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contents 4 University Fees After the proposed rise in tuition fees, Michael Seymour gives a look at the costs from both angles.

6 Mark Bramwell Michael Seymour gives a fun insight into the world of our retiring Principal.

8 Kenya After her 2010 trip to Nakuru, Kenya Sam Jeffery tells of her experience of the beautiful country.

10 JD’s Perspective James Davie has a quirky, personal look at crazes that seem to consume teenage life.

12 Foster Care Bethany Grundy gives an encount of how it can be for a child whitin the intimidating system of foster care.

14 Vending Curtis Sinden gives his view on the selection of food available in Totton College’s vending machines.

15-18 Student Showcase A showcase of artwork and photography from Totton College students.

19 Bedrock Sam Jeffery was named as one of the 100 commended Foyles Young Poets of 2010 for this poem.

Editor’s Comment by Sam Jeffery Hello and welcome to this issue of Anthem! When told that universities all over the country would be charging up to £9,000 a year for an average of twelve contact hours a week, I must say my hope of a degree (and a masters for that matter) were dashed. I was not alone; many of my friends decided suddenly that university was not for them. More worryingly, even more of my friends rushed to get their applications in before the finance cap was lifted, despite their earlier protests that university was “not for them”. Michael Seymour ponders the subject of the university fees from both sides in his interesting, contrasting articles. So for those of us who are tightening our belts in the three years to come, thanks to Mr Clegg, we at Anthem have a selection of University Cuisine to save the pennies. A man who has sent many of us of full of expectation to start these financially difficult, yet exciting times is Totton College Principle Mark Bramwell. This year we see Mark Bramwell leave Totton College for retirement after a long and prosperous career, he leaves us with a frank and touching interview for Anthem. It seems that with the financial pressures of today’s Britain the gap between working class and upper class students will widen dramatically as Education Maintenance Allowance is cut and university fees go through the roof. Unfortunately it is fast becoming fact that university will be a place where only the elite can flourish. Only the rich will be able to afford this ‘right’ to education which is increasingly becoming a luxury. Don’t forget to check out our website for online extras, at tottoncollege.wordpress.com.

20 Human Trafficking

26 I wish real life was 3D

Bethany Grundy goes deep into the terrifying world of human trafficking.

With the release of 3D televisions in the home and the revival of the 3D cinema, Aaron Foley explores life in a 3D world.

22 Reality Check

28 Romantic Comedies

James Davie looks at our fascination with films and video games.

Lisa Ellis takes a look at England’s love affair with the simple Romantic Comedy.

24 Student Recipes

30 Celebrity or Talent

For any student’s tough budget Helen Renouf has the cuisine sorted!

Socialite Paris Hilton or talented songstress Leona Lewis, who should really be celebrated?


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Pro University Fees

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s we all know by now, universities in England can now charge students anywhere between £6,000 and £9,000 in tuition fees per year. During the riots only the voice of the students was really listened to. We had TV programmes put in place to ensure that everybody’s views were heard. But nobody ever stopped ransacking police vans and scribbling on telephone boxes long enough to listen to the advantages of implementing the rise in fees. I doubt many of you reading this will remember when Tony Blair introduced tuition fees for the first time; saying that as students benefit from the degrees, they should put something towards it. This caused one of the biggest back bench rebellions of the Labour era.

then you are guaranteed to get a good quality education, because if you are paying, you can demand quality. This is proved in primary and secondary education. You have to pay to have private education in this country, or, alternatively, you can choose to go to a state funded school like the majority. Guess which one gets the better grades.

Paying for your education has advantages. How many of you have ever had a teacher that simply cannot teach? I’m sure everybody can say they must have had at least one. If you are paying for your education,

The only reason people are complaining about the changes is because they have got comfortable with old system. The same happened after Tony Blair introduced tuition fees. People didn’t like the change, and then they got comfortable with the new system. I’m pretty sure that the same will happen with these new rises. After all, I haven’t heard much more from the protestors who seemed so sure they would continue fighting this change. It really isn’t going to be as difficult as people think; of course the first few groups of people will suffer from the changes, as is the same whenever people are put in a situation where they have to adjust. All we simply need to do is follow in the footsteps of our American cousins. They manage successfully by setting up college funds (college referring to university) when their children are young, putting money in it from time to time.

However, since it was put it place universities have received record amounts of applications for places at universities. Surely I can’t be the only person who sees the pattern! I think that people have forgotten about this. Students have been caught up in the figures of the pessimists, and forgotten that raising fees worked very successfully the last time it was implemented. Much like the health service across the pond, our American cousins have to pay in full for their university education, and it seems to have been working for many years there. American students have to pay around £31,000 a year to go to university in the States. To put this in perspective, this is similar to the prices that English students will now have to pay to go to university for 3 years!

who pay for their health care expect their doctors to be good quality. When you are getting your services for free, you can only expect to get what you pay for, the basic package.

We just need to give the fees a chance to set in. Give it a year or so. We will soon have forgotten what we ever rioting over! Policy Vote Facts Proving that the American system works, three of the top five universities in the world are American. It is similar in the health service. The NHS in Britain is riddled with problems and that is because we get our health service for free, with the funding coming from our taxes. However, the best health service in the world was France (as voted by the World Health Organisation), and the French health service is paid for by the citizens. Surely this has to say something! Like education, people

The policy was approved by 21 votes, with the coalition’s majority cut by almost three-quarters following an impassioned five-hour Commons debate. Twenty-one Lib Dem MPs rebelled, along with six Conservatives. The coalition motion, backed by 323 votes to 302, would raise fees to a maximum of £9,000 a year. Courtesy of BBC


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Against University Fees

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three year course at the cheapest Uni? That will be £30,000 please. Universities are now going to be charging at least £6,000 per year, which will set you back £30,000 in debt for a three year course, with the option to charge you £9,000 per year in the top universities. Although this may not affect every one of you reading this article, you cannot but deny that this is a disgraceful amount of money to be paying for something that some developing countries do not charge at all for.

protesting. It’s always on a double edged sword. If protesters are violent, cause disruption and damage, their actions are ignored and are seen as anti-social actions of people that just want a fight. If demonstrators are peaceful, they can easily be brushed aside. They are no problem to anyone if they are obeying the law, then they have no need to listen to the protesters. The current system for protesting undermines the values of

