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23rd - 29th November 2012 Vol. 77. Issue 1420. www.redbrick.me
MUSIC Marrianne Lampon gives us her take of Alicia Keys' performance at the Birmingham Ballroom //Page 14
FILM Editor Natasha Lavender uncovers the uncomfortable truth behind the women in some of cinema's classics //Page 21
SCI & TECH Editors Sam Atkins and Andrew Spencer give an overview of the Wii U, which is released next week. //Page 16
LIFE & STYLE Victoria Haworth gives her take on Lydia Bright's new 50s style collection, and Birmigham's vintage fair //Page 12
Photos by Sam Tunnicliffe
#demo2012 'Education should open doors, but the government is slamming them shut.'
Liam Burns, NUS President
2 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
Luidwina Santifort @Luidwina90
@RedbrickNews WEATHER
UK
Heavy rain causes fl oods in the Midlands
Week-old boy killed by his family's pet dog
The Environment Agency has urged people to remain vigilant after heavy rain and strong winds. As Redbrick went to print, there were over 80 flood warnings and 140 flood alerts in place, especially in the West Midlands and the South West. Several roads have been closed and rail services have been affected. US
Obama visits Cambodia as part of Asia tour TERROISM
WEST MIDLANDS
Four men arrested on charge of terrorism
Hovis cuts jobs in Birmingham factory
Four men, from Los Angeles, were arrested whilst allegedly on their way to train in Afghanistan with the Taliban. They were found with the help of social media posts by the Jihad. The FBI and US Attorney said they were also plotting to kill American soldiers. All four were charged Monday in a federal court in California.
STORY OF THE WEEK
Ceasefi re in Gaza after Israel Palestine confl ict Following talks in Cairo, Israel and the Hamas movement in Palestine have agreed a ceasefire. Violence in the region over the past week has left nearly 160 dead. On Wednesday night, thousands of Gaza residents poured on to the streets to celebrate.
RELIGION
TECHNOLOGY
Church of England votes no on female bishops
Google attacks UN conference
A general synod of the Church of England has voted that woman are not allowed to be bishops. The motion, needing a two-thirds majority, was passed by the synod’s houses of bishops and clergy but was six votes short of passing the House of Laity. David Cameron has said he is 'very sad' at the decision.
Google has warned that the UN's forthcoming internet treaty conference, taking place in Dubai in December, threatens the 'free and open internet'. The conference aims to come up with a new information and communications treaty. Google has asked web users to add their name to an online petition to support it.
Redbrick Editorial Editor Raphael Sheridan
Marketing Manager Eimear Luddy
Deputy Editors Lexie Wilson Owen Earwicker
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Digital Editor Chris Hutchinson Art Director Alexander Blanchard
Music Editors Lily Blacksell Jonathon Milnes Tamara Roper Josh Holder
News Editors music@redbrick.me Kerrina Gray Rhiannon Doyle-Maw Television Editors Patrick McGhee Charlotte Goodwin Freddie Herzog Russell Webb news@redbrick.me Abigail Salter
Travel Editors Emily Booth Chloe Osborne Will Spence travel@redbrick.me
Food Editors Izzy Gibbin Jemima Lovatt Gemma Bridge Lynette Dakin
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Comment Editors Daniel Baird Oscar French Elisha Owen James Dolton
Film Editors Natasha Lavender Aisha Bushby Josh Taylor
Science & Technology Editors Sam Atkins Andrew Spencer
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Multimedia Editors Molly Garfoot Matthew Hewson Max Powley
Arts Editors James Kinsey Rebekah McDermott Jenna Clake Anna Lumsden
Life&Style Editors Lucy Whife Megan Nisbet Megan Jones
Sport Editors Tim Pearson Felix Keith Joel Lamy
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Photography Editors Anna Kirk Charlotte Wilson photography @redbrick.me
Junior Art Directors Lauren Wheatley Akhil Kothari Anita Baumgärtner Julia Jablonska Crossword Editor Antonia Morris Senior Editorial Assistant Isabel Mason Editorial Assistants George Bearman Hannah Coates Alicea Francis Ellie Jarvis Ravina Khela Hannnah Mason Ella Parsons Francesca Seabourne Ellie Smallwood Charley Ross
Proofreaders Naomi Baldwin Louise Curry Hannah Dove Emily Hickey-Mason Ashley Kirk Megan Kissane Rebecca Mee Bethany Prottey Sophie Tollet Emily Trivette Elizabeth Waind
ENTERTAINMENT
Winslet and Barlow receive royal honours
Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TT 0121 251 2462 editor@redbrick.me Redbrick is printed through www.mortonsprint.com 01507 523 456 Advertising Contact Linda Langley in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524 Designed and typeset by Redbrick Copyright (C) Redbrick 2012 The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.
www.redbrick.me/news | 3
Guild Council: in refl ection Barring Police from the Guild: in-depth report on Motion 11k
Debated motions
Freddie Herzog
Ryan Jones
Online News Editor @fredherz
Guild Correspondent @RM_Jones91
Changes to Guild's Beliefs and Commitments after Motion 11k:
Motion 11k was passed with 61 per cent of the Guild Council in favour of police only being present on Guild premises when specifically invited. One of the proposers of the motion, Sean Farmelo (the Community Action Officer) spoke in favour of the motion saying that as the Guild is not a public building, the police should not be wandering about during student activities and should only enter the building if they have a warrant. He also said that ‘there are a lot of people who feel uncomfortable’ that the police are allowed on Guild premises. In a speech against, James Robertson, Vice President for Housing and Community, said that the Guild has a good relationship with the local police and passing the motion would show a lack of trust which
would be detrimental to the Guild’s relationship with them. In a subsequent speech against the motion by a Guild Councillor, queries were raised about the situation with students who are also police community support officers as they may feel intimidated to come into the Guild. After a failed procedural motion to move straight to a vote, Katherine East, Vice President for Welfare, said that the Guild’s alcohol license for Joes, the Underground and Beorma Bar grants the police access to the premises by law. Further points were made, with some councillors saying a police presence makes people feel uncomfortable in an area they should be able to relax in, with others saying that they felt safer with a visible police presence.
‘The Guild of Students believes that freely accommodating police presence on Guild premises presents a barrier to the participation, engagement and welfare of its members in and with the Guild, and to the Guild’s ongoing activity. The Guild of Students believes that the police should only be present on Guild premises when specifically invited. Further to this, the Guild of Students believes that Police programmes and initiatives do not always reflect – in principle, conception or execution – the best interests of a number of different groups which constitute the Guild’s population, and as such it will endeavour against co-operating with any new long-term programmes/ initiatives without express support from public/Council consultation.’
11d: Filming Guild Council Failed - Guild Council will be live streamed by Guild TV but not recorded
Debate over credibility of Guild Council Chair's position Patrick McGhee News Editor @patricksmcg
Three votes were held at Guild Council over the position of Council Chair. The first vote was held after some councillors argued that the results of the Guild Council Chair elections, held last year at the previous Council, were unrepresentative of the current Council structure due to the election of new councillors this year. The vote called for the positions to re-open for new elections. Johnny Dolan
and Deputy Chair Julian Bryant both stepped down from their roles whilst debate and voting took place. The vote failed, but was subsequently repeated due to late arrivals and confusion among Councillors. This vote returned a tied result, leaving Guild President David Franklin with the deciding vote. Franklin voted against reopening the election. Later in the evening, Dolan was again required to step down as Chair due to accusations of partiality during the debate that followed a call to censure Leander Jones, Vice-President
33% FOR
for Democracy and Resources (VPDR). Dolan told Redbrick: ‘It was important that Guild Councillors knew that they could revoke the election results and how to do so, and I feel that Julian [Deputy Chair of Guild Council] and I made sure of this. Councillors should always know their powers and be able to act if needs be. I'm glad that Guild Council felt free to discuss this.’ A vote was called on whether or not to have a vote of no confidence in the Chair, but this failed to pass.
67% AGAINST
69% FOR
31% AGAINST
11g: Guidance Documents Passed - Students have immediate democratic control over Guild governance
98% FOR
2% ABSTAIN
11h: Women's Motion Passed - Offi cer Team are mandated to listen to women and treat them equally 61% FOR
39% AGAINST
11k: Barring Police from the Guild Passed - Police should only be present on Guild premises when specifi cally invited
Undebated motions - all passed 11b: Distinction motion 11c: Bryn Gough Room 11e: Ban on stereotyping and bigoted material 11f: Academic numbers and stress 11i: Guild Council guidance notes reform 11j: Safety 11n: Living wage 11o: Fundraising 11p: Diversity in our University: Oppose the redundancy of Dr Nafafé 11q: PGRs and officer elections 11r: Student Media 11s: Liberation Autonomy 11t: Understanding the Memorandum of Understanding 11u: GOG > SOG 11v: Renewable energy 11w: Democracy and Engagement Committee Referendum
Motions deferred to next Guild Council 11m: VPDR motion 11n: Capitalism beliefs Guild Council Chambers
Charlotte Wilson
@wilsonscribbles
(Motion 11a (My vote) was removed by the proposer)
4 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
Education. Students protest lecturer redundancy Zahra Damji reports on the student demonstration in support of Dr José Nafafé
Zahra Damji Education Correspondent @zahra_damji
A demonstration was held in the Aston Webb building on Monday in support of Sociology lecturer Dr José Nafafé, who was facing a redundancy panel. Including Vice President of Education (VPE) Simon Furse and his predecessor, Edd Bauer, a large group of students marched through the security-dotted Aston Webb building to hand over a petition of over 700 signatures, briefly occupying the Senate Chamber and disrupting a separate University committee meeting. The proposed redundancy has raised questions over the quality of teaching in the Sociology department as there are not enough modules available to constitute a full degree, according to a statement published on the Guild of Students website. Following a motion in Guild Council, the Guild has joined in support of this protest. A statement from Guild President David Franklin on the website said, ‘We feel that Dr Nafafé is a renowned scholar, who is immensely popular with those students that he teaches. If he is made redundant, this will seriously impact upon the University's ability to effectively teach ethnicities, and suggests a lack of concern in such a key aspect of any sociology course; not to mention the context of an already low number of ethnic minority academics. We call for the University to allow Dr Nafafé to continue in his role as a teacher and researcher in ethnicities.’
'There's only 1.5% black academics at this University and they're making him redundant.' Anna Kirk
Olivia Wilson
Olivia Wilson
@annatidykirk
@OKWilson_
@OKWilson_
BEMA President Areeq Chowdhury
However, the Sabbatical Officers’ support was criticised following the event with one of the organisers, Kelly Rogers, questioning ‘Why is it that, even though Guild Council unanimously passed a motion supporting the campaign against the redundancy of José Nafafé, only the VPE turned up?’ She also said, ‘I'm pretty disappointed that despite students making the efforts to ensure that this issue is on the agenda in the Guild, you still can't turn up to support campaigns by students.’ In response to the criticism about the Sabbatical Officer's support, David Franklin said, ‘My view is that we are fulfilling the mandate set to us by Guild Council to the best of our abilities. ‘At the time of the protest, both myself and the VPW were in a meeting in the Aston Webb building on an unrelated matter, fighting a case for students. As you say, we weren't mandated to attend the protest and as such, felt that the simultaneous meeting was something that we needed to attend at the time as it had time pressures of its own. ‘Furthermore, the protest went into occupation. Something I explicitly stated I would not do in the presidential debate prior to being elected. At the Guild of Students, there are currently unanswered legal questions with regards to the attendance of sabbatical officers at independently organised protests. In particular, if we can't guarantee that a risk assessment has been filled and submitted. Until we can reconcile that issue, in particular, as trustees, many of us feel unable to put the Guild into a position where it faces a legal risk.' The question of diversity among academics was also raised, with chants of ‘we want diversity at our University’
foremost in the protest through the corridors of the Aston Webb. BEMA (Birmingham Ethnic Minorities Association) President Areeq Chowdhury said that, ‘There’s only 1.5 per cent black academics at this University and they’re making him redundant.' He later added that, ‘For the University administration to truly care about our opinion though we are going to have to continue our calls for diversity in our University throughout José's redundancy procedure which goes on until July I think.’ The campaign to support Dr Nafafé has also been supported by the NUS Black Students Campaign and Malia Bouattia, an officer of the National Executive Council also spoke at the event about ‘an ongoing attack against black students.’ One of the students at the protest said, ‘I think this proposed redundancy is an absolute travesty and this decision by the University suggests that they do not value diversity at all. They have not been able to provide any guaranteed teaching provision for ethnicity modules in Sociology, while at the same time making the only ethnic minority lecturer in the department redundant. These decisions are remarkably bad for a university that claims to be one of the best in the country. I will absolutely continue to support this campaign and attend its protests.’ After marching through the Aston Webb Building, the protest ended up in the Senate Chamber, where they discussed their next move. Ex-VPE Edd Bauer also made a speech, telling those present not to underestimate what had been achieved today and to appreciate the symbolism of having caught security off guard in entering the room where all of the big decisions are made. After the protest, one of the organisers, Sociology student representative Ioana Cerasella Chis said, ‘Although the redundancy panel did not come out to hear our demands and engage in a discussion with us, we have made our position clear today that students are opposing this decision made by the University management. 'We have also received a lot of support online from external academics and students who have worked closely with Dr Jose Nafafé.' A University spokesperson said, 'The University of Birmingham is a community of 150 nations situated in a vibrant, multi-cultural city. We are extremely proud of our diversity, we actively promote tolerance and condemn discrimination of any kind. 'The proposed redundancy is related to the discontinuation of the Media, Culture and Society Programme, which was approved by University Council in 2010 and again in 2012. The final three students will graduate next summer, July 2013.' 'Dr Nafafé has at no point delivered the sociology teaching identified in the
'Dr Nafafé is not, and has never been a lecturer in ethnicity at the University of Birmingham.' University of Birmingham
report. Indeed, Dr Nafafé is not, and has never been, a lecturer in ethnicity at the University of Birmingham. 'The BA in Sociology is a separate programme and is fully staffed to deliver all the teaching in the syllabus, as agreed in the 2010 consultation with undergraduate students in Sociology and the Guild Vice President for Education. The University has recently appointed a lecturer in Social Stratification and Ethnicity to provide teaching in this area.'
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Tara Benham Reporter
@Tarara18
Students from all over the country took to the streets to protest the rise in tuiton fees, and to call for the reinstatement of Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) as part of the National Union of Students (NUS) national demonstration, entitled, ' #demo2012: Educate, Employ, Empower'. The march was mostly peaceful with only minor disruptions. As the protesters went past the Houses of Parliament it has been reported that sections of the group threatened to break off from the route, and at the rally at the end of the demonstration, members of a socialist group took over the stage and attempted to shout over the organised speakers. Some protesters have expressed annoyance over the route of the march. They felt that the second half, which took them through a residential area on the way to Kennington Park wasn't particularly relevant to the cause. The organisers deliberately avoided controversial areas like the Conservative headquarters, the scene of the riots two years ago. #Demo2012 follows a vote by NUS delegates in April to hold a national demonstration in the first term of 2012.
