ISSUE 1513 by Redbrick

Redbrick Issue 1513, Vol. 84

Friday 24th January 2020

FREE

UoB Alumnus Wrongly Listed as Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Redbrick

page 3

The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936

Officer Team Misled Students Over Strike Stance Yernur Niyetkaliyev News Reporter

John Wimperis News Editor

The Guild of Students’ full-time officer team misled students over the reasons for its neutral stance on the recent University College Union (UCU) strike by not revealing that a Your Ideas submission, which did not pass but prevented the Guild from taking a stance, was written and submitted by the Officer team. The submission on the Guild of Students’ Your Ideas platform proposed that ‘during the upcoming strike action, due to the impact on student learning, assessment and experience, the Guild of Students should stay neutral in response.’ It continued to say that the Guild should lobby for the University to minimise the impact on students through adjusted deadlines, teaching arrangements and learning outcomes. It also argued for ‘money not spent on staff wages to be reinvested into an area of benefit to students.’ The submission was discussed by the Guild Policy Development Group (GPDG) on 13th November. A GPDG member confirmed to Redbrick that the officers presented the Your Ideas submission as being submitted by a student and did not clarify that the submission

The Oscars 2020: What the Academy got wrong

in question was drafted and submitted by them. The GPDG member added: ‘when the position was challenged, GDPG members argued that the statement was the only available source of student body opinion.’ The submission failed to receive unanimous approval in GPDG, receiving 12 votes for, one against and one abstention. It was therefore passed onto an all student vote on the Your Ideas section of the Guild’s website. A statement released by the Guild on 29th November outlined what the Guild was doing for students and strikers during the action including opening up all Guild rooms as study spaces, sharing ‘impartial information on the strike action and its impacts,’ and raising the strikers’ concerns with the University. It added, ‘we want to make sure that our stance reflects your opinions – and we can only act if you speak up on the issues that matter to you. If you want to let us know how you feel about this issue or you think our stance should be different, then come along to Officer Question Time on Monday 2nd December or take the time to vote on Your Ideas before 4 pm this Friday.’ When the Guild’s neutral stance on the strike was brought up at Officer Question Time, Guild President Joshua Williams said: ‘a Your Ideas was submitted which pledged a neutral position and protects the interests of students.’ Williams explained that, because this

Arguing in defence of Riverdale

Features TV 16-17 25

had not been passed unanimously, it had gone onto an online vote which could then be voted on. Because the online vote had not then closed, Williams argued that they could not take a stance on the strike as that would ‘undermine the democratic processes of the Guild,’ referring to it changing the outcome of GPDG without having had the online vote first. It was again not made clear that the officer team had written the Your Ideas submission. The online vote closed on 6th December, two days after the strike ended. The result of the online vote for the Your Ideas submission was -45 with a total of 121 votes. However, minutes of the Full Time Officer Group meeting (FTOG) on 11th November confirm that the Officers ‘had drafted a Your Ideas submission on the Guild’s stance on the upcoming campus industrial action’ the wording of which was agreed by the Officer Team. Asked by Redbrick whether they had authored the submission, the Full Time Officer team released the following group statement: ‘yes, it was submitted on behalf of the officer team to provide students with an opportunity to vote on a stance. ‘What the last Your Ideas cycle demonstrated was the need to be able to call an emergency all-student meeting to

Redbrick

allow students to vote on key issues such as this. This will be an important feature of our democratic review – allowing more students to directly influence policy making.’ Asked why it was not made clear that they had authored the Your Ideas submission, they said: ‘on reflection, it should have been made clearer when being voted on. We will reflect on how GPDG is chaired and the democracy review presents us with a great opportunity to allow students to have their voices heard in the democratic processes of the Guild.’ Asked if this was misleading, they stated ‘the officer team would never intentionally mislead students and we are looking at ways to improve the Guild’s democratic processes to work better for students.’ The UCU-backed strike action took place across 60 UK universities, including UoB, between 25th November and 4th December. UCU members backed strike action in two separate legal disputes: one over pay and working conditions, and one over changes to their pension scheme.

The best travel destinations for this year

Is it cruel to make your pet vegan?

Travel 30

Sci&Tech 34

INSIDE: Redbrick Gaming Look at the Stories and Figures That Defined the Decade

www.redbrick.me

Redbrick

Friday 24th January 2020

www.redbrick.me

Letter From the Committee: On behalf of Redbrick, I would like to sincerely apologise for not having published a single paper since last year... Okay, now that that joke's out of the way, I would like to express how amazed I am that 2019 is already over! It seems like it was only yesterday that I was celebrating the end of 2018. Yet in the past year alone, we released 12 issues of Redbrick, posted 1,110 new articles on the website which attracted over 166,000 individual viewers from practically every country in the world! In fact, the only countries the website wasn't viewed from in the last year are Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, East Timor and North Korea; so, if you plan on visiting any of these countries in 2020, please check out redbrick.me! I'm also proud to say that Redbrick was awarded the award for Best Publication in the Midlands by the Student Publication Association. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our amazing members who create, review and publish all this wonderful content! I would also like to thank all our readers who support us and give us our ‘raison d'être.’ On a more personal note, I would like to thank the current committee as well as all the other members of Redbrick who have been such a welcoming group of people for me. When I joined Redbrick last year, I did not know anything about Redbrick apart from the couple of arti-

cles I’d previously read in the paper. Through the help of Jivan Pal, last year’s Lead Developer, and the rest of the committee I’ve come to understand the way Redbrick works and have learned to appreciate it in all its facets. I take great pride in saying that I am the Lead Developer for Redbrick. And I am humbled to be given the opportunity to work alongside so many passionate and hardworking writers, editors, photographers, etc. Moving forward to 2020, and the new decade, here is the main goal I think we should all be setting ourselves at Redbrick: increase our focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO). 80% of Redbrick’s online views come from Google searches. By improving our articles’ SEO, we will be able to increase our audience considerably and Redbrick will be in a good place to expand as we move into this new decade. In the coming weeks, I will be releasing a comprehensive guide to SEO for everyone to understand what it is, why it’s important and most importantly how to do it. I would also like to strongly encourage anyone looking to do something new, something different, or something fun this year to join Redbrick. There’s so much more to Redbrick than ‘just’ writing articles: last year, we organised a food bank, ran contests to win Fab tickets, went to the Media Ball, sent writers to Wembley and so much more. If

that’s not enough to convince you, don’t forget that we also have Anna, a lovely fish who lives in our office and will keep you company when you’re in there. Disclaimer: she has slightly lost her Brummie accent after spending Christmas in Northampton... I’ve said my piece, now go enjoy this wonderful issue 1513 and I wish you an amazing 2k20. Peace out. From the dungeons, etc...

Joseph Chotard Lead Developer

Follow us on Social Media @redbrickpaper Want to be featured? Send us your photos at: deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk and/or tag us in your photos by using #redbrickinstagram

Online this week at redbrick.me... CULTURE

FOOD&DRINK

FILM

Needpix

Christopher Raphael/STX Films

The Power of Charity Bake Sales

Review: The Gentlemen

Paul Hudson Troy: Myth and Reality

LIFE&STYLE

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Tom Leaman editor@redbrickonline.co.uk

Deputy Editors Emily Calder Lydia Waller deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk

Print & Features Editor Natalia Carter print@redbrickonline.co.uk

Digital Editors Lucy McCann Holly Pittaway digital@redbrickonline.co.uk

Lead Developer Joseph Chotard

News Editors Aneesa Ahmed Alex Boscott Christina Manns John Wimperis Rhiannon Wood news@redbrickonline.co.uk

film@redbrickonline.co.uk

Comment Editors Emily Chapman Hannah Lay Alice Macfarlane Abby Spreadborough

Television Editors Amrita Mande Catrin Osborne

marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk

Social Secretary Becky Hall social@redbrickonline.co.uk

tv@redbrickonline.co.uk

comment@redbrickonline.co.uk

Culture Editors Grace Baxendine Luca Demetriou culture@redbrickonline.co.uk

developer@redbrickonline.co.uk

Marketing Secretary Theodore Wrigley

Film Editors Amy O’Neill Matt Taylor Todd Waugh Ambridge Sam Zucca

Music Editors Gemma Elgar Daisy Kirkaldy Dylan Lucas music@redbrickonline.co.uk

Gaming Editors Alex Green Tom Martin Sam Nason gaming@redbrickonline.co.uk

Food&Drink Editors Harriet Laban Beth Sadler Gabrielle TaylorDowson food@redbrickonline.co.uk

Travel Editors Josie Hart Katie Norris Fern O’Shaughnessy travel@redbrickonline.co.uk

Life&Style Editors Estelle Dragan Frankie Rhodes Ellie Silcock Elizabeth Winter lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sci&Tech Editors Peter Amor Francesca Benson Ellen Heimpel tech@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sport Editors Luke Bosher John Rogers Kit Shepard sport@redbrickonline.co.uk

Editorial Assistants Chloe Mainzinger Emma Stephenson Dana Lillie Rhianna Vulpio Izzy Frost Ella McFarlane Mary Lanitis Bethany-Jo O'Neill Molly Elliott Emily Olds Mehar Anaokar Seren Brooks

Jill Wellington Your Mental Health Booster Pack

Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TT 0121 251 2462

editor@redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick is printed through www.mortonsprint.com 01507 523 456 To advertise in Redbrick, get in touch with marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk or visit www.redbrick.me/advertise-with-redbrick for more details, and to see our rate card. Designed and typeset by Redbrick Copyright (C) Redbrick 2019

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.

NEWS

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricknews

UoB Alumnus Wrongly New Teaching and Listed as Nobel Peace Learning Building is a Step Up Prize Winner Dylan Morgen

spectus pronounces: ‘Why Birmingham? The University has News Reporter 11 Nobel Prize winners.’ There is also a large mural, The University of Birmingham named the ‘wall of achievements,’ (UoB) has incorrectly counted one at the UoB Dubai campus, with the of their alumnus as a Nobel Peace names of 11 Nobel Prize winners, Prize winner. including Bullock. This mural is University of Birmingham frequently used as the backdrop alumnus, Professor Bullock, who for student groups and dignitary graduated in 1985 with a BA in pictures which appear on the UoB Geography, is listed by the univer- Dubai Facebook page. sity as a Nobel Prize winner. He The UoB Dubai webpage worked for the International Panel states: ‘Your son or daughter will on Climate Change (IPCC) organi- set a firm course for a career in the sation which won the 2007 Nobel future by enrolling in a university, Peace Prize. which can name 11 Nobel winners However, the Norwegian among its alumni.’ Nobel Institute confirmed to Overall, there are five menRedbrick that, if an organisation tions of Nobel Prize winners in the wins a Nobel Prize, it is only the 2020 UoB Dubai prospectus and organisation that can state they are two in the UK prospectus. the Nobel Prize winner, not any The UoB has even given the individual. The Nobel Institute name ‘Bullock’ to one of the six emphasised in 2012 ‘that it is luxurious bedrooms in the bouincorrect to refer to any IPCC offi- tique-style Hornton Grange at the cial, or scientist as a Nobel Prize UoB’s Edgbaston Park Hotel, winner.’ ‘after a Nobel Winner.’ UoB uses its 11 Nobel Prize Donna Laframboise of the winners prominently in its adver- Canadian Financial Post wrote in tising. The UK undergraduate pro- 2013 that the chairman of the IPCC Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, told thousands of IPCC members they were all winners of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. A copy of the Nobel Prize diploma with an IPCC attachment of appreciation was sent to senior IPCC members. Laframboise wrote ‘the chairman profoundly overstepped his authority’ and ‘everyone should have understood this was mere rhetorical flourish.’ But she wrote, neither the Nobel committee, nor the IPCC nor the media called him out on it. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2007, Artist: Britt She continJuul,Calligrapher: Inger Magnus, Photo reproduction: ued, it was only Thomas Widerberg after a defama-

tion lawsuit involving an IPCC member claiming to be a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner, that a statement was issued in 2012 confirming individuals could not claim to be a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner. The American Fox News website reported in 2016 that ‘the University of Delaware has removed a reference from its website that described Climate Professor John Byrne as sharing the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Junk Science reports. The spokeswoman added that when the error was brought to the university's attention, it was immediately corrected.’ Universities have now agreed rules as to who they call their Nobel Prize winners; these are invariably alumni and staff. The University of Cambridge excludes Nobel Prize winners who have held non-academic and honorary positions and the Wikipedia Nobel Prize listings exclude Chancellors ‘as these are invariably non-academic positions.’ UoB includes Lord Robert Cecil, a 1937 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was Chancellor of UoB between 1918 - 44. Lord Cecil did not graduate or teach at UoB. A spokesperson from UoB told Redbrick: ‘the University of Birmingham is proud of our late alumnus Professor Peter Bullock’s outstanding achievements in demonstrating the role played by soil in the Earth’s ecosystem and the impact of climate change on land degradation. ‘A staunch advocate of the need to treat soil as a sustainable resource, Professor Bullock spread greater knowledge about manmade climate change through his research and laid the foundations for counteracting it - being appointed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which was collectively awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its work. ‘We are grateful to Redbrick for highlighting how we mark the achievements of Professor Bullock and his IPCC colleagues, and will review how the University reflects/ references his role in this important work whilst continuing to commemorate his outstanding contribution to work around manmade climate change.’

John Wimperis

David Atkins News Reporter

The University of Birmingham’s new Teaching and Learning Building has opened next to the library. The building sits right at the centre of the Green Heart development, which was finished last year and cost £22.7 million, with a new café area and ten seminar rooms, which hold a capacity of 30 each. The building also provides additional lecture space, with two lecture theatres holding 750 people cumulatively. Peter Owen, managing director for Wilmott Dixon, told Redbrick that the Teaching and Learning Building will ‘provide a new cutting-edge facility for students and staff to enjoy.’ Owen added that ‘the new building will be a flagship educational facility for the University.’ The new building has increased the amount of study space on campus, providing students with an additional location to work. Cat Salt, a second year student, praised the interior of the building and the lighting, telling Redbrick that the building was ‘very nice and modern.’ The modern café area has also been praised by students such as Kirstin Dick, a Human Biology student. She told Redbrick that the Teaching and Learning building is ‘modern and the café’s good’ but that the building lacked printers. This building has also been praised for its environmental sustainability, as it features electricity totems representing the total electricity used in the building and the electricity consumption over previous days. The Teaching and Learning Building has been criticised for the lack of plug sockets at desks,

however, and for the lack of independent study rooms. Molly Elliott, a second year student told Redbrick, ‘studying might be difficult due to the lack of plugs at the desks.’ Some students have suggested that the width of the stairs increases the time it takes to walk up the floors. Cerys Gardner, a first year, commented that ‘the really long steps mean I have to lunge to get from one step to the next.’ Lecturers at the University of Birmingham overwhelmingly praised the new building for its additional lecture and seminar space. However, lecturers stressed that ‘the seminar rooms were spacious but inflexible as the tables could not be moved easily for seminar discussions.’ Ryan Ginger, the Guild Activities and Employability Officer, adds that: ‘Every weekday Guild Student Groups are able to book out the ten seminar rooms from 7-10pm. This is a great win for Student Groups providing them with more space to book, meet and do their activity!' Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, told Redbrick: ‘The Teaching and Learning Building is an excellent demonstration of our commitment to providing the best academic facilities for our students. With both formal and informal learning spaces, this building was designed with student feedback in mind. ‘It is very encouraging to see that the facilities have been full and well used within the opening week. I am very much looking forward to delivering a lecture there on Wednesday 29 January as part of UoBe Enlightened, an event to celebrate the completion of this new facility. I hope to see many students there.’

University Ends Communication with UBSW Ella Kipling News Reporter

The University of Birmingham (UoB) has ended communication with University of Birmingham Student Workers (UBSW). UBSW describe themselves as ‘campaigning for justice for casual student workers exploited by unfair working terms, conditions and systems at the University of Birmingham.’ The group was formed by Phoebe Gill, when student workers went unpaid for work done for UoB during issues with the New Core payment system, and have previously been in communica-

tion with the university regarding Worklink payments and fair treatment of workers. However, this January, UBSW received an email from UoB senior management which stated that the University would no longer work with the group. It stated, ‘we are keen to ensure that our ongoing dialogue with students affected by the various issues we have discussed previously are as representative as possible. ‘In order to do this we have agreed that the best route for ongoing consultation will be through the Guild of Students, as this is the case for a diverse range of other matters affecting students,

as well as directly with student staff via Worklink. Our separate engagement with you last term was helpful for us to get a broad understanding of the variety of problems that student staff were facing.’ The email continued, ‘going forward it would not be appropriate to meet with you as representatives of student staff, and bypass the established representative networks.’ Emily Adams, a UBSW representative, explained to Redbrick, ‘we sent an email to management asking to meet them soon and that we were looking forward to continuing our dialogue - they prom-

ised us open and effective communication.

“It would not be appropriate to meet with you as representatives of student staff, and bypass the established representative networks”

‘But when they replied they essentially said that they valued the contributions we made but that it wasn’t appropriate to discuss things with us anymore and that they were just closing communication with us on any official sort of level. ‘They said we could be involved in the worklink review (which they previously went behind our backs and cancelled a meeting about) but they stressed that this would be very unofficial.’ Despite the ending of communication with the UoB, UBSW tweeted that ‘we won’t let this stop us.’

NEWS

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricknews

Construction Worker Killed On Campus Adam Toms News Reporter

On the 7th January, a 62-year-old man from West Bromwich died after falling from a scissor lift on a construction site at the Edgbaston Engineering Laboratories Zone. A second man, a 48-year-old from Birmingham, also fell at the site managed by Balfour Beatty, and is currently in hospital recovering from his injuries. Jordan Eggington, spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said that they received a call at 2:24pm. As a result, ‘two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care car and the West Midlands Care Team’ were dispatched to the scene. The 62-year-old, working for one of Balfour Beatty’s supply chain partners, received advanced trauma care at the scene before being rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital only 0.3 miles away. He later died. The 48-year-old was then also taken to the QE, with injuries thought not to be life threatening. A spokesman from the University of Birmingham said: ‘We were shocked to hear about the incident which took place on Balfour Beatty construction site. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of those involved.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of those involved” ‘We are supporting Balfour Beatty, the police and relevant authorities with their investigation.’ Balfour Beatty themselves stated: ‘Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends and co-workers of the deceased at this time. ‘The health and safety of our workforce and the public is always our primary concern.’ West Midlands Police and HSE health and safety inspectors have begun an investigation into the incident. All work has ceased on the site as the investigation takes place.

Half of Universities Pledge to Divest from Fossil Fuels Rhiannon Wood News Editor

Just over half of UK universities have pledged to divest from fossil fuels. A number of these universities have committed to only withdraw from certain fossil fuels, such as coal, many have opted for all. 78 out of 154 universities nationwide have taken action to prevent rising levels of CO2, selling their shares in fossil fuel companies. Chris Saltmarsh, member of campaign group People & Planet, comments on this crucial movement, stating: ‘That universities across the sector are now divesting so fully and quickly [demonstrating] how far the fossil fuel industry’s social license has been eroded over the last seven years. It is increasingly common sense on UK campuses that these companies can play no productive

role in solving the climate crisis.’ However, there are still many universities whose relationships with these companies remain, and the University of Birmingham falls into the half of universities that have not yet committed to the divestment. The Chair of UoB’s newlyfounded Climate Action Society responds to this, saying: ‘The progress from last year was an impressive step to reduce direct investment in fossil fuels. ‘However, commitment to the Dubai campus, in a country almost entirely oil-reliant, alongside failures to green-proof the UK campus and recent development projects, reveals that the university continues to ignore the climate crisis.’ Another member of Climate Action, Erin Crofts, told Rebrick: ‘Now is a critical time for large institutions to reduce their harmful impact on the environment, as scientists inform us that we only have

ten years to prevent total ecological breakdown. This is why many universities have divested from fossil fuels. So, we must question why UoB has not?' The heightened demand for action against climate change by universities comes after surmounting pressure from students, who have been protesting and striking on a national scale this past year. Zamzam Ibrahim, president of the National Union of Students (NUS), believes that this student movement to ‘marginalise’ the companies who profit from the ‘climate breakdown’ has now made history. Top universities who also haven’t committed to the divestment against fossil fuels, such as Oxford and Cambridge, still face student protests as a result of their inaction. Thus, Ibrahim continues, stating: ‘At a time when Australia burns in the bushfire crisis and climate deniers remain in positions

of power across the globe, this lack of action is unforgivable.’ In response to this, Saltmarsh adds: ‘Universities not yet divested can now choose to stand with their students on the right side of history or be forever known as complicit in the crimes of climate breakdown.’ A UoB spokesperson told Redbrick, ‘the University has agreed to proactively pursue ethical fund options, where suitable investments were available, and where investment returns would be consistent with the University’s charitable objectives. ‘The University will continue to engage intensively with its investment managers in regards to their application of environmental, social and governance policies in investment decisions. ‘In addition, it has joined only four other universities in the United Kingdom to become a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.’

Students Surveyed on Guild Democracy Changes Tim Abington The Guild have released a statement proposing new changes to the democratic process that they want to introduce in the new academic year. They published a document on their website and have outlined that currently it is a draft and they want to hear student opinions on these proposed changes, before making any changes permanent. The plan recommends replacing both the current Student Groups Executive and the Student Equality and Diversity Committee. Officer Question Time will be stopped completely too. Instead, the meeting will be swapped for the recently-piloted scrutiny panel which, the documents note, will be made permanent. Currently, the Student Groups Executive decides how much funding each society receives in

both yearly and rolling subsidies. The proposals intend to replace this with the new Activities Committee, containing equal parts societies, sports teams and student representatives, beside both Activities and Sports Officers. Two-thirds of its members will need to consent to numerous decisions, including how funding will be distributed to societies and recommendations on the union’s position towards certain issues. MedSoc will retain its independence, though can choose to collaborate with the various committees, the documents state. Two brand new decision-making bodies, Education and Campaigns, would be introduced. Both will distribute funding between the student reps and the campaigns pot: the pool of money used by various student campaigners. With recent debates on prochoice and pro-life campaigns, control of the cash may become the battleground for competing

perspectives in the student union. If passed, the proposals would also remove the Guild Policy Development Group and send suggestions submitted to Your Ideas, straight to the relevant committees. Pushing recommendations for the student union's positions on university issues, the Education Committee may cause issues over the student body’s support for striking academics. Other expected changes include the scrapping of the Student Equality and Diversity Committee in favour of the new Welfare, Community and Liberation Committee. This body would propose stances on various welfare and liberation issues as well as delivering campaigns including Black History month. Five different liberation officers, the welfare officer and the international officer have been suggested as potential members, beside some elected places. Elsewhere, the student union

plans to create a new Student Meeting to take on scrutiny of the four committees. Open to every student in the University, the body’s decision making will be based on consensus with the possibility for certain issues to put out to be voted on by the student population in online ballots.

concerns over the bureaucracy and limitations imposed on groups by the Guild.’ They added: ‘We will be able to protest at any time of our choosing, our members will be better protected, and we will be able to fully function as a rebellion!’ As the Guild explained that the committee would be held responsible for the actions of any UoB ‘rebels’ on campus under the name of XR UoB, the group became concerned that this would put international students on the committee with Tier Four visas at risk. Extinction Rebellion UoB was established in August 2019 as part of the national Extinction Rebellion

movement and aimed to unite and mobilise students and staff at the University against climate change. They have engaged in activities on campus, such as flyering, as well as running teach-outs during the recent UCU strike and joining in with the climate strikes in Birmingham city centre. A statement from the organisation to Redbrick says: ‘Going forward, XR UoB will continue to grow through means of genuine community organising. We will continue to collaborate with other student and staff bodies/ groups on campus to bring about the transformational change that’s so desperately needed.

‘We hope that our decision will inspire other students and Student Groups to not [accept] the closed doors way in which the Guild operates, and instead rise up for a fully democratic, transparent and accountable Guild of Students.’ A spokesperson for the Guild of Students told Redbrick: 'Extinction Rebellion as a movement encourages civil disobedience, and does not expressly condemn the breaking of the law - the Guild as a registered charity must at all times stay within the law. Committee members of student groups are responsible for the actions of their members. This is

right in order to ensure that members are safe in their activity. Actions of a group are the responsibility of the Guild as a charity. The Guild respects the right of students to choose the activity they undertake, but all activity under the Guild must be consistent with the law. We are consistently trying to improve processes for Student Groups to support their activity as demonstrated by extensive student consultation and recent Super AGM. I would encourage any students who wish to ensure accountability and democracy in the Guild to give feedback on the ongoing work into the Guild’s democratic processes.

News Reporter

Redbrick

Extinction Rebellion UoB Quits Guild Amy O'Neil Film Editor

UoB's Extinction Rebellion group announced that they have voted to disaffiliate from the Guild of Students. The post read: ‘at our general meeting yesterday, XR UoB voted to discontinue our affiliation with the Guild of Students. ‘If we had continued our involvement, we would have been limited in what action we could take on campus. Members of the committee may have also been liable for individual rebel's actions. 'Having spoken to other student and staff groups we also have

NEWS

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricknews

Student Sex Work at Universities on the Rise Becky Gelder News Reporter

The number of students involved in sex work has doubled in the last two years, a recent study reveals. The poll, which was carried out by Save the Student, surveyed over 3,300 undergraduates, and found that four percent of students admit to having tried sex work. This is a dramatic increase from the two percent reported in 2017. The study also reports that students engaging in sex work are most likely to try to make money through the sale of intimate photos or used underwear, and that a further six percent of students stated that they would try sex work if they became short on money.

The report suggests that the increasing numbers turning to sex work can be attributed in part to the decreasing financial support afforded to students by student finance services. Maintenance loans are reportedly falling approximately £267 short of the monthly living costs of the average student, which are estimated at £807 across the UK. One female student, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Redbrick that she participates in sex work for ‘purely monetary’ reasons. ‘I think it’s incredibly hard to balance work at university with getting a job. However, with student debts it is almost impossible to get through university without a job unless you have significant

financial support from your family. This way is just a very quick and easy way to make money.’ As part of her work, the student has ‘sent nude videos kissing other girls,’ but she stipulates that the videos never show the lower half of her body, and that the videos are never saved in any way. Speaking to Redbrick, a University of Birmingham second year student explains that she has begun to look into selling pictures of her feet in exchange for money: ‘sending pictures of my feet doesn’t feel that sexual to me, for me it’s just money, and it’s the easiest way to get money because it’s so little effort.’ When asked about the stigma surrounding sex work, she explained: ‘Yeah there is defi-

nitely a stigma, mainly just because sex is quite a private thing so people don’t really broadcast it, so when you do people are shocked and surprised.’ Rachel Watters, The Women Students’ Officer at the National Union of Students (NUS), has commented on the matter, saying: ‘We are fully aware that the cost to live and study in the UK makes sex work as much of a student issue as poverty, labour rights, and the welfare state.’ ‘It is important that we break down the stigma that prevents student sex workers seeking help from their institutions, family and friends, public health and survivor support services when they require them.’

Redbrick

West Midlands Mayor Urges Johnson Not to Cancel Plans for HS2 Charlie Young News Reporter

Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, has piled the pressure on Boris Johnson to clarify the government’s decision on the future of HS2 – the government’s high speed rail infrastructure project – warning him that to cancel the project would be to let down new Conservative voters who are ‘expecting him to deliver on his promise to rebalance the economy and power up our region.’ In a meeting at the House of Commons, Street, along with the leaders of Manchester and Leeds City councils, told the government to end its delay on publishing the long-awaited Oakervee review – the governments review on HS2’s progress and future. An early leak of the report

showed that Doug Oakervee, former chair of HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for the construction of the high speed infrastructure, will give the green light for the project to go ahead, highlighting the investment it will bring into the Midlands and the north of England. Mr Street told Transport Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, that cancelling the project would be a ‘hammer blow’ to the region. He stated that ‘HS2 could make or break the future of the West Midlands’ in reference to the jobs HS2 has already created and the investment it is expected to bring into Birmingham. The leaked draft of the Oakervee report suggests that the project could bring in up to 1.5 times the revenue as it is expected to cost, although this is significantly lower than the 2.3 times higher HS2 Ltd. originally

expected. He told the Prime Minister that to cancel the project now would be to betray all those who lent him their vote in the 2019 general election, telling The Guardian: ‘The prime minister helped build his 80-seat majority in part thanks to a huge swathe of new voters in the West Midlands.

“HS2 could make or break the future of the West Midlands” ‘They are now expecting him to deliver on his promise to rebalance the economy and power up our region. The first clear and decisive step that can be taken to

fulfil that promise is to back HS2.’ The move comes after reports that Johnson is considering scrapping HS2 to concentrate on infrastructure in the north of England. Mr Heaton-Harris, referring to the delayed decision of the government, told the meeting: ‘We hope to make that decision shortly; will publish the Oakervee review and based on that advice take a decision on whether to proceed as it stands, recast the project in places, or consider alternatives.’ All of this comes following Labour peer, Lord Berkeley, the Deputy Chair on the Oakervee Panel, asking for his name to be removed from the review last year, claiming that parliament had been ‘seriously misled’ over HS2 figures. Having now released his own report, Lord Berkeley’s paper estimates that by completion HS2

will have cost the government at least £107bn, compared to the Oakervee report’s leaked estimation of £88bn, which is still considerably higher than the original £55bn price tag. Adding that, he estimates that the project will bring in less than £0.6 for every £1 spent, Berkeley also suggests that transport infrastructure is most needed connecting the Midlands and North, not connecting these regions to London which is ‘secondary for most people.’ HS2 has faced criticism from the outset over overspending and constant delays, as well as concerns from environmental campaigners concerned over the both the carbon footprint of the project and the damage to animal habitats.

Essay Mill Targets UoB Students in Recent Email Nathan Clarke News Reporter

Hundreds of University of Birmingham students have received an advert for essay writing service, The Document Co., via their university email address. The company, which offers to write essays, dissertations and presentations for students on a variety of subjects ranging from law to engineering, charge £50 per 1,000 words. The Document Co. claims to provide quality, confidential and plagiarism-free content to clients. A spokesperson for UoB reiterat-

ed that ‘plagiarism is a form of cheating’ and that essay mills ‘undermine the integrity of UK higher education and do a disservice to honest, hard-working students.’ They added: ‘We have been clear that a legislative approach could shut down all UK based essay mills,’ which would send a strong message to international employers about the ‘value of a UK degree.’ More than 40 university bosses wrote to Universities Minister Sam Gyimah in 2018, demanding essay mills be made illegal, with Gyimah stating that legislative options were ‘not off the table.’

A Redbrick Comment poll published in March last year, which surveyed a sample of UoB students, revealed that 100% of students surveyed would not use essay mills. One second year Chemistry BSc student commented that the existence of essay mills is ‘antimeritocratic’ and that the high prices they charge may perpetuate class differences in educational achievement. However, more students than ever are using essay writing companies, with a study by Swansea University in 2018 revealing that approximately one in seven graduates had paid someone to do

their work for them.

