Issue 86 - December 2020

themagdalen for students, by students issue 86

december 2020

Things can get stressful at the end of term.

If you are struggling with uni work or anything else, contact The Student Support Team, who offer support for a wide range of issues. www.dundee.ac.uk/student-services/studentsupport-team/

FESTIVE (adjective) / 'fes.tÄąv/: having happy and enjoyable feelings suitable for a festival or other special occasion.

Family, Festive, Faith.

THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT ON LIFE / This personal story considers how our reliance on technology has impacted our lives.

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FESTIVE GINGERBREAD RECIPE / Get in the festive spirit with our tasty gingerbread recipe. Pg 50

FAITH IN SCIENCE / This thought-provoking article examines the relationship between religion and science.

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Find us online The Magdalen Magazine @themagdalenmag @themagdalenmag

Get in touch editor.in.chief@dusamedia.com

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR IN CHIEF

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Well… you made it.

After the year we have all had, you each deserve a pat on the back for reaching the end of semester one.

Stop. Reflect on what you have been through. Appreciate the strength and courage you displayed to make it through the challenges that you have endured, and the opportunities that you have embraced.

This semester has been, without a doubt in my mind, the most challenging that I have endured during my time at university – a sentiment that I am sure is shared by students and staff alike across our campus, the country, and indeed the globe.

Adapting to working/learning from home; socialising in small bubbles indoors and outdoors during the mean Scottish winter; hyperconnectivity and staring at blurred screens; being unable to see family and friends as frequently as we perhaps did in the past – this and more has all had tremendous impacts on our mental health.

It is important that we use this break to genuinely do just that: take a break.

I want to take the time to thank you, our readers, you our contributors, and to the wonderful team of people who collectively make The Magdalen possible. Thank you all.

I hope you all enjoy the festive break.

And to those celebrating Christmas, please enjoy a happy Christmas, but a safe one as well.

See you in the New Year!

Josh Harper.

It has definitely been one challenging year to say the least, adapting to a new way of learning and redefining our work life balance when things nowadays seem to blend into one.

Take time out this break to look after yourself, make time for family and friends, have zoom calls, festive quizzes and if you are anything like me, watching Elf at least once a week.

Despite all that’s been thrown at us this year we have kept going, plans have changed, been cancelled and moved onto a digital format. But no matter what happened we picked ourselves us and got going, testament to your strength and determination.

As this is my last issue as Creative Director, I would like to thank each person who makes this magazine possible, on both the written side and creative. The talent in this magazine is just incredible. And of course a special thank you to the readers.

Stay safe and have a lovely festive break.

Louise James

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SENIOR TEAM CREATIVE DIRECTOR EDITOR IN CHIEF SENIOR DEPUTY EDITOR DEPUTY EDITORS

Louise James Joshua Harper James Kirkpatrick Finlay James Beatson, Erin Mckeown

CREATIVE TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGERS ILLUSTRATION MANAGER SENIOR ILLUSTRATOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS SOCIAL MEDIA FREELANCER EVENTS & PR MANAGER

Carlota Sainz, María Paula Huertas C. Cait Maxwell CL Gamble Emma Biggins, Katrina High Aylish Kelly Bethany Cameron, Orla Barr

EDITORIAL TEAM ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ON/OFF CAMPUS CREATIVE WRITING CURRENT AFFAIRS FASHION INTERNATIONAL LIFESTYLE OPINIONS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SOCIETIES COPY EDITORS

Mareth Burns, Jaime Aries, Fyfe Howard Barbara Mertlová, Marleen Käsebier Jennifer Gillespie, Katie Stewart, Andrew Young Fiachna Mac Carráin, Luiza Stoenescu Ellie J. Jamieson, Sophie Murray Amelia Carrothers, Luke Burr David Smith, Joanne Lam Andrew Elton Alex St. John, Flora Caldwell, Catherine Baxter James Kirkpatrick Niamh Alexander, Kyl Tan, Kathryn Boyle, Samantha King, Kirsty Bruce, Anna Campbell

SENIOR STAFF WRITERS

Lauren McDonald, Marcin Kielczewski, Sofia Rönkä

PUBLISHED BY

Dundee University Students’ Association

CONTENTS 06

FEATURE

10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

18

CREATIVE WRITING

30

ON/OFF CAMPUS

40

CURRENT AFFAIRS

44

OPINIONS

50

LIFESTYLE

56

FASHION

59

INTERNATIONAL

64

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

70

SOCIETIES

FEATURE Design by Louise James

THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT ON LIFE

I wake up and reach for my phone that is charging right next to my bed. I have hardly opened my eyes and I am already clicking on the first notification. I stay in bed at least an hour checking my emails, messages, BBC News and Facebook. While eating breakfast I watch recommended Facebook videos. During the day I try to do some studying, but I keep clicking on my phone to check for any new notifications every ten minutes or so.

I go out for some shopping, once in a while reading or sending a text without bothering to stop walking. All day I think I hear my phone buzz and get disappointed when it turns out I imagined it. Finally, at night, I stay on my phone until I get so tired that I have to put it away, and I simply shut down.

Repeat.

41 million people between the ages 16-75 in the UK own or have access to a smart phone. In America an average adult uses their phone for 2 hour and 51 minutes per day, meaning that 5 years 4 months of their lives are with a phone in their hand (36% more time than is spent for eating and drinking). 22 million people in the UK admit to using their phone while walking: 4.5 million even while crossing the road. A quarter of 16-19-year-olds even respond to messages in the middle of the night. Phone addiction or nomophobia (fear of being without a mobile phone) is an increasing problem as more and more people rely on their smart phones. The size and convenience of phones allow us to be connected and entertained wherever and whenever. Virtual relationships, the information overload and online compulsions are only some of the impulsecontrol problems linked to phone addiction. It was becoming more and more clear to me that I was falling victim to this exact trap.

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On a day like any other I was doing the dishes while watching Netflix. I was watching The Social Dilemma, an American docudrama from this year. Among other things, the film focuses on how social media is designed to nurture addiction and can damage mental health. In one scene a teenage boy is challenged to spend a week without his phone. This stuck with me. Could I spend a week without my phone? I grew up without one, only getting my first smart phone at 17 years-old, but now at 21 it felt like an inseparable part of my daily life. But I had noticed how I reached for my phone in stressful situations, almost like a pacifier, but the procrastination it provided only increasing my anxiety. I had noticed how hard it was to focus on one thing like a book or full-length film for a longer period of time. I had noticed that my sleep was often interrupted and not easily resumed. I knew I had a problem, and if this Ben from the film was willing to try to resist the temptation of his phone, so would I. I decided to go a week without my phone starting then and there.

“Could I spend a week without my phone?�

The rules for the week were simple. My phone would have to remain hidden in a drawer unless I needed to make a phone call, sign-in into MyDundee or use an extra alarm clock for 9am lectures. I would still be allowed to use social media such as Facebook and all the messaging services, but only on my laptop. I was also allowed to take my phone with me outside in case of an emergency, but it would not

FEATURE Words by Sofia Rönkä

be allowed to leave my bag. And so, on that Wednesday evening, I turned my phone off and put it the drawer where it would live for the next seven days. Later in the evening, after going to bed, instead of watching hardly funny or political videos on Facebook, I resumed a novel written by a friend that I had promised to read ages ago. The guilt I usually felt for being on my phone in bed was lifted. That night I slept better than I had in quite a while.

“And so, on that Wednesday evening, I turned my phone off and put it the drawer where it would live for the next seven days”

On Thursday morning I woke up refreshed and got out of bed immediately. During breakfast I read more of the novel.

Walking to my once-a-week in-person class I was simply looking around me at all the people going to work, some hurriedly, some with coffee mugs in their hands, some hardly awake. Later that day I had a perfectly good text conversation with my sibling using my laptop. They were intrigued by my experiment but pointed out that after the week was over, I might simply go back to my old habits.

I decided to use the no-phone week to distinguish what applications on my phone I needed and how I could lower my phone use for good. I truly wanted to be able to break out of that intensely focused state of distraction that a phone provides.

Throughout the week, I kept noticing situations that would have been different with a phone in hand. A major difference was going to sleep. I would go to bed earlier and fall asleep quicker by either reading a book or simply reflecting on the events of the day – mindfulness happening naturally. I would sleep more deeply. I would wake up in the morning feeling more productive, getting up to make breakfast, do chores or start studying without much delay. Indeed, research has found that not using a smart phone in bed improves quality of sleep and consequently focus, relationships and wellbeing, thus

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FEATURE

increasing happiness and quality of life. After my no-phone week, I moved my phone charger to the other side of the room, and always leave the phone on mute there before going to bed.

Then there was the problem with social media and video platforms. I had always known how addictive they could be as I used to struggle with YouTube some years ago. Banning YouTube videos all together had been the only thing to work for me. However, Facebook had challenged that by offering recommended videos. I still needed Facebook to keep up to date with friends and groups, but after clicking on the app, I could not stop myself from staying there for hours on end. After all, as The Social Dilemma points out, our attention is the product sold by social media companies. Everything on the apps is designed to keep us scrolling, watching, liking, and interacting just so that the companies would get paid for showing as advertisements in the mix and selling predictions of user behaviour. These intermitted rewards work in the exact same way as slot-machines. The first thing I did after getting my phone back was delete Facebook. I would only use it on laptop from thereon.

I truly enjoyed the week without a phone. It was freeing not to suffer from the fear of missing out (FOMO) or imagining notifications all the time. It was interesting to be aware of the present and the things around me, especially people outside, living their lives. I even stopped to talk with an acquiantance on the street instead of simply passing by with my nose glued to a screen. And not texting everyone about everything I saw or experienced gave me plenty of conversational material to take home at the end of the day.

But most importantly, my creativity thrived. I was writing a daily diary about the experiment, I finished my friend’s

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novel with plenty of feedback on it, I was on schedule with university work, and I was spending quality time with friends with no phones present.

For anyone out there also thinking of how to decrease their phone time, here are some tips research recommends and I definitely noticed during my no-phone week.

Besides not using your phone in bed, and giving your phone apps the Marie Kondo treatment, you can start by disabling your notifications – as many as you dare, but recommendably all of them – to reduce FOMO and help you focus. Put your phone away when in the company of other people as research has found ”phubbing” (casually checking your phone while others are talking to you) to affect communication quality and relationship satisfaction.

And finally, download a tracking app; I tried YourHour myself. The apps can help you realise truly how much your phone dictates your life and provides you with phone use challenges such as a 60-minute phone fast or a 20-minute limit for social media.

Notably, phones are amazing devices. We hold in our hand a source of infinite knowledge, a pocket-sized computer, a way to contact anyone in the world in mere seconds.

Especially during the pandemic, phones have allowed us to virtually stay in contact with other people. And one thing I really missed during my no-phone week was to be able to listen to music anywhere. But yet, so much power can be overpowering and start overtaking our lives. The winter holidays are around the corner and for many that means spending time with friends and family and relaxing. What if we simply put our phones away for an hour or two and enjoyed the company of our loved ones without phubbing?

What if we truly relaxed and slept well during the winter break? As the cliché goes, carpe diem, shall we?

FEATURE

“What if we simply put our phones away for an hour or two and enjoyed the company of our loved ones without phubbing?”

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ARTS AND ENTS Design by Raechelle Gilpin

The Films of Albert Brooks “Like Charlie Chaplin and Woody Allen, Brooks succeeds in combining irony and satire with the seriousness of everyday life”

Recently some of the films directed

by American writer, director, and actor Albert Brooks were released on the Criterion Channel. Across his career Brooks has directed seven films and five of them have since been made available on Criterion. In this review, I examine two of these films - Real Life, a 1979 film which parodies reality TV in a fictionalised version of it, and Lost in America (1985), a satirical road comedy following a married couple who quit their jobs to travel across America.

Firstly, I’m going to focus on Real Life.

The film strikes me as a very personal project because it was Brooks’ first feature and he not only directed it, but also co-wrote the screenplay and starred in the film as himself.

Moreover, Real Life is not like most of the fiction films we usually see in cinemas: it is shot in a documentary style, while its plot is centred on a psychological experiment involving an American family. In the film Brooks captures the essence of what would later be known as the reality TV craze by filming the daily life of a middleclass American family. The film itself

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is a parody of a reality show called An American Family (1973) which claimed to represent the real world as it is, without artifice. The opening sequence of Real Life features a quote from cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead describing the 1973 series: “It is, I believe, as significant as the invention of drama or the novel… A new way in which people can learn to look at life, by seeing the real life of others interpreted by the camera.” Though Mead’s statement may at first have been considered hyperbolic, in the ensuing decades it has since been recognised as accurate and even prescient.

As both a screenwriter and director, Brooks places subtle jokes in all of the dialogue he writes for his films. His keen eye helps him to perfect all the details which make most of his films masterpieces. For instance, the iconic finale of Real Life is so original due to its absurdity and unpredictability – no one expected him to use 1939’s Gone with the Wind as his inspiration for the ending. Another example of Brooks’ comedic genius is the diving helmetlike cameras used to shoot the family.

“His keen eye helps him to perfect all the details which make most of his films masterpieces.”

ARTS AND ENTS Words by Georgi Zhechev

Their purpose is to make them feel comfortable being filmed, but their strange alien appearance instead scares the family and at the same time generates a lot of funny and even absurd situations.

events, such as the untimely death of the actress Natalie Wood. Moments like this really situate Brooks’ films in contemporary America and allow him to dissect the ups and downs of American society.

