THE FOUNDER October 2021
Will Women and Minorities Ever Be Safe in the Hands of the Police? KENZA GARMZI | CONTENT WRITER
Furthermore, North Yorkshire commissioner Philip Allott reacted by saying women should be more ‘streetwise’, which prompted anger from MPs and their constituents alike. Institutional misogyny is a huge problem in the police force. According to Byline Times and the BBC, 52% of London officers found guilty of sexual misconduct kept their jobs in 2016- 2020 and 800 domestic abuse allegations have been made against officers and staff since 2017. Adding to the rife misogyny of the force, several male officers were found to have shared material with Couzens over WhatsApp which included sexist, racist, and violent messages. Not all of the officers being investigated have been suspended yet.
P
olice power is a subject that didn’t receive much mainstream public voicing until the Black Lives Matter movement gained media attention. It is a known fact that the powers of the police and judicial system have been weaponized against marginalized groups during various civil rights movements to suppress praxis. Ever since George Floyd’s death in 2020, the messages ‘defund the police’, ‘abolish the police’ and ‘ACAB’ have become popular slogans for demonstrations worldwide as the frequency of these cases indicate a broken system which should be overhauled. Many on the right critiqued this slogan, branding the calls as anarchy, as well as on the left where Keir Starmer condemned demands to defund the police as ‘nonsense’. But when policing and prisons are expanded more and more every year, with no benefit to crime rates, something is going wrong.
Following the tragic death of Sarah Everard, women have become increasingly distrustful Source: Tabitha Turner of the police. Sarah’s killer had kidnapped her under the guise of an arrest to which the
Index
To watch unchallenged discrimination happen in an organization that is supposed to protect all people has seriously damaging and dangerous consequences.
Met’s response included advice to women to ‘shout out to a passer-by, run into a house, knock on a door, wave a bus down, or call 999’.
News....................................................................................2 Features................................................................................6 Opinion And Debate............................................................9 Lifestyle.............................................................................14 Arts: Arts and Culture........................................................16 Arts: Literary Review.........................................................17 Arts: Film...........................................................................21 Arts: Music.........................................................................24 Sports..................................................................................26
Remembering Sarah Everard P.6
Boris Johnson Has Declared War on the Young P.13
Continued on p. 9 Where does the England National Team Stand? P..30
2 NEWS Calls for the Return of London’s Night Tube Grow ABRA HERITAGE | EDITOR IN CHIEF
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ondon’s Night Tube and Overground Night Service started running in August 2016, providing Londoners with a 24-hour service from Friday morning to Sunday evening each weekend. With this edition to the rail service, travellers on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, and East London lines were able to make night-time journeys at off-peak prices. A deeply loved addition to Transport for London, the Night Tube gave late workers and partyers a more affordable and safer journey home. The service was suspended on 20th March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently set to remain inactive throughout 2021. A petition for a reinstation of the Night Tube service for this winter has been started by Ella Watson. In her change.org petition, Watson argues that ‘The decision taken by TfL to keep the night tube closed over the winter of 2021/2022 will have a disproportionate impact on women and low-income groups’, and she calls upon ‘the following men to take responsibility for women's public safety and reopen the night tube this winter: Mayor of London and Chair of TfL Sadiq Khan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Transport Commissioner Andy Byford and Secretary of State for Transport Rt Hon Grant Shapps’. Over 115,000 signatures currently sit on the petition, yet a spokesperson for the House of Commons has confirmed that it will not qualify for a debate in parliament. UK law states that any petition which receives 100,000 signatures must be debated, but as the petition was not hosted on the petition.parliment.uk website it will not be considered. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has promised an announcement on the reopening of the Night Tube service ‘in the next few weeks’. Managing director of London Underground, Andy Lord, proposed a small number of lines to be reopened, but was met with anger from petitioners, with Watson questioning how selecting certain lines would protect women across the whole of London. Watson has asked for ‘solid commitments’ in favour of ‘vague promises’ from management at TfL and from the mayor.
THE FOUNDER October 2021
The Founder Board 2021 - 2022 Editor in Chief Abra Heritage editor@thefounder.co.uk
Managing Editor Robert Matthews managingeditor@thefounder.co.uk
Publishing & Creative Designer Ali Krausova designer@thefounder.co.uk
News Editor Harriet Whitaker
Illustrator Tabitha Turner
news@thefounder.co.uk
illustrator@thefounder.co.uk
Features Editor Sela Musa
Arts Editor Isabel West
features@thefounder.co.uk
arts@thefounder.co.uk
Opinon and Debate Editor George Woods
Literary Review Editor
opinion@thefounder.co.uk
literaryreview@thefounder.co.uk
Lifestyle Editor Cyann Fielding
Music Editor Finn Murphy
lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk
music@thefounder.co.uk
Sports Editor Oli Gent
Film Editor Tilley Bennett
sportseditor@thefounder.co.uk
Liam Elvish
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. To book ad space in The Founder, contact our managing editor at managingeditor@thefounder.co.uk.
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NEWS 3
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Motorists Clash with Insulate Britain Campaigners ROBYN SPINK | CONTENT WRITER
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ver 400 arrests have been made after Insulate Britain disrupted motorways and national infrastructure across London. Insulate Britain, which began in July 2021, are a branch of Extinction Rebellion who are campaigning to ensure that the UK government must fund the insulation of all social houses in Britain. The group argues that insulating all homes is the most efficient way of reducing CO2 emissions, along with the consequences of fuel poverty. According to their website, 15% of the UK’s emissions come from heating homes, meaning until 2050, 1.5 homes every minute will need to be insulated in order to reduce these emissions by 78% in less than 15 years, and to reach zero by 2050, to meet the commitments under the Paris Agreement.
At the Conservative Party conference, the home secretary, Priti Patel, announced a new criminal offence of disrupting national infrastructure and motorways, which will be included within the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Bill. Patel described the group as ‘selfish’ and using ‘guerrilla tactics’, with transport secretary Grant Shapps suggesting their methods are ‘counterproductive’, as by haulting motorists they were increasing pollution levels.
However, the group’s campaigning has not been without controversy. Protesters blocked motorways that are essential to commuters, such as the M4 and M25, during the morning rush hour, resulting in motorists dragging campaigners out of the road in order to let vehicles pass. The disruptions have prompted the London Ambulance Service to release a statement appealing to protesters to let their ambulances through to ensure they can reach patients.
An Insulate Britain spokesman, Craig Scudder, responded to condemnation of their actions by urging that current government policies to tackle climate change were not sufficient and ‘disruptive direct actions worked’.
Whilst many politicians have condemned the actions of Insulate Britain, other MPs have voiced their approval, with Green Party MP Caroline Lucas arguing that blocking the M25 is a ‘reasonable’ means of highlighting the climate crisis. Speaking to Sky News, she commented on how former UN general secretary Ban Ki-Moon highlighted climate issues as an ‘emergency’, suggesting that ‘in emergency situations we need to take emergency action’.
The government has put forward to invest £1.3bn to support people in installing energy efficient measures.
Lifting Border and Spirits: ScoMo's Vague Promises One at a Time ANANYA KRISHNA | CONTENT WRITER
I
Source: Creative Commons
n November, Australia is set to open its borders, giving hope to the many Australians who have been isolated from family, friends, and their lives due to COVID. As an isolated country, opening up its borders is a major step and demonstrates the stabilisation of the COVID situation on their end. As Maani Tru with ABC News states, ‘In the post-pandemic world the logistics of flying across hemispheres will be even trickier to navigate’, as travelling from Australia is so reliant on the guidance of the stopover countries. Aviation analyst Neil Hansford has backed this up stating that ‘the only stopover I would trust going towards Europe would be Singapore’. The plans for opening travel include requirements for passengers such as being fully vaccinated and a citizen/permanent resident, which has led to backlash for the PM’s exclusion of temporary visa holders in these promises.
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This comes at a time when Australians are losing faith in their national government, specifically PM Scott Morrison. Following his response to the Australian bushfires in early 2020 and his recent decision to not to attend the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, the popular opinion of Morrison has gone down. His lack of leadership and direction has made his promises for opening borders unrealistic, for either it won’t happen, thus making it an empty promise, or it will lead to a further lockdown in the future. The start-stop movement of life in Australia has caused unnecessary obstacles for its people planning ahead, leading to an outpouring of stories from people residing in Australia who feel trapped and uncertain of how to plan their lives. Furthermore, his actions demonstrate how as a leader he has fumbled his way throughout the pandemic: going back on promises, setting impossible deadlines, and falling behind on the vaccine roll-out. Until Morrison and the national government, along with the state governments and premiers, set about a clear set of goals on how to tackle this pandemic, the country will continue fall between a haphazard and temporary normal for the Australian people before plunging them back into the past of the first lockdown.
Britain’s Fuel Crisis: What Is There to Know? HARRIET WHITAKER | NEWS EDITOR
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number of petrol stations across the United Kingdom were closed just over two weeks ago due to a shortage of fuel tank drivers. Oil companies have confirmed that there is in fact not a lack of petrol. Ultimately provoked by the media and its rapid reporting on the issue, a frenzy of panic-buying around the UK forced even more garages to close. It is evident that media coverage played a large part in escalating the issue at hand, similarly to the manic purchasing of toilet rolls, eggs, and other essential items during the first lockdown back in 2020, which led to supermarkets and shops cracked down on over-buying. Some petrol stations followed suit as many were forced to introduce a limit on how much fuel drivers were allowed to purchase, with some running out of petrol and diesel completely. The Petrol Retailers Association found that approximately a fifth of petrol stations in and around south-east England and London were out of fuel.
Source: Creative Commons
At the end of September, the government responded by offering temporary visas for 5000 HGV drivers in attempts to help tackle the problem. However, according to the BBC, only 127 petrol tank drivers from the EU have applied for the scheme Boris Johnson has set up to arrange temporary visas. Around 200 members of the RAF and the British Army will be delivering fuel as Britain still faces petrol and diesel shortages throughout the country. The lack of fuel tank drivers derives from both Brexit and the Coronavirus pandemic, as many European drivers relocated to find work elsewhere. This was due to new bureaucracy laws that had a direct impact on wages. Petrol prices are reportedly at an 8-year high (BBC), as diesel rose to 137.95p and petrol at 136.1p.
NEWS 5
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Cryptocurrency Report: September – October 2021
DAN LE | CONTENT WRITER
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ryptocurrency in its simplest form is a virtual currency that is not controlled or issued by any central authority such as governments and is bought and sold purely based on demand from buyers, and supply from miners and sellers. So how does cryptocurrency exactly work? Cryptocurrencies rely on a technology called blockchain which, in its purest form, is a surveillance system to control the mining, transfer, and storage of cryptocurrency safely preventing counterfeit. Read on for a list of newsworthy cryptocurrency events that have occurred between the late September and early October.
Shiba Inu (Ticker: $SHIB), has moved great lengths since its initial release. Recently, Shiba Inu has taken over the internet, succeeding Dogecoin, which also went viral during May. Due to the attraction Shiba Inu has created, more and more people are queuing up to buy the attractive cryptocurrency. As a result, a sudden ‘buying-boom’ has pushed prices to a level that nobody expected. Shiba Inu has enjoyed a 243% increase in its value, from $0.000007 to $0.000023 within 6 days since the beginning of October. If you invested £1000 (or $1358) at the start of October, you could have made £3430 (or $4660) six days later, an almost three-fold profit.
Source: QuoteInspector
Similarly, Bitcoin (Ticker: $BTC) and Etherium (Ticker: $ETH) have comfortably risen by 22% - 25%. If you owned one Bitcoin on September 28, you would have gained $14,000 within one-and-a-half weeks. The former stood at $41,000 on September 28, and is currently at $55,000 on October 6, whilst the latter stood at $2,800 up to $3,600 in the same period. Conversely, Shiba Inu’s predecessor, DogeCoin (Ticker: $DOGE), has been struggling to make its way back up after its frenzy in May, when it reached an all-time high of $0.7. It is now stagnant at $0.2, dropping 30% between March 9th and 11th, and after 5 months it is now down 250%.
Source: Henry Harvin
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Remembering Sarah Everard SELA MUSA | FEATURES EDITOR
TW: Sexual Assault, Violence
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an you ever look back and appreciate the beauty of a life if it ended with the most horrifying of the world? Sarah Everard was a thirty-threeyear-old woman. She earned her geography degree from Durham university, and she travelled South America about eight years ago. Her mum said she was a great dancer, and she had just gotten a new job as a senior marketing account manager. Readers of the news like us – we will know these things, stated factually on every news article written about her, but we will never know who Sarah really was. We will never know what made her heart glow gold, or if she liked the snow, or which baby photos made her nostalgic for days she cannot remember. Yet whatever the answers to these thoughts, how could they possibly be remembered with their goodness when it was all taken from her in a mist of so much bad? How can a life just stop so prematurely, when she had just spoken to her boyfriend over the phone in the cold of a March evening, excited to get back to the warmth of her flat where she had parcels waiting to be opened? What happened to those parcels?
