Platform Magazine - Trent by Numbers - Edition 8

Nottingham Trent Students’ Union Official Magazine

Issue 8

www.platform-online.net

April 2014

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 it’s elected directors and officers. Companies advertised in Platform are not necessarily endorsed by Nottingham Trent Students’ Union. No part of this publication maybe reproduced without the prior permission of the editor. Printed by Hickling & Squires Print Solutions www.hickling-squires.co.uk

starterblacklabel.co.uk

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@StarterBlkLabel

PEOPLE

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EDITOR

SOPHIE DAVIS

EDITOR’S NOTE Its beginning to look like graduation!

With only a few months to go, the libraries are starting to fill up and the print shop are preparing for their biggest rush of the year.

Exams are coming up, and dissertations deadlines are looming so we’ve provided you with some alternative reading for April and May. We’ve got a review on the Metronomy gig at Rock City, a Fashion Florals feature, our Mental Health Week at Platform guide and all the elections coverage from March.

Elections last month was the biggest yet with over 6,800 people voting in the NTSU elections, and even more voting in the society elections and sports clubs elections. You have now voted in your full-time officers for next year and your part-time officers and volunteers across the union. And on top of that, we also managed to raise enough votes for a puppy room!

Another exciting event coming up at NTSU is the Student Publication Annual National Conference hosted by Platform at the beginning of May. The conference will include all things student media and publication journalism. It is priced at £35 pp and at a price like that theres no reason to not attend. The conference will include speaker sessions from industry professionals, an awards cemerony and lots of time to talk to other students from around the country. If your interested in media, student journalism or news then come along and get involved!

Also, Grad Ball has been announced with it taking place on June 13th with line up and location yet to be confirmed.

Good luck and keep reading!

deputy-editor@platform-online. net

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Rhea Warren promo@platform-online.net

NEWS

HELENA SMITH news@platform-online.net

Trent news

Jade Cragg mint@platform-online.net

MUSIC

Robin Murray music@platform-online.net

Priya Sund fashion@platform-online.net

CULTURE

JOSHUA GILTRAP culture@platform-online.net

LIFESTYLE

Sophie Colquhoun lifestyle@platform-online.net

SPORTS

George Solomon sports@platform-online.net

Sophie Davis Editor-in-Chief

GAMING & TECH

Tom Beresford gaming@platform-online.net

CONTACT PLATFORM

PHOTO, ART & DESIGN

/platformmagazine

CRAIG PROUD photos@platform-online.net

@PlatformOnline Tel: (0115) 848 6200

Deputy EditorS Hannah Byrne WILLIAM WILSON CHRISTOPHER COLLINS

FASHION & BEAUTY

So, as this is my last time I will write in Platform as Editor of the magazine I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone. The writers, the photgraphers, the Exec Team, James Lindsay, the SU reception women, the contributors, the Graphic Design team, the external companies, Hickling & Squires, anyone else that’s helped with Platform since I’ve been Editor and of course my wonderful committee of two years who has helped me guide Platform forward and help it become the success it is today. We have had our most successful years on record and I hope this can only be built on in the coming years. I pass over to Mel Brooks as Editor for 2014/2015 and wish her and the new committee the best of luck.

Continue to support your union, get involved with societies and sports clubs, and contribute to your student media throughout your time at NTSU as it can be the stepping stone to getting a job in the future. After all isnt this why your here in the first place?

editor@platform-online.net

DESIGNERS

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freya shah chloe morris frank worcester

Platform Magazine, NTSU, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS

Contributors: The 2013-2014 Committee, photographers and section contributors.

Cover photo by Akira Samata & Sayuri Standing

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April 2014

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From Jo...

Well Trent we are already at third term! For some the time has flown by, for others this couldn’t have come soon enough. There has been a lot of thing achieved this year that you should be proud to be a part of.

Some examples are the work of course reps changing deadlines for their course assignments to make it easier to submit core pieces of work. We have been able to ensure that students are still able to have funding, even though the government has cut funding.

However, we still have more things to achieve! Most of you will be preparing for exams and to help you with this we will be running our Take 5 campaign to help students to relax. For those who make in through exams you have graduation & Grab ball to look forward to. The union is working with some extremely exciting artists to perform at GradBall so keep a look out to see who they will be!

The last big news, is of course our elections. Over 6,800 of you voted not only for your full-time elected offers, but officers that have usually been in the background of who we represent. I feel so proud that we were able to host question & answer sessions that facilitated debate amongst our underrepresented groups. This is great! Not only that, but for all of you who aren’t aware, you reached the voter threshold to have a puppy room! Please read about it on our website for more information about the project and how you can come and see the cute four legged friends!

So, this is my last time I will write in Platform as President and I would like to say a huge thank you.

Thank you for all of the students that are involved with the union, who push for change, who challenge the union, who help the union and ultimately improve NTU for students. Thank you, without you all we couldn’t have achieved so much.

Good luck in all you do!

PRESIDENT

Jo Southwell-Sander President@su.ntu.ac.uk

VP Services & Communication

Marcus boswell VP Welfare & Community

Katie Wright VP Education & Representation

Libby farrier-williams VP Activities

Liz McCluskEy VP Sports

Paddy atkinson Brackenhurst Liaison Officer

hannah nicholson

Jo Southwell-Sander, NTSU President.

Clifton Liaison Officer

chantelle farr City Liaison Officer

costa charalambous

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April 2014

Editor in Chief

MEET

Deputy Editor

COMM

Sophie Davis

Hannah Byrnes

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Helena Smith

Mel Brooks

Jade Cragg

Joe Harby

NEWS

TRENT NEWS

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Tom Beresford

Daryl Baxter

Craig Proud

Sayuri Standing

Editor

Deputy Editor

Deputy Editor

GAMING

George Solomon

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.net

ART & DESIGN

Simon Murfitt

SPORT

James Lewer

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www.platform-online.net

THE

Deputy Editor

MITTEE

Deputy Editor

William Wilson

Chris Collins

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Robin Murray

Harry Hammett

Priya Sund

Louisa Davies

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Josh Giltrap

Clara McKechnie

Sophie Colouquon

Shara Samra

MUSIC

FASHION

LIFESTYLE

CULTURE

CHLOE MORRIS FREYA SHAH FRANK WORCESTER SOPHIE DAVIS LIV WILLIAMS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 7

April 2014

PLATFORM FESTIVAL Wychwood Festival

31st May-2nd June - Cheltenham

Parklife Weekender

Weekend tickets from: £125

7th-8th June - Manchester

The 10th anniversary of Wychwood Festival is about to bring a host of world, folk and rock music to Cheltenham racecourse as well as family friendly events including the Children’s Literature Festival. The celebrations will be led by legendary British rockers The Stranglers delighting audiences with hits from their 40-year career. Other acts include The Boomtown Rats, 10cc’s Graham Gouldman and 80’s Ska band Bad Manners.

Weekend tickets from: £79.50

An affordable festival is The Parklife Weekender.

It proves its dedication to new and established artists. Legendary US rapper Snoop Dogg and UK homegrown, indie-rockers Foals headline Parklife’s fifth outing, joined by the talents of Katy B, Maya Jane Coles, London Grammar, Clea n Bandit as well as a UK festival exclusive from Kend rick Lamar.

/ wychwoodfestival.com / facebook.com/wychwoodfestival @WychwoodFest

parklife.uk.com / facebook.com /parklifefestival / @ Parklifefest

Hideout Festival

30th June - 3rd July - Pag, Croatia Week end tickets from: £99

Sonisphere Festival

Hideout Festival in Croatia boasts its most ambitious line-up to date, ensu ring another epic week of music and sun. The line-up features some of electronic music’s finest incl uding Disclosure, Rudimental, Solomun, Loco Dice and Sasha. They will span four open-air clubs, beac hside pool parties and intimate boat parties. With so much music on offer right on the amazing Zrce Beac h, Hideout Croatia is the go-to destination dance lovers.

4th-6th July - Knebworth Park Weekend tickets from: £180

Soniphere is proud to host the only 2014 UK show of Deftones and the only event to feature both Iron Maiden and Metallica. If that wasn’t enough the festival has also announced The Prodigy, Slayer, Reel Big Fish, Alice in Chains, Mastodon, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, special guest Limp Bizkit, and over 100 more bands across the weekend. Set to a legendary event on the festival calendar, Sonisphere will also be celebrating Knebworth’s 40th anniversary of hosting live music.

hideoutfestival.com / facebook .com/hideoutfestival / @hideoutfestival

sonisphere.co.uk / facebook.com/sonispherefestival / @sonisphere

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M’S SUMMER L GUIDE

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Soundwave Festival

17th-21st July – Tisno, Croatia

Weekend Tickets - £125 and group Offer (5 for 4)

Standon Calling 1st-3rd August – Standon

Europe’s most beautiful, boutique music event, Soundwave Festival Croatia is back for its 6th year. Fat Freddy’s Drop lead the pack, followed by the highly-anticipated DJ set from Madlib. Set in a secret cove at the heart of Croatia, the idyllic fishing town of Tisno is a nt beautiful backdrop to one of Europe’s finest independe of festivals. Soundwave Festival Croatia makes the most it’s bountiful setting year on year in the aptly named ‘The Garden’.

Weekend tickets from: £119

Maximo Park and Frank Turne r & The Sleeping Souls are now confirmed as headliners for Standon Calling 2014, taking place 1-3rd August in Hertf ordshire. A self-styled overgrown house party with a hedonistic mix of indie, electronic and pop sounds pumpi ng from the speakers, this summer is sure to see a vinta ge year of Standon Calling following on from 2013’s sellout success. This is the best value-for-money festival this season.

soundwavecroatia.com / facebook.com/soundwavecroatia / @soundwavefest

standon-calling.com / facebook .com/standoncalling / @standoncalling

Way Out West Festival 7th-9th August - Gothenburg, Sweden Week end tickets from: £180

Unknown Festival 8th-12th September - Rovinj, Croatia

Sweden’s hipster and music capital, Gothenburg, presents Way Out West Festival, an event that’s a must for those who wanting to experience the city this summer. The festival has announced an incre dible festival line-up of acts including Queens of the Stone Age, Robyn & Royksopp, Janelle Monae and many more.

There will also be after parties taking place in the city’s incredible venues, so festival-goers will get the chance to explore Gothenburg amazing culture.

Weekend tickets from: £129

Unknown Festival 2014 promises a big programme of indie and electronic music featuring live performances from Scottish electro pop band Chvrches, Wild Beasts, Jungle, James Holden, Ten Walls and many more. Artists play in night and day across boat parties, by the pool, deep the forest and, new for 2014, bespoke island parties. tion Festival-goers can take advantage of onsite accommoda from camping to luxury apartments and forest lodges.

wayoutwest.se/en / facebook .com/wayoutwestfestival / instagram.com/wayoutwestfest ival

http://unknowncroatia.com / facebook.com/unknowncroatia / @unknowncroatia

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April 2014

Well, do you? If not, it’s probably time you became more acquainted with them because knowing your boobs, the signs and symptoms of breast cancer AND checking them regularly could help detect the disease early which could, one day, save your life. So we think you’d be silly not to.

So start a habit of a lifetime today and your boobs will be forever grateful.

And so will we.

The signs and symptoms:

For more information and endless friendly boob checking reminders visit coppafeel.org CoppaFeel! is a registered charity (1132366)

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.net

Knowing your 10 boobs could save your life.

www.platform-online.net

CoppaFeel!

