Issuu 1488

Friday 1st December 2017

Redbrick Issue 1488, Vol. 82

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'Chav' Complaint Controversy

Redbrick

The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936

Two students who lodged Sports Night complaints to the Guild face viscious backlash Josh Hamilton News Reporter

Erin Santillo News Editor

Two UoB students have been lampooned for criticising one society’s infamous ‘chav’ sports night theme.

The original complaints arose on November 20th, when an undergraduate student posted screenshots of an email sent to the Guild of Students to the Fab’n’Fresh Facebook page. They spoke of her ‘shock and disgust’, branding the theme as a ‘classist cariacature [sic] of working class people’.

A separate UoB alumna, made a similar complaint on November 24th, two days after the event. In an email to the Guild, they also labelled the society’s choice of theme as an ‘appalling display of prejudice against council house residents’. They questioned why the Guild’s Zero Tolerance policy had failed to outlaw the ‘offensive theme’.

Both students faced fierce backlash for their views. The latter was accused of expressing her own prejudices towards the ‘privileged group’ of students allegedly mocking ‘a working class minority’. The student claimed that students should be upset at ‘anyone insulting the working classes’ instead. One student did defend their views, expressing their disbelief as to ‘why the poster is getting so much grief’, agreeing that the theme was ‘classist’.

The former's original post was targeted for their conflation of the working classes with ‘chavs’. One commenter said that the entities ‘are two separate social states’, disputing their right to complain. Others rallied behind this opinion, claiming that the ‘only offensive thing here is you associating people from low income back-

grounds with antisocial behaviour’ – and one other commenter believed that ‘there are bigger problems in the world’.

Redbrick investigated student opinions on campus, which were similar in nature, but far less malicious than those found online.

Jonathan Lench, third year English and Philosophy student, said that the students were exuding a false sense of understanding for, and a need to defend, the rights of supposedly working class people.

Similarly, Lauren Ward, third year Law student, felt baffled by the theme’s backlash. She said, ‘of course you should be allowed to have a ‘chav’ night – why not?

It’s just a bit of fun. Besides, you can dress as loads of things on various theme nights, so why not dress as a chav? I’m all for it’.

In contrast, Georgina Thomas, third year English student, did not agree with the society’s choice of theme. She said, ‘the word “chav” will always have associations with working class, or poorer people. Some may deny these associations completely, but in the wider context, it is clearly there. As a sports night theme, it has never sat comfortably with me, because I know how this kind of language affects people. It derides the working classes, and this derision can have serious consequences, and hold people back.

‘I personally would not have messaged the Guild or put that message on Facebook, but I’m glad someone did, even if just for showcasing those awful comments. It showed how little perspective some people at this university have. They wanted to use a word because they think it’s funny and light-hearted, but when they’re confronted with the consequences, they become offended and start an incredible backlash.

Story Continued on Page 7...

Heated response to 'Fab N Fresh' Facebook posts Elafris Photography

A Student Perspective on the Autumn Budget

News Editor Grace Duncan analyses the impact of Hammond's budget on students: Page 5

Features: Redbrick Music curate their albums of 2017

Film: Multiple views on the new Justice League movie

Travel: Explores three key cities of South-East Asia

Gaming: Rundown their best games of the year

Features page 14

Film page 20

Travel page 30

Gaming page 26

02

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Friday 1st December 2017

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Letter from the committee...

It is hard to believe that the paper you are now holding in your hands is the final edition of 2017.

The year has come and gone in a flash, and it is strange to imagine that we are already halfway through our tenure as your Redbrick committee! In just the last three months, we have seen such notable and high-quality content from each and every person involved, and I am so immensely proud of our entire team of editors and writers.

I feel like a bit of a Redbrick relic writing this. This is my fourth year involved with the newspaper, having almost been too nervous to attend one of the welcome meetings in my first year. Thank goodness I overcame my nerves and walked through those doors.

I was immediately inspired by each editor who came forward to talk about the society, and it did not take long for me to stamp my mark on Redbrick.

I wrote my first few articles for the Music section, eventually becoming an online editor for the section in my second year. However, my goal was always to become part of the committee. Sat in that welcome meeting way back when, I realised that this was what I wanted to do after university. I spent the third year of my degree in Spain, and so was due to miss

the AGM I had been anticipating for so long. However, the application process, sending in a recorded video speech, whilst stressful was completely worth it: here I am, on page 2 of the paper, to tell the tale. I was able to become part of a wonderfully passionate and bright team, and I could not wish for a better group of people to work with.

It would not be the final edition of the year without a heavy focus on Christmas! Our pages this fortnight are full of festivethemed articles, from a guide to cooking Christmas dinner with your flatmates to how to de-stress during December; from our editor-in-chief Will’s guide to black tie to a run down of our favourite albums and games of 2017. However, as one of the three deputy editors on committee, I want to pay a particular thank you to our editorial assistants. These pages have been the product of a lot of hard work from our editors, however you guys join us each and every fortnight to make sure that everything is shipshape and ready to be published. You keep the paper in check and we could not do it without you!

Rounding off the year in true festive style, Redbrick, BurnFM, Linguist, SATNAV, GuildTV and PhotoSoc are teaming up for the

first ever Media Ball! It promises to be a night of celebration and cheer that will continue long into the evening at the second Societies Night of the year. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the end to not only this term, but also to our time so far working away in the dungeons - each and every contributor has well and truly earned themselves a night off.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us here at Redbrick!

From the dungeons, we salute you,

Kirstie Sutherland, Deputy Editor

Correction: The front cover article last edition, about a bicycle rental system for Birmingham, was incorrectly credited to John Wimperis. George Lithgow was the writer of that article. As Print Editor, I would like to apologise for this mistake.

Joe Ryan

Online this week at redbrick.me...

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

FILM

GAMING

TRAVEL

COMMENT

Review: Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Games for Good: Bury Me, My Love

Best of Britain | Plymouth Sound

The HO's Disregard for Individual Cases of Citizenship Post-Brexit

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief William Baxter editor@redbrickonline.co.uk

Deputy Editors Holly Carter Kirstie Sutherland Harry Wilkinson deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk

Print & Features Editor Joe Ryan print@redbrickonline.co.uk

Digital Editor Alex McDonald digital@redbrickonline.co.uk

Lead Developer Tom Galvin developer@redbrickonline.co.uk

Marketing Secretary Kamila Geremek marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk

Social Secretary Laura Burgess social@redbrickonline.co.uk

News Editors Erin Santillo Grace Duncan Phoebe Radford Gregory Robinson Emily Roberts John Wimperis

Music Editors Emily Barker Issy Campbell Luke Charnley Thom Dent music@redbrickonline.co.uk

Travel Editors Iesha Thomas Phoebe WarnefordThomson Olivia Woodington travel@redbrickonline.co.uk

news@redbrickonline.co.uk

Comment Editors Alex Cirant-Taljaard Alex Goodwin Kat Smith

Television Editors Amelia Bacon Matt Dawson Abbie Pease

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tv@redbrickonline.co.uk

Culture Editors Olivia Boyce Hannah Brierley Rebecca Moore Natalie Welch

Gaming Editors Nick Burton Jack Cooper Emma Kent Roshni Patel

culture@redbrickonline.co.uk

Film Editors Patrick Box Emillie Gallagher John James film@redbrickonline.co.uk

Life&Style Editors Maddie Bourne Tara Kergon Nia Roberts Zoe Screti lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sport Editors Alex Alton Olli Meek Leanne Prescott sport@redbrickonline.co.uk

gaming@redbrickonline.co.uk

Food&Drink Editors Caitlin Dickinson Adele Franghiadi food@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sci&Tech Editors Phoebe Glass Katie Jones Emilia Rose tech@redbrickonline.co.uk

Editorial Assistants Tara Kergon Beth Cole Imogen LesterMoseley Olivia Frankel Zak Barlow Melissa Snow Aamina Siddiqi Laura Burgess Ellie Duncan Greg Woodin Alisa Lewis

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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.

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03

BUCU Calls for an MEQ Boycott Erin Santillo News Editor

The University of Birmingham branch of the University and College Union (BUCU) – the recognised trade union for academic and related staff at UoB – has called for all students to boycott the completion of upcoming Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs), claiming that negative student feedback is being used by university management to ‘pursue disciplinary proceedings’ and substantiate ‘threats of dismissal’ against course tutors.

In an open letter to UoB students published on November 22nd, the BUCU allege that, although critical responses from students are ‘made in good faith’, senior officials at the university use ‘selected comments’ from MEQs to justify investigating staff without any formal complaints or the permission of the student who completed the questionnaire. The union believes that this is ‘counterproductive to positive and constructive relationships between staff and students’.

MEQs, many of which have begun to arrive through student email from the start of week ten, are voluntary and formalised endof-term surveys used to gauge elements of modules that students enjoyed or think need improving.

This anonymous constructive criticism is designed to enable convenors to adjust and revise these modules for future students.

"The call for an MEQ boycott is a last resort to put any possible protection for staff in place" However, due to their reported findings, the BUCU has called for all ‘negative text comments which could be interpreted as complaints’ to be channelled through student reps or tutors instead. The union ask for feedback about any individual lecturer to be emailed to the member of staff directly with the subject line, ‘In Confidence and For Your Personal Attention Only’.

They encourage students to complete only the numerical scoring element of the MEQs if they wish to provide feedback through the questionnaire system.

The BUCU maintain that this call ‘is in no way meant to restrict or censor the ability of students to provide feedback which we regard as essential in our continuous development of teaching delivery.

We remain fully devoted to support students to achieve their personal best during their studies and to maintain a positive and constructive relationship between students and staff’.

Speaking to Redbrick, Dr Roland Brandstaetter, the president of the BUCU, said: ‘The call for an MEQ boycott is a last resort to put any possible protection for staff in place while the students can continue to provide feedback via their student reps and staffstudent-committees’.

As the call for a boycott is based on a branch resolution, the union cannot specify how long it will remain active.

A spokesperson for the university has since stated: ‘We really value feedback from students – positive and negative – and would encourage all students to continue to use the range of channels available, including: your representatives on Staff-Student Committees; Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs), and the Student Complaints and Concerns procedure. As students would expect, the University of Birmingham has an obligation to respond to student feedback and address any concerns that are raised. There are clear policies about this which are designed to be fair to everyone involved, and which have been agreed with the Birmingham branch of the University and

College Union (BUCU) – the union that represents academic and related staff. It is concerning, therefore, that BUCU appears to be saying that the University shouldn’t follow up issues reported by students, however serious.

This not only goes against our duty of care and our policies, but is also not an approach that we believe students would support.

"We also want to reassure students that the University has never instigated any disciplinary action against academic staff just based on MEQ responses" ‘MEQ feedback from students is important not only in improving delivery from year to year but also in picking up any omissions or misunderstandings within the module. It is important that students feel confident providing feedback in the knowledge that it will be heard and acted upon

responsibly. We also want to reassure students that the University has never instigated any disciplinary action against academic staff just based on MEQ responses, whether the response is anonymous or named – this is not something we would ever do. This is also the case for anything raised through the Student Complaints and Concerns procedure. Voicing a concern or making a complaint does not automatically result in disciplinary proceedings against a member of staff. The procedure is designed to provide a forum for students to raise any issues and discuss concerns; if the allegations were of a serious nature then of course a separate decision about whether to commence a formal investigation would take place.

‘We would encourage students to continue to have their say and provide feedback through our various channels on teaching and learning, and their wider experience’.

Both the university and the BUCU have highlighted that the correct procedure for formal complaints against university staff is outlined in the Code of Practice for Student Concerns and Complaints, which is available on UoB’s website.

Counselling Online Sign-Ups Suspended Kirstie Sutherland Deputy Editor

UoB’s Counselling and Wellbeing service has temporarily suspended online sign-ups for the rest of term due to overwhelming demand.

Students will be unable to register for counselling sessions at UoB until at least 8th January 2018, the beginning of second semester.

Addressing this via a statement on the University of Birmingham intranet, the service stated this suspension is only ‘temporary’.

However, with the demand being so high, this begs the question as to whether different measures should be put into place to ensure students receive the counselling services they need, particularly in the run up to essay deadlines and exam season in the second and third term of the academic year.

Nevertheless, the counselling service is not completely inaccessible throughout this time frame.

They recommend that students who require help before the start of next semester attend their drop-

in sessions, which are held every Tuesday at 13:30-14:30, Wednesday at 14:30-15:30 and Thursday at 11:30-12:30. These sessions are provided on a first come, first served basis in the Aston Webb Student Hub, and are provided as an opportunity ‘to discuss emotional and personal concerns and find out more about available support’.

Furthermore, they also recommend approaching the relevant Welfare or Wellbeing Tutor, attaching a list of each School’s officers

and their contact details on the university website to arrange meetings, seek recommendations for professional health services and even to sort out extensions for work that you may be struggling with due to unforeseen circumstances.

The website also offers further options to students as alternatives to the service, such as the university-run Nightline service, NHS mental health support services such as Birmingham Healthy Minds and Forward Thinking

Birmingham, as well as phone numbers to call in case of crisis.

When the counselling service is usually up and running, it warns before signing up that students’ registration forms can take several weeks to process, which is frustrating for much of the student body seeking guidance and support. In fact, there seems to be no indication as to whether students with highly serious mental health issues or suicidal tendencies are of higher importance when assigning counsellors.

Academic Challenges Islamophobia Tom Leaman News Reporter

A new study involving the University of Birmingham has been published to challenge the current definition of Islamophobia in an effort to help protect Muslims from discrimination.

‘Islamophobia: Still a Challenge For Us All’ was released in early November by the Runnymede Trust and follows on from their 1997 study on the same issue. One of the 23 academics involved in the production of the article was Birmingham’s Dr Chris Allen, who works in the Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology at the University.

According to the university website, the fundamental aims of

the research are ‘to highlight the Kingdom, with female graduates inadequacies of existing notions of outnumbering men. Moreover, Islamophobia’ and to develop a statistics from the 2011 census better ‘understanding of the impact published by the Muslim Council anti-Muslim hate has’. The focus of Britain show that 24% of the of the report is on the twenMuslim population over ty years since the the age of 16 in the UK Runnymede Trust are university educatreleased their study: ed, but only 20% are ‘Islamophobia: A in full-time Challenge for Us employment, All’, which has compared to 35% been credited of the overall Percentage of with coining the population. adult British term synonymous This suggests with anti-Islamic that Muslims in Muslims with hate.

Britain struggle a degree The researchers more than the rest of the 2017 study of the nation to find found that Muslims work, seemingly face increased difficulty because of their religious in the jobs market despite beliefs. Shockingly, only 29% more Muslims than ever before of Muslim women in 2011 were attending university in the United employed, compared to 50% over-

24%

all, which supports the Runnymede Trust’s findings. As well as discussing issues in the job market, the research investigated gender, health and antiMuslim movements both in the UK and internationally.

Dr Allen’s role in the research was to determine the effect of ‘the shadow of terror atrocities’ on ‘anti-Muslim sentiment’ and the impact this has on Islamic organisations at a community level. His four-page long chapter, entitled ‘The Challenges facing Muslim Communities and Civic Society’, shows how socio-political factors affect the everyday lives of Muslims. He concludes that ‘Muslim communities and civic society groups and organizations have faced an insurmountably difficult task in trying to address Islamophobia in the

two decades since the publication of the original Runnymede report,’ and that ‘Islamophobia remains not only a challenge but indeed a very widespread problem for British society today’.

Because of the study’s findings, a renewed urge to redefine and increase public understanding of Islamophobia has emerged. The suggestions raised to lessen the issue of Islamophobia in the future range from shifting parliamentary focus and starting independent enquiries, to increasing the responsibility of individuals within society to report incidents of Islamophobia to the authorities.

With increased understanding and cooperation in government and in society, it is hoped that another investigation into the harmful consequences of Islamophobia will not be necessary in twenty years’ time.

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Uni Degree Determines Earnings Miki Leigh News Reporter

The course that you decide to study for a higher education qualification could determine what you earn in the future.

Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown how median graduate earnings five years after graduation relate to the subject studied.

Graduates from the 24 Russell Group universities monopolise the higher end of the median earnings distribution. A graduate from a Russell Group university can expect to earn on average £33,500 five years after graduating, which is 40% higher than what a graduate from a non-Russell Group

university can expect to earn.

Graduates from universities such as Oxford and LSE on average earn £40,000 after five years.

Medicine graduates earn an average of £46,700, while those who studied economics can expect average earnings of £40,000. This is double the £20,100 average earnings that creative arts graduates can expect.

Regardless of subject choice or higher education institution, graduates who leave with a degree can expect to have significantly higher earnings.

Over the course of a lifetime, estimates have suggested that women can earn £250,000 more if they have a degree, while the premium for having a degree for men

is £170,000. explained by the fact that female Graduate earnings are an espe- students are more likely to study cially important factor in courses with lower average subject choices for proearnings. spective students from Social backEngland, who can ground is also expect to leave uniresponsible for a versity with debts considerable of over £50,000 earnings gap. on graduating.

There is an averThere is also a age earnings gap Average earning of 20% (£7,000) gender gap in graduate earnings: between rich and 5 years after just one year after poor male stugraduation, males dents, and 16% graduating on average earn (£4,000) for female £1,500 or 8% more students. Rich stuthan females. This gap dents who received the increases to £3,500 or 14% same grade from the same after five years. Only part of this course as a poor student earn 10% gender earnings gap can be more on average.

£33.5k

The poorest areas in England have the lowest university participation rates according to UCAS. Furthermore, research by the Sutton Trust has revealed the scale of inequality of access to higher education institutions.

While the top universities are dominated by students from higher income social backgrounds, students who received free school meals are significantly underrepresented. In addition to this, recent research by Dr Aaron Reeves and Dr Sam Friedman has found that public school boys are 94 times more likely to enter elite professions than those who did not attend public school.

Gears in Motion for Robotics Centre Josh Hamilton News Reporter

Forty-two million pounds has been secured to fund the National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR).

The investment, obtained by the University of Birmingham and seven other universities, is in a move to develop more sophisticated robots and artificial intelligence (AI). This is to keep up with the growing number of challenges posed by a steadily-increasing number of nuclear environments and materials.

A vast majority of the 4.9 million tonnes of nuclear waste produced by the UK must be handled and removed by robots. At present, all of the necessary robotics have still yet to be made. There is a vast amount of research left to complete in this field.

The NCNR aims to rectify this problem. It is hoped that, with a greater reliance on robotics, the field will advance at a greater rate, the process by which nuclear products will be handled safer and the entire procedure cheaper, sav-

ing the UK vast amounts of money in the long-term. This has all led to the UK being established as an international leader in AI research and practical solutions.

"Our ambition is to permanently establish the UK as a world leading centre of excellence for nuclear robotics" Professor Stolkin, NCNR Director, said, ‘The University of Birmingham, our academic and industrial collaborators, and our international partners are delighted to receive this funding. We very much regard this as a beginning – our ambition is to permanently establish the UK as a world leading centre of excellence for nuclear robotics’.

The UK has already been established as an international leader in this field, and the NCNR is hoped to boost this reputation even further.

For students, the NCNR initiative has helped create a new degree. The University of Birmingham will invite undergraduates onto their BEng Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering course in September 2018. The programme is hoping to combine a number of different subject areas – namely machine learning, data mining and augmented reality, among others. The new degree also comes as a response to the essentialism of technology in our lives, as the university believes that the use of satellites, phones and digital networks have become integrated into the mod-

ern world.

Redbrick investigated student opinions regarding these developments.

Alex Hunt, second year Chemistry student, said ‘science can never have too much funding.

I think that this new development will be beneficial to the all STEM subjects because it's a pioneering field. Hopefully, that means it will bring in even more funding for other science subjects.

‘I don't think I would have been interested in studying that subject, though. It's very niche – really specific – so not something most science students would be that interested in paying nine grand a year for.

You could argue that maybe other areas should receive more fund-

ing, but you'd get that from any department. Everyone could always do with more money’.

Niamh Coffey, third year History student, said, ‘I think that it's brilliant that UoB are helping to secure funding for a project like this. For science students, it's an amazing opportunity. As a humanities student myself, I don't think my department will ever be granted that type of funding, which is sad, but at the same time I recognise that's because we don't necessarily need as much money in terms of furthering our study.

‘If I had been as enthusiastic about science as I am about History, I definitely would have considered this new course!’

The NCNR initiative has been co-funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, research institutions, industrial collaborators, and investment partners, and come as part of the government's Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, which aims to provide £93 million of funding to the robotics sector.

News Analysis: MFL: Flourish or Flounder in a Post-Brexit Britain?

Florence Jones News Reporter

A report recently released by the British Academy outlines the pressures the Higher Education sector is set to face after the UK has left the EU. In the West Midlands almost half of all academic teaching staff are EU Nationals, one of the highest rates in the UK, meaning that Birmingham universities will be amongst the worst affected by the Brexit deal.

According to the British academy ‘the ability to sustain the presence of European scholars at UK universities is essential for our future excellence in the humanities and social sciences’. However, the question of whether EU aca-

demics will choose to stay in the EU post-Brexit remains unclear.

It is predicted that students studying Economics and Modern Languages will be the worst affected by the Brexit changes with 36% of economists and 35% of modern language academics coming from countries in the EU. The potential decline of language learning at university is of particular concern as it reflects a much larger national trend. With only a third of British people currently being able to speak a foreign language, Vicky Gough, a school advisor at the British council, argues that the requirement for language learners is higher than ever if Britain is to become a global player in a post-Brexit context.

However, statistics are instead

showing an increased lack of interest with a 7% decrease in the number of students learning a language at GCSE level and a 1% decrease at A-level in the past year.

The TES teaching magazine warns that the current governmental focus on the EBacc could aggravate the fall in language learners as languages are left on the sidelines as a result of the narrowing of the secondary school curriculum.

The importance of being able to speak more than one language is repeatedly overlooked in the UK, with many people taking the view that 'everyone speaks English anyway', however, in 2014 official figures revealed that English was no longer the first language for the

majority of pupils in one in every nine schools. For such a multicultural nation, many academics are left confused by the apparent lack of interest in learning a new language.

"The ability to sustain the presence of European scholars at UK universities is essential for our future excellence" Some have suggested that the problem lies in the GCSE and

A-level curricula which are putting young people off learning a language; research conducted for the Guardian and British Academy by the polling organisation ICM shows that 24% of students studying a language at school did not believe that what they were being taught is useful in real life, and 32% of students who chose not to study a language did so because they found other subjects more interesting.

At the moment, it seems that despite the desperate need for language learners from May 2019 onwards, the situation for Modern Languages in Britain is set to get worse.

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05

How Will the Budget Affect Students?

News Editor, Grace Duncan, analyses what changes students can expect to see for them following the Autumn Budget means Grace Duncan

make very little difference for those who have already got the money for a deposit and therefore more measures still need to be put in place to help first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder.

News Editor @gracieellen_

Last week Philip Hammond released his Autumn Budget which has left some declaring that it is unrealistic and others hailing it as the start of some impressive change, especially in terms of the environment. Environmental laws include the so-called ‘blue planet’ tax to prevent further plastic pollution in our oceans and a tax hike on new diesel cars, the money from which goes towards a new £220 million ‘Clean Air Fund’.

However, how does the Autumn Budget affect students?

What does it mean for those who are set to graduate this year?

The top story for most of the national newspapers Nonetheless, has been a focus on the Hammond laid out abolition of stamp plans to build duty for most first300,000 homes time buyers on the per year on averfirst £300,000 on age by 2020 as it any home that is ‘the only suscosts up to tainable way of £500,000. While making housing New Railcard to in London this more affordable be trialled next in the long term could save firsttime buyers £5,000, is to build more year in places like the homes in the right north east of England places’.

With a they will only be saving focus on urban areas, around £100. This change to even if the plans are housing has been met with comdeemed unachievable, the aim plaints stating that it will actually to create hubs outside of London

"The only sustainable way of making housing more affordable in the long term is to build more homes in the right places"

26-30

is one that has received support.

Another big thing that you may have read about already is the new 26-30 Railcard which acts as an extension of the popular student railcard for 16-25 year olds.

While this was revealed last month, full details were released in the budget announcement. Like the 16-25 railcard, the 26-30 one will offer similar deals reducing train tickets by a third. This still has to pass its trial in December so don’t book too many train tickets just yet! This has also been met by criticism that it is too small a way of remedying a larger problem with our train network. An English commuter journey can cost up to 14% of the salary, while in France a journey of the same distance only represents 2% according to a survey carried out earlier this year.

"Tax on beer, spirits, wine and ciders will be frozen" One thing that will be met with support from most students is the continuation of the freeze on alcohol duty, although an increase in tobacco tax may not be met with as much appreciation. The price of cigarettes is to go up by 2% plus inflation, and if you think you can

avoid it because you roll your own, this is not the case with hand-rolling tobacco also having an increased tax of 1% plus inflation. However, tax on beer, spirits, wine and ciders will be frozen for another year.

"One can only hope that the steps taken in the budget will lead to further changes" The government is also taking action to curb unintended student loan repayments. Many graduates have found that they are overpaying on their student loan without realising, years after they have completed their degree.

Although this does not seem like the major issue with student loans for students, the government has set measures in place with both the Student Loans Company and HM Revenue and Customs updating their process by April 2019 so that they are more efficient in sharing data about repayments, which will hopefully save you money and effort trying to get the money back in the first place.

In terms of wages, the government has started to make improvements to national and minimum wages although again

many have argued that they are still not doing enough. The national living wage for over 25s will increase by 33p to £7.83. Statutory rates for 21 to 24-year-olds will go up by the same amount to £7.38, by 30p for 18 to 20-year-olds to £5.90 and 15p to £4.20 for 16 and 17-year-olds. However, apprentices will not be receiving as much of a pay rise with their minimum wage rising by 20p to £3.70.

Despite these changes to the living and minimum wages, they still fall short of the ‘real’ living wage of £10.20 an hour in London and £8.75 an hour in the rest of the country.

The increase is set to come in by next April although it seems that it will not make a huge amount of difference to those on the lowest wages. For those expecting to graduate this year, you will benefit from the new national wages, however, you may still find that you are a little short of money especially if you are living in the capital.

Over the next few months it will become apparent how effective these policies are especially when it comes to the effect that Brexit will have. One can only hope that the steps taken in the budget will lead to further changes, as graduation and having to go into the real world moves closer and closer for UoB students.

Chatham House

£8,100 Recommended for Students Thom Dent Music Editor @thomdent

An independent review of student finance, published by the Scottish Government earlier this week, has recommended a minimum student income of £8,100 for both further and higher education. The 12-month report, which surveyed students from across Scotland’s universities, concluded that better financial support ‘would encourage students from all backgrounds’ to enter university and college education, ‘with confidence and clarity about their entitlement to

funding.’

"A minimum student income is an essential step forward in delivering fairness" Although, The Student Awards Agency For Scotland has been funding tuition for what it classifies as ‘Young Students’ since the abolition of Scottish graduate

endowments in 2007, the crippling effect of rising student living and accommodation costs across Britain, as well as the UK Government’s recent abolition of maintenance grants for favour of loans, has had an impact on universitygoers from all over the country.

Regarding the repayment of student loans, the review suggests that loans are charged at a rate of 1% over the Bank of England base rate. By comparison,

the current interest rate on Scottish student loans is 1.25% - while in England, rates fluctuate from 3-6% depending on individual / family earnings.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money and chair of the review, has stated that ‘the establishment of a minimum student income is an essential step forward in delivering fairness, and helping to ensure that money is no longer a reason

for dropping out of courses.’

She added, 'they would ensure that further and higher education are valued equally - with entitlement to support for students across both sectors. And in return, more students from diverse backgrounds will have the chance to become successful graduates, for the social and economic good of Scotland.'

The Scottish National Party says it will take time to consider and address the recommendations laid out in Gadhia’s review ‘in due course.’

The UK Government are yet to comment.

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NEWS

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricknews

Rainbow Venues License Revoked Phoebe Radford News Editor

The Rainbow Venues have had their license for the Warehouse, Blackbox, and Roof Terrace premises revoked.

The license had been suspended since 2nd November following the death of Michael Trueman, a 19-year-old student, who was believed to have taken MDMA at a Halloween event.

The Birmingham Mail reported that the license hearing review was supposed to have taken place on Friday 24 November, but was postponed until Tuesday 28 November after a witness contacted West Midlands Police claiming to have snapchat footage showing a minor at the Rainbow Venues.

A statement submitted to the review committee said: ‘Following the review hearing and coverage in the Birmingham Mail, West Midlands Police have been contacted by a person claiming that a 15-year-old male was in the premises and appeared to be under the influence of a controlled sub-

stance.’

The Police statement added that they were investigating to try and establish the identity of the person in the snapchat video.

A third-year University of Birmingham (UoB) student felt that there was little Rainbow could do to stop underage individuals from gaining entry.

ers can’t turn them away.’

Rainbow’s license had been previously suspended and reinstated with strict new measures, including undercover security and sniffer dogs, following the ecstasy-related death of Dylan Wood, 18, at a New Year’s eve event in 2015. Management have maintained that there were ‘no breach of conditions that contributed to this tragic event.’

However, police have highlighted that even with these measures, drug abuse on the premises had resulted in another death.

‘We have had two deaths in two years and this premises have the most stringent drug controls in the city. We are not aware of any other drug-related death in a licensed Birmingham premises in the last 12 months.’

Rainbow have now had their license revoked by a licensing sub-committee. A full document

on the decision to revoke is set to be released later.

Events planned at the venues had already been subject to cancellation or postponement.

Cirque du Soul, planned for 8th December, had been postponed with organisers saying they remained ‘confident that their license will ultimately be reinstated.’ What exactly will happen to upcoming events remains unclear.

Refunds are being organised for those with tickets to Cirque du Soul.

Sam, a third year University of Birmingham student said it was a ‘shame' that Rainbow had lost their licence, but ‘I’m sure the events which they used to host will just be in different venues.’

‘Hopefully something will get sorted soon and the club will reopen with all the necessary changes made.’

Rainbow have 21 days to appeal the decision.

21 days to appeal

The Rainbow Venues have disputed the claim.

‘The premises license holder does not accept this individual has been in the Rainbow Live Music Venue on October 29. We have yet to see the Snapchat video, but we do not believe this was at the Rainbow Live Music Venue.’

‘You’re always going to get underage kids trying to sneak into clubs, whether that’s at Rainbow or anywhere else.’

Another third-year UoB student added ‘people will lend underage friends their ID, and if someone presents a valid ID that looks relatively like them, bounc-

Oxford, Cambridge and 100+ US Unis Implicated by Paradise Papers Branwen Onono News Reporter

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as ‘more than 100’ American universities, possess offshore interests on which they pay minimal tax, the Guardian has reported.

"The Paradise Papers also revealed that University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge [...] also invested millions abroad" This revelation was made by the Paradise Papers, a worldwide investigation that has revealed financial undertakings of large multinational companies (MNCs) as well as high profile individuals.

Stanford University, a member of the Ivy League, was named in the files. On its website, Stanford identifies itself as a ‘$5.9 billion enterprise.’

Investment in offshore developments allows institutions like Stanford to grow their, already immense, wealth in a clandestine way. Although the majority of American colleges and universities are exempt from tax under US Federal law, the offshore funds

invested in are not necessarily free in this way.

Offshore investments are not a practice simply limited to US universities. The Paradise Papers also revealed that the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, in addition to nearly half of all their individual colleges, also invested millions abroad. The Guardian reported that ‘tens of millions of pounds’ were covertly invested offshore.

Prem Sikka, emeritus professor in accounting at the University of Essex, told the Guardian that ‘all the Caymans offer is secrecy and tax avoidance.’ The universities used ‘blocker’ corporations to facilitate the movement of money.

These allowed them to invest in hedge funds while avoiding paying US taxes on trade or business income.

The practices by American and British institutions are revealing.

In both cases, investments were made in companies whose actions appear to contradict their ‘values’.

Northeastern University’s website states that the institution is ‘committed to research and education in Sustainability as one of the university’s main strategic and programmatic pillars,’ and goes on to list research into areas such as climate extremes, manufacturing, coastal sustainability, and energy sustainability.

Northeastern University was also found to be investing the ‘Energy Capital Fund IX-C’, a Cayman Islands based hedge fund which feeds into a subsidiary of the private equity company, EnCap Investments. EnCap Investments describes itself as ‘the leading provider of venture capital to the independent sector of the U.S. oil

and gas industry’ and claims to have ‘successfully invested with more than 240 upstream and midstream oil and gas companies.’

Northeastern’s involvement with EnCap Investments seems directly opposed to their ‘pillar’ of sustainability.

The revelations made by the Paradise Papers show how easily

institutions can obscure their financial dealings.

A second year Geography student told Redbrick that the largescale nature of the investments made them worry. ‘You cannot be sure what universities are doing with the money you pay, it's slightly creepy how they can say one thing and turn around and support

the direct opposite.’ A first year law student stated, ‘I think the priority of any educational institution should be their students and community, investing offshore leaves students unaware, and the community disadvantaged.’

