The Founder September 2019 by The Founder

The Founder

VOL. XI, ISSUE I | SEPTEMBER 2019 |

@RHULFOUNDER

The History Behind Modern-Day Royal Holloway SVILENA IOTKOVSKA

oyal Holloway, University of London, was founded by Thomas Holloway as a ‘gift to the nation’. He was a self-made millionaire who earned his money by selling pills and ointments and while you might spend every Monday night at TOAST in Medicine, you may not have realised that this is where the venue gets its name from. Similarly, Crosslands has taken its name from the architect who designed the beautiful Founder’s Building: William Henry Crossland. In other words, all the venues we visit on campus today have a lot more history than we at first realise, as every location on

campus is a tribute to an important figure who helped make the university what it is today. On the subject of important figures, we must look back in time to the impact of Queen Victoria and Thomas Holloway’s wife, Jane Holloway. On 30 June, 1886, the college was opened by Queen Victoria and it is because of this that the university carries the word ‘Royal’ in its name. A year later, twenty-eight women were enrolled in the college as Jane Holloway suggested that Royal Holloway be an all-women’s college. For these reasons, one can find statues of the influential figures in the north and south quadrants...

Continued on p. 2

Photo credits: Svilena Iotkovska

Index News..................................................................................1 Opinion And Debate..........................................................6 Features..............................................................................9 Lifestyle............................................................................10 Arts: Arts And Culture......................................................13 Arts: Literary Reviews......................................................15 Arts: Film..........................................................................19 Arts: Music........................................................................22 Sports.................................................................................26

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Hong Kong Crisis p.8

War and Peace p. 18

Football news p.27

2 NEWS

THE FOUNDER September 2019

A Note From The Editor A

The Founder’s Stylebook

s of this new academic successful, and prosperous ac2017-2018 year, I have the honour ademic year. Therole Founder, Founder Staff. We don’t italicize our name. that The to take We onarethe of the editorWith everything in-chiefStyle forFormat The Founder. Founder has achieved since Taking General over from Cassandra being founded in 2006, I look Lau, the former editor-in- forward to learning and workcomposition titles chief, and the 2018/19 team, ing alongside the new editorial Put single quotation marks around books (except the Bible), TV I am hopeful that the new board to add to the success and programs, songs, and movies, but NOT reference works (dictionaries, team and I will to orhistory of Put Royal encyclopedias,continue etc.) or newspaper magazine titles. single Holloway’s marks around video gamesIndependent but not computer programs such deliverquotation important and interNewspaper. If as Microsoft Word. esting content to you, both you wish to become a part of in print on campus and on- this by contributing as a writer, capitalization Capitalize all principal words, including prepositions and line atconjunctions https://thefounder. please feel free to email me at longer than four letters; capitalize articles and words co.uk. shorter than four letters if it is the firsteditor@thefounder.co.uk. or last word in a title. The Founder’s 2019/20 numerals board would like to warmIn general, write out the numbers one through nine; use figures for the heartedly welcome allanysturest. However, write out number that occurs at the beginning of a SVILENA or rewrite sentence. One exception: you can start dents –sentence both new andthereturnIOTKOVSKA sentences with a figure if it’s a calendar year. Some special case ing – to the university and EDITOR IN CHIEF numerals: wish everybody a happy, 2019/2020

Continued on from front page of Founder’s Building. In 1900, Royal Holloway was admitted as a School of the University of London and in 1945, men were allowed to enrol in the university; however, this was limited to postgraduate students only. It was not until 1965 – just fifty-four years ago – that Royal Holloway became a co-educational university.

It is not hard to believe that Royal Holloway has been voted as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world as Founder’s Building is Grade 1 listed. For this reason, it has been featured in numerous films including Avengers: Age of Ultron as well as Downtown Abbey. Therefore, it is not unusual to spot filming sets and crews on campus. Royal Holloway’s Picture Gallery also contributes to the beauty of the university and it has even been listed as number thirty-

The statue of Jane and Thomas Holloway located in the centre of the South Quadrangle of the Founder's Building

The Founder Board 2019 - 2020 Editor in Chief Svilena Iotkovska Managing Editor Rand AlMakhamreh Marketing Manager Narges Moosavi Designer Kaja Matusik

nine on the Telegraph’s list of ‘hidden gems’. The gallery is open only on Wednesdays and people from all over the country visit it to view the paintings which belonged to Thomas Holloway’s collection. The Picture Gallery is most famous amongst students for the haunted painting which it houses. For this reason, when visiting the gallery, students often ask to be pointed to Edwin Landseer’s painting Man Proposes, God Disposes, asking whether or not the legend is true. However, the Picture Gallery is not all that spooky and it is not uncommon to see wedding photographs being taken on campus as the gallery can be reserved for functions and events. The university’s motto ‘Esse quam videri’ translated from Latin means ‘To be, rather than to seem’ and Royal Holloway truly has succeeded in being not only one of the most beautiful universities in the world but also one with the richest of histories.

News Editor James Neal

Arts Editor Niamh Smith

Features Editor Melissa Nock

Film Editor Graciela Mae Chico

Opinon and Debate Editor Niamh Houston Lifestyle Editor Antonia Aluko

Music Editor Keren Tomasoa Literary Review Editor Sophie Deaville Sports Editor Dominic Taylor

The Founder is the independent student newspaper of Royal Holloway, University of London. This means we are not affiliated to the student union or the college. We pride ourselves on our investigative journalism and aim to keep our readers up to date with news on and off campus. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Editor, particularly of opinion and debate pieces. Every effort has been made to contact the holders of copyright for any material used in this issue, and to ensure the accuracy of its stories. To book ad space in The Founder, contact our managing editor at managingeditor@thefounder.co.uk. THE FOUNDER is printed in Cambridge by Iliffe Print

NEWS 3

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Boris Johnson Affirms That He ‘Won’t Be Deterred’ From Brexit on the 31st of October

Photo Source: BBC News JAMES NEAL

t his speech to the Convention of the North in Rotherham, the Prime Minister has claimed that he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ of achieving a new withdrawal deal before the 31st of October; however, he notes that he is willing to take the UK out of the European Union by the deadline ‘whatever happens.’ In response, Michel Barnier the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has stated that he did not have ‘reasons to be optimistic’ over getting a deal, observing that ‘we will see in the coming weeks if the British are able to make concrete proposals in writing that are legally operational’. On the 4th of September, Parliament passed into law legislation, presented by Labour MP Hilary Benn, which forces the Prime Minister to seek an extension

to the Brexit deadline, taking it from 31st of October 2019 to the 31st of January 2020. Despite the bill, Johnson has said that he would rather be ‘dead in a ditch’ than ask for an extension. However, in a Bingham lecture in London the Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, vowed to act with ‘procedural creativity’ if Johnson refuses to obey this bill. With Bercow stating that the only possible Brexit was one ‘explicitly endorsed’ by the House of Commons. MPs rapidly passed the aforementioned bill before Parliament was controversially prorogued until the 14 th of October. Johnson has suggested that this early prorogation was done so that the government could hold a new Queen’s Speech and put forward its new domestic policy agenda. Opposition MPs however have argued that the prorogue, instead was implemented to block proper scrutiny of the Governments Brexit

plans by Parliament. Consequently, they have launched a legal challenge to the government’s decision, with a Scottish court ruling that prorogation was unlawful as it was motivated by the ‘improper purpose of stymieing Parliament,’ accusing Johnson of lying to the Queen over the motives of this prorogation. This decision is being appealed by the Government and a ruling is expected on the matter by the Supreme Court on the 17 th of September. All this comes amidst further calls by MPs to recall parliament to scrutinise the release of the so-called ’Yellowhammer’ papers, a government run assessment of a worstcase scenario of a no-deal Brexit. ‘Yellowhammer’ outlines several potential scenarios such as food and medical shortages, cuts to social care, the growth of a Black Market and rises in public disorder and community tensions. However, the Prime Minister has suggested that there remains ‘ample time’ for MPs to fulfil their role and scrutinise legislation and Yellowhammer, much to the misgiving of his political enemies.

Iran Tanker Crisis: Tensions Rise as Iranians Break Promise HARRY LEGG

eginning as a crisis described by either side as entirely the other’s making, the oil tanker dispute between the US and Iran that appeared to be drawing to a close may yet continue further. This comes despite the release of Grace I, an Iranian oil tanker held in Gibraltar for five weeks. Even more recently, the Iranians released seven members of the British tanker they had interned. Claiming a lack of legal reasons to hold the Iranian tanker, Gibraltar released it on the 15th of August. It had been previously claimed that the release of Grace I may have occurred in exchange for an Iranian promise to release the British tanker that Iran had subsequently seized. This was denied by both sides. Following the Iranian tanker’s release and a lull in activity in the Persian Gulf, the tanker’s tracking signal ‘went dark’ off the coast of Syria. This reignited fears that it may be used to supply oil to Syria, the tanker’s promise to not do so being a condition of its release. On the 8th of September, in a move that suggests the crisis has little chance of abating, Iran confirmed that the oil had indeed been sold to Syria. The dispute, ostensibly caused by an attack on two US oil tankers on the 13th of June, has run parallel to a wider conflict between the US and Iran for hegemony in the region. This involved opposition to Iran’s nuclear programme from the US, with President Trump withdrawing the US from the nuclear deal

that had existed to limit Iran’s nuclear activity. Iran denied involvement in the attack on the US tankers, claiming that it was part of a US-concocted plot to discredit them. Weeks later, after the downing of a US military drone which pushed Trump to the verge of ordering military strikes in retaliation, the Grace I tanker was seized on the 4th of July. The reason given for this seizure was its suspected destination being the widely internationally shunned territory of Bashar Assad’s Syria. Following this came a period of high tension in the Strait of Hormuz, off the south coast of Iran, involving several ‘near-miss’ encounters between British and Iranian vessels. On the 19th of July, Iran announced its seizure of the Stena Impero, a British tanker, claiming it had breached ‘international maritime rules.’ Interceding in the subsequent diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United Kingdom, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil AbdulMahdi negotiated on behalf of the British. The Iranians hinted that the release of the British tanker in exchange for their own tanker may be a possibility. The later release of Grace I, along with the Iranians, on 4 September, promising to free 7 members of the Stena Impero, had indicated a climb-down in tensions between the UK and Iran. However, the Iranian tanker’s reneging on its promise not to sell oil to Syria, may yet be a sting in the tail of a storm that seemed to be weakening.

4 NEWS

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Formation of New Society Focused on Raising Awareness of Mental Health Concerns DOMINIC TAYLOR

oining university, or even returning to it, can be a daunting experience. Moving away from your parents for the first time. Meeting hundreds of new people. Living in unfamiliar circumstances. You are in complete control of your diet, finances, work schedule and social life. For many, it can be overwhelming. Seemingly having to do a million and one things can pile up and we can easily forget to adhere to key elements of a healthy lifestyle. The importance of this is heightened further when one considers some key statistics that have been released within the past three years

considering mental health. A study by Babylon Health in 2019 found that there was greater demand for counselling or mental health support in the first term as opposed to the second or third, with the number of students seeking support being 10% higher than in second term. Moreover, the need of a greater focus on mental health is demonstrated by wider national statistics. For instance, the biggest killer amongst men under the age of 45 in the UK is suicide (CALM) and one in four teenage girls have selfharmed in the UK (ONS). However, there has been a concerted effort within the Royal Holloway community

to increase awareness and consciousness about mental health concerns. For example, in the past two years the ‘Let’s Talk About Mental Health’ event has seen guest speakers talking about their experiences and raising awareness for mental health issues. Furthermore, the university introduced the mental health lecture series which was delivered by individuals affected by different mental health issues and experts within the field. In addition to this, individual societies have made an effort of tackling the tough conversation about mental health. Just one example is seen by Royal Holloway Cricket hosting the ‘Opening Up’ talk: an open event

promoting mental wellbeing and suicide prevention through cricket. Although work is being done, more needs to be done. Indeed, as a result of high demand, work is currently on going for a society to be ratified aimed at raising further awareness of mental health concerns and supporting mental health services – both in the university and further afield. The as-of-yet unratified ‘MENTALITY’ Society was set in motion after a post on Overheard at Royal Holloway, by President Milo Dack, received the support of over 230 individuals at the university. It is important to add, however, that despite this

society not yet being ratified, there is support you can receive on campus. Don't keep your worries or feelings a secret. Telling someone how you feel may bring a sense of relief to you immediately. Initially you might want to talk to a friend, a family member or your personal adviser. In addition to this, the university has services that can support you: Lisa Bond, Mental Health Adviser (01784 443416) –Founder's West, 1st floor

Counselling (01784 443128) –counselling@royalholloway. ac.uk Hall Life Team (01784 443063) –hall.life@royalholloway.ac.uk

NEWS 5

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Protests in Hong Kong Continue Following the Withdrawal of the Extradition Bill

Photo Source: BBC News ARTHUR WU

s the city marks its sixth month of mass protests, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam agrees to withdraw the Extradition Bill. However, the general public is not satisfied with her reply with more than 1,182 protesters arrested, 18 dead and hundreds injured since June. Apart from the withdrawal of

the Bill, protesters have further demands including universal suffrage, to elect Hong Kong’s leaders and an investigation into the crisis, with particular reference to the controversial police response over the past three months. The movement began in March with peaceful marches to demand the withdrawal of the Extradition Bill, which allowed the government to

handover any suspected criminals in the territory of Hong Kong to mainland China. In the first three months of demonstrations against the bill, the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) organised 12 mass protest marches. At their peak, the organisers claimed that approximately 2 million Hong Kong citizens flooded Hong Kong in peaceful protest.