“The rise in the use of essay mills in recent years has sought to turn cheating into an industry” A Freedom of Information request found that the University of Manchester recorded 7,000 visits to essay-writing websites via their university wifi. PayPal last year

were forced to stop processing payments towards essay writing companies, after Education Secretary Damian Hinds aimed to crackdown on academic cheating. Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of the Office for Students (an independent regulator of higher education in England) said: ‘The rise in the use of essay mills in recent years has sought to turn cheating into an industry. Essay mills are deeply unethical and their operation is unfair on the vast majority of students who hand in their own work’. The Document Co. were contacted but refused to comment on the issue.

NEWS

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricknews

Universities Criticised for Poor Handling of Online Harassment Becky Gelder News Reporter

Content Warning: This artice contains themes of rape which some readers may find distressing. Recent research has criticised the response frameworks of UK universities for dealing with online abuse suffered by students. The study, led by Professor Andy Phippen and Professor Emma Bond, requested information from all UK universities

New Years Honours for UoB Professors Joseph Meakin News Reporter

Three University of Birmingham academics – Professor Kalwant Bhopal, Professor John Nolan and Dr. Melrose Stewart – have been recognised in the 2020 New Year Honours list. Described as a ‘Race Equality Champion’, Professor Bhopal, the director of UoB’s Centre for Research in Race and Education, is awarded an MBE for services to ‘Equality in Education’. Her research, which is used in influencing policy in the higher education sector, looks at the educational achievements and experiences of ethnic minority groups. Professor Nolan, a visiting professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, is made a CBE for services to ‘Structural Engineering and the Construction Industry’. In a career spanning over four decades, he has progressed from labourer, to contractor’s engineer, to consulting engineer. Dr. Stewart, a lecturer in physiotherapy, is given an MBE for services to that subject. She has appeared on the Channel 4 show ‘Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds’ and has given a TEDx talk entitled ‘Connecting Generations for Healthy Ageing’. Dr. Stewart is a former Vice-President of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. In addition, two UoB astrophysicists have been honoured by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in their 2020 Awards. Professor Yvonne Elsworth is a recipient of the society’s highest award, the Gold Medal, in recognition of her work in the field of helioseismology (the study of the Sun through its oscillations). Finally, Dr. Amaury Triaud, said to have ‘pioneered observational studies into the dynamical origins of gas-giant planets in close orbits about their host stars’, has been given the RAS Fowler Award for ‘Early Achievement in Astronomy’.

regarding their procedures for responding to online abuse faced by students. The findings indicated that current practices were ‘patchy’ and ‘appalling’ and that universities rely too heavily on anonymous reporting mechanisms. This system has been labelled ‘a mere sticking plaster’ by the report, as it reduces the chance that the university is able to help the individual who has reported the abuse. The research follows on from the Warwick University scandal when a student group chat was

exposed for messages in which they threatened to rape their close female friends. After investigation by the university, one student was expelled and given a lifetime ban from campus, two others were expelled and initially banned from campus for 10 years, and a further two were excluded for a year. The university faced further backlash after the two ten-year bans were reduced to twelve months. The university’s response and investigation has been criticized for resulting in a ‘profoundly unsatisfactory outcome for almost every single person

involved,’ and was found by the independent review to have ‘been more concerned with its own reputational interests than in a fair or just assessment of the case.’ Warwick university has since apologised for the way it handled the complaints of the female students targeted in the group chat.

“Too scared to do something effective” Questions have also arisen from Phippen and Bond’s report

regarding universities who reported no incidents, or a very low number of incidents of online abuse. It is believed that these universities are either an example of ‘oases of virtue in a world where online abuse is common,’ or that the existing frameworks were neglecting to record instances of abuse and failing to encourage students to report harassment. Describing the findings as ‘poor but unsurprising,’ Phippen also states that universities are ‘too scared to do something effective’ about the subject of abuse.

West Midlands House Prices Show Steady Increase Post-Election Caitlin Cahill News Reporter

With prices climbing 2.7% over the course of 2019, the West Midlands has positioned itself as the English region with the highest annual house price growth. Analysts suggest a stable increase in prices over the coming months. According to Nationwide Building Society, 2019 marked a relatively static year for property values with a rise of just over 1.4% over the course of the year. Trends were inconsistent across regions, according to Nationwide’s latest regional indices that show values falling in

London and the South East, whilst prices in the North and Midlands increased. Election uncertainty left many questioning the last RICS UK Residential Market survey which, in October 2019, predicted that a broadly stable trend of improving sales activity was to be expected in the three months following. Yet, in November 2019, average UK house prices increased by 2.2% more than over the same period in 2018. This was up from 1.3% in October - the highest growth rate since the previous year. Since the December election, a return to relative political certainty has boosted the market. After three years of political dead-

lock the election brought greater for people living in the West clarity in the government's Brexit Midlands to save up. position and domestic policy. Commenters are hesitant to Price rises are of particular make predictions for the upcomconcern for potential first-time ing year, post-Brexit. Jonathan buyers, who are already Samuels, chief executive facing the challenge of of lender Octane saving for a house Capital, said: deposit. Nationwide ‘London may have It could take suggests that anyone been the weakest trying to put aside performing region money for a 20% in 2019 but that deposit to buy a typmay well change for the avergae ical first-time buyer this year. wage earner to property faces years ‘The property save up of saving. market has entered If prospective buy2020 on a positive ers earn the U.K.’s avernote but all eyes will be age salary, and set aside 15% on how the economy holds of their take home pay monthly, it up as we exit the EU.’ could now take almost eight years

8 years

Tony Hisgett

Birmingham’s 2022 Commonwealth Games To Kick Off in India Charlie Young News Reporter

B i r m i n g h a m ’s 2022 Commonwealth Games may start over 4,000 miles away in India, as a result of the city being unable and unwilling to host shooting and archery events for the games, with India threatening a boycott of the games unless a resolution is found. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) looks likely to approve preliminary plans to host both shooting and archery events for Birmingham’s 2022 commonwealth games in New Delhi and

has put the plans to a vote subject to the 71 member associations. The games had been thrown into contention after the Indian Olympic association threatened a boycott of the games if the decision by the CGF to not include archery or shooting events was upheld. India traditionally performs well in shooting, with 16 out of 66 medals in the 2016 games coming from the event. These two sports, which are optional for host cities to choose, were left out of plans for the 2022 games as there were no viable facilities within the West Midlands region. The only suitable shooting

venue was in Surrey which, although closer to Birmingham than New Delhi, was concluded to be too far to be used in the games as it would bring nothing to the local economy. Crisis talks took place in which India proposed to host the events beforehand, and the cost of an estimated £20m which they will front up, with medals to be included in the official medal table. India, home to approximately half of the commonwealth population, received support from the UK government, the CGF and both of India’s governing sporting

bodies meaning it seems likely that the proposal will go ahead. CGF chief executive David Grevemberg called it an ‘innovative proposal’. The council are expected to pay up to 25% of the cost of the games, the total cost of which was initially estimated to be £750m, but in 2018 had a £84m funding hole in its budget for the games. Birmingham 2022 have expanded other elements of the games, however, adding 3 new sports of women’s cricket, beach volleyball and para-table tennis in an effort to increase the inclusivity and audience reach of the games.

NEWS

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricknews

No Threat to Erasmus, say Conservatives Adam Toms News Reporter

The rejection of an amendment on 8th January involving the Erasmus scheme has sparked fury, as some have misinterpreted it as spelling the scheme’s end. The Liberal Democrat amendment would have compelled the Johnson administration ‘to seek to negotiate continuing full membership of the EU’s Erasmus+ education and youth programme.’ The updated ‘Erasmus+’ scheme – founded in 2014 - funds educational institutions for work placements, development of staff, and connections with international partners. If passed, the amendment would have ensured that the scheme would be a prioritised subject within future negotiations. Thousands of Twitter users were overeager to denounce the government’s supposed abolition of the UK’s participation in the scheme. Dr Mary McAuliffe, Assistant Professor at University College Dublin, tweeted ‘So sorry to see the British Gov removing themselves (and therefore British students) from #Erasmus - so many students, most recently two young cousins, have had positive, life forming experiences on this.’ The scheme impacts the lives of many people given that approximately 16,000 British students travel to more than 30 countries each year. However, the Universities Minister, Chris Skidmore, tweeted that the amendment rejection ‘does not end or prevent the UK participating’ and that the UK ‘remain[s] open to participation and this will be part of future

Mil' Keynes-ical Romance Aneesa Ahmed American rock band My Chemical Romance (MCR ) have announced that they will be performing a UK show in June of this year in Milton Keynes Stadium MK in June. The band posted a teaser video on their Instagram and captioned it ‘An Offering’ and announced that the date for their show will be 20 June 2020. MCR, who are best known for their songs ‘Teenagers’ and ‘I’m Not Okay’, have not performed in the UK for 10 years, after having initially split up as a group in 2013. The band have confirmed that tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster from 9.30AM on Friday 24 January.

New Cancer Treatment Breakthrough Christina Manns In a possible major breakthrough for cancer treatment, British scientists have accidentally discovered a new type of immune cell

negotiations with the EU — we highly value international student exchanges.’ The Department for Education has also reiterated that the vote did not change the fact that ‘the government is committed to continuing the academic relationship between the UK and the EU, including through the next Erasmus+ programme if it is in our interests to do so.’ Nevertheless, there still seems to be confusion amongst the public and MPs regarding this matter. During 15th January’s PMQs, Douglas Chapman MP stated that the Scottish writer and broadcaster had condemned ‘the end of the Erasmus scheme’ as an ‘utter disaster’ which left young people ‘more insular, narrow and parochial’.’

“UK students will continue to be able to enjoy the benefits just as [EU citizens]”

Plastic-Free UoB Launches Campus Marketplace Rhiannon Wood News Editor

The University of Birmingham’s Plastic-Free Society are keen to announce the launch of their own marketplace on Facebook. The selling forum will imitate the widely popular ‘Depop,’ even playing on the name, as ‘Bepop.’ Depop is typically used to sell second-hand products to people across the country, sometimes the globe, yet their version will remain a campus-orientated enterprise. The aim for the platform is to provide students with a cheap and easy way to recycle their unwanted clothing; it being an ecofriendlier alternative that sees benefits such as no postage and packaging costs. This is due to the

platform being advertised as a message and meet scenario, whereby sellers directly meet with their buyers to exchange clothing for money. Plastic-Free encourages that these meetings should be in familiar and secure environments, such as on campus. The main target audience for the marketplace are sports teams, who frequently purchase new costumes to fit their sports night theme for the week. The belief is that these teams can use the platform to buy their outfits from other students, preventing the constant buying of new, often polyester-heavy costumes, that more often than not end up thrown away after one use. Harriet Noy, President of Plastic-Free UoB, is enthusiastic about this new launch, saying:

‘We are really excited to launch Bepop! We hope students love our idea and get on board with this new way to reuse unwanted clothes at university.’ ‘We are also committed to helping buyers/sellers with any issues as they arise.’ The marketplace is set to be in use from today and will require those wishing to partake to either request to join the Facebook page, or be invited. Plastic-free also have an upcoming event on 31st January. The event is a partnership with WASUP (World Against SingleUse Plastic) and will see participants cleaning the Birmingham canal from 10am at the university train station that morning. Andy Street, Mayor of Birmingham, is also expected to attend.

Politics Society Host Former Canadian Minister John Baird Talia Knoble Gershon

tics. After his talk, John Baird took questions on the Middle East, China, Russia, and populism. Asked if he sympathises with populism, Baird said one must be mindful of populism because being dismissive of it can lead to trouble. This event was open to professors as well as students. Politics professor Scott Lucas challenged Baird, expressing that he felt it inappropriate to label democrats as extremist leftists in America. When asked about Russia, Baird stated that ‘most western world leaders' number one priority is to stay in power.’ He believes, however, that the close-second priority of world leaders is protect the welfare of their citizens. Baird made clear that he did not think that Putin cares about the quality of life of Russian people. Baird was also asked why he supports Israel. He said that he

was ‘pro-Israel’ for many reasons, including that it was the only ‘liberal democracy in the middle east.’ However he said he still had a great relationship with the Arab world when he was minister of foreign affairs for Canada, through engaging in discourse with Mahmoud Abbas and the Palastinain Liberation Organisation. He said he supports the ‘two state solution’ and for ‘peace in the region.’ Baird also spoke about how, when he visited Israel, he would spend mornings with Netanyahu, and afternoons with Mahmoud Abbas. He said he felt he could have a good relationship with both sides. Politics Society was able to arrange the event though the help of the Pinsker Centre ‘which organises dozens of public events every year at British universities.’

Thailand, and South Korea, as well as one case in the United States. Six people have died after contracting the disease, most of whom were over 60 and had pre-existing conditions. Several people “Nobody knew have been cured and since left hospital while this cell others have remained existed” in isolation to be treated. The virus has been This was disconfirmed to spread covered by researchvia human-to-human ers at Cardiff communication and University, who causes pneumonia. found the immune Officials traced victims cell when analysing to the Huanan seafood The Redbrick News team take blood from a bank in market in the city of Wales. The lead author Wuhan, suspecting this a quick look at some of the on the study, Professor may have been the source news from the decade Andrew Sewell, told The of the outbreak, though it has Telegraph: since spread to people unconso far. ‘This was a serendipitous nected to the market. finding, nobody knew this cell This virus is of the same famexisted.’ Professor Sewell also ily as the Sars virus, which led to stated that this discovery ‘raises Coronavirus Outbreak in 750 deaths in 2003. the prospect of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ China cancer treatment, a single type of Greggs' Delivery Service T-cell that could be capable of John Wimperis destroying many different types Rhiannon Wood of cancers across the population.’ There have been almost 300 reported cases of a new strain of The national treasure that is coronavirus across China, Japan, Greggs is officially launching a

delivery service, with Birmingham and Bristol being the first cities to try it out. The launch comes after a successful trial period that saw thousands of people eager to get sausage rolls delivered to their door. Greggs have chosen to use Just Eat exclusively for their delivery, with orders accepted from 7am and no minimum spend. Greggs chief executive Roger Whiteside said: ‘We know from the trials we have carried out that our customers love the idea that they can get Greggs delivered directly to their door and we're delighted to now be working with Just Eat to provide that service to our customers across the UK by the end of this year.’

Boris Johnson replied by accusing the SNP MP for Dunfermline and West Fife of ‘talking through the back of his neck,’ adding that: ‘There is no threat to the Erasmus scheme... UK students will continue to be able to enjoy the benefits just as [EU citizens] will be able to continue to come to this country.’ However, it is still possible that the UK could withdraw from Erasmus and Erasmus+ due to negotiation failures. The government is preparing for this possibility through tasking Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, with setting up an alternative exchange programme.

News Reporter

On 16th January the University of Birmingham Politics Society hosted John Baird, who was the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister from 2011 to 2015. Baird introduced himself as being part of the Canadian Conservative Party and agreed with the idea that nuclear proliferation should be the cornerstone of Canadian social policy. He also expressed dismay at Iran’s lack of human rights. Baird went on to talk about political issues in the United States, centring on the idea of America having a lack of bipartisanship. He believes this has caused ‘compromise to be somehow treasonous to your party or ideology.’ He believes this lack of compromise is caused by selfhate from both sides of US poli-

that can kill most cancers. This T-cell carries a unique receptor that can latch onto most cancers whilst ignoring healthy human cells.

Redbrick

Round-Up

“Our customers love the idea that they can get Greggs delivered” With the release of the vegan sausage roll last year, and the launch of the vegan steak bake earlier this month, Greggs’ delivery service is set to be widely used.

COMMENT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickcomment

In Search of Silver Bullets

In light of December's election, Luke Wheeler discusses how the Labour Party’s leadership election cannot afford to be defined by single issue policies Luke Wheeler Comment Writer

There is no such thing as a silver bullet. Attempting to solve a problem by focusing on a single issue, moment or person is naïve, foolhardy and fatalistic in any situation. As with all things, balance is key. The worst Labour defeat in almost a century in the 2019 General Election engendered some rather public soul searching. In its wake, a heady concoction of grief, rallying cries and insinuations toward leadership bids appear to be the main ingredients of the ruminations put forward by Labour MPs. In seeking to set out their vision, the majority of politicians have identified the single issue they think can account for the Party’s loss, but in doing so they have already set themselves up for failure.

response to anti-Semitism has been deemed too little, too late. However, when seeking to resolve the issue of the Labour Party’s electability it cannot and must not, be a reflection carried out in isolation. Labour have lost the last four elections, and this must be the context in which the party sees itself, not fresh from its latest defeat, but battered by a decade of loss. There is ten years’ worth of history and relationships between issues that must be resolved systematically if they wish to have any hope of gaining power again. Moreover, the leadership election undoubtedly needs to resolve the issues that Labour as a party faced entering the election, but they must also seek to provide answers to the issues that are truly

“The worst Labour defeat in almost a century in the 2019 General Election engendered some rather public soul searching”

affecting people - the public is arguably not overly concerned with internal party politics. The UK is entering a period of unprecedented change on both an international scale- departure from the EU, tackling the climate crisis – but also on a domestic one – the stability of the union and rising inequality. Therefore, Labour must communicate and advocate for its solutions convincingly. Selling a single issue as a solution is disingenuous at best, and subsequently in order to appear credible, Labour must have a broad and in-depth grasp of all the issues. Given enough time and resource, any single issue can be made out to be the sole solution or cause for any situation, but a more mature and considered approach should be far more diverse. Issues and events, especially within politics, have vast interlinking systems of cause and effect that give rise to them; and whilst some will play a greater role than others, they

It cannot be denied that Corbyn’s leadership was divisive, the manifesto was considered overreaching, Brexit had shattered traditional political allegiances and the leadership’s

are always part of a larger whole. As mentioned earlier, identifying one issue as the crux of the problem and attempting to solve it in isolation, allows for the other contributing factors to grow and mutate. This creates new and unpredictable consequences that then go on to dominate the narrative. Rather than solving the issue at hand and allowing for a new debate to begin, the cycle of reacting to issues as they occur continues and delays any progress. Simultaneously solving multiple issues of varying scales is inherently difficult - dynamic thought, problem solving, and compromise require energy, resources and patience. Allotting time for such processes, despite the modern desire for quick and effective solutions, is therefore essential.

Wikimedia Commons/UK Parliament

Subsequently, it is encouraging to see that candidates for the leadership are proponents of a wide-ranging debate founded in the Party’s grassroots and communities. Such a response avoids navel-gazing and situates the party’s realignment in the lives of the people they are seeking to help.

“Rather than solving the issue at hand and allowing for a new debate to begin, the cycle of reacting to issues as they occur continues” The reflection that the Labour Party is about to undertake is emblematic of what is required on a global scale. In order to tackle the issues this new decade is inheriting, we must consider their synergy, interconnectedness and scale, and calibrate our response accordingly; as opposed to taking on those that seem the most obvious or easy. Searching for silver bullets blinds us to other issues, oversimplifies the problem at hand and puts us in danger of repeating our failures. If progress is to be made, we must embrace the diversity and interplay of the issues at hand, remain aware of the larger system and not be afraid to tackle their apparent chaos head on.

Opting In to the Opt-Out System Shania Devi argues the new organ donation scheme promotes vital conversations Shania Devi Comment Writer

At the time this was written, 6,207 people were on the waiting list for kidney, liver, lung and heart transplants. Meanwhile, just less than half of that number of transplants have been carried out since April 2019. With organ demand so disproportionately outweighing the number of donors, to say the situation is bleak would be an understatement. Amid your TV binge-watching over the Christmas break, you are likely to have seen an impactful new advert, in which a heart-shaped balloon is released into the air and received by a young hospital patient. The advert is central to the 'Pass It On' campaign to inform the public of the new opt-out

organ donation system which is to be implemented in England and Wales in Spring 2020. The new system will effectively mean that all adults are organ donors, unless they formally withdraw this presumed consent. According to the NHS 'Yes I Donate' wesbite, 90% of Brits support organ donation, but only 38% are registered. Such figures have been the consequence of an opt-in system which has relied too heavily on a conversation that our population remains reluctant to have. At present, the system is such that if a person is unregistered upon death without having shared their wishes, grieving relatives are left to make the decision. While patients endure an agonising wait, powerless families can only watch on with

lumps in their throats and hope in their hearts. Yet, all that lies between suffering and a second chance is that someone, somewhere shared their wishes to have their organs donated.

“All that lies between suffering and second chance is that someone, somewhere shared their wishes” With an ever-expanding waiting list, an overhaul of the opt-in system was inevitable. This is set to come in the form

of 'Max and Keira's law,' befittingly named to honour the 10-year-old recipient of nineyear-old Keira's heart, following her tragic passing. What we discuss with family and friends is usually the product of our experiences, or what we have seen in the media, neither of which is often the case in the context of organ donation. So understandably, to most, it is a rather alien topic. Admittedly, had I not witnessed my own relative packing an overnight bag which would sit on the landing for an unpredictable amount of time, or felt the overwhelming relief when the phone call finally came, ‘organ donation’ would not have featured highly on my list of dinner table conversations. That is what presumed consent seeks to change. Under the new system, families retain an

unequivocal right to withdraw consent, so there is no underlying motive to violate bodily integrity, or one's religious beliefs. Plainly and simply, the aim of the reform is to normalise the discourse around organ donation, to make sharing our wishes a less daunting prospect. The system is therefore not instructive of that which is morally 'right' or 'wrong.' Rather, within the new system, the only 'wrong' donation decision is one made on the basis of misinformation. When considering the fate of those on the waiting list, the opt-out system seems only fair. As such, the opt-out system should be welcomed, not feared. Maybe then the waiting list will become less of a race against time, and more of a hopeful prospect.

COMMENT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickcomment

‘Bung a Bob for a Big Ben Bong’

Comment Writer Sophie Utteridge argues that calling for donations to Boris Johnson's Big Ben Brexit project is a new low for British politics Sophie Utteridge Comment Writer

With Britain officially leaving the EU on 31st January this year, it seems that the Brexit debacle (whether you are for or against it) is finally over and politics can return to some sort of normality. But yet another debate surrounding Brexit has arisen with the government wanting Big Ben to chime at 11 o’clock on Brexit Day, to commemorate Britain leaving the EU, three and a half years after the referendum that transformed British politics. If they had the funding themselves to cover the £500,000 that it would cost to perform this act, then I very much doubt anyone would really care. However, the Prime Minister has reached out to the public and asked for people to donate towards the cause, claiming that he is ‘working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a

Big Ben bong, because there are some people who want to.’ Big Ben is, of course, a significant symbol of Britain and an important part of our culture. It has been under restoration works after sustaining damage over years of use, but has chimed at important events such as New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday. However, I fail to see how Big Ben chiming is of any importance when Britain is about to leave the EU. Is it meant to be some show of Britain’s individualism? Or represent the final moments before our ‘liberation’? Who knows why it is suddenly important for Big Ben to chime, especially when it will cost £500,000 of the public’s money for it to do so. The process of leaving the EU has already cost us a staggering £130 billion, with this number expected to climb before we actually make it to January 31st. Adding another

£500,000 to this may seem insignificant, however I would like to point out how unnecessary this figure is in the first place. Ringing the bell will delay the restoration work and could actually damage the bell further. At times when the clock has chimed such as New Years and Remembrance Sunday, the ringing had been planned into the restoration work beforehand, so the project could stay on schedule as a result. What Boris Johnson is proposing is completely unplanned and therefore extremely costly, estimating around £50,000 a bong. As of Friday afternoon, the pro-leave campaign, Stand Up 4 Brexit’s GoFundMe page has raised £200,000, with significant contributions from Arron Banks and ‘Leave Means Leave’ group who donated £50,000. It seems that there might just be time for Big Ben to bong when we leave the EU. But this doesn’t make it any less of a

trivial act that costs too much money for only a few seconds. Brexit has cost us all enough already, why do we need to make the damage worse? What makes this situation all the more irritating, is that Brexit has been a topic that has torn this country apart in all manners of ways, from debates large and small. We have shown ourselves to be incapable of solving it in a disciplined manner and now, at the very moment this is all about to end, the Commons seem to be fighting over whether or not a clock should chime on 31st January. This petty issue is the icing on the extremely messy cake that is our country at this time. Big Ben may bong, or it may not, but the point is how far has Britain fallen that our latest Brexit debate is over a bell?

Free-Photos/pixabay

The Bias of Philanthropy Danielle Murinas considers the donations collected for the Australian bushfires, suggesting how those with privilege should use their platforms to spread awareness Danielle Murinas Comment Writer

For the past few months we have watched on with sadness as Australia has been devastated by horrific bushfires. Over the past five months up to 28 people have lost their lives, 10.7 million hectares of land has been destroyed and half a billion animals have been killed. But millions of people around the world have donated money through various fundraisers on social media, in an attempt to provide solace to those affected. One such campaign was The Trustee For Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donation Fund, with has raised $26 million, making it the largest ever Facebook fundraiser. It is incredibly heart-warming to see this positive response, and how people have flocked from beyond Australia at this time of crisis. Many public figures have donated, and encouraged their social media followers to do the same. Chris Hemsworth took to Instagram to announce he and his family were donating $1 million to help the cause, along with Kylie Jenner and Elton John, who donated the same amount. Other celebrity donors include Kylie Minogue and Nicole Kidman, who have both donated $500,000. Lots of these celebrities have a personal connection to Australia, with many being born and raised there.

Seeing their own country go through such devastation makes their urge for people to donate more poignant. Their personal connection to the crisis could mean they would have been more likely to donate a substantial sum. This is evident in the comparative difference between Bernard Arnault’s donation to the Australian bushfires, and his donation to the restoration of Paris’ Notre Dame, which caught fire in April of last year. Arnault pledged to donate $224 million to the restoration of Notre Dame, but only $11 million to Australia. Now there is no doubt that the destruction of Notre Dame was a devastation, but to me, what is happening in Australia is much more heart-

breaking. These bushfires have seen homes and lives lost, whereas the fall of Notre Dame only caused physical damage. Yet the differences in these donations are considerable. But knowing that Arnault is French makes it somewhat more understandable, as his charity is aimed further towards his own country. But this leads onto a wider debate about the bias and motivations behind charity and philanthropic endeavours, and the duty that public figures have to themselves donate, and publicise worthy causes. Scientific studies show that emotional connection is a key factor in deciding what charitable cause to donate to. Feeling a personal link to something makes people

more willing to give up their time and money, compared to a more distant endeavour. So, in terms of Arnault, a cause directly relating to his country would seem more valuable than one thousands of miles away, despite the comparable scale of devastation. Obviously nobody has to donate to any cause, but as public figures, celebrities and billionaires are in a unique position of privilege. Their platform on social media could spread the awareness of causes, and though not every follower would be able to donate or volunteer, it is a reasonable conclusion that some may be in a position to do so. Studies also show that people are more likely to donate when people they admire and

TerriAnneAllen

respect ask them to, and that seeing other people do so encourages a chain of donations. Public figures could influence a great deal more awareness and contributions, because of their unique media position. As well as this platform they also are more likely to have the financial capabilities of being able to donate. The CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, came under fire for donating $690,000 to the Australian relief fund, which equates to 0.00059% of his total wealth. As a multi-billionaire he is in a position very few are, and this is a meagre amount considering the magnitude of this crisis. Though he may not be personally related to their crisis, with such a unique position, I believe that Bezos has an obligation to help those in need. The fires in Australia have caused devastation that to most people is unthinkable, and for a natural disaster such as this, there is unfortunately no quick fix. Whether or not there is any emotional or physical connection, I believe it is important for people, especially those in places of unique privilege to give and spread awareness of different causes and ways in which to help. It would not be conceivable to ask people to donate to every cause, but for such a large natural disaster and for the thousands of people connected, the least that we in more fortunate positions can do is to give what we can.

COMMENT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickcomment

Inceldom: Under the Surface Comment Writer Colette Fountain explores the darker side of the internet, investigating 'incels' and the dangers of online radicalisation Colette Fountain Comment Writer

The first time I heard about ‘inceldom’ was the 2018 Toronto van attack in which 10 people were killed and 14 were injured; definitely not the best first impression. By that point, the ‘incel’ community was already fairly substantial – far more substantial than I had realised. This attack wasn’t the first, in fact, the attacker was inspired by Elliot Rodger, a kind of ‘hero’ for many ‘incels’ – scrolling through any ‘incel’ forum it’s easy to lose count of the number of profiles using Rodger’s picture or name, interspersed with references to SS soldiers. This might give the impression that Rodger was an inspiration for the more radical side of the ‘incel’ community: but Rodger’s influence was far more negative and sinister. He gained notoriety after murdering six people and posting an 137-page manifesto entitled ‘My Twisted World’. Over the years, the community has continued to grow, both in membership and number of violent attacks; and yet it is one of the least talked about radical groups. Most people have heard of the recent rise of far-right groups like the English Defence League and Neo-Nazism, however, ‘incels’ still remain relatively unknown, existing on an easily accessible yet dark corner of the internet.

“Scrolling through any ‘incel’ forum it's easy to lose count of the number of profiles using Rodger’s picture or name” An ‘incel’ is usually a selfimposed title literally meaning ‘Involuntary Celibate’. It is an almost exclusively male and western community that exists mostly on forums like Reddit and 4Chan. However, the term ‘incel’ rarely refers simply to someone who hasn’t had sex in a while, instead it represents a community of men who feel entitled to sex, often manifesting in misogynistic, sometimes even dangerous views, as seen with Elliot Rodger. For context, ‘incels’ communicate sometimes seemingly almost in an entirely different language, here are some of the most common terms: Stacy: ‘a highly attractive woman, often depicted with a ‘determined’ attitude. The ultimate embodiment of every wicked, depraved aspect of feminine nature’, Chad:

‘someone who can elicit near universal positive female sexual attention at will’, essentially the ultimate man, and Femoid/foid: short for ‘female humanoid organisms’. This is a derogatory term used to refer to the female population in general. Often linked particularly with feminists.

