M AG DA L E N ISSUE 58 The Vote of a Lifetime
Campus Censorship
Refinement Not Revolution
The Brexit bus is moving -
How PREVENT is affecting
The Apple doesn’t fall
whether we like it or not
student life
from the tree
THE DECEMBER ISSUE Free Student Magazine
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ISSUE 58 Editor’s Letter
Editors
Well, it’s that time of year again, folks – fairy lights and woolly hats and Mariah Carey
Editor in Chief
on repeat. #extrafestive
Rebecca Baird
2016 has been a shitshow; an absolute carnival of beloved celebrity deaths, horrific
Deputy Editors
humanitarian tragedies and political meltdowns. We all know this. I’m pretty sure Tim
Heather Gordon
Burton has been directing it. But other than an actual, bona fide apocalypse with
Patrick O’Donnell
four men on horses and a plague of locusts, it can’t really get any worse – so that’s
David White
comforting, at least? Art & Entertainment Editor And to that end, I say we all raise a metaphorical glass and toast to December – this
Lamya Sadiq
awful year is finally ending, and now we can just ride out the wave. And so it is with a light and relieved heart that I bring you this, Issue 58 of Magdalen Magazine – the last
Community Editors
one of 2016!
Alastair Letch Hannah Perrie
We have a lot waiting for you in this issue, from inspiration for your Christmas list from the Technology section to a guide on how to rock glitter on your work’s night out in
Current Affairs Editor
our new Fashion section! If you’re more of a stay-inside-in-pyjamas type, why not try
Calum Wilson
out this month’s delicious new Cooking Corner recipe? You’ll find it in Lifestyle! Design Editor It’s hard to say anything about December without getting all nostalgic and cheesy.
Corrie Gorman
But in a way, that’s quite nice, because the cold weather and festive season does bring people together, doesn’t it? People go home to their families and bake delicious treats,
Lifestyle Editor
new relationships are forged under the mistletoe, and (most importantly) the quality
Toni McKinney
of TV greatly increases. We all get a little softer as the holidays approach, and I think given the year the world has had, a little softness is just what the doctor ordered.
Opinion Editor Nicole Harrison
So from myself and the rest of the team here at the Magdalen: best of luck to everyone in their exams, merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, happy New Year when it
Science Editor
comes, and we’ll see you all after the break!
James Russell
Rebecca Baird
Technology Editors
Editor-in-Chief
Mila Georgieva Hugh Stevenson
“Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
Copy Editors
– Leonard Cohen, may he rest in peace.
Shanley Mcconnell Stephanie Smith Ellie Biggs Zoe Cassells Catriona Leslie
Published By
Printed By
Fashion Editor Emily Fletcher
Andrew Stewart, VPCC
The Magazine Printing Company
DUSA, Airlie Place, Dundee, DD1 4PH
www.magprint.co.uk
vpcc@dusa.co.uk
Enterprise Editor David White 01
ISSUE 58 Creative Director’s Letter
Design Team
It’s the most wonderful tiiiime of the yearrrr!
Creative Director Monica Dunne
Ah yes, Christmas is just around the corner now - that happened quickly! Exams are nigh, this is where you wish you were one of those wise men...or women...or non-
Asst. Creative Directors
binary wise people. Either way, ‘tis the season for studying, cramming and generally
Laura Gelston
panicking. Well, until they’re all done, of course.
Ali Elliott
Christmas is definitely, DEFINITELY my favourite time of year. My fondest memories
Designers
are of sitting around our fire with presents, family and a full stomach. Pure bliss. I’m
Zoe Broughton
aware, though, that others aren’t as lucky at this time of year. The weather is getting
Amy Collier
horrendously cold and homeless people out on the street don’t get a chance to enjoy
Bethany Dick
the season. You can phone 0300 330 1234 to make a donation to Shelter Scotland.
Erin Docherty Sarah Duffy
I wanted to say some words about the designers here at Magdalen. We’re all just uni
Ali Elliott
students living and breathing in DJCAD. We span from 2nd to 4th year and it’s a really
Alice Farquhar
great community of designers. With every new year that passes, new designers join us
Coral Gallagher
and this year’s newest bunch are amazing (scarily so). For many of them, the software
Jenny Hampton
we use to design is completely alien to them and so this has been the first time any of
Rachael Hastie
them have used it - I think you can agree, they’ve been pretty successful. I’ll be very
Patrick Hughes
proud to have this as my legacy when I leave. Which isn’t long at all! In fact, I think this
Fabio Maragno
might be my penultimate issue. It’s been a pleasure. But let’s leave all the goodbyes for
Ellen McLean
then, ae?
Bryony Ogilvie Claire Pollock
I truly hope your Christmas and New Year is amazing, that you get all you want and
Molly Porteous
give yourself a chance to relax and rejuvenate for next semester. It’ll be a corker. It’s
Rebecca Scouller
a strange feeling - every year before this, I’ve had the cushion of ‘one more semester
Olivia Sharkey
after this’ but this time, it’s just one more semester. Time to start getting ready.
Eilidh Shedden Jamie Stein
Happy Holidays, all. Cover Photographer Monica Dunne
Abbie Dobson
Creative Director
Contributors List
Gavin Aitken, Rebecca Baird, Ellie Biggs, Kevin Burns, Emily Fletcher, Amy Galloway, Mila Georgieva, Corrie Gorman, Meritxell Grau, Alastair Letch, Sally Melville, Bethany Naismith, James Russell, Hugh Stevenson, Serena Todd, Tom Wallis, David White, Calum Wilson
CONTENTS Arts & Entertainment
Design
04
Now
28 - 29
05
The Remix Age
06 - 07
Radio’s Not Dead
Christmas Shopping in Designer Dundee
30 - 31
Refusing to Let it Go
Fashion Community 09
Nightline
10 - 11
Dundee Literary Festival
12 - 13
LGBT Collaborative Community
Enterprise 14 - 15
32 - 33
Going to the Glitter Place
34 - 35
Top Tips for Layering this Winter
Lifestyle 36 - 38
Cooking Corner - Passion
40 - 41
Shower Thoughts
Networking: The Perks of NOT Being a Wallflower
Science 16 - 17
Corporate Psychopaths
Current Affairs 18 - 19
20 - 21
Out of the Frying Pan and Into
The Nobel Prizes: A Breakdown
Technology
the Freezer
46 - 47
Knowing When to Switch
The Vote of a Lifetime
48 - 49
Refinement Not Revolution
51 - 52
All I Want For Christmas
Opinion 23 - 26
42 - 44
is a Dongle Campus Censorship
JOIN US!
Email editor.in.chief@dusamedia.com or go to dusamedia.com/magdalen for more information.
Arts and Entertainment
NOW Now.
-I love you now.
She stood there in silence. Looking for his eyes, desperately, because words could always be carried away by the wind but the truth would always remain there, shining across the deep forest trapped in the irises of his dark green
-How long is now? -Have you ever seen the colours of the sky? They continuously change. The moment you blink you will never have the chance to admire the palette that was staining the clouds because that moment, now; has already gone by. I love you now like the sky changes its appearance. I love you now like never before and like I will never again. I love you now because you are my own private sky. A canvas of character and personality that changes with every single beam of light.
Meritxell Grau
04
he R
emi
A x g
e T
W
Arts and Entertainment
“Is it unfair to use other people’s intellectual property to create one’s own?” Through history, creating media and art has been an
combinations of popular songs in sometimes unusual ways.
expensive affair.
Smash Mouth singing “All Star” over the instrumentals in John Lennon’s “Imagine”? Neil Cicierega has you covered. It
Until recently, even if you were of high enough status to be
turns out that 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” pairs beautifully with
educated and to understand art, paying for paint and canvas
the theme tune to Thomas the Tank Engine. Even the US
and stone was horribly expensive! Over time, though, art got
Presidential Debates become catchy musical numbers at the
less expensive to make. To put the historical cost of art into
hands of the YouTube channel Schmoyoho.
perspective, in 1397 a book cost roughly 14 shillings, and a bible (the most common book at the time) would take 15
Unlike the melding of stories and remixing of ideas of the
months of skilled labour to produce. For comparison, a two-
Ancient Greeks, though, modern music is protected by
story cottage at that time cost 40 shillings to buy.
intellectual property law. And mashups may now be the perfect test of the intellectual property system’s most
‘50 Cent’s “In Da Club” pairs beautifully with the theme tune to Thomas the Tank Engine.’
highly contended and controversial feature: fair use. For example, David Rees’ AphexSwift -- a critically acclaimed mixtape featuring Taylor Swift singing over the music of the Aphex Twins -- lasted only a couple of weeks before Swift’s team of lawyers had it taken down under a copyright violation. Whether Rees stole the intellectual property of
It’s plain to see that the cost of art’s creation and
Swift or the Aphex Twins, or whether his work counted as
distribution has lowered, drastically lowering the cost of
“transformative” -- a condition of American Fair Use law -- is
creating art through remixing other people’s. Remixing
up for debate.
always happened, of course. Even millennia ago, epic poems would be recited from memory and changed over time as
Personally, though, I’m with Rees. Amy Winehouse
stories melded together -- from both the oral tradition of
sampling Marvin Gaye is no different to his sampling of
the time and the mixed details of the stories a performer
Swift. Technology advances at an exponential rate, and as
remembered. Remixing at the time was an unavoidable
it does, the cost and skill required to create will decrease.
consequence of their only medium: performance.
As a result, taste and insight are becoming more valuable commodities -- law needs to accommodate this. I wrote
Later, remixing involved references and snippets from books
this listening to Rees’ latest release, a mashup of political
and plays -- a technique we still employ today, particularly
speeches, recent pop music and his own podcast.
in music. “Sampling” lets artists include snippets of other
Swift fails to feature.
songs in one’s own, or to remix it entirely and transform it into something new. Now that technology enables anyone
Tom Wallis
to create new music from the songs in their iTunes library, a new genre has presented itself: mashups. Mashups are
05
Arts and Entertainment
RADIO’S
NOT DEAD
1. Exposure to New Things
If you are constantly in charge of your own music choices, chances are you’re going to get stuck in a rut.
‘Why the hell would I listen to the radio?’
We all know the feeling –a new album comes out, you download it, and listen to it as you walk to class. Then it becomes your getting-ready-to-go-out album. You get drunk, The Singlecomes on, you scream like the
A fair question, I’d say. In this digital age of unlimited, ad-free music streaming, there seems to bevery little reason to listen to crackly-sounding songs broken up by overdone banter and jingly adverts. So why bother?
white-girl-wasted disappointmentyou are -sheer joy!
...then you wake up one day and realise you haven’t willingly listened to any other music in over a month. We’ve all had this album.And now we all hate it.
