Platform Magazine - January 2010 by Nottingham Trent Students Union

w w w.pl at for m- on l ine.net

Januar y 2010

The Fashion Exchange

Identity Fraud

A night of glamour

It could be you

Thailand

You’ll love it long time

Come Dine With Us

Ditch the Pot Noodle

World Cup Special

The road to South Africa 2010

Brown Betty’s

A hidden gem on your doorstep

The Count & Sinden Infiltrating your iPod

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

glen.davies@su.ntu.ac.uk

Designer Stephanie Combs

stephanie.combs@su.ntu.ac.uk

Deputy Editor Andrew Trendell

deputy-editor@platform-online.net

Online Editor Aaron Lee

online-editor@platform-online.net

News Editor Jennifer Rosewarne

news@platform-online.net

Community Editor Nik Charity

community@platform-online.net

Music Editor Tom Warmsley

music@platform-online.net

Film Editor Becky Wojturska

film@platform-online.net

Pictures Editor Stefan Ebelewicz

photos@platform-online.net

Arts Editor Alexander Britton

arts@platform-online.net

Fashion Editor Rebecca Uren

fashion@platform-online.net

s I write, it’s difficult to guess what will be on everyone’s mind as they read this. Partly because I haven’t slept in two days and I’m having Trainspotting-style visions of children crawling along the ceiling, and partly because it’s still December, so I don’t have the faintest clue what happened over Christmas.

Editor’s Letter

I would like to be able to write that, over the break, I won the lottery and am spending the sort of money on a toothbrush that Sir Alan Sugar spends on gold-plating his RollsRoyce. But perhaps that’s a little optimistic. However, I was greatly annoyed to see that a few bitter imbeciles with acne, a grudge and a Facebook campaign managed to spit in the face of the British music charts and make a 17-year-old song become the Christmas number one. If the point of the Top 40 is to measure what new music listeners want to buy of their own accord, then those few people just ruined the UK Singles Chart. Fools. So, you’ll all be happy to be back, won’t you? No? Well you’re stuck with it. But to ease you back into academic life, rather in the fashion of easing yourself into a hot tub, we’ve got some ideas to keep you cheerful and happy. For a kick off, we’ve an interview with up-and-coming house music duo The Count and Sinden, so that you know what to listen to on your way to see the films we’re recommending, whilst wearing the clothes you’ve seen in our fashion show coverage. Then you can eat out at the restaurants in the food section, or copy our Come Dine With Me event, before playing our reviewed games. Then, when it’s all stolen by another bankrupt student from the tuition fees protest covered over the page, you’ll know what to do because you’ve read our identity fraud feature. That might be the most emotionally draining day in history, but at least it’s all been planned out for you by the student magazine. We’re just psychic. Or idiots.

Food & Drink Editor Molly Woodruff

food@platform-online.net

Travel Editor Lucia Miyashita

travel@platform-online.net

Glen Davies Editor-in-Chief

Gaming Editor Aaron Lee

Platform Magazine

Health Editor Danielle Almond

gaming@platform-online.net

health@platform-online.net

Sports Editor James Haigh

sports@platform-online.net

Editorial enquiries | Email the relevant address on the left Press/PR enquiries | Email platform@su.ntu.ac.uk Advertising enquiries | Contact BAM Student Marketing on (0845) 1300 667 or www.trentstudents.org/student_marketing

Thanks to Hickling & Squires Print Solutions - www.hickling-squires.co.uk. This publication is printed on sustainably-sourced recycled paper (80% recycled, made up of 10% packaging waste / 10% best white waste / 60% de-inked waste fibre / 20% virgin totally chlorine free fibre) using vegetable-based inks. Platform is an independent publication and any views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Nottingham Trent Students Union and its Elected Directors and Officers. Companies advertised in Platform are not necessarily endorsed by Nottingham Trent Students Union. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor.

Contents News

Arts

Food & Drink

05 | Students protest over rising tuition fees

21 | ‘The Office’ vs. ‘Extras’

40 | Come Dine With Me

07 | The EDL in Nottingham

22 | David Hockney/Frances Stark @ Nottingham Contemporary

42 | Restaurant Review

23 | Book Review

44 | Takeaway Guide

24 | sinfonia ViVa

Travel

Community

The Beats: A Graphic History

09 | Identity Fraud

25 | Panto Review

11 | No money? No problem.

Beauty & The Beast @ Nottingham Playhouse

p24

Brown Betty’s

45 | Ghana 48 | Thailand

p34

p42

12 | Local students should plan great escape

Film

Health

28 | Film Reviews

51 | Food and Mood

13 | Union News & Events

The Boys Are Back Singin’ In The Rain, Airplane!

53 | Think about Drink

31 | DVD Review

54 | Home Sickness

Heroes: The Greatest War Movies Ever

Music Cover Story

15 | Platform Interview: The Count & Sinden

17 | Platform Interview: Hundred Reasons

Photos

Gaming

32 | Climax @ NTSU

55 | Platform’s Top 10 Games of the Decade

Fashion

Tekken 6, Assassin’s Creed 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii

34 | The Exchange Fashion Show

57 | Game Reviews

Flaming Lips @ O2 Academy, La Roux @ Rock City, The Count & Sinden @ Stealth, Arctic Monkeys @ Nottingham Trent FM Arena

36 | How to master the sales

Sports

37 | Trends

59 | World Cup Special

38 | Turning trash into treasures

60 | Ones to watch

20 | Platform Interview: Example

39 | Pick your cotton carefully

62 | England Squad

18 | Gig Reviews

Starting XI

News

Students protest over rising tuition fees | The EDL in Nottingham

Edited by Jennifer Rosewarne | news@platform-online.net

Students protest over rising tuition fees Protests erupt in the capital as thousands of students vent their frustration over rising tuition fees. Erin MacGregor went to check out the chanting. Photos by Wing Yin Chan, NUS

ARLIAMENT Square in London on the 11th November 2009. Masses of angry students mobilised from all over the country in search of answers and the pursuit of honesty regarding the future of tuition fees. Nottingham Trent students were in full support and ready to voice their strong opinions at this demonstration that saw the National Union of Students visit the Houses of Parliament. >

www.platform-online.net |

News

Two days previously, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced the first independent review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance since the government introduced top-up fees in 2004, raising fees to a maximum of £3000. This review was supported by both Labour and Conservative parties and alongside recent comments made by Mandelson, suggests intentions to pave the way for a further increase by lifting the cap. His views that students should become more like consumers have provoked feelings of anxiousness and outrage across the United Kingdom.

The ramifications of these actions will be greatly seen on prospective university students, predominantly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. It will most certainly create a class divide between those who can afford an ‘elite’ education and those who cannot. Currently the £3,000 students pay for education is to be paid back in instalments once they have earned over £15,000

Those in the financial position to gain a higher education would be restricted in their choice of university and course, with each university deciding their own fees. This has potential to lead students into professions based on money and not passion or talent as it should be. Whilst many universities will profit greatly from this change, smaller, less populated universities could face closure if numbers of students attending decline. Nicky Primavesi, Student Union President at University College Plymouth issues concerns about her diminutive university that houses only 5,000 students. An increase in fees could potentially mean closure. “We need to show that there is one student voice. Education shouldn’t be treated as a business. We need to stand united and show we are angry!!!”

per year. However if fees are raised to £10,000 per year, the debt amounted from attaining a degree would far outweigh the surplus money earned from having a qualification. Nicky Unwin, a student at the demonstration who was representing Plymouths University College said: “We are in a recession and further education means better employment. The government needs to support universities. Students are not consumers, we bring something to society.”

sign a pledge committing them to vote against an increase in fees and to fight to find fairer ways of funding university education. To date, over 40 MPs have signed and their standpoint is clearly mirrored in the public’s opinion with a recent YouGov poll displaying that 88% do not want higher education fees amplified. This may display how UK citizens feel about the projected rise in fees, but it’s important to think about international students. To attend the same course as a student from the UK, an international student can have to pay fees of up to £18,000 per year depending on the course and institution they choose. So how will this affect them? Will that outrageous figure stay the same? Or will it too increase? With these insane fees come obligations of overdrafts, loans and credit cards, extra stress that many students can not deal with. Dire financial positions and constant harassment from banks can lead to high levels of stress causing depression and mental health issues, obviously aspects Mandelson has failed to take into consideration.

Although this was the stance of the majority of students that attended the demonstration, there was a minority present who chanted for the cost of education to be scrapped all together. What effect would free university education have on our society? And would every person in the country get a degree just for the sake of having one? These questions are open to new debate and could lead to thousands of applicants per graduate vacancy making it incredibly difficult to get a job. Fairer funding is what we need to be fighting for and not free education, as NUS have proposed.

As of September this year, there was a recorded 2.46 million unemployed people in the U.K, many of these being graduates. So with these troubling statistics, is going to University becoming a gamble? If the cap on tuition fees is lifted, it undeniably will be.

NUS, who organised the demonstration, have put a lot of pressure on all parties to state where they stand on the tuition fee review. The main objective of the rally was to get MPs to

To join the campaign for fairer funding, visit www.nus.org.uk/Campaigns/ Funding-Our-Future-/Register-tobe-part-of-this-campaign for your voice to be counted.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

The English Defence League in Nottingham What was all that about? On Saturday 5th December The English Defence League held a demonstration in Nottingham City Centre, near Castle Road. Whilst some oppositional organisations have arranged counter-marches, others have opted to steer clear. Prior to the march, Andrew Trendell investigated the key issues involved, and what Nottingham can expect to see unfold upon its streets. Photos by Lucy Greenhill, Jonny Marsh, Callum Kirkwood

ecember in Nottingham is usually a festive scene. Parents and youngsters skate side by side on the Market Square ice rink, some take the time to enjoy a glass of mulled wine at the German market as others rush to find the bargains to finish off their Christmas shopping. However, this December, Christmas spirit was disrupted, as demonstrators clashed in opposition. Saturday December 5th the City was brought to standstill by protestors and police intervention. Some 16 EDL demonstrators, 15 men and one woman, were arrested during the day. Seven have been charged with public order offences The demonstration was held by The English Defence League – a protest group who oppose the presence of extremist Islam in Britain. Naturally, they have sparked much controversy, hostility and resistance in recent months. The political climate has seen a great deal of well publicised dissent against the BNP

and other far right parties, and many have also labelled the EDL as a racist organisation. ‘Notts Stop The BNP’ ran a simultaneous-counter march to protest against the EDL, whilst the Muslim community urged people to stay clear of the demonstration. Phillip John, a spokesperson from ‘Nottingham Stop The BNP’, adamantly believes that the EDL are a fundamentally racist organisation, with strong links to the BNP. Mr John added: “Wherever they go there are instances of racist attacks when they’ve been on protest. They claim to be against Islamic extremism when in reality we believe they are trying to ferment racism” The EDL refute claims of racism and association with the BNP, arguing that their organisation has been largely misunderstood and misrepresented. The organiser of the Nottingham branch of the EDL, told us that labels of racism are entirely false. He argued: “There’s no race element involved, we just want to show respect for our troops, whether you agree with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or not. We’re just a protest group with no allegiance to any political party whatsoever. I’m sure people have turned up on our demos who have been members of the far right and they do tag along but we do the best that we can to stop that. If you’re part of any far right wing groups, whether it’s the BNP or the National Front, stay away – we don’t want you.” The EDL member tells us that people of all races and religions – even Muslims – have joined their league. Dave added: “We only oppose extremist Islam; we’re not against Islam as a religion. If people class that as racism then there’s not >

www.platform-online.net |

News

a lot we can do about it. If you’re a peaceful Muslim living in this country then that’s fine. We will not put up with extremist Muslims taking to the streets and shouting abuse and threatening to cut people’s heads off.”

‘Notts Stop The BNP’ arranged to march against the EDL on December 5th with the hope of shifting the focus away from extremism and towards equality. Mr John added: “We are calling on people to show unity in Nottingham, across communities and trade unions. We’re in favour of a peaceful protest in Nottingham, so when we find out where the EDL are going to go our plan is to move and take ground and by sheer force of numbers, show them that they are not welcome.” The EDL recognise that counter-protest is inevitable, but plead for the right to peacefully protest. Their organiser said: “Left-wing groups always turn up in opposition. All we want to do is show up, have a peaceful demonstration and leave the city. We don’t start any of the trouble but you always get these different elements turning up and basically trying to goad us into fighting. “If you show up on the day to brand us as a racist organisation you’d be wasting your time because we aren’t. Just stay away and let us do a peaceful demonstration. We also hope that people can see us for what we really are – a peaceful organisation.” Some believe that the date of the EDL’s demonstration was chosen deliberately to coincide with the Notts Forest vs. Leicester City game and the fact that the 2nd Battalion of the Mercian Regiment marched through Nottingham. Phillip John argues that this was a very savvy manoeuvre from the EDL. Mr John added: “It’s interesting that the police talk to the EDL, yet normally football hooligans would not be allowed to just rally and march through towns. The reality is that they are pulling together football hooligans to try and whip up racism, and we would call on all football fans, who are clearly opposed to racism, to come and join us on our protest and 10 o’clock.” The EDL disputed these allegations, claiming that they are coincidental and

unavoidable. Dave added: “The date we’ve chosen has nothing to do with the troops and nothing to do with the Forest game. From my own opinion I’ve never met anybody in the EDL who supports football hooliganism so I can’t really speak on that. We were willing to change the dates anyway, as we don’t want any confrontation with anybody, but unfortunately so many things were put in place that we couldn’t.” Phillip John asks for all races from across the community to join them in opposition to the EDL. He added: “It’s very important that it should be seen as a multicultural unified protest against racism.” The Muslim community however, warned against attending, through fear that confrontation will only add fuel to the fire. Dr Musharraf Hussein, a Muslim from the Karima Institute in Nottingham, argued that counter-marching would be counter-productive: “The EDL are a group of extremists who want to stir up trouble. The last thing we want to do is give a bad name to our city, nor do we want to give the EDL the publicity – they don’t deserve that. That is exactly what the EDL want – to stir up trouble and we would not promote that. I would ask all young people to stay away and just ignore it completely.”

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Community Identity Fraud | No Money? No Problem. | Local students should plan great escape

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

ID Fraud Hits Home For Trent Student Identity theft is one of the most chilling threats in today’s society. Rosanna King examines why it happens, and what you can do to avoid it.

magine that you have had a long hard day at university. All you want to do is go home and relax. You pop into a shop on your way back and hand over your bank card to pay when the operator turns to you and tells you that your card has been declined.

You know you have funds in the account as you were just paid last week. You ask her to try again. “Card declined.” 21 year old Matt Drake, a student at Nottingham Trent, does not have to imagine this scenario. It happened. He said: “I first noticed something odd with my account when my card was declined and I was advised to contact my bank.” Matt then went to a cash point to see if he could get money out there. To his horror, his account was empty when just days ago he had been paid from his part time job. >

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Community

He added: “I was shocked and confused; I always carry my card on me at all times.” Matt went to his local bank and they told him he had made transactions in a few shops and supermarkets in Sheffield, a place he had never been. The bank put a stop on his account and advised Matt that he could have become a victim of fraud and that his card may have been cloned. His case was passed through to the fraud department and after thorough investigation it was found that his card was cloned a few days before when he withdrew money from a petrol station cash point.

