Indigo 815 by Palatinate

indigo 815

EDITORIAL Thursday, 21 February 2019

www.palatinate.org.uk

FASHION 3 Natural Style: Exploring the relationship between fashion and nature VISUAL ARTS 4-5 Hey big spender The Power of Paint FILM & TV 6 Fyre Festival Review

MUSIC 7

Carson McHone at the Old Cinema Launderette TRAVEL 8-9 Editors’ Picks: 2019 CREATIVE WRITING 10 The Emergency Poet BOOKS 11 Relax, take it easy FEATURES 12-13 Contemplating Canada: 2 FOOD & DRINK 14 A Breakdown of Chinese New Year STAGE 15

Over the last nine months I have had plenty of time to think about what I would write for my final editorial. Would I give you a highlight reel recounting Indigo’s many successes? Or would I use this space to thank those who have served alongside me or provide a year in review? Former Editor-in-Chief Sophie Gregory wrote on the two-faced nature of Durham as a place of lifelong memories and crippling stress in equal measure. I think Sophie makes several fair points, however, I do think that Durham has a third, and less discussed side. For many, Durham is seen as a place of privilege; an upper echelon free from financial pressures and monetary worries. There is an assumption that we can all cover the cost of college balls, pay increasingly rising rent prices and manage day-to-day expenses.. However, this is not an assumption solely perpetuated by the University, but one that is thoroughly embedded in the student culture here. We are not all from the same financial means, so why does Durham as a culture assume so? Is it just out of sight out of mind, or is it an ingrained disregard for financial privilege at play? Whilst there are many things I will miss about Durham when I graduate in July, the ignorance surrounding privilege and blanket assumptions about financial stability are things I can’t wait to leave behind. Things are changing. Protests against rising accommodation costs, lobbying the university and raising awareness are hopefully the first of many to tackle this issue. However, acknowledging your own privilege is action you can take to make Durham a more inclusive and supportive community for its students. As Indigo Editor I was keen to create a platform where anyone can share and opinion and make their voice heard. I hope this will continue, even after my editorship has ended.

INDIGO EDITORS Adele Cooke Carys Frost (deputy) FEATURES EDITORS Kleopatra Olympiou Imogen Usherwood (deputy)

CREATIVE WRITING EDITORS Rhiannon Morris Susie Bradley (deputy)

STAGE EDITORS Martha Wrench Gabriella Sills (deputy) VISUAL ARTS EDITORS Stella Botes Jo Chandler (deputy) BOOKS EDITORS Freya Neason Shauna Lewis FASHION EDITORS Anna Gibbs Ana Hamilton (deputy) Frankie Reffell (deputy) FOOD & DRINK EDITORS Piers Eaton Philipa Murrison TRAVEL EDITORS Abir Mishra Alex Bicknell Cummins (deputy) FILM & TV EDITORS Hugh Johnson Josh Sagoo (deputy) MUSIC EDITORS Fran Howard Tom Watling

Will ‘Bitter Weat’ leave a bitter taste? INTERVIEW 16 All Eyes On... Miss Tess Tickle

www.facebook.com/palindigo Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @indigodurham Have a question, comment, or an idea for a story you’d like to write?

FASHION 3

Thursday, 21 February 2019

Natural style: Exploring the relationship between fashion and nature By Anna Gibbs and Ana Hamilton fashion@palatinate.org.uk

The involvement nature is a constant in the world of fashion

rom the ancients immortalising animals in metal, to the Tudor rose, and to the recent trend for both shell and snake-(a continuation of a popular trend in antiquity) inspired jewellery, the natural world and the creatures which roam the earth are a permanent muse for creatives. Nature-inspired design in the realms of fashion is an extension beyond the walls of art galleries of our observations and admiration for the natural masterpieces we find throughout our planet. These pieces being made through the use of the very subject matter itself, the relationship between nature and fashion is a complex one, and can subtly tell us much about our past and present attitudes towards the cosmos.

Indeed, this relationship can be both considered positive and negative. It is differentiated by the detrimental exploitation of nature to make fashion, and the effort to make aware the importance of sustainability and environmentally friendly clothing. As part of the V&A’s ‘Fashioned from Nature’ exhibition, 300 items were displayed that represented the lack of respect for nature in pieces of clothing since the 1600s. An example of the exploitative side of fashion was a dress crafted from the thread of silkworms “that have been injected with genes from jellyfish” .

The relationship between nature and fashion is evolving

We must pay our eternal muse the respect it deserves Deputy fashion editor Ana Hamilton discusses the ethical implications to this relationship, as it becomes increasingly clear that we must pay our eternal muse the respect it deserves whilst we continue to mine it for both inspiration and materials as we have throughout the ages. The involvement and representation of nature is a constant in the world of fashion. From the design to the display of clothes,there is an intrinsic element of nature portrayed.

Images via Pixabay, Instagram and Anna Gibbs

However, despite the display of many environmentally negative items of clothing, the exhibit simultaneously sheds light on the journey of sustainability throughout the ages, and the gradual realisation of the importance of the fragility of the environment. Amongst these pieces was a Calvin Klein dress, worn by Emma Watson to the Met Gala in 2016, which was made out of recycled plastic bottles. This was part of the ‘Green Carpet Challenge,’ a campaign created to connect fashion and sustainability. Indeed, the curator of the exhibit noted that it was “meant to be about transparency and traceability…good fashion”. Evidently, the relationship between nature and fashion is evolving in a positive manner, as implied by the increasing effort from designers to celebrate nature and become sustainable.’

