Platform Magazine - April 2010 by Nottingham Trent Students Union

w w w.p l a t f o r m- o n l i n e .n e t

Apr il 2010

Whip It

Standing masochistically at the top of our film reviews

The Courteeners The Mancunian Kings spread their wings

Digital footprints

Be sure to cover your tracks

I ❤ total strangers

The world of Chatroulette

Style on steroids

Coco Tang’s wacky fairy tale fashion show

The final countdown

Get into voting before it’s too late

WInners and Losers In-depth analysis of what happened at Varsity Rugby and Football

www.platform-online.net Editor-in-Chief Glen Davies

glen.davies@su.ntu.ac.uk

Designer Stephanie Combs

stephanie.combs@su.ntu.ac.uk

Deputy Editor Andrew Trendell

deputy-editor@platform-online.net

Online Editor Aaron Lee

online-editor@platform-online.net

News Editor Fraser Wilson

news@platform-online.net

Community Editor Nik Charity

community@platform-online.net

Music Editor Tom Warmsley

music@platform-online.net

Film Editor Becky Wojturska

film@platform-online.net

Pictures Editor Stefan Ebelewicz

photos@platform-online.net

Arts Editor Alexander Britton

arts@platform-online.net

Fashion Editor Laura Morrison

fashion@platform-online.net

Food & Drink Editor Molly Woodruff

food@platform-online.net

Travel Editor Lucia Miyashita

travel@platform-online.net

Gaming Editor Aaron Lee

gaming@platform-online.net

Health Editor Danielle Almond

health@platform-online.net

Sports Editor James Haigh

sports@platform-online.net

Cover photo by Patrick Taylor

omehow, though I still remain unsure how, an issue has managed to pull itself together over the past month, despite me being on the verge of nervous breakdown from my workload. Frankly, if you’re not yet in your final year, I feel like scaring you into the notion that, come such a time, you’ll be suffering a degree of sleep deprivation that will result in hallucinations of dancing lions and singing citrus fruits.

Editor’s Letter

On that note, the current situation on legal drugs is a very delicate one. Many people will be of the opinion that any mention of their use and any debate as to their positive or negative impact is inappropriate, whilst those who encourage such talk are dangerously irresponsible. So that’s exactly what we’ve got. Specifically, we’re talking about study drugs, which students increasingly turn to at hectic times like exam periods. I for one recognise the temptation to take something which will keep you at peak performance throughout the night which isn’t Viagra – although whatever was wrong with a cup of Nescafé is beyond me. Perhaps because, whilst coffee before sex is odd, taking an erectile dysfunction cure before getting down and dirty with some Harvard referencing really does put you up there with the window lickers. Lurking elsewhere in this issue, I have a feature on a very curious fashion show which took place last month. Emma and I swanked along to Coco Tang to talk to some students who put on a wonderfully eccentric and escapist display inspired by several fairy tales. We also have many pictures of its Mad Hatter glory, so be sure to check them out. We also have an idea to fatten out your waistbands, throwing caution to the winds and screaming: “Sod the Lent lettuce diet, get together and eat a trough full of happy calories.” In other words, Food and Drink Editor Molly tells us of her flatmates’ Pudding Club style evening. Although fronted as a sophisticated home baking affair inspired by Delia Smith programmes, you can be fairly sure it was a chocolate-faced pig-out. Mmm. So if you are a final year student and, like me, are steadily losing your grip on reality, look at it this way: You can read about losing that grip even more out of desperation with work, going to a show which was set in several consecutive fantasies, and abandoning all your principles of a healthy lifestyle for 2010 by gorging on a big, sugar coma-inducing confectionary-based weakness. If any of our readers aren’t gibbering wrecks by the end of April, I shall have considered my efforts a failure.

Glen Davies Editor-in-Chief

Platform is an independent publication and any views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Nottingham Trent Students Union and its Elected Directors and Officers. Companies advertised in Platform are not necessarily endorsed by Nottingham Trent Students Union. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor.

Contents News

Community

Travel

05 | The Time is Now

24 | Festival goers urged to think

45 | Macau, China

Arts

Health

26 | Chatroulette

48 | Smart Drugs?

08 | Is political passion out of fashion? 09 | Union News & Events

about their electronic footprints

p12

Music 10 | Platform Interview: The Courteeners

p18

28 | Exhibition Reviews

Star City @ Nottingham Contemporary, The Meaning of Style @ New Art Exchange

31 | Book Review

12 | Platform Interview:

Googled: The End of the World as We Know It

14 | Platform Interview: Reverend and the Makers

Photos

16 | Gig & Album Reviews

32 | Varsity Football

& April Album Reviews

Fashion

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip

Polar Bear Club @ The Central, Straight Lines @ Rock City

34 | Editor’s Intro

Film 18 | New Cinema Releases

36 | Fairytale in Wonderland

38 | Top 4 NY Collections

Whip It, Crying With Laughter

40 | Trend: Game Theory

21 | New DVD Releases

41 | Whiteout

Sherlock Holmes, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Glee: Road to Sectionals

23 | Classic Film Review Edward Scissorhands

Food & Drink 42 | Pudding Club 44 | Recipes

p38

50 | Gappers’ Health 51 | Bunions

Gaming 52 | How to get into the Games Industry 54 | Game Reviews

Final Fantasy XIII, God of War III

Sports Cover Story

57 | Varsity Reports Rugby Union & Football

60 | Platform Interview: Gary King 62 | Turmoil at Loftus Road

63 | All that matters now is England

News

The Time is Now | Is Political Passion out of Fashion?

The Time is Now Edited by Fraser Wilson | news@platform-online.net

Students are known for their political activism, but in recent years have become rather apathetic. Fraser Wilson explains why now is more important than ever to make your voice heard >

www.platform-online.net |

News

o many the word ‘student’ is already synonymous with binge drinking and tax dodging. Students get drunk and wee on war memorials, after all. And the fact that a recent survey revealed that a third of students do not know that PM Gordon Brown is the leader of the Labour party, does nothing for the reputation of tomorrow’s leaders.

The survey conducted by student housing provider Unite also found that nearly half of students aren’t bothering to vote in the forthcoming general election. These statistics come despite the fact that for those born after May 1987 – the majority of undergraduate students – this will be the first opportunity to have a say at a national level. While British politicians and their policies may lack the glamour of the 2008 US election in which enigmatic Barack Obama reignited the interest of America’s youth in politics, the importance of socalled ‘student issues’ should be enough to entice students to the polling station. And yet despite rising levels of graduate unemployment and the continuation of the great tuition fee debate, many students are not even registered to vote. The policy makers are, of course, going to make decisions based on what is best for the country but, with an election looming, politicians will also seek to curry favour with potential voters. And if students are taking themselves out of contention by not voting, or even registering to vote, then they are side-lining the issues that matter to them. Politicians will never listen to the views of students until a greater percentage of the six million of them in the UK start to vote. A general election will be held on the 6th of May and the National Union of Students has already launched its Vote for Students cam-

paign in which MPs are encouraged to sign a pledge agreeing to oppose further increases in the price of tuition fees. The pledge has already been signed by more than 200 MPs including former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy and former health secretary Frank Dobson. NUS President, Wes Streeting, believes that the student vote has the potential to make a big impact on the election and, in turn, policy making. “Through this campaign we hope to remind students of the power they hold and remind candidates of the danger of not taking our votes seriously,” he says. “Our message to candidates is simple: vote for us or pay the price.” Mr Streeting believes that acquiring this promise from politicians is the only way to determine their stance on fees as no mainstream political party has made their intentions obvious. The NUS has compiled a list of those who have signed the pledge and the areas in which they are standing which is available at nus.org.uk. “Our list of key student seats should make the point particularly clearly,” says Mr Streeting. “Elections have been won and lost by the votes of students before and it will happen again. It is clear that a rise in fees would

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

be deeply unpopular across the country. “Only 12 per cent of the public think raising fees should even be on the table. Our pledge will highlight to students in a straightforward fashion which candidates plan to defend student interests. In many seats, signing the pledge could be the easiest way that a candidate can get themselves on their way to Westminster. But if they do not vote for us, we will not vote for them.” Closer to home, the Nottingham Trent Students Union has launched a voter registration drive in order to get students voting. James Dixon, Campaigns & Representation Coordinator for the Union, believes that they have identified the reasons why students do not register to vote and have already set about remedying them. “The annual canvass is in August and this isn’t good for students,” he explains. “Over the summer many students are not in their properties or don’t know the full names of people they live with – which is required for group registration. There is a myth that

“Despite rising levels of graduate unemployment and the continuation of the great tuition fee debate, many students are not even registered to vote” you cannot be registered to vote both at home and at uni, but you can.

“Many students want to vote but don’t find out that they can’t until it’s too late to register. Many think they will vote at home but elections are held during exam time when it’s harder to get back.” The Nottingham Trent Students Union is running a two-part campaign. Firstly, up until eleven days before the general election, students are being encouraged to register to vote. And then, once registered, they are simply being encouraged to get to their nearest polling station and actually vote. “We are encouraging students to vote, by informing them of issues that we think affect them as students,” says James. “We can’t say ‘Vote Lib Dem because they have the best policy on Fees’ or ‘Vote Conservative because they have the best policies on X, Y

and Z,’ but we will be highlighting issues of concern.

“There is a perception that all parties are the same, but that’s not true. Even candidates from the same party can differ wildly on issues of importance to students. We will be trying to make as much information available to students with regard to local candidates so they can make informed decisions.” The Union is encouraging students to get registered in a number of innovative ways. They are hoping to make students aware of how and when to register by taking over the first ten minutes of certain lectures, good old fashioned door-to-door calls in student areas, as well as sending out a link to an online registration form via text. So whether you decide to vote for change or continuity, in favour of one party’s policies or in opposition of another, just vote.

Voting FAQs: 1 When’s the election? A parliamentary general election will be held on 6 May 2010, so make sure you’re registered to vote by 20 April 2010 so that wherever you are on election day, you can have your say.

2 Who can vote? You can register to vote in the UK if you are 16 years old or over and either a British citizen or an Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or European Union citizen who is resident in the UK.

3 How do I register? You can follow the steps online at aboutmyvote.co.uk and fill in your registration form. Once you’ve completed your form, you’ll need to print it off, sign it, and send it back to your local electoral registration office. You can get their address and other contact details by entering your postcode on the website. You need to sign your registration form personally because the electoral registration office needs a copy of your signature for voting security reasons. While it’s slightly less convenient than submitting it online, it helps to ensure the security of your registration.

4 Where do I vote? You can vote in local government elections at home and at your term-time address, as long as they are not in the same local government area. But in the case of the forthcoming general election you can only vote once.

5 I need more info... For all the details about voting go to aboutmyvote.co.uk

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News Is political passion out of fashion? By Fraser Wilson

istory is filled with admirable examples of young people playing a vital role in overthrowing corrupt dictatorships and crusading against social injustice, bigotry and exploitation. It was in the swinging sixties that British students first began to take a stand for their beliefs with riots and protests against the Vietnam War. And in the 1970s, young people turned punk in order to rebel against the establishment with the help of new music and fashion. While in the eighties students transformed into class warriors in their fight against the regime of Tory PM Margaret Thatcher. Just twenty years ago Britain’s student population were recognised for their ability to challenge authority and yet today’s equivalent are overlooked as a result of their political apathy.

Broadcaster Jeremy Vine was a student at the University of Durham during the 1980s and can recall the politically charged atmosphere he was swept up in and the contempt in which Thatcher was held. Vine himself fronted a programme for the BBC specifically about music inspired by, or rather in disgust of, Thatcher. “It is extraordinary to imagine it now,” Vine said. “Especially after a period of government – think John Major, Tony Blair – where campuses have not exactly been lit up with protest. But many students in the early-80s spent every waking hour loathing Thatcher. They got up early to hate her. They met for social events to hate her. They marched against her, argued about her, laid into her at every event they put on.” Throughout these tumultuous times in Britain’s recent past, musicians have forged the way with their politicised lyrics. In 1989 Sinead O’Connor wrote ‘Black Boys on Mopeds’ criticising both the police and the Prime Minister (Margaret Thatcher on TV/ Shocked by the deaths that took place in Beijing/ It seems strange that she should be offended/ The same orders are given by her). And similarly, Elvis Costello sings

about dancing on Thatcher’s grave in his track ‘Tramp the Dirt Down.’ When asked if he meant it, he replied: “You bet. She’s a war criminal.” In contrast, a poll by Ipsos Mori found that less than half of today’s young people felt they had sufficient knowledge about political issues, while just over 50% of those polled said that they were of any interest. Another study, by the National Foundation for Educational Research found that of 90,000 14-yearolds living in 28 different countries, English teens have less understanding of democratic processes than their peers in other countries. There is no single reason for this change in student priorities. Last year, however, the leader of the British National Party,

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Nick Griffin, managed to momentarily reinvigorate political passion in Britain’s youth through his attempt to bring his right-wing views into the mainstream via on the BBC’s Question Time. This incident shows that passion, rebellion and idealism remain within the hearts of at least some of today’s students. Indeed, wartime PM Winston Churchill is reported to have said that ‘if you’re not a liberal at twenty, you have no heart, and if you’re not a conservative at forty, you have no brain.’ This perhaps eludes to the fact that tolerance, liberation and idealism traditionally resonate from the younger generation. If, however, the younger generation of 2010 is immovably apathetic, it remains to be seen who – if anyone – will challenge the norms of British society in years to come.

Union News & Events

Care Leavers Can you answer yes to these questions? • Up to the age of 16 or 18, did someone who was not your parent or a family member with guardianship responsibilities look after you? • Did they have some form of legal responsibility for you until this age? If so then you will be classed as a Care Leaver. A Care Leaver is someone who up to the ages of either sixteen or eighteen was looked after by their Local Authority, whether this was only for a week or a longer period. No matter if this was in a foster placement, children’s home or kinship care with other family members. The numbers of Care Leavers accessing Higher Education is around 1% annually, which is substantial given that annually there are 60,000 children and young people looked after nationally. Some don’t access higher education, due to the difficulties they face. Some of these can include a lack of encouragement and support from both school and others. Lack of financial support and location issues for your course can also have an impact. This can be because you lose a support base and, if you have children, it may affect where you choose to study. Compared to most young people, Care Leavers have to support themselves independently from the age of sixteen in most cases. Not all these issues need be a problem as support is out there. I am the Care Leavers officer for the Student Union and yes, I come from a care background. If you too come from a similar background, regardless of age or how long ago you left care, then this survey is for you to fill in. If you can help by filling in these questions and giving your issues and opinions then it may help the university change how they support Care Leavers.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2DDT93T Please can you give as much detail in your answers as possible, as the more information there is the more likely it will be to cause a change.