Matt said: “Although I am grateful that all the funds stolen from my account were reimbursed and it was dealt with efficiently, it was a very stressful and inconvenient time. […] I had to wait for a few days whilst this matter was being investigated and did not have any funds in the meantime and had to borrow money from friends and family until the money was put back in my account.” Being a victim of Fraud is not always preventable, but there are ways in which students can try and protect their personal information. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is urging students to protect themselves against identity theft by thinking before giving information away. It is advising students to update organisations with changes to personal details and to dispose of personal documents such as bank statements and bills securely. “A number of factors combine to make students particularly vulnerable to identity fraudsters in the early weeks of the academic year,” said David Smith, Deputy Commissioner at the ICO. “Almost every day students give out personal details, whether signing up to a new club or opening a bank account.” Your personal information is valuable – simply forgetting to update organisations when you have moved house and leaving your bank statements or university enrolment documents to be opened by someone else can be a gift to ID fraudsters. For more information please contact ICO press office on 020 7025 7580 or visit the website at: www.ico.gov.uk.

The ICO’s top tips to avoid ID theft • Store any documents carrying personal information, such as your driving licence, passport, bank statements, utility bills or credit card transaction receipts, in a safe and secure place. • When no longer needed, shred or destroy your personal documents so that nothing showing your name, address or other details can be stolen. • When you move house, make sure you update organisations such as your bank, mobile phone provider, energy providers and The Royal Mail with your new address – you don’t want the new tenants to have access to letters containing your personal information. • Remember, less is more. The less you give away about yourself, the lower the risk of information falling into the wrong hands. • Think before you buy – use a secure website which displays the company’s contact details, look for a golden padlock symbol, clear privacy and returns policies and user agreements.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

No money? No problem. I

always wanted to come to university. Studying at degree level has so much to offer – a chance to meet new people with similar interests, learn more about a subject you have a passion for, have great nights out, grow into an independent adult... oh yeah, and get into a ridiculous amount of debt.

The average student faces debt of up to £23,000 when they graduate. It is estimated that it currently takes the average graduate 13 years to pay off this debt once they are earning over £15,000 a year. Yes that’s right; these 3 great years certainly come at a high price. The facts can be quite disheartening to hear. I guess it’s not surprising that I sometimes wonder whether my friends who have chosen to work instead of going to university may be choosing the more sensible option. It is indisputable that getting a degree level qualification is invaluable to a future career, yet it seems that the financial barrier to going to university keeps getting higher. It seems unfair that our enthusiasm to extend our education results in us being saddled with thousands of pounds of debt for the years after university.

financial help from their parents whilst at university. Also, two in three students admit to worrying about paying back their student loans. Therefore, it seems we worry so much about debt that we could find ourselves in a situation where we spend more time on a part time job than we do on an essay or assignment. Also, the majority of employed students are in jobs with no relevance to their degree. However, studentgems. com might just offer what we students need; skill based work that can benefit us in the long run, both financially and professionally. Co-founder of the website, Joanna Ward commented on the findings of their nationwide survey. She said, “It is worrying that students’ studies are being disrupted after they commit themselves to a job, so the smaller jobs and projects offered by employers on student gems are definitely the way forward.”

By Charlotte Hickmott

The website works to find jobs and oneoff projects for students that use skills and experience relevant to their degree. This means students are able to earn while they learn and fit a part time job more easily in around their studies. So we might as well face it – university is expensive, and part time work may help to ease the financial strain, especially when using websites like studentgems. com to also help develop skills relevant to our degree. But, judging from my time so far at Nottingham Trent, university is an experience better than anything else I could invest in. For more information, go to www.studentgems.com. Have you used studentgems.com before? Get in touch (community@platformonline.net) and tell us about your experience.

Like many other students, I have a part time job. The National Union of Students claims that over the past ten years, the number of students with part time jobs has risen 54%. When our parents were at university, it would be rare for a student to even have a job. But now we are faced with so much financial pressure, our education sometimes has to take a back seat. A recent nationwide survey of over 1000 students by studentgems.com found that 79% of university students work outside of their academic studies. Of this employed 79%, over half admitted to working more than 20 hours a week which inevitably disrupted their studies. A big factor in students seeking part time work is that 42% don’t receive

www.platform-online.net |

Community

Local Students Should Plan Great Escape A

new Fire Kills campaign is urging students to stay safe from fire, as they move into homes outside the security of halls of residence. Nottingham Trent University has agreed to have one of the new Fire Kills student Ambassadors, Jordan O’Brien, to act as a liason and promote fire safety round the university. New survey results also shows that people vastly underestimate the impact of toxic smoke, many believing they could survive a smoke filled room for more than two minutes, or that the smell of smoke would be enough to alert them. Others assumed a barking dog or neighbour would alert them. ‘A barking neighbour wouldn’t alert me to a fire’, you might think. But neither would a barking dog. Aside from being wrong, these people simply aren’t taking the issue seriously enough. The two minutes that you might be able to survive, is the average time it takes to escape a house, - the only way to escape the danger is with a working smoke detector, something so simple, but invaluable; obvious to most of us, but still easily forgotten.

Students going into private accommodation must also be weary of their rights – it is a landlord’s responsibility to keep up safety standards, and if they aren’t holding up their end, you not only can, but should complain and use the term ‘legal action’ if required (really plays with their hair, that one). This attention to fire safety came as the statistics made a noticeable shift in 2006, detailing that while national numbers of fire fatalities were dropping, for young people they are rising, quite substantially, 14% to be exact. Martin Malloy of Nottinghamshire Fire Service said the following: “For students moving out of the family home into digs, it may feel like a ‘Great Escape’. However, when you live in your own accommodation, you need to know what to do in the event of a fire and that includes knowing how to get out in the event of a fire – the greatest escape of all. […] As the new Fire Kills Drowning in Smoke advert highlights, it only takes a couple of breaths of toxic smoke to make a person unconscious. So make sure you have a working smoke alarm and test it every week. It’s a small device but it could save your life.” Nick Charity

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Fire Kills campaign top tips for ensuring you stay safe from fire in your home: • Fit smoke alarms on each level of the house and test them weekly • Never leave cooking unattended • Take extra care with cigarettes and smoking materials and never smoke in bed – when a cigarette is finished, put it out, right out! • Never leave candles or tea lights unattended and ensure that they are put in safe holders • Switch off electrical appliances when not in use, unless they’re designed to stay on – like a freezer • Check furniture has the fire-resistant permanent label • Plan and practice an escape route with your housemates • If a fire starts get out, stay out and call 999 Nottingham Fire Service offers free Home Fire Risk Checks to local students. They will visit your home and advise on the best escape route to take, check your home for fire hazards and may also install a working smoke alarm free of charge. For more information on how to protect you and your housemates from fire and to book a home fire risk check or download leaflets, visit www.direct.gov.uk/firekills.

Union News & Events Initi8 Project Leaders’ Team Building Diary Day 1: Seeing everyone asleep on the coach, it seemed like any normal residential... of course, it probably wasn’t the best sign that it was 4pm and we were only on our way there. Even after a gorgeous meal (lets face it, any free food is good to a student). We were all just ready for a nice long sleep in our luxurious hostel style bunk beds, however we had a full night ahead of rock climbing, indoor caving, and, in Matt Proudfoot’s case, some ‘extreme hopscotch’. In fact much of our first day was spent in heated debate about where we actually were. The ideas ranged from Derby to Wales. We later find out we were in Derbyshire/the Peak District, but at least it kept the leaders amused for the weekend, as did everyone’s obsession with the lack of signal on our phones… Day 2: With very little rest we started the next morning bright and early heading out for some canoeing. It was here we learnt one of our main lessons of the week, that bigger is not always better. This certain lesson was learnt after all the guys went in the same canoe thinking they would go faster because they were stronger. However, quite the opposite of going fast, they started to sink. After a quick re-organising of the canoes we once more braved the cold waters.

Having had a lot of team building crammed into very little time, we began the real work of training for our new positions. The residential was designed to give us the skills, information and confidence to run our own projects through the coming year. And it definitely succeeded, we can now write risk assessment and budget forms in record timing, and have so many ideas for projects you will all be spoiled for choice. Day 3: Despite having to get up early on our Sunday morning, all it took was a little coffee and breakfast to get everyone as enthusiastic as ever to face the days challenges. Today these would take the form of orienteering before heading straight back to Nottingham. Another rainy day, but everyone basically ran off to complete their challenges first with grins on their faces (which were mostly hidden under layers of clothing, and huge red raincoats). When this final challenge was complete we all piled back on our mini-buses with tired but happy faces, heading back home to get a well deserved rest. As Zara, one the the new project leaders this year put it: ‘It was a great experience, everyone worked together really well. It will be a great year!’ Frankly, if the freezing

winter winds of the countryside when we’re soaking wet cant beat us, nothing will. I can safely say we are all ready for the challenges of the year ahead that come with being a project leader, and we are certainly looking forward to meeting all our keen volunteers. So get in touch and GET INVOLVED! Ellen Funston

For details on any of our projects, or to get involved in any volunteering while at Trent, feel free to contact: Laura Buckland (City campus) laura.buckland@su.ntu.ac.uk or Jennie Mann (Clifton and Brackenhurst campus) jennie.mann@su.ntu.ac.uk.

It only takes a few minutes to complete the survey online at www.ntu.ac.uk/rocked and your answers can help the next generation of students choose the right university and course. The National Student Survey gives final year students from across the UK the opportunity to rate their experiences at university. NTU takes the results of the survey seriously and in recent years changes have been made as a direct result of the survey. The results will appear on www.unistats.com giving future students the opportunity to compare universities and courses when choosing where to study.

So, what’s in it for you?

inal year undergraduates whether NTU rocked your world, or hit rock bottom, share your views in the National Student Survey.

Complete the survey online and we’ll give you £5 printing credit. What’s more, if you do it by xx February, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win one of 100 ‘NTU rocked my world’ hoodies. Visit www.ntu.ac.uk/rocked and tell the world what you think of NTU.

www.platform-online.net |

Union News & Events F ree St r i de Training & Devel opment S es si on s on of f er in Januar y: Sessions @ City:

Sessions @ Clifton:

Sessions @ Brackenhurst:

Boosting Your Potential Programme:

Business Management and Leadership Programme:

Boosting Your Potential Programme:

Money Matters - Wednesday 20th January, 3-5pm Time Management - Wednesday 27th January, 3-5pm

Introduction to Leadership and Management - Wednesday 20th January, 2-4pm Building Your Team - Wednesday 27th January, 2-4pm

Money Matters - Tuesday 19th January, 5.30-7.30pm Time Management - Tuesday 26th January, 5.30-7.30pm

For more info and to book a place go to:

Introduction to Leadership and Management - Tuesday 19th January, 4-6pm Building Your Team - Tuesday 26th January, 4-6pm

www.trentstudents.org/stride

NTSU Entertainments this month: Climax @ City - Every Saturday during term time (9:30pm)

Double Vision @ Clifton - Every Friday during term time (9:30pm)

Assault @ The Pulse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fortnightly Fridays during term time (9:30pm)

Tone Club @ The Pulse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fortnightly Fridays during term time (8pm)

See www.trentstudents.org for more info

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

[Photo: Sarah Coss]

Business Management and Leadership Programme:

Music

Interview: The Count & Sinden They hit you ‘on your beeper’ back in the summer of 2008 and have since been revered and remixed mercilessly. Michael McLeod catches up with The Count & Sinden during their stay in Nottingham midway through their UK tour to discuss Acid, Fatboy Slim and diversity >

UP STEPPING www.platform-online.net |

Music

Michael McLeod: You met when you were both working on Switch’s label. Tell us more about how you met. Count: We met about 3 ½ years ago, when I was recording as Hervè on Dubsided, while Sinden was working for Switch’s label Counterfeit, and had done some remixes with Switch. Switch introduced us and we started working together. I asked Sinden over to listen to some music and make some tracks and he ended up staying for five days and we made a whole EP, which included Beeper. Beeper was a huge success and seemed to draw on old-school Garage influences, what else influences your current sound? Sinden: Our main influence is just UK dance culture; which is heavily centred around bass lines, so things like jungle, garage, drum & bass. Count: We’re trying not to fall into the trap of producing something that’s too familiar. We always try and approach it differently in terms of our drum arrangements and sampling. The aim is to create excitement and amazement on the dance-floor, and that won’t come from regurgitating the same stuff as everyone else. MM: What were your earlier influences that inspired you to want to make music? Count: I started playing drums when I was about 8 so that was my first step. I think growing up in the 80’s listening to electronic stuff like Duran Duran and

“T

hat’s the great thing about the music scene over here in the U.K., it’s always trying new things and then all of a sudden the U.S. are copying us. It’s quite impressive for such a small country to be boxing toe to toe with those guys in terms of new ideas.” Kraftwerk made me want to make that sort of music. Sinden: I think that period was really important for me, listening to all those synths in stuff like the Eurhythmics and the sampled music in hip-hop inspired me. I loved Public Enemy, Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. Count: I was really into weird electronic ambient stuff back then, like Brian Eno and Acid. MM: You mean acid the music genre? Count: Err, bit of both! Sinden: We had slightly different paths but we were both grunge kids at some point too. Heavy Metal came before I got into things like house. Count: My tastes have constantly changed because I love new sounds. When a new rhythm comes on the scene and everything just explodes around it. That’s the great thing about the music scene over here in the UK, it’s always trying new things and then all of a sudden the US are copying us. It’s quite impressive for such a small country to be boxing toe to toe with those guys in terms of new ideas. MM: Have your transatlantic collaborations made much headway in America?

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Count: To be honest America is only just getting into the sort of music we make and they are only just waking up to it, we’ve had some success underground music scene over there though. MM: Moving on to the future, have you got another album in the pipeline and what are we to expect from it? Sinden: Yes we’ve got an album in the works; it’s coming along well. Over the last few weeks we’ve been holed up in the studio throwing around some new ideas and produced a couple of singles. Count: We’ve been quite lucky that no one has asked us make another Beeper and that we aren’t just expected to keep doing the same sort of stuff. Sinden: The next single has more of a jungle/jump-up D n B sound, which is another major influence on us from growing up in London in the 90s Count: Annie Mac’s already been giving that some airplay, but we’re getting another follow up ready so that we can go off and do our own thing again for a while. I’m also working with Norman Cook on some new material MM: I didn’t know ‘Fatboy’ was making a comeback? Count: Nobody did really; it’s been fun not being able to tell anyone when they ask me who’s coming round! I’ve been keeping it a secret, up until he announced it the other week in an interview with Mixmag. He’s so good to work with, and works in such a different way to me. MM: You’ve been running a night called ‘Mega Mega’ in London for a while now; for those in Nottingham who don’t know about it, what is it and how did it come about? Count: The idea was to get a small club and pack it with DJ’s that really shouldn’t be playing a club of that size, so we called around and we got a great response.” Sinden: Yeah we got a massive response, and we held it in a 200 capacity club and managed to get people like Skream, Chase & Status, Frank Music, Mystery Jets, Xample; and everyone just came down and did DJ sets in this tiny little club. MM: Are there any plans to take Mega Mega on the road? Count: I think in summer we’re going to start collaborating with the big club nights around the country and take it national.

