The Founder September 2021

THE FOUNDER September 2021

JOEL DAVIES | CONTENT WRITER

Climate Migration: A Dire Forecast

It is not just a developing world problem either – much of Miami, Florida is expected to need to relocate by 2050 at current rates – 455,000 people and rising according to the IPCC. The city of Orlando, Florida is already planning to accept Floridians when the inevitable relocation occurs, but it is only a matter of time before Orlando is threatened by flooding too. It is not the elegant modern skyscrapers in Miami we need to worry about being submerged – it is the one-fifth of Miami-Dade County that lives below the poverty line.

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n a year of great change and catastrophe, migration has once again been propelled to the top of the British news agenda. Tense discussions surrounding the number of Channel crossings and the perceived reluctance of our government to resettle Afghan refugees have highlighted the fact that the UK’s indecision over immigration was decisively not put to rest by Brexit.

In such stressful times, it is easy to get swept up in the common rhetoric surrounding migration – that these people are fleeing inevitable wars in naturally violent regions or seeking better economic opportunities in more fortunate countries. Media discourse frequently disregards the complex explanations for migration, opting for these easy and harmful narratives, while ignoring an oncoming crisis with a cause few are preparing to tackle: climate migration.

Climate refugees are an inevitability based on our current trajectory. Millions of people will become displaced throughout the world over the next century, Source: Tabitha Turner even with mitigation strategies in place. The entire population of the Maldives – currently 531,000 people Elsewhere in Asia, Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is being relocated further inland as its groundwater resources - are expected to be displaced by 2100 by rising sea have been depleted to such an extent that the city is levels. physically sinking.

As historical trends have proven, the Global South will carry the burden of the refugee crisis, and the burden will especially fall on poorer and marginalised communities within states. Without intervention from the richer governments of the world, this will soon become untenable in unstable states, creating further security risks to the Western alliance system, as well as facilitating further destruction and human rights abuses worldwide.

As citizens of the country that kickstarted the Industrial Revolution, we have an obligation to create a respectful and efficient system for dealing with this refugee crisis, and to resist the urge to close our doors.

Index

News....................................................................................2 Features................................................................................5 Opinion And Debate............................................................8 Lifestyle..............................................................................12 Arts: Arts and Culture........................................................15 Arts: Literary Reviews.......................................................17 Arts: Film...........................................................................21 Arts: Music.........................................................................23 Sports..................................................................................26

Continued on p.8 The ‘F-Word’: The Return of Fascism in Modern Politics P. 10

Editor's Note P.14

Magical Raducanu Dazzles in New York Dream P.30

2 NEWS Scottish Green Party Secure Place in National Government ANANYA KRISHNA | CONTENT WRITER

THE FOUNDER September 2021

The Founder Board 2021 - 2022 Editor in Chief Abra Heritage editor@thefounder.co.uk

Managing Editor Robert Matthews managingeditor@thefounder.co.uk

Publishing & Creative Designer Ali Krausova designer@thefounder.co.uk

Source: Flickr

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These are the immediate short-term effects of this agreement, but what exactly does this mean for the future of Scotland?

The government is making a conscious effort to continue battling the environmental issues which face our current world, however seeing these promises through to their fullest potential would be too naïve. Points of conflict between the SNP and Green Party already exist, particularly in regard to developments in economic growth, aviation, field sports, private schools, road building and oil and gas extraction.

Having 83% of the votes in favour of the deal is historic. The Whilst it is said that compromises have been reached in relation to the latter two topics, there is no assurance that Green party will be represented the other points of conflict will be reached in the same in national government for the fashion or even if these solutions made to these tensions first time. The inclusion of the will be temporary or permanent. Additionally, no real details two Green ministers back up or steps have been released regarding the promises of the Sturgeon’s policies surrounding alliance. Former Green leader, Robin Harper, criticised the climate change and ecological agreement for the “vague promises” and its compromising decline. This is an important of the core values of the party. move following backlash the SNP first minister faced This agreement certainly has the potential to revolutionise following the Cop26 Summit Scotland’s governmental system and may influence many where the actions of Boris eco-centred and independence focussed policies in the future.

Johnson undermined the purpose Yet it is foolish to be too optimistic when politics is involved. of summit but focussing more Power corrupts, and it is too often that we have seen real life on the SNP’s focus on Scottish examples of this. Perhaps the Green Party are in a suitable Independence. This addition alliance with the SNP, or perhaps in ten years it would have demonstrates a harmonious morphed into something unrecognisable to what it is today. co-existence between a fight Whether this will be a historic or historical agreement, we for Scottish Independence and cannot predict. One can only hope that it is the later. against the effects of climate change.

NP and Green Party members recently took part in a vote on 28th August which secured the Green Party’s place in national government with co-leaders, Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie, becoming ministers.

News Editor Harriet Whitaker

Illustrator Tabitha Turner

news@thefounder.co.uk

illustrator@thefounder.co.uk

Features Editor Sela Musa

Arts Editor Isabel West

features@thefounder.co.uk

arts@thefounder.co.uk

Opinon and Debate Editor George Woods

Literary Review Editor

opinion@thefounder.co.uk

literaryreview@thefounder.co.uk

Lifestyle Editor Cyann Fielding

Music Editor Finn Murphy

lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

music@thefounder.co.uk

Sports Editor Oli Gent

Film Editor Tilley Bennett

sportseditor@thefounder.co.uk

film@thefounder.co.uk

Liam Elvish

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 2021

Storm Ida Causes Record Breaking Rainfall in North East America

as a result of fossil fuels and other anthropogenic activities, are the reason behind the t least 64 people are surge in the number of highsaid to have died across intensity hurricanes in recent multiple states due to Storm years.

Climate scientists Ida, which has swept across have highlighted how 20 wide-ranging areas of New years ago, a storm of this York and New Jersey, where intensity would have been a state of emergency has been extremely rare; however, called. Other states severely as the atmosphere warms, affected by the storm providing ideal conditions include Louisiana, Virginia, for intense rainfall, extreme Connecticut and Maryland. storm events could become The storm has undoubtedly more common in the future. caused immense damage across the east coast, with Data suggests that the homes, infrastructure and farms among those destroyed formation of Hurricane Ida and one million people out of was significantly influenced by the high temperatures in power in Louisiana alone. the Gulf of Mexico, which is estimated in parts to be three Record-breaking levels to five degrees Fahrenheit of rainfall have occurred, higher on average than the end with 80mm of rain falling of the 20th century. Climate in Central Park in an hour scientists have expressed how on Wednesday night (2nd the heat energy from the Gulf August), exceeding the last exacerbates the magnitude record of 49mm during the of the storm. Sea surface aftermath of Tropical Storm temperatures rose significantly Henri the previous month. as the hurricane escalated New York City Mayor Bill nearer to the east coast, allowing de Blasio has described it as wind speeds to reach 75 miles a “historic weather event”. per hour only 24 hours after Wednesday was the first time being recognised as a tropical a ‘flash flood emergency’ had depression on Thursday been issued for New York (26th August). However, City, indicating that severe as conditions intensified, flooding presents a significant by Saturday (28th August), threat to human life and Storm Ida was identified as causes severe damage in a Category 2 storm as winds densely populated regions. reached 105 miles per hour, later peaking at 150 miles per In his address to the hour on Sunday (29th August). nation, President Biden ROBYN SPINK | CONTENT WRITER

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highlighted that Storm Ida is a “reminder that these extreme storms and the climate crisis are here”, reinforcing the need to “better prepare and act”.

Scientists have said that the abnormally high temperatures caused by climate change,

President Biden has committed to supporting communities affected by Storm Ida, providing $100 million to residents in Louisiana. Whilst visiting New Orleans, he also highlighted the need for investment in burying

power lines underground under his infrastructure legislation in order to limit the human impact on climate.

9/11: Twenty Years On

HARRIET WHITAKER | NEWS EDITOR

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his month marks 20 years since one of the world’s most notoriously devastating terrorist attacks, known and remembered as 9/11. On 11th September 2001, 19 Al Qaeda associates hijacked four aeroplanes, two of which hit the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City and two further afield in Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. These attacks were responsible for almost 3000 deaths. As a response, the US intervened in Afghanistan after Osama Bin Laden failed to be handed over. They vowed to protect the country militarily, removing terrorist threats and advocating democracy.

Now, 20 years after, The Taliban are victorious as they gain control over Afghanistan.

Celebrations of the swift US withdrawal have been taking place all over the country, with fireworks and gunfire. The departure from Afghanistan is a result of a deal made between the US government and the Taliban during Trump’s presidency, agreeing to the removal of all US troops by May 2021.

Source: Wikimedia President Biden kept this deal intact, but pushed the exit date back by four months, so all troops would be home by the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Major General Chris Donahue was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan on August 31st, as he boarded a cargo plane. This evacuation took place after the Taliban captured Kabul on 15 August, and before they had total control over Kabul airport. During the 18 days since then, the US made efforts to fly 123,000 people out of Afghanistan, 6000 of these being American citizens. Despite this, it was not possible to evacuate all who wanted to be.This marks the end of the 20year US mission to protect Afghanistan from the Militant Sunni Islamist group al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama Bin Laden, who was under the protection of the Taliban at the time.

The question now is: how will the terrorist group govern the country? Will the Afghan people have rights and political freedom? Will women have the rights they are entitled to?

Speaking to Sky News, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen claimed: “we are committed to women’s rights, to work and to freedom of speech, in light of our Islamic rules.”

However there remain fears for women’s rights, such as their freedom to dress and work.

4 NEWS

THE FOUNDER September 2021

Texans Lose the Right to Accessible Abortions ABRA HERITAGE | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Source: Adam Fagen, Flickr

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n September 1, The Texas Heartbeat Act was enacted. Abortions in Texas are now illegal as soon as foetal cardiac activity can be detected, which normally lands around six weeks into a pregnancy.

The act was signed into law in May 2021 by Governor Greg Abbot. This was challenged by rights groups such as Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, requesting action from the Supreme Court to block the legislation. The Supreme Court 5-4 vote and subsequent denial of the order left these demands unsatisfied, allowing the law to remain in effect.

The abortion law will make no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from incest or rape. It also gives any individual the right to sue doctors who perform an abortion past the detection of a foetal heartbeat. Those involved in aiding pregnant people to have an abortion past this point, such as medical staff, or a patient’s Uber diver, can also be sued. Those who go to civil court against anyone involved in an abortion process may now seek up to $10,000 in damages.

The law amounts to an almost complete ban on abortion in Texas, as over 85% of previous abortion procedures in the state happened after the sixth week of pregnancy.

Those who wish to have an abortion after six weeks will now have to cross state lines, making people without transport or funds to travel particularly at risk. Unsafe abortion procedures are expected to rise, which already account for between 4.7% and 13.2% of maternal deaths (WHO) each year. Researchers at the University of Texas clam that the law would particularly affect Black patients and people living on low incomes. Even before the six-week ban, many Texans were delayed in obtaining abortions because of funding, time, and travel restraints.

Many pregnant people will not know they have conceived at the six-week mark. Medically, the pregnancy clock begins from the day of a person’s last period. This means that if a person has a 28day menstrual cycle, they would be four weeks pregnant on the first day of their missed period, allowing two weeks to confirm pregnancy, think about a decision, book an abortion procedure, and travel to a clinic. Those with irregular periods, insufficient funds for pregnancy testing, or people who don’t track their cycles, will have a very high chance of passing the six-week mark before they even know that they are pregnant. Even those who are able to detect pregnancies very early and seek medical help to perform an abortion may still be unable to obtain abortions, as appointments may not be available for several days or even weeks at certain abortion facilities.

Charities such as Lilith Fund, Texas Equal Access Fund, Clinic Access Support Network, and The Bridge Collective are still fighting to make reproductive rights a reality in Texas, and President Joe Biden is directing the White House gender policy council “to ensure that women in Texas have access to safe and legal abortions”. As the law stands, however, millions of pregnant people in Texas have now lost the right to choose.

Decolonisation and Museums: What Do They Do? T AELIYA RAZVI | CONTENT WRITER

he move towards decolonisation has only begun recently with the newly gained awareness that has been brought towards the systemic racism that is seen to be present within certain institutions. With the tragic murder of George Floyd, protests were seen to erupt in multiple countries around the world, the United Kingdom at the forefront of these as the British public called out the fact that the racism that had a hand in killing George Floyd was not confined to the United States. With this came another movement

FEATURES 5

THE FOUNDER September 2021 that identified monuments that represented Britain’s imperial past and demanded they be removed.

The most public display of this resistance was shown in the public’s removal and decimation of the Edward Colston Statue as he was known to have been a member of the Royal African Company which led him to trade tens of thousands of slaves. This symbolised the decolonisation of the streets of Britain that then led to many other institutions also being willing to purge themselves of the colonial remnants that remained within their system in an effort to try and combat the racism that had been present in them for so long. We have seen this in educational institutions, like universities and businesses as well as workplaces. In these areas, although it is not an easy task, decolonisation theoretically will lead to improvement but for institutions like Museums, especially British Museums, decolonisation is a loaded endeavour that requires a lot of contemplation before a pathway is forged.

Many museums have artefacts from all around the world, the British Museum itself containing a multitude of different country’s artefacts. The vital question that presents itself when looking at the vast collections from former colonies that exist in the British Museum, is whether we should be allowed to keep these given the circumstances they have been taken under. The reality of the situation is that many of these artefacts were taken when colonies were still under imperial British rule, so the level of consent that was given is questionable at best and non-existent at worst. To many people, the withholding of these artefacts from their countries of origin to this day shows a refusal to acknowledge and make amends for Britain’s colonial past. A past that snatched away the opportunity for millions of people to have a rich and beautiful past of their own.

Why Can’t I Be a Fairy, Miss Smith?

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MOLLY AINLEY | CONTENT WRITER

What do you want to be when you are older?’, would be asked when we were only five.

Like a song stuck in your head, we sang it over and over until our brains would hurt.

‘I do not know’, we quietly reply.

Of course, at that age the world is so big you wish to do anything and all of it: the scary and the bad.

We felt invincible, like superman.

Source: Wikimedia Commons An effort is now being made to further the repatriation of artefacts – return them to their nations of origins - but only in France where President Emmanuel Macron called for a change in law recommending all African works that were taken illegally to be returned to their respective nations. The British Museum remains silent on returning the many colonial era objects that are still behind its doors.

