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Day: 10 October 2016

Becoming a Vegan, Part One: what’s all the hype about? (ignore)

Written by Katie Bell on . Posted in Lifestyle.

 

Settling back into student life in Manchester, it has been hard to avoid the debate: to be vegan or not to be? My recent conversion to vegetarianism sparked a heated conversation at the dinner table. The meat-eaters rolled their eyes as they tucked into their bacon sarnies, now the minority in our house, they’re sick of taking the blame for the world’s problems. Us, as the vegetarians, seem to be able to take the high ground. But we don’t boast the credentials of belonging to the same list as Brad Pitt and Emma Watson like our vegan housemate. In my quest to be a good, all-rounded human as I think about entering the ‘real world’, should I be following in their ethical, green footsteps? And what would this diet mean for me? Here’s some food for thought.

We’re all talking about Cowspiracy. If you’ve not seen it, you’ll have heard about it and its exposure of the shocking impact of the meat industry on our world. Mass deforestation, high levels of methane gas release and water usage all make it a big contributor to global warming. 30% of global emissions come from agriculture (more than all the transport in the world). And if that doesn’t shock, research shows that instead of feeding animals with our crops, 3.5 billion people could live off the food used for livestock. That’s enough to feed Africa, three times over. There are currently 800 million people who do not have enough food, and so, why aren’t we feeding the people? If a vegan diet uses a third of the land and a third of the water of a typical dairy and meat diet, why don’t we all change in order to save our planet?

Many of us can’t let meat and dairy go. Friends have told me life would be boring without, but is that enough reason to ignore the facts? The horror towards Mozzarisella (the new rice-based cheese) is understandable but a vegan diet doesn’t have to be boring. The common under-nourished image of a vegan is also wrong; you only need to take one look at Germany’s strongest man (all 105kg of him) to prove it is no detriment to strength.

There are concerns over health for a vegan; we’re just ill informed over where to get key nutrients. Protein can be found in other plant-based foods. Seitan for example, the wheat gluten substitute for meat (tastes better than it sounds, I promise) contains as much, if not more, protein than steak. B12 vitamin deficiency is widely perceived as the vegan problem but only long-term vegans are advised to take widely available, safe supplements. And the idea we need to drink milk for calcium is one provided to us by the companies who produce it.

For now, I class myself as a vegetarian on the diet spectrum (I try not to diet-discriminate) and maybe one day I’ll be a Cheagan (a vegan who cheats now and then) like Serena Williams. I mean if she can win 3 US Opens on a near-vegan diet, I’m sure I can attend lectures without milk in my coffee.

I’m not saying we all need to become animal-lovers, but being aware of what we eat is important and little changes can go a long way. When we consider the facts, this apparently fashionable trend seems to have more behind it than a soya milk-drinking craze.

Advice on steps towards achieving that healthy, globally aware diet and how to get the nutrients you need through plant-based products can be found in Part Two.

Foreign academics banned from contributing to Brexit negotiations

Written by Gemma Sowerby on . Posted in News, Uncategorised.

Academics and expert government advisers who are non-British nationals will be asked not to contribute to reports, analysis, or government policy on Brexit on account of their nationality.

Foreign academics at the London School of Economics (LSE) were sent an email from the Foreign Office informing them that their expert contributions to the Government were no longer wanted in relation to government planning and strategy in negotiating Brexit.

This was revealed by Sara Hagemann—an assistant professor at LSE who specialises in EU policymaking processes, EU treaties, and the role of national parliaments. She said in a tweet that she had been told she and many others “no longer qualify” as government experts because they are not UK citizens.

The Liberal Democrats’ EU spokesman Nick Clegg condemned the news: “It is utterly baffling that the government is turning down expert, independent advice on Brexit simply because someone is from another country.

“This is yet more evidence of the Conservatives’ alarming embrace of petty chauvinism over rational policymaking.”

Hagemann, who is Danish, said she had been informed specifically that she wouldn’t be asked to contribute further to any Brexit-based government policy or analysis.

The Guardian reported that up to nine LSE academics specialising in EU affairs have been working with the Foreign Office on briefings for Brexit issues, but that any non-UK citizens would no longer be allowed to provide expertise. According to The Independent, it has been suggested that one of the academics affected is a dual national, with citizenship of both the UK and another EU member state.

The move is all the more confusing given Britain’s well-advertised lack of trade negotiators, something that could possibly affect its ability to take part in exhaustive and protracted talks with the countries that remain in the EU as part of its Brexit strategy.

A spokesman for LSE said: “The UK government regularly calls upon LSE’s world-class academics for their advice on a range of issues.

“We believe our academics, including non–UK nationals, have hugely valuable expertise, which will be vital in this time of uncertainty around the UK’s relationship with Europe and the rest of the world.

“Any changes to security measures are a matter for the UK government,” the spokesman added.

Interview: Watsky

Written by Katie Shepherd on . Posted in Music.

It’s a Wednesday night and the dim basement that is Club Academy is alive with the pulse of several hundred people jumping in unison before the man at the heart of the room; George Watsky. Every person in the crowd has their arm resolutely in the air and every voice joins Watsky’s to declare the brilliantly affirming: “Just take everything ever and we are that, times infinity.”

This celebratory and defiantly positive statement that concludes Watsky’s ‘Tiny Glowing Screens’ trilogy encapsulates not only the message behind his latest album, aptly named X Infinity, but the general feeling that dominated his show.

While ‘Tiny Glowing Screens’ Parts 1 and 2 from 2013 album Cardboard Castles see Watsky struggle with his own insignificance in the face of the vastness of the universe, ‘Part 3’ sees a flip in perspective: “From the view of an atom the human body’s a universe”, he states. It is this fresh positivity that is integral to his latest release, a notion echoed by George Watsky as he sits across from me in a corner of the venue, hours ahead of his performance.

“I spent a lot of my young life trying to grapple with anxiety around getting older and mortality. I was raised in a non-religious household and I always wanted answers and to be comforted by my parents, but in retrospect I really appreciate them not giving me comforting answers. I think at some point in anyone’s life, you have to grapple with that feeling of meaninglessness and find a way to assign joy and beauty to your life. I do think it’s possible to do that, but you have to go through that fear in order to get to the joy on the other side. All we have control over is the present moment and that philosophy is at the centre of the new album.”

It may not be a new concept, but the way Watsky pitches it—tightly honed rap layered over the punky chants of tracks like ‘Midnight Heart’, or laced amongst melodic choruses—it certainly carries itself as if it were.

The show itself was a diverse display of the rapper’s talent. Having been thoroughly warmed up with a vibrant DJ set by Chukwudi Hodge, it might have seemed strange that Watsky then drew us in and cooled us off by opening with the intense and sobering ‘Knots’. But with this, Watsky gripped the crowd with a connection that gave the entire set the feeling that you were experiencing something special.

