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Day: 26 October 2015

Bailiffs move in on The Ark

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

Residents of ‘The Ark’ homeless shelter underneath Mancunian Way have been evicted for a second time after Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) were granted a possession order, following over a month of legal wrangling. Bailiffs from the High Court were sent in at 7:30am on Tuesday the 20th of October to dismantle the camp and remove the occupants from land to which the university claims ownership.

The Mancunion has closely followed developments with the Ark since a judge granted MMU permission to remove the make-shift shelter on the 18th September, resulting in a female activist being hospitalised.

Founders and supporters of The Ark claim that it had represented a safe space for people to come together in a “self-serving community” where people protected one another from the precariousness and dangers of sleeping rough, providing some measure of security and comfort.

MMU claim an unlawful settlement was established on their land and have sought to remove the camp through legal channels. However, in early October legal action against the homeless camp was then thrown out, Judge Allan Gore branding it as “misconceived and inappropriate.”

The case has been reviewed again and subsequently the council and university have succeeded in clearing the area—after receiving a possession order—in move activists are calling “social cleansing.”

In less than an hour early on Tuesday morning, the temporary homes of around a dozen people—tents, barriers and cardboard signs displaying messages of protest—were taken down and reportedly thrown into a waste-disposal van.

This fresh round of evictions occurred on the opposite side of Oxford Road from the original settlement which was forcibly removed the day before MMU Freshers’ Week. The university has come under strong criticism from students who have stood in solidarity with the homeless and routinely protested the “persecution” of Manchester’s vulnerable population.

The basis of the university and council’s action against The Ark has been that it breaches an injunction forbidding the erection of tents as protest against the issue of homelessness and occupiers were threatened with two years in prison.

Student Action in Solidarity with the Homeless (SASH) has been campaigning regularly over the past few weeks and following Tuesday’s eviction they penned an open letter to university management to rethink their stance on the homeless issue.

In recent developments, MMU management summoned leading student activists to a meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss the issue, during which the university stated they have “acted morally and responsibly” with regard to The Ark. In the same meeting, university bosses have said they are willing to take into consideration an “alternative homeless shelter” which is called for by SASH and the open letter they have written.

Though nothing concrete has been promised, campaigners will take hope from the opening of dialogue with the university, who until now have shown no sign of negotiation and spoken only with force. In spite of this, The Ark founder Ryan Mcphee, speaking after Tuesday’s eviction, said the situation for Manchester’s homeless is “dire” and that “people can’t be allowed to live like this.”

Think before you pink

Written by Marina Iskander on . Posted in Opinion.

‘Pinktober’ and ‘Movember’ are just around the corner—and raising awareness for cancer is all the rage. The problem is though, what exactly are we supporting?

You could say people buy pink ribbons and grow out their moustaches to support those who are battling cancer, but what does that, at the end of the day, even amount to? Taking part in such mainstream, terribly redundant campaigns is merely a way to quieten our consciences—sometimes even at the cost of those we claim to help.

Looking back, raising awareness for breast cancer was once desperately needed. Years ago, this specific type of cancer was a taboo that people preferred to ignore. Over time however, breast cancer has become recognised for the disease that it is; deadly, painful and disfiguring. In fact, it was because different campaigns, charities and organizations that people started talking about it openly.

But today, with this stigma effectively removed, we are left with ‘pink washing’: A modern phenomena that has turned breast cancer into a marketing tool.

Companies everywhere are now slapping pink ribbons on their products to make the buyer feel like they are making a difference, while in fact, few of these corporations actually donate a percentage of profits towards breast cancer research. Even worse, this marketing may deter people from actually donating or volunteering because for all they know they have done their part.

The irony of it all is that often, these companies do not just keep the profit for themselves, but may be even selling products that contain carcinogens—such as water bottles containing Bisphenol A (BPA) for example. The corporate world has once again stepped in and played with our heads, making us feel like heroes at the cost of the real martyrs.

The absolute worst part is how this makes breast cancer victims feel. For example, think of ‘No Bra Day’, which takes place annually on July the 9th. It may seem appealing at first, but upon further scrutiny, you will realise that women are essentially encouraged to flaunt exactly what breast cancer survivors or fighters lost.

It is astonishingly contradictory that a society that showed so much care towards removing the stigma behind breast cancer years ago now trivialises and belittles it so much that it becomes a mere event.

A double mastectomy is not beautiful or inspiring; it is complicated, emotionally draining and downright painful. Yet somehow, we have made posting topless pictures on social media seem altruistic. It is as if the idea of breast cancer has gone full circle: From a sexualised stigma to social acceptance and right back to become an overly sexualised ailment.

The mere fact that breast cancer is represented by the colour pink forces us to compartmentalise it into as some sort of ‘feminine disease’ reserved for older women. In an age where people are becoming more aware that gender roles must be broken, we have forgotten to look back and see that we have managed to assign a type of cancer to a gender.

Ignored are the men who suffer from it, or the women who do not just remove their breasts but also under-arm tissue, or the victims who have to face months or even years of physical therapy just so they could use their arms again. Breast cancer goes beyond what we have made it out to be, and people who are even at risk of facing it should not be subject of this trivialisation.

We as a society will do anything to feed our ego, going to even more desperate measures to feel like we went out of our way to help someone. It is unfortunate, however, that this leaves us running after the wrong cause.

So instead of blindly buying anything with a pink ribbon on it, think before you pink, and actually question whether or not this corporation you are supporting donates towards breast cancer. Think before you take your shirt off or use a catchy hashtag, because breast cancer is not a cause, it is a terribly common, overbearing and life-threatening curse.

Why I love the market, and so should you

Written by Colm Lock on . Posted in Opinion.

Now then everyone, while the musings of the recently new Left on the evils of capitalism might sound like music to the ears of your average student who has never experienced the real world of business, it is in fact the sound of sirens calling you towards the rocks of delusion and denial. I am not about to say that free market capitalism is perfect; it is anything but. However, there is one simple argument that will trump anything that my misguided opponent can conjure up. Capitalism is to date the only economic system that has the power to lift large numbers of people out of poverty and into an aspirational and professional middle class.