However, while repatriation is a process that is yet to be engaged in widely, other ways to educate people about the reality of artefacts within the museum have been underway and even welcomed by the British Museum specifically. Alice Procter’s Uncomfortable Arts Tours started in June 2017 and invites the small groups she takes to question the history and origin of objects and images as well notions of Britain’s empirical past in relation to them. Alice stated that she has never been stopped by the museum, and a recent statement released by the museums association with regards to decolonization indicates that it supports any effort to educate people on the real past of object and works, which seems like a step in the right direction. But is it enough?

As I grow, I wish we had never been asked.

The pressure and the realisation we must decide is terrifying because what if I changed my mind? I thought that my uncertainty would be a flaw, that if I did not decide in that singular moment my life would forever be doomed. I now realise that I have friends who will have said vet but currently do art.

Likewise, I have friends who said art that currently do science. They are all alright.

From the age of five, we face challenges, and sadness, and excitement, and inspiration which moulds our dreams. As said by Katie Martin, “Early messages about what is valued and what is accepted in both family and in social circles are translated by reactions to this question” (Martin, 2017), the simple question becomes an everlasting dialogue

between society and child; a need to choose a ‘good’ career. In the last decade, it has become clear that pressure, from any young age, is dangerous for mental health and selfesteem, yet there is pressure over what we will be before we can even spell career.

I like to change my answer even now (got to keep my Grandparents on their toes; ‘will she change her mind or will she not?’). The point is, you do not have to decide. Why should our joy be dependent on what we want to be when we are children? Can my goal not be happiness and love and success? I would love to be a teacher or a writer, but I am at peace with that evolving.

Source: Drawn by Hannah Nevis, 19, the illustration is her take on the discussed ideas. As an artist doing fine art she has experienced judgement for her future plans, and feels a level of frustration towards the question of what she wants to be, and the false reality that everyone will have ‘stereotypical’ jobs.

6 FEATURES

THE FOUNDER September 2021

I do not think five-year-old me would have foreseen me as a member of The Founder, and she definitely would not have seen me at Royal Holloway, University of London. But she also did not like quavers, so she is not the smartest.

It is okay to not know where you are going, contrary to many teachers who told me I should. I think the feeling of being a little bit lost is okay because you are enabled to explore options. In conclusion, ‘What do you want to be when you are older?’ should become a bad phrase and I think our five-year-old selves would be proud. There is an enchantment in letting yourself figure it out.

Oh, and Miss Smith never did tell me why being a fairy is not realistic.

A Cornerstone of Free Speech RUBY EASTON | CONTENT WRITER

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n 399 BC at the trial of Socrates, he announced, “'If you offered to let me off this time on condition I am not any longer to speak my mind... I should say to you, ‘Men of Athens, I shall obey the Gods rather than you.’". This resounding defence of free speech has since echoed through the centuries, and, some may argue, finds itself consolidated in a corner of Hyde Park known as Speaker’s Corner.

If you were looking for an opportunity to get up on a soapbox, this is the place to venture, although it is wise to only begin speaking if you are prepared for the intense scrutiny of the British public. Speaker’s Corner is less so a marketplace of ideas than a row of stubborn screaming matches a vast majority of the time. The site makes for a great place of entertainment, awash with religious zealots of multiple faiths promoting the truths contained in their respective religious texts; conspiracy theorists; and the occasional drifting sceptics who meander between groups to point and laugh.

This is not to say that this meeting place is merely a crosssection of lunatics, despite this being its common reputation today. Those that stand there do so in good company, frequenters of the corner included Karl Marx, George Orwell, Vladimir Lenin, and Walter Rodney, all orators of great ideas.

Protests at the treatment of the working class erupted from this same place where you may now be accosted for receiving a vaccine and allowing the Government to ‘track you’. In 1855, discussions of the Sunday Trading Bill resulted in what Marx (fairly hopefully) described as "the beginning of the English revolution", public riots rampaging through London all stemming from the unfettered conversation.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

If you wander here, however, do not assume you will be able to quietly fade into the peanut gallery. It is difficult to remain an observer. Stepping into the arena gives people an open invitation to approach, question, and convert you to their heart’s content, be prepared for the jumble of free speech to hit you at full force.

Today, Speaker’s Corner is not viewed with the reverence that you would expect for the so-called ‘oldest living free-speech platform in the world’. In fact, most reviews of the place denounce it as a meeting point for the religious to reaffirm their ideas in groups rather than feel themselves being challenged.

Often back and forth slogan chanting can be witnessed in an endless cycle of Christianity versus Islam, although, the productivity of a place like this is itself up for debate.

Nevertheless, if you want to try your hand at a spirited debate, if you wish to practise your public speaking skills, or you simply want to speak your mind (as loudly as you possibly can), there is a place for you in Hyde Park.

The Mundane Moments SELA MUSA | FEATURES EDITOR

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s the days of September unfold at a not-too-fast and nottoo-slow pace, everything the month entails and all its associations await, the images becoming less and less blurred as each day rolls over. It is the romanticising of life, the Tumblr pictures of coffee cups and turtlenecks, fineliners and days that get dark quickly, nights out, and rainy days in bed hearing the noises of housemates through the door as they make their food in the kitchen.

THE FOUNDER September 2021 I am looking forward to it. I have the twinge of curiosity of what the first couple of months will hold that I think is very difficult not to have. I am intrigued about what the modules I picked will offer to me and I like having a routine, so I am looking forward to that too. I am grateful that I can have the organisation of doing my own food shops again. The mundanity.

But summer passed so quickly and I feel unsettled. I feel unsettled because I know that my notes will only be neat for the first few days. I feel unsettled because there is so much to do in the week and every time I tick off everything on my to-do list it just starts from the beginning again. I want to have time to read what I want to read but I know that I will not. Even if I did, I would just feel guilty for not using the time to read course material anyway.

FEATURES 7 I want the time to see people from home and to facetime my mum and to do new things with my housemates, and I want the time to stay updated with the news because so many bad things are happening each day. I want to write a good dissertation. I want to be able to not wish a moment away, always anticipating the next one, and I want to escape the mentality that I just need to get that done and then things will be better. I feel unsettled because it is my final year and I know that when it is over I can only long for it, and I feel unsettled because I know that yet there is still nothing I can do about it.

I am unsettled because there are so many motions and I am afraid of getting caught in them, and I am unsettled because I worry that the lockdown days of last year have tainted my bedroom and I will be unable to depart from those associations.

I want to have all the fun times and I know that I will, but I also want good grades and I want to be able to read a set reading and not be counting how many pages are left. I know that it is about balance and that I will find it, but it is not really about that.

I think, above all, I am unsettled because once it begins there is no way to stop it. The days will roll over so elegantly into weeks and months, and I will always just be waiting for that lecture to be done, oblivious to the fact that the time is so subtly floating away. Nights out will blend into hungover days and having one day out just means cramming work into the next one. The routine cannot be paused for a breath, and I find that a strange concept to comprehend.

Source: Sela Musa, Pictures of My Garden

Source: Tabitha Turner

8 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER September 2021

Continued from the front page:

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hile we are becoming attuned to the consequences of global warming in Europe, facing tragic floods and scorching heat simultaneously this summer, the rest of the world has been taking a battering for the better part of a decade. We are now, as a society, playing catch-up with the consequences of our own development, and we need to work fast.

The UK and European Union urgently need to prepare for an influx of climate refugees, and our civil societies need to recognise our responsibility to accept people. It is entirely possible to house and protect many more people than our nations currently accept. With an urgent restructuring of the housing systems in our country, multilateral efforts to introduce higher wealth and corporation taxes, and investment in green and efficient systems, this challenge could be met. It will take great change, of course, and will be met with large opposition, but these efforts will provide the UK with a desperately needed opportunity to demonstrate world leadership.

to form relationships with them, but the fact of the matter is that these beliefs have had growing support since they first emerged and has serious supporters who are willing to take up arms due to what is perpetuated by this theory.

California, Toronto, and Florida have all had killings with motivations tracing back to this sinister form of misogyny. So, why aren’t we doing anything to tackle it? The Plymouth shooting itself had very limited coverage and only recently have the police even started looking into reclassifying the attack as terrorism. Even the attacks in the States and Canada have not resulted in any long-term government initiatives or policies to combat this radicalisation of young men, and that is what it boils down to at the end of the day.

Inceldom is a radically hateful theory that endangers not only women’s lives but everyone’s the longer it is ignored. We need to change that mindset otherwise the Plymouth shooting will not be the last tragedy, but rather the first in a long list of lost lives.

It is possible that the unpredictable hand of fate will allow cooperation on this issue to repair the cross-channel relationship, as the UK’s eternal indecision on its relationship with the world goes full circle once again.

The Growing Terror of Incel Culture

AELIYA RAZVI | CONTENT WRITER

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he recent tragedy in Plymouth has led to an increased scrutinization of the way in which young men are engaging with a certain corner of the internet known as ‘Incel Culture’. Inceldom is an online subculture that is filled with men who describe themselves as involuntary celibates, in other words men who desire sex but are unable to get it due to the way society has supposedly conditioned women to find them conventionally unattractive, therefore barring them from having an intimate relationships.

The dangers of this culture have been recently flagged after an analysis of Jack Davison’s, the Plymouth shooter, internet usage and history which found a strange fascination with this ideology. From active participation in perpetuating harmful theories from the Incel culture on his social media to making reddit posts three months before his attacks admitting to reading about the blackpill, it is safe to say that Davison was very familiar with the intricacies of Inceldom and may have even felt understood by it.

This is perpetuated by the supposed Blackpill.

This is the belief by some in the Incel community that some men are born at a genetic disadvantage to other men due to a premade social hierarchy.

It is an extremely isolating theory that otherises men who may relate to the experiences it describes. More insidiously, it removes any hope someone who may believe in this has for an intimate and romantic relationship with a woman. This can lead to a hatred of women themselves by some of these men, as the blame for the societal hierarchy that has placed them at the bottom is traced back to all women and the idea that women are shallow minded, only going for “chads”, another Incel term referring to conventionally attractive males.

It is clear to anyone who reads into the Incel ideology that it is entrenched in misogyny from men who believe women are at the root of all their problems, and who refuse to take accountability for their behaviour. In all likelihood it is these men’s refusal to change that is the real reason women are not inclined

Withdrawing the Troops: How This Adds to the History of Failed Conquering Afghanistan ANANYA KRISHNA | CONTENT WRITER

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iden's decision to withdraw troops has been the most pressing international news over the past couple of months. Most media outlets have concluded that this choice, leading to Taliban comeback, has contributed to the rising human rights violations now occurring, especially to women and children. Yet, what does Afghanistan's history of failed invasions from empires play, and how does this shed light on Biden's decision?

The Financial Times (June 16th) states that the withdrawal of troops adds to "a long list of the world's greatest powers whose missions in Afghanistan failed" and re-establishes the country as a graveyard of empires. But how exactly did the country earn this title? Alexander the Great is one of the more well-known early conquerors to have invaded Afghanistan; the first account was Darius the I of Babylon in 500 B.C. The list grew to add others such as Genghis Khan in the 13th Century, Britain in the 20th Century, the Soviet Union throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, and the United States. Unlike any other country on Earth, Afghanistan still lives off the same tribal ideals built upon, and its history almost mimics the land itself; stubborn and robust. This tribalistic quality is brought out when discussing the history of Afghanistan and is always the reason for no signs of long-term change in the nation.

THE FOUNDER September 2021

OPINION AND DEBATE 9

Every attempt to occupy Afghanistan has ended in the same way; the Afghan people fought off the occupying body.

Focussing more on the modern examples, all three withdrew from Afghanistan for the same reason – the consequences occupying Afghanistan had on their resources. The former U.S. Ambassador and Special Envoy for Afghanistan Peter Tomsen has argued that American policymakers still do not understand Afghanistan, nor do they appreciate the effect western intervention has on extremism. You cannot fight fire with fire; primarily when Afghanistan still utilises the same qualities it was built upon. Their ability to fight back against external forces will have only strengthened throughout their history, especially as various nations throughout history, with different approaches and ideals, have tried and failed. Afghanistan's strength is in its past whilst most countries draw it from their present and future, which accounts for the difference in perspective, almost akin to speaking two different languages. Attempting to create change with this vast difference in outlook would come across as condescending to the Afghanistan state provoking their fight instinct.

This response has only grown in the last 20 years. As the Hindu Times points out, the Taliban now have "a unique advantage of having acquired monopoly of state power," which allows little room for the public to freely voice their no-confidence in the state, but also for foreign attempts to lend help. The lack of continuous effort to establish a more cohesive and progressive environment in Afghanistan has created the space for the Taliban to gain more power and expand into

into the nation's political sphere. Whilst America has been struggling to concoct how to occupy Afghanistan since 9/11 effectively, the Taliban created powerful roots in the country that American troops cannot weed.

As the proverb goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

As Afghanistan has shown throughout history, they aren’t ready yet to drink the water representative of nation building and governing centred on progressive ideals which clash with the beliefs which are the foundation of their country.

Source: Getty Images

Should We Start Grieving for Humanity’s Previous World and Environments?

Furthermore, with many of the elected members of the conservative parties receiving criticism for the irony of their ith the UK due to host the upcoming actions, it does question how many if, UN Cop26 meeting across late October buts, and maybes are used to counter and mid-November, it is a nightmarish thought our environmental plans and whether that environmental action is not occurring at a our government is willing to follow their propositions. Namely, Boris Johnson’s quicker rate than climate change. arrival at Cornwall’s G7 summit sparked controversy over how environmentally Over twelve days of conversations in Glasgow, conscious his use of a private plane the UK will head the 26th Conference was, with many calculating how much of the Parties with the hope of providing unnecessary carbon was generated strengthened plans that align with the goals from his journey. Despite the continued included in the 2015 Paris Agreement. As fatalistic and foreboding descriptions discussed alongside the requirements of the of the environmental consequences, it Paris Agreement, parties should be providing is both the approaches and vacillating an updated five-year national proposal to opinions of politicians that result in idle, reflect their methods of reducing emissions. unclear and ineffective plans of action.

However, in recent months, the Paris Agreement has attracted more media coverage over the United States’ decision for withdrawal With current environmental activists and readmittance alongside the change in such as Greta Thunberg providing brutal governance than the original goals themselves. accounts of the environment’s present This is particularly alarming as the United and future states, has society’s response States of America is ranked as the secondto her warning speeches differed from largest emitter of carbon dioxide after China.

David Attenborough’s previous attempts?

EMILY RODRIGUES | CONTENT WRITER

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It does not seem to be the case. Despite the different approaches from a variety of activists, it appears our global ‘effort’ has resulted in a minuscule effect and rather than being back to square one, arguably we have never resided anywhere else.

