FLEX Newspaper 21 by FLEX NEWSPAPER

As this is the last FLEX for this academic year, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to take a trip down memory lane and have a look at the best articles of the last year.

ThE bEST OF 2010/ 2011

iSSuE 21 JuNE 6th

Slow starter, but continues to provide entertainment and comedy.

ThE ApprENTiCE

TrAvEL

Dublin and the Aran Islands: the low-down on what the great green isle has to offer.

FALmOuTh FAShiON ShOW

Our future fashion desiners showcased their work. Graduate Fashion Design and Performance Sportswear Show.

Do you enjoy taking photographs of the natural world you want to share? Send them in to FLEX Science and they might get featured!

WiLd LiFE phOTOgrAphy

OLympiC TOrCh ShiNES ON COrNWALL:

Dublin and the Aran Islands: the low-down on what the great green isle has to offer.

rAgE QuiT New games column comes from our very own Alex Raffle. Check it out!

NEWS

ello! Would you believe but this is FLEX’s Twenty-First issue and our last issue of the year! All in all we have produced 12 issues since September, and in the space of 30 weeks of term this means FLEX has come out for reading every 2.5 weeks! I would like to congratulate all the team past and present for the hard work they have all put in, because without the commitment, determination and quality of work, FLEX wouldn’t be as great as it is. For me, I would like to send special thanks to Omari McCarthy (Design Manager), Anna-Casey (Chief Editor News/Reviews), Paul Tucker (Chief Editor Features / Sport), Seren Adams (Chief Editor Arts/Lifestyle) and Michael Hawkes (Science Editor). Without these people involved FLEX would not be as great as it is. I don’t want to forget the team of Editors, Journalists, Designers, PR, Proofing and everybody else who make FLEX be so special because without these FLEX would not be able to function as great as it currently does. Yes we come across our hardships, but the fact we have battled through these and not given up shows FLEX as being able to survive as an independent newspaper set-up amidst a large recession. Ultimately FLEX is a team effort, and the efforts of FLEX pulling together make FLEX strong and fantastic. FLEX has recently been entered into the NUS Awards 2011, and I would love to receive an award to see the work of everyone involved recognised. As FLEX is the fourth Independent Student

o, this is our last edition for the academic year! It’s been a great year for FLEX, and all thanks to those who have contributed. So, I would like to thank everyone who gets involved, from photographers to the MD himself. This paper is for you, by you; and by God, it’s great! If you like what you see here, and want to get involved, email me at ag335@ex.ac.uk for more information. Super-injunctions are the topic of the day, and Sam Moore looks a little more into this. As a Law student, injunctions are the first base of most cases. Stop people talking about it, publishing it, tweeting it, blogging it... you get the idea. I think they served a legitimate goal originally, protection people from publication that would compromise their reputation, but with the increase in mobile technology and with the Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords) allowing tweeting during sessions, is it any surprise that their numbers have increased, but their utility hasn’t? In this

isclaimer: The opinions expressed in FLEX are not necessarily those of FLEX Editors or the team, nor FXU Students Union. Every care is taken to ensure information is correct in each issue, but when it is incorrect, FLEX cannot accept any liability for the incorrect information. The publisher cannot accept any liability for loss or damage of artwork submitted.

Newspaper in the UK after Cambridge, Oxford and UCL this makes the work of FLEX even more special. The hardships FLEX has been set up against and succeeded, the developments of FLEX, and ultimately how FLEX has adapted and is continuously morphing to shape the demands of students is more than impressive. FLEX is a great asset to the student body for Falmouth and Exeter students, and things will get much better in the future for everyone. As my final Editorial for the year I would like to leave off by saying I wish you all a merry summer time! For next year if you want to get some work experience with FLEX, simply get in touch with the Chief Editor / Section Editor you wish to write for and they’ll get back to you soon! It has been a great and challenging year as Managing Director of FLEX Newspaper, and I trust that the future of FLEX will continue the promise, dedication and diversity that FLEX has shown this year. I’m looking forward to 2011/2012, and can’t wait to see FLEX in everyone’s hands once again next year! Enjoy FLEX’s Twenty-First and final issue of 2010/2011! Managing director

Ian Pogonowski,

editor’s opinion, super-injunctions have no place in today’s world, and if you’re are going to cheat on your wife publicly enough for the press to get wind of it, then you deserve it! Privacy law in this country is a careful balance of the right to free speech, and the right to privacy; a balance easily upset by a careless footballer! So what have we got for you this time? Film forecast for the summer, all the latest news from around the globe (and a little closer to home), some brilliant Art (check out Caitlin Shearer), and lots more! See you next year, when we’ll be back with a bang! Managing director

Anna Grant-Casey

Apologies to Janice Mitchelson in Issue 19 of FLEX. Janice in fact did not write the FXU Student Council and ALF articles, Rebecca Griffiths did. The content in FLEX is the property of FLEX. If you wish to use any content, please contact the managing director.

FLEX STAFF Managing Director Ian Pogonowski- 07854 087536 imp202@exeter.ac.uk Chief Editors Anna Grant-Casey - ag335@ex.ac.uk Seren Adams - sa118778@falmouth.ac.uk Paul Tucker - pt249@exeter.ac.uk Graphic Designers Omari McCarthy- Design ManagerMorwenna Smith Nadya Pandelieva Guro Lindahl Flåten Lou Robinson Henry Brown Photographers Andrew Guest Eleina May Jack Scott Michael Etherington

News Anna Grant-Casey - ag335@exeter.ac.uk Rebecca Griffiths - rg121808@falmouth.ac.uk Science Michael Hawkes - Science editor - mh317@exeter.ac.uk Lifestyle Hannah Banks Walker - Lifestyle Editor - hb264@exeter.ac.uk Features Mark Burton - Features Editor - mb349@exeter.ac.uk Sarah Stevenson - Features Editor - SS121826@falmouth.ac.uk Art & Design Catherine Durham - cd122522@falmouth.ac.uk Rhiannon Williams -Illustration Editor rhi_u_williams@hotmail.co.uk Jemma Green - Creative Writing Editor jemmaruthgreen@googlemail.com John-Paul Somerville - Fine Art Editor jpsomerville@msn.com Kayung Lai - Photography Editor - kl119169@falmouth.ac.uk

Reviews Dora Eisele - Reviews Editor - de224@exeter.ac.uk Alex Raffle - Reviews Editor - alex.raffle1@gmail.com Emma Thompson -Reviews Editor - et246@exeter.ac.uk Sports Chris Rushton - Sports Editor - cr267@exeter.ac.uk Proofing Team Charis Bryant - Copy Editor Anna Grant-Casey - Proofing Manager Kathryn Hosking Dominique le Grange Anna Kilcooley Emma Chafer Samantha Webster Becca Hadfield Marketing Kaylie Finn - kf228@exeter.ac.uk

news@flexnews.co.uk

news

Innovative New Buildings Continue the Development of Tremough Campus Text Daniel Pullin

Spring is in full flow now as we advance towards the summer months, although flowers ha-ven’t been the only thing in bloom of late. As you may have noticed, several new buildings are currently being constructed, changing the face of our everevolving campus and helping to make Tremough a world-class place in which to study. Three projects are progressing well, including University College Falmouth’s ‘Academy for Innovation and Research’ (AIR), the University of Exeter’s ‘Environment and Sustainability Institute’ (ESI) and both institutions’ ‘The Exchange’, which are all on track for completion in 2012. A large part of the funding comes from the European Union’s Regional Development Fund. The AIR, described as a ‘research and development laboratory’, is being created to encourage links between the

students and staff of University College Falmouth and local Cornish companies. This will utilise UCF’s specialist knowledge of sustainable design and the digital economy in aiding these companies to achieve business success from a regional to international scale. At the heart of the building will be a 3D enabled, interactive room, called ‘The Sandpit’, designed for such purposes as the creation of innovative ideas. According to Professor Anne Carlisle, UCF’s Rector and Chief Executive, this £9 million development will “help to position UCF as one of the top five art institutes in the world”, helping to “provide a worldclass student experience”. This project is due for completion in next spring. Scheduled for autumn 2012, the University of Exeter’s £30 million ESI is based on the de-velopment of progressive research

into the impacts of environmental change and the man-agement of its effects. Similarly to the AIR, the ESI will share close links with businesses across Cornwall, as well as further afield in transferring its research (engaging with such areas as ‘clean technologies’ and ‘natural environment’) into good business practice. Being one of only seven buildings in the UK to hold the ‘outstanding’ status of BREEAM for environmental assessment, I am sure you will agree that this project will contribute positively in widening the reach of our campus. The third project, the jointly-created ‘Exchange’ is taking shape alongside the Learning Re-sources Centre. Designed to foster the spread of ideas between students, this modern space will incorporate a collaborative lecture theatre, learning lab, and eddy spaces for small group learning. This £10 million investment will increase the capacity of the LRC, providing a useful alternative to students wishing to share their ideas away from the current group study areas. This venture will also be ready by autumn 2012. While these projects will be beneficial to both staff and students in the future, the economic benefit to the region during times of budget cutbacks has not been overlooked. Professor Mark Overton, University of Exeter Deputy Vice-Chancellor, has commented that these new projects will “bring a huge benefit to the region” in addition to “marking an exciting new phase in the development of the Tremough Campus”. With proposals to increase the student population here from 4000 to 5000 by 2016, these are certainly exciting times for our pio-neering campus. More information can be found at www.tremoughcampus.com. NB. Minor disruptions are to be expected in the first term of next year; the bus interchange will have relocated to a site adjacent to the Multi-use Games Area car park, and on entering the campus, domestic traffic will turn right at the first roundabout, which will give direct access to campus parking.

Obama takes his European Tour Text Tim Rooke

Last Monday saw Barack Obama make his first stop of what is a busy European Tour, exploring his ancestral roots in Ireland. In the 1830s, Obama’s great-great-great grandfather was born in the small Irish village of Moneygall where the President visited, before making a speech in the Irish capital. From Dublin, Obama landed in London, checking into Buckingham Palace for a two-night stay, whilst holding talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. On Wednesday, he turned his attention to political affairs by attending the G8 summit in Deauville, France. The summit is expected to have centred on Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s arrest and the candidates to fill the vacant post at the International Monetary Fund. Obama’s week will draw to a close in Poland, where he discussed the possibility of the central European nation hosting a U.S missile shield. After the euphoria surrounding Barack Obama’s election, both the USA and Europe have been disappointed by the unsubstantiated promises made by the other. Europe have voiced strong concerns over America’s hesitancy over closing Guantanamo Bay, its failure to focus more of its foreign policy on East Asia, and the lack of development regarding Obama’s climate change initiative. The American disappointment stems from debt-ridden Europe’s failure to commit troops in support

of the movement in Afghanistan because of the cut backs on military spending across the continent. Obama’s approach of stimulation in order to salvage the global economic crisis has also triggered rifts between America and its European allies, with the latter favouring an approach centred on austerity. In recent events, there has been greater consensus between the transatlantic alliances, most notably the response to the conflict in Libya. However, even in the midst of agreement, some will be calling for increased American backing for the Libyan rebels to secure the democratic regime. “These are questions to which there are not good answers”, said Charles Kupchan before the visit, former director for European affairs at the White House National Security Council, “Obama will not come home from Europe having solved any of these problems”. Obama’s European Tour will not bring concrete answers or achievements; the economic crisis and NATO operation are issues too complex to be resolved by a flying visit from the American. It does, however, provide a chance to solidify ties with the allies and secure points with voters back home.