Sinden: The first one is in two weeks in Cardiff at CYSE, then expanding on that next year MM: Enough about you two! How do you perceive the recent changes in the music industry and the way that music is being produced? Sinden: I think Myspace is the best thing that’s happened to music in a long time. The fact that anyone who makes music can put their stuff up on there and have a voice, and it be heard is great for the music. Count: It’s taken away the initial thing of trying to get heard, and there have been people literally transformed over night by the internet buzz. And then you get people who are signed of the back of internet success - but I think some of that’s a scam. Sinden: Yeah, I think despite the problems, music is in a very healthy state right now and it’s improved over the last 5 years. We get put on the same bill as bands, dubstep, drum and bass and bassline; then the clubs got indie kids and ravers going to it, so it’s a much more diverse music culture now. MM: I’ve heard you say in the past that you don’t take yourself too seriously as ‘artists’, do you think some corners of electronic music are becoming more pretentious about the music they make? Count: Definitely! There’s some great music out there that’s very deep and emotional like Burial. But there are also a lot of people who try way too hard to be ‘deep’ and think they are better than everyone else. I think it’s pointless to intellectualise dance music Sinden: There seems to be a sneering attitude from people who think they are musically superior Count: When they can’t play a guitar and they can’t sing or anything. The fact is if it makes you want to dance then its good music. We make music for the club, and it’s engineered for that platform, we aren’t trying to make something artistic. Sinden: People like Skream, Chase & Status and Norman Cook have totally open attitude to music and don’t turn their nose up at stuff. Count: You can’t actually find anyone more grounded than Norman Cook, he’s so nice.

IDEAS ABOVE THEIR STATION Interview: Hundred Reasons

In 2002, in the heyday of Brit-Rock, Hundred Reasons took the country by storm with their immaculate debut album. ‘Ideas Above Our Station’ topped many end of year polls and won the band a coveted Kerrang! Award for Best Album. After a tumultuous eight years the world is a very different place for Britain, for rock music and for Hundred Reasons. Andrew Trendell caught up with Hundred Reasons singer Colin Doran and guitarist Ben Doyle to discuss emo, ambitions, and perseverance.

ndrew Trendell: You guys rose to fame at the dawn of the decade alongside great British rock acts, who have since met their demise (e.g. Reuben, Yourcodenameis:milo, Million Dead, Hell Is For Heroes etc) Would you say that it’s a struggle to survive? Colin: I suppose it just depends on how you look at it really and how you think you can carry on. We’ve always been very frugal with the band’s finances which is probably what’s allowed us to keep on doing this. Ben: What really stops bands playing is the really boring stuff that people outside of the industry don’t necessarily understand. Just dull stuff like marketing, which get’s frustrating when people don’t know that you’re there. C: There are a lot of things to consider but I think I’d mainly put it down to the record companies themselves not being able to perhaps do as good a job as they could. We’ve had label issues, as had Million Dead – everyone has. It’s really down to whether you let it grind you down and just say “That’s it, we’re done” or whether you say “F*ck you, we really enjoy playing these songs with these guys and we’re going to carry on doing it.” That’s been our attitude. AT: Back in the early days there seemed to be a lot more energy and optimism in British rock music. Would you say that anything is missing? C: Yes, I’d say that about 10% of the bands out there are really, really good, and the other 90% are just try-hard wannabes. There’s a lot of that about, and when I look at a scene and I just think ‘Oh, another emo band, and

another guy with a fringe who’s singing the same as everyone else’. They all sing very similar notes and play very similar riffs and most of those bands just meld into each other. I don’t really care for it too much. B: It’s a hard one because all music, to me, is good. There aren’t many bands where I can look at them and think ‘That’s actually sh*t’. I try to see the positives in things. It’s all cycles and borrowed ideas though. Every time a new scene emerges, you notice how it’s just a few elements fused together. Maybe hair metal will come back soon. I’m predicting the comeback of the perm – the one eye fringe is on its way out and everything will evolve again. AT: After persevering to such success for over ten years, what do Hundred Reasons still hope to achieve? C: We never really had any ambitions in the first place. We were just happy that we didn’t have to work day jobs. B: When Hundred Reasons started it was just a good band in a rehearsal space with no manufactured elements. It was just really real. C: Exactly. You always want to play well, and sell well because you want to keep doing it. We’ve only ever really cared about making music. We’ve never cared about being famous or glamorous or anything. We find that really boring in fact – we just enjoy playing music. That’s why we did it in the first place. If we didn’t enjoy playing music then we wouldn’t have gone through all the sh*t we have done. We don’t really have massive ambitions – we just enjoy playing music.

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Music Flaming Lips @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - 17th November 2009

By Alexander Britton

he Flaming Lips suffer from a very unique problem in music - they’ve arguably written the perfect set opener and closer in ‘Race for the Prize’ and ‘Do You Realize?’ Yet, the 90 minutes that separated these fabulous bookends are not mere filler - far from it.

The night started disappointingly, however. Support acts Stardeath and White Dwarfs were both aurally and visually punishing. Their performance, oscillating between an ineloquent Mercury Rev and a tuneless Mogwai, was accompanied with excessive dry ice and brutal minute-long strobe bursts. Less a ‘warm-up’ than ‘indifference induce’.

As gigantic balloons and confetti showered over the crowd with the opening bars of ‘Race for the Prize’, all disinterest was cast aside. The Flaming Lips create an atmosphere of contagious joy; their sheer delight at being able to share their craft is apparent. Despite this being the last show of a world tour, there is no sense of routine. Frontman Wayne Coyne bounced around the stage with elation when necessary, and was suitably melancholic during songs ‘Fight Test’ and ‘Yoshimi’. The set eschewed most of their latest album tracks, instead focusing upon their better known songs. It would have

been interesting to have placed the new material in a live context, but given the experimental edge they’ve taken, the set list was a safe crowd-pleaser. With arms aloft, the crowd joined in with final bars of ‘Do You Realize’ before the Lips departed, taking their army of pandas, caterpillars and dolphins away with them - time was being called on the most bizarre, joyful house party imaginable.

La Roux @ Rock City - 17th November 2009

By Beth Hewitt

rom an unknown artist to a household name in under a year, electro-pop duo La Roux have practically monopolised the synth-pop genre and judging by the response of the Rock City crowd tonight, are rapidly gathering a large fan base. Tonight with her unusual dress sense, irresistible rhythms and angular limbs akimbo, it seems like the crowd will be leaving with a sense of experiencing something a little off the ‘mainstream’. Curiously-named support band ‘Ou est le Swimming Pool?’ left a lot to be desired. The few tracks the North London trio performed were crammed with repetitive lyrics and generic beats, culminating in the distinctly average ‘Dance the way you feel’, leaving the crowd wondering ‘Ou est La Roux’? It’s almost an hour later when La Roux, real name Elly Jackson, emerges to a throng of electro loving fans - impatient with anticipation. She kicks off with the energetic ‘Tigerlily’, to bellows of approval from the crowd. Kitted out in an oversized shirt and shellsuit jacket combo, Elly works the androgynous style right up to that huge red quiff from which her name descends. She continues with the crowd-pleasers launching into synth-heavy ‘Quicksand’ next and peaks midway with the anthemic ‘In for the Kill’ causing excitement in the masses, who boogie appreciatively whilst crooning the catchy chorus. Elly ended her set on No.1 single ‘Bulletproof’, sparking the most ashamed 80’s enthusiast to bust some moves to this futuristic anthem. Heavily inspired by 80s pop, and citing legends such as Depeche Mode and Eurythmics as influences, La Roux brings a modern twist to an 80s classic sound. With a No.2 album and a Mercury prize nomination under her belt it seems apparent this self-assured Brixton bird is set to be even bigger than her hair, and not just because her mum’s June off ‘The Bill’.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

The Count & Sinden @ Stealth 20th November 2009 By Michael McLeod

ondon’s genre defying party maestros, Graeme ‘Sinden’ and Joshua ‘The Count’ Harvey (AKA Hervè), have been a distant rumble in the grounded ears of house music fans since their inception in 2008, and have recently entered the public domain with catchy club track ‘Beeper’. The diversity of their tastes result in a sound that incorporates a vast array of genres, and makes classifying their sound harder for a music journalist than categorising a duck-billed platypus is for an ecologist, proven by their latest follow up ‘Mega’, providing an edgier sound to that of the popular ‘Beeper’.

Arriving to Stealth’s readymade Friday night party atmosphere, there was no respite for Nottingham’s enthused party-goers, as Sinden served up some early club bangers. After meeting this unassuming gent before-hand, It was surprising to see a DJ so absorbed in the party atmosphere, with his head bopping furiously in synergy with the rhythmic kicks and swaying to his wobbling bass-lines. It was easy to see why the duo work so well in tandem, as The Count responded with equally bassladen crowd-pleasers, blended with an ease that can only come from years of club conducting from those magical wheels of steel. The Count and Sinden’s double-edged success in both commercial and underground music scenes is testament to their vision of club music, which is often bogged down by genre boundaries and pretension within its own ranks. The music they play is nothing new, but to hear a Dizzee Rascal tune laid down in the same set as some ungodly dubstep certainly is, and it’s something that encapsulates the UK scene right now. Viewing Stealth’s packed room jump around to every track, commercial or not, just serves to prove that the dividing walls are being brought down, and these guys are holding the sledgehammers.

Arctic Monkeys @ Nottingham Trent FM Arena - 22nd November 2009 By Zoe Turton

t’s cliché but Arctic Monkeys have grown up (and grown hair). No longer preoccupied with girls in indie discos and riot vans; tonight they bring their latest album ‘Humbug’ to Nottingham. Opening with the effortlessly sexy ‘dance little liar’, and following with the storming ‘Brianstorm’ which receives a raucous response. Although this is an arena tour, it’s as if they could still be playing in your tiny local toilet, as they perform a completely stripped back set. Alex provides no flashy showmanship, but the audience couldn’t expect anymore from him. True to form the stage is almost bare apart from a few lights hanging from the sky. But where they lack in colourful gimmicks, they more than make up for in the actual music they play this evening.

Older classics like ‘Still Take You Home’ and ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ get the biggest cheers and oddly don’t feel at all out of place next to the newer more experimental tracks. It’s clear though that they want to focus on ‘Humbug’; tracks like ‘My Propeller’ and ‘Cornerstone’ are often when the band seem most at ease. From the first guitar strum of ‘When The Sun Goes Down’, the crowd scream back every word. Suddenly as Mr. Turner swoons about ‘fools on parade...’ on track ‘Secret Door’ confetti guns are set off, feeling a bit out of place as the four hairy men sweetly play on oblivious. The crowd are teased with an interlude of fan favourite ‘Mardy Bum’ during ‘Florescent Adolescent’ as a spotlight falls on front man Alex Turner looking every bit the rock star he never claims to be. By this point Nottingham has been treated to the kind of performance the Arctic Monkeys should have played at this year’s Reading and Leeds festivals, and ‘505’ is the ideal way for us to part. Alex leaves the stage with just a cheeky wave as his band play on till the end of the song after his absence. After all - no one likes long goodbyes.

For more interviews and reviews, head over to www.platform-online.net

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Music

e x a m p l e in his pr im e Interview: Example He has just come off touring the country with Lily Allen; is about to do it all again on the road with Tinchy Stryder and he is probably the genius behind the remixed track you love. Thomas Warmsley finds out why, in 2010, Example could lead by just that.

Thomas Warmsley: You have a couple of dates left, how has the tour gone so far? Example: Yeah it’s been amazing, the first lot of dates were sold out so we added more - have played to around 70,000 people so far, it has been an amazing experience so far. People have been going mental really! TW: Is there anything special you have been doing for the tour, in particular for the Arena dates? E: Well we have just been doing out normal 30 minute set and haven’t really changed out set to suit bigger venues. I guess the only thing special I have been doing is wearing a really nice T-shirt. TW: Your songs have been remixed generously -particularly your single ‘watch the sun come up’, do you have any particular favourite version or artist that has reworked your stuff? E: Being signed to Ministry of Sound so there are plenty of remixes on their compilations, because of their worldwide network of DJs. I commission most of them though, so I get to choose who I’d like to work with. For ‘Hooligans’ we got A1 Bassline to do it. For my new single ‘Won’t Go Quietly’ we have got DC Breaks & Vent to remix something. It’s got some crazy D’n’B , break-beat electro sounds to it. A lot of the major labels though just look at who is ‘cool’, ah yeah ‘Skream’ is cool, get them to do it.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

TW: Seeing as you are touring with Lily Allen, for those who don’t know could you explain a bit about your response to her song ‘Smile’ with your track ‘VILE’? E: Well yeah, she knows it was three and a half years ago... I’m not performing it on tour with her. But I know she liked it! Or else she wouldn’t have me on tour with her. For some reason people thought me doing that song meant that I didn’t like her, or she didn’t like me - but we get on with pretty well with each other. TW: Is Lily Allen someone you would be interested in collaborating with in future? E: Yeah, in future. At the moment I don’t really want to work with anyone, apart from producers. On my latest album we have just session vocalists which I have enjoyed working with. In a few years if my profile gets bigger, hopefully I can pick and choose who I would like to work with. TW: After releasing your second album this year, what is set for Example in 2010? E: I am always doing club sets and DJ shows every other week, but in January I will be finishing the second album and doing a few exclusive DJ sets. Then in February and March I go on tour with Tinchy Stryder, which is 20 dates around the country. Hopefully going to do my own tour again after that - and then looking forward to the start of the festival season.

Arts

‘The Office’ vs. ‘Extras’ The Best of Ricky Gervais

The pen of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant has provided two of the funniest comedies of the past decade. Pearse Connery takes a look back at The Office and Extras and explores why they are typically ‘Noughties.’

he Office and Extras are quintessential products of the Noughties. The Office, in particular, revolutionised comedy, making the mockumentary with a dash of dry wit a popular recipe. Several television shows that came after The Office, most notably The Inbetweeners, follow this comedic method.

[Photos © BBC]

Most Gervais fans would probably rate The Office the best work of the Readingborn comedian. His other show, Extras, is definitely on par with the Office, but given that it had a lot to live up to, it isn’t held in such high regard. David Brent, the boss of ‘The Office’ is a sexist, racist, big headed representation of middle England. Trying lamentably hard to be funny and loved, he ends up merely being pitied. The supporting cast is superb: Gareth creates some comedy gems with his complete lack of social awareness, and Tim, a tragic tale of a man who could have done so much with his life but is working in an office in depressing Slough; a situation replicated in offices all over country. Many people knew ‘a Brent’ in their workplace, and, as such, The Office became one of the most iconic sitcoms of the decade. Brent’s dance in the Comic Relief episode is now widely known and regarded as one of the funniest television moments of the past ten years, if not all time.

