The Founder, May 2017

The Founder

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Royal Holloway’s Independent Student Newspaper

VOLUME VIII, ISSUE VII • WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 2017 • Royal Holloway, University of London • Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

RHULSU Hosts 2017 ‘Big Debate’ their party. Whilst Phillip Hammond stressed how the election was one focused on leadership and the Brexit negotiations, the Green Party’s LeeLast week saw Royal Holloway Anne Lawrence spoke about how students and members of the local the election represented a choice for community were recently invited to people to choose the kind of society the Students Union for a political dethey wish to live in. John bate between candidates Vincent also stressed in the Runnymede and the importance of a Weybridge constituency. close relationship with The local candidates European Union, reincluded Conservative he SU will the iterating the Lib Dem’s MP and Chancellor of pledge to ‘give the final the Exchequer Philip be hosting say to the British people’ Hammond, Fiona Dent regarding the EU Refer(Labour), John Vincent an event on endum. Similarly focus(Lib Dem) and Lee-Anne Lawrence (Greens). Results Night ing on the importance of the Brexit negotiations, With the General ElecFiona Dent also spoke tion only weeks away, in Medicine about Labour’s intenstudents had the chance tions to ‘improve things to question candidates on the 8th of in the here and now, and hear their perspecas well as the future’. tive on topics such as June This would be achieved Bereavement Payments, through ‘correcting the Wage Caps and the Livinjustices’ that she suggested curing Wage, the costing of party manirently manifest themselves under the festos, rights for the LGBTQ comConservative government. munity, immigration, and police cuts The Students Union will also be and social services. hosting an event on Results Night In their opening statements, each (8th of June) in Medicine, airing the candidate presented what they saw as live results of the General Election. Top: Photo by Daniel Brady. Bottom: Photo via http://www.bbc.co.uk. a clear reason for voting for them and DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR

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Index News..............................................................................1 Opinion And Debate......................................................6 Lifestyle...........................................................................9 Features........................................................................12 Arts...............................................................................14 Arts: Film......................................................................17 Arts: Music....................................................................21 Sports...........................................................................23

History Festival, p. 4 Budget London, p. 12

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UK Festivals, p. 22

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2 NEWS

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

NHS Fight Back Back Gate To After Cyber Attack Remain Open ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

At the end of April, some long awaited news was finally revealed by the SU - the opening of the back gate 24/7. The issue has been raised continuously by students over the years regarding concerns for safety when walking longer routes home late at night.

Thanks to Royal Holloway’s SU sabbatical officers, the College has announced the

back gate leading to Spring Rise will be staying open 24 hours, seven days a week.

The new regulations surrounding the back gate won’t come into effect until October 2017, as planning permission will have to be granted first. A system that requires you to scan your college card will be put in place, as well as SU stewarding on busy nights to control noise.

The Founder Board 2016/17 Co-Editors Daniel Brady & Lilia Vargas Costello

Photo via https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1485059.

SUZANNAH BALL DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

The NHS faced a global attack which crippled technological services on Friday the 12th of May. NHS bosses and the government are facing questions over why hospitals had been left vulnerable.

The health service faces a weekend of chaos after hackers demanding a ransom infiltrated the health service’s antiquated computer system.

Operations and appointments were cancelled and ambulances diverted as up to 40 hospital trusts became infected by a ‘ransomware’ attack which demanded payment to regain access to vital medical records.

It is being named as the ‘biggest ransomware attack in history’. The attack didn’t just cause problems for the

NHS, but spread to companies and institutes including international shipper FedEx Corp in the United States.

Researchers with security software maker Avast said they had observed 57,000 infections in 99 countries with Russia, Ukraine and Taiwan the top targets.

The NHS has reported that there was no evidence that patients’ medical records had been accessed, but it was unable to say whether the hackers who are threatened to delete information had the ability to destroy such records.

It has been questioned why the NHS systems were left vulnerable as Microsoft had provided free software to protect computers in March. Cyber experts have reported that the health service was subject to infiltration as many trusts were using obsolete systems and had failed to comply with recent se-

curity updates which would have provided an extra layer of security.

A cyber gang which has Russian affiliations is being suggested as the possible cause of this attack. The organisation, called Shadow Brokers, claimed in April that it had stolen a ‘cyber weapon’ from an American spy agency which would give them unprecedented access to all computers using Microsoft Windows.

Vladimir Putin has denied Russia's involvement in the NHS computer hack. He has instead blamed the US for creating the hacking software, stating ‘Malware created by intelligence agencies can backfire on its creators.’

It has been suggested that 90 per cent of NHS trusts in the UK have been using Windows XP, which is a 16-yearold operating system.

News Editor Rosa Smith

Film Editor Ryan Nair

Deputy News Editor Suzannah Ball

Lifestyle Editor Emily May Webber

Opinon and Debate Editor Amanda Hudson

Sport Editor Elizabeth Silverberg

Features Editor Thomas Hawkins

Music Editor Sam Barker

Arts Editor Gemma Tadman

Designer Lilia Vargas Costello

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.

THE FOUNDER is printed in Cambridge by Iliffe Print

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

NEWS 3

#VoteBecause The Future Is In Our Hands ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Since Theresa May’s announcement that there would be a snap election on Thursday the 8th of June, the UK has been thrown into a state of election fever. Whilst each party may be promising a better and more stable future for Britain, it is Britain’s youngest generation of voters who are being called on to make their voices heard.

The announcement of the 2017 general election, initially not due until 2020, evoked mixed reactions. While many people view the unexpected opportunity to vote as a chance to implement change after the Conservative Party election of Theresa May following David Cameron’s resignation, concerns have risen that the election will cause more uncertainty in the wake of the EU referendum, coupled with an increasingly divided nation.

Despite Theresa May’s previous promise to not hold a snap election, the weight of Brexit

negotiations appeared to have a direct impact on the PM wanting to ensure she has the support of the British public before driving for a ‘hard Brexit’ deal with the EU. However, whilst the Conservative party is still topping the polls, Labour has seen an undeniable surge in popularity, narrowing the gap between the two parties.

One reason behind this could be due to the surge in young people signing up to vote. Since the announcement of the general election, over 930,000 people have registered to vote, 42 per cent of this number aged under 25 - an encouraging statistic considering the recent decline of young voters.

Voter turnout in the 18-24 age bracket has seen a drop from per cent in the 1990s to an average of 40 per cent now. Put alongside the surprising statistic of only 36 per cent of 18-24 year olds who voted in the EU referendum last year, the apparent lack of engagement between young people and politics could have been a cause for concern.

Despite this, many people in the 18-24 age category have now registered to have their say on the 8th of June. This could be down to a number of campaigns aimed at stimulating young voter’s political motivation, including major companies like Uber, as well as Royal Holloway’s very own #VoteBecause campaign, aimed at inspiring students to register to vote and exercise the power of their vote. Royal Holloway’s website states, ‘At Royal Holloway we are passionate about protecting freedom, democracy and the right to be heard. We were founded by two social reformers who pioneered education and knowledge for all.

In 2017, we continue this campaigning spirit with #VoteBecause, a social campaign to ignite young people’s passion for democracy.’

So now people are ready to vote, how exactly do the eagerly anticipated party manifestos line up? The Founder has done some research for you…

Conservative Manifesto: Key Pledges • Pensioners will stop paying for their own care once their savings and assets are down to £100,000. At present only £23,250 is protected.

• No-one will have to sell their home during their lifetime, as they will be able to borrow money which will be paid back from their estate after their death.

• A ban on new selective schools will be lifted with provision put in place to ensure pupils can join at other ages as well as 11.

• To build at least a hundred new free schools a year with councils banned from creating new places at schools rated inadequate or requires improvement.

• The overall schools budget will increase by £4 billion by 2022 with free school meals for all infants to be scrapped and replaced with free breakfasts.

• David Cameron’s tax "triple lock”, which guaranteed there would be no rise in national insurance, VAT or income tax, will be scrapped in favour of a general statement of intent to lower tax and simplify the tax system – no increase in VAT. • A commitment to raise the tax-free personal allowance to £12,500 by 2020 will stay.

• Students will be expected to leave the country at the end of their course unless they meet new "higher" requirements allowing them to stay • An objective to reduce annual net migration to the tens of thousands. Overseas student numbers will remain in the immigration statistics.

• A pledge to increase NHS spending by a minimum of £8 billion in real terms over the next five years.