FREE Stride Training & Development Sessions on offer in April: Sessions @ City Campus: Boosting Your Potential Programme: • Money Matters - Monday 19th April, 6-8pm • Time Management - Tuesday 20th April, 6-8pm • Essay Writing & Referencing - Wednesday 21st April, 6-8pm • Perfect Presentations - Thursday 22nd April, 6-8pm • Handling Stress - Monday 26th April, 6-8pm • Revision Skills - Tuesday 27th April, 6-8pm • Exam Techniques - Wednesday 28th April, 6-8pm • Building Your CV - Thursday 29th April, 6-8pm

For more info and to book a place go to: www.trentstudents.org/stride

NTSU Entertainments this month: Climax @ City - Every Saturday during term time (9:30pm) Double Vision @ Clifton - Every Friday during term time (9:30pm) Assault @ The Pulse – Fortnightly Fridays during term time (9:30pm) ClubNME @ The Pulse – Fortnightly Fridays during term time (8pm)

See www.trentstudents.org for more info

If anyone wants to contact me further then email me at n0216347@ntu.ac.uk Fiona Mc Farlane, NTSU Care Leavers Officer

www.platform-online.net |

Music

Interview:

The Courteeners Having charmed the world with their debut album, Liam Fray of The Courteeners has always toed a fine line between poetic Mancunian swagger and cocky arrogance. As the band return with second album ‘Falcon’, Liam tells Andrew Trendell that the band are always upping their game and still have a lot to prove… [Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett]

iam Fray is too often misunderstood. Often in the press his shameless self-assurance has been mistaken for egotism. Like so many Mancunian musical giants before him, he was born with a confident swagger – but as Fray is keen to stress, Manc bands always provide the goods.

“I miss the city I love, but I’ve been having an affair,” confesses Liam Fray as he swoons on new album track ‘The Opener.’ It seems that you can take the boy out of Manchester, but you can’t take Manchester out of the boy. “That song is very much a love song to Manchester,” admits Fray, “I think it runs through the veins.” Indeed, love for The Courteeners has been spread around the world, but has globetrotting changed the band’s outlook on music?

Soar Like A Falcon

“Going around the world changes your outlook on everything, I suppose. It makes you appreciate the smaller things in life.”

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Liam says that the spirit of his hometown is what drives its residents to excel. “I love the creativity that comes out of Manchester, I don’t know whether that comes out of being second cousin to London – I think we have something to prove as Manchunians, we don’t take any nonsense. “I’ll always call Manchester home but you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do and you have to move with the times.” No one else understands this more than Manchester’s most famous export –

Morrissey. The Mozfather not only put the M in Manchester, but has since found solace in LA and Paris. Last year, Morrissey gave a glowing recommendation of The Courteeners, recognizing them as the cream of the British indie crop. Liam says: “We did a tour of America with Morrissey for two months. That was amazing.” He adds: “At first we were all a bit amazed, then after a while you think ‘why shouldn’t he like us? We’re a good band and he’s got good taste!’ I hold him in very, very high regard and so to have someone that you think so much of to come and say very positive things about your band and personally invite you on tour in a place that is notoriously hard to break was just incredible.” With great success comes great change and quite a lot has happened to The Courteeners in the past few years. “I’m not the same person I was four years ago, but then I doubt anyone is – everyone changes and grows.” So if so much has changed, what was the inspiration behind the new record? “Life in general – me being a nosey bugger, looking through people’s keyholes to see what’s going on,” says Liam, “it’s quite a personal album because I’m quite a personal and private person. I find it quite easy to write down what I’m feeling but I find it quite difficult to talk about it.” Liam’s life has been changed for the better in these past few years, and instead of struggling with ‘that difficult second album’ the band let their optimism shine through when smoothing over the rough edges. “The lyrics are there for people to see but there’s definitely a positivity running through this record that wasn’t on St Jude. The first record sounded very raw, whereas ‘Falcon’ is more rounded and I feel like we’re fulfilling our potential.”

As the band fill their own shoes, the second album definitely has a much bigger sound, with a greater sense of space and atmosphere. Was this intentional? “Honestly, I’m not just saying this because I know everyone may think it was a conscious decision, which makes me sound like a right tw*t. We didn’t sit down and think, ‘alright how can we make this album much better than the first one?’ – we just went for it.” As the band evolved and tried new things, Liam says they didn’t concern themselves too much with the consequences, as good music speaks for itself. “I’ve always written songs for myself anyway, I don’t give a f*ck if people are going to like it or not because I don’t think people are daft, I think good songs will always come through. You need to try new things or you’ll go insane. You can’t so the same thing for 40 years can you?” No you can’t, because then you’d be Snow Patrol wouldn’t you? “Mate, that is definitely what you would be!” Joking aside, Liam sees his job as very simple: to make interesting music and make it worthwhile. As The Courteeners strive to push themselves, Liam says that fans expecting a repeat of their debut may be left disappointed but should be patient. Liam says: “I write songs, that’s my job, for want of a better phrase. It might take people a few listens to ‘get’ the record. I think a lot of people may be expecting St Jude part 2 but people don’t really want to hear that. “I think that people would get pretty bored pretty quickly if you made a second record that sounded exactly like the first. A lot of people do that though, don’t they? It gets boring because it is boring.” As the band spread their wings, Liam looks to the sky for the future. “If we can be one of those few bands that want to try something new then that can only be a good thing. Onwards and upwards as the old saying goes.”

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Music

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Interview: Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip ‘Thou shalt not make repetitive generic music’ preached people’s poet Scroobius Pip on their landmark single ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’ a few years ago. True to his word, he and Dan Le Sac return with brilliant new album ‘The Logic Of Chance.’ Ahead of their Nottingham date Andrew Trendell caught up with people’s poet Scroobius Pip to talk about dance music, Britain and being outspoken… Andrew Trendell: Your new album ‘The Logic Of Chance’ sounds a lot tighter and dancier than the first album. How would you describe the evolution of yours and Dan’s sound? Scroobius Pip: Yeah, I’d agree. I guess we’ve both developed a lot. Whilst we’re both incredibly proud of our first album ‘Angles’, within a month of releasing it we looked back and saw things we could have done better, and hopefully it will be the same with this album. It is definitely dancier in places and I think it is really evident that we wrote a lot of this whilst on tour. From Dan’s point of view, if you’ve been playing a gig and watching a crowd react at certain points those elements are always going to stick in your memory, and that’s what you’re going to push for. We still have tracks like ‘Cowboi’ which are more downbeat and reflective, but there are definitely more bangers on this album I’d say. AT: I’ve been listening to the album and I love the track ‘Cauliflower’. Who is it that’s singing on that, and what other collaborations are on the album? SP: It’s a girl called ‘Kid A’ who is a relatively unknown American singer, and Dan produced her EP last year. I just think that she does an amazing job. I came up with the idea of doing a song like that on the last album. It’s inspired by a Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood song called ‘Some Velvet Morning.’ We liked the idea of the make vocal being at one pace and the female vocal being at a completely different pace, and flitting in between the two. We were working on it with Adele, Peggy Sue and numerous different acts like that but in the end it seemed to come together perfectly like this and it seemed to work perfectly with Kid A. The other collaboration on the album is on the last song ‘Cowboi’ and that’s with Kid Carpet. It’s strange that we’ve gone for a Kid theme. He was on the same label as us on ‘Sunday Best,’ we’ve toured with him numerous times and we’re both huge fans of him. AT: On ‘Angles’ it seemed that the songs were a lot of Anglo-centric songs about very British issues. Would you say that the same kind of ideas and issues run through ‘The Logic Of Chance’ or would you say that travelling the world off the back of the last album changed your outlook on things? SP: Bizarrely, it seems to me that this album is maybe more Anglo-centric than Angles. Whilst a lot of it is written about Britain, it does transfer across and translate into any other society. Travelling the world and then returning to the UK very much highlights a lot of the negative points. It makes you notice the positive things as well, but coming back to our small home town in Essex and seeing a lot of the drug use and

racism and things like that, it becomes clearer. Having the opportunity to tour the world has probably made the album more Anglo-centric. AT: A lot of artists find social commentary in music quite problematic. Do you ever get accused of being pious or preacher-y? SP: Yes, all the time but it’s something that comes with the territory. I always try to write to make it clear that these are just one person’s opinions and then put the subject up there for discussion rather than give a definitive view or opinion. It’s trying to be broader with it and get these subjects discussed. The new single ‘Get Better’ really set me up for accusations of being pious or preachy but my ego has to take a back seat. We’ve heard from people saying that the song has had a positive effect on them, or they played it to their little brother and it spoke to them. Emotional things like that mean a lot, so if that means that I have to get a bit of a knocking on the internet or whatever, then that’s fine. AT: Do you ever feel despondent about the emptiness in the lyrics of most mainstream music? SP: It’s a tough one. I think there are a lot of great underground acts and great music being made, but I don’t get too angry about it. I think there’s a place for everything. There are certain areas of music with James Blunt and all that, who I’m not into at all, but that’s music for people who aren’t into music. And that’s fine, I don’t feel that everyone has to love music and be passionate about it so there is a place for everything. It’s a shame that we’re living in a time when these acts get so much more exposure and they make so much more money out of it, but hopefully its all a cycle and at some point it will come back round again to the days when we had people like Bob Dylan who were talking about things, but also happened to be at the top of the pile. AT: On new album track ‘Stake A Claim’ you talk about the need to rise up in the name of democracy. under what circumstances would you say action be needed? SP: Immediately, I think the most direct way is for people to vote. I think that’s hugely important. I think the reason that the BNP have seats and are representing each and every one of us in Europe is because of low voting turn-outs. I think that’s a hugely important starting point at least. For years a lot of people haven’t voted because they don’t feel as if there is anyone who inspires them. But the thing I’ve come to realise over the last couple of years is that a vote is as much about who you’re not voting for, as who you are voting for.

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Music Interview: Reverend and the Makers As they warm up to bring their ‘French Kiss In The Chaos’ tour to Nottingham, Reverend and The Makers’ frontman Jon McClure talks to Andrew Trendell about Oasis, Africa, politics and the problems with the music industry. [Photos: Charlotte Hickmott]

“I

could have been the heavyweight champion of the world,” mourned The Reverend Jon McClure on his band’s 2007 top 10 debut single. Since then, the band have gone quite a long way to fulfil that promise. Rising from the ashes of the Arctic Monkeys’ explosion, Reverend and The Makers have formed their own unique identity and sound, away from any ‘Sheffield scene.’

Since their debut, the band have gained a huge following, blown away festival goers, recorded with legendary poet John Cooper Clarke and supported everyone from the Chilli Peppers to Oasis. The support shows at Wembley Stadium were to be some of Oasis’s last ever live performances. Was it strange to be part of the last gigs of such icons? “Obviously I grew up with Oasis so it was a bit strange. But it’s cool because I’m excited about Noel’s solo record. Noel was a talented motherf*cker so I’m hoping his solo record will be good.” Although being a big fan and friend of Noel, Jon has also been working with his Britpop rival Damon Albarn from Blur. “It’s weird because I’ve just come back from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia with Damon Albarn. When I was a kid both Damon and Noel were two big dudes so I’ve seen both sides of it now. It’s interesting – certainly because they were musicians that I respected and in many ways they were the last ones really.” Jon admits that his extra curricular activities with Damon Albarn have had a profound effect on his own music. Jon says: “We’ve just been jamming with some African musicians. I think Damon’s idea is to get a few younger musicians into making African records - he’s doing a good job and I’m really into it”

No stranger to musical diversity, Jon also what’s going on in the world. Does Jon’s has a side project called The Reverend degree sharpen his focus on the world? Soundsystem which experiments with electronic beats and dub-step. Last year “Absolutely, but not as much as having an Jon and his other side project Mongrel Iraqi girlfriend for 6 years during the Iraq gave away their album with the Independ- war. My brother and I have a cousin who ent newspaper – featuring members of is in the Air Force, dropping bombs on my Babyshambles and Arctic Monkeys and girlfriend’s family in Baghdad. My family leaning towards politicised rap music. are all traditional Labour, so when I first got to vote, I voted for Blair. That sharpSince rising to fame off the back off ened things up more than being at uni debut album ‘The State Of Things’, Jon but certainly being educated does help. It says that second album, 2009’s ‘A French makes you realise what’s right and what’s Kiss In The Chaos’, not only shows more wrong and where things really stand.” diversity, but views the world through more cynical eyes. Jon’s despondency at the emptiness of most music just adds to his disgust Jon says: “I think it’s a bit more moody at the state of the music industry as and dub-influenced – there’s more of it stands. Jon argues that most music a sense of gloom.” He jokingly adds: “I labels care more for money than a mesthink people really like it. Trendy f*ckers sage. don’t but people that like music do.” Jon says: “Whether it was The Clash or Jon has always been quite vocal in Bob Marley, people used to care. But talking politics, and has often married we’re living in different times – the a message with his music. Amid a sea of record industry is owned by money men, vacuous artists with nothing to say, Jon it’s not owned by people who care about has been left downhearted that no one what’s happening.” cares and now says he will separate politics from his music and focus on being an He adds: “Everybody thinks Kings of entertainer. Leon are the greatest band in the world, which is obviously not the case. You Jon confesses: “I’m done with politics for watch this year’s Brit Awards and see JLS now. You try your best and people don’t winning a few and you think ‘is that the want to know unfortunately and private- best we can do?’ But, by the same token, ly I can have my own politics and do my for every one of them there are a few peoown little projects but on a musical level I ple who get it and stuff but if everyone think that if you go on about politics too got it then it wouldn’t quite be the same.” much then you become a bit of a ranting nutter rather than a musician, and that’s “The money men run everything and benot something I want to be. I want to cause there’s not a lot of money around make music that people enjoy and I think people tend to play it safe and go with that there are only so many times you what they know. ‘Oh look, four good can make music that’s political.” looking lads who can dance, let’s sign JLS’, you know what I’m saying? It’s a given that politics and current affairs are at the forefront of Jon’s mind. “People revert to type when in actual fact With a degree in History and Politics what we need is for some young kids from Sheffield University, it stands to to come along and just smash music to reason that the music of Reverend and pieces and I sincerely hope that hapThe Makers should run a commentary of pens.”

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Local Talent Becky Syson

‘Weave Your Dreams’

eave Your Dreams is the new EP from Farnsfield born Becky Syson, with her second album to follow later this year. The 28 year old describes her sound as ‘folksy with an edge’ – an appraisal that omits the fact that her music also possesses a hopeful, child-like quality. Although her songs do carry more bite than similar fare produced by the genre, there is a cheerful tone to the songs that nullifies the edge somewhat. Her voice is more mature and haunting than her fresh-faced appearance would suggest and is showcased to great effect on this record. She is clearly inspired by those closest to her, with two of the songs written for family members. Golden Ring, arguably the best song here, was written for her brother’s wedding and invokes images of lazy summer days on the beach with your other half. The title track, a lullaby for her nephew Leo, is a sweet, melodic composition that encourages all of us to ‘weave our dreams into the sky’. Like the rest of her songs it is best performed acoustically; the full organic experience demands just Syson alone with her guitar. On My Way is about as close to a feisty, storming track as folk gets, as the drums are ramped up and Syson determinedly asserts her ambition and her belief in imminent success. You can picture her songs being played over the closing montage of scenes in a US teen drama, but in this case that is not intended as an insult. Syson’s brand of autobiographic lyricism is a catchy attempt to mark herself out as someone to watch this year. Susan Mintern

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Music Polar Bear Club/Shook Ones/Title Fight/Backtrack/Basement @ The Central

5th March 2010

o say this show has been eagerly anticipated is a massive understatement. The frantic internet buzz over the past few months has only added to this. Will these heavyweights of hardcore really squeeze into the intimate space of The Central?