VISUAL ARTS Thursday, 21 February 2019

Hey big spender Does Durham University spend too much money on art? YES by Zoe Haylock

niversity is about education. Durham’s funding should be used to best serve the students and our education. Although art is important, is it important enough to be given the £2 million funding it received between 2008 and 2015? No, it is not. The idea that this art expenditure is unqualified is true enough to itself, let alone with it occurring in our current context. Student accommodation fees are increasing by 3.5% next year, student grants are limited and university fees are at an all-time high. I doubt prospective students glaring at the gargantuan fees are going to care about the market price of the art they see when walking to their lecture hall. Surplus funding should be spent on financial support, educational advancement, and making Durham a more inclusive and diverse society.

A more economical and actually interesting alternative would be to utilise the art work of Durham students This surely is a symptom of the elitism within Durham. I love art, but I understand that the majority do not. Even more upsetting is that many of the prized work Durham has are housed in Hollingside House. Used for Vice-Chancellors and business, this location is not easily accessible to students. It seems that Durham has lost sight of its most important asset: its students. A more economical and interesting alternative would be to utilise the art work of Durham students. There are artists everywhere among our student population. The artists here are diverse, testing, experimental and probably much more equipped in engaging students in art, than the artists we see on display. Durham also doesn’t offer an art degree. This makes it even more important that students should be given the opportunity to display their work and others the opportunity to admire it. Art is important but Durham is wrong to assume that it is a pivotal part of our lives. Students want better financial equality, inclusion, and a more valuable educational experience. Image by Ian Burt via Flickr and Creative Commons

NO by Stella Botes

n reaction to revelations about University art spending, students told Palatinate that ‘I came here to get a degree, not to look at ‘geosculptures’, and ‘I’ve literally never seen any [art]’.These platitudes speak to a different issue than the transparency of arts spending, and reveal a more deeply ingrained problem; a lack of awareness and appreciation for the worth of art. Buying art is characterised as frivolous and impractical. Education, the factory-like attainment of a respectable degree, is made into a monolith in the lives of students, pushing to the sidelines any advocacy for an integrative approach that includes that which might be ‘useless’ in our exams.We protest the quasiindustrialisation of our education system, but fail to protect and actively reject attempts to diversify that same system with investment in art. Art is an investment, not simply burning money. Art pays for itself as artists grow and reputations change, and as it enhances the environment around it. It is an investment that is much to be preferred to the alternative, often unethical, areas of investment in which the university could (and does) choose to spend its money.

We protest the quasi-industrialisation of our education system, but fail to protect and even actively reject attempts to diversify that same system with investment in art Certainly, there is an issue of accessibility, but if the collection were made more accessible then we could truly begin to take advantage of its educational and moral value. Having worked with the collection myself, I am aware of its richness and diversity, and of the hard work of curators in trying to manage and preserve art. In fact, those same curators might argue that this is a problem not of accessibility but engagement; art is speckled throughout our colleges and lecture halls, the Oriental Museum is an increasingly dynamic international institution overlooked because ‘it’s a long walk from town’, and the Durham Arts festival and Bailey art tours were both hosted this year to increase accessibility. I don’t doubt that many students at Durham enjoy art. Were we to all become engaged in the art around us, we might realise its value, stimulate projects for its use within the community. Quite simply, we might start to enjoy it and recognise the value it brings to our lives at Durham.

VISUAL ARTS Thursday, 21 February 2019

The power of paint By Eden Szymura

How art has the ability to change lives at RTProjects

estled in an unsuspecting culde-sac, just off Sherburn Road in Gilesgate, sits RTProjects. A 1960s bungalow from the outside, complete with child-sized meerkat, Frank, the building is transformed into The Open Art Surgery once you step inside. Founded in 2007 by Beano and Emma, RTProjects provides a safe and creative environment where individuals can connect with others in their communities, learning new skills and finding a place they can call ‘home’.

RTProjects provides a safe and creative environment where individuals can connect with others in their communities Participants at RTProjects have often gone through adverse childhood experiences, and are dealing with enduring depression and/or anxiety. However, this is a mental health charity like no other. There are no clinical doctors rooms or blunted scissors that scream a lack of trust, but rather craft knives mixed amongst origami cranes and paper lanterns. There is a real sense of community and character in this place, helped by the large work table that occupies most of the space. Students come to volunteer and participate alongside locals, doing everything from supporting creative sessions to chairing fundraising events.

Art therapy aims to provide people suffering from mental health disorders with valuable tools Anyone who walks through the door at RT is introduced to a wide range of activities including painting, printmaking, sculpture and creative writing. Art therapy aims to provide people suffering from mental health disorders with valuable tools to explore and voice their emotion-

al experiences. Through this, participants can move beyond distress and towards understanding and relief. Unlike talking therapies, art is free from the constraint of words, offering a nonverbal language in which to represent thoughts and feelings. Emma is keen to dispel the myth that art is an exclusive activity. ‘Human beings are innately expressive and curious; we start producing art as soon as we’re able to hold a pencil.’ Our self-consciousness surrounding art is deeply embedded: ‘As we get older and start to become aware of other people’s judgement, our artistic expression becomes more internalised. The only thing stopping us from becoming artists are our own inhibitions.’