“It is an almost exclusively male and western community that exists mostly on forums like Reddit and 4Chan” Not a lot of research has been done into the community yet as it is still relatively new, however, some psychologists are beginning to study ‘incel’ behaviour in order to better understand how we can help them. The way I’ve always understood it has been a kind of ‘echo chamber effect’, a phenomenon where ‘certain ideas, beliefs or data points are reinforced through repetition of a closed system that does not allow for the free movement of alternative or competing ideas or concepts’. This is something I have noticed is common on forums as non ‘incels’ are often entirely banned or have to communicate on a ‘bluepill’ section of the website, leading to radicalisation. After watching the BBC’s ‘Inside the Secret World of Incels’, it appeared to me that these forums initially began as a pretty harmless place for men to get advice on how to attract girls, resulting from low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. Some of the less extreme forums, such as

IncelsWithoutHate and ForeverAlone, are generally less overtly anti-feminist and advise men on how to be more confident talking to women – not an inherently bad thing. However, immersed in ‘incel’ forums, they come across posts like ‘you can’t turn a whore into a housewife’ and post after post expressing the view that ‘being Chad is the only way to go’. Essentially, they get plied with endless anecdotes describing the various ways that women have wronged men, and thus need to be stopped. I’ve seen so many posts on these forums rating women based on their appearance (often a 4/10 is deemed generous) swiftly followed by rants from men who believe that these women would still be able to have sex with Chads, despite their perceived unattractiveness. This is often seen particularly to be a problem in major cities as women have more choice over who they date and have sex with, meaning ‘incels’ get left behind. Once exposed to these posts, they are gradually radicalised and begin to develop the same beliefs shared by many ‘incels’: that the world would be better off without women, that women should be assigned to men or that women should be oppressed and exist purely in a domestic setting. And this is where it starts to get potentially dangerous. One of the worst things I’ve noticed about the most radical parts of the ‘incel’ community is a sense of sexual entitlement to women. They generally blame their celibacy on feminism which has enabled women to have more autonomy and dating apps which favour more conventionally attractive ‘Chads’. Beginning with Elliot Rodger, I believe the ‘incel’ community

has gradually been shaped into a far more dangerous place, creating the ‘Incel Rebellion’ by Alek Minassian, the Toronto van killer mentioned above. Rodger arguably made the community more mainstream, boosting numbers into the tens of thousands on some forums.

“Once exposed to these posts, they are gradually radicalised and begin to develop the same beliefs” Obviously not all members are violent or misogynistic, however, a small portion of the community is, which is where the danger potentially lies. While it is easy to dismiss them as men simply sitting at home typing misogynistic things behind the anonymity of a computer, we’ve seen examples of the violence that these men are capable of and yet still nothing is being done to try and prevent further attacks. Reddit made a landmark decision in 2017 when they decided to ban the subreddit r/incels which had 40,000 members at the time. Their motivation for shutting this subreddit down was the amount of violence that the group discussed, with some members advocating for the rape and murder of women. It could be argued that these are just sick jokes made by people who feel victimised by society. However, we have seen that not all of these posts are jokes, and all it takes is the wrong person to see them and take matters into their own hands. I understand that for a lot of people these jokes are just a way for them to express their anger with limited consequences – it is simply a means to vent to other like-minded

Content Warning: This article contains themes of violence against women which some readers may find distressing.

individuals, but that doesn’t excuse their behaviour. Continuing to participate in these dangerous discussions simply repeats the cycle, making the individual more and more radical. I don’t know what the solution is; I wish I could conclude this article explaining how we can all help incels. At their core many are just lonely, isolated individuals whose views have been manipulated and radicalised into misogynistic ideals. Any individual suffering from mental health issues deserves our help and support, whether we agree with their views or not – that’s not to say that their dangerous views can be entirely excused. There is an additional interest to society to help these individuals as they represent a potential threat or danger to women, therefore by supporting ‘incels’ we also help protect those who might be at risk of attack. After spending some time on ‘incel’ forums, the general consensus seems to be that the best way to help them is to include them. Reach out to people you think might be at risk of being radicalised, talk to the people who seem quiet or potentially excluded from your friendship group, fulfil the famous cliché to treat others as you’d wish to be treated. There is only so much individuals can do to prevent radicalisation though, it’s often very hard to detect and once noticeable it might be too late to reverse.

“Continuing to participate in these dangerous discussions simply repeats the cycle, making the individual more and more radical” Instead, corporations have a duty to take measures to help reduce radicalisation on their platforms. It’s no secret that Facebook’s guidelines are rarely implemented – Minassian was able to post about his ‘Incel Rebellion’ prior to his attack with little repercussions. More social media networks need to follow Reddit’s example and place restrictions on incel groups that spread dangerous, violent messages. Hopefully once more research begins to be done into the community, we will begin to understand the ways that radicalisation can be successfully reversed and in an ideal world, prevented. For now, raising awareness and looking out for each other will have to do.

Max Duzij

COMMENT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickcomment

Poll of the Week: Dry January

With the festive season over and the January blues setting in, we asked readers whether ‘Dry January’ offers a fresh start or is just another fad

Do you think 'Dry January' is a good idea? (Poll conducted on 14th January)

“It encouraged people to think about their alcohol consumption and address the role alcohol has in their lives” Ye “Imposing intense restrictions can lead to an excessive binge so it is better to gradually cut down on drinking” “We could all do with a little less alcohol in our lives, its better for your health long-term” “Any opporunity to cut down, and to do so with friends, might provide people with the opportunity to realise you can have fun without alcohol” Take part in our polls: @RedbrickComment Redbrick Comment Contributors

Abby Spreadborough Comment Editor After Christmas’ indulgences, ‘Dry January’ has emerged to provide support and structure to those who would like to cut down their alcohol intake at the start of the new year. It is a fairly established fact that reducing the amount of alcohol you consume has vast benefits on your overall health, physically and mentally. Although the benefits of reducing alcohol consumption are clear, some suggest that completely foregoing alcohol for an entire month may promote excessive drinking in the following. This concern was shared by 31% of poll respondents, many suggesting that ‘Dry January’ does not do enough to solve the issues of excessive drinking within certain social groups, including students: ‘I would binge in February to make up for it, also it suggests we can’t have things in healthy amounts, one month off won’t fix 11 months of too much.’ Another revealed the other side of the argument, that ‘student culture in particular, has a problem with binge drinking culture. Any opportunity to cut down, and to do

so with friends, might provide people with the opportunity to realise you can have fun without alcohol.’ Transitioning from the alcoholheavy festive period to what is often called re-freshers, a round two of freshers week notorious for its club nights and drink deals, means Dry January can be refreshing for some especially as ‘sober socials’ are increasingly on the rise. One respondent praised the initiative for ‘encouraging bars and pubs to promote alcohol free/low alcohol options which are often not readily available at other times of year.’ Nevertheless, many were concerned about the novelty of a month of sobriety, seeing Dry January as simply another fad capitalising on ‘fresh start’ mentality that rolls around each year, ‘a gimmick is not going to make an alcoholic sober,’ wrote one respondent. However dry or damp your January has been, if you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, the following organisations can be contacted for guidance and support: AlcoholChange.org.uk and NHS.co.uk/live-well/alcohol-support

MPs Elevated to House of Lords

Comment Writer Joseph Meakin discusses the recent elevation of ex-MPs to the uneleceted body and suggests that the system has become outdated and unfair Joseph Meakin Comment Writer

The recent elevation of Zac Goldsmith and Nicky Morgan to the titles of Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park and Baroness Morgan of Cotes raised a collective eyebrow, as commentators questioned the appropriateness of their appointment to the House of Lords. Wider questions have also arisen surrounding the unelected upper chamber’s suitability in the 21st Century, with Rebecca Long-Bailey, a contender for the Labour Party leadership, saying she is in favour of electing its members and moving the institution outside of London.

“Wider questions have also arison surrounding the unelected upper chamber’s sustainability in the 21st century” The controversy surrounding Lord Goldsmith and Baroness Morgan’s appointments concerns two issues: the first is that Goldsmith lost his seat of Richmond Park in the December 2019 election, whilst Morgan announced she would not seek re-election to her

seat of Loughborough, citing the abuse sustained by MPs and the impact front-line politics has had on her family. The second is that both peers have continued in their ministerial posts in Boris Johnson’s Cabinet: Morgan is the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whilst Goldsmith is a Minister of State at both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for International Development. The use of the Lords as an ‘absurd insurance policy for trounced MPs,’ as Darren Hughes, the chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, recently stated, is an affront to parliamentary democracy. However, it is not without precedent. Since time immemorial, former MPs have been elevated to the peerage – Hughes notes that there are over 200 of them in the current chamber. It is also not without recent precedent that peers sit at the Cabinet table. Leaving aside leaders of the House of Lords cabinet-level positions, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi served in David Cameron’s Cabinet, whilst Lord Andrew Adonis and Lord Peter Mandelson served in Gordon Brown’s – Lord Mandelson even spent time as the First Secretary of State, the de facto Deputy Prime Minister. Nevertheless, the fact that there are precedents does not mean that these practises should not change, as they are anachronistic and profoundly undemocratic. This moves me on to the wider question of the

Lords’ suitability in the modern age. I disagree with any calls to abolish the House of Lords. It acts as another mechanism, like the Supreme Court, in holding the government of the day to account – in particular, it scrutinises legislation, often improving it.

“The fact that there are precedents does not mean that these practices should not change, as they are ana chronistic and profundly undemocratic” Of course, the paradox here is that we the voting public, cannot hold it to account, unlike the voters of Richmond Park who held Lord Goldsmith to account by voting him out. The right answer, in my opinion, is for full-blown reform. But, unlike Rebecca Long-Bailey, I do not see the need to move it outside of London. This is because, whilst there is an argument to move the entirety of Parliament from London to a new location, I think it would be nonsensical to move just one of the two chambers.

Over the past decades, some reforms have already been made to the Lords. The most significant of these was in 1999, when most of the hereditary peers were removed from the chamber and their numbers capped at 92. There have been further attempts at reform in the years since but these have not gone nearly far enough. The next round of Lord’s reform requires the removal of all hereditary peers. It is a ludicrous situation that there are people still entitled to a seat in our upper chamber because – perhaps generations ago – an ancestor was awarded a hereditary peerage. It is also time for the 26 Church of England bishops to lose their seats, as ‘Lords Spiritual.’ As with the hereditary peers, it is equally bonkers that religious figures from one Christian denomination get to sit in the Lords – particularly when you consider that modern-day Britain is a society made up of people of many faiths and also of none. Further cuts to the number of peers as a whole are also needed. At present there are 794 in total, which makes the Lords the world’s second largest legislative body, after China’s People’s Congress. Lastly, it's high time for elections - except these would be held on a proportional representation basis. Emulating the way in which Britain currently elects its MEPs, the D’Hondt method could be used. This would see the UK split into regional constituencies, with peers elected from a long list of candidates. However, on this I agree with

the ditched attempt at reform in 2012, which proposed holding elections for 80% of the Lords, with the other 20% cent being appointed. Why are the Lords ‘an affront to parliamentary democracy’ and ‘profoundly undemocratic’ and why should we support the 2012 proposal? This is because, unlike Michael Gove, we should value the opinion of experts.

“It is a ludicrous situation that there are people still entitled to a seat in our upper chamber because - perhaps generations ago an ancestor was awarded a hereditary peerage” The 20% that should be appointed on merit would not be able to vote down legislation on their own, but what they would do is provide valuable insights into their areas of expertise, and thereby improve the quality of our law-making.

FEATURES

Friday 24th January 2020

www.redbrick.me

Press Pause:

Rockstar Games

As the 2010s closes, Redbrick Gaming looks at how the gaming industry changed abrupt nature of their termination when considering the “sleepless nights” they’d dedicated to the franchise’s development. Now, with the proliferation of games as a service, the nature of crunch has changed significantly. When crunch is defined as intense overtime in the build up to a final deadline, what happens when the deadline is never-ending? The developers of Fortnite Battle Royale, a product of Epic Games, face consistent demands for updates, patches, and new content, many stating they regularly work 70-hour weeks and, while officially voluntary, not working overtime can cost you your job.

In online gaming, high expectations of the company to continuously update, fix, and produce content, provides additional stress for both executives and developers. This can create a more intense and stressful working environment in which employees feel compelled to put in unreasonable hours to push out content. As one employee told Polygon – “Crunch never ends in a live service game like that.” So, with crunch culture dominating the industry over the past decade, what does it mean for the future? Well, it is possible that nothing could change. Crunch has become normalised to the extent many studios are reliant on the practice to develop video games. Day-to-day, an employee’s process isn’t consistent, and publishers can’t be sure that a game will be popular or successful until it’s playtested. Despite this, deadlines still need to be met to avoid exhausting financial resources, and many employees still see crunch as a mandatory demonstration of dedication in order to avoid losing their job. With all

this considered, it’s possible crunch could remain a necessary evil in the working lives of those creating video games. However, there have been developments suggesting that things could change significantly in the next ten years. The proliferation of crunch culture has prompted the formation of Game Workers Unite, an organisation that aims to promote the unionisation of the games industry. The creation of a trade union would empower individuals to challenge unfair work practices, including crunch. There are currently six game unions across France, Finland, and the UK, and it’s likely more will follow in the coming years. The creation of gaming unions to tackle workers issues in the industry could combat crunch culture and have huge implications for the health and happiness of thousands of employees. However, it’s impossible to tell if crunch can ever be eliminated from the gaming industry completely. Ellen Hill

Mobile Gaming There was a time where consumers and industry experts considered mobile the next inevitable destination for gaming. Inflated console prices and the creeping expense of individual games led some to believe the cheaper and more accessible mobile market was the one to corner – and with the App Store’s initial triumph at the end of the 2000’s, who could blame them? Tap Tap Revolution; Pocket God; Angry Birds; Trenches; all games that saw immense success before the decade came to a close. Doodle Jump saw 15 million downloads across all platforms by 2011, while the mobile version of Plants vs. Zombies generated more than $1million dollars within its first nine days. It would be natural to think portable gaming on the phone was the next (and most profitable) leap for the industry. Throughout the 2010’s, the

landscape of this market changed completely as companies scrambled to find the most successful mobile formula. The early years of the decade saw mobile ports of previous-generation console games become prevalent, their lower price often advertised alongside the cutting-edge and unexpected graphical capabilities the mobile platforms could deliver. Of most note were Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series, with III releasing on the App Store in 2011.

Grand Theft Auto III was extremely sophisticated and impressive. It was available for $5, with virtually the entire game being playable despite some minor graphical downgrades. The pros-

pect of an entire PS2 game onthe-go was utterly fantastic – yet from personal experience (and from many others I know who experienced Rockstar’s iOS titles) it didn’t maintain its appeal. One reason for this may be the controller – or rather, lack of it. Larger game ports like this usually relied on virtual buttons placed on the phone’s screen – which meant half of the screen would inevitably be covered, whether it was from these overlays or your fingers pressing them. The lack of tactile response on mobile devices also felt less impactful – and just not right. More ports would be released throughout the decade - Bioshock, Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil 4, – all with the same kinds of flaws. Clearly a new approach would have to be taken. It was instead developers who focused solely on mobile games who thrived. Throughout the decade, games like ZeptoLab’s Cut

the Rope and Disney Interactive’s Where’s My Water? had been experiencing significant success. This could clearly be attributed to their simplistic concepts and the short playtime it demanded from the consumer each time they booted up the game. As more and more simple games became prevalent on the App Store, it became increasingly clear something would have to change for bigname developers to make an impact on mobile devices. Slowly, recognisable console mascots made their way to smartphones in games much more suitable for the pick-up and play characteristics of the platform. Sonic Dash, Super Mario Run, Rayman Adventures and Fallout Shelter are all mobile games that take advantage of its mobile nature while delivering a unique experience. Controls are constructed entirely around the device and the objectives of the game – whether passively time-based or

directly completed in minutes – it keeps up with the demands of its player base. While it’s false to say consolescale games don’t exist on mobile devices anymore, larger companies have finally figured out the most appropriate ways to have their most popular characters make the transition from TV to smartphone. The domination of the mobile market was not as simplistic as one may have expected a decade earlier – but its value certainly hasn’t decreased. With millions still purchasing games off the App Store and billions of dollars in revenue being produced from the marketplace, the mobile market is one that will likely continue to flourish and morph this decade and beyond.

Games As A Service The last decade has been a period of monumental change economically for the gaming industry. This adaptation has manifested in how the games we play are made and how they are supported post-release. Few could have predicted how developers would treat their games post release back then and the scale of it. Alas, here we are, with the ‘games as a service’ model. This business model is built on extending the lifetime of a game by continuing to provide additional content and updates to games after their initial release. To say this is a new model is completely false. After all, companies like Blizzard were doing this in the 2000s with World of Warcraft, so this isn’t anything new. What is new is the high quantity of titles utilising it. Make no mistake, the reason this model has become a calling card in the industry is based on the basic desire of gam-

ers to test their skills. Atul Bagga, who worked for Zynga Games, discussed as much in a presentation at GDC 2011 as creating a finite game would result in players not being able to try new modes to improve their skill. The model isn’t completely economically driven. Despite this, from a development standpoint, there is more money to be made with this model. This has led to a proliferation in the last ten years of the model which has sewn itself into the very fabric of key franchises. It began with basic downloadable content packages for games and the launch of the ‘season pass’, an item to buy access to all of these DLC packages before they had come out. Players could see the risk involved, but big-name players in the industry also saw the value of these for both themselves and their audience. Games such as L.A. Noire and Mortal Kombat started this trend in 2011 and they

have become increasingly used. Of course, the other big way the industry has adopted the model is through microtransactions. These have been implemented exceedingly and with far more controversy. There is endless debate around their domination of various games and genres, with the obvious application being that of loot boxes. Loot boxes have become an increasingly easy way for studios to implement microtransactions by offering players random rewards in exchange for money which can be bought ingame with real world currency. Numerous games from Overwatch to Apex Legends, Fortnite to FIFA, all have found different guises for these systems. These have come under increasing scrutiny for their perceived equivalence to gambling, with Holland and Belgium taking steps in 2018 to ban loot boxes due to various reports of Michael Mep children spending money on them. On top of this, the systems have

come under fire for locking players out of content already in the game. Consider Electronic Arts’ Star Wars: Battlefront II, which faced criticism for huge amounts of content locked being behind paywalls. It led to Reddit’s most down-voted post in history with EA defending their approach. EA has been a key supporter of these despite their criticism, with Vice President Kerry Hopkins even equating them to Kinder Eggs in 2018. We could very well see loot boxes being shunned by developers moving forward, as further opposition comes from the gaming community and even worldwide governments. However, numerous big franchises and plenty of players use it, but one has to wonder if these players will grow weary and look to other, simpler and less costly games. Only time will tell. Alex Green

“...a new approach would have to be taken”

Sam Nason

Electronic Arts

close to 12 hours a day, with little to no compensation or time for recuperation. The additional stress from these extended 12-hour shifts had a severe effect on employee’s quality of life, with many experiencing symptoms of depression as well as other health concerns. As the decade continued, more accusations from developers and other employees over long working hours or unpaid overtime at their studios came about. Rockstar Games was again involved, this time for intense crunch during the production of 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2 with the co-founder proud of the 100-hour weeks the development team were working. Many criticised his statement, arguing that crunch should not be seen as a demonstration of commitment or passion. Telltale Games, the creators of The Walking Dead, were also subject to controversy when after experiencing up to 80-hour weeks over 200 employees were let go after the company’s closure, with no severance pay. Many took to Twitter to complain about the

Tartare Terror

Blizzard Entertainment

Crunch Culture Crunch – the gaming industry’s buzzword of the decade. It’s used to describe the period leading up to a deadline during which developers put in extra hours to complete their project. It happens in every gaming company, big or small, for pretty much every game you’ve ever played. Many see it as a display of passion, others argue it’s an exploitative labour practice. The normalisation of crunch as standard practice has become a highly controversial topic, with claims that this excessive (and often unpaid) overtime has caused developers physical and mental health issues as well as problems in their personal relationships. This decade kicked off with an open letter from spouses of Rockstar Games employees accusing the San Diego branch of poor working conditions due to persistent crunch cycles during development of Red Dead Redemption. In this case, the spouses argue that employees were compelled by their managers to work continuous overtime,

FEATURES

Friday 24th January 2020

www.redbrick.me

The Industry So Far

“...relations have not always been so sympathetic...” There seems to have been great strides in terms of fan/developer relationships over the past decade, a glibly shining example is the majority positive reaction to the recent delays of the Final Fantasy VII Remake and Cyberpunk 2077. The delay of the latter, one of the most hotly antic-

“...the issue is essentially untested” EA aren’t the only offenders. Many studios engaged in the practice with some shutting down games less than a year after release. This practice won’t stop, either. The advantages of continuing to support and sell older games outweighs the speculative advantage of not having to keep servers

ipated games of this console gen- timed exclusivity deal with the eration, would perhaps once upon Epic Games Store. In return for a a time have sent a more fragile period of exclusivity, the team of section of fans spiralling into rage. two received 'a minimum guaranHowever, as mentioned, the over- tee' on sales - a total that matches all reaction seemed pretty positive the amount the team would hope with most citing a want for devel- to reach if they were to sell across opers to maintain a healthy life/ all online storefronts. This is a work balance and avoid needing potentially life changing deal for to ‘crunch’ – work exceedingly a smaller developer whose long hours as is common main concern isn’t in the final months of a whether Keanu Reeves game’s development is looking as breathto get the game done. takingly real as he Whilst CD Projekt is in real life, but Red acknowledged instead whether in an investor Q&A you’ll be able to months since the that crunch will have the lights launch of the still ‘unfortunately’ on next week. be part of Alas, however, Epic Games Store Cyberpunk’s develthe reaction of opment, the idea that some individuals fans were ready to see was vitriolic, and the a game pushed back developer claimed to months for the sake of have received ‘tens of developers’ was a nice one. thousands’ of hateful messages Relations have not always ranging from death threats, to been so sympathetic to the plight antisemitic attacks. of developers. Harken way back When writing this piece, I to August 2019, when intended to compare these two Glumberland, the developers of examples as just how much things the cute-looking creature farming have changed over the years, but sim Ooblets, had just tentatively now I realise they were the same announced they had agreed to a year. It’s clear we still have a way

$1790m The prospective worldwide market revenue of Esports in 2022 £170m The overall budget for Grand Theft Auto V

running, and hoping your customers are buying the newest iteration. Call of Duty alone proves that theory wrong. The true reason you will not be able to play Ubisoft’s The Crew one day can be discovered in Ubisoft’s forums. Upon someone asking whether the game will still be playable after servers shut down, community manager Natchai_Ubisoft had this to say: 'that is still a long way out and not something I think that has been thought of yet.' The legal case, of course, is as grey as ever. The EULA (End User License Agreement) will often claim that the game company has a right to shut down and do whatever they like with their software, but these documents have no legal binding. Multiple legal cases touch upon the subject, however, in court the issue is essentially untested. So, what are the solutions? Ross Scott of Accursed Farms may have it right. In his video Games as a Service are Fraud, the minimum requirements are any one of the following: patch the game so that it can be run without a company server (look at Quake as a great example), release the source code so the community

can fix the game themselves, or provide decryption methods for players. Either that, or refund your customers, which isn’t really a solution but at least is honest. The games industry is a modern behemoth. It seems natural that they can get away with whatever they want. But there is no reason that companies have to render our games unplayable. Kieren Platts

Ubisoft

single player game with a few multiplayer options and featured a lengthy campaign and story. In 2013, EA briefly shut down Darkspore and declared it 'an abandoned title'. Within the same day, EA retracted those comments, dumped the comments on a forum moderator, and stated the game will still be supported. In December 2015, this time EA ‘announced’ Darkspore’s closure on March 1st 2016. On the nowdefunct Darkspore forums EA writes: 'While it can be hard to say goodbye, keep in mind there are tons of awesome games available for free on Origin.'

to go to healing this perceived divide between fans and developers. So, as we move full steam ahead into the twenty-twenties, it is time fans learn to care for the industry – or, at least the people within it - with just a hint more sympathy, lest you drive out those creatives that are pushing the boundaries. Know that behind every lovingly crafted pixel in your favourite game is a human that lovingly crafted it. Tom Martin

Glumberland

Fan/Developer Interactions Over the past decade we’ve seen various ‘clashes’ between the two sides - consumers against the media and developers. These clashes have been anywhere on scale between the general bite you can find day-to-day in the comments of a developer’s twitter posts, to the larger scale toxicity of gamergate. These are two different issues, but are examples of how this fan aggression exists on a micro and macro scale, and both play a role in how the relationship between fans and the industry is formed.

Killing Games Picture the scene: It’s October 30th 2013, and the RTS BattleForge by Electronic Arts is in your library. You’ve poured in dozens of hours and you’ve beaten the single-player campaign. You don’t tend to play online, but since the game is entirely playable, beatable, and enjoyable on its own, the fact that the game is online only is slightly odd. Yet, it hasn’t affected you significantly, so you let it slide. You finally beat another map, read up on some new lore, and are stoked to use these new units you’ve just earned when you play tomorrow. Then on October 31st 2013, BattleForge shuts down with no way to play it ever again. There had been warning, admittedly, but surely they just meant the online modes, which make up about 10% of the game. Why on earth would they render the entire game unplayable? The 2010s brought in a trend that still manages to go under the radar, which is killing games. Essentially, any game requiring online functionality is potentially on the chopping block at some point down the line. Spinoff of Spore, 2011’s Darkspore was a

Square Enix

Electronic Arts

in both big and small ways, through the stories and figures that defined the decade

$10m Riot Games' settlement of a class action gender £5.7bn discrimination lawsuit The Market Value of the UK Games $25.7m Industry Money raised by (as of 2018) speedrunning charity

The Key Numbers From The Decade 2285 The Number of Active Games Studios currently in the UK

GDQ as of 19/01/2020

FEATURES

Friday 24th January 2020

www.redbrick.me

Thinking of Joining Redbrick? Looking to join a new society in 2020? Go to the Guild’s website where you can buy your annual membership for £10, you can then contribute to our 12 sections. Head to www.redbrick.me and click ‘Login’ and then ‘Register.’ You can then create your own account, which will become your online portfolio. Once your account is made, feel free to join the Redbrick Hub on Facebook to find out more. You can then join different sections’ Facebook groups to find out about meeting times and article opportunities. Then you are set as a member of Redbrick 2019-20!

Luke Bosher Treasurer @Burn_FM

The start of second term brings with it a brand new broadcasting schedule for Burn FM, something that always excites as we prepare to go live on Monday 27th January at 9am. There is the chance to see new shows in action, and welcome back successful shows from last semester as we produce around 14 hours of live shows every day. Burn FM is renowned for its variety, and last term featured Soul, Reggae and Afrobeat specialist shows, as well as talk shows on football, feminism and life after being a Guild Officer. Undoubtedly, as we launch podcasting for the first time, this term will see some more fantastic presenters step up to the microphone and I cannot wait to enjoy

the work of some very talented people. Beyond hosting a show, there are still plenty of opportunities to be a part of Burn FM. We have teams dedicated to production, music, sport and arts, all of whom have weekly meetings and help produce some outstanding events and fill our website with great reviews, articles and podcast content. It is definitely not too late to get involved if you h a v e n ’t already. Next week, we’re working on hosting a careers evening, ‘Burn In Conversation’ with guest speakers joining us to talk about their careers in the media. It will be a chance to learn more about working in a creative industry, especially radio and how on earth anyone actually gets there. With alumni from Burn FM joining the panels as well as other industry experts, if you are interested in a media career, this isn’t an event to be missed. As a fourth year with a strong interest in forging a media career for myself, I am all too aware of the difficulties of knowing where to look for work experience, internships and general careers advice and hope that this event will be beneficial to everyone that comes, and potentially kickstart some media careers. You don’t even need to be a member to attend, just come along next Friday (31st) to the Guild Council Chambers. Head over to our Facebook page to find all the details of the event and our soon-to-be announced guest speakers.

This ad space will be seen by over 1000 students across campus. Make it yours. Discounted advertising for University of Birmingham societies, only in Redbrick. Contact marketing@redbrick.me for details.

FEATURES

Friday 24th January 2020

www.redbrick.me

Mind+Solve Sudoku (Easy)

2 8

8 7

1 4

9 3 7 8

Across 2. Having an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone (9) 3. A willingness to do something (10) 6. Coded software, television, and radio all have one (9) 7. A financial magazine published weekly, based in London (9) 8. A type of medical practitioner (7) 11. Resistant or protected (6) 14. A firm decision often made in the new year (10) 15. When various parts coordinate (10)

2 Down 1. A temporary outside dwelling (4) 4. You cross this when entering an establishment (9) 5. A violent expansion in which energy is released as a shock wave (7) 10. Something which contributes to an easy and effortless way of life (11) 12. The part of a liquid which gathers at the top (5) 13. Choosing one item over another (10)

‘You fool! You've destroyed us all! The wave is gaining! We have to warn Atlantis! Too late! Everyone to the shelters!’

Anagrams Welcome back to another term of eating food from the best establishments on Bristol Road. Can you unscramble these Bristol Road hotspots?

1. IRIS PIPE PIPER 2. CHAFF LUMENAL 3. DISH LADS 4. CHEESY JOKE

6 1

6 5

2 1 3

5 7

3 7 8

The Redbrick Crossword 1 2

4 13 10

songs and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.

‘Long hours and a few dyin' flowers / But you never seem to stick around / How could you let somethin' so good / Go to waste and bleed the colours out?’

2 4

‘The terror, which would not end for another twenty-eight years - if it ever did end - began, so far as I know or can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newspaper floating down a gutter swollen with rain.’

