50
The Magdalen D U N D E E
U N I V E R S I T Y
S T U D E N T S ’
M A G A Z I N E
SHADES WHAT’S THE FUSS? HALLOWEEN
FALL TRENDS
HIT LIST
SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE
FANCY DRESS FOR UNDER 50P
MEET
DUBC
OBAMA vs.
ROMNEY
EDITORIAL
Editorial
Published by: Daniel McGlade, VPCC DUSA, Airlie Place Dundee, DD1 4PH vpcc@dusa.co.uk Printed by: Winters & Simpson Print 16 Duninane Avenue Dundee, DD2 3QT
Is that gale force winds and torrential downpour I see? Yes, it’s officially October in Dundee, and apologies to all you Freshers who were lured here under the false impression that Dundee is some kind of sunny oasis in Scotland! In the spirit of October and all the Halloween festivities that it brings, our Features Editor, Danielle Ames, put together a list of Halloween fancy dress options that will cost you no more than 50p! For those of you who want to relive Fresher’s Week in all its messy glory, jump to page 20 for the best and worst stunts pulled this year. I distinctly remember reading that someone took a shot out of a fish. Also, be sure to check out our Dundee Dictionary, put together by a born and bred Dundonian, Kevin Fullerton, for a Rosetta Stone-esque translation of the phrases you will hear constantly; after all you can only nod politely so many times! And finally I would like to say congratulations to our new Writers and Editors! We put it together in less than a month! You all should be incredibly proud of the hard work you’ve put in.
Editor in Chief: Melina Nicolaides themagdalen@dusa.co.uk Deputy Editor: Nicholas Manderson Editoral Assistants: Catriona Duthie Kevin Fullerton
Melina Nicolaides EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Category Editors:
Production:
Current Affairs | Benjamin Blaser Features | Danielle Ames Entertainment | Jane Johnston Art | Francisco Garcia Travel | Shannon Pryde Fashion | Claire McPhillimy Lifestyle | Mhairi Rutherford
Graphic Design | Nicholas Manderson, Melina Nicolaides, Edward Woods, Stacy Rowlison & Craig Morrison. Photoshop | Tammy Fox Cover Photograph | Ryan Cormack Hair/Make Up | Tammy Fox
Contributors: Brian Cox, Andrew Jardine, Catriona Duthie, Mhairi Rutherford, Rachel A. Davis, Graham McCan, Stine Tredop, Kevin Fullerton, Danielle Ames, Grace Brennan, Rose Matheson, Nicolle McSaveney, John Paterson, Iain MacKinnon, Kirstie Allen, Tiki Fhe, Sarasvathi Arulampalam, Claire McPhillimy, Leona Reid, Francisco Garcia, Edward Woods, Ryan Cormack, Tammy Fox, Iain Kennedy, Rachael Doherty, Iain MacKinnon, Anna Dimitrova, Daniel McGlade, Sarah Getgood, Stacy Rowlison & Craig Morrison. PAGE 2
The Magdalen
NO. 31 - Oct 2012
Editorial
CONTENTS
Editorial
4 Exec News., Campus News & Brian Cox
Lifestyle
5 Cherry & Coconut Flapjack recipe 6 Fighting fit in 5 exercies & How to boost your metabolism 8 Halloween fancy dress for 50p
Travel
9 Creepiest Places around the World 10 Destination Dundee 11 Dundee Urban Dictionary
Current Affairs
12 US Elections 13 My Body, My Choice
Art
15 Generator Projects 16 Scottish Dance Theatre
Features COVER | 50 Shades of Shite p. 18
18 50 Shades of Shite 20 Freshers’ Week - Best of the Banter 22 Sexuality Bias 23 Get to Know Your Exec
Fashion
27 Captured on Campus 28 Intro. to Vintage Shopping 29-30 Hit List & KLØK mens style
Entertainment
31 Autumn Previews 32 Reviews 33 Band of the Month
BAND OF THE MONTH p.32
Contents
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Sport
34 Meet the Team
NO. 31 - Oct 2012
PAGE 3
Editorial
EXEC NEWS ANDREW
JARDINE
H
VPE
ello and welcome to the update from the Executive [or title of article if it is different from that]! This column will keep you up to date with what your Executive is doing for you. We are also blogging throughout this year, so check out our blog on the DUSA website. Well, we came into office over TWO months ago but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. Time has flown by! The main focus of my work in this time has been helping, Rachael prep for the Student Rep Council Elections. By the time this issue goes to print, they will be a distant memory. As well as this, I have also been working with the Sport’s Union and the Student Services on a new project for the University – Healthy Body Healthy Mind Award. This award is gained by institutions that actively promote sport and exercise as a means of maintaining good mental wellbeing. This will be an on going project for the rest of the year, which will hopefully see the University gaining a high rating. Look out for event throughout the Semester which you can get involved in! This is really all I have been focussing on for the two months but lots more exciting projects in the pipeline!
CAMPUS NEWS
There’s a new pro-union student group on-campus now, Better Together. They have recently become affiliated and meet in Liar Bar, Monday 8 October, 6pm. Spex Pistols, 4 Johnston’s Lane, have a permanent 20% off student discount. Just show your matric card when purchasing. The Parcel Office (next to the bookshop at Heathfield) offer FREE computer advice and problem solving Wednesdays, 5pm til late. Dundee Literary Festival 24-28 October www.dundee.ac.uk/literarydundee/
PAGE 4
Brian Cox rector
rector WELCOME
M
y term as the University of Dundee Rector has reinvigorated my passion for my home city of Dundee. The leading edge enthusiasm that runs through the veins of the University, has led to not only its own rapid growth over the past decade, but also that of the city. There is no sign of such growth slowing in the years to come, either, with the University now considered to be one of the leading learning institutions in the UK. Dundee University has become the City of Discovery flagship providing the fuel that powers our great city. Thousands of new students are flocking to the city during its city-wide innovation and projects, including the Dundee Waterfront and V&A Dundee, which will provide a great legacy of its students here will see developing. To an extent I am somewhat jealous of the new University students. They join the institution in a time of great excitement and will, in turn, create a platform for furthering their own education unlike any other. Indeed, with the University being voted the best for Student Experience within the UK, providing services such as
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NO. 31 - Oct 2012
FROM THE
the 3rd best students’ union in the UK and the best union in Scotland, it is perhaps little wonder that many graduates stay within Dundee long after their graduation. They remain and contribute their unique talents and skills to Dundee’s infrastructure. I take pride in my heritage, in my city and in my home. Being Rector of such a wonderful university has been one of the most defining and gratifying roles I have played throughout my life. It has allowed me to give back to the wondrous city I love as well as share the City’s potential with future generations. For this reason I am incredibly grateful to the University and to the students of Dundee. I welcome incoming students, as well as those already here, to many, many happy years of discovery and I look forward to future opportunities to work with the heart and soul of my homeland.
- BRIAN COX
Add Brian on facebook: Dundee Uni Rector Editorial
cherry and coconut
LIFESTYLE
FLAPJACKS MHARI RUTHERFORD & RACHEL A. DAVIS
ingredients 150g unsalted butter
photograph: Rachel A. Davis
baking directions Flapjacks are easy and delicious buttery delights, excused for their fat by the fibre of the oats. Rachel A. Davis, a former Dundee College Photography student, has kindly let us publish her excellent flapjack recipe, from her blog, The Vagabond Baker http://thevagabondbaker.wordpress.com/ At times, we may perhaps think our Student Kitchen’s aren’t fit for baking and lament the lack of a dishwasher that we now wish we had better appreciated in our parental nests. However, we bake in more luxury, albeit a lot less bohemian, than Rachel, who devised the recipe on a dreich and rainy day in Galloway Forest Park, Britain’s only Dark Sky Park, in her camper van.