Arguably, though, the best film directed by Albert Brooks is Lost in America. In it, Brooks’ character grows tired of his life as an advertising agent after his boss refuses to promote him. He decides to start a new life in which he can live freely and “find his true self”. All of this, however, depends on the life savings he and his wife have - the life savings which his wife loses at the roulette tables in Las Vegas near the start of the film. The film is a great analysis of Reaganesque America and its values, exploring the upper-middle class values of baby boomers, their quest for personal enrichment, and the conformity of fitting into the corporate structure which was present at that time. Brooks succeeds in capturing the mood of the time, the so-called zeitgeist of the 1980s as it parallels the growing influence of yuppies and the long-lasting impact of Ronald Reagan’s economic policies, as well as its unintended consequences. The film ends as it starts – the protagonist regains his work, and the price he has to pay for his actions is the reduction of his salary.

All things considered, Brooks’ oeuvre is rich and offers a treat for all film lovers regardless of their preferred genre. His distinctive feature is his ability to combine different styles of filmmaking. Furthermore, he is capable of mixing different genres and is never afraid to experiment or enter an unknown field. But I would argue that his most important quality is his ability to laugh at himself. Very few directors have the ability to mock themselves, especially when they have so much creative control over their films. It is a rare trait and, in my opinion, is what truly makes Brooks’ style unique.

Like Charlie Chaplin and Woody Allen, Brooks succeeds in combining irony and satire with the seriousness of everyday life, creating a strange mixture of both funny and sad situations in his films that leave the audience with a bittersweet taste in their mouths. Many of the remarks made by his protagonists in fact connect to real life

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ARTS + ENTS Design by Louise James, Words by Katherine Rosemary

Playing the Waiting Game Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by fast-paced Triple-A games? Do you wish you could play a game and really take your time? Do you want to spend two hours wandering while you wait for a door to open?

If so, this may well be the game for you. Developed in Germany by Studio Seufz, The Longing is a bizarrely charming idle adventure game unlike any other I’ve played.

Inspired by German folklore, you play as a character known only as the “Shade”, who must wait 400 days for the King under the mountain to awaken. That is, 400 days in realtime. Though you can collect items of decoration or leisure which allow time to pass with minutely increasing speed, it generally could still take weeks, months, or even over a year to complete.

What I find so lovely about The Longing is that you are forced to take your time. Even if you try to rush through it, you will be faced with significant obstacles. For starters, the Shade moves incredibly slowly. If, like me, you normally find yourself mashing keys for characters and cutscenes to move along quicker, you may find the deliberate, lethargic pace surprisingly therapeutic. Some other roadblocks are far more literal. Find yourself stuck at a heavy door? Come back in a couple of hours. Held up waiting for a stalactite to form your new path? Try again in a few days. Waiting for a tiny droplet to fill a lake? A month.

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Once new areas begin to open to you, further exploration takes you to dark new heights. This is both in setting - with high-ceilinged caves rife with glowing fungi - and in tone, as the Shade gradually provides more insights into their loneliness. For a character with such infrequent dialogue the Shade has a surprising level of emotional complexity, as they express their guilt over disobeying the will of the King, despair from being so totally isolated, doubts as to the point of it all, and even their occasional appreciation of time spent alone.

While the art style is dark, the music melancholy, and the main character seemingly having an unending existential crisis, there is an undeniable sense of peaceful introspection in gradually losing yourself within the game’s unexplored caverns.

So, how does it all end? Maybe I’ll let you know next year.

ARTS + ENTS Design by Louise James, Words by Marleen Käsebier

ARTIST’S SPOTLIGHT:

DECLAN MCCOURT An Irvine native, Declan McCourt of DJCAD seems in his element experimenting with paints on different fabrics on his studio floor. With work that spans over every conceivable medium, from sculpture, to charcoal sketches, to the written word, McCourt has left a trail of ephemeral pieces that illustrate his journey through the art world as an ethereal, trance-like thing.

Drawing insight from his surroundings, he has been taking the time to intricately craft projects that generate melancholic nostalgia, using words and images that float around wide spaces like memories in a tranquil pool.

He takes a great deal of inspiration from the concept of memories, with the feelings, emotions, and people attached to said memories being his main drive in creating work.

Alongside these themes, the work of Peter Doig continues to be one of his biggest inspirations. The former’s use of deconstruction and reassembly landscapes to fit his own perception is seminal to McCourt’s own practice, as well as the use of colours to influence an audience’s emotions and therefore their view of the work. In an equal sense, Eden Koch’s sporadic use of text in her work is also important to him, allowing for his illustrations to take a more readable form.

His latest work is a tactile, immersive art installation that allows for an audience to dive into sensation. Complete with heat-sensitive pigments, plaster mouldings, and little nooks allowing people to hide away, this project is certainly one of his biggest. As people get closer to and explore the experience that McCourt offers, they can work out the intricacies of his pieces: soft, washed pastels, smudged faces, and smatterings of poetry dust the work like light snow on a hillside. It is delicate, unobtrusive, but still there.

It leaves a distinct impression, as just under the surface lurks a feeling much bigger than otherwise suspected.

He laughs while talking about his new project: “I wanted to create an installation piece that resembled the side of a mountain, complete with wax branches and clay peaks that an audience can interact with and touch. Maybe that isn’t the safest thing these days, so I might have to rework it a bit.”

Regardless of how this work turns out, these ideas have created their own ecosystem of memories and feelings, a microcosm to examine closely as the audience explores every facet of McCourt’s work.

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ARTS + ENTS Design by Cait Maxwell, Illustration by Kirstin Moore

Beauty in the Bad In recent years a trend has emerged amongst cinephiles of finding films that are of such awful quality they must be shared. Over lockdown this became a hobby of mine, where my friends and I would purposely pick a bad film to watch just to tear it apart.

This begs the question though: is there something cynical in us that simply enjoys watching people fail?

Or is there something actually quite admirable in creating something so perfectly poor?

This trend is not new. Plan 9 From Outer Space, made in 1959, was a film so terrible that there has since been a plethora of books, documentaries and films all created with the purpose of dissecting just how something so awful can exist. However, it can be argued that this phenomenon really began with Tommy Wiseau’s The Room (2003), which is held as a magnum opus of bad filmmaking and essentially popularised the trend amongst millennials. The Room follows the story of a man betrayed by his best friend and fiancé, leading to a tragic suicide. On paper this is not a funny story, but the complete lack of verisimilitude and human understanding is simply staggering to see. It goes against anything you have ever seen or been trained to see; something so uncanny that you cannot help but watch. In this sense, it is actually quite ground-breaking: it is easy to make a bad film, but to make one this terrible, you cross into another realm of entertainment entirely.

Another film that tows this line between good and bad is Face/Off

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(1997), starring the usual suspects of John Travolta and Nicholas Cage.

The film follows L.A. based FBI agent Sean Archer (Travolta) who swaps faces with global terrorist Castor Troy (Cage). I could try and explain the rest of the plot to you, but I do not believe I would do it justice. There are numerous sources of enjoyment from the film, be it director John Woo`s trademark campiness or the typically inventive performances that both Cage and Travolta give. I think these are just a byproduct of the main ingredient in a ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ film, which is the absurdity of the plot. It does not try to be Chinatown (1974) or Persona (1966); instead it understands its place. The viewer is enticed by the absurdity of the premise and held through the charms of its imperfection.

This all leads into a grander point of expectations. Every other art form rewards the abstract and the surreal. In music, for instance, you think of the psychedelic and the post-rock genres; in painting, the cubist movements. Film is the only art form that demands realism, which I believe creates a monotonous feeling within the films that most people see. Cage personifies the alternate within acting, with acclaimed director David Lynch even going as far as to describe him as the ‘free jazz of the acting world.’ Cage’s performances are often laughed at and mocked, with numerous jokes being born out of his films. Yet if he is this apparently awful actor the mainstream labels him as, how is he such a box office success?

I think it is the simple fact that the man is entertaining. Watch any of his (many) ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ films and he

is often surrounded by actors trying to approach their role through a median of realism. These actors are often easily forgotten as Cage outshines them through his sheer charisma.

This then makes you wonder: do wider audiences truly crave realism in acting, or is it a notion that we have tricked ourselves into believing? You must ask yourself why acting should be realistic.

On the other side of the coin are films created with the sole with the intention to be bad. Films such as Sharknado (2013) or Zombeavers (2014) were made to capitalise on this cult phenomena, but their intentions are wholly transparent. In trying to replicate something so undefinable they lack the satisfaction that comes with these grand failures; failures that had the intentions to be meaningful.

From their perspective, it is quite tragic. People have worked tirelessly on a piece of art only to have their intentions squandered entirely. Yet even in these disasters we find joy, and in a sense these filmmakers made something so difficult to capture that, where others are forgotten, their legacy lives on. In my eyes the greatest offence a film can commit is to be boring and these bizarre gems are anything but, always managing to shock and delight as to what strange thing could occur next. Although The Room falls flat on its face at every attempt to be a serious work of art, it is still one of my favourite movies for the sheer joy it brings me. And can you really ask for anything more

ARTS + ENTS Words by Lewis Gibson

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ARTS + ENTS Design by Phoebe Wilman

A Girl Worth Fighting For: A Love Letter to Avatar, The Legend of Korra She may be not everyone’s favourite Avatar, but Korra is easily one of my favourite characters. Avatar: The Legend of Korra was the show I’d geek out over with anyone who’d listen. After all, how can anyone forget the groundbreaking “Korrasami” moment or the complexity of each season’s arc?

What’s not to love about Korra? She’s a kick-ass female lead whose strength is never called into question; her story is set in a lush 1920s update from the original series; and it contains some of the best emotional messages my underdeveloped thirteen-year-old mind could comprehend.

Korra the Jock Given that the recurring theme throughout both Avatar series is balance and morality, this female avatar could have just been a carbon copy of Aang. However, it is quickly proven that Korra is nothing like her predecessor: where Aang would try to avoid conflict, Korra launches into every situation fist - or perhaps bending - first. She plays by her own rules. Not even Tenzin, her air bending master and resident “straight man”, can keep her in check.

In the first season, Korra starts out as a brash teenager who causes a lot of trouble, especially to her master and the Republic City Police. Although she seems childish and immature at first, we quickly realise she’s really just an eager teen trying to prove herself in a world she isn’t familiar with.

Although she does usually leave a trail of destruction behind her, Korra’s fierce compassion is what wins me over. It’s clear from the get-go that she’s the type to jump in and help others in need. In the first episode, for instance, she’s not scared to stand up to three gangsters bullying some shop vendors. She faces them alone (and wins!). Even if the police think she’s a nuisance, you can’t help but cheer this musclehead of an Avatar on.

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Korra in the New World Just like Korra, we’re constantly in awe about the setting of her story. Thanks to the talented animation provided by Studio Mir, the Republic City is a whimsical tableau of good old 1920s Shanghai aesthetics combined with steampunk-esque machinery, all infused with the elemental bending we know and love.

It’s not just the visuals either - the sounds are just right.

Every episode starts off with a recap by talented voice actor Jim Cummings, who perfectly mimics an ‘old-timey’ radio presenter. In keeping with the 1920s theme, the soundtrack is filled with jazz that’s hit with a pan-Asian fusion. Fittingly, whenever Korra gets in trouble, it shifts to a chaotic cacophony of trumpets and wind instruments.

With its gorgeous visuals and charming music, this world is one just begging to be explored.

ARTS + ENTS Words by Joanne Lam

Korra Alone

Final Thoughts

What truly solidifies Korra as one of my favourite characters is the episode “Korra Alone”. Korra returns to Republic City, three years after the violently anarchistic Red Lotus Gang attempts to murder her. With this emotionally taxing performance, it’s no wonder this is the favourite episode of Korra’s voice actress, Janet Varney.

The journey Korra takes throughout all four seasons of The Legend of Korra will always stay in my heart.

As cheesy as that sounds, this show is hard to forget.

It’s no wonder that even after airing for the last time six years ago, there’s still a loyal fanbase and countless analyses spread throughout the internet. With Korra’s inspiring compassion, the exciting Republic City, and the show’s strong emotional message, this show will continue to enchant old and new viewers alike.

Despite Katara’s best efforts to literally get Korra back on her feet, we don’t see Korra as her usual, feisty self.

Instead, she’s still haunted by visions of her attackers as well as a shadow version of herself, who seems to be fashioned in a “ghost-of-Christmas-yet-to-come” situation, complete with chains and a menacing glower.

With the constant flashbacks and Korra’s drastically different demeanour, this (though it is never explicitly stated) was probably one of the first times I saw the depiction of PTSD on the small screen. Although in real life we probably won’t have some showdown with the shadow version of ourselves, nor have a cathartic bending death match with a fascist military leader, the show still offers advice that resonates with me today.

As Korra tells Tenzin in the final episode: “I needed to understand what real suffering was, so I could become more compassionate to others.” This was truly a moment of growth and maturity that we could see wdeveloped through her journey.

This all goes to show that, gradually, after witnessing the injustices of the world outside her secluded home, and facing off some of the creepiest and politically compelling villains (who deserve an article of their own), Korra’s character matures and evolves. But no matter what, she keeps her unwavering, fierce loyalty towards her friends and duty as the Avatar through to the end.

