culture clash
Fashion
What’s On
Lifestyle
Editor: Imogen Palmer lifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
w o r b h g Hi
Food for thought
G
reat Britain is a land of three nations and an island that is home to an eclectic style of cuisine. Some of our most famous hearty and wholesome dishes have a rather more complex history; even our national favourites reveal foreign beginnings. Below are five treasured British Dishes with an interesting milieu.
Pie
Steak and Ale pie, Shepherd’s pie, fish pie, chicken and mushroom pie. What would we do without this versatile, always hearty classic? While the pie has been intrinsic to our Great British Heritage for centuries, the idea is not British in origin. In fact, pies trace back to the Egyptians and Ancient Greeks, preceding even the first pyramid by 7,000 years. No wonder they are so monumental. Finally, we owe it to the Romans for bringing this prize dish to Britain. Things like that really make up for all the pillaging.
Like an ice cream, a trip to the seaside wouldn’t be complete without this deliciously greasy takeaway. You’d think Brits invented fish, given the amount of emphasis we put on this as a British emblem. Really we owe it to the Icelandic and Norwegian waters for all the cod (cheers guys) and the French who introduced us to ‘les frites’. How these foods ever existed independently of one another I cannot even begin to fathom.
Vindaloo
Vindaloo is a paradigmatic example of a culture clashing dish (ah, see what we did there?). Originating in Portugal, modified into the spicy curry dish it is in India before spreading to the rest of the world and interestingly, being adopted as one of Britain’s national favourites. While it is generally the reserve of masochists amongst us for its intensely hot spice, the adoption of this curry as a football anthem shows how ingrained it is in our culture. Everybody now: ‘We all like Vindaloo… and we’re England and we’re going to score one more than you’. What lads.
Kedgeree
Kedgeree is one ker-azy cultural mash-up. An Anglo-Indian hotpot consisting of fish, rice, eggs, butter, cream and parsley, Kedgeree originated from an Indian rice and bean inspired dish, called Khichri. It arrived in the United Kingdom through returning British colonials who had been in India under the British Crown. In the Victorian epoch, Kedgeree was used as a breakfast dish, and it became popular in Britain, as it was quite the hearty feast.
Travel Money
Alice Straker
We even have an article about food.
‘Speaking’ latin
Tea at Brow ns
mas a r d d Perio
Heckling
And finally, mornings wouldn’t be the same without one the country’s favorites: the full English breakfast. There is limited information about when exactly the British people started combining an eclectic assortment of savory delights on a single plate, however, the idea is thought to have arisen in the 19th century, when people used to indulge in large quantities of breakfast material in a single sitting. Although apparently a tasty addition, I have never seen the appeal of black pudding. These blood puddings were brought over to England by European monks who called the product ‘bloodwurst’. If that violent name isn’t enough to put you off, I don’t now what is.
We’ve collected a wide range of articles dealing with conflict and culture. As ever we treating these topics in both concrete and abstact form so we hope we have something for everyone.
Poaching pheasan ts
Collectin g fossils
The Full English
By continuing with a non topical trend we’re hoping to bring something new to the table. Ultimately to present you with content in a way you might not have considered before.
or
low? w o r b h Hig
Fish and Chips
Welcome to our latest issue inspired by the theme of culture clash.
Deputy: Mariah Hedges deputylifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
e2 is brought to you by Lifestyle : Imogen Palmer and Mariah Hedges
who will meet 1.30pm, 2nd December at The White Bear
What’s On : Olivia Stephany Fashion : Francesca Clayton and Lizzy Bullock Travel : Verity Stockdale
who will meet 2pm, 30th November at The White Bear
Money : Alex Denne
who will meet 12.15pm, 22nd November at The Hill
Cryin g X-Fac during tor
Ordering Dominos for breakfast
‘Decorating’ with magazine cut-outs
ng Enteri er th o r B g i B
with e2 editor : Matthew McCrory illustrator : Sophie Sladen
cover photography : Ben Eddings cover model : Suzi Simms cover styling : Grace Keisner
Low-brow
Lara Kottsieper
21. 11. 2011
North vs South In this issue of Culture Clash e2 delved into one of the most contentious clashes amongst Bristol students: The North- South divide. We got a northerner and a southerner to explain their experiences of how the other half lives. Being a Northerner in Bristol does feel a little bit like being an Englishman in New York. The majority of the students seem to have struggled to make any journey longer than three hours from their southern citadels. From the day I arrived in Bristol over a year ago, to this very day, my closest friends (most of whom are Southerners), find my northern peculiarities a real source of entertainment; particularly the way I speak. There is certainly something distinctive about a northern accent, and it this sense of distinction that makes it frankly a wonderful thing. . When Wayne Rooney opens his mouth there is no mistaking those beautiful Scouse vociferations; when Cheryl Cole’s harmonious vocals perpetuate the airwaves, there is no doubting her Geordie heritage. There is something so easily identifiable about the northern accents; to everyone Rooney is a Scouser, and Cole a Geordie. The very fact that people from Liverpool and Newcastle are known as Scousers and Geordies suggests a real sense of identity; the cities are synonymous with their accents, which act as a unifying characteristic between the people. There is just something about those dulcet tones that makes you want to be their best friend. Plus people with accents make the best wingmen.
NORTH
The further south the northerner ventures, the more people’s accents seem to blend into a monotone of ‘Received Pronunciation’, stripping places of any unique identity. What particularly grates with me is how southerners insist they speak correctly - as the Queen would- because they ‘larf’, not ‘laff’. Who agrees with the concept of monarchy anyway? In general the distinctive sociolects of the north resonate so much more than the generic ‘southern accent’ which, to a northerner, seems the same be it in Gloucester or Guilford. The guess to make about a southerner’s origins in Bristol is London A sense of ‘northerness’ even emanates from the soundtrack of the north: The Beatles, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys - all so unmistakably northern; Wonderwall stinks so much of Manchester you can smell the north all the way from Cheltenham. Coldplay, on the other hand, look like they stink due to a lack of hygiene. Hyperbole aside, what I’m really saying is the North has a much bolder sense of identity than the South. The South is more of an anti-north; identifiable purely because it is not the North - more of a faceless sea of counties and cities. Ultimately my sentiments are echoed in George Orwell’s rather apt verdict that ‘there is at least a tinge of truth in that picture of Southern England as one enormous Brighton inhabited by lounge-lizards’.
Spencer Terry
H T U SO
Screw gap-yahs spent interrailing or discovering yourself halfway up a mountain. If you really want a culture shock, I would highly recommend following in my footsteps and moving in with a Geordie. The past six weeks have seen me immerse myself in a completely alien culture, opening my eyes to new language, ‘fashion,’ and escapades like never before. On moving-in day I was delighted to have discovered a wealth of tiny fabric samples all in lace, glitter and sequins lurking inconspicuously on her bed. I must admit, I was thrilled by the prospect of an 80s patchwork quilt spicing up our student living room... only to discover that I was mistaken. Hugely mistaken. This was no textiles box. This, my friend, was the ‘Northern Wardrobe.’ Garments dubbed ‘trendy’ up North, greeted by hypothermia warnings down South.
Flickr: Mark Fowler
‘Howay man, well aye divent wanna look like you Southerners, are ya a fooking granny like!?’ After losing a battle with Google Translator, I realised that these were not foreign utterings but simply her ‘Newcastle Speak,’ a far cry from the ‘brap braps’ and ‘innits’ of my Croydon roots. Dressed in my black lace body and skinny jeans I quickly dismissed the horrifying mental image of my Grandma in the same outfit, shocked that the OAP homes up North must look like the equivalent of Croydon’s Tiger Tiger on a Thursday night.
‘Never deprive a girl of her cheesy chips and gravy’
The obscenely cold weather up North is enough to put anyone off venturing there, particularly in the depths of winter. Controversially however, northern men seem to use this as prime material from which to launch their questionable pulling techniques. In the smoking area of a club in Manchester last month, I was sick to my stomach as the nauseating stench of Strongbow and fag-infused breath filled my lungs when, to put it quite bluntly, I was tongue-raped by a middle aged man dressed in drag; my attempts at the Northern wardrobe being greeted with glee by the men preying on the vulnerable Southerner who just wanted to ‘fit in.’ To this day, I am scarred by the mere smell of Strongbow and daren’t enter a smoking area unaccompanied. I have, however, had to learn a few things the hard way. NEVER deprive a northern girl of cheesy chips and gravy OR her pint. No matter how much Pinot Grigio you whack in the fridge, the Carlsberg bottles will always take pride of place. NEVER, NEVER challenge a Northerner on their love for their football team. Man City’s success is nothing to do with Sheikh Mansour and everything to do with raw talent, and betting against Newcastle United in the Premiership could be a very costly mistake. And finally... NEVER, NEVER, NEVER allow a Northerner to make your drinks. The invention of the ‘Northern glass’, the equivalent of a quadruple (or rohypnol it would seem), led to a horrendously messy night involving a lost phone, lost shoe, not to mention lost dignity. Never again.