If you’re anything like me, your musical rut becomes a source of sadness, and you suddenly feel lost. What did I do before this album came into my life? My old music just seems obsolete. (Cue dramatic staring out the window,pretending you’re in a music video.) Have no fear, radio is here! Radio can get you out of that musical rut by taking the responsibility of choice right out of your hands. The feeling of weightlessness when you push that FM button and someone else is throwing tunes at you that you’ve never heard before rivals that of having someone say, “Let’s have mac and cheese for dinner, I’ll make it.” Trust me, it’ll free up your brain AND you’ll almost certainly find a way out of your musical rut.
06
Arts and Entertainment
2. The News Made Bitesized
4. It Gives You a Community
I’m not someone who is particularly good at keeping
University can be a lonely place. If you’ve travelled
up with current affairs. I would rather stay in la-la
a long way from home and struggle to fit things like
land, reading novels and watching obscene amounts
volunteering or community events into your schedule,
of Gossip Girlat a time than actually sit up and pay
listening to local radio stations can help you to feel
attention to what’s happening in the world.
more integrated in the city way. There’s a sense of solidification which comes withhearing the name of
I found I could get away with this lax attitude when I
a street youregularly walk down,or someone raving
was an 18-year-old fresher and people expected me
about our common view of the silvery Tay on the radio.
to be hopeless atadult-ing. However, at 21, the big bad
Suddenly, these disembodied voices become familiar
world is looming,and nothing is more embarrassing
and local, people who live here and work here just like
than sitting down at a job interview and being asked
you. Dundee becomes more than a looming, faceless
“What did you think of last night’s debate?” when last
collection of buildings, and becomes more like a home.
night I fell asleep watching repeats of Frasier. Like it or not, adults have to know the news. My cheat sheet = radio.
5. It Can Help Comfort Homesickness
Radio news is a haven of headlines followed by about
As I’ve mentioned, Dundee is, for most people, away
20 seconds of storytelling. After a 3-minute news
from home. But why not tune into your hometown’s
segment, I know everything that’s happening in my
local station (provided the broadcast reaches here) to
local area, as well as any big international goings-
keep yourself in the loop? Sometimes the hardest part
on. Brilliant! But beware: the trade-off here is that
of moving is feeling like you’re missing out on what’s
you’re given no insight into the wider implications of
happening at home –radio is a free and easy way to
these stories, and you have to make your own mind
stay connected!
up about what you think. Bitesized news is strictly for lazy so-and-so’s like me. Use at risk of your own
So, whether you’re a music lover wondering where to
embarrassment. (If you want to hear more in-depth
go next, a lazy adult, or a student looking for a wider
stories or radio programmes, try tuning into a radio
sense of Dundee life, radio has something for you.
station that isn’t primarily a music station. These act
Video tried to kill it; mp3s tried to kill it; streaming tried
sort of like podcasts, and can be a great medium for
to kill it –but it’s not dead yet.
getting info on the go!) by Rebecca Baird 3.It’s Free Literally. Don’t know where to start? Check out JAM, the All you need is a radio. Your phone or laptop probably
DUSA Media radio station! Tune in now at: www.
already has one. You’re a student -it’s free.
dusamedia.com/jam
07
21st November – 18th December
www.dusa.co.uk/minds Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) Registered Scottish Charity No. SC016047
Community
Think of a call service, that’s open to everyone in the city and ran by students in Dundee. One which is open to talk about issues nonjudgmentally and helps people to find groups and organisations that can provide support through their particular circumstances. This service is Nightline. Despite the great importance of this student led platform, the number of volunteers - that Nightline relies on - has sadly dropped significantly to the point that the service was unable to run this last semester. After speaking with the service manager, I found out about the challenges of running Nightline.
“Many of the former volunteers and managers have graduated, leaving a shortage. The minimum number of volunteers we would need to run on is 30. Last semester, we were running with 5.”
Understandably, there is an enormous challenge to running this service. The Nightline organisation was originally established to tackle suicide -pairing up with NHS Scotland and Choose Life - to train and respond to when people disclose their thoughts on suicide. Furthermore, Nightline works towards the World Health Organisation’s aim to lower suicide rates by 10%, following through with the Scottish Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2013-2016. Nightline in Dundee works closely with the University services, providing training in ASSIST and SAFEtalk (two training courses on suicide intervention/ prevention) whilst promoting the facility to all students/staff. Additionally, Nightline
also works in conjunction with societies to provide training opportunities, for example Transawareness training with the LGBTQ+ Society. Recently, Nightline has introduced an instant messaging platform as they proved to be more popular with students whilst suiting the services anonymity. However, they can’t run the instant messaging platform for the length of most evenings; as in the past semester, there weren’t enough volunteers to keep the messaging open all night. When asking about the commitment that the volunteers make, there was an emphasis on the amount of time that is given. “We do sleep,” the manager told me, reassuringly. “We also spend fun times together. Not only is it a great way to meet a lot of different people, but there are also psychological benefits; that little feeling that makes you feel good. Even if it is one phone call, it still makes a difference.”
The Nightline is hoping to open next semester and are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, then fill out a form at: https://nightlinedundee. co.uk/volunteerwithus/ If you are looking to express yourself, then Nightline is there to listen: 01382 381 183
Alastair Letch
09
Community
DUNDEE LITERARY FESTIVAL LIVEWIRE AND EX LIBRIS When I first heard the theme of the
evocative look at gender and the
Dundee Literary Festival this year, I
pronoun “thon.” The poem conveyed
was a tad cynical. “The best writers in
many of the social issues regarding
the world. In Dundee.” Isn’t a phrase
gender identity, as well as many of the
you hear so often. However, after a
challenges that come with identifying as
week-long celebration of all things
agender. Following Gavin, was Robbie
wordy, I realised that the expression
with his personal story of growing up
Pull quote should be 12pt with in Inverness. ‘Fishcakes’ beautifully 16pt leading did the festival succeed in bringing explored his experiences with his was an understatement. Not only
together some of the brightest and
dad and growing up around the area,
most creative minds, but they made
detailing the cars and bars of Inverness.
a unique community of talent with the collaboration of varying ideas. I
Next up, was the sombre and dark
was fortunate enough to meet and
‘Taxidermist’s Wife’ read chillingly
understand the minds of those involved
by Kate. The piece was on nature and presentation, looking at the
Firstly, I had the pleasure of witnessing
gruesomeness of taxidermy and
the Livewire Student Showcase,
preservice. Contrasting this sombre
presenting the works of the Creative
theme was a short story read aloud
Writing Masters students. The host,
by Laura. The piece was hilarious; a
Eddie Small, a lecturer in Creative
quirky and surreal gallery visit, with
Writing at the University of Dundee, led
lively narration. The characters drew
the showcase with passion. The event
you in, being both distinct and very
brought together a variety of themes -
entertaining.
from dark to light-hearted, side-splitting humour to sentimentality - all in the
Looking at the novelty of writing culture
space of an hour. The student’s works
was Lorna, who ironically explored
were “6 different voices to be heard.”
many of the tropes and stereotypes of writers and Scotland. The piece was
10
The night started with a short poem:
very distinct, ending with everyone
‘Sir Madam’ by Gavin, which was an
in fits of laughter. The final student
Community
to speak was Eileen, who gave an
On the topic of breaking conventional
exceptionally true and wonderful
barriers, The Dundee Comics Creative
composite account of growing up in Ireland and her relationship with her grandparents; the fond memories she shared, humorously, of her grandmother were particularly moving.
Space presented the works of the youth involved, including a wide range of hand drawn zines. In this instance, it was impressive to see the festival open to all ages and literary talents, not only for the benefit of the enterprising youths
In such a short space of time, these students managed to convey so much, consistently illuminating the room with their creativity.
but also to promote a wider diversity to art. The young artists themselves (from the local primary schools) were very energetically encouraging passing visitors to browse (and buy) their
Later in the festival, I went to the “Ex Libris” (an inscription on a bookplate,
works, potentially kick-starting their careers in comics and more.
showing the name of the creator) art and book fair, in order to engage with many of the writers and creative folk involved with making the festival so dynamic. The event was organised by Katheryn Briggs, who brought everyone together for the afternoon.
Ever heard about a magical dark fantasy set in Kirkcaldy with Fairies? Or how about a collection of poems made up of words and phrases that you’ve heard in an environment? I hadn’t until I met writers Caren and Craig Gilbert. I was compelled by the Fife based couple,
Starting off, I spoke to Thomas Heitler, a funky/sci-fi illustrator. His work
as their works (while entirely separate) were so compelling, given their
has many similarities to Jean Giraud
complete uniqueness.
(Mobius) and retro style comics or animation (a recurring trend amongst independent comic artists). I was
I wanted the festival to last forever; I didn’t want it to end. There is so much
taken by how he had art that was both invitingly warm and equally morbid, covering the theme of death through art that seems familiar from my childhood. He was passionate about his works, and spoke openly about the need to
more I would love to discuss, but alas, everything has to come to an end sometime. This has only hyped me for next year’s festival, which I cannot wait for, eager to see the best writers in the world (in Dundee) again.
see new and independent artists, as it is important to break conventional barriers in art.
ALASTAIR LETCH
11
Community
The Dundee University LGBT+ society strives to provide support and amazing opportunities for LGBT+ students and the wider community in Dundee. By Sally Melville, President of the UoD LGBT+ Society
With the introduction of the new
who just want to talk to someone
context of empowering LGBT +
committee and the growth of our
who has had similar experiences.
young people, is exceptionally
society we have introduced new
We also have a unique cooperation
important.
roles such as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
with the Abertay LGBT society and
transgender and asexual liaison
we definitely think this could be
We are extremely proud of some
officers who are a direct point
something new for other societies to
of the projects we have been
of contact for members who are
try - we think cooperation between
involved in this year, and the
experiencing particular issues or
the universities, especially in the
projects and ideas we are currently
12
Community
developing. Alex Muir, the LGBT representative on the
across the city. As the city and university becomes
Student Representative Council as well as our Secretary,
internationally renowned for achievements, it is even
has worked hard on a project that allows transgender
more important to celebrate the diversity as well as
and gender diverse individuals better access to sports
highlight the issues facing LGBT+ people in Dundee.
and gym facilities on campus by offering awareness training of transgender issues to ISC staff. This has
On a personal level, I became involved in the society in
been a personal issue for him and he has recognised
first year and the support system I have built up over the
the benefits that exercise and physical activity can
years has been fantastic, and now I have made friends
have for other transgender and gender diverse people
for life in the society. I was really passionate about
who experience the barriers to access that he has
getting involved with the society and I felt I would
sought to overcome. We have recently run events for
make it my mission to give LGBT+ members the best
Asexuality Awareness week for the first time at Dundee,
university experience possible. In a rather strange turn
showing films and documentaries about asexual lives,
of events, my girlfriend is also the new President of
which was particularly eye opening and created a new
Abertay LGBT+ so we have been able to work together
understanding among our members. We are very open
to improve LGBT+ student experience in Dundee as a
to collaboration with other societies, and have worked with the Mental Health Society in the past to run a discussion group concerning LGBT and surrounding mental health issues.
