The Founder November 2022

High-speed internet caring

DANIEL PEPIN | FEATURES EDITOR

The internet is fast. About 205,000,000 results for the Qatar World Cup in 0.63 seconds fast. The very fact that I thought that search took a little longer to load on my laptop speaks volumes of the speed we are used to. This blistering speed is one of the internet’s biggest perks. Countless lives have been saved by a last-minute Wikihow guide to the Heimlich manoeuvre, or a panicked Google search for the signs of a stroke (think FAST). Spreading information has never been simpler. The social media platform, Twitter, has become iconic for its relationship with high-speed news. Who has been voted off I’m a Celeb? Check Twitter. Has anyone famous died? May I direct you to that infamous “trending” page where you might discover their death before their next of kin? Why is this man trending?

Source: Art by Andrea Grigsby

Twitter will, kindly, let you know that he is a victim of police brutality. Maybe, the internet is too fast. Just as you are becoming involved in a current event, it disappears from the public limelight in favour of new injustice. Twitter is not the only culprit of this - TikTok has a fundamental problem of promoting trending news. When George Floyd was murdered in 2020, “For You” pages around the world rose up in rage with the Black Lives Matter movement; avidly documenting every protest, petition, and government policy that could be summarised in 60 seconds. Until it just… stopped.

There has not been widespread coverage of BLM since that summer because it is no longer a trending topic. Social media moved onto forest fires and climate change, and then onto the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan – how much about those have you heard recently?

Counter Terrorism declare Dover Attack a terror incident

NEVE WATSON | CONTENT WRITER

On Sunday, October 30th, a UK migrant processing centre in Dover was attacked by a series of petrol bombs. The attack happened at around 11.20 GMT and police arrived on the scene moments later. There were no fatalities from the incident, but two members of staff experienced minor injuries. The attacker has been recognised as Andrew Leak, 66, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, who took his own life directly after the attack.

While the motive for the attack was initially not treated as a terror ist incident, later reports have now shown otherwise. Counter Terror ism Policing South East (CTPSE) have found evidence to suggest the attack was motivated by extrem ist right-wing ideology. The Dover immigration facility is the first stop into the UK for migrants crossing the English Channel to seek asy lum. Leak’s posts across a series of social media platforms show his engagement with anti-immigration and Islamophobic groups.

He frequently expressed support on the platforms for Tommy Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League, quoting in one of his posts “I will end illegal immigration into this country within one year of the French boat side”.

Concerns have arisen as to why counter-terrorism didn’t form an investigation into the case sooner. A tweet from former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott questioned “The man who petrol bombed the Dover Migrant Centre had farright links. So why did It take two days to hand the investigation to counter-terror police?”. The case so far shows no evidence of the attack being a threat to the wider public, with CTPSE believing the individual was working alone and was not part of an organisation.

The Founder Board 2022

- 2023

Editor in Chief/Deputy Editor

Ali Krausova/Chloe Boulton

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Devesh Sood

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Joel Davies opinion@thefounder.co.uk

Lifestyle Editor

Molly Ainley lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

Sports Editor

Iman Ahmed sportseditor@thefounder.co.uk

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Tabitha Turner illustrator@thefounder.co.uk

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Lily Birch arts@thefounder.co.uk

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Viktoria Praczko literaryreview@thefounder.co.uk

Music

Editor

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Jethro Robathan film@thefounder.co.uk

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.

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Source: BBC

University staff to strike in biggest industrial action

ROBYN SPINK | NEWS EDITOR

The University and College Union (UCU) have announced that over 70,000 university staff across 150 British universities, including Royal Holloway, will strike due to disputes over pay, pensions and working conditions.

In addition, the issue of pensions comes as the UCU referred to the pension fund used by University staff, Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), as a “flawed valuation”.

The union’s general secretary, Jo Grady, said “UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save the sector and win dignity at work.

Striking over pay is due to UCU members wanting a pay rise which takes the cost-of-living crisis into account, along with inflation, with a proposed 3% pay rise, with 9% on those on the lowest pay grades, for academic staff reportedly not covering this.

The UCU is campaigning for a “package of cuts” to be revoked which means, on average, union members lose 35% from their retirement income in the future.

The strikes are scheduled to occur on November 24, 25 and 30, impacting a predicted 2.5 million students nationwide, making it the most significant industrial action in the sector.

This dispute has the mass support of students because they know their learning conditions are our members’ working conditions”. However, there are some concerns among students about the disruption to their studies. Universities UK (UUK), who represent 140 universities, said “We appreciate this could be a difficult time for students, who may be anxious about possible disruption to their learning”. Despite this, UUK has confirmed that universities are “well-prepared” for this action which will “protect students’ education”.

Climate warnings as COP27 UN summit commence

ROBYN SPINK | NEWS EDITOR

Over 120 world leaders will join the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, known as COP 27, consisting of two weeks of negotiations surrounding climate change and the actions which are to be taken. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is predicted to encourage world leaders to transition to renewable energy, citing the conflict in Ukraine to highlight the need to end dependence on fossil fuels.

The summit is due to focus on three central issues; reducing emissions, how countries can prepare for climate change and deal with its impacts, and how to support and fund developing countries to manage these effects.

However, the summit is not without controversy. The location has attracted criticism, with human rights and climate campaigners claiming the Egyptian government has prevented them from attending as they have condemned its rights record.

The consequences of climate change have been seen significantly since the last UN climate summit in Glasgow. Flooding in Pakistan has killed over 1,700 people, as well as displacing 1.3 million people in Nigeria, along with significant droughts in Europe and Africa, having devastating consequences for food supplies. UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres has warned that the failure of world leaders to collaborate on these issues will be a “collective suicide pact”.

Source: Creative Commons

Negotiations will arguably be considerably more challenging than in previous summits, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, food and energy crises, and debates over who is responsible for paying for the effects of climate change, amounting to sensitive diplomacy.

Source: Creative Commons

TikTok Psyops: Are E-girls the future of consumerism?

DAISY H. DYSON | CONTENT WRITER

Sex sells. The advertising industry is perpetually rife with sexual imagery and innuendo: Tom Ford perfume bottles positioned conveniently over bare crotches; phallic imagery advertising Burger King subs; “Sex Scandal!” plastered over the covers of newspapers. Its garish and unrelenting nature only becomes more prevalent the more one engages with consumerism.

Yet recently I encountered a new kind of sexually loaded subliminal marketing while scrolling mindlessly through TikTok in bed. I had just enjoyed all fifteen seconds of a video of a pet rabbit doing a backflip off of a couch before swiping impassively to the next video. The screen alights with a pretty brunette girl, miming to a popular audio dressed in a U.S Military uniform. At first, I dismiss it as a cosplay, she seems too polished for the army: her make-up is immaculate, and her hair is curled and neatly tucked behind her ears. But something feels off: the background does look suspiciously like military accommodation, and her kit is very realistic. I investigate further, and quickly realise from her other content that this quippy 22-year-old is not cosplaying but actually enlisted in the U.S Military. Worse still, she is using her platform to influence young audiences’ opinions of the army through… well, basically, sex appeal.

“Lunchboxlujun”, the influencer in question, has over 343,000 TikTok followers and a collective 15.9 million likes. It takes only a little digging to realise her occupation within the military is a Psychological Operative (or “psyop”). Much of her content mocks traditional “influencer” themed videos in a military setting. For example, in one TikTok she demonstrates applying makeup while sitting in a U.S Army vehicle. Her comments are full of infatuated fans. It’s all very odd, but even more so when considering her most recent video offers followers a $50,000 Christmas sign-on bonus if they reference her username when signing up to the actual U.S Military.

Great. E-girls are giving out signon bonuses for the U.S Army. The end is nigh.

Scarily enough, this marketing tactic does seem to be working, with one popular comment reading “welp… guess I’m going to war”. The account’s uncanniness in terms of irony also contributes to her popularity while maintaining enigma: she perfectly treads the line between blatant advertising and a candid military girl, with snippets of her outside life.

While many also seem aware of Lujan’s “psyop” status (a clear implication that this account is a plant to boost recruitment), it has not stopped her platform from expanding.

Lujan boasts she has done more for military advertisement than any official campaign, which is both simultaneously impressive and unsettling, for surely more corporations will take after Lujan and soon have compelling, bouncy avatars of their own. If the U.S Military are successfully implementing cutesy e-girl psyops onto TikTok to lure in fresh meat, it casts a grim, speculative look towards the future of consumerism, in which big-eyed, pouty mascots in thigh-highs are plastered over billboards, infiltrating the market one anime dance at a time.

Source: Hailey Lujan (aka LunchbagLujan) in a military vehicle, dressed in U.S Army uniform.

The importance of COP27

LAURA BLOOMFIELD | CONTENT WRITER

COP27 is happening between November 6th-18th 2022, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. With world leaders meeting to discuss methods of limiting global temperature rises, climate change is an important topic as ever.