NEWS

One step forward, forty four years back Text Kim Tomlinson

It all seemed to be going so well, not only was President Obama taking Europe by storm, a pint of Guinness at a time, but he appeared to be shining a beacon of hope in the Middle East also. A seemingly monumental step in the Israel-Palestinian peace process came recently in the President’s claim that the basis for progress is to be found in the Israeli borders that existed prior to the 1967 Middle Eastern war. This would put

an end to the illegally occupied territories in Palestine which Israel currently holds and guards through military enforcement, a blatant violation of the UN constitution. Finally, America is taking a stand. Obama has recognised, even as Israel’s greatest ally, that the time has come for change. And the short answer from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? Not now, or soon, or in the foreseeable future. Thanks for the offer though. Perhaps one of the most contentious and damaging conflicts in current affairs to this day, Israeli-Palestinian relations have been heated ever since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which resulted in the partition of Palestine leaving 750,000 Palestinian Arabs homeless. This refugee population has now grown to a shocking 4.7 million, making up one third of the total number of refugees in the world. You would think then, that there should probably be some effort, perhaps even a rather large effort, upon the parties involved to progress with an active Peace process in order to right this almost unbelievable violation of human rights. Unfortunately, it appears that any efforts to bring peace to the ‘twice promised’ land are simply a mirage on a desert horizon, tantalising in its offers but never quite materialising.

President Netanyahu’s comments that ‘Jerusalem can never again be divided’ and his disregard for the suggestions of giving up the occupied territories leave little room for peace negotiations with the state of Palestine. It is clear from both the Palestinian press comments that Netanyahu administered a ‘lethal injection’ to the peace process, and the Israeli editorials who spoke of the Prime Ministers “loss of credibility”, that there are desires for peace on both sides. However, it seems the thirty standing ovations the Israeli Prime Minister received from the US Congress during his speech rung louder in his ears than the cries for harmony from his own people. It is a shame that these members of the Congress did not seem to share Obama’s vision of progress. In terms of a solution to this conflict that has continued for over half a century, it seems there is a long way to go before Obama’s example rings true. President Netanyahu referred to his agreement to make a few ‘painful compromises’ in the effort for peace. I would suggest to the Prime Minister to examine the effects of his decision on the people of the Palestinian Occupied Territories to gain a better definition of these words before using them again.

Operation Telic comes to an end Text Louise Jones On 22nd May, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the end of the UK military’s operations in Iraq. Although July 2009 saw most of the forces leave Basra, 81 Royal Navy trainers remained in Iraq and the last of the personnel are now leaving the Middle Eastern nation. The training of Iraqi personnel has involved training on maritime, small arms, maintenance and oil platform defence courses. The first solo mission of a British-trained Iraqi crew was conducted in the territorial waters around the Al Basra Oil Terminal earlier this year. The UK mission in Iraq, the peak of which involved over 40,000 personnel, began in 2003; the complete withdrawal comes to an end eight years after British forces initially invaded. This being said, Britain will still be involved, both in Nato’s training mission

in Iraq and in training Iraqi Security Forces at UK-based courses such as Sandhurst.Defence Secretary Liam Fox and director of the Iraqi training mission, Tim Chicken, have praised the Navy training mission in Iraq. Brigadier Max Marriner stated: “The Iraqi Navy are ready, so now is the time for the UK to dress back and let them complete the mission they were created for”. However, criticism has come from elsewhere. David Miliband, Labour MP and ex-Foreign Secretary, remarked, “While there have been gains, the list of negatives has been long - longer than the list of gains”. Indeed, the controversial nature of Operation Telic cannot be underestimated. Since the operation began in 2003, more than 170 British soldiers have lost their lives and the war in Iraq deeply divided British society. Large and

powerful anti-war demonstrations took place, and opposition was heightened when weapons of mass destruction – the main justification for the invasion – were not found. In spite of the debates and controversies surrounding the events in Iraq over the last eight years, Britain has wholeheartedly supported the brave men and women who have been involved in Operation Telic. BBC’s Jonathan Marcus said, “There should be no doubting the bravery of British military personnel... or their commitment on the ground”. Although the withdrawal of British troops has been underway for a number of years now, a sense of peace and relief surrounds this last phase that finally brings a long and divisive struggle to an end.

University Surf Club Celebrates With Eu Longboard Champion Text Joe Koa Falmouth and Exeter University Surf Club President Joe Koa caught up with the club’s key sponsors recently to toast not only a successful year for the club, but also for British Longboard Champion, Ben Skinner. Pictured with Steve Skinner, owner of Skinners Brewery, and his son Ben, the trio lifted a glass of Skindog Surf Beer to toast Ben’s recent success in the European Longboard Championships at Estoril, Portugal. Skindog Surfboards came on board as sponsor of the club back in October, and Ben has been on hand to offer the club expert training and advice when it comes to choosing surfboards. Skinners Brewery have been supporting the University Surf Club since its beginnings, and 2010/11 has been a big year for the club. With their first trip abroad, seeing twenty Falmouth students heading to Morocco for two weeks at Easter, and lifting the first place trophy at the BUCS Championships back in October, it has been a busy year for presidents Bryn Christian and Joe Koa. “We really started afresh back in

September when we took over running the club, but are happy with the way its gone this year. Turn out at our events have been good, and our end of year Carnival Classic at Gwithian is shaping up to be a cracking event” stated Bryn Christian. The Gwithian Carnival Classic, the surf club’s final event for this academic year, runs on 13th and 14th June and sees universities from around the country competing in a number of different sports. When asked what was coming up for the next academic year, Bryn Christian was shy to announce full details “We’re keeping it close to our chests, but next year Joe is taking a year out from his studies to pursue his own business venture, so I’ll be bringing in a new team, but we assure you, it’ll be bigger and better than ever, and it’ll definitely involve Skindog Surfboards and a good helping of Skinners ale!” The next academic year is going to be another busy one for student surfers in Falmouth.

news@flexnews.co.uk

OLYMPIC TORCH SHINES LIGHT ON CORNWALL Text Alex Hudson

It has been revealed that Cornwall’s legendary Land’s End will be the starting point for the 2012 Olympic torch relay. Famous for being the first and last point of the UK, it is a fitting location to launch the torch’s journey around Britain. Arriving from Greece on 19th May, the torch will be carried

across 8,000 miles and for 70 days until it reaches the stadium for the opening ceremony on 27th July . Travelling as far as the Outer Hebrides the torch is set to pass through Plymouth and Exeter, although its official route though Cornwall is yet to be announced. Originally a ritual used in Ancient Greek religious ceremonies, the torch relay has become a fundamental custom of the Olympics since the inaugural Games in Berlin, 1936. All along its route, the flame heralds the upcoming events and transmits a message of peace and friendship amongst peoples; it is fantastic that Land’s End has been chosen to represent Britain and take such a leading role in one of the world’s most important sporting traditions. The route of each relay is carefully chosen to allow for the discovery of the history and identity of a new part of the world. Land’s End is a brilliant symbol of both British and Cornish culture and the news of its involvement has been extremely well received locally. Cornwall Council plan to work closely with the organisers of the relay to ensure that as many people as possible

have the opportunity to play a part in the historic day. Council leader Alec Robertson has said: “the eyes of the whole world will be on Cornwall”. “Land’s End is renowned as a starting point for memorable journeys and this one is surely set to become one of the most memorable in our history”. “The decision to choose Cornwall as the starting point for the 2012 celebrations offers us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the very best we have to offer and it is an opportunity that we will grasp with both hands.” Along with recent developments in the business and academic arena, it is hoped that this prestigious event will increase prosperity and assist Cornwall’s rapid transformation into a innovative and modern centre, while enhancing its reputation as a popular holiday location. Next May, be among many; get involved and take a trip to the country’s most westerly point to celebrate the start of the 2012 London Olympics and support Land’s End’s moment; an occasion that is set to go down triumphantly in Cornish history.

For better, for worse, for votes Text Stephen Crosse Wedding fever will undoubtedly be one of the key memories of 2011. For richer or for poorer, the majority of the British population will remember where they were as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, alongside the glamorous Pippa Middleton, became the focus of the global media. Nonetheless, despite inspiring a new generation of young teenage girls to dream of that perfect, fairytale wedding, the nation’s fixation upon the royal wedding has raised a number of serious questions surrounding marriage in modern society. Indeed, at a time of rapid decline (marriages in the United Kingdom currently stand at their lowest number since 1895) why do we all retain marriage as the “dream” scenario. Are we all simply worse at staying in a happy, working relationship whilst competing with the stresses of contemporary life? Is it true that residing in the claustrophobic cavern of the modern office is increasingly detrimental to our social well-being? Alternatively, maybe marriage is a dated, religiously-orientated

institution unneeded in modern society, and I am one the few traditionalists who still despairingly sees marriage as a key tradition in our identity. But if we don’t, if I am wrong, why does it feel, publicly at least, that marriage is so important? Indeed, the marriage of the newly dubbed “Mr. and Mrs. E. Miliband” surely represents the conundrum our society now finds itself in. So eager to throw off the religious attachments that previously defined us, we are suddenly caught in freefall worrying desperately whether or not to embrace the final plunge. Having met in 2002, Ed Miliband and Justine Thornton have been in a relationship for the past seven years and have two sons between the ages of one and two. Therefore, why is it not until now that Ed has resisted from tying the knot? Having had two children, surely it could not be a question of commitment; the idea marriage itself must be the fundamental issue. Certainly, the Labour Party Leader has frequently stated his belief in the equal stability of both long term relationships

and marriage as a key difference between his own beliefs and those of David Cameron. Am I being a pessimist therefore, if I question the motives for Mr Miliband’s recent matrimony? If there is no problem, why fix it? Yes it can be said that they felt it was the “right time” and maybe such a statement turns out to be true. Alternatively, however, is it not equally probable that at the back of Mr. Miliband’s calculating political mind a small voice was raising the issue of his appeal to the broader electorate come the next general election? With an increasing level of society declaring itself nominally religious, do children out of wedlock still influence society’s judgement of others and, moreover, which way they vote? If the latter is the case, it must therefore be asked what the importance of marriage to a nonreligious society is? Do our draconian morals get the overall say or, alternatively, are we simply at a loss without it?