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CREATIVE WRITING Design by Louise James

Diner Divine The big moon looked on haughtily at its miniature form, reflected in Hermes’ glasses amidst a dark sea of blue specks. It had been one year. He felt the familiar breeze, the taste of seawater. He wondered if his family would be the same as well, like the grass beneath his feet. He’d gotten the space he’d wanted and yet he wasn’t sure he’d have come if it wasn’t for her.

He was relieved when he finally noticed lights in the distance and the faint white outline of a small house.

Glittering yellow lights had been strung between poles.

Two tables had been brought out, giving the appearance of one long table – half of it a faded mint, the other half peeling white paint. Figures moved in and out of the back door carrying chairs and a tablecloth.

“There you are.”

Another figure emerged from the house and spoke in a deep voice: “Hermes, brother. You are late. But I see you bear gifts.”

The man let out a roaring laugh and gave Hermes a fierce hug before taking the bottle to examine it.

“Ah. Ambrosia. Yes. That’s the stuff.”

Hermes chuckled. “That’s what you asked for, Dio.” “And you always deliver,” said Dionysus, clapping him on the arm.

He hesitated making himself known just yet and remained in shadow, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The two of them stepped into the light. Hermes looked around nervously.

“Here, grab the other end. He-. Her-. Ow! Zeus! Some help over here,” the woman grappling with the tablecloth spoke as the wind blew it into her face.

“Hermes, we thought you’d lost your way,” the red-haired woman said in a deep but delicate voice. She moved to embrace him.

A man who was facing the sea turned around, confused.

He had a greyish-brown beard, a few pronounced wrinkles on his forehead, and intense blue eyes. He turned his gaze upward, raised his hand and waved it slowly. The wind died down.

He stared at her affectionately. She was exactly as he remembered and his heart swelled at her touch.

“Thank you,” uttered the woman with a sigh, fixing her red curls out of her face. She wore a blue-green chiffon dress with short ruffled sleeves. A gold pendant hung on her chest in the shape of a helmet and spear.

She returned a knowing smile.

She assumed a pensive look. She felt a familiar presence and her eyes found him in the shadows.

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“It is good to see you, Thèna,” he said in a half-whisper.

“You look beautiful.”

He shook hands with Zeus as Dionysus strode off to the edge of the field. Hands around his mouth, the latter shouted down at the beach.

“Oi! You two had better get back up. Hermes has finally

CREATIVE WRITING Words by Valerya Krumova

shown up and I ain’t waiting any longer to pour myself a drink.”

Hermes and the others followed to peer over the edge.

Two figures sat on an upturned boat, holding out a phone between them. He recognized the broad-shouldered guy with the messy bun as Poseidon. Next to him was Artemis, her raven hair stealing all attention from the pale sand and limestone cliffs.

They struggled to suppress a laugh.

As they walked back, two more figures emerged from the house. Hermes’ mood immediately lightened as he saw Apollo with his shaggy, dark blonde hair, wearing a pink hoodie, his guitar across his shoulder.

“Brother! Where’ve you been?” Apollo asked. “Mm! Here, try this. Demi’s been teaching me how to bake bread.”

“Bugger off, Dio! You had a drink way before any of us arrived,” she yelled back.

Before Hermes had a chance to answer Apollo had stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth.

“Yeah Misy, well you-”

“‘s good right? That’s focaccia with olives, dried tomatoes and uhh…rosemary!” he said excitedly.

“Don’t call me that! We’ll come up when we’re done.”

Going against his instinct, Hermes asked Dio what the two were doing down there.

They heard a glass clinking and turned to look at Dio. “Alright everyone. Time for a toast.”

Dio smoothed his moustache with his fingers and rolled his eyes.

He motioned for them to gather around and take a glass of ambrosia.

“Apparently, Poseidon’s been filming his travels around the coast. You know, walking barefoot, photographing the sea, growing out his hair. Anyway, they went down to have a life-stream?” he said with uncertainty, raising his brow.

“To Family,” announced Demetra.

“Livestream,” muttered Zeus.

They all gave him skeptical looks.

“To Hermes,” proposed Dio and received approving nods.

“Ay,” muttered Apollo, “I’ll drink to that.’”

“Cheers!”

“I might have watched one or two of his videos. You know how he gets when we don’t take interest,’ he said and shrugged, looking away.

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CREATIVE WRITING Design by Louise James, Words by Luke Perry

December Joy On this winter day I recall how all month I played so many years ago yet the memories still flow as the tears of joy I wept as a boy.

I still recall the heavy snowfall that decorated the town coating the muddy brown with a festive tint that in the morning sun did glint.

I still see the same dawn that witnessed wrapping torn eager hands teared away revealing the gifts it kept at bay.

Each item enhancing the magic until one only contained coal, how tragic!

I can still hear the church bell’s chimes and the choirs with festive rhymes melding together in a heavenly mix many wounds such a thing can fix dancing with the wind, always twisting guiding it to all on Santa’s listing.

I miss the smell of a Christmas feast tables with enough food to fill a beast the taste of gravy and the giant turkey.

It’s these memories ingrained in me that keep me going through dark times.

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CREATIVE WRITING Design by, Louise James, Words by Caitlin MacLeod

from surviving to living every breath taken can be an uprising the blood in your body stiffens to stale glue every speck of shattered light can be baptising the strength of fear felt is uncompromising and it feels as if there’s no way to get through every breath taken can be an uprising the pitch holds echo memories of when you were thriving because you thought you would be left in the hollow blue every speck of shattered light can be baptising when your mind is doing nothing other than capsizing you may be wondering if there’s anyone left to save you every breath taken can be an uprising ‘cause the light is all you need, she is energising feeding us all. you and i, the flowers that grew every speck of shattered light can be baptising leave behind you the days of dying, the life held in mind and body is anew. every breath taken is an uprising, every speck of shattered light is baptising.

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CREATIVE WRITING Design by Louise James

Thunder Oh, what a night of excitement I have had. I write my thoughts now in the comfort and warmth of a fire indoors, although only minutes ago I ran through howling wind, rain and, for the first time in my life, thunder and lightning. I hope to capture the intensity of my emotions, my heart still beating against my ribs, to preserve them for later meditation. Perhaps, I will later look upon these with humour and half chide my past self for such mania, but I do believe I have heard the very voice of God!

Before the rain, I had spent the evening in the company of friends a mile or two from my home. It was of no particular speciality and I cannot think of any event or conversation that bent my mind toward any large ideas. In all it was a pleasant night spent in pleasant company. By the time I left, it was around ten or eleven o’clock. Upon looking out the window I saw the harshest rain of the year.

Although invisible in the dark, the rain showed clearly under the streetlamps, and it was accompanied by a roaring wind.

I set off for my house, which was no more than half an hour away and felt as one does when so drenched in rain that it ceases to be a nuisance and becomes refreshingly intense. I gave up trying to shield myself from the elements and embraced the weather. It was when I was around halfway home and walking along a quiet suburban street that I first heard the loudest crack of thunder. I glanced up at the sky and noticed ahead of me flashes of purple light pop from behind the clouds. The very power of this sight caused me alarm and I began to walk faster and faster until I was running. What caused me to take this action, I do not know, but as I ran faster the cracks and flashes grew louder and more intense, I swear!

For the rest of my journey I galloped as if my life depended on it, all rationality was purged from my mind. The closer I got to my house the louder and harsher the thunder and lightning was until I flew myself into my house and sat down to write this experience lest I forget it.

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CREATIVE WRITING Words by Andrew Young

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CREATIVE WRITING Design by Catherine MacEwan, Photography by Maria-Paula Huertas

Home-Bound “A world of winter coats, dark silhouettes and falling raindrops.”

I

am the fairy lights on the sky, leaving you speechless in a cold breath on a winter morning.

Leaving freckles of snowflakes in your fond memories of childhood, filled with laughter and moving swings. A breath of brittle and delicate air, leaves traces from sledges down the hill. The sky turns grey from time to time, which can easily be forgotten in memories. A world of winter coats, dark silhouettes and falling raindrops. Flowers lie dead underneath the hard soil as asphalt leaves scars on falling limbs. A lair of frozen skin, winter waves on the shallow sand in a box long forgotten. A few leaves hang to their life, they won’t let go. The smell of cinnamon cookies and gingerbread men. The kitchen windows have turned foggy. The flames from the fireplace licks the broken wood into pieces of ashes and bones.

Winter makes it almost impossible to forget the things we created with beds of flowers in summer.

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CREATIVE WRITING Words by Lizzie Husum

Between a carpet of green moss, ladybirds, fleeting spiders and mosquito bites. Strawberry and cherry trees covering the ground with pink leaves. Wooden benches in the shadow of apple trees. Fresh-washed laundry fluttering on the washing line, leaving a fragrance of laundry detergent.

“A feeling of hot chocolate and marshmallows in the icy wind.”

I breathe life in warmth, sun flowers, dandelions and fragile butterfly bushes. A feeling of hot chocolate and marshmallows in the icy wind. Fresh mowed grass and buckets of water with plastic spoons and ducks. A recipe for mud cakes and sandboxes that could hide oceans of secrets.

the bare branches from the trees, blinking as the swing goes back and forth, now empty and forgotten.

But as we feel the warmth from the crackling flames, I listen to your soft voice, whispering in my ear.

Between the gingerbread and foggy windows I can still smell your peppermint breath while I look into a dense layer of baby-blue colours in the depth of your eyes. They remind me of sweet strawberry pudding we picked in a strawberry field in summer. While we embrace, your heart beats in the same rhythm as mine. The smell of fresh made coffee in the morning burying my face in the clothes, crispy and airy but with a pint of your kindness which makes the darkness around us soothing like milk and sugar.

Now it’s a memory, as the soft wind caresses my face with a light touch. The sunlight is shining through 25

CREATIVE WRITING Design by Karly Yu, Words by Orla Davey

THE SNOWMAN My mind is scattered snowflakes blazing against the frosty tide defenceless fragments of thought dying in the air one by one.

I am made with good intentions but unable to follow those who made me, loved me.

I’m pinned by an icicle, frosty roots tethering my cold core.

This snowman certainly won’t be walking in the air.

If or when I melt who will notice?

My mouth is full of snow, burying everything deep within me.

When I collapse upon myself, my secrets will dissolve with me whispering desperately upon thawing ground.

Who could love someone frozen in time?

These arms are glued to my sides, unable to cuddle, cradle, embrace.

My deepest desires are fantasies scrawled on garish Christmas cards.

Those snowmen look so happy, so warm, so why do they never melt?

Hundreds of them huddle together on supermarket shelves, spreading joy into the world once they’re chosen.

Then there’s me trapped in the crisp cold cage of a random garden, yet my dark coal eyes shed no tears.

A child draws a smile upon my blank face with her fingers, numb to the touch.

I keep it on, a frozen grimace.

Let her think I’m happy.

No one wants a Grinch at Christmas.

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CREATIVE WRITING Design by Gosia Kepka, Words by Aaron Tweed

This stepping of stones in sequence, comes as natural as thought, when sought as a roaming shark patrolling the reef the risk of falling that Fear fully brought, blinds the heart to pain, like a tree that lost a leaf.

A speck of dust rolls in the time fuelled tempest, this leaf, fallen from the steady, aged tree throws the ground to meet the air - and as the maelstrom surrounds the forest, the branches will remember me Clothed in their manufactured excess, ripped from the dream-like goal the sudden caress to the fateful impress, a field without a harvest; an angel without a soul our Reality only becomes a dream when we wake and Time only treats us well when we are dead so, be like the water that fills up the lake but beware the Frost when the sun has fled!

Dreams can be morphed into thought - thought that leads to action.

The fractured sun waits in the furrowed bark of inaction.

Winding like wheels that crack in tiny revolutions.

Rising again to defeat the horizons.

Winter’s icy wings defrost in the once lost visions.

Our eyes will lift once more meeting the sanctuary of Sunlight’s incisions.

Dreams lie like moonbeams on the surface of thought, caressing the blood of my brain rooting some half-clear vision, I taught dusty recesses that once could not contain the beauty of leaves fallen from trees that settle with the dirt on the ground as flowers newly petalled surround the sky reflected on shimmering seas

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DON’T SETTLE NO ONE SHOULD SETTLE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP. RECOGNISE THE SIGNS AND KNOW WHERE TO SEEK SUPPORT WHEN YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE IS IN AN EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY OR SEXUALLY ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP ISOLATING YOU FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS BEHAVIOUR THAT UNDERMINES, INTIMIDATES, HUMILIATES AND DEGRADES YOU PHYSICALLY OR VERBALLY ABUSIVE TOWARDS YOU ACTING OVERLY JEALOUS, AGGRESSIVE, UNPREDICTABLE OR UPSET TOWARDS YOU PRESSURES YOU TO HAVE SEX MONITORING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, CALLS AND TEXTS MANAGING AND EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME AND MONEY MANIPULATION OF YOUR FEELINGS MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ALWAYS WRONG AND EVERYTHING IS YOUR FAULT Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) Registered Scottish Charity No. SCO16047

ON/OFF CAMPUS Design by Louise James

LAUNCH YOUR SOCIETY’S MEDIA In the online world, prioritising your Society’s media presence is not only optional but often essential to highlight the academic dimension of your activity.

You can launch a blog or start a podcast. There are many possibilities. Each has their advantages and characteristics which set them apart. This article shall answer all the questions that you might have upon entering the media world. Is it worth it? Why should I do that? How much time does it take? Do I have sufficient skills? I asked the members of the ‘Women in STEM’ team, and Jake Mace, the host of the Politics Society’s podcast ‘POLCAST’, to see what tips they have for you.

