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Month: October 2012

Ren Harvieu – Live review

Written by Sophie Wozencraft on . Posted in Music.

Having seen Salford-born Ren Harvieu perform numerous times prior to this gig, I was sceptical as to whether she would fare well in a larger venue than her previous haunts – for example, Manchester’s Ruby Lounge – as I thought the intensity and intimacy of her previous shows could easily be lost to a larger space. As soon as the cool tranquillity of the piano/mirror ball entrance began, however, I knew I would be proven wrong.

The classy and sassy ‘Tonight’ proved a strong opening that led into the popular single ‘Through the Night’, after which she proceeded to wave to friends and family in the audience. It was at this point, when I glanced at the packed floor and balconies, I questioned whether the 22 year old quite realised the extent of her ever growing fame, and her humorous, almost awkward, stage demeanour instantly won her the hearts of her audience for the rest of the evening. The set continued with a masterful mix of soulful and jazzy numbers, heartbreaking confessionals and piano accompanied ballads. Then came her acclaimed cover of Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’. The ethereal lighting and delayed, simplistic sound of keyboards filled the space, with her soaring yet stunningly delicate vocals intoxicating the room, reducing some audience members to tears of previously untapped sympathetic heartache.

The set finished with her album opener, ‘Open up Your Arms’, which was greeted with a torrent of cheers, claps and a thirst for more. Her impromptu encore, consisting of George Harrison’s infamous ‘Something’, wooed the majority, ending the evening with a good old fashioned sing-a-long. And so, after undoubtedly adding a touch of class to the Manchester music scene, this concert cemented  Ren’s fans’ love for, and faith in, her refreshing musical style.

Live: Palma Violets at Deaf Institute

Written by Johnny Mac on . Posted in Music.

3rd October 2012

7/10

As most of us know, the NME is an institution that loves hysterically over-hyping new bands and then, often, decimating their reputations, leaving them to play to crowds of around four punters in a pub, somewhere in rural Yorkshire.

Thus, it came as no surprise to see their latest test-subjects, Palma Violets, emblazoned across the magazine’s cover last week, before the band have any releases to their name. Tonight, then, I’m at the Deaf Institute to verify if there’s any justification to this of gang of four du jour’s hype.

First up are local lads Temple Songs. They play a pleasant selection of Kinksian tunes but it’s the next support, Childhood, who really capture the imagination. With a thrilling set of Ride-indebted shoegaze meets Stone Roses wah, they may soon taste success, but what of Palma Violets themselves?

The band soon swagger on, glowing with boyish dickhead-charisma and launch into action. At halfway, the Violets, it seems, are to some extent packing the tunes, and there are a few standouts within a decent set. ‘Fourteen’ and forthcoming single, ‘Best of Friends’ are both built around that classic, three-chord structure and are received with mosh-pit aplomb, though, it’s set closer ‘Brand New Song’, that looks the most likely to incite festival sing-along euphoria come next Summer.

Other than standard indie, the reference points are fairly obvious: the pop-noir of Nick Cave (whose t-shirt is sported by bassist Chili Jesson); the manic rattle of The Gun Club; the funereal organ, raw riffs and humour of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers. This latter combo should propel the band on their way to success, and, if they seem unoriginal tonight, their enthusiasm and antics onstage (with howling singer, Sam Fryer ending up head-over-arse at the end) more than compensate. Just don’t hold your breath for the next Strokes.

Review: No Doubt – Push and Shove

Written by James Birtles on . Posted in Music.

After a four year hiatus and Gwen Stefani’s successful solo career and a Harajuku business venture, fans have had to endure an eleven year wait for their newest album Push and Shove. To some, No Doubt will only be famous for their 1996 release ‘Don’t Speak’ but will the new album reach similar heights as the supporting album Tragic Kingdom?

It may be a surprise to some that Push and Shove is No Doubt’s sixth studio album. The new release attempts to show a grown up band after those eleven year and attempts to deal with more serious lyrical content; unfortunately for No Doubt, these songs cannot match the aforementioned ‘Don’t Speak’, but they are equally as catchy with their famous ska/punk/new wave influences. These influences bring the album back to heights of ‘Hey Baby’ and ‘Just a Girl’ from Rock Steady and Tragic Kingdom respectively.

This maturity shines through the album resulting in the album not sounding like a release from No Doubt; it is similar in places but some tracks lack the immaturity of previous releases, such as ‘Hella Good’ and ‘Trapped in a Box’.  ‘One More Summer’ is a prime example of a track that doesn’t fit into No Doubt territory, in fact sounds more like part two of Gwen Stefani’s 2005 solo release ‘Cool’.

Reading this review, it might seem that the album has been negatively received but it is a good album, just not as good as Rock Steady or Tragic Kingdom. Much like any album that takes a band in new direction, it will take more than one or two plays to get used to (the gem of the album is definitely ‘Push and Shove’) but the songs are equally as catchy as previous releases and show that No Doubt still have something to say for themselves after over 25 years in the music business.

Live: Slash at Apollo

Written by Charlie Boydell-Smith on . Posted in Music.