Imogen Thomas’s Blossoming Music Endeavours Text Sam Moore Imogen Thomas is launching a music career following her recent re-emergence to the limelight, she’s been doing Giggs all over the country. Her lyrics have been compared to 75,000 tweeting birds but the voice is still yet to be heard although the anticipation is great! The spelling mistake there is deliberate. So is the capitalisation. Ryan Giggs has been outed as the man who paid a ludicrous sum of money in order to gag the British press and Imogen Thomas with the newly famed phenomenon of a ‘superinjunction’. Super-injunctions have been greatly prominent in the media in recent weeks, with stories about an accountant/ banker Sir Fred Goodwin and the afore mentioned case of the English press being banned from reporting on Ryan Giggs affair with Imogen Thomas. Now personally I have very little knowledge of Sir Fred Goodwin and any story about him in the paper I would just skim over and ignore. It is the granting of this super injunction to a man with little star quality which brings

the morality of our legal system into question. In the case of Sir Fred there is little interest apart from the ridicule of the legal systems preference of the rich which has been made apparent. When we consider the case of Ryan Giggs though, a popular footballer and icon to many people young and old, we as consumers of our culture become shocked by the actions of this privileged minority. Obtaining these super injunctions is not cheap, reportedly costing between £50,000 and £150,000 a time. It is disgusting that it is the rich party who can obtain this gagging order whilst the lesser known party of Imogen Thomas has to face ridicule from the press and have her reputation permanently tarnished. The only reason why the press is allowed to speak of the incident is because of Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming using his parliamentary privilege to name Ryan Giggs as the footballer and rightly so. Now Ryan Giggs is not the first footballer to face such media

scrutiny with Peter Crouch, John Terry and Wayne Rooney all exposed within the past year by the media as adulterous loverats. Giggs is however the first to take such desperate measures to protect his reputation. He obtained an injunction preventing Imogen Thomas discussing their affair and preventing the media from reporting on this. Ryan Giggs. The name signals an immediate reaction whether you love football or not. Ryan Giggs OBE: Winner of 33 club honours with Manchester United, 2009 Sports Personality of the Year and representative of UNICEF. The suffering caused by this greatly respected man upon his wife, children and Imogen Thomas is a chilling reminder of the immoral nature of footballers and of the privileges at their disposal. It is only the social networking site Twitter which allowed for the people to deservedly hear what was being hidden from them by the powers that be. The rise of social networking has brought down the antiquated legal system we have in place.

NEWS

A rOyAL OCCASiON Text Seb Averill

“History”, James Joyce wrote in 1922, “is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.” The previous year, Ireland had won it’s independence from the British Crown after a bloody and protracted Civil War lasting roughly thirty months. Ken Loach’s recent 2006 film The Wind That Shakes The Barley has reminded contemporary audiences of the crippling social divisions that opened up at that time. Age-old allegiances separated brother from brother, as they had in America some sixty years before. In 1968, the infamous Troubles in Northern Ireland stained the lives of a generation yet to be born. Over the weekend just passed, HRH Elizabeth II completed a state visit to the Irish Republic, suggesting that some deep-lying resentment can at last be laid to rest. BBC News 24 carried live footage on Saturday afternoon of the Queen slowly plod-ding through a Cork market. An Irishwoman was never far behind, racing to join her whenever she enquired about local types of bread and beer. Emerging from the indoor portion, Her Majesty stopped walking to survey a group of onlookers that had gathered around the u-bend at its exit. They were, of course, behind a cordon. “Don’t they look overwhelmed”, mused the political correspondent providing the voice-over: “no one seems to be talking to one another or the Queen”. “Cork”, the segment concluded, “has the unofficial title

of ‘Rebel County’, but it hardly seems it!” The visit comes uncomfortably soon ( just under two months) after a policeman was killed by a car-bomb in Northern Ireland’s Omagh, County Tyrone. Dissident Republicans were also responsible for two policemen losing their legs in similar attacks in May 2008 and January 2010. The night before the Queen’s arrival, the Daily Mail reported that “security services in both countries were on high alert after Irish Republican terrorists used a recognised code word in a warning message to Scotland Yard”. In a manner reminiscent of her 17th Century namesake Elizabeth I, however (who was also barraged by different ethnic threats), the apparent danger failed to deter Her Majesty. Perhaps, then, it is time to hope for reconciliation. The Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said of the perpetrators of the April car-bomb, that they represented “a futile attempt to destroy the progress that has been made, which has the overwhelming support of the people of this island”. Perhaps, now, Northern Ireland’s future can be less symbolic and contentious for people on both sides of the Irish Channel. Perhaps, above all, the sight of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Philip staring meekly at a lonely pint of Guinness on a tavern table can symbolise a better time to come.

TANKED UP

TO LOCKED UP?

STudENTS urgEd TO LOOk AFTEr ThEir gEAr

TANKED UP

TO LOCKED UP? Disorderly behaviour in public places can lead to a police caution which may stop you from entering the USA, Australia and other countries.

Don’t let your drunken behaviour lead to a criminal record.

STUDENTS are being urged to look after their belongings and make sure they are traceable in the event of them being stolen. Devon and Cornwall police is warning that opportunist thieves target student haunts knowing they are likely to have items like laptops and expensive mobile phones with them. According to one of the UK’s largest student insurance companies* a student will have £4,000 worth of possessions and often carry items valued at £1,300 with them at any one time. “We know that students are very savvy when it comes to technology and in the modern learning environment it is essential that they have access to items such as laptops,” said PC

Disorderly behaviour in public places can lead John Dukes. Devon and Cornwall supports Immobilise, to a police caution which mayPolice stop you from the world’s “But we also know that students can be somewhat naive largest free register of ownership details which forms a very the USA, Australia other countries. when it comes to personal security and I entering would urge all those effective tool in helpingand to reduce crime and reunite stolen goods studying in the region to make sure they are aware of their surroundings when out and about. “It is also a good idea not to draw attention to your expensive equipment that you might be carrying especially items like phones and wallets which are often just placed on tables or bars in full view”. Students are also recommended to mark all property which will improve the chances of its return if stolen.

with their rightful owners. Members of the public simply register their valued possessions and ownership details are viewable on the police national property database. For further information visit: http://www.immobilise.com/ *Survey published in August 2010 by Endsleigh Insurance.

Don’t let your drunken Disorderly behaviour in public places can lead lead to a behaviour criminal record. 6 to a police caution which may stop you from

June Sunday 5th June - Peter Bruntnell Tickets £8 (£7 NUS), doors open 8pm

Tuesday 7th June - Gregory Isakov Tickets £7 (£6 NUS), doors open 8pm Saturday 11th June - Martha Tilston Tickets £8, doors open 8pm Friday 17h June - The Magic Hat Ensemble Tickets £4, doors open 8pm Saturday 18th June - Pentorr Free Entry, doors open 8pm

For further details go to www.misspeapod.co.uk

SCIENCE

SCIENCE Student research at Tremough : Biosciences As part of their third year, bioscience undergraduates undertake a large independent research project where they conduct real scientific research that has not been done before. For second year undergraduates about to embark on their own research projects, or if you’ve just ever wondered what it is bioscientists do all day, here are some of the projects students were involved in this year.

Martin Yeo (BSc Evolutionary Biology)

Christopher Culbert (BSc Evolutionary Biology)

Male peacocks with more impressive tails have better chances of mating and passing on their genes (sexual selection), but their tail is also a handicap, reducing their chances of surviving long enough to mate at all (natural selection). Such conflicts – with sexual selection drawing animals away from their optimum survival characteristics – seem obvious in many species, but have not often been verified scientifically. So we picked a study species – the cricket Gryllodes sigillatus – and a trait under both natural and sexual selection – cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC’s). CHC’s coat insects’ bodies to prevent water loss, but are also used in communication, including courtship. Using male crickets, we quantified natural fitness by measuring water loss; and to quantify sexual fitness we observed whether the male successfully mated or not. We then measured levels of various CHC’s on each male’s body, allowing us to see how different kinds of CHCs affected natural and sexual fitness. Analysis showed that natural and sexual selection indeed conflicted, but in this case there was an optimum CHC profile under sexual selection, but natural selection was directional and not towards an optimal point (e.g. bigger is always better). This difference from the expected may explain the lacking experimental support for conflict between natural and sexual selection.

“Sex-ratio meiotic driver” (SR) is a segment of DNA carried on the X chromosome that kills sperm carrying a Y chromosome in carrier males, meaning that carrier males can only father daughters. This type of DNA segment is called a selfish genetic element because it promotes its own success at the expense of the genome in which it sits (whereas most genes work together to create a functioning organism). In order to try to avoid mating with carrier males, a female will often mate with multiple males to increase her chances of receiving non-carrier sperm. It has been argued that temperature is a factor that influences a female’s willingness to mate multiply, and so I reared flies at different temperatures in populations that were infected with SR to investigate this effect. I found that females raised in lower temperatures were more likely to mate multiply than those raised in higher temperatures. It seems that this allows flies that live in colder environments to better avoid SR in their populations.

Lucie Brown (BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology)

Richard Price (BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology) Global climate change is already driving drastic changes throughout the world’s oceans. Across marine ecosystems, changes in prey distribution and abundance are likely to affect the responses that cetaceans will exhibit in the face of climate change. Therefore, regular monitoring of cetacean populations is fundamental for species management, policy and conservation whilst understanding how the effects of climate change are being mediated through marine ecosystems. Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) are a more mobile and adaptable cetacean species and as such may be able to demonstrate responses to change, however, the extent of their adaptability is largely unknown. In using a passenger ferry as a scientific research platform, my research provided information on the seasonal and inter-annual trends of common dolphins in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay. My results showed that there were no significant rends in sightings, indicating that this portion of the North east Atlantic population to be relatively stable in the face of global climate change and other intense anthropogenic pressures.

Artificial incubation of sea turtle eggs is becoming common practice in a considerable proportion of conservation projects along the Pacific coast of Mexico. This is due to the high levels of illegal poaching and predation of nests, which prevents conservation programmes from leaving nests on beaches, or relocating eggs to a hatchery. I assessed the incubation methods of relocated eggs at El Naranjo beach, Nayarit, Mexico, during August and September of the 2010 nesting season. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of artificial incubation (In Styrofoam boxes) on egg success and offspring body-type, from nests of olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles, and compare them to eggs relocated to a hatchery. I found incubation treatment had no effect on hatch success, however emergence success (proportion of offspring that emerge from the sand) was significantly higher in hatchery eggs. Offspring from the Styrofoam boxes were significantly larger in mass, whereas energetic state was greater and runspeed faster in hatchery offspring at time of emergence. I recommended adaptations to traditional conservation strategies and suggested potential solutions to current conservation issues via the utilisation of artificial incubation.

science@flexnews.co.uk

Wildlife photography Do you enjoy taking photographs of the natural world? Do you have some good shots lying around you want to share? Send them in to flexscience@gmail.com and they might get featured!