Additionally, we work with other 3rd sector organisations
‘We are also excited to be involved with organising Dundee’s first ever Pride in 2017
’
such as LEAP Sports, LGBT Youth Scotland and Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQUIFF) and we recently helped deliver an event at Abertay University discussing the visibility of LGBT+ athletes and their activism in the run up to the Sochi Winter Olympics and the wider political climate for LGBT+ Russians.
couple which has been amazing. As a community, we still face stigmatisation and discrimination in the majority of the world and that is something we wish to address within the society - we worked together to organise a
This cooperation with Abertay has been essential in strengthening the wider support network for LGBT+ students because students know they will always have somewhere to hang out and socialise with other LGBT+ people. Dundee and Abertay LGBT+ societies now
vigil for the city of Dundee in City Square following the Orlando Massacre earlier this year, something we were all deeply affected by. It gave us the strength to speak out in solidarity with the Dundee community and our LGBT+ community worldwide, in local and national news.
work collaboratively on all events, and all students of both universities are welcome to our events. While the committees act independently we have regular joint committee meetings which allow us to collaborate and share the workload of running and financing events. Due to this expansion, we now also welcome nonstudents to events, as we feel it’s important to strengthen the Dundee LGBT+ community as a whole.
Working with the society and working as the society President has given me a newfound confidence in myself, and the strength to work within a collective group. The people I meet through the society constantly inspire me, challenge me and teach me to be more open and expressive about who I am, which is so different from the shy, unconfident person I was after I had just come out in 2013.
We are also excited to be involved with organising Dundee’s first ever Pride in 2017, a huge milestone for the representation of LGBT+ people
13
Enterprise
Networking:
The Perks of NOT Being a Wallflower Networking: as an innate ability, seems to exist in
you don’t ask, you don’t get. It is however, important to
very few people, yet for many, it is an essential part of
remember to give back, networking works best if you
securing future prospects. There is, after all, only so far
build genuine relationships.
you can go on your own, no matter what career you want to go into and with ever increasing employment
The next step is to expand your network: meet as many
competition it can be useful to know people who can
people as possible.
back your corner.
The classical image envisaged when thinking of ‘networking’ is that of a bunch of loud businessmen
Networking works best if you build genuine relationships.
handing out business cards and delivering handshakes on a sunny day in an American hotel ballroom.
Join groups related to your area of interest. This could
These kind of events do exist and those wanting to go
be a university society or a wider community group;
into business will almost certainly have to attend one at
whichever it is, it’s going to help you meet likeminded
some point; however a huge amount of what networking
people. Furthermore, the heads of these groups are
actually is is much closer to home.
normally reasonably well connected to the area you are looking at. Once you are part of a group and actively
When you are starting to think about developing a
participating in the area you want to meet contacts in,
network that you can use to further your ambitions,
you will find that a lot more opportunities come up to
your first port of call should be to see who you already
allow you to further pursue your aspirations.
know and reconnect with those who are going to be useful. This may seem cold and tactical at first glance
Think of joining the group as the first step on the ladder.
but don’t be afraid to utilise your connections, potential
Attend events. Simple, there are tonnes of events on
or real, to help you. Most of the time, people are only
constantly. Don’t immediately dismiss certain events
too happy to help and as the age old phrase goes: if
as irrelevant because they aren’t obviously linked to
14
Enterprise
what you want to do. I have met invaluable charitable,
on hand, and don’t be scared to ask for an
political and business contacts at exhibitions, dances
e-mail address. For more casual contacts, like those
and presentations. The key at these events is to be
in a group, Facebook can equally be an acceptable form
calm, smile, and don’t cling to the corner of the room.
of contact, although I would not recommend it for
There are no perks of being a wallflower when it comes
professional contacts, unless of course you are looking
to networking. There is generally a host or a major
to go into PR. Make sure that you keep in contact with
personality in the room - if you meet them you will
the people you meet. Don’t just message them six
soon meet everyone else. If the event is even vaguely
months after meeting them with a request; by that point
interesting you should manage to derive enough small
they will have forgotten who you are.
talk on it to get you reasonably acquainted with some of the other guests.
So to summarise what we’ve learned: be bold, get out and about, be friendly, be helpful and develop and
Next step: get a job. This can be in the form of an
maintain a relationship. If all goes well then not only
internship, work-experience, or freelance work,
will you be in contact with people who can help you
whatever gets your foot in the door. Not only will
professionally but you will also develop some real
working in the relevant industry provide you with a
friendships and meet some incredibly inspiring people.
wealth of experience which will look good for any further opportunities, it will also allow you to meet a
David White
wealth of people working in the industry and become acquainted with them on a professional level.
Once you’ve met people you have to maintain contact. On principle remember to get some form of contact for the people you have been speaking to. Many professionals will readily have business cards
15
Enterprise
Corporate Psychopaths M
ost of us have a general idea of the common
many as 1 in 5 high achieving corporate professionals
traits associated with being an entrepreneur:
have clinically significant psychopathic traits.
hard work, determination, confidence, an ability to
Psychopaths, or as some diagnosed professionals
adapt and strong leadership. Recent research however,
prefer to go by, sociopaths, can display a range of
highlights something else that is contributing to the
traits including being cunning, manipulative, devoid of
success of entrepreneurs and top professionals such as
loyalty, egotistical, unremorseful and most importantly
lawyers and bankers. That thing is psychopathy.
for corporate psychopaths: charming.
Now before I accidentally commit defamation by
Psychopaths are driven by great self-interest and a
implying Richard Branson is the guy out of American
belief of superiority, they will do almost anything to
Psycho, I want to clarify what I mean by the term
get to the top. Their absence of moral guilt means they
psychopath. Despite the image portrayed by popular
can weave a mask of manipulation often displaying
culture, psychopaths are not all deranged killers;
comical conversation, displays of friendship and even
contrary to this, many are highly accomplished
at times a show of empathy - or rather, learned traits
professionals. A recent study by forensic psychologist
implemented to deceive.
Nathan Brooks from Bond University showed that as
16
Enterprise
unremorseful charming
no loyalty
manipulative egotistical cunning The psychopathic traits of drive, manipulation,
Similar to criminal psychopaths, corporate
charm and ego can be very effective in enterprise.
psychopaths don’t tend to do things small. A need for
Psychopaths can apply themselves to becoming richer
grandiose actions is still there so they often take huge
and more powerful without a care for anyone else.
risks. However, they can also blend in with others in a way that makes them the “near-perfect invisible human
‘The “near-perfect invisible human predator”’
predator,” as described in Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work.
With 1 in 100 people estimated to be a psychopath, Those with primary psychopathy (the type referred to
this rate significantly higher amongst those with a
in this article) have been shown to not only be more
high IQ, it is likely that there is at least one sitting in
driven towards their target but to also be better at
your lecture: a shrewd, cunning, charming, intelligent,
making correct business decisions.
“near-perfect invisible human predator”. They may just be the next big thing in the corporate world…or a star
The corporate psychopath expresses their desire for
on Crimewatch.
power through control of markets, money, making gambles and playing what they see as a big game. Corporate psychopaths seek power over this in the
David White
same way that criminal psychopaths seek to control their victims.
17
Current Affairs
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FREEZER O
ne of the most prominent events to have
This culminated in Russia’s dismissal from the UN
transpired in the last couple of years is
Human Right’s Council (UNHRC) due to its bombing
the perceptible worsening of relations
campaign waged in Syria that has been accused
between Russia and the West. Arguably it began
of ‘indiscriminate bombing’. The loss of Russia’s
with the illegal annexation of Crimea, but the situa-
seat will be considered a major diplomatic blow to
tion worsened with Russia’s support for the Assad
Vladimir Putin, who will be isolated even further
Regime, directly contradicting that of the West.
from the global community, furthering the rift and
Russia is determined to prove that it is immune to
potentially causing Russia to become a ‘pariah’ state.
the pressure of the US and has reputed any attempt
This dismissal has led to an angry and unapologetic
at an intervention, instead providing military support,
response from Russia, who have instead sought to
much to the indignation of the West. This challenge
downplay the expulsion as anti-Russian propaganda
to ‘American international hegemony’ has caused
perpetrated by the West. Russia’s state funded
many to warn of an increased resurgence of old
television network, Russia Today, labelled the
rivalries.
incident as a ‘flagrant attempt to discredit and further demonise’ Russia. To highlight its case, Russia
These tensions were significantly heightened when
invoked the example of Saudi Arabia. A country
Russia announced its intention to send warships
with an extremely poor human rights record, who
through the English Chanel en route to aid the Syrian
has also been engaged in a bombing campaign in
government. This unprecedented show of force in
Yemen that has been described as ‘war crimes’.
the North Atlantic has not occurred since the Cold
Yet it was still re-elected to the UNHRC, leading to
War. It was met with apprehension from the UK and
calls of hypocrisy at the West who have ignored the
NATO, having been described by NATO as ‘their
crimes of its ally and seemingly targeted Russia.
largest naval deployment in decades’. Analysts
Again, perpetuating the cycle of discord between
believe the purpose is to ‘project an image of
the countries.
military power and readiness to deter opponents from opposing its foreign policy.’ These events are
Another source of contention has emerged concern-
similar to the ‘posturising’ present during the Cold
ing Russia’s alleged involvement in the US election.
War, where East and West sought to deter the other
Where it has faced ‘allegations of dumping sensitive
by showcasing its military strength to the other.
18
Current Affairs
data, infiltrating official servers, manipulating online
All of these incidents have reignited the kind of
blogs and even hacking voter records’. This alleged
hostility present in the cold war. Amongst the
interference has primarily been to the benefit of
biggest factors for this is the vilification that is
Donald Trump, who has in the past praised Putin
present on both sides of the media, where both
as a strong and ‘highly respected’ leader. This
countries are faced with accusations and are
interference has been great source of frustration
demonised by the other. If Russia and the West do
to the Clinton campaign. Information released has
not mend their
included excerpts from her secretive Wall Street speeches, Democratic Party collaborations against Bernie Sanders and other revelations concerning the ‘inner workings’ of her campaign. All of which has
This alleged interference has primarily been to the benefit of Donald Trump
caused damaged to her reputation and caused her to go on the offensive against WikiLeaks and the
fractious relationship then it is clear that the Cold
Russian government. However, much like its response
War is not over, and the time since its conclusion
to its dismissal from the UNHRC, it refuted these
represented merely the suspension of antagonism,
accusations as propaganda, and denounced it as
not the termination. Whether legitimate or
prejudice. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey
prejudiced, the resurgence of the information war is
Lavrov, asserted that the allegations were
a sure sign of the deterioration of relations,
‘ridiculous’ and ‘baseless’. Regardless of the
resembling the intrinsic propaganda that was the
legitimacy of these accusations, 55% of US adults
embodiment of the non-violent Cold War, waged
believe Russia is exercising undue influence, thus the
between East and West.
cultural divide has already ensued and what began as a disagreement regarding a resolution to Syria has
Calum Wilson
now struck a chord much closer to home.