As Lam ignored their initial demand for months and emphasised that ‘there is no room to compromise’, protesters started using the more aggressive strategies, such as calling for a general strike and paralysing traffic. These step-up strategies triggered the anger of the pro-Beijing camp. In July, masked pro-Beijing supporters, accused of being triad criminal gang members and mainland Chinese mercenaries, launched a number of attacks on protesters and pro-democracy supporters in several places in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Police Force, once respected for its discipline and trusted by the citizens of Hong Kong, has suddenly become the most hated disciplined service in the city. During the movement, the police force has been accused of using excessive force against protesters. In the last three months, police forces have fired more than 2,000 expired tear

gas grenades and thousands of plastic bullets towards protesters and reporters. The indiscriminate use of tear gas, rubber bullet and other weapons described by the police as minimal damage weapons, has resulted in hundreds of injuries including the blinding of two protesters. The police force has also been accused of abusing its power. According to the local news sources, some arrested protesters were seriously assaulted by the police while in custody and female protesters were ordered to undress with male policemen around. Allegedly, the police have also assisted the pro-Beijing mobs to assault protesters, the police refusing to arrest and investigate the thugs who launched an indiscriminate attack on commuters at Yuen Long station on the 21 st of July, 2019. As evidence mounts of growing police brutality, anger towards the police service grows among the people. With the general public calling for a full inquiry into this alleged police misconduct.

Egham Fire Station Faces Serious Reductions in Operational Service WILLIAM HAYES

gham fire station, the station responsible for covering Royal Holloway, Egham and Englefield Green and some of the surrounding area is being faced with a reduction in operational service through the latest round of changes by Surrey

County Council. The planned changes involve changes to the night-time service Surrey Fire and Rescue Service provided to the area. These changes brought forward by Surrey County Council are part of their ‘making Surrey safer’ plan for 2020-2023. The proposals seek to address

the prevention of fires in Surrey, by liaising with residents and businesses. However, these changes have received criticism from Surrey’s residents with a petition of 11,000 signatures being submitted to Surrey County Council. In wider context for Egham, Englefield Green and Royal

Holloway, these changes could potentially increase the risk posed to Founders Building, which faced an arson attack on a late evening in 2016 which could have caused serious damage to the building and life. These changes could decrease response times in the evening and night,

potentially causing greater damage if an incident such as this were to occur again. Surrey County Council insist these changes are not led by politics, and that the changes are not with savings in mind, but rather a case of trying to re-orientate the processes in which Surrey Fire and Rescue Service operate.

6 OPINION AND DEBATE

The Burning Question of Amazonia

Picture credits: The Guardian ZOE NORMAN

ver a month since the Amazon began burning and #PrayforAmazonia started trending on Twitter, it remains unclear how much direct impact is being made or indeed if there has been an appropriate response to the damage. Why? The lack of practical solutions and answers is clear, as frustratingly our environment has become wrapped up in political disputes and corruption. Jorgimar Alberto, a resident from the Roraima region, echoed a relatable thought for us all when he said ‘it’s no use pointing the finger at what’s wrong, without bringing alternatives to the people’; but alternatives fall silent. Politics and the environment has featured heavily in recent media, most notably after the United States’ announcement to withdraw from the notorious Paris Agreement by 2022. This move and that Brazil’s own environmental minister, Ricardo Salles, has recently been convicted of environmental fraud in a bid to benefit mining

companies (reported by the Guardian Newspaper Jonathan Watts) begs the question ‘is our environment at the forefront of the international conscience or is it being used as a political puppet to win over the masses?’. To make matters worse, newly elected President Jair Bolsonaro has come under intense scrutiny due to his controversial move to reject the G7’s offer of £18 million, seemingly from a stance of national pride. Although, it could be argued this shows that international action is being taken, the fires - which Brazilian journalist Silio Boccanera argued were believed to be started deliberately - seem to suggest some countries are willing to put their economic selfinterest and pride over genuine environmental need. Is the offered £18 million enough? Coverage and social media of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in May generated $1 billion in just two days. The widespread power and influence of social media highlights the gap between what we think is happening through global news networks, and what is unfolding in reality. This leads to the public questioning how much news is being forcefully

censored and the reliability of where we get our news from. It also allows individuals to examine what society values and if integrity is really what it seems. More often than not, these values quickly fall away from justice and ‘the greater good’ to corruption and consumerism when closely examined. Despite painting a bleak picture, there is a way for individuals, especially us, to make a committed impact. Supporting charities such as the Rainforest Trust and their projects makes a huge difference at grassroots level while continued campaigning within our local councils helps put pressure on the government. Eating more plant-based foods has also been scientifically proven to help reduce our carbon footprint, especially by reducing our red meat consumption. However, one of the easiest ways is through supporting our campus by getting involved in volunteering projects such as ‘Love Your Campus’, a conservation project which involves caring for our green spaces or even simply by going more plastic free.

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Navigating Diversity in Modern Mainstream Media NIAMH HOUSTON

n July of this year, it was announced by Disney that the character of Ariel would be played by nineteen-yearold singer/actress Halle Bailey in the live action remake of The Little Mermaid. The news was met with a flurry of disapproval and outright hatred across social media platforms, due to the fact that Ms Bailey does not match the previously portrayed Caucasian mermaid with red hair. Multiple people felt that because she is a black woman she is not an appropriate fit for the role; however, director of the film Rob Marshall states that Bailey possesses a ‘rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role’. The question of recreating pre-existing stories in a more diverse way is a difficult one to navigate, as at its core it confronts people with their previous lack of effort in inclusivity. One could argue that casting a black actress to play a traditionally white character is a weak attempt at diversity, coming across almost as an afterthought in Hollywood’s mind. The typically ‘white-washed’ stance that storytelling has taken in the entertainment

Photo credits: Variety

industry has spanned across generations, rarely lending its voice to underrepresented minorities. Disney’s 2009 release of The Princess and the Frog began to take a positive step in the direction of diversity, as it navigated Creole culture in New Orleans with a traditional fairy tale. With the film being Disney’s first representation of this classic story, the decision to place focus not only on non-Caucasian characters but their culture also, was a genuine and thoughtful decision in creating a successful originally diverse mainstream film rather than a recreation. On the other hand, a ‘better late than never’ mentality could be employed when addressing The Little Mermaid to recognise that this casting decision will encourage further representation of minorities in mainstream media which in turn will inspire younger audiences that there is a place for them in society. Whilst the lack of diversity seen in film should be addressed and changed, it is important to not dismiss Ms Bailey’s achievement as purely due to her race. In doing this, it is feeding into the narrative that there is a diversity quota to be filled and diminishing the fact that

THE FOUNDER September 2019

the actress earned the role based on her talent rather than just the colour of her skin. The fact that the general response has been in opposition to the casting only attests to the current state of mainstream media and the lack of diversity in it. Those that do take issue

OPINION AND DEBATE 7

with the casting choice must confront why this is. Maybe it’s because the reality of the situation is that there is room for representation of all races, and all cultures in the realm of mainstream media – it’s just not what you’re used to.

The Tibetan Tragedy Should Never be Forgotten

#MenAreTrash: What is the Hashtag Really Saying? AMY GERVASIO

was a #in MenAreTrash statement first adopted 2016 on social media by

women, attempting to raise awareness of the emotional and physical abuse they suffered within their relationships with men. Various incidents were exposed by women recalling their harrowing experiences including a highly shared Twitter thread where one woman detailed an attack where she was abducted, threatened if she ‘did anything stupid’ and severely injured herself escaping from her captors moving car. Since then, the hashtag has been used to allow women to expose and speak publicly of their mistreatment at the hands of men. As the phrase and hashtag gets broadcasted more casually and without context, its actual purpose is continually undermined and the hope of exposing the sufferance of women is eroded. As with many popular hashtags, the #MenAreTrash statement is a simplified notion of the disillusionment of the collective man in a system which seemingly continues not to hold them accountable for their actions. I believe that the statement needs to be contemplated at more than its superficial level; it is about both men that kill women, and the men that remain purposefully ignorant to the everyday issues facing women including cat-calling and work-place gender injustices. Initially, the statement paralleled the ‘me too’ movement, attempting to exhibit the abhorrent experiences women faced daily at the hands of men; however, the two hashtags cannot currently be categorised in the same vein and I think this is one of the current issues with #MenAreTrash.

#MenAreTrash has not been exclusively wellreceived. Some extreme responses suggest that the phrase is actually a hate crime but more frequently, the statement has been combatted with # N o t A l l M e n A r e Tr a s h . Whilst I understand and support that the hashtag is not about attacking each man but addressing concerns in a world where it is generally unsafe to be a woman, by classifying all men simply as ‘trash’ and using the statement regularly to label more general and only annoying rather than problematic privilege-led circumstances, I think we as a society perpetuate the idea that ‘boys will be boys’ – their behaviour is inherent and therefore just a problem we must adapt around. It becomes an excuse rather than an actual tool to validate women’s experiences and call out behaviours and misconduct. When women in particular use the hashtag to dismiss mere annoyances which the majority of humans regularly commit, but in response to male actions only, it damages the original and overall good purpose of the hashtag. Not all men are trash. Despite the privilege that men are born with, they do have a choice in their conduct and we should not undermine that autonomy. To successfully call out unacceptable male behaviour which establishes men as dominant and women as inferior in a society which is unsafe for women, we need to reclaim #MenAreTrash.

Photo credits: FreeTibet.org IZZI VAUGHAN

he Chinese Communist regime invaded Tibet in 1950 and ever since, it has been referred to as a part of China. The country has been erased from maps and replaced with an unnaturally large image of the Chinese state. But it should never be forgotten that Tibet is not in any consensual way a part of China, but an independent state which has been under illegal occupation and tyrannical control since 1950. With Buddhism as its predominant religion, and a central aspect of the country’s culture, Tibet is an inherently peaceful state. This is what makes China’s occupation so repulsive and heart-breaking. Tibetan monks self-immolating, burning themselves alive, is perhaps the most devastating act of desperate protest seen in recent times. Since 2009, 155 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibet and

China, 26 of whom were 18 years old or under (according to the International Campaign for Tibet). But the Tibetans are infinitely peaceful, which is why China has seen them as such an easy target for exploitation of their natural resources for so many years. But soon, Tibet will be facing a new challenge. In 1995, the 11 th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who was 6 at the time, disappeared. The Chinese Communist regime abducted him, declaring that he was not in fact the real Panchen Lama. They had found the real reincarnation, the son of two Tibetan Communist party members. The role of the Panchen Lama in Tibetan Buddhism is to act as a second authority to the Dalai Lama, and when the Dalai Lama dies it is the task of the Panchen Lama to find his reincarnation to act as the next Dalai Lama. So, by abducting the 11 th Panchen Lama and replacing him with their own, the

Chinese government is able to control who the next Dalai Lama will be. As a result, they are able to seize power of not just Tibet’s people and resources, but its cultural heritage. It is significantly possible that our current Dalai Lama will be the last genuine reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual leader. The Dalai Lama is currently 84 years old. As unfortunate as it is, his death is becoming more imminent with every passing day, and with it, the loss of Tibet’s spiritual leader. China will tighten its grip on Tibet, perhaps for good. As for the UK’s role in this matter, 2008 was a devastation. The then Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, stated that Britain would now formally recognise Tibet as a part of the People’s Republic of China. This followed almost a century of our country recognising Tibet as an autonomous state. Our country and government should be ashamed of this cowardice. Every year the 10 th of March commemorates Tibetan uprising day, which is marked with protests across the world. If you wish to stand in solidarity with Tibetans, there is a protest in London from Downing Street to the Chinese Embassy on this day every year. Always remember that it is our privilege to have the right to turn away, but it is our responsibility to never use that right. Tibet should never be forgotten or hidden in the shadows, and the illegal Chinese occupation should never be accepted.