8th October 2012

7/10

Slash tweeted before the gig that it was almost 25 years  to the day since he first played in Manchester. Although the Manchester Apollo hasn’t changed much since then, the musical landscape that Slash first inhabited certainly has. Guns ‘n’ Roses are no longer at the peak of their powers; Slash left the band in 1996 to pursue other projects, and the less said about the direction that Axl Rose has taken the band in since, the better.

Luckily for the people of Manchester, the city is playing host to the second show of his ‘Apocalyptic Love’ European tour. The crowd are warmed up by Ginger Wildheart, the eponymous lead singer stomping around the stage with the energy of someone half his age.

Although Slash now has two solo albums to his name and a wealth of material from his Velvet Revolver days, he still relies on Guns ‘n’ Roses classics to prop up the set list. A strong musical partnership appears to be developing between Slash and Miles Kennedy, the singer providing vocals for most of the album as well as fronting the band on tour. ‘Nightrain’ features early on, alongside heavy numbers ‘Halo’ and ‘Standing in the Sun’ from his new album. ‘We’re All Gonna Die’, featuring the lyrics ‘we’re all gonna die, so let’s get high’, sees Slash join in on the chorus. The intro to ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ takes us back to his Guns heyday, propelling middle aged men to re-live the hedonistic dream of someday becoming a guitar god. The set is finished with Velvet Revolver classic ‘Slither’, before an encore of ‘Fall to Pieces’ and a mass clap-along to ‘Paradise City’.

Perhaps surprisingly, Slash is every inch the professional. He arrives promptly, plays a hit-laden set with the same gusto as twenty years ago and although the extended guitar solos can get a bit tedious, he’s just giving those in attendance exactly what they want to hear. Axl Rose, take note.

Harmony Gospel Choir

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

Last week, I met up with the Treasurer Dominic Fenton who explained what the Harmony Gospel Choir is all about. They also kindly invited me to sit in on their rehearsal from 4pm to 6pm upstairs in Jabez Clegg (every Wednesday), and after ten minutes I couldn’t resist getting involved. They have a lot planned this year and in December they have their annual concert and this summer they have just won the University Gospel Choir of the year award.

Surely you have to be quite good at singing to join the choir?

No, absolutely not. Even if you’ve never sung before you’re still more than welcome. You don’t even have to think you’re good at singing because you will eventually realise that you are, and our job is to help teach you. There is no audition, and no fee so all you have to do is drop in on our Wednesday session. Usually there are 50 people in the choir but this year is it a bit bigger, and we have about 70 to 80 people. Our conductor Tosin is fantastic at getting the best out of us, and we have Dave on the piano who has just completed his PhD at the RNCM.

Gospel music is heavily linked with Christian ideologies. Do you structure your society around Christianity and can non-believers and people of other faiths get involved?

You’re right that Gospel music is associated with Christianity and this is something we all recognise and respect. Nearly all of the music we sing is focused on Christianity and half way through each rehearsal we stop for a short prayer. However, our main aim is to include everyone. Personally I am not religious at all, but I respect that the music I love derives from a religious background. As a committee we try to strike a balance between incorporating religion without people feeling alienated or intimidated by it. One can respectfully ignore the prayer at half time, but understand that it’s there for the people who do practise Christianity within the group. We are concerned with the inclusion of Christianity but not the doctrine of Christianity. What’s great about our society is that you can take away from the religious words and put them in a wider context, we sing about inclusion, hope, peace and love. And these are important to everyone no matter what your religion is.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/220547981977/?fref=ts

 

 

A run down of this weeks singles

Written by Rachel Connolly on . Posted in Music.

This week sees a few potentially exciting new releases, with ‘How Do You Do’ by Hot Chip definitely being the stand out single. This is a really fun, catchy pop song. It’s definitely less experimental and daring than past records, and it won’t cause the same stir as ‘Over and Over’ – but it’s still classic Hot Chip. With a hint of disco influence, this one will definitely get a lot of radio play. Another big one for the radio is X factor’s Matt Cardle, back with new single ‘Its Only Love’ from second album The Fire. ‘It’s Only Love’ lives up to his old material, and is very similar lyrically; musically, it’s a bit livelier, and while it’s less raw this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

New releases from Bat for Lashes and Bastille also seemed promising but were disappointing duds, both tracks being too similar to past releases and lacking any real standout qualities. ‘All your gold’ from Bat for Lashes is in the same vein as ‘Daniel’ but a lot of depth, character and personality has been lost in production. This song starts well and is good musically but Khan is poor vocally and lyrically, her usually distinctive voice sounds too slick and commercial, more like a Bat For Lashes tribute than the real thing! Lyrics like ‘a heart from the past that I cannot forget’ are repetitive and lack the dramatic quality of past records; it’s a pretty far cry from ‘What’s A Girl To Do’. Bastilles ‘Flaws’ is similar, it’s a good record, but almost identical to ‘Bad Blood’. Bastille have obviously found a formula that works and are sticking to it but I don’t think they’re ground breaking enough to carry this off. This week won’t make history but ‘How Do You Do’ and ‘It’s Only Love’ are pop at its best!

