JUSTY
NOVEMBER 2013
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CONTENTS Sring at GUU from new President, Ash
Milleniual Life Crisis
Taboo for a reason
Should we give traditional gendering the flush?
FROM THE BOARD
VIEWS
SOCIETY
VIEWS
PAGE 5
PAGE 4
PAGE 7
PAGE 6
Public Transport Taboos
Spring Traditions from Across the Globe
TheTaboo of Glorifying Summer
The Future in Time and Tradition
VIEWS
CULTURE
LIFESTYLE
OPINION
PAGE 10
PAGE 11
PAGE 9
PAGE 7
Spring Photography
Travel Taboos
The Tradition of Award Season
Hollywood Films Which Broke Taboos
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRAVEL
CULTURE
CULTURE
PAGE 15
PAGE 16-17
PAGE 12-13
PAGE 14
Do we need live action remakes?
5 Things To Look Forward To This Summer
Art Feature: A Humble Practice
REVIEW
SPORTS
ART
PAGE 17
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PAGE 18
PAGE 19
CONTRIBUTORS Ash Ringus Anya Brzeski David Nkhansah Emma Harrison Evie Caldwell Amy McShane Katie Macleod Joanne Ferguson Jessica Simpson Caitlin Young
Rachel Mccarney Johanna Crighton Tom Smits Ciaran Doherty Jenna Macfarlane Laura Holliday Katie Knight Anna Ireland Andrew Muir
EDITORIAL TEAM Cover/Graphic Design - Rachel McCarney News & Politics Editor - Joanne Ferguson Views Editor - Amy McShane Lifestyle Editor - Katie MacLeod Culture Editor - Caitlin Young Photography Editor - Tom Smits Website/Features Editor - Jess Simpson & Johanna Crighton
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WELCOME
over Design: Evie Caldwell: "I wanted to show the theme of taboos and traditions through the image of people. Different figures clothed and unclothed, each with different styles, piercings, tattoos and hair colours to highlight the potential taboos and traditions we associate with the body. The whispering represents taboos, in particular those about sexuality, gender and appearances which are increasingly apparent in society today.''
Hello readers! Welcome to the Sping edition of G-You and my first issue as the new Editor-in-Chief! We're very excited about great contributions we have for this issue and have lots of great content to share with you, such as 'Spring Traditions' on p8&9, 'Hollywood Films Which Broke Taboos' on p16&17 and some lovely spring photography on p12&13! We wish everyone the best of luck for the dreaded studying and exams ahead and hope you enjoy taking a break with G-You. The Elliot and Bridie Libraries at GUU are open from 8am-late daily. We're also offering FREE TEA AND COFFEE for students studying there during exams. Sadly, this is also our last issue before the summer, but keep up with our online content at: www.gyoumagazine.wordpress.com Contirbutors meetings will recommence after the summer, but if you're interested in getting involved in the meantime, contect us by emailing libraries@guu.co.uk. Thanks for reading! Enjoy! Lottie van Grieken Editor-In-Chief MULTIPURPOSEMGZ | 3
FROM THE BOARD
From the Board Ash Ringus President
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i there, cool cats. Hope you are well and not completely overcome by exam stress. It will all be fine, don't worry, just a couple of more weeks and it’s summer. Until then though, try not to let the stress get the better of you.
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he Easter holidays mean a relatively quiet month for the Union. However, there has still been stuff going on, with the highlight being us hosting our largest annual debating competition. During the first weekend of April Glasgow Ancients and Glasgow Women’s took place. Both the competitions were highly successful events, and saw more than 130 debaters from several different countries speak in our beloved Debates Chamber.
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part from the two debating competitions, it has been quite a quiet period for us, as the Easter holiday has seen most students go back to their respective homes, the Beer Bar being the only open bar in the building, but still has been sparsely attended most nights. Even though there is nothing we enjoy more than when the building is full of you lovely people, the quiet period has had some benefits, as it has given the new board
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the chance to find their feet a little, and also meant we have had the chance to sit down and plan the upcoming events, such as Beach Party and Freshers’ Week.
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he Beach Party is our annual end of exam celebrations, which this year will take place on Friday 19th May. During the day, you can be serenaded on the grassy knoll where Ents will host an Al Fresco Open Mic, or, if you are in the mood for a more active afternoon, you can sign up for Games Com’s 'Life’s a Beach', which is similar to B.A.D.G.E in many ways, but with a “beachy” twist, such as a slip and slide, water balloon fights and much more. And, of course, we will also cater for your desire for fun at night as well, with the extension transformed into a summer paradise for one, final tropical boogie before the summer.
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egarding Freshers Week, the plans are well underway, we have selected our team leaders and by the time you are reading this, we have probably chosen the remaining 60 helpers as well. A theme has been chosen and some of the acts are already booked. I cannot say much more about that
just now unfortunately, but we are very excited, so keep your eyes peeled for more info very soon.
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ver the summer, there Union will undergo some big changes, as the much anticipated refurbishment of our catering facilities will be embarked upon from the 5th of June and onwards. The project will see the Kitchen and Servery transformed, into a more functional and more atmospheric space, with a new layout and new furniture. The Drawing Room will also benefit from the project, we will replace the furniture there as well. The transformation can also be seen in terms of the food, as a completely new, more extensive menu has been developed, comprised of a wide range of healthy, tasty food at a reasonable rate. The project will be finalised in good time before Freshers’ Week, so by the time you all get back after summer, come in and check it out.
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ll that remains is to wish you all best of luck with your exams, and hope you all have a delightful summer. See you in September!
