Indigo 857

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New year, same old me

It is easy to understand why people would be so desirious to start afresh and reinvent a new version of themselves as a way of feeling in control. With summative season upon the horizon, internship deadlines coming to a close and graduation feeling likes it’s just around the corner, the urge to completely reinvent a new self capable of taking on these new trials and tribulations feels all too tempting. However, reinvention acts as the barrier to reflection. That terrible essay mark you recieved last year? Doesn’t e ect the new you. That internship you didn’t get, that doesn’t matter for this new you. Except it should.

Improvement doesn’t always have to come from reinvention

It is always a tempting thought to want to start over, restore factory settings and create a new version of ourselves, but this prohibits reflection and growth. How do we measure growth if we’re constantly restarting the second the calendar hits 1 January? Its easier to create new realities than it is to consider previous ones, because new realities haven’t come to fruition and thus we still have control and power. However, that power is renounced the second we begin to reflect because reactions that manifest from past events are involuntary and beyond our power of control. Therefore it is easier to give into the belief that we have control than it is to renounce it. I believe the ‘new year, new me’ to be damaging because it allows people to escape reflection and contemplating previous choices and actions. It suggests that the past self is of less importance because it exists beyond our control, whereas our future self is governed by control. But how can the past self be of less imporance when it is because of them that we are who we are? Improvement doesn’t always have to come from reinvention. Improvement comes from reflection and

CONTENT

Events Calendar (page 3), Features (page 4), Creative Writing (page 5), Stage (page 6), Travel (page 7), Books (pages 8 & 9), Visual Arts (page 10), Film&TV (page 11), Interview (page 12), Music (page 13), Food & Drink (page 14), Style (page 15).

Indigo logo: Adeline Zhao

Cover image: Anna Kuptsova

revision. It comes from reconsidering di erent paths of thought from your past in order to navigate paths of the future. The past is there to help not to hinder and I think the ‘new year, new me’ sentiment does an injustice to its importance.

From concerts to art exhbitions, there really is something for everyone

Indigo’s purpose is to facilitate artistry and individuality, providing students a creative outlet to ignite artistic passions. This will not change as we enter the new year, in fact this is a sentiment that will only strengthen as the years pass us by. As one of two new Indigo editors, I am proud to say Indigo’s first print edition of 2023 does not steer away from this attitude either. On page 6, Stage share how their love for theatre started, and on page 13, Food and Drink look at the damaging e ects the ‘new year, new me’ mindest has on food. As part of Indigo’s comittment to spotlight the creative arts, it brings me great pleasure to announce the inclusion of an Events Calendar, filled with a plethora of creative events and exhibitions to get involved in and ignite passions. From concerts to art exhibitions, there really something for everyone!

TEAM

Charlotte Grimwade, Cameron Beech, Melissa Rumbold, Roshni Suresh Babu, Siobhan Eddie, Elizabeth Buckley, Theo Mudhir, Alexa Thanni, Amelie Lambie-Proctor, Lydia Doyle, Lily Lake, Ruhee Parelkar, Annie Pickup, James Macfarlane, Rachel Rostron-Shemwell, Alice Purves, Emilia Williams, Isabella Harris, Tom Harbottle, Millie Adams, Eve Kirman, Agnes Shu, Caitlin Ball.

CONTACT

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Image credit (from left to right): Adeline Zhao, Olivia Kemp

Artwork of the week by Olivia Kemp

Indigo

Editor, Cameron Beech, debates the a ectiveness of the ‘new year, new me’ mentality

indigo@palatinate.org.uk

Epiphany events calendar

From concerts to art exhibitions, there’s plenty to look forward to this term

Art Exhibitions

24 January, 4-6pm Objects, Materials & Memories Palace Green Library

In this workshop, participants will experiment with sculpting, casting and assemblage techniques. This event is run by Durham Art Collections’ engagement programmes in support of the Art Prize 2022/23. Tickets are free but must be booked online in advance.

Till 21 May

Guardians of the Silk Road’s Heritage: women of the mountains of Central Asia Oriental Museum

A vibrant exhibition showcasing the work of the artists and craftswomen who preserve and transfer traditional knowledge and skills, adapting them for new audiences and popularising Central Asian folk art. Tickets are free.

Till 24 May

Photographing Tutankhamun Outdoor Art Gallery, Bill Bryson Library Square

An exhibition exploring how photography turned Tutankhamun into a global sensation. Created by Professor Christina Riggs, this pop up installation examines the striking images created by photographer Harry Burton during the decade-long excavation.

Talks

26 January, 16 February, 2 March

Durham University Ukrainian Talk series with Dr Markian Prokopovych Gala Theatre

A series of talks organised by Durham University, Zaporizhzhia National University, and Durham County Council, including discussions on ‘International and Human Rights Law

Supporting Ukraine’, ‘Decolonising East European History’, and ‘Ukrainian Refugees: Challenges and Possibilities’. Tickets are £2 if booked online, £1 if bought in-person, and free for Ukrainian refugees.

27 January, 10am Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 Gala Theatre

Professor Marek Szablewski will share the story of his families experiences living in Poland during the occupation of the country in World War II.

14 May, 7.30pm How to be a Good Monarch Gala Theatre

Historian Tracy Borman will present an audio-visual tour of the history of the British monarchy, from William the Conqueror to Charles III. Tickets are £15 for university students.

Theatre

24-26 January

A Wilde Night Hatfield College Chapel

Walkabout Productions will be running Durham’s first fully immersive play about icon Oscar Wilde’s decline from fame to disgrace. The story will unfold around the audience across two rooms. Standard tickets are £7.

Highlights

21 January

The Cygnets (supported by Mother + Silk Road)

The Globe, Newcastle

Alt-rock Durham-based student band, The Cygnets, are performing their first gig of 2023 in Newcastle. Tickets are free and can be reserved online for guaranteed entry.

8 February, 8pm

Blue Jean Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle

Set in 1980s Newcastle, this debut feature by Georgia Oakley focuses on a queer teacher working whilst Section 28, a law against promoting homosexuality, is first introduced in the United Kingdom. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with Oakley. Tickets are £8.25 for students.

