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Day: 4 November 2013

Terry Richardson: “It’s not who you know, it’s who you blow”.

Fashion photographer Terry Richardson has a multitude of celebrities, fashion brands and influential magazines at his feet. Having shot for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, and Tom Ford, and counting Barack Obama, Lady Gaga, and the Rolling Stones as previous subjects, he undeniably holds an impressive clientele base. Born in New York and raised in Hollywood, Richardson has lived his life surrounded by glamour, and last year alone raked in over sixty million dollars.

Despite his commercial successes, Richardson has caused a great deal of controversy as of late. Shadowed by his reputation as exploitative and sexually inappropriate, with a string of pornographic images to account for this, Richardson’s success could be set to crumble. Change.org has introduced a campaign insisting “STOP USING ALLEGED SEX OFFENDER TERRY RICHARDSON AS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER”, aimed towards Vogue, H&M, Supreme and various other brands. The campaign arises from Richardson’s offensive and distasteful portrayal of young women in high-profile fashion media, coupled with allegations from models Coco Rocha, Jamie Peck and Rie Rasmussen that they were subject to sexual harassment at the hands of Richardson. The petition’s creator, Londoner Alice Louise, questions how such high-profile fashion entities can continue to employ the services of a man who abuses and degrades the women he works with.

This petition comes amid current controversy over the behaviour and appearance of twenty-year-old musician Miley Cyrus. The singer’s recent forays onto worldwide television have been considered offensive and as an unsuitable example of womanhood to her young and guileless fans. It is perhaps rather fitting, then, that Richardson was responsible for a recent photo shoot of Cyrus deemed to be nothing more than ‘soft porn’, depicting the young singer in a number of sexually suggestive positions and clothes. Moreover, Richardson also directed Cyrus’ most recent music video, ‘Wrecking Ball’, which has been almost universally ridiculed and induced much concern over the music industry’s treatment of young females. Between the two of them, this pair has racked up enough misdemeanours to found an inquiry into the fashion industry’s portrayal of women to the wider world. Terry Richardson’s work is feeding a popular image of women as exploitable sexual objects for men’s disposal.

In light of the controversy surrounding Richardson, we might feel catapulted back to the noughties – when several ex-employees of American Apparel filed lawsuits against the brand’s founder, Dov Charney, claiming instances of sexual abuse. Despite these prolific allegations, Charney has remained the CEO of a multi-million dollar clothing brand. As far as Richardson is concerned, little impact has been made on his firm foothold within the fashion industry. We can only hope that Alice Louise’s petition is the first step towards retribution for those wanting the fashion world to be based on equality, sophistication, and an ethical code of conduct.

 

To see full details of the petition, visit http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/vogue-h-m-mango-supreme-all-other-brands-stop-using-alleged-sex-offender-terry-richardson-as-your-photographer?share_id=CoQzVoaEQE&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition.

“It’s not who you know it’s who you blow” for more information here: http://jezebel.com/5494634/meet-terry-richardson-the-worlds-most-fked-up-fashion-photographer

 

Urban Outfitters: high street hero?

With a turnover of $1.83 billion and 25 stores in the UK alone, Urban Outfitters has established itself as one of the most recognisable names in fashion retail.  According to their website, their success is down to an ability to ‘connect with customers on an emotional level’, whilst these customers are also supposedly ‘the reason and inspiration for everything they do’.

So, what is controversial about Urban Outfitters I hear you asking?  Well, I won’t dispute the fact their ethos is one of the most heart warming I’ve read since I began studying Fashion Retail a couple years backhowever a little lesser known fact is that their CEO Richard Hayne is in fact, quite surprisingly, a supporter of the American right-wing Conservative Senator Rick Santorum, making donations to his political campaign to the tune of around $13,000.  Now, unless you’ve a vested interest in American politics, your knowledge of the Senator might not extend beyond the above introduction, however what I will tell you is he has some pretty strong opinions when it comes to gay rightsand unfortunately not the good kind.

He was once quoted as saying “If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything,” to the Metro Weekly, Washington DC’s LGBT News Magazine, whilst another of his more insightful comments reads, “I have no problem with homosexuality. I have a problem with homosexual acts” (because that makes loads of sense Rick).  In fact, it only takes a quick internet search to discover a whole back-catalogue of as equally shocking and narrow minded quotes from Santorum; not only has he compared homosexuality to incest and adultery, he goes as far to compare the molestation of minors by Catholic Priests to “a basic homosexual relationship”.  Still feeling emotionally connected to Richard Haynes’ fashion powerhouse? No, nor me.

Although you could say it’s unfair to tarnish a whole company due to the political stance of one CEO, these donations are not the sole instance in which homophobia has tainted the Urban Outfitters brand.  Back in 2008, the company withdrew a t-shirt supporting same sex marriage citing ‘bad press’, and apparent desire for the company to remain politically neutral. Which is funny because last time I checked a $13,000 donation to a Senators political campaign doesn’t necessarily scream ‘neautral’.

Now, I’m not by any means suggesting we all boycott Urban Outfitters, that would be silly, and I’m first to admit its one of my first ports of call come loan day.  I guess what I’m highlighting is that although when thinking of fashion, and the controversies that go with it, we’re often inclined to forget that homophobia is still an issue, even when it comes to the biggest companies who we’d least expect it from.

Live: Portico Quartet

27th October

Gorilla

8/10

Mercury-award nominees Portico Quartet began as four bright eyed buskers weaving their own brand of nu-jazz on the Southbank for scratch. Breaking on to the Jazz scene with their distinctive minimal sound and dreamy ‘hang’ (a very rare Swiss instrument that looks much like a Caribbean steel pan), they have clearly evolved through their three studio albums. The most recent of which, Portico Quartet, is a tour de force of electro-jazz fusion which truly bridges the gap between jazz and house music.

As they emerged onto the smoky stage at Manchester’s Gorilla they were all but unrecognizable from the buskers huddled on the pavement of the Southbank just a few years ago. The bassist sawed into his electric double bass with gusto to create a piercing drone that instantly silenced the room. The rest of the band sampled the live bass sound and transformed and layered it into a swelling ambiance.

The first few tracks displayed the band’s recent move to more electronic pastures, using live sampling to create rich sound worlds driven by fat African-influenced beats. Soon the band reverts to more acoustic instruments and the hang provides a colourful and rhythmic backdrop for wild saxophone improvisations.

Up to this point the band had not said a single word, and it was obvious that they preferred to let the music do the talking. As Swedish guest vocalist Cornelia took the stage the band seemed relieved to be temporarily out of the limelight. Cornelia has joined Portico Quartet on tour off the back of recent collaborations with Bonobo and Henry Saiz. As the band slipped into a backing role and Cornelia’s girlish voice screeched over the crowd, I couldn’t help but think: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; the band has come this far without a vocalist and are clearly not used to having to limit their creativity to accommodate an attention-grabbing singer.

Overall, an incredible display of creativity and mediation between instrumental and electronic music, which waned slightly during the three songs that featured Cornelia.