Jodie White
Fashion
What’s On
Lifestyle
Editor: Imogen Palmer lifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure Trash
Treasure
Last week I threw out a perfectly good pair of jeans in order to avoid a fashion disaster. Whilst I was happy with my decision (preventing me from getting laughed at on the edgy streets of Bristol) a freegan would argue that I have no respect for the value of everything - and maybe I don’t.
The art of Freeganism is much practiced in Bristol, with community centres in squats, the ‘Freeconomy movement’ and pop-up restaurants from rescued food being some of the many examples. I first got into it through BUST (Bristol University Sustainability Team), where someone brought packs of delicious cakes to a meeting, explaining that they came from supermarket bins nearby. I followed and found some delightful fresh vegetables and endless croissants and it all took off from there.
A ‘free vegan’ or ‘freegan’, is a subset of the larger anti-capitalist and environmental protest movements. Originating in the 60s, freegans try to live an anti-consumerist lifestyle by spending their days avoiding paying for anything. According to freegan ethics every human has a responsibility to live a life that reduces exploitation.
Obviously, saving money is a major attraction, but it’s not the principle reason behind it. In a world where one in six people go hungry every day, a third of the world’s food supply could be saved by reducing waste – enough to feed 3 billion people. So much of our time and resources are turned into commodities and sold for the highest profit margins possible.
I normally associate people who forage in skips and bins with tramps or hobos, not highly educated individuals who want to make a statement. Freegans want to limit the control that large corporations and money have over their lives by becoming completely self-sustainable. After researching freeganism I wanted to know what exactly freegans do in order to avoid being ‘exploited’ by capitalism. I honestly couldn’t think of anything worse than ‘dumpster diving’, an activity freegans carry out on a daily basis.
Freegans promote the principle that we should consider their intrinsic value, not their price. Creating sustainable alternatives to systemic inequality is necessary. Meanwhile, Freeganism celebrates the diversity of our human and physical resources whilst rejecting a lust for wealth through commodities whose production is tied to environmental damage and oppression of others.
If your sense of smell is poor then I’d imagine the chance of falling ill on your adventure to the bins is high. If the activity of rummaging through bins isn’t bad enough you also have to be careful not to break the law by trespassing and have to face the embarrassment of being seen.
I have found everything. From food to furniture, books, medicine, clothes, 150 bottles of Budweiser, 60 tubs of Ben and Jerry’s and 100 cans of tuna that were packaged incorrectly. Once we found a fake leg that we hid in my friend’s bed at night.
Although freegans have found flat screen TVs and 200 frozen chickens during rummages, I think diving for food from a dustbin is an extremely strange way of carrying out your weekly shop, and not something I’ll be doing in a hurry.
If you need more confidence, come to a BUST meeting or the Foodcycle Student Restaurant. And whenever you’re throwing anything away, think: can somebody else use this?
Jonathan Broad
Travel
Lizze Ashby
Money
Deputy: Mariah Hedges deputylifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
Pandora, I decided to have a bit of a makeover before I came to Bristol. My physical appearance didn’t go down well in school and I was sick of all the abuse. I have red hair and people think this gives them permission to be rude about me for no real reason.
s ’ a r o d n Pa Box
Anyway, before I arrived, I dyed my hair and waxed the rest of my body. I upped the privacy on my Facebook account so that no-one could see my old pictures. A few days ago when someone was facebook-raping me they saw the pictures and showed them to everyone. Since then, it’s like I’m back in sixth form. I can’t even walk to lectures without people calling me carrot dick or ginger dick. What am I supposed to do? I can’t really deal with this much longer.
You know, you really aren’t fooling anyone. Pandora believes in calling a spade a spade and you, my ‘friend’, are a ginger. Always have been, always will be. The problem isn’t your gingerness per se but rather the fact that you are a male ginger. Everyone knows that ‘your kind’ is the strongest argument for enforced eugenics. The beautiful double standard in your dear country has meant that while you face public humiliation for your neon follicles your female counterpart would no doubt be adored. Your pale pasty skin must contrast horribly with your rusty hair in what can only be described as some sort of genetic joke. Red-haired females, however, are a thing of absolute beauty. A rare bird inspiring an entire host of both erotic and engaging art. You need look no further than a few of Rossetti’s or Titian’s works to see the beauty instilled in flame haired maidens. Unfortunately, there’s not really anything you can do. I’m surprised that anyone even fell for your ‘makeover’ in the first place. Are your friends completely stupid? Oh, I’m sorry, you don’t have any friends. I have two pieces of advice for you. The first is to play up to the abuse. Maybe if you let the bigger boys make fun of you for long enough they’ll get bored and decide that you’re actually ‘cool’ (whatever sort of social construct that is). The second piece of advice is more drastic but much more realistic. You need to crawl back into your cave, you subhuman troll.
21. 11. 2011
Britain’s boozing culture
I
t’s common knowledge that you Brits enjoy your alcohol. But coming from the conservative, predominantly Muslim country of Malaysia – where outrageous taxes are levied on our booze supply, I might add – I was still taken aback by the sheer volume and frequency with which alcohol is consumed here.
Freshers’ Week was a daze of alcohol-fueled revelry, formals are feeble preambles to the alcoholic after party, and student bars – a concept absolutely alien where I come from – are perpetually busy, catering to a seemingly insatiable appetite for that pint or two. It seemed to me that all social events had a prerequisite of having alcoholic drinks available. Sure, alcohol has been touted as a social lubricant, but through the foreign lenses of a bewildered, naive international student (I’m pure like that), it seemed a tad overboard. Socials equate to a night out at the bar, prelashes are de rigueur, and ‘going out’ means going to a club. I still remember answering the question ‘Are you going out tonight?’ with a ‘Yes, I’m going to Nando’s for dinner’, and being rewarded with a bemused look and a hasty explanation of what was actually meant. This fondness for all things alcoholic is clearly reflected in the ubiquity of bars, pubs and clubs in Bristol. At times it’s hard to know when the bar crawl will come to an end, as they just seem to go on and on. At the risk of sounding like a bumpkin, I would say that I don’t think I have ever seen such a density of watering holes anywhere, not least in Malaysia. But I must say it wasn’t long before I realized why – or at least one reason why – the drinking culture here is so prevalent. A jagerbomb at a bar here would set me back £3. A jagerbomb back in Malaysia would cost me a cool RM40, which is equivalent to £8. Add on to that how a decent meal in Malaysia would cost RM5, it is easy to see how drinking in Malaysia can be such a costly affair (it’s the ridiculous taxes!). I’m not saying alcohol here is the cheapest but it sure seems cheap enough to justify the liberal consumption of it. The weather could be another reason, but I think, in my most humble opinion, the principle reason for this preponderant drinking culture is that you Brits truly appreciate the capacity of alcohol to liven things up a little. Or a lot. Or so much that everything becomes foggy. But the crux of the matter is: alcohol loosens people up, livens conversations and makes everything a lot more fun for all. In fact, most of my best memories here in Bristol are memories that involved generous servings of alcohol. And every week I look forward to having a pint with some chums of mine. It would appear that I have taken to the drinking culture here and I would definitely continue to do so, at least until they remove those darn taxes on Malaysian booze.
Zishen Chong
Flickr:Stretchdog
I’m pretty sure I’m spending all my money on the right things. I wear the right clothes, I go to the right clubs and I take all the right drugs. What am I doing wrong? I did all this to get girls so I could have some of that promiscuous sex that would make me even cooler. But I gotta say Pandora, the fish ain’t bitin’ I’m beginning to think that all this ‘be yourself’ bullshit my teachers used to talk about was true. Is it? I don’t think I can deal with that being true. I’m not sure if I’m confident
enough to be myself. I’m actually kind of a bellend.