Source: BBC The image of a young woman confused and scared in the back of a police car is too much to comprehend. That haunted wonder of what Sarah’s own thoughts were as she sat alone in handcuffs, innocently racing through all her recent actions, trying to find one which she could possibly match up to leading to her alleged arrest. Perhaps she thought it would at least make a funny story when everything figured itself out and the police officer realised it was all a misunderstanding. Perhaps she thought about how she would message the friend she had just left and say you would never believe what happened on my way home! But how many miles did the police officer have to drive before she realised there was going to be nothing funny about her impending fate? At which lamppost, which roundabout, which slightly darker road did it strike Sarah that she was not in the situation she had initially dreaded? I do not want to wonder which moment it was exactly when Sarah realised she was being driven towards her end. Her sister prays that Sarah entered a state of shock so that she did not have to understand what was happening to her and what was going to happen to her. I pray for that too.
I pray that there is only a finite time that needs to pass before Sarah’s family can remember only the goodness of her life, only the beauty and the warmth. I pray that the horror can be detached from her so that they can live with only peace. I pray that it is possible.
Sarah Everard was strangled to death. On her walk back home from her friend’s house, she was kidnapped off the street by a police officer, raped, and strangled to death. How can one woman bear the weight of so much injustice, even in death?
Source: Flickr
FEATURES 7
THE FOUNDER October 2021
The Silver Lining of a Global Pandemic
MOLLY AINLEY | CONTENT WRITER
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had never slept overnight at my grandparent’s house, not out of choice, just due to never needing to. I live close to them and see them regularly. Well, that was a standing fact until I had to live with them due to my sister having COVID, with me needing to return to my hometown for medical reasons. At first, I was disappointed, but then I realized I was gifted two weeks to spend with family I had not seen properly in a while due to lockdowns. Finding silver linings is something I have always done. I think it is important to do, and spending time with my grandparents became a big silver lining, and it led me to reflect and converse about the silver linings of COVID in a greater sense. The pandemic has been awful, but we must look for a minute on what it has allowed, some of the good it has created. Quoting Sky News on their take on the positive results of COVID -19, ‘As the burning of fossil fuels has dropped, air quality has improved significantly’, (Hopper, 2020), they highlighted the way in which air pollution has declined. It is as if the environment has been thankful for the stillness the pandemic created. There have been many other silver linings too, with science and medicine seeing major advancements, immediate families having spent time with another through the lockdowns, and a discovery on the ability to work many jobs from home. These positives reflect onto society as a whole, but there are also many personal silver linings I have found.
It is no secret that our university experience has been massively damaged, and my first year was not in any way what it should have been. However, I think I found some really beautiful things amongst the stress and chaos: I found pretty walks to pass the time, I spent more time with my flat mates and knew them better, I found new ways to make friends (abusing group chats and sticky-notes on the windows being the main forms), I spent time on hobbies when my time could not be spent in the clubs or pubs. I also regularly enjoyed doing online lectures from the comfort of my duvet and spent far too much money on pajamas to wear through these lectures. Life this year dealt us the card of the pandemic, without the option to put it back in the deck. We cried, we fought, we were frustrated, but now we must some form of peace. I will appreciate all that has happened and count my blessings because it could have been so much worse. I think through the pandemic many great things have happened and continue to happen, and allow yourself to think, what did the pandemic give me?
Linda Wolfe: The World’s Most Married Woman RUBY EASTON| CONTENT WRITER
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Addicted to romance’ is how Linda Wolfe, Guinness World Record holder for the title of ‘Most Married Woman’, famously described herself. With a total of twenty-three ex-husbands, no one could possibly claim more experience with bouquets, aisles, and vows than Mrs Wolfe. She first donned the white gown at the age of sixteen in 1957 to tie the knot with George Scott, a thirty-one-year-old man. While the age gap may be viewed as scandalous today, this was far from her most gossip-worthy entanglement (although it was her longest marriage lasting a good seven years). Her list of suitors encompassed a wide range of gentlemen including, but not limited to, a preacher, a one eyed-convict, and a man who bolted her refrigerator with padlocks (unsurprisingly, that particular relationship was a short one). One whirlwind romance resulted in a legal binding lasting only thirty-six hours, Wolfe brushed off this short-lived endeavour with a cavalier’: ‘the love wasn’t there’.
It is amusing to peruse this unique woman’s extraordinary love life for several reasons, but aside from sorting through the list of intriguing suitors, it is fascinating to listen to her naivety which she seemed to bring, unmarred, to every new entanglement. Fresh, arguably, rose-tinted eyes seemed to rake over each new beginning. It seems that while the vast majority of us may roll our eyes at the motivational quotes imploring us to ‘not let your past define your future’, Linda Wolfe took this approach all too literally. In fact, her optimistic approach to the allure of love, her ‘addiction to romance’ as she put it, led her to marry the same man (and divorce him) on three separate occasions. Jack Gourley was supposedly her greatest lover, and their relationship was a tangle of spontaneous rendezvous, skinny-dipping, and passion. A picture taken by Molly near November lockdown 2020, of the horses in the fields near Prune Hill.
However, this wide-eyes hopefulness seemed to run Mrs Wolfe into trouble at times, despite her insisting that she never once committed adultery,
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a number of her husbands are unable to claim the same, one even outright physically abused her. While many news outlets viewed this as a stain on her character, denoting her as a foolish and flighty girl unable to pragmatize or remain grounded and keep a man, it is easy instead to view her as one of the last true idealists. Too often it is considered clever to scorn the romantics and dreamers, to scoff at their ridiculous pursuits, to roll your eyes at their predictable, repeated failures. However, it is the dreamers and the visionaries who are bold enough to do anything worth remembering. After all, history rarely makes note of the defeatists.
Source: Zuma press
Mrs Wolfe’s final marriage was to Scotty Wolfe, the world’s most married man, in a publicity stunt. She left a week after the wedding to return to her hometown in Oakland, with her new surname as a keepsake. In 1997, following the death of Mr Wolfe, Linda was asked if she would ever want to get married again; she responded, ‘I would… because, you know, it gets lonely’. Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Poorest Regions of India AELIYA RAZVI | CONTENT WRITER
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he poorest regions of India have become infamous over the years for their congested and overcrowded conditions due to the large amount of people that live there. With a population of 1.38 billion, India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and its cities are no less packed. The city of Mumbai has a population itself of around twenty million, but its slum population is estimated to consist of about 55% of that (Quartz India, 2016). This means that over 6.5 million people live in the slums of one city in India, while 104 million reside in slums throughout the entire country (World population Review, 2021). While overcrowding is one problem people in the slums encounter, a lack of access to clean water can cause a variety of bacterial infections, whose effects can range from severe diarrhoea to mortality. Therefore, in a year of lockdowns, maintaining strict hygiene and social distancing, how did the people living in these conditions cope?
Source: Flickr
A survey in 2020 stated that more than half of the residents in three Mumbai slums tested positive for antibodies to coronavirus (BBC News, 2020). This was comparatively larger to people tested outside of slums, of which 16% were revealed to have been exposed to the virus. This drastic difference is a clear display of the perilous situation that slum dwellers were in during the pandemic and these living conditions can no longer be ignored. The pandemic has shown how imperative it is that the government resolve this for the sake of the health of the people of India. Despite work being done by the Indian government on some fronts, with the introduction of the ‘Slum Rehabilitation Authority’ in 1971 leading to a record of 1315 total projects being run in cities and villages across India, it has also chosen to ignore much of the problems with its system of recognizing slums (Borgen Project, 2018). This system dictates that any slums, to receive piped water, toilets, electricity, or public transport must be “notified” and if they are not, they can be de-prioritized in slum improvement schemes. This willing ignorance of the problem is likely what led to such a fast spread of the virus in the city of Mumbai where the most populated slums are located. Considering these issues are somewhat in the past, we now have to consider the aftermath of the pandemic and the most vulnerable population within these slums: children. Many children’s education has been irreversibly disturbed due to the pandemic, but the children in slums are at a significant disadvantage when considering the reliance of schools on technology and a good Wi-Fi connection. A survey in August 2020 found that one in three pupils from municipal schools that cater specifically to children living in Mumbai’s slums were not attending online classes. Among those, 76% did not own a smart phone and 43% could not access an internet connection (The Guardian, 2021). This could prove fatal for these children’s education and their family’s future as they fall behind to the point where many will not be able to catch up, shattering the dreams they once had to move out of these conditions. After considering the long term effects this pandemic could have on India’s most vulnerable, it is up to their government to step up and finally make these people a priority.
THE FOUNDER October 2021
OPINION AND DEBATE 9
Rise of the ‘Killer Robots’
JOEL DAVIS | CONTENT WRITER
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n a crisis such as the one we find ourselves embroiled in, the world can sometimes feel as if it is standing still. This is a false perception in many ways, and a dangerous one, imbuing complacency. In our understandable preoccupation with our day-today lives, we have remained blissfully unaware of the ascendancy of a new technology which may become an existential threat to many – Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). Autonomy in a machine essentially constitutes any ability to execute its functions without human input. We would recognise this in our everyday lives as AI systems or self-driving cars, but these technologies are being deployed lethally too. Many nations, especially China, Israel, and the USA, employ autonomous defensive systems currently, such as Israel’s Iron Dome defence system which made headlines earlier this year. Offensive systems are currently being developed around the world under a heavy veil of secrecy. There are few well known examples as a result, but there are insights into the development from instances of autonomous armed drones, or autonomous missiles with nuclear capabilities. LAWS are essentially, as Human Rights Watch and others have termed them, ‘killer robots’. According to a UN report, the first time a LAW system was identified in combat was in Libya in March 2020. It is unclear whether there were casualties from this incident, a trend with autonomous machines, but it does bring the issue from science fiction into a hard reality.
By examining the current US-led drone missions deployed in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel we can see the effects of removing humanity from combat missions. These machines still rely on human consent before making a final strike but have mistakenly killed between 900 and 2000 civilians in the years since they have begun (according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism). The elusive figures tell a story of unaccountability and indiscriminate violence.
The startling rise in interest in these new technologies constitutes another even deadlier threat to those living in warzones, and facilitates further democratic backsliding, which has become a de facto theme of this past decade. The political instability that autonomous weapons will culture in the Global South will further set back development and democratisation in these regions. In the countries which are developing these weapons, the rise in autonomy will also inevitably damage the social contract between state and citizen and reduce the need for consent from the population to carry out military intervention. While this may feel like an overwhelming, inevitable danger, we have been here before, and multilateral solutions have presented themselves. The first weapon that could act autonomously of human activity was the land mine, a weapon deemed so destructive it was banned in over one hundred countries following the 1997 Ottawa Treaty. Multilateral solutions to these developments are clearly possible, and to many governments around the world they are desirable – 30 states have already called for a treaty banning LAWS (according to the Future of Life institute).
In total, the mention of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems conjures images of extravagant sci-fi plots and futuristic fantasy, but they currently present an emerging and alarming danger for both citizens and governments of the world. These systems must be restricted for the safety and security of all. Regardless of where we find ourselves in our everyday lives, we must remind ourselves, the world will not hold its breath forever, and we will have to face the consequences of our inaction someday.
Continued from front page: According to The Prison Reform Trust, ‘Women in prison are highly likely to be victims as well as offenders. Over half the women in prison report having suffered domestic violence with 53% of women reporting having experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse as a child’. These conditions are further exacerbated by locker room talk and misogyny, which then lead to abuse. Moreover, just as instances of misogyny lead to abuse, causal racism can then influence the justice system as a review led by the MP David Lammy found. People from BAME backgrounds constitute only 14% of the general population in England and Wales but makeup 25% of its prison population due to over-policing in ethnic communities and excessive stop and searches. The excessive number of minorities in these communities then has a domino effect on their wealth as it usually robs households of a stream of income that they would otherwise desperately need. If marginalised groups are to regain faith in the force, social programs must be funded to handle situations better, and education must be made accessible to all so that smaller instances of misogyny and racism are stamped out before tragedy can strike. Source: Andy Dean Photography
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Natural Disasters: A Perpetual Understatement For LEDCs EMILY RODRIGUES | CONTENT WRITER
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ith the disparity between the economic status of countries rapidly increasing, natural disasters are without a doubt, an undeniable indication that more effective mitigation strategies in less economically developed countries are required. The lack of monetary stability has proven fatal when preparing less economically developed countries for the consequences of multiple hazards. Recognisably, the geographical placement of countries can impact the scale and therefore the overall consequences of the natural hazards. Namely, some of the countries prone to these disasters suffer because of how expensive hazard-mitigation strategies are on the national economy. Hazard-mitigation strategies aim to delay, prevent, and avoid hazardous events. Examples of these include land-use zoning, GIS mapping, hazardresistant design, and the diversion of lava flows. It is interesting to consider how a disaster is defined based on the media and photos. Due to the poor quality infrastructure and ineffective preparation, less economically developed countries are visually, very significantly impacted. Haiti’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake on the 14th of August resulted in over 2,000 deaths and horrendous levels of infrastructural damage. The national devastation was ultimately worsened by the additional meteorological Tropical Storm Grace. In the case of Haiti, the following establishment of a tropical cyclone established further disruption to basic services such as water and sanitation provided by UNICEF. Some of the most remote areas in the country were provided with limited emergency aid because the roads were not initially accessible due to the considerable infrastructural damages. Haiti’s previous and continued susceptibility to natural disasters such as the 2010 Earthquake and Hurricane Matthew in 2016 has prevented a strengthened line of preventative defence from forming.
