Issue 158

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Fresher’s Fair Reviewed Wednesday 15th october | Issue 158

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COMMENT

Islamophobia in the press

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FILM

Cine10 Round-Up

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LIFESTYLE

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What do you love?

Extreme Makeover: Library Edition

Full story on page 2

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News Editorial

Jake Stones, News Editor Fiolla Korenica, News Deputy Editor Shaun Quilter News Deputy Editor STUDENT

I hope you enjoyed the first issue of The Rabbit and that you found something in the paper that was interesting to read and made you think about something that you normally would not have. That is really what our aim for the paper this year is, to provoke thought.

Essex has always been a political university and sometimes controversial because of it, but as long as controversy leads to discussion and a chance to learn something, it might not be such a bad thing. However at times I think we tend to forget to be respectful towards each other. We have seen this in the Starbucks debate and the discussion that ensued after we decided to stop selling The Sun last year. Debate, instead of leading to discussion, has at times lead to name calling and anger on both sides on a issue seemingly so self explanatory as the values that our university should stand for.

And maybe it shouldn’t be seen as a negative thing to, from time to time, evaluate whether those values are still what we agree to uphold, but maybe with a university so diversely political that was always kind of impossible anyways. With a lot of the debates here at the University we tend to see the two main factions.

There are those who describe themselves as upholders of free speech and a platform for everyone as they see this as an educational experience. On the other hand there are those who believe that there are limits to who should be invited to speak at events, especially if those speakers are at the risk of violating University policies such as safe space. No one should be made to think that the University cares less for their well-being and their right to feel comfortable with who they are. The recent debate on whether Julie Bindle should be allowed to speak at an event has been the most recent example of this.

Where it would be both hypocritical and contradictory for me to claim I was against free speech and limiting people’s rights to express themselves I do want to set out a line of how I intend to run The Rabbit this year.

We are a newspaper for students, made by students and in line with this anyone is welcome to contribute to the paper. However we have set out our own code of conduct in line of which we will decide what articles we will publish. I do encourage you all to express your opinions, even if you think people may disagree with you. All I ask of you is for this to be written in a reflective and respectful way. Have the courage to really explore your ideas and think about how it affects others. I have a team of dedicated people ready to help you develop your ideas and grow as a writer, and I hope many of you take the chance.

Your Editor, Saga Eriksson

Albert Sloman Makeover During Spring 2013, The University of Essex started work on a brand new extension project.

The project is set to create the largest new building on Colchester campus since 1965, which involves an extension to the Albert Sloman Library, a brand new student centre and a new lakeside square. Responsible for the building design are Patel Taylor, an awardwinning architectural practice, who were also behind the University’s award-winning Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall, that was completed in 2007.

The unique-looking Albert Sloman Library, which has provided library services for students for nearly fifty years, will have expanded by 30% once the project has been completed by Spring 2015. The new facilities include: 388 additional study desks; a brand new 24/7 postgraduate reading room; space for 1.4 million books; and a new library entrance.

The internal changes started during mid-June and will continue into the beginning of this month. One of the more noticeable changes is to the entrance floor, which has been completely remodeled. The changes to the library are intended to provide greater resources in order to enhance the student experience. Although the library is open for use, works are still taking place and regular updates can be found on The Albert Sloman Library website, libwww.essex. ac.uk.

With this notion of enhancing the student experience, the creation of the Silberad Student Centre will provide students with more facilities on campus. These facilities include: an openaccess 24-hour Learning Hub for creative and group work; new IT facilities and 250 study space reading room on the second floor.

This reading room will contain a mixture of quiet study, group study and the new Student Services Hub. The Student Services Hub will be located on the first floor and will provide a ‘one stop shop’ for students. The services provided by Accommodation, Income, Registry and Student Support would move to the ‘one stop shop’, from their current, separate locations, which are spread throughout Colchester campus.

The vision of the Student Services Hub is to create an improved, co-located and integrated administrative service for students with the objective to provide students with reliable information, advice and guidance.

Students are entitled to seek further details on the project by contacting Kevin Mascall, Project Officer, Estate Management Section on 01206 874213 or email kmascall@essex.ac.uk. Students can also watch the growth of the project via live images from a webcam, found at essex.ac.uk/ student_centre/construction/camera.aspx.

Shaun Quilter

WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

NEWS

New Faces at Freshers’ Fair However, the exciting atmosphere still remained.

We hope that students got to see the amazing opportunities that the SU and University has to offer, and we hope that next year’s Fair is just as amazing!

On Saturday 4th of October, one of the most popular Freshers’ Week events, Freshers’ Fair, took place. The Fair gave new students a chance to learn about various societies, sports clubs, and volunteering projects, and to sign up to as many as they like.

Fiolla Korenica

Nearly every stall offered some sort of freebie, ranging from pens to sweets. The free pizza offered at the Domino’s marquee meant that students were flocking to Square 3 to grab a slice. Performances from the Pole-Dancing Society on Square 4 and music from Red Radio on Square 2 meant that students were surrounded by entertainment.

Brand New Societies Born There are some exciting newly ratified SU societies on campus, check them out.

Newly-ratified societies such as the Sociology Society (SocSoc) and the Punk Society were out in full force: the Harry Potter Society was very successful considering it was only ratified last year, receiving 324 signatures!

ANZA - Social Enterprise

The unpredictable British weather meant that it was warm on the squares in the morning, and then progressed to heavy rain later on in the afternoon. The Fair slowly came to an end as heavy rain forced freshers and societies into shelter.

Punk

Night Ninjas Nursing

Rock and Indie Sociology For more details, see essex.su

The Promise of the Maltings The Maltings welcomed its first 381 student residents on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of September 2014. As the architecturally designed building opened its doors, not unexpectedly, it wasn’t without snags. However this was more than compensated for by the attention of the helpful and dedicated staff and the community spirit which was evident from the moment the students began to check in and collect their individual keys. It was clear that the staff’s priority was to ensure everyone experienced a comfortable transition into The Maltings accommodation.

When asked about the reason for choosing Colchester as the location for such a substantial investment, Lester Broome, part owner of the buildings explained that the decision was based on “confidence in the quality of the university and the staff’s ambition to be recognised as one of the best universities in the country.”

He described The Maltings as being “totally

invested in student welfare” with the aspiration to “secure student happiness and ensure The Maltings is regarded as a home and not merely as accommodation for the academic year.”

His ambition is that The Maltings becomes recognised as the best accommodation for students attending the University of Essex, aiming to provide residents with a complete and flawless service.

Although scheduled for completion

by September 26th, poor weather and ground conditions meant that the deadline unfortunately wasn’t met and staff are now working extended hours to finalise the interior decor of the facilities The Maltings has to offer.

During this first week of occupancy students have been voicing how impressed they are with the sleek modern flats and communal areas.

There are major transformations scheduled over the course of the next few weeks as Phase One of the building project reaches its

completion and The Maltings vision to create the ideal student community becomes realised.

On-site communal facilities already include a cinema room for screenings with friends and a large common kitchen where students can unlock their creative cooking skills. November promises the opening of Baudaceas Bar & Restaurant, which will have prices suited to students. The completion of Phase Two next year will result in an additional 391 rooms bringing the total number of en-suite rooms and studios to 779. Phase Two includes the opening of a supermarket, which will transform The Maltings into a self-contained student village.

Some have expressed the The Maltings to be a brilliant addition to the accommodation here at Essex University and the positive relationship between the university and The Maltings developers promises to result in total student satisfaction.

Rebecca Lorimer

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What the Duck?

The University of Essex has been hit with a tragic desertion. The ducks, who were so common to our everyday campus life, have left. Details of their disappearance are in short supply, and most only can rely upon speculation, but one thing is for sure: they are gone.

The disappearance is evidently only noticeable to those who are returning students for the year, which is possibly why this incident hasn’t been publicised as much on campus social media; getting drunk and finding your way about campus is just more important apparently.

Nonetheless, now that the rave and rush of the first week of freshers is over, it is paramount that issues are addressed.

The University is a strong supporter of welcoming its international, and national students, and also has strong links with citizens who live within the local vicinity of campus, extending towards both Wivenhoe and Colchester. But when it comes to the ducks, who may not be registered students, but are most definitely recognised attendants of our squares, there seems to be little in the way of what has been done to get them back.