FEATURES

Best of 2010/2011 As this is the last FLEX for this academic year, we’re going to take a trip down memory lane and have a look at the best articles of the last year.

the art of conversation Text: Michale Hawkes

A horde of human bodies wreathed in coral rests motionless on the ocean floor, many posed frozen while seemingly going about their daily business. Some stand with patient arms crossed as if waiting to reawaken, while others stroke their chins in contemplative deep thought. This may sound like the site of a horrific natural disaster, but it’s actually a hauntingly beautiful art installation in the coastal waters of Cancun. Jason de Caires Talor’s “The Silent Evolution” is a fusion of art and conservation, aiming to raise awareness of endangered coral species in a provocative and engaging way. The artist creates lifelike, pH-neutral cement statues of local people and submerges them in the ocean, creating artificial reefs that both endangered wildlife and interested divers can enjoy. Coral reefs are one of the most productive and endangered ecosystems on the planet. Around

one quarter of all marine life on Earth can be found on coral reefs, but threats like ocean acidification and climate change mean that corals could face functional extinction within 50 years. One method employed to encourage the growth of new coral is the construction of artificial reefs. Artificial reefs can be made from a variety of materials from metal to car tyres, and many are even made from the sunken wrecks of unlucky ships. In this case, however, the artist chose cement, an excellent material for artificial reef construction, recommended by research from the University of Miami because of its durability and ability to encourage the growth of coral most similarly to natural reefs. De Caires Taylor has also sunk installations at other sites in Mexico and the West Indies, and the result is an often disturbing but ceaselessly breathtaking underwater seascape of human figures encouraging the

growth of endangered species. The installations are a striking metaphor for how humanity is ultimately rooted in the natural world and they urge us to act as agents for its conservation. However, the eternally closed eyes of the statues, their human form reclaimed by nature under the waves, serve as a warning of what the artist believes may come to pass if our exploitation of the natural world continues. Research by Mark Baine, a marine biologist from the University of Papua New Guinea, concluded that while artificial reefs often fail to meet their objectives, careful planning and management could ensure they are successful tools for conservation. While the ecological management of an art installation is likely to be a low priority, scientific outreaches through other mediums such as this are essential to help spread a message that so desperately needs to be heard. To see more fantastic images visit Jason de Caires Taylor at http://www.underwatersculpture. com/

features@flexnews.co.uk

Body Modification: Is it still taboo? Text: Dani Birtles

Body modification has, in the past, been surrounded by preconceptions and at times, certain prejudices. It has affected jobs and in some cases, the entire lives of the people that showcased their ‘unsightly’ piercings or tattoos to the world. Now however, it seems that not only has it become more popular within today’s society, but it could arguably be seen to represent a tribal sense of belonging, even if this signifies a certain “scene” in musical or social cultures within our contemporary society. Body modification can come in many different forms, the most notable and popular of which would be tattoos and piercings. However, more and more types of modification have come to light that are more extreme and more often than not, more painful. To explain why people feel the need to do this, Ash Harrison, the owner of ‘The Electric Chair’ in Falmouth said: “There are many reasons why people get tattoos. Some see a family relative with them and think it looks good, or they do it to remind themselves of things that are important to them. It could also be said that tattoos are still tribal in a sense. I feel like a tribal leader sometimes, giving people ink. To be associated with a certain ‘scene’ seems to be the popular thing or fashionable now.” Tattooing has been around since the Neolithic times and has been used for many purposes, from branding to symbolising religious beliefs and decorating the body for important events. Now it seems that tattooing still has that slight tribal feel but for all the wrong reasons. It has become a fashion statement, and a more popular form of body modification than say, piercing. “I hate to say that tattooing seems fashionable now, but it seems to be the case”, Ash says. “I’ve had people come to me to have ‘fan ink’, which is having a bands logo tattooed onto you, but it just doesn’t seem right. It has no meaning.” However,

sometimes there seems to be no reason for a tattoo. Dean Shepherd, 25, states: “To be fair I have no reasons. I do things in life how I see and feel them. I don’t need a rhyme or reason for it, but I don’t have one saying; ‘I got this ‘cos X died’ or ‘I got this ‘cos I stabbed a guy’ or something. But I could say it’s a slow progressive transformation. I’m going through of a change of human condition.” So that tribal instinct is still within us, willing us to have our memories permanently documented on our bodies, but has our modern society corrupted this instinct? Ash certainly seems to think so: “People do it for all the wrong reasons, like their friend got one so they want the same, or they just rush into having a tattoo done because they think ‘I want it now’ and just get the worst one possible. Then they come to me asking to cover it up!” So does he have any advice for anyone thinking of getting a tattoo in the future? “I’d advise to take your time, and make sure that the design you want is really what you want. And get the best artist you can which will make it all the more special. We specialise here at one-offs, which is usually the best way to go about things.” Despite our increasingly liberal society, body modification in any form, still seems to be the last taboo. Will this ever change? Only time will tell.

FEATURES

A Life Without Social Networking Charlie Derry discusses the pros and cons of our addiction to social networking sites.

A life without what? How is that even possible? I’d like to say that we’re not all obsessed with such social networking sites, but I think it’s safer, and probably more accurate, to say that we are.

flick through their recently uploaded photos. More pleasantly, we can keep up to date with our close friends and family whom we left behind to attend university; having my mum ring me up concerned about a recent “frape” always brightens up my day.

It started off on Bebo when we were 10, before switching to Myspace when we started wearing skinny jeans. Now the place to be is Facebook, and for those who feel they’re opinions are worthy to more than just their university friends, there’s Twitter. So why are our lives so heavily focused around these sites? And why, as university students, are they so useful to us?

These sites aren’t only useful to keep in contact with those we already know either. Facebook especially was a great place to meet people before Freshers’ week who were going to study the same course, at the same universities as ourselves (And also to search for the random person we got with in Remedies the night before).

Is it simply enough to say that we use these sites because they make our lives that little bit easier? (easier or lazier, you decide.) Instead of asking our friends personally to come round for a few drinks on our birthday, we make an event page where the only people who select ‘Attending’ are those we’ve never met before. Instead of walking all the way down the hall to ask our housemate a question, we simply pop up a conversation on Facebook Chat whilst we remain in our beds watching Jeremy Kyle on the telly.

But it’s not only socially that they come in handy. As a Journalism student, I’m told to be a part of all of these social networking sites to better my chances of a career as a successful journalist. I’m told to use Twitter to express my opinion about the latest newsworthy topic - in my case I have about 2,000 tweets expressing my love for tea and Harry Potter – and to upload all of my work onto my blog so that my work is essentially self-published - now I find that I’m checking my blog views daily and celebrating to myself when I hit a new milestone.

On a hangover day, we can sit and refresh our news feed to waste a few hours. We can spy on those who we’ve told we never want to see again, because by that we meant we’d constantly

Sam Batt, second year Journalism student at UCF says: “I think there is an element of them that is really useful. You

can keep in contact with people you are working with and can organise projects. For my course, they are also useful for collecting vox pops and public opinion.” Although they are potentially useful for our courses, they are also the main distraction from them, and why we are handing in our essays minutes before the deadline, rather than researching for them months in advance. Sam adds: “Mainly, I think they are distracting. I think they’ve done my work a lot more damage than good.” I think it’s fair to say that we could all gain a few marks if we weren’t spending our time on these sites. But then without the distraction of these sites being there in the first place, I don’t think I’d have the motivation of opening up my laptop and completing my work in time. The distraction makes sitting on my laptop, mainly pretending to do work, seem a little more worthwhile. So in conclusion…What’s that? I’ve just found a new networking site, so I’ll…Ahh, I’ll see you on ‘Path’ sometime soon – you’ll get a better response from me online. And you’ll get a better response from us online too: twitter. com/flexfeatures

Musings on the referendum outcome - Introduction by Nicole Winchester. Text by Mike Bird and Tom Burley

Last Friday, the results for the referendum on AV came out. The vote was 67% in favour of No to AV. This means that the MPs at Westminster will continue to be elected by the First Past the Post system. The vote on AV was the first chance to change from the current First Past the Post system since it began. Many believe that the vote has ended any chance of voting reform for at least a generation. Michael Bird and Tom Burley voice their opinions below...

Mike Bird on the ‘Yes2AV’ perspective

AV would be a better system. It’s used by both major political parties to elect their leaders, because they know it produces consensus results. It’s used by the Church of England to select Archbishops and in 13 English mayoral elections. Some MPs win with 60% of the vote in their constituencies. Some win with 30%. We are led to believe that they were both elected with the same mandate. The last British election in which 50% of the electorate mandated the victorious party was won by Stanley Baldwin in 1931. David Cameron says that First Past the Post works. Well it’s clearly working for some of us, David. Sadly, the results of this referendum will not be left alone. They will be dredged up by every opponent of every political reform for a generation. The cries of “remember AV!” will ring loud for some time yet. Why would a governing party sanction a referendum again, when over 50% of people do not vote?

I hope this result will not be seen as a sign of national approval of a twoparty political system that dissatisfies the many millions who choose to vote for minor parties and independents, and still worse, the millions more who choose not to vote at all. I hope it will not reinforce prejudices against voters circulated by political parties, who patronisingly suggested that AV was “too complex” for the British people. YES was comprehensively defeated, a clear result for NO. We should not be bitter or deny such a clear decision from the public. But when 58% of people choose not to vote, there’s still much more work to do for electoral reformers.

Tom Burley retaliates with the ‘No2AV’ perspective

The UK’s firm rejection of the alternative vote system has gone some way to restoring my faith in the British electorate. A system in which the second or third placed candidate could win, as well as one which compromised the fundamental democratic principle of ‘one person, one vote’, would have been disastrous for the UK. It would have most likely both exacerbated landslide election victories such as Blair’s in 1997 whilst plunging the tighter elections into the horse-trading and promise breaking we have become all too used to from this coalition government. So who was to benefit from this system? The electorate? Politics? No. The Liberal Democrats, who would have ascended to the role of the perpetual kingmakers, allowing tuition fees to become the first on a long list of fraudulent manifesto promises. I believe we deserve a system where candidates stand with integrity and plant a flag in the sand, persuading voters to meet them at it, rather than accumulating an arbitrary amount

of 2nd, 3rd and 4th preference votes to take you past an inconsequential marker. Personally, I would not have been comfortable living in a country where the 3rd or 4th preference votes of a BNP voter were counted at the same weighting as my first preference. In over 30 constituencies in 2010 it would have been the BNP voters 2nd preferences that would have decided who won the seats. I am proud to know that under our current system my one vote and everybody else’s count for exactly that, one vote each. I am glad that the British public has not lost sight of their ideals of fairness and equality of opportunity. AV was a system that not even the Yes campaign wanted, described by the ever chirpy hypocrite Chris Huhne in 2010 as a system that “Fails to give voters the power they should have” and by Clegg himself as “a miserable little compromise.” Therefore, it is no surprise that we overwhelmingly rejected it, New Zealand has abandoned it and 6/10 Australians want to get rid of it.

reviews@flexnews.co.uk

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows By: Kaylie Elise Finn

When Harry Potter first hit cinema screens in 2001, the saga starred an array of pre-pubescent children who frankly, needed a spell of acting classes; and I wished nothing more than to snap their feature-length wands. Just under a decade later, with Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: part 1 standing as the most eagerly anticipated movie of 2010, everything has changed. The epic fantasy, based on the novels by JK Rowling, traces the steps of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint), as the trio embark on a mission to destroy horcruxes, the secret of Lord Voldermort’s mortality. With directorship changing hands no less than four times since the release of The Philosopher’s Stone, David Yates has worked his magic since taking over as director on The Order of the Phoenix, and now, he has conjured the best film to date with The Deathly Hallows. I was anticipating some cringe-worthy scenes, something along the lines of Ginny Weasley not so romantically force-feeding Harry Potter a mince pie, but this wasn’t the case. Not only have the characters developed into credible actors, with Rupert Grint standing head and shoulders above the others, the film established a magical balance between humour and heartache. This film had a darker and more adult edge compared to the previous

instalments; it wasn’t overloaded with gratuitous gore, but nailed a spine-tingling eeriness. The special effects in The Deathly Hallows were nothing less than awe-inspiring. If there was ever a film which demonstrates the development of CGI, then this is it, as it ran seamlessly throughout the movie. The non-CGI aspects were equally as impressive, with opulent sets and costumes rendering this film an artistic masterpiece. There has been some speculation surrounding the decision to split The Deathly Hallows into two parts: was it to capitalize on box office profit, or to capture the essence of the epic finale? The movie captured the detail of the final novel so accurately, that if it was a ploy by the big boys in cinema to make even bigger bucks, then it was money well earned. Overall, it was an air-punch moment when the end credits rolled; finally, a Harry Potter movie which does real justice to the novel. JK Rowling herself heralded this film as the best adaptation of her books to date, and it’s not hard to see why. I had to wonder if I would ever regain the ability to talk after spending two and half hours either hysterically laughing, or weeping into my Kleenex tissue. Needless to say, I found myself leaving the cinema more than a little charmed.