Source: Britannica
Due to the considerable lack of funding available to countries like Haiti, which are not only incredibly prone to disasters due to their geographical placement but also the weaknesses within their mitigation strategies, there is a definite struggle for resilience and rebuilding. The implementation of methods to help reduce the impact of disasters is often low in cost with focuses on first aid. While the lack of attainable aid may at first be attributed to the reduced quantities available, it is imperative to consider the involvement of politics and (the potential for) corruption within governments. Taking into consideration the recent assassination of Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, there were preexisting concerns about governance and the impact on national security and safety. There is significant potential for corruption when aid is distributed in less economically developed countries, but this has been worsened by the pandemic. The consequential ramifications on human survival result in a cyclical nature of uninterrupted poverty and dereliction. The damage to the country’s infrastructure extends to the agricultural industry with many struggling to feed their families and living in constant famine. Truly, natural disasters are never purely isolated to the environmental impacts but instead, the periodic catastrophe felt by entire countries.
OPINION AND DEBATE 11
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Free Will
ETHAN KOSAK-HINE | CONTENT WRITER
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n the early hours of the morning on 1 August 1966, Charles Whitman - an apparently affable and rational former US marine - drove to his mother’s house before stabbing to her death. Returning home, he killed his wife in the same manner. Later that day, armed with an assortment of rifles, he went to the top of a tall building at the University of Texas where he randomly shot at passers-by, killing 12 people with one more going on to die years later from their injuries. Shortly after being killed by police, investigators discovered a suicide note left by Whitman before the shooting. "I have been a victim of many unusual and irrational thoughts [which] constantly recur, and it requires a tremendous mental effort to concentrate on useful and progressive tasks … After my death, I wish that an autopsy would be performed to see if there is any visible physical disorder.", he wrote. Following the murder of his mother and wife he added, "Maybe research can prevent further tragedies of this type.” An autopsy was performed on Whitman, revealing a substantial brain tumour pressing on his amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for processing and responding to fearful and threatening stimuli.
Whilst there is no way of knowing for sure whether it was the brain tumour that led to the massacre, assuming it was - most people would surely consider it exculpatory? In the case where the tumour entirely explains Whitman's actions, he had no free will in the matter and could not have acted differently. Just as if a person jumps in front of a train before the driver can apply the brakes - none of the blame is assigned to the driver as they could not have acted differently. If Whitman genuinely had no choice over his actions - just like the train driver who couldn't pull the brakes - there are some stark consequences for the justice system. Should sentences ever be truly punitive, or should we be focused purely on rehabilitation of criminals?
A murderer without a tumour didn't choose their genetics, upbringing or any other factor that led them to kill either. One might argue that it is the person's free will to choose how they respond to their negative emotions, but this isn't as strong of a rebuttal as it may first seem. We must remember, this person didn't choose their personality type that determines how they would respond to their emotions. At every level, the case for genuine free will seems to disintegrate. None of this requires us to believe that the worst atrocities are any less abhorrent than we previously thought, just that the individual perpetrator couldn't have acted differently. If you were in their exact situation, same genes, upbringing, and brain chemistry you would have acted the same way. Ultimately, a punitive justice system necessarily assumes free will. Perhaps the justice system needs to steer away from punishing criminals for decisions they never really made and focus on rehabilitation. As Sam Harris puts it, "You can do what you decide to do - but you cannot decide what you will decide to do."
Source: Adobe Stock
Berghain: Expression or Elitism? DANIEL PEPIN | CONTENT WRITER
W
ith the dismantling of many COVID-19 rules, freedom is slowly being handed back and with it all the excitement of venues reopening. Perhaps the venue most fiercely missed, clubbing has taken a triumph of a return. This coinciding with the start of term time has created a catalyst of club nights out; many of those at Royal Holloway having already traversed the neon-soaked rooms of Atik Windsor.
This rejuvenation of bass, booze and bright lights has shined its glow worldwide and fixated on the most recognisable yet elusive clubs in Europe, its name synonymous with exclusivity and expression: Berghain. This techno zenith is a clubbing icon, its reputation legendary; its strict entry policy infamous, and it is at last reopening as a nightclub this October to the jubilation of thousands. For those who aren’t aware of this nightlife epicentre, Berghain is a techno club that emerged from the gay club scene in 90’s Berlin – it resides in the shell of a former German power plant that enjoys cavernous dance halls boasting some of the best modern-techno DJs in the world such as Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann.
Its famed debauchery has become the stuff of legend, the bowels of Berghain hold many secrets. The much-speculated drug prevalence and sex parties certainly contribute to this cult following and this glorification is heightened by Berghain’s strict no photo policy; meaning that whatever depraved activity one undertakes in there can only fade into myth. Berghain is the only club in Berlin to be classified as a government recognised cultural institution rather than a mere entertainment value and it has certainly earned that impressive position.
12 OPINION AND DEBATE The much-speculated drug prevalence and sex parties certainly contribute to this cult following and this glorification is heightened by Berghain’s strict no photo policy; meaning that whatever depraved activity one undertakes in there can only fade into myth. Berghain is the only club in Berlin to be classified as a government recognised cultural institution rather than a mere entertainment value and it has certainly earned that impressive position. Yet, for all its brilliance, Berghain has a quirk: its unyielding entry policy. Sven Marquardt leads the army of bouncers with the power to accept or deny hopeful partygoers and their system is notoriously harsh. There are countless forums and articles, even an app, designed solely to help you get into the club. Some common tips include go in a smaller group, wear black clothing or something “edgy”, only talk in German and if you cannot then talk as little as possible, and know who is playing that night. The list is truly endless and rather
THE FOUNDER October 2021
meaningless as Marquardt tells GQ that there are no actual ‘set rules’, and it is simply more a feeling of who belongs in Berghain. One can follow every guideline to the letter and be politely asked to step aside once they reach the door. For some, this intense entry policy is alluring and adds to the mystique of this clubbing mecca. However, it cannot help but beg the question of whether this secrecy is actually necessary to the atmosphere of Berghain or is it simply perpetuating elitism in the music scene? Surely, it is this the music that makes Berghain and not the crowd, this fixation of garnering a mass of people that look the part in order to fulfil an onerous criteria seems intrinsically against the spirit of community and shared ecstasy that is so palpable in clubbing. Given Berghain’s unrivalled position they should be at the forefront of this camaraderie and not prolonging the snobbish attitude that is multiplied by their own narcissism. However, it must be said that it is Berghain’s clandestine nature that makes the club so paradoxically inviting and sought after. Would this quintessential idol of debauchery really be the same without it?
Social Justice: Now Trending AELIYA RAZVI | CONTENT WRITER
A
rise in social media has led to an equal rise in awareness for many social issues around the world that were not being covered in mainstream news. This attention fuelled a movement towards more online social activism, activism that could be achieved from the comfort of one’s own home, that was accessible to anyone and that left little excuse for not taking part. This version of activism spread rapidly amongst young people who were living in an ever-growing and rapidly changing digital society. With increased globalisation connecting people more intimately than ever, a certain responsibility seemed to take hold to bring awareness to atrocities around the world that, beforehand, could be ignored due to the simple reality of the situation that ‘nothing could be done’. However, debates have been lit surrounding this viral activism, with many calling out its temporary and fickle nature. While internet fame brings about awareness on issues and leads to people talking about problems that may not have been even acknowledged beforehand, the causes it spearheads suffer the same fates that many internet trends do: irrelevance as soon as something new comes onto the scene. The internet is fast moving, with internet trends coming and going within the blink of an eye and careers being made and broken down almost simultaneously.
Source: pxfuel
While these trends are getting a large amount of attention, it is short and sweet. Consequently, when social justice issues are not resolved quickly or when they require an extended amount of attention and work, that work is not put in and people move on without having done much to resolve the cause. Awareness is a great way to get people talking about an issue and looking for solutions, but it certainly is not the end of our duty towards a cause. Unfortunately, social media activism is it tricks us into thinking it is enough. This does not mean we should not partake in this kind of activism at all, after all we have seen many of its positive effects in recent years with the attention that was brought to the Black Lives Matter movement and systemic racism after the murder of George Floyd.
Similarly, widespread attention was brought to the Palestinian fight for freedom after the videos of forced evictions were shared by hundreds of thousands online. The outpouring of support for these causes helped to bring about a lot of change with Derek Chauvin convicted and Palestinian evictions temporarily halted, but a lot of work is yet to be done. The nature of virality suggests that until another catastrophic and completely degradable action that can be caught on camera is committed, people are not going to continue to fight for these causes when they leave the public sphere. So, what should we do? Research and remember. Continue to show up for these causes, even after people have stopped talking about them. Without prolonged fights, we will be stuck in a cycle where instead of trying to rebuild the structural systems that have allowed for these injustices to take place, we walk away with a surface level understanding of the what we are fighting for and a viral trend that is forgotten in a week.
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OPINION AND DEBATE 13
Boris Johnson Has Declared War on the Young
GEORGE WOODS | OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR
The opportunities of the young were sacrificed on the altar of political grandstanding, and as a result those born after a certain date have been left an ever-more challenging world.
B
oris Johnson’s election victory in 2019 promised a renewal of British life. “A new Britain”, the Prime Minister promised, was going to be ushered in under a Conservative administration. The Coronavirus pandemic put a halt to this promise, and little in Britain can be described as having been improved by the Johnsonian government. This bleak picture of Britain foreshadows an uninspiring future centred on economic stagnation and climate catastrophe. However, a third threat is posed to the future of the United Kingdom which little is being done about: our new Prime Minister’s war on the young. On the 27th September, the Johnsonian administration proposed an alteration to Student Loan repayment. Currently, those who own over £27,295 pay 9% interest on their loans. The government is proposing to lower this to £20,000, resulting in more young people paying tax in order to fund the social care of the elderly population. Rather than incorporating the young into a golden age for Britain, the Prime Minister has left an already disadvantaged demographic even worse off. More significantly, this proposed change abandons the promise of ‘levelling up’ which was articulated in the Conservative manifesto. Students and graduates from a lower income bracket are going to have to pay more to balance the national books, while those at a higher income bracket have had no change to their taxes. Rather than levelling up, the Prime Minister is levelling down. The government’s inaction, too, is a manifestation of a disdain for the young. According to Treasury figures, the average house price is £254,624. This is an unreachable sum for the vast majority of young people – especially in the context of rising taxes.
The Conservative government was elected on a promise of a new Britain which could move on from the challenges of the 2010s. Instead of building a better future for all, the government has instead left young people to fend for themselves in a society which is rigged to benefit the old.
Source: Getty Images
While the elderly population benefitted from a generous housing mark, especially during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher, those who do not have inherited income are doomed to be priced out of the housing ladder. Wholesale reorganisation of the housing market is necessary, and yet that Conservative government is doing nothing. This ineffectualness is leading to an ever-increasing housing crisis which disproportionately damages the young’s prospects. Again, those under 45 are being abandoned in favour of the older generations. This abandonment, however, is symptomatic of that which brought the government to power: Brexit. Brexit has begun to inhibit young people from travelling and living freely across Europe as their parents were able to. Moreover, their access to schemes which could facilitate cross-continental education, namely Erasmus, was abandoned in order to assert this government’s Brexit credentials.
Source: Tabitha Turner
14 LIFESTYLE
THE FOUNDER October 2021
5 Perfect Scents for Men and Women this Autumn
CYANN FIELDING | LIFESTYLE EDITOR
O
ver the past week, the start of Autumn has become very apparent. As September has turned to October, sun has turned to cold breezy days with the gradual emerging of brown and orange leaves, rainy nights, and low-sun evenings. As the season changes, so do a lot of our daily habits, wardrobes, tastes, and so on. So, as you throw your shorts and dresses to the back of the wardrobe, and pull jackets, scarfs, and coats forwards, it is also time to change up the scent you wear day-in-day-out. 1.
Dolma – Andromeda
Dolma Perfumes is a brand on the rise. Known for their vegan and cruelty-free perfumes and aftershaves, all made in Britain and free from parabens and palm oil, they are a brand that must be included on this list. Described by Dolma as ‘celestial’, ‘dreamy’ and ‘deep’, the scent Andromeda encapsulates everything Autumnal. With fragrance notes of green leaf, Cyclamen and amber, Andromeda smells like dusky mid-October evenings as the clouds sit low. Perfect for lovers of a more subtle smell, but still packed with some great essential oils. Also sitting at a great price at £45.00 for 50ml. 2.