8 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER September 2019

British Government Should Take Stronger Actions to Respond to the Current Hong Kong Political Crisis ARTHUR WU

Conference and the former Chief Executive of Hong Kong, has written letters to those MPs and Peers who have spoken out about the pro-democracy protests, warning them to ‘tone down’ their statements regarding the Hong Kong political crisis or face ‘consequences’. In these letters, Mr Leung insults the MPs and Peers, accusing them of making ‘clear defamatory remarks in parliament about topics that they neither have factual information on, nor seek to ascertain the truth’.

he political situation in Hong Kong is becoming more intense and violent as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong refuses to accept all of the demands that the protestors have listed, and the Hong Kong Police Force adopts tougher, inhumane and more violent tactics. In order to achieve its political aims, the police force even protects thugs who beat up prodemocracy protesters from prosecution. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments have violated the principles of ‘a high degree of autonomy’ and ‘one country, two systems’ as stipulated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, has even described the arrangements as set out in the Declaration as ‘history and of no practical significance, nor are they binding on the Chinese central government’s administration of the Hong Kong SAR’. The political situation in Hong Kong is no longer an internal affair but has become an international one. As a co-signatory of the SinoBritish Joint Declaration and the former sovereign ruler of Hong Kong, Britain has the inevitable responsibility to protect the freedom and rights of Hong Kong citizens and of the British subjects in the territory. Some MPs and Peers have expressed their concerns on the issue and urged the British government to take stronger actions. However, Leung Chun-ying, the vicechairman of the National Picture credits: Independent Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative

The mainland Chinese government has recently detained an employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong. Britain, although having its own problems for the time being, should not be humiliated by any foreign country. As the leader of this country, the prime minister has the absolute obligation to protect Britain’s prestige. It is understandable that Boris Johnson is afraid that having an argument with China about protecting Hong Kong’s promised autonomy and freedoms would damage British trade with China,

particularly at a time when he is engaged in attempting to take Britain out of the EU and render it dependent on trade agreements with other countries including the People’s Republic of China. Historical fact showed that there was no massive impact on the Chinese-British trade even during the time of Lord Chris Patten of Barnes as the last governor of Hong Kong when he was publicly criticized by the Beijing government. Moreover, China is no longer a trustworthy trading partner since it has breached the Sino-

British Joint Declaration. As the former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said in his remarks, “there will be serious consequences if that internationally binding legal agreement were not to be honoured”. As China has declared that the Declaration is no longer valid, it could do the same after they have signed some trading agreements with Britain. Britain may have lost some of its international influence recently; however, it does not mean that it should sacrifice its integrity to trade with China.

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THE FOUNDER September 2019

‘The Superstars’ Make History for Royal Holloway’s Duke of Edinburgh Scheme MELISSA NOCK

he Duke of Edinburgh Award is a life changing experience, an opportunity to discover new interests and talents and a tool to develop essential skills for life and work. It is a recognised mark of achievement, highly respected by employers. However, when you speak to people about DofE (the Duke of Edinburgh Award) they regard it as something that can only be achieved whilst at school. This is not true. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is able to be completed up until your 25 th birthday and through the help of the Runnymede Open Award Centre, Royal Holloway students are able to receive this award whilst still at university. From the 31 st of August to the 4 th of September, 2019, ‘The Superstars’ undertook their assessed Gold expedition making them the first group in the history of the Runnymede Open Award Centre to successfully complete the challenge. They had to plan and complete a practice and assessed expedition where they camped for four nights and walked for five days. Walking for over eight hours a day is undeniably both physically and mentally challenging; however, it is an experience which is extremely rewarding at the same time. The fact that it is tough makes the feeling of achievement when you have finished even better. Eloise Sumner, a member of ‘The Superstars’ comments, ‘I loved getting to know the people in my group

– DofE is a real bonding experience! I'll never forget us all trying to make it across a very uneven field (the map lied – there was no footpath!) and tumbling over with those massive rucksacks! It was so funny you just have to put it down as one of those classic DofE moments!’ There are three levels to DofE: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The main differences between them being the time it takes to complete, how challenging it is and how old you have to be to start them. At age 16 and over, you may progress straight to Gold level! As well as the expedition, there are three sections you must also complete (including a residential at Gold level). Activities for each section take a minimum of one hour a week over a set period of time, so they can be fitted in around academic study, hobbies and social lives. The award is accessible to anyone regardless of ability, gender, background or location. It is all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. If you’re looking to have fun, make friends, improve selfesteem and build confidence, why not join the award scheme through university? You will gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving,teamworking, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and job applications. So, why should you get involved? Let’s see what those who have recently taken part have to say… David Utulu, member of the ‘Superstars’ comments:

Photo credits: by Alice Scott

‘Why is it worth it? Because it adds to the CV but also gives people the means to contribute to society through volunteering,advances your repertoire. It also helps build character, I suppose, especially with the expedition sections. Plus, it's not that demanding, because it could all be done in the year. What I enjoyed most was the challenge! The very fact I was doing things that I have never done before (like bearings, hand railing, etc.) really levelled me up.” Alice Scott commented, “Through DofE I have made some great friends and really challenged myself in the process! DofE was a great opportunity for me to learn a new language, volunteer for a local charity that I am

passionate about, get myself back into sports and complete 2 expeditions! Although it is challenging completing DofE alongside my university studies, it has really enhanced my time at Royal Holloway and has been such a rewarding experience, which I would highly recommend!’ Top employers recognise the work-ready skills award holders bring to their business. Here’s what some top employers have said about DofE: Adam Crozier, former chief executive of ITV commented: ‘A DofE Award is the sign of someone who is driven, resourceful and compassionate – all the qualities that will help them

succeed in life and in the workplace’. Furthermore, Ronny Gottschlich, former CEO of Lidl stated: ‘What really makes student and graduate applicants stand out from the crowd in a saturated market is having credentials like a DofE Award on their CV’. If you would like to get involved, email oacrunnymede@gmail.com or contact Phil Simcock in the volunteering office, located in the careers centre of the library for more information. You can also find more information online at http://dofe.org. Make sure you head down to the festival of volunteering on Wednesday, 25 September on Founders Square to find out more!

10 LIFESTYLE

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Students Striving for Sustainability Preparing for Freshers’ Flu: Alternative Ways A to Stay Healthy COURTNEY MCLAVEN

ccording to Paul Bolton, National figures show that ‘in 2017/18 there were 2.3 million students at UK higher education institutions’. With this statistic, it is clear that students are able to make a change to the damage which is being done to the environment. There are a variety of ways to be kind to the planet as a student which are also cost effective. Already, many places at Royal Holloway are encouraging eco friendly campus life, such as getting money off your morning coffee when you bring a reusable cup or the many recycling points in the library. Yet, there are many more things you can do. This article will enlighten you on ways in which you can be environmentally friendly within your student accommodation. These small lifestyle changes will not only keep our planet healthy, but will save you money too. Fast fashion brands may seem ideal on a student budget, however, they in fact have a damaging effect on the planet. Not only are they contributing to water pollution as according to UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) ‘nearly 20 percent

of global waste water is produced by the fashion industry’, but there is also a rapid increase in the volume of textile waste. Instead of using brands such as Pretty Little Thing, Missguided and Boohoo, try buying recycled garments. This could be from charity shops (so your money is also going to a good cause) or vintage clothing sites or stores who recycle used goods. Likewise, there are ways that you can recycle your own clothes. While you can donate your old clothing to charities or to friends, you can also get creative. Student, Tina Rydzik, uses her unwanted clothing to make her own cleaning cloths instead of using conventional cleaning wipes on the surfaces in her student house, a thrifty way to save money and reuse unwanted clothes. Around the house, there are many other ways to live sustainably. For a start, you can switch from conventional light bulbs to ones which are energy efficient. They last for twelve times as long as a standard lightbulb, meaning the carbon footprint of your student

house is reduced and you can go the whole academic year without needing to replace them. On top of this, adopting a reusable shopping bag for your house to use is also ideal. When doing the weekly food shop, taking your own bag not only cuts out the 10 pence per bag cost, but it also reduces plastic usage. Tesco offer these for £1.50, as they are made of a stronger material and are long lasting and cost effective. On the topic of reusing items, invest in flasks and durable water bottles. As previously mentioned, you avoid the extra cup charge when ordering hot drinks at most coffee chains and you can also fill up water bottles free of charge thanks to the many water stations around campus. There are so many more ways to live green at university which we often overlook, yet will make all the difference to the world if everyone plays their part. We are running out of time to reverse the effects of climate change; if the planet dies there is no hope for humanity. At Royal Holloway, we are the students striving for sustainability.

Percentage of products contributing to plastic wastage in 2015.

JASMINE CHENERY

he majority of people reading this will have packets of Berocca or Sainsbury’s own multivitamins sat on their shelves or tucked in the back of drawers of their university dwellings. Someone in their infinite wisdom gave them to you and told you to make sure to take one every day, to look after yourself. You have ignored this advice from day one. The Berocca collects dust, only to be remembered after a particularly rough night out leading onto a lecture that you cannot afford to miss. If this is not your first year, you will know the familiar creeping feeling. The tickle in the throat becomes a cough that gets you dirty stares in every lecture. You are feeling sick for months, the weather gets colder and this does not allow you to recover. It takes until third term for you to start feeling okay again. You swore to yourself that next year you would take that Berocca every day, but I will tell you now that you will not, and you may as well be throwing a rock at a crack in a wall to try and fix it: it just will not work. Herbal teas are an inexpensive and convenient way to look after your body. We have all heard of green tea and the benefits, mainly from the compound catechin which is a powerful antioxidant, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Besides chamomile and peppermint teas for destressing, try white tea (a purer, less processed form of green tea), turmeric tea (a great anti-inflammatory for the stomach) or marshmallow root tea (great for soothing and preventing the endless

colds). Studies have shown that these herbal teas can have positive effects on cognitive function, bones and teeth, and calming the digestive and respiratory tracts. They are not miracle workers, but they do help. That lonely Berocca packet, sat longingly on the shelf: it is time to bin it and take some adult vitamins that will actually make a difference. After taking strong vitamins daily for years now, the difference is remarkable. The body fights illness faster, skin, hair and nails are stronger, and you will have more energy. You can find a great range of affordable vitamins on http:// naturesbest.co.uk A good ‘starter pack’ includes: 1. Multivitamins: try ones with extra vitamin D for a positive impact on your mental health in those winter months. 2. Multi-minerals: do not let a lack of iron get you behind in lectures. 3. Cod liver oil: my ‘rideor-die’ vitamin, the benefits of omega 3 in fish oil are endless. There are vegetarian options too. 4. Probiotics: feed your gut healthy bacteria to keep it ticking over. Once you get these into a daily routine, you will barely notice yourself taking them. So there you have it: herbs and vitamins. The overlooked and forgotten side to looking after your body. Next time you are in Tesco, grab some green tea and see how great you feel for drinking it. If you still get freshers’ flu after all this, you should just buckle down, pray, and hope for the best.

LIFESTYLE 11

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Five Things to do at Royal Holloway in First Term SIMRAN GREWAL

s always, autumn rolls around in typical British fashion: a slightly crisper feel about the air and then by the first of October - BOOM - pumpkin spice everything: shout out to capitalism. It’s first term as a Fresher at Royal Holloway – congrats. But what are you going to do before you get bogged down by the deadlines and debt? Perhaps I can inspire you with some of the best things I have done in my time here that are extremely atmospheric in the autumn/ winter season: 1. Have a sleepover with your flatmates in the corridor of your flat In first term, my flatmates were pretty much my only friends; luckily for us we clicked super early on and as a result, during Freshers

we would often pass out in the corridor outside our rooms together. A great idea at 4 a.m. after we were done having ‘deep bonding chats’ and doing face masks in our pyjamas, eating toast after a night of pre-drinks, drinks and partying.

managed to get back out.

3. Throw the best flat party the campus has ever seen Halloween 2018. This was actually a fever dream of a night and I wonder how we all actually survived it. *10/10 for cementing flat relationships and team 2. Get lost in Founders morale. *0/10 for my box of with said flatmates in your unopened Magnums being pyjamas We did a lot of things in stolen. Photo credits: Simran Grewal our pyjamas at nighttime. Probably because all the days 4. Stargaze on Founder’s 5. Take a nighttime stroll blended into one big static Field with your best through the Englefield month of utter mayhem. Or university mates graveyard at We still enjoy doing this Green maybe it's because we are all Gremlins. But I digress. together now, even though we midnight Getting lost in Founders is a live off of campus. Make sure Hear me out, it is an must: it’s an inevitable fact of you stay warm while you do it incredibly atmospheric life because Founders feels and maybe grab a drink from Halloween-time activity. like its own separate entity a the Cafe on the Square first. Walk around with your friends lot of the time but you need Something about looking singing the This is Halloween to make sure you do it in at the stars instead of doing song non-stop under your good company. My flatmates your required reading never breath, maybe run away and I once got lost and were gets old and I promise that walking around Founders is not just the procrastination from some of your friends in the dark to scare them and for three hours before we talking.

inevitably scare yourself when you remember you are alone in the dark in a graveyard. Then I would recommend you very quickly walk back home together because you are so spooked; make sure you end the night well, watch an episode of Buzzfeed Unsolved Supernatural in the dark of your kitchen like the champions you are.