Album: Arcade Fire – Reflektor

Released October 28th

Merge Records

8/10

Arcade Fire have never been the type to shy away from the big and the bold; right from the get-go they built their grandiose songwriting around weighty subjects such as human mortality, religion and existential angst. It comes with no surprise, then, that after conquering the world of indie rock with 2010’s The Suburbs, Win Butler and co. decided to take the next logical, and potentially game-changing, step in their career – to get to work on a double album. Usually reserved for the giants of the music world, the double album has a history of separating the men (ie. Springsteen) from the boys (ie. Biffy Clyro). With this in mind, I’m pleased to report that all 75 minutes of Reflektor place Arcade Fire firmly in the big leagues.

Title track ‘Reflektor’ kicks the album off in no-nonsense fashion; a hazy stab at dark disco rock that’s equal parts Depeche Mode and Chic; a ‘Get Lucky’ for the confused and restless. With none other than David Bowie on backing vocals, the song sets the tone for the record; Reflektor sets its sights firmly at the future, with an abundance of fuzzy synths and dance beats.

Though Bowie only appears in the flesh briefly on the first song, his presence is felt throughout the album, with the ‘We Exist’ channelling the vibe of ‘Let’s Dance’, and ‘You
Already Know’ playing out like a homage to Ziggy-era Glam Rock. Other highlights include ‘Afterlife’, a propulsive piece of electro-pop that culminates in Butler asking “when love is gone/where does it go?” Later tracks ‘It’s Never Over’ and the Prince-y funk of ‘Porno’ keep the pace going towards the end, neither of which would sound out of place
on the Drive soundtrack, with both working as effective 80s pastiches.

A double album that actually deserves its slightly testing running time, Reflektor breaks brave new ground for the band, resulting in their most energetic and lively set of songs to date. Above all, though, it leaves you with the promise that Arcade Fire aren’t finished evolving yet, and where they go from here is anyone’s guess.

Opinion: Is the Mercury Prize worth winning?

James Blake took home this year’s Mercury Prize thanks to his talent for producing sumptuous electronic minimalism whilst in his bedroom. Perhaps his debut album would have been a more worthy winner but James Blake deserves the acclaim that this prize will grant him.

I feel though, that the award has been overshadowed again by the surprise exclusions from the shortlist. Impressive albums from These New Puritans, Bat for Lashes and Fuck Buttons were all overlooked. Whilst My Bloody Valentine’s missed out because they released their album independently off their website, rather than having a big distribution deal with companies such as ITunes or Amazon in the UK. To exclude an album for corporate reasons like that devalues the artistic merit of the award, leaving the winner questioning if there are better albums out there that simply didn’t adhere to the rules.

For a prize that on its website declares that it is the musical equivalent of the Turner award for art, and the Booker prize for literature. It bewilders me how Radiohead, the band that has been one of the most innovative in their long career, and always challenged the way people think (like any good book or piece of art does), have somehow missed out thus far. Despite being nominated more times than any other artist, the Mercury’s reputation of making controversial decisions looks like it has counted against Thom Yorke and co.

You can never accuse the judges of the Mercury prize of siding with public opinion. They have ignored popular acts such as Oasis and Blur and crowned unknowns like Speech Debelle. The judges should however, pick the album that is the best and not be contrary for the sake of it. I’m not arguing that the Mercury Prize hasn’t been claimed by some superb albums though, with Portishead’s mesmeric Dummy and Franz Ferdinand’s fantastic debut deservingly scooping the gong. Although an apparent curse seems to loom over some of the more controversial acts that have triumphed, with Speech Debelle , Ms. Dynamite, and Antony and the Johnsons seemingly
disappearing into the musical abyss afterwards.

Normally the Mercury prize does at least pick a varied short list which encourages people to delve into albums that they wouldn’t usually listen to. This boosts the sales for the smaller artists and increases their fan base. But in opting for a list filled with big hitters such as Arctic Monkeys, David Bowie, Jake Bugg, Rudimental, and Disclosure this year, they’ve overlooked artists that would have benefited more from the attention. Why not nominate Fuck Buttons instead of Jake Bugg’s bland country folk?

There is no doubt that being chosen for the Mercury Prize does mean something to a lot of artists. The confidence they must gain from being recognised for all their hard work must be very fulfilling. Does it equate to a long affluent career with a large fan base? Of course it doesn’t. Would they trade their award, to write an album as great as In Rainbows? I’m sure they would.

Live: London Grammar

27th October

Sound Control

8/10

This time last year London Grammar had not even released a single, now they have reached No. 2 in the UK album charts with If You Wait and have a US tour under their belt. The band attracted an older audience to Sound Control, with many students and seniors rubbing shoulders in the intimate venue. Having met at Nottingham University only four years previous, the indie-pop-trio have created an original, minimalist sound, mixing electronic synthetic beats with a droned guitar and a classical, echoing voice.

Hannah Reid took centre stage and had the crowd instantly hushed with her opening note in ‘Hey Now’. Compared frequently to Florence and the Machine and The XX, you can’t help but feel that her vocals really are one of a kind, capturing everyone’s attention with her stylistic use of ornaments and melismas. Particular highlights were ‘Darling are you going to leave me’ with Hannah on piano and Dot on bongos, together sharing the vocals with seamless transition.

They really got the crowd going with their Top 40 hit ‘Wasting my younger years’, with its emotional lyrics and climactic choruses. Its pulsing melody was the first time the audience really began to let loose, amazed by Hannah’s voice, the audience beckoned people to ‘ssh’ if a noise was made. Finishing with ‘Metal and Dust’ they really took advantage of the darkened stage, their subtle use of strobe lighting complimented Hannah’s countermelody. Although the gig was less than an hour, everyone left satisfied. The band’s interaction with the audience perhaps showed why they have acquired such a loyal following so quickly.

Top 5 Songs… about sex

Air – Sexy boy

Not knowing French, this indeed is a very sexy song – after all, the only lyrics in English are “ooo sexy boy”. Translated, the lyrics actually point to a desire for a more glamorous lifestyle. Either way, the smooth, obviously-french edge is enough to get anyone aroused.

Jamiroquai – Feels just like it should

Probably the dirtiest song ever written. Probably. The throbbing bass, shrieking guitar and lip-licking lyrics are all too much to handle, especially when whispered from the heartthrob that is Jay Kay. Only the space cowboy himself can be this sexy.

The Vaccines – Post break up sex

Don’t act like you haven’t done it or wanted to do it. Either way, it’s a sensitive subject and the Vaccines exploit it perfectly by hammering at their guitars the same way they hammered their ex’s DVD collection after they found out.

Oasis- Fucking in the bushes

Whether it’s because you’re a die-hard Oasis fan or couldn’t wait 10minutes with your night’s pull for the next magic bus through Fallowfield, you’re going to know about it. If not, you’d be glad to know Liam doesn’t say a word in this one – lovely.

The Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight

How this became a number one in 1976 I’ll never know. Not because of the birds tweeting on the record or god-awful flanging guitar but because of those overly-magical lyrics. It’s safe to say people were either completely deaf or too busy enjoying some afternoon delight of their own.

Preview: Hospitality @ WHP

Or rather too little cash… However, as the world’s leading drum & bass imprint with a roster of artists from Netsky to High Contrast, the Hospital family are the most successful in drum & bass history and will be joining us in full on the 29th November at Warehouse Project. Normally touring the globe with Hospitalitys travelling from Poland to the edges of Canada, there are few opportunities to see such Electronic royalty on our University doorstep.