Society Slut is open-minded, if you know what I mean. Very open-minded. I’m a doer. I go for it. Society Slut has had a stressful few weeks. It’s not easy attending groups where everyone is passionate about what they are doing and pretending to be one of them while secretly judging and reviewing them in your mind. Socialising with the enthusiastic and dealing with their hurt feelings afterwards can be exhausting. I felt I needed a break, a chance to stop looking outward and start looking inward. Delve into the recesses of my thoughts and really take a swim in Lake Me. I didn’t have time for a gap year so I thought I’d try meditation instead. Transcendental Meditation lured me in initially with its trippy and exciting name, but it turns out there is a hefty price to pay: since when did spiritual learning turn into a business transaction? The leader of the session described the journey you were going to take by drawing an ocean with ‘bubbles’ of positive mantras that would gradually deliver you to the steady calm sand of the sea bed. Don’t get me wrong, I like delightful and imaginative metaphors as much as the next person, but this was a toughie to sit through poker-faced. So I dropped in on a session of Buddhism Soc’s meditation instead. I know what you’re thinking- is the Slut really going to review a religion? Is this ok? Are we down with this? Well bear with brothers and sisters, it’s a review of my spiritual journey, no one else’s, alright?
Misconception one: there would be a monk; he would potentially be bulletproof. But the session I attended was unfortunately monk-less. It was ran by a rather nervous sounding young woman which made it less authentic but perhaps more approachable. I’m afraid I didn’t find out whether or not she was bulletproof but I have my doubts. Misconception two: there would be incense, chanting and gongs. There was a candle and a rather happy looking Buddha keeping an eye on the situation but aside from that there were less gimmicky additions to aid the spiritual journey than I expected. There was also very little preparation. You arrived, sat cross legged on a pretty cushion and launched straight into a 20 minute meditation on the breath. Just sitting there. For 20 minutes. Concentrating on breathing. This might be a bit intimidating for beginners but the Slut enjoys getting on with things. I went to a happy place. There was no one else there but me.
I hate to break it to you but talking about being cool is seriously uncool. That’s not really of any concern to me as I don’t really have interest in what other people think. My regular meditation sessions, aided with a little ‘medication’ if you understand me, mean that I am quite literally on a different level to the rest of you people.
Misconception three: you would just sort of meditate then er… piss off? Apparently not, we followed the meditation with feedback and a discussion of the five precepts of Buddhism. Which I’m pretty down with: avoid killing, oppression etc. However, if I were to commit to the Buddhist path, I may struggle with some: particularly refraining from sexual misconduct and practicing ‘loving speech’, if this column is anything to go by.
I’m afraid that what they say is true; it is best to be yourself. Pretending to be someone else for entertainment’s sake is entirely pathetic and implies severe mental instability.
societyslut@ epigram.org. uk
Pandora, I know it’s not very cool to admit it but I’ve got a problem. I have this funny feeling that people don’t think I’m cool but they’re wrong. I am cool.
Society Slut
I have every reason to believe that you are a very unhappy soul and I want to help. You really need to stop being down on yourself. If you are as much of a ‘bellend’ as you claim, and I entirely believe that you are, there will be enough other people willing to hate you. This means you can stop wasting your time on all this self-loathing. The Society Slut is always harping on about taking a swim in Lake You, whatever the fuck that means. Maybe you could try that? It sounds like it might be the sort of hippy bullshit that someone like you would lap up. You could even take some time out from university to really find yourself. I can hardly imagine that you’re going to like what you find. You seem absolutely awful.
P Bullet ull factor: 2/ deflec 10 Stress tion: ?/10 relief: 9/10
Lifestyle
Editor: Imogen Palmer lifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
Clash of civilisations Badock Often characterised as the public school cohorts who didn’t get into Wills, Badock students have carved a name for themselves as being significantly cooler and edgier than their up-hill counterparts. Likely to be overheard saying: ‘I’d rather be a paedophile than in Wills’.
What’s On
Often wearing: a t-shirt and a 5 panel cap from a small (and exceedingly edgy) park street boutique. Most likely to be caught: in Cooshti buying tickets for the latest ‘illegal’ rave – if it’s illegal, why are they selling tickets for it?
Wills
Once the safe-haven for Arab princesses and boys from Debrett’s Peerage alike, a change in warden saw a move towards greater diversity -but let’s face it, it’s still pretty rah. Likely to be overheard saying: ‘Our dining room actually looks just like that’ to any non-Wills member while looking at a picture of Hogwarts.
Fashion
Can’t live without: chutney, preferably home-made. Often wearing: an under-sized prep school sports jumper - it’s not preppy, it’s edgy (apparently). Most likely to be caught: walking on the grass in Old Quad (rebels without a cause). Can be found drinking at: Lizard Lounge, as the ‘Now 54’ soundtrack takes them back to joint discos with their sibling public schools.
Durdham Sorry Durdham, but you haven’t got the reputation for being the coolest halls out there. I’m sure this cruel preconception is untrue, but I did hear two students discussing the merits of their scientific calculators the other day… Likely to be overheard saying: “Can yours calculate random integers?” Can’t live without: a weekly phone-call home.
Travel
The Revolution will not be televised
Over time the halls of Bristol have developed distinct cultural identities of their own. Here are some of our favourites.
Can’t live without: Dubstep. (Although they survived the first 18 years of their lives without it).
Often wearing: Jansport rucksacks - very practical for carrying Sainsbury’s groceries up Black Boy Hill. Most likely to be caught: making a 9a.m. aeronautical engineering lecture after a ‘crazy’ night in Durdham bar. Can be found drinking at: Po-Na-Na, because it’s approachably small and those watered-down cocktail buckets gets them all woozy.
Goldney Goldney is infamous for its fabulously expensive summer ball (I heard that Justin Bieber and Jay-Z will be collaborating this year). It’s just a shame that a lot of its students can’t actually drink at it, as they’re under 18.
Money
Deputy: Mariah Hedges deputylifestyle@ epigram.org.uk
Likely to be overheard saying: “Did you know we have a grotto, a bastion and a rotunda; none of which we have any real use for?” Can’t live without: an older sibling’s borrowed driver’s licence. Often wearing: a ‘manly’ beard to disguise the fact that they are, in fact, 17 and barely pubescent. Most likely to be caught: trying to tear their photos down from behind the bar. Can be found drinking at: anywhere that serves them. Words: Eleanor Wheeler Pictures: Tamara-Jade Kaz
There are many things in life that rile me, but over the years, I’ve started to get my priorities straight. I try to concern myself only with the big questions: Brummie accents- why do they sound like someone who’s just seen Two Girls, One Cup and can’t quite get over it? Runners – who are you and why are you panting aggressively behind me up Park Street? Do you realise that you’ve just shat all over the millennia of social and technological evolution that mean we no longer have to run? Do you?? But for all my strongly, if somewhat arbitrarily held views, when it comes to action I’m so apathetic, I barely have a pulse. This is my dirty confession: I’m a terrible, terrible cliché. I’m a Guardian-reading, part-time vegetarian feminist who nonetheless wears make up and conforms to hair removal conventions, and my kooky hair accoutrements are mirrored in every second girl in any given lecture theatre. Like the Occupy Wall Street protestors and their College Green counterparts, I tout a handful of wildly vague, idealistic sentiments with little to no idea what to practically do with them. At least the tents ‘n’ dreads brigade are braving the Bristolian downpours for their half-baked pipedreams.
‘I’m so apathetic, I barely have a pulse’ All that having been said, I think everybody needs standpoints. Otherwise you’d never know which shiny-headed anal trauma victim to side with when the election debates roll around. The proposed amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill in September that threatened to restrict women’s access to abortion counselling were something I could have taken to the streets over. Ok, so I didn’t, but the outrage was there. Marie Stopes, a non-judgemental, apolitical organisation was stigmatised as representing the ‘pro-abortion’ camp, instead of what it really is: a pro-choice organisation that supports individual women’s decisions either way, rather than pushing a religious or moralistic agenda. I can’t think of who is possibly winning in a situation where overburdened or financially insolvent women are encouraged to bring unwanted children into the world. The patriarchal pro-life agenda wields guilt as a weapon of oppression, transforming women into vessels for some three microscopic cells, instead of individuals with the right to an opinion over whether or not they have to push something they don’t particularly want out of their v-jay. And I’m really not sure the not-particularlywanted thing is winning either. So, no. I’ve haven’t taken to the streets, thrown a fire extinguisher, camped outside a major landmark or unintentionally mocked the war dead...yet. But I’ll be keeping you posted.
.