From the growling anger that seeps into ‘Seizure Boy’ and ‘Don’t be Nice’, to the bouncy chant carrying the chorus of ‘Never Let it Die’, to the raw emotion of ‘Tiny Glowing Screens Part 2’, Watsky took us on a journey through a full spectrum of human emotion.

It is this masterful combination of the fearless honesty of Watsky’s lyrics and the integrity with which he presents them that makes his music and his performance so compelling.

“I think your goal as an artist is to try to express your feelings in a way that’s relatable to people—at least that’s one of my goals.” He tells me, “I’m trying to mine my own emotions and get closer to what my own personal truth is. I want to make sure I’m getting closer to reflecting the truth as I see it.”

It is perhaps on this quest for his personal truth that Watsky turned to a slightly different form of expression, releasing his first book earlier this year. How To Ruin Everything is a collection of essays written with the same conviction and dexterity as his songs are, combining brutal honesty with sharp humour to a beautifully poignant result.

“I felt so at sea writing the book at first,” he confesses, “I really didn’t think I’d be able to do it. I regretted my decision to take the book deal for a long time because I felt like it was total shit what I was writing… I’m not saying I’m a Pulitzer Prize worthy author, but I definitely felt really proud of getting to the point where I felt this is worth being bound and published by a legitimate publisher.” As a New York Times bestseller, it certainly seems like something to be proud of.

Talking to Watsky, I am struck by both his incredible work ethic and his humble respect for every person he works with.

“I’m working with a lot of other people who are very responsible for me being at where I am at… There’s no way that I would have the career I have without those talented people. I definitely still feel a sense that if something falls through or doesn’t go right then ultimately it’s my responsibility; if someone can’t get a flyer done in time then I will get onto Photoshop and I’ll make the flyer. I am my own fail safe, but by no means have I done this myself.”

“I do view what I do as my job. This is my nine to five and I take it seriously… I need to show up to work and I need to make things and if I don’t do that then I’m going to lose my job and have to do something else. What it comes down to is that I like doing it, I’m going to keep doing it and also take it seriously as a job. I’m not going to stop, but try to push the boundaries of creativity for myself.”

Already pushing a number of creative boundaries, X Infinity is a remarkable album about embracing all the fears and uncertainties that plague our lives and rather than allowing yourself to become crushed by them, finding the ability to be comforted by them.

At its core, X Infinity is a celebration. And with our hands up, moving in fluid symmetry with the body of the room, that is exactly what Watsky’s show felt like. A defiant shout of man’s capacity for good at a world focused so predominantly on man’s capacity for evil.

Who are RasenBallsport Leipzig?

Written by Magnus Henderson on . Posted in Sport.

I know what you are thinking: ‘who cares? Whooptie doo, they are a little German football team who recently got promoted to the Bundesliga, what of it?’ Well, wherever or however you are reading this article, you are clearly interested (to some degree) in sport, and probably football. In that case, you should care about RasenBallsport Leipzig because their very existence could be seismic to football clubs all over the world.

You may have first heard the name ‘RB Leipzig’ this summer, when the German side snapped up the promising winger, Oliver Burke, from Nottingham Forest. The record transfer for a Scottish player of £12.75 million was impressive, but even more so was Leipzig’s ability to fight off the interest of Premier League giants such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Let us flash back seven years to 2009. Red Bull decided to buy out the playing rights of fifth-tier club SSV Markranstädt and renamed the men’s football team RasenBallsport Leipzig. Since 2009, Leipzig have achieved four promotions, the latest of which came last season putting the club in the top tier of German football for the first time in their short existence. This incredible growth has caused major concern for Bundesliga fans and is now threatening the established clubs.

The German top division is celebrated for having incredibly low ticket prices and promoting the “people’s game” rather than the astronomically priced Premier League. These fans, who love the raw purity of their league are now unnerved and angry at the arrival of a corporate owned club. The problem is, there is not a huge amount they can do about it. Borussia Dortmund’s famous ultras, earlier this season, decided to (in protest) visit their club’s under 21 home game on the weekend when the title chasing side’s first team travelled to Leipzig. Unfortunately, the remonstration had little effect as Dortmund’s popularity led to the away tickets being snapped up by less prominent BVB fans. Leipzig defeated the giant Bundesliga club 1-0.

The problem for your average fan is that Leipzig are, fundamentally, owned by Red Bull. The global corporation also

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

owns Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Brasil. In Germany, the regulations did not allow the club to be called ‘Red Bull Leipzig’ and so the board opted for ‘RasenBallsport’ but has branded the club as ‘RB Leipzig’, clearly promoting the club’s true brand. This kind of rule bending is one of the reasons why RB Leipzig is a very unpopular team in Europe. The lack of subtlety in their branding is another: Leipzig’s colours were changed to Red Bull’s famous white and red, the club’s shirt sponsor was changed to Red Bull, the crest was changed to two Red Bulls charging towards a football and the stadium was renamed to… that’s right, the Red Bull Arena.

You may have thought that the Bundesliga’s 50+1 rule (which means that clubs have to be majority owned by their members) would stop this. You would be wrong. Leipzig only do this on paper, as they charge individuals extortionate amounts of money to become a member, making it an impossible task for your average fan. This disregard of the democratic element of the Bundesliga again causes the pure football fans issues on their moral compasses.

Red Bull’s ownership of Salzburg has become problematic with the success of Leipzig; the German club has far more economic and marketable potential than the Austrian side. Therefore, it was not surprising to see that when Leipzig finally made it to the top of the German league pyramid, three of Salzburg’s best players were transferred to Leipzig in the summer, turning the Austrian club into a ‘feeder club’ for the German side in all but name. This practice undermines the idea of sport as ‘each team fights for oneself’.

The club has no pretence of doing things organically. If anything, Red Bull is actually using football to promote their own company rather than the other way around. The extreme worry is that other global corporations will follow suit. Imagine a Nestle FC, Lynx Africa Albion or Coca-Cola United gracing the Premier League? Football would lose its purity and shift ever closer to a sponsor-run world, where everything decided with the ambition of extorting as much money as possible out of the fans.

There are, however, some counter-arguments to all the negativity aimed at Leipzig. Red Bull strategically chose Leipzig as the city to invest their business, much like Sheikh Mansour did with Manchester City. The Business man from the United Arab Emirates, chose City to invest in because of the success of Manchester United. He saw that rivalries were always popular in football so he took the opportunity to build on United’s success and create one of the biggest and most competitive conflicts in modern football. Reb Bull chose Leipzig as their investment city as their past had strong ties with the origins of German professional football. The city, however, had fallen out of love with the top tier as they had not been represented in the Bundesliga since 1994. The fans in Leipzig have reacted to Red Bull with open arms for bringing football back to their city, and RB Leipzig is the only East German football side competing in the top division.