On its website, the NUS said, 'With placards, banners and chants we will be using the opportunity to educate the public about our concerns, and to demonstrate to policy makers that we are united in our demands', adding, ' We’re doing everything we can to make sure that #demo2012 is as effective and peaceful as possible. We’re negotiating the route, carrying out risk assessments, and working to set a tone which shows how passionately we feel without jeopardising anyone’s safety. 'We all have a responsibility to make sure that our actions don’t alienate the public, whose support is essential to our cause. But we should also remember that the right to protest is a part of our democracy, and we shouldn’t be afraid to use it. 'Politicians have let education and employment slip off the agenda, but now we have an opportunity to create a movement that empowers us to take back our future.'
#Demo2012. NUS protest takes place in London Redbrick reports from London on #demo2012: Educate, Employ, Empower
For more information on #Demo2012, see our online coverage at www.redbrick.me/news.
@Guild_President 59 miles to go, til we get to zerooo! Wait for us London, @GuildofStudents is coming! #Demo2012
@nusuk Students ready to go at the start of #demo2012 - lots of "No ifs, no buts, no education cuts" chanting going on
@SeanFarmelo #demo2012 #burnsresign #ncafc route was a joke slogan was a joke and now you blame the left? Just one more joke.:.. #dissafiliate
@Simon_Furse Hearing rumours that @NUS_ Liam made it rain to get less people on #demo2012. Educate Employ Empower! Bernsie pls Emily Hickey-Mason
@EmilyHickeyMase
Taxi driver assaulted on Bristol Road Lexie Wilson Deputy Editor
Millie Guy
@LexieMaryIsabel
West Midlands Police have stated that a 22-year-old man has been bailed pending further inquiries in connection with an assault on a Birmingham man that took place after an altercation just outside Northfield in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police discovered the 44-year-old taxi driver at the junction of Hawkesley Mill Road and Bristol Road in the South West of the city after officers received a 999 call from a member of the public report-
ing a disturbance shortly before 3.30am on Saturday. The victim of the alleged assault sustained severe head injuries and was taken to hospital immediately. He remains hospitalised, and his injuries have now been described as serious but stable. The 22-year-old was arrested at the scene of the incident and has been questioned on suspicion of assault. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and have urged anyone with any information to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
www.redbrick.me/news
6 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
Protest. Birmingham protesters oppose 'Page 3' Beth Dawson News Correspondent
@BethRD11
A protest was staged in the centre of Birmingham on 17th November in opposition to The Sun’s continued use of images of bare-breasted women on page three of their papers. The protest coincided with the 42nd anniversary of the introduction of these images, in what has been announced as 2012’s bestselling newspaper. The first half of the protest involved participants taping black crosses over their eyes, holding copies of The Sun and chanting ‘No More Page 3’, also the name of the national campaign concerning the issue of The Sun’s use of provocative images of women. The online petition for ‘No More Page 3’ has a variety of well-known supporters such as Alastair Campbell, Jennifer Saunders and Chris Addison. The organiser of this protest, David Blower, a member of the band The Army of The Broken Hearted, who performed ‘junk power ballads in honour of Rupert Murdoch’ in the latter half of the protest, got involved with the campaign through the petition. ‘Misogyny is part of our culture; the Jimmy Savile case has recently brought
a lot of this to light and The Sun’s page three is one place where this misogyny is legitimised’ said Blower when asked why he felt the campaign was important. ‘A lot of people speak of harassment like it is something that just took place in the 1970s, but I hear from women who have experienced harassment all the time, I really hope people in this city see the massive amount of discontent.’ Although 'No More Page 3' called for involvement from a number of universities, there didn't seem to be many students present at the protest. Other protests which took place on the 17th November included a fancy dress tea party demonstration outside the News International Headquarters. Those taking part were encouraged to come dressed as their favourite British institution. Aside from protests, the University of Edinburgh has recently announced a student boycott of The Sun newspaper in objection to the continuing use of bare-breasted images of women. The 'No More Page 3' campaign continues to encourage its supporters to send letters requesting the removal of the images from the newspaper to Dominic Mohan, the editor of The Sun newspaper.
Photos by Wai Tung Katrin Busch
@waitungng @kabulein
Freshers. RA scheme accused of sexism
48%
Percentage of female RAs
52%
Percentage of male RAs
Katrin Busch @kabulein
Amy Hegarty Freshers Correspondent
@amyhegs
Residence Associations have been left angry at an allegation in Guild Council which called the scheme ‘sexist’ and suggested that the ‘lad culture’ pressurizes RAs to put on certain types of events. The Resident’s Association (RA) is responsible for putting on events for all residents, managing intra-league teams available for everyone and representing all residents at all levels up to and including Guild Council. Hannah Schapira, President of Tennis Courts, said, ‘It saddens me that people think the RA scheme is sexist. We all work hard to make sure everyone is happy and judging by the feedback we received we did a pretty good job.’ The allegation was raised as part of a motion concerning women’s rights and called upon James Robertson, VicePresident of Housing and Community, to include awareness of this in future RA training. Certain events during the past year have bought this topic to the forefront of Guild issues. During one particular event residents were given a list of dares by their RA. An official complaint was then made to the Guild after a bystander allegedly witnessed female residents being pressured into taking part against their will. Within the RA scheme, 52 per cent of RAs are male while 48 per cent are
female. One in three current RA committees have a female President. The sabbatical team only has one female out of seven positions Many RAs have responded to the accusation of a ‘lad culture’ by saying that their events are based on what their residents want. Many committees took a survey during their first term elected to find out which events would be popular and say they have worked hard throughout the year to make sure events are inclusive of everyone.
'One mustn't fall into the trap of branding all nights out as pandering to "lad culture".' Alex Salter, Maple Bank Sports Officer Alex Salter, Maple Bank Sports Officer, said, ‘One mustn’t fall into the trap of branding all nights out (or any event involving alcohol) as pandering to "lad culture". In the survey we ran at the start of our term in office, we found a Maple Bank night out to be one of the most sought after events by a large majority of residents of both sexes. 'We ran events of all types throughout the year such as an all-inclusive sports event, pizza nights, block wars and, of course, a night out. All events received positive feedback.’ In response to this, the VPHC, James Robertson, has agreed to expand RA training accordingly.
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@RedbrickPaper
Editorial. The nail in the coffin?
Owen Earwicker Deputy Editor When Martin Luther said in 1528 that every master and mistress should remember that they are bishops and bishopesses, he most certainly did not mean that the Reformation should herald in a wave of gender equality. Indeed he saw no need for bishops at all, let alone women ones. His purpose, if we are to attribute one to him, was to make good the ills of the late medieval Catholic Church. His frustration was one shared with many across Europe. It was a people’s frustration. That process of reform is one which Christianity has undergone over its two milenia of existence. The modern question was asked at the Church of England’s General Synod last Tuesday. Should the Church have women bishops? To many,
Christians and non-believers alike, the answer was of course it should. Twenty years ago women priests were finally accepted by the Church; the next step, though clearly a far too delayed one, is to consecrate them as bishops. The Synod rejected it. For me as a student of religious history, while the decision will be denounced by all as one made by a Church out of date and out of step with the twentyfirst century, what is more fascinating is who rejected it in the Synod. The houses made up of priests and bishops passed the motion. It was the House of the Laity who did not want women bishops. Clearly the leadership of the Church of England, by and large, has an understanding of the severe crisis it faces
today: declining religiosity, disaffection, scandal and an increase in personal faith outside of organised religion. Why then has this been forgotten by the lay members of the Church? The leadership knows that the Church of England must adapt if it is to survive - that inevitably means it will have to consecrate women bishops, and indeed accept gay marriage, if it wants to intise new members. If current bishops, at the very least, have that foresight of the obvious, it should not be too hard for the laity to see it too. I am a non-believer. Faith does not play a part in my personal beliefs and understanding of the world. But I do recognise the importance of religion for those who do believe. Like many people, I do not think the Church should have a
role in national politics. But I do understand its cultural significance on the history of this country, as indeed I do for all religions. The Church of England should not die, but this ruling has hardly helped its health. In 1517, a young monk nailed his reasons for why the Catholicism should change to the door of a church in Germany. These reasons had been felt for hundreds of years by the laity, and it took a member of the clergy to spark the process of reform. Today, the laity had a chance to heal a tired and unhealthy institution. Though its leaders knew that, the people stubbornly started hammering in the nails of its coffin. OMEarwicker
8 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
Cannabis:
@RedbrickComment @RedbrickComment
The Reform Debate Giles Longley-Cook In case you hadn’t noticed, the nation has recently elected its new police commissioners. This may be old news but voters in Selly Oak are probably aware that the election promise of one of their candidates was that he would introduce a cannabis café similar to those flaunted in Amsterdam. However serious this promise was, it makes sense when aimed at an area dominated by students, but more surprising is the news that similarly liberal propositions are being seriously advanced across the UK and United States, where laws have recently been passed in certain states to legalise the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Both Washington and Colorado have passed, by popular vote, amendments that will theoretically take effect by December. Obviously it is pretty unlikely that the US federal government will agree to such laws, about as unlikely as it is that they will find substantial support here, but what they have shown is a change in attitude hitherto unprecedented in either nation. Whereas Dutch politicians have for a long time held serious debates about the pros and cons of marijuana legality the discussion has largely remained a non-issue here. The harshness with which the UK and US governments have treated marijuana use rendered any rational argument futile for years. Spreading sensationalist and often fraudulent information about the drug also ensured that, unlike alcohol, the prohibition of marijuana was met with a high degree of support from most of society. Now however, pro-drug talk seems to be legitimately entering the political arena. Talks are emerging about turning Brighton into the tourist destination of Europe by legalising cannabis cafes there, and certain specialists are predicting the same future for certain American states should the laws be upheld in them. In such a changing atmosphere it is important to take an objective stance and judge the pros and cons of legalising marijuana usage from a realistic stand-point. Well, on the con side there are actually quite a few legitimate arguments, none of which necessarily identify their advancer as some right wing reactionary. Firstly it’s important
that we examine the motivations behind legalisation, both from politicians and the influential media. Much like the acquisition of womens’ or gay rights there is always the possibility that the issue is simply being used as a tool with which to gain youth support by savvy politicians. Just because a candidate supports liberalising marijuana use does not make them a true liberal, and like Bill Clinton’s gay rights stance, such views can easily be abandoned once power is achieved. Of course, whatever the alternative is, nothing can justify the current status quo in America where the main supply o f illegal marijuana comes across the border from Mexico. Its suppliers are the powerful cartels whose endless war with the government has cost an estimated 60,000 lives. Should marijuana production be legalised the main cash-cow of these butchers would eventually dry up, hopefully taking their power with it. Until then however, those who consume the drug while claiming to care about freedom should seriously examine their consciences’ logic. Whoever deals the drugs controls the mentality of the trade. The most reasonable approach may be one of tolerance, ensuring that criminality leaves the trade while not actively influencing those involved and letting them choose for themselves.
Marijuana is... Legal in: Argentina Belgium India Iran Uruguay Pakistan Peru Severely restricted as a recreational and medicinal drug in the U.S.
by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. The law does not prohibit marijuana use but imposes such a heavy tax that legal sale and use is nearly impossible.
The most widely used illegal drug in the United States.
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Gasp! Shock! Horror! James Phillips on the Police Commissioner Elections
Au contraire; perhaps more accurately descriptive words are “meh”, “so” or “duh” – the PCC elections were nothing different to what we expected. Low turnout, a high number of elected Independent candidates, and Liberal Democrats no longer showing as the third party, it’s not a surprise. Let’s go through it. The Electoral Commission warned the Government of a predicted 18.5% turnout but (and here’s probably the biggest surprise of the day), it was even less than that, at 15%. Some regions including my own, the West Midlands, which hosts the bustling population of Birmingham, boasted an incredibly low 12%. One ballot station in Newport received not one single ballot
paper throughout the day – that was an easy count. With the lowest turnout at 11.6% recorded in Staffordshire and the highest at 20% recorded in Northamptonshire, it has simply been demonstrated how apathetic the nation were towards these elections, and who can blame them? It was a disaster and simply shambolic. 30% of winning candidates were unaffiliated to political parties as part of their election campaigns. And again, this is no surprise. There was huge hostility towards the party politicisation of the police force so of course Independent candidates were going to thrive in these. And, in all honesty, well done to them! Aside from that, it’s perhaps not a sur-
prise that Tories still managed to gain a simple majority of the positions (40%) despite their continually decreasing reputation. Why? Simply because this policy of the Police Commissioners will be most popular with their party members, hence, their party members will probably make the bulk of voters. Other political party members will be ambivalent, not necessarily have a candidate fielded from their party or decide not to vote in protest. UKIP have risen to the third party – well again, that’s not surprising for two reasons. Firstly, it’s difficult to argue that the Liberal Democrats have not lost all credibility they may have ever had, even to their own party members. I won’t dwell on this point.
Secondly, the collapse of the Euro and the continuing use of our funds to bailout Eurozone countries is less than dissatisfactory to the electorate. The crisis is not one we can ignore, and our own financial difficulties are often blamed on this. So it’s no surprise that the electorate are increasingly supporting a party that wants to distance the UK from Europe as much as possible, and as the three main parties are not as committed to this cause, there is just the one party to turn to. UKIP are already the second largest party representing the UK in the European Parliament. Before long, the dissatisfied right-wing supporters of the Conservative party are sure to migrate to UKIP and increase their representation in the
European Parliament in 2014, and perhaps the Commons in 2015. So just one question remains; will the Government continue commencing this ridiculous policy, or will they reverse it? The elected PCCs begin their roles on Thursday; they will get paid between £65,000 and £100,000; this election cost over £75 million, and; the majority of them only have 7% of the complete electorate’s vote. Of course, this Government will sit them out until 2016 – but will they continue after that? That’s something that could be a surprise.
Jemima Lovatt
Blair at playing the game, Cameron might appear quite literally more polished than Brown but Blair saw the Press, and more specifically Murdoch, as his main priority in order to win votes. When I asked Lord Jones whether this was right, he simply pointed out that it’s the system and one has to work with it. Hunter concluded the same after her time at Number 10. Just a few weeks ago the Sunday Times magazine published an interview with Hunter, thus breaking the vow of silence she took upon leaving politics. Crucially, Hunter dictated that 70% of the article be focused on her new passion: the Queen Elizabeth Prize for engineering. Having turned her skills to the
private sector when Blair left office, Hunter is now a Director at the Royal Academy of Engineering, where she is pioneering the way forward for topclass engineers through this prize which is to have the same gravitas as the Nobels. The focal point of the evening was the relationship between Press, Politics and Business as represented by Boulton, Hunter and Lord Jones respectively. All three rely on each other for their own success but Hunter discussed the natural distrust that exists within this power triangle; arguably a triangle that runs Britain. Yet it doesn’t seem to really know Britain. The classic question to ask a PM is the cost of a pint of milk and they reply £10, but would someone like Murdoch or a business leader know any different? It is in this warped situation where everyone is trying to maintain power that phone hacking and leaving Jimmy Savile be is acceptable. But stop. These are the people running our country! Politicians make decisions for us, journalists change how we perceive events, and businesses persuade us to spend our money one way or another. Ultimately they all shape the way we think. This love affair is dangerous, it’s powerful and you have been warned.