Start a habit of a lifetime, check your boobs!

CoppaFeel! Uni Boob Teams nationwide are asking students to take-up the ultimate New Year’s resolution – one that doesn’t require a gym membership or willpower by the bucket load… in fact it will take up 5 minutes of your time every month and one day could potentially save your life. What is it? I hear you scream.

Quite simply we want you to check your boobs. It is that easy. Every month give your boobs the once over, there is no right or wrong way to do it. Just get coppin’ a feel of your hooters to learn what is normal for you so if you detect a change you can go and get it checked out.

CoppaFeel! are on a mission to ensure all breast cancers are diagnosed at the earliest stage possible, at which point treatments are more effective and survival rates higher. The best way of doing that is to get everyone in the country checking their boobs regularly

It’s easy to join, simply text

TRENT to 70500

If you haven’t already, go and have a chat with your local Uni Boob Team. They will be active all over campus in the next few months to remind students to get a coppin’. Uni Boob Teams have a whole host of activities up their sleeves in order to get you boob aware.

Kristin Hallenga, Founder of CoppaFeel! said “I envisage a world where boob checking is a standard part of a person’s routine, like brushing your teeth! Start a habit of lifetime today and let’s stamp out late and mis-diagnosis of breast cancer”.

Uni Boob Teams are also inviting students to sign up to CoppaFeel!’s free SMS reminder service, which sends you a free monthly reminder to check your boobs.

If you fancy a being a Boob Team Leader next year, recruitment will start at the end of March, follow us on Facebook and Twitter – @coppafeelpeople for updates on how to apply!

If you need an extra incentive to sign up merely show your SMS confirmation message to a UBT member to receive a 20% discount code for boohoo.com who are kindly supporting this year’s UBT campaign.

Visit coppafeel.org/uniboobteams to find out how to join a team or find out what your boob team is up to. Find us at www.coppafeel.org and follow us at @coppafeelpeople.

Sophie Hannah Davis

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April 2014

WWW.PLATORM-ONLINE.NET

NOTTINGHAM TRENT STUDENTS' UNION

OFFICIAL STUDENT MAGAZINE

WE ARE ALSO DIGITAL WWW.ISSU.COM/ PLATFORMMAGAZINENOTTS www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.net

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NEWS

www.platform-online.net

BENEFITS STREET: VICTIMS OF THE MEDIA? / NEW SU OPENING / EM-CON

Benefits Street | Victims of the media?

Having recently watched the first series of the Channel 4 programme Benefits Street, I was not too surprised to read that the residents of James Turner Street felt ‘betrayed’ by Channel 4 considering the negative light many of the targeted residents were placed in during the documentary.

There was certainly an emphasis on the strong community contained within James Turner Street, and Channel 4 responded by claiming the documentary was ‘fair and balanced’. Nonetheless, it certainly did reflect badly on those living beneath the poverty line in the UK.

What has now become a tourist attraction, James Turner Street showed the viewers at home the realisation -though a heavily-edited one- of life for those living on benefits. It was truly astounding to see how badly some of the characters from the documentary were struggling.

In particular, the poor living and working conditions experienced by one of the Romanian families, and the evidential lack of support they received from the government, was an enormous

eye-opener.

Having said that, I couldn’t help but also feel frustrated when listening to White Dee, the bubbly, mother-figure and central character of the documentary, advising her eldest child, Caitlin, to avoid working when she’s older and instead encouraging her to live on the doll like herself.

But it was Simba, whose visa had run out, who was unemployed and unable to claim benefits, that left me the most confused. Despite having no money and no plan to receive any money in the near future, he still had two widescreen televisions, a Sky + box, a cigarette in every shot, and enough money to have a drinking problem.

However, the documentary as a whole was unfair not only to the residents of James Turner Street, but to the millions of families in Britain counting on benefits, and it was clear that Channel 4’s goal was to rake in as many viewers as possible, which they succeeded in doing so.

Will Wilson - Deputy Editor

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April 2014

NEWS www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.net

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NEWS

Lord Seb Coe and Sir Michael Parkinson visit NTU The SU gave a warm welcome to Sir Michael Parkinson and Lord Sebastian Coe at the official opening of the Student Union building.

Over a hundred students and members of staff gathered at the Level to listen to the pair official unveil the new building to the university.

Chancellor Sir Michael Parkinson spoke of the wonders of the new SU and how well all of it had been created with efforts from both staff and the students and its ability to tailor to all.

Lord Coe felt that the building was jaw dropping and a very welcoming building. The Olympic legend gave pupils some tips in the run up to the exam period; “Use your energy wisely, so much time is spent wasting valuable energy that could be spent on productivity.” he said.

Lord Seb Coe was more than grateful with his invitation to the University.

“University becomes a family; you find that you are so close to the people around you, so I am so thankful to you all for allowing us into your family.”

The building was created as part of a joint venture with University Partnerships Programme (UPP), designed by Nottingham-based architects Church Lukas and constructed by Vinci Construction UK. After a tour of the SU where to pair saw the sports facilities including the climbing wall and exercise classes, catering areas and the media hubs, they met with the News team for a quick interview.

Sir Michael spoke fondly of the tour; “It was a wonderful tour and being able to see everything. The building is amazing, full of natural light and smart; you are all very lucky.”

It is often expected of us to have some sort of set out goal for the next ten years, but for Sir Michael at the age of 21 he was far too busy making future plans.

“I was in Egypt fighting and working with the media, I was too busy trying to work out how I was going to make it to next week let alone in the next ten years!”

Physical health is also important, he believes in concentrating on your diet and fitness a little more during exam time.

Lord Coe himself beat the world record just before he graduated and so is an expert at combining several important things together at once.

The SU itself is a masterpiece; there are three storeys of leisure and sport space at the new building are a further four residential blocks. It also incorporates a 2,400 capacity night venue, a modern retail unit, spacious offices and meeting rooms for Nottingham Trent Students’ Union and a radio studio.

Find all the photographs of the event online at www.platform-online.net Helena Smith - News Editor Photographs By Ellie Craven-Todd

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April 2014

NEWS Held on the 16th March, the first East Midlands Sci-Fi and Fantasy Convention was intended to satiate the voracious demand among local fans for a taste of the massive geek meccas of the conventions of London or New York.

The world’s first sci-fi convention took place here in the UK in 1937, and was attended by figures such as Arthur C. Clarke and Eric Frank Russell, but the 1970’s-80’s resurgence was largely focused in the United States. However, the last decade has seen the spread of convention fever all across the western world, and Nottingham’s newest regional attraction is heartening proof that large events can succeed outside of the cultural centres of London and Birmingham.

to socialise with admirers, including the whole main cast of Red Dwarf.

Q&A sessions lived up to expectations and featured the Red Dwarfers, Doctor Who/Torchwood stars including Eve Myles, Dan Starkey and Caitlin Blackwood, and some of the cast from Game of Thrones, though the audio was somewhat poor. Dealers and authors were eager and had a decent array of merchandise, jewelry, and books for fans to peruse, though the overall selection was understandably limited by the small size of the venue.

Did it fulfill that desire? Well, in some ways yes, but for many attendees, definitely not. As a convention newbie myself, my first impression of the quarter-mile queues was a good one – the convention had clearly captured the attention of the masses.Ushered past the waiting masses with my press pass and into the convention, it wasn’t until later that I learned of the experience of many.

Social media currently abounds with tales of four hour waits without food, water or bathroom breaks for both adults and children, with many missing the Q&A sessions they paid to see. Some even chose to abandon the event when the scale of the overcrowding became clear. With the Albert Hall having a stated capacity of around 800, problems should have been clear to the organisers by the time they posted excitedly of 2000 ticket sales a few weeks before the event – and despite this, tickets were still being sold at the door even while it was clear many of those who booked ahead were not getting in.

It is sad that these problems overshadow the experience of the rest of the convention for many, as many of the other aspects were well-handled. There was certainly a lot to see packed into the Albert Hall and the vicinity, with Daleks, a TARDIS, and a wide assortment of stars that were happy

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In addition, the colorful array of costumed characters, both part of the con and cosplaying fans, were a sight to behold, with attendees including The Stig, Stormtroopers and SWAT officers, and many more.

Overall, the convention was a good effort from first-time organisers, despite the obvious crowding issues. With next year’s event booked for the much-larger Capital FM arena, I am left feeling that Nottingham will be much enriched by a regular convention of its own. It’s just a shame that EM-Con got off to such a rocky start, and through poor planning and organisation, many have been enflamed with strong negative feelings.

Jacob Van Kelly

www.platform-online.net

TRENT NEWS THE WEDDING SINGER / ELECTIONS NTSU: RESULTS / SOCK IT: NETBALL

NTU DRAMA SOCIETY presents

The Wedding Singer The Wedding Singer, the critically acclaimed and Tony award-nominated musical by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, is coming to Nottingham.

On Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April, the award-winning Trent Drama Society is inviting you to the Nottingham Playhouse for this musical adaptation of the Adam Sandler comedy classic.

friends and family encourage him to use this intense emotion to get back on his feet. After a disastrous first day back work, and along with band mates Robbie and Sammy, and wedding waitresses Julia and Holly, Robbie embarks upon an all-singing, all-dancing, rock and roll journey of recovery in an attempt to salvage his musical career and rekindle his love for love.

Director David Hunter has worked alongside Heather Collier (Assistant Director), Matthew Spurr (Musical Director) and Emma McGuinness (Choreographer) to bring together Trent Drama Society’s best actors, singers and dancers in this Broadway hit musical comedy.

It’s 1986, and wedding singer Robbie Hart has announces that he is to be married to his beloved fiancée Linda. However, after being brutally jilted at the altar, Robbie falls into a deep depression and finds he is no longer able to perform at weddings, but his

Heather Collier

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April 2014

NEWS

ELECTIONS RESULTS

T

Marcus ‘Patches’ Boswell – President 2014/15

Matthew ‘Scrimmers’ Scrimshaw – VP Education and Representation 2014/15

Lizzy Kelly – VP Activities 2014/15

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he last two weeks have seen candidates and their campaigners take to the streets and take over social media with the hope that they will muster up enough votes to be elected into the Student’s Union Executive Committee for 2014/15. Last Saturday, at the new Students’ Union, the results were finally announced.

The crowd erupted and the night began as the host for the evening, Students’ Union President 2013/14, Jo Southwell-Sander, made her way to the stage to start her opening speech. After warming up the crowd and running through the procedure for securing a position, the announcing of the results commenced.

The positions for Part Time Student Officers, Student Trustees, and NUS Delegates were the first to be revealed.

Dan Drew was elected as Mature Students’ Officer, Paula McCauley secured the position BME Students’ Officer with 1305 votes, Gavin Jones-Verity received 857 votes to earn the position of LGBT Student’s Officer, Lola Idris became Women Students’ Officer with 869 votes, and after being taken to a second round Jack Waring was elected as Disabled Student’s Officer.

All of the candidates who ran for the positions of NUS Delegates won, beating RON (Re-open nominations) to cement their place on the committee for 2014/15; and Alexander Booth and Ben King were elected as Student Trustees.

After a short break, the night resumed and moved on to the Part-Time Executive positions (Liaison officers for all three campus’). The position of Brackenhurst Liaison Officer was won by Arthur Sauverin, City Liaison Officer went to Alex Head after receiving 1710 votes, and Clifton Liaison Officer was secured by Tom ‘Briefcase’ Walsh with 1279 votes.