Thankfully, they don’t disappoint. Openers Basement show why they are fan favourites this side of the pond by racing through a short but powerful set. Songs like ‘Thon Kurnt’ and ‘DUI’ get heads moving with their catchy sing-a-longs and warm up the crowd suitably. New Yorkers Backtrack send the entire room into a frenzy with their brand of NYC inspired hardcore. We can expect big things from them in the future. Title Fight kick off with pop punk gem ‘Memorial Field’, which has the front row desperately reaching for the mic. Progress-

ing through a setlist which consists of newer songs like ‘Dreamcatcher’, they prove why they are still the champions. By this point the crowd are restless and full of energy. And what better way to dispel some of that by a set from Shook Ones. No strangers to the UK, they leap around the stage with great intensity on songs like ‘Order Form’ and ‘Birds on Ice’. As the night draws to a close, Polar Bear Club take to the stage and deliver a worthy performance. Newer songs like ‘Drifting Thing’ and ‘Boxes’ demonstrate a more mature performance. Watching the crowd chant the lyrics to ‘The Bug Parade’, it is clear Polar Bear Club have a strong fanbase, which will only get bigger in time. Simon Leonard

Album Reviews

Solex vs Cristina Martinez & Jon Spencer – ‘Amsterdam Throwdown, King Street Showdown’ Released: 5/4/2010 The rapid oscillation between styles on Amsterdam… is hardly helped by the brevity of each track – many of them ducking under the wrong side of three minutes – and, as such, there is little common thread to the album barring the gravelly, almost Mark E. Smith interjections of Jon Spencer. As a result, the album sound like a collection of sporadic tracks lumbered together quite carelessly rather than a thoughtout, seamless effort. This said, the songs aren’t actually all that bad. Equally, R is for Ring-A-Ding is a pretty accomplished hip-hop-cum-60s-pop-ballad, with the majestically rapped verses in curious company next to Spencer’s meaty guitars, but the ensemble works. Given that Solex’s previous work has a very clear undercurrent of jazzy electronica, it seems as if Spencer has very much sought to impose his authority upon the project, guitars, growls and all: it is this injection of all-American, brash masculinity on Amsterdam… that Solex could probably have done without. Alex Britton

April’s albums in brief by our Andrew and Alex.

Rufus Wainwright – ‘All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu’

Jónsi - ‘Go’ Released: 05/04/2010

Released: 05/04/10 Fans may gasp at the idea of Rufus going back to basics, stripping away any extravagances to be alone with the listener as one man and his piano, clearing the channel between your ears and his heart. It could have been dangerous for Rufus to take such a naked approach. He has always shone brightest when at his most brazen and theatrical. True, parts of this album beg for orchestration, yet Rufus still manages to create a dizzying and absolute atmosphere. It’s as if the piano is an extension of himself, throwing his limbs of ebony and ivory into the air, sprawling across the sky in a dazzling display of artful flair. By trimming the fat of his melodramatic indulgences, the focus has sharpened on Rufus as an artist. He has shed his Prima Donna exterior, now stripped to show only the bare bones of a brilliant songwriter. Understated yet complete, All Days Are Nights is one of Wainwright’s most durable and timeless albums to date. Andrew Trendell

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This solo effort speaks volumes as an entirely separate body of work to that of his other band. Although there are still traces of the anthemic euphoria of Sigur Rós’s last effort, ‘Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust’, Jónsi has turned the pop switch up to 11. This is Jónsi unleashed – allowing every idiosyncrasy and mentalist whim of his personality to shine. Jónsi has made an album containing all of the eccentric flourishes found on a Sigur Rós record, but with a Björk-esque balance between pop sensibility, experimental trickery and vocal witchcraft. Without the constraints and expectations expected of him and his Icelandic bandmates, Jónsi soars as a solo artist. This album was originally intended as a stripped-down acoustic affair, but it seems that his talent got the better of him. Good job too. ‘Go’ is a dream-like album dripping with ambition and majesty. Shine on, you absolutely bat-sh*t crazy diamond. Andrew Trendell

Straight Lines @ Rock City

18th February 2010

t’s a snowy night in Nottingham and a crowd of 30 or so have turned out to see Straight Lines at Rock City.

The boys’ punk urgency and soaring vocals make the crowd sit up and take notice immediately. They belt out ‘Versus the allegiance’, ‘Run Away Now’ and ‘To Be Honest’ with clinical precision.

‘Say It For Your Sake’ drills its way into your consciousness as vocalist Tom Jenkins navigates the dizzying heights of the chorus. You appreciate the quality of the songs being played but aren’t quite sold on the performance, the audience keep their distance from the stage as if the band were playing from behind a wall of glass. It’s when the lads hit us with ‘All My Friends Joined The Army’ that we know there is quality here. An evocative ballad, which plucks at the heart strings and hits harder then any of their rock riffs.

A beautiful song, which displays mature and honest song writing, the heartfelt lyrics clearly draw emotion from the band as Tom Jenkins clenching the mic, sings out to the audience, glassy eyed. The crowd stirs, and this is the connection that was missing earlier. Definitely a band worth seeing and if they can summon that crowd connection with all of their songs then we will be seeing a lot more of the Straight Lines. Andreas Nikakis

To read these reviews in full, as well as a heap load of other album and gig reviews along with some juicy interviews and the music-folk just speaking their minds, head over to the music section at www.platform-online.net MGMT – ‘Congratulations’

Ash – ‘A-Z Vol.1’

The Futureheads – ‘The Chaos’

Released: 12/04/2010

Released: 19/04/2010

Released – 26/04/05

Following the wildly successful Oracular Spectacular, news of the new MGMT album, Congratulations, caused the hearts of a million gold-headband wearing electrowhores to skip a beat. And they are going to be bitterly, bitterly disappointed. This is the problem: because the MGMT ‘brand’ has been attached to this piece of art, I can guarantee that the lack of singles, the lack of ease and the lack of it being-exactly-the-same-album-theyreleased-three-years-ago will irk many. Congratulations is a pretty good piece of work. Opening track It’s Working sets out the theme for the rest of the album – the synths have been placed to one side and this decision allows the quirky and faintly psychedelic element of the band to shine. For those looking for the new Oracular Spectacular, Congratulations is not it. However, rather than pining for the album which this isn’t, try and appreciate what it is – a well-executed and entirely competent slice of contemporary psychedelic rock-cum-electronica. Alex Britton

The band’s A-Z concept is quite a novel one. Because you modern youngsters of the iPod generation don’t care for albums now and only want to pick and choose individual tracks for your hectic ‘shuffling’ lifestyle, Ash, pioneers that they are, have opted to only release regular singles… (and then put them all together on a disc, which is just like releasing an album, except…exactly the same). The astute amongst you may have realised how this plan falls on its arse at the first hurdle: the case may not necessarily be that people don’t care for albums any more – but it may perhaps be more of a case that people just don’t care for Ash. If you think you have a groundbreaking idea, it would have been clever to back it up with some interesting/tolerable music. No revolutionary approach can disguise the fact that Tim Wheeler can’t sing. I daresay that swallowing a beginners’ rhyming dictionary helped him that much. The iPod generation may indeed be more prone to shuffle through tracks by different artists, but why make music to be skipped? Sorry Ash, this is just gash. Andrew Trendell

The Chaos is much darker in atmosphere and sound than its predecessor. Where ‘This Is Not The World’ boasted choppy cuts of pop-rock, ‘The Chaos’ instead offers a fierce 100mph onslaught of menacing kicks to the face. If anything, this album leans more towards their much-lauded self-titled debut album in its consistency anthemic angular prowess. However the band have clearly evolved, as the power of these tracks lends itself more to guitar mastery and experimental time changes than vocal tomfoolery. Once again lazy journalists will say that this album, like their previous, is a return to form. The truth is that The Futureheads are always on form. They rose to fame during an era which promised so much but delivered so little. Amid all the chaos of lame garagerock nostalgia and half-arsed Libertinecopyists stand The Futureheads – the band you can trust. Andrew Trendell

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Film

Edited by Becky Wojturska | film@platform-online.net

New Cinema Release

Whip It (12A)

Starring: Juliette Lewis, Shannon Eagen, Ellen Page, Alia Shawkat & Marcia Gay Harden Directed by: Drew Barrymore Released: 7th April 2010

T 18

he credentials involved in this film that most women, but not as many men, are sure to love is impressive

and showcases an interesting mixture of talent. It’s a subject matter that’s rarely seen on film (how many films can you name about Roller Derby girls?) and definitely has taken a bite out of the originality slice of pie and a gives a real kick of girl power that would even make the Spice Girls proud. Drew Barrymore’s an actress who has been attending Hollywood awards parties practically since she could speak; her first recognisable acting job was in the classic, E.T. as the cute pigtailed girl who screamed. These days she’s got her own production company and Whip It, sees her first foray into the directing

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arena. This is one woman who’s on top of her game, scooping a Golden Globe earlier this year and starring opposite screen legend Robert De Niro too. With a stellar cast including Juliette Lewis, once known for edgy films (who these days is more at home in the irritating orange Wednesday adverts), Ellen Page, who will forever be recognised as the girl who got knocked up in Juno and even Marcia Gay Harden – who apart from having one of the best names in the industry is a great and quite controversial actress. Indie-rock loving misfit Bliss Cavender,

(Page) truth be told is a bit of a madam, she’s got a pushy mother (Gay Harden) who is constantly trying to force her daughter into beauty pageants and everything she stands against. You could very much call it a case of a square peg being forced into the proverbial round hole. Bliss and best mate Pash (Shawkat) are constantly looking for an escape; Pash’s plan to get out of the small humdrum town they live in is to apply to Ivy League schools whereas Bliss hasn’t a clue, until she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin and is immediately struck by the team members.

She discovers her calling during a shopping trip to Austin, Texas where she picks up a flyer for a Roller Derby event, schemes to attend, gets invited to try out and becomes ‘Babe Ruthless’, (her alter-ego roller derby character). She makes the team, lies about her age, works hard to succeed, experiences her first love with the young lead singer of an Indie rock band, gets disappointed in love, bonds with her new family of roller derby girls, fights with her mother to escape the beauty pageant lifestyle and live her new dream as roller derby star. Along the way there are trips, (colossal) falls and it’s bum-numbing time of two

hours glides by quickly, as it’s never too heavy and keeps a light and breezy pace throughout whilst maintaining the excitement, humour, action and intensity. Whip It is so many things. It’s a comingof-age movie. It’s a sports movie. It’s a relationship movie. It’s a funny movie. It’s a poignant movie. There are drawbacks and the script does suffer from the odd cliché but the energy and atmosphere of this film is infectious. Congratulations Barrymore on a thoroughly enjoyable and quite memorable debut. Amy V Gathercole

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Film

New Cinema Release Crying With Laughter (TBC)

Starring: Stephen McCole, Malcolm Shields Directed by: Justin Molotnikov Released: 16th April 2010

oey Frisk (McCole) is a low-key yet popular stand-up comedian in Scotland. Struggling with his domineering ex-wife and child support for his daughter, Frisk constantly turns to drugs and partying to escape. But when old school friend Frank Archer (Shields) turns up out of the blue things take on a whole new level of surrealism. First, Joey is accused of severely beating up

his landlord, which he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember, then when he has no one to turn to but Frank, he finds his old friend is hiding much more than he thought. At first glance this film seems exciting and mysterious but it somehow never quite reaches the peak that you eagerly expect. However, the twist is well developed and the film handles sensitive subjects wonderfully. It is McCole however, who completely steals the limelight as he is utterly brilliant as the sometimes

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psychotic yet lovable Frisk. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

Sherlock Holmes (12A)

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong Directed by: Guy Ritchie DVD release date: 19th April 2010

herlock Holmes is bought back to life with the help of the unstoppable Robert Downey Jr. Continuing his streak he presents us with a much different Holmes and one that you are certain to enjoy.

Guy Ritchie helms the ship and injects the film with his raw, violent and uninhibited style with throwbacks to his Snatch days. For example the re-imagined Holmes is an underground fighter and gambler, which culminate in one of the film’s best scenes. Ritchie recreates Victorian London with a deal of authenticity and the audience can easily get lost in the elaborate set pieces. The plot although scattered with twists and turns is easily accessible and thoroughly entertaining even for those who are not familiar with Sherlock Holmes. The story follows Holmes’s attempts to

stop the evil Lord Blackwood (Strong) who has inexplicably risen from the grave to exact revenge on the British government. He must use his special powers of observation- which are a marvel to watch- to catch Blackwood before it’s too late. Complicating Holmes’s life further is Irene Adler (McAdams) his feisty ex lover who has her own agenda but also allows the audience to see a more sensitive side to Holmes. Robert Downey Jr brings his usual charm and appeal to this role and is easily the best thing about the film and thoroughly deserving of his golden globe award. Joining Downey Jr is Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, the more level headed of the duo who finds himself easily roped into Holmes’s deadly plans. The chemistry between the two leads is perfect with both exuding charisma and charm and generating plenty of laughs. McAdams more than holds her own against the largely male dominated cast and is not just seen simply as eye candy.

Although the plot maybe generic the actors make this a must see film that leaves the possibility for a sequel very much open. Rickee Bhardwaj

New DVD Release

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Film

New DVD Release The Men Who Stare at Goats (15)

Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey Directed by: Grant Heslov DVD Release Date: 19th April 2010

fter a failed marriage reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) decides to throw himself into his work by travelling to Kuwait to investigate the Iraq war. What he finds however is Lyn Cassidy (Clooney), who reveals he is a part of a secret American army unit called the New Earth Army. Run by legendary Bill Django (Bridges) the New Earth Army recruited â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jedi Warriorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to practice peace and psychic abilities in war instead of violence. However, recruit Larry Hooper (Spacey) decides to revolt and Bob and Lyn find themselves on a mission to stop the tyrant Hooper and save the New Earth Army.

This film is, to put it simply, brilliant. It is laugh-out-loud funny and has both a genius script and quirky imagery. It is hard to pick any one actor who really shines as Clooney, McGregor and Bridges all bring fantastic performances that help to create a witty, hilarious five star film. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

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Classic Film Review Edward Scissorhands (PG)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne West, Anthony Michael Hall, Vincent Price Directed by: Tim Burton Released: 26th July 1991

T Glee: Road to Sectionals

DVD Release Date: 19th April 2010

4’s latest smash hit import Glee is the shiny, happy, showtune - saturated tale of the high school misfits that sing in Glee club and their loveable teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison). Dopey quarterback Finn (Cory Monteith) and determined Broadway fanatic Rachel (Lea Michele) are the talented lead singers that might just realise they are a match made in melodic heaven if it weren’t for Finn’s scheming cheerleader girlfriend Quinn (Dianna Agron). Yep you read that right; Finn and Quinn are the Brangelina, or Fiquinn of William Mckinley High School, Ohio. The performers also include self proclaimed diva Mercedes (Amber Riley) ‘I’m Beyonce, I ain’t no Kelly Rowland’, and fashion aficionado Kurt (Chris Colfer) who’s Single Ladies tribute is undoubtedly one of the best TV moments of the year.