A report known as The Lancet Countdown report, has recently been released examining the effects of climate change. The report, which includes the work of 99 experts, discussed how climate change is affecting people’s health with examples of health impacts caused by extreme weather being cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, heat stroke and poor mental health. Over the last two decades, heat-related deaths have globally increased by two-thirds. As extreme weather increases health problems, the report describes how the pressure on health services has also increased, alongside pressure from the pandemic. Already we are seeing the health risks of a changing climate, which will only increase as climate change worsens. The report concludes with urgency that “despite the challenges, there is clear evidence that immediate action could still save the lives of millions, with a rapid shift to clean energy and energy efficiency”.

Another recent report is the UN emissions gap study which, in its 13th year, analyses the gap between rhetoric and reality regarding climate change. The report states that there is “no credible pathway” to keep the rise in global temperatures below the 1.5°C threshold.

It finds that with the current policies in place, the world will warm by around 2.8°C in the 21st century which will be incredibly dangerous. Since COP26, the report says that governments’ carboncutting plans have been “woefully inadequate”.

Both of these reports highlight how climate change is not currently a priority but needs to be in order to limit its dangerous effects. COP27 must be the place to discuss how to mitigate and prioritise climate change, and hopefully, action will follow.

Despite these serious findings, the United Kingdom has been changing its mind over its attendance to COP27. Before her resignation, former Prime Minister Liz Truss was due to attend. But when Rishi Sunak became the new Prime Minister, Downing Street announced that he would not be attending COP27 as he had “other pressing domestic commitments including preparations for the autumn budget”.

This received a lot of criticism regarding Sunak’s prioritisation of climate change. However, the day after Boris Johnson said he would be attending COP27, Sunak announced via Twitter that he would as well.

The timing of Sunak’s announcement creates the question of what caused this U-turn: one of many from the government. Other politicians have criticised the U-turn, such as Deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner, saying that it was “embarrassing” that the Prime Minister had been “dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing”. Despite what Sunak stated, the timing of his announcement, and the fact that he originally was not attending COP27, makes it seem that climate change is not his priority. With the recent reports proving just how important climate change policies are, it is saddening that the UK government appears not to be listening.

Source: Tabitha Turner. illustrator@thefounder.co.uk

The nation the world has turned their backs on

ALICIA PRYOR | CONTENT WRITER

Somalia is currently facing a devastating food insecurity crisis and is expected to reach nationwide famine by the end of the year. A multitude of reasons has contributed to this crisis, including the hard-hitting impacts of climate change; induced drought, the war in Ukraine stopping critical food trade, and the long-lasting consequences of political instability within the nation. Though Somalia is facing one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes on Earth, this is not the widespread news it should be as the focus from mainstream media is continuously geared towards Western centric issues on the international stage.

Additionally, Somalia sources much of its wheat supplies from Ukraine and Russia (90% in the previous year), but the war has stopped these exports, leading to the depletion of an important food supply for Somalia. Resulting in extensive malnourishment, severe acute food insecurity, and famine throughout not only the nation but also in surrounding regions. Climate change issues will only worsen through the years, and the agriculture system that Somalia’s economy relies on has proven to be no longer feasible.

Continued from the front page:

This influx of instant news has spawned what is known as performative activism which is hopping on the bandwagon for trending topics in order to present oneself as woke and politically charged. Think #blackouttuesday and how Instagram transformed into a wall of ineffectual black squares for one day and that was considered enough, you could return to your daily life, comforted by the thought that you did your bit –no one could accuse you of being racist. Forget a blue tick, you have a black square marking your page! Surely the Nobel Prize Foundation will be knocking shortly? Remember Clap for Carers and the once enthusiastic drum of applause that faded into a dogged smattering of hands as the world moved on then into nothing as it forgot.

The crisis in Somalia is one that is complex and not as easily solvable as climate change and the lack of central government provides an extremely dangerous challenge to the nation. Though non-profit international organisations and Western governments have tried to provide aid, the nation’s reliance on the generosity of foreign institutions is not a viable long-term solution.

80% of Somalia’s population pursues a nomadic pastural lifestyle, and a drought that has now lasted five rainy seasons has produced extremely dire consequences. Crops are no longer harvestable, and millions of livestock have perished.

Due to the repercussions of colonialism, not only do underdeveloped countries like Somalia struggle to participate and compete within the global economy, but they are also thoroughly unequipped to face disasters like these on their own, ultimately leaving millions of lives at risk. Foreign aid should not only come in the form of raw resources such as food and necessities but there should be an aim to help Somalia set up its own infrastructure and system, divorced from agriculture, that could allow for the construction of a more secure economy. This will create the ability for Somalia to conduct global trade when domestic capitals cannot be met within the region itself. There should also be an aim to stabilise the nation’s political system, as the lack of a state and the threat of the Somali militant group, Al Shaabab, provides added challenges to the already catastrophic situation.

Famine and food insecurity should not be an issue in 2022, and no country and population should be left behind. It is in times like these when vulnerable countries like Somalia should receive more attention than ever. An urgent reappraisal of solutions to famine in underdeveloped nations is vital for the world.

Performative activism breeds guilt as people are accused of not caring if they do not express their explicit support on every social media platform they can – even if that support is the bare minimum and false. Then they can quietly delete those woke posts once people do not care anymore. It goes without saying that this all presents colossal problems for the ways in which we perceive news and how we are forced to contribute rather than relying on our own conscience. Equally, it has caused severe difficulty for causes looking to raise funding –they go from donations every second as the world looks on with plastic smiles and crocodile tears to next to nothing as everyone empties their pockets for the new suffering in town. If the internet has taught us to spread news faster, it has also taught us that we do not need to care for as long.

OPINION AND DEBATE

Bringing the arts back to the youth

HANA NABIZADA | CONTENT WRITER

The arts provide some of the richest experiences and livelihoods to individuals, but it is a shame that over time, the engagement and interest of youths in arts have declined. To tackle this, many famed organisations and institutions have opened opportunities to reclaim this engagement, even so far as turning to popular apps, such as TikTok, to capture the intrigue of young audiences. Such opportunities seem too good to be true, and yet they most certainly exist, all for the ben efit and enjoyment of the youth. The Royal Opera House, for example, have a Young ROH scheme, in which anyone aged 16-25 can watch any show (bal let, opera, etc.) in any seat for only £25. The Brit ish Film Institute also have a similar scheme for 16–25-year-olds. Not only this, but museums have taken a digital directive, turning to TikTok to show case artefacts through an immersive approach. There is huge value in the arts not just because it is culturally enriching, but because it allows people to come together through a common interest and can even help aid in some mental health challenges, such as stress, loneliness, and depression.

The Covid-19 lockdowns have had a paradoxical effect on the arts with the youth: whilst museums and shows were cancelled and closed temporarily, at-home arts became popular and more common. Activities such as painting, watching movies, crocheting, and learning a new type of dance became a coping mechanism to deal with the loneliness and anxiety-inducing reality that lockdowns brought with them.

Now that lockdowns are over, there have been many more opportunities to engage with and appreciate the arts. Exhibitions such as the Van Gogh Immersive Experience introduced a new digital approach that allowed for a new way to explore and soak in Van Gogh’s works. The popularity of the immersive experience has led to more of the same style exhibitions but featuring different artists, such as Monet, Frida Kahlo, Klimt, and Dali. The Young Barbican gives 14-25 year olds discounted tickets of only £5, £10, and £15 for arts, music, film, theatre, film, and dance events. For fashion and jewellery lovers, past exhibitions such as the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the V&A, and Van Cleef & Arpel’s The Art of Movement are all examples that you will certainly find something for you.

Take advantage of these opportunities now as they will only certainly be a magical experience. The festive season peeking just around the corner will really add to the magic!

Democratic U-Turns: Does Sunak’s appointment harm democracy?

THOMAS MCLINDEN | CONTENT WRITER

It is always said that a week is a long time in politics. The resignation of Liz Truss as Prime Minister and the installation of Rishi Sunak as her successor in just under a week proves just that. It would be fair for those not keeping a close eye of the Westminster chessboard to be entirely confused by these events. The emergence of Liz Truss as Boris Johnson’s successor, only weeks before Sunak’s arrival in Number 10 is certainly a lot for anyone to keep up with.

Whilst the dust settles on seismic changes at the peak of the Tory party, the aftermath pro vides questions. These are questions, Sunak’s predecessors before him have not had aimed at them quite so vigor ously. It is of course the age-old question – Is it democratic?

Truss’ short premiership was not short of politi cal turmoil. A disastrous fiscal event, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s illfated mini-budget, and the most damning tur moil.

A sharp fall in the value of the pound coupled together with extremely volatile mar ket instability made Truss and Kwarteng’s positions ex tremely untenable.