Your Personal Guide to Surviving Long Distance Relationships KATY ALLISON

oing to university involves a lot of different changes. It is not only academically and mentally challenging, but also very socially challenging. Many freshers may be worrying about how to balance university life with home life, especially if the people closest to you are going to find themselves in Thailand and Australia on their gap year, or if they are going to university in the lands of the North. Long distance friendships can be tricky, but from experience I found balancing a long distance relationship much trickier. So, here is your personal guide to surviving long distance relationships whilst

at Royal Holloway because I promise, it’s possible. As students, we are very lucky to be going to university in the 21st century.There is such an available market for technology, which means that it has never been easier for you to be in contact with your partner living many miles away. It may seem simple, but social media is so crucial in keeping communication flowing. FaceTiming at least a few times a week and messaging every day is so crucial in keeping that fire alight within a relationship. Although, do not put pressure on yourself to have timetabled talks, because the last thing anyone wants is for the relationship to feel like a chore. If you are feeling extra romantic, go old school by

Photo credits: Maxpixel

sending surprise cards and letters. There is something so special about coming home from a lecture and finding a handwritten letter from your partner that has come through the letterbox. Everyone knows that money whilst you are a student is tight – it is often a battle between ‘do I really need that halloumi burger from Tommy’s Kitchen or can I just have pasta for the 4th night in a row?’ But, saving

money and scheduling to meet your partner frequently is so important. Having a plan of when and where to meet, and a list of things to do gives you both something to look forward to. You might even get to visit them at their university, and visit a city you’ve never explored before. Freshers week is all about going out and meeting new people, so seize that opportunity and find a close bunch of friends who will take your mind off the withdrawal symptoms you are feeling from not seeing your partner. Find the balance between overfilling your Freshers timetable and not filling it enough, so that you have time to socialise with your new friends but also communicate

through the distance. Finally, it sounds very cliché, but the most important thing is to trust one another and have faith that you can work through the distance. You might have heard horror stories about university nights out, but if you are both willing to make things work and have the utmost trust in one another then you have nothing to worry about. Your Royal Holloway adventure should be a memorable one, so allow yourself to have fun over the next few years. Remember, you will be home at Christmas which is only 12 weeks away, so you can have all the cute Christmassy dates that your heart desires.

12 LIFESTYLE

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Bullet Journalling for University ANTONIA ALUKO

t is the beginning of term and you have everything planned out. A folder for every module, a new USB stick to organise all your essays and a new set of pens ready to be used. Now fast forward a few weeks: there are wads of paper everywhere, you cannot find any pens, you do not know when the deadline is and have searched and searched but cannot figure out what the word count is. What if I told you things could be that little bit easier if you started bullet journalling? A bullet journal is a system which allows you to keep tasks organised, whilst tracking the things you want to do. At the first search of the bullet journaling system, created by Ryder Carroll, you may see some very artistic pictures that have taken hours to produce and set up. All you really need to bullet journal is a pen and a notebook, it does not even have to be a dotted notebook. Here, I will state some recommendations to those who would like to start a journal but are unsure of where to begin: 1. Look at Minimalist Spreads There are plenty of

individuals out there who reject the artistic uses of bullet journalling. Whether you are searching http://pinterest. co.uk, http://google.co.uk or http://youtube.com â&#x20AC;&#x201C; multiple examples will appear and the experience may not seem as daunting once you see that lots of people do not paint or doodle in their journals. It is okay not to be artistic. Your journal is for you.

students. Watching these and using some of the suggestions offered means you do not have to be particularly inventive or creative when the deadlines loom near. They are also incredibly adaptive for whatever project you may have.

2. You do not have to use your journal everyday March 2019: I had not touched my journal in a week, I had three deadlines and was feeling incredibly burned out. We have all been there. I got through the entire experience without touching my bullet journal. Considering I personally use my journal every day it was strange and I did feel terrible for not using it but I was just too busy. Then one day I picked it up and started writing about how I was feeling. It was like the last week completely disappeared. I realised that writing daily in my journal is therapeutic and not a necessity. If I go a few days without using it that does not mean I am any less prepared. 3. Utilise study spreads YouTubers like Caitlin Marie DaSilva have made copious amounts of videos on bullet journalling for

Photo credits: Antonia Aluko

4. An adult diary My mental health has rapidly improved with the use of a bullet journal. I can write about my thoughts and feelings in a similar way to a diary. It is freeing to let go of all the stresses and anxieties of the day once

you write them. Give it a try. If all else fails watch an Amanda Rach Lee video on YouTube. Once you see people set up journals online it will feel much more doable and is incredibly addictive. Happy journalling.

THE FOUNDER September 2019

ARTS & CULTURE 13

1,000 Words – Adam and Eve by Lucas Cranach the Elder

Adam and Eve, Lucas Cranach the Elder NIAMH SMITH

he story of Adam and Eve is one of the oldest narratives in the history of mankind. Within the Bible, theirs is the first story in the first book (Genesis) – a tale of human ambition, thwarted by a deity that casts them out of paradise. Very few people today believe that the events recounted in Genesis have any truth at all, but in 1526, when Lucas Cranach the Elder painted the exquisite picture above, Adam and Eve were very real to those living in Reformation-era Germany. Cranach (1472-1553) was the court painter of the Elector of Saxony, famous for his portraits and biblical scenes. He was close friends with the German theologian

Martin Luther, who he painted several times. Luther is best known as the instigator of the Reformation, an event that sent shockwaves throughout Europe, and Cranach played a key role in his life, acting as best man at Luther’s wedding and accompanying him to his excommunication at Worms in 1521. Adam and Eve is particularly interesting when viewed through the lens of his friendship with Luther.Luther believed that Eve was to blame for the human exile from the Garden of Eden and, thus, God deservingly punished women through their roles as mothers and wives. However, Cranach subverts this idea by including a sheep behind Adam as he excepts the apple, depicting him as easily led and perhaps implying that men were also in error. As

such, this painting could be construed as antithetical to commonly held beliefs at the time about women’s inferiority and, as such, the painting is arguably quite progressive.Eve is the key actor in the painting. The viewer’s eyes are drawn to her, not the serpent, disguised among the trees, or Adam, scratching his head in confusion. She is in control and confident, whilst Adam passively takes the apple, which has interpreted by many theologians as a symbol of female sexuality and a sign of Eve’s authority. Consequently, Adam and Eve can be seen as moment of feminist triumph. However, it can also be viewed as an insight into human nature. The other animals gathered round the Tree of Knowledge in this rather naturalistic depiction of Eden gaze at the viewer knowingly, as though they are anticipating the negative consequences of Adam and Eve’s actions. In depicting a roe-buck observing its reflection in a stream, Cranach is perhaps suggesting that Eve’s actions were motivated by selfishness. Thus, Eve is the roe-buck and Adam is the sheep. Neither get off lightly under Cranach’s brush. But there is one more detail in this wonderful painting, which potentially changes this meaning entirely. A horse in the background gallops off to the right, perhaps foreshadowing Adam and Eve’s exile from Eden. Crucially, though, the horse is free, untethered, like Adam and Eve will be momentarily. The horse represents the human desire to be free, to overreach – a feeling our mythical forebears cannot be blamed for.

The 90s Revival

SAM PALMER

t is no secret that 1990s fashion is experiencing a large comeback, despite only being 25 years old itself. A range of different looks and styles are being brought back and becoming popular again, in both high-end fashion and, more prominently, inexpensive, everyday fashion. Grunge is the part of 90s style that is arguably making the biggest comeback today, consisting largely of an unkempt, messy, rebellious feel. This look is no more exemplified than in ripped jeans, but also relies heavily on band t-shirts, Doc Martens or Creepers, and generally a punk-esque, loose fitting aesthetic. It would not be fair to attribute this style to the 90s exclusively, as its roots are in the late 1980s punk scene, but it was at its most popular in the former era. It is debatable as to why grunge is making such a large revival, but it could be down to the idea of authenticity and cheapness. Students, in particular, are focusing on cheaper ways to stay stylish and fashionable, and charity shops play a large role in this. In addition, grunge was somewhat considered to be a political statement and, given how Western politics are currently rife with controversial decisions and leaders, it is understandable that this rebellious look would be coming back. Aside from grunge, lots of individual items associated with a more casual, laid back feel, such as oversized flannel, double denim and

mom jeans, have seen a resurgence. These clothes are possibly also inspired by the same charity shop purchasing as grunge, but give a neater, more chilled approach to style. This could be further reflective of the socio-political climate of today, demonstrating a lack of care and formality as a way of expressing discomfort with current events. Conversely, neon has also seen a return. All one needs to do is look at the latest cast of Love Island to see plenty of neon outfits, and even in high-end fashion, neon is making a large comeback. Instead of being representative of the cheaper, easier fashion, like grunge, neon is used to stand out. Such bright, garish colours can be used to make a stand and be different from the crowd, in a time in which identity and being yourself are heavily emphasised. From tracksuits to bikinis, neon is appearing in all types of clothing, with many different groups dabbling in fluorescent colours. This suggests that it appeals to the individual rather than the crowd and, for that reason, it makes sense for neon to be about self-expression and showing yourself off. Plenty of different 90s era looks are coming back, and it will be interesting to see how long these trends last for, as well as which elements of other periods come back. It could be that as and when the political climate changes, so too will everyday fashion, but that remains to be seen.

14 ARTS & CULTURE

Alexander McQueen: A Legend of the Game TIA HUDSON

ccording to Winston Churchill, ‘a true genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information’. There is no better phrase to describe the monumental, mesmerising work of the late Alexander McQueen (1969-2010): a man whose identity and designs remain an iconic force of inspiration within the fashion world. To this day, his clothes are worn by the likes of international supermodels and British royalty. He is a true legend of the game.

Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen grew up in Lewisham, leaving school at the age of 16 to pursue a career in design. He initially struggled to find his place, and undertook a multitude of courses in tailoring to gain more knowledge and experience within the industry. The opportunity of a lifetime arose when McQueen accepted an internship with Saville Row Tailors. It was this role that gave him the recognition he deserved. This led to him going to art school and gaining an MA degree from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design. It was during this time that

A selection of dresses from the exhibition Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (2011)

he met Isabella Blow, a British magazine editor who purchased his entire 1992 graduation collection. In addition to using her contacts to help him gain exposure, she also suggested he drop his first name and become known professionally as Alexander McQueen. McQueen established a distinctive method for creating his pieces. He managed to turn his clothes into artistic masterpieces, paving the way for art and fashion to be viewed through the same lens. One of his most famous exhibitions is the magnificent Savage Beauty. The name itself is an interesting paradox. The word ‘savage’ suggests a sense of darkness and violence, which contrasts completely with ‘beauty’ and its connotations of gentleness and peace. If there is any message to be taken from this momentous collection, it is that savageness and beauty may be polar opposites, but they often complement each other in the world of art. This message fits in very well with the pieces in the display, which come across as gothic and sinister,

whilst simultaneously being breathtakingly beautiful. It was work like this that changed the way fashion was viewed by the public, which linked to McQueen’s intention: ‘to demolish the rules, but keep the tradition’. Many elements inspired McQueen throughout his career, but nature appears to be the most profound of them all. His 1997 Autumn collection, entitled It’s A Jungle Out There, is the clearest example of this. Iconic pieces include Thompson’s Gazelle, a ponyskinned jacket with antlers coming out of the shoulders. McQueen wanted the horns to represent the role of animals in the African food chain, connecting this to his own ideas about human life: ‘As soon as [an animal] is born it’s dead, I mean if you’re lucky enough it lasts a few months… we can all be discarded quite easily.’ McQueen’s inspiring work and words remain significant to this day. His dedication to fashion laid the foundations for today’s designers, ensuring that his works will never be overlooked.

