INSIDE: Film | Opinion | Report | Advice | Review | Societies
THE
ISSUE 26 FREE
QUINTIN HOGG Quintessential fortnightly comment from University of Westminster students.
LAD CULTURE By Imran Sanaullah & Anonymous The phrase “he’s such a lad” gets thrown about a lot, but there is a real issue around lad culture in Universities. Lad culture has been a point of focus for the National Union of Students (NUS), Universities and Students’ Unions (SU) throughout the country. The attitude created by lad culture is one you would have hoped we had left in the 80s, but unfortunately laddish behaviour is popular and on the rise. So, what is ‘Lad Culture’? The term ‘lad’ is a very innocent one just meaning ‘guy’, but the meaning of lad has changed considerably. The modern understanding of being a ‘lad’ is a person that largely does things for a laugh and the greatest issue is the misogynistic attitude. Lad culture has led to young men objectifying women by verbally abusing and giving women offensive nicknames. The real growth of lad culture has mostly occurred due to young men wanting to impress their peers, thus seeming ‘laddish’. Unfortunately, this attitude is being regarded as normal due to the amount of young men acting in such a way and being pushed by friends to act similarly. The term “new lad” was formed by journalist Sean O’Hagan in a 1993 article which symbolised a new postmodern masculine behaviour. Men’s magazines; Maxim, FHM and Loaded were examples and influenced the return of hegemonic masculine values of sexism and male homosociality (Faludi, Susan (2000) p. 594). The modern era saw the rise of feminism and the rights of equality being fought for; some men saw themselves as battered by feminism, one could also consider that “laddishness is a response to humiliation and indignity… the girl-power! Girl-power! Female triumphalism which echoes through the land” (Weldon, p. 61) Part of “the postmodern transformation of masculinity…the 1990s ‘new lad’ was a clear reaction to the ‘new man’… most clearly embodied in current men’s magazines, such as Maxim, FHM and Loaded, and marked by a return to hegemonic masculine values of sexism and male homosociality”, which meant that this was a renovation to create a new masculine identity. Lad culture grew beyond men’s magazines to movies such as Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and to the TV sitcoms; Men Behaving Badly, The Inbetweeners and Fantasy Football League. These were
television programmes present images of Laddishness that are dominated by the male pastimes of drinking, watching football, and sex. These are presented as being ironic and “knowing”. The Issue A recent University leaflet in LSE described women as “mingers”, “trollops” and “slags”. A BBC poll in September showed that more than onethird had seen promotional materials around University that featured sexualised images of women. Because of such language becoming more and more common in Universities, a recent poll showed that half of all women asked felt uncomfortable in Universities due to laddish culture. In response to this issue, the NUS held a ‘Lad Culture Summit’ in 2012. The report from this meeting showed that 75% of women felt like laddish behaviour affected their lives. Being in the 21st century, you would expect the youth of today to treat women equally, but lad culture enables discrimination and objectification of women to continue. Diane Abbott MP said: ‘It is important that the government and Universities listen to what students are saying, and challenge any normalisation of sexism on University campuses. This isn’t about being killjoys, but about building a society where people can learn and thrive free from shame, harassment and abuse. Polly Williams, (Senior Policy Adviser, Equality Challenge Unit) said: “A dominant ‘lad culture’ may also damage the student experience of many male students, who either feel that they have to conform, or become disengaged from campus life to avoid it.” The rise of the new lad coincided with a backlash against feminism by both men and women, and in particular against the figure of the new man as “one who has subjugated his masculinity in order to fulfil the needs of women…this passive and insipid image”. At a time when “the stereotypes for men attentive to feminism were two: Eunuch, or Beast”, – and when women were increasingly feeling that “new men are fine in the kitchen, but who wants them in the bedroom?” – the “new lad” image offered “a space of fun, consumption and sexual freedom for men”, as well as “a refuge from the constraints and demands of marriage and nuclear family”.
Lad culture in the 21st century is heavily embedded in to social media from Facebook pages and websites such as LAD bible and UniLad has been a source of influence to promote that this type of norm. These websites are easily accessible containing videos of football, violence and even people making a fool out of them, and is considered to be funny.