You need not look any further than Ethiopia to see the benefits free trade and enterprise can bring to a country and its people. Since the terrible famine of the 1980s, the country has come on leaps and bounds, sometimes managing to achieve an annual GDP growth of a whopping 10 per cent per year. It has led to a marked increase in the living standards of most Ethiopians and now means that the country, which once couldn’t even feed its own people, is now in the process of weaning itself off of international aid. It has become a thriving economy which benefits not just the global firms who invest in Ethiopia, but the farmers whose crops can now fetch better prices abroad thanks to better transport links.

If you want an idea of the kind of economy those on the Left purport will solve all our problems, I refer you to Venezuela. The country has oil reserves of Arabian proportions. It is well placed to produce high cash crops such as coffee. However, the country’s economic situation is now so dire, a friend of mine and his family will soon be fleeing the country and its socialist government for the United States. He went back to Venezuela during the summer and queued for hours to obtain simple items like soap and bread. The price you will pay for 36 Trojan condoms currently holds at around $755 and to top that all off, there is a national shortage of toilet paper. This, is the reality of day to day life for the poor people caught trying to live in the world’s 176th least free economy.

Let us also look at cold war Russia. Many American films were banned in the Soviet Union, where of course we saw a redistribution of wealth and state intervention in the economy on an unprecedented scale. One of the few films to make it through the Soviets’ strict censoring guidelines was an early film interpretation of the Grapes of Wrath, originally a novel by John Steinbeck set in a heavily economically depressed America. The Soviets let it through on the basis that they thought the depressing story line about the struggle of the American proletariat to survive in the capitalist world would make its own people thankful of what they had. However, the film was shortly pulled in Soviet theatres after audiences were shocked that even the poorest Americans could afford a car.

This is a topic fairly close to my heart as if it were not for the free market; I would not be in this country today. My grandfather grew up in poverty in the slums of Baltimore, Maryland. He was forced to help feed his family as a boy by selling old soda bottles in exchange for a few cents that would buy him his sole meal of the day, a single hot dog. In spite of all this, after the war, he set up his own bricklaying company in the early 1950s and grew it until he employed around 50 people. His success allowed my mother to go to university, the first in her family to do so, which in America is no cheap undertaking. That, readers, is why I love the market and that is why my faith in the capitalist system is unshakeable.

How ethical is our fashion?

Written by Sarah Kilcourse on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

When I googled ‘ethical fashion’ I was greeted with a list… of lists. Helpful. These lists were, mainly, magazine compilations and websites that can help guide you to eco-friendly clothing companies. Worryingly, I noticed the absences of many of the big fashion names. Ethical seems to be a niche accessory to a fashion brand, rather than a standardised requirement.

When you delve a little deeper, there are certain known brands that offer more ethical options. For example, H&M has a ‘conscious’ collection, which they release a couple of times a season. This collection is relatively affordable but still more expensive than the majority of the other items that H&M sell.

Similarly, ASOS has the ASOS Africa collection, which is sold at a considerably higher price point than the rest of the ASOS own brand collection. I can only assume that this high price scares ASOS customers away, especially the increasingly poor students who just so happen to be scrolling through the “new-in” section.

It could be argued that, to an extent, having a sustainable section in a global corporation just highlights that the rest of the collection isn’t sustainable. If they can have an eco-friendly collection, why is the rest of the store not thus?

Truthfully, I believe it is because being eco-friendly doesn’t increase business. It may attract a certain clientele, but the majority of people don’t consider where their clothes come from, how much the workers get paid, or the effects that these clothes have on the environment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the general public don’t care, I’m just saying it’s not at the forefront of their minds.

While brands like Stella McCartney may show great pride that none of their products harm animals, this also offers them a niche in the high-end market. Those beautiful chain trimmed bags are all faux-leather, yet because of the brand they can still charge thousands. And in the high-end market, creating that uniqueness has grown business.

Even after a factory (allegedly a sweatshop) that supplied Primark collapsed in Bangladhesh in 2013, we all still shop there. Perhaps we are too accustomed to the low prices of fast, high-end copies to consider the ethics of the clothes. But the existences of sustainable lines, like the H&M ‘conscious’ collection, prove that people do care. Every year more companies introduce new Earth-friendly collections and procedures, so fear not, the fashion industry does appear to be trying.

Feature: And the next Bond should be…

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Film.

Damian Lewis

Damian Lewis is like a fine wine. As his career has progressed, he has become increasingly popular, and this is mainly because of the huge commercial and critical success of Homeland—now into its fifth season. Lewis is however, quite possibly the underdog of the candidates, because his CV is not as quintessentially successful in terms of labelling him as a Hollywood A-lister. When Daniel Craig was handed the notorious role, he had the same dilemma, now his career has catapulted and his interpretation has been likened to Sean Connery. Who’s to say it won’t happen again?

Jason Spencer

 

Idris Elba

Idris Elba should be the next Bond because he’s fantastic—a versatile actor who is badass. Other candidates’ have filmographies which feature one familiar TV series and such films like The Muppets. But if you look at Elba’s filmography, he’s played a Norse god, a detective, a gangster, Nelson Mandela and has battled sea monsters, too. In regards to him not being a white man, to me, Bond is only quintessentially British—which goes to say that being British means that you can be of any cultural background or race. So if Elba iss the most qualified and most interesting actor that can take on the role and give it an interesting twist while still maintaining the spirit of the Bond series—why not?

Barney Weston

 

Tom Hiddleston

Suave, canny and handsome are all attributes associated to Hiddleston as an actor. They are also key ingredients to the foundations of James Bond and attributes personified in Daniel Craig, too. But if change is wanted by the suits at Sony, then they couldn’t do any wrong in giving the 34-year-old the role. Hiddleston would bring in a complete change to the franchise—reinvigorating the comical days of Roger Moore as apposed to the gloomy state currently found. Although it is yet to be shown if he can outwrestle a hitman in a bathroom, as Daniel Craig has proved to do so effortlessly, Hiddleston would be a refreshing choice.

