Pi Magazine 711: 70 years of Pi by Pi Media, UCLU

AUTUMN2015 ISSUE711

YEARS OF PI FROM CLEMENT TO CAMERON Pi Recommends: Visions of the future 70 YEARS OF UCL SPORT FILM AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR 70 years of campus style LITERATURE AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR A brief history of the Camden music scene

If you can’t tell, Pi turns 70 this academic year. Born mere months after the end of the Second World War, the original Pi Newspaper was conceived as both a forum for the politically polarised student body to engage in constructive debate, and a way for those same groups to come together to produce top-notch student journalism for a punnilynamed publication, the provost at the time having been called Sir David Pye. At this point in a letter from the editors (itself a rather banal and antiquated convention of magazine journalism), it’s customary to thank the entire editorial team for their work in putting together this, Issue 711 of Pi Magazine. And, of course, we will do this. Having been told weeks too late (because their editors-in-chief are famously indecisive people) that this issue would focus on the 70 years of UCL, London, and Britain which Pi has witnessed, the editorial team quickly came up with an array of thoughtful pieces. From changes in politics (From Clement to Cameron, pp. 22-23), to depictions of the war in

film and literature (Film and the Second World War, pp. 48-49; Literature and the Second World War, pp. 56-57), to the evolution of fashion (70 Years of Campus Style, pp. 31-33) and Camden’s music scene (The History of the Camden Music Scene, pp. 5253), to the history of UCL sport (70 Years of UCL Sport, pp. 2829), our team has knocked it out of the park on the first try – and for that we thank them, as well as the design team which has put their words to paper. But, with this being an issue that is, above all, meant to reflect on the long history of Pi, it seems appropriate to thank everyone who has ever contributed to the publication. To the pioneers of student media who started Pi Newspaper back in 1945-6 and the editors who saw the publication through the ages of The Beatles, disco (actually though, thanks), and Margaret Thatcher, to the presidents and committee members who ushered Pi into the digital age: thank you for curating and improving upon the publication we are both proud to say we now edit. To all you freshers out there who are reading this and contemplating joining Pi (be it Magazine, Online, TV, or a mix of the three), know that, if you choose us, you’ll be part of a 70 year long tradition of student journalists dedicated to bettering both themselves and the community they love.

Katherine Riley Wyndham Hacket Pain Editors-in-Chief Pi Magazine, 2015-16

Editorial: Does sudent media matter?

Presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Corner

Pi Debates: Working at university

Is extra time fair?

Consent workshops should be compulsory

A silent majority?

Students living at home

Yah to the gap yah?

Mental heatlh matters

16 18 20 22

UCL: Putting students last?

Is student politics a shortcut to parliament?

Sports Nite 101

28 30 31

70 Years of UCL sport

London markets guide

Overheard @ UCL/Things to do around campus

37 40

A million shades of blue and green

From screen to stage

Five museums youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been to

Are video games art?

Film and the Second World War

Notes on a scandal?

The rise of superhero television

A brief history of the Camden music scene

54 56

Death of radio

Campus novels

Pi Poetry: Extant by Alice Hills

Editorial Team

Mind palaces How to fall in love with a stranger From Clement to Cameron

Concussion in sport 70 years of campus style

Pi Recommends: Visions of the future

Literature and the Second World War

PI MAGAZINE 711 | EDITORIAL

Editorial: Does student media matter? Because everyone can use an existential crisis every now and then t’s a common complaint from students that they are misrepresented within the mainstream media. At some point or another, everyone who goes to university has had their views and opinions disregarded merely due to their age or the fact they’re a student. It seems that a major demographic is without thought being completely ignored. Student publications give an outlet to issues and concerns to this often overlooked group.

whole communities to stay up to date with the affairs of the area. Student journalism can have a similar impact on university environments, as articles of relevance and interest join together those who engage with them. UCL’s location in central London can sometimes make us feel cut off and distant from our fellow students. It’s all the more important then for student publications to do their part in creating a commonality and unity among the student population.

Just as the role of the national media is to hold politicians and public figures accountable for their decisions and actions, the role of student media is to keep tabs on the university and its representatives. The inner workings of UCL and UCLU can be so enigmatic that it’s often more than difficult to understand what’s going on. Effective student journalism brings clarity to these frequently misunderstood aspects of university life.

It’s no secret that the journalistic world is changing. Some have even proclaimed the death of print media. (Though, of course, we don’t personally subscribe to that argument.) With increasing constraints on the media industry, many small and local media outlets are shutting their doors. And, as a result, in recent years, opportunities for young writers have significantly decreased. Student publications can fill this void, giving valuable experience to aspiring journalists.

Student media, for example, plays a vital part in student union elections. General confusion, more than anything else, characterises each year’s election period, as candidates try to garner votes through carpet bomb poster campaigns and Facebook event pages. Next to this myriad of mixed messages, there’s genuine worth in articles which consolidate and question the campaigns taking place. This vital role should not be underestimated, as those who hold these positions, and their actions, can have a major impact on your university experience. And when the sabbatical officers and other union representatives take their positions, it’s student media who holds them accountable. Local journalism has long been seen as an essential part of an active community. Those of you from small towns will be well aware of how local newspapers allow

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More than ever, student journalism is acting as an entry point into the highly competitive media industry. Without prior experience and a portfolio of articles, opportunities do not exist. Aspiring journalists don’t need previous experience in order to get involved, just a desire to write. It takes time to become comfortable and confident in your writing, and there’s nowhere better than the welcoming and supportive environment of student media to do this. Forget the cynicism of conventional news outlets and embrace the openness and pride of student media. During a time when mainstream media appears to be increasingly corporatised by the likes of Richard Murdoch, Lord Rothermere, and Evgeny Lebedev, the existence of independent and hyperlocal journalism is more important than ever.

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PRESIDENTS’ CORNER REBECCA PINNINGTON President of Pi Media Society

ou can learn a lot more from societies than you can from your degree, if you want to. Take for example UCLU Stage Crew — most of their intake start university with no previous experience in technical theatre, yet lots end up going into technical theatre once they graduate. Ditto with lots of the performing societies. There are people who are succeeding in directing and theatre production, and becoming professional actors, singers, or dancers, without the formal training of someone who attended full-time stage school. Personally, I had no experience in journalism until my second year at UCL, but now I’ve worked in regional news, write for quite a few national sites, and am looking at a career in journalism – all because of opportunities I’ve had through Pi. Aside from helping you find a path, commitment to societies can really impress employers and flesh out your CV. If all you’ve ever done is write essays, watch Netflix, and go clubbing: congratulations, you’ve been a stereotypical, lazy student, and you’re never going to stand out from the crowd when you’re looking for a job. But if you’re able to list a couple of extracurricular activities and how you’ve contributed to those societies, you’re instantly a much better candidate, demonstrating commitment, passion, and perhaps even leadership qualities.

LEIAH YVONNE KWONG President of Film Society

any students arriving at university in London worry that they’ll be missing out on a “true university experience” due to not being at a campus university. While it’s true that living in London makes it easy not to spend time at university outside of lectures, that’s not to say that the university experience doesn’t exist for those who want it. UCLU offers one of the best selections of student societies found in London. If you’re looking for a strong social life, a place to do what you love outside of your degree, or just an opportunity to try something new, then joining a society is definitely the way to go. When I came to UCL, I had no idea whether I’d enjoy my degree, or whether I’d be able to meet people who shared my interest in film. Luckily, I got involved with the Film Society and joined the committee in my first year. Since then, I’ve been working on films constantly and found a large group of friends that I hang out with both in and out of society activities. The best thing about university societies is that they’re completely run by students, so you can come and go as you like, and there’s always something else to try if you decide a society’s not for you. However, if you do choose to commit to a society, then chances are you’ll find it adds so much more to your student experience. The people you meet through societies really will become your second family during your time at university.

WE asked Three society presidents:

“Why should people bother joining societies?” THOMAS BARCLAY President of Model United Nations Society

ou got A*AA on your A levels, got over getting rejected by Oxbridge, and just got back from the best summer trip ever. You arrive in London, the only person you know is your Aunt Margery who lives near Liverpool Street Station, and you’re sitting in your room watching the seventh episode of Gossip Girl in a row. You keep on telling yourself that you’re living the dream, that you’ll be hitting the gym soon when the newbies have left and that the novel you’re working on will be brilliant (all you have to do is write it). Instead of not working on that shit novel, get your butt out of your chair, turn off Netflix and join a society. Fresher’s week is definitely not the best way to meet new people, societies are. Whether it’s sports related, artistic, or political, societies offer you the best opportunity to get to know people who share the same interests. You get to see them every week, have a drink during the socials and experience in an activity that obviously interests you. Everybody can get a degree in History, Maths, or Nordic Studies at university. Societies are great to spice up your CV and make you stand out. Not everyone can get work experience in a field of their choosing, so joining a society is a sure way to have a relevant topic to put on your résumé. For instance, getting an internship at the United Nations is near impossible but getting a “Best Delegate” award at the Oxford Model UN Conference, or even the New York conference, is definitely within reach. University is mainly about your degree, yes. But in 23 years time, you’ll be fondly remembering, not your nights at the library, but the socials you went to with your society buddies. And in this job market, anything that makes you stand out is essential.

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pi magazine 711 | comment

For

nless you want to go into academia, or perhaps become one of those clever people on the telly, your time at university needs to be spent “broadening your horizons”, or whatever rubbish employers say nowadays. Unless you’re lucky enough to be one of those millionaires everyone is protesting about, at some point you’re going to have to face the rather uncomfortable reality that London is a very expensive place to live. You’re either going to have to get a job, live off rice for the year, or sell a kidney. Now, the common thing to do is look for bar work or stack shelves at the local supermarket. But that is a) horrendously boring, and b)

not really part of the London lifestyle you smugly told your friends all about. You’re in London why not use the city to your advantage?

even a receptionist. It’s truly one of the best things about London. If you can find an opportunity, you should absolutely jump at it.

London is the British capital of startups, with Tech City (the bit of London where it’s okay to work on a space hopper) forecast to contribute £12bn to the UK’s economy in the next 10 years. Many of the microbusinesses starting in or around EC1 are desperate for students to help out in some way.

I admit I was lucky. I found a job at a startup in my first year and have worked there ever since. But I know – from working around other companies and joining brand new ones – that there is space for a part-time student in most, if not all, of these companies.

Joining the Next Big ThingTM when it’s only a ThingTM is incredibly rewarding. You see a company grow from an idea and a few Macbooks into something with an actual office with actual chairs – and maybe

RSITY

grew up hearing how my mum worked herself to the bone as a nurse’s aid, sometimes working four night shifts a week, to pay her way through university.

student newspaper, had a more classic working-whileat-university experience – all nighters and great parties (classic for those of us in student media, at least).

Some of her stories were funny, some of them were tragic, but either way, it was her exhaustion that I remember most. She was too tired to enjoy her course, and had no time for the so-called “university experience” that UCAS harps on about.

They were adamant that I too would get to enjoy the latter without the added stress of supporting myself through it.

Hers was certainly an extreme case, far from the usual bar work or weekend retail job. In contrast, my father, who worked as the editor of Dartmouth College’s

PI DEBATES

by OLIVER PALETHORPE

PI DEBAT ES: WORKIN G WHILE AT UNIV E

Against

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You’re not fooling anyone when you say you’re focussing on your degree – your Netflix history is testament to that. Use London to your advantage, and find that spacehopper out there with your name on.

This is obviously not an option for everyone, as it wasn’t for my mum. And while my extra “freedom” will cost future me dearly in both loans and gratitude, for now, as my parents would say, I have a nine to five job: doing well.

The spare time I get from not working is for other types of CV boosting activities (like writing this!), as well as enjoying the experience of living and studying in London – all of which I can merrily abandon during exam time. Maybe I’ll be passed over for the first hundred jobs I apply for in favour of people who had jobs while at university. Maybe I won’t. Either way, I won’t go mad trying to do it all. If you can make it through without a job, do it. And, in any case, prioritise your degree, and then your sanity.

by MARY NEWMAN

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EXTRA TIMEfair?

wyndham hacket pain discusses the true benefits of extra time

t’s been over 10 years since I had my first dyslexia report done, and in all subsequent exams I’ve had extra time. There’s no doubt that I’ve benefitted from this over the last decade. These benefits do seem unfair, and even I as a beneficiary have struggled in the past to justify their existence. As a student with extra time, can I really be blamed for wanting this advantage, though? It may seem that extra time is a major aid, but amid the unease and anxiety of the exam period, extra time is less an exam aid than a stress release. For me, the knowledge that I will able to properly plan and think through my answers before writing means I’m able to go into an exam slightly calmer. The classic argument posed against extra time is that there’s no extra time in real life. This argument seems slightly facile. There is, in fact, the equivalent of extra time in real life – it’s known as hard work. People in all areas of life have varying abilities, and those who aren’t as naturally talented often need to work harder. There may be no substitute for hard work, but hard work can be a substitute for natural ability. Despite this, it would appear that the slower reading and writing speeds associated with dyslexia are an intellectual flaw. As exams are a judge of intellect, then it would only seem fair for these weaknesses to put dyslexic students at a natural disadvantage. In truth, exams are not a scrutiny of your

reading and writing speed but instead of your academic ability. This is why, after all, each department sits different exams, instead of there being one single reading and writing exam for everyone. Just because someone is slower at writing doesn’t mean they are less able to articulate themselves.

Extra time is given, not to cover up a lack of hard work, but to highlight the work that has been done As rushed as the end of each exam may feel, questions are set so that each one can be answered fully within the allotted time. No exam is ever devised with the intention that it won’t be completed. Students are meant to finish the exam. Examiners are trying to assess how well someone an-

swers the question. If some of the questions are incomplete, the examiner’s task is impossible, and the exam has failed its purpose. Those who are prepared for the exam should finish it. Otherwise, how could they be differentiated from the idlers who didn’t? Extra time is given, not to cover up a lack of hard work, but to highlight the work that has been done. It may seem perverse, but extra time is in place to create a level standing and make the examination process fairer. Perhaps the only reason the question of extra time matters is because of how reliant qualifications have become on the time-limited exam. With coursework, projects, and presentations, students are able to spend as much or as little time as they like on their work. If people need to spend longer reading textbooks and in the library, it’s not considered unfair. As much time as necessary is spent in completing the work, and that’s the way it should be. Whether or not extra time is fair, it is allowed. UCL does have pretty exacting methods of determining whether a student should get extra time, including a one-onone assessment. Ultimately it’s UCL that awards us our degrees, and they should be allowed to regulate the methods by which our grades are determined. If the university sees it fit to give someone extra time, can its decision really be argued?

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pi magazine 711 | Comment

C O N S E N T W O R K S H O P S should be

COMPULSORY IZZY CUTTS discusses UCL’s policy

n 2014, Oxford and Cambridge introduced compulsory sexual consent workshops as a part of their freshers’ weeks. The aim of these workshops is to break the culture of silence and send a clear message – that sexual violence is not tolerated – while creating an open and informed culture of consent. Lasting around half an hour, they’re meant to provide an informal, safe space to discuss an issue about which too many of us are too unsure. These workshops are crucial to tackling sexual violence at universities. In the last few years, as more and more survivors have begun to come forward and tell their stories, the extent of sexual harassment and violence at universities has been thrust into the national, and even international, spotlight. According to NUS UK’s 2010 Hidden Marks report, 68% of women students have experienced sexual harassment at university. The White House has said that, at American universities, one in five female students are sexually assaulted. At Cambridge, a survey of 2,126 students found that one in six had been “groped, pinched or grabbed” at university, and that 142 had experienced “attempted serious sexual assault.” Since that survey came out, Cambridge has acted. The UCLU Women’s Network offers its own consent workshops, but has not followed Oxbridge in introducing compulsory classes. In 2014, UCL prematurely shut down the WriteBack! exhibition, a project organised by the Women’s Network that displayed accounts of sexual harassment and assault at UCL, because one account named a member of UCL staff. The subsequent, very public shaming and claims from the press

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that UCL was more concerned with its reputation than its students, undoubtedly put pressure on the university into acting on the issue of sexual assault and harassment. Last year, UCL introduced its “Zero Tolerance Pledge”, which offers specialist training to society presidents and treasurers and was signed by 160 clubs and societies. This summer, UCLU announced the same pledge for departments, providing Zero Tolerance workshops for each department’s incoming students.

we still see myths about sex and sexual violence everywhere in our society Yet UCL has not yet made consent classes available to all its students, despite recommendations from past and present women’s officers. UCL needs to take a clear stand against sexual violence in its community – it must take its responsibility to protect its students more seriously. The education that compulsory consent workshops provide would be a start to creating a safer university experience.