NEWS

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricknews

07

Pug Cafe Opens its Paws in 2018 Sophie Woodley News Reporter

On Sunday 7th January 2018, a pop up Pug Cafe will be coming to Birmingham. The founders of the Pug Cafe have joined with ‘Kanteen’ in Digbeth, which will host the greatly anticipated meetup. The event was inspired by PugFest, which occurred earlier in 2017, and is the ‘popular celebration of all things pugs’. Founder Anushka was greatly inspired by this event, and began to organise local pug meet ups throughout the country in May, beginning in Guildford. Since then, the meet ups have become a growing sensa-

tion for all pug lovers.

This event has proven to be a unique way for not only owners to meet new people, but also for pugs to improve their social skills through interacting with other dogs - something many dog owners find important.

In order to attend, pugs must meet a certain criteria; they must have up to date vaccinations, good behaviour, and good health, showing no symptoms of illness.

From pastries and paninis to ‘pupcakes’ and ‘dognuts’, there is plenty to enjoy for both owner and pug. All food for the pugs is provided by ‘The Doggy Bakery’, and every pug attending will receive a free ‘puguccino’ on

arrival.

ing about!’. Furthermore, founder of the aforementioned ‘PugFest’, Martin Clowes, wants to bring the festival of all-thingspug to

Founders have stated that ‘Pug Cafe is the event everyone is talk-

Birmingham, as it has been held at Witton’s Pavilion for the past

two years.

The cafe is predominantly open for owners, with an entry price of £7.50. However, pug-lovers in general are also able to attend, but limited spaces are available at a rate of £15. A proportion of this fee is donated to the ‘French and Pug Dog Foundation’, which helps rescue and re-home sick, injured, and mistreated pugs and French Bulldogs. For more information, visit facebook.com/ pugcafeuk/notes or visit their website at https://pugcafe.co.uk/.

Bookings open on Tuesday 5th December.

Runaway Bull Shot after Rampage Melissa Veitch News Reporter

An escaped young bull was shot dead by police after running rampant into a primary school playground.

‘Monk’ the runaway bull was first sighted on the loose at 7.20am scampering down Monkspath Hall Road, where officers were immediately called. There were also

reported sightings at Shirley town centre and Paul Lowe Dentistry.

The bull reportedly jumped a fence into the playground Monkspath Junior and Infant School, where students were hurriedly moved to the main hall. A Solihull Council spokesman confirmed the bull had entered the school grounds but assured people ‘the police were present the whole time and the children remained safely inside. At no time were any

"We made every effort this morning to try and bring this to a happy conclusion but we had to put the public first"

pupils or staff in danger’.

The bull evaded capture from police within the school grounds and headed towards the M42, where it was surrounded by armed police. It was then shot dead by a police marksman due to the ‘increased danger to the public’.

The decision has prompted anger from residents, many questioning why a tranquiliser could not have been used instead instead.

One person asked, ‘Why has it

been shot surely a vet could have sedated it?’

Chief Inspector Kerry Blakeman, force incident manager, said: ‘We made every effort this morning to try and bring this to a happy conclusion but we had to put the public first and sadly the bullock had to be shot by a police marksman’.

‘Thanks to all the local residents for their understanding’.

Backlash Over Sports Night Theme Continued from front page.

‘There are loads of other themes for sports night. I’m not saying that the chav theme should be prohibited, but get more creative, maybe. It’s a little overdone now anyway, isn’t it?’

Another third year English student, who chose to remain anonymous, said ‘I see where the poster is coming from, and if something makes you uncomfortable then she should absolutely have sent the email. But putting it on the Fab’n’Fresh page was asking for trouble. Clearly no one was will-

"That being said, whether she’s right or wrong, there’s no excuse for how some people reacted. If they disagreed, fair enough – but some of the comments were foul" ing to take it seriously, so Facebook was not the place to discuss it.

‘That being said, whether she’s right or wrong, there’s no excuse for how some people reacted. If

they disagreed, fair enough – but some of the comments were foul’.

Commenting on the student’s alleged misinformed dualism of chav with the working class, the anonymous student said, ‘I know “chav” has issues around it, but sports night does have other themes in a similar vein and it’s meant to be a joke.

What about the sexism or ho/slut costumes, or the creepiness of sexy baby costumes, or the religious insensitivity of sexy nuns and vicars?

‘It shouldn’t matter if it’s done as a joke and without malice. It doesn’t mean anything – it’s just a stock costume choice. You’re not saying anything profound about the thing you’re imitating, because these things don’t really exist.

Essentially, you’re dressing up as fictional characters’.

Sarah Horton, third year English and History student, also commented on the student’s dualism. She said, ‘for me, “chav” is associated with secondary school girls with hoop earrings, and guys in tracksuit bottoms – which are two sizes too big, and drooping down to show their underwear.

‘Clothes are just clothes.

Unlike wearing a Nazi uniform or culturally misappropriating out-

fits, “chav”, for me, just signifies a type of clothing. Perhaps it’s because a lot of my friends might have been called “chavs”. They still went onto university, have jobs, wear suits for meetings, and then wear tracksuit bottoms at home’.

Horton also said that ‘what [the student] stated wasn’t entirely wrong, but her argument was poorly written. She implied that chavs were intellectually inferior, and made the image synonymous with the working class. That was a big mistake’.

In a reply to the complainant, the Guild distanced themselves from the society, stating that they had no ‘direct involvement’ with themes chosen by anyone, and that the student union is not notified of any choices in advance of the night. They did promise, however, to review any complaints in accordance with its Zero Tolerance policy.

Ellie Keiller, Guild President, confirmed this response, adding that they would ‘absolutely look into this complaint’. She reiterated that, if breached, the Zero Tolerance policy ‘prevents people from entering the building’.

This is not the first appearance of the controversial theme, how-

ever, as the Guild ran a 'Chav n Fresh' night in 2005, advertised as 'a celebration of chav culture 'in it!' The event-wide dresscode was 'burberry & bling fancy dress' and the featured musicians were British R&B artists 'Javine' in the Underground and 'The Big Brovaz' in the Deb Hall.

"The Guild ran a 'Chav N Fresh' night in 2005, advertised as 'a celebration of chav culture'"

Advertised in Redbrick 1269 with the usual £5 ticket price (see below), this end-of-term party at the Guild encountered little backlash, despite being the overarching event theme.

In response to this twelve-yearold advert, one UoB student who wished to remain anonymous said to Redbrick this week: 'perhaps back then the term "chav" was less offensive, but now it really resonates as a vicious insult directed at people of a lower social class times have changed'.

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Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricknews

Homeless Solutions in Birmingham Megan Attard

back in order”’.

Following the encounter, James moved to Manchester and began to help at the homeless A former millionaire, who ended charity Barnabus. With the help of up sleeping on the streets, is set to the charity, he began to get his life open a new homeless centre in back on track, and after 14 years Digbeth this month. decided to start his own charity.

Rik James, a former businessIn 2010, James funded the man who went from owning a Birmingham Homeless Outreach, million-pound mobile phone com- where with several other volunpany to sleeping on the streets of teers he moved around the city of Liverpool, has decided to open Birmingham providing the homethe centre, which will provide less with food, clothing and sleepmeals, showers and support for ing bags. However, as levels of the homeless people of homelessness continued to Birmingham. increase throughout the city, Whilst sleeping on he felt the homeless the banks of the River community needed Mersey in Liverpool more permanent after his career and support. marriage fell The centre, apart, James had which is due to an encounter open next month, with what he is located on Currently deemed his Barford Street, sleeping rough guardian angel.

Digbeth. Along He told with a team of in Birmingham Birmingham volunteers, includMail,‘I was on this ing homeless men pier by the Mersey and women, James and I saw this man with has teamed up with a long white beard, there Langar Aid, a Sikh charity, was no one else around for miles, to convert the building into a and he appeared in front of me. community space. The centre will You might not believe me, but I’m provide visitors with food and sure it was my guardian angel showers, along with advice, workwho came and spoke to me. He shops and counselling to help get said, “Stand up, and get your life people off the streets. James’ aim News Reporter

12,000

for the community centre is to provide help to others in similar situations to him, adding how ‘it’s not supposed to be a hand-out but a hand-up’.

"Birmingham City Council need to find over 3,500 places a year for homeless people" Birmingham currently has more than 12,000 people sleeping rough on the streets or in temporary accommodation, making it the fourth worst place in the UK for homelessness. Birmingham City Council have come under scrutiny to find places to accommodate for people with no roof over their heads, as increasing amounts of women and children are affected by this issue.

In response to the increasing rates, a Department for Communities and Local Government spokesperson told ITV News, ‘We’re investing £950 million by 2020 to support these efforts, and bringing in the Homelessness Reduction Act. This requires councils to provide

early support to people at risk of being left without nowhere to go’.

The Barry Jackson tower, a 20-storey building in Aston, which was due to be knocked down, has since been the proposed site for sheltered apartments for the homeless to help target Birmingham’s growing problem.

The council decided that instead of demolishing the block, £11 million will be invested so that 160 new flats could be restored for those in crisis.

Not only will this help to get people off the streets, but it will cut the city’s spending on bed and breakfast bills, which reached just under £4 million in 2016.

However, residents of Aston have opposed the council’s plans, with over 400 residents signing a petition for the building to be knocked down as planned.

Residents rejected the proposal as they believe introducing a building for the homeless will be too much strain on the community.

Aston already has 19 hostels which cater for ex-offenders and recovering drug addicts.

Councillor for Aston, Ziaul Islam, spoke to the council on behalf of the residents, saying the ‘Barry Jackson tower should be demolished as originally planned and social housing built in the area. This project should be moved to another part of the city where there are less hostels’.

The area in which the tower is situated has frequently been stigmatised for drug abuse and gun crime, and therefore residents feel that keeping the building will not help with improving the area’s reputation.

However, Birmingham City Council need to find over 3,500 places a year for homeless people, and believe that by restoring the tower they could not only provide a more permanent, long-term solution for the homeless than bed and breakfast hotels, and save £1.9 million a year in spending.

The council proposed the change in plans without consulting the local residents, and are yet to respond to the petition.

Do you have opinions on this article? Tell them to us: @redbrickpaper

News in a Nutshell...

News Editor Phoebe Radford summarises this fortnight's big stories

Zimbabwe in Crisis Robert Mugabe resigned as President of Zimbabwe after 37 years in power following a military takeover.

The crisis began on 14 November when the military took control, apparently in response to the sacking of VicePresident Emmerson Mnangagwa. The ousting of Mnangagwa was widely perceived to be a political maneuver to clear the way for Mugabe’s wife, Grace Mugabe, to succeed him as President.

On 19 November, a defiant Robert Mugabe delivered a televised speech. He ignored the fact that his party, the ZANUPF, had sacked him and claimed he would preside over the upcoming party conference. He then ignored a deadline to resign by noon the following day, and proceedings to impeach him were set in motion on the basis that he ‘allowed his wife to usurp constitutional power’.

Mugabe finally resigned on 21 November, as announced by the Speaker of Parliament in a session convened to impeach the President.

Mugabe led Zimbabwe since the end of white minority rule. Some saw him as a hero who freed Zimbabwe from colonialism, whereas others have accused him of being a tyrant, responsible for human rights abuses, corruption, and the failing economy.

Missing Submarine A submarine that last made contact with Argentine naval authorities on 15 November is feared lost.

The ARA San Juan, with 44 crew members, was returning from a routine mission when it reported faults. The submarine reportedly surfaced and then contacted to say the problem was fixed, with the submarine continuing on its course. No further contact was made with the submarine, which disappeared 270 miles off the Argentine coast.

A search and rescue mission has so far failed to find any trace of the submarine. Chances of survival were diminished a week after the disappearance, as oxygen supplies on board were sufficient for only seven days.

Hopes faded again when an Austrian Comprehensive NuclearTest-Ban Treaty Organization said that an ‘abnormal, singular, short, violent, non-nuclear event’ was documented in the South Atlantic.

The US corroborated this report, saying a ‘hydro-acoustic anomaly’ was recorded just hours

after the submarine went missing, close to its last known location.

Although the exact fate of the submarine is currently unknown, there have been criticisms concerning the age of the ARA San Juan, which was 34 years old.

Some have also suggested that the submarine was in a state of disrepair. A navy spokesman said the whole operating system had been checked two days before setting sail.

Collapse of German Coalition Talks Following federal elections that took place at the end of September, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has been trying to establish a coalition, but talks have collapsed.

Germany uses a complex electoral system of proportional representation, mixed with elements of first-past-the-post. This results in no overall party in power, meaning that coalitions are necessary to form a government.

Angela Merkel won four more years as Chancellor in the elections this year, but it was her party’s worst performance since 1949. For the first time since the 1950s, there are six parties in the Bundestag.

Merkel aimed to create a coalition between her party, the Christian Democrat Union (CDU), its sister party, the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), the liberal Free Democrats (FDP),

and the Green Party. However, on 20 November, the FDP walked out of negotiations. If the CDU, CSU and Greens entered a coalition, they would be 42 seats short of a majority.

The FDP quit talks over disagreements on migration and energy, saying that there was ‘no basis of trust’ between the parties.

The Social Democrats (SPD) had initially refused to hold discussions with the conservative CDU/CSU, but they have now agreed to meet on 30th November.

It is uncertain whether this will result in a coalition, as the parties disagree on key issues such as housing, healthcare, and migrants.

The SPD had governed in a coalition with Merkel from 20132017, but swore to move into the opposition after poor election results in September.

If talks fail to produce a coalition, another election could be called, but polls suggest a new vote would produce similar results but could benefit the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Terror Attack in Egypt A terror attack at a mosque in the Sinai region of Egypt during Friday prayers claimed the lives of at least 305 people, including 27 children.

More than 100 people were wounded.

A bomb exploded before an estimated 25-30 militants opened fire on worshippers.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but investigators have said the attackers were carrying Islamic State flags. The Sinai Peninsula is a desert region that has been plagued by Islamist insurgency for years. Egyptian security forces have been fighting militants in the region, and responded to the attack on Al-Rawda mosque by conducting air strikes on terrorist targets.

Prince Harry to Marry Prince Harry is engaged to the American actress Meghan Markle, best known for her role in the television series Suits.

The couple met on a blind date and have been dating since summer 2016. They plan to marry in spring 2018.

The engagement ring features two diamonds that belonged to Harry’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

In November 2016, Prince Harry first confirmed his relationship with Ms Markle in a statement attacking media ‘abuse and harassment’, noting racial tones in commentary.

However, many are now celebrating the fact that a member of the royal family is marrying someone of mixed race heritage, saying it reflects modern Britain.

COMMENT

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickcomment

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The Great Divide at UoB Jadzia Samuel explores the undeniable class divide at university Jadzia Samuel Comment Writer

Growing up as the ‘Bursary Kid’ in a private secondary school, I have been painfully aware of class divisions from a young age.

Despite my obvious social privilege of having a stable roof over my head and two university graduate parents, the contrast between my lifestyle and that of my peers was stark: their Jack Wills hoodies, glamorous summer holiday destinations, and ability to fork out for school trips were, for me, utterly unattainable.

But regardless of these discrepancies, the fact is that I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to study in a good private school and the option of university was never even questioned.

I anticipated finding there a wider variety of people than those I had met at school; I had been told that nowadays things had changed and universities were no longer full of the stereotyped rich, middle-class kids.

The first indicator that this wasn’t quite accurate was when I received my accommodation offer from Tennis Courts in the June before coming to university. I was away from home when I received the congratulatory email. The obvious excitement I had felt initially, soon vanished upon reaching the bottom of the email, which stated that I now had four days to pay a pre-pay-

ment of £600 or else I would lose my place.

"Even though I worked full-time during the whole summer, my income was barely enough to cover the expense" After a panicked phone call to my mum from miles away, she was fortunately able scrape together enough to lend me the money. However, if I were to have been less privileged, without parents who were financially able (or willing) to help me out, where was I expected to find over half a grand in four days? I know that I was not the only student thrust into a difficult situation by this, and if that doesn’t speak for the obvious expectation for well-off students, I don’t know what does.

Tennis Courts is one of the more affordable accommodations available for first year students, yet in the group of seventeen wonderful friends I made, I soon discovered that no less than four of us had come from private schools, and all, bar one other than me, were in receipt of the lowest student loan and therefore from very high-income families.

An independent article from 2016 quoted that in Russell Group universities, an astonishing 26% of student recruits were from private schools, despite the fact that, according to the ISC, they only make up for 6.5% of the educated population. The wealth disparities, of which I was so aware in secondary school, were equally prevalent here. Despite there being an evident majority of middle class students with well-off parents, by no means do they make up the entirety of the university population. To me, it seems that the University needs to update the backward assumption that students are able to pay large sums of money on such short notice; it is time for an update in accommodation policy, which caters to students from all financial backgrounds.

It is not only the fault of insensitive university admin policies; I encountered yet another shocking financial demand over the summer this year, when I had to fork out nearly £1000 in rent to pay for my student house (which I did not occupy). Even though I worked full-time during the whole summer, my income was barely enough to cover the expense, but again I was lucky enough to have been able to borrow this money. The issue of paying rent over the summer is extremely problematic for numerous students, whose parents cannot pay, and who are often unable borrow the money,

meaning that they end up hun- ilies. The word 'chav' has disdreds of pounds into their over- tinct associations of class (fredraft before term even begins. quently being acronymised to Yet again, this financial demand Council-Housed-And-Violent), adheres to the expectation that and one UoB student declared students come from wealthy that by turning class into a cosenough families to be able to tume, it made her ‘feel unwelafford their child’s rent with come.’ She argued that ‘the very ease. At many other universities, people [who are being made fun student housing is available for of are the ones that I have grown nine-month contracts – signifi- up around and have as friends cantly decreasing students’ and family.’ And despite the traexpenses. There needs to be a dition of tongue-in-cheek universal policy on this matter, humour of Sports’ Night, this to attempt to regulate student costume does show a degree of expenditure on housing across insensitivity towards the stuthe country, because any student dents who perhaps already feel from a truly underprivileged ostracised by the blatantly midbackground would be dle-class majority. put off of the Birmingham is one Birmingham area of the best Russell wholescale due Group universities to the extreme for accepting stufinancial dents from lowstrains. income backIt is not grounds, yet Of undergraduates only finaneven here the cially that class gap is considered leaving there is an overwhelmingtheir course due to overwhelmly obvious. The financial difficulties ing assumpfinancial expection that unitations of students (NUS 2017) versity students (before even concome from more sidering factors such middle-class backas the expenses of joingrounds. Socially, there ing social groups, such as appears to be a lack of sensitiv- sports’ teams) clearly display a ity towards students from work- university culture which favours ing-class families. A recent students from wealthier backSports’ Night theme of ‘chavs’ grounds. And the lack of social caused quite a reaction from sensitivity shown with the latest many students who felt that this Sports’ Night theme again sugpotentially distasteful ‘costume’ gests the middle-class social was classist and derogatory bubble which seems to encapsutowards their lower income fam- late university life.

39%

#FreeCyntoiaBrown: The Positive Power of Social Media Kat Smith argues that celebrities should use their platform for good Kat Smith

Comment Editor

On Thursday afternoon, I opened my Twitter feed in one of many moments of procrastination from my essay.

The hashtag ‘#FreeCyntoiaBrown’ was the first thing I saw. Turning to Google, the results page after searching ‘Cyntoia Brown’ was flooded with stories from most major news platforms explaining the case and the social media response.

"If social media was as prominent back in 2004, there would be no way of this being swept under the carpet"

So, who is Cyntoia Brown?

She was once a child who endured relentless physical, sexual and emotional abuse as a victim of trafficking. At 16-years-old, she had the courage to shoot and kill the 43-yearold estate agent who picked her up for sex. Cyntoia Brown’s life sentence for murder as a result means she’ll be first eligible for parole when she’s 69.

But how is this only just coming out now, when her conviction happened in 2004? The 2011 documentary ‘Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story’ failed to gain the story recognition in the way social media has over the last view days. It seems that the support of Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna and Cara Delevingne have thrown the otherwise unknown case into the public sphere. Kardashian is even believed to have enlisted her lawyers to help free Brown.

Although it’s saddening that

this has been concealed for 13 years and is only projected into the limelight when celebrities back Cyntoia, it is also a testament to the power of social media, and proof of the necessity for famous figures to use their platforms for good. It’s easy to assume that signing a petition or tweeting a hashtag is useless, but the undeniable success of change.org petitions, the Black Lives Matter movement and education of LGBTQ+ issues proves that the internet has a major part to play in public opinion and government action.

It’s proof that social media can be a force for good when we use it correctly; when hashtags like #FreeCyntoiaBrown’s trend, a conversation is not only generated around this case, but around the wider issues that they encompass. Furthermore, if social media was as prominent back in 2004, there would be no way of this being swept under the car-

pet. The watchful public eye exposes the unjust and must mean that people are less likely to act wrongly if they know the world is watching, as it so often is.

Although social media is terrible in some ways (self-esteem, procrastination, stalking, the list can go on for a while), it’s clear that it is pivotal in social movements.

Famous figures have an obvious duty to use their platform well, to use their popularity to raise awareness of issues. But we can help, too. Even if you’re just retweeting a hashtag-ed tweet or signing a petition, every little action is a step forward.

COMMENT

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Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickcomment

The Boy Who Tweeted Wolf Alex Cirant-Taljaard criticises the use of social media as a source of news Alex Cirant-Taljaard Comment Editor

In the post-9/11 world, it seems like all we do is wait for the next atrocity to be committed.

A recent terror attack in Bir Al-Abd, Egypt was met less with shock, and more with a sense that this is just business as usual.

Admittedly, a lot of western news outlets elected to largely ignore the attack, focusing instead on the tweets of 2009 X Factor runner-up Olly Murs.

Murs, while shopping in Oxford Circus, tweeted that he had heard gunshots, and that everybody should immediately evacuate.

As it turned out, there was no terror attack, and Murs has since been ridiculed on social media and scolded by many for whipping up a frenzy. But Murs shouldn’t be singled out - this is a systemic problem in British news media, perpetuated by the mob mentality of sites like Twitter.

Twitter has recently become one of, if not the most, toxic place on the internet. It’s where alt-right fascists spew hatred and people’s lives are torn apart because they did something stupid in 2006. It has become a haven of mean spirited comments and public shaming. I am by no means counting myself as above the toxicity - I’m sure a search through some of my older tweets would unearth my involvement in a few public lynchings. The main problem

with Twitter being such an awful place is that it’s also where many get news and information from, meaning facts are often dangerously skewed and distorted.

If Murs hadn’t been able to instantly broadcast his panic to his nearly 8 million followers, and if Murs’ fans hadn’t retweeted him without contemplating first whether the singer of hits such as ‘Dance With Me Tonight’ is really the best source of information, the transfer of misinformation wouldn’t have escalated to the proportions it did.

"These reactions get so much attention... the truth rarely gets a look in" However, I very much doubt Murs or any of his fans broadcast this information with malicious intent. Rather, they were scared, as we all would be, and did what they thought was best.

Which is why it irks me so much that Piers Morgan, phone-tapper extraordinaire and all around slimeball, is trying to position himself as the voice of moral responsibility. Yes, Morgan is right that, as someone with a huge social media following, Murs has a responsibility to make sure he isn’t misleading the public. But, since when has Morgan, or any member of the

British media elite, had any issue with misleading the public? Morgan’s entire career, the only reason any of us even know who he is, was built on misleading the public.

It’s no surprise that the Daily Mail, a paper that Morgan frequently writes for, reported about the incident at Oxford Circus before they had all the facts. Unlike Murs, however, the Mail’s motivations were about being the first to break the story, regardless of whether or not it would lead to further panic. And they weren’t the only ones perpetuating false information.

Over-the-hill racial hatred peddler Tommy Robinson was quick to tweet about the non-incident.

You could almost see Robinson licking his lips at the prospect of more innocent lives being taken so he could justify his Islamophobic rhetoric. When he discovered there hadn’t been an attack, Robinson quickly deleted his tweets to save face.

Twitter is useful for a lot of things. I use it mainly to try and get my comedy career off the ground (which so far hasn’t really been working). It also can sometimes be a good source of information, as long as the people tweeting are doing so after carefully checking the facts.

Unfortunately, so much of what is posted on Twitter is a kneejerk reaction. And, because these reactions get so much attention, the truth rarely gets a look in - if enough people retweet false information, eventually it

becomes true. Until Twitter tightens its policy around the dissemination of false information, this isn’t a problem that's likely to go away. As individuals, the only thing we can do is take what we see online with a

pinch of salt. What we shouldn’t do is single poor Olly Murs out for making a mistake. He’s got enough on his plate already having to live with his ever dwindling celebrity.

@ollyofficial

"Really not sure what's happened! I'm in the back office... but people screaming and running towards exits!" @piersmorgan

"When you have millions of followers be very careful what you tweet [...] you stirred extra needless panic by tweeting false information" @TRobinsonNewEra

"How long until we find out that today's attack in Oxford Circus was by a Muslim Who [sic] was again known to our security services"

Poll of the Week: The Death Penalty

In light of Charles Manson’s death, the public have questioned why the taxpayer has been paying to keep him, or any other heinous prisoner, alive. We asked UoB students if the UK should bring back the death penalty…

Should the UK Re-Introduce the Death Penalty for Heinous Crimes?

Take part in our polls:

%

Ye s

% No 80

.2

-

.2 19

"The criminal justice system should be about rehabilitation" "Some crimes are evil. The taxpayer should not have to fund 40+ years of bed and board for such people" "The risk of wrongful conviction, even if less than 1%, will always be too high" "After having a family member being murdered by a stranger on their way home from work and witnessing the damage it has caused to my family, I want him to go through the same thing. I see no reason to keep him alive in a cell for the next 40 years"

@RedbrickComment

Redbrick Comment Contributors

Sam Yearley Comment Writer

The results of this poll were pretty much what I was expecting, and hoping for. UoB students are against the death penalty with a huge majority, and this is due to the wide range of reasons that people offered. The most common arguments against the death penalty were ‘the risk of wrongful conviction’, as well as the moral restriction that no one should have the legal right to take another person’s life.

On the other side of the debate there were also two repeating arguments: some people are so evil that to be put to death is the only punishment they are worthy of, and that it is too expensive to support these prisoners for the rest of their lives.

Before I raise the persuasive counter argument to this last point, I would like to point out that allowing financial cost to

influence decisions around taking people’s lives shows that we are already living in a capitalist dystopia.

This being said, it is a very relevant point that court cases that have the death penalty involved are much lengthier, and much more expensive than those without it. Coupled with the fact that death row inmates are also supported within the prison system for many years, and the fact that the actual execution is so expensive (there are reports of executions in Virginia costing $16,500 each) makes the financial incentive for the death penalty redundant.

This leaves one argument left on the pro death penalty side, that some people simply deserve to be put to death. With so few reasons being given for the pro death penalty side, and so many (some of which I haven’t even mentioned) being given for the against, it is clear how the 80/20 split has been reached.

COMMENT

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickcomment

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Kezia Dugdale in the Jungle...

Please Get Her Out of There Niamh Brennan questions whether politicians have a place on reality TV Niamh Brennan Comment Writer

Last week it was announced that Kezia Dugdale, former Scottish Labour leader, would be taking part in the reality TV competition I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

This came as a surprise to many, and understandably so.

Dugdale only resigned as leader of Scottish Labour in August, making it a very quick transition from an intense position of authority to what many would consider a menial and unimportant TV show. The news resulted in a very mixed reception. As a politician, she is paid by t a x payer money, and therefore is expected to work for the benefit of those taxpayers. Therefore, why is she appearing on a TV show for three weeks? Does that really benefit her party? Are taxpayers simply paying for her to do a three-week publicity stunt? It seems to ludicrous to suggest, but it’s difficult to view it in any

other way.

"There needs to be a clear division in the entertainment sector" This is not the first time that a sitting public representative has partaken in the programme.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries was suspended after she took part in the competition in 2012, with similar backlash to Dugdale.

So why do politicians enter the jungle knowing the possible consequences, and what do they hope it will achieve?

Indeed, politicians are still people, they should be allowed to spend their time how they wish, but the selling point of the show is that the participants are celebrities. To consider politicians as celebrities i n the same way you would consider a soap actor, pop stair or retired footballer to be ones seems inconsistent. Those in the latter categories go into

their line of work knowing that their main purpose is to entertain. In fact, they have no obligations to the wider community to do anything but entertain.

Therefore, they seem wellplaced being on a television show which has this as its prime goal.

Politicians, on the other hand, become household names due to their commitment to the public. They only become a ‘celebrity’ by default of their position in helping provide and benefit the country; people know them because of the service they are providing to them.

To therefore abandon the duties of your position, and to act as if you are something of entertainment value, instead of a representative of the Labour voters of the country appears to go directly against, the very reason you have become well known in the first place.

There needs to be a clear division in the entertainment sector. Just because your name is known, it does not mean that you should act in the same way as someone who is well known for their acting profession. There is a responsibility that comes

along with the title of MSP that is clearly being disregarded by Dugdale in her appearing on the show, and one that I believe should not be ignored.

"There is a responsibility that comes along with the title of MSP that is clearly being disregarded" We are currently living in the Jeremy Corbyn era of politics, wherein politicians are making themselves more open to the younger generations, and to a large extent becoming well known for more than just their ideological standpoints. This increasing generational interest in politics is attempting to ‘make politics cool again,’ which is important to the wellbeing of our country, but alongside it comes a blurring of the boundaries between the political and celebrity.

There is an increasing pres-

sure on politicians to be likeable.

Them becoming more likeable creates an enjoyment in engaging with politics, one that can often be confused with the enjoyment of popular entertainment. Clearly, however, this divide must be upheld. Politicians are not here to entertain; the very basis of their job means that they should be helping their country and people in it.

Just because Kezia Dugdale was asked to take part in I’m a Celebrity does not mean that she should have done so. Ethically speaking, she seems to be taking advantage of her position as a person of public interest, and this evokes many questions that we deserve answers to: where will Dugdale spend her money from competing? Will she remain as a Labour politician considering her seeming lack of commitment to her role?

There are many questions that we need answered before we can make a final judgement about how wrong it is for a politician to be treated as a celebrity, but ultimately there is a clear tension when considering the facts of her situation that would suggest that it is not okay.

Zoella's 12 Days of Extortion Kirstie Sutherland laments Zoella's exploitation of her fans' loyalty Kirstie Sutherland Deputy Editor

Christmas - a joyous time spent with family and friends, being thankful for the time we have with said loved ones. However, given the consumerist society in which we live, it perhaps comes as no surprise to learn that exploitation is the dish being served for many this festive season. Facing particular backlash in this regard is the ‘Queen’ of YouTube, Zoella.

Known to many teenage girls the world over for her extremely long videos of beauty and clothing hauls, make-up tutorials and ‘tag’ videos with fellow YouTubers such as brother Joe Sugg (Thatcher Joe) and boyfriend Alfie Deyes (PointlessBlog), Zoella seems to be capitalising on her constantly soaring popularity. In recent years, she has released her vilified, ghost-written and best-selling debut novel, as well as her Zoella Beauty range in high street store Boots. This year, under her Zoella Beauty moniker, she has released her ’12 Days of Christmas’ advent calendar.

My immediate problem with this is her conflation of two separate

Christmas traditions. An advent calendar surely cannot have just twelve doors when it is used in the lead up to Christmas from the very beginning of December, right? The calendar has received considerable backlash, particularly for its price tag of £50. A price this high implies a high quality product; the reality is startling.

"How do we ever really know what a YouTube personality is really like?"

If you were to buy this incorrectly marketed ‘advent calendar’, you would receive a mediocre set of items: two 130g candles, a 30ml clementine-scented room spray, a frankly insulting packet of ‘make a wish’ confetti, a ceramic ‘Merry and Bright’ bauble, a pom-pom key ring, a notepad and pen (illogically packaged behind two separate doors), a pack of seven festive stickers, a small bag, and two cookie cutters that you would be better off buying in bulk from

Amazon. In fact, one of the cutters in the set can be bought from the website for just 77p compared to just over the £4 it amounts to within her advent set. Following complaints, Boots have now slashed the price of the product from £50 to £25, but this decision has been made far too late.

The price tag is not the only thing that infuriates me or the rest of the population about this whole situation. Following several one-star reviews from parents as well as complaints to Boots, the YouTube star took to the internet in her usual fashion to address the issue. She apologised to all her disappointed and upset subscribers, explaining that she had no hand in the decision making when it came to the price and marketing. However sincere this may come across on the surface, if I was to create and sell a product and heard that retailers wanted to sell it to my young fans for £50, I would not be best pleased and would do my utmost to change it. Whilst Zoella seems to demonstrate to fans her horror at the RRP of her product, she doesn’t seem to have employed much energy in rectifying or reversing the decision before the product hit the

shelves.

Moreover, her apology feels cheap. Hidden at the end of one of her vlogs on her second channel, ‘MoreZoella’, as opposed to her main channel with her 12 million+ subscribers, it feels like a cop out. If you have caused such upset with your product, surely an apology video at the top of your channel is the first thing you should be uploading to help save your reputation and in the case of Zoella, your brand.