OPINION
Millennial Life Crisis Amy McShane Views Editor As I prepared for this month’s issue, I sat down to consider the words ‘taboo’ and ‘tradition’ and my brain felt like it was going to explode. Not only does this theme cover such a vast range of topics, it is extremely relevant in our ever diversifying, taboo-busting, norm-breaking society. This, clashing with the recent resurgence of the far right, often championing the revival of patriarchal and segregated societies based on ‘traditional’ values and individualism, makes it extremely difficult to cover in a column. I saw it as most appropriate to discuss something that applies to me and has been swimming around in the back of my head recently. I’m sure you’ve read some sort of article on ‘millennials’ and how awful they are. Millennials are the current young adult generation of the West; children of the ‘baby boomers’. We are self-obsessed, materialistic consumers who drink up resources and take selfies because we are infatuated with ourselves. We also grew up being told that we could do anything and be anything we wanted, as long as we were happy. Perhaps that wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.
sume those who are Western, middle class and university educated are the ideal candidate, as I see little evidence of the ‘millennial’ lifestyle elsewhere. Many of my high school peers happily remain in my hometown, working ‘normal’ jobs, moving into houses and occasionally announcing engagements and pregnancies on social media. Others have been to university, travel the world outside of term time and have no intentions of ‘settling down’ in the near future. None of these people are lazy, self-obsessed or keen to rely on their parents to support ‘lavish’ lifestyles, as much as tabloids would love older generations to believe. It is also important to note that this apparently luxurious lifestyle the media depicts is completely inaccessible to a great deal of the world’s twenty-somethings.
Like many things in life, a shift from tradition is not taken well. It can be considered taboo not to own property, to spend money anything that is not an investment, and to practice self love. The reality is that in 2017, flights are cheap and houses are not. We are told to consume; to feed back into the economy. The course of our lives does not have to follow the path our granI struggle with the catego- dparents took. The human risation of all people whose race on this overpopulated age hovers around the twenty planet is thriving and immumark into this nasty box. I as- ne to more illnesses than ever,
reproduction is not essential and the nuclear family is no longer the only option. There is more research into global warming and environmental sustainability than ever before. Economies have morphed through agrarian societies, industrial revolutions and service industries and here arrives a new frontier; advertising and endorsements to support bloggers, entrepreneurs, travellers, YouTubers and social media personalities. Perhaps there are ugly aspects to it, but this is the new reality. We build on the foundations laid by previous generations.I find myself hiding evidence of trips to new countries funded by my just-above-minimum-wage catering job because I am embarrassed that I might come across as entitled and greedy.
'We also grew up being told that we could do anything and be anything we wanted, as long as we were happy. Perhaps that wasn't meant to be taken seriously' While there is merit in modesty and it is certainly not a tragedy in the grand scheme of things, it is worth discussing. I lie awake at night feeling confused about the fact I just don’t want to pick a town, buy a home and rear children in the next decade. I don’t want
to be married in a church. I don’t want to own a house. I don’t want to belong to one country my entire life. All the things that seem to be the ‘end goal’ fill me with dread because I am confident I will not be done learning, exploring and understanding at the age of twenty two. I want to contribute to this planet with the knowledge of my degree in a career that occasionally sends me to different corners of globe, I want to spend a lot of my time living life without all the luxuries I grew up around, I want to enjoy the company of my boyfriend who I have no intentions of marrying any time soon, and I want to use the money I earn to buy memories, not a mortgage. I fully appreciate that there comes a time for mortgages, children and pensions, and that pushing these sort of things later into life leads to all sorts of problems, but I am simply entertaining the idea that it should not be a taboo to choose a life that deviates from ‘the norm’. Should millennials, and indeed anyone, live in a way that does not align with previous generations but is sustainable, ethically conscious and to the best extent self-sufficient, I believe it is a taboo worth breaking. My parents told me I should do what makes me happy, so I will.
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POLITICS & SOCIETY
Taboo
for a reason Joanne Ferguson Politics Editor
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hen we decided on the theme of taboos for this issue, my first instinct was to talk about breaking oppressive stigmas that society has put on people. Then all the rectorship stuff happened and I really just fancied a rant about Milo Yiannopoulos. Unfortunately for the world, but fortunately for an article, there are lots of similarly scummy people in existence for me to write about. These are people who see different things as taboos – race, gender, sexuality etc. What I want to talk about in this article is why these taboos are not only legitimate but necessary to protect vulnerable people.
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ou probably know what I’m talking about but in case you don’t i mean things like feminist activists being sent death threats then being told their overly sensitive when they do something about this. This is universities implementing no-platform policies against transphobes like Germaine Greer, and being greeted by complaints about freedom of speech being attacked. This is Jeremy Clarkson being called out on racism and people who are just trying to be welcoming being accused of being PC-obsessed snowflakes, or whatever. Everywhere on the internet – comments on articles, youtube comments, even whole youtube videos, political correctness is criticised.