Rachael Schraer
21. 11. 2011
Unisex Chunky Fair Trade Hoody. Limited stock. Available now at ubushop.co.uk
What’s On
Lifestyle
Editor: Olivia Stephany whatson@epigram.org.uk
Best of Bristol
Foreign food shops
1. Eastern European Foods, Gloucester Rd Not many people know which tastes originate from places like Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary…so if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you now know where to go to find out. They stock delicacies from practically any Eastern Europe country and they are particularly renowned for their array of delicious special sauces. Make friends with the people behind the counter and they are likely to sort you out some decent deals too.
2. Wai Yee Hong, Eastgate Road
I, MALVOLIO Tim Crouch re-imagines Twelfth Night through the eyes of Shakespeare’s most pent-up steward. I, Malvolio is a charged, hilarious and often unsettling rant from a man adrift in front of a cruel audience. 22 - 26 Nov Bristol Old Vic £8 NUS
Forget Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s, it’s all about Wai Yee Hong. It is an enormous Chinese Supermarket that sells practically everything Asian and Oriental, including all the special kitchen utensils too. This place is so big that there is even a bus service for Uni students running from Colston Hall that takes you straight there as long as you have your student ID on you.
THE BRITISH GUIDE TO SHOWING OFF
3. International Food Market, Stapleton Rd
Who doesn’t love a big ol’ party? Combining documentary footage, exuberant animation and interviews, this is a heartfelt, hilarious, and utterly fabulous ode to the pure joy of life.
Push those super noodles and microwave ready meals aside, and introduce your taste buds to something a bit different at the International Food Market. Slightly off the beaten track it may be, but it’s inexpensive and you will be sure to impress your housemates if you whip up dinner with ingredients from here.
4. Tony’s Caribbean Groceries, Grosvenor Rd
Fashion
Ever had a callaloo soup, a papaya Stew, some jerk pork, or an aruban goat stew? In most cases the answer will probably be no. So keep Tony happy, be daring, and go and try out some of his specialties. The staff are said to be friendly and very interested in helping you begin your Caribbean cooking career.
5. Oriental Market, Gloucester Rd This shop consists mostly of Chinese food, so if you fancy a taste of the orient, this is a great (and relatively cheap) place to pick up everything you will need. As I am sure many have experienced, Chinese takeaways can really take their toll on the old student budget, so why not just do it yourself? Francesca Lynagh
Travel
Does it get any quainter?
Money
21-24 Nov Watershed £5.60 NUS
Likened to the Rive Gauche or Portobello Road, in Clifton Village there are cafés displaying local artwork, vintage clothes stores, antique shops, a grocery stall and street musicians. There is even an onion seller who is part of a long list of Clifton eccentrics: tennis-geared man, wacky-trousered man, long-bearded man. I could go on forever. But have you ever actually walked around and explored the delightful back corners of Clifton Village? The quaint Rainbow Cafe can be found down a tiny little side street, and is the perfect place to study away from the social hub of the ASS Library. It is a family owned café and it serves amazing homecooked food as well as an assortment of delicious cakes and tea. All that plus you get a cheeky student discount. Let’s be honest, most of us students are on a tight budget. The Scout’s Club Sale is held in two big garages opposite Rainbow Café and is open 10 - 4pm every Saturday. They sell all sorts of things from clothes to bicycles at ridiculously reasonable prices and they also welcome donations if you ever can’t get rid of larger items. Nearby, there is also an antiques shop spilling out on to the road where you will find a treasure trove of vintage clothes and jewellery tucked away in the back corner, . If drinking is more your thing and you’re after a fantastic view, The White Lion pub terrace overlooks the Suspension Bridge and makes a great afternoon drinking spot on a sunny day. If you fancy a glass of mulled cider with the fast-approaching winter weather, The Coronation Tap is the place to go. A quirky little pub famous for its strong exhibition cider, it is the perfect place to escape from the cold. There also hold live music evenings and a two day jazz festival in the summer. Home to several antiques, vintage clothes and costume jewellery shops, the Clifton Arcade also has one of the best old-school sweetshops with an enormous choice of goodies. If you’re after something a bit more historical, visit the Clifton Rocks Railway, genuinely one of the most interesting historical sites in Bristol - it was even the BBC radio studios during the war! Last but not least, don’t forget to visit the grottos underneath the Observatory in the park which go out onto the cliff edge of the gorge. Whatever you fancy, Clifton Village probably has it. Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres
LANTERNS ON THE LAKE Head down to The Cooler to check out the coolest new band, Lanterns on the Lake and to hear tracks from their newly released debut album, ‘Gracious Tide, Take Me Home’. ‘This is undeniably beautiful music’ (The Guardian) 23 Nov The Cooler £7.50
DAMIEN HIRST: CHARITY It’s pretty impossible to miss the 22ft high statue that is suspended on top of the RWA. Don’t miss out on this one-off exhibition by one of the world’s most influential, successful and prolific artists. Until May 2012 Royal West of England Academy Free
21. 11. 2011 SOUTH PACIFIC
22 Nov - 3 Dec Bristol Hippodrome £30-£40
SHAPPI KHORSANDI
‘Instant wit’, Bristol’s very own improvised comedy company, is back at the brewery. There’ll be sketches, songs and silliness – and all of it based around audience suggestions.
Feisty and effortlessly funny, Khorsandi approaches every subject with a razor sharp wit. ‘Britain’s best young female comic by any yardstick’ – The Guardian. Book soon before tickets sell out!
27 Nov Tobacco Factory Theatre £10
Stage
This Richard Rogers musical weaves together characters from several of its stories into a single plotline about an American nurse during World War II. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest musicals of all time.
SUNDAY NIGHT IMPROV
28 Nov Tobacco Factory £13
MELANCHOLIA
JAFFA : THE ORANGE’S CLOCKWORK
Two films from 1988 - a hard-hitting prison drama, ‘Ghosts of the Civil Dead’ and sci-fi conspiracy thriller, ‘They Live’. Each offer critical perspectives on different aspects of neoliberalism and its figurations of power.
Everyone will die....in beautiful slow motion and real time with a hand held camera. The end is inevitable for us all. Starring Kirsten Dunst, John Hurt and Alexander Skarsgard.
Part of the The Bristol Palestine Film Festival. Visually captivating and politically bold, Eyal Sivan’s new documentary weaves a rich tapestry of stunning archival material and striking interviews.
24 Nov Arnolfini £4
27 – 28 Nov The Cube £4
3 Dec Arnolfini £5 NUS
DJ SHADOW
THE TING TINGS
Always dreamt of showing off your secret talent? Mr Wolfs is hosting an open mic night for any musician/poet/ comedian/band of any level. A free beer for all performers and 2-4-1 noodles for all.
Famous for his sampling technique, DJ Shadow has been a key figure in the instrumental hip hop genre for years. Don’t miss out on the Bristol leg of his tour.
Renowned for songs such as ‘That’s Not My Name’ and ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’, The Ting Tings definitely know how to put on a good show and this is guaranteed to be a good’un!
23 Nov Mr Wolfs Free
28 Nov O2 Academy £19.50
1 Dec The Trinity Centre £12.50
Sound
OPEN MIC
Screen
FILM EXERCISE
CLIMATE OF CHANGE SPEAKER SERIES
GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
Led by Bryony Thomas, this workshop will teach you about using the latest communications techniques to enhance your career prospects or market a business.
Bristol University Sustainability Team (BUST) and Bristol Hub present a series of exciting speaker events from some of the UK’s leading green experts.
Shoppers can enjoy German market stalls selling traditional crafts, gifts and mouth watering festive German food and drink. It is not only a great place to do your Xmas shopping but also a time to enjoy the Christmas festive spirit.