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Six Schemes for Culture Lovers NIAMH SMITH

ultural experiences can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. In this article, I will briefly run through six of the best and most cost-effective cultural schemes for students, some of which can lead to massive savings. Student Art Pass Every year, from September to December, the Art Fund sells a student version of its Art Pass for £5. For the price of one advance SU ticket, you can then explore over 250 museums and art galleries at discounted prices or, in many cases, completely free. Having owned the pass for several months now, I have saved almost £100, visiting exhibitions at the likes of the British Museum and the Royal Academy much cheaper than I would have otherwise. There are also discounts in various museum shops and cafés too. Young Barbican Free to join, this scheme for under 25s is probably the most diverse, encompassing theatre, music, art, dance and film. Over 50,000 heavily reduced tickets are available through Young Barbican, with the opportunity to bring along a friend for the same price (as long as they are also below 25). Tate Collective Another free to join scheme, Tate Collective offers a host of benefits for 16-25 year olds across the organisation’s museums in London, St Ives and Liverpool. Members of the scheme can buy tickets to all paid exhibitions for £5, bringing up to three friends for the same price. There are also fantastic late events

every month, specifically for Collective members, and discounts in all Tate shops and cafés.

RSC Key For fans of Shakespeare, the RSC Key initiative is hard to beat. Another scheme that costs nothing to join, tickets for all RSC shows in Stratford-Upon-Avon and London are reduced to £5 for members. In addition, there are also regular competitions and exclusive events. Picturehouse Student Scheme For cinema lovers, the Picturehouse student scheme allows those under 25 to experience free screenings at any of the chain’s cinemas across the country. For £30, there are also a wealth of extras: priority booking, member’s previews, food and drink discounts… That’s not even including discounts with film subscription service MUBI, magazine Little White Lies, filmmaking organisation Shooting People and lots of high-street shops and restaurants. English Heritage/National Trust Student Membership Finally, for students who travel and/or love history, an English Heritage or National Trust membership could save a great deal if used at enough sites. For the National Trust membership, you can get free access to over 350 historic houses, gardens and various other sites for £35 – the cost of entry to just three or four NT attractions. On the other hand, English Heritage specialise more in castles and ancient monuments (including one very famous, and expensive, stone circle). EH membership is slightly more expensive at £48, but there is the option to split it over twelve months, making it a much more pleasant sounding £4 a month.

THE FOUNDER September 2019

LITERARY REVIEW 15

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris: a story of love or an inaccurate biography? SASKIA LEACH

‘

I tattooed a number on her arm. She tattooed her name on my heart.’ Narrowly missing out on a place in The Guardian's top 10 bestsellers of 2018, this historical fiction juxtaposes a compelling love story against the nefarious backdrop of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the product of three years of conversations between Australian author Heather Morris and Holocaust survivor Ludwig ‘Lale’ Eisenberg, a Slovakian Jew and the eponymous ‘Tattooist of Auschwitz’. Lale arrived at Auschwitz in 1942. Following a brief stint in construction, he was assigned the role of ‘Tätowierer’, tasked with tattooing an identification number upon the arm of each arrival in camp. Here, he fell in love with Gita Furman, and made it his mission to keep them both alive in the hope of having a life together after the war. The novel was initially written as a screenplay and retains a rather cinematic feel as a result. Morris’ chapters read more as ‘scenes’, as she abruptly switches perspective and 'cuts' from moments between Lale and Gita to the affairs of Baretski and Cilka. I will be incredibly surprised, following its literary success, if The Tattooist of Auschwitz does not hit cinemas in the next five years. Morris' lack of historical accuracy has, unreasonably, come under fire. The Auschwitz Memorial Research Centre has condemned Morris' narrative

as ‘inauthentic’, owing to her inaccuracy with Gita's number and her placing of characters into scenarios they were not in. Were this a biography, or a nonfiction piece, then I would wholeheartedly agree that Morris' story is damaging to the historical record. However, it is important to remember that this is a piece of fiction and Morris never claims her novel

Photo credit: Aviano.af.mil

to be 100 percent factually accurate. She stresses that she has written what is, first and foremost, a story of love, and discloses which aspects have been fictionalised. Surely, the awareness Lale's story brings to those who were coerced into cooperation with The SS should be praised, rather than nitpicked? Where Morris triumphs is in her expression of humanity

in such an inhumane place. Her written style may be simple, but her message is clear: love is able to thrive even in the most unthinkable of circumstances. Most harrowing though, is when Morris lacks the words to tell some parts of the story. Characters such as Pepan and Leon disappear without warning, highlighting the cruel and uncertain reality of

life in Auschwitz. Like Lale, the reader can only dread to think what became of them. Morris fundamentally provides a moving and enlightening narrative, that should be lauded as a piece of powerful fiction, as opposed to an inaccurate war story. Having made such an impactful debut, I eagerly anticipate the release of Cilka's Journey this autumn.

16 LITERARY REVIEW

THE FOUNDER September 2019

The Ten Types of Human: Destination Unknown A review - Agatha Christie DANIEL RIDDLE

Photo credit: Needpix.com MERCEDES-GEORGIA MAYES

here are days when one’s faith in humanity is challenged. We doubt its strength, its resilience, and its compassion. Then there are days that one reads The Ten Types of Human (2017), and that waning faith is restored. Subtitled ‘who we are and who we can be’, this non-fiction journey through human nature is a heartwarming account, propelled by the extraordinary stories of real people. Dexter Dias elegantly weaves together scientific research and gripping story telling to guide the reader through his theory of the different mentalities that guide us, and it is nothing short of breathtaking. The content is gripping, the studies included are enlightening, and the quality of execution is delightful. Dias manages to convey the gravity and brilliance of the scenarios he describes without overtly sensationalising the narratives he delves into.He manages this, leading the reader through tales of the most harrowing nature, all while imbuing his work with a lifeline of hope: hope in the ability of humankind to overcome the adversities that each of us face in order to create a better tomorrow. One may concede that amidst this brilliance Dias does over-indulge in leaving his readers on the cliff’s edge, consistently withholding the closure they so desperately desire from each story, which he dives in and out of fluidly through each chapter. The pay-off, however, is

worth the nail-biting. One might even go so far as to say that, after reading one too many smart thinking books that like to overexplain and reverently repeat their point, Dias’ insistence on giving the reader only so much to work with at a time is refreshing. This quality in a book as grand in scope and size as Dias’ is essential to its high standard and popularity. So, well written, good content, nice structure. Can it have any other virtues? The simple answer is yes. The Ten Types of Human is not only enjoyable, it is important. Within its pages Dias promotes understanding across countries, cultures, and class. He shares stories that celebrate the virtues of diversity and the strength found in humanity across borders, but does not reduce people to their race or religion. Neither does he paint a picture of victimisation with the tales of hardship he shares, but instead expounds upon the ability of every human to resist oppression in any form. It is not a perfect book. It is large and difficult to get through at times. Between the intense accounts of human tragedy and the weighty scientific research, it can seem easier to put it back on the shelf for a while than to pick it up again. However, for any reader who can make the push, The Ten Types of Human is a rewarding look into the human psyche and a fine addition to any bookshelf.

aving decided to read the novel purely on the recommendation of a friend and opting not to read the blurb, I was surprised to discover that my first impression of the protagonist was in the moments leading up to her attempted suicide. During these moments, she is mentally readying herself to end it all after she decides she had no one left in her life that gave it any purpose. Admittedly, this first glimpse of the protagonist, Hilary Craven, does not occur until the third chapter. However, the depiction of Hillary's psychology and thought process as she goes about her morbid preparations is so compelling, that the original plot hook of the recent disappearances of notable scientists had been all but forgotten, until Mr. Jessop opportunely interrupts Hilary’s efforts to offer her an alternative. Jessop offers a figurative death Photo credit: Flickr by assuming the identity of the wife of the most recently disappeared scientist, Tom Betterton. And therein lies both the greatest strength and weakness of the novel, as the plotline of Jessop and his associates fearing that Betterton has defected for communist sympathies is overshadowed by Christie’s portrayal of a woman on the brink of suicide. Living in a time where Western society no longer has intense fears of “The Red Menace” or a “Better dead than Red” mentality, the possible threat of the scientists

defecting fails to strike the same note that contemporary readers may have felt, and the story is not weakened by the swift marginalisation of Jessop and its focus on the adventures of Hilary. Nevertheless, despite the slow build-up of momentum with regards to the intensity of the plot, Christie maintains a steady pace and a style that is easy to read. This, combined with the relatively short length of the chapters, encourages the reader to keep going as Hilary finds herself becoming more and more involved in the mystery and intrigue that surrounds the disappearances.

As a result, despite relying on outdated political fears for much of the initial exposition, Destination Unknown offers both Christie’s fans and casual readers a distinct break from the dead bodies and hunts for murder weapons that frequently pervade such stories. Instead of relying on popular and established detectives such as Ms. Marple and Hercules Poirot, Destination Unknown presents compelling new characters that engage the readers’ sympathy and heighten the emotional stakes of the plot.

THE FOUNDER September 2019

LITERARY REVIEW 17

Review on Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton SOPHIE DEAVILLE

s one of my all-time favourite films, I had high expectations of Jurassic Park, and Michael Crichton; expectations which were not disappointed. If truth be told, the film does not do justice to Crichton’s genius as his meticulous and informed novel dives head-first into the world of palaeontology. Whilst most authors are incredibly well-researched when it comes to topics in their novels, none quite compare to the research of Crichton, who continually amazed me throughout Jurassic Park. To give a brief summary: John Hammond, the owner of Jurassic Park, invites palaeontologist Alan Grant and palaeobotanist Ellie Sattler to his island along with

several other characters to survey the safety of the park. Unfortunately for Hammond, their visit to the island is interrupted by several disasters which lead to catastrophic consequences Ian Malcom is amongst the other main characters who are invited to Hammond’s island. He is a mathematician who specialises in ‘Chaos Theory’, which allows Crichton to show off his meticulous research required for his novel. Crichton’s realistic and pessimistic tone is channelled through Malcolm, as he adds a much-needed touch of realism to John Hammond’s ‘impeccable’ theme park; unsurprisingly, Malcolm also foreshadows the disastrous ending of Jurassic Park. Whilst some books that are as in-depth as Crichton’s would be difficult to read,

Photo credit: Flickr

Jurassic Park is not one of those books. Most of the chapters are titled relating to the geographical setting or a character whom the chapter revolves around, which makes

the story easy to follow. Crichton also includes various tables to help the reader fully understand the mathematic or scientific aspects of the book. It’s safe to say that Jurassic

Park is a favourite for both adults and teenagers as everyone’s imagination is driven wild by Crichton’s creative and inventive novel.

A Christmas Read for The Summer RUXANDRA VRABIE

Photo credit: Book cover (Amazon)

he Christmas Secret, by the fashion journalist turned author Karen Swan, has been a delightful read for a hot summer. The book transports the reader into a different setting and brings about a little bit of Christmas joy, making you either reminiscence about last Christmas or think forward to the next one. Like in all her other books, Swan contours a powerful and independent female lead, whom you are bound to like right from the start. In this case, the female protagonist of the book is Alex Ryder, a successful and sought-after businesswoman. She works

as an executive coach for famous businessmen who fail to hold their horses in time of crisis, and she is there to sort out their business and their personal lives. A few weeks before Christmas, she receives a call regarding a famous whiskey company from Scotland named Kentallen Distilleries, which is in danger of shutting down. Until now, all of Alex’s clients were willing to receive help from her, however this time, the CEO of the company, Lochlan Farqhuar, is one of the most stubborn and unpredictable clients Alex has ever met. He refuses to even listen to Alex’s proposals and shuts her down right from the

start. In face of the challenge and willing to do anything to meet her deadline, Alex realises that her usual methods do not work on Lochlan and she has to change tactic. As the boundaries between her work and personal life blur and as secrets are being uncovered, Alex must choose between love and work. Although this book is a typical romance novel where two people who initially hate each other eventually fall in love, it remains a captivating story. Swan also adds a sense of mystery to The Christmas Secret as Alex learns more about the distillery and Lochlan’s family through

old letters and pictures of soldiers owned by previous owners of the inn she stays at. Swan’s time shift between the past and the present not only offers the reader more information about the distillery and the characters, but it also contours a bigger impact on the idea of war, its hardships and its losses. What really makes this book a page turner is the entanglement of secrets thatare presented and gradually unfold from the beginning to the end of The Christmas Secret which, placed together, solve the puzzle within.

18 LITERARY REVIEW

THE FOUNDER September 2019

War and Peace: A Classic for Summer?