Sexual violence often comes from people who are confused by what consent is, or those who just choose to disregard it. Asking for consent can be a bit of a mood killer, but there are ways other than verbal agreement to navigate consent, something the workshops explore. As UCLU Women’s Officer Natalie James says: “The aim is to get people to think more critically about sexual behaviour, and about what is and is not okay – with the much broader hope that this could help to bring about greater social change.” As James alludes to, we still see myths about sex and sexual violence everywhere in our society: myths that tell us dressing a certain way is “asking for it”; myths that tell us men can’t experience sexual violence; myths that tell us that anything other than a loud and forceful “NO!” is valid consent. These workshops are not only a way to prevent violence, but also to fight against these damaging myths – a way to join the social movement asking why we teach how to avoid rape rather than not to rape. Freshers’ week can be a time of extreme vulnerability, with the combination of excessive drinking and unfamiliar surroundings, making it an important time for this message to be made loud and clear. UCL, which is so progressive in so many ways – having been the first university to admit women on equal terms with men – is so behind on this issue. More than anything else, it’s the compulsory aspect that is lacking from UCL’s recent attempts to address sexual violence. While it may not be the most exciting half an hour of freshers’ week, it might be the most important.

Comment | Pi Magazine 711

A SILENT MAJORITY? MARY NEWMAN explains why young people are embarrassed to openly support the Conservatives

early five months ago, I was sitting at a kitchen table in Islington, happily drinking a below average bottle of wine and munching on some Sainsbury’s Basics tortilla chips, when the room fell silent. Set against the fittingly British background of Big Ben, the exit poll results for the 2015 General Election were appearing on the television screen. Phones were whipped out, and my friends began to obsessively scroll through Facebook and Twitter, looking for some sign that the just predicted Conservative victory was some cruel joke. (For my part, I took to the quotes boards of Pinterest).

in 2015, 27 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds voted for the Tories If you had, as we had, relied on social media to call the election, then the idea that anyone supported the Conservatives would have been a pretty big shock. A Conservative voter myself (please keep reading, I’m really not that bad), even I had long since accepted my party’s fate and planned my evening accordingly: ready to commiserate with my below average bottle of wine.

Life as a Tory student had seemed pretty lonely. But an Ipsos MORI poll showed that, in 2015, 27 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds voted for the Tories. Compared to Labour’s 43 per cent share of the age group, this might seem insignificant, but it’s not. Think about it. Statistically, one in four of your friends voted blue. This gap narrows dramatically in the next most represented age group on my Facebook newsfeed, 25 to 34 year olds, of whom 33 per cent voted Conservative and 36 per cent Labour.

Why are we so shy? There is no blue unicorn. We exist. But where were the one in four hiding on my newsfeed? There was barely a glimmer of austerity or a twinkle of privatisation among the constant calls for marches against the predicted democratic result. Even in real life, apart from a few true dyed in the woolers, it often requires me owning up to my allegiance for other people my age to admit their own. Why are we so shy? Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a hypocrite. I’ve realised that while I’m happy to divulge my party affiliation to those I already suspect of being shy Tories, it’s nowhere on my Facebook – a clearly calculated decision.

Making my opinions known to a newsfeed full of left wing students ready to attack at the first whiff of austerity – even if just to correct a blatantly wrong statistic – doesn’t always seem worth the effort of the inevitable fight, and I’m pretty vocal. Over in the US, conservatives (itself a conservative term for America’s right) seem to dominate social media, making them appear more popular than they actually are. Over there, the liberals are the shy guys. As someone whose obsession with politics began in the womb, it’s been exciting to see my generation becoming more politically involved, and with such obvious passion. In politics, each side should – and must – challenge the other, and social media has become a great way to open our political system, and ourselves, up to challenges right, left, and centre. But it should – and must – be a fair, multi-faceted debate concerned with the facts, not a witch-hunt or a shouting match. I’m not saying the left should abandon social media for the sake of overly sensitive Tories. You guys are quite frankly much better at it. But utilise your obvious power. The social media savvy left needs to stop seeing red every time they see blue and target the realistic with the reasonable, not the imagined with the insolent. Having a generation of young Conservative voters who are too shy or too embarrassed to engage in the debate – or even own up to their voting habits – isn’t helping anyone.

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PI MAGAZINE 711 | features

ne of the most treasured icebreaker questions during freshers’ week is: “So, where are you from?” The elicited response gives a crucial nugget of information – one powerful enough to start a conversation or even a friendship. “Oh, my brother’s girlfriend grew up there.” “Ooh, my dad buys his llamas from a farm near there.”

23 per cent of 18 and 19 year olds at university live at home Increasingly, however (at least at UCL), the answer is along the lines of: “I grew up in London, and so I live with my parents.” In fact, data shows that 23 per cent of 18 and 19 year olds at university live at home. Of course, in London there are more incentives to live with your parents than in most other cities in the UK: ridiculously high rent and an extensive transport network mean that living at home sometimes seems, and often is, the best option. The most common issue related to living at home is distance. Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a family home in central London, some sort of commute will be necessary. Although someone living on the Hammersmith and City line probably gets to campus faster than me, nobody wants to spend an hour or more on a busy commuter train when you know the only thing at the end of it is a two-hour lecture on computational biology. Tristan French, who spent the first part of 2014-15 commuting to UCL from his family home in Brighton, had this to say: “Ultimately, living at home and the subsequent commute was possibly the most draining thing I have ever done. Long haul journeys coupled with university work and my job

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STUDENTS LIVING AT HOME SAM FEARNLEY debunks the myth that living at home as a student is a eternal night alone with only the TV for company

features | PI MAGAZINE 711

often left me pretty braindead.” It can also be much harder to organise your social life if you live at home. Those random moments where you just meet your friends on or around campus seem to happen less frequently, and Facebook events become your best friend out of necessity. Nights out are still possible, but can be logistically difficult.

a familiar face with time to listen cannot be underestimated, especially when it comes to panic-inducing deadlines.

“I think there are always plenty of chances to meet new people without living in halls too, if you try living at home is a hard enough.” lot cheaper than renting or living in halls

Many students who choose not to live at home do so in order to gain a sense of independence. However it doesn’t matter whether you leave home at the start of university, part way through, or not at all, as long as it works for you. Independence can mean a lot of different things and isn’t necessarily connected to where you live; it can also mean organising your studies or having the confidence to meet new people.

Nonetheless, there is one huge bonus to s taying put: living at home is a lot cheaper than renting or living in halls. Fees for halls are, as former UCLU Halls and Accommodation Representative David Dahlborn enthuses, rising faster than the rate of inflation, and were never cheap to start with. Add this to the fact that some UCL halls are substandard and you have even more food for thought. Living at home suddenly becomes a rather attractive proposition. However the decision to stay at home is not only based on practicalities, but in many instances on something more intimate. Considering all the change university brings, some students want stability, which can come in the form of parents, old friends, and old habits. Being able to see family every day can be very comforting. Student mental health services across the country are overstretched, so the power of

The blissful simplicity of living at home is also very attractive. Living in a flat is hard work. You have to find it, find the money for it, clean it, organise all the bills, and spectate mournfully as the washing machine starts to ominously leak water. Home is probably where you’ve lived your entire life, and it’s easy to have Mum and Dad take care of you. Alice, a UCL Neuroscience student, summaries her experience of living at home as follows: “You’ll always be fed and taken care of properly, which is especially important around exam period. In my case, I have three siblings, so by staying at home I also get to see and spend more time with them. It only takes about 25 minutes to get to uni anyway. I’m not much of a party animal or drinker so it didn’t matter too much that it’s more difficult for me to get home late, but I’m sure I could stay over and some friends’ if I ever needed to. I think I did alright myself anyway.” Perhaps choosing university accommodation shouldn’t be so complicated. If you have a good relationship with your family and like where you grew up, you should think long and hard before embracing London living and all that comes with it.

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Pi Magazine 711 | Features

veryone who’s been to university has met that guy, the one who spent the previous year travelling the globe and can’t wait to tell you all about it. Most people at the awkward first week pre-drinks (even some of whom took gap years themselves) will be thinking: Shut up posh boy, we don’t need to hear about your generic “gap yah” during which you wandered all over the southern hemisphere and posted Facebook photos of every moment.

dents. They have been attacked as a waste of time, a rich privilege, and even a detriment to your subsequent studies. But does the gap year actually deserve these tabloid headlines?

gap year students are more likely “Taking a gap year to complete their degrees doesn’t put students at a disadvantage, in fact they tend to be more focused.”

Many students worry that universities don’t look favourably upon gap years. But, unless you’re a maths student whose knowledge may get a little rusty after time off, universities seem to see them in a generally positive light, as long as you do something constructive.

put students at a disadvantage, in fact they tend to be more focused.” Studies have even suggested that a “wellplanned and structured year out” can lead to higher levels of satisfaction at university. In fact, in a culture of high university dropout rates, gap year students are more likely to complete their degrees. In 2011, a whole cohort of students faced a unique decision: go straight to university at £3000 a year or take a gap year and face the £9000 fees the following year. Many of these students whom I spoke to said they felt they could have benefitted from a gap year to gain more maturity, independence and perspective on their chosen degree subject, but chose the £3000 fees instead. Not unsurprisingly then, in 2011-12, following the fees increase, dropout rates increased from 7.9 per cent to 8.6 per cent. Universities are now concerned that students may be making rushed decisions and

Dr Stephen Gilmour from Queen Mary University said: “Taking a gap year doesn’t

You don’t need to dig deep to find the mountains of bad press the gap year has received over the years, as it fast became popular subject of ridicule among UK stu-

YAH TO THE GAP page 12

ELLEN SANDFORD O’NEILL explains how you can have the life-changing experience of a gap year, without becoming the sickening stereotype

features | Pi Magazine 711 wondering if some would benefit from a year out to get a better idea of where their passions lie and if higher education is really for them. An extensive government study investigating the effects of a gap year suggested that the overall benefits and negatives depended on what the individual decides to do in their gap year. Worthwhile activities, such as learning a new language, can combine travelling and work, as well as other things that may benefit your future career. Marcus Watts, director of gap year provider Greenforce, agrees that students should pick a gap year that “will help their career rather than help their suntan”.

Over 80 per cent of gap year takers work in Britain at some point in their year off

Sandie Okoro, a leading lawyer for HSBC, recently argued in the Daily Telegraph that students were better off getting jobs and “real experience” in JD Sports than spending 12 months in a far-flung orphanage on “Daddy’s money”. Okoro makes a fair point about people who rely on their parents to pay for extravagant years off, but most gap year takers do work as well as travel. Over 80 per cent of gap year takers work in Britain at some point in their year off. Having done both myself, I can say that I got far more real experience from living by myself in a foreign country and meeting people from all across the world than I ever got from my dull job in the service industry. Despite the infamous “gap yah” stereotype, not everyone who takes a gap year comes from rich privilege or morphs into a self-obsessed, pretentious arse upon their return. In a world where young people are being pressured to compete, achieve and succeed more than in any previous generation, why don’t they deserve a break? Modern schooling puts you in the baby rat run before you can even spell properly, and if you never take a gap year then you’re in it for life, graduating with a certificate declaring you “senior rat race ready” as you drape yourself proudly in black robes. By the time I’d finished my A levels, I’d had four consecutive years of external exams, driving myself crazy from fear of failure. So I, like most of my year at our inner-city comprehensive, had quite frankly had enough. We were far from rich or privileged, and we worked to afford our gap years – a well-deserved rest. One student I spoke to said they felt “as free as [they’ll] ever be”.

try not to be the “sunrise at Machu Picchu changed my life” guy So whether it’s before or after university, a well thought-out and self-funded gap year is not necessarily a rich privilege. Sometimes it can be a well deserved break from the monotony of the oppressive target-achieve society we live in. Generally, there are no significant disadvantages in taking a gap year rather than going straight to university. In many cases, a year out actually seems to be the best option: you miss out on nothing you can’t experience the following year while gaining so much. Just remember, if you are reading this as a gap year fresher, try not to be the “sunrise at Machu Picchu changed my life” guy or brag about university being such a big adjustment after arriving in London from South America just days before term starting. You’ll quickly find that you’ll be avoided like an arrogant, self-promoting plague at pre-drinks – a far cry from the image you had of the young freshers flocking to you because of your age, amazing stories, and apparent social competence. In many ways, going straight to university from school is a much bigger adjustment than easing yourself in through a year of independence and discovery. What’s wrong with “finding yourself” and escaping – for a little while anyway – the conventional path society has ordained for its young people?

P YAH? page 13

Pi magazine 711 | Features

During the election, mental health treatment became an arena in its own right. Miliband and Clegg conducted a verbal duel with the rapiers of mental health rhetoric, each trying to project a new sensitivity and modernised mandate towards those who suffer from mental health problems.

MATTERS

M E N TA L H E A LT H

gnorantly tabooed, prejudicially maligned and chronically stigmatised, mental health issues have never been an easy subject to bring up, even among your closest friends and family. Thankfully, a wave of understanding of the severity of the mental health problems some people face seems to be emerging.

Ed Miliband said: “Mental health is one of the biggest challenges that we face, in our personal lives and as a country.” While Nick Clegg suggested it’s time that “we, as a country, start lifting the stigma around mental health.” Apparently, politicians – at least those whose hearts aren’t formed of solid granite – are beginning to recognise the need for policy that deals explicitly and effectively with the mentally ill, a policy that doesn’t brush them under an antique rug of silent shame. Nonetheless, irrespective of these positive steps towards public enlightenment, there’s still a theatre of mental illness that audiences feel uneasy about entering: mental illness in young people, and particularly students.

As students, we live in a crucible of worries: financial, academic, and sexual

George Edmondson tells us why students should get on board with, and maintain, the recent political focus on mental health

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Arrival at university almost forces extraversion upon us. The first few weeks can at times feel like a contest to see who is the most confident, witty and bold (which probably explains the need for all that alcohol). For most freshers, any personal health blemishes are promptly remedied with a tablet of stoicism. For even a hospital-worthy case of freshers’ flu, students often self prescribe a grin-and-bear-it attitude. So, when it comes to far more stigmatised

features | pi magazine 711

mental health problems, why would we expect students to deal with them in any other way? The tragic truth is that many don’t – they don’t deal with them at all. NUS reports that one in five students consider themselves to have a mental health problem, and 13 per cent have had suicidal thoughts while at university. One in 10 of your friends, according to the statistics, chances are that one of them has contemplated suicide. As students, we live in a crucible of worries: financial, academic, and sexual, as well as those related to leaving home, finding a job, making friends, and facing a lack of familiar support networks. Not everyone can be expected to cope with these pressures all the time, and those that cannot need support and understanding.

perfectionism is one of the most prevalent causes of mental health issues among students We also often forget that strong willed, high achieving people can also suffer from mental health problems at the start of and throughout university. Anyone, regardless how dandy things seem to be from the outside, can fall victim to it. Indeed, some studies suggest that self-persecuting perfectionism is one of the most prevalent causes of mental health issues among students. The transition to university marking systems, in addition to external or self-imposed academic pressures, can lead to desires of unattainable levels of success. In truth, even the star student in your politics seminar, the one with a considered and elegantly presented view on the moral permissibility of inequality, is just as likely as anyone else – if not more likely – to suffer from mental health problems at some stage. This sort of perfectionism is endemic at universities and is often cited as a cause of the

recent rise of so-called “smart drugs,” legal prescription drugs used to treat disorders like narcolepsy that students have taken to in a bid to up their grades. According to doctors, side effects of these drugs include prolonged anxiety, psychosis and digestive issues. When potentially harmful pills appear to be a better option than just speaking up, it’s evident that we, as a society and a student body, need to present a more compassionate face to those suffering from mental illness and make evident that services are available for those in need. Recently, huge leaps forward have been made when it comes to resources. While mental health services have notoriously suffered from underfunding, in the March budget, £1.25bn was pledged to improve their availability in universities and the wider community. And though government cuts have squeezed counselling schemes at universities, the number of students using and benefitting from them has increased dramatically. From 2008 to 2013, the number of students seeking help for mental health issues increased by a third. Though more must be done, it does appear that, even in the face of financial adversity, changing perceptions of mental illness are compelling more to seek treatment.