Cast your minds back to May 2010, the Liberal Democrat Party, who can only be cast into the political wilderness for decades to come when the current Coalition Government crumbles, were once again participating in their election struggle. As normal, Nick Clegg’s party were at the bottom of the three main parties, and so they began their campaign to attempt to gain some ground. However, this year, with the country in economic ruin, it was Nick Clegg’s chance to propel the Lib Dems into the political spotlight. They focused on the first time voters. Nick Clegg made grand promises about education. He and his colleagues signed a pledge to vote against any rise in tuition fees. It is known that free university fees have long been a feature of the Liberal Democrat party manifesto. And it worked. Foolishly, we decided to believe the politicians, as we do every time before they bitterly disappoint us. This led to the student protests. The National Union of Students (NSU) organised these protests in the hope that it might save the future of “Britain’s youth”. However, these quickly turned violent. In the first protest, demonstrators made their way to Milbank Tower, home to the Conservative party headquarters, demonstrators managed to break through the police lines and get inside the building. This is the problem with

a democratic society. As the saying goes, ‘you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t!’ So as you know, the coalition pushed though the proposal, it passed by a mere 21 votes and with amendments to the Browne Review. I understand why some people would be against free university fees, however, these are generally people that have either already been to university,

or people that do not want to go. However, if this is how they want to think, why should people have to pay for the elderly to get a free bus pass or money towards their fuel bills in the winter? Why should people have to pay to give the unemployed a living? Education is a right, not a privilege. It should provided to all who want it, which can only be done if its given without fees. This is especially important in an era in which the government is constantly drumming into us that everything should be equal and class barriers should be broken down. It is supposed to be encouraging people from disadvantaged backgrounds to university. These measures only seem to be making the class barriers bigger, and I don’t think many of you would be encouraged to go university by a three-fold increase in fees. It’s a shame the rioters focused solely on the Tory HQ. I think more of the blame should have fallen at the feet of Mr Clegg for his betrayal over tuition fees. You have to feel sorry for Miriam Clegg, the wife of our deputy PM. The only reason she chose Nick over any other politician was because she wanted the quiet life. Little did she know, she was going to marry , now, one of the most hated politicians since Margret Thatcher. I particularly like this quote from the President of the ‘National Union of Students Scotland’, Liam Burn; “He and his party made a simple and explicit promise to students to vote against any increase in fees... You could be forgiven for thinking that this has all been choreographed for some time now to make students grateful for being charged twice as much for their education.” I seem to remember that Nick Clegg’s mantra in the election was “No more broken promises.” I think he must have forgotten this somewhere along the way! by Michael Seymour Have your say at..................... http://tottoncollege.wordpress.com/


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Gone fishin’

By Michael Seymour


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In January 1994, Mark Bramwell began his new career at Totton College; a much smaller and run down Totton College than it is today. With ambition in his eyes, he set to work rebuilding the college to the present, national award winning standard that it is. I met Mark in his office. We were sat in the middle of the room, away from the desk; he sat opposite me, relaxed. The room was filled with modern art work on the walls, vibrant plants and the sun beaming through the window. There are many Mark Bramwells. There is Mark Bramwell: The Principal; Mark Bramwell: The Family Man, but Mark Bramwell: The Fisherman? MB talked at length about his love of coarse fishing (for those of you who don’t fish, coarse fishing is when you fish in fresh water, anywhere apart from the open sea). “I like to try and go at least twice a year” he joked. Mark Bramwell: The Family Man has four children which take up most of his non-college life. We then moved on to what the future held for Mark, I would like to say he was gazing out the window poetically when he answered, but no such luck. He would be moving to part time work now; a couple of days a week, still doing work in Sixth Form teaching. A lot more time to go out fishing then Mark? When Mark begun work at Totton College, it was one of the smallest colleges in the country. It has since blossomed, and the intake has risen year on year. It is rare during such hard economic times to see things go from strength to strength. He put the success down to the “diversity of the subjects available as well as the personal atmosphere”. At smaller colleges you keep the personal and friendly atmosphere, but sacrifice the range of courses that can be offered, and vice versa at larger colleges, “we meet in the middle”. Almost like a sales pitch. “Totton meets in the middle.” As Mark is retiring at the end of this academic year, I had to ask him about his 17 years work at the college. “It’s hard to pick highlights; there are lots of individual successes”. Mark joked about how he is usually the person “seeing people leave. It’s hard being on the other side of the question.” Knowing that it would not be long before he would have to begin writing speeches, he had already begun thinking about what he was going to say when he was asked. The highlights that Mark was particularly “delighted” with were when the college received the ‘Beacon Award’, which nationally recognized how far the college had come. Going back to the beginning of his career, another highlight Mark chose to reminisce over was when the original Totton College buildings. There were originally 12 huts that were “not fit for teaching”at Totton. He stared out the window describing when they were knocked down to make way for the modern building as if he could see the exact shape of the ‘hut-like’ buildings where the refectory now stands; it was “a big moment”. Obviously you can’t stay in a job for 17 years and not have some negative aspects to look back on. Again, there were two particular events that had set in his mind. There was the

beginnings of a tear in his eye as his described the worst of the two, when one of the teachers at Totton College had drowned in a tragic accident. Mark had spent that August in college as, although college was over and there were no students; it still had to be run. He distinctly remembered the moments when he was told, and when he had to inform the other members of staff when they returned to work the following September. The second was when funding was pulled on a building project at the college. “It had taken a lot of time and effort, and then the money was pulled, and it was all a waste”. The project was ready to begin work. All the planning had been completed, but at the last minute the funding was pulled, and all the work was for nothing, “but you have to learn to be resilient and accept set backs.” It is amazing that Mark could turn such a let down in to a positive event to learn from, even at his stage in life. Moving on to the more serious questions, I begun asking Mark questions about how the political world is currently “undermining” his work in sixth form education. I first asked about Mark’s views on the rise in tuition fees at English University. “It was a wrong decision.” He never really answered the question of whether he felt it undermined his work, but I think it was clear enough that it had been thought of. “This is clearly bad news for students”, he spoke how he is concerned as it will deter students from university. One of Mark’s ambitions as a Principal was to get more students going to universities. He described it as a “passion” and he was “concerned” over the issue. The student protests however provoked a different response. Mark adjusted his position, possibly suggesting that he felt this question put him, as a college principal, in an awkward position. “It is a dilemma. The media only cover the dramatic things”, suggesting that students should have done something, before quickly adding that he “”could not condone violence” which appears to be the catchphrase of the moment. Keeping with the subject, I asked him on EMA, and again he felt this was the wrong decision. At the moment “students have to pay for their books and equipment” he feared again that this could deter people form sixth form education. But Mark was hopeful that the new system, which had been managed to be negotiated to double the amount that was original set, would provide enough to keep students coming to sixth form education. Before we finished, I had enough time to ask Mark about what he hoped the next principal would be like. “I’ve already met him a couple of times, so I already know him” Mark was adamant that the next principal would continue in the great work that is going on at Totton at the moment, “but I’m sure that he will bring his own good ideas to the improve the college further”.