Photo: @Wikimedia Commons

While the club may feel very artificial, they have a strong contingent of match-going fans which will only increase with the success the club has had over recent years. A lot of the nervousness aimed towards Leipzig is from the established Bundesliga sides who feel threatened by Leipzig’s economic power and extremely effective club strategy. There are also clubs who have been in the Bundesliga for years, such as Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, who are owned by huge corporations. Yes, both clubs have a history stretching back decades upon decades and were originally set up by the workers in the factories of Bayer and Volkswagen respectively, but it does not stop the monetisation of their clubs; both stadiums are named after their majority shareholder. Hoffenheim were a village club taken over by a local billionaire and created into a top league side totally artificially. Leipzig are branded as a disgrace, but there are far more examples in German football than just the Red Bull owned club when it comes to the monetisation of football.

RasenBallsport Leipzig currently sit 5th after an impressive start to their debut season in the Bundesliga. The policy of the club is to buy and promote extremely talented youngsters, in a similar way to Chelsea, only Leipzig actually play and nourish the potential of their players rather than sending them out on loan all over the continent. The average age of their squad is 23.6, the lowest of any other club in the Bundesliga and this policy seems to be working for the East German club. Where this effective club strategy gets them in the future, only time will tell.

Event preview: RAG sleepout

Written by Amy Bradley on . Posted in News.

With homelessness becoming an ever-growing issue in Manchester, students want to do something about it. Over the past few years, the problem of homelessness in Manchester has grown significantly seeing more people than ever on the streets and increasing by fifty per cent in the last year alone. Manchester RAG is holding an event to raise awareness of the on-going issue in the aim to educate students of the real struggles of daily life on the streets.

The sponsored ‘Sleepout’ event will take place outside the Catholic Chaplaincy opposite the Students’ Union on 21st of October from 7pm to 7am. The evening will be an opportunity for students wishing to take part to fundraise for any charity of their choice that relates to the pressing issue of homelessness in the city and the education around it. There will be speakers on the night from from several homelessness charities such as MASH, Mustard Tree, Coffee 4 Craig, and Barnabus.

The idea intends to put people in the difficult position of being homeless by spending a night on the streets with other fundraisers in the hope of gaining an understanding of the lives of over seventy  homeless people in Manchester. With guest speakers who have experienced homelessness first hand, the night will be an environment of learning and educating. Live music and talks about the different types of help available to people on the streets will also fill the evening giving everyone involved the opportunity to understand the services out there and how to offer to those who need it.

The event points towards looking for a long-term solution when it comes to homelessness and steering away from short-term solutions such as supplying food or money. Instead, RAG and Student Action aim to encourage people on the streets to get help from organisations as they feel the Manchester community has a bigger responsibility at tackling the issue of homelessness. Jodie, chair of Manchester RAG, said of the event, “As a student body we have a responsibility to look after our city and everybody in it. We want to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness by not only fundraising money but also educating people to hopefully make a long term impact.”

Although donating food and money to rough sleepers creates in instant solution to some of the more fixable issues of homelessness such as hunger, it does nothing to contribute towards the harder issues like mental health, drug abuse and harm. There will be speakers on the night from from several homelessness charities such as MASH, Mustard Tree, Coffee 4 Craig, and Barnabus.

Every night, people sleeping rough on Manchester’s streets have to relocate from one shop doorway to another, with some setting up tents near Piccadilly train station and dangerous areas next to roads. Easier access to sleeping bags and tents along with food donations from the public, mean homeless people are not being encouraged to seek help and move away from a life on the streets.

In fact, with the increasing number of rough sleepers, it has been suggested that generous donations of food and money only make the problem worse by continuing to stabilise people’s lives on the streets instead of making a bigger change and moving them off the street. The event held by Manchester RAG will address this issue and raise awareness in what proves to be an inspiring and progressive evening.

For more information join ‘Manchester RAG does Sleepout’ on Facebook or email [email protected].

Album: AlunaGeorge – I Remember

Written by Tara Bharadia on . Posted in Music.

16th September 2016 via Island Records

9/10

Electro-duo Aluna Francis and George Reid have returned with the follow-up to their 2013 debut album, Body Music. After working on separate projects over the last two years, the duo that met over MySpace back in 2009 are currently touring as a supporting act for Sia on the ‘Nostalgic for the Present Tour’.

In the past their work has been criticised for “blending into one” and while the same could potentially be argued for their newest release, fans of the eclectic mix of synth-pop and R&B will be able to distinguish subtle differences between albums. I Remember is off the back of the release of AlunaGeorge’s singles, following their 2013 record. While the early tracks can be considered a more chilled out take on the genre of electro-pop (it’s fair to say that Body Music was baby-making music), the singles since have been filled with more feel-good vibes and I Remember perfectly captures the band’s maturation between albums.

With a track list full of featured artists that you may or may not have heard of, Aluna’s childlike yet pleasing voice and George’s constant change in production techniques perfectly blend to make every next track a surprise. The album is full of certified dance-floor fillers like ‘Heartbreak Horizon’ and ‘Mean What I Mean’ and tracks where Aluna really explores her writing and voice such as ‘Mediator’ and ‘In My Head’.

Flume takes on the role of producer in collaboration on the album’s title track and leaves a clearly distinguishing mark, the single of which was released earlier this year. However, flawless production seems to be the theme of the album with the differences between ‘Wanderlust’ and ‘Not Above Love’ showcasing just how truly diverse the duo can be. The pair have been able to do something quite rare with this album; they’ve been able to create an album that changes every time you listen to it. In every track you hear something you missed before.

Top 5: Cosy Canadians

Written by Tara Bharadia on . Posted in Music.

5) Tory Lanez – ‘Loners Blvd’

With the weather getting cooler, this Ontario based rapper and his storytelling rap tracks are just what you need—no matter how much beef he gets into.

 

4) Justin Bieber – ‘No Sense (feat. Travis Scott)’

Love him or hate him, Bieber’s collab with Houston’s Travis Scott is just the right mix of trap and soul. It’s exactly what you need to complement your woolly jumpers as you walk into class.

 

3) Majid Jordan – ‘Day and Night’

This old-school track blends a simple baseline with perfect harmonies, so let Majid Jordan lead you into chill this year as they show you how to dance in the cold and embrace the fact that winter is coming.

 

2) Roy Woods – ‘Innocence’

Woods is just the person you need to fall in love with this autumn, as he promises to make you feel like you’re curled up by the fireplace—even if you are actually freezing at the bus stop.

 

1) Drake – ‘Marvin’s Room’

Here we see October’s Very Own ranting to an ex about what went down in the potentially the most chilled Drake rant ever. A perfect way to get over a summer love, now that it’s clearly over.

Tracks Of The Week: 10th October

Written by Calum Pinder on . Posted in Music.

Get Bigger/Do You Luv – NxWorries

The latest offering from the upcoming debut of Anderson Paak’s project is less than promising. Paak’s bars feel hurried and unconsidered. Knxwledge’s production has potential, but lacks any development whatsoever. What starts as a promising slow jam quickly becomes repetitive. For those craving more of Paak’s Malibu stylings, it might be worth holding out a little longer.

