’ new film is, or why Pixar needs to stop making Cars sequels: whatever it is, tell us. CUB is a podium on which we can stand and bellow out our thoughts and opinions on films, art, science.

But what’s more, you could also. Film is a remarkable thing really, as it’s simultaneously the most accessible yet socially critical art form around. We can all sit down and enjoy Black Panther, but a film such as this also takes the time to reach beyond its blockbuster skin and touch upon some key topics, relevant to humanitarian issues being confronted within our society. And you have the power and the knowhow to help those kinds of causes: to promote worthwhile entertainment, as well as encourage inclusivity and Grab that opportunity and make it your cultural expression. Writing for CUB own. It’s now or never.

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W

hen I started writing for CUB and was confronted with a seemingly infinite empty page, I thought nothing would be harder than the beginning. Now, however, after two and a half years of writing for the magazine that you are currently holding in your hands, I realise, whilst trying to write my final article, that I was wrong: it is the ending that is the most difficult; letting go is in fact harder than seizing tight.

Think of all those fairy-tale/fantasy films that that you undoubtedly watched on VHS when you were a child. They opened with an old book opening and closed with that very same book closing. The last page was always an image of indelible perfection that we know would continue forever. Or as you got older and edgier and realised that capitalism was a thing, those mind-expanding well-known-obscure films where a character leans in closely and whispers something in another character’s ear before walking away.

Although ambiguous, endings like this definitively captured the indescribable, leaving us dramatically suspended in unconfirmable speculation that echoed our own teenage epiphany that nothing makes sense.

In both instances, we are left desperately wanting more. We want to either live on with the characters’ unbound happily ever after or find out the significance of what was silently said. And we succeed in our wish fulfilment. The characters do not cease to be when the credits roll. Instead, our imaginations take hold and we begin to fill in the subsequent blackness. This is a natural human reflex. If you do not believe me all you need to do is look at any photograph of two people interacting. Note their expressions: how the one on the left is looking at the one on the right, how their hands are poised and whether they are smiling or holding back the tears. As soon as you do this, you will realise that what your mind does is not just comprehend the image in isolation, but instead start weaving multiple tapestries of possible narratives that account for both before and after this captured moment of time. Our brains are hardwired to never treat any moment as closed; we need the possibility of a past and a future to enable our capacity for understanding. All good film endings provoke us to contemplate, in some capacity, what comes next in order to enrich what we have just watched.

However, there is no escaping the harsh truth that films do end and the characters who we adore do have a limited ‘life span’, one that is confined to the moments in between when the projector is switched on and when it is switched off. What comes after or what we think comes after, is, as mentioned before, wish fulfilment. Yet, somewhat counterintuitively, our resistance of the confining running time is perhaps most adept at reflecting our own reality, because in life what are considered ‘definitive endings’ are in fact superimpositions; they are markers that do not actually account for an ending but rather a riverbend, a meander in the continuous stream of life. In other words, the chapters of the book do not remain separate, but bleed into one another to form the whole. What I am trying to say is that we carry the past with us always. That our present existence is an amalgamation of all the things that have come before this moment, here, now, and simultaneously our future. Like with the conclusion of a film, when a significant moment in our life ‘finishes’ our minds will perpetually recuperate it, never letting it die, never letting it cease. Of course, we may not be able to occupy that time or space – which is the true tragedy of life - but our memory will at least enable us to witness elements of our past whilst also spreading its wings towards the future.

From where I am writing I can see the somewhat awkward entanglement that is the Millennium Bridge. It was walking across that bridge, after only a month in London, that I got the inspiration for what became my first article for CUB. It was the first piece of writing that was published, and for that I will be always grateful. Although I said in the opening paragraph that endings are always the most difficult, it appears, like so many great films, that I have resisted a conclusion: that my ending here is also my beginning.

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FILM

To Begin at the

Ending…

Words by Greg Dimmock

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The good, the bad and the original

The recent claims that The Shape of Water copied narrative elements from a 1969 play Let Me Hear You Whisper caused me to think about music and originality. In 2018, is it still possible to make original music?

Words by Hermione Slyvester Photograph by Matthew Cheung & Eming Lee 38

MUSIC

...

