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Month: December 2015

Cambridge remove fundraising video containing “aggressive racist” alumnus

Written by Rossy Natale on . Posted in News.

Cambridge University has recently been forced to remove a fundraising video containing David Starkey, a Cambridge alumnus who has been described as problematic in the past for his allegedly racist comments.

Starkey was featured at the beginning of a video introducing the Dear World, Yours Cambridge campaign. The fundraising project was set to raise £2 billion and is being used to highlight the contributions that Cambridge alumni have made to the world.

Starkey’s presence in the video has resulted in an uproar in the Cambridge community. Anti-Starkey campaigners cite several examples in the past where the alumnus has made blatantly racist remarks as grounds for the video’s removal from the public domain.

First and foremost was his comment after the 2011 England riots, when he stated that “a substantial amount of the chavs have become black. The whites have become black; a particular sort of violent destructive, nihilistic gangster culture has become the fashion.”

In response to concerns, Helena Blair, Access Officer at Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU), tells The Guardian that she “had not heard about his racist views, and it was not until after the video was released that I learned of his deeply problematic opinions.”

It was Malachi McIntosh, director of English studies at King’s College, who originally raised the issue in an open letter to the university. McIntosh was backed by hundreds of students, staff, and alumni.

In the letter, McIntosh states that, “in our eyes, Starkey’s presence both undermines and taints our daily efforts to function as a united community, one open to the very best and brightest regardless of anything except their academic potential.”

In response to the protest, the university has suspended the video on YouTube, but protesters are encouraging the school to go further by removing the video completely.

A statement has also been released by the University stating that the video is currently being edited. They have yet to issue an apology, which the protesters are demanding.

“In due course,” Starkey has told The Independent, “the university will decide what is right, proper and expedient. I shall be happy to accept that decision. Of course, if it raises any question about the nature of academic inquiry and academic freedom, I shall reserve the right to comment freely but without recrimination.”

The Art of Sexting

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Lifestyle.

As with a lot of things that involve sexual exploration, there seems to be somewhat of a taboo around sexting—but why should there be? As long as the participants are two consenting adults, then exchanging sexy messages can actually be really rather exhilarating. When done correctly, the best sexts can act as a new spicy injection to your foreplay repertoire and all you really need to pull it off is trust, confidence and a little bit of imagination. To truly get the best out of it however, you probably don’t want to jump straight into exchanging erotica with someone you barely know—especially if they’re a bad Tinder match whose opening line is to ask for a picture of your junk. But when you’ve found someone who makes you feel comfortable, to engage in a cheeky sexting session can allow you to communicate exactly what you want and desire in the bedroom without having to face any awkwardness in saying it out loud.

Lets face it, exchanging sexual messages with your partner isn’t exactly a revolutionary idea—it’s just that back in the day it was done via long-winded letters with far more elaborate vocabulary and plot lines, but that’s not to say sexting isn’t just as good—and a hell of a lot more concise! And for those of you who don’t have an other half, why don’t you utilise your saucy writing skills in other ways? For example, there is a huge online community of erotica writers who are always looking for new stories, and you don’t even have to put your name to them if you’re too shy!

So whether you’re looking to add a bit more excitement to your romance, or are a singleton looking to branch out into more erotic circles, why not give sexting a go? It’s more common—and definitely more rewarding—than you think!

American university offers three day “retreat” to discuss “white privilege”

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

Last weekend, the University of Vermont in the US held a three-day retreat exclusively for white students to discuss “white privilege” with the aim that they “engage in building a stronger and inclusive campus community.”

The perhaps misleadingly named “white retreat” was organised by the African, Latino, Asian, and Native American Student Centre (ALANA) within the university, a group that aims to promote the rights and development of students from these racial backgrounds.

The event, which was only open to those who “self-identify as white,” was designed to make students aware of and recognise the privileges largely experienced through being white.

Organisers ALANA reportedly created the event to better involve the white demographic in their efforts to promote equality and “interrupt racism” across university.

Over the free three-day course, University of Vermont undergraduates were given “the opportunity to conceptualize and articulate whiteness,” according to the university’s website.

The retreat was met with positive feedback from students, one saying it “provided a safe space to learn about yourself and others, and how we experience and understand privilege and systems of oppression.”

Conservative US media corporation Fox News viewed the event slightly differently, criticising it as essentially being a ‘Blame the White Guy 2015’ gathering that unfairly shamed white students with guilt.

Racial tensions have recently escalated in the US, with growing scrutiny on police conduct and brutality. In recent months several high profile cases of unarmed black men and youths being killed by white policemen have caused national outrage.

On Tuesday the 24th of November campaigners took the streets in Chicago following the release of a video showing a law enforcement officer shooting a black teenager 16 times. Also on Tuesday a Black Lives Matter march, held in protest at the killing of an unarmed black man last year, was shot at by neo-Nazi members in Minneapolis, injuring five demonstrators.

This comes alongside Presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s Republican candidacy campaign that has been riddled with controversial racial comments and slurs. The business tycoon-turned-politician has sparked outcry after multiple false statistics and politically incorrect blunders, recently suggesting that a black man who was beaten at a Trump rally “maybe… should have been roughed up.”

The wider national context may point towards the increasing number of racial incidents enveloping American university campuses, and the University of Vermont will argue that despite dividing opinion, the “white retreat” event is a proactive measure to tackle these racial issues tainting universities across America.

Review: Paul Foot

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Theatre.

It is necessary to begin this review by immediately stating that, as soon as we hit the intermission, we decided to get on the first bus away from Salford Quays, and drown our sorrows in The Old Monkey pub on Portland Street.

Neither of us had hitherto left partway through a performance, but it felt almost essential to do so during the intermission of Paul Foot’s gig.

That Paul Foot is a weird guy should not come as much of a shock—his appearances on panel shows firmly disabused us of the notion that he was “normal.” The results of our interview with him a few weeks ago confirmed the peculiarity of the character we were dealing with here.

To call Foot a surreal character—as he was labelled during our interview with him—is to do a disservice to those surrealists who harness their talents in a far better way. (Apologies to Franz Kafka, Haruki Murakami, et al.)

Foot makes a big deal about how, when he goes from town to town, no two shows are the same, which is something of a mercy—the number of people who were subjected to this particular showing was minimised.

