THE FESTIVALS EDITION
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Features Rewriting history Fashion Soothe the sole Travel Valencia: Home of the Paella Arts NTU DramaSoc’s The Rivals Health Festival survival guide Gaming & Tech Who’s laughing now?
catching that summer bug
Festival Fever
et -online.n
SUMM
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F R EE
Main Event: £38 - Capital FM Arena - 8pm - 2:30am VIP Dinner: £67 - Capital FM Arena - 6:30pm - 2:30am Includes a free drink on arrival, VIP drink reception area, 3 course dinner in an exclusive arena suite plus entry to the evening event. 2IÀFLDO $IWHU 3DUW\ £5 (when bought with either of the tickets above) - NTSU, Byron House. 2am - 6am. With Climax DJ’s and the ultimate survivors photo
7LFNHWV RQ VDOH Tuesday 10th May & Wednesday 11th May, 10am - 4pm in Sub Bar (City Site). The Point (Clifton) and Brackenhurst Bar. Arrive early to avoid disappointment. Previous Graduation Balls have sold out in advance. Payment via credit/debit card or cash. Nottingham Trent Students & Guests only. ID required for entry. This is a black tie event. More info from ZZZ WUHQWVWXGHQWV RUJ JUDGEDOO & ZZZ IDFHERRN FRP JUDGXDWLRQEDOO
Editor’s Letter www.platform-online.net E D I TO R- I N - CH I E F
MARY ANN PICKFORD mary.pickford@su.ntu.ac.uk D E PU T Y E D I TO R
OLIVER WHITFIELD-MIOČIĆ deputy-editor@platform-online.net NE W S / FE AT U R E S E D I TO R
ALEXANDER PAGE news@platform-online.net M U S I C E D I TO R
JAMIE MIDDLETON music@platform-online.net FI L M E D I TO R
JAMES GORDON film@platform-online.net
H
ey Trent Army,
It’s with a mixture of joy and sadness that I write my final editorial for Platform’s last edition of the year. As a third year I’m sad to have to leave Trent Uni, as I’m sure many other final years are, but on a happy note we’re nearing the end of the academic year and it can only mean one thing for the summer: FESTIVALS! Turn to page 12 for our special coverage. Summer also means holidays right? Our travel section is bursting with loads of destination ideas if you’re planning on travelling, check out our recommendations on page 28. As it’s our final issue it means you guys coming back next year will have a new Platform Editor. He’s only just been elected recently but I’d like to say congrats and best of luck to Christian Baker!
PH OTO GR A PH Y E D I TO R
STEFAN EBELEWICZ photos@platform-online.net
That’s all for now folks, thank you for reading Platform this past year and for everyone who contributed, especially the section editors.
A RTS E D I TO R
MICHAEL WORRALL arts@platform-online.net
Hope you all have a great summer!
FA S H I O N E D I TO R
LUCY BUDGE
fashion@platform-online.net T R AV E L E D I TO R
LIZ RIORDAN
travel@platform-online.net G AM I N G & T E CH N O LO GY E D I TOR
AARON LEE
gaming@platform-online.net
Mary Ann Pickford Editor-in-Chief
H E A LT H E D I TO R
THOMAS DELL
health@platform-online.net S PO RTS E D I TO R
VACANT
Email platform@su.ntu.ac.uk D E S I GN E R S
SIMONA CIOCOIU ANDY LAWRENCE LEE SKINNER comms@su.ntu.ac.uk
Platform Magazine
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Contact BAM Student Marketing on 0845 1300 667 or www.trentstudents.org/student_marketing Platform is an independent publication, and any views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Editor or of 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
6 Union News
20-25 Fashion
44-45 Film
+Fly FM presents Grad Ball
+Summer prints +Iconic summer moments +Rick Owens +Soothe the sole +Raw print zine fair +Spots & frills takeover
+Review & Premiere Report Arthur
7-10 Features
+Who’s laughing now?
+Japan & Fukushima +Rewriting History +Revolutions
26-33 Travel
11-19 Music
+Top 10 student destinations +Saint Tropez +Berlin +Valencia +NYC
+Interview Motormouf +Festivals Special Glastonbury, Leeds & Reading, Download, Indoor festivals +Album Review Clapton Fox + Review Assault @ NTSU
46-47 Gaming 48-51 Sports +Varsity Photos Rugby
52-55 Photos
34-37 Arts +Platform’s hot picks +Youtube: Ones to watch +What’s on +Theatre Reviews Avenue Q, NTU DramaSoc’s The Rivals
+NTSU Awards 2011
38-43 Health +Festival survival guide +Savoury and sweet recipes +Restaurant Review Red Hot World Buffet and Bar
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Union News www.trentstudents.org
FLY FM
PRESENTS GRADBALL
W
ell hello there! We’re Fly FM, your student radio station for NTU. We’re in Platform every month telling you all you need to know about our shows and making sure you don’t miss a thing! IAre you into your last EVER month of university? Yes? Well then you’ll already have your ticket to the Graduation Ball at the Capital FM Arena! Even if you aren’t graduating this year, it’s definitely worth buying a ticket. This year’s line up is one of the best ever, and you’d expect Fly FM were the first to announce the acts. In case you missed out, the line up includes Nero, Example, The Futureheads, DJ Fresh, and as many DJ’s as you can drink VK’s on a night out in Ocean. If that’s not enough, there are also casino tables, fairground stalls, and THE biggest chocolate fountain you will ever
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see! Professional photographers are also around to capture the biggest night out on the student calendar! As usual, Fly FM is Home of the Varsity coverage and we’ll tell you everything about the biggest Varsity Series in the UK, as well as covering live matches and interviews with the players! The score is incredibly close...let’s hope that Trent bring the cup back where it belongs! Be sure to check flyfm.co.uk regularly as you’ll find out about all the latest news and competitions first. We’re on Facebook: facebook.com/flyfmuk , Twitter: twitter.com/fly_fm and our Youtube channel is flyfmuk. All the shows have Facebook pages too! Have a great summer! The Fly FM Team
| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
Features Edited by Alexander Page (news@platform-online.net)
a m i h s u k u f & n pa
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s I write this, it is four weeks to the day that a 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami that has devastated Japan. It is difficult to underestimate the damage caused – 12, 700 deaths officially confirmed, but almost 15, 000 people still unaccounted for. As if this isn’t enough, 150, 000 people remain homeless. And while money pales into insignificance when looked at next to those statistics, it is said to be the most expensive natural disaster on record, and that the Japanese economy will take years to recover. For a student sat in her bedroom typing the article on her Dell Inspiron laptop, it’s impossible to imagine. But the aspect that has captivated the newspaper headlines is the ongoing disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Naturally, our panic-addicted press has flown into action, with comparisons to Chernobyl and Three-Mile-Island flooding the papers. Mention the word ‘nuclear’ next to the word ‘disaster,’ and suddenly, the ‘facts’ are presented in the most dramatic way possible. Our papers have a guilty record for this sort of thing. Certain papers have been known to publish headlines with a general message of ‘We’re All Doomed!!!,’ after all (cough Daily Mail cough).The reality of the situation is that, although nuclear fallout is expected to reach as far as America and Europe, it is a much smaller amount than the fallout experienced after Chernobyl,
as the safety measures at the Fukushima station are significantly more efficient than the Chernobyl power plant. While the problematic reactors have been hogging the limelight however, a diligent clean-up operation has been working to rebuild the damaged country. There has been little criticism towards the government reaction. Recently, Prime Minister Naoto Kan thanked the international community for their support, claiming that Japan will “recover and come back even stronger.” So what news, if any, is positive? As always, such a devastating disaster has the power to bring out the best in the human race, with 128 countries and 33 international organisations offering aid to the Japanese. Amongst the citizens themselves, it has been reported that the famous Japanese attitude for forbearance and laws that encourage honesty have enabled the avoidance of large-scale looting and disorder. Japan was certainly devastated by the tsunami. Officials have warned that it may take months to bring the situation in the Fukushima nuclear plant under control. But the nation is looking towards the future, and in the words of Prime Minister Kan,“We now stand together dedicated to rebuilding a nation.” Imogen Hall
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Features
re-writin
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A
lan Gribben, world renowned Twain scholar and Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama, has this month publish a re-devised edition of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. In this newly published edition the reader can expect to find what is deemed racially offensive language, replaced with watered down version in an attempt not to avoid offending or putting off readers. Gribben removes the use of ‘nigger’ replacing it instead with the word ‘slave’ alongside the changing of “Injun Joe,” to “Indian Joe,” and “Half Breed,” to “Half blood.” Although these are the only changes made to the original text, there is still a great deal of controversy surrounding this censorship of a classic text. But why, 127 years after its original publication, has Gribben decided to re-edit this well loved novel, without terms that could appear racially offensive? In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Gribben stated that the replaced language “Is not an effort to render Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn colourblind,” but that“It’s such a shame that one word should be a barrier between a marvellous reading
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experience and a lot of readers.” But should this original language stand as such a large barrier? Does this change actually achieve anything? The novel could be seen to mock the ridiculous nature of slavery. Therefore, by denying it the language used within the time, it waters down the implications of the racial divide. Censoring texts may water down important areas of our history.Ignoring or washing over the fact that slavery and racism existed for a large part of our timeline is almost an insult to people who suffered as a direct result of slavery. It is important to remember times in which our history is not so rosy, otherwise we risk the chance of repetition.And with the topics of slavery and racism becoming so taboo there is a danger that it will lose focus and this replacement of language could be an example of this. Is this simply attempting not to offend people of different races, or are we as a society attempting to change our view of our shameful period of history? It’s all about context – Twain penned Huckleberry Finn just after the abolishment of slavery in
| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
g histor y Southern states of America, and it’s set during an era when slavery was not only present, but an accepted way of life. We should be at a point in cultural development to understand the actions of the past and to learn from them.If this is being done in order not to introduce children (as Huckleberry Finn is in fact a book initially aimed at children) then how are we going to educate kids about race? The idea that a novel may encourage racist language in children is to assume that it’s not being used in other mediums. Rap music for instance, is allowed to produce albums which are brimming with racial slurs, however as long as it has an ‘explicit content’ sticker on the front, it’s fine. In a classroom environment a child may be allowed the opportunity to questions Huck’s use of racial slurs and develop an understanding of the way that society has now deemed the use of offensive racial language toward another human being as morally wrong.