19
Current Affairs
NEXT EXIT
BREXIT
The Vote of a Lifetime On the 23rd of June 2016 British voters decided to leave the European Union in a withdrawal known as Brexit. 51.9% of the UK voted to leave the EU - surprising many and showing just how disillusioned people felt - marking the departure from an organisation we had been a part off since 1973.
20
EU leaders were quick to express regret for
the financial markets it reacted with volatility,
the decision, later reaffirming their stance that
relegating the pound to its ‘lowest level in
Britain should leave the EU quickly and would
more than 30 years against the dollar.’ The
fail to receive a better deal than the one it
financial implications of Brexit have been far
enjoyed with membership. The implications
from positive, as reports suggest the world’s
for the exit had ramifications worldwide, with
biggest banks are planning a ‘mass exodus’
global stock markets losing an estimated
when the UK leaves the EU, and that an
$2 trillion since the vote, paying testament
additional ‘5,000 financial services firms are
to the significance of the decision, not just
at risk.’ This is primarily due to the EU’s no
on a national but on an international level.
tariff system. 44% of all goods and services
It also highlighted just how widespread the
are exported to the EU, which equates to
disparities were between countries in the UK,
around £220 billion a year. Therefore with
where Northern Ireland and Scotland generally
such a large percentage of the UK economy
took a pro-EU stance and England and Wales
directed to a single trading block, the potential
took a more negative stance. These differing
cost increase for countries doing business has
viewpoints have put great strain on the union
caused many to relocate. The possibility for
as increased calls have come from these areas
further economic repercussions was echoed
to veto the Brexit vote, which would be the
when the UK lost its top AAA credit rating
biggest challenge towards the unity of the
from S&P. Who believed the vote would lead
union since its inception in 1707.
to ‘a deterioration of the UK's economic
One of the biggest implications of Brexit was
performance, including its large financial
the financial fallout. When news of the vote hit
services sector’?
Current Affairs
Another unanswered question posed
The news of Brexit has predictably
far from amicable. The ensuing
by Brexit was the future of the
lead to calls of a second Scottish
uncertainty brought about by
EU’s visa-free travel system, where
independence referendum, a
Brexit has diminished the UK’s
citizens can go anywhere in the EU
possibility that was almost instantly
popularity amongst is neighbours,
without having to pay. It is predicted
seized upon by Scotland’s First
as they implore the UK to make
that upon our departure, if we fail to
minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who
their departure quick. The UK has
negotiate free travel, UK citizens will
described its feasibility as ‘highly
become a pariah in the European
have to apply and pay to visit each
likely’. However, since then her
community, as it has rejected closer
individual country, adding further
proponency of a second referendum
relation with other states in favour
to the UK separation from itself and
has somewhat diminished, having
of going it alone. Therefore it does
the EU.
recently said it will occur ‘only if she
not just need to fix its forthcoming
believes it is the best or only way to
economic woes, but also its image
protect Scotland’s interests.’ This,
and relationship with its allies.
44% of all goods and services are exported to the EU, which equates to around £220 billion a year.
again, leaves Scotland’s voters in an uncertain future regarding their
By Calumn Wilson
membership.
The primary intention of Brexit was to show how disfranchised UK voters have become with the EU system. As it seeks to negotiate
Among the flurry of uncertainties unleashed by the result, the questions of Scotland’s membership to the EU remained one of the most prominent dilemmas. Scottish voters, unlike their Welsh and English counterparts, had chosen overwhelmingly to remain in the EU. The margin of votes sat at 62% to 38%, thrusting Scotland into the European limelight as it faces the prospect of being forcibly removed from an organisation in which it
its own trade deals, the more uncertainty it imparts on EU states and the possibility of a beneficial and fair relationship becomes less and less. While the UK made clear its intention to invoke Article 50 by the end of March 2017, marking the formal departure process, EU states are still left to deal with the uncertainty until that time and the loss of one of its biggest trading partners. So far the responses from European countries have been
democratically chose to remain.
21
CAMPUS CENSORSHIP
22
Opinion
T GES G I B ON THE K C A AT T MIC E D IN A ACA M N EDO TIO FRE A R E GEN
PREV
ENT
Recently a lot of fuss has been made about the perceived
certain speakers from giving talks on campuses. In
illiberalness of today’s universities. Students, we are
my experience the best tactic to challenge speakers
told, are being denied the “intellectual challenge of
who are pedalling unsavoury views is to attend their
debating conflicting view”
show and use questions to draw them out into the
. I agree. Free speech on
[1]
our campus is under a calculated assault by powerful
open and hopefully expose their ridiculous views. This
forces with ulterior motives - but why? By whom? Who
is, for example, what Dundee’s own Action Palestine
are the thought-police that are stalking campuses,
Society did when an American-Israeli speaker gave a
silencing our students and academics alike, suffocating
talk here. Mr Larry, as he’s now affectionately known,
the blossoming intellectuals in an atmosphere of fear
left rather flustered after having been questioned very
and self-censorship? Who could possibly wish to repress
thoroughly, was shown to have lied liberally throughout
speech in our free, open society, in the very place where
his speech and subsequently made some embarrassing
ideas are supposed to be freely cultivated, exchanged
climb-downs. No violation of free speech occurred.
and challenged?
One side just soundly won the debate, and the whole exchange was quite jovial. I believe this is the best way
For the most part, the accusations of censorship have
to challenge problematic views and people.
been levied against student bodies, societies and unions across the UK. Commentators such as Tom Slater,
However, I also accept that it is responsible for both
director of Free Speech University Rankings, point
universities and unions to decline from hosting certain
to boycotts, ‘no platform’ and ‘safe space’ policies as
speakers on the basis that they or the organisation
examples of censorship. “Ban-happy” student unions
that they represent are especially harmful. It would be
controlled by overzealous feminists and Black Lives
unusual, for example, for a radical pastor promoting gay
Matter activists are, apparently, the principle culprits.
conversion therapy to be given a platform at a university,
While I commend Mr Slater’s instincts in sniffing out
outwith the context of a debate. This is not censorship;
something rotten on our campuses, I’m afraid I disagree
this is just choosing not to expend your own resources
with him in two main ways; first, I believe he has applied
to give individuals whose views you wish not to endorse
a gratuitously broad definition of censorship to lump
a platform. The pastor is perfectly within his rights
legitimate actions and policies in with flagrant examples
to stand on the steps of Dalhousie and scream about
of censorship, and secondly, he has failed to address the
the impending wrath that liberal society will face, but
elephant in the room - there is something more sinister
booking Lecture Theatre 4 for the spectacle is another
afoot than the protests of campus progressives.
matter entirely.
First let’s take a broad look at the actions that have
Mr Slater has categorised certain policies of student
given rise to the accusation of censorship, and see
unions, such as having a zero tolerance policy to sexist
if they fit the bill as violating free speech. Let me
and racist harassment on their premises, as constituting
start off by saying that I, personally, feel that in
a violation of freedom of speech. This is nonsense. A
most circumstances it is wrong to attempt to ban
students’ union is a private members club, not a public
23 23
Opinion
institution. Like any pub, club or shop, it has the right to
newspaper, or who have passed a Boycott, Divest, and
impose any internal policy it likes – subject to statutory
Sanction motion as examples of ‘code red’ offences
duties. A student union that has a policy of banning
in his Free Speech Universities Rankings matrix. Here,
persons who harass its members has the authority to do
he betrays the objective standards he pretends to
so, under the same power that many clubs ban persons
base his rankings on. No serious person can claim that
from their premises for not wearing the designated club
commercial decisions like deciding not to stock The Sun
jacket, or that a publican can refuse entry and service
or refusing to source orange juice from illegal Israeli
to any person whom he or she does not like the look
settlements as violating your freedom of speech. Let’s
of. Then why should unions trying to regulate their own
be clear; you do not have a right to force a shop to
power by establishing fair, objective, and transparent
stock your favoured products. I can’t invoke the ECHR
rules that protect the interests of its members be held to
to demand that the Premier stock Taytos or that Liar bar
a higher standard than other private bodies? Why should
put Harp on tap, much as I’d like to. Nor then, should
unions, whose policies are decided upon democratically
I be able to invoke the law to demand that legitimate
and who aim to be as open and inclusive as possible, be
procurement policies with democratic mandates be
accused of censorship when any other private body can
overturned or changed.
exclude persons from their premises for any reason it chooses, regardless of how unfair or arbitrary that reason
Current coverage of campus censorship have focused
is? This does not imply that the union should prevent
almost solely on tenuous claims against union policies
people from debating on the legitimacy of these policies.
and student protests, ignoring the much larger threat to
You are absolutely within your rights to shout about PC
free speech posed by recent legislation. These skewed
gone mad and how in the good old days this sort of carry
priorities can only be accounted for as either politically
on was just good banter on SU premises, so long as you
motivated hypocrisy or wilful ignorance.
don’t actually harass someone whilst you’re doing it. The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which established the UK-wide PREVENT strategy, has
Free speech on our campus is under a calculated assault - but why? By whom?
introduced a disturbing programme of repression and surveillance onto university campuses across the UK. The government initially proposed the legislation as a ‘light-touch’ strategy to combat the spread of extremist ideologies, particularly radical Islam. The section that dealt with its application to universities, colleges and
More problematically, Mr Slater has tried to pass
schools initially intended to restrict only events at which
off decisions that student unions make about their
radical clerics were speaking. However, the Government
procurement policies as constituting censorship. He
later removed any reference to ‘cleric’ in the final Bill,
cites institutions that have stopped selling The Sun
meaning that now
24
Opinion
any speaker at any event that can be categorised –
their students. PREVENT doesn’t merely operate on a
however strenuously – as ‘radical’ is subject to the
surveillance basis. It imposes legal duties on universities
PREVENT regime.