Andy Millman, the main character in Extras, is worlds away from Brent. The show recounts Millman’s trials and tribulations as an extra, through to the filming of his own sitcom – during which he sells himself short to appease the public. Unlike Brent, who has a high opinion of himself, Millman is much more socially conscious and modest, and his relationship with his agent Darren, played by his real-life writing partner Stephen Merchant, makes for hilarious viewing. Extras satirises the personalities of the rich and famous through cameos by various celebrities, each with their traits turned on their head: such as Daniel Radcliffe as a chain-smoking womanizer and Orlando Bloom’s confession that he despises Johnny Depp. With these two shows, comedy has changed massively inasmuch as they are based around the quotidian: mundane people doing mundane things. Millman and Brent are stuck in ruts with little chance of escape. The Office is bleakly amusing, set in a dour paper merchant in deepest Berkshire, and, like Extras, allows glimpses into the lives of people with potential failing to realise their goals. This is the stark reality of life for most people of this era, and that is probably why people relate to both shows and enjoy them so much.

Greatest Moments... The Office: The best moment, of many, is probably where Brent tells Chris Finch, a supposed friend who treats Brent like dirt to ‘F**k off’ after Finch offended the woman he brought to the Christmas party. The audience had been waiting for Brent to stand up for himself throughout the two series and finally he had done it. Extras: Keith Chegwin’s performance is one of many notable celebrity appearances. Whilst ‘Cheggers’ is regarded by most as a fun loving, bubbly character to the public, he plays a racist, homophobic bigot which although quite controversial is absolute comedy gold. Millman’s disbelief is mirrored by the audience’s when Chegwin asks him “So the BBC, still run by your Jews and your queers?” and is a real laugh out loud moment.

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Arts David Hockney/Frances Stark @ Nottingham Contemporary

Words by Alexander Britton | Photo by Stefan Ebelewicz

“C

haos at the surface”

The first bringing together of Hockney at his prime has allowed the development of ‘Britain’s favourite artist’ to be traced, scrutinised, dissected and reassembled by the eyes and minds of all and sundry. And it was about time too. Hockney in the 60s was a rare and majestic sight to behold, he oozed potential, and finally these works can be appreciated in the new setting of Nottingham Contemporary – an impressive site for an impressive artist. The division of the two galleries is drawn at a natural conclusion of one era – pre-California – and the beginning of Hockney’s American adventure. His work in Gallery 4 is cryptically confessional; coded messages seem to suggest that he wishes to divulge a secret, but wants there to be an element of challenge for the audience. ‘We Two Boys Together Clinging’ is as poetic as the title suggests. The two boys depicted are more than clinging, they are bound: it is a representation of beauty among chaos, with jagged edges and sharp colours contrasting greatly with the softness of the embrace. Occasionally, however, the poetic element of Hockney’s work is far from apparent. The majestic ‘Life Painting for Myself’, a depiction of a model forced into a corner, contains the poignant line “Don’t give up yet” scrawled on a corner; it is barely perceptible – the beauty is in the detail. Gallery 3, the continuation of the exhibition, is dominated by the stark blue of ‘A Bigger Splash’. Within this picture, Hockney tackles the problem of representing the suddenness of a

splash which, whilst easily represented in photographs, poses the artist numerous issues. This is pulled off with genuine skill; rather than attempting to represent that which is perceived, Hockney creates his own unfaithful yet well-executed vision. This exhibition, an eight year long snapshot of Hockney’s artistic life, is a joy to experience – the works are deliciously peppered with affirmation, potential and accomplishment. “Sometimes simple on the surface means a complex structure underneath” From the cool blues to the clinical whites, Frances Stark’s work is – excuse the well-worn gag – stark by nature. There is a certain nudity to her work, but the beauty sits well below the surface and can only be appreciated at a close proximity. This is best represented within ‘Free Money’ and ‘And Also another One at the Same Time’, images comprising of intricate lettering in a predetermined pattern. Stark has a certain way of developing the words of others into her own pieces – offering a window into her own tastes, and ultimately, her own experience. Liberal usage of Dickinson, Whitman and Mark E. Smith place elements of the artist within the work – something that is occasionally absent from other works. The exhibition is fluid, Stark flits between explicit and retiring, the overt tones of her messages sit unsettlingly against the minute suggestions of others. One must approach Stark’s work almost with a magnifying glass, peeking into every corner, before discarding it and appreciating the totality.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Book Review

The Beats: A Graphic History Edited by Paul Buhle

oming together towards the end of the 1950s, the Beat Generation were arguably the most exciting literary movement of the 20th Century. Basing their philosophy on a rejection of mainstream American society, and, under a haze of chemical experimentation, this collective of bohemian hedonists created valuable literary artefacts of their time - the most notable of which being ‘On the Road’ by Jack Kerouac.

The Beats: A Graphic History is essentially a two-part book about the runners and riders of the Beat Generation, all presented in a comic-book style. The first part looks at Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs, and, in turn, their lives are recalled in a terribly naive fashion. The vision presented is too rosy; every word the Beats wrote is seen as groundbreaking. Irritatingly enough, there is very little of their actual texts present - a curious choice given the subject of the book - which renders the narrative akin to someone screaming, “Isn’t this amazing?!” at you every five seconds whilst pointing to a void. Given the sublimity and relevancy of the Beats’ work, the choice to not include their prose does them a great disservice. The second half of the book presents the supporting cast to the literary movement, featuring a dozen short sections about these minor characters. Some are fascinating - the Beatnik Chicks section, for example, expounds the misogyny that the women who got ‘involved’ with the Beats had to endure. Whereas others just provide greater contextualisation for the movement - not disinteresting, but not vital either. The second section sits awkwardly with the first, to the extent that the perceived audience for this book is unclear. In the first half of the book, the reader is treated to a prosaic look at the lives of the three main writers - for many with a passing interest in the Beats will already know a great deal about the actions discussed here, yet it serves as a good introduction to the movement. However, if the intention were to offer a simple insight into the Beat Generation, the second section is, at best, hard to absorb and, at worst, off-putting. The Beats is a curiosity and one that is seemingly unsure of its true purpose - there are works that give a far superior introduction to this literary movement than this one, and equally many that offer much deeper analysis of those less prominently involved. The idea of ‘illustrating the Beats’ promised much, but poor delivery hampers the final result. Alexander Britton

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Arts

Ladies in trousers, gents with no ties, and the conductor was sporting a beard

y taste in music is pretty varied. Like much of you, if asked what I like, I’d say “pretty much everything.” But as I remember it, there was an age that what music you listened to defined the kind of person you were – if you liked metal you were a grunger; if you liked drum n’ bass you were a chav; if you liked jazz you were a weirdo, and if you liked classical you were a nobody. These days it is more likely that we have varied tastes and the music simply fits the mood. This is why I cannot understand the sheer unpopularity of the Classical genres. Young adults are more open minded than ever before and yet producers like ‘sinfonia ViVa’ feel the need to advertise themselves with an irredeemable degradation of the English Language for the sake of seeming a bit cool. Frankly, they may be insulting us a little but we did kind of ask for it. Classical music is generally received as overly conservative, stuffy, formal, tiresome, tedious, ‘samey’ and only worth listening to if you want to go to sleep. But wait… before we close the case, there is the other side to this argument: when it comes to live performance, there is nothing better. The moment you realise that forty-odd people are playing in synchronism for you and only a select few other (usually grey haired) audience members, the feel of a symphonic lift is overwhelming. When you realise the genius of a composer to write forty paths of music individually for forty instruments and the sounds you hear are of their own amplification, this lift becomes a lip quivering, heart-warming, jaw shattering moment. At ‘sinfonia ViVa’, the performance was technically perfect in its operation but unremarkably so. Its true delight was in the producers choice of compositions that varied in weight and age; the ‘fresh’ edge that ‘ViVa’ went for was wholeheartedly achieved by mixing some well known symphonies with new age material, namely ‘Still, Glowing,’ by Judith Weir - a wonderfully ‘soothing’ piece; one that was new to me and sublime in its simplicity as a modern composition, with an electronic motif. Also on offer in the After Hours performance was Phillip Glass’s Symphony No. 3, ticking all the boxes of an established form and fulfilling the necessary pleasures that most modern composers inevitably forget. Out with new, in with the old - the stunning, delightful and supreme pianist, Alexandra Dariescu provided a mesmerising rendition as leader of Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto - making it a personal accomplishment and a personal experience for any listener. I never thought I would grow to become one of those people that has a favourite conductor, but by the looks of things, I am - and it is André de Ridder, a man who displayed unstoppable charm and charisma in his short introductions to each piece, his gestures to Ms. Dariescu in the form of a running joke to which the audience is not privy but endeared, and also energy as he exploded on the podium time and time again, jumping as his arms flailed (but gracefully) and produced more than a visual accompaniment, but an embodiment of the forty-ish members of the ‘ViVa’ orchestra surrounding him. Sinfonia ViVa will return in March with the promise of both electric and acoustic violins in their ‘After:Hours’ performance. Until then, the Nottingham Classics season continues to offer relatively inexpensive ticket prices, concessions and discounts to members of the ‘GoClassics’ club (membership free of charge). Nick Charity

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Beauty and the Beast @ Nottingham Playhouse

Words by Jodie Thompson | Photos by Robert Day

Panto Review

ou can’t deny that there is an air of sophistication often attached to the Playhouse.

But even if you refuse to call the pantomime sophisticated, this production is certainly traditional. There are no cringe-inducing appearances from burnt out Emmerdale stars for a start.

This show manages to achieve a quality other big city pantos have lost: genuine family fun, without segregating the jokes for children and adults in the audience. It’s timeless and ageless! The storyline, the grotesque dame, audience participation, actors’ ad-lib, it’s all there and perfectly executed. And surely that’s the point of the panto, to meet these expectations? Otherwise how would we know when to shout “Eee’s behind you!”? It’s the 26th consecutive pantomime at the Playhouse for director/writer Kenneth Alan Taylor and one certainly gets the feeling he could do the 27th with his eyes closed. The story is Beauty and the Beast, complete with two ugly sisters reminiscent of the quaint Lancastrian women in Wallace and Gromit, with Playhouse regular John Elkington brilliantly suited as ‘The Dame’. In a purely technical sense, I guarantee this production is a visual pleasure for theatre design students (call it ‘research’ if you need an excuse!). The set is absolutely magical. It combines the traditional home-made feel of painted cardboard settings with impressive with technically accomplished built-up sets, such as the grand interior of the Beast’s house. There is even a scene presented behind a screen using beautifully choreographed shadow puppetry. The costumes are also gorgeous. These are not the usual circus performer ensembles or fancy dress shop panto outfits you may be used to seeing. These are couture fashions! On music, there are a few love songs and home grown solos mainly sung by the protagonist, Belle. But for the most part, expect a bigger helping of songs designed for the audience to sing along to. ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’, ‘The Teddybears’ Picnic’ and even a snippet of a Pussycat Dolls track help get the crowd chanting along. And if it all sounds a bit full-on, there are occasional sedate interludes of dancing tea cups and various crockery, played out like a lullaby with live music to match. And amongst all that, what could be more traditional than buying an ice-cream pot from the vendor during interval? A definite Christmas cracker. Beauty and the Beast runs at Nottingham Playhouse until 23rd January 2010.

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7ILL YOU ALL STILL BE AROUND NEXT YEAR

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Film

The Boys Are Back | Singin’ In the Rain | Airplane! | Heroes: The Greatest War Movies Ever Edited by Becky Wojturska | film@platform-online.net

Film Editor | Becky Wojturska

appy New Year Trenters, hope you had a great Christmas and all that jazz. Now, we all know that New Year is a time for celebrating the new (obviously) but in the film world, the old is just as, if not more, important. So we take a look back at some classics and review how they are important and why they are considered ‘classics’.

If there is one New Year resolution we make, it’s generally to be better people, whether it’s by being healthier or more giving. So check out our Help For Heroes campaign, where you can buy a DVD where all the profits go to the charity and get a great start to the year, both for you and for others. >

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Film

Film Review The Boys Are Back (12A)

Starring: Clive Owen, George MacKay, Nicholas McAnulty, Directed By: Scott Hicks Released: 22nd January 2010

‘Growing up can be the adventure of a lifetime’. Most people would agree with the tagline but this film, based on Simon Carr’s novel of the same name, explores a motherless childhood in which a father must come through and pull the fragments of a shattered life back together. The father in question is busy sports journalist Joe Warr (Owen) who is lost after the death of his wife and left with looking after his sons; adorable six year old Artie (McAnulty) and rebel teen Harry (MacKay). Soon, he finds he doesn’t know them as well as he thought and seeks to establish a relationship by living by the motto ‘just say yes’. And so starts the reckless and exuberant lifestyle that is endearing yet dangerous. Needless to say it’s not long before something goes wrong. Carr leaves his sons home alone as he goes to a business sporting event and returns to find the place trashed after unwanted party-goers crash. The trust that has been established is broken, not just with his sons but with his late wife’s parents, and Carr must try to rebuild the trust and love he so desperately wants and feels. Often tear-jerking, this film is beautiful with the depths and emotions of family life explored. Some scenes feel a little empty however, and the returning image of Carr’s wife ruins the feeling of loss that the film strives for. However, the young boys steal the limelight with their stirring acting and moving bond. Along with the subtle humour and parts that everyone can relate to, this film is a must-see that will have you laughing and crying at the same time. One piece of advice; have tissues handy. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

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Singin’ In The Rain

Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Conner, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen Directed By: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly Released: 11th April 1952 This toe-tapping tale takes place in Hollywood, where famous actor Don Lockwood (Kelly) is constantly hounded by paparazzi, fans and worst of all his co-star Lina Lamont (Hagen) who wants to believe their fabricated on-screen relationship is real off-screen. When running from screaming fans one night he jumps into dancer Kathy Selden’s (Reynolds) passing car, after which the two fall in love.

But as in most fifties musicals there are a series of comedic events which pose threats, including the introduction of the talkie film (which does not bode well with Lina’s whiny nasal voice) and Don’s best friend Cosmo’s (O’Conner) insistence that Kathy dub over Lina’s voice for the next film. Cue jealousy, laughs and love. This classic film is perfect for musical lovers, it has dancing, singing, comedy, love; you really couldn’t ask for more. Well, maybe a man running up a wall, doing a perfect flip and landing on his feet. No, wait, it has that too. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

Classic Film Reviews

Airplane!

Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges Directed By: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker Released: 2nd July 1980 This classic comedy stars the legend that is Leslie Nielsen as Dr. Rumack, who springs to action when food poisoning strikes the passengers and crew of a flight to Chicago. Among these people are air stewardess Elaine (Haggerty) and ex-fighter pilot Ted (Hays), who has overcome his fear of flying (due to a previous war incident) and boarded to save his dwindling relationship with Elaine. But soon the pilots are taken ill and it is now up to Ted to push aside his fears and attempt to land the plane. Airplane is just one of many genius ZAZ (Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker) films, along with The Naked Gun and Top Secret, but what makes it stand out is its innovation in comedy and its platform for Leslie Nielson’s comedic career, of which the film world would be a worse place without. With brilliant direction, eccentric acting and genius yet crazy humour it’s easy to say this is one of the greatest comedies of all time. I know what you’re thinking; ‘surely I can’t be serious?’ Well I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

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Film

DVD Review

Heroes: The Greatest War Movies Ever (TBC)

Released: 25th January 2010

Guns. Bombs. Artillery. Death. These war movie must-haves create drama, emotion and entertainment but unfortunately, these are not just the makings of a war film but real life for soldiers. Everyday soldiers are critically wounded and although, sadly, we can’t immediately stop the war, we can help heal and make the soldiers lives better. So join Britain as we attempt to raise £1 million for the charity Help For Heroes with the DVD Heroes: The Greatest War Movies Ever. The DVD contains excerpts from only the best war films, as selected by the British public and all the profits (approximately £7.50 per DVD) will go to the charity. The DVD includes clips from: Hamburger Hill, Saving Private Ryan, Catch 22, Gallipoli, Zulu, Stalag 17, The Great Escape, Bridge On The River Kwai , Hurt Locker, Max Manus Man of War, The Guns of Navarone, Female Agents, A Bridge Too Far, The Wild Geese, Platoon , The Cruel Sea, Johnny Got His Gun, Sophie’s Choice, Welcome to Sarajevo, The Caine Mutiny, Breaker Morant, The Longest Day, Dunkirk, Days Of Glory, 633 Squadron, Went the Day Well?, The Dam Busters, M*A*S*H 1974, Battle of Britain, Saints & Soldiers, Downfall, Lawrence of Arabia, Zulu Dawn, The Colditz Story, Schindler’s List, The Admiral, Henry V, Dr Strangelove, Patton - Lust For Glory, The Eagle Has Landed, Ice Cold in Alex. Actor and presenter Ross Kemp said “The money raised from this DVD will go towards helping some very brave young men and women who have been wounded in the service of our country. They do not consider themselves to be Heroes; we know differently. We may not be able to prevent them getting wounded, but by supporting projects like this one we can do

something to help them get better”” The money raised will go towards building new Army Recovery Centres (ARCS) which not only care for the wounded and sick physically, but also mentally. ARCS care for soldiers once they leave the hospital and provide supervision, care and retraining activities for those who can’t return to the army due to their injury. Not all soldiers have families that can provide this level of support and so you can help build the aid they need. The CEO for Help for Heroes Bryn Parry said “Help for Heroes was launched in October 2007 to provide direct, practical support to our wounded. The charity is non political and while it recognizes that we are helpless to prevent war, we can help to improve the lives of those wounded in them. We welcome this terrific fund raising initiative and encourage anyone who wants to ‘do their bit’ for our Servicemen and women to buy the DVD and help our modern heroes by watching the deeds of our past heroes.” So come on Trent! Let’s come together to help the wounded (and it doesn’t hurt that you get something in return for your generosity.) Becky Elizabeth Wojturska ‘Heroes – The Greatest War Movies Ever!’ will be released on DVD (£9.99) by Revolver Entertainment on 25th January 2010.

Check out more reviews on www.platform-online.net

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Photos â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Climaxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; | 12.11.09 Photo: Charlotte Hickmott

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Fashion

Fashion Editor Rebecca Uren

elcome back everyone to the New Year at Trent. I hope you all had a wonderful Xmas and received loads of amazing presents whilst taking full advantage of all the yummy festive food.

After all that pre- Xmas shopping and party celebrations, it’s pretty normal to be painfully short of pennies at this current time. But there’s no better time to be a poor student than right now, with all high street stores launching their January sales around Nottingham, one can pick up a bargain for extra special prices. For the price you would’ve paid for a single dress earlier on last month, you could now probably purchase the whole outfit; shoes and bag included with the sales extravaganzas that are taking place. Have fun sale shopping and I hope you enjoy this issue full of fashion filled goodness.

Red� Carpet� Runway�

at� the� Exchange� Fashion� Show

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

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A night of glamour and fashion in the Nottingham Exchange, from stylists to models, make-up to dressers: as Elle McNamara reports, this Christmas event was a cracker... Photos by Jason Parry

icture the scene. A frenzy of 20-somethingyear-olds backstage three hours before a stream of red carpet cascades down the avenue of anticipative crowds and eager photographers. As the clock strikes 6.30, the student models glide down the carpet – a picture of serenity and composure. The antithesis of the organised chaos that proceeded behind closed doors. On arriving at 2.30 that afternoon, it was evident that the stylists, make-up artists and hairdressers had a challenge to transform a group of leather clad students out of our cosy ankle boots and into our stilettos. De-kinking our tousled manes with heavy duty hair dryers and painting our bare faces to slowly create an illusion of glamour. Kate Brazier, 22, a second year student on Fashion Communication and Promotion talks about her apprehension as the moment arrives for her as the first model to grace the runway: “I always feel nervous, just before, especially when we’re all lining up to go on, but then I really enjoy it!” The irony of super-noodle-eating students, bejewelled and draped in 100s of pounds worth of taffeta was not lost on us. However we were determined to make this a credible fashion spectacle, and reward Adrian Parkinson, the event organiser, for taking a leap of faith and putting his confidence in us to deliver. As Adrian said: “It’s great to let them get hands on experience and give them experience of a real catwalk show - it’s not something I could do on my own” The show was pivotal to this seasonal fashion evening event, promoting local retailers in the Exchange, such as Tutu, Jaeger and Oasis. The opportunity of working behind and in front of the flashing camera bulbs was invaluable experience for those of us who wish to work in a variety fashion environments in the future. The end product was the sum of its components; in that the preparation and hard work was just as important as the polished vision that had been created when the clock stuck 6.30. The show was a great success, so well received that Adrian plans to invite us back again for the Spring 2010 event – not bad for a bunch of students!

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Fashion How to master the sales to full potential By Rebecca Uren

kay, okay, so most of us go pretty mental when the January sales start, and end up with clothes sat in the back of the wardrobe collecting dust for the remains of the whole year. If you are one of them people that purchases a pair of shoes a size too small because they were only £10, to then leave them in the back of wardrobe ‘waiting for the right occasion’ then read on for my advice on how to handle yourself during the New Years sales. When faced in the middle of the store clutching onto that stunning metallic handbag like your life depends on it is, ask yourself if you really love what you’re looking at, regardless of whether it’s a bargain. When sale shopping, it would be at your main advantage to stick to looking for classic, staple pieces of clothing that you know you will get a long wear out of and will compliment the majority of your already existing wardrobe. At this time, it is also a fantastic opportunity to buy good quality staple pieces at af-

fordable prices. By retaining yourself to decent winter coats, cardigans, t shirts and skirts, you can dress them up with accessories to be on trend and keep on pulling them out to wear year after year. When you’re in the middle of having an adrenaline rush just take a minute to stop and have a good think about how you are going to fit this item into your own style. Do you have at least three other complimenting items you can team with the item? If not, then think about why you’re about to buy an outfit in which you have nothing to team with it. If you’re always ending up with ten items you didn’t really need and as a result left with no money to buy the handbag you really needed to invest in, avoid buying in the whim of the moment by writing a list before you leave the house. Create a list of all items you need or have before the sale launch that you would like. By doing this, you’ll then have a clear sense of direction and end up with the items you really wanted beforehand.

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If you’re looking for jewellery or complimenting accessories for a particular item of clothing, then bring the item in a plastic bag (not your handbag, as the chances of being arrested will increase dramatically) with you to the shops. Most shops have a no refund policy on earrings, so buying to find out they’re not the correct match will only seek to be a waste of money. Bring the item with you and hold it up to the accessory to see if they make a good match before purchasing. Remember to keep the tags on recently bought clothes and store those receipts away safely. Sale items are getting cheaper by the day, and many stores will only refund the current price of sale items on the day they are returned, not when they were purchased. So if you are planning to return something, do it sooner rather than later Finally, remember- it’s not a bargain unless you need it. Happy shopping.

£40, Topshop

£49.99, River Island

£149, Reiss £50, Warehouse

Trend: Smart Investments

ower-dressing was key to this season’s collections. Think city stockbroker with a sexy twist – it’s all about over sized blazers teamed with tailored trousers and killer heels. Classic Chanel, pinstripes and tweed are back in a big way. Despite the credit crunch, it’s still all about flashing the cash and while our bank accounts may have far from recovered from those pre- Christmas splurges, Wall Street chic is easily replicable on the high street, proving that you don’t have to earn a million dollars to look like it. Recession? What recession?

With streamlined silhouettes Dries Van Notan’s understated 80’s elegance rolled in the big bucks on the runway , to get this look on a budget team Tapered trousers with a double breasted jacket, layer up with a slouchy shirt or waistcoat for instant glamour . When working with black or neutral colours don’t be afraid to add statement accessories like these red sunglasses and killer animal skin effect platforms. Lucy Winkle

Trend: Lace

long with the opulence of the sequins and embellishments popular with designers this season, lace has emerged as the way to add interest to garments and a sure fire way to exude elegance. No longer considered an old fashioned thing of the past, lace is nothing to be associated with something your Grandma would wear. It has been revitalized on the catwalks by designers such as Prada as modern and fresh and provides a grown up and stylish look for the high street. Glamour no longer means revealing all and hiding the flesh under lace is the perfect way to attract attention in a sophisticated manner. The celebrities have followed suit from the catwalk, wearing lace in every form imaginable, whether it’s a provocative look for the night or a pretty daytime detail. It can be as subtle as a pair of tights or a major feature in a lace dress but be sure to invest in this versatile trend.

Megan Fox

Blake Lively

Taylor Swift

For Megan Fox lace tights dress up a casual cardigan for a relaxed daytime look. Along with slouchy boots, a little but of lace can add some decadence to your day so make like Megan and wear lace with your oversized jumpers and coats for a stylish winter look. It’s all about the small details and Blake Lively looks devastatingly chic in these lace shoes and pretty skirt. Grey lace takes an interesting twist on the traditional so be sure to add some grey to your wardrobe for some Upper East Side glamour. Lace doesn’t have to be revealing, and with just a hint of lace, classic beauty Taylor Swift pairs tights with a skirt and jumper for a demure daytime look. For the not so brave lace tights are the perfect addition to an outfit, day or night. Emily Hart

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Fashion

Turning Trash into Treasures

ith the ‘Make Do and Mend’ trend weaving its way into the hearts of fashion lover’s worldwide, what better way to accessorize your look than with your own handmade jewellery? Having a DIY style is not only perfect for expressing your creative side, but is also a great asset for your bank balance, leaving more money to fund student life. TRASHfashion is an eco-fashion enterprise that specialises in creating handmade jewellery pieces by mixing junk shop finds with a variety of materials. By simply threading a chain through a stopwatch, attaching buttons to a pair of studs, or asking your grandma

to teach you the art of knitting, you too can create one-off pieces that nobody else can get their hands on. Ebay is a fantastic place to find your odds and sods to play with. Puzzle pieces, Lego blocks and rusty keys are regularly re-invented into quirky creations. For a more Sixties feel, spend some time searching for buttons on the haberdashery market stalls and in charity shops for a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. With ‘Knit and Bitch` groups popping up across England, this past-time is no longer for the older generation. Knitting is becoming fashionable and through the

simple method of finger knitting you can create a wool chain necklace in minutes. As students living in a recession, we are constantly reminded to save money wherever possible. Now you can create personal jewellery pieces for yourself and others, at half the price of that on the high street. Gina Mollett

Want to find out more? www.trashfashionsite.blogspot.com – Coming Soon

Join the NTU Knitting Society on Monday evenings – your Grandma will be proud!

Turn your design into ca $ h Feeling the effects of the credit crunch and looking to make some easy money this New Year? Teepay is the solution. Providing the opportunity for aspiring new designers to turn ideas into cash, what better way for students to earn some extra cash this postXmas period. You never know - your design could create a style storm and become more than just a t shirt designed to make money. Enter your design now and see it produced and worn by fellow students around you and become the next fashion entrepreneur of Nottingham Trent. Who needs Dragons’ Den? The principle is simple, anyone can upload designs to the website and teepay.com provides the tools to promote their work online. As soon as 10 people order one design, the money starts to role in. The designer receives a percentage of the royalties on each tee- shirt sold - royalties being 10% of the selling cost - sell 100 tee-shirts and earn £250. These royalties are paid in monthly, which comes along a lot quicker than student loan day and much more convenient than working a nine hour shift at work. Put your creative head on now and grab the pen and sketchbook out to get creating your design, literally anything that takes your fancy and submit to teepay, then just sit back, commence with uni work and watch the pennies role in. Rebecca Uren www.teepay.com

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Pick your cotton carefully F

or millions of people around the world, a degraded natural environment means hunger and brutal poverty that costs many precious lives every year.

The Environment Justice Foundation is a charity running an international campaign to ‘clean up’ cotton production. By reaching out in as many places they can afford to reach, EJF provides film and advocacy training to partners in the global south empowering local communities to investigate, expose and peacefully resolve abuse of their natural environment. Cotton is a dirty crop. Not only is the production rife with child labour, but the hazardous pesticides sprayed onto cotton poisons thousands of farmers and families in the developing world every day. Top designers including John Rocha, Giles Deacon, Luella and Betty Jackson to name a few are already showing their respect to the charity by joining EJF’s campaign by designing an exclusive range of printed t-shirts made from 100% fairly traded organic cotton. Designed on the theme ‘childhood, lost innocence and hope’ they aim to project the issue strongly by representing more than a million children forced to work in cotton fields. With all the proceeds going to EJF’S work protecting the environment and defending human rights, what easier and more stylish way to support such a vital charity. Think carefully before you consider purchasing your next piece of cotton clothing and never feel embarrassed to ask shop assistants if the brand stocks any organic cotton. Remember there are children out there suffering from picking harmful cotton that has possibly gone to producing the item of clothing you could be holding in your hand. Do you really want to encourage this any further? Rebecca Uren Visit www.ejfoundation.org to purchase your designer t shirt for only £30 and help protect people and the planet.