2 7

First Lines The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels,

1 1

3 8

5 5

9 4

3 1

Issue 1513 Puzzles compiled by Natalia Carter

Sudoku (Hard)

5. CHICKY INDEX 6. SORT EROS 7. MY RUMMY 8. JOBS NIGH 9. AIRY IKON 10. MAVEN CHUNG

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1. Frosty; 2. Lights; 3a. Christmas; 3b. Carol; 4. Yule; 5a. Rudolph; 5b. Reindeer; 6. Elf; 7. Snowman; 8. Chestnuts; 9. Snowflake; 10. Santa; 11. Yorkshire; 12. Tinsel; 13. Festive; 14. Tree; 15. Presents; 16. Bauble | First Lines: A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens); The Polar Express; 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' (Michael Buble); 'Walking in the Air' (The Shadows) | Anagrams: 1. Potatoes; 2. Pigs in blankets ; 3. Brussel Sprouts; 4. Yorkshire Pudding; 5. Nut Roast; 6. Stuffing; 7. Cranberry Sauce; 8. Carrots; 9. Parsnips; 10. Christmas Pudding Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me

FEATURES

Friday 24th January 2020

www.redbrick.me

Redbrick Film’s FILM

With the 92nd Academy Awards just around the corner,

Best Picture

What will win? Given its sheer scale and ambition, Sam Mendes’ 1917 is likely to win Best Picture. The precisely choreographed sequences – filmed to appear as though they’re one continuous shot – are enough to bag the win alone, but the tense and thrilling mission at the heart of the film creates an immersive viewing experience like no other. 1917 is a rollercoaster that very literally tracks the highs and lows of a single nerve-wracking mission against the clock, and even though the story is a simple one, 1917 is beautifully shot, loaded with emotion and is exactly what the Academy love to see – immense hard work with an equally impressive pay-off.

such a terrifying tale in such unassuming rural surroundings is truly a marvel. Florence Pugh delivers a notably vulnerable and enchanting performance, but the Academy have (once again) denied horror the recognition it deserves for producing some of the most captivating films of 2019- Midsommar being at the top of that list. Peri Cimen

What should win? Greta Gerwig’s Little Women thrives under her direction and deserves a Best Picture win (particularly in spite of her lack of recognition as a filmmaker). Her retelling of this classic tale celebrates the candid diversity of its female characters and brings together a flawlessly talented cast to do so. Each frame is as beautiful as a work of art – complete with enviable costume designs – but the film is most impressive for maintaining its intimacy in such elaborate settings. Little Women is a sincerely moving tale of sisterhood that is shamelessly fun and painfully real, suffering only from its lack of nominations. What was snubbed? Ari Aster’s Midsommar is a film that was crudely overlooked as a contender for Best Picture but deserves an abundance of accolades for its distinctive use of story, sound and performance which are all delivered with unparalleled intensity. Set ambitiously in broad daylight, Aster’s ability to tell

Best Director

Who will win? This one is tough to call. It could, realistically, go one of three ways; Scorsese, Tarantino, or Mendes. But after the earthshattering bombast of 1917 shook our hearts and souls, Sam Mendes seems poised to take it home. His work on the WWI epic is nearunparalleled: a war movie styled to look like one continuous take? It’s a bold move on Mendes’ part, but his direction of the film is assured, confident, graceful, and above all, it is utterly stunning. The Revenant’s fascinating longtake action saw Alejandro González Iñárritu bring home the award in 2014. Given that 1917 ups the ante significantly, Mendes will surely take the trophy. Who should win? Wouldn’t it be nice, just once, if the winner of Best Director wasn’t a white man? In 91 Oscar ceremonies, the number of winners who weren’t white men

can genuinely be counted on one hand. Especially with the all-tootrue resurgence of #OscarsSoWhite this year, to see Bong Joon-ho take the trophy home for his universally acclaimed Parasite would be a fantastic breath of fresh air. Not only that, but he fully deserves it; his film is like nothing western audiences have ever seen, and it would make the ceremony just a tad more inclusive. Who was snubbed? Speaking of inclusivity: where are all the women? The number of transcendental films directed by women last year is plentiful, yet all have been shut out of the Director category. The most outrageous of these snubs are Greta Gerwig and Lulu Wang (for Little Women and The Farewell, respectively). Each of them gave audiences a beautiful, earnest and honest film that rocked so many worlds last year and each directed with a sense of subtle

Sony Pictures

Best Actress Who will win? Noah Baumbach's highly acclaimed feature, Marriage Story, really gave Scarlett Johansson a chance to shine as soon-to-be-divorced actress and mother Nicole. It's been a good year for Johansson anyway, as she also shone in Jojo Rabbit as Jojo's mother Rosie. In Marriage Story, Johansson's performance is so natural, she is instantly believable and deftly portrays the emotional toll of divorce and takes the audience on the journey with her through the separation. It was a beautiful dramatic performance and one that I can absolutely see the Academy rating really highly.

A24

Who should win? Despite Johansson's excellent and worthy performance, the real star of this category is of course Saoirse Ronan, for her performance as Jo March in Greta Gerwig's fresh adaptation of Little

grace and confidence that the Oscars so rarely give credit to. Their films were each better than just about all of the other drivel directed by men this past year, and if the Academy can’t see that, then I’m afraid we must riot. Why were they nominated? Joker has plenty of Oscar nominations it doesn’t deserve (nine out of its total 11, to be precise), but to see Todd Phillips nominated for his mediocre, nondescript direction of a decent film is nothing short of utterly disheartening. Why is he on that list? I genuinely can’t figure it out. He puts no sort of stamp on the film at all; everything good about Joker comes from Joaquin Phoenix and Hildur Guðnadóttir, and none of it from Todd Phillips. His nomination here (as well as his nod in the Adapted Screenplay category) is utterly baffling and truly undeserved. Matt Taylor

Women. Jo was every little girl's favourite and most relatable March sister, and Ronan really brought her to life on screen. She had a lot to live up to, after three previous film adaptations of the novel, two of which immortalised Jo's character in very different ways: Katherine Hepburn was a tomboyish and unconventional character in 1933, and Winona Ryder was a romantic, bookish Jo March. Ronan really made the role her own; a Jo for the twentyfirst century, strong and independent, relentlessly focussed on her goals, but romantic and family-focused too – a truly complex character that modern audiences can really relate to. Ronan's ultimate strong point is the scene in the attic with Marmee (Laura Dern). Her frank and heartbreaking delivery of the line 'I'm so lonely' should be enough to make her deserving of Best Actress on its own, even if her performance in the rest of the film wasn't one of the best of her career so far, and one of the best nominated for the award this year. At only 25, with four Oscar nominations under her belt already, it's exciting to wonder where Saoirse Ronan's career will take her next, regardless of whether she wins this award. Who was snubbed? As ever with the Oscars, horror movies and the actors who star in them were overlooked this year. Lupita Nyong'o's performance in Us as both Adelaide Wilson and her 'Tethered' was frankly genius; truly terrifying and impressively skilled – she almost looked like a different person in each role. Florence Pugh, in Midsommar was also sadly overlooked. Her stunning portrayal of a grieving woman going through some of the most traumatic experiences of her life was hard to watch, but one of the best performances of the year. Amy O'Neill

Dreamworks

FEATURES

Friday 24th January 2020

www.redbrick.me

Oscar Picks for 2020 we look at what will win, what should win, and what got snubbed Best Actor

Who will win? When it comes to award season, Joker has been praised to the hills and beyond. Whilst not all those nominations have resulted in wins themselves, one that has been a constant winner has been Joaquin Phoenix. He picked up the Golden Globe for best actor in a drama motion picture and is BAFTA-nominated in addition, with few actors having as much public momentum heading to the Oscars as him. His performance was the standout quality of Joker, full of unpredictability and nuances to provide his own twist on the iconic character. At this point, his win feels a given and is one of the few certainties heading into February’s ceremony. Who should win? Pain and Glory is probably the least likely winner of the nominees but, when it comes to engaging performances, Antonio Banderas achieved this in spades without the need for showy antics. Banderas is consistently excellent as Salvador Mallo, an aging film director who is on a professional and personal decline. Banderas uses the decline to expertly present a jaded character but imbues a sense of longing and a need for reconciliation that leads to every scene feeling character-driven and full of heart. All this is done with grace and restraint, perfectly fitting the relaxed and observatory nature of Pain and Glory. This is a truly unique performance and a true high-point for Banderas, who truly deserves a victory here. Who was snubbed? Rocketman only picking up one nomination is a true shame. Taron Egerton’s fantastic embodiment of Elton John being ignored is worse. Particularly odd is how Rami Malek won last year for his turn as Freddie Mercury, yet Egerton hasn’t received a mention. A portrayal bursting with charisma, depth and class, Egerton’s snub feels extremely egregious given the safety of the nominations here. Alex Green

Sony Pictures

Best Original Score

What will win? Thomas Newman’s earthshattering 1917 score is one of the standout components of an already-incredible film. It swells in the bigger moments to suitably match the bombast of the jawdropping spectacle that Sam Mendes puts in front of us, yet wisely pulls back in the film’s quieter moments, few though they are. Though he was beaten at the Golden Globes by Hildur Guðnadóttir’s magnificent Joker score, the Oscars do love a good war movie, and when one has a score as good as this, and particularly with Newman’s 14 nominations without a win, it would be criminal not to award it.

Best Supporting Actress

Who will win? Before the nominations were announced, this seemed like it was going to be a tough category to predict: would the prize go to Laura Dern or J-Lo? So perhaps the Academy did pundits a favour by declining to nominate Jennifer Lopez at all, making Dern the clear favourite. Who should win? Laura Dern’s performance in Marriage Story is utterly electric, and her ability to command the screen was on full display throughout 2019, between Big Little Lies, Little Women and Marriage Story.

Paramount

It’s a testament to the strength of the category that any other year I might have been rooting for Florence Pugh (who was so good in Little Women that she convinced people, en masse, to stop hating Amy March), Margot Robbie (whose performance in Bombshell is one of the only bearable things about the film) or Scarlett

What should win? Whilst it would be nice to see Guðnadóttir take home the trophy (which would make her only the fourth woman ever to do so), the fact is that her work is outdone by Alexandre Desplat’s beautifully lyrical Little Women score. Each track is so full of life and joy, and the whole thing is brimming with vibrancy. His use of strings is utterly gorgeous, and every single piece matches the emotion of the scene perfectly. He has previously won for his work on The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Shape of Water, yet what he does here surpasses both of those; he fully deserves that award. What was snubbed? I was gobsmacked when I saw

that both Michael Abels and Alan Silvestri had been left off the list of names. Their scores (for Us and Avengers: Endgame respectively) are two out of the three best pieces of film music of the past year (the other being Nicholas Brittel’s achingly beautiful If Beale Street Could Talk score), and to see them both left off the list is devastating. Abels’ ‘Tethered Mix’ of Luniz’s ‘I Got 5 On It’ is enough to make you fear for your life in only 104 seconds, while Silvestri’s ‘Portals’ is the single best piece of music he has ever produced. For neither of them to receive a nod for their stellar work is one of the many, many oversights the Academy have made this time around. Matt Taylor

Johansson (an actor I’m usually not a fan of who all the same impressed me in Jojo Rabbit, reservations about the accent aside). Who was snubbed? Jennifer Lopez smashed all previous expectations with her turn as Ramona in Hustlers; a role with far more complexity to it than female characters – let alone female supporting characters – are usually permitted. From the physicality to the chameleonic shifts in persona which revealed a truly multifaceted character, Lopez would have been just as deserving of a win as Dern is. For my money, hers is the second most egregious snub across the slate of nominees, just behind Greta Gerwig’s shut-out for Best Director. Ellie Burridge

Best Animated Feature Film

What will win? This year’s bunch of nominations is perhaps one of the more exciting categories at the 92nd awards. Box-office big hitters like The Lion King, Frozen 2, and The Lego Movie 2 have all been snubbed, with two Netflix productions: I Lost My Body, and Klaus making a mark for the streaming service. Laika Productions continue to have a strong showing, with the nomination for Missing Link meaning that every one of their films has been nominated in the category, although they are yet to win. My pick for the win will probably be I Lost My Body. Despite its flaws it’s a vibrant and exciting film, and much more violent and adult than animated films are usually treated as. Watching a severed hand parkour around the place, fend off rats, and hide from people who might see it, is a thrilling thing to watch, and it would be great to see it win. What should win? There isn’t necessarily a standout film in the category this year, especially compared to last year’s Into the Spiderverse, which seemed like the obvious choice. Missing Link, I Lost My Body, and Klaus probably weren’t seen by enough people to make an impact, despite being very exciting examples of stunning films. How to Train Your Dragon: A Hidden World has a decent shot, especially considering how many were satisfied with its conclusion to the trilogy. The most likely winner is Pixar’s Toy Story 4, while not perhaps as strong a film as other recent Pixar films like Coco or Inside Out, its nostalgia factor may inch it over the finish line. What was snubbed? The Academy seem to have taken a few more risks this year, with Disney having a much less prominent foothold in the category than they usually do, which might have something to do with their recent obsession with live-action cinema. Aardman productions’ brilliant A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is yet to be released in the US so is ineligible, so we may see that contending in next year’s awards. The most glaring snub though would be yet again for Makoto Shinkai, contending this year with Weathering With You. His previous film, Your Name, was also surprisingly absent, and it follows a trend of the Academy not really recognising Japanese animation beyond Studio Ghibli productions. Sam Zucca

Universal Pictures

STXfilms

Walt Disney Studios

CULTURE

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickculture

Redbrick Writers Reminisce Last Year’

Redbrick’s Culture Writers tell us about their Highlights of 2019, from Parisian Exhibitions Georgia Henderson Culture Critic

The Magic Flute from Glyndebourne This year’s Glyndebourne Festival graced us with some classics from Rossini to Handel, however the jewel in its crown was its production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Brought to us by the design and direction team of Barbe & Doucet, this fantastical comedy is bizarrely set in a hotel in 1900s Vienna and follows the adventure of Timano in a tale of love, magic and revenge.

“The beauty of this production is there is no need to follow the plot or make total sense of [it]... ” The beauty of this production is there is no need to follow the plot or make total sense of the terrifying serpent of dirty dishes and Papageno’s omelette-cooking skills, you can simply bask in its beautiful absurdity. This is not to say that the opera doesn’t balance its bonkers staging with poignant moments of solemnity. A production abundant with symbolism, the visual spectacle of this allegorical pantomime is perfectly matched by the New Enlightenment Orchestra’s masterful handling of Mozart’s score. If you are new to opera this is a great introduction, with its dream-like plot, eccentric staging and sumptuous music. Lucky for you this production was broadcast on BBC 4 on Christmas Day so you can check it out on iPlayer

until March 2020. If you want to catch next year’s Glyndebourne Festival, including productions of Handel’s Alcinaand Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amour, you can sign up to the Under 30s Membership and get discounted tickets for only £30 or standing tickets for £15 (full price tickets retail over £200)!

Matt Taylor

phy is beautifully done without ever feeling artificial, and the performances are stellar across the board. If you happen to get a chance to see it on its tour of the country, then do: it’s a total hoot.

Abby Spreadborough Comment Editor

‘Black Models: From Gericault to Matisse’ at D’Orsay

Film Editor

Mini-Review: & Juliet I don’t go to the theatre nearly as often as I should, or indeed want to, so when I do, I am usually blown away by whatever I see. No show I’ve seen in the past few years has been quite as enjoyable as & Juliet, a retelling of/sequel to Romeo & Juliet that lets Juliet decide not to take her own life (because, as is pointed out, that’s ridiculous), but tell her own story as a jukebox musical. The play’s energy is utterly infectious; from the opening scene with William Shakespeare and wife Anne Hathaway to the toe-tapping final number (not something I ever thought I’d say about a Justin Timberlake song), the production is an absolute riot. It also unashamedly grounds its politics firmly in 2019, making a huge point about how we must let women decide their fates for themselves, rather than having it forced upon them by others.

“The play’s energy is... infectious” It’s easy to see the amount of effort that has gone into the production of & Juliet; the costumes are wonderfully lavish, the set design is gorgeous, the choreogra-

‘Black Models: From Gericault to Matisse’ was not an exhibition I intended to see but rather stumbled upon last April whilst in Paris. I had strategically marked out which galleries I wanted to visit and naturally the Musee D’Orsay was near the top of my list due to its large collection of art nouveau furniture and its impressive range of impressionist works.

“Tracing the abolition of slavery in 1794 with Gericault to early 20th Century portraits of Josehphine Baker”

edge of the scene holding flowers. The painting has been renamed after her in an attempt to recover and reaffirm the identity of sidelined black models making the exhibit a landmark moment for art in 2019. The exhibition was the first of its kind in France addressing a significant gap in art historical scholarship. In the case of Olympia the focus has often been directed towards Olympia herself, particularly her clear refutation of the male gaze and the paintings role in the birth of modern art. Feminism was limited to white feminism in the case of Olympia, but finally, over 150 years later, the discussion is shifting and deepening.

encapsulate in only 12 drawings per location the incredible spirit and extraordinary talent of this renowned Renaissance man.

Catrin Osborne Televison Editor

Olafur Eliasson’s ‘In Real Life’

Eve Orford

Culture Critic

A Life in Drawing: Da Vinci

Folger Shakespeare Library Digital Image Collection

2019

During the Spring of 2019, 144 of Leonardo da Vinci’s wondrous drawings left the R o y a l Collection f o r exhi-

Cult High

Tracing the abolition of slavery in French colonies in 1794 with Gericault to early 20th Century avant-garde with portraits of Josephine Baker, the exhibition encompassed Manet’s Olympia as its centre piece. But this time our gaze is not directed towards Olympia, the white prostitute at the centre of the painting, but Laure, the black woman on the Wikipedia Commons

Frank Dicksee / edited by Luca Demetriou

bitions celebrating the 500th anniversary of his death. Separated for the first time to go on display, 12 different exhibitions each had 12 of these spectacular sketches, making the drawings accessible for the public to view them in the UK. These well-preserved pieces of art covered a wide range of topics: from human anatomy and botany, to designs for monuments and maps, making it evident to all how the exhibitions presented Leonardo not only as an artist, but as an architect and a scientist. Some of the pages were even accompanied by Leonardo’s own notes, which added to the depth of the collection, especially as he never set out to release these papers for the attention of the public eye. A Life in Drawing was certainly a fitting name for the exhibitions. They managed to

After Olafur Eliasson’s The Weather Project (2003) attracted two million viewers to the Tate Modern, it was no wonder that the gallery decided to give the Danish-Icelandic artist an entire exhibition. In Real Life is mystical before one even enters as the lifts’ lights bathe visitors in a powerful orange glow. What follows is an awe-inspiring experience as the visitor wanders from a wall covered entirely in moss, through a kaleidoscopic mirrored tunnel, to a room that emulates a rainbow, taking time to marvel at their iridescent shadows on the way.

“An awe-inspiring experience”

CULTURE

Friday 24th Janaury 2020

@redbrickculture

’s Culture

What’s What’s on on at at the the Barber Barber Institute Institute

s, to Comic Book Saga’s Eliasson’s exhibition is perfect for the social-media-generation. Everyone I know that visited couldn’t help but pose amongst the aesthetically pleasing installations such as the 39-metre foggy corridor titled ‘Your Blind Passenger.’ Eliasson’s immersive installations highlight how the internet is becoming increasingly important in the cultural world. However, In Real Life is by no means style over substance; Eliasson is passionately committed to tackling the climate crisis. This was illuminated by his photography series emphasising the significant deterioration of Icelandic glaciers. Pairing Instagram with environmentalism, In Real Life is a hint at where art will take us in the 2020s.

the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the even better Six of Crows Duology. If you don’t have the time or motivation for a whole written universe, she has branched outside of it into one-shots. Her first being her most recent book, Ninth House, which has already been critically acclaimed. With nominations for Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction and winning the Audie Award for Short Stories/Collections as well as the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fantasy. It is clear that I’m not alone when I say Bardugo is a stand-out emerging author.

Luc Viatour

Culture Critic

Leigh Bardugo’s Comics Leigh Bardugo is a fantasy novelist best known for her expanding fictional Grishaverse, particularly

Culture Editor

‘Bon Voyage, Bob’, Tanztheater Wuppertal at Sadler Wells

“Fragments and memories are refracted, recalled and diffracted” A meditation on grief and loss, paying homage to the company’s founder, this performance is redolent of the Bauschian style, while taking the company in new directions. Its creator, Alan Lucien Øyen, a Norwegian choreographer and playwright, takes us through the narrative through text and movement.

At this point she may not even be considered emerging. The Shadow and Bone trilogy takes its time to introduce all of its characters and at first reads more like a children’s book. Although, once you’re in it’s hard to get out, with all the fantastic characters and wondrous worldbuilding. In fact, her extensive, magical imagination reaches over to the later texts: Language of Thorns and King of Scars as her prose skill develops. The highlight of course is the Six of Crows duology already hearing rumours of a Netflix adaptation.

Ford Madox Brown

Antonio Miguel Aguila

Luca Demetriou

Pina Bausch’s renowned dancetheatre company, Tanztheater Wuppertal returned with two new performances since Pina Bausch passed away in 2009. Tanztheater Wuppertal is a legendary performance company to arise out of modern times, revolutionising and problematising both dance and theatre, blurring the boundary between the two mediums. The company is famous for re-imagininings of ballets, such as Rite of Spring, and producing ground-breaking works such as Cafe Muller. In April, I had the pleasure of seeing Bon Voyage, Bob, one of the company’s second full length pieces for more than 10 years.

tural hlights

All I have to say about Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom is that they are some of the best books I’ve read in years. If you want to start reading Bardugo these two books are the best place to start.

“This piece is tender, yet tumultuous” This is not, however, a play. But rather, fragments and memories that are refracted, recalled and diffracted, carrying the weight of grief, heavy and arresting. This piece is tender, yet tumultous, with relationships, male-female and same-sex, foregrounded, in typical Bauschian style. A three-hour long piece, the emotional intensity leaves you fragile by the end but I hope to experience another Tanztheater Wuppertal piece soon.

Barber Institute of Fine Arts

EXHIBITIONS

BARBER LATES

‘Cornwall as Crucible Embarrassing: A Guide to Modernity and Internationlism Writing and Editing Queer Love in Mid-century Britain’ Poetry Writing workshop 19th February - 17th May 25th February, 6-8pm ‘Maternal Bonds - Images of Motherhood’ 31st January - 24th May (There will also be a talk on ‘Maternal Bonds’ with Beth Brankowski, the curator. This will be on 4th February, 11:30am & 1:15pm and completely free. Meeting in the Barber foyer.) ‘Cezanne and the Modern French print’

Nocturnes: Ethereal Science / Constructing Beauty 3rd March, 6-8:30pm Spirited Bodies (paid event, £8 concs) Life drawing session exploring notions of body image and acceptance. 6th February, 6-8pm

7th February - 7th June

LGBTQ+ History Month Brilliant Bags Design and decorate your very own tote bag to celebrate your fabulous family. Free, drop in. Tuesday 18th February, 11am-3pm Drag Queen Story Time Hear terrific tales all about diversity, acceptance and family Free, booking essential. Thursday 20th February, 12 noon-1pm

Tuesday Talks Dr Elliott on Queerness in Poetry 11th February, 11.30am and 1.15pm Joe Sleigh, Freelance Arts Educator 18th February, 11.30am and 1.15pm

MUSIC

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickmusic

Essential Albums: Blonde - Frank Ocean Jake Sandy Music Critic

This is not an album, this a religious experience. This is an intimate portrait of one of the most enigmatic characters in modern music, painted with his own words. This is the album that opened my eyes to the way that music can speak directly to your soul. This is the album that changed my life. In a similar vein to a painting, Blonde can only truly be appreciated when viewed in the context of its creation and, for this, we need to go back to 2011 when Frank Ocean released his debut mixtape, Nostalgia Ultra. At the time, he was a member of LA hip-hop collective Odd Future, but the lyrical maturity and avantgarde production of this record made it a cut above what any other members of the group were releasing. Even when surrounded by supremely talented musicians in their own right, he stood out as the crown jewel in a sea of diamonds. This ability to always be a step ahead of his contemporaries is a defining characteristic of his music and has won him praise from industry heavyweights like Kanye West and Beyoncé. The other major hallmark from his career is his expertise at writing deeply personal songs whilst avoiding clichéd selfaggrandising – the use of his personal experiences are merely a way to tether abstract ideas to reality. Given that he closely guards information about his private life, whether these events happened or not is almost an irrelevance, he has no desire to make the listener invested in him as a person. His art is his truth and it’s up to the listener to apply it to their own life, not his, and see how it emotionally resonates with them. The final piece of context that sets up the album is the relationship between Ocean and the media. His rejection of the traditional notion of fame and celebrity culture is one of the main reasons that I personally admire him so much. He seldom participates in interviews so his music is the only outlet through which his fans can hear his thoughts and this, in an era where Twitter means you can know everything about everyone, preserves his mystique. It makes you savour every piece of his art because you never know when, or indeed if, you’re going to get more. Over his career, the only time he dropped this carefully guarded wall of privacy was when, ahead of his second studio album Channel ORANGE - being released, he posted a letter on his personal Tumblr page where he opened up about his sexuality. It’s difficult to write about this without sounding overly condescending by saying how ‘brave’ it was, but that’s the truth. In a time where the sexual orientation of public figures is seen by portions of the media as fodder for some kind of tawdry guessing game, it was a welcome change of pace for someone to be able to control

their own narrative and open up about themselves on their terms. There were, of course, people who were quick to question why he felt the need to share these details about his personal life, but they were being – possibly wilfully – ignorant to the sociological impact of a moment like this. In a genre whose trade is largely hyper-masculinity and female objectification, it can’t be overstated how important the visibility of people who don’t conform to these stereotypes are. By deriding those who make the decision to stick their head above the parapet on these issues, you are complicit in keeping the status-quo where hip-hop and rap are dominated by rampant heterosexuality. To use the words of Kevin Abstract on the 2017 Brockhampton track ‘JUNKY’: ‘Why you always rap about bein’ gay? / ‘cause not enough... rappin’ be gay.’

“This ability to always be a step ahead of his contemporaries is a defining characteristic of his music” Going back to the album itself, the opening cut, ‘Nikes,’ immediately subverts the listeners expectations by not having Ocean’s natural voice being the first thing you hear, instead his vocals are pitched up and take on an almost anonymous quality where it could be anyone delivering the lines. This is coupled with extremely minimal instrumentation consisting of drawn-out synthesiser notes and understated percussion. This sparseness in the mix is a theme across the entire record and gives it a sense of intimacy between the listener and the artist, so much so that it feels as though Ocean is the tour guide for the journey of selfdiscovery that you embark upon whilst experiencing his music. In the second half of the song, the listener is rewarded with their first taste of Ocean’s unadulterated voice as he launches into a verse that blurs the lines between singing and rapping, displaying his lyrical dexterity by skimming over many different topics in quick succession. Despite this seemingly scattered approach though, everything he says, down to each individual word choice, has been painstakingly selected to lay a trail of breadcrumbs that the listener needs to follow to truly appreciate the nuances of the song. The attention to detail that Ocean approaches his music with elevates him to the status of an almost auteur-like figure in the music industry who hones his craft until it is, to his mind, perfect. Ocean is no stranger to a musical epic as evidenced on his debut album, Channel ORANGE,

where the song ‘Pyramids’ weaved a complex narrative arc over it’s ten-minute runtime. On Blonde he emulated this with ‘Nights,’ a song that is perhaps best described as an odyssey through his past. It’s a revealing insight into his life before fame and looks at the struggles he faced as a young man in modern America. The timing of the beat switch in the track coincides exactly with the halfway point in the album and is another allusion to the theme of duality that repeatedly crops up, even in the title which is spelled in the masculine form, blond, on the cover art but spelt in the feminine form, blonde, when referred to elsewhere. Speaking of the beat switch, it is nothing short of magical. Ocean’s dreamy falsetto is juxtaposed by the shrill wailing from an electric guitar that ratchets up the tension until it is finally relieved by a gorgeous soundscape of delicate synthesiser notes and crisp 808 drums. In the second leg of the song, Ocean made the interesting production decision to pitch up his vocals by two semitones to make it sound as though his younger self is delivering the lines – combining perfectly with the lyrical content to evoke powerful feelings of nostalgia. In an age where the majority of albums just appear to be a collection of unrelated songs thrown together, once again Ocean chose to stand out by making something is more of a l i s t e n i n g experience. To shuffle the album would be like reading a book by picking chapters at random – you’d get to the end eventually, but you’d miss out on the journey. This is especially apparent on the record’s two skits: ‘ B e

Yourself’ and ‘Facebook Story.’ These aren’t just random interludes to pad out the runtime, they are instead brief vignettes that address another of the album’s key themes– communication or the lack thereof. ‘Be Yourself’ is set up as an answerphone message to Ocean from his mother where she is giving him life advice which shows the power of communication in the modern age; even in someone’s absence you can still connect with them. On the other hand, ‘Facebook Story’ features French producer SebastiAn recounting a cautionary tale where his ex-girlfriend left him after she interpreted his hesitancy to accept her as a friend on Facebook as a sign of his infidelity. This highlights the jealousy that can arise due to a lack of communication and illustrates the irony of their relationship being

broken down by a website that markets itself as a way of bringing people together. The most emotionally charged moments on this record come courtesy of ‘White Ferrari,’ a heartfelt ballad that explores young love. As acoustic chords swirl around the mix, Ocean’s vocals are allowed to take centre stage and provide the emotional weight to the lyrics, allowing a moment of true connection between the musician and the listener. Interestingly, Paul McCartney and John Lennon are listed as co-writers in the album credits due to the song’s interpolation of the Beatles classic: ‘Here, There and Everywhere.’ This is such an exquisitely niche touch to the song that goes so easily under the radar, but is, perhaps, the most fitting symbol for the incredible level of craftsmanship that Ocean puts into his work. This album was four years in the making and it’s easy to see why. The lyrical and sonic intricacy that permeates throughout the album made it well worth the wait. Overall, Frank Ocean is an artist in the truest sense of the word and Blonde is his masterpiece. The visceral emotional responses that it elicits makes it feel like it transcends music as a genre into something more, a kind of guided meditation that taps into the most fundamental parts of human nature. The fact that it focuses on feelings that are so intrinsic to our psyche will make it exist independently of time, as a lens through which the staggering complexities of life are distilled into their most elementary form. As I said at the beginning: this is not an album, this is a religious experience.

Wikimedia Commons

MUSIC

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickmusic

Live Review: Aitch Daisy Kirkaldy Music Editor

Walking into a gig and feeling older than most of the crowd is not a feeling I’m familiar with; the sight of fourteen-year-old girls stumbling up the stairs is always jarring. The usual stench of pints at the O2 Institute was replaced by the unmistakable scent of fruity Wetherspoons pitchers - Pornstar Martini or Sex on the Beach, to be precise. The crowd screamed post-GCSE holiday; I did wonder whether Aitch was going to be many people’s first ever gig. Aitch’s hypeman, DJ Win, opened the night with a collection of feel-good RnB and 90s hip-hop (think ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air,’ ‘American Boy’ etc, etc.). He ended his short set with Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ - sending me right back to my Year 6 Christmas school disco: not quite the vibe he was going for, I can imagine.