We knew that we were in for a long, bumpy ride when Foot contrived to make his off-stage announcement—which would traditionally involve the performer briefly introducing themselves to the audience off-stage—last 35 minutes, and include a “dress rehearsal.”

Fundamentally, Foot’s gig was an uncomfortable one. He has issues with personal space (he gets very close to his audience) and, during one incredibly uncomfortable skit he dons a cowl and transforms himself into “Penny”: A highly-strung, shrieky and sexually deviant femme fatale.

Despite these myriad issues, he is a talented performer (infrequently). For instance, he affects grievance incredibly well: The audience from the previous night (one member of which had inexplicably decided to make a return appearance), and the technical staff at the Lowry were just two sources of his opprobrium.

One of the less unenjoyable portions of the show featured Foot using a horse’s head toy to change the “language” he used. The head pointing downwards meant Foot spoke in (and the audience understood) English; upwards meant the language reverted to “nonsense”; in between was a weird pidgin blend of the two.

The ease with which Foot was able to switch between these languages at speed (and, when the head was given to an audience member, without his input) was genuinely impressive, and demonstrates the potential he has. Unfortunately, it was not enough to salvage this gig.

It is rather disheartening that the highlight of the show featured the performer literally speaking gibberish.

The beauty of Chai

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

With skincare gaining more and more prominence, it’s a wonder that we’re able to keep up with all the products that are stacking the shelves. Skincare doesn’t have to be a regimented routine. In fact, such a routine can actually result in a damaging effect. When it comes to you skin, sometimes less really is more, and what better way to start your skincare regime than from within.

The beauty of living in such a diverse city is that we have access to a fabulous collection of food and drink. Why not use this to our advantage? With herbal teas taking over the market, why not use them to give your skin the boost it needs. Here are our top super teas to keep your youthful glow.

Matcha

Matcha is the fine ground powder made from green tea leaves. It is stored away from oxygen and sunlight to retain its fabulous green colour. This green gem can be drank simply by adding warm water. Uji, Japan, is the heart of matcha production, so if you manage to get your hands on some from Uji consider it gold for the skin. Matcha contains antioxidants and vitamins that have been consumed for over a millennium. This wonder contains catechins which is the most potent in matcha. Not only is matcha packed full of vital minerals, but is renowned for cancer fighting properties. Drinking matcha can improve the condition of your skin and keep it that way. People will be green with envy.

TIP: Replace your morning caffeine boost with matcha to boost you skin with daily minerals and keep you energised until the evening.

Hojicha

Hojicha is a roasted tea and because of the low caffeine content, can be a fantastic way to hydrate the skin. Hydration is important for skin and results in a fresh glow that skincare products just can’t give you. As well as being a natural boost, hojicha can be drank before bed and it won’t keep you awake. This ruby jewel contains vitamins that will help fight bacteria and detoxify your body, resulting in a light detox for the skin. Just like matcha, hojicha is also known to have anti-cancerous properties. Hojicha can be enjoyed as a drink, but can also be made into face masks and rubbed directly onto to the skin. This is a great way to get rid of those pesky eye bags.

TIP: If you choose Hojicha as a bedtime drink, the vitamins can get to work whilst you dream.

Yujacha

Yujacha tea is Korean tea, which is made from the yuzu fruit. This herbal delight is a sweet tea that is a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is vital for your skin as it is key for collagen production and helps your skin remain strong and firm. Not only can it keep the bounce in your skin, but is essential to help your skin repair. Yujacha tea is fantastic for tissue repair, so can help speed up the healing process and even help reduce the look of scars.

TIP: Replace your fizzy drinks with chilled Yujacha tea, for a healthy sweet boost.

These teas are just a few herbal teas that can help your skin get the boost it needs, so ditch all the fancy stuff, and stick with tea.

Winter Scents

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

I have a question for you. What makes you feel sexy? Is it putting on a nice pair of heels? A tight LBD? A dash of your favourite lipstick? Well, for me it’s all about the perfume. If I’m wearing a scent that covers me in a cloud of sensuality then I feel sexier than ever. I’m sure most of you have already found your signature scent, but here are a few of the hottest scents available to stimulate your senses this winter.

Gucci Premèire Eau de Toilette.

This fragrance reeks of elegance and sophistication. Looking for the perfect date scent? This is most definitely it. With top notes of white flowers, orange blossom, freesia and jasmine, it’s sure to bring some heat to your cold, frosty night.

GUCCI Première Eau de Parfum
75ml – £66.66
Photo: Debenhams

Stella by Stella McCartney

I know this particular scent has been around for sometime now; however, I just couldn’t keep it off the winter must-have list. With its amber and rose top notes, this perfume is just perfect to the feminine woman who enjoys playing sport as much as she does putting on make up.

Stella by Stella McCartney Eau de Parfum
30ml – £35.95 
Photo: Fragrance Direct

Library of Fragrance Gingerbread Eau de Toilette

Who else likes the smell of freshly baked gingerbread? Well, if you do, this perfume is the perfect one for you. If you permanently want to smell like a gingerbread house, then get to Boots and buy yourself some of this perfume. It’s cheap, as well as delicious.

Library of Fragrance Gingerbread Eau de Toilette
30ml – £15
Photo: Boots

The One by Dolce & Gabbana

This perfume is one that never goes out of style, or out of mind. This alluring scent is one that no one forgets, and this is no surprise with top notes of vanilla, mandarin and citrus. With its fruity extracts, you’ll feel as if you’re diving into a Christmas pudding.

Dolce and Gabbanna The One Eau de Parfum
50ml – £52.49
Photo: Debenhams

Live: Kurt Vile and the Violators

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Music.

Wednesday 18th November

The Ritz

6/10

Kurt Vile and the Violators played in front of a sell-out audience at the Ritz on the 18th November. Unsurprisingly, the set largely consisted of new material from his recent sixth studio album b’lieve i’m goin down… but there was still a place for a song or two from his previous three albums.

Wearing a denim jacket and tight skinny jeans, Kurt and his band opened with a succession of songs from his latest record, including the lead single ‘Pretty Pimpin’—a twangy, catchy song with a harmonious melody. The song already looks like it will be one of his most popular, with raucous applause arriving at its climax. A brief return to 2013’s Walkin on a Pretty Daze followed with ‘Walkin on a Pretty Day’ and ‘KV Crimes’ being met with a warm response.