• A pledge to "maintain" the overall size of the armed forces, retain the Trident continuousat-sea nuclear deterrent.

• A free vote will be given to MPs on a government bill in government time to repeal the Hunting Act.

Labour Manifesto: Key Pledges

• Those earning over £80,000 per annum will become subject to a rise in income tax.

• Extra powers will be given to HMRC (Her Majesties Revenues and Customs) to chase individuals and companies who avoid tax.

• There is no commitment to reduce the number of immigrants - Labour ‘believes in fair rules and reasonable management of migration’ and will not resort to ‘bogus’ immigration targets.

• Labour will accept the referendum result (the decision to go forward with Brexit) and intends to create a close relationship with the EU ‘not as members but partners’.

• Alongside introducing the energy market partially back into public ownership, Labour intends to ban the practice of fracking.

• Abolish tuition fees and reintroduce maintenance grants for university students.

• More than £30billion of extra funding for the NHS through increased income tax for top 5 per cent earners, increased tax on private medical insurance and halving management consultants' fees.

• Creation of National Care Service alongside the improvement of the current care conditions.

• Invest to build one million new homes, including 100,000 council and housing association homes by the end of next parliament.

• Invest to build one million new homes, including 100,000 council and housing association homes by the end of next parliament.

• Lower voting age to 16.

• Support the renewal of Trident.

Liberal Democrats: Key Pledges • Second referendum on the final Brexit deal.

• Protection of rights for EU citizens living in the UK, retaining membership of the Single Market and customs union, retaining the free movement of EU citizens.

• Add 1p on income tax to raise £6billion for the NHS • Reinstate housing benefits for 18-21 year olds • Introduce of a regulated cannabis market in the UK, and a cannabis tax to raise £1 billion a year.

• Generate 60 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

• Extra £6 billion funding for the NHS • A Housing Investment Bank to generate funding for new homes.

• Scheme allowing rent payments to accumulate like a mortgage • Extend free school meals to all primary school pupils • £7bn boost in education spending • Extend the vote to 16-year-olds.

4 NEWS

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

First History Festival RHUL Rises In Comes To RHUL League Tables ROSA SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Royal Holloway is set to host its first ever Festival of History at the beginning of June, celebrating the UK’s struggle for democracy in the historic setting of Founder’s building.

The festival, taking place on the 4th of June, 11am – 4pm is a free event designed to get students, families, and residents involved in various historic events that will be brought to life by a programme of live-performances, music, re-enactments, and artefacts. Join leading artists, musicians and experts to take a trip back to the most turbulent periods in UK democracy, from King John’s Magna Carta to the Suffragettes.

Visitors can witness a suffragette self-defence class, shoulder a musket, learn Magna Carta-style calligraphy and explore thoughtprovoking topics such as the abolition of slavery through

SUZANNAH BALL DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Good news for prospective and graduating students as Royal Holloway rises five places in the Guardians University League tables, now ranking 40th in the UK. Earlier this year, the university also rose three places to 34th in The Complete University Guide.

Royal Holloway has also risen in the Guardian’s subject Photo via https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk. specific tables. This includes short plays. library and student services a huge jump of twelve places The event is part of Citi- centre after famous suffra- for physics, now holding 5th zens, Royal Holloway’s Her- gette and university alumna, itage Lottery Fund-support- Emily Wilding Davison. ed project that reveals the May also saw the unveiling relationship between citi- of Egham-by-Runnymede’s zens and the state of Britain Arts and Heritage Festival, over the last 800 years. to launch in summer 2018.

The event is fitting con- Egham Museum, in partnersidering Royal Holloway’s ship with Royal Holloway and celebration of its own con- Egham Town Team, will mark nections to democratic free- 100 years of women’s suffrage dom this year; naming the with its inaugural event.

Terror Threat Shakes Britain

Internet Via Balloon SUZANNAH BALL DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

People in Peru are now able to contact family and friends while a flood ravaged the country, all thanks to Project Loon. Part of the Google parent company Alphabet, the project has been able to bring basic internet to people in disaster zones by floating giant balloons high in the air and beaming internet connectivity down to earth.

There has been massive flooding around Peru in recent months due to heavy rainfall. More than 800 towns

place. Biosciences has also risen an incredible 30 places.

In total, six subjects are placed in the top 25 per cent: Physics, Film Production, Media and Film Studies, Music, Psychology, and Geography.

Figures for graduate employment and career prospects also showed substantial increases.

Professor Paul Layzell, said ‘We are delighted that we have risen in the overall rankings, it reflects the effort being put into making sure our students have the best experience they can at Royal Holloway.’

and cities have declared states of emergency as 100 people have been left dead and tens of thousands homeless since the start of the year.

Project Loon is a part of X, Alphabet’s ‘Moonshot Factory’. The project launched in 2013 but the efforts in Peru are the first time the project has provided internet to such a large amount of people.

Lucky for Peru the company had been testing with the telecom company Telefonica for months, so the infrastructure was already in place when floods caused havoc.

The company announced

its successful Peru efforts on Wednesday the 17th of May where the balloons are still in place. According to the company the balloons provided 160GB of data to tens of thousands of users, which is enough data to send and receive 30 million WhatsApp messages, or two million emails.

This is not the first company to attempt at bringing internet to disaster areas. In April, Facebook announced it had built a prototype helicopter antennae which could provide internet, however, it has not been tested during real life scenarios.

DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR

Britain’s security services remain in a state of alert after a suicide bomber, named as Salman Abedi, detonated a device at Manchester Arena in Manchester, killing twentythree adults and children and injuring 116, some critically.

The UK’s terrorism threat level was raised to critical, meaning an attack is expected imminently, after the attack on the 22nd of May. The terrorism threat level has since been reduced from critical to severe after the arrest of suspects in the investigation into the bombing. This means that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre no longer believes that an attack is imminent; instead they think it is now just highly likely.

Whilst the threat level was reduced, Operation Temperer, which allows military to be deployed to key sites, continued until end of bank holiday weekend. There was increased security at Wembley for the FA Cup Final, Hampden Park for the Scottish Cup Final and Twickenham for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final. Armed police continued to guard hundreds of other events across the UK over the bank holiday weekend, with crowds being greeted by heavily armed police and intensified services.

Further investigations into the attack are continuing after Abedi was suspected of working within a terrorist network, and 13 people have since been arrested in connection with the incident, two of whom were released without charge.

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at news@thefounder.co.uk

Wilding Davidson Building Reaches Final Stage DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR

Members of The Founder staff were recently granted access to the new Emily Wilding Davison Building, which is due to be completed at the end of the summer of 2017 and will be ready to be opened in autumn of 2017.

Named in honour of one of Britain’s most famous suffragettes and Royal Holloway alumna, Emily Wilding Davison, the space boasts impressive state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with stunning views of Founders building, Canada Copse, and the London skyline.

The library space is at the heart of the building, offering different areas to study depending on what students require. These spaces vary from silent to communal group-work, as well as offering bookable rooms and computers. Similar to Bedford library, which will be closing its library services once the new building is open, the new li-

brary will be open 24/7.

Once completed, the new building will span 10, 000 square metres, allowing for various services throughout its five primary floors. The building will provide a central hub for the Student Services Centre, allowing students access to crucial services conveniently, varying from accommodation to counselling.

We were also shown the locations of the new bank, cafĂŠ and Students Union shop, all of which will provide students with an airy and centralised point to access useful services.

Development on Founders Square is also nearing completion. Work on the new space will pedestrianise and landscape the area between Founders building, the Windsor building, and the Emily Wilding Davison building. It will provide a central space on campus, whilst the various heightened levels and the reintroduction of Victorian planting will bind the buildings together, providing a unique and exciting outdoor space.

Photos by Daniel Brady.

NEWS 5

6 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk

[Debate]

Point And Counter-Points [RHUL'S Reasons Why]

AMANDA HUDSON OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

The Netflix drama ’13 Reasons Why’ has rocketed into the forefront of the media since its premiere in late March. The show — which is about the suicide of a young girl, Hannah, and her account of the reasons and events that took place that lead her to take her own life — has been the focal point for conversation and discourse surrounding mental health. Any show that reaches the level of popularity that ‘13 Reasons Why’ has will have an influence over an immense amount of people. So the question becomes this: Did the show accurately and responsibly portray the subjects it touches on?