Originality is that phantom that hangs over everyone who creates something. Thankfully, Picasso granted everyone a get-out-of-jail-free card with his famous line: “Good artists copy, great artists steal”. What Picasso means by this bold claim that originality does not just appear; it’s something that modifies what’s been done before – sometimes in an ingenious way or even in a unique, full-blown way that often causes many critics to stand back in awe.

However, there is evidence that the state does not recognise originality to be modification. In recent years, many popular musicians have been sued with copyright infringement because their songs hold ‘similarities’ to other songs. Mostly these cases are not in relation to lyrical theft, but because the chord progressions that they use are the same as the ones in other songs. For example, Ed Sheeran had to go to court because his hit ‘Thinking out Loud’ reportedly plagiarized elements of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’. Lana Del-Ray was also sued recently

by Radiohead because her song ‘Get Free’ apparently holds similarities to their massive 90s hit ‘Creep’.

Ironically, Radiohead were forced to give a writing credit to Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood for ‘Creep’ due to how the middle eight closely echoed The Hollies’ 1974 hit ‘The Air That I Breathe’.

would leave me asking: where do I go now?

Compared to the music world, filmmakers arguably have it easier. Narrative elements aside, filmmakers time and time again openly exclaim how they steal shots from other films. Paul Thomas Anderson confidently exclaimed that his famous pool-party Steadicam shot in Boogie Nights was lifted from that extraordinary five-minute shot in Mikhail Kalatozov’s I Am Cuba. Furthermore, many have given Martin Scorsese the credit for his Steadicam shot in Goodfellas, when in fact Scorsese confesses that he just copied it off Max Ophüls’ films. It is interesting how filmmakers are happy to admit that they have stolen camera movements, whereas musicians not only don’t but can’t admit to what they have (or haven’t) done due to obvious reasons.

It is also strange that films, through naming their influences, are granted another layer of complexity – a complexity that may be unexplainable, but it is undeniably there in plain sight. The shot from Boogie Nights screams authority and cleverness when you see Anderson’s camera glide into the pool with his characters. There’s something even beautiful about it, because in that shot the present hugs the past - art is bringing forth art. In the case of music, society does not think it’s the same. The fact that Sheeran might use chord progressions from a beloved Does ‘Thinking out Loud’ sound like Marvin soul-song is not beautiful, it’s rather awkward.

Gaye’s song? Does Lana Del-Ray’s song sound like Radiohead’s song (which also means that it sounds Maybe the conclusions that I have reached are like the Hollies’ hit)? The answer is: “yes, they do embarrassingly obvious – ‘Art has different forms of a bit”. Though, my answer is prone to indiscretion, originality’ and ‘music is different to film’. Or maybe partly because the whole affair of originality is a I’ve avoided a dead end and turned onto an open bit messy and opaque. Some would say that since plain that shows us a careless discrimination within the Beatles, every song has been unoriginal for the the sphere of art. One thing that I do know is that last fifty years. ‘Thinking out Loud’ does sound like there’s a lot of ‘maybe’s’ here and that’s important ‘Let’s Get It On’ but also it is very different. There is because it reflects the very situation that music is this sticky bog that music is stuck in. Permutations in now. The world of music is embedded in a very in chord progressions must be finite as there are a complex web of material, causing society to become limited number of notes you can play – especially more bewildered by the boundaries of originality. in the context of a key signature, which constricts Saying this, I want to believe that these squabbles your options even further. Then again, we have an over musical infringement are created through a ethical obligation to shield the intellectual rights panicked, subjective leap into the abyss of ‘kindof songwriters. What’s left is not only a question of ’ – “This song is kind of like this other song so of reason, but a question that looks to the horizon. therefore it is this other song”. I want to believe this For if I was a songwriter the whole situation because it’s scary to think that originality is dead.

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F E S T I VA L May: Slam Dunk Festival

Over three days in three parts of the country, Slam Dunk are back! After last year’s success, Slam Dunk haven’t failed to put together another unique lineup with bands to suit everyone’s tastes. With headliners Good Charlotte and Jimmy Eats World, it’s like a throwback to the 1990s. However, with so many different stages, you can go and see a lot of new talent as well as bands like Sleeping with Sirens, State Champs and Real Friends who have gained a lot of support over the last few years. With music, food and stalls, it’s pretty much your standard festival, without having to sleep in tents on the mud (because with British weather, it will most definitely rain). It’s a perfect day out and there’s no excuse not to go because they’re going to Leeds City Centre (Saturday 26th May), Hatfield Park (Sunday 27th May) and Birmingham’s NEC (Monday 28th May) and tickets start from £49. This festival has some of the biggest names in pop punk, emo and hardcore playing and is great for all music lovers.