Finally is it our place to re devise texts in this way? The reason that the text has gained canon and worldwide status is due in large part to the language that Twain uses. To deny the author his language could be a way of denying his speech. Is it not the readers responsibility to understand and interpret texts, to question and challenge that author, and therefore to challenge racism? And if the answer is yes, then why not in the classroom where children can be educated in a safe environment before they are exposed to it on a wider range? And if the answer is no, then why allow children to read it at all? Why not begin to censor literary texts in the way that music and media are? Literature remains one of the forms of free speech left; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn challenges the idea of race by establishing a strong, grounded black character. And let’s face it, isn’t ‘slave’ just as offensive and condescending? Eloise Dorkette Mclennan
www.platform-online.net |
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Features
revolutio
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T
unisia 2010/11 is old news, Egypt has ousted President Mubarack, and Colonel Gaddafi still clings onto power in a performance that should win him a nomination for ‘Best Barnacle Impression of the Year.’ It’s a fascinating time in history to be alive. A revolution in Tunisia last year has caused rapid change across the world, with fascist regimes facing uproar in many countries amongst the globe. It’s almost like living in the Star Wars universe. That’s the classics, not the prequels, fortunately.The revolutionary feeling has even reached us Brits – March’s anti-cuts protest in London attracted between 250, 000 and half a million people, second only to the antiwar protest of 2003. Obviously, it’s not quite on the scale of protest that’s going down in Libya, where a full-scale rebellion is steadily working to remove the aforementioned Mr Barnacle from his position of power. (Well,at the moment, they’re stuck in a stalemate because they can’t push forwards without the aid of our bombers, but hey, by the time this is published, that might have changed!). So was our intervention the right thing
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to do? Personally, I think yes. Bringing down a corrupt dictator is better than ignoring him, especially considering we’ve been supplying him with weapons. But equally, our presence there looks dodgy to say the least because Libya has a rich supply of oil. I’d like to think our politicians didn’t realise this – that there is no ulterior motive. But after Iraq, scepticism is inevitable, and I wonder if the NATO forces might have looked better if Turkey or Greece had led the offensive. Then of course, there’s the cost of revolution to consider. Some might argue that it’s wrong to spend millions on a war when the government are cutting essential services, not to mention their support for university tuition fees. Not to mention the cost of human life – casualties are never restricted to soldiers when armies fight, after all. In a recent bombing of one of Gaddafi’s weapons So I suppose the question that it all boils down to is this: are these places ready for democracy? Are they willing to pay the price? Are we? Well, I’m not sure, but it certainly seems as though democracy is coming for them, ready or not. Alexander Page
| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
Music Edited by Jamie Middleton (music@platform-online.net)
Motormouf Platform loves to put the spotlight on Notts talent, and this time we’re introducing to you Alex Young. MARY ANN PICKFORD talks to Alex aka Motormouf about his mad beatboxing skills and the Beatboxing Championships that was held in our own fair city last month. So what was going on stage like at the championships? This yeargoing on stage was a bit nerve racking to be honest. The competition stepped up a lot! But I kept in mind ‘just do what you do and enjoy yourself whatever the outcome’. This kept me sane haha. How did you prepare for it? I had some ammunition beats planned out depending on who I was against, otherwise I would just freestyle some crazy dubstep. We were gutted to see you get knocked out! Are there any other dates we can catch you do your thing in the near future? Yeah I was a little surprised myself to get knocked out of the first round after seeing how the crowd reacted. I would’ve got through if I was judged through crowd reaction but the judges made their decision which I respect. They must have seen more technique in the other beatboxer which I can see because the set I did
was more on the entertainment factor, however the beatboxer came fourth and didn’t qualify for the grand finals so that made me feel better I guess hahaha! In terms of gigs, I’ll be performing with a band I have recently been playing with named Just James and we will be rocking out at the Golden Fleeceon 5th June. Come down for a night of beatboxing and some hectic raving!
How did you actually find out you had the talent to beatbox? I found out I could do it when I was 15 and I was out with a few friends who were rapping. I randomly busted a beatbox and they were so surprised and from then on the rest is history. Finally, do you have any advice for any future beatboxers in the making? To all you beatboxers who are on the rise, if anybody tells you you’re rubbish, do not let it get you down but at the same time take the negative comments and turn it into positive energy. Plus, nobody likes a one-trick-pony, try to branch out by doing other things like singing, rapping or anything else musical. That way you can have more exposure for different things. The grand final of the Vauxhall UK Beatboxing Championships will take place on 11 June. For more info visit www.ukbeatboxchampionships.com.
Photography: Paul Carroll
www.platform-online.net |
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MUSIC
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| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
Worthy Farm, Pilton
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rawing bigger crowds, bigger bands and more amazing memories than any other festival in the world, Glastonbury is the undisputed ‘King of Festivals’. In recent times, Blur’s epic Sunday night set, and Snoop Dogg on a sweltering Saturday afternoon could only happen at Glastonbury. The festival opens opportunities, breaks down boundaries, and brings together some of the biggest names in current music.
2011
I have been to Glastonbury for the last two years, and it is fair to say that I have had some of the most amazing and diverse experiences of my life. In 2009, I found myself walking around on the Thursday afternoon amongst a huge amount of hype that none other than East 17 were going to be playing that evening. The rumours turned out to be true, and by the evening in one of the biggest thunderstorms I’d ever seen, there I was singing House of Love and Stay. Friday morning rolled around, people spent the night phoning relatives to see if the news was true - and slowly but surely, families confirmed that Michael Jackson had indeed passed away. The rest of the festival passed with mystical quietness. Various tributes from the likes of Dizzee Rascal and The Streets made people realise the various artists that MJ’s influence had touched, his ability to touch the diverse musical talents that collected at the festival. Last year, the festival was gripped by World Cup Fever, as me and my friends dragged crate after crate of alcohol through the festival site in 30+ degrees, hoping we could set up the tent in time to get down to the main stage and watch the match. Indie group Two Door Cinema Club replaced East 17, and that year’s
highlights were Muse and Stevie Wonder. A very different feel, but the same festival. This year, sees arguably the biggest names of their genres arrive once again. Fresh after splitting professionally from her father, Beyonce Knowles will be the latest R&B star to grace the Pyramid Stage, alongside rock gods U2 and Chris Martin’s Coldplay. Perhaps the most high profile headline acts we’ve seen for a while; shadowed no doubt by a huge array of talent on the various stages. Michael Jackson is now departed (R.I.P.), the World Cup is over for another four years, so there will be nothing to disturb people as they sip their Brothers Cider and bask in the consistent sun of the British summer. To me, Glastonbury is the best festival in the world. I have had two very different experiences, but in no way could I say one was better than the other. Both have brought a diverse range of talent to a farm in England. I have camped at opposite ends of the site, and both have their strengths and weaknesses. One was wet, one was 30+ for the whole time. The toilets are awful, but then anyone going to a festival should be well aware of that anyway. Any advice to give? Wet wipes are essential, alcohol even more so. Any food is approximately £5, and the choice is as wide as the music, from Chinese to curry, Tapas to tortillas. Any festival goer has to experience Glastonbury. For me, it represents everything that festivals aim to achieve. Bringing people from all over the world to relax, socialise, and witness the talent that generations old and new have enjoyed. Nowhere else could you see Rolf Harris, Tinie Tempah and Stevie Wonder on the same stage, and that, for me, is Glastonbury. Tom Wallin
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MUSIC
LEEDS & READING M
ost regular festival goers will still agree that Glastonbury is the crème de la crème of the summer. But with the more mainstream line-ups of the past few years, the festivals at Leeds and Reading over August Bank Holiday weekend have become more popular than ever. Having worked at Leeds Festival for the last two years, I feel like I can safely say, it’s definitely worth the money for the atmosphere whether or not the line-up is to your taste.
Cinema Club, Pendulum and Mumford & Sons to name just a few. This year we’ll see The Streets, 2manydjs, Beady Eye, White Lies, Jane’s Addiction and Panic! At The Disco gracing the tent. There’s also the Festival Republic Stage bestowing upon us Peter Doherty yeah, I dunno when he became formal either - The Horrors, and The Midnight Beast. Not to mention the alternative stage hosting comedians and other entertainments, so far this year including Russell Kane and Tim Minchin.
When I think of Leeds, I think of warm
hazy days, bonfires and a general sense of comradeship and euphoria. Maybe that’s just me, but it seems like Leeds is one of those festivals where anyone will talk to anyone - and the topic is usually music, which is what we like!
And of course, there’s the usual festival business alongside all this musical mayhem. Stalls selling everything from clothing to furniture to… oxygen? Yup, now you can rejuvenate from last night’s cider hangover in style.
Recent years have brought us huge headliners such as Kings of Leon, Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys in 2009, with Arcade Fire, Guns N’ Roses and amazingly Blink 182 on the main stage last year. It might seem strange to put bands so dissimilar in style and tone on across one festival, but somehow Leeds and Reading pull it off each year - there’s something for almost anyone, because there are literally so many stages you have to troll for twenty minutes to get from one to the other. Headlining this year is the biggest variety we’ve seen yet, with Muse, Elbow and Interpol playing Friday night, My Chemical Romance, 30SECONDSTOMARS and The Offspring on Saturday, and Sunday finishing with the reunion of Pulp, The Strokes, The National and Jimmy Eat World.
To me, Leeds is as much a holiday as it is a festival. It’s a place to make friends with people you’d never normally meet - and you’d be surprised at what strangers have to say. Who’d have thought the stoned looking guy with the knee length dreads was an All Time Low fan? Or the preppy looking girl with the bleach white hair was hugely into Limp Bizkit? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s not to judge anyone by their appearances - when it comes down to it and you’re all jumping up and down, waving your arms like a maniac under a starry sky, everyone there is a music lover.