After two weeks of hard-campaigning and endless interviews, the anxiously waiting candidates for positions on the Full-time Executive Committee could finally sit back as current VP Activities, Liz McCluskey, took to the stage and the results for their positions were announced.

First up was the position of President.

The only candidates running for the position were Marcus Boswell, the current VP Services & Communication, and RON, so it was to no surprise that Marcus was

www.platform-online.net

NEWS

elected for the position of President for 2014/15. However, Marcus broke an NTSU Elections record as he secured the most votes ever by a student by 1244 votes after securing 4018 votes.

Next up was VP Welfare & Community, which was a hard-fought battle between Josh Eloi, otherwise known as ‘The man on the horse’, and Laury Pop. It was a close race, but Josh’s ‘Stay Fresh, Vote Josh’ campaign paid off as he received 1639 votes and secured the position of VP Welfare & Community 2014/15.

The position of VP Activities had six candidates, excluding RON, and was taken to a fifth round. RON, Gareth Powell and Carrie Bater were the first three candidates to be knocked out, followed by Kristen Nicole Guthrie. With none of the candidates reaching the threshold by this stage, it was down to Lizzy Kelly, Rosie Wilson, and Julian Robertson. Still the threshold was not reached, and Julian was knocked out of the race, leaving Lizzy and Rosie. After winning all of the previous rounds, Lizzy beat the threshold with 1447 votes and was elected to succeed Liz McCluskey as VP Activities for 2014/15.

Both Jeremiah Anson and Paddy Atkinson won every round to secure their position; Jeremiah as VP Services and Communication and Paddy as VP Sports for a second term; though all candidates in both positions did extremely well. The final position of the night was VP Education and representation, which went to Matthew Scrimshaw after he received 1835 votes.

Paddy Atkinson – VP Sports 2014/15

Josh Eloi – VP Welfare and Community 2014/15

So after nearly 7,000 votes, the highest ever for an NTSU Election, your new Exec for 2014/15 is: Marcus Boswell – President Josh Eloi – VP Welfare & Community Lizzy Kelly – VP Activities Paddy Atkinson – VP Sport Jeremiah Anson – VP Services and Communication Matthew Scrimshaw – VP Education and Representation All of the images are available on our Facebook Page – Platform Magazine Will Wilson – Platform Deputy Editor

Jerrimiah ‘Jez’ Anson – VP Services and Communication 2014/15

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April 2014

NTU Students

NEWS

I

n anticipation of Eating Disorders Awareness week at Nottingham Trent University, students participated in a charity netball tournament. The competition, which was named the ‘Sock-it to Eating Disorders netball tournament’, took place on Saturday, 22 February and saw a great turnout of students all eager to do their bit for charity.

team… So that comes to around 60 people!”

Other teams in attendance included players from the Lacrosse club and the American Football club.

The tournament final was a close game with the NTU Rowing team walking away victorious. The members of the winning team were awarded with the prestigious Sock-it netball tournament trophy.

Eating Disorders Awareness week ran from February 24 – March 2 2014 and aimed to raise awareness and understanding of eating disorders whilst challenging the stigmas and stereotypes surrounding them.

Eight teams took part, each with a minimum of seven players and a maximum of ten. In the end over sixty students participated in the event. All teams had to pay the £10 entrance fee in order to take part, with all proceeds going to the b-eat charity.

I caught up with Katie Wright, the VP for Welfare and Communication, to find out how the tournament came about: “B-eat were doing a campaign called ‘Sock-It to Eating Disorders’ for Eating Disorders Awareness week… The Halls did a dodgeball tournament a few weeks ago and I suggested that we put on a netball tournament. It’s something that people enjoy, it’s a common game and everyone knows the rules.”

Jennifer Castle, the Sport Activator for nu2sport, was extremely happy with the turn out: “We’ve had eight teams come down… We’ve got one exec team from the SU, we’ve had two teams travel over from Brackenhurst, we’ve got a team from the rowing club, we’ve got a women’s rugby

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For more information on eating disorders visit www.b-eat.co.uk. If you want to get involved in all the sporting fun at NTU check out the nu2sport timetable which can be found on the NTU website.

Joe Harby

NEWS

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April 2014

NEWS www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.net

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LIFESTYLE ALTERNATE CAREERS FOR GRADUATES / LOOK AFTER NUMBER ONE / A GUIDE TO RIO / POPULAR EUROPEAN CITY BREAKS

Alternate Careers for Graduates Written by Megan Burn

Blog for a living

Travel

The great thing about blogging is the virtually non-existent start-up costs. Do you love fashion, travelling or even skydiving and want to share your experiences? Then why not try to appeal to a wider audience with the possibility of earning money through advertising on your blog. The Huffington Post was created by American Arianna Huffington as a liberal/right commentary outlet and alternative to news outlets which now earns $2,330,000 a month on a pay per click basis. This shows that with the right niche topic, success is possible, even if you only become fractionally successful compared to The Huffington Post.

If you feel like all your hard work at university has taken its toll and you need to try something different then what better time to Eurail. With travel via train using one ticket pricing up cheaper than travelling to Australia or Asia, Eurailing could be the perfect exciting experience for those of us wishing to escape the confines of the Nottingham area. For more information on Europe rail ticket prices visit http://www.eurail.com/. For amazing sights not to be missed and hostels with a difference, we suggest taking a look at… http://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe.

Many companies have internal staff that takes on blogging duties; however an increasing number of businesses are hiring specialist bloggers to come on and run their blogs.

With money to be made in writing your own blog content, graduates in 2014 stand a great chance of being successful with their internet, writing and social media skills being put into practice.

To get started we suggest Probloggers article ‘How to Blog: Blogging Tips for Beginners’. To apply for blogging jobs visit the Pro Blogger Job Board at http://jobs.problogger.net/.

Be entrepreneurial As students we’re inundated with news of youth and graduate unemployment daily. Leaving university with debts and with job vacancies few and far between, evidence suggests that graduates are more inclined to venture into the unknown and start their own business. In the post-bust world, few people are free of worry regarding their jobs and finances; therefore, starting a business is just one of many risky career choices. However, if you are the person with a bright idea, great product, low start-up costs, savvy internet marketing and buckets of passion, you could make this alternative lifestyle a success. All while gaining business experience that would impress any future interviewer!

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LIFESTYLE It’s that time of year again. The sun is just beginning to come out and you’re stuck inside in a dark and gloomy library doing (tick all that apply) dissertation/revision/several different coursework pieces, all whilst trying to make the most out of being at university and maintain part time work and other commitments you may have. It can get overwhelming but your summer plans make it seem bearable.

Although you want to do the best you can, it’s vital you don’t stress yourself out too much. You may have heard all this before but that’s because it’s good advice and actually works. Talk to someone when you’re having one of those days. Give yourself a break from the library and go see some friends (you’re allowed a couple of hours, or even a day off).

- Reward yourself whether it’s with a lie in or a Netflix session.

- Eat well and enjoy the odd treat.

- Get out in the fresh outdoors or do a stress-busting exercise class.

Whatever makes you feel happy and relieve your stress, do it.

This is why Platform wants to raise awareness of mental health with students online. We want to help remove the stigma and encourage more people to speak out and seek help if they need it. We will have advice from professionals and people who have experienced it, plus lots more.

Text by Sophie Colquhoun Images by Jessica Frank and Lauren Mustoe Shoot organised by Shara Samra and Sophie Davis

It may be a joke that uni work is depressing you but for some people it can become too much. One in four

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people will experience a mental health problem each year. That could be your flatmate or even your lecturers.

It’s more common than people think however there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health, especially with students.

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LIFESTYLE

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April 2014

Popular Europe

Heathe

LIFESTYLE

PARIS Top place to visit: Eiffel Tower Where to eat: St Michel quarter or Montmarte Warning: Beware of con artists and tricksters lurking around the Sacré Cœur cathedral Top tip: For great panoramic photographs, go to the top of the Montparnasse tower to get the Eiffel Tower in your photos

MADRID Top place to visit: Parque del Retiro to row boats, sunbathe and check out the Crystal Palace, made almost entirely of glass.

Where to eat: San Miguel Market for modern twists on traditional tapas, as well seafood, paella, sangria and even sushi!

Warning: The beggars around Sol and Gran Vía are relentless and VERY ungrateful.

Top tip: Visit the Templo de Debod (Egyptian temple) in the evening to see the sun set behind the Guadarrama mountains.

ROME Top place to visit: The Trevi Fountain for photos and to make a wish in the pool.

Where to eat: Antica Pesa – it’s rumoured to be a favourite of both Madonna and Robert de Niro.

Warning: Authentic Italian food will be much more minimalistic than you dreamed and don’t assume that your “meal” will be automatically served with a side.

Top tip: It can be very difficult to find last minute accommodation in Rome, especially in the evening, so it’s best to book hostels ahead of your arrival.

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ean City Breaks MUNICH Top place to visit: Dachau Concentration Camp – a little morbid but eye opening and educational nonetheless.

Where to eat: Viktudlienmarkt – for traditional German food such as bratwurst, schnitzel and sauerkraut.

Warning: It is against the law to drink alcohol on the streets – beer gardens are of course exempt.

Top tip: Sample as much German beer as humanly possible.

AMSTERDAM Top place to visit: Anne Frank’s House.

Where to eat: Getto – a burger bar where each burger is named after a drag queen who performs there.

Warning: It is illegal to smoke cannabis, or consume cannabis products, outside of licensed coffee shops.

Top tip: Make like the locals and hire a bike!

BARCELONA Top place to visit: Parc Guell Where to eat: Gothic quarter and La Ramblas Warning: Pickpockets are rife, so watch your bag and valuables at all times.

Top tip: Stay in El Ravel area, the arrival of students has transformed the area into a new artistic and cultural hub

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LIFESTYLE

er Collier

A Guide to Rio Written by Shara Samra

LIFESTYLE

The next few years are set to be big in Brazil, with the World Cup and the Olympics taking place the country will be making headlines as it takes centre place on the world’s cultural stage.

playground for the young and fashionable cariocas (Rio’s residents), make sure you set a day aside to float between the bars and the beach.

Rio de Janeiro, the marvellous city, has long been a focal point for visitors to Brazil and it’s not hard to see why people are captivated by this sensational city. Scenic mountainous backdrops set up the stunning white sand beaches that hug the coastline, whilst the urban city is surrounded by lush rainforests. Rio is a buzzing, vibrant, paradise that leaves its visitors wanting more and more…

Rio is home to some of the most celebrated attractions in the world and it’s definitely worth setting aside a few days to see all the sights that Rio has to offer, make sure you roughly plan your days and set out as early as possible.

Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Escadaria Selarón in Lapa, the historical Santa Teresa, the list is endless, but some of the ‘typically tourist’ things are definitely worth doing.

For a true taste of the carioca nightlife, take a trip to Lapa on a Friday or Saturday night. Lapa, a bohemian distract in Rio, is an incredible neighbourhood and over the weekend the atmosphere is sensational. With the clubs spilling out onto the streets, the sounds of the samba, open air bars, and plenty of caipirinha stalls (the local cocktail) you’re guaranteed a great night out. However, be warned… Rio is a very expensive city, not just for accommodation, (which can reach extortionate prices in peak visiting times), but also for food and drink.

Rio, Brazil and South America more generally is known for its bad reputation when it comes to personal safety.