“The crowd never stopped moving” ZieZie, Aitch’s support act, came on to a barrage of glasssmash sound effects courtesy of his hypeman, who was significantly less slick than DJ Win. The first thing I noticed when he came on was the screams. It made me and my ears fear for what was to come when Aitch finally made an appearance. ZieZie’s songs ‘Sensei’ and ‘Fine Girl’ are admittedly really good; his set was made up of catchy crowd pleasers and was a perfectly good support set. What was odd, however, was when he jumped off stage and straight into the middle of a form-

ing moshpit (which he had asked for), accompanied by, you guessed it, screams. ZieZie then proceeded to take off his shirt, (screams), but left on the Gucci scarf, of course - nice touch. After ZieZie came the return of DJ Win, this time with a much more on-brand set of grime and hip-hop. The organisation at the gig was really good, we weren’t ever left without music for more than 10 or so minutes, which is always appreciated in such a sweaty restless crowd. I stood at the back, surrounded by the other members of the audience who resented teenage moshpits, and audible sighs were heard whenever another massive space opened up. I’m not trying to be a spoil-sport, but moshpits for support acts should just be illegal. Then it was time for Aitch. I have never heard such hysteria in all my life (I’ve seen Justin Bieber live twice, may I add). I genuinely did not spot Aitch on stage until at least halfway through his first song, due to the amount of phones filming him and his every movement. He began, groundbreakingly, with ‘Intro’ off his recent AitcH2O EP. ‘Intro’ is one of my favourite songs from the album, its lyrics are really funny and the recognisable opening helped to grab the audience’s attention, even before he’d come onstage. He took a break from his EP and followed with ‘Miss Me With It’ also one of my favourites. He played one of his earlier freestyles which I didn’t recognise, but the four girls next to me knew every word. Aitch’s diction was genuinely impressive, he didn’t seem to struggle with any of his lyrics or ever run out of breath. ‘Already’ was next - also good. The lyrics are cheeky and memorable, it genuinely seemed as if most people there knew every syllable. Aitch’s shouts for

‘ENERGEH’ were honestly futile, the crowd never stopped moving and the vibe stayed good throughout. The bass on ‘Aeroplane Mode’ was insane, and the piano backing track sounded really good blasting through the Institute. Aitch’s interactions with DJ Win were good, but seemed too rehearsed at some points. They seem to be great friends on social media, but it didn’t seem like they were having that much fun on stage, which was an odd mix. ‘Take Me Back to London’ came after a brief moment without Aitch on stage, and Birmingham-based Jaykae bounded out unexpectedly and launched into his verse on the song. The combination of them both on stage was brilliant; I think Aitch’s verse on ‘Take Me Back to London’ is the best feature he’s done so far, and it was really wellreceived. The pair then followed

with their other collaboration ‘On The Way Home’ which has a very simple backing track but worked really well with the audience matching every word. Aitch finished with ‘Wait,’ which surprised me as I assumed we’d hear ‘Taste (Make It Shake)’ last. I’m glad however, as ‘Wait’ more accurately reflects Aitch’s music, it’s almost a shame that ‘Taste’ has gotten so big (it peaked at #2 on the Official Singles Chart earlier this year), it’s catchy but doesn’t seem to reflect the quality of his other songs. Look - it was a great night, but I do feel for the people who had to sit through the two-hour-long Snapchat stories some of the audience must have posted. All in all, it was a really good gig, but in the future I think I’d much prefer to hear Aitch in a club or on Spotify than I would in a room full of his fans.

Music Critic

Two years after opening for Jacob Banks in the same venue, Joy Crookes hit the esteemed Hare and Hounds on her Birmingham stop of her first headlining UK/ Europe Tour last month. The South Londoner’s name has been one that has appeared seemingly everywhere ever since I was introduced to her music through a friend earlier this year. Discovering the extent of her discography only fairly recently, I was very intrigued to hear even more of her music in a live setting. Opening act AMUN may have appeared an unexpected choice to some of the crowd, with her trapbased approach to soul providing a fairly bold contrast to that of the more mellowed blues and jazzlaced headliner Crookes. Yet, the 23-year-old’s commanding presence proved she was a force to be reckoned with, slowly winning over the crowd as she electrified the stage with a dynamic set taken largely from her recently released Settling Scores EP. AMUN’s musical take felt particularly refreshing to me, pairing glistening R&B vocals with the unapolo-

getic sensibility and production of Hip-Hop music in a manner that is usually reserved for American artists. Hearing her deliver light, fluttering vocals over hard hitting tracks like ‘Cycle’ not only succeeded in offering hype, but also felt particularly reminiscent of the work of Aaliyah in spots, keeping me invested for all that was to come next from the artist. After a brief intermission eased with the echoes of tonesetting selections like Johnny Cash’s ‘I Walk The Line’ and D’Angelo’s ‘Betray My Heart,’ Joy skipped onto the stage to an elated audience, energetically opening with the solid smooth-bumping ‘Hurts’ off of her Perception EP. The playful refrain ‘I just pull up then skrrt, you just pull up when it hurts’ quickly ignited the crowd, with her incredibly smooth vocals paired with an equally enthralling and tight band setting high standards from the outset. Following this with up with ‘No Hands’ strongly drew my attention to Crookes’ ability in bridging eras of old and new, with a unique blend of her incredibly soulful (and consistent) tone managing to echo classic vocalists of Billie Holiday and the like, combined with hip-hop—in-

Upcoming Events: Editors’ Pick: Becky Hill, Resorts World Arena, 28th February Becky Hill brings her nationwide tour to Birmingham in February, which is guaranteed to be a good show. Hill’s live vocals consistently exceed my expectations and her soulful voice always fills whatever room she sings in. The pairing of her immense voice with the house beats that often accompany her combine to make every song of hers a commerical hit. She was the 2nd most listened to British female artist on Spotify in the UK last year, and after a long run of festival appearances - this is not one to miss. Best of the Rest: The Interrupters, O2 Institute, 28th January Bombay Bicycle Club, O2 Academy, 31st January King Nun, Sunflower Lounge, 17th February DIIV, The Crossing, 28th February The Script, Resorts World Arena, 28th February Thumper, Dead Wax, 29th February Poppy, O2 Academy 2, 14th March

Chuff Media

Live Review: Joy Crookes Jason Obiri-Yeboah

fused cadences and subtle instrumentation that could find her nesting in a Soulquarian set. The influence of Hip-Hop became a continuing thread for me throughout the night, with t h e Jason Obiri- Yeboah

s e t moving from understatedly presenting it in the form of drumming passages, to tackling it head on as she spat a Lauryn Hillesque verse in treating us to the unreleased gem ‘I Need Her.’ This was one of several noteworthy moments for me where the band

blended stunningly well, with standout guitar work in particular. Another high point saw Crookes further exploring this flair with her impressive take of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Yah’ and ‘Element’ from his DAMN. album, somehow managing to retain Kendrick’s dark character whilst building an incredibly warm and jazzy interpretation which very much could be mistaken for an original. Crookes was engaging throughout, holding such great rapport with the audience and scattering entertaining anecdotes about exes, ambulances and her parents across her set. Vocally, she consistently delivered, although I would say there were a few moments, such as with the end of ‘Man’s World,’ where energy picked up and (though attempting to deliver more power) she was drowned out a bit by her band. However, this rather made me appreciate how much Crookes plays to her strengths, standing as an artist who knows her instrument so well and allowing for remarkable performances without having to do too much. What stood out for me in particular was how she sung with such conviction, especially across moments of asserting herself that

Larkins, The Castle & Falcon, 17th April Liam Payne, Wolverhampton Racecourse, 22nd August Gabrielle, Town Hall, 21st November made lines such as ‘show some f****** respect’ on ‘Power’ hit so much harder. This also points to Hare and Hounds being a perfect choice of venue, with the intimate setting adding to the extremely emotional and vulnerable feel that her music offers, allowing for such a personal experience. The personal connection between these lyrics and her fans could be felt throughout, from a few in the front passionately screaming lyrics back at her during the heart-wrenching and somber belter ‘Since I Left You’, to the beautiful moment of togetherness in filling the venue with the chorus of ‘Don’t Let Me Down.’ Aside from being such a vocal talent, experiencing it live made it clearer to me that Crookes’ music allows her to present herself unapologetically in a way that connects and brings people together, as well as proving her to be an artist that is driven to solidify her strength in her craft regardless of whether you’re listening or not. And I’m disappointed that I hadn’t been listening sooner.

FILM

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickfilm

Review: Bombshell

Film Critic Ellie Burridge is unimpressed with this biopic's lack of nuance Ellie Burridge Film Critic Content contains assment may find

Warning: This article themes of sexual harwhich some readers distressing.

When The Big Short came out in 2015, it didn’t exactly feel like a watershed moment for how movies about recent history would be made. The film was well-reviewed and had a strong presence at that year’s Oscars (including a truly baffling nomination for Best Editing), but it would have been difficult to predict the impact that film (and director Adam McKay) would continue to have five years later. Watching Bombshell feels like watching a karaoke rendition of The Big Short. It’s got all the basic components: the lightning-fast editing that sticks a middle finger up at continuity, the faux-documentary style, fourth-wall breaking and supercilious narration that treats the viewer, like an absolute moron. But when Adam McKay made The Big Short, there was a fire behind it. Through all the gimmicks and the flashy style, McKay seemed to be telling the audience that he cared. He was angry about the financial crisis, too. That was how and why The Big Short tapped into the mood of the moment, not because that approach to filmmaking was endlessly imitable for every occasion. Just look at Vice, McKay’s follow-up to The Big Short. It’s

more of the same, except this time celebrities are doing ostentatious impersonations of well-known politicians (Christian Bale as Dick Cheney, Sam Rockwell as President George W. Bush etc.) and the seams are starting to show in McKay’s holier-than-thou directorial voice. Vice fared worse with critics, although much better with the Oscars, (go figure).

“Bombshell feels like a karaoke rendition of The Big Short” As for Bombshell, it’s actually directed by Jay Roach (of Austin Powers fame), but when compared with his previous films about real-life events – the dour Trumbo, boring All the Way and conventional Game Change – it’s clear that he’s copying McKay’s homework. And it’s all wrong. Bombshell is this year’s #MeToo film; it deals with the revelation that Fox News head Roger Ailes was sexually harassing his employees. The situation itself is complex: Fox News is arguably an organisation which profits off its dissemination of hatred and fear-mongering; these women were victims, but they were also complicit in – and often perpetrators of – the worst of what Fox News has to offer. None of which is to say that a film cannot or should not be made about this subject, but such a film would have to have a screenplay which

Lionsgate

navigated the issue with nuance and restraint. What we got instead was feminist hero, Megyn Kelly. It’s right there in the lyrics of the film’s theme song (written by superb artist Regina Spektor, who I am choosing to forgive): 'You’ve got them real long legs / Won’t you tell us a story? / Doesn’t matter if it’s wrong or right' and 'One little soldier / Plugging into your power / One little soldier / Calling you a coward.' The film’s stance is that these women are brave soldiers, fighting the good fight. There is no room for morality a little greyer than that in Bombshell’s screenplay (written by – oh, yes, one of the writers of The Big Short, Charles Randolph), which consistently makes choices that are absolutely baffling in their tone deafness. For one thing, there’s the fact that the story is led by three protagonists: Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), and Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie). These women very rarely interact (each existing in their own separate segments of Fox News and the film) and only two of them are based on

real people. Kayla supposedly represents a compression of a number of real-life women into one millennial, evangelical package. Her character, buoyed only by an excellent performance by Robbie, is incomprehensible. She’s a staunch Republican and proud supporter of the religious right, but she is also embarking on an affair with a female co-worker, seemingly without reservations or panic about her own sexuality. She floats meaninglessly through the narrative, with the exception of the scene in which she is harassed by Ailes. That scene is the unquestionable low point of the movie. Instead of attempting to distance himself from the male gaze, director Jay Roach commits to it fully, presenting the moment of Kayla’s painful exposure to her boss as something to be leered at. The lack of a female director or writer on a film such as this is not inherently wrong, but Roach seems content to show exactly why any woman at all would have been better suited to the job of depicting sexual abuse, than he is. When Kayla lifted the hem of her skirt to

Review: Just Mercy

its highest point, a woman in my screening muttered: 'You’ve got to be f***ing kidding me.' I must say that I agree with her sentiment. The most glaring problem is one of tone. Bombshell flits between comedy and self-seriousness faster than a fly, and the constant shifts only alienate the viewer. There’s continual friction between the style Roach lifted from McKay and the story he is telling – and ultimately they prove incompatible. Perhaps Hollywood can hit the pause button on this style of film-making, at least for a while. VERDICT: Bombshell is a film told by the wrong people in the wrong way. Its unwillingness to delve into moral complexity or to condemn the actions of its protagonists make it a weak attempt at ‘activism,' but its entertainment value is not much higher. Worst of all, Kate McKinnon is cast in a film which almost entirely consists of people doing celebrity impersonations, and does not impersonate a celebrity.

««

Film Critic Antonio Miguel Aguila is merciless in his praise of this topical picture Antonio Miguel Aguila Film Critic

Warner Bros. Pictures

Based on the book by Bryan Stevenson (the film’s protagonist), Just Mercy – while not ascending to the same level as Moonlight – is no doubt a memorable revisit to the tale of the postslavery plight of the AfricanAmerican people, depicted through a niche lens. Just Mercy knows it falls in line with a whole legacy of recent movies (such as BlacKkKlansman, Get Out and Moonlight) and in order to delineate from the already established ideas, this film has a very sober, very empty aesthetic amidst a death-row drama, contrasting its more dramatic predecessors. In fact, I thought this movie to be quite niche with moments resembling foreign films, like the ending scene from Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall Past Lives or the awakening scene from Julien Donkey Boy. Michael B. Jordan in this based on a true story film plays a young black lawyer from Harvard, travelling to the deep south Alabama, to make a difference. In his internship he takes on the wrongly convicted Walter McMillan as his first client. Jordan

delivers a solid performance in how his determination for justice and intelligence are challenged against his own inexperience, and a system rigged against him. In one of my favourite lines of the film, Jordan delivers a dialogue that strikes the heart of the film’s message about wrongly judging a book by its cover: ‘I didn’t expect to meet someone the same age as me, grew up on the same street as me, listened to the same music as me.’ Brie Larson also delivers a solid performance. My favourite line from her: ‘I can’t know exactly what you are going through.’ With purposefully obvious references to To Kill a Mockingbird and reminders of the fact-based film’s accuracy, embedded in silence, we are tragically refreshed with the idea that this is a Sisyphean struggle for justice. In this silence there is a tragic passive acceptance of oppression, despite the same message being reverberated. As Bryan is told to visit the To Kill a Mockingbird museum, and that he stands ‘right where Attitus Finch once stood’ lies of equality open themselves up, and as a lawyer it is his job to expose the truth. The film is permeated with emptiness telling of duality. At

times, its silence is filled with hope and emphatic connection, and at other times tells the story of life’s loneliness. In this silence the characters one can find inspiration or its inverse, a passive acceptance to oppression. For me, the best part of the film is how this silence intertwines with the film’s other aspects. Even though the score is not too involved, its sombre tones complement well.

“The film is permeated with emptiness telling of duality” The cinematography helps find light in prison, discomfort in homes and too generally complements the film’s emptiness. Its script has lines that both connect and distance. Its meanderings, similar to that of Tangerine, explore something real and authentic, which is great when it doesn’t meander a little bit too much in a few parts. I love that the movie shifts in focus to give a sense of sonder with the people around us. Cliché twists still work to sustain the viewer’s attention.

The final speech went a bit too idealistic, contrasting with the rest of the film, but its cheesiness still gives the film a deserving emotional climax. There isn’t as much focus on the anxiety caused by waiting on death-row as I would have liked, but enough of the emotional potential from it was evoked. Though its thematic threads of capital punishment, government corruption and the fight against racism are all significant problems, the film decides not to be grand and there is no problem with its simplicity. The only real issue is that at face value the meaning of its emptiness isn’t as obvious as say The Favourite, and thus this empty take can appear to be too conventional. VERDICT: Just Mercy, in fact, does not need mercy in deciding that it can stand distinctly alongside the other great cinematic achievements in telling of the tales of the African American people. Going beyond face-value, this very empty but great take makes sure this important story gets retold without it becoming stale. Instead, it just keeps finding other ways to be compelling.

««««

FILM

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickfilm

Review: Uncut Gems

Adam Sandler takes another punt at serious acting in his latest Netflix film Christopher Hall Film Critic

One of the biggest crimes in the recent years of Redbrick Film was its lack of review for the film Joshua and Benjamin Safdie previously directed, Good Time, because that film is actually pretty fantastic. Their most recent film, Uncut Gems, is only getting a limited release in the UK with major cinema chains and, very A24

much like their previous work, it is well worth seeing. A question that one would ask in any film that Adam Sandler stars in is: was Adam Sandler any good? The answer to this is yes. In fact, Adam Sandler, who plays irresponsible jewellery shop owner Howard Ratner, was excellent in Uncut Gems. He really sells how busy he is, as well as how much of a fine line he is walking in terms of taking risks; the amount he is willing to put on the line means that he could lose everything, and may very well hurt others if he thinks he can profit from taking these risks. While the stakes initially seem high, this film really does take a while to reveal just how much Sandler has put on the line and how much trouble he could get into.

“Adam Sandler ... was excellent in Uncut Gems”

The ‘bad guys’ are incredibly threatening thanks to great acting and direction. The way some actions were directed made many events seem very shocking, and under a less skilled directorial team, they would fall flat. The audience can also see how stubborn Howard is, even when it is obvious how bad of a situation he is in. Despite being a slower burn, and a longer run-time than the Safdie Brothers’ previous work, the film is rarely, if ever, boring. While there are some comedic moments in the film, it definitely isn’t a comedy, and is supported by a strong cast. While I wouldn’t say Uncut Gems has the best cinematography, it is solid, and there are plenty of shots that make the film more intense, with some scenes that I am sure will stick in my mind for a long time. These include shots such as close-ups, whether this is looking at important items that are on display, or during a conversation, a shot from above to show the pawn shop or a shot to the mirrors above. The colour palette is good, with accents of light-blue from the jewellery to

the set of the pawn shop itself, and has lots of personality. The soundtrack to Uncut Gems is also effective. Composed by Oneohtrix Point Never, it is a great synthpop, and is used to heighten emotions of anxiety, sympathy, dread, triumph, or a mixture of these. The use of songs at the club scene such as 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' by Kendrick Lamar and 'This Mornin'g by The Weeknd (who actually stars in the film) were appropriate.

“The soundtrack ... is used to heighten emotions of anxiety, sympathy, dread [and] triumph” I would absolutely recommend Uncut Gems. I prefer Good Time overall, but this film sets itself apart from that, and the Safdie Brothers come fairly close to

clearing the incredibly high bar they had set with their previous work, with their directing. A far tougher question to answer however is: can I recommend going to the cinema to see this film considering it will be coming to Netflix in just under two weeks? If you don’t have Netflix then the answer is yes, otherwise it depends. That said, one argument in favour of seeing it in cinemas is that you can show support to the Safdie Brothers, and if they can continue to make great films then there are certainly worse ways to spend money. VERDICT: Whether you see this film on Netflix, or take the trip to cinema to support the Safdie Brothers, Uncut Gems is highly recommended and boasts a great cast and soundtrack, and some good cinematography.

««««

Feature: It’s a Local Affair

Film Editor Samuel Zucca argues the Oscars are, and always have been, a local affair Samuel Zucca Film Editor

In an interview by Vulture, published on October 7th 2019, Korean director Bong Joon-ho was asked about his thoughts on the fact that no Korean film has ever been nominated for an Oscar. ‘It’s a little strange, but it’s not a big deal,’ he said. ‘The Oscars are not an international film festival. They’re very local.’ His response has been noticed more recently for its subtle but scathing dismissal of the awards ceremony, notably since his latest feature, Parasite, has been nominated for six Academy Awards – including ‘Best Picture.’ This reaches far beyond the newly-named ‘Best International Feature Film’ category, which foreign language films usually find themselves stuck in. But, while his words are perhaps quite shocking to many who might assume the Oscars to be the authority on what films are defining our age, there’s a startling amount of truth to what he is saying. The Oscars have not been able to shake off controversy in recent years, particularly with movements like #OscarsSoWhite and close attention given to diversity in the nominations. These are very important discussions to have, but what I think is often neglected is the structure of the Academy Awards, particularly what categories films are divided into, and what the qualifying rules for some of them are. Starting with the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category, formerly known as ‘Best Foreign Language Film,’ it is quite common for any films that aren’t in the English language to be

given the award and then find themselves completely snubbed in all other categories. The implication is that English-language cinema is the default, and that films in other languages count as ‘world cinema,’ and are usually a quaint look into another culture, rather than an expression of universal experience. Without overlooking Parasite’s achievement, it is the only film out of the nine best picture nominations not in the English language. It is also only the third film nominated in the last ten years not in English, the other two being Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma and Michael Haneke’s Amour. Despite its new name, the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category has several rules for application that are just as odd as its existence. For one, the dialogue track must be predominantly in a language other than English. This disqualifies Nigeria’s first ever submission for the category, Lionheart, since the majority of the dialogue is in English: the official language of Nigeria. Lulu Wang’s brilliant bilingual drama The Farewell was also snubbed, despite more than 50% of its dialogue being in Chinese, since it was made by an American production company. Wang expressed her frustration with this definition in a tweet, asking ‘can a “foreign film” be in OUR language (i.e. English)? Can a domestic (i.e. American) film be in a foreign language? What does it mean to be foreign? And to be American?’ The Oscars’ rule of accepting one film per nation also discounted Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and Jérémy Clapin’s I Lost My Body for the category. As France’s submission for the category went to yet another adaptation of Les Misérables, neither

film even had a chance of being nominated. What these rules show is that, despite attempts at creating diversity in the awards, the rules actually limit the wealth of diversity that exists in modern cinema.

“The Academy have a habit of retroactively rewarding some directors” The localism of the Oscars is further apparent when you also look at its history of rewarding bilingual directors when they make films in English. Despite his unparalleled influence on cinema, Akira Kurosawa was first nominated for ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Picture’ for his 27th feature film, Ran. He has never won in either category, instead receiving a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award in 1990. The Oscars have a similar blindspot for recognising films and filmmakers outside of the English-language Western canon, which may not be as apparent looking at recent ‘Best Director’ nominees and winners. Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón, and Ang Lee have all taken home the ‘Best Director’ statuette in the last ten years (Cuarón and Iñárritu more than once), however looking closer, only Cuarón’s Roma is a film written in the director’s native language. Like with Kurosawa, the Academy have a habit of retroactively rewarding some directors, meaning that a director like del Toro is snubbed for films like The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth, yet runs away with

‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’ with the English-language The Shape of Water. Similarly with Ang Lee, who was nominated in the two categories for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, yet finally won Best Director with Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi. These two directors have made phenomenal achievements, to be sure, and both Pan’s Labyrinth and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon racked up several nominations at the awards; however, films like these, including Parasite and Roma, are typically outnumbered by the English-language films which dominate the awards. It’s important to think about why a category like ‘Best International Feature Film’ exists, especially at an Awards ceremony which is so often considered as representative of the best cinema has to offer. After all, ‘Best International Feature Film’ isn’t designed to celebrate a certain quality of films like cinematography, editing, or music. The separate category treats them as a different form entirely, another entity to be watched and awarded differently to other films. You can argue that ‘international’ films wouldn’t get recognition otherwise, yet there are films every year that find critical acclaim but are stuck in this one category. For every Roma or Parasite there are films like like Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters, László Nemes’s Son of Saul, and Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu. Parasite may still make history at the 92nd awards. It’s the eleventh non-English film out of five five-hundred and sixty three total nominations to be nominated in the category, and anything could happen. However, I’m sure that Bong Joon-ho couldn’t care less.

Marie Claire Korea

TELEVISION

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricktv

Review: AJ and the Queen Antonio Migeul Aguila Television Critic

««««

RuPaul’s passion for Drag Race prevails gloriously in AJ and the Queen, a 10-episode series about a drag performer finding an unlikely friendship with a devil child off the streets of New York. From the onset, there are glaring resemblances to Tokyo Godfathers and Tangerine. The predictable story has a light shined on its tropes for Ru to reclaim herself as we follow, an unconventional protagonist talking to unconventional characters that deserve to be recognised like everybody else. The sense of difference and indifference in his acting reminds you that, while the story suffers from some generic stuff, there is an incomparable authenticity found here. Ru’s flamboyant charm captures importance in most of his movements and lines, in a way that has finesse rather than being melodramatic, even when he plays a comedic role or endures in still silence. It’s strange to say but the same-sex relationships presented here feel more real than anything I’ve seen on a Netflix series previously. The script and plot could be stronger, but the pleasure is found in Ru’s personality and his love for his art being splashed all over this. He faces the world proud and bold of who he is, and he should be because despite AJ and the Queens’ flaws it is a beautiful echo of his voice. Although the series is predictable, there are unique moments of thought found in the gaps. In the first episode, one thing that caught me off guard was a discarding of a typical cliché. Louis (Michael Leon-Wooley) tells his coming out story and what he assumed would be his disapproving Christian father: ‘Turns out he was fine with it. It was just me who was struggling.’ AJ and the Queen does not do itself a favour by abandoning this lovable character in the middle of the story. Ru offers an inter-

esting different perspective, unfortunately attached to a predictable script. In one episode, she finds similarity in what appears a depressed emo caricature, that was surprisingly treated like an actual human being rather than being played up for cheap gags. In her eyes, they are just both lost people avoiding what society is pressuring them to do. The characters are worth rooting for, but it is the ideadriven episodes rather than the character driven ones that are more worth watching. The genuine love Ru displays for the story’s drag performers and the art of drag is so real. Sometimes too real, because Ru basically plays himself. The symbolism of what Ru wants to express is sometimes too on the dot and the dialogue too. On the contrary, the ideas contained in them are still touching. The script has hilarious jokes and an impressive amount of sass, but overall is a little weak. The villains are boring and distasteful and I’m pretty sure the writers gave up with them towards the end. The endearing interactions between Louis and our adorable protagonist abruptly lessen after the first episode. The middle episodes lose the viewer’s attention and even a bit of the emotional investment in the protagonist in the first episode.

“The genuine love that Ru displays for the story's drag performers and the art of drag is so real”

you’re living those moments with her. The weak script is overwhelmed simply by RuPaul. He truly loves his drag queen persona.

“Throughout the series light gives the screen dimension”

Predominantly, the cinematography favours a simplistic style for its light-hearted road trip and basic plot. However, it becomes great in certain moments with shots pervasively containing artistic purpose. In the same frame the screen captures warmth and loneliness, or romance and embarrassment, or claustrophobic and sympathy, or darkness and hope. Oddly enough, I found the melodramatic voiceovers tiring more than artsy, although other than that, the other components are great. I am especially a fan of the lighting. Throughout the series, light gives the screen dimension as it glitters whether it glares into the camera, draws a golden line around the silhouettes of characters, or divides. In terms of sound, the mistake of temp music is made up for a refashioning of pop tracks by classic drag lip sync or to bring funk and sass into moments that should be disastrous or melancholic. While AJ and the Queen to a cer-

tain extent restricts its unique tone and perspective with predictability and genericism, it evidently succeeds in delivering its messages that ‘Everybody is in drag, which is fine as long as they know it’ and ‘You can’t just divide people into categories. People are more complex than that.’ Considering how many clichés and self-projections the show contains it has the blueprints of a bland series that is engulfed by RuPaul’s sheer passion, personality and perspective that all entangle and saturate well on screen. Some middle episodes are boring, and the most engaging parts are the pilot and the ending. On the contrary, it is all really worth watching to get to the series’ penultimate tearful scene. AJ and t h e

Queen is an emotional, unique series whose flaws are easy to overlook.

Twitter/@ RuPaul

Yet, all of this is somehow acceptable as Ru weaves a cinematic dress of utmost authenticity, embellished with heart and despair, to get his ideas across to the next generation. Some scenes are straight from the heart and Ru gets you to feel things from the screen as if

Twitter/@ RuPaul

Web Series of the Week: RWBY Stephanie Hawkyard Television Critic

Bursting with action, adventure and mystery, it is no surprise that Rooster Teeth’s RWBY has surged in popularity since its debut in 2013. The anime-style web series takes place in the fantasy world of Remnant, where danger and deception lurk around every corner, and skilled warriors known as Hunstmen and Huntresses are tasked with protecting their world from the terrifying creatures of Grimm. Huntresses-in-training, Ruby (Lindsay Jones), Weiss (Kara Eberle), Blake (Arryn Zech), and Yang (Barbara Dunkelman) are at the heart of the series, which follows them as they go on adventures, fighting both human and supernatural enemies and uncover

life-altering secrets about the world they thought they knew. RWBY certainly delivers in the action department, with most episodes featuring epic brawls. While I enjoy a good fight scene, what I find most endearing about the series is its characters. Heroes and villains alike are brilliantly written, each having complex personalities and motivations. The approach taken towards the characters’ personal struggles is thoughtful, with their varying insecurities and traumas being portrayed in a way that is both realistic and engaging. It becomes apparent that the inner demons our main characters face are as real as the monsters they tackle as

Twitter/@ OfficialRWBY

Huntresses. The tireless efforts of the creatives at Rooster Teeth are evident in how far RWBY has progressed since its first volume. The improvement in animation is remarkable, the plot is increasingly compelling, and the voice actors’ performances only grow more persuasive. Composer Jeff Williams and singer Casey Lee Williams consistently produce excellent music for the RWBY soundtrack, which is integral to the series’ success. As RWBY is a web series, episodes are short compared to those of most cartoons and anime, allowing viewers’ attention to be quickly

captured and easily held. Additional content comes in the form of clips focusing on specific characters and aspects of the RWBY world, as well as comedy shorts known as RWBY Chibi. The cast and crew have a strong social media presence, notably uploading interviews, podcasts, behind-the-scenes content and spoof videos to the Rooster Teeth YouTube channel, a level of interactivity made possible by the web series format. RWBY is available to stream on the Rooster Teeth website and the Rooster Teeth YouTube channel. If you are looking for an animated series that is a perfect mix of fantasy and science-fiction, with an interesting plot and multifaceted characters, look no further.

TELEVISION

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricktv

Review: Dracula

Harpal Khambay explains why this adaptation sucks, and not in a good way Harpal Khambay Television Critic

Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula for the BBC, is bold, gory and dripping with dark humour. Although it boasts some terrific performances, mainly Claes Bang as the Count, as well as some blood-curdling set pieces, the adaptation as a whole seems to prove that sticking to the source material is best. Various issues with characterisation, pacing and iconic omissions from the novel, drain this adaptations’ chances of being a real scream. The first episode is probably the most successful, as it follows

Twitter@ BBCOne

lawyer Jonathan Harker to Dracula’s castle in Transylvania. Jonathan quickly realises that he is Dracula’s prisoner. The production is well shot and finely detailed, with director Johnny Campbell making full use of the atmospheric set of Castle Orava in Slovakia, to build on Harker’s feelings of claustrophobia. The first episode is the most faithful to the book, as we watch Jonathan’s descent into madness, and the Count’s rise in strength. Bang appears as the fully-fledged Count half an hour in and manages to handle the darkness of the character and his wit with dexterity. It’s brilliant casting, and Bang captures the essence of so many actors that have gone before him in the role. The episode also makes good use of blood and gore, with some fantastic set pieces, such as Dracula climbing out of a wolf. The scene is horrifying but makes for riveting viewing. It is also comedic, as Dracula emerges in all his naked glory to a bunch of stake-carrying nuns who cannot look him in the eye. A key example of the shows ability to handle horror and humour. Sister Agatha is played by the wonderfully witty Dolly Wells whose

pivotal role is excellently revealed to the audience. Despite the praise directed at the first episode by critics and audiences, book lovers may be disappointed that the iconic Brides of Dracula fail to appear, and that Jonathan’s once headstrong and powerful fiancé Mina Murray (Morfydd Clark) is reduced to a screaming weakling, in a fairly diabolical blonde wig. All adaptations deviate from the source material to an extent, but the omission of Mina especially feels like a waste of a strong female character, already gifted to us by Stoker.

