Impact Magazine 264th Edition, ‘Revolution. Rebellion.’

Revolution. Rebellion.

SU Welfare Services Students’ Union Advice Students’ Union Advice are here for you, whether you’re having issues with housing, money or your course. Their service is free, impartial and confidential and they’re independent from the University. Email suadvice@nottingham.ac.uk to get in touch with an advisor or book an appointment.

UoNSU Welfare Network The Welfare Network is a student-led Network running campaigns and events throughout the year, as well as being a signposting service to any support you may need. They currently run weekly virtual Wellbeing Cafes alongside a range of campaigns such as mental health, consent and anti-loneliness. Check out the ‘UoN Welfare Network’ Facebook and Instagram pages to stay up to date or speak to a member of the Network.

Welfare and Wellbeing Officer Your full-time SU Welfare and Wellbeing Officer for this year is Emily Coleman. Emily is an elected representative and works with the Students’ Union, University and external groups to improve Welfare provisions for all students within the University. Get in touch by emailing suwelfare@nottingham.ac.uk or messaging Emily on social media at ‘Emily Coleman SU’ or @uonsu_welfare Student Group Welfare Officers/ Secs If you’re part of a society, sports club or other student group, your group will have a dedicated Welfare Officer or representative. These members receive training to be able to carry out their role and can signpost you to support services, help you find out about upcoming events and campaigns and simply be someone to chat to. Chat to your group to find out who to speak to.

Nightline Nightline is a confidential listening and advice service run by students for students. Our trained student listeners can be contacted via phone, email, skype or instant message and are there for you if you’re feeling stressed, need information on health services or just need a chat. Check out nottinghamnightline.co.uk to find out more or ring +44 (0)115 951 4985.

Student Minds Nottingham Student Minds is a student-led campaigns group running peer-led support groups and mental health campaigns and is the Nottingham branch of the National Student Minds charity. Check out the ‘Student Minds Nottingham’ Facebook page or email nottinghamcampaigns@studentminds.org.uk to find out more.

Networks Your SU is home to lots of different Networks, each with its own elected student Officer to represent their members’ views to the SU and University. Your SU Networks are; Disabled Students’, LGBT+ Students’, International Students’, Mature Students’, Black and Minority Ethnic Students’, Women’s*, Postgraduate Students’ and Environmental and Social Justice.

Find out more about each of our Networks on the SU Website or by searching on social media.

Global Buddies If you’re an international or EU student, you can join our Global Buddies scheme to be matched with a student mentor to answer your questions and make you feel welcome. Email globalbuddies@nottingham.ac.uk to find out more.

CONTENTS News

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How Far is too Far? – Speaking with Extinction Rebellion Activist Etienne Stott How students led the way: A look at the most famous student protests in history.

Nottingham as a Town of Rebellion

‘And finally’ - Can we Put an End to the Never-Ending News Cycle?

Lifestyle

24 26 27 30 31 32 33 34

Scientific Revolutions Throughout History

Could we be Under Threat of a Robot Revolution?

Spotlight On: Tanzania

Rice Rebellion

The Revolutionary Coffeehouses

The Fashion Industry: A Revolution Against Gender Norms

Features

14 16 17 18 20 22

Can I Forgive You?

2020: The Year The People Demanded A Voice

Rainbow Rising Strong

‘One Man’s Terrorist is Another Man’s Freedom Fighter’- How does History Dictate the Distinction?

An Interview with a Broadwater Farm Riot Resident

Mind the Generation Gap

Tattoos and Taboos

Photoshoot

Entertainment

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Welcome To The Front: An Exploration of Revolutionary Writing The Biggest Art Heist in History: Stolen artwork from Africa and Asia that has yet to be returned South Korean New Wave: How it has Revolutionised World Cinema

Rebellion vs Angst: Colliding Truths within the Coming-of-Age Genre Digital Warfare: Should Games Depict War and Rebellion?

45 46 46

Video Games, Sexism and a Whole Lot of Testosterone

“Bring The Noise”: The Modern Culture of Protest Music

The 21st Century Hip-Hop Feminist

Sports

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Rebel Tours and International Boycotts: How the Politics of Apartheid Played Out in the Sporting World

When Logic Rules on Sex in Sport

The Power of the Sporting Platform

“BUT REF?!”

Extras

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Call for more writers

Impact Recommends

The Team

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news

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 Photographer: The Granger Collection

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How Far is too Far? – Speaking with Extinction Rebellion Activist Etienne Stott Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a global environmental activist movement that has garnered enormous public attention for their controversial displays of civil disobedience since their conception in 2018. Keen to find out more about the group’s thoughts on anything and everything rebellious, Impact’s Head of News, Aidan Hall, spoke to Olympic Champion, Nottingham alumnus and XR activist, Etienne Stott.

By this point in 2020, I must have taken part in close to three million Zoom calls. The exercise is all too familiar, and the novelty has well and truly worn off. I am definitely a sufferer of Zoom induced exhaustion. But when Etienne Stott, a local XR activist and organiser tells me, within just minutes of his face blinking onto my screen, that he is an Olympic canoe slalom champion, I was quickly awoken from my malaise.

Given the climate emergency we find ourselves facing, it’s apparent to Etienne and other XR activists that humanity must act now. But, I wonder, why haven’t we? Why aren’t those in power stepping up and making changes? Evidently, Etienne had given this issue a lot of thought and he answers quickly. As he sees it, there are two key reasons change is so slow and, in many areas, non-existent.

Instantly engaged, Etienne begins by explaining XR’s goals.

Keen to keep their message simple, the movement has three demands: tell the truth, act now and go beyond politics. In a fantastic epitaph touching on both the first and last demand on this list, Etienne tells me that “the climate emergency isn’t a left-wing or a right-wing issue”, instead “it’s about science.”

Firstly, in politics at the moment there’s a “we know exactly what to do, but we won’t get re-elected if we do it” attitude. The commitments that are required from policymakers, he argues, are currently outright political suicide. I couldn’t help but sigh at this ubiquitous and age-old problem of the democratic method; without changes in public perception, elected politicians have very little incentive to change their own stances.

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“I think it is justified, to the minimum amount to draw attention to it,” he replies. He recounts the time he got arrested for a public order offence as a part of the XR protests in London last year.

This type of behaviour, he says, is an “effective way of making sure this profound injustice is recognised.” The situation humanity finds itself in regarding climate change is “so dire,” he adds, “that it’s justified to do these actions in order to safeguard our future and the future of all to come.”

But the Olympic gold medallist is keen to make another, more profound point - the problem is also systemic. “Our democracy, our society, our economics has been captured entirely by a… very serious neo-liberal system which means our governments find very little ability to move. They’ve got vested interests, they’ve got these pressures… that mean they won’t act.”

For these reasons, XR engages in various forms of activism to try and change the public’s mind, as well as the system as a whole. But, I ask Etienne, XR has come under criticism for the ways in which they go about their activism. How far is too far when it comes to protest?

“For me, it’s very, very simple,” he answers calmly, “peaceful civil disobedience. If it’s not peaceful, as far as I’m concerned, it’s not Extinction Rebellion.”

I’m not convinced yet. Critics don’t condemn XR for violence, I retort, but for their inappropriate and disproportionate displays of civil disobedience. To what extent is unlawful behaviour justified?

Okay, I think, but do you not believe XR’s approach can put people off? He speaks a little sterner now. “There’s this kind of perception that we’re really unpopular… and we’re terrible people. This is manifestly untrue.” The sheer severity of the situation means that “many, many people agree with us.” I detect a slight frustration in his tone as he continues. The voices that criticise XR are given disproportionate prominence in media and public conversation, he explains. If not for XR’s methods, he assures me, our message would not get out.

Nearing the end of our conversation, Etienne hits home his point with a short analogy: “If there’s a house on fire and there are people inside the house, you don’t knock politely on the door… you kick the door down… and they might be angry because you’ve woken them up and they were having a nice dream, but actually your house was on fire and we came in to help.”

Soon after this we ended our call, what had I learnt? Well, with prevention of human extinction as their end, and civil `disobedience (unlawful or otherwise) as their means, it was clear from talking with Etienne that, for him and for XR, the former provided undeniable justification for the latter.

By Aidan Hall Page Design by Chiara Crompton Image courtesy of Markus Spiske https://unsplash.com/photos/ hp86NCu8hok

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Image Courtesy of GeorgeLouis on Wikimedia Commons

How students led the way: A look at the most famous student protests in History When people think of protests, student activism can be overlooked. To challenge this, Robyn Walford has looked back at the most significant student protests throughout history, explaining how their activism paved the way for progress.

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Freedom Summer – Mississippi 1964 Sorbonne campus strikes – Paris 1968 Student activism has always been a driving force for change; higher live freedom” left a lasting mark on history, Sorbonne campus strikes – Paris 1968 education gives young people the space informing A large people group ofabout predominantly white going on The 1960s saw the start of ‘youth culture’ the atrocities acting a catalyst for astart student move- culture’ acting students came together in the Summer of to think for themselves whilst Theas1960s saw the of ‘youth tudent activism has always across Nazi occupied Europe and encouraging ment. The conservative rule of Charles de equipping them with the tools to create 1964 to help African Americans register to as a catalyst for a student movement.

The conbeen a driving force for change; higher groups stand against vote, in theto hope thisup would lead evil. to racial Gaulle caused tension between students new theories about the world.

As aedu- other servative rule of Charles de Gaulle caused tencation gives young people space to think and authorities at the Nanterre campus result, we often seethe young people at the equality. Students from top universities sionUniversity between students and authorities at the Mississippitheir 1964time to forefront of political movements, acrossSummer the States–volunteered of the of Paris.

These clashes for themselves whilst equipping them with Freedom ultimately led to the closure theUniversity campus educate residents of Mississippi as an the course of the Nanterre campus of of the of Paris. the tools ultimately to createchanging new theories about A large grouptoofthe predominantly white students in May 1968.clashes Students from the Sorbonne alternative underfunded segregated These ultimately led to the closure of world. As ahistory. result, we often see young people schools in thein area. helpedof to increase campus mobilised in to protest this unfair together theThis Summer 1964 to help the campus May 1968.

Students from the at the forefront of political movements, ulti- came action and 20,000 students took to the the literacy rates register of youngto Black AmerThe White Rose Group – Munich 1942 African Americans vote, in the hope Sorbonne campus mobilised to protest this mately changing the by course Established Hans of andhistory.

Sophie Scholl at teaching Black History streets. Met with violence from authorities, this icans, wouldwhilst lead also to racial equality. Students from unfair action and 20,000 students took to the and civil rights. hundreds of students were arrested, The University of Munich, the White Rose top universities across the States volunteered streets.further Met with violence from authorities, hunThe White group Rose created Group –anti-Nazi Munich propaganda 1942 provoking action. theirThis time to educate residents of Mississippi as dreds of students were arrested, provoking movement helped massively with the distributing 15,000 leaflets to citizens, Establishedcondemning

by Hans and SophieofScholl at party The an alternative to the underfunded segregated After a string of protests which were all Civil Rights Movement and helped quash the actions the Nazi further action. responded to with police brutality, their brutal treatment minority the Jim Crow system had encouraged University and of Munich, the White of Rose group schools in the area.

Thisthat helped to increase the segregation. to individuals’ newfound whilst international sympathy putting groups, which was only just created anti-Nazi propaganda - becoming distributing literacy rates ofDue young Black Americans, After a string of grew, protests which were all reto vote, the government realised pressure on the government to give in to common knowledge to the population.

15,000 leaflets to citizens, condemning the ac- alsoability sponded to with police brutality, international teaching Black History and civil rights.

Unfortunately, their efforts were discovthat they now had to listen to the black student demands. Eventually, this led to a tions of the Nazi party their brutal sympathy grew, putting pressure government U-turn where charges were on the govered by the S.S. and and the leaders of treatthe voices within the Deep South. ment of minority groups, which was only just This movement helped massively with the Civil ernment to give in to student dropped against protesters and the demands. Eventumovement were executed.

Nevertheless, becoming their common knowledge tofreedom” the populaally, this led toreopened. a government university campuses These U-turn where final words “long live left a Rights Movement and helped quash the Jim student protests were the startagainst of several lasting mark on history, informing people Crow system that had encouraged segregation. tion. charges were dropped protesters and uprisings across thecampuses country against the about the atrocities going on across Nazi Due to individuals’ newfound ability to vote, the the university reopened.

These stugovernment, resulting in the largest occupied encouraging other Unfortunately, theirEurope effortsand were discovered by government realised that they now had to listen dent protests were the start of several uprisings general strike in history. to standofupthe against evil. the S.S. andgroups the leaders movement were to the black voices within the Deep South.

executed. Nevertheless, their final words “long

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Image Courtesy of The Granger Collection on Creative Commons

By Robyn Walford Page Design by Ellie Stainforth-Mallison

Students for a Democratic Society – USA

Pro-Democracy protests – International

Fugitive offender’s amendment bill pro-

testsdents – Hong Kong 1980s-1990s Students1960-1974 for a Democratic Society – USA 1960 huge success, leading to the first democratic died at2019 the hands of the police, universi-1974 elections in Czechoslovakia in 1990. ties globally began to show solidarity with the Following the announcement of a bill that The Velvet Revolution in Prague began as You may know the slogan “make movement, resulting in demonstrations occurwould allow the extradition of offenders love – not war!”. Representing the ‘New a celebration of International Student Day, You may know the slogan “make love – not Tiananmen Square was another example of ring across the globe. until it suddenly became an anti-commuto mainland China and Taiwan, individuals Left’, the group protested against war!”. Representing the ‘NewinLeft’, the group student activism in the across fight for in to the streets to protect Hong Kong’s took America’s involvement the Vietnam nist protest that spread the democracy entire protestedWar. against involvement After Hu Yaobang, 2020 and beyond They America’s held teach-ins to educate in thethe 1989. nation.