Perfect Coffee – Kate Tempest

From the London-born writer, rapper, and poet’s sophomore album Let Them Eat Chaos comes a timely track about gentrification. Mirroring the rest of the album, the lyrics are a detailed and vivid exploration of the theme. However, the overall production and delivery of Tempest’s work feels a little flat.

Saudade Songbook – BROOKZILL!

Throwback to the Future is the debut album for DJ Prince Paul led BROOKZILL!. The De La Soul producer and friends (Ladybug Mecca and Don Newkirk) start in style. Saudade Songbook blends Rodrigo Brandão’s Brazilian bars with Count Bass D’s smooth east coast rap. It’s relaxed, groovy, and fun.

Al-Madina – The legend that stood firm

Written by Joe Taylor on . Posted in Food & Drink.

It is 3:30 am, I am sat in the passenger seat of some sort of hybrid. I figure this is probably the last chance I will get to salvage something of worth out of my first and last evening at Sankeys. With my friends chattering in the back, I strike up a conversation with the driver, beginning with the formalities, ‘How are you? Do you enjoy your job? Do you have kids?’, before launching in with the questions I really wanted to ask: ‘Where are you from?’ and ‘Where do you eat on the curry mile?’—Pakistan and Al-Madina were the respective replies.

From that moment on it became almost mythical, a place where all the cab drivers retired to at the end of their shifts to sit down to the ‘staff curry’, a curry so good that it was named after the people who cooked it, rather than the place it was made—I had to go.

Having spent weeks raving about that fateful cab ride, embellishing at every given turn, and wondering how I had got my hands on a secret so valuable, I probably should have made my first visit on my own. Anticlimax can be a cruel mistress, if it can be called a mistress at all. But alas, some good friends were up from Whitechapel, home of Lahore Kebab House and Tayyabs, so I thought I would take them to Al-Madina see how it compared to the greats of East London.

The frontage of Al-Madina is probably just as promising as a night out at Sankeys; neatly nestled between Kobeda Place and Antalya Cafe on the Wilmslow Road, it is green and white lettering, strange pictures of food, and dark interior would be more likely to turn one away than entice.

The four of us trundled in at 10pm, on time for our table reservation, as I thought that we might be in amongst the crowds on a Friday night. Boy did I get that wrong. They almost looked surprised to see us….. ‘custom?! At this time?!’—their faces betrayed them.

Having studied the menu for a while and discovered that no ‘staff curry’ was listed, I snuck off to ask the man behind the counter if such a thing existed. He looked a little confused at first (I felt shame, I felt humiliation, I felt chagrin), before smiling and telling me that it was listed as ‘traditional lamb on the bone’ (I felt relief, just relief). We ordered one of these, along with a Lamb Rogan Josh, a Lahori Chicken Channy, a Karahi Chicken, two sides of rice and two Peschwari Naans.

The dishes were brought out on inoffensive, rather homely flowered crockery, very similar to those that I had eaten off in railway diners when in India. There were none of these sizzling cast iron pots that sounded like they had been designed to tell you your food was piping hot and had been made five seconds beforehand, it was simple, and in a strange way, pretty.

The Karahi was made up of large chicken chunks cooked in a buttery sauce with plenty of cumin, onions, garlic, yoghurt and coriander, creating a mild but spiced flavour so good that one of the East London boys deemed it superior to that of Tayyabs (Wilmslow Road 1, Whitechapel 0).

The ‘staff curry’ was beautiful, with chunks of tender lamb half-heartedly clinging to the bone in a sauce once again made with a tomato, onion, garlic and coriander base spiced with turmeric and chilli, making it hot, but not too hot.

The Chicken Channy was simple and tasty and worked well with the sweetness of the sultanas in the Peschwari naan, but was arguably made unremarkable by the calibre of other dishes on the table. It was the Rogan Josh, however, that stole the show; chunks of lamb were matched with large pieces of green pepper which worked to create a freshness in an otherwise spicy curry, it so full of flavours that I found it difficult to identify what was what.

The owner had been nothing but amiable, happy to answer questions about the dishes, and to even let me in to have a look at the kitchen. As we departed, full, content, happy, Al-Madina’s late night crowd began to file in. I was tempted to give them a wink, a nod, a knowing look of “yes, we both know why we’re here”, but decided against it, for the fact that we were all there was enough. That evening, it was not only the food that had stood firm under scrutiny, but the place, the myth, the legend.

UK scientists dominate at 2016 Nobel Prize ceremonies

Written by Iqra Choudhry on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

This year, four UK scientists have been honoured with a prestigious Nobel Prize, given to those who had “conferred the greatest benefit to mankind”.

The Nobel Prize in Physics this year was divided, with one half awarded to David J. Thouless, an Englishman, and the other half jointly to F. Duncan M. Haldane, also from England, and J. Michael Kosterlitz, a Scotsman, “for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter”.

All three scientists carried out work on exotic states of matter whilst affiliated with American research universities. The work they carried out uses abstract mathematics called topology to explore unexpected properties of materials, such as superconductivity, using mathematic models to explain physical phenomena. It is thought that their work will be integral to  forming a basis for the research aiming to create quantum computers in the future.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 was awarded jointly to three men; Jean-Pierre Sauvage, from France, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, another Scottish recipient, and Dutch scientist Bernard L. Feringa “for the design and synthesis of molecular machines”.

The trio worked on replicating elements of cellular machinery with molecules, making miniscule molecular switches and motors. Their work has significant therapeutic potential, and is being developed with a view to one day using molecular machinery to create medical micro-robots and self-healing materials.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2016 was awarded solely to Yoshinori Ohsumi of the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan for his “discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy”. His work revolves around the body’s cellular recycling systems, which break down and reuse cellular components.

Dysfunctional recycling has been linked to illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, type 2 Diabetes, cancer, and a host of age-related disorders meaning research based on Yoshinori Ohsumi’s work would focus on developing therapeutic drugs to target the autophagy system in patients with defective recycling systems.

Amidst celebration of the various British Nobel Laureates, arose a discussion about the state of British science. All of the English scientists awarded this year had “defected” to universities in the States during Thatcher’s cuts to science funding in the 1980s. With the status of post-Brexit British science yet to be decided, the question being asked is: Will there be any future British Nobel Laureates based in the UK?

Manning up with a meat-free method

Written by Will Baldwin-Pask on . Posted in News.

Like any standard late night fast food cutlery piece, my first year-long culinary experience as an independent post-teen was split into two. The former half was a debauched odyssey with little nutritional support; the latter mostly the same but with more food and no meat.

Much has been written about the benefits of vegetarianism, especially by vegetarians. My own reasons for such a lifestyle choice I feel do not need to be disclosed here, as you will most likely already know whether you sympathise or are sickened by them.

The change brought me a variety of new things—newfound pretension, a disapproving father, flawless bowel movements and all that. But without a doubt the greatest physical improvement I have found has been my approach to cooking.