So let’s keep the momentum going. Don’t let something positive and progressive be forgotten. Your time at university is an important period of your life, allowing it to be wrought and wrung by illness, physical or mental, because of adverse and out-dated social attitudes is tragic. Don’t dismiss mental illness just because it’s not poking out of someone’s leg or sending them running to the toilet every ten minutes. Students are sensitive souls in the first place, and we need a bit of care and affection every now and then. So if you do suspect anything, maybe forgo the mockery or friendly abuse, effective as it sometimes is, and instead extend a hand and ask if your buddy’s alright. At UCL the Student Disability Services runs bi-weekly drop-in sessions from 2-4pm on Mondays and Wednesday, as well as over-the-phone consultations. The UCLU Advice and Welfare office is also available for those who might need it.

there’s

£1.25bn of mental health funding in the new budget

5 students 1 suffer from in

mental health

issues page 15

PI MAGAZINE 711 | FEATURES

UCL:

PUTTING STUDENTS LAST? Rebecca Pinnington Explores UCL’s low student satisfaction scores. are we as disenchanted as they suggest?

ast academic year, UCL came 75th out of 113 for student satisfaction in Whatuni’s league table, and 104th for student support – far below any of its academic competitors and what is expected of a prestigious, internationally renowned university. All of this, of course, begs the question: why are we all so dissatisfied? (Note: Most of the students who agreed to speak with me did so on the condition of anonymity, worried – however legitimately or not – about the risks of upsetting the university.)

Another UCL enrollee said that student feel like an “inconvenience” to the college One student made sure to mention their impression that UCL’s money flows into capital projects such as cafés. These, they continued, are “unnecessary and shamelessly money grabbing” schemes for a university that is located two minutes away from a main street dotted with food outlets. Another UCL enrollee said that students feel like an “inconvenience” to the college, which they believe prefers to erect shiny new buildings “useless for anything but conferences, corporate events, and showing off.” Another problem repeatedly cited by the students with whom I spoke was campus overcrowding, to which new buildings and the development of cafés and student hubs appears to be a knee-jerk reaction. Simply creating new social spaces is an insufficient response to the ever-increasing intake numbers, which have grown from 26,698 in 2012-13 to 30,551 in 2015-16 (excluding the Institute of Education). Cam-

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FEATURES | PI MAGAZINE 711

pus overcrowding means less time spent with lecturers and department staff, less attention given to the needs of individual students, and the removal of activity space for the use of UCLU’s 261 clubs and societies. Then, there are the problems with departments. Departments that do not take on student feedback, that hold their students to strict submission deadlines while themselves frequently postponing receipt of grades, and that refuse to take the extenuating circumstances of large groups of students into account, were repeatedly mentioned by students. In addition, UCL’s Connected Curriculum initiative means that the college’s main priority is high-quality, research-led education. While seemingly a positive thing, this focus on research has left some undergraduates feeling sour and alienated, believing this doesn’t apply to them and their degree programme. The first aim of the Connected Curriculum is to educate through dialogue and active, critical enquiry, which, once again, very few would see as a bad idea. In an article in Research Professional, UCL Provost Michael Arthur pointed out that student engagement in research could involve something as small as reading a paper and having the opportunity to discuss it with the author. While, in the same article, Vice Provost for Education Anthony Smith gave examples such as new courses in the history department and students’ discovery of a new supernova as evidence of success for research-based education. Ostensibly, money spent on research is therefore money spent on quality, world-leading teaching. However, it’s clear that significant work must be done to reassure UCL’s large undergraduate student body that they are a priority and not an unfortunate distraction for research-focussed academics. Then, of course, there is the appalling behaviour of college management in June 2015, when students who were on rent strike due to the unacceptable conditions in their college halls were told that they would not be allowed to attend their own graduation or re-enrol at UCL until their debt was cleared. Not only does this ignore the outstanding issues, but the Office of Fair Trade has previously found that academic sanctions against students are

against consumer laws. The threats were later withdrawn, but not before considerable and justifiable outrage was expressed. A large-scale protest was held on UCL’s July 3 open day, unifying supporters of the rent strike with Fossil Free UCL’s divestment campaign and students demanding that UCL tackle structural inequality and reinstate Dr Nathaniel Coleman, the only black race-critical academic in the philosophy department.

While Smith described the mistakes in handling the rent strike as a sign the college does not always succeed in treating students as “full partners in the future of UCL”, he also said efforts are being made to reconcile students and management. Issues such as living costs and quality of accommodation are not necessarily specific to UCL – rather, they come with living in London. Nonetheless, Smith is not passing the buck.

Even students who felt satisfied overall with their university experience said they could understand why others might be frustrated and conceded there was a rift between students and faculty.

“UCL is an influential institution,” he says, “So I feel a strong sense of responsibility to lobby on behalf of our students where I can on issues such as transport costs and private sector accommodation costs.”

Smith spoke to Pi about the state of student satisfaction, acknowledging that considering its worldwide acclaim for its research, UCL should do better in other league tables.

Smith continues: “We share the same goal of wanting every student to have a good experience of studying at UCL.”

Even students who felt satisfied overall with their university experience said they could understand why others might be frustrated However, a spokesperson for UCL said being ranked 75th in student satisfaction doesn’t necessarily mean students hate the college, pointing out that a mere percentage point could cause a huge drop in standing, and that opinion is largely positive.

Halls and Accommodation Representative David Dahlborn said that management decisions do not put students first, citing policies such as rent hikes and the lack of management attention to structural discrimination. However, he also pointed out the heavy influence of the Conservative government on UCL policies. “A lot of the issues that we face, and that are ruining student satisfaction are a direct or indirect result of government cuts, and what we call the ‘marketisation’ or ‘commodification’ of education,” says Dahlborn, “University education is turning from a universal right, available for the improvement of people and society, into another cogwheel in a society that, like a massive, intricate factory geared towards one thing only – the production of profit.” University bosses insist that education comes first and that students’ concerns are priority, but dissent on such a large scale demonstrates that much of the student body simply does not believe them. One graduate commended UCL’s emphasis on donations and its exceptionally active alumni relations department, which raised £127m between August 2011 and August 2014. If UCL aims to rely on alumni financing of activities, its management would do well to remember that student satisfaction works both ways, and that drastic steps must be taken to ensure that students don’t leave university with a bitter taste in the mouth.

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PI MAGAZINE 711 | SCIENCE & TECH

M I N D PALACES

GERARD WESTHOFF QUESTIONS WHETHER MIND PALACES ARE USEFUL FOR EVERYONE OR JUST “HIGH-FUCTIONING SOCIOPATHS”

“G

et out. I need to go to my mind palace!” Sherlock shouts at Watson, in an episode of the popular BBC series. Sherlock closes his eyes in deep focus and begins gesticulating wildly, swiping his hands back and forth, searching through a series of mental images corresponding to memories and ideas stored in a spatial layout which Sherlock can visualise himself exploring – his mind palace. Words and images come flashing up on screen, from the Liberty Bell to Elvis’s Hound Dog, as the detective delves into his vast memory, looking for connections that will help him solve the case. Watching this scene during a mid-exams, late night procrastination session, I found myself feeling oddly jealous of the detective’s immense memory capacity. I wished that I too could mentally store every fact I read without fail – especially with an impending Physical Chemistry exam. However, being a typically sceptic science student, I dismissed “mind palaces” as a TV gimmick only existing in the minds of hyper intelligent memory champions able to recall the order of twelve decks of shuffled cards an hour later. To my surprise, I discovered that, not only are mind palaces real, but also that the technique can be used by just about anyone. The “Method of Loci”, as it is formally known, has been around since the days of Ancient Greece. The tale of its invention is one of tragedy. A poet named Simonides was at a banquet when he stepped outside for a moment. Shortly after, the banquet hall collapsed, killing everyone inside and crushing their bodies beyond recognition. As the bodies were being recovered, Simo-

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nides supposedly realised that by visualising the inside of the hall he could recall the names, and thus identify the remains, of those sitting at each place around the hall. Simonides’s association of visual location with memory forms the core of the mind palace technique. In an age where a strong memory was both valued and useful, philosophers and poets went on to use the technique to memorise long bodies of speech. Yet, beginning with the advent of the printing press and continuing through to now, the age of Google and instantly searchable information, the benefit of having an exceptional memory has declined and use of the technique has waned. The one exception: the world of memory competitions. Research by UCL neuroscientist, and member of the memory and space research group, Professor Eleanor Maguire investigated the differences between the brains and memories of World Memory Championship competitors, who commonly make use of mind palaces, and those of average people. Memory competitors and a control group were given a series of memory tests while in an MRI machine. While the former vastly outshone the latter in the memory test, the brain scans reported no intergroup differences in brain structure. The study did, however, discover a difference in brains area activation during the tests. The right posterior hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with visual memory and spatial directions, was significantly more active in the competitors’ group. Together, these two findings imply

that you don’t need a superior brain to have a superior memory, you just need to master a visual mnemonic technique – you need to create your own mind palace. Popular media has highlighted, and research has proved, that anyone can boost their memory using mind palaces. The technique is having a resurgence. More and more ordinary people are learning how to create their own mind palaces to revise for exams, have fun with memory competitions, or simply become more organised. But how do you do it? Find somewhere quiet and distraction free. Focus on visualising a space you are very familiar with – for example, your living room at home. Then, in your mind, start to populate the visual space with objects and people who will remind you of whatever it is you need to remember – the crazier the image, the more likely you are to remember it. Say you wanted to learn the first few post war prime ministers of the UK. Picture Bruce Lee standing in your living room, throwing a clementine at the TV. Then, add a nodding bulldog toy onto the windowsill and a semi-nude couple wearing only leaves, sitting on the sofa, itching with ant bites. The clementine and Bruce Lee corresponds to Clement Attlee, the nodding dog (from the Churchill insurance adverts) to Winston Churchill, and the semi-nude leaf wearers (Adam and Eve) itching corresponds to Anthony Eden. You can then continue populating your mind palace in the same room, or move to another to gain more space.

SCIENCE & TECH | PI MAGAZINE 711

call home vivir = to live

I DIMISSED “MIND PALACES” AS A TV GIMMICK ONLY EXISTING IN THE MINDS OF HYPER INTELLIGENT MEMORY CHAMPIONS As a test for the effectiveness of the method, I decided to throw myself in at the deep end and try to learn the entire periodic table and relative positions of all 118 elements. I chose my school for the layout and then began populating the corridors and classrooms with all sorts of bizarre images. From the obvious – Julius Caesar as caesium and Superman as krypton – to the strange – Michael Bolton drinking cola in my music classroom for cobalt – and the absurd – UCL “Cut the Rent” protesters outside the head teacher’s office representing antimony (“anti-money”, see what I did there?). The whole process of making a mind palace for the entire periodic table took about an hour and a half. I then tested myself the next day on names and positions. 115/118. Tested again two weeks later. 118/118. So I’ve learned that mind palaces work and are relatively easy to use. (Plus, if I’m ever at a pub quiz with a chemical elements question, I’m sorted.) But when you have the collective knowledge of the Internet available at your fingertips, I suppose the real question is: are they actually useful outside of exams and competitions? A Sherlock-level mind palace would take a huge amount of time and effort to construct. And since I’m not going to be solving murder mysteries anytime soon, I’ve decided to use the technique in a much more modest and useful way: to learn my flatmate’s phone number (a precautionary measure for the next time I lose my keys and phone at 4am and have just enough change for a payphone in my pocket).

YOU DON’T NEED A SUPERIOR BRAIN TO HAVE A SUPERIOR MEMORY passwords research Borges essay due 18th meet @ 7pm

THE REAL QUESTION IS: ARE THEY ACTUALLY USEFUL OUTSIDE OF EXAMS AND COMPETITIONS? 07948056322

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Pi MAGAZINE 711 | SCIENCE & TECH

h! to fall # love W

e all know that partners often meet at university. Between close quarters, mutual interests, and hormones, institutions of higher education seem to be perfect incubators for romantic relationships – that being said, there may be a more scientific way to begin a relationship. In 1997, Arthur Aron, an American psychologist, came up with an experiment to do just that. The experiment first matched university students based on personality tests, and then had each take it in turns to ask the other a series of 36 increasingly personal questions. The study claims to have found a “45 minute methodology” for creating a temporary state of intimacy between two strangers. In fact, it was so successful in one case that it resulted in a pair of subjects getting married. But how strongly does Aron’s experiment actually hold? Especially, in the age of Tinder, Grindr, and social media romances? To find out, I asked some of my friends to participate in a loose reconstruction of

Set 2 Examples: What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? What do you value most in a friendship? What is your most treasured memory? Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of 5 items

YANG YANG WANG USES A FAMOUS PS OUT WHETHER HUMAN INTIMACY CA

Aron’s study. The original study took place in laboratory conditions at a New York University and ours in student accommodation (neither of which are very conducive to romance). Aron’s study pre-matched subjects based on questionnaires, while I based the personality test on the hypothesis that the number of mutual Facebook friends must equate to compatibility. From here on it was easy to replicate the rest of the experiment, which consisted of three sets of questions each individual took in turns to ask their partner. The questions begin as small talk. Initially they’re fairly trivial – the type you’d expect during icebreaker exercises. Ranging from the ideal dinner guest to their newspaper preferences, they’re the type of questions that you might ask to fill an awkward silence. Yet, they did often elicit a humorous response, which is of course an important ingredient for creating closeness. By the time they finished the 12 questions in the first set, it was safe to say that a camaraderie had blossomed. The second set of questions were more introspective. Questions such as “What is your most terrible memory?” and “What roles do love and affection play in your life?”, which are supposed to expose shared vulnerabilities and thus forge a bond, instantly changed the mood of the experiment. The third, and most personal, set is meant to open the pair up to more romantic developments. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just

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SYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT TO FIND AN BE SCIENTIFICALLY ESTABLISHED

met. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life. And in the end, no, my friends did not fall madly in love with each other but they all agreed it was a “fun game” that was “interesting to try out”, and that they had shared “super deep conversations”. They also agreed that it would be interesting for existing couples to try and cultivate a deeper sense of closeness, as some of the top tier questions are questions you would like to ask but rarely have the opportunity to. It’s difficult to explain the physiological principles underlying the feeling of closeness in this experiment. Commonly, the release of the hormone oxytocin has been associated with sensations of love and bonding. However, previous studies have suggested that oxytocin is not released during encounters with new acquaintances, which is what each pair is at the beginning of the experiment. Perhaps, the accelerated pace of closeness established by the study elicits feelings of intimacy. It forces participants to trade increasingly personal stories, an attempt to simulate moving through stages of a relationship. The fact that human emotions cannot yet be definitively explained by physiological phenomena is probably what makes this experiment and the concept of love so interesting. We are still operating between the murky intersection of what science can and cannot explain.