Dolma – Sirius
Another great scent from Dolma, but aftershave this time, is Dolma’s original cologne, Sirius. This scent features Artemisia, lilac, and pine needles as the most dominant smells, eluding a musky but refined scent. Described by Dolma themselves as ‘classic’, ‘masculine’, ‘aromatic’, and feeling like ‘your fav button-up shirt’, what more could you ask for? Even better, a 50ml bottle is only £21.00
3. Laboratory
Perfumes
–
Amber
Laboratory Perfumes is again a great brand for the environment. Laboratory ensures that all their scents are made in the UK with socially conscious, environmentally friendly, and crueltyfree ingredients. In addition, most of their scents are created from essential and fragrant oils, and free of parabens. Amber was created to be ‘full of energy in the morning’ and features the scents of spice and layers of wood. A smokier smell for those who like less vibrant and floral smells. Even better – the fragrance aims to reflect your mood as the day progresses, meaning it gets stronger and subtler depending on your body’s reaction to it. For 100ml, the fragrance costs £80.00. 4. Laboratory
Perfumes
–
Atlas
Another Laboratory scent great for Autumn is Atlas. Unlike your typical florally and sweet feminine fragrance or strong and deep masculine scent, Atlas is inspired by the aroma emitted from a pipe of tobacco. Featuring layers of rum, vanilla, and hay with subtle spices too, Atlas gives off the same warming smell and comfort you get from have a spiced latte over this season. Again, £80.00 per 100ml. 5. Floral
Street
-Black
Lotus
Like the previous brands mentioned, Floral Street prides themselves upon being sustainable. From the packaging of the bottle to the processes they use to make their fragrances, Floral Street ensures everything is as sustainable as possible. They are also vegan and cruelty-free. Bonus: if you are in London, you can take your empty bottle to a store, refill your scent, and get a 20% discount for refilling. Floral Street’s scent Black Lotus aims to have an ‘English-rose attitude’. Top fragrance notes feature centifolia rose, papyrus, and saffron to achieve a powerful yet spiced wood scent. Another perfect Autumn scent that will comfort you and be admired and envied by those around you. £60.00 for 50ml.
Source: Pixabay
Veganism: To Be or Not To Be? MAHEEN SHARIFF | CONTENT WRITER
V
eganism: The increasingly popular lifestyle in which individuals practice not eating food that comes from animals and avoiding any other products that derive from animals as well. Veganism is a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular. Why is this the case? What is the motivation for this lifestyle? Every year in January the world sees people make New Year’s resolutions; one of them often being attempting to be vegan, which turned into a booming social media campaign known as “Veganuary”. Approximately 3% of the British public identify as fully vegan, and this statistic is ever growing. Yet, the question remains: why go vegan? One of the main motivations for a vegan diet is the effect on the environment. An investigation into veganism by the UN has shown that farmed livestock are one of the largest causes for greenhouse gas emissions, approximately 14.5%. For context, that is about the same number of emissions as every car, train, aircraft, and ship combined. If it was not already obvious, this has quite a significant impact on the environment. Because of this, theoretically if everybody on the planet went vegan, food related emissions would drop by about 70%, which is pretty incredible.
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A transition into a fully vegan world seems largely impossible in current times. However, making sustainable choices is not a black and white issue, and small lifestyle differences can still make positive changes. Even just one meat and/or dairy replacement is going to be a more sustainable choice. Here are some examples: 1.
This Isn’t Bacon
2.
Quorn Mince
This brand of vegan meat alternatives is fantastic, and their vegan bacon is absolutely delicious. It also fits in wonderfully in a carbonara!
With the right amount of seasoning for taste, this alternative creates a phenomenal spaghetti Bolognese, with no flavour loss! 3. Linda McCartney Sausages
These are an easy and cheap alternative for regular sausages. Try replacing meat sausages for these ones in your next full English breakfast! To answer the original question, ‘to be or not to be vegan’, it can be concluded that individuals do not have to go 100% vegan to do their part for the environment. Even just the one replacement is a step in the right direction of aiming to reduce our carbon footprints. Whilst it can also be argued that it is the large co corporations and the Jeff Bezos’ of the world that could make the most contribution to aid global warming; unfortunately, that is not happening. How long will everyone keep pointing fingers for? The world needs all the help it can get. Really, what is one dairy free and meatless meal a day?
How to Start a Budget at University and Stick To It REBECCA DE SÁ | CONTENT WRITER
A
s Fresher’s week ends, the idea of checking your bank statement might inspire some fear. Suddenly all those takeaways, event tickets, and weekly Spoons’ visits do not seem so great. Do not panic. Starting to budget while at university might seem overwhelming at first but learning that you can spend money on all the things you love and not be out of pocket will put you in good stead for your future. Follow these tips below, and you can be confident that you are on your way to becoming financially savvy. Firstly, keep track of your regular incoming and outgoing expenses. It might be helpful to keep a small notebook for your budgeting or use some of the budgeting features on mobile banking apps like ‘Monzo’ and ‘Starling’. Your income is any regular payments that you receive such as your maintenance loan, pay from your job, or pocket money. Outgoings will be anything from your weekly grocery shop to society memberships and online subscriptions. These do not have to be regular, but it is a good idea to keep a tab of all your outgoings for a couple of months to see what things you tend to spend the most money on. When you have a list of all the places your money is coming in from and where you are spending it, you can start thinking of weekly or monthly caps for your expenses. Make sure you make these coincide with your income. A common misconception of budgeting is that you must cut out certain things in your life completely. However, keeping track of your money does not mean that you will have to start living like a monk. Regular visits to Primark and the cinema can still be part of your routine. You just need to set a reasonable limit for how much money to spend on these per week or month.
Meal planning is essential. Take time each week to plan out your meals. Make a detailed grocery list and stick to it. It is hard, but avoid putting things into your basket that are not on your list. Also, do not overlook the own-brand items. Most of the time, they taste the same, if not better, than the brands. Remember that when you buy a brand, you are mainly paying for the name. The only exception to this is ketchup. No own brand will ever be able to compete with Heinz! Once you have your meal plan, you will have a reason to say no to takeaways every day. The occasional kebab after a night out is perfectly acceptable; some might argue it is a rite of passage. However, try not to make a habit of ordering food every time you fancy chips. You can find some cheaper and much healthier alternatives in your local food shop, or even try your hand at making them yourself. Lastly, remember that learning about money and creating good spending habits is a process. So, do not be too hard on yourself if you indulge in ‘Burger Plus’ one week or splurge on a new pair of Air Forces. Instead, just try to be conscious of your money and keep track of it.
Source: Flickr
16 ARTS & CULTURE
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Mesopotamia’s Oldest Library: The Library of Ashurbanipal ISABEL WEST | ARTS EDITOR
The Library wasn’t just used for scholarly purposes but also for the King’s own personal literary interests, in fact many bear the royal mark of ownership. Over the years, Ashurbanipal sent out his scribes to collect or copy texts from other temple libraries and ended up with a range of medical, lexical, historical, religious, astronomical, and divination records. Also recovered are some folk tales such as The Poor Man of Nippur which is regarded as a precursor of one of the Thousand and One Nights tales of Baghdad. These texts have been translated from cuneiform; the most widespread and historically significant writing system in the ancient Middle East. They were written by pressing a reed pen into soft clay and these tablets were used to record everything from day-to-day administration (like the ones the King kept detailing his training) to science and literature.
I
n the heart of the British Museum’s Mesopotamia section a number of clay tablets, discovered in the ruins of Nineveh, are displayed. These clay tablets were collected by the King, Ashurbanipal, and formed the first systematically collected and catalogued library in the ancient Middle East. The Library was lost for over 2,000 years until the mid-1800s, when Briton Sir Austen Henry Layard discovered the palace of Sennacherib. In total, over 30,000 clay tablets were brought back from a series of digs that spanned several years after Layard’s initial discovery. The clay tablets are all that survived of this library after a fire in Nineveh destroyed the paper books but preserved the clay tablets as many were baked harder, ensuring their preservation. Ashurbanipal was the King of the Neo-Assyrian empire, which at the time of his reign (669–c. 631 BC) was the largest empire in the world and Nineveh, it’s capital, was the largest city. Ashurbanipal was a fierce leader, but also a patron of the arts and a scholar. His palaces were decorated with carved reliefs of events, with many depictions of the King himself with a writing stylus tucked into his belt. The majority of the texts recovered from the Library were omen texts as Assyrian scholarship focused on understanding the will of the gods. The omen texts were based on observations of events; on behaviours of men, animals and plants, and on the motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars.
Source: British Museum Blog
The King’s vast collection reflected the rich culture of Mesopotamia which drastically changed the world due to the inventions of the concept of time, maths, maps, and writing. The discovery of the King’s Library similarly changed historians’ conception of ancient Assyria as previous knowledge was based on stories in the Bible or from classical historians. Although many tablets have been found at other sites over the last 170 years, Ashurbanipal’s tablets remain the primary source for most of what we know about Mesopotamian scholarly and literary work today.
The King also collected many incantations, prayers, rituals, fables, and proverbs including the traditional Mesopotamian epics such as the stories of Creation and the Epic of Gilgamesh, now considered one of the oldest literary works in the world.
Source: British Museum Blog
LITERARY REVIEW 17
THE FOUNDER October 2021
The Vampyre by John Polidori
Source: Igam Ogam – Unsplash.com
LIAM ELVISH | LITERARY REVIEWS EDITOR
J
ohn Polidori’s short story, The Vampyre, It tells the story of Lord Ruthven, a dashing and sinister English first published in 1819 in the New Monthly aristocrat with ‘a reputation for a winning tongue’, whose Magazine, was just one product of the famous shrewd womanising attracts the attention of Aubrey, a wealthy ‘meeting’ of English writers (including Romantic and honourable young gentleman involving himself in high society circles. Aubrey, upon witnessing the death of Ruthven poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley) at the Villa Diodati on Lake Geneva in Switzerland in during their travels in rural Europe, subsequently sees the Lord 1816, the literary significance of which cannot reappear in London, assuming a new identity and engaged to his own sister. Ultimately unable to prevent the marriage from be overstated. A ghost-story competition was occurring, the tale ends in tragic and horrific circumstances, announced, and each participant set about composing a horror-fuelled tale to impress the standing as a prototype for future fictional works within the genre. entourage. Building upon the Gothic romance prevalent in Horace From this symposium came Mary Shelley’s Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto and the novels of Ann Frankenstein, her novel of a scientifically Radcliffe, Polidori (a medical practitioner by training) created monster becoming a beacon for lovers of fuses an underlying subtext of lustful intrigue with an the horror and science fiction genres. Polidori’s analytical narrative which would later be adopted by writers work has become lesser-known, but no-less such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle. invaluable.
Uncanny happenings in Haruki Murakami’s After Dark REBECCA WEIGLER | CONTENT WRITER
H
aruki Murakami is no stranger to the world of supernatural writing and is certainly a master of his craft. Taking on an eerie and Gothic tone, Murakami draws readers into a text where the omniscient narrator continuously uses ‘we’ and ‘our’, inviting us to experience the real-time events as if we are present in the very room. What occurs in the cleverly constructed chapters of After Dark is nothing short of a blurring of the line between reality and mysticism. The novel opens with Mari Asai, one of the novel’s protagonists, reading and smoking in a Denny’s diner setting, perhaps a symbol of the calm before the storm. She encounters both Takahashi Tetsuya, a trombone-playing teenager who seems to recognise her after attempting to initiate a relationship with her sister Eri, and Kaoru, a manager of a love-hotel.
Kaoru requires Mari’s help in assisting with a situation at the hotel, where a young Chinese woman has been beaten by a client and the Japanese staff are unable to communicate with her. Using her ability to speak both Japanese and Chinese, Mari agrees to help break down the events of the night and track down the perpetrator. The question of what is actually occurring in After Dark rings throughout the novel. Uncanny happenings bleed throughout the chapters, such as a long-term, yet not fatal, state of sleep for Eri Asai, sister of the conscious and active protagonist. In addition to this, the space in which Eri Asai is sleeping in is home to a room with a mysterious male figure, who appears when an evidently unplugged television set suddenly whirs to life. It is implied that there is another world beyond the one in which the events are unfolding, and as the novel proceeds, other strange happenings secure this truth.
Yet it is the central antagonist who warrants the focus of the reader. Polidori, as travelling companion to Byron in 1816, was undoubtedly influenced by his friend’s persona in the creation of his vampiric character; indeed, the figure of Ruthven has often been described by literary scholars as exhibiting ‘Byronic’ traits, the suave demeanour, sexual intensity, and adventurous daring so encompassing of the poet that we can perhaps forgive the original publishers in 1819 for initially, and erroneously, attributing the work to Byron, before rectifying this mistake in reprints. Written some eighty years before Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Polidori’s work can rightly lay claim to being the very first vampire story, ushering in a fictional craze which continues well into the Twenty First century with the emergence of The Vampire Chronicles and Twilight, to True Blood and beyond. The Oxford World’s Classics edition includes ‘Other Tales of the Macabre’ from the late Romantic and early Victorian periods, which are of considerable literary merit.
Each chapter in After Dark begins by noting the time in which the event is taking place and subsequently detailing the surroundings, starting with short introductory sentences. There is acknowledgement of sound, interior details, and character movements, all allowing us to picture the scene before the chapter commences. The narrator communicates with the reader about what ‘we’ collectively see within the room, often through a hypothetical and mysterious moving camera lens. It is this captivating narrative style which makes the novel simultaneously sinister and brilliant. While the language is certainly not convoluted, as supported by the real-time structure and intricate descriptions, the events are often puzzling and leave readers trying to connect the dots of one fateful Tokyo night.
