The HYPE Issue 3

issue 3

Stooshe Tom Odell Controlled By Your Thoughts

ch 12/taking over fr e e p s f om t o m d b y e o l y l o o he m ur tho r d t n e o e c ught r 2/ en f 2 / l a s r i v t 3 s 6 y 0 / r ellie g ic 16/ 1 ua 2 n d a 4 d j / s / o il m an a ls 34 e 48/matt tong 50/j uldin life teen g s ith pil ade as s sh o u o 3 m g w iet /st m odell 60/film review e 52 9/ a g th / s n 0/d 44 6/to e 72 / b ? e auty 64/ vo e 3 ok a 5 eautiful b ull sp lu o b p i t a a r i c l e s l b e 78/s tin rin ra m u t a m l g ene a 70/ /Cu 8 / 8 g 7 o l a l l lin ga 3 76 ootba et ec l ds in f h m

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staff

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EDITORS

NAOMI WILSON STACEY TONKS

art director Chelsea Allen

designers

SAM RIBBITS CHARLEY WARD KRISTIAN ADAMS CHARLOTTE MAY LOUISE HUGHES SAKAYNAH HUNTER

sub-EDITORS

aMY STUDLEY SARAH WALL ELLI BLACKWELL BRODIE ROBERTSON BECKI FRANCIS JESSICA POOK LEANNA DREW ROSEANNE FIELD STEPHANIE ORR

contributors

Yasmina mcnabb/Catherine collins/lara shingles/ Elizabeth Baker/Tehona waugh/ emma verweij/jessie mulhern/jack wetherill/ Katie dyba/ gemma clapp/ rosie browne/charlotte smith/ella french

social media

LAUREN CANSICK

illustrators

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KRISTIAN UtrimArk Desi Baeva Becky brine

EDITORS’ LETTER

HELLO, Welcome to the spring issue of The HYPE. We are really excited about this jam-packed issue. We’ve got interviews with the lovely Ellie Goulding and fierce girl band Stooshe, not to mention Critics Choice Award winner Tom Odell. And if that’s not enough entertainment then get hooked on our Big Reads. We’ve been busy investigating what it is like to live with an addict, be a teenager on the front line and stand up for your freedom of speech.

For the girls, we have this spring’s must-have fashion and beauty trends, and for the boys a brand new section on sport. Don’t forget to check out our travel pieces too, that will make you wish you were reading this issue on a flight to somewhere sunny.

So grab a cuppa, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

EDITORS

Naomi Stacey x x 4

big reads I am an extremist, not a terrorist You Have the right not to remain silent Taking over from the men teens on the frontline Living with an addict controlled by your thoughts Life as a gay muslim Gary poppins diet pills: the shorcut to skinny?

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But I am not a Terrorist.

Since 9/11 Muslims in the UK have been the victim of negative stereotypes, but what about the majority of muslim extremists who live peacefully?

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Š Grafikmurat | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

I Am Young.

I am Muslim.

I am an extremist.

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words: yasmina mcnabb / design: Charley Ward

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he 9/11 and 7/7 attacks as well as the Abu Hamza saga have thrust Islam into a dark hole that continues to grow deeper, with an increasing amount of articles related to young male Muslims.

Within the last year alone 114 young people between the ages of 18 and 29 were arrested for terrorism-related offences. But as a society, has that now made us too eager to wave the terrorist-extremist flag? With both terms assigned so often, what defines someone as a terrorist or an extremist?

“Why are you a terrorist because your views are not the same as society’s? Can you really say that you do not have any views that some may deem extreme?” These are the words of Yusef.

He makes a good point. At the age of 21, Yusef is a young man who is similar to you and I. He plans to work hard to ensure he has

What do we really know about Islam?

“Qur’an 51:56, I created Humans to worship me. So as Muslims we know the purpose of life is to worship Allah. Love what Allah loves and dislike what Allah dislikes.” These are the words of Abdullah Patterson.

Abdullah, 30, converted to Islam 11 years ago. As a young Muslim, his views did reflect how society treated him. “The media portrayed a practicing Muslim as a terrorist. If you have a beard and wear a thawb, an ankle length garment, people have been taught to associate these with terrorists.”

Both Yusef and Abdullah are devoted Muslims who try and live their lives according to Allah’s will, though their views and attitudes are not the same.

Abdullah believes that with age and knowledge he has learned what Islam is all about. He says: “My beliefs have changed.

They have definitely become stronger due to me learning more. Islam says worship the one true creator alone.

“I am a devoted Muslim. I believe in my faith entirely but for some people this is a bad thing. In reality, Islam changed me from a South London Jamaican criminal to a decent, God-fearing and productive human being.”

Images of supposed dangerous, antiwestern Muslim men are constantly thrust into the media, convincing many that Islam is a threat. This is a frustration for Abdullah.

He classifies himself as a strict Muslim and says his views are no more extreme than those of a devote Christian.

He compares this prejudice to racism that ethnic minorities like black and Asian people have fought against for many years. Racism and ignorance he believes can only be the possible answer as to why people are so afraid

"in reality, Islam changed me from a South London Jamaican criminal to a God-fearing and productive human being" enough money to live comfortably. Nice car, nicer house and possibly start a family. All are normal goals in life. Yet his views challenge the norm. He’s anti-government. He wants them gone and for Islam to rule. He calls himself an extremist.

He is a young Muslim that stands up for what he believes in and overtly challenges the government. But do not confuse this with terrorism. He does not believe in violence. It is forbidden in Islam, a fact that many forget.

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of something or someone different.

“It is purely ignorance that has resulted in this new-found hatred for Muslims. I try and ignore it because I know that there are just too many uneducated individuals out there. Such things as oppression and racism will never cease because of it.”

Hearing this is a huge contrast to what worldwide societies, and in particular Britain, stand for. More than ever the word multicultural is used to describe different places

T h e H y p e B IG RE A D s and views and yet here is a man who believes this is all a false pretence. How can this be our fate in a country that supposedly fights for equality for everyone regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or religion?

Abdullah added: “People are too reliant on the media. We are only ever told half the story, sometimes even less. The media can be very selective and manipulative.”

“It only shows Muslims protesting aggressively outside Government buildings, but they never broadcast the many peaceful protests that we do. More worrying is how the facts don’t support what they report.”

The Home Office found that the number of terrorist attacks across the globe had dropped by nearly 12% last year with 13 individuals standing trial for terrorism-related offences.

Out of that 13 only eight were convicted.

However, this does not hide the fact that the world has experienced horrific acts of terrorism in this century.

So what happens when you lose faith completely in the world?

Yusef is an extremist and this is by his own admission. He is angry. He feels that it is the only way to react to such prejudice.

“When you are victimised continuously people are asking for trouble. You can only be put down so many times before you fight back. Black people did it when overcoming slavery and so will Muslims.”

When trying to explain how he feels towards society and its treatment of Muslims, particularly young males, he could only say “I feel nothing. No longer am I going to waste

emotions on people that don’t matter. Allah guides me, but anger fuels me.”

Yusef explained: “Islam showed me the truth and through Islam I feel as though I have more purpose. I am valued in my Muslim community. However, in society I am not. I can relate to some of the words of Abu Hamza. Although I do believe he is misguided, there is real pain expressed through his words. I can relate to that but not the violence.”

Hearing this you can hear an individual that is lost, but what’s not clear is whether or not these views stem from his religion or his youth. But either way, these views are not those of a terrorist.

It could be that his feelings of not being valued in society both as a Muslim, but more importantly a young man, have frustrated him. Similar emotions were the theme of last summer’s riots. Scenes of unrest and chaos across the country were a vivid message that the youth of our society are frustrated. Yusef seems no different.

Watching and listening to Yusef you can sense he is longing for guidance. Unlike Abdullah, Yusef has not overcome his frustrations. He cannot deal with the prejudices he feels he faces as a Muslim man.

He has not fully embraced Islam – if he did, nothing else would matter. However, like Abdullah he believes that if people are pushed and bullied enough, they will lose control. H

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Not You Have The Right To

Remain Silent Can it be a crime to express your opinion? The HYPE investigates a new wave of convictions that see people banged up for having a laugh...

T h e H y p e B IG R E A D s

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hilst sat in a theatre watching a comedian running through his routine, he tells a joke about the disappearance of Madeline McCann. Suddenly, two police officers enter through the stage door and arrest him. The show was over.

Nobody would expect that to happen in the UK, would they? And yet this year, people have been arrested and imprisoned for making their opinions known and for telling jokes on Facebook, distasteful and offensive perhaps, but jokes none the less. What happened to freedom of speech?

Matthew Wood, 19, took an ‘idea’ he found on Sickipedia, changed it slightly to mention missing five-year-old, April Jones, and posted it on his Facebook page.

A crowd of vigilantes descended on his home and he was arrested for his own safety.

How he was incarcerated for 12 weeks in prison is anybody’s guess.

Wood wasn’t the only one. Back in March, Azhar Ahmed, posted - “All soldiers should die and go to hell.” He claims that he wanted to point out that innocent families were being slain too. Once he realised the reaction he was getting, he removed the post and apologised.

It didn’t stop him being found guilty of a grossly offensive communication and sentenced to 240 hours community service.

Then we have Barry Thew, who wore a t-shirt with hand written messages scrawled on it, such as “One less pig, perfect justice” and “Killacopforfun.com hahaa”. Thew was arrested in Manchester a few hours after police officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes were killed.

Thew has had an ongoing dispute with Manchester police as he blames them for the death of his teenage son three years ago. He pleaded guilty to a public order offence and was sent to prison for four months.

One of the first people to be arrested and charged after posting a joke online was Paul Chambers. In 2010, the 29-year-old tweeted in frustration that he was going to blow Robin Hood Airport sky high after finding it closed due to bad weather.

He didn’t intend for it to be taken seriously, he certainly wasn’t collecting home-made bomb equipment and stock piling napalm to enable him to follow through. Yet, he was arrested, and found guilty of sending a menacing electronic communication.

Although Paul was not sent to prison, he was fined a hefty amount and given a criminal record. It took over two years of fighting and an expensive legal bill, before the High Court finally overturned his conviction.

Paul talks to The HYPE about the latest convictions and how he had hoped that his case would set a precedent. He said: “I think our freedom of speech is slowly being eroded, and as long as we accept convictions like these, it will only get worse.

“Matthew Woods and Barry Thew are difficult cases and they are never going to win any prizes for respect or decency.

With Woods, the details change with every

account you hear and it is hard to argue that he didn’t deserve a visit from the police.

There is no way that you can reconcile their sentences though. Especially with crimes that receive less.

“Azhar Ahmed is a very different matter, he is a guy that should never have been arrested, let alone prosecuted. Context is key here, and it is easy to see the point he was trying to make, however inarticulately he made it.

Once the mist cleared, he removed his post and apologised, and that should have been an end to it.

“My case isn’t even officially a precedent according to Keir Starmer, which is annoying on two fronts. Firstly, that the highest judge in the land’s summation is considered obiter.

Secondly, because Starmer’s defenders insisted he was doing so to set precedent.”

Paul was studying for his chartered accountancy exams at the time of his arrest.

“Obviously it put an end to that,” he explained.

“It was a slog, it really was. After I’d lost my second job because of it, both my fiancée Sarah and I hit rock bottom. I was told I was virtually unemployable while I had this over my head, and because the wheels of justice turn very slowly, we were stuck in limbo for a very long time.

“We couldn’t plan anything, couldn’t move on with our lives, and we were very tempted to throw in the towel after the appeal at Doncaster Crown Court and the ludicrous judgement that Judge Davies delivered. It was very much the hardest time of our lives.

“Sadly, now it makes me feel that my fight was in vain. I thought we may have made a little headway, with my case being cited in a few prosecutions and the Director of Public Prosecutions saying that guidelines would be set. If anything it has got worse.

“I only managed to get back into employment because of a handy spot of nepotism, so I don’t know if I could get back into finance or accounts as easily.

During the high profile appeal, Paul had the support of celebrities such as Al Murray and Stephen Fry, with the latter offering to pay any fine he received.

Paul went on to say: “I just hope that the authorities get a grip of themselves and soon - because we are criminalising people who do not deserve to be so. I am yet to figure out whether it’s ineptitude or something more sinister that we’re seeing more and more of these cases, and I don’t know which to wish for.

“Not everyone is lucky enough to have the support and the campaigning that I did, but we must not stand for this. I’ve tried not to think too much about what I tweet, or at least no more than I would have before I was arrested.

“I would still not post anything that I personally think is too offensive, but as far as anything risqué goes, or along the lines of the tweet that got me into trouble, I wouldn’t censor it.

“If I did, that would mean the authorities were right, and they definitely weren’t.” H

"Our FREEDOM OF SPEECH is slowly being eroded"

words: catherine collins / design: Adam Dean

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men With today's sky-high unemployment, women are taking on the jobs we thought were just for men. Meet the women who wear the trousers now...

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eports from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveal that the number of women out of work has already increased by 100,000 this year, reaching 1.14 million - the highest figure in 25 years. As they continue to bear the brunt of unemployment, women are starting to consider careers they hadn’t thought of before.

Refusing to act as shock absorbers for the cuts and roll over for lower paid work, women are dipping more than just their toes into typically male careers, such as fire-fighting, security, mechanics and butchering.

Although seemingly necessary, starting an offbeat, unfamiliar and traditionally manly job is still daunting. The HYPE talks to three women inspirationally taking on such roles.

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Š Billyfoto | Dreamstime Sotck Photos & Stock Free Images

Taking over from the

T h e H y p e B IG R E A D s

words: lara shingles / design: Chelsea allen

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The Fire-Fighter

CLG’s Fire & Rescue Service’s statistics for England (2009-2010) show a steady, annual increase of around 0.3% women fire-fighters since 2000. Still, just 4% of today’s fire-fighters are female.

Dany Cotton started her career as a fire-fighter in April 1988. A career choice considered equally as unusual then as it is now, there were friends and family who didn’t think she could or should do it, but such discouragement only served as motivation to do well.

She says: “Even at training school I felt I had to work twice as hard as anyone else. I mainly ignored the criticisms, but it did make me work much harder to prove them wrong.”

And prove them wrong is what she did.

Dany now has had a decorated career in the fire service, even becoming the first woman to win the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in 2004. After a career lasting 24 years, she is now the highest ranking woman in the British Fire Service, working as an Assistant Commissioner in the London Fire Brigade.

A true inspiration to many women who consider joining the service, Dany has worked with the London Fire Brigade and the CLG on a campaigns to promote firefighting as a career.

Calling it ‘the best job in the world’ Dany says: “I don’t think you can better any job that allows you to save someone’s life, whether it is by installing a smoke alarm to alert them in the event of a fire, teaching a child an escape plan, or ultimately rescuing someone from a fire. It requires fitness, team work, and commitment and I would encourage anyone to join.”

Dany says her experience working in a mostly male environment ‘interesting’. She says, “There have been some tough times and some challenging ones, but I work with a great team of people now and I really love my job.

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“We could still do with a better fitting uniform for women and sometimes there are still guys who challenge women’s ability to be fire-fighters, but on the whole things are pretty good!”

The Military Police Officer

Ex-service officer, Suzanne Fernando worked as a Royal Military Policewoman (RMP), which she claimed to be ‘the best job in the Army’.

She said, “I wanted to see the world, but also be a policewoman. I know it sounds corny, but since being severely bullied at school I knew I wanted to serve and protect the community, and I’m happy to say I did just that!”

Whilst CRB checks, fitness levels and criminal convictions all play an important role beforehand, Suzanne notes that ‘patience, self-control and taking responsibility’ are key to succeeding as a RMP. “Accept and respect the fact you are halfsoldier, half-police and be wholly committed.

Be in no doubts as to the fundamental purpose of RMP in the Army- we exist in uniform and order to deploy. We alone, have the capability to deliver a wide range of policing functions across the spectrum of conflict at home at home and abroad,” she explained.

With a regular manning liability of approximately 2,500 personnel, the RMP are the Army’s specialists in Investigations and Policing. Distinct from their civilian counterparts, the RMP has unique operational tasks that have no equivalence in society. They exist to deploy as part of the

field army, with the core tasks of policing and providing support to the force.

Understandably, it is a very physical role, so just how fit do you need to be as a Military Police Officer? “Very!” Suzanne said. “I had arms like Arnie… still do!”

Speaking about the best part of being a RMP, Suzanne credits meeting many wonderful people, getting positive feedback from the public, and having the chance to train and learn so much more than she would have done if she had remained in civilian life.Above all though, she said: “Job satisfaction from protecting and serving the military was the best reward any policewoman could ever have.”