In explaining the reason for the inflated price of the calendar, Zoella constantly insists on her part in the creative process of the product. She states that she ‘is all about creativity’ and spent a year designing and thinking up ideas for the product, being heavily involved in that side of things. However, the crappy quality of the products and lack of innovation on offer does not ring true to her claim.

She also uses the most hollow excuse of them all to make sure her followers don’t think she is simply trying to profit from their interest: ‘If you know me, there’s not a bone in my body that would make me think that way if you know me, you know that.’

This is the most frustrating thing

about it all: how do we ever really know what a YouTube personality is really like? We don’t know you from Adam; we simply watch you on a screen while you monetise your videos and subject us to advertisements left, right and centre. How are we to know what is really going on in the mind of a woman swatching lipsticks and recommending bath bombs on her channel? We aren’t, and we shouldn’t accept such a lacklustre excuse for such an exploitative ‘error.’ Using your fame and power to exploit your young fan base is not what Christmas, or life in general, is about.

FEATURES

12

Friday 1st December 2017

www.redbrick.me

Black Site Panel and An Intro to Filmmaking TV & FILM Matt Dawson Television Editor

Phoebe Christofi Film Writer

In a preview panel held at the recent Birmingham MCM Comic Con, Tom Paton, director of the upcoming sci-fi horror movie Black Site, took to the stage along with the film’s starring cast.

Described by Paton as 'The Raid meets Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror, with a John Carpenter vibe to it', the team explained some of the behind-the-scenes processes in filming the indie flick. When talking about the birth of the concept of the film, Paton elaborated that 'it came from an idea that I had a few years ago, which at the time was called Supernatural Max, and it would be set in a prison housing Lovecraftian monsters. It sort of evolved from there, becoming this government black site where they deport these creatures back to the dimension they come from, and the whole story built out from that point.'

"Black Site tries to be the antithesis of cliché tent pole Hollywood blockbusters" Given that Black Site was made on a low budget, it tries to be the antithesis of cliché tent pole Hollywood blockbusters.

Paton mentioned that 'we went out of our way to find actors who were on the verge of being much more.' One of the stars, Mike Beckingham (brother to Simon Pegg), collaborated with Paton on the director’s previous film, R e d w o o d .

Describing his character Sam as the 'very human element of the story', he continued that it was a 'huge compliment for Tom to write the part with [him] in mind'. Another feature of the movie that the team prides itself on is its diversity. The actresses play just as an important role, if not more so, than the leading actors.

This is reflected through the cast list: both the protagonist, Ren Reid, and the antagonist, Ker, are portrayed by Samantha Schnitzler and Phoebe Robinson-Galvin respectively. 'Whenever you get female driven action films, the villain tends to be male,' Paton explained. The cast mentioned going against the rulebook, say-

Matt Dawson and Phoebe Christofi preview the indie flick Black Site and catch up with the director about the production process ing 'we made a film about people, and some of them happened to be women.'

The director further went on to say, 'to a degree, it is a feminist action film. It was very important to have female characters who could do their own stunts and perform in a way that felt tangible and real.' That in part led to the casting of Robinson-Galvin, a previous stuntwoman for Wonder Woman and Justice League, who added 'it was one of the first roles I had coming from stunt work [...]. To have that license and support from the director, and also being able to do all my own stunts, and collaborate with the stunt team, that was such a unique experience.' She further went on to discuss her experiences of familiarising herself with her character, Ker: 'This opportunity grabbed me because not only was the character just really dark, gritty and layered, it was so fun to play something so evil.' Few details have been revealed about the characters, but it seems a pretty safe bet that Robinson-Galvin will be a member of the Cult of Erebus, a sect hell-bent on releasing a demonic Old God. Furthermore, the team had to deal with the constraints of filming with limited resources. 'The [lower budget films] that feel greater than just the sum of their parts are pragmatic.' This led to some inventive location scouting: 'We found a location based in the Midlands, a decommissioned nuclear site that once operated as a Rover factory in World War Two, which was hidden underground so it wasn’t bombed by the Germans. Unlike the other locations, it was purpose-built for tanks to drive through - the tunnels themselves are huge!' However, one downside to this was that the cast and crew did complain of it being old and dark, which was both a blessing and a curse, admitting that it was 'an absolute nightmare to film in but a blessing for the movie'. Of course, without the presence of a massive studio backing them up, there were bound to be some hiccups in filming. Paton humorously recounted the experience of some sheep outside the set escaping: 'I had to chase around Kidderminster these sheep with this old lady, and I was being phoned by the producers asking where I was. I was about an hour late to set, it was literally ridiculous, but we did save all the sheep.'

The panel was book-ended

by the trailer, confirming that it would have a festival run in 2018 before a wider release in the same year.

On concluding the panel, director Tom Paton went on to have a casual interview in a much more intimate setting, where he told fans of the industry how to actually make a film: 'I made silly videos, but the funny thing about being a human being in 2017, is that if you’ve got a phone in your pocket, you are a film maker if you want to be. So, it doesn’t have to be silly videos anymore, you can go out there and you can make actual productions.'

"Sound is the one key area that you should approach from the beginning" 'I thought, 'the equipment is there, the ability to edit is there, more importantly the ability to find an audience is there, I just need to figure out who the hell is going to buy my stuff from me'. So, I very quickly found nightclub videos and started filming live events, and I started finding out, okay, who are the DJ’s that are going to be big and I’ll go in and speak to them now. You’ve got to be very forward thinking, you’ve got to be very active about how you approach this kind of thing.

You know, I met little guys like Calvin Harris and was like, 'Hey dude, why don’t I make a video for you for three hundred quid?', and he was like, 'Yeah, I’ve got no money', so we’d do that! So, you try to be savvy about who you work with and who you talk to. I’m always learning on the job, I’m constantly saying, 'Somebody's booked me for a green screen in a music video, I don’t even know what a green screen is, that’s fine, because there’s this thing called YouTube', and every single lesson you need to learn about film making is on there - you just have to be willing to spend the time to teach yourself.'

'Sound. It’s the one thing that everyone keeps overlooking. They don’t pay any attention to it, and it’s that one key area that you should approach from the beginning. How are we going to make this sound good? You’ve all seen Paranormal Activity, right?

That’s a film shot on essentially CCTV cameras, but the sound is impeccable. Too much emphasis is put on your image, and not enough on the sound.

There are things that I’d love to be able to show in a film, but I can’t, because I don’t have the money for that, but you can let

them hear it, and sometimes that’s actually more powerful.

People will have a better time with that, then they will necessarily with you CGI-ing every twenty minutes.'

'I have such a pet-peeve with directors who say, 'I’m just doing it for the art,' and it’s like, 'What, you don’t like the money?' – like, of course! There’s an economics to it, you’ve got to pay your rent. That drives you, it makes you get up in the morning. We live in an era where film-making is so democratised, and you can be as passionate about making films and making money as you would if you decided to buy a bar or a shop.

So that for me is a motivator, and I don’t really respect directors who don’t say it isn’t, because they’re lying.

"Theme is the most important thing, not just for your main character but everything in the script" 'But at the same time, there has to be a story you want to tell. From my perspective, I try to look at things that are going on in the world and in my life, that strike a chord with me – I always try to make the character first. I call it theme. So, for instance when you say to somebody, 'What’s your favourite film about?', there’s two ways of talking about that. You talk about the plot of the movie: 'So and so went to the underground nuclear base and has lots of fights' that’s a plot. What is your film's theme? For me, Black Site was 'don’t believe the labels people put on you,' and every character I write, comes from that thematic process. Theme is the most important thing, not just for your main character, but for every

single thing in your script.

'If you ever find yourself directing, every morning, you’re going to think 'What am I doing?'

But never let the crew see it.

You come up to set, you be confident, and you make sure that as far as anybody else is concerned, you know what you’re talking about. You have to be comfortable with the fact that film making is an art form. When somebody starts painting a picture, they’ve got an overall idea of what they want the picture to turn out like. But you might suddenly go off plan with a brush stroke, and you’ve got to adapt to match that mistake you’ve just made – and you will make mistakes. You’ll film things in a way that you won’t realise will have a big effect on that scene.

So all sorts of things will come in the way, but what you can’t let it do is phase you. You’ve got to be so pragmatic. My opinion on the matter is, I’ll come to the set and I’ve got a very different vision for what I want, but here’s what happens in reality: you get to the location, and it’s not what you thought it was going to be. so you’ve got to change that element. Remember the film, remember what you were trying to say, there’s always twenty different ways to say that thing.'

Hopefully, like us, you found Paton’s advice extremely helpful if you’re wanting to become a part of this industry. Sometimes we forget that directors, writers, actors and artists were once just ordinary people. It is easy to think that you will never be a part of that world, but as Paton says, hard work, being forward thinking and motivated will pay off. Never let a bad review disgruntle you, never let a rejection or dismissal dampen your spirit.

Work even harder, and try again.

For more information and advice on the elements of film-making, check out Crash Course on YouTube for all of their tips on directing, producing, editing and writing.

FEATURES

Friday 1st December 2017

www.redbrick.me

TV

Doctor Who at Birmingham Comic Con 2017

Pearl of Wisdom Todd Waugh Ambridge Television Writer

Pearl Mackie has fast become a Doctor Who fan favourite. Her character, Bill, was incredibly relatable to many young adults: naïve, determined, defensive, open-minded, protective and eager to learn. Everyone saw a bit of themselves in the curious, down to earth Bill Potts, including Mackie herself.

‘When I read the script for the audition, I didn’t feel like there was much that I had to do. I read it and I was like, 'I know this girl,’ she told the crowd of Birmingham’s MCM Comic Con last month. ‘I understood her, and perhaps that is because we have some similarities, similar energy... we look very similar, as well.’

Of course, this being the cosplay heaven that is Comic Con, she wasn’t the only one: ‘It’s really nice that people want to dress up as Bill. I think her clothes are really cool so it’s really nice to see people dressing up as her.’

When Mackie first got the role as Bill, she was performing in the West End. She told the crowd of fans about the time just after she got the role, when Peter Capaldi, The Doctor himself, came to see her play. ‘I’m waiting backstage to go on for Act 2 and [I find out] Peter Capaldi’s in the audience! I did the second half of the show in a complete daze, wandering around and seeing if I could spot him in the audience...’. This was still when Mackie couldn’t tell anyone she had landed the iconic role – only her, Capaldi and a small number

of cast and crew knew. ‘He came backstage afterwards and said 'Congratulations!', and I was like, 'Thank you'. I just wanted to leave, that was very strange.'

"Everyone saw a bit of themselves in the down-to-earth Bill Potts including Mackie herself" Fans such as myself were incredibly disappointed to learn that Mackie wouldn’t be returning next year. But at least her character got a happy ending. 'I thought it was nice that Bill got a happy ending and [did not] remain inside a Cyberman! Going and traveling the universe with a girl that she had a soft spot for, I thought that was a really nice way of ending it and it made the series feel quite cyclical.'

However, marketing has shown that Bill will be returning

Interview: Dan Starkey in the Christmas special, though how substantial her role is has not been confirmed yet. Mackie kept very tight-lipped on the festive special: ‘I can’t tell you anything... there will be snow.’ Of course, any Doctor Who fan worth their salt will know that’s a pretty big spoiler anyway.

Mackie was over the moon to learn she’d be returning for the Christmas special, 'Twice Upon a Time' – who wouldn’t be? ‘I didn’t know I was going to be back for Christmas. I thought that was going to be the end and then they [asked me if I wanted to be] in the Christmas special and I was like: 'Well, yeah, do I want to be on TV on Christmas Day where I can watch with my whole family and it’s one of the biggest shows in British television? Yes please!’'

The audience laughed along with Mackie, it was impossible not to. ‘It’s a lovely story. It’s a great adventure. I think you guys are going to really like it.’ And then, in true Pearl Mackie fashion, she continued ‘I hope you do anyway. I do, so, you know... take from that what you will.’

Personally, I can’t wait.

David Bradley: Question Time Phoebe Christofi Television Writer

Another fan favourite returning for the special is David Bradley. In a sense, he portrays a role within a role, returning as William Hartnell's First Doctor following his interpretation of the actor for the 50th Anniversary drama An Adventure in Space and Time.

He mentioned how this impacted how he got into character: ‘Well, all I did was watch lots of the early episodes of William Hartnell. They sent me lots of DVDs so I could watch the way he was, the way he would sometimes look down at people [...] also his granddaughter, Jessica, who is now a theatrical agent. wrote a book about her grandfather called Who’s There?, and that was enormously helpful in terms of his life outside Doctor Who and how he was. Mark Gatiss wrote a portrait of a very talented, but complicated man. He had several

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issues, some of them health, some of them emotional, and I heard from people while we were rehearsing and filming who knew him that they all absolutely loved him and said he could be a very funny guy but then he had his moments where maybe his illness got the better of him, and he wasn’t so much fun. For an actor to play someone that complex is a challenge, but it’s also more interesting because there are so many different sides. When I came to the Christmas special I was warmed with all this information, and my previous experience of working on an episode, so it helped enormously because I came to it already knowing parts of the Doctor Who team territory and I knew the world he existed in. I think if I hadn’t done Adventure in Space and Time, it would have made the Christmas special much more hard work, because I would’ve been starting from absolute scratch. It helped enormously when it came to play-

ing the Doctor, and also I can say now, that I am the Doctor.’

But Bradley is no stranger to our screens, after his appearance in Game of Thrones as the infamous Walder Frey. He elaborated on how his perspective on the instigator of the Red Wedding: 'For me, he was a misunderstood family man. He had forty-odd children to feed and marry off and in the cruel harsh world in which he existed, it was like a Sicilian Mafia vendetta. Once he’d been let down by Robb Stark, where a promise is a promise in that world, he had to react in the way he did and do what he did, or so he would say because his honour had been questioned. He had to keep up his power and his reputation, as the world in which he lived, it was dog-eat-dog, literally! For me, to play that part prop-

Lucy McCann Television Writer

Redbrick also got the chance to speak to Dan Starkey, most known for transforming himself into aliens. When asked about his character, Strax, as comic relief, he replied 'The thing is, although it’s sort of funny, you still play the reality of it. Strax doesn’t think he’s funny, he’s just a complete fish out of water [...] But then you work out how to land each line perfectly, the fact that he is disgusted by humanity, but at the same time he’s weirdly polite. He’s actually trying to be as good as possible, he’s like [impersonating Strax] 'I look forward to meeting you on the field of battle, where I shall crush the life from your useless human form.'

You know, it’s a threat but he’s also showing due diligence, and not finding it weird. It’s normal to him, but it’s everyone else’s problem. It’s alien.'

Although he has not been confirmed to appear in this year's special, Starkey also talked to us about filming a Christmas episode. 'Schedule wise, it’s slightly different, it’s a few more weeks.

A typical episode of Doctor Who is probably about three weeks, not much more, maybe three and a bit. But other than that, it’s a similar process, getting the script and working out what to do with it.'

Obviously portraying the Sontaran means working with prosthetics, and Starkey took us through the process. 'It’s a completely physical shift in gears.

So, I get up very early for it, about half 4 in the morning, then you’re in the chair at 5 [...] it’s a thing

erly, I had to think of him in those terms, rather than me thinking of him as just a baddie. It would have limited me to how I could play him - he’d just be an evil, snarling, character. I found he had a lot of humour, I mean, not laugh out loud, but I just found him so, so unpleasant and so ruthless, that he made me laugh.’

When asked by Redbrick between the Doctor and Walder Frey which was the most challenging character to get into, he responded: ‘The Doctor I think, because as soon as I read the Walder Frey scene, it just clicked. I thought 'I think I know how to do this, I think I know how to get the maximum horror out of it', because he was so clearly defined. But with the Doctor, he really was someone

having this giant Rolo of rubber stuck over your head. It took about three people to prise that apart and then push it over your head, because it’s quite tight.

Once it’s on there, I can’t hear very well. Then they glue a much finer mask over the top, on my face and then they blend it in. So all those things, because it’s such a physical thing, it helps you to get into character.

Just having a new face in front of the mirror is very strange.'

One of the stand-out features of Strax is that he is so different to the rest of his race.

When asked if he were to go back to the militaristic Sontarans, Starkey shed some light on how he would blend in. ' I think that story would be the follow on. Unreconstructed Sontarans, they would say 'What are you doing hanging around with these aliens, Strax?' He would probably go back with 'Nothing, nothing. I was going to kill them all, I was.' There’s a story to be had there. I’d like to think that, although he doesn’t admit it, he likes being with Jenny and Vastra. But I think he would side with his friends. I don’t know I think it would be close to the wire.'

Starkey mentions Strax's companions, describing his relationship with Madame vastra and Jenny Flint. 'Well, he’s acutely uncomfortable. Despite battling all the aliens, he’s still an exile. Sontrans are very much team players, and the fact that he can’t be with the Sontarans, is a very lonely existence for him. So the fact he’s actually a part of a household and part of a team... He likes that along with being a nurse. He wouldn’t admit it, but he does like it.'

who was an actor, that actually existed, and you want to get it absolutely right, so there was kind of a responsibility at making sure I did an accurate portrayal of him and I wanted to honour his memory, not only for him because he was an actor I admired, but also, for his family.

I didn’t want his family saying 'Oh, that isn’t my granddad', or 'That wasn’t my father', but thankfully his family came to set quite a lot, and they gave me the thumbs up, and said 'Yes, that’s just how he was', but I found that I had to make sure I got it absolutely right because otherwise I would’ve hated for his family to have said no. It would’ve been so disappointing. I was glad that I did all my homework. I did a lot more homework on that, than on Walder Frey. Walder Frey I just had to read the script, and I thought, 'Yeah I know this character'.’

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MUSIC

Redbrick's Albums Of The Year 2017

Nick Mulvey Wake Up Now

Jonah Corren

Nick Mulvey’s second solo album Wake Up Now takes clear inspiration from spirituality, and spiritual culture. These overtones give the album a very trance-like feel, with repetitive rhythms and incredibly catchy vocal hooks littered throughout. Adding to this is a return to Mulvey’s percussion-oriented roots, most notably perhaps in ‘Remembering,’ where a variety of percussion instruments make up a tribal and celebratory backing to a song about acknowledging one’s own spirituality. Wake Up Now represents in some ways a return to Mulvey’s roots, and in others an experimentation with new themes and musical styles (the distinctly electronic feel of ‘Myela’ will be a surprise for long-time fans). It certainly sees an artist going from strength to strength, and wherever Mulvey goes in style and substance for his next effort, it will be eagerly anticipated.

J Hus Common Sense

Luke Bohanan

It is safe to say Common Sense has been a smash hit in the UK, with lead single ‘Did You See’ making a top 10 UK Singles Chart appearance. Jallow claims to have ‘grown up on grime,’ but what impresses about the album is that a whole range of styles seem to be incorporated: grime, hip-hop, R&B and dancehall. He told Capital XTRA that his host of influences originate like an innocent adolescent’s cognizance - afrobeat music in particular influences a large selection of the tracks, stemming from Jallow’s African heritage. This is seen explicitly in the single ‘Spirit,’ the music video for which was shot in Jamestown, Ghana. At only 21 years old, Common Sense has sprouted an exciting pathway for Jallow’s future: producing an album of this adeptness and comprehensiveness already draws parallels with expert producers and samplers such as the likes of Kanye West.

King Krule The OOZ

Noah Tombs

King Krule’s The OOZ was one of the most compelling and impressive albums of the year. Across 19 sprawling tracks, Archy Marshall successfully negotiates the fusion of many different musical genres skilfully: from the searing punk rock of ‘Emergency Blimp’ to the washed-out jazz that tumbles throughout ‘Czech One.’ What makes The OOZ so remarkable is that even with such a rich blend of sounds, Marshall maintains the tone of the album superbly. He plays the romantic as well as the loner, finding places of comfort in the depths of isolation. On ‘Cadet Limbo’ we hear a more poetic side to Marshall as he croons: ‘I floated along / Spent most of my time orbiting your waist.’

Lyrically, The OOZ blurs between moments of plain honesty, and sharply written hints at larger secrets. Perhaps a challenging listen at first, but it is this that makes the record so rewarding.

BROCKHAMPTON SATURATION

Greg Woodin

Like all great hip-hop crews, BROCKHAMPTON are far more than the sum of their parts. The group often attracts comparisons with Odd Future, but there is abundantly more chemistry between the members here. The ingredients are simple: Kevin Abstract’s gift for hook-writing, Ameer Vann’s deadpan badassery, Merlyn’s shouty weirdness, Dom McLennon’s vocal dexterity, Matt Champion’s droll charisma and Joba’s JT-inflected falsetto, resulting in some of the most idiosyncratic rap in recent memory. Together the group exchange pop culture references over bouncy beats (‘Star’), spit vitriol atop layers of distortion (‘Bump’), and effortlessly transition into autotune melancholia to confront issues of self-harm (‘Trip’) and self-acceptance (‘Milk’). Odd, emo, experimental, and yet SATURATION features some of hip-hop’s hardest bars and earwormiest hooks to date.

Tyler, The Creator Haim Flower Boy Something To Tell You

Niamn Brennan

Haim’s 70s-inspired second album Something To Tell You followed on from the success of their 2013 debut, and did not by any means disappoint. The emotion that carries through each song, created by their extensively beautiful harmonies and melodies, feels like something that only these three sisters can achieve. The pop-rock masterpiece includes obvious inspiration from the likes of Stevie Nicks, but every element is made to be Haim’s own. Driven by the sister’s complicated craftsmanship and creative insight into the significance of rhythm in connecting each song together as a whole, the album never falters in providing powerful lyrics that echo their musical talent.

From the upbeat ‘Little Of Your Love’ to the raw ‘Night So Long’ that leaves the album on a hauntingly breathless note, the band explores a wide range of styles, firmly placing this album within 2017’s best records.

Lorde Melodrama

Holly Carter

Not only is Melodrama the soundtrack to 2017, it feels like the undying soundtrack to early adulthood. With the majority of its stunning tracks penned by Lorde when she was just 19, I have never heard an album that describes the wild confusion of this weird stage of never-feeling-old-enough so well. From celebrating one-night-stands in ‘Homemade Dynamite’ to feeling lost and lonely in ‘Liability,’ Lorde maps parties and friendships, drinking and dancing, being in love and being terrified perfectly. Melodrama gives me that emotional squirm at so many levels, it seems full of understanding, while also acknowledging the flaws of our muddled generation. There has been a song from this album in my head much everyday since it came out in June. It’s wild, it’s beautiful, it’s irresistible. Melodrama is truly a perfect album. It has everything, and it’s not being forgotten anytime soon.

Pablo Doyle

Flower Boy shows a smoother side of Tyler: a Tyler who does not have sexist or homophobic lyrics, instead pondering into his loneliness and his sexuality. A Tyler who should not be banned from entering the UK. The album is varied in sound and hosts a great range of collaborations, including Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, Estelle and even Jaden Smith (who does a surprisingly good job). Flower Boy never loses its flow, showing off the jazz influences which have always played a huge part in Tyler’s style, as well as the endless hooks in pretty much every song. There are even some great love songs, like ‘Glitter’ where he passionately sings ‘Every time you come around / I feel like glitter.’ I went into Flower Boy expecting to pick out a few good songs out of it, but by the time the album finished I realised I had downloaded every single song. Exactly what a good album should do.

Declan McKenna What Do You Think...

Katie Leigh-Lancaster

Blurring the bleak reality of political turmoil with anthemic indie hooks, What Do You Think About the Car? is an ambitious debut forged out of millennial disillusionment. McKenna masters the fusion of selfconscious lyricism and old-school guitar riffs in new tracks like ‘Mind’ and ‘I Am Everyone Else.’ This is an album fixated with breaking the dichotomy, asserting that youth equals wisdom and political frustration is indie gold. McKenna's spoken-word narration over violins in his final track ‘Listen To Your Friends’ produces the album's most glorious moment. He mocks the flawed logic that ‘The problem is poor kids who can't afford the train fare / So we up the train fare and charge them for not paying the train fare.’ Through his carefully crafted lyricism McKenna has struck a rare chord, spawning excitement for the future of music's ventures into politics.

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War on Drugs

A Deeper Understanding

Kieran Read

On A Deeper Understanding, The War on Drugs never attempts to break grounds; much like the title suggests, the band here delve further into a sound they have slowly perfected over the course of a decade.

Luckily for all, it is a pretty incredible one.

Tapping into a rich lineage of greats (Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young), A Deeper Understanding is achingly gorgeous in its meticulous details, each track an immersive, lovelorn glance inside the mind of an obsessive. From the propulsive groove of ‘Up All Night’ to the melancholy soundscapes in ‘Strangest Thing’ to the stunning 12 minute odyssey ‘Thinking of a Place,’ the intangible magic of A Deeper Understanding is heady and cathartic; an unfurling meditation on concepts that, no matter how deep our ‘understanding,’ will forever elude us. A worthy contender.

Stormzy Gang Signs & Prayer

Kirstie Sutherland

2017 has truly been Stormzy’s year. His debut began the year with a new wave of grime appreciation that shows no signs of slowing down as we enter 2018. While containing his viral hit ‘Shut Up’ and featuring the likes of Wretch 32, GHETTS and J Hus, this record cannot be pigeonholed as ‘just a grime album.’ It straddles hip-hop, smooth R&B on ‘Velvet’ and gospel on ‘Blinded By Your Grace, Pt. 2.’ It is lyrically all-encompassing, proving that grime is not the aggressive genre it can be perceived as, engaging with issues of love, devotion and unabashed emotion in a fusion that feels effortless and totally Stormzy. The album, and his inherent likeability, has made the genre totally accessible to the masses, and has proven to the British public that grime is a fine example of British culture. And heck, the guy can sing too.

Kendrick Lamar DAMN.

Charlotte Russell

Energised? Angry? In love? Sad? There is not a song on this album that does not fit every emotion. DAMN. takes you on a whirlwind which dives from the gritty to the sexy in a heartbeat. Kendrick’s omniscient presence is ever looming throughout, leaving you wondering if he is in fact the God we should be fearing ourselves. At times it is confusing, making you tense and then zen and before you know it you are dancing and shouting every word to ‘Humble.’Kendrick’s wordplay is some of the best of any modern rapper, proving Lamar as a force that no one should even bother reckoning with. Arguably superseding the artistic triumph that was To Pimp A Butterfly, DAMN. proves that Kendrick only keeps going from strength to strength. Without a doubt the best record in today’s current rap scene, it is fair to say that nothing has surpassed it.

Sampha Process

Issy Campbell

You simply cannot discuss albums of the year without mentioning 2017’s Mercury Prize winner, Sampha. Process, his winning record, is a work of art: lyrically poignant, thought provoking, heartwarming but equally heart-wrenching. Every song on this album could stand alone, but ‘(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano’ is a clear winner for me. Written for his late mother, Sampha pays tribute to the woman who has inspired so much of his work and creates a beautiful single that makes your hair stand on end.

‘Incomplete Kisses’ and ‘Blood on Me’ are also worthy of a mention, showcasing his overwhelming talent. Up until Process Sampha’s career consisted of being far more behind-the-scenes, producing and collaborating with the likes of SBTRKT, Drake and even Kanye West. But 2017 saw his turn in the limelight, and thank God for that.

Lana Del Ray Lust For Life

Sorcha Hornett

Faded Hollywood glamour, the skewed Americana and failed love are the key themes of this dreamy, film score-worthy album. It is Lana’s longest record to date, comprising 16 tracks and features from the likes of The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky and Stevie Nicks. Del Rey’s style is so distinct: moody, laced with a vintage-style sound and an angst that is hard to ignore. The ethereal ‘13 Beaches’ has a Hollywood blockbuster film score stuttering into hypnotic drums, and a 90s angst that makes it a signature Del Rey single; ‘Groupie Love’ featuring A$AP Rocky showcases Lana’s sultry voice, that makes the song almost seductive, with Rocky being the perfect match to compliment this. Lust For Life is another outstanding album from Del Rey, she is completely consistent in her aesthetic and vocals and exists completely in a league of her own.

Music Critic @lex_freya

Our People’s Pick for record of the year is Loyle Carner’s Yesterday’s Gone, a soulful and intimate album that reveals an extremely sensitive artist who creates painfully personal and emotive hip-hop.

Released earlier this year in January, Yesterday’s Gone is 23-year-old Carner’s debut album and proves to be a daring launch into the masculine world of hip-hop.

Carner does not shy away from themes of grief and heartache in the mighty opening track ‘Isle of Arran,’ with lyrics like ‘I wonder why my dad didn’t want me / Ex didn’t need me’ showing him to be as vulnerable as the rest of us. Many features on the album are taken from Loyle's late stepfather's jazz record, adding a real sentiment.

The album also expresses Carner’s adoration for his mother, Jean, who features in the track ‘Sun of Jean,’ describing her son as a ‘complete joy.’ Rapping on the same track, ‘Me and my mother, there ain’t nothing that can come between,’ Carner shows himself

Everything Everything

A Fever Dream

Charlie Avery

With Get To Heaven breaking them into the charts and receiving outstanding levels of acclaim, Everything Everything are among the most original artists in Britain’s recent indie resurgence. Naturally then, a followup was eagerly anticipated. The forlorn tones of ‘Night Of The Long Knives,’ followed by the insatiably catchy leading singles ‘Can't Do’ and ‘Desire,’ offer a critique of our increasingly selfish and reckless society. The lyrics remain clear enough throughout that the songs can be understood, but crucially remain abstract enough that listeners can make their own particular interpretations. The group are more adventurous with production, adding intricate layers to their characteristic twangy basslines and cascading synthesisers. The band have again defied musical convention with A Fever Dream, crafting an original and intelligent album.

Milo

Gregory Porter Who Told You To Think??!! Nat "King" Cole & Me

Adam Jackson

Milo pulls off avant-garde with accessibility. His is an album that manages to simultaneously reference Stravinsky and Salazar Slytherin, with an effortless style that falls just the right side of pretence. Milo’s brand of rap thrives on philosophical ponderings and nods to pop culture, but this time he goes in heavier than ever, speaking on capitalism, racism and the virtues of independence, whilst offering glimpses into his personal life. The dense webs of wordplay may be daunting at first, and I defy anyone to understand more than 10% of what Milo is on about upon first listen. Luckily the (mostly self-produced) jazz-infused beats are so vibey and Milo’s delivery so captivating that you really will not mind. Stacked full of Easter eggs that you will be greedily unpacking and decoding for months down the line, this is truly an album to get lost in.

The People's Pick: Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone Alex Carmichael

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to be a thoughtful and respectful artist – having even kicked a fan out of a recent gig for making sexist remarks.

It is this humility Carner possesses which sets him miles apart from other artists in his field and makes his poetic and jazz inspired music such an immense pleasure to listen to.

Head to www.redbrick.me to read Redbrick Music's full list of Albums Of The Year.

Zoe Screti

In a world that is always seeking something new, rare moments of nostalgia become even more special. It is the combination of this, and real musical talent that makes Nat "King" Cole & Me such a standout album.

Porter’s effortless jazz vocals combine beautifully with classic arrangements made famous by Cole, and an eighty-piece orchestral backing, to produce an album that sounds like an old Hollywood film score.

The depth of emotion exemplifies Porter’s close relationship with Cole, whom he credits as a father figure in the absence of his own. The tracks cover the full range of human emotions, invoking tears and smiles in equal measure. For jazz and soul lovers alike, this album is sure to become an essential part of any music collection. Beautiful, classic, heart-warming, this album is definitely one of the best of 2017.

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Flatmas: How To Create The Perfect Christmas Dinner FOOD&DRINK Phoebe Radford News Editor

The end of term is nigh. Many student flats and houses like to get together for a Christmas dinner in the last few weeks of term, but cooking a full roast dinner is a bit of a stretch for many, both in budget and effort.

When your specialty dish is a spaghetti bolognaise, a Christmas dinner is ambitious and perhaps a bit daunting.

That is where Redbrick Food&Drink steps in. We are here to provide a definitive guide to an easy Christmas dinner. If you are unsure where to begin or what to do, you can follow the guide stepby-step, but if you’re feeling more confident, feel free to swap items or add in extras. This is particularly good to be creative when you have to cater for vegans and vegetarians.

"If you are feeling more confident, feel free to swap items or add in extras" We have opted to create a chicken roast dinner, as chicken is more readily available and cheaper than turkey. It comes in at around £3.29 for a whole organic chicken, compared to a turkey crown for £8-£10 depending on price.

They also vary more in size, so you can seek a smaller bird if you are catering for a few, or a larger one if you have many mouths to feed.

Timing for cooking can vary a little bit depending on the size of your bird, so double check information on the packaging. If in doubt, BBC Goodfood has a roast timer calculator online that you can consult, or if this does not suffice give home a ring for a second opinion.

SHOPPING LIST First things first, you need to buy your food. Pre-prepared and frozen food can save you some time in some cases, but mostly it will just cost you more.

Phoebe Radford takes us through how to cook the perfect Christmas dinner for your flat For example, buying a frozen bag of carrots and parsnips is likely to cost a lot more than preparing yourself, which is not that much effort.

However, buying gravy granules or a stuffing mix is much more straightforward than boiling up your own meat juices to make a stock for gravy, and faster than breaking up your own breadcrumbs for stuffing.