Kwarteng then found himself sacked in an attempt to sal vage Truss’ premiership. The mini-budget U-turn sparked little surprise given pressure from parliamentary colleagues and the markets. The scale of crisis leads to no surprise that Truss followed Kwarteng out of Downing Street so soon. Whilst Sunak’s arrival in Number 10 is certainly not outright undemocratic, he was elected by his party’s MPs after a short leadership contest.

Source: The Nutcracker, showing from 6 December 2022 – 14th January 2023, The Royal Opera House.

OPINION AND DEBATE 8

It is more the decision to remove Truss from the post that sparks questions of democratic integrity. The economic turmoil, caused by her flagship policies of tax cuts without a reduction in spending, placed Truss under insurmountable pressure. History tells us that once authority is lost, power is soon to follow. The sharp turnaround of Truss’ premiership laid bare the dynamic of power within the Conservative Party.

The clear majority of support in Truss was shown with her winning 57.4% of the membership’s vote. There were however clear differences between the party’s membership and MP’s in where support lay, while Sunak’s popularity amongst Tory MPs in the first leadership contest is obvious, winning each round of MP’s voting comfortably.

Polling amongst Party members consistently placed Truss significantly ahead of Sunak. So much so, when the announcement was made on September 6th, it was more a coronation for Truss, than a victory.

The red ripple?

JOEL DAVIES | OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

As polls closed on the eve of Tuesday, November 8th, it had seemed to be a foregone conclusion to many across the United States that a “red wave” was imminent. Republican candidates, especially those championed by former US President Donald Trump, were expected to trounce their Democratic counterparts in competitive Senate, House, and Governor races across the nation. An ailing economy, an unpopular president, a drawnout war in Europe and sky-high commodity prices had made a Democratic victory unlikely. However, as votes were counted, the media narrative slowly switched to one of Democrat resilience and the result has been hailed as a success for the Democratic Party on a night predicted to be a disaster.

The pressure was placed on Truss from the outset. It was almost as if Tory MPs had knives out for Truss from the very beginning and that her removal was a correction by MPs of a mistake made by the membership. The suggestion that the party overturned the wishes of the membership is clear and obvious. Given the vast turmoil and ever-dwindling electoral chances, Tory MPs can be justified in withdrawing support for Truss. However, Sunak arguably lacks the enjoyment of a democratic victory as large as Truss’.

There is a multitude of reasons that could be attributed to Fetterman’s win. The decisive factor, if the media narrative is to be trusted, could have been abortion rights. The Supreme Court, dominated by Republicannominated judges, recently struck down Roe v Wade and endangered the right to abortion across the nation. Media pundits have roundly concluded that the “abortion factor” was key in many of the crucial suburban areas of these races, increasing the turnout amongst suburban women and young voters.

With Labour holding an unassailable lead in current opinion polls and questions over the integrity of Sunak’s mandate, more questions should be expected. However, after such turmoil, the last thing the Conservative Party will want is a new leader or a general election.

While, at the time of writing, results have not been confirmed, the Democrats seem to have held a slim majority in the Senate, with symbolic wins in various states. Most notably, the Democrat candidate for the Senate in Pennsylvania, John Fetterman, was declared early as the surprise winner, beating Republican candidate Mehmet Oz, known commercially as Dr Oz. This was one of the first declarations of the night, and one of the most unexpected in a state that voted for Donald Trump in a surprise upset in 2016, a win that CNN has termed as possibly “decisive” for Congressional Democrats.

It could also be argued that Fetterman’s win, along with the victories of multiple left-wing House members, was helped by the embrace of economic populist stances. Left-wing policies which deviate from the centrist norm championed by Joe Biden have proven to be extremely popular with many swing voters, and even some Trump voters. The radical difference from the norm that this politics embrace is exactly what many dissatisfied voters are searching for in these trying times. Perhaps the Democratic Party needs to take a closer look at embracing once-maligned leftist stances, instead of sticking to running centrist candidates, a tactic which conclusively failed them in the Florida elections this year.

A wave of anti-Trump sentiment also surely helped the Democrats succeed in this year’s midterms, where they may set a record for the best performance of a governing party since 2002.

midterms, Getty Images

While many Trump-endorsed candidates succeeded, there were symbolic wins like the apparent defeat of incumbent Lauren Boebert (recognised as one of the most extreme and vocal supporters of Donald Trump’s politics) in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. Trumpism appears to be on the decline in many voters’ minds in the USA, especially with generational change on the horizon.

The Democratic Party may still lose control of the House of Representatives with the final vote tallies, but the resilience demonstrated by the Democratic vote is unexpected, unheard of in a midterm, and inspiring at a time of democratic decline. The control of the Senate may still be decided by an upcoming Georgia run-off election, but it is clear that whatever the result, the Republican party’s “red wave” failed to materialise.

Source: Getty Images

Source: Candidates Stacy Abrams and Raphael Warnock championed by former President Obama in tight Georgia

Reminder to keep moving

NAJAYAH RAHMAN | CONTENT WRITER

The coldest time of year has officially arrived. Dark mornings, grey skies, and terribly inconsistent rain. There is nothing we want more than to get a hot drink to warm our numb fingers, wrap ourselves in blankets for a cosy nap, or do anything that involves staying inside and keeping warm. Exercise might not be on that list. Moving around keeps us warm, boosts our immune system, and lifts our mood. Yet the struggle to maintain a fitness routine in the cold is real. So, here are a few reminders about why you should get up and keep going.

Firstly, fight the winter blues. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression can be eased immensely when the body routinely releases endorphins after exercise. Find fun activities that suit your schedule, so you can view them as something you look forward to doing. Simply taking a long walk wrapped in layers, with headphones on and a flask of a (preferably healthy) hot drink of choice is better for your body than sitting at home all day. Romanticise the hell out of it. Take a friend with you. It feels productive, healthy, and you will definitely come home feeling a lot happier that you did it.

Secondly, become superhuman. Have greater mental resilience. We can already imagine the shock of the cold shivering in our bones before we even go outdoors. Our body's natural impulses are alerting us to stay indoors (therefore accumulating fat rather than burning it at this point). The ability to mentally prepare ourselves to ignore our bodies' hard-wired impulses is astonishing in and of itself, but consistently mustering the willpower will also strengthen your capacity to meet obstacles head-on. On top of that, your body works harder in the cold. The immune and cardiovascular systems especially, making it a lot easier to build endurance than it would be in warmer seasons. Performing the same indoor exercise outside, undoubtedly burns more calories, due to the additional work your body will have to do to maintain a comfortable internal temperature. Your metabolism goes into overdrive as it tries to keep warm, enabling you to burn more calories and fat.

Lastly, if these reminders are not good enough reasons on their own, do it to smash your personal body goals. There is no one ideal body type and everyone has various objectives. If you put in the work now, you might achieve that image for summertime. Looking back, you will be so grateful and proud that you pushed through. However, always be careful.

By focusing only on the end goal, you run the danger of feeling defeated week after week when you don't reach it, even if you made fantastic progress. Keep smaller goals in mind and celebrate yourself for little victories. They'll give you the impression that you're moving forward continually, which will keep the momentum continuing.

Exercise is important, we all know that. We just need to remember why. So please take care of yourself.

Always caffeinated? Here’s why you should quit caffeine for good

CHLOE PLUMMER | CONTENT WRITER

Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy all forms of caffeine in the colder months, a latte in between lectures or a cup of tea in the morning. Caffeinated drinks bring me so much joy and are embedded into my daily routine. However, when my doctor recommended a caffeine ban for a month I was intrigued and somewhat surprised by how much caffeine can really affect your health down to your skin complexity and your overall mood. So hopefully all these positive health benefits of going cold turkey on caffeine will convince you to pick other beverages in the future.

As a student, I can completely understand that sometimes coffee isn’t just an enjoyable beverage but instead a necessity. After the cycle of consuming caffeine, our bodies begin to rely on the energy that the caffeine seems to give us. However, as most people are aware caffeine is indeed an addictive substance, therefore as Healthline explains “sustained caffeine consumption can lead to changes in the chemistry of your brain, producing positive feelings towards caffeine, which encourages you to repeat the behaviour”.

This addictive cycle is not healthy and somewhat encouraged by cafes on campus bringing in loyalty and stamp cards for one free coffee after ten stamps. Not to mention coffee can make you severely dehydrated. Since banning caffeine, I have been drinking substantially more water, which has not only properly hydrated me but left me feeling less lethargic throughout the day.

Source: Stock Adobe

Drinking an increased amount of water has so many health benefits, most importantly boosts concentration and attention, so next time you are trying to push through an essay in the library instead of reaching for a caramel macchiato, enjoy some water and experience the health benefits of kicking the caffeine. Drinking water will create a more positive cycle, your body will begin to get used to hydration felt through the consumption of water and crave water rather than coffee which usually causes dehydration.