This issue
Moviefest
The Solution? The solution, in my opinion, is pretty simple … respect. To remove lad culture, young men need to be the change and give women the respect that they deserve and expect. No one deserves to be objectified and violated just for a laugh or to fit in. In short, grow a pair and give some respect. The NUS are working on the arranging compulsory training and workshops; this has already implemented in Oxford University Student Union and their Union has recently made it compulsory for sports societies to undergo training around lad culture, thus people become aware and conscious about it.
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Zoe Sugg
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Eva Wiseman, a Guardian writer specialising in women’s health, claimed this to be a start of a solution: “It’s to try to wobble the dominating culture by pointing out that it’s one of many. That it is challengeable. Speak-up-against-able. So that students realise, when they feel themselves riding that banterous wave down North Street, that it’s possible to swim against it, and if not, to roll off down a slipstream, down to the water where it’s quiet.” University of Bath’s Students’ Union President, Jordan Kenny, tackled the issue by allowing: •
Increased visibility of Lad Culture to the student body.
•
Training for student leaders on what Lad Culture is, how it affects student groups and students, what can be done to tackle it, and how to report issues
•
North Korean Art
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An increase in participation from key demographics in student groups.
See more at: www.bathstudent.com/blogs/blog/ su_president_blog/2014/09/03/NationalUnion-of-Students-Lad-Culture-StrategyTeam-Update/#sthash.bp3cfAIK.dpuf
Book review
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THE
EDITORIAL QH Hello and welcome to the first issue of theQH 2015!
Contributors
Ash Chetri Poonam Masih Imran Sanaullah Sehrish Ahmed Natasha Sporn Editor in chief
By Natasha Sporn
I’ve been writing for the QH since before I even properly enrolled at the University of Westminster. My first article – I believe on the fee hike – was written mid-August 2012 while I would have to wait for the September to be officially inducted into the realms of Westminster. I write regularly for the paper (and now edit it!) and I love having the platform to write about what I want and talk about what I think or something I do. I also hope that somebody will read my articles and the paper and be inspired to get involved. Maybe angered by a piece and have to do a rebuttal. Or maybe agreed with a piece and wants to develop it further or turn it on its head and present a different view. It’s important to be able to have this freedom of speech and expression and I am immensely proud that we do. That is why I think it’s important to get involved. I’m taking up more editorial and recruitment roles with the paper this year – mainly the latter – and I want
people to join our small team of writers because variety is key. We want to know what your take is on current affairs and international relations. Your take on the latest sporting events or scandal. Your insight into culture and society or your experience of it. Or maybe you’re involved with a society and you want to talk about what’s coming up events wise. I never appreciated the amount of work the Student Union have and just how exhausting it must be. I also never realised how amazing they are dealing with it all. I’m a president myself this year and it’s hard work and, for me, writing for the Student Union paper is now a small way I can give back to the team behind me who make my life a little less stressful. I actively encourage other society committee members to write for the QH and tell us what’s going on in your society and what you are about. Tell us what you are planning and how students can get involved in that – because I am sure students want to get involved but don’t always know how. Or maybe you pulled off an amazing event and want to brag about it! I don’t care, I just want to read it! We all do. Maybe you’ve picked up the Daily
Mail and found yourself infuriated by an article you just have to get your tuppenceworth in so put it in here. Or perhaps there was a rally near your house or outside university that you want to express your view on. Here is your space. Anybody can write for the QH as a student of the university and, as a writer, I believe everybody has the ability to send us in a fantastic article. Don’t think we’re not interested because nothing like it has ever featured before – rubbish! We’re always looking for new ideas, opinions, reviews and facts. We can make whatever it is work. What better way to start the New Year than by getting involved in a new project? So please don’t be afraid to approach us and get involved. Send us an idea and we’ll help you develop it or send us an article for us to publish. We’re always looking for more writers to shape our new direction, and I reckon you could be one. Natasha Sporn
FAI R Marylebone The QH - UWSU @THEQH_
Learning Platform 35 Marylebone Road, London. NW1 5LS 10am-4pm | 13th January, 2015
Harrow The Forum Watford Road, Northwick Park, Harrow. HA1 3TP 10am-4pm | 15th January, 2015
University of Westminster Harrow Campus Cavendish Campus Marylebone Campus Regent Street Campus Little Titchfield Street & Well Street Campus
@westminstersu
www.uwsu.com
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FILM
UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER STUDENTS CLEAN UP AT MOVIEFEST CAMPUS!