Thisthe wasdeath a hugeof success, leading toa proautonomous state.

Students across Hong the first democratic elections in was happening in Vietnam population War. Theyabout heldwhat teach-ins to educate reform government official, students began Kong to played a big role in the This year, we have seen government decisions demonstrations, confronting police and Vietnam. in 1990. the population about what was happening in callCzechoslovakia for freedom of speech and for a free press. causing civil disruption.

After multiple swayed by the A-Level protests in the UK. The The protests grew rapidly, with over a million Vietnam. students died at the hands of the police, Tiananmen Square was another example The first teach-in was held at the people gathering in the square. Unfortunately, international ‘Schools Strike for Climate Change’ of Michigan in 1965, attended student activism in the fight for universities globally began to show The first University teach-in was held at the University of theofstate movement has also been successful in sparking quashed demonstration solidarity with the movement, resulting by 3500 people. The event saw a range of democracy in 1989.the After the death of Huby sendMichigan activities in 1965, attended by 3500 people.

The necessary conversations among hundreds of thousands of troops to the in demonstrations occurring across the world leaders, aimed at condemning America’s ingYaobang, a pro-reform government event saw a range of activities aimed at con- square official,who students began to call freedom killing globe.in the hope of reducing global warming. participation in the Vietnam war. Debates, opened fire on for protestors, demning movies America’s in the Vietnam of speech and for a free press. The and participation lectures were utilised to share hundreds.

2020 and beyond their ideas, inspiring further were utilised protests grew rapidly, with over a million war. Debates, movies and lectures people offender’s gathering in amendment the square. across the States. to share teach-ins their ideas, inspiring further teach-ins Fugitive bill protests – Unfortunately, the state quashed the This year, we have seen government deacross the States.

Hong Kong 2019 demonstration by sending hundreds of cisions swayed by the A-Level protests in the UK. The international ‘Schools Strike for thousands of troops to the square who Pro-Democracy protests – International 1980s Following the announcement of a bill that would Climate Change’ movement has also been opened fire on protestors, killing hundreds.

-1990s allow the extradition of offenders to mainland successful in sparking necessary converChina and Taiwan, individuals took to the sations among world leaders, in the hope The Velvet Revolution in Prague began as a streets to protect Hong Kong’s autonomous of reducing global warming.

celebration of International Student Day, until it state. Students across Hong Kong played a big suddenly became an anti-communist protest role in the demonstrations, confronting police that spread across the entire nation. This was a and causing civil disruption. After multiple stu-

By Robyn Walford Page Design by Ellie Stainforth-Mallison

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Nottingham as a Town of Rebellion It has long been claimed that Nottingham has a rebellious nature. Kayleigh Moore looks back at the history of the city as she recounts some of Nottingham’s greatest protests.

From the time Nottingham Castle was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror to the present day, Nottingham has had a rich and vibrant history of rebellion and protest. In 1194, King Richard’s battles with his brother Prince John centred heavily around Nottingham, which is when the legend of Robin Hood began to appear. The very character of Robin Hood is telling of the city’s history because he is based on the idea that those in Nottingham will take a stand for the good of the people.

“Nottingham has a rich and vibrant history of rebellion and protest” The Pilgrimage of Grace was the next major rebellion to happen in the city and was sparked by the disillusion of the monasteries by Henry VIII. Rebels from Nottingham were not merely the common people but also nobles, which shows how deep the rebellion ran in Nottingham.

Then came the Civil War, the country was divided between Royalists and Parliamentarians. Due to Nottingham’s geographical position, it became a key area to control. King Charles I raised his initial royal standard on what is today known as ‘standard hill by the castle’. The Castle was initially under Royalist control but once Charles I moved to Shrewsbury, the Parliamentarians of Nottingham moved in and maintained it as a stronghold for the remainder of the war.

At the beginning of the 19th century, a group known as Luddites emerged. The term referred to frame breakers, between 1811 and 1817, who would use the name Ned Ludd or General Ludd to sign off letters claiming responsibility. The movement began in Nottingham on the night of 11th March 1811, where a group of framework knitters destroyed 63 frames in Arnold. This was only the start of the movement with people rebelling in all areas of Nottingham - from Carlton to Beeston, as well as into neighbouring counties, such as Lancashire.

Fuelled by poor economic conditions and fear of losing trade in the face of technological advancement, the frame breaking continued. Authorities hoped in December 1811 an average wage rise would stop the riots, but this came to no avail. In 1812, frame breaking became a capital offence and, with increased police pressure, the riots began to diminish to almost nothing by 1813.

With economic conditions also improving, it is likely the people no longer felt the need to rebel.

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“Once again in the 19th century, the people of Nottingham were made to stand up for their beliefs”

“The protest was highly successful as it showed that, even in a pandemic, voices can and should be heard”

Once again, in the 19th century, the people of Nottingham were made to stand up for their beliefs, following the overturning of the Parliamentary Reform Bill by the House of Lords. The Bill looked to make the electoral system fairer, due to the changing geographies and population growth in the last century, which left many towns without an MP to represent them, such as Manchester. Riots erupted across the country and, in Nottingham, over 500 people turned out on 10th October 1831 for three days to attack property belonging to Anti-Reformers, including the Castle, which was set on fire.

The most recent protests to happen within Nottingham have been the Black Lives Matter protests, that have been echoed across the country. In June this year, a peaceful protest was held at Forest Fields, with over a thousand people turning out to show unity and call for change after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in America. The protesters then marched into the city centre. The protest was highly successful as it showed that, even in a pandemic, voices can and should be heard. A further large-scale march took place on the 15th of August throughout the city centre, with speakers at Market square.

The protests of the Suffragettes characterised the start of the 20th century and were far more violent than their predecessors, the Suffragists, often chaining themselves to things and breaking windows. Helen Watts was a militant suffragette from Lenton, Nottingham and was arrested for her suffragette activities. But, like many other suffragettes, refused to pay a fine and instead was imprisoned. In 1913, as part of the effort to be noticed, the Nottingham Boat Club was burnt down, by, it is believed, men assisting with the suffragette movement.

As is clear from its wide and varied history of protest and rebellion, Nottingham is a city that is not afraid to take a stand, and that is something to be proud of.

The Iraq war saw some of the biggest coordinated anti-war protests the world has ever seen. On 15th February 2003, millions across the world protested together, with protesters in England all descending on London. Coaches left Nottingham to take the hundreds there, but the government did not respond accordingly. Unhappy, the people of Nottingham protested outside of Chetwynd Barracks in Chilwell to attempt to convince soldiers they didn’t have to go to war. This action reflects the determination of Nottingham citizens to stand up for their beliefs.

By Kayleigh Moore Illustrations and Page Design

By Chiara Crompton

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‘And finally’ - Can we Put an End to the Never-Ending News Cycle?

The 24-hour news cycle means that we are constantly consumed with never-ending updates on our social media devices. Kit Sinclair looks at if there are any solutions to this, and ways we can finally learn to switch off.

In 1999, American journalists Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel asserted that 24-hour cable news had precipitated “the press [moving] toward sensationalism [and] entertainment”. Over 20 years later, in the age of fake news, social media and 24hour breaking news notifications, this prediction seems eerily prescient. Yet, does this constant stream of updates actually translate to better real-world engagement with the news, or are we collectively becoming desensitised?

According to findings reported in Ofcom’s 2020 study of news consumption in the UK , ‘there is evidence that UK adults who do use social media for news (45%) are less engaged with the content’. In practice, this means that those who use social media as their news source are less likely to share, retweet, comment or even click on trending news articles than they were last year.

“I had to uninstall my news app [during lockdown] because...I was getting notifications day and night”, says fellow Nottingham student, Amy Howarth. “[The news] is just so available, which is a positive, but also really bad for mental health”.

Their views are shared by the wider population – according to a Twitter poll conducted by Impact, 65% of those asked said that the 24-hour news cycle has negatively affected their relationship with the news and news consumption. Anna Perkins, a UoN graduate who now works in communications, says that “the 24-hour cycle and particularly social media has changed our ways of working”.

“65% of those asked said that the 24-hour news cycle has negatively affected their relationship with the news”

However, that same study reports that the internet is the most used platform for news consumption amongst 16-24-year olds, with 79% of us accessing our news online. Yet, amongst University of Nottingham students, usage does not necessarily correlate with satisfaction. Speaking with Impact, Helen Bendell says, “I used to go on social media to try and get away from the real world, but now that’s impossible. It’s easier to access the news, but it’s harder to escape”.

Grassroots news organisations focused on slow news, such as the Dutch De Correspondent and Tortoise Media here in the UK, are attempting to prove that a success can be made out of ‘so called’ ‘slow news’. But will they manage to succeed in convincing us that the 24-hour cycle is not the only way to consume the news? Or are we now simply too desensitised to care?

“the internet is the most used platform for news consumption amongst 16-24-year olds, with 79% of us accessing our news online”

Illustrations and Page Design

by Sarah MacAllan

By Kit Sinclair

Image courtesy of RAEng, unsplash @thisisengineering : https://unsplash.com/photos/ nU9n0DioLLc

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Image courtest of Marjanblan, Unsplash, https:// unsplash.com/photos/794QUz5-cso (altered)

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I doubt you were expecting to hear from me.

I mean, how likely is it that you stumble upon an article written by one of the victims of your homophobic and racist hate crime? Not that likely, I guess. I mean the chances are you’ll never see this article. But that’s okay because this is mostly for me. My personal experiences of racism are too many to count, unfortunately. I don’t really think there has been a day in my life since I moved to England that I have not experienced racism in some way, whether it was directly towards me, a friend or via the news. That’s why we call racism systematic - it seeps into every aspect of life.

Sometimes, I describe that night as the worst night of my life. Although, I don’t think you deserve the title. What I do remember is the fear. I remember walking away from the club with my friends feeling tired, but happy. I remember you yelling, violent and drunk. I remember how it started: insults, threats and then racism. The racism was not surprising at all; I remember thinking that and knowing I couldn’t let you see how much the words hurt me. I remember putting on a tough front.

I remember getting back to my friend’s dorm in the early hours of the morning, lying on the bed and immediately bursting into tears. I remember calling my mum and hearing how frightened she was on the phone, saying that I’m lucky to be alive, and lucky to be in one piece. What I remember most is when you said to me: “Call the police, who do you think they’ll believe? A n*gger or me?”

Would the police believe me? Or would they believe the white man in front of me? There’s something deeply wrong with any system that allows an abuser to believe that the police will be on their side. And that’s why, when it comes to my hope for the future, I hope for something radical.

I hope for a future in which the police are an old memory. Instead, we will have community officers who are trained at diffusing conflict, and social workers who can end domestic disputes and are trained and able to defend themselves and victims. A world in which we don’t call the same people to deal with domestic violence, drug offences, robberies and a lost child. I wish for a future in which we put money into systems that prevent crime, into community outreach, into community centres, into community events: into our communities.

A world in which we put systems in place that mean children don’t starve and turn to crime to feed themselves. A system where prison is not just a punishment, but rather a rehabilitation centre. A place in which we do not have a proven reoffending rate of 28.7% - 62.7%.

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I have been reading bell hooks’ All About Love in which she discusses her hopes and dreams for the world, specifically how we can move on and create a better society. She discusses how love is going to be the saviour of everything: that if we loved each other more and more deeply, we would be able to dismantle systems and end oppression. She acknowledges how this view seems wishy-washy, but she continues her argument in a compelling way.

The more I read, the more I see her point of view. When we focus on punishment, we leave no room for growth or change, and that’s what we need. The idea of punishing racists and bigots sounds good, but when that punishment means that we don’t change as a society, the only people that end up getting punished is us. I am not talking about how to protest; I support people fighting against oppression however they see fit. What I am talking about is creating a world in which I am not just ‘the black one’.

When I go home to Nigeria, I am not a black woman. I am just a woman (which has its own dangers), and that feels safe. Not because people don’t see colour, but because when you are the majority you have the right to just be. I want a world in which people dislike me because I can be annoying or selfish, rather than because of my skin, gender, or sexuality. I think that’s why, when we discuss how to end oppression, any solution sounds radical because the world we are imagining is so drastically different from our current world.

Maybe love is the answer, maybe not. But I think we owe it to ourselves to find out. Britain is not where I am from; I am an immigrant and I moved here when I was young. But it is my home, and I have just as much of a right to be here as anyone else. But, what do you do when your home doesn’t feel welcoming anymore? You fight like hell to change it, even if that means tearing it down brick by brick.

So, Liam, why did I address this to you? Because I’m moving on. I think I might forgive you, one day.