Before I gave in to my nagging conscience over abattoirs and rising water levels, I was totally impotent when it came to the kitchen. I was in a dark place, like Charlie Sheen, or a Chilean miner.

My standard weekly dinner diet featured a rota exercising few skills: Pasta avec sauce on Monday, microwave pouch rice avec sauce on Tuesday, soup and bread on Wednesday, pasta Thursday, pouch rice Friday, soup sans bread Saturday (too hungover) and the self-treat of a takeaway on Sunday.

In between dinner mainly consisted of Weetabix and yes, more bread, with which I applied a toaster, condiments and anything left rotting on a flatmate’s plate to spice it up a wee bit. Tuna, chicken and egg made the odd appearances, though this was always after I exercised—because when it comes to protein, no modern man can afford to slack.

But once the decision to renounce meat and fish had been made, I began doing something I realised I had never properly done before. I started thinking about the food I ate. Initially, this was only in a monitoring sense; however after a while I needed to make up for my protein deficit as my level of physical activity continued.

This led me to discover quinoa—with one serving containing more than double the calories and grams of protein that a serving of red meat offers, as well as all nine amino acids the body requires. I also discovered that quinoa on its own tastes shit, and before long I had Googled my first ever recipe for a meal: quinoa with mashed avocado and some sweet chilli sauce on a slice of buttered toast. At nineteen, this was the moment I truly became an adult, a light-bulb moment fresh straight out of the ground.

Soon I had acquainted myself with grilled halloumi, scrambled tofu (incredible) and falafel wraps,  amongst a whole world of foods I always knew existed but would never have given the time of day as long as I had Tesco’s processed meat aisle up the road.

Best of all was the inescapable duty to cook with vegetable for the first time. You might think that going veggie without having ever really cooked vegetables before is as ridiculous as, oh, I don’t know, a TV personality businessman going for the United States Presidency with absolutely no political experience, yet here I am in 2016, frying some spuds in my kitchen, whilst Clinton does the exact same thing in a televised debate.

I was once far too lazy and uncomfortable in a kitchen to think about using produce. Now I have got sizzled peppers with my pasta and broccoli fighting cancer for me. To my own embarrassment, it should never have taken this long and there is still much, much more I can learn. Yet there is no denying it would have taken a lot longer had I sustained my subhuman diet.

Vegetarianism has forced me to give consideration to the meals I prepare and encouraged me to take more time making them taste good. As well as bringing health and happiness, it has been a catalyst in my coming of age, and even if you disagree with it, it can help any student escape the takeaway cycle and experiment in the kitchen with meatless recipes.

So if you think you might lack the discipline, desire or multi-set of knives to cook efficiently or healthily, maybe try the odd veggie day or week and I guarantee you will discover some gorgeous nosh, with some personal enlightenment on the side.

 

Review: Wish List

Written by Brogen Campbell on . Posted in Theatre.

Katherine Soper’s Bruntwood prize-winning text has its world premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. The play explores the struggles facing young people in employment and the harsh reality of having your benefits cut in this Royal Exchange Theatre and Royal Court co-production.

The play revolves around the central character Tasmin Carmody (Erin Doherty), who starts working in a distribution warehouse on a zero-hours contract. The job is anything but glamorous, with grueling and unforgiving targets, oppressive managerial figures and an overall lack of compassion by the company for its employees. Tasmin has little choice but to work at the warehouse, due to her younger brother, Dean (Joseph Quinn), being declared fit to work and his benefits being recently cut. The play sees Tasmin managing work, to support her and Dean, whilst appealing the benefit-cutting verdict. This leaves her overworked with no way to escape the situation. The cuts seem to be an obvious injustice as Dean’s idiosyncratic behaviour makes it difficult for him to perform common tasks, such as leaving the house. The play is extremely emotive, as you instantly side with the Carmondys’ against the injustices they face.

Doherty gives a stunning performance, portraying Tasmin with enough depth that the audience don’t simply regarded her as someone to be pitied, but as a person to be admired for continuously trying to overcome the many hurdles in her life. Her physicality depicts the hardship she faces, as she walks more like a women in her 40’s than a young person in her prime. Similarly, Quinn manages to portray Dean’s quirky repetitive routines, without making the character one-dimensional. A great deal of credit has to go to Soper, who pushes the boundaries with her writing. This is evident through the character relationships, especially Tasmins and Deans. Tasmin expresses annoyance and envy at times that she has been denied the chance to gain a more prosperous future. Her desire to study Physics has to be forgone, due to the demands of caring for her brother. This of course doesn’t overpower the love, which is evident, between the two siblings. Instead these layers make the characters more realistic, which is one of the reasons why the story and characters are so engaging.

These layers and depths can be seen in all four characters. Even in Tasmin’s manager (Aleksandar Mikic), who has his own pressures and targets to stick to. The friendship between Tasmin and her co-worker Luke Mburu (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah), keeps the play from becoming too depressing, offering some much needed lighter moments. Luke is completely endearing and a character you instantly fall in love with for his easy smile and jokes. One of the standout moments of the show is when Tasmin performs Meat Loaf’s I’d Do Anything For Love for Luke. Doherety’s energy was infectious and you really do want to get up and join her. This is one of the rare moments of pure joy the audience are treated to.

Another striking moment emerged after Dean is left alone in the house. This follows a scene where Dean throws out all his hair products, denying him his routine of meticulously styling his hair into spikes. The sacrifice of the products was an attempt for Dean to show he could get better, but this quickly backfires. The tension builds leading to Dean purposely burning his hands on a hot pan, which emits an audible gasp from the audience and the shedding of a few tears.

Matthew Xia’s direction, placed the factory setting alongside the Carmodys’ home, highlighting the repetitive nature of both routines. The lighting and sound design was used to aid and increase the impact of various scenes to tremendous effect. This along with Soper’s superb script results in a highly emotive production filled with both highs and lows.

The play casts a light on a number of important issues. Firstly, the troubles that face young people as Tasmin is 19, Dean 17 and Luke is just 16-years-old. Secondly, it highlights the consequences of cuts to benefits not just for the claimant but also their family. Finally, the play questions how many people are living just to survive, in a world which revolves around your worth in labour.

Wish List is a must see. The play advocates a voice for people who are often misrepresented in society as ‘scroungers’ and ‘benefit cheats’. You can catch Wish List at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until the 15th October. Get tickets here.

Stick or Twist?

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

I will begin with two stats: eight out of the twenty teams had a new manager at the start of the current Premier League season, with four beginning their second full season in charge.

Moreover, in the last week Swansea have recently fired Francesco Guidolin, replacing him with Bob Bradley. There is a similar picture in the Championship: eight out of the twenty-four teams began the current season with new managers, with Aston Villa sacking Roberto Di Matteo and Cardiff sacking Paul Trollope in the last week. Ultimately, this suggests that the role of manager is fluid, defined by constant change, and thus uncertainty.