We are all in support of cutting some corners when it makes sense to, but do not be fooled into thinking all pre-prepared food is worth the extra cost.

Here is our recommended shopping list:

1 Chicken Red onions Garlic 1 lemon Herbs; thyme, rosemary, bay leaves Bag of potatoes Bag of carrots Bag of parsnips Brussel sprouts Chipolatas Bacon Gravy granules Stuffing mix Oil This will provide for a basic roast with chicken, veg, stuffing, gravy, and then a seasonal side of pigs in blankets. Quantity will depend on how many people you’re catering for, so customize this guide accordingly.

Similarly, if you are cooking for vegetarians, make sure you have a vegetarian gravy and that you don’t cook the potatoes or vegetables in meat fats. You can swap the meat for a vegetarian alternative like a nut roast or tart.

Quorn also offer a range of meatfree roasts.

PREPARATION Some of your prep you will be able to do as you go along whilst other bits are cooking, but for things to run smoothly, you might like to prep beforehand.

Firstly, get your chicken out of the fridge. Give it at least 30 minutes to warm up to room temperature. Turn your oven on to 200oc and leave to heat up. Wash and peel your potatoes, carrots and parsnips. Cut your potatoes in half, and cut your carrots and parsnips length ways into quarters. Parsnips can have quite a hard center, so cute this out if you like.

Chop your onion and garlic into large chunks and spread over a roasting tray. Add in your herbs and drizzle in a generous amount of oil.

Prick your lemon all over, then stuff it into the chicken cavity with some more herbs.

Place your chicken in the tray, and drizzle in oil. It is also easiest to mix your stuffing now, especially if you want to roll it into stuffing balls.

Follow the instructions on the mix, but this will normally involve mixing with boiling water and perhaps a bit of butter. Leave to one side for now.

COOKING The chicken will take the longest to cook. Follow the rule of 30 minutes cooking for every 500g of meat.

For example, a 1.5kg chicken would therefore take 90 minutes in the oven. A 1.5kg chicken would serve around 4 people, and this guideline will follow the timings for a bird this size.

"You can start the preparation for everything else straight away, but you do not need to rush!"

This cooking guide therefore takes 90 minutes, as the chicken will need the longest. If you end up using a bigger bird, add in the extra time from the beginning, but then all the later steps can be followed at the times given, which work like a count down.

For example, where is says ‘25 minutes – add your stuffing to the oven’ that means with 25 minutes left in the total cooking time.

90 minutes – put the chicken in the oven and set your timer to 90 minutes.

You can then start the prep for everything else straight away, but you do not need to rush!

There is plenty of time!

80 minutes - parboil your potatoes, carrots, and parsnips for 5-10 minutes. Drain, and then leave for one moment.

If you do not have enough space for all your vegetables in the chicken roasting tray, transfer them into another roasting tray and add some oil if you want them to be vegetarian-friendly.

60 minutes – start to prepare your pigs in blankets. Cut your rashers of bacon in half lengthways, and wrap around your chipolatas. Place the pigs in blankets in a tray.

45 minutes – if you are still preparing your pigs in blankets, just take a moment to put your roast vegetables in the oven, either adding them to the roast chicken tray if they will fit, or in their own tray.

Check how the chicken is looking, if it looks a bit dry, drizzle some more oil over the bird.

35 minutes – put your pigs in blankets in the oven. Then, grab your stuffing mix and either roll into balls and place on a tray, or fill an oven proof dish with the stuffing.

25 minutes – add your stuffing to the oven.

Everything you needed to get into the oven is now done, with 25 minutes of cooking time left.

Make sure you’re keeping an eye on how everything is doing, and drizzling the chicken in more oil if it looks to be drying out.

The last two things you need to prepare are the sprouts and the gravy. Sprouts will take about 5 minutes on the hob in boiling water.

Whilst the sprouts are simmering, you can prepare your gravy according to the instructions of whatever granules you’ve bought.

This should not involve much more than pouring hot water over and mixing. Just make sure that you keep stirring the mixture in order for it to not have big lumps within in it.

FINAL PREPPING Lay the table! If you’ve been doing the cooking solo, then this is definitely a job you can pass on.

If you are unsure, you can get cheap crackers and tinsel from Aldi or Poundland. These really jazz up your kitchen and can also become permanent decorations for year round features in your housewhat is not to love about the Christmas spirit?

After 90 minutes in the oven, your chicken should be done.

Get the chicken out the oven first, and leave to sit for about 10 minutes whilst you get everything else out of the oven and serve up.

Just place some tinfoil over your meat and it will be at eating temperature soon.

If you don’t have the space or wherewithal to put all the veg and sides into serving dishes, then it is probably best to serve directly on to plates or let all your hungry flatmates just dig in.

If you have the space to warm your plates in the oven, then do!

This makes your food last hotter for longer, which is a must when you have such a plate full!

Having rested for at least 10 minutes, it’s time to carve your chicken! But do not fear. This is quite straightforward, cutting along the breast and thigh, but if in doubt, there are lots of youtube videos on this. Jamie Oliver does a good video on how to carve up meats for Christmas. Once this is done you can enjoy the marvellous feast you have created with your flat.

90

minutes is how long this cooking guide takes

Serve up and enjoy!

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Editorial: It's Been A Tough Few Months, But Redbrick is Stronger Than Ever William Baxter Editor-in-Chief @williambaxter2

Hasn’t the last semester gone quickly? It seems mad to think that a little over three months ago we were all busy working on our first papers as a committee. As I write this, the last paper of 2017 is just being put to bed, so I think it’s probably a good time to reflect on the last 12 weeks. We’ve come a long way since the 8 page Freshers Week special, and I think we’ve all learned far more than we were expecting. It’s not been the easiest few months; budget issues, lastminute printing problems and of course those dreaded deadlines (even being the one who sets them never makes them any easier) have all proven bigger challenges than I could’ve imagined. However, it is through hardship that strength is gained and lessons are learned, and I definitely think that Redbrick is stronger than ever.

Our membership is huge, so a massive thank you to everybody who edits, writes, EAs or is involved in any other way at all with Redbrick. We quite literally couldn’t do without you.

"It is through through hardship that strength is gained and lessons are learned, and I definitely think that Redbrick is stronger than ever" Particular recognition as always has to go to the section editors. For the print team, every two weeks means spending hours in the Redbrick office editing articles and

Redbrick Revisits Bryony Parsons Redbrick Archivist

As many students of history and culture will know, 1968 was a turbulent year across the globe. And for the University of Birmingham it was no different. The first week of December in 1968 saw the largest campus protest in the institutions history, with the occupation of the Great Hall and adjoining Administrative buildings.

Students had been demanding immediate representation on the University Senate and Council, and a long-term commitment to review student participation in the running of the University.

When the university authorities refused to meet these student demands, and failed to propose any compromises, the students decided to channel their frustration into action.

The occupation began in the last week of November in a largely spontaneous movement. When the occupation had been running for a week and seemed to be building into a large and significant movement, the decision was taken to try and formalise the protest. The fact that the group of students who were occupying the Vice-Chancellor’s office took it upon themselves to drink his stock of whisky probably contributed to

attempts to control the movement! There were also fears that should the occupation get out of hand, the students would be seen as simply trouble makers rather than legitimate protesters.

An occupation Co-ordinating Committee was quickly established, as well as a security force to ensure that no damage would be done to the Great Hall. An Emergency Guild General Meeting was called on the 3rd December 1968, to ensure that the occupation did have the support of the student body as a whole.

The strength of feeling and excitement surrounding the protest can be seen by the fact that it was the largest meeting in the Guild’s history, attended by more than 2500 students.

Redbrick tapped into this sense of excitement in its coverage of events.

Prominent examples include the satirical sketch ‘Birmingham Undemocratic Airways’ which articulated student frustrations with the current system. The weekly satirical column, written by the character ‘Young Bumley’, was renamed ‘Che Bumley: Diary of a Revolutionary’.

Unfortunately the campus wide excitement surrounding the protest was short-lived – come the Christmas holidays, there was little enthusiasm to continue the protest, and the movement collapsed as spontaneously as it had begun.

designing fantastic looking pages. It’s certainly not a skill to be overlooked; InDesign, the design software we use, certainly isn’t the most accessible thing to learn quickly, but every single editor has truly embraced the challenge. We’re seeing new things every single issue, and choosing a page of the week has been one of the hardest jobs the committee has to do.

Not to be forgotten are the online editors. Despite not always being as visible as the print side of the paper, editors for the web face a constant workload. This year our beloved website has finally started to show its age with daily outages and an increasing number of problems. Thankfully, the online team has responded with great professionalism – not only are they actively working with Tom, our Lead Developer, to rectify the problems, they’re continuing to push the boundaries with how we can display our articles in more creative ways than ever before.

As a society we’re doing more than

ever. The first societies night of term was a fantastic success, even if it did mean some slightly subdued editors in the office the next day. Next up is the first-ever media ball on Monday evening. From a personal perspective, this is an event I’m extremely excited about. It’s the first time that Brum’s media groups have collaborated on anything this big, and it’s definitely contributed to the thawing of decades-old rivalries across the corridor between us and BurnFM. It’s not too late to get involved – we’re always on the lookout for writers, and with the AGM just around the corner, now’s a perfect time to join Redbrick. We’ll be at the Give It A Go fair in The Great Hall in January, but in the meantime us an email, using any of the addresses on page two. In the meantime, from all of us at Redbrick, have a great Christmas and enjoy the break.

Dan Wootton BurnFM Head of Station @woottondaniel

I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that we’ve had an incredible term across the media hallway at Burn FM. We came under pressure at the start of the term due to some unexpected technical difficulties caused by our air con breaking over summer; our equipment was fried and after some wizardry by our incredible tech team we were broadcasting only one day later than initially intended. A typical Burn FM start to the year.

It’s been great seeing our talented presenters grow ever more confident as the term has pressed on, proving us right that you can fill every day 9am until 11pm with incredibly talented students talking live on the radio. Some highlights for me this term have been the Thursday Night Football review for the sports fans amongst us and Burning Topics taking over our Tuesday afternoons with pop tunes and laid back chat that’ll make you forget deadlines were ever a thing.

Our sports journalism team, which I joined way back in the far simpler time of September 2015, has continued to go on to great things this term with an incredible collaboration with Guild TV to produce joint xpLosION 2017 coverage – Burn’s commentators giving you play-by-play summaries and anchors introducing segments, all supremely co-ordinated behind the scenes by those at GTV. Burn Live was a great night to tell of also at Guild Underground in late November.

Bodalia, the Tomorrowland-playing UoBmedic headlined what was a great night of music, organised by one of our Co-Heads of Music – George Alderson.

At time of writing, the first ever Media Ball is just six days away. We have already collectively, between the six main media groups – Burn FM, Redbrick, GTV, Photosoc, SATNAV and Linguist Magazine, sold around 150 tickets and that number is still heading up! Fazeley Studios on Monday 4th December is set to prove that Guild media has never been in better shape than it is right now, and I’m personally incredibly excited for this ball, and it’s been a pleasure co-organising it with the presidents and members of each of those societies.

Our next semester of show applications are opening around the New Year so keep an eye out for those for the chance to host your very own weekly radio show! In the meantime on behalf of Burn FM we wish you a Merry Christmas, and we’ll be back in January!

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CULTURE

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickculture

Review: BRB's The Nutcracker Food&Drink Editor Caitlin Dickinson reviews Birmingham Royal Ballet's spectacular production of The Nutcracker at the Birmingham Hippodrome Caitlin Dickinson Food&Drink Editor @caitlinabby

As the Christmas season comes to Birmingham, so does the annual performance of The Nutcracker

by Birmingham’s Royal Ballet.

This seamless performance of the traditional Nutcracker starts off by being set on Christmas Eve in the family home of the Stahlbaum family. Most people will know the story of The Nutcracker - it is a staple of Christmas festivities, but it was a true privilege to watch this performance on stage at the Hippodrome, directed here

by David Bintley CBE. The basic plot of the play involves the main heroine, Clara, receiving a magical gift of a toy nutcracker from a magician called Drosselmeyer. This toy possesses magical powers and takes her on a journey through magical foreign lands. The strange but wonderful places she visits are conjured up by the magician and by the end of the performance she is transformed into the Sugar Plum fairy - the ballerina she desires to be. Eventually, this world vanishes and she is back under the Christmas tree, on Christmas day.

The soloist of Clara, performed by Karla Doorbar, whom the Nutcracker circulates around on her magical Christmas adventure, was on the stage throughout the entirety of the ballet. Her excellent performance was eloquently performed without error.

Each movement, whether it be slow or fast, complex or simple,

was done with stability and control. Karla Doorbar retained the young, naïve nature of Clara but combined this with the effortless ability of a highly professional dancer. The pinnacle of Clara’s performance came at the end of Act 1, in a moment where tension was high as there was a battle between the Nutcracker and King Rat. Clara was attacked by the King Rat and there was an intense, but elegant, nature to her performance, which was epitomised

in tapping the nose of the King Rat with her ballet shoe. It showed the development from her being a child, to more mature, and documented her transition into being the Sugar Plum Fairy. I was truly amazed by the quality of the performance of Clara - it was potentially the highlight of the show for me.

This was challenged by the interesting performance of the magician Drosselmeyer, performed by Jonathan Payn. As the

magician who triggers the magical journey of Clara, he is key to the events of the performance.

The character of Drosselmeyer is incredibly poignant as his initial benevolence of giving Clara a present is continually twisted and questioned when she is mysteriously taken on a journey by him, showing a sinister side to his personality. Yet, the performance of Drosselmeyer was done with style and confidence. There was a degree of independence in the act

of Drosselmeyer with his strong stage presence and the dominant cape which floated around each movement the dancer made. It was dazzling how the performance of Drosselmeyer completely took over the whole stage and was captivating in both acting and dancing. I have never seen the part of this magician both acted and danced to such an intense level, and it was a really pleasurable aspect of the performance.

It cannot go without mention that this performance was truly not just one for the eyes, but for the ears. The amazing music, which was originally performed

by Tchaikovsky, was done to perfection by the orchestra at the Hippodrome. The solos by the dancers would not have had the focus and precision without the clear and crisp sounds from the orchestra. I believe that the ballet and music both work hand in hand during this production and are responsive to one another.

Admittedly, I did not know every single piece that was performed, but I was aware of the most famous of Tchaikovsky’s pieces.

It may be cliché to say, but the ‘Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy’ was by far my favourite piece within the whole production.

This dazzling spectacle not only puts you in the Christmas spirit, but also allows you to bring together dance, music and scenery in a fusion of talent by Birmingham’s Royal Ballet. I would thoroughly recommend getting yourself a ticket for an early Christmas treat.

Photo: Andrew Ross

Review: 'Rabbit' by Infinity Stage Company Thom Dent Music Editor @thomdent

The Infinity Stage Company has a good recent history of performing excellent, modern productions, with the caveat of doing it all in the name of charity. Their latest play, an interpretation of Nina Raine’s Rabbit to raise money for local charity Caring Minds, came to the Guild earlier this week to an intimate, yet nonetheless responsive, crowd.

"The characters feel disgustingly real; we are not expected to like these characters or even sympathise with them..."

Director, Alex Bell, has stated that Rabbit is ‘one of the few plays I’ve read where the characters feel disgustingly real; we are

not expected to like these characters or even sympathise with them.’ His love for the play stems from ‘its ability to balance the thin line between comedy and tragedy’ – an aspect which comes through all too well in this new interpretation of Raine’s 2006 original. Bell’s casting for Rabbit is excellent, from Fionn Creber’s thoughtful performance as Tom to a suitably commanding performance of Lucy Price’s Sandy.

Catherine Roberts and Jason Timmington have great chemistry as Emily and Richard, the latter particularly cut out for his character’s braggadocios presence. The play is carried, though, by an outstanding performance from Darcy Dobson as the charismatic lead Bella – Dobson commands the stage both amidst the noisy party scenes and the intimate moments with her father (well-characterised by Edward Shock), proving her worth as an actor capable of entertaining and moving an audience.

While the staging was slightly basic (understandable for a stu-

dent play), failing to impress upon first glance, the team behind Rabbit were still able to create interesting dynamics throughout the play: contrasting the spot-lit left hand side of the stage, occupied solely by Shock and occasionally Dobson; and the bright, sitcom-like right hand side. The tight dimensions of the room brought a sense of necessary claustrophobia to the action, resultant accidents such as a falling wine bottle and clear lack of space on the central coffee table were dealt with well by the characters, adding to the bustle and farce while straining even more on the boiling emotional tensions.

Chemistry between the actors was always going to be key to this play’s success, and happily this was, on the whole, a triumph. The acting was very rarely stilted (besides a wavering attempt at a Brummie accent from Timmington **NB. it has been brought to my attention that this is actually his accent - for the resultant cruel barb, I apologise**), and Bell’s cast proved extremely adept at

playing that ‘thin line’ between comedy and poignancy that the director seemed determined to convey. It maintained the humour without descending into hubris, as comedy can so often fail through doing.

"...a well thoughtout, intelligent show..."

It has to be said, however, that Rabbit is not without its faults as a play. The script can sometimes feel a little too on-the-nose – especially with the way in which Raine inserts the ‘father’ plotline.

The reveal at the end of the first act is predictable: audiences can easily guess without much difficulty that Tom was the ‘other man’ in Richard and Bella’s marriage. This inevitability, while not subverted in this production, is nevertheless dealt with well.

Timmington’s Richard seems to second-guess the script long before he states the obvious, leaving the act hanging on a note of resignation rather than one of shock – a more realistic ending

suitable to a play concerned more with humanity than with theatricality.

Rabbit was overall a well thought-out, intelligent show.

Staging and scripting limitations were not just acknowledged, but used as methods of making the play all the more real. The characters are flirtatious, chatty, clever and (crucially) human, testament to Raine’s script and its superb interpretation by Bell and his actors. A thoughtful and well-executed exercise in humanity, pondering life, death, sex, gender politics and jealousy in an endlessly entertaining, yet surprisingly delicate, manner.

CULTURE

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickculture

19

Review: GMTG's American Idiot

Culture Critic Louisa Bebb reviews GMTG's production of American Idiot Louisa Bebb Culture Critic @louisabebb

We live in an age with plenty of weird and wonderful jukebox musicals, but to me the songs of American punk rock band Green Day seemed like a particularly unusual soundtrack. It is for that reason that I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as I visited the guild last week to watch the Guild Musical Theatre Group’s produc-

tion of American Idiot. It is fair to say that I was very pleasantly surprised.

Set during the Bush administration and amidst the Iraq war, American Idiot is a gritty tale of three friends trying to break free from their suburban existence and make their mark in the big city.

The stage opens on a group of disgruntled young adults stuck in the suburbs, and a powerful and punchy performance of the title song ‘American Idiot’ wonderfully portrays the frustration felt by

the characters. The costumes were superb and wonderfully complimented the edgy feel to this musical. The set too should be commended; props were not restricted to the stage and the entire debating hall was decorated with posters protesting against President Bush, the Iraq war and suburban life – an attention to detail which didn’t go unnoticed and was a point of discussion for many audience members.

But it was the live band which excited me the most. Performing no less than 20 of Green Day's greatest hits, the band provided an incredible authenticity and a raw sound that was essential for this particular show.

We were soon introduced to the self-proclaimed Jesus of Suburbia, lovable rogue Johnny.

Making such a troubled antihero likable is a difficult job for any actor, but Iain Alexander managed it effortlessly, bringing enough conviction to the role to ensure that, despite his flaws, Johnny was impossible to hate.

He and his friend Tunny, played by Callum Thompson, escape to the city during the song “Holiday”. The chorography perfectly captures the optimism felt

by Johnny and Tunny, creating an air of excitement and intrigue to where this new adventure will take them. The show was in fact Thompson’s acting debut, a surprising fact when you take into consideration his emotional performance as a young man who decides to join the military.

Johnny’s love interest, whom he refers to as simply ‘Whatshername’, was brought to life by Antonia Forrest. Forrest’s vocals were powerful throughout, a stand out performance being “Letterbomb”, during which Whatshername decides to leave Johnny after he choses heroin over her. It was a truly heart-wrenching performance which certainly did the hit 2004 album justice.

Other stand out performances included that of Will Paxton, whose character Will provided a stark contrast to Johnny and Tunny as he stayed behind to raise his child. Johnny’s crazy alter ego, St Jimmy, was played by Lenny Turner, who provided a confident enough performance to depict the insanity of a role which was in fact just a figment of Johnny’s imagination.

I did feel the show could have

benefited from a short interval.

With a running time of just under two hours, the performance was reasonably short, but a chance to return to reality, stretch your legs and get a quick drink would nevertheless have been appreciated.

Falsettos - 2016 Broadway revival Though the 2016 revival played only in New York, through the power of streaming service BroadwayHD I was finally able to watch this production. Falsettos, written by William Finn, was originally several smaller one act shows with recurrent characters, but was combined to create Falsettos in the early 90’s.

It centres on Marvin, his exwife Trina, their son Jason, and Marvin’s new lover Whizzer, as they navigate their changing relationships during the dawn of the AIDS crisis in the early 1980’s.

Marvin’s psychiatrist Mendel, who gladly becomes the object of Trina’s affections, and their neighbours Cordelia and Dr. Charlotte, make up the ‘teeny, tiny band’ of ‘unlikely lovers’ and ‘nervous wrecks’. Its two acts are a beautiful mix of lighter moments and heartbreak, uplifting and devastating moments in equal measure.

‘I’m Breaking Down’, sung in the 2016 revival by Stephanie J Block (who received one of the show's many Tony Award nominations for her performance as Trina), is likely to be my most listened-to song of the year, and is an absolute masterclass in performance.

Falsettos also has some of the most empowering, emotional and lyrically striking songs of any musical, and its original run in the 80's and 90's was a powerful artistic voice at a time when the AIDS crisis was seemingly at its most devastating. The 2016 revival captures much of that emotion, remaining a deeply important

show for many, and in particular those in the theatre or LGBTQ+ communities who lost friends or family to AIDS.

and be screened as part of the National Theatre Live scheme.

Staged in the round, it was a three hour, unrelenting and deeply powerful performance, with incredible casting, staging and technical design.

The songs it featured, with everything from Patsy Cline to Cat Power, Ella Fitzgerald to PJ Harvey, still remind me of their corresponding scenes, and I now read the iconic speeches of Blanche, such as ‘I have always relied on the kindness of strangers’, in the voice of Gillian Anderson, who played her to perfection. It was one of the first times I felt like a work of theatre had the power to fundamentally change my perception of the world, and one of the instrumental moments in my decision to get as involved in the arts as I could. The whole production is still seared onto my brain, and given the chance (or a time machine), I’d love to revisit it once more.

"...as the curtain closed, a standing ovation showed that the audience really did have the time of their lives" The final scene was a beautiful and intimate contrast to the rest of the show; an acoustic performance of “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” played by the cast members themselves. And as the curtain closed, a standing ovation showed that the audience really did have the time of their lives.

Photo: Clemmography

Culture Corner Olivia Boyce Culture Editor @liv_boyce

Culture Editor Olivia Boyce discusses her culture favourites in our new regular feature, ‘Culture Corner.’

Patricia Highsmith - Carol I came to the novel of Carol only after I had seen the film of the same name, released in 2015.

I saw it at the Electric Cinema, a perfect venue for such a timeless film that deservedly stands as a modern classic, and I adored every aspect of it. The novel, written in the 1950’s by Highsmith under pseudonym Claire Morgan, is a beautiful and groundbreaking moment in LGBTQ+ literature, regarded widely as one of the first instances in which the ending for its female lovers is hopeful rather than tragic.

Therese Belivet, a young aspiring theatre designer (a photographer in the film), is working at a department store in the preChristmas rush, when she sells a gift to an intriguing woman, Carol Aird. Having been given her address in order to deliver the gifts, Therese sends Carol a Christmas card, and Carol, going through a messy divorce with husband Harge, reaches out in return. What follows is a story of tentative love, discovery, loss and forgiveness, told through some of Highsmith’s most beautiful prose.

Highsmith wrote under a pseudonym as a result of a fear she would be called a lesbian pulp fic-

tion writer, and yet she eventually agreed to a republication under her own name in 1990, citing hundreds of letters of thanks she had received for writing the novel and ending it in a way that provided hope for the many readers whose own stories and feelings resembled those of Carol or Therese. As an English student, I’ve always been interested in the people and contexts behind a text, and Carol certainly has a profound importance for both its author and its readers.

Though the novel in its entirety is brilliant in its artistry, the closing lines remain a personal favourite - ‘It would be Carol, in a thousand cities, a thousand houses, in foreign lands where they would go together, in heaven and in hell.' I could read this beautiful, uplifting romance time and time again.

Tennessee Williams - A Streetcar Named Desire My history with this iconic play is a long one. I first found the 1951 film, with performances from Vivian Leigh and Marlon Brando, and loved the unforgiving, tragic tale of desire, destruction and spiralling madness it portrayed. Blanche Dubois, a fading southern belle, arrives at her sister Stella’s New Orleans apartment in a fragile state. There she meets Stella’s husband, Stanley Kowalski, and her flirtatious nature and his volatility soon lead to heartbreaking destruction. I read the play soon after, and resigned it to a pile of plays I hope I might have the chance to experience in person one day.

In 2014, the Young Vic in London staged their production, one which would go on to play in New York’s St Anne’s Warehouse,

Photo: Bloomsbury, Young Vic

20

FILM

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickfilm

Multi-Review: Justice League

With the release of Warner Bros first ever Justice League film, Redbrick Film assembles to decide whether there truly can be justice for all

Todd Waugh Ambridge

Patrick Box Film Editor

Lucy McCann Film Critic

Film Critic

Batman v Superman was an incoherent mess with inconsistent characters and infuriating plotting. It was a struggle simply getting through its bloated, 150minute runtime. My expectations for this sequel, therefore, couldn’t have been any lower – so it is with great shock that I write: I had a lot of fun with Justice League. Last month’s Thor: Ragnarok was dumb, with a rubbish villain and overly-simplified character arcs, but a blast to watch. And Justice League follows essentially the same formula. It still has some questionable Snyder-dialogue (Batman: “I don’t have to recognise this world, I just have to save it.”) and rubbish character moments (Cyborg hates his dad but loves him really!!), but DC has learned to trim down the fat and just leave the meat.

"I had a lot of fun" The meat here is a very simple, but enjoyable, superhero action film: nothing more and nothing less. Unlike Batman v Superman, Justice League doesn’t pretend it’s smarter than it is. The villain is literally a guy who wants to destroy the world (as opposed to being essentially so), leaving much more space for the film to just be a fun ‘gettingthe-band-together’ movie. In particular, Gal Gadot and Ezra Miller shine as Wonder Woman – i.e. the one DC hero people currently care about – and The Flash. Perhaps it was my lowered expectations, or impending deadlines, but this film was a great way to spend 120 fast-paced minutes. Its writing and inconsistent tone won’t make it very rewatchable, but I’m happy to confirm that it is – against all expectations – watchable to begin with.

I’m getting really tired of having a go at DC movies. Going into Justice League I was expecting very little: reviews seemed to have confirmed my suspicions about its poor characters and story quality but many had said that this one was at least fun so I went in ready to be entertained. I wasn’t. This film has no redeeming qualities.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a film this badly written, the plot is of course nonsensical but the dialogue was ear-scrapingly bad especially with Joss Whedon’s grafted on quips and zingers. The action relies on terrible CGI and is unmemorable, the villain is possibly the worst there’s ever been in this genre, whilst multiple characters were present yet given nothing to do.

"I went in ready to be entertained. I wasn't" The titular League’s muchhyped chemistry and acting was all rubbish: Henry Cavil remains the most wooden actor working today, Jason Mamoa is insufferable as Aquaman (being laden with the film’s worst dialogue), Ezra Miller tries so hard as the Flash but the character is just riffing on his TV counterpart, and Ben Affleck was phoning it in to such a degree that I now actively want him to leave the franchise. Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman is the one who escapes the most unscathed yet the camera has a tendency to leer at her behind at several key moments. I don’t even think Zach Snyder can be blamed for the faults of this film, BvS was shockingly poor but it at least had interesting ideas and his vision behind it. It’s a deeply cynical ploy for making money and saving face with not even a veneer of humanity.

To those who can find anything good in it I tip my hat to you, but it’s trash.

Justice League, however much of a Marvel rip-off it is, carries a strong plot, unlike Batman v Superman, and makes sure that the audience knows exactly who the real bad guy is. It definitely avoids the confusion for which Batman vs. Superman was criticised, but unfortunately that's where my praise for this film ends. I cannot help but get a strong sense of 'Fantastic Four Speed Scenario' when watching Justice League, which is never ever comforting. The fact that Superman is the solution to every single problem makes the ending boring and monotonous.

"The fact that Superman is the solution to every single problem makes the ending boring and monotonous" Not to mention the writing of the new characters, in this case meaning Arthur Curry, Victor Stone and Barry Allen (the only attempt at humour in the film), does not offer any sort of reasoning behind their behaviour, reducing them to superficial archetypes. This appears to be a majoring failing of the DC universe, and so far, appears to be unavoidable, but hopefully, it's down to the need to set up key characters.

Nevertheless this film is charged with resuscitating Superman, a well-loved and seemingly essential character, which it does.... and not much else.

Luis Freijo Film Critic @freijo13

Justice League is a terrible movie from whichever point one chooses to look at it from.

DC has spectacularly failed in the "marvelization" process of its superhero franchise and this annoyingly stupid, predictable and poorly-written movie is the result. The script outlines a lazy portrait of each of the heroes and their reasons to join the League that does not help in identifying with them. The villain Steppenwolf is as cliché and disposable as many of the secondary characters. Action scenes are not much better.

"Annoyingly stupid, predictable and poorly-written movie" We can see yet another set of impersonal enemies easily defeated by the heroes in a climax shot with terrible CGI. There are moments in which it seems that we are watching Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (incidentally, the plot is very similar), and that gives an idea of what they have "achieved" with Justice League.

Affleck's performance was more than correct in Batman v Superman, but here he is not even trying. Fortunately, Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller provide some fresh air, even if their characters are not profoundly constructed. And, probably, the best thing about Justice League is confirming that Gal Gadot has bullet-proof charisma when playing Wonder Woman. She believes in her heroine and even here she is able to shine in every shot.

After this result, maybe it would be better for DC to just stick to Diana Prince's adventures.

Matt Taylor Film Critic

In a word? Bland.

It certainly has some good parts: Affleck and Gadot build on what they started in their previous films and prove themselves to be solid leads; Ezra Miller’s Flash is an absolute delight, and lights up the screen whenever he’s on; it’s more lighthearted than previous efforts (though the best jokes seem to have been spoiled by the trailers, giving them a lesser impact here); and the chemistry between the core cast is excellent. There are, however, plenty of negatives.

Steppenwolf is the worst blockbuster villain in years, perhaps ever.

"Steppenwolf is the worst blockbuster villian perhaps ever" His motives are convoluted, his plan never makes any sort of sense, the CG on him is dodgy at best, Ciaran Hinds is unrecognisable in the role, and he never feels like any sort of threat. Cyborg isn’t that well used; Ray Fisher does what he can with what he’s given, but he always feels out of place, and the CGI makes him stick out like a sore thumb. Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman feels so conflicted; he’s enjoyable to watch, but he isn’t fleshed out enough that we care about him.

The parademons can’t help but feel like a rip off of the Chitauri army from Avengers Assemble, and as a whole, there never feels to be any emotion behind the film at all – it’s all so immediately forgettable. And let’s not even start on Henry Cavill’s CGI-removed moustache.

FILM

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickfilm

21

Review: Ingrid Goes West

Film Editor John James uploads his thoughts for your empty validation John James Film Editor

Ingrid Goes West, is a satire not for the ages, but for our specific quagmire of an age. Ingrid, freshly released from mental incarceration, is intensely damaged. Bereft of any form of emotional or social understanding, Ingrid bases her entire reality around social media, specifically Instagram. Confronted with anything that deviates from this ‘reality’ (not being invited to the wedding of a woman she’s never met) can leave her prone to violent rages and crippling existential crises.

The film is brilliantly dark and self-aware, at times taking on more motifs from the slasher genre than a comedy as Ingrid first identifies, then methodically stalks her ‘friend’ (victim) across LA’s irritating boutique pop ups and organic coffee shops. Audrey Plaza, who I’ve always thought was a bit limited on Parks and Recreation, is sublime here. Where April Ludgate relied on sarcasm, Plaza’s Ingrid is more animated. From the demented robotic drift of her eyes down her screen, to the spasm like grimaces she pulls whenever her charade is threatened, Ingrid is a protagonist only in terms of the films title, remaining utterly alienated from the audiences’ trust or sympathy.

This alienation is integral to achieving the films intended

effect as an objective satire rather than a standard ‘laugh, learn and grow comedy’. Chillingly, there is no growth here only regression. At the beginning of the film Ingrid shows herself to be consciously adrift, manipulative and calculating and at the end of the film she is far worse.

The film presents no resolution, just sordid evolution, a brave call that earns it plaudits (from me).