“The adaptation as a whole seems to prove that sticking to the source material is best” The second episode maintains the high production values, but cannot help feeling dragged out and at times, monotonous. As Dracula sails to England on the Demeter, members of the crew begin dying out, one by one. This would be gripping if we did not witness Dracula kill them all, as this creative decision results in mystery only for the unengaging passengers. There’s probably a

reason as to why this voyage takes up a very small part of the novel. Although there’s some great opportunities for blood sucking here, there’s only so many times you can watch the Count drain his next victim without it being repetitive. Episode three marks a great departure from the previous episodes due to a twist at the end of the second episode. Although it starts well, and runs almost like a crime thriller, the episode begins to be bogged down with more unengaging characters, headlined by the writers take on classic character Lucy Westenra. Unfortunately, she lacks character and her iconic scenes from the novel are omitted. Her story overshadows that of Dracula who doesn’t find himself with much to do. After an unnecessary five and a half hours of television, the somewhat romantic ending feels like an unearned U-turn from the darkness that has preceded it, and undercuts the Count’s previous cries that he will drink his ‘fill’ of humanity. Following these promises, the ending to the series is an anti-climax. All in all, the adaptation had promise, but suffers mainly as it deviates from Stoker’s brilliant novel and reiterates the idea that the classics are classic for a reason, and do not need to be changed.

Top TV Picks for January

Twitter/@ StarTrek

Star Trek Amazon Prime Video 23rd January

Twitter/@ sabrinanetflix

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - Part 3 Netflix 24th January

«««

In Defence of Riverdale Phoebe Geary Television Critic

With Riverdale returning to our screens this Thursday, fans are already tweeting away their predictions for what the next instalment has lined up. It’s true that Riverdale has already covered most of its bases. From drug cartels to religious cults, bear attacks and paranormal dolls, the fourseason run has tackled everything from the creepy to the downright bizarre. With the current season teasing the murder of one of its main characters, it seems no storyline is off limits for this dark Archie Comics adaption. Yet despite its position as one of Netflix’s most watched shows, Riverdale’s out-of-the-blue twists and sporadic plotlines have earned the series a reputation as one of the worst written shows on T.V. Indeed, it's hard to argue that the series hasn’t produced some of the cringiest lines of dialogue in recent years. From Cheryl being ‘coo-coo-bananas’ about her girlfriend to Jughead’s muchmemed ‘I’m a weirdo’ monologue, the writing often seems transposed from a badly written Wattpad fanfiction. So how, with such universally accepted bad

writing, does a show like Riverdale continue to garner so much attraction? One thing most Riverdalehaters fail to acknowledge is how painfully self-aware the show is. Only halfway through the first episode, Riverdale already pokes fun at itself for its out-of-date gay best friend and shock-value girlon-girl snog. Even Riverdale’s meta-references to characters’ ‘ship’ names, often dismissed as instances of clunky writing, underscores the show’s self-conscious grounding in online fandom. With random musical episodes, multiple murders and a constant rejigging of romantic pairings, Riverdale is suited to our era of fan theory and

wild speculation. Riverdale's very narrative demands and depends upon ironic viewing. Riverdale also has other saving graces. As an homage to the vibrantly coloured Archie Comics, Riverdale’s 50s aesthetic – brightly lit neon signs, vintage milkshake diners and all-American varsity jackets – is unarguably visually appealing. While the character relationships and storylines rarely line up, Riverdale’s scenes – usually only a few minutes long – give off the narrative illusion that the show is composed of individual comic-book style instalments, all feedi n g into the main s t o ryline. The random-

Twitter/@CW_Riverdale

ness of Riverdale’s plotlines also lends itself to the original comics. Even Jughead’s ‘stupid hat’ is a homage to the iconic whoopee beanie he is never seen without in the comics. Riverdale knows who its target audience is and has no issue appealing to fan service. It fills the void that opened when teenagers lost The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf and Pretty Little Liars in 2017 all at once. It’s well aware that its fans aren’t particularly interested in ‘great writing’ but thrilling plot-twists, aesthetic iconography and character ‘ships.’ Riverdale's writing is no worse than most other teen dramas but the show’s ability to capitalise on its campiness and consciously exaggerate these elements, is both ingenious and unique. In doing so, Riverdale sacrifices narrative cohesion in exchange for a whole lot of fun. The paradox of Riverdale is that its so-called ‘bad writing’ is what makes it so great. All Riverdale’s flaws are also its strengths: the terrible writing, absurd names, lack of cohesive narrative and random breaks into song all make Riverdale the bestworst show on T.V. today.

Needpix

Holocaust Memorial Day BBC One, Two and Four 27th January

Twitter/@ BoJackHorseman

Bojack Horseman Season 6b Netflix 31st January

GAMING

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickgaming

Redbrick Picks: The Best Ahead

The Last of Us Part II Set to release in May 2020, The Last of Us Part II picks up five years after the events of the first game and begins in the small settlement of Jackson, where both Ellie and Joel have made their home. It appears that Ellie will take on the role as protagonist, the storyline following her quest for revenge; starting alongside her close friend and love interest, Dina, and potentially Joel later in the game.

“Set to be just as immersive as the original...” On top of this, there are several improvements to the original gameplay, as well as a few new additions that will make for a fresh and challenging experience. Both the human and Infected enemies boast a more sophisticated AI, making them smarter and more dangerous. Human NPCs are now named, and can communicate during combat, even reacting to each other’s deaths. The game also introduces a new type of Infected, the Shambler, a bulkier enemy that bursts to create a corrosive cloud, as well as enemy dogs that have increased scent perception, making sneaking more difficult. Stealth remains a fundamental part of the game, with Ellie being shown to hide in tall grass, underneath cars, and even squeezing through small spaces between objects. As a more agile character than Joel, Ellie can traverse the environment in a new way, including jumping, and is able to dodge enemy attacks. These additions are integrated into combat sequences to provide a more realistic and tense gameplay. A new crafting element allows the player to learn and apply upgrades to their existing weapons on a workbench, as well as new items such as explosive arrows. Set to be just as immersive as the original, building on Ellie and Joel’s relationship but with a much larger story that revolves around Ellie’s anger and hatred, I personally can’t wait to see what this game has in store. The Last of Us Part II is set to release 29th May 2020. Ellen Hill

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Guilty Gear Strive

Valve Corporation

Nintendo

Team17 Arc System Works

Nintendo

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Redbrick Gaming’s Writers and Editors delve into 2020’s release schedule to see what games could showcase the highest quality of the gaming industry

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

Half-Life: Alyx

After years of waiting to return to a world where avoiding bees and dealing with your weight-lifting mouse for a neighbour was the height of your worries, March 2020 will finally see the wellloved Animal Crossing series leap onto the Nintendo Switch. The highly anticipated Animal Crossing: New Horizons promises nostalgic, yet modernised gameplay built upon the familiar openworld, community spirited format: now boosted with increased customisability and further location interactions. The loveable yet pompous Tom Nook will whisk players away to his Deserted Island Getaway- a visually vivid seaside location with few inhabitants. Although there was something to be said for the previous lack of technology included within the Animal Crossing universe (I feel it helped add to the fantastical, escapist vibe), New Horizons promises a more modern approach by providing players with a ‘Nook Phone’- a smartphone-like device complete with apps, a camera and most notably an expanded inventory (in which more items will automatically stack). Whilst Animal Crossing: New Leaf allowed players to customise the style of selected furniture items, New Horizons is set to take this an exciting step further by expanding the crafting feature included in the Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp app. Players will finally have the ability to harvest natural items in order to build their own tools, clothes and furniture: the latter of which can now be placed outside allowing gardens and parks galore. Yet, perhaps the most iconic update within New Horizons is the sudden inclusion of an auto-save feature: removing the need for constant game saves and the hassle produced by accidental switch-offs, followed by a lecture from the tedious mole Rosetti. With the need to manually save gone, Rosetti is confirmed to be seeking a new position in 2020only time will tell how he and the other novel gameplay features will fit into this childhood favourite.

Arc System Works’ premiere anime fighting game series is back with Guilty Gear Strive, and it looks drop dead gorgeous. The Guilty Gear series is known for intense, over-the-top gameplay, but this time it’s the visuals that are absolutely front and center. Their last title already revolutionised graphics in fighting games (and honestly, video games as a whole), achieving the feat of making 3D models look almost indistinguishable from hand-drawn 2D animations, and Strive looks to takes this to the extreme. Every frame may as well be artistry, from every hit bursts impact, every animation oozes style. Just watching the trailers has already been an absolute delight, each complete with a killer (and cheesy) rock track to accompany the ensuing lights show. This title also represents a soft reset for the series’ gameplay Guilty Gear games are known for having a large number of complex and difficult mechanics, and have been seen as some of the highest skill cap games in fighting games, if not all of esports. Their new title represents a change in philosophy, with the aim of drawing in a wider range of players while retaining the depth the series is known for. Fighting games have always been a niche genre, but with such awesome visuals and a newcomer-friendly attitude, Strive might be the step towards a mainstream fighting game in esports. It’s shaping up to be the perfect starting point for those who are drawn in by the visuals but found the mechanics inaccessible, and if it pulls this off without alienating the current audience, the results would be groundbreaking for the fighting game community. As more announcements roll in throughout the year the hype looks to ramp to insane levels before release in late 2020. As huge franchises such as League of Legends are branching out into the fighting game sphere, Guilty Gear Strive looks to stand stalwart, and blaze its way to fighting game glory.

Opening my DS in the dead of night with school only hours away was something I did far too often during my childhood. Harvest Moon DS, Professor Layton and the Lost Future – all were games that kept me occupied during those night-time sessions; but none were as prevalent as Chunsoft’s Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team. You can imagine the delight on my face, then, when a remaster of this classic dungeon crawler was announced - it looks like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX will bring back these nostalgic feelings all over again. The Mystery Dungeon series sees you take control of a Pokemon the game deems suitable to your personality, instantly giving it an individual touch. Along with your faithful partner Pokémon you form a rescue team – saving vulnerable creatures from mystery dungeons – while completing all kinds of missions and becoming a part of Pokémon society. Simultaneously intriguing and cute, the Mystery Dungeon games are an absolute blast.

What sets this remake apart, however, is how faithful yet ambitious it appears to be. Unbelievably the original game was released in 2005 – even before Diamond and Pearl came out – meaning, in theory, a huge selection of Pokémon may be unobtainable within the game. However the reveal trailer hinted at Generation 4 Pokémon like Lucario being present, as well as the Generation 6 gimmick Mega Evolution making a grand return. Couple this with a charming, painterly-esque art style, a compelling story, engaging gameplay and a fantastically remastered soundtrack and Mystery Dungeon DX has every ingredient to revitalise the franchise for a whole new generation. While I may grow older and consoles may change, my own sentimental love for the Mystery Dungeon games is something that will always stay the same.

Twelve years pass, and HalfLife 3, and/or Episode 3, adopt myth-like status. One of the kingpin franchises in computer game history, bringing revolution and innovation with every major release, and the franchise just goes silent. As it turns out, going from twelve years of silence and whispers, April Fools jokes and data dumps, minor leaks, major ‘fan fictions’, speculation, loss of hope, to confirmation, to release trailer in November 2019 shows the anticipation of a new HalfLife game is an epic tale in and of itself. The inevitable documentary about the game’s development is almost more exciting than the game itself. But not quite. That’s because Half-Life: Alyx is the flagship hope of Virtual Reality, the killer app that blows everyone away. The single title that guarantees a head-mounteddisplay in the house of most dedicated computer game players, from hardcore to casual. The Valve Index, Valve’s own HMD, has already sold out in the USA and UK following Alyx’s announcement - with the promise of a free copy of the game. This puts Half-Life: Alyx up among the ranks of Super Mario Bros, Super Mario World, and Wii Sports as hardware launch titles, games that existed to prove the gaming landscape had changed. “Anticipated” does not do the tale of Half-Life development justice.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is set to release 20th March 2020. Madison Harding-White

Guilty Gear Strive is slated for a late 2020 release. Geoffrey Niu

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is set to release 6th March 2020. Sam Nason

Half-Life: Alyx has a release schedule of March 2020. Kieren Platts

“...faithful yet ambitious”

Half-Life: Alyx is the most anticipated computer game of all time. On the off-chance you don’t know the story, here’s a brief summary. In 1998, Valve reinvented the first-person shooter with HalfLife. In 2004, Valve reinvented first-person narrative and engine physics with Half-Life 2. In 2006 and 2007, Valve released HalfLife 2: Episode 1 and 2 as gameplay and narrative expansions of Half-Life 2.

“...the flagship hope of Virtual Reality”

Nintendo

GAMING

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickgaming

News: 2020 Kicks Off with Gaming Delays

Redbrick's five biggest releases for the following month

Editor Alex Green reports on the changed release dates to some of the year’s biggest titles. Alex Green

Versus Evil

Square Enix

Blizzard Entertainment

Pillars of Eternity II Deadfire Console Edition (28/01)

Warcraft III: Reforged (28/01)

Chucklefish

CD Projekt Red

Wargroove Double Trouble DLC (06/02)

Sony Interactive Entertaiment

Journey To The Savage Planet (28/01)

Square Enix

Numerous delays have been from its initial 28th February announced across the industry release as that of Marvel’s over the last two weeks. In par- Avengers’ September shift. ticular, publisher Square Enix Speaking of September release have announced that two of their dates, Cyberpunk 2077 has also biggest releases in 2020 have been had its release shifted into said delayed. Firstly, Final Fantasy month with an even-bigger fiveVII Remake has been pushed back month gap. CD Projekt Red’s next from the 3rd of March to a month huge project after finishing up the later on the 10th of April. The Witcher trilogy (which recently remake of the classic 1997 JRPG had a TV adaptation on Netflix). is one of this-year’s most hotly In a statement posted on social anticipated releases following media, the studio explained that numerous gorgeous-looking trail- currently the game was ‘complete ers with the returns of beloved and playable’. However, as many characters such as Cloud Strife of us know, that doesn’t mean a and Tifa Lockhart. In a post on game is ready to ship, so the Square Enix’s website, producer Polish studio have taken the deciYoshinori Kitase stated, ‘We are sion to postpone the release in making this tough decision order to have ‘more time in order to give ourselves to finish playtesting, a few extra weeks to fixing and polishapply final polish to ing.’ This marks the game and to even more time to deliver you with the wait for Night best possible expeCity and the rience.’ The delay adventures of the years since and statement seem protagonist V Final Fantasy VII to give the sentiand of course, ment that this looks Keanu Reeves’ first released to be a delay to make cyber-ghost sure the release goes Johnny Silverhand. ahead smoothly without Cyberpunk 2077 first any bugs as many AAA was announced as far games have struggled with in the back as May 2012 with the past. The delay has also made first teaser trailer being released March and April an increasingly in January 2013, going pretty exciting and expensive month for quiet until a second trailer finally gamers, with huge titles such as dropped in 2018. However, as one Doom Eternal (which itself was of this year’s most notable releaspushed back from last year to es and with CD Projekt Red’s March of this year), Half-Life pedigree behind it, the sales Alyx, Resident Evil 3 and Nioh 2 should still be excellent. amongst others all releasing in Cyberpunk 2077’s delay has this window. also reignited the discussion on On a more substantial note, crunch – the concept of overMarvel’s Avengers by Crystal working employees with little Dynamics has also announced a overtime pay- in the videogame delayed release date, this time industry. This came about after going for a 4th September 2020 the studio answered questions in release, a full four months after light of the announcement during the game’s initial release date. In which joint-CEO of CD Projekt a joint statement on the Crystal Red Adam Kiciński was asked if Dynamics website, Scot Amos the developers would be required and Ron Rosenberg, co-heads of to log additional hours in the Crystal Dynamics, echoed the build up to the game’s release. same sentiment by saying ‘...our Kiciński stated: ‘To some degree, ambition has always been to yes – to be honest. We try to limit deliver the ultimate Avengers crunch as much as possible, but it gaming experience. In order to is the final stage. We try to be achieve that goal, we have made reasonable in this regard, but yes. the difficult decision to move the Unfortunately.’ This statement has release date’. The much longer caused concerns that despite the wait for Marvel’s foray into the large push back on the final gaming landscape with a much release, CD Projekt Red is still greater amount of time required requiring the development team may indicate the size of the project to work overtime. The trade union and the work that needs doing. Game Workers Unite UK respondThis however is a given as Crystal ed in solidarity with gaming Dynamics’ interpretation of developers at the company and Earth’s mightiest heroes is poten- reiterating their stance on crunch tially stuffed with characters, culture by posting on Twitter that story campaign and co-op content ‘Crunch is not inevitable, it’s a with additional content to be choice that management imposes added post-release. Separately on on workers. It’s harmful in both the VR front, Marvel’s other big the short and long term and corproject Iron Man VR has shifted rosive to the culture and longevity to a May 15th release date, of our industry as a whole.’ nowhere near as drastic a change

505 Games

Gaming Editor @AlexGreen9898

Dreams (14/02)

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickfood

How to Chew Intuitively

Television Editor Catrin Osborne advises us to stave off restrictive dieting this new year in favour of listening to our bodies Catrin Osborne Television Editor Content Warning: This article contains themes of dieting and exercise which some readers might find distressing

It’s the end of January which means, for the past month, our social media feeds and conversations have been flooded with the typical topics of toned bodies, smoothie bowls, and abdominal workouts. If you had any eatingrelated New Year’s Resolutions, it’s likely that you’ve already broken the restrictions as 12th January is the typical ‘Quitters’ Day.’ However, this should not make you feel like a failure as the entire dieting mentality is setting yourself up to fail.

“Leave the liquid, say no to keto, give paleo a pass and axe the Atkins” Leave the liquid, say no to keto, give paleo a pass and axe the Atkins. For the 2020s, practise ‘intuitive eating’ instead. Intuitive eating, coined in 1995 by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, is the process of understanding your own body’s requirements and ensuring that it is adequately sustained. Rather than searching online or reading magazines to find out how much you should be eating, just focus on eating if you are hungry and not eating when you are full. The intuitive mentality may sound beyond obvious, but the world of dieting does not adhere to it; many people have to experience growling stomachs and distracted minds trying out a new fitness trend. To begin thinking intuitively, one needs to recognise that there is a difference between the body wanting food and the mind wanting food. Boredom eating, reaching for food purely for something to do, is the kind that leaves a bad taste in the mouth and mind.

intuitive eating works to remove the shame that we are told to feel after eating calorific or sugary foods. The process still recommends the food facts that we know to be true, such as how our body needs protein and that vegetables are required for a balanced diet, but it focuses on the feelings that food gives us.

“The link between dieting and overeating has been seen in numerous studies” If you feel like you need assistance with recognising your body’s needs there is a Hunger-Fullness Scale with 10 sub-categories, 1 being near starving and 10 being too full. The scale can help you eat to the stage of 6 or 7 rather than going above to the point of feeling sick. An issue with dieting is that it can lead to binge eating; forcing yourself to stay at 2-3 on the scale can lead to an outburst that results in you hitting 9-10. The link between dieting and overeating has been seen in numerous studies such as Janey Polivy and C. Peter Herman’s 1999 experiment in which partici-

pants w e r e given varying numbers of milkshakes and then asked to eat ice cream. Whilst the non-dieting group consumed less ice cream if they drank more milkshakes, the dieting group reacted in the opposite manner; the more milkshakes, the more ice cream which signifies the loss of control that results from extreme restriction.

“The intense mentality of “Seeking comfort dieting can lead to through emotional poor mental eating can signiy health” deeper issues that Another key aspect of the eating mentality is reccan’t be solved intuitive ognising that there is no such purely through thing as a binary of healthy-unhealthy foods. Britain’s Fat Fight food” with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall Whittingstall,,

Instead, eating should be a means to gain energy or as a treat. Seeking comfort through emotional eating can signify deeper issues that can’t be solved purely through food alone. However, it is still important that you don’t feel guilt after eating. Whilst Slimming World labels certain foods as ‘syns’ and recommends that members only eat 5-35 syns per day,

a documentary series, highlighted the lie told by marketing of sweet treats because seemingly ‘healthy’ breakfast bars are no healthier than a Cadbury’s chocolate bar. For instance, Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain bars are 41% sugar. Therefore, you shouldn’t limit your plate because many of our perceptions of health are shaped through marketing.

“Like eating, the idea is to reject the guilt that comes with not meeting your self-imposed expectations” It is not difficult to agree that the intense mentality of dieting can lead to poor mental health. Food can be both a physical and mental obsession; the amount of time spent fretting over calorific intent can be spent on strategies that can add to one’s life rather than subtracting from it. I for one can think of multiple times that I’ve over-thought what I’ll order at a restaurant or gone to check the calorific information on the back of a package. All this does is leave you feeling guilty after merely enjoying the human experiences of going out for a meal or sustaining yourself. Also, it’s essential to learn about your unique body instead of spending that time delving into generic eating advice. Depending on your race, gender and gen-

approach exercise. Like eating, the idea is to reject the guilt that comes with not meeting your selfimposed expectations for exercise and focus on the benefits of exercise that go beyond weight loss. Of course, there’s plenty of studies to back up intuitive dieting, such as one that found that the process leads to a more positive body image and less disordered eating. However, intuitive eating is about recognising that this is simply the most logical way to approach our food.

“Work out what your body wants” To begin getting in touch with an intuitive eating process, there is the choice to read more articles or even purchase informative books, but the key part is that, unlike prescriptive dieting trends, it’s about taking time to work out what your body wants. When it comes to food in the next decade, try to practise the process of a little less restriction and little more satisfaction.

The 10 Key Principles of Intuitive Eating: (intuitiveeating.org)

1. Reject the diet mentality 2. Honour your hunger 3. Make peace with food 4. Challenge the food police 5. Respect your fullness 6. Discover the satisfaction factor 7. Honour your feelings without using food

eral genetic makeup, you will require different calories and different food than everyone you know. On top of that, every day requires a different kind of diet based on physical activity. For instance, low GI foods release sugar more slowly so are perfect for a breakfast to sustain you through the day. Alongside the process of changing your relationship with food, it is also a b o u t altering t h e way you

8. Respect your body 9. Movement feel the difference 10. Honour your health - gentle nutrition

Public Domain Vectors

Prawny

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbrickfood

2020 Vision: Food Forecast for the Year Ahead Food&Drink Writer Molly Elliott digs into the annual Waitrose ‘Food and Drink Report,’ serving us key foodie trends of 2019 and predictions for the year ahead Molly Elliott Food&Drink Writer

Every year Waitrose produces a ‘Food and Drink Report’ that joyfully explores the consumption habits of Britain over the last 12 months. They delve deeper than simply presenting the supermarket data, however, rounding up how the minds of families across the UK have changed over the course of 2019. Their research relies on analysing the shopping habits of 2,000 people of different ages, and using focus groups to really understand the thoughts behind our habits.

“The report is packed full of facts about our behaviour as consumers” The report is packed full of facts about our behaviour as consumers. With 2018’s report summarised as ‘the era of the mindful consumer,’ it appears that this trend has continued in 2019. This year’s report is titled ‘a return to kindness.’ There’s no doubt that 2019 has been the year of climate consciousness and nostalgia for a simpler time, when the world

seemed not to be plagued by rising sea levels and complicated politics, and Waitrose see this reflected in our eating and drinking habits. Reports like these are a really interesting way of understanding how the events of the last year may have changed the minds of the general public, and for predicting the food trends of the year to come. Plus, you can see if your own consumption choices fit with the rest of the UK! One finding of the report was that Brits are increasingly engaging in ‘mindful spending,’ buying less on-the-go lunches and coffees. Waitrose summarised that 6% of Britons say they buy more than four cups of coffee each week, compared to 15% in 2015. Taking homemade lunches to work, and grabbing a cup of coffee before we leave the house can make a lot of difference to our weekly spending. This trend makes a lot of sense: an average sandwich and coffee in a lunchtime grab shop like Pret will set us back around at least £5. This finding is also good news for the

environment, as shop bought lunches produce a serious amount of plastic waste. Waitrose had some fun with their research too; the report even takes account of county differences in crisp choice. Apparently Britain’s preferred crisp flavour is cheese and onion (personally I don’t agree...) but here in the West Midlands we are the only area that prefer ready salted. Perhaps Birmingham is ahead of the game in terms of living simply. On a more serious note, we were searching for greater simplicity in the kitchen and home this year. Waitrose found that 38% of their sample thought their value

placed on material items has decreased in the last decade. To me, the 2019 movem e n t a w a y f r o m materialism feels nostalgic and seems to make sense in light of t h e increased pxfuel conversat i o n s around mental health in the UK right now. In the kitchen, this quest for simplicity has manifested in more of us growing our own food, and cooking uncomplicated but just as delicious meals. I hope we carry on the simplicity trend in 2020! Unsurprisingly, plant-based eating rose in 2019, but so did the meat eater’s desire to eat more high quality produce. In terms of future hot trends, ‘seacuterie’ is apparently one to watch (seacuterie is a charcuterie board with fish replacing classic meats like ham). Middle Eastern cuisine is having a moment in the UK, which a

senior innovation development chef at Waitrose put down to its popularity with foodies and the diversity of spicy to sweet flavour profiles. The 2020 restaurant scene will no doubt aim to capitalise on this delicious trend, and Middle Eastern food is well worth a try if you aren’t already obsessed. Chilli sales have also risen, with more adventurous combinations becoming cool – a focus group participant called Lynne recommended chilli flakes sprinkled on top of ice cream!

“By 2030, how will the consumption of 8.5 billion people change?” The further flung future looks high tech to Waitrose. By 2025 they predict automated food delivery services, and an overall increase in food production aided by new technology. Big questions remain about the population booming by 2030, how will the consumption of 8.5 billion people change? The report speculated that our diets will be focused on ‘high-performance ingredients,’ and steered clear of serious questions about sustainability. Without being too serious or overly datafocused, the Waitrose food and drink report was a delightful read; look out for the next issue in November 2020.

Review: Fresh Veganuary Deputy Digital Editor Holly Pittaway sampled the latest vegan substitutions that Britain’s best-loved food chains have to offer Holly Pittaway Deputy Digital Editor

It’s Veganuary and you know what that means? More giant corporate fast food conglomerates looking to expand their market to the financially untapped vegan population! In other words, I tried

the Greggs Vegan Steak Bake and the Subway Meatless Meatball Marinara Melt sub, and here’s what I have to say about them: Greggs’ Vegan Steak Bake: Having never had an actual ‘Steak Bake’ I have very little to compare this plant-based alternative to, but nonetheless it was very pleasant. The sister of the ever popular Vegan Sausage Roll that was introduced last year is much larger and meatier than its counterpart, though a little too large Greggs for one sit-

ting in my opinion – had I not shared it with my mum I think I would have found it stodgy. The ‘meat’ is soft and not too meat-like, something that I prefer in a vegan alternative. However, this might potentially dissuade a meat-eater from purchasing in place of the original Steak Bake. The taste of the filling was quite similar to onion gravy (emphasis on the onion - if you aren’t a big fan you probably won’t like this), while the pastry was thick but overall pretty much the same as the Vegan Sausage Roll. If I ever found myself hungry and passing a Greggs, I would probably consider buying this again; but of their two vegan pastries, the sausage roll is far superior. Subway’s Meatless Meatball Marinara Melt: I used to be a massive fan of the ‘Meatball Marinara Melt’ sub

Subway

when I was a meat-eater, so having the option to try one of my old favourites, but more sustainably, is fantastic. As far as I can tell, the sauce is the same as the normal marinara sauce, while the meatless ball is a lot tougher than the meat version - the taste, however, is good and quite smoky. The vegan cheese is a bit of an

acquired taste, and I have not acquired it. It’s a little on the pale side and has an overly ‘cheesy’ taste which is a bit odd. I did ask for extra cheese, though, which was a mistake in hindsight, so next time I try this I’ll definitely go for less. Of the two vegan fast food items that I tried, this was definitely my favourite.

TRAVEL

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricktravel

Travel's Top Picks for 2020: The Best As the 2020s begin, Redbrick's writers and editors come together to write about

Lisbon

as hordes of people emerged from the sea with huge crates on their heads after each wave. Whilst it may sound strange to visit a fish market on holiday, it was so interesting to watch the whole process from fresh out the sea to the smoking process and see how the community came together in their different roles. Also, being where the classic novel Roots is set, if you’re into literature or history, you can expand your knowledge on tours of sites in the novel. Why not push the boat out in 2020 and go somewhere you may have never thought to visit!

America Bethany Carter

Travel Writer

Unsplash

Lisbon

Lydia Rose

Travel Writer

As Europe’s sunniest capital city, Lisbon is the perfect destination for those looking to grab some winter warmth. São Jorge castle, Belém Tower, and the Santa Justa Lift make up some of the area’s most iconic tourist attractions, all easily accessible from the centre of the relatively compact city. However, many visitors claim that Lisbon’s main pull is its world-famous custard tarts; although the original recipe is only made at the Pastéis de Belém shop, you can find these tarts in almost every store in the city. Lisbon is also popular among partygoers. The Bairro Alto district is home to over 100 bars and restaurants, many of which transform into buzzing nightlife spots as the sun goes down. If you’re looking for something a little different, try Park, an open-air bar located on the roof of a car park. Despite a slightly strange journey through the parking lot to reach it, Park has some of the best views of the Lisbon skyline in the city, especially if you visit the cocktail bar at sunset. Lisbon is aptly nicknamed the ‘City of Seven Hills,’ so make sure to bring comfortable shoes! If all the walking gets too tiring then grab a tuk tuk, a motorized rickshaw that provides a cheap and exhilarating way to travel through the winding cobbled streets, or make use of the city’s extensive tram system. Although there’s more than enough to do in Lisbon, the city also makes the perfect base for

Being lucky enough to have travelled throughout America, it is safe to say that visiting at least once in your lifetime is imperative. Reasons are abundant as to why America is my favourite country. Each state offers a different cultural experience and there is never a shortage of day trips, allowing you to explore things to experience. New York more of what Portugal has to is a safe bet if it is your first time offer. The Portuguese coast is exploring the States. NYC is a home to miles of stunning beach- vibrant city that never sleeps. Not es, including Carcavelos, a popu- only can you visit the major sites, lar tourist destination due to its such as the Statue of Liberty and abundance of cafés, shops, and the Empire State Building, but watersport activities. A short train you can also experience the great ride will take you to Pena Palace, authentic foods of New York. a spectacular Romanticist castle I recommend visiting 99 nestled in the Sintra Mountains; Cents Fresh Pizza for great tastthere’s something to do in and ing pizza on a budget! If you are around Lisbon for everybody! feeling slightly more adventurous, California is also a great option. Having spent a month there this year whilst visiting my

Gambia Josie Hart Travel Editor

All for a rogue retreat, I’d recommend putting the Gambia on your travel bucket list if you fancy something spontaneous. As we’ll be leaving the EU anyway, you might as well start looking further afield than the usual European getaways! Scanning the globe for holiday destinations, many miss an entire continent of amazing landscapes, wildlife and adventure! The Gambia, on the West Coast of Africa, known also as 'the smiling coast,' is one of my favourite places I’ve ever visited. It has stunning beaches if you just want to relax, but also so much more to explore. Go to wildlife sanctuaries, learn about the local culture in local villages or visit the mangrove swamps for an unforgettable boat trip. With the locals being so friendly and welcoming, you won’t be short of tour guides making sure you don’t miss any secret spots. A highlight from my own visit was seeing the fish market in action

sister, I can say that California is perfect if you need a sunshinefilled break. Although the flight may be slightly more expensive, once you have arrived in California you will find that it can be cheaper than New York. This is because you do not have to pay to see famous sites such as the Hollywood sign, Venice Beach and the Hollywood walk of Fame. If the opportunity arises to visit The Sunshine State, I would strongly urge you to take it! Nevada is another of America’s alluring destinations to visit. If you are looking for a holiday destination to allow your vices to be freed, Las Vegas is the one for you. It is a more party-packed destination compared to the other two (due to the casinos and nightlife) with slightly less monumental significance. No matter what type of holiday you are looking for, America has something to entice everybody. This is exactly why it is my favourite country and why you should consider visiting in 2020!