As the president of the upcoming Conference of the Parties, Alok Sharma is responsible for investigating the progress of global plans to reduce carbon emissions. A significant piece of evidence that will inevitably be discussed is the recent report by the IPCC on the correlation between extreme weather, the climate crisis, and consequential disasters. The report has highlighted a requirement for a rapid turnover as temperatures are set to rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius resulting in catastrophic extreme weather. The IPCC warns that during the upcoming Cop26 meeting, targeted NDCs (nationally determined contributions) must result in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and preventative methods against rising global temperatures.

The unsettling findings of the report demonstrate that globally, entirely irreversible damage awaits the future of humankind, the Earth and its environments.

When in previous diagrams, 2030 has been stated as the target year and decade to achieve climate crisis goals, is it realistically possible for global efforts to demonstrate enough positive change in the nine years left?

10 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER September 2021

The ‘F-Word’: The Return of Fascism in Modern Politics

JACK EDWARDS | CONTENT WRITER

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xtremities within politics have always, and will always, exist. As long as someone has an opinion there will always be someone ready to contest it.

Though it is hard to believe that in the twenty first century political radicalism exists, it is now taking centre stage in many countries across the globe. The COVID pandemic, far from uniting political opponents, has only worsened these sentiments in pushing people to extremes. One of these extremes being fascism.

Whilst it is perhaps hard to see the infection of fascism growing within modern politics it is not impossible. Within academia there is still a contested debate about what fascism truly is, however, many symptoms are evident earlier on; for example, a distain for ‘othered’ groups, strong nationalistic rhetoric, and contempt for opposition. The list goes on. In many areas these sentiments are gaining traction, and have been for the past decade, with COVID exacerbating the situation. Misinformation and crises’ during the past year and a half have pushed many already disgruntled people into the arms of radicals who promise to fix what modern governments have failed to.

For the past twenty years in western countries, like the UK and US, many liberal policies have taken the foreground in political debate.

To some this detracts from what some people see as national priorities. With Donald Trump came a wave of right-wing politics that reared its ugly head. From the ‘Unite the Right rally’ in Charlottesville, Virginia to the Capital Riots of earlier this year, Donald Trump did not fail to assert a new political thought that had not been predominant for decades. Similarly, in the UK migrant fears and economic downturns meant many were pushed to political fringes; far right parties and elements of the leave campaign have ensured a rise in xenophobia towards marginalised groups.

Ultra-nationalism and white supremacy have fuelled these rhetorics within Western countries. In other European countries, fascism and far right governments have taken control, further pushing fanatical ideologies that affect marginalised or abused groups; Poland’s attacks on women’s and LGBTQ+

Source: Flickr, Antmoose

rights, Hungary’s abuse of LGBTQ+ rights, Germany’s rise of anti-Semitic attacks, and the ever-growing fascist movement in Italy that already contradicts itself as it begs for power. Have we reached a breaking point that will see the world consumed into an Orwellian dystopia?

The answer is no, but action needs to be taken. Walden Bello writing for Foreign Policy in Focus emphasises “eroding the collective memory of 20th century fascism’s most diabolical crime must surely count as one of 21st century fascism’s biggest successes”. If we want the depravity of fascism to be stopped then people need to act now, gain knowledge on how fascism works and how it can be stopped before it starts. Ultimately, extremities within politics will always exist, but if behaviours like these are not monitored or stopped then fascism globally will continue to worsen. Fascism is returning to where it originally festered, but it is up to all of us to stop it.

OPINION AND DEBATE 11

THE FOUNDER September 2021

The Concerningly Predictable Phenomenon of Antivaxxers

The macro effects on the globe are no less devastating.

Unequal access to vaccines has divided a world in two, and the lack of a unified response has left international relations wrecked across regions. Covid-19 started as a virus, but its long shadow is beginning to be cast.

ETHAN KOSAK-HINE | CONTENT WRITER

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ince the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine, the anti-vax movement has become dangerously prevalent. But its existence is more than just predictable, as a society we share the blame for its inception.

The anti-vax movement is inherently unscientific. Any more than a surface level review of the evidence makes the claims of anti-vaxxers laughable. A common argument is that the vaccine is linked to a high number of deaths - and hence, is unsafe. The ‘evidence’ for this usually comes from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database, a tool designed by the CDC and FDA to track the early signs of any safety issues with a particular vaccine.

In the six months between December 2020 and August 2021, over 346 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the US and VAERS only received 6,490 reports of death (0.0019%) among people who received a vaccine dose.

This becomes even more underwhelming when you factor in that during this time the majority of vaccines went to the already vulnerable. To really drive the point home, the data in the VAERS database is entirely self-reported. In short, the scientific evidence supporting vaccine-hesitancy is almost implausibly weak. Anti-vaxxers show the tangible danger that humouring these beliefs can pose.

Not all beliefs are inherently harmful.

However, humouring those that lack evidence inherently trivializes logical thinking. For example, ghosts and broader beliefs in the supernatural and metaphysical are relatively harmless beliefs to hold for the most part. It is even often argued that the lack of empirical supporting evidence is irrelevant due to the comforting properties that such beliefs may hold for the believer.

Source: Spencer Davis on Unsplash

Furthermore, any argument against these extraordinary claims is often met with indignant demands that one respect others’ unsubstantiated beliefs - occasionally citing that everyone has their own 'personal truth'. On the surface this seems like quite a nice idea. However, by normalising this general lack of respect for the scientific method, it is understandable that a distrust in science and scientists may develop.

There is an alternative though. If, through education, we endorse a culture of mutual honesty and logical consistency, we can prevent the logical fallacies that lead to antivaxxers and any other anti-scientific ideas that could pose a threat to society. The truth is that no one benefits in the long run from intellectual dishonesty and ‘toleration’ of unsubstantiated claims. We all have biases and inconsistent beliefs, and we need a society that promotes the questioning of them. After all, how can we criticise antivaxxers for believing absurd claims about reality if we are unwilling to hold our own beliefs to the same level of scrutiny?

Covid-19 is Haunting the World GEORGE WOODS | OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

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he world in the last 24 months has been through a collective trauma. The Coronavirus pandemic has haunted the globe and left a world shaken, less confident, and more unequal than ever. For some, close loved ones have had their life cruelly cut short.

For others, lockdown has meant isolation and mental decline – and with reports in I newspaper of a potential October lockdown, the spectre of this dismal life is starting to be seen on the horizon.

The physical impacts of Covid have become a stark reality of our times. As of the 8th September, according to government figures, 133 000 people have lost their lives to Covid. This is more than the civilian casualty figures of the First and Second World War put together. As well as mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, this figure includes those who were a beacon of hope during the isolation of lockdown. Captain Tom Moore, whose 100th birthday walk for the National Health Service bought joy across the country, died himself of Covid-19 on the 2nd February 2021. Rather than the end of Covid being in the news mark a new, sunny chapter from which the United Kingdom can rebound, the next phase seems bleak.

The physical toll of Covid-19 is not merciful and is twinned by its equally deadly counterpart: the mental toll. In June 2020, according to the ONS report, 19% of adults experienced some form of depression. In a time of ever dwindling mental health resources, a growth of 1 in 5 people with depression can only be described as a mental health emergency. The government over the next 5 years will be facing the dual dilemma of balancing the national books while also having to contend with a complete collapse in the mental zeitgeist of the nation. Even more worrying is the unequal nature of this crisis. Young women, who as a demographic have had to contend with collective trauma following the killing Sarah Everard, face the greatest mental health challenge with over 4 in 10 having depression.

Resources are scarce but are going to have to be focussed.

The idea of this government being able to successfully face this challenge, with its track record of underfunding mental health services, does not inspire much hope.

The global impact of Covid is no less catastrophic.

Wealthier western nations were easily able to acquire vaccines – despite the slowness of the EUs acquisition.

However, those with less geopolitical power have not been able to compete with the economic giants.

Huge swathes of Africa and South America have been left with few vaccines resulting in Covid rampaging through their nations. In a divided world, this unequal access has been a matter of life and death.

The coronavirus pandemic had obvious immediate impacts. The loss of lives, the tanking of the global economy and the restrictions of freedoms. However, the longer-term impacts will be just as stark. We’ll continue to lose loved ones. We’ll continue to face the trauma of the last 24 months. And we’ll still be haunted by Covid-19.

12 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER September 2021

Key Workers During the Pandemic: Something Needs to Change KENZA GARMZI | CONTENT WRITER

D

uring the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a social change that has been previously unheard of: attitudes to key workers. For the first time, the importance of predominantly lower-paid workers role in society has been made clear. People and big companies have placed billboards and created small deals for these key workers throughout the pandemic. However, most of this action has been, at best, inadequate and at worst, performative. The two are closer to being as bad as each other and presents a silent reality surrounding attitudes towards workers and the damaging impact this has on humanity.

During the pandemic, the already rich made millions through manipulating money during an economic crash which pushed the number of those in poverty worldwide to 150 million according to the world bank. Whilst the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

A typical result for a capitalist economic system.

This seems even more dystopian when you realize that even a global pandemic, which left millions with their lives, livelihood and loved ones lost, can’t stop the ever-growing force of the ‘free market’ help make millionaires billionaires.

The wealthy used the money on hand and utilized the unequal bailouts to their advantage by investing in the stock market that was bouncing back. The federal reserve later dropped interest rates to 0, this lasted for a decade which caused low point investments to return – according to the Treasury - 4.62 times their original investment turning $1000 into $4620 and $1000000 into $4620000. Small businesses having to shut down during COVID-19 and a collapsing stock market created the perfect conditions for the wealthy to take advantage of similar government programs which were formed to bail out banks and businesses.

Where does this leave key workers? Key workers make up a part of the workforce that cannot work from home and are some of the lowest paid in society, despite providing a service that arguably upholds our society. Furthermore, their work is some of the most stigmatized in our society, which regularly looks down upon key workers such as cleaners and refuse collectors. Where would we be, as a society, without the people who put food on our shelves, provide healthcare or educate our youth? The government cheers the NHS on whilst simultaneously refusing to raise NHS workers’ pay, until immense public pressure to do so. Performative gestures are a crucial part of keeping disillusioned members of society feel as though they are being heard when this is quite the opposite.

Business Insider has given three examples of the rich get richer during other times of crisis. The 2007 housing crisis and stock market crash caused government aid to rise by seven hundred billion to purchase devalued assets from banks which were then used to reduce inerest for homeowners who were largely affected by the Great Recession.

Source: Getty Images

Ultimately, workers’ roles in society needs a societal revolution if we are to process into a situation in which people work for their enjoyment and not just for their boss’s profit motive. This means increasing minimum wages, making it harder for people to manipulate money into a fortune, and less government cuts to fields it deems ‘unimportant’. Overall, just respecting people’s work even if it isn’t academic or ‘aspirational’ in our current societies’ point of view. They benefit as they are treated with dignity and respect and other workers benefit from their inevitably high-quality work as a result. Every worker’s role in society is what upholds its very existence.

LIFESTYLE 13

THE FOUNDER September 2021

How to Care for Your Skin During the Madness that is Fresher’s Week MAHEEN SHARIFF | CONTENT WRITER

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resher’s week is upon us!

Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of year again where freshly administered students around the UK move into university. For some people, fresher’s week is their first time going to university and living away from home. For others, they are moving into their accommodation and are attending fresher’s week events to distract themselves from the reality that they are in fact, no longer a fresher and that they might have actual responsibilities… *shudders*. Regardless of what position you are in, fresher’s week can be a stressful time for everybody which means whatever skincare routine we may or may not have previously had, takes quite the hit. Here are some simple yet effective ways of looking after your skin that do not break the bank account.

1.

DRINK WATER This one is self-explanatory and might sound obvious, but it honestly is the best thing you can do. During fresher’s week you will most likely be doing lots of walking and/or going out in the evenings. Make sure to sip as much water as you can during the day to ensure your body is getting that hydration it needs.

A great piece of advice is to invest in a two-liter water bottle. Aim to finish it every day and watch the difference in your skin and energy levels during the week.

2. FACE MASKS Who does not love a face mask? They are the most wonderful thing to come home to after a long day; especially when they are peel off ones and you get to hear that gorgeous peeling sound.

Some affordable ones include: - Garnier pure active charcoal mask - Loreal clay masks Both are easily accessible from Tesco’s or Superdrug located on Egham high street. However, if you decide you do not want to spend your money on face masks a wonderful way of cleaning your skin is to simply take a hot shower. The heat will act as a natural facial treatment and will open your pores and therefore cleanse them.

3. DO NOT SLEEP IN MAKEUP

If you take away anything from this article, it is this one right here.

Never ever sleep in your makeup. All the dirt and bacteria from your night out will get nice and comfortable in your pores, leading to breakouts and irritation due to the dirt build up. Here is the best recommendation: 1. Micellar water

2. Double cleanse with your face wash 3. Moisturise

Lastly… relax! Of course, it is easier said than done, but fresher’s week looks different for everyone. Some people go on a week-long drinking bender, whilst some people attend a few day events (such as the plant sale hosted by our wonderful Student Union) and then enjoy their evenings in bed with a cuppa. Either way, if you feel mentally relaxed, you are safe, and you enjoy yourself - then you are doing just fine.

Ten Tips for Decorating Your University Room

CYANN FIELDING | LIFESTYLE EDITOR

1

. Fairy lights/LEDs are a must Student Halls’ lighting can be… well, not the best. They are either too bright, too dim or flicking with some sort of annoying noise (this is unless you are in George Eliot where you have the luxury of holding your light switch down to dim the lights). In addition, when you are tucked up in bed chilling, the last thing you want is bright lights in your face that do everything but make you feel cosy. Here’s where LEDs and fairy lights come in. Whichever you chose is personal preference, but fairy lights give a nice warm glow – perfect for autumn and winter, whereas LEDs make your room a singular colour – or alternating colours – to make it feel vibey and fun. Fairy lights and LEDs will help your room to become cosy at night and fun when you are getting ready for a night out – a definite must for every student.

2.

Pick a colour scheme

A lot of students tend to just bring stuff from home and throw it into their room ending up with a multitude of colours clashing and complimenting each other simultaneously. To make your room feel extra special, opt for a colour scheme (typically one, two or three different colours). This will help your room to feel cohesive and a happy environment for you to spend your time in. It will also just be aesthetically impressive to any new friends that see it.

3.

Make sure you have plenty of cushions and blankets

Simple and easy… But very crucial for the cold winter months and for movie nights with friends in your house.