The University of Essex appears to have turned a blind eye to this, and it seems they shall continue to avert their gaze. This comes amid some suggestions that the University itself is to blame.

Many students have voiced their opinions that the construction of the new buildings going up around campus could have scared them away.

More reflective students have dismissed this though, once recalling the many times they have shared their NomNoms “curley fries” with the ducks, while surrounded by hundreds of partiers, piling out of Sub Zero. This camp of opinion holds that the ducks are simply too tough for construction workers to scare them off.

However looking upon this point, the Environmental Society stress that having a campus which continually provides the ducks with unhealthy fast food, and then leaves them with the rubbish for it also, may be just another contributing factor. This paired with the new construction projects, the society pose the question, “Are we really working for a more environmentally friendly university? Or, can this not happen until we change?”

Questions such as these lead to the assumption that perhaps the ducks who we so loved, have left us because of how we treated them.

When talking to Kelsey Miller, President of the Animal Protection Society, the feelings of concern towards the new building developments were reciprocated. She stressed how not only were these sites places of attraction for the ducks, but also for the people who enjoyed their company.

Recalling the benefits of being able to relax in these areas, she states how her and her friends had spent “whole days during exam period by the lakes round where they are now building,” but obviously this is no longer an option.

The departure of the ducks, or “DoD” as it’s also been referred to, has evidently been noticed by many of the campus regulars, and is of concern to those who take an interest in nature and its inhabitants. The DoD has led some to wonder if they have moved further into the untouched areas of campus, further up towards the lakes, but due to their constant activity, it’s difficult to get a proper figure of how many there are of the feathery friends, and so, we cannot be sure if this is the same population number we are used to.

Some have now foreseen the Return of the Ducks, abbreviated as the “RoD,” but until the construction stops, or is completed, the RoD seems very far into the distance indeed.

Jake Stones

Campus Cat makes National News Roughly over a year ago, the University of Essex unofficially adopted a cat named Pebbles - better known as Campus Cat. The black and white feline lived on the Colchester Campus for about six months before a member of Student Support took him to the local vets, where he was found to have a microchip. Later that day the cat was reunited with its delighted owner, Heather Smith.

“I was so amazed when I got the call from the vets to say Pebbles was found as I thought he was lost forever” explained Heather Smith, who lives in Greenstead.

Mrs. Smith continued by stating, “At least I know if he wanders back to the University he will be well looked after.”

It appeared that Pebbles has in fact returned to the University where he has made the Colchester Campus his home for the second time.

It seems that the students are very fond of Peb-

bles and as a result, a Facebook and Twitter account had been made in his honor.

Campus Cat is very popular with over 2,700 likes on its Facebook page and with 484 Twitter followers. Both accounts consist of pictures of Pebbles and status/tweets of Pebble’s ‘thoughts’.

For instance, one tweet shows a picture of the library under construction in the background, with Campus Cat in the foreground and the caption: “Really guys, you shouldn’t go to all this trouble just for me… oh, it’s not for cats. Book & Students, you say? Meh.” Due to Campus Cat’s high popularity, on the 6th of October 2014, Campus Cat made an appearance on the Times Higher Education Website. An article written by Chris Parr, ’10 University Tweeters who aren’t human’, featured a tweet by Campus Cat at the number eight spot.

This appeared to have been a high achievement for Campus Cat as Pebble’s latest Facebook status was: “Kitty made it! Got featured on Times Higher Education.”

As the number of Essex students grow, the more friends Campus Cat will have. Campus Cat has received such overwhelming support; it has resulted in fame for Pebbles. To have achieved the recognition that the cat has had, clearly shows that Pebbles means a lot to the students of Essex.

Campus Cat’s Facebook page can be found at: facebook.com/EssexCampusCat Twitter page: twitter.com/Campus_Cat Read the full list at timeshighereducation. co.uk/news/10-university-tweeters-who-arenthuman/2016175.article

Shaun Quilter

WEDNESDAY 15TH OCTOBER | ISSUE 158

Fundraiser in Hannah’s Memory On the 15th of September, the University of Essex lost Masters student Hannah Witheridge, who was murdered whilst on holiday in Thailand. Since then, her sister Laura has begun a fundraiser on the Virgin Money Giving website in her memory: “Hannah was a fun, vibrant and stunning young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Hannah was passionate about animals and, as a family, we have provided a home for several dogs from FAITH animal rescue over the years.

It seems fitting to attempt to raise funds for the charity in Hannah’s memory in place of floral tributes.”

FAITH animal rescue is a small charity based in Norfolk which houses and looks after abandoned dogs.

The University of Essex Equestrian Club shared the webpage on Facebook in memory of Hannah, who was a valued team member. Over £3500 has already been raised since the 3rd of October.

If you would like to donate in memory of Hannah, go to this link: http://goo.gl/ FIeccH.

Fiolla Korenica

NEWS

#SUReact Launched Goodbye SUSortItOut, hello #SUReact!

The Students Union have introduced a new and modern way of handling complaints. The types of complaints could range from requesting change in food quality in restaurants, to a clash in departmental deadlines. The Students’ Union aims to reply to your problem within 24 hours (with the weekends obviously taking longer!)

At the moment, the twitter page has 242 followers, and the Facebook page has received 319 likes. The only thing that has changed is the name -the same excellent service is in place. It’s an opportunity for students to have their say, whether it be something they like or something they are unhappy with. Details are below: Twitter: @essexSUreact or #SU react Facebook: Search SU react on Facebook Email: SUreact@essex.ac.uk Phone: 01206 863211 Or fill in a form at the SU reception.

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Burning Issues Tips on how to avoid harm, and unwanted fires.

Last year there were over 400 false fire alarms in the University’s residences. These were caused by everyday tasks such as cooking (or should we say burning) food, showering with the door open (releasing steam) and using hair straighteners and aerosols close to a smoke detector.

If you accidently set off a fire alarm, it’s going to be pretty embarrassing and you are also going to get on the wrong side of your housemates after forcing them out into the cold or the rain.

If this is not enough hassle, there could be disciplinary consequences for students who have been found to have set off fire alarms, with possible fines of £100 or more.

to return (the University Patrol Officers will attend every incident and advise when you can re-enter) .

Remember you MUST NOT use the lifts to evacuate, don’t become complacent with fire alarms, in the event of a real fire you will pose danger not only to yourself, but to other students and members of staff if you do not evacuate.

Festive fire tips If

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the Christmas spirit and decorating your accommodation, please follow these tips: * If buying a Christmas tree, avoid live ones, as these present a real fire hazard (and make a mess of your room) after they have dried out.

Make sure artificial trees are flame retardant. Try googling Christmas Tree Fire if you want to see how quickly they go up in flames. * If you buy Christmas lights, choose low voltage ones from a reputable source, avoid cheap poor quality ones as these can be a fire hazard. * Do not wrap Christmas tree lights in flammable material such as cotton wool. Whilst this looks pretty and festive, there is a high risk of fire. Also avoid putting decorations close to lights or other sources of heat.

Following these tips will help you avoid setting off overhead smoke and heat detectors: * Never leave your cooking unattended. * Keep grill pans and cookers clean and free from fat and food debris * Keep kitchen and shower doors closed * Do not use aerosol sprays near the overhead heat or smoke detectors * Do not smoke or use candles, tea lights, Jos sticks or aromatic burners. These are all prohibited in the residences.

Watch our short video clip on how to prevent false alarms. This can be found online at vimeo. com/72345509

* Do not place Christmas trees or other decorations in designated escape routes.

More information on fire safety can be found here http://www.essex.ac.uk/support/ emergencies/Default.aspx If you have any questions about fire safety please get in touch: University Fire Safety Officers Email: fire@essex.ac.uk

Remember when the fire alarm sounds you must Get Out of your residence as soon as possible and Stay Out until you are told it is safe

John Crust and Graham Joy

obituary

Helen Bamber (1925- 2014) Human Rights Activist The human rights activist and psychotherapist Helen Bamber died in August aged 89. She had a career spanning several decades and many conflicts. Her life’s work was arguably shaped by her experiences as a Jew during World War 2. Despite being in London during the War she recalled her father who was fluent in German reciting “Mein Kamph” which led her to conclude that the Jewish population was in grave danger.