18 LITERARY REVIEW
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Murakami employs various symbols, such as music, night, and technology, and they all seem to play an equally important part in figuring out what is happening to the characters. With the setting of a paranormal night, carefully constructed timelines, and mysterious soul-stealing figures, After Dark is an October reading list staple for anyone who wishes to be spooked and it is, ultimately, a literary masterpiece.
Pet Sematary by Stephen King MILLIE GARRAWAY | CONTENT WRITER
N
ominated for a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1986, Stephen King once again produces a modern classic with his seventeenth novel, Pet Sematary. Based on true events in King’s life, Pet Sematary is arguably a blueprint for prospering horror writers as it fulfils readers’ sinful pleasures of stomach-turning literature. Although an American novelist, King’s works have continued to leave readers across the globe fearing the unknown. The gruesome tale is set in the small town of rural Maine where nothing is as it seems. Pet Sematary follows the Creed family, particularly the actions and consequences of the father of the family, Dr Louis Creed, on his befriending of his neighbour, Jud Crandall, and his shocking discovery of the lurking evils of a pet cemetery he was once warned from. The reader follows his desperation and sickly curiosity for the ominous cemetery, his agonising actions of convincing and unconvincing himself to visit the sacred place, and the age-old secrets it is said to hold.
Source: Britannica
Panic, death, grotesque resurrection, and chilling murder leaves nowhere for the reader to hide. Fear is truly understood when reading this novel, and its ability to metamorphosize from fiction to a warped reality of the mind is outstanding. As a reader you will become frozen with trepidation, but will you be brave enough to see this novel through until the end? Pet Sematary is a must-have novel for spooky season; an undoubtedly spine-shivering read which will leave you unhinged, glancing apprehensively at your once beloved pet sleeping at the bottom of the garden, panicking.
New-town-nerves lead the Creed family to take up new appointments and acquire new acquaintances with their idle neighbours after their abandonment of their old life. We, alongside the Creed family, soon discover the deadly repercussions that come from completing burials in haunted soil that has been lying in anticipation for victims. Happiness soon turns into despair as sudden death leads them into the unforgiving entrapment of the cemetery’s curse. The pet cemetery is no longer a sweet and honourable gesture to pets who have travelled over the rainbow as it once was. The cemetery ought to have never existed. Not even children are safe from the infested grains of soil they walk on. King is unforgiving in his deviousness to hide any hint of a revelation of what the cemetery means and why it is so feared within the community. The true meaning of horror is unleashed through this novel. The terrifying descriptions of the gloomy grave digging and Louis Creed’s horrific discoveries leaves the reader’s mind playing cruel tricks in the dark. It prompts bitter questions that may never be answered - is the pursuit of happiness always worth it? Is it wrong for a parent to do anything for their child, even if it means venturing into a cemetery which spreads bad seeds to resurrect a beloved child? Louis Creed does not think so, a decision which has an unimaginable effect on Jud and his frail wife.
A freeze-frame from the film adaptation of Pet Sematary, Netflix.com
LITERARY REVIEW 19
THE FOUNDER October 2021
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
RUXANDRA VRABIE | CONTENT WRITER
S
hirley Jackson’s life-long work, We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962), is a horror novel which portrays the life of two sisters, Merricat and Constance Blackwood, who have been banished by the society they live in due to a long-lasting rumour about their family. Merricat and Constance live an isolated and alienated life alongside their sickly uncle Julian in a mansion nearby a small quiet village. Constance has not left the house in six years, whilst the only time Merricat leaves the house is to buy groceries, a venture which is looked at with much scrutiny by the villagers. For as long as Merricat could remember, the villagers have always detested her family and for as long as she could remember she has detested them in return.
One afternoon, the Blackwood’s long-time family friend Helen Clarke visits the two sisters and encourages Constance to leave the mansion and the grounds to explore the outside world, an idea which Merricat detests. During tea-time, Uncle Julian emerges and begins to reminisce about the past, revealing that the entire Blackwood family has been murdered one night during dinner due to arsenic poisoning, by Constance. He himself was poisoned, but only ingested a small quantity of poison causing memory loss. Uncle Julian also reveals that Constance was trailed for the murder but never convicted as there was not enough evidence to convict her. One Sunday afternoon, the quiet isolated lives of the Blackwood sisters are drastically disturbed by the arrival of their cousin Charles. Their cousin’s aim is to charm and manipulate Constance in order to put his hand on the Blackwood’s family fortune. Meanwhile, Merricat wonders around the surrounding forest and checks on the magical artefacts she buried in order to protect her family from bad spirits. Merricat immediately hates Charles and thinks that he has a negative influence on her sister and tries to get rid of him – pinning his father’s watch in a tree and smashing the mirror from his room.
Furious that Merricat destroyed his belongings, Charles argues with Merricat and then wanders off into the woods, discovering the silver dollars Mericat buried there. Whilst the family take dinner, an enraged Merricat goes up to Charles’ room, lights up his pipe and throws it into the bin. Very soon a fire engulfs the house, but Charles and the Blackwood sisters manage to escape. A village mob assembles around the mansion and begins to destroy it. The Blackwood sisters run into the forest before finally acknowledging who the real murderer is. What makes this book a page turner? The entanglement of secrets that are presented and gradually unfolded from the very beginning to the very end of the book which, when placed together, solves the puzzle within.
The Small Hand by Susan Hill XANTHE MCCRACKEN | CONTENT WRITER
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very good horror story ensnares us in its grasp, traps us in the haunted house, and leaves us to brood in our perplexed thoughts. Readers have travelled to these houses time and time again in novels such as The Haunting of Hill House and The Turn of the Screw. We become as captive to the words as the characters are to the narrative. The Small Hand is certainly just as impactful.
Source: Flickr
Susan Hill, the 79-year-old novelist known famously for The Woman in Black, stated in an interview with the BBC in 2011 that her writing was a sort of ‘catharsis’ for the grief she felt in losing her fiancée and her baby daughter. The theme of infant bereavement is a common one in Susan Hill’s novels, allowing her to explore the theme of loss in an entirely distinctive form.
The story of The Small Hand begins with Adam Snow, a dealer in rare antique books, driving back in the narrow country roads of Sussex from a meeting with some wealthy clients. After losing his way and taking a wrong turn, he finds himself at a dilapidated Edwardian House – ‘The White House’. Induced by curiosity, he decides to explore the overgrown grounds which had once been open to the public. Snow subsequently feels a child’s hand holding his own: ‘It felt cool and its fingers curled themselves trustingly into my palm and rested there’. The hand, at first, seems welcoming; Snow doesn’t seem to be unsettled by it. This encounter, however, soon sends Snow into a recurring spiral of nightmares, panic attacks, and apparitions of the small hand. We are left to question who this child is – if in fact they really exist. Snow’s interest with the house becomes greater, something is drawing him to it.
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THE FOUNDER October 2021
From the very start he is engrossed by its mysteries: ‘I wanted to know more. I wanted to see more. I wanted for some reason I did not understand to come here in the full light of day, to see everything, uncover what was concealed, reveal what had been hidden. Find out why’. The ending, while perhaps a little predictable, does find its power in the element of the unresolved. Hill’s chilling and imaginative writing inhabits our minds, entangling itself round like the overgrown ivy of ‘The White House’. The Small Hand has a special talent of leaving readers in the dark, as they try to wrap their heads around the ambiguity of the novel. The Small Hand is the kind of novel that keeps you guessing between the realms of insanity, supernatural and reality, not uncommon in Hill’s novels. The catharsis of Hill’s writing ultimately presents itself in its obscurity. Source: PublicDomanPictures.Net
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming LIAM ELVISH | LITERARY REVIEWS EDITOR
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an Fleming’s second James Bond novel, first published in 1954, is both an oddity for its dark, occult themes and yet exemplary of the dynamism associated with Agent 007. Much faster-paced than its precursor, Casino Royale (1953), the story has an exotic air from the outset, seeing the literary Bond properly globe-trotting for the first time, from Harlem in New York to Florida and later, aptly, Jamaica, where the author wrote the novel at his ‘Goldeneye’ estate. Bond uncovers the crime syndicate headed by Mr. Big (AKA The Big Man), a SMERSH operative involved in gold smuggling from British territories into the Caribbean. Whilst investigating the network, he encounters the mystical figure of Solitaire, the High priestess who can foresee the unfolding of events with the assistance of her Tarot cards.
Fleming conveys the harsh brutality within the underworld of 1950s American gangsters (on which he would later elaborate in 1957’s Diamonds are Forever and 1959’s Goldfinger) and there are some shocking moments of violence. The character of Felix Leiter is given a more prominent role in the narrative compared with his first appearance, and it is perhaps a pity than Fleming here has the villains decapitate his limbs, thus rendering him largely inactive in the future novels. Nonetheless, his fate is highly dramatic and one of the more memorable aspects of the book. Leiter’s encounter with a shark is, incidentally, one of two sequences from the novel which were later used in the film series (the former in Licence to Kill and the other being the keelhauling sequence, used to great effect in For Your Eyes Only). It is most interesting to read the novel from a racial perspective – much of the language Fleming adopts is embarrassingly dated now but, nonetheless, lends us a fascinating insight into British colonial and American attitudes towards civil rights, significantly having been published the year before Rosa Parks’ bus boycott in Alabama. Often resorting to black stereotypes in secondary characters, Fleming’s famously innate British snobbery rings throughout, yet his imaginative talents should not be underplayed as he produces a gripping story, skilfully combining the schemes of nefarious hoodlums with intense Voodoo horror.
The most fantastical of all the Bond stories, Live and Let Die is unusual for any spy adventure, conjuring up images of the supernatural, which work even more brilliantly when contrasted with the stiffupper-lipped ‘Britishness’ of both its author and protagonist, heightening the underlying threat. Fleming never fails to thrill the reader, offering much scope and spectacle and ensuring the central character’s status as a true literary icon of the late Twentieth Century.
Source: Flickr
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THE FOUNDER October 2021
Review: Annette DEVESH SOOD | CONTENT WRITER
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nnette is frustrating. From Leos Carax, a director whose career has seen overwhelming critical acclaim, Annette tells the story of Henry (Adam Driver), a stand-up comedian, and Anne (Marion Cotillard), an opera singer, who have a child named Annette, who is a puppet. Presented as a musical with songs from Sparks, whose story was recently told in the Edgar Wright documentary, ‘The Sparks Brothers’, with all singing reportedly being completed live. Having not seen any trailers, I didn't quite know what I was in for. Consequently, when walking out of this film, I was in agony. While there are so many beautiful, creative ideas, wonderful songs, stunning costumes, incredible camera work, and terrific performances, it is stitched together in a story that does out-stay it’s welcome. As expected, Driver and Cotillard are terrific; the first scene with them is electric, with a deafening silence telling everything about the relationship. The songs are shockingly catchy, with the opening song ‘So May We Start’ and ‘We Love Each Other So Much’ being amongst my favourites of the year. The cinematography is spectacular and helped elevate certain ideas and concepts within the story. In his first scene, Driver is portrayed as a dark, shadowy figure, with his cigarette providing the only light. This is followed by one of my favourite moments with him putting out a cigarette before slamming a banana peel on the top, showing the unhealthy, broken nature of this man. I’d also credit this film for having the first successful use of non-glasses 3D, in a scene where Driver is standing before an audience, and smoke engulfs his presence. Finally, the puppetry must also be applauded. Representing the struggles of growing up in the public consciousness, a scene with Annette singing while levitating is mesmerising, yet tragic. Yet, with all this praise, the final product never fully comes together. While many of the ideas and concepts are terrific, the story ultimately deals with masculine greed and power in a typical fashion. There are also injections of the modern world that felt unnecessary; from paparazzi photos for a terribly fake news channel, to a bizarre ‘Me Too’ song, which ultimately turns out to be a dream, and hence, has no real place in the story. Furthermore, the movie, which starts by asking for ‘your complete attention’ really outstays it’s welcome; with a running time of about 140 minutes, it feels like it could easily be cut down. When the movie premiered at Cannes, reactions were mixed; I had hoped that it would be a matter of taste. I watched Annette in a theatre with only 3 people who were dead silent throughout, meaning I was able to come to a judgement with no distractions. Thus, while there is so much good in this film, the problems are within the fundamental storytelling elements. Yet, I am glad that I saw it, the film does deserve a lot of credit and should be seen by everyone, if only once.