If you decide to stroll through Rio with your DSLR on full display you’re a walking target, but with a little common sense, you will quickly realise Rio isn’t as dangerous as the media makes it out to be.

No trip to Rio would be complete without spending time on one of the famous beaches. Copacabana beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world certainly lives up to the hype, although these days it is populated with a slightly older crowd. For the more youthful scene head to Ipanema, a more upscale neighbourhood, which is the

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No trip to Latin America is complete without a trip to Rio, it is truly a magnificent city.

Shara Samra

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PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & DESIGN ART

HELLO, MY NAME IS PAUL SMITH / JON BuRGERMAN / WHAT’S ON SUMMER GUIDE / BLACK BOX

HELLO, MY NAME IS PAUL SMITH It was announced this January that the exhibition celebrating the life and career of Paul Smith will be extended all the way until June.

The charmingly-titled Hello, My Name is Paul Smith, at London’s Design Museum, invites viewers into his world and charts the rise of his career to date. The exhibition is a remarkable testament to the Nottingham-born designer, and his eponymous label.

By Sayuri Standing

© Luke Hayes

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P

ART

aul Smith is undoubtedly Nottingham’s (in fact, Britain’s) biggest fashion export since the demise of the lace industry in the 19th century. The internationally acclaimed brand, which shows seasonally in London and Paris with 14 collections under its umbrella, laid its beginnings in a small boutique on Byard Lane in the 1970s. A miniscule room that replicates the store’s 3x3m dimensions is how we enter the exhibition. Here we see promotional material advertising the first boutique, some which declare Homer – Smith’s Afghan hound – as store manager. Even from the beginning, wit and humour was intrinsic to the brand’s character.

Immediately, you are led into the central corridor that is plastered in framed prints. This represents only a “small portion” of Paul’s overall collection yet the visual dissonance it elicits takes the eyes some time to adjust to. This, in all its chaos, seems a pretty relative snapshot as to what Paul’s mind must look like. He is incredibly observant and often preaches, “inspiration can come from anything if you look properly”. The designer’s voice ominously discusses this in a mirrored room lined with screens, which conceptualises the subject of ‘Inside Paul’s Head.’

The press release stated that visitors would be taken on a journey through Smith’s world. With the help of vivid recreations and installations, this was executed quite literally. Such as the reconstruction of Paul’s infamously cluttered Covent Garden Office and his (slightly) less chaotic design studio. There

were also sets such as the brand’s first showroom, where Paul displayed six shirts, two jumpers and two suits in his Paris hotel suite in 1976. This was illustratively reimagined to charming effect in sketchy monochrome. The chronology of the exhibition emphasises how far the brand has come, to say the least. Makeshift venues such as those are now a world away from grander spaces like the Bourse de Commerce, where Smith showed his latest menswear collection for fall. Despite this, the designer remains legitimately humble. He dedicates the exhibition to his wife Pauline who he credits the brand’s success. She met Paul when moving to Nottingham as a part-time tutor at Trent (back when it was just The School of Art and Design) and taught a young Paul the importance of quality, cut and proportion – which is evidenced in some of her early design sketches.

That isn’t to say Paul is without his talents. He is in fact an avid photographer who has shot many of the brand’s campaigns. His passion is deeprooted as his father was the founding member of the Beeston Camera Club. An extensive archive of show invitations, look books, editorials and backstage passes, document the brand’s vibrant visual persona through the years.

With a few signature motifs such as the multicoloured stripes, Paul Smith is instantly recognisable for several idiosyncrasies and a room dedicated to commercial collaborations exemplify just that. As a polygamous hobbyist, Smith’s passions have resulted

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Hello, My Name is Paul Smith will be running until 22 June 2014 at the Design Museum, Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YD. The exhibition is open daily and offers discounted admission fees for students.

For more information, visit designmuseum.org

© Luke Hayes in plenty of meaningful collaborations. His first love was cycling, so it is no surprise he designed bicycles for Pinarello and Mercian Cycles and athlete’s uniforms for the Tour de France. More obscurely, he has worked with Evian, HP Sauce, Penguin Books and most famously, Mini Cooper. However, I was most surprised to discover he created the official t-shirt to David Bowie’s comeback album The Next Day. Paul Smith has a clear brand identity, yet its aesthetic is versatile through a broad interpretation of influences. One of them is travel. Therefore, a one-shop-fits-all approach does not apply to the Paul Smith brand. Through photographs, you can see each boutique boasts a unique identity through spectacular architecture and interiors. This is one of the major reasons behind the brand’s global success as each store is designed respectfully in response to the surrounding environment. The Kyoto branch greets customers through a traditional Japanese stone garden, whilst the Nottingham store also evokes a homely feel in the rustic Willoughby House on Low Pavement (the Byard Lane store also still stands). Then there are the futuristic feats such as the spaceship that is Seoul’s flagship and the ubercontemporary, fuchsia box that stands on Melrose Avenue, L.A.

Needless to say travel also influences his clothing designs. The vivid opulence, translated out of traditional Oriental, Middle-Eastern and African dress, made this section a personal favourite of the four categories he has grouped his archive garments into. In the eagerly anticipated collections room, a personal selection of pieces are divided by his main points of inspiration and the other three include colour, pattern and British tradition. The latter category, presented mostly through country tailoring, is also equally synonymous with the brand.

Just as the process of creating a fashion collection follows: we end with a show. A chatty Paul takes us through the operations that went into his spring 2014 menswear show in Paris through a mini documentary. Although Smith doesn’t particularly enjoy them; he recognises runway shows as an industry necessity and does a spectacular job of them. It’s in video that we really see the designer’s sunny disposition come to life and in typical Paul style, he speaks with wisdom in abundance, possibly making him an accidental father-figure to the new crop in his footsteps. Regardless of whether you’re an aspiring designer or not, I thoroughly recommend this exhibition for being uplifting, engaging and genuinely insightful on the design process from inspiration to product.

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ART

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HIDEOUT BOAT PARTIES Coming soon

For accommodation, airport transfers and more information visit www.hideoutfestival.com

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CROATIA

Celebrate the last days of summer Live concerts

Boat, Island & Forest Parties

Art, Games & more

8th - 12th September Rovinj Croatia

LIVE: CHIC FT. NILE RODGERS / CHVRCHES / CLEAN BANDIT FOREST SWORDS / HENRIK SCHWARZ / JAMES HOLDEN / JUNGLE KINK / LAPALUX / LONDON GRAMMAR / MODERAT / MOUNT KIMBIE TEN WALLS / WILD BEASTS DJ: disclosure / ÂME / DANIEL AVERY / DIXON / DJ HARVEY DJ KOZE / DUSKY / EATS EVERYTHING / EROL ALKAN GEORGE FITZGERALD / GERD JANSON / HEIDI / Hot Since 82 JACKMASTER / JAMIE XX / JOHN TALABOT / JOY ORBISON KIM ANN FOXMAN / MANO LE TOUGH / MICHAEL MAYER OPTIMO / PRINS THOMAS / RICHY AHMED / RUB N TUG RYAN ELLIOTT / SETH TROXLER / SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO/ TALE OF US THE 2 BE BEARS / TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS WAZE & ODYSSEY DEPOSIT SCHEME: £69 + bf | General ticket: £129 + BF | Ticket Plus Camping: from £169 + bf FOR FULL LINE UP AND TICKETS VISIT: WWW.UNKNOWNCROATIA.COM

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April 2014

ART Interviewed by Craig Proud

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Craig: I see you had fun with the Students’ Union, how does it feel to have your university be so proud of you?

Burgerman: It’s amazing. It’s strange too as I was just a normal student, so it’s odd in a way. Odd in a good way of course! When you look at all the cool people who’ve come out of Trent it’s really flattering to be included with them in the recent 170 Years exhibition.

C: What ingredients does it take to make one of your pieces?

B: Lots of salad. And music and colours and a daydreamy distracted doodley disposition. Sometimes I just draw and stuff comes out and other times I think long and hard and try and be clever. More than half the time in both instances it ends badly but the joy is in the making and the hope that the work will turn out well.

C: Do you ever give names and imagine back-stories to your creatures? Are there whole monster families within your work?

B: Yes I do and I am doing so more seriously now as I’m preparing some books for a publisher. All of the characters have stories and names, even if I’m not aware of them straight away. They are often teased out in conversations or when living with the work for a while.

Not everything happens at once, sometimes things (and persons) need time to reveal themselves.

ART

You may have he ard his name m entioned around university quite a bit over the past year or so, and if you’ve visited the Students’ Union re cently you have no way of escaping the huge doodle pi eces drawn onto several of the walls . Platform’s Art an d Design Editor, Craig Proud, rece ntly caught up wi th professional doodler and form er NTU student, Jo n Burgerman.

had no ID so they wouldn’t let me in. I was quite pleased that someone had created an entry for me on Wikipedia and utterly amazed that the doorman thought that was proof enough to let me in. There’s a good tip for all under 21 year old students visiting America!

C: Whom would your dream collaborationbe with?

B: Making some colourful clothes with Paul Smith would be fun. Can someone in Nottingham reading this make that happen?

C: With the success of Pens Are My Friends, are we going to be seeing a new book sometime soon?

B: Yes, but probably not another monograph for a while. Pens Are My Friends collated 8-9 years worth of work. If I was going to make another book like that it’d be in ...

2016! Ohh, not that long away actually.

Right now I’m working on narrative storybooks that will introduce my worlds and characters. It’s fun to be able to delve into the ‘world’ and see what’s going on in there!

www.jonburgerman.com

C: Did you have an ‘I have made it’ moment, or are you still waiting?

B: Ha, no! I feel the same; I am pretty much the same as I was I think. Once I got into a bar in New York by proving who I was on Wikipedia on a friend’s iPhone. I

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What’s On Guide Summer 2014 Darren Hasson

ART Bradford - National Media Museum

Isle of Wight - Quay Arts

Exhibition: Artist Rooms Presents: Martin Creed Friday 13th June – Saturday 20th September

Exhibition: Only In England: Photographs by Tony Ray-Jones and Martin Parr Friday 28th March – Sunday 29th June

Tate Galleries is working in conjunction with Quay Arts (IOW) this summer to present the work of Turner Prize winner Martin Creed. The exhibition aims to show Creed’s work across a number of mediums including neon lighting, video, painting and drawing and relies on audience perception as key to interpretation. This exhibition proves to be of interest to all interested in contemporary conceptual art.

Bradford Media Museum kicks off its summer exhibitions with a look at the people of England.

Both of the photographer’s work to be shown, despite existing in separate generations, works together to build an often humorous view of the people that inhabit this small island. With 50 publicly unseen images from Ray-Jones’ archive, this exhibition proves to be of interest to those interested in photography.

Bristol - M Shed London - Tate Modern

Exhibition: Wallace & Gromit from the Drawing Board Saturday 24th May – Sunday 7th September

This summer the Tate Modern’s Artists Rooms plays host to an exhibition of photography from Robert Mapplethorpe. The work consists of 64 black & white images including noted prints of Andy Warhol and Truman Copote as well as previously unseen photographs from the artist.

The exhibition will be open until autumn.

Coinciding with the 25th Anniversary of their first film, plasticine duo Wallace & Gromit have a dedicated exhibition in their creator’s hometown through the summer months. Aardman Animations will exhibit production models, animation clips, archived film and previously unseen storyboard sketches in an exclusive behind-the-scenes styled exposé of the world of the lovable pair. A must see for future animators and fans of Wallace & Gromit alike.