Student run self help

Written by Rachel Heward on . Posted in Societies.

Student Run Self Help (SRSH) is a country wide organisation that runs peer support sessions for students with eating disorders throughout UK universities.

I spoke to Laura Saunders from the group, who explained, “We work to support students and young people with eating disorders and encourage them to talk about issues they are facing as well as supporting one another. They receive support from two students who are trained facilitators that run each session, as well as other students who suffer from eating disorders.”

It is extremely important that eating disorders are recognised in universities, and students suffering know where to go and who to talk to if they want to. A recent survey from the University of Cincinnati revealed the challenges among university students in recognising the warning signs that lead to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. While most students were able to identify risk factors such as depression and anxiety, less were able to recognise that situational events such as a recent life change or criticism from a friend or family member can also lead to the disorders.

The survey exposed that females were much more familiar than males with the warning signs of disordered eating such as purging, unexplained weight loss, and distorted body image. It was also noted that some students mistook an eating disorder as a sign of vanity, when it is actually a serious compulsive behaviour that is often used as a coping mechanism for stress.

SRSH are also in association with eating disorder charity B-eat. Their aims are to change the way people think and talk about eating disorders, to improve the way services and treatment are provided and to help anyone believe that their eating disorder can be beaten. Visit www.b-eat.co.uk for more information, support and opportunities to volunteer and fundraise.

Students suffering from eating disorders can go to the SRSH meetings as frequently as they want. They run support sessions every two weeks in room four of the Students’ Union at 6.30. The next meeting is Monday 29 October.

You can get involved and volunteer with SRSH by becoming trained as a facilitator to run the group sessions as well as helping out with advertising, awareness and fundraising.

For more information about volunteering, or if you need help or advice concerning eating disorders, email [email protected].

 

Need For Speed: Most Wanted Preview

Written by Sam Dumitriu on . Posted in Games.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted may be the nineteenth entry in the Need for Speed series, but in many ways it feels like it’s part of a different street-racing series.  This is probably to do with its developer Criterion; famous for the Burnout series, with Need For Speed: Most Wanted they’ve created what is in many ways a sequel to their critically acclaimed game Burnout Paradise.

Like Paradise, Most Wanted lets you roam freely around a large city, allowing you to choose from a variety of races and challenges scattered around the map. When you race, you can choose your own way to the finish line, finding shortcuts to give you the advantage.

At the preview event in Piccadilly Gardens I played the multiplayer mode, which allows up to 8 players to free roam the city, crashing into each other for points. The demo had 3 different races, a speed-test where the winner is whoever is fastest past a speed camera, a stunt challenge where whoever jumps the furthest wins and a traditional checkpoint race. The game again felt a lot like Burnout with crashing into your rivals in order to get a boost a key part of the races.

One nice feature in Most Wanted is that when you finish a race, you can continue driving around the map and crash into other drivers still racing for more points and fun. I was told that the developers wanted to reduce downtime in the game; they’ve certainly achieved it here.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is out on November 2 and available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Societies Events Listings – 22nd October to 25th October

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

Monday 22nd October

JUDO TRAINING

Armitage Conference Room

7pm-8 30pm

Come along to the Judo Society’s training session – great way to learn new skills or improve old ones.

WARPED – QUIZ NIGHT

Jabez Clegg

8pm-9pm

Warped is the Manchester University Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, anything from Harry Potter to Starwars. Go along and embrace your inner geek!

Tuesday 23rd October

ROLE PLAYING SOCIETY – WEEKLY MEETING

Council Chambers, Barnes Wallis Building, Altrincham Street

6pm-7pm

For more information contact: [email protected]

ZUMBA CLASSES – £3

Student’s Union, Khaled Said Room/Council Chambers: 17 00 – 18 00

Women for Women International Soc hosts a weekly Zumba class for only £3.This amazing charity helps women of war all around the world, and all money raised goes straight to the charity.

QCUMBER – COMING TO MANCHESTER

Outside University of Manchester’s Student Union

Featured in Cosmopolitan, Grazia Daily, The Daily Mirror and on BBC Radio 1, pineapple is taking the world by storm!

The QCumCar is rolling into Manchester on the 22nd and 23rd of October and will be selling their Fantastically Fruity jumpers for the bargain price of £20 (RRP £29.95)

QCumber jumpers are the perfect garnish to any wardrobe – they are soft, comfortable and inedible! Make sure you come and see us on the 22nd/23rd to grab a bargain! Stay tuned for more info…

If you can’t wait remember you can always head over here http://www.qcumber.co.uk/ and use the code MANCHESTER01 for a discount on all the jumpers.

Wednesday 24th October

BLOOMBERG ASSESSMENT TEST (BAT) FREE

University’s computer clusters

2pm-4pm

Launch Your Future Career! Identify your personal strengths and connect with employers worldwide! Take the Bloomberg Assessment Test.The University of Manchester is offering students the chance to take the Bloomberg Assessment Test (BAT) FREE of charge at one of the University’s computer clusters. By taking the BAT you gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses as relative to a career in finance or business management while at the same time showcasing your abilities to a wide range of financial employers.

