Dwelling on Valentine’s Day

Deputy Indigo Editor, Melissa Rumbold, reflects on how we view love this Valentine’s Day

With the season of love fast approaching, this edition of Indigo has plenty of Valentine’s Day content. Whatever your relationship status this time of year, it’s impossible to avoid the shelves loaded with gifts and the influx of social media posts to come.

In previous years, Valentine’s Day has been a rather funny occasion. From poking fun at the day to celebrating Galentine’s, the day can mean di erent things for everyone. As someone who is celebrating this Valentine’s Day in a relationship, it is certainly a reminder of the love I give and receive each day from my partner.

Valentine’s Day can be the perfect excuse to spend that little bit of extra time with each other

Though it is easy to become caught up in student life, it is important to give ourselves space to breathe, and to enjoy one another’s company during this busy time of year. Whether that means a dinner date, exchanging gifts, or a night in for two, Valentine’s Day can be the perfect excuse to spend that little bit of extra time with each other.

Love comes in many forms

Undeniably, Valentine’s Day can often bring with it a great deal of pressure as couples may feel obliged to make the day special and memorable. I know I have especially high expectations thanks to the media and the commercialisation of the day, which can be di cult to live up to given the costof-living crisis. This year more than ever, it is vital to keep in mind that love and a ection is at the core of Valentine’s Day. It should not come along with unnecessary pressures or stress – taking a step back to truly appreciate loved ones should be our main priority.

Content

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

Indigo logo: Adeline Zhao

Cover image: Maja Kobylak

Artwork of the week: Isobel Warwick

As well as an opportunity for a date night, this time of year is also a reminder to give thanks to all those who care for us. No matter your plans for this Valentine’s Day, it’s important to remember that love comes in many forms, and that it’s possible to show appreciation and a ection to people beyond romantic partners. Friends, family members, pets, and even oneself can all be the recipients of love and a ection on Valentine’s Day. By focusing on the love that exists in our lives, the occasion can be turned from an arguably stressful day into one that is filled with joy and positivity.

Whatever you’re feeling this Valentine’s Day, this edition of Indigo has something for everyone

In this edition of Indigo, the theme of Valentine’s Day and love is certainly prominent, with some fantastic pieces from our talented writers you’ll be sure to enjoy. On pages 4 and 5, Features collect some thoughts about Valentine’s Day and what is means to their contributers. Meanwhile, Food &Drink look at whether food truly is the way to one’s heart on page 15. However, it’s not all romance and date nights. Film & TV and Music have plenty of content to take your mind o the day as Durham students’ industry favourites are revealed on pages 6 and 7, followed by an interesting discussion on the di erent e ects of climate change by Visual Arts and Travel on pages 9 through to 11. Whatever you’re feeling this Valentine’s Day, this edition of Indigo has something for everyone.

Artwork of the week by Isobel Warwick

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, Rae Rostron, Alice Purves, Jacob Dax Harris, Emilia Williams, Lotte Micklethwaite, Isabella Harris, Tom Harbottle, Millie Adams, Eve Kirman, Elif Karakaya, Caitlin Ball.

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