We start producing art as soon as we’re able to hold a pencil RT’s philosophy encourages individuals to pursue their own artistic interests at whatever pace suits them. The beauty of it is that ‘art isn’t just about drawing. It can be about colour, lines, modelling, singing, anything, really.’ By facilitating artistic expression, the charity not only provides materials and equipment but emotional and practical support for their participants.

ings of isolation. Participants witness the artistic process of others, sparking ideas and offering new perspectives to help them on their journey to healing. This process of sharing allows attendees to form bonds with their peers, providing a sense of belonging that can transform their quality of life For students, it’s a win-win situation. You’re given the responsibility and respect often denied to people our age whilst knowing you’re making a real difference to people’s lives. Being in such an infectiously positive environment also means that you get a self-care top up yourself. Ultimately, in that little bungalow, RTProjects offers a lifeline. It’s no understatement to say that discovering art can quite literally turn your life around.

Ultimately, in that little bungalow, RTProjects offers a lifeline

The charity not only provides materials and equipment but emotional and practical support for their participants Importantly, RTProjects operates in a group environment, facilitating attendees to re-connect with others and reduce feel-

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Film and TV Thursday, 21 February 2019

Fyre Festival review

Martin Shore takes a look inside the chaos of Netflix’s latest documentary By Martin Shore film@palatinate.org.uk

veryone knows that the Fyre Festival was a monumental failure, but Netflix’s new documentary Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened aims to systematically break down how and why the festival collapsed. Being a Netflix product, naturally Fyre is well-paced and will keep you engaged through an impressive variety of content. Narratively, the doc centres around the figure of Billy McFarland (the managing director of the Fyre brand), beginning and later returning to him as the arbiter of failure for his entire company. It is arguably the presentation of Billy that director Chris Smith has nailed so well. Utilising McFarland’s obsession with having everything “behind-the-scenes” of the festival documented by his camera crew, we are given a bunch of testimonials to chart his personal trajectory through the film. First, we’re told how charismatic a leader and entrepreneur he was, being shown a variety of raucous parties from the hugely successful marketing period of the festival, before moving through his inability to listen to and work with his staff, and then the final third moves into more of an expose of his own financial corruption, money laundering, defrauding investors and so on. Billy is established first as this uniquely likeable character, before the documentary considerately peels back layers and layers to prove just how warped his vision of the entire party was. Achpring the entire failure so closly to Billy gives the documentary an obvious “antagonist”.

Anchoring the entire failure so closely to Billy gives the documentary an obvious “antagonist” The viewer is left with the sneaking suspicion that there must be some level of culpability for McFarland’s other employees. After all, the final shots of two members of the Fyre team are them tell-

ing viewers that they themselves are being sued by American Express for defaulted payments on their personal accounts, all of which went towards the Fyre festival. These workers must have at least been somewhat invested in the festival to allow themselves to become so invested in the scam artist operating at the top. It is important to note, however, that the axis of sympathy is not directed towards the attendees of the festival, either. There are a group of guests interviewed alongside footage of the genuine carnage once guests arrived on the festival beachfront (which was little more than a housing or resort development plot on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma), none of which paint the millennial attendees.

We’re told guests started looting supplies and resources to stockpile in their tents, that they were sabotaging tents surrounding their own because ‘they didn’t want neighbours’ and show general disgust for having to share their promised “private jets” with other guests which were ‘worse than, like, low, low economy.’ It’s easy to dislike the people you’re being shown, especially seeing their self-interest emerge when realistically they could have tried to help one another, but it must be said that these guests did pay a minimum of $8,000 just to attend the festival. Whether or not you’re satisfied by seeing the veneer of the “Insta-famous” fall away in favour of more self-indulgent, self-absorbed characters, this was a very le-

gitimate crisis. We’re meant to understand how they were treated, but not necessarily empathise with them, moreso the organisers who evidently had no clue what they were doing. The documentary told the story of the exploited Bahamian workers.

The documentary told the story of the exploited Bahamian workers Fyre Festival could easily be summarised as an event held by a fraudulent start-up founder, advertising the performative rich, luxurious lifestyle that middle-to-upper class American influencers, software entrepreneurs and social media stars show off every day. The only difference is, it’s a party in the Bahamas with no real care for those grassroots workers who were exploited to build his line of “luxury” tents. Mcfarland enlisted hundreds of Bahamian labourers to construct the festival on promise of huge working opportunities and earning potential. They go unpaid, demand their payment as the festival starts going south, and thus everybody leaves, without reparations to the island. The Fyre team ruined the lives of so many people, a point artfully captured by the owner of one of the restaurants guests were funnelled to who spent her life savings of $50,000 to keep her staff working around the clock to feed McFarland’s guests. This is one of the most touching moments of the documentary, a bleak reminder that there are real world consequences to the gross misconduct of one man. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened is an entertaining and intriguing deep-dive into the psyche of a moneyhungry megalomaniac and the complete disaster that he organised. Well structured and impactful, it deserves a watch if you’re at all interested in the behindthe-scenes of 2017’s most famous failure. Image Credit: Pixabay.com

MUSIC

Thursday, 21 February 2019

Carson McHone at the Old Cinema Launderette This tiny retro venue is one of Durham’s best-kept secrets

By Jessica Clark music@palatinate.org.uk

he Old Cinema Launderette in Gilesgate is a gem undiscovered by many Durham students; launderette by day, bar and gig venue by night, it was named the UK’s best small venue by the Guardian in December 2018. Yorkshire-born support act Elaine Palmer sets the tone for a night of lyricism. Her voice is strong and songs range from tender ballads to faster-paced rock numbers, whose words draw on her own life and experience, particularly her childhood, which was divided between the Yorkshire moors and the deserts of Arizona. Carson flutters to the mic just a few feet in front of us. She prefaces the show with a good-humoured warning that she and her guitar are “a little out of tune” following an action-packed few days around the country and adjustment to the chilly climate. However, both transpire to be quite the opposite, and we are swept away by an angelic talent. Her twangy yet gentle voice glides melodically over skilled guitar handwork, each note hit flawlessly. The set’s second track, ‘Spider Song’, makes a particular impression on me, evoking the feeling of lying in a field on a summer’s day.