30 January-6 February

Durham

26 February

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius The Sage, Newcastle

DDF is an annual event dedicated to student writing. A plethora of plays will be performed in a number of locations, all written by Durham students. There will also be a number of workshops available, exploring how to approach auditions and top tips about playwriting. Tickets will cost between £5-£10. The week will end with the D’Oliviers.

8-12 February

Hello Dolly! Gala Theatre

DULOG is presenting its biggest musical of the year with this Golden Age classic. With a colossal cast and crew, sure to be abundant with talent, this performance promises to be exceptional. Fullprice tickets are £14.50.

Cleveland Philharmonic Choir and Durham University Choral Society are collaborating to form a choir of 200 for this concert. Tickets are £11 for students.

16, 17, 18 February

DUCFS 2023 Rainton Arena

This year, Durham’s biggest fashion and charity fundraising event are preparing for three extra-special 40th anniversary shows, hence the theme ‘Time After Time’, in support of the Rainbow Trust.

Image credits (from left): Cameron Beech, Eva Moss, DUCFS Thursday, 12 January

Drama Festival Assembly Rooms Theatre, Mark Hillery Centre, Mount Oswald

features@palatinate.org.uk

2023: The year to be kinder to your mind

Indigo

Editor,

Melissa

Rumbold

, reflects on 2022 and shares her hopes for 2023

For me, the closing months of 2022 were bittersweet. As a finalist, the end of my studies is becoming increasingly clear and the future ahead is fast approaching. I’m sure many final year students feel the same. Somehow, three years of laughs, lows, and growth will be over unexpectedly soon. But with the end of my degree in sight, the possibilities for the future are incredibly exciting and I, like many others I’m sure, cannot wait to start the next chapter of my life, whatever it may bring.

My highlights of 2022 include some of the most wonderful times I’ve ever had. In a year during which I entered my twenties, I celebrated college balls, my very first trips abroad, and the love of those around me. A year full of new and incredible experiences, I certainly fell in love with exploring the world and sharing those adventures with those I care for. I have also achieved so much I am proud of, and the support of those around me fuels my anticipation of what lies ahead.

this same desire. Managing personal challenges and stress this year are of vital importance as my workload increases and my future comes closer. After gaining a taste for exploring, I will be attempting to break free from fear and stagnation, and looking forward to those new experiences will be a valuable propeller through the next few di cult months.

For me, 2022 was also tainted by loss, which challenged the positive course the year was set for. Unfortunately, I know 2022 was also unkind to some of my friends, and so I believe it is important to reflect on the strength we have shown through di cult times, as well as celebrating the good times. The major loss I su ered has undoubtedly left a permanent hole in my heart, and I have discovered that grief is not linear, nor is it kind. For me, it was incredibly important to take a moment to truly feel and process the emotions that come with losing someone you deeply love. Getting up and immediately powering through is not always the right course of action, as grief takes an unexpectedly physical toll, as well as an emotional and mental one.

I know for my family, friends and I, 2022 will be a complicated year to look back on. However, it is vital to keep in mind that the pain of grief is proof of immense love and a special bond. Grief has the power to bring us closer, and I know those I care for have shown me love, whether by giving sympathy or just being there, making loss feel not quite as daunting. As we enter the new year, we will remember those we have lost, and we will continue to honour and cherish their memory by reserving a place in our heart for them and by carrying their love with us into the years ahead.

Alongside remembrance, I will be entering 2023 with a resolution to maintain a healthy mind. Considering everything that happened in 2022, and everything that is on the horizon for the new year, taking care of myself and my mind will be my top priority, and I’m sure many others share

I, like many others, am aspiring to spend more time with people who make me feel loved, and to value those moments we share. Similarly, I would love for 2023 to be the year of becoming the person I want to be, and to be comfortable in my own company. I’m sure many students are over-thinkers like me, and I know we could all benefit from taking time to slow down and to calm our minds. I will be reminding myself of this as I approach 21 and my university experience comes to a close – it is never too late. Growing from our past is vital when looking towards the new year, and so is being comfortable with your body and mind. We may lose or drift from those we love, but making peace with ourselves is the most important lesson.

I will leave you with a quote by Bianca Sparacino that I came across not long ago. I feel it is perhaps the most important mantra you will read this year. “Happiness was always about being kinder to yourself; it was always about embracing the person you were becoming. One day, you will understand that happiness was always about learning how to live with yourself, that your happiness was never in the hands of others. It was always about you. It was always about you.”

2022 flew by like an express train, with barely a moment to sit and enjoy the highs or grieve the lows. This year, I resolve to slow down, and appreciate my loved ones, without whom I would not have made it as far as I have. I want to make time for reflection, and fully live each moment of my crazy Durham life.

Deputy

I fell in love with exploring the world and sharing those adventures with those I care for

We may lose or drift from those we love, but making peace with ourselves is the most important lesson

Perhaps the most important mantra you will read this year

Leo Li and

creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

Far from home

Daniel Firmino-De-Jesus

On The Plane that Flew Over our Heads that Winter’s Day Leo Li

To Matthew, Dariimaa et al. Who taught me that a place is people

No one waits for the fireworks to finish except for us – like how my parents and I sat by the expo park with cups of hot taro latte, savouring silence before the 16:10 plane from Taitung harrowed over our sundering shadows.

Nowhere is farther away from home than an airport’s baggage reclaim

Nowhere is farther away from home than an airport’s baggage reclaim. Conveyor belts churn out mangled, sellotaped country memos. Is mine still intact, or bandaged by the rainbow crossing to Bailey’s edge? To where the bells

on the international student experience

toll always ten few minutes to. No one knows the tears sealed under 2am rhapsodies from Babs and Fabs – like how no one knows about the Chagall seen from the law school’s second floor, or the Mann on sale at 55-57 Saddler St., or my unfitly long name inked in corners of Mary’s, or the narrow slope to loneliness is the Sunday road to Market Square.

No one remembers the tears so transparent, like miracles as daily as morning mist flowering round Prebends, or twilight snowing pink light on my unmade bed, or rushing for seconds of churros, or, occasionally, drunk singing like children that a part of us still are, or feeling at home, even far from home.