How about a website?

“The Women in STEM website was set up a few years ago,” says Skye Kirwan – the Society’s president. Being revived earlier this year, it expanded, yet one thing that remains the same is its unique and honorous goal to support the female presence on the STEM job market. By conducting a series of interviews with influential and successful women employed in STEM, Natasha Mikietyn, the Head of the Blog, hopes to inspire her female colleagues to seek more opportunities, such as internships and to give them a general feeling of self-confidence upon entering the male-dominated market. The blog aims to serve as a point of reference for anyone interested in the subject of gender inequality. “We do not only aim to tackle the issue, we want people to be informed,” adds the Society’s VP, Gerda Ugne Pupelyte.

On the one hand, the blog remains the focal part of the website, on the other, there is so much more to it. The ‘Whisper a Sister’ initiative was launched as a counterweight to the negativity of ‘Dunfess’. The members are given a possibility to send an anonymous congratulation note to one of their colleagues, which will be later published on their Facebook. Be it getting an internship or winning an award, everyone should be praised for their achievements.

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The Society seeks to collaborate with the School of Science and Engineering, and the SRC Women’s Representative. Despite having been revived for less than a year, it has arguably already transformed our campus into a more inclusive environment. Overall, the website serves a purpose of communication between the Committee and its members, and it gives all the Society’s members a platform to boost their academic portfolio.

Skye, Gerda and Natasha unequivocally encourage other societies to launch their blogs and websites. It is a wonderful complementation to their Society’s both academic and social activities and gives their work a sense of timeless credibility. Whereas WordPress is sufficient for blog entries, they prefer the WiXsite, as the latter, while also being free, offers more features and allows for the team members to be appropriately represented online.

The workload required to produce one article differs on its form. “In their very nature, interviews require less time and effort from the editor than the more reflexive, academic based entries,” concludes Natasha. What might seem as a challenging initiative, definitely pays off and both their campus presence and their website shall be the ultimate proof of that: https://uodwomeninstem.wixsite.com/uodwomeninstem.

“What might seem as a challenging initiative, definitely pays off and both [STEM’s] campus presence and their website shall be the ultimate proof of that”

ON/OFF CAMPUS Words by Marcin Kielczewski

Podcast sounds sound

The idea of POLCAST was born in late May, when Jake Mace realised that Politics in its extensivity does not always allow the lecturers and students to reach the depths of certain concepts on academic grounds. What started as an extension to lectures, quickly evolved into a bigger project. The POLCAST gave students a platform to enhance their skills and boost their academic portfolio. Episodes comprising opinions of the lecturers, students and even international guests became the hallmark of the Society.

While maintaining the academic standards, it is produced in a slightly informal, relaxed and friendly environment.

“the gain will be worth all the effort”

Although it all sounds like a very complicated process, Jake says the production of one episode should take no longer than 3 hours, including the research, contacting the guest(s), recording, and editing. It is up to you how many episodes will you produce on a monthly basis – two are definitely sufficient. You can use Zoom (without video) to record the audio, Audacity for editing, and Anchor to publish your podcast across several streaming platforms at once – all of this software is available for free. Golden rule: maintain good audio quality – you don’t need professional equipment in the early stage, a set of headphones shall do the trick.

Whether you decide to launch a website, blog or podcast, it will inevitably benefit both your members and the Committee. It might require substantial effort at first, and adding a new member to your team might be necessary. At the end of the day, even three additional hours per week might be difficult while trying to keep up with the studies.

But, yet again, the gain will be worth all the effort.

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ON/OFF CAMPUS Design by Louise James

The Campus Consensus Surveying fifty-five students, it is investigated how students have coped with semester one and the uncertainty that lies before us. Along with further interviews, it is clear that COVID-19 has forced us to change our lifestyles, although not necessarily negatively.

With ongoing COVID restrictions, Campus and university life remain almost unrecognisable. I questioned numerous students about the impact the pandemic has had on their faith, time spent with family and friends, living away from home and working as a student. I also gathered some useful tips from those who completed the survey on how to adapt to the new situations we find ourselves in.

Unfortunately, many students feel like they haven’t adapted well to changes this semester. Campus isn’t just about socialising: it’s an environment used in disassociating university life from home life, two entities which have been challenging to separate this semester. Students rated their enjoyment of this semester at 49% with almost everyone agreeing that COVID has impacted their social life (90%), their mental health (71%), and their grades or ability to study (54%).

“Students rated their enjoyment of this semester at 49% with almost everyone agreeing that COVID has impacted their social life (90%), their mental health (71%), and their grades or ability to study (54%)” 32

For students who are working this semester, there is the added stress of job insecurity and balancing a new type of University schedule with employment. I spoke to Lizzy, a Digital Marketing Masters student working in hospitality.

She explained, “I dropped loads of my shifts because I couldn’t keep up with University work” which she described as “a massive unorganised mess this year”. Although her employers have been supportive, she “didn’t realise how little help the University would be during these times”.

Similarly, the University has been vague regarding plans for travelling home for winter break. 63% of students living away from home are concerned about the inability to see family during the holiday. I interviewed Kirstin, a 5th year Medical student, who has lived at home since coming to University. When I asked how she was coping at home she explained; “my family support me as best they can but they don’t fully understand all of my Uni stuff so… I could do with meeting up/seeing Uni friends”. She added that “the majority of time it is just me and when I do have company, human contact with one other person for 4+ months just doesn’t cut it”. It seems that wherever students are based, at home or campus, we crave the time we used to spend with our friends and family. Although Kirstin has the privilege of home comforts, she still feels isolated.

As the winter holidays are largely associated with religious festivities, I asked students how they felt COVID has impacted their faith this semester, whether religious or not. In terms of religion, some questioned why God would put them through this; and others have been finding involvement in a current or new religion troublesome.

However, the majority of students claimed that their reliance on religion has been strengthened by the pandemic, either in becoming closer with members of the same faith through their place of worship or by seeking reliance on whatever God or greater power they believe in. Likewise, those who are spiritual but not necessarily religious are finding it hard to maintain faith when it’s ‘harder to see the point in everything’, whereas some have found COVID has made them more spiritual by connecting to what really matters to them.

ON/OFF CAMPUS Words by Lisa Kilday

Despite the negativity that comes with restrictions, I was overwhelmed by the amount of optimism in the survey regarding the healthy coping mechanisms students have managed to utilise this semester. Many people are thriving with having more responsibility over their learning and the freedom to do course work around other plans; and some have chosen to move back home which has saved them money. I have listed some tips which your fellow students have suggested for coping this semester:

With all that said, if you are really struggling to cope this semester, it is always best to speak to a professional such as your GP or a University counsellor. Nightline are always there to phone on 01382 381 183 for help outside of working hours. Whether this year has been a time to remember or a time to forget, I hope this has helped you realise that through friends, family, faith or your own unique ways, you can find something to push you through this tough time.

“There’s sparks of hope everywhere… you just need to keep an eye out for those moments.”

- Make this year about focusing on course work - Take frequent work breaks - Course group chats - Trying new hobbies (e.g. cooking) - Spend time with the people you can, when you can - Facetime - Get outdoors!

- And a less helpful but realistic tip… ‘it’s just something you have to get on with’

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ON/OFF CAMPUS Design by Robyn Black

A new reflection on the meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is a time of celebration.

A time where people come together to celebrate the festivities, where troubles new and old can be forgotten about, a time where memories are created to be remembered for years to come.

Whether it’s volunteering some spare time to help those in need, going to the theatre to see an annual pantomime or Christmasthemed stage play, staying up with hopes and dreams of seeing Santa Claus struggling to fit down a toosmall chimney or simply gathering around for a carol or two, Christmas means so much to people both young and old. Sitting around an open log fire or indulging in a cup of hot apple cider on a cold winter evening whilst dreaming of a white Christmas, contributes a magical quality to this time of year, which seems to warm hearts.

Winter wonderlands aside, Christmas is about to be very different this year. Unforeseen circumstances will impact festive activities, gatherings and other seasonal ventures which will probably be turning people’s warm hearts into rock hard icicles that not even Jack Frost could create. The heart-warming evenings could contain some cold, lukewarm smiles as though they have woken up to a stocking filled with coal.

People’s favourite pastimes will be very difficult to accomplish and meeting with friends and family will not always be possible. This year will be a continual struggle for some people and the true meaning of Christmas will never be more relevant compared to recent years.

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Open hearts full of kindness, loyalty, laughter, generosity, and honesty will make this Christmas all the more magical for those who will be left feeling lonely or scared. Everyone has a right to have an enchanting Christmas. Along with the power of friendship and a big, jolly Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas can be more magical than ever before.

“Regrettably, the Rep will not be able to showcase their hard work this Christmas.

They do however have a little trick up their sleeve.”

Theatres and creative arts will be closed with whole autumn-winter seasons cancelled. For there will be no cries of ‘It’s behind you’ at yearly pantomimes or sing-alongs at music venues nor will there be any classic beloved Stageplays for the general audience. It comes to no surprise that establishments are struggling with funds and several more long-winded weeks with no incoming revenue will not help matters. Dundee is blessed with a thrilling and continually growing arts and entertainment sector. Dundee Contemporary Arts hosts the annual tour Discovery Film Festival, which recently celebrated its seventeenthyear screening films from all across the world, plus many more engaging and exciting activities. Our city’s very own renowned Dundee Rep is but another highlight, situated just round the corner from our University.

The Dundee Rep is blessed with an incredible, talented ensemble and behind-the-scenes crew who put on

a wide range of shows which extend beyond theatre, music, comedy, dance and even family orientated entertainment. Regrettably, the Rep will not be able to showcase their hard work this Christmas. They do however have a little trick up their sleeve.

Closed doors and empty auditoriums aside, there is a small glimmer of hope for all those who love the theatre arts. Starting on December 1st, Dundee Rep Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre are teaming up to present twenty-four unique, new pieces of entertainment throughout the advent season. Confined in their small Covid bubbles, both companies are planning something truly special and festive to lighten up even the darkest days in December. To find out what Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre are keeping hidden in their stockings, head on over to their social media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). Get ready for some enlightening pieces of entertainment this Christmas.

The power of the arts extends to our own University and its societies.

Societies this year have not had the chance to welcome new students with open arms nor have they had the opportunity to welcome back old faces to continue their passions this academic year. Our own University has a profound arts and entertainment sector. We have two theatres societies; Lip Theatre and Opsoc who put on a wide range of shows for a wide range of states. Unfortunately, plans for months into the future are anything but concrete, including whether a show will actually appear

ON/OFF CAMPUS Words by Benedict Jackson under the spotlight from the wings.

Students hold societies very close to heart where they can forget the troubles of student life and become someone new.

This Christmas will be like nothing anyone has ever experienced before, and we can all do our bit to ensure no one is left out of the festivities, however big or small.

Whatever one finds themselves doing this winter, whether it is writing a card to a loved one or simply calling them for a little catch up, it can make all the difference.

So please remember: stay safe and have a merry Christmas.

“Whatever one finds themselves doing this winter, whether it is writing a card to a loved one or simply calling them for a little catch up, it can make all the difference.�

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ON/OFF CAMPUS Design by Patrik Vojtas

Go Abroad and Enhance Your Time at Dundee!

Reflections on a semester in Hong Kong.

I don’t have a definitive list of ‘the best things I’ve done’, but if I did, studying in Hong Kong for a semester would definitely be up there. From the moment I stepped off the plane and journeyed towards my new home at City University in Kowloon, I knew I was about to have one of the best semesters of my academic career.

Interested? Then now’s the time to look into it.

Applications for the 2021/2022 academic year close on the 1st of February 2021. You’ll find all the opportunities for European and international study at Dundee.ac.uk and you can email the Go Abroad team at goabroad@ dundee.ac.uk with any questions.

It’s hard to believe, but a ridiculously low number of students, just 6.6%, take up the opportunity to study abroad. Although, I understand it does take a leap of faith leaving friends and studies in Dundee for a totally new environment, statistics show that for those who do, it can lead to a better degree and better jobs into the future.

Students studying abroad, for example, are 20% less likely to be out of work when they graduate.

Studying in Hong Kong, I quickly learned that it is one of those cities that is amazing and entrancing and you often can’t put your finger on specifically why. Is it the cloudtouching buildings that soar overhead, or the smell of incense or street food on each new corner? Or the swarm of people that brush past you, leading you down to Victoria Harbour, the famous blue waters separating Kowloon from Hong Kong Island? Is it the five minute trip across the Harbour on the historic Star Ferry? Or is it the surprise of discovering all those beaches and hiking trails and that, unbelievably, 75% of Hong Kong’s territory is green, spread over urban parks to rolling open space.

Then there’s the experience itself and all those friends from far flung places you meet. If you’re lucky, they’ll be a cheap and welcome option for holidays into the future!

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ON/OFF CAMPUS Words by Catriona Harrison

Or, is it the new and exciting nightlife, from the small restaurant Mr Wong’s that hides away under an underpass in Kowloon, to the glitzier rooftop bars of Central or Causeway Bay or the clubs of Lan Kwai Fong spilling out into the streets till dawn. Or is it the quiet of the Buddhist temples and monasteries or noise of all the bustling markets and ferries busy steaming their way to the many islands? Or is it the stunning watery sunsets at a pier end…

Whatever it is, it drew me in from that first ride into the city.