But today, I forgive me. Let me introduce myself once more. I am not “that little black b*tch”, and you cannot call me that “n*gger whore”. My name is Oluwajuwonlo Toyin-Adebanjo. You can call me a proud Nigerian and a proud Brit. You can call me a black woman, daughter, sister and mother to some. You can call me a good friend, a bad singer, a philosopher, actress, theatre maker and a hopelessly romantic sapphic. But to make it easier,

By Oluwajuwonlo Toyin-Adebanjo Page Design by Chiara Crompton Image courtest of Marjanblan, Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/ photos/794QUz5-cso (altered)

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2020: The Year The People Demanded A Voice

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Rainbow Rising Strong Internal and emotional battles can be hard to overcome. Ryan James Keane discusses his experience of coming out as gay, and the courage it takes to rebel against societal expectations.

I had a decision to make. Begin living there and then, beneath the dimmed hue of the bar’s neon lights, or, continue simply surviving. Anxious but eager, mindful of prying eyes but aching for him, I reminded myself of a Stevie Nicks quote: “Fear never helps relationships.” And so, I leaned in and brought my lips towards his. A collision of scarlet so profound and electric ensued that I felt my spirit’s chemistry change irrevocably.

“I’m gay”, I told my dad in the pub a few years later. “I’m not bisexual like I thought I was”. “It’s who you are”, he said. “I’m proud of you for feeling confident enough to tell me”. The thing is, I hadn’t planned on telling him there and then.

The truth is persistent. It’s very much a living organism. When it feels neglect, ambushing and scarring its core, it screams out. You spend countless years dismissing it. You tell yourself, yes, you want nothing more than to lose yourself in the opulent architecture of men, but you still wish for women. Still get to fit in.

Still get to be a cog in the behemoth of heteronormativity.

Until one day, as if by impulse, but rather by a steadfast line of instinct, it escapes. It would be unfair of me to say that my sexuality has been an issue throughout my life. It hasn’t. The issue has been the socially conditioned system of homophobia.

The bullying. The slurs. The internalisation of bigotry, and resenting the confidence of more ‘feminine’-acting gay men as a result.

In her book Revolution from Within, feminist writer Gloria Steinem says: “There is a healthier self within each of us, just waiting for encouragement.” In other words, the self is inherently layered, and those parts of ourselves we pay little mind to are often both spiritually salubrious and only a stone’s throw away.

When we free ourselves of the shackles of societal expectations, we rebel simply by existing. We come to carve definitions for ourselves that no external factors, irrespective of how harsh, can infiltrate.

We may sometimes have to censor ourselves to be safe in social situations. But at least the truth still beats away inside us, incandescently irrefutable - while so many others bully and demean to further cloud over their own.

By Ryan James Keane Page Design by Chiara Crompton

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‘One Man’s Terrorist is Another Man’s Freedom Fighter’ How does History Dictate the Distinction?

We may believe that there is a clear distinction between a terrorist and a freedom fighter. However, Daisy Forster argues that this distinction is, in fact, far more blurred and context-dependent than we may realise.

What constitutes a terrorist? This is a question disagreed upon across parties and governments, depending on whether or not the ideology of the interest group concerned, aligns with that of the party in question. However, public opinion of who was a terrorist in the past seems to have become clearer over time. Is history judging these groups fairly?

History views the suffragettes as champions of female emancipation. Giving women the right to vote was an astronomical move in the feminist movement and, in retrospect, has created a better world today. But, many people of the time condemned the suffragettes as terrorists. I can’t help but wonder: what about those who were left on the wrong side of history?

“For much of his time as a revolutionary, Mandela was feared as a terrorist by the governments of Europe and the USA” Contrastingly, Nelson Mandela is one of the most renowned freedom fighters of the modern era, and is considered a hero by most of the Western World.

But, for much of his time as a revolutionary, Mandela was feared as a terrorist by the governments of Europe and the USA. Whilst he was imprisoned, the African National Congress (of which he was previously president) were responsible for a series of raids and car bombings that resulted in several fatalities.

Mandela stated in one of his interviews from prison that ‘The armed struggle [with the authorities] was forced on us by the government’.

Of course, history has fallen in favour of Mandela and his actions; today we see the African Apartheid as an act of unforgivable barbarity. Violence of the kind that the ANC (and the suffragettes) committed often stems from the suppression of people until they feel they have no other option.

If Nelson Mandela and the ANC were pushed to violence when they had no other choice, why does the same not go for the people of Northern Ireland?

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However, what about the IRA? To some, the IRA is a terrorist organisation. But, on the 30th of January 1972, the British Army shot dead 14 unarmed civilian protesters, in what has become known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. This is merely one example of the many different atrocities that the British Army inflicted upon the Irish people during this period. And yet, the Troubles are not seen as a revolutionary war, but a bout of Nationalist terrorism. If Nelson Mandela and the ANC were pushed to violence when they had no other choice, why does the same not go for the people of Northern Ireland? The line between terrorism and freedom fighting is not as clear cut as one may think.

Looking at the protests and rebellions happening around the world today, it is unsettling to wonder how they will be looked back on in history. The Black Lives Matter protests have divided opinion across the globe: viewed as terrorists and tear gassed by their own government, but sympathised with by those who understand that their violence stems from intense frustration. How will history portray these protests in years to come?

“Whether it be British air strikes on Syria, or Israeli action against Palestine, many acts of violence against civilians are hidden under a veil of governmental policy.”

Similarly, some cases of supposedly ‘justified military action’ could be, on reflection, classed as terrorism. Whether it be British air strikes on Syria, or Israeli action against Palestine, many acts of violence against civilians are hidden under a veil of governmental policy.

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation has been condemned as terrorists for decades due to their lack of official permission to commit such crimes. And yet, over three times more Arabs and Palestinians have died as a result of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict than Israelis.

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By comparison, in Israel’s 2008 ‘Operation Cast Lead’, nearly 1,500 Palestinians were killed in just 22 days. Most of the Palestinian casualties were civilians, including 308 children. Yet, this is seen as war and not terrorism. Why does an internationally backed government have more right to impose violence than the people whom that government is repressing?

When this debate comes up in conversation, it is often said that ‘violence is never justified’. But this statement cannot hold weight when some groups are exonerated for their actions based on the accomplishment of their aims and the power of their actors.

The Oxford definition of terrorism is: ‘the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.’ But who gets to decide whether these political aims are justified?

“Who goes down in history as a ‘terrorist’ is not dictated by the severity of their crimes or the fairness of their belief, but by who fought and won their battle.”

Who goes down in history as a ‘terrorist’ is not dictated by the severity of their crimes or the fairness of their belief, but by who fought and won their battle.

Perhaps, if we viewed those who are driven to violence in a more comprehensive and empathetic way, much violence could be prevented. Furthermore, if we listen to those who are crying for help instead of responding with further repression, the world could be a more peaceful and compassionate place.

By Daisy Forster Page Design by Chiara Crompton

Image courtesy of Lasanta.com.ec, Flickr, https://www. flickr.com/photos/45582474@N02/9215883633/

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An Interview with a Broadwater Farm Riot Resident

Anna Stacey writes about the violent Broadwater Farm riots of 1985 and interviews a local resident who recalls the moment they began.

“I was calling my parents from a phone box when I saw a petrol bomb go off. I said to my Mum, “I think that there is a riot starting so I better go”

On 6th October 1985, violent riots broke out in Broadwater Farm, Tottenham, following a peaceful march about the death of Cynthia Jarrett who collapsed and died of a heart attack in her home, whilst it was being searched by the police. By midnight, 58 police officers and 24 others were taken to hospital, including PC Blakelock who was fatally stabbed.

I’ve interviewed a resident who was in the area at the time.

Can you remember where you were when the rioting began?

I was 21 and had just started my first job after university. I saw the start of the riot from about 150 metres away. I was calling my parents from a phone box when I saw a petrol bomb go off.

I said to my mum, “I think that there is a riot starting, so I better go.” Probably not the best line to sign off with your mum!

What did you do that evening? How did you react?

We lived in a first floor flat on Mount Pleasant, which joined onto Adams Road where the riot took place. I left the phone box and went home. One of my flatmates was in, so I told him, and we decided to go for a look. We walked down to Adams Road.

When we turned the corner, all hell had begun breaking loose about 100 metres away.

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We didn’t hang around. Not long after, the police turned up and set up a barricade outside our flat, which wasn’t great to say the least. We watched the riot from our kitchen window which overlooked the Farm. I have to admit I was worried, particularly since we could see a nearby house on fire.

Was there a change in atmosphere in the area after the rioting?

Yes, definitely. When we found out that PC Blakelock had been stabbed to death, I think everyone was shocked at the level of violence. A friend of mine was a nurse at North Middlesex Hospital A&E when Blakelock was brought in - she was really badly affected. The police really clamped down on the Farm.

From that point onwards, it was all about racism and the police being racist, which they were at the time. The whole place certainly felt a lot less safe and often quite tense.

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What did you think of the Government’s response to the riot?

After the Brixton riots in 1981, there was the Scarman Report which called for improved community and more investment. But, like a lot of reports, the government took little action, and although more community investment has now taken place, a lot still needs to be done. I think it took too long for the Met Police to admit that it was institutionally racist, which only served to make the wounds deeper.

By Anna Stacey Page Design by Chiara Crompton Image courtesy of Jim Moody. Wikapedia commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Broadwater_Farm_Riot,_Day_2,_004sm.jpg

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Mind the Generation Gap Rooted deeply in the structures of society, and exasperated further by current political instabilities, a sense of division has formed between baby boomers and their millennial successors. Olivia Stock explores the driving forces behind this contemporary age gap and the damaging effects it is having on intergenerational relations.

In the first part of the new millennium, the generation gap was assumed to be, mostly, dead. You’d go to a Maximo Park concert and there’d be a finance dude in his 40s wearing the same Kappa jeans as the kid in their 20s, and all ages were engaged in common political struggles: “No invasion of Iraq!”

“No blood for oil!”. Words like no-platforming, microaggression, cisgender and the use of ‘woke’ as an adjective had not entered the mainstream, and a ‘snowflake’ was merely a delicate ice crystal.

In the last decade, however, an ideological conflict has been brewing between ‘woke’ millennials (aged 18-30) and the older generations. Intertwining theories of intersectionality and identity with issues such as gun control, reproductive rights, the #MeToo movement, and Black Lives Matter, the ‘digital generation’ has incited a golden age of protest against societal norms.

At the heart of the generation gap seems to be this historic economic shift. Whilst young people have, largely, embraced the diversification, interconnectivity and unpredictability of today’s economy, older generations have been left feeling unstable.

At the heart of the generation gap seems to be this historic economic shift. Whilst young people have, largely, embraced the diversification, interconnectivity and unpredictability of today’s economy, older generations have been left feeling unstable.

“Whereas age once equalled expertise, the rapid pace of change has meant that Gen Z can be more knowledgeable about technology than people twice as old” Whereas age once equalled expertise, the rapid pace of change has meant that Gen Z can be more knowledgeable about technology than people twice as old. Furthermore, the traditional notions of career are decaying, especially for a generation whose secondary school peers have created empires from their smartphones, as YouTube stars and Instagram influencers.

Putting one’s head down in order to someday earn the right to a voice seems bootless nowadays.

“With climate matters, racial tensions, and gender politics threatening social stability indefinitely, the future is relying on intergenerational cohesion more than ever”

This kind of social consciousness has, arguably, created much of the ideological conflict between generational circles. Typecast as entitled and easily-offended, obsessed with selfies, and as having a penchant for frittering their money away on avocado on toast and matcha lattes, those born from the mid-to-late 1990s, to the early 2010s, have been coined ‘snowflakes’ by older generations.

In response, Gen Z launched a pre-emptive strike against baby boomers last autumn using the most powerful weapon in their arsenal — social media platforms— to create a simple, yet scathing, retort to a generation they perceive as old-school and out of touch: “ok, boomer”. A rallying cry for millions of fed-up young adults, and a smite to a generation that enjoyed free higher education and affordable housing, before bequeathing a bedlam of enormous debts and climate change for subsequent generations to clean up.

As a new generation comes of age, it is time for us to realise the progress that could be achieved if generations respected and learned from one another. With climate matters, racial tensions, and gender politics threatening social stability indefinitely, the future is relying on intergenerational cohesion more than ever. After all, “none of us is as smart as all of us”, author Ken Blanchard said, and when generation is used as a lens rather than a label, the possibilities are limitless.

By Olivia Stock Illustrations and Page Design

by Sarah MacAllan

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Image courtesy of Nila Varman

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Scienti�c Revolutions Throughout History

Throughout history, scientific discoveries have proved revolutionary in changing our perception of the fundamental workings of the world. Christina and Feyin explore a select few of these influential findings and explore the contributions they’ve made to our understanding of life.

Human Anatomy

Galen’s ideas would dominate medical thinking in Europe for a millennium, until Vesalius, a Flemish anatomist published De Humani Corporis Fabrica – a revolutionary account on human anatomy evolved from the errors of Galen’s research. This provided the world with their first accurate scientific illustration of the human body. Both their contributions remain influential to this day.

1687

Newtonian Mechanics

1543

Newtonian mechanics was developed by Isaac Newton, one of the greatest physicists to walk the Earth. He provided laws of mathematics that revolutionised the way the world was perceived.