June: Field Day

London’s finest outdoor festival returns in the early days of summer to mark its 11th year running.

Previously a staple of Victoria Park here in Tower Hamlets, this year the festival takes place in Brockwell Park for some sounds south of the river. In previous years, the festival has boasted a diverse and star-studded variety of acts, with last year’s programme featuring Aphex Twin, Flying Lotus, Run the Jewels and Slowdive. Yet 2018 looks like its going to be the year to beat: Erykah Badu, Fever Ray, Four Tet, Floating Points, Nils Frahm and Thundercat among many more! Here’s to the sweet spark of electro, jazz, soul and trip-hop that will kick off the summer.

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MUSIC

G U I D E June: Download Festival

Download Festival one of Britain’s biggest Rock and Metal festivals. Held in Donington Park in Leicestershire, in the past, the festival had played host to acts such as Biffy Clyro and Iron Maiden, there is always going to be someone that’s worth going for. With 5 different stages, 2018 is no different and, with headliners including Ozzy Osborne, Guns ‘n’ Roses and Marilyn Manson, there’s something for everyone. That’s not to say all the artists are #tb, with bands like Baby Metal, You Me At Six and Neck Deep, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Also, being in a park, you’ll get the proper ‘festival’ experience because, if it’s anything like the last few years, you’ll be knee deep in mud by the end of the day when you retreat to your tent– what else screams British festival more than British weather? But, if that’s not your scene, buy a normal weekend pass and you’ll still have the muddy experience but with the luxury of being able to have a shower at the end of the day and a warm bed. So, whether you’re into pure rock, heavy metal or just a fan of live music, Download Festival is the perfect weekend out for you. Download Festival runs between the 8th and 10th June at Donington Park and ticket prices depending on the package you choose.

August: Green Man

Based in the heart of Brecon Beacons, Wales, the more languid and family-friendly music and arts, while a marked shift in environment from Field Day is by no mean short of great atmosphere and exciting music. Having in the past played host to legends like Van Morrison, 2018’s lineup sees the titans of contemporary Indie, Rock and Folk scenes - The War On Drugs, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear and the Brian Jonestown Massacre - pitch in with mud-soaked wellies and bring the noise back to Britain’s glorious rural haven.

Words by Sonal Lad and Joe Steen 41

. OCEANS .

Love across

Words by Gesa Musiol

...

Long-distance relationships can be hell. Yet, as our world becomes increasingly connected, it is more likely than ever to fall in love with somebody who doesn’t live in comfortable proximity. Whether long-distance to you means spending your summer apart from your loved one, or whether it signifies a confusing jumble of figuring out visas, schedules, and time differences, we can all agree it is a relationship state less than ideal to be in.

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Voices

As I am writing this article, I have been in a relationship for over two years with somebody who lives on the other side of the planet – literally.

I met my Californian golden boy when I studied abroad in Oregon, and together, we took a leap of faith and began what would be one of the most painful, but also most rewarding journeys of my life so far. We have experienced all types

UNISEX of distances: Germany to California, Germany to France, London to California, interspersed with weeks and sometimes entire blissful months together. I am sharing this with you to prove that I am a specialist in this field; I have dealt with my doubts and society’s, I have defended my decision to love someone across oceans and through time zones to strangers at bars – and we’re still here, powering through. The trick is to block out everyone’s voices but your own and your partner’s, because those two are the only ones that matter.

The Relationship Part

This is the fun part of an LDR, the part that makes it all worth it, the part where everyone around you will be deadly annoyed by your lovebirdy demeanour. It is then that you can finally catch up on cuddles, experiences, tea, and enjoy the mundane pleasures of a relationship – taking a shower together, having a dance party while doing the dishes, “fighting” over where to get takeout from – and you will love every painfully fleeting second of it.

