Fashion
What’s On
Lifestyle
Editor: Imogen Palmer lifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
r e b m e Can you live without technology? Rem these revolutions?
O
n a dark and murky night in early October, my malfunctioning, pot-bellied little Nokia fell victim to mbargo. While this was undoubtedly a tragedy, it was also an eye-opening experience for me. In the past, I had always cheerfully proclaimed myself a technophobe: anything other than my own pre-historic gadgetry tends to send me into a deep spiral of confusion and despair. However, the grief which resulted from the loss of my phone, not to mention the withdrawal symptoms (the cold sweats, the shakes etc.), brought about the sharp realisation that I am not, in fact, a technophobe. I am a technophile. I am addicted to the stuff. And I suspect you are too. Seeing as it is a belief generally held in our society that addiction is a bad thing, I wondered if perhaps I should discover what life would be like if we kicked the habit. How much do we really need technology? In order to answer this profound question, I went cold turkey for three days: no laptop, no phone. Here is where I struggled:
1. That empty feeling. It sounds obvious, but until you’ve
experienced the physical shock of reaching into your pocket for your phone, only to find it empty, you cannot appreciate just how hard it is. It’s like suddenly discovering one of your vital organs is missing.
2. Awkward situations. You’ve all done it, perhaps when finding
yourself alone next to a large posse of attractive members of the opposite sex: you use your phone to demonstrate that just because you are alone at this particular moment, it does not mean you don’t have a healthy and active social life. If unable to do fake texting, or have a hilarious fake phonecall, you are reduced to staring into the distance in what you hope is an aloof manner, while feeling increasingly embarrassed.
3. Facebook stalking. Deeply uncool, but we all do it. How else would we know about the interests, love lives and daily activities of people we barely know? How would we know what they’re feeling? Talk to them? I think not. 4. Getting lost. If I learnt anything over the three days it was this: Google maps is invaluable. On one memorable night I got lost twice. The first time I sought help from a group of strangers who openly mocked me. The second time I simply wandered aimlessly for what felt like hours. 5. Making friends/lovers. So you meet someone and you get on famously and then comes the inevitable parting: ‘can I get your number?’, ‘no’, ‘can I add you on Facebook?’, ‘ummm, no’. Budding relationship over.
Yoyos
We didn’t need expensive gadgets back then to have a good time. Walking the dog anyone?
1999
Pokémon This revolution shook our young world. We were literally obsessed by it. Revered were those who managed to ‘catch em all’ or were in possession of a super rare ‘shiny’.
2001
Flared jean s The bigger, the better. You may have tripped up more at playtime but by god did you look good.
bies Scoo
One way to keep your hands busy during dull lessons.
7. Mind numbing boredom. I didn’t realise how much time I spent surfing the high waves of the web until I
2005
had to find something else to do with that time. Compose beautiful poetry? Help old people cross the road? Take up transcendental meditation? All very commendable, but somehow so much less appealing than Stumbleupon. this with the world through the medium of Facebook? No one will ever know how funny you are.
9. Work. Even the English department is ‘online’ now. Which meant that in order to do my reading I had to go to the
Travel
1998
6. Arranging stuff. Like dentist’s appointments. Unless you are a masochistic bastard, you would choose a quick easy phone call, over roaming the mean streets of Bristol in agonising tooth pain desperately searching for a dentist, any day.
8. Spontaneously expressing yourself. What to do if you have a sudden moment of genius wit and you can’t share
Money
Deputy: Mariah Hedges deputylifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
actual library and get out some actual books. (Wait, I can’t lie, I kinda liked this one. It made me feel scholarly).
10. Emergencies. Surely this is what the telephone was invented for. In matters of life and death (or when you’ve left your foccacia in the oven) you just don’t have time for smoke signals and carrier pigeons.
This issue things are different. By making a move away from topical themes we’ve allowed ourselves the chance to cover material from a less expected point of view. To mark the beginning of this change we’ve called this issue (r)evolution. This means we’re covering topics relating to the evolutionary and revolutionary changes affecting the student experience.
Dubstep
They said it wouldn’t take off. They said it was too alternative. Now there’s a rave on under the M6 every other week.
k Faceboo
2007
How did we communicate before pokes and de-taggings came along?
Annie Bell
e2 is brought to you by Skins
Lifestyle : Imogen Palmer and Mariah Hedges
who will meet 1.30pm, 28th October at The White Bear
What’s On : Olivia Stephany Fashion : Francesca Clayton and Lizzy Bullock
who will meet 1.10 pm, 15th November at The White Bear
Travel : Verity Stockdale
who will meet 2pm, 16th November at The White Bear
Money : Alex Denne
who will meet 5.30pm, 17th November at The Hill
with e2 editor : Matthew McCrory illustrator : Sophie Sladen cover : Jen Springall
It’s no suprise we all ended up at Bristol after these guys made it look SICK! (brap).
2011
Vintag e
Even eleven year olds are strutting down the high street in their überstylish army style boots and tea dresses. What happened to dodgy t-shirts and flashing trainers? Oh, how times have changed.
Anna Rowley
07. 11. 2011
(R)evolution on the streets of Bristol On 20th August this year, Bristol’s drab and depressing Nelson Street was transformed into a valley of colour and canned creativity through the See No Evil graffiti project; headed up by Bristol born and raised graffiti artist Inkie. For three days, over twenty artists from all over the world gathered to create a mural of vivid colour and visual masterpiece amidst a sea of music, art and the bustling Bristol community. Supported by the Bristol council, See No Evil represents the transformation in local authorities’ attitude towards street art compared to previous years. It now seems it is not just Bristol’s youth who are embracing this substantial element of the city’s cultural identity, and this can be put down to the work and projects of those such as Inkie. Nelson Street has opened up the former underground art world to a public who is increasingly accepting and embracing of such diversity. Bristol in particular has become a centre of revolutionary public opinion towards graffiti, as was seen in 2009 in the overwhelming success of the ‘Banksy vs Bristol Museum’ exhibition.
divided city has transformed into one of the most economically efficient and culturally expanding places in the world.
‘a centre of revolutionary public opinion’
However, Bristol doesn’t stand alone as a city that has been rejuvenated by street art. The most famous example is undoubtedly Berlin, whose grey and oppressed atmosphere was instilled with life by the graffiti on the Berlin Wall. A symbol of division, repression and authoritarian control, the knocking down of the wall in 1989 followed by the uniting of East and West through the medium of art signified the beginning of a revolutionary era for Berlin and Germany as a whole. Berlin is now a centre of eclectic culture, fuelled with ever experimental music, art and architecture. Whereas previously the Wall represented the heavy demoralisation of an entire society, now it stands as an icon of hope by displaying what has been overcome and how a
Inkie: the interview
Urban regeneration projects can be credited for revitalising excitement and prospect almost anywhere, from side roads such as Nelson Street to the metropolis of Berlin. Although today it seems obscene to imagine, considering it now epitomises international cultural expectation; the same can be said for New York’s Times Square. In the 19th century, Times Square-then known as Longacre Square- was a breeding ground for gang rivalry, lined with brothels and infused with debauchery. It wasn’t until 1895, when Oscar Hammerstein began to build up his monopoly of theatrical splendour, that the Square was transformed into what we recognise today. Despite sinking into criminal depravity during the 70s and 80s, the Times Square of the present day is a far cry from the Red Light District it once was. Hammerstein’s dream has evolved in magnanimous proportions, as the 26 million tourists per year exemplify. Through examples such as Times Square, and on a smaller but still prominent scale Nelson Street, it is clear that an investment in art and the urban regeneration is pivotal in re-branding the image of an area. Inkie himself was a prodigy of the Barton Hill youth club era - during which some of Bristol’s most recognisable street artists arose, evolved and were arrested; and his tag can be spotted around the city alongside his art deco inspired paintings. Over 20 years later, Inkie’s own influence has brought together the extraordinary collaboration of international and local artists who are helping establish Bristol’s ever expanding artistic identity and revolutionise society’s perception of graffiti as an art form.