CIRCUS SKILLS

Burlington Society

2pm-4pm

Circus Skills is an opportunity to do something different and fun with your Wednesday afternoon, anyone is welcome – whether you can juggle or not! Keep an eye on the facebook page because, on the rare occasion it’s sunny they practise outside.

JUDO TRAINING

Same time and same place as Monday – the Judo’s Societies Wednesday training session.

HARMONY GOSPEL CHOIR

Upstairs in Jabez Clegg

4pm-6pm

If you have always wanted to be part of a choir then this is a perfect place to start, they are always welcoming new members. Harmony Gospel Choir manages to produce a high standard of singing while having fun at the same time.

Thursday 25th October

RAW MANCHESTER ROCKS SOCIETY

Hardy Wells – Rusholme: 8pm-9pm

The Manchester Rocks Society has a weekly social from 8pm until late. Go along, have a drink and find out what they are all about.

 

 

Review: A Flaneurs Guide to the Northern Quarter

Written by Grace Williams on . Posted in Arts.

Devised especially for the Manchester Weekender, The Flaneurs Guide to the Northern Quarter consisted of 4 simultaneous tours of the area, each with a slightly different focus, but all with the aim of encouraging participants to experience life and urban activity from a new perspective.

Starting from Thomas Street Restaurant, we eager explorers were inducted into the Northern Quarter Stories School of Flaneurism. As explained by our dandy guides, flaneurism is the practice of wandering or strolling through the urban environment responding artistically and sensorially to people and place. We were encouraged to experience the street in more contemplative ways, just as the original flaneur of 19th century Paris would once have done.

Organised by art collective Northern Quarter Stories, the tours are part of a wider project aimed at celebrating 240 years of life in the Northern Quarter.  Project co-founder and my tour guide, Mark Babych spoke of the group’s ambition to ethnographically document and preserve the cultural diversity and creative energy of the present area for future generations to benefit from. This will be achieved by bringing together contributions from tour participants, be they stories, recollections, facts, images or perspectives. Although ambitious, by attempting to create a patchwork of social history that may otherwise be lost, the project appears a worthwhile endeavour.

As we set off along our route our guide provided a brief history of the area and pointed out sites of interest that may previously have gone unnoticed, such as the grand Edwardian architecture of Oldham Street, and the quirky street art of Tib Street.  Despite this guidance, self-led exploration remained central to the tour. Upon re-converging in Thomas Street, discussion of our findings was recorded, to be added to the larger body of information already contributed.

Although perhaps not fitting with the observational spirit of flaneurism, the tour would have benefitted from greater emphasis on the area’s historical usage and significance, if simply to help the Northern Quarter newbie put their interpretation into some kind of broader historical perspective.  Despite this, the kind of engagement the tour encouraged is often prohibited by the fast paced realities of modern life; we could all benefit from taking a moment to step back and consider our surroundings in a more personal way. The true flaneur would describe this act as the very key to understanding and participating in modern city life.

We ask, you answer

Written by Dana Fowles on . Posted in Lifestyle.

We’ve all heard the line, ‘They say you make your best friends at University,’ but just how true is this? Dana found out what you thought…

I think you make better friends at Uni; you get to live with them and know them inside out. Plus, Uni is a once in a lifetime experience that can’t be compared to any other. I find that because of this, I can’t really relate to my school friends anymore. A lot has changed!
Emily

This is a tough question! I would probably say at school; you’re with them for longer. Having said that, living with people really helps to form strong bonds.
John

I would say that your closest friendships are formed during your school years. You’re at school longer than you are at Uni.
Annie

I reckon that you make better friends at Uni; you’re adults (supposedly) and are more likely to make the effort to keep in touch. Apparently it’s really common for people to end up living in the place they studied permanently, so you may also be more likely to stay friends for that reason.
Emma

I think you make better friends at school because you grow up together.
Matt

I would definitely vote Uni. You find other likeminded people who are more similar to you than those who you went to school with. Plus, life gets a bit more serious during your Uni years and I think that your friendships tend to reflect that.
Lily

My best friends are my school friends. I know that they will be there for me when I finish Uni, whereas my Uni friends will probably return home once the four years are over.
Ashleigh

I guess it depends on the individual and the people they happen to meet, both at school and at Uni. Personally, I made really good friends at school (who are still really good friends now), but I’ve also made close friends at Uni. For me, it’s a mixture of both.
Becci

As cheesy as it sounds, your friends become more like family at Uni. I find that I am able to tell my Uni friends more than my school friends. At school you sometimes find that you are friends with people because you have to be, but when you start Uni, you are grown up enough to know what qualities you want in a friend and choose accordingly.
Maria

Hangover foods exposed

Written by Beth Currall on . Posted in Lifestyle.