His laws encompassed key concepts of acceleration, momentum and conservation of energy. They morphed the universe into a ‘clockwork universe’; everything could be predicted, from planetary motion to a falling apple.

Heliocentric Model of the Universe

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1861 Discovery of Radiation

The discovery that the Earth revolves around the Sun was one that shocked science to its very core and launched the scientific ‘revolution’ as we know it. Although this seems trivial now, this concept was so ingrained in both science and religion that Copernicus’ publication of his theory in 1543 was initially deemed as heresy. Despite evidence provided

by Galileo who first observed the moons of Jupiter’s orbit, it was not until 1687 that Newton put the final nail in the coffin for the geocentric view of the Universe.

Although the term radioactivity was coined by the famous Marie Curie, credited with the discovery of polonium and radium, she was not the first to discover the phenomena

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160AD

Aelius Galenus, known as Galen, was a prominent physician and philosopher in the Roman Empire, notorious for his pioneering work in numerous fields. Galen learnt about human anatomy through performing surgeries, but was forced to turn to dissecting pigs, as it was prohibited to study the human body.

1862

Plastics

Although the term radioactivity was coined by the famous Marie Curie, credited with the discovery of polonium and radium, she was not the first to discover the phenomena. That title is one worn by Henri Becquerel, who proved that uranium emitted radiation without the contribution of an external source. Its discovery is not only a key turning point in chemistry but led to revolutions in physics too.

There have been no materials as revolutionary as plastics. They’re so deeply established in our lives, it’s hard to imagine a world without them. The world’s first manmade plastic was called ‘parkesine’ and was invented in 1862 by Alexander Parkes. It consisted of a heated organic material called cellulose that retained its shape when cool.

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“

If we remain curious and admit to the gaps in our understanding of the world, the scientific revolution will continue to provide answers to questions we have yet to ask

1880

Germ Theory To his shock, he discovered a bundle of

tiny microorganisms. He proposed these were the agents of disease and cause of the cholera outbreak. He went on to name them ‘germs’. As was the case for a bulk of the scientific discoveries at the time, his work was dismissed for years.

But as more evidence in support of his theory surfaced, miasma theory was eventually rendered obsolete and with that, a newly developed understanding of disease materialised.

1865

Electromagnetic Theory

The age-old problem of what light is composed of finally had a solution with the publication of James Clerk Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory in 1865, which became a pillar of theoretical physics. His four equations, encompassing Gauss’, Faraday’s and Ampère’s laws, are a mathematical representation of decades of research. They describe how electric and magnetic fields arise and how they change in time.

They also predict the velocity of light which gave rise to the theory of electromagnetic waves.

“

‘Miasma’ theory, the belief in foul air, was widely accepted as the cause of disease for hundreds of years. Sceptical about the power of this invisible and maleficent air, German scientist, Robert Koch, inspected a multitude of samples from the water pump near the local waste disposal through a light microscope.

1920 Quantum Mechanics

Bohr, Planck and Einstein are the founding fathers of quantum mechanics, a newly discovered field that completely turned the world of physics on its head. Quantum mechanics describes the behaviour of microscopic particles, and although the mathematics is well understood, the concepts involved force us to question reality itself. It takes over when classical mechanics breaks down and describes the intrinsic nature of matter.

If we remain curious and admit to the gaps in our understanding of the world, the scientific revolution will continue to provide answers to questions we have yet to ask. The next scientific revolution could come with the development of the theory of dark matter or even an antiviral discovery.

1911

Compact Nuclei Model of the Atom

The notion of the atom was a longstanding problem within chemistry until Ernest Rutherford discovered the compact nuclei model of the atom.

The gold foil experiment proved the atom consisted of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negative charges, by firing alpha particles at thin gold leaf and measuring their deflection. Although a more modern model was later introduced by Bohr, Rutherford’s ideas revolutionised the way atoms were perceived.

By Christina Giallombardo and Feyin Ayanlaja Illustration and page design by Amy Ridehalgh

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Could we be Under Threat of a Robot Revolution?

With the twenty-first century’s continuous technological advances, Matthew Bird looks at the evermore-prevalent presence of AI in our daily lives, and questions the possibility of an impending Robot Revolution…

Like many millennials in this tech-age, I like to wake up to the sounds of nature; of waves crashing against the shore. Of course, being in Nottingham makes this a tad difficult. So in lieu of a beach, I’’ve created a morning routine with my Google Home linked to Spotify and set to trigger at 8:30am.

“My Samsung phone also features a devilishly difficult-to-disable doubly dumb smart assistant by the name of Bixby” But phone assistants are not the only things imbued with supposedly powerful artificial ‘intelligence’. Turns out, my washing machine has a voice-and-camera assistant. I never knew I needed this ability before. I still don’t. Upon analysing a photo of my dirty washing, the machine’s app-based interface gave me some helpful tips such as using colour-catcher wipes… and also asked “when do we start to play with the big boys?”. Is that an indictment on my laundry? Or a lonely cry for companionship?

“Rather than the sound of a wild forest, I was greeted by the chirpy, nameless Google voice apologising that my playlist didn’t exist”

Each morning, before the waves crash, Robbie the Roomba whirs awake and makes his rounds vacuuming the ground floor. Many a day I will come down to find Robbie crying out for human assistance after getting into a fight with a paper bag and losing. Though, given the frequency I find it near the Guinea Pigs, should I be concerned about an alliance forming in the future Robot Revolution?

For a while, I had the BBC news as my wake-up call, but the dramatic sound of the theme tune and the disconcerting, disembodied voice telling me the world is still a bit shit really didn’t do it for me.

Although my beach wake up is currently pleasant, I should say that Google’s first attempt at a soothing wake up failed immeasurably. Rather than the sound of a wild forest, I was greeted by the chirpy, nameless Google voice apologising that my playlist didn’t exist.

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“

“

Bixby into an existential crisis, so, like a digital therapist, I lay Bixby down on the couch and trawled through its memories. Unsatisfied with my findings, I took Bixby out to the proverbial backyard.

Bixby pops up enough times to make an early-noughties piracy website blush

Unless the Revolution’s key tactic is wearing us down with frustration, I think that unlikely.

Perhaps this failure of intelligence on Google’s part was anomalous?

Well as poor luck would have it, my Samsung phone also features a devilishly difficultto-disable doubly dumb smart assistant by the name of Bixby. Since moving to Google’s assistant, I have never knowingly summoned Bixby. But Bixby pops up enough times to make an early noughties piracy website blush.

Two such times were during a presentation to my lab group.

Bixby donned its lab coat and helpfully suggested out loud that perhaps I should connect to my Spotify to complete that action. Then it condescendingly declared halfway through my presentation, “I didn’t understand that”.

Thinking Bixby had done its worst, I got on with the rest of my day uneventfully. But as I was watching a film with my housemate, Bixby decided it wanted attention. And so simply and menacingly said, “this must be what an out-of-body experience feels like”. I needed to know what had triggered

By Matthew Bird

Illustration and page design by Amy Ridehalgh

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Spotlight On: Tanzania

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Picture this: golden plains, mountainous regions that flourish with lush greenery, rice fields and coffee plantations, beaches, National Parks and diverse wildlife. Nila Varman tells us more about the country of Tanzania.

You wake up to the gentle sunrise and a buzzing, bubbling symphony of insects, birds and beasts of the savannah, and the warmth and laughter of wonderful people wishing you good morning. This is the Tanzania I cherished during my visit – or at least, this was my perspective when I wasn’t preoccupied stuffing my face with giant avocados, plantain, banana soup, Nyama Choma (grilled meat), Ugali (maize porridge) and all the sweet yams and potatoes I could ask for. When I wasn’t eating (which was - I assure you - most of the time), I was testing out my Swahili (I’d been learning for a year) and embarking on game drives through the Serengeti National Park.

“It also houses the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro” Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa and is home to some of the greatest National Parks in the world, including the Serengeti (which translates to ‘endless plains’ in Swahili), Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire. These National Parks constitute almost 30% of the entire country. It also houses the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, at some 5895m above sea level, and the site of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Tanzania’s vast plateaus encompass islands such as Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba, infamous for their white beaches and glistening waters.

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IMPACT During our game drives, when I wasn’t counting lions and elephants, I was learning the history of Tanzania, which has been populated by 120+ different African tribal groups over thousands of years.

In fact, you can step through time at the Olduvai Gorge, where some of the oldest human settlements, including the earliest human skull at over two million years old, were excavated. Or Laetoli, where 3.7 million years ago, three early humans walked through volcanic ash, leaving behind the oldest known footprints of hominins.

We stopped by at a village near Arusha to learn the customs of the Maasai people; they showed us huts constructed from clay and mud by the women and the pivotal role women play in the tribe, from walking miles, to collect provisions to cooking for the family.

“In 1896, the shortest war in history took place in Tanzania between Zanzibar and Britain”

“It was a genuinely unforgettable and life-affirming journey”

In 1896, the shortest war in history took place in Tanzania between Zanzibar and Britain... lasting a grand total of 45 minutes. Through the 1990s came the development of Bongo Flava (a nickname for Tanzanian music), a unique combination of genres that served as the soundtrack to our long sundrenched drives between one National Park and the next.

I learned that, during the early days of Tanzania’s revolutionary period of political debate and protest following British imperial rule, local African revolutionaries led the Zanzibar Revolution and succeeded in abolishing the predominantly Arab government by overthrowing the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1964. The violence from the protests continued until the wake of the millennium.

Going on safari was unlike anything I had ever experienced before; it was a genuinely unforgettable and life-affirming journey, cliché as that sounds. I started my day at 5am in my tent and wasted no time setting off on game drives, stopping for lunch in the middle of the savannah, not far from where we’d spotted a member of the ‘big five’ (leopard, lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino). We were routinely flanked by dazzles of zebras or Thomson gazelles, and every view of the plains were incredibly unique, yet identically overwhelming.

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On those days, I felt like a singular noodle of grass in that massive savannah, and all of my problems seemed to melt away.

The adrenaline of spotting the frenzy of feeding carnivores, followed by the silence of their slumber, was simply entrancing. I remember the first time I caught sight of a cheetah and her cubs; it was the first time I’d seen them outside of David Attenborough’s Our Planet, so the effect was cinematically surreal. I remember seeing a family of giraffes for the first time, on the way to Ngorongoro, and I cried like a baby watching the graceful sway of those umber-hued coats. We’d see more than 35 different species of animals every day.

“Tanzania, in short, has something for everyone” One fond memory is of taking a shower late one night in my tent, and jumping - first for shock, then for joy - when a zebra started nuzzling the walls to announce its presence. I replied by trying to imitate the zebra call, not expecting any real effect, but lo and behold, the zebra responded! Tanzania, in short, has something for everyone. Whether it’s hiking up a mountain, spotting wildlife, or relaxing on a sandy beach, it’s a place that will leave you with a lifetime of memories, and exceeds all preconceived expectations.

By Nila Varman Photography by Nila Varman Page Design by Chiara Crompton

Image Courtesy of spiagol56 on Pixabay

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Image courtesy of The granger collection, CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 Photographer: The Granger Collection

Rice Rebellion

Food shortages have been a problem for as long as society itself, but it is during times of war that people are often most hard hit. This was the case in Italy during World War Two, leading to extensive food smuggling along the Italian-Swiss border.

Swiss trade laws meant food was often half the price than it was in Italy and subsequently, unprecedented levels of smuggling peaked during the autumn of 1942.

Rice was the most commonly smuggled item, so much so that the period was, and still is, referred to as the ‘epoca del riso’ (the age of rice). While we will never truly understand what they went through, we can pay ode to those who lived through the war with our own rice recipe.

To appreciate this versatile staple food, here is a simple risotto reci-pe for you to try!

Mushroom Risotto Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Serves 4 (and keeps for up to one week in the fridge)

Ingredients:



2 tbsp oil

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1 large white onion, diced

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2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

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250g mushrooms, sliced (I used white button)

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300g risotto rice

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1 vegetable stock cube

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Handful of peas (fresh or frozen)

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Handful of parsley leaves, chopped

Method: 1. In a large saucepan, heat the oil on a medium-high flame and then add the onion and garlic. Fry for 5-10 minutes until soft, then add the mushrooms and cook for up to 10 minutes until gently coloured.

2. Make the stock in a jug with the stock cube and 1 litre of boiling water.

3. Add the risotto rice to the mushroom pan, stir well, then turn the heat down and gradually add the stock about 100ml at a time. Stir well, waiting until the liquid is fully absorbed each time before adding the next lot of stock.

4. Add the peas and parsley, saving a little for garnish if you are feeling fancy. If the rice is still undercooked add more boiling water and cook gently, although risotto is best when slightly al dente!

5. Season to taste and serve with parsley and garlic bread if you fancy.

By Victoria Hornagold Page Design and Illustrations by Ellie Stainforth-Mallison

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The Revolutionary Coffeehouses Coffeehouses were a melting pot of classes and cultures - places for sparking intellectual debates and revolutionary ideas. Alice explores the significant role these establishments have played in changing the course of history.

Revolution and Coffeehouses might seem to have little in common, but the two things are strongly linked. As empires expanded, the production of coffee increased, meaning it became available to the masses; and where better to have a drink than a coffeehouse?

“This led people to believe that wherever the coffeehouse went, revolution followed.”