Geographies of love... - Introduction by Nicole Winchester. Text by Mike Bird and Tom Burley

Love is all around, but there are some cultural differences when it comes to romance. Flex spoke to some international students to find out how they rank the British on a romantic level. Mari Myhre is from Norway and just got back from a dreamy mini-break to Rome with her Scottish boyfriend. Are British men more romantic than the Norwegians? I’m not sure really, but Ross is certainly very romantic! When he booked the hotel room in Rome for us, he told the staff that we would be on our honeymoon just so that they would take extra good care of us! He doesn’t have any problems with showing affection in public either and always gives me lots of compliments. Sometimes I almost think that he is cheesy, so maybe they do act more romantically over here than in Scandinavia. But one bad thing that I’ve noticed about British men is that they text too much. I just don’t

think that texting all the time is good enough when you’re in a relationship—I need to hear the person’s voice sometimes too! They also insist on paying for everything which I actually don’t like. In Norway, I think we are more equal, and it’s normal to split the bill, or to even let the girl pay sometimes. Ruth Amelung is from Germany and currently single. Is Valentine’s Day a big deal in Germany? It’s a huge deal actually, people go crazy! Some people have their Valentine’s Day plans ready weeks ahead and the shops are filled with tons of hearts, chocolates and things like that. Roses sell out and there are romantic movies on all the TV-channels. It starts at a pretty young age as well; I remember when I was in sixth grade and got a box of chocolates in my mailbox. I think that German guys might do more things like that, and are perhaps a bit more romantic

than British guys. Damian Drozdowicz is from Poland and also single. Are there any cultural differences to Valentine’s Day in Poland? We have so many days that we celebrate in Poland. There’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day of course, but also things such as Grandmother’s Day and Grandfather’s Day, Woman’s Day and Man’s Day; I believe it came from the east and communism. I think the commercialism is a bit tacky, companies make so much money from Valentine’s Day. In Poland, I think there’s even more hearts and stuff put up than over here. The Polish have more traditional values in general, we are a bit more romantic and the men are more protective over girls and things like that. The UK is such a multicultural place that I think it’s harder to make a general judgement like that, it’s probably more individual here.

“British men...they text too much” 13

REVIEWS

REVIEWS FILM PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES Text Emma Thompson Prancing around in his usual girly manner, Sparrow essentially For all you Johnny Depp lovers out there, On Stranger Tides is the perfect opportunity to obsessively ogle the star as he once again spends the film on Blackbeard’s ship in a race against the Brits becomes the cunning but lovable rogue, Captain Jack Sparrow. and Spaniards to the Fountain of Youth, whereby the obtainment Donning the arrogant, cock-sure demeanour, accompanied by the of two silver chalices and a mermaid’s tear will secure one with infamous sultry smoky eyes, Depp single-handedly dominates this eternal life at the sacrifice of another. Like its predecessors, the next instalment of the hit Disney franchise. Indeed, although a little plot of On Stranger Tides becomes confusing at times, but only to the effort of documenting the realistic disappointed and surprised by Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley’s absence, “Reminiscent of the first film, nitty-gritty ways of pirates: they have a tendency to chop and change allegiance the film makes up for this deficiency On Stranger Tides regains at a drop of their sword. chiefly through Depp’s triumphant the momentum that it had Yet, salvaged by the litter of cheesy solidification of a comic rapport between sadly lost in Dead Man’s jokes throughout, these moments of his character Sparrow and his supporting chest and At World’s End” uncertainty are quickly erased securing cast: Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Gibbs (Kevin McNally). We gain a new sentimental perspective the film as the light-hearted, action, family adventure that it sets on the scallywag through the introduction of Angelica (Penélope out to be. Reminiscent of the first film, On Stranger Tides regains Cruz), who comes to do more than simply fill Knightley’s shoes the momentum that it had sadly lost in Dead Man’s Chest and At or provide a bit of ‘eye candy’ for the male viewers by means of World’s End and in this respect appears to have gone full circle, tight corsets; she actually comes close to provoking ‘stirrings’ returning to the light-heartedness we were once promised. within Sparrow. Relative newbies on the block Sam Claflin and Sparrow’s incessant pursuit of the Black Pearl will continue; the Àstrid- Bergès Frisby, who centre the romantic sub-plot of the potential for a follow-up is again left open. We will have to wait religious Philip Swift and mermaid Syrena respectively, further and see if this potential fatally injures the reputation and status diminish any critique of the film’s lack of vital chemistry that had that the first film had gained so admiringly. By and large this film been successfully developed across the three previous films in is worth the viewing, if only to the extent of the two hours of lighta beautiful relationship which seeks to harmonise religious and hearted entertainment and attractive cast that it provides for its mythological perspectives at a time when darkness threatened hyped-up fanatic followers. Savvy? both the civilian and pirate world.

TOP 5 MOVIE RELEASES THIS SUMMER Text Anna Grant-Casey

OK, exams are over, and it’s about time we relaxed right? Well, this is a perfect opportunity to use what may be left of your student loan to check out what the cinemas have to offer. And let me tell you, this summer is going to be a good’un. So, water down that coke, warm up that popcorn, and turn off your mobile phone for this summer’s top 5 movie releases.

X Men: First Class. This is going to be AMAZING. Like all the other films were. Maybe a bit less topless Wolverine (BOO HOO) but with a fantastic line-up nevertheless. Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds), James McAvoy (King of Scotland), and Kevin Bacon (Frost/Nixon); need I say more? Release: 3rd June.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. Final part of the latest Harry Potter adventure, which promises to be just as good, if not better, then the first instalment. Look out for some serious Harryon-Voldemort action, stunning graphics, and breath-taking scenery. Release: 15th July.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Good news for Transformers fans everywhere. Rewriting the space-race history, this movie looks to be bigger and better than the rest. More Shia leBeouf, explosions, and robots. Brill! Release: 29th June.

Cars 2: World Grand Prix. I thought Cars was genius. And I’m not lying when I say I’m going to be fighting small children to get into this film. If you’re not as excited as me, take these 6 words: Michael Caine as an Aston Martin. KACHOW! Release: 24th June.

Glee Live! 3D! Gleeks and Gleekettes, this is your moment. Using footage from the live tour, the producers are creating a 3D Glee. Features hits such as: Don’t Stop Believin’, Slave for You, and Teenage Dream. Release: 12th August US, unconfirmed in the UK.

reviews@flexnews.co.uk

TV THE APPRENTICE Text Tim Rooke The beginning of the summer term brought a new season of The Apprentice with a slight difference: the winner gets to enter into a joint business venture with Lord Sugar to the tune of £250,000. The beginning of the series has seen the industrious task of manufacturing snacks to sell in central London, followed by a new and cool challenge of designing a Smartphone application, with the classic bartering for 10 individually obscure and unique items rounding off the three opening episodes. The new series has seen the usual narcissistic and cringeworthy claims: “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the Moon” and “Lord Sugar will probably find it difficult to ever say anything negative to me because I always turn it round to a positive” to name just a couple. Despite the claims, there does seem to be a lack of egotism and idiocy about the new candidates which has in the past, made for some good telly either that, or last series’ Stuart Baggs now makes everything else seem incredibly tame. However, it is still early days. This year’s programme has provided some highlights already, notably a slender £8 victory for Team Venture in episode 3 and Edna’s bafflingly seductive attire and almost hypnotic pitch in the Smartphone application task. My favourite contestant, ‘Jedi’ Jim, has utilised his Northern Irish charm to maximum effect: negotiating bargains, selling bread and soup and avoiding the boardroom in comical fashion. Jim appears an astute candidate who has impressed, despite being on the losing team in the opening two tasks, and is definitely early favourite to be in the final few. A couple more ‘interesting’ candidates are the pretentious Vincent Disneur and wacky inventor Tom. Likable Tom seems more out of place than a fish out of water; raising his hand to ask questions in the boardroom and apologising to Lord Sugar after losing a task are two humorous examples. Meanwhile, selfconfessed ladies’ man Vincent proclaims his “positive approach

and very good looks make me stand out from the crowd”. Unsurprisingly, Vincent is yet to win a task. One disappointment was the departure of Edward Hunter in episode 1. The project manager seemed to have the charisma to lighten up the series, admittedly because of his hilarious taglines and dialect rather than entrepreneurial prowess. However, from a purely business perspective, Lord Sugar’s firing of the

uncharacteristic accountant could not be disputed. Overall, the series has had a slow start in comparison to previous years, but nevertheless continues to provide entertainment and comedy in peculiar ways and is well worth a watch. Roll with the punches.

SMALLVILLE Text Ed Holman Is a bird? A plane? No it’s the final season of the teen super hero The Lasso Of Truth, as it’s from the creator of Ally McBeal. Back to my main points, Smallville is a decent and solid show, drama Smallville. It’s about Superman’s early years and right up until he becomes Superman; the icon of truth, justice and self- and sometimes brings out a few interesting twists and turns in righteous douche-baggery. Has it really been a decade? Well, yes a season. It has gradually changed its dynamic to focus on other heroes in the DC universe to keep it going through these ten it has. I read comics when I was a kid but always shied away years, which was a smart move. Such as Green Arrow, The Flash from Superman, because in the comics and in soap opera The and Aqua Man making a brief Justice League Origins arc that was Adventures of Lois and Clark, he was too goody two shoes and enjoyable to watch. Without this, it could have become very stale fast and got cancelled. wishy-washy for me, he was a sales man “Smallville is a decent So what’s going on this series? Well in a blue and red suit with the red cape of and solid show, and Mr Kent has to battle his fears and demons course. But Smallville made Superman cool sometimes brings out a within so he can face ‘the darkness’ again, but how? Steeped in comic book few interesting twists and (Darkseid) and stop him from destroying lore for one, and pulled it off well, plus turns in a season.” civilization and bringing hell to earth, and having a huge story arc for every one of the seasons, normally linked to previous one. Even more important; being Superman to do so. Also he’s getting married to Lois Lane, having a Clark Kent you could believe and connect with, which is which creates all kinds of mild comedy as a back stage to the final a problem with Superman, how can you connect with a guy who season next month. I give Smallville 3 out of 5 stars and it’s really going to be worth can fire lasers out of his eyes? Smallville has tackled these problems well and made a good watching Clark Kent suit up finally, after waiting a whole decade. show of it. But also created new problems like now everyone But if you haven’t, it’s worth while watching it if you’re interested wants to make a comic book TV show, and we’ve got Heroes and in superhero fiction, after the recent onslaught of movies and The Cape and a new upcoming Wonder Woman, which is going television shows. to suck balls, because it sounds like Ally McBeal with villains and