1.
Gently melt the butter in a large pan. I personally use my teflon non-stick wok for this as it acts like a big mixing bowl when I come to add the oats!
2.
Stir in the caster sugar and the golden syrup and let it all melt together.
3.
Add all the other ingredients and stir it well to cover all the oats in the buttery mixture.
Lifestyle
4.Make sure the cherries (or
whatever you’re using) have been well distributed about the mix too.
5.
Tip this into the tin and use the back of a fork to firmly compact the oats.
6.
Bake for 30 mins until lightly golden. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes then cut into 8 pieces.
7.
75g golden caster sugar 5 tbsp golden syrup 200g rolled oats 40g desiccated coconut 75g glacé cherries, halved 1/8 tsp salt {optional, I like a tiny bit of salt in them} 4 tbsp ground flaxseed {optional but easy way for extra nutrition} **No cherries? Substitute for dried fruit, chocolate, or whatever you fancy.
Cool completely in the tin.
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PAGE 5
1
ALTERNATE LUNGE TWIST Start with your arms spread wide, level with your shoulder height, and have your palms facing forward. Alternate lunge looking for the front knee to finish behind the laces on the same foot, achieving a 90 degree angle on both knee joints at the lowest point.
GRAHAM McCAN GMAC Fitness
I’ve been training solidly for 8 years now and have been around gyms for a long time. I have a range of clients from the first timer all the way through to elite athletes. The most common complaint my clients ask about is CORE STRENGTH. Check out this total body workout I have put together to smash that core, hit your major muscle groups and tighten up everything from
Twist torso 90 degrees with the opposite arm to front knee. Don’t forget to alternate!
2
T-PRESS UP This one can be done from either knees or toes Standard push-up with hands directly underneath shoulders.
For a personal session with Graham contact him at:
At the top of the press up, twist to side plank position, keeping body as straight and tight as possible throughout.
graham@gmacfitness.com
BOOST
YOUR
METABOLISM PAGE 6
Don’t forget to alternate sides!
Healthy eating needn’t be bland. A good diet is just as important as regular exercise. Here are 5 ways to spice up your diet:
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NO. 31 - Oct 2012
Breakfast: Cinnamon has one of the highest antioxidant values of any spice. The spice has been shown to reduce inflammation, lower blood sugar and blood triglyceride levels, alleviate nausea and increase sensitivity to insulin as an aid in fat burning. Ideas: Sprinkle over porridge or yoghurt and muesli.
Lifestyle
LIFESTYLE
3
SQUAT TO LATERAL LEG RAISE Feet shoulder width, pointing straight forward.
5
Lower legs while hips fire back, keeping back straight and almost vertical.
Stand straight. Hands down outside line of toes. Jump both feet back until into t-press position.
Squeeze back up slowly with added side raise to finish.
Lower body to ground, taking hands away from ground at bottom.
Don’t forget to alternate legs!
4
DEAD MAN BURPEES
Press back up and jump feet back to return to standing position.
THREE PART V-UPS
Phase 1: Knees 90 degrees, heels elevated Simple crunch towards knees, whilst supporting head
Phase 2: Same position as previous exercise Lower heels, maintaining angle on knee joint until just above the floor Raise from this point, back up and a 6 inches past the point of return
Phase 3:
ALL EXERCISES 3x20 REPITIONS
Phase 1 & 2 simultaneously
Snack: The heat factor in cayenne pepper is brought on by capsaicin, a substance that makes peppers hot. Highly therapeutic, the substance helps relieve aches and soreness.
Lunch: Oregano has antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant and antibiotic properties. Its oil and leaves are used medicinally in treating cough, fever, body-ache and other illnesses.
Ideas: Roast chickpeas in the oven with some olive oil for 45 minutes, sprinkle with cayenne and a little salt to taste.
Ideas: One pot wonder.: chicken pieces, chopped tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables with oregano, bake for 45 minutes.
Lifestyle
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Evening Meal: Chilli flakes, again using the capsaicin, have a thermogenic effect on the body, which can raise the metabolic rate by almost 8% for short periods of time. Ideas: Sprinkle plenty of chilli flakes over your evening protein source (chicken, beef or turkey).
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Halloween
Fancy Dress For Under 50p DANIELLE AMES
Hate to break it to you slackers, but this time there’s no excuse for donning cat ears and painting whiskers yet another year in a row. Taking your budgeting burdens into our own hands,here are five fancy dress options for under 50p… leaving you with the finances left to afford half a Jaeger Bomb! Okay!
1 KISSING BOOTH
4 A PHOTO OF YOURS TRULY
Subtle, yet effective. Using a large box (try hitting up Prem, or the wee post office by Dalhousie) cut a picture window out of the top half of the front side with enough room to look out of. Find some god-awful discount wrapping paper (this is the 50p part of the costume) and go to town on your box, leaving the window uncovered. Then attach your most official looking “Kissing Booth” sign to the box, just incase your ingenious wit is beyond the plebeians that tend to frequent Mono. If you’re feeling particularly fancy, pop a couple of curtains on the windows to let the ladies know when you’re in business. You can thank me later.
We’re all victims of that cringe worthy school photo mum refuses to remove from the fridge. Take advantage of your distasteful adolescence, and cut a large ‘frame’, for your head or body to appear through, out of a cardboard box. Pull on those dungarees, or strap a pair of patterned braces over your shoulders, plait your hair, tin foil some headgear, and root up your pre-pubescent spectacles to re-create a school photo more iconic than the loss of Madonna’s virginity. Don’t forget to wedge a bit of lettuce in between your front teeth. Not so keen on reliving your ancient past? Use the rest of the box as your backdrop, and capture a photo of your first steps on the moon, your victorious wrestle with a crocodile, or Ryan Gosling proposing to you on a moonlit beach…just sayin.
2 PIGS IN A BLANKET Call your nearest and dearest, and paint them pink. No, really. Wrap a blanket around your crew, and that’s you folk sorted. Disclaimer regarding any piglets with a tendency to stray. That is unless you’re not permanently adhered to one another by your eccentric sweating five minutes in.
3 LAST NIGHTS TAKE AWAAY Wrap yourself in tinfoil, and say you’re leftovers. Warning, the pull factor on this costume is relatively low, especially if you perfect that day old musty food smell.
5 ROLLERCOASTER Ever thought a roller coaster would be infinitely more fun after a couple shots of Sambucca, but not willing to risk your curly fries over it? Simply cut a box into the shape of a carnival ride seat, cut out the bottom, paint it fire engine red, and slip it round your waist. Next, stuff a pair of jeans with whatever floats your boat, and add some trainers to complete the image of a pair of legs, making it appear as though you’re sitting in a roller coaster seat. Slide a pole through the front of the box, to hold onto for dear life, then hands in the air and hit the bar.