As mentioned earlier, caffeine can be considered an addictive substance, as well as this, caffeine is also a stimulant. Therefore, consuming caffeine throughout the day can intrinsically affect your sleep schedule. As coffee can encourage alertness through the interfering with adenosine (chemical key in making us fall asleep), your sleep schedule can be interrupted as the body is still alert. When cutting out caffeine, I have experienced uninterrupted sleep and woken up feeling well rested, something that as a student has so much value and allows me to use my days to their full potential.

If you are wondering why you have suddenly started breaking out more frequently than normal since returning to uni, your answer could indeed be caffeine. Not only is caffeine a trigger to anxiety which can increase acne, caffeine has also been proven to slow your body’s production of collagen. Collagen creates glowing and healthier-looking skin, paired with the increased consumption of water, my skin became clearer within a fortnight.

So, if none of these health benefits convince you to cut out caffeine in your life, think of the savings. A coffee from any café on campus is around £3, therefore, if you get a coffee every day that’s £15 a week, £60 a month, need I go on? Whereas water is totally free and so much more beneficial to your body. Give it a go and quit caffeine for even a fortnight and watch the benefits occur!

Your friends from home may not be your friends anymore

MOLLY AINLEY | LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Ithink one of the most fearful things is what happens to your existing relationships when you move to university, and I imagine we have all felt it. Even you, the first years, may have started to notice it. The changes, the worries, the anxiety over if you and your home friends are still friends. These lingering concerns are all normal and it is time we spoke about them, especially now we enter winter which is a season we need friends. We are told that during university we will meet friends for life, but what if our forever friends are those we left behind?

I have a few friends which know me inside and out, but they are in my hometown, which is 214 miles from Egham. I feel this sense of guilt from time to time because why haven’t I made the same exact bonds? If I love them so dearly, why did I leave them? There are a few things I must remind myself when this aching sense overtakes me.

We are supposed to move, and this applies physically and mentally. We as people have needs and wants that are separate from those we love, and this does not mean we are neglecting them or leaving them if we fulfil these needs and wants. In fact, it is an opportunity to grow all together, and celebrate one another’s successes.

Source: Instagram, @rhfoodanddrink

The phrase “if you love someone, let them go. If they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were” is applicable to your friends. For if you are able to let each other go, for whatever reason, they will come back or return (whether it be years later or just a couple of days after moving). This doesn’t mean physically either, it means they will call you, check in when they are home, and make an effort to know you are okay. Leaving does not mean you or them are gone. It is just an opportunity to see how much they mean to you.

On the other side, there is a guilt I have felt when making new friends. Like I am in primary school all over again and I am believing I can only have one best friend. I often fail to acknowledge that as you grow, as you move, as you build a whole future for yourself you meet people.

These people have only known you as a university student, as a flatmate, as someone building their life separate from their hometown. There is something extraordinarily beautiful in this. It would be an unforgivable crime to deny yourself the chance to embrace this. Make friends, talk to new people, cry on your flatmate’s shoulder, and know at home there are people who are happy for you.

Let yourself have new bonds with people who only know you in this life and let the home friends and your new friends all co-exist. You’re not betraying anyone in doing so, and you are only harming yourself if you don’t let things develop.

Source: Taken by Paul Harrop, of my home town Beverley. High lighting the natural and historical beauty of my roots.

ARTS & CULTURE

A riotous night out: Review of Moulin Rouge! The Musical

BY CHLOE PLUMMER | CONTENT WRITER

When entering the upper stalls entrance at the Piccadilly Theatre, I was transported into a world of all things bourgeois and vibrant. As we took our seats there was a faint sultry tune humming on stage with two actresses flaunting in beautiful, embellished cabaret outfits. This musical was unlike anything I have ever witnessed, and the preshow certainly set the tone for this scandalous performance. Audience members were dressed smartly mimicking the Parisian night of attending the Moulin Rouge, it was truly an all-encompassing experience of crushed leather, vibrant outfits and so much sparkle.

Jamie Muscato who played the protagonist, Christian, gave a stellar performance throughout. Muscato had impeccable vocal skills, he effortlessly changed his expressive tone when dealing with a variety of different vocal numbers (one being under the influence of absinthe). Not to mention the exquisite harmonies that Muscato and his co-star Melissa James, who played Satine executed. The emotional turmoil that this character portrayed was heart-wrenching as a viewer, through numbers such as Come Way May it further added to the character development of our main relationship in the musical. Ben Richards, our Duke and antihero, conveyed the stage with such ambivalence throughout which successfully shifted the plot into a direction of passion, drama and true theatre.

The only choice that personally I did not enjoy was the decision to include well-known pop songs. For me, it dampened the burlesque and grandeur feel to somewhat of a singalong to the greatest 2000s hits.

In contrast, the iconic song El tango de Roxanne must be referred to; the lighting design, the sublime vocal range and the choreography left the whole theatre in awe, this moment in the musical is truly an admirable piece of theatrical art.

The set design for this musical is stunning and intricate. Christian’s apartment includes a vast dusty window that depicts the view of bustling Montmartre, down to the details of lights inside the windows in view, the scenery does encourage a sense of escapism that you can really get wrapped up into. The pop of a red in a neon sign reading “Lamour” in sight from our protagonist’s room twinkles at the cohesiveness of all this set design.

The arts in Florence

LILY BIRCH | ARTS EDITOR

Assomeone with a love for elaborate sculptures and beautiful historic paintings there has always been a city I have wanted to visit. Renowned for its rich history and beautiful architecture, Florence takes the cake as one of the most artistic cities in the world. Home to the Renaissance and some of the most famous paintings in the world, every corner you turn is a magnificent building with hundreds of years of history in its walls. Though I was only there for four days, I tried to do and see as many things as possible.

The half a tonne glitter encrusted elephant looms over the stage left for the duration of the performance. The musical was programmed to an exceptional level of detail, with an amazing integration of modern Glasson fixtures with classic tungsten fixtures. Moulin Rouge was a triumph of set electrics and practicals. Derek Mclane’s design was certainly the sparkling diamond of the show.

The choreography throughout this performance oozes sensuality. Sonya Tayeh, the choreographer simply evoked a French provocativeness that worked to accentuate the lust between characters. The ensemble worked seamlessly to convey the cabaret scene revolving around our protagonists, as well as creating an atmosphere of cohesion and a dazzlingly outrageous Montmartre club scene, that truly epitomises the Moulin Rouge musical.

On my first day I went to the Gallerie dell’Academie, best known for housing Michelangelos sculpture of David. This magnificent sculpture is 17 feet high made of solid marble, and is over 500 years old.

This museum (photographed) is Duomo di Firenze. The Florence cathedral stands in the centre of the Duomo square since 1436. The gorgeous and gothic revival looking exterior is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of pink and green. Underneath the Duomo there is a whole underground cave with sections of the original flooring and tiles and decorations.

The highlight of my trip and the thing I was looking forward to most was the Galleria degli Uffizi. The Uffizi gallery, built in 1581, is the one of the oldest and most famous galleries in the world.

This gallery holds some of the most famous paintings in the world, including Boticelli’s The Birth of Venus. The museum itself is stunning, with frescos of renaissance cherubs and biblical stories covering the walls and ceilings.

Source: Moulin Rouge! The Musical London, Gallery

Source: Lily Birch. Piazza del Duomo, Florence.

ARTS & CULTURE 12

One of the biggest aspects of Florentine history and architecture is the palaces built for the wealthy families who lived in Florence. Most of these palaces are now open to the public, in order to display their private art collections and for people to embrace the beautiful architecture of their houses. The two palaces that I visited belonged to the Picci family, and the Vecchio family. Filled with luxurious frescos and extravagant four poster beds, these palaces feel straight out of a movie set.

Florence itself is an amazing city, with everything being within walking distance and beautiful architectural structures around every corner, it is hard not to fall in love with the setting. If you have a love for the arts, and in particular the Renaissance, Florence is the perfect cultural city break.

Destroying art as political activism

LILY BIRCH | ARTS EDITOR

Harming, or threatening to harm art, is not a new method of trying to draw attention to a political cause. Activists and reformers have targeted the most famous paintings and sculptures in the world to cry out for climate change of political reform, and it seems to work.

The uproar surrounding the most recent protest has been significant, with people across social media hurling abuse at the activists, whilst some praise them for taking a stand. But why subject these works of art to the forefront of the protest? And how effective is this meth od of forcing people to listen? It is clear to see that it creates a response loud enough to draw people to look, even if they may have been unaware of what the piece looked like before it was covered in tomato soup. Some times it has little to do with the actual artwork, but the response to which humans have to art. Think of the cathartic response you get from ripping up a photo of an ex, compared to how it feels to shred a piece of office paper.