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Change the World one family at a time by Sam Jeffery

In 2003 a man on his travels saw the needs of many children in Nakuru, Kenya. He witnessed children scrambling in the dirt for food, searching rubbish dumps for meals or something to sell. This man saw that children as young as three were being left to this life day after day in Nakuru, it was a life that he could no longer stand to see them live. This man’s name was Bishop Joseph M. Kagema. He moved miles across the country with his family, set up home in the district and went about starting something truly inspirational. In 2004 Bishop Joseph founded Melon Orphans and Destitute Ministry; now know as Melon Chosen Community, a place of safety for the children of Nakuru. Melon has given the community vital education for every child, a promise that children are fed nutritional meals but overall, somewhere they can have fun. I am proud to say that I visited Melon for two weeks in the summer of 2010. Its break time and I’m almost knocked from my feet by a crowd of running, smiling children from every doorway at Melon. I join in playing games, running races, drawing in the dust, with a group of the youngest children. I turn to Joyce, Bishop Joseph’s daughter; she says “They just love it here.” The joy of the children at Melon is remarkable considering some of the terribly poor living conditions many of them come from. We walk just a short distance from the school to see another one of Bishop Joseph’s achievements, a building that some children’s families live in and the school pay a small amount of the rent for them. We come to a small, narrow building divided into different homes, made from yellow coloured stones, mud and cloth. There are parts of

the building that couldn’t be used as it is crumbling, but at the far door a woman and two small children smiled and waved. We climb through the wooden fence and walk up the grassy track to be met with open arms from the painfully thin mother and excited children. We are offered the low bench on one side of the small room and the family sit on the opposite on tiny stools, the room was so small that as we sat like that our knees knocked together when we spoke. This is their home, the place where they eat, sleep, and live, in this one room. The room became pitch black when one of the children closed the door behind us to stop mosquitoes getting in. Silence. We were two worlds sat together. My bitterly white skin cast harsh shadows on the mud wall and their smiles bleached the air in front of me. The heat stiffened in my throat as I gently eased out a few English worlds hoping they would understand. I wanted to help them. I had come knocking on their roughly painted, wooden door wondering if there was anything I could do. We brought bags of food and clothing and sat. I marvelled at them. At their home, although small, dark, and enclosed, it was beautiful. Without people like Bishop Joseph these four children and their mother would be sleeping on the dangerous streets of Nakuru tonight, without hope of a changed future. As I stepped out of the doorway and lifted my head to towards the sky, blinded by the light I took a fresh breath.


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Sam was amongst the students from Totton College who visited Kenya, after writing this article, Bishop Joseph M. Kagema, died. We hope his legacy continues, for more details see tottoncollege.wordpress.com


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Hype, hype is the fuel of many assets that our British brethrens and fellow countryman have adapted to. I may only be eighteen years of age, but I know that hype never used to be such a monumental part of our culture. We all crave it in our society but when does it become absurd? When does it become too media centric? When does it get to the point where we become sick and tired of the factor of hype? To start with, one particular conductor of the hype machine comes to mind-namely the Call of ‘Duty First Person Shooting’ franchise. Now I understand that the franchise (since ‘Modern Warfare’) has thrived on spectacle and has appealed to the masses- but why does everybody have to throw themselves at it? In my mind, it’s just a generic First Person Shooter that thrives on said spectacle and could care less about a storyappealing to the grizzly manly men, who have quadriceps like chiseled granite and pecks like titanium armor. All I hear, whether I go for a luxurious meal at the farmhouse or a trip to the local pub, is an earful about COD. Part of me wants to respect ‘Infinity Ward’ (the co developers of the franchise, famed for ‘Modern Warfare’) and ‘Treyarch’ (the developers who are responsible for ‘World at War’ and the latest hype frenzy ‘Black Ops’) they have managed to imprison many gamers with its spectacle and insane multiplayer- which has an addiction similar to premium crack cocaine or heroine. It may sound like I hate COD and the mass media spectacle but I don’t- I just wish people didn’t bulldoze aimlessly into it. Another thing that annoys me is that critics (especially the national newspapers, what do they know about what defines good gaming) throwing rose petals and friendship towards it regardless of faults. To put COD into perspective, it’s like a jagged movie star waddling around drunk shouting abuse and vomiting onto the crowd whilst staggering down the walk of fame. Then the guards unceremoniously drag the drunken buffoon off before he manages to spread his profanities among other unsuspecting members of the public. In short COD doesn’t know when enough as enough and call in the exterminator.

Moving on, crazes in the media mostly contribute to over hyped and undeserved celebrities. In my opinion, stars of a particular era known as the 80’s had far less touted, washed up celebrities than we get now. So you might be wondering who’s washed up, James must be out of his element here? To start I can’t stand the NOW series of music. I used to love the series, namely because the music had style, diversity and a sense of place within its time frame. What do we get now? Justin Bieber, Jedward, Susan Boyle and more R&B than I can handle keeping my head above water at. In comparison to the 80’s the 00’s/10’s drops the mantel and smashes it into a thousand glimmering shards.

