Q. What do you like most about Harrow Bangkok so far?
A. The students: you guys are incredible! You can go to other schools from all around the world and you don't get the same kind of enthusiasm. You don't get the recital hall absolutely filled out because of a house event You guys engage in everything. Sometimes we make mistakes. Not everyday is a good day for all students but you guys really make the place what it is.
Q Who would you say is your role model?
A. I listened to a TedTalk by Sammy Basso who has an accelerated ageing disorder so he looks 90 even though he’s 14. It’s a wonderful TedTalk where he talked about how he was still able to find happiness despite his condition, such as how he was able to design his own musical instrument to fit his needs and play in a band. It’s wonderful.
Q. Do you like playing videogames?
A. 'I have always been interested in being outside more than playing video games. I do feel like the old games were better though, you played them because you enjoyed it, the stakes were low. I remember playing Tiger Woods and Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64, since then I haven't picked up a controller!'
Q. What is your favourite show of all time?
A. Fawlty Towers. It is just really funny!
Q. What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to the students?
A. Take advantage of all opportunities, even if you’re not interested in it Even me, at 32, I feel like there are still things out there that would interest me that I haven't done, so go out there and engage with as many things as you can!
Q What’s one book you’d recommend the students read?
A. There’s this book called Factfulness which is all about statistics and how we use them, often wrongly This book confronts all those misinformations. It’s very easy to consume and I’d recommend it to anybody and I especially like the psychology aspect of it.
Q. What song have you been listening to most these days?
A I haven’t listened to music much since I’ve been in Thailand, it’s just been so busy!
Q. What about when you were younger?
A When I was younger I listened to everything I went through a lot of phases and mostly listened to what was popular in my time which, when I was your age, must have been hiphop.
Q Do you have a favourite saying or a personal motto?
A. “It is what it is”
Q. If you weren’t doing what you do today, what would you be doing and why?
A Depends on which day you ask me On a really tough day, I think it would really fulfil me to be a landscape gardener. To design a beautiful garden and be able to take care of it, I think would be very calming. On the other hand, I always planned on becoming a psychiatrist. I always thought I was going to study medicine, I was going to specialise in psychiatry but I did some work experience and quickly found out I was terrified of needles and any kind of bodily fluids; blood and things like that just make me sick!
Q. What’s your favourite bit about teaching psychology?
A. I love the psychology behind teaching. I love the fact that everyone’s brain is the same yet when it comes to remembering things, people claim they have different methods and preferences Some people will say highlighting really works for them, some people say reading through notes really works for them but actually our brain is the same fundamentally, only shaped differently by different experiences.
Q. What charity organisation would you like us to support and why?
A I’m not saying one charity is more deserving of support than another because they’re all deserving to an extent but I'd like to see us reach out to more international organisations to broaden our horizons and our understanding of how things are done in different parts of the world, which in turn would enrich us.
We arrived at Australian International School early in the morning
with grey clouds looming over the Singaporean sky We took our seats on the bleachers and put our boots on while watching the games before ours, nerves but also excitement were building as a sense of the reality of what we had been working towards all season set in We warmed up and had an inspiring pre-game team talk from Coach Jack Th e game started in a cagey fashion, the confidence we had prior to kick-off was lacking in the first few minutes of our opening game against Ruamrudee. A ball came into our box and in the process of trying to defend the cross we conceded a penalty, the RIS striker stepped up and calmly put it away. It wasn’t the ideal start for the Harrow boys. As the minutes went on the confidence in our own ability beg an to outweigh the nerves of the occasion, a long shot from Felix snuck into the top corner and put us back in the game. Harrow kept knocking on the door but could not find the next goal no matter how hard we tried, shots from LP, Saint, and Andy were all close but
not quite enough Against the run of the play in the last few minutes, the RIS central midfielder got through the Harrow midfield and snuck a ball into the striker A clever faint from the striker sent Pac one way and he placed the ball into the near corner, ultimately sealing an unlucky defeat for Harrow in our SEASAC opener The second game against British School Jakarta kicked off just a few hours later, from the first whistle it was clear Harrow wasn’t at the races Within fifteen minutes of the first half, BSJ had sco red four goals and left Harrow players in disarray with the scoreline affecting the player's motivation greatly Coach Jack spoke to us in a realistic way that provided us with something to fight for in the second half, even if there was not much to play for anymore we were now determined to at least fight for it. Attack after attack eventually resulted in the first goal of a potential comeback from Tristan, the second followed soon after from Saint. With an increased spring in the step of all of the Harrow players, there was attempt after attempt on goal but the BSJ goalkeeper stayed resolute and prevented a second-half comeback that we had fought so hard for. The game ended in a 4-2 loss. We went into the next game against UWCE East with the knowledge that we had to win this game. We stayed org anized and motivated throughout the first half and we went into the half-time break in the lead. An own-goal as well as goals from Andy and Saint had made the score 3-2 at the break. The game was approaching the end and it was now 4-4, UWCE East had scored 2 and Andy had got his second of the day. The UWCE striker had been played through and looked destined to score but a last-ditch tackle from Felix k ept the score at 4-4. A few minutes after that, in the dying embers of the game, Harrow got a corner. The ball came in and was cleared by a defender but it fell right to Kan who was waiting on the halfway line, despite being told to take a touch he hit it on the half-volley and it flew into the bottomright corner. He sprinted off arms in the air shouting in celebration, players on the bench and th e pitch sprinted over to him to celebrate the win his volley had just secured.