Nothing lasts until daybreak, not even sadness

Nothing lasts until daybreak, not even sadness, when Durham wakes up. You, croissant in hand, dozy because of a 9am, greeting me morning, before the others come.

Guardian Trees of Durham Daniel Firmino-De-Jesus

Centuries-old trees

Growing fiery red leaves

Spreading into one single campfire Warming up my blue thoughts In order to welcome this unexpected stranger They sacrifice themselves – bit by bit Simply for a melting gaze A breath of fresh air

How selfless they are!

Not satisfied in creating such beautiful scenery They are willing to lose it all

So the leaves can dance down to the floor Then, after a few weeks, the campfire burns out As no more leaves are left for fuel

Only pale, ashen obelisks remain Scattered along once colourful hills And every year they do the same

As if they already knew Another international student will arrive Unaware of the dangers plotting his demise Nevertheless, that lost boy Found his way back home through the fog No longer alone, safe and warm Now stronger against the pressure of it all

When he looks back, however [...] He will remember the sacrifice they made

When he looks back, however To the short cold days He will remember The sacrifice they made.

Curtain call

Ayasha Nordiawan shares where her love of theatre started

Theatre first found me three years ago, not voluntarily and not as a meet-cute either. I’d had to take at least one art subject in Grade 10, and my lack of musical and artistic abilities left me with drama as the only option. For such a long time, it was an obligation. Something compulsory that I had to do, rather than choose to do. But fondness and love can grow over time when you least expect it.

After a year of doing drama as a “compulsory subject”, I ended up falling head over heels in love with theatre and took it as a Higher-Level subject when I moved to Grade 11. I ended up spending half my time in the drama studios because it became my safest space. I ended up enjoying my seven-hour-long rehearsals for a coursework production! I produced 4 plays at once while acting in a di erent one simultaneously. Long story short, I fell in love with theatre in a beautiful, elevator-ride-like sensation, it carries me higher and higher, and slots itself as such a big thing in my life.

There is so much to say about theatre. I love the idea of a live performance, and how personal and intimate the whole thing is. I love how magical the process of creating a production is, the way things come together. I love the community it builds, there’s nothing in theatre that is done alone. A one-man show is run by a whole village. It’s a big group working in the background; marketing, prop sourcing, directing, producing, sound designing, tech operating, costume and makeup…. And to me, if I were never involved in theatre this deeply, I wouldn’t have had this appreciation towards this form of art that pushes our capabilities to become human. This tenderness we have towards each other and towards the world - enough to push us to create things with our bare hands, the urge within us that wishes to tell stories and convey thoughts to others - through our bodies and our words.

to do that, to carry someone into a completely di erent world even for just 80 minutes.

A play is something created by everyone in the production out of their bare hands. It doesn’t lie, because it all happens in front of you. It’s technology, of course, but at the core of it, it’s animal energy. It’s the most human form of art. I don’t think it gets any more beautiful than that.

chance

Being involved in theatre is such a rewarding thing and against the little I have given to it (time, energy, and love), it has given me so much; community, family, safety, self-discovery, and courage. It has pushed me beyond limits that I could ever imagine for myself, facilitating immense growth in me, and given me space to meet the loveliest people. People who I can laugh with, and create things with. Kurt Vonnegut once wrote:

“Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practising an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

My high school theatre teacher once reminded us before our performance that it is such a beautiful thing that theatre is about a once-ina-lifetime chance. The audience will only get to watch us once. The play that we’ve rehearsed for months, they will only watch us once, and they will carry that experience with them forever. She reminded us that it’s an honour for us to be able

A couple of weeks into university, I got in touch with my theatre teacher again. She told me that theatre will always “find you and take care of you and love you just as much back”, and that resonates with me so deeply. No matter where you are in the theatre scene; directing, producing, acting, doing tech, or even just in the audience watching, there is a place for you to belong. That is, after all, what makes it so special.

I love the community it builds, there’s nothing in theatre that is done alone

My high school theatre teacher once reminded us before our performance that it is such a beautiful thing that theatre is about a once-in-a-lifetime

The play that we’ve rehearsed for months, they will only watch us once, and they will carry that experience with them forever

TRAVEL

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Becoming a Montrealer

Holly Downes shares her unforgettable experience living in Montreal, Canada for the summer

Montreal has a very special place in my heart. It has reminded me how youthful and vibrant a city can be, how important stepping out your comfort zone is, and how transformative solo travel can be. My past summer was spent living in the hustle and bustle of downtown Montreal for three months, which now seems like a distant dream.

Canada was never on the top of my rather extensive travelling list. It is the second largest country in the world and, in all honesty, it just seemed too overwhelming to plan a trip that covered its most beautiful regions. I had heard stories from my grandmother’s travels and knew that Canada had a stereotype of being a clean and friendly country – only positive things. So, when I was o ered an internship in Montreal, a city in the Quebec province in eastern Canada, it was my mission to see if this stereotype really was true. Spoiler: it is.

Montreal is a French-speaking city and is located on an island in the Saint Lawrence River. Known for its diversity, food, festivals, culture, and art, it is a city that ensures everyone is entertained. I arrived in the peak of summer, which I began to learn, was the ideal time to experience what Montreal can o er.

The major downside of Montreal is that it has gruelling winters. The average temperature is -9 degrees from November to April! Although the city has designed an underground world with large malls, food courts, and connections

to the metro, summer is a time when the landscape of Montreal comes to life.

I learnt this the first day I landed in Montreal. Dazed from an eight-hour flight, I dumped my luggage in my room. The first time I stepped onto the street, the experience was overwhelming. The streets were lined with large stages blasting music, food trucks, people laughing and dancing, and firework displays left, right, and centre. And that is when I realised that my flight coincided with Canada Day – the largest national bank holiday in Canada. I thought this dream-like street scene was only a one-o .