Photo credit: Penguin

MATTHEW SMITH

s a novel, War and Peace is perhaps most known for its intimidating length, with an official word count of over half a million, this is not unwarranted. Despite this, I would encourage you to look past that and attempt the novel regardless. After all, the complete Harry Potter series adds up to over one million words and this has not deterred seemingly every child in the Western world. The novel follows the lives of various Russian aristocrats, soldiers, and peasants as they live through Napoleon’s invasion of their

homeland. Pierre is the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov and finds himself quite out of place in high society. When he is named the sole heir of his father’s estate, he becomes one of the richest men in Russia and must try and find purpose when all his needs and luxury desires are met. Andrei Bolkonsky is Pierre’s dearest friend, and he feels equally without purpose, but while Pierre attempts to find meaning through freemasonry, Andrei feels he will find his purpose in war. As the novel unfolds, we see how Andrei’s feelings damage himself and his family as

Photo credit: Wikimedia

he becomes increasingly different from the man Pierre once knew. Nikolai Rostov is an honour bound aristocrat who must try and reconcile the promises he made to his childhood sweetheart and his mother’s desire to have him marry a rich heiress to save the family. As he pursues a career as a ‘Hussar’, he must come to acknowledge that he cannot ignore the problems of his household. Natasha is a naïve young girl with an infectious love of life, but as her family’s, Russia’s and her own circumstances are made more difficult she must let go of her childhood to embrace all the difficulties of adult life

from tragedy to heartbreak. It is not possible to summarise War and Peace without omitting huge events and entire characters. The novel, despite its length is so full of life; it would be a great insult to call any of it uninteresting. Ultimately, that is War and Peace’s major victory, it is a long novel spanning the lives of dozens of people across years and yet Tolstoy makes them all seem alive. No character is bigger nor more real than another and in this regard Tolstoy shows the fundamental similarity between a halffrozen Russian peasant and Emperor Napoleon himself. Through this novel,

Tolstoy allows the reader to see their faults and their merits reflected in different ways in each character. This makes the 200 years of history separating our lives seem to fall away like a superficial detail. This is why Tolstoy is remembered and why War and Peace is considered one of his greatest works. War and Peace will still be known in 100 years, not necessarily because people will still be interested by the Napoleonic wars, nor will it be because the novel is about Pierre, Andrei, Natasha or even Napoleon, but because it is about humanity.

ARTS: FILM 19

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Where’d You Go, Blanchett? - Review ERIN LEONARD

here’d You Go, Bernadette? is Cate Blanchett’s newest venture and it has fallen short of expectation. The film follows a woman through a midlife crisis in essence, and it was set to be a character study picture that did not lean too heavily on plot. In that, at the least, it succeeded, there is no dependency on the plot. The issues lie in the fact the film does not rely on the writing either, but rather on the performances of the cast; primarily Blanchett as Bernadette, but also Billy Crudup and Kristen Wiig in supporting roles are the only factors that make it worth watching. Directed by Richard Linklater, a somewhat lacklustre plot could be anticipated. The best of Linklater’s works is arguably Dazed and Confused which again falls into the category of comingof-age feature where not much happens. If you are looking for a coming-ofage film that focuses on a woman in her forties, this is the film for you. Critics have not taken kindly to the film, and it has received almost no consideration at all. The film refuses to feel cohesive which could – while somewhat of a reach – be regarded as a metaphor for the chaos of Bernadette’s life. In effect, the entire film felt somewhat unnecessary and, in large part, irrelevant to what was supposed to be happening. It is hard to imagine that a twohour feature could have been effectively condensed into a

Photo credits: Annapurna Pictures

Cate

twenty-minute short and yet it feels that the elimination of a lot of scenes would have improved the film. The energy of the film, however, made it a much easier watch; the soundtrack and the cinematography provide very light-hearted energy that eases the more irrelevant scenes by at least making them entertaining. Cate Blanchett worked with what she was given and the industry must give credit where credit is due but the film in itself struggled to hold the interest of its audience at large. The industry has a selection of actors that will always be given a moment’s consideration, no matter how poor the stage on which they are performing, and Blanchett has become one of these so all eyes were on her when this film was released. Her performance held the film above water and held people’s attention, but in the grand scheme of things, she was not given the opportunity or the material to make an average film into something extraordinary. This is a feel-good feature. As a Blanchett fan and a human being, I enjoyed the film, as a film buff, however, I found it fell short of my expectations. It has been termed a comedy which seems a bold decision considering that there is little genuine humour in it, yet there is no real drama for it to be considered a drama and so it falls to the comedic genre to claim the film. It isn’t a bad film, but it isn’t what was anticipated in the slightest.

Disney vs Sony: What Does Losing SpiderMan Mean for the Future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? SAM MCLOUGHLIN

he rumour wheel: a conduit equally devoted to by comic book fanatics as it is by Love Island obsessives has been spitting sparks over the past month or so. I suppose that anyone who thought it was worth their while reading this article is morosely aware that the Marvel Studios/ Sony deal of early 2015, the one which bequeathed us with what could be argued as the best depiction of Spider-man to date, has in fact broken down; leaving a Tom Holland-shaped hole in the world’s largest cinematic franchise. A few weeks ago, all hopes of keeping Holland’s Spiderman in the Marvel Cinematic universe seemed extinguished, with the actor himself and producer Kevin Feige both seemingly closing the door on an MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) webhead for good. However, recent reports have sprungup stating that the discussions are not, in fact, dead in the water between Disney (who own Marvel Studios) and Sony, and that a new deal allowing Peter Parker back into the MCU in exchange for giving Disney 30% of the character is in the works. This deal allegedly also includes Sony relinquishing the rights to Venom. Although this is just speculation and still a massive ask on Disney’s part – who previously only had creative control, sans the

profits – these reports give anyone rooting for Holland to stay something to hold out on. Especially, since these reports come from We Got This Covered, a site that correctly predicted the announcement of the Ms Marvel and She-Hulk series for Disney+. So, what exactly would Marvel be losing out on if the two juggernaut studios do not reconcile their differences? Well firstly, they would forfeit the future face of their franchise. Despite the recent announcements Marvel has made at Comic-Con and Disney’s D23 expo, Spiderman: Far From Home is still fresh in the minds of the fans; a film with the almost sole purpose of establishing Spider-man as an independent hero. By cutting his umbilical cord to the recently departed ‘godfather’ of the MCU Tony Stark, this latest Marvel instalment quite plainly attempted to set the ball rolling in Tom Holland emerging as the new face of the cinematic universe. Losing Stan Lee’s iconic character would thus be a gigantic step back development-wise and would also provide the producers with a massive continuity headache asnot even a mention of the hero would be allowed. Not only is losing Spidey a massive set-back in momentum, but the WebSlinger also doesn’t have

a single viable replacement for the figurehead position hehas been groomed for. Although Marvel seems to be going in a different direction with the fourth phase of their development, such as taking things cosmic with Eternals, the third instalment of Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Love and Thunder, while simultaneously focusing to smaller, individual stories with television shows, taking away Spidey so soon yanks the safety net from below them. They can’t fall back on the same tricks they used before, namely branding their franchise with a single, stand-out character. Sadly, the collapse of this deal means that Marvel doesn’t only forfeit Spider-man, but every character primarily associated with him, except Kingpin and Jessica Drew. If all that wasn’t enough we will be sure to see a delay in the production of any future Marvel movies in the works. Not only is he one of the main characters, but Peter also seems to be one of the only few remaining characters that identify himself as part of the team. The one silver lining to this big corporate raincloud is that Tom Holland has confirmed he will continue playing Spider-man regardless of the outcome – whether it be with Thor, Doctor Strange and the gang over at Marvel Studios, or in whatever standalone adventures the minds at Sony can think up.

20 ARTS: FILM

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Pedro Almodóvar: A Retrospective

Pedro Almodóvar with the stars of Pain and Glory. LUKE HETHERINGTON

ith Pedro Almodóvar’s 22nd feature Pain and Glory in cinemas, The Founder enclosed an already lonely man in space to gorge on the Spanish director’s work in the lead up to his latest, selfreflexive film. Sadly, for fans of John Waters-esque transgression and urine, we failed to find Pepi, Luci Bom, his first foray into postFranco, expressionistic and often profane melodrama. Consequently, the journey begins with his breakout success Law of Desire (1987). By Desire, Almodóvar is still revelling in the artistic freedoms after the restrictions of a lengthy dictatorship. He continues to explore sexuality and social taboos as he had

previously, albeit in a more ‘restrained’ manner, in an LGBT narrative that predates Fatal Attraction by seven months. In lieu of the obsessive Glen Close is Antonio Banderas, setting a gay film director and his transgendered sister in his sights. Almodóvar’s story of dangerous passion veers into soap opera contrivances, but there’s a distinctively Hitchcockian inflexion as the film progresses into thriller territory as he fades between spinning car wheels and desperate eyeballs. Underscoring all of this is an empathetic portrayal of a transgendered person (especially for 1987) and casual critiquing of the Catholic church that was so dominant during Franco’s reign. Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!

(1989) shares much of the same DNA; a young man (Banderas) obsessing over a member of the film industry (Victoria Abril). He believes he is destined to father her children. To do so, he kidnaps the actress, blurring together Rom-Com and HorrorThriller film as Stockholm Syndrome sets in. Banderas has perfected the charming sociopath performance in both films. It’s easy to forget his career pre-Puss in Boots. His behaviour is abhorrent and the film is a controversial critique equating marriage with entrapment, but it is psychologically rewarding so long as it is watched only as a disturbing thriller. The ‘bathtub scene’ is a tad superfluous though. Moving through the 1990s - and skipping a few misfires and misjudgements -to Talk to Her (2002), we

find Almodóvar settled over time. The subject matter - two men with comatose loved ones befriending each other - raises questions of body autonomy and the same cautiously sceptical stance to love, placing it alongside obsession in his thematic Venn diagram. The drama unfolds with unexpected turns, and if it has not already been made clear, developments occur that will unsettle many. Dario Grandinetti gives a delicate, emotionally constipated performance, unable to verbally express himself in stark contrast to the comatose women (a dancer and a matador) who physically express themselves with ease. Although Almodóvar is effortlessly stirring pots in a far more digestible manner, his punkish routes are still on display.

After two decades, The Skin I Live In (2011) marks the return of Banderas as - you guessed it - an obsessive male who holds a woman captive, this time to manufacture revolutionary skin grafts. With strong overtones of Eyes Without a Face, this horror adaptation forgoes traditional scares in favour of twisted shock. If anything, the provocation is against the genre labels, subverting without that post-modern, smug attitude some directors adopt. Save for a chunk of exposition, the film is a mostly faultless examination of identity and remains one of the most genuinely unsettling films of the last decade. Finally, we have Pain and Glory: the summation of 38 years of filmmaking. Almodóvar forms his most deeply personal narrative from childhood experiences, as filmmaker, Salvador, (Banderas) reflects upon his life during a period of creative lethargy and age-related pains. As Almodóvar’s stand-in, Banderas steps firmly into the Awards race with a melancholic performance, carrying his aching body and heavy eyes. Despite the bittersweet overtones, the film contains a sumptuous, jazz-infused montage of ailments; the fictional director may be in his twilight years, but the real-life Almodóvar is still full of visual vitality as he seeks his own closure. If retirement is calling, this is the elegant full stop to a long, complex but always thoughtful sentence. Pain and Glory may be autobiographical, but it is never self-indulgent and highlights one of the strongest skills he possesses. Almodóvar never writes characters defined by sexuality, he writes characters who are incidentally LGBT. You know, like actual people.

ARTS: FILM 21

THE FOUNDER September 2019

The 63rd London Film Festival: Oscar Season, Art House Favourites, and the Continuing Gender Discussion

The official poster for this year's festival. GRACIELA MAE CHICO

While we struggle to accustom ourselves back into another academic year, the 2020 awards season is already well underway. As the sun sets on summer festivals such as Cannes and Venice, they leave behind early awards season favourites such as Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. With Toronto and Telluride wrapping up, it is finally London’s turn to celebrate a new wave of films. Now in its 63rd year, the BFI London Film Festival (October 2 - 13) continues its tradition of showcasing a vast array of films — this year’s selection boasting 229 features from all around the world. While trying to fit the stupendous line-up is very much unfeasible to fit in the twelve-day festival, London

does have the advantage of observing reviews from the earlier festivals. Opening LFF this year is The Personal History of David Copperfield (directed by Armando Iannucci). The fresh take on Charles Dickens’ classic novel is led by Dev Patel, alongside other British stars such as Tilda Swinton and Ben Whishaw. The closing film, The Irishman, vaunts the ninth collaboration between Hollywood legends Martin Scorsese and Robert De Nero. Continuing with the BFI’s aim of involving the rest of the UK with the festival — as seen with last year’s Manchester premiere of Peterloo — there will be simultaneous preview screenings of the crime epic across the country. The film industry’s debacle of gender equality, both in front and behind

the camera, continues. Up by a staggering 2% from last year’s LFF, the overall number of films directed and co-directed by women in this year’s selection stands at 40% — the percentage for the competition strand at a much more impressive 64%. Returning to London, after last years Can You Ever Forgive Me? Is Marielle Heller. Heller once again ventures into the bio-pic with A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, a Fred Rogers biography starring Tom Hanks. Another femaledirected film receiving its UK premiere is the achingly beautiful Portrait of a Lady on Fire; a captivating 18thcentury love story between two women — one a painter and the other the muse. Céline Sciamma’s newest feature continues to receive critical acclaim following its premiere at the fabled red

carpets of the French Riviera back in May. Another Cannes dispatch that is sure to make waves is Robert Eggers’ horrifically poetic,black-and-white horror film, The Lighthouse. The arthouse film is no hard sell. If you want to witness Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe portray 19th-century lighthouse keepers who occasionally bury each other alive and masturbate to mermaids, all in glorious 35mm and a Movietone ratio, this is the film for you. One of the films in LFF’s 25 & Under strand is Sarah Gavron’s Rocks. The film explores the intricacies of female friendship and growing up in London, in particular, the experience of 15-year old ‘Rocks’ after her mother disappears, leaving her with her brother, little cash, and an apology note. The film’s casting of ‘non-

actors’ will surely bring an undeniable element of authenticity to the story. Other big titles in this year’s selection include Netflix’s The King (directed by David Michôd) starring Timothée Chalamet and the highly anticipated Hitler black-comedy starring and directed by Taika Watiti, Jojo Rabbit. The number of intriguing films at this year’s LFF seems endless; listing all of them would probably take up all of The Founder’s pages. Make sure you check out the whole festival selection, maybe even buy a ticket or two, and support noteworthy local and global cinema right by our doorstep (after the 40-minute train ride, of course). We will once again be covering LFF, so watch out for our coverage in next month’s issue, as well as our online reviews on our website.