That last-minute goal had put
us in a better position of third in
the group, meaning we would play second place of the other group in the playoff game the next morning That team was UWCE Dover and if we beat them we would be in the cup competition, where the top four teams competed for the title and promotion to division one But lose that game against Dover and we would be in the plate competition, it was all to play for the next day We were riding a positive wave of confidence after our win against UWCE East heading into our game against UWCE Dover the next morning It was an early start and from the first whistle we controlled the game, Dover was no match for our high press and LP bagged the opening goal after dispossessing the Dover defender The high press continued to work for us and Saint stepped up, like he had done so many times before, and scored a brace. Ajen Bi Zheng also popped up with a beautiful goal, cutting inside from the right wing and placing the ball into the top left corner with his left foot Dover pulled a few goals back and then got a penalty, making the scoreline 4-3, and the comfort we had felt earlier in the game seemed in danger of disappearing but Best came up from the left-sided center-back and chipped the Dover keeper and reinstating the two-goal cushion and putting us into the cup competition semi-final against BSJ later that day. Determined to make up for our previous disappointing performance against BSJ the day before we started off the semi-final in impressive fashion, showing we were much more than what we showed in our last meeting with BSJ
However, as the first half progressed that same complacency made a return and at half-time BSJ went in with a slightly fortunate but not wholly undeserved 3-0 lead
Knowing that we had been working for this all season and sensing that the team was not playing to the best of our abilities, Saint decided to take matters into his own hands His first goal from outside the box ignited a fire in the rest of the team who were
now determined to pull this back It was clear that Saint was going to leave a mark on this game as he slotted in another outside-the-box finish to narrow BSJ’s lead to just one goal The momentum was clearly on our side now and when a freekick was won on the edge of the BSJ box everyone on the pitch and everyone watching from the sidelines knew Saint would be stepping up to slot it home and secure his hat trick His freekick did not go in as many expected, but it fell right back to him after being cleared and he immediately volleyed it across the goal and made the scoreline 3-3 and got a hat trick that he thoroughly deserved. The game was now in a stalemate with both teams battling it out to get the winning goal, unfortunately, that opportunity fell to BSJ who scored a goal from a cross into the box and gave them a 4-3 lead against the run of play It had reached the dying embers of the game and Harrow had a corner, our goalkeeper Pac Ractham came into the box determined to have his own Alisson moment by scoring from the cross The ball was floated in but cleared by BSJ and without a keeper in the Harrow net, the BSJ captain scored and secured a 5-3 defeat for Harrow Despite the efforts from the team and heroics from Saint Harrow had fallen in the semi-final and missed out on the opportunity of promotion to SEASAC division that we had been craving The defeat meant we would play KLASS in the third-place playoff the next morning
The next day we went into the game against KLASS determined to win and leave Singapore with silverware to show for all of our hard work, not only in the past few days but since the beginning of the season. The game started in an ideal fashion with the man of the moment Saint scoring yet another goal and bringing his tally for the tournament up to a staggering eight goals KLASS managed to pull two goals back and put themselves in control of the game by halftime, determined to change the scoreline Harrow went into the second half with an intense desire to win With around ten minutes left on the clock, we pulled off a 2010 Barcelona tiki-taka Esque passage of play and Andy pulled the ball back into the box where Felix had made a run from defence and he put it away making the score level again at 2-2 With momentum on our side, we looked likely to go on and get the winner in the last few minutes of the game With the game drawing to an end, extra time was imminent but with time running out the ball fell to Felix outside the box He pushed the ball onto his left foot and was able to get a shot off, it went past the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner. The late goal secured the win, third place, and silverware to show for all of our hard work The celebrations were widespread throughout the whole team at the final whistle, with everyone proud of we pulled together as a team and showed the class we always knew we had
In the awards ceremony following all the games each team had an MVP award voted for by the coaches because we came third, we received an extra nomination Our MVP awards went to Pye Pramoj who had proved his versatility and drive throughout the whole tournament, playing and excelling in multiple positions as well as working hard and motivating the other players during the tournament and the season as a whole The other MVP award went to LP Adireksarn, his hold-up play as a striker allowed our other attacking players to frequently get into dangerous attacking positions. Both players deserved their awards as their attitude and hard work encouraged us all as a team to succeed We also won the sportsmanship award for the boys tournament, it was voted for by the other teams Each team had to vote for which team had the best sportsmanship during the tournament, we were very proud that we were able to win the award as it represented the positivity we brought to the tournament Throughout the whole trip, every single player worked hard and proved themselves as great players and we had an amazing time in Singapore, creating memories we will not forget for a very long time
The 8th of September 2022. Not a memorable date by itself, but it will now be ingrained in our memory forever - Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom departed this Earth.