Every evening was the same: loud music, packed bars, and firework displays on random Wednesday evenings. I was lucky enough to have a view of downtown Montreal and I would sit for hours people-watching, listening to the music playing along the streets, and admiring the fireworks. Everyone had this energy and zest for life that was eye-opening. They looked like they were having the time of their lives, and I was determined to have this carefree, fun lifestyle in Montreal during summer. The following three months were what I can only describe in one simple, yet powerful word: freedom.

There truly never was a dull moment

In my first week, I went on a spontaneous trip to Quebec City with two girls that would become my closest friends in Montreal. Many nights were spent in the streets of Plateau Mont-Royal, a district well-known for its trendy bars and restaurants. I went to numerous concerts, attended Montreal’s famous festival, Osheaga Festival, and spent many long summer evenings hanging out with friends overlooking the city in Mont Royal Parc, or on the beach in Parc Jean-Drapeau. There truly never was a dull moment.

I soon realised that each district has a different personality. Montreal Old Town is lined with historic buildings, cobbled paths, and rooftop bars. It resembles an old French town, overlooking Saint Lawrence River and packed with street entertainment and every food cuisine imaginable at night.

Then there’s Le Plateau – a district where all the trendy kids hangout. It has unique vintage shops, bookstores, jewellery shops, and is just an interesting place to mooch around. And there’s so many more. Little Italy, the land of pizza and pasta; Gay Village, the epicentre of amazing night outs; Quartier Des Spectacles, where all the amazing performances take place.

Montreal is so compact that it only takes 30 minutes at most to travel from one side to the other. The metro system truly puts the London Underground to shame: it is e cient, clean, and cheap. A monthly student card is $56, which is around £34, and allows you to make as many trips as your heart desires. Every Sunday central metro stations have free travel and the first Sunday of every month all museums have free entry. Montreal has really thought of everything to make the city liveable and enjoyable.

Although I can only speak of my experience in warm temperatures, for what it’s worth, Montreal is an unforgettable place that I could write about forever. What really made it for me was the people: the stereotype that Canadians are friendly is true. Canadians will talk to each other on the metro, which was a major culture shock for the MYOB Londoner I have grown up to be.

It is clear that the government cares about the people, the environment (they have vehicles designed to water plants!) and has personalised every detail of the city. Montreal truly is a special place that proves the success of thoughtful schemes, and I cannot wait to return.

Little Italy, Montreal

Osheaga Festival, Parc Jean-Drapeau

books@palatinate.org.uk

New Year, new reads

It’s already that time again: the New Year. Which means parties, ambitious resolutions, and of course, preparing for another year of great books. The start of the year is always a good time to stock up your TBR with a huge list of promising new books and then ultimately fail to read all of them – but that’s just a part of the fun and spirit of the New Year!

Read on for recommendations from our contributors: Ella Blake, Ruhee Parelkar and Annie Pickup.

Coming this May, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, who has written historical fantasy books such as The Poppy War trilogy and Babel, delves into a di erent direction. A contemporary thriller, it promises a similar unflinching exploration of racism and corrupt characters, by tackling cultural appropriation in the publishing industry. It centres around a white author who has ‘remodelled’ themselves as Asian-American to plagiarise an envied author’s unfinished book. This book is geared to be both gripping and insightful.

From the author of the Daevabad trilogy – a mesmerising blend of political intrigue, magical combat and very complicated relationships – comes a new book rooted in the fantasy realm. This new release, coming out in March, sounds no less exciting as we follow a retired pirate embarking on one last adventure to retrieve a former crewman’s kidnapped daughter, but the job might not be as simple as that…

For a summer read, look no further than Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s July release, Silver Nitrate. The author is well-known for Mexican Gothic, a claustrophobic horror novel, but she has written in a range of genres. Her new book promises more horror though, set in 90s Mexico City and, in her own words, following “a sound editor and

a former soap opera star as they stumble onto an occultist who made a curious film decades before.”

If you want a YA book, Unseelie by debut author Ivelisse Housman is releasing right at the start of the year (3 January). It is a fantasy centred around Seelie, a changeling struggling to control her magic, and Isolde, her human sister. They plan a heist to get rich quick, but it doesn’t go quite as planned and turns into a longer adventure. On top of that, the main character is autistic and written by an autistic author which is great to see represented more in YA and fantasy.

The first novel from Emma Cline since her groundbreaking debut, The Girls, The Guest follows a week in the life of Alex, a pathological liar and talented grifter, spent in a wealthy neighbourhood after she finds herself suddenly homeless. This muchanticipated read is expected to be released in May 2023.

Full of university drama, delicious twists and toxic friendships

A thriller set in Edinburgh and perfect for your dark academia fix, this debut by Heather Darwent is set to release in January. The novel follows Clare, who meets Tabitha at university and quickly becomes entangled with the latter’s elite circle of friends. Friendship slowly turns into obsession and Clare finds herself stuck in a dangerous position. Full of university drama, delicious twists and toxic friendships, this book is exactly what you need when you’re craving a darker read.

Image credit: Anna Kuptsova

Indigo contributors share their most aniticipated 2023 releases

They plan a heist to get rich quick, but it doesn’t go as planned

Stylised as the translation of an ancient epic, Rushdie’s newest venture promises fantasy, fable, magic and myths. The novel relates the story of Pampa Kampana, who becomes a vessel for goddess Parvati and is pivotal in the rise of the city Bisnaga. As the fates of Pampa Kampana and Bisnaga intertwine, Rushdie writes about the girl’s vision to ensure women’s agency in a patriarchal world. An enthralling saga, Victory City is out in February!

BOOKS

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Another YA but in the horror genre, February release She is a Haunting is Trang Thanh Tran’s debut book. It follows Jade Nguyen, a bisexual Vietnamese-American girl visiting her father in Vietnam and staying in a haunted house. It discusses colonialism and generational trauma, as well as featuring family dynamics and a sapphic romance, which is everything you would want in a horror novel.

Finally, Family Lore is Elizabeth Acevedo’s first adult book. It is a contemporary novel about a DominicanAmerican family, focusing on the women within it in this multi-generational story. It follows these women’s perspectives in the days before a living wake, organised by one of the family members who can predict the day that someone will die. Although this sounds mysterious and exciting, you’ll have to wait a while to find out more as it doesn’t come out until August!