It was during this experience that she concluded a profound philosophy that would shape the rest of her life`s work; that there was a dual division of people, those who were bystanders and witnesses. Bystanders she viewed as seeing what they wanted in a situation, and disregarding and denying the facts when it suited them. Witnesses conversely were obliged to report situations as they see them without bias or distortion.

Her career started at the immediate aftermath of WW2 in 1945 when aged just 20 she began counselling Holocaust Survivors. She travelled to the Bergen Belsen concentration camp and tended to the victims whom had been scared and deeply traumatized.

The Helen Bamber foundation was founded in 2005.The purpose of this was to aim to help all that was broken in a safe and supportive environment. Bamber expanded the foundation to not just be for the victims of state torture, but also the victims of trafficking and female genital mutilation.

Bamber`s work was recognised on numerous occasions. In 1993 she was given the European Woman of Achievement award. In 1997 she was awarded the O.B.E. The following year she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award in Human Rights, and in 2006 was appointed the Jewish Care`s Woman of distinction.

Her final award was The Inspiration Awards For Women for her tireless Human Right`s activities which she received just last year. She also received eight honorary degrees from a range of Universities including Essex.

Robert Hill

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Comment

Philippa Dobson, Comment Editor

Editors Note: The views represented in this section are from those of the individuals and do not represent the editorial views as a whole.

Jihadi John and Islamophobia power of the press. We are told that up to 500 British Muslims have joined the fight overseas.

This is out of roughly 2.7 million UK Muslims, which works out at 0.018% of the British Muslim community.

It seems to me that the media is part of a mechanism that is generating Islamophobia.

The latest manifestation of this is the incredible coverage that ‘Jihadi John’ and his band of merry men and women have attracted. I wish to take nothing away from the atrocities that they have committed; they are brutal, evil, and misguided people attacking innocents, which I have no problem in acknowledging.

I agree that the news should report on the events unfolding in the Middle East, I even encourage it, and I acknowledge that these latest events must also get reported. What I do object to, is what appears to be a media agenda against UK Muslims.

However, the nature of the coverage these people are receiving, is a) exactly what they want, and b) risks distorting our view on the Islamic community. It is no secret that there is already an unfortunate tension between communities, evidenced by the rise of movements like the EDL, and parties such as the BNP.

Far too much is reported regarding the wrong that the Muslim community is suggested to have perpetrated, while the benefits that they bring to our nation, and all of the successfully integrated families and communities, are ignored. I can only assume that this is because such stories do not sell as many papers.

This latest phase of reporting, however, threatens to increase this tension: we must not forget the

James Parsons

Consequences of a deadly dispute Gaza has been the focal point of a wider conflict between Palestine and Israel for decades. The most recent conflict, which broke out in July has left the city of Gaza in a very poor condition, both in terms of infrastructure, and on a humanitarian level. This conflict has been nothing more than a power struggle, and an unfair one, since Israel’s equipment and military techniques vastly outmatch those of Hamas.

But this cycle of violence has been doing nothing but causing grief and forcing the world to see, yet again, how crucial it is to prevent, or at least diminish the number of innocent lives lost as a consequence of war. This is a conflict that has been going on for too long and that has killed too many people, and its repercussions are just now beginning to emerge.

In July, Israel launched a military offensive, again, on a small, isolated, poor and densely-

populated Gaza. Although Israel presented itself as a victim once more, claiming it is exercising its right to self-defence against Hamas, the facts are undeniable: this is an offensive that perhaps did not target civilians, but caused a lot of civilian deaths.

A UN special report on the situation of human rights in Palestine has been eye-opening on the damages caused by a conflict that lasted only 50 days this summer. More than 3,000 children have been injured in the fighting and around 500 are dead. Furthermore, tens of thousands of children now have to deal with a traumatic experience and cope with the side effects of having witnessed so much violence happen right before their eyes.

Some Israeli attacks were carried out on three UN-run school shelters, without a regard for the innocent lives taking cover inside. On the Israeli side, heavy shelling on the border region

inside Israel has caused minor casualties, forcing families out of their homes and causing deaths mostly among troops.

Despite the pressing need for people in Israel and Gaza to move on, fear is lingering, preventing them from getting on with their lives. A UNinvestigation was launched after the conflict ended, and the conclusion was that both Israel and Hamas are guilty of war crimes.

Israel has made the claim that it is fighting a war on terror against Hamas. But, since terrorism is mainly the act of using violence against civilians for political gain, one cannot be a warrior against terror while using the same weapons as a terrorist.

But a clear solution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas-controlled region has, once again, not been reached. This was just another useless war that no one won.

Andreea Ghita

WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

COMMENT

Should we give ISIS coverage?

Buses in Colchester are the font of all knowledge; I’ve heard many an interesting argument on the 61 and 62.

I’ve listened to topics such as the Queen’s Jewish roots and why David Cameron supports the Illuminati. One person recently did say however “we shouldn’t report on the beheadings, it’s what ISIS wanted all along.” This got me thinking heavily on the issue: are all these news reports what the group want?

When the group brutally beheaded Alan Henning and filmed the disgusting act they wanted to send a message. When U.S President Barack Obama gave a press conference on the beheading

of David Haines it’s probably what the group wanted all along. They wanted the coverage to show to the world they meant business and were serious about their ‘mission.’ But if we ignored them would the problem go away?

Well not really, if we ignored them completely it might make the situation worse, causing them to commit even more atrocious acts for the attention.

The public do have a right to know what happens in the world, including these acts of barbarism, and we need to act as a society to sort out extremism. However I think we need to reevaluate how we report on the situation.

Many groups like the EDL and Britain First are using ISIS as an example of why we should be an anti-immigration and anti-Islam society.

Many news outlets are using this as propaganda to push their own agendas across, instead of reporting the facts.

ISIS may have wanted this to happen to prove to the western world that we are perhaps a prejudiced nation. But people do have a right know that these acts are going on in the world, as it is what is important to democracy, no matter how barbaric the end result is.

Jack Fryer

Where is Kim Jong-un?

Whilst North Korea often leave the Western world pondering what is going on inside its borders, recently another enigma has been thrown at us - ‘Where is Kim Jong-un?’ The ‘Dear Leader’ has not been seen in public for over a month now, and suspicions have grown over the whereabouts of the young leader.

North Korea is a nation which thrives off visual propaganda, and often has images of the ‘supreme leader’ touring North Korea and visiting prosperous businesses and locations, something which has been parodied into a Tumblr page.

The propaganda used to describe, not only Kim Jong-un, but his predecessors, Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-sung, creates the image that they are ‘superhuman’ and have godly powers in order to oppress the people of North Korea, who have effectively been brainwashed since birth.

The last time Kim was seen in public however, he was walking with a limp and was having difficulty moving, something you would not associate with someone ‘superhuman’.

Western experts have argued that Kim is in ill health, with some suggesting that he has gout due to his rich food intake and apparent addiction to Swiss cheese. Support of this is the severe weight gain we can see from the start of his tenure in power from 2011 to now.

Whilst illness is definitely a viable opinion on the location of the ‘Dear Leader’, it also has to be noted that the second most powerful man in North Korea, Hwang Pyong-so, visited long time enemy, South Korea with his delegation to resume talks which have been postponed since February.

Claims of Hwang’s influence in the North Korean leadership have surfaced since the execution of Kim Jon-un’s uncle Jang Sungtaek earlier this year, and it is rumoured now Kim Jong-un is nothing more than a puppet leader. Whilst it is too early to say whether a coup is in process, this all has to be noted in reference to Kim’s disappearance.

Whatever has happened to Kim, only time can tell, but it will continue to fascinate and intrigue people in the Western World, until its reveal.

Aiden Mills

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WEDNESDAY 15TH OCTOBER | ISSUE 158

Arts

ART

Jess Rich, Arts Editor Dani Kolanis, Arts Deputy Editor

Two Destination Language - ‘Near Gone’ The first thing an audience usually learns of a play is its title. A title of a play should hint at the story, theme or objective of a piece yet never give too much away. If anything, it should make an audience think even before they step into the auditorium, and it should leave them continuously thinking after they have seen the performance.

‘Near Gone’ is a production devised and performed by Katherina Radeva and Alister Lownie, also known as Two Destination Language. The piece was performed at the Lakeside Theatre on Thursday 2nd October to an audience full of returning students, university staff members and the new first years with eager expectations to see live theatre at the theatre that will soon become their home.