The Taxidermist

Trudy Coyle has been a taxidermist and sacred tool maker for just over two years.

Having always been passionate about animals, her interest peaked when she was just 11, following a visit to The Natural History Museum.

“This sparked an enormous interest and from that moment on I looked at, and studied, museum pieces and animal anatomy whenever and wherever I could. I grew up still

© Billyfoto | Dreamstime Sotck Photos & Stock Free Images

"I felt I had to work twice as hard as any one else. I mainly ignored the criticisms, but it did make me work much harder to prove them wrong"

T h e H y p e B IG R E A D s

with this deep seated interest and felt it was something I really wanted to do,” said Trudy.

Originally a hobby for her own benefit and interest, Trudy’s business, ‘Indigo Crow Taxidermy’ started suddenly, when other people wanted to buy what she had preserved for herself.

“Within a very short time, I had items going worldwide and now have regular clients who order specialist pieces or items created to their specific requirements.

This includes taxidermy, as well as sacred tools, and pieces for TV, film and theatre costumes,” she explains.

A self-confessed animal lover, Trudy says being able to restore animals to their former glory is one of the best things about her job.

“I get such a kick when people start to whisper in front of a specimen as they think it’s alive. I couldn’t ask for a greater compliment than that, could I?” Certainly not a typical job, Trudy admits she is often faced with people who consider taxidermy a bizarre profession.

“I think people see me as strange because death is thought of as something nasty and distasteful, when it isn’t at all! We must remember it happens to us all sooner or later.

I am not morbid in any way- far from it.

I’m just deeply fascinated in such beautiful creatures. I’m in total awe of them and feel it’s such a waste to see such beauty discarded and incinerated.”

To be a successful taxidermist, Trudy says a good knowledge of animal anatomy is vital. “There are so many examples of bad taxidermy out there, as the ‘taxidermist’

has no idea on muscle, bone structure and shape, and that is an absolute must. A good knowledge of the animal’s habitat is also just as important.

“There is nothing worse than seeing a badly preserved specimen on a base decorated with items it would never come across in the wild! I like my work to be like a snapshot in the specimen’s life, and each piece is placed within a setting that the animal or bird would have been when it was alive.”

For Trudy, having a nine-to-five job is unchartered territory, and she expects it will stay that way. She said: “I have almost always worked with animals in one way or another. I made collectors Mohair bears for several years.

I have also managed and ran a trout farm and have been a fly fishing instructor. I don’t think I could settle in a normal job, ever!”

Trudy says there is no typical day as a taxidermist, because every day is a new challenge. Her days are spent collecting,

photographing and checking specimens, which are then frozen until needed.

“I then lay out the items required for that day. That includes thawing the specimen, skinning, washing, tanning and building the armature. This can take several days to complete.” During the waiting process, Trudy focuses on the other aspect of her business, working on orders for sacred tools.

“This can be carving and inscribing animals, to creating jewellery using preserved animal parts, feathers and gemstones,” she explained.

“Everything I sell, I make myself from start to finish- Which I am quite proud of!”

These women all show there is no such thing as a ‘normal’ job, and no restrictions on what a woman can do these days. While tradition and stereotypes may make getting into more male-focussed roles harder, these women are all proof that, with enough determination, you can achieve anything. H

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teens on the front line Barely old enough to drive, yet being forced into battle; why the British Army should stop recruiting minors...

Words: catherine collins / design: louise hughes

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On exercise: Training to risk their lives for their country

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here are only twenty armies worldwide that recruit sixteen-year-olds. Iran, North Korea, Zimbabwe and Britain.

The UK is the only country in the European Union, the only country on the United Nations Counsel and the only member of NATO to do so. And despite Ministry of Defence staff cuts of 54,000 by 2015, teenagers are still being signed up every year.

At the age of 16, an individual is not old enough to vote, drive, buy tobacco, drink alcohol, buy 18 rated video games and violent movies, or obtain credit. Yet a 16-year-old can sign up to a six year contract (with parental consent), keeping them in the forces until they are 22.

Up until ten years ago there was nothing in place to prevent the deployment of, what can only be described as, children on the front line.

Thankfully, the routine deployment of under-18s has been banned since then.

Which is just as well, seeing as non-profit organisation ForcesWatch, claim that 59% of infantry and marine fatalities in Afghanistan are aged 18-25.

ForcesWatch also states that the infantry and marines tend to recruit younger people and thosefrom disadvantaged backgrounds.

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The Ministry of Defence’s own statistics show that these are the most dangerous roles in the armed forces.

Aaron Hooper explains how signing up to the army aged 17 and being deployed to Kosovo changed his life. He was prepared to

"I will never forget the sight of a ten-year-old boy dragging around a decapitated head" do anything to avoid returning on tour.

“I always wanted to be a soldier,” he shared.

“When I signed up to the infantry and finished my basic training I was deployed to Podujevo, Kosovo.

“I was proud and excited, I really felt like I was ready to serve my country. No amount of training prepared me for what I saw there.

“It can only be described as a horror town where there were frequent revenge killings.

Our base was in an old police station and there was a Serbian graveyard behind it, the

graves were always being vandalised and the bodies dug up.I will never forget the sight of a ten-year-old boy dragging around a decapitated head.

“There was an old saw mill type building close to our base, it was chained and locked up, we were told that it was where the Serbs carried out mass murders of the Albanians, they used to take them to the top and just push them in. Whole families fell to their deaths together.

“There was a Serbian doctor who would risk his life to help treat people in Kosovo.

One day he came into the station covered head to toe in blood. He collapsed and died on the floor in front of us. We never found out what happened to him.

“Three of my friends attempted suicide before they had finished basic training, and another five tried in Kosovo. It was heart wrenching to know that these people were not mentally strong enough to be there.”

Aaron was sent to Podujevo, a town on the Northern border of Kosovo, for a six month tour in 2000, one of 13,000 British troops deployed during the war whose peace keeping mission was to prevent ethnic cleansing of the civilian population. The Serbian military were attacking Kosovo Albanians and NATO

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Excercise image (top left) courtesy of Gabriel Currie | Sniper image (bottom right) courtesy of AndrewMcGill

used air strikes to force the Serb’s surrender.

“When I came home for leave, I knew I never wanted to go back to infantry,” said Aaron.

“I asked to be transferred to munitions but was told that wasn’t possible. Once my tour was over I asked for a transfer again, but was still refused.

“I went AWOL (absent without leave) when it was time for me to return, I knew I would be in trouble but it was far preferable to me than being sent back to Kosovo to do something I hated for a second spell.

“When the military police came and arrested me, I thought that I would be discharged. But I wasn’t. I was given a second chance.”

Aaron had his privileges restricted as punishment for going AWOL and spent four weeks in military detention.

He explains how it didn’t stop there.

“When I got leave again, I came home for the weekend. I was determined not to go back to the Balkans. It was a common place for the army to do drug tests after you returned, so I went out that night.

“I’m not proud of it, but I took cocaine.

When I went back to the barracks on the Monday, I was called in for a drugs test.

I knew I would fail. It took weeks before they eventually called me in to see the CO (Commanding Officer) when the result had

come back.“This time, I was SNLR (services no longer required), the equivalent to a dishonourable discharge.”

Now almost 30, Aaron believes the age of signing up should be raised to 18, not only to save lives but to save money too, as it costs in excess of £19,000 to train a soldier.

“There were fifty of us that started basic training together, but only 24 of us finished phase two. Most of us were under 18. They must waste a huge amount of money when people drop out. Raising the age to 18 may at least stop some people from making an expensive mistake.” H

Kids with guns: Learning to use Sniper Rifles

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living with an addict With an estimated 2 million people in the uk suffering with an addiction, the hype investigates the reality of life with a drink or drug addicted family member?

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remember when I was 15, coming home one night, my stepdad was laying there with a dislocated jaw, while my mum was continuously kicking him. I had to grab him by his legs and drag him out of the house; I was scared what she would do next.”

Lauren, 23, from Brighton is one of many young adults who avoids bringing friends to her home. Why? She can't bear to go through the embarrassment of people seeing her parents drunk and disorderly.

“There have been times in the past when I have brought friends home, and my mum and stepdad would be drunk, probably arguing, or fighting. There have also been times when my mum has been rude to my friends and shouted at them to get out. Obviously, that would be scary for them.”

Lauren describes her childhood as a rollercoaster; one which had a lot more lows than highs. When Lauren's parents were drunk they became very abusive to one another. They would fight so much they

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would knock each other’s teeth out, doors would be kicked off the hinges and police would be called. Sadly, this became the norm for Lauren.

Lauren's parents told her a lot of lies. The main ones being, ‘I’m not addicted to alcohol’ and ‘I promise I’ll stop drinking, we will have a fresh start’. A a result of too much false hope, she started losing trust in people and feeling alone. She took her problems out on her close friends, which resulted in her being put on anti-depressants in her late teens.

“It got so bad that one night, when I got really drunk and had a horrible night, I got home and all I could hear was my parents screaming at one another. I took a knife from the kitchen, went into my room and started slitting my wrists. I just wanted all this to be over.”

Statistics show that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop alcoholism or alcohol related problems than those of non-alcoholics.

Lauren is determined not to turn out like

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Lighting up: Is it that easy to stop?

her mother, but dabbles with Class A drugs.

She said: “I am far from an addict, I know when to stop.”

But, for some, stopping just isn’t that easy.

Samantha Reynolds, also from Brighton, lived with her sister’s drug addiction for over four years.

“From the age of 16 my older sister, Sophie, started smoking weed and drinking a lot. I didn’t think anything of it. At the time, quite a lot of people in our friendship group were doing it.

“Sophie tried to hide it. She made sure she didn't come home high or drunk; nobody suspected a thing.” The problem worsened later that year when smoking weed became part of Sophie’s daily routine.

“She used to skip college to go and sit in a field near our house with her friends and get high all day. Mum used to ask questions, and I used to have to lie and make up excuses for her. I hated myself for lying to my mum.”

Sophie was a likeable, social person and used to get away with anything. Later that year, she started taking cocaine; lost loads of weight and became more aggressive.

“I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to tell my mum before it got out of hand. Sophie kept telling me that she wasn’t an addict, she could stop at any point and I believed her. Til one day, I came home after a day at work, and went into the bedroom to find it in a complete mess. There were strikes of fine white powder on a cd case, rolled up paper on the floor, two empty bottles of vodka and ash all over the window sill. I had a savings box under my bed, which had £150 inside, but when I opened it up there was nothing in there.

“Then I knew enough was enough, my sister needed help. Not the kind of help my mum or I could give her, she needed professional help.

Unfortunately, mum worked nights so I had to sit up and wait for her to come home.

“I remember taking her into our bedroom, showing her all the evidence that Sophie was a drug abuser. I sat her down and told her everything. It was horrible seeing my mum so upset. I just wanted my fun-loving sister back.

“The next day my mum told my sister they were going on a shopping trip, but really, they were going to a rehabilitation centre. My mum never told me what happened when they got

"Sophie kept telling me that she wasn't an addict and she could stop at any point. I believed her."

there or what was said.

“They were the longest two months ever, but, when my sister came home it was like looking at the old Sophie. The one I used to be able to have a laugh with and enjoy being with. I think telling my mum and getting Sophie the help she needed was the best thing I ever did.”

Psychological counselor, Mike Lever, said: “A child or teenager's primary need is love and attention. What will increasingly happen when living with an alcoholic or drug abuser is they will experience anger, while wanting attention. A child living in these surroundings will begin to form a belief that this is what life is and then, like any belief, go into the outside world and try to prove the belief right.

They will often subconsciously seek this poor quality of attention because it was their first experiences of things in life, it sort of feels right, and it feels familiar.

“An alcoholic, like any person with an addiction, is extremely needy, the more they get- the more they need. This means that the child's needs increasingly don't get met. In our childhood we have our first experiences and these then pave the way for how we experience life thereafter” H If you think you or anyone in your family have a drug or alcohol problem, visit www.nhs. uk/Livewell/Addiction for help.

words: tehona waugh / design: charley ward

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r u o y y b d e l control thoughts at are the r h w D: C O e av h e pl o pe 50 It is estimated that 1 in n rituals? ow r u o y by ed ll o tr n o of a life c

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ealities

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e all walk back up the street to double check the door is locked or check we turned the iron off. However, OCD sufferers are bombarded by unwanted compulsive thoughts, telling them they have to carry out such tasks over and over again, drastically affecting their day-to-day lives.

Other rituals people carry out include compulsive hand washing, as many sufferers are afraid of germs and have to wash their hands until they are sore. The mind controlling illness leads people to believe that they will be punished if they don’t give in to their compulsions. Hoarding is also a trait of OCD; they fear bad things will happen if they throw anything away.

Counting and having certain numbers that have to add up are other common traits found in OCD sufferers. Noreen, 26 from South West London, has been struggling with OCD for over 12 years. She explains how it started off as a simply strange behaviour.

“When I was 14 I became obsessive with counting things such as sweet papers that I picked off the street,” she said. “I felt the need to clip and unclip my bra ridiculous amounts of times, I didn’t know what was going on but I had to do it because the compulsions were stronger than me.”

Noreen does not want to carry out her compulsions; there is no pleasure or achievement derived from completing these

rituals, if anything, finishing them makes the obsessions come on stronger. “As I grew older, the rituals became more frequent, four and five were the numbers that began to control my life.”

“I have to have five cups of tea every morning even though I don’t want them, I have to turn taps on and off four times every time I use them, I can only put four things in the washing machine at a time and I even have to wash my hair four times in a row...the list is endless.”

Noreen suffers from a severe case of OCD to the point where many therapists have tried to help her with different kinds of treatment but nothing has been able to control her need to carry out the rituals.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most known effective treatment for OCD. Dr Sarah Jarvis runs a health and wellness blog. She says: “Firstly, the therapist helps you identify current thought patterns and how the thoughts and obsessions that you’re having actually do you no harm.”

When the sufferer has achieved a more realistic thinking pattern, understanding that their obsessions do not need to control them, they will not feel a need to carry out the compulsive acts. Sarah continued: “Their behaviour starts to change, a common technique therapists use is gradually exposing them to their fear, for example if they fear contaminated objects, they are prevented

"IT FEELS LIKE I'M TRAPPED IN MY OWN BODY"

from washing their hands so they become less anxious and feel the need to wash their hands less when they are exposed to germs in future.”

Noreen is one of the one in four people with OCD that finds CBT too stressful: “I was told to write down all my fears in order to conquer them one by one but it was no use, there were too many.”

Having severe OCD affected Noreen’s studies at school. As a teenager she always dreamed of having a job in the media, but her illness become so severe that this was completely out of the question. “OCD has taken away my quality of life, now I couldn’t even consider a career.”

Noreen is trapped inside her home every day making her bed five times and touching all the cupboards four times, just a couple of her many rituals that are so time consuming that she would have no time for a job. “I am always late for important appointments and with jobs I had when I was younger I could never make it on time. This was before I was diagnosed, I couldn’t even imagine what it what be like now.”

Going to new places creates new obsessions for many OCD sufferers, so often locking themselves in their homes is their only option.

“In the workplace I tried to resist urges to count things and hide it from my colleagues, but it left me mentally drained and I had to quit.” Noreen now knows that having a career is virtually impossible with her compulsions overpowering her. “I feel like I’m trapped in my own body” she explained.

Having this illness has led to other issues for Noreen such as having problems with alcohol addiction, using drinking as a way of trying to block out her obsessive thoughts and try to forget her daily rituals, but nothing can control them. Her need to count everything has had a strong influence on her diet and she has struggled with eating disorders due to this. “I never knew it could go this far, I can’t eat what I want, my compulsions are stronger than me and they control what I eat.”

Noreen’s obsessive thoughts have become worse than she ever thought they would. “I have even had serious thoughts about harming children because of OCD, I cannot control my unwanted thoughts, I so desperately want them to go away.” Her OCD has branched out and affected all areas of her life and this shows the extent of just how serious the disorder can be.

“A lot of people don’t recognise this as a serious mental illness but it is, I can never live a normal day as any other person would, it has got a hold on me and it has ruined my life.” H

words: jessie mulhelm / design: chelsea allen

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Life as a

gay muslim.

Do you hide your feelings and ignore what feels natural? Or do you dare take the risk of sinning against your own religion?