As a satire IGW is a tremendously interesting film. Mat

"Sometimes the film is more slasher than comedy"

Her abject lack of self-awareness renders her utterly incapable at hiding the spiritual affirmation this environment gives her, lending relatively innocent scenes like Ingrid riding a bike down palm-tree lined streets sinister undertones. LA as a place is mercilessly assaulted, its almost patented artificiality dissected at every angle. Idiots in coffee shops ask customers the question of the day whilst idiots around camp fires bemoan that somebody could have an acquire a taste in art rather than earn it.

Every Instagram post takes as long as a fashion shoot, and every throw away comment is read aloud out by the character voices showing how odd their empty praise and canned excite-

ment sound.

Away from Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen does a wonderful job as the vapid, lost and vulnerable Instagram star that Ingrid idolises. Taylor is a woman so lost in pretence her existence amounts to little more than searching for, catching and then manipulating events into moments she never experienced.

To Olsen’s severe credit this desperation is obvious to the audience and to those close to her. To everyone, but Ingrid. To us, Taylor is a tedious but ultimately tragic figure, not worth a fraction of the adulation her persona unhealthy relies on. To Ingrid, Taylor, LA and everything they represent are unimpeachable standards of success,

happiness and fulfilment that her entire sense of self-worth is modelled and depends on.

Who’d have thought you could mine such compelling and lofty stakes from something as pointless as Instagram?

VERDICT: One of the most interesting and relatable comedies in years. If Ingrid Goes West was an instagram post it would struggle to breach the 11 like barrier, and that's why it's brilliant.

««««

Spicer reserves all of Ingrid’s intimate and relaxed moments for when she’s alone with her phone. The camera tracking over her shoulder shooting her reflection contained within her phone could, if you like, hint at the fatal duality between reality and the reality we present to others?

Or, you could focus on the utter depravity of Ingrid’s smile, suggesting a bizarre contentment beyond decency. Or that her hair looks like she’s been chewing on it. Spicer has a lot of fun transposing Ingrid onto and amongst the iconography and clichés she’s long thirsted for.

Feature: Reappraising the DCEU

Digital Editor Alex McDonald ponders whether the DCEU has anything left in the CGI tank Alex McDonald Digital Editor

The DCEU (DC Extended Universe) has had staunch critics since its inception, myself included. Confused characterisation, messy storytelling and bizarre editing choices have held it back from becoming a powerhouse series big enough to compete with Marvel. But this year has seen a monumental improvement in quality for the burgeoning cinematic universe. Wonder Woman was not only a critical and commercial hit but also a hugely important film, giving young girls a female superhero that doesn’t play second fiddle to a

host of male counterparts. But it is after seeing Justice League that I believe the previous entries into the franchise may need a reappraisal.

One of my biggest complaints with the would-be-superhero universe was its depiction of Superman. In Man of Steel he saved no one, destroyed half of Metropolis and undoubtedly caused the deaths of thousands of innocents. Batman V Superman thought that it could wash all of this away as motivation for Batman, but it still didn’t show a changed Clark Kent; he was still a moody, self-involved, joyless hero whose sacrifice failed to have any emotional impact. Enter

Justice League. I am by no means saying that this is a great film.

Enjoyable yes, but it definitely has the same issues that have plagued its weaker predecessors.

But one thing that the film gets absolutely right, an awful CGI upper lip notwithstanding, is Superman.

Henry Cavill is an actor whose charm is as prevalent as his muscles; if someone was to tell me that he was a god-like being from another planet, I would probably believe it. But his charm has been wasted thus far in the DCEU, hidden behind brooding stares and mopey selfreflection. But in Justice League, Cavill is allowed to showcase the

Superman everyone knew he was capable of. All it took was a little smile, a couple of jokes and an actual desire to save people. Who knew that was what made for a likeable superhero?

So now that DC has seemingly cracked the code with Superman, I think it’s about time to take a look back at his narrative arc across the three films he has featured in. Now I am in no way trying to imply that any of this is anything more than blind luck; it would be impossible to suggest that this was all part of Zack Snyder’s grand plan. But viewed in sequence, there is a character growth that seems far more earned than Batman’s hasty

admiration of the son of Krypton.

In Justice League, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman warns the team that you lose something when you die, and remarks that maybe Superman lost his soul.

Yet, in death, it appears that Clark has been exonerated of the guilt that held him back in the previous two films; he is far more at peace with his role as a protector.

The sullen Superman that gave Batman a run for his moody money is dead and what we have now is an all-new Man of Steel.

Perhaps in death, Clark has learned that the world needs him just as much as Lois and (*trigger warning for Bruce Wayne*) Martha do.

What I am asking here, is that knowing this is the end point, knowing that this is where he will culminate, can Man of Steel, BvS and Justice League be viewed as a long origin story for Superman?

For me personally, it will certainly make the previous two more bearable and shows some palpable growth for the character.

Does that make the DCEU all better now? Of course not. As I said, the majority of its films are still a meandering mess. But it does cast a slightly better light on Man of Steel and BvS in retrospect.

However, nothing can save Suicide Squad: That will forever be a pile of Jared Leto’s used condoms.

22

MUSIC

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickmusic

Album Review: Noel Gallagher - Who Built The Moon?

Martha Bird Music Critic

The new Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds album Who Built the Moon? is Gallagher’s third solo album, following his previous effort, the acclaimed 2015 album Chasing Yesterday.

This record is the product of two years of collaboration with DJ David Holmes, and if you were expecting it to have that typical Oasis sound, you are going to be surprised - even if it does feature a host of dad rock old boys, such as The Smiths’ Johnny Marr on the guitar and The Jam’s Paul Weller on the organ.

"If you were expecting 'Who Built The Moon?' to have that typical Oasis sound, you are going to be surprised" Unlike Liam Gallagher’s new album As You Were, Noel's effort bursts away from anything we ever heard in Britpop. Noel described in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine how David Holmes would point out

when something sounded too much like Oasis, and steer him towards a more ‘High Flying Birds’ sound.

Even so, this album moves even further away from anything we have seen even in Noel’s solo ventures so far. There is far less reliance on the electric guitar, instead using cut-and-paste experimentation to create a whirlwind mix of electro, dance, and rock.

There is a clear inspiration from Eastern music throughout the album, with an eclectic range of obscure samples and instrumentals. Influenced by everything from French psychedelic rock to Kanye West, to the Beatles’ move to a trippier sound, Gallagher manages to tie the threads together to create something new from this whole host of inspirations.

The album opens with ‘Fort Knox,’ which Gallagher says was inspired by Kanye West’s ‘Fade.’

It is an intense opening to the album, with incredible samples and instrumentals that really set a dazzling tone for the songs that follow. From intense psychedelic rock, Gallagher bounces straight into what is by far the strongest song on the album: ‘Holy Mountain,’ an amazing disco-rock track reminiscent of Bowie’s glamorous dance-pop. It is hard to believe this song could not make you want to boogie, and even Gallagher – known for his cyni-

cism and moodiness – commented on the joyfulness of the song: ‘there’s so much joy in it. Until the day I die, it will be one of my favourite pieces of music that I’ve ever written.’

"Influenced by everything from French psychedelic rock to Kanye West, to the Beatles' move to a trippier sound" The single ‘It’s a Beautiful World’ features a French spoken word piece, translating at the end to ‘Relax and rest in peace / It’s only the end of the world,’ capturing the album’s apocalyptic mood.

The song could be in the background of an arthouse film, giving off Velvet Underground and Elbow vibes in an incredibly dreamy way.

There has been a clear change in Gallagher’s creative process, with Holmes asking Gallagher not to come up with a song or idea and build on it, but instead to opt for bringing guitars and instrumentals to the studio and instead riff off that to create the tracklist.

‘The whole thing was born out of

conversation and playing records,’ Noel says of writing with Holmes, ‘him saying, “I think that you should do stuff like this” and he’d play some obscure fuckin French jazz shit. And I’d be going, “Wha? Really? Ooh la la.”’

The results are chaotic and

messy in an incredible way; Gallagher seems to be bursting out of the confines of his Britpop past into a psychedelic soundwave of an album.

«««««

A Beginner's Guide To: Country Music Although one of the most maligned musical genres around, Travel Editor Iesha Thomas asks us to give country music's best artists a deserved second chance Iesha Thomas Travel Editor

Country has quite literally become the Nickelback of music genres: admitting you like it is social suicide. While, yes, stereotypical songs all about trucks and objectifying women in cutoff jeans are littered throughout the genre, contrary to popular belief there is more to country than this.

Country is overlooked too often, meaning many are missing out on beautiful songs that evoke nostalgia, heartbreak, love, loss

and can transport you back in time or to places you have never been.

"The collective artistic venture between the rambler, the hometown dedications and love ballads has defined the stories country continues to tell" The Founders

These artists have had careers spanning multiple decades, and have survived the ebb and flow of country traditions. From Cash’s intertwining of blues, folk and rockabilly on classics such as ‘Jackson’ and ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ to Strait bringing back neotraditional country in the 1980s with ‘Amarillo By Morning’ and ‘I Got A Car,’ the genre is always evolving. The collective artistic venture between the rambler, the hometown dedications and love ballads has defined the stories country continues to tell.

Listen to Parton’s My Tennessee Mountain Home, or Garth Brook’s definitive 90s country classic In Pieces to give yourself the perfect introduction to the genre.

The Big Shots

Kenny Chesney has reigned over the genre for over twenty years: his lonesome traveller, beach-bum vibe takes you to the Florabama coastline in ‘Summertime’ or the winding roads of Dixie in ‘The Road and the Radio.’ ‘Spirit of a Storm,’ ‘Tequila Loves Me’ and ‘Wild Child’ are brimming with tragic and beautiful lyrics about his wild adventuring, his wandering soul and the women in his life.

Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert are the new queens of country, their ability to simultaneously be strong and belting yet with a traditional, sweet twang epitomises the genre’s versatility. Deeply moving and personal songs of Underwood’s include ‘The Girl You Think I Am,’ ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Mama’s Song,’ ranging to feisty narratives such as ‘Blown Away,’ ‘Two Black Cadillacs’ and ‘Before He Cheats.’

Lambert’s trio Pistol Annies take on traditional country themes and put a new twist on them in ‘Boys from the South’ and ‘I Feel

a Sin Comin’ On.’ Perhaps this is what has made hers the loudest female voice within the genre.

The New Kids

Maren Morris’ smoky Nashville pop sound and husky cigarette voice earned her a Grammy last year; having toured the UK last month and duetted with Niall Horan on ‘Seeing Blind,’ it is clear that the word of her talent is spreading across the Atlantic. ‘My Church’ is a new classic, while tracks such as ‘Once’ and ‘Bummin’ Cigarettes’ are relatable to anyone who has ever made poor decision when it comes to relationships. Her recent release ‘Dear Hate’ has stormed the charts in response to the Las Vegas shootings, and showcases her raw vulnerability.

"Brett Eldredge, along with Luke Combs, are the two most vocally powerful men in country" Kacey Musgraves is a badass, subverting traditions left, right and centre while sticking true to country roots. She talks politics,

smoking marijuana and accepting same-sex love in ‘Follow Your Arrow,’ and the effects of being a woman in a male-dominated genre in ‘Good Ole’ Boys Club.’ She also hits home hard on ‘Somebody to Love,’ a song that will give you an existential crisis about the human need to not be alone.

Brett Eldredge, along with Luke Combs, are the two most vocally powerful men in country.

Eldredge’s influence of old swing, combined with country and pop influences, has blended together to produce great love songs and heartbreaking ballads such as ‘No Stopping You.’ But he also demonstrates grappling with his struggles with intimacy in ‘Castaway,’ his most vulnerable work. Combs burst onto the scene this year with his debut album This One’s For You. While here and there Combs has elements of bro country, his gravelly voice and heartfelt lyrics are worth a listen. Upbeat, feelgood, twangy tunes such as ‘Memories Are Made Of’ and ‘Hurricane’ are of notable mention.

I could recommend many other great country artists: Lonestar, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts or Thomas Rhett to name just a few. The genre can have a hypnotising effect: once you fall in love with country, you can never get away from it.

MUSIC

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickmusic

23

Anton Du Beke Ruins Our Favourite Christmas Songs Christmas

Sorcha Hornett investigates the bizarre new holiday Nestled away in the basement of the Guild, here are the tracks we could tradition of TV personalities releasing festive albums even had a first album. Turning not stop playing in the Redbrick office Sorcha Hornett TV personalities into pop stars is Music Critic @sorchahornettxo

The album charts may start to resemble TV listings over the next few weeks, due to the vast amount of television personalities deciding to cash in on pop’s most lucrative period of the year. Last week, Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke released a seventeensong extravaganza titled From The Top, while Bradley Walsh, best known for hosting ITV game show The Chase, has just released his second album When You’re Smiling.

"The fate of Du Beke's record will be down to how much charm he can exude on chatshow sofas" The explosion in this strange market is partly because of Walsh.

Last year he released a collection of covers that became a shock Christmas hit – by the end of December, Chasing Dreams was the best-selling British debut album of 2016, making Walsh a contender for Best Male at the Brit Awards earlier this year. It is absolutely remarkable that Bradley Walsh, of all people, would be in the running for a Brit Award and probably more remarkable that I only found out about his nomination during the writing of this article – let alone that he

big business for record labels: in the digital age, album sales have taken a huge hit due to streaming services, leading to a singles chart dominated by tracks on the most popular streaming playlists, and an album chart still at the hands of the older generations. Walsh’s debut album had over 138,000 sales, a massive 98% of which were CDs. TV personalities also have surprisingly large fanbases, meaning labels have a ready-made market to sell to. I would not be surprised if I went home and found my mother had bought Anton Du Beke and Bradley Walsh’s records and was listening to them on repeat.

Despite Walsh’s success, I have my doubts about Du Beke’s album and whether it will actually sell. It is a collection of big band and swing covers of well-known hits – including, bizarrely, a very weird reworking of the Arctic Monkey’s ‘I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor.’ I cannot say I am a huge fan. The cover is something I wish I could unhear – whoever thought it would be a good idea to make a swing version of a single that is so essentially opposite to everything else Du Beke covers on From The Top? His version of ‘City Of Stars’ is shockingly bad too – the autotune on his voice somehow making it sound off-pitch. They say you should stick with what you know, and in Anton’s case he needs to stick to dancing and stop singing if his album is anything to go by. The fate of Du Beke’s

Plastic Ono Band Happy Xmas (War Is Over) Kat Smith

Comment Editor @katlouiise

John Lennon’s ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over),’ with his team of Yoko Ono and the The Harlem Community Choir, has earned its rightful place on every Christmas compilation ever, leaving Mariah Carey’s warble-filled classic in the dust. Everybody knows it, and record will be down to how much charm he can exude on chat-show sofas, and if enough smitten mums can be bothered to go out and buy a physical copy. Honestly, I would not recommend listening to it, purely because I wish I never had.

Unfortunately, I cannot give an in-depth review of Walsh’s newest album. This is partly because Du Beke had put me off so much by ruining Arctic Monkeys – I simply could not face disappointment again, and also because I started listening to his cover of ‘Get Happy’ and did not make it past the first thirty seconds, so I threw in the towel for good. It is extremely clear I am not Du Beke’s target market, but based on Walsh’s success it is clear why so many TV personalities are turning to this industry.

Personally though, Anton... keep dancing.

yet despite its popularity no one seems to hate it, a pretty impressive feat for a Christmas song.

Although the whispered ‘Happy Christmas Kyoko’ drivel at the beginning are enough to make anybody cringe, the song’s undertones as a genuine war protest mean it is not as generic and overhyped as ‘Fairytale of New York’ and not as unapologetically awful as ‘Last Christmas.’

Elton John Step Into Christmas William Baxter Editor-in-Chief @williambaxter2

Quite simply, four minutes and five seconds of complete festive joy. Forget Wham, forget Wizzard, forget The Waitresses – Elton John’s contribution to Christmas trumps them all. It is a pop classic, perfectly comfortable both alongside other Elton hits like ‘Crocodile Rock’ and in any Christmas party playlist. Sure, if your festivities consist of a solitary meal deal turkey sandwich and stifling tears as you wonder where it all went wrong, Elton’s unapologetically upbeat tune will probably not be to your taste (if so, stick to the hugely overrated

‘Fairytale of New York’). If, however, you are capable of summoning even the smallest amount of festive cheer, ‘Step Into Christmas’ is unbeatable.

Single Review: Walk The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl The Moon - Kamikaze Fairytale Of New York tempo increases as the harmonies and vocal editing of the lyric ‘Woman’ contrasts against the song’s simpler beginning.

Sophie Rashley Music Critic @sophie_rashley

Walk the Moon’s new track ‘Kamikaze’ begins with soothing guitar and wind instruments, complimenting the singer’s soft vocals.

With lyrics like ‘You could be my comfort / You could be my healing’ the expectation is to hear a lovelorn ballad. However, the final line of the pre-chorus triggers a change in tone, and the

"Showcasing both their versatility and their ability to transform and update their sound" The chorus exhibits a powerful drumbeat, making it a perfect track for predrinking, or a tremendous motivational song for the morning. Wind instruments are weaved into the backing of the upbeat chorus, keeping continuity throughout. In the next verse, the tone shifts back to a slower tempo that uses a beat similar to clapping rather than a drumkit, enhancing the natural feel that accompanies this section of the track.

This more toned-down side to

Walk The Moon will remind listeners of their 2011 debut EP I Want! I Want! rather than the louder and more pop-focused albums they have become known for, showcasing both their versatility in style and their ability to transform and update their sound: they can take old ideas and restructure them into something new, a talent that lesser bands suffer for lacking.

'Kamikaze' is not perfect - the final bridge seems unnecessary, a semi-rapping take on the final lyrics appearing harsh against the already contrasting verses and choruses. It feels like the band are aiming for an exciting ending, when the track would be just as effective just fading out.

Overall however, this is an exciting track that features a more understated side to Walk the Moon, reminiscent of their early releases while pushing them forward towards something new.

««««

Kirstie Sutherland Deputy Editor @whatkirstiedid

It is rare to find someone who doesn’t quote ‘Fairytale of New York’ as their favourite Christmas song. Best sung along to while swaying with a drink in hand, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s gorgeous duet is a festive classic.

With Shane MacGowan’s slurred

vocals, the Irish folk track makes you feel warm and cosy inside with just the sound of the opening piano bars. The crass yet bittersweet lyrics are full of nostalgia and Christmas cheer, and it remains one of the few songs in which lyrics such as ‘Happy Christmas, your arse / I pray God it’s our last’ instil us with happiness. If this is not your favourite Christmas song, think again.

Kanye West Christmas In Harlem Alex Cirant-Taljaard Comment Editor

While Kanye West is not somebody who you would typically associate with cheer and goodwill, he is responsible for the greatest Christmas tune of all time – ‘Christmas in Harlem.’ With help from Cyhi the Prynce and Teyana Taylor, West creates what

is almost certainly his most upbeat track ever. And, in the spirit of the holiday, West released the track completely free of charge. Sadly, ‘Christmas in Harlem’ is painfully difficult to come by, recently disappearing off of most streaming platforms. But, if you do not mind a bit of pirating, you too can enjoy West’s soulful portrait of Christmas in NYC.

24

TELEVISION

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricktv

Festive Adverts 2017: Ghosts of Christmas Past Matt Dawson casts a critical eye over this year's adverts that will dominate Christmas TV Matt Dawson Television Editor

Maybe it is because I have grown older and more cynical, but for the past few years it has felt that the 'Christmas Spirit' has lost a bit of its spark. Do not get me wrong, I love getting in the mood of the wintry holiday, but recently the run-up to it has felt hollow.

Contrived Christmas adverts certainly haven’t helped. Starting with the early John Lewis ads that were pretty revolutionary for their time, they have since caused a never-ending flow of brands trying to capitalise on the festive season and imagining situations that are clearly devised by a thinktank of executives trying to find out what tracks best with audiences.

This has led to an emergence of some patterns. A fairly popular one is the anthropomorphised ani-

"Year upon year we are bringing Christmas forward" mal/inanimate object that finds true love, a family or whatever generic fuzzy feeling related to the holiday. Last year, Aldi jumped on the bandwagon with Kevin the Carrot. It ticked all the boxes: whimsical narration (complete with rhyming couplets), love at first sight with another of the orange root vegetables, and notso-subtly placed reminders of all the festive food now on sale at the supermarket. Although we should be no strangers to the marketing of cute characters, after the continued endurance of Aleksandr the Meerkat. Time and time again we have seen animals used as cute

drive up revenue for one of the most lucrative shopping periods of the year, but I can not be the only one suffering from Christmas fatigue.

"Those of you who love the festivities that accompany Christmas may choose to dismiss what I am saying" characters capable of making our hearts melt. This year, as with every, is no exception.

Another example is the modern retelling of fairy-tales, but lacking the innocence and selfawareness of Pantomimes. This year’s offering from Debenhams is a remake of Cinderella that gives an unrealistic perception of how people use social media to find missing footwear. Such adverts hang off the commonly used love story to envoke a sense of magic. Love and romance never fails to get people feeling festive.

Granted, it was not as forced as the Alice in Wonderland/Aladdin/ Wizard of Oz conglomeration in 2013 from Marks & Spencer, but it did do something that I object to, which was being released on two whole months before the day itself! They barely let the last explosion from Bonfire Night fizzle away. I understand trying to

Those of you who love the festivities that accompany Christmas may choose to dismiss what I am saying, but I really feel as though dragging the Christmas

period makes it less special.

Year upon year we are bringing Christmas forward; is this because releasing adverts has become a competitive race in which shops are only interested in high profits? Or is this because, as a nation, we hold onto Christmas as the most important time of the year? Whatever it may be, I am getting tired of it. If we continue to repeat similar storylines and push Christmas forward, we risk loosing the uniqueness of the festive season.

Maybe I am just a Scrooge.

Maybe I should stop being so nitpicky and let the infectious positivity of Christmas wash over me.

But not until December is it in full swing at least.

What do you think about festive adverts? Let us know @redbricktv

Comic Con with Andrew Lee Potts Matt Dawson Television Editor

Kicking off the first panel of the weekend at the MCM Birmingham Comic Con, actor and director Andrew Lee Potts (famous for his role of Connor Temple in the ITV sci-fi series Primeval) talked to an eager crowd about his acting anecdotes and upcoming projects.

He first talked to the audience about Wireless, his internet series that will be returning in 2018, mentioning that 'Wireless is a web show that I direct, and it’s a passion project that I do alongside any other TV and filmwork.”

Entirely financed by Potts himself, the series is already 12 episodes in and is available to stream online for free. It features an ensemble cast of actors who work for free, but Potts edits, directs and coordinates everything. 'It’s kind of like my baby. Everything you see is basically my vision and hard work.'

Potts further elaborated on the genesis of the concept: 'It was developed in the last year I was filming Primeval, with my writing partner. We started to develop it as a TV show and then [during the early stages] I slowly realised, that a lot of power would be taken away from me, and I didn’t want that because it’s not the reason I

direct.' As a director, he makes no financial gain, and so did not want to sacrifice the artistic integrity of his project.

Potts also mentioned the reason behind the decision of casting himself as the protagonist: '[A] lot of actors like to direct themselves so they can become the lead, but that wasn’t the case with this. It was the most convenient thing, as it starts set in the character’s car and I was the only person there, and there can’t be anyone else in the car as it’s being filmed, so I thought ‘it’s going to have to be me really!’'

But of course, most people of a certain generation (myself included) instantly recognise Andrew Lee Potts from one of the sci-fi shows that dominated Saturday night TV: Primeval.

After first reading the scripts, he didn’t believe it. His first response was, '[Y]ou can’t do it in Britain, you can’t make dinosaurs like

this! This is Jurassic Park! I’ve never seen anything on the telly like this, it’s impossible!' For Potts and his co-stars, it would only sink in after seeing the visual effects for the first time. When asked if it changed primetime Saturday night television, Potts responded: '[I]t did at the time.

T h e only thing similar was Doctor Who, but even they weren’t doing the effects that we were. [Instead] they used a lot more practical effects, but ours was a completely CGI show.'

For Potts, the reasoning behind this was clear. 'There were no shows on British television that l o o k e d American. That looked sexy, cool, hip, but still felt really British, with the humour. So we broke the mould with that. And then suddenly Merlin got commissioned, Robin Hood got commissioned, and so did all these other ones that were in the same kind of vein. But I think that

we were brave enough to take that first step.' This extended to the fearsome array of creatures and dinosaurs that the series became famed for, and for Potts, the Future Predator stood out in particular. 'It’s brilliant, I still stand by it. I still can’t believe we got away with putting that on family television, it looks like something out of a horror film. It was like the Terminator, it just didn’t stop It became a bit like our Dalek, but could move a hell of a lot faster.'

"most people of a certain generation (myself included) instantly recognise Andrew Lee Potts from... Primeval" When talking about his character, Potts mentioned that Connor 'was the heart of the show. He was the innocent, and we love to follow the innocent. He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.'

Potts developed the technique of ad libbing on set. 'As Connor I improvised quite a lot, changed it every time and kept it fresh.'

This was a step up from his audition, as the actor initially struggled with some technical terms. 'I had to learn to pronounce them properly. I couldn’t even say ‘anomaly’, which is mentioned in every other sentence in Primeval.'

At the time, ITV obviously wanted to capitalise on the show's success, which lead to a flood of merchandising. When discussing the phenomenon, Potts mentioned, 'Having an action figure of myself, no-one could ever take that away from me The weirdest thing was going around Sainsbury’s and shopping.' But there were some that were clearly more popular than others. 'There was hardly ever my toy on sale, it was always sold out, there was only ever [Ben Miller’s character] James Lester!' Potts was also asked what is probably a popular question amongst fans about the potential to come back.

He responded: 'It wouldn’t surprise me if they revisited the brand. I think they should. It was unique, it was fun, and I would like my kids to be able to grow up watching a show that looks cool and American, but is fundamentally British. I don’t know if I’d be in it, I’d be too old by then!'

TELEVISION

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricktv

Discovery is the Trekkiest Trek

James Honke argues that Star Trek Discovery reflects our post-modern reality James Honke Television Writer

If C-137 Morty was the Mortiest Morty, then Star Trek Discovery is the Trekkiest Trek.

Trek has always offered a reflection of our existence, overcoming our fears in the most human and hopeful way possible. It is addictive. A relatively recent convert to ‘Trek’, myself, I fell in love with the episodic storytelling of Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Each new adventure represented the latest chance to face a moral dilemma or philosophical challenge armed only with peace and a belief in doing good. In an era dominated by uncertainty, change and a general sense of dystopia, Star Trek was refreshingly optimistic. It was distilled hope in television form.

Yet Star Trek is a product of its times as much as it may attempt to gaze beyond them. It shows itself in the world that is built around its characters, from their dress and style to their attitudes and behaviour. Whilst Star Trek has always been a revolutionary premise, it is still science fiction (as opposed to the science fantasy of Star Wars) and thus is grounded at the very edge of what we understand to be possible, for better or worse.

In the past, this has lead to great revolutionary moments of television. It was no accident that an original series written at the height of the Cold War built a world with a Russian on the bridge, but it is also no accident that a world where the Federation - our mostly Western heroes - were committed to peace and freedom, faced an oppressive, totalitarian foe in the Klingon Empire. And whilst the Federation did some-

thing truly avant-garde and included a woman of colour in a position of command, she was also wearing impractical heels, an impractical hairstyle and a damned impractical mini-skirt. It did not matter how far forward you went: men, quite literally, wore the trousers.

"There are no moral guide-lines, no wise captains, one-episode adventures" Take another step forward to The Next Generation and the enemy is not the USSR but the marches of digital capitalism.

Now, our greatest fear was not a foreign opponent who wanted us dead but one that looked just like us and yet was not, instead morphing us into a non-human unit of production. The crew, rather than tussling with grizzled warriors or fair space-maidens instead tussled with their own morality and humanity: what did it mean to be human? What made us free?

Voyager and Deep Space Nine took another leap, once again more hopeful and yet more dark. Now the dramas were even more personal: what did it mean to be an individual? Was the Federation really the best? Were universal morals fit for purpose?

Discovery is the natural conclusion of all this, reflecting, as it does, the terrors of post-modernity. It is no coincidence that Discovery’s enemies have changed yet again, replacing the Borg and

the Cardassians with a complete re-imagining of the Klingons who, morphed once again, have become almost nightmare-ish.

These are not the Klingons that Kirk battled, and definitely not the species that let Worf join the Federation, but a society driven by fundamentalist faith in the pursuit of the absolute annihilation of their enemy. They believe with pathological certainty that they are defending themselves from an invader who offers peace, yet is taking away their way of life.

They are not entirely wrong; the Federation may claim to come in peace, but it is an invasive, destructive Pax-Federatica that homogenises the universe in their image. Where the 1960’s Federation felt as if they were assured in their mission to explore the universe, this post-Iraq war Federation is asking whether the universe might be better off left well alone.

This existential crisis finds its way onto the Discovery. This is a ship populated by walking moral grey area, captain driven by a single-minded desire to win the war, a first officer who is genetically designed to be a coward, a scientific genius who walks the line between arrogant and brilliant, and our protagonist, a convicted mutineer plagued by PTSD. In a world that is increasingly uncertain, the show is defined as much by what is absent as by

what is there.

There are no moral guidelines, no wise captains, no oneepisode adventures. There is no great mission here, no frontiers to explore, just an endless battle against the enemy and themselves as the characters suffer as much from guilt, anomie and ennui as they do from physical injury or the stress of tribulation. 'I would give anything for a moment of peace' wails our protagonist, as much at the void as at another character. It is a Fight Club-esque dystopia in both its constant activity and complete emptiness.

In truth, then, this serialised, dark, violent sci-fi show is the perfect Star Trek for the postm o d e r n world. Where previous Star Treks were united in their understanding of modernity, driven by a sense of purpose and a belief in progress, Discovery doesn’t pretend at certainty in any form. Instead, it refutes certainty of morality, certainty of purpose or certainty of ourselves, and in so doing, builds a world that reflects our own post-modern existence. Rick and Morty glances at the void and laughs, amused by the absurdity of a universe that does not matter and does not care. Discovery stares deep into that void, grimaces and then struggles on anyway.

And that is why it is the Trekkiest Trek of them all.

25

Our Top TV Picks For This December

Dark Season One Netflix 1st December

The Grand Tour Season Two Amazon Prime 8th December

Russell Howard is Back

Jonny Isaacs praises The Russell Howard Hour, the comedian's latest show on Sky Jonny Isaacs Television Writer

Like Russell Howard’s Good News, the show kicks off with a satirical breakdown of the week’s events, both the main headlines and some slightly more obscure stories. Three years off air has only served to improve Howard’s comedic timing and passion for change. As with Good News (and if not more so), there is a constant focus on small but realistic and positive ways to rectify the issues Howard addresses. Period poverty? He suggests schools accept donations of sanitary products to give to girls.

Homelessness?

Restaurants donate spare food to foodbanks.

Poor treatment of junior doctors? Send a copy of a doctor’s memoirs to Jeremy Hunt.

The move from BBC to Sky has given Howard more scope to push his own (thus far largely proNHS) views, and be more liberal with his choice of comedic inter-

ests; an early joke at the expense of the BBC when discussing Uber’s ignoring of sexual harassment allegations springs to mind.

In addition, Howard has more freedom to personally criticise individual public figures, mainly Boris Johnson and Theresa May, without having to ensure a balanced criticism of the other side.

That is not to say that he does not critique both Tories and Labour equally, it is more organic.

New for The Russell Howard Hour is 'Playground Politics', a section in which Howard talks to primary school children from around the world.

He asks them about quite significant and complicated issues, from North Korean aggression to war and Vladimir Putin. Whilst I do see the appeal of this section, and it is often funny and enlightening, it is not my favourite. I sometimes find myself shocked at how desensitised these children are to violence, which clouds the amusement of their child-like innocence.

A few things that made Good News stand out from other satirical current affairs shows were short sections of stand- up by a diverse range of lesser-known comedians; interviews with unique and interesting individuals that aren’t ‘famous enough’ for the usual chat-shows; and the 'It’s Not All Doom And Gloom' section to end the show on an inspiring note of pure altruism.

"Howard continues to bring his unique perspective and incredible humour" Whilst The Russell Howard Hour might be interviewing more glamourous figures such as Ed Sheeran, Greg Davies, Dianne Abbott and Richard Branson, Howard continues to bring his unique perspective and incredible humour to these interviews.

Instead of the usual reasons a politician might be interviewed on TV, Diane Abbott’s appearance's sole

purpose is to combat racial and sexual abuse towards public figures.

In place of the aforementioned 'It’s Not All Doom and Gloom', the new show features a section called 'Good Deeds' wherein Howard asks his viewers to tweet him stories of people they know going out of their way to help others. The one that stuck with me was a man who uses his 3D printer to create cool and fun prosthetic limbs for amputee children.

Howard also highlighted a story about a man named Matt who hid twenty £10 notes around his native Cardiff, with a note attached asking the finders to pay it forward with good deeds of their own.