If you’re still lacking that burst of inspiration, just pop a pacifier in your mouth, and say you’re a Fat Sams Patron. Too soon? PAGE 8
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Lifestyle
Travel
Creepiest Places Around the World ROSE MATHESON
If Mono on a Tuesday isn’t scary enough for you then you can spend your Halloween at one of these bizarre and disturbing tourist destinations instead… Aokigahara Forest - Fiji
Isla de Munecas - Mexico
Sedlec Ossuary - Prague
Found at the foot of Mount Fiji, the “sea of trees” is much more sinister than its peaceful neighbour. Wardens of the Aokigahara Forest clear up around 100 bodies a year due to an unexplained high suicide rate in the forest. It is thought to be inspired from a Japanese novel, which ends in suicide. However, the high suicide rates predate the book and, although suicide was also practiced by the Samurai to preserve their honour, this does not explain why it still happens today. If all the dead bodies lying around the forest isn’t creepy enough, the wind is, more than not, blocked by its Goliath neighbour, making the place eerily quiet. Not only that, the forest is so dense that hikers could find themselves in complete darkness, in the middle of the day. Signs are scattered throughout the forest, but forget clearing up litter or keeping your dog on a leash -these signs instruct something else entirely: “Life is a gift you were given by your parents. Please think about them, the rest of your family, and any children you have. You don’t have to suffer by yourself, please give us a call (the Fuji Yoshida police counselling service) and talk to us.”
About 50 years ago, in the Teschulio Lake, deep within Mexico, an apparent tragedy occurred: a young girl drowned. Don Julian Santana, an alcoholic from La Asunción, then decided to take the island for his own. Santana dedicated his life into remembering this young girl in a unique - and frankly disturbing - way, by collecting dolls and displaying them all over the island. He made no attempt to repair any and the weathering over time has left every tree on the island decorated with decapitated and decomposing dolls, just perfect for the next Hollywood teen horror. Santana welcomed visitors onto the island until his death in 2001, which, oddly enough, occurred in the same location as the little girl…
This inconspicuous church in the town of Sedlec near Prague in the Czech Republic has a much more sinister story. In 1278 the abbot of the monastery in Sedlec was sent to Jerusalem by the King of Bohemia. He later returned with a jar of “holy soil”. From then on, Sedlec became one of the most popular burial sites in the country, leading to a collection of over 40,000 skeletons in the basement. This was until 1870, when carpenter František Rint, who had far too much time on his hands, was asked to put the bones neatly in order. The end result was something disturbingly beautiful. The piles of bones were used to redecorate the entire interior of the church; culminating in a spectacular chandelier made entirely of human bones.
Travel
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PAGE 9
Travel
destination dundee
E
very year students from around 100 different countries come to Dundee to study here. Some come for a single semester or two on the Erasmus program, while some plan to stay in the cold a whole four years for their Bachelors degree. The question international students get asked the most is why (on earth) they would choose to study in Dundee. The answer from most European students is simple: They don’t have to pay any tuition fees here thanks to the SAAS (a fact that is rightly frowned upon by students from England). Other reasons are that they can improve their English and it always looks good on the CV to study abroad. The first impressions when arriving before or during Freshers’ Week are that Dundee isn’t as rainy as it is rumoured to be. Not for nothing, Dundee is the sunniest city in
PAGE 10
Scotland. The people are friendly and willing to repeat what they said if the newcomers struggle with the Scottish accents. Overall, it’s a warm welcome from the University of Dundee for most international students and a lot of help is offered to get settled. One of the first differences mentioned by students from warmer climates is, of course, the weather. Students from warmer regions already have the heating on full blast, all day long. Some are very excited that they will see snow for the first time in their life this year. Another point is the food here in Scotland. The deep fried Mars bar is infamous amongst international students and discussed with a mix of disgust and fascination. Many international students are astonished when the the music stops and the lights come on at 2.30am in the clubs; whereas they are used to dancing until the dawn. On campus or in the lectures it’s
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not uncommon to find that people from the same country or part of the world tend to stick together. It’s not that they don’t want to spend time with people from Scotland, it’s just easier to connect with them at first. Many students try to feel a bit more like home by listening to music from their country or cooking a traditional meal. Something, most international students agree on, is that they could not imagine being abroad without the Internet. It gives the possibility of staying in touch with friends and family 24/7 and most importantly, when homesickness strikes. Many international students are looking forward to going home for Christmas but not before exploring Scotland, getting to know Scottish culture and simply making the most of their stay in Dundee.
STINE TREDOP
Travel
e e d n u D y r a n o i t c i d Because you can only nod FU K EV I N
LLERT
ON
politely so many times Aye
Belter
Leathered
Meaning: Yes. An answer in the affirmative. Example: “Aye, ah ken.” English Translation: “Why yes, I am aware of this.”
Meaning: To be funny. This phrase has a double meaning, however. If something is a belter it is simply amusing, but when someone is a belter then they are both funny and a bit of an idiot. Example: “Here chack that dick. What a pyoor belter min.” English Translation: “Observe that silly fellow. What an amusing yet somewhat foolish attitude he has in life.”
Meaning: To be beaten up. If someone says this to you in a pub then it’s probably time to get going. Example: “Here if you dinnae stop geein’ me cheek you’re gettin’ pyoor leathered, pal.” English Translation: “Now look here good chap, if you don’t cease the cut of your jib then I’m afraid we will be forced into fisticuffs of the highest order.”
Bammed up Meaning: To be proven wrong Example: “Here, Bonnie Tyler belted out ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, no Kim Carnes ya pyoor dafty. That’s you pyoor bammed up” English Translation: “Good chap, I think you’ll find that Bonnie Tyler sang ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, not Kim Carnes you silly individual. Sir, you have been proven wrong.”
Beamer Meaning: A state of embarrassment usually causing the face to flush. Example: “Here, da., want tae stop singin’ ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ roond mah pal’s hoose. It’s geein’ is a pyoor beamer likes.” English Translation: “Pip pip, father would you mind not singing ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ at the domiciles of my chums and compatriots? I find it awfully embarrassing.”
Travel
Polis Chookter Meaning: If someone is a chookter then they are from the countryside. Generally, deemed to be a light-hearted insult. Related term: Chookterville - the land of the chookter. Example: “Whar are you off tae?” “Just off tae chookterville tae hae a wander.” English Translation: “Where are you travelling to old spprt?” “Why I’m just going to roam to the countryside chap.”
Hoachin’ Meaning: If a place is hoachin’ then it is busy. Example: “Oor pub is pyoor hoachin’ min.” English Translation: “Our public house where we drink and cavort is rather chock-a-block this evening.”
The Magdalen
Meaning: The Police. Incorrect pronunciation of this term may lead people to think you’re referring to the Polish. Example: “Bomb it! That’s the polis comin’.” English Translation: “Better skedaddle old chaps! The local constabulary are on the way!”
Yaldy! Meaning: An outburst made to illustrate a period of intense exutation. Example: “Yaldy!” English Translation: “Huzzah!”
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PAGE 11
CURRENT AFFAIRS
ROMNEY, OBAMA AND THE STUDENT VOTE
B
oth attended expensive universities. Romney faced high costs when he studied at the prestigious Harvard University. Michelle Obama recalled at the Democratic National Convention how her and her husband’s combined student debts were larger than their mortgage. In response to this both have committed to maintain low interest rates on the government funded student loans. Students face a vote on two ways to handle student debt. Obama’s policies aim to regulate for-profit colleges which make profit out of students rather than scholars. This has proven popular with students struggling with their tuition fees. However, Obama’s controversial healthcare plans have led to some students turning against him. Romney bases his student policies on encouraging banks to lend to students at lower rates, an initiative supported by both his party and student groups. But Romney faces the fact that students are considered to be a progressive group; they tend to support gay marriage and the right to abortions - issues Republicans
PAGE 12
JOHN PATERSON
With the American election race heating up, it’s hardly surprising that the fight for the student vote is a fierce one. Both candidates have launched policies on the future of student funding, in America. But is Obama or Romney capable of understanding the fears of students?
frequently oppose. While bowing to the pressure of the more conservative members of his party, Romney will lose a significant section of the young voters he needs to win the election. Both candidates are eager to tackle the problem of expensive higher education and whilst they take different approaches, their commitment is the same. America’s fight against student debt may put pressure upon other countries to take a similar direction and legislate to drive down the cost of higher education. Whatever the outcome of the election, it is comforting to note that both sides of the coin are committed to reducing student debt.