Each year, the main stage gives us something radically different each night while the NME/Radio 1 Stage spoils us with yet more variety, usually showcasing the slightly odder artists with a more specific following - recently Frank Turner, Crystal Castles, Band of Skulls, Two Door
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If I could tell you to do one thing this summer, it’s go to this festival. It may seem like it costs a bomb for just three days of mud, no sleep and hangovers, but really it’s what you make it. I’ve made friends for life wandering round the Red Campsite at 3am in a reflective jacket, even as a member of staff - and there’s nothing better than sharing music with people that way. Jamie Middleton
| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
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MUSIC
Three stages, three days and over 100,000 people living at a racetrack - it must be time for Donnington Park’s Download festival, this year featuring some of the most revered bands in the alternative world of classic rock, metal, punk and hardcore. Friday’s main stage features classic rock kings such as Thin Lizzy and Duff McKagan’s Loaded as well as more modern rock acts including The Darkness, Alter Bridge and CKY with legends Def Leppard headlining. Friday’s second and Pepsi Max stages features an interesting mix of more modern punk and hardcore bands like the divisive Bring me The Horizon, Anti-Flag and rising act, Young
Guns, with Danzig headlining and Korn and Pendulum taking top honours on the second stage. Saturday sees a much more metal theme with the reunion of System of a Down to headline the main stage with support from Avenged Sevenfold, Down and Escape the Fate as well as more interesting acts Hollywood Undead and Skunk Anansie also high up on the bill. The second stage follows Friday night’s theme of more classic rock acts Twisted Sister, Mr Big, Cheap Trick - with Alice Cooper headlining and Funeral For a Friend. Sunday seems to be the more mainstream day with Linkin Park
Fri 10th - Sun 12th June Donington Park
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| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
headlining with support from Bullet for My Valentine, Disturbed, The Pretty Reckless and Bowling for Soup. Sunday’s second stage and Pepsi Max stage feature more alternative and less well known acts with The Cult, Black Veil Brides, Buckcherry and Turisas supporting Rob Zombie on the second stage with acoustic hero Frank Turner headlining the Pepsi Max. Overall this year Download offers a very interesting and wide ranging group of alternative acts over the entire weekend, which caters for pretty much all tastes. David Holden
in
festivals T
he night time slots are often the most coveted by festival bands, the place reserved for perhaps the top two on the bill. The moments in the dead of night when a band can enter onto the stage shrouded in smoke and shade, only to be finally illuminated and brought to life by the blaze of lights unto a fervent crowd of festival goers.
passing suited bankers and traffic wardens rather than mud stained, straw hat bearing, alcohol induced customers. It is the time that a city is presented in its most vibrant and spirited state in order for you to enjoy its custom. And it is for this reason that there is that little bit of community spirit that is often disassociated with these events.
The confines of a pokey clubroom where shoes stick to the floor, the stench of sweat is ever present and the cling of bodies is ceaseless. This is live music as it was intended. These are the places that most closely resemble those coveted night time festival slots. So it seems a pleasing prospect to have these conditions present throughout the day, midday to midnight. It would seem that an indoor festival is a perfect festival compromise, or maybe not.
Festivals such as ‘The Great Escape’ in Brighton host a consistently impressive line up along with a bright seaside atmosphere. ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ makes use of Alexandra Palace for the weekend boasting perhaps the most varied and genuinely intriguing line up this side of the Atlantic, whereas closer to home ‘Detonate’ and ‘Dot to Dot’ link the many pubs, clubs and bars of Nottingham presenting some of the best bands in the country.
‘Festival’ is a word of many associations that range far from music, it is the community spirit, the ‘vibe’, that shared patch of land, the dependence on the weather. All these things that are of a lesser importance to an indoor festival. And it is for this reason that indoor festivals do not receive the same amount of hype and publicity as the larger outdoor festivals. However this is not to say that they are incomparable, rather that the experience is entirely different to that of Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds or the like. Indoor festivals are more for the love of music than anything else, the rushing from one venue to another
So rather than disregarding the indoor festival this summer, go and stay with your mate at Brighton Uni and pick up a cone of chips for 80p at a chippy rather than spending £3 on a doughnut at a vendor called ‘Go Nuts 4 Doughnuts’. Matthew Timms
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clapton fox
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ith such a name, it’s not surprising to find that this first studio album is a bit strange too… and from the word go the influences
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same. Yet on other tracks it all drops into rhythmic, pulsing electronic beats. Which after a while, gets a bit jarring. A few tracks seem to be cut short, as
seems to slide into throwing obscure metaphors to add to the background music - not to mention the singer seems to have taken vocal cues directly from Syd
of psychedelic forefathers is evident, strange noises abound throughout the album, smattering over the buzzing bass and splashy drumbeats. Electronica vibes
though there were no better way to end the song, leaving the album feeling rather disjointed. There also seem to be a few instances when the random sounds - such
Barrett and Roger Waters. Having said all of this, this isn’t a bad album. There’s something lurking under all the confusion and clashing
pepper the aural landscape too, throwing everything into a confusing mix of Pink Floyd and MGMT. And that’s the main feeling I get from this album – confusion over what it’s trying to be. There are some moments where the whole thing drops into a very Animals era Pink Floyd style, sparse acoustics and shimmering slides over the airy vocals - the song ‘Procrastination’ definitely feels like homage to Pink Floyd’s ‘Pigs on the Wing’, hell even the bassline is the
as a woman crying - feel very much like an attempt to bring the listener back to the music… If I’m honest I totally missed half the songs on my first listen because it just washed over me. The songs seem to lack any powerful kick, each one trundles along its course without much of a bang. Lyrically, Amazing Thunderstorm seems to struggle with the balance between psychedelic and still holding any meaning – even Pink Floyd had lyrics with potency. For Clapton Fox, most of the singing
sounds that has a glimmer of promise. Confusing? Disjointed? Maybe. But every band has to start somewhere, and this definitely isn’t a bad starting point.
| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
Amazing Thunderstorm is available August 1st on Peacock Skins. Alex Adams
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ccasionally, the SU dares to allow NTU’s Rock Society to have its very own night filled with the most eclectic and interesting mix of punk, rock, metal, EBM and guest niche sets. Assault takes up the main rooms upstairs in the Pulse bar and takes place every second Friday during NTU term time, and is run by both the society itself and outside DJs who started the night many moons ago. Both rooms split the content of music being played with the conservatory featuring the metal storms, punk sets and guest niche sets - which have included hip-hop, 90s grunge and dad rock. Meanwhile the main room featuring an EBM set - electro body music, which
is essentially dance music for Goths. I’m not kidding, the sight of thirty Goths with glow sticks stomping away to dance music is worth the £3 entry alone - and a more mainstream set which has been known to feature everything from Disturbed, Taking Back Sunday and Lamb of God, to Vengaboys, Aqua and Men Without Hats - a personal favourite). From £2 entry before 11pm and only £3 after, various cheap drink prices including £1.60 for pints and £2.50 doubles and mixer, Assault is definitely suited to those who enjoy the more alternative and rock music of Hey Hey Hey but prefer the prices of Tuned. David Holden
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Fashion Edited by LUCY BUDGE (fashion@platform-online.net)
The lethal dose of vivid colour and bold print is just the fashion hit we need after the camel stampede we saw on the catwalks for Autumn/Winter 2010/11. This summer it’s all about making a statement and with the 1970s being the decade of the season – pairing up printed garments is going to be a key look.
Summer
Here are the top three prints that are a must for a Spring/Summer 2011 wardrobe...
1.TUTTI FRUITI
Fruit prints are fun and playful – think bright yellow banana earrings and pineapples. This trend was seen on the catwalks of Stella McCartney and Prada, and can be bought in a variety of high street stores such as RiverIsland and Topshop.
2.FLORAL EXPLOSION We see the floral trend on the catwalk every summer, whether its ditsy prints, delicate or graphic floral patterns. This season the designers are still recreating our old favourite summer trend from the bold to the subtle prints, there’s something for everyone with this trend. Take your pick...
3.SUPER STRIPES
Stripes are a must this season and high street brands have definitely taken this trend on board. Prada has played a key part in this season with their tropicana prints and bright stripes. Daisy Simpson
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Fashion’s Iconic Summer Moments:
For many, one glimpse of the sun in the sky and the phrase ‘bare all’ comes to mind. Skirts, sandals, flip flops, summery tops; they all dust themselves off ready for summer. However, it is the bikini which trumps all when it comes to must-have summer items and there are many iconic summer moments which influence and inspire today’s fashionistas. From Baywatch beauties to James Bond girls, they have all inspired the changing fashions of the summer months in their own way and I have compiled a rundown of the most iconic. 1. Raquel Welch playing Loana the Fair one in One Million Years B.C (1966) It was the publicity shot released of Welch dressed as Loana wearing a fur bikini and matching boots which turned her into a star overnight. Welch stands in the bikini amidst a haze of dust, gazing up at the sun above her, it was this shot and this bikini which turned her into an instant sex symbol. 2. Brigitte Bardot on the beach during the Cannes Film Festival (1953) At only 18, the images of Bardot wearing a flowery bikini became perhaps the most iconic images of her, inspiring many to follow in her footsteps.
Perhaps the most iconic bikini moment in history is where Andress emerges from Jamaican waters in a white bikini, shaking her wet hair from side to side. Men wanted her and women wanted to be her and the scene itself has been re-created time and time again. 6. Elizabeth Taylor in Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) In tribute to the late Elizabeth Taylor, I felt it was fitting to include her. The film shows Taylor kneeling in the sand in a white one piece, looking every bit the glamorous, iconic star she was and always will be. Poppy Taylor
Raquel Welch
Brigitte Bardot
3. Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in Star Wars (1983) Captured by the evil Lord Jabba the Hutt and forced to sit by his side wearing the famous gold bikini that is now known around the world. This iconic image is a favourite at dressing up parties and has even made an appearance in the television sitcom Friends. 4. Pamela Anderson in Baywatch (1990s) Everyone knows the Baywatch theme tune and we all associate the tune with the Pamela Anderson running along the beach in slow motion wearing the red lifeguard swimsuit. The phrase ‘forever remembered and never forgotten’ comes to mind; as Pamela Anderson spawned a thousand look-a-likes, making her one of the most iconic beach babes. 5. Ursula Andress as Honey Rider in the James Bond film Dr.No (1962)
Elizabeth Taylor
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Fashion
Born in Porteville in Los Angeles in 1962, Owens’ turbulent relationship with his excessively right wing father during his sheltered upbringing is apparent through his work. Talking about his Catholic upbringing he says, “I was a very sheltered, very thinned, super sensitive little boy. It was hard, it was very hard. I mean, the other kids were vicious, like animals. I could totally have gone Columbine over there.”. This combined with a father who was deeply homophobic (Owens himself is bisexual), racist and conservative (many of which Owens says his father still avidly believes in, but turns a blind eye to when considering his sons own lifestyle) has helped aid the self titled king of ‘glunge’ (a heady mix of glamour
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and grunge) channel his anger into his luxurious disheveled and damaged designs. Owens unconventional upbringing continued through to his college education where he studied at Otis College of Art and Design, only to leave prematurely due to lack of money to pay for his education. Unlike many of his American designer counterparts such as Marc Jacobs and Halston, Owens didn’t get his education through glamorous industry placements at top couture houses. He got them through working with an abundance of Korean ladies down the backstreets of LA in knock off stores, working as a pattern cutter. However despite his perhaps ‘low brow’ background, it’s this education that has helped him become such a master of draping. His clothes often ooze fluidity, yet remain intransigent in their structure and fit - much like that of one of his major inspirations, Charles James, who he insists is one to admire “making beautiful things and live in glamorous squalor in Hollywood”. However, it was in the 1990’s that you could argue Owens career really began to roll. After becoming the Go-To man to grunge inspired designs, making clothes for friends and family, one of his synonymous leather jackets was picked to grace an editorial in French Vogue. At the
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time it was featuring a little known model by the name of Kate Moss. Soon after,he was picked up by American powerhouse and editor of American Vogue Anna Wintour, who then sponsored his first show in New York. The rest they say is history. Owens’ aesthetics is striking to say the least, both personally and throughout his collections. He doesn’t advertise and only does two fashion shows a year (both men’s and women’s). It’s becoming increasingly hard to escape his magnitude. Everything he does is kept monochromatic, whether it be his collections (black, white and all the ‘smoke’ and ‘pewters’ inbetween) or sparse, yet undeniably luxe stores. He chooses only the best in fabrics and materials, using only the finest cashmere to ladder and the most delicate silk chiffon to fray and desecrate and playfully switches between soft and flowing to hard, rigid and structured. He embodies the resurrection of 90’s grunge trend yet updates it to 2011 standards showing that partying hard and the reckless nature of fashion is still as prevalent now, recession or no recession. After all, as the man himself says “the candle that burns at both ends might burn shorter, but it burns brighter”.