The anger that fills a human when a piece of history or beauty is destroyed is exactly the way that the protesters feel about the climate emergency. It is a form of non-violent protest that forces higher officials to see them and recognise their anger, giving them a spotlight in front of the most famous paintings in the world.

Obviously, it would be devasting if Van Gogh’s Sunflowers had been ruined by some soup, yet the activists of Just Stop Oil (the organisation behind the recent food hurling) have explained that they knew their actions would cause no harm to the paintings, as they are safe behind glass. This type of protest is allowing them to break through into mass media, their protests are making headlines, but not in the ways that they would like.

People seem to be paying more attention to the potential disfiguration of a $900 million painting rather than the message of the climate emergency. But then, what is the solution to make people listen? Museums are powerful cultural institutions, and the continued disruption of function will take a little more than just soup. However, the value of the pieces inside does not decrease.

These actions of protest may be forgotten, but the value of these pieces will not be. If these activists are not taken seriously, they will continue to protest and eventually things will get violent. Nowadays, this is one of the most non-violent ways of protesting while still raising significant attention to the cause and forcing those art lovers, and the general public, to look at these ‘destroyed’ pieces and reflect on how it makes them feel, and perhaps more pressingly, how the protesters must feel to be going to this extreme.

Source: Just Stop Oil protesters as they throw cans of soup at Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London, inews

The downfall of Kanye West

ALEXANDRA LOMAS | CONTENT CREATOR

Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye, has fallen from the list of the world’s richest billionaires by a staggering amount. West, who was ranked 1,513 on the list created by Forbes Magazine, has lost almost three quarters of his reported net worth as companies distance themselves from him.

Ye has been the subject of online controversy for a while now. It started out by making a plethora of hateful posts on social media platforms, but has since turned into West making antisemitic and anti-Black statements which have influenced a group of antisemitic protesters to hang a banner over the 405 Interstate in Los Angeles in support of him and his comments. This is a direct result of Ye boasting on various social-media platforms, TV shows and podcasts about the fact that he “can say antisemitic shit, and Adidas can’t drop [him]”. West made these claims on October 16th, during an interview for the podcast Drink Champs. Following these claims, Balenciaga, Gap, JP Morgan, his talent agency CAA, as well as Adidas, have all cut ties with Yeezy and Ye.

Adidas had placed their huge partnership with Yeezy under review in early October after West was seen wearing a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt at his Paris Fashion Week show. Ye then made an array of now-deleted socialmedia posts condemning Vogue’s global contributing fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson by mocking her shoes and saying how she “is not a fashion person”. Many celebrities came to the defence of Kafera-Johnson, namely model Gigi Hadid who left comments on the now-deleted post.

After his recent controversy, Adidas ended their partnership effective immediately. In an official statement, the brand stated that “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech”. Adidas assured that production of all Yeezy branded products is to cease immediately, and they would be stopping payments to Ye. In the statement, Adidas admitted that they would have short-term Q4 losses from the termination which values at €250 million. This is obviously a major financial loss, as Ye generated $1.7 billion for Adidas in 2021.

The reaction to West’s comments has had his personal accounts restricted from posting, commenting, and messaging on Instagram, and his Twitter account is locked. West replied to this retaliation and said that he would buy social-media platform Parler, which prides itself on being a “viewpoint-neutral social media app dedicated to freedom of expression, civil discourse, and user privacy”.

After all this loss, Kanye tweeted on November 3rd speaking out saying “I’m taking a 30 day cleanse. A verbal fast. No alcohol. No adult films. No intercourse. In god we praise. Amen. But my Twitter still lit” and saying that he is “not talking to nooobody for a month”. West has been locked out of his Instagram account for 30 days for violating their policies. We can only hope that he is sticking to his word and getting the help he needs.

Source: Wikimediaю Photograph of Kanye West at the Met Gala in 2019

LITERARY REVIEW 14

Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life by Howard Sounes

VIKTORIA PRACZKO | LITERARY REVIEW EDITOR

“I do believe that it takes a strong dose of alienation to make a good artist or writer in the modern world. You can’t be too well-adjusted and still have anything interesting to say”.

If you read regularly and discuss literature with others then you most likely have been numerously asked about your favourite novel or author. To some, the answer may arise immediately, whilst for others, including myself, the reply takes some time. Only fairly recently did it consolidate itself. One can enjoy an array of texts or admire certain pieces from poets, but how many readers can name an artist that had such a significant impact on their perception of their surroundings and themselves, that now they own nearly everything that artist ever published?

Charles Bukowski (19201994) was a German-American novelist, poet, and shortstory writer. He was greatly influenced by the United States, particularly Los Angeles’ contemporary cultural, social, and economic state. Most of his writing captures the dayto-day lives of the American working and lower classes, often exposing the exploitation and the harshness of the 20th century’s reality.

Bukowski utilises his daily experiences as a struggling artist, and the backbreaking evening shifts at the post office, to depict the unfairness of society and to give voice to those that are marginalized.

By replicating his physical encounters and verbal interactions with fellow alcoholics, the homeless, and prostitutes, he re-ignites their human dimension that many fail to see or simply disregard.

Mentioning Bukowski’s name in passing would most likely result in a controversial debate with one side sternly labelling him as an alcoholicwomaniser, and the other as one of his generation’s most tragic figures. Howard Sounes’ biography, Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life, is based on extensive research in an attempt to ‘revitalise rather than reduce [his] work’ (Independent).

Sounes traces back the poet’s activity across America, visiting the bars where he was a regular, including photographs from different stages of his life, and interviewing his relatives and friends. He captures the poet’s essence so effectively that one does not only feel that they knew him personally but momentarily believes that he has been resurrected.

Sounes begins with Bukowski’s birth in Germany and follows him throughout till his very last breath in San Pedro Peninsula Hospital.

Source: BBC Radio 4

He vividly paints the image of a young boy being recurrently beaten by his father’s belt for the most minor misdoing and a teenager with one of the worst cases of acne that left scarring for the rest of his life. We witness his struggle for money and him leaving every job behind to pursue the thing that he was the most passionate about: writing. Sounes’ depiction of Bukowski’s painful rise to success allows one to understand a misunderstood individual whose writing can represent love and grief beautifully whilst having a lust for life.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; a BookTok fad or something

more?

ANNIKA SWANSBURY | CONTENT WRITER

Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones, Nina Riva, and Carrie Soto are not the clique of popular girls from your nightmares, but the four leading ladies of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s intertwined novels. Each is very different, each unlucky in love, and each connected to one another by the reoccurring character of Mick Riva. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was first published in 2017 and since has become vastly popular thanks to online communities on platforms like TikTok, allowing it and one of its sister novels, Daisy Jones and the Six, to be adapted into movies.

LITERARY REVIEW

Evelyn Hugo follows young journalist Monique Grant as she interviews the long-time Hollywood starlet about her infamous love affairs, and her career spanning since the studios ruled Tinseltown. Throughout the novel, we meet the various husbands of the titular character; the good, the bad, the famous, and the infamous, and learn a little more about Evelyn along the way. While we get a slightly glamourised version of Hollywood from Reid, there are also less picture-perfect moments woven into the narrative too. When reading about Evelyn starring as Jo March in an adaption of Little Women, Reid makes you wonder whether the actresses who starred in the 2019 adaptation had similar rivalries behind the scenes. This also sparks the question of how many of today’s star-studded romances are simply to maintain an image, like many of Evelyn’s marriages.

It is in the opening chapters that Reid sets up the plot in a fairly conventional manner, introducing characters who have something to reveal later on and have plenty of room to grow in the span of the novel. However, the twists she throws our way go beyond what could be expected. The novel does not start as an inherently queer romance, but it ends that way. Celia St. James and Evelyn Hugo might be introduced as bitter rivals, fighting for awards and the attention of the press, but the tangible spark that Reid creates between them eventually softens to doting affection. The major reveal involves Evelyn Hugo, Monique, and Monique’s father, ultimately elevating the novel away from a typical cheesy romance.

After all, this book falls somewhere between cheap holiday romance novels you might pick up at an airport, and something more substantial. Reid’s construction of the ending heavily contributes towards this, giving Evelyn’s character an essence of moral greyness that goes beyond the cold and proud exterior she presents to the press. Reid’s characterisation of Evelyn makes you question whether you ever really liked her character, or if she was simply doing what she does best: acting her way through the interviews with Monique.

This is a novel that from the surface may seem like nothing special, another love story with a twist but to some, it is more than that. Evelyn Hugo is bittersweet and heart-breaking at the same time; you cannot help but devour it.

Exteriors, by Annie Ernaux

SEB GARDINER | CONTENT WRITER

Source: The Guardian Readers familiar with Annie Ernaux know that the majority of her work is deeply personal; with over nearly five decades of writing, she has narrated her marriage, affairs, young life, abortion, cancer, and family deaths. Her work, sociological as well as autobiographical, has all been written from her residency in a Parisian suburb.