While McHone’s music deals with feelings, it isn’t soppy While McHone’s music deals with feelings, it isn’t soppy, and even her track named ‘Sad’ packs with it a lively country rhythm which makes me want to get up and dance. Her playing carries with it a powerful sense of her roots, transporting the crowd to the bustling bars of Austin where

Editors’ Picks

Carson first took to the stage as a 16-yearold. Since then, she has gone on to be commended in Rolling Stone for 2018 album Carousel and shows no sign of slowing down.

Her song ‘Drugs’ is still going around in my head while I write this As Carson intersperses her tunes with a few tales of adventure from the tour – and a quick break for beer – her demeanour is humble, laidback and approachable. This may be a trait of all country musicians, but this young lady comes off as someone you really want to – and very easily could – be friends with. It seems that in spite of Carson’s recent success, becoming a global star and making UK chart sales this year, her feet remain firmly on the ground… although she does confess that her cowboy boots haven’t gotten on too well with the snow, leading to some embarrassing mishaps on previous nights of the tour. The singer describes her UK audiences as “respectful and attentive”, and the “warm and welcoming” reception she’s received has inspired her to return, next time with a full band.

for studying, car journeys or simply unwinding. It will be exciting to see where she goes from here, and how such an artist could bring country, a relatively niche genre, into the mainstream. I also look forward to revisiting the Old Cinema Launderette, which hosts different gigs each week – just a £1 bus ride from North Road station, it’s a cubby hole of culture worth checking out.

It will be exciting to see where she goes from here

Her song ‘Drugs’ is still going around in my head while I write this. Its chorus proclaims “I can’t sleep or eat, I need drugs” – a metaphor, though for what is never made clear. Coming away from tonight’s performance, the only drugs I’ll be needing are more hits from McHone, whose easy-listening quality makes them apt Photograph by Jessica Clark Album artwork via Bandcamp

Lucy Railton Paradise 94 (album)

Sutari Wiano

Simian Mobile Disco Defender

Created by cellist and electronic musician, Railton’s debut album is hardly easy listening. Visceral soundscapes and haunting sound manipulation.

The Polish folk-trio describe their music as “the brain-child of three young women”. Raw, energetic. Take a listen.

On the album, Murmurations, Simian Mobile Disco combined forces with Deep Throat Choir. The result is SPECTACULAR.

TRAVEL 8

Thursday, 21 February 2019

Editors’ Picks: 2019 By Abir Mishra and Alex Bicknell Cummins travel@palatinate.org.uk

After summatives, exams and everyday stresses, you deserve some time away. Here are the editors’ favourite holiday destinations for 2019. Whether you’re just looking for a break away from Durham, the perfect location for your lads holiday or a once in a lifetime experience, we’ve got you covered

Reconnect with nature and break out of the Durham bubble by visiting Northumberland! Cheap, cheerful and close to home, this county is perfect if travelling abroad isn’t quite on the cards, or if long-distance travelling isn’t for you.

Northumberland, United Kingdom

Whether you explore ruined castles, visit the holy Island of Lindisfarne or go searching for Puffins on the Farne Islands, this rugged coast will be sure to recharge and reinvigorate. With more castles than any other county, Northumberland is also home to the filming site of the beloved Hogwarts, Alnwick Castle.

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E to

Affordable, convenient yet still distinct

£12.00 bus (return)

Panama City, Panama

For a truly exotic getaway, sail on the canal, explore the rich heritage and dine by the bay in Panama City, with sweeping views and dense rainforests a stone’s throw away. It’s not to be missed! £385.00 flight (return) £0.94 beer

£1.75 beer

The capital of Hungary is renowned for not just some of the best nightlife in Europe but also its advances in fashion, art and technology. Much like Durham, it is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites rivalling and out-matching ours. Budapest is perfect for sports tours or simply a fun weekend away: affordable, convenient yet still distinct. Must see: • Szechenyi Thermal Baths • The Great Synagogue • ‘Ruin pubs’: bars in abandoned tenement houses

Budapest, Hungary £65.00 flight (return)

£1.06 beer

TRAVEL For the more adventurous rugby lovers, Japan is a must!

Hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2019, Japan is a fantastic destination, breaking away from the usual South East Asian beaten path: truly, a cultural shock worth exploring. Highlights that may catch your fancy: • Tokyo and Kyoto: the bustling metropoles of Japan offer a strikingly similar yet distinct take on the modern city • Nara: numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites • Naoshima Island: famous for its high concentration of modern art museums and sculptures

Far more than just Bali, Indonesia boasts visa free access for over 169 nationalities, ensuring that a trip of wonder and excitement can be had with ease. See below for a glimpse into the islands: • Sumatra: for nature lovers & explorers; housing wild orangutans and the largest volcanic lake on Earth (also once a home to cannibals!) • Lombok: for avid hikers; climb an active volcano alongside quiet beaches & traditional villages • Gili Islands: for backpackers; filled with parties, raves, scuba diving & surfing

Honshu & Kagawa,

Japan

£432.00 flight (return) £2.80 beer £17.50-£140.00 rugby (2 Sep-2 Nov)

Island hopping, Indonesia £342.00 flight (return)

£1.50 beer

A middle option in the travelling distance category, Bosnia’s 4-hour flight time from London makes it feel almost a world away. to

Places that you must visit:

As Photography & illustrations: Creative Commons & Pixabay

• Sarajevo: a religious melting pot with a bazaar unlike anywhere else in Europe, Baščaršija! • Stari Most: a beautiful river and bridge, nearly fairy-tale like • Kravica Waterfalls: perfect for a long summer’s day

Bosnia & Herzegovina £280.00 flight (return)

£1.35 beer

CREATIVE WRITING Thursday, 21 February 2019

The Emergency Poet

Creative Writing interviews Deborah Alma, who can prescribe you a poem By Rhiannon Morris Creative Writing Editor creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

reative Writing interviewed Deborah Alma, the ‘Emergency Poet’ regarding the poetry assistance you can receive in her 1970s ambulance and her plans to open a poetry pharmacy.

What is the poetry pharmacy and how did you get the idea? It’s kind of a grand vision. The idea is, like a pharmacy, you move around the shop according to your mood. So, instead of skin care or plasters or whatever, it will be books and stationary and cards; artwork that will match your particular emotional illness. If your heart was broken, for example.

So this is the grand vision, at the moment is it mostly based in the ambulance? What would happen if I walked in? Oh yes, I’ve been driving around in this comedy ambulance, going to festivals, libraries, schools and conferences. It’s set up like a side show really. There are bottles and pills around for things like ‘internet addiction’ or ‘existential angst’. Inside each pill is an extract of a poem which should address your mood. However, if you wanted a full consultation, you’d go in the back, where all the original stretchers are still there. It’s like a pastiche of a therapy session, really. So you’d lie down on the stretcher, and I would ask you quite unusual questions, all uplifting questions, intimate without being invasive about how you relax, reading habits, places you might go to relax. At the end of it I’d ask them what they would like a poem for and I’d prescribe them one.

Is there a case that’s particularly memorable to you? The ones I find difficult are those who haven’t really been readers in their life. I’m trying to get a sense of who they are.

People usually sit back and enjoy it, but there was one woman who told me her best friend had died that morning, so she wanted a poem for friendship and grief. Quite often people talk about grief or stress and they might cry a little bit. You have to be able to deal with that pain. The great thing about poetry is that even if I am lost for words, I can use theirs.

Which poems would you prescribe to young students who have to deal with a lot of stress? There’s a poem called ‘What if this road?’ by Sheena Pugh which says you don’t need to know where you are going, so you should put trust in it. There’s also a poem called ‘Inessential Things’ by Brian Patten which talks about letting unimportant things go, to remember to live in the moment. I do find it hard to recommend widely, as I want to get to know the individual. Otherwise, I’m trying to incorporate the blokey gamers with those who like Christina Rossetti. The key thing for me is to listen to the individual first.

What advice would you give to young people who write poetry? The crucial thing for me is to read contemporary poetry, to be a reader. For a first draft, you need to write what you need to write without being selfconscious, be playful and then shape it later. But focus on getting it from pen to paper and just muck about a bit.

Why do we need an emergency poet? I always have a bit of a light-hearted approach because the poetry I give people is often serious stuff. I think people are feeling the stress of modern life, especially in the

UK, which is facing a lot of uncertainty about its future. Particularly in the age of social media, we’re kind of looking for meaning in our lives. In the absence of religion, because I think most of us aren’t religious, poetry speaks to a deeper truth. An intimate truth. I think the thing I get asked about most of all is stress. People are stressed at work, stressed about paying their bills. They are not looking after themselves or taking those small moments to sit and do nothing.

BOOKS Thursday, 21 February 2019

Relax, take it easy

Books looks at what to read to relax during summative season By Issy Flower books@palatinate.org.uk

t the end of last term, deluged with formatives and extra-curricular commitments, I took a night off to read Jeeves in the Offing by PG Wodehouse. This was the perfect pick-me-up: frothy, jolly, funny and warm. Nothing reduces stress quite like a Wodehousian put-down or reading Bertie Wooster get into a scrape in an English country house in the mid-20s. I also used Wodehouse as a stress-reliever during my A-Levels, where my reward for the endless plod of revising was reading a couple of chapters every 20 minutes.

Relaxing, engaging, thought-provoking and most importantly: not related to your degree Other good books to take my mind off work were Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell; if I wasn’t entranced by his journalistic yet intensely memorable imagery, then I could at least comfort myself that I wasn’t living on the dole in 1930s Paris. Robert Webb’s How Not To Be a Boy also acted as an easy escape. More of a memoir than a typical celebrity biography, it was intriguing to learn how he’d equally struggled with exam stress and failure, whilst being constantly entertained by his oh-sorelatable teenage experiences of love and loss.  Another relaxing experience was reading all of The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time. These and other long-running children’s book series like Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Skulduggery Pleasant, are perfect for any level of stress. You can read as many or as few as you like, and the increasing gravity as the series goes along means you can choose some lightweight reading or something a bit tougher depending on how you feel. Books offer the best escape from stress, they are relaxing, engaging, thought-provoking and most importantly: not related to your degree.