Reading & Resolutions

The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor is the perfect book for those confused about their direction in life. The latest release from Taylor (a 2021 Booker Prize finalist), The Late Americans weaves together the lives of a group of friends and lovers in their twenties as their dynamic is tested through sex and arguments. If you’re interested in complex characters, consider picking up this book in May.

I spent a lot of 2022 wishing I had read more and regretting how little time I gave to something that used to be one of my favourite past times. Most of my reading was focused on my course and whenevr I did get free time, I found it a lot easier to put on a TV show and let my mind just drift away.

In 2023, I want to actively make time to read every single day. Doesn’t matter if it’s just twenty minutes. I’m also sick of tracking my reading meticulously and trying to stick to books that I don’t really enjoy just because they seem more complex. This year it’s all about freedom and reading whatever I want; it’s about finally mending my relationship with books.

Image credit: Anna Kuptsova

Rushdie’s newest venture promises fantasy, fable, magic and myths

Editor’s Thoughts

visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk

Hyperrealism: when art prods and provokes

Margot McDonald examines the moral limitations of contemporary art

On 25th November 2022, the Metropolitan Police broke into the Laz Emporium gallery in Soho, London, after receiving a distressed emergency call. According to the caller, a woman had fallen unconscious at a table and had been sat with her head lurched forward, motionless for two hours in the closed gallery. Upon their forced entry, two o cers bewilderingly viewed the woman, a listless posed figure, and suspected she had su ered heart failure or an overdose.

However, the figure portrayed in this sculptural installation is labelled Kristina (2022), conceived by American contemporary artist Mark Jenkins. Made with packing tape and foam filler, dressed in clothing, Kristina is visible from the gallery window and has a price tag of £18,000. Among other contemporary artworks and interior design pieces in the room, the slumped figure appeared dead as a doornail, anecdotally inspired by one of Jenkins’ sisters, who had once fallen face first into a bowl of soup.

The predicted stylistic outbreak has occured

This incident fundamentally shook London’s contemporary art scene. ArtNet, the first media source to cover the story, reported that the police were just as flummoxed as the gallery owner themselves – only for di erent reasons. Knowing that Kristina was an artwork, the owner’s view of events contrasted with that of the police o cers’ who had merely fulfilled their duty by responding to the call, falling into the ploy of Jenkins’ hyper-realistic trap. One might ask “who called the police?”, but the question of context is beside the point.

Sources say the Metropolitan Police were annoyed at being called out for nothing, and that Jenkins took his installation too far. An aftermath of predictable complaints about installations’ problematic nature swiftly ensued. Still confused? Imagine your reaction if similarly confronted; should how, what and why not be your first questions? Consider yourself fortunate enough to understand the theory behind the genre.

Kristina begs two critical questions - when does art go too far? Is it when it disturbs emergency

services essential to the public? Or is it when it provokes a viewer to question one’s belief of what an artwork is?

Observing Kristina’s blunt hyperrealism, the provocation which ensued afterwards was the question of can art ever be too realistic? Let us wind back the clock. How must Gustave Courbet’s acolytes have felt when the life-sized A Burial at Ornans (1849-50) was first exhibited in Paris in 1850 to an audience of rowdy, fervent academics? Fear, or maybe joy? More likely just the tangible feeling of excitement and

rule-breaking movement of academic art, Impressionism, initiated introspection of what art could do through subject matter and formal characteristics. Its conclusion today nonetheless heralds a thrilling new era where re-evaluation of ‘greatness’ in art begins.

Looking beyond the endless cycle of art fairs and Biennales tending to place art in the background and activism, albeit important, at the forefront, we find budding artists’ collectives compellingly creating personal or collaborative universes. The predicted “stylistic outbreak” has occurred, and it is up to artists to project their rejuvenated voices, pushing past elitism and the impossible Greenbergian theory of art for art’s sake.

American multimedia artist Shayna Klee, also known as Purple Palace, follows the ethos that just ‘taking up space is making bad art’ - rather, installations should be filled with vulnerability, colour, and imperviousness. In a recent YouTube video, she sings that small artists are ‘sick of [the] systems trying to keep us small’ and that ‘t should be inclusive and smart, but it’s racist, sexist, and elitist. F*** the art world’.

provocation, as Kristina managed to achieve. Installation art’s versatility has undoubtedly broadened the possibilities of what art can be, giving hyperrealism and its provocative nature a space to grow. Art cajoles us into questioning the mere concept of reality, as Jenkins intended to do and succeeded in doing so.

Can art ever be too realistic?

One could argue that the future of art is bleak – that contemporary art is too unpredictable, that no protocol exists for it. Other critics, however, have a more positive perspective. Arthur Danto pointed out in his pivotal philosophical essay, ‘The End of Art?’ (1986), that we have thankfully reached the end of a ‘climax’ in art, allowing for a new beginning. The first

Art in all its genres responds to what we, socially, politically, and morally, are all experiencing and have experienced in the 21st century: the COVID-19 pandemic, war, inflation, increasing poverty, immigration crises, a growing sense of identity loss in a globalised world, and so much more. It responds to how we, as individuals, are experiencing this collective traumata. The attention that Kristina (2022) has garnered in recent art media points to what art is today.

Image credit: Anna Kuptsova

Installations should be filled with vulnerability, colour, and imperviousness

Politics and TV: a load of omnishambles

Since the time of the Roman Republic, politics has always been a fickle subject. For a system designed to help those worse o , governments have more often than not devolved into a sandpit of squabbling toddlers screaming at each other and only out for their own. Such a cesspool is often translated into film or television in a way that presents it as more of a game of minds than it actually is. Contrary to the positive themes espoused by programmes such as The West Wing, the vision of an ideal government where political leaders genuinely put the needs of their people before their own ambitions is exactly that: nothing more than a vision. Yet for all this misrepresentation, nothing comes closer to depicting the sheer insanity of modern politics than Armando Iannucci’s flawless black comedy The Thick of It

Although written and initially produced as a satirisation of the then-crumbling New Labour government, The Thick of It has proven to be a timeless capsule accurately portraying the British government’s inner workings, boasting characters and dialogue that Whitehall insiders have confessed is concerningly accurate. The show is centred around DOSAC, the fictional Department of Social A airs and Citizenship, and its exceptionally incompetent ministers and aides who, upon approaching any political crossroad, usually opt for the solution that causes the most public embarrassment and broken egos.