Public Houses serving beer had offered a social space prior to the coffeehouse, but alcohol served in such establishments dulled the conversations’ intellectual rigour.

By contrast, coffee allowed for hours of debate.Coffeehouses gave the commoner a point for information exchange on everything, from the royal family to poetry, but most importantly, access to new ideas. This transformation meant that ideas considered ‘sidious’ could be spread with greater ease. This led people to believe that wherever the coffeehouse went, revolution followed.

England saw the first coffeehouse in 1652.

The coffeehouse remained open through the Cromwellian era when many other leisure activities were banned. However, Charles II’s restoration led to a suppression of such spaces.

In Paris, complaints about whether Louis XVI was truly divine spread rapidly through these coffeehouses. It is no coincidence that the monarchy was then overthrown in 1793.

Similarly, in America the Boston Tea Party led the founding fathers to be strictly coffee drinkers; it was considered a true revolutionary drink.

So, whilst coffee shops are in abundance today, next time you go for a caramel latte you can think of the revolutionary history that very leisure activity is steeped in.

By Alice Nott Illustrations and Page design by Ayris Saner

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The Fashion Industry: A Revolution Against Gender Norms

Times are changing in the realm of fashion and so is society’s view of gendered style.

Lois explores the impact of these changing attitudes and highlights some key figures embodying the movement.

Aside from its aesthetic, the fashion industry is a political playground for the personal and social exploration of gender and sexuality. As we move through our changing world, with COVID isolation and zoom education meaning less human contact and the proliferation of the waist-up outfit, our choice of clothing feels even more salient in curating the particular identities we wish to project.

“The rigid dichotomy of ‘women’s fashion’ and ‘men’s fashion’ is rooted in the social acceptance of the gender binary” Fashion has always been in conversation with gender and as 2020 becomes a new era of huge social change, including the constant blurring and redefining of hegemonic masculinity and femininity, it’s clear we have come a long way from blue and pink stereotypes.

“Fashion has become part of the political artillery to push for material change.”

Since David Bowie’s alienesque Ziggy Stardust and Elton John’s genderbending costume clothing, fashion has always been a platform in which traditional gender ideologies have been questioned and explored. The rigid dichotomy of women and men’s fashion is rooted in the social acceptance of the gender binary, a structure which has become increasingly problematised. Fashion has become part of the political artillery to push for material change.

Today, Gen Z icons such as Harry Styles, Billy Porter, Billie Eilish and Jaden Smith have become figureheads in pushing the boundaries of gendered fashion.

Harry’s sheer blouses, nail polish and heeled boots, that ballerina outfit on SNL, and his recent appearance at the 2020 Brit Awards wearing a flared yellow suit and lilac pussy-bow blouse, demonstrates his continued use of colour, cut, and fabric to rail against the confines of ‘men’s fashion’ and question the very notion of gendered dress altogether.

Jaden Smith’s iconic Louis Vuitton skirt campaign revealed a modern boundary still struggling to be broken - men in skirts and dresses, an image embraced by the internet sensation that was Billy Porter’s beautiful red-carpet Christian Siriano dress.

Furthermore, Billie Eilish has consistently rejected the normative fashion expectations for young women, preferring oversized, loudly monogrammed clothing despite critics demands to ‘dress like a girl’.

These influential decisions contribute to material change; we increasingly see unisex options at commercial fashion brands, new non-binary brands are making their way into the mainstream and there has been a profound shift towards gender neutrality as fashion houses show mixed runway collections.

Gucci’s ‘The Future is Fluid’ campaign seems to solidify the feeling of our current culture.

Contemporary fashion choices reflect the view of gender as performative and in flux. As students, our exploration with fashion, such as ignoring gendered sections in shops, stealing friends’ and partners’ clothing, and adopting the androgynous uni uniform of trackies and a hoody, indexes our subscription to a new non-conformist generation.

By Lois Freeman Illustrations by Phoebe Raine Page Design by Anna Walker

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Tattoos and Taboos “Barbarians! Sailors! Ruined job prospects!” These are just a few of the things that ran through my mum’s head when I got a tattoo (an olive branch on my forearm) in 2016.

“Tattooing has a rich, subversive history spanning cultures, continents and millennia” Thinking back, what I should have said to reassure her would be: “actually, tattooing has a rich, subversive history spanning cultures, continents and millennia.

Egyptian priestesses, Persian demigods, even Ötzi the Iceman were tatted.” Hopefully, making her stop and think about her hidden bias.

“In fact, mum, indigenous cultures in Central and North America, the Philippines and Polynesia used tattoos to denote high status, accomplishment, and for pain relief. However, European colonisers clamped down on the natives to assert dominance, causing a certain controversy to surround them. Tattooed people were abducted and put in zoos and circuses such as ‘The Painted Prince’ Jeoly or Frobisher’s Inuits, pushing them further down the social hierarchy.

And yes, I know you’re worrying about the sailors. But they only stole the word from Tahiti: tatau. Tattooing was already widely practiced here.

“There are so many amazing people who’ve been inked” There are so many amazing people who’ve been inked. The Celts and Picts had ornate hierarchical tattoos. King Harold II was identified by his wife for his ‘Edith and England’ chest marking after his death at the Battle of Hastings. Not to mention, King George V was a fan of a dragon tat after a trip to Japan. So, tattoos really are approved by royalty, mum.

“There are so many amazing people who’ve been inked” And I almost forgot, to prove his innocence against charges of treason, Chinese folk hero Yue Fei ripped off his jacket in court to reveal his tattooed back: ‘Serve the country with the utmost loyalty’. Even Teddy Roosevelt had his coat of arms on his chest. The list is endless! Nowadays attitudes are shifting, mum. You shouldn’t worry.”

But what I actually said was: “Oh sorry, I’ll let you know next time.”

By Joe Holmes-Milner Photography by Joe Holmes-Milner Page Design by Chiara Crompton

34 A series of shots of my beautiful friends, shining.

By Ben Ofungwu.

Photographs by Gareth Tucker and Nina Shasha.

Photograph by Gareth Tucker

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Grace and Thea exuding star power energy.

Photograph by Nina Shasha

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Chantel channelling Annie Hall, and working it.

Photograph by Gareth Tucker

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The end of the dance with Diletta and Elizabeth.

Photograph by Gareth Tucker

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ENTERTAINMENT

Images courtesy of Joel Muniz @jmuniz https://unsplash.com/photos/RLH_Wmlnj2k

ENTERTAINMENT

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Welcome To The Front: An Exploration of Revolutionary Writing Rhianna Greensmith introduces us to some female writers who have revolutionised the literary world, as well as exploring the interesting relationship between gender and publishing.

Whilst today, thankfully, women regularly obtain their rightful place on best-seller lists, it is still undeniable that we keep sweeping vast talent under the carpet.

“From the release of her first novel, Disobedience, there was never any doubt that she was here to stay” Firstly, winning the Orange Award for New Writers in 2006, Naomi Alderman championed with her brave and affecting flair. From the release of her first novel, Disobedience, there was never any doubt that she was here to stay. Disobedience traces the cataclysms of being thrust back into a past life, a past life in which your present self is no longer affiliated. It follows Ronit, an Orthodox Jew turned New York career woman who is called back to her old life in Hendon, northwest London, after the passing of her father. Climactically, she is reintroduced to her teenage girlfriend and their sensuality is rebirthed.

Readers are reminded of Ronit having been shunned for loving another woman by her own community - this outcast persona she felt growing up coming up to the surface. Alderman’s poignant tale exploring the boundaries of religion, sexuality and self-identity later hit the big screen in 2017 through Sebastian Lelio’s film adaptation of the same name, starring Rachel Weisz as Ronit.

“Bernadine Evaristo revolutionised the landscape of the novel as we know it” Furthermore, Bernadine Evaristo revolutionised the landscape of the novel as we know it with her 2019 best-seller Girl, Woman, Other. Already an established writer with seven prior works to her name, it is here that we really see Evaristo breaking the mould of conventional novel form.

Girl, Woman, Other traces the lives of twelve women, predominantly Black British, examining the ways in which their paths connect. Giving a chapter to each woman’s life story, we see casual meetings of characters, and meaningful platonic and romantic relationships that come to form the broader plot.

Opening with the story of Amma, a London-based socialist playwright, at the end of the novel we see the play she is working on performed to an audience of several characters already discussed. Whilst all present do not feel as though they belong in the community Amma has created through her drama, namely teacher Shirley, Evaristo constructs a dynamic plot of interconnectivity through their shared experience.

In short, this novel holds a mirror up to living the female and non-binary experiences in the twenty-first century. It reflects that, despite all our differences, as humans our paths are still partially intertwined.

Women are truly at the forefront of revolutionary writing. And that could not be more exciting.

By Rhianna Greensmith Illustrations and Page Design by Chiara Crompton

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IMPACT

The Biggest Art Heist in History: Stolen artwork from Africa and Asia that has yet to be returnedÂ

Image Courtesy of Arthur JohnJohn Picton Image Courtesy of Arthur Picton on Flickr Image Courtesy on Flickr

Jasmin investigates the artworks stolen from colonised states, most of which have still not been returned to their rightful home.

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It should come as no surprise that

during colonial times, European countries stole from other cultures and passed materials off as their own. Whilst most believe that Colonialism is now firmly rooted in the past, this is clearly not the case, as there are still examples of European countries holding artwork that belongs to other countries in galleries. This is especially seen with African and Asian art, and frankly, returning these masterpieces back to their original home is long overdue.

“In the Netherlands, a report was recently conducted on the content in their museums and it was found that many artefacts were acquired from other countries” There are examples of looted art all across galleries and museums throughout Europe, but a few particular cases stand out. In the Netherlands, a report was recently conducted on the content in their museums and it was found that many artefacts were acquired from other countries. The Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven, stated that, “This historical injustice is visible in the colonial collections that can be seen in Dutch museums today”.

Some of the artwork that was described in the report include a silver water pail from Curaçao, an 18th century banjo from Suriname, and a 13th-century stone statue of Ganesh taken from an East Java temple that was rediscovered in 1803. The Netherlands has been advised to at least offer to return these objects back to their rightful owners. The fact that some of these artworks were stolen over 200 years ago, yet this is only now being discussed, highlights the fact that Colonialism is still very much rooted in our society today.

“It’s unjust and selfish that countries within Africa have had to suffer the loss of objects that are so integral to their heritage and culture” More cases of this can be seen in France and Britain. French art historian, Benedicte Savoy, mentioned that, “a huge part of Africa’s cultural heritage is on display in Europe. The Quai Branly Museum in Paris holds some 70,000 African objects, with London’s British Museum holding thousands more.” This appalling statistic proves how imperialistic Europe still is, and we need to be doing more to hold our countries to account. It is unjust and selfish that countries within Africa have had to suffer the loss of objects that are so integral to their heritage and culture. It should be illegal; stealing is a crime after all, yet why are we only recently starting to realise that these objects should be returned to the countries they were created in?

Back in June, Congolese activist, Mwazulu Diyabanza, grabbed an African artefact from a French museum in protest and was recently fined €1000 in court. He said he wanted to “come to claim back the stolen property of Africa.” Rather than fining him, France could have reached an agreement to return the stolen artwork and make amends for their colonial past.

“There is no doubt that African art has been hugely influential on world art, so why don’t we celebrate and acknowledge this rather than continue to appropriate from other cultures?”

There is no doubt that African art has been hugely influential on world art, so why don’t we celebrate and acknowledge this rather than continue to appropriate from other cultures? It has been acknowledged that both Henry Matisse and Pablo Picasso were heavily influenced from art they saw in different African countries. One of the most famous artworks that was hugely influential to them was a small figurine carved out of wood by the Vili people of Congo. Matisse purchased it in a shop in Paris and since then, his paintings depicted various patterns and colours influenced from African art.

Picasso was also heavily influenced by African masks, and his works showed earthly tones, browns and rich reds. Most notably, the works that Picasso created that were directly influenced by Africa include Portrait of Gertrude Stein (1906), Nude with Raised Arms (1907), Dryad (1908), and Three Women (1908).

It is also clear that Asian art has influenced the Western World, in particular Japanese art, as both Claude Monet and James Whistler were influenced by Japanese art.

In the late 19th century, an exhibition that displayed Japanese art at a World Fair led to it growing in popularity in France. Shops started selling Japanese artwork, woodcut prints, kimonos, fans and antiquities.

The French named this new trend, Japonisme, and it is clear how this has influenced artwork across Europe.

The art of Japan was exciting to European artists; it led to a series of stylised, narrative forms with flowing outlines that flourished between the mid 17th to the mid 19th century.

“We should also encourage Britain, as well as other European countries, to return any objects to the countries from which they were stolen” It is quite clear how both Asian and African artwork have heavily influenced art across the globe. We should be celebrating our different cultures and appreciating the influence they’ve had on us. However, we should also encourage Britain, as well as other European countries, to return any objects to the countries from which they were stolen. It’s time we make amends for our colonial pasts, and allow the indigenous people who suffered during that time to heal and reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

By Jasmin Lemarie Illustration by Chiara Crompton Page Design by Ellie Stainforth-Mallison

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IMPACT

South Korean New Wave: How it has Revolutionised World Cinema Abi explores how the films of the South Korean New Wave have both influenced and revolutionised cinema on a global scale.