SCIENCE & TECH | PI MAGAZINE 711

a level of discussion and openness that we may now be less accustomed to. We live in an age where our emotions are conveyed through emojis and Tinder courtships are the norm. The depth of conversation this study provokes seems to be something outside of our normal comfort zones.

Our smartphones are increasingly our main portals of communication. To spend an extended period talking to another person without technological assistance seems almost outdated. It’s also an experience of self-awareness – you learn that you may share similar perspectives and interests with your partner and what you likedislike in someone you have just met. So, perhaps during freshers’ week, amid the rapid-fire conversation with new people, it might be interesting to try out Aron’s study. I mean you can only ask “Where are you from?” so many times. For the complete set of questions see: “The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness”, A. Aron (1997).

Set 3 Examples: Make 3 true “we” statements each. For instance: “We are both in this room feeling…” If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

This study is intriguing in that it requires

Set 1 Examples: Would you like to be famous? In what way? Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest? Do you read a newspaper often and which do you prefer? Why? Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

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Pi magazine 711 | Politics

FROM

CLEMENT TO

CAMERON NANCY HEATH contemplates whether our politics have moved forward or backward since the end of the Second World War

n the last 70 years, how much has actually changed in politics?

Since the first issue of Pi came out back in the wake of World War II, policies and politicians have come and gone, and the political landscape of the United Kingdom appears completely changed. Has politics really changed that much, though? Victory in the Second World War came during a Conservative-led coalition not dissimilar to the government we just experienced. In 1945, the country had just experienced six years of wartime austerity and rationing. In 2015, we’ve lived through seven years of global economic uncertainty. In 1945, there was a shock election majority win for Labour and Clement Attlee. This year, the shock majority victory was for the Conservatives. Is it possible that, 70 years on, we’re simply repeating another political cycle with the same storyline? Is politics stuck at a standstill? Surely things have changed, you cry! And, at least in some ways, you’re correct, because many of the advancements of postwar Britain are being reversed today. The years following the Second World War saw the birth of the NHS and, more generally, the welfare state. Today, the government is stripping all of this away. George Osborne’s most recent budget includes another £12bn of social security cuts. Even Nick Clegg noticed the damning potential

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of such extensive cuts and warned voters back in April this year that Osborne was a “very dangerous man”.

As politicians have become minor celebrities, we seem to trust them less Our welfare state has taken hits over the years, but the Osborne-Cameron duo are in the middle of dealing out one of the worst. Cameron demonised welfare spending during his last government, calling it a “something for nothing” system. After listening to this message for three years, a 2013 survey by Ipsos MORI revealed the British public believed £24 out of every £100 of benefits was fraudulently claimed. The actual number is £0.70. Through making people mistrust a system created to help the poorest in society, our current government and its

direct predecessor have created a culture in which many people become complicit in the culling of their own safety nets. And while 1945 saw the dawn of effective international cooperation with the United Nations, 2015 sees us dithering over the European Union. But, if we only look at policies and scenarios, of course some things will look differ-

politics | Pi magazine 711 never liked politicians.

have consequently been moved to the back seat.

Perhaps, this is the biggest change over 70 years – how we, as a public, view, and interact with politics. Our respect for our government, as well as our trust in it, has decreased – but maybe not without reason.

Attlee got his fair share of insults—Churchill infamously called his former deputy prime minister “a sheep in sheep’s clothing” and “a modest man with much to be modest about.” However, perhaps our insults have become a bit too cutting, personal, and unnecessary. (Remember when Caitlin Moran called our current prime minister “a C3PO made of ham”?)

Clement Attlee was recently voted the most successful post-1945 British prime minister by hundreds of political scholars. Down at third from last was 2010’s Gordon Brown. As politicians have become minor celebrities, we seem to trust them less. In 1945, the race was not between Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee – it was beent, some things won’t have moved, some will be progressing and some will be regressing – that’s how politics works. More interestingly, maybe, is how people’s opinions of politics have changed. We’re part of the cynical, so-called “meh” generation – young people without strong opinions who just shake our heads, sign our online petitions and say “down with this sort of thing”. When asking my friends whom they want to run the country these days, I’m most likely to hear “none of them”.

We’ve succumbed to the Americanisation of our politics We seem to think we’ve discovered some great secret – that politicians all lie – and so we don’t really like any of them. Well, I have a newsflash, dear reader: people have

tween their parties. We’ve succumbed to the Americanisation of our politics. We now have leadership debates and personal portfolios comparing politicians’ weights and hairstyles. We treat the election as a job interview for prime minister, not the democratic process of picking a party. Our system, while remaining largely unchanged, has moved to adopt the ethos of a presidential campaign. The Labour leadership debate is just the most recent example of this, with round after round of televised debates. At times, I was convinced I was watching an episode of The Apprentice. Everywhere we look, 24-hour news coverage and social media is trying to inform and influence our opinions. The election campaign of 1945 was run on ideas and principles. Before this year’s election, I read an article describing in detail how bad Ed Miliband was at eating bacon sandwiches that drew a clear correlation between this deficiency and his ability to run the country. Maybe politics is taken less seriously now. Or maybe the rise of mass media and celebrity pop culture has simply facilitated a fall in deference for politicians, and policies

Maybe to truly help this country, we need to listen to the policies more, and look at the faces of the politicians delivering them a bit less Perhaps we should just accept this trivialisation of politics and elections as a by-product of the fundamental fact that we’ve moved on since 1945. Or maybe now, in 2015 – with the rise of austerity, with the massive welfare cuts, with the possibility of an exit from the EU – we need to look back to our postwar counterparts for a little bit of wisdom. Maybe to truly help this country, we need to listen to the policies more, and look at the faces of the politicians delivering them a bit less. As hilarious as Buzzfeed and the Poke’s political interjections can be, I want to know what this government’s budget means for me – not how much David Cameron’s face looks like a piece of ham. From left to right: Clement Attlee with Captain D. kM. Somerville in Berlin in 1945; David Cameron at the 37th G8 Summit (Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons)

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pi magazine 711 | Politics

is STUDENT POLITICS a

SHORTCUT to PARLIAMENT? RAFY HAY asks why student political leaders are a fixture of university life page 24

politics | pi magazine 711

ndy Wilson’s first contact with the world of local politics was as the president of the University of Southampton’s Students’ Union. The union bar licence was up for review by the local council licensing committee, and the hearing didn’t go very well. According to Wilson, the council had a Conservative majority that favoured locals who didn’t like the student bar. “The licensing committee altered the hours on our licence and made it ridiculous hours for last entry,” he says. The union appealed the decision to the magistrate’s court and eventually won the right to its original hours, but the sourness of the experience stuck with Wilson and sparked a further interest in pursuing a career in politics. A few years later, Wilson is now a councillor in Lambeth, working in his free time to deal with issues of local governance. “That was the first time I’d seen justice twisted by an unrepresentative council,” he says. Student political leaders are a fixture on almost all university campuses, appearing in university branches of national political parties, student unions, and the National Union of Students (NUS). These people are often recognisable faces and presumed to be budding politicians making their first steps into the world of politics. But how true is this really?

“Being in the student union got me into politics” Caroline Hill, president of UCLU Labour in 2013-14, argues that it’s not just ambitious types that get involved. “There’s a misconception that going into student politics means you want to be a politician,” she says. “I joined UCLU Labour because I’d joined the Labour Party in sixth form, and joining the society was an extension of that.” Wilson agrees: “If you’re asking me whether I went to university wanting to be a politician and the union was a way into that, then the answer’s no. Being in the student union got me into politics.” Hill also stresses the social aspects of the society and says her responsibilities involved putting on good events and socials and se-

curing good speakers. She paints a picture of a group of mates having fun at university – a stark contrast to the commonly held suspicion that student politics is just a club of power-hungry wannabe MPs getting ready to climb the greasy pole.

neither Hill nor Wilson had political careers in mind when they became involved in student politics That’s not to say political work was totally absent from the society. Hill and UCLU Labour worked as extra campaigners in marginal seats before the general election. “Campaigning is an important part,” Hill says. While neither Hill nor Wilson had political careers in mind when they became involved in student politics, some certainly do. When I asked several of the past presidents of UCL’s Conservative Society for interviews, they refused to talk to me, leaving it to society member Helen Chandler-Wilde,to say they “didn’t feel there was anything in it for them”, and instead “just saw a lot of risk” in speaking to Pi. Were they afraid of saying something that might look bad? Maybe. MPs and the like are torn to shreds daily in the press for misdemeanours and indiscretions, and some prospective politicians are desperate to keep a spotless record. Andy Wilson puts it succinctly: “The people who become MPs have to be very motivated, have to know the right people, and have a bit of luck. I’m not that kind of person.” He is unequivocal about his contribution to local politics, though. “Being on the council gives me the opportunity to do things for people that otherwise would have fallen down the cracks,” he says. “One of the major issues today is

housing – there’s a chronic undersupply of all housing. I went to a mosque, where I do a surgery, and I spoke to 25 people over the course of three hours. All these people couldn’t afford housing.” One woman Wilson talked to had been a victim of domestic abuse and had removed herself from the situation, but then couldn’t afford new housing. “They were going to send her away to Romford, cutting all her networks because there isn’t enough housing here.” As for Hill, she’s now a primary school teacher, although she’s still a member of the Labour Party and volunteers on weekends. These career paths are quite normal for former student political leaders. Many become teachers and doctors, others academics or journalists. Times columnist David Aaronovitch, for example, was NUS president. Some, of course, go into national politics. Serving as president of NUS, in fact, must be one of the most common entries on MPs’ CVs (second only to going to Eton). Former presidents include: former shadow cabinet member Stephen Twigg, who unseated Michael Portillo in 1997; Wes Streeting, ex-councillor for Redbridge and MP for Ilford North; and Jack Straw, who became Tony Blair’s home secretary, and later foreign secretary.

For some, student politics is clearly a stepping-stone for the national game Michael Rubin, the current head of Labour Students, is thinking of making this leap from student to serious politics himself. “I’m not quite sure what exactly I want to do yet,” says Rubin, “But this year is a brilliant opportunity to see what it’s like working in politics and whether that’s something I’d like to do in the future.” For some, student politics is clearly a stepping-stone for the national game. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t committed to students for now. When you talk to most of these student leaders, they come off as honest, decent people looking out for the students they represent. If these are the kind of people leading our country in the next years and decades, we might actually be going down the right path.

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PI MAGAZINE 711 | SPORT

JAMAL RIZVI

SPORTS NITE 101

t’s freshers’ week. Perhaps Monday was an XOYO blowout. Maybe Tuesday was a Fabric knockout. But when it gets to your first Wednesday, there’s no “perhaps”, there are no “maybes”, there’s only the addictive (read: “it’s terrible for you, yet you continue to do it”) Sports Nite at The Loop. For all you fumbling Freshers out there, Sports Nite should become a tradition – it certainly became one for me.

No doubt you will be pre-drinking with your new mates from halls. This will likely involve a drunken ice-breaker game of “Never Have I Ever” or “Ring of Fire”. Prepare yourself for that moronic person who disagrees a little too profusely with whatever rules you decide to use – just drink you silly FRESHER. And of course, there will also be the fool who thinks they can manage a 70cl bottle of a dodgy, supermarket’s own spirit but can only stomach two-thirds of the bottle before their words start to slur and their face goes various, unflattering shades of green. Ultimately they’re going to be substituting the wonderfully grimy Loop for the even grimier university halls’ toilet. (But you don’t even know them that well yet, so don’t worry about it, and drink up!)

At this stage in the evening, you’re all feeling fairly merry, and when the merry mood is in full swing, it’s time to head to the promised land (AKA Phineas), where you’ll undoubtedly join in on slurred chants of “BURLINGTON BERTIE”. (Fear not if you can’t get to grips with the lyrics, no one really can.) Once you have realised pints are only £1.90, you and your fellow freshers will be “saving the Queen” to your heart’s content. And don’t you amateur Londoners fret about bus lines and transferring, from Phineas to The Loop there are free shuttle buses starting from 21:30.

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SPORT| PI MAGAZINE 711

If you’ve decided to walk(/stumble/crawl), be sure to appreciate both the lights of Oxford Street and whatever dregs of beer you have left. When you reach The Loop, you’re greeted by a three-tiered ecosystem of drunkenness that becomes more intense and unruly as you descend – think of it as UCL’s equivalent to Dante’s nine circles of Hell. On the top floor, you have a bar and a smoking area – don’t stay here for very long unless you’re in dire need of fresh air. On the next floor down, you’ll find the strangely endearing lovechild of a bar and dance floor, as well as the hidden gem of The Loop: the Beer Pong Room. Yes, that’s right, a Beer Pong Room. Can it get any better? Oh it certainly can… The beer is free.

The bottom floor is your stereotypical clubbing scene, complete with all the spilled drinks, shambolic dancing and cringe-worthy flirting you never wanted. The multi-coloured dance floor is a place you will learn to love. Any mistakes you make this evening will take place here (and with any luck will be forgotten by the morning).

If by this point you are starting to sober up, take a moment to admire the antics on the bottom floor. Appreciate the various degrees of desperation as freshers scan the dance floor for their potential hook-ups and/or battle intoxication in search of the exit.

It’s time to stumble off to whatever part of London you now swear feels more like home than home. But first, make the effort (and it will be an effort in your current state) to stop at Wok To Walk and drunkenly indulge in their Pad Thai. Just like your night at The Loop, it won’t leave you disappointed.

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pi magazine 711 | sport

YEARS OF UCL S P O RT HENRY HILL and JAMAL RIZVI chronicle the moderately storied history of UCL sportspeople

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Grand Prix in 1956, only to crash into his teammate. And this was probably for the best, as under his leadership, Lotus Cars would go on to win seven Formula 1 Constructors Titles, starting in 1962. Chapman sadly suffered an early death in 1982, but his status as Formula 1 legend lives on – and now his lesserknown status as a UCL alumnus will, too.

SIR PATRICK HEAD 1970

COLIN CHAPMAN CBE, 1950

Whatever it is they were teaching in the engineering department, it clearly worked, as next on our list is Patrick Head.

When Colin Chapman graduated from UCL with a degree in Structural Engineering in 1950, few could have predicted the illustrious career he would go on to have. As the founder of Lotus Cars, Chapman succeeded in turning his spare project into a Formula 1 winning machine called Team Lotus. Lotus Cars are a testament to Chapman’s eye for innovation and belief in lightweight modification. While chiefly a designer, Chapman did get behind the wheel once at the French

Known as the co-founder of the Williams Formula 1 Team, Head graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1970. Involved in Formula 1 during the early years of his career, it was not until he partnered with Frank Williams that his championship ambitions were realised. Head’s Formula 1 designs would eventually produce the cars that dominated the sport in the 1990s. Williams himself claimed an impressive five Formula 1 Constructors Titles in this period alone.

Although the Williams team may be a fading force, Head’s lifelong achievements were recognised this year when he was knighted for services to motor sport.

DAVID GOWER OBE You will be stumped to try find a cricketer who does not dream of being the captain of England, and this is exactly what David Ivon Gower accomplished in 1985. Well remembered as a firstclass left-hander with over 8000 test runs for England in 117 matches, what people tend to forget is that in the late 1970’s, Gower was enjoying the high life as a law student at UCL. He may have only attended for six months before leaving to pursue his cricketing dream, but David Gower is a highclass alumnus, nonetheless. As captain, Gower led England to the famous Ashes victory in 1985. And to top off his excellent achievements, he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009. These days, UCL cricket fans avoiding revision with their Sky Go subscription are likely to hear him commentating on the England matches.

sport | pi magazine 711

LARA CROFT 1994(?)

ROB WILLIAMS 2006 and 2012

The first Tomb Raider video game was released in 1996, and Croft’s “bio” says she started going on adventures soon after she went to university at UCL, so we’re going to guess she graduated in 1994. Since her mysterious graduation, Croft has gone on to save the world numerous times, been played by Angelina Jolie, and had her heart broken by Gerard Butler’s character, Terry Sheridan.