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Food&Drink Come Dine With Me | Brown Betty’s | Takeaway Guide

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

Come Dine With Me

The knives were definitely out in Nottingham this month (and the forks and spoons too) when four Trent students got together for a Come Dine With Me style evening. By Molly Woodruff

f you’ve never watched an episode of the surprisingly addictive show, the idea is four-or-five strangers take it in turns to host a dinner party in an attempt to out-do each other in the kitchen and win £1,000. Not surprisingly, we had to skip out on the one thousand pound prize - I don’t think the Platform budget would have stretched to that, but the respect of coming first was a worthy consolation. Instead of having a week long event, each of us made a different course for one big end-of-the-week meal where we got to rate and more importantly slate each others efforts at fine dining. We had a mix of contestants with different levels of culinary expertise – with one person so disastrous in the kitchen that their job inevitably ended up being to choose the wine. To kick off the night we had homemade cream of tomato soup with croutons and warm French bread, followed by a hearty Italian themed main meal consisting of lasagne, mixed salad and rosemary infused bread.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

The Diners’ Opinions: Starter: Tom Pearson (18)

“I

was apprehensive about the Come Dine With Me meal at first; cooking something which had to look and taste good at the same time (the two rarely combine when I am involved), but it was really enjoyable. All the food was brilliant and the company was good too. Molly’s chocolate brownies were definitely a winner with me, and the lasagne Alex cooked was perfect.”

Main: Alex Ward (21)

“A

s a twenty-something student living in a scruffy dig, I hadn’t expected to be hosting a dinner party. I’ve always thought of them as an event that caused my parents great stress and panic. So you can imagine my thoughts when it came to hosting one of my own. I raced home from a lecture, washed-up several days of dirty dishes, and pushed our clunky hoover around, which in hindsight probably produced more dust than it swallowed. Then I set-about making what I hoped would become a lasagne. I needn’t have worried though; it emerged triumphantly from the oven. The wine flowed, and a good evening was had by all.”

Dessert: Molly Woodruff (21)

“I

t was a bit strange at first sitting at someone’s dinner table I hardly know and having them cook for me, but I have to say all the meals were amazing and I will definitely be staying in contact with them all - even if it is just for the free food. The starter was amazing and I would love to get the recipe and the lasagne was cooked to perfection. It definitely made for a happy alternative to my usual student menu of takeaway pizza and beer.”

Wine: Glen Davies (20)

“A

dinner party may well be one of the less stereotypical student pastimes but while others stumble around and vomit on the floor of Ocean, getting a few people together for one of these seemed to be a successful idea. I had the pain-free task of buying the wine. But with that said, there is great skill in choosing the right vino especially budget friendly wines that won’t taste like vinegar. I was in safe hands with the cooks, though, because the food was brilliant. These contestants were fully paid-up foodies, but the beauty of it is that you needn’t be. This is certainly a good evening for everyone.”

To end the evening we sampled homemade chocolate brownies with fruit and cream topped off with copious amounts of tipple – which I have to say was well chosen. Sadly, our night was free from Dave Lamb’s hilarious commentary or contestants outrageous antics like in the show (well I hope nobody put my pudding in their handbag or fed their starter to the dog). But, having said that, the night was full of laughs and everyone really enjoyed themselves. If anyone out there considers themselves an expert in the kitchen – maybe the next Naked Chef or short-tempered Gordon Ramsay? get in touch at food@platform-online.net and try your hand out at the next Platform culinary competition.

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Food & Drink

Brown Betty’s

St James St, Nottingham

he mid-week lunch is vastly underrated. It has the potential to be something very special, but commonly ends up as a flaccid affair consisting of squashed, Clingfilmclad butties that do little to leaven the monotony of your day. Often just confirming the fact that tuna mayonnaise and banana do little to complement each other when crushed between a copy of the metro, and the crumby nether regions of one’s briefcase or satchel.

Thankfully, there is an alternative, somewhere to steal-away for a few minutes, or even hours. A sanctuary where the trials and tribulations of one’s day are gradually lost in the delights of really good grub. That place is Brown Betty’s, literally a stone’s throw away from Nottingham’s Old Market Square. Hidden away up a cobbled street, the deli-style business has been serving dedicated diners for more than twenty years. And the punters just keep coming back. At 1pm come rain or shine, you’ll find a line of hungry customers waiting to fill their empty bellies. How do I know? Very often I’m one of them. For the last two years Betty has been a surrogate mum for my friends and I. We’ve spent many an afternoon chain-drinking cups of tea whilst working our way through the veritable smorgasbord of breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, hot food and their beautifully crafted ciabatta dishes. It’s one of the friendliest dining experiences

Restaurant Review available, not so much a cafe than sitting in somebody’s kitchen. There are only two tables, the furniture exuding uncomplicated rustic comfort, as you slide along a bench next to a complete stranger, and inevitably get chatting. People are fanatical about some of the dishes available here, and you know it’s popular when you see dustbin-lid sized pans behind the counter with pasta and spicy chicken rice heaped up, ready to be served. Order a plate of their meaty pasta and you’ll get enough food to feed at least three people. Riddled with Lincolnshire sausage and bacon, and topped with melted cheese, salad, salsa and mayonnaise, it’s the kind of meal that warrants fasting for the rest of the week. And all for much less than a fiver. For those whose eyes are a similar size to their stomach there are salads,

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

and samosas that are full of delicate flavour, yet pack an impressive punch. The run-away favourites though have to be the ciabattas. With an array of meats, cheeses and other fillings, it’s often difficult to decide what to have. Order a steaming mountain of scrambled-eggs topped with black pepper and smoked salmon, and you’ll have the whole shop salivating. Stilton, sausage and pickle is a mean contender too, but shouldn’t be tackled twice in the same week if you value your arteries. There are also award-winning breakfasts for early risers, or of course, those who haven’t actually been to bed. Brown Betty’s has a history that spans two decades, its charm personified by the dedicated line of followers that snakes along the cobbled street. A family feeding the hungry people of Nottingham with such cheerful enthusiasm, you just can’t help but smile. Alex Ward

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Food & Drink By Nathan Hinsley

s a student I find takeaway food is a bare necessity in my day-to-day life. Either if it is when I am on my way back from a heavy night, too lazy to cook, or tempted by a late night snack, there is an array of options readily available to us. From China to the North Sea our local takeaways range from different origins around the globe and give us a taste of paradise on a cold January day. Some of the most popular dishes are pizza, Chinese, fish & chips, Indian and kebabs. Below are five of the local takeaways amongst a sea of hundreds here in Nottingham. Domino’s Pizza, West Bridgford

As one of the world’s largest takeaway chains they offer their own spin on the age-old Italian dish we all know and love. With stores dispersed all over the city it is the obvious option and with the added benefit of delivery services there is no need to leave the sofa, it is a perfect option for a night in! I often order from this takeaway and, usually within 30 minutes, a pizza cooked to perfection is on our doorstep waiting. Servings cost £4-6per person. although student offers are available, like buy one get one free on all your favourites from Pepperoni Passion to Vegetarian Supreme.

My recommendation: Beef Curry and rice The Priory Fish Bar, Derby Road This is a perfect place to get the old English favourite of fish and chips with good old-fashioned mushy peas. Now a British institution, this dish has stood the test of time and still remains one of our most popular. This takeaway definitely offers one of the best deals in town if you are one for large portions as they give you food by the lorry load. With prompt service and masses of food this ‘chippy’ is one of my personal favourites when hunger strikes. Meals are a steal at £3-5 for a plate full that would satisfy any appetite. Beeston Tandoori, High Road This is a cosy Indian takeaway and buffet in the centre of Beeston. Offering a

My recommendation: Hawaiian Pizza Man’s Garden, Derby Road Chinese dishes are one of Britain’s favourite and grow in popularity year on year. At this undiscovered little haunt there is a large range of options from stir-fries, curries, seafood and so on. These endless choices offer an option for any palette. This take-away has a prompt service and can make your chosen dish within 10 minutes. With its friendly and helpful staff it has all the appeals of a local takeaway. Meals £4-6.

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variety of dishes ranging in the spice department - there is a bit of everything for everyone, however daring you may be (although be warned: the Jalfrezi curry packs quite a punch). Meals £4-6. My recommendation: Chicken Tikka Masala Kebab King, Mansfield Road This is my personal favourite takeaway in the city centre, central to all bars, pubs and clubs sitting opposite to Victoria centre. They offer a wide range of food to cater for everyone along with a seating area, toilet facilities and a taxi rank across the road. There is little more you could ask for in the centre of town in the early hours of the morning. Meals £3-4. My recommendation: Donner Kebab

Travel Ghana | Thailand

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

Ghana Do you hate swarms of tourists, who go in big, touristy groups to awful, touristy attractions? Well, Rachel Curnock knows somewhere that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any of that. >

Note from the Editor: Because even we sometimes lapse into utterly inept habits, last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absolutely lovely Paris feature was credited to Lucia Miyashita, but was written by Charlotte Hickmott. We apologise for any distress caused. - Glen Davies, Editor-in-Chief

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Travel

I travelled to Ghana in the summer through BUNAC (British Universities North American Club), which offers work abroad and volunteering programmes for people of all ages. My BUNAC experience began with meeting 7 other volunteers at London Heathrow. After a long 8 hour flight we arrived in Accra, the capital, and were welcomed at the airport by two guys who were also partners with BUNAC. Their team showed us around Accra for the following 5 days. We had time to get to know each other, take drum and dance lessons, learn to cook various traditional Ghanaian dishes and participate in a Twi language session (one of the many Ghanaian languages). Tina, the woman in charge, then gave us a handy lesson on some of the major cultural differences we would need to be aware of throughout our stay.

involved catching up at a local bar, sharing experiences and chilling out all for the afternoon. After my first weekend with my new family I started work at the Frank Eve Foundation. This was a school where underprivileged young women were taught employable skills which could help improve their future lives. I was teaching mathematics and business skills, and had a tough time at the start

After this period of orientation, we then set off to our host families. I was living with a very nice family in district capital Agona Swedru along with Eleri, another volunteer. We spent the first weekend getting to know one another, and to our surprise, the process involved attending a wedding ceremony. What struck us at the celebration was that the couple getting married was actually offering gifts to their guests, instead of having it the other way round. Another cultural difference we picked up on from the wedding is that in Ghana it is a compliment to be big – in size. Hence, our host family would feed us enormous portions of food, expecting each of us to eat what could have been enough rice to feed a family of five! The food mainly included bread, rice, fufu, plantain, fish, and fruits, mostly bananas and pineapple. In Swedru and in the surrounding villages there were about 20 volunteers, and once a week we had what was called an ‘obruni’ meeting. ‘Obruni’ stands for ‘person from over the sea,’ or ‘white person,’ and the meetings generally

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for I was expecting to be assisting a teacher but was actually signed up to teach independently. There were four other volunteers working at the school, two of whom were Canadians. Luckily, we were able to do some group-teaching which was both helpful and enjoyable. The school largely depended on volunteers to keep going, and the girls were all very good at cooking and at working with textiles. I was amazed at their design and sewing skills, and every time

talk about the castle’s history and how the British had first built it for the slave trade. That weekend was also the weekend of the ‘Panafest’ festival, Ghana’s major cultural event, and we were swept away by an acrobatic show at the beach bar where we would go to relax.

I bought a length of fabric from the market they were more than happy to turn it into anything I wished. At the weekends I went travelling. If there is one thing I learnt about Ghanaians is that they are incredibly laid back, maybe a little too much. This is particularly so when it comes to transportation. We travelled almost everywhere in old, squashed, bumpy Tro Tros. These are mini buses that never really leave when they say they will. During the first weekend we visited some of the other BUNAC volunteers we first flew out with. They were living in Kamasi, north-west of the capital, which holds the largest market in West Africa. Even though the market was surprisingly organised into various different sections to avoid confusion, Eleri and I still managed to get lost. After about 3 hours of aimlessly walking around in

circles, we finally managed to catch up with the other volunteers and head over to Lake Bosumtwi, which according to traditional belief was the place where the souls of the dead would come to bid their farewell to the god Twi. On our second weekend we travelled to Kakum National Park and Cape Coast. One of the marvels of the park is that it has a 40m high canopy walkway suspended between trees, which are equivalent to the height of about 10 double decker buses placed one on top of the other. It was truly breathtaking. After a heart racing morning walk among the park’s tree tops, we set off to get some lunch in a restaurant which, to our very own disbelief, was built on a crocodile lake! After this unusual experience we then headed down to Cape Coast and had a tour around Cape Coast Castle, where we were given a very interesting

The following weekend I visited the Volta Region, and we headed on a very bumpy Tro Tro and bike ride journey to a monkey sanctuary, where we slept right in the middle of the main feeding area. The next morning we made our way to Mount Afadjato, the highest mountain in Ghana. After climbing the mountain in flip flops, which I do not recommend, we descended towards the waterfalls. One of these, the Wli waterfall, is the highest in West Africa. We swam at the bottom of the waterfall which was great after a long day in the sun. On my last weekend we traveled down to Winnebe, which is an hour away from the capital on my beloved Tro Tro bus. The beaches there were beautiful but completely deserted. After 5 eventful weeks I sadly headed back home. I chose BUNAC because they have been around for nearly 50 years, and without them I would not have gained the valuable experience I did from working at the Frank Eve Foundation. I was living in an extremely safe environment; with people I could contact 24 hours a day. I had a brilliant time and I would definitely recommend volunteering to anyone who has the chance.

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Travel

Thailand Welcome to the country of sand, sea and noodles. Home to some of the most exotic and dangerous creatures on earth - and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the ladyboys. Fraser Wilson takes a trip down memory lane to talk about his perfect holiday destination.

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here are many reasons why both culture vultures and party animals continue to flock to Thailand. It has got sun, great noodle dishes, a fascinating history, friendly people and – once you have paid for your flights – it is recession-bustingly cheap.

Bangkok is home to Thailand’s major airport which, for most people, is also the starting point to their trip. The capital city is westernised, bustling with people and tourists and, while not everything there may be for everyone, there is plenty to do. Once you have settled in, head to Koh Sang road to eat, drink and bargain hunt beneath the colourful bunting. Enjoy your balmy evenings with other tourists over a bucket of mai thai cocktail (or six) while debating if your waitress is a lady-boy or not. There are breath-taking temples all over the country, including Bangkok, so find

out which ones you fancy with a quick look at the Lonely Planet guide in order to avoid temple fatigue. The White Temple in Chang Rai, which looks like it has just come out of wintery Narnia, is still being built and is part temple and part art gallery. Remember to take off your flip-flops and cover your shoulders and knees before entering. Thailand has some amazing wildlife too. If you fancy getting close up and personal with the elephants then the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre near Lampang is the perfect place, and is both ethical and safe. It offers a thirtyminute trip on an elephant with an experienced mahout guiding you up and down the hills while your ride snacks on bamboo. The Tiger Kingdom in Chang Mai is the best place to get yourself a photograph with a real-life tiger. While you have to question how (and why) the big cats are so docile, these pictures are always a hit on Facebook.

Idyllic island Koh Phangan is home to Thailand’s notorious Full Moon parties so, if you’re after some booze fuelled fun, then this is the ideal place. As a result of their ever increasing popularity there are now both half moon parties and black moon parties which, while not as good as the original, are a handy choice if you are restricted in when you can go. Each of the major Thai islands boast clear blue seas, white sandy beaches and plenty of beachside bars and restaurants so you can sunbathe by day and party by night. One of the many must-have experiences on a trip to Thailand is the famous Thai massage. For just over a fiver you can be contorted, elbowed, kneed and have your back cracked by what can only be defined as a tiny Thai powerhouse. And you can be sure this will leave a trace of this beautiful, unpredictable country on you for years to come.