that pervade every aspect of university life. Unions have been forced to hand over the details of members
PREVENT turns university staff into intelligence gatherers
of their Islamic Society to the police under PREVENT
coordinating with the police’s PURSUE unit to spy on
legislation. Timetabling departments now have to review
students deemed to fulfil vague criteria that might make
all room-bookings for any events that might fall under
them at risk of radicalism of any kind. This ‘radicalism’
the category of ‘radical’ for the purposes of the Act.
does not even have to be violent. PREVENT aims to
Under PREVENT, I am aware that the following have
control the ‘pre-criminal space’; in plain English that’s
been cancelled or put under surveillance:
‘lawful activities’. Students who approach their advisors •
with personal problems such as mental health, welfare, or
Birkbeck College’s Institutional Islamophobia Conference was cancelled (September 2015)
financial issues, and who also express “a desire for social •
or political change” will have their case file given to the
Southampton’s Conference on Zionism was cancelled (April 2015)
internal PREVENT committee, staffed by senior staff and •
police personnel. Of course, not all students will be treated as suspects. A white student with a welfare issue who
Bath University, Conference on Understanding Conflict in the Modern World was placed under
expresses anti-immigrant views is unlikely to be referred
surveillance (June 2015) •
to committee; a Muslim student who expresses anger at political corruption in Pakistan will probably not be so
University of Dundee, Talk on BDS placed under surveillance (March 2016)
lucky. PREVENT also targets students in studying particular disciplines. For example, if you are a student writing an
Make no mistake, PREVENT legislation is no ‘light-
essay on the Middle East and happen to engage with the
touch’ anti-terror initiative; it is an attempt to spy on
subject with some enthusiasm, that is also cause for your
and repress dissent on our campuses. It is the biggest
file to be handed over to PREVENT for review. International
attack on academic freedom in a generation. It is a
Relations student Mohammed Umar Farooq found himself
state censorship programme targeting our universities.
being interrogated by police for reading a textbook on terrorism that was part of the recommended reading for the Kevin Burns
Terrorism Studies module he had enrolled in. This legislation creates atmosphere of fear, distrust, and self-censorship on our campuses; particularly among Muslim students. The majority of academics do not want to act as government
[1]
agents, with the University and College Union criticising
killing free speech’ (The Telegraph, 18 Dec 2015)
Javier Espinoza, ‘Politically correct universities are
PREVENT as an attack on basic academic freedoms and a major threat to the relationship of trust between staff and
25
Design
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING In Designer Dundee
A
s everyone knows, Dundee is a fab wee city. However, sometimes for shopping, you need to think outside the box a little. The
Overgate holds many of our favourite stores, and yet it’s mostly stuff we can find elsewhere with some small exceptions. The Thistles shop located on the ground floor has some special treats stocked inside - their ‘fanny baws’ mug is a must-have for foreign students, to pass on the local lingo to their families and friends back home. Likewise, Ness, located on the first floor, is a great store for buying quality Scottish products to take home to a loved-one. When Dundee is home to so many incredible designers, we should pay homage to them rather than paying for the mass-produced products in so many of our well-known stores. Along Perth Road are my favourite shops - The Windsor Gallery in particular. In here you will find just about anything you’re looking for - cards, jewellery (to suit all budgets), scarves, bags, purses, wallets, journals, and candles. Whatever you can think of, there’s a 99% chance they have it, so pop in and see for yourself! Just a few doors along is Vintage Strings, which is perfect if you know someone who plays an instrument. Mike who works there is so helpful and is great to talk to, so it’s definitely worth a wander in!
26
Design
Onto an area of Dundee that tends to be forgotten,
to be even bigger and better! A must-have if you have
Exchange Street is a treasure trove for gifts. Have
friends and family who enjoy one-of-a-kind trinkets you
someone in your life with a slightly alternative edge?
won’t find anywhere else!
A look in Hard Grind is a must, and the staff are more than happy to help. Further along the street is Mandi
Checking out the Christmas Night Market at Dukes
Candi Boutique - perfect if you have a lass in your life
Corner would be a great idea, as it is guaranteed to get
who likes things with a little sparkle! Also on Exchange
you into the Christmassy mood, especially if it’s a cold
Street is Swankie Jo’s, a fantastic gift shop which again
night and you’ve got a drink to keep you warm. As if
has jewellery to suit all budgets, as well as quirky gifts
30 craft beers on tap isn’t enough good news, there’s
and homeware. If you’re looking for something unusual,
going to be plenty of goods for sale, including some of
you must have a browse in here! They also sell fantastic
the students from the Illustration department, who are
artwork by local artists, which is great for keeping a little
not only selling their fabulous gifts but also fundraising
piece of ‘Fundee’ in your home once you’ve graduated!
for their Degree Show in May - more reason to go! It’s on December 6th - starting at 6pm. There’s no entry fee
Speaking of artists, there’s a fantastic gift shop at the
and children are welcome until 8pm, so that’s excellent
DCA - they sell a range of items suitable for babies and
news if you’re a Dundee local and looking for a family
toddlers too, which makes a nice break from the usual
night out!
Toys “R” Us trip that Christmas always brings. If you have a sweet tooth, they sell the delightful Nikki McWilliams
On December 10th, there’s a Christmas market on
Custard Cream cushions, which have been featured
at the HM Frigate Unicorn. Where better to soak up some Dundee culture? It’s on a Saturday and starts at
Don’t let the memories of primary school bric-a-brac scare you - there is so much talent among the local artisans here in Dundee.
10am - so the perfect way to start off your day before continuing the Christmas shopping at the Steeple Church. On the same day, they’re hosting a similar event, along with a raffle and tombola - and it’s open until 3pm! Perfect for stopping for lunch to refuel.
Throughout December, no doubt there will be various stalls outside the Union and in DJCAD fundraising for
in numerous interior design magazines. If you know
different charities and committees, so please stop by
someone who is stressing out over deadlines, why not
these too and have a nosey. Spreading some Christmas
buy them an adult colouring book? DJCAD graduate
cheer along the way and funding our local designers,
Johanna Basford started the trend (and also created a
as well as getting some original pieces for friends and
world shortage of colouring pencils), and although her
family is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face on
books are my personal favourite, there are now so many
Christmas morning.
adult colouring books available. Serena Todd If that’s not enough for you, and you’re still left scratching your head and struggling for gift ideas, why not try the local Christmas markets? Don’t let the memories of primary school bric-a-brac scare you there is so much talent among the local artisans here in Dundee. Here are a few: The Dundee Ethical and Scottish Christmas Fair is in Dundee City Square every day from 10am, from December 3rd - 18th. Even better, it’s their 10th anniversary, so this year’s selection is going
27
Design
Refusing to Let it G A
s the colder months approach, the world is
In the motion picture industry, Walt was considered
flooded with Christmas lights and advent
one of the world’s greatest innovators, venturing into
calendars. This can only mean one thing: wrapping
the television enterprise with Walt’s Wonderful World
yourself up in a blanket on the sofa while watching as
of Colour. Following this, he continued combining live
many Disney films as humanly possible.
action with colour animation to create the beloved Mary Poppins in 1964.
Well, what perfect timing! This December will commemorate 50 years since the death of the
Each classic creation is a combination of joy, fear,
animation marvel Walt Disney.
sadness, and laughter, making each and every tale a timeless one by teaching viewers life lessons. Every
Born in December 1901, Walt grew up in Chicago,
moment is magical. It’s the scene where Bambi’smoth-
Illinois, with his mother, father, and four siblings.
er died that taught about life and loss (as well as emo-
Although money was scarce in the Disney family,
tionally draining us for the week). It was The Jungle
Walt was still encouraged to pursue his talent of
Book which introduced the world’s catchiest song:
drawing whilst growing up. He spent his teenage
The Bare Necessities. It was Pinocchio that taught how
years as an ambulance driver in the Red Cross
sometimes one just gets swallowed by a great, giant
where he creatively decorated his vehicle with
whale.
drawings and illustrations. Walt was intrigued by the small-filled world of animation, and after
The frontier of the motion picture industry was built
leaving the Red Cross he soon established his
upon a team of animators. Today, we need to remem-
Laugh-O-Grams business selling short, humorous
ber and appreciate the time and effort spent making
animations to different companies.
these stunning films. The complexity and level of detail required to turn countless drawings into a flowing,
Sadly, the business closed due to bankruptcy,
animated scene is often miscalculated as current tech-
but Walt remained undiscouraged as he sought a
nology explodes. For the creation of Snow White and
new start in Hollywood. He drew success from his
the Seven Dwarfs, a minimum of 570 crew members
Alice series and soon won an Academy Award for
were involved. It took around 166,000 single images to
his creation, Flowers and Trees, the first coloured
create the full 83 minutes of genius.
animation. In 1937, Walt Disney premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length
In 1966, Walt Disney was diagnosed with lung cancer
animated feature. Even though the film accumulat-
and died at the age of 65. His memory lives on in his 11
ed a staggering cost of $1,499,000 during the age
theme parks across the world, 56 animated movies (in-
of Depression, it is still considered a monumental
cluded recently premiered Moana), and the merchan-
moment in motion picture history.
dise which fills every child’s (and student’s—it’s okay, we won’t judge) bedroom. It is clear the name Walt Disney will not be forgotten anytime soon.
28
Design
Top 5 Disney movies to watch over the festive holidays Frozen:
A Christmas Carol:
You all knew it was coming. But who can resist the temptations of Arendelle with its snow and sister power, ice and essential warm hugs?
A classic tale with a touch of classic Disney greatness; this retelling cannot be forgotten as you start to wrap up those festive goodies. A touch of Jim Carrey goes a long way, turning even the greatest of Scrooges into a jolly Christmas lover.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas:
The Nightmare Before Christmas:
A 90’s kid favourite, this is a Disney Christmas classic. Although not one of the first remembered in the huge list of Disney productions, this animation features Mickey, Minnie, and all the gang as they tell three festive tales about the joys of December 25th.
Sparking some debate around the holiday season is the tale of Pumpkin King, Jack Skeleton, who stumbles upon Christmastown in his longing for something more than his everyday Halloween. Whether you consider this film suitable for Halloween or Christmas, surely any film featuring a Santa suit must be an addition to the holiday list.
Toy Story:
In a time when toys are of the upmost importance, this Disney Pixar series of films will be sure to pull on your heart strings and make you fall in love with your Bratz doll or Action Man all over again. And if you can squeeze in the rest (you’ll find it a most therapeutic way to calm down after the mad stress of exams), remember the wonder that was Walt Disney and his fantastic animation team.
Corrie Gorman
29
Fashion
Sparkle is in abundance this time of year; from glitter, to sequins, to beading, all the way to makeup. Whether you have a festive party, work night out or simply want to get on board with the glitter in your everyday life, here is a rundown of the best ways you can step into what I hereby name The Glitter Place and tips to incorporate some sparkle into your look. Whether you like your glitz kept on the down low or you plan on going all out this party season, there is something out there for you!