Headlining is none other than the mighty Netsky, fresh off the back of summer successes such as the first ever drum & bass act to perform on the main stage at London’s Lovebox festival whilst Austrian superduo Camo & Krooked, will be dropping some of their freshest releases from new album ‘Zeitgeist’ that will bring a funky spin to Room One. (Online will have vid link to a Zeitgeist track).

The mélange of acts presented in Rooms Two and Three are similarly unique in showcasing some of today’s rawest talent. The likes of Hannah Wants, Paleman and Indigo will be bringing their unique flavor to Room Two, whilst in Room Three, Manchester’s own Soul:ution crew will be curating and introducing acts such as include the elusive and enigmatic figure that is Calibre. Just scratching on the surface of the astounding line-up of talent presented on the 29th, this is one of the few WHP’s you really won’t want to miss.

Grab your ticket HERE.

Interview: Etherwood

Undoubtedly one of the most promising young talents in the Drum and Bass scene today, the Mancunion recently gave Med School talent Etherwood aka Woody, a whopping 9/10 for his self-titled debut album. In anticipation for his set at Hospitality at The Warehouse Project, we caught up with Etherwood to discuss production techniques, Eastern samples and his diverse live set.

Although often praised for his consistency in delivering beautiful beats and heartfelt melodies, Etherwood is keen to denounce the labelling of his ‘signature sound’. “It’s always a tough thing to comment on. I hear words like ‘chilled’ and ‘atmospheric’ but that’s all pretty subjective really. I tend to use a lot of keys and guitar over synths and plugins, which I suppose contributes to a more live and acoustic sound.” However, there’s no denying album ‘Etherwood’ showcases his distinct style. “It certainly captures a particular ‘mood’ I think. I wanted to put a stamp on my style as a producer and hopefully I’ve achieved that with this debut.”

In fact, Etherwood seems to have stormed electronic music form nowhere as 2013’s producer to watch. “As soon as I heard that Tony Colman aka London Elektricity had been listening to my tracks and liked them, I was really stunned. I’ve always loved Hospital Records and so having a debut release on Med School was a massive milestone.”

“My creative process since the signing has developed substantially, it’s always developing. Experimentation is extremely important to me and the track ‘Unfolding’ which appeared on New Blood 013 was something a little different from me. The reception it had was really overwhelming which definitely instilled a confidence to be able to explore certain sounds and move away from a comfort zone.”

It is this determination to push boundaries that has created such a moving debut. Woody explains how most songs are written on the guitar or tend to sprout from a piano driven part. ‘We Are Ever Changing’ is the best example of this. “‘We Are Ever Changing’ has an Eastern vibe to it. My girlfriend features on the vocals and I incorporated some Indian flute samples that I found on my hard drive and fitted perfectly. It’s ace when you stumble across something that works so well.“

This experimental ethos also led to new production techniques. “I’d tended to use really long reverb on pretty much everything. So I experimented by using some reverse reverb and panning to keep each song individual. It’s fairly subtle but makes a huge difference to the overall vibe.”

Collaborations on the album produce something special as lyrical meaning builds upon the complexities of Etherwood’s production. He elaborates, “it’s always great working in the studio with vocalists. You can bounce ideas off each other and come up with something perfect. In fact I wrote ‘Falling Out Of Consciousness’ with Georgia Yates and Bev Lee Harling in mind, which features both vocals on the same track “– a pretty unusual approach for drum & bass.

However, although seemingly effortless to producing the highest quality music, Woody stays humble in describing obstacles in producing the album. “’Weightless’ was the hardest track to write” he explains. “The hardest part was allowing the drums and bass to sit alongside the piano part without becoming too overpowering. It went through a lot different stages before settling where it did.”

Similarly, collaboration with fellow Hospital hitter Nu:Tone on ‘Shattered’ “started out as a kind of amen/jungly thing with a long stretched vocal sample. It was all a bit messy. Up steps Dan Nu:Tone and really nailed it, perfecting it in his studio. Having a fresh take on it really helped.”

Looking towards the future, Woody seems hopeful for future projects. “I’m back in the studio, working on new material and the album has created a real momentum in terms of productivity” he explains as new projects look like they’ll be breaking new ground. “I love using strings in the studio. They create instant atmosphere that you just can’t find with pads or synths. I hope with future projects I’ll be able to record or play live with a full orchestra.”

Forever looking to new influences, his set at Hospitality WHP will touch upon a vast array of genres in typical Etherwood style. “My sets are usually fairly diverse, moving from liquid rollers to deep techy tunes and chucking in some half time tracks to keep things interesting” he describes. “I’m looking forward to dropping a few tunes from the LP to see how well they translate in a live context too. I’ve never been to Warehouse Project before so I really can’t wait to play!”

You can catch Etherwood’s set at Hospitality at WHP by grabbing your ticket HERE.

Jailbreak 2013 teams get to Berlin, Disneyland Paris

Students faced ticket barriers, mental barriers and language barriers last week – all for a good cause.

Reading week began in such exotic locations as Berlin, Paris and even Disneyland for some lucky students – and they didn’t pay a penny to get there.

Teams set off for Manchester Raise and Give (RAG)’s annual ‘Jailbreak’, where the aim is to get as far away from Manchester as possible without spending any money, on Friday, 25 October.

The winning team, ‘Mr & Mrs Badonde’, managed to get all the way to Berlin using just their charm and determination.

“It was the most surreal weekend of my life,” said team member Gemma Westcott, who took part in the event with her boyfriend – Chris Carr. “I don’t actually know how we got to Berlin, but we did.”

All money raised goes to KidsCan, a charity set up at the University of Salford and the only research facility in the UK dedicated to researching cures for children’s cancer.

Prizes are given for reaching the farthest away destination in the world and getting the furthest distance in the UK.

After racing to Manchester Piccadilly train station and running into a kind train conductor who – “after lots of begging” – let the team onto the train, Gemma and Chris were onto another mode of transport and their first hurdle.

“We went to the coach station, and the manager was like, ‘no chance you’re getting on a coach for free,’” said Gemma, a third year Biomedical Sciences student.

“We thought, ‘you know what, let’s just ask the coach driver’. He just said ‘yeah, hop on.’”

This luck and perseverance took the team to Dover, where they hitchhiked in the old-fashioned thumbs out, by the side of the road style. The kindness of strangers continued.

“Eventually a car stopped,” said Gemma, “and it was this Latvian man.

“He looked like Gru from Despicable Me. He was quite scary but he was really nice, at heart he was a bit of a softie. We made friends with him by the end.”

The team only found out where they were going upon arrival, “We thought originally that we were going to France on the ferry”, recalls Gemma. “We got to Belgium and then realized we were in Belgium.

“The Latvian guy asked if we wanted to go to Berlin with him, and we thought we couldn’t miss the opportunity to go to Berlin. We thought it was in West Germany then we realized it was East Germany – we were in his car for twelve hours.

“It was [awkward] at first because he didn’t really speak English. We would ask him questions like ‘are you going on holiday?’ and he just didn’t understand.

“We kind of slept off most of the 12 hours. He was a lorry driver, so he was pretty hardcore at driving.”

While the kindness of the Latvian Gru-look-alike may have been the key to victory for Mr & Mrs Badonde, strangers a lot closer to home proved harder to crack.

Tom James and Edmund Salim’s team Chained for Charity were spurned at every turn in Scotland.