However, Will’s dream of winning the national Glee competition is thwarted at every turn by Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), who is essentially Darth Vader in a tracksuit. No living thing is safe from her bone-crushing insults which make her the hilarious highlight of the show. Yes it’s corny, yes it’s camp, but the show’s lively charm and entertaining versions of an impressive spectrum of modern hits, from Amy Winehouse to Kanye West with a little bit of Queen and Journey in between, ensure you will be morphed into a Gleek before you can say ‘jazz hands’. This note perfect gem has it all – great musical numbers, witty lines and funny characters as well as mercifully putting a fresh spin on the ancient story of the jocks and cheerleaders vs. the geeks. Glee is shameless, unapologetic fun for anyone young or old who has ever belted out a power ballad or rock song in the shower – and surely that’s all of us, right? Susan Mintern

he plotline to Edward Scissorhands is not your conventional love story, yet it is just as charming and heartbreaking as any other good romance. The film depicts the story of Edward, who is the creation of an elderly inventor (Price) who sadly dies before he could complete his work, and so Edward is left unfinished with scissors as a substitute for hands. After years left alone in the mansion above the suburbs, Peggy, the kindly Avon representative (West) unintentionally finds Edward and takes him home and introduces him to the neighbourhood, where he poignantly falls in love with Peg’s daughter, Kim (Ryder). True to director Tim Burton’s classic style, Edward Scissorhands is a delicious mix of the mundane and the gothic, as the attempts by various people to conform Edward to a commercial way of life often fall on innocently misunderstood ears. However, this film wouldn’t work as well if anyone other than Johnny Depp played the part of Edward. Edward Scissorhands is just one of the collaborations Depp and Burton have produced, and Depp’s portrayal of Edward is just magical; the fragility of the humour within the film rests entirely on Depp’s facial expressions; when he smiles, we smile, when he looks lost and upset, we feel lost and upset. If you’re a fan of Tim Burton, then this film does not disappoint; his trademark use of colours, the awkwardness and vulnerability of the characters and the slightly macabre ending would delight any film fan, whether you’re a fan of Burton’s work or not. An enthralling story, and certainly a movie classic. Sophie Birkin

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Community Festival goers urged to think about their electronic footprints

Edited by Nick Charity | community@platform-online.net

Festival goers urged to think about their electronic footprints

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estival culture is a massive craze in this country, and many others. But, as you register online for festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading, you may be building your own electronic footprint even without realising it. The Information Commissionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office (ICO) is urging students to think before giving personal information away online. Whether buying festival or gig tickets with your credit card or using personal details to create a social networking group or profile, make sure you always check websites are genuine

ICO’s top tips for staying safe online...

because the fraudsters have a nasty habit of being convincing. Read and understand privacy policies and remember what goes online often stays online for years to come - this includes personal contact details for events arranged through Facebook and other social networking sites, which could be a gift for identity fraudsters. Oh, and you know that box on the web-form that usually says something unlike, ‘untick me if you don’t want your details spread around like a fresh jar of peanut butter’ well, you should strongly consider ticking that box, because you have no control over who receives your details once they go into circulation. David Smith, Deputy Commissioner at the ICO, said: “Many students are posting information online without thinking about the electronic footprint they leave behind. When registering for tickets make sure you read the small print, it is important to understand how organisations intend to use your personal information. For example, are you happy for them to share your details with third parties so you can be contacted for marketing purposes? It’s also important to think about they type of information you upload to social networking sites. Remember, adjusting privacy settings so that your email address or phone number stays private can help you to avoid falling victim to identity fraudsters. We are encouraging students to follow our top tips on how to reduce their electronic footprint and stay safe online.” Nick Charity

• Always be wary of websites asking for your personal information. Are they genuine? How will they use it? Will it be passed on to others? If unsure, ask for answers to your questions or check privacy policies. • Think about the type of information you are uploading to your social networking profile pages – details such as your address and date of birth can be used by fraudsters. You can control who sees your profile by adjusting the privacy settings. • Always read the small print carefully. You must give permission for your details to be passed on to other organisations or used for marketing purposes, and you can refuse by opting out. • Use different passwords and PINs for different accounts and take extra care when using public computers to access personal information. • Think before you buy – use a secure website which displays their contact details, look for a golden padlock symbol and clear privacy and returns policies. • Remember to log out of secure sites and check the web address begins with https. • Keep your computer current and safe – use firewall and anti virus software, back up your data and make sure your web browser is secure. • Beware of scam emails – don’t click on the links.

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Arts

Chatroulette | ‘StarCity’ @ Nottingham Contemporary | ‘The Meaning of Style’ @ New Art Exchange Googled: The End of the World as We Know It Edited by Alexander Britton | arts@platform-online.net

Chatroulette. By Alexander Britton

umans are, by their nature, social creatures. Of course, this varies wildly from person to person, but the underlying need for interaction with other humans is at the heart of our actions. As technology has progressed, the nature of our contact with the outside world has changed. The internet is at the heart of most of our socialising – emails allow us to keep in touch with distant friends and with the advent of Facebook, the ease with which we can follow the minutiae of hundreds of acquaintances is staggering. However, neither of these technologies allow for random connections with strangers – social interaction on the internet is akin to a massive hub of billions of interconnect-

ing lines, yet, we are only aware of the existence of a few hundred of these; our communication is limited to being with the people we know. Since its inception, Facebook has struck me as being a curiosity. It claims to help you connect and share with those in your life, but I would argue it merely allows you to share disinformation. In this alternate reality, we allow ourselves to be portrayed as we wish. Our lists of favourite books and films are consciously thought up to keep in line with the image we wish to portray to the outside world. Our favourite quotations are meticulously selected to reinforce this image. To the outsider, Facebook is a network of interacting idealised images dreamt up in the minds of real humans; it is pure spectacle.

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Chatroulette extends this to levels we haven’t seen before. Colliding with strangers, we can be whoever we want to be and express ourselves in any way we want. This is the sort of blind social interaction with strangers that the internet was made for. When hearing about this, the possibilities in my mind were overwhelming – I could pretend to be a shy, yet charming Frenchman, asking Brits about their love of tea and the Queen. I could be an abrasive Russian, arguing politics with equally abrasive Americans. The limits to my assumed identities were the limits of my imagination – if I thought it, I could become it. I’m sure others had the same idea. How disappointed I was. I had forgotten that free from the shackles of restraint, the internet is a dark place. After several demands for me to show my breasts, several more displays of onanism, I finally stum-

bled across someone who was willing to have a conversation. It was brief, but when he said “on the internet, you can be anyone”, I felt a certain resonance of truth about this aphorism. Yet, I found that I could not escape myself entirely. For example, many potential chat partners instantly disconnected as soon as my webcam loaded – presumably because, by virtue of being male, I couldn’t provide what they were looking for. Equally, many females, upon noticing that I didn’t conform to their idea of an attractive male, saw fit to give me the metaphorical boot. After 20 minutes of stilted and curt conversations, I stumbled upon what appeared to be a fairly meek teenager, holding up a sign saying “Show me your tits plz”. Rob, 15 years old from Boston, Massachusetts, was fairly nonchalant about the desperation in his request. “What can I say? I’m young, I want to see hot girls,” he said with a heavy New England accent and trademark teenage indifference. I asked him how often he spent on Chatroulette. “Depends. Weeknights from 8pm-12am after I’ve done my homework. Weekends whenever.” Good to see Rob putting his education before any extra anatomy lessons he may be receiving. Speaking of which, before I let him continue on his quest, I had to ask him how often he had found a woman who would indulge his request. “None yet. Once I thought I was close and was going to take a screenshot for my friends, but she was just playing with me.” Before long, I had almost become desensitised to the steady stream of lonely men searching for someone who wasn’t me. Many of them clicked ‘next’ before I was able to question their state of dress (or, to be more accurate, state of undress) until another random correspondent pointed out he could hear me listening to Clouddead, stated that

After 20 minutes, I stumbled upon what appeared to be a fairly meek teenager, holding up a sign saying ‘Show me your tits plz’ he liked them and we began to discuss similar artists. I was sitting at my desk, talking to a barechested man who probably wanted to find something to masturbate to, and ended up discussing alternative hip-hop. Steven, a 28-year-old from Manchester, said he had no real qualms about exhibiting himself in front of strangers. “It allows me an eye into other people’s lives, and, in turn, they can have an eye into mine.” But what if people don’t like what they see? “Fuck them. How hard is it to find someone else? Not very. If I want a chat and I see a couple exhibiting themselves, I move on. If I want to exhibit myself and see a bearded guy sitting at his desk, I move on.” The irony was not lost on me. I bid Steven farewell to carry on his search for someone else who would appreciate his semi-nude company more than I did. It seems that whilst we can construct an identity on the internet, we cannot seem to free ourselves from preconceived ideas of beauty. We are all searching for acceptance,

but within the world of Chatroulette, it seems that few are accepting. This is largely understandable. Just as in real life situations, Chatroulette can hardly force two unwilling people to interact. But it’s not all voyeurism and frustrated teenagers, Chatroulette is equal parts surreal, addictive and frightening. It is, above all, entertainment with strangers. As Phil from Atlanta pointed out, “I use Chatroulette because it’s pretty much instant amusement. Strangers can make me laugh, and if they don’t, I can instantly find someone else who might.”

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Arts

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Exhibition Review

Star City at Nottingham Contemporary

Words by Alexander Britton | Photos by Stefan Ebelewicz

ollowing the success of the Hockney and Stark exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary, expectations for Star City were understandably very high – willing to prove that their previous success was not just a flash in the pan, and determined to bustle into the group of top galleries in the country, an exhibition relating to the Soviet space programme seems like a curious choice. Star City is not an instant crowd pleaser, yet credit must be given to Nottingham Contemporary for not sticking with the safe option, and, as it turns out, putting on a slightly-alienating but well-executed exhibition. Star City is the name of the secret Soviet space training camp situated 20 miles outside of Moscow, although these days you are more likely to bump into a promising artist than an astronaut. Given that the area was enshrouded in typical Soviet-style secrecy, the sense of wonder surrounding Star City since the end of the Cold War is largely inevitable, and within the exhibition this sense of wonder has been harnessed, creating an atmosphere that oscillates between gentle awe and frightening bewilderment. It seems that the focus of the exhibition is not purely the art surrounding the Soviet space programme, but moreover the modernist notion of harnessing technology for a better future. Certainly, this perspective is reinforced within the work of Aleksandra Mir’s work The Dream and the Promise, in which Christian imagery undergoes the process of détournement as missiles adorn images of Christ, almost to highlight the similarities within the ideals espoused by socialism and the notion of the afterlife within Christian ideology – both relying heavily upon human belief. Another highlight of the exhibition is Hernandez’ piece Inspire Me, in which four fairly mundane objects including a radio blaring out a Castro speech in Morse, are placed upon a pile of bricks. Given the Soviet fascination for isolating itself both ideologically and physically, the dejected mass of bricks at the base is perhaps a subtle innuendo to the crumbing communist ideal itself. Equally fascinating was Julius Koller’s series of photographs based on his self-ostracism from society. Within his work, Koller develops the notion of anti-happenings – the antithesis to the happenings of 1960s America – and attempts to place himself outside the dichotomy of capitalist and socialist ideologies. The results portray a vision of a man who is lost within politics, believing himself not to belong in the system he was born into. Adorning many of the walls within the galleries are various posters relating to the space programme, all with propagandist overtones. The Cyrillic script adds to the feeling of alienation within the exhibition – the information is present but indiscernible, creating a sense of unease. The homogenous faces in every image – from the bold Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, to the decorated Soviet rulers – merely add to the feelings of awe and fear in the awesome power of the USSR to manipulate minds as they saw fit. Nottingham Contemporary has truly shown its potential to become a great venue for art with this successful exhibition. It is a million miles away from the ease of Hockney and the curiosity of Stark, however, the tried and tested formula of ‘pictures on walls’ is being tested, and in doing so, horizons are being expanded. Star City runs at Nottingham Contemporary until 18 April.

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Arts

Exhibition Review

‘The Meaning of Style’ at the New Art Exchange

“S

egregation is the dustbin of history”. This is the message we are left with from this powerfully rousing exhibition ‘The Meaning of Style’. The exhibition, held at The New Art Exchange (Hyson Green, Radford) explores the foundations of current Black culture in our society. The exhibition has managed to show how the changes to Black culture in Britain have helped influence fashion, music, media stereotypes and even language.

The exhibition successfully establishes an unfaltering link between the oppressive world of the 1970’s - 80’s against our contemporary society. It documents traditional British portrayals of Black men being low achievers and criminals whilst highlighting their potential for the future. With the new rise of Black men in power including Barack Obama and Bob Marley; we are left questioning whether these traditional stereotypes will be forgotten. By far one of the most influential pieces of the collection for me was the photographs by Dr Vanley Burke. Together, the series ultimately examines the dialogue between family generations by looking at the histories of a father and son. It is this

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juxtaposition between past and present lives which develops a field of nostalgia and alarm when the contrast of innocence and violence between the years is presented. Alternatively Barbra Walker’s work is equally expressive and worth a look. Her analysis of personal individuality in relation to a group finds her son as the main inspiration for the work. The pieces consist of charcoal drawings and oil paintings which demonstrate how an accumulative effort at being diverse in fashion and appearance has resulted in a loss of identity. However Gerard Hanson’s prints were not to my taste and seemed to lack energy and echo ‘flatness’ from the combination of bold colour used over the top of the prints. The exhibition also considers the ideas of Paul Gilroy and ‘The Black Atlantic’ in relation to a homogonous culture. Other artists included are Michael Forbes and Clement Cooper. Overall ‘The Meaning of Style’ emphasises the presence of young Black men in Britain over recent years, and investigates the extent that the changes in their culture, music and fashion have influenced mainstream society. It’s a very worthwhile exhibition to visit. Michelle Ashton

Book Review Googled: The End of the World as We Know It By Ken Auletta

ince being founded nearly 14 years ago as part of a research project, Google has grown exponentially and continues to develop technologies that penetrate into most aspects of our increasingly technological lives. Last month, Google paid upwards of $1 million to advertise itself during the Super Bowl, but given that they have progressed so far without advertising, was this necessary? I mean, if you can make your product synonymous with conducting a web-based search – “I’ll just Google it” – advertising your product seems somewhat redundant. All this merely adds to the mystery surrounding Google, the brainchild of Larry Page and Sergei Brin, and it is this mystery, this sense of fascination regarding Google, that Ken Auletta seeks to analyse within Googled. Given Auletta’s background within financial journalism, the focus of the book is mostly upon the business side of Google, yet other perspectives on the company are not entirely neglected. The first few chapters are fairly tough-going, concentrating on Google’s chronology and discussion of their explosion in popularity, with dates and statistics littered throughout like confetti. For those who have a passing knowledge of their work, the emphasis placed upon Google’s innovative and ethical development is fairly familiar – their mantra of “Don’t be evil” sums it up succinctly. The reinforcement of Google’s greatness within the first section of the book is somewhat off-putting, which is a shame because what follows the first few heavy-going chapters is nothing short of captivating. Yet, if the first few chapters are filled with wide-eyed adoration, what follows is certainly fairer if nothing else. Auletta digs deeper into his analysis of Google – looking at the criticisms levelled at the company relating to the privacy of information and the copyright issues surrounding Youtube and Google Books – both with appropriate levels of balance. Yet, the discussion the privacy surrounding users’ data is a little too shallow, and doesn’t look beyond the aforementioned maxim of being principled in their work at Google – something which could well change in the future.