Alasdair Bayman

 

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Handsome, suave and talented at the perfect level of fame to comfortably slide into a tuxedo, Chiwetel Ejiofor is my choice for Bond. At 38-years-old, Ejiofor has the distinguished demeanor of a true British gentleman and young enough to give him the time to settle into the role before Q has to start giving him Viagra prescriptions along with his pistol. Whatever direction they decide to take with the next series of Bond films, I have no doubt that Ejiofor would be able to balance the intensity, charm, ruthlessness and sophistication that are necessary for 007.

Jake Sanders

 

Jon Hamm

An American as James Bond? How would that work? Brilliantly, of course—the correct answer to that question. Assuming the former Mad Men star can affect a British accent, he would be the perfect pick to be the next 007. With the good looks and charm of a Greek god, and a voice that could be gruff and suave at the same time, Hamm has every necessary attribute to fill the shoes of Daniel Craig. And of course, nobody rocks a suit as well as Don Draper. Just imagine Hamm on a movie poster—sporting a tuxedo and wielding a pistol. The only problem would be that it sounds too good to be true.

James Moules

 

Daniel Craig

Whoever is recruited to serve Her Majesty’s Secret Service next is going to be a disappointment. The reason why there are rumours of a non-white or female James Bond is simply to distance the new 007 from the last. The best Bond to have ever graced our screens, Daniel Craig has defined what James Bond is. He has melded the necessary tropes—charm, wit and suaveness, with an added a level of intensity and grit—ultimately influencing the character for future generations. The dream scenario would be to have Craig continue indefinitely, potentially exploring a veteran Bond coming to terms with his impending mortality. Nobody does it better.

Imran Bukhari

Review: Crimson Peak

Written by Parizad Mangi on . Posted in Film.

Guillermo Del Toro’s latest directorial venture, Crimson Peak, sees him return to his avant-garde horror form following his last apocalyptic flick, Pacific Rim. Bleak and eerie, this gothic creation has been unleashed in cinemas just in time for Hallowe’en. So, does Del Toro’s most star-studded Hollywood fare live up to the hype?

The film is aesthetically stunning, from the exquisite sets and costumes to the atmospheric music and crisp cinematography; the film will be a visual treat to period drama lovers. This is perhaps one of the biggest victories of this film, that Del Toro manages to masterfully switch between the lightheartedness of a period piece in some earlier scenes and the chilly ambiance of a classical horror. The film emphasises this contrast through the characters of the bright and kind Edith Cushing (played by Mia Wasikowska) and the gloomy mysterious siblings (played by Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain).

As far as the actors are concerned, Wasikowska delivers a natural performance as the strong and wilful heroine, and has palpable chemistry with Tom Hiddleston, who excels during the film’s intense scenes. Jessica Chastain, who has received all award nominations Hollywood has to offer at this point, impresses, especially in her emotional scenes. Her rather inconsistent British accent, however, can be distracting at times. Even Charlie Hunnam manages to make an impression in his small role.

The downside, on the other hand, is that the dialogue can be quite subpar at times and the plot is stretched thin over two hours. Still, the grotesque thrills that Del Toro’s smoke-and-bone ghosts serve keep you on the edge of your seat for the final resolution. Although the film comes straight from the director’s own imagination, it unfolds like a classic gothic novel that could have easily come out of the mind of Edgar Allen Poe or Mary Shelley.

Another amusing upside to this film is the subversive nudity. A genre where it’s typical for the heroines to drop their robes to titillate the male audience, Del Toro keeps them covered from their necks to their ankles in elegant gowns and instead sheds the clothes of his hero. This may not seem like much, but still felt like a welcome departure from the tired trope.

Although this film may not carry an elaborate mythology like Del Toro’s Spanish-language horror flicks, it manages to string together a beautiful and emotional tale of love, revenge, and desperation.

4/5

TV Binge: The Returned

Written by Jane Simmons on . Posted in Film.

The Returned was a critically acclaimed French drama that aired on Channel 4 in the summer of 2013, evidently drawing less viewer interest than it deserves judging by the second series’ recent move to More 4. This is disappointingly so, as The Returned was so riveting and horrifying a programme, if more viewers had given it a chance it surely would have ensnared its grip upon their memories forever.

Set in a sleepy French town in the Alps, we see 13-year-old Camille wake up dazed in a mountainous ditch, mystified as to what has happened. When she returns home to her family, she learns from their horror and bafflement that she died in a bus crash three years ago. There are, however, more that have been resurrected, hoping to resume their lives again.

As the programme unfolds, the other ‘returned’ protagonists try to win back their living loved ones, from the Byronic Simon who tries desperately to win back the love of his fiancé Adele, oedipal brothers Toni and Serge, and an ominous little boy named Victor who seeks a home-comforting damaged soul Julie.

Surprisingly however, the dead returning to life are not the only strange occurrences taking place in this town; featuring a prostitute medium, the perplexing falling of the water levels, and a cannibalistic killer loose on the prowl, the end of every episode will have viewers gaping in wonder, hungry for questions to be answered.

On paper, The Returned sounds like a cheesy zombie programme—it sounds like it should portray the undead as dead-eyed, flesh-eating cadavers, shuffling around their home towns, plaguing their loved ones with terror and misery. The Returned is nothing as clichéd as that—the dead persons in question return unscathed, intelligent, and completely unchanged as to how they were before they died, with absolutely no recollection of their apparent fatality. It also does not conform to the average supernatural/zombie show—it is not strewn with blood, gore and terror throughout the duration like the series; instead it plays on using a sinister tone, gently building this sense of dread, so that when something truly shocking does happen, it has even more impact on the viewer—and there are some truly stomach-churning scenes.

This sense of the sinister is further helped by a brilliant soundtrack by Glaswegian musicians Mogwai, who recorded the album Les Revenants specifically for the series. The ambient yet chilling sounds that they have created compliment the drama spectacularly, stirring fear when we anticipate it, and elation with a happier scene.

There have been different interpretations to what a programme like The Returned could possibly represent; some have argued that it is about resurrection, and others have even argued it could be an analogy for the Holocaust. Overall, however, The Returned is essentially a philosophical exploration of death and the grieving process, handled in the most mature manner—unlike other supernatural programmes. The soundtrack is excellent, and with a plotline so peculiar, it is a must-watch if you need something spooky to entertain you during these cold autumn nights.