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want to explain why it’s important that political correctness is not only accepted, but fervently protected. Firstly, it’s literally just being nice. There’s an interview with Milo where the interviewer asks him if he cares about offending people (YT: “Milo Yiannopoulos' fiery interview with Channel 4 News”, if you go look at it, give it a dislike), and he says no. He’s asked if he cares about being nice to people, and he says no. He is literally just a bully. The amount of effort it takes it to be sensitive to the ter6 | MULTIPURPOSEMGZ
minology that vulnerable people would prefer is so unbelievably minimal that any attempt to weigh the harm to you against the benefit to them is absurd. Political correctness is an attempt to be nice to people whose lives are negatively affected by factors outwith their control. I see no way in which that can be something malicious.
displeasure at this, and the following happened:
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t took me a while to decide whether or not to reply to this person. This is one of the people I’m talking about. Someone who uses “social justice warrior” as an insult is probably the kind of person who also thinks “political correctness” has gone mad. I hope that you as a reader nd these are people amassing lar- understand the problem with this perge groups of followers. The com- son’s comment. ments of that youtube video, in defence of Milo, have hundreds of likes and owever, I wouldn’t be surprised replies in agreement. Milo was until if you, like me, would be hesitant recently employed by Breitbart, a pa- about calling this person out. I’ve been per with massive influence in the White in plenty of internet arguments that have House. This is serious. He got hundreds raised my blood pressure way too high of votes at our own university. His idio- and distracted me from what I’ve been cy is not that niche, not seen to be that trying to do that day. These arguments crazy. In response to a documentary are unpleasant because they’re often about Mens’ Rights there is a video by with people who know you’re wrong and Roosh V called “Reggie Yates and the are just trying to wind you up. BBC Hate Masculinity” with 43,283 views. There is also a reply video from ut you know that if you just leave it, a channel called “Feminism LOL”. The that harmful view looks unchallenalt-right is real, and even if it’s not ne- ged to people seeing it. It looks like you cessarily winning elections, it’s getting have no rebuttal. This can be a massive the results it wants on many stages. problem for people who are affected by these issues. Maybe someone with an overenthusiastic suitor reads this pero why am I bringing you down? son’s comments and feels guilty about What’s the point in me ranting not reciprocating their affection. about this to an audience that hopefully believes what I’m saying already? s you can see from above though, There’s a story I’d like to share to expif you’re brave and you comment, lain. standing up for these people, you might find that you have support. That comhe other day I was watching an epi- menter didn’t say anything else after me sode of ‘Critical Role’, a Twitch se- and the supportive user started talking ries where some of the most successful between ourselves. We drowned them voice actors in LA play Dungeons and out. Dragons. I was in the comments section, and I got into a bit of an argument. bviously do not do this if you are in a vulnerable state. If you are alreike and Scanlan are characters in ady stressed, or suffer from mental healthe D&D campaign. Scanlan qui- th issues. But if you are able to, I think it te often flirts with Pike, but it’s pretty is really important that you defend theone-sided. The opening comment in se taboos, wherever you can, and wear this thread said that they liked Scanlan the badge of ‘social justice warrior’ with and Pike as a couple. I expressed my pride.
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are those directed at trans individuals, a significant percentage of whom report verbal and physical assault in such spaces.
Should we give the tradition of gendering toilets the flush? Jessica Simpson Website Editor To some people, public toilets may seem like unassuming spaces — essential but not worth too much thought. It’s an aspect of our life most of us engage with daily, but is considered a pretty bog-standard action if you’ll pardon the pun. There is now, however, an active debate around what bathrooms we should be able to use. In March of last year North Carolina passed a law that requires that people use only bathrooms that correspond to the gender on their birth certificates which prompted much discussion as to whether or not the idea of gendered bathrooms is still relevant.
The controversy that arose from the bill illustrates that public restrooms are the stage for many complex social interactions, and that the availability of a place to relieve oneself is crucial in society. Gender-segregated public restrooms are either very old or very new, depending on how you look at the question. They arose in the Victorian era, along with widespread plumbing, meaning they've been around almost as long as the modern bathroom itself. On the other hand, having privacy for peeing is a relatively modern phenomenon. Yet in a day and age where men and women work alongside on another, eat adjacent seats in res-
taurants and travel pressed against each other in public transport, why is the idea of using the bathroom together such a taboo? Perhaps the point is precisely that the public restroom is the only everyday social institution remaining in which separation by gender is the norm, and undoing that separation would feel like the last shot in the “war on gender” itself. Opponents of trans rights have employed the slogan “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms”, which evokes visions of weak women being subject to attack by men who consider toilets as a place to prey in. However, the only solid evidence of any such attacks in public restrooms
Whether or not multi-occupancy, unisex restrooms are the best solution, politicians and the public need to begin envisioning new configurations of public restroom spaces, ones far more friendly to all people who move through public spaces. While gender segregation may remain the current norm, it is likely that we will see the addition of more single-stall restrooms that are open to any gender. Transgender people’s need to use bathrooms that match their identified gender is modest and not reasonably denied. Traditional ideology, in the meantime, stays alive in legal guidelines that resists more thorough change and determines our plumbing.
Public Transport Taboos, which should probably stay taboo
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hile it can be liberating to break away from the old and set yourself free from the shackles of judgement, there are always going to be some social rules that just aren’t meant to be ignored. Perhaps you feel liberated and brave to defy the unspoken laws of using public transport, but ultimately it’s for the good of the people if you just stick to what’s right.