Or did the messages it was trying to send fall short? Student writers debate this question:

Shock Doesn’t De-stigmatise VILDE WESSEL LJUNGBERG STUDENT WRITER

I don’t watch ‘13 Reasons Why’ because hearing people say that it ‘destroyed’ them as a good reason to watch the show doesn’t sit right with me. Firstly, it seems weird to find entertainment in a subject matter that is so stigmatised and not properly dealt with in real life. Secondly, I feel like it creates a false sense of understanding, in that people who watch it might think that they now know what a suicidal person goes through—almost like when people think they’ve done their bit for the environment by just recycling.

It might be good to make a popular series that tackles suicide in order to create awareness for it; but seeing as depression and suicidal thoughts are conditions that are very susceptible to misconceptions, it might be better to focus on actually dismantling these misconceptions in a proper way, instead of wrapping it in some drama series that seems to rely a lot on shock value. Either way, what’s the point of subjecting yourself to painful experiences when there is so much bad stuff happening in the real world already?

The Right Type Of Wake Up Call DANIEL BRADY CO-EDITOR

For those that have seen 13 Reasons why, there is no doubt that it shocks, horrifies and causes upset. Watching it is certainly not entertaining and, in my experience, I struggled through every moment of the series. That being said, it is the perfect wake up call for those of us living in a society which thrives from negative criticism, close-mindedness and over-analysis.

13 Reasons Why tackles and depicts real problems, and it is its relatability which makes it so valuable. It captures the struggles which face young people every day and help make them tangible, both to young people who have similar struggles but cannot express them, and to an older audience who may struggle to comprehend the struggles technology places on teenagers. It boldly goes so far as to say that many times even those there to help you, such as counselors, are inexperienced in the struggles that modern day teenagers face - we learn that it is not as simply switching off a mobile phone, or turning a blind eye. By experiencing Hannah’s problems first hand, we live the experiences rather than objectively viewing them from a safe vantage point. We feel her pain whilst journeying through the series, however, whilst Hannah is faced with a lonely and harrowing death, we are forced to go beyond and probe our own humanity, tasked with ensuring our peers and children do not suffer in the same way.

The show is distressing in its representation of Hannah’s journey to suicide, yet our society is so desensitized to violence that, in my opinion, the representation of her death is wholly needed. It is tragic, perfectly mirroring the tragic state of disarray that encompasses perceptions of mental health and bullying amongst young people.

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

OPINION AND DEBATE 7

Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk

13 Reasons Why I Wont Watch ‘That Show’ CHARLOTTE SMITH STUDENT WRITER

1. Influence on children- According to The Independent, ‘13 Reasons Why’ has caused US schools to issue warnings to parents, making them aware of the show and how kids could potentially become influenced it.

2. Overtly explicit scenes-

Its scenes of rape and suicide have resulted in the show being labeled ‘too graphic’ for its teenage target audience by critics. If the show had been broadcasted on television, it would’ve been rated R.

3. Potential trigger for suicidal thoughts- WRAL News reported that calls to suicide hotlines have tripled

since the show’s premiere. Whilst not all of the calls are directly related to 13 Reasons Why, the dramatic influx in calls is certainly linked to the show according to mental health organisations.

4. Glorification of suicide- The victim is shown getting revenge on the people who caused her to take her own life through tapes that explicitly incriminate them. However, since the focus of the tapes don’t listen to them until after Hannah has already committed suicide, it gives the false illusion that the victim will be satisfied from beyond the grave.

5. Accessibility- The dramatisation of suicide is far too graphic and insensitive to be shown to a public audience on an easily accessible media outlet such as Netflix.

6. Aftermath- I’ve seen it impact my friends and family on a negative emotional level, sometimes to the point of having to stop watching it all together for their own wellbeing.

7. Unappealing form of entertainment- Personally, television and film act as methods of relaxation and escapism. In my free time, I don’t want to watch a show that deals with heavy topics.

8. Encourages self harm as a way to ‘not commit suicide’- This view is extremely damaging as it does not stop thoughts of suicide, but rather delays more severe thoughts from their inevitable return.

9. Shock for the sake of shock- Explicit rape scenes are meant to shock the audience, make them uncomfortable and start discourse about the subject. This is all well and good, apart from the fact that since the show fails to provide criticism on the illegal and problematic nature of sexual assault, the show fundamentally sexualises the victims of rape.

10. Perpetuates negative stereotypes- The show furthers the idea that people suffering from depression are supposed to suffer in silence and only reach out for help when things get too serious.

11. Effect on the audience was predictable-

Yet, they still went along with production. Producer Selena Gomez defended the show by stating she knew what kind of effect it would have, and was expecting backlash.

12. It does none of what it sets out to achieve-

The show sets out to show that suicide is never an option, but by glorifying and romanticising suicide, it inherently achieves the opposite of its original goal.

13. There are better ways to start discourse-

Suicide, self harm, depression, bullying and sexual assault are all things that should be discussed within our society—but there are better, safer ways that we could and should go about doing this that don’t involve triggering images left in the hands of impressionable young people.

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Weigh in on Twitter with the hashtags #reasonswhy and #reasonswhynot. Find us at @rhulfounder

8 OPINION AND DEBATE

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at opinionanddebate@thefounder.co.uk

Forget Fake News, Here’s Fake Politics ZOE LEIGH STUDENT WRITER

Until recently, data privacy has never much concerned me.

I could think of worse things than being persuaded to buy a pair of shoes based on my online activity, and to some extent I believed that I was immune to such manipulation. It wasn’t until I learned about a new political marketing tactic called behavioural micro-targeting that I realised exactly how such data could be used. Contrary to my uninformed beliefs, it goes beyond shoe brand choice, instead raising important questions about the future of modern democracy.

One of the key components of behavioural micro-targeting is Big Data, which are extremely large data sets extracted from a wide range of sources from social media activity to credit card transaction history. This information can be used to create extremely in-depth profiles of individual voters. Michal Kosinski, the psychologist credited with inadvertently paving the way for behavioural micro-targeting, demonstrated in one of his earlier studies that Facebook likes alone can predict a large number of personal attributes automatically and accurately without the

user’s informed consent. These attributes include basic demographics such as gender and ethnicity, but also political preferences and personality traits.

The collected information form intricate voter profiles, which are subsequently used by companies such as Cambridge Analytica — who were involved in the Trump campaign and have even been accused of involvement in Vote Leave’s campaign — to influence election results.

This data informs political campaigns about who to target and with what type of message. It can identify individual voters’ concerns so that social media adverts can be tailored to these issues. For example, if a Facebook user’s online activity suggests that they’re angry about immigration, they can be targeted with ads that emphasise this exact issue. Although in principle it may seem good that political campaigns respond to the voters’ needs, this approach to political marketing raises some concerns. It means that politicians are directly responding to the grievances of their target audience, which becomes a problem if these grievances are ill-founded. If immigration is being blamed for problems it hasn’t caused, micro-targeting may lead to politicians exploit-

ing these feelings to gain support by targeting voters with posts that justify such sentiments.

Consequently, the public isn’t being challenged to think critically about their views; instead, their views are being confirmed by what is shown in their newsfeed. Not only does this reduce the exposure of voters to opposing views, but politicians are motivated to respond to issues in superficial ways, rather than tackling the underlying problems, to appear as if they’re addressing their target audience’s concerns directly.

Perhaps even more worrying is that this data isn’t just used to target potential voters to gain their support, but also to attempt to keep the opponent’s potential supporters from the voting booths. This is done through so-called ‘dark posts’; posts that are only visible to users with particular profiles. Cambridge Analytica used this method in the Trump campaign with the aim of dissuading groups of the electorate identified as likely to support Clinton from voting.

Namely, news about the Clinton Foundation’s failure to effectively provide aid after the earthquake in Haiti was shown specifically to individuals living in Little Haiti; a neighbourhood of Miami where many Haitian

Queen’s Building.

These changes are welcome ones; especially when one accounts for the overcrowding our campus suffers from. These new installations will accommodate for the expected growth in student population, and provide us with updated resources and facilities, ultimately creating a higher quality of university life.

However, there’s a certain nostalgia for things of the past that will no longer be, come September.

Bedford Library will be closing due to the opening of the Emily Wilding Davidson Library. Anyone that’s ever tried to snag a seat in Bedford during exam season will know that campus was decidedly in need of a bigger, more modern library.