Pho Sho

Written by Sarah Lambert on . Posted in News.

Since my first foray into the world of Pho down a dodgy alleyway in Hanoi, I have been hooked. This Vietnamese dish of rice noodle soup with fresh herbs and tender meat quickly became one of my favourites. Thus, when the posters advertising the new Pho restaurant in Manchester caught my eye, I knew where my next lunch date would take place.

On a quiet Tuesday afternoon, we checked out the newest addition to the Pho chain. One of a variety of eateries making themselves home in the recently refurbished Corn Exchange, Pho spans an impressive three floors of dark, wooden-clad walls and mood lighting. The restaurant is a family-run business with several locations focusing on providing authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

We opted to be seated at the window bench in order to ogle the passers-by, and because it was far too cold to sit outside. The mishmash of high chairs and sofa seats inside made a nice change from the usual school canteen-style benches favoured by similar restaurants.

It didn’t take long to order the food, thanks to the minimalist menu, which, unsurprisingly, comprised mainly Pho, but with a good selection of starters including gems like summer rolls and savoury crepes. We decided on pork crispy spring rolls followed by the Pho with beef brisket. The main wasn’t a bad price, and so we decided to upgrade to steak, which brought the dish to a reasonable £8.50 (who wouldn’t, especially with the 15 per cent student discount available).

After a brief wait, our spring rolls arrived. Deliciously crisp with just enough to share, these were accompanied by either a creamy peanut or a garlic and chilli (‘nước chấm’) dip. Ten minutes later, we were greeted by our huge bowls of aromatic noodle soup, topped with an appetising herb plate of mint, lemongrass, lime, chilli and coriander. The melt-in-the-mouth meat was coupled with the perfect amount of spice; although there were some pungent chilli and garlic oils provided for those more with a greater disposition towards spice. We ended the meal with the banana fritters. Covered in the lightest of batters, with sesame seeds and a side of coconut ice cream, these were possibly the best I have ever had.

Overall, we found Pho to be a viable contender on the competitive Manchester Asian food scene, with a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere thanks to the chatty staff and ambient playlist. The meal was very reasonably priced, at under £15 for a main with shared starter and dessert. If we lived closer, we would definitely take advantage of the takeaway ‘Pho to Go’ option, which comes served with the ingredients in separate containers to keep them fresh on the journey. I already have my eye on the com tam curry for next time!

Pho
Unit 15
The Corn Exchange,
37 Hanging Ditch,
Manchester,
M4 3TR

Review: Ghost Opera

Written by Hannah Foy on . Posted in Theatre.

For two nights only, Ghost Opera haunted The Lowry theatre. The production used music, lighting and physical theatre to allow the audience to initmately feel each character’s haunted past.

Beginning outside the studio space of the performance, the audience were held at three different doors before we could take our seats, adding to the mystery and suspense of the production itself. It was as though a game of pass the parcel was being played, each door allowing us a closer glimpse into the world of the spa hotel.

Then, once in the studio, the production had itself started, the haunted nature of the pool boy’s pop icon already playing behind a screen, allowing only his shadow to be present. In this the tale of the story was already coming to light, with the characters able to be viewed, but not truly seen.

We were then flashed forward to the present spa hotel setting, introduced to the woman and the pool boy who attended to her. Their relationship never truly settled, a mixture of physical and sexual frustrations as they each battled with their inner selves and haunted histories.

Strangers at first, the woman and the pool boy attempt to find themselves and escape what haunts them, yet they remain unsuccessful. The storyline moves at a quick pace, dancing between the real-life characters and their haunted selves. It delves between the two realities. As I questioned which world they wished to live within, the two twisted into confusion. Life and reality seemed to no longer exist outside the spa hotel room; the characters were lost in themselves, not even permitting the ever-ringing phone to enter the secluded world.

From this, I felt that the action became quite repetitive, the scenes were played out once, before the woman and pool boy swapped places and the same scene was introduced. The symbolism of the blue dress was a little lost on me; clearly it represented the woman’s past and romantic intentions but was over-used to an extent. I also wanted to question why neither character had a name, simply the woman and the pool boy, it took away any intimate connection I could hold with the characters, removing them from the very scenes they were playing.

Yet as a modern piece of drama, the performance was clever. It brought up the same ideas again and again, echoing the haunted nature that surrounded the production. The use of lighting and music created an ambient mood, casting shadows over the characters and storyline.

Through the Development of the Lowry programme, the production originated in the highlands before being workshopped at Salford. It just shows how talent can be developed and exhibited locally. It presents a range of opportunities to be given and performed at The Lowry.

Although Ghost Opera showed at The Lowry on the 15th and 16th of October 2015 you can still catch the production, since it will be visiting  the New Diorama Theatre, London from 27th – 31st of October 2015 and Warwick Arts Centre on the 4th of November 2015.

The darlings of cruelty-free beauty

Written by Rebecca Thomas on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The sorry habit of my life. The newest lipstick range or eyeshadow palette has been previewed by my favourite beauty guru and I am there, in the store a week later, trying to justify a purchase. With great guilt, I admit that my first thoughts when buying a new product usually extend to: How decent is the consistency? Can I really get away with that fuchsia for daywear? Perhaps ‘lickable’ isn’t the best choice for lectures. Pants, why is it ten times more expensive than my lunch? I don’t usually dwell fully on whether or not these products are linked to animal cruelty, instead trusting that the UK industry is enlightened in this field.

Sure enough, a law was passed in 2013 making it illegal to sell products that have been tested on animals in Europe, which is a good start. However, if brands sell products elsewhere, they may have given permission to use animal testing at some stage of the product development. Many brands still manufacture products that are tested on animals, or are cagey when questioned about their testing methods, meaning that there is very much an ethical choice to be made when buying any beauty product.