Loving your new city is one thing but, when studying abroad, alone, it is hard to not feel overwhelmed at times. However, I found comfort in the fact that every student abroad was like me and we were all exploring our new home for the first time. We soon became friends, discovering the city together. The GoAbroad team, of course, are just one email away and they were a great help to me when I was studying abroad.

There are some obvious benefits of studying abroad.

Personally, I gained an awful lot of confidence from completely throwing myself into a new university and new friendship groups. I remember walking into my first lecture, after spending twenty minutes finding the right room, sitting down and being petrified. But after that class was over, I found solace in the fact that if I could find that lecture hall in the maze that is a new campus, then I could surely find the rest. However, top tip: give yourself enough time to work out how to navigate the campus. You’ll thank me later.

I also learned more about myself. I was taking classes that I couldn’t take at home and was therefore learning about things that might have slipped by me if I had not ventured off on an exchange. I explored what I valued in friendship too.

You are told that students who study abroad are 9% more likely to be awarded a first or 2:1 degree and that it will be good for your employment prospects as you will undoubtedly become ‘more globally aware’.

I certainly wasn’t prepared for landing in Hong Kong at such a time of social unrest. Living through even just a few months of escalating protests which impacted on neighbourhoods right across the city and onto my own campus and halls of residence really opened my eyes.

I would recommend study abroad to anyone who is interested in pushing themselves to have new experiences, new challenges and new opportunities. The experience isn’t always easy, but it is definitely worth it.

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ON/0FF CAMPUS Design by Kirsty Bruce

Anticipating Joy There is a German saying that goes: “anticipation is the most wonderful joy”. That being said, upcoming occasions, such as the Holidays, may seem far from concrete in this year’s turbulence. With some flexibility, we can still plan joys to look forward to, including five listed ideas in and around Dundee.

My grandmother recently shared a memory with me over the phone, of her celebrating Christmas in October with her parents. This was during the second World War when soldiers came home only for certain periods. They wanted to celebrate Christmas as a family, so they did.

So, she told me, we don’t need to celebrate Christmas in December.

She concluded that it required some mental flexibility. If religious grounds are what root your celebrations, be it Hanukkah, Christmas, or a holiday further in the future, perhaps this won’t be as easy to take on. However, family traditions can be seen as separate parts of the whole and it’s in this area that we can be flexible; seeking joy, even if different than in Holidays past.

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There are many different kinds of joy, just as there are many different ways of seeking it. Before presenting specific events taking place, here’s a reminder that regardless of Holiday celebrations, breaking up the days to plan your own highlights can be immensely rewarding.

Taking a walk to the Riverside or just up and down your street once can reassure you that you’ve been out of the house that day, that you’ve moved and that you’ve breathed in some fresh air. Exercise doesn’t have to mean a long run or a big hike if that’s not what you can, want, or have time to do. If you find something that makes you feel better after having done it, nudge yourself to do it, especially when you don’t want to but know it would make you feel good. Or, as hinted before, plan it into your day to motivate you. This could also take the shape of a bath, food, a phone call, or joys more specific to you.

This year’s Holidays can be seen and planned similarly. Maybe you won’t be with family as early as you normally are, or you may in fact reunite earlier

but socially distanced. Regardless, traditions like baking can take place in variable formats. You could FaceTime and bake together, inviting extended family you normally wouldn’t bake with. You could also swap traditions and customs within your Dundee home, bonding anew. Socialising is, after all, a natural yearning. Thankfully, though limited, face-to-face meetups are possible and sometimes we understandably need them. Marked plans in calendars, such as coffee dates, are often sources of motivation that drive us forward; through coursework or grey days fading into one another.

“Here’s a reminder that regardless of Holiday celebrations, breaking up the days to plan your own highlights can be immensely rewarding.”

0N/OFF CAMPUS Words by Marleen Käsebier

Gathered below are five opportunities to look forward to in December: 1. A Festive Silent Adventure (Dundee) If you have flatmates or family members that you can convince to tag-along, you can get tickets online to dance through your flat, belting Christmas songs for all to hear on these fun and random Zoom calls sure to make you laugh (if just at your own dancing). They are ‘pay as you wish’, so you can choose to pay between £1.50-10. Tickets and more information can be found on silentadventures.co.uk under Zoom calls.

These five, mostly local ideas, form an inexhaustive list of possibilities to mark in your calendar. Not to forget are also virtual socials that will be planned by Societies, DUSA and other online possibilities, such as taking a wreathmaking class through Eventbrite. Whether in Dundee during the Semester break or with family elsewhere, hopefully you get to experience anticipating joy. In any case, you’ve got your community, friends and family in the same boat.

2. Maggie’s Online Carols Maggie’s, a Scottish-based charity that provides free cancer support and information across the UK, is hosting two online concerts: Maggie’s ‘Carols On Your Couch’ on the 3rd of December and Maggie’s ‘Carols in the Kitchen’ on the 13th. With line-ups of musicians and some well-known Scottish faces, the first has a donation fee of £10, found and paid on Eventbrite. Maggie’s Carols in the Kitchen, with composer Eric Whitacre, will be free and can be found on their website.

3. Aberdeen Eco-conscious Christmas Market This one is not actually in Dundee, but pretty close, especially considering you will be ‘attending’ from anywhere but where an Aberdeen Christmas Market would normally take place. This also happens to be a Facebook page, ‘Aberdeen Eco-conscious Christmas Market’, rather than a timed event, presenting various local businesses as its ‘stalls’. Without a specific time and date, you can plan to take a nosey whenever you please.

4. Dundee Rep’s and Scottish Dance Theatre’s Advent Not able to perform for its usual audiences, the Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre have put their virtual Holiday plan into motion, including twenty-four digital performances for each day of December, presented on their social media channels.

5. Tea Green Pop-Up Design Store at the V&A With thirty independent Scottish designers, there’s sure to be something that catches your eye; from jewellery to illustrations. This will be running Fridays-Mondays, with the dates and more info on the V&A website.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS Design by Claire Gamble, Words by Rufus Hodge

Wealth Building In our society dominated and divided by market forces, a radical new form of economic redistribution has emerged, that of Community Wealth Building. When we observe the division of capital, we see economic power concentrated in the possession of multinational corporations, beyond meaningful accountability, and increasingly beyond the power of parliaments.

What has happened, particularly in the loss of an industrial economic base in Scotland, are market forces which create huge wealth, but it is not evenly distributed. ‘Neoliberal cities’ contain the stark contrast of glistening projects and city centres with surrounding neighbourhoods which remain deprived. There is a vital need for an economic base that is rooted in communities which establishes a redistribution not just of wealth but of economic democracy. As István Mészáros puts it ‘capitalism is the extraparliamentary force par excellence and the socialist alternative has to be just as extensive’.

Since community wealth building was first developed by the Democracy Collaborative in the American rust-belt city of Cleveland, the project has crossed the Atlantic in the incredible success story that has unfolded in the city of Preston. The now influential ‘Preston Model’ began by focusing on the procurement done by ‘anchor institutions’, the largest purchasers of goods and services in the area.

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By establishing a network which encouraged these institutions to localise procurement, the share of the public procurement budget spent in the city quadrupled between 2013 and 2018 as well as having doubled across Lancashire, a gain of £75m and £200m respectively. With this wealth circulating in the local economy, unemployment in the city has fallen, Preston has seen better-than-average improvements in health, transport, work-life balance, and youth and adult skills acquisition, and now this circulation of wealth can be used for plans to further establish a democratic economic base, including for a community bank, public ownership, and investing the public pension fund into affordable housing.

The success of the Preston Model has inspired a number of other councils across the UK to develop their own models, including North Ayrshire, the first community wealth building council in Scotland, who, significantly, include plans in their model for climate action and a just transition. Community wealth building is still a budding idea, but its ability to capture the imagination for shaping a new democratic economic base that empowers communities makes it one of the most exciting ideas on the left today. As Martha Harnecker says, ‘Being radical lies in creating spaces where broad sectors can come together and struggle. For as human beings we grow and transform ourselves in the struggle’.

CURRENT AFFAIRS Design by Liam Palermo, words by Marcin Kielczewski.

What Biden means for European integration?

Donald Trump promised the UK ‘a great [trade] deal’, Hungary and Poland became famous for disrespecting their own laws and constitutions, and the EU took a step forward in creating a European Army. The swiftness of the above attitudes during Biden’s presidency will only prove how interdependent the American and European Politics are.

It is no secret that Trump hates the EU. He took pride in supporting Brexit and gave hope to the ‘Leave’ campaigners. Biden, of Irish descendance, has a more proEuropean attitude and is concerned by the possible breach of the Good Friday Agreement.

Whereas I do not argue that he will campaign for revoking Brexit – for that is too late; he already urged Mr Johnson to get a deal with the EU. His administration might thus lead to softening Brexit and giving the ‘Remainers’ a long overdue

hope for rejoining the EU in the near ‘post-Brexit’ future. Shall the British PM remain stubborn in his no-deal preparations, it might result in vengeful negotiations of the UK-US trade deal, which could again harm the Brexit cause and prove that the UK shifted from cooperation with its European friends to the reliance on its trans-Atlantic partners’ mercy.

The US’ withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, strengthened the idea of creating the European Army.

Many European leaders felt insecure about NATO – how can an alliance so dependent on the moods of the American administration be of use for Europe? Whereas the attempts to create such a military alliance are still far from complete, the idea is alive and the EU started experimenting: the first international brigades are launched. Just as the creation of the national French army centuries ago led to further unification and linguistic dominance of French

language in the country, the attempts to create a European Army may lead to implementation of an official Europe-wide military language and federalisation of the continent.

The conflict around the rule of law in Hungary and Poland might also change its course. Trump is known for his sympathy towards Polish regime, he openly endorsed it and promised further military support for Poland, which only strengthened the electoral results of the ruling party. Moreover, in opposition to Biden, neither did he openly condemn Hungarian and Polish governments for breaking the rule of law, nor did he support the EU authorities in their campaign against such breaches. Following the American elections, both countries lost their ally.

Whereas predicting the future shall remain the domain of prophets and foretellers the above analysis makes it clear: the US has changed and so will Europe.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS Design by Louise James

Coping with Chaos: Advice for the Holiday Season of 2020

TW: discusses cancer

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CURRENT AFFAIRS Words by Annika Hudson-Laursen

The festive season is upon us again. Like everything, it might look and feel different this year. Inspired by my mother’s ongoing battle with cancer, I reached out to people who have been juggling cancer and COVID throughout this year. Eight incredibly strong men and women with unique perspectives on how to make the best of hard times, have helped me compile this list of their advice to get through the holidays, which this year may bring them grief, isolation and uncertainty.

CELEBRATE THE EVERYDAY

Perspectives have changed this year. The smallest things have taken on new meanings. This also applies to how we see what’s worth celebrating. Casper was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2018. That Christmas, after surgery, he had no voice at all, so he couldn’t join in the carols which is one of his favourite traditions. He came out of that year realising that you can celebrate at any time. Singing doesn’t have to wait until Christmas, you can sing to celebrate getting up in the morning or just whenever you feel like it!

This year my mother and I have chosen to celebrate days we can go outside and enjoy the fresh air. We know that December 25th may not be one of those days, and that’s okay because we appreciated the happy moments as they came. You don’t need to save all the celebrating for a specific day of the year. In fact, making it to that day is not guaranteed. So, whenever something good happens, no matter how small, celebrate it.

SEND LOVE

One thing almost guaranteed to make people smile is mail. Holiday cards, care packages, thoughtful notes, little gifts. There’s something special about reading a handwritten card or opening a package that someone sent from halfway around the world. Everyone I spoke to agreed that receiving messages, no matter what format they came in, was always a pick-me-up. Letting someone know you are thinking of them, will make their day and yours a little brighter. This Christmas it will be harder to get together with friends and family. Heather will be having her first Christmas without any family as she, like many others, is immunosuppressed by chemotherapy treatment.

My mother and I will also be having our first Christmas by ourselves. So, we will be sending cards, packages and making many phone calls. There is still opportunity to show the same love this year even if everyone isn’t around the table as usual.

BE EMOTIONAL

The holidays can be emotional, but there is a certain pressure to be jolly around this time of year. Breast cancer survivor, Farah, said her cancer journey helped her learn to sit with her emotions. Everyone is feeling things they’ve never felt before this year. And it’s okay to sit with those feelings and feel them. It’s okay to share them. Even during a time of year where there is pressure to be ecstatic, Farah advises to allow yourself to feel whatever comes up.

Be either on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day, recognise and release those feelings, considering the year we are rounding off.

REMEMBER

Special occasions are often when we spend time reflecting.

This year, it has been more important than ever to hold on to memories of good times. Even if you can’t have the same traditions with the same people this year, remember the joy that they brought, hold on to it, and remember that glee will come again. Some people reminisce about loved ones they have lost or make a special toast to someone or something they miss. Rebecca cares for her father who is terminally ill with cancer. She says writing is going to be a big part of their Christmas this year. They will write about the people and things they remember fondly, whilst also keeping diaries of everything that happens during the strange holidays this year - good and bad - to remember and share in the future.

HOPE

Everyone who contributed to this article have thought about the chance that this bizarre Christmas of 2020 could be their last. These eight exceptional individuals have a resilience beyond what they could have ever imagined.