It was a night of triumph on Sunday’s Campus MovieFest, as Westminster students scooped an amazing three awards. The event, which took place at London’s Cineworld Haymarket, is the world’s largest student film festival, providing students from select UK campuses with free equipment, training, and music. It’s the second time that UWSU have organised the prestigious event. ‘The Sculpted‘, a short film tackling the issue of Female Genital Mutilation, took the prize for Best Picture, whilst ‘Silent T‘ took Best Drama and Best Production Design went to ‘Girl in Closet’ Silent T highlights some of the everyday difficulties faced by those who identify as trans*, and has received support from equality charity Stonewall.
Other films by Westminster students shown throughout the day were: • • • • • • • •
Sunday by Lindani Tuesday by Post-west Production Caterpillar by Pedro Takahashi’s Crew Milk by The Comedy Society Lost Time by Mustafa Sam Wandi’s Crew Human by Matthew’s Crew Impermanence by Luisa Strupat The Phone Call by Mina Afk hani’s Team
Congratulations to all the filmmakers, and to all those at UWSU who helped to organise the event!
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DISCUSSION
UWSU
Holds First Course Rep Forums
The Research Representation & Welfare Team (RRW) of the Student Union organised the first Course Representative forums on the 9th and 10th of December.
helpful if their sabbatical officer engaged with Course Reps and be available to them for help and support.
The Forums provide a great opportunity for Reps to feedback to the Student Union on the many issues that they are dealing with on behalf of students. They also provide a space where Reps can get to know each other whilst sharing information and exchanging ideas . Some Reps took the opportunity to discuss the different ways of gaining feedback and support around particular issues that they may be involved with. Suggestions included the writing of articles for the QH to raise awareness, creating surveys or petitions, or having meetings with other Reps before Committee meetings to discuss different viewpoints and so be better prepared. It was also suggested that it would be
Success stories were also highlighted one example, included how Reps at one campus successfully managed to get a deadline for an assessment extended, a measure that will benefit all the students doing that particular module. They also talked about what steps they could take to improve the level of exam preparedness of students on their courses as well as getting access to their examination scripts. How can a student set up a course based society was just one of the many questions that was asked of the student Union. The benefits of course based societies were explained and Reps were linked up with the appropriate Student Union staff member. At the end of the forums Reps expressed how useful they were and many expressed a wish to keep in touch with each other.
Calling all student graphic designers, photographers, reporters and copywriters.
Expand your portfolio | Improve your skills | Work on live projects| Showcase your work Graphic designers, you will be given the opportunity to contribute your own ideas and designs on a variety of print projects. Photographers, you will be assigned projects that will involve covering live events, social activities and general photography.
Reporters, the QH needs stories! We would like you to report and contribute on the following subjects: • Fashion • Music • Celebrities • Politics • Television • Technology • Science • Travel • Food • Home affairs • Foreign affairs • Finance • Culture • Relationships • Local news • Events • Business • Health • Going out • Puzzles • Sport • Other subjects of interest.
Copywriters, you will be responsible for delivering clear and concise messages, working alongside reporters creating punchy and memorable stories.
To join our creative team please email your details to: theqh@su.westminster.ac.uk
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OPINION & SOCIETIES Youtube star Zoe Sugg By Poonam Masih Youtube star Zoe Sugg – also known as Zoella - has fast become a literary sensation with her debut novel Girl Online. Zoella who is famous for her blogs and tutorials online has now created a novel that has reportedly become the fastest selling book of the year with 78,000 copies being sold in the first week. Not only that, the sales of Girl Online has surpassed those first week debut sales of literary heavyweights, J.K Rowling and Dan Brown. With such a positive achievement, it was no surprise that the media was ready and waiting to document the fall out. Not long after the sales figures were published, news broke out that Zoe had Westminster Entrepreneurial Society The University of Westminster has been the foundation for successful entrepreneurs through the years; Jeffrey Hyman, Vivienne Westwood and Christopher Bailey, to name a few of them. Every year, a pool of creative and motivated minds pass through the doors of the University of Westminster willing to work more than expected to make their dreams and ideas a reality. A 2nd year business student aimed to tap into that potential by launching a society that would act as a platform for dedicated entrepreneurs to grow. February 2014 the Westminster Entrepreneurial Society was born out of the sheer determination and commitment of Andrea Tassistro (President & Founder).