Exhibition: Artists Rooms Presents: Robert Mapplethorpe Monday 12th May – Sunday 26th October

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Somerset House

Exhibition: Return of the Rudeboy Friday 13th June – Monday 25th August

Fashion showin Sala Bianca, 1955 Archivio Giorgini Photo by G.M. Fadigati © Giorgini Archive, Florence

V & A Museum

Exhibition: The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945 – 2014 Saturday 5th April – Sunday 27th July The V&A’s early summer exhibition, sponsored by Bulgari, consists of a carefully curated ensemble of Italian Fashion from 1945 to present. With a documented look at the work of the big brands such as D&G, Giorgio Armani, Versace and Prada amongst others, you can expect an in depth exploration of craftsmanship and style that Italy has become associated with in Haute Couture.

Although the exhibition focuses on the post WWII era the collection, through photography and moving image, also explores earlier forgotten names such as Simonetta and the Fontana Sisters. This exhibition is a must see for budding Fashionistas and worshippers of style of all ages.

Tate Liverpool Exhibition: Mondrian and his Studios Friday 6th June – Sunday 5th October

The 70th anniversary of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian’s death has inspired this colourful retrospective over the coming months at the Tate Liverpool. A pioneer in abstract art, Mondrian’s work explores the relationship between space and the artwork in this exhibition causing the viewer of the works to go further than the work on the wall, in turn encouraging audience interpretation in the space. This exhibition could prove interesting for those of a critical art disposition.

With the recent publicity of the Sapeur’s as seen through the Guinness advertisements at the beginning of the year, subcultures are slowly becoming a hot topic within art and culture at the moment and Somerset House’s exhibition is inAkinola Davies – Film Maker © Dean Chalkley keeping with this up and coming theme.

Return of the Rudeboy is an intimate look at the aesthetical properties of Rudeboy culture, shown through photography and installation. The exhibition provides an insight into the stylistic attributes of the subculture, showing how the jazz/RnB inspired fashion has evolved over the past 60 years from the reggae scene of Kingston Jamaica to it’s revival via Two-Tone in London. This exhibition promises to educate and intrigue young and old alike.

National Portrait Gallery

Exhibition: BP Portrait Award 2014 Thursday 26th June – Sunday 21st September The annual BP Portrait Award is in its 35th Year at the National Portrait Gallery this summer and a solid exhibition that never fails to disappoint. With applications received globally and accepted from applicants aged 18 and over, there is always a vast range of portraits on show from a wide span of painting styles. The award aims to encourage artists to incorporate portraiture into their work whatever their style and offers a platform for selected works to be shown to the public, acknowledging little known and up and coming artists.

Manchester Art Gallery

Exhibition: Ossie Clark, A British Fashion Genius, 1967 - 1977 Thursday 30th January – Sunday 29th June The 1960s remains one of the most dramatically cultural changing eras that Western Society has ever experienced. Attitudes changed and style evolved almost overnight, but the designers of the iconic fashion of this time often go unpraised. Manchester’s Gallery of Costume pays tribute to one of the lead British designers of the time exhibiting 25 outfits of the unsung style hero Ossie Clark. With this retrospective you can expect to see innovative print and sharp cut retro fashion, exciting for all interested in the swinging 60s and vintage fashion.

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ART

Photography FESTIVAL

Y

ou may not know this but Trent is home to one of the most prestigious photography courses the country has to offer. Now in its 18th year, Nottingham will play host to graduating students in a citywide photography festival, named BlackBox. 85 BA (Hons) Photography students work together to establish a brand and arrange an array of exhibitions spanning a multitude of creative practices such as installation and moving image as well as photography. One of the lead festival organisers Jodie Simms, says that “BlackBox aims to offer its audience a diverse and interesting visual experience ranging from fashion photography to conceptual art.

The photographers have been encouraged, through their study, to use photography as a fluid medium that allows them to realise their creative vision.”

More of a creative community than a typical course, the participants stage a whole series of events leading up to the official beginning of the festival, on the 19th May, in order to generate interest from around the country. Selected works then move to London for the largest annual graduate photography exhibition, Free Range Festival.

The festival will be difficult to avoid with 16 venues participating in its attempts to showcase some of the best work NTU’s course has ever produced.

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FESTIVAL

26th May – 6th June 2014 Launch Event

19th May 2014

© E;izabeth Mahoney

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FASHION & BEAUTY LUXE SPORTSWEAR / FLORAL FASHION / BEAUTY SHOOT: SPRING & SUMMER / KARDASHIAN ON THE COVER OF VOGUE DEBATE

LUXE

With the winter Olympics over for another four years and summer fast approaching our wardrobes need an overhaul. Out with the chunky knit jumpers and puffa coats (well, nearly!) and in with this seasons recurring trend of Sports Luxe. Here are some key pieces to get you well on your way for summer.

SPORTSWEAR

By Georgia Benney

Zara Following on from Zara’s success with the black, white and red skorts from last summer they have brought out the pleather version – all hail Zara!

Missguided The fashion online retailer has gone mesh mad on us this season.

With panels on t-shirts, jumpers, skirts and dresses, there is a piece for everyone here.

Choose from pastel pinks and blues or white and black, all within a student friendly budget.

New Look New Look have kicked off with some killer trainers for those days when comfort comes first. Check out these leopard print rip off Nike Air Max’s that have been everywhere for the past year.

ASOS For those of you who need total comfort look no further than ASOS. Just about awake for that 9am lecture but the thought of putting on skinny jeans let alone a dress gives you a headache, then these skinny joggers are the answer. Flattering, comfortable and can be passed off as fashion.

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FLORAL

FASHION Fashion Shoot Credits: FIRST OUTFIT: Kimono - Ark, 24.99 Jumpsuit - Ark, 29.99 Bag - Urban Outfitters, 42.99 Sandals - Ark, 36.99 Hairchain - Claire’s Ring - Claires

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FASHION

FASHION

Styling Louisa Davies Assistant Priya Sund Make Up Sophie Chadwick Photography Ashley Kirk Model Charlie Pratt

SECOND OUTFIT: Playsuit, Pins & Needles, £45 Bralet, Urban Outfitters, £25 Bag, Claire’s Necklace, Urban Outfitters, £14 Heels, Urban Outfitters, £85

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FASHION

Beauty Looks To Try for Spring/Summer 2014

Orange lips Let your lips take centre stage with this totally on trend look.

We’ve used a Barry M colour here but this really is a look you can take as far as you like, tackle the trend with lighter hues or go bright and beautiful. This is a look that requires thick lashes, a flick of eyeliner and very little else. Simples.

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FASHION

SHOOT

Beauty Shoot Credits: Photographer: Ashley Kirk Make-up artist: Sophie Chadwick Words/Looks: Priya Sund Model: Louisa Davies We used Eye of Horus Liquid Define Eyeliner (£13) for most of these looks.

Pin up A classic look. But it’s a classic for a reason, ladies! It’s a playful look great for going out and during the day, perfect for dressing up any old outfit. This look is all about the eyes and the lips, so keep the blusher nice and natural to avoid overkill. Keep your lips well moisturised for a really polished look and embrace your inner 1950s pin up girl!

Barely there A staple look for the coming months, a fresh dewy face is a must have accessory for spring. Because of course we all wear make up to look like we, to quote Beyonce, woke up like this. To achieve this look be sure to moisturise, use a concealer to hide any red spots or imperfections and be sure to fully blend your foundation into your skin. A quick sweep of blusher, tiny flick of mascara a smudge of eyeliner et viola!

Glitter Eyes For those of you looking to make a statement look no further. Inspired by Chanel SS14 Coture, we all know Chanel never go wrong so take this look as gospel.

A dramatic eyeliner flick teamed with sparkly glitter under the eyes for a fresh and relaxed but glamorous look is perfect if you need to shake up your nighttime make up. Keep the skin matte and the lips natural for maximum effect.

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April 2014

KARDASHIAN

VOGUE COVER

DEBATE

By Louisa Davis and Molly Coughlan FOR I am the first to admit that I keep up with the celebrity status, and allow the world to embrace her as a star rather than fame-hungry.

Kardashians. I can’t get enough of Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Rob, Kendall and Kylie. And I know for certain that I am not the only one.

AGAINST Vogue Magazine is the pinnacle of all things fashion, and a style bible for an abundance of Over the years, Kim Kardashian has separated herself from the klan, and graced the cover women who look to it in adoration for their clothing inspiration. It is arguably the most of many elite fashion magazines. Heck, Karl iconic of all monthly fashion mags, and its Largerfeld himself photographed her whilst pregnant. So, why is the idea of her being on cover stars are a reflection of what Western society views as beautiful. the front of American Vogue such a travesty?

Kim Kardashian, whether you like her or not, is an A List star all over the world. Whilst I accept she’s not famous for any particular talent, you cannot fault her work ethic - she’s always working.

Vogue is a magazine associated with tasking risks in the fashion industry, Anna Wintour was the first editor to put a black woman on the cover and also start using celebrities. So it is seemingly hypocritical to ignore the realitystar culture that is rife at the moment.

Kim has moved on from being Paris Hilton’s trashy BFF. She is no longer seen as ‘just a reality star. A high end shoot in Vogue would promote her to fashion super stardom, which I truly believe she deserves. After all, she drapes little North West in Stella McCartney booties and Celine coats.

I guess I have a soft spot for old Kimmy K, and a Vogue cover would merely cement her www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.net

Recently, Girls star Lena Durham graced the cover, challenging the readers of Vogue to a new understanding of the word ‘beauty’; she is celebrated for her intelligence, creativity and success, not simply her exterior. Even in the 21st century this is a pretty big deal, and something that should be encouraged in the future.

However, instead of Vogue continuing this reform, rumour has it that Kim Kardashian is to be their next cover star. Don’t get me wrong, even before her extensive surgery (lips/bum/ boobs/botox–you name it, she’s probably had it) Kim is gorgeous, but a role model?

No. Famous for a sex tape, a reality show and a string of high profile relationships, it is no wonder that she is featured so heavily across the tabloids. She is the product of gossip and an inventive marketing team, and thus does not belong on the cover of Vogue.

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CULTURE & ENTS

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WW1 FILMS / INTERVIEW / HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO / LEGO FILM

WWW1 FILMS 2014 marks a century to the year since the start of WWI. Platform looks at a few films about one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930, Lewis Milestone) There’s something to be said for an American director making a WWI film about German soldiers. Milestone showed the war from the ‘enemy’ point of view, revealing the universal horror of the trenches. It’s understandably dated with ropey acting and a bloated runtime, but its Eisenstein-esque battle sequences are still astounding. Its final shot emphasises how tragic every life lost in the war was and still is, regardless of affiliation.

La Grande Illusion (1937, Jean Renoir) La Grande Illusion is a surprisingly humorous tale about a group of French soldiers. Renoir avoids shallowness by balancing it with pathos - it is a film about loss. For higher ranking of-

ficers, it is the loss of honour on the battlefield.

Shots of bodies in no man’s land are traded for subtler images; a widow’s large, empty dinner table acts as a metaphor for the senseless of war. Her husband and brothers shall never return and she will never again experience the pleasure of a family gathering.

Paths of Glory (1957, Stanley Kubrick) Not just a war film but a compelling courtroom drama. When soldiers refuse to continue with an impossible assault, their superior officers pick three men to be executed and it is up to Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) to defend them.