Photo courtesy of Rassing

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hen a man mounts another man, the throne of God shakes”. This is what is written in black and white in the Qur’an. Muslims living in a western civilisation often face prejudice as it is. A major trigger for this was the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City and the 7/7 bombings in London. These events painted a threating and evil image of followers of Islam; many innocent people faced unfair discrimination. Yet, not all Muslims are as extreme as those few.

Terrorism is something that is reported by news channels on a regular basis, with Middle Eastern countries constantly under threat.

However, a Muslim in love with someone of the same sex is taboo and never reported to that level.

It is quite surprising to find that a Facebook page ‘Gay Muslims in The UK’ has 174 members and is growing on a daily basis. It is for young Muslims, aged 18 and over who are seeking other male Muslims of the same sexual orientation.

One of the group’s followers, who did not wish to be named, is a 21-year-old male from Syria who is keen to speak of how both he and his friends are mistreated in his country, just for being gay.

“Gay rights are non-existent in Syria,” he said. “My family were accepting of my

sexuality, but if anyone else found out we could face threats and even blackmail from other families. If you are discreet about it and do not promote your sexuality, you can get away with it.

“I have had male friends who have been physically abused for holding hands with other males; some people think they can run the country themselves.

“Although deep down my family have come to accept who I am, I live in fear that I could ruin my family’s livelihood if someone outside found out.”

Gay rights in Muslim majority countries, like Syria, are far more extreme than the UK. Although some gay Muslims would never

words: elizabeth baker / design: sam ribbits

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“

muslims have a lot in common with the LgBT community in that both face baseless discrimination

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Photo courtesy of Levento1

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come out, there are a few in the UK who have accepted themselves for who they are and live openly as gay men.

Ash Mehmud, a 21-year-old student at the University of Southampton is an openly gay Muslim whose family do not take religion very seriously. Ash said: “My family are from Pakistan. They are quite an open family and quite non-religious.

“I was 12 when I first realised I had feelings for someone of the same sex; I was fine with it though. I never really had personal conflicts.”

Telling your parents you’re gay is hard for anyone, but knowing your religion is against it, can make it even harder. Ash, however, said: “I wasn’t scared of what my parents would say or how they would react at the time. I didn’t really see it as a problem, though it is a little more awkward now I’m older.

“I decided to come out on my 18th birthday to my best friend. We were really close so I just decided to take the leap and say ‘Sam, I’m gay’ and he simply said ‘I know’ and we carried on watching TV.” Ash was surprised with his reaction as he considers himself to be the most religious person in his family. He said: “My parents aren’t at all religious – I’d go to my aunties to do Ramadan and fast. I still do it now sometimes, though admittedly it’s become more of a traditional thing.”

Most Muslims are dedicated to their prayers and visit their mosque to pray up to five times a day. Although the most religious in his family, Ash confessed: “Last time I was close to the mosque was when I went out to a Southampton gay club which is beside one. I went to the loo next to it whilst drunk, which felt like a low moment in my life.”

Whilst Ash has been lucky with his family

and friends’ reactions to his homosexuality, other Muslims are not.

Melody Moezzi is an American-Iranian Muslim and writer for The Huffington Post, as well as a United Nations Global Expert.

She said: “I’ve been involved in raising awareness of this issue, largely through my research and writing, which I consider my main outlet for activism. The last chapter of my first book is about a dear PakistaniAmerican friend, Faisal Alam, who is the founder of Al-Fatiha, the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Muslim organisation in the world. As a result of writing about him, I’ve received two death threats of which I am actually very proud.”

Melody offers her view on how we can move forward. She said: “I think it varies by country. There’s really no such thing as an ‘Islamic country’ anymore, as Muslims find themselves in pretty much every nation around the world. With respect to Muslimmajority countries, however, there remains a lot of work to be done.

“My take is that the best way to do this is to appeal to the community’s experience with worldwide stigma and discrimination.

We have a lot in common with the LGBT community in that we both face baseless discrimination. For Muslims who take the issue with homosexuality, they must acknowledge that heterosexuality is neither a pillar of Islam nor mentioned in any extensive way in the Qur’an. Basically, we need to appeal to the humanity and experience of Muslims around the world.” H Melody’s book War On Error is available on Amazon and features the article with Faisal Alam, founder of the largest LGBT Muslim organisation in the world.

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GARY POPPINS Male nannies are on the rise: meet the modern day mary Poppins...

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adonna had one, Gwyneth Paltrow had one and Britney Spears had one.

No, not last season’s Chanel bags, but a phenomenon that has gained more popularity over the last few years: a male nanny.

With world famous nanny academy Norland gaining their first male undergraduate, ‘mannies’ have been officially accepted in the female dominated world of childcare.

While his 48 fellow students walk around in tidy dresses, put on their lipstick and talk about boys, 18-year-old Michael Kenny wears his custom designed uniform of a cream shirt and trousers, a tweed jacket and a striped tie. Last September, Michael was accepted at Norland College in Bath. During that month he was the centre of media attention. Being a man studying to be a nanny apparently has a shock factor. To give him a rest, Norland even decided not to pass him any media inquiries until February.

Michael Kenny is not the only one with a special interest for childcare. Though the childcare workforce is 98% female, male nannies are on the rise. The blog Parenting reports that popular nanny referral database, nannies4hire.com, has seen a 10% increase in male nannies since the previous year.

There are even specialised ‘manny agencies’ to make employing a male nanny easier for families. Annie Merrylees, co-founder of London’s first registered manny agency, ‘My Big Buddy,’ says; “I noticed a gap in the market for a male role model figure.”

She added that she has seen a steady increase in male nannies over the last few years and thinks it’s simply because families are realising they have options. Annie started her agency back in 2006 when she and colleague Susie both worked as nannies in London.

“The service began as a casual play-date service where we would introduce guys to

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look after and spend time with the children on an informal and irregular basis. Even though the fathers of both families were around, they had busy work schedules which sometimes meant they couldn’t spend as much time at home as they would have liked.”

Their idea turned out to be successful. “The children we cared for responded very well to it and the families went on to use the service after we decided to run the company full time”.

“Some families still use ‘My Big Buddy’ as it was intended, however some began to request more regular arrangements. Soon, we were placing guys to work as ‘mannies’ full time.

“We now have about 450 guys registered.

About 300 of those are in full time employment with us and the rest work casually.”

So why would families prefer a male nanny over a ‘usual’ female nanny?

“There are several reasons to hire a manny,” Merrylees says. A lot of her clients are single mothers, families where the father has busy work commitments, or families who have more girls than boys and want to restore balance.

“Most commonly, it is families with young boys who want someone well-educated that can encourage and assist their children with wthings like completing homework, followed a reward of some active, fun entertainment.”

Discussing the process of selecting ‘mannies’ for her agency, Merrylees says: “The perfect manny is very conversational and switched on. “The quieter guys can also be good with younger children and live-in positions.”

Still, the guy has got to know that being a nanny is not only fun and laughter.

“I’m always very clear with them from the beginning that the work is often 50% childcare and 50% family organisation. So they do understand what to expect but most aren’t put off by this.”

Even though being a male nanny seems

more accepted now, they still have to deal with society raising eyebrows at them.

A survey from the Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association shows that some of the main representations associated with men in childcare are: it’s not masculine, it’s an underpaid job, and men don’t have the correct skills.

James Bolton is a 25-year-old nanny who works for two families in London. All of the children he works with are boys. “I don’t feel that I’m any less of a man because of the job that I do. It’s a changing world. There has been such a focus on women doing men’s jobs, but there has been very little focus on the roles reversing, and I think it’s a positive thing,” he tells the Telegraph.

Still, he comes across people who are incredulous that parents would allow a man to look after their children. “I think in some countries I’d face more prejudice, and probably even some areas in the UK. “ At least male nannies are given a chance; Merrylees rarely has clients who swap back to females after having a male nanny. However, sometimes she needs to train the boys to do the job to as high a standard as their female predecessor. “I don’t think the idea of a male nanny would work for everyone but, for those it does work for, it works really well.”

Most parents are still uneasy of having a ‘manny’ look after their child fearing that the man is incapable. Also, the likeliness that the man could be more prone to paedophilia is a dark thought that is rarely discussed. But, by picking a government registered agency, and meeting the ‘manny’ on several occasions before they get the job, parents should feel more at ease.

Here at The HYPE, we reckon it won’t be long before the word ‘manny’ gets its own place in the dictionary. H

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"I don't feel that I'm any less of a man because of the job that I do. It's a changing world"

Gary Poppins: Male nannies have enjoyed a recent surge in popularity

words: emma verweij / design: charley ward

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Diet Pills: Are they really worth the risk?

30 Š Lonewolf9849 | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

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Would you take the shortcut to

SKINNY? The pressure for the perfect body has driven thousands of women to try diet pills. But with severe side effects, is the slim waistline really worth the risk? The HYPE investigates...

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ecent studies revealed that the average woman spends 17 years of her life dieting. It’s no wonder many of us are ready to chuck the scales out of the window and tuck into a steak bake or two.

Surely there must be a quicker, less soul destroying way to lose weight? Step forward the murky subject of diet pills, as the approval of two new obesity drugs in the US could spark the trend once more and see this controversial method make a comeback.

Up until summer 2012 it had been 13 years since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved any new weight loss medications. However, the go ahead has been given to two new drugs made specifically for obese adults; promising to help reduce 5-10% of their body mass each year. However, despite rigorous testing, the drugs could still come with side effects such as hallucinations and could even cause birth defects in women who become pregnant whilst taking them.

words: charlotte smith / design: elli blackwell

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Miracle pills?

Qsymia, produced by VivusPharmaceuticals, is an appetite suppressant that works by increasing the feeling of fullness along with making food taste less appealing. It is now available to buy in US pharmacies with a prescription, and if proven to be a success it will cross the pond to the UK later this year.

Belviq, made by Arena Pharmaceuticals, causes weight loss by turning on a switch in the brain that produces levels of Serotonin and ultimately decreases cravings and starves off the body’s ‘starvation response’ to weight loss; however, research shows it has the potential for abuse and therefore won’t be available in the US until early 2013, when the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have decided how to schedule the drug.

Depending on the dose of Belviq, Arena Pharmaceuticals say it should have no side effects. However; if a higher dose is taken, studies show it could trigger a slightly different serotonin switch which is responsible for the effects of hallucinogens (such as LSD) and other addictive drugs. Because of this, the DEA will most likely schedule Belviq as a controlled substance.

So why do two drugs get the approval in the space of a month after 13 years of failed medications? Medical researchers say they decided to approve Qsymia and Belviq after they realised obesity is becoming a fast spreading ‘disease’ in America – more than a third of Americans struggle with obesity. The risks carried with obesity; diabetes and heart disease to name a couple, are greater than the potential risks that come with weight loss drugs.

But, with the two companies recommending

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the new drugs should be taken for a lifetime, when previous weight loss pills have only been intended for short term use, potential long term dangers could still be unknown.

"I didn't stop as I was hooked on the idea that the pill could help me lose more weight" Desperation

It’s all too easy to see how the constant pressure to look a certain way makes women turn to the quick fix appeal of a diet pill and look past the sketchy side effects. Emma Hill, a student from Basingstoke, 21, says she resorted to diet pills a few years ago when she was at her heaviest - a size 16.

“I was so sick of dieting, I’d tried everything,” she recalls. “After a friend recommended a diet pill she’d bought from an online pharmacy I thought I’d give it a go. At first I noticed a few pounds drop off but after a few weeks I started to feel anxious and on edge about the smallest things.

“I gradually developed into depression and I started feeling so low about myself that getting out of bed in the mornings was a struggle,” Emma continues. “All my friends noticed the change in my behaviour, but I didn’t stop as I was hooked on the idea that the pill could help me lose more weight. I finally stopped taking the pill when one day I started getting severe abdominal cramps at college and got myself so worked up I had a panic attack.

“My mum rushed me to hospital and I had

to tell the doctor the pill I’d been taking. He explained the side effects and dangers of what I was doing to my body – it was then that I realised the pill just wasn’t worth it. I stopped after eight weeks of taking it. I’m now a size 12 and although I still want to lose more weight I’m doing it the right way – through healthy eating and lots of exercise, there really are no safe shortcuts.”

Lose weight the safe way

What makes weight loss drugs unsafe? Nehal Keshwala, a dietician from Southampton General Hospital says it’s unlikely that weight loss pills will ever help you lose weight without the unwanted side effects.

“Diet pills stop the absorption of fat so it is inevitable that they will affect other parts of the body too,” she said. “They can affect your bowels and even brain function which is why there have been reports of people experiencing depression and anxiety after taking certain drugs. You shouldn’t take them for long periods either so if they did make you lose weight the results wouldn’t last.

“As dieticians we never recommend diet pills because of the harmful side effects linked with them. There are no secret tricks to weight loss; it’s just about making small tweaks to your lifestyle. This could simply mean increasing physical activity, reducing the amount of fat and high calorie snacks you consume and cutting down on portion sizes.”

It’s all too easy to see the shiny temptation of a pill that promises to blast away fat with no gym or starvation required. But, with a potential cost of long term side effects like depression, anxiety or even heart problems, is the risk really worth it? H

Desperation: Women are under pressure to look skinny

entertainment virals Ellie Goulding the hitchcock revival eReader vs. The Book Stooshe matt tong

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jadee the evolution of street art Reality tv stars tom odell film reviews

the hype's to events!

The HYPE's round up of the best recent viral stories...

obese people may live longer than those of a healthy weight Supersize vs. Superskinny host Dr. Christian must have been upset to learn of this study.

Despite six seasons dedicated to helping those struggling with obesity lose weight, it’s all been a waste of time. A review of almost 100 studies, encompassing three million people, found that those who are “overweight or slightly obese have a six percent lower risk of dying than those of a normal weight.” I am choosing to ignore the fact that this study makes literally no sense, and focus more on the fact that if true, it’s basically the best news ever.

Somebody get me some cake.

jimmy saville tweenies spoof

As the Jimmy Savile investigation unfolded and the horrifying testimonials were made public, it became apparent that the BBC had been involved in cover up attempts for years. The nation was shocked and faith in the BBC fell considerably. Despite this colossal mess, the BBC still found it prudent to show a repeat of an episode of The Tweenies recently in which one character appears dressed up as Jimmy Savile. The character had adopted Savile’s accent while wearing his trademark tracksuit and using several of his catchphrases. I literally… just… can’t.

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T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

p five viral

kate middleton's pregnancy Kate Middleton announced her pregnancy in early December, and later it was revealed she has been enduring a severe case of Hyperemesis gravidarum. Acute morning sickness, to you and me. While the press were ecstatic about the prospect of a new royal baby, they weren’t quite so sympathetic about poor Kate, who was basically told to shut up and get on with it. The baby, which is due in July, is rumoured to be a girl. The reason? Slim women tend to have girls, as female foetuses can survive on fewer nutrients. Sounds legit.

s r e g r u b e s r o h tesco Tesco was forced to apologise to the public after food inspectors found that several ranges of their burgers contained horsemeat. The outrage was fierce, with David Cameron calling it “a completely unacceptable state of affairs.”

However, there is a silver lining to every situation, and in this case Tesco have managed to bring joy to a whole lot of terrible joke tellers.

I quote The Daily Mail: “Husband: ‘I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.’ Wife: ‘Why don’t you go to Tesco?’” Great, right? I laughed so hard at that one!

moisturising jeans You know that heart-sinking feeling when you put your jeans on and they’re still damp but you’re running late and they’re the only ones that are clean? And after a while they start to itch and and it’s basically just the worst thing ever? Well, sod you and your valid human experiences, because Wranger literally does not care. In fact, they care so little that they have developed a new range of self-moisturising jeans. These new “Denim Spa” jeans, which retail for £85, come in three varieties: Olive Extract, Aloe Vera and Smooth Legs. They have been designed in order to the combat the widespread and dehabilitating “dehydrating effects of denim.” Unfortunately, the effect only lasts 15 washes, meaning your legs will return to their normal Sahara-esque selves after a month or so, depending on how much you value your personal hygiene. Luckily Wranger have thought about that too - simply buy the Reload Spray at an additional cost, and it will preserve the moisturising effects for another 67 to 90 washes. Well, thank God for that. H

words & design: Charley Ward

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everybody’s starry eyed A brand new look, a second album storming the charts and a sell-out tour. No wonder we’re all starry eyed for Ellie Goulding...

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he HYPE meets Ellie in a swanky Marylebone hotel, where the room resembles an upper class massage joint. Oriental rugs and wallpapers decorate the room and the armchairs are covered in tiger print material. The music is lethargic and it would be difficult not to doze off had there not been an international pop star in the room.