Not being able to leave the country due to Edmund’s visa, “The plan was to get to John O’Groats”, said Tom, as the team sought the coveted ‘furthest in the UK’ prize.

Donning bright orange prison-issue jumpsuits, the duo soon ran into difficulty after making their way to Perth (Scotland) within five hours of the start of the event.

“In England, it was easy for us. We just asked, and people were like ‘that’s cool,’” said Tom. “As soon as we got to Scotland they wanted full permission from the companies, and they wanted us to have called ahead of time – we had done, but they wouldn’t give us permission.”

Perhaps due to looking like they were actually breaking free from jail, the team encountered resistance from locals.

“The conductors were proper moody, none of them would let us on. The only trains we caught in Scotland we got from sneaking on,” said Tom.

Having snuck onto a train, the team were issued with an ominous warning.

“The conductor said, ‘I’m not gonna charge you now, but you’re not going to get through the barriers at Glasgow’,” said Tom. “We were at the barriers, wondering what to do, at half six in the morning. I was about to go and plead with her to let us through and she just said, ‘long night, lads?’ and let us through.”

The team’s clothing meant they were were mistaken for railway engineers, “When we walked through there were loads of railway workers in their bright orange jumpsuits, it was so funny.”

Soon after this stroke of luck, however, the team ran out of steam. Locals did not provide much encouragement, “They said, you’re not going to end up anywhere,” recalls Tom. “That was sort of a downpoint. Maybe we just had a bad experience, but they weren’t friendly at all. Most of the people we came across would encourage us but they really didn’t want to donate or help us out at all.”

Calling it a night, the team decided to focus their attentions on “having a good time and spreading the word”.

“We didn’t really do exactly what we set off to do, but it was good anyway,” Tom added.

In contrast to Scotland, one team found themselves in the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’.

Team Mem & Em made it to Disneyland Paris through “half-asleep French blagging,” said team member Emily Hodson.

Any plans to get further and win were put on hold for Mickey Mouse.

“We figured that discounted and speedy entry into Disneyland Paris followed by a chat with Mickey Mouse would make for one hell of a story,” Emily wrote on a blog about their experience. “We wanted to get the best Final Photo ever for KidsCan and we did just that.”

When asked for a word of advice for Jailbreakers in 2014, Gemma of Mr & Mrs Badonde remained boundless, “Most of [our success] is because we were so optimistic. The thing that got us through was that we were so confident. We just believed that we’d get really far, and that’s what got us through.”

Team Chained for Charity’s Tom offered some different, though no less sage, advice, “Obviously, don’t go to Scotland.”

University staff strike in national action over pay

Academics and support staff from the University took part in a nation-wide strike last Thursday, in protest at the university employers’ pay offer of a 1 per cent increase.

Staff and students from a number of north-west universities joined colleagues from the University of Manchester at picket lines on Oxford Road, before a rally held at the Students’ Union.

Both were attended by hundreds of academics, support staff, students, and trade union representatives.

The protest was part of a national day of action that saw strikes in 21 university cities around the country, marking the first time the three biggest unions in the education sector – Unison, Unite, and the University and College Union – went on strike together.

The action was backed by ballots of members of all three unions after they rejected the employers’ offer of a one per cent pay rise for university staff.

The implementation of the one per cent rise would have made it the fourth year in a row that university staff have been hit by below inflation rises. The unions – who represent academic staff, support staff and postgraduates who teach – say the latest offer would mean university workers have suffered a real term pay cut of 13 per cent since 2008.

Speaking to The Mancunion, Freyja Peters, Communications Officer for the University of Manchester’s UNISON branch, said, “This decision [to strike] was not taken lightly, and followed lengthy negotiations at national level.

“Although this appears to be a salary increase, it must be weighed-up against the fact that the cost of living has been escalating at a greater rate.

“Our lowest-paid members are indicating that there is a shortfall between salaries and living costs, and we are increasingly hearing of members (nationally and in the north-west) struggling to cover basic costs of living, having to take second jobs, and even using food banks.”

A statement from the union’s said: “the employer’s final offer of 1% represents a fourth consecutive year of wage restraint in higher education.

“The effect is felt across all grades of staff in higher education. Our members are reporting real falls in income and difficulties in maintaining their standards of living.”

Peters added: “UNISON believes that the HE sector has cash surpluses of over £1bn, so we think there is definitely scope for employers to revise their pay offer.

“Recent HEFCE reports also indicated that staffing costs as a percentage of HEI income were at an all-time low.”

The pay offer for staff at the University of Manchester comes off the back of the university retaining a £48.8million surplus for the year ended 2012, according to the most recently published financial review.

The University and College Employers Association, which represents institutions, questioned the validity of the strike, claiming that less than five per cent of the people who work in the sector voted in favour of strike action.

A spokesperson for the UCEA said, “Our institutions tell us that the vast majority of staff understand the reality of the current environment and would not wish to harm their institutions and especially their students.”

He added, “Trade unions know that pay increases to HE staff on the pay spine will mean that salary costs in most HE institutions will actually rise by around 3 per cent this year.”

However, the strike action had the full backing of the University of Manchester Students’ Union, which had called on students to join the action.

A statement put out by the UMSU said it “believes that all University staff should be properly supported and should receive a fair wage.

“We believe that in times of hardship students should stand in solidarity with University staff to defend high quality education, promote fair working conditions and oppose the marketisation of education.”

Students not told about asbestos in halls of residence

Thousands of students at Manchester were living in halls containing asbestos until 2012.

Some students are still unknowingly living among asbestos, as eight of the residences which were identified as containing deteriorated asbestos have not yet undergone work to remove it.

An Asbestos Management Survey in 2011 identified 60 university residences which contained asbestos that had deteriorated and needed work.

In Fallowfield these included Owens Park Tower Block, all of Oak House, Tree Court, Little Court, Mall Block, Green Court, the Armitage Centre, Cavendish House, Spencer House, Morley Building and Lindsay House.

In Victoria Park these included Birley, Greenworth, Houldsworth, Oaklands and Plymouth in Hulme Hall, and all of Dalton Ellis.

And in Whitworth Park the residences identified included Aberdeen House, Burleigh House, Derby House, Dilworth House and Garstang House.

Several students have expressed outrage that they were not made aware of the asbestos in their halls.

Monique Davis, a fourth year French and Italian student who was a resident in Tower Block 2010-2011, said: “knowing that the university is still yet to inform me that my halls contained asbestos is perhaps more worrying than finding out it was there in the first place.

“They have a duty to inform us about something as serious and potentially dangerous as this.

“We pay a lot of money to be provided with safe and appropriate accommodation. It seems clear that the university has abused their position of trust.”

Although asbestos in good condition is harmless if left undisturbed, when damaged it can be very dangerous.

Breathing in asbestos dust can cause severe and sometimes fatal lung conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and absestosis.

According to the British Lung Foundation, many of these conditions can lie dormant for years, or even decades, before they materialise.

Asbestos is still the single greatest cause of work related deaths in the UK, killing around 4,500 people every year.

The material was banned at the end of 1999, but was widely used for insulation, flooring and roofing before its dangers were known. As such, any buildings constructed before the year 2000 may still contain asbestos.

In a statement to The Mancunion, a University spokesman said, “Like other universities, we have a statutory duty to ensure our premises comply with strict health and safety regulations, including those relating to asbestos.