1: Taking Your Shoes Off Whether it’s the tube, a train or a plane, this is perhaps one of the most controversial acts to be taken on public transport. It might make you feel more at home on the number 42 back from the gym, it’s just not nice. There is a good chance anyone within a three-seat radius can smell something that I’m sure doesn’t bother you too much because they’re your feet and
Amy McShane Views Editor you have quite nice feet, right? Wrong, marrying someone and then finding out that is not the smell I want to endure for they value the comfort of their new loaan entire bus journey. You could also top fers over that of a pensioner! it all off and put your stinky feet on something; perhaps the armrest of the person 3: Openly Sneezing and in front of you. Nice. Sometimes when I’m Coughing choosing a seat, I picture invisible smelly footprints all over. I’ve often wondered if the life expectancy of wealthier people is so because they 2: Putting Your Bags on Seats never use public transport. Not one single person on this vehicle wants the virus you Perhaps I’m just an angry person, but are currently travelling to the doctors’ for. I pass a good deal of my time on trains I’m sure it is common sense to carry tisglaring at people who assign entire seats sues in these situations, but I understand to their luggage. Sometimes there’s a that tissues are one of those essential cluster of grannies waving around like things you often forget. If you can feel it skittles with every turn, and it’s only a ma- building it up but there’s nothing to stop tter of time until they’re all on the floor. the spray, I hate to say it, but use your Just take your Zara bag off the seat and hands. At the very least to keep it visually put it on the floor, or the overhead space, bearable. Just don’t project what’s inside or your lap, or the luggage rack, or down your throat and nose into the already stoyour trousers for all it matters. Imagine dgy air of the bus.
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CULTURE
Spring traditions from across the globe Anya Brzeski
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t’s not been a very pleasant winter for Scotland. Very little snow, and more a kind of damp, grey, drizzle which somehow chills us more than a snowfall and some frost. Change, however, is in the air. Longer evenings and the new ability to go outside without 5 layers of clothing forecast. What’s coming? Spring. To celebrate, we’ve lined up some of the coolest and most bizarre Spring traditions from around the globe. e’ll start in Poland, where the Easter Monday celebrations of Smigus-Dyngus (meaning Wet Monday), are a far cry from the British traditions. On the morning of Easter Monday, boys traditionally sneak into the houses of girls whom they fancy, and proceed to wake them up by throwing buckets of water over them, whilst singing rhymes. The water is meant to forecast a good rain for the coming harvest, successful relationships and childbirth. Traditionally, the girls would wait until the following day to retaliate, but in practice they will throw the water on the same day as the boys. And if this isn’t enough for you, the boys proceed to spank the girls they like with branches of Pussy Willow: a replacement for the biblical Palm Branches, which are difficult to come by in Poland. This Tradition is popular across much of Central and East Europe, although the Hungarians have adopted the custom of the men spraying women with perfume and asking for a kiss, rather than dousing their loved one with a bucket of water.
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o Japan, where the famous Cherry Trees blossom for only two or three weeks every year, but thousands of tourists and locals alike flock to the parks where the pink blossoms flourish. Historically, the blossoming of the trees signalled the beginning of the rice planting season and forecasts the upcoming harvest. This is an ancient tradition, dating as far back as the 700s, and it was strongly believed that the Kami (spirits) resided within the trees.
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After visiting the trees it’s common for people to drink sake, and congregate in the parks for food and good times. The blossoming of cherry trees is also celebrated in many Eastern countries, China and the Philippines being two, but also in the USA. In Washington, Georgia, and Brooklyn, the festivals are particularly spectacular. Definitely a spectacle worth seeing, if you’re lucky enough to get the chance. ay Day is commonly known across the UK for its traditionally British festivities including parades, appointing the May Queen, and dancing around the May Pole. However, in Sweden, Finland and some other central European countries, their May celebrations are something quite different. Known as Walpurgis Night, the April 30th or May 1st celebrations (depending on where you are) usually include a bonfire to drive away winter and welcome spring, and sometimes to ward off witches and bad spirits. Choral singing is a core part of many of the fes-
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CULTURE
tivities, with town centres and parks being the filled with music and people. One of the best traditions of these May Day celebrations, in my opinion, is the Champagne Breakfast. Crowds largely made up of students begin the day drinking champagne in parks and public gardens, and eating lavish picnics. The only question I have is this: why are we not following our Scandinavian friend’s example in this? rguably the most colourful tradition during the spring period is the Indian Festival of Colour, 'Holi'. Held somewhere between late February and late March, the Hindu festival marks the arrival of Spring and the triumph of good over evil.
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'...boystradtionallysneakintothehousesofthegirls whomtheyfancy,andproceedtowakethemby throwingbucketsofcoldwateroverthemwhilesinging rhymes'
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he tradition dates back as far as the 4th century, and has become popular in many non-Hindu communities in Asia ,and across parts of Europe and North America. The colour throwing is a time to meet people and be carefree. Throwing colours is not limited to within your group of friends, it is normal to throw the coloured powders at strangers, young, old, rich, and poor alike. Water balloons and water guns are also commonplace amongst this free for all.
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f all of this seems a little far away for you, I have the perfect solution. The annual Cheese Rolling event in Gloucester is, for the hundreds of spectators who attend annually, one of the most exciting and important events of the year. Taking place every Spring Bank Holiday, there are a total of 4 different races down Cooper’s Hill, in which competitors attempt to catch the wheel of cheese rocketing down the hill. Due to the slope of the hill, the 9lb (4Kg) wheel of Double Gloucester Cheese can reach speeds of 70mph. In past events, the cheese has caused concussions and other accidents to the spectators. The origins of the competition are unknown, but it is thought that it may be as a way of exercising the traditional rights allowing people to have livestock grazing on common land. The cheese has been supplied by the same cheese makers since 1988. When tragedy struck in 2010, and the local organisation responsible for organising the competition dissolved, the good people of Brockworth, the local village, stepped in to continue this tradition. It is this dedication to tradition which makes the cheese rolling what it is today, and which has resulted in an international interest in the celebration.