Commentator
Murdoch Marries Blair?
UoB’s Business School Advisory Board is rated No1 in the world and at the Board’s Annual Lecture it was evident why. Lord Digby Jones, Chairman of the Board, introduced the two speakers for the evening: Anji Hunter and Adam Boulton. Married in 2006 the pair reflect so many liaisons between politicians and journalists. Known as the “keeper of the keys” to Blair’s government, Hunter has ended careers with the raise of an eyebrow and was arguably the most powerful woman in Downing Street since Thatcher. Boulton has been the Political Editor at Sky News since its inception in 1989; a section he claims is more sceptical than its publically funded BBC counterpart. Hunter joined Blair as a political assistant when he came to Parliament, having known him since their teenage days. In the run up to the 1997 election, the primary objective was to get the Press on side; Hunter and her team had to be the “eyes and ears” amongst journalists to ensure the electorate received the “right” information. Hunter admits they came too close and to an extent their wining and dining led to the entangled affair that Cameron has found himself in. Neither he nor Brown are or were as good as
The classic question to ask a PM is the cost of a pint of milk and they reply £10, but would someone like Murdoch or a business leader know any different?
@ misterjames_
10 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
Get back in the Kitchen. Sophie Tollet @ sophietollet1
‘Get back in the kitchen’ jokes make me cross. Actually, they make my blood boil. They make me so angry that I find it hard to resist the urge to physically wipe the self-satisfied smirk off the face of the undoubtedly smug member of the opposite sex who has just used the retort. However, upon expressing this opinion, I am usually greeted with the ubiquitous ‘it’s just a joke’. This is where I get stuck: if I find this comedy offensive, then surely it’s my problem? It’s certainly true that no one gives offense, they simply take it. So should I perhaps just lighten up? Am I in fact taking myself too seriously? It’s extremely difficult to work out and to explain why you find something funny: it’s often similarly as difficult to work out and explain why you find something offensive. And I think, if anything, this serves as further proof of how closely intertwined what we find ‘funny’ and what we find ‘offensive’ are. Frankie Boyle was recently forced to explain why his jokes are funny as he sued the Daily Mirror over an article labelling him a ‘racist comedian’. Obviously any attempt to explain why something is funny completely abolishes any remaining traces of humour from it, but Boyle argued that he uses racist language in his comedy to ‘ostracise other people's racist attitudes’. So, it’s the implicit irony in such comedy that both creates the humour and transforms the otherwise horrifically unacceptable into the all very PC. Well, PC according to the
News News
Views
jury who heard Boyle’s case. And it’s this implicit irony that defenders of the ‘get back in the kitchen’ comment rely upon. The argument goes that such jokes ostracise other people’s sexist views, and that humour is created out of the absurdity of them. And I understand this. I really do. Yet when the comment was recently wheeled out again, besides the fact that it was used to end the far more mature and potentially interesting discussion that was taking place, I just couldn’t help being annoyed by it. And this is when I realised what it is that makes me so angry: it isn’t the innate sexism of the comment itself, which I understand is where the humour comes from, it’s what happens immediately afterwards. And immediately afterwards, I found myself facing the downright unfair dilemma known to every female student, whereby if I had complained about the joke I would have been branded boring yet if I had laughed along I would have become complicit in the sexism, thereby implicitly agreeing with the sentiment. This dilemma is, by and large, unique to the student bubble in which we live our lives. So yes, this article has become yet another attack on the pervasive ‘lad’ culture present o n campuses up and down the coun-
try. ‘Get back in the kitchen’ has almost become a catch-phrase for the beer-soaked, sex-obsessed stereotypical student ‘lad’, and the use of it reinforces the pervasive tightrope girls are consequently forced to walk between being a slut and being boring. A recent glance at the UniLad website assured me that ‘chubby girls need loving too’ and that Fifty Shades of Grey has led to the rise of
Daniel Baird. The situation in Gaza seems to have deteriorated faster than any outside commentator would have predicted. With the death tolls on each side rising, although admittedly there are far more casualties on the Palestinian side, at the time of writing this stands at 139 Palestinians and 5 Israelis. Foreign governments seem increasingly impotent or unwilling to become involved in the conflict. Peace compromises led by Egypt have stalled and the USA has sent in Hillary Clinton to attempt to broker a deal and stop the bleeding. However, with neither Hamas or the Israeli government willing to back down on their demands it is hard to see where an acceptable solution for both sides will arise from.
MIDDLE-EAST
‘hungry milfs’. A lot of this lad culture is just ‘banter’, and isn’t to be taken seriously, but there really is an undercurrent of blatant sexism. UniLad jokes lack any of the implicit irony that Boyle argued is present in his comedy. Boyle makes outrageous comments on a range of subjects, yet the ‘humour’ of UniLad simply revolves around repeatedly reducing women to sex objects, under the guise of humour. So really, as it turns out, I am overly-sensitive to the ‘get back in the kitchen’ comment. But it’s not general humour that plays upon sexism, or racism, or any other discriminatory or stereotypical subject matter that annoys me: it’s more the reiteration of the presence of sexism in our culture today.
SPORT Raphael Sheridan. The Chelsea job is fast becoming a poisoned chalice; one even doubts whether Sir Alex Ferguson could hypothetically survive at Chelsea, given the owner’s impossibly high expectations. Abramovich has simply confirmed what was long expected: that he was never happy with Di Matteo, and felt compelled to keep him in the job only because of his European success last season. In turn, it’s become obvious that a new manager must not only succeed, but also ‘look right’ in the eyes of the owner. And whilst a high-profile manager will replace the Italian, the pile of previous managerial casualties will no doubt create a very imposing shadow.
www.redbrick.me/comment |11
As GCHQ launches it's latest recruitment drive. Sam Jones looks at their questionable hiring @ sam__jones policy.
Generation Xbox The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, recently announced a new scheme to recruit up to a hundred young people to train and work at GCHQ, the government’s cyber-security agency. It’s aimed at 18 year olds who possess extraordinary skill when it comes to computing. Successful applicants will ultimately be responsible for protecting the nation from “the threat of cyber attack”. Important stuff then. National security. That’s about as important as you get, at least in TV drama terms. The announcement was even made at
Bletchley Park, the home of the WW2 codebreakers, whose contribution to our survival and victory is impossible to overstate, just in case it wasn’t clear that this stuff really, absolutely, undeniably is serious stuff. Hague even personally reminded us that cyber-security is “every bit as serious” as conventional warfare, not at all in the manner of a physicist being quizzed on their view of sociology. Cyber-security isn’t just serious stuff either, it’s hard. Bloody hard. Being good at it requires a lot of intelligence,
more than you need to shoot a gun, or dare I say it, be Foreign Secretary. Even more so considering the people being recruited haven’t been to University yet, so they’ve most likely acquired these skills of their own accord. One might therefore be surprised to hear that the people this scheme is looking for were referred to in the announcement as ‘generation Xbox’. The Foreign Office said these people ‘have grown up with a world of social media, global connectivity and interactive gaming’. In one sentence then, the government managed to tell us exactly what they really think. They’re after some unpopular nerdy kids who spent too much time playing video games instead of outside playing with friends. Computing skill is really just a case of playing lots of Mario, or whatever games are called now. The adults need someone who’s into that Bebo stuff to take care of all that nonsense so that they can get on with proper grown-up things. Never mind that people spend years studying computer science at university. Never mind that using a games console
Cyber security isn't just serious stuff either, it's hard. Bloody hard. Elisha Owen. In a story more bemusing than important, an acclaimed British scientist caught smuggling cocaine in Argentina has been jailed for almost five years. Despite his role as a distinguished Professor, Paul Frampton claimed to be the 'naïve victim of an elaborate honey trap’. His defence? Duped by a beautiful woman. Of course, it is well known that as soon as an intelligent man has a bikini model in his arms, he can be coerced into anything. Even so, I find it unlikely that Mr Frampton could be deceived into hiding a large quantity of cocaine inside the lining of his suitcase with such ease. That and the message on his phone, 'I'm worried about the sniffer dogs', hardly screams innocence.
CRIME
RELIGION Lexie Wilson. Recently, a 31 year old dentist was admitted to hospital in Galway, Ireland after suffering a miscarriage. Despite her deteriorating condition and recurring pleas, she was refused an abortion on the grounds that she was in a Catholic country and there was still a foetal heartbeat. She died of septicemia days later. As well as being a grave tragedy for her family, the death of Dr Halappanavar has reignited the debate surrounding the country’s antiquated laws. In today's society, not only should a woman’s right to control her own body be respected as fundamental, but national institutions that exist to care for citizens have a duty to act responsibly to its service users, regardless of religious beliefs.
or a social network doesn’t magically grant you the power to do all those totally feasible things Bruce Willis’ sidekick does in Die Hard 4. It’s not just this government either. The last government’s cyber security minister described how GCHQ had employed some ‘former naughty boys’ because ‘if they have been slightly naughty boys, very often they really enjoy stopping other naughty boys’. That’s right, cyber-security is just a bunch of boys playing with their toys. I would take issue with the idea that GCHQ might find females who have such skills as well, but I’m not overwhelmed with enthusiasm at the prospect of arguing that women should be patronised like this as well. Even if you ignore the casual sexism though, the message that comes across isn’t one of spotting talent and developing them into skilled professionals, it’s one of exploiting clueless youngsters to deal with other clueless youngsters so that the professionals can get on with proper work. Perhaps then, the reason governments are failing to maintain their dominance in a digital world isn’t because they haven’t recruited enough naughty Xbox players. Perhaps it’s because those in charge of cyber-security policy are incapable of opening their mouths without patronisingly demonstrating their ignorance and arrogance about something, however much they deny it, they consider to be a matter equatable with video games.
James Dolton. This week saw the nominations for Literary Review’s “Bad Sex” award, which draws attention to particularly awkward, unusual, uncomfortable or just embarassing attempts to catalogue the art of sexual intercourse in literature. It may be seen as a tongue-incheek effort to prod fun at or even change the ways of serial “sex” writing offenders, but there is an underlying concern. In the oft-ignored world of literature, any publicity is good publicity. Hence, if we publicise an award, even one for bad writing, somebody is going to try and get it. If we really want these people to piss off or at least try harder, giving them the attention they crave is not the way to do it.
CULTURE
12| 23rd - 29th November 2012 @RedbrickLifeStyle
Victoria Haworth Life&Style Writer
When I first heard news of a new fashion collection designed by one of the TOWIE girls, I cringed; surely this would just result in a selection of hideously tight fitting, garish ‘Essex’ dresses which show every lump and bump on any other person’s body. However, when finding out this was to be a vintage-inspired line, I began to take an interest. The collection in question has been designed by Lydia Bright, a controversial member of the TOWIE bunch, known for shunning the typical ‘Essex girl’ look and opting instead for a more retro, individual style. Her 10 piece assemblage is full of feminine, classic designs with inspiration from the likes of Hepburn, Monroe and the vintage fashion Lydia herself wears so well. Commenting on the collection, which will be sold in her boutique Bella Sorella (in store and online), Lydia has said 'I've always been into fashion from a young age. Growing up I was a huge Sex And The
Lydia Bright returns to the 50s and Birmingham does Vintage City fan, and as I grew up I developed my own style and got an amazing platform on The Only Way Is Essex, so it came naturally that I would go into designing.’ Lydia’s collection is on sale now with plans for a 25-piece spring-summer line. Vintage inspired collections currently fill the high street, although most often at a hefty price. We’ve all seen the beautiful All Saints sequined flapper inspired ensembles and most probably also felt pain when looking at the price tag. Whilst Bright’s collection may come at a far more appealing price (from £65 upwards), contrary to popular belief, going straight to the original stock may prove a far more student friendly solution to obtaining the vintage look. Many big brand stores are now producing large ranges of renewed classic items such as the Urban Renewal range in Urban Outfitters; but realistically these larger brand reinventions are significantly overpriced in comparison
to the stock of smaller vintage stores. Digbeth hosts a vast array of unique stores with a great mix of classic produce. For the more eccentric styles check out Cow, an affordable vintage clothing retailer currently situated in four cities with its Birmingham branch on Digbeth High Street. This branded store has a larger collection than many other boutiques, although perhaps less specialist than other stores in the area. Urban Village, situated in the Custard Factory, specializes in high quality 1960s and 70s attire for men and women as well as records, artwork and other collectables. Alternatively, check out the Vintage Fair taking place in the custard factory on Saturday 24th November. The fair will host some of the UK’s best vintage traders in clothes, jewellery and other collectables spanning across six decades.
Don't be tagged in the same look twice... Jasmine Stewart Life&Style Writer
Disco Pants, Glamourous, £29.99. Bodysuit, Miss Selfridge, £20. Ring, Topshop, £20.
Out to dinner
Casual
Night on the town
Disco pants are a huge trend this winter, but the American Apparel version comes in at £74. If you can’t bring yourself to part with that amount of money for little material, there is a great alternative! The Glamorous version are an exact replica at a more realistic price of £29.99 (available from glamorousuk.com). Sold in charcoal black, gold, navy blue, pewter and noir black. Here are a few ways to wear disco pants this season...
Disco Pants, Glamourous, £29.99. T-Shirt, River Island, £15. High-Tops, ASOS, £45.
Disco Pants, Glamourous, £29.99. Blazer, Topshop, £20. Top, Republic, £20.
www.redbrick.me/lifestyle 13
A cheater never changes its spots Megan Nisbet
Fierce
Life&Style Editor
Life&Style Writer Rhiannon Johns asks the boys whether they would forgive a 'one off'
‘You are just a tool. Hang up your blazer’ - the academy and show that shames men by showing their girlfriends what they get up to in their absence, making them look like complete and utter ****s. However, most episodes end with the girlfriend taking the remorseful and rather pathetic other-half back. So who really is the fool? Would you forgive your lover if you found out they had been cosy-ing up under the sheets with somebody that almost definitely wasn’t you? Nobody likes a cheat. The nation fell out with Ashley Cole when he was branded a love rat. However, when Cheryl dabbled with whether or not to take the cheating footballer back, we lost respect for her too; should she, shouldn’t she? The answer is no. 'Once a cheat always a cheat', 'a leopard never changes his spots', blah blah blah, we’ve all heard these words come out of our friends' mouths at some point whilst dating the ultimate bad boy/girl, but when you're in a full blown relationship and have white wedding plans in the near future (whether they know it or not), major slip ups such as hanky-panky with the girl next door is not acceptable, and shouldn’t be forgiven whatever the circumstances. Amidst the beer goggles, moments of weakness and/or some other petty excuse, the point is they should have said no, and if they’ve done it before do you really trust that they wouldn’t do it again? A relationship that consists of endless phone checking and nights spent in the hedge outside his house covered in camo gear is not the way to go. Man up and leave that tool behind.