Inkie talks to Epigram via email about the progression of street art since the 1980s, a new generation of artists and why Bristol has so much to offer. You once called Nelson Street one of the “ugliest streets in the UK”.. How would you describe it now? One of the coolest streets on the planet. Do you think the art on Nelson Street portrays how graffiti art has evolved into the modern day? Definitely. You have a wide variety of styles from classic graffiti to graff futurism, illustration, stencils and freehand works. What is it about Bristol that draws in graffiti artists? West Coast business.... news travels here first from the US :-) How did it feel to be putting your tag on the same buildings in which Operation
Anderson, the largest attack on graffiti in British history, centred? Like history has come full circle Do you think technology has had a negative effect on art? It is great for referencing different styles but I do feel it hinders originality Graffiti sceptic Brian Sewell stated that “graffiti isn’t really art”... What’s your reply? Who the fuck is Brian Sewell to tell me what is art and what isn’t. What are the benefits street art coming more frequently into the public eye? Public awareness will create more sites and acceptance for this art-form Parents are taking their children to see the artwork on Nelson Street. What do you think is possible for the future of graffiti? More crazy new styles and the next
article and interview by Claudia Knowles
generation are where it’s going to happen, education is the key Did you ever see graffiti as vandalism, or always as art? It can be viewed as both... that’s all I’ll say ;-) If you could graffiti any monument or famous building, what would it be? I wouldn’t - I’d much rather paint on a large flat concrete surface. Saying that Le Corbusier’s church at Notre Dame de Haut would be amazing to paint! As a born Bristolian, what is the city’s best feature? The people Who should we be looking out for on the street art scene? Kashink, Smug, Ghetto Farcour and all the Bristol crew.
Lifestyle
Deputy: Mariah Hedges deputylifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
Sometimes it feels like technology has evolved faster than we have. In these cases it certainly has.
Travel
Fashion
What’s On
a i d e m Social-ups slip
Editor: Imogen Palmer lifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
Drunken texts
Bitchy tweets
Every student knows that sinking feeling in your stomach after a particularly heavy night’s drinking. As the pounding headache and the mild nausea clears, suddenly: realisation dawns. You did something stupid last night. More than likely involving your sent items. On discovery of the incriminating and horrifically embarrassing texts to: a) an ex- that we are not quite over; b) that cute guy/girl whose number you got due to group presentations but have decided to harass him out of seminars. c) A sexy text to your best friends mum by accident. Or is that just me? Drunken texts, ey – where would we be without them? (Most likely happily married to that cute guy/girl several years down the line, goddamit!)
Why does everybody that comments on online forums have such a chip on their shoulder? Where does this rage come from? Some people just weren’t hugged enough as children. Oh, because it’s that age old rule, that internet anonymity equals incredibly harsh comments. Even Mother Teresa would be capable of being a right bitch online. Maybe it’s because there are no boundaries, nobody standing in front of you to stop your virtual foul mouth. Ricky Gervais knows what I’m talking about. Sure, an internet fight is the coward’s way out compared to good old-fashioned fisticuffs BUT it does leave less visible bruising. Don’t be an angry bird (haha aren’t we smart?). Keep your tweets clean.
pandora, i nd ur help. jst bn gvn my 1st essay + i dnt kno wat 2 do. teacher tld me i cld find the bks + shiz in library bt i cnt find ne of em.
Money
the library ppl hlpd me find sum but they wre in annuver language or sumthing. made no sense 2 me. why cnt evry1 just spk englsh. wud be soo much easier lol!!!!1
s ’ a r o d n Pa Box
neway, cn u hlp me out? i lkd at wiki for info bt i cldnt gt enuf stuff. sum1 told me tht u were wll smart + tht so mabbe u cn hlp me? ;) its due in liek 2 wks btw. i mite hav sum moar time nxt wkk bt iv got lds + lds 2 do. ws thnkng abt gttn an extnshern. tht way i ws thnkng tht i cn jst brrw sum1 elses + use tht. only nd 2 gt 40 marx to gt into nxt yr. ill werk hrdr thn. jst nd to 2 thru ths frst <3
Never has anything so abhorrent infiltrated my box as your grotesque correspondence. Did you attend one of those ghastly comprehensive schools? I can barely even make out what you are trying to ask me. Are you asking me to write your essay? Are you asking me to help you cheat? Is there even a question here for me to answer? There are so many problems to deal that I don’t even know where to start. I’m also worried that you’ll completely misinterpret my response as you seem to have such a poor grasp of written communication. If anyone else were to write with this problem I would reprimand them for their ignorance of foreign languages. I am in an almost constant state of amazement that people are attending university these days without speaking at least French. How can one expect to learn anything by only reading the opinion of the English speaking world? Before you even dare, do not mention reading foreign work in translation as a substitute. Translation is nothing more than a social construct designed to make the ‘foreign’ safe and familiar for the uneducated masses. Why should the rest of the world learn English to pander to your Anglo centric arrogance? I would recommend that you learn to write in proper English rather than the ‘Text Speak’ you have emailed me in. It’s the first step on the long road to sounding even partially literate. There are hundreds of books (and ‘shit’ as you put it), in English, that will help in your cause.
07. 11. 2011
Society Slut Society Slut is open-minded if you know what I mean. Very open-minded. I’m a doer. I go for it. When not stealthily infiltrating societies, or taking up the priority seating on the bus, I like to lurk suspiciously in the Students’ Union with the intention of getting pissed and lamenting to the bar keeper over the rising prices of paninis. It was during one of these seshes that I found Bar 100 flooded with members of some sort of pagan cult. The nearest one to me had pointy ears and was wearing a pillowcase. Tripping him up, I demanded to know why these aberrant folk had gathered. ‘It’s Wingardium LevioSoc sir’. ‘What?’ was my first question, shortly followed by ‘Why?’. The milkcoloured pixie answered my question as he directed my gaze to a scarf-wearing school boy with glasses; a crudely crayoned lightning bolt gracing his forehead. It hit. I had stumbled upon the first event of one of the newest additions to the Bristol society scene. It’s not a sport nor is it a craft, subject or activity. It is based on a book, has many fanatical followers and an all-powerful figurehead at the top. Yes, this society is dedicated to everyone’s favourite angst-ridden teenager: Harry Potter. Pictures: Will Sirl
Attention seeking We all know at least one, LOOK AT ME, person on Facebook who clogs up our news feeds. They scream, my life is more interesting and eventful than yours! I’m so crazy, wacky and out-there that I just had to tell the world about all the mental fun I’ve been having. Just don’t catch me on a bad day when my life is OVER due to the fact the people I trust and love have let me down. However, don’t worry as this excruciatingly personal, (in other words cringe) information will only be shared with their most closest 500 friends.
Pandora babes, I am totes in need of your sage advice. Daddy has threatened to stop sending me money and I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can barely afford to eat with how much he gives me at the moment. He just has no idea how much restaurants cost here, especially if you want to eat well. I tried to explain this to him but he was so totally unreasonable about it. He said that I’m a big girl now and that I need to start being sensible. I don’t get it. It’s not my fault that he lost his job so why is he taking it out on me? I thought Mummy would be more sympathetic but even though she thought she was being helpful she wasn’t She said that I would have to start re-wearing clubbing outfits. She just doesn’t understand does she? What’s a girl to do?
Mundane updates Waking up. Breakfast. Showering. Boring lecture. Lunch. Boring Lecture. Coffee with Martin. Badminton with Jane. Dinner. Bunker tonight with the block 4 lads. Cheesy chips. The mundane updater everyone loves to hate. We just do not care how many bargains you bought from co-op or what you had for tea! As interesting as you may think your life is, it just really isn’t. So please spare us the ‘Going to bed now. Night x’ and get a bloody diary to keep track of your day IN PRIVATE.
I’m still trying to work out who in this situation is the most vile. You or your father? Part of me sympathises for your ‘horrible loss’. It must be horrible to be poor and obnoxious in Bristol. On the other hand I’m relieved, for everyone’s sake, that you might finally achieve some sort of independence. My father once tried to cut me off. I laughed but when he actually did it I was, for once, speechless. Pandora, as ever, thought on her feet and sorted the entire problem. I found a lovely photographer in need of a muse. Being the living inspiration that I am I felt obliged to assist him. The handsome fee he offered naturally aided my decision process. A month or so later my father found the images online. While working on a personal research project on exploitative pornography he found my pictures on a most unsavoury website. He takes this project very seriously to the extent that he often suffers painful RSI in his researching hand. Once Father thought he was losing his little princess he quickly decided to financially support me so I could fully concentrate on my studies. . One last thing. Don’t worry about what your biological father says, you’ll easily find someone else to call ‘daddy’.