By Owen Jones

f summative season is getting you down, there is no book better at putting your efforts into perspective than Cosmos, by American physicist Carl Sagan. Published over 30 years ago, the book delves into all aspects of science, presenting daunting concepts with the ease and enthusiasm Sagan is famous for.

Sagan takes you through a huge range of science topics. He illustrates his unique perspective on each topic, whether it be the existence of extra terrestrial life (that the Universe permits thousands of alien civilisations, but its sheer magnitude means that we have not, and may never, meet another form of intelligent life), the entire history of the Universe, or the inception and development of human civilisation.  Each topic is made much more accessible by Sagan’s telling of the scientists behind these discoveries. Learning countless facts about the scale and activity of our Universe is a surefire way to make you forget about your summative pains and undergo an existential crisis instead.

By Imogen Usherwood

here are enough heavy-going, deeply meaningful books going on in my English degree, so my priority in reading for pleasure is either something lighthearted or a real page-turner, where I can focus on the story without dwelling too heavily on the symbolism of a character’s favourite colour, the use of asyndetic listing and so on.

Young Adult (YA) fiction generally is always a safe bet for an easy read My last read was Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, a novel based on the Broadway musical; it deals with suicide and anxiety so isn’t exactly light in its subject matter, but the prose style is readily accessible and the story is compelling, whether you know the show or not. The chapters are quite short too, which means you can read a few pages before bed and not worry about forgetting what’s happened.   Young Adult (YA) fiction generally is always a safe bet for an easy read; books like Turtles All the Way Down by John Green or The Book Thief by Markus Zusak address relevant and interesting themes, so you don’t get bored, but the text itself is pretty straightforward as their core audience isn’t very old.  A slightly ‘trashier’ recommendation is Jenny Stallard’s Boyfriend by Christmas, which isn’t as festive as the title implies, given it takes place over sixth months from July to December. It’s my go-to guilty pleasure book: centered around the life of an online culture journalist, it isn’t exactly high art, but it’s upbeat, funny and relatable, the characters are distinctive, and the style is easy and conversational. Image by Kimberley Hermo

FEATURES Thursday, 21 February 2019

Contemplating Canada: 2 In the second instalment of Florie Moran’s year abroad series, Florie experiences a quintessentially Canadian winter By Florie Moran

his weekend I had one of my most Canadian experiences to date: ice skating on a frozen lake in the Rocky mountains. Any Canadian I’ve mentioned this to has been distinctly underwhelmed since they practically learn to walk on skates, but this British lass was blown away. The idea of lakes even freezing over seemed far-fetched, let alone with ice over 4 foot deep and able to carry the weight of a friendly hockey game on its surface. Not just one hockey game, but three, with participants bringing along their own snow shovels, beers, and camping chairs to clear a makeshift pitch and set up camp for the afternoon. Might I add

that it was -8ºC, which was described by many as ‘mild’ for this time of year. I continue to marvel at Canadian constitutions.

Might I add that it was -8ºC, which was described by many as ‘mild’ for this time of year We rented our skates from the University Outdoor Centre - where you can quite easily rent skis, canoes, and climbing equipment at a ‘student rate’ - and hopped in the car to Banff, the national park a mere hour off campus. Reaching our destination of Two Jack Lake, we quickly slipped our way out onto nature’s ice rink;

significantly more uneven and bumpy than those that pop up around England, conveniently equipped with a hand rail and artificial penguins to cling onto.

Natural ice around a lake’s edge is in constant motion, slowly forming and breaking apart as you semi-confidently glide across its surface Plus, of course, natural ice around a lake’s edge is in constant motion, slowly forming and breaking apart as you semi-confidently glide across its surface. It was hard to get used to the regular sound of cracking

FEATURES Thursday, 21 February 2019

beneath your feet or the sudden change in texture from glass-like to slush-puppy. The adrenaline really got going when my confident, Montanan, outdoorsy flatmate’s face fell at the sound of a particularly deep crack. It’s safe to say that I breathed a sigh of relief when we made it back to hard ground. Nevertheless, nervously shuffling across a dubiously solid lake was made all the more enjoyable by the snow-capped mountains and blue skies that surrounded us. It beats London’s Winter Wonderland any day.

The adrenaline really got going when my confident, Montanan, outdoorsy flatmate’s face fell at the sound of a particularly deep crack

Skating in every layer of clothing I own aside, a few days later I encountered Calgary’s own unique weather phenomena: a chinook.

Chinooks are hot winds that come down to the prairies from the mountains and melt the city’s snow by raising temperatures This is an indigenous word meaning ‘snoweater’, which does just that. Chinooks are hot winds that come down to the prairies from the mountains and melt the city’s snow by raising the outrageously low temperatures to something more bearable. I’ve heard that the sweetest deal is a chinook that turns a -20ºC day into a positive 20ºC overnight.

There are no incremental changes over here. Alberta weather does not mess around.