It was a solemn day for us all, even for those without a personal connection to Britain. The monarch who had long reigned over Britain had now been laid to eternal rest. Thousands came to watch the procession of her coffin down the Royal Mile, thousands more to watch her final procession down the streets of London. It marked the first time a Sovereign had passed away since her father George VI passed away in 1952, and the first time a monarch had died in Scotland since James V in 1542.
She ascended the throne in 1952 and was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom on the 24th of March 1953. It was a momentous occasion, being the first coronation to be televised, bringing royal and religious ceremony into people’s drawing rooms for the first time.
Her late Majesty reigned over some of the most difficult times in British history. From the Suez Crisis in 1956, to the decolonisation of British Africa, and more recently the Covid-19 pandemic, the Queen was a constant presence throughout these chaotic decades. She was a paragon of restrained virtue in a time where political manoeuvring was emphasised, where scandals enveloped her dominions, and revolutionaries threatened to bring down the very institution she symbolised.
Many will remember her not as monarch, but as a public figure who all seemed to respect, despite her political views. There will naturally be a difference of opinion on any public figure, but her life was dedicated to the service of the people, and she fulfilled this role to the best she could. By her own admission, she did not understand much of the day-to-day business of government, but allowed herself to be guided by her advisors, but most of all by her conscience. The morals she inherited from her family and her education, as well as her own religious views. As Supreme Head of the Church of England, she found solace in her faith, and quoted often from the Scriptures in her speeches.
It can be said her reign was a balancing act – accepting the loss of prestige of Britain after the Second World War, while maintaining the mystical aspect that surrounds the monarchy, the otherworldly character they seem to be imbued with by virtue of their coronation. The later era of her reign was marked by a desire to continue in her role, while her health declined. In the months before her death, she attended the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of her reign, including a rock performance by Brian May, and a solemn service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. To find words to describe the cultural change her reign illustrated would be impossible – from the wireless radio to the telephone, her life spanned such a broad number of changes it would be banal to mention them. I will end this short obituary with two quotes used in the period after her death, one from Shakespeare, and the other from the great mystic Thomas a Kempis:
“May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest” – Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 2
““O quam cito transit gloria mundi/O how quickly the glory of the world passes away “ – Thomas a Kempis
May she rest in eternal peace.
Written by Rudy (N13)
Immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, masked Russian Immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, masked Russian troops moved into Crimea and captured strategic sites, troops moved into Crimea and captured strategic sites, installing a pro-Russian government in Crimea that would then installing a pro-Russian government in Crimea that would then go on to sign a referendum that effectively returned Crimea to go on to sign a referendum that effectively returned Crimea to Russian rule. Also immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, Russian rule Also immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, protests by pro-Russian, anti-government separatist groups protests by pro-Russian, anti-government separatist groups would rise in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (administrative would rise in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (administrative divisions) of Ukraine collectively called the Donbas and divisions) of Ukraine collectively called the Donbas and were part of wider pro-Russian protests across Southern and were part of wider pro-Russian protests across Southern and Eastern Ukraine They would go on to declare the Donetsk and Eastern Ukraine. They would go on to declare the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, separating themselves from Luhansk People's Republics, separating themselves from Ukraine. Armed Russian-backed separatist groups seized Ukraine Armed Russian-backed separatist groups seized government buildings throughout the Donbas, leading to armed government buildings throughout Donbas, leading to conflict with Ukrainian government forces that would last up to conflict with Ukrainian government forces that would last up to the onset of the invasion in February 2022, with some cease the onset of the invasion in February 2022, with some cease fires along the way fires along way.
D D uring this time, the United States had also begun sending uring this time, the United States had also begun sending the Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) to assist with the Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) to assist the training of Ukrainian troops, which greatly concerned the training of Ukrainian troops, which greatly concerned Russia. Russia feared that this increased presence of western Russia Russia feared that this increased presence of western powers in Ukraine would lead to American forces being powers in Ukraine lead to American forces being stationed in Ukraine, partially explaining the spontaneity of stationed in Ukraine, partially explaining the spontaneity of their response Russia’s window of opportunity will continue their response Russia’s window of opportunity will continue to narrow as Porochenko signed the European Union- to narrow as Porochenko signed the European UnionUkraine Association Agreement during these conflicts, but Ukraine Association Agreement during these conflicts, but what had ultimately caused Russia to launch a full scale what had ultimately caused Russia to launch a full scale invasion would be the trajectory of Ukraine becoming a invasion would be the trajectory of Ukraine becoming a NATO member by 2022, following talks from 2008 up to NATO member by 2022, following talks from 2008 up to 2021 NATO had been growing steadily in power over the 2021. NATO had been growing steadily in over the last decade and had been continuously encroaching on last decade and had been continuously encroaching on Russia with Scandinavian countries tempting to join as well, Russia with Scandinavian countries tempting to join as well, leaving with but a few options The invasion, then, mostly leaving with but a few options. The invasion, then, mostly likely came about as a last ditch attempt to keep Eastern likely came about as a last ditch attempt to keep Eastern Europe out of NATO’s grasp. Europe out of NATO’s grasp