Analysing why fluidity and uncertainty are endemic in the world of football does not point to a clear answer.
Firstly, I would point to the ever-increasing fickleness of fans. Fans are entitled to an opinion on their team, whether the football they pay to watch is good enough. However, over the last decade I think football fans have lost faith in the idea of longevity, that a manager has a long-term project to build a team.

While football is undoubtedly a ‘results business’, I think this concept has reached a new extreme in the modern game. I think the fickleness of football fans is symptomatic of the hyper-speed, digitalised age we inhabit. Our age has developed impatience in us: we lack the patience to put up with periods of poor results or perceivably bad football.

Furthermore, the boards of clubs have become more and more unforgiving. This can partly be explained again by modern day impatience and fickleness. However, there is another reason. With the influx of incredibly rich owners, football clubs are now being envisaged as businesses. This is inevitable, given the amount of money these owners are investing. Owners look for a return on their investment, i.e. success on the pitch. If a business is not performing to your satisfaction, you make changes. A similar logic is applied to football managers.

Sadly, the tendency of changing managers to achieve success clashes with the unpredictability of football. While it is a case of finding the right person to create a successful formula, creating success often takes time. Time is not what a lot of managers are being given these days. Rarely does a manager enter a job and immediately achieve success, and if they do, the success is short-term. Longevity is the key to sustainable success.

Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson are the recent examples of this. While Ferguson was massively more successful in terms of winning trophies, longevity enabled both men to mould, and remould, teams precisely to their philosophy.

Recently, Wenger celebrated the 20th anniversary of his appointment as Arsenal manager. Wenger has his critics, which are justified in their argument; Wenger has not won the league since the 2003/2004 season, and they believe someone else could lead Arsenal to heights of another title.

These critics are blind to what Wenger brings to Arsenal, as well as wildly unrealistic to think someone could come in and be more successful. When Wenger eventually leaves, or retires from, his position, I think Arsenal will go into meltdown in the same way Manchester United did when Ferguson left.

Will Klopp enjoy a long career as Liverpool manager? Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The scale of longevity (20 years+ of management) that Wenger and Ferguson enjoyed will likely never happen again. A modern conception of managerial longevity is perhaps three to six years.

As expected, the average lifespan for a Premier League manager is less than this. As of October 2015, the average was 2.28 years. However, subtract Wenger, a modern anomaly, from the equation and the average was 1.29 years.

Currently, only the top managers, the likes of Klopp and Guardiola, are promised the time they need to recreate the success they have had before. Yet, even then, it would be very interesting to see how secure their job appears on the back of a bad set of results.

The notion of longevity is being ignored when it comes to football management. This sacking culture creates inevitable instability. Envisioned as a game of blackjack, the boards, or owners, are almost always choosing to twist, rather than stick, when a club is going through a rough patch. The decline of managerial longevity is a loss to our game.

Manchester United squad the most expensive ever

Written by George Ball on . Posted in Sport.

It has been revealed that the current Manchester United squad is the most expensive squad ever assembled. Analysis by the CIES Football Observatory, a team of researchers based in Switzerland, found that United have invested €718 million (£635m) in their current team.

The research analysed the squads of all the teams in Europe’s ‘big 5’ leagues; the top divisions in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France. Second in the list are Spanish giants Real Madrid, who have invested €634 million (£560m) in their squad, whilst city rivals Manchester City are not far behind with an investment of €611 million (£540m) in playing staff.

After the recent summer transfer window business, it is no surprise that United top the rankings. They broke the world record for the most expensive transfer fee ever with the signing of Paul Pogba, which was rumoured to be in the region of £93 million. They also made expensive signings in midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal. This saw an increase of €185 million (£164m) from research done by the same group in September 2015, when the Red Devils had the third most expensive squad. At that time Real Madrid were top of the rankings with Manchester City in second.

Premier League teams, with the latest £5.136 billion television deal seemingly burning a hole in their collective pockets, dominate the top twenty of most costly squads. No less than nine Premier League clubs feature, contrasting with just two from Germany and France, three from Spain and four from Italy. Absent from the top twenty, but not far behind in twenty-sixth, are the Premier League champions, Leicester City. Their squad has benefited from €130 million (£115m) of investment; less than twenty per cent of the cost of United’s.

The report could put United manager José Mourinho under greater pressure, with the club sitting in a disappointing sixth position after the first seven matches of the Premier League season. Record signing Paul Pogba has also failed to live up to his large price tag so far, with just a single goal to show for his league performances. They are already five points behind fierce rivals Manchester City, having lost to them in the September Manchester Derby.

However staggering the figures may be, Manchester United can point to justifications for being able to spend such large sums. In May, accounting firm KPMG published a report that declared Manchester United the joint-most valuable football club in the world, along with Real Madrid. They were both valued at £2.1 billion. The report took into account factors such as profitability, stadium ownership, popularity and sporting potential. This dwarfed the valuations of Premier League rivals such as Manchester City, who were valued at £1.2 billion, along with Arsenal.

The latest spending figures are not surprising, but perhaps are an indictment of the era of ever increasing sponsorships and television deals which football is now in.

West Sussex proposes 4-day school week

Written by Aliya Ismangil on . Posted in News.

A West Sussex head teacher has decided to explore “modifying opening hours” in order to cope with budget cuts and rising costs.

Louise Goldsmith, Conservative Leader of the West Sussex County Council, has said that West Sussex received £44m less funding than the national average this year, with the area being “the fifth lowest funded nationally.”

Goldsmith has personally written to Education Secretary, Justine Greening, about the issue, pleading for emergency support: “They cannot absorb more pressure on their budgets, which are already squeezed to the limit.”

Chair of the West Sussex Secondary Heads’ executive and head teacher of Weald school in Billingshurst, Peter Woodman has raised his own concerns that schools may not even have enough funding to open for five days a week. Although this is only a consideration at the moment and understandably “not a place we really want to go,” the considerable lack of funding is putting pressure on Woodman and other head teachers in West Sussex to find ways to keep schools running.

This could include “increasing class sizes again, reducing our curriculum, not replacing staff and considering revised opening hours;” some schools in the area have already taken some of these actions.  Parent governor, Helen Quiroga, says that “it would have a devastating effect on their education;” she opposes the cutting down of the school week using the strict current policies of many schools on taking holidays during term as an example. She believes that these policies are in place due to the negative long-term effects on children’s education when missing school hours— missing a full day every week of school will surely have far greater ramifications.

The current education funding system for the UK has no national formula and the main determinant of how much an area is funded is schools’ spending in the previous year. Therefore, current funding largely reflects that which was allocated when the current scheme was introduced in 2006/07. The system does not take into account rising inflation, nor changing circumstances of areas or schools.

Earlier this year, the government proposed a ‘fairer’ funding system that was set to take effect in 2017-18, but a recent announcement by the Education Secretary revealed this has now been pushed back to 2018-19. During this time, no interim funding is planned, only the guarantee that funding will not decrease from that received this year. Many believe this could lead to catastrophic consequences, pushing head teachers to the dramatic measures that they are now considering.