14 LIFESTYLE 4.

10.

Personalise things

Personalising things does not just apply to your room, but all your things (kitchen accessories). To differentiate your things from other peoples’, opt for different colours, funky designs etc. Then for your room, maybe decorate your door with a whiteboard or a sign with your name on it. Anything to make it feel truly like your home.

5.

Have numerous decorations

Again, this one is self-explanatory, but decorations help to finish a room. This could be postcards or posts, candles (but not burning them), pottery etc. Anything that helps to define your room as yours and make you feel at home really helps.

6.

THE FOUNDER September 2021

Put up photos of family and friends

A simple but effective decoration. Plus, it is nice to see family photos when you are so far from home.

7.

Make sure to get some plant friends

8.

Ikea, Wilko and Amazon are your best friends

9.

Invest in storage boxes

There is a plant market that usually happens in fresher’s week and is hosted by the Student Union, so head to this. Plants make a great accessory to a room that liven it with green, and make you feel like you have some responsibility.

For all the above points, these stores are your best options. Honestly, if you have Amazon Prime you will use it every day for all your bedroom and kitchen supply needs.

Even though you have just brought everything to university in boxes, you will want and need storage boxes in your room. Think ones to go under the bed, bottom of the wardrobe or in shelves. Storage boxes are perfect for hiding seasonal things, things you need but do not use that often or even things you just do not want out, like chargers, because they look messy.

Make sure to have an abundance of blue tack/white tack and command strips

When in halls, the number one rule is ‘to not stick things on the walls’ but if you are planning on all the above, a lot require some sort of sticking method to a wall. With white tack (arguably better than blue tack because you cannot see it) and command strips you can stick things on the walls without a worry of the paint chipping off at the end of the year.

Editor's Note

ABRA HERITAGE | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The academic year of 2020/21 was characterised by disruption, a sense of unknowing, and for many of us, loneliness. Students once taught under one roof were spread across the globe, our sense of community and togetherness replaced by the two-tone chirp of the Microsoft Teams notification alert.

Yet for what could have been a bleak and dispiriting year, The Founder was one of my only grips on student life. Studying from home in rural Norfolk, my main connection to Royal Holloway sat in my role of Opinion & Debate editor last year. Assimilating the voices of students and working alongside editors on special editions such as our Black Lives Matter September 2020 edition, I felt continuously a part of the university. Being one hundred and twenty-eight miles from university and back in my childhood bedroom suddenly felt a little less alienating.

The UK’s current mainstream media outlets provide students with a dire and one-sided landscape to consume news. The Founder rejects these current journalistic norms and is a publication that instead combines a diverse range of voices and perspectives. This edition’s front page on climate migration, written

by Joel Davies, is an example of what’s to come from The Founder: writing focused upon social justice, world issues, the need for change, and marginalised communities that are too often forgotten by the UK’s leading broadsheets.

I feel abundantly proud and fortunate to be able to lead the team as Editor in Chief this year, and I’m incredibly excited for The Founder’s continued growth on campus. I’d like to send a thank you to our editorial team and content writers for their outstanding effort in our first edition of the academic year, and I know that the team will continue to produce incredible and inclusive work in these divisive times.

If you’d like to write for The Founder, or have any questions regarding pitching or publication, please contact Abra on editor@thefounder.co.uk.

Caption: Abra, Editor in Chief, and Laura, The Founder’s 2020/21 Designer, distributing The Founder’s September 2020 Edition.

Source: Scape, The Podium, Egham

ARTS AND CULTURE 15

THE FOUNDER September 2021

Mary Ann Evans: Heard of Her? DANIEL PEPIN| CONTENT WRITER

An ironic belief considering the universal phrase synonymous with poorly written, low brow works ‘It was a dark and stormy night’ was coined by the male Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1830.

Evans studied at Bedford College in 1850, taking classes in Ancient History, Mathematics, and Latin. Classes that left an indelible mark on her as reflected within her works – only one of Evans’ books can be correctly printed without the need of a Greek typeface. She and her work are intrinsically linked to the university and yet she has been betrayed by the very establishment that nurtured her intellect. It is absolutely paradoxical that Evans should be immortalised by a university that championed women’s right to education as George Eliot, the pseudonym she had to employ to escape the maltreatment and tyranny against female authors rather than her true, proper name. Progress already travels too leisurely; it was only last year that Evans had her work published under her own name for the first time as a part of the Reclaim Her Name publishing project which aimed to honour female writers of the past who never got their chance to be celebrated as they should have been. It has taken almost 150 years for Evans to get the recognition she wholly deserves in the literary world and it’s only just that she receives the same commemoration at her alma mater, 170 years after her enrolment. It is no longer that dark time for women’s rights and Evans’s name does not need to remain hidden behind the shadow of George Eliot, this only perpetuates the discrimination that has so fiercely been fought against. Royal Holloway ought to be at the forefront of this fight and renaming George Eliot accommodation would be a tremendous remedy to the grievance Mary Ann Evans has suffered at the hands of time and patriarchy. An improved accommodation with a name that can inspire hope, awe, and pride in many students to come.

Y

Source: Wikimedia

ou should have. Royal Holloway and Bedford New College is, at its very foundation, a college for women’s education and achievement. One of the first in the country, it has seen its share of awe-inspiring alumni such as Emily Wilding Davison or the physician couple Louisa Garrett Anderson and Flora Murray who deserve far more fame than they are credited with. This trailblazing feminist spirit should be reflected in the powerful naming of the university’s most modern accommodation, but it isn’t. George Eliot was not a pioneering master of English literature and author of Middlemarch – perhaps the greatest novel in English canon; Mary Ann Evans was. Many people upon hearing this name might question: ‘Sorry, who is that again?’ then arrogantly imply that of course they knew George Eliot was only a pen name… Yet, the fact holds that most people, irrespective of whether they know of George Eliot or not, are not aware of her true name. I will be honest and say that I did not know Evan’s actual name until last year. The reason behind writing under a pen name is, unfortunately, obvious: Evans wished to avoid being subjected to the prejudiced literary view of the 19th century that women were only capable of authoring cliché romance novels rather than the profound epics of their male counterparts.

Looking Back 20 years on From 9/11: Come From Away Review ISABEL WEST| ARTS EDITOR

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n the month of the 20th anniversary of one of the biggest tragedies in modern western culture, I sat in the Phoenix Theatre waiting for the lights to dim and the curtain to rise on Come From Away. From the first second of folksy music, Come From Away exceeded all my expectations.

Source: Come From Away Poster https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/ come-from-away/phoenix-theatre/

The musical, although shadowed by 9/11, may appear to be only a feelgood story about the kindness of strangers but it is also a show that deals with the complex and devastating effects of 9/11.

16 ARTS AND CULTURE Thirty-eight planes with some 7,000 people on were stranded in the small Canadian town of Gander in the days following the attacks, all unaware of when they would be able to leave.

The town’s population almost doubled overnight and all of the passengers were stranded far away from their loved ones.

The cast of 12 play an array of people, both locals and passengers, creating a community onstage. The writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein, after visiting Gander on the 10th anniversary and collecting stories, focus on a dozen or so characters’ stories; all based on real people. Whilst some characters provide comic relief, others represent the complex issues which arose as a result of 9/11 and of the sudden appearance of so many people on such a small island, all with different backgrounds, ethnicities, speaking different languages.

The musical highlights these conflicts but also shows how the locals came together and found ways to communicate with these scared and confused passengers.

THE FOUNDER September 2021

Although the musical is constantly shadowed by 9/11, the show says very little about the actual attacks in New York, instead choosing to focus on the way it changed people on an individual level and culturally around the world. Sankoff and Hein use the folksy, country music to bring to life vibrant characters like Beverley Bass, the first female American pilot and all the others stranded in Gander, Newfoundland. In songs such as ’10 years later’ they tell of how the stranded passengers and locals lives were changed forever. With such upbeat folk music and the quick wit of the lyrics it would be easy to make this musical simply a funny, inspiring story, however the brilliance of Come From Away lies in the sensitive but yet highly entertaining way that Sankoff and Hein deal with a story seeped in tragedy. This clever musical will have you laughing and crying at the same time as they fully immerse you in the town of Gander where everything changed for a few days.

The two most heart-breaking characters reveal the worst consequences of 9/11: the prevalent racism that followed and the world-shattering grief. Hannah, who is played by Gemma Knight Jones, spends most of the play in a state of helplessness as she tries to find out what has happened to her firefighter son. Unable to do much except wait by the phone, Hannah’s story is one of desperate hope as she represents the many people who sat by the phone and waited to hear the fate of loved ones caught up in the attacks.

The other arguably more upsetting story is that of the Egyptian Chef Ali, played by Jonathan Andrew Hume. At first, all the passengers and locals are extremely weary of him and when he offers to help in the kitchen he is turned away for no reason other than his ethnicity, however later once he tells them he is a master chef they allow him to help. The song ‘On the Edge’ reveals the prejudice Muslims faced as when Ali speaks Arabic on the phone another passenger asks ‘You celebrating this? You praying for your friends? …. You telling your Muslim friends where to bomb next?’, to which Ali replies ‘This was not all Muslims! And I was not –’. Later, once it is time to board the plane he is strip searched in front of Beverley Bass. Ali, from the moment he is introduced, is treated as a criminal by the characters onstage only hinting at the prejudice and racism Muslims and South Asian people faced in the wake of 9/11.

Source: West End cast https://comefromawaylondon.co.uk/about-the-show/#lg=1&slide=15

THE FOUNDER September 2021

LITERARY REVIEWS 17

Eleven Kinds of Loneliness (1962)

by Richard Yates LIAM ELVISH| LITERARY REVIEW EDITOR

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ichard Yates is an author who has been dead for nearly three decades - yet only now, after a lengthy spell of unjust obscurity, is his name gaining some prominence as one of the true literary talents of the United States in the late Twentieth Century.

Following his seminal work Revolutionary Road (1961), a powerful account of American suburban monotony, Yates once more magnifies his perceptive glance upon everyday existence in his 1962 collection of short stories, beautifully detailing the lives and losses of eleven separate people. Individual in their experiences, but collective in their hopelessness, these eleven figures represent the flawed myth of the ‘American Dream’ in the immediate post-war period.

Largely set in and around New York, the prevailing despair of city life is reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting. From the tragi-comic ‘A Glutton for Punishment’, detailing the domestic implications for timid Walter Henderson after being fired from his Manhattan office job, to ‘A Wrestler with Sharks’, exploring the cut-throat environment of the newspaper industry (of which Yates himself had first-hand experience), each sketches the turmoil of ordinary men and women in the urban sprawl.

Fallon is the literary archetype of an embittered ex-armed forces worker; a man with a grievance of inferiority, resorting to the language of fists, the only language in which he has been trained to express himself. The story raises questions of the nature of blind human rage, of its weakness in being swayed by reactionary publicity within the modern world.

Other stories in the collection include ‘No Pain Whatsoever’ and ‘Out with the Old’, both dealing with the treatment of the invalid and elderly within the hospital system, a regime of tedium where neglect is merely a gentle waiting-game for departure. ‘Fun with a Stranger’ is set in an elementary school in which the dreary Miss Snell acts as demonstrative proof to her class of life’s perpetual disappointments. It is most painfully evoked after raising their hopes for Christmas gifts shortly before the holidays, before dashing them coldly with her bland offering of stationary - a reminder of how childhood can be marred by rigid traditionalism at the expense of spontaneity.

If Germany in the 1930s was governed by conformity with a machinegun, then America in the 1950s was governed by conformity with a smiley face on a cereal-box; and it is Yates’s writings which are most emphatic of all its ghastly effects.

The monstrous flaws of McCarthyism in 1950s America are evoked throughout. ‘The B.A.R. Man’ is a visceral statement on the ignorance of a propaganda-fuelled populace of laymen against the persecuted freethinker, the conformist whip of army brutality versus the tolerant rebelliousness of liberal intellectualism.

Skilfully, the crux of the argument is not revealed by Yates until the final few pages, in which an academic departs from a public gathering only to be greeted with hostility by a crowd of anticommunist protestors. John Fallon, scorned by an attractive younger woman amongst a group of night-crawlers who promptly desert him, heads out into the streets of Manhattan, drunk and disorderly, unaware of his state or of time itself, and eager in his bitterness to chase after something, anything. Caught up in the confrontation between protestors and the maverick university professor, Fallon’s intemperate anger results in his instigating an unprovoked assault upon the academic, and his own subsequent arrest.

Source: shop4mu.com

18 LITERARY REVIEWS

THE FOUNDER September 2021

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara CHLOE BOULTON | CONTENT WRITER

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anya Yanagihara’s A Little Life, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, was published in 2015. The novel surpassed Yanagihara’s debut novel’s reception and sales, garnering a large audience and critical acclaim.

Set in New York, A Little Life centres around four university friends: Willem Ragnarsson, Malcolm Irvine, JB Marion, and Jude St. Francis. The group were randomly assigned together as college roommates and became best friends, and it is this shared history that ties them together as adults. At the novel’s opening, Willem is an aspiring actor working as a waiter in an upscale restaurant; Malcolm comes from a wealthy family but is frustrated by his lack of independence and worries his career as an architect will not impress his father; JB is a painter seeking fame and success; and Jude is working as a lawyer for the public defence office. A reader may assume that over the course of the novel, some of these characters may fail, not finding the success they are so desperately chasing. Each of the four triumphs implausibly in their professions, their lives becoming almost unrecognisable as the decades pass.

For a portion of the novel, the perspective shifts between the quartet, with Jude emerging as the enigmatic protagonist. JB and Malcolm recede to the background of Jude’s life, but they are always present, and it is his friendship with Willem that takes the forefront. A Little Life gives a refreshing take on friendship, showing how, over a lifetime, they can take various shapes, growing and shrinking, but remaining everpresent. Though, there is something very unrealistic about the relationships Jude has in his life. For the first fifteen years of his life, he suffers unimaginable abuse, the extent of which is slowly fed to the reader over the novel; subsequently, with the exception of one horrific relationship, Jude is shown unconditional affection – everyone who loves him seeming to be just as occupied with his life as he is. Whilst it does not, and cannot, reflect the realities of loyalty and friendship, Yanagihara creates something very moving to read.

A Little Life has been heavily criticised for the suffering that the characters endure throughout the novel. With the novel being written in third person, readers are forced to watch Jude’s pain, sadness and hurt, rather than share it with him. The extent of his suffering is revealed slowly, each description seemingly more elaborate, and certainly far worse, than the last. Yanagihara refuses to let Jude overcome his childhood, not compromising anywhere, but instead letting his past consume him as he grows older. This consistent misery in the novel, despite all its brilliant other aspects, makes it incredibly difficult to recommend wholeheartedly.