The fullness of Auletta’s account of Google’s rise cannot be denied – the sheer number of interviewees and the proportion of the book devoted to these interviews merely demonstrate the desire to present a full account of the rise of the company. The thoroughness of Googled is almost necessary, yet the balance between detail and ease of reading is well-struck; it is neither too stodgy nor too cursory. The most notable omission within Googled is the opinion of the author himself. Given his previous successes as a business journalist, Auletta’s perspective would be enlightening; seemingly his sense of journalistic fairness allows him to pose some intriguing and salient questions, but not to indulge the reader as to his own opinion on matters. Nevertheless, Googled is a comprehensive look at the company behind some of the technology most of us use on a daily basis with interesting discussions of the impact Google has already had on the technology sector and a sense of what could be around the bend for the search giant. Alexander Britton

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Photos Varsity Football | 22.03.10 Photo: Stefan Ebelewicz

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Fashion

Intro | ‘Fairytale in Wonderland ‘ Fashion show @ Coco Tang | Top Four NY Collections Trend: Game Theory | Whiteout Edited by Laura Morrison | fashion@platform-online.net

Laura Morrison

Fashion Editor:

his month is all about perfection; and not just in the getting back into the Summer ritual of selftanning every three days kind of way - because we all know new trend pastels do not look good on pastey skin - but in the grander scheme of things. Perfection is the image which the fashion industry allegedly forces upon all of us, through body type (double zero please), skin tone (bronzed thanks), hair (the cloud is the style du jour), even nail varnish (the reverse French is the only way to go). And now ASOS brings us their new Barbie range. To quote the UK’s biggest online fashion store, “As stylish as any London girl, Barbie is back and cooler than ever.” But fear not even if you’re a Manc lass or Welsh fairy or hell even a Brazilian beauty their international shipping means that with 4-5 working days you can have an LBD and your own Barbie doll to match! “What could be better?” I hear you squeal. Apparently “a gold tiered necklace”, “stylish sunnies” and the “ultimate accessory – a pampered pooch” to match. Dodgey press-release fashion tips aside, this iconic doll represents perfection in some people’s eyes, and it’s led me to think about the slippery nature of the ideal. Famously designing a wrap dress for the doll, designer DVF said that, “Barbie represents a confident and independent woman with an amazing ability to have fun while remaining glamorous.” All

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Chanel

pretty ideal qualities – it would be hard not to feel perfect if Diane said that about you. But put aside the pedastal because Barbara Millicent Roberts was originally modelled on a sex doll. The prototype was based on a German sex doll called Bild Lilliand was later made in Japan, where a revolutionary leg joint allowed her to sit without her legs akimbo. Phew! Now I’m not too sure that a sex doll is many women’s idea of perfection, and yet here Asos are rekindling childhood adoration and enabling me to dress just like her. Sex aid to childhood idol - the gold chains on the front of one of the proposed dresses really should have tipped me off. Ironic really. Fashion at the moment is almost antiperfect. From messy-dressy up dos to Lagerfeld’s new penchant for tweed and tats. Yes Krazy Karl was at it again during his latest S/S 10 collection, sending down meek and mild models in pastel blue tweed with black chain tattoos snaking around their thighs. The lady doth appear to be a tramp. Fear not if you want to be perfectly imperfect too Chanel have just launched their Les Trompe L’Oeil in fiftyfive different designs and with a waiting list at Selfridges, they are already the hair mascara of this generation.

Chanel

This month, perfection for us, is crisp white couture on lovely tanned limbs, as designed by some of our very own fashion team for The White Project Catwalk Show. Probably the trickiest colour to wear, I’m never quite perfect enough to wear white. I always always always spill something on it, and in my quest to look less casper more McCartney, inevitably there will be a bronzer smudge somewhere on my shirt dress. Alas from Alice inspired white tights, to white lace bralets, and white plimsolls, the colour which symbolises perfect unblemishedness just keeps luring me back Summer after Summer. So whilst I pretend I’m graceful in my ivory Miu Miu embellished wedges, trying not to spill my caramel cream frapuccino on them or heavens step anywhere near dirt / gum / puddles or those ketchup drenched chips smushed onto the pavement, I’ll let you think about perfection. And well if Chanel’s putting tattoos on demurely dressed models in tweed and clogs, then surely the point is that perfection just isn’t cool at all. Everyone needs a little tequila at their tea party, and everyone needs a little rebel with their ruffles, and maybe a little bronzer on your shirt dress isn’t so bad (let’s just pray the dry cleaner will be able to work miracles later!) Indeed as you try and OxiClean that stain away comfort yourself with the wise words of Salvador Dali: “Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.” ‘Til next month!

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Fashion

Fai ry tale in

Wonderland

With the release of the highly anticipated Tim Burton film, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, the fashion world has gone crazy for all things Mad Hatter – and Nottingham is no exception, as Emma Thomas and Platform’s Editor Glen Davies discovered when they went to a rather special show. [Photos: Tom Rowland]

“W

e seem to have lost the fairy godmother’s wing, has anybody seen a wing?”

As the Nottingham nightclub owner scanned the floor for the missing prop, children wearing sparkly masks screeched past and models blasted themselves with cans of spray-on glitter. “Could all the seven dwarfs follow me! We’re going to practise again!” Shouted a girl in a Snow White outfit. The dressing room resembles a hair salon last used in the 1940s; an odd mishmash of sinks, tables, half-painted walls, endless mirrors and random empty spaces. Yet it is perfect for its current occupants – a team of models, stylists and fashionistas preparing for a show two months in the making. Tminus one hour. The clothes are from a smörgåsbord of up and coming British designers, all

fitting into one of five stories – namely Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel. The flagship piece is a £3,500 bespoke cream and turquoise ball gown from Eternal Spirit, who also designed clothes for Britney Spears’ recent Circus tour. The venue, upon first thought, is a strange one. Fashion shows are, to many people’s minds, usually held in plain, open halls, where a single straight catwalk stretches out into an audience sitting in their neat rows of reserved chairs. But this place, with its low ceilings, subtle lighting, different levels and maze of separated rooms, is about as far removed from the norm as Russell Brand on an easy pay night. This is The House of Coco Tang, and, unless you’re a loyal fan, you’d be forgiven for never having seen or heard of it before. Hidden deep underneath Bridlesmith Gate in Nottingham centre,

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behind a humble unmarked door, it is one of the city’s trendiest clubs. The only people who know where it is are those who can cut the mustard. Wearing socks and sandals at the bar here is worse than standing there masturbating – which is what makes the place such a fitting, if unorthodox, venue. The show has been created by Sedge Beswick and Sarah Bannerman, two fashion students at Nottingham Trent University, who are embarking on their ambitious final year project named Fairytale in Wonderland. All 200 tickets to the event were sold within 48 hours, even though only one advertisement was placed in a single issue of Sixtynine magazine. Sedge darts between models having their hair and make-up done, curlers still in her own hair, explaining how the concept took off in the first place. “We knew the Alice in Wonderland film would be big when it came out so it seemed right to do something that would fit in with that, but we’ve gone beyond that and used a few different fairytales as well,” she says, having taken five minutes out to talk in another random former hairdressing room on the club’s top floor. “We’ve got nine boys and three girls modelling for us, and there are kids from a local stage school who are the seven dwarves to go with Snow White.

They chose Coco Tang because its secrecy lends the perfect air, “like going down the rabbit hole into Wonderland” says Sedge.

Sarah added: “Eternal Spirit designed some of the clothes for the Britney Spears tour, so it’s really exciting to have someone like that on board.”

Model, Abi Harper said: “It’s so cool to be part of something like this, everyone’s hair and makeup looks fantastic, it’s not something you get to do everyday!”

As one of the seven dwarves scuttles past us, obviously about to explode with excitement, the Stage Coach school’s principal Ginny Hartman introduces herself and the children. The most enthusiastic are seven-year-olds Olivia and Beatrice, who are hidden behind purple sequined face masks. “We’re really excited”, they both say in unison.

Owner Henry Ferguson explains he always wanted his brand to become synonymous with the fashion world, and this was the perfect vehicle with which to do it. “They were incredibly passionate about it and knew what they were doing. We felt like we could trust them to make it a success.” He says, surveying the organised chaos backstage. “If we were going to do this, it was important that we created more of an event rather than just a simple show. We’ve got goody bags, programmes and drinks for the guests. If it was just a normal show, you’d just turn up, watch it and go home again.” Having got a taste for such events tonight, he has plans to do many more in the future, including one already confirmed in May in a collaboration with the University of Nottingham. “We’ve done fashion-type photoshoots for our promo campaigns, so we already have that existing within the brand. Now it’s a matter of taking it forward,” he adds. With mirrors plastered across the wall, the former hairdresser’s room above the cocktail bar is the perfect place for the models to make their quick costume changes before hurtling back out onto the runway. Organiser Sarah Bannerman said: “The clothes that the models are wearing represent fairy tale characters, so they have to do a bit of acting during the show as well as modelling.” Model Jenny Henson agreed: “Everyone really suits their characters, I’m playing little red riding hood.” Fashion stores, Each to their Own, Eternal Spirit and Cow were just a few of the designers to get involved in the show

As Zero Hour approaches, the team moves down to the club floor, where the red carpet catwalk laden with red and white rose petals snakes through the different rooms. We grab a complimentary lemon meringue pie cocktail (no, really) and take up our seats at the very end of the runway with the photographers for the best view.

terval halfway through to give a chance for the customers to quench their thirst. Rebecca Bernard, who was in the audience, said: “It’s been well worth it, the show was great and some of the outfits were amazing!” Organisers Sedge and Sarah take to the microphone when the show came to an end to thank everyone for their help, saying: “We’ve been building up to this for 2 months, everyone has just been fantastic in supporting us, we’re so thankful.” Back upstairs, Henry congratulates the two girls and their team for making the night a success. Asked how he felt it went, he says: “For me it’s all about what everybody else thinks. The more people who liked it,

The show both kicks off and ends with the Eternal Flame dress, although the most impressive for us has to be Red Riding Hood’s. The models stop and pose at intervals along the catwalk for the packed crown to take photos, and although the pace is on the slow side, the cheering – at least from Sedge and Sarah’s friends at our end of the action – could last all night. “It was amazing, the outfits were brilliant,” scream a crowd of guests from their booth, crammed to four times its intended capacity with a plethora of cameras and empty glasses littering the table. Model Jenny added: “The godmother costume was amazing. It’s a little bit more risqué than the average grandma outfit – which is great as that’s what fashion’s all about.”

the better it went, but I was very happy with what I saw. It had a lot of atmosphere and a lot of character.” Although fashion shows are often big on theatrics, the extra pantomime nature of this one, coupled to its unorthodox setting, seems to have been a great success. Perhaps shows in the future should be actually set somewhere to match their character in this way. Look out for a summer collection on a beach in Havana.

The show lasted 45 minutes, with an in-

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Fashion

Topcollections 4 NY

m Peter So

Oscar de la Re

nta

Costello

Tagliapie

tra

Looking at some of the collections recently shown in New York, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have a hard time believing they were intended for next Autumn/Winter - usually the season of all things dark and depressing. Fashion Editor Laura Morrison shows us four of the most uplifting collections whose designers showed ingenious combinations of cut, colour, pattern, print and texture, sure to whisk the wearer away from the wind and the rain that come with annoying regularity...

Carolina Herrara

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tangerine number - the ultimate opulent dress to be seen in. The only downfall of the show - De La Renta’s clothes, well-known as the wardrobe fillers of mature Upper East Side ladies-who-lunch, looked slightly off-kilter on teenage and twenty-something year old models, as did the uberblowdryed hair and glossy makeup. Perhaps in this case a slightly (gasp!) older model would embody the spirit of the clothes and the women who buy them better than this gaggle of young girls.

Peter Som What a refreshing change to see such an eclectic, vibrant mix of colours and textures in an Autumn/Winter collection! Looking towards a brighter, more economically stable era of fashion, Peter Som presented an undeniably luxurious stable of garments, including Mongolian fur coats in deep ocean blue and bubblegum pink, dresses exploding with ostrich feathers, skirts beautifully embellished with crystals and paillettes, metallic blouses and leather urban stomping shoes. However the real magic lay within Som’s combinations of colour and prints: the most vivid - an electric green and lemon yellow check – was applied to skirts, blouses and inner linings, injecting an acidic bolt of youthful energy the clothes might otherwise have missed. Terracotta and charcoal grey provided the most effective contrasts for the more outlandish coloured pieces, whilst traditional tweeds and knits kept the clothes relevant in their Winter context. An exceptional collection from which to draw many a well-made garment.

Oscar De La Renta De La Renta rarely puts a foot wrong when designing a collection, and this season was no different. Deciding to ditch the darker, sombre looks of last Winter, the designer showed an upbeat, relentlessly colourful collection of day dresses, long coats, cocktail options and of course his signature eveningwear (how many of his ball gowns will have been worn to the Oscars by the time this is issued?) Saffron, indigo, teal, silver and gold were the main colours of choice this season; other standouts included a floral fuchsia ball gown brought to life with volumes of black lace, and a fitted, long sleeved

Carolina Herrera Cross-generational classicist Carolina Herrera returned to her roots this season, creating sumptuously stunning pieces that, whilst ticking all the boxes her traditional client would wish for, pushed new boundaries that will undoubtedly gain her even more new fans. Beading and embroidery were applied more generously than in the past, whilst the ruffles, pleats and chiffon inserts sang of understated opulence. The furs, hunting jackets and long, loose trousers were all present; however the younger clientele would likely be more interested in a mustard yellow cocktail dress with an abstract floral print, also available in a dramatic ball gown variation. For evening occasions the real winners were a light grey embroidered silk column dress with tulle wrap and fishtail, and a belted, bright pink showstopper with huge pleats that somewhat resembled ravioli... but a lot more mouth-watering.

Costello

Tagliapietra Lumberjack-resembling designers Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra were inspired by traditional Japanese dress this season, as was evident in their technically articulate use of pleating and gathering. Their fluidic draped dresses also seemed to have an underpinning structure to them, whilst the chosen array of muted, earthy browns, caramels, greens and oranges was sublime – a subtle break from most of the other choices seen this week. A light blue haywire print was particularly modern on short, belted dresses, whilst a dark pink blouse and burnt umber skirt was straightforward and exquisite. Though the metallic galaxy prints seemed a touch out of sync with the rest of the collection, one can just imagine a Japanese wanderer gazing up at the stars, pondering the intercontinental appeal of this Brooklyn-based label.

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Fashion

Hermès

Elie Tahari

Yigal Azrouël

Get your head in the game

Trend: Game Theory

Striped webbing bag £55, Fred Perry

Black cycling shorts, £10, Topshop

By Lucy Winckle

t’s that time of year again. With the countdown to summer well and truly underway so is (uh oh) the race for that to -die -for bikini body and whilst our motivation to sweat it out at the gym may be somewhat lacking ,this season’s catwalk collections were dominated by sport inspired trends, giving us a much needed incentive to don that leotard and get active! Designers such as Alexander Wang and Gucci adopted a winning mentality, showing spring collections with more than just a nod to athletics, taking inspiration from American football and tennis.