books HIGH FIDELITY Nick Hornby

Text Sarah Connelly I was lent this book by a friend after I told her that I was looking generally quite annoying. He is, however, a fantastic comedian and for a light-hearted, funny book, unlike anything I had read before. there are numerous occasions when I couldn’t help but laugh out It would not have been my first-choice, having always assumed loud at what was written on the page. The narrative is addictive, (incorrectly) that it was more suited for men, and not generally my Rob’s dry sense of humour means this book gets harder and harder style. I was most definitely proved wrong on this count, and was to put down. It is made up of ironic and sarcastic observations hooked by the end of the first page. High Fidelity is without a doubt about his work, his friends Richard and Dick, and his parents one of the funniest books I have read in a long while. It tells the comments you cannot help but laugh along with. Anyone reading High Fidelity will be able to relate (hopeless) story of Rob Fleming, a to Rob in some respect (and I never thirty-something record store owner “The book is a must for any music and music lover, living in North lovers out there, anyone whose true thought I’d say that about myself and a thirty-five year old man!). London in the 1980s. The plot starts love in life is music will find this The beauty of High Fidelity is just after Rob’s girlfriend Laura book faultless. High Fidelity is a walks out on him. Rob embarks on hilarious insight into the workings its utter normality; the plot is not a bitter and painful reminiscence of of the male mind, and one that will particularly gripping, and it doesn’t his past girlfriends, and the repeated stay with you for a long time after really go anywhere. I’ll leave it undisclosed whether Rob eventually mistakes and misdemeanours that you’ve finished the book.” sorts out his hopeless life, however have left him single and alone at the age of 35. Rob drags us through the quagmire of his past I will say that the ending is entirely, and brilliantly, predictable. relationships, recounting each and every flaw that prevented each The book is a must for any music lovers out there, anyone whose relationship from lasting - from his high-school girlfriends, his true love in life is music will find this book faultless. High Fidelity one-night-stands to the few long-term girlfriends he has had. Rob is a hilarious insight into the workings of the male mind, and one is very self-aware of his own failings in life, and (to the reader’s that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve finished the amusement) makes no attempt at hiding them. He provides a book. It will remind you that no matter how hard it is to see, there running commentary of the trials and tribulations that occur is beauty and humour all around us as long as you are prepared to around him, the ups and downs of his newly-single life. As a look hard enough. character you want to hate him; he is obnoxious, rude, lazy and

ROOM

Emma Donoghue Text Alexandra Blakeman Having just written an 8000 word literature dissertation, I felt boy has spent his five years without ever seeing another human some ‘light reading’ was in order. I scoured the lists of recent being. The relationship between Jack and his Ma is, without Booker Prize nominations and came across Room by Emma being clichéd, mildly sexual. Donoghue accepts these kind of Donoghue. I had previously heard good things about Donoghue interactions between mother and son in order to emphasise their sole dependence on one another. They and her writing, but was clueless as “The book is written from are each other’s mental and physical to the intricacies of her most recent the perspective of the child, nurturers. publication. The premise of the novel demonstrating his developing The first 150 pages of the novel is very simple: Jack is five and he lives with his Ma in Room. The book ignorance of everything ‘outside’ are a little static. As a reader we are of Room. This book should be naturally intrigued by two things in this is written from the perspective of the praised for its poignant and narrative; how the characters got into child, demonstrating his developing ignorance of everything ‘outside’ of sympathetic narration, leading Room and how they are going to get the reader to understand the out. In my opinion, Donoghue indulges Room. The details as to how Jack damaging psychological impact a little too much in the descriptions and his mother became incarcerated of mental confinement.” of everyday life in Room. After about in Room are revealed gradually 100 pages I was ready to give up on throughout the first half of the novel. As the plot develops, the reader begins to sympathise with Jack’s Room, but with perseverance, we begin to see the formulation Ma, as she frets over Jack’s mental and physical isolation from of a very interesting and gripping plot, as Jack and his Ma plan their escape. This book should be praised for its poignant and the outside world. The exploration of the relationship between mother and sympathetic narration, leading the reader to understand the son is probably the novel’s most powerful venture. Jack has only damaging psychological impact of mental confinement. ever known his mother and aside from a few visits from ‘Old Nick’ (who holds power over Room and it’s inmates), the little

REVIEWS

reviews@flexnews.co.uk

GAMES L.A. NOIRE Text Oli Haydon I rarely buy games for my Xbox 360 but when I do, I make sure that I can play them for years and years (probably why my favourite 360 games are GTA IV and FIFA 11). Longevity is a huge factor in what makes a game good for me, I’m happy to play through a brilliant story so long as there is something for me to do at the end. Anyway, I’ve been told to review L.A. Noire and that is what I shall do. Rockstar Games usually have you playing the bad guys, take the GTA series and Bully for example, in their latest instalment on the other hand, you’re put in the shoes of Cole Phelps, a 1940s cop in the beige streets of Los Angeles. The gist of the game is that you move from a rookie through the ranks of various police stations across LA to become a case solving legend. This process is somewhat slow, but if it wasn’t, the game simply wouldn’t work. The methods of solving cases are a weirdly meditative experience; you collect evidence, discuss the events with the witnesses and conduct interviews before convicting. Of course there are fastpaced car chases, street fights and plenty of swearing, but lest we forget, this is Rockstar after all. If you heard any of the hype in the run up to L.A. Noire’s release then you will know about their ‘Motionscan’ face technology which takes a bunch of actors and turns them into game characters, but not in your tacky ‘Anthony Hopkins in Beowolf’ sort of way. The faces of the characters in game, especially during interviews, are strikingly lifelike. The interrogations are at L.A. Noire’s heart; Rockstar have utilised technology to turn these sequences into forms of art and you are the person who has to decide whether a little twitch of the eye means you’re sitting in front of a murderer or not.

Sadly, the praise stops here. After playing through the story there was a clear repetitive formula for each case, and although the crimes are different, there is only so much a policeman can do when solving a mystery. It also felt like there was no way that you could get it wrong - even if you failed every interview and missed

almost all the evidence, the game would find a way for you to solve it and be promoted. After completing the story, there is little point in redoing the cases or any of the action sequences. There is no doubt that L.A. Noire is an absolutely fantastic and groundbreaking game, but sadly only for 20 or so hours of your life.

NINTENDO 3DS Text Stan Denning

First off: the 3D is pretty awesome. Pointless, and doesn’t add anything really to any game, but still really cool. If you could move your head whilst using it at all then it would be mind blowing, but as it stands that aspect of it all is a nice innovation, definitely more than just a simple gimmick. What’s even cooler than that though, are the augmented reality games that come pre-installed on the console, which turn your environment into a 3D game utilising the dual cameras and special cards, there are several to choose from including fishing, shooting galleries and a game where disembodied heads fly around the room shooting at you. These are honestly the most fun I’ve had gaming in a long while, and if Nintendo doesn’t release any more I’ll be livid. Innovation-wise though, the 3DS doesn’t rest too heavily on it’s main selling point. The two front-mounted cameras allow you to take 3D photographs, which is just cool in itself, and the hardware is pretty powerful, easily outshining the Wii graphics-wise, and approaching the 360 by the looks of some screenshots of the upcoming Resi’ Mercenaries.

RageQuit Text Alex Raffle Good evening folks, welcome to RageQuit. I know what you’re thinking: what the bloody hell is a ragequit? Well the act of ragequitting is a bit literal and is the act of leaving or switching off your game when things aren’t really going you way. It’s the digital equivalent of flipping the chessboard, giving everyone the middle finger,

My one massive criticism of the console is hopefully one that’ll be rectified in the coming months: it has been massively rushed out, so much so that they haven’t finished all the software for it. There’s the promise of an online shop and internet browser next month. The shop will sell the majority of the Nintendo back catalogue, along with 3D movie trailers and eventually entire films, and the browser will hopefully pave the way for more widespread 3D streaming. Without the internet, the wireless is mainly used for Streetpass, a feature wherein if you pass another 3DS owner in the street your Miis will swap and exchange a little message, and that’s it. I’ve taken the 3DS out with me every day for three weeks and come across no other owner, but its early days yet I guess. Another drawback to the rushing out of the console is its lack of launch titles, seriously there are practically none, and there won’t be any for months. The only actual 3D game I’ve seen being played is Street Fighter IV, and to be fair it looks sweet, but not exactly worth splashing out £40 on. It’s going to be quite a wait for Batman 3D.

storming off home and climbing into bed. Well, childish behaviour may be unsportsman-like or ungamesman-like (that sounds very strange), but I definitely have to give this strategy (ahem) credit for saving so many consoles from going the way of Old Yeller. This unique phenomenon - does it even count as a phenomenon if I know most of my friends do it and now I’m just extrapolating? Never mind that’s not important. What’s important are my gaming gripes, yeah. What I’m growing concerned with, and all this anger at our games is a clear sign of, is that these days we are all taking games far too seriously.

Remember when games used to be fun? I still do, but to be honest it’s getting fuzzy, slowly being phased out and replaced with new memories of angry growling and obnoxious children screaming at me through my headset. Of course I’m no saint and once in a while even I’ve got a bit lairy with my competitors but they were totally cheating - besides these kids screaming at me is a nightmare, they don’t understand my witty retorts and cultural references. So the only solution I can suggest is that we all lighten up a bit and start having a bit more fun in games. You know fun? That thing that we

were supposed to get out of the games that we are spending all this money on. Do something in game that makes you laugh, Call of Duty isn’t like an actual war that matters so why not? However that doesn’t include singing into your headset in the highest pitch voice you can muster, save that for Britain’s Got Talent or something. So in this vein I have to applaud Kevin of the machinima show How to Annoy People, who does exactly that and very effectively destroys these rude angry people by pinning them in corners and being generally hilarious. Plus he has the perfect response for every situation; “Sir, you’re going to have to calm down.”