21 Nov NSQI Building, Tyndall Avenue Free
30 Nov Pugsley Lecture Theatre, Queens Building
Until 22 Dec The Podium, Broadmead
Extras
DO IT LIKE A PRO: SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
What’s On Fashion Travel Money
East meets West 2011 will probably be labelled as Liu Wen’s most momentous year to date. Not only is she the first ever east Asian Victoria’s Secret ‘Angel’, but she is also the first ever Chinese model to be signed as the face of cosmetics giant Estee Lauder. There is a substantial rise in the dominance of east Asia in fashion and Wen is just the tip of the iceberg. Earlier this year fellow Chinese model Shu Pei graced billboards across the world for Maybelline lip colour, while up and coming model Sui He became the first Asian model ever to open for a Ralph Lauren fashion show. Meanwhile in the world of men’s fashion, TaiwaneseCanadian model Godfrey Gao has become the first east Asian to feature in a Louis Vuitton men’s advertising campaign and has been labelled the ‘World’s First Asian Male Supermodel’ by The Guardian.
can, in part, be attributed to the current economic climate. We all know the Western world is experiencing serious turmoil in terms of the economy. The story in the East however, is strikingly different; there are around 875,000 multimillionaires and 55,000 billionaires in China alone. Ralph Lauren
Lifestyle
Editor: Francesca Clayton fashion@ epigram.org.uk
And it’s not just the fashion world’s choice of models that is reflecting the industry’s current fascination with the Orient - obi belts were featured everywhere from Gucci to Louis Vuitton in the Spring/Summer 2011 collections, while Armani Privé’s memorable A/W 2011 Couture had a clear Japanese influence and Georgio Armani’s Resort 2012 collection channelled Imperial China. The Western fashion industry’s intensifying love affair with east Asia
As it continues to become a giant in the economy, the Chinese super-rich are clearly buying more and more designer items. The Independent reported that Burberry’s Asia-Pacific unit had the biggest increase in revenue last year, growing by a massive 67%. Similarly, consultancy firm Bain & Co recently reported that China would this year become the world’s second largest luxury-goods consumer, so it comes as no surprise that fashion houses are
Wish List
increasingly targeting this market. And it’s not just the economy that is fuelling this new-found interest. Tokyo Fashion Week is reaping the benefits of the increased desire for more innovative and extreme garments, lead by the likes of Lady Gaga and the late Alexander McQueen, and as a result Japan’s own signature look is fast making TFW as prestigious as the shows of Milan and Paris. The disaster in Japan this year has also lead to fashion designers, and even Anna Wintour, showing a compassionate interest. Wintour visited Japan for the first time in 20 years to celebrate Tokyo’s ‘Fashion Night Out’ with several other prestigious fashion designers in order to support the Japan’s fashion and retail industry. It is now the biggest Fashion Night Out to date.
Never one to miss out on a rising trend, last year US Vogue featured eight east Asian models (Chinese, Korean and Japanese) in an ‘Asia Major’ shoot and Givenchy’s Spring Haute Couture 2011 fashion show featured exclusively east Asian models.
Deputy: Lizzy Bullock deputyfashion@ epigram.org.uk
The significant presence of east Asia in fashion has not been short of its criticisms. Questions have been raised about grouping a lot of Chinese models together (á la Givenchy and Vogue US) and whether this makes the increasing prevalence of Asian models seem like a passing fad (the same criticisms geared at Vogue Italia’s infamous ‘Black Issue’). Even the prestigious British Vogue, who published an article on east Asian models earlier this year, came under fire when they inappropriately misidentified Lui Wen as another Chinese model Du Juan. Whether the fashion industry’s love affair with Asia proves to be enduring remains to be seen, but as the current global economy makes the world smaller and smaller, preconceptions of beauty seem to be finally, and hopefully, lastingly, diversifying. Ronke Fashade
Shoes, Topshop, £65
Coat, Topshop, £100
Mittens, H&M, £7.99
Sequins and spice and all things nice
S
equins, glamour, sportswear and more sequins. The mantra behind the international fashion brand Ashish gives a clear insight into the aesthetic that is making waves across the fashion world. Ashish first hit the catwalk in 2004 at London Fashion Week and the fashion world was instantly bombarded with tie-dye tights, barbaric prints and Ashish’s signature look, sequins. The man behind these clothes is Ashish Gupta. Born in Delhi and raised in Toronto, Gupta graduated from London’s famed Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and gained his big break in 2001 when a buyer from Browns spotted his work and thrust him into the spotlight. Ashish injects youth and vibrancy into his clothes by fusing his Indian heritage with breath-taking craftsmanship and American pop
culture- giving rise to some of the most wonderfully eccentric and unique collections on the runway. Taking the bright colours that form a vital part of Indian fashion and combining them with intricate embroidery completed by hand, his ‘more-is-more’ design philosophy means that each piece feels almost like couture.
‘Sequins, glamour and more sequins.’ He draws inspiration from Bollywood theatrical ensembles and gives them a Western twist by modernising the cut and prints. Each Ashish collection has been based on a playful theme such as Native Americans, junk food and ‘summer vacations’ and has featured signature looks like the playing card
dresses of S/S 2009, the ‘Map of Italy’ dresses in S/S 2010, and the McDonalds cowboy boots of S/S 2011. And Ashish’s distinctive designs have not gone unnoticed. Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Madonna are all fans of his designs. And Sarah Jessica Parker even wore a one of his Minnie Mouse creations in Sex and the City. His four consecutive collaborations with Topshop have repeatedly sold out and he has swept up the ‘New Generation’ award not once but three times. With designers such as Balmain, Giles and Christian Dior copying Ashish’s excessive use of sequins, it has become evident that he is a force to be reckoned with. Combining colour, attitude, and humour, Ashish is leading the campaign to bring the fun back into fashion. Lizi Woolgar
Maxi Skirt, Miss Selfridge, £37
Rucksack, ASOS, £45
21. 11. 2011
Style Jury
Get the look: City Style London
Paris
Channel your inner It Girl (think Olivia Palermo and Serena Van Der Woodsen) with sleek, ladylike separates. A pussybow blouse adds a masculine touch and don’t be afraid to add bright pops of colour for that glossy Upper East Side style. Perfect for shopping on 5th Avenue followed by lunch in Central Park… or Cabot Circus and the Downs!
Go for distressed denim and band tees for edgy British cool à la Alexa Chung. Mix it up by adding preppy pieces like loafers and satchels, but bring them up-to-date in bright Union Jack colours or embellished with sequins. Embrace our amazing British high street, but also make the most of charity shops for one-of-a-kind vintage finds.
Go for simple, chic pieces in neutral and monochrome for that effortless Parisian je ne sais quoi. Take a twist on the traditional navy Breton stripes by sticking to black and white and keep accessories minimal- in the words of one of the most stylish French ladies of all time, Coco Chanel, ‘When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on’.
Shirt, River Island, £25. Jacket, River Island, £40. Clutch, ASOS, £12.
Vest, Miss Selfridge, £24. Shorts, Topshop, £34. Satchel, Urban Outfitters, £68.
Coat, Dorothy Perkins, £75. Top, H&M, £14.99. Loafers, Office, £58.
Ashish
New York
W
ould you wear this patriotic ensemble by Ashish? We asked Bristol students to tell us what they thought of Union Jack vests, tartan shorts and spiderwebbed knees. ‘It’s got that Cool Britannia thing going on and I like the mannish styling.’ Josephine, Politics, third year ‘All of the clothes are lovely although worn together they look a bit odd’ Emily, Drama, third year ‘It’s a weird mix of the British flag with a bit of Scottish and Halloween. Nothing goes’ Mariah, Politics, third year ‘I like the clashing prints but I think it’s too much all together to be wearable in real life.’ Lizzy, English, third year ‘Needs darning’ Jack, Drama, first year
Rachel Hosie
From Russia with love W
hether in anticipation of another white winter or in homage to the nationality of more than a few models, A/W 2011 has seen the fashion world display a lingering preoccupation with the great land of Russia. This eastern European influence was perhaps most apparent in the prevalence of fur - both faux and real - on the A/W catwalks, as taken to extremes by Giles Deacon where constricting corseted bodices battled against lush, long-haired fur skirts.
ASOS is offering a range of different
Elsewhere, Topshop has taken the lead from Prada and created a range of faux-fur stoles, collars and hats in delicious hues stolen straight from a Tsarina’s jewellery box. Teal, emerald, rust and dove grey all look seductively snug, whilst the sparkling colours add a decidedly modern pastiche to these traditional items. Zara continue this take on the trend with some leather and sheepskin gloves in a gorgeous grape or dark, gothic blue. It is worth noting that this isn’t an entirely new influence in fashion. Chanel’s most adventurous foray into the lands of snow and ice came courtesy of their already legendary A/W 2010 collection which transformed Paris’ Grand Palais into the insides of a snow globe, complete with authentic Scandinavian iceberg. All the fur used by Lagerfeld was fake and found its
way into skirts, jackets, boots and - maybe over-enthusiastically - trousers. Whilst it is possible to marry your fur items with sophisticated tea dresses, pearls, silks and all the other hallmarks of a St. Petersburg pre-war socialite, the crux of this style is to look more towards the folk or peasant traditions of Russia. Couple fur with chunky knits in abstract or kitsch patterns and plenty of rich primary colours like the paintwork on a Russian doll. Vogue also captured this aesthetic in their recent Mongolian photo shoot. Aside from the photo in which the model is clothed in more fur than the yak she is sitting upon (creating a stream of comments on the internet) Tim Walker’s photos show clothes saturated in colour which appear both delicately beautiful and sensibly solid. The combination of Russia-into-Asia which Mongolia lends to the photographs is an inspiring place to approach this trend from. Rosemary Wagg
Giles Deacon
If, however, your budget doesn’t stretch to that of an oil-oligarch’s wife, the high street is cloaked in a dense collection of faux-fur items. This begins with the copious amount of Russian style hats on offer. These come in two distinct styles- the more masculine Ushanka, or ‘trapper’ hat with over-sized ear flaps or the pretty Zhivagoesque dome, often described as a ‘Cossack hat’.
styles, ranging from a neatly clipped classic black to the slightly terrifying Bunny Ear Ushanka which is a little more Donnie Darko than Jessica Rabbit.