Delivered through translation in English and Bulgarian, the piece touched on themes of mistranslation, loss of emotion, helplessness and destruction through misunderstanding.

Fresh flowers were flung across the stage as the audience were taken on a rollercoaster ride full of surprise and energy, but instead of feeling as if we existed in the calm before the storm, we struggled helplessly through the wind unable to help.

The relationship between the actors and the audience disintegrated and became confusing alongside the relationship between the two performers on stage as the story reached its climax.

The assumption that we had reached the end of the performance came early on with the foreshadowing of a funeral and apparent preparations for the worst outcome. The revelation that the woman’s sister had woken from her coma after five days was delivered to not only release a feeling of relief, but one of hope. The audience remained captivated until the very end in an explosive celebratory dance in which the couple united along with the understanding audience.

Radeva and Lownie propelled themselves into their hour long piece in an attempt to tell a difficult story. Storytelling is a technique we are all familiar with in our lives, yet the way ‘Near Gone’ was delivered offered an insight into the characters and the piece that could be achieved in no other way. Gypsy-inspired music exploded into the auditorium and filled any empty space unable to be reached by the two performers alone.

University of Essex Art Society The Art Society has exciting plans for this year – we will be holding various workshops to cover all kinds of art; from crazy finger painting to more complex clay crafting. Our society isn’t just about creating masterpieces – if you can only draw stick men, or you just enjoy talking about art, we will cater to what you are interested in. We have a number of socials booked in the diary. We are also going to organise a couple of visits to galleries in both Colchester and London.

We enjoy seeing everyone’s own pieces of art – we have a Facebook group dedicated to work our members have created, and cool

The importance of home and family pounded through the performer’s veins as they struggled to seal the gap of mistranslation not only between the performers and audience, but also between themselves. When faced with disaster the performers’ twisted humour into their heartbreaking story of a woman hearing her four year old sister had fallen into a coma back in her home country. Elements of fantasy and imagination aided the performers and the audience as coping techniques in the hard-hitting reality of the situation.

works that we’ve seen and like to share. Most importantly, we want to meet people like us who have an interest in art. Doesn’t matter if your passion is big or small, realistic or abstract, we just want hang out and have a good laugh. We’re friendly, silly and just a little bit mad (which, let’s face it, are all qualities great artists need to have!)

Meeting days: Tuesday @ the Art Exchange Thursdays, time and place TBC

Eva Cheeseman

‘Near Gone’ describes the premature feeling of loss and the process of preparing for the worst. It symbolises the lack of hope in human beings and the way we let events destroy us when instead we should stand united to make ourselves stronger.

The title of the play offered an insight into the themes explored and fell into place after the performance questioning what else we have in life that we let go of too soon. I, for one, have changed my outlook in the face of disaster and as promised in the description of the piece I left the theatre feeling more alive than ever.

Cathy Wilson

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Music

Alex Driscoll, Music Editor

Gig review

Kate Bush - ‘Before the Dawn’

“Before the Dawn” is without doubt the most spectacular thing I have ever witnessed. Trying to put this show into words feels as difficult as hitting the high notes in Wuthering Heights, but I’d hate to be that smug person who says ‘you kinda had to be there...‘ especially given the huge amount of people who queue outside the venue holding up placards pleading for spare tickets.

costumes and massive rib sculptures for when Bush’s character found herself at the bottom of the sea inside a whale, a makeshift living room set on some rocks where she sang ‘Watching you Without me’ to her son, and a creepy blackbird feathery wing for my right arm to be used in a brief moment in the second half. A life size wooden puppet man would be desirable but not essential.

Inside, the audience are buzzing. We are all on our feet, with almighty applause as Kate Bush enters with her backing vocalists and dancers, moving to the beat of ‘Lily’. Effortlessly cool in black with her long hair down her back - think mum meets art teacher meets hippie. No one ever knows what to expect from Kate Bush, and after the first 5 or so songs I am surprised.

There are several movements within the show itself. The first half (post-’King of the Mountain’) largely focuses on the story of a woman who finds herself floating at sea after going overboard - led by songs from her opera “The Ninth Wave”. It was breathtakingly conveyed through film, theatre and mime, with dance and voice over provided

by Kate’s brother, Paddy Bush.

We’ve had two classics - ‘Hounds of Love’ and ‘Running Up That Hill’ – both incredible, the band brilliant and the lighting great, but well within the realms of normal. It is only after ‘King of the Mountain’ that we are plunged into a mind-blowing realm of theatricals, film, puppetry, costume and dance.

The second half is heavier on visuals, with stunning slow-motion birds, clouds, the moon and a throbbing sun projected onto the backdrop. Albert McIntosh, Bush’s son, gets his own solo. This half has an energy of rebirth about it, punctuated by a wooden puppet who wandered about, stopping between songs to hug Kate.

Obviously.

It is such a privilege to be welcomed into Kate Bush’s magnificent world, this feels more open and revealing of her fantastic creative mind than any interview could ever be, especially for someone renowned for keeping out of the limelight. It is wonderfully moving.

Many are crying.

The show in its entirety is a spectacle of beauty. You don’t just see it, you feel it. As the encore of the sublime ‘Cloudbusting’ resumes, the whole room stands and sings the chorus in unison, I wonder if I will ever feel this euphoric again.

A friend of mine joked that I would have to recreate the show when I next saw her: to do this, I would need some fish skeleton masks/

Caroline Smith

ONE TO WATCH:

Beasts

Twickenham trio Beasts may be indistinctly named, but their intelligent amalgamation of Nirvana and My Bloody Valentine’s styles are fierce and powerful as any beast one can think of. If that’s not enough to pique the interest of 1990s rock fans, let it be known that they were previously named after an acclaimed Björk B-side, “Karvel”. The radio play and support slots racked up by Beasts in the last year show plenty of promise, and you should expect to see their name in slightly larger font on the rock festival line-ups of 2015 than they were this year.

Alex Driscoll

WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

MUSIC

ALBUM REVEWS

Manchester Orchestra - ‘Hope’ Not from Manchester, nor an Orchestra; but they sound big enough to be one. Manchester Orchestra hail from Atlanta, Georgia - a city more famous for its hip hop juggernauts, like Outkast and Soulja boy. The band are well-described as a heavier version of Editors, or R.E.M. Masters of the loud-soft dynamic, this time around they gave more time to their softer side.

The creatively named ‘Hope’ does away with the piercing vocals, pounding drums and distorted guitar and bass of their previous album Cope; it is a back to basics re-imagining of that same album though, and for the most part it has paid off. Cope was a heavy album, if a little bit cluttered at times. Hope allows Andy Hull’s lyrics and melodies to really shine. Songs like “Top Notch” and “The Mansion” were unapologetically loud, but they are different beasts now, and in some cases, for the better.

If you’ve heard the Cope versions of these tracks, at times you may be a little confused. Sounds that were prominent are now taking a back seat, but bear with it; the additional gentle vocal harmonies, strings and piano make the band seem more fitting of their name.

However, giving the lyrics and vocals centre-stage does expose them to scrutiny. After the novelty of the different arrangements wears off, some tracks like “Indentions” can come across as more whiny than soulful at times.

That been said, it is refreshing to see a band not afraid to utilise creativity and redefine themselves. As a standalone, ‘Hope’ couldn’t hold its own, but it’s the Yin to Cope’s Yang and I’m grateful it exists.

The Kooks ‘Listen’ After three years, The Kooks (along with new drummer Alexis Nuñez) are back with their latest LP release ‘Listen’. Described by frontman Luke Pritchard as a collection of “percussion sonnets”, it offers a funky, well-arranged and comprehensive set which explores many areas of music that were less apparent in previous ventures.

The opener ‘Around Town’ is four minutes of gospel and funk filled indie-rock driven by Peter Denton’s head-bopping bass line.

Released as the second single of the album in June, it became a fan-favourite over the summer as The Kooks announced their new material at various festival. Up next is ‘Forgive and Forget’, which can be described as a Jamiroquai-esque amalgamation of percussive beats, guitar riffs and vocal layers.

My personal favourite ‘Westside’ is introduced with familiarly simple acoustics, but don’t let this fool you; like tracks gone by it transgresses into an assortment of electronic leads driven along by a positivity in their music which gives you the feeling that The Kooks are still on their feet.