To `try out` this look on a budget, team a pair of skin tight leggings or harem style trousers with a slouchy vest top layered with a cropped tee for the ultimate in laid- back chic. Accessorise with an oversized leather bag and swap scruffy trainers for a pair of killer heels a la Elie Tahari. Think gym bunny with a sophisticated twist, taking one for the team never seemed so appealing!

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Hareem trousers, £35, Topshop

Asymmetric pocket vest, £18, Warehouse

Oversized hoody, £40, Urban Outfitters

Whiteout Dominic Hassall takes us behind the scenes of the Whiteout show at Nottingham Contemporary. [Photos by Gabie Brooks] Creation So as not to get distracted by colours and embellishments in our first project, we are using only white materials, in order to focus on the cut and finish of our garments. It soon becomes clear from some of my peers’ samples that they were born with a natural (unfair) understanding of pattern cutting, whilst others, including myself, find it as hard as Maths, Physics and Chemistry all rolled into one big stylish mess. Luckily our knowledge improves over time, and the initial panic at not understanding the difference between a material’s warp and weft transforms into the universally understood looming-deadline terror. Bring on the sleepless nights, own body weight in consumed caffeine, and more samples than I ever care to count! Now we just need to exhibit everyone’s work....

Location As this is the first time NTU has exhibited a fashion show at Nottingham Contemporary, we are determined to make it one to remember! After negotiating which gallery spaces we will be able to make use of (concerns regarding overenthusiastic audience members damaging pieces of art are duly noted), timings are rehearsed with committee members and tutors present. Cue baffled stares from gallery-going onlookers, likely wondering why we are following each other like zombies through the various rooms. The rooms themselves are perfect: spacious, clean, full of white, and of course contemporary.

Fittings

Showtime

Attempting to co-ordinate thirty plus models into more than a hundred outfits (roughly four each, with the odd annoying exception), whilst trying to establish a running order based on the designers’ working groups and taking into account that some garments will only fit specific models....is not an easy task. Not to mention that some creations would have benefitted from instruction manuals when being fitted to our willing volunteers! Suffice to say this process lasted many days, eventually ending in triumph – all garments had found a wearer. Success.

11th March – the day of the show. Tutors, members of the fashion committee, dressers and models are arriving from 2pm onwards, and doors open at 7pm. Plenty of time right? Apparently not! The running order seems to keep changing for unknown reasons, with outfits being reassigned to various models who weren’t on the original list, along with a lack of assigned hairdressers. We’ve no choice but to go with the flow! And...encourage audience members to visit the bar beforehand so any mistakes will be less noticeable? 7.30pm, and the gallery is packed to the rafters with donations apparently pouring in; the models and their assigned dressers are lined up like a battalion of stylish soldiers ready to do battle. First model – GO! So the continuous stream of models starts, with the audience’s eyes fixed on the variety of creations being shown in front of them. Despite a few glitches in the production, like the music suddenly stopping halfway through (to restart 30 seconds later, along with our hearts) and pacing issues that resulted in some models practically lapping the ones in front of them, the show was an overall success which was enjoyed by everyone who attended, and that I think everyone involved should be proud of. Oh, hold on a sec. We need to do it again in half an hour! Due to the number of people who showed up to watch, we decided to do the show twice. By this time the models are a bit more confident, although the original running order has pretty much been abandoned and a few outfits are inexplicably forgotten about until the final walkthrough with everyone present. Well it is only our first show; you can’t expect it to be perfect!

Whiteout Everything the models wear must be white! White bra (preferably strapless), white underwear, white nails, white footwear, white teeth! Ok we’re not that fanatical. But close. Hair and makeup are relatively simple decisions – black and white eye shadow with nude lips so as not to distract from the garments (and risk resembling a drag queen), and a chic bun with small quiff (own hair colour allowed.) Lots of technical talk about sound systems and specific wires needed for this room....such and such port cables for this room....shall we just plug someone’s iPod into some speakers? A show playlist is assembled with surprising ease; now let’s just hope no-one trips over whilst walking to it!

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Food&Drink Pudding Club | Recipes

Edited by Molly Woodruff | food@platform-online.net

Pudding Club M

occasion we couldn’t just tuck into one instead we each made a different dessert in the hope we would be crowned queen of the cakes or best of the biscuits.

As an alternative to the dull and mundane dinners we have come so accustomed to after three years of fending for ourselves without even the hint of mum’s Sunday roast in sight we decided to skip the main course altogether and just go onto the good stuff. Tonight we celebrated the pudding. But in honour of such a special

Spoons at the ready we lifted the lids from our cake boxes revealing our superb offerings for the “festival” (well... minus one rather poor attempt as my flatmate Jaspal revealed a rather sad looking box of shop bought jam doughnuts). The rest of the sweet treats were to die for though. It was a chocoholic’s dream of triple chocolate brownies, followed by a Mississippi mud cake, topped off by homemade pancakes filled with even more chocolaty delights. Each dessert was washed down with lashings of cream and ice cream making it an alltime calorific evening not for the faint hearted or those on the diet brigade.

y flatmates and I sat around in our living room looking at each other with glee in our eyes - surrounded by an array of kitchenware and large baking tins filling the room. Before you ask we haven’t lost the plot and started holding our own Tupperware parties (a much less risqué version to an Ann Summer’s evening). No, tonight we were gathered for one reason and one reason only. And the reason was pudding.

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The indulgent event, inspired by the infamous Pudding Club which started 25 years ago in the Cotswolds which sees diners gorging on more than seven different desserts, was a huge success although our pudding binges seem way too amateur to even compare. Pudding princess of the night would definitely be awarded to my friend Melissa whose cake was demolished in seconds with the only evidence of its existence being a few tiny crumbs settled into the corners of our mouths. This satisfying calorie consuming night was a cheap and fun alternative to eating out and well worth a try although you may have to go into a detoxification programme afterwards as you try to cope with the come down from such a sugar high. Molly Woodruff

The Diners’ Opinions: Emma Dick (21) who made pancakes:

“P

udding club was so much better than normal dinner time, it was really good trying what everyone had made, or brought in Jaspal’s case! Pudding club should definitely happen in every house at least once.”

Melissa Perkins (21) who made Mississippi mud cake:

“I

am so pleased that everyone enjoyed my cake – I’m a bit annoyed though as my friends will have me baking it for them all the time now. I would definitely try this again but not too often as I would never fit into my clothes if I did.”

Jaspal Mond (21) who brought jam doughnuts:

“I

n my defence I cannot bake without burning the kitchen down but I’ve got to say it was really fun watching the other ‘contestants’ get into a frenzy over puddings. In our house dinner is stressful enough but tonight baking took the biscuit. Melissa’s mud cake was incredible, I’ll be taking some to uni tomorrow and I definitely recommend Pudding club. Just don’t try to add up the amount of calories you’ve consumed!”

Molly Woodruff (21) who made triple chocolate brownies:

“I

t was a really fun night and was a nice change from the boring meals I tend to cook like beans on toast or pasta. I was so stuffed afterwards though – my eyes were definitely too big for my belly but I just couldn’t resist trying everything.”

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Food & Drink Inspired by my recent trip to New York City I thought I would share with you some great recipes that I picked up on my travels (that’s right I’m even crossing oceans to bring you the best in modern cuisine). Americans may not be well-known for cooking the most nutritious of foods but they sure as hell have some tasty treats hidden up there sleeves. It’s a place stereotypically known for fast foods such as hot dogs, pizza and flying saucer size hamburgers and I’m not going to lie that’s the exact kind of food I tried and tested for you all. After all, we only live once and these foods are just, well... worth being fat for! Molly Woodruff

Recipes Macaroni and cheese

New York Hamburger Next up for the tasting is that infamous New York hamburger.

Ingredients: 1 pack of lean beef mince A chopped onion Salt and pepper for seasoning (For an extra little lift try adding either a finely chopped chilli or some Worcester sauce) Some sesame buns Salad and relish for garnish

How to: Firstly, it’s a good old mac and cheese recipe. You will no longer have to make do with the stuff out the can after you see how quick and easy it is to make this yummy meal yourself.

Ingredients: 1 cup of macaroni 2 tablespoons flour 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons butter Large handful of grated cheddar Salt and Pepper to season

In a large bowl put the meat,

chopped onion, seasoning and the added extra ingredient and mix together. Divide the burger mixture into four portions and form into individual patties. Lightly brush with olive or sunflower oil. Grill or barbecue for about 5 minutes on each side. Serve in lightly toasted sesame seed buns with salad and relish.

How to: Preheat oven to about 180 Celsius. Cook pasta using packet instructions and drain. In another pan, melt butter over a low-medium heat, then add flour and stir. Pour in milk and cook until thick. Season and then add cheese. Put in heat proof dish and cook for 20 minutes (add extra cheese to the top before cooking if required).

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American style pancakes To finish: Pancake Day may have been and gone but I’m sure a few of you are still trying to scrape off the last remaining bits of crepe you got stuck to the ceiling in all your flipping mayhem (No? Just me?). Well why not try the American version which are just as tasty and won’t have you reaching for the mop bucket anytime soon.

Ingredients: 135g plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons caster sugar 130ml milk 1 large egg 2 tablespoons melted butter Extras: Maple syrup, chocolate chips

How to: Put the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a bowl. In a separate bowl, lightly whisk together the milk and egg, then whisk in the melted butter. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and, using a fork, beat until smooth. Heat a knob of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. When it’s melted, add a ladle of the batter. Wait until the top of the pancake begins to bubble, then turn it over and cook until both sides are golden brown and the pancake has risen to about 1cm thick. Serve with maple syrup or add chocolate chips to the mixture before cooking.

Travel Macau

Edited by Lucia Miyashita | travel@platform-online.net

Macau, China As Jovita Lo do Nascimento reports, Macau is a unique and hybrid urban culture.

acau, the city that lies in the Guangdong province of southern China, by the west bank of Pearl River, was once a Portuguese colony (founded in 1557). Only on 20 December 1999 did Macau became one of China’s Special Administrative Regions, and just like Hong Kong, it now benefits from the principle “one country, two systems”. The city is a peninsula with joints to two small isles called Taipa and Coloane.

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Travel

This tiny World Heritage City’s urban area was recognized worldwide not due to the classification of one building itself, but an entire architectural path. As it has been nurtured by two dominant yet contrasting cultures, Macau’s identity can be compared to a ‘threshold’ and a crossroad of the East and the West. This distinctive symbolism can be found in the numerous attractions which characterise the thrilling and modern life in Macau.

Have you ever imagined yourself walking under the rain in shorts or skirt, while being embraced by warm, tropical weather? This might turn into reality once you step into the southern coastal area of China in summer time. It is believed that European tourists are more struck by the climatic conditions rather than the culture impacts of this vibrant city. However, the variable weather should never constrain your activities during your stay in Macau. Leisure plans can range from visiting historical buildings (temples and churches), world class museums, gardens (which in my opinion can be better described as storytelling centres), hotels and casinos, as well as taking part in the region’s traditional festivals. The liberalization of the gaming industry in Macau has always raised the issue of how far it should satisfy the interests of economic growth without interfering with the preservation of cultural heritage. Yet it is due to its gaming industry, which includes the city’s luxury hotels, restaurants, and casinos, that Macau is known today as one of the world’s fastest growing entertainment and leisure holiday destination, beating Las Vegas in Nevada for its gaming revenue.

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Macau’s cuisine continues to attract people from far and wide. Personally, I will never learn to stop talking once I start indulging in the subject of how amazing food is in Macau. As well as the traditional Macanese, Portuguese, Cantonese and Chinese cuisine you will be able to savour in this thriving, cosmopolitan city, there is still the famous fusion cuisine - a result of multicultural influences which have already been in Macau for hundreds of years. Furthermore, once you fall in love with the city’s vibrant night life, you will have the chance to enjoy some of Macau’s more conventional food in its many twenty-four-hour restaurants, which serve meals around the clock. Events play a major role in Chinese societies and are seen as opportunities to share happiness and refresh the identity of a culture. Important festivals in Macau include the celebration of Chinese New Year, which is the most meaningful and colourful period of the year (surely an unforgettable experience), the Dragon Boat Festivalwhich takes place in Nam Van Lake and where everyone can admire the ornamented and carved dragon boats accompanied by the sound of drums, the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon is the focus of the whole festivity and people offer lunar cakes to friends and families while observing the new moon and worshipping the gods, and the Grand Prix which is a motor-racing event – still the only street circuit that holds both car and motorcycle races. This is simply a very succinct description of what Macau has to offer. Words are not enough to depict a complete picture of this magnificent and thriving city, which is quickly taking to the global stage for its gaming revenue and cultural gems. For this reason, I suggest that if you ever get the opportunity, don’t miss out on a visit to this fast-growing modern metropolis where a true, eye-opening life adventure awaits you. On personal recommendation, challenge yourself by trying the “Sky Jump” from the Macau Tower, a twenty second flight from 233 meters above ground. Maybe this way you will see the city with entirely different eyes, and it will remain an unforgettable experience.

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Health Smart Drugs? | Gappersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Health | Bunions

Edited by Danielle Almond | health@platform-online.net

Drugs are always a thorny issue, especially since the Mephedrone saga. But what about those that help you to be productive, rather than become a babbling vegetable? Danielle Almond has a sniff around. [Illustration by Jess Phillips]

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ave you heard of nootropics or smart drugs? Do you think there’s a difference between taking a drug prescribed to help someone else concentrate and taking a caffeine pill to help you stay up to study? Danielle Almond investigates this and speaks to both students and the university about their views of study drugs. We are told our limits when it comes to alcohol and constantly warned about the effects if alcohol is abused but are we as students really made aware of the growing affect and abuse linked to prescription drugs. No one understands more the pressure placed upon students to perform than we do. Nootropics, also known as “smart drugs” have gained notoriety and in a recent survey were found to be have been taken casually by 5% of male American college students to, “increase their intelligence, enhance their memory and make them smarter”. As with other drugs trends it can also be predicted that the trend is likely to be bought over to this side of the Atlantic. Some people experiment with prescription drugs because they believe it will

help them have more fun, lose weight, fit in, and even study more effectively. Prescription drugs can be easier to get hold of than street drugs as many have a family member or friend that may take them. But this is not the only way they are being accessed. Prescription drugs are also sometimes sold on the street like other illegal drugs. Why? Some people think that prescription drugs are safer and less addictive than street drugs. After all, these are drugs that mums, dads, and even kid brothers and sisters use.

help me work, I don’t see the difference really.” Despite this opinion around campus remains divided. Speaking to Katie she told me that, “If people feel they have to take performance enhancing drugs they should put more effort into time management to get their work done.” Rob also told me, “I definitely think it’s cheating to take drugs to help you work better. I don’t need to take anything to help me with uni work because I already do well.”