In the flesh, Ellie, 25, is petite and very smiley.

After seeing her on tour in 2010, it was clear that since then some changes had occurred.

Back then she was dressed in skin tight blue trousers with a black t-shirt and leather jacket.

Her iconic undercut hair was a soft pink, she wore minimal makeup and seemed relaxed, often playing with her hair.

Although Ellie admits her new fashion style has always been there she says: “I still wear the same things, just lately I think I’ve become a bit of a monochrome, I’ve started wearing a lot of black and white.

“There’s definitely something switched in me, I don’t like to wear bright colours and I don’t know why that’s happened.”

Ellie takes a sip of still water to soothe a niggling throat, perhaps from performing at the iTunes festival the previous week, where she wore all black and leather… lots of leather.

Those who remember her from her Lights era, with hits like Starry Eyed and her Elton John cover of Your Song would remember the airy, girl next door look she had.

The panda beanie that seemed to be stuck to Ellie’s head around that time is nowhere to

be seen now, but it’s not gone forever, it has just changed colours – just another example of Ellie’s newly darkened style. She says: “I’ve got another, except it’s black. It’s like a Mickey Mouse one. I love my beanies, I think it’s like my safety blanket really.”

Sitting in front of Ellie, it’s weird hearing that she needs a safety blanket when she comes across so relaxed and calm. Is it expectable that someone in the public eye would need that extra layer of personal security? Even celebrities can feel a little insecure, understandably though, when some stars are constantly hassled by paparazzi.

“I just got my picture taken now which I was completely unprepared for. I think they’re really awful photos” Ellie explains: “I made it clear in the beginning that I was never someone who wanted to get photographed a lot and I don’t go out of my way to try and get photographed. So the paps turn up every now and again, but I think they’ve established that I’m boring.”

Jessie J is a good friend of Ellie’s and someone who does get photographed a lot for her style and wacky outfit choices. Ellie says: “I’ve been in some situations, especially when I’m with Jessie, and they’re just mental and it’s awful. They’re looking for that one weird shot or something, I don’t know.”

However, sometimes the star gets the last laugh. Ellie recalls one time when a paparazzi had fallen over in front of her. “I’ve had the ones following me, like walking backwards really quick and one just falls flat on his back.

words: Jack Wetherill / design: sam ribbits

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“I don’t like going on Stage and being half hearted. I really go for it!”

He falls over this restaurant banner and I was laughing all night about it. It was the funniest thing I’d seen in ages!

“I think, like every girl, there are always insecurities that I have. I’m always playing with my hair and checking I look OK.” Listening to Halcyon, Ellie’s second album which is out now, her insecurities seem to vanish. Through her music she would be described as powerful and honest, while maybe a little damaged… and very talented.

The album was written following Ellie’s break up with Radio 1 DJ Greg James in October 2011. She says: “He’s always been a fan of my music and that’s how we met. I don’t think he takes it too seriously because that was a time ago and now we’ve moved on and we’re friends. That period of both of our lives has passed now.”

Greg texted Ellie to say he particularly liked Figure 8, possibly the biggest pop song on the album, about a failing relationship. Ellie isn’t worried he will take the songs personally, though. “I think he’s taking it as a song and not taking the lyrics too seriously, so that’s good.”

Performing such personal songs is something Ellie has always done. She admits her exes and friends know that, and that her fans accept it. She writes autobiographical songs and gives real feeling to her music.

And it’s not just in her album work, Ellie’s UK tour proved to be a massive success.

“We’ve always liked to put on a big show,” she says. “I feel like I’ve short changed the people if I don’t put everything into my performance.

“I don’t like going on and being half hearted, I really go for it, and my band is incredible. I think eventually I’m going to have some sort of choir or female singers, or something to really thicken everything out.”

After touring Britain, Ellie will return to the US where she has already made her mark.

Some of the highlights of her career have

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happened in the States. She recalls: “The things that stand out are visiting the White House and becoming number one in America - finding that out I was just like, ‘Wow’.”

Ellie also performed on the popular TV show Saturday Night Live and met one of her idols, Tina Fey, whilst doing so. “I’d heard of Saturday Night Live and I knew that it was a big deal, but I never thought I’d be performing on there in a million years.”

In the entire craze that surrounds Ellie she remains a grounded and polite girl, who is rough around the edges with a lot of talent to share. By the looks of things, Ellie is set to go far, and we can’t wait to hear what she comes up with next! H

T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

THE

Hitchcock Revival We take a look back at the Master of Suspense...

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red, Hitch, Master of Suspense‌ these are just some of the nicknames that instantly inspire admiration and fascination in the hearts of many respectable critics. Film buffs nationwide have their own pick of memorable names through British directing history, but it seems universally agreed upon that none can hold a candle to Alfred Hitchcock.

As the man responsible for single-handedly redefining the genre of thrillers, Hitchcock left a legacy that none can compete with.

An iconic man, as well renowned for his portly stomach as his work, he redefined an entire genre of cinema; Psycho-Thrillers have not been the same since. He prompted

filmmakers to up their game, and inspired generations to see film in a whole new light.

Many of his technical innovations are now used in the films we see today. The Hitchcock zoom, also known as the Vertigo Effect, was pioneered to make the audience feel the giddiness of being up high. If you think 3D is a recent invention then think again - in Dial M for Murder, Hitchcock dabbled into this film effect, using it sparingly but with great result. This is surprising for a film that was made in 1953.

The directorial mogul returns back to the big screen - over three decades after his death - in Fox’s biopic tale. The film, titled Hitchcock, depicts his life, examining his

words: leanne drew / design: sam ribbits

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he puts his “audience through an experience “ work behind the camera. It also focuses heavily on the financial troubles and personal doubts surrounding the making of his pioneering slasher movie: Psycho.

Little did we know, Hitchcock’s phobias were one of his genius’ driving forces. Fear of authority, fear of order… he put his audience through an experience just the way he had imagined it. Fear of being laughed at for his alternative artistic interests, fear of being pretentious and boring; all of these reservations were to thank for his successes and gained him the nickname ‘Master of Suspense’.

His dark sense of humour came from his British background, but his move to America proved to be his making. There he fashioned his technique and directorial style, whilst the restraints of Hollywood life controlled his artistic approach, making his films more audience friendly.

Hitchcock’s need for control and to work independently sparked a decline in producers and the rise of directors. Although the studios and sets remained, Hitchcock’s reign over film meant that there would now only be one opinion that mattered - the director’s.

His entire collection, including The Hitchcock 9 (nine of his silent films), has been fully restored by the British Film Institute.

BFI Southbank dubbed him as: “the most influential and iconic British film director of all time,” when they scheduled three months of celebration to his work titled The Genius of Hitchcock. Returning to where he belongs, onscreen, it’s easy to see that this modern great still dominates cinema. H

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T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

5

Hitchcock films you have to see Psycho After a woman steals $40,000 from her employer’s client, she ends up encountering a motel owner who has for too long been under the thumb of his mother. There’s not a single film fan alive who doesn’t know what happens next... with one of the most memorable moments in film history, the shower scene. A spur of the moment, brilliant improvisation by Hitchcock, this motion picture changed the tone of thrillers forever.

Rear window When a professional photojournalist becomes wheelchair-bound, he begins spying on his neighbours, convinced he’s witnessed a murder. A hugely intense suspense-filled film, it explores an unhealthy voyeuristic obsession and toys with the themes of love and relationships.

the birds A spoilt socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small town in Northern California when things take a bizarre twist and hundreds of birds begin attacking people. There’s never an explanation for why these winged-beasts have gone astray, but they never let up and survival becomes first priority.

vertigo After a police detective has to retire due to his fear of heights, he begins to investigate the behaviour of an old friend’s wife.

Meanwhile, his obsession with her grows. A film which first gained mixed reviews upon release, it soon gained the critical acclaim it truly deserved.

the trouble with harry What is the trouble with Harry? Well, he’s dead, and everyone thinks they could have killed him. This was sadly one of Hitchcock’s biggest flops, but time has been kind, allowing it to fit comfortably in the dark humour category.

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eReader vs.

the book Already dreaming about your summer holidays at the beach? Then there is one question that you would be wise to ponder now: should you be putting a pile of books in your case or an ereader?

I

magine sitting on a beach miles away from home, reading the book you had bought months ago but had forgotten about. As you laugh your way through each page, you look over at your partner and they are downloading a copy of the book to join in on the humour. With a new book available to download in minutes, is the future of books looking electronic?

There are many different views both for and against the development of online books, but sales seem to be speaking for themselves.

Amazon has reported that sales of eBooks have thrashed those of paperbacks and hardbacks combined. So, with the sales of books decreasing does this mean the ‘old-fashioned’ novel will eventually become extinct?

Technology enthusiast, Michael Smith, 30, loves the new developments: “I prefer

42

eBooks to physical books because it seems more interactive – you can highlight extracts without making any permanent changes.

I am limited for storage space at home so it’s good that I can store an entire library of books on one device and have them with me all the time.”

Charlotte Muir, 21, also agrees that eBooks are the way forward: “They’re convenient, accessible and easy to use – anyone and everyone can use one. I prefer it to a book because it seems less of a challenge. When you have it in book form you can physically see how long it is and how much more you have to read. They are lightweight too, which is ideal for travelling, but it will never be to everyone’s taste.”

While the eBook is convenient space-wise, as you can pack it away in a small space or

T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

''

I love the way an old book looks and smells" tuck it under your arm when dashing for the tube, can having the physical version ever be beaten when scouring the shelves of a library or book shop?

‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ is a saying that people rarely pay attention to when exploring the shelves. Without the excitement of holding a brand new book and finding the perfect story call out to you from the shelves, is half the excitement of buying a new book gone?

Natasha Wimberley, 18, is against the rise in popularity of eBooks: “I like having the words in a book, everything today is so modern and on a screen. The historian in me loves having the words in their original form, and with emotional books you quite often find tears in them. I love the way an old book looks and smells.”

Stories are adventures throughout which the reader can feel personally involved in a different world with each turn of a page.

Reading the words from a screen, and not

having the thrill of the paper flicking through your fingers as the story becomes more enticing, can be seen as injustice to the author.

The Kindle is environmentally friendly as it doesn’t use hundreds of pages of paper and eBooks can be merely deleted when unwanted and finished with. However, physical books don’t pose the risk of running out of battery when the story gets gripping.

Chiara Stone who works at the bookshop; ‘Hoobynoo World’, says the shop has seen a change in sales: “There has been a distinct downturn in book sales. So much so that Waterstones will now be selling Kindles.

Children’s books aren’t affected because they don’t really own them. “ While there are inevitably many different arguments for and against eBooks, everybody has different preferences. Book sales are unavoidably going to keep dropping, but it’s unlikely that the tradition of a regular paper book is going to be discarded in a hurry. H

words: amy studley / design: sam ribbits

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SEE ME LIKe

THIS

Honest, bubbly and giggly:

The Hype talks to

STOOSHE

about fashion, image, music and the future...

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elcoming us into the room, Stooshe are instantly likable. We were quickly introduced, presented with stools to sit on and the giggles already bouncing between them instantly show us the down-to-earth and laid back people they are. The fact that they already have had two songs in the charts seems irrelevant. To say fame hasn’t changed their lives would be an understatement, but it is clear that these girls have no intention of letting their newly found celebrity status, or the music industry, change them.

An up-and-coming girl band from East London, Stooshe have already been coined the hottest girl-band of 2012. Their real and honest attitude and confidence makes them individuals many young music fans can relate to. Consisting of Alexandra Buggs, 22, Courtney Rumbold, 20, and Karis Anderson, 23, these girls have come a remarkably long way in a considerably short space of time. Put together by their ‘music mummy’ Jo Perry, Alex and Courtney were spotted while trying on clothes in Topshop. Karis, having attended Brit school, was asked to complete the trio.

words: Sarah Wall / design: sam ribbits

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‘

‘‘

we love what we do. We've been very LUCKY!

T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T After seven months in the studio with no label, the girls were signed to Warner music group, which they say allowed them time to develop themselves as the unique band they aspire to be.

The trio co-write all of their tracks, making music that they like, not specifically geared for the charts. They are unafraid to make it clear that as a band and as individuals, they want to remain themselves. the girls have clearly come a long way since they were discovered but they have so much more to show us.

Big things are just around the corner for Stooshe. Their highly anticipated new album is out in March this year and set to be a huge hit.

Giving us a taste of what they have to offer, the girls released a double A-side single: Waterfalls and See Me Like This. Karis explains: “We’re really excited, I don’t think we’ve thought it through properly.”

The girls have plans to promote their album with gigs around the country: “Hopefully that album does well enough for us to do a little tour, and lots of travelling, meeting new people and making music we love,” Alex smiles.

Having played at a variety of university and school settings this year, as well as a number of festivals, we wondered if the girls found it strange performing to students and young people around their own age group. “We’ve got used to it now,” Alex explains. “It’s a lot of fun.

They’re just very free and want to get into it.

You would think that uni students would just stand there and look at you, but they’re really into it and they love it. I think students really love that kind of music, they love hearing the drums and…”

Out pops the ‘F-word’ and Alex throws a hand to her mouth. The trio erupt into fits of giggles, with repeated apologies and comments on how that hasn’t happened in the whole year and a half of them being together. Laughing along with them, it is nice to see how genuine and easy-going the band is, making us feel as though we are hanging out with a group of friends catching up about the weekend.

The girls have a sense of effortless style.

They don’t tend to follow the latest fashion trends but seem to have clear individual styles of their own. When asked about the

inspirations behind the way they dress, Stooshe are very clear that they are unique and do what they like.

“We’re all individual characters, I think as our journey and our music has grown, so have we in terms of styling,” Courtney explains.

“It’s just experimenting and seeing where you want to go and trying things out, you kind of have to in this industry. You have to switch it up a bit just so you feel that you’re moving on with time as well.”

Karis agrees: “We’ve grown so much, now we’re fully versatile and we want to be able to wear anything and pull it off. I think when we started out we were really trying to prove our characters, I was the girly one, Alex was the glam one and Courtney was the retro one, but now everybody kind of knows that we’re three different people. It’s nothing to do with different styles, it’s just we wear different things.”

Thinking about where they would like to be in five years’ time, the girls are once again unbelievably down to earth. “I think just we will just continue to not expect too much,” Alex answers. “We love what we do, so we’re just going on the journey and hopefully positive things will come towards us. That’s how it’s worked so far, we’ve been very lucky.”

Stooshe are clearly excited about the future, Alex is hoping for a few awards and to release a sixth album, which Karis describes as ‘doing a Rhianna, album a year, bish bash bosh!’

‘Crazy, versatile and raw’ are the three words Stooshe say best describe the band, and even from this brief introduction these characteristics do seem accurate. Their aim to be unique and genuine is working well for them, their new album is set to showcase a variety of different styles ranging from a new vibe of ‘mo-town’ to pop and even ballads.

This mix shows that the girls want to please everyone, while still being distinctive and producing the music they love. They have been referred to as the modern day Spice Girls, and in terms of ‘girl power’, that may be true.

Overall, however, it seems their individuality makes it difficult to compare them to any other band, meaning huge things could well be in store for them. H

Stooshe On...

FASHION KARIS “I had pigtails and a cartoon skirt! I started off as like 50’s pin up. I like to mix old things like a pencil skirt with jordans, switch it up a bit, wear trainers, but then I do love getting glammed up still”

COURTNEY “It’s just feeling comfortable, like, I have hair now! I didn’t have hair a week ago!”

It’s hard to ignore Stooshe’s unique style: (from left to right) Alex, Karis and Courtney

ALEX “I love like the old school 80s, stuff like suits and long dresses… I love dresses and skirts, with trousers- you wouldn’t see me in jeans very often at all. Courtney loves like the 80s/90s white men can’t jump, fresh prince of bel air kind of vibe but then also she has this other side, a more feminine side.”

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Matt Tong

Drummer Boy The Hype caught up with Bloc Party’s drummer, Matt Tong, backstage during their UK tour...

Bloc Party: Matt Tong (second from left) and his bandmates.

T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

"None of us were sure if we actually still had chemistry as a group of musicians to work together" How’s the Bloc Party tour going?

It’s weird, we haven’t actually played these songs in front of anyone in the UK before but it’s been really great seeing the fans response to the shows.

Are you getting along nicely?

I think so. We’re all really tired at the moment as we didn’t get much of a break between the last tour and this one. We are all a bit jet lagged and where these would have been times when we would normally drift apart and get a bit cranky, we’ve actually been alright so far.