It’s three am, you’ve been drinking for seven hours straight and you crawl out of a taxi, with the intention of paying the nearest takeaway a visit before you hit the sack. You queue for 20 minutes and spend your remaining £3 on the biggest grease-infested meal that the menu has to offer. Sound familiar? It happens to the best of us, but what is really going into your post-lash treats? Lifestyle investigates…

First to take the stand is Krunchy Fried Chicken. While it’s safe to say that their deep-fried nuggets and burgers are the perfect end to a messy night, the effects on our waistlines are less so. A six nugget meal with fries can set you back a massive 950 calories, with 28g of fat. Choose to wash it down with a coke and you’re talking 1200 calories, over half a female’s daily allowance and just under half a male’s. So, next time you’re stumbling back to Fallowfield, it may be wiser to say no to Krunchy Fried Chicken – no matter how inviting it may seem!

Next to be put to the test is the Cod Father. Renowned for being the best chip shop in all of Greater Manchester, the temptation to scoff a battered sausage or a cone of chips can be too much to resist in your hung over state. However, it may be easier to walk away with the knowledge that just a small cone of chips has around 500 calories, not to mention 17g of fat. It doesn’t help that chip shops load all of their food with salt. The conclusion: avoid, avoid, avoid.

If you crave pizza after a night out, then you are more likely to end up in Dominos. My advice to you here is to choose a personal cheese and tomato pizza. At 108 calories and 5g a slice, it’s one of the least body offensive options. By comparison, a large meat feast could set you back a whopping 235 calories and 11g of fat per slice – enough to make your entire stomach shrink in fear and leave your arteries running for the hills.

So there we have it, chips, burgers and pizzas may seem like the ideal hangover cures, but they are in fact hiding a multitude of sins. If you want to wake up guilt-free the next day, walk past Fallowfield’s takeaway strip with your eyes firmly shut.

Experience… Glasgow

Written by Becky Leddy on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Glasgow took me by surprise; Trainspotting had perhaps tarnished my outlook on what I had until recently assumed was a run-down neglected city, populated by an overwhelming majority of drunks and art students. How wrong I was.

For I did not see any such heroin dealers or back alley discos (clubs, yes); perhaps the roughest part my lucky self came across were the banks of River Clyde, which runs south of the affluent centre and the particular bars and cafes I visited.  And so over the course of a chilling September weekend over the hills and not so far away, in true Glaswegian style I set upon a quest to drink my wee self to glee.

Many may have a misconception about Glasgow, but it without a doubt one of the most impressive and upmarket cities I have visited in the UK; with the hilly Kelvingrove Park connecting the West end to the Hogwarts-esque University, and intertwining lanes laced with fairy lights and scrubbed up beer houses, Glasgow has the grandeur of London and the culture and gothic architecture of continental Europe.

Fittingly it was the city centre’s Transeurope café where our café hopping began. Serving sandwiches named after European cities at reasonable prices, you get to sit in old train seats eating top grub whilst being entertained by the ever present owner’s Glaswegian charm. How Berlin came to be so associated with Bacon that it decided to name a sandwich after it is neither sensical nor important; for it was delicious as was the group fave the Madrid (chorizo) sandwich which came out on top. Impressive evening menus are available to accompany your beverage and its delightful ambience gives a very Amsterdam feel, only with a much nicer smell.

Next we ventured to Nice n Sleazy for cheap pints in a band poster splattered alternative set up on the otherwise commercial and very ‘freshers’ Sauchiehall street.  It’s a welcome venue for students seeking a bit of live music or wishing to fill their ravenous bellies, as the Mexican themed menu made my mouth water despite my Berlin butty, leaving me gawping enviously at a nearby burrito. The cocktail prices are reasonable and the pop plastered walls suggest many a sweat fested mosh pit, showing its promise for future piss ups, and so we left watered and a step further to beer fuelled euphoria.

Next up was vegan hangout The Thirteenth Note. I would not normally spare any time for vegan food however this bar which doubled up as a music venue was something to be relished; the Budvar & burger deal went down a treat with my affiliates, as coincidentally did the house sweetcorn relish and the table football which we noticed was a standard accessory in most bars, perhaps testament to the football crazy-lager mad Scots. The ‘Glasgow mega death’ v hot sauce was however my favourite feature, nothing like near death tongue torture to spice up your veggie burger. Unfortunately we didn’t catch any bands that evening but The Thirteenth Note is known for showcasing ‘ones to watch’ shows- definitely worth a visit.

The student haunted West end of Glasgow is host to yet more charismatic bars and to my delight an amazing pasta takeaway, something that could only have originated in this Italian occupied city. Big Slope also stood out for its ‘Po’ boy’ lunch deal and yet more table football. I could go on for days but Glasgow is somewhere you must see to believe. It’s hard not to be charmed by; each establishment has its own backstory, infused character and of course Glaswegian regulars. Its allure will without a doubt have me back for a Christmas visit; why seek festive spirit overseas when you’ve got the magical village of Hogsmeade right here?

 

Trains from Manchester Picadilly: from £10.55 single (with railcard)

For music/club night listings:

http://nicensleazy.com

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Review: ‘On The Road’

Written by Nihal Tharoor-Menon on . Posted in Film.

When Kerouac put the experiences of his travels to paper at the mid-point of the 20th century, he managed to capture the restlessness of a generation; establishing the roots of a movement that would go on to shape America as a whole. In essence he was urging readers to open their heart and mind to any and every experience, to be relentless in one’s drive for new and exciting worlds.