Misconception one: It will be attended by a few hardcore geeks. There’s something quite moving about watching hundreds of ‘adults’ expressing their unfulfilled childhood fantasies dressed as Hogwarts students, house elves, elderly wizards, fairies, ghosts, giants and criminals. The numbers were incredible. It’s clear if there’s one way to get students active and motivated about a cause, it’s to make it Harry Potter themed. Misconception two: these geeks would then exchange repartee over plot inaccuracies and their Pottermore accounts before sharing Harry-Malfoy homoerotic fantasies. Oh, these guys were organised. They had a plan. One had to buy membership and was then ‘sorted’ into a house using one of the most imaginative applications of pH balance I have seen since GCSE chemistry. Since you ask, I, to my grave disappointment, was sorted into ‘Hufflepuff’. What the fucK? Who came out of bloody Hufflepuff? No one with any charisma that’s for sure. It was at this point I realised I was too involved and took a journalistic step back. Misconception three: the geeks would be back in bed by 10pm to dream the night away about their Hogwarts acceptance letter arriving in the post. Obviously I can only speculate on their future society events but this one - the ‘I solemnly swear I am up to no good’ bar crawl - involved the members heading out into the night, clutching their wands with a task list that involved ‘chat up a muggle with a Harry Potter line’ and ‘give Dobby a sock’. They weren’t going home early. As an outsider, a society dedicated to a fictional world may seem delusional but I found myself drawn into their ways, contentedly sipping on Butterbeer (Carlsberg) holding tightly onto my wand (twig). Judge all you like but their dedication to the cause, their popularity and sheer infectious excitement gives me the impression that Wingardium LevioSoc will not be dissaperating soon. societyslut@epigram.org.uk
Devot i Innova on : 9/10 Sex ap tion: 7/10 peal : 2 /10
Fashion
What’s On
Lifestyle
Editor: Imogen Palmer lifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
Pokes and Prejudice I
t is a truth universally acknowledged that a wealthy lad in possession of a smartphone must be in want of a bird. Lizzie Bennett, a bright and ambitious young student, was more aware of this than anyone. Her oldest sibling, Jane, was currently bbm-ing a gentleman so famously Facebook stalked that even those who did not know him would stop and recognise him in the street. Their youngest sister, Lydia, had done well in snagging herself a young man who had reached over eight hundred accepted friend requests, and could claim to know them all personally. The success of her sisters had inevitably led to increasing pressure on Lizzie to select a similarly suitable bachelor.
from the number of drinks that Will Darcy had neglected to shower on her. Instead, he had quite openly favoured Lizzie. Yet Lizzie could not have cared less. Caroline had tagged several humiliating photos of Lizzie, with Will Darcy, only a few days earlier, and consequently any form of friendship the women had feigned instantly dissolved. In other words, Lizzie blocked and deleted Caroline from her news feed. She didn’t want to completely erase her, of course, or else how would she be able to track her rival’s activities? Facebook stalking was her only option. But before she could dwell too long on this thought, Lizzie’s sense of self importance rushed back into her bloodstream. She had just received a notification on Facebook. The red flag led her to a page she had rarely seen before, a page that asked her to confirm a new relationship request from Will Darcy. ‘It’s Complicated’, claimed the internet site.
A couple of weeks and far too many hungover mornings later, Lizzie was nursing a particularly splitting headache by her laptop. Her current, selfinflicted pain was undoubtedly one that the entire world needed to be informed of, and so it was without a second thought that Lizzie began to tap out her latest cry for attention – ahem, status. As she did so, a flashing box, entitled ‘Twitter’, vaporised in the top left hand corner of the screen. Apparently Caroline Bingley, a student from one of Lizzie’s lectures, had been less than impressed with the turn of events the night before – at least that was what her typically vague but scathing tweet had implied – and Lizzie was willing to bet her new iPad that Caroline’s displeasure descended directly
‘Awkward.’ Thought Lizzie, then paused and smiled as she realised that she had just composed an undeniably original joke, ‘The awkward moment when somebody sends you an ‘it’s complicated’ relationship request ;) x’ she texted. But she didn’t want to appear too interested. That would seem desperate. Nonetheless, it wasn’t long before she got her reply. ‘lol omg babe u so jks. wanna cum play cod l8r?’
Hannah Misso
The social revolution
Money
Travel
W
hy is that technology, which claims to bring us ‘closer’ together, is not only stunting our ability to have real life social interactions, but is making us ruder to people we don’t even know? If you walk down the street and smile at a stranger, although some may grin back, the majority will ignore you, maybe because they are scared that you were the smurf they got with during freshers’. But its most probably because increasingly people have become antisocial. Over the internet we interact with people we don’t know every day, yet the anonymity of the internet has allowed these interactions to become increasingly rude and unfriendly. Many times when on YouTube and scrolling down to the comments section, there will be someone called ‘wizydizy74’ saying how rubbish a song is, and how they could do so much better. Yet I bet they wouldn’t say that in person! When you realise that the only reason that you recognise a person, is because you have stalked them on Facebook, you know you’ve gone too far. After such encounters, I always walk away
feeling just that bit creepier. Even on Facebook with friends who we know well, interaction has become vastly dependant on liking or poking. I don’t understand poking. If it has the intention of reminding a friend that you are still there, that you still exist, then why not pick up the phone and say ‘hello’. All they can really do in response when poked is poke back, and that becomes a slightly awkward turtle. So the invention of the internet and technology could be said to have limited real human interactions, and ironically, although we may have over 1000 friends on Facebook, it could be making us lonelier individuals.
‘people have become anti-social’ Flickr: Shereen M
But there is a man fighting against all of that. A man named Dan. He started Project Origami Swan and has slowly but surely been revolutionising the coffee shops of Bristol. The idea is that if you want to open yourself to interaction, use whatever you have handy, and fashion it into a swan to place on your table. Those in the know will recognise it and approach you for a chat. So get folding and get real.
Jess Bancroft
Deputy: Mariah Hedges deputylifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
The Revolution will not be televised
B
entham’s Panopticon operated under the ethos that the subjugated were always seen but could never see, and the oppressors always seeing, but never seen. This concept for a prison was intended for the prisoners to internalise the constant sense of being seen, and modify their behaviour accordingly, thereby becoming their own captors.
Sure, almost every other day someone brings up Bentham’s Panopticon - at the bus stop, in the smoking area of Lizard Lounge - but tell me something I haven’t hashed out over a jug of the green shit. In the words of John Lounge, ‘Compromised free will via mental torture tactics? Get on it.’ (Not necessarily verbatim). As the generation for whom MySpace and Facebook came in with puberty, increasingly the new media seems to have changed the way we interact, even think. Everyone knows at least one Status Updater. Apologies if you’re guilty of this blatant hash-tag promiscuity but you are literally impeding the progress of evolution. Smiley face.
‘attempting to leave could be social suicide’ In a terrifyingly Orwellian twist of technology, unless you opt-out the iPhone now ‘signs you in’ to a location on Facebook for all the world’s stalking pleasure - including your socially questionable neighbour who counts Call of Duty as interaction and green Rizlas as one of his five a day. A friend recently found herself engaged in a one man game of hide-and-seek in a department store when her iPhone showed her someone she’d rather not run into wandering around the same shop. What we’ve essentially done here is created a Marauders’ Map for muggles. Well bloody done, JK. Is this what you wanted? Is it? Now, I hate to resort to hyperbole (I fucking don’t) but is it possible that we’ve internalised the sense of being seen to such a degree that we no longer experience life immediately, but rather as a future status or Facebook photo album? Is Facebook holding us entrapped by the feeling that we are constantly watched? In the knowledge that attempting to leave could be social suicide, we’re in danger of living a life where everyone’s a writer. Obviously, unlike Bentham’s model, it’s the prisoners who are watching each other, so that’s really where my analogy breaks down, but when it comes to drawing tenuous connections between 18th century political philosophers and social networking sites...you can’t win ‘em all. Rachael Schraer
07. 11. 2011
+
+
present
Charity Beer & Cider Festival
Fri 11th Nov 5pm-12am Sat 12th Nov 4pm-12am Anson Rooms, UBU
Free first pint and souvenir glass!