Warsaw

Madison Harding-White

Travel Writer

For those who value a trip filled with cosy cafés, good food and a decent dollop of culture Warsaw is the place to visit in 2020. Both the capital and largest city in Poland, this gorgeous location has been dubbed the 'Phoenix City' due to its extensive reconstruction after an 85% destruction during World War Two. Old Town hosts a stunning array of multicoloured buildings and distinctive cobbled streets,

whilst those seeking greenery can find refuge in one of the many plush parks dotted around the urban roads. History enthusiasts are greeted with a range of museums exploring Warsaw’s struggles under Nazi rule alongside the award-winning Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which has been described as ‘noisy and colourful’ and situated within a post-modern cube. Foodies (like myself) can also rejoice: traditional ‘milk bars’ plate up cheap, wholesome Polish dishes; street sellers shift fresh doughnuts for as little as 30p and independent cafés offer smoothie bowls, tacos and coffees reminiscent of the quirky Amsterdam. The balance between authentic culture, history, beauty and tourism makes Warsaw the perfect destination for a short, intensive city break, a traveller’s stopover or simply an escape from the stressful realities of daily life.

Edinburgh Sophie Donnelly

Travel Writer

Scotland’s capital should earn a place on your 2020 travel list. Edinburgh is a beautiful and buzzing city with something for everyone. Steeped in history, start the Royal Mile walk at Edinburgh Castle. As a World Heritage Site, it is home to the oldest crown jewels in Britain and the Stone of Destiny still used in coronations today. Walking down the Royal Mile, you see sights like the Scottish Parliament Building. But take a slight detour to book an ‘Evening

Warsaw

Unsplash

TRAVEL

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricktravel

Travel Destinations For This Year their favourite places, pitching the best contenders for your 2020 bucket list

Seoul

for somewhere to visit, why not stay close to Birmingham and give the Black Country a try.

streets are quite easy to get lost in. So, if you do one thing this year, visit Lake Bled.

Lake Bled

Zimbabwe

Fern O'Shaughnessy Travel Editor

Unsplash

of Ghosts and Gouls’ with Mercat Tours on Blair Street and learn about the history and horrors of the city with guides and actors at night. The Palace of Holyroodhouse will end your stretch on the Royal Mile. Her Majesty’s official Scottish residence is home to a myriad of exhibitions, perfect for budding artists and historians. Edinburgh has also been the source of inspiration and home to brilliant writers for centuries, from the writer of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie. Named the first UNESCO City of Literature in the world, there are also numerous spots to see where J.K. Rowling was inspired to pen the Harry Potter series. Visit The Elephant House where it all began and just a short walk away is the real life Diagon Alley on Victoria Street. If you crave some hearty home comforts but are not tempted by haggis, The Gourmet Mash Company is something that may curb your craving. A combination of bar and restaurant with protein options for every diet, the hardest choice will be the type of mashed potato you like!

Seoul Catrin Osborne

Television Editor

New York is known as the city that never sleeps but I’d argue that Seoul could give it a run for its money. Well into the evening, the city is still vibrant with fluorescent lights decorating the streets and a plethora of people flocking to Seoul’s bars, cafés and restaurants. The latter boasts a tasty range of traditional dishes from bibimbap to jjimdak – unfortunately, the majority of these meals feature meat, so the city is not the best place for veg-

etarians or vegans. Seoul is as pleasing for the eyes as it is for the taste buds; even mundane streets and train stations cause one to whip out their camera. One example of this is Ihwa Mural Village in which steps are painted with flowers and walls with angel wings. Seoul’s collection of cat cafés is another phenomenon ripe for social media. Although these are now spreading around the world, Seoul’s cafés feel far from commercial traps as locals casually drink their iced coffee whilst cats crawl amongst them. South Korean culture is increasingly becoming a global trend as part of the ‘Hallyu Wave,’ so I’d recommend visiting Seoul to experience this. The technological, modern side of South Korea is perfectly juxtaposed with the city’s history; Gyeongbokgung Palace, where you can rent traditional Korean dress, sits amongst the gleaming skyscrapers. Likewise, Cheonggyecheon is a renovated stream from pre-war Seoul which now acts as a delightful recreation space. Another unique aspect of a holiday in Seoul is the ability to visit the North-South Korean border. As South Korea’s capital is surprisingly close to the demilitarised zone, tour guides frequently take visitors there. Far from Seoul’s world of bubble tea and karaoke bars, viewing the closed society of North Korea from binoculars allows one to put the ongoing conflict into context. To end a holiday in Seoul, a trip up N Seoul Tower is a must. When viewing London from the Shard, it is easy to see the end of London’s city centre, but N Seoul Tower provides a view of endless white tower blocks, stretching into the horizon. Seeing the city in its entirety let me realise that there were still so many more wonders that I didn’t get to explore.

Black Country

6 7

Daniel Stoker Travel Writer

Coming from Wolverhampton I have been shocked by how few students have visited the Black Country. Most know us for our funny accents but know little else about the region. Because of this, I’ve taken it upon myself to give you a quick introduction to the Black Country and tell you about some of the great things we have to offer. The Black Country Living Museum is a must for any trip to the Black Country. It is a 26-acre living museum that reconstructs the region's past. It is made up of over 40 buildings that are staffed by a range of characters. You can talk to shop keepers, police officers and even go to class in a Victorian school. A walk around the museum will transport you to the past which is why it has been used as a set for Peaky Blinders. Located right next to the museum is Dudley Zoo and Castle. It houses over 1000 animals that live around the 11thcentury castle. You can easily spend a whole day here exploring the castle grounds and seeing all the amazing animals. It even has two walkthrough enclosures allowing you to get face-to-face with lemurs and wallabies. You’ll probably want a bite to eat, so I recommend a taste of our local delicacy: orange chips. These chips have been dipped in orange batter and can only be found in the Black Country. I personally recommend Major’s in Bilston, but they can be found at any good Black Country chippy. They are by far the best chips you will ever taste with a crunchy orange exterior and soft fluffy interior. So next time you are looking

As is the general stereotype of the Southern England high school girl, the summer I finished my A levels, I went interrailing. We hit the usual spots: Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, and I loved every second. My favourite, though, was Lake Bled. It is reasonably well-known and popular year-round due to a thriving ski season over winter, and sun-seekers during the summer. Lake Bled, an hour outside Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, is a must-see. The castle over-hanging the lake looks like it must have been the inspiration behind every Disney castle, and there is no shortage of activities to do. We were able to find white water rafting for relatively cheap, but there is plenty of other options available: canoeing, rafting, hiking, wine tasting, kayaking and ziplining, just to name a few. Although our hostel was in Ljubljana, we made the trip every day to visit the lake and relax in the sunshine. Our days at Lake Bled made a welcome break from our busy days in the cities of Europe, and I would definitely visit it again. Lake Bled is the perfect getaway from the stress of dissertations, deadlines, and the general distress of completing a degree. It is easy (and, arguably more importantly, cheap) to get to, but hard to move away from. Plus, I had the best Mexican food I’ve ever had in a random restaurant we found by accident, as the

Katie Norris Travel Editor

One of my favourite travel destinations has to be Zimbabwe in the southern Africa. After visiting South Africa for a safari, it was in Zimbabwe where we truly got the savannah experience. We slept in tents and for once it wasn't my sister's snoring that kept me up at night, but the roars of lions. Every time we got into our tent we had to check for snakes and scorpions. This was definitely an immersive experience into the bushes of Africa. Whilst the roars of lions and the tents weren't exactly luxury, it didn't matter, as in Zimbabwe we would be out at 5 am to go look for lion cubs, giraffes, and baby elephants. This was the coolest part of the day as by lunchtime we, along with the majority of the animals in the park, would be lazing until the late evening, when it would all happen again. Although this was tiring, nothing is more awe-inspiring than seeing a lioness feed her cubs two feet away from the van in torchlight. The tourism aspect of visiting Zimbabwe was also relieving, as the park we went to was a huge expanse, acres and acres of natural wildlife, solely sectioned to protect the animals from hunters. The game that we ate was also caught there, making it a reassuringly sustainable environment. So, for a fully enriching experience of African wildlife, I cannot reccommend Zimbabwe enough, so put it on your bucket list!

Zimbabwe

Unsplash

LIFE&STYLE

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricklife

The Media's Weight Loss Frenzy: Adele Says No Life&Style's Emily Olds exposes the media’s obsession with celebrity appearance and condemns its obsessive focus on Adele’s weight loss journey Emily Olds

Life&Style Writer

Content Warning: This article contains themes of weight loss and body image which some readers may find distressing.

belittling of Adele’s previous image. In reducing Adele to her body image, the media is almost constructing her self-worth in relation to her appearance. Additionally, whilst it is not relevant in this context as Adele lost

The discussion surrounding body image and celebrities is one that will never cease to bring out the strongest opinions in people. No matter whether they agree or disagree with comments made in regards to how fat or thin a celebrity is looking, it is always a topic of debate that brings out the best and worst in people. Recently, it is the popular and incredibly successful musician Adele who has come under scrutiny after having lost a large amount of weight. With multiple media outlets such as The Sun, The Daily Mirror, and The Express deeming her weight loss as ‘shocking,’ the effects of this type of journalism have to be considered. The numerous articles and comments made on various social media outlets about Adele’s new appearance bring into question whether it is right for the body images of celebrities to be focused on, and inevitably scrutinised.

and weight loss/gain having more serious undertones, such topics should be managed and discussed with more sensitivity and awareness, especially with the increasing impact of social media. Contrary to the media’s priori-

ties, Adele has always been a fierce advocate of her right to appear however she wants. She stated in 2012 that ‘weight has nothing to do with [her] career,’ perfectly summarising the attitude that the media should adopt, in that body image is ultimately irrelevant to anyone other than the person it concerns.

“Adele has always been a fierce advocate of her right to appear however she wants” The media’s obsession with appearance has existed from its inception, for reasons that most definitely exist but lack coherent reasoning. Ultimately, the body image of celebrities should not matter to the media and its audiences, especially if they are in a profession that has no tenuous link to their appearance. If a celebrity wishes to gain or lose weight, it is their right to be able to. The only thing that should be of slight discussion/concern within the media is their attitude towards it and whether they are promoting a lifestyle that is healthy and responsible. However, even discussion surrounding topics such as this should be done without the bias of the hegemonic standards of beauty, as this has the potential to cloud judgement on how celebrities should ultimately look.

“The congratulation and encouragement that comes with Adele’s weight loss could be viewed as damaging in regard to the temperamental nature of body image” Not only is it arguably invasive to analyse the bodies and appearance of celebrities, but the congratulation and encouragement that comes with Adele’s weight loss could be viewed as damaging in regard to the temperamental nature of body image. Especially when considering the various speculations surrounding how much weight Adele has actually lost, with some tabloids saying three stone and others saying seven stone. The encouragement of Adele’s conventionally ‘skinny’ body could offer a negative perspective in regard to not only the body image that celebrities should have, but also people in wider society. In saying that her weight loss is ‘incredible’ and making comments on how beautiful she is, online news sites are risking using language that suggests a

her weight through controlled, and more importantly healthy, means of diet and exercise, it is arguably ignorant to assume that a celebrity showing signs of weight loss is rooted from positive causes. With the subject of body image

“The media never sleeps”

Erin McCormack

It is no secret that Adele has been subjected to years of online fat shaming, not just from people on Twitter or Instagram, but also from far more influential individuals. German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld labelled Adele as being a ‘little too fat’ and whilst he apologised for his controversial comments, he later told Vogue that he believed what he said had helped her with her weight. The use of bullying disguised as concern in relation to weight loss, has long since existed within the media, creating a toxic cycle of media involvement and body image that ultimately needs to be broken. However, the media never sleeps. Adele is still being shamed for her weight. For example, there are numerous tweets saying that she looks ‘haggard’ and too thin. Clearly, Adele cannot win in the battle that is the validation of society. This most likely explains why she has refused to play into ideal appearances since the beginning.

LIFE&STYLE

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricklife

Love Island: What's at Stake? Life&Style Editor Ellie Silcock discusses the negative impacts of online abuse towards Love Island stars, in light of recent pleas for kindness Ellie Silcock Life&Style Editor

Content warning: This article contains themes of suicide and mental health

‘Anyone who is running the account of an islander this year who’s struggling, please feel free to message me’ pleads Zoe Hague, sister of Love Island 2019 runner up Molly-Mae Hague. With the start of Winter Love Island, the first of two stints of Love Island expected for 2020, comes the anticipation for 9 pm every night, the desperate stalking of the contestants on Instagram and trying to keep up with all the gossip. However, Zoe Hague emphasises the harrowing truth of what it is really like for the friends and family of Love Island contestants. She begs them not to read the cruel comments written online and to deactivate their accounts, offering support to anyone struggling with the backlash, and to be honest, it’s probably not something anyone ever thinks about. When something horrible is written online about one of the contestants it’s not them who has to read it, it’s their friends, families and colleagues who are manning the accounts or simply scrolling through Twitter who have to deal with the criticism. The Love Island contestants have this sort of awful naivety to it all whilst they are in the villa, whilst their families are having to deal with press stories and trolls on the internet.

We’ve seen the negative impacts of Love Island on the mental health of the contestants plastered over the news and social media. With the deaths of Mike Thalassitis in March 2019 and Sophie Gradon in June 2018, the conversation is more relevant than ever. Ordinary people entering Love Island and being shot to fame can’t be easy, and it is no wonder there is an adjustment period to their newfound stardom. However, the negative comments online arguably make this so much worse, and have led to severe mental health issues for some contestants. The pressure to look and act a certain way is unfathomably intense. The contestants are judged solely on their appearance and behaviour, summed up into 60 minutes each day. Across the internet people call for more body diversity on the show, yet the contestants are also hounded with peoples unsolicited opinions on the way they look and act if it’s the slightest bit different to the norm. Contestants have often said that they believed they were acting in one way yet were being portrayed to act differently. Unlike other similar TV shows, such as The Apprentice and The X Factor, the Love Island stars are not being judged based on a skill or talent, but simply on the way they look and how they interact with the other contestants, which unsurprisingly leads to a mass of negativity online. However, many would question whether the contestants knew

what they were getting into when they applied. They are likely to have read the news stories and know what the consequences can be of reality TV shows. But then why would over 90,000 people apply for each series? There appears to be a certain naivety surrounding it, with the ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude. Of course, there is also the question of whether the positives outweigh the negatives. There is no denying that one of the main draws to the show isn’t to find love, but for the possibility of huge brand deals, fame and money that come with winning. Not only is there a £50,000 winning prize (split between two of you) but also the extras that come alongside this. In September of last year, 2019 winner Amber Gill signed a £1 million deal to be the face of clothing brand Miss Pap, whilst Molly-Mae Hague bagged a £500,000 brand ambassador position and clothing line with PrettyLittleThing. Meanwhile, runner up Maura Higgins signed contracts with Boohoo, Ann Summers and is currently taking part in the ITV show Dancing on Ice. Alongside this, there are the multitude of brand partnerships and Instagram sponsorships, even for the contestants that were only in the villa for a few days. Many would argue that being ‘known’outweighs any negative effects, which could be the reason so many thousands of people applied for the show. This trend of negativity extends to other reality TV shows

as well. In May 2019, a Jeremy Kyle Show contestant reportedly committed suicide, leading to the show being cancelled, which emphasises just how impactful these sorts of shows can be. Multiple reality TV personalities have spoken about how their experiences with reality TV has impacted their mental health, with Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan opening up about the anxiety and panic attacks that she experienced whilst on the MTV show. So, the real question in all of this, is what can be done to help? Many previous Love Island contestants have called for better mental health support, leading to Love Island’s new 14-month duty of care promise to contestants, as well as lessons of support in subjects such as how to deal with

fame after the show. Other reality TV shows such as The Only Way is Essex have been praised for their full programme of support, suggesting that now that awareness of the implications of these shows is growing, aftercare and support is improving. However, it seems a shame that it took multiple unfortunate events for this to happen. It is more than just the responsibility of the TV show’s management to control this though. One of the main problems is the impact of the individual person making negative comments online, and with the press spiralling stories into gossip with weak assumptions. It is all of our responsibilities to be a little bit kinder, a little bit less judgmental, and to think twice before we post something online.

Jonny Lindner

Climate Crisis or Vanity Project?

Life&Style Writer Eleanor Bergin discusses the role played by influencers in aiding the Australian bushfire crisis and questions their motives Eleanor Bergin Life&Style Writer

Due to one of the country’s worst droughts in decades, the Australian bushfires have led to the destruction of almost 2,000 homes, the degradation of 7.3 million hectares of land and half a billion animals have been affected. The catastrophe has seen many social media influencers and celebrities take advantage of their position by raising awareness of the issue, in a plea to draw engagement and shed light on the devastating effects of the bushfires. In the midst of the climate emergency, are celebrities under an obligation to use their platforms for good? Over the last month a range of celebrities including Australians such as Kylie Minogue and Margot Robbie, as well as other well-known stars including Elton John, Selena Gomez and Pink have donated significant amounts of money in aid of the Australian bushfire crisis. In particular, actor Chris Hemsworth posted on his Instagram, ‘like you, I want to support the fight against the bushfires here in Australia. My family and I are contributing a million

dollars. Hopefully you guys can chip in too.’ His kind donation drew in comments such as ‘huge respect sir’, ‘so generous’, and ‘hearts of gold’. There seems to be a common theme that many have taken to social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram to announce their pledge to aid the Australian bushfires. This, however, begs the question, is this about publicity? Is it necessary for influencers with large follower bases to be raising awareness around the issue, or is there a PR-infused vanity project element whereby their motive actually revolves around playing up to a perfect celebrity image? Kylie Jenner also sits among the list of notable celebrity donations with a reported $1.5m being put towards the cause. Although many have praised her for this donation, other reactions have been more hesitant to applaud her. Before she announced the donation, she and the rest of her family were criticized for not doing enough to help considering their loud, fan-hungry platform. This leads us to question whether Jenner was pressured into making the donation in the first place. Is

this obligation faced by influencers justified considering their strong voices, or should you only have your say on a situation that you deeply care about? Those in a position of power on social media have young audiences who will often be informed about vital issues in the world. Do these influencers and their audiences actually understand the crisis or are they just donating to following the crowd? Other celebrities are taking a different approach to highlight the issue. For example, actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge is auctioning off the suit that she wore to this year's Golden Globes. Vlogger Alfie Deyes, with his 3.9 million Instagram following, has also joined the discussion, releasing a t-shirt in which all profits will go to the Australian Red Cross. However, Alfie has not dodged criticism. A Twitter user argued, ‘surely you are better off starting a charity fundraiser on a website or promoting one that exists rather than selling a £25 T-shirt where £5ish goes to charity?’ Of course, Alfie had only good intentions when creating this product, but perhaps a more use-

ful approach would be a direct donation to a charity of one’s choice. With everyone having their say on the matter, it seems as though there is a demand for all celebrities with a following to have an impact and say on the issue, no matter how big or small. This demand was showcased at the 2020 Golden Globes, with a room full of today's most influential celebrities, including many award acceptance speeches commenting on the devastation of the crisis. However, actor Joaquin Phoenix used his speech as an opportunity to give his opinion on the way in which celebrities have been voicing their concerns up until now, saying ‘it’s really nice that so many people have come up and sent their well-wishes to Australia, but we have to do more than that.’ In a plea for celebrities to think more conscientiously, he continued, ‘We don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs for the awards sometimes.’ Conveniently, the producers started to play him off the stage. Admittedly his speech had been going on for a while, but perhaps this brings to light the larger issue

of celebrities fearing offending or being too political in these more conservative situations. Celebrities have indeed been under fire for using private jets in the past, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, having a negative impact on the environment. Phoenix admits he is apart from the issue, but raises a poignant and relevant debate on how celebrities use their spotlight, questioning how much of an impact they truly have. Whether or not influencers are donating money for the right reasons, or simply following what the current ‘trend’ demands in order to elevate their image, we cannot deny the sheer power that they have in enhancing impactful movements. We, as ordinary people, can donate whatever we can afford, but if we want to allow major changes then it is the people with the financial means who can make a real difference. Seeing the unity of people across the globe coming together in support of the Australian crisis can only be a positive and welcoming sensation in hope of protecting the country's environment.

SCI&TECH

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricktech

Vegan Pets: Cruel or Kind?

Creature Feature:

The Kakapo Beth Grayson Sci&Tech Writer

Some vegans change their pets diet to also be vegan. Madison Harding-White explains why this might not be a good idea Madison HardingWhite Sci&Tech Writer

Veganism has been dubbed the fastest growing lifestyle movement in the UK, with the practicing population increasing in the UK by 350% over the past ten years. Involving the removal of all animal products and by-products from one’s diet alongside the conscious removal of all animal exploitation from one’s lifestyle (such as ceasing wearing leather and using non animal-tested products), most vegans list ethical and moral concerns as the main motivators behind their switch. For some vegans, the drive to prevent animal slaughter is so passionate that they wish to extend their meat-free ways to the diet of their pets. This is of little issue when considering rabbits and many rodents whose diets are largely composed of plant-based carbohydrates. However, when considering popular companion pets such as cats and dogs, a serious debate entails. Whilst the evercontroversial organisation PETA claims that ‘the nutritional needs of many dogs and cats can easily be met with a balanced vegan diet and certain supplements’; there is a large amount of evidence suggesting that feeding such animals meat-free diets can have catastrophic effects on their health. According to Professor Joe Bartges from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, cats are obligate carnivores - meaning they can only gain the nutrients they need to survive through the consumption of meat. Taurine, an amino acid essential to the metabolism of dietary fats, is only found in animal sources. Most mammals can synthesise taurine for themselves from other amino acids. However, this is not true for cats, who are unable to make taurine for themselves so rely solely on dietary sources. If cats do not receive suf-

ficient levels of taurine in their diets they can suffer with retinal degeneration, dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart valves) and reproductive issues. This therefore results in a large problem when feeding cats vegan food, due to the only sources of taurine being animal in origin.

“Cats can only gain the nutrients they need to survive through the consumption of meat” Worse still, cats lack the enzyme needed to produce another amino acid found in meat named arginine - essential to the removal of toxic ammonia from the body. Whilst there are some plant sources of arginine such as oats and nuts, these foods are only recommended to be fed to cats in small quantities so are unlikely to provide enough arginine to preserve a cat’s health. If dietary arginine levels fall, cats can experience vomiting, weight loss, neurological issues and even death. Bartges also warns of hearing loss, sight loss and heart problems if cats do not consume enough vitamin A, vitamin B12 and arachidonic acidall of which are challenging to consume with the elimination of all animal products. Cats lack the enzyme needed to break down carotene (plant originating vitamin A), leaving them reliant on animal sources or risk going blind. In a final swoop against feline veganism, eating a plant-based diet leaves cats vulnerable to Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD): a precursor to urinary stones that results from high urine pH levels- caused directly by a vegan diet. If left

untreated, FLUTD can result in pain and can even be life-threatening. Whilst it is clear that the consumption of a vegan diet is a serious health threat to cats, the debate is a little greyer when it comes to dogs. Bramble, the 2002 Guinness Book of World Records holder for ‘oldest dog’ who lived to the grand age of 27, is frequently used to promote canine veganism after reportedly living on lentils and vegetables. Unlike cats, dogs are omnivores and possess a digestive system capable of deriving and digesting nutrients from plant sources. However, this does not mean providing a nutritionally complete vegan diet for your dog is easy. Dogs have a significantly higher protein requirement than humans, which is challenging to fulfil consuming plants alone. Whilst higher protein foods such as lentils, beans and soy are suitable for dogs, they are all Low Biological Value protein sources. This unfortunately means that you need to eat far more of them to consume the same amount of protein found in High Biological Value sources such as meat, which may be difficult for dogs. Further, dogs also risk deficiencies in vitamin B12 (found mostly in animal

products and essential to the nervous system), calcium, iron and taurine which can all lead to nasty health complaints, some as extreme as heart failure. Whilst there is no doubt adopting a vegan lifestyle has its benefits for humans (removing animal products from your diet could reduce your carbon footprint by up to 73%), trying to veganise our best loved pets is a minefield. Whilst it is possible for dogs to follow a healthy vegan diet (if under close supervision from a vet), the reality is that most owners will unlikely have the knowledge, money nor patience to provide nutritionally complete meals as this will require supplementation to ensure protein intake is sufficiently high. When it comes to cats however, the conclusion that a vegan diet will cause serious or fatal harm is clear- despite the many claims otherwise online. In order to ensure vegans harm no animals including their own, it is best advised for those opposed to buying meat in any circumstance to house degus, chinchillas and rabbits as these animals are natural herbivores.

Lottie

Plants Climb Everest Daniella Southin

Sci&Tech Writer

The Himalayan mountains are known for Mount Everest and their snow-capped peaks, but with our changing climate, our picturesque views may soon be painted green. Satellite studies have suggested that as the earth warms, vegetation growth in our high-latitude areas is increasing. Karen Anderson of the University of Exeter led a team to study the subnival ecosystems – those between the tree and snow

lines upon mountains – in the Himalayas. Their 25-year study, ending in 2018, showed significant vegetation increase. The most dramatic changes were in areas 5000 – 5500 metres above sea level. Anderson suggests this change could have impacted the carbon and water cycles of residents living downstream. Other research has also found increases in high-latitude vegetation growth, however this has previously been attributed to the increase of carbon dioxide in our

atmosphere. This new study however, suggests that temperature is a growing factor. While the direct impact effect of temperature needs further evaluation, it is considered to have caused increased greening due to the lengthening growing seasons. However, some people suggest other environmental factors may mediate the growth of vegetation elsewhere, despite the rise of climate change. The northern wetlands, for example, exhibit waterlogged soil which would be unsuit-

able for the growth of vegetation. The soils of the arctic tundra are also unsuitable for vegetation growth, as a result of being nutrient poor. The extent to which we should be prepared to see greenery in areas we once thought impossible is being debated. The increasing temperatures, though, are clear. Our snowcapped mountains are warming. Will we see green on once bare land?

Department of Conservation

The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), also known as the ‘owl parrot’ due to its owllike face, is a species of parrot native to New Zealand that holds the title of the only flightless parrot in the world. It is also the world’s heaviest parrot, weighing between four and nine pounds, as well as possibly one of the longest-lived with a life expectancy of over 90 years! This unique ground-dwelling bird has strong legs that allow it to move around efficiently and even climb trees, which it roosts in during the day as it is nocturnal - another unusual trait for a parrot. The Kakapo is known for being friendly – they have been kept as pets in the past and even wild Kakapos have been observed climbing on and preening people! Unfortunately, despite their friendliness and likeability, Kakapos are endangered with only 211 known living adults on record. They were once common across the whole of New Zealand, but were almost entirely wiped out by Māori and European settlers who destroyed much of their habitat and introduced predators such as cats, rats and stoats. Thankfully a Kakapo Recovery Plan was implemented in the 1990s that relocated Kakapos to predator-free islands for them to breed in a safe environment, with supplementary feeding provided by the recovery programme to encourage health and successful breeding. This recovery plan was successful in preventing extinction, but the Kakapo is still listed as critically en d an g er ed an d co n tin u ed protection is necessary to keep the population growing. If you are interested in learning more about the efforts towards saving this wonderful bird from endangerment, zoologist and Kakapo expert Alison Balance runs a popular podcast called the Kakapo files which you can listen to at rnz.co.nz/programmes/ kakapo-files

SCI&TECH

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricktech

Acid Exfoliants and How to Use Them

Sci&Tech Editor Francesca Benson delves into the chemistry of using acids to exfoliate, explaining why they could be a game-changer for your skin Francesca Benson

Sci&Tech Editor

The concept of applying acid to your face may seem scary, perhaps even counterintuitive to improving the appearance of your skin. However, the effects of incorporating certain acids into your skincare routine may tempt you to ditch your face scrub for these liquid alternatives. Some of these benefits include helping with acne, scarring, dry or dull skin, wrinkles, and uneven texture. Two of the most popular categories of acid used in cosmetics are alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA). The structural difference between the two is that BHAs have one more carbon atom between their functional groups than AHAs. Both categories act to exfoliate the skin, acting on the outermost

Jynto

layer known as the stratum corneum. Here they weaken bonds between dead cells, making it easier for them to shed and reveal the newer cells beneath. This exfoliating effect can increase sensitivity to the sun, so it is very important to also use SPF during the daytime if you use acid exfoliants.

“They weaken bonds between dead cells, making it easier for them to shed” AHAs and BHAs have slightly different physical properties and therefore have different effects, with AHAs being more suitable for dry skin and BHAs more suited for oily or acne-prone skin. AHAs are water soluble, acting only on the surface of the skin. They are also humectants, meaning that they can help to improve skin hydration. Two commonly used AHAs are glycolic acid and lactic acid. BHAs are lipid soluble, meaning that they can help to clear out blocked pores and manage oiliness. The BHA used in skincare products is salicylic acid,

which also has antiseptic properties. There are many products on the market which include exfoliating acids. One popular category is toners, with Pixi Glow Tonic and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution both containing glycolic acid as their primary active ingredient. One effective although slightly disgusting - way to use AHAs is in foot peels, which are plastic socks filled with an acid solution which result in your dead foot skin shedding over the course of a couple of weeks post-use. These are available from brands such as Footner and BeautyPro. Salicylic acid is present in many spot treatments, but is also available in many other application methods such as The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution or Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Clay Mask. If you want to exfoliate your body you could try out lotions containing lactic acid such as Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion, or the more budget-friendly Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion, which also contains salicylic acid. Another product that contains both AHAs and BHAs are Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme by Nip + Fab. Professional grade acid peels

are also available at spas and clinics, formulated by brands such as Dermalogica. These are stronger than those available to purchase in shops, and are administered by a skincare professional. If you have never used acids before or have sensitive skin, it is wise to start with a product with a low concentration of acid and use it once or twice a week at night to determine how your skin reacts. Some people find higher concentrations or more frequent application beneficial, whereas for others this is too

Marco Verch

harsh and can be damaging or irritating. The use of SPF in conjunction with these products is not to be forgotten, even if the weather is not sunny. When used correctly and if your skin can tolerate it, acid exfoliation can be a fantastic addition to your skincare routine.