Portrait by Owenscorp for Vice Magazine http://www.viceland.com/int/v16n3/htdocs/rick-owens-736.php
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merican born and part Mexican, Owens may at first seem a fairly unassuming, niche brand in itself, but considering he turned over $50 million last year it would appear he has the appeal of a much broader audience. When living in an economic climate which has left fashion falling back on old favourites, many of which evoke a sense of monotony and an indistinguishable style, it’s an inspiration that a designer such as Owens - who still very much lives on the fringes of the industry- has managed to flourish providing such an unconventional view of fashion.
Rick Owens Fall/ Winter 2011 womens collection Rick Owens Fall/ Winter 2011 mens collection http://www.rickowens.eu/ http://www.rickowens.eu/
To say Rick Owens’ designs have been gracing the bodies of grunge royalty such as Moss and Love since the 1990’s, it’s fair to say that of recent he seems to have burst onto the fashion scene from relative obscurity. Jade Naylor reports.
Sole
Soothe the Stand tall this summer in this season’s must have seventies inspired wedges. From New Look to Kurt Geiger, chunky platforms to easy-wear espadrilles, Darcy Summerton says there’s a style to suit everyone. The best thing about wedges is how they can be dressed down and worn with sun dresses, playsuits and bell bottom jeans or dressed up and teamed with maxi dresses, jumpsuits or smart trousers. The wedge heel is definitely the most comfortable way to party in style, be it at
a family barbeque or out on the town. So, Platform has hunted high and low to find the hottest styles for summer wedges. We have chosen six high street hits which all show different ways you can interpret this season’s trend.
ASOS
New Look
These ruched strap wedges from ASOS are perfect for adding a bit of humph into an outfit. Striking tie-dye is one of this season’s most loved prints and if you want attention grabbing footwear then ASOS have provided an affordable way to stop people in their tracks. Take Boho to a new level. £45.00
Be bang on trend with these coral leather ankle strap sandals with cut out and punch hole detail. The peep toe appears again however this time with a chunky straw wedge. This key style would look beautiful with a crochet dress or even with flares or hot pants; a great alternative for a more laid back look. £34.99
ALDO
Kurt Geiger
Mules are also a must this season. ALDO has epitomised the seventies with the platform heel and flowershape cut-out detail. The wedge combines fashion with function and this look is a much more comfortable way of interpreting the clog trend too. The tanned leather look would suit most summer ensembles, particularly teamed with denim. The cute peep toe detail allows room for those brightly polished nails.
If you fancy a splurge this spring/ summer then indulge in these Kurt Geiger espadrilles. Beautifully woven and casually chic, these KG comfys are a perfect canvas to style with cute summery pieces; A-line skirts, Sailor’s stripes and cropped, gypsy tops. If you can’t pocket these designer lovelies then they are more styles in a variety of colours and prints on the high street. £95.00
£70.00
Office Be bright and bold with block colours. Check out these suede fuchsia bad boys from Office. This style is a more glamorous and sophisticated interpretation of the seventies, taking the look more Studio 54 than Woodstock festival. Do it like Dior this season and brave major colour blocking and contrasting. Mix up your colour palette and combine light and harsh hues in your clothing and footwear – the brighter the better. £75.00
Next Another key trend this season is texture and Next has brilliantly created high fashion footwear with black snake skin strapes and cork heel platforms. The buckle is a great chunky aesthetic, adding that extra detail, making them look less cheap and more cheerful. Complete the look with creamy colours, plaited hair and cat eye sunglasses. £24.00 Reach new heights this season with stylish yet practical fashion footwear, the seventies style is definitely here to stay. Straw, rope and cork or brights, neons and patterns, there’s a look for almost anyone.
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Fashion
So, first things first, let’s clear up what ah zine actually is…
zine
(zin) — n informal a magazine or fanzine
.
fan zine
/fæn zin, fæn zin/ [fanzeen, fan-zeen] –noun a magazine or other periodical produced inexpensively by and for fans of science fiction and fantasy writing, comic books, popular music, or other specialized popular interests.
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T
he Raw Print Club is a collaborative project within the school of Art and Design here at Trent, for creators, admirers and lovers of zines, indie magazines and artist’s books. On Saturday 28th May, Raw Print will play host to Nottingham’s first big Zine Fair, down at the Hopkinson Gallery (found on Station Street, right near the train station!). Here, we will be selling zines created by students and fellow zinesters. Raw Print would love to showcase new zines, so please feel free to contact us if you would like to sell your own creation here. Leading up to the event, we are also holding meetings at The Orange Tree pub. This is a great chance for you to discuss your favourite zines over a pint with other zinesters and students. Look out for posters around uni and events on Facebook for our next meeting!
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Check us out on Facebook for more info, just type ‘Raw Print Club’ into the search engine to find us! Here you will find information on booking your table, be it a half or a whole one, where you can sell your zines. We have also set up a blog for some inspirational findings for your zines:
rawprint.tumblr.com If you wish to sell your zine at Raw Print Zine Fair, please don’t hesitate to contact Matt, Julia or Alix at:
rawprintclub@gmail.com Raw Print Zine Fair 10 – 4, Saturday 28th May, Hopkinson Gallery, Nottingham
Alix Hope
spots & It’s
frills t a k e o v e r
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here is no denying that polka dot is back for good. It’s all over the high street at the moment, and as the shops begin to fill with bikinis and beach wear, there is the ever-looming dread we all have of stripping down in front of everyone at the pool side. However,
is of course what most of these designs are based on as they are a re-make of the 50-60’s style). Lots of us just stick to bikinis and shorts, but for those of you who want to cover up a bit more, or perhaps just want a more glamorous look, there is also a great
there aren’t many on the high street this year, however this year kaftans are the height of fashion. With soft colours and light weight materials they are perfect for a beach trip with the girls. Topshop has a great selection of kaftans and also a few simple playsuits that are slightly cheaper but just as useful and practical for the beach. Hats are also an essential for looking good, but more importantly for preventing the onset of early wrinkles – something we students don’t seem to worry about now, but I’m sure we will be glad in the future if we do! H&M has a beautiful collection that is ‘cheap and cheerful’ meaning we can hopefully afford more than one – which is great if you want one for every occasion.
looking at the selection in the shops this year we needn’t worry ourselves with painfully boring diets. Polka dots and frills have taken over this summer and it’s definitely not something to complain about. Especially bikinis with frilled edges as this can often accentuate hips and bust, making the waist look smaller in comparison and therefore giving a more hourglass figure (which
Charlotte McGahon
selection of swimsuits out there. River Island has a lovely range that includes many fashionable and flattering styles. However, if you’re into online shopping Asos probably has the largest variety of styles to choose from. In addition to the swimsuits and bikinis, we of course need the all important cover-ups and accessories to co-ordinate. The sarong seems to have died down, as
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Travel toptrentten destinations students want to visit this year Edited by Liz riordan (travel@platform-online.net)
borneo
the island of the unknown The thing about travel is the sense of adventure, of discovery and that child-like spirit of curiosity and wonder. For 2011, my dream destination is a place which embodies the traditional elements of fairytale adventure – ancient forests, daunting mountains, exotic creatures and hidden beauty. Borneo conjures visions of deep, dark jungle and mythical tribes-people, and increasing numbers are venturing into its jungles in search of the unknown. The world’s third largest island, Borneo comprises Indonesian Kalimantan, the two Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and, sandwiched between, the tiny nation of Brunei. Malaysian Borneo offers the challenging trekking peak of Kinabalu and a landscape of dense jungle and formidable rivers, populated by over 25 ethnic groups, some of whom live in traditional tribal communities. Kalimantan is one of Indonesia’s least visited provinces, with a hidden world of impenetrable forests, local tribes-people and semi-wild orang-utans swinging through the trees. Floating markets, hot springs and amongst the best dive sites in the world are just a few more reasons to discover Borneo this year. Clare Absolon
brazil
I want to visit Brazil this year and in particular its capital Rio de Janeiro. Said to be Brazil’s most beautiful city I want to walk along its pristine beaches while also taking a look at the culture which the city streets provide. I’ve never been to South America before so I think this would be as good a starting place as any. I want to take a tour of the tropical islands, have a picture taken in front of the famous Christ Redeemer Statue, walk to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, visit Tijuca National Park (said to be the largest urban forest in the world) and feast on Feijoada - a meat stew dish with rice and a bowl of beans. This might sound like the typical tourist thing to do but from my experience you only really get under a place’s skin once you’ve had the chance to walk around and discover things for yourself. Right I’d better get learning some Portuguese. Liz Riordan
croatia
Over the summer, I plan to fulfill my dream of travelling across Europe whilst I have the opportunity, lest I regret it later. The trip I have in mind will take around a month and with so many places to visit along the way there’s a lot to look forward to. Research proves to me that we live on a beautiful continent, and there are gorgeous landscapes nearby that you perhaps wouldn’t imagine you’d find so close to home; because they’re not an obvious tourist spot, it’s a relative luxury. For that exact reason, the Dalmation coast is high on my agenda. The Western coast of Croatia, particularly the cities of Split and Dubrovnik and the many surrounding islands, claim to have fascinating geography and stunning scenery. Famed for its traditional Roman architecture, breathtaking natural beauty and highly praised for the quality of its beaches, Croatia is a little-known European gem. I think it’s safe to say the pictures speak for themselves. Lindsay Arch