Head teachers and those supporting the ‘Worth Less?’ campaign, which advocates action to improve the funding system, hope that voicing these considerations of drastic measures to save money will highlight the problem to MPs and the Government.

The Department of Education has issued a statement assuring their commitment to introducing a fair national funding formula. “That’s why we have protected the schools budget… in 2016-17 that will total over £40bn, the highest on record.”

This statement somewhat loses its reassuring tone when you consider the situation of the schools in West Sussex and other areas at the moment.

Review: Sembene!

Written by Sarah Jane Thoms on . Posted in Film.

Sembene! is a remarkable piece of art that walks the audience through the life of the Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, offering both a biographical and historical insight. Through a collection of photographs, original video footage, interviews and clips from Sembene’s films, the life and work of this significant man is presented to the audience in a way that does not hide the controversies surrounding Sembene but instead explores them.

Born in Ziguinchor, Senegal on the 1st January 1923, Ousmane Sembene was born as the son of a fisherman. After being expelled from school, he followed in his Father’s footsteps by becoming a fisherman himself before moving to work in Marseilles, France. It was there that he discovered his love for literature. When realising that there was an absence of his African culture in the literature that he was reading, he decided that he wanted to create pieces of art that conveyed the culture of the “common people” of Africa. The rest is history.

The documentary was co-directed and co-written by Samba Gadjigo, a biographer of Ousmane Sembene and Professor of French and African Studies, and award-winning film producer Jason Silverman. The journey begins by Gadjigo sorting through the old and rusty film canisters that contain many pieces of unseen footage shot by Sembene, some of which appear to have already become rotted and unplayable. It is this footage of Gadjigo as he tries to salvage, protect and maintain the film canisters that introduces what the documentary is really about, which is to protect and to maintain not only Sembene’s work but also his legacy.

In an interview included in the documentary, the phrase “Sembene came to cinema and invented a new language to represent black people” can be heard. It is this statement that sums up one of the primary aims of the documentary; to portray him as his given status as the “Father of African Film”. His controversial opinions and stances on topics such as Islam and different aspects of the African society that are highlighted in his films are addressed in this documentary truthfully and forwardly. The documentary does not try to shy away from Sembene’s true thoughts and because of this, the film is made to feel more so like a true and accurate account rather than a biased or persuasive one.

Aesthetically, Sembene! is bursting with beautiful film sequences that not only enrich the story of the life being told but also serve as pure visual pleasure for the viewer. One point of criticism would be that the documentary does not delve into Sembene’s literature, which is arguably where his artistic journey began. It would have been a lot more beneficial for both the spectator’s benefit and the narrative if the documentary was to discuss Sembene’s literary works for this reason. However, this absence does not take anything away from Sembene!. It still leaves me to believe that this documentary is an incredible piece that must be celebrated and applauded for its artistic vision and for its success of educating others about the life and work of Ousmane Sembene, a story which needs to be told. Sembene! allows a legacy to live.

4/5

Live: The Kills

Written by Mattea Bubalo on . Posted in Music.

8/10

With a sound Pitchfork flatteringly described as “dirty ice”, I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I went to see The Kills perform at the Albert Hall last Thursday. Other than the standard musings put forward by Pitchfork, their new album, Ash and Ice, has been praised for its insidious and heavy sound, and this certainly came across at the gig.

Alison Mosshart, bathed in blue light, graced a wild audience with her feverish and rocky vocals in ‘Heart Of A Dog’. Certainly, a huge highlight of the night was her dancing. Her energy went on for about six songs, where she finally took a couple of seconds to cool down. Almost like a heavy metal Jarvis Cocker, Mosshart tantalized her audience with electrifying guitar solos (although the middle finger to the crowd was slightly cringey) and an effortless take over on the drums. This was a gig far from the realm of being “a little too chilled” (words courtesy of Pitchfork).

Jamie Hince’s brooding voice offered a sinister injection into Mosshart’s more forceful, punk-princess vocals. On stage this worked brilliantly, and the duo acknowledging each other with only a vigorous head thrust seemed to cement their rockstar status. An unusual balance between the rockstar theatrics of Mosshart and the quiet charisma of Hince worked to produce unique and heavy sounds. ‘Baby Says’, for example, sounded like heavy metal punched country music in the face.

The definitive highlight of the night was a blasting performance from Ash and Ice: ‘Doing It To Death’ was dripping with a satisfying dose of heavy guitar riffs and reckless attitude, and clearly a crowd favourite. Familiar additions of gospel-esque melodies and 90s pop punk sounds combined with an electronic infusion in songs like ‘Doing It To Death’ and ‘Tape Song.’

All in all,  they are a combination making an otherwise quite repetitive genre refreshing. The Kills have never been afraid to risk mixing it up. Overall I would give the gig four leather leggings out of five.

USA Ryder Cup victory over Europe overshadowed by disgraceful fan behaviour

Written by Luke Maguire on . Posted in Sport.

The USA emerged from the Ryder Cup with a feeling of triumph after a hard-won, but comprehensive, win over Europe finishing 17-11. However, the victory may have been bittersweet. The tournament was marred by abuse and heckling from spectators targeted at European players.

This behaviour was widely condemned by all, but the question must be raised as to whether more could have been done by the organisers to quell such abuse. Certainly the availability of alcohol did nothing to help the situation with drunken American fans not content with generic booing or heckling, but often shouting personal attacks at some of the European players.

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood in particular being subject to such abuse. This kind of behaviour has come to be expected at football or rugby matches but golf has historically managed to almost always avoid this loutish and drunken behaviour. It may be unfair to say that this is an American problem but in a previous tournament held in Celtic manor, Wales, Tiger Woods had ten months previously become involved in a sex scandal—and yet he received no heckling at all. Whereas previous tournaments held in America have had attacks against Justin Rose for his dead father. No matter how drunk or passionate the USA fans are for their team to win, there can be no justification for such abuse.

If these fans who hurl abuse were simply a minority at the tournaments then perhaps it would not be considered a serious problem but at times there has been widespread booing aimed at European players and shouts of “miss” just as they are about to take a shot. These are not isolated incidents and occurred throughout this year’s Ryder cup.

It is truly a shame that this issue has been raised when the focus should lie on some of the beautiful golf we have seen in the cup this year. On the 8th, Rory McIlroy scored a peach of a shot with a birdie from 60 feet. That was a rare highlight for Europe in a Ryder cup which lacked the sheer quality of the American performance. After the first two days, USA were leading by 9 to 6 so it would have required an unlikely comeback to overturn that lead.

The European captain, Darren Clarke has been criticised for some of his wildcard choices with Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer putting in poor performances while some of the rookies such as Chris Wood and Andy Sullivan played in very few sessions.