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$24,500 average student debt after college, Huffington Post The debating union is running a debate on the US presidential election on Wednesday 24 October, 7pm – with a guest speaker. dundeedebates@hotmail.co.uk
Current Affairs
CURRENT AFFAIRS
my body my choice NICOLLE McSAVENEY
I
’ve been fraped!” is a phrase I hear more than a few times a day, absent-mindedly pouring out of the mouths of what I’m instigating to be reckless facebookidiotics. Or take Todd Akin, Republican candidate for the US Senate, recently commenting “... from what I understand from doctors, that’s [pregnancy from rape is] really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down.” Another example is that of the Toronto police representative who stated: “women should stop dressing like sluts in order to avoid being raped”. A status published to the world on someone’s personal page without their permission – that is funny, right? I’m a joker myself. But as a humanist activist and survivor of sexual assault, I find myself questioning how this
word “frape” came about. I’d like to know why it has become so casually accepted across our nation. Mr Akin was of course discussing the abortion laws in the US. His view in a nutshell is that women are not permitted to decide after conception as they were the ones had control over this conception in the first place. So far, we are awaiting the correct scientific evidence of this. The Toronto police representative was implying that people are raped due to which clothes they are wearing and that the incident was the survivor’s fault. This undermines every other type of rape that happens, including those raped wearing un-‘provocative’ clothing; men, trans-genders who have been raped, or people in relationships who have been sexually abused. Also, it ridiculously implies that people actually invite these attacks.
continues
In Scotland only 2.9% of rapes recored by police lead to a conviction. Current Affairs
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PAGE 13
CURRENT AFFAIRS
30%
What it comes down to is this: The ignorance amongst today’s rape culture, the victim-blaming and mindless comments that are spread across the media create a common opinion. It is common to blame survivors of sexual abuse for what has happened, to treat them as if they do not know what actually happened to them or to simply belittle the severity of the incident to get on with one’s own life - without such rude disturbance. The reality is people get raped and sexually abused. It is not their fault. No matter what clothes they are wearing, it is a person’s decision whether or not they have sex, not the decision of someone else. A recent cause highlighting the issue is “Slutwalk Edinburgh”. The Slutwalk movement was born after the Toronto police officer’s statement last year. The group’s message is: “Rape is never the survivor’s fault”. A demonstration was held on July 7th, of which I was the organiser, down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to end victimblaming and slut-shaming. Other Slutwalks have been held across the world and the movement is growing. Despite its controversial name, I think Slutwalk is exactly what women should embrace. It disgusts me that women still do not have 100% control over their bodies. And what’s more, that society as a whole remains ignorant towards serious causes such as rape and sexual abuse. If this article has provoked some thought, it has achieved its goal. Let that be the first step towards a more educated, more caring and more equal society.
For more information search | Slut Walk Edinburgh on Facebook. Images courtesy of | thisisnowrapeme.co.uk
of people t h o u g ht that a woman was fully of partially responsible for being raped if she was drunk. Amnesty (2005)
PAGE 14
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Current Affairs
Located just off the Perth Road in the Mid Wynd industrial estate, GENERATORprojects is one of Dundee’s most distinguished and vibrant artistic spaces. Established in 1996, it is entirely run by a volunteer committee of artists on a strictly non-profit basis. It’s content is eclectic and incredibly diverse- work is consistently featured from artists all across the career spectrum: from emerging talent to relatively established artists. No charges of parochialism can be put forward either as local art is supplemented by the work of national and international artists.
www.generatorprojects.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/GENERATORprojects
On Thursday the 13th of September I had the great pleasure of attending the opening night of the galleries first exhibit comprised of student work, “Galileo’s Shopping List”. I arrived without the slightest idea of what to expect, though I must admit to a few half-baked prejudices against contemporary art floating somewhere at the forefront of my brain (I blame a particularly dreadful afterno on spent at Damien Hirst’s recent Tate Modern exhibition, though I’ll save that choice little rant for another, more bile filled article). Within half an hour any lingering bitterness had evaporated under the sheer vitality of the work. The two artists, 4th year fine art students Dorian Jose Braun and Jack Paton, impressively utilised their works inherent theatrical quality, a particular highlight being their hand restored 18thC book press - used on this occasion to furnish visitors with elderflower champagne. I returned on Friday afternoon to have a discussion with one half of the duo and to have a slightly quieter look at the exhibit. While I returned home impressed by the ingenuity of the work on Thursday evening, it hadn’t made a particularly vivid impression. This was to change in light of a less hazy (I mentioned the free booze?) Friday afternoon. I received a personal walkthrough of the exhibit from Dorian and began to appreciate the richness of composition behind the pieces. Throughout the works on show there ran common themes of joy in creation, slapstick and - the theme most commonly returned to - “The high entropy of mess”. These must sound like irreconcilable ideas, but take my word for it, once you’ve seen pieces like “The Saw” they become far more understandable. Imagine a 4m saw (made by the duo) and a log (sourced by the duo) in a 10m long room (disappointingly not built by the duo) and you essentially have it. Whilst in print that might not sound weirdly mesmeric and hilarious, there is certainly an element of both in watching participants glide back and forth sawing a piece of wood. Unfortunately the exhibit ended on Sunday the 16th, though I would certainly keep the names of the dynamic duo firmly in mind. However, the good news is that GENERATORprojects has a wealth of exciting things coming up in the near future, be sure to check the website.
Art
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PAGE 15
ART
OPEN STUDIO
RESPONSES PAGE 16
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NO. 31 - Oct 2012
Art
FRANCISCO GARCIA
I
posses about as much knowledge regarding contemporary dance as I do astrophysics;I know they both exist and that’s about it. However, being a man of diverse tastes I went along to the open rehearsal for the Scottish Dance Theatre on Friday the 14th of September. I left with an uncomfortable sense of my own physical inadequacy married to a total respect for the dancers work. Sheer unstinting training and practice mark their daily routine, nothing less than total effort is enough, of course even contemplating that much physical effort is enough to make me want to vomit and reach for the tobacco pouch.
NICHOLAS MANDERSON
W
henever you mention contemporary dance or physical theatre there are always a few raised eyebrows. However, once you experience it being performed you gain a fascinating new insight into the discipline. I have now seen Scottish Dance Theatre perform on three occasions; once as part of their Spring 2012 tour and twice during their open studio events. Each performance has been completely unique. The first obvious difference is the change in dynamic between the informal studio environment and the complete onstage set. On-stage the full theatricality of Scottish Dance Theatre is brilliant, yet the studio setting is nuanced with subtleties of movement and touch. Scottish Dance Theatre have four new dancers and a new apprentice this year, which creates another interesting difference between their performances. I was pleasantly surprised at how different the five new dancers makes the performances. Of the three pieces they showcased parts of, during their most recent open studio (pictured), two I had seen twice previously. Yet, because of thenew faces it was like watching a wholly new work. For two and half weeks this month, Scottish Dance Theatre is touring India, for which we wish them all the best. But they return home to Dundee with their new season’s tour from 21st November – make a note in your diary!