“The University’s Asbestos Management Team has an effective, robust and efficient system for the management and control of asbestos as set out in our Asbestos Management Plan, which is freely available to view online.

They added, “The University buildings that contain asbestos, including halls of residence, have been fully inspected according to national guidelines and pose the lowest possible risk to staff and students. We take student welfare extremely seriously and work continues across campus to remove or manage any last remaining asbestos.”

Eight residences remain that have not yet been cleared of asbestos.

These residences are Allen Hall, Ashburn Hall, Broomcroft House, Dilworth House, Green House, Grosvenor Place, St Anselm’s Hall and Wright Robinson. All except Allen Hall remain in use.

Jack Griffith, a first year Chemical Engineering student living in Wright Robinson halls, told The Mancunion: “I actually had no idea there was any asbestos in the building, as far as I’m aware we haven’t been informed about it.

“I have no problem with it, as I know it’s only harmful when inhaled, but I think it would have been nice to be told about it so I’m aware that it’s there.”

Dom May, a first year Geography student also in Wright Robinson, said: “they should have told us, even though I am aware that it causes us little trouble… we still had a right to know.

“You would want to know if your house had asbestos in it so why weren’t we told that our flat had it in?”

In response to a Freedom of Information Request from The Mancunion, the University said, “As part of the University’s asbestos management plan and following the introduction of legislation, we are required to assess the condition of asbestos products and to re-inspect asbestos items which have previously been identified.

“Following this type of condition assessment, certain items were identified as having deteriorated therefore these were identified as requiring work to be undertaken.”

They added, “Various asbestos surveys have been undertaken within these building prior to 2011. Asbestos management surveys did not come into existence until 2010 when new guidance was issued from the HSE.

“There is no legal requirement to fully re-survey buildings for which asbestos information is available.

“However the University undertakes this as it provides an additional quality check on the existing information and provides a more up to date record following various building lay-out changes”.

Although the University began a programme which has removed and managed asbestos in 52 residences since 2012, the programme is not due for completion until summer 2014.

Re-inspection surveys are due to commence in February 2014

We live in a surveillance state and no one cares

Many of us have expressed apathy and unconcern with the prospect of being spied on. Hell, we’ve got nothing to hide. It doesn’t matter that you are being monitored every second of every day. The major governments of the world are sanctioning surveillance, not on the basis of your guilt, but on the grounds that one day you might possibly become guilty. And still the collective reaction is one of indifference. Who really cares if a few phone calls are tapped or a couple of emails are analysed. There seems to be no line that NSA or GCHQ can cross, no threshold of privacy invasion that once breached will lead the masses to denounce their practice unethical and unconstitutional.

As, fundamentally, it most certainly is.

Slowly though, it is happening. There is a moment when that realisation takes root in your mind. Suddenly the uncertainties, the disassociation evaporates and it becomes clear that we are allowing something terribly, dangerously powerful to embed itself in our lives without so much as whimper. For me the light-bulb moment occurred when I came across a speech, containing this quote, “You and I are told increasingly we have to choose between a left or right. Well I’d like to suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There’s only an up or down: up; man’s old — old-aged dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. And regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.”

As someone who proudly affiliates myself with the political left, I was horrified to find that I was wholly agreeing with the words of Ronald Reagan.

To reach this point something must have gone horribly wrong.

Establishing exactly what has gone wrong is rather difficult however. Since Snowden blew the whistle to the Guardian back in June we have been subject to a deluge of information, practically water-boarded with it during this last month. It’s gone from Nineteen Eighty-Four to Huxley’s Brave New World within a remarkably short space of time. From being deprived of information, we are now so saturated with it that we have been reduced to passivity and inactivity. Each new scandal eclipses the last, and much like a Hollywood blockbuster, by the fourth or fifth sequel we’re pretty indifferent.

The reveals are coming thick and fast, and even at the time of writing this I am aware that by next week this article will seem out of date. The last seven days have been dominated by the fury of the Merkel, and we’ve seen some truly spectacular cowering from White House officials and congressmen in the wake of that freezing phone call.

We’ve also heard thinly veiled threats from our Prime Minister against those papers, such as the Guardian, who flouted the state perception of ‘social responsibility’; “…if they don’t demonstrate some social responsibility it would be very difficult for government to stand back and not to act.” He mentioned D-notices and injunctions in the same way that a threatening man in a pub might mention the quality of hospital food.

And this is just the latest indication that our current government is dangerously keen on restricting information accessibility; since last November the government has been considering a series of proposals that would make it easier for public authorities to refuse Freedom of Information requests on grounds of cost. Their cost priority is, of course financial, not the democratic or social cost. In light of this the new press regulations seem ominous, a way to provide the state with the means to gag the press, without having to resort to controversial public procedures such as D-notices.
The state has already acted in dubious ways to prevent Snowden’s information becoming public. In August the spouse of a Guardian writer was detained by Heathrow officials under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act. He was held for over nine hours, denied a lawyer and his electronic devices were confiscated. His partner is Glenn Greenwald, the reporter responsible for revealing NSA’s mass surveillance programme.

Being a complicated issue is not an excuse for lethargy. You would not permit a group of people belonging to a state organisation to break into your house, search through your personal possessions and read your private documents without a warrant, without your consent, without evidence that you had been involved in any wrongdoing. Imagine your concern upon discovering that someone had been reading your letters – your bank statements, bills, legal correspondence, even love letters.

Yet all of these things are happening in the digital sphere. Through Prism, a deadly secret surveillance program run by the NSA, spy agencies have access to the information from servers including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Yahoo. The British agency GCHQ has access to data from Prism. Both organisations are also able to mass-intercept data from fibre optic cables, thus allowing them to access both phone and internet networks.

Why do we accept this violation if it is digital not physical? In reality there is no difference. And by not speaking out, by tacit acceptance you are permitting these intrusions into your life. We are no longer ignorant of their practices yet we watch dully through thickly lidded eyes as our civil liberties, so hard won, are stripped from us in the name of our protection, but without our knowledge or consultation.

Does the end really justify the means?

Yes a few have risen up, marched on Washington, spoken in support of Snowden and Manning and demanded constitutional safeguards. But, I suspect most of us would prefer to have been kept in the dark, anything for a quiet life.

Students in Manchester shouldn’t be living in fear

Reports of violent crime are never far from the tabloids, horror stories of muggings, rapes, and life or death situations occupying the pages of newspapers and the headlines most weeks.

Manchester recently topped a poll of most dangerous places for students to live. Adding to this, were the shocking reports of a 14-year-old boy being arrested for sexually assaulting three different women near the University of Manchester. These attacks didn’t take place in the dead of night, nor were they motivated in any way. The equally alarming story of the student left in critical condition after getting a take-away has people more on edge than ever.  Police have made attempts to reassure the local community but are people actually feeling safe?

Common sense tells people that they need to be aware of their surroundings when walking late at night or attending social events in the city, but  as with these apparently random attacks there seems to be no sure-fire way to keep oneself safe. In the case of the sexual assaults discussed above, one of the victims was attacked in broad day-light at 2pm. Another was heading home from University Library when she was attacked down a side street. In situations like this how much can actually be done to protect yourself?