ÂŁ5 per day or ÂŁ7 all weekend
Hot food available
2 free pints for BRA members and
Live music each night: Friday: Skimmity Hitchers Saturday: BUJO, Hornstars and Big Band
Buy tickets at: ubu.org.uk/oktoberfresh Wicked Coffee Shop UBU Info Point Bar 100
What’s On
Lifestyle
Editor: Olivia Stephany whatson@epigram.org.uk
Best of Bristol
THE ANIMALS AND CHILDREN TOOK TO THE STREETS
Vintage shops
1. Cox and Baloney, Cheltenham Road Cox and Baloney is by far one the best vintage clothes shops in Bristol. They recently hosted a ‘Swaparoo’ which involved bringing old unwanted clothes to swap with other peoples’ resulting in a whole new wardrobe for some. Check out their website and facebook page to stay up to date about their upcoming events in this edgier part of town (www.facebook.com/coxandbaloney)
2. Motel, Park Street It’s not only tight and bright body con dresses that you can find here - dig a bit deeper and you can find some amazing stuff on the vintage rails. They have great sales and some of the best big knitted jumpers around to help you build up your winter wardrobe. You can’t return vintage clothes here though, so be sure before you buy.
‘1927’ invites you on a theatrical journey of startling originality. Trust no one! Suspect even your shadow! The Financial Times describes it as ‘a perfect alternative show. In fact it is a perfect show’ 8-12 November Bristol Old Vic £8 NUS
3. Shop, Christmas Steps
EUROPE LOVES CINEMA SUNDAY BRUNCHES: PERSEPOLIS
As long as you don’t come here on a Monday (it’s closed) the originally named ‘Shop’ is a gold mine of all things vintage. They are a Social Enterprise, which means they put all the profit they make back into community arts events which they host through the ‘secret door’ in the shop. They even have a little lounge area where you can kick back and indulge yourself in some free coffee and cake! What more could you want?
Based on the best-selling autobiographical graphic novels by Satrapi, this poignant and beautifully animated story follows a precocious girl’s comingof-age during the Islamic Revolution.
4. Repsycho, Gloucester Road
Fashion
This shop is brimming with vintage and second hand clothes, but it doesn’t stop there. Their car boot sales and big vintage fairs give this shop an edge over the others. It is not cheap, admittedly, but it is all genuine vintage clobber in this so called ‘dusty treasure trove’. The steep, narrow stairs are to be taken with caution!
5. Uncle Sam’s, Park Street This is an American vintage shop, so if you’re looking for something a bit different, have a gander in here. It’s perfect for guys who are into their vintage clothes as their stock is a lot better for male fashion than women’s. Enjoy the funky music they play to get you in shopping mood and browse their selection of clothes, records and all things leather. Although the shop is small, it is by no means sparse. Francesca Lynagh
Travel
Stokes Croft - “A little bit different” When I mention to friends that I’m going for a night out in Stokes Croft, the response is usually a blank, slightly puzzled expression. Although they politely respond with ‘That’s nice’, I suspect it is followed by an inaudible subtext along the lines of ‘Why the hell would you want to do that?’ Stokes Croft has had odd bits of attention over the years, the riots that happened there in the summer being a notorious example. However, for the most part this vibrant and interesting corner of Bristol has tended to remain in the shadows, whilst places like Clifton and Cabot Circus have taken centre stage. In general, most people treat Stokes Croft with a passive indifference. This has always surprised me but then again, I think its elusive reputation is part of what makes it so fascinating. The first thing you notice when you walk into this part of town is how colourful it is. There is graffiti everywhere. Entire buildings are covered from top to bottom in paint displaying surrealist landscapes and strange spray painted creatures which leer at you from every corner. Walking around is like stepping into a children’s colouring book.w
Money
13 November Watershed £3.60 NUS
It is at night when Stokes Croft really comes into its own though. Of course there are various awesome bars and venues, Blue Mountain, The Canteen, and Number 51 being notable examples, but in my opinion, it is the atmosphere out on the streets where Stokes Croft’s real craziness lies. From midnight onwards, the pavements are jam packed with people. Many don’t seem to be going anywhere, simply enjoying the age old pleasure of lurking in a slightly menacing fashion. As a result, I can safely say - as an experienced people watcher - that the streets of Stokes Croft are absolute gold. My current favourite is the dreadlocked man in his late thirties who cycles round and round on a pink child’s bike. Where he got the bike or what he is doing, one can only speculate. Overall, if you’re looking for a bit of a different night out or simply want to explore somewhere new, head to the corner between Cheltenham Road and Jamaica Street. You might be pleasantly surprised. Harry Carmichael
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS Check out this awesome Kiwi indie rock band. Core duo Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith “embrace guitargilded electro pop with an unrefined, outsider’s poise and artfulness” (The Guardian). 9 November Anson Rooms, UBU £14
BRISTOL INDYMEDIA PRESENTS : THE AUGUST ‘RIOTS’ Using hard research and the voices of participants, this event will provide an analysis of the August riots and allow us to discuss what happened. It will also critique the representation of the events in the media and mainstream politics. 7 November The Cube £3/£4
07. 11. 2011 COMEDY NIGHT
DAVE GORMAN’S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
Cabot Circus is having a fantastic Christmas lights event this year; Cirque Bijou will be putting on a fire, acrobatic and pyrotechnic themed performance under the glass roof at Cabot Circus. Don’t miss out on all the excitement!
Come down to Jongleurs to enjoy the perfect Friday night out with 4 top-class comedians jam-packed into an approximately 2 hour show. You’ll get the complete package – eat, drink, laugh and dance!
The man behind ‘Are You Dave Gorman?’ and ‘Googlewhack Adventure’ returns with a brand new hilarious show. Always one of comedy’s most innovative thinkers, this genrestretching performer will not disappoint.
11 November Cabot Circus
11 November Jongleurs £14
12 November Colston Hall £20
THE FUTURE
ENCOUNTERS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Director Tomas Alfredson creates tension and intrigue without resorting to James Bond style action and glamour. Oldman gives a pleasingly subtle performance and is joined by an all-star cast including John Hurt and Colin Firth.
Miranda July has created a powerful tale about adulthood and self doubt in this 2011 film. Ingeniously constructed, offbeat and idiosyncratic.
This festival is one of the world’s best-known showcases and meeting points for new and established international short film and animation talent. Check out films such as A Gun for George (see adjacent photo).
13-15 November The Cube £3
13 – 15 November Watershed £3.60 NUS
16-20 November Cinemas around Bristol
Screen
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY
THE JAZZ CLUB
TONGUE & GROOVE
Head down to Motion for a banging night of music from Rusko, Andy C and Scratch Perverts, amongst others. This is one Motion night not to be missed!
The Jazz Club is a new night hosted by Ruth Royall and her band. The night is about good music in a great atmosphere in a beautiful floating Cafe/Bar moored on Bristol’s beautiful Harbourside.
Get hyped for the launch night of Tongue & Groove in association with MOOMBAHTON UK! Bringing you the finest in Moombahton, Tropical Bass, Bashment and Garage.
11 November Motion £17.50
12 November Under the Stars Pay what you think it’s worth
18 November Blue Mountain £6 in advance
OKTOBERFRESH BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL
Following phenomenal demand and rave reviews, A Question of Sport hits the road for a second UK tour. The specially staged live show allows fans to see their favourite rounds in a thrilling and exciting live environment.
Fancy a career in law but not really sure where to start? Go to the Law Careers Fair at Wills Memorial to meet some employers and learn more about the industry.
Check out the Students’ Union’s biggest festival yet! Real Ales & Ciders, from Yorkshire to the sunny South West and live music from Skimmity Hitchers and BUJO, Hornstars & Big Band.
7 November Colston Hall £37.50 adv
9 & 10 November Wills Memorial Building
11 & 12 November Anson Rooms, UBU £5 day/£7 weekend
Extras
LAW CAREERS FAIR
Sound
IN: MOTION - RUN
A QUESTION OF SPORT LIVE
Stage
FIRE & ACROBATICS SHOW
What’s On Fashion
he addition of ‘super’ to ‘model’ and the morphing of the model from silent muse to celebrity is generally accepted to have occurred during the 1980s and 90s. Since then, the aesthetic and the boobs have shrunk, but not the idea. Referring to Agyness, Freja, and Natalia using just their first names demonstrates their fame and familiarity to us (and is also handy for Anglos who have trouble pronouncing Russian-sounding surnames). The concept of woman-as-model is a familiar one with a history snaking through artists’ studios to contemporary catwalks. However, the counterpart to these beautiful women, the male model, is fast on its way to becoming a similarly recognisable phenomenon. Whilst men do model both clothes and products, they have rarely been famous solely for being a gorgeous garment hanger. Often, men who already have other careers in acting or sport are then used as models to endorse designers’ products - a tradition continued with Tom Ford’s employment of actor Nicholas Hoult in his Eyewear Spring 2010 campaign.