Kubrick’s film highlights one of the sorrows of WWI: the callousness in which higher-ups would send soldiers out to their deaths. This is summed up chillingly in a scene in which a General remarks that if a mission was impossible, ‘The only proof of that would be their dead bodies lying in the bottom of the trenches.’

By Craig Nye

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April 2014

Interview

CULTURE

Kayrasikse Evans Manipulated Image is an experimental photography exhibition presented by the New Art Exchange in association with Nottingham Photographers’ Hub. Platform talks to former Trent photography student Kayraskise Evans about the exhibition, and her work, Butterflight, which features in it.

Platform –How did you get involved with the Nottingham Photographers’ Hub? Kayrasikse – I got referred to them because they help people with mental issues and I had the background in photography because I studied photography at Trent. They helped me get back on my feet.

I’ve had a few exhibitions with them, and some of my works have been about mental health, but this one hadn’t got that in mind.

P – How have you deviated from your past work with the pieces that feature in Manipulated Image?

K – I just wanted to do something a bit different.

It’s trying to make something beautiful by playing around with a technique I learned at City Arts. I’ve got this obsession with butterflies, and I thought I would try out a technique I was taught on a bigger scale than I had ever tried it. It was a bit of a risk because I didn’t know how it was going to turn out, but it was fun! so I’m starting to use what I learned on my degree, and combined it with the skills I’ve been taught at photography hub and at city arts to produce works, and you can kind of see the workings out of each piece which is really nice.

P – What is Butterflight about?

K – My description of it is: ‘We are butterflies, ever changing like the city lights that twirl around us, as

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we pass them within our hectic lives. Pinned down by responsibilities, we can be confined to a life of conformity, when all we seek is freedom from the monotonous tones and gripes of society. If we pay close attention though, even in the darkest times, there is always a light surrounding us be it fabricated or ourselves.’

P – So the origami butterflies pinned to the walls and canvases makes for a nice metaphor…

K - Yeah, I did go for something quite obvious with like the whole ‘pinning down’ thing. Even the whole piece is nailed in, it took 2 hours to nail in all of those origami butterflies.

J – How long did it take to make them?

K – Quite a while, I’d just sit there, like while I’m trying to socialise in the pub. I took the whole thing of, butterflies normally being quite free, and pinning them down to represent the pressures of life in modern society.

Manipulated image is at the New Art Exchange until 4 May, entry is free.

For the full interview go to www.platform-online.net

By Josh Giltrap

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CULTURE

www.platform-online.net

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO? With Captain America: The Winter Soldier not long out, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 upon us and the intriguing prospect of Guardians of the Galaxy coming later in the year, superheroes are dominating the silver screen, and with the continued success of Agents of Shield and Arrow, not to mention the upcoming four Netflix Marvel series and Gotham, it seems like they’re taking over the smaller screen too. But are we only a few more films from superhero overload?

While once upon a time the slightest mention of a new big budget comic book movie would have set the nerd-world alight, many now are being greeted with merely a mumble. While the recent Guardians trailers seemed to be the exception to this, you can’t help but feel this was in a large part due to people, me included, wondering whether a film about a green alien, a racoon with guns and a fighting tree could work. Yet, initial impressions seem to be, it just might.

Despite this, there’s a reason comic books were for a long time just regarded as entertainment for children. While there are many underappreciated adult-oriented comic books out there, unfortunately by and large these are not the properties getting the big budget adaptation, and it’s not hard to see why. Films such as Ghost World and even Watchmen, while faring reasonably well

with critics barely seemed to set the world alight, while Constantine was a mess on every level. Mainstream superhero comics however, are at their core little more than simplistic tales of good versus evil. Both Marvel and DC have tried to work round that, with DC taking the recent Batman series down the dark and gritty route, and Marvel doing as much as they can to separate their own output tonally, but at the end of the day the film and TV market is the same as any other in that success relies on a delicate balance of supply and demand.

Comics aren’t the shameful secret they were a decade, or even a few years ago, and their success seems to apply to everything they touch. It now seems impossible to walk down a high street without seeing at least one t-shirt vividly emblazoned with a cartoon champion or emblem, and the geek focused The Big Bang Theory, now in its seventh season is getting higher ratings than ever before and was recently renewed for the next three seasons. How long can this success last? For many years, much of the appeal of comic books was in the secret subculture, a special member’s only club.

With the club now open to everyone, it’s an interesting time to be a fan.

By Chris Collins

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April 2014

CULTURE

BUILDING UP AN EMPIRE. By: Clara McKechnie

It’s fair to say that Lego has always been a popular toy, but it wasn’t until recently that “Lego mania” really started to take effect, which in February this year, led to Lego becoming the world’s largest toy company. It’s safe to say they’re doing well for themselves, but whilst the traditional toy market is said to be struggling, how is it that Lego have managed to grow in their success and fandom?

The answer is simple; the company have recognised the need for modernisation and have branched into the digital world, their most recent digital product being their first feature length film, The Lego Movie, which topped box office charts around the world. It’s no secret that the modern child is less interested in traditional toys than previous generations; the youth of the day are far more concerned with the latest blockbuster movie and the hottest must-have video game, and Lego are fully aware of this. Thus, taking the essence of their construction sets and translating it onto the screen in the form of both films and video games, Lego have managed to broaden their market audience tremendously, revolutionising what was once merely the humble brick.

Lego have also struck gold in identifying the rapid growth of “nerd culture”. With Hollywood’s recent spate of superhero movies proving to be popular and shows such

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as Game Of Thrones trending worldwide, it has never been cooler to be a geek.

Recognizing this, Lego has developed partnerships with some huge brands, including Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and Batman, which has led to the production of many themed short films, video games and construction sets. Such products have sparked the interest of a much older consumer, giving rise to a community of adult collectors, and this new market has given Lego scope to create sets beyond what is typical, resulting in the production of rare and expensive sets such as ‘The Tower of Orthanc’ from The Lord of the Rings (£169.99 RRP) and the ‘Death Star’ from Star Wars (£274.99 RRP), the likes of which have proven to be admired and sought after items.

Having made a grand total of fifty video games since 1997 and with a sequel to The Lego Movie already in the works, things can only get better for Lego. By wisely evolving with the times, this once simple toy company has successfully transformed itself into a global phenomenon adored by millions.

With the future looking bright, there’s only one thing left to say – in the words of Lego’s company slogan, “play on”.

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MUSIC INTERVIEW: BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB / SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE TO NOTTINGHAM / INTERVIEW: WE ARE SCIENTISTS /

An interview with...

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB After releasing their fourth record, So Long, See You Tomorrow last month, Bombay Bicycle Club currently find themselves in a stronger position than ever before. Alex Thorp spoke to drummer Suren and guitarist Jamie in their dressing room ahead of their sold out Rock City show.

How has the tour been so far?

S: It’s been great, actually. We’re all just very excited because this is the biggest amount of production we’ve ever had so it’s still feeling very fresh for us.

The success of So Long, See You Tomorrow has given you your first number one album. How did that feel?

Suren: It was quite strange because soon after the album is released you get the midweek charts and it was number one then, so that got our hopes up straight away. It would have been quite embarrassing if it didn’t end up being number one…

Jamie: I don’t really think it changes much apart from it’s a nice story to be able to tell and I’m sure our PR is excited about it because it looks good in print.

Why did you make the decision to produce this album yourselves?

J: The new songs seem to be going down well for the most part. It’s been hard work because we’ve been playing every song from the new album, so half of the set is made up of completely new songs.

It’s the first time we’ve done that and as the album has only been out for a month.

“We wanted to take control this time and You started selling your album at a wanted it to reduced price on iTunes recently. sound entirely What was the thinking behind that? how we wanted J: It was iTunes’ decision. it to sound” It blows my mind because before that

S: We tried out a couple of songs with two different producers. They both sounded good but they didn’t sound exactly as we envisaged them, so that’s when we thought about going down the self producing route.

happened, the album was about 30 in the album chart. Since they reduced it by about £2 its shot back up. Why can’t people spend an extra £2 on an album? We’re not the kind of band that really makes any money form record sales to be honest – these days, it seems like you have to be selling about a million copies to make money just from record sales alone.

J: We wanted to take control this time and wanted it to sound entirely how we wanted it to sound, which we felt able to do at this stage in our careers.

That’s something that hasn’t always happened in the past.

By Alex Thorp

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April 2014

SUMMER

MUSIC

FESTIVAL

GUIDE TO

NOTTINGHAM This summer is looking set to be a festivalfilled one for the city of Nottingham. If the sun makes a regular appearance and wasps stay on their best behaviour, it could potentially be an absolute bonanza of a summer. Robin Murray, Matt Davies and Alicia Taylor give the lowdown on the best festivals Notts has to offer.

No Tomorrow Festival

Wollaton Park is set to host a brand new music event as No Tomorrow Festival makes its debut this summer.

Organisers promise an epic end of exam party for over 10,000 students and music lovers in the idyllic settings of the Nottingham park on Saturday June 7. The inaugural event will see live music acts and DJs spread across three stages.

Nottingham-formed London Grammar have been announced as the first headliners and will be joined by soul-inspired Sam Smith, who recently won a Critics’ Choice Award at the BRITs, and house DJs Eton Messy.

Despite being aimed at students, No Tomorrow is open to anyone over 18. Demand is clearly high, with super early bird tickets already selling out.

Detonate Festival

After bringing their legendary indoor festival series to an end, Detonate will be making the switch to the outdoor festival arena this coming June with a one day event at Nottingham Racecourse on June 7.

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Celebrating 15 years of the iconic label, the lineup looks set to rival that of Parklife in Manchester, which is on the same day, with the likes of DJ EZ, Bonobo, Wilkinson and Pusha T already confirmed to play.

With a whole host of acts still to be announced all playing on a number of outdoor stages, all with Funktion-One soundsystem, this is going to be a must for all fans of electronic and bassheavy music.

Splendour Festival

Set in the heart of Nottingham’s enchanted Wollaton Park, Nottingham City Council and DHP have once again vowed to make this year’s Splendour Festival a special one.

Although Splendour prides itself on its array of huge, international acts, the festival cannot only be celebrated because of its music. Comedy acts, children’s activities and market stalls are just a small number of alternative entertainments available on the day. Some of Nottingham’s brightest rising stars are likely to play the festival, so it’s a great place to potentially see the next big thing.

Splendour Festival is unquestionably one of the UK’s finest small festivals, where the entertainment, diversity, punters and weather (every year has managed to stay above 20°) work together to create a memorable and exhilarating day for everyone who attends.

By Robin Murray, Matt Davies and Alicia Taylor

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WE ARE SCIENTISTS IN TERV IEW

Indie veterans We Are Scientists, comprising of Chris Cain, Keith Murray and Andy Burrows, are currently on a tour of the UK in support of their fourth studio album, TV En Francais.

Alex Copley caught up with bassist, Chris Cain, before their headline show at Rock City.

Are you excited to be in Nottingham?

Thrilled! I actually really do like Nottingham.

We’ve had a few days off here in the past so we’ve gotten to know it a little bit. There are a lot of little spots that I’m into. I don’t know what it’s called, but there’s a little cafe on some church grounds that has a big mirrored disc sculpture – it’s awesome....

Is it the Playhouse?

Yeah, that’s it! Love that little spot – it’s nice for a quiet little coffee, or a brew. I also love your Cineworld.

How’s the tour gone so far?