Birds of Paradise and the New Face of Teen Film MATILDE GUNCAVDI GUIMARAES | CONTENT WRITER
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aining large notoriety in the early 80s, the teen genre has been wildly popular since, ranging from classics like The Breakfast Club to Netflix’s recent trilogy addition To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. It’s fair to say that most of said films have maintained a very basic and similar format and formula in order to appeal to a mainstream audience. However, in recent years there has been a slight shift in filmmaking style as well as subject matter, mostly aided by the ever-growing popularity of production company, A24. This ‘new wave’ of teen cantered media is exciting, fresh, and unique. It takes inspiration from experimental, independent, and avantgarde cinema, often emphasising the importance of aesthetics. Take Euphoria for example, the show gained immense popularity for its use of highly stylised elements from lighting to costume, as well as its exploration of complex subject matters. Amazon Prime’s latest release is yet another example of this new generation of teen films. Based on A.K. Small’s Y.A. novel Bright Burning Stars, Birds of Paradise is a drama following two friends as they compete for a place at the Paris Opera Ballet. At surface, it is a story we’ve seen countless times (prompting various comparisons to Black Swan); however, the film is filled with countless twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat all throughout. Additionally, it has various surrealist-like sequences featuring some incredible choreography and a lot of glitter. If that’s not enough to convince you to give Birds of Paradise a go, the narrative aspects of this film are equally as interesting and original. It is a highly ambiguous film, both morally and in regard to the ‘truth’. The viewer is constantly repositioned in regard to character point of view and plays on the viewer’s expectations of the sub-genre. We assume from the start that newcomer Kate (Diana Silvers) will struggle to fit in, whilst Marine (Kristine Froseth) is set up as a mean girl haunted by her past. In turn, this is completely subverted, Kate turns out to be the most ruthless of any of the students going to extreme extents to win whilst audiences feel sorry for Marine. I truly fell in love with this film. It doesn’t try to ‘dumb-down’ the art of cinema in order to appeal to the mainstream and because of that some incredible cinematography is produced. If this is the direction that Amazon Prime and Amazon Studios is going, I am very excited what’s in store for them.
Source: IMDb
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THE FOUNDER October 2021
A Brief History of Horror Movies ANANYA KRISHNA | CONTENT WRITER
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alloween is meant to be a scary holiday, and we are here to talk about film so I’m sure you can see the point I am trying to make here. That’s right – it’s time to talk about horror movies. For those of you who have sworn off horror, don’t worry, I understand you! When I was 17, I read only the first 3 pages of Cujo, and couldn’t sleep for a week. Horror today isn’t what it was when it first started off though – like a lot of film themes, it has been reshaped to fit the context of our modern society. Horror started off as a cautionary tale tactic to scare people into acting and behaving a certain way to conform to how society at the time thought appropriate. That was until movies came around. The earliest regarded horror film is Mellies’s The Devil’s Castle (1896) which included all the cheesy Halloween stereotypes you could ever dream. It embodies the naïve understanding we have of the beginnings of a concept. Following on from The Devil’s Castle’s success came more supernatural and horror-based films from Frankenstein in 1910, to classics such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in 1920. Whilst moving away from the more amusing and comical origins of Mellie’s Devil Castle, these movies were still not as scaring and psychologically trying as the modern horrors which fascinate us today. Furthermore, Mellies’ original was never intended to be what we regard as horror today. They are taking steps toward this style though. For example, Frankenstein explores the horrors of both the monster but also Dr Frankenstein’s ambition. Source: Wikimedia
The arrival of the atomic age in the 1940s gave film makers the perfect opportunity to play into the fears of the new weapon of mass destruction. Godzilla (1953) is a perfect example of what people feared the most, genetical mutilation caused by radiation. Alfred Hitchcock is very much believed to be the father of modern horror movies, with iconic films such as The 39 Steps (1939) all the way to Psycho (1960). With Hitchcock’s films, we see this continuous growth of horrors focused upon the ordinary being horrifying, rather than supernatural forces that play at horror. The latter half of the 20th century saw the making of the hellish films we know and love today. Subgenres of horror were starting to emerge like zombie apocalypse movies, slasher films, and found footage (there are more out there besides the Blair Witch Project). The traditional horror of chocolate syrup for Source: IMDb blood and monsters traipsing about have now evolved to deeper analyses of society. As we can see, it has changed to suit the new horrors of each generation and in a way makes a more profound comment on the prejudices and inequalities that exist in our society than any other medium of thought. We are forced to sit in a room and face, albeit exaggerated version of, the true ill-spirits haunting our society.
Review: No Time To Die LIAM ELVISH | LITERARY REVIEWS EDITOR
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fter nearly two years of delay, the 25th James Bond film at last reaches cinema screens. Cary Fukunaga’s direction surpasses expectations, taking the series to bold new heights whilst neatly tying up the various loose ends from previous entries. Source: IMDb
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Daniel Craig delivers a performance that confirms his reputation, for many, as the ultimate Bond, fifteen years on from his debut in Casino Royale (2006). Craig combines a raw toughness and complex depth, whilst at the same time evoking subtle nuanced hints of not taking the whole thing too seriously, a mainstay of the Bond canon. Picking up where Spectre (2015) left off, No Time To Die sees Bond residing in Italy with Madeline Swann (Lea Seydoux), the revelations of whose past become the main driving force of the narrative. Forced to separate, the couple are being perpetually tracked under the watchful eye of the ‘Spectre’ organisation. Later, whilst in ‘retirement’ in Jamaica, Bond receives a visit from his old CIA associate Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) who prompts him to investigate a plot involving the kidnapping of a scientist. Primary antagonist, Lucifer Safin (Rami Malek), skilfully manages to blend unnerving, uncompromising evil with a sympathetic motivation, revealing a personal background not dissimilar to Bond himself.
ARTS: FILM 23 Embellishing the film there comes a strong supporting cast. Lashana Lynch plays Nomi, an MI6 agent who is a welcome addition to the team of old regulars M, Q, Moneypenny, and Tanner. Christoph Waltz reprises his role as arch-nemesis Ernst Blofeld (the first actor to do so in the franchise’s history) and it seems somewhat fitting to give him the Hannibal Lector-style treatment as Bond interrogates him from his prison cell at Belmarsh. Phoebe Waller-Bridge stamps her indelible mark on the script, and there are moments of camp black comedy, so typically emanating from her pen and refreshingly joyous to watch. It makes up for the lacklustre effort of screenwriters Neil Purvis and Robert Wade who, despite their admirable knack for plot and suspense, have always fallen short on the ‘dialogue’ front in the Bond movies since their debut in 1999 (and probably need to call it a day and bow out at this point).
Squid Game: Why the World Needed Post-Apocalyptic Respite
Things are not as they seem however, with a consequence of death for all those who lose the TILLEY BENNETT | games. The concept of the show plays to societies FILM EDITOR morbid curiosity, allowing viewers to question how far they would be pushed in order to maintain a life here’s no doubt that by now you will have free from the anxieties that arise with money trouble. heard of South Korea’s sinister Netflix series Squid Game, which is currently number one globally on the streaming platforms Having topped the frivolous yet enjoyable Netflix charts. Much of the series is agonising, hit Bridgerton in their viewing figures, Squid Game, viewers witness massacre in the first episode, although starkly different in plot and atmosphere, establishing that although this series centres actually shares some of Bridgerton’s allure. Although around children’s games it is not for the faint Bridgerton, from my perspective, allows for viewers to hearted. But what is it about the series that take light relief in a fairy-tale feeling world, I believe there was a conscious effort to provide an alternate has captivated audiences globally? perspective on history, gender, and the effect that money can have on the way humans interact and treat one Director, Hwang Dong-Hyuk, having another. Money and the greed of mankind in particular struggled for years to convince producers being a focal point of plot in Squid Game. In a similar of the show’s credibility, has orchestrated a vein, with the new perspective that the pandemic world series with a concept which gives audiences has provided, viewers are able to seek refuge in a more familiarity in a setting that feels so unnatural gruesome and horrific world then the one in which we and sinister. Essentially, those with an are inhabiting. Additionally, both shows encourage abundance of wealth welcome those who viewers to become invested in their characters. I struggle to maintain money, or in most cases believe it is the backstory behind most of the characters are in debt, to play children’s games for a life and the longing to know how they’ve ended up in their predicament that made the show such an enticing watch. changing fortune.
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The film is possibly the most significant Bond film ever as it self-consciously acknowledges the difficulty in maintaining the character’s existence as we enter the 2020s, with all its ‘woke’ temperaments. One of the most intriguing lines comes towards the end, with Q explaining to Bond that the outmoded technology on board Safin’s base dates from the 1950s and may take a while to get restarted; perhaps an indication that, if the franchise does indeed have a future, it may lie in going back to the original literary heritage and setting the next era in the 1950s. For the Craig Bond has no future. This is very much the finale; cases resolved; old friends depart, and old enemies terminated; the mighty shall fall. Numerous references to 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service lead the audience in to thinking the narrative will go a certain way, only to surprise and shock in new directions. The ending does something never once attempted in any past Bond film, and it is all the more powerful for this unprecedented move. Regardless of its place within the chronology, No Time To Die stands as a testament to all that is brilliant about our beloved Bond. Here is a film that is exciting, tender, emotional, and leaves the viewer overwhelmed; a stunning denouement to the Craig era and a worthy encapsulation of the sixty-year franchise as a whole.
As a viewer, you become invested in the misfit group of players, realising that the majority of them are fundamentally good people who have been dealt a difficult hand. Squid Game has come at a time when society needs solace from a world that already feels dystopian. The dark reality that the show encompasses provides respite from the reality of COVID-19 and the pandemic that society has had to live through. Unlike the streaming service’s other hit TV shows, Squid Game provides a unique plot with dynamic characters. It is definitely worth the watch if you can bear the 9 heavy, yet captivating episodes.
Source: IMDb
24 ARTS: MUSIC
The Founder Recommends
THE FOUNDER October 2021
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s part of a new feature, each issue of The Founder will feature some of our editor’s recommendations for their favourite songs, albums, and artists. So, have a read if you want to find something new to listen to, or perhaps be reminded of one of your own favourites. Music Editor, Finn’s Picks:
KATHERINE MCGLADDERY | CONTENT WRITER
Favourite Song: Not Fair – Lily Allen
- British icon, Lily Allen, has many hits, but Finn has chosen to shine a light on the third track from her album It’s Not Me, It’s You. Looking back on his childhood, he remembers listening to this song and having no idea what the lyrics meant, but still loving it. Now, Finn realises what it means and thinks the mixture of country pop with its sexual theme is the perfect song that never gets old. Favourite Album: Collapsed in Sunbeams – Arlo Parks
- Winner of the 2021 Mercury Prize, Finn recommends Arlo Parks’ debut studio album, Collapsed in Sunbeams. Released via Transgressive Records in early 2021, the album has been critically praised by many, with some reporters calling it their favourite album of 2021. Finn particularly recommends listening to Hope, Hurt and Too Good, but also thinks that the whole album is a poetic triumph in music. The album opens with a spoken word poem before moving into music that feels simultaneously refreshing and vulnerable. Parks’ Instagram account is also a ‘masterpiece’ according to our music editor, with a mixture of poetry, photography, and fun images from Arlo’s tours. Favourite Artist: Ariana Grande
- Finn recalls Ariana Grande being the first album he bought with his own money in Asda whilst food shopping with parents, and he hasn’t stopped listening to her since then. Starting off her career in the hit teen TV show, Victorious, she has solidified her place as a pop superstar with over 6 albums. Finn would recommend that you listen to Ariana’s entire discography if you could, but for those who haven’t heard her music before, he recommends Positions.
Here We Go Again: The Triumphant Return of ABBA
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Arts Editor, Isabel’s Picks:
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Favourite Song: Girls Like Me – Will Joseph Cook
Isabel recommends the 2017 track from English musician, Will Joseph Cook. With elements of blues and funk, Girls Like Me is quintessentially Will Joseph Cook. Isabel describes this song as the only song she can play over and over and never get sick of. From the album Sweet Dreamer, this infectious track is the perfect recommendation. Favourite Album: One Foot in Front of the Other – Griff
- The debut album from the 2021 Brit Awards Rising Star features hits such as Black Hole and the title track One Foot in Front of the Other. Released in June 2021, the mixtape is reminiscent of pop icons from the past, such as Taylor Swift’s album Fearless, whilst still feeling like it has a fresh take on pop music. Isabel says that her favourite album changes fairly often, but she never gets tired of Griff’s music, saying that she ‘loves every song’ on the album. Favourite Artist: Taylor Swift
- Taylor Swift has been Isabel’s favourite artist since she was 10 years old. With over 11 Grammys under her belt and winner of the Global Icon award (2021 Brit Awards), Taylor Swift has made a ground-breaking impact on the music industry in the 15 years since the release of her selftitled debut album. Notably in 2020, Swift released two new albums, Folklore and Evermore, and then followed that with Fearless (Taylor’s Version) in early 2021, with more music expected to be released before the year is over. Isabel is a particular fan of her two albums released in 2020 and describes them as ‘lyrical masterpieces.’
Source: Instagram - @taylorswift
f all things during the COVID-19 pandemic, ABBA’s sudden comeback with a new album, Voyage, was the last thing that anyone expected. After the bitter tensions of their last album, 1981’s The Visitors, which featured the hit single One of Us and lyrically commemorates the divorces within the band, the members seemed to irrevocably part ways. Their return, however, has been greeted with immense enthusiasm and joy spanning multiple generations, and ABBA’s TikTok account alone has amassed almost 2 million followers. Parents who grew up in the original ABBA era can now share their love for the Swedish quartet’s music with their children, and even experience the music live in one of their multiple concert experiences. But whilst children of the 70s and 80s would visit their local record store to indulge in ABBA’s music, today’s audience will experience innovative avatar technology which brings the de-aged members to life.