The prescription drugs that are being However, Sam told me, “My workload is abused more and more are stimulants. really high at the moment, so what’s the These are normally prescribed for ADHD, difference between taking a caffeine pill narcolepsy, and, in some instances, or having a can of energy drink to help depression that has not responded to you than taking a drug? Everyone has other treatments. Stimulants have been their own way of helping themselves abused for both “performance enhancewith the amount of work you have to do.” ment” and recreational purposes and this performance enhancement is the Speaking to a spokeswoman for Notelement that is becoming so tempting tingham Trent University, she said, “The for students. This abuse of stimulants is university believes health, happiness extremely dangerous as stimulants have and academic success are all linked and a chemical structure that is similar to seeks to provide appropriate support the key brain neurotransmitters called to students to achieve their potential monoamines, including dopamine and without feeling that they need to use norepinephrine. Their therapeutic effect substances such as so called ‘smart is achieved by slow and steady increases drugs.” of dopamine that are similar to the natural production of this chemical by “We are aware that the area of substance the brain. use and misuse is a fast-changing one and although this issue is not one which The doses prescribed by physicians has arisen in our work with students or start low and increase gradually until a local services, we maintain a responsive therapeutic effect is reached. However, stance to drug trends so that we can when taken in doses and routes other help to keep students as informed as than those prescribed, stimulants can possible.” increase the brain’s dopamine levels in a rapid and highly amplified manner—as “We also aim to promote a culture do most other drugs of abuse—disruptthat encourages students to be welling normal communication between informed about health issues and the brain cells, producing euphoria, and potential risks involved in taking drugs increasing the risk of addiction. Taking which have not been prescribed for high doses of a stimulant can result in them.” an irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures, and taking “We offer a comprehensive health and some stimulants in high doses or repeatwellbeing support service whereby edly can lead to hostility or feelings of students can access information, advice paranoia in some individuals. and guidance on substance misuse and signposting to local confidential Speaking to one student who had told services in Nottingham that can also me they’d used a performance enhancsupport students.” ing drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin, prescribed for ADHD, he explained “Lastly, I would strongly advise that evithe effects he’s experienced, “It doesn’t dence on the effectiveness of nootropics make me feel like I’m more intelligent, is largely anecdotal and anyone who it makes me think more clearly and feels under immense pressure as a result less distracted. I know it’s kind of like of their studies is advised to contact the cheating, but it helps me knuckle down. university counselling services or their Other than that I drink a lot of coffee to GP.”

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Health

Gappers’ Health By Danielle Almond

t is around this time that many of you will be thinking about and organising your trips for the summer. You may even be planning a trip around the world on a gap year. To help you stay fit and well Joanne Dernie has given you a handy guide full of tips on how to best take care of yourself when away.

You’ve spent weeks planning the perfect trip, had an amazing time and return home with a bag of dirty clothes and masses of photos to show your family and friends. How about returning home with a flesh-eating bug, and a huge medical bill to go with it? According to Dr. Peter Slowe, founder

of Projects Abroad, cases of a particularly nasty flesh-eating bug Leishmaniasis ‘have doubled in the past ten years with gap year travellers most at risk’. Leishmaniasis hit the news a few months ago when Ben Fogle contracted the illness while filming for the BBC but of course, it’s not just this attention-grabbing illness you should be aware of. Dr. Slowe comments that travellers are failing to protect themselves and are putting themselves at risk of illness or infection. And if you don’t have appropriate travel insurance you could end up footing any medical bills yourself. The best thing you can do before you travel is to see your GP or a specialised

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travel clinic to find out if you need any vaccinations, and to give yourself plenty of time. You may need several appointments, so get everything sorted well before you go. And while you’re away, take care of your health. Depending on where you go, there might be specific activities to avoid or risks to keep an eye out for, so act on the advice you’re given. Nevertheless, there are a few rules that everybody should keep in mind. If you’re going somewhere hot, stay out of the sun when it’s at its peak, and take care not to burn. And be aware of how much alcohol you’re drinking. Alcohol has the potential to blur your judgement and increase the chance of you taking unnecessary risks. Amy, a Birmingham university graduate, who has recently returned from a 5 month around the world trip went to a travel clinic to sort everything she would need, including Hepatitis A and B vaccinations, Malaria tablets and mosquito repellent kit. However, while Amy says taking care of your health is important, she also says that she ‘wouldn’t be put off’ visiting a country because it seemed too risky. Most importantly, do make sure you have appropriate travel insurance. As Dr Slowe says ‘Comprehensive travel insurance is the first priority after medical prevention’ to ensure any medical bills are covered. Medical costs can be astronomical, and you don’t want to have to fork out for that yourself.

Bunions By Danielle Almond

hate fulfilling stereotypes but in this case I’m afraid I’m just going to have to admit it. I’m a girl and love shoes, the higher the better. The sight of a red sole gives me a tingle of excitement and I just can’t help it.

But I’d like to think that when my love for something starts to affect my health as well as how I look I’d be able to give it up. But where I will reserve my stilettos for a night out, there are some who think the idea of going out anywhere without a pair of heels on is just unthinkable. If you’ve seen any pictures of Victoria Beckham’s feet recently you may have guessed what I’m talking about, bunions. Getting technical a bunion is a bony swelling at the base of the big toe, known medically as a hallux valgus. The big toe becomes angled inwards towards the middle of the foot causing the first metatarsal to protrude from the side of a foot. As well as being painful the condition is also very unsightly. Bunions aren’t only caused by wearing high heels, they’re caused by wearing badly fitting shoes as well as other conditions to do with the structure of your feet such as flat feet or abnormal bone structure. Despite this they do tend to affect women more than men. But remember bunions will only get worse and if you ignore them and can induce arthritis. To treat bunions orthopaedic shoes are used and it is recommended that you rest. But in extreme cases surgery is used to correct the deformity. The problem with high heeled shoes is that the toes can be squeezed together which keeps the foot from resting in its natural, healthy shape. As well as this the problem can run in families. I spoke to Claire someone who’s recently started suffering from bunions who told me, “I know it’s caused by my heels so now I only save them for nights out. I have a terrible shooting pain from wearing them but I can’t face going on a night out without that extra bit of height and confidence it gives me. But in hindsight I wish I’d not worn them as much just going to lectures.”

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Gaming How to Get into the Games Industry | Final Fantasy XIII | God of War III | Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Edited by Aaron Lee | gaming@platform-online.net

How to get into the Games Industry Can you recount the first time you played a game and felt you wanted to create something just as cool and exciting one day? Or maybe you’re a sucker for the atmosphere of a passionate crowd at festivals and conventions? As Aaron Lee reports, if those memories stay with you then a career in the games industry could be for you.

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f you’re serious about wanting to join the industry then attending festivals and gaming events is one of the best places to start - for any field. You can speak directly to those already in the space and start the all important networking process. GameCity takes place in Nottingham and there are other UK events during the year, like the Edinburgh Interactive Festival, the London Games Festival, and the Develop Conference.

Development Developers are the people who make the games we play. There are many, many specialised roles, from design, to coding, to sound. If you wish to be on one of the teams behind tomorrow’s games, experience in your chosen field will be a necessity. And depending on the area you wish to pursue, a graduate degree may only be a starting point. Martin Hollis, Managing Director of Zoonami: “You’ll need to help yourself. A lot of people believe they deserve a job in games and just playing a few games is enough. The reality is this: for every one position in the industry there are thousands of people who think they would like it. To win a position you will need to sell yourself. You will need to understand the industry, the job positions, and the reality of hiring. It is highly unlikely you will apply for one job and then get it, so pace your expectations and make it a learning experience.”

Publishing Publishers fund and distribute games. They consist of many departments, from research & development right through to marketing, and have facilities all over the world. There are lots of opportunities for career development in publishing. You may start out as an assistant producer and work your way up to project manager on one or several titles. Jonathan Smith, Development Director, TT Games: “Excellent communication skills; the ability to present yourself credibly to a wide array of different people; stamina, and the ability to work as part of a team effort. In a global business, willingness to travel is crucial too.”

QA Quality assurance (QA) is an essential part of the games industry. Platform holders and publishers have specific requirements which must be met before a game can ship. These are technical and cultural, as an oversight on a game’s content could see its reputation damaged in parts of the world. It involves testing games and localising them specifically for regional markets. Lisa Ravenscroft, Head of Marketing, Testronic Labs: “Testronic Labs’ Test Engineers often have Computing, Computer Science or Engineering bachelor’s degrees, but there are opportunities at all levels. What all testers have in common is a great attention to detail and the rare ability to communicate what they see clearly and objectively - language skills, a logical mind and a real enthusiasm for keeping your technical knowledge and skills up to date are all essential. If you need help finding an opening in QA, visit testroniclabs. com/careers.”

Outsourcing Outsourcing can be anything from localisation, to tools, to cinematics and external design aid. Outsourcing companies do not work exclusively for game clients as they need every bit of work they can get. So, be prepared to do animation work for TV indents, high resolution artwork for promotional campaigns and possibly visiting another country to pitch to a potential client. Christine Brandwood, Marketing Manager, RealtimeUK: “In order to get a job, there are a number of recruitment agencies who specialize in recruitment for the games industry specifically. You can also help yourself by working to build your portfolio and putting yourself and your work out through joining online CG communities like CG Society. Here, you can post your work and have it critiqued by artists around the world. This will also help you to network within the industry.”

PR The job of a PR officer is maintaining a company’s brand and imagine with the public. At its worst you’ll have to handle all kinds of information leaks and publicity whitewashes. But it can also be most fulfilling. You’ll be charged with writing press releases, setting up interviews between colleagues/clients and journalists and executing nationwide promotional strategies. Simon Byron, PR Manager, Premier PR: “There’s no minimum qualifications: I’ve worked with people with PR and marketing degrees, to hairdressers - and it’s those with a real passion for games who are most likely to succeed. A basic grasp of English, the ability to communicate efficiently, an understanding of the media and an honest, outgoing nature are essential. We’re always looking for bright, enthusiastic newcomers. Email me: simon.byron@premierpr.com.”

Journalism Particularly in the games space, the number of commercial and independent press covering the industry has grown considerably since the 90s. Whether you get your start as a journalist or a critic, in this career you’re sure to meet plenty of new faces. You will travel to various events up and down the country, listen to developers and PRs, perform interviews and be expected to writing everything up for deadline. Keith Stuart, Freelance Journalist and Guardian regular: “You need to be able to write, and you need to understand games, and game history. You don’t need to be a walking encyclopedia of game trivia, but you need a firm grasp of the key consoles, games and creators. Much more important though is developing a singular voice. Anyone can set up a game blog these days (and I think that’s a smart way of learning your craft, developing a style and getting noticed), but you need to have something new to say, or at least an engaging, individual style.”

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Gaming

Game Reviews

Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, Xbox 360)

Publisher: Square Enix Released: Out Now

ince Square’s defining separation from Nintendo to release Final Fantasy VII on the Sony PlayStation, the series has long been a magnet for controversy - for fans and money-spinners alike. But the fact that this series has run for so long, and for so many instalments, makes each Final Fantasy more controversially reviewable than the last. It’s always “how does it compare to the others?”, “does it still feel like Final Fantasy?”and so on. So where does Final Fantasy XIII slot in?

Well, it is as much accessible, exciting and immersive as the majority of big budget commercial RPGs, but conversely, it’s also somewhat of an anomaly. The first, and most major thing to point out about the game, is that it is very, very linear. The game has a subtle force, constantly driving you forward. There is virtually no opportunity to stray off your path, and only one major side quest throughout the entire game. Many critics have used this as a basis for criticising the game. But is this such a bad thing? Final Fantasy XIII is focused, and the nature of its narrative is being on the run. It’s a story, which is a convention the series has stuck to, but they’ve simply trimmed off the excess. Around a third of the entire game is cutscenes. Stunning, beautifully animated cutscenes. It’s a true joy to watch, and

they have real cinematic quality and flair. But “watch” is an operative word here. You’ll be doing a lot of watching and listening. Again, is this a bad thing? That’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself. Because Final Fantasy is so story heavy it may put a lot of casual gamers off or those looking to play with freedom - those who love the more open, western RPGs, such as Elder Scrolls, Fable, Fallout and so on. I can confidently say the battle system is a hybrid between Final Fantasy X-2’s rapid, almost real-time, combat, Final Fantasy XII’s system whereby monsters are readily in play, and the crazy acrobatics of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. FFXIII uses an active time battle (ATB) system, and each ability (from attack, to cure or thunder) takes up ATB slots. As you progress through the game, upgrading stats and learning abilities using the Crystarium (an even

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more linear version of the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy X), you will also gain more slots to use. It’s very fast paced and very fulfilling. If you’re a Final Fantasy fan prepare to be surprised by the direction this game has taken. You are constantly moving forward with no time to stop and chat - I mean this literally, you can’t communicate with any NPCs, instead they shout some dialogue at you as you walk past. But you’re on the run, so it wouldn’t be realistic to stop off in a town, help some people find an item and play cards. Final Fantasy XIII is solid, smooth and graphically beautiful. It has a gripping story, fast and pulsating combat and some well developed characters (especially Sazh, who has a chocobo chick living in his afro). If you can get past the linearity, then the latest instalment of Final Fantasy should be thoroughly enjoyable. Lewis Townsend

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Gaming

God of War III (PS3) Publisher: Sony Released: Out Now

or those few who have never played the originals (which you should do as soon as possible), God of War puts you in the shoes of Greek warrior and uber-badass, Kratos. Needless to say, Kratos is an angry man who’s out to take revenge on Zeus and all of Olympus. GOWIII wastes no time in thrusting you blade-first into the action. The game opens at precisely where the last one left off; with Kratos leading an army of enormous Titans up Mount Olympus to wreak havoc on the Gods.

Scale has always been a strong point of the God of War series. In GOWII we caught a glimpse of the Titans, although in a very limited way due to the restrictions of the PS2. Now they have been fully realised. There are several points throughout the game that will literally leave your jaw hanging, including one of the best boss fights ever created. Sadly, Titan interactions don’t happen often. However, this is understandable given the obvious time and effort put into these sequences that go where few games have ventured successfully. Gameplay is comparable to the previous games with a few improvements in certain areas. A mixture of combat, platforming and puzzle solving. Combat remains largely unaltered. Kratos now has the Blades of Exile, which he can swing, spin and thrust into his enemies in a variety of different combinations. You can also use your Chain Blades to pull yourself towards enemies, to keep combat flowing and your combo metre ticking over. What has changed are the magic abilities. Instead of unlocking new magic and weapons separately, as was common in previous games, this time each new weapon has its own unique magic. This helps to make you rely on different

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weapons instead of always using the Chain Blades. Also returning are the ever-present quick-time events (QTEs), used to execute certain enemies in hideously gruesome, yet strangely satisfying ways. They play a major part in boss fights, testing both your reaction speed and thumb dexterity. Sony Santa Monica has always had a talent for making these events both brutal and entertaining, and GOWIII is no different with several moments being truly shocking. At the end, despite how much GOWIII gives you, it does leave you wanting more. It sparks the imagination in ways you never thought possible. It opens doors for games to be so much more - bigger, better, more imaginative. In the words of Sony Santa Monica, the only limits they have are the limits of their own imagination. GOWIII is a fitting send off for our grumpy anti-hero. But it would be a massive waste to say goodbye to God of War as it hits its highest note. If you had any doubts before, lay them to rest. Kratos’ last hurrah does not disappoint. Stuart Kent

Sports Varsity Reports | Gary King | Turmoil at Loftus Road | All that matters now is England Edited by James Haigh | sports@platform-online.net

Varsity Report:

RUgby Union

Words by James Haigh | Photos by Patrick Taylor

rent’s male rugby squad took a well-deserved lead in the Varsity Cup after thrashing bitter rivals Nottingham University 18 - 5 at Meadow Lane.