However, there is a school of thought roots to Dolce and Gabbana fantasy. believing this dichotomy is disintegrating His association with the Italian brand began when he fronted the Light Blue Pour Homme fragrance in tiny white swimming shorts and has since included a Michaelangelo-inspired calendar. Gandy has even appeared on the Jonathan Ross show - the first male model ever to do so. ‘I’ve managed to just about cross the line from model to celebrity which puts me up against David Beckham and Jude Law when it comes to modelling jobs. It’s an amazing feeling to be on that level’. Joining Gandy in the modelling revolution is Jon Kortagerena, who is best known for featuring in Tom Ford’s provocative eyewear campaigns and even starred in the designer’s award-winning film, A Single Man. As men like Gandy and Kortagerena increasingly traverse the boundary between model and celebrity, they take the first step towards joining legendary supermodels such as Kate Moss and Elle Macpherson in becoming not just a body and the face of this change is David but a brand in their own right. Gandy. Over the past five years, Gandy Rosemary Wagg has risen from humble Richard and Judy
Deputy: Lizzy Bullock deputyfashion@ epigram.org.uk
Wish List
Rucksack, River Island, £30
Tom Ford
Christmas Jumper, Topman, £40
The return of the gentleman
D
uring the 1990s, menswear, and indeed fashion in general, was all about grunge. From baggy jeans to Oasisinspired parkas, male fashion seemed based on comfort, practicality and longevity. Today, however, times have changed and it’s the boys in suits who are leading the fashion pack. Now both male and female trends are heading in a more tailored direction, but it’s in menswear that things are getting really smart. Sales of suits from both high street stores and bespoke tailoring outlets have been going up year on year despite the recession – dapper is evidently the order of the day. The question needs to be asked though, why now? Why have the boys gone back to their roots with a three-piece? It seems the influences are coming from all angles. The spring/ summer catwalks were littered with casual, yet elegant and wearable, everyday suits. The YSL show, with its safari-inspired, tailoring shows this perfectly, while even the casualwear at Dior Homme came in a suit-cut. The catwalks are not the only place to see the suit strutting its stuff. Television and cinema are championing the suit and making it cool like never before. From the smartly dressed journalists in 1950s drama ‘The Hour’ to ITV’s war heroes in
‘Downton Abbey’, the men on the box are suited and booted, and looking good. Throw in a helping of Matt Smith’s suitwearing Doctor Who or stylish spy thriller ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ and I defy any fashionable man not to want that tailoring. Menswear designer Carolyn Massey said in an interview recently that men’s fashion is mainly descended from military uniforms, and this, she said, is not a negative thing. As well as offering structure and style, suits evoke a bygone era of chivalry that is attractive to both men and women. And it’s not just the clothes themselves that reflect this nostalgia. With a suit comes a certain responsibility to act the part in full. The hair becomes neat and well-groomed, shoes are invariably brogues or loafers, and the 1950s fedora is making a come-back on the British high street. Although suits are clearly gaining more ground, there is some way to go yet before we arrive back in the full-on formality of the 1950s. It does seem to be the more fashionably daring men that wear a suit as everyday apparel, however, with celebrities like Matt Smith and Dominic West leading the way. The return of the gentleman seems a not too distant prospect. Lily Buckmaster
Style Jury Boots, Clarks, £79 Antonio Azzuolo
Travel
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Dior Homme
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The evolution of man DOlce & Gabbana
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Editor: Francesca Clayton fashion@ epigram.org.uk
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ntonio Azzoulo’s modern take on outerwear caused controversy within our Style Jury this week, drawing a worrying number of equestrian comparisons. ‘I think you could put a label on him and stick him in the post.’ Verity, French & Portuguese, 4th Year
Duffle Coat, Topman, £85
‘It looks like it’s part of some weird equestrian S&M fantasy.’ Jon, History, 3rd Year ‘It looks like he’s wearing a saddle.’ Tom, Music, Masters Student ‘It makes quite a statement. I don’t know if your everyday guy would make it work.’ Eleanor, Drama & English, 3rd Year ‘Why’s he only wearing half a jacket?’ Fred, Drama, 1st Year
Casio Watch, ASOS, £20
07. 11. 2011
Man of the moment: Jesse Burgess Epigram Fashion talks to the star of Channel 4’s reality tv show ‘Dirty Sexy Things’ about modelling, music and menswear. Jesse on Style How would you describe your own personal style?
The LaRoache Brothers
There’s a book called Take Ivy that was published in the 1960s where a Japanese photographer went over to the Ivy League universities in America and took photos of the students. I like that really sort of preppy, clean cut, classic look. What are your absolute style don’ts?
Jesse on Modelling What’s the most interesting thing you’ve worked on?
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to do? Well all those shoots on Dirty Sexy Things were designed to be really odd - being covered in raw fish was probably a bit too far. Other than that I haven’t really done the weird stuff because I’m not really an edgy, grimy sort of model. I’m more classic. Do you prefer campaigns or catwalk? Catwalk shows are fun but there’s bollocks all money in them. I did Paris and Milan earlier this year but I didn’t want to do too much because I’m so busy with my band and I didn’t really want to devote the time to modelling. The fashion industry is notoriously brutal - how do you deal with that?
Jesse on Dirty Sexy Things
I’ve got quite sensitive skin so I try and keep it simple. We’re not meant to use productsI think it’s kind of harmful to our skin so I only wash my face once a day. I mean I have friends who only wash with water and they have amazing skin. I’m not saying everyone should boycott skincare but less is definitely more. For hair products I use Soft Sheen Carson- their hair wax is incredible. Big brands like Shockwaves can stick themselves where the sun don’t shine- they’re about as useful as a midget in a theme park.
How did you deal with the cameras following you around all the time? At first, when you have the cameras around, the temptation is to look down them and giggle, but you get used to them very quickly and start learning what’s good for them as well. Eventually you get kind of comfortable and just start getting naked all the time... We played a gig the other day and in between songs I asked who had seen me naked and that got the biggest response of the night. Do you think you’ve made long-term friends from the show? People are surprised when I say who I’ve got closest to - out of it I’d say it’s probably Perou and Hamilton (the hairdresser). Perou was cast because the producers knew he’d cause a bit of a stir but he’s a lovely, genuine guy and there’s no problem there at all. I’m also good friends with BB and Charlotte and Jesse B. I haven’t spoken to Ariella since I finished and I don’t think I will. I’ve heard she’s about to have a baby slide out of her and I wish them all the luck in the world. I do think that having her as a mum will be stressful to say the least.
Jesse on Music You’re in a band called Lux- what are your influences? Music-wise I love The Strokes, The Smiths, and Bombay Bicycle Club, but we’re not overly like them. Vocally I love anything with a bit of soul - John Legend, Morrissey, and Sting. I don’t think it’s good to have a wellrehearsed bible of people you love and aspire to because it just becomes a glorified tribute act. There’s no point in trying to reinvent the wheel - we’re not creating a musical revolution, we’re just doing what we think is good and hope that others like it too What are your plans for the future?
Tumblr: jesseburgess
I’d say it’s more fickle. It’s only brutal if you let it get to you or take it too seriously. I mean you deal with rejection daily and if you take it to heart you’ll get smashed down all the time. There are so many people who want to be a model, effectively it is a game and you just have to play the game if you want to do it.
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My favourite thing was a big campaign I did for Jack Wills. When there was that big ash cloud me and some other guys who were working for them got stuck in Majorca for a few days and ended up travelling by ferry to Barcelona, then got a kind of band tour bus to Paris and England. So we had this awesome tour for 8 days that was paid for and we were put up in the best hotels and everyone got on so it was amazing. I ended up doing the event thing - tour presenting and dj-ing for them and that was really good fun.
Do you have a skincare routine?
Facebook: Jesse Burgess
Those jeans in the 90s that were very dark with light patches on them so that they look like you’ve spilt bleach down them- and low v-neck jumpers with nothing on underneath are kind of sickening.