Williams graduated in 2006 with a BSc in Biotechnology, and in the same year, finished sixth in the Lightweight Men’s Four Final in the World Rowing U23 Championships. Williams seems like a bit of a catch, doesn’t he? A blonde, tanned, six-foot something rower who has the brains to match the brawn?

(If you’re wondering who on Earth Lara Croft is, then you clearly spent too much of your childhood outdoors, playing sport, making friends, or (dare I say it?) reading.)

In 2012, Williams earned another degree, a PhD in X-ray crystallography, but that would not be his biggest achievement that year. Competing in the 2012 London Olympics. he ended up taking silver in the same race he finished sixth in at the 2006 U23 World Championships.

EBONY-JEWEL RAINFORDBRENT 2007 In 2001, Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent became the first ever black member of the England Woman’s National Cricket Team. She then graduated with an MSc in Chemistry in 2007. Two years later, she was an instrumental member of the team that won the 2009 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Australia. They then went on to win the 2009 ICC Women’s World Twenty20, humiliate Australia 4-0 in the Natwest One Day series, and retain the Women’s Ashes. Hats off to the England Team selectors. Rainford-Brent was a good call!

CHRISTINE Ohuruogu 2005 When you think of sports at which UCL excels, athletics is probably not the one that springs to mind. But Ohuruogu, a well-known British Olympic runner, graduated with a degree in Linguistics in 2005. After graduating, she went on to win gold in the 400m, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her medal happens to be the only gold Great Britain won on the track in Beijing, an accomplishment that united a nation, inspired hope for British Athletics, and paved the way for names such as Farah and Ennis. Four years later, at the 2012 London Olympics, she won silver in the same event. In addition to her Olympic achievements in the 400m, she is also a 2007 and 2013 World Championship gold medalist.

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IN SPORT

Pi Magazine 711 | Sport

CONCUSSION HENRY HILL dives head first into the widespread problem of concussion and what it means for the future of the sports we love

he wait is finally over. This September, the Rugby World Cup comes home to England. With London as its background, the World Cup will no doubt enthrall and inspire. But it’s also likely to cast one of sport’s darkest aspects into the spotlight: the growing problem of concussions. We often moan and complain about sensationalised reporting on the state of health and safety in society, but scientific research is making it increasingly clear concussion in sport is not an issue to be ignored. Forget about the FIFA corruption scandal or “Deflategate”, the global sporting community has a far more serious, potentially deadly matter to deal with. Between 2002 and 2009, cases of sport-induced concussion increased by 66 per cent in boys under the age of 19 in the United States. Unsurprisingly, high impact sports are the main sources of injury, with American football accounting for 47 per cent of reported concussions, closely followed by ice hockey, and football (or what they mistakenly call soccer). Changing the rules to make these sports safer would seem an obvious solution. Dr John York, chairman of the Health and Safety

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Advisory Committee for the NFL, recently proposed players stop wearing helmets so as to reduce the force of impact with opponents. Though, even he acknowledged how long such a radical change to a US sporting institution would take be accepted and implemented. Yet, changing the rules would not solve every problem, for example the issue of underreporting. Starting at a young age, players often put the success of the team above their own safety by choosing to play through potentially dangerous injuries. England rugby winger Mike Brown has spoken of his experience with concussions in a culture of “suck it up and play on”. Suffering from multiple concussions and persistent headaches, Brown became paranoid about what his team-mates thought of him. Missing games and training, he felt he was letting the team down. Especially in rugby, a sport whose reported cases of concussions in England were up by 59 per cent in 2014, Brown’s story is alarming. Concussion may be beginning to receive the attention it deserves. Earlier this year in the US, ex-NFL players suffering from the long-term effects of concussion received a $1 billion payout, the most significant ever

of its kind. While in the UK, the English Premier League and the Rugby Football Union have introduced strict guidelines banning players from re-entering the match should they become concussed. In 2014 “soccer moms” came together in California to sue FIFA over their negligent and careless attitude towards concussions, helping to highlight the dire, lifelong consequences of being seriously and repeatedly concussed at a young age. While the future will ultimately decide whether sport has reacted quickly enough to the danger of concussion, with improved data collection, media scrutiny and research, there’s hope we will be able to make – and are already making – positive strides towards addressing the prevalence and severity of concussions. As for the Rugby World Cup, expect nothing less than pure physical battle in the search of glory – and enjoy it. But also be aware of the risks the players will be faced with in what is one of the most demanding, and dangerous, of sports. Instead of seeing Mike Brown carried off on a stretcher – as he was against Italy in this year’s Six Nations – we want to see him singing proudly as a healthy world champion.

1940s

trend: nautical stripes Pippa Gledhill, First Year, Biology Dress: Topshop

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1950s

trend: A-line skirts Mary Ng UCL Summer School Skirt: Ebay

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1960s trend: Paisley

Patrick Greenway First Year, Natural Sciences Shirt: Zara

1970s trend: Floral

Laura Goudkamp Third Year, Political Science Dress: Forever 21

1980s

trend: Round sunglasses Claire Hill UCL summer school Sunglasses: Vintage

1990s

trend: Sports luxe Chloe Curtis First Year, Anthropology Shirt: Adidas

2000s

trend: Pop punk Alice Groser First Year, French & Spanish Shoes: Converse

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pi magazine 711 | life & style

LONDON’S B E S T MARKETS JESSIE SO explores some of the city’s best weekend and afternoon spots

BRICK LANE MARKET

nown for its graffiti covered walls and gritty East London character, Brick Lane serves as an artistic hub and attraction for the young. Situated on a busy street home to a strong Bangladeshi community and numerous famous Jewish bagel shops, Brick Lane’s market includes street food stalls selling different cuisines, making it a perfect place for a group that can’t agree on one type of food and/or drink. Interspersed are second-hand stalls and art galleries. There’s no better place to hunt for bargains and unique items! Even on non-market days, there’s plenty to see and do in the area, which is dotted with several quirky vintage clothing shops and home to the famous Cereal Killer Café (which usually has a queue outside the door). While it’s easy to spend the whole day on Brick Lane, Old Spitalfield’s Market, Columbia Road Flower Market and Tower Hill are all within walking distance. Nearest tube station: Liverpool Street or Aldgate East Open: Sundays only, 9am-5pm Good for: Second-hand furniture and clothing, international food Affordability: Many bargains to be found

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life & style | pi magazine 711

PORTOBELLO MARKET

leisurely stroll from Notting Hill Gate Station through picturesque streets and candy-coloured terraced houses made for Instagram is all it takes to reach Portobello Market. If you’ve ever seen the film Notting Hill, the area will look eerily familiar. It’s best to go on a Friday or Saturday, as the full, 2 mile long street market – made up of stalls offering clothes, jewellery, vinyl records, arts and crafts, antiques, and, of course, food – will be open. The large variety of street food includes options for lunch to to freshly made crepes and pastries perfect for an indulgent snack. Lining the market and partially hidden by the stalls are also roadside cafes, restaurants, and shops, providing even more choice for eating, drinking, and shopping.

Nearest tube station: Notting Hill Gate Open: Monday-Saturday, various times Good for: Antiques, vintage clothing and accessories Affordability: Prices vary

Wonderful music from buskers, adds to the lively atmosphere. It may take a couple hours to browse, as it can get quite crowded. Because the market is known for pickpockets, it is important to keep an eye on your belongings. One of the best times of the year to visit is in the weeks before Christmas. Glowing lights and hanging decorations make it difficult to not feel the Christmas spirit! Grab a hot drink and take in the smell of crepes while

BOROUGH MARKET

nly a short walk away from London Bridge Station and made up of nearly 70 stalls, the capital’s most renowned food market is a paradise for food lovers. It offers a wide array of internationally inspired, freshly prepared street food for you to buy or sample. Head there for lunch and choose from seafood paella to German sausages, fish and chips to salt beef sandwiches with sweet potato fries, and everything in between. Wash any of those down with something from the huge selection of fruit juices or a glass of Pimm’s. For dessert (and to satisfy that sweet tooth), many stalls offer generous portions of homemade cakes and pastries that are perfect to eat there or take home. Another large portion of the market is dedicated to selling fresh produce. Available are seasonal fruit and vegetables, as well as an array of exotic meats, cheeses, and fresh seafood. Step just outside the market and you’re met with views of the Shard and a neighbourhood full of trendy restaurants and bars, making a trip to Borough Market Nearest tube station: London Bridge Open: Wednesday-Saturday, various times Good for: A quick lunch or ingredients to take home Affordability: Probably not feasible for a weekly shop, but good for a treat

COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET

very Sunday, Columbia Road overflows with beautiful stalls selling an assortment of vibrantly coloured, cut flowers and potted plants. The road is quite narrow, so it can get too crowded to to walk down and browse comfortably. An ideal destination for flower lovers looking to brighten up a bedroom or flat, this market’s prices are very reasonable. At around 2pm, things begin to wind down and the prices begin to lower, so keep this in mind if you’re on the hunt for a good bargin! Alongside the market, the street itself is home to independent art galleries and shops selling pottery and antiques. Full of personality and charm, some of them even have small cafes in the back. Close by is Lily Vanilli, a small bakery offering delicious lunches and beautiful cakes. Although be aware: it’s on the pricier side and only accepts cash payments. It’s quite popular and has very limited seating, so arrive early to avoid a long wait. If all else fails, there are a couple of cute, little pubs in the area to visit for some lunch or a pint. For somewhere new and a bit quirky to enjoy a relaxed Sunday, Columbia Road’s flower market and surrounding area is the perfect destination. Nearest tube station: Old Street Open: Sundays only, 8am-3pm Good for: Fresh flowers, antiques Affordability: Reasonably priced, with prices decreasing throughout the day

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pi magazine 711 | life & style

OVERHEARD @ UCL “Struggling to find a seat in the library. Feeling like a Lib Dem.” “Rosé is just white wine that’s lying to itself.”

“He’s a bit of a Puritan when it comes to stationary.” “My geography of Manhattan is a little shaky. I really only know where the art galleries are.” “Your blood is much better than turkey blood.”

Heard something funny around campus? Tweet at us @Overheard_UCL and with the hashtag #OverheardatUCL page 36

THINGS TO DO AROUND CAMPUS JAGUAR FUNGSA gives you four suggestions for things to do in the first few weeks of term

o you’re a fresh-faced Fresher who is looking for something to do during freshers’ week or in your final year and for some reason have yet to explore every nook and cranny of UCL and its surroundings. But not to worry! This guide is here to tell you where you must go and what you must see before the year goes into full swing.

My Old Dutch Holborn One of the best places of its kind in London, My Old Dutch serves both American and British style pancakes, as well as all different varieties ranging from savoury hoisin duck to sweet Nutella topped with vanilla ice cream. They also serve poffertjes (Dutch pancakes) and waffles with maple syrup. The shop is open from 11am to 10:30pm every day except Sundays, when it closes at 9:30pm.

The Cartoon Museum Little Russell Street – Near the British Museum Another small museum, this one located right next to the British Museum. One of the current temporary exhibitions showcases artwork celebrating Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece, Alice in Wonderland. In November, it will be replaced by an exhibition on James Gilray’s political cartoons. You can visit the museum daily from 10.30am to 5:30pm. The admission fee is £3 for students.

Bloomsbury Farmer’s Market Torrington Place – Behind ULU A perennial favourite of UCL students. Have lunch at the farmer’s market just off Byng Place. You can find all kinds of great food, from freshly prepared lasagne at Seriously Italian to rich, velvety ice cream at Opera Ice Cream. Most of the food here is organic, so you can be sure that it both tastes good and is good for you! The market is only open every Thursday from 9am to 2pm, so be sure to get there early to beat the inevitable queues of hungry UCL, SOAS and Birkbeck students.

Wellcome Collection and Library Corner of Euston Road and Gordon Street You may have walked past the Wellcome building along Euston Road and wondered what was inside. The answer? One of the best and well hidden museums in London, which specialises in medicine and life sciences, preserving items from pharmaceutical entrepreneur Sir Henry Wellcome’s personal collection. In the permanent exhibitions, which are free of charge, you can find wacky items like Japanese sex aids and Napoleon’s toothbrush. There are also temporary exhibitions that showcase new contemporary art pieces related to medicine, information about which can be found on the Wellcome Collection website. The gallery is open from 10am to 6pm everyday except Mondays. The museum’s free to use library is also an excellent way to escape the crowds at those on campus.

travel | Pi magazine 711

A MILLION SHADES of BLUE & GREEN MELVIN YEO reflects on his trip to one of Eastern Europe’s fastest growing holiday destinations – and its violent near past

ontra Mraku, Kontra Sili (Against the Darkness, Against the Force), the motto of the Croatian city of Split’s football team, was born during the resistance to the country’s fascist Second World War regime. In the dark days of the war against Serbia in the 1990s, it once again rang familiar.

ed an offensive against the newly declared state, leading to the most violent European conflict since World War II, one that resulted in over 20,000 deaths. Visiting the city and major tourist centre of Dubrovnik, where my friends and I ended our trip, it’s hard to believe the country was consumed by war just 20 years ago.

Remembering the past The multi-cultural, Balkan state of Yugoslavia had soldiered on for a decade after the death of its dictator Tito in 1980, but it was always only a matter of time before a violent collapse. After Croatia proclaimed its independence from the Yugoslavian Republic, the Serb-led Yugoslav Army mount-

Walking along the marbled streets of its Old Town, it is immediately apparent why Lord Byron christened the city “the pearl of the Adriatic.” The differing shades of orange tiles covering the city’s rooftops serve as the only visible reminder of the war. The newer, brighter orange tiles, added as the city rebuilt from war, are interspersed with

the duller, older ones on top of buildings – together an emblem of Croatia’s current position at the impasse between past and present. Some buildings do still bear other, apparent scars of war, but it requires an eagle eye to spot them. During our walking tour in Dubrovnik, the guide recounted her experience of the war. Families had to hide in shelters whenever a siren sounded. On the summit of Mount Srd, which overlooks the walled city, we were told of a chilling fact – this was the exact spot where the Yugoslav army shelled Dubrovnik. It’s a similar story in the National Park of Plitvice. Avid fans of travel blogs will recog-

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pi magazine 711 | Travel nise the ubiquitous images of the turquoise waters of its largest waterfall, the Veliki Slap. Not many, however, are aware that the park was the scene of the first casualty of an armed confrontation during the war, in March 1991. Everywhere in Croatia, the beautiful exterior belies its troubled past. Recognising the present

A growing number of expatriates from all over the world, not just the Balkan region, are making a positive contribution to the country. In Split, the country’s largest coastal city, I spoke with a bartender who explained that the bar was opened a year ago by her sister’s family after they had emigrated from the United States. She came from Honduras to join her sister, and works at a kindergarten in addition to the bar.

Yet, Croatia emerged from the shadows of the war, which ended in 1995, by deciding to punch above its weight, something it has history of doing. Dubrovnik was the capital of Ragusa, a Renaissance republic and maritime trading power that eventually fell to Napoleon.

itage Sites bearing testament to its rich and varied beauty. It’s hard to choose just one place, or one kind of place, to visit. My friends and I spent a week in the Dalmatia region. Driving along the Adriatic Coast, you’re treated to miles and miles of mountain views and a half an hour in Bosnia, whose coastline, at 15 miles, is the shortest in the world. Along the way, we stopped for meals in local konobas, restaurants serving traditional local specialties for a low price. The cuisine has strong Italian influences, and seafood is a staple. My favourite meal of the trip was a black seafood risotto (although our waitress did point out that my teeth had turned black from the octopus ink).

Proizd’s pebble beach seemed fitCroatia has, un- ting, a reminder Croatia is not just like its national- of Croatia’s rug- another pretty ged history ist neighbours, face opened its doors to expatriates

And today, Croatia is similarly becoming a centre for tourism. Over 10 million people visit Croatia each year, and tourism accounts for up to 20% of Croatian GDP. As a result, it’s now one of the most economically powerful countries in the region. In addition to tourism, Croatia has, unlike its nationalist neighbours, opened its doors to expatriates, making it the international and multicultural hub of the region.

