The Edge - Issue 6 (May 2021) by The Edge

ISSUE 6

MAY 2021

“Sports"

EDITOR Morgan McMillan editor@theedgesusu.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR Maddie Lock deputy-editor@theedgesusu.co.uk NEWS EDITOR Sam Pegg news@theedgesusu.co.uk RECORDS EDITOR Alice Fortt records@theedgesusu.co.uk DIGITAL CULTURE EDITOR Harry Geeves culture@theedgesusu.co.uk CLASSIC CULTURE EDITOR Elizabeth Sorrell culture@theedgesusu.co.uk FILM EDITOR Theo Smith film@theedgesusu.co.uk FILM SUB-EDITOR Lucy Maggs film@theedgesusu.co.uk LIVE EDITOR Jo Lisney live@theedgesusu.co.uk PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER Kiera Gormley, Becky Davies relations@theedgesusu.co.uk ONLINE MANAGER Menno Kramer manager@theedgesusu.co.uk HEAD OF DESIGN Rahul Sonegra design@theedgesusu.co.uk FUNDRAISING, EVENTS AND PUBLICITY OFFICERS Georgie Holmes, Charlotte Brennan publicity@theedgesusu.co.uk RECORDS/LIVE EXECUTIVE Katie Evans CLASSIC CULTURE EXECUTIVE Emily Dennis

e t o N s ’ r o t i Ed Summer 2021 is a year dedicated to and full of sports, from the Olympics, UEFA EUROS, Wimbledon, and 25 years of the WNBA. We at The Edge felt this would be the perfect moment to look at the intersection between sports and entertainment, because at the end of the day isn’t sports entertaining? Well, that question is up for debate and many may disagree, however no one can disagree that the way sports and film overlap are incredible. Movies such as She’s The Man (p. 24) and Hunger Games (p. 23) have intertwined sports into their narratives. Hunger Games does this in a unique way by merging archery into its storyline, no one could ever forget the scene in Hunger Games where Katniss Everdeen shoots an arrow into an apple that was sitting in a pig’s mouth. This demonstration of sports made the movie so much more interesting, and even in movies that do not centre around sports such as Twilight, one of the most epic scenes is the baseball game. These moments show just how important sports is to the entertainment world. Sports like basketball have been known to be entrenched in music and hip-hop culture (p. 22), take J. Cole who has recently released his sixth studio album, The Off-Season which is practically dedicated to and inspired by the NBA. Not only are musicians dedicating or finding inspiration from sports for their music, but sport stars such as former English rugby union player James Haskell (p. 29) have done a complete career change into the world of music. The easy transition between music and sports further indicates what we are trying to put across in this magazine; that the sports and entertainment world are not as far apart as it may seem. As you may have noticed the front cover for this magazine is pop legend, Britney Spears. This year’s committee (mainly the editor) absolutely adore Britney Spears, and for our final magazine we decided to look back at the pop legends career and discuss the widely debated question of Britney’s Best Eras (p. 13). We have also delved into Britney’s best support acts, and trust me, some of the answers may surprise you (p. 45). The magazine doesn’t just centre around sports and Britney Spears however; our writers have delved into the magical world of Fortnite (p. 36) and top tips for festival goers this summer (p. 42). This is our final full magazine of the year and it has been amazing to see The Edge grow immensely during what has been a very questionable year for us all. Our last magazine as a committee will be released as a collaboration with the new committee, but before that I would like to say a massive thank you to our writers and to the amazing committee who have made The Edge the multi-media platform that it is today!

CONTENTS

01 02 03 04 05 07 09 11 12 13 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 43 45 47 48

Masthead Editor's Note Contents The News Box Nostalgic News The Best of Horrorcore Hip-hop Celebrities Are Not Raising Your Children What is Indie Music? Albums We Would Marry if We Had the Chance Battle of the Britney Spears Eras Star Wars: The Force Awakens Hidden Gem: Mud In Defence of: Capone Ballers N' Beats The Best Football Anthems Who Scores the Golden Ten Football in Film Sports and Masculinity The Edge’s Favourite Sports Games The Greatest Sports Books An Interview with James Haskell Hidden Gem: Gifted The Remainder and Historical Memory The Best Basketball Podcasts Fortnite: The Minecraft of Gen Z Marvel’s TV Slate: Promising Or Overcrowded? Why I Love Support Acts Comedians To Check Out This Summer Our Top Tips for Festival Goers My First Gig: Jedward Britney’s Opening Acts Listings Social Media

Cover image courtesy of Jive/RCA

@theedgesusu @theedgesusu

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Timothee Chamalet confirmed to play young Willy Wonka in prequel film directed by Paddington director, Paul King Friends: The Reunion nets UK release via. Sky One on May 27th, 8pm. Witches Rejoice! Hocus Pocus 2 is officially coming fall 2022 on Disney+ Glastonbury Festival secures a license for one-day event this September Turner Simms announce first in-person audiences of 2021 with Snowpoet: Wait For me

The Edge’s Entertainment Picks! EDITOR NBA PLAYOFFS (22/05/2021) It’s NBA Playoff time, the most exciting time to get into NBA basketball. Watch as 16 teams battle it out across both conferences to win that NBA Finals Ring! You can watch on Sky Sports Arena, ESPN or on the NBA League Pass APP!

RECORDS WOLF ALICE - BLUE WEEKEND (04/06/2021) 4 years on from Visions of A Life, Wolf Alice are finally back to dominate the alt-rock scene once more with their upcoming record, Blue Weekend. I’ve been obsessed with the singles so far, and can’t wait to hear the whole piece!

FILM A QUIET PLACE 2, dir. John Krasinski (04/06/2021) After over a year of waiting, we finally get to see the continuation of the Abbott family's quiet fight for survival. Cillian Murphy joins the main cast in a battle against the same terrifying creatures as well as more threats beyond the unknown.

CULTURE RATCHET & CLANK: RIFT APART (11/06/2021) Rift Apart is the latest Ratchet & Clank title and Insomniac's second PS5 release. On the heels of 2016's well-received reboot, the game allows the player to jump between worlds instantly using the Dimensionator, flexing new technology and hopefully honouring the series' rich universe.

LIVE MAROON 5 @ LIVE-NOW (04/06/21) For as little as £6.50, you get to witness Maroon 5 put on a spectacular show. Considering it is about £60 to see them in person, this is a steal! As the band has the most #1s on the Billboard 100 this century, you know that you'll be jamming to the old and new hits all night long.