I’m working on my own television showsthere are quite a few things in the pipeline but TV is slow! They’re quite big projects so they take a lot of work. With Dirty Sexy Things I was in the process for the longest, and I was doing that for about 8 months before I started filming, so things take a while. And obviously it was going on before I was involved as well. The TV thing has longevity. People put pressure on me to choose between that and the band but I don’t think I need toneither of them take up too much time to stop the other one and I think they actually work really well together. I’m not at the stage yet where I can talk about plans, but it wont be long until I’m on TV again. Francesca Clayton
Editor: Francesca Clayton fashion@ epigram.org.uk
Deputy: Lizzy Bullock deputyfashion@ epigram.org.uk
Tom, Biology, Third Year
James, Engineering, Second Year
Ben, Mathematics, Third Year
Dave, Music, Third Year
Top, River Island. Jeans, Topman. wShoes, Nike
Top, Oxfam. Trousers, Topman. Shoes, Local Department Store
Shirt, Gap. Trousers, Zara. Shoes, Clarks.
Jacket, Vintage. Hoody, H&M. Top, H&M.
A man for all seasons M
ale fashion has evolved in many different ways throughout the centuries. It has moved from togas via tunics to t-shirts and from codpieces through knickerbockers to skinny jeans, yet there is one style that has never truly left the heart of male fashion. The moment our ancestors emerged from their caves to face the wrath of the elements, there was one item of clothing that they took to, an item that has re-emerged over the years. The shepherds of 18th century Italy bred their flocks in particular for this material, aviators of the two world wars took to it with gusto 20,000 feet high, and the catwalks of this season have it on everything from capes to trenchcoats. This material can be nothing else but sheepskin, in particular the uniform shaving of sheepskin that results in shearling. This season shearling returned in the Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter collection, featuring on capes as well as a double-breasted pin stripe suit complete with a high necked waistcoat
and vanilla coloured shearling collar. Dsquared offered a beautiful black shearling collared duffel coat, while at Paul Smith there was a futuristic take on the old classic as models took to the runway in padded silver jackets. Designer brands are not the only ones who have taken on the shearling mantle with enthusiasm; high-street stores such as Topman and Urban Outfitters have them in stock at much more student-friendly prices. Topman has a range of jackets including bombers and pea coats, all with striking different coloured shearling collars, while Urban Outfitters has a blue coat with contrasting grey shearling intended to stand out from the crowd. The shearling revolution is well underway, as can be seen amongst many a student parading the streets of Bristol. So hesitate no longer and wrap yourself in a cloth that knows none of nature’s harshest bounds. Harry Todd
Paul Smith
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Travel
Fashion
What’s On
Lifestyle
Street Style: here come the boys
High fashion to high street: Black Borg Shearling Aviator Jacket, Topman, £70
07. 11. 2011
Leading the fashion revolution H
and when Ford left the company in 2004 it was estimated to be worth $10 billion. This was a remarkable achievement for a company which was close to bankruptcy almost a decade earlier. By 1999 Ford had succeeded in establishing himself as a renowned designer, winning the award for Best International Designer at the Vogue awards in 2000. But Ford envisaged more for himself, and he left Gucci to create his own fashion empire. His brand mainly consists of menswear but he has also branched into beauty, eyewear and accessories for both men and women. Ford’s womenswear fashion shows have sparked controversy due to the designer’s refusal to allow cameras into the presentations. Ford has spoken out against ‘fast fashion’ and his super-private shows have made it difficult for high-street brands to copy his unique designs. In contrast to the secrecy surrounding his shows Ford is famous for his controversially provocative advertising campaigns, for example, his 2007 fragrance campaign depicting a woman’s glistening naked body covered only by the perfume bottle. Ford also regularly stars in his own ad campaigns, stating ‘I am my own muse’. He has always been the embodiment of his own brand and the figurehead of both the aesthetic
Hugh’s the new face of Laurie-l?
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L’Oreal Paris
n a time when androgyny is virtually a constant trend on the catwalk and the distinction between the sexes is more blurred than ever, it is no surprise that increasing numbers of men are embracing the previously female-dominated world of beauty and skincare. More and more men are grooming themselves in a way which not so long ago would have been considered ‘effeminate’, and it is no longer a surprise to find a man who owns moisturizer, tweezers, or even straighteners. Our expectations of one another are changing five years ago it would have seemed unlikely that the bad-tempered Doctor House would soon be promoting L‘Oreal men‘s skincare products. These are new and exciting times, where more men are striving to attain a higher standard of self presentation than ever before. But to what extent do men really want to be shaved, moisturized and plucked back to new-born perfection? I suppose it all ultimately boils down to personal preference, but there are cultural norms which dictate how we should
maintain ourselves. For instance, ask any young German man whether he shaves any other part of his body except his face and he will no doubt tell you that he shaves exactly the same regions of his body that a British girl might be expected to. In Britain, the idea of a man spending time plucking his monobrow is still perhaps a little risible, but it goes without saying that even the manliest of men go to these sorts of lengths to achieve the best results they can muster. Gerard Butler and even the England football team have advertised men’s cosmetics, so let it not be said that this is merely the preserve of the metroman. Cosmetics companies have quite successfully marketed their products to men as a way of enhancing masculinity rather than detracting from it. In an ideal world every man would be born as an Adonis, but speaking as a man, it’s comforting to know that even the Persianslaying King Leonidas had a rigorous makeup session in his trailer before going on to shoot a battle scene. Ryan Walker
and lifestyle associated and promoted by ‘Tom Ford’. In recent years Ford has diversified his interests to capitalise on the influence he now holds. In 2009 he made his directorial debut with ‘A Single Man’. The film was greeted with overwhelmingly positive reviews and Colin Firth was nominated for an Oscar for his performance; however, it was the cinematography and fashion-orientated aspects of the film that garnered Ford praise for his dedicated vision. This is not to say that Ford’s glittering career has been free from scandal. Ford has been in the press recently for the issue of French Vogue he guest edited. The issue has attracted criticism for the use of 10-year-old model Thylane Lena Rose Blondeau to pose seductively on a bed. Ford must have expected the impending criticism but stood behind his decision, even appearing on the cover of that issue of Vogue to remind everyone exactly who was behind it all. With such unfaltering confidence and drive it is not surprising that Ford has become the fashion icon he always aspired to be. As celebrities clamour to wear his designs and the critical accolades keep on coming, this designer’s star is set to go supernova.
Tom Ford
e started off as an unknown architecture student from Texas but over the past twenty years Tom Ford has managed to establish himself as a household name across the world. As a university dropout with little hands-on experience, Ford’s childhood dream of breaking into the fashion industry seemed somewhat out of reach. Yet his sheer determination to succeed in the career he was passionate about paid off. After receiving a place at the notorious Parsons The New School for Design, Ford made incessant phone calls to designer Cathy Hardwick and managed to secure a job as Hardwick’s Design Assistant. However after a few years Ford commented in The New York Times that if he ever wanted to become a serious designer he had to leave America because the Europeans ‘appreciate style’. Ford’s subsequent relocation to Italy resulted in his big break after he was signed to Gucci. At the start of the nineties Gucci was a faltering brand which was struggling to survive in the world of high fashion. With his innovative style and ideas of a glamorous revamp, Ford managed to turn the label around and rescue it from ruin, and thus he was offered the position of creative director in 1994. By 1999 Gucci was estimated to be worth $4.3 billion
Men’s Beauty Special A daily skincare routine is essential during the colder winter months as your skin is more prone to dryness and sensitivity. Follow a 3-step procedure of cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise to ensure that your skin stays fresh, bright, blemish-free and protected. If you find yourself borrowing your girlfriend/mum/sister/housemate’s moisturiser a little too often, try the following products, specially formulated to meet the needs of men’s skin. 1. Cleanse Cleansing is essential to remove build up of dirt, oil, and sweat, which if left on the skin can cause pimples. A gentle moisturising cleanser will cleanse and refresh without stripping the skin of its protective moisture. A two-in-one product will cleanse and exfoliate at the same time, and is perfect for using in the shower on rushed mornings. 2. Exfoliate Exfoliate 2-3 times a week with a facial scrub. The scrubbing particles in an exfoliator work to buff away dead skin cells and unclog pores, leaving your skin brighter and less prone to acne. 3.Moisturise Use a moisturiser with a built-in UV filter to protect skin from harmful sun damage and premature aging. Choose one suited to your skin type – a light gel lotion works best for those with oily or combination skin, whilst a richer cream suits those with dry or sensitive skin.