Unfortunately there was no place for the dreamy, and, arguably, Vile’s best song, ‘Goldtone’ on the setlist. The Violators then left Kurt to go it alone as he breezed through the beautifully stripped back song ‘Stand Inside’ from the latest LP. He was soon rejoined by the rest of the band as they delved into some older stuff from his third and fourth albums, Childish Prodigy and Smoke Rings for My Halo respectively, including his best-known song ‘Jesus Fever’.

Intervals between songs were short, with the self-described Constant Hitmaker choosing to keep his mysterious, hairy facade by limiting his interaction with the audience, although at one point he declared his love for “Manchesterrr” in that Boston drawl his fans have grown to love him for.

Closing with an encore consisting of two songs, finishing with the psych-rock ‘Hunchback’, Vile and the Violators left the stage leaving the audience completely satisfied after nearly two hours of music.

HOME Pick of the Week: The Dressmaker

Written by Alasdair Bayman on . Posted in Film.

Myrtle ‘Tilly’ Dunnage (Kate Winslet) walks down her dusty hometown—Dungatar’s main strip—as if it were a catwalk in Milan. Dressed head to toe in lavish 50s designer outfits, she is a binary opposition to her rural surroundings and even more so, her female counterparts. Myrtle has returned from Paris to her native home in Australia in a quest of revenge towards those who had expelled her for seemingly unknown reasons. Accused of murdering a fellow school pupil at an early age, Tilly is armed and dangerous—with the power of fashion to ridicule sweetened grievances upon those who stripped her away from her mother.

One could mistake its beginning as a spaghetti western rather than a black comedy. Equipped with needles, a sewing machine and mannequin corsets, Winslet’s Tilly Dunnage is our Clint Eastwood and lone rider. The actress’ effortless ability to captivate an authentic Australian accent accentuates her position as still one of the best female actresses in the business—even after all these years. Accompanied by Hugo Weaving, Liam Hemsworth and Judy Davis, a true championing of indigenous talent is fundamental to Jocelyn Moorhouse’s film.

The comedic values of The Dressmaker are down to those of Aussie Rebel Wilson. Judy Davis and other supporting roles are loud, boisterous and over the top. Thankfully, Wilson’s ruckus of homosexual and weight-orientated jokes is not so prevalent as they are in her performances in the Pitch Perfect franchise. Aligned to an exploration of darkened humour, and an ability to surpass Mark Kermode’s infamous six-laugh test is achieved within the first half hour—the latter cannot be said in regards to modern comedies like Vacation. The basis of this film’s humour is rotated around a transvestic police officer, an alcoholic mother and other small town caricatures—as well as Winslet’s Dunnage. This embroidery of characters tailors itself into a fine weaving of well-known archetypes and plays upon pre-existing tropes of cinema’s portrayal of small towns.

Although Moorhouse’s latest release is sporadic in tone—shifting from comedy, to romance, to tragedy—a fundamental narrative is withheld. A slight weakness derives from its constant movement from one genre to another—in particular, its melancholia. Undeniably, this hybrid element is to be rejoiced and praised, but does have its problematic consequences. One or two generic plot devices are installed too, the father of Tilly being one in particular—the identity of whom can be seen a million miles off, just like any car travelling towards the Australian outback.

The Dressmaker’s adaptation from literature is evident in Tilly’s lavish fashion sense, though Moorhouse’s script and direction conceal this factor for the most part. However, one can identify its origins through the assortment of its variation in thematic values. Winslet is in impeccable form, as continued from Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs—but its design towards the big screen doesn’t quite cut to shape.

3/5

Farage’s confusion is our confusion

Written by Tristan Parsons on . Posted in Opinion.

Nigel Farage stands up, head held high, rising above the Eurocrats that fill the room he so dreads. The short speech he delivers is typical of his many such speeches made in the European Parliament: He damns the institution’s authoritarian nature, points to recent examples, and then makes his case for Britain’s exit.

In this speech specifically, he made the following case. In 2011, Alexis Tsipras was elected in Greece on a socialist platform. On arrival to the European Parliament, he was told that his manifesto was unworkable. This kind of disagreement was continued throughout the recent Greek crisis. Some voices (such as the Financial Times, and Marketwatch.com) in the aftermath of the Greek crisis, were saying that Portugal would face the next crisis.

Well, over a month after the Portuguese election, and largely uncovered by the mainstream media, power has still not transitioned from the minority conservative coalition to the majority socialist coalition. President Silva denied the socialists power on the grounds that they did not represent pro-EU ideals, and in fear of the financial and monetary implications of a reversal of the previous government’s austerity policies. If we look at the Greek experience, he may—rightly or wrongly—have a point.

In the same defiant speech, Farage even made the claim that the EU’s policies of controlling member states was similar to that of the USSR’s Brezhnev Doctrine. He suggested that EU states have had democratic rights taken away if they have disagreed with the European project.

Yet, to the people of Britain, UKIP is still talking about immigration. They are still using scare tactics to win the rural or semi-urban, conservative, often working class vote. He is still dividing populations into ‘us’ and ‘them’. As the group currently leading the anti-EU campaign, they have a responsibility to broaden their arguments. This would help to draw in supporters of other parties, and help to extinguish some of UKIP’s negative connotations.

David Cameron recently confirmed Britain’s longstanding support for Turkey’s inclusion into the EU. UKIP’s campaign against this policy stinks of this failure to discuss a broader set of issues—such as geopolitics. Particularly in the wake of the Ukraine crisis (arguably an event of attempted EU expansionism) we should be more aware of how crucial the inclusion of Turkey would be. Already a strong US ally, it would provide another excellent foothold in the Middle East for the West, and further secure the key pipeline, trade, and migration routes that run through the country. Despite this, the campaign remains firmly fixed on tapping into fear of a new wave of ‘poor people’ landing on Britain’s shores.

Admittedly, furthering the economic inequality between states of the Union is dangerous. Farage also makes an interesting argument that Union has a business-driven agenda for importing cheap labour.

The left is to blame for this too. Although the problem of immigration is largely an imagined one—as seen by the negative spatial correlation between immigrant numbers and UKIP supporters—it is still top on Britons’ policy concerns. This needs to be dealt with. Corbyn’s complete lack of concern for the issue does not help.