Of course today’smusic is still as successful but at the expense of multi faceted popularity. It’s easy to understand that not everybody loves R&B, seriously how many old age pensioners get down and groovy with today’s music? They want legendary figures like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and perhaps some 70’s and 80’s music. Of course this music is still very openly available but because it’s a new day rife with an entirely new wave of generational assets, that most forget the classic and the old which solidifies what we have today. When I say washed up celebrities, I mean that most of them don’t know when their time in the spotlight is truly up. Seth Rogen immediately came to mind. Putting him in


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a range of voice acting roles that include “Horton Hears a Who” and “Kung Fu Panda” are exceptional cases where his characters come free with cerebral lung cancer. Not to take anything away from his credentials, most of his roles - specifically his role as a cop in Superbad were funny and engaging. Another issue with him is that he keeps reprising similar roles as the protagonist love interest, which eventually gets tiresome and boring. I guess Seth Rogen is a mere flesh wound when up against Russell Brand - who is a rather hideous concussion as far as over hyped celebrities go. I liked him in Forgetting Sarah Marshall but after that he just became the same drivel-inducing, bile surging epiphany he’s kept on being throughout me knowing him as an actor.

crazes in the media mostly contribute to over hyped and undeserved celebrities

Above actors and musicians though, comedians are also within a firing line of what can be acceptable. When I consider a good comedian, I consider those who have very smart and funny jokes, that don’t boil down to a bunch of repetitive garbage. The comedian I think should just call it a day is Jim Davidson. For starters, I must say I used to love Jim Davidson, especially his mucky remake of Cinderella dubbed “Sinderella” which was rather rude but extremely daring and funny. However after that he’s been a footnote, producing repetitive jokes, more unappealing humor and more offensiveness than you can possibly endure in one half an hour sitting. The Well has run dry with Jim, if all he can spurt out now is reprehensible bile and offensive jokes, he might as well just quit. Gratuitous swearing is a pet peeve of mine also, cursing can only go so far in a joke before it becomes hereditary and enduring such bile takes me out of any comedy but Davidson it’s just the lay of the land. If you think jokes about the disabled, the homosexual communities

in all his comedy and wouldn’t rather see him in a genre that (I think) he is undisputedly better at. ‘Reign Over Me’ and ‘Punch Drunk Love’ are two remarkable displays of Sandler’s pure acting skill. Why does he choose to not do more of these? Fan base maybe? He makes more money with comedies? Whatever the case his humor is getting dire. Watching ‘Grown Ups’ is an explicit example of how low Sandler has sunk. Reliance on gimmicks and cliché’s may work for audiences without good taste but with someone that has plenty of film experience, I saw right through the cracks. This isn’t to say the film isn’t funny, it’s just to say that comedy’s these days aren’t living up to their genre lineage. I saw the trailer to the rom-com ‘When in Rome’ and I didn’t find anything funny or original about it (even if I am single and think that rom-coms are becoming facsimiles of each other). Sure plenty of girls will drag their boyfriends into the cinema line just to see it for its romantic assets but laughing at its low budget garbage is something else entirely. When you don’t empathize or sympathize with characters and you don’t get any genuine comedic value from them, it just goes to show how worthless a film would be. Another conceivable problem with trailers (apart from striking off my interest like ‘When in Rome’ did despite my disdain for most romantic comedies) is that what you see in a trailer isn’t always going to layout your prediction of a film. You can have the most embryonic CG trailers of the highest quality, with great production values and engaging set piece scenarios-as well as the over saturation on viral marketing but if trailers drag on too long and if what you see in the trailer is the only good in the movie- it’s time to check in and see if that movie is really going to fulfill its promises. So there you have it, some of my criticism on some aspects of British culture that should be addressed. Subjectivity isn’t quantifiable, so if any of my thoughts seem like mere stabbings at today’s modern society, then I’ll proclaim that I aim to be very hard to please when it comes to what is really popular. You can throw yourself at COD, you can spearhead into the mainstream but there is a world far beyond this that allows for the sophistication of diversity. By James Davie

and the less fortunate among us has any humor value in it at all, then I do not think that you’re in the same time zone as us. Before I tread unimpeded to my next rant, I would just like to stress this is all subjective, all opinions are. Just because critics say Inception is fantastic, doesn’t mean it should rub off on you. This brings me neatly into the next pet peeve (in which I have many) which is what can really be considered a “good” film. I struggle to realize why many people prefer Adam Sandler’s childish antics


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FOSTER Familiar faces disappearing into the distance The sense reality gone, destroyed Normality no longer exists Finding out it is not normal to be subjected to this The flying fists Thinking normality is to be neglected, abused and starved

Not all children are as fortunate as us. Taking things for granted. All the small things that we discard, the electrical products that we see as must haves or that we wish we never had. The mobile phones that are outdated an embarrassment to have. There are children that would be grateful for any of this. Grateful for some love and compassion.

Being taken away Going down a street you have never seen before Wondering why your parents aren’t around anymore Arriving at a house that has no meaning to you Different feelings you have never experienced Hope, desire and anxiety And then it happens You’re hit with something you have never experienced You receive a hug Affection

Not all children are as fortunate as us


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care You feel wanted. Apart of something and included. This is something that many of us would find embarrassing. But imagine never experiencing it. Never being told the words I LOVE YOU. The feeling of safety and security. A stable home where you wont have to hide a way in your room anymore to escape the torture that you experienced so often it became reality. Subjected to abuse. Children are going through this everyday not always getting the help needed. Believing it is normal to be treated like this. Constantly feeling sick because you are so scared of what is going to happen next. Isolated in this world of torture. Wishing it will all end but it never does. As the recession takes its toll the number of children going into foster care is on the rise. As workers adopt ‘no risk’ policy since the death of Baby Peter meaning that more children being removed from their parents while they are being risk assessed. There is also now the fear that the economic crisis will put the care system under more pressure says Jamie Doward, home affairs editor for the Guardian. Speaking to a foster carer about what she feels and why she does her job. Angela has dreamed about helping children from a young age. And help is exactly what she has done for 15 years in the job. Looking after children that need her most. Creating a stable environment. I ask her how she knows that she is doing a good job and she simply replies “You know when you are doing the job correctly when you wake up in the morning and you are greeted by smiling faces. The simplest of things makes your job worth while.”