They also share one other thing: Hope. To get through this difficult Christmas, they hold on to the hope that it won’t be the last, and there is something better to come. To some, it may seem silly, but take it from people who know a thing or two about getting through adversity. I think I speak for everyone, no matter their circumstance, when I say we hope that the new year brings better things and a time where we can hold our family and friends close again. Don’t let that go, no matter what your holidays look like this year.

Many special thanks to Aida, Bella, Calvin, Casper, Christian, Farah, Heather, and Rebecca.

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OPINIONS. Design by Liam Palermo.

Seconds?

As the Christmas countdown has begun, so too has the last-minute present shopping for loved ones. Without much thought (or options) many will resort to the classics last minute gifts; expensive chocolates, selection boxes and luxury alcohol.

This will come full circle and the inevitable overconsumption of chocolate and mince pies will surely come to us all. You can be certain that the festive season will gift us with cold weather and a few extra lbs. This year the problem will be worsened - there will be limited opportunities to choose a more appropriate gift.

A large proportion of people today live and die by a single number, their weight. In November 2019, over 60% of adults in the UK were found to be ‘overweight or obese’.

A person is deemed to be ‘obese’, by the NHS, when their

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body mass index (BMI) is over 30. This number is calculated using different figures such as your height and weight.

Although a good indication of your general health, more often than not it does not paint the full picture. The adult BMI does not consider age, gender, or muscular build, meaning that older adults can have a healthy BMI but still have too much fat.

Conversely, an athletic adult with a lot of muscle may have a high BMI but not be overweight. This is because, like scales, it cannot tell the difference between fat and

OPINIONS Words by Jack Chapman muscle, with the latter being much denser. Clearly those who are deemed ‘overweight’ but live a very active lifestyle should not be seen to be unhealthy, this is evident in many professional rugby players. However, what should be our society’s outlook on those who are obese and who live a very poor lifestyle? Mexico, for example, is one of many countries where obesity has been on the rise for the past 30 years. It has now reached the point where, pre pandemic, it was the leading public health concern.

This is going to become more prevalent for the UK, with the closing of gyms, cancellation of amateur sporting and the indisputable fact that we will be sitting at home now more than ever. Societal norms should be based upon facts. Being grossly overweight is a damaging and costly physical state to be in. To view obesity as a healthy lifestyle is indirectly cruel and damaging to those individuals, it would be preaching a lie to those who do not understand or choose to ignore the health risks associated with being obese.

Virtue signalling individuals who promote “body/fat acceptance” can and ultimately do discourage people from losing weight. The negative impact obesity can have on your mental wellbeing is largely ignored.

However, these comments should be viewed with caution and taken with a pinch of salt. There is a weight stigma in Western society where you can be seen to be too fat and to a much lesser extent, too skinny. Many see themselves as overweight when they are in fact not. This issue is most common with teenagers who more susceptible to being self-conscious, those who are obese are already stigmatised.

Obesity is not always a choice. It is very easy to blame a poor health on bad dietary choices and inactivity but in reality, it is not that simple.

Genetics, such as the weight of the mother and a family’s medical history can all increase the likelihood of being overweight. Socioeconomic factors play a much larger part than many would acknowledge.

It is indisputable that there is a corelation between wealth and quality of life. This can be taken a step further and a comparison can be made between lifestyle choices and wealth.

How can a single mother working two jobs be expected to exercise regularly cook and nutritious homemade meals every evening?

With the ever-increasing availability of cheap fast food and frozen ready meals, homemade meals might not be an option for some. This should be put in stark contrast with those with higher disposable income, who can readily afford personal trainers, gym memberships and fresh, healthy food.

Over the Christmas holiday we must be careful not to overindulge and try to encourage fellow family members to remember the importance and benefits of regular exercise.

Ultimately, our society should frown upon unhealthy lifestyles, but we should also be careful to ensure the discrimination and stigma does not go too far.

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OPINIONS Design by Louise James

A Covid Christmas

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OPINIONS Words by Emma Sturrock

During this unprecedented year, there has been the concern about whether everything will be back to normal before Christmas, particularly during the lockdown in March, but Christmas has transformed itself many times so this year will be no exception.

Christmas is an important holiday for everyone, particularly Christians as it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

However society has changed since then. From a poll of more than 1,000 adults, just under 70% of Scots between 18 and 24 stated that they were not religious. The results also show that Scotland has become a nation where most people never pray and attend church for weddings or funerals only (Green, 2018). Despite this, Christmas is still a popular holiday within the UK, in 2018 the British people sent ÂŁ446,000 on presents alone. Nowadays, Christmas has become a holiday built on consumerism: from Christmas adverts to marketing emails, the pressure to spend money at Christmas is huge (Hughes, 2018).

Fortunately, this can be avoided by checking other online retailers to see if they offer a better deal and setting a budget of what you are willing to spend. A popular solution to this seasonal overspending is taking part in a secret Santa with friends and family. This is because only having to buy one gift takes the stress off many people and it can make Christmas feel more relaxing as presents become an after thought (Stevens, 2019).

“A popular solution to this seasonal overspending is taking part in a secret Santa with friends and family.�

However, with the current pandemic, Christmas has changed with the five-tier system now in place in Scotland, but who knows what this may look like at the time of publication. The majority of people in Scotland will not be able to invite family members over for Christmas dinner or go home for Christmas. This means that we have to make adjustments to the festive season through virtual Christmas dinners and virtual Hogmanay parties. While this

has left many people in an unfortunate situation with how they are going to celebrate Christmas due to Covid-19, there is one positive that can come out of this: We can redefine Christmas. Lockdown has meant that many small businesses have struggled so we can use this year as an opportunity to acknowledge local businesses by supporting them. Not only will you be getting a present for your loved one, but you will also know that your money will have a direct impact within the community.

Then again, this is not the first time a religious festival has been celebrated during this pandemic. During Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of the month of fasting, Muslims used technology to participate in virtual communal breaking of the fast and prayers. Additionally, The Ramadan Tent Project moved their community Iftars (the nightly breaking of fast) online (Siddique, 2020). This give us hope that Christmas can still be celebrated through this difficult year if we are willing to embrace technology. But this might not be necessary because it was announced that students in Scotland will be tested twice, five days apart, with those testing negative both times being allowed to travel home. Under these plans, students who test positive for the virus will need to isolate but if the test is carried out early enough, the isolation will end in time to go home for Christmas (BBC News , 2020). For many students this is great news as visiting friends and family over the Christmas period is critical to ensure their mental wellbeing. Currently, we are waiting for the Scottish government to offer additional support to student associations so all students who are staying over at university halls over the festival period are taken care of (BBC News , 2020).

From this article, we have seen the ways that Christmas has evolved and I found the way that Muslims had adapted technology to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr inspiring. Technology is a fantastic tool that can bring people together through the use of virtual church services on Zoom for example.

While this year has been tough on all of us and we all hoped that Christmas was safe from Covid-19, it is important to remember to take each day at a time and remind yourselves of the things you are grateful for as we approach the end of this strange year.

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LIFESTYLE Design by Cait Maxwell

Ingredients:

Method:

- 350g/12oz plain flour, plus extra for rolling the dough in

1.

Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon and pour into the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Then stir in the sugar.

2.

Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, add to the food processor and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Knead the dough briefly until smooth, wrap in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

3.

Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.

4.

Roll the dough out to a 0.5cm in thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using cutters, cut out the gingerbread men shapes and place on the baking tray, leaving a gap between them.

5.

Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until lightly golden-brown. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes and then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

When cooled, decorate to preference with the writing icing and cake decorations, if using.

- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda - 2 tsp ground ginger - 1 tsp ground cinnamon - 125g/4½oz butter - 175g/6oz light soft brown sugar - 1 free-range egg - 4 tbsp golden syrup Decoration: - Writing icing (optional) - Cake decorations (optional)

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Enjoy!

LIFESTYLE Words by Elan Baird

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LIFESTYLE Design by Cait Maxwell

White Russian If you’re looking for a nice beverage to wash down that festive gingerbread with, then boy do we have the drink for you!

Ingredients:

Method:

-Ice

1.

Add your ingredients together in a cocktail shaker and give it a good shake!

-25 ml coffee liqueur

2.

Add your ice to a glass

-A splash of heavy cream

3.

Pour your mixture over the ice cubes

4.

Optional- Dust your White Russian with icing sugar and cinnamon for an extra festive feel!

5.

Enjoy (In moderation of course!)

-50 ml Vodka

-Icing sugar (optional) - Cinnamon (optional) (Can be made non-alcoholic by substituting the vodka and coffee liqueur for brewed coffee, a splash of water, and a drop of vanilla extract!)

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(Also feel free to get experimental with this! For example: Truly get into the Christmas spirit by adding peppermint extract to the mixture for a minty White Russian!)

LIFESTYLE Words by David Smith

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LIFESTYLE Design by Olivia Juliette Baird

A Helping Hand at Christmas Time During exciting times like Christmas, we must remember mental illness is still a very prevalent thing which many people are coping with. Reaching out to people is so important, but especially around the holidays, as it is a hectic and isolating time. If you are someone who suffers from mental illness please do not ever be afraid to speak to someone, there are always people who are worried about you and love you, you matter so much to so many people.

This will not last forever, there will be many more times to make beautiful memories with your families and friends.

What is important now is keeping yourself and others safe, we can all get through these troubling times if we stay strong together. With lack of jobs, money is tight for many

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students. But remember, you can change someone’s whole day with some kind words. People will understand that you cannot afford gifts, do not feel pressured at all, the love and company you give them is enough. If you still want to get them something, drawing or painting is always a personal and wonderful gift, or bake them a cupcake or write down a time that you shared which fills your heart with joy; it’s the little things that really make the biggest impact. Fill yourself with love and remember that there is an end to all bad things. Christmas is not a happy time for everyone, but what we can do is lift each other up and look after one another.

Your feelings are valid, and you should not ever think otherwise. Merry Christmas and stay safe.

LIFESTYLE Words by Elan Baird

Due to Covid-19, the restrictions do not allow face-to-face help however, here are some helplines to give you someone to chat to if you don’t feel comfortable talking with friends and family:

HERE’S

HOW

TO

REACH

OUT

The Samaritans are a confidential, free helpline, where there is always someone available to talk and listen. You can call them on 116 123.

Breathing Space is a confidential, free helpline.

Call them at 0800 83 85 87 (6pm to 2am Monday - Friday and 24 hours at the weekend)

Living Life Guided Self Help is a confidential telephone service based on a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach for people suffering low mood, mild to moderate depression, or anxiety. You can contact them on 0800 328 9655.

REMEMBER

TO

BE

KIND

TO

YOURSELF

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FASHION Design by Claire Gamble

Fashion Families

Erin When I seriously reflect upon my relationship with fashion it immediately becomes apparent that I attach sentimental memories with certain objects of clothing, to the point where I cannot bring myself to donate or throw them away, no matter how ragged and used they become. It screams “hoarder” and a deep rooted sense of attachment; however, I consider my wardrobe to be full of milestones rather than multiple hangers holding strenuously on for dear life. There is the silky leopard print jumpsuit, a gift from a friend, which I wore whilst I drank the New Year in with the people closest to me; my scarlet jacket which I wore religiously on Manhattan streets during my academic exchange; and the bright white coat that I would wrap myself up in for pub garden winters, which has recovered from more red wine stains than I care to admit to. There is no rhyme or rhythm to my style; it is malleable and interchangeable, without aesthetic or trend or decade to reference primarily.

I have always associated clothes with memories, and the people I love most dearly in the world. Certain colours remind me of certain people, such as olive green for my mother and sunset orange for Sharyn. I love seeing the people I care about in the pub for

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a few drinks, because anyone who glanced over would see a group of people who, despite having such different tastes and silhouettes, still resemble a family unit. One of my fondest memories which tickles me is sitting on the beach, in twenty degree heat, each of us fitted in all black, like a B side version of “The Craft”. For my chosen family, fashion is a love language like no other; exchanging garments, making pieces for each other, and dragging bulging bags together from one charity shop to the next is our subtle way of expressing that love.

FASHION Words by Various

Thomasin Strangely enough, what springs to mind for me when thinking of my fashion inspiration is my family. Or, more specifically my mother and grandmother. I am not referring to my mum’s sunny obsession with yellow (although it is impressive) or my granny’s printed dresses, I am talking about their industry, their creativity.

My granny made her own wedding dress, it took her months to complete and it is exquisite. Her stitching is tiny and her finishing immaculate. My mum also took to making her own clothes, she told me a rib-tickling tale of tiger print trousers she made in university.

I am now at university and I am sad to say my grandmother’s lineage of seamstresses has run short. I used to tinker with needles and thimbles when I was small, making feeble bags and cushions, but today my imagination stretches only as far as patching some jeans.

So, this Christmas, I am making it my mission to relearn skills that come as second nature to my family. I have a sewing box, sitting under my bed, coated in a film of dust, and I have opened it for the first time in a new light. I am going to learn to darn (properly this time) and even dabble in embroidery. I can give my existing clothes (that were definitely not handmade) a new lease of life.

I can customise them, reinvigorate them. I have become so far removed from the process of making and mending clothes that it seems almost too difficult. It is a life-skill that has been lost in the mass consumption of cheaply made clothes. If you think about it, spending twenty minutes of your time to repair a hole in a top costs less than working enough hours to buy a new one.