Howard takes this further and hides one hundred £10 notes around the UK for the same purpose. Over the following weeks, we have seen what people have done with the money, tweeting #TennerforGood, and the stories are truly heartening. That being said, Howard never for a moment drops the comedic veneer on which the whole show is based.

What do you think about Russell Howard's new show? Let us know @redbricktv.

Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show BBC One 25th December

Doctor Who Christmas Special BBC One 25th December

GAMING

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickgames

Redbrick's Best

Top Indies of 2017

This week, Redbrick Gaming looks back on a year of

Emma Kent Gaming Editor @GoneEFK

Little Nightmares is a game that will leave you with some big night terrors. As a tiny child called Six, the player is forced to engage in a deadly game of hide and seek to escape the grotesque monsters within ‘The Maw’.

Little Nightmares excels in its world-building through the many horrific details placed in the background (including wriggling meat sacks containing children). When combined with its inventive puzzle-solving gameplay, it easily deserves a spot on this list and in your games library – if you dare.

Emma Kent Thimbleweed Park has been able to scratch the decades-long itch for a new adventure game. As a throwback to classic point-and-click games, with an original verb interaction system as well as additional features, Thimbleweed Park helps newer players get involved in a genre that is fairly daunting for the uninitiated.

Thimbleweed Park brings together everything that has made adventure gaming so wonderful, whilst avoiding the accessibility pitfalls they have suffered in the past.

James Law Snake Pass is a beautiful game, with bright graphics which look excellent on any screen, from your 4K TV, to the small screen of your Switch. As a fun physics puzzler, the game entraps you within its vivid environment, slithering around as a snake, climbing bamboo and collecting glowing orbs.

You'll lose hours in the game, and it'll only feel like minutes.

Roshni Patel Pyre is an unusual fusion of a role playing game with a sports game style combat. Developed by Supergiant, Pyre has the same gorgeous visuals of its predeccesors Transistor and Bastion, and mixes a complex plot with whimsical sport like mini games to create an entertaining and narratively brilliant game.

Olivia Boyce

10

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus MachineGames have pulled off a nearly impossible feat – matching their previous games. This must be the only game where you can blast away your daddy issues with dualwield double-barrelled shotguns.

As the developers seamlessly blend the very real, with the very ridiculous to produce a stupendously satisfying first-person shooting bonanza, full of quality story, lovable characters and topclass shooting action. Oh, and you get to shoot space Nazis. In the face. On Venus. This has to go down as not just one of the games of the year, but one of the best shooters of the last decade, producing the kind of satisfaction that only comes from killing bad guys and being a total f***ing badass.

This is the kind of game you’ll never regret playing. Promise.

James Honke

6

NieR: Automata NieR is a masterpiece, and I do not use that word lightly. Yoko Taro’s brilliant creative vision has finally been realised, thanks to a collaboration with PlatinumGames.

Automata is a fantastic game with exceptional hack-n-slash gameplay, brilliant RPG elements, a beautiful artistic direction, and a soundtrack which will make you weep. However, it is the story that elevates NieR: Automata to the level of a masterpiece – taking all of the lovingly crafted elements and bringing it all together into a narrative which will make you question what it truly means to be alive. I simply do not have enough words to emphasise how much this game affected me, it is, however, a good thing that I do not, as NieR: Automata is a game that is best experienced completely blind.

If you have a PS4 and you do not have NieR: Automata, you are doing yourself a disservice.

Zak Barlow

2

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild As soon as I stepped out into the stunning Hyrule of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I knew that I would be in for one hell of a journey, and I was not disappointed. Breath of the Wild is a game that somehow manages to get everything right: the combat is addictive and enticing without ever feeling repetitive; the gameplay is perfectly balanced between innovative and nostalgic; and the Image Credit: Sumo Digital

9

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard It might not be the very best game of 2017, but it may be the most important.

Rewind just 5 years and the influential, and in many ways genredefining, Resident Evil series appeared to be ready to be sent to the scrapyard after the release of two lacklustre action-focused titles. Seeing the Grim reaper’s scythe appear over the horizon made Capcom decide to return to their survival horror roots, a decision that has both saved the franchise and created the best game to have come out in the sub-genre in the last ten years. While it clearly draws heavily on the recent Amnesia and Outlast success stories, Resident Evil’s execution of the first-person template, takes it to a whole new terrifying level.

“Resident Evil’s execution of the first-person template, takes it to a whole new terrifying level”

From top to bottom: Resident Evil 7; Capcom, Wolfenstein 2; Bethesda, NieR; PlatinumGames, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice; Ninja Theory and Zelda: Breath of the Wild; Nintendo

George Hopkins

PlatinumGames

The saying ‘good things come in small packages’ could not be a more appropriate way to describe the many fabulous indie games made by small developers in 2017.

As our 'Best Games’ list is mainly focused on big titles, we've also taken the time to shine a spotlight on some of our favourite indies.

5

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Delving into the darkest, most macabre elements of the human psyche, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice hacks away at the shrouded insecurity we all bear: the fear of failure. Senua’s moving story, travelling through the Nordic realm Helheim to redeem her lover’s soul, walks the line between cinematic experience and game. What is and is not real is unclear; its sinister, transformative and sumptuous environments are punctuated by the voices of the heroine’s psychosis, through the use of eerie binaural audio to aid or antagonise the player. As fragments of her tragedy are revealed through the gruelling psychotic break, the visceral gameplay and deeply affecting atmosphere harmonise just like a Viking rune.

This reserves Hellblade a welldeserved place on our Game of the Year podium.

Imogen Claire

world is huge, imaginahave the Zelda experitive and free but never ence at its core. Simply empty. With Breath put, The Legend of of the Wild making Zelda: Breath of the a lot of changes to Wild is a masterthe tried-and-tested piece that has not Zelda formula, only redefined the Golden Joysticks many were worZelda series but has won in 2017 ried that the game also become one of would not feel like the best games to a Legend of Zelda have ever been game, but there was made. never a moment within my playthrough of Breath of the Wild that the game did not Jack Cooper

4

Nintendo

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GAMING

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickgames

Games Of 2017

Zeus Strike Cambridge to Win Winter Cup

great games and counts down the some of the best “Success is a camp full of animals, and a purse full of bells”

8

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp I’d like to make something clear, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is not objectively the best game that came out this year.

In terms of graphics, gameplay, and amount of content, there are many games which top Pocket Camp. However, it is still my game of the year, not because of any objective measure of quality, but because of the feeling I get when I play it. It’s a feeling only Nintendo games can create, like sinking into a warm bath of emotion and nostalgia. Pocket Camp is my childhood, condensed into a (free!) app. Yes, it is a mobile game, and there are microtransactions. But, unlike many triple A games released this year, you don’t need to spend money to succeed in this game. Success is a camp full of animals, and a purse full of bells.

Alex Cirant-Taljaard

Roshni Patel Gaming Editor @Roshofalltrades

7

Persona 5 This was my first time in a Persona game and it was certainly a blast. From excellent dungeon design to amazing writing, this game is utterly superb. While not graphically ground-breaking, this game has a very memorable art style and the characters are very interesting, each with great side stories of their own. One shortcoming of JRPGs is that they often have a combat system which goes stale quickly.

However, Persona 5’s turn based combat, which features multiple options for dealing with personas, other than simply killing them when they are weak, gives players different viable ways to attack, improving the combat experience.

Persona 5 is must buy for any JRPG fan and a game that easily deserves your time and money.

Christopher Hall

Nintendo

From top to bottom: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp; Nintendo, Persona 5; Atlus, Super Mario Odyssey; Nintendo, Cuphead; StudioMHDR and Horizon: Zero Dawn; Guerrilla Games

4

Super Mario Odyssey Expansive gameplay, beautifully rich graphics, toe-tapping music and a massive propensity for fun cement Super Mario Odyssey’s place on this list. The title remains bewitchingly different to any prior entries, offering a style of Mario never seen before that redefines the franchise. The sheer amount of content surprises and thrills, compelling you to explore further and discover all the little secrets in each vibrantly distinct locations. The ‘capture’ mechanic is something I hope becomes a staple in future titles, offering unique and exciting solutions to puzzles, some wonderfully simple and some hairtearingly hard. There is something for everyone in Mario’s latest outing, from the casual Switch user to the hardcore Nintendo fanatic - an absolute joy from beginning to end.

Sam Nason

empowered protagonist. a loop of gameplay that Adventuring across illustrates the capacity frost-ridden mounfor just how addictive tains, open deserts, games can be. It borand dense forests, rows the best ideas while completing from other games an abundance of in the industry, and Golden Joysticks interesting sideperfects them. We quests is what this love Horizon: Zero won in 2017 single-player game Dawn, and you will is all about. Hunting too. a variety of machines to upgrade your equipment, in preparation to hunt even bigger machines, is Nick Burton

3

Cuphead Cuphead does so many things right, and so well, that it is hard to know where to begin when praising it.

The most striking quality of Cuphead is, without a doubt, its aesthetic. StudioMDHR’s decision to use a 1930s art style is wonderfully inspired, and the quality of its implementation is astounding.

Cuphead, however, is more than just a pretty face. Taking influence from classic run and gun titles, Cuphead offers a brutal yet surmountable challenge. Beating one of the game’s many memorable bosses, or well-designed platforming levels, after attempting them repeatedly, is immensely satisfying, and evokes feelings reminiscent of Dark Souls titles.

Cuphead rewards both patience and skill, and rarely, if ever, feels cheap. Whilst its difficulty will remain an issue for some, its wholly unique aesthetics are undeniable and its game mechanics are hugely satisfying.

Samuel Willetts

Coming in on the high after winning ‘King Of The North’ in July, Overwatch team, UOB Zeus was ready to take another title before the year was through, bringing their A+ game to thrash opponents Cambridge University NUEL Team.

Launching into game 1 on the Dorado map, Cambridge were on the payload first, sailing through the checkpoints with ease. But with a clever use of ultimates, Zeus really began to push back, causing Cambridge to go into overtime, only letting them capture the payload after a complete team wipe. Going into round 2, with Zeus on the payload, saw a much slicker transition through the streets, with some well timed ultimates from both teams, collecting successive kills. But through their smart ultimate economy, they pushed the payload home 48 seconds to spare. With both teams drawn 3 all, the teams moved into the tie breaker rounds.

Given only 1 minute, Cambridge moved off the mark as fast as possible, but Birmingham shut them down in a known choke point.

After cutting Cambrige down early, Zeus didn’t have far to go and with 1:48 to play with, they effortlessly took the first game.

Game 2 was on the Eichenwalde map, with Birmingham on the offensive first, capturing the payload with ease and escorting it home with 1:40 remaining on the clock. However, Cambridge had no such success as Zeus pushing them into overtime repeatedly, and even stopped them moments from the end, to take the second game too.

Game 3 saw the teams take on the unique challenges of the Route 66 map, as they went into the match point game, where birmingham had the opportunity to close out the match 3-0. But here Birmingham slipped for the first time, letting Cambridge succeed in a team kill, to gain ground on their way to the objective. In round 2, Zeus kept to the skies, while Cambridge kept to their tried and tested formula, allowing Zeus to push through with ease, 2:33 on the clock. Caught in another tie, Cambridge fought to get as far as possible, but by then the competition was already over.

Winning by a landslide, Zeus took the Overwatch Winter championship by storm, proving it was no accident that they were crowned Kings of the North.

3

Guerrilla Games

1

Horizon: Zero Dawn Horizon is a special game. It is a game that arrives only every few years within the industry. A game in which you are completely enticed by the world and its characters, and more importantly, its excellent gameplay. Journeying through the dystopian world is a joy to visualize; its story is mysterious, deep, and unique within the world of video games. Horizon’s Aloy is a relatable, imperfect, and

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Image Credit: Blizzard

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FOOD&DRINK

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickfood

Interview: Mowgli, New Street Station Food Writer Amber Allcock shows us what is currently hot in Grand Central Amber Allcock Food&Drink Writer

Birmingham holds the famous title 'curry capital of the UK'.

With this in mind, I was interested to see what was unique about Mowgli, Grand Central's latest, Indian inspired restaurant. It certainly has all the goodness of Indian cuisine – but not as you know it. With a passion for street food, killer flavour combinations and a huge enthusiasm for delivering excellent hospitality, Mowgli could not possibly disappoint. I met with Nick, the company’s business development manager, to discuss the future of Mowgli and street food, and this is what he had to say.

First of all, could you just give me a bit of background on the Mowgli story and how the business was founded?

Certainly! Mowgli was founded by Nisha, and I always love to describe her as ‘barrister to spice girl’. She was the first Asian female barrister on Merseyside, which is where our first Mowgli was set up. Despite loving her job, she always had this burning desire to found her own restaurant as she has a huge passion for cooking and loves to rustle up simple, yet authentic, dishes in her own kitchen. The authenticity of our dishes then comes from the fact that they are inspired by Nisha’s ancestors, and so we love to incorporate ‘home comfort’ style dishes into our menu which have amazing flavours with accessible ingredients. The name Mowgli was actually chosen by Nisha’s supporters and is inspired by her children. It is her pet name for her two daughters and it’s so important to her that they are involved in the choices which she makes – they even chose the logo! Street food is a phenomenon that has really exploded recently. Along with that, and all the Indian restaurants that already exist on the market,

there is huge competition.

What do you think makes Mowgli stand out from the crowd?

Absolutely, street food really took over post-2010 and people now love the idea of tasting a range of dishes. I guess there is always a little concern that street food may just be a phase, but ultimately Mowgli’s mantra makes us so different. We have multiple sites, but we have a unique charm in the sense that we are the complete opposite to a traditional curry house. What makes us stand out is our passion to connect with our customers and offer a place where people feel like they can just pop in if they’re in the area; that’s what Mowgli is about.

Simplicity and comfort is what we strive for, and we want people to feel they can come to us for lunch and then back again for dinner. Our door is always open, and we want to keep that sense of Mowgli becoming a second home for our customers. As well as that, we are always looking for ways to improve and constantly welcome feedback on social media. As a young, growing business that is imperative to us, and we see our social media community as a family in that sense. As well as our community feel, another thing that really sets us apart is of course our fabulous menu. It is comprised of many hearty sharing dishes, and there are plenty of options for vegans, vegetarians, meat eaters and those who require gluten free alternatives. There’s something for everyone here at Mowgli, and, if you are stuck for choice, I recommend getting the tiffin boxes, which allow you to try a range of dishes (roulette style – so there’s a complete void of any complication!).

With that community feel in mind, I wanted to ask about the charities which Mowgli supports. When I visited there was a £1 discretionary charge to

Birmingham Children’s our Mowgli Chip Butty amongst Hospital on our bill. Could you my favourites though - they are tell me a little bit about the incredible flavour grenades and charities you choose and why? keep us true to our northern Adding a £1 discretionary roots. charity charge is something that It’s clear that you have a began at our first Mowgli in real passion for delivering excelLiverpool, where we started rais- lent customer satisfaction. How ing money for a local cancer char- did you get your role here at ity. All our chosen charities are Mowgli and what is it that you local to the area, and so look for in your employees to Birmingham’s is Birmingham deliver that ‘Mowgli Mantra’?

Children’s Hospital. We feel that I’ve always been in the hospiwhen you choose to dine with us, tality sector and I think there is an you are choosing to be a part of unfair stigma around it that I our community. In return, it is believe must come to an end. I see important to us that we give some- it as an absolute pleasure to serve thing back to that community, and our customers and I have a real that is why each of our restaurants passion for delivering excellent has a unique charity. We see it as customer service - if we’ve done our role to educate and something wrong, I want to raise awareness hear about it. I started off amongst our team in a role at my family’s and beyond, and ice cream business, we really where I learnt so encourage our much about this team to be pasindustry. When I sionate about heard that Mowgli Discretionary our chosen was opening on charge to a charities in Water Street, local chosen that sense.

Liverpool, I Since opening, applied to be a charity our sites have front of house raised over member and abso£100,000 colleclutely loved it. I was tively, so it’s somekeen to learn everything thing we are hugely there was to know about proud of here at Mowgli.

Mowgli, and my passion for I know you mentioned that people really showed and that’s the tiffin boxes are a great way why I was approached to take up of trying a range of dishes. If this role - which I absolutely you had to recommend a few of adore. What we look for in our your favourites on the menu employees then is intelligence, though, what would they be? grace and graft, and those are the I absolutely love the Temple qualities that allow us to deliver Dhal, which is what we describe our ‘Mowgli mantra’. In return, as ‘the ultimate Indian home com- we offer our employees a friendly fort food’. It’s a red lentil dish that working culture and the success is simmered with toasted cumin, of our staff is always celebrated, coriander and lemon, so it has a which is why our employees are gorgeous fresh taste. Asides from so keen to help us grow as a busithat I would highly recommend ness. Some of our members here the Yoghurt Chat Bombs. For me, at Grand Central have relocated they embody everything that is for us from Manchester, and that Mowgli as an explosion of taste kind of commitment is excepand colour. It’s also hard to ignore tional and is what gives us such a

£1

Living Below The Line Adele Franghiadi Food&Drink Editor

Alex Fergusson has just completed his week of “Living Below the Line” to raise money for TearFund.

He challenged himself to live off just £7 for his food (or £1 a day) to highlight the ongoing extremities of poverty around the world.

Could you start by telling me a little about TearFund?

TearFund is a Christian charity that was set up to do aid work around the world with the aim of helping communities to help themselves. They go into communities and show people new skills, maybe to help them get into their desired line of work, which helps improve their quality of life. So it’s not just handing out aid packages, it’s actually helping them to build and improve their community in a way that’s sustainable and long-lasting. For those of us fortunate enough to have sufficient funds for food, it can be hard to imagine surviving off just £1 a day.

So what made you want to do the challenge specifically,

rather than just donating money?

A lot of it was to raise awareness of the level of global poverty.

For example, it’s estimated there’s 1.2 billion people who live on less than £1 a day, and it’s easy to think “oh, they’re people far away from here”, but really there are people in cities that don’t have much to live on. For some, it might not be as little as £1 a day, but it’s certainly not much, and it’s evidently an issue around the world, and even in developed countries.

And obviously it’s quite misunderstood.

Yeah, definitely! And quite hidden, because no country wants to show it has poverty in it. So rather than just donating my money, I thought I’d live on £1 a day for a week to raise awareness and get other people to think about the privileges they have and think a bit more about poverty.

Did you prepare yourself at all for the challenge, like decreasing your appetite or food budget in the weeks leading up?

Or did you just go cold turkey?

Actually, this is kind of guilty – I did the opposite. I had an enormous curry before I started the challenge. So no, I didn’t prepare in my eating habits, but I did prepare in my shopping, by researching how far my budget of £7 would go for a week’s worth of food. Lots of rice, spaghetti, beans – plain carbs, plain protein, nothing with flavour. That’s been the main feature this week, everything I’ve eaten has had no flavour to it.

What has been the hardest part for you?

Physically, the hardest thing has been the mornings. I usually have a good breakfast, but as I couldn’t afford milk, I’ve been having watery porridge which hasn’t been particularly nice. It’s been hard hitting noon each day and feeling empty and sluggish – it’s impacted my lifestyle in some ways, as I’ve felt tired whilst trying to study. But more striking is just the realisation of how real this is for so many people – they can have very little, and it’s hard to imagine having to do this every day of my life.

Have there been any surprising personal positives, aside from being able to help those in this situation?

Yeah, there’s certainly a sense of thankfulness for what I’ve been given. Even though I have limited myself to a £1 a day, at least I have £1 a day, so it has definitely made me more grateful.

And have you learned anything about cooking or food preparation in this process?

Yes! Why do we peel carrots?

Apparently we throw away a third of all food that’s produced, without even using it, including carrot skins. This week, I haven’t wanted to peel and throw away the skins, because I had limited carrots. So I’ve washed them instead and thought “Why don’t we do this more?” - it doesn’t make a difference to the taste. I think I’ve definitely learned to be more resourceful. Weighing out ingredients also really helped – it is easy to just chuck pasta in a pan and end up with too much, but it helps to weigh out exactly what you want to have.

Did you prepared any meals in advance or do any bulk cooking?

I shopped for bulk cooking, so for evening meals I’ve made two for the week – tinned tomatoes,

family feel here at Mowgli.

I saw that Ronnie O’Sullivan recently visited your Grand Central restaurant, have you had any other famous visitors?

Yeah, he loved it! We have had a couple of other famous faces who have become regulars in Liverpool especially. Bill Nighy frequently visits Bold Street – he’s a big fan of our Goan Fish Curry - and Wheatus also visits us a lot there too.

In terms of developing Mowgli’s restaurants, what is it that you look for in a location?

When Mowgli was first discussed as a concept the vision was to start up small with a single pop up store in Liverpool One. Funnily enough, we were actually priced out by Krispy Kreme which inspired us to look elsewhere. We now have four Mowgli’s set up, our most recent of course is in Grand Central, and that is set to double in 2018 – so there are huge things ahead for us! 2018 will be monumental, and our new additions will include Oxford, Nottingham, Leeds and a second Mowgli will be added to Manchester. We never rule any city out; the important thing is that Nisha has to feel that the city is somewhere where Mowgli can breathe, grow and develop. She chooses every site and when we came to Birmingham it was just so obvious to us how much the city had to offer.

Meeting with Nick was an absolute pleasure, and what was overwhelmingly clear to me is the passion for Mowgli’s vision which the whole team shared. Mowgli has the refined feel of a chain, but above all its attention to the customer experience is what really sets it apart. It is unique, fresh, but laid back, charitably conscious and super friendly. This is definitely my favourite ‘newcomer’ spot in Birmingham, and I will undoubtedly be visiting time and time again. carrots, peas, and some sort of protein. I managed to have some tuna which was genuinely such a treat because I had no meat or fish. But even that was added to something bulk made.

And what’s been your favourite meal?

Definitely the tuna, with spaghetti, tinned tomatoes, carrots, and peas. And not because it was a particularly special meal – if I had this outside of the challenge, it would not taste as amazing as I thought it did!

Having almost completed the challenge, would you honestly recommend doing the challenge to anyone else?

Absolutely! I’ve managed to raise £700, which I thought would be optimistic, and the support has been amazing! It’s definitely a challenge, but one that is worthwhile to make you think.

But for those of us too scared to take the challenge, how else can we get involved to help those in poverty?

There’s loads of food banks in Birmingham which you can donate to, especially as applications to food banks have gone up significantly. You can also give financially to various charities who work towards similar goals.

Or donate to your fundraiser!

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbrickfood

29

Review: Wok Fresh

Food Critic Lauren Vick tries out the newest flavours on campus

Having opened only last week, Wok Fresh continues to boast initial success, with lunch hour queues stretching beyond its doors. Situated in the University Centre next to Costa Coffee, Wok Fresh is in an accessible location for students and members of the public.

You can now enjoy delights from China and Japan on campus.

The popular congee, a Chinese rice porridge, is great meal to start a busy day of lecutres and seminars! At lunchtime you can fill up with noodles and sushi, dim sum and bento boxes. These are small, bite size portions of food that are usually steamed and served hot.

This can be paired with a hot or cold drink and taken away to enjoy where you please. Upon joining the daunting queue at

Friday lunch time, I was surprised to find that the wait was not as long as I had expected. As I neared the entrance I was greeted by a wave of Chinese-style cooking aromas coming from the kitchen that promised equally appetizing food. I had heard from others that this was a fantastic new place to eat on campus, much different from the average sandwich from Go Central around campus.

However, once inside, the poorly considered floor plan became obvious. Customers who were waiting to pay had to stand amongst those waiting to get food.

This, coupled with the poor sign posting of the different food stands, made the lunch hour rush even more frantic.

It seems as though this issue could be resolved with different

areas being clearly sectioned off, something Wok Fresh could easily sort with time.

"The enticing incentive of new food at Wok Fresh is what continues to bring people in droves, not the quality or effeciency of their food" Maybe this brand new Asian kitchen was not as good as everyone had claimed. The prices of the

food, as with most cafés and food courts based on campus, seem quite high for what you receive, but this should not be a reason to dissuade you.

The enticing incentive of new food at Wok Fresh is what continues to bring people in droves, not the quality or efficiency of their food. The selection of meat and fish in their main dishes was impressive and a popular choice amongst students.

However, for the moment, the vegetarian options remain quite limited, and felt particularly underwhelming. This really surprised me, as a large number of students are vegan or vegetarian.

At the front of the queue I ordered noodle soup with prawns, which despite not being a sensational dish was worth the wait in

line, particularly with the range of sauces and condiments readily available for you, such as soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi.

When you order the dishes to take out, they come in an authentic, folded carboard box. This aestetically pleasing lunch is yummy and insta worthy.

Wok Fresh hosts a wide variety of fresh meals and is certainly a welcome addition to the university campus. The oriental food bar will become a lunchtime favourite, although there is certainly room for improvement. But if you fancy a change from Subway or a Spar meal deal, then head down to Wok Fresh to try out what they have on offer!

Christmas Drinks: Time To Mull It Over Tim Abington Food&Drink Writer

Starbucks

Coffee and christmas. For us snobbish coffee connoisseurs, it’s not the Christmas drinks,with enough cream, sugar and syrup to make it less coffee, more coffee flavoured energy drink, but the arrival of Christmas blends that mark the beginning of festivities.

(With accompanying imagery of idyllic Christmas morning as well, of course.)

Starbucks’ recommendation to enjoy the 2017 Christmas Blend “with a slice of gingerbread after building the most perfect snowman” is wishful thinking.

No Christmas morning is this calm, no matter how hard one attempts to blur out the chaos of relatives, turkey and sprouts.

Ignoring the cliché advertising, the Christmas Blend is actually a rather nice blend for the winter months.

Every roaster seems to insist that their Christmas products have that “distinct sweet, spicy taste” and Starbucks is no different with their products. Whilst this blend’s flavour profile lacks anything that resembles spiciness, it does have a smashing aftertaste.

The rich bitterness lingers pleasingly in the mouth. The aroma is distinctly Starbucks; strong, burnt, dark, and an all round rather nice festive fragrance.

In espresso or black, this blend is strong, possibly too strong for those that prefer their coffee to be subtle rather than bitter. It's a ‘getup- and-go’ blend, rather than one for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Yet with milk or cream, this mix can offer a noticeable flavour difference that makes it a stellar for adding a bit of festive variety to the americano or caffè latte.

If you’re really wishing for that idyllic Christmas, then by all means, enjoy that Christmas Blend with a slice of gingerbread and imagine you’re in des Alps. But otherwise, enjoy this rather pleasantly strong blend as you like - anything goes amidst the chaos of Christmas.

Christopher Burden Food&Drink Writer

Christmas Markets

Christmas shopping in the Bullring takes it out of even the most battle-hardened shoppers, especially when the Christmas market brings over 4,000,000 visitors to Birmingham for the largest German market outside of Germany and Austria. This impressive display of food, drink and goods is one of the best features Birmingham has to offer in the festive season.

Luckily, they’ve brought incredible traditional German drinks to the Midlands with them, perfect for blocking out the memories of fighting through the crowds on the CrossCity line to New Street.

These continental concoctions are available from several stands throughout the market, with the majority found in Victoria Square, conveniently located next to some post-drink snacks and desserts, which will certainly be needed to soak up the Christmas spirits that will be imbibed.

Unknown to most British customers, the Feuerzangebowle (literally the 'fire-tongs bowl'), a staple of German Christmas, is available opposite the Council House.

A loaf of rum-soaked sugar is suspended over a copper bowl of boiling wine, before burning rum is poured over it. Watch as boiling caramel falls into the wine and is ladled into ornamental mugs sporting an image of the council house. This powerful drink should not be underestimated!

Glühwein aside, the perennial favourite of a Christmas market, there are many fruit wines to try.

Himbeerwein and Kirschwein pack a high volume fruity punch, and will catch the uninitiated offguard with their potency.

There are also juice based alternatives for non-drinkers, such as spiced apple juice, or go Dutch and indulge in an Advocaat punch, combining the delights of both custard and alcohol. What could go wrong?

Philippa Baker Food&Drink Writer

Costa Coffee

No seasonal battle would be complete without the Gingerbread Latte. The festive competition is on, with Starbucks infusing their latte with gingerbread syrup, decorating it with gingerbread whipped cream and accompanied by a wafer (£3.15). Not content with a wafer? Costa may have upstaged Starbucks in this classic Christmas beverage, adding a sprinkling of berry crumb to the top of the cream and a mini gingerbread man (small £3.30).

If the trimmings and coffee craze isn’t a tempting treat, then Costa’s Hot Spiced Apple (small £2.30) or Starbucks Festive Cold Brew (£3.15) keep things simple.

Providing a symphony of traditional and festive aromatic infusions, these are drinks full of comforting and soothing notes without the fuse.

Winter is for indulgence, so if you are a hot chocolate lover then Costa provides four variants of the milky classic. Inspired by Black Forest Gateau, the Black Forest Hot Chocolate (small £3.35) is fused with cherry syrup, trimmed cherry sauce and black forest chocolate sprinkles.

Alternatively opt for it as a Frostino for a cooler experience (medium only £3.80). If that sounds too sweet, choose the Mint Hot Chocolate (small £3.35) which has a slight twist of mint.

For some winter luxury and irresistible indulgence, Costa’s Lindt Hot Chocolate (small only £3.35) is pure heaven. Don’t let the size put you off. It comes in one size (small), but provides the ideal amount of bitterness and chocolate intensity that you would expect from Lindt chocolate bar.

Whilst drinking-in means sipping from the regular annual cups, the take-out counterpart provides the opportunity for festive creations and unique designs. At Costa the cups keep their signature red background with Christmas characters including Nutcracker, Elf, Santa, Gingerbread or Snowman as the colourful central icons.

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TRAVEL

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricktravel

Photo Diary: Minnesota Alex Goodwin

aren’t disappointed with the mix of sunny skies, cold air and unpredictable nature. April and May can be a sunny surprise or snow may still be covering the ground.

Either way, the hikes and it’s views are still breathtaking.

Minnesota’s North Shore is home to quaint cities and towns, all offering many activities along Lake Superior, so whether you rent a hotel in Duluth or the Twin Harbours, or pitch a tent along the SHT, Northern Minnesota is a hiker’s hidden paradise. Grab your boots and go explore.

Comment Editor

The Minnesotan North Shore runs along the West side of Lake Superior is known to any avid photographer or hiker for its breathtaking views, lake walks, and hiking trails.

The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) leads all the way up to the Canadian border and no matter what the season, it is a hiker’s hidden paradise. In the late summer you are met with the brilliant blue lakes and lush greenery. The various waterfalls that are dotted around the north of the state are in full flow, and well worth the visit.

With the warmer weather also comes the breathtaking sunsets across the lakes, so swap your boots for a canoe and camp out under the stars. As the warm weather quickly starts to fade to the Minnesotan winter, hikers are met with the most unbelievable

fall colours. Get yourself a pass for the SHT and camp amongst the orange before the winter sets in.

However, the fun doesn’t stop with the snow and ice. Minnesota’s

true beauty is hidden amongst their minus 20 degree centigrade winters. You have to pile into every warm item of clothing you own, but it is truly worth the hassle. Whether you swap your boots

for skis or a mountain bike, do not miss out on standing under a frozen waterfall; the white glaze is not to be missed.

Whilst Minnesota’s biggest flaw is its lack of Spring, hikers

Travel Diary: Southeast Asia Jack Levitt Travel Writer

Hong Kong This small autonomous territory, south of mainland China boasts an extremely fast paced and energetic environment, unlike anything I’ve experienced before in Asia. I stayed in a hotel just off Hennessy Road, which was a densely packed corridor of luxury watch shops and jewellers, highend car showrooms, and exotic restaurants. Wherever you turned there was enterprise and excitement. You could tell immediately that this was a city run by competitive people.

The following morning, after fuelling up with a buffet breakfast, I grabbed my map and set out to explore the Hong Kong

Island. I chose to start at Causeway Bay and walk through Wan Chai to the west, then head north towards the Hong Kong Convention Centre and finally stopping off at Hong Kong Park on my way home.

I decided to step off the main highway and explore the small alleyways that made up the veins of this city. I came across a bustling local market with stalls and shops crammed into every available space. They had red banners and lanterns that blended so gracefully with the colours of the raw meats hanging behind the butchers. I’ll never forget such a vivid red colour, which they so proudly display as a sign of good fortune and joy. As dusk neared, and with the aroma of meat and fish in my nostrils, I caught a ferry from Wan Chai Pier to mainland Hong Kong for the same

price as a packet of crisps in the UK.

That night there would be an extraordinary light show taking place. I had to find my place among a sea of tourists who lined the promenade. Eventually, whilst facing south towards Hong Kong

island, and with the ringing of loud speakers in my ears, it was time for the Symphony of Lights.

Across the harbour, 40 buildings lit up in harmony, their lasers and spotlights shooting high into the sky. There was just enough time to hop on a ferry back to the hotel and visit Lan Kwai Fong that evening. This spot is famous for dining and its night scene. As a student, you must make time to visit this part of the city. You’ll meet locals, university students, or people who are drifting through. Whoever they are, I’m sure you’ll hear some stories to remember and leave Hong Kong with a few good friends in this part of the world.