Angela treats all the children that come into her home as her own family, why should they be treated any differently? Children don’t like the feeling of being isolated from other people. And why should they when they experienced this before. Angela welcomes every child with open arms. Showing them as much affection as any child would like to receive. You have to be honest with a child right from the start and that’s what develops trust and respects and most importantly a type of bond. When abuse was once normality and is now a distant memory all because you were shown affection. Love. No longer being abused, left hungry or afraid. But now loved, wanted and a part of a family you have always wanted. What can get more rewarding than that? “Of course there will be difficult moments but what family does not have them” I spoke to a foster child Shannon age 13 who has gone through difficult times and this is what she feels about what living with Angela has done for her. “I love my mum she is lovely and I have the family I have always wanted. Living here makes me happy and smile. I feel safe and secure in my home. My mum is the best mum in the world. It is a lot nicer here than where I lived before. Here I am loved and looked after . Always getting things, new clothes etc. I never had any of that before.” Angela just simply wants to do her bit to help and make every child happy. “I want these children to be happy and the same for the future children I get. They are all treated like a member of the family and that’s how it should be. A child does not like to feel isolated from a group of people who are so closely bonded together as if a unit. We welcome every child with open arms. Literally the first thing I do is give them a hug, some affection. Something they haven’t received before. You don’t want them feeling alone because that is what they’ve come from. Most importantly you have to be yourself and honest. You have just got to be your self and show them some affection and warmth. Be a mother figure and also a friend.” If you are worried about a child call childline on 0800 1111 and help now. By Bethany Grundy

Children going through this everyday are not always getting the help they need


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Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve always been impressed with vending machines. I felt the idea of having foods, drinks and objects readily available to people whilst they walk down a busy high street is brilliant. This is what I think of Totton College’s vending machines.” My first vending machine is located in the media corridor of Totton College. To the right of the window, is a medium sized number pad with a clear way of putting the money in. I quite like this as it is simple to use, unlike some vending machines I have seen, below this is where change is dispensed. One thing I have to comment about this vending machine is the fact it makes a noise after you place money into it. This can lead you to believe change is being dispensed, this however is not the case, which is slightly disappointing. This vending machine featured a number of snacks such as crisps, chocolate bars, sweets and even mints (quite useful). The average price for this vending machine is 60p, fairly expensive but as with most things, you pay for the convenience. The second vending machine I looked at is located outside the atrium. This vending machine is very interesting as it

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has a plastic case to protect it from the outside weather. This vending machine is strictly for drinks, with an image on the front indicating this. This vending machine dispenses bottles of 7up, Tango, Coke and water. The price for these have increased to £1.10, which I feel, is very expensive.

“I do feel the college is depriving us of useful vending machines” My advice would be to buy Tango, this is because you get 600ml instead of 500ml for the same price. If I could advice any drink to the dispensing companies, I’d suggest Lipton’s Ice Tea (mango) DELICIOUS. Although these are very excellent vending machines, I do feel that the college is depriving us of useful vending machines. A good example comes straight from Japan, where they have umbrella vending machines This would be very good by the Totton College exits, since this is England and it rains a considerable amount . By Curtis Sinden

15/3/11 16:16:34


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Jodie Coombs is the chosen photographer featured for this page. She is currently 19 and studying on her Foundation Diploma at Totton College. Her plans are to go on to study at Photography at Bournemouth University. Jodie gained an A Grade at A Level for her work, which is not surprising in the least. Her work is original, dynamic as well as daring. However it sometimes relies on her best friends being painted, stripped and dipped in rivers! Jodie has many influences in her art. “An idea can whilst just seeing something walking or something on TV�.


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Artists Profile Sophie Taylor

I was looking

into Chiaroscuro and the artists that used it, mainly Rembrant and Caravaggio who’s work I really admire.

I am 17 and studying English Literature, Graphic Art and Fine Art. I am looking at becoming a Freelance Illustrator after my Foundation Diploma year at Totton College.


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Artists Profile Zara Simmonds

“

I have learnt so much during my time here at Totton, the tutors and staff are always friendly and and very approachable, and are never too busy to help.

I

have always loved art and have always wanted to work in the creative industry.

“

I am 23 years old and currently studying Art & Design Foundation Studies here at Totton College. I am currently doing my final major project. I decided to study Art full time after attending evening classes, as I hope to work in the creative industry. Once finished at Totton I am hoping to attend Birmingham University to study Textile Design as their textile course specialises in surface design. My goal is to eventually become a designer in Wallpapers, Wrapping papers, and greetings cards.


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1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 I am 18 and in my foundation diploma year at 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 Totton Collage. Whilst on a College History Trip we visited Dachau German Death Camp. 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 I decided to photograph the 1067378343 trip as part of my A Level Photography Course. I simple never 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 realised what a unforgettable experience it was going to be At the gates, we all wanted 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 the run away. There was something beyond the gates. Even those who did not know what 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 happen here so many years ago, recognised 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 the evil that lived in the silence ahead. Thou a main road was next to the camp you could not 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 hear the traffic. You could not hear the school just over the road or even the birds that sang 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 in the trees. The only thing that cut through us more that the silence was the cold and we were 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 dressed in thick winter coats. Unlike the former, under feed, occupants of this camp. They wore 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 nothing but a ragged pair of stripped pyjamas. Their suffering simply can not1067378343 be imagined. It 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 is believed that 32,000 met their death at the 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 hands of this camp. Amy Starkey 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 Foundation Dipolma Art and Design 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 D G D c ,m “At the gates, we all 1067378343 wanted to run away. There was something 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 beyond the gates. Even those who did not know what had happen here so many years ago, recognised the evil that lived 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 within the silence ahead.� 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 1067378343 achau

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Bedrock I roll him over rock boy, His blackening skin covered in the gravel, I start to chisel at his skull In search for his flesh. Rock boy lay stiff on the path, Waiting for someone to grind him into Dust. I bear down on his chest for a reaction, Flint sparks flying over my shoulders. Hammer hammer hit and beat, Faster I hack at him, my bloody words Trickling onto his cold belly. In the grey I see a pink, The tip of a nose. I flick off the sandy grit and am startled By his sudden softness. He reduced to my pile of Discarded crushed rock obstructing the path Rock boy now warming to the kiss I lay on his brow.