Yet, there’s something to be said for the building and its extraordinarily low ceilings, busy ground floor and the stale air that smelled particularly like a combination of bad coffee and the odour of 100 students who may or may not have showered for three consecutive days. Students have bonded over their mutual anxiety attacks after ingesting one-too-many Red Bulls, and the crippling wall of stress that you can feel as soon as you walk into either of the quiet levels. All-nighters have been pulled there, dissertations have been pored over inside its walls and, whether you love the place or hate it, Bedford Library has most likely provided you shelter during your times of academic panic.

Graphic by Eleanor Goodman.

immigrants reside. If we assume that one of the cornerstones of democracy is the freedom to vote how one chooses, then surely a political marketing tactic that manipulates individuals’ voting behaviour in such a covert way directly undermines one of the foundations of modern democracy.

Given how micro-targeting allows political campaigns to

target voters with incredible precision in order to effectively influence their voting behaviour, it’s likely that these tactics will become increasingly prevalent throughout Western liberal democracies. Therefore, it’s important for us to be mindful of the ways in which our data is used, and to be critical of the information included or excluded from our social media feeds.

Additionally, an announcement has been made by the College that the back gate will be open 24 hours from the start of autumn term. Whilst this has been an issue advocated for by students for years now, what was once an obstacle for students drunk on courage and a bit of booze to challenge themselves with in order to make their way home, will now become something that will be handed to them on a platter; and what’s the fun in that? There’s no doubt that opening the gate at night will create a safer campus; but stories of drunkenly scaling (or, more realistically, falling over the side of) the back gate will quickly become distant memories reflected fondly upon by students who at-

tended Royal Holloway before the 2017 academic year Adjusting to changes can sometimes be a difficult feat. After this year, the campus that we came to know three years ago will have changed almost beyond recognition. Unquestionably, the abundance of innovations being made will benefit us in the long run. However, now is the time to make memories in the places that are set to change in the following months. Climb the back gate after a night out at the SU, or pull an all-nighter in Bedford just because you can. After this year, you won’t have the same chance again.

(Ed. Not that we at The Founder endorse any forms of illegal fence-hopping antics…)

Campus Metamorphosis Beckons Student Nostalgia AMANDA HUDSON

OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

The changing of the seasons brings about a breeze of changes for the Royal Holloway campus.

At the start of this year we saw the opening of The Boilerhouse Café, the replacement of Café Jules, plus a new Classics Department and the renovation of the main reception of Founder’s Building. Now, we’re expecting a new wave of major changes over the course of the summer: The Emily Wilding Davidson Building is set to open in time for autumn term, Founder’s Square is being added between Founder’s and the new library, and a new Electronical Engineering Department is being built beside

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

LIFESTYLE 9

Hang Up Your Break Up

Photo via anxiety.org

Break up. To look at, the term implies something that happens, hurts, and is over.

But what isn’t talked about is what happens a few months after. When you meet up with friends and family you dread the inevitable question of ‘how’s X?’ Yet on other days they pop into your head whilst you are pushing a trolley in Tesco. One night is a Bridget Jones binge, and other days you can take on the world. Are you alone? No. So, whether you are approaching second year, gearing up for your final year, or graduating this summer, there is no doubt that your past relationship will have taken its effect. This is not a ‘how to’ guide, or by any means a quick fix for your frame of mind. These ideas are simply some ways to make the best of yourself, and attempt to distract your mind along the way.

EMILY MAY-WEBBER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

1. Put your energy into something else: At University, you are in the best place to get involved with something. Whether that is a sports club, media outlet, or volunteering, and if it doesn’t feel right, there is no obligation to carry it on. Keep busy. The more time you have to think, the more time you will have to doubt yourself, and re-run over past conversations. Here are some ideas: • Borrowmydoggy.co.uk – a website which allows you to borrow someone’s dog • The Founder editor@thefounder.co.uk – if you are reading this, then why not become an on-call writer? Write as much or as little as you like, and get your thoughts in print.

• SU Societies or Sports – whether that is radio or squash, just try it out.

2. Talk it out, and talk it over: I cannot stress how much this can help. Many often feel like a broken record, keep talking about their partner, or emotions. However, just by talking about what is in your head, it immediately feels like you are de-cluttering your mind. Whether it is over a cup of tea, or whilst walking to lectures, just take the time to say what’s on your mind.

If you are finding it difficult to talk to those around you contact: counselling@royalholloway.ac.uk

3. Make the effort: Whether that is putting on your lipstick or catching up with friends over a drink. Take a few hours out every week to do what you want. Even if you are in a relationship, everyone deserves time alone, and often that makes for a happier time together.

4. Digital Detox: If you have social media, often this can be the tool that can make you feel most emotional. Remember, people most often post when they are having a good time. Yet, do you really need your ex-partner on these sites? It isn’t mean to block them, or even their friendship group. It simply allows you not to know.

And what you do not know cannot hurt you. If you are finding it hard to do this, try taking some hours out without your phone. Go for a walk, and just detach from someone else’s life.

5. Thoughts for the month after the breakup: • If you had to sacrifice your enjoyment or yourself to fit in with someone else, you are better now without them.

• Stand up for yourself. If you need to say something, say it. Be controlled, calm, and never underestimate yourself.

• Treat yourself: If you fancy some sushi, go for it. If you want some fresh flowers, buy some. You do not need someone else to surprise you.

• If you set yourself a standard of how you want to be treated, no one will ever treat you differently.

• Most importantly, be a little more selfish, just because you can.

10 LIFESTYLE

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

Get Set, Set Off For Summer MICHELE THEIL WEB EDITOR

One by one, students are finishing their exams and embracing the freedom of over 3 months of summer holidays before returning to Royal Holloway (unless you’re a third-year student of course).

Despite counting the pennies as a student, there are budget friendly alternatives. So why not get a few friends together, pack some essentials, and escape the Egham bubble.

Summer is the perfect time to travel, with the weather in Europe primed for a day out in the sun, and warm nights inevitably spent at bars, pubs or hostel lounges. Places in Northern Europe, like Paris, Copenhagen, and Iceland tend to be more expensive than places in Eastern or Southern Europe. Yet, by taking advantage of cheaper transport, and affordable hostels, there is no need to sink into your overdraft.

For both sun and culture, Barcelona, Spain is a sure choice. With flights as little as £50 and with travel time of around 3 hours, it makes for a great long weekend. There are several cheap hostels in the city, where dorm accommodation will be your best bet on a budget. Hostels offer wonderful atmospheres for travelers as they often have lounges, bars and socials to connect travelers together. The website hostelworld.com is a great resource to find hostels with a low-price point with great ratings and reviews. Barcelona boasts wonderful tourist destinations, such as La Sagrada Familia, the Picasso museum and the infamous Barceloneta beach.

If you want to stay a bit closer to home, Edinburgh, Scotland boasts plenty.

Every year, the city hosts the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in

August, where the population of the city almost doubles due to the large influx of travellers. There are over 2000 shows, ranging from stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, dramatic theatre, musical theatre and interactive exhibitions.

There are even some Royal Holloway students making the journey up to Edinburgh Fringe to perform in shows such as Little Shop of Horrors from Ethereal Theatre Company, and Spring Awakening from Pindar Theatre Performers. For any Mock-The-Week fans, comedians like Sara Pascoe, Ed Gamble and Ed Byrne are heading up to Edinburgh for stand-up comedy shows.

The city is extremely busy during the Fringe festival so I would recommend that anyone wishing to go should book as soon as possible.

Of course, there are the classic student destinations of Ibiza, Magaluf, Marbella and Ayia Napa. However if you’re looking for the party atmosphere but with a tamer style, Amsterdam, Netherlands is the place to go. EasyJet runs short flights to Amsterdam 5 times daily from London Gatwick, costing just over £50.

Of course, a popular destination in Amsterdam is the Red Light District, with the infamous ‘cafes’, and numerous bars and clubs to catch your fancy. Culturally, Amsterdam is full of hidden gems.

The most popular are the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Anne Frank House. The cheapest hostel available in Amsterdam costs £12 but, realistically, between £20 and £30 will be your best guide.

All in all, there are many places in Europe to visit this summer on a student budget, and with our loans slowly dwindling, the best time to book your holidays would be now.

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THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

LIFESTYLE 11

LUNCH On The Go

ALEX EVANS STUDENT WRITER

As the British summer nears, the ever-pleasant picnic season is upon us. However, much to our distain, the SU shop does not stock readymade picnic baskets, as well as a little sparse in the fruit and veg department. Read on to discover five lovely (and healthy) little recipes and snack ideas for hazy summer days.