The immigration debate needs to be opened up on the left so that we can properly discuss the practicalities of how to better integrate immigrants into our society. We need to further the debates on issues such as education programs, faith schools, transport policies, de facto segregation, and labour rights of immigrants. These are the policies that will help to ease tensions, and thus help to remove the largely imagined concerns about immigration.

Furthering the confusion of Farage and UKIP is the news that the party has been struggling with finances since the election. Here is a wonderful contradiction: Party donors—millionaire lawyer Andrew Reid, for example—often donate because of the party’s libertarian leanings. Yet, many voters are from areas that the policies of Mrs Thatcher hit the hardest. The confusion goes beyond the leader himself; it is clearly visible between donors and regular supporters.

The country still faces hard times. Economic downturn and then austerity made as all vulnerable for the creation of a scapegoat. This time round it was immigrants, and particularly Muslim immigrants. The reason public services are struggling is partially due to the effects of years of high net migration; but austerity economics is a far more significant factor.

The confusion of Farage and UKIP between criticising the great power of the EU and scapegoating immigrants reflects the confusion of us all. We live in societies that, with the help of much of the media, too often blame regular fellow citizens as the causes of our woes. It has become a modern day version of divide and rule, and has successfully reduced the scrutiny of those with power and wealth.

Just another indie banned name

Written by Jacob Bernard-Banton on . Posted in Music.

What’s in a name? Viet Cong, the Canadian post-punk quartet, recently announced that they were changing their name after accusations that it was an example of cultural insensitivity, trivialising the atrocities during the Vietnam War. The band issued a statement stating they “never intended for [it] to be provocative or hurtful,” but it did little to endear them to the people indignantly posting their anger on social media or taking to e-petition sites. It didn’t help either that the band are comprised of four white men, with many bloggers lambasting them for ostensibly indulging in smug “white privilege.”

It is a strange state of affairs: forty years ago, a post-punk band with a provocative name would be positively quotidian. Joy Division were named after the prostitution wing of Nazi concentration camps. Andy Gill of Gang of Four (another band with a subversive name) defended Viet Cong on the grounds the internet outrage was “illiberal, undemocratic and anti-progressive”.

Controversial band names weren’t limited to punk. Soft-rock heroes Steely Dan were named after a strap-on dildo in Burroughs’ novel Naked Lunch. 80s pop doyens Spandau Ballet took their moniker from the common slang for the twitching “dance” of hanged Nazi war criminals. Lest we forget, Kasabian are named after Linda Kasabian, a member of Charles Manson’s infamous cult and his getaway driver. Slaves have also come under fire, their name accused of racial insensitivity. But that objection is itself problematic: It suggests that “slaves” can only ever be associated with the plight of subjugated African slaves in the 18th century, rather than slavery in and of itself.

It is also an aggravating state of affairs. While it is true that Viet Cong may be a naïve choice for a band name, one that has caused many people significant pain and offence, its censorship would be a tremendous shame. Censorship only leads to a paranoid culture that cossets our sensibilities and self-righteousness. However indirectly, band names that evoke violent and uncompromising imagery ultimately force us to confront difficult subjects. It, to some degree, erases taboos—even if it might well be distressing, shocking and in poor taste.

Censorship closes down any sort of debate or dialogue in art; it prohibits people from engaging with questionable material or coming to a conclusion of their own. Censorship is didactic and refuses to treat consumers like adults. That said, we must be careful not to ignore the concerns of the offended people who dismiss Viet Cong. As a Guardian article that was critical of Tyler the Creator’s ban from performing in the UK makes clear, “free speech absolutism is as much the province of idiots and headbangers as is kneejerk censorship, and often has a pernicious and prejudiced agenda of its own.” Such is the need for taboo-smashing debate.

Furthermore, some of the most offensive band names in music often invite baffled amusement or even laughter, which was my immediate response after Googling a list of genuinely terrible names. They were in very bad taste, but also absurd and ridiculous. You can’t take many of them very seriously: AIDS Wolf and Gay Witch Abortion just sound silly. They make Viet Cong look a little quaint.

Moreover, it could be possible that Viet Cong is open to multiple interpretations. Maybe it represents a Dadaist impulse for being intentionally offensive and provocative? Perhaps it continues Dada’s insurrectionary commitment to destroying bourgeois contentment. Who’s to say that Viet Cong doesn’t express an agitated and mischievous post-colonial ideology? Maybe it represents the skewering of liberal sensibilities? Maybe its purpose is to make uncomfortable the very people calling for the name-change, the privileged western folk on their laptops typing with anger about it? To remind them of the horrors of that conflict? If Tyler the Creator’s ban tells us anything, it is that censorship only lends an attractive enigmatic aura to the group being censored—more people will actually gravitate to them. For the sake of ‘the group formerly known as Viet Cong’, let’s hope so: their music is what we should all be really talking about.

Review: Carrie Brownstein’s discussion of ‘Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl’

Written by Laura Walsh on . Posted in Books.

Never have I ever attended a talk by an author at a literature festival by myself. So, it was with slight trepidation that I embarked upon my first experience of this precise scenario. On the 12th of November, I attended a talk by Carrie Brownstein on her new memoir, Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl, as part of the Manchester Literature Festival 2015. For those who perhaps don’t know, Carrie Brownstein is one-third of the seminal post-riot grrl punk band, Sleater-Kinney. With her unique guitar-playing and strident, highly politicised lyrics, she arduously carved out a path for future female musicians to follow. Sleater-Kinney’s sudden decision to go on a ‘indefinite hiatus’ in 2005 left a legion of loyal fans bewildered and heartbroken. Fortunately, after ten years apart, they reformed and earlier this year released their newest album, No Cities to Love.

This month, Carrie Brownstein released a memoir, which chronicles her life as a member of Sleater-Kinney—from its humble beginnings to its inevitable demise. As this effusive preamble demonstrates, I am a big fan. And needless to say, I was extremely excited, despite some initial awkwardness due to me being by myself (fortunately, this awkwardness was assuaged through implementation of the tried-and-tested method for situations such as these—taking out my phone and pretending to text someone).
As I took my seat in the third row, I marvelled at how close I was to the stage. “I could definitely reach out and touch her from here” was the (creepy) thought that was running through my head. When she walked onto the stage, I spent the first two minutes trying to rearrange my face so that it didn’t reflect the childlike glee bubbling inside me. Unfortunately, I don’t think I succeeded.