Splitting rumours meant people were shocked you released a fourth album. Were you surprised?

It’s funny because I think by the time the rumours started coming out we already had started making the record. However, leading up to it none of us were sure if we actually still had chemistry as a group of musicians to work together. So yeah, we were all kind of surprised we made another record.

Was there extra pressure having not worked together in so long?

It was definitely a concern but actually within like 10 minutes it was clear that we still had a lot of unfinished business. I think because no one was expecting anything we felt we were free to do whatever we wanted.

NME described your album as ‘daring, deep and confused’. Would you agree with that?

I think that’s a fair assessment of the record, I mean it’s been pointed out a few times that it

seems quite disjointed, a lot of the songs don’t quite fit together, which is fine I can totally see that but it made sense to us. I think it’s probably the consequence of us not making anything together for a long time and having all these ideas. It was hard to find a focus.

When you’re not doing music focused things what are you doing?

I’m just lying in bed crying normally, weeping profusely. No I’m kidding; I live in New York so when I have free time I like to do things like go to the museum. It’s very hard to run out of things to do in New York.

Do you still feel like a tourist?

Only when it’s pointed out that I’m British because of my accent. It does sometimes feels like I’ve been handed a key to unlock the door of a strange country. I guess I do really do a lot of touristy things, especially when people come to visit.

Lastly, can you tell us something not many people know about each Bloc Party member?

Kele – He is a huge X-Factor fan. People think that he is very serious and introverted, but in fact a lot of the time you’ll find him giggling in the corner of the dressing room at X-Factor clips.

Russell - Last year he produced a record in Japan, not many people know he is an aspiring record producer.

Gordon - He is secretly a huge Simple Minds fan, they’ve been his favourite band since he was a teenager and their music inspires his playing.

Matt Tong - I think people think I’m generally kind of polite and intellectual but in actual truth I’m really aggressive. I think that’s why I’m a drummer.

I have a real anger management problems that all come out on the drums. H

words: Stacey tonks / design: adam dean

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Battling e h t h g u o r h t t u it o BEATS JaDee is a fresh, up-and-coming rapper who was recently spotted by BBC Introducing. He talks to The HYPE about his journey so far...

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T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

J

ason David Boardman, better known as ‘JaDee’, has been recently spotted by BBC Introducing, as one of the South West’s best rappers. The 23-year-old started producing his own music in 2005, developing into a songwriter in 2009. He is now smashing his way into the music industry and fulfilling his dreams.

JaDee was born on July 7th 1989 in Gloucester. He grew up with his mother, brother and stepfather, with his biological father absent for most of his life. He was an angry teenager, struggling with his emotions and battling with constant arguments within the family. Despite this, it is his mum he has to thank for giving him the push to create demos and send them off to record labels.

“I’ve never had anything but support, everybody is involved,” he says. “It was

originally my mum who gave me the name JaDee, and was her who told me I should pursue music but I didn’t listen until I was in my late teens!”

Music was his passion from an early age.

At the age of nine, his mother bought him a keyboard to practice on and he would spend hours learning to create songs. As a teenager, his stepfather introduced him to a music creating software, which would allow him to put unique beats together.

“The most important thing is to be yourself,” JaDee says. “Although it’s said so much, so many artists forget that and a lot of music out there is so ‘samey’ and cheap.”

His inspiration came from 90’s rapper, The Game. “It was just his attitude and dedication to doing his own thing that got my attention.

He puts out great music because it’s his own

"Even if nobody believes in you, make it your drive to prove to them all that you're worth more than they think"

and isn’t bothered about whether it sells just one copy or one million, and I respect that,” JaDee explains.

Going to battle raps is what made JaDee fall in love with rap music. He used to watch and admire the rappers until one day he decided to give it a shot in a battle, and to his surprise he won. From then on, he’s been gripped by Hip Hop music, using it to channel his emotions when feeling angry or upset.

Having the chance to show off his music in front of a variety of celebrities including Tinchy Stryder, Labrinth, Calvin Harris, Mark Ronson and DJ Westwood has been a highlight in his career so far. “Just for these people to know my name means the world to me,” he says with a smile on his face.

All the hard work has paid off and JaDee has become a definite one to watch in the future of the Hip Hop and rap industry.

“Work everyday at it. If it’s what you want to do and you think it’s who you are, you won’t take time off – because you can’t take time off from being you!” JaDee explains passionately.

“Don’t ever give up! Even if nobody believes in you, make it your drive to prove to them all that you’re worth more than they think.” H Look out for JaDee’s single, Big Things and his first album The Soundtrack out now.

JaDee (right): Upcoming hip-hop and rap artist to look out for

words: katie dyba / design: charlotte may

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The evolution of street art:

when graffiti became art

Graffiti used to be frowned upon, cleaned up off the streets as rubbish or dirt. Now it is being better received than ever, even being preserved in some places...

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T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

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treet art, urban art, ignorant art; call it what you will, but we all know what it means. What was once a taboo – often a young, childish act of rebellion, is now seen as a form of contemporary modern art. It is now seen as something which makes a statement and has meaning, rather than simply being a gang ‘tag’ sprayed onto the side of a bus shelter.

But when did this tagging, or graffiti, develop into something that is slowly becoming more respected in the art world, even by the harshest of critics?

Many would suggest that English street artist, Banksy, was the turning point for the acceptance of graffiti. His stencilled art

Photo courtesy of Street Museum of Art

" I exposed the spectres of Google's eternal realm of private, misappropriated data" became so highly sought after that people would often tear down huge chunks of wall in order to sell it for ludicrous amounts of money. However, it is much broader than that; an increasing number of artists have turned to the medium of street art – after all, you don’t have to cough up hefty gallery exhibition fees if it’s out on the city pavements.

This gave artists freedom to create what they wanted without fear that galleries would turn away the chance to display their work, fearing that their often political or cultural statements would cross the invisible line of what is deemed to be socially acceptable.

Through this lack of restriction, the medium changed and developed a breeding ground for artists’ creativity. They began playing around with different techniques, rather than simply picking up a can of spray-paint like others did before them.

One man who played on street art’s ability to make a point and voice an often controversial opinion is Italian artist Paolo Cirio, who has won countless awards from his thoughtprovoking pieces. One recent project that caused a stir throughout the art world was ‘Street Ghosts’, which saw Paolo take images from Google Street View and turn them into a permanent reality, demonstrating that privacy is now a thing of the past thanks to Google and the Internet era.

“I exposed the spectres of Google’s eternal realm of private, misappropriated data,” he explained. “The bodies of people captured by

Google’s Street View camera, whose ghostly, virtual presence I marked in street art fashion at the precise spot in the real world where they were photographed.”

Paolo picked well-known street art locations – places he considers to be “some of the most important international street art ‘halls of fame’” – to ensure his pieces were seen and his voice was heard. Deliberately blurry pieces, they “unveil their presence like a digital shadow haunting the real world”. It’s a well-made point: we can’t get away from what we post, or is posted about us online, so our digital imprint forever haunts us.

It is not just Paolo who has received critical acclaim for his work. Street art is so widely accepted today that galleries often exhibit it, even ones as highly regarded as the Tate Modern. The art world has taken notice of the creative thought that goes into the creation of edgy and ‘real’ pieces.

Of course, graffiti in its raw sense is still everywhere. If you take a trip down to your local skate park, train station or subway path, you’ll surely see names and obscene images sprayed on every surface imaginable. Is this art? While sometimes it is more of a juvenile act, often kids trying to look ‘cool’ in front of their mates, this is where it all begins - with artistic expression. After all, every artist has to start somewhere.

While street art’s roots do lie with the most basic form of graffiti, modern pieces hold meaning and arguably do more than annoy the local council and create an eyesore.

However, for both traditional graffiti and modern street art, the urban environment is not only a vehicle for getting their work out there, but also an essential aspect of their work. The Street Museum of Art, currently based in Brooklyn, New York, acknowledges the importance of this. The urban gallery brings art outside and into the public domain, back to where it belongs. After all, what is the point in displaying street art indoors? It would take away the main feature of the work and also the objective of street art.

“Our public art project challenges previous methods of exhibiting street art,” a spokesperson from the museum explained.

“To create a new level of awareness and appreciation for this radical art movement, we have brought the museum to the streets.”

So next time you see a piece of artwork on the side of a building in your local town, stop and think before you dismiss it as an act of vandalism. There is great deal of thought and opinion behind street art that will often open your mind to new horizons of thinking.

The canvas should not matter; it is the creation that counts. After all, art allows people to express themselves in any way they choose, so why should they be restricted to a piece of A4 white paper? H

words: gemma clapp / design: sakaynah hunter

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REALITY TV STARS:

A LIFE behind The camera With reality TV shows taking over our television screens, The HYPE looks at how they have created a new batch of stars from The Only Way is Essex to Geordie Shore...

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T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

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rom Essex to Newcastle, then Chelsea to Liverpool via the Welsh valleys; it seems reality television is making its home across the country.

The people on the shows are for many becoming household names. They share the most intimate moments in their lives, quite literally in the likes of MTV’s Geordie Shore and The Valleys, and are open to scrutiny by the nation. And boy, are they ripped to pieces at times.

But if the people who star in these shows know that they will receive harsh comments, why would they get involved in them in the first place? And, once in them, can they ever

"Sometimes I miss the days when nobody knew who you were" get out of life as a reality star and even live a normal life?

First, it would be important to look at what actually makes a star. You’ve got your Brad and Angelina’s of the world; the people with real talent that make it big and stay in the limelight. Then there are the television actors and actresses that people watch every day on Eastenders and Coronation Street. However, the British media seems to now be flooded with a new type of celebrity: the reality television star. They have no obvious talents unlike Hollywood’s elite, yet people take them in with open arms.

Jennifer Dunkerley, freelance feature writer for titles such as The Daily Star, Reveal and Now Magazine, says: “[Reality TV stars] are thrust into the limelight quickly and often for a short term. It depends on the ratings, how much publicity and ultimately, how much money, they make.

“The more eye-catching, outrageous and funny they are the better. They also have to have a selling-point. Who are they and what will the public buy into?”

Ex-members of The Only Way is Essex cast have gone on to pursue their own fame.

Amy Childs had her own reality show, the aptly titled All About Amy, which lasted one series. She opened a salon in which she works occasionally, and she also started a clothing range. Her only talent, some may say, are her skills as a beautician.

Mark Wright on the other hand, hasn’t put any talents he may possess to use after leaving TOWIE. He had his own show Mark Wright’s Hollywood Nights - though it

performed poorly in ITV2’s weekly ratings, either appearing low in the channel’s top 10 viewing figures, or outside of them. Mark can also be seen on Take Me Out: The Gossip, also on ITV2. Dunkerley says: “Many use their short-term reality fame to help get them more credible fame - Mark Wright has become a television presenter. But ultimately they need to have the talent to do this in the first place.”

She goes on to discuss the new MTV show, The Valleys. Nine young adults from the Welsh Valleys moved to Cardiff to pursue their dream careers. Nineteen year old Lateysha wants to become a model, whilst out and proud Rugby player Liam wants to be the next big DJ. Leeroy Reed moved to Cardiff for the show to become a rapper. He was seen on the show performing for mentor Jordan, however Dunkerley does not see him getting further. “Will he become a successful rapper off the back of viewers watching him getting drunk on The Valleys? I doubt it.

“If he was serious about music he would have picked another reality show such as The X Factor, The Voice etc, to pursue his career aspirations.”

Like The Valleys, the cast of Geordie Shore are also often seen wandering the streets of Newcastle getting drunk and doing jobs to earn their keep. Their notoriety has become huge after they shot onto our small screens in May 2011.

What viewers watch on Geordie Shore may sound like normal life to some. But Jay Gardner, former cast member, says they no longer have a normal life. “Sometimes I miss the days when nobody knew who you were.

Obviously everybody does now, so going out

on a night out: you just cannot do it.”

Gary Beadle, perhaps most well-known for his so-called parsnip, agrees: “If you’ve got a mate and you’re like ‘do you want to come out?’ You go out, but you have people constantly coming up to you. I’m just trying to go on a night out.”

With the loss of normality, it seems difficult to understand why anyone would want to get involved with reality television. But it clearly has its perks. Gary says: “The more followers [on Twitter] you get the more free stuff you get as well. I think Lauren Pope [from TOWIE] got half a million followers, she tweeted a car company and she got a Range Rover for a month.”

It could be suggested that Twitter goes hand in hand with reality television. The stars get hundreds of thousands of followers; along with followers comes hate mail too.

Vicky Pattison, also from Geordie Shore, says: “I get really nasty ones though, you know, I don’t understand why. People call me a slut.I think people should learn that I’m just a person with feelings, and we all are, and they shouldn’t really be so nasty.”

Why then, with all of the hate, would these people continue their television careers? Perhaps it is to prolong their fame, as often fame can be short lived on reality television. Does anyone remember bitchy blogger Jaiden from oneseason wonder Desperate Scoucewives?

However Dunkerley says the business is impossible to judge. She says: “With some celebs, [fame] does last. With others it doesn’t.

But ultimately if they don’t have a ‘product’ that they are selling and are just riding the fame of one reality show, then no, fame won’t last. Cheryl Cole was made famous by a reality show, after all.” H

Mark Wright: Made FaTOWIE: The stars mous from TOWIE of ITV2’s hit show words: jack wetherill / design: elli blackwell

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NEW

KID Town

l

in

A

Already the winner of The BRITS Critic's Choice Award, Tom Odell is set to be one of the hottest artists of the year. The HYPE find out how it feels to be thrust into the spotlight... s the Brit winning singer walks

into an East London bar, his most striking characteristic is his laidback approach. With a cup of tea in one hand and a handshake with the other, there’s nothing big-headed about singer songwriter, Tom Odell. He has been catapulted into the big time in a matter of months, since receiving the Critic’s Choice Brit Award in February.

Dressed in casual denim, he seems happy to be back at the Queen of Hoxton, the bar where Lily Allen – who discovered Tom - first noticed him.

“It’s just been a whirlwind few months for me,” he says taking a seat. “And I still don’t

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words: Casey Waters / design: sam ribbits

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EKAM“I “I MAKE TAHT CISUM MUSIC T ”EVOL I I LOVE” think I’m THAT good,” he admits. “I was so happy just to be nominated. I feel really proud of that.

“I actually thought AlunaGeorge would win.

But maybe that was my safety net. If I sat here saying ‘I’m gonna win it’ and then didn’t, it would’ve been really embarrassing.”

The Critics’ Choice Award is a prestigious prize, which has launched the careers of singers including Emeli Sande, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding, and Adele. With the award under his belt, we could see record sales soar when his debut album, Long Way Down is released in April.

But Tom insists nothing will change and it will simply be down to hard work if his album does well.

“I have a feeling you don’t win the award and become big for winning,” he says, rolling his sleeves up; “Critics pick an act that they think is becoming, someone who shows promise. But winning it certainly makes people more aware of who you are.

“Look at Emeli Sande. She didn’t become big just because of her Brit Award. It was because of a lot of things. Success is all about participation and having momentum in the industry.” Born in Chichester 22 years ago, Tom was inspired by the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel. Along with being classically trained on the piano, he’s been penning material since the age of 13.

He studied at the famous Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM), previously home to artists such as The Kooks and Kate Nash. Tom’s original songs were played at fashion label Burberry’s spring/summer fashion show, and his steady growth in the music industry landed him his television debut when he played on Later… with Jools Holland.

Known for his gut-wrenching piano ballads, Tom draws inspiration from bona fide events.

Songs such as Another Love and Sense were all built on his personal life and experiences.

It takes a while for Tom to open up, but before long he is laughing and starts to tap his foot along to the background music playing in the bar.

He explains: “Everyday life inspires me, which sounds quite mundane, but I simply

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write stories that I have had experiences with, like what’s happened to me.

“I try to write quite personal and my records are really raw, I guess I’m old fashioned in that way. I can’t write songs unless it’s personal.”

As music erupts from the speakers surrounding the bar, Tom’s tour manager walks over and begins talking in his ear. It’s clear there is a problem with the sound check downstairs, yet Tom still finds more time to talk about his music.

“I try to write songs that people will listen to and really connect with on an emotional level.

You’ve got to be true when you write the lyrics yourself, and the best way to do that is to not lie and be brutally honest.”

His confessional songs reveal a lot about love, and pictured on his Songs from Another Love EP is a girl that he had dated in the past. Tom begins tearing up a flyer that he found on the table into ragged pieces.