TRAVEL DUBLIN BY SAIL RAIL Text Tim Halpin

knew it I had embarked on the good ship Ulysses. There was something appealingly quixotic about getting a train Who needs the Dublin Writers Museum when you’ve got ticket that says ‘Dublin’ on it. I looked forward to seeing the Irish Ferries? I sat in the James Joyce Balcony Lounge on a reaction of the conductor. However, Tamworth to Crewe merely reclining seat that, in a complex gave me a quizzical look, which “Who needs the Dublin Writers modernist twist, didn’t seem to want was the most emotional response Museum when you’ve got Irish to unrecline. Perhaps a meal from I’d had since I forgot to renew my Ferries? I sat in the James Joyce Boylan’s Brasserie, or a romantic 16-25 Railcard last August. Crewe Balcony Lounge on a reclining seat stroll on the Sandycove Promenade to Chester made no comment at all, that, in a complex modernist twist, Deck? The ferry is not just the largest and by the time I got on the train didn’t seem to want to unrecline.” thing on the Irish sea (12 decks high, to Holyhead, most of the other The Article is by Naomi I think, up to 2000 passengers per journey), passengers had Irish or American so do put that. We can print a it’s a literary experience. accents anyway. correction next year if we need to, Most of the people on the At Holyhead, where the ships that’s not problem.” Sandycove Promenade Deck were depart for Dublin, I followed the just smoking, of course. But there were also some twitchers crowd on a well-trodden route through the station and into the pointing out guillemots, and, sheltering from the wind in a sun ferry terminal. I put my rucksack into the back of a white van, trap besides the stairs to the helipad, a tanned, wrinkled old man a police officer gave my passport a cursory glance, and before I

THE ARAN ISLANDS Text Naomi Racz The Aran Islands are a collection of three islands, situated in the mouth of Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland. Once considered a remote redoubt of traditional Irish culture, the islands were visited by academics and writers, including W.B. Yeats, throughout the 19th and 20th century, all hoping to catch a glimpse of this traditional way of life. Today the islands receive around 300,000 visitors a year, yet they have managed to retain their uniqueness, if not in the islanders’ way of life, in the geography of the landscape. Following in the footsteps of those academics and writers (or adding my number to the tourist figures) I spent a few nights in Galway, a very lively town with a hodgepodge of brightly coloured pubs and cafés, before catching the ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the three islands. During my first day on the island I visited the two iron age forts of Dun Duchathair and Dun Angus, both made up of thick, dry stone walls, enclosing a semi-circular area of cliff edge. Not only are the structures themselves impressive, but they also provide views over the island’s cliffs, which reach 300ft at Dun Angus, and the wild Atlantic waves crashing up against them. The area around Dun Duchathair was also fun to explore, with an extensive system of dry stone walls (enough to stretch from Ireland to Boston) and exposed limestone slabs, which have been worn by the rain and sea over thousands of years to form unusual shapes. Over the following two days I hired a bicycle, which was a cheap and efficient way of seeing the island, whilst still allowing me to experience the views (and the elements). I cycled to the island’s most westerly point, a quiet and rugged part of the island, with yet more spectacular views of crashing waves. Whilst there I also had an encounter with a curious seal, which popped its head above the water, meters from where I was stood, and stared at me for a couple of seconds before diving back under. I then visited the island’s most easterly point, a much less rugged landscape, with a grass and wild flower peninsula, and extensive sand dunes to explore. During the evenings I enjoyed trying out the restaurants and bars of Kilronan, the island’s main town, which offer delicious, fresh sea food, live music and, of course, Guinness.

was writing in a journal. He was wearing shorts, had a bushy white beard, and a battered pipe hung from his mouth. He looked lost on this giant freighter, with its two cinemas, department store, restaurants and bars. When faced by the size and noise of the Ulysses, it’s hard to think of it was being the environmentally-friendly option. But, according to Seat61.com’s figures, taking the train and ferry from London to Dublin produces 73% less CO2 than a plane. Our ferry brought me into Dublin, where I picked up my luggage from an airport-style conveyor belt. Outside, a connecting bus was waiting to take me to the city centre. I can’t say that the SailRail scheme has revolutionised my travelling experience, but there was very little hassle, and at £33 from any UK train station to Dublin, with no taxes, luggage surcharges, or other Ryanair extortion, it was cheap. For train tickets to Dublin, see www.sailrail.co.uk

ART&DESIGN

STEVEJOY “Painting is marginalised, but that makes it great to be a painter.” “I’m very much an English artist, I’m very much a Cornish artist, and all those painters are part of my tradition. But the reason I don’t paint like that any more is simply because I got to a point where I really wanted to defend the language of painting on a level that was separate from its sources, in terms of where I come from. So even though I’m going to be working in Cornwall a lot now, the work will still have more to do with Medieval icons or monasteries than anything to do with Cornish history - That is something that’s in there anyway.” “I’ve travelled the Orient and I think of myself as a kind of Orientalist. I try to bring all those places where the East and West meet into my work and I try to connect that to the Celtic isolationism that people in Cornwall, Wales and Scotland have had for hundreds of years.”

Steve Joy’s biography reads more like the wish list of a P&O cruiser than the condensed history of a Devon-born, RAF serving, Commonwealth games cycling, abstract artist. Far East, Middle East, Europe, Mediterranean, New Zealand, and America both North and South. To be vague, the majority of the globe has felt the pitter patter of Joy’s footsteps. To be specific; France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Norway, Minorca, The Maldives, Mexico, Japan, India, Morocco, New York, Omaha, and of course, Devon and Cornwall. These are not holiday destinations, Joy has had extended settlements in all of these places.

“I’ve deliberately spent thirty years not living in England, or anywhere. I’ve tried different places, but anywhere that you’re depending on grants from the government, or institutions. Like in Norway you get all these stipends from the government, it’s very dangerous because you’re taking away that critical element in your

John Paul Somerville work, which is how to market it. That’s been five hundred years of art history really. Going back to Vermeer; every painting that Vermeer made was a commission, it was for somebody. He wasn’t in the studio just knocking about.” “In all of my time at art school nobody ever told me how I might make it, apart from giving me a book on how to apply for grants. Which makes you rely on committees to make decisions, you need to get away from all of that. I figured out long ago, I remember I sold a painting to SouthWest Arts, back when they used to buy paintings, Back in the late 1980s for, I don’t know, £5000 or something. Well I ended taking that money and living in Italy for about a year and a half. And you would just make it last because it was important to pursue this vision. I didn’t quite know what it was then but of course I do now. I know exactly what I’m doing now.” As has been the nature of this article, I will conclude there on Joy’s own words. I couldn’t agree with him more, he knows exactly what he’s doing – and the confidence of it radiates from his paintings with unusual beauty. Joy’s book Uncreated Light, which accompanied a retrospective of his work at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha can be found in the Woodlane library.

I liken a conversation with Steve Joy to a particularly good show on Radio 4. You’re engaged but relaxed, you feel actively involved in the discussion but you have very little desire to contribute. The ideas being shared, you quickly realise, are more interesting than any ideas you could provoke yourself. And always, there is the assurance that any questions you do have will be covered gently but thoroughly, in their own good time. With this in mind I’ve chosen to structure our interview as a mixed assortment of wisdom from Joy. “The advantage of being British, and this was true when I was a student, is that you have nothing to lose.” Steve, (having lived in America) talks of the artists groups, apparently found ‘everywhere’ across the Atlantic. “They’re all working away but often it makes the work very mediocre because it always falls back upon itself, on the artists desire to express themselves, which is always selfish and never very interesting. To really make it work you’ve got to go much deeper than that.” “For hundreds of years art was a very philosophical, scientific, sociological, based practice. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that it became self involved, just about self-expression. That was the first time you had artists who were able to operate independent of benefactors, like the church, or the court. And that really, eventually, led to what we now call abstract expressionism, and that led to a pure abstraction.” “The art world now has gone back to a more sociological form. The only problem is that it’s been picked up by the media and turned into a form of mass entertainment. So one of the problems we’re faced with now is, if you take the technological route and you work with installation and digital, multi media forms, you have to attach it to something a little bit deeper that something the Daily Mail like to have.” “If you buy Vogue magazine there’s always a picture of Tracy Emin, drinking a glass of champagne at some party or event. And it’s so tiresome because they’re making art, and I feel very strongly about this, that really isn’t very deep. it’s not profound. And I’m not saying that art has to be but I am saying that the current, what used to be called YBA, situation. That mass movement in London. I think a lot of that art has become more like social anthropology, and the reason I’m fighting it is because as a painter you have to justify why you paint, back in the 1950s you weren’t battling anything more than art history but now being a painter, to be an abstract painter you have to battle the prevailing thought that art should be some sort of sociological discourse. There’s nothing wrong with it being that but it’s getting a bit boring. I’m looking for deeper things.”

India 1996, Oil and beeswax on wood 180x188cm

art&design@flexnews.com

3DDESIGN

Work by Callum Kiss and Daniel V Outhwaite

The Artus desk has been created though a culmination of efforts from second year 3D Design students, Dan Outhwaite and Cal Kiss. The design is presented as an effective means of maximising function while minimising the need for a large space. The desk can be folded into a cube to form a compact working area whilst still maintaining a stable and comfortable place to work. The innovative design of the cut out leg creates a perfect space for your feet or a chair. Dan and Cal hope to present their design solution to various design companies in hope of finding the perfect opportunity to take their desk to market. The 22

ART&DESIGN

CAITLYNSHEARER

Arts Editor Catherine Durham

Caitlin Shearer is a 21 year old illustrator from Australia. Her whimsical, romantic illustrations have captured my heart for several years, and I was excited when she agreed to tell me more! Hi Caitlin! Thanks so much for agreeing to be interviewed! Tell us a little about yourself: Hello! I’m Caitlin. I’m 21, Australian, and working as an illustrator. I enjoy painting in watercolours, I’m currently living by the ocean, and I’m obsessed with the golden age of Hollywood.

compendiums of fairy tales and poems, and so the art made by people such as Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, Eric Kincaid, Shirley Barber, Hilary Knight, and E.H Shepard shaped my aesthetic obsession and put me on the right path. Those people helped to shape my childhood, which I appreciate so, so much. My paternal grandfather is an oil painter and my mother is a very creative person so my family were always okay with me taking a career path that can be considered quite difficult sometimes. They had belief that I would be able to succeed, (so didn’t have to sit down and urge me to become a nurse or something!) which was in itself inspirational. You’ve already collaborated with designer Karla Spetic, are there any more collaborations like this in the mix? And, if you could work with anyone, who would it be?

What is your working process? Do you tend to draw from life, or photographs? What inspires you throughout this process? My working process usually consists of me listening to music and sitting at my desk drawing and re-drawing lines until they are suitable to the image I’ve got lingering in my brain. At this stage I’ll include all of the detail in lead pencil and then go over this with washes of watercolour and then gouache for highlights and patterns. If I’m working on a portrait of someone in particular who actually exists, I will work from their photographs, otherwise, lately I’ve been mashing imagination and glimpses of old pin up girls. Photobooth tends to come in handy when I can’t figure out how to draw hands and angles of faces. I’m very visually inspired by the black and white movies I watch late at night on TV. A fondness for the past always seems to pop up in my work. and what keeps me inspired while working I think, might be the need to create images that I’m well and truly proud of, that I feel passionate about, that somehow express what’s going on in my head. There is a recurring theme of female icons, longing, and heartbreak in your work - what has drawn you to these themes?