not wrote the novel herself and had in fact had help from a ghost writer. Many journalists were quick to shame Zoella stating she had been lying to her fans. However, Zoe was very open about her work being a collaboration stating, ‘everyone needs help when they try something new.’ Zoella is most famous for her makeup tutorial videos and has spent 6 years on the internet building herself a large dedicated fanbase. With Zoe’s fame came the agents, marketing team and ultimately the Zoella brand. I feel the negative media attention stems from the idea that Zoella as a brand is becoming more impersonal with editorial teams and collaborations taking away from the individuality of Zoe which made her famous. Unfortunately, the negative media attention outweighs the good, most probably because it gets more attention and reaction. Ultimately, Zoe Sugg’s created an idea for a novel and someone else, a professional writer who has more experience and knowledge,
was paid to help her - other than that this story has been unnecessarily sensationalised. But the topic was worth mentioning as it is a clear example of the power of social media, the success of a young entrepreneur and brings into question the motives of online journalism. I have actually brought the novel for my young teenage cousin for Christmas. I have not read the book myself, but I imagine it to be an embodiment of the Zoella brand which would mean bright, cheerful and happy with a sensible moral aimed at her target audience. Not every book has to be an authentic masterpiece of complex literary experimentation or a purge of unadulterated emotion; reading is simply about having an open mind to enjoy a story and Girl Online will no doubt get more young people reading.
NI) sharing their experience in the start-up environment. Next year, the society has planned various events to engage the students through workshops, competitions and talks. We would like to extend an invitation to all young entrepreneurs to polish their presentation skills for pitching competitions we have organised through our partners for you.
ostriches and okay, being student at times makes us feels like our brains have shrunk to the same size as an ostrich brain but come on, that really takes the biscuit when it comes to a lack of awareness of surroundings. The Law Society is one of the biggest societies at the University and in terms of what we have to offer, we pack a punch.
Upcoming Event We would like to officially invite you to the 3rd event of the year, a live talk with several entrepreneurs followed by a networking session taking place on the 25th February 2015.
With the workshops and events we do over the academic year, we try to give students an insight into the legal industry, helping to fill the grey areas that students may be unsure about but at the same time, we try to keep things interesting and proactive, with externals speakers from both legal and nonlegal backgrounds sometimes making appearances at our events to give you guys the best experience possible plus you don’t even have to be a law student in order to get involved, we’re not some elitist society full of snobs running the show telling people just how wonderful and important they are, that would be ludicrous and definitely not the image we’d trying to be pulling off. Keeping in the loop with the activities of The Law Society is so easy, even your nans and granddads would be able to do it. You can find us on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/wminlawsociety?fref=ts), Twitter (https://twitter.com/ WminLawSociety), Instagram (http:// instagram.com/wminlawsociety/), we even have our own website (http://www. wminlawsociety.co.uk/) where you can find our blog called The Law Report, our newsletter as well as seeing our sponsors, supporters and see who the executive are so whenever we have any upcoming activities, it’ll be hard for you not to know what’s going on.
One year later, the society is rapidly growing, attracting more and more students, and exceeding all prior expectations. The board includes 12 dedicated members, from various different educational backgrounds that have come together to share the passion and manage an exquisite elite community. With the support of Jane Chang, we have been able to host events effectively and efficiently to the best of our abilities.