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FASHION

Sophie When I think about my fashion family, I think of the many powerful designers and artists that have shaped the creative I am a today. A good designer should be able to translate a narrative onto clothing, after all clothes are simply just vessels for ideas and narratives sometimes too harsh or loud just to explain. Instead, you must show and create, which in some ways can be more powerful. A few collections that immediately come to mind would be McQueen 1995 A/W ‘Highland rape’, or maybe his S/S 1999, where he famously used AI technology to spray paint a dress the beautiful Shalom Harlow wore (one of the first introductions of AI technology to the fashion landscape). Both collections received critical praise, and to this day are influencing and inspiring young designers.

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McQueen made me realise that whatever you create has the potential to transcend fashion and expand on the wider narrative in society today.

Moreover, as a young woman hoping to in some way make a living from fashion in the future, I am inspired by the many dauntless women that have come before me. From NigerianBritish designer Mowalola whose designs have been wore by the likes of Kanye West and Drake, to the berlin-based brand Ottolinger (the brainchild of two swiss women who have transformed a small graduate business into a blossoming empire) and the many other female, queer LGBTQ+ designers dominating the underground fashion scene, I think of them all as a sort of fashion family to me. Maybe one day someone will write about my designs inspiring them, I hope so anyway.

INTERNATIONAL Design by Louise James, Photography by Maria-Paula Huertas

Joy to the World: Festive Music Around the Globe 59

INTERNATIONAL Words by Sofia Rönkä

The winter holidays are a time of festivities and a longneeded break. Everyone has their favourite things to do during this the temporal escape from university.

Personally, a big part of the festive season is music. So, I wanted to get a glimpse of what part music plays in students’ winter holidays around the world.

Is music part of your winter holidays?

“For me yes, it makes the holidays much more fun and it puts the mood right. Some people love it, others can’t stand Christmas songs.”

- Belgium “I love holiday music, my family listens to Christmas and other winter-holiday music starting after Thanksgiving.”

- USA “Not really, most ‘holiday’ specific music barely registers as background noise in the streets.”

- Portugal “Christmas songs make the winter season nice. But when I was a kid it was more exciting than now.”

- Germany

Does your country listen to specific music or have any musical holiday traditions?

“We have classic Christmas carols that are ‘a must’, usually accompanied by a tambourine and a ‘zambomba’, both instruments are played traditionally on Christmas.”

- Spain “In Russia we have an equivalent song for ‘Oh, Christmas Tree’ that every child knows. ‘Oh, Christmas Tree’ seems like a boring song for people in their sixties while this is for kids.”

- Russia

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“There are some Latin songs in the Christmas mass and some people go door to door in early January in groups (usually scouts) and sing some assortment of random modern Christmas songs; we call it ‘Janeiras’. Other than that we got the national equivalent to ‘All I Want for Christmas’ which is ‘Nesta Noite Branca’ from 99 by Anjos, and ‘Susana’ which fills the main commercial streets alongside many child covers of other modern Christmas songs.”

- Portugal “Well on the 6th of December we have Sinterklaas, which is a holiday aimed at kids and that has its own (mostly children) songs. Then for Christmas and New Year it's mostly American / British pop songs, but there are also some songs from Belgian artists. And the really well-known Christmas songs often have Dutch/Flemish translations, like ‘Stille Nacht’ (‘Silent Night’) and ‘Oh Dennenboom’ (‘Oh Christmas tree’).”

- Belgium “We have only one song for New Year in winter. That’s boring.”

- Japan

Do you have a favourite holiday song or genre?

“For me, Christmas music from the 1940s-90s is the best (and it is what is usually played on the radio and in shops).

Shakin’ Stevens ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’, Wham! ‘Last Christmas’, The Pogues ‘Fairytale of New York’, Wizzard ‘I Wish it could be Christmas every day’, Mariah Carey ‘All I Want for Christmas’, Paul McCartney ‘Wonderful Christmastime’, etc., all my favourites!”

- Scotland

INTERNATIONAL

“Because I have German ancestors and am learning German, my family has started listening to classic Christmas music from Germany as well. I like to sample winter music from all over the world personally, but I don’t know if that is very common in the US. One of my favourite winter/holiday albums is an album called ‘Joy to the World’ by Pink Martini.

It has beautiful winter holiday songs from all over the world and my family listens to it every year, so when I hear the songs, I remember good times with my family.

- USA

“Calm, soothing melodies of ‘In Silence We Yearn’ by Oh Hiroshima is my main go to (not limited to holidays though). Post-rock is a genre that I listen to on occasions. It carries me through rough times and some good ones too.

Christmas is a time for reflections. I think it just helps me think deeply.”

- Lithuania

“I like the very old folk ones, especially if they speak with a dialect. In general, the genre is very traditional religious carol, remade to sound more intense and intense. But I'm also a sucker for Annie Lennox's Christmas album.”

- Poland

- Whenever you want (Music is life!): 3 people said this

“My favourite holiday song must be ‘Last Christmas’. It just is so catchy, and it really brings that holiday mood, but I usually just put the whole holiday playlist on a loop during that time, all the classics.”

- Portugal

- End of November (after it’s certain that both spooky season and thanksgiving are done and over with): 5 people said this

“I like traditional American Christmassy songs. Cause they remind me about my childhood.”

- Kazakhstan

When are we allowed to start listening to festive music?

- Mid-November (But Jingle Bell Rock is accepted in June.): 1 person said this

- December (To match the decorations.): 4 people said this

“My favourite Christmas songs are the album of Nightwish ‘From Spirit and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas)’ and one Greek song ‘Χριστουγεννα’ by Foivos Delivorias. The lyrics of the Greek song mean things to me. The most powerful lyric is where it says, ‘It's Christmas again and I'm not waiting for anything anymore, Santa's name is just dad...’. I don't wait for the presents from Santa, there is no same magic anymore... I don't have a kid's innocence about the magic of them.”

- Greece

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INTERNATIONAL Design by Louise James, Words by Elena Gastaldo & Kyl Tan

Sharing Traditions and Experiencing a New Kind of Christmas No matter where you come from, what language you speak, or what religion you practice- the word Christmas must mean something to you. During this time traditions are kept alive on the most celebrated day all over the world. We interviewed international students from the University of Dundee to see what they do over the holidays.

In the Philippines- a predominantly Christian countryChristmas is about giving, whether it be in the form of gifts, charity or love and time spent with family. There is also a tradition among Catholics called “Misa de Gallo” (midnight mass) where families wake up at 4:00 am to go to mass every day for 9 days until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, families stay up for Noche Buena, a feast held while waiting for Christmas day to arrive. The important part of Noche Buena is that you are surrounded by your loved ones, it does not need to be an extravagant feast.

Surrounding yourself with relatives during Christmas is a common thing around the world. In Singapore, Vanessa tells us that she usually celebrates Christmas with her extended family, who gather to eat Asian food and go to church together. Vanessa tells us that she associates this time of the year with joy, love and hope.

Christians aren’t the only ones who celebrate this season.

Albeit having different religions, some cultures have different ways of celebrating. Aysh, a student at our university, comes from Malaysia which is a predominantly Muslim country, thus people don’t traditionally celebrate

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Christmas unless they’re Christian. Aysh thinks of Christmas as an occasion for family members to spend time together at home. Aysh’s family celebrate Christmas their own way - the kids put on a play for the family, rehearsing at each other’s houses during the previous month, while the adults have a Secret Santa between themselves. The day is filled with food, joy and presents opened at midnight around the Christmas tree. She tells us that the funniest part of their celebration is that Aysh’s family turns the air conditioning on and makes hot chocolate for everyone to create the right atmosphere.

As this year’s Christmas draws near, the uncertainty around how it will be celebrated grows. Some of us might not be able to go back home for the holidays, which will be a departure from the “normalcy” we are used to. However, the values this day stands for will still be remembered by each one of us. Instead of being nostalgic about being far away from home for the holidays, this year’s circumstances could be a chance for us all to come together and show each other the great traditions our families and countries have on this day.

INTERNATIONAL Design by Raechelle Gilpin, Words by Marcin Kielczewski

The Centre of Centres

A quick guide on how to move around Central Europe.

When visiting Western Europe, people are tempted to go only to the capital cities. Once you’re there, you spend most of your time in the same city. It would, indeed, be unreasonable to try visiting both Madrid and Paris within 4 days. It’s more tempting to enjoy the sun and food than to spend your day busing in-between two cities.

The same shouldn’t apply when visiting Central Europe.

What’s magic about this part of the continent is its great hub of big and ancient urban centres. So why not try visiting as many of them as possible? Especially during the festive period, as they are all famous for their distinctive Christmas markets, they can give you an insight into local cultures and traditions.

The bus from Krakow to Prague costs no more than £20, and it takes about 7 hours to get there. Believe me, take a seat, grab a book and indulge in the mixture of wonderful views and socrealism, and each hour spent on the bus will have been worth it. Once in Prague, you cannot miss Vienna! It’s just another £10 and 4 hours of travel. How about Bratislava next? It’s £3 and only one hour away. So far, you’ve visited four different countries and only paid £33!

That’s £7 cheaper than the full price of a train ticket from Dundee to Glasgow.

Being on a bus can be quite exciting, but make sure to take some breaks in-between to enjoy the architecture and regional cuisine of each city. If that’s not enough, Budapest is your next stop. Be ready to pay £7 more and ensure you have enough books for another 3-4 hours. Naturally you need to add plane tickets and accommodation costs, but, if planned in advance, you can get an Airbnb in each of those cities for prices starting at £20 a night for an entire flat.

It all sounds like a very exciting trip! So, if you’re ready to sacrifice absolute comfort for a great experience, it’s something you should consider doing. Obviously during a global pandemic isn’t the best time for travel, but perhaps once we wake up in a nicer, COVID-free world a trip to central Europe could be that much needed getaway.

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SCIENCE + TECH Design by Louise James, Words by Lisa Kilday

Faith in Science The University of Dundee is renowned for its innovations and excellence in the science field. A large proportion of students at Dundee are enrolled in a science-based degree and some may also have a strong religion. As faith is a personal belief, and not a science-based entity, I investigated how students are breaking the stereotype that fact-driven scientists cannot be religious and how their studies have altered their faith.

I spoke to three students: two who have done a Genetics BMSc and one who did a Neuropharmacology BMSc, who are all currently studying Medicine. Christopher is a former President of the Dundee University Christian Union and has been Christian his whole life. He told me, “I believe my faith allows me to follow the evidence where it leads because the Bible indicates that God made all things and has given us rational logical minds that have the ability to think and reason.” Interestingly, Chris provided me with the fact that, “62% of the Nobel Prize winners between 1901-2000 for physiology/medicine were Christian,”showing that being religious is indeed compatible with a career in science.

Similarly, Sruthi believes that there is no negative correlation between the two. As a Hindu who was raised in a religious family, she explained, “I don’t think my degree has influenced my thoughts on religion, rather it is the people I have met at University.” Although Sruthi admits she has not given this topic much thought before, it is perhaps due to the encouragement of her career choice and support from her family, who are involved in medicine and STEM.

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For an alternate perspective, I spoke to Jonas who is now Atheist but was raised in Christianity. He explained, “I wouldn’t describe it as losing my faith – more like it was never truly there to begin with,”suggesting that it is more common to lose faith at University due to a lack of strong religious beliefs growing up, rather than a developing scientific mindset. He summarised his point of view in saying, “a lot of my friends that are religious do trust in scientific facts – the difference is that I see them simply as facts whereas they might consider them the result of a God’s divine creation.”

Chris, Sruthi and Jonas have shown that students can be both religious and scientific, dismantling those oldfashioned stereotypes. The topic may still cause some debate, but the idea that science careers will affect faith is certainly outdated at the University of Dundee.

“Chris, Sruthi and Jonas have shown that students can be both religious and scientific, dismantling those oldfashioned stereotypes.”

SCIENCE + TECH Design by Gosia Kepka, Words by Raye Ward

Threats Beyond the Virus For almost a year now, COVID-19 has dominated the headlines, possessing the minds of everyone from scientists, to citizens, to legislators. Whilst lockdowns have separated friends, families, and colleagues, the virus has caused divisions on a much deeper social scale. Election campaigning in America, for example, saw the political weaponization of COVID-19

by Trump and the Far Right. For instance, his infamous denials of its existence, and subsequently its severity, to create conspiracy and distrust against the Democrats.

Alternatively, there was the xenophobic terming of COVID-19 as the ‘Chinese Virus’, a statement met with uproar from the left, and safety concerns for Asian-American citizens. The racial, political and socio-economic issues this pandemic has brought to light, however, seem to be omitted by the general media.

It is important to expand on the fact that these issues are not ‘Coronaspecific’. Take Ebola, for instance, a

seasonal virus that occurs in West Africa every year, but gained attention during an outbreak several years ago due to panic over infection in the Western World. In America especially, hysteria was rife, with incidents of colleges reversing accepted positions for African students, regardless of their proximity to infected countries.

From Western origins, there are also diseases that have traditionally spread through livestock, such as Mad Cow Disease, caused by the feeding of cattle to cattle, and Foot and Mouth Disease, halted by the slaughter of over 6 million livestock in the UK. There was no abuse being hurled at British citizens for their shared origins with those diseases. In closer relation to COVID-19, there is SARS and MERS, both of which have had pandemic potential and animal origins.

Then there are illnesses that aren’t directly contagious and are easily treated, but kill hundreds of thousands every year, primarily in African and South-Asian countries.

