Forge Zine #6 (November 2019)

November 2019 @ForgeZine

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e g r o F

e n i Z #6

Editor's shit Welcome to another topicless Forge Zine! We've had quite an adventurous six months and would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has shared their work with us. We are proud and honoured to print each and every single piece of work that comes through our inbox.

I would like to thank in particular Paul Whelan, whom without his input, time, and sporadic fabulous ideas we would not have succeeded. To thank Imogen Peniston for giving me the kick up the ass needed to get this into production (and her continuing ass kickings!). To Errol Harsley who has given me continued faith in this project. And of course to all readers and contributors.

We would also like to congratulate every student who graduated this month, and we hope that your day was as spectacular as the Minster is. And yes you are still a student at heart for as long as you desire to be!!

TRIGGER WARNING: While there is no gun powder present within these pages there may be other heated topics of debate. We urge you to not take offence to these elements for they are never meant aggressively.

(Left to right) Imogen Peniston, Paul Whelan, Eleanor Hartley Smith, and James Rance

Blackout Poetry by James Rance & Paul Whelan (Original texts selected by Helen Pleasance) A transcription of collaborative experiments from a Creative Writing workshop at York St John University.

February 2019 3

Ode to the Market the Sea 1

among the vegetables, this The sea missile is everything. It covers the terrestrial globe. It is pure and life-giving. It swam, is an immense desert place where man is never. now It is the physical embodiment of a supernatural existence… the sea is itself lying nothing but love. It is the Living Infinite. Nature manifests herself in it. dead.

The ocean is the vast reservoir of Nature.

With its untold depths, this sea that never changes, for whom years are centuries and centuries millennia?

Kraken

2

Far, far beneath in His ancient, uninvaded sleep faintest sunlights flee About his shadowy sides; above him swell the sickly light, From many a wondrous and secret cell Unnumbered and enormous giant arms slumbering There hath he lain for ages, and will lie Until the fire shall rise and on the surface die.

Surrounded by the earth’s green bunches only you lived through survived the great abîme, only witness to that night.

Only you: led from the depths, carry your wound, into the torrent, the dark, grieving.

1 From Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (1870) 2 From “The Kraken” by Alfred Tennyson (1830) 3 From “Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market” by Pablo Neruda, translated by Robin Robertson

Let me just say before anyone feels compelled to start bitching: I am equally repulsed by both factions of the EU referendum farce. Rest assured I would just as quickly have sliced up Remoaner propaganda had it been shoved through my letter box.

'Government Cuts' by Paul Whelan (collage)

November Puzzle & October Answers Fire and Powder Can you get Fawkes to his prize?

Halloween crossword answers

DOWN 1) Author of The Castle of Otranto, widely regarded as the first gothic ACROSS novel. (7) 2) 16th century pub in York, claims to A: Walpole be the most haunted. (6,6) 3) Name of Satan's non-human A: Golden Fleece servant in Bulgakov's The Master and 5) Fictional town in Maine, the setting Margarita. (8) for Stephen King's It. (5) A: Behemoth A: Derry 4) The Simpsons annual Halloween 6) Quoth the raven... (9) special is called "______ of Horror" (9) A: Nevermore A: Treehouse 7) Massachusetts city infamous for its 6) According to Dante Alighieri, there 17th century witch trials. (5) are this many circles of Hell. (4) A: Salem A: Nine

Where is this? (October): St. Wilfrid's Catholic Church, Duncombe Place

Why I Dislike the Phrase “Style Over Substance” Article by Ryan Moate “Style over substance” is a phrase that I see every so often when people describe films. It’s one that usually annoys me because people always use it to negatively review something. It’s not exactly a taboo phrase but it’s one that judges some films very unfairly. The films that often get branded with this are ones that are more spectacle than story and just like with other films, there’s good ones and bad ones. But the phrase has stuck to both.

Films such as Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) often get criticised for not having enough of a storyline, and instead focusing on the action or visuals. Not all films need to have groundbreaking stories to be masterpieces. As such, Fury Road is a masterpiece that focuses on spectacle. Films like this by their own design are pushing what can be done visually and artistically. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is another example. The film doesn’t have much narrative but instead focuses on greater themes, messages and ideas. Sure it's a narrative film but the narrative is simply the vessel to carry the film’s artistry and ideas, and is one part of the bigger picture. Even the film’s narrative, which focuses on Dave’s exploration into space and his conflict with HAL 9000, is full of interesting ideas and messages. I won’t give away any spoilers. Even now, the film looks amazing visually and is often regarded as one of the greatest Sci-Fi films ever made. 2001 stands as a testament that not all films require the amount of storytelling that we’re used to seeing in order to be great.

That’s why I don’t like “style over substance” because some films are a lot deeper than they may seem. Fury Road might be a feature length chase scene but it also contains many ideas of what a post apocalypse might be like. Not only that, but the action is stunning. Not all films need to heavily invest in deep characters and their relationships in order to tell and create interesting ideas. I view film as an art form, and I believe that films are able to create meaning through their visual elements more than their narrative should they want to. After all, it's a visual medium. If they want to create meaning and depth through their style then why not let them? The narratives that are in these two films though are still pretty good. Even if they’re not as dialogue heavy as other films the themes and messages they tell visually are in the narratives as well. Not only that but these narratives are still told well.

There are definitely films that look good visually but aren’t good when it comes to narrative.

That’s a given. Michael Bay’s Transformers films are like this. They have very impressive CGI and effects, but the narratives and performances leave a lot to be desired. That doesn’t mean that they’re unwatchable though. The Transformers are still worth watching for their impressive special effects.

Bad films can still be watchable and enjoyable. Art is subjective and as such, people like different things. Some people will enjoy Transformers, some people won’t. To use the phrase “style over substance” to dismiss them though is unfair towards people who might enjoy them. Why? Because you might put them off wanting to watch them.

It’s unfair to judge films as being “style over substance” because even though not all films will be a 2001 or a Fury Road in terms of quality, there still might be more there than what meets the eye.

Even the bad films could be trying to tell you something. All you have to do is look beneath the surface. Its unfair to people who might enjoy those films too though as I’ve already said. I can’t stop people from using it and I’m not trying to. I’m simply voicing why its a phrase that I don’t like hearing.

Twitter: @RyanMoate

The Intelligence Test by Imogen Peniston What can you only catch on your tongue?

The way you love me.

How do you wash your hair?

RN E H T NOR Y R T E O P

With vigour, trying to find a part of me you didn’t take up.

What can you tell a balloon?

Don’t let anyone inflate you.

What can you do with a hen?

Make it tell the truth.

What can’t you do with a broken egg?

Fix it.

What can you do with an axe?

Sharpen it.

Future Happenings 6th & 13th Dec Open Mic @The Nook 20:30-23:00 7th Dec Wreath Making @the Reading Café, Rowntree Park 10:0012:00 £7.50 per wreath 7th Dec B Positive play by YSJ Drama Soc @John Cooper Studio, Monkgate 18:00-19:30 Tickets on Eventbrite £3-5 12th Dec YSJ Singing Soc (charity) Christmas concert @York St John University Students' Union £3 for students/£5 for non-students

12th Dec Drink & Draw @Spark York 19:30-21:30 £7 (materials included) 13th Dec Christmas Archie's Day @YSJ SU 10:00-21:00 19th Dec "Sparkflix" It's A Wonderful Life screening @Spark York 18:30-21:00 £Free (collection for charity) 20th Dec Festive strike for climate @St Helen's Square 12:30-15:30

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