Art
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NO. 31 - Oct 2012
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50SHITE SHADES OF KEVIN FULLERTON
I wasn’t best pleased when my editor asked me to read ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ for The Magdalen. “You’ll hate it,” she said, “It’ll be funny.” And she was right. It was one of the worst written pieces of misogynist trash that I’ve read. And I read it purely for your pleasure so you better like this article, scum. But it wasn’t funny. It was a horrible weekend that I’ll never get back. To read Fifty Shades of Grey is to be assaulted with bad writing. It’s like a copy of The Magdalen spread out over five-hundred pages.
COPIES SOLD IN THE UK:
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DEATHLY HALLOWS
SHA DES 50 OF GREY
The Magdalen
NO. 31 - Oct 2012
million
E.L.
4.5 5.4 million
million
ERIC
CARLE
1.7
CATEPILLAR
ROWLING AND
HUNGRY
HARRY P O T T E R
J.K.
THE VERY
again, but that’s a whole other story that I can’t legally go into. The point I’m getting to is that the shame attached to it is completely unwarranted, because Fifty Shades is about as erotic as a tramp farting in a bin. And not even a particularly sexy tramp, pouting and writhing about like some sort of sexual tramp panther. The whole book is bogged down by this irritant of a main character, whose sexual awakening appears to be represented by her just repeatedly saying “Oh my...” at anything Grey does, as though she’s in a particularly sexual episode of The Waltons. And it’s got the weirdest and least thoughtful use of adjectives that I’ve ever read. It’s like they’ve just been jizzed onto the page, which given the subject matter they may very well have been. At one point in the book, Ana eats a
JAMES
Grey has the type of effect on Ana that is usually reserved for sitting on a washing machine with the spin setting on high. After 100 pages of will they/won’t they type mucking around, they finally get it on, but it turns out that Grey is a bit kinky; whips, chains, vibrating eggs and all that jazz. Soon Ana Steele is up to all sorts with Grey, in lengthy sexual scenes that everyone seems to have made a fuss about. There’s a high level of shame attached to reading FSOG in public due to the reputation it has for its sexual content. I’d frankly feel more comfortable reading a copy of Razzle in a coffee shop than I would reading Fifty Shades. Unfortunately, the managers of Starbucks don’t seem to feel more comfortable with it, which is why I’m not allowed back there
THE
F
or those of you somehow unaware of Fifty Shades of Grey – perhaps reading the thing killed so many of your brain cells that you forgot everything that’s ever happened to you in your enfeebled existence – allow me to fill you in. Fifty Shades is unfortunately not a new and particularly depressing Dulux colour chart showcasing the many moods of Ingmar Bergman, but is in fact a preposterous piece of erotic fiction that has inexplicably sold quite a lot. It spread like cholera, or Katie Price. The story opens with Ana Steele being forced by her flatmate, Kate, who we know is “tenacious” because it is literally the only adjective used to describe her in the entire f****** book, to conduct an interview with the millionaire business tycoon, Christian Grey. During the interview
Features
Features
$15 million
E.L. James’ estimated worth
$5 million paid for the film rights
translated into
+30
languages croissant “discreetly”. Why she’s eating it discreetly isn’t really made clear. Perhaps the croissant wasn’t phallic enough for the novel so she had to hide it. And how one eats anything discreetly isn’t made clear. Perhaps she had a blanket over her at the time so no one could see her. At another point Ana actually says, “Honestly, his surname should be Cryptic, not Grey,” in a piece of wordplay that makes Dan Brown look like Oscar Wilde. There’s a wee theory about monkeys that I like. Given an infinite amount of time and a bunch of typewriters, monkeys could theoretically type out the entire works of Shakespeare. Fifty Shades, in the same theory, would have been written before the monkeys had actually figured out how to type, instead smearing their foetid excrement
Features
across page after page, fifty shades of shite, and calling it literature. It’s a Mills and Boon nightmare, in which a woman is dominated by an older and more intelligent man to the point of utter debasement. He controls her because she wants it, and it heftily implies that this is what all women really want. It’s like feminism never happened. In an age where women, particularly in America, are having their sexual rights stripped of them by men with little regard for them, Fifty Shades puts forward the idea that the best thing to happen to a woman is for a man to control her every waking thought. It’s poorly written drivel with a message that could only be called backwards. I didn’t like it is my point. Not a fan. Bought one of those vibrating eggs though. Not bad.
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Well hello Freshers! Are you still standing? Just how were those 7 days and nights of being initiated and let’s be honest, proving to your flatmates that you can keep up with their drinking? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there, someone has to be the first to make a drunken tool of themself. And having heard about your most embarrassing, amusing and ridiculous antics, we just decided to document it and publish it for all the University to see.
P
robably the most impressive of your endeavours during the week was taking shots through a fish. Yes, a fish. If you weren’t aware of how to do this, it’s simple. Apparently. You cut the tail off a fish – no specific type of fish required (but we advise against goldfish) open the mouth and pour. Alcohol and your daily dose of protein in one! We’ve also discovered that you are quite keen on drawing on one another, whether it’s the budding opportunity to express artistic skills or purely making your pal look like a fool, there isn’t an area of the body a black marker hasn’t been. Bum’s in particular might I add, with one lad sporting a derrière that could rival Frankie Cocozza’s (are we allowed to mention him when he bailed?). But it turns out you’ve been creative this year, too. Ever heard of ‘Broken Man’ t-shirts? No, we hadn’t either. It’s the craze kicking about halls where the morning after, when you’re a tad delicate and feeling a little low on dignity, you slap one on a ‘Broken Man’ t-shirt and your flatmates have to cater to your every need. This proposal came from the same flat that woke up to the remains of a cactus spread across their kitchen window. My personal favourite not-so-Disney tale from Freshers week however, amidst accidental drinking of olive oil, various bar items being stolen from The Union and the attempt at making a ‘beer cake’ on a Heathfield door, comes from an anonymous source; and no, it’s not ‘I’ve accidentally woken up next to a minger’, although we’re sure plenty of that occurred. The story that may inspire a few of you, if you’re bored and have a lot of tin foil to spare, is the classic case of the girl who left her flat forgetting to lock her bedroom door. Oh the possibilities. She runs some errands, comes home thinking a nice nap would do before another night out, only to find that everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – has been wrapped in foil. That is each item from the individual pens on her desk, to her duvet.
Best
of the Banter
GRACE BRENNAN
Features
Love is Love... or is it? KIRSTIE ALLEN
T
his month last year, I came out. Side note: My best friend knew, three people asked if “that’s why I got my hair cut short?” and my dad, whom I told shaking, just smiled and said “Okie dokie”. My apparent gay hair aside, in coming out a lesbian, I was welcomed with acceptance. However, out in big society it isn’t always so simple. I’ve found that people like to project their own ideas about sexuality onto you. They say things like, “I think everyone’s bi” or it’s “progressive” to be with people of the same sex, or maybe they just believe all their homosexual peers will be sent to hell. Perhaps it’s because when we don’t understand something, we try to make it like us, so then it’s not this alien thing. The concept of sexuality can be quite complex, so it’s okay to be one thing and not understand the other. There’s no offense in that as long as we respect each other. But it is a problem to go around without boundaries and tell someone that who they are and what they do is wrong. Here’s an example and my explanation of why we can’t invalidate anybody’s orientation based on our own conclusions: Fozzie Bear: “Sexuality isn’t that rigid. You’re attracted to a person not a gender”*. While Fozzie’s sexuality is fluid, I know that mine definitely isn’t. Firstly, if it was, that would reinforce everyone
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who’s ever said that being gay is my choice. I didn’t choose a ‘lifestyle’, the same way my best friend didn’t wake up one morning and decide that she’d be straight. I’m gay, she’s straight and neither of us are even a little bit bisexual. Secondly, sexual orientation isn’t exclusively about whom you’re attracted to or who you fall in love with. I identify as a lesbian when I’m not in a relationship too. Like your own orientation it informs my interests, politics, who I hang out with. So then, to me, the idea of fluidity strips me of my identity too. Therefore, I don’t think we can go around making statements like “sexuality is fluid”. At the end of the day the only way you can generalise sexuality is by stating that it’s subjective. If you say your sexuality is
fluid then it is and that’s cool. There’s diversity in this world. It’s fascinating listening to other people’s stories. However, we can’t always understand what we don’t know. I don’t understand heterosexuality but I’m not here to tell you it’s wrong or right to be heterosexual. I’m not that important. The only person who can make a true statement about your identity, is you. Same goes for everyone else. Subjectivity. Love doesn’t need to be “Love” the way people expect, assume or demand. Love who and how you want to love. As Nietzsche said, “There is no ultimate truth”. Or like my dad said, “Okie dokie”. *This quote is entirely fictional. I made it up. I don’t know what Fozzie Bear thinks about sexuality.