Arguably the subtlest way to add some sparkle to a look is through makeup. A glitter nail polish is one of the easiest ways to quickly add something special – you could go for a singular accent nail or apply to every nail and you will add something without going over the top. You also have the option of covering your entire nail in pigment or using a top coat that provides just a little shine. Glitter can also be applied to the eyes. Through a shimmery eyeshadow or pressed pigment patted over the lid or in the inner corner of the eye, you can easily New Look, £3.99
brighten it up. Another choice would be glitter liner. This Barry M, £3.99
can be applied as a base so that any eyeshadow on top has a hint more sparkle than usual, all over existing eyeshadow on the eyelid as a thin layer of shimmer, or over some black liquid liner to create a glittery cat eye that is perfect for a night out.
Urban Decay, £14 If you are not feeling the glittery makeup (not everyone does), then think about pairing some small accessories with your outfit. Items such as sparkly tights or a dazzling hair bow are little touches that can step a normal Urban Decay, £14
outfit up a notch. Despite being such small details, accessories like this can really enhance a plain outfit!
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Fashion
New Look, £22.99 It is time to go one step further. If you want something more, then pick one key piece of clothing to work with. This could be a top with sequin or beadwork, or even some staple shoes or a distinctive bag. The trick to not feeling overwhelmed by sparkle is to make the rest of your outfit simple. Think an all-black outfit with coppery gold sequined shoes, or a plain bodysuit underneath a patterned embellished skirt. It is a balancing act and needs to be perfected – take some Topshop, £50
time to try on the item with various tops or bottoms in your wardrobe to find what compliments it best! Often outfits can feel too ‘busy’ when there are too many pat-
Topshop, £52
terns or textures going on, and so finding a simple piece to go with your sparkly item will make you appear much more poised and put-together.
Now comes the section for those of us who live for glitter, especially at this time of year. Take one look at the shops this season and I am sure you will find a dress, playsuit or jumpsuit covered in glitter that screams ‘WEAR ME’. For these items, you do not need to accessorise too much, as the singular piece speaks for itself. I would recommend going for some plain heels or boots, a simple bag and some understated earrings to match. And of course, a pinch of confidence does help when it comes to pulling off this kind of look. If you are lacking in this department then do not fret. Fake it ‘til you make it friend.
When it comes to picking this eye-catching item, there is a scale from extremely glittery to something ever-so-slightly subtler. If you shy away from glitter then go for sequins or beading, and if you think patterned embellishments are too much then lean towards something glittery as the sparkle is (surprisingly) not as in-your-face. Black is also a great colour to lean towards if you worry you will end up resembling a Christmas tree,
Topshop, £36
Topshop, £34
So, there you go, a look at all the types of glittery, sparkly, sequin-y items you may find yourself wearing this party season. I know that many people are turned off by the idea of entering The Glitter Place, but there really is something out there for everyone. Finally, when it comes to any kind of fashion trend you are sceptical over, the trick is to try it on – there is no harm in trying, and you may surprise yourself!
as the darker colour will make the sparkles on top pop, rather than overwhelm the senses.
Written by: Emily Fletcher
31
Fashion
TOP TIPS FOR LAYERING THIS WINTER T
he main point most fashion blogs, articles and magazines will typically make as soon as the cold
weather creeps in is to “use layers!” to ensure your highstreet fashion goes appreciated but keeps you snug. This makes sense, but rarely does such writing elaborate on what kind of layering to use – not everyone has the right combinations just lying around waiting to be paired up.
WORK FROM THE OUTSIDE IN My personal approach to layering outfits is to always
There also comes the problem of still not being warm enough in your layers – this is where you need to think about layering the right things! It is time to dig out those clothes hidden in the recesses of your wardrobe from last year’s (sort of) justified cold weather shop, and take a look at my tips on how to go about layering this season.
start from the outer layer – the kind of coat I want to wear – and work my way in. This way I can accommodate the kind of weather that is brewing on the horizon (a weather app is a saint in this regard!) without worrying about changing my entire outfit. For example, if it is looking like there is going to be dreary winter drizzle approaching, my first point of call is my yellow raincoat. Luckily, these can be found in an abundance of shops right now and you can source one relatively cheaply in
New Look, £34.99
a matte fabric or with a reflective sheen. I personally prefer the matte finish, as it works well with a lot of the other textures in my wardrobe. This kind of outfit is so easy to layer; my go-to would be a pale, collared shirt with a navy or green sweater, skinny jeans and boots.
When it comes to cold but dry weather, building an outfit inwards from my camel coat is a personal favourite. If you cannot decide between a cosy sweater and a shirt sometimes pairing both in an unconventional way works best! For me, black jeans and a burgundy sweater with a denim shirt over the top gives me an outfit with an addRegatta, £29.99
ed casual flair. With the camel coat over the top you are successfully blocking out the worst of the winter chill. It is optional if you want to keep it smart with Chelsea boots but if you fancy a sportier look, I prefer a simple pair of black trainers.
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Fashion
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS Speaking of Halloween, however fleeting these Autumn
Topshop, £34
and Winter occasions happen on us, it is always fun to incorporate them into outfits! Adding little details such as orange tights with cosy black socks and boots are the perfect additions to feel pretty and snug simultaneously – or at the very least, prettier and snugger than usual! Pairing this with a wool skirt and blouse or a button-down dress with a snood can pull your Autumn wardrobe into these approaching Winter months. Long necklaces and a wrap scarf can also be great features to incorporate into any outfit, from jeans to dresses, and jazz it up. New Look, £15.99
PICK YOUR SWEATER This season brings the issue of sweaters – with so many Topshop, £36
styles on the market these days, it can be difficult to narrow down the search. Some people love a thick and (arguably) ugly monstrosity around about this time of year and others want to avoid this type of jumper like the plague. If you are like me and cannot resist being swamped in a cosy Christmas jumper from the beginning
H&M, £19.99
of November, then layering here is super important. If the day is mild and I do not want to be sitting somewhere feeling stuffy in a massive sweater and a puff parka jacket, I try to compromise by layering it on top of a plaid shirt and pairing it with a body warmer. This is the one time of the year you can own what I like to call ‘Marty McFly chic’ (except for Halloween, of course) and make it look like your stumbling into 2016 just happened to coincide with your wardrobe selection. Result!
H&M, £29.99
And finally, of course, when it comes to footwear this time of year: leather boots are a go, suede is a no in wet weather! Comfort is key when it comes to Winter styling and so the importance of the socks inside said shoes also cannot be stressed enough. When the cold weather swings around with a bludgeoning fist of frost and sleet, you will want to be stocked up on some thick and cosy socks! Written by: Amy Galloway
33
Lifestyle
Passion Fruit Pudding
COOKING
CORNER
Serves 8
by Gavin Aitken feat. Ellie Biggs
For this particular article I invited a guest into my kitchen to help. The puddings require cake bases, and so my friend Ellie provided and baked for me her cupcake recipe and I showed her the topping to this family favourite pudding of mine.
You are having people round for dinner, you want to impress, but don’t want the hassle of spending hours in the kitchen? This dessert is indulgent and delicious as well as being cheap and easy to make. The tropical flavours of the pineapple and passion fruit make it extremely refreshing, and the sugary full cream makes for the perfect topping. I hope you enjoy this dessert as much as my family and friends do.
INGREDIENTS PUDDING TRIFLE
FOR THE CAKE BASE 100g margarine
6 passion fruits
2 regular eggs
4 large tbsp of icing sugar
100g self-raising flour
600ml double cream
1 Pack of pineapple jelly
100g caster sugar
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Lifestyle
EQUIPMENT For this pudding you will need a few pieces of equipment. For your cake base you will require, a large mixing bowl, a baking tray and a cooling rack. An electric mixer or hand held whisk is ideal for the mixing as well. For the topping an electric mixer is also ideal, as well as a dish to place your puddings – a wine glass looks different and is the perfect shape, but small bowls can also be used. A mixing bowl will be needed as well as a measuring jug.
METHOD
1
Preheat your oven to 180C (Gas Mark 4). Place 12 fairy cake cases into your baking tray and set this
2
Put your flour, sugar, margarine and eggs into your large mixing bowl and mix them together with the
3
Once the mixture has been fully mixed, use a teaspoon to dish it into the paper cases. Fill the cases to
aside for later.
electric mixer on a high speed. Do this until all the ingredients are completely incorporated.
no more than two-thirds full and use the back of the teaspoon to flatten and even out the mixture in the case.
4
Place the tray in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes – a fan oven will likely be quicker – until they are
5
Leave the cakes in the baking tray for about 10 minutes on a cool surface and then transfer them to a
6
Once the cakes have completely cooled, you can begin making the rest of the pudding, starting with the
golden, and a skewer comes out the centre dry.
cooling wire rack and leave them until they are completely cool, about an hour.
jelly. Follow the instructions on the pack of jelly to make the jelly mixture. Place the fairy cake sponges on the bottom of your dish and cover with the jelly mixture. Place them in the fridge to finish set the jelly.
7
Once the base has set you can move on to making the topping for it. Cut open 4 of your passion fruits
8
Lastly sift in the icing sugar. Mix all your ingredients together with an electric mixer until the mixture
9 10
carefully and scoop the insides out into your mixing bowl. Measure out your cream and add that to the passion fruit in the bowl.
thickens.
Place this cream mixture on top of the base in the dishes and put back into the fridge until you wish to serve them.
Just before serving your puddings, scoop the insides of the remaining two passion fruits and adorn the top of the pudding with the seeds.
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Lifestyle
Now you are ready to serve Enjoy! Passion Fruit Seeds
Cream
Pineapple Jelly
Cake More Jelly! Wine Glass
36
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Lifestyle
SHOWER THOUGHTS Showers. They provide me with a freshness, both literal and
So many joys in life are temporary. A hearty home-made
figurative, that allows the beginning of each day to
meal, a book full of incredible and colorful words, a
feel as if it were a clean slate, a new beginning of sorts.
song. The very nature of humanity is temporary. We live
They’re a luxury too often taken for granted: sometimes
and we die. Such joy is found in things that will last only
they’re a chore you’d rather leave till later, a monotonous
moments, floating away from you like a butterfly that
detail in a mundane routine that will undoubtedly last
you’re desperate to catch hold of. Why do we find it so
a lifetime. But other times, in the midst of the steaming
difficult to find joy and beauty in permanence? We’re
jets of water, they give something more than just
afraid of commitments in life, tentatively tying ourselves
cleanliness. At these times, the stream of hot water
down to one person knowing that we’ll never really find
that runs soothingly over my body gives me some sort
out if they were ‘the one.’ We make consciously harmful
of new perspective - a kind of elixir that allows me to
decisions that impact greatly the planet we inhabit,
observe things in a completely different way. This truly
destroying masses of land as payment for satisfying our
private time of self-reflection is never forced for me
unnecessary and materialistic needs. Is it worth it?