Editor: Francesca Clayton fashion@ epigram.org.uk
Lifestyle
La vie bohème I
f you were a fan of the bohemian look this summer, carry it through into the colder months by referencing the folklore trend. Folk has a sense of storytelling, travel and witchcraft. Channel this spirit with folkloric patterns, paisley prints and heavy embellishment. For inspiration, look to Gucci model Abbey Lee’s offduty style, Hannah MacGibbon’s final collection for Chloé, and the character of Penny Lane in Almost Famous.
Autumnal colours, such as oxblood
lorence, Italy: a girl couldn’t ask for a more enigmatic city in which to spend a year abroad but I never dreamed that I would end up stumbling upon a place with such a diverse approach to fashion. You think Italy and you immediately think of Milan Fashion Week, Vogue Italia, and some of the world’s most talented designers. At first glance, you’d assume that pottering around vintage shops and rummaging through market stalls would be rendered obsolete by the endless array of high-end boutiques, but I was thankful to discover that there really is something for everyone, whatever their budget or taste. I can’t begin to wax lyrical on Florentine fashion without mentioning some of the city’s impressive fashion credentials. For starters, the international fashion giant that is Gucci was founded there in 1921. The label enjoyed enormous success very quickly and in later years was frequently worn by icons such as Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana. Similarly, Salvatore Ferragamo established his company in Florence in 1927, and in 1938 bought the Palazzo Spini Feroni, where he opened the first Ferragamo shoe shop. His company did equally well, with Ferragamo even designing the iconic ballet pump for Audrey Hepburn.
Sadly, despite the attraction of these luxury brands, my student budget didn’t allow much wiggle room so I found another option in some of the weekly markets and many established vintage stores throughout the city. I discovered that you often come across unique designer items that would be hard to find anywhere else. A friend chanced upon a vintage red Valentino bag which she snapped up for 40 Euros.
Florentine fashion if I didn’t mention the annual Vintage Selection - a vintage clothes show that takes place in January in the Stazione Leopolda warehouse. This used to be a train station, so there’s no shortage of space for the hundreds of stores that bring their best items from all over Tuscany. It isn’t for the faint-hearted but for the sheer spectacle and the quality of the garments it is definitely worth a trip. Clearly, I’m a big fan of Florence. The vast array of markets and vintage shops is never-ending, and not being able to rely on the high street has not only taught me to bargain hunt better, but that the least obvious places are often where you will find that special something.
The best part of the vintage shopping experience was often the brilliantly eccentric shop owners and one woman, who owns a shop on Via Maggio, stands out in particular. I visited this shop many times, both for the clothes and for the joy of attempting to speak fragmented Italian to a woman wearing orange plastic glasses. I wouldn’t be properly representing
For a less literal interpretation, look to Parisian designers Isabel Marant and Zadig & Voltaire, who offer a modern take on suede trousers, printed knitwear and fringe boots. On the high street, Topshop’s ‘opulent yet homespun’ Bavaria collection draws inspiration from folk art and features shearling coats, devore shorts and peasant skirts. .Accessorise with a wide-brimmed seventies hat and add gypsy flair with gold cuffs piled high around wrists.
Clockwise from bottom left: Fringed bag, River Island, £80. Faux fur gilet, River Island, £30. Shorts, Topshop, £40. Maxi dress, Monsoon, £85. Hat, Reiss, £49. Dress, Topshop, £50. Shira Treiman
Street Style
Postcards from Italy
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and burgundy, evoke the richness and opulence associated with the trend.
Gucci
Travel
Experiment with hem length; midi and maxi styles achieve a folksy silhouette whist flippy mini-skirts add charm. More daring readers could embrace the look with flared lace trousers.
Gucci
Fashion
What’s On
Embroidery and lashings of fringing are the details to note. A mishmash of textures is essential so look for velvet and macramé and invest in a fur coat or gilet for winter. Fur novices could try a fur collar or capelet.
Gucci
Money
Deputy: Lizzy Bullock deputyfashion@ epigram.org.uk
And Italy has no shortage of beautiful people. Although there is a questionable liking amongst the young for too much animal print and large amounts of diamante, the most inspiring people are definitely the older generation of women, as they know how to dress in a way that is both interesting and timeless, combining impeccable shoes with bold prints and bright colours. Florence is a city with a split personality in terms of fashion. Whether you prefer haggling at the market or browsing in Miu Miu, you’re sure to find something to suit everyone. Ellie Vincent
Second year Drama student Jenny brings a little bit of Parisian chic to Pam Pam in her red and blue, feminine ensemble. Dress and belt, Topshop. Boots, House of Eve Vintage. Headband and bag, Charity Shops.
21. 11. 2011
Beauty Get the look For the base we recommend mineral makeup as it delivers flawless coverage without the ‘caked look’ and has the added benefit of being kind to your skin.
SPF15 foundation, BareMinerals, £23. For the lips, dare to try dark purples and plums. We used strong lip colours on both our models as this look suits all complexions. We like Mac’s Pro Longwear Lipcreme in ‘Faithfully Yours’.
Photography: Lydia Greenaway Styling: Francesca Clayton and Lizzy Bullock Hair & Make up: Lily Dodwell-Hill and Ali Crossland Models: Rosalind Russell and Dani Tam
Pro Longwear Lipcolour, MAC, £15.50. Accentuate your eyes with classic autumn/winter colours such as gold’s and shimmering whites. Apply with a good quality eye shadow brush and, using a small amount, take it up as far as the brow. We recommend Barry M’s ‘Dazzledust’.
Dazzle Dust, Barry M, £4.59.
Window to the world We take a look at Autumn beauty trends.
Those not quite brave enough for purple lipstick could try our second look of the shoot. We used a dab of concealer on the lips with a touch of Vaseline to create an icy glow.
Boi-ing Concealer, Benefit, £19
Ali Crossland and Lily Dodwell-Hill
Editor: Verity Stockdale travel@epigram .org.uk
Lifestyle
Burqua ban causes divide in Paris Since the introduction of the French burqua ban in April a number of women have continued to wear the niqab and have been met with hostility, even violence. As the country begins to hand out the first fines and cases go to court, has the response to the ban exposed a deeper issue within French society, an underlying hostility towards its Muslim population?
Money
Travel
Flickr: soibh.