The format of the talk was that of a conversation, which was led by Manchester Literature Festival’s Kate Feld. The conversation had covered a variety of topics—from how Carrie had approached the writing process (with a lot of procrastination apparently), to the books that she had enjoyed quite recently (Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara). A particular highlight was when Carrie had described Sleater-Kinney’s music as “not easy listening.” She recounted a time when she was at the hairdresser’s and ‘Dig Me Out’ (one of Sleater-Kinney’s more energetic songs, shall we say) started to play on the radio—she immediately exclaimed, “what’s that racket?!” before realising it was, in fact, her own band that was the cause of the din.

Admittedly, I am probably biased in my assessment, but I found Carrie to be very eloquent and entertaining throughout the talk. She is obviously very well read (as demonstrated by her casually dropping in such words as ‘monolithic’ and ‘highfalutin’ throughout the conversation), and it was interesting to hear her discuss her favourite writers, too. At one point, she described the time when she had met short story writer Lorrie Moore in an elevator and proceeded to bombard her with a multitude of questions and proclamations of adoration. It was comforting to hear a person whom I admired myself, describe their own participation in the culture of fandom.

Once the talk had concluded, the audience was welcomed to ask questions. “This is my chance!” I thought as the microphones made their way through the crowd. I mustered up the courage to raise my hand and, with a voice more unsteady than I would have liked, I asked Carrie about the musical influences behind Sleater-Kinney’s most recent album. Her reply referenced musicians as disparate as the topics discussed in the talk itself—from The B-52’s to Kanye West. When the last question had been answered, a final enthusiastic applause rattled throughout the venue. As I stood up to leave, I caught Carrie’s gaze—she smiled and nodded at me politely. Buoyed by this small interaction, I glided out of the theatre. My first solo venture into the world of literature festivals was an unequivocal success.

The Alexandria Library – Curry Mile’s new bookshop

Written by Yasmin Mannan on . Posted in Books.

Walking home from university along the infamous Curry Mile, you may have noticed that a new player in the Manchester literature scene has arrived. The Alexandria Library, having opened only on July 14th this year, is a specialist secondhand and new bookshop which is making an impact on the Manchester literature scene already. One afternoon walking home, a slither of gold Arabic script was glistening in the window and I knew that I had to find out what this new addition to the Curry Mile was all about. I was kindly given an interview by the owner of the shop, Josh, and the overseer, John, to discover more about what their thoughts behind the Alexandria Library were.

When asked about the concept behind the shop, Josh said that it’s simply “something different—there is no place in that you can get this variety of literature in Arabic and Urdu anywhere else in Manchester.” John further highlighted how the shop was funded by the local Arabic church and a number of South Asian Churches, too, who wanted to showcase their significance in Arabic and Asian cultural heritage. John had said that the input from the churches were “essential to creating the blend of the shop” and that it was a space which allowed Arabic Christians from Syria and Iraq, along with South Asian Christians to have a voice. The location for both of them is key as “people had told us to open in Didsbury, saying that the Curry Mile was no place for a bookshop like this,” but they were determined to be situated on the famous strip anyway.

The Alexandria Library stocks both secondhand books—including poetry collections, language books, and novels—as well as new contemporary literature which is often brought back directly from Egypt or taken from suggestions from interested readers who come into the shop. John highlighted the struggle of competing with Amazon but say that their secondhand collection often has trumped against Amazon’s—especially in such a niche market. A lot of students who are currently working on their dissertations or researching into Arabic or South Asian culture have been found to come in seeking language books and tips about learning Arabic—John himself has done an Urdu Leap course at the University of Manchester, as well as being fluent in Arabic after living in Sudan for many years.

The shop also facilitates a lot of cultural activities and connections between people. Both Josh and John emphasised how the churches run groups such as free English conversation classes for local people who want to better their English. There is also a Kurdish Book Club, too, who meet upstairs in the shop. Even though it has only opened in July, the Alexandria Library is rapidly becoming a pillar in the local community. John told me how he has had people coming in, asking him how to “crack English society,” as well as having local artists coming in to ask if they could exhibit their work. Josh and John are both keen to attract writers to do poetry readings which fit in with the shop’s ethos.

People at the shop are very willing to help students who wish to learn Arabic or want to learn more about Arabic and South Asian culture. It seems to attract a very diverse range of people such as Syrian refugees who volunteer there, representatives from the church, and also people like myself who are generally interested in literature and suffer vaguely from a cultural identity crisis which they express in writing. As someone whose Pakistani parents had never taught me Urdu but enjoys writing in many forms, I was automatically drawn to the what the Alexandria Library is doing and the space it is creating for anyone interested in the literature and culture of that region—especially during this time of having a sharpened international political climate, misinformation and demonization stemming from some strands of the mainstream media. Cultural spaces like the Alexandria Library are multilayered in the roles they play in society. I would definitely recommend popping in.

Crazy Pedro’s

Written by Felix Sanders on . Posted in News.

I’ve never been to Italy, so I couldn’t tell you what real pizza tastes like. The closest I think I’ve ever come was at Franco Manco’s. A place that came from humble beginnings in Brixton Market to now having seventeen locations all over London. The focus there is, above all, on the dough. They use sourdough, which uses a natural leaven rather than yeast to make it rise. This is what makes their pizza incredible; they have got the foundation so right that the toppings become almost superfluous.

Last Saturday I went to the one year anniversary of Crazy Pedro’s Part-Time Pizza Parlour. They put up a small marquee in the square outside their restaurant and held a four day event with live music. I came reasonably early in the evening and listened to some fairly decent singer-songwriters. The place was starting to fill up but wasn’t spectacularly busy. I heard that Thursday, the opening night, had more of a buzz.

As for the food, it’s definitely their own interpretation of what pizza should be. They have a fried chicken and waffle pizza. You can buy by the slice, for £2.50, and I went for a wacko jacko, topped with pepperoni, jerk chicken, jack cheese, onion, olives and jalapeños. I find that style of pizza over the top—the flavours do all come together but you can’t help but feel that somehow, somewhere, an Italian is turning in his grave.

Crazy Pedro’s has a very relaxed, informal atmosphere with a long bar where they serve up both the pizzas and the drinks. Staff are friendly and very in keeping with the feel of the restaurant. The decor is somewhere between Lucha Libre and pop-culture. The roof is plastered with album covers and film posters, and the walls are painted with wrestling masks. The Liars Club, also run by Crazy Pedro’s Lyndon Higginson, is a Tiki-themed dive bar. It seems Higginson has a knack for taking something that might be considered pastiche, and making it work.