FREDDY MASTERS Second Year, European politics, society and economics: "It depends on a few things, like the severity of it and how I found out. I could forgive her, but potentially it could ruin the relationship for me."
DELVIN MONZON Second Year, Chemistry: "It would entirely depend on the circumstance: if she summoned up the courage to tell me before I had found out then yes I would, providing it was a one-time fling."
TOM ROWLEY Second Year, Physics:
Natasha Woolf Life&Style Writer Party Season Dresses - As if it wasn’t evident enough that Christmas is looming, most shops are already selling fabulous frocks for the party season. From Primark’s limited edition to Topshop to Selfridges, there is no excuse not to be able to find the perfect dress for any occasion. I’m a Celebrity - Lets be honest, it's always amusing to watch 'celebrities' squirm in the Jungle and think 'I'd rather them than me', and this series is as entertaining as ever. Helen from Corrie constantly being picked to do the tasks and not winning any stars simply makes fantastic TV. Children in Need - This year the Great British public raised over £27 million for Children in Need, which is amazing! It just goes to show that even in this tough economic climate, people are still digging deep to help those in need. Christmas Market - The German Christmas Market has arrived which means the countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun. It’s great for a wander and a glass or two of mulled wine.
"Cheating is, for me, a huge turn off. If she cheats, I’m out of there."
Extreme Beauty: Jungle Essentials Deep in the Australian jungle is no place for designer make-up, hair straighteners or elaborate beauty routines, as many of you who are glued to the latest I’m A Celeb will have gathered. A good number of girls would break a sweat deciding on just one solitary luxury item to take with them – but there are no television rules where we are. Life&Style writer Rosie Besant has picked the best of the beauty bunch for any outdoor adventure. Any of these three basic, compact items will keep you looking fresh and feeling pretty in the wild. No electricity or mirrors necessary.
The Blackout - Nearly two weeks after the fire at the Selly Oak sub-station and there are still power issues and outages on campus – enough already. Deadlines - The end of term is near and this just means deadlines before Christmas and deadlines after Christmas. Social life is slowly but surely going down the drain. Kardashian Kollection - I am the Kardashians' biggest fan, however, I am seriously disappointed with the ‘Kollection’ and can’t help but think that it looks cheap and tacky. Pippa Middleton - Not a great week for Pippa and her book. Despite all the press and advertising surrounding it, sales haven’t gone well and people have gone far enough to say that it is a patronising approach to planning parties and cooking. There is even a chapter about entertaining children which advises: 'For parties, wrap a small gift. Sit everyone in a circle and ask them to pass the parcel.' I can’t see the end of this being near, so if you’re looking for a laugh, follow @Pippatips on Twitter.
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in Natural (£4.75) Nothing worse than breaking, peeling nails when you can’t do anything about it. Two coats of this will protect nails from drying out and snagging, keeping them looking shiny and healthy at the same time.
L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes mascara (£10.99) This is the ultimate volumising mascara that’s been a massive beauty hit. The waterproof version ensures you survive sweat, tears and rain and still look fresh.
Umberto Giannini Frizzi Transformation Fluid Silicone Serum (£5.49) Newly launched, this serum keeps your hair from drying out with exposure to the elements and keeps away the inevitable frizz when the straighteners aren’t around.
Finished
14 | 23rd - 29th November 2012 @RedbrickTravel
Picture the scene: you’re standing in awe at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, or relaxing in the tranquillity of a beach in Thailand. It’s not hard to see that the benefits of travel are plentiful; however with so many reasons to travel there are also many excuses. The amount of times I have heard 'I wish I could travel, but...'. Some excuses are understandable, others questionable, but like so much in life it’s all about priorities, and travel can be one if you make it. ‘I just don’t have the money’, is probably the most common excuse out there, and fair enough! I’m sure every student would love to travel if they didn’t have student debt hanging over their heads like a lead balloon. That being said, I think we can all agree that we aimlessly waste money on things we don’t need, the Roosters you bought last night being one of them. ‘But, nobody will come with me!’ Sometimes, nobody ever will. We all have that friend who can never make a decision or the one who says they will get back to you and never does. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and go alone, and yes it can be scary but also liberating at the same time. 'But what about safety' I hear you cry? While it’s true that travelling can be a dangerous past-time, if you take sensible precautions most places in the world will feel safe, and if you can survive Selly Oak then you should be able to conquer the rest of the world with ease!. Then there's the ‘I’ll do it someday’ excuse. I’ve said I will do a lot of things ‘someday’, climbing Mt Everest being one of them. However, the day you’re waiting for may never come, and like a lot of things in life, the timing will never be just right. Life is short and unpredictable, and sometimes we just need to book that plane ticket and commit to the adventure ahead. And remember, the world is a book and those that do not travel read only one page, so enough of the excuses it’s time to turn the page.
What's your excuse?
Megan Daly Travel Writer
Other: Veteran Eurostar passengers turn up just 20 minutes before departure and guaranteed pre-assigned seats are a bonus that you don’t get with most budget airlines. As flight costs are rising, the European rail network is improving, making travelling by rail more efficient, economic and environmentally friendly that it’s ever been before.
Journey Time: The duration of the flight is initially attractive. After looking at the door to door time however: the journey to the airport, queuing to check in baggage and pass through security it soon mounts up. From disembarking the aircraft, your journey is not over, needing to pass through more security and wait for your luggage. Budget airlines also have a habit of flying to airports in the middle of nowhere.
Rebecca Mee and Sophie Moreland Travel Writers
Cost: At first glance, the flight looks dirt cheap. After taxes, administration fees, luggage charges, it all adds up. You’re even charged to use your debit card. The key is to learn to travel smart and keep an eye on sales, and NEVER exceed the luggage limit, being charged extortionately per kilo.
Comfort: The no assigned seat policy leads to a battle to bag the best seats. If travelling in a large group and you’re unfortunate enough to be at the back of the queue, you’ll most probably be split up in the seats no-one else wants. Alternatively, embrace yet another charge for ‘priority boarding’ to get the best pick.
Plane Efficiency: The majority of the total journey time is spent queuing. From experience, the delays aren’t frequent and are often minimal.
Environment: We know flying is bad for the environment, but we still do it. Some of the ever increasing charges are to contribute to the offset of CO2 emissions.
www.redbrick.me/travel |15
Prague's Tamest Bar Crawl Prague’s reputation for nightlife greatly precedes itself, and has been established as the club capital of Central Europe. A main part of this nightlife is the infamous bar crawls through the city, but there is one to avoid, at your peril. At sunset, we signed up for a bar crawl starting at the ‘Drunken Monkey’, sucked in by the scantily clad club rep and the promise of unlimited drinks for 2 hours. For the sum of €15, a free bar for the first 2 hours, and entry into 5 places was guaranteed. Filled with expectations, the rep led us to the first bar. “I’m glad you guys are coming tonight, it was 70% girls last night!” she said, as we eyed each other with what soon revealed itself to be naïve optimism. She opened the doors to reveal a room with no girls in sight. In total, there were perhaps 200 people, with about 5 frightened girls sat in a corner, looking like wounded gazelles in the crossfire. We had a free bar to abuse, and set out on a full frontal attack. We weren’t expecting premium alcohol, but what was on offer was a disgusting 3% beer, or watered down shots that tasted like squash. Needless to say, after 2 hours plugging away, we were still all regrettably sober. Then, the free bar vanished, and we were herded
down the road to the next bars: cramped, sweaty holes all seemed to merge into one. Each bar seemed to get steadily more expensive, until we arrived at the final destination: the curiously named ‘5 story club’. It did not offer a quintet of tales, contrary to what the name suggests (although it did have 5 storeys – perhaps I’m letting my pedantic side get the better of me). Of the different levels, there was an ice bar at the bottom and floors for chart music, dance and cheese and a chill out room (which played the best music but had the fewest people). The bar staff almost demanded one of my biggest pet peeves : unnecessary tipping. If you didn't give the correct change, the barmen demanded 'tip for the bar?' The process was always completed with a moody, disinterested look... so absolutely not you cheeky Czech! The only sufficiently busy room busy was one playing dance music. The music was average, and it soon turned into an average night out. All in all, it was a very forgetful experience and not due to the desired alcohol blackout.
Ollie Higgins Travel Writer
Train Environment:
Other:
The CO2 emission count for the train is 91% lower than that of a plane flying from London to Paris.
If you're looking to travel further afield, a plane journey takes mere hours, compared to rail travel treks.
Comfort: Leg room and good views. Luggage kept with you at all times means no heartstopping carousel moments. The Eurostar has minimal luggage restrictions and no extra cost for bags.
Efficiency: More time spent travelling and less time spent waiting; less chance of delays. The train takes you to a station usually right in the city-centre, so there is no need for extra travel arrangements.
Journey Time:
Cost:
Do trains take longer? The Eurostar gets you from London to halfway across France in just 2h20. Indeed, Eurostar allows you to book connections to many other French cities, and further afield to places like Brussels/Amsterdam, so you can just hop on your next train stress-free.
Booking in advance is key. Student rates for under-25s and inclusive connections work out to be ridiculously cheaper than separate bookings. Example: my train from Paris to Strasbourg worked out to be just 17€, as opposed to a 50€ ticket booked separately.
16 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
@RedbrickSci&Tech
Wii U: The Important Details With the Wii U set for release in just under a week, we give you an overview of the system and games worth buying it for.
Andrew Spencer
Sam Atkins Science & Tech Editor
Science & Tech Editor
@Atkins_Sam
@andrewspencer93
It’s hard to believe that it has been 6 years since Nintendo unleashed the Wii on the masses. Shortages of the console in shops across the globe made headlines for the next 18 months, the machine becoming the must-have gift for Christmas. This revolutionary take on the standard console gave Nintendo a huge head start in the console race, while console packin Wii Sports helped the industry reach a new 'casual' audience. A lot has changed in the last 6 years with the dedicated Nintendo owners becoming tired of the poor output of content for the system. Perhaps it’s the perfect time to reinvent the wheel again, and the Wii U attempts to do exactly that. The Wii U GamePad combines a regular controller with a tablet style interface allowing for a more interactive experience, as well as taking cues from Nintendo’s excellent work on the DS. With stronger third party support, as well as HD output for the first time on a Nintendo console, it seems like the Wii U is aiming to satisfy both the hardcore and casual games audiences. Given the early release in comparison to Sony and Microsoft's respective new consoles, it will be interesting to see exactly how well this split audience does for the company. The new generation of hardware is here, and we suspect this could be the most competitive yet.
Top 5 Wii U Launch Games
1
New Super Marios Bros U
Following the success of New Super Mario Bros on DS, Wii and more recently 3DS, it’s easy to see why Nintendo have chosen to launch their new console with a game starring their iconic plumber. It’s hard to go wrong with a 2D Mario sidescroller, especially one that expands the experience to include a fifth player using the Wii U GamePad. This player assists the others using the touch screen, creating extra blocks and knocking out enemies when things get hectic. The multiplayer modes are definitely the best way to get your family playing together on the new console. With a full adventure mode, along with a bunch of minigames included, there’s a load of content to play through. Though we are sure to see a new 3D Mario sequel on the Wii U in the coming years, New Super Mario Bros U should be enough to see you through the initial few months following launch.
3
Batman Arkham Armoured Edition
City:
5
One of the best games of 2011, Arkham City gets a Wii U release with plenty of updated features. With inventory and extra control using the Wii U GamePad, Batman arrives on Nintendo in style.
2
ZombiU
Though it may not have the same cutesy aesthetic as the games you would expect to see on a Nintendo platform, ZombiU is looking to be an exciting prospect. Ubisoft have utilised the unique control scheme brilliantly, making it the must have third party game for the Wii U launch.
Nintendo Land
The only other first party game on our list, Nintendo Land is a theme park made up of minigames inspired by various Nintendo series. The Zelda, Metroid and Pikmin inspired games are especially enjoyable.
4
Mass Effect 3
Though jumping in on the last game in the trilogy is sure to be confusing for newcomers, seeing Commander Shepard on a Nintendo system is sure to please Wii U owners. The biggest game on the system by a long margin, Mass Effect 3 is still one of the games of 2012.
www.redbrick.me/tech | 17
In a 1990 poll carried out by Marketing Evaluations, Mario was more recognised by children than Mickey Mouse.
The Latest in Science
Cells transplanted from paralysed dog's nose helps it to walk again Mario has appeared in over 200 games since he first debuted in Donkey Kong (1981). Discovery of hunting spears from 500,000 years ago suggests spears were used many thousands of years before neanderthals
The Super Mario Bros series has sold over 240 million units across its life so far, the first game in the series making up over 40 million of these sales.
Whomp, the large stone enemies first featuring in Super Mario 64, was inspired by a japanese mythological creature called Nurikabe. This creature is an invisible wall that blocks roads and stops travellers.
Small biological robots have been created using a 3D printer and rat hearts
There are 44 million less birds currently than there were in 1966
Want to get involved? As the first Donkey Kong game was set on a construction site, Mario was initially a carpenter until he was made a plumber in the first Mario Bros (1983).
Want to review the latest games? Interested in sharing the latest science breakthroughs? Have a strong opinion on the state of the technology industry? Redbrick Science and Technology is expanding fast. We are always looking for budding writers who have a passion for science and technology to write for us. We host meetings every week on a Wednesday afternoon at 5pm in Student Development in the Guild. If you would like to get involved, please come along and join our meetings or drop us an email at tech@ redbrick.me. You can also tweet us at @RedbrickTech.
18| 23rd - 29th November 2012 @RedbrickMusic
BBC 1Xtra Live. The Birmingham Ballroom was the place to be last Thursday as the BBC hosted an unforgettable night. Marrianne Lampon was there to witness the action.
1Xtra Live in numbers: 3000: The number of lucky Radio 1Xtra listeners that won tickets to the event. 14: The number of Grammys the headline act Alicia Keys has won. 4: The number of cities BBC 1Xtra visited on their tour, finishing in Birmingham.
17: The number of acts that played across the 4 days.