The next few tracks, ‘See Me Now’, ‘It Was London’ and ‘Bad Habit’ follow on much like before, although Hugh Harris’ diverse guitar playing must be credited. First single ‘Down’ follows, strengthening what has gone before with a blend of instrumental layers, showing the musical progression made on this record. Greatly enhanced by the bands venture into unknown waters, the album stays strong throughout, and leaves them in a good place for the future.

Stephen Dudley

Anton Greenaway

He’s done it. It has taken Ryan Adams various producers and more than a decade, but he has finally conjured a straight-up, Springsteen-esque stadium-rock record. The newest release is selftitled, but this simplicity is not to be sniffed at; it’s manic, it’s urgent and it is in total contrast to its 2011 predecessor, Ash and Fire.

Listening to the lyrics with absolute precision does not pay, but this blanketing allows the repetition of motifs like fire, darkness and isolation - which point toward his fears and emotions - to be conveyed without explicit mention. Variations of the same phrase “nothing to say” appear in three songs, but two of these use generic, massive riffs, and they all contain the considerable stadium-lifting vocals that Adams has shown glimpses of throughout all his music thus far.

Ryan Adams ‘Ryan Adams’

The album is unapologetic in its fervour, its slap-in-the-face style. It knows you’ll be rocking to it, and it loves it.

Luke Smith

13

14

Film

Edward Lincoln, Film Editor

Round Up: Cine10 Our campus cinema, in LTB10, puts on a wide variety of the latest and greatest films. You can book your tickets on the SU website.

Dirty Dancing As one of the most iconic films of the 1980’s, and one that is still found in most DVD collections today, Dirty Dancing is a classic that is a must see for anyone fond of a terrific love story. The film follows seventeen year old ‘Baby’ Houseman on a family holiday in America’s Catskill Mountains during the 1960’s, and watches her meet the jaw-droppingly handsome bad boy Johnny Castle.

The film follows their raunchy, full-swing summer and the roller coaster trip they take as they pursue their passion for dancing and their love for one another.

With more twists and turns than an average country road, this film keeps you entertained and totally enthralled from beginning to end.

Back to the Future October 26th marks the date that Back to the Future’s Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) travelled back in time to 1955 in this classic sci-fi story; intercepts his parents’ first meeting, leads the school bully through the town in an iconic chase sequence and almost destroys the space time continuum. Not the week McFly had in mind.

Back to the Future realises the dream of traveling through time, and though McFly does not choose to visit 1955 specifically, this fortunate circumstance allows him to see what his parents were like before they got together, a mystery many would love to witness. From our first impression of McFly’s mother, Lorraine (Lea Thompson), she is rather demure and very set in her old fashioned ways. McFly’s father, George (Crispin Glover), is a pushover, has bad humour and a bit of a geek.

However, traveling back in time opens McFly’s eyes to what his parents were truly like before they met.

Throughout the Back to the Future trilogy McFly grows as a person and ultimately learns that the future is unwritten, and that it is ours to shape. Whilst in this respect the film definitely has it’s profound moments, this first instalment also features some funny awkward moments: when teenage Lorraine calls her son a dreamboat and tries to kiss him.

Back to the Future is funny, at times emotional, and has more depth than it is credited for. The relationship between Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and McFly is a strange one, and It is really a testament to McFly’s character that he is such good friends with someone as kooky as the Doc. It is this partnership that drives this film’s story and makes it such an important stepping stone in the canon of sci-fi cinema.

Hannah St Jean

Led by Jennifer Grey, as Baby, with the legend Patrick Swayze playing opposite her as Johnny Castle, Dirty Dancing has both the romantic storyline and the stellar cast required to make such a successful, moving and hilarious film. A timeless classic.

Winning a Golden Globe, a Grammy, an Academy Award and an Oscar for its soundtrack, the film has an overall brilliance that can only be truly appreciated when watching it, so make sure you don’t miss it!

Remember, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”

Georgia Lawrence

WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

FILM

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A Million Ways to Die in the West As a big fan of both westerns and ‘Family Guy’, I was keen to watch ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’, the Seth MacFarlane parody of a classic American genre. Keen that is, but not excited. The reason being, I was concerned that after the success of ‘Ted’, MacFarlane could manifest his own downfall, with an average film which fails to score any big laughs or recount an engaging storyline, and one which would ironically become the but of a Family Guy joke. And I was right.

The film centres around cowardly sheep farmer Albert (MacFarlane) who was recently dumped by his girlfriend Louise (Amanda Seyfried) and all but gives up on life in the American west, until he meets a mysterious woman called Anna (Charlize Theron) who is married to notorious gunslinger Clinch (Liam Neeson).

The film aims to be a western parody, but never really does anything to acknowledge the clichés of the genre or play upon its tropes, apart from a few minor selfreferences. Instead it simply lists the problems of the American west in a rather obvious style, without trying to integrate them into the narrative.

We see a lot of the typical crude MacFarlane humour, which does give some laughs, but the voices of characters are the same as every other piece that MacFarlane has created, and the endless fart jokes become tiresome pretty quickly. The storyline is extremely generic and lazily written with the gags feeling like they were just left over from ‘Ted’ or ‘Family Guy’, and the narrative follows a typical modern comedy formula rather than a spaghetti western.

MacFarlane also fails to match up to the acting chops of his peers, as whilst Neeson, Theron and Neil Patrick Harris all give decent performances, MacFarlane doesn’t have the same charisma as his counterparts, and seems to be more suited to being a voice actor or a side character than the star. Overall the film does provide some laughs, but it does not make up for the lazy storyline and list of failed opportunities.

Aiden Mills

Frozen From first impressions, ‘Frozen’ has the true makings of a classic Disney film: the love story, the catchy original songs, the loose moral lesson and the sarcastic quips that make the experience that much more bearable for the parents dragged to see it. However cheesy and twee this all might seem, Frozen is undoubtedly a feel-good and fun film. The story is based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, The Snow Queen, and as a result definitely has a timeless quality.

Whether you’ve seen ‘Frozen’ or not it has been impossible to escape the soundtrack since it’s release. The film’s most famous song, ‘Let It Go’, won this year’s Academy Award for best original song and peaked at number 11 in the UK official chart. It has also been the feature of numerous YouTube clips of toddlers ‘singing’ along. Whilst ‘Let It Go’ is a powerful and moving song with lyrics that a lot of people identify with, the music in the rest of the film is much more uplifting and light-hearted. One song that particularly sticks out is Olaf the snowman’s solo song, ‘In Summer’, which will bring a smile to even the most cold-hearted of Disney musical fans.

‘Frozen’ has the typical dynamic of a coming-of-age story as the princess sisters Elsa and Anna learn to manage their relationship after the death of their parents (Those deaths occur very early on, don’t worry, I haven’t spoiled it.) However, what is refreshing about ‘Frozen’, without giving too much away, is that the sisters are able to rescue themselves without a brave knight racing in on his noble steed.

More than anything, Frozen is the type of film that needs to be watched under a duvet with a pile of snacks. I’d also recommend the sing-along version for any die-hard fans. It is one of life’s simple pleasures. Whether you need cheering up from a bad mood, or want to enhance a good one, I struggle to see how anyone would be disappointed with this modern classic of a film.

Sophie McBean

16

TV

Nisa Khan, TV Editor Amy Bater, TV Editor

Boardwalk Empire Boardwalk Empire is now on its fifth and final season, and for the Boardwalk fans out there, it is a great shame. It is a show that never got the attention and recognition that its HBO counterpart ‘Game of Thrones’ had, and in some ways went under the radar. But to those who do watch the show, it is a hidden gem.

Boardwalk Empire is set in Atlantic City during the prohibition era, from its start in 1920 and its end in 1931. It centres on the life of part politician, part gangster ‘Nucky Thompson’ (played by Steve Buscemi) who uses his connections and political reach to bootleg and rule Atlantic City and New Jersey. The show blends fictional characters with real people and famous names such as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. The show follows Nucky as he battles to hold on to the Empire he built in the society he lives in.

That’s What She Said “That’s what she said”. We have all heard the joke but there’s one man who will claim it is his. That man is Michael Scott.

Everybody knows The Office. The workplace was the perfect setting for Ricky Gervais’ mockumentary, which was full of awkward and downright offensive humour that we Brits love.