Indeed, diarrheal diseases killed

1.6 million people in 2017, a third of whom were children, a figure hundreds of thousands higher than the current mortality rate of COVID-19, perhaps revealing the self-proclaimed superiority of the West.

Without over-analysing, there are certainly questions that have been raised in the wake of the 2020 pandemic. How could efforts to fight disease be better distributed in a geographical and affluential sense.

How could the dangers of intensive farming and unchecked trade be addressed? And how could political leaders disregard the many red flags that preceded the COVID-19 outbreak? Our strategies of mitigation must change, tools of prevention must be introduced, and attention to health issues must be refocused, because as globalisation develops further, our vulnerability will increase.

Without adaptation, this pandemic will not remain a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

‘Our strategies of mitigation must change, tools of prevention must be introduced, and attention to health issues must be refocused’

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SCIENCE + TECH Design by Gosia Kepka

Hope in the Midst of US Election Results and What This Means for the UK & the Planet

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SCIENCE + TECH Words by Niamh Gernot The festive season is among us, the air feels crisp with the friction of people’s thoughts hanging in the air. It seems we’re all wondering the same thing: are we nearing the end of a pandemic-fraught world, or can we expect more of this in the future? The ‘norm’ seems a term lost in the wind, and with it our concept of what normal truly means.

Meanwhile, it seems crazy to want to return to any semblance of normalcy considering the pain and heartbreak this year has unearthed regarding the continuing hypocrisies of our current system in the UK, US and the Global North in general. We’re a melee of oppressive systems and false promises; a fact that seemed to come to a head at the end of the US elections in November. Yet being reminded of the hatred that still lies at the heart of our broken systems is the perfect antidote to remind ourselves that grassroots organising doesn’t end with a vote. The US elections showed this in crystal clear detail as half of the American population voted for a racist, sexist, fascist man, we’re reminded there’s so much more work left to be done – especially for those of us in positions of privilege. This is critical in discussions of climate change as we cannot continue to uphold systems of oppression if we are to solve the climate crisis. They’re deeply, intrinsically intertwined, and we cannot solve one without the other.

However, in the UK, it seems we have even more work to do. It seemed as though the world was on a knife-edge watching the US elections, if Trump had been re-elected it would have been game over for the climate. Yet in the UK, there’s a certain hypocrisy to watching these elections so closely. After all, who’s the centre stage of our government here? A racist, homophobic, sexist man.

We’ve voted in favour of an elitist, former Bullingdon club member who described his £250k Mayor of London salary as ‘chicken feed’ and didn’t know what minimum wage was when questioned by a journalist. We’ve had a Foreign Secretary who’s said he doesn’t believe in human rights and consistently supported UK military

involvement in overseas conflict.

A Home Secretary responsible for inciting xenophobia and inhumane asylum and immigration policies. A Health Minister who has voted against pay rises in the NHS and for increased privatisation. And an Education Minister who has consistently advocated for raising university fees and voted against increased funding for schools. We cannot judge American citizens for voting for Trump when we’ve allowed a mirror image to take hold here.

The UK touts itself as a strong empire, yet it would not have gained its riches without exploiting other nations. The foundations of the UK rest on the spoils of imperialism and colonialism and this cruel history

and locally , on much deeper levels.

If we continue down this road of not holding government officials accountable, not rallying, organising, standing in solidarity with another nor putting our words into actions, then this won’t be the last pandemic our world will face.

This may make for grim reading at a time when everyone wants to rest and find joy. We should find joy, but we should also use this as a time to reprioritise. A huge trend in this cultural millennium is words like ‘wellness’ and ‘self-care”. This Christmas, we’ll be told to treat ourselves; we deserve to feel good.

And, of course, the pandemic has certainly given us a reason to indulge ourselves. And although we do

‘If this year has taught us anything it’s that nothing occurs in a vacuum. We need to tackle the issues we face globally, nationally and locally, on much deeper levels.’

has bled into the toxic systems we continue to uphold. Thus, we must dismantle these systems. Half of the American public may have succeeded in removing Trump from the Oval Office, but Trump’s mini-me in the UK won by a sweeping victory in our last elections. The pandemic may have taken centre stage this year, and for good reason, but let’s not forget that climate change and pandemics are intertwined too and if climate change – most notably, climate justice – isn’t addressed properly, we can expect many more in future. If this year has taught us anything it’s that nothing occurs in a vacuum. We need to tackle the issues we face globally, nationally

deserve to take care of ourselves, it’s also important to remember that wellness goes beyond any selfindulgence. “We’re only as well as our community is well,” as Sophia Roe, chef and food equity advocate, says. As we begin to feel societal pressures willing us to set New Year’s resolutions, I encourage you to set one goal that goes beyond any self-interest. How ‘well’ is your community? What are the issues happening around you? Do you feel like you’re living in an echo-chamber – and if so, why?

How can we incite hope at the end of this festive season?

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SCIENCE + TECH Design by Emma Biggins

A NEW AGE FOR GAMING “New!”, “Groundbreaking!”, “Revolutionary!”. These are all words that are fairly common in the gaming industry.

Whether or not these are used to truly describe a product or as a marketing ploy, it is inarguable that gaming as an industry has grown far beyond its roots. Since its earliest days, the video game industry has always been innovative. From consoles guiding the adoption of the Blu-ray format, to Nintendo’s attempt at a virtual reality console all the way back in 1995. As we enter this decade, a new path emerges that could change the very roots of this industry and the way we play and own our games.

Through all this change and innovation, one thing has stayed the same throughout. In order to enjoy our games, we have had to own a device, either a console, PC or even a phone. There is always a physical system that runs the game locally. For the first time ever there is now true potential that this might not always be the case. Although game streaming, as it is called, isn’t exactly new, it has recently come under the attention of multiple tech industry giants. The process is simple, instead of selling the user high-end hardware that can run the game natively on the spot, either a user’s other device (Phone, laptop, etc...) is used or a much simpler and cheaper streaming box is sold.

This streaming device would communicate with a cloud server that would run the game instead and just stream it back to the user. One of the earliest examples of game streaming as a publicly available service would have been

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OnLive, which had limited success and was eventually bought out in 2015 by PlayStation and was rebranded as PlayStation Now. As a technology though, the idea was first demonstrated all the way back at E3 in the year 2000

by G-Cluster.

But, addressing the elephant in the room, this technology had and still has a hurdle in its mass adoption, as great as the many advantages brought to the table are. The ability to play games regardless of your systems capability, no download times, the potential for instantly having a huge selection of games through a cheap subscription are all great things. However, they are overshadowed by issues with latency, how long it takes for input to translate into an action in game, being too variable and much larger than in traditional gaming. This has the effect of making the game experience less than satisfactory at best, and

“

The launched service has unfortunately not met expectations and reviews were mixed. Stadia, as expected by many, could not overcome the latency issue, the service was too variable to give a smooth experience and heavily depended on an exceptionally good internet connection.

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SCIENCE + TECH Words by Sameer Al Harbi

completely unplayable, forcing a heavy disadvantage to players (especially in competitive games) at worst. Other issues also hide below the surface. A lack of physical game ownership and changing licenses can and have made the libraries of many services very volatile. Plus, the nature of these services heavily favors a month to month payment plan which can turn out to be much more expensive over a long service lifespan. Not everyone can afford or even have access to infrastructure to provide a fast-enough internet connection. On top of that, not everyone might live close enough to a server which further increases latency.

Add that up with an uncertain business model where the consumer lacks ownership of essentially most of the experience, and it’s easy to see why this technology has had a hard time so far.

But this hasn’t stopped tech giants such as Google, Amazon and Nvidia (best known for developing video processing technology such as video cards) to try their own shot at the tech, of which Google’s attempt, The Stadia, is best known. Officially announced at the GDC (Game Developers Conference) in 2019 and launched later that year, Stadia is available on multiple android phones, Chrome browsers and a custom Chromecast and controller combo sold by Google. The launched service has unfortunately not met expectations and reviews were mixed. Stadia, as expected by many, could not overcome the latency issue, the service was too variable to give a smooth experience and heavily depended

on an exceptionally good internet connection. Latest announcements from Amazon have also revealed their own cloud gaming service, with invitations to early access available to US customers now, whether the service can provide a better experience is yet to be seen. It should also be mentioned that not all developers and companies have been on board with these services. Apple has looked to ban apps that provide these services as the games would bypass normal Appstore checks. They eventually settled on allowing each streamed game to be an app in itself. There were also licensing issues on Nvidia’s GeForce Now service not too long ago caused by the service essentially allowing the user to play any pre-owned steam game through the service. A great plus to users, as it allowed users to still maintain a games ownership even if the service closed, something that is not offered by subscription or shop services.

At the end of the day, as interesting and as groundbreaking this technology is; there are too many problems and limitations with the service as it is now. But that doesn’t mean that the technology is doomed. Rising access to high speed internet connections and better developments in mobile network technologies will surely work to fix many of the fundamental accessibility and quality issues currently standing in the way of mass adoption. Could we be on the edge of a new generation of gaming technology? One where high powered, expensive systems are not the only option? We can only wait and find out!

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SOCIETIES Design by Louise James, Words by University of Dundee Ceilidh Society

UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE CEILIDH SOCIETY You’re never alone at a Scottish Ceilidh. With live music and a lot of laughs, the University of Dundee Ceilidh Society is here to give all students in Dundee the best social night out you could ask for.

Unlike other dance societies, we don’t focus on your dancing abilities. Instead, the society focuses on the social aspect of a Ceilidh, so experience isn’t required. If you find dancing a bit intimidating, not to worry, our talented Ceilidh band TRADSOC will walk you through each dance. Even if you have two left feet, you may well find yourself dancing your socks off!

Our Ceilidhs also provide a fantastic opportunity to make friends. Our committee is lovely and welcoming and is always up for befriending new people, as are the majority of people at Ceilidhs, so no one will be left hiding at the edge of the dance floor. Also, a number of our dances will involve group dancing or switching partners, giving you the chance to meet many of the people at the Ceilidh.

We are about so much more than just a good Ceilidh, we provide entertainment throughout our Ceilidhs, such as a whiskey shove. For those unfamiliar with a whiskey shove, it’s a fun way to win a bottle of good booze (not necessarily whiskey). The bottle of booze is placed on the floor and each person takes it in turn to shove pound coins at the bottle from a distance – whoever’s pound coin lands nearest wins the bottle.

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This is not all our Ceilidhs offer, we will also have a bake sale with tasty goodies to feast on throughout the night and a snacking station, and unlike other Ceilidhs, you don’t need to bring your own booze as our spacious venue will have a bar fully stocked with a whole host of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

We understand that as a student, the cost of a Ceilidh might be a bit off-putting, therefore, our ticket prices are student friendly with discounts for those who sign up for membership to UDCS and those who buy a ticket before the night of the Ceilidh. Follow our Facebook page to see updates on this.

Going to our Ceilidhs will not disappoint, Ceilidhs are known for making amazing memories, and we are no different. We’ll aim to hold a Ceilidh once a month for you all throughout the academic year. We hope to see you there!

SOCIETIES Words by DUPS

UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE PARTICIPATION SOCIETY DUPS is a Society all about participating! Our main aims are to be fully inclusive as well as helping boost all members mental and physical health - which is why we are the cheapest way to do sport at Uni!

take off the pressure of drinking to feel social. Our Society also loves participating in other societies events, such as the SU’s Brave runner, Netball’s Halloween event and Badminton’s Christmas event!

Throughout the year DUPS has weekly sessions where we try new sports each week so that all members and anyone else who comes can keep healthy and active both mentally and physically. The sessions that we have done this year have included Dodgeball, Zumba, Rounders, Swedish Long ball, American football, Netball, a Halloween sports day, Touch Rugby, Badminton, Quidditch, Social Dancing and more, with some of these being repeated due to popularity. We had also managed to set up a sponsorship with RYZE trampoline park so that we got 30 people in for free. In the second semester we are planning on adding special Saturday events like laser tag, going to Olympia, climbing and a BBQ. If you want us to try any sports we are more than happy to take suggestions, as long the sport is accessible and enjoyable for anyone, at any skill level.

In 2018/19, the Society’s first year of running, we won best new society and, in the 2019/20 DUSA awards, were shortlisted for most active society as well as our President, Cliona Green winning the society achievement award, due to her dedication and passion to the society.

On top of this, during the first semester we had social events every week including DUPS baptisms- a social to fully get to know everyone and fully immerse members in the DUPS culture of giving it a go, with over 50 in attendance. In second semester we have hosted several large social events including our welcome back drinks with the theme of tank tops, and our Love Island Valentine’s Day social with over 60 people in attendance. Our pancake and film day proved successful on pancake day, so we are planning a monthly sober social, this means we can

All our sessions bring in 30-70 people and the way we have set up DUPS means that anyone can come along for a small fee even if they aren’t a member. We actively encourage people to bring their friends along even just for one session if they want to particularly try one sport.

As a society we have become familiar with many faces on campus because of this, even ones that are not members of DUPS. The flexible nature of our society means we can work around COVID rules and regulations, so we can still ensure an enjoyable sporting and social experience that is open to all.

Overall, we are a super cheap and inclusive society that just wants an excuse to get out, get active and make some new friends - come along and give it a go! facebook: @dups.uod Instagram: @uodparticipationsociety”

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DESIGNERS CHOICE ARWIN QUIACHON @ajq_designs

During these uncertain times, please look to the Scottish Government website for up to date news.

www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/