THREE PEOPLE ASKED IF THAT’S WHY I GOT MY HAIR CUT SHORT?
The Magdalen
NO. 31 - Oct 2012
Features
Get to know
YOUR exec
You’ve seen them around campus; you’ve voted for them; you’ve been assaulted with flyers from them; so it’s about damn time you got to know them. In the spirit of avoiding dull interviews regarding their policies, we compiled a list of questions that we felt would reveal the innermost characteristics you wouldn’t otherwise discover. So without further adieu, we present to you the people behind the policies!
Iain Kennedy
President
If everything goes according to your plans, what can we expect to see changed or improved this year? Bigger and better student engagement, not only with the union but with university issues as well. I’d like to make sure students get more involved with speaking to their lecturers and improving communication in general. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in you Fresher’s Week? Drunken Kareoke. Singing about 6 songs back to back with everything from Country Roods to Frank Sinatra to Mealoaf You have to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life: what it is it? Bruce Springsteen: Thunder Road Watch Big Brother constantly for the next 120 hours with no breaks or be water-boarded for 2 minutes? Waterboarded, but that’s not an invitation to! You’re stuck on a desert island for the next 10 years; pick one other member of the exec, one rector (either previous or current) and one celebrity to keep you company. Stephen Fry, Kiera Knightly, and I can’t choose a member of the exec. I would love to spend 10 years on a desert island with them all! (Sarcasm?)
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Features
Rachael Doherty
Deputy President If everything goes according to your plans, what can we expect to see changed or improved this year? Basically, the SRC to create and mandate changes and prevent them that affect the student experience for the better. I do a lot of collaboration with Iain and the university and we’re all excited for the coming year. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in you Fresher’s Week? Not alcohol related, woken up by Security Staff in my office due to exhaustion! You have to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life: what it is it? - Sugarland and Bon Jovi: Who Says You Can’t Go Home Watch Big Brother constantly for the next 120 hours with no breaks or be water-boarded for 2 minutes? I’d probably say Big Brother so I can make fun of them! You’re stuck on a desert island for the next 10 years; pick one other member of the exec, one rector (either previous or current) and one celebrity to keep you company. Iain MacKinnon because he’s funny, Fred MacAuley, and Charlie Hunnam because well let’s face it, he’s pretty.
Iain MacKinnon
Honorary Secretary If everything goes according to your plans, what can we expect to see changed or improved this year? The students will find it easier to access their exam results, I’m currently working closely with the Library to implement new features that will be beneficiary to students. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in you Fresher’s Week? My best friend from high school came around to my flat and convinced my flat to play Never Have I Ever and every single thing was aimed at me. Though, I did the same thing to him when I first went out with him and his girlfriend. Karma’s a b****. You have to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life: what it is it? Axis of Awesome: The Four Chord Song Watch Big Brother constantly for the next 120 hours with no breaks or be water-boarded for 2 minutes? Waterboarded, I’ll try anything once! You’re stuck on a desert island for the next 10 years; pick one other member of the exec, one rector (either previous or current) and one celebrity to keep you company. Joss Whedon because there are so many things I’d like to ask him, Stephen Fry because he’s Stephen Fry, and Iain Kennedy because he and I disagree on so many things the arguments would keep us busy!
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Features
Features
Anna Dimitrova
Vice President of Student Activites
If everything goes according to your plans, what can we expect to see changed or improved this year? Expanding RAG Week and trying to get more of the community involved. And getting more societies working closer together to build a stronger bond between societies. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in you Fresher’s Week? I had a flatmate introduced to me and I didn’t catch her name, I went the whole semester without knowing her name! You have to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life: what it is it? Metallica: Nothing Else Matters Watch Big Brother constantly for the next 120 hours with no breaks or be water-boarded for 2 minutes? Waterboarded You’re stuck on a desert island for the next 10 years; pick one other member of the exec, one rector (either previous or current) and one celebrity to keep you company. Sarah because she would take care of my health, Brian Cox because we had a good chat once and rising Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov.
Andrew Jardine
Vice President of Engagement If everything goes according to your plans, what can we expect to see changed or improved this year? See a greater involvement and engagement of all students in DUSA activities eg. voting and running in the Elections and Societies. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in your Fresher’s Week? Can’t remember, possibly due to alcohol. You have to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life: what it is it? Coldplay: Viva La Vida Watch Big Brother constantly for the next 120 hours with no breaks or be water-boarded for 2 minutes? Waterboarded, none of that Big Brother crap for me. You’re stuck on a desert island for the next 10 years; pick one other member of the exec, one rector (either previous or current) and one celebrity to keep you company. Iain MacKinnon because he’s so funny, Martin Sheen purely because he was President Bartlet in the West Wing, and Fred MacAulay I’d be reallly interested to speak to him because of all the Radio stuff he does.
Features
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Features
Daniel McGlade
Vice President of Communications and Campaigns
If everything goes according to your plans, what can we expect to see changed or improved this year? The Media outlets to be more successful, with big changes with My Dundee and introducing DUSA Online as well as other online developments. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in your Fresher’s Week? I was late for work as Customer Safety at the Union and fell down the stairs , tore the entire leg off my trousers and sliced my leg open. It was so busy at work, that when I finally arrived I couldn’t leave and had to use masking tape to make it look like my trousers had a leg. You have to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life: what it is it? Brian Howard : The Wolves Watch Big Brother constantly for the next 120 hours with no breaks or be water-boarded for 2 minutes? Big Brother. You’re stuck on a desert island for the next 10 years; pick one other member of the exec, one rector (either previous or current) and one celebrity to keep you company. Brian Cox, Charlie Sheen because he’s awesome, and Andrew so he could be educated by Charlie Sheen.
Sarah Getgood
Vice President of Student Welfare
If everything goes according to your plans, what can we expect to see changed or improved this year? I would like Nightline to be 7 nights a week, and I want to introduce Therapet during exams **Editor’s Note: therapy dogs for stressed out students?! Yes please!
What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in you Fresher’s Week? - In Second Year, I decided I was going to participate in the hypnotist’s show which involved probably the tamest lap dance anyone has ever seen! You have to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life: what it is it? Dancing Mad from Final Fantasy Six. Watch Big Brother constantly for the next 120 hours with no breaks or be water-boarded for 2 minutes? Big Brother. You’re stuck on a desert island for the next 10 years; pick one other member of the exec, one rector (either previous or current) and one celebrity to keep you company. Iain MacKinnon because he’s hilarious, obviously Steven Fry, I think it’ll have to be Robert Downey Jr.