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laos This summer I am really looking to go tubing in Laos. Basically, it is the ultimate in organised drunken debauchery where hoards of backpackers gather together for the sole purpose of getting smashed and playing around in the Nam Song River all day. After a two mile tuk tuk journey you come to your base camp for the day, and the small town of Vang Vieng becomes overrun with tourists, with everyone there for the same thing so there’s no trouble making a few new friends before you slam into the water, and rumour has it there’s enough free alcohol to top the river up should it ever go dry. But it’s not just paddling, there are zip lines and swings to propel you about in-between hitting the floating bars, dunking each other and munching some of the famous ‘happy pizzas’. Obviously there is going to be some dangers attached, but for those not too health and safety conscious it’s not a time to worry about that, and if the worst does happen, hopefully you’ll be too wrecked to realise it or feel the pain, but you didn’t hear that from me. Zac West
prague
“Czech out Prague” my friend texted me wittily over the last holidays, a text which revived my desire to explore this eastern European capital. Probably most known in Britain as a popular destination for crazy stag parties, I think Prague is a quirky city with loads to offer whether it comes to history, nightlife or food. Personally I would love to go for a stroll down in Stare Mesto, the old town. Go look at the beautiful Charles Bridge while rubbing elbows with other tourists, and when they annoy me take a boat ride up the river. I would bring out my geeky side by spending hours wandering through the Franz Kafka Museum and the Museum of Communism, maybe I could even find my way to first floor cafés he hung out at. Finish the day slurping goulash and traditional dumplings in a local restaurant, followed by a visit to a small brewery trying out some of their hundreds of beers. Then finally ending up in one of the city’s great nightclubs until the early hours. Checking out Prague is quite simply my project for 2011. Anna Tranberg
tibet Mt Kailash is a peak in the Gangdisê Mountains, which are part of the Himalayas in Tibet and is the site for an annual pilgrimage that brings together religions from all around the world including Hindus and Buddhists as the peak is held with religious significance by both. In the case of the Hindus they believe that Shiva – Destroyer of all evil and sorrow lies at its heart. The mountain has 4 sides perfectly facing North, South West and East and is the source of several of the world’s longest rivers that bring life to the hills and grasslands of many Asian countries. The Tibetan name for the mountain translates as ‘Precious Snow Mountain’ and the site is often viewed by scientists as a ‘World Barometer’ on Climate change. When the snow melts from Kailash we are at our most desperate hour. So despite the beauty of this magical region; unless you tend to visit it by foot: Don’t bother. Tarran Huntley
russia
In reality visiting Russia this year isn’t really an option, but one can only dream, right? If I were to go I’d head straight for the capital, Moscow. I’ve heard a lot about the city’s edgy art galleries and underground clubs housed in old warehouses and factories. And it sounds exactly like my kind of thing. There are also the more famous buildings like the Kremlin, which is described as a city within itself for all the palaces it contains inside, and the world-renowned Armoury, one of the oldest museums containing royal artefacts dating back to the 16th century. Add to that the stunning architecture of Saint Basil’s Cathedral and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a travel-hungry tourist. There are a few cultural etiquettes that need to be learnt before going, though. I’ve heard it’s rude to smile at Russian strangers as smiling is only reserved for close friends and family. Apparently it’s considered insincere to beam at people you don’t know. Now if that’s true I’m going to have to practice my deadpan look, as I don’t really do not smiling at strangers!? But since I’m not going this year I guess I’m safe for now. Mary Ann Pickford
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Travel
swanning around saint tropez
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ne of the advantages of living in the south of France is the nearness to the sea and the myriad of little towns ready for exploration. So one sunny, early spring on a Thursday, some friends and I decided to clinch the matter, and at the ripe age of 22, I set out on my first proper road trip. Our destination: the pearl of the Riviera, Saint Tropez. Most famous as a jet-set hot spot, this little town is where royal families, A-list celebrities and every other wannabe famous person go on a pilgrimage every summer to live the high-life on the Riviera. The story of how this small fishing village transformed into the glamorous getaway it is today serves as something of an allegory for its current visitors. Intrigued to see if Saint Tropez would live up to these expectations,we set off, armed each with acamera, a guide book and several bottles of sunscreen SPF 30 in an attempt to protect our pale, northern skin. A pride to the tourist species I must say, only lacking the ohso-(not)-flattering hip pack to make the picture complete. Getting there proved to be our first
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adventure andthough it looked simple enough at the start, the roads soon turned into a squiggly line on our Sat Nav, slowly taking us up the mountains. If you are prone tomotion sickness take caution beforehand. The view, however, is stunning when you for a second forget that the tires of the car are less than a meter away from the cliff. What you would call living on the edge, literally. It is nothing like I imagined. Based on its reputation, it was a surprise to see that the invasion of a bunch of loud Anglo-Saxon people would make the Tropezians’ heads turn.Perhaps we attracted so much attention for lack of the celebrity clientele that normally swamp the village. Walking through the harbour you get a glimpse of what it must look like during the summer months. Humongous yachts side by side, all of them extending further than the long side of my parents’ house, with names ranging from the odd “Little Princess” looking like it could have starred in Star Wars to “Don’t touch” which all of us, of course, had to touch. St. Tropez is a town of contrasts: its people, architecture and atmosphere
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all clash like socks and sandals. There are old men walking their dogs next to preppy looking boat owners. The old stone houses painted in mint green and pale pink share the space with fancy modern restaurants bringing out the frosted glass and chrome. Finally you find the off-licence store is right next to the Dior boutique.The relaxed beach is right next to a churchyard which in turn neighbours the parade street with bars and clubs.Truly an eclectic mix. It is quite evident after a brief tour of the bars and restaurants that this is a place where the champagne and money is flowing. We quickly realised that none of them can offer ice-cream under a tenner, or anything for that matter, so we resorted to a nearby supermarket. A box of Vienetta and strawberries next to the line of yachts is the closest we got to jet-set life. Nonetheless, we can now count ourselves to the same crowd as Jay-Z, Jack Nicholson, Oprah and Barbra Streisand, all of us having hung out in St Tropez. Not too bad, my friends. Anna Tranberg
my new year in berlin I
n a bid to escape the inevitable tedium of paying £50 into a venue where the queue for the bar is 6 deep, your new shoes stick to the floor and the chances of remembering midnight are slim to none, I travelled to Berlin for NYE 2010. On first impressions, the city is urban in that European way that appears glamorous rather than grimy, with impressively illustrative graffiti covering the buildings, Germans wrapped up in effortlessly chic winter layers and neon fairy lights glinting off the snow covered pavements. Known for culture, Currywurst and coffee bars that never sleep, Berlin is an intriguing hybrid of an exciting modern city with an up-and-coming fashion presence and a legendary party scene, steeped in a rich historical atmosphere evident in the sobering remnants of war and memorials integrated into the fabric of the city. Berlin embodies a unique aesthetic, exemplified in boutique hotels, illustrative retail spaces and explosive street art, all of which combines to lend the city an air of modern bohemian excess mixed with a futuristic arts scene. Galleries and exhibition spaces throughout the city offer an artistic experience for even the most determined neophyte, and there are museums for every interest. The Hamburger Bahnhof gallery is a definite recommendation, with a permanent exhibition featuring original Warhol pieces as well as temporary installation spaces – during January these were inhabited by live reindeer!
New Years Eve in Berlin is legendary, with thousands of people flocking to the mile long strip at Brandenburg gate for live entertainment, fireworks, funfair attractions and a mile of dance tents, food and outdoor bars. The atmosphere is electric, and the light show onstage is spectacular – not to mention the Hoff performing live at midnight! The party goes on until the early hours, and there are plenty of bars on the mile open to keep you dancing until dawn. New Years day is all about brunch – most cafes and restaurants serve fresh bread, eggs and German sausages until mid afternoon for those with a heavy head.
What makes Berlin unique is the sense of historical importance that permeates the city streets, bringing a relevance and poignancy to the urban beauty of its buildings. The laid back atmosphere encourages lazy brunches in warm cafes and afternoons mooching around the many galleries and museums on offer, while at night the city comes alive as the eclectic locals and creative expats flock to the cafes, bars and clubs which open until dawn. This is a city of the future cemented in the past, of lazy days and electric nights, of fashion, music and art – and you will want to return again and
Another must see in Berlin during the winter period is definitely the beautiful Christmas markets, a lovely way to pick up unique gifts whilst taking in some traditional German culture. We visited the market in the square at Gendarmenmarkt for frankfurters, mulled wine and live music sets against the historical buildings which surround the square, festooned in fairy lights.
again. Clare Absolon
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Travel
valencia home of the paella
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ecently I wanted to plan a trip with friends somewhere in Europe, and as I’m on study exchange in France, I thought why not go to Spain - somewhere near. My friend suggested we do Valencia as it would be a lot cheaper than more popular places like Barcelona or Madrid. At first I was a bit sceptical and I had no idea what to expect when we set off. However, it turned out to be one of the best holidays of my life, from the moment our plane landed near a stretch of beautiful Azure blue Mediterranean Sea. The first thing you will notice about Valencia’s city centre, is that there’s a huge, long park that runs in-between the roads, and it’s sunken becauseit used to be an old, dried-up river. It is absolutely beautiful and every time we walked around, we would take this park. Everywhere we looked we would see delicious oranges on orange trees and breathtaking nature views.