Checking PETA’s list of companies who definitively do not test on animals, I was shocked by just how few the number of familiar beauty brands have been given the thumbs up. Even more shocking are case articles or photographs of animals that have been used for the purpose of testing. They are truly awful. The list of PETA-approved brands is lengthy; however, many are fairly unheard of. LUSH, Smashbox, The Body Shop, Too Faced, NYX, Urban Decay, and Marks & Spencer Beauty are a few of the recognisable high street brands that are true cruelty-free honeys. As well as makeup, free-from-cruelty skincare can be found at Liz Earle, Burt’s Bees, and Dermalogica.

A personal favourite is the liquid lipstick range from LUSH. Made from completely natural ingredients, each colour is said to make the wearer adopt the quality of its name, such as ‘Charm’ or ‘Decisive’. I was a little sceptical of these professed powers; however, the colour ‘Drive’ is amazing, a gutsy pinky-purple ensconced in the cutest vial, and the perfect friend to have when giving presentations or job hunting.

LUSH Lipstick in ‘Drive’
Photo: LUSH

Sadly, most of the beauty giants, such as Benefit, Revlon, Clinique, Maybelline, and MAC to name a few, remain on the list of brands that potentially test on animals. A good way of putting pressure on these latter companies to change their practices will be sourcing makeup from the cruelty-free gems instead. Have a check of the PETA and Cruelty Free International websites for good guides on who’s who, or look out for the leaping bunny symbol when buying to make sure any beauty product is free from animal testing!

Interview: Tom Robinson

Written by Oscar Talbot on . Posted in Music.

Tom Robinson’s first album in 20 years utilises an eclectic mixture of celebrities ‘from the address book.’ As a Radio 6 Music DJ, Robinson has been able to call upon artists du jour—such as John Grant and Lisa Knapp, as well as less conventional artists Ian McKellen and Colin Firth to make a fiercely political new album, Only The Now.

In many ways, the new work is a uniquely modern phenomena; Colin Firth was busy filming, so he had used his mobile phone to record his part of a news reader and Robinson freely admits that he and Grant “may never have actually sung the song (‘cry out’) in the same room together,” although he “hopes they will.” The “cost and time commitment of getting so many A-listers” makes touring with them “unlikely”—meaning the tour itself may very well be distinctly different from the album.

Like many artists today, Robinson has utilised a highly successful PledgeMusic campaign—currently at over 184 per cent. He is quick to advocate PledgeMusic as a means of democratising music production, stating “there’s been nothing like this, where an artist can make a record in collaboration with the people that are going to buy it and release a record out of debt.” He seems genuinely excited by this, along with the flexibility of self-production. And a number of the songs on this record have been quietly brewing over the last 20 years. Robinson has refused to be idle, presenting on every BBC radio station while actively campaigning against homophobia and the stigma towards mental health.

One of the most personal tracks, ‘Don’t Jump, Don’t Fall’ was released as a charity single for CALM—a charity aimed at reducing male suicide. It’s semi-autobiographical, with the use of both spoken word poetry and male vocals, it comes across as genuine and startlingly vulnerable. However Robinson repudiates the “shit you make” when “writing songs for order”, as “it has to be something you feel passionate about, any great song is one that’s driven by passion and feeling. […] Not that I’d put my self in the bracket of great,” he adds with modesty.

That said, a number of the songs on the album are enormously funny and almost surreal, such as ‘Holy Smoke’ (Ft. Ian McKellen), which emerged after an anonymous musician told Robinson about using sheets of the family Bible as rizlas. “I just thought it was hilariously blasphemous,” he says, and it’s not the only song that shows his riotous mischief. ‘Merciful God’ uses the words of an American bomber pilot, who claimed that he was doing “what God put him here for,”—after the American bombing campaign during the Iraq war.

Robinson has always been an advocate of LGBT+ rights and his most famous song ‘Glad To Be Gay’ was “unofficially banned by the BBC, played only by John Peel.” The twinkle in his eyes can almost be heard over the phone as he recalled having his hand shaken by the Director-General of the BBC; he had just won a Sony award for a documentary on gay music. He was even portrayed in the hit TV series Ashes to Ashes—something he describes as being “hilarious.”

“They did ask me in advance if I’d mind being portrayed in it and I stipulated ‘I don’t mind you doing it, but you’ve got to choose somebody who’s ludicrously better looking than I was at the time!’”

Robinson freely admits that “people won’t be buying this album in droves.” However, it’s clear from our conversation that he’s the sort of person to measure success in staying true to his views and inspirations—rather than in record sales. The fact that he has achieved so much in his career, and continues to produce music that will appeal to his broad and devoted fan base, seems to be a bonus.

The resting bitch face

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Lifestyle.

As a personal sufferer of this infliction, I wanted to share my experiences to console others who have also been inflicted with this tiresome fault. “Who died?”, “Smile love! Life’s not as bad as you think!” and “You’ve got a face like you’ve been slapped with a wet fish,” along with the relentless “Are you ok?” are just some of the phrases that I, for one, am a little tired of hearing. For some of us, a friendly smile is not eternally plastered on one’s face. It doesn’t help my case that I’m a daydreamer too. Apparently whilst I’m emerged in some parallel universe, my expression in this one is not too joyous.

Resting bitch face plus a sensitive soul bring the side effects to a whole new level. At 5’3″, with blonde hair and big blue eyes, my constant look of disdain has even led me to being referred to as “really intimidating” by new acquaintances?!

At one time, I considered my permanent facial expression a bit of an affliction, but with time and an increase in maturity, I have learnt to love it. Perhaps it matches my personality? I shy from falseness and don’t enjoy the company of those demonstrate it.

When I’m happy, sad or angry, my facial expression most certainly shows it. This, too, has caused me some trouble in the past but it has also encouraged me to pursue a life that I actually enjoy. I don’t accept invitations to things that I don’t want to do anymore but I also put myself out there to try more new things than ever before.

So to all of you who suffer from this infliction: Embrace it! Be sassy and know that when you crack out a rare smile, your facial expressions are appreciated twice as much as those without a resting bitch face.