— it comes naturally — and it’s a luxury I unashamedly indulge in.
My daily showers are apparently the only time I dedicate
If you don’t find a happy medium, your wants can overtake your needs…
myself to mulling over my current situations. The hot, refreshing steam from a simple, unadulterated shower
Will we ever be satisfied when we are constantly
straightens out the kinks in my tumultuous emotions,
reminded there’s so much more to own? In a world
making them acceptable to wear in public. It temporarily
like ours, we’re plied day in, day out with garish
rinses the dread I so often feel in the morning, draining
advertisements and ‘next big thing’ trends plastered all
all negative energy from my mind and body and
over social media. We’re completely blind-sided by the
converting those energies into positivity and hope for
invisible and manipulative suited salesmen behind the
the day ahead. For me, showers are better than any
billboards, the TV ads we sing along to in the car, the
medication. Too bad they can’t last forever, eh?
product placements in our favourite movies. They sell us things we don’t need and don’t even really want,
38
Lifestyle
convincing us with great skill that we need to get out and buy that and spend this to be socially acceptable.
It’s easy for us to point out the negative aspects of this never-ending cycle of want, but it’s harder for us to break away from it. We’re subconsciously pressured by
Regardless of your circumstances, we all willingly go
the people around us to have the latest gear. I’d like to
along with it. We’re all overwhelmingly consumed by
say this is something we outgrow with age, but so many
a need to have ‘stuff.’ Consumers. But why do we bite
of our older generations are still fueled by the same
our tongues and go along with it, knowing that none
attitude towards life, living in constant competition with
of this stuff is what we really need? Is it so we look
each other as to who has the biggest house, the fanciest
good in front of our neighbours? So we can show off on
car, or the best job. It’s a pettiness that’s instilled in us
Instagram our latest gadgets and goodies? Like most of
from birth. In school, we’re bullied if we don’t have the
humankind’s flaws, a perpetual need to have more and
newest schoolbag or light up gym shoes. The need to
a never-ending feeling of dissatisfaction drives us to live
have more is something I don’t think we’ll ever grow out
in a society that thrives off of owning stuff. It’s why we
of. We’re so focused on our own fancies that we never
work 40 hours a week in a job that makes us miserable.
consider the people that have next to nothing.
It’s why we stifle our travel dreams, lock tight our hopes of living life to the fullest.
We never blink an eye at the people who sleep on the streets who would be so grateful for even just a home
Of course, there are people who have loosened the
cooked meal. The mundane things in life are forgotten
shackles of a world like this and embraced a new life
about so often that we neglect their true luxury. When
separate to the pressures of societal wants and needs,
you have nothing, something ‘mundane’ becomes
but truthfully, we all have desires that overwhelm us —
everything. Something simple, like a hot shower, can
desires that make us who we are. We all have an itch that
really change someone’s day.
can lay dormant deep inside our minds, ones that can surreptitiously sneak up on you and suddenly make you want, want, want. It’s human nature, at the end of the day.
Bethany Naismith
39
Science
THE NOBEL SCIENCE PRIZES: A BREAKDOWN The Nobel Prizes are a yearly award ceremony that recognizes greatness in a series of chosen fields. For the purposes of hard science there are three sections that apply - medicine or physiology, chemistry and physics. For many, these awards will represent the pinnacle of their career and a representation of the impact their work has had. This year we recognise steps taken to eradicating debilitating disease, making new technologies that could forever change our daily lives and understanding interactions of matter on levels that still elude us. Science sets out to answer the big questions and perhaps a few of these have now been answered. Â
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Science
Medicine or Physiology: This prize was awarded in its totality to Japanese cell biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi for his work on the process known as autophagy. Ohsumi is Japan’s 25th Nobel laureate and only the 4th to be given the award for Medicine or physiology. He is a professor
research into complex multicellular organisms, which includes humans. Autophagy has now been linked to a multitude of life threatening diseases like heart disease, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Autophagy has also shown to be an essential part of the molecular mechanism of aging in cells. Work into this field could potentially hold the key to cells that could live forever.
at the Tokyo Institute of Technology’s Institute for Innovative Research. His research collaborators include his spouse, Mariko Ohsumi, a Professor at the Teikyo University of Science.
The existence of autophagy has been confirmed since the 1960’s, however it was not until 1993 that Professor Ohsumi produced a revolutionary paper which was one of the first to understand the mechanisms of the process on a cellular level.
Autophagy is when an organism recycles cellular materials from broken or damaged cells, especially when the cell is under stress. During autophagy, broken down components like proteins and organelles are transported to an area where they are deconstructed into their basic chemical components so that they may be reused.
‘For many, these awards will represent the pinnacle of their career and a representation of the impact their work has had.’
Physics: This year’s prize was awarded to three scientists; one half of the prize was given to David J. Thouless and the other half was shared equally between both F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz. The prize was awarded for their discovery of strange quantum phenomena through their use of a mathematical tool known as topology. Topology is the mathematical study of the shape of objects and how they can be arranged and manipulated.
Kosterlitz and Thouless investigated phase transitions in extremely thin and cold materials. A phase transition is a term used to describe when one state of matter is able to become another due to changes in environmental conditions, like temperature. Phase transitions are commonly occurring phenomena, with things like boiling and melting being everyday examples. But there are also more complex phase transitions, for example when a magnetized object get too hot, the magnetic orientations will become
Ohsumi received the award for identifying the genetic process responsible for Autophagy; 15 key genes were identified in a strain of baker’s yeast. He achieved this by first viewing autophagy in action by biochemically deactivating the part of the cell responsible for autophagy, which in yeast is called the vacuole. As parts of the cell are being broken down, they are sending materials to be recycled but as this mechanism has been disrupted, a build-up occurs which over time will be become visible under a microscope. Then by mutating different genes and seeing the results, he and his team were able to use a process of elimination to identify the exact genes responsible. His work has laid foundation for
randomized, making the substance overall nonmagnetic as the magnetism is disrupted. The materials that Kosterlitz and Thouless studied were extremely thin, they were no thicker than a few atoms, and extremely cold so they could better understand what is happening on the quantum level. Usually quantum effects are extremely hard to study as they are so tiny and can often be mistaken for normal atomic mechanisms; but when the material is super cooled there is less energy, making the quantum effects more easily identifiable.
They noticed the effects of quantum vortices, which are like tiny whirlpools of momentum. They have been known to give superconductors their strange property
41
Science
of zero electrical resistance when kept extremely cold.
the track, after which the ring is sealed chemically,
They discovered that when material was super cooled,
allowing the molecules to be attached mechanically.
the quantum vortices arranged themselves in tightly
This newly formed rotaxane is then exposed to various
bound pairs but when heat was entered into the system
temperatures which manipulates the physics of the
the vortices spread apart. This is now known as the
structure, forcing the ring to move up and down the
Kosterlitz-Thouless transition and though the research
axle, much like an elevator.
was theoretical it has been proven experimentally. The French researcher Jean-Pierre Sauvage, an Thouless and the other laureate Haldane are also
expert in coordination chemistry, worked to produce
working with topological insulators. In normal materials
a mechanism known as a catenane - a mechanically
conductors allow for the flow of electrons through
connected chain of molecular rings. Usually molecules
them and insulators do not allow for any, but a
are connected by chemical bonds. The mechanism was
topological insulator is able to act as both, something
achieved by trapping crescent shaped components
previously thought impossible. It is able to work as
of the molecular ring within a completed ring using
most of the material is an insulator but the surface can
copper ions and then binding them together. This
carry a current of energy. Some scientists believe that
catenane structure will form this basis of many
topological insulators will be as important to our future
molecular machine structures, with one team of
as the semi-conductor was to the development of
researchers being able to create a system where, by
modern computers.
adding energy, one ring rotated around the other.
Chemistry: This year’s chemistry prize was shared equally between
‘Only time will tell what the future of this research will have in store for us.’
three researchers for their work constructing the world’s first molecular machines. The recipients,
The Dutch synthetic chemist Ben Feringa produced
Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir James Stoddart and Bernard
the molecular motor - an extremely tiny structure that
Feringa, were each working on different components
takes advantage of the random spin of free molecules.
of the science. Their work was able to produce
It does this by combining two flat interlocking
the world’s first “nanocar”, a device four orders of
molecules, forcing only one direction of spin when
magnitude smaller than a single human hair.
energy is inputted to the system. Tests from 2014
In nature you can find countless examples of molecular
showed that a single molecule could spin at 12 million
machines such as the tail-like flagella, which allow
revolutions per second, whilst a formula one car can
things like bacteria and sperm to move to the enzymes
only go up to 16,000 per minute!
that catalyse the digestion of the food in your body. The synthetic machines produced by the researchers
So far the researchers have been able to make
are not nearly as complicated but may very well lead to
molecules spin, travel up and down a track and link
some huge breakthroughs in the future.
in a way they never have done before, but this is just the beginning. Like when engineers first worked
British-American research scientist Sir James Fraser
with wheels and gears to one day produce complex
Stoddart synthesised two separate molecules that
machines like printers and cars, only time will tell what
combine to produce a mechanism called a rotaxane
the future of this research has in store for us.
- composed of an axle, a molecule with large ends and an electron rich centre, and an electron poor ring structure. The rotaxane is produced when the rings, were mixed with the axle so that they may attach onto
44 42
James Russell
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Technology
Last month Nintendo revealed the much anticipated
The Switch clears up some of these issues, it has a stylish
Nintendo Switch (formerly Nintendo NX) to mixed
matte black finish and it appears to be more powerful
reaction. Fundamentally the same form factor as
– shown to run games like Skyrim and NBA 2K17 – both
the Wii U, it has some major concept differences
improvements on its predecessor. Yet it retains the form
that will change its use.
that will challenge developers with the multiple ways the Switch can be used.
Nintendo have stuck with the idea of a multi-screen console, but departed from the idea of dual screen functionality. The Switch appears to be more focused on allowing you to play third party - and first party - games through the main console on your TV and allow you to take these anywhere with the removable tablet.
‘You cannot discredit the flexibility that a device like the Switch gives you to enjoy gaming’
Indeed, it seems there are three use cases:
1
At home with a controller (parts known as ‘Joycons’)
2 3
On the go as tablet with affixed ‘Joycons’
On the go with ‘Joycons’ split between players and tablet being used as a monitor.