ABBA dropped the secret with two new singles which manage the impossible feat of attracting fresh listeners whilst satisfying loyal fans. While they may not receive the instant classic status that immortalised tracks such as Dancing Queen and Waterloo have, both songs sound quintessentially ABBA, with polished production and crisp, mature vocals from Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fälkstog.
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THE FOUNDER October 2021 The lyrics themselves are incredibly poignant and touching, particularly in the first of the newly released singles, Don’t Shut Me Down, which displays a refreshingly honest take on the band’s breakup and subsequent reconciliation: ‘When I left, I felt I've had enough/ But in the shape and form, I appear now/ I have learned to cope, and love and hope is why I am here now’. Questions have been raised about the live shows in London, with some tickets selling for over £300 even though ABBA themselves won’t be making an appearance. The timely comeback, coupled with the use of avatars rather than the band themselves, has been labelled by some as a thinly veiled money grab. However, Benny Andersson has been remarkably open about the fact that the best thing about being in the band is ‘Not having to worry about the money. You are free to do anything, to keep on writing the music.’ Indeed, ABBA’s popularity has gone from strength to strength over the years; Gold: Greatest Hits is the second highest selling album in the UK with sales of 5.7 million copies, and Mamma Mia, the hit musical based on their songs, is still playing at the Novello Theatre in the West End after almost 10 years. All things considered, their return seems founded on a genuine desire to make music together again rather than for financial gain.
In the second new single, I Still Have Faith in You, Agnetha and Anni-Frid defiantly sing ‘We do have it in us’; and their fans are certainly convinced, with their London block of concerts proving immensely popular. Whether you are a die-hard ABBA fan or a casual listener, their comeback transcends music and gives us a message of hope and forgiveness that is ever more striking given the turmoil of the last two years. Perhaps their comeback was the last thing anybody expected; but maybe it was the thing that we all needed, and for many, the November 5th release date of Voyage cannot come quickly enough.
Nikita Dragun Must Stop with The Controversy FINN MURPHY | MUSIC EDITOR
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ikita Dragun does not shy away from controversy, but this time it seems she may have taken things just too far as she has come under fire for her new song ‘D.*.C.K.’, and more specifically how she has chosen to promote it. With the release of the song came a video that has been described as highly offensive with snippets and pictures of celebrities with the word ‘d*ck’ placed on their faces and bodies. Notably, one of the featured figures was the foremother of LGBTQ+ rights, Marsha P. Johnson, as well as the late musician, SOPHIE. Dragun has also claimed to be the ‘first trans pop star’ which many took umbrage with as the influencer seemed to forget trans icons such as SOPHIE and Kim Petras, despite Dragun starring in Petras’ video for Heart to Break.
Additionally, she made comments that some felt reduced trans women to just their looks, instead of acknowledging everything about their womanhood. Trans TikTok star, Zaya Perysian, reacted to Dragun’s comments by pointing out that not all trans women are as privileged as Nikita Dragun, so therefore she should not be painting an image that all trans women think that they are better than everyone else, when many are struggling to live as their true selves. Nikita Dragun appears to make these comments to attract attention, failing to realise the damage this has on the trans community. Harry Jowsey, one of the men pictured in the video, responded to Nikita’s public outing of men she has had sexual relations with on the BFFs podcast. The Too Hot to Handle star said that ‘For me, it’s just like hooking up with another girl because I honestly see trans women as women.’ Nikita’s new song and video appears like an attempt to ‘out’ these men for having relationships with a trans woman, a narrative that is very damaging for the trans community. Some of the lyrics to Dragun’s new song are not bad, with clapback lines like ‘Come get your boyfriend ‘cause he is/ on my page stalkin’/ I blocked his number but somehow/ he is still callin’’, however the overall message of the song ruins what could be a hit for the American YouTuber. In a world that is already so divided, many use music as a way of escaping from the pressures of society. When artists like Nikita Dragun create music that only further divide us, there often seems no way to escape. She not only made outrageous claims about being the first trans pop star, but she also
Source: Wikimedia Commons
disrespected historic LGBTQ+ icons, and seemingly attempted to divide trans women and cis women all in the same promotion for the song. To Nikita Dragun, any publicity is good publicity.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
26 SPORTS
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Lewis Hamilton: 100 Races Won, Will There be 100 Races More?
CYANN FIELDING | LIFESTYLE EDITOR
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t is hardly surprising, but Lewis Hamilton has hit another milestone in his career. At the end of September, Hamilton secured his 100th victory in Formula 1, snatching pole position within the last laps from McLaren’s Lando Norris. With winning a race in all 15 of his seasons, Hamilton has achieved something no other driver has managed to in the existence of the sport. But after narrowly achieving his centenary win, questions have been raised over the remainder of Hamilton’s career in Formula 1 – with many Source: Jen Ross press outlets assuming the world champion is not far It remains clear that Hamilton’s departure is out of the picture for the next couple of years – from his retirement. unless something monumental happens – as at the beginning of the 2021 season, he signed a contract to drive with Mercedes until at least 2023. Whilst his retirement may not be long after his So, if his retirement is contract’s expiry, it is all-but likely that he will still be challenging for the next couple of years. pending, what can we However, this may be in a different position we are used to seeing the top Mercedes driver in. expect of the Brit in the The season so far has been a tough one for Hamilton and his fans alike – full of feuds, crashes, years to come? and silly mistakes: it appears that the reigning champion is either not as good as he once was, or his competition has intensified. In either case, Formula 1 fans may witness his downfall from the front row over the next couple of years as the hot prospects begin to overtake the veteran.
Should There Be a World Cup Every Two Years? PETER GEDDES | CONTENT WRITER
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he sudden return of Arsène Wenger into the football news cycle has taken many by surprise, but in his role as FIFA’s chief of global football development, the proposal he is pushing to reshape the future of the international game is more outlandish than one might expect.
Saying this, the day will finally come where the 36-year-old decides to hang up his helmet. And whilst this may be a sad day for many, others will choose to follow his new journey outside the sport – in what should be – a success story. Despite rumours that we could see him in the fashion industry after his F1 days are done, Hamilton will never ‘leave’ the sport completely. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: ‘I could stay involved in F1 after retirement and I think I want to’. Whilst he did not specify what this would be exactly, it would not be surprising to see him in the position of a figurehead, coach, or even team principal. For many, seeing Hamilton stay within the sport would be a dream. It is also obvious that having Lewis Hamilton as a part of your team would be a serious advantage, offering tutelage to the younger drivers. Even if he does not stay within the sport at all, his legacy will - all the work he has done to ensure the sport becomes more inclusive will remain, and he will always be a huge part of that. Formula 1 is not losing its top driver anytime soon. But the next few years will be interesting for Hamilton and Mercedes as the sport evolves without him. Retirement or no retirement, it is without doubt that the Briton is the best driver the sport has ever witnessed. The question that will remain, is whether he makes the same impact outside, or still inside, of the sport when he does eventually move on.
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For those who don’t know, the footballing calendar is decided every ten years in a series of meetings and negotiations with all the sport’s stakeholders, and the proposals being spearheaded by the former Arsenal manager will be voted on by the end of the year. So, what is being proposed and why? The headline is that the World Cup would be held every two years which would result in there being an international tournament every year. This will seem bizarre to many fans, but it is important to include some of the secondary proposals. Firstly, players would be guaranteed 25 rest days a year, with the qualification process taking place in a condensed tournament format over a few weeks rather than the dispersed international break format that has been used for years. International friendlies would be eliminated in principle, with other ‘meaningless games’ (presumably UEFA’s Nations League) also being done away with. The motivation behind this plethora of changes has already been highly contested with opponents of the proposals claiming that it is essentially a money grab by FIFA, who don’t have the yearly income that UEFA has from the Champions League and its other tournaments. Money is obviously an element of the picture, and FIFA and Wenger will claim that more cashflow for the Federation is financially advantageous for the less advantaged and developing confederations which don’t have the same economic clout as Europe. There are two other elements of the argument: one is focused on entertainment, the other is competitive opportunity. The World Cup is an event everyone enjoys. It is perhaps the biggest sporting event and entertainment product on the face of the globe, and you can’t have too much of a good thing. What’s more, is that in having it every four years, it hinders the opportunity of smaller nations and players to have a shot on the biggest stage. Through injury and other setbacks, a player, even a true great, may only get one or two chances to play on the world stage, and that’s a huge loss both for the player and their supporters.
Source: newstalk.com
What should we make of this? Obviously, they knew the first reaction to more tournaments would regard player welfare. In response, FIFA have tried to pre-empt with the 25 days of rest and all the rhetoric about how it provides more opportunities to achieve greatness. It has been clear for some time to anyone who watches international football outside of the major tournaments that the calendar needs streamlining and a major restructuring. Nobody cares about the long qualification campaigns, with international breaks interrupting the rhythm and hype of the domestic season. Change is needed and the proposed overhaul to qualifiers is, to me, a welcome one. However, the notion of having a World Cup every two years does seem to undermine the concept somewhat. Part of the value of international tournaments is that they don’t come around very often. It’s part of what makes them prestigious. The reply will come back that the Champions League is yearly, yet it retains its value. It retains its value yes, but it is not as valuable as a World Cup or a European Championships. It will change from player to player, but I would expect that most players would rather win a tournament with their country than a European trophy - take Lionel Messi at the recent Copa America or Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2016 Euros – and it is because so few people have that opportunity. Increasing the frequency decreases the value, at least to a degree. Then, there is the main issue in actually getting this implemented, UEFA and the European nations. UEFA is unlikely to allow the Euros to give way for the World Cup and they are only a few years into their Nations League experiment. If the Euros becomes more frequent and they retain the Nations League, it would mean a more congested calendar and more pressure on players to play more games no matter what FIFA says about reducing match load.
England’s Generational Talents Aren’t Being Compared Fairly TOM GIBBS | CONTENT WRITER
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ason Greenwood and Phil Foden: two generational English talents with all the potential a footballer could ask for. In a stunt much unlike the footballing world, people are already beginning to compare them. The main issue? Their comparisons lack depth and nuance.
In my view, the best argument for these changes is the situation of the nonEuropean nations, many are kept afloat and can only support their national games through FIFA’s grants. More games and tournaments in those countries could help expand the commercial and sporting horizon for the world game. Again, though, my preferred solution would include a building-up of less developed nations but not at the cost of the premier football tournament. There are ways of getting eyeballs and money into Africa, Asia, and the Americas without having a bloated forty-eight team tournament every two years plus qualifying. Increasing the number of meaningful matches and redirecting some of football’s capital to different parts of the globe are both admirable goals which should be pursued, but messing with a tried and tested feature of the football calendar is not the best way to achieve either.
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Most comparisons of Greenwood and Foden look at their stats in a given season. This was particularly prominent last season, with calls for Foden to be considered in the same bracket as Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, whilst Greenwood was largely forgotten about. The problem with this approach is that, while both young, Greenwood and Foden aren’t the same age. To compare them at any static point naturally biases the comparison in favour of the Manchester City man, who is nearly seventeen months older than his rival. In such a crucial phase of player development, two academic years difference is substantial. Hence, it is more useful to compare the two at similar points in their development.
Both players are undoubtedly generational talents; both have world class potential. In reality, we should probably appreciate both in their own right and avoid comparing them. Unfortunately, this is less likely than Leicester City’s title win. Hence, failing that, the least we can do is compare the two at equivalent stages of their development. Foden is showing his brilliance at the moment, with an electric end to last season, but Greenwood has two years to make up the ground. There’s no way of knowing what the United man will be doing at 21, and, in this Source: Manchester Evening News way, any attempt to rank these English ‘wonderkids’ must, at Let’s compare data up to the last full Next, let’s try and take account of these differing circumstances using expected the very least, take account of season we have for both players at a given goals and expected assists. This should, for the most part, reduce the bias of their relative ages. age: the season that each player turned playing with players of varying qualities. Using Understat’s Premier League data 19. For Foden, this is the 2018/19 season, up until the aforementioned seasons, Foden had one goal from 2.25xG, showing and for the Manchester United forward, a slight underperformance from him in front of goal, given the chances he was we look at the 2020/21 campaign. presented with. On the other hand, Greenwood registered 17 goals from 11.17xG According to Transfermarkt, by the - demonstrating an impressive clinical instinct in front of goal. Both players end of 2018/19, Foden had registered were slightly let down by teammates: Foden registering a mere one league seven goals and two assists in 1435 assist from 1.56xA, with Greenwood only mustering three assists from 3.91xA. minutes of senior football. Conversely, These figures would imply that Greenwood is performing to a higher level, Greenwood had registered thirty goals given the circumstances surrounding him. However, with such limited playing and ten assists in 5949 minutes of senior time it is hard to make concrete judgements on Foden’s output - it may just be football at the back end of last season, that he was not given enough time for things to average out over the season. giving Greenwood and Foden a minutesper-goal-contribution of 149 minutes and 144 minutes, respectively. Note that Comparisons such as these just serve to demonstrate how closely matched the pair these figures are exceptionally close, are and how exciting England’s future is. Of course, this analysis itself is somewhat despite hugely different circumstances limited: Foden’s all-round play is arguably better than Greenwood’s, and their - Greenwood played significantly more futures lie in different areas of the pitch. However, it is helpful to add some muchminutes, but Foden was operating in a far needed perspective amongst the fervour of Foden’s recent prolific purple patch. more functional team.