If Manchester has such a high crime rate and with violent and sexual crimes seemingly concentrated around the University area it seems enough is not being done. Thinking about the student bubble, there is very rarely a police presence on Oxford Road or even in Fallowfield, the two busiest places for students in the city. It should be noted that all three of the attacks took place in the vicinity of Oxford Road.

The violent attack in Withington was yet another unprovoked incident, the young man had been working in the Learning Commons before getting the magic bus home and stopping in a takeaway. He was then beaten up before managing to make it back to his shared house and collapsing. His friends called an ambulance and he was taken to hospital where he remained in critical condition.

Police are still appealing for any witnesses to the attack and even used the University of Manchester’s student system to ask people for help.

Confidence in safety is at a low. A level of awareness is acceptable, there’s nothing wrong with a quick check over the shoulder or making friends aware of movements and whereabouts, but most women feel defenseless when it comes to these situations.

There are the classic mechanisms of holding keys between knuckles or having an umbrella handy but it is truly worrying that the only answer appears to be resorting to violence.

19-year-old Sarah Martin was quoted “I live in a house with 5 other girls and it’s scary but the chances are one of us is going to find ourselves in a dangerous situation”

The University makes students aware of the “Safe Zones” – designated shops or food outlets that are part of the group that allow passers by to call in if they feel threatened or unsafe in anyway. Aside from that it is difficult to think of any plans or programs in place that directly target safety in the student bubble. The lack of police presence does nothing to ease any minds and with the crime rate steadily increasing something has to give soon.

What was most worrying about the recent incidents is their background, these were simply students in the wrong place at the wrong time and could have just as easily been anyone in the same situation. To have to live in that hit or miss mind set is quite frankly, terrifying.

The University of Manchester refused to comment to The Independent when quizzed on the latest statistics and this did little to convince people that their safety is assured. There needs to be a swift and noticeable effort within the campus area to help people to once again feel safe at University. Joint efforts from both institutions have the potential to make huge impacts in peoples mindsets. Salford University have a system in place known as Campuswatch that is run by volunteers and they report crime dropping by 10% on and around campus since the scheme was implemented. Something similar could drastically improve day to day life at the University of Manchester.

Until that time, students will continue to live in genuine fear of being attacked or raped or being the victim of some sort of violent crime. They are urged to keep taking the necessary precautions and keep their wits about them.

UK drugs policy is failing

Many will have been shocked to hear of the death of a 30 year old man at The Warehouse Project’s opening night this year. Nick Bonnie was the unluckiest of a host of revellers who were admitted to hospital after falling ill at the event. The incidents were a result of a ‘bad batch’ of ecstasy.

The Warehouse Project has responded to the tragedy with a ‘ground-breaking’ new policy which to my mind is obviously flawed. This involves any drugs confiscated being tested by an on-site testing facility, and any warnings resulting from this will then be sent out on WHP’s social media networks. While this may serve to highlight the prevalence of dangerous substances at the venue, frankly, their policy is akin to closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

This policy signifies a tacit acceptance of their use at the venue. Indeed, one could be forgiven for thinking that drugs were perfectly legal at WHP. I have witnessed it myself on several occasions. Attendees take drugs openly and with impunity. The idea that WHP has a zero tolerance policy on drugs is laughable.

The reality is students are going to continue taking drugs regardless of the dangers. Cambridge University’s The Tab has produced a ‘drug survey’ which stated that 84% of students at Manchester had tried drugs. 46% of the 5,126 U.K. students surveyed had tried MDMA – the drug of choice for many at WHP.  Neither the law, nor even the deaths deter students from taking illegal drugs. If the law is failing as a deterrent and is merely functioning to ensure high profits for criminal gangs in a dangerous and unregulated market, surely we need to consider a change of tactics. The only way that we can control a dangerous commodity is to bring it within the law

Rather than creating a black market where unscrupulous dealers sell substances to students with no regard for their safety, how about we eliminate these dealers (and the associated crime that goes with them) altogether?
What we have now is a market essentially gifted to criminals. Currently, the profit margins at the production and wholesale level of illegal drugs are between 2000-3000% making it a very attractive market to organised crime. If drugs were legalised, then overnight, criminal gangs would be put out of business and the behaviour of otherwise law abiding students is no longer criminalised.

Isn’t it time we finally accepted the War on Drugs is a total failure? Instead of wasting police time and taxpayer’s money on a paternalistic policy that has many unintended and highly damaging consequences for society, it is time to have a rational debate on drugs in an attempt to create a policy that will both mitigate harm and protect individual liberty.

New Zealand has pioneered a new approach to drugs that may provide a template for future policy revision in the U.K. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 (PSA) received Royal Assent on July 17th 2013. The Act allows for the strictly regulated, but legal, sale of a number of synthetic narcotics known as ‘party pills’. The PSA ensures the rigorous testing of newly-legalised drugs. The contents are clearly labelled on the packaging and purity is guaranteed. The entire supply is now taxed and regulated.

Back in 2005, a young Tory leadership contender by the name of David Cameron expressed a desire for “fresh thinking and a new approach” to drug policy, stating that the U.N Body on drugs policy should consider legalising drugs and regulating the drugs trade. Flash-forward to 2012 and Prime Minster Cameron seems to have reversed his position, rejecting calls for a Royal Commission on Drugs on the grounds that the current U.K. policy is ‘working’. This kind of duplicity is all too common in politics. Sadly, Mr Cameron now chooses to propagate the fallacy that the U.K’s policy is ‘working’ and refuses to even debate the subject.

As long as our politicians refuse to countenance the debate once they assume high office, misinformation about the efficacy of criminalising possession and use of certain drugs will remain. The current policy does not deter use, it creates an unregulated market that empowers criminals and endangers otherwise law abiding citizens.

This article is not advocating the use of drugs among students. It merely acknowledges reality and attempts to present alternative options to what is clearly a failed policy.

My Political Hero: Edward Kennedy

Too often the ‘unknown’ Kennedy, Edward M. ‘Teddy’ Kennedy was the youngest of Joseph P. Kennedy Snr’s children and arguably the Kennedy brother with the most successful political career. Teddy initially distinguished himself as a key tactical manager of both John and Robert’s electoral campaigns before indicating that he would not run for office on the grounds that “the disadvantage of my position is being constantly compared with two brothers of such superior ability.”

However, the urge to follow the family trade, and to compete on a level playing field with his brothers, proved compelling and Teddy ran for and subsequently won John’s vacated seat in the US Senate in 1962. It was this seat that he held for almost 47 years and in which he formed one of the most distinguished senate careers in history.
It could be suggested that Teddy was favoured by luck. Certainly, a plane crash in 1964, still early in his career, left him in hospital for several months and allowed him to study legislative issues in much greater depth. When he returned to congress he rapidly gained a reputation as a fierce and bold legislator, characteristics that marked the rest of his career. He was also often deemed to be the most affable of the Kennedy’s and this helped him become the youngest Senate Majority Whip to that date.

However, Teddy did not escape the so-called Kennedy curse. One of the most notorious episodes in his career occurred in 1969 when Kennedy crashed his car, apparently due to alcohol consumption. Infamously, Kennedy had a passenger, Mary Jo Kopechene. While Kennedy escaped, Kopechene died and Kennedy failed to notify authorities of the crash until after her body had been found. The case marked the start of a lifelong focus on Teddy’s private life, with personal scandals often eclipsing his political work. The unforgettable tragedies of his life though, were the assassinations of his two older brothers. Teddy was particularly close to Bobby and delivered a eulogy at his funeral that has now passed into the public consciousness as timeless prose.