'TheannualCheeseRollingevent...in whichcompetitorsattempttocatchthe wheelofcheeserocketingdownthehil'
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LIFESTYLE
The taboo of glorifying summer There were two beautiful days in the city of Glasgow. We all put our shorts on and got the sunnies out, and we sat in Kelvingrove Park getting drunk with our pals with the tunes on, and a lot of our pale little Scottish skin got a touch red. However, much to everyone’s shock and despite all of our actions, IT IS NOT YET SUMMER. We still have a WHOLE SUMMER left! It’s April, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. We can put the shorts and Birkenstocks away for a good few months yet. When you think summer, you think: cocktails on the beach, nothing but flip-flops and floaty dresses, glorious heat and relentless sunshine. And then you remember that you live in Scotland, and you realised what thoughts of summer truly consist of. Below, you will find a list of reasons why summer should not be glorified the way it is, and why, perhaps, summer just isn’t the one for us.
'ITISNOT YETSUMMER.We stil haveaWHOLE SUMMERleft!' HAYFEVER. It’s a rare and beautifully warm day in July. You are getting ready to head off to the beach with your pals and some beers. You walk out the door, and boom. Itchy eyes, runny noses and scratchy throats. Hayfever. The devil reincarnate. Go on, why not let hayfever ruin it for you? With people asking why you’re so stoned at 10am, why you are crying over nothing or why you are making a strange croaking 10 | MULTIPURPOSEMGZ
noise trying to scratch your throat? Hayfever will allow you just that. How fun. Bloody pollen. Pop 7 anti-histamine and deal with it. (Don’t actually pop 7 anti-histamine) WORK. If like the average Scottish student, you yourself are not a millionaire with unlimited and plentiful funds, summer means work. And it doesn’t mean work here and there, a couple hours a week, in between endless fun activities. It most likely means full-time work. 45-60 hours a week, work. That kind of work where you come home in the evening and sit on the couch and wake up 9 hours later to realise you’ve slept until morning. Yes, it allows us to have fun during our uni months, and allows us to buy adequate amounts of alcohol for the average Scottish student (too much). Yes, it gives our summer purpose (you’re welcome mother). And yes, it gives us a taste of the big bad ‘adult’ world. But what it doesn’t do is achieve our summer ideal of very little work and very much play. Is it all it’s cracked up to be? HOME. We love home. We love our families. But 4 months of home and families? That can be a tad trying. And summer, for a lot of us, means spending that time at home, saving money and having your mam cook your dinner for you. This really isn’t all bad, it can just be frustrating at times when they forget that you are 22 and wonder where you’ve been for 3 days. It’s called a ‘bender’ mam. Look it up. RAIN. Yes, we watch movies and dream of distant lands where summer actually does mean sun, and
Katie MacLeod Lifestyle Editor
hot sun at that, however, we do not live in these fantasy lands they speak of. We live in Scotland. This means we constantly say things like, ‘oh, I can’t wait for summer,’ and ‘oh, can’t wait for the sun to come out,’ and these comments are usually absolutely redundant as neither of them rarely ever happens. We have the famous week, or possibly two, where there is glorious sunshine and we can actually pretend we live in a fairy-tale land, and then one day mother nature will decide we have had our fair share of fun and frolics and it is of time to revert back to business as usual. Rain. Don’t be surprised by it, and don’t let it get you down, it’s how it is, always has been, and probably always will be. Prepare yo-selves. BIKINI BODY. Given our lack of a chance to whip out the beach attire (see above), this usually means we try our best to scrape together enough dolla to hop on a plane and hop off that plane to feel the sweet sun on our faces and be suffocated by the heat that we are not acclimatised to. What also must be taken into consideration here, is that this body has been hidden under layers and layers of clothes all year long, minus our two days of summer in Kelvingrove Park. Do we even know what we look like under the layers? Is there skin under there? We may have given our legs a quick once over with the razor in the morning of our twoday summer, but further than that we are probably fairly under-prepared in the bikini scene. So there’s one more thing to stress about -let’s go to the gym (!!!), let’s eat nothing but spinach (!!!), let’s go for a
full body head to toe wax (!!!). I think I’ll give all of that We look forward to Summer all year round. We might a miss, and just embrace the fact that I will look like a go on a couple fun trips, and at least we don’t need to study for 3 months. But essentially, it probably isn’t pale Scottish girl in a bikini and get on with life. worth all the hype to us Scots. More often than not, MISSING UNI PALS. You said your goodbyes in May we spend our summers looking forward to getting and gave a cheerful wave with a ‘oh, 3 months isn’t back to Glasgow with our pals and being let loose long, see you soon’, and by July you’re feeling like you in Hive once more. Let’s start enjoying every season, may have forgotten what their voice sounds like. Long and looking forward to the little things that are happedistance friendships are worse than long distance rela- ning in our lives instead of focusing on a 3-month long tionships! Who strokes your head while you’re spewing summer where we are probably working like a Trojan after Hive? Who makes you dinner after a long day at and missing our pals, all the while being judged by the library? Who consoles you in the fact that it is okay our mothers for our cleanliness levels and our geneto order pizza twice in one week? Our uni pals are the ral alcoholic tendencies. Who’s excited for Autumn? backbone to survival. We miss them. Summer usually takes them away from us, and that sucks.