All in all, this novel is an unrelenting one, it is beautiful and heart-breaking. Yanagihara’s storytelling is admirable, and in 720 pages builds the lives of characters that readers cannot help but care deeply about.

Source: Unsplash - Francesca

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

Those who are planning on reading A Little Life are advised to check all of the trigger warnings of the novel, available to read on booktriggerwarnings.com.

MILLIE GARRAWAY | CONTENT WRITER

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nce a student at Royal Holloway herself, Sarah Perry created waves again with the release of her second novel, The Essex Serpent, in May 2016, outperforming the stirring story of her debut, After Me Comes the Flood, and becoming a bestseller in the United Kingdom.

The novel is set in 1893 between Aldwinter, a small village in Essex, and the bustle of London. Having taken inspiration from both a woodcut from a 1669 pamphlet The Flying Serpent or Strange News Out of Essex, detailing a sighting near the village of Henham-on-the-Mount, as well as Perry’s own experiences, The Essex Serpent follows the newly-widowed Cora Seaborne on her adventures through the county’s various villages, in search for physical evidence of the legendary Serpent.

Following her recent release from an abusive marriage, the novel uncovers Cora’s rebirth into single life, after the prolonged death of her sadistic husband leads her to Essex’s muddy shores. Uprooting her son Francis and maid-turned-companion Martha in the process, Cora relentlessly hunts for truth in the tale of the Essex Serpent fed to her by her dear friend Charles, whose empathy sees no bounds. In her undeniable determination to find this elusive serpent, Cora invades the life of the local vicar William, a scruffy, righteous man, who is left infatuated with her boyish, chameleon nature. The serpent becomes a thorn in his already-decorated back as his reminiscence on past sins leaves him weary, causing him to lose control of his flock, whose Godfearing natures lead them to fall slowly into the grasp of the tale. Nonetheless, Perry continues to be a master puppeteer so that Cora herself cannot be singled out to be the causality of this disarray and the tale of the serpent is left a thrilling uncertainty until the end.

Never leaving a breadcrumb to follow, Perry unequivocally captures the reader’s attention without fail, as we begin to understand the identity of the Essex Serpent outside of speculation and discover the outcome of Cora and Will’s feelings for each other.

The cosy misery of the characters leaves the reader in a satisfied sadness; the rejection of impish characters provide a warming contrast to the guilty pleasure of blooming forbidden love between the vicar and Cora, evoking a shamefulness in the reader’s quiet observation.

Cora Seaborne, always in the back of the vicar’s mind, is, however, a kindness to his wife whose slow demise leaves her longing for Cora and her husband’s companionship to return, thus feeding the reader’s appetite for romance.

Perry has encapsulated the gothic style in this awardwinning piece of Victorian fiction, leaving a bittersweet taste in the mouth of the reader. The Essex Serpent is a thrilling and atmospheric novel that challenges presumptive perspectives of period literature.

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LITERARY REVIEWS 19

Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri GRACE FROST | CONTENT WRITER

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humpa Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize-winning short story collection, Interpreter of Maladies (1999), traverses the globe, connecting the East and West with narratives that illuminate the struggles experienced by those in immigrant and diasporic communities. Lahiri constructs stories from a range of perspectives to demonstrate to the reader how child, adult, grandparent, male, and female are all affected in their own way by adjusting to a new environment and the conflicts that arise from cross-culture life. The dichotomies between old and new, East and West, and child and adult are explored through this collection as each new narrative voice teases out the prejudices and holes in a culture of gender and age hierarchies, traditions, and expectations.

The title story follows a day in the life of Mr. Kapasi, a tour guide and translator, as he drives the Das family, secondgeneration American-born Indians who, as the former notes, ‘looked Indian but dressed as foreigners did’. Through his outsider status, the tour guide objectively views the family and notices the differences between his own values with those of the Westernised-Indians before him. In particular, Mr. Kapasi notices how this family does not behave as he understands a family should. The children demonstrate little to no respect for their parents and Mrs. Das does not display interest in her children. Lahiri refreshingly centres the narrative on a character of lower status whose experience of diaspora is when it is in direct conflict with his own culture, causing him to question what he has been brought up to understand as ‘right’.

Lahiri’s collection also spotlights the cross-culture experiences of children through ten-year old Indian- American Lilia in ‘When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine’ and eleven-year-old American Eliot in ‘Mrs. Sen’s’. Despite their contrasting ethnic backgrounds, their similar western upbringing influences their limited view of the world. The title characters originate from Pakistan and Indian, respectively, and their presence in the lives of these children helps to educate them on the traditions and values that form life in the East. Lilia’s father desires for his daughter to learn about her heritage, the divide between India and Pakistan, and to be as Indian as possible in her predominantly western life. For him, it is essential to uphold elements of his home country and one way he does this is by welcoming folk like Mr. Pirzada into his home. Together with his wife, the adults watch Indian news, eat Indian food, and reminisce on their lives back home. All this is viewed through Lilia’s eyes and the reader is drawn into her thought process as she gradually develops an interest in understanding what is happening as the war unfolds, and why the adults’ attitude shifts from joy to sadness.

Similarly, Eliot gradually learns more about traditional Indian culture as he quietly watches Mrs. Sen, noticing her different dress, food, language, and that she does not view America as her home.

This collection provides an essential insight into the ways diasporic experiences affect people at every stage of life and how we all have something to learn from those unlike us, even just by quietly watching and asking questions just like Eliot.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind ALI KRAUSOVA | PUBLISHING AND CREATIVE DESIGNER

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was the last of my friends to get Covid and before it finally got to my turn, I was almost weirdly proud of not having had it yet. ‘Must be my drinking and smoking keeping that immunity up’, I thought to myself. Then I got kicked out of a pub one night and woke up the next morning, Covid positive. Really, it ended up being duller than I would have expected. A friend became invested the moment I told him I had lost my sense of smell. ‘This is the perfect time to read Süskind’s Perfume’ he said, ‘I want to know how you will grasp those descriptions without the ability to smell anything.’

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who, unlike a certain reviewer when reading it, has an exceptional sense of smell. Grenouille’s character is challenged from the beginning as a result of his rough childhood, he moves from one place to another without finding much love anywhere. Eventually, Grenouille becomes involved with a perfumer called Baldini, who teaches him everything he needs to know about perfumery. When Grenouille encounters a young girl whose smell he cannot resist, he begins his series of murders to preserve scents just like hers.

The novel is fantastic in its psychology, from Grenouille’s frozen child within him to how he manages to trick others into perceiving him as superhuman based solely on his scent. For a book so descriptive, one does not want to skip forward like one often wants to do when presented with Oscar Wilde’s knowledge on varieties of textile in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Having the sense of smell or not, the reader is not there with Grenouille smelling virgins anyway, but Süskind words it so well it is easy to imagine, and oddly, beautiful even.

When only one murder has happened with only 50 pages prior to the ending, scepticism arises. It is a Story of a Murderer after all, so how is it that the reader is inundated with descriptions about Grenouille constantly perfuming himself instead? Süskind perhaps became a bit bored himself and, to draw the novel to an end, he concocted a ridiculous extreme, somewhere between a town orgy and graveyard cannibalism: one was tempted to go back to Grenouille admiring the smell of Seine.

20 LITERARY REVIEWS Nonetheless the novel is clever, enjoyable, and it tricks the reader just like it tricks the audience within it; a good kind of absurd. I still remember the perfume I used to wear when I first fell in love. Scents bring memories vividly so maybe it is not exaggerated to think they could also change the impression one gives. After all, Grenouille proves that love is dependent on a smell, possibly, because it is blind.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn VIKTORIA PRACZKO | CONTENT WRITER

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illian Flynn’s thriller novel, Gone Girl, occupied the ‘Number 1’ position on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers list for more than eight weeks in 2012 and continues to receive great public reception a decade later. In addition to being an exceptional work of detective fiction, Flynn also manages to accurately illustrate reality and its basic components and principles. Her effective use of dialogue and imagery forms a clear and captivating narrative, making the novel almost impossible to put down.

Interestingly, Flynn’s work is not only admirable for its engaging use of language but for its suspenseful plot. Gone Girl’s gradually unfolding crime case allows the reader to experience the so-called literary ‘adrenaline rush’. Alongside the progression of the novel’s storyline, there is an evident increase within each event’s intensity.

Flynn’s crime fiction bears an outstanding memorability as the reader continually encounters surprises and often makes shocking discoveries. As the long list of mysteries gradually unravels, the reader is recurrently confronted with unexpected twists that are almost always different from their initial anticipations. Gone Girl is not what it appears to be. It is so much more.

The story revolves around the mystery concerning Amy Elliot Dunne’s disappearance on the morning of her 5th wedding anniversary. The narrative of the novel alternates between Amy’s diary entries and her husband, Nick’s, perspective. For the first reading, the story may appear as a

Source: Unsplash - Sasha Freemind

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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis REBECCA WEIGLER | CONTENT WRITER

simple mystery; however, with a second look, one may assume that the titles of its three parts could suggest a more sinister undertone: ‘Boy Loses Girl,’ ‘Boy Meets Girl,’ ‘Boy Gets Girl Back (Or Vice Versa).’ Flynn also utilises differing time frames for the two characters to create a disturbing shift within both the chronology and the reader’s understanding of the events. She does this subtly using a somewhat question-and-answer-like format between the dialogues of subsequent chapters, simultaneously demonstrating the general complexity and the interlinking nature of relationships.

Flynn’s choice of the epistolary format for Amy’s side of the story also introduces a feminist strand into the plot. Amy’s narrative can be considered very progressive as it is grounded in the present age and approaches current issues, specifically regarding the role of women in modern society and the dynamic of long-term relationships.

Gone Girl is not your ordinary Saturday night read, but the book that you could have previously seen proudly presented on your friend’s bookshelf as one of their most valued ornaments. Flynn is one of the rare authors that are able to engulf any type of reader within ten pages of their works. Not only does she effectively convey the power of emotional manipulation between her characters, but projects it onto the reader itself. Gone Girl is an exceptional psychological thriller that innocently traps you into its realm, confusing you to an extent that you are unable to distinguish between the true and false elements of the plot. But ultimately, how far is too far for love?

Source: Unsplash - K Mitcb Hodge

C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia are undoubtedly amongst the most beloved children’s books of all time, with success and notability also deriving from the 20th Century Fox film franchise. Aslan the Lion, the White Witch, and of course the Pevensie children, are household names to many.

The book series, originally published in 1950 and having sold over 100 million copies worldwide, has influenced not only readers and audiences, but also many authors over the years, certainly making it a milestone in the genre and future of Children’s Literature. In many ways, The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe paved the way for late 20th Century and early 21st Century fantasy novels, especially those aimed at younger readers.

Following an evacuation to a new home due to World War II air-raids, Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter Pevensie work together in order to save the land of Narnia and their newly found companions. Lucy, the youngest of the Pevensie children and the most curious, is the first to encounter the land of Narnia after walking through the wardrobe in the house of Professor Digory Kirke, where they are now living. To Lucy’s surprise, the wardrobe never seems to end and opens out into a snowy landscape and a world different to her own. Lucy visits the land of Narnia multiple times, encountering characters such as Mr. Tumnus, the loveable Faun with whom she develops a friendship, and after not believing her tales at first, the other siblings begin to follow.

Edmund gets himself into a trap with the White Witch, subsequently initiating a sequence of betrayal and problems for the other siblings, while Susan and Peter learn about the prophecy on which they will soon embark. Each chapter leads to a new adventure, whether this be encountering the house of the White Witch, or when the children discover the talking lion Aslan, and Lewis does a tremendous job of using engaging dialogue between the characters to allow readers to picture the scene and the atmosphere. The dialogue is also saturated with relatable sibling comedy and childlike curiosity, all of which makes the novel a perfect, fast-paced read.

Combining the pure joy and excitement of childhood adventure, with magic and a sense of the unknown, Lewis has constructed an easy-to-follow journey into a captivating world of wonder.

It has witches, talking hybrid animals, battle scenes, every quality of a fantasy novel that appeals to the expectations of young and adult readers alike. If you aren’t familiar with the franchise, or have seen the films but are yet to pick up the books, The Chronicles of Narnia certainly lives up to its decades-long reputation and will ignite your imagination the next time you open your wardrobe.

ARTS: FILM 21

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A Quiet Place Part II – The Mastery of the Suspense Filled Sequel I

TILLEY BENNETT | FILM EDITOR

n June of this year, John Krasinski invited viewers to live alongside the Abbott family once again in their terrifying post-apocalyptic world. The setting of A Quiet Place Part II is the same, but the feel is starkly different - the threat has established itself and surviving is becoming increasingly soul destroying especially for Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) a woman who is not only grieving but also responsible for three children, including a baby. A Quiet Place Part II establishes itself as a worthy sequel for the highly acclaimed silent nightmare of its predecessor.

One of the most evident differences between Krasinski’s first and second picture is the high-octane feel that is present in Part II. The film begins almost in the exact same place that the previous film left off. Lee (Krasinski), is dead, and Evelyn is left to face the world alone. However, one of the films stand out moments is the beginning prelude to the horrifying experience of the start of the apocalypse. As spectators, having previously watched the first instalment, the set-up of the world pre-silence is utterly anxiety ridden. The whole scene is an attack on the senses, it is the most noise that viewers experience arguably in both movies, set during a baseball game for their son Marcus (Noah Jupe). It is a tantalising play-by-play of the moments a large asteroid hit earth. One of the things Krasinski does so well is make a surreal moment feel completely probable and terrifying. Viewers witness paternal instincts take place as Lee tries to reassure his hearing-impaired daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) in a time when comfort is far from easy. The mastery in this scene is the build-up of emotion Krasinski and Simmonds convey through only their facial expressions. It is testament to both segments of the A Quiet Place trilogy that the fear and emotional toll of their world is conveyed with very minimal dialogue.

Another constant throughout the film is the overwhelming nature of the family’s new predicament. Evelyn bumps into old family friend Emmett (Cillian Murphy) and tries to find comfort in the man she once knew well. Murphy, who is no stranger to the apocalyptic troupe having starred in 28 Days Later, plays a man on the edge of despair mourning both his wife and son. It is a thoughtful observation from Krasinski to include characters such as Emmett, who appears weathered by the world and closed, perhaps even hostile, to the idea of community and help in a world that feels so starved of it. However, Murphy finds a way to create humanity in his character and creates some of the most heart-warming scenes and dialogue with his co-star Simmonds as they find themselves venturing to find a radio station.