“I broke up with her two weeks before. When I decided that I wanted to make the EP cover, I’d just broken up with her so it was quite fresh.

I think she’s a bit weirded out by the fact that she’s on the cover, I think she likes it, I’ve only seen her once since.”

Although he won’t divulge specifics about his ex he laughs: “I have a really embarrassing story about her… She lives with my best friend and so I’ve hardly seen him recently because I’ve been trying to avoid her. But I had to stay there the other day and when I’d had a shower, I realised that I didn’t have a towel with me. I was like ‘Sh*t, what am I going to do?

“I was completely naked and I opened the door, and I swear to God, it was like a movie – there she was, standing in front of me.

“Obviously I was covered up – well with just a flannel – but it was pretty awkward as it was the first time I’d seen her since the break up and the EP coming out.”

His laughter at the memory fades, but his honesty returns as he talks about his future in the business: “I just don’t get carried away with thoughts. If I do get famous, then I do.

If I don’t, then I don’t. I don’t really think

T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

THAT that far ahead,” he says. “If I ever was to be recognised, it’d be because of my music as I make music that I love. I don’t make it for any other reason and if I become famous because of it, then great.”

With his popularity on the rise, critics have compared Tom to the likes of Jake Bugg, the late Jeff Buckley, Ben Howard who he has supported on tour, and his ever-so present posture at the piano has been likened to that of Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

He reveals: “I’m slightly uncomfortable with the Jeff Buckley one. It’s not me trying to be modest, but he’s like a Jesus character.

I don’t think anyone will ever get near him ever again. He’s just a brilliant singer. I don’t like it when people make comparisons to him. I love Jeff Buckley and Grace was such an incredible album. It’s a shame his life was cut short.”

In an industry that’s filled with many different genres, Tom is praised on his credible song writing. In a bar filled with gorgeous lighting and with him headlining later this evening, his grounded personality shows how he doesn’t want to become a prima donna yet.

“Credibility is a weird word,” he says; “I do think it’s important to write your own songs.

Then again, I love Bob Dylan, but he never really did anything that was honest. Credibility in music is a weird one, I don’t know what’s right or wrong, I guess there’s no right or wrong answer.”

Tom Odell has a huge year ahead of him, so big in fact that he’s unsure of where it is going to lead. He slurps the last of his peppermint and camomile tea, and takes a sharp intake of breath: “I don’t know what it has in store for me, I hope good things. There’s the album and tour to look forward to though.”

As he hears his band playing downstairs, it’s clear to see he’s eager to go and rehearse.

Performing in the bar that got him signed to a huge record label, he’s absolutely buzzing for the gig. As he graciously says his goodbyes, he looks down at the flyer he has torn into miniscule pieces.

“I must be sexually frustrated.” H

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oblivion T

om Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Zoë Bell star in Oblivion; a gripping new science-fiction thriller. Described by Universal Studios as “one of the most beautiful scripts we’ve ever come across," this imminent release is guaranteed to be a smash at the box office.

Originally a graphic novel of the same name, co-author Joseph Kosinki has returned to work on the screen version this year, following the success of his previous film Tron: Legacy. He is both directing and co-producing this exciting new blockbuster.

Jack Harper, played by Cruise, is one of only a few remaining drone repairmen left on Earth. It is the year 2073, and Jack’s mission as one piece of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with the enemy alien Scavs is nearly complete.

Based in the skies, thousands of feet above ground, Jack lives in and patrols the towns, repairing broken drones that keep watch for enemy aliens. However, his soaring existence is brought crashing down one day, when he rescues an attractive stranger (Olga Kurylenko) from a faulty spacecraft.

60 Words & design: charley ward

This spacecraft contains items that bring into question everything he believed about the war and the woman’s presence brings about a chain of events that forces Jack to contemplate the fact that the fate of mankind may lie in his hands.

The film holds a certain surreal quality, and if you watch the trailer, it’s clear to see that the storyline relies heavily on the incredible visuals to create the atmosphere. Filmed using Sony's brand spanking new camera, The CineAlta F65, the resulting dreamlike qualities draw you in, immersing you further and further into the story. Supporting Cruise is Morgan Freeman, who plays Malcolm Beech; a resistance leader stationed on Earth. Zoë Bell plays the role of Kara.

With a lot of intense action sequences and impressive looking gadgets, Oblivion will have everyone gripping their seats. Look out for Bell's scenes during the combat scenes: her impressive acting repertoire includes stunt doubling for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill and Lucy Lawless in Xena: Warrior Princess. Impressive stuff. Oblivion is due for release in UK cinemas in April. H

iron man 3

T h e H y p e EN T ERTA I N M E N T

M

arking the first time that Samuel L. Jackson does not appear as Nick Fury in an Iron Man movie, the third instalment of Marvel Comics' best (in my opinion, anyway) superhero franchise is nearly here. And anyway, who needs Nick Fury when you've got Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle?

As with every release, fans should expect some changes. With new Director Shane Black taking over from Jon Favreau, the man responsible for both previous Iron Man films, this third release should be a fresh take on the Marvel tale. Black also directed the sharp 2005 comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which was voted “Overlooked Film of the Year,� by 2005 Phoenix Film Society and earned him great praise from critics. With several other films forthcoming, this should be an exciting view into the mindset of the guy who created the likes of Lethal Weapon, which helped to put both his and Mel Gibson's name on the map.

In this latest release, Robert Downey Jr. returns to his rightful place as CEO of Stark Enterprises. This time, cocky billionaire Stark unwittingly finds himself pitting his

wits against an enemy whose no-holdsbarred attitude to destruction leaves his world entirely demolished. Enraged by the scenes of massacre left behind, Stark is determined to bring down whoever is responsible and embarks on an intense and harrowing journey for vengeance.

Left to fend for himself, Stark has little choice but to rely solely on his instincts to protect himself. And perhaps a certain iron suit, as well. A brand new set, coincidentally, which bears Captain America's colour scheme. In the comics, this was an identity used by Spider-Man's nemesis, the Green Goblin, otherwise known as Norman Osborn.

The film also introduces Guy Pearce (Prometheus, Lawless) and Rebecca Hall (The Prestige, Vicky Christina Barcelona),

as the creators of the Extremis virus.

This storyline has been adapted from the original comic of the same name, which is widely acknowledged as one of the best Iron Man stories.

Expect a massive, adrenalin filled ride. Copious amounts of explosions and edge-of-your-seat action sequences are accompanied by an epic score from Brian Tyler, the composer responsible for the soundtracks to Fast & Furious, Transformers and Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

With scenes shot inside Epic Games; the video game development company known for the Gears of War franchise, only time will tell whether good can conquer even the most challenging of evils. Iron Man 3 is due out in UK cinemas on the 26th of April. H

words & design: Charley Ward

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the great

gatsby

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n adaptation from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of the same name; The Great Gatsby is set to be a box office killer, especially as the novel often crops up in lists citing the greatest literary works of all time.

Despite The Great Gatsby hitting the big screen in 1974 and then television in 2000, new director Baz Luhrmann is hoping to breathe some fresh air onto this timeless tale.

The story takes place in America's roaring 1920s and captures the highs and lows of post WW1 America. On the surface, The Great Gatsby is a tale of unrequited love but it also examines the extravagant way of life sweeping across the United States at the time.

Bond salesman, Nick Carraway, is followed by the audience as he gets caught up in the glitz and glamour of his neighbour, Jay Gatsby's lifestyle in Long Island, New York.

Gatsby is part of the wealthy “nouveau riche” or new rich. Carraway is intrigued by Gatsby's world, where things are not quite as they seem, and is sucked into it. He soon learns that

62 Words & design: charley ward

money certainly doesn't buy you everything.

Of course, as with any other successful literary adaption, it is important to represent the characters correctly. The Great Gatsby has had no trouble in that area, with Luhrmann assembling a suitably impressive cast.

Mild mannered Nick Carraway is portrayed

by Tobey Maguire, better known for spandex and spider webs than after dinner martinis and tuxedos. Carraway acts as a surrogate for the audience as he is swept into American high society. Most familiar to movie goers as Peter Parker in the original Spider-Man trilogy, he has a combination of naïveté and wholesomeness that transfers over perfectly from his superhero adventures and fits Carraway’s character to a T. Centre stage as Jay Gatsby is Leonardo DiCaprio. The role of Gatsby is one that an actor of DiCaprio’s stature can really get his teeth into. And, as per usual, DiCaprio delivers. He plays Gatsby with an intense blend of emotions; love, anger, jealousy and madness. Unfortunately however, the

character is not as astonishing as DiCaprio's recent performance in Tarantino's Django.

Daisy Buchanan, a socialite, and also the apple of Gatsby's eye, is portrayed by BAFTA winning British actress Carrey Mulligan. She encapsulates the emotional mixture of beauty and fragility that is Daisy. She is a compelling reminder that money is not all that necessary to live a happy and successful life.

Jay Z and Lana Del Ray have been tipped to be writing and singing the music for the film.

Lana Del Ray recently revealed she had been writing music for a movie set in the 1920’s, and then came the 2012 trailer featuring the song 'No Church in the Wild' by Jay Z and Kanye West.

Director Baz Luhrmann will be known to all film fans as the director of the modern version of Romeo and Juliet, also starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Lurhmann covers each scene in immaculate period detail, telling this tale of extravagance perfectly. Indeed, aach detail of the roaring 20's; from the champagne glasses to Rolls Royces, are all magnificently displayed on screen in typical Lurhmann flamboyancy.

The Great Gatsby is a pretty flawless and faithful adaptation of Fitzgerald’s classic novel.

With its glamorous style and flashy costumes, The Great Gatsby is highly recommended. H

Fashion & Beauty Hey Big spender spring/summer trends 2013 am i beautiful?

Beauty Bulletin Nail caviar: How to Beauty trends on trial

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FICE

It may still be chilly outside but fashion is heating up in anticipation of Spring/Suummer 2013. Time to get the ice cream and suntan lotion at the ready! But before you brave the bikinis, here are a few sleek trends to ease you into the summer season. For a relaxed day look, it’s all about matching tailored blouses and trousers, like this sheer set from Wallis. Break it up with a soft, patterened blouse to give it a relaxed and girly edge then add heels and a clutch.

Perfect for bringing a breath of fresh air to the office!

White Shirt £35 WALLIS

Pink Blazer £65 WALLIS

e v a F r u O

.. . s t e k c a

J

White Clutch Bag £18 WALLIS Pink Closed Toe Heels £39 MISS SELFRIDGE

WALLIS

J’ADORE J ACKETS

For the cooler summer evenings, when the sun is retreating and a cool breeze takes over, the new season lightweight jacket is a total must have for every fashionista. The classic blazer style remains a firm favourite with all, as does the ever faithful leather jacket, and where there’s no black and white there’s plenty of bright, floral patterns.

Floral Blazer £49 DOROTHY PERKINS

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Pink Jacket £59 MISS SELFRIDGE

Blazer £45 DOROTHY PERKINS DOROTHY PERKINS

Purple Trousers /Pants £35 WALLIS

DOROTHY PERKINS, 0845 121 4515, www.dorothyperkins.com | WALLIS. 0844 984 0266. www.wallis.co.uk | BHS. 0845 196 0000, www.bhs.co.uk | MISS SELFRIDGE. www/missselfridge.co.uk

F AT THE O

ROYAL HE IRE

Flip to the fancier side where designers are taking inspiration from royalty, in particular The Duchess of Cambridge and her classic look. Delve into this season’s trend of 1950s lady-like elegance with flirty and girly silhouettes being accentuated with a nipped in waist, and details of traditional lace (remaining a firm style favourite through Spring/Summer). Add delicate embellishments of dainty jewels and it’s perfect for those chilled garden parties or romantic lunch dates.

SS

Spring is finally here and it's time for to freshen up your wardrobe with a long-awaited new look...

Crystal Earrings £12.50 DIVA AT MISS SELFRIDGE

White Blazer £60 WALLIS

Clutch Bag £60 MISS SELFRIDGE Open Toe Heels £75 MISS SELFRIDGE

Embellished Dress £65 DOROTHY PERKINS

DOROTHY PERKINS

RIPES T S G N I E E S

If you haven’t done it already, then it’s time to try out block stripes. Not only do they make a bold and modern statement, but they can be worn as sheer panelling on skirts and dresses too. This summer, stripes are going full on and there is plenty of choice in this department.

The question is: do you want yours thin and plentiful, or sparse and chunky?

Black Shorts £28 MISS SELFRIDGE

Blue Dress £55 MISS SELFRIDGE BHS

Black Bag £35 DOROTHY PERKINS

White Jumper £39 MISS SELFRIDGE

words: beth grant / design: elli blackwell

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Spring is not just about floral blouses. Time for the Y guys to get kitted for THE NAV N I this season too...

This season’s navy items are a great place to start easing your wardrobe from the winter woolies to spring time trends. The classic pair of jeans aren’t going anywhere, but at the minute they are trimmed into a slimmer leg with tailored ankle. Make it a smart-casual look with a short sleeve navy shirt and grab a navy sweater for some added warmth on those chilly British evenings.

Navy Jumper/Sweater £30 BURTON

Indigo Denim Shirt £20 BURTON

Indigo Denim Jeans £30 BURTON

HIRT S D E T N I PR

BURTON

Navy Canvas’s £35 BURTON

Navy Bag £35 BURTON

Car Print Shirt £22 BURTON

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Hawaiian Print Shirt £22 BURTON

Ditsy Print Shirt £22 BURTON

BURTON

BURTON, 0845 121 4514, www.burton.co.uk

There was a time when the printed shirt was just for the badly dressed dads on holiday. But printed shirts from top designers have given the look a comeback over the past few years. This season, they are back on the high street and are perfect for BBQs and summer nights out. Choose shirts that are well fitted to avoid the dad-look and to flatter the waist and shoulders. Team with chino shorts by day and tailored jeans at night.

THE SHO RT OF IT

It may have been a while since those legs last saw daylight, but they have to come out at some point. So opt for a pair of chino shorts for a cool day time look or laid back lunch date. Wear with a sunglasses like this brown pair from Burton to add a trendy edge.

Anchor Motif Chino Shorts £28 BURTON

White Top £20 BURTON

Blue Shorts £28 BURTON

Burgundy Shorts £28 BURTON

BURTON From new tailored shapes to lightweight materials, spring is the perfect time for a new suit. Bring a fresh look to the office with slim fit burgundy trousers, shirt and navy square end tie. Finish it off with smart tan shoes and brown belt, and be the boss in style.

THE BOLD

BOSS

Navy Harrington Jacket £40 BURTON Brown Sunglasses £12 BURTON

Smart Burgundy Trouser £28 BURTON

Slim Fit Shirt £26 BURTON

Navy Tie £7 BURTON

Brown Belt £10 BURTON

Blue Cotton Blazer £70 BURTON Mens Smart Shoe £38 BURTON

BURTON

words: naomi wilson / design: chelsea allen

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r e d n e p s big

hey

I've got a confession to make, and it isn't pretty...

I

t happened again just the other day when I was walking through town and started to get that familiar twitch. My day had already been rough to say the least. I was drowning underneath a mountain of work that was nowhere near getting completed, my phone was broken after an unfortunate mishap with a bottle of cheap wine the night before, I had three scary bills to pay despite having maxed my overdraft out, and to top it all off I bumped into my ex looking like the bride of Frankenstein with my unwashed hair and pale, only-had-two-hours-sleep face.

And so, that twitch had well and truly set in as I wearily made my way towards the comforting glow of Topshop. Okay, I admit it; I’m an emotional spender.

It was almost as if I was on autopilot, getting

sucked in by the elaborately set out displays of Topshop’s newest additions. I ran my hands over a pair of gorgeous black velvet shorts, slowly drifting to the £40 price tag. By the time I left I had purchased the shorts along with a necklace, a dress, a top and a pair of leggings.

My bankcard, which now contained what was left of my savings, probably wanted to scream in agony, but I felt on top of the world and was buzzing from my shopping binge.

Does this sound all too familiar? If yes, then read on because you, my friend, are an emotional shopper.

These are situations that have become all too familiar to me and so many other young people around the country. When we feel down or stressed, we seek the comforting buzz of buying something new that we know will make us

"If all else fails, do what I've done and give your bank cards to your friends to look after!"

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look and feel good. But that buzz is short lived and dies once you’ve worn said item, and you find yourself needing something new to wear again, making the vicious shopping cycle start all over.