Alberta weather does not mess around So it looks like my fear of the plummeting cold in February might be made a little easier by a combination of global warming and the occasional chinook to up my vitamin D intake. I’ll be keeping you posted on my experience of this chilly climate to put any of your winter blues into perspective. I’m already wearing my ski jacket to my lectures so it seems as if thermal underwear is unfortunately in my near future. Photographs by Florie Moran

Food and Drink Thursday, 21 February 2019

A breakdown of Chinese New Year With Chinese New Year just passed, Nicole Chim shares her experiences of drunken chicken, Nian gao and sticky sweet dumplings By Nicole Chim food@palatinate.org.uk

hings kick off with a family reunion dinner, which takes place on New Year’s Eve to celebrate togetherness. Here married couples will give relatives red packets as a symbol of good luck and to ward off evil spirits. Lion and Dragon dances with drums and cymbals take place, firecrackers and fireworks are set off as it is believed that the loud noise of the firecrackers will scare away evil spirits and bring good luck.

papers on doors, burning bamboo to make a loud cracking sound (precursor to firecrackers), lighting candles in the houses, and wearing red clothes. When the villagers came back, they

Houses are adorned with scarlet coloured decorations, which are associated with wealth, and good fortune in Chinese culture. In ancient times in China, a monster named Nian or Nianshou Monster Nian with a long head and sharp horns was believed to dwell deep in the sea all year round and only showed up every New Year’s Eve to eat people and livestock in nearby villages.

On New Year’s Eve, people would flee to the mountains On New Year’s Eve, people would flee to remote mountains to avoid attack by the monster. People had lived in fear of this monster until an old man with white hair and a ruddy complexion visited the village. He refused to hide in the mountains along with the villagers but successfully scared away the monster by pasting red

Eggs: a big and healthy family; lobster: endless money rolling in; shrimp: fortune and wealth; roasted pig: peace; duck: loyalty; peaches: longevity; tofu: happiness and fortune for the entire family; fish: a surplus of resources and wealth; vegetables: Gailan with crab meat sauce.

Eating fish symbolises wishes for a surplus of food

It is believed that the loud noise of the firecrackers will scare away evil spirits Traditionally houses are cleaned to symbolically sweep away the bad luck of the past year, but, dusting or washing one’s hair is avoided on New Year’s Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

ings. This includes:

were surprised to discover that the village had not been destroyed. And thus the origins of New Year are supposed to originate from this tale.

And thus the origins of New Year are supposed to originate from this tale

A common dessert tends to be Nian gao: which symbolizes fertility, luck and wealth, it can also be translated as year cake or Chinese New Year’s cake. This sticky sweet snack was believed to be an offering to the Kitchen God, with the aim that his mouth will be stuck with the sticky cake, so that he can’t badmouth the human family in front of the Jade Emperor. Sticky sweet dumplings are also eaten. If this has whet your appetite then there’s a new Chinese supermarket just opened up on New Elvet as well as two on North Road.

The food of New Year’s Day, to start roast pork, ‘drunken chicken’ or traditional pork dumplings is usually eaten along with winter melon soup. For the main course, whole steamed fish is eaten. The reason why the Chinese eat fish is because of the way it is pronounced is the same as that of surplus or extra. Eating fish, therefore, symbolises wishes for having a surplus of food and money every year. Why a whole white cut chicken might be eaten is again attached to the symbolism of family because a chicken is enough for all. Braised Longevity Noodles are also commonly eaten and it usually comes with a variety of sides that to have symbolic mean-

Image by Yuo Kato and Thomas Evans, via Unsplash

STAGE Thursday, 21 February 2019

Will ‘Bitter Wheat’ leave a bitter taste? Stage discusses whether Mamet’s new Weinstein-inspired play comes too soon By Annie Lucas stage@palatinate.org.uk

he question of whether the stage should be a place where all themes can be confronted is not a new one. Even in Shakespeare’s time, his play Titus Andronicus was largely criticised for its gruesome presentation of violence, blood and severed limbs. However, rather than being instantly criticised for its excesses of horror, it is now considered to be extremely poignant in its portrayal of grief. Therefore, although its contents are controversial, does this automatically mean that it must not be performed? Indeed, in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2013 production of Titus Andronicus, the gory elements of the play were emphasised through the use of realistic blood effects which left the actors and audience alike covered in red food colouring.

Its timing comes at the height of the #MeToo campaign but just because it is highly topical, does not mean it should not be performed. For me, its relevance is something to be praised because of the positive impact it could have upon the entertainment industry. The decision to aim a spotlight on Weinstein’s dreadful miscon-

Bitter Wheat will show that sexual harassment is still a serious issue

Bitter Wheat is bound to upset many people With this in mind, this article is focused around Mamet’s new play, Bitter Wheat, which has been labelled as a dark comedy due to the fact that it dramatises the ease with which a powerful movie mogul exploits and abuses his position in order to sexually harass young women. Its leading actor, John Malkovich, has told BBC Radio 4 that Mamet used the sexual allegations that have been made against a disgraced Harvey Weinstein as his “starting point”. The delicate nature of Mamet’s choice of subject matter has raised questions about whether it is has been written too early, whether its use of comedy is in poor taste and if Mamet, who has not written a well-received hit play in years, can write with the sensitivity needed to make this play a success. Malkovich himself has commented that Bitter Wheat is bound to upset many people because of its content. However, does that mean that the subject of Weinstein’s sexual abuse should be entirely off-limits?