22 ARTS: MUSIC

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Earth in (The) Heaven: Fresh, Peaness, and The Beths YUJI AOYAMA

ever having been a central London native and having little knowledge of most concert venues, I was surprised to find out that under Charing Cross station dwelt Heaven, a combination LGBTQ+ club, concert venue and maze of tunnels. A stage awash in moody blues and offset by the orange glow of the bars set the scene for the emotional stylings of Fresh, Peaness and The Beths. There is no doubt in my mind that Fresh were the perfect opener for the night. They very clearly gave their all for the biggest show they have ever played, never once losing sight of

their distinctive, entertaining stage presence. Infectiously energetic and defiantly melancholic at the same time, their live performance is characterized by all-out wildness that gives way to appropriate moments of contemplation. The sheer amount of fun they have as they play is inspiring, even as they blend grief, anxious energy and hopefulness into a pop punk sound that captures what it is like to be young and eager for change. Underpinned by unforgettable riffs and impactful vocal harmonies, there is nothing quite like listening to frontperson Kathryn Woods scream-sing ‘I am valued, I am loved / I will get revenge on everyone who’s done me wrong’.

Admittedly, I had slept on Peaness (entendre partially intended) before the concert.However, being sandwiched by two fantastic acts, I should not have expected any less. Much like their compatriots, they make fantastic and frequent use of vocal harmonies to pull together their pieces without losing the strength and dynamic of a leading voice. Their particular tonal blend is well suited to their songs about modern love and heartache. The way the lyrics and the vocals pull together the moody guitar and complex but airy drum work is extremely satisfying, resulting in a poppy but distinctly alternative sound that comes across like the most wistful heartbreak you

will ever dance to. Though I may have not followed them before, rest assured they will have a new fan. New Zealand headliners The Beths clearly found a second home in London, judging by the ease and comfort with which they capitalized on the momentum of the night; their tracklist felt explosively enthusiastic, even through the wistfulness of pieces like Not Running. They easily matched the energy of their openers, radiating pure joy in their music. It perfectly encapsulated what I loved most about the whole night - the palpable amount of enjoyment they had while playing allowed the whole audience to share their headspace, feeling

intimately connected to their thoughts and elevating the concert into something else entirely. Even their closer and more confessional songs were made to feel like the band were giddily sharing a secret with the crowd by the electric riffs and thrilling build-ups into heartfelt backing harmonies. It makes that much more of a difference when you can feel the passion an artist puts into their work, and every band I saw at Heaven felt like they did just a little bit more to have as much fun as the audience. I would absolutely recommend seeing any and all of these bands live, and I am personally looking forward to seeing them play again - even if I still owe most of Fresh a round of drinks.

Hi, How Are You? - Daniel Johnston Obituary KEREN TOMASOA

odern bedroom pop is an enigma - its deliberately analog, lofi sound stands out in the contemporary hyper produced soundscape. There’s a charming, almost childlike quality to the genre, which traces back to Daniel Johnston, an artist who started out by producing songs on his tape recorder. He ended up releasing 28 albums in his lifetime whilst still retaining a dreamlike element to his work in which he would straddle the line between naivety and the desperation he experienced through his lifetime struggle with manic depression and

schizophrenia. His first cassette, Songs of Pain, detailed his heartbreak about a girl named Laurie who was in a relationship with a mortician. The album opens with the track Grievances: ‘I said hi, how are you, hello / And I pulled up a casket and crawled in / Yes I did’. Its bluntness is true to form of his work and would then pave the way for modern-day bedroom pop. He also pulls out crude references to masturbation and severe recordings of his mum screaming at him. Throughout, he maintains a delicate presence of a piano pounding away whilst he displays his self-deprecation. Johnston moved out of his parents’ basement to live with

his brother, where he would then produce Hi, How Are You, in the midst of a mental breakdown, showcasing his break from piano-playing and heavy chord repetition to soft guitars and experimental sound collages. It was the first of his works to be distributed as a vinyl LP, and its album art was popularised by a shirt worn by Kurt Cobain. This was a man who went from living in his parents’ basement, to selling corndogs at carnivals and serving at McDonalds; all the while consistently producing a stream of quality content. Moving to Austin, Texas, was where he broke out through MTV’s The Cutting Edge, in which he earnestly performed I Live My Broken

Dreams, a track which describes his scattered life. In 1988, he moved to New York to record 1990. However, this would be the first time wherein he worked in a professional environment, and his mental health worsened. Two years later, he was nearly killed when he suffered a manic episode whilst his father piloted a light aircraft. Convinced he was Caspar the Friendly Ghost, who appeared in a lot of his illustrations, he threw the keys out and his father forcibly crash-landed. Johnston was committed to a psychiatric hospital shortly afterwards. During this period of time, he was signed with Atlantic

Records, but the singular album he produced during his stint there, Fun, ultimately flopped. The album still has its merits - it’s a departure from lo-fi, instead being ambitious in sound with grand arrangements. His life’s work was continuously celebrated by artists such as Sonic Youth, Tom Waits, and The Flaming Lips. He was also revered for his cartoons and photographs, and the latter resulted in a travelling exhibition around Austin, New York, and London. Johnston is survived by his brother/manager Dick, and by his sisters, Margy, Sally, and Cindy.

THE FOUNDER September 2019

ARTS: MUSIC 23

The Thieves Banquet A Specialist Subject Review I YUJI AOYAMA

Image credits: Genius.com GUY PEARCE

n album that was perhaps missed by many during the time of its 2013 release. The album in question, The Thieves Banquet by British rapper, journalist, author, poet and public political intellectual, Akala. This masterpiece is a blend of Hip Hop and R&B/ Soul, which explores the topics of racism, classism, corruption and imperialism. Akala addresses such economic, social and political issues through well-thought critiques of the British political system, leaving listeners much to mull over. The Thieves Banquet opens with ‘Let It All Happen’ and ‘Lose Myself ’ which are two of the most

‘Our Way, the Way’ and ‘A Game Named Life’. The album returns to its signature themes where it balances these with songs such as ‘Malcolm Said It’, ‘One More Breath’ and ‘Pissed Off ’ that encompass basic choruses using lots of repetition not only to express the problem or an emotion, but emphasise the simplicity of the message. The title track also serves as a comedic purpose to counter the 58 minutes of sober reality this album has to offer. The ongoing hyperbole involving the monarchs of empire, a cartel of bankers, intense tracks on the entire the heads of religious orders, album. Akala’s delivery is and the third world dictators full of energy emphasised proved to be entertaining by the simple yet extremely and their association with effective drum beats and the Devil was thoughtguitar work, creating two provoking. However, despite explosive tracks and a very this clearly exaggerated story, powerful beginning to his Akala provides a convincing set of arguments as to why fourth album. Said energy is stripped we should view these groups away by the third and fourth as evil. The track’s lyricism tracks, ‘Another Reason’ is extremely hard-hitting and ‘Old Soul’ which and addresses progressively redirect the album’s genre wicked subjects. The second towards one that is more part is far more relaxed, yet soul and almost jazz-like. sums up the album perfectly The instrumentals to these and leaves this bitter feeling tracks are much softer, with of hopelessness. His delivery, the instrumental to ‘Old similar to the instrumentals, is Soul’ being the standout of clear and smooth. His flow is the album. The piano and noticeably filled with passion guitar work on these songs and his extensive knowledge are certainly a highlight, of historical imperialism and and are welcomed back in the political system has led to the latter half of the album a clever and complex album in songs ‘Maangamizi’, which is endlessly enjoyable.

t was a strange sort of lifeaffirming fatalism that carried me through multiple train delays, still aching from a party the night before. The colorful pride steps at Reading station felt like they lit up under me as I made the switch to my final destination in Bristol, where I would head towards Exchange, Bristol’s first community-owned music venue Specialist Subject, which would host their allday second anniversary. I was immediately taken aback by the warm community that surrounded the place. The bartenders were friendly, chatting with me between shows and even encouraging me to sing karaoke towards the end of the night; I got to sing with and talk to members of some of my favorite acts; I even met some fans of my favorite underdog Tokyo baseball team. Surrounded by artists I liked and their fans, sans any barriers created by stage presence, really emphasized to me that what brought people there was a love for music. It did not matter if you listened to it or played it - we were all there to have fun and share our passion with all of the same energy of the antics of a high school band. Bands played a new set every 30 minutes across two stages – a larger concert hall and a cozier basement – I rode the same wave of excitement all night, helped by an incredible variety of sound surprising listeners with something new at every turn. From the heartfelt acoustic stylings of Katie Malco

to the ethereal shoegaze hummings of Soot Sprite to the nonstop DIY pop punk energy of Charmpit, every set made me feel like I was exploring some entirely new planet orbiting the Specialist Subject sun. Personally, the standout performance was by one of my favorite bands, ME REX, who initially launched me into the Specialist Subject world. In that basement, awash with hazy lighting that cast the band in a bright reddish hue and the audience in a dreamy deep blue, I felt entranced as they bounced from track to track with their signature energy. The camaraderie and joy evident in their stage presence underlined the words that, for me, defined the night: ‘The party's never over, it goes on until you die’. After seeing almost every band I could see and screaming my lungs out at the karaoke, I had gone to the seating area outside, feeling like I might have overloaded my social batteries but also not recognising anyone I could just sit down and talk to. I made a passing joke about it to someone I had interacted with once, and without hesitation they helped introduce me to an entire table of people with whom I whiled away the night until 2 in the morning. As we traded stories, jokes, even forming a band (watch for the debut of Lesbian Space Crimes), I knew that I would not regret a single moment of the three hours I would have to sit outside of the train station. I have never felt as much love for a record label as I did that day, and I am looking forward to celebrating with them again next year.