This is why we all sigh when we hear that the Americans are trying to replicate our brilliant comedy. There are countless examples of shows which have gone terribly wrong when done by Americans two of the worst being Skins, which was treated with disgust by the American audience, and The Inbetweeners, which was cancelled after one series.

So it’s fair to say it almost never works.

The American Office is one of the few that does. If I am having a bad day, I’m bored or just procrastinating, I will go onto Netflix and binge watch The Office USA. I have seen it beginning to end at least 10 times; I can say each line before they do and it’s fair to say I love it. The first two seasons are pretty poor, with the show finding its own feet and sticking closely to Gervais’ world. But then Steve Carrell, who is cast in the Brent role as Michael Scott, comes into his own and he does it perfectly. Michael is much more loveable and more childlike than Brent.

When Carell acts like Michael has good intentions but no social skills it is much more suited to American comedy which is why it works so well.

Then there’s Dwight, the American Gareth who you have to love, and Jim and Pam who have such good on- screen chemistry you won’t want to look away.

So yes, you love the English Office but try the American one and you won’t go back. I’ll leave you with these words from Ricky Gervais “If you don’t know a David Brent then you are the David Brent” and if you’re not him then you’re probably Michael Scott.

Amy Bater

The show acts as a great homage to classic literature, with its narrative often following that of a Greek tragedy with the rise and fall of certain characters. It follows people who are a product of their environment and have to lie, launder and kill to survive. The show is enhanced by the brilliant acting of the cast, and each and every one of them helps to bring these characters to life.

The narrative is sleek and seamless as it moves from place to place, and the constant counterplay between the characters and the never ending ‘game of chess’ they are in, keeps the viewer enthralled. The show also references other gangster tales for example in a ‘Godfatheresque’ montage at the end of the first season. The reason why this show has not been held in the same esteem as ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘Breaking Bad’ is beyond me, but now it must bow out in the same level of class and stylishness it has produced since its beginning.

Aiden Mills

WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

TV

Scott & Bailey Scott & Bailey is a brilliant cop drama following the working and personal lives of Janet Scott (Lesley Sharp) and Rachel Bailey (Suranne Jones).

Based in the ‘Manchester Metropolitan Major Incident Team’ lead by DCI Gill Murray - ‘Godzilla’ (played by Amelia Bullmore), we watch as murder investigations unfurl and are expertly picked apart. Suspects squirm under the cool gaze of Janet’s piercing blue eyes and relentless unwavering questioning - something she can’t quite seem to shake off when she finds herself speed dating in a recent episode.

The two have a close but complex relationship. It’s not quite a good cop/ bad cop set up, but if it were then Rachel would definitely be taking the role of bad cop. She is the flighty, ambitious, mouthy one to Janet’s cool, considered, family orientated character. Their boss Gill Murray is fiercely efficient with a sharp tongue and wit that winds Rachel up as much as it amuses the viewers. Between them they make three very strong, likeable characters that have led to the series being noticed and commended for its commanding female-led cast.

Mystery Solved Finally, after eight years of being off the air, one of the greatest TV enigmas has been solved as we have the answer to the question- “How does ‘The Sopranos’ end?”

People unfamiliar with ‘The Sopranos’ are probably wondering why, after eight years, people don’t know how it ends. To this, I can’t and won’t answer due to spoiler reasons, but in an interview with the show’s creator David Chase, a question was asked in reference to the ending of the show where Chase gave a one word answer which ended all questions for good.

What I liked about ‘The Sopranos’ ending was the fact that you did not know how it ended and it left so much to the imagination. This was admittedly after days of shouting at the television and being in a bad mood, as it seemed that one of the greatest TV shows of all time ended in possibly one of the worst ways of all time. Whilst now the ending still causes conflict between fans, after a few weeks of rewinding it over and over and trying to process what just happened, I finally came to the conclusion that I liked the ending. It made you really have to watch closely and pay attention to what you see in front of you, so you can then analyse the scene and come to your own conclusion of how it ends.

Unfortunately my curiosity got the better of me, and I had to know how it ended, something which I highly regret.

Whatever the answer Chase gave to how the show actually ended, does not change the fact that Tony Soprano will never be on our screens again after the sad passing of James Gandolfini. But despite it being 15 years since this show first aired, it still manages to be the benchmark of all other shows and influence how we watch television today. To all people who have not seen it, I highly recommend it, but beware of a very conflicting ending.

Aiden Mills

In the previous series it could have been argued that the male characters lacked the strength and three-dimensional qualities of their female counterparts. But with a new writer it feels like the men are coming into their own, complementing the female-centred comedy scenes that are routinely set in the Ladies loo with their own witty snipes and sense of humour.

Overall I think the success of the show is in the ever-engaging characters and their storylines. By following them both at home and at work we see flawed human beings with whom we can all identify. Throw in some unsolved murders and family scandals and you have a hit. Watch at your own peril. One episode and you’ll be hooked.

Caroline Smith

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18

Books

Georgina Dedman, Books Editor

Interview

Linwood Barclay An American author of nine books, Linwood Barclay primarily writes detective novels. “No Time for Goodbye”, published in 2007 was a number one best seller here in the UK. His most recent book, “No Safe House” was released on 25th September 2014. I wanted to find out more about this dark and mysterious sequel to his bestselling book:

1.

4. How long did it take for you to write this?

Where did you get your inspiration from for No Safe House? Did you always have this plot in mind when you were writing the first book?

My books all take about three months to write. That’s the first draft. How much longer depends on how strong that first draft is. I’ve had books that didn’t require much rewriting or editing, and others where the rewrite took longer than the first draft. No Safe House fell somewhere in the middle.

When I wrote No Time for Goodbye, I didn’t even know if it would be published. So I certainly wasn’t thinking ahead to a sequel. I didn’t start thinking about going back to the characters in this novel until about two years ago. Many readers had really enjoyed two of the minor characters - Vince and Jane - so I knew if I ever did a sequel, they’d play a much larger role.

5. Any writing tips for aspiring writers?

Read. Read a lot. And, of course, write. Even if you have no expectation that what you are writing will be published. You know you’re a writer if you just HAVE to get these stories out of your head and onto paper - or a computer screen. Don’t give up. I was writing novels in my teens, but didn’t have one published until I was in my forties. It might not take as long for you. Stick with it.

2. What research was required for the novel?

Not a great deal. Being a sequel, a lot of my work was already done. My setting, my major characters, and their backstory - it was all from No Time for Goodbye.

3. Who is your favourite character and why?

Gina Dedman

I love Vince Fleming. He’s a thug, he’s a bad guy, but there’s more to him than that. I think he’s the most sympathetic and interesting character in the book.

Misery by Stephen King Stephen King’s Misery is captivating. The endless torture that Paul Sheldon suffers at the hands of his “number one fan” Annie Wilkes, is enough to keep any avid horror fan turning the pages. His frequent escapes from his room, to his eventual showdown with Annie, keep the suspense so high that your heart will never leave your throat.

When the novel was released 27 years ago, the horror came from Annie’s horrendous acts of violence against Paul: the hobbling, slicing off his thumb and forcing him off the painkillers she’d gotten him addicted to. The suspense is created by the constant threat of death that hangs over Paul’s shoulders and the realisation that Annie has killed many people before him.

BO REVI OK EWS

Released in 1987, a time when the internet and social media were non-existent and when being an avid fan of someone meant reading all their books or buying all their albums and plastering your walls with posters of them. It was a time when Annie Wilkes was little more than a fictional character, somebody who was unlikely to exist in reality.

Now, in an age when you can follow your favourite celebrity’s every move online, the true horror of Misery comes from the fact that somebody just like Annie could easily exist.

It is not uncommon to open a newspaper or read an online article about a ‘crazed’ fan doing something extreme to impress their favourite celebrity.

These fans will do anything and everything to be noticed by them and even more to meet them. If Annie Wilkes existed, there is no doubt she would be one of them.

As a result of the Internet, obsession is easy.

Obsession can quickly become something more and it’s truly horrifying to think that hundreds of the “number one fans” in the world could do what Annie did to their favourite celebrity. After all, it wouldn’t take much. Just a reclusive fan, an inconvenient car crash and the determination to make that celebrity do whatever you want.

Hayley Hayward

WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

BOOKS

Happy Birthday Sylvia Plath!