Breast Cancer Spotted By AI James West describes a new AI technology that can diagnose breast cancer James West Sci&Tech Writer

A recent study published in the journal Nature has found that a new artificial intelligence (AI) made by Google could be better at spotting signs for breast cancer than radiologists. This has been measured in two aspects; firstly the AI was as good as humans at spotting the signs of breast cancer, and secondly it consistently scored better than humans at diagnosing false positives. The study was conducted by many researchers including those from Imperial College London and Google Health, the company that developed the AI. As in most AI training, there were some large data sets involved – nearly 29,000 X-ray images of women in the US and the UK. The training data also contained images that showed a variation in seriousness of the cancer to train it effectively. As a result of this training the computer was able to outperform six different radiologists at reading the mammograms. Another significant result is that the algorithm reduced the number of false positives (when the doctors thinks a patient has cancer but does not) by 1.2% and a reduction in false negatives (when the doctors think a patient does not have cancer

but does) of 2.7%, which means that patients will be diagnosed more accurately.

“The computer was able to outperform six different radiologists at reading the mammograms” What is more startling is that usually the two doctors who analyses a patients mammogram (or three if there is a disagreement) have access to the patient's history; which allows them to have more of an idea of whether someone isnlikely is to have breast cancer, but the AI did not have any of that data, only the images available. The work that is done here is very significant for future endeavors. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, and the NHS advise that every woman between the ages of 50 and 70 gets a mammogram every three years in order to check they are cancer free. As every mammogram needs double checking, that is a lot of time that radiologists spend

looking at the images. What this research could potentially mean is that instead of two doctors checking the images, provided the doctors decision agreed with the AI, the case would be solved freeing up a lot of time , especially when there is

a shortfall of radiologists in the country. This could potentially mean that doctors' workloads could decrease and it would mean a quicker service for women to find out their diagnosis. As Helen Edwards, a woman

who was part of the survey told the BBC, ‘In the long term this can only benefit women!’

US Airforce Academy

SPORT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricksport

The Year Ahead: Your Will Tokyo host an Olympics to remember? Can Europe defend the Ryder Cup? The Olympics: Max Kelly

Dan Hague Sport Writer

One of the biggest sporting events of 2020 is the athletics at the Olympics. British hopefuls When: 24 July - 9 August like Dina Asher-Smith are lookWhere: Tokyo, Japan ing to win medals while interWho: Everyone national stars like Noah Lyles have their sights set on gold. Every four years the whole Last year, Japan hosted a world gets wrapped up in fantastic Rugby World Cup, but Olympic fever and the Games compared to the Olympics, that in Tokyo will be no different. was just a warm-up. Spectators Personally, I am eagerly await- can look forward to devouring ing the introduction of four nev- delightful food and meeting er-before seen some of the Olympic sporting most welcoming events, namely people on the Six Nations karate, skateplanet. boarding, sport In the men’s climbing and sprint events, it surfing. looks set to be an all-American It is great to see the Games affair, with Noah Lyles and modernising and addChristian Coleman ing so many new going head-to-head and exciting for gold. In the sports, each of women’s Sport Writer

which is sprints, gaining popuyou cannot larity in the comlook past a petitive scene. For West Indian faceme, watching these off. Bahamian Millersports will be a source of guar- Uibo will look to take on anteed excitement much akin to Jamaican Fraser-Pryce. the more extreme nature of Elsewhere, the Germans are many of the events at back. The three powthe Winter Olympics. erhouses Vetter, Whether it is witnessRohler and Hoffmann 01/02 ing climbers trying to will be battling it out scramble up a 15-meter to win gold in the high wall in the fastest javelin. time or surfers attempting difBritish hopes rest with ficult manoeuvres on massive Katarina Johnson-Thompson waves, there is sure to be a buzz and Dina Asher-Smith. Johnsonaround each and every one of Thompson will look to match these new events. her outstanding 2019 and fend off Belgian Thiam to win gold in the heptathlon. Asher-Smith will be hoping to medal in the sprint events. However, she faces stiff competition from Miller-Uibo and Fraser-Pryce.

“Every four years the whole world gets wrapped up in Olympic fever”

Softball also returns after being absent from the past two Olympiads, with the Japanese team eyeing a potential upset over the American favourites. Whilst the headline events will continue to be the perennial Olympic favourites, I encourage everyone to keep an eye on some of the new events – it may even be the start of the next great sporting story!

Fury vs Wilder II: Rachel Higgins Sport Writer

When: 22 February, 4am Where: Las Vegas Previous Result: Draw On the 22nd February, Tyson Fury will face Deontay Wilder in the highly-anticipated rematch for the World Boxing Council's (WBC) heavyweight title. The fight will take place in

Las Vegas, so for British viewers, it will go live around 4am. Their last meeting in December 2018 resulted in a draw, sparking controversy because of deviation in the scores. This leaves both fighters still undefeated in their careers. Therefore, fans are hungry for closure as the pair go toe-to-toe once more to see who the real champion is. Both fighters are determined for a secured victory. Whilst Fury has adopted a new coach and training regime, the fighter promises a confident second

Fury vs Wilder round KO. In Wilder has firmed h e

will retire if ise comes true. p a r i s o n , since

response, c o n -

this promBy comWilder has

22/02 claimed two further, and sensational, wins against Breazeale and Ortiz, so it is all to fight for.

The Ryder Cup: Jack Wooldridge Sport Writer

When: 25 - 27 September Where: Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, USA Holders: Europe Europe and the United States will fight it out once again for the 43rd Ryder Cup when the two sides meet at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in late September. Europe will look to Premier defend the trophy that they have claimed on four of the last five editions, which will give them added confidence going into the contest. The team will be led

b y the current seatop 10, to lift sonedthe cup again.on pro Padraig home soil. Harrington. The Irishman has a wealth of experience in the competition, having played in six Ryder Cups and been one of Thomas Bjorn’s vice-captains Owain Pryce in the 2018 victory in 17/05 Sport Writer France. Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett look likely to automatically qualify When: 1 February - 14 March for the European side, and will First Game: Wales vs Italy be expected to deliver for Holders: Wales Europe on the big stage. February sees the return of the Six Nations, the first chance to see Europe’s top international sides since last year’s Rugby World Cup. Holders Wales are one of four sides under new management, with New Zealander Wayne Pivac now in charge, and face Italy in Cardiff in the first match of the Championship, desperate to Meanwhile, America will defend their title. The Italians, look to make home advantage 20 years since their inception count – as they have done on into the tournament, will be many occasions – in what should hoping to avoid collecting their prove to be a hostile environ- fifth Wooden Spoon in a row. ment for their European counAlso on the first day, Ireland, terparts. The Americans are now led by Andy Farrell (father captained by Steve Stricker, of England captain Owen), play whose squad looks set to be Scotland. These two locked filled with a plethora of talent horns in Japan, with Ireland and experience. Brooks Koepka, emerging comprehensive victhe current world number one, tors, however the Scots will Dustin Johnson, and a resurgent arrive in Dublin desperate for Tiger Woods are amongst those revenge, led out by new captain that occupy the current points- Stuart Hogg. The standout game

“Fans are hungry “I would make the for closure as the U.S. slight pair go toe-to-toe” favourites to lift the cup” If Fury takes the win, British boxing will certainly be on top as Anthony Joshua bears the three other belts of the heavyweight division. The heavyweight division is clearly packed with talent and continues to create engagement for the sport. Despite the time difference, this fight will definitely be worth staying up for, and will mark the beginning of a glorious year in boxing, with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Josh Warrington all set to have career-defining bouts.

qualifying positions for the United States. With such quality at his disposal and some of their most accomplished golfers likely to miss out, it will be interesting to see who Stricker chooses as his wildcards. Both teams will be finalised once the qualifying events come to an end at the start of September. Players have the opportunity to earn points in order to automatically qualify for the tournament, however, those that do not make the cut can still be selected as one of the Captain’s Selections that fill the remaining slots in the squad. League The result is a hard one to call; we can certainly expect a close and competitive contest between the two, although I would make the US slight favourites, with six players in

The Six Nations:

SPORT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricksport

2020 Sporting Calendar Is football coming home? Our writers reveal what they're excited about in 2020... of the weekend is France against exciting as it is well-structured England. With a new French and has more depth to it than just coaching set up including Shaun throwing the ball as hard as you Edwards, the man who master- can. Yet, any handball is better minded the Welsh defence to than no handball, so I will still be victory last year, will we see watching all the games on now, Les Bleus win their first and in the Olympics to keep me Championship since 2010? going until December. England enter the tournament as favourites, and if they are able to recreate the form that saw them reach the World Cup final, they will be very difKit Shepard ficult to stop. They undoubtedly Sport Editor still have one of the most destructive packs in the world, and with the 'kamikaze kids' Winners: Liverpool (probably) Sam Underhill When: Spring and Tom Curry at First Title Since: 6 and 7 England 1990 Olympics will seek to dominate their northern 2020 is actually hemisphere going to be rivals. Liverpool’s year. With a huge The tourament is held lead at the top of the table and between the first of just two points dropped February and 14th all season (as of last March. Wednesday), the Reds are

Premier League:

going to win the league title for the first time since 1990. I would not say I am excited about the prospect of watching Jurgen Klopp’s men lift Liverpool’s inaugural Monja Stahlberger Premier League trophy this May, Sport Writer but more curious about what will happen when perhaps the most storied 24/07 When: 3 20 football club in the December country break their Hosts: Denmark and three-decade duck. Norway This is a huge deal. Think Holders: France England winning a second World Cup, Line of Duty finally revealThe sporting event I am looking ing the identity of ‘H’, or finding forward to the most this year is out what Bryn and Jason got up to the European Women's Handball on that fishing trip. The exact Championship in December. It’s consequences are unknown, but still a long time to go but the they will be monumental. Will European Men's Handball statues be erected of every player Championship is currently in full in the squad? Will the whole of swing and already getting me Merseyside be whipped up into a excited for my favourite event frenzy of unending celebration? this year - the women’s competi- Will Jamie Carragher spontanetion. ously combust live on TV? At the moment, 6' 6" men are This may seem outlandish, using brute force to break apart but considering that Liverpool are the defence of a team which is just on the verge of the holiest of as tall and as big as their own. grails, nothing can be ruled out. While it is undoubtedly entertainAlternatively, the only thing ing to watch and ever so often more intriguing would be if they there are fantastic goals scored, I somehow did not win the league would much rather watch a game (which I, like most football fans of women’s handball. The ingenu- who do not support Liverpool, am ity and composition of the plays is unashamedly rooting for). brilliant and inspiring. As a handball player myself I can learn some new moves when watching any of the teams play. I find women’s handball definitely more

Handball Euros:

Emerging Tennis Talent:

The European Championship:

The T20 Cricket World Cup:

John Rogers

Lauren Coffman

Luke Bosher

Sport Editor

Sport Writer

Sport Editor

Stand-Outs: Daniil Medvedev, Holders: Portugal Holders: West Indies Stefanos Tsitsipas, Coco Gauff, When: 12 June - 12 July When: 18 Oct - 15 Nov Naomi Osaka Favourites: England, Belgium, Favourites: Australia, India, France England Look up the men’s tennis world rankings right now and you will It is safe to say that this sum- Another year, another mouthwasee three familiar names: Nadal, mer’s European Championships, tering Cricket World Cup. The Djokovic, Federer. With a com- set to take place between the 2019 Cricket World Cup was a 12th June and the fantastic adver12th July 2020, tisement for the will be an internasport, with hosts Ryder Cup T20 World Cup tional sporting England claiming event like no their first ever other. With 12 staOne Day bined age of 103, and diums across 12 different International (ODI) World Cup combined CV boasting 55 European countries, never win. Ben Stokes won the hearts major before has a major footof the nation with some ball tournament outstanding peformbeen so accessiances throughout ble to such a the tourna-

wins, t h e three most successful players in the history of the sport are still a major factor in 2020. But what I am 25/09 looki n g f o r ward to is seeing the progression of the five young players just behind those three in the rankings. Daniil Medvedev (aged 23), Dominic Thiem (26), Stefanos Tsitsipas (21), Alexander Zverev (22) and Matteo Berrettini (23) occupy ranks four to nine, and it is these men who will look to knock the old dogs off the top step in 2020. I predict that this is the year we really see the tide start to shift in favour of these young men. In the women’s game there are several standout talents to get behind, none more so than 15-year-old American Coco Gauff. She has already taken the scalp of Venus Williams (again) on Sunday at the Australian Open. The biggest breakthrough since 2018, however, has been two-time major winner Naomi Osaka. She is hoping to retain her Australian Open title this coming week, and more majors will be in her sights for 2020. And of course, Serena Williams still looms large – can she extend her already unbelievable record?

wide range ment, a far of people. The cry from his atmosphere will status in the afterundoubtedly be elecmath of the 2016 tric, especially here in T20 World Cup when England, as we play host to the Carlos Braithwaite smashed semi-finals and finals at Stokes for four consecutive sixes Wembley Stadium. in the final over to break English On the pitch, it is looking hearts. like it could be another This year's tournapromising summer for ment will be held in Gareth Southgate’s Australia, who are cur18/10 England side. With such rently the number two a wealth of talented ranked T20 side, behind young prospects coming only Pakistan, and I fail through, the future is certainly to see how it won't be a phenombrighter than it has been for enal watch. The talent on show many years. From young, up and come Autumn, from the likes of coming players like Jadon Babar Azam, Rashid Khan and Sancho and Mason Mount to the Virat Kholi, combined with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Australians' love of the game sets who already has a Champions up a great month of T20 cricket. League trophy under his belt at the age of 21. Though there are currently question marks over the role Harry Kane will be able to play, after suffering a hamstring injury, there will be many players itching to fill his boots and prove themselves on such a major world stage. This summer’s tournament will also mark VAR’s introducFrom an English perspective, tion into the competition, and despite the unfavourable time difafter a tumultuous first season of ference, I expect Eoin Morgan's use in the Premier League, it men to at least reach the semi-fiwill certainly be interesting to nals, such is the arrray of talent at see if the same issues arise this his disposal and our current shortsummer, and whether its effect form pedigree. on the tournament will be posiWhether England meet these tive or negative. expectations or not, the tournament will undoubtedly prove to be a sensational watch.

“I fail to see how it won't be a phenomenal tournament”

SPORT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricksport

European Rugby Champions Cup: Pool Stages Final Weekend Round-up Dan Hague Sport Writer

Last weekend saw the European Rugby Champions Cup group stages come to a thrilling conclusion, and we now know the quarter-final line-up. Racing 92 will meet Clermont Auvergne in an all-French grudge match. Meanwhile, Ulster travel to last year's semi-finalists, Toulouse. The second-placed team in the Gallagher Premiership, Northampton Saints, will make the long drive down the M5 to face Exeter Chiefs. Yet the most mouth-watering quarter-

final will be Saracens, a club in total chaos off the field, taking on Leinster, in a rematch of last year's final. Heading into round six, Leinster, Exeter, Toulouse, Racing and Clermont had all secured their places in the quarter finals. Leinster bulldozed their way through pool one, scoring the highest number of tries and conceding the joint-lowest, on their way to six wins out of six. Exeter were similarly emphatic, they won all their games barring a thrilling draw away to Glasgow Warriors. In pool five, Toulouse won all six games but

Instagram/saracensofficial

accumaulated the same points total as Exeter, and they missing out on the second seed at the expense of the Devon outfit on try difference. Racing and Clermont both headed into the quarter finals with one loss on their record. Ulster travelled to Bath in search of a win to secure their place in the quarter finals. Both teams traded first-half scores with tries from Marcell Coetzee and Ruaridh McConnochie. However, Robert Baloucoune and Will Addison scored for Ulster, putting them in control during the secondhalf. It was an eventful game for Bath replacement Ross Batty. He scored quickly, but this was juxtaposed with a high tackle on John Cooney that was sent off. Ulster ultimately ran out 22-15 winners, which was enough to send them through to the quarter finals. With a victory over Lyon, Northampton could keep their hopes of a Champions Cup quarter final alive. Lyon took a first half lead with tries from Felix Lambey and Liam Gill. However, in the second half the game turned on its head. The lead changed hands twice with Northampton and Lyon trading blows like heavyweight boxers, before the Saints secured an eleventh round knockout thanks to tries from George Furbank and James Fish. The match finished 36-24 and Northampton now had to wait for other results to learn their fate. Defending champions Sara-

Champions Cup Quarter-Finals Matches to be played on 3rd/4th/5th April Clermont Auvergne vs Racing 92 Exeter Chiefs vs Northampton Saints Leinster vs Saracens Toulouse vs Ulster cens had known for a month that they would have to beat Racing in their final pool match to stand a chance of progressing, but they entered the game in a state of utter crisis. Just hours before kick-off, Premiership Rugby announced that the club, who have won an unprecedented seven major trophies in the past five seasons (including three Champions Cups), were to be relegated from the English topflight at the end of the season, as they have been unable to get their wage bill under the salary cap. Last November, they were deducted 35 points for similar violations relating to the previous three seasons and now, after failing to clean up their act, face the prospect of playing in the second tier of English rugby next season. This scandal has rocked the sport to its core and is only just beginning, and it is safe to say that rugby has never seen something quite like this. Nevertheless, Saracens still

had a job to do on the pitch. They began their encounter with Racing at a blistering pace, scoring two early tries. The momentum soon shifted when Racing brought the score to 17-24 in their favour, thanks to a Virimi Vakatawa brace and a Louis Dupichot intercept off Owen Farrell. To make matters worse, Will Skelton was sent off in the 39th minute for a reckless high tackle. Nonetheless, Saracens showed typical resilience to fight back in the second half, turning things around to win 27-24. Saracens' failure to get the four-try bonus point confirmed Northampton's spot in the knockout stages and left them hoping that Gloucester would not oust them out of the quarter-final lineup with an improbable win in Toulouse. Any concerns quickly evaporated though, as the Cherry and Whites were soundly beaten setting, up a potential epic against Leinster.

What's Going on at Birmingham City?

Sport Writer Harry Shersby-Wignall reports as unrest grows at St. Andrews after 18 months of financial troubles and disappointing performances Harry ShersbyWignall

League. The club hired and fired two stalwarts of English football – Gianfranco Zola and Harry Sport Writer Redknapp, whilst equipping them both with large amounts of money for transfers, most of which Birmingham City were hit with a severely underperformed and nine-point deduction last season instead of pushing for promotion, following a breach of Financial dragged them to the brink of relFair Play (FFP) limits, which ulti- egation to League One. mately derailed their season. Fast Two seasons ago, Birmingham forward ten months, and FFP has paid the price for the unorganised, again reared its ugly head, much underwhelming and underperlike the Grim Reaper; scythe in forming signings made in previhand, knocking on the St Andrews ous seasons as they exceeded a door. £39 million loss over three seaSince being introduced into sons. They were charged by the the Championship by the EFL in EFL in July 2018, handed a trans2011, Birmingham City became fer embargo and threatened with the first side to fall victim of further punishment. After a FFP. Championship clubs successful season with are not permitted to Garry Monk at the record losses of over helm, City were flirt£39 million over a ing with the playthree-year period in offs up until March, order to stay aligned Debt of Birmingham when the EFL with the EFL’s announced that the City holding comProfit and Club would be pany Sustainability (P&S) deducted nine points ruling. immediately, for Following a takeobreaching P&S guidever by the superlatively lines. Consequently, the named Chinese company, Blues plummeted down the ‘Trillion Trophy Asia,’ a new table and finished the season vision was created for the Blues 17th. – promotion to the Premier Following another rollercoast-

£94m

er season at St Andrews, the summer was to be a time to recharge and reset, with a promising squad and one of England’s best young managers in the hot seat.

“Fans have come to the end of their tether with Ren and his inability to run a football club” However, nothing is ever that easy for Birmingham City. Monk was surprisingly sacked after falling out with club CEO, Xuandong Ren. Top goal scorer, Che Adams, the then-record signing, Jota and captain, Michael Morrison all followed Monk out of the door, to the anger of the Bluenoses. A new philosophy was adopted. Assistant manager, Pep Clotet was appointed as ‘interim caretaker head coach,’ whilst an influx of Spanish coaches was instilled to get the Blues playing entertaining and attacking football. As expected, these decisions back-

fired and as of now, they have been locked into another season of midtable mediocrity. To rub salt in the wounds, the EFL announced that the Blues had been charged again – this time for not complying to a business plan set by the EFL to avoid breaching FFP rules and once more face the prospect of a points deduction. As the Club also published their worrying accounts, exposing their debt of £94 million to the holding company, fans have come to the end of their tether with Ren and what they consider his inability to run a football club alongside

Instagram/bcfc

his seemingly erratic decisions. I attended the Blues’ draw with Cardiff over the weekend and asked Pep Clotet, post-match, whether the latest EFL charge was limiting the Club’s transfer activity, this transfer window, and if he was aware of planned protests from fans towards Ren. The club refused to comment. Whatever happens now, questions must be asked of Ren and Trillion Trophy Asia as the club continues to freefall into mediocrity - a shadow of a once successful Premier League, trophy-winning Club.

SPORT

Friday 24th January 2020

@redbricksport

BUCS Sports Club of the Fortnight: Equestrian John Rogers Sport Editor

Equestrianism includes all forms of horseback riding, and has been practiced by humans for over 5,000 years. Horses aruguably lay a greater claim over the title 'mans best friend' than dogs, having been transporting us and our possessions during both peace and war throughout human history. Involving horses in competitive events has a similarly ancient history; Greeks and Romans hitched chariots to thoroughbreds, and raced them up and down the hippodromes of Rome, Athens and Alexandria. The UoB Equestrian club

however, practice more refined sporting techniques along the lines of current Olympic sport: Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing have all been included in the modern Olympics since 1900. Dressage ('training' in French) involves the demonstration of obediance and skill in a horses movement, often set to music. Show Jumping is a timed event, whereby the horse and rider have to navigate a series of obstacles. Eventing is a combination of both, and has a more cross-country element. UoB Equestrian Club recently faced off against West-Midlands rivals Warwick, starting the year superbly with a strong display.

A Note From the Sports Officer: Josh Dooler Sports Officer

The Equestrian club had a brilliant start to the decade with a successful performance against Warwick. There were impressive individual displays from several riders. Finishes of first, second, fourth and eighth helped to secure a fantastic team victory over their West Midlands counterparts, starting the New Year off in great fashion. Looking ahead, the club are hoping to continue their excellent work with fixtures against Gloucestershire and Coventry in the coming weeks. Good luck! UoB Equestrian Club

Elite Young Cyclists Descend on Manchester Elliot Keen Sport Writer

Some of the nation’s strongest upand-coming track cyclists will be descending on the National Cycling Centre in Manchester this weekend for this year’s National Track Championships. Dozens of elite riders – many of whom are already among the Team GB and British Cycling ranks – will be fighting for the red, white and blue striped jerseys in eight different events at the 32nd edition of the championships. Six-time Olympic gold medallist Jason Kenny is just one of many riders signed up to the event who has represented England or Great Britain on an international level. The field predominantly con-

sists of younger riders, such as Bahrain-McLaren’s Fred Wright, who won the Madison alongside fellow Team GB rider Rhys Britton at last year’s edition of the event. Many of the Under-23 riders taking part are also prolific BUCS competitors, with several winners from the BUCS Track Championships in November – such as Loughborough’s Francesca Hall and Emily Capewell, and Imperial’s Yewande Adesida – hoping for glory on the national stage. Other riders looking to retain their titles include Team HUUBWattbike’s John Archibald, who pipped team-mate Dan Bigham to the Individual Pursuit title in 2019, whilst the pair took home the Team Pursuit gold medals dur-

ing the same weekend.

“Dozens of elite riders will be fighting for the red, white and blue striped jerseys” The National Track Championships will be taking place between 24-26 January 2020 at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. Event information can be found on the British Cycling website.

Elliot Keen Several impressive student riders will be competing in Manchester at the three-day event, including the University of Exeter’s Sylvia Misztal (left, in black) and Manchester Met’s Georgia Holt (right, in orange)’

UoB Triathlon Captain Targeting Success Throughout the Club in 2020 Kit Shepard Sport Editor

There are few sports that demand greater endurance, mental toughness and versatility than the triathlon. First comes swimming, which forces almost every muscle in the body to work in perfect unison, all while keeping a relaxed, metronomic breathing pattern. The moment they reach dry land, competitors find themselves in the midst of the gruelling lower-body challenge synonymous with cycling. Finally, using whatever energy remains, a longdistance run (which tests all limbs and lungs, let alone weary ones) is all that stands between them and a sensational achievement. As tough as it sounds, the sport is not reserved for interdisciplinary exercise junkies, something that UoB triathlon captain

Dan Shepherd is keen to emphasise. ‘Everyone's got a weakness and a strength,’ insists Shepherd who was initially drawn to the club for reasons beyond the prospect of sporting prowess. ‘When I first came to the university, the club looked really friendly and everyone seemed to really enjoy doing it.’

“[We] race against other triathletes all across the country” This generous, relaxed atmosphere is something that the club champions. ‘One of our key aspects is that you don't have to commit to anything when you join,’ says Shepherd, as both a development squad and a per-

formance squad are on offer. ‘You could be just a swimmer looking to gain some fitness and just come to our swim sessions, or you could just do our spin sessions that are quite sociable and just chat to people.’ The club can also provide serious competition in abundance. The performance squad ‘do all the BUCS races [duathlon, biathlon, sprint and Olympic-distance triathlon]’, giving them the chance to ‘race against other triathletes all across the country.’ Shepherd describes these competitions as his ‘main focus,’ and he plans to use them to foster some comaraderie throughout the club. ‘It's really nice to get the whole team there and [to create] a really nice team environment.’ Away from BUCS, members will also take part in the British Super series in the upcoming months, with Hannah Hobbs, Jack

Shayler and Roberto Gibson among the ones to watch.

“Your fitness will increase and you'll just have a great time” Margins can be so fine that Shepherd's squad practice quick transitions between the three sports. Challenges include taking a wetsuit off at rapid speed, getting shoes on while cycling to jumping off the bike without stopping. ‘It does sounds like a lot,’ Shepherd concedes, ‘but we do break it down into small individual sections.’ Equally, Shepherd states that the club ‘really does cater for eve-

ryone who wants to join,’ and this belief is exemplified through the opportunity all members have to complete a triathlon. ‘We are going to be entering a few beginner triathlons in March [and] April for our new members that have joined this year, just to get a chance to go to a local one that's not as intense as BUCS.’ For a sport built on variety, it is fitting that triathlon at UoB offers such a wide range of options for members, and whether you prefer to swim, cycle, run, or none of the above, Shepherd believes the benefits the club offers are equally varied. ‘Once you get involved and get a few sessions under your belt, your confidence will increase, your fitness will increase and you’ll just have a great time.’ Further information about Triathlon can be found on the UBSport website.

Instagram/espncricinfo

24.01.2020

SPORT

England in South Africa: Dominant Display Gives Tourists Series Lead Sport writer Owain Pryce recaps England's fantastic third test win in Port Elizabeth Owain Pryce Sport Writer

England begin the final test match of their South Africa tour today, and they know a draw will be enough to secure a series win after they defeated their hosts by an innings and 53 runs in the third test at St George's Park putting them 2-1 ahead with one to play. This comprehensive victory was characterised by impressive displays from England’s young players, with man of the match Ollie Pope (below) hitting his maiden Test hundred, and fellow 22-year-old Dom Bess picking up his first five-wicket haul. Following a dramatic final session in the second test, where England drew level in the series by notching their first test win in Cape Town since 1957, momentum was with the visitors. Keen to capitalise, captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to bat Instagram/bbctms

on a sweltering day in Port Elizabeth. Under new coach Chris Silverwood, England expect the top order to occupy the crease and they did just that, grinding South Africa’s bowling attack into the ground on a slow pitch.

“This was a batting performance that Silverwood had been calling for” It took nearly 65 overs for England’s first four wickets to fall, which meant that when Pope and the formidable Ben Stokes came to the crease, they were facing a tired bowling attack. The pair picked up the scoring rate and finished the day unbeaten, with England marginally on top in the game. On day two, England pressed home their advantage, with Pope and Stokes both scoring centuries. After lower order cameos from Sam Curran and Mark Wood, Root declared with England on 499-9, and Pope unbeaten on 135. This was a batting performance that Silverwood has been calling for, and one that has been scarce for much of Root’s time as captain. It was the first time England had passed 400 batting first since 2018 and, considering five of England’s team were under 25, it augurs very well for the future. South Africa’s first innings started well, with openers Elgar and Malan putting on 50 for the first wicket partnership, but as the day drew to a close spinner Dom Bess grabbed two late wickets. The third day saw the young Bess truly make his mark on this test side. Having played a supporting role in his England career so far, he ripped through the South African top order in the morning session,

finishing the first innings with figures of 5-51. Day four commenced with England’s pace attack ripping through the South African lower order with a new ball, picking up the final four wickets for the addition of just one run. This gave Root the impetus to enforce the follow-on, meaning that South Africa had to go out and bat again, still trailing by 290. The electric Mark Wood rediscovered some of the form that made him a key member of England's World Cup winning side, as he picked up two early wickets, bowling aggressively at over 90mph. Spin then took over again, but from a more unexpected source. No more than a part-timer with the ball, Root picked off the rest of South Africa’s top six, finishing with test best figures of 4-87. The final morning saw Keshav Maharaj and Dane Paterson briefly frustrate England a 99-run stand for the tenth wicket, but the dominant victory was confirmed before lunch, when Sam Curran ran out Maharaj.

“[England] go into Johannesburg today full of confidence” This is a very positive result for both England fans and players, and the team go into Johannesburg today full of confidence, with the possibility of pace bowler Jofra Archer returning from injury. It is often said that young players lack consistency, but with England having won consecutive Tests within a series for the first time since November 2018, it seems that Joe Root’s team have what it takes to buck that trend.

INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK:

Paul Robertshaw

BUCS Page

Instagram/bcfc

Birmingham Woes

Instagram/Olympics

2020 Preview

36-37