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In Valencia itself, there is so much to do. The City of Arts and Sciences is huge and is so nice to look at. It reminds me of the 02 Arena in England, with the way that it is designed, and really is something special. There are amazing cobble-stoned paths and a nice, old-fashioned, Spanish feeling that you get when visiting the city. There’s a lot to eat in Valencia, with restaurants dotted about absolutely everywhere. It is worth noting that Valencia is famous for its cuisine. Being in Spain we had to try Paella – for those who don’t know this is a delicious mouthwatering dish of rice, mixed with seafood or meat (chicken, or rabbit). I wasn’t quite up for eating rabbit so I had it with chicken, and it tasted delightful. Also, drink with fresh orange juice – bliss. Spanish people are really friendly. I had a friend studying there this year so went to visit him and his Spanish friends and
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they were so warm and welcoming. They assured me that this is a tradition for Valencian people, to make visitors feel welcome in their city. The nightlife is amazing. It’s interesting that clubs there don’t really open until about 2am in the morning, and then they party well into the morning. It is generally a warm country. The universities have massive outdoor “gatherings” on campus at night - this was a great experience and so different to any party I had ever been to before. I would definitely recommend Valencia to students – whether going for a fun holiday with friends, or going with your family, Valencia is a city you will have plenty of fun in. Jason Beilby
Photos by Mary Ann Pickford
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Travel
walking in a retail wonderland
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hink New York and you think shops, shops and more glorious shops. For the girls anyway! Here DAISY SIMPSON compiles her top ten list of places to visit while in the Big Apple. 10. FIFTH AVENUE Fifth Ave is home to flagship stores of all the big brand names from H&M to Louis Vuitton. Even if you left your bottomless purse at home, Fifth Ave is worth a trip down just to have a look at the extravagant and beautifully put together window displays, which get better year after year. 9. CHINA TOWN Stepping onto Canal Street aka knock-off heaven, felt like stepping into a totally different world. When walking down through China Town you totally forgot that you are in America – all the signs, little stalls and shops are in Chinese – well it is the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. A very surreal place which is crammed full with lots of tasty Chinese restaurants. 8. BROOKLYN BRIDGE – FINANCIAL DISTRICT Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge is a must. The view of the New York skyline is
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amazing. When you are walking around the streets of NYC you don’t realise how crazy and built up it really is, it’s only when you take a step back that you realise. So much so New York looks to have been made out of Lego pieces stacked up on top of each other. 7. ORCHARD STREET GALLERY – LOWER EAST SIDE Don’t be fooled by how small this gallery is, as it’s not about the quantity but the quality. I got chatting to the owner of the gallery about how he exhibits and holds event nights for student’s and up-andcoming artist’s work. It’s a must visit for anyone interested in alternative and modern art. When I was in New York a local student was exhibiting his work, the collection by Zachary Delacruz named ‘Provocative Pump Series’ which explored and probed consumerism, fetishes, and the modern day woman, included shoes decorated with stubbed-out cigarettes, black glitter, gold paint and pretend cockroaches. 6. OBSCURA ANTIQUES – EAST VILLAGE Interested in the macabre or the slightly disturbing? Then head to ObscuraAntiques , a weird and wonderful
shop which sells bear heads, butterflies in cases, old strait jackets, freakish looking dolls, photos of dead people, and old poison bottles... Anything that sends shivers down your spine. This best-kept secret of the locals is a far cry from your mid-town department store. 5. ATRIUM GARDEN – FIFTH AVENUE Walk through the elaborate and overwhelming Trump Tower and you will enter into the Atrium Garden. Adorned with art work, it’s a place where you can step off Fifth Ave and away from all the hustle and bustle of the tourists and shoppers into a still and relaxing atmosphere. 4. THE HIGH LINE This landscaped park (once a disused rail line) runs from the Meatpacking District and through west Chelsea. Adorned with wild flowers the High Line is a great way to see New York, and in the summer a must-go-to place for a picnic. 3. GREENFLEA – UPPER WEST SIDE This flea market is perfect for a good rummage and you can find some pretty cool stuff there if you are prepared to
get stuck in. Greenflea markets are the oldest flea markets in New York, which makes them the cream of the crop. Head down on lazy Sunday afternoon (admission $10 – it’s worth it) or if you’re lucky – get in for free on the first Friday evening of every month. Check out www.greenfleamarkets.com for more information. 2. CHELSEA MARKET - CHELSEA The Chelsea Market is situated in a redeveloped factory formerly owned by Nabisco the great creator of the mighty Oreo. It now includes food shops such as Hale and Hearty Soup and the Green Table organic-food cafe, indiebook stores, and imports from Marrakesh which sells Moroccan art. This a great place to wander through and grab a snack. 1. TIMES SQUARE – MID TOWN Times Square is the heart of New York City, and when you’re there you feel as if you’re stood in the centre of the world. It is typical NYC – bright lights, advertisements, giant flagship stores, billboards, and Broadway. Head to the Hershey’s shop to stock up on delicious chocolate.
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Arts
Edited by Michael Worrall (arts@platform-online.net)
HOT PICKS Catch Me If You Can on Broadway
This new show based on the film that starred Leonardo DiCaprio opened on Broadway last month starring Aaron Tveit. You may recognise him from his guest role on Ugly Betty and his role alongside James Franco in the film Howl. Check out some footage from the show in our Ones to Watch.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway
Daniel Radcliffe, known for his role as Harry Potter, is currently performing in a revival of this 1950s musical. The show’s been nominated for Best Musical Revival at the 2011 TONY Awards. See Ones to Watch for some exclusive footage from the show.
Crocus Gallery
Based in Lenton, Crocus Gallery recently celebrated its first birthday and is a great gallery and supports Nottingham Trent art students.
Michael Worrall
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ONES TO WATCH
Catch Me If You Can – The Musical Broadway Preview
http://youtu.be/jJlxc6GRg_I The show recently opened on Broadway and is based an old favourite starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s a shame it’s not nominated for many TONYs.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
http://youtu.be/7AL3qpCbJqM Daniel Radcliffe recently made his musical theatre debut on Broadway in the revival of this show, which has been nominated for several TONY awards. Unfortunately, however, Daniel himself wasn’t nominated for an award.
Portrait of a Princess
http://youtu.be/BVcEXh1Nj2M After been retweeted by Stephen Fry and various celebs, this video recently made waves when it became viral. A modern satirical take on Disney fairytale musicals, Portrait of a Princess is the music video of a song by Michael Bruce and is featured on his album Unwritten Songs (available now). Michael Worrall
COMING UP...
ON THE NOTTINGHAM ART SCENE XV at Surface Gallery
23rd May – 4th June The 15th annual Nottingham Trent Photography Festival
Huang Yong Ping & Wael Shawky at Nottingham Contemporary 15th April – 26th June
ON THE NOTTINGHAM THEATRE SCENE Footloose Theatre Royal 16th-21st May Tickets from £13
The League of Youth Nottingham Playhouse 13th May-1st June
Tell Me On A Sunday Theatre Royal 31st May-4th June Tickets from £14
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Arts
AVENUE Q
A
venue Q is a concept so unique that nothing else remotely similar exists in theatre. The idea of puppets taking the lead roles in an adult themed musical is greeted with a confused look and a “huh?” from almost anyone hearing said description. The UK tour kicked off in January after the show broke records in the West End, running at three different theatres during its 4 year run. Rachel Jerram, who plays feisty nursery school assistant, Kate Monster and genuine slag, Lucy the Slut, is a sublime performer and absolutely stole the show. She managed to effortlessly switch between puppets and voices, often having to act a conversation with herself. At the same time, after understudying the roles for two years in the west end, she has the characterisation down to a tee and it is clear why audiences warm to her. Her wonderful vocal brought the audience to tears in the Act One finale, There’s a Fine, Fine Line.
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Meanwhile, male lead Adam Pettigrew, as Princeton, the unemployed university graduate and Rod the gay investment banker, had the audience in the palm of his hand for the duration of the show. His cheeky portrayal of Princeton evoked huge laughter from the auditorium whilst the subplot of Rod coming to terms with his homosexuality was both heart breaking and heart warming at the same time. The show provides an evening of hilarious entertainment featuring songs such as The Internet is for Porn, Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist, It Sucks to be Me and If You Were Gay. This is without a doubt, the perfect musical for students. The production has a wonderful cast and this show deserves to run for many years to come, both on the road, where it is doing excellently and in the west end where it previously played to sold out houses. Michael Worrall
Review
NTU DRAMA SOCIETY’S
THE RIVALS
21 April 2011 Nottingham Arts Theatre This year at the Nottingham Arts Theatre the laughs were-a-plenty as another NTU Drama Society production took place. After the success of last year’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the society have gone for a more challenging text, in Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals. The play, which – granted - is sometimes difficult to follow and was harshly received by even Sheridan’s peers when it was first delivered in 1775, provided a fine setting for a chaotic scenario to unfold. Co-Directors, Will Buttery and Nick Collins gave the eighteenth century comedy-of-manners a feeing of anarchic frenzy, which rotated around the playful scheming of a young nobleman, Captain Jack Absolute. Each character was well constructed and consistent, making the side-reel of gags all the more amusing. Andy Rankin’s cool and collected Jack Absolute had an adequately arrogant manner. He descended from a strutting presence over his domain into swooning confusion as he joined his victims in their pit of disarray. Laura Ward gave Mrs. Malaprop, the Lady Bracknell of the seventeen
hundreds, an air combined of refined integrity with crushing eccentricity. Her waves of madness were hilariously amplified by the aerial of a long quivering feather in her enormous wig.
made for very witty musical asides. After a heated argument, Anthony Absolute’s post-exit return of ‘Would you mind picking up some toilet-paper…’ was perfectly delivered.
Grace Quinn and Olivia Kingsley as ladies-to-be-suited, Lydia Languish and Julia Melville, brought a witty elegance to the stage that was eventually brought to its knees. Their first scene was delivered with an unstoppable pace, which built a comically unnerving sense of uncontrollability. Their dashing to-and-fro raised the temperature of the scene and the heat of tension was inextinguishable. Joined by the gusts of a rapid, constant beating of their oriental fans, Lydia and Julia left their hairstyles perplexed – and their audience bewildered. Anthony Absolute was given a lecherous and sinister, yet lovable rendition by, Platform’s own Features Editor, Alexander Page. His lively rapport with Jack produced a close and yet competitive relationship that was remarkable to watch.
Special notice should be made for the commitment of Producer and CoDirector, Will Buttery, who stepping up to the role of Faulkland, on the day before opening night. His true professionalism, wit and resourcefulness under pressure made a Hamlet of an auxiliary character.
With several modernising motifs, additional gags featured references to Harry Potter etc., and a selection of solo entrances enhanced by comic renditions of ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘I Can’t Live (If Living Is Without You)’, and others,
As a big fan of last year’s NTU Drama Soc production, I felt proud see the baton handed to such an imaginative team and to such talented actors. Each character had a unique quality but all were driven by their destructive natures - the parts were cast exactly and played supremely. The audience were often left in stitches, undeterred by Sheridan’s unnecessarily convoluted text; it was the actors that they fell in love with, as well as the characters. Overall the production was distinctly disorderly, but this only added to the hysteria of the plot and was well received by all. Nicholas Charity
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Health Edited by Thomas Dell (health@platform-online.net)
The Festival Survival Guide Here at Platform we love the summer and all it stands for: sun, warmth, and most importantly festivals. There ’s no better way to spend a summer ’s day than to kick back with friends and great music. Festivals are the epitome of a great weekend. Whether it ’s rock music or a hippy convention, there ’s a festival for everyone. With this in mind I decided to compile a few tips to surviving the hedonism of the festival.
Tom Dell
M
y first real experience of a festival was Download at Donnington Park in 2004 and boy was I in for a fright. In my naive excitement I even forgot to bring a tent or any blankets which meant sharing with my friends. The weekend was great although it has to be said it could have been a whole lot better. My personal view on festivals is that it’s always good to be over prepared. Best to have that extra toilet roll or change of clothes than not. After all, you’re going into an environment where pretty much anything that can happen does happen. So you’ve got a brand new tent, a lift to the site and you’re clutching the tickets close to your chest. What more do you need? Well if you want to have a comfortable weekend here are a few essentials that we think you’ll need.