By Sam Jeffery


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W

hen you think of traffiking what do you think of? Cars? You wouldn’t think of men, women and children being exploited across borders and within there country. A staggering two to four million a year. Think about it that is over one child every minute. Suffering from abuse over and over again. Sold into sexual exploitation from a young age. Children being sold for as little as $20. With sexual exploitation at 87% don’t you think it is about time that children are educated and aware of this worldwide. What you are about to read is a True Story of a 12 year old girl traffiked from the UK. Two years ago everything changed. I was trafficked. I was fooled. I was deceived by a man who said that he loved me. The tragedy is that I believed him. Now I know that love is not shown by forcing me to work on the streets, beating me up, force feeding me and turning me into someone with no mind of my own. I had become like a frightened rabbit. I was terrified that he would kill me. Death too often felt like my only way to escape. People are product. I was one of them.

With stereotyping who what types of people are committing the dreadful crime of Human Trafficking who is actually out there trying to solve the issue and trying to track and prosecute the people who are? Stereotyping the likely hood of who is going to do it will not help the victims subjected to this. It doesn’t matter what ethnic background you are from or the culture. Anyone is capable of doing such disgusting crimes that will change people lives forever. With young women as the generalization of targets does not mean that boys won’t be targeted also. Shouldn’t the policy be that every child, adult matters and the focus should be to make our communities that we live in safe? But it isn’t only outside in the public eye. Abuse occurs in your own home. It can occur on the internet where people would not expect it. Child sex offenders targeting children through internet chat sites such as Facebook.

But I am a survivor. Now I have a new life but I am haunted by the faces of those who used me, those whom I did not choose, and those for whom I was nothing more than a ten-minute thing. Which things like these happening right now, right here and on our door steps. And what can we do about it. On the 2nd January 2011 The Independent newspaper published a story on how hundreds of children are at risk as the police fail to track and prosecute traffickers. Written by Emily Dugan who reports that criminals who traffic children around the UK are not be adequately investigated or prosecuted which was according to the country’s leading protection unit. This means that children around the country could be at risk. With hundreds of children smuggles into Britain every year and are used in the slave chain, prostitution and other resorts of crimes.

Where your information can be shared with anyone if your security it not good enough. The privacy settings revert back to a less safe default mode after each redesign. This at this current moment in time is often. Anyone can create an account, and this doesn’t have to be your real Identity. As Facebook attracts over 30 million users worldwide. Is this an invitation for sex offenders knowing that they can create an account and it doesn’t have to be there identity? A recent 17 year old girl who was lured to a location that was isolated from her family and friends. She was kidnapped, gagged, raped and murdered. Done by a pedophile who posed as a handsome teen.

This all links back to the same idea to harm and in danger another person. Linking back to human trafficking with the key concept of kidnapping them before deciding there fate. This needs to be stopped Written by Beth Grundy


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UK KEY FACTS Over 5000 victims trafficked into UK last year 2600 of these were women sold into Sex Slavery 360 children were known to suffer the same fate Over 100, 000 people were trafficked across EU boarders in 2009 HOME OFFICE STATISTICS www.stopthetraffik.org


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Reality Check Should videogames be seen as more than entertainment?

With today’s modern entertainment trends, it’s easy to forget what’s behind that gruesome horror film you’re watching or that First Person Shooter you’re playing. Most discard the fact that these entertainment mediums tell us something beyond the cover. The common misconception, which has also cemented itself as a common idiom (don’t judge a book by its cover rings very true. To put it simply, entertainment isn’t just for entertainment’s sake.


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For example you can take a look at Toy Story 3 and say something along the lines of “it’s only a kiddies film and they will be the only ones interested because I’m a grown up and watches films with blood and gore in it” when in actuality there is a much more in depth meaning through its exposition and the way the narrative is told. If anything it’s those action films with their seizure induced cameras which have the cinematographer swirling the camera around so much as if a flea distracted his concentration. Just look at the Bourne trilogy, specifically The Bourne Supremacy- good action film but hindered by the sloppy camera direction. The point I’m trying to make is that you could put all the action in the world on screen and make it as memorable and unforgettable as possible, but without that spark of exquisite exposition and a solid consistent camera (in terms of films) the films you watch and the games you play might as well be thrown in the trash compactor. We all might like to play Call of Duty games because of their multiplayer but without a brilliant story in the single player campaign, it’s just a collection of seemingly remarkable set pieces with nothing that ties it all together. Beyond the mere simplicities of the narrative is the ability to become emotionally attached to what you’re viewing or playing. Appealing subject matters can carry the mantel but the characters make any film/game burst into life. This is nowhere more apparent to me than Heavy Rain. This Playstation 3 exclusive is an emotionally levitating and unrelentingly gripping drama/ quick time event driven adventure. I believe Heavy Rain is one of the true examples of where gaming is much more than what it is. Firstly the story of a psychopath who has been murdering children on the loose and the story is split between 4 characters with different roles in this epic adventure. Ethan Mars (arguably the main protagonist of the four) loses his child Jason Mars after a vehicular rundown and throughout, this harrowing reminder of his son’s loss sends Ethan into a psychologically depressed man. Then one day during one of Ethan’s psychological attacks he experiences whilst looking after his lone son, he discovers upon his recovery that he has disappeared and suspects the origami killer has abducted him. The sheer power in this game is the message it conveys “how far will you go to save someone you love” Don’t say that games can’t tell us anything- I assume those who make those kinds of assumptions are weaned on multiplayer only experiences. Another growing issue within the realms of films and games, is the conception of what can really be called “Art”. Art is by no means just for the visual beauty of the subject, but can also be involved with literature, film and gaming