Fall favourites for fellows

Written by Kyle Zabawa on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

With temperatures dropping to below that of even my bitter old heart, and as the campus foliage begins to lose its chartreuse tinges in favour of more chestnut tones, there is no better time than autumn to add some new pieces to well and truly spice up your wardrobe (and life).

As an aspiring house-husband of Cheshire, with a penchant for style as refined as that of Shania Twain’s preferences for a suitor, it is both an honour and a privilege to impart but a soupçon of sartorial goodness to you in the format of the following five, fun-sized featurettes.

(NB did Shania—I’d like to think that we’re on first name terms—ever find out what does impress her much? Answers on a postcard to 1998, please. Thank you in advance).

1. A most marvellous mac

If, like me, you have grown bored of last year’s furry-hooded, waterproof parka, then fear not, for this next item is sure to add a touch of on-trend, 1930s art deco to your outerwear. In terms of palette, we’re waving goodbye to summer brights and saying hello to neutral, rusted shades such as burnt sienna and cocoa. And what better way to embrace the colours of the season than with this lightweight, yet structured, double-breasted mac, courtesy of River Island? Military chic has once again proved popular on the catwalks of London, Paris, Milan (and even Manchester) for AW15. An extraordinarily versatile piece, wear this coat belted in cooler climes or leave it open for those last few days of late summer sun.

It is also of note that, as of 2008, River Island has been a supporter of the ETI Code (that’s ‘ethical trading initiative’ to you and I), giving you the piece of mind that your new coat is an ethically-considered purchase.

Photo: River Island

 

2. All olive everything?

Whether at a party for two or even ‘in da club’, incorporate some dark green-hued fabrics into your ensembles this autumn. Olive (think a timeless, versatile, earth-toned green) is predicted to be everywhere this season, so make sure to invest now in pieces that will see you right through from the serotinal months and beyond. I’m suggesting a long-sleeved polo as an easily achievable eye-catching addition to your capsule wardrobe.

Photo: ASOS

 

3. “It’s okay to put your foot in it, as long as you’re wearing fabulous shoes” – Real Housewife of Cheshire Lauren Simon 

As much as it pains this writer to admit, autumn is the time to unfortunately retire those delicate, suede tasseled loafers you sported all summer in favour of comfortable and enduring leather boots. However, when this next pair of shoes caught my eye in an ASOS flash sale (sign up for their emails by the way, they will hook you up with bargains you didn’t even know that you deserved) it was love at first sight. If gaudy leathers aren’t quite your cup of tea, then similar style dress slippers in more muted, subdued colours are my recommendation to you. Needless to say, I shall not be sporting these emblems of regalia during my thrice-weekly commute from Piccadilly station on to campus anytime soon, but I am saving them for my next rendezvous with my partners in crime back home.

Photo: ASOS

 

4. Let’s get aromatic this autumn

Picture the scene. Soft, white sands. Pure, celestial waves delicately breaking along a charming shoreline. Golden rays of sunshine glittering down from the heavens above. Sprawling cliffs and dunes as far as the eye can see… blissful isn’t it? If, not unlike myself, you find yourself drawn to anything even remotely nautical, this fragrance is a joy for the senses. Clean yet masculine and with base notes of aromatic, evergreen sage and a heart note of sea salt, you and everyone who comes into close contact with this whimsical scent can be, at once, subconsciously transported to a Utopian beach retreat. Memories of summer may be just a spritz away thanks to Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne.

Photo: Selfridges

 

5. “Oud” have thought I’d be able to make a pun out of a candle?

Although I am indeed fully aware that one cannot sensibly wear a candle, for the metrosexual of 2015, my next recommendation is a must.

Housed intricately in signature smoked black glass, the incense from this luxuriously decadent Jo Malone Oud & Bergamot Candle is divinely rich and warm-heartedly woody. Just in case you needed any more convincing that this product has the potential to change your life for the better, some wider reading (a.k.a. a Google search) seems to suggest that the Agarwood included in the oil of this candle (the most expensive wood in the world by the way, for the timber experts amongst us) was frequently used, inter alia, within medieval medicine for the treatment of colds and flu.

Alas, don’t catapult your Lemsip Max sachets into your nearest bin just yet, because this candle does carry a hefty price tag. For this reason (and because student loans define the notion of ‘squeezing every penny’), I’ve located a more budget friendly ‘dupe’ version of this product—namely, ‘Oud Oasis’ by Yankee Candle.

Photo: Selfridges

 

Final Thoughts

And so ends this whistle-stop tour of modern day consumerism at its finest. Until next time, don’t forget to let us know what products you are loving this autumn over at our social media links.

Review: Jo Coffey

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

Originally from Birmingham, Jo Coffey brought her solo show ‘Curiously Caffeinated’ to Manchester’s The Castle Hotel for the Women in Comedy Festival. Being the circuit’s fourth smallest comic, Coffey has performed all over the country, having reached the final of the Funny’s Funny national competition in 2014. As well as this, Coffey, a 2014 NATYS finalist, presented an aspect of Big Brother’s Little Brother, or as she put it, “was wedged in a dark box with a heavily pregnant Emma Willis where she’d be asked what was going on on the internet.” To which she had no idea.

Rather than hosting the solo show by herself, Coffey opted to bring out four feet something guests onto the stage, granting the audience the oddest interpretation of a Royal Variety show we have ever seen. Special guests ranged from a balaclava clad terrorist with a vendetta against all Terrys to a Croatian Amy Winehouse tribute act complete with ‘Amy Winehund’. The array of characters made for a nice way for the material to be segmented; however, the complete random nature of the characters chosen made for a patched performance overall.

Her astrologist character fell a little flat with spectators, but characters such as her running gag with her Amy Winehouse tribute act and the imperative material on her playground nicknames at school, made up for it.

Vintage vs. charity shops

Written by Perisha Kudhail on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

As with any other debacle in fashion, the ethical reasoning behind vintage shops is being questioned all the time. Surely selling second-hand clothing for profit is the same as buying clothes from a charity shop, without giving to charity? What is the difference between vintage and charity? Aren’t they the same thing with different ethical outcomes?