One of the best features of Crazy Pedro’s is that there open until 4am. Although my heart does go out to the poor chefs on duty, it’s good that Manchester has a late night eatery that is a little more sophisticated than suspicious pieces of fried chicken.

I really enjoyed what the event and the restaurant represented, an independent place doing its own thing and still going strong after a year. In a sea of chains and exported London franchises it’s encouraging that there are still some little beacons of Mancunian independence.

55–57 Bridge St,
Manchester,
M3 3BQ

Depop for Dummies: the new and improved way to shop

Written by Natasha Rushton on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The all too familiar struggle of trying to look effortlessly stylish on a student budget can be solved with the app Depop. With its Instagram-like layout and user-friendly interface, you can buy and sell clothes, shoes and accessories as easily as uploading photographs onto Facebook.

Being something of a rookie when it comes to selling my wares online, I was urged to download Depop by my friend, a Fashion and Textiles student, who claimed that “everyone in Leeds does it.” Needless to say, I have often tried grappling with sites such as eBay in an attempt to sell the things that I just never seem wear anymore, but I haven’t stuck at it for very long. The app’s accessibility means that it doesn’t take long to get to grips with, and features such as having suggested followers enable you to quickly connect with friends on Facebook and see what they’re selling, too. My attention was caught pretty shortly after I downloaded Depop, as I found myself with over 150 followers in the first couple of days.

Instagram-inspired interface. Photo: Depop

Having spent a suitable amount of time foraging around the depths of the app, I soon discovered that Depop is a place for the fashion lovers; ranging from the fashion conscious students on a budget, to high-end brands as far-flung as Hong Kong. The personalised aspect of the app is a standout factor in its success. You can upload as many as five images of your item, filtering them as you please in order to optimise the appeal to your potential customers. This free rein with images allows users to upload an image of them wearing the specific item to effectively market the product. There is also a social media-esque ‘explore’ page, providing the interface to search for items and users, as well as a tailored selection of suggested items that you may enjoy.

Communication is clear and simple so you can sell your items in no time. Photo: Depop

When it comes to actually selling your things, it could not be any easier. During my brief stint on Depop, I have managed to sell my pair of Adidas Superstars in the space of a week. Discovering the secret to selling things is to choose current and popular items. This is what I believe sets Depop apart from eBay and gives it a fashionable edge. While eBay benefits users seeking to ‘clear the closet out’ and get rid of the old, Depop allows you to buy something new and at its current height of popularity (that is before you then sell it on, just in time for the next fashion trend). This means that you can be continuously on top of the current trends—even if things are sold out on the high street, all while you are saving some money. While I may not be a Depop pro, I can see myself using this app for the foreseeable future. Depop should be a smartphone essential for both the fashion- and finance-conscious.

Review: Subterfuge

Written by Saboor Qureshi on . Posted in Games.

Subterfuge is a mobile game. It’s also probably my game of the year. Blasphemy, right? It turns out that this might be the best format for strategy games that I never knew existed.

Co-created by one of the minds behind World of Goo, Subterfuge is a multiplayer strategy game supporting up to 10 players at a time. Upon joining or creating a game, you will start off with an underwater base of a few Factories and Generators. Factories periodically make drillers and Generators increase the amount of drillers that you can have under your control at any one point. Nearby, there might be some unoccupied buildings just waiting for you to colonise in order to expand your empire. However, the only way to get your drillers to other outposts is by venturing into the murky depths of the ocean in fragile little submarines.

This is where the first twist of Subterfuge presents itself: Everything happens in real-time. A submarine might take seventeen hours to get to an adjacent outpost, and once you’ve sent it off, it can’t change course. This might sound tedious, but it’s the foundation of what makes this game so amazing. Each game takes a week, but you’re never looking at your screen for more than five minutes at a time, since most of your units will be in transit. This is helped further by the ability to queue orders up for the future, which means I don’t need to be at my phone exactly when my sub arrives, because I made my next move four hours ago.

Winning a game of Subterfuge is simple: Mine 200 Neptunium. This most precious of minerals is extracted from the ocean floor by building Mines amongst your other outposts. Of course, you could just conquer your neighbour’s Mine, but that might make somebody upset. Underneath all of these mechanics, the real game of Subterfuge exists in the in-game chat function. You can send any number of other players messages whenever you feel the need to communicate something about the game. Want that outpost that somebody’s already claimed? You could just ask him, maybe even offer some drillers in compensation. Though it’s only your word against theirs, so whether you keep up your end of the deal is down to how much you trust them. Alliances form quickly in Subterfuge and break explosively, twice as fast.

The best way to play Subterfuge is just like any other game: With friends. In my first game I was in alliances with three different people, all of whom were bitter rivals and wanted each other eliminated. One was also my housemate and another my best friend. For a whole week, I was gripped with paranoia that every time somebody went to the bathroom or was speaking to another player in real life, they were conspiring against me. Adopting my best Machiavellian mask, I just assumed that anything that anybody told me was a lie, and ruthlessly played people against each other by using our real-life relationships to my advantage. At the end of the week, my empire lay in tatters, yet I came in third place thanks to my merciless expansionism earlier in the week. The war was hard-fought and the victory well-deserved, though tensions definitely rose to near-dangerous levels near the end. I may have almost damaged a few friendships along the way, but I had a great time, so it was probably worth it.

The base game is free, though the full version (costing £7.87) is required to host games. Available on iOS and Android.

The Winter Coat & Accessories Edit

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

In the past few weeks there has been a definite chill in the air—winter has descended upon us and we need to stay warm! Thankfully, the fashion world understands this predicament, and there are some beautiful coats and accessories available on the high street. Here is a rundown of some of this seasons game players, with some tips on how to make sure you’re stylishly wrapped up.

The Parka

Manchester’s staple coat thanks, in part, to the Gallagher brothers. They’re warm, hooded, and practical; a rarity in a fashion-approved coat. Even better, they come in so many different colours. Best of all is that they can take any accessory, whether its the old scarf that your Grandma knitted, or a blue fur stole. The parka is warm and weather proof, a classic winter essential.