Going Cold Turkey

The days after the inevitable goodbye are arguably the hardest to get through. No matter how much time you spent together, it’s never enough, there are always things left unsaid, undone, always more breakfasts in bed to eat, more series to binge-watch together. Your body is actually experiencing a withdrawal similar to ‘going cold turkey’: The ‘cuddle hormone’ oxytocin – attributed with attractive properties such as stress relief and promotion of generosity – stimulates the reward system in the brain when cuddling with a loved one. Studies claim that the withdrawal of said hormone after separation can lead to depression due to an understimulation of the reward system. Consequently, the numerous separations one experiences in an LDR simulate drug withdrawal over and over again. If you are someone who fights through these repeated emotional hangovers: Be proud. You’re strong.

Communication and Planning

One downside of long-distance relationships is the necessity to plan romance – which sounds like a contradiction at first. But without Skype-dates and the likes, you might simply not experience any romance at all. LDRs demand you to get creative; how can you make somebody feel loved for whom you cannot cook their favourite meal, whom you can’t hug, let alone kiss or comfort when they are sad? These are some of our tricks that have worked pretty well so far: Watch your favourite show together over Skype. Sext. Create shared playlists on Spotify, listen to the same podcasts.

Gift each other something you can carry daily (boxers, jewellery). Talk during your commute to work/ uni to be as close as possible while also not losing sight of your life in the present.

Living the Moment

When that special someone lives in a different city, state, country, or continent, it is easy to lose focus on what should still matter the most – the present moment. Thus, I suggest treating yourself as though you were in a constant state of post-breakup (the stage after the pints of ice-cream and self-pity). Focus on self-improvement, on advancing your career, crushing your studies, being a better friend, self-care, working out – let positive, productive things fill the hole in your life left behind by your person, and let them do the same, too.

When It’s Worth it

How do you know whether someone is worth the pain of LDR? I believe that you simply have to answer the following question: What would be more painful, to break up and say goodbye to a potential future together, or to endure the longing and heartache and jealousy and miscommunication? Having an endpoint in sight is, in my mind, crucial to a successful LDR. But if you are in love with somebody who is head over heels for you, too, who am I to tell you what’s wrong or right? Block out the voices and make it work.

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Words by Veena Dave

not just a pretty face

I have a newfound appreciation of being a woman.

By that, I mean I am truly proud of being part of a gender revolution that has risen so rapidly from being predominantly forced housewives to kicking ass all over the world.

Let’s honour our global sisterhood by talking about the incredible women in history. They are so much more than a loose collection of headlines about the suffrage movement, the occasional talented writer, the pious religious figure, or even the frustrated feminist woman setting her bra ablaze in public.

Damn right, I feel empowered.

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UNISEX

In these headlines, we only see a glimpse into the lives of these women, but their stories are stronger than we’ll ever know. They will continuously inspire current and future generations – men and women alike! A few extraordinary people who happen to be women include:

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Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the Suffragette movement, who empowered and inspired women to the extent that Emily Davison felt ready to give up her life by jumping in front of the King’s horse in 1913. This noble act attracted more attention to the women’s movement, and was the first step for women everywhere to demand more of what we deserve – basic human rights to vote.

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Valentina Tereshkova, first woman to have flown in space in 1963, undertook 6 months of gruelling, intensive training which ranged from sitting in a thermal chamber that was 70+ degrees Celsius to spending 10 days in a chamber isolated from the rest of the world. She loved travelling to space so much so that she would happily take a one-way trip to Mars.

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Nellie Bly, the world’s first immersion journalist, was ballsy enough to test out if Jules Verne’s 80 days around the world theory was possible in real life. Challenge Accepted: in 1889, she completed a circumnavigation of the world in 72 days! Before this, she took on a terrifying investigation to expose the conditions of mental hospitals, in which she pretended to be insane. This led to her famous piece of work - ‘10 Days in a Madhouse.’

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These are only a select few of the inspiring women throughout history who have made a difference to how women are treated today. It is because of their sacrifices and successes, that we can now live in a world where it is acceptable for a woman to study, vote and essentially become a bad-ass female leader. Even though it is incredibly easy to take these basic rights for granted, it’s unfortunate to see women, particularly (but not only) in third-world countries, who do not have the same access to education, equal rights or even basic rights.