AMERICAN SONG CONTEST ANNOUNCED SAM PEGG

Eurovision went ahead on Saturday 22nd, May and Italy took the world by storm with the group Maneskin singing ‘Zitti E Buoni’. However, the music competition news doesn’t stop there after The Eurovision Song Contest announced they’re coming to America with a new contest dubbed American Song Contest. Like Eurovision, the song will pit the states of America (as well five US territories and Washington, DC) against one another for the title of Best Original Song. Promising to deliver another annual competition that the world can get behind, the first show will take place in 2022

NOSTALGIC NEWS 5 YE A R S A G O

5 YE A R S A G O

ME BEFORE YOU Morgan McMillan

WRONG CROWD — TOM ODELL Georgie Holmes

Me Before You is a romantic drama adapted from the novel of the same name. It is an incredibly heart-breaking watch as we see a woman from a small town form an unlikely bond with a recently paralysed man she is taking care of. Sam Clafin stars as Will Traynor who was a successful banker and party animal before a motorcycle accident leaves him paralysed from the neck down. Starring opposite Clafin is Emilia Clarke playing Lou Clark, a woman with no prior experience in caring except for a cheery disposition that Traynor’s dad believes in. They are both from different worlds but despite their differences, they fall in love. It was released 5 years ago and despite there being all that time to process the film's heartbreaking ending, it still hurts every time after any rewatch. The film delves into disability and the impacts this has on mental health and is a powerful and beautiful story worthy of all the tears you will definitely shed.

Wrong Crowd is Tom Odell's sophomore album, featuring the hits 'Wrong Crowd' and 'Magnetised' among numerous others. This album showed fans a different side to Odell. While his debut Long Way Down (2013) gave us the loving, soft songs singles 'Grow Old With Me' and 'Another Love'; Wrong Crowd offers a wider range. Opening with the album's title track, 'Wrong Crowd' is a rhythmic classic that is impossible to sit still to. Other notable mentions include 'Concrete', which features the most addictive melody line, and 'Daddy', where Odell's tougher and louder side is unveiled. Every track on Wrong Crowd showcases Odell's stark songwriting, evoking scenes of heartbreak and love. It reached number 2 in the UK charts and gave us even more lovable and addictive tracks to listen to.

10 YEARS AGO TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON Jacob Hando In the year that the world said goodbye to Harry Potter and hello to Game of Thrones, Transformers: Dark of the Moon crushed the box-office to become the fifth-biggest film ever at the time. But how does one get nostalgic for an admittedly bad film? Truthfully, one wouldn't. But for me, it is a nostalgic film. From the brilliant trailers to the intriguingly daft premise (Neil Armstrong found a Transformer?), this was an 11-year old's perfect film. I saw it enough times as a kid that I am impervious to the blatant flaws: the film is long and often slow, the human characters are poorly acted and even more poorly written, and it features excessive military porn. But a recent re-watch opened up new frontiers to appreciate it: the sound design is exquisite and the score is excellent. Furthermore, the actual Transformer aspect of the film is stunning: the opening is gorgeous, the action is high-octane and the tipping skyscraper set-piece is very well made. It did open the can for a sky-beam third act (and two horrendous sequels), but the Chicago battle, highway chase and eyepopping CGI are fond childhood memories that still make me smile. No hate!

Images courtesy of IMDb and RCA

NOSTALGIC NEWS 1 0 YE A R S A G O

2 5 YE A R S A G O

BON IVER. Georgie Holmes

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Louise Chase

Bon Iver's self-titled album is the record that enabled them to find their fame. Consisting of 10 tracks, Bon Iver is a favourite of every fan of folk alternative music. While the soothing timbres of 'Holocene' will have you imagining you're starring in your own real-life movie, the album's opener 'Perth' is the perfect track to let out all of your pent-up emotions too. Justin Vernon demonstrates all that he has to offer in Bon Iver - and it works. Upon release, it was received well by critics, gaining 5-star reviews from The Guardian and The Independent, and 3 and a half from Rolling Stone. These aren't surprising when considering the soothing timbres, gorgeous vocals, and memorable melody lines. Bon Iver was positioned at number 21 on Rolling Stone's "Best Albums of 2011" list. So, if this album isn't one you've listened to before, here is your sign to do so. From start to finish Bon Iver offers up tracks filled with emotion that will make you feel all the feels.

Right at the high point in the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s, came a little musical animated film inspired by one of Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. And for Disney's reputation for being somewhat familyfriendly, Hunchback is perhaps one of the darkest of the bunch. From one minute snorting a laugh at the "Achilles, heel" joke to the tearjerker of Esmerelda's plea "God help the outcasts", the film has everything that makes a Disney film perfect, even playing with pacing at times similar to films released before and after. It just brings something unique and individual.After the fire at the titular cathedral in 2019, seeing Notre Dame in flames towards the climax of the film made it all the more haunting to watch. Add in an Academy Award-nominated soundtrack from Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken, which makes full use of the orchestra to bring to life the city, and a Metacritic score higher than the original Mulan, Hunchback of Notre Dame is a beloved classic from start to finish.

35 YEARS AGO FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF Ryames Chan From one lockdown to another, we have spent days and nights in our own rooms, as if alienated from the world outside. And without us noticing, spring has sneaked into our lives quietly once again, like a mischievous child playing hide-andseek. You look outside your window and you try recalling what spring, freedom, the gentle breezes caressing your face used to feel like, but those images just blur and flee your mind. Perhaps, all you need is a day off. It all started 35 years ago, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, an exuberant tribute to the impetuous, romantic, carefree teenage years. It’s a simple film which invites you a relaxing joyride, full of cheeky wittiness and humour which so many adults seem to have forgotten as Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) hangs out with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and over-anxious best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) in the lively city on a day too good to be wasted in the classroom. Ferris Bueller is not only a classic teenage comedy but an innocent reminder asking you to seize the day. As the school-skipping genius says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Images courtesy of Jagjaguwar/4AD and Buena Vista Pictures

The Best of Horrorcore Hip-hop Reece Beckett Horrorcore hip-hop is a sub-genre typically full of intensely violent lyrics, more bragging than may even be imaginable and a distinct aggression that surpasses that of hardcore hip-hop (i.e. DMX). It’s a rough, abrasive genre, with many Horrorcore albums and tracks teetering on the edge between hiphop and metal (often mixes of the two come through, they’re almost always pretty odd). This sound eventually became more associated with pop music after groups like Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and Rage Against The Machine made the metal rap more accessible and popular, and Horrorcore vanished for some time after (not counting Odd Future's work with the genre, which was often comedic). On a different note, experimental hip-hop group clipping. slowly made their presence known, releasing their first record (CLPPNG) in 2014, and growing greatly in popularity with their fascinating Splendour & Misery - a concept rap album set in space. The group seemed to take on the explosion in popularity of industrial hip-hop (namely from the group Death Grips, who became internet famous after reviewer Anthony Fantano raved about their debut record, The Money Store, on YouTube) and twist it to fit their own interests. Frontman Daveed Diggs, also known for his acting work (he’s excellent in the 2018 film Blindspotting!), brought his interests in politics and placed them in the industrial framework from clipping.’s two producers, William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. So, between Daveed’s work in film, the growing popularity of industrial hip-hop and the nostalgia towards Memphis-style Horrorcore, the stars seemed to align for a comeback record, and so, in 2019 the group released There Existed An Addiction To Blood - an experimental hip-hop album inspired by horror cinema, taking the Horrorcore sound and updating it whilst maintaining the focuses from clipping.’s other records. It’s definitely an abrasive record, and a tough listen the first time. The production is harsh, the lyrics are (obviously) bleak and a lot of it is genuinely troubling. There is a certain genius in the ordering of tracks - ‘Nothing is Safe’ makes use of a piano reminiscent of John Carpenter’s theme tune for horror classic Halloween (1978) to draw the audience into this world of terror, before quickly developing the focus on race. ‘La Mala Ordina’ is a track so aggressive it may give listeners whiplash, with the verses focusing quite gleefully on extreme violence and deep, mechanic synths to a traditional 90s drum beat, before actually stripping the entire sound back and hiding Diggs’ final verse (in the style of Kanye West on ‘Runaway’ nine years prior) with a barrage of feedback sounds. The political focus takes something of a back-seat for the most part, but comes back with a vengeance on one of the album’s singles, ‘Blood of the Fang’, which features an impossibly intense vocal performance from Diggs and a fantastic beat that samples (multiple parts of!) the underrated vampire film Ganja & Hess (1973), which somehow charts the entire political history of the civil rights movement up to today within only four and a half minutes. It’s a mind-blowing moment on a record that is as impressive so frequently that it’s hard to believe. Just to make things sweeter, clipping. also released a sister album last October, titled Visions of Bodies Being Burned - a continuation of their Horrorcore work that saw them take a less explicit approach and reach inwards for more subtle horrors. It’s also a terrific record, though surprisingly different in sound. Here’s hoping that we may end up with a trilogy! 07