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The Diocletian Palace of Split perfectly encapsulates the idiosyncrasies of a country still finding its place in the world. For his retirement, the Roman Emperor Diocletian built the palace in his hometown. Fearing for his safety, though, he made sure it was heavily fortified. The palace fell into disuse until locals began to build a small town within the palace’s confines. Today, 3,000 people still live and work inside the walls. Reflecting on the experience Croatians get mad when foreigners visit their country only to see Game of Thrones filming locations, and it’s easy to see why. Croatia is truly an ecological and cultural treasure, with seven UNESCO World Her-

From Split, we chartered our own boat to visit the nearby islands. The island of Proizd is one of the few that remains untouched, almost pristine. Upon arrival, we found ourselves to be the only people on the whole of the island. Proizd’s pebble beach seemed fitting, a reminder of Croatia’s rugged history. Many make a passing remark about Croatia being at the top of their travel wish list, but most do not actually end up visiting. Don’t make that mistake. Take the plunge. Mere pictures will never be able to capture its beauty, its history, its essence – Croatia is not just another pretty face.

muse cover page

MUSE cover (in development)

Pi MAGAZINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CULTURE SECTIONS Arts

Film & TV

Music

Literature

muse | pi recommends

Pi Recommends:

AI WEIWEI ROYAL ACADEMY ARTS

Taking place at the Royal Academy of Arts, this exhibition will showcases his most important works of Ai Weiwei’s career, spanning over twenty years from 1993 until the present day. Ai Weiwei is both an artist and a political activist who is heavily critical of the Chinese government. In 2011 he was arrested for “financial crimes,” and today his movements are still restricted by the Chinese government. As a result he helped to curate the exhibition from his Beijing studio. His works actively critique the Chinese government, and he has been able to remain politically active through his art. Ai Weiwei’s is fascinating due to his ability to merge the political and artistic on a grand scale. His reach and his reputation are defining the artistic landscape, and making the point that art is intrinsically linked to our understanding of the world, and in shaping political futures.

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ABSENT dreamthinkspeak

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM LATES

dreamthinkspeak are back with another stunning siteresponsive performance. After the success of In the Beginning was the End at Somerset House, Tristan Sharpe and his collective have come to Shoreditch Town Hall. ABSENT is an immersive piece about a young woman in a hotel, based on the escapades of the Duchess of Argyll. Audience members will be able to walk through the hotel and interact with the residents and staff, as they uncover the stories hidden behind the hotel walls. dreamthinkspeak’s immersive methods are revolutionising the way we experience theatre, unlocking a wealth of possibilities for the future of this ever-changing art form. The show runs until the 25th October.

When looking to the future, it’s also important to remember our roots. The Natural History Museum stays open on the last Friday of every month, for people to roam around the permanent exhibitions or the special collections on at that time. Past exhibitions have included everything from talks by David Attenborough to the intriguing Edible Insect Wine Tasting. Grab and drink and wander amidst the dinosaur skeletons, and remind yourself of where you came from and why you’re here. Admission is free for most activities but tickets for the special exhibitions can be booked online through the Natural History Museum website.

pi recommends | MUSE MR NOBODY Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael delivers a powerful philosophical film about choices and causation. Set in the year 2092, Nemo Nobody, played by Jared Leto, stands as the last mortal on an Earth that has conquered mortality through the infinite renewal of cells. He revisits three key moments in his life, the most important one of all being at age nine, when he is forced to choose between living with his mother or father after their divorce. The film then mingles between fantasy and reality, between all of Nemo’s life that could have happened had he made a different choice. The film has colourful and eyepopping cinematography, as well as a very complementing soundtrack by Pierre Van Dormael, Jaco’s brother.

HER Her is a ”Spike Jonze love story” or so the film’s tagline goes. It’s the tale of a man who lives alone in the year 2025, when cities have expanded and technology has developed still further. Most people walk the streets plugged into their devices - giving orders to or simply communicating with their highly advanced operating systems (OS). The film’s protagonist Theodore is played superbly by Joaquin Phoenix. His character falls in love with his OS and has become an almost proverbial figure for someone absorbed in technology. Her is more than a cautionary tale, but instead a complex and moving love story set in the very near future.

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Foxygen We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic Foxygen are an indie rock duo from California who have gained a cult following in recent years and, although approaching its third birthday, their debut fulllength album has become a vibrant favourite. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic’s distinctive sound harkens back to early 1960’s psychedelia, with pulsing bass lines combined with experimental song structures. Look out for the opening track In the Darkness, the harmonious San Francisco, and the rhythmic Shuggie, a fantastically layered song with many groovy tempo changes. Foxygen are known to gig around the UK; they most recently played the Sunday of Field Day, incorporating many songs from We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic into their set. Definitely try to catch them when they next play in London, their experimental prowess means seeing

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them live is certainly an experience. The Black Tambourines Chica The Black Tambourines are self-described as “Ocean Rock.” It’s a fitting description for the surfy sound that exudes from the young quartet. Reverberated guitars, punky riffs and echoing vocals combine to create an idiosyncratic sound that pools together to form both a vintage and modern tone. Chica is a fantastic debut, considering the band is still very young. Highlights include; 27-25 Blues, Cat Days, and White Album. Despite The Black Tambourines being based in Falmouth, they often travel to London to play venues such as the Old Blue Last and The Shacklewell Arms. They excel in smaller venues and are huge fun to see live. Try to catch them soon, though, as they are certainly going to get bigger in the next few months. Spooky Black

Leaving The unassuming 17-yearold from Minnesota went viral in early 2014 with his music video for Without You. Garnering over 3 million views since its release, Spooky Black’s music regularly featured in last year’s best-of lists. With his soulful vocals and minimalist production, the teenager has been busy uploading new material to near universal acclaim. Influenced by the likes Bjork, James Blake, Nils Frahm amongst others, his musical style is raw and simple, while epic in its delivery. Managing to be painfully honest without being overly earnest, Spooky Black expertly details his desperation and longing in just eight tracks. Tackling the harsh reality of being intoxicated with someone else, sobering lyrics speak universal truths. With a voice beyond his years, his followup to the hugely successful Black Silk EP is the perfect companion to any quiet moment.

pi recommends | Muse

Harper Lee Go Set a Watchman Polarizing readers, Harper Lee’s “new” novel has been received as a disappointing sequel by some, and an interesting extension to Lee’s literary universe by others. Written before the Pulitzer Prize winning To Kill a Mockingbird and never actually intended for publication; Go Set A Watchman, in my opinion, should not be considered a sequel; rather, it represents Lee’s first draft at characters and storylines. While it may not be the literary masterpiece of To Kill a Mockingbird, a side-by-side comparison seems almost unfair. For fans of the original, it is well worth a read to re-explore some of its iconic characters. Ultimately, the book is fascinating because it demonstrates Lee’s development as a writer throughout her career, rather than a well-polished story. Stephen King Mr Mercedes Plagued by his failure to solve the ‘Mercedes Killer’ case, retired detective Bill Hodges will be teased out retirement by misanthropist

and psychopath, Brady Hartsfield – the very man who ploughed a twelve-ton Mercedes SLS into a job fair, murdering eight people in 2009. King takes readers on a Dostoyevskian cat-andmouse chase between killer and detective; yet, with every chapter King makes you question whom you are rooting for – detective or murderer. David Nicholls Starter For Ten While you may have seen the film adaptation featuring both James McAvoy and Benedict Cumberbatch (before they exploded to celebrity status), I bet most of you haven’t read the novel. Nicholls’ wit, as well as realistic and empathetic characters make this book extremely readable. Principally a story about growing up, readers follow Brian Jackson, an eighteenyear old student negotiating his way through the struggles of university in his quest to join the University Challenge team and win the affection of heartthrob, Alice Harbinson. A novel, which even made emotional rock Jeremy Paxman “laugh a lot,” Starter For Ten is a must for all students.

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FROM MUSE | FILM & TV

EMMA GROOME PONDERS THE NECESSITY OF FILM TO THEATRE ADAPTIONS

arry Potter, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Twilight, even Winnie the Pooh. It’s quite hard these days to think of a famous book that hasn’t graced the silver screen. Broadway and West End bigwig producers have decided to take this one step further: bringing the screen to the stage. Rumour has it that 2016 will bring with it The Hunger Games: The Musical. For the commercial West End, this is something of a lightbulb moment. But for the “true artists” of the stage, could this be a sign that the end is nigh? That the apocalypse nears in the form of a Lycra-clad Katniss Everdeen, attempting to shoot her bow and arrow mid-fouetté? Oh, the horror. However, this is a game that the West End has been playing for a long time. I can still remember the heartbreak of watching Mary Poppins on stage, at the age of ten, the magic quite frankly lost, along with some of the most iconic scenes of the film. Alright, so this particular adaption may have taken influence from the film and the book, but (spoiler alert) there are no tap dancing penguins. Even at such a young age, the disappointment of the project, along with my

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interval box of semi-melted Maltesers, left a bad taste in my mouth. And so these days, it would seem that to producers nothing is sacred. (I mean, even Spiderman has been on Broadway.)

Musical and loved how it had crystallised a particular moment in history, so I began to reconsider.” She also said she wishes to “create a totally new British musical, with a different musical language.”

To many theatre purists’ mortification, the West End shows no sign of stopping the movie to musical machine. The musical iteration of Bend It Like Beckham has resided in the local-to-UCL Phoenix Theatre since May, and is set to run until the end of the year. One thing that marks this project from others of its kind is the choice to retain the same director and writer, Gurinder Chadha – though she’s being helped by West End veteran Sonia Friedman. I can’t help but notice Bend It Like Beckham seems to be a relatively bizarre choice of film to adapt, especially so long after its initial early-noughties heyday.

I do admire Chadha’s yearning to bring diversity and encapsulate London’s truly multicultural history on the stage, but it’s her hopes of creating a “totally new British musical” that I struggle to believe will ever materialise. There are tons of new British musicals, as well as other forms of theatre, being created each week – many of which seek to tell similar stories to Bend It Like Beckham.

Chada told a theatre reviewer she was originally reticent about bringing her film to the stage but eventually saw the virtue in the idea. “As time went on, I realised how significant I thought the film had been in terms of race relations in this country, the presence of the Asian community,” she said, “I had been deeply moved by Billy Elliot The

Sadly, commercial blockbusters brought to stage perpetually overshadow this kind of work. Of course, most would argue that this is something of a necessary evil. These huge commercial shows are necessary to keep theatres profitable and to retain the British public’s interested in the arts. Millions of people went to see The Hunger Games in the cinema, so why wouldn’t they see it on the stage? Yet, this also means we have become safe in our attitudes towards theatre. The audiences, as much as the producers, are unwilling to take risks. We

STAGE FILM & TV | MUSE

What we fail to acknowledge is that, not only do these shows disappoint theatre lovers, they also disappoint film lovers. Just like the precision of a stage director’s blocking, the cinematography is something almost impossible to recreate in the theatre. For instance, I am a diehard fan of the Lord of the Rings films. When I heard that Frodo and Gandalf would be gracing the stage I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Neither did anyone else it would seem, as the reviews reflected the fact that one does not simply recreate the Battle of Helms Deep under a proscenium arch. There are some things in life that just aren’t meant to happen, and this was one of them. None of this is to say film and theatre should never mix. I’m all for blurring the lines between art forms – it’s just how you choose to do it. Secret Cinema presents a take on combining film and stage that is original, fun and exciting. Started in 2007 by Fabien Rigall, it specialises in “live cinema experiences,”

combining film screenings with interactive performances in purpose-built sets. Their most recent venture is a screening of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The experience involves an interactive Star Wars universe setting to be explored by costumed audience members in an attempt to bring the films to life. The key difference between this and the Bend It Like Beckham or The Hunger Games shows is that it doesn’t destroy the original medium of the film – it adds to it. Instead of taking it apart and rebuilding it as some sort of Frankenstein’s monster, it serves to widen the already thrilling experience of the film, honouring, not harming, both theatre and film simultaneously. While we probably can’t stop the inevitable musicalisation of the Hollywood blockbuster, we can make an effort to go out and take a risk. Not the risk of getting hit in the face by a football à la Bend It Like Beckham, but the risk of sitting down to watch something we’ve never heard of – something new, innovative and original. Who knows, it might be so good they decide to make a film out of it one day.

to screen

choose to sit down in front of the unchallenging and familiar.

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Muse | Arts

MUSEUMS YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO

The V&A, the Natural History Museum and, of course, the British Museum are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the vast collection of museums that London has to offer. We’ve rounded up a list of our favourite weird, wacky and wonderful places to visit – all a short distance from UCL.

ANNA TOMLINSON and EMMA GROOME explore London’s most underrated museums THE HUNTERIAN MUSEUM Not for the faint-hearted, this museum displays thousands of anatomical specimens, all collected by John Hunter (presumably a barrel of laughs at dinner parties). Come here to see monkey heads in jars, diseased human remains, skeletons of giants, and most notably, Churchill’s dentures – and for free! Don’t all rush at once.

THE GEFFRYE MUSEUM OF THE HOME

When you’re missing home or want to escape the chaos of student halls, go and visit The Geffrye Museum of the Home. The museum contains different rooms showing how homes and gardens have evolved and changed since the 1600s. The house is surrounded by beautiful period gardens also designed to be experienced chronologically. It’s really an authentic look at British history, as the Geffrye Museum hosts a yearly look at 400 years of Christmas Just down the road traditions in English homes or the current from UCL, you’ll find Pollock’s exhibition honoring the World War One Toy Museum. The small rooms are Centenary, displaying portraits, filled top-to-bottom with toys, mostly letters to home, and army first from the Victorian era. They have classic aid and sewing kits. dolls, teddy bears, and even toy soldiers. It’s both magical and innocent (and sometimes creepy), a reminder of childhood and life before the iPhone. The Toy Museum is small, friendly, independently run and funded, and conveniently located for a quick getaway from university life.

POLLOCK’S TOY MUSEUM

MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD,

Bethnal Green,Victoria & Albert Museum One of the biggest international collections of childhood costumes, toys, and games, this museum showcases childhood objects through the ages, with wonderful exhibitions on dolls houses and birthday parties. It’s also currently celebrating (until 1st November) the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland, with an exhibition titled, The Alice Look, as it explores the way in which Alice has influenced photographers and fashion designers. The exhibition lets you see the character outside of the classic book, letting you experience the magic of the memory.