It’s a huge improvement on the Wii U which in many
I’m sure first party games will be developed to function
cases tried to promote a dual screen experience that
in all three forms but you start to wonder about
didn’t appeal to the masses. Indeed, that was Nintendo’s
the quality of experience with half of a controller.
problem with the Wii U as a whole; it was underpowered
Furthermore, all of these pieces being attached then
and the tablet interface made it a nightmare for third
unattached and moved suggests a propensity to get
party developers. Furthermore, its use of the ‘Wii’ name
worn out or break over time. These things considered,
created confusion around whether or not the Wii U
you cannot discredit the flexibility that a device like the
was a completely new console or just an iteration
Switch gives you to enjoy gaming.
of its predecessor.
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Technology
THERE IS A YEARNING TO SEE NINTENDO AT THE TOP TABLE OF THE GAMING WORLD ONCE MORE
I think the most notable thing about the reveal of the
For teenagers and adults, gaming time is far more
Switch was its apparent target market. The reveal
limited; that’s why - when we can - we go for the best
showed people aged roughly 18-30 using the device with
experience possible. Whether that’s on a console
no real mention of children. Indeed, the design does not
or PC, we want a full and enjoyable experience over
appear to be overly child friendly and removable pieces
the ability to play in multiple places, which often
make it a sure thing for bits to get lost or broken. Matte
couldn’t be compatible with busy schedules and other
black doesn’t scream out to a child the same way it does
responsibilities. I hope that in the coming months,
to a trendy twenty-something. This is where I believe
Nintendo can show that the Switch can also be for the
there is a contradiction in the Switch.
kids who would enjoy it most.
I know it’s impossible to satisfy everyone, but I feel there
‘It’s a huge improvement on the Wii U’
is a yearning to see Nintendo at the top table of the gaming world once more. For that to happen, they need to sell the Switch.
This concept would make the 8 or 12-year-old me bubble
Hugh Stevenson
with excitement. Comparing this to playing Pokémon on my GameBoy Advance on trips and having to lean to the car window so lampposts could reveal the un-backlight screen at night now seems worlds ago. The Switch offers something that would really appeal to kids, the ability to take their games anywhere and enjoy them on their terms.
45
Technology
T N ME
E N I F RE T NO
Apple’s ‘Hello Again’ Mac Event revealed the new ‘Magic Toolbar’ equipped Macbook Pros and signified the last we’ll see from the company this year. 2016 was the first year since 2001 that Apple saw falling revenues from the year prior ($233.7b – $215.6b1). This 7.7% decline may have shareholder’s making their doomsday predictions that the balloon is deflating. So, is it all really coming to an end? Did we reach peak Apple? Let’s look back on this year’s portfolio to find out. iPhone: Though we moved to a new number, it could have been
button. When we consider this, it’s clear that it was
called the ‘iPhone 6s(s)’. Indeed, all early rumors were
merely production cycles that prevented Apple from
shown to be true when the upgrades were minimal over
making the phone how they really wanted. Don’t get me
the 2015 model. It was clear that the removal of the
wrong, it’s a great phone, I was there at the Apple Store
headphone jack and physical home button were really
on launch day to pick one up and I’m very happy with it.
just a taster for the much rumored redesign coming next
Nevertheless, the 2016 iPhone was never going to surge
year. The 2017 (10th Anniversary) phone appears to be
revenues, as it offered no real excitement to those who
the real upgrade with rumored all glass finish, OLED
had a relatively recent model.
screen and in-built Touch ID as opposed to on the home 1
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/25/13410020/apple-annual-revenue-decline-first-2001
2
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/13/apple-in-talks-to-acquire-australian-startup-quest-magic-keyboard-reports-tim-cook-sonder
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Technology
‘THE WATCH WATCH OFFERS OFFERS NOTHNOTH‘THE ING THAT THAT THE THE PHONE PHONE CANNOT CANNOT ING DO WITHOUT WITHOUT A A ONE ONE SECOND SECOND DO DELAY WHEN WHEN REMOVING REMOVING IT IT DELAY FROM YOUR YOUR POCKET.’ POCKET.’ FROM
Mac:
Watch:
The addition of the new Macbook Pros was vital in
The first product launch without the seal of approval
renewing what was becoming a dated Mac line. With the
from Steve Jobs has been much improved in its second
hugely successful Macbook Air being shelved for the Pro
iteration. The addition of GPS and waterproofing are the
and Macbook lines to flourish, Apple is really shooting
most notable functional benefits compared to its pre-
for the higher end notebook market. Indeed, this will be
decessor. However, Tim Cook’s first product still hasn’t
beneficial; Macs are celebrated for their extremely high
been marketed to be a ‘must have’ product. Other than
quality and ability to perform high level creative tasks.
fitness capabilities (which many other watches do) the
Though the Mac is not the revenue driver it once was
watch offers nothing that the phone cannot do without
for Apple, the new Mac line with better form factor and
a one second delay when removing it from your pocket.
increased functionality will definitely see many upgrade
The Watch needs to attain its own image as a unique
in the coming year. Apple’s acquisition of Sonder (the
product, rather than an iPhone accessory. At this stage
E-Ink keyboard manufacturer2) shows much is still to be
there is little known about how Apple intends to proceed
explored with this product. The Mac line is now extreme-
with the Watch other than the obligatory ‘thinner’ and
ly high end price wise, yet it’s something I feel those
‘lighter’ improvements. The first iteration showed there
wishing to upgrade to will be able to rationalize due to
was little desire for a ‘high end’ Apple Watch that would
the level of functionality they are receiving.
quickly be outdated with people mainly opting for the ‘Sport’ or lower end standard models. For this reason,
iPad:
it is hard to imagine a revenue spike in 2017 from the
Apple have created undoubtedly the best tablets on the
Watch. It seems that the faithful iPhone and Mac combi-
market with the iPad Pro and, before that, the iPad Air;
nation is what retain Apple’s state of growth.
yet the tablet market is stagnant. Apple’s push to get increased functionality out of tablets and sell them on
To summarise, Apple need not worry about their iPhone
their productivity capabilities would cannibalise their
and Mac lines, there is sure to be revenue growth in
Mac market. Having had little success doing so, it seems
2017. They have created extremely capable and beautiful
people want a tablet to watch movies, play games, shop
products that appeal to the mass market. The Watch and
online, browse social media and read the occasional
iPad must give people a reason to be owned, like the
book. The new iPads do this really well, the problem for
phone and Mac, providing an enjoyable - albeit frivolous
Apple is that so does the iPad 2 from 2011 and all in be-
- experience. So, 15 years of continued revenue growth
tween that to the most recent. If like myself you bought
has come to an end, yet I still don’t doubt Apple’s ability
an iPad in the last few years, you don’t have to rush to
to create something that will have consumers fixated for
upgrade like with the iPhone. More worryingly for Apple,
the next 15.
I am now ‘iPad-less’ and getting on fine after being a user for 2 years. This shows how inessential the iPad is, a
Hugh Stevenson
luxury toy rather than an essential tool.
47
ALL ALL II WANT WANT FOR FOR CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS ... ...
Is A Dongle It seems 2017 will be the year of ultra-thin gadgets, and also the year we all get extension cables for everything… Including other extension cables! With the release of the new MacBook Pro from Apple (and also the release of the iPhone 7), there is a definitive trend of removing ports from our everyday tech: inviting us to use it differently for the first time in many years. Our previously loved ports, like the USB port, suddenly seem less relevant when you consider how much technology has advanced: we have more storage in our devices than ever before, and if that’s still not enough, you can have unlimited cloud storage - allowing you to access your entire digital life in one place: anytime, anywhere. We’re also plugging in fewer devices to charge them: our batteries are higher capacity than before and despite our constant usage of the devices, they still outlast the passing of the day. And what about computer mice? Well, with everything being touch screen, do you really need a mouse, or is force of habit simply tempting you away from new experiences in favour of the old-fashioned?
48
Technology
The Year Of Touch - Everything
The Passing Of Vine
Touch panels will be huge in the New Year: from Apple’s
Low-quality, on-repeat videos might just become a thing
multi-purpose Touch Bar, to fingerprint sensors which are
of the past. With Vine’s 6 seconds of fame being officially
becoming ever more common in phones - 2017 will be
over, this could see the end of short videos as the trends
the year touch technology really kicks off! Who needs
move towards video filters and special effects: perhaps
physical buttons? It’s all about haptic feedback: the
making Snapchat’s hold on social media video stronger.
feeling of touching a responsive button when in fact, you’re touching a solid surface. Take the Lenovo YOGA
But perhaps, the trend of 360 cameras will finally take
Book: it’s a fully touchscreen, convertible laptop with no
over: with Facebook encouraging 360 videos to be
keyboard; it’s two screens or one screen, full size, or half
posted and viewed through the site itself as well as the
size, a laptop or notebook - you decide. With the keyboard
app - a definitive step towards bringing virtual reality
on, it feels just like you’re pressing actual buttons; but it’s
directly to the palm of your hand. Though arguably,
a sensory illusion, a simple flicker of light in the shape of
Samsung are ahead of the curve here; the Gear VR and
a familiar object.
Gear 360 camera are fully compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Edge 7 and other Samsung devices, introducing users to the future every step of the way.
WE’REDECLUTTERING DECLUTTERINGOUR OUR ‘ ‘WE’RE LIVESAND ANDMINDS MINDS’ ’ LIVES
Even over this last year alone, we’ve said our farewells to many amazing pieces of technology, and all the changes we’ve seen come about have been influenced by our attitudes and preferences. We don’t notice we’re doing it,
We’re moving towards a trend of silence. No clunky
but companies out there do, and they adapt, and give us
keyboards. No wires on earphones to fall and bash
what we want before we even know we want it. I cannot
against the screens of our phones. No noisy styluses to
wait to see what 2017 has in store.
tap away on tablets. But most importantly, no loud disks. Everything is solid state - there are no moving parts in our devices because it’s slower; and we don’t want slow, we want fast, we want instant. Why would you wait two seconds when you can wait fractions of seconds? It
a ev
makes all the difference.
This silence is changing the way we work. A workplace is no longer a cluttered desk: it’s a single device. Your entire
ila
gi or
e
G
M
workstation, in one slimline glass and metal masterpiece like the Microsoft Surface Studio. We’re decluttering our lives and minds. And it even comes with entirely new gadgets. The Surface Dial: an innovative multi-purpose tool for performing many menu-selector functions, thats bringing you closer to technology than ever before. It brings the functionality to you, no mouse, and no breaking eye contact with your screen, just everything you need, directly in front of you. It is definately an immersive experience, allowing you to work without ever even feeling like you are working.
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M AG DA L E N ISSUE 58 ROARING ‘20S
MEDIA MIXER
DECEMBER LAUNCH
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