Really, really well. I think this is our seventh show, so it’s still in the honeymoon period and we’re all still relatively healthy and have energy. It’s exciting to get back in front of people and play a proper, sizeable UK tour.

We love you here in the UK, but what’s your favourite thing about it?

A curry is a very high point for us. We don’t have much good Indian food back home, so British Indian food is a big, shining light in our sky when we’re here. Really, it’s the curry that

By Alex Copley

differentiates the United States and Britain for me. Otherwise, they’re pretty much the same place.

What’s your curry of choice then?

I love very hot food, so I like a vindaloo or something similar. But if there’s anything on the menu I haven’t had before, I’ll definitely try it.

The new record’s just been released. Are you happy to finally have it out?

Yeah, it’s a great feeling. As soon as we can get the crowd to receive these songs as passionately as our other stuff, it will be very exciting for us.

What music have you been listening to recently?

Huge fan of the dudes supporting us: Superfood. I’m also a big fan of the band supporting us in Europe and the States: Paws, from Glasgow. There’s a Dublin called September Girls who are also really good.

Touring seems pretty non-stop. What do you do to relax and stop yourself from going crazy?

We like to watch a lot of crap movies on our bus. If there’s a theme to our film festival, it’s low quality. We’ve been on a hunt for a Bad Boys 2 DVD and finally scored it today. Last night we watched Stealth, It’s pretty awesome.

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April 2014

MUSIC

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METRONOMY

MUSIC

AT ROCK CITY Review

Dressed in matching white, navy and redcurrant uniforms like a sixties Motown group, the quirky five-piece played a euphoric set to an enraptured Rock City crowd that, although not quite packed out, loved every minute of it.

The group – whose music is probably best described as electro-pop – are now touring their top ten fourth album Love Letters, and when you hear it you understand the retro dress.

After shooting into the mainstream with the Mercury Prize nominated 2011 release The English Riviera, this new record shows main man Joseph Mount’s love of all things sixties.

The trademark lo-fi pop sound remains but there is a smorga-sbord of different influences, ranging from the baroque-style melody on set opener Monstrous that sounds like it could have been written by J.S. Bach, to the deep bass-line on instrumental Boy Racer.

The band’s regimented on-stage set up continued the retro theme with two structures that resembled white gaudy home bars housing two keyboards.

late hair.

Every track in a ninety minute set went down well with a crowd that was a mix of old and young, from the melancholy ‘shoop-doop-doop-ahh’ of new single I’m Aquarius to tracks from pre-fame album Nights Out like Radio Ladio and Heartbreaker.

Unsurprisingly it was the big hits The Look and The Bay that really got the crowd going, along with Everything Goes My Way, which was sung perfectly by drummer Anna Proud.

Mount, not a traditional front-man, let his talent to the talking throughout apart from brief interludes where he joked about St Patrick’s Day drinking, the plight of his boyhood football team Nottingham Forest, and his band’s rise from playing at Rescue Rooms back in the nineties.

Closing their encore with The Most Immaculate Haircut, Mount remained humble, giving the crowd a chance to cheer each band member, before in turn acknowledging his fans.

Hopefully it’s not another two years before we get the chance to see them again.

Behind one of these Oscar Cash’s famously expressive playing and dance moves (google him if you don’t know what I’m on about) made you really feel like you had stepped back in time and onto the floor of an early Top of the Pops.

Despite their unusual appearance on stage, the group managed to find the perfect equilibrium of loving sharing their music with the crowd but managing to remain the coolest people in the building by far – typified by bass player Gbenga Adelekan’s immacu-

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By Simon Murfitt

GAMING & TECHNOLOGY

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REVIEW: KNACK / VIDEO GAME SOUNDTRACKS

Review: Knack Whilst

visually appealing, I understand why a lot of reviews have put some hate on this exclusive PS4 platformer. Lacklustre, restricting and fragmented, Knack certainly puts the average into ‘decidedly average’. So let’s take a look at just why game hasn’t gotten the knack of things…

For those of you who don’t know, Knack is a platform/combat game which served as a title release for the PS4. The game itself carries of the feel of a platformer well, with distinct overtones of classic games of the genre such as the Mario or Crash Bandicoot games.

The name Knack comes from the protagonist of the game, who is also cunningly named Knack. Initially our hero starts out as a small creature about the size of a terrier dog, and as you progress through the levels beating up bad guys and powering up obstacles he will balloon in size

from ‘Tiny Knack’ to ‘Big Knack’; a hulking brute that can wipe the floor with almost any standard human-sized enemy in a single swipe.

The overall aim of the game is complete a series of levels while beating up enemies and collecting mysterious objects known as ‘relics’. It is these relics that allow Knack to grow, and thus increase his damage potential. In addition to this, collecting treasure from chests (often hidden away from the main path) and fighting the occasional boss also helps Knack to bolster his stature.

This all seems simple enough, and truth be told it’s a running theme of the game. Everything has been kept as simple as possible, including the control system. One button assigned to jump, one button assigned to punch and one designed to give power attacks. Because of this no player should have any real trouble getting to grips with the mechanics side of the gameplay.

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April 2014

GAMING

With a nice simple control setup players are free to focus on the other aspects of gameplay. The game’s health system works on the collecting of relics. As mentioned before these allow Knack to grow in size, but they also serve as an indication of your health. Being hit by an enemy causes you to lose some of the relics you’ve gathered, or die if you haven’t collected any. Fortunately though, these lost relics can be reclaimed from crates and from defeated enemies meaning that you can soon be back up to full health, and size.

Beating enemies is fairly straight forward. You can punch your way to victory over most opponents, and it’s worth remembering that the bigger you are the harder you hit. There is also the chance to use special powers to lay waste to your foes, such as a devastating earthquake attack that will damage all enemies within the area. Attacks like these have to be charged by collecting glowing yellow stones throughout your progression through the levels.

Though the game can be dull and tedious at times, the visuals do their best to pull you through.

On top of the special attacks you are also given the ability to absorb natural elements,

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such as ice or crystals that grant Knack a different power. Unlocked part ways through the game, different elements understandably grant you different powers. For instance, ice provides Knack a suit of armour, which (unsurprisingly) melts as you charge at an enemy, providing a challenge in the sense that you have to strike quick, and crystal allows Knack to turn his tiny body clear, allowing you to sneak past lasers and strike enemies without them seeing. However, the downside is that once you’ve finished that level, the power will disappear unless you can find the element again in the next one Levels are divided into “worlds” and individual sections of that world, for example level 5-2 means you’re on the fifth chapter of the game in the second level of it. Typically the chapters end with a boss fight of some sort, and this is sadly when the game begins to falter. In stark contrast to game’s simple nature the bosses themselves are a somewhat tedious affair. Though they don’t require a lot of technical skill to beat, this only means that you are left in boring and stagnant combat, which is needless to say disappointing.

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Bosses are meant to be a challenge, putting the skills you’ve been using to the test and bosses who don’t do that have failed.

Though the game can be dull and tedious at times, the visuals do their best to pull you through. Everything is designed to be bright and colourful, and though the vivid colours and cartoon style isn’t ground-breaking, it is nevertheless pretty. Sadly though this fact is almost wasted on the PS4 which doesn’t seek to try and take full advantage and so it in turn hinders the game.

Another problem with Knack is that it’s also beset by lots of short cut scenes that fragment the gameplay almost every ten minutes, nowhere near on the level of your average Metal Gear Solid game but a damn sight more irrelevant.

The voice acting itself is average at best; most of the characters have unexceptional lines and ok actors. Arguably the two exceptions being Knack and his scientist creator, the two characters who talk the most in the game, however their scripts are far from awe inspiring and tend to leave you with more questions than answers.

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GAMING

Furthermore the levels themselves are quite restricted, resulting in an immense feeling of infuriation when you shrink down from the size of a giant to use a lift only to find yourself in an arena facing swarms of enemies. The only chance you ever have to diverge from the established routes is to gather parts for extra power-ups for Knack, but this itself is no easy task. Multiple parts are required for power-ups and these tend to be spaced out, one part may be found early on but you could almost be at the end of the game before you find its counterpart and unlock the power.

Overall while Knack may give you a bit of a nostalgia kick, it ultimately delivers little else.

Few things work in its favour; the graphics are nothing exceptional, the plot is confusing in places and there’s no freedom to roam around the game world. You are stuck rigidly to where the developer wants you to go, and the game is more appealing to children or people short on time than it would for anyone looking to get engrossed in something.

Score: 5/10 Charlotte Smith

April 2014

Video GameSoundtracks:

GAMING

M

usic is everywhere. Whether it’s the wailings of snot-nosed urchins like One Direction and Justin Beiber on the radio, or the annoyingly cheerful TV jingles that find it necessary to incessantly warble the words ‘go compare’ at you, there is no escape.

In this world of music I tend to find that video game soundtracks are underrated as a music form.

Perhaps this is less true in recent years with game developers including copies of the soundtrack along with the game and with the ease of using iTunes to upload and download entire albums of music, but I’m going back to a time before iTunes. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m going back to before I started using iTunes, which admittedly could be anywhere up until a couple of years or so ago, but even so, as far as I’m concerned it’s before people I knew were using it at all, let alone for video game soundtracks.

The iconic chip-tunes of Pokémon are forever engrained into my mind...

As such the only real way to listen to a soundtrack was to play the game, something I did extensively. As a result video game soundtracks have formed a huge part of my childhood, which only now that I can truly understand nostalgia do I fully appreciate. The iconic chip-tunes of Pokémon are forever engrained into my mind, the tunes to games like Army Men 3D and Worms hold special places in my heart and even the music mode

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of the Pingu game I used to play on my Windows ’98 is lodged somewhere up in my brain.

That in mind there are some games that did it better than others (just because I remember Pingu doesn’t mean that I want to, or that I like it… much). So which do I think did it best?

Well three stick out in particular, Oblivion, Fallout 3 and the Mass Effect series (I know the last one’s cheating but I’m writing this so meh).

Each of these games had a genuinely great soundtrack, music that added to the atmosphere, complimented the game’s theme and which have stayed in both my heart and my head.

So let’s talk about Oblivion. This was one of the first games I got for my Xbox 360, and for two years it would almost rule my life. It was the first game I had played that I could truly call big. Everything about it, the story, the setting, the looks and the music were, and still are, epic in scale.

As befitting a game I’ve described as big, the developers went with a large orchestral score for the majority of the soundtrack. In a similar way to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this type of music works excellently with the worlds of high fantasy, where practically everything that happens is treated as a significant event. That’s not to say that this is a bad thing, it just wouldn’t really work in a different setting like an FPS.

Fallout 3 bore many similarities to Oblivion, it has large open landscapes, a world altering plot and of course, a big soundtrack. Unlike in Oblivion though the soundtrack to Fallout 3 wasn’t ambient, the game actively encouraged you to choose what you listened to.

Within the game there are a number of radio stations which can be accessed by the player via their pip-boy (which for those of you who haven’t played the game is a device that’s a cross between an iPod an iPad that’s been welded to your wrist… let’s face it, it’s only a matter of time before Apple decides it’s a good idea) and each one plays a set number of tracks.

Bethesda’s choice in music was different from anything else at the time. The Fallout games are set in a post-apocalyptic world with a retro-futuristic edge, meaning it uses older ideas of what the future will be like. For instance many of the robots in the game look like they’ve come straight out of a 1950’s SiFi movie. As such they’ve gone with an oldfashioned soundtrack, using so called ‘big band’ music from the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s.