clipping.’s There Existed An Addiction to Blood

Images courtesy of Deathbomb/ArcSub Pop

Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

Celebrities Are Not Raising Your Children: Lil Nas X’s ‘MONTERO’ (Call Me By Your Name) Connie Seamer Lil Nas X's music video for his latest single 'MONTERO' (Call Me By Your Name)' has caused some controversy amongst the more traditionalist individuals on the internet. The video, which features Lil Nas X sliding down a stripper pole to give a lap dance to Satan in hell, has been labelled inappropriate by many who claim that it is ‘targeting’ children and will have a negative effect on them: ''The system is targeting kids. Lil Nas X's fanbase is mostly children. They did the same thing with Miley Cyrus after Hannah Montana.'' - @MintChipMusic Many critics of the song have claimed that because Lil Nas’ first viral hit ‘Old Town Road’ was less overtly explicit, a portion of his fanbase is now made up of children. A video of the musician performing 'Old Town Road' to a group of schoolchildren in 2019 has been circulating on social media to back up these claims. However, these critics seem to have ignored the fact that ‘Old Town Road’ includes the lyrics ‘lean all in my bladder’ and ‘bull riding and boobies’ – certainly no less explicit than the themes of ‘MONTERO’. But clearly, the kids in the video seem more interested in dancing as if they’re on a horse, rather than dwelling on the suggestive lyrics.

job to raise them. That's the job of the parent. If the content of Lil Nas’ music video offends you as a parent, then it is your responsibility to keep your children from seeing it – there are plenty of parental controls that can be added onto sites such as Youtube or Netflix which can help you with this. However, it seems that the issue runs deeper than just keeping sexual content away from children. When Cardi B released ‘WAP’ with Megan Thee Stallion, both artists were criticised for the overt depiction of female sexuality and desire, but no one was claiming that it might corrupt children. So what is the difference here? Well, it’s a pretty obvious one: Lil Nas X is gay. The musician came out in 2019, and since then has been exploring his identity more openly in his music and accompanying music videos.

''there was no system involved. i made the decision to create the music video. i am an adult. i am not gonna spend my entire career trying to cater to your children. that is your job.''

‘MONTERO’ is a song which discusses consensual sexual experience between men, and the video is ground-breaking for its retaliation against homophobia in religion. Lil Nas uses theological imagery to challenge the idea of homosexuality being a sin; he reclaims the religious ideas that are normally used for discrimination, and instead uses them to celebrate LGBTQ+ identity and culture. It’s no surprise that this offends many people. Seeing religion being used as a celebration of queer identity, rather than being used to condemn it, is quite a shock for some. So back to the question of censorship: it’s your choice as a parent to decide what your child does or doesn’t get to see. Perhaps this particular music video is too sexually explicit to show a child, but the depiction of homosexuality should certainly not be the reason that you hide it from them. Lil Nas X is an adult, and has every right to talk about adult experiences. If ‘MONTERO’ was broadcast on CBeebies, it would be a different question. But it’s not.

He's right. It is not the job of artists and musicians to consider whose children may be watching, and it is certainly not their

This is not a question of safeguarding, it's a question of homophobia.

This leads onto the bigger question of whether or not famous musicians like Lil Nas X should be pandering their art to children. Lil Nas has defended himself in response to this, saying:

What is Indie Music? Katie Evans It’s a difficult thing pinpointing exactly what we mean when we say 'indie' music. Are we talking about the style, the genre or the actual production behind the track? Since the era when indie music was defined by its lack of production help from major record labels and subsidiaries, indie has become one of the most popular terms in the charts and on streaming sites - so can music really be indie anymore? Most critics date indie music back to the 1970s, noting the rise in popularity of small labels such as Rough Trade Records and Factory, alongside the influence of now-famous bands like the punk-rockers Buzzcocks who changed the future of music. Rough Trade found themselves signing Morrisey-led The Smiths in the 80s, bringing a quirky and melancholic sound to the ever-present love of guitar-led bands. Until this point, indie guitar bands weren't really popular on the airwaves, with big rock and roll bands often stealing the limelight from smaller acts. Surprisingly though, The Smiths became one of the most notable British bands on the indie scene, almost leaving their independent ways behind for success overseas; their fame popularised the phenomenon of large record bands snatching up small-town bands in the hopes of finding the next big seller. Indie music's subgenres are what confuse it even further. Technically indie is purely based on the lack of big-budget production costs, yet there's something indie-feeling about the alternative and art-pop sounds of many modern bands. New York City rocker's Vampire Weekend always get branded as indie, but actually, they're an art-pop band signed to one of the biggest record labels Columbia. You'll find it hard to search up an indie playlist on Spotify and not find 'A Punk' on there somewhere, but is it actually an indie tune, or does it maybe just fit the feeling of an upbeat song that verges from the stereotypes of pop music by offering something more? Ezra Koenig's vocals are far from the 'norm', but that doesn't define the band as indie. In more recent years, indie has become a categorisation for music that verges from the 'over produced' tracks of mainstream radio. Bands like Two Door Cinema Club and Arcade Fire fit the bill, alongside artists such as the notable Mac DeMarco whose popularity is vast but who are over and over again defined as indie by listeners. If you want to find a truly indie act anymore, I'd say the best way is to pop down to your local pub and find an open mic night. It's becoming ever more difficult to define what indie means, especially as platforms such as TikTok and YouTube pick up small acts, turning them from independent to mainstream overnight. Indie music encompasses so much, so is the term really necessary anymore?

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Image courtesy of Far Out

Albums We Would Marry if We Had the Chance Til death do us part, as the vows say. Sometimes you're just a person, standing in front of an album, realising it's your ride-or-die. In this article, we celebrate those records that we feel we could never tire of and easily dedicate our lives to, the LPs that truly 'had us at hello'. Keep reading to discover some marriage-worthy albums!