The Mannish Coat

The name may not sound appealing, but a classically tailored men’s coat, like a pea coat or a Crombie, adds style. The elegant silhouette instantly dresses up any outfit, whilst keeping you nice and toasty. Throw on a pompom beanie and a tartan scarf for a bit of laidback lux.

Quilted Coats

A few years ago I would have shunned the thought of a puffer coat. Memories of the yellow one I had from my childhood still haunt me… However, times have changed! Now thanks to celebrities embracing brands like Moncler and Canada Goose, they have become popular on the high street too. Possibly the warmest of all the coat options; paired with some mittens you’ll be good to go.

Faux Fur

I specify faux because I love animals and, as a student, I’d be shocked if anyone’s buying real fur. A faux fur coat is fabulously whimsical but not for the faint hearted. If a full coat is too much there are so many other options—a gilet or faux fur detailing are gentler nods to the trend. Plus, scarves, hats, and gloves can all have a touch of faux fur to add some glamour to your winter looks.

NOT-FOR-ONLINE-PLEASE-SUB Mancunion’s Choice: Games of the Year

Written by Josh Goldie on . Posted in Games.

2015 was an interesting year for gaming; with brand new sequels to originally critically acclaimed games Metal Gear Solid 4 and Fallout 3; a new major IP from Nintendo in the form of Splatoon, and an E3 that tried to show that 2016 may very well overshadow all of this, giving us reasons to be excited going into the new year. With the Game Awards just airing at the end of last week, and 2015 entering its final month, I decided to get my team together in order to give you The Mancunion‘s choice: our games of the year for 2015. Enjoy.

Undertale – Josh Goldie [Games Editor]

Undertale is a unique game for me, both in how the game is played and how I came about it. I am so used to knowing about a game, its mechanics and ideas before I jump into it, but with Undertale, I knew nothing. Everyone was just talking about it out of nowhere, saying nothing but praise. It was not until a good friend of mine began to join in with this praise that I decided to go out on a limb and buy the game on Steam. I have no regrets. This game deserves all the praise that it gets. Not only is the story amazing and the writing tight, but the gameplay is something I had never seen before in an RPG. This game easily earns my GOTY and I recommend everyone to go into it as blind as possible. Just remember that in this game, no one has to die.

Honourable Mentions:

Splatoon

Yoshi’s Wolly World

Rocket League – Deven Kara
My GOTY has got to be Rocket League. I have played a fair few games this year—mainly console—but the only one that stood out was Rocket League. Psyonix really hit a niche genre with this, and that may be part of the reason as to why it was so popular. Also great is the fact that it has an even playing field for all since there is no tuning on the cars, so games are played through skill or pure fluke. It is constantly evolving, by its way of adding new things; new cars are available to buy, but maps are for free. Good move, Psyonix. Rocket League takes everything home in my opinion.

Honourable Mentions:

Grow Home (console port)

Destiny: The Taken King

Rocket League – Connor McBride

Rocket Car Football. Three words have never sounded so attractive. Thanks to great online play, Rocket League suits itself equally well to single players online or local multiplayer battles with your friends. The recent addition of a ‘mutations’ mode—variations on the standard such as low gravity, or replacing the ball with a cube—ramps up the opportunity for carnage and chaos tenfold. Easy to learn, hard to master—this game will have you hooked well into the small hours of the morning on deadline day.

Honourable Mentions:

Undertale

Crypt of the Necrodancer

Bloodborne – Stephen Lewis
After my recent article, it should come as no surprise that Bloodborne takes my top spot for best game of 2015. Having sunk the most hours into this incredible world and now being taken back there with the Old Hunters expansion, I am constantly reminded of how great the gameplay and atmosphere is. Whilst games such as the Witcher 3 and Metal Gear Sold 5 gave a lot more in terms of either a direct story narrative or mission variety; and Halo 5 being the most fun I’ve had with online multiplayer in quite some time—none of these beat the Victorian-esque streets and lovecraftian world of Yharnam.

Honourable Mentions:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Halo 5: Guardians

Fallout 4 – Robert Parris

A late contender for game of the year, but a respectable achievement nonetheless, Fallout 4 never ceases to amaze me. The world handed to the player in this iteration is admittedly leaner, yet incredibly tight, and every feature from Fallout 3 and New Vegas have been reinvigorated. Gunfights have been ramped up to 11, and remain uncompromisingly violent and satisfying affairs throughout. With an abundance of worthwhile content, and with the modding scene just beginning to scratch the surface of this RPG’s potential, this is a game that could very well last you the rest of your degree.

Honourable Mentions:

Hotline Miami 2

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows – Andrew Dixon
Over this past year, games have moved from strength to strength. With titles flying at us such as Fallout 4, Metal Gear Solid 5, The Witcher 3 and other seemingly endless, beautiful and brilliantly made games. However, for this year, after ploughing my mind about what has been the best experience I’ve had, my game of the year is Yacht Club’s Shovel Knight; Plague of Shadows.

Plague of Shadows, whilst attached to Shovel Knight, offers an incredible new story, mechanics and difficulty to an already brilliant game—for no price at all. At first, Plague Knight appears janky and uncontrollable, but by manipulating the way I attack enemies by combining bomb components, I ended up flying through levels—leaving such devastation behind me that the big boss could only dream of doing. An absolute gem in an era ruled by season passes and microtransactions, Plague of Shadows for me (as well as the original Shovel Knight), is a game that every gamer should experience.

Honourable Mentions:

Metal Gear Solid V; The Phantom Pain

Tales of Zestiria

Mortal Kombat X – Jasmin Tiyur
Does anything really need to be said? It’s Mortal Kombat in next gen HD. Fatalities that make you want to cry, Scorpion being fine as hell (video game crushes are normal, I swear), and basically witnessing your childhood transcend into adulthood epicness—it just proves that you’re never too old to be a gamer. (Because you probably should be at least 16+ unless you want to be scarred for life!)

Honourable Mentions:
Bloodborne: The Old Hunters DLC
Disney Infinity 3.0

Subterfuge – Saboor Qureshi

No other game this year has taken over a week of my life quite so much as this one. Despite only being a mobile app (Android/iOS), this game alone caused massive disagreements and paranoia amongst my group of close friends. Certain people I knew had gotten so into the game that I would have had trouble speaking to them in real life, because their eyes were constantly glued to their phones in eager anticipation of the next submarine strike. All of these things would not be possible if the game didn’t have such an elegant design—one sculpted perfectly for the modern day.