Bong Joon-Ho’s dynamic masterpiece Parasite (2019) dominated the 2020 Oscars, winning four awards, including the coveted ‘best picture’. It could therefore appear to many that this triumph brought South Korean films into global discourse, however, directors from the nation’s New Wave of cinema have been producing genre-bending features since the movement began in the early 1990s. ”The films of this era have a propensity to grapple with the taboo and controversial, but it is this that gives South Korean cinema its distinctive aesthetic” Following a period of heavy censorship in the 1970s-1980s, South Korea’s Hallyu (New Wave) birthed a genre of extreme cinema that hybridised the local and global in a revolutionary and unique way. The films of this era have a propensity to grapple with the taboo and controversial, but it is this that gives South Korean cinema its distinctive aesthetic.

One of the most internationally celebrated movies from this period is Park Chan-Wook’s Old Boy (2003) - a disturbing neo-noir that kickstarted South Korea’s affinity with revenge thrillers. The 2003 film features a layered and surprising plot, and with its mind-blowing and perturbing action, it resists being pigeonholed into a single genre. We follow our protagonist, Dae-su Oh, as he is released from fifteen years imprisonment, before attempting to track down his captor and discover the reason behind his confinement. As well as permeating through academic and popular discourse over the last twenty years, the movie’s iconic hallway fight scene has been replicated in Western media multiple times, notably in Marvel’s Daredevil (2015).

Vengeance categorises a great deal of South Korean cinema, so much so, that the neologism ‘haan’ has emerged in the country, which roughly translates to ‘a deep feeling of grief and resentment’. This overall sentiment is present in movies such as Parasite, where it is the driving force behind the actions of Geun-se, the man secretly living in the Parks’ basement, and eventually, Ki-Taek, who is overwhelmed by the divide between the rich Parks and the poor Kim family.

South Korean cinema does not consist only of the perverse. Action films such as Yeon Sang-Ho’s Train to Busan (2016) have revolutionised the zombie film genre. This self-contained thriller uses the concept of a zombie movie to address the idea of the nation as perpetually on the verge of conflict and, as a result, is refreshingly emotional for a ‘zombie-flic’. Train to Busan is reminiscent of another quintessential South Korean movie from the last twenty years: Bong Joon-Ho’s Snowpiercer (2013). This dystopian action movie, also set on a train, explores the class system through a unique lens and features equally as impressive action sequences. The film also differentiates itself from the Oscar-winning director’s other features through its western casting and use of English. It has since affected popular culture greatly, to the point that Netflix released a serialised remake of the film in 2020.

“These movies, among many others, have revolutionised Western cinema with their distinctive style” These movies, among many others, have revolutionised Western cinema with their distinctive style, reconfiguring traditional Hollywood genres with specifically Korean social issues. Ultimately, movies of the South Korean New Wave are marked by their ability to leave a deep impact on the viewer long after the credits roll.

By Abi Clark Page Design by Chiara Crompton Image courtesy of Caspy2003, Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ casper_thessaloniki/5188467756/

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Rebellion vs Angst: Colliding Truths within the Coming-of-Age Genre Fatema explores the contrasting depictions of the tumultuous teenage years in 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and 2019’s Ladybird.

Teenage angst is a topic consistently explored by the arts, and is an emotion that audiences of all ages can relate to. While in literature, film, music, and television alike, the concept of teenage rebellion has been viewed both as comical and exhausting, it is nonetheless portrayed as an inevitable part of growing up. Teenage angst is so thoroughly complicated that there is no one right way to truly depict the rebellious nature of the teenage years. A few films however, have earned their place among the classics for doing just that.

“Coming of age within this film is connotated with an air of invincibility, inciting an immediate connection between the viewers and the film” One such film is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), a staple in every household, which has been consistently praised for its comical, yet wondrous, portrayal of teenage rebellion.

The film encourages audiences to partake in the mischievousness and carelessness that teenagers are privileged to experience. We follow our protagonist Ferris along with his sidekick Cameron, on a single day of wild abandonment in Chicago, delightfully depicting the freedom of teenage years. The film romanticizes the teenage spirit and reinforces the idea that rebellion is the ultimate sacrifice in the search for fulfilment at this age.

Coming-of-age within this film connotes an air of invincibility, inciting an immediate connection between the viewers and the film.

Thirty-four years later, the coming-of-age genre has reinvented itself somewhat, with the portrayal of rebellion in films such as Ladybird (2019). It has been applauded for its masterful portrayal of adolescent struggles, through intimate emotional investigation. A more thorough, real-life depiction of the complexities of emotions and the journey of discovering yourself in the midst of a collision between internal and external conflicts, the film is a stark contrast to the rose coloured lens of unending possibilities that is portrayed in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

“A possible reason of this stark contrast could be the willingness of people in recent years to discuss the reality of vulnerability and emotions within the arts…”

A possible reason for this stark contrast could be the willingness of people in recent years to discuss the reality of vulnerability and emotions within the arts, rather than categorising the teenage years as utopic. Ladybird explores heartbreak, temptation, friendship, and family, in an utterly raw manner that captures audiences’ hearts.

With rebelliousness evoked through their desire to live life by their own rules, both Ferris and Ladybird strive to prove to society not what they are going to do, but rather what they aren’t going to do. Battling their coming-of-age through two distinct ways, they showcase the perpetually-tumultuous nature of teenage years.

By Fatema Valikarimwala Illustrations and Page Design

by Chiara Crompton

IMPACT

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Digital Warfare: Should Games Depict War and Rebellion?

Rowan asks if video game depictions of war are exploitation or meaningful commentary.

If you know anyone who owns a PlayStation, Xbox or gaming computer, you’ve likely come across franchises like Call of Duty, Far Cry, Battlefield and innumerable others that depict scenes of war, death and rebellion.

But is this a vital representation of reality or a desensitising glorification of violence and its consequences?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) has taken over the gaming world since its release last August. Entering its sixth season of online content, its most popular game mode is its battle royale ‘Warzone’, which sees soldiers entering an abandoned area being gradually infiltrated by deadly gas. The mode reflects a modern war zone with its evacuated carcass of a map and the threat of chemical warfare.

As with many recent battle royales, Warzone allows up to 150 players to fight until the last man/squad standing. Is it right to present an unrealistic concept of every man for himself in a setting based on reality? Perhaps our generation needs to be exposed to a more accurate representation of what our predecessors faced in real life.

“Modern Warfare legitimately asks the player to question the nature of war“

Meanwhile, Modern Warfare (2019) featured torture, dead children and shooting unarmed civilians. Unlike gratuitous moments in previous CoD games however, Modern Warfare legitimately asks the player to question the nature of war. It made mistakes - having the Russians commit a fictionalised stand-in for real war crimes the US military committed on the Highway of Death in the Gulf War - but it also inspired important conversations.

The Far Cry franchise has featured guerrilla warfare everywhere, from Central Africa to Montana, since the early 2000s. The upcoming Far Cry 6 (to be released in February 2021) will cast you as a guerrilla fighter trying to take down a modern-day dictatorship.

“political discussion in these games… stops them becoming completely senseless portrayals of violence“

Guerrilla warfare’s prevalence over the last two centuries has inspired game-developers, and successfully so; warfare and rebellion games are hugely popular. It’s important to have political discussion in these games to stop them becoming completely senseless portrayals of violence, but given Far Cry publisher Ubisoft’s history of exploiting surface-level political controversy for publicity (see Watch Dogs: Legion playing off of Brexit protests), that seems unlikely with this series.

Nevertheless, this contextual basis allows games to reflect the changing times and comment on society in a medium other than critical journalism and literature. Surely, if we praise themes of rebellion in art, film, and literature, it’s only right to do the same when it’s explored in an interactive medium.

By Rowan Cothliff Illustrations and Page Design by Chiara Crompton Inage courtesy of Photo Fábio Silva on Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/nmTm7knUnqs

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Video Games, Sexism and a Whole Lot of Testosterone Lucy asks whether the video game industry is doing enough to fight discrimination and stereotypes.

You’d think that we’ve come a long way since the sexily dainty blonde woman, draped in red and hand pressed delicately to her forehead, dominated arcade machines.

After Riot Games’ 2018 settlement to compensate the discrimination against their female employees, it seemed like the world was finally ready to combat misguided stereotypes in gaming.

Specifically, those driving game development.

Sony Entertainment was praised for its decision to place woman of colour, Yumi Yang, at the forefront of Santa Monica Studios, the proud parents of the overlymasculine, white-as-ashes God of War franchise.

Praised, as if they did women a favour; as if minorities haven’t been fighting for this since young gamers began raging over a few bouncing pixels decades ago.

“Game developers are still only about 24% women” Game developers are still only about 24% women, and only a further 5% identify as Black/Afro-Caribbean.

Large corporations use a lack of female interest to bail them out of hiring unequally. You see, if they toss out the occasional diverse character, slapped together by nervously sweating CEOs and a few angry tweets, then surely no one will glance behind the smoke and mirrors to see the patriarchal cogs turning.

Battlefield V was berated viciously for placing a disabled woman at the forefront of their campaign. As much as I wanted to support an influential company taking progressive strides, its buggy system and recycled gameplay left me uncomfortably pondering their decision to feminize WW2 history.

And why should they be concerned? Even on screen, under full scrutiny of the world, the internet is unafraid to snap back against inclusivity. Abby from The Last of Us Part 2 had one too many protein shakes, and suddenly her beefiness ruins the immersion of a game where you craft silencers from water bottles.

Do they genuinely care about the stories of minorities, or is this a quick cash-grab at inclusivity to appease the masses?

“Do [influential companies] genuinely care about the stories of minorities, or is this a quick cash-grab?”

Companies pat themselves on the back and call it a day for alluding to anything but the straight white male.

Tokenism has become so ingrained in the video game industry that it’s hard to distinguish when good, welcoming representation comes along. Even more so when minorities aren’t designing the narratives representing them.

The revolution is long and ever changing, and it doesn’t just stop with gameplay.

By Lucy Farmer Illustrations and Page Design by Sarah MacAllan

IMPACT

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“Bring The Noise”: The Modern Culture of Protest Music From rap to indie to pop, Amrit Virdi probes the politicised poetry, mobilising melodies and all that are inspiring a generation of change.

In a world full of controversy and injustice, it comes as no surprise that our revolutionary millennial culture is reflected in the arts industry. Protest music has become the soundtrack to extremely important activism, as artists are increasingly tackling modern issues and making important statements in their lyrical content.

2020 has been a politically charged year, notably due to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Charged with rage and a desire for change after the unjust death of George Floyd, some of the biggest artists from the black community utilised their status to make a major political impact, and to bring attention to the racism and discrimination that black people have to face.

Undoubtedly, Beyoncé made a powerful statement in the timely ‘Black Parade’. With direct references to ‘’rubber bullets’’ and ‘’picket signs’’, Knowles doesn’t shy away from using her influential voice to draw attention to the horrific violence which people of colour face on a daily basis.

Knowles also takes the opportunity within the song to create a sense of unity within the black community by appreciating her African heritage and “motherland”, as she calls out to her listeners by assuring them that “we gon’ stay together.”

This isn’t the first time Knowles has referred to her love of her culture. In the 2016 smash hit, ‘Formation’, Knowles states “I like my baby hair / with baby hair and afros,” and once again protests against discrimination as she states that “they never take the country out [of] me.” Clearly no stranger to advocating for change, 2020’s ‘Black Parade’ follows this trend as she mobilises her listeners, ending the song with the powerful instruction to “follow my parade / oh, black parade.” A rousing political statement, ‘Black Parade’ is a prime example of the pertinent protest songs this troubled year has produced.

Moving into the rap genre, Run The Jewels released their fourth studio album RTJ4 early, in light of the Black Lives Matter protests. A concept album based on the horrific racism evident in the world, ‘walking in the snow’ refers directly to the killing of George Floyd in the lyric “until my voice goes from a shriek to whisper - ‘I can’t breathe’/And you sit there in the house on couch and watch it on TV.” Not shying away from the topic at hand, the duo (Killer Mike and EI-P) collaborate with Pharrell Williams and Zach de la Rocha on single, ‘JU$T’, to not only comment on the political inequalities of 2020, but to reflect on the history of slavery - calling for listeners to “look at all these slave masters posin’ on yo’ dollar.” And with Kanye West and Travis Scott also reflecting on this in their 2020 release ‘Wash Us In The Blood’, it’s evident that rappers are aiming to characterise modern protest music as revolutionary declarations against political injustice.

Despite protest music coming to ultimate prominence in 2020, these mobilising melodies have been circulating for years, notably in 1971 with Marvin Gaye’s powerful track ‘What’s Going On’. As in Beyoncé’s ‘Black Parade’, Gaye refers boldly to “picket signs,” highlighting both the recurrent issues that the black community continue to face, and how their strength and unity can be expressed through the vessel of music.

ENTERTAINMENT Political issues have sparked protest in multiple areas, with British artists across a plethora of genres using their voices to speak out against government action.

The highly acclaimed British grime artist, Stormzy, made his political stance apparent in 2019 with hit single ‘Vossi Bop’ - exclaiming “f*** the government and f*** Boris” amid the Brexit crisis. With the youth of today seemingly responsive to this, even making it a popularly used TikTok sound amidst the government’s handling of the pandemic, such songs are interesting examples of how the influence of pop culture and social media correlates to the rising popularity of protest songs.