Born: 27th October 1932 Sylvia Plath is perhaps best known as a confessional poet who committed suicide through carbon monoxide poisoning. However I would like to celebrate her life and provide an insight into this vibrant, deeply complicated and talented woman.

A poet who also found and brought joy and understanding to the world through sharing her experiences in her journals, poetry and novel, The Bell Jar. Confessional poetry originated in the United States during the 1950s and is defined as poetry “of the personal”. It often focuses on extreme moments of the poet’s individual experience and can include what was previously viewed as taboo subject matter such as sexuality and mental illness. The influence of this style is seen in much of Plath’s work - particularly the final poems of her life, published in the Ariel collection which show her innermost feelings, using details from her everyday life.

Plath displays the conflicting emotions of personal and universal human existence. ‘Morning Song’ was written on the birth of her daughter, Frieda, and describes Plath’s ambivalence at motherhood. She is both terrified by and filled with awestruck love for her first child, referring to her as a ‘New statue./ In a drafty museum…’ and describing the everyday moment of waking and checking on the baby.

Plath’s ability to perfectly summarise what it means to be human is further demonstrated in what is arguably her most well-known piece ‘Ariel’, which many believe foreshadows her suicide. However I think it also demonstrates her exhilaration at life, invoked by the motifs of horse-riding and rebirth.

Plath had a horse named Ariel and her husband Ted Hughes once described a time when she fell off her horse and ‘….came all the way home… at full gallop, hanging around the horse’s neck’. Here, Plath masterfully creates this sense of movement through her quick imagery and use of dashes. The sensual descriptions in the final verses also enable the reader to feel the speaker’s transformation towards what is either the oblivion of death or the rebirth of morning.

Although it can be extremely difficult to decipher the true meaning behind Plath’s work, I see her confessional style as an extremely raw and honest depiction of what it means to be human in all of its variations.

Sylvia is an enigma who will continue to fascinate readers with both her work and personal life for years to come.

Lorraine Gamage

The Occult in Fiction Modern fiction is dominated by the supernatural.

With the prevalence of this genre showing no signs of diminishing, one can be forgiven for forgetting its rather niche nature. The occult, magic spells or indeed any mysticism with negative connotations were a minor aspect of western folklore.

So why are modern gothic or horror novels filled with wizards, vampires and werewolves and not fairies, demons or goblins? If we look at the earliest works of fiction with a macabre feel, what started out as religious imagery is now a standard fictional device Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, written in the fourteenth century, features the title character’s voyage through the nine circles of Hell. Rather than depicting the afterlife for the damned as a generic sea of fire and pain, each level has punishments that are poetically ironic and personal. Their fates are skewed versions of our mortal existence; the wrathful drown eternally in the river Styx, the miserly fight the greedy in an everlasting joust and so on.

In order to get an impactful narrative, dark supernatural plots cannot stray too far from what is recognisable. Indeed, the reason for the rather illogical fascination with what ought to be disgusting or off-putting is its personal nature.

Humans are, in general, never quite comfortable with actually being human: we make certain daily functions taboo with no discernible base, we invent notions like nudity or interpersonal morality which would not exist out of a specific homo sapien context.

Horror and gothic fiction is thus filled with supernatural elements just ever so slightly different to everyday life; the undead or magicians captivate us more as they resonate with our inner struggles to make sense of human life. That said, with novels like this filling up the bookshelves, maybe it is about time someone wrote a teenage horror novel about the humble goblin.

Ashley Armstrong

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WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

Science

SCIENCE SCIENCE

21

Alice Vardy, Science Editor

Why do leaves change colour in Autumn?

The most spectacular of the Autumn colours have been there all year, hiding behind the dominant green of the chlorophyll. This is gradually revealed to us when the days become shorter and the weather is cooler and the chlorophyll begins to break down. The brightest colours can best be seen when late summer is dry and early Autumn is cool.

Green – Chlorophyll

Yellow – Xanthophyll

Orange – Carotene

Red – Anthocyanin

Chlorophyll as you probably know is responsible for turning sunlight into food. For most leaves it is the most dominant colour in deciduous trees throughout summer. Some leaves retain this colour as the chlorophyll is turned into sugar that will be stored to survive the winter.

Xanthophyll is similar to Carotene, yet it contains oxygen atoms as well as hydrocarbons in its composition.

It is the same pigment that makes egg yolk and sweetcorn yellow.

Autumn trees such as beeches, birches and oaks present this vivid tint.

Carotene is one of the colours hiding behind the chlorophyll and is also responsible for giving carrots their unique orange colour. Sugar Maples are the best examples of this colour and fill the New England countryside with it.

Most colours displayed in autumn as aforementioned are present throughout the summer. However Athocyanin is a product of the breakdown of chlorophyll. Trees and plants that exhibit this colour are often named after it, such as Red Maples and Scarlet Oaks.

Alice Vardy

This week in science Researchers at Harvard University have announced findings showing that acupuncture is completely useless in the treatment of chronic knee pain.

35,000 walruses have come ashore on an Alaskan beach Monday (6th October) as their preferred resting place of sea ice has become sparser and harder to find in the arctic.

Scientists have discovered a huge rectangular shape under the surface of the moon, which is believed to be the remnants of rift valleys from when the moon cooled.

Researchers have found a massive cloud of hydrogen cyanide over the south pole of Titan, one of Jupiter’s moons.

The quantity of ice that has melted in western Antarctica is large enough that it has caused a minor dip in the earth’s gravity in that area This month an astrophysics audience voted for Pluto to be considered a planet again, raising the possibility that the downgraded dwarf may be handed back its full status.

Found: The Source of HIV After years of research, a team from Oxford University claim to have found the source of HIV. To date over 75 million people have been infected with HIV and at the end of 2012 an estimated 98,400 people are living with Aids in the UK. They have traced the source of the HIV-1 strain to Kinhasa (formerly Leopoldsvile) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The head of the team, Professor Pybus, stated that the original transmission was in the early 1920s as a result of handling bush meat.

factors in the 1920s, allowing for the ease of movement and long distance travel.

The pandemic then accelerated in the 1950s and 1960s because of a high number of sex workers, poor hygiene and common reuse of needles among elements of the population.

Alice Vardy

Pybus argues a number of factors created a “perfect storm” for the pandemic to spread. Railways were one of the major contributing

Correction: Last week’s “The science of hangovers” article was written by Dominic Whitehall, not Ben Gregson as stated. We apologise for this mistake.

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Lifestyle

Luiza Sandru, Lifestyle Editor

UoE Challenges Abroad It’s summer 2015 and you’re in the heart of the beautiful, untamed continent of Africa, in Tanzania to be precise. You walk through the school gates to be greeted by the sound of the laughter of small children as they play outside their classrooms. You hear the soft, rhythmic thuds on the ground as they race towards you in a group, hug you and take your books off you to carry them to the class for lessons to start.

One small child with big brown eyes looks up to you as she places her small, delicate hand into yours, swinging it as she bounces towards the classroom in front of the other students. Happy faces greet you as you take your place in front of the board. The eager, attentive faces of hard-working students as you commence today’s lesson can make you so content.

Hands fly up when you ask questions and even when the answers are wrong, their confidence doesn’t waver. Laughter, joy and beautiful memories in-themaking, swell as you join them during break times while they play their games.

You eagerly throw in a word or two in Swahili with the worst accent ever which makes them laugh.

They enjoy and appreciate the effort you’re putting in to learn their language as much as they enjoy learning yours. The tears of joy and sadness as you wave goodbye for the last time, sad little faces hugged against you, and good wishes showered upon you.

The sound of the elephants grazing away at Tarangire National Park, accompanied by the constant chattering of blue-ball monkeys or the laughter of a hyena in the middle of Serengeti. The dust rises as the hundreds and hundreds of zebras run across the endless plains, closely followed by the gazelles and wildebeest as they migrate. The emotionless yet majestic stare from the lioness as she crouches in the long, dry grass awaiting her next prey.

as well to be directed to the group. Hoping to see you all soon!

The cooing of birds and the creaking of crickets in the Ngoro Ngoro crater, while the leopard tries to approach its enemy unnoticed. The fresh, undisturbed, unpolluted air as you pose during a yoga class at the beautiful, scenic and serene Karama lodge on a Sunday evening. All of this and many other experiences and emotions, can be enjoyed if you come along with us, Challenges Abroad, to give a helping hand to the less privileged and experience a life-changing adventure in Tanzania, Africa! If you missed us at Fresher’s Fair, come along to our information evening on Tuesday the 14th of October at 6pm to get more information on this volunteer opportunity. The meeting will be held in room 4SB.5.3.