These were revolutionary ideals in an America which held strong notions of conformity and tradition and though On The Road has had a lasting impact on American culture, it is questionable whether, in this last fifty years, America has been ready to confront its radical notions of sexuality, drugs, society and life on the big screen.

Now, more than half a century after its publication, On The Road has been given its long-awaited Hollywood adaptation and, all things considered, it is a result that Walter Salles and executive-producer Francis Ford Coppola should be proud of.

English actor Sam Riley confidently takes the helm of protagonist and narrator Sal Paradise, who is in reality struggling writer Jack Kerouac. Riley boasts a convincingly rough east-coast accent and readily guides us through his adventures; most importantly though, he stands confidently astride the fascinating Dean Moriarty.

The fast-talking, fast-driving, womanizing-prophet of the ‘beat’ movement is our flawed hero; and any consideration of a film adaptation over the years has always brought with it the question who could play Dean Moriarty?

From Marlon Brando to Brad Pitt, Hollywood heavyweights have always been pegged for the role, and so there was slight trepidation with the casting of lesser-known actor Garret Hedlund. This, however, stands as Salles greatest achievement, as Hedlund brings to life the wide-eyed drive and compelling madness of this enigmatic man in full force.

In company with a strong supporting cast (Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Steve Buscemi, and Kristen Stewart), Salles drives us through this wild journey with loyalty to plot, authentic characters and an overall inspiring radiance of their life on the road.

This is not to say the film is without its faults. Any fan of the book would be aware of the inherent constraints that a film adaptation would face. On The Road has a strong period setting and much of the beauty of the novel comes from Kerouac’s powerful and unfettered descriptions of 1940s American landscape. In the countryside and deserts, which have remained fairly intact in the last fifty years, a single ‘47 Cadillac can easily transport us back in time to this nostalgic era. However, obvious budget constraints have kept the exploration of cities, such as San Francisco, New Orleans, Los Angeles  and New York’s bustling urban landscapes, noticeably absent.

In similar respects, though Salles does not leave any key aspects of the novel out, beautiful scenes and fascinating characters are not given their just appearance due to inevitable time constraints – here’s hoping Salles has a director’s cut up his sleeve.

Past these rather unavoidable compromises however, lies a film which is faithful and respectful to its roots. Of course the film does not resonate with its audience as the novel has resonated with its readers, but an exuberant cast, breathtaking scenery and timeless message gives us an adaptation with real heart. Salles’ has managed to capture the essence of Kerouac’s On The Road and in a sense that is the greatest achievement he could have hoped for.

“A good story is a good story!” – Why adapting a book can be for the best

Written by Joelle Jefferis on . Posted in Books.

Have you been to see any films in the cinema recently? Or watched one of the BBC’s mini-series? The chances are pretty likely that if you have, you watched a story that originated as a book. This year alone, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Hunger Games and Anna Karenina, are all adaptations of books, and have been devoured by cinema-goers. This, along with the popularity of Parade’s End and The Paradise on the BBC, and it’s clear that a book adaptation has pulling power. Bringing Literature to Life, part of the Manchester Literature Festival, was therefore a pertinent event. Hearing from the people who transfer the story from the pages to the screen, stage or airwaves was fascinating.

The panel consisted of Jane Rogers, whose expertise is in adapting texts for radio and television, Jeremy Dyson, a comic writer famous for The League of Gentlemen, who recently adapted Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected for stage, and, headlining the list, was Nick Stafford, whose stage adaption of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse has won him a Tony award.

As the discussion kicked off it was immediately clear that these people were not mere copycats, that adapting a story to fit an entirely different media requires skill. As a bookworm, I can’t deny the wave of horror I feel every time I see an advert for a new film adaption of one of my favourite novels; the fear that it will have been altered beyond recognition and special secret of the work inevitably lost in the process. Listening to the panel, though, was comforting: Jeremy Dyson spoke of the “instinctive response” to a novel needed to make a good adaption of the original, a sentiment with which the other panellists strongly agreed. Alterations to the story are sometimes necessary for budgetary constraints, but also simply to make the theatre production, TV show or film, work. “There’s more room in a novel” Jane Rogers explained as she spoke of adapting one of her own novels for radio, “You have to find the action.”

So, then, are book adaptions so simply pale reflections of the novel? I asked at the Q&A at the end of the session why they adapted novels; if they loved the books they were working with, why change them? Nick Stafford responded flippantly: “Well, it’s a job.” But Jane Rogers saw herself as doing more of a service to books; she believes that adaptations make books accessible, and, having adapted the likes of Thomas Hardy, she should know. They also bring attention back to authors who may have been lost in the mists of time. For the purist book lover, the rise in film and TV adaptations may appear to undermine the literature they immortalise, but I would say not. As the chairwoman of the discussion said, “A good story, is a good story!” and it is the story that will engross people whichever medium it is told through. Adaptations may even tempt more people to crack open the book afterwards. Love them or loathe them, it seems they’re here to stay.