Join Us We welcome students to become active members and join the communications, marketing, events organisation and finance teams. Not only will it be a learning experience but also an opportunity to enhance your CV. Please contact us via our Twitter handle (@ WesEntSoc), Facebook (Westminster Entrepreneurial Society) or e-mail us at entrepreneurial.soc@su.westminster. ac.uk. Join us & spread the word! We look forward to working with brighter and more creative minds. Follow us for daily updates, and more information regarding upcoming events
The society has moved on from one success to another, fulfilling the mission of creating a network within the community that provides a support to entrepreneurial minds. The academic year was officially opened with the first event - Entrepreneurship Day 1 that played host to 2 growing start-ups (Adverdose & IGOTDIS) and an Alumni venture capitalist Monika Gierszewska. It was an incredible gathering for the society itself and all the guest that have attended, which gave even more motivation and energy for the future events. Not long after that, the Risk it for a biscuit: Resource management talks event took place, with guests such as Jeffrey Hyman, Rasha Khawaja (Toucan) , Ieva Baltalksne (Future Healthcare
The Law Society Yo what’s up guys, Forgive me if I end up babbling on as if there’s no tomorrow as I happen to be prone to getting very carried away. I can’t help it, when some poor, unfortunate soul asks me to write about something, I have to put them out of their misery and bury them with words and I can assure you, I won’t stop until I’m properly satisfied that there are swimming with the words there’s so many of them. Anyway, away from my mini tirade, I wanted to tell you guys about The Law Society and…..wait a minute, some of you might not even know The University of Westminster even had a law society, if so, please can you refrain from sticking your heads in the grounds, you’re not
Juggling all the responsibilities that come with being a student can be at times stressful but I guess the advantage of having a campus in the centre of London is that there will always at least a million things to do to take your mind into a happy state, away from the books thick enough to send you to hospital if hit
over the head with one, away from the libraries that drain the life out of out and make you wonder whether or not you signed up for the right degree and away from the people that drive you up the wall and into insanity, regardless of whether they be fellow students, tutors or lecturers, at times it’s a dog eat dog world, trust no one, if you’re had several cans of Red Bull without getting sleep for a few days then without doubt trust no one in case some sick bastard takes your last can and you need that extra little bit of energy to finish that coursework due in a few hours. Hopefully next year, we will offer more opportunities for students to get involved with The Law Society but remember, this is only for students who are members of the society. If you are one of the unlucky ones who unfortunately spent a lot of their time burying their heads in the ground, hoping everything would be better after lifting your heads up, just go to our website, go to ‘Join Us’ and in a few clicks, sort out your membership otherwise you’re pretty much exactly like the kid in school who forgot his P. E. kit so has to sit on the side-lines watching on whilst everyone else gets to enjoy running back and forth under the P. E. parachute. If you have any questions or queries, our email address is law.soc@ su.westminster.ac.uk. Thanks for reading and see you guys around. Dwayne. Karate Club Here are some photos from our main event, Summer School and Winter Camp 2014.
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REPORT A rare insight into North Korea through the medium of art. What truth lies beneath the brushstrokes of a North Korean painter? Join me as I visit the North Korean embassy to review London’s first Pyongyang-backed art exhibition. By Ash Chetri
It is the most repressive state on the planet. What North Korea projects to the world usually masks the reality of torture, imprisonment, and death. For decades, artform has been exploited as a vehicle for propaganda in the hermit nation. Where only absolute devotion to the supreme leader, and praise of all things North Korean, is permitted. According to human rights groups, that devotion is the result of conditioning from birth — and fear of execution or imprisonment in inhumane labour camps. Escape is fraught with danger, as defectors such asYeonmi Park will testify. The vast majority of defectors that are caught in China are usually deported back to the North Korean authorities, as Beijing’s stance on escapees are that of ‘illegal immigrants’ as opposed to political refugees. The deportee’s whereabouts thereafter remain ‘unknown’, and therefore most likely face death. The horror persists for female defectors as most that are caught tend to be trafficked as sex slaves, and ultimately raped. Girls as little as 13-years old are enslaved by traffickers in China, and it is believed that at least 200,000 North Korean defectors are hiding in the country. With this in mind, the very thought of attending an art exhibition backed by the very regime that perpetuated this for 60 years, became an incredibly powerful cognitive dissonance. I didn’t want to go for the reasons aforementioned, but at the same time, I can appreciate that the road to peace lies within human understanding. We mustn’t alienate the people and isolate them even further from the global society. I felt that we all could play a part in encouraging the North to celebrate the pathway to ‘normality’ through this very raw form of human communication that is art. This was enough to somewhat resolve my internal conflict and finally head off.
The Embassy of the DPRK in London.
I boarded a train from the University and stood for the entire journey, with the train and my mind rattling alike. When the station arrived, I reluctantly got off, proceeded up the stairs and out the station, roughly in the direction of the Embassy. Despite having walked this path for 16 years, the pure significance of the event brought a sense of novelty. Every step felt different. Almost every step that is, until the fluttering flag of the DPR of Korea came into view. The piercing hues of red, blue, and white is a noticeable sight to most residents in the vicinity. Not knowing what to expect, I took a deep
breath and opened the door. Entering the Embassy, it is immediately clear that this is no ordinary government building. Firstly, despite the small property being inundated with DPRK personnel, the only thing that greets you is a large painting of an albino Siberian Tiger beaming into your eyes. Secondly, and much to my delight, upon arrival I was not met with a pat down, nor did I have to go through a metal detector. For a country that is famously regarded as being a tightly controlled state, the embassy appeared fairly modest in its security. Though oddly enough, not one of the numerous officials at the Embassy was a woman. In fact, there wasn’t a single
A young girl wearing a Magnolia on her school uniform. The national flower of the DPRK.