It is very to say how this conflict will ultimately shape the balance of power going forward as it unlikely we will see its conclusion any time soon However, certain things are for sure: clearly, the invasion has had the opposite effect of that intended by Russia, with more states around Russia soon However, certain things are for sure: clearly, the invasion has had the opposite effect of that intended by Russia, with more states around Russia now further along the path of joining NATO than they had been before the invasion, along with the war coming to be very profitable for the US, their now further along the path of joining NATO than they had been before the invasion, along with the war coming to be very profitable for the US, their rival’s economy utterly destroyed without them having to do much at all The Russian market crashing, though, has had the undesirable effect of an rival’s economy utterly destroyed without them having to do much at all. The Russian market crashing, though, had the undesirable effect of an energy crisis within Europe, as Russia was the main exporter of gas This is especially important and detrimental during winter time which limits energy crisis within Europe, as Russia was the main exporter of gas. This is especially important and detrimental during winter time which limits public support of the war within Europe. The most significant impact of the war so far, though, might just be its impact on Putin’s popularity, with public support of the war within Europe The most significant impact of the war so far, though, might just be its impact on Putin’s popularity, with protests happening all throughout Russia ever since the war started, along with rapidly mounting internal tensions from disgruntled conscripts having protests happening all throughout Russia ever since the war started, along with rapidly mounting internal tensions from disgruntled conscripts having to fight a losing war they do not support, for a government they hate What all this will accumulate into in the long run will be hard to say, for as to fight a losing war they do not support, for a government they hate. What all this will accumulate into in the long run will be hard to for as Churchill has once put it, “Russia is a riddle, wrapped in mystery, inside of an enigma.” But what we do know is that what we are witnessing will Churchill has once put it, “Russia is a riddle, wrapped in mystery, inside of an enigma ” But what we do know is that what we are witnessing will surely be a pivotal turning point in history that will change the balance of the world forever surely be a pivotal turning point in history that will change the balance of the world forever
It is very hard to say how this conflict will ultimately shape the balance of power going forward as it is unlikely we will see its conclusion any time
Carter's Doomsday is a mathematical argument that claims to predict the end of the world. The fundamental idea that powers this argument is quite simple.
Consider 2 boxes, containing numbered balls. The first box contains only 10 balls, numbered 1-10 Whereas the second box contains 10000 balls, numbered 1-10000 Now suppose you are handed a ball numbered 5, and told that the ball was taken from one of the 2 boxes Which box do you think the ball came from? It seems that it is far likelier for the ball to have come from the box with just 10 balls right? Now let us extend this idea to the earth. Assume that there are 2 identical earths with one that would support life up to the 200 billionth human, after which the world will end, a near doomsday And the second earth allows up to the 200 trillionth human, a far doomsday Now given that you are amongst the first 100 billion humans alive, which earth do you think you would belong to? Similar to the first example it would seem that near doom scenario is much likelier, but by how much?
To calculate this, we can use Baye's theorem. Now consider the 2 scenarios, near doom (denoted N) where the world will end after 200 billion humans, and far doom (denoted F) where the world will end after 200 trillion humans. If we are given no further information about these scenarios, the probability of these two events would be 50-50 We can set this as our original belief. Baye's theorem allows us to update our beliefs in light of new evidence Now let's consider the evidence that we are amongst the first 100 billion humans alive The probability that we are amongst the first 100 billion humans given that only 200 billion humans will ever exist, (denoted P(E|N)) is simply 1/2 Similarly, the probability that we are amongst the first 100 billion humans given that 200 trillion humans will exist, (denoted P(E|F)) is 1/2000 Now if we plug these values into Baye's theorem, we get the probability that the world will end after 200 billion humans are born is 1000/1001 or 99.9%. Assuming the current birth rate will continue, this theorem suggests that the world is 99 9 percent likely to end within the next 1000 years. This argument seems scarily convincing, but
should we accept it as fact? Should we start bracing for a mathematically prophecied apocalypse within this millennium?
Well, maybe not just yet. Carter's doomsday is subject to intense mathematical debate with dozens of papers disputing the claim, and dozens disputing the disputes to the claim. So let's not spend too much time worrying about the end of the world, rather let's spend time coming up with other weird ways to apply mathematical ideas
Believe it or not, the Internet did not give rise to procrastination In fact, procrastination has been around for centuries. The word "procrastination" was first coined by a Latin author circa 1542, and the behaviour is referenced in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex more than 3,000 years ago Procrastination is defined as: the practice of doing something else instead of what needs to be done.
There are many reasons why people choose to delay tasks until later, including: "I'll feel more motivated if I wait." "I don't want to waste my energy on something now when I can save it for later." or "I just don't feel like doing anything right now. " While these statements may seem reasonable at first glance, in reality they are all excuses used by those who suffer from a chronic case of procrastination
The most common reason people put things off is that they aren't really interested in doing them," says Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at DePaul University and author of The Power of Procrastination. "People are lazy, and they want to avoid work whenever possible.
In other words, the problem isn't that you don't have enough motivation or energy to get started on a task; it's that you don't want to do what needs to be done. This is a statement that should make any victim of procrastination wince, because it's dead-on accurate.