A Lush Profile

Written by Miles Zilesnick on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Alongside the aromatic bubble you walk into when going into a Lush store, another obvious factor you notice is that the vast majority of the products are ‘naked’. The bath bombs, bubble bars, soaps and shampoo bars, amongst many others products, do not come in any form of pre-wrapped packaging. Customers are asked if they need a bag, rather than want one. There was a recent Bag Monster campaign to raise awareness of a new government initiative about charging 5p for all single use bags and the response was of overwhelming public agreement, and customers were encouraged to give in their own plastic bags. The second-hand plastic bags were used to create real life bag monster costumes which Lush staff from all over the UK wore to the Conservative HQ in Birmingham last week.

Their buying policy means that they have a strict criteria that must be met; the products must be sourced and created in establishments that provide the appropriate rights for their workers and that do not utilise child labour or animal exploitation. For instance, in the countries where donkeys are used as the means of transporting the goods, they have to be fed well, looked after and given ample rest. All methods of transportation have to be environmentally sustainable.

Lush is also involved with the work of charities; they want to help grass roots organisations whose ethics fit with their own (not contributing to animal testing for instance). These charities are those that would have difficulty raising funds for themselves. Lush’s forthcoming campaign sees the return of the “Fabulous Mrs. Fox” bubble bar, a product which raises awareness and generates funds for the Hunt Saboteurs Association.

Lush is renowned for the use of controversial ad campaigns. In a brief interview, we spoke to Pete Simms of Lush about his first-hand experience of the Lush campaigns. He reported: “In our store, one of my colleagues was caged for the duration of his shift like an animal, and customers were allowed to prod him, draw on him etc. He was left pretty much helpless. Perhaps the most shocking animal testing campaign was held in the window of the Regents Street store, where a performance artist was subjected to the treatment of animal testing, before being stuffed in a bin bag and thrown out onto the street.”

“In the future, we aim to use even more of our store window space in our campaigns. There’s the misconception these are to promote our store rather than the causes, not true. For instance, last time we had the ‘Fabulous Mrs. Fox’ campaign, colleagues who worked at other Lush stores before the Arndale shopping centre have told me how they were repeatedly threatened by supporters of fox hunting, had their shop windows smashed etc.”

Lush also sells charity body lotions whereby everything but the VAT, which is required to be given to the government by law, is donated to charity. This money is divided between charities that support environmental/conservation causes (58.43%), humanitarian causes (23.61%), animal causes (16.96%) and other (1%). There are many companies that claim to be eco-friendly and green but it is very rare that a company tackles the issue from so many different angles as Lush.

50 Shades of Skin

Written by Jessica Cusack on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Skin. The largest organ in the body, and quite possibly the most commonly troublesome. Covering 3000 square inches of the average adult and weighing in at six pounds, most people would vouch for that being a whole lotta surface area stress. We all have our issues with it: too pale, too dark, too spotty, too dry, too oily, too freckly, too un-freckled… Too much bloody work.

In this issue we’ve been talking about race in the fashion world, and it’s far from surprising that non-white faces are also still under-represented in the beauty world: it is rare to find a brand which caters for all skin tones as opposed to just the standard shades ranging from ivory white to a frightening deep beige. The fact that it is noticeable when a black model stars in beauty campaign or that fashion show-attendees broke into rapturous applause upon a group of black models walking on a runway (Lanvin S/S’11) is, in my opinion, quite a sad fact of the 21st century. Non-white faces are so under represented in this industry that it is seen as some sort of miracle when they do make an appearance.

Only recently have we seen an influx of non-celebrity black models being used in beauty campaigns, such as Joan Smalls for Estee Lauder (see image), or Jourdan Dunn for YSL. Dove is a big campaigner for diversity in advertising, using women of different races, ages and dress sizes in their inspirational ‘Real Beauty’ ads, which rubbish the all too familiar skinny white photo-shopped figure who pouts back at us from the pages of a magazine.

Also making multi-coloured waves is No7, who have just released their Foundation Match Made Service at Boots, in which costumers have their skin tone read by a device to work out which colour of foundation would most suit, and in what form, from classic oily teenage skin to a special 60 plus range for your Gran. They aim solve the common problem of never being able to find the precise foundation colour for ones skin among the aforementioned sea of beige tones. And if you can afford it, Estee Lauder have also just released an new range of Double Wear foundation in 30 shades, knocking the racial diversity problem on its head with both their make up and their campaign.

Skin is an important and often expensive issue, but the cheapest and most effective way to look after it is through lifestyle choices. Eating a healthy, balanced diet, getting enough sleep and drinking lots of water will tackle skin problems from the inside out, as opposed to make-up which aims to conceal problems without solving them.

Perhaps skin will always be an issue because we will always want what we can’t have. I, for example, use St Tropez to fake a tan (the jig is up) just as a woman with darker skin may be inclined to use whitening products to achieve my shade of fair skin (God only knows why). While this is perhaps an unsolvable issue, beauty brands should still endeavour to cater for skin of all colours and textures, tapping into a modern, diverse and profitable marketplace by putting down the beige and opening their eyes to the colour spectrum surrounding them.

 

One for One?