North Korean woman in sight. None of the female artists featured in the exhibition were present either. I found this to be incredibly bizarre, but it made sense. With the almost-fatherly portraits of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il perched eerily on the wall, glaring back at you in a cream-coloured room made of predominantly male artists and officials, it becomes ever more apparent that this is a society of extreme patriarchal hierarchy. And in the company of such hosts, it doesn’t take long for one to arrive to this conclusion. As defector Jihyun Park quotes:
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REPORT “Women’s rights are a critical indicator of where a country’s human rights stand.” Yet the majority of people that were featured in the artwork were women. Paradoxical as it was, the entire situation felt like an episode of Mad Men. It brought me back into a time where fewer women were granted work due to the dated notion of women as delicate, beautiful, objects that exist exclusively for the pleasure of men to enjoy. Be it in artform, or in wider society.
Admittedly, with my fairly limited understanding of the North, I could only conclude that as the nation began isolating itself from the Western world, these remnants of the 1950s (when outside influence started to become constrained) endured within their cultural consciousness. One can see it in their soviet-style architecture, clothing, music, automobiles, and technology. But most of all, North Korean TV tends to only broadcast hagiographies of the two leaders and pictures celebrating the country’s army, model farms, and model villages. With the majority of the populace being banned from using the internet, this is indeed a nation that appears to be frozen in time.
Though at the Embassy, one thing that stood out amongst the murky grey uniforms was a bright red badge depicting the founder of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung, that all the officials donned. But apart from this, there was not a single noticeable aspect of them that was stereotypically ‘North Korean’. I had also learnt that various North Korean expatriates who have the privilege to live to London (either through diplomatic activities or to study, as with the children of the DPRK elite) are surprisingly ‘normal’.
Normality started to become a recurring theme from then on. I was told the painters were given creative freedom during their brief stay in London to
paint the landscape and people of the city. Mr Hong and three others travelled from the North Korean capital on an unprecedented artistic mission where they wandered the city, painting subjects of interest in their path.
‘Oh! I understand now’, assures Kim Hun, ‘it was because of this occasion.’
‘Oh that one?’, Kim Hun asks as he points to Hong Song’s work depicting two blonde girls giggling beside the river Thames, ‘It’s very normal. Very natural.’ The composition did not lie. This entire collection was indeed the essence of London. With this piece, Hong Song has captured a very natural moment outside North Korea. As a result, this forced me to question: If the artists could capture our city in such an honest manner (in a short amount of time), could the images of the North also bear the same pattern of truths?
There is something very powerful, something very human about art. For art tends to evoke a universal response that resonates in all of us. Weather that is a positive or negative response is dependent on interpretation. Nevertheless, the appreciation (or lack of) for the qualities that make art ‘art’ is entirely human. And so for once, the people of North Korea appeared very much like one of us. Very much, dare I say, ‘human’.
I then go on to further add, ‘Also, we buy these poppies and wear them every November to remember the lives lost. The money raised is donated to charity for the veterans.’
The theme soon returned back to Korean culture. There were various mediums used. I particularly enjoyed the embroidery of the temple & shrine among a backdrop of snow in the Korean winter. The theme from this section of the room threw back to the time when the Koreas were united as one nation. The land of Choseon is what the North has always represented for me, and to see it in artform was a fascinating experience.
‘Ah, that’s a good thing’, replies Kim Hun. That surprised me the most. For this wasn’t a man who’s been living in the United Kingdom for a set number of years, and as a result, has been climatised to Western ideals. This was the a man who only just arrived a week ago. This was a man whose artistry has the approval from the powers in Pyongyang. And yet, is clearly capable to form opinions of his own accord. Everything I understood of the people of North Korea came crashing down in one conversation.
“You get the sense, in London, that around the corner of every street there is such life — such history, combined with such modernity” said Kim Hun.
To me, the extraordinary painting of the 888,246 ceramic poppies painted by a North Korean, is deeply significant. Mostly because, the Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red portrays the context of grievance in Western military history. Up until then, I had assumed that every North Korean was conditioned to express the utmost hatred for the West. This North Korean seemed very somber at the thought of the loss of British & Allied lives.