Gorillaz - Demon Days Louis Altmann Although they had already introduced themselves with an album in 2001, 2005's Demon Days was when the "virtual band" Gorillaz, fronted by Damon Albarn, really came into its own. Every single track utterly mesmerised me when I was in Year 1. Rather than having a genre that is difficult to place, it almost feels as if Gorillaz is a genre of its own, characterised by sheer diversity and innovation, although of course I don't claim to have been aware of such subtleties as a six year old. Demon Days embodies the Gorillaz way. It has hip-hop features from The Pharcyde's Bootie Brown in 'Dirty Harry', and De La Soul in 'Feel Good Inc.'. It delves into jazz, most notably in 'Every Planet We Reach is Dead'. 'Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head' is a compelling spoken-word journey, and the final two tracks make use of gospel choirs for the religious undertones of the album's coda. The different musical styles are all weaved together by Albarn's dreamy indie vocals, to create a unique and strong sense of a story being told. Quite what that story is, I'm still not sure. I guess I'll just have to keep listening to it.

Paloma Faith - Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? Sam Pegg While not my first album, Paloma Faith's Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful can largely be credited with the reason I fell in love with music. Hearing the single 'New York' for the first time on BBC Radio 2 (my dad's favourite radio station), I immediately fell in love with Faith's unique twangy voice. When eventually the album released, I bugged my parents to download it to my phone and there it sat playing endlessly on repeat while I walked to and from school every morning. From the energetic 1920s fuelled 'Upside Down' to the more ballad-like title track, the album had everything and I'm pretty I exclusively listened to this one album for four months, with the occasional Dido or Alicia Keys song thrown in for good measures. It might be the most usual music taste for a ten-year-old, but I idolised Paloma Faith's music and was her biggest fan for a long time. Even now listening to it sends me into a state of nostalgia all the way back to when I first heard 'New York', and who wouldn't want to marry that feeling?

Diana Ross - Diana Ross (1970) Maddie Lock If I could marry an album, it would most certainly be Diana Ross (1970) by the legendary Ross herself. It's comforting, smooth and chocka-block full of '70s lovin' baby. The whole album is an ode to a lover, so if you married Diana Ross you'd not only have your wedding song sorted, but soft tunes to get you through every day. When you have an argument and aren't sure if they'll forgive you? 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' will begin playing. Feel like getting down and funky? You can have a boogie to 'Loves, Lines, Angles And Rhymes'. Need reminding of what you mean to your album lover? Hear the smooth tones of 'Now That There's You' played right into your heart. And when the relationship is looking like it's coming to an end, try not to cry as Diana asks you 'Can't It Wait Until Tomorrow'?. Diana Ross is a comfort album with many layers, all of them beautiful, and that's why it would make the perfect spouse. 12

BaTTLE OF THe bRITNEY ERaS 13

Image courtesy of Mark Royce

Britney Spears is a legend, there's no doubt about that. She has released 9 studio albums over her 20 year career, and has broken records worldwide. Which era, however, is her very best? Our writers battle it out here!

Blackout (2007) Morgan McMillan Blackout era Britney Spears has often been cited as a career highlight. It redefined Spears from pop princess to independent woman. Blackout revolves around themes of love, fame, sex, dance and media scrutiny, Spears directly called out her critics whilst changing and redefining pop music of the decade. In ‘Piece of Me’, Spears responds to the sensationalism of her private life. In the chorus Spears proclaims, “I’m Mrs. ‘She’s Too Big, Now She’s Too Thin”. The media were never satisfied with how she looked and constantly found ways to demean Spears. However in this song she reclaims her body and herself by proving that they only want a piece of her but she owns her body. Sex also plays a huge role in the Blackout era. In ‘Gimme More’, Spears reclaims her sexuality, openly talking about her desire for sex and love. It’s a powerful statement for the star who was sexualised by the media from a young age, but also made to feel guilty when she exerted her sexuality. ‘Gimme More’ is Spears showing she is in control. It has has a double meaning, Spears isn’t just offering her body to her lover but to the media who criticise her. Towards the end of the song Spears sings “They want more? Well, I’ll give them more”. Spears is directly pointing out the harassment of the paparazzi; they were constantly chasing her to get a story, so she gave in. Before this line is said she says “I just can’t control myself”, this may be a subtle hint to her mental health difficulties. She can’t help but give them the stories they are demanding and gives in. Blackout is arguably Spears’ most progressive album. She's reclaiming her status as a woman but also creating an album that is incredibly upbeat and inspired by euro disco and dubstep. It’s my favourite Britney Spears era because it’s an era that she seems to have the most control over. 14

Image courtesy of Larry Busacca

Femme Fatale (2011) Maddie Lock Although every Britney era is one to cherish, her Femme Fatale (2011) album is one of the most iconic. Hands down, ‘Til The World Ends’ is Britney’s most underrated song, not to mention the remix featuring Nicki Minaj and Kesha. Labelled a dance-pop and electropop album, this song certainly lives up to these genres and must’ve made the perfect club anthem back in the day. ‘Hold It Against Me’ is another banger from this album, combining classic Britney seduction paired with beats that’ll inject party into your veins. This party runs throughout the album, with ‘Inside Out’ being another favourite hit. You can imagine Britney doing some slow-mo street dance to this tune, which makes it even better. Femme Fatale may not feature Britney’s most popular hits, like ‘Toxic’ or ‘Oops I Did It Again’, but it’s still one of her most iconic eras.

Circus (2008) Katie Evans Circus-era Britney Spears (2008) was a whole new vibe for the singer, coming after the much more experimental Blackout album (2007). Circus played on more pop-inspired styles yet still held the urban influence of her earlier work. As the sixth album from Spears, Circus was released just after she was placed under a conservatorship by her father, encouraging some of her more personal struggles to follow through to her music. Circus hosts some of my ultimate favourite Britney tracks, such as the dance-influenced title track and the incredibly catchy 'If U Seek Amy'. Its most notable track 'Womanizer' even overtook '...Baby One More Time' (1998) as Spears' best-selling single in the US, showing just how much power the album held in the artists' discography. Some more niche tracks of Spears' career find themselves on Circus, like the slower-paced 'My Baby' and R'n'B style 'Blur'. There's something for everyone on the album, making it one of Britney's best albums and subsequently best eras!

Image courtesy of William Rutten

Image courtesy of Walt Disney

THE IGNORED PROBLEMS

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Lucy Maggs I know, I know, this film and franchise has been spoken of to death. However, now that the backlash and conflict has died down after the divisive film that was The Rise of Skywalker (2019), I think it is worth looking back on some red flags presented much earlier on. The Force Awakens (2015) was a guaranteed success pretty much due to hype, much of the new and returning cast being praised for their performances but particularly Adam Driver and John Boyega as Kylo Ren and Finn respectively being commended in particular. That is not to say that the film was without criticism upon release; many pointed out the similarities with Star Wars (1977), and the lack of character development in protagonist Rey (Daisy Ridley) not helping with the Luke comparisons. However, I argue that problems for the trilogy as a whole began right here. I believe this because at the time, we all believed in a plan. 17

Who cared if Rey was a bit ambiguous and sort of a Mary Sue? This was obviously going to be explored in the next two films, in a way that perfectly and satisfyingly explained why she could hold her own in a lightsaber duel against someone trained and converted to the Dark Side. Also, the answers to more tidbits such as the exploration of her parents, Finn's ability to hold his own as well in a duel and General Snoke's origins felt just around the corner. However, this is when Rian Johnson took over and indirectly fuelled the fire for an even more toxic Star Wars fandom. Even aspects like Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Finn's friendship were shortly but entertainingly explored in the first film and then abandoned. Many wanted more, and the possibilities for a romance between these two was not an impossible but rather totally believable route to take (Oscar Isaac himself backed this

relationship), however it very much felt like J.J. Abrams and the other makers behind this film were terrified of the massive waves of criticism, praise and reception in general they were undoubtedly going to receive regardless of the route they took. At least The Last Jedi (2017) went all out; The Force Awakens is about as safe as it can get. In hindsight, all of these dropped questions and hastily thrown up answers leave a sour taste in the mouth for many fans when revisiting The Force Awakens. However, it must be acknowledged that alone the film was fairly basic, formulaic and didn't dare to escape its comfort zone; like the amazing trailer many still regard as the best ever created, the promise of more was not fulfilled not only by the franchises trilogy arc but right off the bat with its first instalment, we just didn't know it (or want to know it) yet.