Fashion
What’s On
In April, France became the first country in Europe to introduce a law banning face coverings in public. Muslim women wearing full-face veils, the burqua, are now prohibited from carrying out any public activity, such as collecting children from school. Advocates of the ban claim to be protecting the rights of these women, arguing that the niqab is a tool of subjugation. Furthermore, such conspicuous symbols of religion have no place in France’s secular society, where the concept of separating church and state is fundamental to the Republic. President Nicolas
Sarkozy in 2009 once stated that such veils were not welcome’ in France. While it is up for discussion whether Islam does prescribe the wearing of the burqua ban or not, in many instances it is seen as a patriarchal, oppressive way to deny women of their rights. Indeed, wearing a full-face veil for religious reasons appears to be inconsistent with France’s secular tradition. Yet what of France’s other constitutional tradition, ‘liberté, egalité, fraternité’? For all those women that are forced to wear the burqua, there are also those who have chosen to do so of their own free will. To ban the veil outright is surely at odds with the French belief in freedom of religion. Perhaps this is why, since its introduction, only nine incidents of women being stopped by the police within Paris have been reported. In each case, judges have not handed out fines. Lawyers have argued that punishments are not carried out because the burqua ban contravenes European Human Rights law on personal liberties. Yet the reluctance of courts has not stopped people from taking the law into their own hands. In the six months since the law came into effect, reports suggest an alarming increase in discrimination and violence against women in veils. Instances of physical attacks in the street, of shop and restaurant owners
refusing to serve a woman in niqab, are not uncommon. The readiness of some members of the public to enforce the burqua ban could be the result of the ingrained nature of secularism in France. Religion is a private affair in France, and perhaps anti-Muslim discrimination has increased because their forms of worship are so ‘obvious’ and thus contrary to the French ideal. Yet walking through the streets of Paris, signs of other religions are prominent, but unquestioned. In the Marais, Orthodox Jews wear kippahs and specific clothing in line with their religion. Near the numerous Catholic churches dotted around the city, nuns cover their head and body with the habit. For the 850th anniversary of the building of the Notre Dame in 2012, the French government has promised millions of Euros to help restore the cathedral. Given the confusion and apathy the burqua ban has already caused, the real motives behind its introduction have been brought into focus. Far from liberating women, it has created a climate of divisiveness and increased anti-Islamic sentiment, in a country with an already complicated and deteriorating relationship with its Muslim community. Jahan Foster
The Big Apple vs The Big Bucket New York is like a pair of Raybans: pretty flash, fairly expensive, but oh-so-cool. Bangkok is the counterfeit ‘Rainbans’: big city, flashing lights and a strong stench of fake, where you can get a meal for 80p, not $18. This clash sums up my summer. It all began in New York, where I was on an all-expenses-paid internship with an international law firm in the big city across the pond. The very next week I was beginning a trip around Thailand – lapping up the neon paint at the famous full-moon party, climbing over 1000 steps to reach a temple on the top of a mountain and trying to deal with manual-flushing toilets and no hot water for a month. The tone of my time in NYC was very much set by the chauffer-driven limo from the airport to the chic hotel, which was sitting just off central park. I was working on the 21st floor of a building right near the Rockefeller centre, having endless supplies of Starbucks brought to my desk every day. Life as a working person in New York is very fast-paced. You have to know exactly what ten ingredients you want in your salad before you get to the Deli. This hard work paid off, however, as I spent a week in the life of Carrie
Bradshaw, with my free pass to the biggest gym on the planet – nowhere else have I got lost looking for a treadmill – privilege cards to the top tourist attractions and I even got taken to see Cirque De Soleil in the heart of the city.
“I did think that a bar full of hippies reciting dramatic poems to the beat of drums had changed my life. It hadn’t.” The next week I headed straight to Thailand, backpack in toe. However, this time my ride from the airport was in a bright pink taxi arguing with an agitated Thai driver over a £5 fare and guzzling water to stave off the sweltering heat. I was in New York no longer. We started in Bangkok - a crazy city full of lady-boys and ping-pong shows (neither of which I fully understand),
and Koh Phangan - an island full of pumped-up Europeans spending all day in the mushroom bar and all night partying on a beach covered in neon paint. Slightly different from work drinks at Cirque de Soleil to say the least, but amazing nonetheless. We spent a fair amount of our trip in Railay, the most beautiful and serene part of the country, spotting turtles in kayaks, watching fire shows by night and chatting to the Thai Rastafarians. Watching every sunrise and sunset from the sea for a week was unforgettable, and New York seemed far more than a few small days beforehand. Our trip ended in the north where we went trekking through the jungle, took an elephant ride and did a traditional cooking course. Oh, and spent three nights in a Thai hospital due to one of our travelling friends getting stung by some exotic creature. One week I’m pretending to be a highflying lawyer in the Big Apple and the next, I’m on my gap yah again. After a few too many buckets in Thailand, I did think that a bar full of hippies reciting dramatic poems to the beat of drums had changed my life. It hadn’t. Anyhow, I have come back with a job in law and a wristband saying ‘Sexy Lady-boy’, and so the clash continues… Jess Goodwin
21. 11. 2011 ‘With each passing day, I draw closer to the conclusion that the way of life here is no less ‘correct’ than ours; just different’
The world’s...
Most shocking rites of passage
In order to become a man in the eyes of the Amazonian Satere Mawé tribe, boys from the tender age of twelve have to wear ceremonial gloves filled with stinging bullet ants. The suckers each have a sting 30 times more painful than a wasp, and to top it all off they have to wear these gloves on around 20 separate occasions. Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, young boys of the Hamar people are jumping over rows of cows in attempt to gain their manly status. At an age where most boys should be worried about acne, puberty and video games, these boys worry about actually failing puberty. Yes – failing. With only one chance to jump over the cows, a fall would mean no manhood, no wife and definitely no respect. If they do manage it, however,
not only are they jumping onto their own testosterone-coated pedestal, but the tribeswomen willingly offer themselves to them for a ceremonial beating as proof of devotion to the newly crowned adult. Apparently the feminist movement hasn’t quite reached Ethiopia.
“Apparently the feminist movement hasn’t quite reached Ethiopia.” Whilst many don’t object to occasional recreational drug use, this next one might even be a little too extreme for the psychedelic 70’s crowd. To become an adult in the Algonquin Indian tribe of Quebec, boys are isolated in a cage and force-fed a hallucinogen named wysoccan which contains the deadly intoxicant datura, which is thought to be 100 times more powerful than LSD. The boys enter a totally deranged state of mind for 20 days while experiencing hypothermia, amnesia and heart
Photo of the fortnight
palpitations. The idea is the drug will purge their minds of any childhood memories, thus allowing them to transition into adulthood. However, the drug can also erase memories of family, speech or even self-identity. If the boys ever so much as hint towards a childhood memory, they are put through the ordeal again. Let’s just say that if Pink Floyd were on wysoccan, The Dark Side Of The Moon would be a hell of a lot darker. Lastly, but most definitely not least (and this really isn’t one for the faint hearted) - crocodile scarring. Along the Sepik river of Papua New Guinea, young boys endure the long, excruciating ordeal of being cut hundreds of times down their chest, back and buttocks to create an intricate crocodile scale pattern. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the boys have to put up with weeks of taunting and humiliation in order to strengthen them psychologically before and during the ritual. According to the tradition, the scars symbolise crocodile teeth which have swallowed the adolescents and morphed them into ‘crocodile men’. So, how manly are you now? Cesca Boughton
Emily Fiennes: Paris, France
Champs Elysées I took this photo on a weekend trip to Paris where I would escape to visit friends when I was living in the small French town of Poitiers. I far from intended the photo to turn out like this, as the whole reel of film got displaced meaning that all of the images ended up superimposed over one another. While most were a mess, I actually like the way that this photo turned out. You can see tourists milling about on the Champs Elysées in the foreground, and in the background Boulevard Haussmann leads down to a faint Eiffel Tower - superimposed roughly where the Arc de Triomphe should be. There is also a third layer of images, which are the green cannons outside Les Invalides. Emily Fiennes
Having lived in the UK all my life, it never occurred to me before starting an Erasmus placement in southern Spain that in the UK we were anything but normal for being organised. For example, it doesn’t strike me as odd that Bristol’s provisional 2012-13 term dates have already been published, that where buses stop there are signs that actually read ‘bus stop’ or that when you rent a property the contract is word-processed. A few weeks of living in a mediterranean country, however, and British society seems ruthlessly efficient. Last week I tried to return a fan to a supermarket - a simple enough task. As it was broken when I bought it days before and as I had the receipt, I thought that just taking it to the customer service desk and explaining the issue would lead to a swift return of my money. Needless to say, it was not that easy. After being referred to no fewer than six people stationed at various desks scattered around the supermarket, I was accidentally refunded double the amount that I should have been. When I mentioned this to my Italian friend, she just laughed and said that I needed to learn to be patient, adding that the sun and delicious tomatoes make people lazy. I could give many more examples of inefficiency I have come across - I missed my first four days of lectures because the international office scheduled language courses and orientation sessions on those days, I had lengthy debates trying to prove I was a student after the university failed to issue me with a student card until two weeks into term, and I waited outside a flat that I was due to be shown around for an hour whilst the landlord took an extended siesta. However, I can feel my bewilderment and even anger at this chaos gradually turning to acceptance. My expectations are changing from those that I have when in Britain. After all, so what if it takes an hour to buy a bus pass? Just sit in the sun and chill out for a while. When in Rome, after all... I suppose this is what the Erasmus scheme is all about: it allows Europeans to unite where there is common ground and to understand, and even embrace, the differences between various countries. In many ways, settling into Spain is not so difficult because there is so much common ground. For example, the ‘eduroam’ network still works here so I could start using the university’s internet as soon as I arrived. UK mobiles work, and there isn’t much difference in the range of shops and amenities (the launch of Amazon.es springing to mind). However, they don’t drink much tea here, there isn’t a bullring in Bristol and shops in the UK don’t close for a four hour siesta every day. These differences can get on your nerves at times, but with each passing day, I draw closer to the conclusion that the way of life here is no less ‘correct’ than ours; just different. As my lecturer said the other day, ‘This isn’t Germany. If you wanted German efficiency, why didn’t you go there?’