Similarly, The 1975 reveal a post-apocalyptic declaration that “modernity has failed us’’ in the contemporary ‘Love It If We Made It’, and even devote a track on their 2020 record Notes On A Conditional Form, to Greta Thunberg’s spoken word vignette on the current ecological crisis. With such artists having a wide reach to an audience of primarily young adults, it’s of no doubt that their melodic angst is the perfect soundtrack for those looking to spark revolution.

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Music associated with a movement for social change need not be confined to rap and grime. Indie artists such as Sam Fender, for example, have tackled topical issues in the past, including issues of class and patriarchy in indie-rock belter, ‘White Privilege’. Here, Fender laments on how he “don’t wanna hear about Brexit” and his “generation was duped,” before delving into issues of gender equality and how “the patriarchy is real.”

With protest music clearly being genre-breaking and reaching millions of people worldwide, it is true that musicians continue to ‘bring the noise’; providing the soundtrack to revolutions worldwide, with the culture surrounding protest music ever-growing in today’s uncertain political and ecological climate.

By Amrit Virdi Page Design by Chiara Crompton Images courtesy of Joel Muniz @jmuniz https://unsplash.com/photos/RLH_Wmlnj2k (altered) and Krista Mangulsone https://unsplash.com/photos/vqxqoLxF68Q (altered)

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The 21st Century Hip-Hop Feminist Gemma Cockrell explores the impact of female artists debunking the hypocrisies and prejudices of contemporary gender politics.

Characterised by unabashed honesty, colourful lyrical content, and a veracious commitment to intersectional feminism, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘WAP’ is the latest track in the long line of sex-positive female anthems to shake the music industry. The impact of the scorching duo, alongside the work of artists like Nicki Minaj, Lizzo, Lil Kim, and Beyoncé, has helped in debunking the hypocrisies and prejudices of contemporary gender politics.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘WAP’ has been near unavoidable since it dropped in August. Whether it be the salacious lyrics, or the equally raunchy Tik-Tok dance inspired by the music video, it has taken the internet by storm as the first female rap collaboration to reach Number One on Spotify in the US, with a record breaking ninety-three million streams in its first week.

The main reason for the popularity of ‘WAP’ is its refreshing outlook and focus on female sexuality, as Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion come to embody an unapologetic and intersectional form of 21st century feminism. Though it may not be a type of feminism that older generations understand, it embraces women taking ownership of their sexuality and speaking openly about pleasure. Both Cardi and Megan are highly educated, politically savvy, and economically successful women. However, they are simultaneously open about their sexuality. Such sexual openness however, has meant some people feel unable to respect the duo, and the recent track has received much criticism, primarily, and unsurprisingly, from men.

“There is still a certain stigma around female sexuality that is hindering the quest for gender equality.”

‘WAP’ therefore highlights the hypocritical view of female sex and pleasure as ‘taboo’ topics.”

‘WAP’ therefore highlights the hypocritical view of female sex and pleasure as ‘taboo’ topics. Male artists in the hip-hop and rap realms talk freely and flagrantly about sex, but when women reclaim their sexuality and do the same, it devalues what they have to say. There is still a certain stigma around female sexuality that is hindering the quest for gender equality; men are able to speak openly about sex, but as soon as they hear women expressing their own personal desires for pleasure, they feel uncomfortable.

Women discussing themes of sex in music is not a new concept and ‘WAP’ is only the latest in a long line of female tracks candidly discussing eroticism. In 2014, Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda’ earned a record-breaking 19.6 million views in just twenty-four hours, however, it was Lil’ Kim who paved the way for this empowered 21st century narrative, being one of the first rappers to celebrate female sexual agency as early as the 90’s. Cardi B even paid homage to Lil’ Kim in the ‘WAP’ music video by imitating the pose from Lil’ Kim’s 1996 ‘Hardcore’ poster.

Female empowerment is not something only presented in hip-hop, as it has risen in popularity across other genres throughout the past decade, with notable artists including famed R&B icon Beyoncé, and magnetic pop singer, Lizzo. The popularity of music that discusses female sexuality therefore demonstrates the importance of music in female empowerment, its unrivalled ability to promote independence and confidence, and its place as a vital component of twenty-first century feminism.

By Gemma Cockrell Illustration and Page Design by Chiara Crompton

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SPORTS

Image courtesy of GPA photo archive, flickr, https://www.flickr.com/ photos/iip-photo-archive/26398277028/

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IMPACT

Rebel Tours and International Boycotts: How the Politics of Apartheid Played Out in the Sporting World Apartheid existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s, and it bled into every aspect of society, including sport. Rachel Roberts gives a brief history of the boycotts and rebellions that played out in the sports scene in the campaign to end apartheid.

SPORTS

During Apartheid, sport became a means for the international community to apply pressure on South Africa to desegregate. Boycotts were used alongside economic ones; South Africa were not invited to the 1964 Olympics and were formally expelled from the International Olympic Committee in 1970. The Gleneagles Agreement of 1977 was made between leaders of Commonwealth countries to prohibit competition between their sports teams and South African ones, and this was particularly effective because it targeted the sports most enjoyed by white South Africans: rugby and cricket.

Rugby Union South Africa remained a member of the International Rugby Board throughout Apartheid, although this decision drew frequent criticism. Halt All Racist Tours was a protest group established in New Zealand in 1969 by Trevor Richards and John Minto, initially to stop the 1970 New Zealand tour of South Africa.

The hosts were unhappy about having to accept the Māori New Zealanders in their squad, but ultimately agreed and the tour went ahead.

Halt All Racist Tours threatened campaigns of civil disruption and disobedience ahead of the scheduled 1973 Springbok tour of New Zealand, and their protest was successful – the tour was prohibited by Prime Minister Norman Kirk.

“PM Rob Muldoon refused to cancel the All Blacks’ next scheduled tour of South Africa, under the belief that politics should stay out of sport” But by 1976, newly elected PM Rob Muldoon refused to cancel the All Blacks’ next scheduled tour of South Africa, under the belief that politics should stay out of sport. Subsequently, the Gleneagles Agreement led 21 African nations to boycott the 1976 Olympics in protest.

The 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand saw thousands of protesting, including pitch invasions and civil disobedience. All of these protests aimed to demonstrate the country’s opposition to Apartheid, and if possible, prevent games from taking place – which was the case in a couple of instances.

“Two lawyers successfully sued the New Zealand Rugby Union for their proposal of a tour in 1985, claiming that such a tour would be contrary to the NZRU’s constitution” Games against South Africa and New Zealand were stopped after two lawyers successfully sued the New Zealand Rugby Union for their proposal of a tour in 1985. The lawyers claimed that such a tour would be contrary to the NZRU’s constitution, which included much about promoting the image of rugby as being a benefit to society. Consequently, no games were played between the two sides until the end of apartheid, although there was a rebel tour in 1986 that travelled to South Africa as the New Zealand Cavaliers.

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Cricket In 1970, the International Cricket Council suspended South Africa from international games until Apartheid was dismantled.

Participation in cricket in South Africa was declining, as was the standard, all while the international game was being modernised with the revolutionised World Cup and World Series. This led to cricketing authorities in South Africa organising rebel tours – 7 in total with teams from England, The West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia, between 1982-1990.

Rebel players were offered large sums of money as enticement to play, but faced severe condemnation from the rest of the cricketing world: from the press, the public and governments.

“These suspensions led to the end of careers for over half the squad, including Geoffrey Boycott who was, at the time, the world’s leading Test-run scorer.”

The ‘England XI’ team, who went in 1981-82 captained by Graham Gooch, expected to face brief public criticism but instead were issued 3-year bans from international cricket.

These suspensions led to the end of careers for over half the squad, including Geoffrey Boycott who was, at the time, the world’s leading Test-run scorer. Gooch would continue to play for England and went on to captain the side in the late 1980s.

“The financial incentive to participate in a rebel tour was incredibly enticing.”

The Sri Lankan players were issued lifetime bans from the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. The players from the West Indies also received life bans from Caribbean cricket. In the West Indies, their rebel tour remains a highly controversial subject to date. The players that went were struggling to break into a first team in its prime, and players were paid poorly, so the financial incentive to participate in a rebel tour was incredibly enticing.

While the players were ostracised, they noted that their reception in South Africa was a rare occasion where Black and White people had played sport together.

Apartheid officially ended in 1994. For rugby union, South Africa hosting and winning the World Cup in 1995 was a pivotal moment in reunifying the country. Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok shirt, presented the team with the trophy. In 2019, South Africa won the world up again for a third time – a tournament that ended with their first Black captain, Siya Kolisi, lifting the trophy.

Official international cricket resumed for South Africa in 1991 when they toured India. This was also a significant event, as India were at the forefront of isolating South Africa from the international sporting scene. They welcomed the South African team for an ODI series, and then the Indian team toured South Africa for a Test and ODI series in 1992.

Cricket and rugby may be just games for some, but their historical involvement with Apartheid South Africa proves that these sports have a vast capacity for rebellion.

By Rachel Roberts Illustrations and Page Design by Chiara Crompton Annette Kurylo, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

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IMPACT

When Logic Rules on Sex in Sport

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Maya Israel offers her view on the testing and legal battles endured by Olympic champion, Caster Semenya.

Few laws border individuals in the way sports law has adapted to Caster Semenya, an athlete who has only ever wanted to run, but whose success in doing so has long been clouded by questions surrounding her sex.

Keenly following the Olympic champion’s trials and tribulations with the IAAF, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and Athletics South Africa (ASA), along with the decade long media scrutiny she has received, has taught me a lot about revolution.

Mostly, I’ve learned that it is slow, unkind and that when the ‘opposition’ topples, the outcome is not necessarily one of joy from any side.

In 2019 came the ruling on a landmark case: Caster Semenya & ASA v the IAAF. After years of unfair treatment towards Semenya via indecision, a number of gender verification tests and humiliation, CAS were forced to answer the questions: what does a level playing field look like? Should we separate athletes based on their hormonal levels? Is it acceptable to ask an athlete to take hormones to alter their natural state?

‘I questioned how they could allow the IAAF to overtly place a ceiling on a woman’s sporting ability and how their stance could be so inconsistent’ Initially, I was outraged by CAS’ decision to allow an upper limit on testosterone levels for women wanting to compete in certain events (400m to 1 mile). I questioned how they could allow the IAAF to overtly place a ceiling on a woman’s sporting ability and how their stance could be so inconsistent. However, now, in late 2020, I feel quite differently about the outcome. `I still greatly admire Semenya and believe she was treated despicably by the organisations who were bound to protect her, but I think CAS’ ruling is correct.

By ‘correct’, I mean logical. By no means is it fair. Sex and gender are two different things. Gender is how you define yourself. Sex is how you are born. CAS’ ruling confirms Semenya is intersex. She has 46 XY chromosomes and as a result, naturally produces far more testosterone than a 46 XX woman, giving her a clear athletic advantage.

‘Semenya’s advantages cannot be compared to those of Phelps or Bolt, as lactic acid production and calf height are not metrics by which athletes are separated’ Semenya’s advantages cannot be compared to those of Phelps or Bolt, as lactic acid production and calf height are not metrics by which athletes are separated. Perhaps dividing athletes based on testosterone levels is illegitimate, but for as long as competitors are separated by sex, or hormone levels for those willing to medicate, logically Semenya should not be able to compete in female categories.

If it were up to me, I wouldn’t exclude Semenya. Leaving Semenya category-less for competitions conflict with the founding principles of sport as a form of expression and entertainment, and sporting bodies’ current principles of inclusivity.

I do believe Semenya has been discriminated against. I believe that if we were dealing with an intersex male, it is unlikely he would be put under such a microscope. However, now that the questions have been asked, we have received a logical answer which will likely stand for some time.

By Maya Israel Page Design By Chiara Crompton Image courtesy of Jon Connell, Flickr, https:// www.flickr.com/photos/ciamabue/7968832970

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IMPACT

The Power of the Sporting Platform Gareth Holmes takes a look at some of the most important moments in sports history where it became so much more than just a game.

It is an undeniable fact that sport occupies a prominent space within peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives and has, in a number of ways, transcended the arena and become part of the national psyche. More and more, we see athletes fighting for what they believe is right, and the stadium becoming a political arena as well as a physical one.

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Jackboots on the Podium The year is 1936 and the Olympic games, arguably the biggest sporting event in the world, is due to be held in Berlin. Hitler intended to use the Olympics as a showcase to prove the superiority of the Aryan race, therefore a movement to boycott the 1936 Olympics began in America.

The president of the Amateur Athletic Union, Judge Jeremiah Mahoney would spearhead the boycott by pointing out that ‘Germany had broken Olympic rules forbidding discrimination based on race and religion’. It was believed that to send an American team to the Olympics would be an endorsement of Hitler’s policies and of the Nazi regime.

Other countries such as Great Britain, France and the Netherlands would follow suit and have their own debates about whether to send teams to the Olympic games. There was even talk and preparation for the People’s Olympiad to be held in Barcelona in the same year, yet these plans were scrapped after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. In the end, the boycott did not take place and the 1936 Olympics became one of the most heavily attended in history.