Written by Sean (K13)
Have you ever heard of online privacy? It is undeniable that the online world has a significant impact on peoples’ lives in our world today Regardless of age, practically anyone can access the internet However, where there are benefits there can also be downsides. Many people may not realise the importance of the protection of your privacy online, which can cause many issues in the future if you are not aware and informed about it
Now some might wonder what exactly is online privacy in the first place? According to Winston & Strawn, the definition of online privacy is ‘the level of privacy protection an individual has while connected to the Internet It covers the amount of online security available for personal and financial data, communications, and preferences ’
Why is this important? Online privacy can actually negatively affect yourself and others around you in the real, physical world, not just online. A few examples of this include doxxing, swatting, harassment, and extortion You may have come across a few instances of these actually occurring to people, perhaps on platforms such as Twitter, Twitch, or YouTube Or it might even have happened to someone you know It could also happen to you as anyone can be vulnerable when they are online
You still might not be convinced of the true consequences of carelessly managing your online privacy. Which is why I will tell you all about it.
Doxxing is commonly known as the sharing or spreading of personal information publicly, usually done with malicious intent. This information can be your real name, home address, phone, workplace, financial, and other personal information Which can lead to other highly undesirable circumstances like swatting, extortion, and harassment towards the individual As for the degree of it, some of the things the people who were doxxed and harassed experienced can be downright terrifying for most people In some cases even real dangers such as in-person violence.
Nevertheless, there are several methods of preventing all this from happening Aura shares many great protection mechanisms such as using strong passwords and twofactor authentication, tightening privacy settings for your online accounts, and browsing online with a secure VPN Things like this are not a small matter and even though it’s not something to be constantly anxious about, it is good to be conscious of your online privacy concerns from time to time. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry You never know what could happen in the near, unpredictable future
Social media is like a drug I am sure that everyone has felt the need to check their social media before, this is a fact that we can all agree with. However, when does this urge become too much? If you feel like you must look at your phone every time you are free, check social media right after you wake up, before you go to bed, and during meals, this can be one of the many indications of a case of social media addiction
As you may already know, social media is incredibly addictive and there is hardly anyone who might not use social media on a frequent basis But there is a line you should not cross, a line in the form of a behavioural addiction which involves compulsive, excessive use of social media When this happens for long periods of time, it starts having serious consequences on both your mental and physical health, not to mention, your interpersonal relationships, hobbies, interests, and other aspects of life
Although it can be difficult to accept and admit to something like a social media addiction, the faster you realise you are getting too attached to these online platforms, the easier it is to put an end to it And all the negative outcomes that could follow. So how do you identify social media addiction, you may be asking? There are various distinct symptoms for it For example, feeling restless and distressed when you are unable to use social media This can cause problems such as the inability to concentrate or pay attention, anger issues, and depression. Another symptom is when people heavily depend on social media as a coping mechanism, as a way to escape from reality when they are experiencing negative emotions, but just trying to distract yourself from such problems is not a healthy method of coping
One of the prevalent issues that people today face is called FOMO FOMO or Fear of Missing Out is mainly caused by social media Through studies, it was defined as ‘‘the uneasy and sometimes all-consuming feeling that you’re missing out – that your peers are doing, in the know about, or in possession of more or something better than you’’ It causes people to become extremely anxious and feel like they are inferior to others
Through the recognition of social media addiction and FOMO, we can find ways to avoid getting trapped into the spider web that will only bring us harm. One piece of advice is to practise mindfulness and focus on the present The inevitable need to compare yourself to the fake lives on social media can be suffocating and make you feel lacking in comparison Gratitude is essential If you imagine losing the things you already have, you will appreciate them more Overall, your life can brighten significantly with just a simple thing like saying thank you to the things you are already lucky to have in your life
Space has, supposedly, always been the destined final frontier of humanity. Ever since the conception of our civilization, we’ve always looked up at the night sky and wondered what is truly out there? This question gave birth to the genre of science fiction. It is a genre which serves to imagine the uncharted parts of existence, to celebrate the adventure which awaits us out in the stars, and to question what is to become of the future. But ultimately, these questions of extraterrestrial life, artificial intelligence, mechanisms of space travel, and many other tropes are all dictated and mediatized by our collective belief in the indomitable human will: the belief that humanity will always stand victorious against any obstacle through our collectivity and ingenuity, and that these same virtues will lead to a better future for all. Mankind never gives up; forever ambitious, aspiring, and never content with just what we
have—for we can always see more to be gained.
It is then interesting when scifi media breaks this boldly optimistic notion and explores instead our fragility, and why, despite being its proud inhabitants, humans may never stand a chance of truly having its place within the stars. Two of the best to have ever done so must be Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris (1972).
Kubrick and Tarkovsky are also considered to be two of the greatest directors we have ever had, and both ponder human nature but through two very different styles and means. The difference between these two masterpieces then perfectly reflects the difference of their styles, both legendary in their own rights—and with Solaris being routinely called Tarkovsky’s reply to Kubrick’s 2001:ASO, we must not only look at Solaris,
but its contemporary as well to truly understand what makes it special. Both Solaris and 2001:ASO explore the fragility of humankind, but whereas Kubrick did this through showing how truly primitive we all are and how unknowable the universe we are up against is, Solaris spends its precious runtime illustrating the delicacy of all which makes us human—love, memories, familial connection, and the emptiness we feel when we are lacking in these. Where 2001 looked outwards, Solaris looked inwards.