The former polytechnic collage claimed a crucial advantage in the competition taking the overall scores to 5 - 4 in their favour. After supporters from both teams filled the sell-out stadium, it took Trent – playing in red and white – just four minutes to open the scoring when quick-footed number ten, Alex George, converted a penalty kick after he was fouled on the 22-metre-line. The speedy forward caught his opponents – clothed in grey and green stripes – off guard once again just minutes later after latching onto an opposition’s misskick and running half the length of the pitch to slam the ball down in front of the rival fans. Although Trent failed to make the proceeding conversion, the scores now laid at an impressive 8 – 0 just ten minutes into the game.

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Sports

However Nottingham Uni hit back in quick succession kicking the ball forward and only some tough tackling from their challenger’s backline denied the toffs a try.

But just as the Beeston-based University thought they had found a clear path towards their opponent’s try line, Trent scrum-half, Will Cotterhill, pulled off an impressive interception, sprinting up the pitch and punting the ball through the posts for a drop-goal. At the 20-minute-mark the score laid at 11 – 0 to Nottingham Trent. Tempers boiled over at the half-an-hour mark after Trent winger Jack Frater conceded a penalty after swinging at rival Uni hooker, Jack Wheeler, who retaliated with a slap - unseen by the referee. The resulting conversion missed and the crowd at the Trent end shouted emphatically in protest. The scores remained 11 – 0 to the city centre-based University. As 40-minutes approached the clock, Trent were able to quickly break away in numbers from a scrum at the half-way line. An energetic flurry of precise passing broke down the Nottingham Uni backline as previous try-scoring hero, Alex George, ran through the goal-posts and touched the ball to the ground. Trent couldn’t have asked for a better half and, with just a few seconds left on the clock, punted a curling conversion kick to increase the score line to a remarkable 18 - 0. As the referee blew his whistle for halftime supporters of the team in front cheered and clapped their side off the field. There was to be more action at the beginning of the second half when both sides returned to face each other once again. However it was Nottingham Uni who made the brighter start and were able to take their first try of the match after some poor defending by their opponents.

When a long-ranged throw-on missed every player in the line-up, the ball came to Beeston scrum-half Dave Heads, who used his strength and pace to force the Trent defence backwards. Although the boys in red and white initially managed to repel the attack, Nottingham Uni forwards found a way through their opposition’s leaky defence to the try-line with a slick bout of passing, slamming the ball to the ground. The failed conversion kick - followed by jeers from the Trent fans – slightly closed the score line to 18 – 5. The two teams were now evenly matched, with Nottingham Uni looking increasingly likely to get a breakthrough, but their rivals fiercely held on, trying to limit their mistakes. With fifteen minutes left on the clock, the toffs were once again threatening to

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

score after a precise line-out was won by Beeston forward, William Nelson, who pushed the Trent defence back just twometres from the touchline. However Trent held on by the skin of their teeth and Nottingham Uni became even more desperate. With the clock reading 40 minutes, both teams became broiled in fighting after confusion broke out when the referee called for the end of the game, only to carry on seconds later. Finally, after more forceful jostling from the two sides, the whistle was blown and Trent were crowned champions of the 2010 Varsity rugby union. The final score saw the superior Trent team beat rivals Nottingham University 18 – 5 in an enthralling high-velocity game.

Varsity Report:

Football

As James Haigh reports, fans’ violence outshined a bleak performance at Meadow Lane.

rent suffered yet more heartache at the hands of rivals Nottingham University after losing the Varsity football match 4 – 3 on penalties.

the game as defender, Neal Wheatley, mistimed an awful back-pass to his goalkeeper that almost let in the opposition.

The highly anticipated fixture – which was marred by violence between the fans and stewards – saw both teams net two-goals-each before the Beeston squad won the spot-kick shootout. The result narrowed the Varsity scores to just 6 – 5 in Trent’s favour.

As the half-time whistle approached, the boys in black and white looked eager to finish what had so far been a rather miserable match.

As the crowd took their seats in the packed Meadow Lane stadium, the game took a while to settle into rhythm, with both lacklustre-looking teams struggling to keep hold of possession. Yet it was Trent – playing in black and white – who had the first attempt on goal after left-sided winger, Adam Brown, curled a sweeping cross onto the head of the unmarked number ten, Levi Ramsey, and only a sublime save from the Nottingham Uni keeper kept the score goalless. With fans on both sides motivationally cheering on their team, the match tempo began to quicken. But just minutes later the Beeston-based squad – playing in all green - opened the scoring after some sloppy defending from their opponents allowed forward, Ryan Birch, a free header from a looping throw-in, which ended up in the back of the Trent net. With 30-minutes gone, the Nottingham Uni team found themselves one - nil up. Following the goal, Trent did little to prove that they could get back into

The atmosphere was echoed within the Trent supporter’s stand who became unruly after heavy-handed stewards threw noisy fans out of the stadium. When the brawl had finally been disrupted, both teams returned to the field of play and the match restarted for the second half. This time it was the Trent team who made the brighter start and within minutes they had pulled the game level. As central midfielder Scott Donoghue countered quickly from a Nottingham Uni corner, he passed a precise ball to winger Jamie Sharpe, who put a swinging cross into their rival’s box where it was met with a leaping header from Trent number ten, Levi Ramsey, who put it past the goalkeeper into the topright corner of the net. With the scores now tied at one-a-piece, both teams appeared to pick up the pace, with players making energetic runs and well-timed passes. But after 55 minutes on the clock, Trent winger Dave Barnett was written into the referee’s book after a studs-up challenge on Nottingham Uni defender, Yousif Oudjidane, earning him a yellow card in the process.

Seconds after the clumsy tackle, Beeston were ahead once again after careless play by their opponents let in number 11, Sam Sherwood, who slotted home from just ten-yards-out. The complacent Trent team paid the price for poor organisation at the back and Nottingham Uni were gifted a 2 – 1 lead. Just as the city-based University began to get themselves back into play, the match was halted after another outbreak of violence from the Trent supporters in the Jimmy Sirrel stand was meet with strong resistance from the Meadow Lane stewards. After five minutes, play finally resumed. This time Trent got their head into the game and were able to pull the score line level once again to 2 – 2 with only ten minutes to go. As forward Levi Ramsey latched onto a long throw from the goalkeeper, he made a quick a deceive pass out to Nathan Freeman on the right-wing, who placed an accurate cross into number nine, Rich Atkins, rattling the posts with a blistering header. Fortunately the ball rolled kindly to Trent substitute, number 16 Mark Okak, who precisely and skilfully placed the ball into the bottom left of the net. Finally, after heavy pressure from the Beeston squad, the referee blew his whistle for the end of open play and the match entered penalties, with Trent opting to take first. After the initial three spot-kicks from both teams were scored effortlessly, it was down to Trent substitute, Declan Clark to keep his team in the lead. However, his woeful kick was well saved by the Nottingham Uni keeper, and the ensuing Beeston kick was easily placed into the back of the net. With Trent now losing 4 – 3, number 14 Jamie Sharpe stepped up, only to blast it high and wide over the goal. Game well and truly over. There were tears on the terraces as the Beeston squad ran off to claim their trophy. Nottingham University football squad beat Trent 4 - 3 on penalties after a high scoring two-all draw at Meadow Lane stadium.

www.platform-online.net |

Sports

Interview:

Extreme Sports Activist

Gary King

Life is just a walk in the Arctic and a leap off a cliff for extreme sports activist, Gary King. The former Nottingham Trent student turned escapade extraordinaire has recently been skydiving without a parachute but now faces his most daring mission yet: a chat with Platform magazine. Sree Harsha Nadig talks to the writer, speaker and lover of all things that raise the heartbeat about his life as an adventure addict.

“P

robably one of the scariest experiences I’ve ever had was being attacked by a polar bear whilst competing in a race to the North Pole,” says Gary.

“We had just skied 75 miles in three days when, out of nowhere, this great beast came running at us across the icy tundra. It was a big male and it wasn’t messing around.” How this particular tale ends is unclear because the 41-year-old scratches his chin and then goes onto tell me about being chased by an orangutan while jungle trekking in Sumatra, nearly falling down a crevasse on a French glacier and sky diving during a thunderstorm in Chicago. He graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2002, with a Masters in Writing, and has since gone on to write about adventure sports and travel for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

as well as a raft of specialist magazines. “The course was excellent because it taught me how to constructively criticize my own work. The formats involved writing an article or a story, and then have the rest of the class tell you what they thought of it, whilst you sat there with your mouth shut.” “It was tough love and it worked.” He’s recently launched a website that not only acts as a showcase for his work

but also offers many of the things that he has experienced with the various organisations that he has worked with. So if you fancy going wing walking, sky diving, paragliding or visiting far flung places then he’s happy to oblige. “One of the great things about my job is that I’ve met some of the most fantastic people who are passionate and incredibly professional about what they do. I’ve track tested their facilities and equipment and in many cases can negotiate a better deal for anybody wanting to have a go themselves.” He also offers some advice for budding adventure sport journalists. “Don’t just concentrate on being able to write. In the future, editors will want people that can also take pictures, shoot videos and then splice it all together into a compelling package that might go out in a variety of mediums.” “If there is one thing that I’ve learnt from my years of and adventure travel is that life is for living - not spectating.” It would probably also help not to be scared of bears, heights and orangutans. If you would like to find out more about Gary or extreme sports, please visit his website: www.gary-king.co.uk.

www.platform-online.net |

Sports Turmoil at Loftus Road All football fans in the UK are aware that Queens Park Rangers football club are now one of the richest clubs in the world. People had expectations of European glory and big money signings but these never materialised. So what’s it like to be a fan of a football club that, within the last three years, has gone through ten managers, seen ticket prices rise dramatically, and been promotion favourites to relegation contenders? Pearsé Connery unearths the trials and tribulations of supporting a team with an owner wealthy enough to buy every single club in the Premier League.

he news that Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, two huge names in Formula 1, were investing heavily into the R’s shocked the whole of the footballing world. A team that had once been well recognised as one of the best in the country had, within seven years of them finishing fifth in the Premiership, rocketed down the leagues like the central line tube train that takes fans to Loftus Road.

This story bears striking comparisons to that of Leeds United, except we didn’t have a wealthy pensioner to bail us out, we simply had no money for several seasons. During this period we consistently sold off our best players, a little-known Peter Crouch being one of them, and because of this our performance in the League and FA Cup suffered. However, under then-manager Ian Holloway, we successfully navigated our way back to the sacred land that is the Championship, and gained a respectable mid-table position in our first season back there. Yet after the controversial dismissal of Ian Holloway, due to his alleged contact with Leicester City about their vacant managerial post, things began to go sour. New managers came and went, and we consistently finished just above the relegation zone. Then there were rumours about a possible takeover. QPR fans had been here before, for the last decade there’d been talk of a takeover bid by a rich billionaire QPR fan, but nothing came of it. This time was different, on November 7, 2007, Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Bria-

tore took control over Queens Park Rangers. This was followed by Lakshi Mittal (right), the fourth richest person in the world worth an estimated £45billion, buying 20 per cent of the club. Expectations were high but success was low, we constantly sacked managers or there was a ‘mutual termination’ (that basically means they got sacked) after only a handful of games. Iain Dowie only had 15 matches to prove himself before getting the chop. Other managers such as Luigi Di Canio, Paulo Sousa, Paul Hart and Jim Magilton tried and failed to win the hearts of the board before being shown the door. Particularly memorable moments under the Briatore stewardship were Paolo Sousa’s departure brought on by his announcement to the media that he knew nothing about the loan departure of Dexter Blackstock, our most prolific goal scorer at the time. Another moment of madness was when the then Magilton allegedly head butted centre midfielder, Buzsacky, after a poor first half performance. He lost his job days later. Another ex-manager, Paul Hart, left after just five games in a similar fashion (but no mention of head butting) when he fell out with another midfielder Adel Taarabt. Yet there have been times where we’ve been on course for a nice finish. Earlier this season, under Jim Magilton, we won three games back-to-back, scoring four goals in each of them, and were fourth in the table.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

But after a small slip up we lost our manager and the losing streak continued. This season we look doomed as it is rumoured that Briatore is cashing in by offloading our highest paid players, Wayne Routledge, Fitz Hall, Patrick Agyemang, and Raheem Sterling, a future England prospect, have all left during the January transfer window. A QPR message board has shown its complete disregard for the current regime, calling Briatore a ‘muppet’. There have been countless messages from the unhappy fans, telling that they have completely lost faith in the club and have stopped going to games because of the poor handling of the club’s affairs. The QPR press office declined to comment on the situation at the club. With the board exerting its powerful influence over the management, it is no surprise that we’ve been through an extraordinary amount of managers, not had any success and become the laughing stock of the British football world. We are currently under the stewardship of Neil Warnock (above) who took over just days ago - but just how long will he last? While Flavio Briatore has resigned as chairman but is still a large shareholder and we’re sitting just three points above the relegation zone. Are we fighting a lost battle? Will Briatore pack up his bags and go? What lays ahead for Queens Park Rangers FC? I guess in the next few months we’ll find out.

The Terry - Bridge saga is over: All that matters now is England

By James Lewis

ayne Bridge and John Terry’s hands are now irrelevant– all that matters is the world cup.

Whether or not Bridge will play for England again is now a discussion for another day as is the argument about Terry’s captaincy.

The Three Lions squad should now be, by far, the most important thing on John Terry’s and Fabio Capello’s minds. The comfortable 3-1 win over African Cup of Nations champions, Egypt, last month went along way to prove that the team are finally able to compete against the best on the planet. This is the beginning of what could be the finest hour for our country and, with Wayne Rooney in the form of his life, anything is possible. But England will not have a chance of winning the World Cup if there are divisions, arguments and problems within the squad. Only ensuring they are united and focused on that golden trophy will we be able to go all the way in South Africa. There are, without-a-doubt, many who are expecting Capello’s men to cruise through the competition’s play-off rounds, which begin against America on June 12, 2010. However, it will be crucial to see if they can turn on the style and play like a team and not the crude individuals – which is what this circus has been about. The players faced a tough test against Egypt, and although the newly assigned captain, Rio Ferdinand, could not play through injury, the rest of the squad looked calm, collected and well over the distractions which have dogged them of late. Perhaps they will finally end the harrowing title, “nearly men”, which has haunted them for so many decades. With Capello in charge, he will not allow them to be distracted and will be on constant hand to ensure they are focused. Anyone who isn’t will be out. Now England have the most capable set of players and one of the world’s best managers. They are capable of winning in South Africa but the crucial and most important question is: do they have team spirit, dedication and will power? Bring on the summer.

www.platform-online.net |

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