With charity, there exists a constant suspicion as to how much of the proceedings actually go towards the ’cause’. The rent of the shop has to be paid, alongside the managers who run the store. Realistically, how much does this leave for the charity itself? This ‘could’ be argued to be immoral in its own right. Why buy from a charity shop, when you don’t even know if your contribution makes a difference?

With vintage clothing shops, there is no barricade of morals. You buy the goods, the workers get paid, and they can then go out and acquire more vintage goods. With vintage, you cannot argue that you will be able to find some good buys. They are timeless pieces that you can keep and they will remain vintage.

However, if you look hard enough in a charity shop, you cannot argue that economically and practically, buying from a charity shop can bring the same joy as buying designer gear at full price. At least a charity shop boosts morale and makes you feel like you are making a difference, as well as getting a bargain or two. Should vintage shops convert? Or should we convert from vintage?

A lot of people don’t have an opinion about the fact that vintage and charity shops do equate to each other in terms of what is being sold. The assumption is that clothes used are better than clothes thrown away. And if you’re not giving to a charitable cause, to some extent you could argue that paying someone’s wage is as good a cause as any.

Has fashion gone too far?

Written by Kassi Allcock on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The stigma about mental health has decreased in the past few years, with more people coming forward to discuss their experiences. The public is slowly starting to realise that mental illness is no different to physical illness—it cannot be helped, it is difficult to fix, and it should not be subjected to ridicule.

Despite this incredible progress, the fashion industry can still be held accountable for making light of mental health. Far too many slogan T-shirts have been manufactured in recent years, glamourising problems that 1 in every 4 people in the UK suffer from each year.

Back in 2010, Urban Outfitters released a grey V-neck tee with the words “eat less” written across the front. This caused a great deal of controversy, as it was seen to be promoting eating disorders. According to The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), anorexia is the third most common long-term illness among teenagers.

As Urban Outfitters’ target market, the T-shirt could have had a disastrous effect if it had been kept in stores for too long. Responsibly, Urban Outfitters did remove the item from their website, but only after they were heavily criticised for producing it in the first place.

Not learning from their mistakes, they released another t-shirt making a mockery of mental health. This time around, the word “depression” was written repeatedly across a white crop top. Again, after several complaints, the item was taken off their website.

Regardless of their offensive reputation, Urban Outfitters continue to create products that can be seen to demean mental health. In their quirky home section throughout 2015, they have sold mugs with the tagline “Britney survived 2007. You can handle today”, as well as the (sadly) popular phrase “More issues than Vogue”.

Both phrases hinder the progress made in understanding mental health, and further try to romanticise serious illnesses. What’s more, the public doesn’t seem to realise how offensive these slogans are—social media was full to the brim with snapshots of these products, labeling them as ‘funny’ and ‘clever’. A much bigger emphasis needs to be shone upon this problem if we are to move away from the stigma about mental health.

Urban Outfitters is not the only culprit—they are merely the brand that is seen in the brightest spotlight. ASOS have recently released a slogan T-shirt, reading “Hangxiety: A self-inflicted state of fear after a night out”, which belittles victims of anxiety, including myself. Topshop have also been known to manufacture a slogan jumper, reading “Stressed, Depressed, but Well Dressed”. Young, impressionable shoppers may be given the impression that their mental wellbeing is insignificant in comparison to their fashion sense.

As the Head Fashion Editor for The Mancunion, I am definitely in favour of the importance of fashion and the major role that it plays in society. However, fashion is all fun and games at the end of the day; what really matters is how you look after yourself and your mind. Mental health is not a trend—it’s an illness, just like cancer and heart disease.

Anybody who has ever experienced a mental health problem would say that they would never ask to be subject to such a tormenting illness; they would be rid of it if they could. If suffering from a mental illness is so heartbreakingly hurtful, why are fashion brands trying to make them seem popular, something to aspire to?

Perhaps I am being too harsh on the fashion industry, when their real intention may be to raise awareness. Instead of adding to the stigma of mental health, they may actually be attempting to decrease it. Irrespective, glamourising mental health is not the right approach. I am all for promoting self-love and widening the understanding of mental health, but how about we leave it to the non-profit professionals?

Domestic Abuse: A double standard

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Lifestyle.

So everybody knows you shouldn’t hit a girl. It’s a lesson engrained into the psyche of every little boy. But what about girls hitting boys? Physical violence should never be encouraged, but there is a stigma surrounding it which effectively condones women abusing men, but not the other way round.

I’ll admit it, I’ve hit a boyfriend in the past, or at least tried to. Blinded by anger we all do things that we later regret. But I never felt like I had to think twice about what my friends and peers would think if they found out. However, when the shoe is on the other foot, it’s a little more taboo.

Kelly Brook, a British model once voted the Sexiest Woman in the World, giggled as she recalled punching her boyfriend in the face, live on a nationally broadcast television show. Such trivialisation of domestic abuse was not received lightly and she was thus given a slap on the wrist for her actions. But when Chris Brown infamously attacked, his then girlfriend, Rihanna in 2009, he faced severe repercussions including a lengthy legal battle and heavy financial losses.

Why is it that men are chastised so much more severely for the same action as women? Arguments include “Surely a woman can’t hurt a man as much as he could hurt her?” and that men should just “know better.” But what if the woman is bigger than her male victim, how then should that case be addressed?

According to the NHS, men were victims of just over a quarter of incidents of domestic violence in the UK in 2010 and those are only the ones that were reported. Domestic abuse isn’t just physical though; emotional abuse, threats and intimidation and sexual abuse also come under this umbrella term. Thus the argument that men are more capable of abuse than women is completely undercut.

There’s no denying that women are equally able to threaten, intimidate, belittle or blame so maybe, just maybe, we as a society should begin to overcome our childhood lessons and view domestic abuse in the same disapproving light, irrespective of gender.

A thought on the selfish selflessness of the gap year volunteer

Written by Astrid Kitchen on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I am another who can raise their hand as someone who trooped to the other side of the world to scrawl my signature on ‘genuine’ poverty in the third world. Returning with stories of ‘how these people really live’ I too felt I’d experienced a rare insight into the lives of the receivers of volunteer work, for those who really need it and, more importantly, from those who really need it.