though the latter and the former struggle to get people to realise its full potential. With film, Art is associated by what visual meanings are communicated to the audience. Documentaries are usually spearheading and driving forward to promote film as an art form. Examples can be seen from Zeitgeist, with its pronounced emphasis on life and the nature of destruction. “Koyaanisqatsi” (Gofrey Reggio, music by Phili Glass) is another striking example of art house portrayals, showcasing both an audio and visual clarity which gets its audience to visually interact with the film. More personal examples include the Zidane documentary, its pronounced emphasis on immersion really draws you in to his thoughts and feelings through one particular game of football. The unique asset of Zidane is its focus on the historical perspective. During the film, there is an abstract montage, which depicts what events occurred during that day. This is a rather unique and striking alternative to more familiar documentaries that are typically associated with any sports related agenda. So if Film can be subject to art and can be considered as an art form why can’t gaming? I understand most will write off gaming as a simple and casual time sink or a medium which doesn’t really mould well with art. However I also understand that people who write off games as art forms are looking at the wrong end of the market, Namely the oversaturated and over popular kind. The issue of if gaming is art is triggered when looking at games such as Bioshock, Shadow of the Colossus, ICO and so many more. Part of its revelation is in the colour and vibrancy which illuminates the fabulous worlds that are explored. Mystery, intrigue and poetic elements are also vital aspects, taking the recipes of art and punctuating their distinguishable identities into their own canvas of beauty. Further intricacies are embellished by more subtle entities. In many of the more artistic games, the characters are kept silent, so that the atmosphere takes a firm grip to promote the poetic nature which these games establish. So there you have it, a chunk of reality from the bottom line of game playing and film making. I know most of the game and film fans will take what I’ve said for granted and for the sake of having a stress free time and enjoying the experiences that they choose. However the sheer breadth and time spent to make the experiences you enjoy should not be taken so lightly. The next time you watch Meet The Spartans, try figuring out why it stands out to you (I’m speaking ironically for the sake that I think it’s the filmic equivalent of mashing your cranium with a pipe wrench). Basically all I’m saying is enjoy what you watch and play, if you’re unsure of a film try it, if you’re not sold on an Eastern developed game give it a go. You never know how wrong pre conceived expectation can be. By James Davie


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university cuisine by helen renouf

These quick and easy recipes are ideal for students and will impress your flat mates, your girlfriends, or even Mum or Dad! You’ll be surprised at what flavourful dishes you can rustle up, with minimal washing up and still have enough money to nip to the off-licence and buy a well deserved pint to enjoy with them!

For+PuLdemonade Mug Cakes Vodkar Jel y! Who needs cup cakes?

You Need: Flour, sugar, oil, hot chocolate, egg. What to Do: Grab your favorite mug. Add 1 tbsp of self raising flour, 3 tbsp of sugar, 2 tbsp of oil, 1 tbsp of hot chocolate and one egg and mix together really well. Microwave for 3 minutes and you have a yummy cake!

Baked Bean Lasagna Great for Emergencies and Veggies!

You Need: Onion, Garlic, Baked Beans, Lasagna, Instant Cheese Sauce, Cheese What to Do: Gently fry an onion and some garlic in a little oil until soft. Mix in a tin of bake beans. Layer a small foil baking tin with the bean mixture, a sheet of lasagna and a thin layer of instant cheese sauce. Repeat until you have used all the bean mixture. Top with a final layer of lasagna and more cheese sauce. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake in oven (gas mark 5) till Golden Brown.

Share your tips at tottoncollege.wordpress.com or write them below:

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k l i m f o t n i p r u o y o t g n i r u o l , o t c n i t d o e o u f l b e u a l b h t i f o w t s u Adodu acanfewstil dreopnjoy your Frostie’s with b y o one wil nick your milk! n


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Carrot and Banana Curry You never would have thought it!

You Need: 2 Carrots, onion, orange juice, banana, curry powder, and natural yogurt. What to Do: In a pan, boil the sliced carrots, and onion in 5 tbsp of orange juice and 5 tbsp of water for about 10 minutes. Add the sliced banana and cook for a further minute. Stir in a tsp of curry powder and 2 tbsp of natural yogurt and heat gently. Serve with the cooked rice or naan bread.

Party Pizza for your Pals! Perfect to make friends with!

You Need: Flour, milk, baking powder, salt, herbs, tomato puree, cheese, a selection of pizza toppings. What to Do: Mix 200g plain four, 2 tsp baking powder, a pinch of salt, 150ml of milk together until you have a stiff dough. Divide into two and flatten pizza bases onto a greased tray. Cover the base with tomato puree, a sprinkle of dried herbs and some pizza toppings (tinned pineapple, sliced pepper, mushrooms, onions, pepperoni, ham, sweetcorn - whatever you have to hand) and then cover with 100g of grated cheese! Cook for 20-25 minutes on gas mark 7.

Fabulous Fish Cakes Great for your Brain!

You Need: Packet of instant mash, dried bread crumbs, tin of tuna or salmon, herbs. What to Do: Make up the instant potato with hot water, stir in the drained tin of fish and the herbs. Shape into rounds and then coat in bread crumbs. Gently fry on both sides. Serve with a fried egg on top, or with a simple salad.

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I wish real life was


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“Man lands on moon”, “hadron collider developed” “New HD ready TV” what do all of these have in common, there all old news. Make way for 3D and all that accompanies it, for starters there is a boom in 3D cinema which started this rapid development in the first place, with films such as Avatar with a budget of $237 million and a gross revenue of $2,780,969,137 makes it not only the highest grossing film worldwide but also the first film to gross more than 2 billion. The fact that the film was released in 3D has influenced many new movies to have 3D versions to boost profit margins and mimic the success of this film. Some films also go as far as to film the whole film in 3D with only a 3D release, this shows how popular the 3D industry has become or at least wishes to become as a film can rely solely on the customers to be willing to pay extra money to see the film in 3D. The only place to get the 3D experience used to be only at the cinema but there have been lots of developments in home entertainment with 3D televisions being released for home purchase with new 3D channels being created to profit on the desirability of 3D as SKY launched the first 3D channel in Europe on October the 1st 2010. With 3D televisions being produced this will lead to competitive pricing between manufacturers will soon make these widely available to most households. Also the 3D glasses you have to wear whilst watching 3D televisions will also become a thing of the past as Toshiba has created a 3D TV which does not require glasses, however these can only be viewed from the specific angle / position.

“Toshiba has created a 3D TV which does not require glasses”

TVs can sometimes be a nuisance themselves so if you have large flat wall in your house or anywhere, you can project 3D images onto it so many people can watch it at once, but 3D glasses would be required for everyone so this may be a hassle and it would be difficult to incorporate the glassless technology into a projection. Other advancements in getting 3D into the home is the new 3DS which is a handheld gaming device which boasts the ability to show 3D images to its user without the need for glasses either , this will bring 3D to

children and adults alike and boost the demand for 3D products. Along with this there are also 3D phones and net books/tablets in development with a few finished products which do not require glasses. All of these products do not require 3D glasses but the are smaller screens so they are easier to produce , but when this process can be completed on a larger scale , then the 3D glasses will never be donned upon your face ever again.