Many have deemed it a successor of sorts to 80s sitcom Yes Minister, a similar critique on the imbecilic nature of politics. Yet whilst Yes Minister prefers to toe the line, The Thick of It is uncompromising in its ruthless portrayal of how government work can render humans into mere shells of their former selves. For instance, Peter Capaldi’s iconic role as foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcom Tucker has been rightly acclaimed as one of the funniest comedy characters in recent history, often delving into some of the most damning insults known to man. Between all the brutal put-downs, however, as the series develops a form of pathos emerges within Tucker’s character. His rants, though impressive, give way to the idea that a

job as stressful as his, constantly covering up every mistake committed within government, has caused him to abandon his sense of self. Despite his talk of moral righteousness, Tucker is forced time-and-time again to surrender all his personal values for the sake of covering up the numerous misdeeds of the show’s lead characters. He may have quite the impressive vocabulary, but once the show starts deconstructing his character, he comes across as enduring a surprisingly pathetic existence.

Throughout all this, the show’s strongest point is its subtle undercurrent of horror that these horribly out-of-touch, self-serving people are the ones who hold the ultimate responsibility of running the country. In this universe, we don’t have a bumbling yet wellmeaning prime minister like Hugh Grant that we can all root for. Instead, our lives seem to be in the hands of these cowardly government figures who will backstab each other at any opportunity and implement policy U-turns on a whim. The very first episode focuses on the lead minister trying to devise an alternate policy (after his initial idea is shot down on

his way to a press conference), with a later special involving a leadership crisis where one potential candidate is completely dismissed by his colleagues on the grounds that he apparently has a small head. With that in mind, every single aspect of Liz Truss’ 45-day premiership sounds like an Iannucci punchline, right down to the infamous lettuce. It seems that recently, the line between what constitutes reality or fiction has become increasingly blurred. Even larger-scale subjects such as outright war aren’t untouchable; the spin-o film In the Loop provides a satirical critique of the dubious intentions behind the Iraq War. Most hardhitting is a scene in which James Gandolfini’s character attempts to calculate the number of troops needed for the war in a little girl’s room, using a toy calculator. It’s equal parts hilarious and chilling, and undoubtedly political satire at its greatest.

After somehow going through a year with three prime ministers, The Thick of It has never been more relevant in exposing the sheer farcical nature of politics. While Sky can go ahead and cast Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson in an ultra-serious miniseries, we all know just how much of a bu oonish state the government was actually in during lockdown, poor eyesight and all. Therein lies the beauty of The Thick of It. Come for the brutal insults, stay for some of the most harshly realistic pieces of political commentary around.

Nicholas Lemieux discusses why ‘The Thick of It’ is more relevant than ever

‘The Thick of It’ has never been more relevant in exposing the sheer farcical nature of politics

Every single aspect of Liz Truss’ 45-day premiership sounds like an Iannucci punchline

indigo.interview@palatinate.org.uk

Meet Palatinate and Indigo’s Editors

We start our conversation by chatting with Nicole Wu, Palatinate’s Editor-in-Chief and an English Literature student.

Q. What made you want to get involved with Palatinate?

Honestly, I was bored during my first year in the pandemic – I saw the vacancy for Social Media O cer and found my position on the paper. Thinking back I’m so incredibly glad I found this paper – it was a life-saver during those lonely times stuck at home. I’ve made some of my best friends and developed hugely through Palatinate. I will always be grateful for all this paper has given me and am currently doing my best to return the favour.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about your position?

It’s the 75th anniversary in March! We’re looking to host a large event and invite people from all walks of life that have been involved in the paper. We also have a special 75th anniversary print edition planned that will hopefully do justice to the incredible history of this paper that we all love.

Q. Do you have a favourite journalist or piece of journalism that inspires you?

I am amazed by the work of Ellie Flynn, an investigative journalist who specialises in documentary style pieces that expose societal issues. Her style is straight-forward and absolutely explicit: she cuts through the subjectivity of di cult topics which I think is really important in a new digital age of polarised opinion and misinformation.

Next, we spoke to Editor-in-Chief Daniel Hodgson, a Politics student from Van Mildert.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about your position?

I am very excited already to have gotten to work as Editor-inChief and I would say I am most excited about the variety of jobs within the role. As for a specific event, I am very much looking forward to the newspaper’s 75th anniversary celebrations at the end of the term.

Q. How would you describe the role of Palatinate?

Undoubtedly the two most important aspects of Palatinate are to inform and entertain the university community. It is vital that we expose wrongdoing and hold those in power to account, but at the same time, we are a paper of many sections, and we also exist to put a smile on people’s faces.

Q. What is the most interesting thing you have written or looked into whilst writing for Palatinate?

I’ve had the privilege of writing dozens of news articles during my time on the paper, yet the most interesting thing I’ve done is probably a politics piece. I’ve written a few of these but my favourite one was a deep dive into the French parliamentary elections of June 2022. This was largely because it gave me an opportunity to write something I was passionate about: politics. I hope that all those who contribute and edit sections of the paper share in this feeling of excitement and will continue to write about topics that they are passionate about throughout 2023.

We then chatted to Indigo Editor Cameron Beech, an English Literature student who previously held the role of Visual Arts Editor.

Q. What first made you want to get involved with Palatinate?

I was really keen to learn the behind the scenes of how a newspaper functioned day to day. I was very much interested in writing for the paper, but I was equally excited to see how articles are edited and uploaded to a website, how a printed newspaper comes to be, and how articles are organised. I absolutely love my day to day with the newspaper and cannot recommend it enough!

Q. How has your time as an editor at Palatinate impacted you?

My time with the newspaper has definitely boosted my confidence and self-assurance. When writing and editing articles, especially for print, there is no room for doubt. You have to be confident in what you’re submitting, and I found as time went on that my initial sense of self-doubt gradually faded away. Now I write and edit articles, content calls, print editions with full confidence.