Exteriors is a short collection of journal entries that separates itself vastly from these other works. Each entry, from a couple of lines to a whole page long, forms an outline of seven years of Ernaux’s life, in her late 40s. The journal format is used brilliantly, and, for a publication that stands apart from her others, also works fantastically. The stories published before and after Exteriors concern a heart wrought in all-consuming passion, and reflection on a traumatic memory, (Simple Passions, Shame), so it is only briefly that we have access to this new style, one where Ernaux is not trapped in reflecting on the past but is documenting her life as and when she sees it. It is comfortable in the immediate present.

The collection is concerned with living on the fringe of a society. Ernaux, residing and writing from a suburb of Paris, lives just outside of the rush and noise of the capital. By casually noticing and writing about people she notices but does not know, Ernaux shows us an example of her leaving her past behind, an experiment where she does not just detach herself from her previous experiences, but from the people around her as well.

It is an extremely humble collection of entries, as Ernaux perhaps shows her distrust in memory, and the importance of focusing on the present. Each detailed account leaves us wondering of our own reaction, should we find ourselves in a similar, normal position as her.

A young man trims his nails on public transport, a cat is run over in the road, a trolley is abandoned in a field; we are shown the outside of these events, the apparent, but are then suddenly given a new journal entry to think on. By not developing these scenes, Ernaux forces us to stay in the present with what we know, and not get lost with imagining how it happened.

Exteriors contributes to a vast, diverse collection of work that won Ernaux the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2022, but remains an ecstatic, singular text that reflects on itself, and Ernaux past work, as it breaks free from obsessing over the past.

Source: Wikipedia

LITERARY REVIEW 16

Sleepwalking by Meg Wolitzer

EMILIE WILLIAMS | CONTENT WRITER

“Until there is no longer the possibility of sadness, of isolation, there can be no gravity. We all float by, rootless, taking clumsy astronaut steps and calling it progress”.

Meg Wolitzer’s 1982 debut novel, Sleepwalking, deals with the difficulties of overcoming teenage obsessions and their effects on friendships. The novel takes place during autumn on the fictional campus of Swarthmore University, where three college students named “the death girls” (Naomi, Claire, and Laura) bond over their shared morbid obsession with the work and suicides of three poets. Naomi idolises Sylvia Plath, Laura adores Anne Sexton, and the protagonist Claire is infatuated with Wolitzer’s fictional poet named Lucy Asher. The “death girls” gather at night in their dorm rooms and read the works of their favourite poets to each other.

However, when Claire meets fel low student Julian, she is forced to confront the nature of her obses sion with Asher and her identity as a "death girl" through extreme means. She invades Asher’s fam ily home and figuratively takes her place in hopes to learn more about the poet’s life.

The novel explores the difficulties that result from growing beyond assigned identities when you have isolated yourself. Claire comes to understand her identity as a young woman beyond her role as a “death girl”, at the cost of letting go of what has provided her with a sense of comfort for many years. As Claire sees Asher’s parents con tinue to grieve the death of their daughter, the reader witnesses all three characters struggle to learn how to say goodbye to their be loved late Lucy.

“What about the other side of letting go, the side that stuck closest to the words themselves? When you really let go, you were saying goodbye forever. No one ever wanted to talk about that aspect; it was universally considered too painful”.

The obsession the “death girls” have with their favourite poets demonstrates the plight of young adults who cling to what they identify with. Claire feels a sense of affinity with Asher as she conveys thoughts and ideas that Claire feels unable to conjure up herself: “Lucy Asher wrote about everything I had ever thought about, […] and she voiced these thoughts in an entirely new way”.

Wolitzer’s writing is effortlessly poetic, intricate, and meditative. Although the narrative arc is simple, Wolitzer makes up for it through her descriptive power and profound characters. Wolitzer’s descriptions of scenes and the presentation of her characters’ inner thoughts transport the reader into the world of her novel. The atmosphere of the novel captures the charm of 1980’s indie films that centre around teenage tribulations such as Dead Poets Society and Heathers. The autumnal ambience and university setting creates a comforting backdrop to the struggles of the characters.

For her first novel, Sleepwalking is a testament to Wolitzer’s successful career and imaginative genius. The dark atmospheric story could be summarised as an angsty meditation on grief which is easy to read and perfect for the autumn months.

Death of a Bookseller: Covetous Souls and Bloodied First Editions

HARRISON PITTS | CONTENT WRITER

Despite

usually being drawn towards horror novels, I decided that for the November issue I will write on Bernard Framer’s vintage murder mystery, Death of a Bookseller. Whilst Farmer’s jovial topic is somewhat light, it takes us on a journey into the unexpectedly vicious and cutthroat world of the rare book trade. Instead of the “harmless past-time of old dodderers” you or I may have imagined it to be, the occupation is populated by all manner of covetous souls.

The characters range from small-time “runners” to mon omaniacal bookshop owners to violent romantics with a penchant for grievous bodily harm. Each and all risking life and limb, vying to secure first editions of Henty, Keats and the like at a bargain, no matter the method.

However, when someone takes it past the seemingly ritual oc currences of theft and threat with a runner being found with a knife driven through his chest in his very own library, the rare book trade is wracked with suspicion, intrigue, and morbid opportunism.

Source: @thebreakfastbooks, Instagram

LITERARY REVIEW

All and all, if you can get over the obvious pitfalls of a story written by a white man in the fifties, it’s a deeply enjoyable bibliomystery with a selfishly charming gallery of less-thanmoral booksellers. As such it is no wonder that Farmer’s Death of a Bookseller found itself in the coveted spot of 100th book in the British Library’s Crime Classics series, one aiming to bring underappreciated tales from half-forgotten authors (such as this one) to readers in the 21st Century.

Source: Ayman Yusuf, Unsplash

Sargent Wigan enters the scene looking to solve the murder of his newfound friend who, despite only knowing for around six pages, has solidified himself in his, and our, hearts as a person worth avenging. Nevertheless, the case proves tougher than expected and with Wigan’s seemingly insurmountable inability to uncover any new evidence, an eldritch explanation begins to seem more and more likely. Rumours of a spectral, headless bat haunting the streets begin to grow, and besides, was our murdered man not found dead with a demon-summoning tome clutched tight in his bloodied hands?

While the reveal of the mystery may not be the highlight of the book, the time spent with Wigan and his charmingly unlikely assistants as they trudge through hopelessness to revelation and back again is. Ultimately, Wigan’s relationship with others makes it an intriguing, satisfying, and at times heart-breaking, read with surprising amounts of humour in parts. The comically dramatic interactions between the principal ‘bookrunners’ are backed up with terminology and a level of knowledge that transforms the dialogue from melodrama into something you could imagine overhearing in the crowded basement of a local bookshop. Farmer’s own experiences as both a policeman and a bookseller also lend this book an air of accuracy and intimacy that could be scarcely gained otherwise.

The Banshees of… where?

DEVESH SOOD | MANAGING EDITOR

(While there are no spoilers in this article, I strongly recommend reading it knowing as little as possible).

Being floored is a rare and precious experience. Anything that can have you hooked and fascinated, endlessly swirling around your head in the days, weeks, even months after the credits roll is special. The ones that leave you up in the dead of night, seeking answers for its greatest puzzles; it is those films that exemplify cinema in its ultimate form. I do not think I have ever seen a film quite like The Banshees of Inisherin. Why is that? Even after a few weeks, I am still not entirely sure. I had begun writing this article with the goal of unlocking some of its greatest secrets, but in retrospect I think that endeavour would have taken years (and that is being optimistic). So, instead, I will tell you this: The Banshees of Inisherin is incredible. It is a spectacular film, demonstrating everything I love about filmmaking.

I was initially excited at the reunion of the In Bruges trio, with auteur Martin McDonagh alongside leading-men Brendan Gleeson, and Colin Farrell, who has had one of the greatest years of his career with The Batman, After Yang, 13 Lives and now Inisherin under his belt. It took me by surprise to find out it was Barry Keoghan and, in particular, Kerry Condon who stole the acting limelight. The Banshees of Inisherin feels completely different to In Bruges; the stakes are low, and the driving force of the story is, debatably, far more comical, though that sense of tragedy remains.

The island of Inisherin is fictional, but you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise. The world has been so well realised, having been shot on-location on the Irish coast. Such specific rural presence exudes from the screen.