The ugly truth of celebrating International Women’s Day is that it’s not really ‘International’ yet. Although we have come such a long way, there are still many women who are forced to deal with rape, violence and systematic oppression everyday. I think it’s important to educate ourselves on the realities of WOMEN RIGHTS globally and to use our western feminist freedom to help raise awareness of ways we can support each other! Organisations such as ‘The Malala Fund’, where girls are given the right to

education, ‘The Orchid’ who are working to end the human rights violation practice of female genital cutting, or ‘Women for Women’ who provide women in conflict zones with empowerment programs, are all making crucial steps of progress to increase women rights on a global scale.

We need more women like Emma Watson, Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie and America Ferrera who are using their fame to raise awareness and increase female empowerment worldwide! Simply watching a female character lead in a movie on screen gives me a sense of empowerment. I’m tired of seeing women being portrayed as ‘damsels in distress’ who are constantly turning to men to fix their problems – in all honesty, that’s just not what happens in real life.

If you really think about it, women go through life with the odds stacked against them; they have a monthly period, maybe even give birth to one or many children, go to work everyday and still manage to kick ass in their life.

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- T H E

N E W

I feel so privileged to be the new Editor-in-Chief of CUB for 2018/19. Occupying the position left

by Alice and Abigail this year by myself, I am confident that with a strong team, together we can continue the high standard of CUB going forwards. Although I have my own aspirations for the magazine, I want to stress that I see the future of CUB as a TEAM effort. I think it is so important that CUB represents the students themselves and heads in the direction they desire.

E D I T O R -

Lastly I want to increase communication across CUB so that members do not feel restricted to socialise solely with their magazine section. I cannot stress enough my desire to make CUB feel like a community instead of members hiding behind computers producing content.

Instead I want every member to be able to recognise one another in person. All that is left to do now is to thank Alice and Abigail for their amazing leadership this year and their success in making CUB more edgy and relatable to I was delighted to attend the Student Media all students. Having loved working with CUB Awards this year where CUB won the Student this year, I am thrilled to continue the fantastic Media Online Award- a testament to the hard achievements of the team going forwards. work of the team and its contributors. I am so - Nicole Brownfield proud to be able to lead such a team with the aim of winning more awards next year. With the majority of CUB being third-year students who will be graduating this summer, I am excited to scout and recruit new talent to join the team. I aim to target first-year students in particular as I feel their enthusiasm to get involved with QM society means they will be passionate about contributing to CUB and full of new and refreshing ideas!

I also aim to keep the size of the editorial team the same, but to increase our contributors by offering them incentives. such as events that they can attend and then write about for CUB. Not only will this increase the motivation of our contributors and lead to higher content quality, but it will also help to establish relationships with external contacts for CUB. This will boost the reputation of the magazine and hopefully extend our readership to encompass a wider audience rather than just students. I also think it is vital for CUB to showcase the talent of QM students through our diverse content sections, as well as regular competitions to ensure that CUB has an active presence and creates a buzz around campus.

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- T E A M E d i t o r s - i n - C h i e f

Photography Editors

Design

Film

Abigail Hanley & Alice Barnett

E d i t o r s

Linnéa Borg, Raluca Semenescu, Michael Lau Hing Yim, Mela Phi Baldock

Style

Editors

Kiran Meeda, Tina Wetshi, Sarah Maycock A r t s E d i t o r s Eve Frayling, Connor Gotto, Maria Kästner Van Dam, Charlotte Rubin, Maria Albano

Features

E d i t o r s

Harpreet Pal, Shamma Mughal, Saarah Ahsan-Shah, Sara Trett, Jasmine Ali

London

E d i t o r s

Jacob Moreton, Hannah Hayden, Nicole Brownfield

@CUBmagazine

CUBmagazine

Josie Durney, Seren Haf Morris

E d i t o r s

Christian Lynn, Greg Dimmock

Music

E d i t o r s

Hermione Sylvester, Joe Steen, Sonal Lad

UniSex

E d i t o r s

Veena Dave, Gesa Musiol, Karla Noor, Chrissie Antoniou

C o l u m n i s t s

Peter Whitehead, Seren Haf Morris, Gina Gambetta, Harvey Moldon, Sophie Mitchell, Zannath Rahman, Samantha Vincent

PR & Marketing

Naseha Yasmin, Connor Gotto, Jaya Jain, Isabelle Hathaway, Angel Tolstosejevaite

@CUBmagazine

www.cubmagazine.co.uk

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