Q. How would you describe the role of Palatinate and its value to the university’s community?

As one of the Indigo Editors, I think its only right I discuss Indigo’s role! Indigo provides students with a creative outlet to explore interests away from their academic studies. It can provide a certain level of escapism away from academia and essay deadlines, as what’s being written and published isn’t being marked or critiqued.

Finally, we spoke with Indigo Editor Charlotte Grimwade, a History student at Grey.

Q. What made you want to get involved with Palatinate?

I got involved with Palatinate back when I was a fresher. I loved writing at school and the paper seemed like a great opportunity to keep that up whilst meeting some interesting new people!

Q. What are you most looking forward to about your new position?

Working with a lovely and very creative group of editors. It’s going to be super exciting to see the direction Indigo takes this term and I’m really looking forward to co-running the magazine.

Q. What is the most interesting thing you have written for Palatinate?

In November, the press team behind the documentary Hong Kong: City On Fire reached out to me with information about the film. I wrote a Film & TV and News piece about the screening, which was super interesting. Aside from that, I’ve written some pretty fun reviews during my time at Film & TV – my favourite to write was probably one about the final season of ‘Line of Duty’.

Q. Do you have a favourite journalist or piece of journalism that inspires you?

There are so many! I spend way too much time on journo Twitter (for better or for worse), but it does mean that I discover plenty of very cool arts writers. Some of my favourites include Iana Murray, Leila Latif and Anna Bogutskaya.

Image credit (from left): Nicole Wu, Daniel Hodgson, Cameron Beech & Charlotte Grimwade

Interview Editor, Emilia Williams, speaks to the team behind Palatinate and Indigo

MUSIC

If music be the food of love, swipe on...

between music taste and dating apps

New year, perhaps not so new dating habits? The Sunday after the first of January has come to be colloquially known as ‘dating Sunday’ with more people using Tinder than on any other day of the year. As someone who has already swiped left on my new year’s resolution to give up dating apps, I have ended up redownloading and making a new account which has included adding an ‘anthem’. Connecting to Spotify has been a new dating app frontier for me and has left me wondering about the relationship between a persons’ music taste and their love life.

In 2023 I somehow doubt that wooing with mixtapes is a typical stage in courtship, however music is no less relevant in forming new connections. Whether you are listening to the tunes born on DJ Dave B’s decks in Jimmies, a coral concert in the Cathedral or, or to SoundCloud rappers on a tinny speaker in a student kitchen; music plays a central role in our lives and often sparks conversation. Music taste has been cited as the most common first date conversation topic (shockingly more popular than opinions on Kinder Bueno as seen on PalatiDates) and its relevance to the so called ‘talking stage’ on dating apps is no less important.

Music taste has been cited as the most common first date conversation topic

Tinder added the option of an ‘anthem’ selection to its users in 2016 allowing people to connect to Spotify showcasing music taste on their profiles. According to the app, 40% of members aged 18-25 have an anthem. Bumble also offers to display recently listened to artists and gives the option to send

playlists after a survey of its users found that 59% of people believe music to be the most romantic way to express feelings. There is even a dating app launched specifically to match people by music taste called POM that advertises itself with the tagline ‘meet through music’.

Tinder’s ‘dating wrapped’ of 2022 revealed the top 10 dating anthems in the UK:

1. Unholy (feat. Kim Petras) – Sam Smith, Kim Petras

2. Bad Habit – Steve Lacy

3. I’m Good (Blue) – David Guetta, Bebe Rexha

4. 505 – Arctic Monkeys

5. No Role Modelz – J. Cole

6. Jimmy Crooks (feat. 21 Savage) – Drake, 21 Savage

7. Anti-Hero - Taylor Swift

8. Super Freaky Girl – Nicki Minaj 9. Die for You – The Weekend 10. As it Was – Harry Styles

An eclectic mix of pop, R&B, rap, and indie songs seem to be giving hints about users’ intentions in their profiles. Before its release, Unholy (the number one most added track), was described by Sam Smith as their entrance into thier ‘villain era’ and as thier ‘time to get sexy’. Steve Lacy’s Bad Habit of closeting his feelings is described in the song amongst wistful guitar ri s in the second most popular anthem. Besides the clear messaging in their titles and the sensual themes in their lyrics, these songs have sparked a buzz online as most of them are ‘TikTok viral’. It would seem that they are also causing users to interact on Tinder - profiles featuring an anthem receive 10% more matches.

Even if anthem clad profiles are leading to an increase in matches, this does not necessarily mean that the users behind them are becoming more lucky in love and the top ten most used tinder anthems aren’t necessarily the songs that connected the most lovebirds. Harry Styles’ As It Was was the most streamed song of 2022 but only number ten on the anthem list.

heavily on Taylor Swift, so called ‘soft-boi’ indie music along with an impressive showing by Pitbull! Personally, I do not think that my playlist is going to be shaped by the music I’ve seen displayed on dating app profiles, even if it could potentially make me more attractive on tinder. A research study historically found that among heterosexual participants a love of country music would ‘diminish attraction in respondents of both genders’ and I am not ready to give up Kacey Musgraves for the sake of straight boys.

Music can be an amazing way to bond with others and many of my relationships (whether platonic or romantic) have been strengthened by sharing songs, albums and playlists. Having music taste in common with others has been found to make people more attractive to each other. I put my friend’s thumbs to work swiping on Tinder in Durham and we found students’ profiles that listed anthems were relying

Profiles featuring an anthem receive 10% more matches

My tinder anthem You Sexy Thing (the Zella Day cover version) will remain on my profile even though I am unsure whether dating apps are the platform I would most like to be sharing music on. I am excited for new music discoveries this year but think that I will be enjoying these with friends rather than with my matches!