Earlier this year, psychiatrists from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, examined nine people aged 19 to 59 who had been diagnosed with compulsive buying disorder. According to the study, 5.8% of adults are affected by compulsive buying. The disorder is based on a ‘senseless preoccupation’ with shopping and spending, leading to an inability to deal with financial problems.

The people in the study earned around £40,000 a year on average but spent 61% of this on impulsive purchases – the majority of these being clothes. The study showed they all spent up to a shocking 38 hours a week in shops.

A not-so-cheap buzz It is an undeniably great feeling when you purchase something that instantly lifts your spirits. Yes the initial high is great, yet is it just me or is there usually that nagging feeling of guilt after handing over your cash?

T h e H y p e fas h i o n & b e a u t y

Big Spender: Compulsive buying can lead to financial problems

"Around 5.8% of adults are affected by compulsive buying disorder based on a 'senseless preoccupation' with shopping" Rosie Rothwell, 20, a sales advisor from Southampton admits she is an emotional shopper. She said: “It’s dangerous when I go shopping in a bad mood as when I see something I like, nine times out of ten I will buy it there and then.

The buzz is great but usually doesn’t last and when I come home I realise I don’t even want it, not to mention the damage to my bank balance.”

For young women like Rosie who are only just finding their feet on the career ladder, this is an incredibly risky habit to get into.

She continues: “I’ve maxed out my overdraft several times and had my phone cut off for not paying bills, I’m not in a good place financially.”

But for some is it that simple to just ‘curb the habit’? According to Terence Schulman, founder of shopaholicsanonymous.org, emotional spending is like emotional eating; it’s just not good for your health. He explains that: “We all shop for many reasons but the

addict buys to relieve anxiety and over time the buying creates a dysfunctional lifestyle.”

An emotional blindfold?

“Compulsive shoppers shop to distract from negative feelings.” Terence continues. “It’s like the well known saying: when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.”

The opening quote on the homepage of the shopaholics anonymous site is ‘How much would you have to buy in order to finally feel satisfied or good enough?’ I fear the answer to this is not a positive one.

Daniel Ironside, 20, an undergraduate from Manchester admits he’s got himself into debt as a result of emotional and compulsive shopping: “Sounds cheesy but to me the words ‘retail therapy’ really are true. With shopping it’s like I need a fix, I suffer from depression and when I’m going through a bad day I always find myself browsing online for clothes. The clothes are so accessible it’s just too easy to spend a ridiculous amount of money. I’d say I spend about £100 minimum online on clothes a month, and the most I’ve ever blown in one

trip is about £400.”

As he is currently unemployed, it’s no wonder this addiction has taken its toll on his finances.

He continues: “I’ve got two student overdrafts because of my habit and maxed out one of them. Money’s gotten so tight I now have to dip into the savings my parents put aside for me for when I leave university, but this still doesn’t make me stop spending. At the end of the day, if I look good then I feel good.”

Adding to the load with shopping bags For me, it’s all too easy to see how the stress of a heavy workload and balancing this with a hectic personal life can make you a victim of emotional shopping. Unfortunately, constantly living on a shoestring budget also doesn’t agree with a weekly shopping binge and results in many of us landing ourselves deeper and deeper into the murky depths of our overdrafts.

So is there a way to break out of this vicious cycle? Luckily, there are many things that can distract you from spending money.

Firstly, address the real reason you go shopping; are you stressed with work or having trouble with a relationship? Confront the issue, confide in a family member or close friend if you need to and work out solutions to help you overcome and deal with it.

As for keeping control of your finances, write out a weekly budget and try to stick to it. If you really can’t go without buying something then set aside an amount each week for you to spend on yourself, but keep it realistic.

If you have to pass shops on your way to work or university, try to plan a different route so you can’t be lulled in by the window displays.

If stress is the biggest trigger for spending, find other outputs to help you relax and unwind, like having a bath with scented oils or going for a run (just not past any shops) to release endorphins – an instant mood lifter.

If all else fails, do what I’ve done and give your bankcards to your friend to look after! H

words: charlotte smith / design: charlotte may

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Am I W

alking through the streets of any town, it’s rather unlikely you won’t encounter at least one person with a form of body art or modification.

Whether it is tattoos or piercings, such forms of visual self-expression are much more widely accepted by communities today.

However, ten years ago, most reactions would centre on the many prejudices that exist around this form of art. Unfortunately, many negative connotations today still surround the people who choose to express themselves in this way.

At Asgard Tattoo Studio in Southampton they of course support the right for people to get tattoos. Many tattoo artists and people getting inked don’t get tattoos for the shock factor or because they want to stand out - a lot of the time the tattoos are in remembrance of someone, a way to express something they can’t easily say or because they want something on their body as a permanent reminder. One customer, who wished to remain anonymous, was getting a

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tribal design of a rabbit that he drew himself to show his love for his giant house rabbit, Buddy. It was his fifth piece and he said he wasn’t stopping there. “I get the tattoos for myself. They all have meaning. I wrote a poem for my brothers and sisters and I wanted it on me forever. I don’t care what people think. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to look.”

After working in Asgard for a number of years, the tattooists themselves have acquired a number of impressive tattoos. Glenn said: “With all my tattoos now I couldn’t really be respected in any other occupation then the one I’m currently in.”

And although tattoos and piercings are starting to become more widely accepted in today’s society, there still seems to be some stigma attached to them in the working world.

They say that beauty is only skin deep and just because you have tattoos on your body it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. Others should have the same broad outlook on the subject too. H

© Lisja | Dreamstime Sotck Photos & Stock Free Images

beautiful?

T h e H y p e FAS H I O n & B E A U T Y

words: ella french / design: charley ward

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REVLON LIP BUTTER

Available in lucious spring colours, this new lipstick

by Revlon will leave your lips glossy all day and feeling ‘oh-so’ smooth and hydrated.

Need a new make-up wardrobe? Clarins Spring 2013 collection has all the fresh radiant products you need - from pretty pink lips to sun kissed powder.

BEAUTY BULLETIN

LANCOME HYPNOSE STAR MASCARA No need for fakes this spring with Lancome’s Hypnose Star Mascara.

It lengthens your lashes and leaves a lush sparkle effect.

Strut your stuff with Nars new Spring Collection which has colour pop and wow factor. The HYPE love the ‘Disco Ferno’ nail polish which is perfect for a classy night out with the girls.

CLARINS SPRING COLLECTIO N

Bringing you the latest beauty buys on the market right now

URBAN DECAY’S NAKED COLLECTION

NARS SPRING N COLLECTIO Have a true beauty sleep with Clinque’s Overnight Mask. It feels good and gives you a natural morning glow. the next day.

CLINQUE SURGE MOISTURE OVERNIGHT MASK 72 words: stacey tonks / design: chelsea allen

For those days when you want to go out wearing the natural look, Urban Decay’s NAKED collection is perfect - complete with neutral eye shadows and budding blushers!

T h e H y p e FAS H I O n & B E A U T Y

L I A N Y L P P A O T W O H r a i v a C

HOTTIP To put the beads back into the pot, place the mini funnel into the top of the caviar pot and tilt the tray over the funnel until all the beads are safely back in the bottle.

SHADES * RAINBOW PEARLS URBAN DECAY’S * BLACK PEARLS * MOTHER OF PEARL

Give your nails a touch of sophistication with Ciaté’s Nail Caviar

1.

3.

Apply two coats of your chosen base colour.

2.

Press the beads very gently into your nail bed and allow to dry for 15-20 minutes.

4.

Place your finger over a tray and pour the caviar onto the nail whilst they are still wet.

No top coat needed and you are left with perfectly manicured caviar nails.

words & design: chelsea allen

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BEAUTY TRENDS 5 DAYS. 5 LOOKS

l a i r T n O

Here at The HYPE, we’ve taken the hottest beauty trends of 2013 from the Runway to the streets. From gothic eyes to edgy nails – what trends should stay on the catwalk and which should we rock this year?

DAY 1

DAY 2 Chanel adapted the smokey eye with gothic twist - smudging the corners of the eye for added drama. This look takes a while to achieve, due to the layers of eyeliner and black eye-shadows, whilst it can be tamed for a night out, we think it is best left on the catwalk.

Gothic Eyes

Every girl is partial to a pair of fake luscious lashes. Extra-long lashes were supported by all the big names on the Catwalk this season.

Apply a pair of bold, feather lashes to grab attention of every passer-by on the street. Lash art is a funky trend which is great for adding a quirky element to your outfit. With an endless selection of lashes to pick from, there is a style out there for you.

DAY 4

DAY 3

Nail art has taken the beauty world by storm and Thierry Mugler has given it an edge this season. You could painted the base of your nails black and add white edges using a nail pen. Or alternately, add a touch of metallic to add attitude to your style.

Bold Eyelashes

Dior lit-up the Catwalks with their jewelled lips. Adapting the classic red lip with a bit of sparkle caught everyone’s eye. Gluing individual gems to your lips is a longprocess and eventually start to fall off. It is a sticky procedure and encrusted lips are not practical. We think you should stick to Dior’s Addict lipstick range. These statement lipsticks add colour and moisture with a shimmery finish and without the hassle.

True Blue

Tom Pecheux abandoned every makeup artist’s staple item - black eye-liner.

Waving good-bye to trusty black topliner is hard but will receive a warm welcome from people who loved the dusky shade of blue. Swapping your black-liner for blue is a great way to mix up your day to night look too.

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Edgy Nails

Overall...

DAY 5

Diamante Lips

Although the catwalk was full of great fashion trends for this season, unfortunatly the same can’t be said for their beauty looks. Whilst they did offer inspiration for making old styles new - such as the beautifully bold eye lashes and edgy nails - we think for the most part they should be lefat on the cat walk. Perhaps leave these ideas at the back of your beauty bible to pull out for your works next fancy dress party. Whether your after a glam rock look or extravagant goth - you can apply these to suit your needs.

words: simron CHANA / design: chelsea allen

Travel CHINa 76 Senegal 79 Amsterdam 82

top 5 of

cultural capitals

Europe

Ancient ruins, crown jewels and pints of Guinness: The HYPE offers a glimpse of Europe's best cultural hotspots...

Barcelona T

hink of Barcelona and you think of Messi’s golden-toed talent. But the Spanish city offers a lot more than tough competition in the Champions League. With its iconic gothic architecture, museums and artistic centres, Barcelona has a vibrant, cultural flair that demands a whole level of respect that goes beyond scoring goals.

Visit The Sagrada Familia Church in the heart of the old city centre, an immense and unfinished gothic building that has been under construction since 1882. Also, get cultured with a trip to the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, which displays post1945 Spanish masterpieces.

dublin I

t’s known for pints of Guinness, leprechauns and people saying ‘Top o’ the morning’ and – to be honest – Dublin lives up to the reputation. With its buzzing atmosphere, eclectic bar scene and roguish charm it is impossible not to fall in love with this hearty city.

Believe it or not, Dublin has its own Leprechaun Museum – which takes visitors through a mythical land constructed of rainbows and over sized furniture. Also, be sure to visit the Guinness Storehouse, where you can sip the ‘black stuff ’ from the top of

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this pint-shaped building with a panoramic view of the city. From there, get down to the Temple Bar district where the city’s best restaurants, pubs and clubs promise a proper Irish night on the town.

T h e H y p e T R AV E L

budapest H

ungary’s capital has been over looked as a tourist hotspot for years, but now it is gaining countless recommendations from Inter-Railers as a strong contender for favourite European city. Budapest is the political and cultural centre of the country, making it the perfect place to discover what Hungary is all about.

Visit the parliament buildings to admire its stunning architecture and dazzling crown jewels and explore Budapest’s Central Market

Hall for a taste of authentic Hungarian foods.

Also, be sure to walk across the Chain Bridge which links the city’s two halves (Buda and Pest), and finish off a long day with a soak in the famous hot baths.

bologna

W

hile the rest of Italy enjoys fine wines on a sun-soaked terrace with a classic opera in the background, Bologna is hitting the vodka in the early afternoon, getting ready for a night of partying. This dynamic student city is loud, fun and entirely different from any other in the country.

While the Piazza Maggiore hosts a tourist information centre that will direct you to the main attractions, experience the real culture of Bologna by wandering down side streets, taking in the political graffiti and groups of prank-playing, partying students on the way.

athens

A

s the historical capital of Europe, dating back to the 5thCentury BC, Athens is undeniably one of the biggest culture capitals in the world, let alone the continent.

Start with the iconic Acropolis where the Temple of Olympian Zeus acts as the symbolic entrance to the city. From there, wander through the historic centre, which has been converted into a 3-kilometre pedestrian zone that maps out the ancient landscape of Athen’s foundations. But don’t forget that while this is one of the oldest civilisations in the world, today it is a cosmopolitan metropolis with unrivalled charm. Visit the neighbourhoods further from the centre like the Pyssri area where scores of bars and clubs make this the lively heart of modern day Athens.

words: naomi wilson / design: sam ribbits

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HEAT, TAXIS & TRACTOR TYRES

Some say that the journey is more important than the destination. but As Brodie Robertson discovered on her way to Saint Louis in Senegal, this isn't just another exaggerated, inspirational saying...

L

ooking out at our broken down car from the shade of a tall tree, sat at the side of a busy Senegalese highway I wondered if I would ever reach the seaside town of Saint Louis. Nearby, an African woman travelling with us quietly hummed some traditional songs, stopping from time to time to either cough or sniff. An older man continued chanting the Koran as he had done for the past hour or so. Further away, the younger men desperately tried to figure out how to repair the fully loaded rusty taxi, while debating whether or not we could hitch a ride on one of the many passing rusty pick-up trucks instead of staying here.

Months previously, I had organized to go on a work placement at a radio station in the colonial town of Saint Louis, Senegal. The cold winter months were slowly creeping up on Britain, dragging rain and snow storms with them. Being a sun-worshipper at heart, when the opportunity to go to the West Coast of Africa for six weeks came around, I decided it would not only help me gain more journalistic experience, but it would also save me from cringing at the ice-alerts on the evening weather channels.

I was not prepared for Dakar airport.

Not in the slightest. The baggage claim area of Leopold Sedar Senghor airport was pandemonium: three international flights, two conveyor belts, hundreds of tired and sweaty people desperate to get somewhere, broken luggage carts and pushy taxi drivers. We were then all forced into large, unorganized queues and asked to wait for our turn to put our bags through two small x-ray machines. Frustrated and ready to burst out into tears, I distanced myself from the grumpy tourists and chaos

The road to Saint Louis

around me by putting my earphones in and pressing play. To this day, I cannot listen to “Don’t worry, be happy!” without sensing a faint smile spread across my face.

Two hours after our plane landed in the capital, the warm evening breeze hit my face and gave me the clean oxygen I had been desperate for since my arrival: I stepped outside the airport. A representative from the organization I was going to work for, who I only knew as Banda, stood out of the crowd with his off-green company t-shirt, a handwritten sign with “Bridie” written on it and the charming friendly attitude and calming smile I had come across in the past 24 hours.

Banda and I drove through the winding backstreets that led to the hostel where I would spend the night. I remember appreciating the breeze that came flowing through my backseat window. The pungent smells of rich spices used to season the meals in the small road-side restaurants and the sound of a group of local teenagers playing their traditional African drums combined to create a beautiful welcome party to the culture I was to embrace for the coming six weeks.

The next morning, the ever laid-back Banda brought my bags, including my hand-luggage containing my most valuable possessions, and I to an enormous car-park packed with people and rusty old cars, locally known as the Pompier station. These vehicles, which were originally created for a family of five, had been modified in order to fit in three more people in the boot area thus the name ‘sept-places’, or ‘seven-seats’ in English. Banda slalomed in and out of the narrow lanes created between people, goats, cars and trucks until he stopped in front of

words: Brodie robertson / design: sam ribbits

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"As we approached our destination, baobab trees stood out majestically in the desert sand"

one of the old run-down ‘sept-places’ that was apparently heading to Saint Louis.

I squeezed myself into the centre seat of the middle row of seats and was told that we would be leaving shortly. A fairly large woman, wearing a traditional African costume sat at my left and snorted a few times per minute. I came to the conclusion that she was ill. To my right, a man dressed in a kaftan quietly recited prayers while anxiously playing with a chain of beads. Behind me, my guide and two other young men squeezed into their seats. No words were said: we all seemed to be patiently waiting for the overly extrovert driver to tear away from his entourage to finally take to the wheel.

The official language of this country is French, however the main dialect is Wolof.