“We had to go to the highest possible levels in Pyongyang to get approval for this,” said David Heather, a Surrey-based Soviet art historian who has visited North Korea several times and has masterminded the exhibition. “I believe culture has an enormously important role to play in developing relationships between people. And, for want of a better word, it shows that North Korean people are ‘normal’.
The artists were from the Mansudae studio, which was founded in 1959 and currently has 700 artists. Only the most talented graduates from North Korean universities are entitled to join, and the studio has been specially chosen by Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader, to provide portraits of him and his family. I began to ponder on the destiny of the artworks on display, so I pressed Kim Hun with another question, “What will become of the artwork in this exhibition? Will they be sold or auctioned off to buyers?”
‘This event marks 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War’, I explain. “It’s like Pyongyang,” added Ho Jaesung. “Full of beautiful things and beautiful people.”
Continued from Page 8
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REPORT
The Embassy of the DPRK in London.
‘Yes’, he said, ‘All of the art featured here will be sold in Pyongyang’. Knowing that the North is a communist state, this wasn’t exactly the answer that I was expecting. Despite my opinion on the DPRK remaining the same, my whole world view of the people of North Korea had shattered apart. This was a very human experience for me, and a humbling one at that.
‘kamsahamnida’, I said as I closed the door, leaving it slightly ajar for the next visitor. I left the embassy and walked home with a heavy heart. Two regions with such deep history had been fragmented. With the beautiful North held to hostage by a villainous regime led by the Kim family, and the equally charming South
paralysed in its inability to act. As a result, people in between have suffered for half a century. To me, this is the tragedy of the Koreas. And it is also something that I didn’t fully appreciate until I saw the intricate paintings by the people themselves. Could true art exist in a totalitarian regime? For me, the answer was irrelevant. The experience of viewing art that desperately cries ‘I’m normal’, whilst hiding the scars of its abuser, was both haunting and humbling in
equal measures. This was a country that deserves normality, for its people have suffered enough. And through our assistance and understanding, the Western world can play a significant role in achieving this. I had stared down the depths of the abyss. But in the darkness, a distant glimmer caught my eye. What I
saw in the artwork was indeed the humanisation of North Koreans. If DPRK art could elicit a response that draws upon mutual understanding and commonality, regardless of the
commissioner’s ulterior motives, then surely this could serve as the seeds for peace between the Koreas. I hope someday we find reconciliation, so that the nightmare can finally end.
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The Quintin Hogg
ADVICE & REVIEW
Student Union Advice Service Student Union Advice Service – supporting students to continue with their studies. The Research, Representation and Welfare (RRW) Team of the Students Union exists to provide Students with information, advice and advocacy to meet the challenges of student life and thereby help them to successfully complete their studies. Over the past twelve months we have provided free confidential information and advice to over 240 students. We also use the issues highlighted in our casework (whilst preserving the anonymity of students) to campaign for policy changes that benefit the student population as a whole. Below is a brief synopsis of the types of cases that we have dealt with (names dates and other identifying factors have been changed to preserve anonymity). Case Study 1 Student X was familiar with the SU advice service as when he had issues with his student loan he sought their help. Student X was excluded from University for failing a core and not an option subject. Student X believed the subject was an option. There was some dispute as to whether the course description was properly described as a core or an option by the University. Student X understanding was he was doing an option module he failed to complete. The University stated it was a core module he failed and therefore was excluded from the University. Student X with help of Advice Service appealed and then submitted a further Review of the Appeal to the University. The technical
issues raised in the appeal and review of course description as an option or core was evidenced by SRS. The University concluded that it was a core subject and the exclusion remained in place. Student X with help from the Advice Service complained to the OIA and the University settled the decision of his exclusion on the grounds that he did have some merit in his claim for material irregularity on the grounds for appeal. Student X to be given a further attempt in the assessment. The OIA case came to a conclusion of a settled decision with the University. Case Study 2 Student A is a mature student, who came to University late having overcome several barriers to his continuing education. He had done well in his first year; however due to serious family issues and a physical health condition which arose, he failed to complete a number of his modules in his second year at the University. These circumstances led Student A to become depressed, and unable to sit exams during the referral period. As such, Student A was excluded. The RRW was able to help Student A to complete the Mitigating Circumstances form and to gather appropriate evidence to support his case. The exclusion was lifted, and the student was retained. Student A told the RRW “I couldn’t have done it without you.” Case study 3 A Masters student from the ABE Faculty contacted the UWSU Advice Service, as they had received notification from
Oryx and Crake By Sehrish Ahmed As I read and enjoyed ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, ‘The Blind Assassin’ and ‘Cat’s Eye’ before I started writing this blog, I thought it was high time I read more of Margaret Atwood’s work. ‘Oryx and Crake’ is the first book in Atwood’s critically acclaimed dystopian MaddAddam trilogy of novels and tells the story of Snowman – also known as Jimmy – who is believed to be the only human survivor left in a postapocalyptic world along with genetically modified creatures called Crakers. As Snowman makes a journey back to the place where the destruction occurred which wiped out the human population, we learn through flashbacks how the world came to be almost destroyed and what happened to his friend Crake and the mysterious Oryx.