Image credit: Wesley Tingey via Unsplash

We found students’ profiles that listed anthems relied heavily on Taylor Swift

Music editor, Izzy Harris, questions the relationship

food@palatinate.org.uk

The dangers of dieting

Emily Doughty discusses concerns with the ‘new year, new me’ mindset

Content Warning: Discussions of harmful dieting and eating disorders

New Year is seen by many as the time to recreate yourself. Whether it’s by learning another language, finally going on that holiday you have always wanted to go on or trying to finish that book that has been living on your bookshelf for years, it’s the chimes of Big Ben that tell people it’s time to make a lifestyle change.

There is no group of people this applies to more than for the estimated 20 million people in the UK who will be trying to achieve their perfect summer body by going on a diet and losing weight.

This group sees New Year as a way of becoming healthy and achieving their ‘perfect body’ by starting to take part in regular exercise, by eating healthy or a mixture of both.

This is something that is recognised by both the gym and food industries. Gyms often target memberships at this group, lowering prices after New Year or making new deals to lure people into signing for a gym membership with the promise of it being worth their money.

However, the mindset of ‘new year, new me’ is deeply harmful and damaging. While it is done successfully and safely by many, the unsafe diets that are promoted by this culture are harmful for many of those who do it.

The mindset of “new year, new me” is deeply harmful and damaging

This impact has been furthered by the rise of unsafe diets being promoted online. Open one social media app, be that TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram, and it is likely you will be bombarded by young,

skinny and attractive individuals trying to sell exercise videos and diets to anyone who will watch their five-minute videos.

By using themselves as living examples, these ‘influencers’ push their lifestyles and diets as a one way fits all path to achieving what they think their viewers will want.

However the diets they are promoting are often not grounded in any sense of reality for the average watcher and lack a warning on the impact they could have on your health. Though many dieticians on social media, especially on TikTok, are working to dispel the myths surrounding dieting, this has not worked.

Despite the work of these individuals, studies have found that TikTok is promoting unhealthy diet culture, especially among teens and young people. This is advertising excessive dieting and calorie cutting which has been seen to increase eating disorders.

It is not only so cial media that promotes these dangerous diets, and they are not the only source of the problem.

Breakfast show This Morning has continually been criticised for the diets it promotes such as only consuming 800 calories a day for rapid weight loss (the recommended healthy amount is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men).

Society seemingly recognises the dangers of dieting in one breath, but every year seems to take

the fireworks of New Year as permission to promote diets and lifestyle changes that are often rooted in unfounded science and dangerous ideas.

helping push a mindset that leads to disorders with some of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder.

If you want to start taking steps to become healthy, there are safe ways to go about it. Going to the gym and making healthy life choices, even if prompted by New Year, are a great way to make sure you live longer and with less health complications.

This is despite the rise in knowledge of the harms that unhealthy dieting can have on mental health. Eating disorders are becoming more widespread, with an estimated 3.4 million people impacted by them. By promoting the idea of a ‘new year, new me’ mindset without keeping in mind the harmful impact that this has, we are unwittingly

However, it is important to recognise what mindset you are basing this from and be aware that the diet you see online may not be the best one for you, even if it initially looked convincing. It is vital to recognise the importance of your mental health – never think you have to prioritise your physical health over it.

Eating disorders are becoming more widespread, with an estimated 3.4 million people impacted by them

It is vital to recognise the importance of your mental health

style@palatinate.org.uk

Not a pair of flares in sight: Durham’s style

Style Editors, Agnes Shu and Caitlin Ball, research what students are wearing on-campus

Durham fashion is certainly known for a lot of things: a good North Face pu er, some worn out Air Forces, a pair of flares, and perhaps at times a lack of originality. While we may not agree that this is always the case, it may be simpler to look to Durham students themselves for some good old market research.

If nothing else, we’ve found that at least Dur ham is (rather surprisingly) sustainable. We talked to five students walking around town to give us a run-down of their outfits.

Ed, a 3rd year at South, is wearing Leather faux jacket (Charity shop in Romsey, £10); Sweater (Fatface, £20); Trousers (Borrowed from his partner, George); High-top burgundy Converse (Online, £60); Busboy hat (Vintage shop in York, £15); Du el (Borrowed from his father) — “Having high-tops are useful because most trousers are slightly too short on me.”

Emi, a 3rd year at St Mary’s, is wearing Leather jacket (Depop, £25); Grey knitted top (Local shop in Tokyo, £5); White shirt (Thrifted Massimo Dutti, £5); Trousers (Zara, £38); Puma x Fenty Creepers (Depop, £20); Denim bag with Japanese illustrations (Local shop in Kyoto) — “I take a lot after Japanese streetwear when I can, and try to incorporate it into my style.”

Madeline, a 2nd year at Hild Bede, is wearing Coat (eBay, £4); Sweater (Borrowed from her mother); Jeans (Borrowed from her housemate); Red suede sneakers (Second-hand Air Forces); Scarf (Borrowed from

father) — “Eight years ago I made a pledge with my mum to stop buying new clothes, and that includes shoes.”

Monty, a 2nd year at St Cuth’s, ing Green jacket (Borrowed from his cousin); Jumper (Charity shop, £15); Tshirt (ASOS, £20); Trousers (Scope, £11); White sneakers (Reebok, £40); Striped scarf (Borrowed from his cousin) — “I just wear whatever’s clean.”

Anjali, a 3rd year at South, Racer vest (Kilo sale); White bandeau top (Stradivarius, £7); Second-hand Ellesse trackies (Vintage shop in Newcastle, £29); Vintage Guess tote bag (Vintage shop, £25); Second-hand Jordan 1s (Depop, £250); Biker sunglasses (TK Maxx, £25) — “Incorporating a statement top into an otherwise casual outfit helps me stay comfortable while elevating the fit.”

Want to be a part of Indigo? Here’s how to get involved!

• Join our contributor groups! Every section of Indigo has their own facebook contributors pages. All you have to do is search Indigo and whatever sections interest you e.g. Indigo Books, Indigo Stage etc. This is where we post weekly content calls and advertise any events connected with the section

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• Email us with your ideas! If you have an idea for an article, we would love to hear them! Each section has its own email account, they can be found at the top of each page of our print edition. Email us with your idea and/ or a written article and we will get back to you! Happy writing!

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