Mud Ryames Chan While the anticipation of Nomadland (2021) winning the next Best Picture brews — a film that sidetracks the artificial compulsion to captivate the audience’s attention by complex narratives, and recedes to postmodern realism in emphasis of the beautiful sceneries surrounding the characters — I intuitively recall a similar film written and directed by Jeff Nichols from nearly a decade ago. Its title is simple. Mud (2013). The story takes place in the Mississippi River, where the sunlight flickers in the water’s rippling and the urban’s clamours are rendered unrecognised. Mud revolves around two 14-year-old boys, Ellis’s (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone’s ( Jacob Lofland) encounter with a mysterious man called Mud (Matthew McConaughey) on one of those tiny, peaceful islands. As Ellis fulfils his promise to help Mud rebuild his boat so that he could set sail for a new life with his girlfriend, Juniper, Ellis is seen attempting to observe, ask about, and even figure out the meaning of ‘love’, with himself pursuing an older girl and his parents falling out with each other every day. It is later on revealed that Mud is actually a fugitive for murdering an abusive man who got Juniper pregnant and pushed her off the stairs, which killed the baby and left her infertile. I remember when I was introducing this film to someone, she frowned and commented, “That sounds intense, gruesome.”. That’s actually the opposite of the case. As Christopher Vogler writes in ‘The Writer’s Journey’, “Every villain is a hero of his or her own story,”. Mud does not shy away from Mud’s crime in denial, but invites us to tread into his heart, feel his undying (or blind, stupid, as some believe) love for Juniper, and understand the motive behind his impetuous action. Mud was aware of the price of avenging his girlfriend, but he did it anyway, which is why Ellis sees him as an example: an epic,

AS SIMPLE AS MUD!

romantic tragedy Mud has fallen into because he is willing to go so far pursuing and sacrificing for love. But that is human nature, isn’t it. We are but emotional, philosophical creatures subordinated to our own minds, our instincts, our affections, our sentimentality. We cannot just dispense of what makes us human and transcend into superior, logical beings like the Tralfamadorians in ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’ who think stopping the end of the universe is as insignificant and meaningless as mourning someone’s death. One of the reasons why Mud is so relatable is its allowing us to follow the narrative through the innocent, curious eyes of Ellis. At the age of 14, anyone would want to grasp control over all the little things in their life. Ellis genuinely manifests this kind of wish in his pursuit of love’s meaning: after hearing the news of his parents’ divorce, he asks simply, “But you’re married. Aren’t you supposed to love each other?” Looking into the naivety within his bewildered face, you would, even only for an instance, forget that insincerity exists (Sincerity is Scary by The 1975, lovely song!) and uncontrollably ask yourself the same question. Tye Sheridan demonstrates in this film his excellence as an actor, with each twitch and relaxation in his face conveying a subtle response to the grown-ups. (Ready Player One was okay, but, Tye, please go back to indie films like Mud.) And regarding its resemblance with Nomadland, Mud exhibits a beautiful choice in mise-en-scène and cinematography. The restless yet peaceful Mississippi River comes across as almost a wonderland that immerses us in its serene atmosphere and sheds away the urban’s superficiality. Only at the calm water are Ellis’s innocence and Mud’s love preserved, as if anything and everything around them were laid bare, while all that’s in the town seems to conflict with Ellis and Mud. But perhaps that is the idea of Mud: love is nothing fancy; it’s innocent and simple, like mud. But, how often do people lie down in mud?

Image courtesy of Lionsgate

In Defence of: Capone Reece Beckett Josh Trank has very quickly made a name for himself within Hollywood and amongst film fans as… certainly a difficult director to predict. He flew into mainstream success with Chronicle (2012), a faux-found-footage film that made it appear as though three American teenagers had stumbled across a discovery that in turn gave them superpowers. It captured early performances from now stars Dane DeHaan and Michael B. Jordan, and shot Trank into the spotlight in a monumental way. Therefore, the news that he had directed the 2015 box office flop Fantastic Four (often jokingly called Fant-4-Stic, due to the poster and logo design) was genuinely quite a big deal, especially for fans of the characters in that franchise; the two Fantastic Four films from the 2000s were not exactly met with critical acclaim either. With Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Kata Mara starring - three actors who had at that time, and often still do, proven themselves as very strong dramatic actors - the hype was certainly warranted, even if it did follow the now inescapable trend of Marvel assigning once successful indie director to their films (this one was distributed by Fox, but produced by Marvel). Hype also built when it was revealed that Matthew Vaughn, who had directed Kick-Ass and had just released Kingsman: The Secret Service the previous year, was producing the film seeing as he was one of the few directors to make a hugely acclaimed comic-book movie outside of Marvel Studios at the time with the aforementioned Kick-Ass in 2010, and had also done very well with his X-Men work. However, Fantastic Four flopped horribly, receiving more hate than any other comic-book movie in recent memory, and Trank became a distant memory, having experienced the same fate as many successful indie directors have due to Marvel. Trank did reveal that, somewhere, there was a director’s cut of Fantastic Four and it had had the potential to be a genuinely great film at one point, but studio interference essentially stopped him from following through with his initial vision. Trank can even still be found, every once in a while, speaking out against Marvel - notably, he once did a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) after taking Xanax, and spent most of the time flipping the finger to Marvel and Fox for what happened behind the scenes on Fantastic Four. So, when Capone (2020) was announced with THAT cast list (Tom Hardy, Kyle MacLachlan, Matt Dillon and Linda Cardellini, to name a few), people were once again caught up in the hype. A film about one of the most infamous gangsters to ever live, with such a good cast… what could go wrong? Well, according to most, pretty much everything - the film is admittedly pretty messy, but by no means does that make it worthless. Trank seems to have tasked himself with subverting the gangster genre entirely, making a point to slather Hardy in make-up (potentially a running gag, Hardy’s face can almost never be actually seen in his performances) and to put him in nappies when portraying the final year of his life. There’s something special about going into a film expecting to see the brutality of the gangster genre in all of its shining glory, and instead following the perspective of a dying Al Capone as he struggles with dementia, brutal symptoms from syphilis that went untreated for over thirty years and the government surveying his home. It’s easy to see why people weren’t fully prepared to see Al Capone portrayed as he is here - a broken man, mentally and physically, who continues to be stripped of his classic gangster-isms. His cigar is taken and replaced by a carrot by Doctor’s orders, he defecates himself on screen twice, he is knocked out by his wife at one point, and the majority of the ‘plot’ (which is almost non-existent; it’s surprisingly observational) revolves around Capone having forgotten where he put the remains of his fortune - $10 million. It’s an odd film, certainly, and one that can be a little hard to get your head around at first, but as a subversion of the gangster film, it borderlines on brilliant, taking all of the tropes and iconography associated with the cinematic gangster and either changing them or exaggerating them to the point that they are impossible to recognise anymore. Hardy is brilliant at selling it all physically with his performance: a man in complete ruin, a sickly shadow of what he once was as he continues to fall through his own memory. It’s odd to me that, given the success of The Father (2020) recently, this portrayal of dementia was so critically maligned - they are strikingly similar. it seems that after the critical bashing that Capone received, it was instantly as good as dead, undeservingly so.