So although fluent in French, I was still fairly confused and unfamiliar with what was happening all around me. I watched in utter disbelief and amazement as numerous bags were placed in the narrow boot of our car and a couple of tractor tyres were installed on the top of the roof. Though unusual, I was just grateful that the helpers didn’t choose to tie a live sheep over our heads, as I had seen attached to the car beside ours.

As our “sept-places” filled up more and more, I began to laugh at the entire situation.

There I was, a young Scottish girl on a gap year sitting in an old run-down car with a group of complete strangers as enormous tractor tyres were being fitted into place above

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my head, praying that this car would in fact bring me to Saint Louis and not somewhere completely different.

The heat inside the car was unbearable; I was relieved when my two fellow travellers opened up their windows to let some air circulate around us. As we waited, young children would pass their small dirty hands through the window to sell us everything from bananas to nuts and tissues. Sitting in the middle, driving in a car with no air conditioning through a very hot country was, in hindsight, a very bad idea. The notion of soon being close to the sea in Saint Louis was a welcoming distraction from the heat that made me so tired and dry-skinned.

An hour and a half later, the driver took his place behind the wheel of our packed Peugeot and we were finally on our way. We had not even travelled out of the city of Dakar when suddenly a strange sound came from the front left tyre. As the driver popped his head out of the window to reassure us that is was nothing to worry about, we heard something snap and hit the ground. Our car came to a tragic halt.

All I knew was that we had broken down and there wasn’t much chance of us getting back on the road soon.

So there I was, appreciating the shade of a tall tree that seemed particularly bushy for a plant that has to bear this Senegalese heat day in day out. We had been sitting around for an hour or so, getting to know the people around us. Or in this case, they were

interrogating me. They don’t often come across young white girls out with Dakar so they seemed particularly interested in who I was and what brought me to Senegal.

Suddenly, just as I was adjusting to sitting on a stack of tyres in order to read my book, another rusty ‘sept-places’ arrived to whisk us away from our distressing situation, like a valiant Prince Charming on his gleaming white steed.

Hot and sticky in the centre of the middle row, I appreciated the cool breeze that whizzed around our heads. The speedometer of our new vehicle was, unsurprisingly, broken so I had no idea how fast we were driving. Let’s just say that we could have won a race in the Grand Prix.

The scenery that sped past our windows was just how I had imagined an African landscape.

The ground was dry and crisp, revealing deep cracks which seemed to be gasping for some much needed water. Every now and again a small burnt bush or tree would break the monotonous flat horizon. We drove past some villages that boasted only a few huts made of mud and straw. Kids ran barefoot alongside our car, waving their hands and smiling, relishing the opportunity to try and outrun a vehicle. As we approached our destination, baobab trees stood out majestically in the desert sand, forming a sturdy protection and shelter for birds in this African wilderness.

Clockwise from left: Senegalese children, Saint Louis’ famous bridge, a watermelon stall by the road and (centre) a boy fishing at sunset.

At the end of a long and sticky three hour journey, we could finally see the shore: we were approaching the sea-side town of SaintLouis. Founded in 1659, Saint-Louis was named after the man who was then the king of France on an island nestled between the river Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean. I had never been so excited about seeing distant patches of blue water until than that day.

As I climbed out of the “sept-places” into yet another crowded car park filled with rusty cars, I breathed a sigh of relief: I was finally here. As I began to take my bags out of the back of our transport, I realized that my hand-luggage containing my computer, passport and money was no longer there. I turned around to Banda, with what must have looked like a terrified puppy dog’s expression on my face, as he proceeded to let out one of his famous deep and infectious laughs and point to the roof of the car. There it was.

Sitting in prime position on the roof, with nothing strapped to it to keep it in place on top of the two massive tractor tyres was my bright blue hand luggage. It was now my turn to laugh: little did I know that my bag would go through as much of an adventure as I had when we set off on our exciting trip to Senegal. It may have taken two long and hot days of travelling, but this had been a journey I would never forget. H

© Lonewolf9849 | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

iAMSTERDAM

Amsterdam has much allure any time of year. There is something so special about sitting in a Dutch bar, sipping a pint of Heineken and watching the hustle and bustle of the busy city pass by...

I

t is not first assumed that Amsterdam is in fact one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but with stunning architecture and winding canals around every corner, it is hard to not be smitten with it.

Dam Square in central Amsterdam is home to the Royal Palace. Originally built as a town hall in the 17th Century, the palace then became home to King Louis Napoleon.

Although it is still used by Royals, the elegant building is open to the public for most of the year. Dam Square has much to offer, including the famous Madame Tussauds, which is definitely worth checking out.

The Anne Frank annex (locally known as Anne Frankhuis) is another must-see in Amsterdam. At a very reasonable €9 entry, the experience is chilling and worthwhile. A lot

is one of Amsterdam's main attractions, " Vondelpark featuring 120 acres of beautiful greenery and a massive lake " of the original wallpaper has been restored, as well as the original bookcase at the entry of the annex, it is difficult to walk around and

In Amsterdam: The city is contained within an oval of canals

82 Words & design: Elli blackwell

not get a lump in one’s throat. Anne Frankhuis is open throughout the whole year.

Leidseplein is another square, situated a little way out of the main town. It is easily

accessible by tram. This is where most of the nightlife is, with a Hard-Rock Cafe and an open-air ice rink during the winter months.

There are plenty of hotels situated around this area, and they tend to be quite a bit cheaper than the central ones (check out Hotel Europa 92).

Vondelpark is one of Amsterdam’s main attractions, featuring 120 acres of beautiful greenery and a massive lake. There is also an open air theatre during warmer months and a playground. It is free for the public to wander round, and attracts over 10 million visitors a year.

24-hour tram tickets are a must if wanting to travel between areas a lot. At only €7.50, these passes cover all the different routes. Now just to get the hang of standing up as it whizzes through the city!

One further piece of advice when visiting Amsterdam is to stick to the correct path.

There are designated cycling lanes and it is important to keep to the right lane. No matter what time of year, locals shoot around on mopeds and bikes; not stopping for anyone! H

SPORT When football became racist 84 Goal Line Technology 88

Image courtesy of canadakick

When Football Becomes Racist

84

T h e H y p e S PO RT

This year, cases of racism in football were hitting the headlines on an almost weekly basis. The HYPE investigates what can be done before ignorant fans change the sport forever... words: catherine collins / design: kristian adams

85

I

n the mid-70s, racism in football was rife.

There were hundreds, if not thousands, of small-minded fans targeting players simply because of the colour of their skin.

There were no criminal records, no fines, no bans and no consequences. Authorities and everybody else turned a blind eye as if it didn’t exist.

For black players, dealing with name calling, chants and objects being hurled at them became an everyday occurrence. Bananas seemed to be the preferred weapon of choice for the masses.

In a well-known story recalled by the first black player to be capped for England at senior level, Viv Anderson, the fans pelted him with fruit as he warmed up on the sidelines in front of them. Retreating back to the dugout, a worried Anderson explained to his manager, Brian Clough, what had happened. Clough’s response: “Well get back out there and fetch me two pears and a banana.”

Forty years later and the nation has moved on.The majority of football fans know it is unacceptable to use someone’s colour, race, creed or religion as a reason to discriminate against a player. Most people would not tolerate racist language from the fans around them, let alone pelt them with missiles. The police, stewards and the governing football

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Racism must be identified and punished, starting at grassroot level football of all ages

associations have worked hard to try to eliminate it from the game. But today, in stadiums around the country a very different form of racism exists.

It has coined the phrase ‘unintentional racism’ and is proving extremely difficult to eradicate. It is practically invisible, especially to the people who perpetrate it.

Former Southampton, Bolton and Birmingham footballer, Radhi Jaidi, explains how this is a battle that must be won, but won’t be easy.

“I think there are two meanings for unintentional racism,” he says. “One is a lack

of knowledge, people do not care about what is happening in the world around them and they don’t want to know. It may be that so many things keep them busy. Secondly, some people who are born into developed countries think they are superior to others. They don’t judge you for who you are, just that you come from an inferior country.

“So we need to make people aware of what is happening around them. Racism has existed for a long time and over many generations.

Each generation has had its own problems.

So for any organisation that is trying to bring people together hand in hand, it is not going

Tougher action should be taken against incidents from the stands

T h e H y p e S PO RT

Hands image (top left) courtesy of Eastop | Stands image (bottom left) courtesy of Mark Freeman | John Barnes image (bottom right) courtesy of Eric the Fish

"We need to make people aware of what is happening around them. Racism has existed for a long time and over many generations" to be easy. “We need some patience, it will take time to enforce it to a higher level so that we can begin to affect people’s intentions and make them react positively.

“If we educate kids in a positive way, they will grow up with it, and that will make a huge difference.”

The Tunisian defender has lived in England for ten years now and although he has not been subjected to racial abuse on the pitch, he believes he has been on the receiving end of unintentional racism from a former landlord.

He recalls: “I asked him for better furniture in the house we wanted to rent, he replied that we ‘should be happy’ with what we had as we would not have had that before.

“I think he thought we lived in tents in Tunisia.” He went on to say: “I feel sorry for these people because they are just ignorant.

“They need to take notice of what is happening in the world around them and learn how to respect all kinds of different people. No matter what race they are.”

According to the charity, Football Unites Racism Divides, it is impossible to give a definitive answer to how many incidents of racism there are at football matches, both on and off the pitch. Many go unreported, and those that are reported cannot always be proven. This year saw high profile racism cases in the newspapers on an almost weekly basis, including incidents involving Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra, John Terry’s incident with Anton Ferdinand and the fans’ behaviour during Euro 2012.

Radhi, 37, says: “It was disappointing to witness the events this year, these people are supposed to be ambassadors of their countries, cities and regions.

“If they do this kind of thing then they are sending out the wrong message. I think it is also important that the media realise they can have a big impact on people’s mentality, especially the young. They need to concentrate more on racism to make people aware.” But

how do you extinguish something in people when they don’t realise they are guilty of it?

“Racism is not only a problem in football, it’s a problem in society. Until we tackle it in society, we can’t tackle it in football,” explains former England midfielder, John Barnes. “We are unintentionally racist because of what European history has wrongly taught us about ourselves and others, we can’t help but feel the way we do.”

It may not be intentional, but it’s still racism.

He adds: “Like alcoholism, the first step is

acknowledgment and then we can cure it.

Denying it means it doesn’t exist within us, which is the biggest problem.”

We can all name people that use the phrase: “I’m not racist, one of my best friends is black” to absolve them of any doubt that their comments can be taken as a racial slur. The same person would not even consider calling that friend - or even a stranger in the street an offensive, racist name. But surround them with 30,000 football fans in a stadium and it seems to be a different story. H

Former England striker John Barnes, speaking at the University of Liverpool

87

Goal-line technology is perhaps the most fundamental change in the history of modern football...

W

hether you like it or not, it has the power to revolutionise the fundamental mechanics of how the game operates. Some will say for the better, others, for the worse.

Despite being called for by pundits, managers and fans for years, there was hesitancy from football’s governing bodies to implement such a drastic change.

The Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) President Michel Platini once commented that if goal-line technology was introduced it would “never stop” and would spread to “deciding handballs and then for offside decisions”.

However, weight was added to the ‘for’ arguments by high profile cases. For

match at the 2012 European Championships.

They prompted Sepp Blatter, the president of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (Fifa), to say: “That [Lampard] goal was the moment for me to say. ‘You can’t afford for something similar to happen in the next World Cup’.”

With different systems being tested over a period of two years, the International Football Association Board approved goal-line technology for the Fifa Club World Cup tournament in December. Licenses were granted to Hawk Eye and GoalRef – the last two remaining organisations to have survived Fifa’s rigorous technology criteria. By securing licenses they were then able to start the process of pitching

Hawk Eye: Cameras will track the ball to settle confusion

“Goal-line technology will destroy this thread of consistency running through the game.” example, Frank Lampard’s obvious ‘goal’ that wasn’t given against Germany in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and Marko Devic’s shot that crossed the line in the Ukraine v England

their product to leagues and competitions, with the English Premier League a known supporter.

“We hope to engage in discussions with

both Hawk Eye and GoalRef with a view to introducing goal-line technology as soon as is practically possible,” says the Premier League’s supporter services. “We have been involved in the development of goal-line technology since 2006 when we worked with Hawk Eye on a system that was trialled in non-competitive scenarios at Fulham’s Craven Cottage [stadium] and then Reading FC’s training ground.”

The League aims to introduce goal-line technology for the 2013/2014 season, with the cost believed to be around £300,000 per stadium. With 20 teams in the Premier League, that’s a combined total of £6m.

Talking points

A hard life: Match officials can review controversial decisions and correct them

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Football is supposed to have a duty to its supporters to provide the best of entertainment (never guaranteed), the best possible price (very rarely provided), and fair and accurate decisions (which we can never agree on).

T h e H y p e S PO RT

Over the line: The whole ball must cross the line, without technologies officials will never be certain

This unpredictable nature is without a doubt a key ingredient of why fans continue to go back for more. Incorrect goal-line decisions do certainly offer up the week’s talking point for the office, or a late evening debate at the pub. And, the critics of technology often cite this when explaining their position.

Writing for The Guardian, journalist Michael Hann says: “The beauty of football is that every officially sanctioned game is the same. The pitch must be of a size conforming to the strictures of the laws of the game; the goals are the same size regardless of the teams; (sic) the officials apply the same laws, whether it’s a World Cup final or a Sunday league game between two pub teams.

“Goal-line technology will destroy this thread of consistency running through the game: economics dictates that cameras

(and officials to study their pictures) will become too expensive only a little way down football’s pyramid. What’s the wait for?’

There is a decision to be made here in that there could be a disparity between the haves and the haves not. While it would be preferable for the technology to be used uniformly throughout the league pyramid, the reality could be very different.

The financial importance of goal scoring has dramatically increased since the 1950s and 60s. If a genuine goal is not given and results in the relegation of a team, the effects of that will be felt for a long time. The reliance on television revenue means that avoiding relegation is now the number one priority.

If technology can help to achieve that, the naysayers will soon be defeated. As football blogger Robbo Robson says: “What’s the wait for? Just f**king get on with it, FIFA.” H

Goal Line Technology

The Facts Hawk Eye: This uses six cameras on each goal that track the ball on the pitch. To pinpoint its exact location triangulation is used and if it crosses the line an encrypted radio signal is sent to the referee’s wristwatch. This takes less than a second to complete.

GoalRef: GoalRef is different to Hawk Eye in that it uses a microchip inserted into the ball and low magnetic waves in the goal area. This magnetic field is monitored on and behind the goalline to detect if a goal has been scored.

words: gary peters / design: kristian adams

89

Following on from The Goal-line technology revolution feature, The Hype canvassed the opinions of ordinary football fans ...

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DANIEL PARKER, 21, says:

PAUL MAIR, 20, says:

ADAM BROWN, 22, . says:

“Comparing the use of technology in tennis to its possible use in football is hard. In tennis the ball generally travels at greater speeds.

“I think football is slightly behind the times, but I don’t think there have been enough incidents where goal-line technology has been needed, whereas in tennis there’s an incident in every single match. But, I do think it needs to happen.”

“It should be brought in, especially for the big games. We’ve seen too many wrong decisions, such as Frank Lampard, and it should have been done ages ago. It is a disadvantage for the lower teams but I think we should focus on those who are higher.

“I support a team in the Blue Square Premier League but I still think it should be used in the Premier League first.”

“There have been far too many cases of goals being disallowed or allowed that shouldn’t have been. But, teams lower down might not get the same benefits as Premier League sides, which is a little unfair.

“However, Fifa have taken too long. It should have been in place for the 2010 World Cup and the Frank Lampard ‘goal’.”

JIMI ROSE, 22, says:

JOE MATTHEWS, 20, says:

DAVID BOWEN, 20, says:

“It’s time they brought GLT in. It’s been too long now and wrong decisions are costing teams games, which in turn have an impact on money. Although, it does have to be fair for everyone, especially when it comes to cup matches at League One and League Two stadiums. If they can work that out, then I’m all for it. “

“If it was used it would stop so many arguments and would be straight to the point.

With the way the game is now and the money involved, there is too much pressure placed on the referee. A wrong decision makes a much bigger difference now.

“But, I think we should only use it for goalline decisions, otherwise it will be too much.”

“Goal-line technology won’t cost too much for the Premier League, but I would imagine that lower league clubs would get help from the FA. “It is a disadvantage to lower league teams but it could also be a disadvantage to Premier League teams going to those stadiums that don’t have it for cup matches. Overall I think it’s up to the FA to fork out the money and not the clubs.” H

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