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student accommodation

For a free information pack and application form please call

0115 908 2600

nottingham

• Fully furnished & equipped self-contained flats

• Direct dial telephone in each flat

• All bedrooms have en-suite shower and toilet room

• Broadband available upon request

• Television & Sky package included in each flat

• Sought after location within 5 minutes walk of Nottingham Trent University

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Health

Food and Mood | Think about Drink | Spots (and OXY washbag giveaway) | Home Sickness

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

Food Food and and Mood Mood The food we eat not only effects our physical appearance and our general bodily health but can also have drastic effects on our brain power. Becky Clarke explains the best foods to eat to keep your body and mind healthy. >

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Health

The food that we consume on a daily basis, if wrong, not only may convert and sit on your hips and lessen that chance of a six pack, but, just as importantly, will also cause your brain to become drained, affecting your mood and concentration.

Not eating regular healthy meals can affect your ability to focus and you are more than likely going to become more easily distracted by minor distractions like the TV. And no one really wants to spend more time than they already do watching Jeremy Kyle. Iron is one of your key vitamins and one of the essential ingredients for transporting oxygen to your brain, too little iron in your diet means that your brain will literally be suffocating. If you want to restore your memory and concentration than the best place to start is with your diet. The thought of another diet may dishearten many of you as it is just something else that you need to watch and this diet doesn’t make you look any fitter. But your mental performance and relaxation can both be improved by choosing the right combinations of food and eating them at the right times.

Although snacking can be perceived as bad for you, it mainly depends on what you’re snacking on. Several mini-meals and snacks throughout the day rather than a few large meals with long intervals will help your metabolism function better, therefore producing more oxygen for your brain. A moderate meal every 4 hours provides an ideal balance to help improve your mood and concentration levels. Some recommended brain building foods are bananas, oranges, apples, cherries and grapes. These are also handy because they can be eaten on the go which is what it seems you’re doing all the time now. More savoury foods include chicken, beef, turkey, fish, and your yummy green vegetables. This may seem all a bit obvious but some foods which you

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may think are healthy such as pasta and bread are actually bad for you as they are considered one of the brain drainers as they are comparatively quite dense and will make you feel drowsy, normally resulting in you falling asleep with the television on. So yes, it is another diet, but it’s a healthy one not only for the body but for the mind as well. You will see your mood and concentration in lectures improve, which we all should take as a blessing, but it will also help you stay in shape. So why not give it a try?

Spots

Spots are caused by various factors, for some it may be hormones, others may have a genetic disposition or you may find that stress is a factor.

Think about Drink By Rachel Campbell

rink is a huge part of the student lifestyle but does come with some off putting side effects. Rachel Campbell explains why we all should think a bit more about the reasons why we feel the need to drink at University.

Moving away from home, meeting new people, trying new things and drinking until you pass out and cannot remember a thing in the morning? The ultimate experience of a lifetime some might say. But for students who move away from home for the first time, wanting to make friends and get the most from their university experience, alcohol misuse isn’t something they signed up for. Many students think that drinking isn’t a form of abuse to their bodies and believe that drugs like cannabis, cocaine and tobacco are more damaging. But while drug and tobacco usage is in decline in the UK, why are alcohol abuse levels still increasing at a steady rate? Drinking alcohol is seen as a social thing to do among friends and a way to have fun, sometimes even to escape and forget your problems. People who smoke always get stick from the non-smokers and even the cigarette packets offer a warning to the dangers of smoking. But this isn’t the case for those who drink too much. Alcohol misuse is not as talked about in the media as tobacco and cannabis abuse, so people are not always aware of the damage they are doing to their bodies Liver disease has traditionally affected drinkers in middle age, but now sufferers are getting younger. Up to 1 in 3 of the adult population is drinking enough alcohol to create a risk of developing alcohol-related liver disease. There are many factors contributing to excessive consumption of alcohol, depression, homesickness, too much work piling up or just generally feeling down all contribute to alcohol misuse. However, not all students feel and act this way. They feel happy when out with friends, socializing and downing their favourite shots from cucamaras, with waking up without a hangover a bonus. It’s all about knowing your limits, not always drinking to excess and knowing when to stop. Many students drink and enjoy themselves, but in moderation. If you ever feel like you can’t carry on the day without having a drink to see you through, then there are people and places that can help you with your problems.

Resources that can help include: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk http://www.talktofrank.com/

To help keep your skin clear it’s important to note that some skin products like moisturisers or makeup can flare up your spots so if you’re particularly susceptible to this try to reduce the amount of chemicals you’re putting on your skin. Some other good advice is to avoid picking or squeezing your blemishes because although you may think it will have an immediate effect it’s bad for the long term and could result in scarring. Some common myths about spots are: Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne. There is very little evidence for this. You get spots because your skin is dirty. Neither blackheads nor spots are caused by acne. Stress causes acne. No research has found that spots are caused by stress but it can make spots you already have worse.

WIN

Washbag filled with OXY products Platform has 4 OXY wash bags filled with OXY products to give away. For your chance to win just answer this question: Which of the following is a common skin complaint?

A. Orangeheads B. Greenheads C. Blackheads Email your answer along with your name, student ID number, and postal address to platform@su.ntu.ac.uk no later than Friday 29th January. Good luck!

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Health

Home Sickness For many students, moving away to University is one of the hardest things they’ve ever had to do. So Amy Howbrook has put together some helpful advice for those of us who are feeling the twinges of homesickness. Photo by Stefan Ebelewicz

or the first few weeks everything is exciting, you’re going out, making new friends and enjoying the experience and freedom that University provides. But then everything settles down and you find you have lectures to attend, studying to do, and you have to learn how to use the iron.

For many, this will be when homesickness begins to creep in; no more home cooking, no annoying little brother to shout at when you’re feeling angry, and you begin to miss your old friends, the ones who remember when you accidentally called a teacher ‘Mum’ and have never let you forget about it, who you now only ever get to talk to on Facebook. This longing for home is perfectly normal, a recent survey has shown that over two thirds of students suffer from homesickness in varying degrees, but that it usually decreases after the first term. That being said, homesickness can still cause problems. If you decide you belong at home with your family and with your old friends, you may begin to hate little things about University, which could potentially grow into hating your course and snapping at the people around you, or even isolating yourself completely. If you’re feeling homesick, there are steps to take to cure it, but remember that there is no hard and fast rule, and some methods won’t work for you. A phone call from home once a week may help to cure pangs of homesickness, or going home occasionally if you can afford it (provided you still have enough for a night out of course). Sometimes, it might help to talk to someone about it, so if your friend is feeling homesick talk to them about their life at home, they may feel better for it and you can both get back to laughing about the night before. Sometimes a hug, a cup of tea and a chat can work wonders, so don’t just sit there, go put the kettle on.

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Platform’s Top 10 Games of the Decade Ten years since the turn of the millennium. In that time we’ve witnessed social and political upheaval, endured the ongoing march of globalisation and been subjected to a glut of new technological progressions. We’ve also enjoyed some of the most groundbreaking interactive creations yet. There was tons to choose from, but after many late night play sessions, crayon presentations and probably one too many screaming matches, we present to you Platform’s picks for the noughties’ best.

Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)

Burnout 3: Takedown (2004)

Resident Evil 4 (2005)

Microsoft

Capcom

Bungie’s famous ‘30 seconds of fun’ formula resulted in Halo’s supremely versatile gameplay. It also introduced many elements that have now become standard for the genre. A believable story and engaging environments serve to make Master Chief’s debut appearance his best. FPSs would never again be the same.

Still remains as fast, smooth and deep as when it first arrived. Burnout 3 towers above the rest because every inch of its package is gold sterling. Dozens of cars, tracks and events, pioneering online multiplayer and highly addictive gameplay. Once you’re in, there’s no going back.

The definitive version of a modern classic and a mustplay. Resident Evil 4 is a game that you ought to approach with as few preconceived notions as possible. An amazing achievement, especially in how its inspired, state-ofthe-art cinematic presentation pairs so well with its relentlessly exciting, white-knuckle action.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Shadow of the Colossus (2005) Sony

Rockstar

Arguably the best action adventure franchise of the decade, GTA will always standout in any ‘best of’ list. And San Andreas is the prize jewel of the series, still to this very day. Three huge cities, massive open areas, an epic story and jumping out of planes. The best GTA game to date.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) Bethesda

Fumito Ueda presents players with a forbidden land, desolate but for 16 enormous giants. Ambience, grandeur and genuine emotion can all be found in this unique Japanese title. Its Zelda-like tendencies of horseback riding, exploration, puzzle solving and archery sit alongside a fascinating adventure that culminates in one of gaming’s most unexpected revelations.

Almost everything that’s ever been done well before in past RPGs is here, but better. From the quality of the story and character interactions, to the pure thrill of combat, to all the pleasure to be found in the game’s minute details. These elements combine to make Oblivion one of the single best, longest-lasting game experiences to be had in a long time.

www.platform-online.net |

Gaming Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

Coming soon in 2010... Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)

Activision

Konami

The revolution for online shooters arrived in 2007 with Infinity Ward’s outstanding Call of Duty 4. Breaking all kinds of records and changing the landscape of multiplayer shooters forever, so much so that even now, two years later, the competition is still scrambling to keep up and Infinity Ward’s influence can be felt throughout the industry.

Pushing artistic and technical boundaries, Hideo Kojima’s mind-bending finale to the MGS series is a marvel to behold. Exceptional vocal performances and unparalleled animation bring Snake’s world to life like never before. With its innovative uses of interactivity, MGS4 is a prime example of this medium’s greatest works.

Super Mario Galaxy (2007)

LittleBigPlanet (2008)

Sony

Nintendo

If Mario 64 revolutionised the platform genre, Super Mario Galaxy perfected it. This is a title of galactic proportions. Each level hosts a variety of planets, each with its own centre of gravity, making for dizzying experiences. Fortunately, the camera is remarkably capable. A triumph in gameplay and the best platformer of the decade.

A novel, startlingly imaginative, highly customisable take on the platforming genre. Although only the most enthusiastic of players would be up for the challenge of the milestone creativity within, the tools that can be utilised are utterly outstanding and can be appreciated, and still will be, for years to come. Compiled by Aaron Lee with contributions from Nadya Jaworskyi, Stuart Kent, Jason England, and additional conferring with Adam Dixon, Alex Jablonskas, Andy King and Lewis Townsend

Worthy mentions: Metroid Prime (2002), Soulcalibur II (2003), Half-Life 2 (2004), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), World of Warcraft (2004), God of War (2005), The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006), Bioshock (2007), Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008), Grand Theft Auto IV (2008). Observe some of the team’s personal choices and tell us your own at www.platform-online.net

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For the long year ahead there’s a veritable smorgasbord of games on the horizon. This month, Sega kicks things off with the release of Platinum Games’ much praised spiritual successor to Devil May Cry, Bayonetta. Continuing to forge Western alliances, Capcom are bringing updated versions of Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5, along with Dark Void, Dead Rising 2, and Lost Planet 2 to our shores. Despite their recent spate of company-wide layoffs, EA has plenty to share with Bioware’s anticipated sequel, Mass Effect 2, Realtime World’s brand new IP, APB, poetic gore-fest, Dante’s Inferno, as well as Army of Two: The 40th Day and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Ubisoft are bringing several titles out of hiding: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction, Red Steel 2, I Am Alive, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and maybe a few other surprises too. After a relatively slim showing last year, Microsoft has a more diverse line up of Crackdown 2, Fable III, Halo: Reach, plus Alan Wake will finally see the light of day. Winter 2010 will also see the release of their tech sensation, Project Natal. Hoping to capture the devoted gaming audience and mainstream consumers alike, Sony’s release schedule includes two franchises synonymous with PlayStation, God of War III and Gran Turismo 5, but also includes potential sleeper hits from MAG, ModNation Racers, Heavy Rain and White Knight Chronicles. Never in a hurry to rush a product to market half finished, this year Nintendo have some tasty treats in the form of Endless Ocean 2, Sin and Punishment 2 and, best of all, Super Mario Galaxy 2. We’ll also see their mature vision for the Metroid series, in partnership with Tecmo, Metroid: Other M. And that’s not even a quarter of it. Many more titles are slated to arrive, including Bioshock 2, Blur, Brink, Enslaved, Epic Mickey, Fallout: New Vegas, Final Fantasy XIII, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Red Dead Redemption and Split Second. It’s going to be a busy year, no doubt about it. Aaron Lee

get serious with Tekken’s story (if that’s even possible for a series with more grave-dodgers than a soap opera). Scenario mode is the result, but this gimmicky quest is neither clever nor particularly exciting. The action is comparable to beat-’em-ups like Streets of Rage or Tekken Force. You are tasked with laying the smackdown on masses of opponents across many 3D environments. You’ll sneak some enjoy from it or utterly detest it.

Game Reviews

Tekken 6 (PS3, Xbox 360, PSP)

mastering combos can be fairly simple as control is more intuitive.

Specific additions to the fighting mechanics include the combo-juggling ‘bound’ system and a supplementary damage boost called ‘rage’. When your health drops perilously low it will start to flash red indicating you’re now in rage mode, which means your moves will do extra damage. Considering the visual artistry, in-game character models all look sufficiently impressive, environments are now more destructible and, though it’s hardly noticeable, blur effects add slightly more ‘whoop’ to animations.

Publisher: Namco Bandai Released: Out Now

ow do you quantify a fighting game? At its core, Tekken 6 remains an outstanding fighting game. The problem is it doesn’t feel all that fresh. It’s an old arcade king polished up and given a few new console-exclusive modes. But, even the new bits feel old. Nevertheless, there’s excitement to be had from this classic fighting formula.