However, Thomas Pieter rewarded Clarke’s faith in him by putting in an exceptional performance but it was not enough. Overall the USA were superior over the tournament and deserved the win. Though it was still a fiercely fought competition both teams were desperate for the win.

Individual duels highlighted this intensity with McIlroy and Reed going head to head on the final day with each pulling off stunning shots. However it was McIlroy who crumbled first with a bogey on the 12th, allowing Reed to take the advantage and come out on top.

This was a hotly anticipated contest with both players being billed as each team’s talisman. World no.3 McIlroy pushed Reed right to the wire but the American was on scintillating form and managed to achieve a decisive victory over the Northern Irishman.

The European team will obviously be disappointed with the result especially since they were on course for a record 4th successive Ryder Cup win. However the future does look promising with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Thomas Pieters and Justin Rose looking likely to only to get better in the years ahead.

The next Ryder Cup will be held in home territory in Paris and hopefully will avoid any of the ugly scenes that marred this year’s tournament.

Boldly Beautiful: Turning scars into works of art

Written by Molly Joslin on . Posted in Arts.

Some of the most beautiful artwork I have seen has not been displayed in galleries or featured in sculpture parks, but instead has adorned the bodies of women who have had mastectomies. More and more women are choosing to turn their scars into works of art; choosing to take back control of their bodies and in doing so creating something uniquely beautiful.

A US organisation dedicated to empowering women, P.Ink, aims to “connect breast cancer survivors with tattoo artists who can provide a form of healing that no one else can”. The art on their portfolio, although individually designed for each woman, features mandalas, floral patterns, and birds with open wings. They are colourful and bold, and are so much more than ink on the skin.

Whether you are a fan of tattoo artwork or not, nobody can argue that this type of artwork is truly inspirational.

In collaboration with tattooist Shane Wallin, of Mastectomy Tattoo, artist Erena Shimoda takes the artwork one step further by photographing these women underwater as part of a campaign that aims to heal emotional scars and improve women’s confidence. The images are powerful and feminine. They are dynamic in a way that is positive and life affirming.

I think we can all agree that the ‘tittoo’ phenomenon is another example of how art can be so much more than a picturesque painting or perfect sculpture; it can be an embodiment of beauty on the most remarkable of canvases.

For more information of Erena Shimoda and her incredible work, visit her website here. 

Review: Giselle

Written by Ollie Kaiper-Leach on . Posted in Theatre.

One of the most highly anticipated productions to come to Manchester this year, Akram Khan’s reimagining of the classic ballet Giselle ticks almost every box, and certainly lives up to expectations. This is due to the combination of Khan’s own legendary choreography, Tim Yip’s stunning visual design, and Vincenzo Lamagna’s ingenious reworking of the classic score by Adolphe Adam. However, this fool-proof formula sadly fails to marry with the most important element of all: the story.

Having been updated by dramaturge Ruth Little, the story is one of chilling, dystopian predictions of migrant factory workers dominated by lavish, decadent landlords. Alongside a forbidden romance which attempts to bridge the gap between the two, facing a good dose of the supernatural along the way. Keeping all the relevant details of the original story, this new version has all the makings of a perfectly poignant piece of theatre. Unfortunately, to anyone unfamiliar with the original template, the story, with all its nuances, was difficult to follow.

The opening image immediately sets the tone, creating an image so ominous you dare not look away, as the mass of figures clad in dirty, cloth rags and dresses yearn towards an imposing wall as if climbing in vain up Mount Purgatory. Rumbling electronics and sounds of analogue interference complete the atmosphere, setting an unsteady canvas on which to begin the familiar folk dance of the original score.

The company already show incredible form here, creating beautifully precise lines through which Giselle (Fernanda Oliveira) and Albrecht (Fernando Bufalá) tenderly float together. The folk dance is interrupted by the relentless security alarm, an ingenious reincarnation of Adam’s original hunting bugle, both of which announce the arrival of the nobility. Praise here must be paid to Yip’s striking costume design, conjuring as an ensemble a nightmarish concoction of Lady Gaga meets Queen Amidala. Isabelle Brouwers’ Bathilde is ice-cold here, the alignment of her arm down to the end of her glove-clad finger suggesting a dangerously calm black swan, after which she drops her glove on the floor, a gauntlet of sorts for Giselle to pick back up.

It is a real shame for Brouwers, however, that the lack of clear storytelling thus far means that, to the uninitiated, the significance of Albrecht as a nobleman in disguise is completely lost, where in the original it is the first fact to be established. His betrothal to Bathilde is therefore also unclear, and so the overall impact this has on Giselle and, ultimately the audience, is lowered. Indeed, the tension of the entire ballet stems from this conflict of loyalty which sits so heavily on Albrecht’s shoulders, the conflict which takes the audience with him through the death and resurrection of Giselle. Without the clear narrative through which we engage with Albrecht, this tension is lost.

Nevertheless, the audience cannot help but gaze in awe at the delicate drama of Giselle’s anguish and grimace at the increasingly grotesque recorded vocals which accompany the breathtakingly close duel between Albrecht and Hilarion (Oscar Chacon). Whilst the pizzicato strings struggled to settle on a tempo at the beginning of this sequence, the precision of the company keeps us engaged as Oliveira’s uncomfortably tense shoulders focus our attention — before the colossal wall rotates in increasing velocity, bringing the first half to an appropriately abrupt close.

Act two sees the unprecedented involvement of the supernatural, as the Wilis, the fabled ghosts of maltreated factory workers, are seen for the first time. Again, the lack of context surrounding the legend of the Wilis makes for an abrupt adjustment of thinking, although the dystopian platform for the story allows perhaps a little room for open-mindedness. Nevertheless, Laurretta Summerscales as Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, steals the show, with a dark and encapsulating presence as she reanimates the dead body of Giselle. This is also the first time in the entire ballet that we see the use of point work, which makes it all the more effective and ghostly. Indeed, one moment in particular, evoked an audible gasp from the audience, as Myrtha drags Giselle out of death and straight onto points. The use of four-foot wooden staffs by the Wilis is also particularly effective, creating not only a physical bond between Giselle and Myrtha, but also forming what appear to be enormous wings either side of the Queen as her minions gather around her.

The final duet of Giselle and Albrecht is full of breath-taking moments, from expertly executed lifts to the use of the very edge of the stage as Giselle straddles the realms of life and death. The closing solo of Albrecht feels more like a desperate, delirious, unrequited duet, as he is left trapped and alone behind the all-too-familiar and imposing wall, the gaol-suggestive lighting reducing him to nothing more than a silhouette.

The English National Ballet’s dancers prove just how worth saving this production is, and the holes in the plot are certainly fixable. With an ingeniously innovative score and beautifully dark aesthetic, Akram Khan’s Giselle so nearly lives up to all that it should, and could, be.

Giselle was performed by the English National Ballet at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. Akram Khan’s Giselle tours to the Bristol Hippodrome from 18th – 22nd October; the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton from 26th – 29th October; and Sadler’s Wells, London from 15th – 29th November.