The Essential Alcohol - This is for better or worse
one of a student’s essential items. Bring a crate with you or a couple of bottles of vodka and juice if you want to reduce the hole in your wallet. Festivals are not cheap places and they’ll try and charge you extortionate prices for a humble pint or cocktail. In the words of my housemate “never underestimate the prelash” or for us - “save money by drinking beforehand”.
Tinned and dried food
- This doesn’t need to be bog-standard beans. I camped next to someone who had a full English breakfast in a can that looked well... Interesting. Like the booze, food is pricey and I wouldn’t personally trust festival food.
Tin opener - An essential item that will help with the above.
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Gas stove and pans
Decide which of your friends will bring one so you can have warm food every day.
The Not-So-Essentials A flag - So you can find your tent
Sun cream
at 6am when you stagger in. You’d be amazed how easy it is to become lost. Plus many of the campers may also have taken advantage of Halford’s £20 tent too. Mark your territory with a giant Pirate flag or one confessing your love for Justin Beiber. Be imaginative!
Deodorant, toothbrush, soap
Wet wipes - There’s nothing
-Everyone’s seen that one guy or girl who’s got some redneck tan that glows in the dark and is painful to the touch. Don’t fall into this trap. Slap on the cream!
- Keep your nashers clean and your underarms smelling great. May also help you keep your friends!
A foldable stool
Something I always forget, but very useful when you get tired of standing up, which is most likely very quickly in the sun.
Phone-charger - I know that there are places where you can recharge your phone on site although they can be expensive. See if you can invest in one from your phone manufacturer.
more humiliating than the cattle push for showers in the morning. Avoid the morning grind with a quick freshen up with the wet wipes until the showers aren’t as busy. Might also be an idea to bring a swimming costume and towel if you don’t want strangers seeing your bits, although this is up to you.
Stereo - Sometimes you will want
to bring the party back to your place. There is a time and a place however and if your neighbours are trying to sleep I wouldn’t recommend playing it too loud past 12. More often than not however people will be glad to have some tunes around them.
A few wise words Don’t padlock your tent. This screams ‘valuables’ to any opportunistic thief. If someone wants to get into your tent, I’m sure they won’t be trying to pick your lock when a knife could slice through the mesh lining. Here are a few things that I’ve tried in the past:
1.
Dig a hole under the tent and stash away any valuables there. The casual thief would not think of looking under a tent.
2.
Bring a role of duct tape with you and tape your pockets shut to avoid any idle hands nicking your wallet or keys. Also prevents anything from falling out when crowd-surfing, moshing etc.
3.But the best possible advice I can
give is don’t bring anything that you’d mind losing. Nobody’s going to cry over a stolen disposable camera or cheap phone, however bring your iPhone or Digital SLR and losing it would be pretty bad.
Finally Have fun, enjoy the music and don’t take any illicit substances. It’s just not worth being chucked out for!
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Health
Savoury
By Tom Dell
This is a delicious recipe and a brilliant way to re-fuel your body post workout. Containing 40g of protein and at only 360 calories it’s a great way to build muscle and keep the flabby belly at bay. You can experiment with other fish like tuna, however I find that the delicate flavor of fresh salmon is really complemented by the honey and mustard braise. Beware of over-cooking the fish by making small incisions every 5 minutes to check that the middle is cooked.
1.Preheat the oven to 200C. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a bowl and microwave until they melt together. This shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds. Remove the mixture and stir in the honey, soy sauce and mustard.
Honey-mustard salmon with asparagus Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp Dijon mustard 450g asparagus 2 tbsp olive oil 50g Parmesan Salt and pepper 4 salmon fillets
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2.Toss the asparagus with half the oil, grate in the Parmesan and season to taste. Place the spears in a baking dish and roast until firm but not hard. 3.Heat the remaining oil in a pan over a high heat. Season the fillets and add to the pan, flesh side down. Cook until browned for 3-4 minutes. Turn them over, brush on half the honey-mustard mixture and place in the oven. Bake until the salmon is firm and flakes easily about 5 minutes. 4.Remove the fillets from the oven and brush them with more honey-mustard mixture. Plate them up with the asparagus and serve. This should make 4 servings.
Sweet
By Tom Dell
Caramelized apples are a perfect energy booster or after dinner treat. If you want to get into shape over summer and don’t want to spend oodles on energy bars or sugary-based drinks then the humble apple is just what you need. Apples are a great accompaniment to any meal and best of all they are cheap and easy to prepare. Personally I use dessert apples as they are larger and they absorb the sugar better but that’s just personal choice, if you prefer other types you can use that too.
Honey-mustard salmon with asparagus Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes
Ingredients: 50g margarine 4 apples sliced (dessert or eating) 50g brown sugar 1 tsp mixed apple pie spice 25g sultanas
Method 1. Melt the margarine in a frying pan 2. Add the apples and sprinkle with the sugar. Fry tossing occasionally, for about 3 minutes until the sugar has melted. 3. Add the mixed spice and sultanas and toss gently for a couple of minutes. Serve with whipped cream or yoghurt.
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Health
Three verdicts. One Restaurant. MARY ANN PICKFORD, LIZ RIORDAN and MIKEY WORRALL headed over to Hockley to seek out what was quickly to be a gem of a dining experience...
MIKEY’S VERDICT The selection of food on offer at Nottingham’s Red Hot Buffet is not dissimilar to the amount of food you might see provided for about eight weddings. Of course, when there is so much food to choose from, it’s difficult to try out everything, but I endeavoured to eat as much as I could. It would have been rude not to, right? Whilst I found the made-to-order pizza disappointing (I ordered a modest chicken and sweetcorn), in both size and taste – it was small and a little bland – the rest of the food was most definitely of a delicious and rather intimidating standard. My favourite dish of the night was undoubtedly the Mexican paprika chicken, which the chef later informed us is a secret recipe. It was light and creamy with a zesty after taste. Several servings later, I thought it was time to try some of the other cultures… The various curries on offer from the Indian counter were also full of flavour and just thinking about them now makes me want to go back there. Desert wise, the chocolate fountain was clearly a must. Fashioning a sort of marshmallow kebab and holding it under the fountain for a good twenty seconds,
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I don’t think I’ve ever made such noises when eating before. The entire selection of food is to die for and I would defy anyone to go and not like a thing. Also, the many different ice creams they had made me wish I wasn’t so full before dessert. I feel a return visit is definitely on the cards.
the pizza’s take around 10 minutes to cook allowing you to fill up your plate and stuff your face while waiting. Their burger with rosemary was a highlight for me – hot, soft, juicy meat packed full of flavour and cutting into it was like cutting into butter. When you think of a world cuisine buffet you tend to imagine every dish to be mediocre – because surely it’s impossible 8/10 for them to specialise in absolutely everything? But not Red Hot Buffet. Most dishes I tried were hot, okay so LIZ ’S VERDICT some had cooled down to warm, but the flavours I experienced were better than Friendly service, a buzzing atmosphere, and food by the gallon-load, what more most Indian or Chinese restaurants I’ve been to. Their pizza was a little doughy for could you want? Oh yes, a huge metal tub my liking but their onion bhajis were hot full of warm, melted chocolate – they had and spicy and went well with their spicy that too. Bhuna chicken curry. Red Hot Buffet pulled out all the stops tonight. I entered the restaurant and Another personal favourite was their Mexican paprika chicken which was so immediately several different cuisines creamy and cheesy and from Italian, DISH OF THE EVENING: runny that it probably Mexican, The Mexican Paprika Chicken didn’t belong in a fajita Chinese and but that’s where it went. Indian, hit me. That’s the thing with world cuisine buffets It’s hard to know where to start first so we – anything goes. Pizza and noodles, decided to order a fresh small pizza each. Up to three toppings are allowed including calamari and curry, it’s the one place you chicken, pepperoni, sweet corn, ham, can mix anything together and not be mushrooms, pepper, onions and more and judged.
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WIN A RED HOT MEAL FOR TWO!
Take a break from revision with a delicious meal at Red Hot World Buffet in Nottingham.
What truly won me over was their mine was a bit disappointing. The size homemade ice cream parlour and ladles was good, probably similar to a beer mat of melted chocolate. which is the perfect Q U OT E O F T H E E V E N I N G: Not that you have size for a buffet, any room left by this I v e n ev er h a d s o m a n y but I found that it point. At the end of d i ffer en t c u lt u r es i n m y wasn’t as crispy as I the meal you are left m o u t h!! Mikey (we had a proper expected it to be. I wondering how on also chose the wrong laugh-out-loud moment!) earth you are going flavours. Pepperoni to make it home and shrimp. Eugh. without exploding. That’s my own fault though - lesson learnt. 7/10 The rest of the mains were brilliant and so so delicious, but my favourite dish definitely has to be the Mexican MARY’S VERDICT paprika chicken. It goes with rice, in a fajita, with veg or even on its own. It’s a versatile dish and I was gutted when the Rarely do restaurants bring together a concoction of many different types of chef didn’t reveal the recipe for it. cuisine under one roof, but here is where There’s still so many dishes I could talk Red Hot World Buffet finds their niche. about but that would take all day. But that’s the beauty of Red Hot World Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Italian… Buffet. I’m pretty sure that there’s such Name it and I’ll bet you it’s there. My starters were a mash up of calamaris, a huge variety of foods from different cuisines that even the fussiest eater fish goujons and mini hamburgers. It wouldn’t be able to resist to go there. sounds wrong but trust me, it really Plus the service is great, the staff are wasn’t. It was tasty and you had the really polite and friendly, and very option to spoon in a little bit of sauce (a wide range again, from mango chutney to prompt in clearing up dishes. chilli) if it was too dry. We got to ordering our own pizza, and 7/10
“’
”
For anyone looking for a break from revision and exams, Red Hot invites guests to choose from their unlimited buffet menu at their stylish restaurant situated in Hockley, Nottingham. Choose from over 110 dishes, freshly prepared by their team of experienced chefs. Whether you fancy pizza, pasta, curry, oriental or even Tex Mex, Red Hot offers cuisine from all around the world – guaranteed to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. After your meal, why not enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail with friends in their contemporary bar. Red Hot is offering Platform readers the chance to experience their world buffet, with a complimentary meal for two people at their restaurant in Nottingham. All you have to do, to be in with a chance of winning a meal for two at Red Hot World Buffet, is to answer this simple question:
How many dishes are on offer at Red Hot buffet? a) b) c)
116 110 75
Terms & Conditions apply: This prize is for a maximum of two people dining at the Nottingham restaurant only. The meal must be claimed before 1st July 2011. Redemption of this prize cannot be done so in conjunction with any other offer. The monetary value of the meal cannot be exchanged for a cash alternative. Platform’s competition T&Cs also apply. See website (platform-online.net) for more details.