An often-overlooked mark of Teddy’s character is that he became somewhat of a foster parent to his thirteen nieces and nephews. He often explained his decision not to run for president on a number of occasions by highlighting that it was the ‘expected thing’ after his brothers’ untimely deaths.

What Teddy Kennedy should be remembered for was the extensive and striking legislation he pursued relentlessly through his life. He was unafraid of approaching controversial issues and in his lifetime championed racial equality, gay rights and universal healthcare. Another notorious episode in Teddy’s life, for entirely different reasons, was his decision to enter apartheid South Africa in 1985, against the wishes of both sides of the struggle there. He met with Winnie Mandela and raised the profile of South African issues around the world. However, his most distinguished triumph was his unfailingly bipartisan approach to politics. While he tirelessly countered Reagan’s attempts to introduce conspicuously conservative legislation, he worked with George W. Bush on the No Child Left Behind Act when few others would. In his final year of life he broke the Republican filibuster against the Obama healthcare package. He was awarded both an honorary knighthood and the medal of honour.

While his life may have been marred by tragedy and scandal, Kennedy’s political career was an overarching political triumph. The legend of the ‘liberal lion’ should be one that all political figures know inside and out.

UoM scientists develop ‘double chin’ cure

Just four injections of a chemical known as ATX-101 can eliminate the fat which collects under the chin, dermatologists from the University of Manchester have discovered.

Collaborating with other clinical experts from France, Germany, Belgium, and Spain, their goal was to discover a safer and cheaper alternative to plastic surgery.

In a clinical trial, 363 people who suffered from fatty deposits in their chin and face were injected with the agent or a placebo four times over four weeks. The patients who had been given ATX-101 showed signs of significant improvement.

Professor Berthold Rzany, the author in charge of the study, said that “This study demonstrates that subcutaneous injections with ATX-101 yield a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in unwanted submental fat, decrease the psychological impact on patients, and are well tolerated”.

ATX-101is a chemical derived from the acid found in bile, which destroys fat membranes.  When injected into a fatty area of the body it triggers an inflammatory response which calls up special cells called macrophages, which in turn allow the fat cells to be reabsorbed by the body

Professor Rzany added further that “This study and three additional phase III clinical trials of ATX-101 will provide the first true evidence base for non-surgical submental fat reduction”.

After those additional trials have concluded, the next step will be to gain permission from the health authorities to begin offering the treatment to the general public

Dr Gavin Chan, from the Victorian Cosmetic Institute, has questioned whether this latest treatment will be as effective as surgery. He maintains that for now, liposuction is still the best treatment available.

“It remains to be seen whether this new formulation will be effective, and will be interesting to watch considering the lack of efficacy associated with fat-reducing injections in the past.

Double chin liposuction can be done under light sedation and is considered to be relatively non-invasive, with no visible signs of surgery and often only a few days of down time”.

The overall results of the study are to be published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Manchester student helps with earthquake relief in Philippines

As those in England assess the damage caused by St. Jude, one of the worst storms in years to hit a nation used to more temperate weather, a University of Manchester student has flown out to the Philippines as part of a team who are working to help those affected by the recent earthquake in Bohol.

Christine Cassar, who is doing her PHD in Humanitarianism and Conflict Response, is working as part of a response team from the Manchester based agency Disaster Aid UK.

The team are beginning relief operations, carrying out assessment work and providing shelter to those who have been made homeless by the earthquake.

Christine got involved with Disaster Aid UK after working as an Ambassadorial Scholar for Rotary International, the group which founded Disaster Aid UK.

“[Working for] Disaster Aid seemed like an amazing way to put into practice what I was studying,” she said. “We tend to think that academia and practical work are separate from each other, but combining the two is incredibly enriching and rewarding.”

After volunteering with the group for a year and a half, this is her first experience of overseas disaster relief deployment.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol on 15th October. So far 218 people are reported to have been killed due to the earthquake, 204 of those in Bohol, and 719 have been injured. Over 340,000 people have also been displaced and there have been widespread problems related to power outages, lack of sanitation and the absence of safe drinking water.

Christine is working on a municipality on the West of the island where 100 per cent of homes have been either damaged or destroyed. Those in her group are assessing what is needed most and are working with a Filipino partner organization – Balay Mindanaw to help provide family survival kits and non-food vital items, such as tents mosquito nets, kitchenware and cooking utensils, to families in need.

The group is also working to provide a long term structure, so that people may rebuild their homes and children may go back to school, as well as providing ongoing psychological support.

Christine pointed out that although the scope of the tragedy is undoubtedly vast, she has been amazed by the strength and resilience of those affected.

“One of the most heartbreaking stories we’ve heard is that of a woman and her three children sitting and having breakfast on the morning of the 15th in their kitchen in their house in a valley. The earthquake caused a landslide above their house and a huge boulder, the size of a car, came crashing down instantly killing the mother and two infant children, and injuring the third son,” she said. “The father was lost for words, he was utterly devastated but had to be strong for his son. And I think this is the message we’ve been getting from a population so affected by the events of the past few days – it’s recognizing the tragedy yet seeing a way forward from it.”

The United Nations has estimated that 46.8 million USD would be required to adequately support those affected by the earthquake. Governments across the world have been giving their condolences as well as providing aid to the Philippines to assist with the fallout of the disaster.

International aid agencies are also continuing to deploy volunteers to help maintain a supply of food as well as provide shelter and medical assistance to those who need it.

Christine said she felt foreign aid should be seen as more than simply financial assistance. She added that despite being a relatively small group, the commitment of Disaster Aid UK’s volunteers mean that it is able to reach communities on the other side of the world.

“I think it’s important to realize that there is so much expertise that can be shared; so many communities that can be helped overcome times of hardship,” she said. “If we work together and pool in financial, technical, and even academic resources we can be so much more effective in contributing to protecting and preserving lives.”

She encouraged individuals, groups, companies and entities to help support the work done by Disaster Aid UK.

Anyone looking to look at the work done by Disaster Aid UK or who would like to contribute in any way can find them at http://disasteraiduk.org.

In conversation with Audrey Niffenegger

Audrey Niffenegger is an American writer, artist and academic famously known for writing The Time Traveler’s Wife. She recently participated in the Manchester Literature Festival, and I had the pleasure of interviewing her at her hotel.

Before your debut novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife, you were mainly focused on visual arts and graphic novels. Was the transition from artist to writer a difficult one or did it just come naturally?

It seemed fairly natural because I never gave up being an artist. So, it wasn’t like I had to stop doing anything I just had to begin getting involved in publishing. I had pretty good luck, it wasn’t extremely difficult for me. It took me 9 months to find an agent and after that things went fairly easily.

I read that you teach novel writing at Columbia College in Chicago. What advice would you give to young aspiring writers today on breaking into the industry?