Most people who’ve paid attention the game will know from the trailers that ‘I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire’ by the Ink Spots makes a heavy appearance in the game.

Used in the trailer, intro and played commonly this is not just a great song in general, but it also has a certain irony to the situation (like playing ‘Disco Inferno’ to a burning man).

Finally the Mass Effect games. Set in a Sci-Fiesque future where mankind has ventured out into the stars and found a host of alien races, the Mass Effect soundtrack uses a range of strange synthetic tones to create music that

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is both mesmerising and perfectly at home in an technologically advanced universe.

These songs vary between fast paced and edgy for the games more intense moments, and slower and more calculated for when the player is meant to be engrossed by what they are seeing. To me there is little comparison across the three games; they all have and equally good selection of tracks in their playlist.

Every song they use is implemented to great effect alongside then scenes they play over.

Somehow Bioware have crafted three perfect soundtracks to three games that to me get as close to perfection as anyone ever has.

Words struggle to express the sheer amount of love I have for these songs and these games, not to mention the huge amounts of joy I get out of them. I might have poured years of my life into them, but I’d do it all over again and I’ll continue to listen to, play and thoroughly enjoy them until my family and friends gather around me for the inevitable intervention.

Tom Beresford

April 2014

GAMING

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SPORT

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SPORTS INTRO / VARSITY UPDATE / RUGBY UNION CUP / WORLD CUP PREVIEW / NOTTS COUNTY

E

aster’s gone and now it’s all getting a bit real hey?

Well, not if you’re in first year obviously, but for the rest of us deadlines are looming up like Yaya Toure powering towards us in full flight.

That doesn’t mean that you won’t have any time for a little light relief though, and if you want to let off a bit of steam, the remaining Varsity matches will give you the perfect opportunity.

The series is beautifully poised at the time of writing, and Trent are in with a chance of upsetting the odds and taking the coveted Varsity title for the first time in a few years.

With the football to come at Meadow Lane, where the atmosphere is always great, and the cricket to follow, get yourselves down to enjoy one last hurrah as part of the Trent Army – you won’t regret it!

Another fine way to let off a

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bit of revision stress is a trip to the gym yourself. It’s all too easy to sack it off when you’re busy and stressed, but that’s the best time to go – a quick hour out of your day and you’ll emerge refreshed and enlivened, hopefully ready to delve back into your books.

Away from the uni scene we’re looking at the most exciting end to a Premier League season for years (the Liverpool fans on the sports writing team are getting twitchy), but a bit closer to home, Notts County are battling hard to stay in League One. I can’t encourage a trip down to Meadow Lane enough; it’s a great ground and Shaun Derry is starting to get a tune out of his collection of players.

We’ve got our fingers crossed.

George Solomon, sports editor

April 2014

Varsity:update

SPORT

With twelve events down in the 2014 Varsity

series Trent are still in with a chance of winning, with the overall score standing at 7-5.

Sadly it was the same old story in the opening event of the series, the Ice Hockey, as Trent were edged out 4-3 in an agonising encounter, despite the best efforts of man of the match, Gareth O’Flaherty. However, as usual, we gave our Beeston rivals a right good hammering in the rugby league and American football.

Jonny Shields scooped the man of the match for his free-scoring performance in the rugby and Adam Hope snatched the MVP in the American football. It was at this point, with Trent hopes high, that a resurgent UoN pulled the overall score back in their favour. Wins in both the men’s and women’s Basketball and the Swimming made the overall score 4-2.

“

Trent have wanted Table Tennis – the sport we are best at – on the varsity agenda for some time.

The women’s rugby union saw a spirited Trent side lose 34-17. There was no men’s fixture this year due to UoN’s ban. All of this meant that the score was 5-5 leading into the Hockey.

Again Trent went into these fixtures as underdogs and our women lost by a flattering 7-0 scoreline before the men were edged out 3-1.

”

Trent were always underdogs in those events and didn’t realistically expect to get anything out of them, but that doesn’t mean the likes of Pippa Burrell and Ben Hallam, who were woman and man of the match respectively in the women’s and men’s Basketball, shouldn’t feel proud of their efforts; nor Rebecca Barsby, who won the women’s 100m breaststroke in the Swimming.

It’s the next two events that could prove to be the difference this time around though – the Lacrosse and Table Tennis. Last year we were beaten in the Lacrosse, but this time Trent, inspired by re-elected VP for sports Paddy

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Atkinson, triumphed 14-6. Trent have wanted Table Tennis – the sport we are best at – on the varsity agenda for some time. And our men and women lived up to their billing as the best in the country by overcoming what was also a very strong UoN side. On the same day our Netball side ran out 37-24 winners.

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So, with three events left – men’s Cricket and men and women’s football – the scoreline stands at 7-5 in UoN’s favour, with it all to play for. First up is the Football, which will be held on May 12 before the cricket on June 4.

For full match reports visit platform-online.net and remember to follow @PlatformOnline for match updates.

Simon Murfitt

www.platform-online.net

Paris, Saturday March 15, 6.45pm.

France are playing Ireland in the final game of the 2014 Six Nations.

France are on the attack with just a minute remaining on the clock.

The ball is quickly offloaded to Pascal Pape, and suddenly France have an overlap. He passes wide to Damian Chouly who runs in to score and secure a last gasp victory for Les Bleus. The only problem?

Pape’s pass was forward, Chouly’s try was disallowed, Ireland won the game and thus the tournament.

“Had England scored more points against Italy in their final game, they would have been champions. Ifs, buts and maybes.”

England, needing a French victory to claim the trophy themselves, could only look on in disbelief. It’s the smallest of margins that often define great sporting moments and triumphs, and Pape’s pass was the perfect example. Had his pass been good, England would have been champions. Had England not imploded in the same stadium just a month earlier, they would have been champions. Had England scored more points against Italy in their final game, they would have been champions. Ifs, buts and maybes.

What is certain is that Ireland were the victors. Before the last game of this year’s Six Nations, Ireland had only won in France once in forty two years and this was only their second tournament win since 1985. This victory was history in the making, and it was fitting that Ireland did it with their very own history maker lead-

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ing the charge. Legendary no. 13 Brian O’Driscoll is the most capped player ever in rugby union, and he retired from the game in the most fitting way possible: as a winner.

The script was written, and who was anyone to get in the way of it? Not England, who despite being excellent throughout the tournament blew their chances with that last ten minutes against France.

Not France themselves, who were as inconsistent as they were fleetingly brilliant against the Irish and English. Not Wales either, who underperformed, surrendering their title with little more than a whimper. Not Scotland, who at least showed a glimmer of hope by beating Italy, and the less said about the Italians’ tournament the better.

It was Ireland’s trophy, and you’d be hard pressed to begrudge them it. Claiming a historic victory in France, in Brian O’Driscoll’s last ever game, two days before St Patrick’s Day? It was the stuff that Irish dreams were made of.

As Irish coach Joe Schmidt said of O’Driscoll: “He is the prince. He has deserved what he has earned”.

And so did Ireland.

Steven Jamieson

April 2014

SPORT

Ireland keep England guessing right until the last minute

SPORT

World Cup Preview It’s that time again. The 2014 World Cup is knocking on our doorsteps and, for a change, there’s no talk about whether it ‘could be our year’. Sam Wildman preview’s all you need to know about football’s biggest stage.

Who’ll win it?

Having won the Confederations Cup convincingly, Brazil are the obvious favourites. The likes of Neymar and Dani Alves are world class, and with home advantage they will be incredibly tough to beat. Reigning champions Spain, too, are right up there. They were unbeatable for almost four years and despite suffering a slight wobble, are still the best team in the world on their day. You’d probably argue that Germany and Argentina are next on the list. Argentina possess not only Lionel Messi, but the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, and they’d love to win in their own neighbour’s back yard. Germany are always a threat on the World Cup stage – go to penalties with them at your peril. As an outside bet, keep an eye out for Belgium. With a bright young squad full of Premier League stars like Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany, they could go far.

“The likes of Neymar and Dani Alves are world class, and with home advantage they will be incredibly tough to beat. “ When will England crash and burn?

Okay, so Costa Rica should be fairly comfortable. But Italy will be far from a walkover. They bundled us out of Euro 2012, let’s not forget. Being the pessimist that comes with the tag of an England fan, let’s have us down for a gruelling single-goal defeat. If we do lose to our continental friends it’ll come down to a crunch game with

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Uruguay, led by the bite of Luis Suarez – get it?

Anywhere other than South America and you’d probably fancy us, but the humidity and searing heat of Brazil will make it tough. Let’s say we scrape through the group: in the last 16 we’d probably face a very winnable game against Colombia/Japan – but that’s where Platform thinks England will crash out on penalties. Again.

Aside from the obvious, who should we look out for?

James Rodriguez – With Falcao set the miss the tournament after a ligament injury, Colombia need a superstar. Step up James Rodriguez. The 22-year-old has been in superb form since moving from Porto to Monaco in the summer.

Paul Pogba – On his day, one of the best midfielders on the planet. The hot-headed Frenchman has been magnificent for Juventus this season and has drawn interest from all over Europe. Watch out for his long-range thunderbolts.

Thibaut Courtois - The Belgian keeper has been outstanding for Atletico Madrid, and with 12 clean sheets already this season could be a star.

Sam Wildman

www.platform-online.net

Six games. Six games Notts County went

without a win, from the 15th February till the 22nd March, losing five times and only drawing once. At the end of such a depressing run, they were comfortably bottom of League One, struggling to score goals and shipping a worryingly large amount. Things weren’t looking good for Shaun Derry’s side.

Since the novice manager had hung up his boots at Millwall and taken the reins at his boyhood club, there had been flashes of brilliance from his side; two three-nil home wins over Coventry and Bradford were comprehensive and encouraging, but all too often they were followed up by disappointing results that undid all their work from the last game.

The side’s form away from home had been a worry too, taking some large beatings, but now, maybe, just maybe, they’re starting to turn a corner.

“

...if you’re a football fan but have yet to venture down to see a game since you’ve moved to Nottingham, then now’s the perfect opportunity.

”

A hugely impressive 3-1 win away at Crewe on the 25th March, followed up by a home win over Colchester on the 29th and things were looking a lot better for the Pies.

Indeed, three wins on the bounce that week saw them move from bottom to 19th, starting it seven points from safety and ending it in in a buoyant mood.

Young striker Ronan Murray has come to the

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fore, along with free signing Jimmy Spencer, and Derry’s side, which has changed an awful lot over the season, has found some consistency which could just see them stay up.

On loan starlets Jack Grealish, from Aston Villa, and Callum McGregor, of Celtic, are both continuing to play their part, whilst experienced right winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce has come back from a long early season lay off to play a huge role in their bid to stay up.

Meadow Lane is really beginning to rock now, as the County fans sense something brilliant could be about to happen, and if you’re a football fan but have yet to venture down to see a game since you’ve moved to Nottingham, then now’s the perfect opportunity.

“Yeah, I was there when Notts County stayed up on the last day of the season,” would be a pretty nice thing to say, wouldn’t it? The only problem with that plan is, if they continue their current form, then they may well be safe by the last day.

Shaun Derry has conducted himself wonderfully since he got the job, and is starting to build a team in his image. If he can keep them up, then next season is set to be an exciting one.

George Solomon

April 2014

SPORT

Notts County look to complete great escape

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