Krasinski has taken the successful recipe of the first instalment of A Quiet Place and cleverly interwoven a plotline that leaves viewers both exhausted and hopeful for the future of a family. The Abbotts are still at the heart of the story, and it is undeniable that all those viewing form attachments to the characters due to some stand out performances that incorporate heart and love into such an unlikely circumstance.

The dialogue has doubled, the action has doubled and with it the desperation, but it is humanity that eventually prevails.

We’ll Always Have Paris: The the sequence of events Doomed Relationship Trope instead there is a dissatisfied audience who give closure to both Rick Source: IMDB

ANANYA KRISHNA | CONTENT WRITER

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he fourth Matrix movie is coming out this year and whilst there will be a myriad of articles criticising the ending of the third movie and invalidating the need for a fourth film, there is something more interesting to unpack here which is the doomed relationship troupe explored through characters Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). It is evident she was destined to fall in love with him, however it is not in the Disney branded happily ever after way that viewers may have expected.

What is the appeal of these relationships in movies though? As aforementioned, there is no ending where all loose ends are tied,

only what to see these two characters united.

It is more than a portrayal of a romantic relationship though – the trope is used to show how the process of falling in love can change our lives, no matter the outcome. The appeal is both in the unsatisfying yet realistic ending, and the knowing that even though the two characters don’t end up together, the experience has changed the outcome of their lives and leaves both in a more curious position.

This can be seen across cinema, starting with one of the earliest and most famous examples of this trope: Casablanca (1943).

Behind its well accepted position as one of the most quotable movies of all time,

(Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and by the end of the movie, they part amicably and continue with their lives, ready to let go of whatever feelings they had for each other. Ilsa can continue to be Ludo’s wife whilst Rick, having undergone what is arguably the best written character development in cinematic history, allows himself to find another cause that he’s interested in fighting for that isn’t himself.

Two decades later, The Graduate (1967) takes a different approach and in its famous ending shows how clinging on to a doomed relationship, no matter how enticing and perfect at first, can leave you in a state of uncertainty and therefore fear.

Contrastingly, you have some doomed relationships where there isn’t the chance of being united, such as in Brokeback Mountain (2005). There is a reason why Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) saying ‘I wish I knew how to quit you’ was so powerful – it is the perfect example of a doomed relationship existing not just because of personal restraints but also societal and social expectations.

These films are more than just sad reminders that relationships don’t always work, but instead focus on portraying that love is just another means of appreciating life.

Each movie ends with a realisation of some kind – constructive or not, and how characters proceed afterwards is a mystery to us. All we know is that somehow, the events of the movie were powerful enough to change their lives. The relationship may not last forever but it’s enough to show there is more to the world than the character has previously accepted and that is what is so key about the doomed relationship trope.

The doomed relationship trope at its core is an antithesis to the romantic agenda, it is not the happily ever after that makes the story poignant but the experience of being so close to it that it changes your life.

22 ARTS: FILM American Horror Stories – Has the Popular Franchise Lost the Horror?

MATILDE GUIMARAES | CONTENT WRITER

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hen Ryan Murphy’s and Brad Falchuk’s latest horror endeavour, American Horror Stories (AHS), was announced, I could not have been more intrigued. As a fan of the original franchise, I was interested to see how the pair could create self-contained horror stories in the span of forty minutes.

The two-part premiere event did not disappoint.

The revival of the classic fan favourite, Murder House, seemed like a safe bet with audiences, a familiar environment with characters that feel reminiscent to the Harmons. Part One introduced used us to Michael, Troy, and their young daughter Scarlett, a seemingly normal family relocating to Los Angeles. In its usual horror story fashion, there is a twist and not everyone is who they seem.

The third episode, Drive In, confirmed my initial worries. The premise of the episode is strong; a film that causes its viewers to commit violent acts. However, it felt difficult for Murphy and Falchuk to build the story with only 45 minutes to utilise. To say the episode felt rushed does not cover it, it felt like it never really had a beginning or an ending for that matter. Episode Four shares the interesting premise but again fails to live up to the potential of plot line which explores the very current obsession and life of influencers.

Episode Five, Ba’al, however, ended this streak of awkward episodes. The episode centred around a young woman who desperately turns to unconventional methods to get pregnant but finds herself haunted by a demon, or so she thinks. It managed to capture the audience, whilst bordering the line between the supernatural and the man-made. It does what the previous two episodes were not able to do, and not only establishes a group of characters and their relationships with each other but also successfully reaches a conclusion that wraps up the narrative.

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Following the success of the previous episode, I had high expectations for the rest of the series. Episode Six, Feral, started off strong with the concept of a missing child. however, just like the third and fourth episode the show takes an awkward turn when they introduce a dramatized plotline the example this time being a secret cannibalistic tribe lead by a toddler.

The series finale Game Over was the biggest disappointment.

The episode starts with a young couple visiting the famous ‘Murder House’ as big fans of the original show and find that the horror on screen is very much real. I was extremely excited by this premise, bringing the AHS horror into the real world seemed to open many possibilities.

It fell short when the twist was introduced much like the rest of the series. The episode goes on, changing the direction it seems to be going every couple of minutes, an example that plot twists aren’t always the way to go.

The show has both positive and negative aspects which is common with many anthology shows. I think the main issue of the series in general is trying to do the unexpected in such a short amount of time. The audience likes to feel like they know the characters otherwise there are no stakes whatsoever, which is why Ba’al stands out as an episode. Seeing as the show has been renewed for a second season, I am looking forward to seeing what direction the writers take next.

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t the start of the summer, The Suicide Squad was expected to be a commercial success. The soft reboot/ sequel of the 2016 original, which still holds the highest opening August weekend, is based on the popular DC comics. This time, James Gunn, director of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, helmed the project, bringing his style and creativity which the original tried to emulate. Yet the movie underperformed financially; bringing in $26.1 million compared to the originals $133.7 million. Hence, the question must be asked: what happened?

The average individual may immediately blame the disappointing numbers on the current pandemic. Paired with the dayin-date release on HBO Max

Furthermore, an argument can easily be made that demand for another suicide squad movie was non-existent. Receiving a score of twenty six percent on Rotten Tomatoes, it was mainly criticised for feeling like a manufactured studio product. Hence, for the average individual, the ‘Suicide Squad’ brand would be associated to that first film. Additionally, the new movie tried promoting itself as ‘A James Gunn film’, in a similar fashion as Zack Snyder’s Justice League or many of Tarantino’s films. However, outside of extreme movie fans, many do not actually know who he is, thus not providing enough incentive for them to risk going to a theatre. Hence, it was clear the marketing did not do enough to convince people that this film was different.

When the movie was released, it was clear that critics loved it. However, it is likely that the same love was not received by moviegoers, receiving a B+ CinemaScore (a survey taken by nationwide audiences on the opening night), suggesting a more lukewarm response.

This seems to be a common trend that has been occurring this year; while movies like F9, Black Widow and Space Jam: A New Legacy received a somewhat mixed critical reception, they have been extremely successful. Yet, movies including The Suicide Squad, and earlier this year, In the Heights received overwhelmingly positive critical reception, yet were not box (a distribution model office draws, suggesting the word of the critic that has applied for all is becoming increasingly more irrelevant in the WB Movies for 2021 public conscience. Additionally, his film was only), there is a likely R rated, whereas the 2016 version was PGchance that many 13 (both rated 15 in the UK). While this film watched it from the uses that rating to create a much better film, it comfort of their homes, does mean the market is much smaller than the despite being shot original; many teenagers would not be able to with IMAX cameras, see this film, unlike the original which seemed and clearly designed to target them. for the big screen experience. According to Samba TV, almost Alternatively, as DC properties are proving three million watched disappointing, an argument could be made that The Suicide Squad demand in their movies are waning. Shazam from their homes in was a critical hit, but underperformed compared the opening weekend, to expectations, Birds of Prey was represented which was the third by a bizarre marketing campaign resulting in highest of the year disappointment and now The Suicide Squad has behind Mortal Kombat underperformed. Comparatively, since 2018, and Godzilla v Kong. three quarters of Marvel films have crossed at In addition, the repeat least a billion dollars commercially. While the business that movies next DC is supposed to be The Batman, which used to rely on is is very likely to succeed, questions must be now gone; the easy asked on how to improve the DC brand in the availability meant public.

The Suicide Squad’s Underperformance in Cinema

DEVESH SOOD | CONTENT WRITER

people were less likely to make multiple trips to the theatre.

ARTS: MUSIC 23

THE FOUNDER September 2021

4 of Beyoncé’s Most Iconic Moments As She Turns 40

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FINN MURPHY | MUSIC EDITOR

he’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment, and at the beginning of September, Beyoncé turned 40. To mark the occasion, it is important to remember what makes her so influential in the music industry. The Queen of music has had many iconic moments, but these 4 are just some of the best.

1.

Coachella, or should we say Beychella.

In 2018, Beyoncé became the first African American woman to headline Coachella and her performance remains one of the most memorable to come out of the festival. Featuring majorette dancers and a full marching band, her performance was inspired by and paid tribute to the culture of black colleges and universities, whilst also co-starring Destiny’s Child members, Kelly and Michelle, her sister, Solange Knowles and her husband, Jay-Z. Additionally, the production was released as a film on Netflix and a live album titled Homecoming, receiving the Grammy Award for Best Music Film in 2020 and critical acclaim across the globe.

2.

Pregnancy Announcements

If fans weren’t already excited enough for Beyoncé to have children, then her pregnancy announcements only added to the emotions. At the 2011 Video Music Awards, Beyoncé performed one of her greatest hits, Love on Top in a purple sequin pant suit alongside a posse of backup singers and dancers.

She ended the performance with a perfect mic-drop moment, unbuttoning her jacket to cradle her baby bump. 6 years later, Beyoncé came back with a bang and announced that she was pregnant with twins on Instagram with a photo of her dressed like a goddess with a green veil living her floral fantasy. The post became the most liked photo on the platform in 2017 and reminds us that even a pregnancy announcement can be iconic.

3.

Winning a Grammy with her daughter

At the 63rd Grammy Awards, Beyoncé and her daughter, Blue Ivy, took home the award for Best Music Video with WizKid for Brown Skin Girl, beating artists Drake and Harry Styles. The video for the song was originally produced for Black is King, the Disney+ visual album and film before later being released as a standalone music video. The video features cameos from model Naomi Campbell, actress Lupita Nyong’o, singer Kelly Rowland, models Adut Akech and Aweng Ade-Chuol, as well as Beyoncé’s mother, Tina KnowlesLawson, and daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi, acting as a celebration of the beauty of darker complexions. This particular Grammy Awards was important for Beyoncé as she became the most-awarded woman in Grammy history, winning one of those awards with one of the youngest Grammy award winners, her own daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

4.

The Lemonade Era

In April 2016, Beyoncé released her second visual album, “Lemonade”, thus starting the Lemonade era. The album tells the story of a woman who discovers her husband’s infidelity and tracks the emotions and the journey she must go through in order to reach forgiveness. The album was defined by grace and elegance, whilst also perfectly representing heartache and anger. In the video for Hold Up, the singer marches down a busy street in a flowy mustard yellow dress before pulling out a baseball bat to destroy car windows and fire hydrants. This video alone became a major cultural phenomenon, with many fans and other creatives creating parodies of the video, notably in Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Beyoncé constantly reminds us why she is the Queen of Music, and one of the best, if not the best, performer of our time. Her list of iconic moments is endless and will continue to be added to as her career only gets better.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Goddesses in Gold: Review of Rumors by Lizzo ft. Cardi B FINN MURPHY | MUSIC EDITOR

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eminiscent of Truth Hurts, Lizzo’s new single, Rumors, is the clapback hit that reminds us why Lizzo remains one of the most iconic artists in pop music history.

Both Lizzo and Cardi B are constantly attacked in the media and by the public for generally just existing, but they team up in this track to let the haters know that they are still here, and they are thriving.

The music video opens with an animated Lizzo painted on ancient Greek pottery and the whole ensemble resembles the Mount Olympus featured in Disney’s 1997 film, Hercules.

In each chorus, Lizzo is surrounded by beautiful black women dancing like the Muses of Hercules. Lizzo is also joined by her pregnant labelmate, Cardi B, sat atop a phallic shaped throne rapping about her rise to fame and how tiresome the business can be.

In the chorus of the song, Lizzo emphasises that these haters are ‘spending all their time tryna break a woman

down, realer sh*t is going on, baby, take a look around,’ championing the idea that people should focus their energy on better causes. In a world which is so divided, we must push our energy onto valuable causes rather than finding fault in small details of a celebrity’s life. Society is threatened by those that do not conform to a certain stereotype or beauty industry standard but still prevail as beautiful and successful and this is only emphasised by the backlash that Lizzo has received from this single and music video.

Some claimed that Lizzo is appealing only to the white gaze, but she hit back on TikTok, claiming that this idea is both ‘fatphobic’ and ‘racist.’ The song acts as a positive affirmation to remind those who do not always fit in or those that are singled out for not conforming to society’s standards that it is okay to be different, that you can still be successful despite the haters. However, it is also important to note that this does bring forward a general argument about visibility and how important representation is. Lizzo has the platform to speak out about these things and feel good in her body as she has made a ‘brand’ out of this, it is now what fans expect of Lizzo, but when it comes to everyday people, the same does not apply.

Being able to see yourself in somewhere that you may have not seen yourself before will not solve political issues.

24 ARTS: MUSIC But generally, many believe this argument completely dismisses what Lizzo is doing, she is happy and thriving in her new single and is unapologetically herself, something that needs to be praised more often. Lizzo summarised her intentions on TikTok: ‘I’m doing this for the big Black women in the future who just want to live their lives without being scrutinized or put into boxes.’

THE FOUNDER September 2021 to this. Oli describes the song as a combination of “smooth lyricism with a jazzy saxophone instrumental, supplemented by a strong bassline and beat.”

Favourite Album: Breathing Exercises - Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn

Source: Lizzo, Instagram

Lizzo and Cardi B team up in the new single Rumors to fight the haters and let people know that no matter how many times they get knocked down, they will always rise again and celebrate who they are.

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s part of a new feature, each issue of the Founder will feature some of our editor’s recommendations for their favourite songs, albums, and artists. So, have a read if you want to find something new to listen to or even be reminded of one of your own favourites.