Mini Quiches (Meat free option) These are my all time favourite snacks for picnics and light lunches. Easy to make and super filling at the same time.

You will need: 1 kg ready-rolled shortcrust pastry (6 sheets) 6 slices bacon, diced 1 onion, finely diced 6 eggs 1 cup cream 1 cup grated cheese 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (I used dried) salt & freshly ground black pepper Method: Cook the onion and bacon over a low heat until the onion is softened. Allow this to cool a little and then mix together with the eggs, cream, cheese, parsley and salt and pepper. Using a cookie cutter or glass, cut 12 circles from each pastry sheet. Use these to line a mini muffin pan. Then, place about 2 teaspoons of the egg and bacon mix in each pastry base. Bake in a moderate oven for about 12 minutes per tray (or until puffed, golden and set).

Mini Cheese Platter Though we don’t all have the space in our bags for a full-sized cheese board, a simple alternative could be some grilled/fried halloumi or a slice of brie and a small section of grapes. You can pick these up in the local Tesco superstore all for £2 or less.

The halloumi needs to be grilled for around 6 minutes in total, 3 minutes on each side or fried for 4-5 minutes.

Photo via addapinch.com and goodtoknow.co.uk.

Pesto Pasta Salad

(Gluten and Dairy free optional) These are great to keep in the fridge for a couple of or when you simply are too tired to cook. This is also a really great option for picnics as it can be vegan, gluten and dairy free if you or your friends have any of these dietary requirements.

Boil your pasta (you can get gluten free pasta from the freefrom selection in Tesco, both penne and fusilli), drain and spoon in about a tablespoon of green pesto (you can also get this gluten free by ‘Sacla’ in Tesco). Put a teaspoon of olive oil (or your favourite alternative) in and mix around. I usually pop in a few tomatoes (either sundried or vine ripened) and a few pine nuts but torn up spinach leaves are a great shout too. If you are not lactose intolerant, some grated cheese is also pretty good with this.

12 FEATURES

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at features@thefounder.co.uk

Your Summer In London SKY GARDEN You have to book but it’s free to do so.

The website notes that ‘tickets are released for the third week in advance every Monday morning and can be booked up to one hour in advance if available’ so you’ll have to make sure your trip is planned well ahead. The Sky Garden offers a 360 degree vista of London, featuring the likes of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and The Shard.

NHM LONDON In the museum, I once heard someone ask how dinosaurs were so big only to be told it’s ‘’cos of science and s**t’.

In addition to this, the Natural History Museum currently has three events on over summer: wildlife photography, a butterfly exhibit, and an exhibition on whales.

HORNIMAN

It’s a bit of a trek from central London, but at Forest Hill you can get a great view of London from the outskirts. There are a lot of creepy stuffed animals, but there is also a huge collection of musical instruments (1,600 according to the website), while there are other exhibits you have to pay a small amount to see such as an aquarium.

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at features@thefounder.co.uk

FEATURES 13

On A Student Budget SCIENCE LATES On the last Wednesday of every month the Science museum stays open late for a special exhibit. This month is robots, June’s is sexuality, and July is ‘Wounded: Conflict, casualties and care’. Last time I went I also ran into Robert Webb so a trip here can be full of surprises.

BOROUGH MARKET

Borough Market is great if you want to grab some street food on your day out, while Camden Market is also good if you’re around that area. Spitalfields Market also features everything from food to fashion to art, being described by one of our co-editors, Lilia as ‘a real treasure’.

VAUXHALL CITY FARM

It is open from 10:30-4:00 between Tuesday and Sunday and is found in Central London near to Vauxhall Underground. Here you can see goats, horses alpacas, or just go to the café.

THOMAS HAWKINS FEATURES EDITOR

14 ARTS

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

An Interview With Owen Michael Johnson GEMMA TADMAN ARTS EDITOR

Royal Holloway alumni, Owen Michael Johnson, is a two-time British Comic Award nominated writer, with titles such as the phenomenal, Beast Wagon, under his belt. His most recent project, Reel Love, is making shockwaves as one of the first in Unbound’s new Graphic novel imprint. During Johnson’s time at Royal Holloway, he was involved in designing the logo for Insanity radio, produced cartoons for The Founder, and made artwork for our very own SU. We spoke to the man himself, to find out more about his time at Royal Holloway, his recent projects, and what advice he would give to budding writers: How did Royal Holloway enable your entrance into a career in comic books?

Because I was set on that path prior to Royal Holloway I can't say it enabled my entrance into the industry a comic book writer par se. What it did do was enable me to be a writer, period.

It ensured I would create better, more interesting and more varied writing than I would have without.

What was the highlight of your time at Royal Holloway?

Learning from great, and openminded teachers about my abilities and how to extend beyond my sphere of influence. Similarly, meeting students with different passions and opinions.

Among them, some like-minds I continue to collaborate with personally and professionally.

Do you have any tips for current students, hoping to get into a career in comics or writing?

Don't look for a career in either comics or writing. Just train yourself to make the work you instinctively want to make and the career will come to you in time. It sounds simple, and it is.

Be curious about what interests you, extend that learning out, and when in doubt just listen to that impulse. Regardless of what

medium you work in, that will make your work unique only to you. That's the most valuable thing you possess. Comics are built on community so put your work online for free, find community there and at the countless comic book conventions across the country - Thought Bubble in Leeds being the greatest.

Who are some of your main influences?

Michael Chabon, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jack Kirby, Bruce Springsteen, Roahl Dahl, Grant Morrison, Ray Harryhausen, and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Do you have any rituals to invoke creativity?

Experience as much as you can, in any medium you can, regardless of whether it's your own discipline. Plays, films, novels, dance, painting. As broad as possible. Everything will feed you. The muse won't find you unless it knows where to find you, so just sit your arse down and work at it. Every day if you can.

Sounds boring, but that is the only way you can finish projects. And if you finish projects you can start new ones, and that is the only way you can improve. When all else fails go out and live, or you'll have nothing to create about.

Can you please tell us more about your project Reel Love, and what readers can expect to see?

Reel Love is the semi-autobi-

ographical graphic novel about a young boy who forms a relationship with his local cinema and follows his dreams of becoming a famous film director. It's written and drawn by me and is being crowdfunded at Unbound.com/books/reellove. Readers can expect a bitter-sweet comedy with some magic realism elements in the vein of movies like Stand By Me or the films of Richard Linklater.

Could you tell us about the up and coming exhibition at Orbital Comics?

To support the campaign, a Reel Love exhibition will run throughout June at the UK’s only Eisner award-winning comic store, Orbital Comics, with a launch party on Saturday June 3rd. I began visiting Orbital Comics when at RHUL and now they're very close friends of mine. We've worked together a number of times. This will be my third gallery show there, my first as a solo artist. The exhibition will feature over 50 pages of original artwork and process pieces, and exhibition attendees will receive a discount code when pledging on the graphic novel.

What's next for you?

Staying busy! Ha! I'll be doing everything I can to get Reel Love funded, and if that happens I'll be finishing the book and preparing it for publication around the world. I have a new book in mind but I'll have to keep that under wraps for now.

Photo courtest of Owen Micheal Johnson.

ARTS 15

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

KUNSTEN FESTIVAL DESARTS (KUNSTENFESTIVALDESARTS) ANNA LUCCHINETTI STUDENT WRITER

Photo courtest of Anna Lucchinetti.

Since 1994, the Kunstenfestivaldesarts has been a cultural and social extravaganza in which the Brussels community comes together to see what artists from all over the world have created. The festival lasts for approximately three weeks, and takes place in copious locations throughout Brussels. This year, the festival proposes a jam-packed schedule of different forms of art including, dance, videos, paintings, sculpture, photography and theatre. The choice is endless.

Aside from artistic enrichment, walking from one show to the other enables an original way for tourists to explore less touristic venues, and discover beautiful performance spaces. For example, The Absent Museum’s exhibition displays pieces of work by contemporary artists, which treat the theme of a multicultural society and inserts them into the urban environment of the three buildings, WIELS, Brass and Métropole. The events are numerous and differ in style, theme and aesthetic.

One of my favourite of the shows, proposes an installation organised by the prestigious dance school P.A.R.T.S., where forty-six students create their own solos and present them to the audience who walk around the beautiful studios of the Rosas Performance

Space. Slugs Garden, another installation created by Fabián Barba and Esteban Danoso, allows the audience to play with objects and explore their sense of touch. An alternative performance displays some of the sixty-eight ‘living books’ existing in the world: people who have memorised an entire book, and aim to tell their stories to their audience. This is a one-by-one experience, which can be in different languages such as, English, French, German and Italian.