OPINION
The future in time and tradition Jessica Simpson Website Editor
Do you remember when the future seemed exciting? Do you remember when it wasn’t blighted by the Trump Wall, Britain leaving the EU or a potential World War Three? Do you remember those simpler times? The past few years or so have brought us into a strange era, a climate which ideas are often considered taboo, until we realise they aren’t so unprecedented. These potential futures mimic what we read in traditional history textbooks. Put simply, we’re going backwards. Throughout the 20th century, progress seemed unstoppable. When World War Two ended, the future was
considered a brighter place, one not so regulated by traditional attitudes. The formation of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Space Station – all of these ideas seemed to promise a future of inclusivity and progress. So how did it go so horribly wrong? The envisioned global consciousness has begun to fracture once more as those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Subjects we thought were now considered taboo – nationalism, closing borders and general mistrust of others - have brought us right back to where we have been for the majority of history. The
result? We’ve stopped traditional ideals. The inventing new futures. future of Britain and America now seems In the past, new genera- to be the status quo of tions have been trusted 50 years ago. Yet polito break status quo and ticians who should suimagine new possibili- pposedly appeal to our ties. Just look at univer- younger demographic sal suffrage, universal have no new alternative education and socia- to offer us. lised healthcare! Our generation takes these This is why we are left privileges for granted, with the mess we are in the generations before now – at war with our us would consider them traditional battles over to be straight out of a the same taboos. We utopian sci-fi. are exhausted by both the past and the preBut where are the ambi- sent. We are too fractious, innovative futures tured and uninspired to for our generation to imagine a future where create? They are stifled things are better than by efforts to keep the the way things were beworld in its traditional fore. This is why we’ve past. “Take back con- stopped inventing new trol.” “Make America futures. Great Again.” The future we are offered seems one firmly rooted in MULTIPURPOSEMGZ | 11
PHOTOGRAPHY
SPRINg photography Scottish Borders Jenna Macfarlane
Isle of Mull Laura Holliday
Inverness Katie Knight
Interested in seeing your photography features in the magazine or online? Email: libraries@guu.co.uk 12 | MULTIPURPOSEMGZ
Fort William Anna Ireland
Amsterdam Lottie van Grieken
North Uist Andrew Muir
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TRAVEL
Tom Smits Photography Editor
Travel Taboos: What not to do when Flying from A to B
am not one to write about Irather ‘what not to do’ but much write about what to do
or where to go. Either way, this article could be read as a complaining piece of work. But I find myself writing this in the middle of some travels and in some ways it is a great outlet to set some records straight. The intention is not to insult anyone, or to be a whiney victim, here are just some simple tips to make everyone’s travel a little smoother. ooking like you fell into your accessory drawer personally just do not get this. You know you’re going to be walking through a very advanced metal detector and that all your metal possessions will either be detected or need to be put in those lovely containers. Dudes - take the chains off, the gold necklaces, and the trendy rings before you walk into the security area. Ladies – keeping it with the underwire is sufficient. No need to wear all the rights given as a gift since you were 4, you can always wear them once you’ve arrived at your destination. It is completely understandable for anyo-
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ne wanting to feel confident and look good, but an airport and airplane just isn’t the place where it’d be appreciated. It is the pilots and flight attendants that all of our eyes clock to. But if you want to bring along some jewelry and accessories, the tip is to put them in your hand luggage until after security. After that you can bling yourself up as much as you want. you don’t know Pretending what economy class is or some reason people think Fin first they can just ‘pretend’ to be or business class and for-
get that they are actually part of the larger economy class section. The amount of times I have seen people attempt to board with first/business class passengers and then getting rejected (which is secretly kind of satisfying) – would make me get out of a least 1 credit card debt. I do not know why people think they are better than everyone else to cut through. I understand if there is a possible language barrier and that is completely fine. And yes, sometimes economy class passengers are Silver, Gold or Rainbow members of the airline alliance, and that is fine too. But not when you are in sitting in row 44A and have never flown with BA before. Top tip
here is just don't be a d*ck.
Getting a wee bit too comfy it, it is going to be a 12Iofgethourspace flight, it’s a small amount to move around, we
all need to get comfy. Trackies on, graduation sweaters on, and it’s all good. It is important to feel comfortable in a contained space but just know where the limits lie. I’m all up for shoes off but only under the condition that you have knowledge of your own feet. Do they smell bad? Are they going to smell bad? Do I have to take precautions before I board a flight? One of my friends, Richard, knows his feet may not smell like May flowers and therefore takes precautions such as rubbing them with talcum powder. He brings a mini-sized bottle for flights. Simple, cheap and does everyone a favour. Also don’t feel like you have to sleep without a t-shirt on the plane, we’ll appreciate that body in a different setting. In most aircrafts the air is recycled - meaning all our sneezes, body odours and evaporated bodily fluids go up and come back down to blow on our beautiful faces. So let’s just relax, sit back and enjoy the flight without some sort of evaporated recycled body odour.
CULTURE
The Show Must Go On: Yay or Nay? The Tradition of Award Season Caitlin Young Culture Editor In 1929, the very first Academy Awards took place in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. While the Oscars aren’t they only awards show they are arguably the most famous of the bunch. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the Oscars are the trailblazer. Awards Season is a well-loved and time-honoured tradition; there is literally an award for everything: Film, TV, Music and Theatre, they’ve got you covered. It is a night where people’s egos are boosted dramatically - don’t let the humble speeches fool you. Nowadays there is slightly more focus on what the nominees are wearing and what’s happening in their personal lives and less about what they have been given recognition for, something which a lot of actors and musicians alike have expressed their distain for. Which begs the question: is awards season out-dated or as important as it used to be? Or has the true meaning of it been lost?