Whether it is the eeriness of dangling puppets inside homes, or the more comical nature of animals roaming free, it all helped to create an immersive world. But it is the tale being told that is key. The story is set in the early 1920’s, with the backdrop of the Irish Civil War, though this really feels like a town out of time. Or rather: alone, isolated from the rest of the world, where nothing exciting happens. Inisherin is not dissimilar to Inishmaan, or Inisheer, and shares the limited expectations of those islands. There is not much to do and there are not many people. This peace is necessary amongst the loneliness. So when Pádraic begins to be shunned by his friend, Colm, his initial confusion ultimately leads down a darker path. The narrative mainstays are established within the first 20 minutes, but the story takes its time to demonstrate the pain caused by these actions. Questions of kindness versus greatness are constantly raised, but there is no real answer. These questions are left circling on the island, as the conflict seems to result in the worst for each party. Reflecting upon the pitiful nature of this feud leaves two apparent avenues, depending on your perspective: either the fractured friendship highlights the tragic aspects of the story, or the darkly comedic.

While I am still seeking answers, I am certain every question could be answered just by the Island of Inisherin. Knowing McDonagh’s background as a playwright, the story could plausibly serve the stage just as well but, unlike films such as Fences, Inisherin seems distinctly suited to the silver screen. Without showing the world of Inisherin, I struggle to see how a stage adaption could function effectively. As I continue looking for answers, my jaw continues to drop. The Banshees of Inisherin has well and truly floored me.

KAYLA TOMLINSON | CONTENT WRITER

Barbarian

(2022) is the newest entry to the ever-growing collection of our finest comedy writers turning to horror and creating some of the most innovative and interesting films in the recent years. Zach Cregger’s debut film, Barbarian operates in similar vein as James Wan’s Malignant or Ti West’s X, in that it does not take itself too seriously and finds a way to mix both conventional comedy and horror elements into the plot.

The plot focuses upon Tess (Georgina Campbell) who, while in Detroit for a job interview, finds someone else already in her rented Airbnb. This someone else is Keith (Bill Skarsgard). Skarsgard has mastered the awkward creepiness needed to depict Keith for the faux-villain he is.

Source: @banshees_movie, Instagram

Source: @galicecampbell, Instagram

In the first act, the film plays out as a tense slasher mystery, with the au dience wondering Keith’s intentions and if, or rather when, he is going to start hunting Tess. However, only 30 minutes in, there is a sudden change in direction. With the reveal of the hidden basement below the house and what lurks there, Barbarian makes a swift turn into the monster genre, full of the jump-scares and body horror expected.

The performances and directing are what sell the film. Barbarian is full of actors who are no amateurs when it comes to the horror genre. Justin Long appears half-way through the film as AJ, a disgraced Hollywood actor who owns the Airbnb that Tess and Keith have been trapped in, and almost completely steals the show as he returns to the genre that he first excelled in. Georgina Campbell is

Tracy (Reese Witherspoon) is shown as a hardworking, if slightly intense, high school senior who sees winning the election as another way for her to get into a good university. Her zest for achieving puts her at odds with her teacher, Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) who dislikes her for both her intensity, and his view that she was responsible for a colleague’s firing. Mr. McAllister encourages a popular jock named Paul Metzler to run against Tracy as a way of providing her with some competition, as well as his own personal vendetta against her. Things get more complicated when Paul’s sister, Tammy, joins the Presidential race as an act of revenge against her ex-girlfriend who begins dating her brother. The absurdity of the situation becomes even more apparent when Tammy admits she does not care about the election and wants to dismantle the student government.

Zach Cregger’s directing is the real standout though. The camera moves fluidly, framing every scene so that the monster is just out of sight, so that the viewer can search in the background for any ghosts or creatures. Cregger’s sudden cut-aways from tense scenes means there is an undercurrent of tension throughout the movie, as the audience is in constant question of what happened to certain characters.

Though some may not like the quick shifts from intense horror to comedy, it would be difficult to say that they are not beautifully executed within the film, happening just at the right times and just at the right amount.

Overall, Barbarian is a fantastic breakout picture from Cregger and a real breath of fresh air when it comes to the horror genre. If you want to watch it, it is available in cinemas from 28th October, with no current streaming release announced.

Tracy Flick is not a villain. She is a seventeenyear-old who uses her intelligence and drive to push herself to achieve as much as possible.

Reese Witherspoon embodies her as a perky perfectionist who has the weight of her future riding on this election. For Tracy, getting into a good university means she can become a successful woman and achieve all the things her single mother wants for her. Her attempts to improve the school and herself are thwarted by a petty middle-aged man who refuses to acknowledge that he is the responsible adult in this situation. Even if she acts snobby or overzealous at times, she is still a teenage girl and one without any power outside her suburban high school.

The character of Tracy Flick has been lobbed at female politicians as though it is the worst insult they can imagine: a person who is hypercompetent and eager to achieve. However, nobody remembers the name of the man who tries to bring her down, instead it is the young woman who refuses to quit and continues to work hard in the public consciousness. Election is worth watching not just for the incredible performances, but also to interrogate our own internalised misogyny when it comes to what we think women in politics should be like.

For Your Consideration: Election (1999)

ASHTON KESSLER | CONTENT WRITER

TracyFlick has become a shorthand reference for ambitious women in politics since Election premiered in 1999. She embodies the stereotypical idea of a woman who excels in the field: cutthroat, overachieving and willing to sleep her way to the top. This misogynistic characterisation still presides today, however, a further examination of both the character and the film paints Tracy in a far more sympathetic light.

A review on The Bear

CHARLIE THIRKETTLE | CONTENT WRITER

The late, great Anthony Bourdain once said, “Cooking is a craft, I like to think, and a good cook is a craftsman—not an artist”. While I am not here to argue with one of the most notable chefs of the 20th and 21st century, I do disagree with him. Cooking is art. Expression through food is artistic expression and, in recent years, has proven to be an art form that looks so damn good on both the big and small screen.

Source: @90s.4eva, Instagram

Ratatouille, Burnt and Chef (Jon Favreau’s best film in my opinion), are all examples of captivating stories being told from beyond the pass. However, none have been as intense as the first season of Christopher Storer’s The Bear

Set in contemporary Chicago, The Bear follows Carmy, a legendary chef who has left the world of fine cuisine to return to his hometown to run “The Original Beef”, a sandwich deli left to him by his recently deceased brother Michael. Carmy takes over with one goal: to turn the run-down, derelict sandwich shop into something new, something better. With the help of a few stubborn reprobates, Carmy attempts to transform “The Original Beef” into a maverick within the Chicago food scene.

Carmy, played by Jeremey Allen White, is vibrant and engaging. Dealing with the relentless highs and lows of restaurant management, as well as handling the grief of his brother’s suicide, all makes for a beautifully rounded out and multidimensional character. An elegant (and hopefully Emmy Award-winning) performance from White makes Carmy one of the most memorable television characters about right now.

However, a protagonist is only as strong as the characters around them. Fortunately, Christopher Storer did not skimp on the rest of the wayward cast working at “The Original Beef”. A colourful array of side characters fills the show with conflict, laughs and hope.

One standout being Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). A sous-chef from the American Culinary Institute, Sydney has come to Chicago to work alongside Carmy, and learn the sacred rules of the kitchen. With a breath-taking performance from Edebiri, Sydney’s journey from kitchen runt to respected sous is a highlight of the show. Other characters such as Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Marcus (Lionel Boyce) and Tina (Liza ColónZayas) all bring their own set of wants, needs, and desires to the kitchen. And, of course, their own series of conflicts.

Richie is certainly the rowdiest of all the characters. Often heard with his colourful language, and seen with a gun, Richie is unique. Whether it be dealing with his family life falling apart, the loss of his best friend Michael, or struggling to change alongside the ever-evolving kitchen, Richie is the conduit for the male audience’s escapism. A struggling man hiding behind a facade in order to protect himself and his manhood.

In an era where mental health recognition amongst men has become a topic of worldwide attention, The Bear’s underlining of “it’s okay to not be okay” sends a message of immense support to a population notorious for keeping their feelings in. Whether its Richie’s family issues, Carmy’s grief, or Michael's suicide, Christopher Storer handles the theme of mental health with dignity and respect.

The Bear is a masterclass in storytelling. Its short bite-sized episodes reveal a deceptively charming story of a world not often seen through the lens of realism.

Its extreme intensity is perfectly balanced with moments of calm and a plethora of nuanced, touching character anecdotes compels The Bear into the must-watch category. It is certainly a contender for best series of the year.

Source: @thebearfx, Instagram

Bullet Train? One more train strike couldn’t hurt

JETHRO ROBATHAN | FILM EDITOR

Open

disclaimer: this review took quite a while to write, simply because it is hard to settle on any lasting impression of Brad Pitt’s latest foray onto the silver screen. I am of course talking about the actionthriller Bullet Train, directed by David Leitch and written by Zak Olkewicz, a morbidly Westernized adaptation of Kotaro Isaka’s novel of the same title. Why morbid, you ask? Largely, due to the cultural and geographic backdrop being treated as a clichéd, touristic filler for cheap laughs; Japanese smart toilets being the squeaky hinge of a “comic” moment springs to mind. The film distinctly plays on Orientalist stereotypes while weakly paddling in the depths of kitschy deadpan-cum-slapstick comedy. It is a shame. Leitch is no stranger to the high-octane, fist-flying fight scenes which hue most (well, all) contemporary action films. He was the producer behind the John Wick trilogy and more recently, Nobody, alongside directing Deadpool 2. For someone so well-versed in successful action flicks, it is more than a little disheartening to find Leitch’s latest gambit falling short of the mark.