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Features
captured
on campus
Tinchy Stryder with DUSAtv personality Maggie Pentcheva Scott Mills & Beccy Huxtable
THE NEW CAMPUS STYLE SECTION
H
ello and welcome to The Magdalen’s new Fashion feature, Caputured on Campus! Over the upcoming year we’ll be hunting down our University’s best dressed students and celebrity guests to be featured in the magazine! This past month we spotted gorgeous LBDs, Chelsea boots, embellished tops and Tinchy Stryder wearing a diamond ring so big it could pay off your student loan three times over. The gothic trend that has infiltrated the runways this season has also hit campus. Black dresses, black blazers, plum peplum tops and feathered minis were seen on various students around campus. Even Scott Mills was rocking an all black outfit when he played his DJ set during Fresher’s Week. Our Fashion photographers will be out and about every Wednesday afternoon and Friday night ready to snap a picture of you looking your best. So pull out your most Vogue-worthy outfits and be ready to be Captured on Campus!
Fashion
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NO. 28 - Oct 2012
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Fashion
Vintage an introduction to
shopping
SARASVATHI ARULAMPALAM
F
or the first time, ‘The Very Vintage Fashion Fair’ was held right here in Dundee. Filled with stalls from Edinburgh, Glasgow and our surrounding area, the organisers catered to the burgeoning vintage scene in Dundee. They were quick to tell us: “Don’t be afraid to shop vintage!” But how does one start? The Magdalen has put together an introduction to help you take your first leap into the wonderful world of vintage. Vintage – the word associated with the hipsterchic Zooey Deschanel type of people, who never order coffee without straws and always keep a roll of tape in their purse. But the fact is that vintage is for everyone. It’s the more fabulous version of second hand: vintage clothing is defined as clothing from a previous era. It’s the quality clothes that have lasted a lifetime in someone else’s closet, ensuring there’s a good chance they’ll go to the ends of the earth and back with you too. Trend wise, vintage is brilliant. Trends come and go, and when they go – the clothes go straight to the vintage store for you to pick up at a bargain a few decades later. The army jacket, that’s been worn by both Rihanna and Caroline Flack recently, is an old favourite and you’ll be sure to find it hanging in any vintage shop. Focus on the jackets, bags and shoes. While vintage stores have beautiful dresses, clothes worn intimately tend to have more flaws, and a lot of those from earlier decades will be fitted to a
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certain figure. A lot of old bags are quality leather, some handmade with that wonderfully worn look that only a bag which has been loved and cared for can. As to where to get your vintage goods, one of my best finds was at a vintage fair in Berlin that a loose acquaintance dragged me to. A dingy apartment with an intercom system from the 60s, but filled with the most beautiful leather messenger bags. Though you need not even leave your flat for good vintage shopping. A number of websites do online vintage – ‘BeyondRetro’, ‘ASOS Marketplace’ and locallybased ‘The Frockery’ are just a few. For the beginner, starting vintage shopping online can be less intimidating. The less adventurous in our midst might also consider ‘SPEX PISTOLS’, a vintage eyewear shop located practically on campus. Glasses might not be the obvious choice when vintage shopping, but vintage frames are the little details that can make an outfit feel all the more special. Don’t be fooled though, vintage shopping is work. It’s like finding a needle in the haystack; it’s finding the shoes-to-die-for amongst paisley shirts and frumpy skirts. But that’s the fun! And when you do wear something vintage, you can bet that no one is going to look at you with a raised eyebrow and say: “Went to Primark this weekend, did we?”
NO. 28 - Oct 2012
Fashion
GOTHIC GLAMOUR clothing
Another trend hitting the runway of late has involved a sinister mix of black, lace and velvet…yes, the gothic has been resurrected. However, this time we’re not interested in inch-thick eye-liner, deathly white face powder or heavy metal. No, the gothic trend is back, but with a romantic twist. Think more Jane Eyre than Morticia Addams. Lace and velvet are the two prominent textures to have trickled over from the catwalk to high street, but don’t be afraid to add a little sheer chiffon for extra sensuality and romance. Instead of playing it safe with black, try experimenting with different coloursdeep purple tones are everywhere, so for once Katy Perry actually has it right with her hair colour!
Above: Dress, Zara, £89 Below: Blouse, Topshop, £36 Right: Coat, Topshop, £115
Gucci
Nina Ricci
Every month the Hit List will be giving you the low down on the latest fashion trends. This month we’re feeling decidely dark...
THE Above: Dress, Zara, £36
Monique Lhuillier
Left: Dress, Topshop, £55 Below: Studded Flat, Zara, £26
Gucci
HIT LIST Right: Studded Loafer, River Island, £45
Left: Buckled Chelsea Boot, River Island, £65
Balmain
CLAIRE MCPHILLIMY & LEONA REID
Quilted Flatform, River Island, £25
Philipp Plein
Bottom Left: Studded Bootie, Zara £60 Marni
COMFY COUTURE footwear
Armani Fendi
Chunky flatforms, studded loafers, crushed velvet slippers, midi heels, Chelsea ankle boots- we are completely spoiled for choice in the comfy-but-stylish shoe department this season! And the high street has some amazing offerings- I’d even sacrifice my wine and chocolate fund to buy River Island’s current footwear collection, which is really saying something.
BOLDLY BEAUTIFUL hair + beauty
There is absolutely no escaping the gothic, even beauty trends are boasting their daring graphic eyeliner flicks and dark brows with bold confidence. Chanel has come over all dark and mysterious too with it’s new perfume Coco Noir. An elegant nod to the gothic, and it smells divine!
One of the best things about Autumn and the fast approaching winter is the change in men’s footwear. I hate canvas shoes. I’m just going to plant my flag in the ground now. Goodbye, Toms; au revoir, plimsolls. Hello, leather brogues; good to see you again, paddock boots.
Chanel Lipstick, £24 Benefit Liquid Eyeliner, £14.50
Below: Earrings, H&M, £5.99
Guys, please wear some nice leather shoes. You don’t have to break the bank. ASOS.com have entirely leather shoes starting £40 (check My Uni Days for an extra 10% off), or the old reliable TOPMAN. Always try your shoes on first, and with boots remember to leave some room for a thicker sock on colder days. For brogues, oxfords and derby shoes, a small turn-up and a bright sock will liven up a “traditional” look.
Below Right: Ring, Topshop, £6.50
Leather Cuff, H&M, £7.99 Jewelled Chocker, Zara, £19.99
Above: MaxFactor Eyeshadow Trio, £6.50 Left: Coco Chanel Noir Perfume, £75
DAZZLING DECADENCE accessories
There has been no shortage of eye-catching embellishment on the runway this season, and you can bet the last of the crown jewels that the High Street has wasted absolutely no time in adopting this decadent detailing. The easiest and most purse friendly way of hitting this look is through jewellery. The fashion world has struck gold again so keep your eyes peeled for chandelier earrings, jewel encrusted bracelets or brooches, and statement encrusted collars. Less is most definitely not more with this look, so don’t be afraid to go overboard, just stick to layers of delicate but detailed jewellery to avoid the ghetto-gold vibe.
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MENS STYLE The start of a new semester always heralds the beginning of a new season, and not a moment too soon in my opinion. By no means am I a warm weather fan, sartorially speaking; I like layers and well cut wool overcoats.