24 ARTS: MUSIC

Ginger Review SONNY ETCHELL

rockhampton’s latest album, Ginger, opens with the warm and mellow ‘No Halo’, a song that sets the tone for the album. Ginger appears to be an album about recovery. The album art suggests a warm embrace within – yet it still contains their renowned fiery bangers. ‘Sugar’ is a song that has the potential to take Brockhampton into the mainstream with its irresistibly catchy chorus that sounds like something off an early 2000’s R&B radio hit. They achieve this by staying true to their quirky sound featuring pitched-up vocals from Kevin Abstract, glitchy production and diverse rapping and singing styles of the six members which work together harmoniously. ‘Sugar’ is a standout moment for Bearface, a background member until their more recent projects. Ginger really kicks into gear with ‘Boy Bye’, a hugely enjoyable track with its odd, plucky string refrain over a jangly, summery beat. All of the members are on top form here with the juxtaposition of Dom McLennon and Kevin’s verses about combating inner struggles with Matt Champion and Merlyn Wood’s funny and playful lyrics. ‘Heaven Belongs to You’ is a short but sweet cameo from Slowthai, whose UK rap voice acts as a nice break in the track listing -

THE FOUNDER September 2019

‘People’ by The 1975 – The More You Listen, The Better It Gets RENÉE LEWIS

Image credits: Genius.com

its only downside is that it is not longer. ‘St Percy’ is the meanest, grimiest track on the album, with a low-key, dirty bassline and moody versus from Matt, Dom, Bearface as well as an incredible outro from Merlyn that will make you want to throw yourself into a mosh pit. ‘St Percy’ transitions smoothly into ‘If You Pray Right’, a typically zany Brockhampton track that somehow manages to pull off having a trombone in the beat. This gives the track a marching band-esque vibe that works better than you could ever have imagined. By the halfway point on the album, it’s not only Brockhampton’s best work to date but one of the best HipHop albums I’ve heard in the past decade. Unfortunately,

it fails to stay consistent towards the end, with slower, more self-indulgent songs that left no impression on me other than boredom. While the boyband’s more sombre music may appeal to hardcore fans, it will not to mainstream audiences. Brockhampton are hands down at their best when creating upbeat, off- the-wall bangers that showcase their out of left field production and the unmatched synergy that the six members have while performing. Ginger is a more introspective album for the group that shows growth, improvement and direction towards where they want to be. It’s the Texas boyband’s most cohesive and mature album to date and I’ll always be anticipating what they create next.

he 1975 shared their latest single ‘People’ on August 22 nd , which will be featured in their upcoming album Notes on a Conditional Form set to come out next February. The song follows the release of the updated version of their eponymous track in July featuring environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Here, Thunberg calls for attention to the reality of climate change. It is completely different from the band’s previous releases, as their usual indie pop sound has been swapped for a more punk feel. Underneath all the noise is a declarative report on the current social state of the world, as well as a continuance of Greta’s message to stop ignoring the inevitable in relation to climate change. The song is nothing short of a wake-up call, complete with blaring electric guitar and bass from Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, booming drums from George Daniels and Matt Healy screaming the opening lines, ‘Wake up, wake up’. Following that, ‘It’s Monday morning, and we’ve only got a thousand of them left’ remind us of the UN’s warning earlier this year that we have twelve years to get climate change under control before its effects become irreversible. The remaining lyrics of the first verse reassure the younger generation that although we

may be financially worse off than previous generations, we are at least trying our best to campaign for government laws to be changed to accommodate the ongoing global warming crisis. Healy criticises society’s ‘appalling’ laziness due to favouring online shopping over leaving the house to buy what we need and binge-watching the movies and TV shows that are so widely available on various online streaming platforms. Despite this, humanity is highlighted in the chorus. The fact that social media usage has been linked to a rise in social anxiety and loneliness proves that people ultimately crave genuine human interaction (‘People like people’). These same humans ‘want alive people’, which may be related to gun violence in the US and knife crime in the UK. In the lines ‘The young surprise people / Stop f***king with the kids’, Healy condemns the media’s scrutiny of young environmental campaigners, calling for the concerns of the youth to not be undermined. All in all, ‘People’ is an anthem that makes you feel more encouraged to participate in the fight against climate change, as The 1975 proved when they first performed the song at this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals. The band are currently touring around Asia and will be announcing more tour dates soon.

THE FOUNDER September 2019

ARTS: MUSIC 25

Corfu Chamber Opera: Arias Under the Stars

Image credits: Wikimedia

ANASTASIA GOULI

n a hot August night, the Corfu Chamber Opera showcased a variety of melodic arias, sung by the island’s finest singers, in the magical setting of the island’s People’s Garden, perched above the sea beside the charming Palace of St Michael and St George. The balmy breeze, the sound of cicadas and the scent of olive trees and herbs greeted people that walked into the venue, setting the mood for an enchanting night of opera under the stars. The

accompanist appeared and took her seat at the piano, and an imperfect silence fell on the venue, in anticipation of the alluring and dramatic sound of operatic works by W.A. Mozart, G. Verdi, G. Puccini and G. Bizet. Corfu, one of the Ionian Islands to the west of the Greek mainland, is wellknown for its rich musical culture and it is said that one family has at least one musician. From various conservatoires that offer musical training, to the prestigious bands and

choirs that put on concerts throughout the year, it is no wonder that the island attracts thousands of tourists and music lovers that wish to be enchanted by Corfu’s musical heritage. This musical culture has roots in the four-hundredyear Venetian rule of the Ionian Islands, which meant that the Greek people were exposed to genres such as opera. Greek composers were inspired by the works of prominent Italian composers, such as Verdi and Puccini. However,

composers such as Nikolaos Mantzaros, known for writing the melody of the Greek National Anthem, and Spyridon Xyndas were key figures in developing a unique musical style that veered away from the Italian musical tradition by incorporating musical elements from the rest of Greece, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. These composers and their works are considered part of the Ionian School of Music. This musical background is still alive on the island today, as it is

part of everyday life to go to concerts such as these. Whenever possible, these concerts take place outdoors in historic landmarks, such as the Spianada and outside St Spyridon’s church. The concert put on by the Corfu Chamber Opera was an example of a unique musical tradition coming to life in a stunning historical setting, reminding the Corfiots why their island is considered by the rest of Greece as another musical world.

26 SPORTS

THE FOUNDER September 2019

Message from Australia Retain the Ashes VP Sport Dom Brown DOM BROWN

ast year was another fantastic year for sports clubs and physical activity, we went into the academic year with a newly updated fitness suite and a fresh group of committee members ready to dive into freshers head first. We had a record number of students visit our Freshers’ Fair which meant the sign-ups for clubs and societies was high. Leading on from this, results in BUCS, LUSL and other competitions were amazing across a wide span of groups. League wins for Rugby, American Football, Hockey and Badminton (amongst others) complemented a fantastic showing in external competitions for groups such as Riding, Cheer and Trampolining. We took over 600 students to Surrey Sports park for our third annual Varsity which made for some fantastic matchups and formidable support from travelling bears. A considerable effort was made to make our Colours Ball more inclusive to all groups, as well as making the experience the best it can be. It was another fantastic night in the calendar which saw a considerable number of groups and individuals take home awards whilst celebrating sports clubs as a whole. We also ratified a brand-new Boxing club which will be finding its feet this year.

Over the summer we have been preparing for students to come back and provide them with the best possible experience. Funding and pitch allocations have taken place to help us best support our groups – as well as various upgrades to changing rooms, sports fields and internal Students’ Union processes to make the experience of sports club committee and casual members all the better. Work has already started on Colours Ball and Varsity to ensure they are the best events they can possibly be as well as understanding the themes we want to follow through the year. For example, one major theme and topic I am keen on addressing is mental wellbeing and how we can support sports club members with this taboo issue. Encouraging groups to introduce welfare secretaries is on my agenda for the year as well as improving our mental health training. Another major theme we want to stick to this year is inclusivity – for example, ensuring there are no barriers to entry, and that everyone has the opportunity to be active. A big part of this is making sure events such as Varsity are inclusive and create a University wide pride with sport. It is a very exciting time to be involved in sport and I can’t wait for the year to kick off!

Photo credits: BBC Sport DOMINIC TAYLOR

ustralia broke the brave resistance of England’s tail-end at Old Trafford to ensure that they would retain the Ashes and win their first on English soil since 2001. Ahead of the fifth and final Test match at The Kia Oval, Surrey, The Founder takes a look at how Australia won and where England went wrong. Chasing 383 to win – but realistically looking to survive the final day of play –England started the day at 18-2 following the early loss of Rory Burns and the inconsistent Joe Root to Pat Cummins, the bowler of the series. Denly put on a brave 53 whilst the likes of Roy, Buttler and Bairstow all showed a fighting spirit. In particular, Craig Overton showed tremendous courage in his 105-ball innings before being undone by Josh Hazlewood. Although there was plenty of fight from the England side, epitomised by the iconic Jack Leach’s batting, ultimately the frailties in the batting lineup were exploited by a world-class Australia attack. Pat Cummins ended the

innings with 4-43, but Lyon, Hazlewood, Starc and Labuschagne all contributed at least a wicket each. Their efforts ensured Australia would go 2-1 up heading into the final Test match at the Oval – meaning that England could not overturn the deficit and retain the Ashes. We can irrefutably view the fourth Test match as a microcosm of the entire series. In either batting innings, England failed to go past 25 runs before losing their first two wickets and lost 5 wickets before reaching three-figures. This theme has occurred previously. In at least one innings of each test, England have been unable to reach 100 without losing at least 4 wickets. This inability to bat consistently from England’s top order far too often left the lower-order and bowling attack with too much to do. Indeed, only World Cup winning-hero Ben Stokes and opener Rory Burns have an average reaching 40 from the series thus far. Further, the top 7 from the batting line up have thus far registered 5 ducks and 21

overall scores lower than 10 runs. Although Australia’s batsmen have not been far superior to England’s, they have been able to call upon two talismanic figures in Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. This point is solidified when one notes that it was only the second innings of the fourth Test where one of the two failed to score a half century in the whole series. With the Ashes urn lost and Root claiming he was still the best man to captain the side going forward, it is surely crucial that England look to build on this disappointment. Despite the dismay being unable to regain the Ashes, there are undoubtedly silver linings. Indeed, the astonishing introduction to Test Cricket of Joffra Archer recording 16 wickets at an average of 19.86 and Stuart Broad’s impressive 19 wickets at an average of 26.64 will be points of optimism. Furthermore, with young prospects such as Dominic Sibley, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope and Sam Hain – there are definitely potential batting reinforcements for a batting line-up in need of resurgence.

SPORTS 27

THE FOUNDER September 2019

International Break Round-Up JAMES NEAL

ngland look set to qualify for Euro 2020 after scintillating performances against Bulgaria and Kosovo. During a 4-0 thrashing of Bulgaria at Wembley, England captain Harry Kane scored his first international hat-trick since a 6-1 demolition of Panama in last summer’s world cup. This feat earned him the titles of both man of the match and man of the moment. Kane also provided English starlet Raheem Sterling with an assist, solidifying a convincing win over the Bulgarian national team. His hat-trick takes him past 1966 Word Cup Final legend Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored 24 goals in 49 appearances. Beloved manager Gareth Southgate described England’s frontline ‘as exciting as

anything’. Unfortunately, the game was marred yet again by racial abuse directed towards some of England’s BAME players, with a Bulgarian fan ejected from the stadium for ‘discriminatory abuse’. England continued their winning streak by beating Kosovo 5-3 in a thrilling match at St Mary’s. The Three Lions looked defensively shaky at times. Michael Keane’s early error was to blame for Valon Berisha’s first goal inside the opening minute. Centreback partner Harry Maguire would go on to concede a poor penalty in the second half, which was tucked home by the majestic Vedat Muriqi as Kosovo’s third goal of the night. Nevertheless, England were superb in attack. Man of the Match Raheem Sterling put in a performance to remember, opening his account for the night with a bullet header within 8 minutes, and then set up a goal for Kane and 2 more for Dortmund’s wunderkind

Photo source: Cartilage Free Captain

Jadon Sancho’s first ever senior international goals. This win extends England’s

cross into his own net in the 59 th minute to make it 2-1 to Russia. Their misery was

have to ‘win nearly every game now,’ to have a hope of qualifying for Euro 2020.

only worsened in their next fixture following a 4-0 loss at home against Belgium. Man City midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne set up 3 goals and scored a sublime fourth. Scotland manager Steve Clarke who has now lost 3 of his first 4 games in charge of the Scots. Meanwhile, captain and Man of the Match Gareth Bale has kept Wales’ qualifying hopes alive against Azerbaijan with a leaping header in ‘squeaky bum time’ to earn Wales an important 3 points. Despite the win, Ryan Giggs will have several questions for his team, who looked poor for large parts of the game. Giggs admitted that Wales would

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland were beaten by a resurgent Germany, who overtook them in the table on goal difference, jeopardising the Green and White Army’s qualifying hopes. Northern Ireland were the better team for large parts of the game but failed to capitalise on their early dominance. QPR reject Connor Washington was the main culprit. Marcel Halstenberg punished their wastefulness with a stunning half-volley in the 48th minute and ex-Arsenal player Serge Gnabry tucked home the second to ensure German victory.

Photo credits: BBC News

unbeaten record in Euro and World Cup qualifiers to a monumental 43 games, since losing 1-0 to Ukraine in October 2009. In other home nation news, Scotland continued their abysmal international form by losing 2-1 against Russia in their first game of the international break. Having initially gone 1-0 up against Russia, after Aston Villa’s John McGinn tapped in an open goal for his first international strike, Scotland threw their lead away as a result of their defensive incompetence. Dzyuba snatched the equaliser and O’Donnell put Aleksandr Golovin’s

The long, lazy days of summer are over and term time has begun. Welcome to all students old and new! At Danehurst, we have spent the last ten years developing purpose-built accommodation for students at RHUL, the very first in the area. Through our previous developments, The Pad and Podium on Egham Hill, hundreds of fellow students have enjoyed unbeatable facilities, all set in a stylish, stress-free, safe and fun environment. We are very proud of our previous schemes and feel excited about whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to comeâ&#x20AC;Ś..watch this space! Enjoy the coming term from all of us at Danehurst.