Tokyo Arriving in the home of anime, Tokyo drift, and sushi we jumped

off the plane to the strong smell of rice paddies, cool air and a little humidity. We took a slow train from the airport, weaving north through the city at night to our hostel in Takasago. It gave us time to gaze down upon the neonlit streetscapes, densely populated streets, edgy boutiques and megamalls, all linking together with award-winning sleek architecture.

Eventually we arrived at our tiny suburban hostel, Yawp Backpackers, and settled for the night.

Our first morning we explored the picturesque and old-fashioned Japanese suburb Takasago, which boasted a few local wooden shanty bars selling homemade sushi and beers. With no foreigners in sight, it was a breath of fresh air from the touristy Harajuku or Akihabara.

TRAVEL

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricktravel

31

Insight Into: Istanbul Aamina Siddiqi Travel Writer

“You’ll see the walls, but they won’t speak to you,” a tour guide says to me as we stand outside Hagia Sophia, a Green Orthodox basilica that became an imperial mosque under Ottoman rule, and is now a museum. I decline the offer for a guided tour, but the phrase remained with me throughout my stay.

As I walked through museums, ancient palaces, haggle for Turkish delight at the grand bazaar, drink tea on a tiny table on the sidewalk, I would get moments of being overwhelmed by the history of Istanbul. I wondered how many stories were scattered throughout the bustling cosmopolis, held within the antiquity of the city’s walls.

I ate a falafel wrap whilst sitting on the steps of a burnt column dating to 330AD, surrounded by kebab shops and an entrance to the grand bazaar - the absurdity of

my lunch surroundings summed up how the history of an ancient city slots perfectly into the twentyfirst century. Istanbul straddles two continents, split by the Bosphorous. The river connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, sandwiched between Europe and Asia.

So much happens on the water; Fishermen line up along bridges with the midday sun beating down on them, boats go out to catch fish to sell at the night market, ferries carrying hordes of people leave every few minutes public transportation on the water is one way to beat the commuter rush.

A similar size to London alleit with a larger population, Istanbul epitomises the city that never sleeps. The hustle and noise continues long into the night and begins at the crack of dawn. The steam of ferries, trams, buses, and the flow of people on the street, occupying every table at coffee shops, sitting on steps is constant and doesn’t stop.

Because of the incredible

transport system, cleanliness and downright friendly demeanour that the charm of the city exudes, Istanbul, at times, feels like a European destination. Boasting a plethora of people from around the world, it is like no other place.

Citizens, merchants, students, tourists, artists and more come together in unanimous harmony.

Historically it was the epicentre of the Roman empire under the name Constantinople, the largest and most prosperous urban centre in the Mediterranean because of its strategic position to command trade routes into Europe and Asia across land a sea.

Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the new ruler, Mehmed II set about to redefine the city and ordered those that had fled the siege, for fear of prosecution for their religious belief, to return.

I could see evidence of this in the Sultanahmet district where I stayed, with a synagogue, church and a mosque in the same vicinity as each other.

Hearing church bells amalgamated with the Muslim call to prayer and seeing men in skullcaps amid the neighbourhood hubbub was a strong reminder of the beauty of interfaith unity.

There is a Jewish district along the Golden Horn alluding to a strong history of acceptance and welcoming. Interestingly, during World War II, Turkey was a layover for European Jews fleeing Nazi prosecution.

Similarly, in the present day, Turkey shelters migrants fleeing war-torn Syria. I spoke to a Syrian man selling bracelets who recounted harrowing experiences of car bombs in Damascus while studying for a masters in Media Production. A simple request from someone, such as asking for directions, can result in a quick life story that spans across the world.

The rich diversity of languages, cultures and people give the impression that just like London, Istanbul is open. There is so much culture and so much to explore. A museum pass kept me occupied for several days and allowed me to visit historical sites as well as on to the tiny wooden bars that lined the alleyways of Nonbei Yokocho in Shibuya. Hidden behind a couple of tall buildings near Shibuya station, the owners offer local foods and cheap drinks to the 5-10 people that are able to cram into the miniscule bar – definitely a place to visit if you want to get away from the loud international bars.

Seoul We then ventured into the city to the world’s busiest Tsukiji fish market. Here you can watch live tuna auctioning at 5am, or get there a little later and roam the narrow streets selling fresh sushi with real wasabi. We stuffed ourselves with raw fish and made our way towards Tokyo Tower. While it was not the taller Tokyo Skytree, at 900 yen and no queues – it is definitely worth visiting if you still want the spectacular views.

Akihabara is the best place to geek out and shop for classic Japanese tech such as Casio watches, or visit the deafening clanging of underground casinos, and experience the anime game stores that dominate the Chuo Dori. If you’re feeling brave you can even rent a few go-karts, dress up as the Mario characters and race around the streets of Tokyo.

As night fell we indulged ourselves in famous Karaage Tokyo fried chicken and moved

North Korea being only 20 miles north of the city was cause for trepidation as we landed in Seoul.

But we felt this place was slightly different to the rest of Asia, reminiscient of Spain or Italy during Spring.

We arrived at Guest Home Itaewon, in the heart of the Itaewon district. During the day, it’s a foreigners’ area, and throughout the night it becomes alive with the diverse mix of people who live, work and study in Seoul.

art galleries. Istanbul is said to be the city of a thousand mosques, each one seeming grander than the next. The architecture and intricate paintwork inside the infamous Blue Mosque is breathtaking. As well as traditional and religious art, Istanbul boasts a modern art scene, hosting a biennial contemporary art exhibition that pioneers new artists and gives them a medium to vocalise feelings that would otherwise be impossible in Turkey’s political climate.

The country appears to be caught up between the East and West. Although it is a secular state for now, President Erdogan, a devout Muslim, would favour an Islamic overhaul. Many shopkeepers display the Turkish flag proudly to show solidarity with the government and its affiliation with religion. However, Turkey remains a favourite tourist destination, welcoming over 30 million visitors in 2017 so far and making billions in the process.

A popular tourist hotspot is visiting one of the nine Princes Islands southeast of Istanbul located in the Sea of Marmara.

I took an early morning ferry to Büyükada. Away from the mania of the mainland, time on the island passes slowly. There are no cars allowed, instead the favoured modes of transport are bikes, horse carriages, or donkeys - the locals own scooters, it’s like stepping

back a few decades.

Girls are sold flower crowns to wear, almost as though it is a marker of visiting the island.

The streets are lined with pine trees and wisteria, the scent of both follow you around. Peaking between luxurious Ottoman style mansions are glimpses of the sea.

Trotsky retreated here for four years when he was exiled by Stalin to write his autobiography and it is indeed an idyllic writer’s haven.

Immersing oneself into local culture is something that I believe travelling should include and in the modern age, there are no excuses. Problems such as getting lost and language barriers are lessened immensely through the wonderful apps available in mobile phones. Google Maps is incredible for navigating your way through a busy city and Istanbul proved no different.

Similarly, Google Translate, particularly the feature where it translates text directly, enabled me to try things that I wouldn’t have had to the opportunity to otherwise. Technology is a useful tool that can enhance your prospects at trying to get an authentic experience. Istanbul is an ethereal city, rooted in history and holding its own identity in the face of a changing globalised world.

For a bit of history we headed to the Gyeongbokgung palace built in 1395. Sadly, many of the original palace buildings were lost during fires or invasion. Being British we couldn’t resist the urge to head uphill to the Bukchon observatory's tea rooms to relax on the terrace and admire the views over the city, whilst sipping on a brew.

By this time, the sun was setting and the air was cooler, we thought it would be best to start our long walk home. We meandered through Myeongdong, the tourist shopping district. Cosmetics, clothes and shoes were abundant among the colourful side streets that were filled with charming little shops selling their locally made antiques and jewellery.

Then the smell of the worldrenowned Korean BBQ steak filled the air. Still having not tried this cuisine we raced back to Itaewon, and to a steak house called Maple Tree. The steaks were served with kimchi and other salads, which made the taste

spectacular and unique. We were invited to use the BBQ and cook the meat to perfection. Since then, I still haven’t had steak like it.

Nearing the end of our stay, we met a few Dutch friends and Thai girls who were studying in Seoul. They offered to show us around the Gangnam clubbing district and take us to the Octagon, a famous nightclub. If you visit Seoul I cannot stress enough how important it is to visit this night scene before you leave.

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LIFE & STYLE

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricklife

Abandoning The Pill Lydia Waller discusses whether natural methods can give us more freedom than the contraceptive pill Lydia Waller Life&Style Writer

The accessibility of the contraceptive pill for women on the NHS in 1962 was a milestone for female rights; giving women the choice and control over their fertility. No longer were women defined by their maternal and domestic roles, but given choice.

For generations, the pill has been the most common and typical method of female contraception.

The method is hormone based, adjusting the levels of oestrogen and progestogen to control periods of ovulation in the menstrual cycle. The intrusive nature of the method has caused issues with the welfare and satisfaction of pill users over the years, but more serious defects have been illuminated in the recent past. Mental health and depression has been recorded to have some correlation with pill use by certain researchers, and more women have been reverting towards more natural and non-intrusive methods of contraception to regain some control.

Yet questions have been proposed; does reverting to submitting to our cycles actually give us more sexual freedom? And is mental health actually caused by the pill?

Can women ever win?

Studies conducted by the University of Copenhagen have shown that women on the combined pill are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health

issues, averaging at approximate- called ‘Natural Cycles’, which ly 80% more likely than non-users uses a thermometer reading of in the age bracket 15-19. These your temperature, to then indicate figures appear quite terrifying. a ‘red’ or ‘green’ day, to give you Our younger female generation the heads up if you need to use appear to be more vulnerable and extra protection. Some women exposed to mental instability have argued that natural tracking when using hormonal intrusive is revolutionary for the reclaiming methods. Some women claim to of stability and sexual freedom of feel “crazy”, depressive and women; no invasive hormones, entirely helpless to the swings of just the knowledge of your body. their hormones and thoughts. Instagram figure and vegan and Interference with natural sustainability icon, Ella hormones is inevitably Grace Denton, has been going to have coma major commercial plications, which advocate for the Women on the has normalised natural method, combined pill are the side-effects stating that the reportedly of mood tracking just ‘fit s w i n g s . so seamlessly’ However, in her life and suicidal that the knowlthoughts and edge of our long-term femininity is more likely to suffer risks of bloodimperative to from mental health clotting and our womanhood. issues premature The concept of strokes are ones reclaiming control that cannot be politeepistemically, without ly excused. The vocalibarging hormones dissation of women’s mental rupting mental health, is one struggles has now got women that is skyrocketing in the female thinking: how can we reclaim world. ‘We can be sexually active control over our fertility and sta- without adding abnormal amounts bility? of hormones into our bodies?

Well, there has been some Let’s do it!’ Initially, we feel like answers. There is a growing mar- we have power again. But ultiket of apps and natural contracep- mately are we back at square one? tive methods that track one’s cycle Just submitting to our cycles, havand can ‘accurately’ read days of ing to wait 6 months to be fully ovulation and when ‘the coast is sure the app knows us? The app clear,’ for safe sex. The first EU also recommends not relying on and UK certified method is an app measurements made after a bad

80%

night’s sleep, hangovers and illness. So, to be fully sure, we must be fully routine. There’s also more information that can be added for a more thorough reading, such as sexual activity logs and measuring LH (luteinizing hormone) levels. However, there is always the risk of giving away intimate data that could be shared with similar third parties to advertise fertility and contraceptive products around the time of your cycle. There just never seems to be a point where women can win.

It seems that sexual freedom and bodily control aren’t entirely compatible, but knowledge of self can compensate for a marginal sense of control. Although natural methods have their risks and to be reliable, you as a human must be a reliable source of data, women no longer must feel obliged to submit to hormonal imbalance to feel in control. There are other options, yet their reliability and accuracy are progressive. So, the decision is left in our hands, but what is important is that there are more natural methods out there.

Women don’t have to feel helpless towards the temperamental nature of hormone intrusive methods, as simple knowledge of your female workings will see you through.

Do you have any opinions on this article? Join the conversation @redbrickpaper

Holidays Are Coming: How to Get Ahead Life&Style Writer Ellie Watts teaches us how to take the stress out of the festive season Forward Planning When you have no idea where to start, the best thing you can do is to make a list. Any avid organisers will be well aware that list-making is a great tool. Begin with listing the people that you wish to buy presents for or send cards to, and note any gift ideas next to their names to avoid forgetting what they wanted. This will help you to budget a certain amount of money towards your gift list and not overspend. Lists are also a great form of motivation if you struggle to find enthusiasm to start buying presents - checking off each person once you’ve sorted out their gift can be so satisfying, and encourage you to finish the list.

At this time of the year, the multitude of parties and festive gatherings can also become overwhelming, so getting your calendar out now can help you to stay organised during such a busy period. If you use a digital calendar, either on your computer or phone, you should be provided with reminders leading up to the events. Knowing they are approaching should allow you to be fully prepared. Moreover, be sure to note down any gifts you need to take to family or friend gatherings, to avoid last minute journeys on Christmas Eve, frantically dropping off those forgotten presents.

Smart Shopping Another great tip for people who prefer to avoid busy market places or shops - online shopping could be perfect for you. This allows you to do your research for more unusual gifts, as well as find and compare the best prices for your budget. Not to mention, student discounts can be very useful at this point! This gives you the opportunity to order, wrap, and label your gifts to get ahead of the shopping chaos that becomes increasingly prevalent as we edge closer to Christmas!

Taking place in Victoria Square and New Street, the German Market has returned yet again to Birmingham and is here until the 24th of December. You can find all sorts of goodies including hats and scarves, Christmas decorations and an abundance of chocolate, sweets and marshmallows - which all make wonderful gifts! Having been open since mid-November, it means you can get all your shopping done early, with the added festive touch of your gift being sourced from this very special market.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry It’s time to get those decorations out of storage. Firstly, check that they still work: note down any bulbs on lights that are broken and in need of replacing. Ensure you haven’t lost too many baubles from last Christmas, and make sure you have an abundance of tinsel and any other favourite festive decorations. This will give you a good idea of what you’re running low on, need to replace, or any additional items that you would like to buy. Living Christmas trees can be difficult to prepare for, as they shed needles and need to be replenished with water every couple of days, so an alternative is an artificial tree. They are available in all shapes and sizes, can be put up easily, and be used for many years.

Similarly with food and drink, either make a list or keep a mental note of any non-perishables. These items can be bought in advance, so take advantage of any current bulk-buy deals for alcohol or tins of food, to make sure you are well-stocked when the event comes around.

LIFE & STYLE

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricklife

Dress Codes: Decoded

Josie Hart demonstrates difficult women's dress codes during the festive season Josie Hart Life&Style Writer

Dress codes can be confusing and difficult to navigate, as they aren’t something that you are ever taught - yet you’re expected to understand them anyway.

The difficulty is only increased for women, who get no hints from the terminology, which usually regards suit types. Of course, the most important thing is that you feel confident in what you’ve chosen to wear, but it does help to know how formal an event is going to be. Finding the perfect skirt and top only to discover that you’re attending more of a ballgown affair would be downright frustrating. With party season drawing near, here’s your breakdown of what all these dress codes actually mean so you can look amazing and feel confident that you're perfectly dressed for the occasion at every festive event this winter.

Partywear

Black Tie

This one is pretty much what it says on the tin. A party dress or a top and skirt combo that you could rewear clubbing is perfect.

We’re not yet into formal evening wear territory so opt for something comfortable but add some complimentary jewellery and a clutch to take it from everyday to event wear.

Black tie is usually given as the dress code for a sitdown formal event. Wearing a formal dress or tailored attire is therefore appropriate. Some may go for floor length dresses, but you can get away with a smarter cocktail dress sometimes you could always check with the host or other people going to see what the general consensus is for the event.

Lounge Suits

White Tie

We’d all secretly love to be able to go to formal events in our pyjamas, but this dress code is not to be confused with loungewear. The lounge suit dress code will usually be given for an event somewhere in the middle of the formality spectrum. Women will usually wear cocktail, mini or midi length dresses with heels or smarter shoes.

A smarter playsuit/jumpsuit would also fit the dress code but simultaneously stand out amongst all the cocktail dresses.

Get all of your statement jewellery together because if ‘white tie’ is written on the invitation, you’re in for a very fancy evening! Think red-carpet, old-Hollywood style glamour - floor length dresses, gloves, heels and a smart up do will meet this dress code. And there's no need to worry about overdressing here - the more glam the better!

Black Tie: Untangled Editor-in-chief William Baxter defines the art of black tie dressing for men William Baxter Editor-in-chief

Black tie: perhaps the only two words that inspire both equal parts dread and excitement more than ‘in-laws’. For too many men, the thought of ditching the tee and jeans combo that serves so well for 90% of life is daunting, and thus best left avoided. What is black tie? Why do we wear it?

And, most importantly, will my two-sizes-too-small prom suit do? Fear not, for this guide aims to demystify the de-facto dapper dress code, answering your questions and helping you with all you’ll need to know for events this Christmas and beyond.

The first thing to know about black tie is that it has essentially been the same for years – your granddad’s dinner suit, while possibly a little dated, would not necessarily look out of place today. It’s been around properly since the Edwardian era, when men first started wearing a shorter jacket and black bow tie as opposed to a full-length evening tailcoat.

Originally denoted as ‘semiformal’, today it’s the smartest the vast majority will ever contemplate wearing. There are a few rules; thankfully, these have almost all become far more relaxed over time, meaning that far more creative combinations are now options for braver gents. It is worth spend-

ing a bit of money on black tie – it won’t go out of fashion and you’ll wear it relatively infrequently, so, if well-looked after, the suit will last for years.

So, what do I have to wear?

This is probably the most important question to answer.

Black tie means a dinner suit: a black or midnight blue suit, usually a two piece, which features a trouser braid (a narrow strip of fabric down the sides of the trouser legs) and matching lapel facings, traditionally in silk or another contrasting material. The jacket should generally be unvented and trousers should be worn without a turn-up. Lapels should ideally be peak (pointed) rather than notch, although rounded shawl lapels have re-entered popularity recently. Traditionally, a dinner suit is then paired with a dinner shirt, which will have pleats or a Marcella textured front, and either a wing or a turn-down (conventional) collar. Often this will require dress

studs (used in place of buttons) and cufflinks. A black bow-tie (preferably self-tie) and patent black leather shoes complete the outfit. A long black neck tie is definitely not traditional and can look quite funeral-esque, so should be avoided if possible.

In addition, a low cut black waistcoat or cummerbund can be worn, although this can look dated. To accessorise, add a white pocket square in cotton or silk, or a dress scarf and braces, which are practical as well as smart.

Can I make it less dull?

Thankfully, this classic look can easily be made more creative, but be careful to avoid the ‘uncle at a wedding’ novelty bow tie. Dinner suits don’t have to be plain black – not only does blue look more fun, but it can be far more usable, if less traditional. Pick a version with contrasting lapels and braiding for a formal look or just stick to a plain business suit for something extremely versatile. It’ll

be formal enough for all but the smartest occasions, and definitely see you through any event at university. Adding a white dress shirt and bow tie will make all the difference. If you are in the mood for something extra creative, velvet has become a very fashionable choice in recent years – avoid black and pick a navy, bottlegreen or dark red version.

White dinner jackets are again in vogue and no longer restricted to warm-weather events, though of course are rarely a practical option.

So, can I just wear the suit I have? In a word: maybe.

Most university events are rarely strictly black tie, so noone will tell you off as long as you look smart and the suit is a good fit. Wear it either with a standard white shirt and tie (any colour or pattern, but try and avoid plain black) or buy a white dress shirt and bow tie, although this will usually only work if the suit you have is blue. Saying that, a ball is a great time to splash out and treat yourself to a new outfit.

Dinner suits don’t have to break the bank – good examples can be found on the high street for under £100. If you are able to spend a little more, then excellent examples can be had for around the £300 mark, particularly when you take advantage of student discounts and promotions. Look for pure wool if you can afford for suiting, while shirts should always be 100% cotton.

33

Manthropology

By Yatin Arora

Welcome to a very special Christmas edition of Manthropology! Given that it is our last column before the festive season, what could be better than creating a men’s Christmas gift guide – after all, (closely) following ‘pineapple and pizza’, and ‘Kanye West and Taylor Swift’, men and gifts are a combination that we all struggle to put together! So, to ensure that we spend most of our time rockin’ around the Christmas tree, instead of rockin’ around the menswear aisles on Christmas Eve, I thought I’d ask Birmingham’s boys what they really want, so that the special man in your life opens his presents with a ‘ho ho ho’ instead of a ‘no no no’!

Name: Alex Mann Course: Medicine & Surgery (second year) “Christmas for me is a time to have treats and to get things that I wouldn’t ordinarily buy for myself throughout the year. Typical things are DVDs, music, and aftershave, however, in the last few years I’ve had gift experiences or tickets for shows, which I’ve enjoyed as it’s nice to have something to look forward to doing in the new year when everyone is on a bit of an anti-climax post-Christmas”.

Name: Stanley Leadsomme Course: Law (first year) “I’ve received some extravagant presents over the years (the most being a holiday) and also really sweet ones, like homemade treats. Christmas presents are really tricky for me because I’m a difficult person to surprise, so long as it’s thoughtful it doesn’t have to be something on trend. It’s important that there is some meaning to the present, like last year my family pitched in to get me a first edition of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, one of my all-time favourite books”.

Name: Nigel Clough Course: Political Science & International Relations (third year) “I really enjoy taking care of myself (this past year I really got into skincare, for example). However, being a student, buying moisturiser and cleansers aren’t always at the top of my to-do list – especially by the time we get to December and there are loads of deadlines around the corner! I think the best gift is honestly just the little things that we men easily forget about amongst the everyday stress of life, it really shows that you’ve been thoughtful and are also encouraging us to take better care of ourselves”.

So here we have it! Birmingham’s boys have unleashed their secret desires; from music to moisturiser, now you know exactly how to show your gratitude for that special male in your life! With this, I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – don’t forget to tune in next year for some more Manthropology, and let us know how you get along gift shopping by tweeting us @RedbrickLife!

34

SCI&TECH

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricktech

Following the recent Flat Earth International Conference, Joseph Creature Feature McGrory discusses why some people choose to believe theoPufferfish ries which scientific evidence contradicts and asks...

Ellen Heimpel Sci&Tech Writer

...Is the Earth Flat?

Joseph McGrory Sci&Tech Writer

Recently, a meeting took place in North Carolina that may seem strange to many. This was the very first Flat Earth International Conference that featured many prominent figures in Flat Earth and conspiracy theory circles.

The meeting involved a number of talks from different individuals that claim to have evidence that the Earth is indeed flat and that we have been deceived by mainstream science. The Flat Earth community has become something of a laughing stock due to their seemingly ridiculous beliefs. However, we have to be careful to make sure that we have evidence on our side before we criticise the beliefs of others.

"The Flat Earth community has become something of a laughing stock due to their seemingly ridiculous beliefs" So how do we know that the Earth is not flat?: Lunar Eclipse Shadow: A lunar eclipse is when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon so that the light from the sun is blocked by the Earth before it reaches the moon. When this happens, the Earth casts a shadow on the moon that slowly creeps across the surface as the Earth blocks more light.

When this is observed, the shadow of the Earth is seen to be round. This would not be possible with the model propounded by the Flat Earth society, who argue that the moon and the sun both orbit above the flat disk of the Earth.

Plane rides: Evidence for the spherical nature of the Earth can be seen if you take a plane ride for your holiday!

If you happen to get a clear day without much cloud cover then, when you achieve a suitable height, you can see the curvature of the Earth below you. Also, whilst this may not happen on your holiday, a plane can fly all the way around the Earth without coming to any ‘edges’ as you would if it was a flat Earth.

Ships and the horizon: Imagine standing on a beach at the edge of the sea and at the same time a boat happening to come directly towards you. At first, you are not able to see it. However, as it comes towards you, it appears the boat is rising up out of the waves like a ghostly pirate ship! If we assume that this is not possible, the only plausible explanation is that the ship is slowly coming into our field of view as it moves over the spherical Earth. Since the Earth is round, part of it is coming between you and the ship until it moves over it. This is why it slowly appears as though out of the waves.

Time Zones: A big piece of evidence that shows that the Earth is round is the fact that we have time zones on the Earth.

Whenever it is the middle of the day in Birmingham, it will be the night on the other side of the Earth. This is because only one side of the spherical Earth can be pointing at the Sun at any one time. At night we cannot even see the Sun, as the Earth is between us. Many 'FlatEarthers' believe that the Sun is like a giant spotlight that only

shines on particular parts of the Earth at any one time to explain the time zones. However, if this were true then we would be able to see the Sun even if it was not shining on us.

We would be able to see its light shining on another part of the world and we would be able to see it in the sky.

Photographs: Perhaps the most obvious piece of evidence against the Flat Earth theory is the photographs that have been taken of the Earth from space. We have sent many telescopes into space, not to mention the populated missions. They have returned thousands of beautiful pictures that show that the Earth is curved. The manner in which it is curved would only be possible if we say that the Earth is a sphere.

Why do people still believe in a flat earth?: The idea that the Earth is flat seems ridiculous to most people. However, a Flat Earth advocate may argue that this is due to most people being ‘indoctrinated’ from an early age.

They may say that a lot of people will never have stopped and thought about it and gathered evidence for or against the idea. This is why the Flat Earthers believe that they are the only ones who have truly opened their eyes to the truth.

They believe that everyone else has been deluded by mainstream science, the government and the media.

One of the main reasons that people give for believing in a Flat Earth is the fact that on a day-to-day basis we are unaware of the curvature of the Earth as it is not prominent on a local scale.

They promote a method called the ‘Zetetic method’, which holds that any observations based on the senses are more important than any others. This means that they think that anything that goes against common sense and what they experience every day is false. While we may not see the effects of the curvature of the Earth every day, the effects are there in the background for anyone to see, but this is not convincing enough for Flat Earthers.

A strong religious belief also seems to be a common factor amongst much of the Flat Earth c o m m u n i t y.

This may be because many faiths already choose to ignore certain aspects of scientific evidence. This pre-existing element of distrust towards science makes it slightly easier to ignore the evidence for a spherical Earth.

The fact that some people are willing to eschew all of the evidence that is credibly put forward against the Flat Earth theory indicates a rather sinister underlying factor, which is an ardent distrust of science and the government.

The way that the majority of Flat Earthers explain away the evidence against their theory, is as a mixture of fake science and government attempts to hide the truth. They believe, for example, that space p r o grammes were faked, as this was the cheaper option, and the government (for whatever reason) wants to keep the public in the dark about the ‘true’ nature of our planet. However, it seems that for many, these explanations are created to explain after the fact. Which is to say that the Earth must be round as they believe it to be round.

Pufferfish have a slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style which appears to make them vulnerable to predators.

However, they can do an amazing trick when threatened: they gulp water or air and swell up to several times their size. In order to do so, they have a stretchy, elastic stomach which allows them to swell into a virtually inedible ball. Pufferfish span over 200 species and range in length from the Dwarf puffer fish which is one inch long to the freshwater giant puffer which is two feet long.

Their inflatability is not the only cool thing about pufferfish, however. They are also highly poisonous. The skin and liver of a pufferfish contains the toxic tetrodotoxin which is 1200 times more powerful than cyanide.

This toxin, if ingested by humans, causes numbness around the mouth, followed by paralysis and death by asphyxiation. A single pufferfish contains enough poison to kill 30 adult humans. There is no known antidote. So, you are probably thinking the solution is to stay far away from pufferfish, right? In fact, pufferfish are actually a delicacy in Japan called Fugu.

Currently chefs in Japan must remove the poisonous liver of Fugu before serving it. To do this they must be specially trained in a process with only a 35% pass rate.

However, some people call for it to be made legal to serve liver because the poison is only made when the pufferfish feed on poisonous starfish, snails and other creatures. So, in theory if they are raised on toxin-free food, the risk is removed. However, there is still a risk that poisonous Fugu will find their way into the breeding pens.

So, there you have it.

Pufferfish may look cute, but they are deadly.

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@redbricktech

Indulgent Grandparents are Bad for Children’s Health Ellen Heimpel Sci&Tech Writer

As more parents work outside of the home, it is becoming more common that grandparents provide a large amount of child support. Therefore, it is important to look at the implications that this has on the health of children.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have recently carried out a research project which suggests that indulgent grandparents may be having a negative effect on the health of children.

The research project looked at 56 studies across 18 countries, including the UK. It explored the impact of grandparent care on three different aspects of health: diet and weight, exercise, and smoking. The study focused on grandparents who were significant caregivers.

Evidence was found that chil-

dren cared for by grandparents were more likely to be overweight.

According to parents, grandparents were indulgent, misinformed and using unhealthy food as a bribe in return for good behaviour.

These parents often felt they couldn’t talk to the grandparents about this because they were reliant on their support. According to the NHS, one UK study found that children were 15% more likely to become overweight if they were mainly cared for by grandparents from the ages of 9 months to 3 years.

The study also reported that children were getting insufficient exercise during the times they spend with their grandparents.

Physical activity levels were correlated to the amount of exercise that the grandparents took themselves, as well as the amount of space there was for activity to take place in.

The study also found that

grandparents smoking in front of their grandchildren was a major issue and caused lots of controversy between parents and grandparents. Smoking affects children’s health because of the negative effects of passive smoking, but is also proven to make it more likely for the children to smoke in later life.

There have been suggestions that there is a difference between grandparents that saw their children every day, compared to those that only saw them at the weekends. For example, the grandparents who saw their grandchildren less often would be more likely to overindulge, whereas those that saw them every day started to treat them like their own children, with more focus on what was good for them, rather than treating them all the time.

Research conclusions include that healthy parenting advice on weight, exercise, diet, and other

factors that affect health should be directed at grandparents as well as parents. Charities such as 'Grandparents Plus' aim to support grandparents providing informal care for their grandchildren and help them to raise them healthily.

Sci&Tech Editor

It seems so fantastical and futuristic for someone to simply change their DNA in order to stop a genetic disease in its path.

However, Brian Madeux, aged 44, was the first person to ever attempt to have his genes edited inside his body- a feat which was widely anticipated by many geneticists and doctors alike.

Madeux suffers from Hunter’s syndrome, a genetically inherited disease which causes the body to make insufficient amounts of a particular enzyme (iduronate-2sulfatase or I2S). Because this enzyme breaks down lots of molecules (specifically mucopoly-

saccharides) inside the cells of the body, these molecules build up into harmful amounts, severely affecting the sufferer and causing damage to their brain and other organs. This makes it common for sufferers to live much shorter lives and be in a constant amount of pain.

However, like all genetically inherited diseases, Hunter’s syndrome is controlled by DNA. The genetic reason for why there is not enough I2S is because of a mutation on the IDS gene, which results in the enzyme not being produced in the right quantities.

So the theory is that if the DNA is corrected, then the symptoms will stop and the disease will not progress any further.

Gene editing is not a new con-

cept and has actually been attempted with people before: by taking some of their bone marrow outside of the body, editing the genes, and putting the corrected bone marrow back into the body.

Where Madeux’s treatment differs, is the place where the genes are edited- in this case, inside his own body. The procedure saw the transfusion of two molecular scissors, called zinc finger nucleases, into the bloodstream. These molecular scissors would target the point of mutation exactly by inserting a corrected version of the genes at this spot, when they reached the liver.

There are more advantages to this therapy, than just the conservation of life and easement of pain- it is economically beneficial

Sci&Tech Writer

This week the UK government voted against amending the EU withdrawal bill so that it would explicitly state that all non-human animals would be recognised by the law as sentient beings. The verdict, which was

decided by a mere 18 votes, means that government ministers have voted that animals do not feel any emotions, including pain.

Currently approximately 80% of the legislation in the UK around animal welfare is a result of EU law- which, with this most recent vote, has left many concerned for what the future holds after Brexit for the treatment of animals. In previous debates, government officials have claimed that animal welfare is protected by the Animal Welfare Act (2006). Yet this has been criticised by organisations like the RSPCA as the law is only relevant to domesticated animals (pets). Therefore, the future for non-domesticated animals is left uncertain and there are increasing doubts over whether they will be protected in cases such as laboratory testing and farming practices.

This worrying revelation

could be just the beginning of what some are arguing as an “anti-science Brexit”, especially as it goes against a vast amount of previous scientific evidence in support of non-human animals having sentience.

The decision appears to be a clear juxtaposition with the Environmental Secretary’s past promises that animal “sentience” would be part of the EU withdrawal bill. Michael Gove has since responded to criticism on social media of himself and the rest of the Conservative Party on this issue, stating: “The prime minister has made clear that we will strengthen our animal welfare rules. This government will ensure that any necessary changes required to UK law are made in a rigorous and comprehensive way to ensure animal sentience is recognised after we leave the EU” (The Guardian).

While this response could provide hope for future changes

sive data hack affecting 57 million people. Last year they paid a ransom of $100,000 to the hackers in order to delete This has breached data protection laws in the UK which could lead to Uber paying greatly for this cover up.

Singapore will use driverless buses by the year 2022. This will be after the pilot runs in three, quieter neighbourhoods.