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Film
Edited by James Gordon (film@platform-online.net)
PREMIER REPORT & REVIEW
I
n the latest in a slew of Hollywood remakes recently, Britains’ favourite big-mouth Russell Brand tries his hand at Arthur – the role made famous by Dudley Moore in 1981’s original. Platform was on the red carpet at the films European premier in London, and our reporter JAMES GORDON has all the details: In the shadow of the O2 Arena in London, hundreds of screaming fans aligned the red carpet hoping to catch a glimpse of Arthur’s star: Russell Brand. Some had turned up hours early, just to ensure a prime position, and they would not be disappointed, as not only the man himself, but his wife: Katy Perry, graced the audience with their presence. Having missed the World Premier the previous week, it had been a question among the waiting crowds whether Perry would indeed be there to support her man this time around, and as the announcer said her name the onlookers exploded into the largest cheers of the night so far.
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Speaking to the crowds, Brand said that he hoped to take parts of Dudley Moore’s performance, while also giving the role his own unique spin. “It’s important to take certain parts but to make my own man. It’s like a Frankenstein monster or a chimera. It’s a mixture of lots of things.” He also joked that while his kiss with Greta Gerwig (his love interest in the film) had been fun, it was his other costar, Dame Helen Mirren, who he really longed to kiss. When the Dame overheard him, she walked up to him, and planted him with a kiss on the lips, while the crowds wooped and cheered them on. Before too long though, the star’s began to filter into the cinema itself, with those fans lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out event hot on their heels. Just before the film was due to begin, Brand appears at the front of the auditorium,
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announcing simply that “I hope you all like the movie. I’d say more but well: I’m in it. You’ll be seeing me in literally less than a minute. So to say anything else would be pointless.” With that, the lights dimmed, and the film got under way. The million dollar question though: was it any good?
Review: Arthur Director: Jason Winer Starring: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig, Jessica Garner Rating: 12A Arthur is the story of a billionaire playboy, who has no concern for himself or others. Embroiled in alcoholism, and sleeping with multiple different girls every night, he is wasting his life – and his family’s money – having what he believes to be a good time. That is until his mother drops an ultimatum on him: settle down and marry a woman she believes can be trusted with this inheritance and with the family business. Otherwise: he’s cut off from everything. Meanwhile he suddenly finds himself completely bewitched by a woman (played by Greta Gerwig) he meets on the street, falling madly in love with her at first sight, only to realise that if he wants to be with her, he has to give up the money. This film is at it’s best when Russell Brand is really allowed to flex his acting talent, and while there are clear parallels to be drawn with his own life, it doesn’t feel as much like he is simply playing himself in this film as it has in his previous work. One particularly funny sequence at the very start of the film sees him and his butler dress as Batman and Robin, purchase the original Batmobile, and race through the streets of New York before finally crashing into the famous bronze bull statue. The real moral compass of the film though comes from Dame Helen Mirren’s character, Arthur’s long suffering nanny – yes this middle aged man still has a nanny.
It’s clear that although she has a blindingly fast wit, her admonishment of Arthur is never more than a case of having a bark worse than her bite. She clearly loves him like the son she never had, and it is through her that the audience is able to see past Arthur’s flaws and believe in the entire situation. Is Arthur a masterpiece: no it’s not. But it made me laugh out loud on several occasions, and the romance story genuinely seemed to work. For a film which could have been a train wreck - massacring a classic - Jason Winer has managed to make a perfectly fun and enjoyable romp of a film.
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Gaming&Tech Edited by Aaron Lee (gaming@platform-online.net)
WHO‘S LAUGHING NOW Aaron Lee explores why games haven’t fully embraced the school of laughter
W
e all love to laugh. Be it Basil Fawlty’s hilariously outrageous comments causing you to snort the soda you were drinking from your nostrils or the lyrics of a song that make you chuckle when you hear them, there’s no shortage of ways to get your comedy fix. However, ask for ‘comedy games’ in a game store and you’ll be lucky to be directed to the shameful console iterations of Leisure Suit Larry. For all their technical advancements, games still haven’t cracked the nuances and gestures of the comedic formula, instead they’ve shied away, and as a result interactive comedy is still to be recognised as a genre of its own.
non-playable character jittering in and out of frame in an error loop can elicit a vindicating cackle, while referential tasks(‘save the princess’) and cameos (“I’m Will Wright, bitch”) are a not-sosubtle wink to those all too familiar with the workings of games and the personalities that grace its business.
can be enjoyed by any and everyone. Unfortunately, the idea of incorporating comedy into gameplay itself remains so wildly unexplored that game developers are hesitant to approach, as much because of the likely lukewarm reception of such a ‘gamble’ as their own inexperience.
Of course, all this self-referential humour often flies way over the heads of inexperienced players. But imagine when a developer does master the art of combining comedy and interactivity to produce a seminal work - a Monty Python and the Holy Grail of video games that
So could comedy’s best chance to grow in this seemly incompatible space lie not with games themselves but with game culture?
We’re a good few decades from seeingangel-faced young couples settling down in front of an interactive romcom - though the thought chills us, but for years games, like Grim Fandango, Grand Theft Auto, Jak and Daxter, Monkey Island and Portal, have made us laugh with acid-tongued one-liners, hilarious visual bumps and bruisesand scenes of a satirical nature. Clever writing, acting and animating is behind almost all of these pre-arranged moments, however, the spontaneity of our actions, and the effects they have on virtual worlds, can be equally amusing for us as players. Seeing an annoying
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On the frontlines of laughter Graham Goring is a game developer and stand-up comedian. His material, which isaudio-visualand far from family friendly, is almost entirely related to games and those who play them. By lampooning games and social stereotypes his show is moving games, and the idea that comedy can be part of them, further into public consciousness. “Frankly it’s taken me three years to write a decent fifteen minutes of jokes, so the chances of writing a whole half-hour of stuff in the timeline I had (five months or so) was impossible, so I decided something audio-visual was the way forward. And it didn’t hurt that I already had a computer program which I could use to do this, as my Edinburgh show uses the same engine that my remakes of Wizball and Exolon,” says Goring. Popular comedian Dara O’Briain is another strong advocate for the medium, proclaiming his love for games (and his dislike of them “locking you out of content”) live on BBC1 (http://bit. ly/hHMfUs). Anddoers of
HA!
HA!
take themselves less seriously? “Some do, yes. There are a lot of game designers who fancy themselves as earnest storytellers and they could do with pulling the stick out of their arses and lightening up,” says Goring. “It’s only really companies with an indie ethos (by which I mean both pure indies and companies like Valve [makers of Portal] who are beholden only to themselves) which really embrace humour - look at Zombie Cow’s adventure games for written humour or Underwater Base’s Gesundheit! for humour derived from the animation and sound.
I hear it has a really witty script’. Even games like Portal 2 I’m looking forward to primarily because the gameplay looks excellent. The excellent writing and vocal performances are just the icing on the cake. I’d probably still buy it if it was a joyless dirge.” So anysuch crusade will have to begin with gameplay, because it’s players that drive the experience. For that to happen Goring says
For pure indies, it’s probably because they don’t have to
filter their humour through layers and layers of bureaucracy, because nothing nerfs comedy like that. For companies like Valve, well, they simply have the best attitude towards game production.”
comic fun, Mega 64, bring gaming to the masses with their hilarious street sketches of ICO (http://bit. ly/12idfT), Final Fantasy XII andSuper Mario Bros. to name but a few.
Witty dialogue and moments of humour have existed in games for years and are showing no signs of fading away. Perhaps a ‘comedy’ genre isn’t where this trajectory is heading, but, asOverlord series writer Rhianna Pratchettsays, a realisation that comedy should be used across all game genres to entertain players.
As entertainment people are actively seeking, comedy is gradually gaining ground in the world of games. Getting back to games themselves, do they need to
Goring says players aren’t hungry for more comedy in games, but enjoy its presence.
attitudes in the games industry will need change. “In terms of triple-A games, attitudes would have to change massively, but I can’t see it happening. The triple-A industry is built towards making stuff which is a safe bet. How would you justify putting content into your employer’s 10-million-quid game which might alienate part of the audience because the humour is a little ribald? Sure, you could say that extreme violence alienates people, but it’s also proven catnip to others. Comedy is less proven as a ‘sell’, however.” Looks like it could be several years yet, then, before we can walk into HMV and say, “where are the games that are good for a laugh?” Although, the beauty of interactivity means we can always find ways to amuse ourselves. Aaron Lee See more on video game culture at www.platform-online.net.
“No-one says ‘I can’t wait for game X,
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Sports Edited by Mary Ann Pickford (platform@su.ntu.ac.uk)
Photos: Letitia Randell
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SportS
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PHOTOS Edited by STEFAN EBELEWICZ (photos@platform-online.net)
T
he annual NTSU Awards recognise and celebrate all the hard work and commitment that you, our members, put into SU activities and committees. Without your efforts, we wouldn’t exist - so we like to thank our exceptional student volunteers in style with a swanky awards evening, complete with live entertainment! Photos: David Baird
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PHOTOS
SOCIETY EVENT OF THE YEAR EVENTS WEEK (CITY CU)
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BEST NEW SOCIETY NIGERIAN
SOCIETY INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION SEAN LAWLESS (AIRSOFT)
Initi8 Volunteer of the Year (CITY) LYDIA DEARS
RAG EVENT OF THE YEAR SHANI JAYAWARDENA
RAG EVENT & VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR BETH MURPHY
PLATFORM OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
FLY FM OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
TRENT TV OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
AARON STEVENS
| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine
ANDY LAWRENCE
JAMES CUTTS
TRENT MEDIA BEST NEWCOMER
SCHOOL REP OF THE YEAR Alexandrea Kerr
Initi8 Vol. of the Year (Clifton) EMMA ROBINSON
CITY OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
VINCENT AU
COURSE REP OF THE YEAR LYDIA SAWYER
Teaching Excellence Award PHILL QUINN
Teaching Excellence Award LORETTA TRICKETT
STUDENT DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR LIZ McCLUSKEY
NTSU VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR LIZ McCLUSKEY
MIKEY WORRALL
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end your year in capital fm arena tuesday 14th june 8pm-2.30am tickets ÂŁ38 Open to all NTU students & their guests - The Graduation Ball After Party 2am-6am @ Byron House, Nottingham Trent Students Union Tickets ÂŁ5 if purchased with a Main Event Ticket Tickets from SU Express (City & Clifton), Brack Bar and online:www.trentstudents.org in support of Union activities