Starting from Left:
Cross Ring, Topshop, £8.50
KLØK
The Magdalen
NO. 28 - Oct 2012
Leather shoes need to be looked after. The easiest way to do this is to use a shoe cream instead of standard dry polish. Apply a small amount of the shoe cream to the clean leather with an old sock, leave until it dries to a matte finish and then gently buff to a shine.
Nicholas Manderson Editor, KLØK twitter | @klok_mag email | hello@klokmag.co.uk
Fashion
autumn previews TIKI FHE
the walking dead
The last season ended full of promise for Season 3 to take the show to an even bloodier level. After the barn was set on fire in the finale of Season 2, the survivors were forced to flee the scene and eventually ended up at a nearby prison. So, what can be expected of the next season? Followers of the comics might be more privy to the coming plot after the introduction of Michonne (Danai Gurira), the mysterious woman in the woods who saved Andrea, and David Morrisey being cast as the Governor. A new claustrophobic setting, leadership clashes, two new main characters and the comeback of someone who was thought to be dead will most likely contribute to make Season 3 even bigger, better and bloodier.
the big bang theory
It almost seemed like the perfect happy ending: Howard fulfilling his dream of going into space after getting married to Bernadette; Sheldon and Amy holding hands; and Howard still with Penny. Yet the 6th Season won’t be without drama. The teaser trailer revealed that tension could arise between Amy and Sheldon, and even the other lovebirds’ relationships will be put to test. The ladies of the show will be given more air time, which will greatly contribute to this season’s plot without losing its perennial geekdom and originality.
how i met your mother
Although most fans assumed that Barney would eventually end up marrying Robin, the end of Season 7 did not resolve this storyline. Things are still a little complicated for our favourite New Yorkers. At the beginning of Season 8, Barney is still engaged to Quinn and Ted took everyone by surprise by running away with his cupcake-making Ex Victoria on her wedding day. The expectations are high and the creators did not refrain from coming up with some new developments: a True Blood star reprises his previous guest role, a female character who exceeds previous levels of insanity will appear more frequently and hopefully some questions will be answered: will the secret identity of the woman with the yellow umbrella be lifted? And will Barney manage to settle down with Robin?
ENTERTAINMENT
REVIEWS IAIN MACKINNON
GAMING
Spec Ops: The Line
****
It’s the pre-Christmas lull right now, but if you’re looking for an interesting take on a well-trodden path then I’d recommend you take a look at Spec Ops: The Line. It begins as a run-of-themill shooter but as it progresses it goes places you never expect and forces you to do some pretty emotional things. Well worth a look if you’re wanting something to tide you over until the end of the month.
TV
Glee | Season 4
*
Glee’s back on US screens, although won’t make the journey over the pond for a few months yet. Having seen the first episode let me say, lucky Britain. With a good few of the cast graduated the story is now split between New York and Lima, a terrible decision that makes an already monotonous show worse. Add in a new cast who are blatant rip-offs of those who left and I can already see this season bringing Glee to a whole new low.
LOOK OUT FOR:
AVOID:
Borderlands 2 | Featuring “87 bazillion guns” gamers the
Black Ops 2 | It’ll just be more of the same, but people
world over are eagerly awaiting this release. Modern Family | Everyone’s favourite family will shortly be back on our screens, with a significant cast member replaced… Skyfall | 007 returns in what promises to be the best of the current (at times lacklustre) trilogy.
will buy it anyway, I don’t know why I’m putting this here. Beauty and the Beast | Everything I hear about the show is how bad it is. Avoid at all costs. Paranormal Activity 4 | Will almost certainly be another snoozefest to rival the last one.
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Entertainmnt
ENTERTAINMENT
KIRSTIE ALLEN
NEW BAND OF THE MONTH:
DAUGHTER
T
DVD
The Cabin in the Woods
*****
Joss Whedon has two movies coming out on DVD this month, the other one you’ve probably heard of so I’m going to recommend you take a look at his collaboration with Drew Goddard instead. It’s unlike any other horror film you’ve seen, taking everything you know about the genre and turning it on its head whilst throwing in some fantastic dialogue and acting which this duo have been known for ever since they worked together on Buffy. See this film ASAP.
his is a new section of The Magdalen for all of you! Here we will highlight bands you might not have heard of but we think are too good to be left unappreciated much longer. So we start with British band Daughter. They actually only have 10 songs on iTunes -2 EPs; His Young Heart and The Wild Youth; and the new single release ‘Smother’. So what is it about them that makes them essential? Texture. Not just in the sense that you can almost touch the quiet intensity of their songs but that they are actually surrounding you. Daughter’s skill is in building and building their tracks to this climactic textural completeness. Elena Tonra’s wistful vocals merge with the atmospheric soundscapes created by her partner Igor Haefeli ingeniously. Attended by
their poetic lyricism - “And if you’re breathing you’re the lucky ones/ ‘Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs” (Youth) - you feel synaesthetically charged. ‘Landfill’, for example, starts off delicately with Tonra’s haunting voice and a soft finger-picked guitar. It then picks up with a pulsing drum beat and clean electric guitar for the chorus which achingly holds onto words like “torturous”, “electricity” and “dangerous”. There’s so much emotion in it and so little of you, you can only give in and subject yourself to it. Like any good song, it ends and you need to replay it. Here, you need to find that moment in the track that soothes you: the rain that washes away the fire the songs emits. The beauty of the song, the cleverness of it, is that it always burns and you always need the rainfall.
LIYL | Bon Iver, Laura Marling, The XX. START WITH | ‘Landfill’ and ‘Medicine’ WEBSITE | facebook.com/ohdaughter
meet team the
D.U.B.C
Dundee University Boat Club Where do you get the motivation to train so hard from? Callum McIntosh (DUBC Captain) ‘Well when you’re sitting in a boat and you’re next to two or three other people who have worked so hard you don’t want to let them down’
What are your main objectives for the season? Callum ‘Our main objective is to get on the podium more. In Scotland we’re known as a club where boats come to die, because our newest boat is about 20 plus years old. We’re not rowing with the best equipment but we’re still beating people in that equipment. So I’d like to keep doing that.’
Tell me more about the social aspect of the club? Callum ‘The social aspect is a huge part of the club. When I joined it was originally the social side that attracted me to the club. Later on I got addicted to the sport.’ Clothilde Hugot (DUBC Honorary President) ‘We have 4 or 5 big socials per semester, we take any excuse to dress up or put on fancy dress! We see each other pretty much everyday, we’re an absolute family!’
Did you get a lot of freshers sign up? Callum ‘Around 200 signed up during the sports fayre.’
Any words of wisdom for the freshers on the team? Callum ‘It’s Scotland, it’s going to be cold, wear layers.’ Clothilde ‘Bring a full set of dry clothes!’
Has the club improved in recent years? Callum ‘We have definitely improved a hell of a lot. We now have a very dedicated coach with a strict training plan but it will do us really well. An improvement on and off the water will be seen. I feel like we’re putting more time in training wise.’
Any fundraisers we can look forward to? Callum ‘24 hour row on the 20th of November, I don’t know what charity we’re going to be doing it for but last year we raised £2,000. We also have our night out in Mono in Refresher’s Week, called Plain White T’s.’
WEDNESDAY 31ST OCTOBER 7PM-3:30AM
ALL BUILDING EVENT
TICKETS 5
AVAILABLE FROM PREMIER OR ONLINE
OVER 500 IN CASH PRIZES
DUSA.CO.UK/HALLOWEEN Students from all universities and Dundee College welcome. Every student can sign-in four guests. Over 18’s only. Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) Registered Scottish Charity No. SC016047