Lifestyle Editor, Cyann’s picks:

The Founder Recommends

Favourite Artist: Koi

- Koi began his career from the underground LA hiphop scene, and Oli loves everything about him, particularly “his carefree, lax style, mixed in with some incredible musical production, most of which he continues to do himself.” After gaining recognition originally from Soundcloud, he has now album as a ‘feel-good’ album. Bastille have recently decided to go more ‘mainstream’ with this music and more of his released a new single, titled Thelma + Louise, which songs are now finding their ways onto Spotify and Apple Music.

Cyann is certain that it will be her new favourite song in a Oli would recommend Koi’s more recent hits, specifically big, all month’s time. of that, make it up, and rushing as they “encapsulate completely different vibes and emotions, with musicality and productive flair”.

Favourite Artist: REN

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Ren is a relatively small artist, but definitely has a powerful voice. After going viral with videos of him busking in Brighton, Ren was scouted by Sony, but had to later drop the record deal due to being diagnosed with Lyme disease. Despite this he still releases indie music with rap for his fans and Cyann says that it is great for chilling out and a must for her in the mornings to make her feel good for the day ahead. She particularly recommends that you listen to Blind Eyed.

Favourite Song: Into Your Arms – Witt Lowry ft. Ava Max

- You will most likely know this song from TikTok, but Cyann says that “it is still a great listen.” Witt Lowry is an American rapper who began his career as an independent artist back in 2011. On this song, he features Ava Max and Cyann especially appreciates Max’s feature and how her vocals fit perfectly with the lyrics of the song. It is definitely a song that will get stuck in your head.

Favourite Album: All This Bad Blood – Bastille

- The Brighton double act of Frankie Stew on vocals and Harvey Gunn mixing dreamy instrumentals, have struck gold with their 2020 album, according to Oli. Stew’s deep, raspy tone adds real power and emphasis to his beautiful lyrics, which create a wondrous melange with Gunn’s backing tracks, jumping from more upbeat, ‘summery’ vibes like on Electric Scooter, to the more ‘sad boy’ tunes Tortoise, Lost at Sea, and the album’s lead track Dream Factory, with Loyle Carner’s wholesome verse sitting as the highlight of the entire record.

Source: Spotify

Sports Editor, Oli’s picks:

- A bit of a throwback to 2013, but this Favourite Song: Foryaboi – Ninety7 ft. Jay Brunell album is Cyann’s go to album for literally - Oli originally struggled to answer this question everything. Released 8 years ago, the band because his favourite song changes so often, however combines multiple genres, from indie pop he decided upon Foryaboi as it is the song that he to alternative dance to highlight their range. has played the most recently. North London rapper, Nominated for British Album of the Year at Ninety7, has been described as a master of hip-hop the 2014 BRIT Awards, Cyann describes the and his track featuring Jay Brunell is no exception

Review: BTS, Map of the Soul: 7 KATHERINE MCGLADDERY | grossly CONTENT WRITER

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he cultural impact of BTS is undeniable, whether you have only heard the superstar South Korean septet’s name in passing or are a proud ARMY (the acronym coined for the group’s devoted fanbase). They have conquered the commercial market as well as the music industry, with their name branding everything from McDonald’s meals to Louis Vuitton and Hyundai collections.

Their rise to fame has been somewhat glossed over by Western press, who unfortunately tend to represent them as a sensationalised novelty act rather than a serious musical contender. This

undermines the group’s broad range of talents, as well as their long and arduous path to being the first Korean group in history to be nominated for a Grammy award - an accolade which is more than overdue.

The significance of ‘7’ draws upon BTS’ sevenyear anniversary and the seven members. After the hugely successful Love Myself trilogy, where could they go from there?

Everywhere, it seems. The album tends to flit between more radio friendly tunes such as the highly successful Boy with Luv featuring Halsey which has currently racked up a staggering 1.3 billion views on YouTube, and introspective

THE FOUNDER September 2021 reflections. These topics cover the dark side of fame, imposter syndrome, and mental health struggles. In the atmospheric Black Swan, the seven voices of BTS are layered to appear as one. This reflects both their unity as a group, the bleakness of the lyrics in which they explore the darker side of their success, and the fear of falling out of love with music. Their honesty is refreshing and for a group on such a worldwide scale to be so transparent about their own difficulties is very inspiring for fans who may be struggling with their own issues.

Members are given individual moments to shine in various genres; Jimin excels in the sultry Latin inspired Filter, while Jin’s retro, cosmic-themed track, Moon, is filled with catchy guitar hooks. Ugh doesn’t pull any punches and showcases everything that is great about BTS’s remarkably strong rap line, as the trio bring their personal strengths to a rage fuelled and powerful climax.

ARTS: MUSIC 25 There are also touching personal moments. The quirky and upbeat Friends is a finely crafted and intimate pop song celebrating the friendship between bandmates Jimin and V as they proclaim, ‘You are my soulmate’. We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal is undoubtedly the most tear-jerking song on the album. BTS reflect on the hardships they have faced during their career, but this is countered through a disarmingly sweet melody that ends with the refrain ‘We are not seven with you’. This direct reference to the band’s highly passionate fanbase cements the song as a thoughtful tribute and a lyrical ‘thank you’ for their support.

Overall, Map of the Soul: 7 is an impressive showcase which highlights everything that makes BTS unique. Through a blend of upbeat summery bops that broaden their universal appeal, furiously fast flowing raps, and tender ballads, their versatility is the unmistakeable heart at the centre of their music that will sustain their career for many years to come.

Source: @danielpioro, Instagram

Review: Daniel Pioro, Dust ABRA HERITAGE | EDITOR IN CHIEF

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ich textural scoring, striking musical fluidity, and beds of electronic sound against virtuosic playing.

Daniel Pioro’s Dust captures everything there is to love about modern instrumental recordings. Released with Icelandic record label, Bedroom Community, Pioro’s album reaches across four centuries of musical composition. From 17th century Biber to ultra-modern Oliver Coates, each recording feels distinctly at home in this breath-taking exploration of composition for violin.

Defining Pioro’s sound and situating him in a musical sub-category proves difficult. With works such as Vaughn Williams' The Lark Ascending sitting alongside Valgeir Sigurðsson’s Dust ii.

Particles, Pioro refuses to conform to one genre of sound. Instead, the album creates a new space for an appreciation of sound above mindless genre conformance. In interview with ‘Meet the Artist’, Pioro explained his repertoire choices with a simple dismissal of categorically grouping the music he plays: “I’m always trying to find new sounds that excite me...There’s just music there to be played.

And so much of it intertwines perfectly”. In grouping together sounds that excite and evoke passion, the tracks on Dust feel as well suited to each other as pieces written by the same composer, a testament to Pioro’s unwavering musical ability and flexibility.

The album begins with Dust, a three-part work composed for Pioro by Sigurðsson. Described by Pioro as “a full exploration of the sound world a violin allows...hope and birth and death and melancholy”, Dust is certainly the most musically expansive and explorative work of the album.

Dust i. cosmos opens the album with whispering yet rich string movement, background harmonics, and slow, delicate, harmonic movement. The sound is not hindered by a lack of a strong melodic line, in fact, it is improved. In removing an overt sense of melodic movement, Sigurðsson’s writing forces listeners to be enriched by all of the timbres of the piece, tuning in to background electronics and breathy strings. As the work develops in the second track of the album, Dust ii. particles, the electronic elements thicken, and the violin adopts a much heavier melodic role with raw, fast paced, string-crossing movement. Dust iii. rest concludes the work, returning to a slow, rich, texture-focused scoring, producing a cyclical structure in the piece, reminiscent of Pioro’s view of the work as one of birth and death.

Pioro’s recording of Biber’s Passacaglia suits the album’s auditory focus of musical intimacy and textural focus. Part of The Rosary Sonatas, the piece is known for its technical difficulty. Pioro makes the moments of sparseness sing, injecting a new sense of life into one of the oldest surviving pieces for solo violin. Similarly, Pioro’s new approach to Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending provides the album with a breath of fresh air. Classic FM’s eleven-time winning ‘Hall of Fame’ track, The Lark Ascending is one of Britain’s most loved classical pieces. Introducing bird-sound recordings, and dividing the orchestral accompaniment

between organ, cello, and viola da gamba, Pioro makes his own mark on the piece, setting his recording aside from the hundreds of pre-existing takes on the piece. Pioro’s control over the soaring violin lines are the most lark-like in the industry, and the track’s careful instrumentation choices make for an utterly transformative soundscape.

Recognised as one of the most groundbreaking violinists of his generation, Pioro’s career in music is ever developing.

His new role as Associate Artist in Contemporary String Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will allow for Pioro to continue his exploration in violin performance and composition, pushing the boundaries of sound further in a discovery of experimental instrumental music.

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THE FOUNDER September 2021

How Did the Premier League Teams Fare in This Year’s Champions League Draw?

BRETT VAN ZOELEN | CONTENT WRITER

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fter perhaps one of the most chaotic transfer windows in recent memory, this year’s champions league is almost too tough to call.

For a long time, the popular narrative has been that the Premier League eclipses the rest of Europe in terms of competitive edge. While European results may not have backed this up in a decade dominated by Spanish football giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, recent European results suggest that we are now trending towards this more traditional view. In the last three years, we have seen four English Champions League finalists, and two winners in the form of now six-time winners Liverpool and two-time winners Chelsea, with strong performances from Spurs and Manchester City respectively. If you were to go off recent results and the mass overhauls select Premier League clubs have seen this transfer window, it would be easy to argue that the favourites must be from the English top division. However, the Premier League clubs were not the only winners of the transfer window.

Due to hopeful first-time winners Paris Saint Germain slipping up domestically last term, they were relegated to pot two, drawing last year’s Premier League champions Manchester City, alongside Bundesliga runners-up RB Leipzig and Club Brugge. While Group A has the potential for upset in the form of Leipzig, City and PSG remain the two clear favourites. The French giants arguably had the best transfer window in Europe this summer, bringing in Lionel Messi, who will seemingly replace Mauri Icardi at the spearhead of the attack. They have also successfully strengthened in positions whereby they were exploited last season. In last year’s semi-final matchup between the two clubs the tie was won out wide, with Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden getting the better of PSG’s significantly weaker fullbacks. With PSG bringing in Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi it may be a different story. However, we know that Mauricio Pochettino is fond of a back three. Despite the new full back options being upgrades offensively, it is still unclear how capable they are as defenders at the level the Champions League demands.

Manchester City have largely the same squad as last season with the notable exception of £100 million man Jack Grealish. The question with this group is whether Pochettino can find his best 11 early in the season as Paris are still in a growth period under his leadership, whereas Manchester City are clearly set in their ways.

Both sides should be beating RB Leipzig at home comfortably, however the return fixture could prove to be tough. Unfortunately, Club Brugge have been given the short end of the stick this time around and it’s hard to see a world where they aren’t left trailing behind in fourth place.

Group B could end up being a rather exciting group with three knockout round regulars in the form of Liverpool, Spanish champions Atletico Madrid and Porto. Liverpool, on paper, have the strongest team in this group, bolstering their defence with the signing of Ibrahima Konate from Leipzig and the long-anticipated return of Virgil Van Dijk.

Diego Simeone’s men will be up for it, however.

Stylistically, Atletico’s chances bode well as it seems Liverpool still have a distinct problem when it comes to breaking down disciplined teams that defend deep, especially now with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino dropping off in form last season. The Spaniards will also be happy with the improvements they’ve made to their attack, with Antoine Griezmann making his return to the club on loan after two years at rivals Barcelona. This group is one with more potential for upset as a full-strength Milan with veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic back from injury and Portuguese champions Porto provide difficult away games. Saying this, one would expect Liverpool to top the group if they can perform to the standards they have in the past.

The situations Manchester United and Chelsea find themselves in are more straightforward in a general sense.

Chelsea are in an arguably stronger position than United with the one exception of Juventus. It is likely that the Bianconeri will be revitalised under returning manger Massimiliano Allegri, but upon assessing their squad, they still have a lot of work to do to reach the level that the defending champions have found themselves on after another strong transfer window. The Blues were able to win the Champions league last season without a recognised number nine putting up respectable numbers, but now with the re-signing of Romelu Lukaku you would imagine they can only go up from here.

Since Manchester City raised the bar in in the 2017-18 season, the Premier League has only got stronger, and due to the sheer amount of money injected into the league, (particularly the top six) these teams have been able to thrive in a professional scene that has been ravaged by COVID-19. The continent has not been able to keep up financially and thus it is likely that Europe will continue to be dominated by the Premier League for the foreseeable future.

There are a couple of notable exceptions for the short term however, with Bayern Munich winning the competition in 2019/20 and improving their squad every year.

Paris Saint Germain, as aforementioned, could pose a significant threat later in the competition, but it remains to be seen how Mauricio Pochettino will play his cards.

Manchester United have been given a dream draw this time around with the only potential contenders being their Europa League conquerors Villarreal. United narrowly lost on penalties the last time the two faced off but since then they have seen a dramatic squad renovation: Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane all arriving at Old Trafford. This should be more than enough to walk the group, and anything less than group winners would be seen as a failure.

Source: Getty Images

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THE FOUNDER September 2021

Transfer Window Winners to League Champions?

OLI GENT | SPORTS EDITOR

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t’s been quite the summer for Manchester United.

Jadon Sancho finally arrived from Borussia Dortmund a year late, whilst there were much more surprising additions to walk through the Carrington doors a few weeks later. Raphael Varane was brought in for a cutprice £35 million, whilst his old Real Madrid teammate and former United legend Cristiano Ronaldo was stolen from noisy neighbours Manchester City’s clutches as the Portuguese veteran made a fairy-tale return to Old Trafford.

With these signings, the Glazer family had managed to rectify three key positional issues in Manchester United’s starting line-up: right-wing, centre-back, and centre-forward; upgrading on players such as Daniel James, Victor Lindelof, and Anthony Martial. It really does seem to be stunning business, from owners who are so often slated for their initially lax approach to transfer dealings, before taking desperate punts at the end of the window in a poor attempt to appease irate supporters. Edinson Cavani and Odion Ighalo are the prime examples of recent years.

And whilst on the surface things are looking rosy for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils, key questions remain unanswered.

The central defensive midfield position remains a pressing and potent problem – neither Scott McTominay nor Fred are natural number sixes, and Nemanja Matic is not quick nor mobile enough to anchor a midfield trio by himself – and the opening games in the Premier League have thrust that particular matter further into the spotlight.