“The future of this industry can branch into many different directions” So you can watch in 3D anywhere in your house, you can play in 3D and even use your net book in 3D, so why not be able to film whatever you want in 3D with Fujifilms new 3D camera which allows for 3D videos and stills to be taken anywhere and anytime, but also adds the ability for two separate images to be shot simultaneously with different effects added. The future of this industry can branch into many different directions, with apple taking out a patent for holographic imaging, by using a special screen with tiny pixel sized domes that would reflect the image at different angles allowing for 3D viewing and as it has the ability to track observer’s movements it would appear holographic. With all the possibilities for the future of 3D and with everyone “jumping on the bandwagon” it’s set to become the norm with everyone soon having 3D in their households. by Aaron Foley


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There is evidence of comedies in ancient Greece, and in Medieval England we start to see the ‘romantic love’ in comedies. In the Edwardian England, Shakespeare popularised what we now know as the ‘Romantic Comedy’ with plays, such as ‘Measure for Measure’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Every Romantic Comedy, more or less have the same plot line. Following the boy meets girl, then they part because of an argument or obstacle for their love, then in the climax they realise their love of each other and unite. In many of the romantic comedies the characters believe that they don’t like each other because of social pressures or another character involved, then the characters have time apart to sort out their feelings and they realise that they love each other. Screenwriters leave clues throughout the movie that show the audience that in fact the characters are attracted to each other. Romantic comedies are going from strength to strength; in Hollywood they are becoming increasingly popular. ‘Love Actually’ came out in November 2003, directed by Richard Curtis (also proudly responsible for ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ and ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’.) ‘Love Actually’ follows ten different lives in the months leading up to Christmas. With an all-star British cast, including Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson, it has thrilling light-hearted, humorous intertwining plotlines, to make women and men laugh alike. All characters are linked showing that love is infectious and uplifting, even ‘Billy Mack’ (Bill Nighy) an aging pop star and his manger ‘Joe’ (Gregory Fisher) share a tender moment together at the seasonal time. Above all ‘Love Actually’ is about falling in love. With its simple but effective stories of love, and laugh out loud comedy ‘Love Actually’ was extremely successful with a profit of over $200,000,000. Cast and crew won numerous awards including an Empire Award for ‘Best Film’, and Bill Nighy won a BAFTA for ‘Best Supporting Role’. I personally think that ‘Love Actually’ done so well at the box office because so many people can relate to the stories of the characters and their feelings. Richard Curtis directed the film to feel real to his audience, an ingredient for success in the romantic comedy world. It is beautifully written and the jokes are very funny and well put across by the actors. They got A-list actors, and some great cameos by Ant and Dec, Claudia Schiffer and many more.

Your top Rom Coms from tottoncollege.wordpress.com join the debate online... When Harry Met Sally If anyone says they don’t like this movie, do not date them: they don’t have a heart. Moonstruck A great little story about the messiness of love, it ruins everything. Love Actually Misogyny coated in a layer of sickly sweet sappiness and proof that there is still a need for feminism in the Western world Bridget Jones’s Diary Immediately appeals to anyone who’s ever been so heartbroken and lonely that they cried themselves silly over a solo bottle of wine in their PJs . You’ve Got Mail Do you know the only thing less interesting than watching two people type messages to each other while giggling inanely? Notting Hill Suspend your disbelief and wallow in a modern-day fairytale, in which a male Cinderella becomes a prince. She’s Having a Baby Here’s one for the breeders. The Shrek Trilogy Kid movie or not, Shrek is really clever, well made, hilarious and totally adorable. Groundhog Day You either love it or you hate it, it really hammers home, just how important it is to seize the day, to be the best person you can be not only in love, but in life. Pretty Woman It’s got a lot of provocative stuff: sex for money, role playing, fab boots, gold condoms, public sex, Julia Roberts going down (albeit implied). Pretty smutty stuff for a Cinderella story.


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In the 1950s when Hollywood was at its peak, ‘A’ listers actually had talent and charisma, do they now? I am not quite sure. Now with reality shows like ‘Big Brother’ and ‘The Biggest Loser’, more and more of ‘celebrity’ life splashed over our daily papers and our television screens. In the 50s we had Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Marlon Brando who made their fame by displaying an unbelievable amount of raw talent. Now we have Kardashians and Paris Hilton classed as ‘celebrities’. Paris Hilton (apart from her family riches) makes a living out of socialising, so could she really be ‘A person who is celebrated for achievement’? I am ashamed to say yes; she is what we class as a modern day ‘celebrity’ and it is pretty safe to say that she displays no talent.

Celebrity: - Noun - A person who is celebrated for achievement - Fame or notoriety

Today you can be famous if you are at the right place at the right time. Shows like ‘The Only Way is Essex’ which I personally think is about brainless, talentless, wannabes, which only desire to be rich and famous. This defies the object of becoming a star because you are unbelievably talented and determined.

Modern celebrities found their riches when newspapers started writing gossip columns on a regular basis and when our obsession with ‘celeb’ life grew into the production of magazines such as ‘Heat’ and ‘OK’. I think it is strange because we actually have no need to know what celebrities are wearing day to day, but we want to know so we can buy a similar piece of clothing on the high street next week. It have to admit, I love looking at what Cheryl Cole or Fearne Cotton is wearing, or seeing what scandal Lady GaGa has pulled off next, but I don’t live my life by it. I do not miss my train because I am too busy reading ‘Heat’ at a news stand. I do not drop my dinner in my lap because I cannot drag my eyes away from the TV when Kerry Katona is ranting on. I do not forget my coursework because I can’t stop trawling through pages and pages of gossip on the web. In conclusion I personally think that we look at celebrities in these magazines to escape from our own hectic lives, but we cannot let it consume us. We as the public have to demand quality. I only want to listen to a singer who can actually sing not mouth the words – I can do that. I understand that we all watch the telly and dream about being famous, but I just want to celebrate the people who deserve to be celebrated. Log on to www.tottoncollege.wordpress.com to have your say. By Lisa Ellis


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