Pitt finds himself playing the wearied role of a reformed criminal (oxymoronic, I know), codenamed Ladybug, who is a quasi-Zen assassin tainted by relentless bad luck and a stodgy script, derivative of the likes of Guy Ritchie’s Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Ladybug is just getting back into the criminal ring and is tasked with the seemingly easy job of lifting a briefcase off the Shinkansen (hence the title) between Tokyo and Kyoto. What ensues is the collective imaginings of everything that could go wrong, plus some more. British gangster duo Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are show-stealers with lively performances that outdo Pitt’s comparatively linear take on the goofball criminal with a side-gig as a comedian.

Henry, in particular, manages to infuse the right balance of somberness and sarcasm for the script to actually breathe. Faux deaths and a determinism driven by a literal obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine (very onbrand given the context) are actually funny. Perhaps a little overdone towards the end, but I can concede that humour is subjective. The rest of the cast perform well, although there are no standouts.

Joey King’s role as Prince, the teenage Machiavellian mastermind who is ultimately irrelevant, and suffering from parental neglect, was grating for reasons I cannot put my finger on but perhaps that was the point.

Choppy edits and montage introductions are part of the cinematic palette of Bullet Train and they do work, mostly, although again the editing suffers from a sense of overwrought try-hardness. Outside of the narrative eyerolls, à la convoluted plot twists and zesty verbal barbs used when guns (or knives, or briefcases) are in short supply, the film is not without its good elements.

The claustrophobic interiors of the Shinkansen are well navigated for maximum tension in the opening two acts – the climax sadly falls of the rails, literally and figuratively. Fight scenes are taut and skilfully choreographed, a nod to Leitch doing what he does best. Surprisingly, the CGI is notably cheesy at points although this unintentionally lends itself well to the kitsch cheesiness of Bullet Train overall.

It is only looking back at the spectrum of oddities that feature in Bullet Train that you can appreciate the film for what it is: a piece which encapsulates the style over substance mantra, and is an easy watch for those seeking some thoughtless escapism. Pitt’s latest addition to an already bulging filmography is not one to write home about, and is an objective nosedive from other recent roles, such as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. That said, taking any action thriller too literally is always a bad idea.

Source: @bullettrainmovie, Instagram

Mercury Prize: Little Simz takes Album of the Year

ANNA ARMELIN | CONTENT WRITER

This October saw the return of the annual awards show for the Mercury Prize 2022. The prize is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the music industry. They collate 12 “Albums of the Year”, recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres. The main objectives of the Prize are to recognise and celebrate artistic achievement, provide a snapshot of the year in music and to help introduce new albums from a range of music genres to a wider audience. The prize has no categories and is open to all music genres. Out of the 12 shortlisted “Albums of the Year” there is one overall winner. The genres of music that are represented tend to vary from year to year.

All of the 12 shortlisted artists receive a specially commissioned “Album of the Year” trophy, with the overall winner also receiving a winner trophy and a cash prize of £25,000. More significantly, the Prize can ignite public awareness of the winning album, and dramatically increase the profiles of all the shortlisted artists.

Rapper and actor Little Simz, born Simbiatu Ajikawo, won this year’s prize, claiming critical acclaim for her fourth album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. The 28-year-old north London rapper was the only secondtime nominee in a field of artists otherwise up for their first Mercury; she was previously nominated for her third album, Grey Area, in 2019. The Mercury marks Simz’s second major prize this year after she won Best New Artist at the Brit Awards in February.

“The album that we have chosen deals with themes both personal and political; the music is as sophisticated as it is varied. This is a truly exceptional album”, said DJ Jamz Supernova as she presented Simz with the prize.

Described by Mercury Prize host Lauren Laverne as “[Simz’s] most intimate record to date”, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert rode high in many of 2021’s albums of the year lists, topping the BBC 6 Music poll and coming third in the Guardian’s list. “Simbiatu Ajikawo demonstrates that she has no shortage of bold, cinematic vision”, wrote critic Jenessa Williams. “A narrative journey in the truest sense, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is upfront about the sharp sense of self-doubt that so often chases the sweet intoxication of success”.

The judging panel for this year’s Mercury included artists Anna Calvi, Jamie Cullum and Loyle Carner, as well as broadcasters, DJs, writers and industry figures. ‘Getting down to 12 albums this year was not easy, simply because there were so many remarkable ones to choose from’, the panel said of the shortlist. “That serves as proof that British and Irish music thrives during unsettled periods in history … We feel that these 12 amazing albums each have something to say artistically and socially, all in their own unique, enriching ways”.

Nujabes’ Luv(Sic) Hexalogy

ESTELLE ALLEN | CONTENT WRITER

Whetherwe are writing a tricky lab report or a demanding essay, many of us listen to music to help us concentrate and get our work done. While the name Nujabes may be unfamiliar to readers, this artist, alongside Shing02, pioneered the sound of the viral “chillpop” phenomenon, the likes of which are featured in the hugely popular “lofi hip hop radio – beats to relax/study to” livestream which attracts tens of thousands of listeners 24 hours a day. Nujabes’ Luv(Sic) Hexalogy is an excellent album for anyone looking for music to relax or study to. Nujabes, who has been named the “godfather” of lo-fi hip hop, was one of the most prolific and quintessential beatmakers of the century, but his work often gets overlooked by better known western DJs.

Luv(Sic) Hexalogy is Nujabes’ fi nal album, which was formulated and finalised posthumously by hip hop artist Shing02. The six-part album is a jazz hip hop collec tion, incorporating Latin jazz and soul instrumentals with drumbeats, and vocal and lyrical samples. Nu jabes’ blend of sound and rhythm is wholly unique and inspiring, and the distinct and relaxed downtem po tracks of Luv(Sic) Hexalogy are definitely worth a listen!

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Source: Wikipedia

India vs. Pakistan: More than just a cricket game

IMAN AHMED | SPORTS EDITOR

Within the game of cricket, the rivalry between India and Pakistan is arguably the most thrilling, fiercest, and captivating one. Though cricket is a sport loved by many across the globe, the significance it holds for Indians and Pakistanis goes beyond it being just an enjoyable sport: it forms part of their culture, almost religionlike, as well as symbolising their political tensions. Any cricket match between India and Pakistan is more than just a game.

This rivalry was to be reignited again on Sunday, October 23rd, as the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia began. With over 90,000 fans spectating in the Melbourne Cricket Ground, whilst millions watched from home, the tensionfuelled match was one like no other, being rated as one of the greatest T20 matches internationally.

Pakistan batted first, setting 160 runs as the target for India to achieve. But as time progressed, this number seemed unimaginable for India. This began when four wickets were attained by Pakistan, whilst India only obtained 31 runs. Such torture continued when 13 runs were needed from merely six balls. Unwinnable for India, one would think. But this was to be an over that one could never have im agined.

Mohammad Nawaz, Pakistan’s left-arm spinner, was asked by captain Babar Azam, to close of the last over, with the match being deemed as a win for them.

But Virat Kohli, India’s beloved batsman, had other plans: changing the course of India’s destiny.

With another wicket achieved for Pakistan, Nawaz then slipped, throwing one too many wide and no balls; and this was to then be detrimental for Pakistan, but provided a chance for India to win.

With the magic and persistence of Kohli, he hit a six on a no ball when only seven runs were required. Two runs were then needed off the final ball, which ultimately was achieved. The match that was judged as unwinnable by India, had become a win for them.

But, what would an India vs. Pakistan cricket match be without some controversy? Doubts were expressed about the free hit India had during the last over. Kohli had been bowled out, yet he instead ran, gaining three runs. However, as he was bowled out instead of being run out, he was declared as not out in accordance with the ICC conditions.

From the cricketing quality to the electrifying atmosphere, with fans from both sides cheering their hearts out side-by-side, the match had fans on the edge of their seats, until the very last second. Different teams set the fans aside, with their hearts united for their love in cricket. And though there have been incidents both recently, and in the past, this match luckily saw otherwise. We pleasantly saw both Indian and Pakistani fans dancing to a Pakistani song, “Pasoori”, outside the stadium. A scene as such is one which the whole world, but perhaps more importantly in this case, many Indian and Pakistani fans hope to see in future matches.

Source: @indiancricketteam, Instagram