This year, the festival includes many dance shows produced by internationally acclaimed choreographers, including, Eszter Salamon (Monument 0.6: Landing: A ritual of Empathy), Mykki Blanco (Bacchae), Marlene Monteiro Freitas (Prelúdio para uma purga), Marcelo Evelin and his Demolition Inc. (Dança Doente). I had the chance to assist two of these performances. Salamon’s performance was set in an outdoor space and it aimed to reproduced a ritual, consisting of dances and songs from the South American Mapuche tribe. The most interesting aspect of this performance is that the audience are made to feel out of place. The performers move around the space, gliding through the audience, and even moving them. When the performance finished, some of the performers were so caught by the euphoria that they did not realise the per-

formance had ended.

Another performance I went to see was Demoltion Inc.’s Dança Doente. This was the boldest performance I have ever seen in my life. Not only because, in most of the scenes, the dancers were performing naked, but also because the music choice and the aggressive dance style, created a disturbing environment where the audience felt uncomfortable and trapped. Some people left the theatre during the performance, while some others expressed their dislike at the end. Personally, I cannot say I loved the performance because it was challenging in many ways. However, Dança Doente made me think about art and its sake. We live in an era where art does not aim to be aesthetically pleasant, but through history, art has been disturbing, thought-provoking and politically engaged.

For example, the avant-gardes were not welcomed by the public when they started rising in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. However, they have changed the world and the way we conceive art and its purpose. The Kunstenfestivaldesarts reminded me that art does not have to be beautiful to be ‘successful’. It has to be memorable, it needs to stick in the head of the audience and show them something new or that incites a change. The Kunstenfestivaldesarts was successful to me.

16 ARTS

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at arts@thefounder.co.uk

Lake Windermere - A Literary Paradise HARRIET MCKINLEY SMITH STUDENT WRITER

Just two stops off the West Coast mainline is a place of notably unrivalled literary heritage. From the vast expanse of the lake to the countless countrified villages that litter the water’s edge, it is easy to see why Lake Windermere has inspired some of the greatest English authors.

One of the main villages, Bowness, is home to The World of Beatrix Potter museum in which familiar faces from childhood, Peter Rabbit and his friends, are brought to life. A place where childhood dreams are made, I’m sure. For those among you who care little for life-size replicas of your favorite bunny, a stones throw

away in Hawkshead, you can find a gallery full of the original illustrations from Potter’s novels. The legacy of Beatrix Potter is an innate part of the atmosphere around Windermere. The most famous of Potter’s residences, Hill Top, where she resided for most of her life, is also nearby.

Many a literary pilgrim have traced Potter’s route around the surrounding area, in the hope that it will inspire a creative epiphany of one’s own.

Sadly, I’m not quite Beatrix Potter yet.

At the top of the lake in Grasmere is the former home of the father of romantic poetry, William Wordsworth. It was on the shores of Lake Windermere where he ‘wandered lonely

as a cloud’, inspiring generations with his descriptions of the sublime around him. For Wordsworth, the lake was paradise, and so too is it for thousands of others who flock to the water’s edge. Dove Cottage is the epitome of Wordworth’s creativity, with its quaint English beauty and the awe-inspiring hills. Inside, it is heaven for the literarynerd. It is as much a museum as a homage to Wordsworth and there are many events held inside, which are enough to inspire the most reticent of readers. The interiority of Wordworth’s autobiographical masterpiece ‘The Prelude’, can be thought of as a literary manifestation of his return to the Lake District after a period of wandering the country.

Photo via http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3192293

The equilibrium and beauty of the idea of birth and rebirth stem from the nature that surrounded him and it is the setting of Windermere which allowed the fruition and development of these ideas.

Lake Windermere is quite simply a place of literary inspiration. From the towering hills to the glassy lake the awe and power of nature is enough to turn any man into a poet, not just the gifted.

Join The Founder!

Becoming an Editor is a fantastic experience that boosts your CV and allows you to speak for the students of Royal Holloway.

We are currently looking for Sports, Music, and Features Editors. Apply by 1st of July. For more information, find The Founder on Facebook, or email us at editor@thefounder.co.uk.

ARTS: FILM 17

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

Celebrating Cinema: A Drinking Guide

JACOB JEWITT-JALLAND STUDENT WRITER

It is the end of the year, and many of us are saying goodbye to RHUL. It is a bittersweet feeling - on the one hand I will miss the beautiful campus, on the other I won’t miss paying £1.50 for a pretty basic doughnut in Coffee & Cake. Throughout my university career, I have never met a student who does not like alcohol and movies. They also coincidentally happen to be two of the greatest ways to celebrate. For centuries people have flocked to the pub to toast their achievements, failures, broken dreams, and since the dawn of film people with less troubling addictions have done the same at the cinema. This is the part of the article in which I must urge to drink responsibly.

Usually I would never waste these precious words, but as I write this I am in the grips of one of the worst hangovers of my life and the mere thought of alcohol is making me wretch. Whatever you do kids, do not mix gin, black vodka, wine, and lemonade, name it after yourself and then drink eight of them. Fortunately for me, however, I can spend the day watching films that make me happy, and once my hangover has disappeared I will be ready to pair these with some fine alcoholic beverages. Here are a few recommendations:

1.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (G&T) The third instalment of George Lucas’ saga benefits from having the greatest final celebration sequence of all. The G&T is a classy drink not to be taken too quickly, but over the course of watching all three films back-to-back a joyous buzz will have developed by the eighth drink. Read the Empire as RHUL and the cremation of Darth Vader as the bittersweet defeat of that great nemesis, and a more intellectual sense of gratification is achieved.

2.

Brokeback Mountain (Whisky) Easily the most heart-breaking film I have seen, watching the horrendously tortured love affair of two cowboys whilst weeping into one’s fine scotch will remind you of all the love you have lost in life. Obviously, this sounds horrible, but one can learn a great deal about life from this beautiful story.

Sand Sharks and Ice Sharks (Beer) This is the combination I’m most excited for, and the only one I’ve not tried. Despite my great disappointment that Megashark vs Crocosaurus had no redeeming features, I am hoping that getting fired up by 1214 beers will lead to a night of terrible greatness as unnecessary and artless as these two films.

4.

Finding Nemo (Red Wine) As many of us are graduating and becoming real adults, perhaps we would care to rediscover our lost childhoods. The film is designed to pull the heart strings and red wine will protract the memories of seeing the film for the first time. The very act of drinking alcohol whilst watching a childhood favourite represents the lost (or, more accurately for students given-away) innocence of adulthood.

3.

18 ARTS: FILM [Review]

Alien: Covenant

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

RHUL Weighs In: Television Versus Cinema ANNA LUCCHINETTI STUDENT WRITER

Photo via https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images.

HARRISON MAJITHIA STUDENT WRITER

I love the Alien franchise, even for all its faults (…Alien: Resurrection); so of course, I jumped at the opportunity to review Covenant, Ridley Scott’s third addition to the Alien universe. I was cautiously optimistic (after Prometheus, can you blame me?), but everything seemed to be there – a small crew picking up a signal which leads them to a planet in which the alien attacks and impregnates a crew member, grows into a full-sized monster and utterly decimates the crew.

Is it formulaic? Yes, but nobody goes to see a slasher film without expecting all the hallmarks of a slasher film. Credit where credit is due, Ridley Scott delivered exactly what we expected. He brought the franchise back to its roots but, with that said, I think there’s an important distinction to be made - this is Alien, not Aliens: Covenant. It’s not an action film, it’s a horror film.

This doesn’t mean the film

is without surprises – the return of Prometheus android David was a surprise, not because I didn’t know he’d be back, but because I didn’t expect to like an element from Prometheus as much as I did.

Simply, Fassbender’s performance in Covenant is incredible. He steals every scene he is in, playing David with a subtle menace that conveys security to the crew who find him, but to those who saw the previous film, an air of immediate danger. Fassbender also plays the crew’s own synth, Walter, who is the opposite of David in every way, to the point where you don’t trust Walter purely because they look identical. Like the crew gradually becoming cautious of David, you grow to trust Walter. This dynamic places you in a weird situation – you’re both opposing and rooting for Fassbender. The film plays on this confusion brilliantly, and some of the best scenes in the film come from Fassbender interacting with himself.