I’m teaching a seminar on novel writing for people who are working on novels. The thing with writing is that you can now pretty effectively put your own work out via blogs on the web, and there’s a zillion million outlets as long as you’re not too worried about getting paid. The getting paid part is kind of the thing that most people want to try to get into. I didn’t publish a novel until I was 40 so this advice won’t be popular, but I think it’s a good idea to work on your writing until it’s actually pretty hardcore amazing rather than trying to get published with your early stuff. A lot of people starting out just want to get on with it and get published and have a career right away. There are certainly some people whose early work is great and should be published but the number one thing I would say to people is try to be patient and also not to get disheartened if the doors don’t swing open right away. You may have to write the equivalent of a couple of books before you actually write one that’s really going to be the one you want to publish. It’s all about mastering your craft. It’s possible to get published with something fairly crappy but later you’ll feel bad about it.

Would you say the film adaptation of The Time Traveler’s Wife did it justice in terms of depicting your story?

I have not actually seen the film. I did read the script. I’m not sure how close to the script was to the thing they actually shot. At a certain point I realized the film was getting fairly far away from my idea of my book and I thought, ‘well the film people have a right to do whatever they want’ so I kind of just let go of it. I don’t really think of it as my film because I didn’t make it. I try not to say much about it because I don’t want to judge people for liking it or not liking it. People can think what they want about it, which they will.

There’s a new film that came out last month called About Time, which has a similar story line and even the same leading actress, Rachel McAdams. Do you think the success of your book had anything to do with this?

There’s a lot of films before my film, like Somewhere in Time which had Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve, made back in the ‘80s. So it’s been going on for quite a while. Since I haven’t seen it I wouldn’t really know. I mean I think the thing that probably is the closest to the spirit of my book is an episode of Dr. Who called “The Girl in the Fireplace” which Russell T. Davies said in some interview is actually inspired by The Time Traveler’s Wife. It has that business of a man visiting a young girl as she grows up. Of course, since it’s Dr. Who it takes off on an entirely different direction, which I really enjoyed.

I have noticed a few recurring themes in your work, such as romance, self-exploration and mystery. And most of your main characters are women. Is there a reason for this?

I think you don’t really have to try to put things in. The things that you’re interested in will just keep cropping up over and over again without you really making an effort. Probably the most overarching theme for most of the stuff I do has to do with loss and the passing of time – and the finality of the passing of time. I could not explain to you why. All the things listed are things I’m really attracted to, but why those things and not, say, math I don’t know. Some things seem inherently appealing and there’s a certain vibe that I recognize as being my work .

Your work has been compared to that of Edward Gorey, who also makes graphic novels, is from Chicago and even went to the same college as you. Do you think there are any similarities in your work?

He’s certainly the person I get compared to most frequently, and I think it’s because the people I really am influenced by are not as well known. So I don’t consider myself to be actually influenced by him at all, although I like his work. The people that really mean a lot to me are people like Aubrey Beardsley.

Is the book you’re working on now, Chinchilla Girl in Exile, which is about a girl with excessive body hair, meant to be comical in some way?

It’s kind of a coming of age story. A lot of it is about what it’s like to grow up feeling different which everybody kind of feels, like an outsider a little bit. I think that even if you’re tremendously popular, every adolescent has that feeling of not being quite secure, and you’re changing so much all the time. Parts of it are funny, but it’s not a slapstick kind of thing.

Can you give us a little taster of the upcoming sequel of The Time Traveler’s Wife? There’s website called

It is mainly about Alba as a grown up. She’s grown up to be a violinist but she’s also got extreme stage fright and so instead of becoming a performing artist she’s decided to become a composer. Her main problem is that she’s got two husbands and one of them doesn’t know about the other one. One of her husbands is a time traveler from the second half of the 21st century so in real time he’s 54 years younger than she is but they tend to meet back in the 1960s. I got interested in writing about climate change so you can expect that there will be some kind of horrendous weather things going on.

I read an interview you did in 2010 and I got the vibe that you were very alternative and indie what with not owning a TV, having a drummer boyfriend and listening to the Sex Pistols. Do you consider yourself a hipster?

Lost the drummer boyfriend, currently going out with Eddie Campbell who is a well-known comics artist so this is my graphic novelist boyfriend. I’m sort of turning into an old lady. I heard Miley Cyrus for the first time the other day. The people I tend to come out for have been playing for quite a while. So I wouldn’t think of myself as being incredibly cutting edge or anything like that.

What did you think of the Manchester Literature Festival compared to literary conventions held back home in Chicago?

What’s nice about this one is that the university’s involved so there were a lot of students coming to it. In Chicago, a lot of the time you look at the audience and everybody’s grey haired. Just walking around Manchester is lovely. Your university’s huge! I had no

Preview: The Invisible Woman

There’s always that one film every year that grabs your attention but probably (and regrettably) won’t grab an Oscar. This might be that film. The Invisible Woman (out in February) is the story of Charles Dickens’ late career and his affair with the young actress Nelly Ternan during that time.

The film stars and is directed by Ralph Fiennes, marking his second turn in the director’s chair. With two Oscar nominations, roles alongside Britain’s best secret agent and the world’s favourite wizard, an upcoming role in Wes Anderson’s much-anticipated The Grand Budapest Hotel and, perhaps most importantly, having voiced the character of Victor Quartermaine in Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Wererabbit, it would be tempting for Fiennes to sit back and take it easy. Instead, he’s doing all this alongside launching his directing career, and it looks like it’s getting off to a flying start! As an actor who started off studying art, Fiennes makes an intriguing director, combining his artistic and theatrical backgrounds to create beautiful films whilst attracting casts that produce visceral performances to bring his artistic vision to life. After his BAFTA-nominated debut directing a modern-day take on Shakespeare’s Coriolanus (talk about a baptism of fire!) Fiennes has now turned from guns and army jackets to wigs and corsets in this film with a biopic-style focus on the latter part of Dickens’ life.

Although the word “biopic” may now have us groaning as we visualise James Corden miming to opera on the rooftops of Venice, The Invisible Woman is guaranteed to be the top pick of the recent biopic bumper crop. How is it going to be any different? Well, it’s based on the book by Claire Tomalin – most famous for her seminal biographies on Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. On top of this, the book has been adapted for the screen by Britain’s best female screenwriter Abi Morgan. As you can see, we’re already a long way from those rooftops in Venice! But it doesn’t stop there. It goes without saying that with his incredible acting and directing creds, Fiennes can attract acting talent to his films like death eaters to Voldermort. This acting talent comes in the form of rising starlet Felicity Jones, playing the title character of Nelly Ternan. As it was Nelly’s story that moved Fiennes enough to take on the project in the first place, this could be the role Miss Jones has been waiting to sink her teeth into and with a glance at the supporting cast (featuring Tom Hollander and Kristen Scott Thomas) it looks as though we could be set to see knock-out performances all round.

If that’s still not enough to stop you from going “what the Dickens?”, here are two final reasons to be excited about this film. Thanks to such colourful characters as Miss Havisham and Fagin, everyone can name a Dickens novel – even if that’s only whilst humming the tune to “You have to pick a pocket or two” – so everyone should want to find out more about such an influential literary figure and the women who supported him. More importantly, with Helen Mirren calling for greater recognition of women in film, The Invisible Woman, a story about the woman who supported Dickens, penned for the screen by Abi Morgan from the book by Claire Tomalin, can only help to promote the movement of women in film towards the ever more visible. Let’s hope it won’t similarly be left invisible amidst Oscar hype!

 

Release Date: 7th February