Ballers N' Beats

T HE INTERSECTIO N BET WEEN BASKETBALL AND MUSIC

Morgan McMillan Music and basketball have always come together hand in hand, whether that be NBA stars dabbling in music or performers using players as inspiration. It’s the best part of the game, music plays throughout the game in the arena, during timeouts singers, dancers and rappers perform; music is entrenched in what makes the game of basketball. Take rapper Big Sean, for instance, who has taken the role of Creative Director of Innovation for the Detroit Pistons to provide creative strategy towards team initiatives including team apparel and in-game experience. Kanye West’s Graduation album is highly influenced by the game of basketball with each track having a subtle or direct reference to the game. In ‘The Glory’ he mentions NBA all-star Dwayne Wade and basketball legend Charles Barkley; in rap basketball players have become figures of empowerment and idols for those to look up to. This can also be said for Kendrick Lamar who has a track titled ‘Michael Jordan’ and opens with “I used to wanna be like Michael Jordan”. It’s common practice for rappers to name drop basketball players in their tracks; this arguably adds to that basketball player's legendary status. The minute a player is named dropped in a track is the moment they know they are legendary. Take 21-year-old Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro; in his first year in the NBA, Jack Harlow named an entire track after him. Though the popularity of Herro’s game amongst the basketball crowd varies, this track adds to his iconic status as a player. It’s also a fantastic track and shows how basketball is so entrenched in music. Not only can a player’s legacy be built through music, but songs can influence end of season awards. In 2015, Drake released a track titled ‘6 Man’ to promote Lou Williams, former Toronto Raptors player for the 6th Man of the Year award; he eventually went on to win the award. Williams may have won the award without Drake’s support but it sure did help his campaign. Drake is also known to be a huge NBA supporter and many of his songs reference the NBA from name dropping names like Kyle Lowry to DeMarcus Cousins. Many players have also dabbled in a rap career, with the most successful at the moment arguably being Dame D.O.L.L.A also known as Portland Trailblazers Damien Lillard. His music is featured on NBA 2K21 and his most popular track has to be ‘Kobe’, a track about the legendary Kobe Bryant. This song also features Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano, it was released after the sudden death of the basketball legend and it gives a brief history of the amazing game Kobe used to play. In a way, if you really want to know the impact Kobe Bryant had on the game of basketball, you can learn it all from the multitude of songs dedicated to him. Other players such as Aaron Gordon for the Denver Nuggets write music about popular moments within the NBA. For example, his track ‘9 Out Of 10’ is about Gordon not winning the NBA All-Star Dunking Championship despite jumping “over the biggest dude in the building”. Players speak their truth through music and it is a new way to connect to players without the intervention of sports media. Basketball culture is entrenched in music, it plays a major role in the way we understand and consume the game. Though, sports and music may seem so far apart it's actually closer than we think; think Superbowl performances being the biggest event of the year, halftime shows, dances and music being specifically made for the FIFA World Cup. Sports and music go hand in hand.

The Best Football Anthems Even if you're not a fan of the sport, you can't deny the catchiness of some of the football-inspired tunes out there, or even just tracks affectionately adopted by some of our favourite teams. Our writers celebrate a few of their favourites here!

K'NAAN - Wavin' Flag Katie Evans Originally written as a song for Somalia as an anthem of freedom and happiness, singer-songwriter K'NAAN's 'Wavin' Flag' became a tune connoted with football and celebrations after being popularised at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in host country South Africa. The track, taken as a promotional song by Coca-Cola instantly became a worldwide phenomenon, reaching across all corners of the globe who tuned into the event. Its reggae fusion style differed greatly from what usually hit the charts, but reaching the Top 100 for a world music track shows just how impactful K'NAANs original tune was. It even prompted a wealth of alternative versions, such as a Spanish cover, a version with will.i.am and David Guetta and many other country-specific versions.‘Wavin' Flags’ 'Coca-Cola Celebration Mix' will always be a memorable tune with its connections grounded in the football celebrations of groups worldwide. The track was altered to fit the "beautiful game", yet it is a brilliant tune to promote peace and prosperity amongst everyone and anyone, holding its place as a top sports anthem for many.

Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) Sam Pegg Despite the controversy that usually surrounds 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)', there's no denying it's an absolute beast of an anthem. Teaming with energy, powerful lyrics and genuine drive behind it to get you up and ready, this football world cup anthem became popular even for those who don't like football (myself included). Distinctly unique for using native African instruments and infused with the life of Soca music, 'Waka Waka' celebrated football in a beautiful way that brought into focus the many cultures of Africa. What's most remarkable though are its lyrics which compare footballers to soldiers with lines like: "you're a good soldier, choosing your battles, pick yourself up and dust yourself off, and back in the saddle." In a great use of lyric writing, Shakira attaches the importance that football has around the world while imbuing it with a cultural sensibility. While Shakira may not be African herself, she certainly brings a slice of the beauty of Africa in her short song.

Tina Turner - 'The Best' Morgan McMillan This is a very untraditional football anthem and was not directly made for or by the football industry, however it's an iconic anthem sung by Glasgow Rangers fans. In the 1990s, Rangers won 9 titles in a row leading to the supporters adopting ‘The Best’ by Tina Turner as their anthem. When Rangers win important games, beat their rivals Celtic, or simply whilst playing Celtic, fans can be heard in Ibrox Stadium (Rangers Football Stadium) or pubs across Scotland chanting “Simply the best, better than all the rest”. A campaign led by Rangers fans made the 1988 song reach the UK top 10 singles charts in 2006 to commemorate Rangers 53rd title win. As a born and raised Rangers fan, this tune has become a family anthem and a song that I was born and raised on. 22