Unfortunately, the rest of

Final Rating:

the crew are largely characterless (hell, even Jonesy from the first two films had more personality), with mandatory final girl Daniels (Katherine Waterston) essentially being a blank slate onto which I guess Scott assumed we’d project Ripley-like qualities, doing his work for him as far as empathy is concerned.

Finally, I haven’t spoken about the Xenomorph because I think the less you know about it and its introduction, the better. However, I will say this - the CGI at some moments in the film is terrible. There was one scene where the ‘Xeno’ climbed down a ladder which looked so fake I almost laughed. Terrible CGI aside, however, the film is (at the risk of sounding like a psychopath) gloriously unafraid to be bloody and violent – the first truly visceral Alien film in a long time, and for that I praise it. As an entry to the franchise, it’s one of the better ones, though in a series with such a dichotomy of quality, that might not mean much.

In recent years, TV has become extremely popular amongst young audiences. For several reasons, it now seems students prefer watching TV to films. For the last issue of the year, The Founder has decided to conduct a survey to find out what Royal Holloway students really think.

According to the survey, TV is preferred by 61% of RHUL’s students, whilst the other 39% stay faithful to films. The reasons why most students prefer watching TV are varied. Firstly, as TV series are longer, they present more extensive character development and more intricate plots. Another reason is the commitment TV series’ require. In fact, most students claimed they prefer TV to film because watching an episode does not require as much time as watching a film. Also, some said they find hard to focus on full-length films. However, when the 39% who voted for film were asked the same question, they said that they preferred films because they require less commitment, as you do not have to wait for the release of several series.

Also, many of the people on the ‘film side’ think that film is a superior format as they typically have bigger budgets, and therefore acting and cinematography are of a higher quality. Moreover, some filmlovers argued they prefer watching films as they think they condense a whole narrative and their creative worlds within a shorter time-span (i.e. the story lines are not dragged out as much as TV).

The survey showed that another influential element is the venue. The findings showed that 58% preferred watching shows at home, especially after the popularisation of Netflix, which has made the pleasure of watching films or TV shows at home more viable. However, 42% still enjoy the experience of going to the cinema and disconnecting from the rest of the world.

The unpopularity of the cinema is also caused by the fact that tickets can be expensive, especially on a student budget. 68% of the interviewees said that they would go to the cinema more often if it was cheaper, whilst 16% claimed they do not care about prices.

10% said that less expensive tickets would not influence their attendance because they go regularly anyway, whilst 6% still prefer enjoying the comfortable environment of their own home.

Experiencing cinema is specifically another topic in which people hold contrasting opinions: 58% would go to the cinema alone because they consider going to the cinema a personal experience (i.e. no talking is allowed, and there is no need for company to appreciate a good film). Nevertheless, the remaining 42% think that going to the cinema is a social event as you can discuss the movie after. Furthermore, some people would feel uncomfortable watching a film alone, whilst some think that being alone improves the general experience. In conclusion, in the debate between TV series and film, our survey seems to indicate that TV is firmly at the forefront of the media battle.

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

ARTS: FILM 19

[Review]

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

‘In these times of hardship, just remember, we are Groot.’

AIDEN BAYFORD STUDENT WRITER

James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the visual equivalent of stuffing your face with every sticky, swirly, rainbow lollypop Disneyland has on offer – and it is just delightful.

In a galaxy made safe from ‘a thousand years of Kree justice on Xandar!’, the Guardians find themselves doing intergalactic odd-jobs. Their employment is short lived as Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) bags himself some of the Sovereign’s shiny batteries: this sees Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), and the team blind-sighted by the freshly offended Sovereign in outer-space. One crash landing later, the film introduces planet-turned-daddy Ego (Kurt Russel), and his emphatic associate Mantis (Pom Klementieff). From here the team is divided into four (or so) individual story threads.

This structure results in the elaboration of many previously undeveloped relationships that were, for the most part, entertaining to witness.

On closer inspection, the film’s dialogue was quite hitand-miss. On occasion, a character would drop something as unexpected, and hilarious, as ‘I’m Marry Poppins Y’all!’. Yondu (Michael Rooker), with that one unforgettable, and totally hilarious line stole the entire film.

Alternatively, expect cringeas characters declare what they’re about to do, or need to do. Who is this for though?

If the planet is collapsing, it is obvious that Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and Nebula (Karen Gillan) need to bail – doom is imminent, please, just go.

Volume 2’s 80’s soundtrack

is simply top-notch – each song catches the moment to which it is paired wonderfully. The introduction sees the team being hurled around during combat whilst Baby Groot busts shapes to ELO’s ‘Mr. Blue Sky’. The sequence is incredibly energetic, and exciting. Furthermore, despite the space squid, it feels warm, and familiar; it is a great way to re-introduce the team whilst simultaneously allowing the audience to meet, and adore, Baby Groot (Vin Diesel). Later, the team prepares for blast off alongside Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah’s ‘Lake Shore Drive’ - a song I have not stopped listening too since.

Some notable performances include Pom Klementieff ’s Mantis. Her take on the team’s new recruit is very sweet, and authentically odd. Dave Batista, as Drax, gave great comical delivery to many of his lines.

My inner nerd is slightly confused though, as the previous instalment led me to believe Drax’s species to be entirely literal, but I’ll let it slide because his recently acquired sarcasm is brilliant. Both Mantis and Drax spend much of their screen time together, and, despite being insanely different, they are wonderfully Photos via http://static.srcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Guardians-of-thesimilar. This is a joy to watch, Galaxy-Vol-2-wallpaper.jpg and it makes for some of the film’s best comedy. I would mention Rocket, but I adore him, and all my opinions are aggressively in favour of him – big up Bill Mantlo!

Marvel’s next cinematic outing is a super-fun and very enjoyable sequel, but, just because it did not consistently blow my mind does not mean it did not consistently blow my eyes out. It is completely gorgeous, hilarious, and I would like to purchase a Racoon please.

The Founder's Final Rating:

20 ARTS: FILM

Fargo:

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at film@thefounder.co.uk

A True Coen Brothers' Story

JACK SALVADORI STUDENT WRITER

Let me begin by saying that I will not hide my initial prejudices about Fargo, the 2014 TV series. If you did not watch it because you thought it is outrageous not only to remake one of the Coen brothers’ best films, but to worsen the situation, turning it into a mere product to be streamed online, I used to agree. In the catastrophic age of remakes and reboots, where Hollywood is a bland factory only capable of producing already-chewed ideas, you would be more than justified to think that. However, following the high-ratings and critical acclaim, I decided to give it a go… and I realised how wrong I was.

In fact, Fargo does not retell the misadventures of Jerry Lundegaard and Marge Gunderson, from the 1996 movie, nor it functions as a sequel/ prequel. It is an anthology, where the Coen’s original film constitutes just a chapter of an intricate, slightly-connected collection of crimes committed in the American MidWest. Yet, the series’ greatest achievement does not just reside in telling captivating and spine-chilling tales, but rather in masterfully respecting the authority of the Coen brothers’ exclusive style.

Indeed, the series, now broadcasting its third season, takes place in the same universe originated by the creative minds of two of the most talented filmmakers of our generation. It deals with homespun murders and mistaken identities, depicting unexpected graphic violence

in a rural setting, whitened by the immaculate and ubiquitous snow. Moreover, it has nuanced ‘Minnesotian language’ and goofy parkawearing characters, accompanied by operatic music to make it all increasingly ironic, just like the original Fargo. Broadly, the same themes and typology of characters are shared, and repeated as a formula in all three seasons, opening each episode with the fictional quote: ‘This is a true story’. Then, the antiheroic protagonist’s downon-his-luck life irremediably degenerates in a domino effect, facing righteous cops, femme-fatales – and a bunch of assholes. But Noah Whitley, series creator, transcends

Fargo’s borders, paying homage and linking the TV production to the entire Coen’s filmography. This is what turns the series into an amazing pastiche of movies, that a Coen’s devotees could appreciate even more, enjoying all the tasteful references to other films. From the archetype of the ‘unstoppable killer’ present in Raising Arizona and No Country for Old Men, to the The Big Lebowski’s character obsessed with meaningless Vietnam recall; from the motel setting of Barton Fink, to the variety of actors that are part of the Coen’s casting repertory. The infinite homages to the Coen-verse do not only focus on physical elements,

Photos via http://lazydogfilms.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Fargo-season-2.jpg.

but successfully manage to embody the Coen’s stylistic storytelling, such as with the digressive tales told as pointless Biblical parables from A Serious Man to the inexplicable sci-fi glimpse brought by the UFO, just as in The Man

Who Wasn’t There.