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THE MAGIC CIRCLE MUSEUM You’ve probably walked past it most days on your way to university, but most likely never noticed it. Nevertheless, The Magic Circle Museum is a treasure trove of artifacts that takes you through the entire history of the exclusive magic club, from the golden age of music halls to the modern day. Perfect for stretching your legs between seminars, the museum is conveniently located right by Euston.

arts | pi magazine 711

E R A

S E AM

G EO

D I V

? T AR

Alex Hall questions why video games are not considered an art form

y life as a gamer started in 2001 when I was given a Gameboy Advance for Christmas. Ever since that day, I’ve been avidly playing anything I can get my hands on. Over the past 14 years, gaming has evolved from something that kept me entertained on long road trips into a passion, something I actually care about deeply. It may seem surprising, but games can be considered art in a very traditional sense. There are plenty of beautiful games out there that can be considered art due to their sheer detail and design. I think I would be hard pressed to find someone who could look at the vast open landscapes of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with its towering snow-capped mountains, rolling hills, and dense ancient forests, and not find it absolutely gorgeous. Games aren’t just aesthetic, they’re also powerful storytelling mediums. Some games are so good at building a realistic and believable world that you can become totally immersed, leading to some powerful experiences. Games like The Last of Us redefined how stories can be told in games, seamlessly weaving cinematic experiences with gameplay to build character and atmosphere. Unlike reading a book or watching a film, where you are simply along for the ride, games allow you to actually influence the

world around you. They put you in someone else’s shoes and allow you to experience stories and events, not as an observer, but as an active participant. For me, games are art because they are impactful experiences that can make you feel things you’ve never felt before and have experiences that you would never have otherwise had.

gaming can be a medium in which sensitive subject matter can be presented One of the most influential series is the Bioshock series. Bioshock has always been a series that tackles taboo topics, pushing the boundaries in both gameplay and story. The most recent game, Bioshock Infinite, caused some controversy within the in-

dustry by tackling some rather sensitive topics, like the dangers of religion and nationalism, hinting specifically at the United States, where the two are inexplicably linked together. Now I don’t want to spoil the game, especially because it’s one of the games that I would recommend to anyone skeptical about the artistic value of games, but I will say that it is incredibly powerful, making the player think and question. It shows that gaming can be a medium in which sensitive subject matter can be presented in an approachable way to its players. Many pieces have entered art galleries, which have previously been questioned. Think about Marcel Duchamp’s now classic urinal or Damien Hirst’s dissected pig, each piece pushing the boundary of art. In the development of contemporary art, we’ve seen the enlargement of the definition of the artistic, meaning that considering games as art, is in line with this re-defining. Saying that games aren’t art is like my grandfather, who only listens to classical music, saying that rock and roll isn’t music. If we put a strict definition on what does and doesn’t qualify, then the field would never evolve and we would never see anything new. Games, like Duchamp’s urinal, are just one of the many ways in which art is constantly evolving.

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muse | Film & TV

FILM

AND THE

SECOND WORLD WAR Jonny Weinberg explores the multifaceted relationship between films and World War II

hy is the film industry so entranced by the Second World War? It’s a subject filmmakers cannot help but return to, time after time. Of course, such a monumental conflict in human history is well worth exploring. However, it seems to garner much more attention than any other conflict in human history. American cinema, for example, still seems to hold a greater cinematic preoccupation to four years in Europe than the decades spent in Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan.

Any parable or philosophical truth, can be told in the events of 1939-1945 page 48

The Second World War broke out as film was coming into its own as a medium and industry, and the two have remained intertwined ever since. Propaganda films made during and around the war – such as the haunting Nazi publicity masterpiece Triumph of the Will (1935) and the UK’s own Listen to Britain (1942) – began the production of war-related movies that has stayed consistently high. Where other subjects ebb and flow at the mercy of trend, films about the Second World War have remained popular for more than half a century. More than anything else, this seems to be down to World War II’s infinite variety as a conflict. Look hard enough into the genre and you can find almost anything you like: comedy, tragedy, thrills, tears. Any parable or philosophical truth, moral certainty or uncertainty can be told in the events of 1939-1945. This near limitless appeal has created a huge spectrum of Second World War related films that often say more about when or where they were made than when they were set. A glance at the kind of film made by different countries shows the extent of this – even outside of the conventional canon of British and American movies that we are so familiar with.

In Germany, tales of ordinary people dissatisfied with Nazism are told, for example in The Edelweiss Pirates and The White Rose. Filipino films show the history of suffering inflicted in the Philippines by the Japanese invasion (Markova: Comfort Gay, In the Bosom of the Enemy). The film industry in Japan itself remains understandably absorbed with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with films such as Black Rain, Tomorrow, or the iconic Godzilla.

what do these war films say about the societies that produced them?

film & TV | Muse Of course, these trends do not define every film to come out of a particular country. Instead, they reveal general interests and the national narratives of history: they disclose a country’s concerns and dominant point of view. So what do these war films say about the societies that produced them? It’s simple enough to say that Germany tends to try and mitigate the atrocities of its past. Or that Japan is still struggling to come to terms with the devastation of the atomic bomb. But how, if at all, has this developed over time? Has film grown to depict the war in a more mature way since Listen to Britain? We must wonder if more contemporary films are more willing to humanise our enemies and ourselves as partly culpable, rather than clinging to an extra subjective point of view about this war. Central to answering these questions is the attitude with which films depict the war. For a long time, this tended to be romantic. Even before the war was over, films like Went the Day Well? (1942) were establishing a tradition of plucky, patriotism-inspiring heroes in romantic war stories. An unofficial propaganda film, it depicted a corner of rural England invaded by Nazi paratroopers. Disguised as British soldiers, the enemies are eventually discovered and driven away by the vigilance, bravery, and the stiff upper lip of the village’s inhabitants. The film’s relation to the British consciousness of the time is clear: fear of Nazi attacks, disdain for German foul play, and a sense of duty are all underlined. After 1945, the need for propaganda declined and the war time resolve relaxed. But, is it still possible to trace the themes of heroism and thrilling victory that sprung up in films like Went the Day well?

As these sub-genres developed through the 1950s and 1960s, films went from trying to mobilise a population to trying to attract an audience. As a result, the thriller of the vigilant citizen became the tale of the heroic soldier. Movies like The Dam Busters (1955), The Great Escape (1962), The Devil’s Brigade (1968), Where Eagles Dare (1968), and Battle of Britain (1969) were simple, relatable adventures that used the battlefield as their backdrop. The quality of these films varied widely – Battle of Britain is widely derided while Where Eagles Dare has become a classic – but all turned to the war as their source of escapism. They portrayed a war of heroes and villains – Clint Eastwood and Hannes Messemer, right and wrong, sometimes thrillingly entangled but always clearly different. Films like Where Eagles Dare portrayed a war that was distant enough to disregard historical nuance, but too recent to stray far from accepted national narratives. In often austere postwar times, the war was an easy wellspring for pride and positive feeling.

anti-war, violin-music diatribes that we’ve seen in war movies since the ’80s.” This is seen with films such as Stalingrad (1993), Enemy at the Gates (2001), and even the more modern, more adventure stories that emphasise the horror of war, like Saving Private Ryan (1998). These films reflect modern anxieties over war and patriotism. Those made after Vietnam especially can never celebrate wartime heroism with the same straightforward enthusiasm of movies like Dam Busters. They also cannot help but pine for the period when good guys and bad guys were clearly defined. Films like last year’s Fury show war as brutal but the soldiers as heroic in the face of brutality. Our modern, confusing conflicts lead us to show war in these films as a terrible thing, but they also make us nostalgic for a simpler war. They make us want to be shown a side we can clearly support and a battlefield we can easily understand.

Good, subtle war Our modern, con- films aren’t new fusing conflicts make us nostalgic for a simpler war It would be easy then to caricature the decades after the war. More recent films tend to be more mature and level-headed, what Quentin Tarantino calls “the ponderous,

In this way, we haven’t changed much. Good, subtle war films aren’t new – take Casablanca (1942) or The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) for example. The way we project our own consciousness on this war isn’t new either. All that changes is the varied, paradoxical things we seek to find. Lurking on the edge of living memory, the Second World War provides a warped mirror that will likely continue to serve filmmakers for a long time.

Left to right: A watchman atop London rooftops during the Battle of Britain, about which many films were made (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons); the title screen of one of Frank Capra’s propoganda films commissioned by the American government, A Prelude to War; a still from the atomic bomibing of Hiroshima, about which films like Black Rain were made (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons).

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Muse | Film & TV

NOTES ON A

SCANDAL? CHARLOTTE PALMER considers the relationship between movies and their often controversial actors

hen I started thinking about how films are impacted by their stars’ provocative remarks or behaviour – which can in turn be perpetuated and stoked up by the press and social media – I hardly struggled for examples. Little bubbles of inappropriateness continually rise to the top of the broiling sea of nonsense that is the online tabloid press. Case in point: earlier this year Jesse Eisenberg compared his reaction to the adulating crowds of the San Diego Comic-Con to how victims of genocide must have felt. This also made me realise that being current wasn’t really an issue. Waves of controversy are so frequent, and often so foolish, that any piece written about promotional controversy would soon be outdated.

Social media amplifies everything Yet, the amount of attention which comments like Eisenberg’s garner from the press seems to imply that they would cost an actor their career, or have some kind of influence on the promotion of the film at hand. Often, as in Eisenberg’s case, the movie – he plays Lex Luthor in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – will safely be one of the most popular of next year (the trailer garnered over 31 million views within a week). Nothing an actor could do would make even a miniscule dent in the armour of superhero movies. Social media amplifies everything. People post links to a myriad of clickbait websites, and the Facebook trending topics are a good example of how the most idiotic items fly to the top. The sheer number of news outlets reporting on Robert Downey Jr’s latest exhibition of his inability to conduct

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an interview with a journalist was at the head of the topics for at least 12 hours. The vast amount of accompanying (and mostly nonsensical) comments by Facebook users questions why anyone should care about such triviality. Often the key to the widespread discussion of controversy is their connection to more hotly contested issues. A favourite topic for Facebook commenters is freedom of speech – or its supposed restrictions. Talked about in mostly narrow or crass terms – as it was when Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans labelled Avengers character the Black Widow a “slut” – the issues become fractured, muddied, and distorted by the time you reach Facebook news comments. People engage in these non-stories hysterically and indignantly, without properly exploring the wider ideas, partly because they are so quickly forgotten, with something else coming along seconds later. There is also the ease with which a topic can trend. Stories don’t clog your news feed based on importance, but instead due to immediate appeal. Once a story has been covered by every online gossip and tabloid site in existence, all of whom know how to craft the smallest piece of gossip into a news story, it’s no wonder that a once controversial incident has lost credibility. While it sometimes seems that yesterday’s tantrum is tomorrow’s slut “joke”, repeated offences from actors can contribute to their persona, but none of it ever seems to hurt ticket sales. It’s true that people enjoy hearing about an actor’s latest meltdown, however amoral and leechlike that may be. This is especially the case if their behaviour has become part of what you expect from them, an off-screen extension of their performance or character – which has been the case with everyone from Marlon Brando and Joan Crawford, to Charlie Sheen and Mel Gibson. But it still all seems so trivial, short-lived, and too easy – content which is consumed and digested in an instant. Ultimately, if the film behind the controversy and gossip columns is good, is there any need to question the actions

Film & TV | Muse

he allt s e r o l p x e CECILE PIN hero genre r e p u s g in r e conqu

fter first hearing Smallville would end its ten-season run in 2011, I was surprised to hear it was still on in the first place. To me, the popular TV show depicting Superman’s youth seemed outdated and out of place between the more glamorous teen dramas like Gossip Girl and True Blood. However, Arrow – another DC comic superhero show whose protagonist is the billionaire playboy Oliver Queen – started airing the next year. Flash-forward three years, and there is now an array of television series based on Marvel or DC comics. It seems that superhero TV shows have made a tremendous comeback since the Smallville years. Of course, one of the main reasons for this comeback is money-related, as superheroes have proven countless times that they sell. In 2012, The Avengers became the third highest-grossing movie of all time, making more than $1.5bn. In fact, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) twelve films so far have grossed an average of $715m each, making it the highest-grossing franchise of all time. It should come as no surprise, then, that superhero TV shows tend to have similar success. Arrow is now onto its fourth season and was CW's highest-rated new series in five years. It also gave rise to spinoff The Flash, which deals with the eponymous superhero gifted with superhuman speed. It’s interesting how varied this type of television program actually is, with each superhero TV show appealing to a different audience. Gossip Girl fans could more than easily enjoy the jet set glamour and drama of Oliver Queen’s life in The Arrow. Where Marvel films tend to be lighter and funnier (Guardians of the Galaxy or Ant-Man), DC’s are grittier and darker (The Dark Knight). Yet, this contrast is less present in TV shows. DC’s The Flash is quite humorous, and the trailer for their upcoming show Supergirl seems to suggest that they are also taking a lighter approach again. At the same time, I was surprised by the darkness of Marvel’s Daredevil, where the pilot starts with the superhero getting blinded as a child. My personal favourite superhero program has to be Gotham. Naively, I was only planning to watch the pilot to help me write this article, but ended up binge-watching the whole first season in a few days. Based on the Batman mythology, it starts right after the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents, and stars a young Jim Gordon trying to rid Gotham of its crime and corruption. The television format gives an opportunity to delve into many of the franchise’s brilliant villains, including the Riddler, the Penguin, and the notorious Joker. All of Marvel’s shows share the same universe as its films. Daredevil‘s pilot examines New York’s Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood and the rise in criminal activities following The Avengers, with the Mafia taking advantage of its damages. Marvel’s Agents of Shield has the closest tie-in to the MCU. One of the pioneers of this new trend of TV shows, it started airing a year after The Avengers’s success, and includes some of the same actors and plots. The S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s espionage and counter-terrorism agency, can be seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Agents of Shield has covered many of the same plot points as the Marvels films and show how television can be used to expand the Marvel Universe. Superhero television shows have proven worthwhile for both Marvel and DC, as well as viewers, as they both rack in profits and quench the public’s apparently whopping thirst for superheroes.

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MUSE | MUSIC

A brief history of the c SOPHIE HARRIS CHARTS CAMDEN’S RICH MUSICAL HISTORY

amden Town has always been the goto for bands and musical enthusiasts alike. Since as early as the 1960s, it’s been home to generational counter-culture movements, spurred on and soundtracked by the music germinating from inside the walls of its many pubs and venues. Over the decades, musicians have lived in, written about, and been inspired by the musical hub that resides on UCL’s doorstep.

As Camden progressed, new musical styles began to emerge alongside the Irish scene Camden wasn’t always as affluent as modern tourism and ever increasing property prices permits it to be today. In the latter half of the 19th century, Camden became home to many poverty-stricken immigrants, particularly those from Ireland. New clubs and bars quickly opened to cater

to the new residents and their love of traditional folk music. Camden developed into the nucleus of London’s Irish music scene, with Margaret Barry playing on its streets and Jim Reeves singing in its pubs. As the 20th century wore on, this influence persisted, with traditional bands like The Pogues frequenting pubs like the Devonshire Arms during the 1980s and 1990s. As Camden progressed, new musical styles began to emerge alongside the Irish scene. In the mid-1960s, a former railway shed in the north of the borough was converted into what would become The Roundhouse, an internationally iconic concert venue which helped Camden integrate itself into the ever evolving rock’n’roll music scene. Over the years, globally revered musicians performed historic concerts at The Roundhouse. It was where The Doors had their only 1968 UK appearance and where Pink Floyd and Soft Machine performed their famous avant-garde show (somehow incorporating jelly and a motorbike into the set). David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, and Jefferson Airplane all also played at the venue. Led Zeppelin, who often practised their set at The Electric Ballroom next to Camden Town station, played at the Roundhouse numerous times. For smaller bands, pubs like The Monarch, The Dublin Castle, and The Good Mixer also began putting on live music and promoting new talent rising out of Camden. Towards the end of the 1970s, partially

due to the country’s plummeting economy and subsequent rise in unemployment, rock’n’roll began to evolve into a new, angry sub-genre. Dubbed “punk”, it often had an underlying, irate political and social message. Camden was always a poorer borough of London, with many of its residents moving to the area in order to work on the industrial railways that passed through its centre. Punk music, a genre that requires a combination of anger and a desire for collective upheaval, surged in popularity around Camden, producing some of the most respected punk bands in musical history. The Sex Pistols played at many Camden venues and were often seen drinking in many of the pubs. (Sid Vicious’s final performance took place at the Electric Ballroom, where he debuted his iconic and controversial cover of Frank Sinatra’s My Way).