Atwood explains that ‘Oryx and Crake’ is a work of speculative fiction rather than science fiction: “Like The Handmaid’s Tale, Oryx and Crake… contains no intergalactic space travel, no teleportation, no martians. As with The Handmaid’s Tale, it invents nothing we haven’t already invented or started to invent.” The novel covers a wide selection of themes, ideas and possible scenarios involving ecological disasters, global pandemics and the power of the Internet. Set towards the end of the twenty-first century, it is a reasonably distant future yet close enough for the possible bleak consequences to be very concerning for the present generation. As with all of the best speculative fiction, it is the plausibility of Atwood’s imagined world which is the most
the Student Casework Office informing them there was evidence to suggest they had breached the University’s Academic Regulations. An appointment was made for the student at the earliest possible date. At the appointment, the student brought along a copy of the essay they had submitted and the Similarity Index report showing a similarity of 32% sent to them by the Student Casework Office. The student pointed out that the similarity rating was accurate but what the Turnitin soft ware and academic had failed to recognise was that the student had quoted and carefully referenced a journal in the appendix to illustrate a point the student was making in the main body of their essay. The student also informed me that academic who had reported their work was new to the University and it was likely they wasn’t familiar to the soft ware. The student was advised to inform the Student Casework Office they would like a Faculty Board Investigation Meeting to discuss the allegation, which they agreed to do. A meeting date was set and the student asked the RRW to attend, the RRW agreed. In the hour before the students meeting, the student and RRW met to discuss what needed to be said. The student and RRW both attended the meeting and the student made it clear why a large quantity of journal text had been included in the appendix which was because they were aiming to use that piece of work to illustrate their own point and at no time were they trying to pass it off as their own – a form of plagiarism. The meeting’s committee agreed with the student’s point of view and the outcome was they would be found not guilty of an assessment offence
terrifying aspect of the novel. Crucially, Atwood is an author who doesn’t just research scientific ideas but actually understands them and conveys them knowledgeably and accessibly in a way which few writers are capable of. Consequently, I always feel that I’m in safe hands when reading one of her novels which are always intelligently written with engaging characters and powerful messages. The ending is particularly vague and abrupt with a number of loose ends left hanging. Even without the knowledge that ‘Oryx and Crake’ is the first book in a trilogy, I think it would be clear that the ideas and characters presented could be explored much further. I will certainly be reading the novels which conclude the trilogy, ‘The Year of the Flood’ and ‘MaddAddam’ and I would also like to read ‘Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing’ as I’m always intrigued by how authors perceive their craft, especially those as imaginative as Atwood.
and all reference to the allegation is removed from their record. Case Study 4 Student AM was unable to submit an essay on time due to technical faults with the submission processes. She was informed that the work would be classed as a late submission and the mark would be zero and furthermore, she needed to retake the module for a capped mark of 40%. After meeting with her campus RRW she decided to appeal the decision on the grounds of two significant material administrative errors. She received help and advice in completing the appeal form as well as explaining the extent of the administrative errors as well as providing evidence that the technical difficulties with the submission process had in fact occurred and it was therefore unreasonable for her to be penalised as a result. Outcome: AM’s appeal was upheld and his work was marked as having been submitted on time. This meant that she could graduate and did not have to re-sit the module. If you would require information and advice on any issue that is impacting on your studies it is important to contact your campus RRW as soon as possible. You can contact them by clicking on this link: http://www.uwsu.com/staff
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