Simple for Men Hydrating Face Wash £4.99
L’Occitane Moisturiser SPF 30 £26
Clinique For Men Face Scrub £16
L’Oreal Men Expert Moisturising Lotion £8.05 Anisha Gupta
Fashion
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Editor: Verity Stockdale travel@epigram .org.uk
Return of the Yak 1) What is the Mongol Rally? In our age of global communication and budget airlines, travel appears, through its convenience, to be in danger of losing its fundamental appeal. Every distant region of the globe now appears to be furnished with internet, Starbucks, and an Irish pub or two, making the scope for adventure more elusive than ever. The Mongol Rally proudly extends a middle finger to this modern malaise, harking back to a time when an adventure involved more than downing buckets of bootleg vodka on a Thai beach (fine pastime though that is). It follows the principle that an adventure shouldn’t be easy, safe, or familiar, but ought to blow craters in your imagination and open your eyes to a world you never knew existed. It has no fixed route. After starting from the UK and travelling eastward through Europe, teams can either head north through Russia, or south through Turkey and numerous countries ending in ‘stan’, before embarking on an arduous off-road struggle through the barren Gobi Desert towards the finish line in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital.
2) Culture and People Across the 10,000 miles between England and Mongolia, we passed through vastly different countries and climates: the English anti-summer, sweltering desert, spectacular mountain ranges, and, finally, endless steppe as far as the eye can see. Many of the countries we visited have been rebuilding since either the fall of communism or, in the case of Iran and Iraq, from the devastation of war and internal revolt. Despite their turbulent pasts, we encountered a universal impulse to generosity and hospitality that overrides religious dogma and corruption of the political elite. Nowhere is this opposition more apparent than Iran. A documentation issue forced one of our team to stick around the capital Tehran for over a week in which he was bullied through numerous different official bureaus – what would have been a tormenting experience was made bearable thanks to the kindness of one Iranian family who welcomed him in and treated him like family. As travellers, this was a healthy reminder that the true value of any country is its people not its politics. As Robert, an American journalist we met living in Kazakhstan, told us: a country can only truly prosper if it invests in its people. The generosity shown to us taught us that human kindness is irrepressible and that if these countries are to emerge from the shadow of troubled history they must realise the value of their greatest resource, their people.
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Ainhoa Barcelona : Havana, Cuba
The Team : Edgar Laver, Jack Rubinstein, Oscar Freemantle and Ollie Martin
3) Method to the Madness Sound advice : Make sure to bring an mp3 player cramped with an assortment of banging tunes. One of the favourites being: ‘People Under The Stairs - Acid Raindrops’. Tea and coffee making facilities : It is vital that you have an in-car kettle. Whether you are sunning yourself in the early morning glow of a desert sun or starting a growling nights driving shift the ability to brew up a chai will sort you right out. Yak appeal : It was great to travel in a modified car that seemed to transcend language and culture. It produced many smiles and was great for disarming border guards. Get tooled up : Once you hit Central Asia your car will be subjected to a beating. It was so bumpy the screws holding the seat belts rattled loose. Prepare a serious set of car repair tools - chewing gum was effective at plugging holes for a few teams we met. Oscar Freemantle, Jack Rubinstein and Ollie Martin
Over the course of the rally, including the weeks leading up to the launch, we have been making a feature length documentary with the aim of reaching a new audience of young adventure travellers and show them what is actually possible if you set your mind to it. To find out more about the documentary and the trip, please scan the QRindent or search for “Return of the Yak”.
Just Chillin’ Cuba - the paradoxical case of a nation filled with revolutionary slogans, inspiring images of Che Guevara and countless ‘plazas de la Revolución’, juxtaposed with the slow paced cubano life of elderly chit chat, mellow tunes of happiness and drags of cigar smoke. Wandering the streets you’ll feel like you’ve time travelled back to the fifties, vintage cars abound and paint peeling off walls, and pick up the casual rhythm of a country ironically on the slow end of evolution. Ainhoa Barcelona
If you would like to see your photography featured here, please email travel@epigram.org.uk
07. 11. 2011
AIR MAIL
The world’s...
Most revolutionary beauty treatments The quest for beauty has been a leading preoccupation of women and men alike since time immemorial. Ranging from Cleopatra’s use of asses’ milk as a chemical peel, to the modern day when we are expected to believe that our shampoo contains actual pearls. However while asses’ milk and pearls are slightly out of the ordinary, they are nothing compared to some of the treatments out there. First stop on the tour of revolutionary beauty treatments could only be Japan. Traditionally, the Japanese are known to use nightingale poo as a key ingredient in facials - a faecal facial, if you will. The product is harvested in special farms, and its popularity has recently spread west with both Beckhams reportedly investing in the treatment, now widely called the ‘Geisha facial’. While these Japanese products are yet to have had a large impact on this country, the NibblingFish Pedicure has certainly caused much controversy as it becomes ever more widespread (there is a salon offering the treatment on Brighton Pier). However the risk of the transmission of infection has led to bans on this slightly fishy practise in many US states. If hundreds of fish nibbling at dead skin on your feet doesn’t appeal, there are plenty of treatments out
are known to use nightingale poo” there with a higher discomfort factor; for example, the cupping massage where heated cups are placed along the spine and act as vacuums, supposedly to rebalance your inner energy. This practise originated in China but is being extensively used in the west, even reaching Made in Chelsea. When the red welts left by this treatment become too monstrous, there is always the Russian ‘Platza’ treatment where the recipient is scrubbed and tapped with a broom
However, the ever-growing business of peculiar beauty treatments is taking a hold on the food industry too. If the scene from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ in which Augustus Gloop is sucked into a lake of chocolate has always made you ever so slightly envious, then head to Hershey, Pennsylvania, where a full body chocolate wrap is on offer. An alternative for those who look to alcohol instead of chocolate in times of need might be a Czech beer bath. Many centres even deign to provide you with a beer to drink whilst you soak in the stuff. However, with a tight student budget and sampling revolutionary treatments in Japan possibly a little far-fetched, why not try Kriotherapy in Hertfordshire. Better put, why not stand in a room cooled to up to 140°C for 3 minutes? Or the ultimate in ickfactor – bull semen hair conditioner? It was very popular in one London salon a few years ago, and according to them, it doesn’t smell, and the cows come from Cheshire. Well if it’s environmentally friendly, there’s really no reason not to try it. Katy Barney
1,736,381 revolutions. 10 days. 1,146 kilometres and 1,736,381 revolutions of a bicycle wheel - approximately how far it is from London to Munich by bike. The idea was to cycle from London to Munich to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The reality of how much time, effort and expense this decision would ultimately entail eluded the four of us until we were too far in and peer pressure alone stopped us backing down. Departure day came around for our first destination, Calais. Passing through the garden of England, we soon realised how tough these long days would be - some over 100 miles. As the days progressed we passed through France, which turned out to be a lot friendlier and accommodating than expected, and entered Belgium. For a country famed for chocolates, waffles, beer and such finer things in life, the Belgian people proved to be surprisingly unfriendly and the majority of them took great pleasure in beeping and swearing at us, hastening our decision to push on to Luxembourg.
fraternities is the Mensur a dangerous fencing duel.”
made of fresh oak leaves - essentially, attacked with a shrub. The experience is as “cleansing” and “invigorating”, apparently.
“The Japanese
“Another darker side of the
of 100,000 people spread throughout 14 differently themed tents which serve beer by the litre and meat by the half or whole animal. It is an experience like no other. All in all it was a brilliant trip with some stunning scenery, exquisite weather and surprisingly few mishaps. So, next time you feel like you need to run a marathon or swim the channel, I would advise you to consider a bike trip instead. You get to see a lot more of the world and to build up some farcical tan lines. With the help of friends, family and BP we have so far managed to raise just over £4000. If you feel you could help further this effort please visit www. justgiving/munichcycle to donate. Thank you!