Written by Miles Zilesnick on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The espadrille has undoubtedly made a huge impression this summer for fashionable footwear, and TOMS have been at the heart and sole of this trend. This may partly be due to the charitable premise of the brand, but how much are you really helping when you purchase a pair of TOMS?

The idea is that by buying a pair of shoes you enable a pair to then be given to a “child in need”. This is not in just developing countries as the company also donates to children in the United States (which is not widely advertised…) The TOMS website states that “shoes are a fundamental resource for protecting children from rough terrain, disease and soil-based infections.” This is very true and whilst I am not denying that shoes are needed, TOMS is not a registered charity, but rather a for-profit group. Furthermore, the price for a pair of these shoes, which are little more than a very thick socks with a sole, can set you back at least £30, whereas in reality they will cost as little as £5 to make. As a result of this, one begins to wonder where the remainder of this money is actually going.

The company organises “shoe drops” where volunteers buy plane tickets and go out to help distribute the shoes. Now it may just be me, but it’s not that difficult to give out shoes, and surely the money spent on the air fare could be contributed to a much more worthy cause, possibly food or water? This is classified perfectly by goodintents.org with the phrase “Whites in Shining Armour”, where consumers are using the “charitable” aspect of the shoes to justify their purchases as a good deed.

Photo: Gwenn Mangine

Whatever happened to the original “give a man a fish” philosophy? Surely the best aid we can give is money and the resources to manage it effectively? Shoes are great, but I’m sure shelter is better. So unless you can’t live without slightly vinegary smelling feet along with the sense of undeserved satisfaction, think twice before you buy TOMS again and count it as charity.

Ethical Style Icon: Emma Watson

Written by Emma Williams on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Emma Watson has come a long way in the style stakes from her first appearance as a frizzy-haired, cape-donning wizard back in 2001; becoming the face of Burberry and style icon for her generation with her daring red carpet choices and beauty decisions (who could forget her Mia Farrow-like crop back in 2010?). But far from being a glorified clothes horse, Watson has become an advocate for ethical fashion since launching her own collection for eco-chic brand, People Tree in 2010, and choosing to pursue the opportunity of designing her own collection based on her own passion for promoting Fair Trade and organic produce.

Frustrated with the ‘fast fashion’ and capital priority of the high street, Watson chose to design a line that was fashionable and youthful as well as fair and moral: from the source of its fabric to its manufacturing. The actress’ fervour for inspiring such a revolution in the way that brands should prioritise their designs is evident, basing the collection on the style of her friends and producing wardrobe basics that could stand alongside the mass-produced high street names.

 Last year, Watson put her hands to another project of sustainable fashion with renowned Italian designer Alberta Ferretti—‘Pure Threads’—which saw a capsule collection comprised of five lace-embellished pieces that marries the star’s own style with Ferretti’s ethereal flourishes; all under the ethical values that Watson has prioritised in her projects. Clothing doesn’t seem to be her only eco-venture either, as it has been reported that the Harry Potter star has been in talks with Lancôme to produce a range of eco-friendly beauty products.

Judo vs. Karate

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

This week, I managed to get the Karate society to swap with the Judo society. A lot of people think they’re very similar but this is not the case as Joseph Perry and Michael Pearce found out.

Name: Michael Pearce

Society: Karate

What were the things you enjoyed about your Judo session?

Well it was quite different, so it was good to pick up some new skills. It was also really good exercise, and very physical. I really enjoyed the amount of partner work they do, I ended up meeting a lot of new people.  It was good how they have a range of abilities in the same class and this means that the more experienced can teach the beginners.

Bad things:

Coming from a Karate background, we show a lot of respect for the heritage of the sport. This is through bowing every time we get on and off the mat and a series of other things. I thought this was lacking from Judo a bit, because you can still show appreciation for the origins and have people turning up for the session.

You said you liked the paired work in the Judo, is that something you would like to add to your Karate sessions?

Well Joe was a bit unlucky in his session, because we usually do more paired work but because we were in a different venue there wasn’t that much room. Where Judo is 100% paired work, Karate is a mixture of individual and paired. Individual work helps you practise the different techniques, and then the paired work teaches you about distances and timing.

Would you go again?

Definitely, I thought their coach was fantastic – and I’m pretty sure he just won award for 50 years in Judo coaching.

Score out of ten?

10 – there was nothing bad about Judo it’s just very different from Karate.

Name: Joseph Perry

Society: Judo

What were the things you enjoyed about your Karate session?

I loved how strongly focused it was on discipline; in Judo there are a lot of throws where you can just hurl yourself into it. Whereas Karate you have to be so aware of your body because accuracy is everything. I would say Judo was a bit more of a scrappers sport so Karate teaches you how to be precise in your movements. I also thought that the coach was really good, although sometimes I got a bit lost!

Bad things:

It’s hard because they are so different and good in their own ways. But I didn’t like the theater that surrounded Karate,I understand that they have to be vocal because it adds power to each move but I thought there was a slight undercurrent of demonstrating your aggression, which doesn’t appeal to me.

Would you go again?

Yes

Score out of ten:

7 –  I was a bit disappointed I didn’t get to have a one-on-one fight but I think that’s because I was a beginner but the coach was great and I felt I learned a lot.