And, indeed, for months afterwards I was an endorphin buzzing mess, gliding around with a half-smile on my face, safe in the knowledge that I had experienced something wholly unique and profound, a secret which kept me warm at night amidst the blunder that is life as a lonely Fallowfield fresher. Setting me apart from my fellow students, I was embarking as an undergraduate in Social anthropology and I was ahead of the game!

Unfortunately, unbeknown to me was the fact that all gap yah kids, impressionable and eager to experience real life, leave voluntourism with the same smug entitlement. Indeed, one of my first tutorials was spent sulking when the guy with long hair and piercings (probably a style inspired by the same trip) had beaten me to it, shoe-horning stories of the ease with which Cambodian children smile, into a discussion about the cultural significance of the burqa… Even now, almost two years on, the predominant feeling I associate with those pivotal four weeks in Tamil Nadu (I’ve been to rural India!!!!!) is guilt.

On a course obsessed with cultural relativism, this is not an easy thing to admit and yet, having spoken to my fellow do-gooders, the lingering flavour left behind from ‘volunteer’ work is a bitter one. This is not to denounce all volunteer work because of course there are life-changing projects which can bring about unquestionable positive change, but for those of us popping over to distant parts of Asia to embed ‘the volunteer experience’ into a four month trip prioritising various forms of cultural enlightenment, the hangover of guilt is not welcome nor appropriate.

To ground this rant in the specific, recalling my time spent at Kings Matriculation Secondary School often leaves my conscience begging for mercy from fearmongering chants scolding my failure to return, poor efforts to stay in regular contact with those with whom I formed close relationships, or, perhaps worst of all, the thought that I returned from holiday sun kissed and rested while my welfare receivers remain enmeshed in their cage of third world hardship.

Am I being harsh? Such remorse is of course well-intentioned, springing from a place of altruism and gratitude, but affording our work such significance is not only immodest but it also elevates us to a higher status socially, economically and morally on the premise that ‘our’ life is better than ‘theirs’ and it is for this reason we ought to ‘do our bit’ to ‘give back’ (in the native tongue of the colonial aid worker).

My gripe is with us European jet setters who, cradling our privilege, render aid receivers vulnerable and dependant peoples sat in the window awaiting our return. Sadly, speaking from experience, it is highly likely they have forgotten your name if they ever learnt it, they have forgotten the English words for household pets (which they never fully understood anyway, because why would you intentionally ensure a feral cat remained in your house when it was only eating your food and weeing on the floor) or have otherwise forgotten that is was you who taught it them and, for the most part, are going about their day to day life in the same happy fashion you left them in.

Only yes, they still don’t have an iPhone 6, and continue to eat their meals with their left hand, because, yes, they also still don’t see the use in killing the rainforest for toilet roll when God equipped us with fine functioning hands.

Album: Kode9 – Nothing

Written by Adam Rogers on . Posted in Music.

Released on 6th November via Hyperdub

9/10

Scottish-born producer Kode9, real name Steve Goodman, steps up to the plate with his first solo album, Nothing, following the passing of long-time collaborator The Spaceape. The LP comes forward from Goodman’s own London-based label Hyperdub and “revolves around an evacuated, fully automated, luxury hotel known as The Nøtel, whose corporate logo features on the album’s cover.”

Nothing opens with ‘Zero Point Energy’, a glitchy, short, ambient piece full of menace and suspense that hits you with a wall of distortion. It sets the tone perfectly for the album that—save a few pieces—is teeming with angst and malice. The single ‘Respirator’, released ahead of the album, opens with a jackhammer of a kick drum imported straight from the Chicago Juke/Footwork scene before the song is filtered through Kubrick’s The Shining. The end result is something bludgeoning and truly sinister.

There’s little surprise to the extent of Footwork found on Nothing—Hyperdub had signed the late DJ Rashad several years previously and it’s clearly left a lasting impression on Goodman. Tracks like ‘Holo’ and ‘Casimir Effect’ offer some of the more bouncy and melodic moments on the album and are heavily reminiscent of 2011’s Room(s) by American artist Machinedrum.

Kode9 also reworks the classic dubstep anthem ‘9 Samurai’ into an epic and unrelenting beatdown of a track in ‘9 Drones’. It’s a track designed for a peak-time sound system in a low ceiling basement, and will be no doubt finishing off many DJ sets to come. Another peak-time moment found on the LP is ‘Zero Work’, arguably the only straight forward dubstep track to be found here. ‘Zero Work’ somehow strikes the balance of coming across as a first-wave style dubstep track while also sounding entirely fresh and progressive.

For all the praise this album deserves, it’s haunted by something lingering over the album, something missing—the brooding, syrup-like textures from The Spaceape, Stephen Gordon. The Spaceape passed away late last year following a long standing battle with a rare form of cancer, but can still be found on ‘Third Ear Transmission’, although unfortunately far too briefly. ‘Void’ was also written with The Spaceape in mind, spaces left where his vocals should have been.

Nothing is an astounding album that doesn’t really falter; it draws on several genres and styles, but Goodman’s filter and twist on every aspect is fresh and interesting. The album flows impeccably as a whole, but all the tracks are so concise and well executed that they work out of context—there’s no flab or filler to be found here.

Advice Column

Written by Anon on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I started seeing this guy, but then I met someone else who I instantly knew was the better one for me. Should I be honest with the first one? Do I owe him that or can I just let it fizzle out?

Dear…

“Honesty is the best policy” is a mantra that should be ingrained into everyone as a child, and this is even more relevant in every relationship you should have or should wish to embark on. This value is too sacrosanct to sacrifice… period. You have to question how feasible it is for you start something new if you haven’t finished the old?

Furthermore, put yourself in his position, do you think it’s fair for him to be strung along whilst remaining uncertain, and maybe full of hope of starting a new budding relationship, whilst you know the likelihood of this happening is slim to none. At the end of the day, the person’s feelings you are protecting are yours and yours alone and it is not fair on Guy A as ultimately he will be the one that suffers. It’s never easy ending something, but I recommend doing so soon. Let the guy get over you and find something new, and stop taking him for a ride.