Therefore, if you have deja-vu whilst watching the Fargo series, it is really not a coincidence, but there is no need to be an eagle-eyed Coen fan to enjoy its immersive storyline.

ARTS: MUSIC 21

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

[Column]

Shameful Admissions THAT ONE DEAF MUSIC CRITIC

Two issues ago, I made the shameful admission that I have never listened to a Sonic Youth album, or even song, consciously. In the wake of the non-existent backlash, I thought I’d see what other shameful admissions I could make, since this is my final issue operating as the editor of the Founder’s music section. So here goes, here are my That One Deaf Music Critshameful admissions. ic, Sam to those who know I’ve never been to a mu- him, can be reached for sic festival, and have no bookings at Samuel.Barkplans to change that any- er.2013@live.rhul.ac.uk time soon. I’ve just never been able to afford the damn tickets, nor am I particularly enamored with the idea of camping, having paid that much money. I would make an exception for the Eaux Claires festival, though, as it is run and operated by some of my favorite musicians.

[FounderRecs]

Summer Songs As summer draws ever closer, foretold in the classic British style through more rain and ever so slightly warmer temperatures, our eyes, and ears, turn to the future as we try to predict what the songs of the summer may end up being. Whether you’re living it up by the beach (somewhere that isn’t England, presumably), using a picnic as a convenient excuse to daydrink, or inside waiting for the rain to stop and dreaming of blue skies, here are some of the songs that will put you in the best summery mood. Or, rather, here are the songs that we think we’ll be listening to when summer comes. This is, after all, just an excuse for us to share our opinions about music.

1.

I’m The One by DJ Khaled ft.

Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne

2.

Young Dumb & Broke by Khalid

4.

Stoned on You by James Young

tles’ quiz that was centered around classic rock bands, and only got a score of seven out of ten.

I know, I’m a failure.

I didn’t used to like the Beatles, I thought they were boring. I don’t anymore, don’t worry. And for My first ever album was those of you that do think that, a Robbie Williams live al- don’t worry, there’s time for bum, which was followed by you yet – you can still be saved. another Robbie Williams album, which got confiscated I can’t name a single Rollfrom me when I sang along, in ing Stones album title. the car, to the line ‘my breath Nor can I name more than a smells of a thousand fags.’ Brit- handful of songs by them. ish slang for cigarettes wasn’t hugely well-known in Austral- Sometimes I listen to ia at the time…

Coldplay of my own will.

3.

LOVE by Kendrick Lamar ft.

Zacari

My first ever concert was a whole-family trip to see the American Idol Live Tour when they came to Chicago. On the plus-side, however, I did get to see Adam Lambert performing live in the years before he joined up with Queen.

And then this is goodbye.

Next year, someone will replace me as music editor, and I’m sure the world will take notice and editorial eulogies will be written for me. Or nothing will happen and no one will notice. Probably the former.

Almost definitely the former.

The first one. The eulogies. It’s I once did a ‘Guess the been fun. I’m going to go and Band From Five Song Ti- be deaf somewhere else now.

Photos via https://media.timeout.com/images/101572243, https://images.genius. com/4a57715a, http://images.genius.com/2640f833069973, https://images.genius. com/039, https://images.genius.com/44d7.

22 ARTS: MUSIC

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at music@thefounder.co.uk

There's Nothing Quite Like It:

UK Festivals

What to expect this summer…

CHARLIE CATMULL STUDENT WRITER

1) Rain and mud; lots of mud.

Everyone knows that the English summertime weather is not the most reliable on the planet, and summer 2017 will probably be no different. For some the rain and the inevitable mud that swamps entire camp sites can put them off the idea of festivals, but for others it becomes an invitation to thrive in grime the likes of which you probably won't see until festival season returns again. All I can say is, whether you're doing five days at Glasto or a single day festival like Citadel, don't forget a poncho. And wellies. And more ponchos. They will save your life.

2) The hell-hole festival toilets.

Unless you're willing to spend £50 on luxury toilets, instead of saving that hard-earned cash for more beers, the likelihood is you will have to brave, at some point, no matter how hard you resist, the toilet blocks. The all-around gross-looking, cold, metal, tin-can resembling toilet blocks found at festivals such as Reading and Leeds remind me of slaughterhouses. Which works as a pretty accurate image as the one thing that is going to be slaughtered is your sense of smell. I would suggest tying a top around your lower face to try and resist the stench but if not just hold your breath and try to get the ordeal over with as quickly as possible.

3) Expensive items that are not normally expensive.

"Can of Coke, please."

"That'll be £3."

"Cheers pal."

4) Out-dated chants.

I would easily bet my life savings that you will hear ‘Steve’ responded to by ‘Alan’ shouted regularly across camp sites. This UK festival tradition will likely still be done for decades to come, as there is nothing British people find more humorous than meerkat jokes. As annoying as they are, they still refuse to leave (much like Piers Morgan from my Twitter feed).

5) Great live music.

And probably the best weekend of your life, because it's not all doom and gloom this summer.

THE FOUNDER May 31, 2017

Email the editor at sports@thefounder.co.uk

SPORTS 23

Wenger Secures Seventh FA Win ELIZABETH SILVERBERG SPORTS EDITOR

Arsene Wenger has managed to secure a record seventh FA Cup final win, with Arsenal producing a fantastic match to win at Wembley.

Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal the lead after only four minutes, when referee Anthony Taylor overruled his assistant after he had flagged for offside against Aaron Ramsey. Chelsea’s task became even harder when Victor Moses was correctly sent off by Taylor in the second half after receiving a second yellow card for diving. Diego Costa revived Chelsea's hopes of a repeat of their league and FA Cup double in 2010 when Arsenal keeper David Ospina failed to keep out his deflected shot with 14 minutes left. Arsenal, outstanding throughout, refused to be denied and were back in front inside three minutes when Ramsey’s header from substitute Olivier Giroud's

cross. Wenger had fallen in the eyes of Arsenal fans as the team have struggled at times during this season. This is due to the fact that they failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

Welbeck and Ramsey both hit the woodwork in a matter of seconds during the first half of the match. Arsenal were sharper, more aggressive, and more creative and all in all the better team in comparison to their opponents Chelsea. Meanwhile man of the match Mertesacker made his first start of the season. The Gunners were without suspended Laurent Koscielny, injured Gabriel and Shkodran Mustafi, who was suffering from concussion. It meant a call-up for Mertesacker against the most demanding Premier League opponents of all.

Chelsea went into this final as the firm favourites to claim the league and cup double against Arsenal who have

Photo via skysportsunion.com.

been their inferior through the entirety of this season.

However they were unable to maintain this superiority over The Gunners. Chelsea

still managed to threaten their opponents with Costa putting the, back into the game, despite being a man down. However Chelsea were unable to

outplay Arsenal, who were on top form. However it cannot be denied that it has indeed been an outstanding season for Conte and Chelsea.

Chiefs Clinch First English Title ELIZABETH SILVERBERG SPORTS EDITOR

Photo via skysports-exeter-premiership-champions-rugby.

Exeter Chiefs won their first ever English title seven years after gaining their promotion to the top flight league. Exeter managed to ensure their victory against Wasps in extra time and thus win their first ever Premiership title. Steenson with the winning kick with three extra-time minutes left on the clock. The title-winning three points came after Exeter were denied a try by the television match official moments earli-

er. This was the first Premiership final to have gone to extra time since 2014, when Northampton beat Saracens. Dai Young's side had won their last 10 finals in all competitions, including four Premiership deciders, but were defeated in their first since 2008. However Exeter, are now unbeaten in 17 league matches dating back to October. This is equalling a record set by Leicester in the 1999-2000 campaign.

With less than 20 minutes of normal time remaining, Steenson made a simple penalty to edge Chiefs to within three

points, but Wasps defended brilliantly to prevent their opponents scoring a match-winning try. The first half of extra time was scoreless, though Exeter looked the better side and with just minutes remaining they were denied a try by the Telivision Match Offical, who could not see whether the ball had been grounded under a sea of bodies after 25 phases. But Exeter Chiefs did not relent and Steenson, who guided the side to top-flight promotion from the Championship in 2010, kicked the decisive points.

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