‘Who are you wearing?’ A question made popular thanks to the team of self described fashion experts on E!’s Fashion Police. You can watch all of the red carpet coverage for any given awards show and probably count on one
hand how many times an actor is asked about their movie or a musician is asked about their chart topping album. No, apparently all everyone watching at home wants to know is if its Versace or McQueen. While it is great to appreciate the designers’ effort by admiring their dresses and tuxedos it is a shame not I, myself, am a huge fan of to focus on why everyone award shows and I do en- is here. joy the red carpet aspect of the show; I would be Sometimes it is not just lying if I said that I didn’t. the fashion that overshaHowever, in some cases dows the winners on their this is all people are inte- big night. Everyone knows rested in. They only care that all celebrities are to about the answer to the expect a certain amount now infamous question, of attention on their pri-
vate lives, especially around awards season. This is a given but what happens when it is all anyone can talk about? This year was a prime example of this. Casey Affleck won best actor for his turn in Manchester by the Sea but it was not his win that plastered the news front, it was his personal life. In 2010, he had two cases of sexual assault filed against him, which were subsequently settled outside of court. While he may have deserved the negative attention for
this, his co-stars, director and other film crew did not deserve for their own part in the film to be overshadowed. This is not the first time this has happened and sadly it probably won’t be the last. So why does the show still go on? Is everyone not bored of the lengthy production and having a current comedian/talk show host present? No. As humans we dislike change, if some major shake up were to happen within the world of award shows we would probably have something to say about it. For every one person that loathes any sort of
awards ceremony there are 10 people who love it and count down the days until their favourite one. For me, it is the Oscars, it’s basically Hollywood’s version of the Super Bowl. It is a time where we root for our favourite actor to win their first Oscar, Golden Globe or BAFTA but if you’re Meryl Streep we want you to win them all every year. Or it’s when that underrated band picks up their first Grammy and put themselves on the map. Think back to 2016 when Leo DiCaprio finally won his Oscar. The Oscar that everyone wanted him to win whenever he was nominated (whether he deserved it or not). The Oscar that caused death of the ‘Leo’s losing face’ memes. It was an Oscar moment that everyone had been waiting for and a moment that was now overshadowed by what designer suit he was wearing – it was Armani by the way. Tradition is something that is highly valued and this is a sentiment that stands for awards shows. Yes they may seem over the top but we all still tune in and watch. It is the entertainment industry after all. The red carpet goes part in parcel with the show but what we mustn’t forget is why everyone turns up, actors and musicians put in a lot of hard work and want that to be appreciated. A night that comes with Adele swearing on live TV, John Travolta getting Idina Menzel’s name wrong or Leo looking like he might cry like a baby is a night that I hope never leaves our TV screens. MULTIPURPOSEMGZ | 15
CULTURE
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ew film announcements have generated quite the same controversy as Disney’s decision to include its first gay character in the recent live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. Within days of the news of LeFou’s sexuality the film was already plastered across every news website, banned in cinemas in Malaysia and given a “adults only” rating in Russia. Apart from the baffling implication that this is somehow considered less appropriate than a romance between a woman and a humanoid buffalo, there is also little more than an allusion to LeFou’s feelings within the film - The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw referred to the moment as “the world’s briefest gay reveal.”
Hollywood films which broke taboos Emma Harrison
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he resulting scandal, therefore, speaks volumes of the relationship between Hollywood and social taboos. Not only do viewers seem to hold a certain expectation that the mainstream channel of western cinema remains traditional and straight-laced, but Hollywood itself tends to shrink from upsetting these ‘off-limit’ subjects for fear of losing that same audience - hence the shock of seeing homosexuality for the first time in Disney, in 2017. This uneasy relationship can be seen throughout cinematic history, but there are consistent examples of certain films daring to push the boundaries and break societal and filmic taboos.
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he Jazz Singer
ne of the first and most important examples, although it seems hard to imagine now, was the introduction of sound in cinema. As film had always been conceived as a visual medium, with all nuance provided by title cards and any music performed by live musicians, audiences were reluctant to accept this new technology. The first popular example of this change (though not the first ‘talkie’ film) was The Jazz Singer (1927), a hugely successful musical demonstrated the potential for the inclusion of spoken dialogue and recorded music. Its wide ranging success across the US indicated the end of silent film, and indeed changed cinema more than perhaps any other progression in this article - actors’ performances were toned down, accents and nationalities began to be prioritised, and the entire construction of film was altered. he Crimson Kimono
n the days of early Hollywood, a code was put in place to prohibit producers from depicting interracial relationships - an example of taboo being not only a societal reservation but an actual prescribed feature. Fortunately, numerous film producers ignored this rule as time went on, with Samuel Fueller’s noir The Crimson Kimono (1959) being the first acknowledged example of an interracial kiss. This was considered such a controversial move at the time that the film actually used it to create a public reaction - the original film poster bore the line: “Yes, this is a beautiful American girl in the arms of a Japanese boy!” (Yikes.) 16 | MULTIPURPOSEMGZ
one With the Wind
he line “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” is perhaps the most famous aspect of Gone With the Wind (1939) due to it being widely believed to be the first use of profanity in Hollywood film. This is actually incorrect (the first example was fourteen years prior), but as the most widely watched and recognised example, the film is seen as being a forerunner in breaking the taboo on swearing in cinema - even if the use of ‘damn’ seems incredibly mild nowadays. The impeccably spoken, glossy dialogue of classic Hollywood was beginning to be broken down.
ast Tango in Paris
he opening scene of Last Tango in Paris (1972) shows two strangers arriving at an empty apartment, barely exchanging a greeting, and then sleeping with each other. Such a scene would be little more than a humorously rushed exchange on in recent cinema, but in the 70s this film induced controversy unlike anything Hollywood had produced before it. In addition to its frank treatment of sex, the film was explicit in just about every area, from nudity to swearing, provoking a mixture of fascination, shock and anger from audiences. In more recent years it has become more infamous for the appalling treatment of its lead actress, but at the time of its release Last Tango was a key example of breaking Hollywood taboo across the board.