Who Scores the Golden Ten A LOOK AT ARCHERY IN FILM

Image courtesy of Lionsgate

Louise Chase From Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) to Braveheart (1995) to even modern epics such as The Avengers (2012), archery has been making its way into cinema since the golden age. Whether its the hard work in which the headline stars or the plethora of extras train with professionals for weeks before shooting a scene, or the attention paid in animated tales, films have been hitting the target with how accurately they depict archery on screen, as well as how often they miss. When you think about archers scoring the perfect shot, why would not you consider the eponymous legend of the outlaw from Nottingham? Robin Hood's story is one that has been adapted to film dozens of times, each one taking a turn in retelling the story from a musical number to gods and monsters. The Earl of Lockley's feat is so infamous that repeating the shot is known as "A Robin Hood". But it does not excuse how blatantly obvious it is to a toxophilite such as myself that many of these have never held a bow in their life. Okay, if this is Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) you could argue that it's for comedic effect, but do the others have an excuse? I think not! Compare this to the months of training Jennifer Lawrence undertook in order to portray Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games (2012), or Orlando Bloom as Legolas in Lord of the Rings, both of whom were praised by their coaches for a technique that shows both characters' years of training on screen. Perhaps the only left-handed archer on this list, Clint Barton ( Jeremy Renner) grounded the Avengers with his singular bow, even whilst fighting aliens and dealing with the Time Heist in Endgame (2019). As a left-handed archer myself he deserves bonus points for it (sorry but I don't make the rules). Generally, Renner's archery is okay; sometimes the draw is exaggerated and the arrows are CGI, but I could believe he was actually using the bow in a combat situation. And it's not merely live-action films that get in on the fun. Pixar's first animated princess film stars Merida (Kelly MacDonald) wields a bow and definitely knows how to use it. It is not afraid to, being shown wielding it at competition targets and mystical angry bears alike. Despite the "Robin Hood" split of the arrow not being as viable as you might think, there is an astonishing amount of detail that goes into the animation for Brave: the slow motion shot of an arrow perfectly encapsulating the way the wood twists and turns in flight; the draw of the bow holding a correct form; and not ducking an elbow as some incorrectly fall into the habit of doing. In short, the 2012 animated film shows up multiple live-action stories with its focus on the beauty in the small moments of holding a bow that a live-action tale might not be able to display. But you might be thinking that historical accuracy increases as time moves on? In many cases you might be right, but there are films from the earlier decades of cinema that show that archery is attended to and at the forethought of the creator's mind. While not everyone's first choice, some of Ivanhoe's (1952) cast include professional archers. Though only a background role (and equally more accurate to real work, Jack Churchill (who had starred in films such as The Thief of Baghdad (1940)) was more well-known for attending international archery competitions and (in several instances) taking a longbow into battle during World War Two. Who else would you cast for a background role when you want to highlight the talent of a longbow? 23

Football in Film Katie Evans Football is a topic often featured in films; with its prominence in our society as a cultural common ground for individuals across the nation, it's no surprise the sport spreads its wings across narrative and documentary forms alike. From films that focus on the legends of today, the past heroes of the game and fictional explorations of the impact the game has on social groups; there's a wealth of films out there that represent football as a coming together of difference. Gurinder Chadha's 2002 classic Bend It Like Beckham is no doubt one of the most notable football films out there. The comedy-drama, starring Kiera Knightley and Parminder Nagra, dissects the tensions between religion and society through the game of football. It's a culture clash that understands the true meaning of football that is often forgotten as fans are swept away with competition: the way it unites individuals to create a community of those with a common interest - their team. Alongside the classic British comedy, Hollywood has also taken its chances with the sports theme. The 2006 American romantic comedy She's the Man saw the infamous Amanda Bynes alongside Channing Tatum in a Shakespeare inspired 'she's not who she says she is' narrative. Viola (Bynes) joins her brother's new boarding school and pretends to be a man just to be able to play the 'boys only' game of soccer. The film is not quite as critically acclaimed as Bend it Like Beckham, but it remains a football film for everyone - not just football fans. In more recent years, football documentaries have been on the rise again. The popular Ronaldo (2015) outlines the highs and lows of the footballer's career and the more recent Diego Maradona (2019) documentary which offered archived footage of the Argentinian legend shortly before his tragic death a year later. Documentaries in football stretched as far as Steve Barron's 2001 mockumentary flick Mike Bassett: England Manager that spoofed the behind-the-scenes of being the top manager of the nation. Ricky Tomlinson stars as the questionable lower-league coach whose rise to England manager is depicted through satirical voiceovers and cameos from random British stars. The link between comedy and reality is a classic trope for football films, as audiences love the game but also need a break from the expectations of their team. Football has even reached the realms of the crime and gangster genre, with Danny Dyer's The Football Factory (2004) becoming a rogue cultural phenomenon in the early 2000s. Dyer, more recently known for his stint on BBC's Eastenders, even hosted spin-offs of the show which followed the much-loved documentary football style. It's not only The Football Factory that gained a cult following, as the now everpresent star Charlie Hunnam of Sons of Anarchy-fame rose to greater notability after his appearance as protagonist Pete Dunham in the 2005 football hooliganism film Green Street. Unlike Danny Dyer's arguably quite awful 2004 flick, Green Street earned a more positive critical response through its sensibility and deep exploration of the impact football has upon individuals (predominantly men) and its ability to cause a great, and often dangerous divide, amongst young males. The film depicts the rivalry of West Ham United and its surrounding London teams, promoting two spin-offs that slowly began to break the popularity and cycle of football films. It's not only dramatic narratives that football incites out of cinema, as over time the sport has become a popular mode of discussion for modern social and cultural impact. Ben A. Williams' 2016 drama film The Pass, which stars Russell Tovey and Arinze Kene, depicts a different side of cinema by exploring the romantic relationship that develops between two teammates over the course of a decade playing by each other's side. The film was a critical success, as it was one of the first LGBTQ+ football films, therefore making a big statement and needed change within the rigid genre. Football has always been prevalent in the world of film, reflecting its relevance in our fandom-loving culture; yet as times move on, maybe it's about time the sport and the genre do too. With racism at its utmost and only a handful of footballers feeling the acceptance of coming out in the sport, perhaps film needs to make a move towards progression and a movement away from tradition.