Featuring an array of prominent urban artists, this year’s BBC Radio 1Xtra Live shows travelled to London, Manchester and Liverpool before culminating in Birmingham. Sets from the American R&B heart throb Miguel, electro duo Disclosure and incredible headline act Alicia Keys graced the stage at Birmingham's Ballroom for an amazing night of live music. As anticipation and excitement increased, the wait was finally over as the 3,000-strong crowd chanted along to a countdown projected on the huge screens on stage. Despite a short twenty minute set, opening act Miguel showcased his talents as a natural performer. With his smart black jacket, sunglasses and slicked back hair, his smooth persona was reflected in his soulful voice as he performed tracks such as ‘All I Want Is You’ and ‘Adorn’ to screaming fans. Working the stage form left to right and even stepping down to sing to the infatuated girls on the front row, Miguel’s beaming smile and lovefuelled lyrics combined with his vocals resonated throughout the venue as soft red lights and patterns projected across the crowd. Before long, BBC Radio 1Xtra DJs MistaJam and Twin B presented drum and bass DJ Chrissy Chris to entertain the crowd between acts. Calling it an ‘honour and a privilege’ to introduce Disclosure to the stage, the young duo took their spot behind the decks. Excitement has been rapidly building around brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence, with support from the likes of Zane Lowe and their current single ‘Latch’ reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. Performing fan favourites such as ‘Control’, ‘What’s In Your Head’ and ‘Tenderly’, they demonstrated their seamless mixing and team work as mesmerising vocals, beats and bass
@aliciakeys: ' Epic night in Birmingham at #1xtralive !!'
@disclosure_uk: 'thanks for having us @1Xtra live!' @MiguelUnlimited: 'Birmingham for a day. Who's coming to see @ aliciakeys and I rock BBC 1Xtra LIVE?' @mistajam: 'Side of stage for Alicia Keys. Great way to end a great week #1xtralive'
filtered through the crowd whilst psychedelic patterns and rainbow lights added to their infectious rhythms. The crowd were treated to a guest appearance by Sam Smith, whose vocals are used on Disclosure’s track ‘Latch’. His vocal performance was pitch-perfect and added to the euphoric atmosphere - a fitting end to a great set. During the final break between acts, large covers were removed from objects on the stage to expose the set for Alicia Keys. Revealing a grand piano, electric keyboards, a full drum kit and various guitars, the audience were fully aware that they were in for something very special. Alicia Keys needs no introduc-
tion, perhaps apart from a few incredible facts – the gifted R&B and soul singer-songwriter has sold over 30 million singles, 35 million albums and has received countless awards and nominations, including Grammys. Opening her set with feel-good track ‘New Day’, the crowd were instantly captivated by her voice and stage presence. They sang along with the infectious chorus, as the party atmosphere was heightened by the impressive performance of the full band performing alongside her. Striding playfully across the stage, her voice carried effortlessly through the crowd until she took her place at the grand piano for tracks that showcase her iconic musical talent on the keys. Purple and pink lighting accompanied her heartfelt performance of ‘Doesn’t Mean Anything’, as beautiful harmonies with the backing vocalists swooped through the air. Moving to the electric keyboard, ‘Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart’ began with an intense atmosphere and ended with her beautiful piano playing once again. The crowd also heard some new tracks ‘Girl on Fire’, ‘Brand New Me’ as well as ‘Fallin’’ which sounded as fresh and powerful as when it was first released, crowd favourite ‘Empire State of Mind (Part II)’ and ‘No One’. The audience were also treated to a captivating encore which saw Keys ending with ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ leaving the stage saying ‘God bless you, I love you and goodnight.’It is difficult to express adequately how unbelievable Alicia Keys and her band were live. The performance was truly beautiful, surreal, effortless and as someone in the crowd said next to me ‘completely mesmerising’. BBC Radio 1Xtra most definitely saved the best for last in Birmingham and chose an incredible final headline act to round off the shows.
www.redbrick.me/music 19
Single Review. Johnny Marr The Messenger Josh Holder
Online Music Editor
@josh_H
Johnny Marr, the legendary lead guitarist of The Smiths, recently announced his plans to release his first full solo album in February 2013. Why is now the time to release a debut solo album you may ask. After all, Morrissey went solo almost immediately after The Smiths' split. Well the answer is that Johnny claims that he didn’t want to be in ‘someone else’s band’ anymore, possibly hinting that his recent efforts with The Cribs and Modest Mouse weren’t lending him the artistic freedom that he desired. So here we have the first taste of Johnny’s solo work, lead single of his album, ‘The Messenger’ features everything Johnny Marr is known for. His elegantly crafted layers of riffs exude mystery, and when combined with his deep, razor sharp lyrics, result in a stunning example of what’s to come. The track also features a guitar solo or, as Johnny prefers to refer to them as, a ‘guitar break’, and phwoar, it’s a beauty. The layers of delicately interlaced guitars break down and you’re left with the basics: a thick bass riff, shuffling drums and a piercing lead guitar piece that ends far too soon.
My first listens of 'The Messenger have parallels to the first time I heard 'This Charming Man' My first listens of ‘The Messenger’ have parallels to the first time I ever heard ‘This Charming Man’: the itch to immediately hit repeat upon the track’s conclusion, the need to get lost in the atmosphere that Johnny’s riffs construct so effortlessly, and the realisation that you’re listening to the work of an absolutely legendary musician. Over 25 years after The Smiths’ demise, Johnny Marr has once again proved that he’s still got an unparalleled talent for songwriting.
Album Review. Rihanna - Unapologetic Jonathon Milnes Music Editor
@jonTMilnes
Whenever I complain that I have no time, or am too busy, my dad always reminds me that ‘busy people are successful people’. I’m always sceptical of the statement and doubt that it’s true. But if one person embodies this proverb, it's Rihanna. I can’t remember the last time she wasn’t in the charts. Nor can I remember the last time she wasn’t nominated at a major awards ceremony. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I went out and didn't hear a Rihanna song. At 24, Rihanna is not only a global superstar, but a global brand. A business. And one that even the most nonchalant person is aware of. You would have thought that a number 1 album, 4 top 10 smash hits, a blockbuster movie, a fragrance release and constant touring would be enough for a young Barbadian lady. But you’re wrong. Between the madness of Rhianna’s 2012, she has managed to squeeze out yet another album! It feels like the lead single from Talk That Talk, ‘We Found Love’ is still a big hitter, yet a few weeks ago, ‘Diamonds’ was leaked by the songstress and the countdown to Unapologetic began. Before the play button is pressed, the title, track-list and art work gives a lot away about the album. Yes, its hard to disassociate Unapologetic with Chris Brown. Not least because he features on arguably the best track on the album. As shocking as it is that these two are still in contact after the well documented events of the past, they do make great music together and as a muse for Rihanna, it seems Brown triggers some of her best musical moments. At times, especially in the first half of the album (excluding 'Diamonds'), the music is too heavily produced, too sexually charged and too full of attitude. They might be high energy, but by track seven, it feels as if many of the tracks have blured into one: heavy beats, spoken vocals, and a percussive prominance. In fact by the time Guetta makes his appearance, I had almost branded the album as Rihanna's worst to date.
Then, out of nowhere, 'What Now' changes the direction of the record. On the surface, it's a classic Rihanna ballad. But there is something more intriguing about this track than the likes of 'California King Bed'. Maybe it's the more euphoric chorus, or the syncopated rhythms, or the less predictable melodies. And from here, the album gets better. 'Stay' is effortlessly beautiful; Rihanna's vocals take centre-stage fully for the first time, and when blended with Mikky Ekko's close harmonies creates something really quite haunting. And then comes the track that most will have been waiting for: 'Nobody's Business (ft. Chris Brown)' is controversial and inappropriate, but truly brilliant. It's inventive, funky and ultimately refreshing. It will undoubtedly stand out in a sea of same-sounding floorfillers that dominate the charts.
It's hard not to disassociate Unapologetic with Chris Brown Admittedly, nothing past this track is quite as memorable, as the album comes to a close with a typically Barbadian track in the same vein as 'Man Down', and a final ballad bonus track. While as a unit, the album isn't quite as coherent as past records, and by no means is Rihanna's best, it really is worth a listen, especially the second half. Unapologetic is often repetitive and boring, but there are some diamonds amongst the rough that provide a glimmer of hope for the future of pop music.
Live Review. Peace - The Rainbow Sebastian Fagg Music Critic
31st October, Halloween night and the perfect setting for grungy Birmingham band Peace to run riot at Rainbow. This brilliant 4-piece should be well known to all Brummies by now, having started their journey here. Now they are signed to Columbia Records and recently released their 4 track Ep ‘Delicious’, which has received great acclaim, receiving 9/10 by NME. They are a band to watch and, more importantly, go and see. By the time they had started playing ‘Oceans Eye’ to open their set it seemed that half the crowd were already surfing onto the stage in the crazy party that seemed to be their set. The band say their songs are meant to ‘fuck you in the heart’, and they really do, with it being near impossible to go to one of their gigs and not get completely affected and engrossed by their manic music. For most people this tended to lead towards rash decisions like scaling the walls and pillars in the small sweaty room to get the best view. Peace themselves seemed completely unfazed by this chaos accompanying their set of messy yet incredible songs. One of the best gigs I’ve been to in a while.
20 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
@RedbrickFilm
"I'd go to the Arctic and I'd slaughter a polar bear and bring you back its head."
Tristan Thorn Stardust (2007)
Newsreel
FilmReviews
Breaking Dawn Part 2 SilverScreen Rear Window
PATRICK McATEER Critic Release Date: 16th November 2012 Director: Bill Condon Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
I went into the screening of the latest Twilight film with a heavy heart. Having read the books and seen the first instalment of the franchise, the Catherine Hardwicke helmed original was not without its merits. However, the story of moody mortal Bella and her vampire lover Edward was not one which needed revisiting, let alone with four additional films. Having reached the finale of this saga, the problems with Part 2 are manifold. Director Bill Condon does his best with the lessthan-stellar source material, setting up several action scenes nicely JOE ALLEN and keeping the film from collapsing into an asinine mess. Critic Nonetheless, the three leads (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson Year of Release: 1954 and Taylor Lautner) simply can’t seem to convey genuine emotion Director: Alfred Hitchcock and the rest of the cast are average, with a world-weary Billy Cast: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Correy Burke and a creepy-yet-silly Michael Sheen as the only stand Considered by many to be one of Hitchcock's most accomplished outs. Clunky dialogue, irrational pacing and a whole host of charac- films, Rear Window still stands up today as a glowing testament to ters who are quickly introduced and just as quickly forgotten left the legendary director's creative vision and masterful understandme frustrated. This, coupled with a barrage of poor CGI, made the ing of cinematic convention. James Stewart's affable L.B. Jefferies whole experience feel decidedly cheap. With all that said, those whisks the audience through the various trials and tribulations of devoted fans who have followed the saga from beginning to end his neighbours (who are mostly strangers to him, but with whom will find this is a suitably breathless and exciting send off for the we are uncomfortably well-acquainted by the film's conclusion), series. For the rest of us, it’s an ending and we’ll just have to be watching helplessly as they conduct affairs, fail spectacularly at being creative and even (possibly) commit serious crimes. happy with that. The film's narrative is a relatively straightforward one: Jefferies spies something seriously untoward happening in one of the many apartments he can see from his window and decides he must do something about it. It is in the way Hitchcock manipulates his image and his narrative where the film really shines. Jefferies becomes completely lost in the constantly evolving storylines of his neighbours, possessing more knowledge about their lives than he does about his own; his rear window becomes a figurative portal into the soap opera that plays out in his tiny apartment block. Hitchcock's comment on the way in which audiences interact with cinema and television is masterfully constructed, with the tension in the final act ratcheted up to eleven. The eventual conclusion is oddly unsatisfying given the disturbing implications of Jefferies's voyeurism and wanton disregard for privacy. A must for any lover of cinema.
TopThree
DAISY EDWARDS Critic Warner Bros. are hoping to release a grown up version of Pinocchio, written by Jane Goldman, who wrote the screenplays for The Woman in Black and Stardust. However, despite these credentials, she has yet to fully convince potential directors Tim Burton and Robert Downey Jr. to take on her script.
In Twilight news, a new trailer has been released for another Meyer book adaptation, The Host. The book has more of a scifi element, whereas the film trailer focuses on the love triangle, which was a minor part of the original story. This is sure to cause controversy with regards to book-to-screen adaptations.
Jonathan Fagg sings the praises of the most memorable bands in film #1 The Commitments, The Commitments
The Commitments were always going to win this; although the fact that the film’s cast is made up of incredibly talented musicians kind of makes this unfair. They understand soul music, that it 'sticks its neck out and says it straight from the heart'. They may have been embarrassed at how white they are, but their covers of 'Try A Little Tenderness' and 'In The Midnight Hour' guarantee them the top spot.
#2 School of Rock, School of Rock
These kids can rock. They blow people’s minds with their high voltage rock. Hell, they rock so hard that they can break the fourth wall. Now, they may not have won the Battle of the Bands, but this doesn't matter because they live hardcore. These pint-sized musicians are humble servants to the God of Rock. For this, we salute them, and drink a toast from our goblets of rock.
#3 Sex Bob-Omb, Scott Pilgrim...
They will make you think about death and get sad and stuff. They will sell out and make money and stuff. They will also be the first to admit that they suck, and that they do not know how to play their instruments. However, their music can create a gigantic Sonic-Yeti of destruction, which has got to count for something. Plus, all the music was actually written by Beck, so it can't be too bad.
On a sadder note, Lucille Bliss who voiced Smurfette in the 1980s cartoon The Smurfs has died, aged 96. Her first voice acting role was in the 1950s when she voiced Anastasia, one of the ugly step-sisters in Disney’s Cinderella. From then on her voice has been part of cartoons, animated films and, most recently, video games.
www.redbrick.me/film | 21
Bond vs. Bechdel: The troubling representations of women in film Film editor Natasha Lavender uncovers the uncomfortable truth behind the women in some of cinema's classics Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard great and wonderful things about a small film called Skyfall. Yes, film fans, the latest addition to the Bond franchise is as well-scripted and action-packed as you have been promised, complete with enormous explosions, cool cars and seductive sirens. However, while the movie has been praised by many for bringing Bond into the twenty-first century, this last and most notorious Bond trope is the thorn in the side of Skyfall. While the plot may have been tightened and the cheesy villains dropped, the women are still merely decorative foils for Bond’s masculinity. They cause trouble through incompetence, leaving Bond to clear up their mess, and are seen as entirely disposable when their purpose has been served. The only beacon of hope for women in the film is the marvellous M (Judi Dench), who retains her power over Bond purely because there is no potential for a sexual rela-
tionship. Indeed, for all her cutting quips and stolid British courage, M frequently comes across as something of a victim, reliant on Bond to save the day. Of course, Skyfall and its predecessors are not the only films to fall into the trap of using women purely as plotshaping damsels in distress. Taken from a 1985 comic strip by Alison Bechdel, the Bechdel test aims to show a film’s gender bias through three requirements; to pass, a film must have two (preferably named) women who speak to each other about something other than a man. Although this is not an absolute measure of whether a film can be described as feminist or not, the purpose of the test is to highlight token female characters, thereby revealing a film’s underlying failure to offer substantial female representation. Interestingly, Skyfall passes, although many would challenge this by querying how significant the conversation needs to be to count as a pass.