Despite scoring in the league’s curtain raiser in the 5-1 rout of Leeds United at Old Trafford, the Brazilian Fred’s performances have left an awful lot to be desired. His passing ability is that of a Championship midfielder, and many are of the opinion that the 5’7” former Shakhtar Donetsk man is too lightweight to be the single pivot – demonstrated in his challenges against Francisco Trincao and Adama Traore at Molineux, and against Southampton’s Che Adams.

What United’s £52 million man does give you is tenacity – particularly when paired with McTominay in the bigger games where Solskjaer prefers a more cautious, counterattacking approach. However, at a club the size of Manchester United, pure energy, will, and ‘putting a shift in’ is not enough. You must be able to play that penetrative pass, you must be able to mark your man, and you must be able to make that last-ditch tackle that could win you a vital three points on your way to a first league title since the days of Robin van Persie and co. in 2013. United have been crying out for a true Michael Carrick replacement for years, and Fred is not the answer.

Let’s be clear: it is not just Fred that is the problem. One must assess Solskjaer’s loyalty to him and his continuance to pick him when other options are available – Donny van de Beek (but only alongside a McTominay or a Matic) is the primary example here. United need an all-action midfielder that can hold the midfield by himself, allowing Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes more licence to create, roaming further forwards and influencing games on their own terms, rather than carrying unnecessary defensive responsibilities.

Names such as Ruben Neves, Wilfred Ndidi, and Declan Rice have all been bandied about, and all should be on United’s wish list come next summer.

Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof are both competent enough to deputise for Varane and captain Harry Maguire, whilst the arrival of Alex Telles last summer spurred Luke Shaw on to become one of Europe’s top left-backs.

In the attacking third, United are spoilt for choice.

Up top, Cristiano Ronaldo will likely be the goto number nine (seven!), with Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood his understudies. Off the left, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will do battle, whilst on the right, new boy Sancho is rivalled by the returning Jesse Lingard, although it must be stressed that Greenwood is more than capable on the right flank as well.

But it is the midfield that is the most prominent issue for United at present. Can they be league champions? Of course they can. Whether they buy a midfielder or not could prove to be the difference.

Besides the midfield, Solskjaer’s squad seems wellequipped to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City and Chelsea for the league title this term. Certainly with regards to depth, United are looking in a much healthier position than a few seasons back.

In goal, David de Gea and Dean Henderson will continue to jostle for the number one jersey, whilst Diogo Dalot impressed too much during preseason that the management decided he had to stay as the back-up right-back to Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Image: Manchester United FC, 2019. Scott McTominay and Fred’s time in the engine room at Manchester United could be coming to an end.

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THE FOUNDER September 2021

What is xG and is it Any Good?

TOM GIBBS | CONTENT WRITER

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xpected goals is becoming an increasingly popular statistic in football but there are still a lot of fundamental misunderstandings about it.

By now most people are in one of two camps: xG fanatics or xG sceptics.

It is either the only means of analysis worth considering, or it is useless because people aren’t interested in ‘if, buts and maybes’. Hence, it will be useful to take a brief look at what exactly xG is and isn’t.

The problem with viewing xG as a predictive tool is that every time it fails to accurately predict an outcome, it is seen as a failure. This is not a fair assessment. In all likelihood, xG still did a decent job of quantifying performance and systematic efficacy, it is just the nature of an unpredictable sport that this won’t always be reflected in the result.

Let’s start with what it is. xG stands for “expected goals” and measures the probability that a shot taken in a game results in a goal. xG models vary between data companies, but most major models account for shot location, body part, the preceding pass and many more variables. The expected goals model is based on the mathematical concept of expected value, E(V), which combines the payoff of a scenario with the probability of its occurrence. For example, if you can win £10 with probability 0.5 and £0 with probability 0.5, the E(V) of the game is £5. If the probabilities are 0.7 and 0.3 respectively, the E(V) is £7. Expected goals uses a similar formula with payoffs 1 or 0 depending on whether a shot results in a goal or not.

Image: Understat. xG is correlated with real goals in the long run.

Image: Tom Gibbs. The relationship between expected goals and expected value.

That is the literal answer, but we can think about xG in a different way: by examining what it is trying to do. Fundamentally, xG tries to quantify the ‘flow’ of a game. It is a mathematical attempt at explaining what an impartial fan will see when watching the game. If a team creates more ‘big chances’, most football fans will agree they dominated the game.

Expected goals reflects this.

One of the more popular uses of xG is as a predictive tool, though this can cause problems. Now, in the long run, expected goals is actually a very good predictor of results. However, fundamentally it is a mistake to see this as its purpose. xG better serves as a measure of performance, and more specifically, a means of judging the efficacy of a system.

So, what are the benefits of xG? Expected goals is useful because, unlike other metrics, it accounts for the quality of shots not just the total volume of shots taken. This can give a more accurate representation of the ‘flow’ of a game than other popular stats like possession and total shots. However, like all stats, it has its drawbacks. Most xG models assess the probability of shots that are taken. However, what about when a player sliding in narrowly fails to get on the end of a cross? Many fans would see this as a big chance - yet xG won’t record it. Marginal offsides may also be seen as big chances by fans, again xG won’t reflect this. Despite many positives, xG still has its limitations.

So, how should we use and view xG moving forward? One suggestion is that xG should be used to measure how a system has performed - not necessarily a team.

Creating lots of big chances, but missing all of them, is arguably not a good team performance. However, the fact that they created lots of big chances means that the system performed well.

Framing xG like this gets rid of colloquialisms such as “Team A should have won” or “Team B was better”. These terms are entirely subjective; being more clinical than the opposition is a valid way to win a football match. This is a key frustration many sceptics have with xG. In reality, xG is just a metric. Like all metrics, it quantifies something fairly bland and needs to be interpreted. In the case of xG, the issue is more its interpretation than a flaw in the metric itself. Expected goals isn’t the only stat worth analysing, but it is incredibly useful and shouldn’t be dismissed.

THE FOUNDER September 2021

World 12’s and Rugby’s Annoying Potential

SPORTS 29

PETER GEDDES | CONTENT WRITER

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lans for an experimental rugby competition have just been unveiled, it is being billed as a natural evolution of rugby union and an opportunity for some of the best players to showcase their skills on a new stage. Rugby has had a variety of rule sets for decades and more recently, the Sevens format has been seen by World Rugby as an opportunity to expand the game into new markets. The proposed World 12’s tournament would take place over three weekends with 192 players competing on behalf of eight franchise teams. The backers are currently negotiating with World Rugby, players and clubs, promising to inject £250 million into Rugby Union as a result of the tournament.

Ian Ritchie, World 12’s Limited Chairman, has been quoted making references to the Indian Premier League and The Hundred in cricket. These two tightly controlled and streamlined competitions are examples of novel formats and rules sets being used to bring a sport that is often thought to be lengthy and complicated to a new, younger audience. The Hundred also brought women’s cricket to the fore, another promise made by the World 12’s. Women’s team sport is one of the largest growing industries in the world, with football in particular making big gains while women’s rugby has also become more well established. A cash-strapped sport is going to find it a tempting prospect, but it will be curious to see what interest amongst players and fans this can generate.

Even if the current game is maintained with few changes the risk of introducing another version of the game is fragmentation and cannibalisation both at the top level and further down. Rugby already has three common variants and, in countries like America, Ireland, and Australia, several similar sports which are competing for the same player pool.

If the 12’s format takes off, what does that mean for 7’s and 15’s? Will they become the second-class product to the highly commercialised franchise league where all the best players play? The possibility of merging 7’s accessibility and speed of play with rugby union’s player base and historical stake holders is a tantalising one to those of us who think that rugby can be a truly global entertainment product.

Even if that is not what is being pitched currently, it is hard to see this as anything other than a proof of concept for a more fundamental reorganisation of the game. The introduction of this new tournament risks alienating fans who are frustrated with the shortcomings in the current game both in terms of rule application and calendar organisation.

Other than posing all sorts of questions about commercial viability, rule set, and logistics, this proposal raises larger questions about what the future of rugby is and whether it can mature into a top-level team sport. Rugby union is infamous for its opaque nuances and ever-changing subtleties: the percentage of even seasoned views who can talk with authority about what is and isn’t a scrum penalty is probably in the single figures.

The Covid era has laid bare the inability of World Rugby and the sports governing unions to reorganise and streamline the rugby calendar; promises of a global season have long since been forgotten despite the worldwide lockdowns providing an excellent opportunity for exactly that. All domestic rugby bar England and France are suffering financially and desperately attempting to form new competitions to resurrect interest and commercial viability, with the irony being the more times teams rip up the format and start again, the more fans become disinterested in a competition with very few ties to the history of the game (looking at you, Pro14/United Rugby Championship).

However, there is an extent to which these ambiguities make the game what it is, and traditionalists will be concerned that a 12-a-side format, perhaps with no scrums, will make the game irretrievably different from the complex technical, physical and psychological maelstrom that is a rugby match.

The only good thing that has come out of the breakdown of the old Super Rugby is the inclusion of Pacific Island teams who have long been neglected despite their disproportionate contribution to the world game. The future is uncertain for rugby union at every level and if its existing decision makers don’t

been neglected despite their disproportionate contribution to the world game. The future is uncertain for rugby union at every level and if its existing decision makers don’t provide solutions outside investors will because the value of rugby is as clear as its current inadequacies.

Source: James Robinson

30 SPORTS

THE FOUNDER September 2021

Magical Raducanu Dazzles in New York Dream OLI GENT | SPORTS EDITOR

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mma Raducanu. 18-year-old US Open champion. It defies belief.

The first British woman to win a Grand Slam for 44 years, since Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon win in 1977, Raducanu overcame her fellow teenage sensation Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to claim Major glory.

In a match filled with high quality entertainment from both women, Raducanu kept her composure right until the last: she was strong in her footwork, her groundstrokes, and most importantly, her mentality, as her Canadian opponent did everything she could to fight back.

In winning the title at Flushing Meadows, Raducanu broke several long-standing records: she becomes the first ever qualifier in the Open era to win a Slam, as well as becoming the youngest ever Slam champion since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon back in 2004. Domestically, she is also the youngest ever British player to win a Major.

The 6-4 6-3 score line in the final could be seen as unfair on Leylah Fernandez. The 19-year-old played some unbelievable tennis, holding her nerve at crucial points in the match to keep Raducanu from breaking serve and running away with the title.

At several intervals, especially in the dying embers of the match, Fernandez fought stiffly, particularly at deuce and ad points in Raducanu’s final service games as the Canadian sought to break back and regain her foothold in the final with thunderous forehands down the line.

Raducanu served for the Championship at 5-3, not before she had had two championship points in the game prior, and she took full advantage, acing Fernandez on the ad side, falling to her knees on the Flushing acrylic as her emotions took over; she finally realised the magnitude of what she’d done for British tennis, and more potently, women’s tennis.

It wasn’t till after a scare though – several scares – the first being the ferocious fighting spirit of the Canadian teen sensation on the other side of the net, but the second when the Brit took a tumble mid-point, requiring medical attention at a crucial moment in the final game to bandage up a nasty cut.

Fernandez made clear her frustrations at the umpire as Raducanu’s medical time-out allowed for her to recuperate and refocus. She returned to the baseline revitalised, fending off a dangerous break point that would have seen the set back on serve, and the game heading for the distance.

But it wasn’t to be for the crowd favourite Fernandez, and her complaints went in vain. It was only going to be Raducanu’s night, and as her eyes glistened gleefully brighter than the New York skyline, she would become the ‘Queen of Queens’ for the first time.

Having to come through a gruelling threeweek programme, playing ten straight singles matches including coming through Quallies was hard enough for a mere 18-year-old girl training out of Bromley, but throughout the course of her tournament, the now-British number one did not drop a single set – the first time that’s been done in the women’s draw at the US Open since the great Serena Williams back in 2014.

It wasn’t as if the draw opened up in the Briton’s favour, either. She was given tough opponents in the latter rounds, namely Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in the quarter finals, and then in-form Maria Sakkari in the semis. Yet she still dispatched both with ease, beating the Swiss 6-3 6-4, and the Greek 6-1 6-4, producing dominating displays in both matches.

Source: Getty Images

SPORTS 31

THE FOUNDER September 2021

George Russell Moves to Mercedes – What Does This Mean for the 2022 Championship?

CYANN FIELDING | LIFESTYLE EDITOR

his week it was announced that current Williams driver, George Russell, will move to take the second seat at Mercedes from 2022.

Valtteri Bottas announced on Monday that he was leaving Mercedes to move to Alfa Romeo – supposedly taking the place of Kimi Raikkonen who has chosen to retire.

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As for who will be the faster driver remains unclear. Hamilton has not had the easiest season this year as he appears to be in a constant cat fight with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. If it continues into next season, it may allow room for Russell as a second driver to gain a serious advantage in the gaps caused by crashes, nudges and messy driving from Verstappen and Hamilton.

This announcement pretty much set certainty for fans that British driver Russell was set to move to Mercedes, and the following day the announcement came, and ‘Mr Saturday’ has been in the limelight since with press immediately forgetting about Bottas’ long relationship with Mercedes.

However, it goes without saying that George Russell will be a much more prominent driver in 2022 being in arguably the top seat on the grid and in the best position to compete with the drivers who consistently sit on the front row.

Whilst Russell undoubtedly will be holding the ‘second’ seat at Mercedes, questions are now emerging of how close will the talent be between himself and ‘number one’ driver and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton? With an impressive performance in Hamilton’s car during his time in isolation last season; the 2022 season for Formula 1 is certainly set to be one to watch.

With his outstanding qualifiers this season, big things are to be expected of the new Mercedes driver. The 2022 season is shaping up to be one full of talent, with Lando Norris also showcasing aptitude to compete for multiple Grand Prix titles. Could Hamilton’s reluctance to have Russell as a teammate come from an insecurity that stems from sitting amongst a younger generation of drivers – drivers that are becoming more and more talented with each Grand Prix and threatening his opportunity of winning another championship? All will be unveiled in the next Formula One season - a campaign that will be the closest competition ever seen in the sport.

One thing that will be under eye will be the relationship between Russell and Hamilton. Undeniably, the relationship between Bottas and Hamilton was one of trust, teamwork, and reliability – however, will it be the same with Russell? Russell is going to bring a new aspect to the Mercedes team: young, ambitious, and determined – meaning he may lack the team spirit that Bottas honoured. However, Russell has been humble about gaining his position with Mercedes, clarifying how he has worked throughout his racing career for this opportunity. This may prevent him from becoming too cocky in the team as he will wish to prolong his contact with Mercedes hopefully beyond 2022.

Source: Manofmany

THE FOUNDER September 2021