Emma Woodhouse at a mere twenty-two years old. Additionally, casting John Malkovich as the leading male, Barney Fein, also seems very deliberate as he has frequently been cast in the role of the villain. For example, he has starred as a shameless seducer in the film Dangerous Liaisons and he has subsequently accepted more roles as nefarious characters, most recently in Netflix’s original film Bird Box. Malkovich has stated that his decision to take the role was because the script was so well-written and that the use of satire has the power to illuminate and properly criticise the horrific, dark themes being presented.

duct is admirable because it is tackling the issue from within the industry; the industry that allowed it to continue for so long

Tackling Weinstein’s misconduct is admirable The decision to cast Ioanna Kimbrook is interesting because it will be her West End debut, which is poignant as the play discusses the targeting of young, vulnerable women at the beginning of their careers. Gwyneth Paltrow has publicly spoken of her uncomfortable hotel encounter with Weinstein when she was given the part of

Despite this, the critical reception of the play will most likely depend on how respectfully Mamet navigates the presentations of the victims in Bitter Wheat. There has been apprehension voiced by both Mamet and Malkovich surrounding the possibility that it may upset the numerous victims of Weinstein’s unsolicited sexual advancements. Instead, it is hoped that Bitter Wheat will show that sexual harassment is still a serious issue, not exclusively within the entertainment business, that must be both acknowledged and critiqued in this new play. In the advertisements, the tag line reads ‘Money, Sex, Power’. This effectively conveys the tone of excess and authority which permeated throughout Weinstein’s career and which protected his reputation for so long. In contrast, Mamet’s production will be scrutinised closely when it is debuted at the Garrick Theatre on June 7th. Critics will expect a performance that showcases writing which achieves its desired, comedic effect whilst still maintaining a crucial element of sensitivity and class. Image by Wikimedia

THE indigo INTERVIEW Thursday, 21 February 2019

All eyes on... Miss Tess Tickle indigo introduces one of Durham’s favourite drag queens By Zue Wei Leong Interview Editor interview@palatinate.org.uk

“

Osbournes Mondays is a bonus, a plus, a safe haven for people to come together and explore,” says the star of Durham’s only LGBTQ+ night, drag queen and activist, Miss Tess Tickle. She sits down with indigo to discuss her journey, exciting local and international projects, and activism.

How did you discover drag? I found my passion by accident, really. I attended a fancy dress party in drag. It was meant to be a one-off but it just went from there. I thought to myself, ‘if this is something I’m good, something I can do, and people are enjoying it, I should do it!’ I started advertising myself as Tess and for the first couple months, I was all over the place. I did everything – birthday parties, hen nights, anniversaries, weddings… I do quite traditionally British drag, full of tongue-in-cheek humour and slapstick comedy, really quite different from the type of drag you would see on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

Was it easy starting out as a drag queen? Well, after winning Drag Idol in Newcastle, I was a bit disheartened because no work came from it. But I realised our community isn’t about competitions and we don’t need them as long as every performance is better than the last time. So, my friends, Miss Cara and Miss Emma Royd, and I joined forces a year or two into my drag career; we came up with Miss Tess Tickle and the Dragettes and started performing our cabaret show around the UK. This year is so special because it will be ten years since we started touring together! And I’m so lucky to say now that I’m fully booked up for the next year.

How do you feel about drag culture exploding in popular media all around the world?

It’s phenomenal! As an activist, I’ve seen that the drag community and the LGBTQ+ community work together to drive each other forward and help each other flourish. In the UK especially, drag has been at the heart of most gay scenes. It’s an art form that celebrates inclusivity; if you want to experiment with the make-up and hair, experience the glamour and extroversion, why not? Go for it! So it was amazing when I was cast on Virgin Atlantic’s ‘Pride Flight’ with Tituss Burgess [star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt]. That such a big brand like Virgin Atlantic was embracing drag culture and commemorating 50 years since the Stonewall Riots with this huge celebration, flying out to New York Pride… I’m just so blessed to be a part of it.

What kind of activism are you involved in? e Paulin age by

y Penton

ality and being yourselves into all phases of school, from foundation to college. I actually went in today as Tess to introduce the children to something different, something they might not see every day. And I’m telling you, I’m on a bit of a high because it’s been beautiful! In the past, secondary school was a difficult experience for me 20 years ago. Walking through the corridors, there would be taunts and abuse but this time, people were yelling but it was all positivity: ‘You go, girl!’ ‘Slay it!’ What a shock to the system! But it just shows how the world is changing, how it’s so much more inclusive.

Which project are you most excited about this year? Durham Pride this summer! I always say at every show that I can perform all over the country and all over the world but the North-East of England really is the greatest place on earth. Last year, I had a magical, heart-warming experience performing in front of nearly 30,000 people celebrating Pride. I almost cried, thinking that 5 years ago, we started Pride from scratch and now (and I might be putting myself out on a limb), the LGBTQ+ community is celebrated, well and truly integrated into everyday life and culture in Durham.

Do you have any tips for students at university?

I believe if that if you have a public platform, you have to use it for good! I love that the media has normalised the terms ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’ but I think education is also very important. That’s why I am a part of a LGBTQ+ programme that is piloting throughout County Durham and the UK called ‘Educate and Celebrate’. It is founded by Dr Elly Barnes MBE and introduces important lessons of love, individu-

Coming to Durham for university is the perfect opportunity to be yourself. If you build up your confidence to say ‘This is who I am! This is who I want to be’, you’ll leave university a completely different person, with the right mind set for your future. And if you need a little bit of guidance, give me a shout, come and pull me on a Monday night and let’s evolve together.

You can find out more about Miss Tess Tickle’s shows on her website, www.misstesstickle.com