CULTURE
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rokeback Mountain
inally, and perhaps the most topical example, is Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (2005). While being far from the first depiction of a gay relationship in cinema, this film was one of the first major motion pictures to focus on one, and provided a cinematic benchmark. It also proved that a story founded on a gay romance, focusing intimately on the characters rather than social movements, was capable of not only doing well at the box office but winning four Golden Globes and three Academy Awards. This was key in normalising LGBT representation in Hollywood, and encouraging future films to follow in its footsteps.
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ilms such as these have helped pave the way for the way that Hollywood cinema is today - however, as the controversy surrounding Beauty and the Beast proves, there still exist strong taboos surrounding Hollywood film and what it represents. While we can continue to press for further inclusion and progress, there is certainly still a long way to go.
If it ain't broke, Dont fix it...
Johanna Crighton Website Editor
Do we need live action remakes?
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ven if you lived in a cave in mars you would know that this week was the release of Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. However, the release of the fourth live action movie in the last few years got me thinking, how much do we actually need these revivals?
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es, it is fun to see popular actresses take the roles of much loved Disney princesses, but could Disney not spend the time and money on creating a new, original films to promote rather than rebooting the classics? Or is Disney simply running out of original ideas? I was intrigued by the thought of Hermione falling in love with a 3D CGI buffalo-man-bear as much as the next person but also a little sceptical, would this become a Disney classic for years to come? Doubtful. 'When the originals are already much loved by children and hungover adults worldwide,I doubt the live action remakes will go down in history as the originals did'
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Disney. And yes, you can throw in as many famous faces as you want but, when you have the choice in a few years, which one would you want to watch? admit, films like Maleficent that change the perspective of original films are welcome ideas as they have strokes of originality and charm we haven’t seen before; but films like Cinderella just seem to be brightly coloured versions of the same sickly sweet love story with a nicer dress and a prince with an actual name. I understand the thrill of bringing pictures to life but Disney’s recent obsession with churning out remake after remake makes you wonder whether it’s actually needed (or wanted) or is it just for the sake of generating more cash from a beloved and perfectly acceptable film.
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hen the originals are already much loved by children and hungover adults worldwide, I ith Aladdin, Mulan and The Lion King all doubt the live action remakes will go down confirmed to soon come to our screens, only in history as the originals did, as animation is what time will tell whether they will become as makes Disney. It’s what we associate with the word classic and rewatched as the originals.
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SPORT
5 Things To Look Forward to This Summer It’s that time of the year again where the great leagues of rugby and football begin to wind down. With no Euros, World Cup or Olympics to look forward to and the Rugby World Cup a distant memory, the outlook for this sporting summer may appear bleak but even though some of the most renowned summer prizes aren’t on offer there is still plenty to look forward to. So don’t delete the betting app or take up knitting just yet, and have a peak at some of these…
1.British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand Kicking off on the 24th of June, Warren Gatland’s lions are searching for their first ever tour win against the All-Blacks. With his squad now announced, many are saying this is the Lions best ever chance of beating their arch-rivals down under.
featuring only 8 teams, the host nation, the current world champions and the winners of each continental trophy (yes, that means Ronaldo is on display).
The footballing world will be watching this one closely with serious concerns over Russian football hooliganism which caused issues in UEFA’s Euros in France last summer. This means the top men at FIFA will be watching for any possible issues that could blight their showpiece next summer. Another quirk of this competition is the curse that seems to fall on its winner, with no team ever winning the federation cup has won the following World Cup. Will this be the year to break this trend?
3. Wimbledon
2.Confederations Cup Sometimes the forgotten international tournament of FIFA, football’s governing body. The Confederations Cup is set the year before the World Cup and is world’s first glimpse at what the host nations facilities are like. A relatively small tournament, 18 | MULTIPURPOSEMGZ
Often the highlight of the year for tennis fans and for the rest of us, that time of the year were we pretend we are tennis experts. The world’s most famous tennis tournament attracts the best and brightest strutting their stuff on the lawn tennis clubs green grass. With Andy Murray back to defend his title this year, Scottish flags will once again cover Henman hill (or Murray mound, whatever tickles your fancy), but as
Ciaran Doherty
usual the question will be ‘Can he do it again?’
4. IAAF World Athletics Championships 5 years after its successful Olympics, London will once again host the worlds fittest and fastest human beings. So, if you’re one of those people who enjoys switching off their Xbox and leaving the safety of their bed to do exercise this could be the event for you. With two of sports greatest names, Mo Farrah and, the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt set to bow out after the games, this could be one to remember.
5. Golf Majors You could consider Golf the Marmite of sport, you love it or you hate it. Well if you’re like me and enjoy spending hours watching the elite of the game test their skills on some the worlds trickiest golf courses, then this summer has plenty to look forward to. With 3 of the 4 men’s majors still to be contested and with the Solheim Cup (Ladies Ryder cup) there is plenty for golf fans to be excited about.
ART FEATURE
David Nkansah, 2nd Year, Mathematics and Statistics
'A Humble Practice' 2015, oil on canvas.
''I created this piece as part of my advanced higher art project, exploring the theme of religion and its impact, both positive and negative, on my life. At the time of painting this, I had become interested in the idea that religion was at its most beautiful when reduced to its essence. 'A Humble Practice' is a figurative piece influenced by the works of Rembrandt and the Baroque movement, and through which I have tried to use a very simple image to represent what is a very complex feeling.''
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