Image courtesy of Helkon SK

Sports and Masculinity A SPACE FOR PITY AND CRITIQUE

Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Alice Fortt Sports and masculinity do often go hand in hand across the board in all media types. It’s in radio, film, literature, the press; you couldn’t avoid it if you tried. The close relationship between masculinity and sports is arguably enforced tenfold through its common portrayal in the media; men, or masculinity as a whole, are commonly associated with physical activity, competitiveness, shows of brute strength, the list goes on. This overwhelming association with sports does, however, leave room for a critique of masculinity. The most blatant example of this intersection between sports and masculinity in media is Fight Club, an original novel written by Chuck Palahniuk (and later adapted into a cult film by David Fincher) and released in the peak era of questioning just what it IS to be masculine: the mid-90s. The suburban dad trope, through films like Kindergarten Cop (1990), Junior (1994), and Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979), amongst others, suddenly began to carve a path for itself in mainstream media. Notice how the first two films listed starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, previous bad-ass killing machine ‘The Terminator’ now turned doting dad. The ‘feminising’ (in traditional familial terms) of hypermasculine media figures into fathers, ‘maternal’ and femininely-coded figures, resulted in a ‘crisis of masculinity’, wherein defining what is masculine and what is not became... difficult, to say the least. In this moment of crisis, where do men, like Tyler Durden, Angel Face, Bob Paulson, and so on, turn to reinforce their masculinity? They turn to shows of strength, to physical prowess; they turn to sport, or specifically, to fight club. Fight Club can be read as a satirical commentary on the ‘loss’ of these hypermasculine figures and indeed of hypermasculinity in itself, with its focus on men who are determined to regain their sense of masculine power. To reinforce themselves as masculine, independent from the society that seeks to ‘control them’ and in that effect more powerful than that society, these men have to… fight each other? Written down it seems even odder than it is. What’s most interesting about this novel and even the intersection between sports and masculinity as a whole, is that these arenas these men hold themselves within don’t really mean anything beyond the chains with which they bind themselves. These men can fight out their worries in a basement all they want, but beyond that ring, these fights do not mean anything beyond their own microcosmic world at that moment. Tyler encourages his men to ‘start a fight, prove you’re alive', as if this sport is the be-all and end-all of their worth as people. Sport, and specifically victory in sport, is perceived as the peak of humanity’s performance when in reality that victory is restricted to the arena it was won within. Through this irony, Fight Club, and other similar novels and media, reveal the truth of masculine worth from sportsmanship; unless you care as deeply about it as the winner does, it means nothing. Masculine power in sport is perceived as a farce, a dream of momentary authority over the world that's gone as soon as someone lands the next winning punch. Masculinity as determined by one's worth and skill in the realm of sport is defined, and ultimately destroyed, by that realm. Looking at these stories from an outsider perspective, these ‘winning’ men appear desperate, sad, powerless, and lost; it’s impossible not to feel some sort of pity for them in their fallacy.

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The Edge’s Favourite Sports Games Sports games exist in their own joyful anomaly: playing without actually leaving the house. We all like a bit of friendly competition, right? Writers for the Edge have collected their favourites from the ever-popular genre below.

Wii Sports Sam Pegg Who could have guessed a free game packaged along a console would be one of the greatest sports games ever (I'm just stating facts here)? Wii Sports was released way back in 2006 along with the Nintendo Wii and was built to demonstrate the capabilities of the console's remotes. Including five games (baseball, tennis, golf, bowling and boxing), Wii Sports was an excuse to get competitive without having to learn complicated controls or movements. You literally turned the console on, slid the disc in, booted it up and the game was your oyster, and it was an unparalleled gaming experience at the time. You weren't simply clicking buttons, but instead replicating actions as your Mii look alike translated the remote's movements into in-game movements. Nothing felt better than watching my devilishly handsome Mii who was set to the tallest setting possible (despite being a relatively small human in real life), smash a baseball out into the sky to score a home run, or managing a perfect strike in bowling while pretending that it was perfectly intentional. Simply put, Wii Sports was such a unique experience that it will fondly be remembered as the only sports-orientated game that I actually enjoyed.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Louise Chase Perhaps the largest sporting event around when I was a budding young gamer was the London Olympics in 2012. And since 2008, the Mario & Sonic games have been making an appearance at every Olympics held. With 57 sports to choose from, and single or multiplayer to whet your appetite, the question is not which gold medal to win, but how many. I'm not a sporty person but you can count on these games to turn me into the best gymnast or sailor you have ever seen. Though it can be played on a variety of different consoles, I far preferred the Nintendo Wii for the thrill of drawing back the bow, or the rather hilarious sight of a friend frantically sprinting on the spot in the "swimming". Almost a decade on since its release, and the games which inspired a generation of Brits to pick up sport, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games remains a pinnacle of party games for all ages. I still hold the Mario & Sonic world record for archery and trampolining in my household - my finest hour!

NHL Series Morgan McMillan Ice hockey is aggressive and is pretty much rugby on ice. The game in real life seems way too brutal for my sensitive soul but boy do I love smashing people on ice in the video game. It is epic graphically, a great game to play with friends and a huge stress reliever. There is one move called ‘fighting’ which is perfect for those who are sore losers and not afraid to show it. I’m no pro at the game and mainly only use the multiplayer function but from my fun experience of playing it with mates after a night-out I would highly recommend it! Another major plus of the game is the multitude of kits each team has. For example, the New York Rangers have kits ranging from the 1960s to the modern day. You can learn about the game of ice hockey whilst playing which is exactly how I got into the sport. Sometimes entertainment is the best way to find your love for sports.

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The Greatest Sports Books Books about fantastic athletes, teams, or sports eras are an incredibly fascinating read. To be a professional athlete or be in the sports industry you need a certain mentality, a mentality that can be translated into everyday life. Through the multitude of books, ranging from basketball players to head coaches you can be taught a new way of thinking and achieving your dreams.

Morgan McMillan

The Jordan Rules The Jordan Rules is a 1991 book about the turbulent Chicago Bulls’ 1990-1991 championship season. The 1990-1991 season was the first-ever season the Bulls had won an NBA Finals and the team was led by arguably the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan. Though at first glance it may seem this book is only for basketball fans, but truthfully, it's for anyone who wants to get into the mind of one of the greatest athletes. The book, at the time of release, was ridiculed by the Bulls, fans, and Jordan himself, it portrayed an unflattering depiction of Jordan. The real Jordan, the man behind the persona. Stories of Jordan bullying teammates in order to make them play their best were leaked and this was not the Jordan fans had learned to love. Sam Smith, the author of Jordan Rules, defended the book by proclaiming “This book is about basketball and what happens within a team and a league that draws the attention of millions. It's an attempt to allow people to look behind those closed curtains of sport. And find what? Human beings with everyday emotions trying to do their highly visible jobs as well as they can and confront the obstacles of their relationships and their very lucrative, very public profession." It’s a fantastic read and will give you an even deeper behind-the-scenes look at the Chicago Bulls and an even greater understanding of the 2020 documentary The Last Dance.

Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success This is the story of a preacher’s son from North Dakota who grew up to be one of the most successful NBA head coaches in history. The man goes by the name of Phil Jackson, he won 11 championship rings, 6 with the Chicago Bulls, and 5 with the Los Angeles Lakers (two of the biggest franchises in the NBA). Nicknamed the ‘Zen Master’, Jackson merged his knowledge for humanistic psychology, zen meditation, and Native American philosophy with training and leading a basketball team. This approach taught the team freedom, authenticity, and teamwork skills which is the major reason for his huge success as a basketball coach. Jackson, a former NBA player himself, also imprinted his coaching stardom into some of the greatest players known to the basketball world such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He taught Jordan to be less selfish and transformed Bryant from a rebellious teen to a mature leader of a championship team.

When The Game Was Ours Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson was one of the greatest sporting rivalries of the eighties. The rivalry symbolised the divide between the west coast versus east coast, Lakers versus Celtics, white America versus black America, and Hollywood versus Blue Collar. This rivalry saved the NBA from bankruptcy and brought the beautiful game of basketball to the mainstream. In this book, you will get an in-depth analysis of the legendary rivalry between two basketball Hall of Famers. The two rivals on the court became friends off the court after their careers. It's a fantastic book and one that is worth the read especially for those who grew up knowing the impact Magic Johnson and Larry Bird had on the game of basketball.

Ballers N' Beats: Sports & Music Playlist Editor Morgan McMillan celebrates some of the best tracks to come out of, and have been inspired by, the basketball scene.

Tyler Herro

Jack Harlow