Jacob Unna Foreign Correspondent - Spain Flickr: gaborbasch
What marks your transition to adulthood? Whether it be circumcision or having a Quinseañera, rites of passage are key moments in paving our roads to becoming full-fledged, responsibility-ridden, pay-for-the-drinks adults. We’re all familiar with the more Westernized rituals like graduating high school, but what about else where? All you so-called ‘men’ out there might want to reevaluate your self-assigned macho rating based on this first one.
Fashion
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Lifestyle
Editor: Alex Denne treasurer@ epigram.org.uk
What you want
Make do and Mend We students are known for our creativity, so I’m sure the concept of mixing and matching is no stranger to anyone, we need our clothes to last longer, and if, like me, the thought of having to pay the price of about fifteen jagerbombs to get a seam fixed, or a tear repaired, or a zip put in makes you feel a little sick, then here are some top tips to keep your clothes in good shape. The ‘Make Do & Mend’ theory goes back to the housewife days of the Second World War, so the idea itself is not only cheap, but you can pass it off as vintage too! Every student should own a basic sewing kit. This is in case of emergencies such as the dreaded tear in the crotch of your jeans, or a strap snapping during Lounge pre-drinks, it happens to the best of us. The best place to buy a basic sewing kit is at Wilkinsons on Queen’s Road for £5 and has the absolute necessities for any repair job. Keep hold of the spare buttons you get when you buy a new coat/skirt/cardigan. Put them all in a special little tin, and you’ll have a great collection for any customising or fixing that you need. Buttons look great on blazer lapels to add a bit of artistic flare, but obviously will also come in handy if you lose one or two off your favourite shirt/blouse. Art shops are great for picking up some fancy ones, but antique shops often do old military style ones for quite cheap. Vintage shops may be expensive, but always look out for the off-cuts. If you’re pining over an out-ofprice-range-but-droolingly-beautiful dress, don’t get too down. Most vintage shops will have a suitcase or basket full of off-cuts, the leftover material from the customised dresses made in-store. You can buy these really cheaply for customising clothes, but they are also brilliant for patching up tears in the knee of your jeans.
Although it’s a common belief that once there’s a tear in a man’s jeans they are useless, patches of material can solve most damage, or you can try a simple crossstitch over the tear. Turning them inside out and then fixing it will also make the stitching practically invisible on the outside. The only problem with these off-cuts is that they are quite tricky to find; they aren’t the sort of thing that you can easily buy online, the trick is to keep your eyes peeled for them in independent shops. You can also buy patches and squares of material at a variety of art and craft shops around Bristol. Girls: try and buy the lace cut offs, and, using very small stitches, sew it onto the collar of a black dress, adding a lovely vintage twist to a plain outfit. Charity shops: Even if it looks like a dowdy old skirt, all it needs is a pair of scissors, a new hemline, and it’s a whole new outfit. Loose blouses can be cut into crop tops, old jeans can become hot pants in a matter of minutes, and all on a budget of £10 or less. The best bit? When somebody asks you where you got it from, you’ll have that smug knowledge that nobody else can go and buy your creation! Broken jewellery: It’s sad, but perhaps a blessing in disguise for your boring blazer. Don’t be too hasty in discarding your snapped pearl bracelet, or throwing away the beads from something that cost £2 in Primark. Like buttons, they can jazz up any jacket, collar or cuff; pearls add a bit of elegance, whereas beads are oh so boho. Come on ladies, everybody has to do their bit for recycling... At the end of the day, if women in 1941 could do it, so can we. Get creative, and don’t despair if there’s a tear. Just remember the old war time saying, ‘Make Do and Mend...’
Travel
Helen Antrobus
Nights out on a shoestring
Money is a tool. I try to live my life doing the things I truly want to do when I want to do them, regardless of money, but this requires a lot of money-related thoughts and plans which is all very ironic and dull. Even if you win the lottery, your money won’t last long unless you know how to handle it properly. It is possible to achieve the art of thriftiness without making any big sacrifices. A £40 budget for the week is useless if you go out on Monday and Wednesday and then you find the best Pikachu onesie for £20 that all the cool kids will be jealous of. Do you simply not eat or go out the rest of the week? You may look the bee’s knees but if you’re confined to your flat eating porridge in your new and wonderful onesie then there was no point buying it in the first place… bugger. There’s always the option of phoning mummy or daddy and explaining that you are very cold in your new house and that you need a nice warm onesie to keep you snug at night. In most cases this is a very good plan, but in case you’ve used that already for a tiger onesie (idiots, there are far too many of you!) or your parents simply don’t care, then you have a problem. The best way to keep track of everything you spend is using excel, which I did last year. If you keep your receipts and make a record of everything that you’ve spent your money on each week, then you can work out pretty quickly where can make sacrifices in order to allow you to do other things. As well as giving you some interesting statistics on where the hell all your money’s gone, you’re also prepared for things such as filing your tax returns and other mundane adult tasks. Last year I spent £211in freshers week. I went prepared and even though I only allowed myself £5 for food and £20 for alcohol, I still spent £140 on drinks in bars, even though pre-drinks were standardly excessive. Many have a similar story but the issue is that I really wanted to go skiing so I had to either go out less or drink less when out. I did that and my total spend for the year on drinks whilst out was only £260. This may sound like a lot but it’s seriously not.
As students we are all trying to achieve the best mileage for our Great British Pound possible, and amidst the regular bank card splurges that represent a Monday night in Bunker, a nightlife guide has never been so important. We find ourselves on a Wednesday trapped between the social pressure to go out and the shudders that are so synonymous with a visit to the online banking page. Fear not however; as an Epigram reader you have found salvation. A successfully thrifty night out must inevitably start in the home, and at this stage it is crucial to prepare wisely. Sainsbury’s basics gin will inevitably slip down easily with the help of Sainsbury’s basics double strength squash, mixed appropriately with water. This must be strictly followed to keep the pockets full. Having reached a suitable level of merriness it is necessary to find yourself a group in similar financial turmoil to yourself, as you will now be heading to mbargo. Having completed the walk from your place of residence you will stroll through the door with your hands kept defiantly away from your wallet and proceed to bust the best of your moves, carefully avoiding any bodily fluids left on the walls by the recently departed rugby social.
Money
There are a million big questions for one to mull over in life, from where to grab another coffee to where to go on your next holiday, what job to go for or what flat to live in, what clothes to wear and whether to get up in the morning… I digress.
As your clarity of vision returns from the darkness of Sainsbury’s basics supplies, you will see why you are in mbargo. A pint of mbargo beer for £1.50, vodka mixers for £1.50 and a bottle of wine for £6.90 will leave the account relatively dent free and ensure a good night for all. Due to mbargo’s deals, it can and will serve as your one, brilliantly cheap destination for the night, which means disregarding the myth that it serves as only a mere warm up to a night out at Lounge/Bunker. Having finished your thrifty merry making, it’s imperative that you now pay for a taxi which means avoiding any kebab temptations found along a walk home. Seeing as you’ve carefully purchased an abundance of Sainsbury’s basics 50p pizzas, and 47p Sainsbury’s basics mozzarella balls, any night time hunger will be amply satiated upon return. Whatever way your curiosity takes you, at least you can sleep safely in the knowledge that however deep in the red you, are you can always paint the town a similar shade. Tim Smith
Starting a business is a good way to get rich apparently, so if you’re tempted into working for yourself then keeping track of your money is essential. As a business owner (pedalpowertransport.co.uk) I know that I would’ve failed if I hadn’t kept track of everything and budgeted correctly. If you do happen to have parents that are in a position to deal with all your financial problems then that’s great, but if that’s the case then why are you still reading this? Are you planning on being dependent on your parents for your whole life? Everyone should learn to be financially independent. Why wait until after you graduate? So essentially, what I’m trying to say is that you really could have everything you want but you just need to think about it, plan in advance, and work out what you truly want. Sam Harris