They may be all dressed up and looking glitzier than grandma’s boxing trophy, yet our accomplished collection of beastly brawlers, dangerous divas, devil spawn and talking animals haven’t changed much. As ever, gameplay in Tekken spans a broad map of martial arts styles. Each of the controller’s four face buttons is connected to your fighter’s main limbs. So, unlike Street Fighter or Virtua Fighter,

The console version of Tekken 6 is actually comprised of the arcade original plus its update, Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion. It boasts the largest character roster in the series’ history, with more than 40 playable characters. Modes to please the fighting faithful are here, and the developers have decided to

Movement and combat controls hinge on the same analogue stick, so you’ll find yourself kicking thin air in almost every enemy ambush. The camera could also be far better in the way it frames the action and the angles it gives you. When it comes to the levels themselves, which are all so-so affairs of trial and repetition, the strategy often entails taking any available weapons as far as you can to beat the living daylights out of your aggressors. Fighters were once the bread and butter of arcades. Namco was one of the pioneers that helped migrate the genre from smoke-filled Japanese arcades to home consoles, and they continued to innovate long after they’d made the move. Improvements seem to be much more incremental nowadays. It’s not likely to dazzle you in the same way as Tekken 3 but, with the possible exception of Soulcalibur IV, Tekken 6 is certainly the most accessible fighter on the market. Perhaps not the console highlight that many were hoping for, but a stable fighter even so. Aaron Lee

Assassin’s Creed II (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) Publisher: Ubisoft Released: Out Now

ssassin’s Creed II picks up seconds after the cliff-hanger ending of the original game. We are back in the shoes of Desmond Miles who is thrust headfirst into the ongoing secret war between the Assassins and the shadowy Knights Templar, who seek to control the world. The game’s story is much, much more complex than it appears at first glance. Through Desmond Miles, we take a trip back in time to relive the memories of his assassin ancestry. This occasion we take a look into the life of Ezio Auditore, in Renaissance Italy. Whilst Ezio’s tale of revenge is a large part of the plot, there is so much more depth that Ezio himself cannot even conceive of. It’s a tricky concept to get your head around, but the game does a good job of streamlining events whilst still keeping things mysterious right up until the games jaw-dropping climax.

Assassin’s Creed II begins to unravel the true importance of the ongoing battle and the treachery of the Knights Templar. Several real world events are weaved into the fiction, including the assassination of JFK and Ghandi, and raise many philosophical questions throughout. If you enjoy a good conspiracy theory this game is perfect for you. It pulls no punches and is even shocking at times.

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Gaming

The basic gameplay mechanics from the first game remain, essentially, the same with a few added features. Ezio is a master freerunner, able to run and climb upon any building with ledges to cling to. Draw distance is huge and once you get up high you can witness some of the most breathtaking vistas yet seen. This time around you can also jump while climbing to reach further ledges: a seemingly small addition which helps out greatly when you are rushing away from a battalion of guards.

Ezio also has the ability to pick up idle weapons and disarm enemies with his bare hands. Once again, the animations are silky smooth and the counter kills are the highlight of engagements. You are also granted a weapon wheel to facilitate a larger selection of weaponry and clever distractions (courtesy of none other than Leonardo da Vinci), including smoke bombs, poison and a pepperbox pistol. All of these give you much more variety in how you take on missions, although more often than not your targets will fall victim to the trusty hidden blade. Assassin’s Creed II is visually stunning.

The amount of detail in the environments, and especially Ezio, is truly remarkable. The atmosphere of the Italian cities is spectacular, though cutscenes and facial animations can seem a little clunky. Assassin’s Creed II is by far one of the most visually accomplished games this year, putting other open world games, such as GTAIV, to shame. Assassins Creed II is an exemplary case of a successful sequel with many improvements upon the original formula. For fans of the original and newcomers alike, a thoroughly enjoyable Renaissance revival. Stuart Kent

New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

Publisher: Nintendo Released: Out Now

The world’s most famous plumber is back, but the only tool you will need is a Wii Remote or two, or maybe four. That’s right, Mario returns to our consoles in traditional 2D form with his loyal brother Luigi, Yoshi and two Toad companions to aid him in his quest. You know the drill: Princess Peach has once again been kidnapped by Bowser’s minions and hauled off in an airship (you’d think Mario would have beefed up security by now, right?) and, of course, Mario sets off on a journey through a set of differently themed worlds in order to rescue her. Multiplayer actually makes New Super Mario Bros. Wii slightly more challenging due to the fact that having more players jumping all over the screen can be quite distracting at times. Although, it has to be said that the benefits outweigh this. For instance, if one of the players ‘dies’, they enter a bubble and float around calling out for help. The player in the bubble simply shakes the Wii Remote to return them to one of their companions and, upon touching them, the player is returned to the action - a handy life preserver, indeed. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is similar in many ways to New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS in terms of style. Both games represent the traditional 2D Mario gameplay with updated twentyfirst century graphics. Therefore, this game by no means reinvents the genre or pushes the boundaries of physics and it is not at all required to do so. But it provides us with what we expect: classic Mario, and that is what we have been given.

All of the nostalgic sound effects are present alongside familiar power-ups, such as mushrooms, invincibility stars and those red plants that enable you to throw fireballs - awesome! New powerups have been introduced including a propeller hat and a penguin suit. These are both pretty cool. The propeller suit in particular, which allows you to shake the Wii Remote when jumping and be thrust vertically into the air. This comes in handy when trying to avoid groups of enemies or tricky platforms perched above pit falls. The penguin suit gives Mario the ability to swim better, slide

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across icy surfaces on his belly, throw ice balls and prevents him from slipping on the ice when standing up - obviously, an essential piece of gear for use on the ice world. In conclusion, New Super Mario Bros. Wii employs the classic traits that made the franchise what it is today and brings it to a new generation of gamers. What’s more, it is sure to delight fans of the original games. Definitely an essential addition to your Wii collection. Andy King

Sports World Cup Special | Ones to watch | England Squad: Starting XI Edited by James Haigh | sports@platform-online.net

World Cup Special

By James Haigh

elcome to the World Cup special edition of Platform Sports – dedicated entirely to the finest football competition on the planet. This summer thousands will flock to South Africa and witness one team beat all others to claim the golden trophy.

Group A:

Group C:

South Africa Mexico Uruguay France

England USA Algeria Slovenia

A tough group for the host nation, but with the majority of fans behind them, they have a good chance of going through to round two.

The mighty Three-Lions won nine of their ten qualifying games and will be looking to destroy the weak opposition. As Mark Lawrenson said last month: if they can’t top group C, they don’t deserve to be in the finals.

Our Predictions: Group Winners: France Second place: South Africa

Group B:

Our Predictions: Group Winners: England Second place: USA

Group D:

Argentina Nigeria South Korea Greece

Germany Australia Serbia Ghana

Diego Maradonna’s Argentina faced a real struggle to qualify for the finals, but they’ve been blessed with an easy(ish) group.

The efficient Germans look a dead cert to win this group stage while strong Ghanaians’ – with Captain Michael Essien – could face England in the second round if they nick the runners up spot.

Our Predictions: Group Winners: Argentina Second place: South Korea

Our Predictions: Group Winners: Germany Second place: Ghana

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Sports (continued from previous page)

Group E:

Netherlands Denmark Japan Cameroon

Not a fantastic draw if you support Denmark or Japan. The Dutch are seeded third in the world while Cameroon and Inter Milan striker Eto’o is currently in a rich vein of form.

Our Predictions: Group Winners: Netherlands Second place: Cameroon

Group F:

Italy Paraguay New Zealand Slovakia

Ones to watch:

You can’t have the world’s greatest football competition without the planet’s best players. Therefore, James Haigh thought it best to compile a list of stars to watch out for during the summer games – just in case your favourite nation (whoever it may be) comes up against them.

Current World Cup holders Italy must count themselves lucky after receiving such an easy group. Team New Zealand returns to the finals after a 27-year absences.

Our Predictions: Group Winners: Italy Second place: Slovakia

Group G: Brazil North Korea Ivory Coast Portugal

With the five-time World Cup winners, the best striker and winger in the world, it must be the “Group of Death”. Unfortunately Ronaldo the winker will be heading home early. What a shame.

Our Predictions: Group Winners: Brazil Second place: Ivory Coast

Group H:

Spain Switzerland Honduras Chile

After winning the Euro Championships in 2008, Spain are the bookies favourite to walk away with the trophy. An inform Fernando Torres and David Villa will provide the Spaniards with enough firepower to destroy any competition that comes their way.

Our Predictions: Group Winners: Spain Second place: Chile

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Didier Drogba - Team: Cote d’Ivoire Chelsea’s formidable forward is a powerhouse full of muscle and dramatic emotion. When he’s not rolling around on the floor from the slightest touch, he’s slamming goal after goal into the back of the net. Caused controversy in Chelsea’s Champion’s League defeat to Barcelona last June when he openly swore on live TV. However, he’s likely to be the Premierships top striker this season and defiantly one to avoid in South Africa.

Iniesta & Xavi – Team: Spain Barcelona and Spain’s gruesometwosome perfected their unbeatable partnership last year claiming the Spanish title, Champions League and Copa del Rey (Spain’s FA Cup equivalent) along the way. If you are unlucky to come across these two, you’d better prepare for quick one-touch footy with plenty of (extremely accurate) long range shots.

Torres & Villa - Team: Spain Two more Spaniards to make it onto our list, but this time, it’s a pair of forwards. Fernando Torres and David Villa - of Liverpool and Valencia respectively – have an unbelievable striker rate for their clubs, but are yet to form a decent partnership while playing for their country. However, this is bad news if you’re up against Spain, as the summer competition will provide both men with an opportunity prove themselves to the world once and for all.

Lionel Messi – Team: Argentina Congratulations must go to the young 22-year-old after picking up the Ballon d’Or – awarded only to the finest players – and for piping Cristiano Ronaldo to the post. Argentina qualified for the World Cup by the skin of their teeth and many critics claim that Argie boss, Diego Maradonna, isn’t utilising Messi to his full potential. However, the five-foot, seven inch winger is still feared among defenders worldwide, and will almost certainly take his home nation most of the way.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Team: Portugal And speaking of the “winker”, Cristiano Ronaldo comes creeping onto our list. The Portuguese wonder broke thousands of Man Utd hearts in the summer when he forced a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. However, team Portugal – coached by former Red Devils boss Carlos Queiroz – are half the team they were in the last World Cup under Big Phil Scolari. After drawing Brazil and Cote d’Ivoire in the group stages, it looks like Ronaldo will be packing his bags for an early plane ride home.

Wayne Rooney – Team: England You can’t have an “ultimate shortlist” without the boy-wonder. Not only is Rooney young, talented and married to a fit wife with a newly-born son, he’s got a ton of skill and pace to match. He’ll be Fabio Capello and England’s secret weapon in the summer and - providing he’s on top form - we’ll be able to match any competition that comes our way.

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Sports

England Squad: Starting xi

Continuing with our World Cup special, we –here at the office - are trying our best to predict the 23-man squad that Mr Capello will take to South Africa. So, without further ado, here’s who we believe will make it onto that Boeing 747. Words by James Haigh

(GK) David James

(LB) Ashley Cole

(RB) Glen Johnson

(RM) Theo Walcott

Having recently turned 39, critics have been calling time on the injury-prone keeper’s career. Although he’s missed England last few friendly’s, Pompy’s man between the sticks is still very much in Fab’s mind.

Following a whopping £18million summer transfer to Liverpool, young Glen has forced himself into the first-team…with little opposition.

STAR PLAYER: (CB) John Terry

Mr England himself. Willing to risk life and limb for his country, Terry will be the beating heart of the three-lions squad. And with more passion than Russell Brand in heat, fans will have nothing to fear at the back – just don’t let him take a penalty.

(CB) Rio Ferdinand

Almost lost his place in the England and Man Utd line-up after a few poor performances. However, the 31-year-old will no doubt regain his pride and starting place next to Terry in defence.

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Chelsea’s shock-n-awe left-back caused controversy when he moved from rivals Arsenal in 2006. But now he’s universally hated for being the only man Cheryl Cole will ever want. Damn!

The Arsenal youngster has been injured for much of this season, but since scoring a hat-trick against the Croats in September 2008, he’s been a firm favourite of the England gaffer.

STAR PLAYER: (CM) Frank Lampard

Capello seems to have found the answer to the BIG Lampard – Gerrard debate that has cursed our midfield all these years. The Chelsea midfield ace has racked up a minimum of 20 goals per season over the last five-years for the club - if only he could match that kind of form with England.

(CM) Gareth Barry

Once described as England’s answer to the left-wing, Gareth has enjoyed an up-and-down career. However, ever since the midfielder made a summer switch to Man City, he’s been an integral part of our national team.

STAR PLAYER: (LM) Steven Gerrard

Now I’m not one to sing Stevie G’s praises but the fact that the Premiership team he captains cannot win when he’s injured really shows the calibre of the man. Besides, World Cup winners Zidane, Ronaldinho and Cannavaro all claim him to be the greatest player on earth – and they can’t all be wrong can they?

(CF) Emile Heskey

The six-foot two-inch forward has his England critics – having only scored seven goals in 57 appearances for the national squad. However, the big target man holds the ball up-front and creates space for his teammates to score. After all, every team has to have a wingman – just ask Maverick and Iceman.

STAR PLAYER: (CF) Wayne Rooney

The new dad to baby Kia is on fire in the Premier League and one of the most feared strikers in the world. Providing he stays fit for the World Cup, England can go all the way – just don’t mention Metatarsals! Subs Bench:

(GK) Robert Green

The West Ham man’s hand-span is the three-lion’s masterplan to land the grand slam. Suffers from “dodgy English keeper syndrome”, but is good enough as back-up should James get injured.

(LB) Wayne Bridge

The former Chelsea left-back quit Stamford Bridge last January after playing second-fiddle to Ashley Cole. Unfortunately it’s the same story in the England camp.

(RM) David Beckham

Although Golden Balls has been playing football since the beginning of the nineteenth-century, he still has the best rightfoot in the world. This will be his final World Cup competition and probably the last few games he plays in an England shirt as well – let’s hope he goes out with a bang and bends it like Beckham straight into the upper-90.

(CM) Owen Hargreaves

The first of our “surprise players” to be included – you’ll have to wait to see the rest. Hargreaves has been haunted with severe injury, Patella Tendonitis (damaged knee cartilage), for more than a year now. However, he’s on the mend and will be back to form just in time to play in Cape Town.

(LM) Joe Cole

Yet another Chelsea man to make it into the team, Joey has faced countless months on the sideline after picking up injury, after injury, after injury, after injury. But the cheeky winger from East London will be on the plane – even if he’s on crutches.

(CF) Peter Crouch

The tallest man ever to play in an England jersey, and has an exceptional striking rate for the national team – 18 goals in 35 appearances. We have never lost a game when Crouch has started.

(GK) Ben Foster

Congratulations must go to Ben after he was awarded the title of Britain’s unluckiest goalkeeper – a prize he stole off last year’s winner, Paul Robinson.

(RB) Wes Brown

(CF) Jermaine Defoe

The hot-shot Spurs man put five past Wigan earlier this season and is determined to get to his first World Cup finals. Defoe (like Crouch) has a good England striking record – scoring 13 in his last 37 appearances.

With hair as red as the team he plays for, Wes is one for the subs bench.

(CB) Joleon Lescott

Limited national appearances but playing for the money-bags Man City has its bonuses – just don’t go flashing the cash in South Africa Joley.

(CB) Matthew Upson

(CF) Michael Owen

The second of our “surprise” inclusions, bet you didn’t think we’d do it did you! Michael has been through it all in his football career – from hero at France 1998, to zero in 2007 when Fabio Capello dropped him from the England squad. Just watch this space as the lad from Liverpool scores in South Africa to help the three-lions lift that coveted golden trophy.

Super strong Hammers captain (that’s West Ham in case you were unsure) provided excellent cover when Rio Ferdinand was injured.