In the 1990s, Camden became the birthplace of Britpop The photography for The Clash’s first al-

MUSIC | MUSE

camden music scene

bum was based in Camden, and they often played venues like Koko and Rehearsal Rehearsals, which is now a part of the Stables Market. Other notable bands that played in the late 1970s and early 1980s were The Stranglers and The Smiths. The influence of Camden even showed up in the music itself, with Morrissey having written Come Back to Camden and The Stranglers having penned Another Camden Afternoon. In the 1990s, with headquarters for huge music corporations like MTV moving into the borough, Camden became the birthplace of Britpop, a genre that would become not only nationally, but also internationally, revered. Noel Gallagher moved from Manchester to live in Camden, and both he and Liam frequented The Good Mixer, seemingly a favourite with Britpop musicians as both Blur and Elastica were also known to visit the pub (some even hint that the renowned Blur-Oasis feud may have begun within its walls). Britpop legends Suede, who formed at UCL and were managed by former student Ricky Gervais, played many small gigs around Camden. They even played at ULU, where the band was known to frequent. Although we can’t still expect to see Damon Albarn ordering a pale ale in The Good Mixer or The Devonshire Arms, it appears that not much has changed in Camden in

the past two decades. Pulp’s Sorted for E’s and Wizz, mentions Camden when singing of acquiring “tickets” for a gig from an inebriated-looking bloke (a figure in no way unfamiliar to those of us who live near Camden Road). Today, a statue of the late Amy Winehouse stands in the Stables Market, solidifying her role as Camden’s most recent ambassador and champion. Many of her first gigs took place in its bars and pubs, notably the Dublin Castle, and she was known to frequent The Hawley Arms and The Good Mixer.

Nowadays, although still a hub for musical activity, Camden has arguably lost its bohemian prowess

house, Carl Barat and Pete Doherty of the Libertines were fixtures of Camden. After dropping out of Queen Mary’s, Doherty moved in with Barat on Camden Road, where they held many of their famous “guerrilla gigs” during which hundreds of people would stuff into their tiny flat to watch them perform. Nowadays, although still a hub for musical activity, Camden has arguably lost its bohemian prowess. It’s ironically that history of alternative music which has spawned the huge tourism market – with stalls selling cheap memorabilia depicting musical icons – that has very much gentrified the area. Although it may have lost some of that unspoiled bohemian vibe, that newer and less affluent boroughs like Dalston and Shoreditch now have, you still don’t have to dig too deep underneath Camden’s comercialiality to find fresh, cool bands. Luckily, many pubs – like the Lock Tavern, which has seen guests such as Adele and Alex Turner – still adhere to the traditional Camden aesthetic of embracing new and unknown bands. Grady Steele, the guitarist of Shark Dentist who lives and gigs in Camden, stresses that most small bands in London still play at its venues. Although he acknowledges the materialistic approach to music that can now be found in Camden, he highlights that its virtue is still displayed in the vast array of music it offers.

Playing around the same time as Wine-

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MUSE | MUSIC

death of ra!o CHOWA NKONDE EXAMINES WHERE TO FIND NEW MUSIC IN THE INTERNET AGE

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MUSIC | MUSE

ince its inception, radio has been a constant presence in the lives of many. Though its influence may have waxed and waned over time, it still remained a popular media platform, even after the advent of the internet. However, as the interconnectivity of the latter created a seamless dialogue among its users, aiding its continuous remodelling and revision, the former has fallen by the wayside. Radio – the great media monolith – has failed to follow the cultural zeitgeist, with a society where attention spans are at a record low and smartphones are at a record high. Even the BBC’s vainglorious attempt to appeal to millennials, replacing Chris Moyles with Nick Grimshaw, could not fend off the departure of nearly a million of its listeners.

Just because traditional radio is fading doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives Fallen from grace, radio as we knew it has been relegated to a last resort – what you turn on once your phone has died and your shared Uber is stuck in traffic. As great as it can be to hear another Whitney cover from the latest winner of a Simon Cowell-owned talent show, it becomes tiresome waiting months for the same three chords song to fall out of public conscience, only to be replaced with something suspiciously similar under a different moniker. Luckily, it has been possible for a number of musical alternatives to thrive. From guerrilla roots, they have managed to curb the growing dissatisfaction of post-Top of the Pops Britain in a way that their predecessor cannot. Just because traditional radio is fading doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives. In the last couple decades, Rinse FM – the London-based powerhouse of underground and club culture which focuses on the latest in grime, house, jungle and other UK-centric dance music – has shown itself to be a constant provider of new music and a firm favourite. Many music lovers have sought refuge in the murky waters of pirate radio, where Rinse also began. Having only been awarded its license five years ago, the

ex-pirate radio station has spent the past 20 years blasting radio waves from kitchens and bedrooms. By filling the gap between what the mainstream radio broadcasts and what listeners want to listen to, Rinse has become a mainstay for those with a Wi-Fi connection and an interest in discovering new music. Its success is typified by regular takeovers of key London spaces, including the Tate Britain. Staying dedicated to promoting new and exciting artists, it has showcased sets by SOPHIE MSMSMS, the genre-defying PC-Music affiliate, and workshops by bass-heavy grime producer Mumdance, all against the landscapes of J.M.W. Turner. In addition to pirate radio, the internet is a popular media platform for those that chose to eschew the radio waves altogether. NTS Radio and Just Jam are two examples of online radio stations that have taken advantage of the freedom of the internet to broadcast a diverse range of music, both new and old. NTS Radio, a fiercely independent station, was born out of the frustration of major music label influence in commercial radio. Starting out as a blog (nutstosoup.com), its mission is “to fill a void in the community of musically minded progressive thinking people in London,” and provide a “platform for the impassioned.” Providing content 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the radio station broadcasts live shows run by a variety of different DJs and artists, all carefully selected by the NTS team and its regular hosts. With support from the likes of Four Tet, Theo Parrish, and Skepta, the online station aims to provide both cutting-edge music and classical influences, resulting in a blend of vinyl deep-cuts and unreleased material. Although it doesn’t solely focus on music, offering a platform for the socially conscious to explore ideas at the intersection of music, art, and society. Just Jam is an anarchic online audio-visual playground for artists and fans alike, which claims to be “streaming straight from the underground to the internet.” It teams characteristically trippy lo-fi visuals with experimental performances from a variety of well known and more obscure artists – many of whom have attributed their appearances as a rite of passage. Its co-creators, Tim & Barry, have been attracting listeners since 2009 on dontwatchthat.tv. The site regularly broadcasts performances from a range of artists, with a special focus on UK-centric dance music, alongside interviews and guest mixes on its many different channels at any point in time.

Teetering on saturation, Just Jam provides a wealth of new and exciting content, although teething problems have seen many a modem struggle to cope. If you can stand the bandwidth, I’d highly recommend. Just Jam has fast become an essential for electronic music heads seeking new sounds from the underground. Having steadily made a name for itself beyond its online cult following, Just Jam has successfully hosted live events at the V&A, London College of Fashion, and very nearly the Barbican (before the Metropolitan Police shut it down).

KEXP does not shy away from posting a minimalist techno track one day and a synthsoaked psychedelic track the next As for those wanting offline access to new music straight to their device, KEXP FM is an excellent Seattle-based radio station. In addition to the radio station, it boasts five podcasts that are all free to subscribe to and is known for uploading full-length songs, live performances, and DJ-curated mixes. The station’s content spans cities and genres, playing the best new music from London, Brooklyn, California, and the Pacific Northwest. Offering a widely varied range of musical content, KEXP does not shy away from posting a minimalist techno track one day and a synth-soaked psychedelic track the next. Finally, there’s Apple Music, the tech giant’s latest foray into online streaming. With the free three-month trial you get access to 24/7 radio shows broadcasting from New York, London, and LA (the latter two hosted by Zane Lowe and Julie Adenuga, respectively). The streaming service knows its target audience and has booked internationally celebrated radio DJs known for playing the best in new music accordingly. And, if all else fails, Tidal is looking for subscribers.

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E E R H U T D T N A A ER

MuseMuse | Literature | Literature

LIT

SECOND WORLD WAR jack ford explores popular depictions of the war and what they did for our national consciousness

ooden beams lay splintered along the ground, the classical artwork desecrated, each drop of paint, each delicate stroke blasted from the walls. A student stumbles through the remains of this fallen university – lecture halls stand lifeless, the building an empty shell, devoid of learning. He identifies countless casualties of war, not people, but books, the shredded remains of great thinkers: philosophers, historians, scientists, novelists, and poets alike fill this literary graveyard. Their sentences and words have been burnt and burst open by shrapnel, the fiery wind cauterising the paper limbs of Shakespeare with the amputated pages of Wordsworth – all now one pile of literary confetti.

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Welcome to UCL, class of 1941 While this may read like the introduction to a bad novel, (I know my creative writing needs some work), this destruction was real. This really happened. Welcome to UCL, class of 1941. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a conflict that did more damage to UCL than any other British university or college, its central location putting it at risk from repeated air

raids from September 1940 to April 1941. Students were required to assist their professors with the reconstruction of lecture rooms and staff quarters. However, like the crumbling edifice of the Gower Street campus in need of reconstruction after six years of war, Bloomsbury and London would become the centre of a postwar literary renaissance. That isn’t to say existing literature hasn’t been challenged by war before. The modern period of literature (1900-1945) helped break down traditional social norms of behaviour, encouraged the search for truths and deeper meanings, and was almost certainly shepherded in by the First World War.

literature Muse Literature | Muse The war’s poets in particular, figures such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, were the precursors of a new literary vanguard which challenged the popular image of war as patriotic and exciting. Inspired by his own experience of trench warfare during the First World War, Owen’s Anthem for Doomed Youth, in which funeral bells mourn boys who “die as cattle,” and his vivid first person account in Dulce et Decorum Est of poison gas causing soldiers to drown “under a green sea… guttering, choking, drowning,” were powerful images that helped place Lord Kitchener’s famous propaganda under public scrutiny, begging the question: what did English soldiers really sacrifice their lives for? The Bloomsbury Group, an influential collection of early 20th century English writers, philosophers, and intellectuals based on UCL’s doorstep helped cement modern attitudes towards a number of issues, among them pacifism. In addition to members like John Maynard Keynes and E. M. Forster, the group boasted Virginia Woolf, whose character of Septimus Warren Smith in Mrs Dalloway, a sufferer of shellshock, highlighted the darker side of postwar life.

soldiers like Septimus weren’t included in grand narrative of Britain, having represented a stain on the prestige of empire. Once enamoured with Shakespeare, Septimus is ironically not depicted as part of a Henry V’s “band of brothers”, nor will he cry “For Harry, England and St George!” Rather, he is portrayed by Woolf as another casualty of the Great War – not a hero, but a burden. He’s declared clinically insane and

promptly packaged away to a mental institution, as he’s a constant reminder of the horrors of war. As Woolf shows, soldiers like Septimus weren’t included in grand narrative of Britain, having represented a stain on the prestige of empire.

THE PRECURSORS OF A NEW LITERARY VANGUARD: WILFRED OWEN AND SIEGFRIED SASSOON

And the same kind of shift that occurred post-1918 also occurred post-1945. No event was more influential in triggering the rise of what we now call “postmodernism” than the Second World War. With multiple wars being fought on separate frontiers on virtually all continents, newfound globalisation shifted the literary focus to the more ambiguous, contradictory, and fragmented problems of an increasingly interconnected world.

Our obsession with war has continued. Poems such as Keith Douglas’s Vergissmeinicht (German for “Forget-me-not”) emphasise war’s destruction of relationships, while famed Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko’s Party Card and Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel Catch-22 both explore the more psychological aspect to conflict – literature that became popular with teenagers during the Vietnam War of the 1960s.

THE BLOOMSBURY GROUP: VIRGINIA WOOLF AND E.M. FORSTER

Possibly because of the flood of conflicts that occurred during the second half of the 20th century, our obsession with war has continued. As Brian Turner’s 2005 poem Here, Bullet shows, the horrors he witnessed during the Iraq War – which he portrays through the personification of a bullet’s “inexorable flight” through the air, the bullet’s desire for “bone and gristle, and flesh,” and the “insane puncture into heat and blood” – can conjure up images similar to those of Wilfred Owen. On 8th May this year, the UK paused to reflect upon Victory in Europe Day. To mark the occasion, many of us read or listened to novels and poetry depicting both war and peace written over the last 70 years, showing that the sacrifice of the soldier – past, present, and future – will forever be immortalised through the evolving literary zeitgeist.

From top to bottom, left to right: London readers continue to browse at a bombed-out Library caused by WWII - Holland House, Kensington, London, 1940 (Photo credit: Wikimedia Creative Commons) Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster by Dora Carrington (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

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MUSE | Literature

CA M P U S N o v e l s George Washbourn examines the gulf between fiction and reality

he best literature is often that which reflects your life in some way – characters and plot lines with a relatable edge in which you can see aspects of your own life or personality. The Bell Jar for the affected, 1984 for the politically suspicious, Lolita for the, well, chronically perverted. Whatever it may be, literature can provide both diverting and pertinent situations which provide a mirror, and potentially guidance, for one’s own predicament.

But, how does the fiction match up to the reality? New students to UCL curious as to what lies in store might refer to online blogs, prospectus accounts, or university students they know personally. The more literary among them, though, may take inference from so called “campus novels” – narratives primarily set at a university. With their idyllic portrayals of scintillating conversations by a fireside, sipping port, and discussing Foucault’s perception of the other, it’s enough to hurriedly wish that final school summer holiday away. But, how does the fiction match up to the reality? Take John Williams’ rediscovered American classic Stoner. As a university professor himself, Williams must have had a good idea as to the realities of university life. Set in a middling midwestern university, the eponymous William Stoner discovers his deep-seated love for English literature while taking a subsidiary as part of his de-

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gree in agriculture. Bidding farewell to his familial farmer background, he pursues a career in literary research and academia, never really amounting to much, marrying the wrong woman, and dying a perfunctorily satisfied man. With his beautiful prose, Williams shows the passion a student can have for their subject and the rapturous love one may find when studying a Shakespearean sonnet, understanding a tricky equation, or (knowing UCL), reading Marx for the first time. What Williams fails to mention is the amount of rubbish compulsory modules you have to contend with. The PSHE of higher education that encourages you to harvest “transferable skills” when you’d much rather just be concentrating on what you actually came to university to study. Even worse is Willy Russel’s Educating Rita. Although a play, this much beloved piece and its cinematic adaptation tells the story of Rita, a working class Liverpudlian undertaking an open university course in literature. Set entirely in her tutor’s office, Rita goes from shrinking violet to sashaying her way down the winding vista of literature and emerges a blossoming literary flower. A story for the disheartened masses, no doubt, but its social politics could not be disconcertingly further from reality. With close to 40 per cent of UCL’s student cohort having studied at private schools, you’re far more likely to hear about Daddy’s yacht and Italian timeshare than of the gritty streets of Liverpool. What Russel does show well is academics’ proclivity for dysfunctionality – the archetypal despair that comes from an incessant life of big thinking and study. Scratch the surface of any department and there’s bound to be a layer of existential angst punctuating its daily life.

Perhaps the most famous campus novel is Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, a veritable hymn for the aristocracy of old and a look into the social inequity that top universities unhelpfully perpetuate. Set at a fictional Oxford University college and centred around the aristocratic Lord Marchmain, what was intended as a coy satire is stirringly close to the dark truth of higher education – if your school wasn’t frequented by noblemen and at least 150 years old, you’re likely to be in the minority. Sure, UCL is not as bad as Oxbridge, but beneath our external shell of socialist politics and anti-austerity protests lies the stirring inevitability of a prospective reversion to conservatism.

No one text can truly summarise the multifaceted nature of a university experience No one text can truly summarise the multifaceted nature of a university experience. University can be a life altering time in your life – a time in which you meet your friends for life, forge a path for the future, and discover who you really are and where your passions really lie. Each experience for each individual is just that – individual. Though, you may not have to look too far to find the literary tropes of campus novels lurking on the periphery.

Pi Poetry | MUse

extant I took the train to Golderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Green on a bright autumn morning; CondensationFramed the train carriage. Rivulets dissipating As we picked up speed, Cleaving through A crisp morning air. All the leavesCloaked the ground: Laid out carefully, An elaborate tapestry. ExtantFor just a fraction of a second, A still moment, For only the early risers to see.

by ALICE HILLS

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