While it has its limitations, the Bechdel test succeeds in highlighting the gender discrimination in certain surprising films. For example, while summer blockbusters Avengers Assemble and The Dark Knight Rises both feature butt-kicking heroines, both films fail, as do all three of the original Star Wars films. Many filmgoers see one female character hold her own in one fight and think that this is a stride towards positive representation of women. In The Dark Knight Rises, for example, Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman can fight, flip and quip with the best of them, and all in high heels. Yet she remains a one dimensional and unreliable figure ultimately relying on Christian Bale’s Batman to turn up at the right moment. All too often, the women intended as the tough female presence are forced to double as the damsel in distress. How many times have we watched said damsel swooning in terror on the sidelines while the hero wrestles with the villain,
and wondered why she isn’t helping too? One film which turned this on its head was Pixar’s Brave. While criticised as lacklustre in comparison to their classics, this film sees a motherdaughter team take on a fearsome enemy while an army of men stand by watching. Before men everywhere start bleating about how this is unfair too, consider the rarity of this scenario in film. Finally, and to stem yet more male bleating, it should be noted that criticising a film’s feminist credentials is not to challenge its credibility. Skyfall is a sharp, clever and compelling thriller which men and women are enjoying in their thousands. However, in the twenty-first century it is no longer acceptable to take films at face value. If we want to see greater and more substantial representation, we must begin to look through generally accepted representations of women as sirens and victims, and to demand more female characters capable of taking care of themselves.
22 | 23rd- 29th November 2012 @Redbrick @RedbrickTV
Back with a bang!
Is 2 Broke Girls already spent?
Jo Kendall
Abigail Salter
TV Critic
Last Thursday saw the launch of the much anticipated sixth series of popular E4 show The Big Bang Theory. At the end of series five, after marrying fiancée Bernadette, we saw Howard Wolowitz launched into space to fulfil a life-long ambition. With the beginning of series six I was anxious to see whether such a key character would be eliminated from the series and, if not, how he would be incorporated. However, any fears I may have had were unfounded as the first episode lived up to its high reputation cleverly linking Wolowitz to the action back on earth via the use of webcams and telephone conversations with his ever overbearing mother and new wife. The opening episode had all the wit, humour and awkwardness of the previous series, picking up the multiple narratives and relationships where they left off. The episode opened with Amy having her moustache waxed by Penny in preparation for her anniversary date with Sheldon. Unfortunately her hopes of romance and passion were once
again crushed by Sheldon, who having found a 'loop hole' in their relationship agreement, invited along a drunk and lonely Raj so as to avoid having to make too much conversation. As one couple settled back into old habits, Penny and Leonard continued to defy the odds by maintaining their previously on/off relationship. The gender inversion was once again comically played on as Penny attempted to enjoy beer and a football game despite the constant interruptions from Leonard trying to talk about his feelings. So the first episode quickly re-established the well-loved characters and began to lay the ground work for the rest of the series, while also sparking many questions in me as a viewer as to what is to come. Will Penny and Leonard make it work? Will Wolowitz finally have the courage to tell his mother he is moving out? And did Raj really just ask Stuart on a date? Yes, the close of the first episode left a massive potential to spark a new 'bromance' or possibly more for Raj now that his long-term 'bromance' partner Wolowitz is in space. At the beginning of this series I am excited as to what is to come and, with such a good opening, series six promises to be a good one.
Online TV Editor
So if you missed the first series, 2 Broke Girls follows the protagonists Max and Caroline as they attempt to save enough money to open a cupcake company in New York. Caroline (Beth Behrs) is a poor little rich girl whose father got put in prison for embezzlement and fraud, and has to slum it in seedy Brooklyn to get by (cue tears). Caroline finds friendship with her diner colleague, the impoverished Max (Kat Dennings), who perpetually has a bitter one liner to spin out. The first episode of the second series finds the girls visiting Caroline’s father in prison where he encourages them to go to the auction of Caroline’s old belongings. Max misinterprets this encouragement as a subtle hint that one of the auction items has some hidden money in it. This episode is intersected by rather funny snippets of additional characters, such as the antiques collector 'keeping it real' with the phrase 'YOLO'. As always Oleg provides several sexually charged lines, and his love interest Sophie (Jennifer Coolidge/'Stiffler's Mom') definitely
adds some comic value, despite her atrocious Polish accent. Continuing from the first series actresses Dennings and Behrs have great chemistry. And, in a surprise twist, I found the character of Max to be more annoying than Caroline; there comes a point when the I-had-such-arough-childhood-lines aren't funny. Caroline has definitely become more endearing in the second series, perhaps due to less whining. But the real star missing was Chesnut, how could the second series start without Caroline’s cutie of a horse!? I must begrudgingly admit that this series has got funnier than the last; Oleg’s one liners are no longer purely perverted and Sophie is definitely an improvement to the cast. Yet the episodes fail to fully engage my attention: they’re never that exciting and the plot doesn’t really build to anything, apart from the eventual opening of a cupcake business. However, the series is easy to dip in and out of, and as the episodes are only twenty minutes long they’re an acceptable guilty break from university demands. So although I won’t be eagerly anticipating the next episode, I’m sure I’ll dip into the series at some point, most probably when there are deadlines to avoid.
Top 5: US Sitcoms. Rosie Pooley TV Critic
@rosiethings
5.
How I Met Your Mother
This sitcom began with hapless romantic Ted telling his kids the story of how he met their mother. After eight series, the laughs may still be coming, but the writers are still keeping us guessing about whom Ted’s wife will be... Will we ever find out how Ted met his girl?
4. The Office US After a disappointing start, where the show was a complete copy of the British equivalent, the second series saw The Office find its feet US style. With Steve Carrell running the office up until recently and a great supporting cast with Rainn Wilson and John Krasinksi, you know you’re in for a comedy treat.
www.redbrick.me/tv | 23
Children in Need 2012 Redbrick takes a look at the highlights from the annual charity event.
My Children in Need highlights all centred on the lovable bear that can still put a smile on my face - Pudsey. He has spent time with all the celebrity greats, and this year he teamed up with a host of other famous faces including his namesake Pudsey, the only canine winner of Britain’s Got Talent, and my personal favourite, Misery Bear. Adorable Pudsey and Misery Bear spent an evening fighting for the affections of Geri Halliwell. It seems that Misery bringing Geri a copy of '50 Shades of Bear' was not enough to sway the Ginger Spice, and Pudsey charmed his way into Halliwell’s heart - leaving us all with fuzzy feelings this Children in Need. Rosie Pooley
A s they do every year, the cast of EastEnders were at it again for Children in Need. This year they teamed up with East End lad-done-good Lord Alan Sugar as he went on the hunt for a new Walford business partner. He tried Alfie, Massoud and, of course, notorious businessman Ian Beale, but none of them were quite up to scratch. As he does in his own BBC series, Lord Sugar had some great lines that made this sketch my highlight of the evening. Russell Webb
One of the highlights every year for Children in Need is what the single in support of the charity will be. This year the single came from Girls Aloud. For three years Girls Aloud have not performed together, but what a welcome back they made by wowing the audience with the performance of their two new singles 'Something New' and 'Beautiful 'Cause You Love Me'. Cheryl Cole commented that to have their single chosen to be the Children in Need single was 'a very special thing'.
Other highlights of the evening included the news reporters not doing a dance routine, but instead racing around the Top Gear track in their reasonably-priced car. As they watched their laps back and chatted to Terry and Fearne, the Stig, talkative as ever, simply stood looking out into the crowd. Musical entertainment was also provided by One Direction with their new song 'Little Things', Ellie Goulding and Shona McGarty (Whitney from EastEnders). Russell Webb
Charlotte Goodwin
3.
Fraiser
Spin-off from TV classic Cheers, Frasier is still the classiest sitcom ever to cross the pond. After moving back in with his father, Frasier Crane spent 11 years on our screens, providing us with one of the most successful spin-off programmes in television history - and deservedly so.
2.
Modern Family
A mockumentary that follows the lives of three very different 'modern families' that are all related. Currently in its fourth season, Modern Family has earned its comedy credentials, winning a host of awards and devoted fans. If you haven’t caught on yet, start now!
1.
Friends
It may be cheesy, and have finished over eight years ago, but there are still a few of us that come back from lectures, grab a cup of tea and stick on an episode of Friends. Seeing Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and of course Joey on our screens has become the security blanket of TV viewing and it looks like we won’t be giving them up anytime soon... because they’ll always be there for you!
24 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
@RedbrickArts @RedbrickArts
In an exclusive feature, Youtuber, blogger and University of Birmingham student Hannah Witton gives Redbrick an insight into Youtube as an entertainment platform. Everyone’s heard of YouTube. It’s that place on the internet where you can find funny cat videos, babies giggling, people falling off mountain bikes and music. YouTube, however, is also a creative platform for musicians, comedians, directors, actors, writers, presenters, animators, educators and more. Who needs an agent, a commissioner or a publisher when anyone with an internet connection and a camera can upload his or her material without the permission of an intimidating executive boss? Content on YouTube is user-generated and interactive, which makes it completely different to television or film. More and more creative people are taking the initiative to use YouTube to promote their work. If you look in the right places, you’ll find
Batsheva Emsemble Deca Dance @ The Hippodrome
hilarious comedy sketches, wonderful short films and brilliant independent musicians. YouTube is unlike any other creative arena: it inspires innovation and the variety is endless. From the short punch-line sketches of ‘5secondfilms’, to well thought out comedic stories from ‘Khyan1’, people are using YouTube to pursue their dreams and make a name for themselves online. How on earth does someone make a name for themselves on YouTube? It is comparably different to those who have gained their fame through television and film. Videos get uploaded to a channel and people can subscribe to channels, therefore creating a sort of fan base. Although it’s on a much smaller and more specific scale, YouTube has generated a new celebrity culture online. YouTubers can become public figures and their ‘followers’ watch their videos, ‘like’ videos and share them. This foundation of support is crucial to success on YouTube. It is my audience who I make my videos for. Unlike more traditional entertainment industries, the line between the creator and the viewer is very thin. Video makers may make videos dedicated to the people who watch and
James Kinsey Arts Editor
Batsheva ensemble, under the direction of Ohad Naharin’s distinctive Gaga-inspired choreography, twist, bulge and chant in an anarchic expression of sensuality that is hauntingly beautiful. The ensemble, the younger section of the world renowned Batsheva dance company, embraced the idiosyncratic genre of Gaga with vitality. In brief, Gaga is the unscripted, innovative style that involves listening to one’s inner sense of rhythm, which lends a sense of freedom to the performance. Freedom is the key word, as the whole night seemed to be influenced by a feeling of humanity seeping through barriers of constraint. As an Israeli government sponsored group, the tour regularly attracts Palestinian protests accusing
support their work; they may use crowdsourcing to pull together ideas or materials (e.g. photos) for a video, or even to raise money for a project. Creators are influenced greatly by their audience. YouTube has a very useful analytics feature in which the uploader can see the demographic of people who watch the videos: their age, their sex and where they live in the world. I know that 80% of my viewers are girls, which is useful knowledge when thinking about what kind of content to create. It’s not just through anonymous percentages that one’s audience can become involved in the creative process; there is, of course, the comment section. Oh, the dread and the excitement of venturing into the comment section of a video I've recently worked hard on. There is nothing better than seeing immediate feedback on something I've made literally seconds after a video has been uploaded. And as much as people think otherwise, the comments really matter! YouTube brings a wonderful kind of interactive atmosphere to the table, which makes it such a desirable platform to publicise your work. This internet phenomenon has the potential to be just as good as television at providing entertainment. The never-ending opportunities for creativity, due to the unlimited restraints, mean that there is a sheer variety of content out there to discover. And as one of my Twitter followers just told me: ‘Television is for squares’. Our exclusive online interview with Hannah Witton is available at www.redbrick.me/arts. Check out Hannah's youtube channel at http://www.youtube. com/hannahgirasol. hannahgirasol
Naharin and co. of supporting apartheid in Palestine and ethnic cleansing. The night at the Hippodrome was no exception: outside there were crowds of supporters and floods of bobbies; inside during the first act, there were covert protesters who yelled, waved flags and fought. While the performers met the scene with a dignified decorum, the dance mob reacted with boos and jeering. After this interruption, the tension was tangible. The protests revealed themselves to be only a minor annoyance, and even provided inspiration for the dancers. The Gaga dance lends itself to inspired reactions as dancers `connect to their sensuality` and do battle with `their daemons`, to use the words of Naharin. The climax of the night saw a group of scantily clad male dancers, clothed in wispy bed sheets from the trunk down, initiate a young member into
'It is my audience who I make my videos for. Unlike more traditional entertainment industries, the line between the creator and the viewer is very thin.' 'Creators are influenced greatly by their audience. YouTube has a very useful analytics feature in which you can see the demographic of people who watch your videos' 'I know that 80% of my viewers are girls which is useful knowledge when thinking about what kind of content to create.' 'There is nothing better than seeing immediate feedback on something I've made – literally seconds after a video has been uploaded' their group. In a tribal sign of fellowship, they decorated themselves in clay coloured paint and danced together in a mark of camaraderie. With an ending that was fitting to the night’s feeling of group strife and dissent, the younger member rebelled from the whole, expressing his disobedience with tantalisingly emotive expression. Fittingly, in a night that seemed to transcend the performers on stage, there was a lighter moment as the group collected a large array of mature women from the audience and challenged them to a cha cha. Thankfully, this episode did not flop into pantomime-esque triviality but instead was fairly inspiring, as several of the foxier women embraced the situation in yet another self-liberating moment. It was a night for all ages, of intense passion and haunting emotion, of sensuality and of
laughter. The thread that ran through the evening was an organic liberty that connected and pulled out both the audience’s and dancers' inner anarchic self.
www.redbrick.me/arts | 25
Reviews
3Bugs Fringe Theatre presents: The Sea Edward Bond Rosie Kelby Critic
The Sea by Edward Bond is a dark comedy set at the beginning of the 20th century, which trails the chaotic upheaval of a small English coastal town after a young local man drowns at sea. The play manages to combine both tragedy and humour within its wildly unique plot and explores a wide spectrum of themes including love, death and even - believe it or not - alien invasions. Bond introduces us to a very heterogeneous group of characters, from the snobbish to the neurotic, and tracks their extremely varied reactions to the man’s death. The tale is one of emotional turmoil, which leads its audience from the ridiculous to the
profoundly sentimental within seconds. This is indeed a difficult feat to pull off; however, 3Bugs Fringe Theatre have done a very impressive job of it. The University of Birmingham's budding drama society is relatively young, but the performance of this particular cast attained a sense of professionalism which is admirable. Despite a slight technical hitch on the night, the actors ploughed on relentlessly to achieve some truly moving moments, especially those surrounding the romance of the drowned man’s best friend , Willy (Dan Burke), and his fiancée, Rose (Lucy Saunders). At the other end of the scale,
Evgeny Kissin @ Symphony Hall Ella Parsons Critic & Editorial Assistant
awards and tributes, Kissin is undoubtedly an exceptional musician. The concert opened with the cheerful and light-hearted allegro to Haydn’s Piano Sonata No 59 in E flat major. Charming and flirty, this piece was the perfect introduction to a programme full of melodic, but at times deeply emotional music. Kissin lingered over the adagio, filling it with nostalgia and emotion. This sonata was followed by the much heavier and more aggressive Piano Sonata No 32 in C minor by Beethoven, which Kissin gave all the drama and intensity it was due. Admittedly, this piece lost me a bit when it reached its repetitive three-note theme climax, but the ending was sublime,
Redbrick Arts is looking for submissions for a new online exclusive, starting in January 2013: Writer of the Month. We are looking for prose (max.1000 words) or poetry (max. 30 lines) of any theme. Submissions are open to all. For more information or to submit, please e-mail arts@redbrick.me.