Tarkovsky’s films are more like environments than entertainments. It’s often said they’re too long, but that’s missing the point: he uses length and depth to slow us down, to edge us out of the regrettably hasty nature of our lives (of which we have all become accustomed to and rarely stop to think of it with discontent anymore, a fact that Tarkovsky must find most unfortunate)
to enter a zone of reverie and meditation. When he allows a scene to continue for what seems like an unreasonable length, we have a choice. We can either be bored, or we can use this interlude as an opportunity to consolidate what has gone before, and process it in terms of our own reflections. This is what Solaris and all other Tarkovsky films often are at their core: a mirror for the audience. His films often explore the fundamental truths of life as he believed in cinema and its power as a medium in connecting us all through universal experiences. One of the most wonderful things about a Tarkovsky film is its unique sense of rewatchability, not out of the endless entertainment it provides, but because it is a reflection of its viewer. If you have changed, the way you see the film will have changed as well. You will pick up different meanings and interpretations, but they will always be true, and you will always feel a sense of vindication and connection to their message.
The film involves a Russian scientist, Christ Kelvin, who journeyed to the planet of Solaris, a transforming alien intelligence which creates people from clues apparently obtained by reading minds. The planet of Solaris, we learn, is entirely covered by an ocean, and when X-ray probes were used to investigate it, the planet apparently replied with probes of its own, entering the minds of the cosmonauts stationed there to research it, and making some of their memories real. Guests are created to ‘haunt’ these cosmonauts as people from their memories come back as apparitions. Within a day, Kelvin is presented with one of the Guests that the planet can create: a duplicate of his late wife Khari, exact in every detail, but lacking her memories. When we love someone, who do we love? That person, or our idea of that person? Some years before virtual reality became a commonly understood concept, Tarkovsky was exploring its implications. Although other persons no doubt exist in independent physical
space, our entire relationship with them exists in our minds. When we touch them, it is not the touch we experience, but our consciousness of the touch. It is us that give that touch meaning. To some extent then, the second Khari is as ‘real’ as the first, although different. The relationship between Kelvin and the new Khari plays out against the nature of reality on the space station. He glimpses other Guests. He views a taped message from a dead cosmonaut, filled with information and warning. Khari, we find out, cannot be killed—although it is attempted—because she can simply be replaced by the planet. Physical pain is meaningless to her, we see when she attempts to rip through a steel bulkhead door because she does not know how to open it. Gentle feelings are accessible to her, as shown in a scene that most people agree to be the magic centre of Solaris, when the space station enters a stage of zero gravity and Kelvin, Khari, and lighted candles float in the air. It is then this—that which makes love beautiful; the violent, fiery
passion tempered within a gentle longing, a warmth within one’s evening of their memories—that makes us all but too delicate in the harsh temperament of the stars. Khari’s indestructible state speaks to Christ’s eternal love that can be understood all too well, and it is not one of dull indomitability, for it can be swayed at the fainted notion of gentility. It is a fragility so treasured it is wrapped in eternity, a construct of our consciousness that we can all share and relate to, for it has been conceived and was ours at some point, something entirely human and completely detached from the physical realm like a safe sanctum, inviolate from our pitiful physical condition— and the fact that we, most of all Tarkovsky, holds this which makes us human and makes humans beautiful in reverence as something noble and righteous is precisely why we are unfit for space. It is a preciousness of which the cold abyss abhors— when our existence is but a speck in the eternity of the universe, how dare we have the audacity to value such a soft little thing? How dare we spend time and dwell on such a lingering as Christ does? Humans may never truly come to accept the relative impermanence of our existence compared to that of our environment—how can we then conquer the space which cares not to nurture our fragility? This coldness of the universe is further shown in a sequence in which Christ remembers his childhood in a dream. We are shown simple and abstract images which invoke the concept of motherly love and nurturing, things core to how we think and judge things to be humanly and humane, all opposite to the universe that is cruel without even the consciousness to be so.
As a short note on this film’s
spirituality—while one might consider it to be a breaking away from the typical conventions of sci-fi, that would actually be contradictory. Science fiction has always also had the theme of human continuity—it is the notion that the ideals which define us in the modern day are so core to our identity that not only will it persist on even to the far flung future, it might even have always existed. That in some way, shape, or form, humanity will remain recognizable at heart, in both the good and the bad, no matter how advanced we are. Solaris’ portrayal of the universal truth of human connection is then in line with this idea; everybody loves somebody, sometime.
If we are creations of the universe, made from the very same substances, then how come we are so far from its vast, eternal glory? And if we’re one with it then are we made by the universe just so the universe can observe itself? These are two questions that Tarkovsky answers within this film, whereas Kubrick stopped at just the first. Kubrick’s answer, though, was apt: to simply say that we are too fragile and primitive for the universe—in that we are not as different as the primates we evolved from as much as we’d like to admit, still ruled by primal instincts and primitive conceptions of technology (even our space stations look like the bones we used to use as tools when we were primates!)—this answer was entirely sufficient, for to say that we can’t have the universe as we are not its likeness is also entirely sufficient. But Tarkovsky saw something more. He concluded that, actually, we are alike to the universe for we also found our own eternity, even if only in our own consciousness.