Club Case Studies: 1) Borussia Mönchengladbach OLI GENT | SPORTS EDITOR
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n this new series, I’m going to be handpicking clubs from all over the world and examining their history, their performance this season, and finally come to an assessment on the current squad, picking out problematic positions and potential areas for improvement. The first of the series is Borussia Mönchengladbach.
A brief historical insight Promoted to the Bundesliga alongside Bayern Munich in 1965, Borussia Mönchengladbach have taken a unique pathway to become one of Germany’s biggest clubs. Nicknamed ‘Die Fohlen’, Mönchengladbach merited that particular label for their, and more specifically their manager Hennes Weisweiler, emphasis on the development of young starlets, adopting a ‘carefree, successful style of play’, whereby individualism and creative freedom were allowed to blossom over tactical rigidity,
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Armed with youthful, hungry names like Jupp Heynckes and Bernd Rupp, Die Borussen became a national and continental force throughout the 1970’s; winning five Bundesliga titles, two UEFA Cups, and becoming the first club to successfully defend the Bundesliga title in 1970 and 1971. But with financial restrictions always hindering further progress, the club was instead sliding dangerously into a period of serios regression. Mönchengladbach developed a ‘selling-club’ mentality; Heynckes, Rupp and Gerhard Elfert left, albeit for hefty sums, with the former moving to Hannover 96 for a record 275,000 Deutschmarks. More recently, the most prominent example of this would be Granit Xhaka’s exit for Arsenal, with the Swiss (unbelievably) the club’s most prized asset. The terrible tenures of Bernd Krauss and Friedel Rausch led to two relegations from the Bundesliga: in 1999, when the club finally succumbed after a miserable two-decade spell lumbering in the deeper depths of the table, and 2007. Granted, the club was too great in stature to remain anchored in the Zweite Bundesliga, and bounced straight back, but the Foals continued to unimpressively languish in the bottom half of the domestic league. Upon Lucien Favre’s arrival in January 2011, relegation seemed all but confirmed for Mönchengladbach, who were well adrift at the foot of the table. Yet the Frenchman performed a miracle, saving the club by the skin of its teeth on the final day, before following that up with a huge overachievement the following campaign, as the Borussen finished fourth in the table, narrowly missing out on the Champions League, having challenged for the title all season. Their fortunes began to change again, and third place in 2014-15 showed just how impressive Favre’s turnover of the club had been, getting die Fohlen back to jostling at the top of the Bundesliga, where they deserved to be.
How’re they doing this season? Since the departure of talented manager Marco Rose, Mönchengladbach have not performed as well as the quality of their personnel suggests they should. A similar finish to last term’s eighth place seems on the cards under Adi Hütter, but loftier, Champions League expectations should be held of such a promising squad. They sit 10th in the Bundesliga at the time of writing, off the back of two good wins against Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg, both in which Hütter deployed the 3-5-2 formation. A rocky start to the season resulted in a heavy 4-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen and a 2-1 loss to Union Berlin, with Hütter reacting instinctively to drop the 4-2-3-1 for a more secure back three. It would work a charm: a 3-1 victory over Arminia Bielefeld would follow, leading into a narrow 1-0 defeat to Augsburg where the 4-2-3-1 again proved problematic. In terms of the squad and how they line-up, Yann Sommer mans the space between the sticks, with the Swiss goalkeeper a mainstay for the Borussen since 2014. Whilst not always the most convincing, the 32-year-old has been a reliable goalkeeper for the club. Mönchengladbach’s back four is nailed-on; a beautiful complexion of every attribute needed to create the perfect defence. At right-back, Stefan Lainer offers pace, attacking impetus, and crossing ability, while still being a valiant one-on-one defender. In the heart of the defence, Matthias Ginter, signed from Dortmund for £17 million, has been earmarked as one of the signings of the new millennium. A defensive man-mountain, Ginter is aerially imperious, strong, and a surprisingly good progressive passer, who, whilst not the quickest, is not the slowest either. Alongside him lies Nico Elvedi, a versatile Swiss who can also competently fill in at right-back. One of the quickest centre-backs around, Elvedi makes for the ideal covering centre-back, and this is what complements him so well with Ginter. The former Dortmund man is able to break the defensive line and close down opposing attackers, whilst Elvedi drops in behind to sweep up the space. Whilst not the greatest aerial threat for someone of his 6’2” size, Elvedi is certainly not weak with his head, but it is the area of his game that he could work on the most. On the left, Ramy Bensebaini, a standout signing from Rennes. Quick, strong, near-dominant in the air and with decent attacking output, the Algerian ties all this in with defensive solidity to become the complete left-back.
Hütter has a plethora of midfield options, all with their own unique traits and talents, but the standout name here is 24-year-old Denis Zakaria. The complete box-to-box midfielder, the Swiss combines his versatility to play in midfield or at centre-back with his pace, sheer strength and size, and his technical ability. Aside from Zakaria, Mönchengladbach have impressive depth in the engine room. German international Christoph Kramer started for his country in the 2014 World Cup final, whilst Laszio Benes is a solid back-up option. Florian Neuhaus is, as well as Zakaria, a standout talent who could well make it at the highest level; be that at Mönchengladbach or elsewhere. A decent size at 6’0”, Neuhaus is often the creative spark that Hütter can turn to, either off the bench or from the off. Exciting prospect Manu Koné was signed in the summer from Toulouse, and Hütter has been slow yet consistent in bedding in his new French starlet as a rotational eight. But the main attraction to die Fohlen at present is their electrifying front three: Marcus Thuram, Alassane Pléa, and Breel Embolo. The latter is often omitted from the starting line-up when captain Lars Stindl is available, but in periods when Stindl has been injured, the trio have lined up together and been unplayable. A wondrous mélange of pace, power, interplay, and clinical finishing, the way in which the three can interchange positionally and link up in the manner that they do is wholly adherent to the long-held philosophy of Weisweiler: carefree, exciting, attacking play. Thuram is the standout performer. The son of Lilian top scored for the club in 2019/20 with 14 goals, and he will be looking to recoup that sort of goalscoring form this season after a disappointing haul last term. At 6’3”, the left winger is a force in the air, particularly at the back post, and he adds this string to his growing bow.
Source: Christian Verheyen
30 SPORTS And yet, although the spotlight might shine on Thuram, that cannot take away the work that Pléa and Embolo put in to support their French teammate. Pléa spearheads the attack: he is the focal number nine that occupies the centre-backs, looking to either drop deep to link play and allow the wide forwards space behind the defensive line, or he will look to spin in behind himself to stretch his markers. Embolo’s directness and goalscoring threat are what he brings to the fray, with the Swiss a confident and strong ball-carrier, looking to drive down the line either to the byline for a pull-back or for a shot across the goalkeeper with his right foot. How can they improve? As decent as their squad depth might be, a number of the Mönchengladbach squad are ageing; they’ve entered their thirties and have seen their squad statuses reduced to sporadic rotational options. It’ll be interesting to see how Hütter reacts at the end of this season: ‘back-up’ players, for example, Tony Jantschke, Tobias Sippel, Patrick Hermann, as well as more senior first-teamers like Stindl and Sommer, are beyond the age of 30, and whilst the experience and nous they bring is unrivalled, there comes a point whereby experience cannot outweigh quality. Of course, age does not mean that a player will decline, as many FIFA players might think. But in such situations, where a large backlog of the squad is ageing, Mönchengladbach might well be better off investing in some younger players to support the more experienced heads to fully observe the ‘Fohlenelf’ philosophy. Positionally, they could improve everywhere, but in one or even two transfer windows, that’d be almost impossible. Should all those ageing players create a mass exodus from Borussia Park this summer, it would leave a rather significant lack of depth in the squad. At least one new goalkeeper would be needed; whether Yann Sommer stays is another question. American right-back Joe Scally has made his mark early this season, but at just 18 he’s still one for the future and can’t be relied on too heavily to deputise for Lainer on a regular basis. In the heart of the back four, some back-up for Elvedi and Ginter is needed. Jantschke has done a stellar job for the club since his arrival in 2006, but it could well be time for him to move on, whilst Mamadou Doucoure is still raw and could benefit from being farmed out to a lower league side to build his confidence before he is able to stake a true claim for a starting spot.
THE FOUNDER October 2021 Andreas Poulsen is still to return from his loan spell at Ingolstadt and should be able to rival Bensebaini for the left-back berth, but the rise of talented 18-year-old Luca Netz could give the manager a serious headache. In midfield, the depth is most certainly there and is sustainable; but the quality of player in that midst remains questionable. All have given their all for the Mönchengladbach cause, but whether players like Hofmann and Benes will really be able turn the club into genuine title challengers is unlikely. Therefore, one can conclude that, whilst not necessarily a major priority, upgrades could definitely be made in the Mönchengladbach midfield. Zakaria’s future is unclear: Roma are interested, with the Swiss’ contract expiring in the summer, and it seems unlikely that he will sign a new deal unless die Borussen are willing to put a decent deal and project in front of him. Up top and wide, depth again is not an issue, with Embolo, Thuram, and Pléa nailed on for long spells at the club, provided they don’t get poached by encircling sharks. Patrick Hermann has of course been a loyal servant to the club, but question marks remain over his reputations as a true winner. Keanan Bennetts and Hannes Wolf are decent back-ups, but their quality is also under scrutiny if Gladbach are to really challenge Bayern and Dortmund at the top. Naturally, such a gargantuan outlay and overturn is not to be expected in one summer, or even two. But if die Borussen want to properly challenge the big boys at the very highest level and beyond, there’s money to spend and players to hold onto.
Where does the England National Team Stand? BRETT VAN ZOELEN | CONTENT WRITER
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fter a heart-breaking defeat in the European Championship final in the summer, many England fans have been left hopeful for the future of national team, and with more talent and depth in the squad than they have had since the ‘golden generation’, it is not a difficult viewpoint to understand. However, multiple questions need to be asked of this squad and how they will proceed to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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If you were to analyse England’s performance based on their recent results at major tournaments, it looks like they are on track to win next year’s World Cup. Despite the Three Lions’ clear improvements over the last few years, they have a couple of clear obstacles to overcome, with the first of these problems coming in the form of the international schedule. Whilst having four international breaks a season may be beneficial for team cohesion, it does mean that England players go from playing against world-class opposition in the Premier League week in week out, to playing significantly weaker teams over the course of the international break. It is also important to note that since the international breaks are filled with ‘lesser games’ such as World Cup qualifying, it means there are less opportunities for ‘tier one’ footballing nations to play against each other. It could be argued that this is dragging down the quality of international football, as better competition produces higher quality matches and better international experiences for fans and players alike. Due to a lack of encounters against the top sides in qualifying, England arrive at international tournaments being used to a certain style of play that is designed to break down weaker opposition and to play with possession. Essentially, the squad get used to brute-forcing their way through games as the opposition they come up against is completely outmatched.
SPORTS 31 What we know from the bigger games that Gareth Southgate’s side have played at major competitions is that they set up in a similar manner to Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They have the player profile out wide and the right amount of hold up play in their front line to counterattack some of the best teams in the world with Luke Shaw’s stunning goal against Italy in the Euros final a prime example of this. The problem is in the double pivot, opting for two natural sixes in Declan Rice and Kalvin Philips to play next to each other signals the choice to play defensively. While this selection enables counter attacking football, it limits creative output. Inevitably this means that when England face a tougher opponent, it is easier for them to sit back and watch as England are unable to materialise clear-cut chances, building up slowly, from side-toside, rather than looking for that penetrative pass through the lines.
Overall, England fans should be optimistic for now, but change is needed for the team to take the next step and bring football home.
Another parallel between Solskjaer and Southgate is the loyalty they both have to their so-called ‘favourites’. If England were to set up in a more creative manner, that would require them to be more willing to drop forwards that rely more on pace than end-product. This is where players like Phil Foden and Jack Grealish come in. With Mason Mount arguably a more ‘complete’ midfielder in the number 10 hole, it makes total sense for players like Foden and Grealish to replace underperforming wingers. Raheem Sterling does not yet fit into this bracket seeing as his Euros performance was one of the best of his career, but the favouritism for the Manchester City man among others to start every game regardless of the tactical approach needs to be changed. Sterling is now a senior player for England and his performances justified his selection in the most recent tournament, given how Southgate set out his stall, but if England are ever to make the next step and win a major international trophy, they need more tactical versatility. Southgate needs to be ruthless enough to drop his favourites if another player’s skillset fits the team England is playing.
Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
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