Sh’anesu Gutsa, UoE Challenges Abroad Team Leader

For those doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award, this will be an amazing opportunity to get points for your work and also to enhance your CV for future employment.

Join our Facebook Group “UoE Volunteer Abroad Tanzania 2015” for regular updates and also to get in touch with other team members! Scan this QR code

Facebook: UoE Volunteer Abroad – Tanzania 2015 Website: www.challengesabroad.co.uk/package/maasaiexperience/

WEDNESDAY 15th october | ISSUE 158

LIFESTYLE

I love...

Everyone has something that they love, and that is what the Photographic Society’s new project is all about - sharing a bit of your personality through your hobbies, dreams or loved ones. Started at the Freshers’ fair, the society wants to gather as many people as possible and, at the end of the year, form a collection with students, a collection that shows the diversity that can be found among the student body.

“We thought about starting the “I love” Project here at University of Essex because no matter how tough your life is, there’s always something left to love.

Maybe you moved away from home, maybe you failed your year or maybe there’s a lot of pressure upon you. We want you to acknowledge there is still something that you enjoy doing”, the President of the society, Adrian, told us.

So if you missed them at the Freshers’ Fair don’t worry.

They plan on going to the squares more than a few times this term so you will have the chance to take a picture yourself.

To check out all the pictures, go on their Facebook Page @University of Essex Photographic Society.

Luiza Sandru

Get inspired to travel University students want to see the world. Let’s face it, who doesn’t? The problem, as with most things in a university lifestyle, is money. As I quickly realised firsthand, aspirations of travelling do not come cheap.

However, there are some cheats for those of us who seek adventure and can leave the luxury hotel, flights and beach combo for when we’ve paid off our debts.

A winter holiday could be on the cards! Here are a couple of ideas I rustled up.

A night for Galacticos What footy fan could say no to a night of Champions League football under the lights of the worldrenowned Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid? Forget your sorrows of essay writing and exam stress by watching the galacticos in real life. Ronaldo, Bale, Rodriguez, Kroos and the list goes on. Now I’m not here to condone a two-day weekday holiday while at university but through holidaypirates.com you can enjoy Real Madrid v Ludagrets, return flights and 4* accommodation including breakfast for £136! This is, without a doubt, a once-in-a-lifetime chance and if you think you need a midterm break, this will surely hit the spot.

‘We’re going on an adventure!’

The brand name MegaBus will send shivers down the majority of your spines I’m sure. Images of constant traffic down the M4 and a neighbouring passenger tucking into the newest flavour of Walkers crisps that stink to high heaven will spring to mind. However, what if I was to swap the M4 for a quaint village in France and the smelly crisp eater to a group of your best mates? The MegaBus now runs from London to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cologne, Paris and numerous other great European destinations from as little as £17.50! Twin this with a youth hostel which, again, you can book up with a group of friends in advance for just £15 a night, this is a perfect way for a student to see Europe if you don’t care about luxury.

I hope this will help you get inspired or bring back any travelling aspirations you might have had. There are deals out there, it’s just about compromising and realising what it is that you’re trying to get out of a holiday.

Joshua Methven

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24

To diet or not to diet?

That is the question Ah the smell of BBQs in the air, the long days, the short nights, the endless sunshine - ok so maybe not in England but you get the image. It’s summer right? We practically live off salads and orange juice, because let’s face it, it is way too hot to sit down for the traditional Sunday dinner. And of course, we have all embarked upon the latest fad diet ready for that summer body and boost of confidence when you hit the beach. Whether it be the 9 day cleanse, the Atkins diet, the soup diet or maybe just the traditional eatless-move-more regime.

We’ve all pretty much been there! Well I know I have!

But looking at the facts it is safe to say that people tend to weigh less during the summer months compared to the winter months. This is because the opposite starts happening: the days get shorter, the nights get longer, the weather gets colder and the comfort food comes out. In December we have an excuse to eat a piece of chocolate every day!

And of course University starts which means more partying and more eating, because let’s be honest, we don’t have our parents there to make our homemade dinners for us, so we have every excuse to eat whatever we want - healthy or not.

We learn to live off convenience food so that usually means ready meals and a lot of sugary snacks and

drinks. And let’s not forget about all those empty calories from those triple vodka and cokes that gets downed in one. So for most students, the pounds will pile up at some point during their university life. And most of the times the students will want to get rid off them.

Unfortunately it’s not as easy to lose weight as it is to gain it... There are so many ways in which a person can lose weight; so many diets that are advertised nowadays on the internet. But some of them are very damaging to the body and can harm you more than do you good.

The question I am asking you is: do you need to worry about fad diets? Of course, diets are so popular at the moment, with celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Meryl Streep all publicise their weight loss tips to the world. So it may seem that you have to worry about watching your weight and restricting yourself from those everyday treats.

But I believe that it’s not the case. I believe in moderation and loving yourself. I believe that there are some people who weigh more than others but that is because we all come in different body shapes and have different body types! If everybody looked the same than life would be boring.

But remember! Just because the winter months are coming up it does not mean that you have to sit alone and delve into a family sized tin of celebrations to drown your sorrows of the cold weather outside.

Simply share them with a friend as well and you can both reminisce about summer together! Nor does it mean that you have to sit and worry about what the scales will say come next summer.

What I am trying to say is the same as what many nutritionists and doctors are trying to say. Love yourself. Just because you’ve been on a diet to lose a few pounds doesn’t mean that if you put those pounds back at some point, that will ruin your life.

You’re only human and underneath we all look the same. If you’re worried about the coming winter months then just have an apple instead of a pack of crisps. After all the NHS guidelines state that we should be eating at least 5 portions of fruit and veg per day.

So live life no matter what size you are because sometimes diets can cause too much overthinking and lead to more dangerous paths. Just eat healthy and stay active.

That is all you need to do in life. Oh and be happy as well.

Emma Louise Alwood

Goodbye stress... hello glowing skin!

Drain the stress of today by giving yourself one of the best treatments out there- a facial! Plus, you can do it at home, so don’t worry about expensive appointments at beauty salons or costly cleansers.

The secret is in the blood circulation, so by gently massaging the skin we actually enhance the action of the lymphatic system. By moving bacteria and waste away from the skin cells these toxins can be eliminated. It is a key element in the overall tone, texture and appearance of the skin.

So what are you waiting for? Find a comfortable place and decide that you can allow 5-10 minutes for the health of your mind and complexion. Yes, we know lectures have started, but I promise that you deserve this and your skin will thank you in ten years as well!

First start off with a freshly cleaned face. I normally use 100% Pure Cold Pressed Rosehip oil, but any light moisturiser will work perfectly. Fingertips at the ready

and start by slowly moving them on the surface of your forehead ( in a circular motion) making your way down to the temples, cheeks and chin. Continue with the same circular motions around the eye sockets using your ring fingers.

We use the ring finger because it is the weakest one, applying just enough pressure onto the skin surface, and it important to only use this finger around the eyes were the skin is very thin and sensitive. Repeat the same movement around the mouth, both fingers meeting in the center under the nose, next to the Cupid’s Bow. Next, take a deep breath, relax, and using your index finger press onto “the third eye of the mind” which is located a bit higher in the centre in between the eyebrows. Press and hold for a few seconds, as long as you are comfortable, closing your eyes and focusing on how the blood rises to the surface in the skin of your face.

Finish by gently swiping in upwards and downwards motion (outlining the muscles) your palm across your face, the palm should be fairly rigid in order to apply a bit of pressure.

Lastly, we never forget about the neck. First signs of aging can be seen on the neck, so to fight the appearance of wrinkles and sagging, whenever we massage or even apply moisturiser to the neck, we always use an upwards motion.

It is expected that we should want to wash off the oil or moisturiser after completing the massage.

Use lukewarm water and a cloth, try and leave the skin damp and immediately apply your favourite moisturiser.

So here it is, a quick way to preserve the young looking appearance of your facial skin, one that if done regularly, will definitely ensure a glowing complexion to go perfectly with your bright and happy smile!

Madalina Leordean