Yes! I’m currently working on a few collaborative projects - one being to create some custom textile prints for New Zealand fashion designer Kelsey Genna. I’m her biggest fan, and we love a lot of the same things, so it’s a wonderful and exciting opportunity. If I could work with anyone, I would like to be an art director on a Tim Walker photoshoot, a fashion stylist for a David Lynch movie, an illustrator for Lula magazine, a gig poster designer for Anna Calvi, and a fashion illustrator for Vivienne Westwood or Galliano. If you could pass on one piece of advice to the readers of flex, what would it be? Create from your heart, be open to experimentation, have passion for what you do. Thanks Caitlin! You can find more of Caitlin’s work at www.caitlinquiet. blogspot.com, or buy prints from www.etsy.com/shop/ CaitlinShearer

Although I’ve never been in love, I’m a steadfast romantic. Maybe once someone breaks my heart I’ll become somewhat bitter and get rid of the whole notion. Who knows. For now I’m just fantasising about it all and I guess because I can’t channel it into my life it just goes into my work for safe keeping. I feel sometimes like I’m stuck in a perpetual sense of longing. Not just for love, but regarding many aspects of life. Waiting for life to be moulded into something that I find utterly wonderful. Sometimes I think ideas like that get jumbled up with the work you make in a subconscious manner, but loneliness and being on the verge of certain mature changes is something I think about a lot. And women, I’m just obsessed with women. This I cannot explain. I often think to myself ‘oh you have to draw more guys’ but then when I sit down to draw my pencil always ends up making someone with hips and lips and long hair. Have you always wanted to be an illustrator? Who inspired you to follow a future in art? I have always loved to draw and paint, and in in my last few years of high school I began to take it all seriously and think about it being a possible career. With the help of the internet it transitioned from being an obsessional hobby into a job. As a child I devoted much time to staring at illustrated

art&design@flexnews.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Art and Design Editor Catherine Durham

Cornwall Mining History Photography by Kelly Marie Smith

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LiFESTyLE I wanted to say goodbye! This will be my last issue as Lifestyle Editor, and I wanted to say a quick thanks to all those who have contributed over the past year. I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity, and would encourage any remaining students to get involved with Flex; work I have produced as Editor has enabled me to build a portfolio which assisted my MA application. I’m saying goodbye to Falmouth to study Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion. I will be very sad to leave Flex, and indeed Falmouth, behind me. I do, however, leave Lifestyle in some very capable hands. - Hannah Banks-Walker.

ucF graDuate shows: FALMOUTH FASHION SHOW SPECIAL ‘OUR FUTURE FASHION DESIGNERS.’ Text: Samantha Howard

As a University, the work that students produce consistently reflects Falmouth to be one of the best design schools in the world. The work produced each year by graduating students is both stunning and unique, in a variety of different ways. In particular the 2011 Graduate Fashion Design and Performance Sportswear Show which was on 25th May. The show was an absolute success and a massive reflection on the huge talent of the University students. The graduate show was a mix of the two combined courses, BA (Hons) Fashion Design and BA (Hons) Performance Sportswear Design, also including first and second year selected students from a range of projects such as yoga-wear and swimwear. The facilities within the department are some of the best in the country, and the students this year have pushed the boundaries using the very latest fabrics, laser

Work by Chloe Reynolds.

Sophie Anderton modelling a Suzie Punchard creation.

cutting, tape seaming digital printing, hand crafted bead work, and fabric bonding amongst others. Although the experimentation within the department is large, it gives the students great scope to experiment with many different ideas; however it is the knowledge of the students and the creative ideas which makes using these techniques so brilliant, something which have most certainly been reflected in this year’s graduate collections. Over 30 stunning collections took to the catwalk for the second year running, representing the cuttingedge and progressive nature of the course that aims to shape the students successful launch into industry. As a second year fashion design student myself, to see the final show come to life after months of preparation and hard work is extremely satisfying. Each student has shown individuality and huge commitment towards their degree which was clearly reflected during the afternoon and evening

show. Reflecting all areas of design such as pattern cutting, styling, forecasting, trend predictions and research builds unique collections that reflects the department at Falmouth to be host to an extremely diligent range of students. The process of making a show happen such as this is a challenging task. From marketing to hair and make-up to the fashion department and events management, all within the University have a big part in making the show a success. The first and second year fashion students are also on hand working in teams in preparation for the show, including groups for PR, Hair and Make-up, Marketing, Model Scouting and Styling. Throughout the day the students help out on a range of tasks, such as selling tickets, dressing models and grabbing last minute items. This personally is a very exciting experience and brings the students across all three years closer together, helping one another out.

A variety of people travel from London to help with the run of the show, including Nikki Palmer (make-up artist) and a selection of V.I.P. guests from the industry were invited to watch the show, including a variety that sponsored it. Although the show is mainly organised by both the fashion and events department, it is an event like this where the University really comes together, with film, media and pressphotography students allocated to film and photograph the show, giving these students work for their graduate portfolios. The show was a huge success. Local schools from both Falmouth and Truro were invited to watch in the afternoon, giving a taste of what potentially they could be doing if fashion was something they would like to study in years to come. The evening brought people from all over including industry clients, friends and family of the graduates, students within the university, local residents and of course the graduates themselves, creating a great atmosphere. Personal favourites have to be Jack Gullacshen, Chloe Reynolds, Catherine Wildey, Suzie Punchard and Jessie Metcalf. All of the graduating students of 2011, I am sure, will do extremely well within the industry with whatever they decide to do in the future. I wish them the best of luck! If you would like to preview some of the collections from the fashion show, you can visit the Facebook page ‘UCF Fashion Show’, of which photographs taken by photography students at the University have uploaded. There will also be a video of the show which will soon be put up if any of you weren’t able to make the show.

Catherine Wildey’s collection.

A Jessie Metcalf look.

LIFESTYLE

Falmouth’s Sartorial Surprises Text: Michael Swann

It was this time last year that the first graduates of the UCF BA Fashion and Sportswear Design courses showcased their talents in a runway show, and a year later on May 25th, the second set of starry eyed departees staged their explosive farewell. The marquee in Falmouth’s Event Square played host to collections that prove the Fashion Design talent of Falmouth to be a force to be reckoned with. From the exquisitely made practical work and sportswear of Betty Blackwell and Sophie Hawkins (winner of the Co-Operative Award) to the almost theatrical and highly creative work of Jack KindredBoothby and Chloe Reynolds, as well as the sublime minimalism and simply elegant outfits from Bryony Ross and Chloe Davies, there was a lot to treat the eyes as the models paraded and the designers watched from the audience, either too nervous to drink or too drunk to be nervous!

Jennifer Wheeler’s collection, as photographed by Michael Swann and Hannah Beck.

Opening the show was a selection of project work from first and second year Fashion & Performance Sportswear design, with some very interesting and impressive swimwear and skiwear. Next year’s show will be the second years chance to shine relentlessly with their final collections, and to see their work in this year’s fashion show bring on a great excitement from May/June 2012. Focus then turned to the graduates, a group of people that grasped the limelight and never let go, with their 31 final collections, all oozing with months of ruthless hard work and passion. With a show as diverse as the UCF Fashion Show, it can be a trying task to pick out a favourite; Jack Gullachsen’s superbly tailored menswear left me with a sudden urge to abduct him and force him to make me clothes for the rest of his life, and I’m sure any girl would say the same of the dazzling collection from Trinity-Tristan Higgs whose final dress was worn by professional model Sophie Anderton. Jennifer Wheeler’s skate and surf inspired collection stands out for its subtle, intricate prints and gorgeous colour palette, while Hazel Wakefield’s clothing for fashion conscious cyclists caused a stir with its striking range of luxurious but practical fabrics and great mix of sportswear, eveningwear and every-day dress. But as a male onlooker, it was the menswear of Catherine Wildey that had me weak at the knees, with her extremely desirable shirts and a sophisticated dapper look that wouldn’t look out of place in a Jil Sander or Burberry Prorsum show in Milan.

Jack Gullachsen’s work, captured by James Allen.

There’s no question of these young designer’s vision and talent, and with only 2 years of graduates so far, the future is glowing. The shiny new Fashion photography course beginning in September is only going to add fuel to the flame, making 2012 an explosive year when it comes to Falmouth Fashion.

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Too much, too young? Text: Hannah Banks-Walker

Willow Smith has recently proven, through the medium of hair whipping, that we are all old. At the tender age of ten, she already has a hit single, has worked with Jay-Z, and shares ‘style tips’ with Lady Gaga. I am twice her age, and have accomplished none of these things. Of course, my dad isn’t Will Smith but still, Willow is a prime example of the increasing number of children stepping into the limelight. If you thought Dakota Fanning was young at 16, meet her younger sister Elle who, at 12 years old, starred in Sophia Coppola’s recent film Somewhere for which she won an award earlier this year. She’s also Rodarte’s new muse, proving that the fashion industry has now started to favour child stars. Take Hailee Steinfeld- at 14 she has already starred in the Cohen brothers’ True Grit and has now been snapped up by Miuccia Prada to be the new face of Miu Miu. Longing sigh. More than this, however, several infamous fashion houses have designed new collections aimed towards the younger shopper. Lanvin, Gucci, and Versace have all announced that they will be

producing ‘high-end children’s clothing’ for children through to the age of 12. I dread to think of my own pre-teen wardrobe. Gian Giacomo Ferraris, the CEO of Versace said of their own collection: “This is a high-end, glamorous and colourful collection in line with the brand’s essence, with a touch of rock ‘n’ roll.” Ah, rock ‘n’ roll, the essence of any childhood. Meanwhile, the notoriously pricey house of Balmain has announced its new, more affordable collection named in honour of founder Pierre Balmian. This new line is in conjunction with a new licensing agreement with Ittierre SpA, an Italian company, and will be available for spring/summer 2012. Balmain said that they hope this will encourage a younger clientele; perhaps they decided that at £1, 625, they weren’t going to be selling a great deal of their cotton ripped t-shirts. Either way, there certainly seems to be a focus on the younger generation or more specifically, the younger rich generation. I’m not sure my pocket money would have stretched to Versace but one thing’s for sure, Willow Smith’s certainly will.

Lemon Meringue Frozen Yoghurt Text: Michael Swann

Well, not specifically frozen yoghurt in that painfully on-trend way, but more a yoghurt based ice cream. Every summer I seem to go through an ice cream phase – last year it was down to the purchase of the Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream and Dessert Book; a fantastic book to get, by the way, if you have an ice cream maker. But this year having kept a close eye on the market trend (human milk ice cream anyone??) and my waistline; I’ve decided to lean towards the increasingly popular frozen yoghurt. I like frozen yoghurt, I really do, but to make it at home without an ice cream maker to slowly freeze and churn it, well... most of my attempts tend to turn into an icy milky mess. In replacement I offer you this: A Lemon Meringue Ice Cream which uses Greek yoghurt as a base. I like to offer this as a proper end to a barbeque so buy some extra meringue nests and some raspberries whilst shopping for this and you can construct yourself six miniature lemon and raspberry pavlovas – perfect to enjoy in the setting Cornish sun. Also, if you are in a hurry, you could just not freeze it and serve as a lemon meringue mousse. Feel free to buy your own lemon curd and meringues rather than making them yourself.

600ml Whipping Cream 225ml Greek Yoghurt 300g lemon curd Grated zest and juice of 3 lemons 6 meringue nests broken into small chunks You ideally need to prepare this a day before you want to eat it. First stiffly whip the cream and fold in the yoghurt followed by the zest, juice and lemon curd, then add in the chunks of meringue. Pour into a Tupperware container, like a lunchbox, and freeze. When you want to eat it; transfer to the fridge about 40 minutes beforehand to soften. To make the pavlovas pile up a large scoop of ice cream on a meringue nest and top with fresh raspberries or a raspberry coulis.

Elle Fanning as the face of Rodarte

LIFESTYLE

Boojum Nights Giveaway You may remember that in last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flex we told you about the upcoming event, Boojum, at the Falmouth Rugby Club on June 10th. This is definitely not one to miss, and because we are so kind, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving two of you lucky readers the opportunity to win some free tickets! All you have to do is answer the following question:

Who was the first British DJ to mix live on UK TV?

The first two correct answers will receive free entry with their names on the guestlist. Please email all answers to: boojumnights@gmail.com Free tickets or not, make sure you get to Falmouth Rugby Club at 9pm on June 10th, where you can enjoy the talents of Dicky Trisco, as well as Spinforth (of HongKongPingPong fame). Advance tickets are now available from The Poly: you can phone 01326 319461 or alternatively buy online: http://oscar01.savoysystems.co.uk/thepoly.dll/. We hope to see you all there! To get yourselves in the mood, or just to find out more visit: http://boojumnights.wordpress.com/

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