Previews
Writer of the Month
Birmingham’s Symphony Hall is undoubtedly one of the city’s greatest attractions. With its breath-taking interior, superb acoustics and reputation for hosting some of the world’s best musicians, it provided the perfect place to listen to the celebrated pianist Evgeny Kissin. Kissin, a Russian pianist with a staggering reputation as one of the world’s best instrumentalists, is currently on his world tour. The concert at Symphony Hall was one of only three he is to play in this country, and it was a privilege to hear him play. As a pianist who started playing by ear and improvising on the piano at the age of two, and who has since then gone on to have a hugely successful career rich with
and so gentle it was hard to believe Kissin’s fingers actually touched the keys. After the interval, Kissin transported us into the enchanted world of Schubert’s Impromptus, followed by Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhaspody No 12. With fingers a blur as they flew across the keys, this was the exciting music of Gypsy bands and Hungarian dances, and it provided a spectacular ending to a spectacular concert. It was a delight to listen to such a talented musician in such a fabulous setting. For those who have never been to the Symphony Hall, I would urge you to get yourselves a ticket. It will be an experience you will not forget.
An evening of the world’s most popular classical music. Spectacular Classics @ Symphony Hall 1st Dec From £14.50
Birmingham Royal Ballet presents Cinderella @ The Hippodrome 21st - 9th Dec From £12.50
the scenes between the hilarious double act of Mrs Rafi (Lily Blacksell), and Mrs Tilehouse (Lizzie Jones), created light relief and on occasions rendered the audience close to hysterical. This is to name but a few of the highlights. There is without a doubt a lot of promising talent within this group, and 3Bugs Fringe Theatre is definitely one to watch for future productions. Although The Sea is not a play which I would usually be drawn to, or indeed a play likely to be found in the popular dramatic repertoire, it was a pleasant surprise to find myself enjoying the more experimental side of drama at the hands of a very competent cast.
26 | 23rd-29th November 2012 @RedbrickFood
Farmer's Market On Campus. Louisa Clark
Safiyyah Gareeboo
Food Writer
Food Writer
Once a month on a Wednesday, the main path to old Joe is taken over by an array of stalls, selling everything foodie from patisserie to meat to honey and jams. This is the farmers market and once you’ve investigated it for the first time, you won’t be able to stay away. You’d think that a farmers market would be full of posh food that’s way too expensive for the average student. However, once you’ve had a proper look round the uni market, you’ll rethink. You could nab yourself a pie from only £2.50 from Brockleby’s Pies and this is practically a whole meal in one go. You also don’t need to feel guilty about spending money on food as the beef and lamb are used from local sources and the pies themselves are handmade using traditional methods in a bakery. However it does seem unlikely that a student would be looking for a pie for dinner – I certainly wouldn’t. Cheap fruit and veg are also available which are of good quality and more student-appropriate. You could even get a chilli plant or some herbs to keep in your kitchen and use in cooking. I bought a basil plant for £1 one week and he is just about surviving – I’m not sure that my green fingers are quite up to scratch but he does taste very nice in pasta dishes! I’d never have thought to buy meat from a market like this rather than a supermarket but after talking to a stallholder, I have completely changed my mind. The meat sold here is ‘proper meat’; it has no water injected into it and no dodgy additives. Instead, you buy a sausage and you could actually find proper pork in there or you buy mince and there’s no need to worry about the fat content. It’s reassuring to know that the meat you’re buying has come from an animal that had a good life in a field rather than an animal which has been force fed. Or maybe that’s just me being a softie. The price is reasonable as well; obviously more expensive than Sainsbury’s basics but a real piece of meat will fill you up more as it’s not full of water to retain the moisture. The downside of the market though is that it is never that greatly advertised and so often students will not know about it until they practically walk into it. They may then only browse as they’re not in need of anything in particular. This could be damaging for some of the stallholders and mean they don’t break even or want to come again. On the upside, if you’re someone who likes to know what you’re eating then the market is the place to go; the stallholders all have a wide knowledge of what they sell and can tell you where it’s come from and how it’s made. This is food provenance and in today’s society where we buy all our food from supermarkets and eat in fast food restaurants, it is fast dying out. So, on the next farmers’ market day, make sure you’re around to sample ostrich burgers or just simply drool over the posh looking patisserie and bring along some pennies to spend on some real nosh.
Walking through campus on the 24th October, many students stumbled across the unmissable monthly Farmer's Market. Whilst some had been looking forward to it all month, the majority had arrived there by pure luck. To their delight the vast array of foods, drinks, ingredients, and crafts available made for the perfect place to stop off and grab a bite to eat. Some aren't so taken by the monthly competition faced by more permanent shops, but by being lucky enough to have such a valuable resource on campus, UoB students are able to explore a whole new world of local culinary delights, with little or no inconvenience to their daily lives. We spoke to some of the stallholders and gained a small insight into what students can expect when they visit next month. One of the first stalls I stopped at was Snoggable Garlic, which boasted a wide variety of garlic options, but also offered other delights such as stuffed peppers and sun-dried tomatoes, which at only 25p a piece are ideal for students willing to have a taste or experiment with new recipes. Close by there were fresh fruit, jams, pickles, juices, chutneys and cider on offer from Norbury's Norrest Farm and Cider Co. for those with a sweeter tooth. As an alternative to supermarket meat, Woodhouse Farm's ethically conscious meats are unlikely to disappoint. Whilst the price may stretch the student budget, some may find that it is worth spending more for the guarantee of better welfare and better quality meat. Pasties, sausage rolls and gluten free sausages are all available alongside the already vast choice, making it a tempting prospect for an easy meal. After looking at all the exciting ingredients on offer, I began to feel quite hungry, and Afia's was the perfect place to go for food on the go. With a wide selection of meat and vegetarian snacks from mild to spicy, there's something for any pakora or samosa lover. All meat used is halal, and Afia specialises in wheat and gluten free products for those with allergies. Taste was by no means compromised by these variations, as I could not tell which were wheat/gluten free when I compared the different selections. Not content with my savoury purchase alone, I headed to Hindley's Bakery for something sweet. I would highly recommend the Giant Raspberry Meringues. Whilst Hidley's source their ingredients from a variety of places, and it's hard to determine where it stands amongst the self-sufficient stallholders, the food on offer makes it worth paying a visit. It’s easy to see why this is a favourite when they're at Birmingham University! On my way out, I almost didn't stop at the Wobbly Bottom Farm stall, as I've never been a massive fan of soft goat's cheese. It turned out to be my favourite stall of the market! The combination of cheese and chives, chilli or pepper makes it hard to stop snacking on the samples! The plain variety I used over the following week was lovely crumbled over potatoes, pizzas and pasta, giving a subtly different taste to each meal.
VegetablePancakes Ingredients: Method:
Pancake batter: 2 cups (220g) plain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste) 2 teaspoons turmeric powder 1 tablespoons yeast 2 cups soy milk 2 tablespoons vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar) Mixed veggies: 1/4 green pepper 1/4 red pepper 1/4 yellow pepper (sliced) 2-3 stalks spring onions 2 small carrots (grated) 3 - 4 fresh mushrooms 1 chilli (chopped)
1. Mix the vinegar with the soy milk, leave for a few minutes. 2. Add all dry ingredients to the batter in a bowl. 3. Pour in the soy milk mixture and mix well. 4. In a skillet or non-stick pan, toss the fresh mushrooms in some oil on medium heat. Remove and set aside. 5. You can use the same pan to make the pancake or use a pancake pan, make sure it's dry and lightly greased with some oil. 6. Begin heating on low. Place the vegetables on the pan in the shape of a circle, roughly 20 cm in diameter. 7. Pour on the pancake batter and even it out over the vegetables, covering them completely. 8. Leave to cook for about 1 minute until small bubbles start forming around the edge and pancake is firm enough to be flipped over. 9. Turn pancake on the other side and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
www.redbrick.me/food | 27
Food&Film Izzy Gibbin Food Editor
Tampopo
A Grand Day Out
Who the hell made popcorn the snack of choice at the cinema? The sound of crunching and chewing, of spittle breaking like cacophonous waves of horror upon my eardrums is enough to distract me from even the finest work of cinema (which would, of course, be Disney's Finding Nemo). However, as Nietzsche once posited, ' To live is to suffer; to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering'. As such, I have found the upside to this culinary disaster. For as I sat recently watching Skyfall amidst a sea of dastardly popcorneaters, pinned to my seat in genuine fear and discomfort, I got to thinking about those rare, beautiful moments when food and film really work together, be it to appetizing or truly revolting effect. You've seen American Pie, right? Well, that's not what I'm talking about.
There's foodie films, and then there's Tampopo. Oh, you haven't heard of Tampopo? Well, shame on you. Juzo Itami's Tampopo is everything that food should be all the time. Sexy, funny, and elevated to epic importance as Gun and Goro, our two unlikely protagonists go in search of the perfect bowl of ramen noodles. The iconic scene is one in which two lovers pass a raw egg yolk between one another's mouths without breaking it. It's mesmerizing; you desperately want to look away, but for reasons far beyond your comprehension it becomes impossible. It's a kind of Japanese Last Tango In Paris, but it goes so much further than good old smutty foodporn. To watch Tampopo is to understand food as you never have before.
Wallace and Gromit take a trip to the moon for a cheese-feast. The thing that stuck with me about this film, is the malevolent personified oven that attempts to bludgeon Wallace about the head, but watching it back as a greedy, perpetually broke student, I can't help but work myself into a dairy-induced frenzy at the sight of those big hunks of lunar cheese. It's droolworthy stuff, but one has to question the logic of serving lunar cheese spread dry on a cracker. Some kind of chilli jam or fruit chutney would make it a lot nicer, but that's Wallace for you. All credit to creator Nick Park though, for making a lump of animated cheese cut from the moon look a lot more delicious than anything you'd ever buy from Sainsbury's.
Pan's Labyrinth
Se7en
Matilda
Del Toro's visual masterpiece comes to a spectacularly creepy head as young Ofelia must retrieve a dagger without waking the shrivelled 'Pale Man' (think Voldemort with saggier skin, a rather unfortunate bone structure and eyeballs for palms). Before him, the table is laid with a sumptuous feast: juicy red grapes the size of plums, a huge joint of meat with crackling, and great stodgy lumps of dark chocolate cake. Ofelia is warned against taking a single bite, and as she eyes the spread, every fibre of my being hums with foreboding. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, she takes a grape, and so begins a chase scene that puts all other chase scenes to shame.
David Fincher's fantastic thriller opens with the murder of an obese man who has been forced to eat himself to death. As culinary murders go, it's much more Jamie Oliver than it is Heston Blumenthal; garden-variety spaghetti and tomato sauce is his weapon of choice. The murder's supposed to be punishment for the second of the deadly sins; gluttony. A regrettable fate, though if we're all destined for a Dante-esque afterlife, then I can think of no better place to spend eternity than the third circle of hell, reserved exclusively for gluttons. There, at least, you've got a chance of enjoying a decent meal.
All the best moments in Matilda come from some kind of interaction with food. Do you remember the bit where Ms. Trunchable makes Bruce Bogtrotter eat an entire chocolate cake? I used to groan along with everybody else during that scene, whilst secretly wishing I could help little Brucie out myself. I'd snaffle that cake down in a second, even if it is full of Cook's blood, sweat and tears.
Satisfy your trigger finger.
Redbrick Photography Competition November's theme is 'Student Life' Submissions must be emailed to photography@redbrick.me by 30th November for your chance to win a ÂŁ10 Amazon Voucher!
Redbrick. Print | Digital | Mobile Further details can be found at redbrick.me/photography
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www.redbrick.me/sports | 29
@RedbrickSport
Oxford prove no match for Birmingham on the hardcourt
Zhang proves worth in local derby Table Tennis
Birmingham 2nds
8
Aston 1sts
9
Tom Garry Sport Reporter
Men's Basketball
Birmingham 2nds
76
Oxford 2nds
34
Coming off a demolition of Newman College in their opening round of the BUCS Cup competition, the Birmingham Lions Men’s 2nd basketball team steamrolled a travelling University of Oxford 2nd team in a game that ended 76-34. This win is huge for the Lions as it brings them to an even 2-2 record in the BUCS season. The home side were in high spirits and eager for further success on the court. This showed right away as they made a quick start. Utilising their ever improving defence, the hosts startled the away side with their full court press which led to a number of turnovers from Oxford who lacked the athleticism and skill required to beat this energised home side. Birmingham took advantage of the inability of the away guards to bring the ball up against pressure and this translated into many points on the fast break. Juan Nieto (19 points, 15 rebounds), with a huge double-double, was the standout player for the Lions, and made his presence known in the first quarter, scoring a number of layups under the basket. It became clear from the opening quarter that the visitors
Matt Yuan Sport Reporter
@MattYuan3
were no match for the home side with the period ending 22-9 to the hosts. The second quarter proved to be the nail in the coffin for the away side. The hosts continuously forced Oxford into turning the ball over and this continued to lead to success for the home team. Alex Rigsby chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks, dominating in the paint to help the home side to secure the victory. The quarter was filled with a number of highlight plays from the likes of John Angelakos (14 points), Willie Jong (nine points) and Juan Nieto, who all converted tough individual plays that led the team to a 42-16 lead by the first half. It had become painfully apparent that the away side were no match for the much improved Birmingham side, and this would continue to be the trend for the remainder of the game. The second half continued to show the difference in skill between the two sides. The home side started out strong once more, making a clear effort to stop the visitors scoring. The away team were forced into jacking up ridiculous three point shots and it seemed that even
if the basket was the size of a swimming pool it would not have made any difference whatsoever. They just couldn’t make a bucket. The quarter would end 59-18, with Oxford scoring an embarrassing two points in ten minutes of play. Understandably the home side took their foot off the pedal slightly, assured of the victory as early as the first quarter. The visitors got to the free throw line in this quarter with some success, however this came painfully too late as the deficit was far too big for them to erase. The Lion’s bench really showed strength in this quarter with contributions from Anthony Davies and Alex Howard. The quarter ended 76-34 with the away side narrowing the gap slightly, but the result was already beyond doubt. Birmingham showed that their defence has and continues to improve this season and if they keep it up they will be able to compete with the top teams in the division. It was promising to see that the Brum bench was able to score, and this will be the key for the team to continue picking up results.