‘Owens won four gold medals and set three world records, and broke down social barriers in the centre of Hitler’s regime’ Personal protests would take place, such as Turkish Fencers, Halet Cambel and Suat Fetgeri Aseni Tari, refusing to meet with Hitler as a stance against Nazi Germany. But the games are most remembered for the athletic dominance of African American sprinter, Jesse Owens. Owens won four gold medals, set three world records and broke down social barriers in the centre of Hitler’s regime. Despite his success abroad, it is worth noting that Owens was not invited to shake hands with the president upon his return (as was tradition); he was still being treated as a second-class citizen in his own country.

Gold Medals and Black Gloves The Olympics would once again see an incredibly public protest, this time in Mexico City in 1968. Set against a backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and the recent assassination of Malcom X and Dr Martin Luther King Jr, the Black Power Movement had emerged in America.

‘Fighting for equal rights, athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos would stand upon the podium to receive their medals and then raise their fists whilst wearing black gloves’

Fighting for equal rights, athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos would stand upon the podium to receive their medals and then raise their fists whilst wearing black gloves to highlight the human rights movement. Stood with them was Peter Norman, a white Australian, who refused to step down during their protest to highlight the horrid ‘White Australia Policy’ taking place in his own country.

The athletes would be removed from the Olympic stadium and sent home. We would also see the Black Power salute being given by boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, in 1971 before his fight with Oscar Bonavena, proving that the human rights movement was still prominent.

Taking a Knee and ‘Black Lives Matter’ In the lead up to the 2016 American football season, professional quarterback Colin Kaepernick was using social media to protest the brutal killings of three people of colour whilst in police custody. During the third pre-season game, he remained seated during ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as a stand against America’s oppression of people of colour. In the 4 th preseason game, he changed this to kneeling, as he still wanted to respect US military members.

‘The act of taking a knee would be incorporated into the seminal Black Lives Matter movement, and sports stars across the world would use their status to highlight the issue’ As such, the ‘Take a Knee’ movement was born. This would eventually illicit a negative reaction from President Trump saying all players who knelt are ‘sons of bitches’, which is not surprising for a man with a history of racism. The act of taking a knee would be incorporated into the seminal Black Lives Matter movement, and sports stars across the world would use their status to highlight the issue. Marcus Rashford, LeBron James, Naomi Osaka and wrestlers including Ettore Ewen, Keith Lee and Kofi Kingston would proudly wear Black Lives Matter slogans on their kit, and whether in the ring or on the field, they all took a knee.

‘The influence [sportspeople] wield and how the younger generations idolize their favourite athletes [shows] there has never been a more important time for sports to be political’ It has been argued that politics has no place in sports and that players should just focus on the game. Yet, with the influence they wield and how the younger generations idolize their favourite athletes, there has never been a more important time for sports to be political.

By Gareth Holmes Illustration and Page Design by Chiara Crompton Image courtesy of GPA photo archive, flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/iip-photo-archive/26398277028/

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‘BUT REF?!’

Elijah Trevers discusses some of the most notorious player-referee disputes of all time.

Across all sports, etiquette and sportsmanship are of paramount importance, be it due to unwritten rules of courtesy, or because you shouldn’t harm your reputation. A great part of this is respecting the referee in charge of your sport and understanding their decision is final.

It sounds simple, but when victory, pride and ego are on the line, we begin to see some athletes bowing to temptation, screaming, “BUT REF!”. The likes of Roy Keane, a passionate, ex-Manchester United captain has been known to have his fair share of these moments. However, we also witness it from the most unlikely sources.

This was nothing compared to the riot police storming onto the field to protect the Brazilian referees during the Gremio vs Portuguesa game in 2013. The referee had given a penalty against Portuguesa who were unhappy with the placement of the ball on the spot and collectively engaged in a “BUT REF” attack on not just one, but three, of the officials, requiring riot police backup.

“John McEnroe furiously screamed at a chair umpire at the Swedish Open, demanding: ‘Answer the question. The question, jerk!’”

In the 2009 US Open Final, Roger Federer, despite winning the point, got entangled in a heated argument with the umpire who allowed his opponent Del Potro to challenge a call ’10 seconds’ after the call according to Federer, which is far longer than he was allowed to challenge a call earlier on.

In sports where you can’t rely on the team to share the blame of unsportsmanlike behaviour, far less “BUT REF”-ing takes place. But that’s not to say that instances aren’t as famous or as heartfelt.

“The entire fiasco played out as if it were a comedy sketch from the 1980’s…”

John McEnroe is by far the most famous “BUT REF”-er in tennis. In 1984, John McEnroe furiously screamed at a chair umpire at the Swedish Open, demanding: “Answer the question. The question, jerk!”. McEnroe was deducted a point, as well as a game, for three bursts of fury during this match. He was so angry with the Swedish referee that he collected his bags and was ready to walk off half-way through the match. However, in true McEnroe style, he went on to win this semi-final.

This may not be considered a famous bust up, but it is an example of how the coolest of customers are able to lose their head at any time.

Paolo Di Canio’s push of referee Paul Alcock can certainly be described as famous. The entire fiasco played out as if it were a comedy sketch from the 1980s, with theatricals from Alcock adding to the hilarity of the scene. Di Canio was sent off after a scuffle with Arsenal player and ex-AC Milan teammate Patrick Vieira, and rather elaborately turned the phrase “BUT REF” into a physical push.

Nick Kyrgios has taken over from McEnroe as the number one troublemaker in tennis. He’s been seen throwing bottles at the umpire chair and smashing rackets between games due to disagreements with referees.

Today it’s Kyrgios, tomorrow someone else. For us fans, all we need to do is sit back and laugh. At the end of the day, seeing ‘professionals’ do such regrettable things is enough to make anyone chuckle.

By Elijah Trevers Page design by Daisy Forster

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Hello reader, We hope you’ve enjoyed this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

At Impact, we’re always searching for new writers, designers and podcasters—of any experience level, from first-timers to seasoned pros—to join our team. And as a society, we always look to increase our level of diversity, by including as many contributors of varying backgrounds as we can find. We are particularly interested in hearing stories from Black and Asian voices, because frankly, we don’t hear them enough.

We’re continually pushing to provide a platform whereby each contributor feels completely uninhibited in expressing themselves fully.

So, if you’re interested in giving us a go (or know someone who would), we’d absolutely love to have you, and would do everything in our power to make sure you’re heard.

We hope to see you soon!

Ben Ofungwu Print Editor.

Email editorinchief@impactnottingham.com or Join the Facebook page 'Impact Magazine 2020/2021'

IMPACT

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IMPACT RECOMMENDS Some of our editors finally put down their fan mail and suggested a few things they think you’d like. Enjoy!

Melina Williams recommends: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Rachel Roberts recommends: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has recently become one of my favourite authors! Purple Hibiscus was her debut novel, a coming-of-age story centred on the protagonist Kambili, who is forced to move with her brother to live with their aunt at the hands of a military coup in Nigeria, allowing her to escape her father’s obsessively religious and oppressive home. It is beautifully written, sensitive and feminine, touching on domestic violence, political cruelty and intense religion, through the lens of an innocent child.

Definitely worth a read!

If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend reading The Great Gatsby. It’s a classic, and it is worth the hype. It sweeps you up into a world full of both grandeur and unattainability, of class and wealth, and of love.

The characters are so evocative and flawed which makes them so intriguing, and I really enjoyed the style of writing - it’s very easy to read.

Daisy Forster recommends: BBC Earth Podcast.

This podcast explores incredible phenomenons of nature, around the world and under the sea. I find it really relaxing to listen to when walking around Wollaton or somewhere else surrounded by nature. It makes me appreciate the amazing planet we live on and feel at one with the natural world.

Lauren McGaun recommends: ‘Airhead’ by Emily Maitlis.

This is hands down the most enjoyable book I’ve read all year.

The memoir includes the perfect mix of humour and thoughtful analysis of some of the biggest breaking news stories over recent years. If you weren’t already fired up enough to enter into the complex world of journalism, this is the book that will give you the inspiration and enthusiasm you need. Maitlis shows how seemingly sleek reports on air, can often go wrong behind the scenes, showing how down to earth high-profile journalists can be.

Lilith Hudson recommends: Folklore – Taylor Swift Those that criticise this countryturned-pop princess for the teen-bop sound that has dominated her recent albums will find it difficult to fall back on the same censures this time round. The release of this surprise album, written during Taylor’s time in isolation, expresses the reflective and introspective sentiments we all experienced during lockdown.

Filled with her usual hoard of Easter eggs, allusions of love triangles, extended metaphors, and lyrical references from past albums, this album captures everything quintessentially Swift but with a new experimental sound. In the absence of any upbeat pop anthem, the wistful melancholy melodies are more indie alt-rock than they are ‘folk’, but her cinematic story-telling verses incapsulate the essence of folklore. In her revealing Netflix documentary, Miss Americana, Swift candidly confessed that celebs in her industry seem to ‘freeze at the age they become famous,’ but following Swift’s celebration of 30, it appears she’s broken free from these constraints. The entirety of her new album is laden with nostalgia and, with retrospective evaluation of the years gone by, she lets bygones be bygones and instead reinstates the values close to her heart.

Emily Casey recommends: Meal Planning.

Chiara Crompton recommends: Marlene Dumas.

There are lots of things that you have to start doing for yourself when you start uni, two of which go hand-in-hand: finances and food. As an innocent second year (I was in catered halls in first year), I used to buy whatever food I fancied at the supermarket and invent meals out of this when I got home. Madness. Total madness.

Not only is this a timeconsuming way of eating, it also increases your budget exponentially. By planning out what you’re going to be having for dinner this week before you go shopping, you only buy the exact ingredients you need and aren’t tempted by the infamous, ‘middle aisle’.

It may take away some of the spontaneity… well, all of the spontaneity, but certainly helps your diet and your pockets.

In 1995, Dumas’ masterpiece ‘The Visitor’ was sold for £3.1 million, the highest price ever fetched by a female artist at the time.

Prolific amongst her contemporaries and revered by critics, it is a mystery why Dumas is not a household name. Deeply intimate, sometimes grotesque, and always challenging, Dumas’ paintings interrogate the human form and condition. I recommend her because her paintings make me feel things, which is sort of the point of art, so there you go.

Ben Ofungwu recommends: Master of None: Thanksgiving Episode.

I adore this show, I really do. Its ‘Thanksgiving’ episode is going to go down as one of the very best. The episode shows us how main character, Dev, has celebrated thanksgiving with his childhood friend, Denise, over the years. Within this, the episode expands on the latter’s search for acceptance as she comes out as a lesbian to her family. Lena Waithe wrote this episode based off her experience of coming out, and it’s directed superbly by Melina Matsoukas - two of the most talented Black women in Film/TV right now. As is the norm for this show, episodes tend to be fairly standalone, so this episode can be enjoyed without prior familiarity with the show or its characters. However, Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang have created a true masterpiece of a show, so just watch the whole damn thing!

Illustration and Page Design by Chiara Crompton

THE TEAM

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Senior Team Editor in Chief - Emily Casey Online Editor - Phoebe Raine Print Editor - Ben Ofungwu External Manager - Natasha Phang-Lee Social Media Assistant - Georgia Honey Deputy Online Editor - Melina Williams Deputy Online Editor- Abi Kara-Fernandes Artistic Director – Chiara Crompton Head of Illustrations – Sarah MacAllan Head of Images - Nina Shasha Welfare Officer- Grace Cloughton

Head of Section Head of News - Aidan Hall Head of Features - Niamh Robinson Head of Lifestyle - Lilith Hudson Head of Entertainment - Ben Standring Head of Sport - Maya Israel Head of Podcasts - Kit Sinclair Head of Reviews- Jasmin Lemarie

Editors News Editor - Lauren McGaun Features Editor - Anna Stacey Comment Editor - Isabelle Raikes Food Editor - Alice Nott Style Editor - Francesca Wormald Travel Editor - Charlotte Smith Arts Editor - Daisy Forster Film and TV Editor - Annabel D’Monte Gaming Editor - Jack Richardson Music Editor - Olivia Stock Sports Editor - Rachel Roberts Science Editor- Matthew Bird Reviews Editor- Amrit Virdi

UoN’s BME Network The Black Minority and Ethnic Students’ network aims to: Combat racism, provide a safe-space environment for Black and Minority Ethnic Students to discuss their experiences and beliefs, organise events that are tailored to the needs and tastes of Black and Minority Ethnic Students and organise the Students’ Union’s contribution to Black History Month.

How can the network support me?

• • • • • • • • • •

Careers & Networking events Talks from BME alumni and other influential figures Cultural Appreciation lives for Black History Month International Week Mental Health workshops Collaborative events with the Women’s Network, LGBT+ Network, ISOC, JSOC, ASOC, ACS, ACMN and many more!

Decolonisation of the syllabus campaign Campaign against hate crime/improving the university’s anti-racism policies Campaigns to create university a more inclusive and fairer environment for BME students Support sessions for academic/general help or advice

How does it all work?

The BME Network is designed to bring together Black and Minority Ethnic Students within the Students’ Union. It is chaired by the BME Officer and administrated by the BME Committee.

The Network is currently designed to represent the needs of all members of the University of Nottingham Students’ Union who are of Arab, Afro-Caribbean, Arab, Oriental, Asian or of Jewish heritage or anyone who self-defines as being of minority ethnic origin.