There is a whole entirely separate world within our
consciousness that is created from our perception of the physical world, one in which this new Khari is derived from, different from the Khari who died but just as true as the original one to Christ because was the very idea of her in his mind that he was in love with. It is something eternal, indestructible by the physical world, and thus we are alike in this way. Just as the universe will outlast all of our existence, our mental conception is bound to outlast the physical reminders that they are created from. This is then what ultimately makes us unfit for space. It is a world in which humanity is all too happy to dwell in, content with the cultivation of this world of which we perceive to be a higher existence than the physical. We can not triumph over the universe for we never had the ambition to do so in the first place, just as Christ abandons any scientific attempt at explaining the existence of this new Khari, as she is entirely true to him as the original Khari was. Tarkovksy uses the universe to reflect back at ourselves, who also are reflections of the universe. In Khari, Christ finds peace as the idea of her lingers on, forever eternal in his mind, and the Solaris who recreates our thoughts into existence then represents a universe existing entirely in our consciousness. Tarkovsky concludes that we are spiritual creatures by nature, only bound by the physical against our will, and that is why we are unfit for space.
I obviously highly recommend this film, of which you can watch on Youtube on the Moscow Films channel. It is in russian and while the english subtitles aren’t the most accurate, it will suffice, and I hope this will lead you to developing an appreciation for the way in which Tarkovsky uses cinema.
Written by Pom (So11)
Written by
I’m sure that Avatar: The Last Airbender has been a large part of many of our childhoods and for a good reason! It was able to tackle rich and complex themes while still making it fun and entertaining to children of all ages To this day, Avatar remains one of my favourite shows of all time, and here is why I believe it should be yours too
Avatar’s unique factor is definitely its ability to use more mature themes and make them easy to swallow for children Avatar deals with heavy-hitting topics such as genocide and perfectly weaves it into its plotline, creating a rich viewing experience for the older audience, but also allowing for the younger intended audience to grasp and fully understand the seriousness of the situations at hand whilst still being enjoyable
W h a t i s a r g u a b l y o n e o f t h e m o s t a p p e a l i n g p a r t s o f t h e s h o w m u s t b e i t s c o m e d i c a n d h e a r t w a r m i n g n a t u r e D e s p i t e c o n t a i n i n g a l o t o f m a t u r e t h e m e s s u c h a s g e n o c i d e , c o r r u p t i o n a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , A v a t a r s t i l l m a n a g e s t o b e o n e o f t h e m o s t h u m o r o u s s h o w s o u t t h e r e M a n y m o m e n t s a n d l i n e s o f t h e s h o w a r e s t i l l q u o t e d a n d r e f e r e n c e d w i t h i n m o r e m o d e r n m e d i a a n d p o p c u l t u r e t o t h i s v e r y d a y , d u e t o t h e t i m e l e s s e s s e n c e o f t h e s h o w ’ s s i l l y y e t w i t t y h u m o u r
Alongside the immense amount of comedic value that the show and characters offer, Avatar is also incredibly uplifting and heartwarming, using character interactions and familiar dynamics to plant a sense of realism while still being soft and sweet Simultaneously, Avatar can be at times extremely heartbreaking, with moments of genuine grief being created within small character moments, capitalising on the use of a remarkable score to tug at your heartstrings
Avatar also brings to the table potentially some of the most unmatched worldbuilding seen in animated shows. The worldbuilding is epic, unique, and just completely beautiful. The writers pull from deep and rich cultures with respect to create one of the most elegantly designed universes that is believable, yet still gorgeous and captivating. Even the bending forms themselves the magic system of this fantasy world are inspired by different traditional forms of Asian martial arts. This gives Avatar that slight edge and makes it even more immersive than it already is.
A V A T A R : T H E L A S T A I R B E N D E R
A plethora of diverse and well-written women are a presented to the audience, leaving us with no shorta of strong female characters, all with their own go qualities and flaws making them special and powerfu their own ways A good example of this is the show's m two female characters, Katara, a kind, motherly charac who is often outspoken and misjudged, and Toph tough, highly independent rebel who is also blind Two these characters have their own strengths a weaknesses, but that is ultimately what makes th stronger and more fearsome than any of the m characters could ever aspire to be, even if that m character happens to be the Avatar (sorry Aang)
On top of that, Avatar does the unthinkable; it’s amazing the whole way through! I’m sure many of you have come across a show which you absolutely adore as you start watching and then when you finally reach the end… it just all goes to hell, falling victim to yet another horrible finale. Well, you’re in luck because Avatar is not one of those shows! Avatar's writing is unparalleled It can even be argued that it just keeps getting better as you watch through the seasons The finale does a good job of showing us the Gaang’s (Avatar and friends) journey, and satisfyingly concludes with an epic battle between good and evil which leaves the viewer satisfied with all the emotional investment they put into the show
Avatar is by far one of the best shows I’ve ever watched and I believe it is something everyone should be able to experience, from the score, to the animation itself, and even the fillers everything about the show was done masterfully, with love and care So please, just think about what you are missing out on, and give it a shot I guarantee you won’t regret it!