Will Siddons
@WSiddons
@TomG_BurnFM
The Birmingham Men’s 2nds suffered their first defeat of the season so far at the hands of local rivals Aston University 1sts, despite a spirited fight-back in the Munrow New Gym. Trailing 5-8 with just four of 17 matches to go, the Birmingham team refused to give in and won three in a row to keep their hopes alive, levelling the score at 8-8 ahead of the crucial decider - the doubles. However, their efforts were in vain as the visitors sealed the narrowest of victories with a three sets to zero win in the doubles to take the fixture by nine points to eight. The Birmingham team were unfortunate to come up against Dashuai Zhang, Aston’s number one, who was outstanding throughout the encounter and picked up four crucial singles wins. Zhang showed that he was a class above the rest of the field all afternoon, teasing his opponents at times with deft dropshots, seemingly always in control of the rally. He was also dominant in the all important doubles match, failing to drop a single point on his serve as the Aston pair won in straight sets, much to the disappointment of the home side. However, there were many positives for Birmingham to take from their performance, not least the heroics of Nick Crawley, who won two crucial matches when his team were seemingly dead and buried. Team Captain Aritra Dutta was quick to praise his side after the match: ‘I’m proud of my team for putting up a good fight. We came up against surprisingly strong opposition and I think the team did really well to take it that far (to the doubles), especially Nick for winning two very important matches.’ ‘It’s not the end of the world’, Dutta continued, ‘our next match is against Loughborough, in two weeks, and if we win that then we will be right back in contention. I think this is a reality check for us because now we know that we can’t take things easy and we need to prepare hard for every match.’ The team have a squad of 16 players and Dutta admitted that squad rotation had been his policy so far this season, with everyone now having had a go, saying ‘from now onwards, picking the team will be easier.’
30 | 23rd - 29th November 2012
Charlotte Wilson
Row, row row your boat, gently down the stream... If only rowing was that easy. Redbrick Sport finds out about one of the most physically demanding sports at the University. Charlotte Wilson Photography Editor
@Wilsonscribbles
Amongst the many sports that featured in both the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, rowing was one of the most closely watched. With five gold, two silver and three bronze medals secured by various crews, it was easily one of the most successful for Team GB. True, university rowing isn’t quite of the Olympic standard, but this doesn’t mean that the time and effort channelled into both training and competitions is any less demanding. This year, the University of Birmingham Boat Club (UBBC) welcomed over 100 new members into its ranks which, when coupled with the existing intermediate and senior squads, easily makes them one of the biggest clubs in Birmingham’s sporting community. Each rower follows a gruelling training plan that includes everything from three consecutive 6k stints on the rowing machines, to early weekend mornings spent either at the local Edgbaston Reservoir or on the River Severn that
runs through Worcester. Not to be forgotten of course are the coxes who must remain sharp to navigate changing currents, disruptive head winds and other crews whilst keeping their own team in check with a string of calm, motivational calls. And what are these athletes rewarded with? A handful of blisters (quite literally), aching muscles and a rocketing food bill (those recommended 3000 calories a day don’t buy themselves after all). But it’s not all bad. They also get to enjoy the euphoria of crossing the line accompanied by the characteristic Birmingham caterwauls, of having clashed blades with that slower crew up ahead yet emerged out on top, and for the victorious crews, of getting to throw their unfortunate cox into the river in a traditional show of triumph. Kain Adey, a Social Work MA student and new addition to the senior men’s squad this year, has joined UBBC following three years representing the University of Swansea. ‘The
coaching, equipment and performance levels here are much higher than at Swansea, so for me, it’s rowing heaven.' Despite the time and effort the sport consumes, Adey was happy to come back for more. ‘Rowing is like a drug, it’s easy to get addicted to. It’s something you can always be better at. It keeps you coming back and when something goes right in training or at a race, the sense of achievement is unrivalled. Better than sex.’ The rowing year is split into two main seasons; head races and regattas that fall during the winter and summer months respectively. Whilst head races surmount to distances of between 3-7k down a winding stretch of river, regattas are a straight-line 2k sprint across an expansive lake. Each has its requirements; teeth-gritting endurance for that long-distance slog of a head race, and steely determination as you race sideby-side with opposing regatta crews. Each season also has its significant meets that act as important benchmarks in UBBC’s calendar. The head race season is kick-started with the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) endorsed Bristol Head which, although it lacks the grandeur of the larger competitions, holds significance in the fact that it acts as the grand debut of all the novice crews. As usual, there were a number of commendable successes this year with the first women’s beginner 8+ emerging victorious in their category and the first men’s intermediate 8+ coming in 5th, despite having a crew comprised mainly of novice row-
When something goes right at a race , the sense of achievement is unrivalled.
@wilsonscribbles
ers. Finally, the men’s championship 2x, made up of the freshly combined George Hopkins and Oscar Warner, stormed down the course to secure a convincing win with an impressive lead of 26 seconds. The bigger events are both BUCS Head and the gruelling Head of the River Race which sees crews row the very same course on the River Thames made famous by the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. As they shed the winter layers and move into the exhilarating regatta season, UBBC have BUCS Regatta to look forward to. Across this hectic weekend, squads could be racing up to three times a day alongside well over 900 other crews that represent roughly 68 universities. Students even get the chance to trial for Team GB, an opportunity both seized and won by three members of the club this year. Following this is the run-up to the esteemed Henley Royal Regatta. The whole club, whether they qualify for Henley or not, are able to enjoy this archaic event. Many opt to camp in the surrounding fields for the full four days of the competition in order to watch close-cut races whilst dressed in their Sunday best and gaudy rowing blazers, sipping Pimms and (hopefully) lapping up the summer sun. This year, a coxed four was entered into the regatta and, after pre-qualifying with three strong wins in preceding regattas (two of which took place on the Olympic course at Eton Dorney), managed to proceed through to the 2nd day of racing before being knocked out by Harvard Univeristy, U.S.A. With head racing season only just getting underway, the club and its numerous members have a whole year of competition to look forward to. Undoubtedly, it’ll be tough, it’ll be painful, but as crews leap from strength to strength and tackle races with confidence, it’ll all be worth it.
www.redbrick.me/sports | 31
Page 31 Sports Shorts
Tweet of the Week
Online this week @StuartBroad8
Heroes... Miguel Angel Jiminez The veteran Spaniard became the oldest winner ever on the European Tour, winning his third Hong Kong Open at the age of 48 years and 318 days. Who is to say that this will be the eccentric golfer's last title given the consistency of his golf. John Ruddy The Norwich and England goalkeeper put in a career performance on the weekend, helping his side to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. A valuable three points for the Canaries, which without Ruddy between the sticks would undoubtedly been a defeat.
'And before u listen to too many ex playing 'experts' being negative, ask them if they ever won a Test series in India....#28years'
The FIFA PuskĂĄs award Mike Christoforou looks at the ten nominees for goal of the year, including goals from Lionel Messi, Radamel Falcao and Hatem Ben Arfa and chooses his top three. Carl Froch
Weekend Wager
4/9
The first ever British winner of the Tour de France followed by a gold medal in the London 2012 road time trial. It has been an amazing year for Bradley Wiggins. Sports Personality of the Year is being held on the 16th December and Wiggo has got to be firm favourite to take the crown.
Redbrick Sport Quiz
Froch retained his IBF Super-middleweight title on Saturday by knocking out Yusaf Mack within three rounds. Owen Dunne ponders what is next for the Nottingham fighter.
5. Who has been top point scorer in the NBA for the last three years?
1.Aberdeen 2.Seoul 3. Yellow 4.Rory Underwood 5. Kevin Durant
The Redbrick Crossword
England vs Sweden England succombed to a 4-2 defeat to Sweden last Wednesday. Joe McKivitt looks back on that goal, and how England's debutants faired.
Please complete this form before you hand in your completed crossword to the Redbrick office. Name:
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Scribble box
Women's Football 1sts 4-0 Durham 1sts Men's Basketball 1sts 57-56 Nottingham 1sts Men's Tennis 1sts 11-6 UEA 1sts Lacrosse Men's 1sts 19-9 Leicester 1sts Squash Men's 3rds 4-1 Cambridge 1sts
Fixtures - 28th November Women's Badminton 1sts v Northumbria 1sts Munrow Sports Hall 1.30pm Men's Lacrosse 1sts v Nottingham Trent 1sts Metchley 2pm Rugby League 1sts v Loughborough 2nds Bournbrook, 4pm
Tennis season finale With the tennis season finished in dramatic style by Novak Djokovic last week Tom Dodd looks at what the next season might hold for us.
Antonia Morris Crossword Editor
This week's prize is a ÂŁ5 Waterstones Gift Voucher Completed crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office, located in the Guild basement
Women's Hockey 1sts 1-2 Durham 1sts
Women's Badminton 1sts 5-2 Durham 1sts
2. Where were the 1988 Olympics held?
4. Who is England's record try scorer in rugby union?
Men's Hockey 1sts 0-2 Durham 1sts
Men's Volleyball 1sts 3-1 Leicester 1sts
1. Which club did Alex Ferguson leave to go to Man United?
3. What colour is the innermost zone in an archery target?
Results - 21th November
Down
Across 1. Extracts ores from the earth (5) 1. A king of Scotland and well2. City in SW Canada (7) known play (7) 3. Lack of interest/boredom (5) 5. Denoting or having a speed equal 4. Scottish savoury pudding to that of sound (5) served on Burn's night (6) 8. Generic word for family of syn5. Edible bivalve mollusc (7) thetic polymers (5) 6. Horny sheaths protecting ends 9. Semi-frozen Italian dessert (7) of fingers and toes (5) 10. Bantu language (7) 7. Wine cup used for the Eucharist 11. Salty or sweet Indian yoghurt(7) based drink (5) 12. Regularly found among a 12. Donkey character from popular particular people or area (7) children's book (6) 13. Small dish for cooking and 14. Native American people from SW serving an individual portion of USA (6) food (7) 17. Series of thoughts/images in per- 15. Salt or ester of hydrocyanic son's mind whilst asleep (5) acid (7) 19. Green soybeans (7) 16. Group of seven (6) 22. Small south African mongoose 18. Injection of liquid into the (7) rectum for cleansing (5) 23. Natives of Ireland (5) 20. Statement or proposition that 24. Connected flexible series of metal is regarded as self-evidently true links (5) (5) 25. Middle English young unmarried 21. Fundamental values specific women (7) to a person, people or culture (5)
Women's Hockey 1sts v Manchester 1sts Bournbrook, 3.45pm Women's Tennis 2nds v Loughbroough 2nds Priory Tennis Club, 1pm Men's Fencing 1sts v Warwick 1sts Munrow New Gym, 1pm
...and villains Emanuel Adebayor What a horrific challenge it was. Despite the Togolese international opening the scoring for Spurs, it was his needless red card which led their collapse against his former club. AVB may not want to blame him, but Redbrick Sport does. Ferrari We get that Formula 1 is about the team, but it surely damages the integrity of the sport and the race when a driver is demoted to give their team mate an advantage despite qualifying ahead of him. In moving Alonso to the clean side of the track, they may have taken the Drivers' Championship to the last race, but they have gained few friends.
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32 | 23rd-29th November 2012
www.redbrick.me/sport
On the water
Rainy days
Redbrick Sport gains an insight into the life and training of a University of Birmingham Rower
p30
With rain playing havoc with this week's fixtures, table tennis and basketball took prominence on campus
p29
RedbrickSport
Brum frustrated by Notts in ferocious encounter Birmingham
Women's Hockey
Birmingham 2nds
3
Nottingham 2nds
3
Nottingham Short Corners 12
Felix Keith Sport Editor
4
@FelixKeith
Birmingham women’s hockey second team drew 3-3 with Nottingham seconds in a frustrating game that saw them surrender a two-goal lead. The home team came into this fixture full of confidence having beaten the same opposition by six goals in a cup game the week before, but it wasn’t to go their way in this match. Birmingham began the better side, creating some great early opportunities, with Eleanor Griffiths shooting wide before Maddie Thompson slid in and hit the post from an Emily Crack cross. Their lightning start was rewarded on six minutes when a rebound from a short corner was collected on the edge of the D by Sammy Clift, who smashed a low shot into the bottom left corner. The hosts continued in a similar fashion, dominating the play by pressing high up the pitch, frequently winning possession back within the opponents half. Brum got a deserved second goal on 15 minutes. Emily Crack held onto the ball in the D with a fantastic dribble before setting up Elise Facer-Childs to bundle it over the line at the back post. As the first half wore on the home team became even more comfortable – pushing their defensive line higher up and cutting out passes. Nottingham got back in the game at the perfect time however, scoring from their third short corner of the game just before half time. A simple routine was powered through the bodies on the line by Alex Maning to give the visitors hope. Birmingham were visibly deflated in the break. Having dominated the first half they failed to make their dominance show on the scoreboard.
Jack Schofield
Nottingham were clearly encouraged by the first goal and came out after the break with greater fight and intensity. The Brum threat was still
@JSchofield92
there though as Thompson proved with a great run to the by-line, but she just failed to connect when providing a cross. The visitors got the
equaliser against the run of play a few minutes later. A run down the right hand side caused confusion in defence and the ball was dug out from underneath goalkeeper Amy Jones’ feet and scrambled home by Becky Sager. There was now clear frustration on the faces of the home side and it was obvious they would have to battle for the remainder of the match. The game continued at a frenetic pace with both teams tackling fiercely. Birmingham had to be wary of the counter-attack with Sager constantly proving an outlet for the away team. The hosts’ best opportunities were coming from short corners, but they struggled to really work the keeper. Birmingham seemed close to finding a winner with Facer-Childs shooting wide and Thompson running from the halfway line before miscuing her shot. A sucker punch was to follow though five minutes from time, when Nottingham broke away from a short corner - one pass beat the defence and Sager rounded the stranded Jones to score. With only a few minutes remaining Brum were throwing everything forward in search of the equalizer. Successive shots from Hannah Goss forced the keeper into making saves before the dramatic finish came. Finally a short corner was worked to Emily Hogg who finished emphatically to secure the point. Speaking after the match, coach Rebecca Condie was understandably disappointed with a draw: ‘it was a frustrating result - going from the high standard of last week to that performance was disappointing.’ Birmingham will be hoping for a better result next week, when they take on Durham seconds in the cup.