Several companies are already testing driverless technology

too. Because of the nature of this disease, Madeux and other sufferers like him, must get regular enzyme replacement therapies and pain medicines, which cost money. Although Madeux lives in California, this has big financial implications for the sufferers in the UK that use the NHS. Although this therapy is still quite new, researchers are very hopeful about its potential.

Preparations are already being made to use this technology in an attempt to cure or prevent other genetic diseases, like haemophilia. The hope is that, if it works, this therapy could be used as a mainstream medicine for many diseases that were previously incurable.

in Singapore.

The ban on bird imports in the EU has seen a plummet in world-wide bird trade. This ban was initially introduced to prevent the spread of bird flu in 2005, but was made permanent two years later.

The NHS has been overcharged by millions for a thy-

Are Animals Sentient?

Anna Pitts

Uber have concealed a mas-

all of the data they retrieved.

Editing a Human Body Katie Jones

This Week in Sci&Tech

roid

drug

produced

by

Concordia.

Previously

the

NHS paid £4.46 per pack but to UK animal welfare law, many are calling for stronger and more direct commitments to be made by the Government on what these changes would be.

According to The Guardian, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP, who had proposed the vote to change the EU withdrawal bill, has stated: “The animal sentience protocol is important because it is an instruction to future governments when creating legislation - and it should be the basis of future law making on animal welfare in Britain.”

Only time will tell what the future for animal welfare and science in general will hold for the UK once it leaves the EU in 2019, but with more crucial voting taking place in the coming months, this most recent vote has left many apprehensive.

last year paid over £250. This is a 6000% increase on the price and is considered especially unfair in the light that other countries, such as Greece and Mexico pay so much less.

The “missing” British explorer, Benedict Allen, claims that he did not need rescuing after not making contact with anyone for several days while in Papua New Guinea. His family probably disagree!

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Redbrick Sport's Team of 2017 The Sport team discuss their choices for Team of 2017 contrary to the choices made by FIFA in their recent 'Best' side and will surely lead Manchester City to the title. His form over the whole of 2017 is markedly impressive, though, so he deserves the spot here.

Actual FIFA Best Side Buffon Alves

Modric

Messi

Bonucci

Kroos

Sport Editor

Goalkeeper Although there are obvious choices that one could opt for over Gianluigi Buffon, such as David De Gea, Manuel Neuer and Thibaut Courtois, I have opted to stick with the Italian veteran for this position. To say that he is still up there with the best of the best at his age (39) is some testament to his sheer ability and professionalism. Perhaps there is a sentimental value to this one, with it being Buffon’s last full season in football, yet I still believe he merits the selection at goalkeeper.

Defenders For right back, instead of Dani Alves, I’ve gone for Dani Carvajal. A few years ago Carvajal was sold by Madrid to Leverkusen and very few would have expected his rise since then.

In 2017 he has been simply magnificent for Real Madrid, producing several stellar performances. He really looks to be coming into his own at Madrid now. For the centre back choices, I have opted to leave Bonucci in there, because he had an incredibly impressive start to 2017.

Although now not shining at AC Milan, he deserves in the side purely for his all-round ability which is unrivalled by another centre half in the world.

For my other centre half choice, I have chosen to discard Ramos from the selection on the basis of his hot-headedness, and what I perceive to be a lack of actual defensive nous at times. Instead, I’ve opted for a rather unorthodox choice – Cesar Azpilicueta.

There are two reasons for this.

One is that without him in the side, Chelsea would not have been able to employ such an effective three-at-the-back formation. Also, his leadership and ball playing ability are unprecedented and his link up with new signing Alvaro Morata has yielded five assists already this season. At left back, I am going to keep Marcelo in his place.

The reason for this is that in terms of quality and performance he is essentially unrivalled in his position. I think if Brazil

Marcelo

Iniesta

Ronaldo

Alex Alton

Forwards

Ramos

Neymar

are to succeed in the 2018 World Cup, Marcelo will be one of the chief architects.

Midfielders Luka Modric remains in my team in midfield. Like a fine wine, Modric only gets better with age.

At the age of 32, Modric has had a fantastic year, along with helping Croatia to quality for World Cup 2018. In terms of overall midfield play (defensive ability, passing, attacking and awareness), I don’t think there is a better player out there than Modric.

Iniesta and Toni Kroos are ousted from the side, though, in favour of one surprise choice: Marek Hamsik. The Slovakian playmaker has long been a lynchpin of the Napoli side. Now, he captains one of the most stylish teams in Europe, alongside pass master Jorginho in midfield. He epitomises the creative yet clinical style that Napoli employ, scoring 12 goals last season from central midfield.

"Like a fine wine, Modric only gets better with age" My other choice is one from the Premier League, Mr Kevin De Bruyne. In current form, De Bruyne is undoubtedly the best midfielder in the world. This season he has performed sublimely,

One player that should remain in everyone else’s selection is without doubt Lionel Messi. The Argentinian talisman had yet another great year, and has had an electric start to this season. Having watched Messi score a hat-trick in person (a 5-0 win against Espanyol) he confirmed my idea that he is still, and will be for quite a while, the best player in the world. There is not a player like him in world football, and on that basis he deserves the selection.

Cristiano Ronaldo does not take his place in my team of 2017, though. This is simply for the reason that he has made an abysmal start to the 2017-18 season, registering a 1.8% conversion rate this season. In comparison, Luis Suarez has registered around 28% conversion rate in his time at Barcelona. The Uruguayan is my choice for striker, having contributed so much as a striker at Barcelona in his time there. Not only is he the most clinical striker in the world, he is such a hard worker for the side, making him the complete forward. In addition to this, he regularly swaps position with Messi in that Barca side which shows his ability to play in other positions too. The final player is perhaps a slightly off the wall choice, but I genuinely think he merits a place in the side.

Kylian Mbappe - the future of football. Mbappe was the best player in the Champions League last season at the age of 18! This earned him an apparent £150 million move to his “boyhood club” PSG, whom he has taken to playing for like a duck to water. A player that good at his age deserves worldwide recognition.

Evan Yabsley Sport Writer

Goalkeeper Goalkeeper is one of the most competitive positions in the 2017

Team of the Year, with players such as Neuer, De Gea and the Italian veteran Gianluigi Buffon all having outstanding years.

However one player who stands out for me is Atletico’s Jan Oblak. The Slovenian had a remarkable third season as part of Diego Simeone’s defensive unit, conceding just 14 goals in 27 appearances, and keeping 15 clean sheets, cementing his status as one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

Defenders At right back, I have opted for the ultimate modern day full-back, Dani Alves. Despite critics doubting his defensive abilities, there is no surprise that Dani Alves would be my first choice at right-back.

2017 saw Alves win the Serie A and Coppa Italia as part of Juventus’ strong defensive line up. At centre-back I have gone with two lesser valued players.

Another star of Simeone’s defensive masterpiece, Diego Godin has once again had a superb year at the heart of the Atletico defenc His traditional style and professionalism has helped he keep 23 clean sheets in 40 games for club and country, meaning he has well and truly earnt his spot in the team.

My second choice is potentially the biggest shock of the side: Toby Alderweireld. The Belgian enjoyed a fantastic season with Tottenham, coming second in the world’s most competitive league. Alderweireld has continued to prove himself as one of the world’s best centre-backs.

Left-back can only go to one man, Real Madrid’s Marcelo, the one player in the team who is truly unrivalled in his position. The La Liga and Champions League winner provides excellent support going forward for club and country whilst still covering defensive duties, a perfect example of how to perform at full-back.

Midfielders The first player of this midfield three, and the second Real Madrid player is Luka Modric. The UEFA Champions league midfielder of the season has had

another exemplary year pulling the strings in the Real Madrid midfield, as well as captaining Croatia to qualifying for Russia 2018. Despite his age of 32, I believe he will continue to be one of the highest rated midfielders in world football for a number of years to come.

Despite both having outstanding midfield calibres, I have decided not to include Toni Kroos or Andreas Iniesta. Instead, I have opted for Bayern’s Arturo Vidal.

Despite his aggressive nature, Vidal is every manager’s dream box to box midfielder. His allround ability means he can pass, defend, score goals and contribute defensively. A true credit to any side.

"The Brazillian poster boy is everything that is wrong with modern day football" The final midfielder of the three is who I believe is currently the world’s best midfielder, debatably one of the best players in the world, is Kevin De Bruyne.

Another Chelsea failure who has gone on to succeed elsewhere, De Bruyne’s current form is going unmatched in the Premier League, and has flourished in 2017 under Guardiola. The man appears to have no weak foot, has unrivalled vision, footwork that would make Maradona proud and seemingly has to ability to score from anywhere within 35 yards. A true professional who will remain the perfect example of an attacking midfielder for many years.

Forwards The first player of this front three was the easiest choice: Lionel Messi. For me, he is the best player the world has ever seen.

He’s had an incredible start to the 2017/2018 campaign for Barcelona, as well as scoring an iconic hat-trick for Argentina to secure their place in the 2018 World Cup. His pace, ball control, flair and desire are truly admirable, and on this basis, he deserves his selection.

I have decided to stick with Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite his poor conversion rate and slow start to the 2017/2018 campaign, I think he has to remain in the side. Ronaldo has the rare ability to create an opportunity from nothing, whether that be scoring from 40 yards or taking on five players before finding the net.

His work rate and sheer talent means he has to stay in the side.

I’ve not gone with the world’s most expensive player, Neymar.

For me, the Brazilian poster boy is everything that is wrong with modern day football. Instead of being driven by desire to play for the best team and win the best trophies, he is driven by money and fame. Instead I have gone for another Bayern star, Robert Lewandowski. 2017 has seen Lewandowski net 49 times in just

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47 games for club and country, as well as setting the record for the most goals scored in a World Cup qualifying campaign with 16 goals. He goes under the radar as far as celebrity status goes, an old fashioned footballer who is focused on improving his game and helping his team. For me, the world’s best ‘Number 9’.

Leanne Prescott Sport Editor

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would represent a far more inventive choice for this role, especially given it’s supposed to be an alternative team of the year, but there’s one man who stands higher than the rest for me and that’s Gianluigi Buffon. No words can reflect the magnitude of the Italian’s class, with everyone crushed to see him not involved in the World Cup as he embarks on his last year of football. At 39 years of age, Buffon still pulls off some monumental saves and deserves recognition for what has been an unparalleled career in between the sticks.

Defenders For all his hot-headedness, Sergio Ramos remains my choice at centre-back. Albeit rash in the challenge, he has delivered crucial goals for Real Madrid time and time again, pulling them out of trouble like a captain should. He’s a hugely dynamic character and even if you hate his theatrics, you can’t deny the man’s quality.

Alongside him, I’ve got for Leonardo Bonucci. The veteran's had an impressive year for Juventus and Milan, portraying a

Sam Robinson Sport Writer

I've opted to go with a 3-4-3 formation for this side.The formation of the year. 2017 saw the most influential change in formation, with three at the back flanked by wingbacks. A resurgence that was arguably pioneered by Antonio Conte – proving its worth with Juventus, Italy and then Chelsea – the wing-back has fast become the new full-back.

Goalkeeper At 39 years of age, it is quite miraculous that Gianluigi Buffon remains one of the world’s top goalkeepers. That said, his inclusion in this side is reminiscent of Ryan Giggs’s 2009 PFA Player of the Year award – something of a sympathy award where a lifetime achievement recognition may have sufficed. At 24, Atletico’s Jan Oblak is fast becoming Europe’s hottest goalkeeping prospect, with astonishing reflex saves (YouTube his triple-save against Bayer Leverkusen) and a mature head to match.

Defenders It is difficult to argue a case against the Brazilian, Dani Alves.

Beginning the year with Champions League finalists Juventus and ending it at the seemingly unstoppable PSG, Alves has an illustrious CV and has perhaps had the most notable year of his career in terms of personal performances. Although the three-time Champions League winner was unable to add a fourth

strong figurehead at the back to give invaluable protection to his goalkeeper. At right-back, I’ve gone for Antonio Valencia. The Manchester United man has experienced quite the turnaround having previously not been able to get a shoe in on the wing. Now, reinvigorated in his new role, Valencia has become one of the most reliable members of Jose Mourinho’s team - showing strength and diligence at the back while bombing forward to provide width in the final third. A similar case could be made with Cesar Azpilicueta who completes my back four. The Chelsea defender shows consistent quality on the ball for his side, contributing with a number of timely assists.

Midfielders There’s no real surprise that Kevin De Bruyne features in my TOTY. His qualities have shone through for Manchester City so far this season, with the Belgian representing one of the very best in the business in his position. He recently scored his 50th Premier League goal (16 goals, 34 assists) in 76 games - the quickest by any midfielder in the history of the division. Should City find themselves top of the table come the end of the season, there’s no doubt that De Bruyne would have played a huge part. Marco Asensio represents one of the hottest prospects in world football right now, meriting an inclusion in the lineup. Scoring some cracking goals already in his career, he has all the tools to become a serious player for club and country.

Lastly, Pjanic completes the midfield three having created 22 chances for his team already this title, his consistency across the year with two of Europe’s elite validates his presence in this team.

Sergio Ramos is far and away the most accomplished defender in the world and the FIFPro voting reflected that.

Captain of both Real and the Spanish national team, Ramos had his highest scoring season in 2016/17 and lead Real to the first back-to-back European titles in the Champions League era.

Despite still being frustratingly unreliable in terms of personal discipline, Ramos’ 2017 has perhaps cemented his claim to being the greatest centre-back of his time.

Bonucci’s disastrous start to life at AC Milan has led to his omission from this XI. Next in line, Giorgio Chiellini, will also miss out despite his undeniable consistency – his recent international retirement after Italy’s capitulation and failure to qualify for the World Cup has slightly soured his year. Step in the everreliable Diego Godin, the spearhead of one of the best defensive sides in Europe in 2017. His inclusion is testament to Diego Simeone’s work at the club, as a team with relatively little (in comparison with their Madrid rivals) have pioneered a defensive strategy that led them to a Champions League semi-final.

Cesar Azpilicueta is my next choice. Formerly deployed at fullback, Antonio Conte converted the Spaniard to centre-back with incredible success at the start of last season. Already one of the finest defenders in the Premier League, Azpilicueta has progressed to become one of the fin-

37

season - a record that’ll see him beat his tally of 60 last year.

Scoring two goals in the process, the midfielder has a lovely balance to his game, tracking back well to contribute to the defensive side of his game while portraying an attacking nous in the final third.

Forwards I’ve opted for Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi to lead the line having impressed during their time in Spain with Barcelona. Deadly in front of goal, the Uruguayan seems to have put an end to his on-the-field antics to cause havoc alongside Lionel Messi in La Liga. The interchanging between the two talismanic players make Barcelona so hard to defend against, and it’s hard to think of a player with a stronger ruthlessness than the former Liverpool man. Meanwhile, Messi represents the best player in the world.

He’s a man that can do things like no other and it’s no wonder Barcelona pulled out all the stops to get him to sign a new deal with the club. His importance, not just in terms of goals but all-round play, is phenomenal and I feel lucky to be able to watch such a master of the game.

To round things off in attack Mohamed Salah. Probably the most controversial choice I’ve made so far, the Egyptian has scored 15 goals already this season to beat prior records set by Robbie Fowler, Luis Suarez Daniel Sturridge and Fernando Torres. Not bad for a "Chelsea reject".

est in Europe’s top five leagues.

At the time of writing, he had played every single Premier League minute under Conte, and has even managed to develop his offensive game – with 5 assists and 1 goal so far this season. Not the most technically gifted defender, his endurance and reliability were crucial to Chelsea’s 16/17 victorious Premier League campaign and cement his place in this XI.

"Ramos is far and away the most accomplished defender in the world" The obvious omission of Marcelo is difficult to justify. By far the best left-back in the world right now, Marcelo is quite possibly the most complete full-back of the last decade. Unfortunately for him, my XI utilises wingbacks – Marcelo is yet to be tested in such a position. One man who has, and has had the year of his life as a consequence, is Alex Sandro. Playing on the opposite flank to Alves, the pair tore apart opposition defences last season – as well as being part of the most complete back line in Europe. His astute defensive performances mean that he just about edges Marcelo – with Marcelo’s hapless showing in the recent 3-1 loss to Spurs at Wembley very firmly in mind.

Midfielders Andres Iniesta has been a mainstay in world’s best teams for as long as anybody can remember.

However, after an injury-hit 16/17 season and limited game time, his inclusion in the FIFPro team created the most debate. N'golo Kanté, having won the Premier League with Leicester and then Chelsea, appears to have a level of fitness and tenacity that far exceeds any of his peers. Given his rise to fame over the past two years, it seems inexcusable that Iniesta should have a stake in the world’s best team ahead of Kanté.

While his passing ability leaves something to be desired, the Frenchman is without doubt the most commanding and all-present midfielder in the world. His Premier League Player of the Year award serves as proof of his irreplaceable significance in this side.

A superb year for both club and country, Isco has used 2017 to firmly establish his starting place at Real Madrid. Would pro-

vide the grace and guile to compliment Kanté's raw tenacity. Just look up any of the wonder goals he has scored so far this year and there should be no argument.

Forwards I have opted for Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar.

2017’s answer to MSN (Messi, Suarez, Neymar), PSG’s front line is currently tearing Ligue 1 apart.

For just about any team the prospect of facing them is borderline terrifying – even Bayern were destroyed 3-0. With one more Champions League game in hand, PSG have managed to obliterate the record for group stage goals – surpassing Dortmund’s 21 set in 2016. With 28 goals in 26 competitive games so far this season, the trio look set to continue destroying defenders’ careers for a while. The Champions League is theirs to lose.

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F1 Season Review Sport Writer David Garbutt examines a fourth title winning season for Lewis Hamilton David Garbutt Sport Writer

As the tyre smoke settles on another Formula One season, leaving us without our racing fix for another six months, let us look back over the last eight months to address the main talking-points in another eventful year.

Hamilton's Prowess A season review could not be complete, or indeed start, without focusing on its championship winner. Lewis Hamilton had already shown the world that he was a great racing driver before this season, winning three Drivers’ Championships and coming close on two separate occasions, but this year he arguably cemented himself amongst the sport’s greats.

His fourth Drivers’ Championship crown ensures that he sits level with Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost on the all-time list, only trailing Manuel Fangio (5) and Michael Schumacher (7). This achievement is put into even starker light when it is remembered that he has won at least one race in every season he has competed in, regardless of the competitiveness of his car, whilst this season saw him surpass Schumacher’s record of pole positions (68), with his current total being 72 and counting. This season also ensured that he claimed second in the all-time total Formula One winner’s list, with 62 wins from 208 races, ensuring that Schumacher’s record of 91 wins seems within his grasp, especially seen as Schumacher competed in 100 more races. These facts do not prove that Hamilton should be seen as the best Formula One driver ever, as such a question is incredibly contentious and can never be proven, but they do show that he should at least be considered in the discussion.

"Hamilton should be seen as the best Formula One driver ever" This year’s Championship win demonstrated Hamilton’s prowess more than any of his previous triumphs, largely because he was faced with overcoming one of Formula One’s all-time greats in

Vettel, whose Ferrari was arguably quicker and more consistent than the Mercedes, particularly when closely following other cars.

Hence, Hamilton’s superb driving in multiple qualifying sessions and races helped to offset his disadvantage so that by the season’s end, the Drivers’ Championship was never much in doubt.

Prancing Horses' Resurgence This season review would also be incomplete without acknowledging the resurgence of Ferrari from the ashes of several years of mediocrity. Considering how far they were behind the Mercedes at the end of last season, their work over the past winter should be praised, as they closed the gap to the Silver Arrows and they debatably had the fastest car for large parts of the season, particularly on certain tracks. This Ferrari competitiveness ensured that Vettel had the bit between his teeth for most of the season, and it could be said that by the season’s half-way point, few would have counted against Vettel securing the Drivers’ Championship. However, in reality, Ferrari’s season began to fall apart in the second half of the season, partly due to the terrific driving of Hamilton, but also due to Ferrari’s old failings resurfacing, particularly reliability.

"Vettel's championship hopes were also not helped by his occassional reckless driving" Vettel’s championship hopes were also not helped by his occasional reckless driving, which was best seen in the Singapore Grand Prix where he was overly aggressive off the grid, resulting in he and his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, crashing out of the race, leaving Hamilton clear to gain an unlikely victory, even though on paper his car was much slower than the Ferraris.

Nevertheless, their late season woes should not detract from what has been a great season for Ferrari, especially in comparison to their recent history. It is everybody’s hope in the paddock that this prestigious Formula One name can

maintain it’s position near the front of the grid for many years to come.

Red Bull Arising Whereas the second half of the season has been one to forget for Ferrari, it has been one to remember and cherish for Red Bull.

Before the season started there were hopes that the Red Bulls could challenge the Mercedes from the off, but this failed to materialise. Nevertheless, the team were unperturbed and oversaw a radical development of the car as the season progressed, ensuring that by the season’s end they were Mercedes’ most consistent challengers for podiums and race wins. This season has also seen the coming of age of Max Verstappen, who claimed two race wins in the last five races, and had he not had terrible reliability in the first half of the season, he arguably could have claimed many more. If Red Bull continue their resurgence next season, the future looks bright for them, and the potential of seeing three different constructors, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, all challenging for race wins is something which most Formula One fans would die for. Here’s hoping that this dream becomes a reality next season.

However, it is important to add that the racing in Formula One is still not perfect, as the increase in downforce of the cars this season has ensured that it is almost impossible for cars to overtake each other. This is because a following car loses so much performance as the disturbed airflow over the car stops it from performing effectively.

Hence, unless a car is significantly quicker than its competitor, or it is aided by DRS, which is a gimmick whereby a car can increase their top-speed in certain straights by reducing the car’s drag, no overtaking is possible, and the viewer is left watching a

train of cars stuck behind each other. Sadly, this problem does not look like it will be fixed by next season, which may damage the sport as it will struggle to appeal to fans who like wheel to wheel racing. Despite this, there is hope that this issue will be fixed in the future if Formula One teams choose to focus their downforce on the car’s floor, rather than over the front and back wings, as this will ensure that cars would be less disrupted when closely following each other. This system is seen in Nascar Racing, and if successfully carried out, Formula One may gain greater popularity.

Drivers' Standings

pts

Constructors

pts

363

1. Mercedes

668

2. Ferrari

522

Authentic Racing vs Lack of Overtaking Finally, this season has seen the return of authentic racing for the first time in many years, much to the joy of both the audience and the drivers. The past few seasons have been somewhat undermined by the fact that weak tyre compounds prevented drivers from racing at 100% for fear of ruining their tyres, hence a Grand Prix was often won by the driver who could manage his tyres better, rather than whoever was fastest.

This ensured that the drivers found races boring as they had to drive incredibly slowly for their tyres to make it to the end of the race.

Thus, this system was farcical as Formula One is meant to highlight the fastest cars and the best drivers. Happily, the return of stronger tyres has meant that drivers are able to race flat-out for the race’s duration, hence authentic racing has returned.

Abu Dhabi GP Results 1. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

1. Lewis Hamilton

2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2. Sebastian Vettel 317 3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

3. Valtteri Bottas

305

3. Red Bull

368

4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

4. Kimi Raikkonen

205

4. Force India

187

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 5. Daniel Ricciardo 200

5. Williams

83

6. Max Verstappen 168

6. Renault

57

6. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) 7. Sergio Perez (Force India)

7. Sergio Perez

100

7. Toro Rosso

8. Esteban Ocon (Force

8. Esteban Ocon

87

8. Haas F1

India)

53 47

SPORT

Friday 1st December 2017

@redbricksport

39

The Price of Football 2017 Sport Editor Alex Alton reviews the latest BBC findings on how costly the game really is Alex Alton Sport Editor

Another year, another rise in prices for football fans. Or so you might think.

The general consensus amongst all football fans is that the game is getting too expensive for the ordinary person. Whilst this may be the case at clubs who charge in excess for their season tickets (Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea I’m looking at you) there has actually been very little increase in price from 2016 to 2017. The study found that 80% of prices in the Premier League had been frozen or cut by clubs, which is quite admirable considering the fact that some clubs would fill their stadiums charging a whole lot more for tickets.

"Perhaps we are now seeing the effects of globalisation upon the English game" The shining example of owner benevolence this year is from Huddersfield, who launched a “Premier Pledge”, giving 4,000 fans a season ticket at the price of £100. To put this into context, Huddersfield’s pledge is only bettered by National League sides

Borehamwood and Sutton.

Additionally, Huddersfield charged the lowest for a normal season ticket (£299), along with Manchester City.

Other interesting trends came in the shape of Arsenal and Spurs both reducing their most expensive season ticket price, along with Chelsea freezing theirs. In terms of the rest of the league, the average cheapest price of a Premier League season ticket has dropped from £472 to £464.

Hopefully this trend may continue into the future and make the game in the Premier League more affordable for the average fan.

Perhaps the reason as to why clubs are less focused on ticket revenues is they now have a new cash cow, TV rights money. In total, the new £8 billion rights deal will give all clubs in the Premier League a minimum of £100 million. Perhaps we are now seeing the effects of globalisation upon the English game, with people watching abroad more important than people who sit on the seats in the stadium.

The ticket price trend could be found in the Championship, too, with the average lowest price of a championship ticket falling 2 pounds to £20.58. Saying this, because of the £30 cap on away ticket prices in the Premier League, the Championship is the most expensive league in Britain for an away fan. On a less pressing note, the most expensive pie

in the English game could be found at Fulham, for the steep price of £4.50.

Once again though, the English game has been shown up by

"The study found that 80% of prices in the Premier League had been frozen or cut by clubs" leagues on the continent, with lowest ticket prices for Bayern Munich, Ajax, PSG and Barcelona unable to be matched even by clubs in League Two in England.

One of the more worrying features of the study revealed that 82% of people aged 18-24 were put off from going to a football match because of steep ticket prices.

Finally, if you’re looking to watch British football on the cheap, purchase a season ticket at a Welsh Premier League club. The league, founded in the same year as the Premier League with slightly less success, remains the cheapest professional league to watch football in Britain.

Women's 1st XI Struggle vs Durham Sport Editor Olli Meek reports on the Women's 1st team battling to an unlucky loss against Durham Olli Meek Sport Editor

A new metric for testing football players was initiated during the Women's Firsts Football team's loss to Durham. Out with the "can they do it on a wet Tuesday night in Stoke", and in with "can they do it on a blustery Wednesday afternoon at Metchley". With no way to prepare for this on a training pitch and no impact substitution that would alter the conditions, both teams were in for a tough game from the off, regardless of the performance of the opposition.

"The second half began in a scrappy and inconsistent manner" The pitch was slow, and when the ball was dragging on the ground it offered an awkward juxtaposition to the speed with which the wind propelled it through the air in aerial exchang-

es. The first half started in a controlled manner, each team finding their feet and trying to establish some form of consistency, however this was challenging and possession was consistently changing hands between the two sides.

Birmingham set up solid foundations with four at the back, whereas Durham opted for a three, both sides looking initially comfortable with their respective game-plans.

It was Birmingham who drew first blood, springing the game into life just prior to half-time when Caitlin Wilson flicked the ball into the box for Jess Howard to take it down on her chest and

fire home a half-volley to put the Lions 1-0 up. This was to be how the first half finished, a positive standing for UoB to take into the break, but by no means in control of the tie.

"After the first Durham goal Birmingham look deflated" The second half began in a scrappy and inconsistent manner, similar to the first, and Durham had more of the possession than Birmingham were comfortable with. This pressure eventually

paid off for the visitors, when an attempted clearance from goalkeeper Collette Bell cannoned into the onrushing Durham attacker and bobbled into the Birmingham net- this was not an ideal introduction to the second half for Birmingham, and the newly-found parity inspired a new confidence in the team from the North-East.

Birmingham fought back, winding runs from the midfield causing the Durham defence all kinds of problems, and resulting in multiple corners, but no score.

Unfortunately for Birmingham, halfway through the second-half Durham scored again. Patient build up play ended up with what

was, in truth, a pass into the corner from the edge of the penalty area- it looked to be a sucker punch even only at 2-1. After the first Durham goal Birmingham looked deflated, they now developed into a state of lacklustre.

This proved to be the last influetial action of the half, and despite Birminghams best efforts, the score remained at 1-2 until the final whistle.

This loss leaves Birmingham in mid-table 4th position in the league on 8 points from 8 games, with Durham cementing their place at the top of the league on 21 points from their 100% win rate.

Birmingham Women's Squad vs Durham 1. Colette Ball

2. Elizabeth Steele

3. Ciara Albas Martin

4. Ellie Martin

5. Rebecca Lloyd

6. Grace Gilliard (C)

7. Pip Harminson

11. Jess Howard

13. Sophie Grimsom

14. Caitlin Wilson

15. Megan McCready 16. Steph Weston

Men's Football 1sts Battle To Exciting Draw With Durham 01.12.2017 Redbrick Sport give their alternatives to the FIFA Team of the Year

Pages 36 and 37 David Garbutt reviews the 2017 Formula 1 season

Uni of Birmingham 2-2 Durham, Metchley 3G, 22/11/2017 Alex Alton

Page 38 Alex Alton discusses the recent BBC Price of Football report

Page 39

Olli Meek

gives an account of Women's Football's loss to Durham

Page 39

Sport Print Editor

@_alexalton

On Wednesday afternoon Birmingham Men's 1sts faced a tough challenge facing then top of the league Durham at Metchley 3G. A windy, dark day hardly helped matters in the game, which saw a fair few errors purely down to the testing conditions. Nevertheless, the game started at a high tempo, with both sides looking to get the ball on the floor, as the aerial route was not a realistic option in this game.

In the first 15 minutes Birmingham had the better of chances, putting together a few flowing movements which displayed good team cohesion.

This pressure eventually paid dividends, with Ollie Sitch bundling in an effort on the 26th minute. The goal came from a throw in on the right, with Birmingham displaying more of the passing football that had got them their foothold in the game. Nitin Mishra controlled the ball out of his feet perfectly to slide in Sitch, whose initial effort was saved. However, persistence paid for the striker, who eventually slotted home.

"The game started at a high tempo, with both sides looking to get the ball on the floor"

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Durham eventually got back into the game, though. They responded well to Birmingham taking the lead, with some nice play on the right hand side resulting in a cross towards the back post. Durham's lanky number 9 finished the ball off expertly, placing the ball back across goal towards the keeper's left. This showed great nous, as keeper James Philps would have definitely saved the shot had the striker hit the ball straight. At 30 minutes, the

score stood 1-1.

Birmingham had some great chances to retake the lead before half time, with left winger Elliott Reeves showing tight control and dribbling to get off a shot which flashed just wide of the post in the 42nd minute. At this point it became apparent that the distribution skills of 'keeper James Philps were proving fruitful, with the Reeves chance resulting from a lofted pass from Phillips.

"On the 61st minute came a moment of brilliance unprecedented in the game to that point" Unfortunately for Birmingham though, Durham were the much more clinical side. They took the lead just before half time on the 45th minute, with their number 7 scoring a spectacular lofted goal. The goal was no doubt aided by the wind, yet it showed extreme skill to convert that kind of effort from 25 efforts. In added time, Ayo Adebajo almost equalised, picking the ball on the right hand side of the box, unleashing a left footed shot which hit the axel of the crossbar.

At half time Birmingham would have felt extremely unlucky to be losing the game, having had the better of chances in the first half whilst playing some attractive football.

However, on the 61st minute came a moment of brilliance unprecedented in the game to that point. Right back Ben Roberts had delivered a solid performance, but his talent really shone through in this moment. After a foul on the edge of the box, Roberts lined up to take the resulting free kick. Taking two steps forward, the defender unleashed a perfectly whipped shot over the Durham wall into the back of the net., which the 'keeper had no chance to save (head to @redbricksport on Twitter to see our view of the goal). In all honesty, the goal could probably have won goal of the month in professional football.

As for the rest of the game, there were very few chances. Defender Jacob Carter's blushes were spared on the 80th minute as he gave up possession on the halfway line. Luckily for him, the Durham substitute failed to take the ball past the goalkeeper.

All in all then, Birmingham would have been frustrated to not come away with a win from this game.

Despite a lack of chances in the second half, they really dominated through their persistence with the passing game and playing the ball out from the back. Saying this, Durham were very clinical and showed flashes of great play throughout the game. Another point for Birmingham, which left them fourth in the Premier North with 9 points from 7 games.

Man of the match for this game goes to right back Ben Roberts.

Whilst he had a tidy game, anyone who scores a free kick that good deserves recognition for it.

UoB also earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Notts Trent in a badly-tempered game on Wednesday night, keeping B'ham third in the Premier North league. Next week they are away at bottom of the league Loughborough in a huge fixture.

Birmingham Squad vs Durham 1. James Philps 2. Ben Roberts 3. Will Brant 4. Caleb Wright 5. Jamie Blanco 6. Nitin Mishra (C) 7. Ayo Adebajo 8. Matthew Rudolph 9. Ollie Sitch 10. Dominic Lunnon 11. Elliot Reeves 12. Michael Booker 13. Manji Gimsay 14. Robbie Paratore 15. Kerr Horn 16. Jacob Carter