Christian Foss Foreign Correspondent - Germany Whilst Bristol is flooded with freshers forced out of their gap year ‘rite of passage’ thanks to higher education fees, German universities have undergone their own evolution. Two of the country’s most populous states, Bavaria and Niedersachsen, have scrapped the final year of 6th form, leading to the intake of students doubling in number. London’s summer rioting had the far right - and worryingly not so far right - salivating at the idea of bringing back some form of national service. Meanwhile, Germany has scrapped its Zivildienst, causing a further influx of students. This, and other changes, means that there are almost 50% more freshers this year than there were 5 years ago. All of this presented an immediate housing problem upon my arrival in Darmstadt. Even the unpleasant university accommodation 15km from town was full (this is equivalent to living north of the M4 and studying in Bristol). On top of that, there was a 1500-person waiting list, which I would be competing with, with little hope of getting university accommodation. The rampage that is the January house hunt in Bristol seems civilised in comparison with the madness here. The housing office’s advice, once at the front of an hour-long queue, was to try knocking on doors. And so we were sent a vast student ghetto complex where three hours of knocking on doors only resulted in repeated rejection. The next stage of the hunt was using a flat sharing website. House viewings were essentially an interview against 30 other students, after which the current residents took their pick. One option, which another Bristol student has taken, was to live in a Studienverbindung (a fraternity). At first these seemed like a student’s dream - extremely cheap rent and rooms large enough to play most sports in, but of course there was a catch. Perhaps the word ‘cult’ is a bit strong, but donations are regularly sequestered from former members and the fact that they still have free places, in light of the current situation, certainly seemed suspect. Another darker side of the fraternities is the Mensur - a dangerous fencing duel. Historically the aim was to leave a scar above the eyes and accidents are, even now, not uncommon. The university here in Darmstadt eventually had to place adverts in regional papers, and thankfully I’ve since found somewhere to live. However, it’s two months into term and another Bristol student is still living in a hostel with one week’s notice until he is kicked out. That said, living homeless abroad might make for another interesting article...
Dave Walker
After the horrors of Belgium, Luxembourg was more than a breath of fresh air. As we rode through the cobbled streets of the city, we had a feeling that it would all be downhill from here to Germany. How wrong we were. Flickr: drakegoodman
Germany offered some breath-taking countryside, with our route taking us through the black forest, over the Rhine and into the Bavarian Hills. It was here that we met our biggest challenge of the trip, an 800m climb which severely tested our “no stopping till the summit” philosophy ,but the feeling of achievement at the top was more than enough consolation. After ten long days and 712 miles we finally reached our destination, Oktoberfest - a beer festival with a daily capacity
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Lifestyle
Editor: Alex Denne treasurer@ epigram.org.uk
In need of some dosh, some wonga? Well, whether you’re mining for that orange Co-op reduced sticker on sandwiches or the white reduced flag on the hot meat counter at Sainsbury’s we all share each others passion for saving money every now and then. So here are a few of my tips and tricks for saving those important pounds.
Make friends in high places
For starters, don’t be that boring person who points, and waits for his meat or fish to be bagged and tagged at the counter and instead try charming the staff. I’m now such good friends with one staff member now that I get 60% off my meat and fish at the counter; a couple of examples of this are 250g of steak for £1, and a whole cooked chicken for £1.75, pretty sweet deals. You should also ask counter staff if there’s anything reduced, and they may just have something worth going for. This same principle goes for non-supermarket stores like Café Gusto as well, in which I now get two baguettes for £1.20, and Lizard Lounge where a short chat to the owner secured me a VIP gold card.
Travel
Fashion
Learn where to find the deals
Money
‘Allow’ that.
It pays to be charming
Bristol is bohemian central and offers something for everyone. Learn to explore new areas such as cafés and bakeries because these, just like in Zelda, contain the secrets to the city in the form of coupons, discounts and freebies. For deals and offers, here are two websites I use often. Firstly, there’s ‘HotUKDeals’ (www.hotukdeals.com), if you are not already on this website then sign up. I’ve received so many freebies including cinema tickets just by quickly checking HUKD. Another unknown gem is mysupermarket.co.uk which is a price comparison tool which can save you an average of 35% off your weekly shop.
Curb your spending
One way to curb your spending is by monitoring it. Online banking is a simple and secure way to help detect fraud and track your budget. It also offers an immediate method to pay bills or friends. If you still don’t have online banking, get on it now. The amount of students who spend spontaneously is astounding, have and remember a money mantra such as ‘do I need it? Can I afford it? Have I checked it’s not cheaper anywhere else? If the answer to any of these questions is no, don’t buy it! If you can’t shop in a group with your housemates and prefer the idea of eating in solitude, you can still shop on the cheap, just make sure that you go sticker hunting around 8-10pm, when shops have their final reductions.
Data protection isn’t something many of us think about often. I’ve happily filled in many an application form to enter a competition, get a discount or buy something online without much caution, Tim Russell, a 2nd year maths student said ‘I’ve never really thought about how much information about me is available online’ and many students feel the same, have you ever thought what information goes where on Facebook when you ‘Allow’ it to access your data? One in three students who have lived at a previous address (like halls) whilst at university haven’t arranged the redirection of all their important post to their current address, potentially allowing someone else the freedom to do what they like with your bank statements. Also, two thirds of students have never checked their credit rating, which means that suspicious credit applications can go unnoticed.
Bring home the bacon
The easiest way to manage money is by earning it. But how? One of the most common and also farcical excuses given by students is that no job exists to meet their busy schedules. This reminds me of a commonly used word to describe a mix between a male cow and faeces. Man (or woman) up!
Use the Careers Service
This is an absolute must to check out as it is a central hub for all campus work. Jobs advertised here are wellpaid and flexible.
Exploit your skills
Everyone has a useful skill whether it’s using your knowledge as a tutor or just cleaning cars, just make a small flyer advertising your credentials and then spend an afternoon posting it through letterboxes. In no time, you’ll be reaping the rewards. James Levine
A test of loyalty I think we can all agree that consumerism is great. It means that I can use my student loan to buy ‘things’ and if there’s one thing I love it’s ‘things’. However, the downside to this is that it leads to a time, roughly around the end of term, when cash runs a little bit dry and, if I had a purse, my purse strings would be tightened. I don’t have a purse though, because I’m a man. What I do have is the magic of cashback schemes and loyalty cards. These allow me to delay the inevitable simply by either spending less or earning rewards, respectively. Now, I’m aware that the words ‘cash’ and ‘schemes’ conjure up images of pyramid sellers and other such scams but this is actually legit. How it works is that, instead of buying a product direct from the seller, you go through a cashback website that tracks your purchase and pays you for it. This is particularly useful on larger purchases such as electronics, mobile phones and insurance. On average you can reclaim about 5-10% of a product’s cost. It doesn’t sound like a lot but over time the savings really do add up. But why do the websites pay out? According to www.moneysavingexpert.com, “Cashback sites take advantage of the way commercial payments from one website to another work. They use special links called ‘affiliate links’ which allow the retailer to track where the traffic is coming from - and then pay the cashback sites for the lead.” Now, I don’t understand what that means but I do understand the smell of money in my wallet and that’s good enough for me.
Your information is valuable, an example of this is that your mobile number can be sold for £200 on a black market, not that you can sell this yourself to pay for your next night out. Hidden networks of insiders, hackers and identity thieves exist who are accessing thousands of people’s information. In the worst cases, this can lead to many being refused a job, benefits, credit, or even a place at university. But the steps that can be taken to safeguard your information are usually simple and easy.The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has just started a campaign aimed at raising awareness of information rights, Christopher Graham, the Information Commissioner said ‘In tough times, young people are clearly less relaxed about privacy, particularly in relation to information that they post online - but many may not know what they can do about it.’ Below are some simple steps to protect your information. • When you move house, redirect all your mail and inform your bank, utilities companies and other organisations of your new address. • Store documents carrying any personal details in a safe place • Shed or destroy all documents containing any personal details before throwing them away • Limit the number of documents containing personal details which you carry around on a daily basis • Check your bank and credit card statements carefully for unfamiliar transactions • Use different passwords and PINs for different accounts
So that takes me on to loyalty cards. Most people have a Nectar card or a Tesco Clubcard. It’s worth remembering that you can get points online as well as in-store. For example, Nectar points can be collected on all Amazon and iTunes purchases if you go through the Nectar website (in much the same way as with a cashback site). I also collect Nectar points on the gas payments for my house. This has meant that in under two years I have earned nearly £50 worth of points to spend on my shopping. Those little bits of plastic in your wallet suddenly seem a whole lot more valuable, don’t they?
• Be careful when using public computers to access your personal information. Remove personal details on screen and uncheck the ‘remember password’ box
With both of these money saving ideas it’s about remembering to actually take advantage of them. It may seem like hassle clicking through other websites just to buy something online but, over time, it could save you a considerable amount. Matthew Rose
• Protect your home computer with anti-virus, firewall and anti-spam software before going online
• Always think about who you are giving information to and why they would need it. Don’t be afraid to ask
Paul Macleod