Written by Annie (B12)
A V A T A R : T H E L A S T A I R B E N D E R
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a beautiful kingdom, which was peaceful, prosperous, and rich in culture and love. The king and queen who ruled this kingdom wished for a child, an heir to their throne. Soon, their wish would be granted, and the queen would give birth to a beautiful daughter named Snow White.
All the kingdom rejoiced, and happiness and joy filled people's hearts. Soon, this happiness would be replaced by sorrow. For the king had been assassinated. Tears were shed, and mistrust and suspicion spread throughout the kingdom. The queen, having no other choice, remarried the widowed king of the neighbouring country to ensure the safety of both her kingdom and her daughter.
The widower was an abusive and cruel husband, and soon the queen died in his hands. Snow saw, she saw her mother dying, dying in the hands of a monster. The queen begged and pleaded for him to spare her life, but all her efforts were in vain, she took her last breath as her daughter promised her revenge.
Snow ran, she ran and ran into the deepest parts of the woods, her fair skin bleeding, her vibrant dress stained and torn into pieces, her shoes worn out, her breath hitched, tears rolling down her cheeks, her mind still replaying the horrible scene she witnessed, the scene that will haunt her for the rest of her life. No matter how tired or scared she was, she kept on running until she came to a stop at an old abandoned cottage.
Snow, with shaking hands, opened the creaky door and went inside. Every inch of the ceiling was adorned by cobwebs, the walls were equally grim, glazed with faded paint and patches of mould. She crept along the corridor, only to end up in a room furnished with swords, axes, and weapons of all sorts. Snow stood there frozen to the spot, and admired her ticket back to the castle.
Written by Yoon (So12)
Delicate petals dancing through the breeze, a language of grace, a language of love.
Many say that her beauty lies within her petals… fragrance of perfection, colour in fantasy fictions, unrealistic expectations… Well.. a perfect lady is a perfect rose… and still… with thousands and thousands of thorns, a rose is picked when what they call “love” is born.
- Fleur Written by Anonymous
W = W R I T T E N D = D E S I G N E D
C O V E R P A G E D b y P i e B 1 3
C O N T E N T S P A G E D b y P i e B 1 3
I N T E R N A L
I n t e r v i e w w i t h M r J o h n s o n | W b y P o m S o 1 1 a n d Y o o n S o 1 2 & D b y M i n h y o N 1 2
E X T E R N A L
S e a s a c | W b y F e l i x B 1 3 & D b y N e n i e C 1 3
T r i b u t e f o r Q u e e n E l i z a b e t h I I | W b y R u d y N 1 3 & D b y M r J a d e j a
T h e I n v a s i o n o f U k r a i n e : H o w I t C a m e T o B e | W . b y P o m S o 1 1 & D . b y J e d i S 1 2
A s h o r t h i s t o r y o f m e d i c i n e | W b y Y o o n S o 1 2 & D b y C i n d y B 1 3
C a r t e r ’ s D o o m s d a y | W b y Y o o n S o 1 2 & D b y B i l l y B 1 3
P r o c r a s t i n a t i o n | W b y S e a n K 1 3 & D b y N e n i e C 1 3
T h e o r y o f J u s t i c e | W b y K e v i n C 1 3 & D b y P i e B 1 3
O n l i n e P r i v a c y | W b y G G C 1 0 & D b y H a i l e y S o 1 0
W h a t w i l l h a p p e n i f Y e l l o w s t o n e e x p l o d e s ? | W b y A i n e S o 1 3 & D b y P i e B 1 3
A R T S A N D F E A T U R E S
D C C o m i c r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s | W b y A i n e S o 1 3 & D b y L P S o 1 3
A l b u m R e v i e w o f I n s i d e b y M o t h e r M o t h e r | W . b y A i n e S o 1 3 & D . b y P i e B 1 3
T h e b e a u t y i n T r o n l e g a c y | W . b y K a t e e C 1 3 & D . b y P i e B 1 3
S o l a r i s R e v i e w | W . b y P o m S o 1 1 & D . b y M r . J a d e j a
A L o v e L e t t e r t o H o l l o w K n i g h t | W & D b y A k i n K 1 0
A v a t a r p i e c e | W b y A n n i e S o 1 3 & D b y C o s m o C 1 3
C R E A T I V E
T h e o n e l e f t b e h i n d | W b y A i n e S o 1 3 & D b y L P S o 1 3
S n o w W h i t e a n d h e r b l o o d y d r e s s | W . b y Y o o n S o 1 2 & D . b y C o s m o C 1 3
R o s e | W b y P r i m B 1 2 & D b y M r J a d e j a
I n m e m o r y o f p o p p y f i e l d s | W . b y B a i B u a S 8 & D . b y P i e B 1 3
C R E D I T S P A G E
D . b y P i e B 1 3
E D I T O R
A i n e S o 1 3
T E A C H E R
M r A m i t J a d e j a