Honourable Mentions:

Life is Strange

Splatoon.

Review: Bridge of Spies

Written by James Moules on . Posted in Film.

Bridge of Spies—a film with a title far more exciting than its actual subject matter. Steven Spielberg’s latest picture is not, as the misleading title would suggest, a gripping and edgy Cold War spy thriller. The movie tells the tale of the behind-the-scenes battle of wits between the USA and the Soviet Union to resolve the U-2 spy plane crisis of 1960. Both sides have hostages to trade, but are not initially willing to let their prized captives be released.

Enter James Donovan (Tom Hanks), an unflinchingly moral American lawyer who, after unsuccessfully defending Soviet spy Rudolph Abel (Mark Rylance) in an espionage trial, is called in by the US government to broker the exchange deal. He is sent out to a tension-ridden East Berlin, where he is forced to engage in a fierce locking of horns with Soviet and East German officials to find a solution to the situation.

Credit has to be given to Spielberg’s masterful visual storytelling. Bridge of Spies could have been an unbearably dull film in the hands of a lesser director. A vast majority of the runtime consists of people in rooms talking—not exactly a cinematic scenario. Seeing as Spielberg’s previous effort, Lincoln, consisted of similar content and ended up being an unapologetic tranquilizer, it is a relief to see that Bridge of Spies manages to sidestep this perilous pitfall. But considering that this movie was scripted by none other than the Coen brothers, it’s hard to not feel that the screenplay is something of a letdown.

It is a typical trope in espionage dramas to put a sense of moral ambiguity at play. We have been, in many a Cold War movie, invited to ask ourselves who the real ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ are, assuming that there are any at all. Bridge of Spies does not provide us with such thought-provoking content; instead, we have a clear-cut image of a heroic America and a villainous Russia. Look, for example, at their prisons: Rudolf Abel is detained in the States in a brightly lit and clean cell where he is allowed to paint portraits to his heart’s content. Gary Powers, the captured U-2 pilot in the Soviet Union, is kept in a grim room that is poorly lit and ankle-deep in water. This straightforward approach to the moral themes of the story deprives Bridge of Spies of an opportunity to be considerably more interesting. Even the relationship between Donovan and Abel, which could have been used to explore this, is severely undercooked.

But when Bridge of Spies is judged within the boundaries that it imposes upon itself, we are left with a reasonably effective drama. Tom Hanks is characteristically superb as Donovan, giving us a memorable American hero for whom we can happily root. Even when the screenplay veers into the territory of unsubtle moralising, Hanks still succeeds in delivering his lines effectively. He’s not given enough material to make a truly noteworthy character, but he manages to do the best he can with what he has. Mark Rylance also excels in his (relatively limited) role as Abel. Again, he is often constricted by the script, but his scenes with Hanks are the most memorable parts of the movie.

Many of Spielberg’s best and worst tendencies are on display in Bridge of Spies, not least his lifelong penchant for sentimentality. While few directors are better capable of executing this tone than Spielberg, it’s hard not to feel that this often jars with the Cold War setting of the film. The fear of nuclear annihilation—which could (and should) have been a tangible threat throughout this film—is merely breezed over in favour of more heart-warming and triumphant moments. This is, unmistakably, a Spielbergian Cold War movie.

Bridge of Spies will keep viewers satisfied for its runtime, but many will endure a sickly-sweet aftertaste in their mouths upon exiting the cinema. To one end, it represents a missed opportunity for an intelligent spy drama, but it also serves as a fine demonstration of Spielberg’s prowess as a visual and emotionally engaging storyteller. Take your pick.

3/5  

Review: Black Mass

Written by Imran Bukhari on . Posted in Film.

On the surface, Black Mass could crudely be labelled a film that has been catered as a comeback role for Johnny Depp. The actor portrays a true-life figure, Jimmy ‘Whitey’ Bulger, the most infamous criminal in the history of South Boston, (who also happened to be an FBI informant). It is no secret that the actor’s career has been stuck in the slumps for the best part of a decade, with his last Oscar nomination coming in 2008 for Sweeney Todd. Indeed, his last performance of any real note was way back in 2009, as John Dillinger in Michael Mann’s underrated Public Enemies. Since then, his roles have varied, ranging from forgettable Tim Burton collaborations—see Dark Shadows (or rather don’t)—to simply offensive white-washing in the Lone Ranger. That’s without mentioning this year’s highly misjudged Mortdecai. Remember that one? Me neither. If anybody needs a renaissance, it’s Depp.

The bad news is that this may be a performance to savour for the considerable future, because Depp’s upcoming projects don’t inspire much excitement. There’s another Pirates film to endure and a sequel to Alice in Wonderland that nobody asked for. The good news is that Depp, at least in this film, is operating at the highest level. Despite its flaws, Black Mass nevertheless provides a telling reminder of the talents that Depp possesses. Hidden behind the piercing contact lenses and bleached slicked-back hair, which at times can become rather distracting, Depp is unrecognisable. He oozes creepiness and terror to a nauseating extent. Evidently, when Depp is given material that challenges him and when he is not allowed to simply act out eccentricities, he remains an actor who can truly ignite the screen.

The director, Scott Cooper, has yet to find a signature style of his own, and is far too reliant on superior auteurs, whom he mimics. He does, however, have a clear talent for showcasing the darker side of characters. In any scene involving Bulger, Cooper lets the tension ratchet up to white-knuckle level, allowing Depp to leave the audience reeling in anticipation for either a cacophony of violence, or simply a cackling laugh.

As a recount of history and factual events, the film does a fine job, but there is a longing for more in the way of substance. There needs to be a reason to engage in such a despicable character, which begs the question: Are we meant to sympathise with Bulger? The script does its best to try to paint Bulger as a three dimensional person. Alongside his terrible crimes, he is also shown to be a caring father and a loving son. But Bulger’s motives are never truly explored and he unfortunately does not progress enough, coming across as nothing more than a one note maniac. A more fascinating film may have been constructed from following Bulger on the run as a fugitive, and the subsequent hunt for his whereabouts, from the perspective of the team on his tail.

The supporting cast of the film deserve acknowledgment as well. In particular, Joel Edgerton does great work as corrupt FBI agent John Connolly. In fact, his character provides the film with its most compelling arc. He plays Connolly as an almost-dim cop who has a child-like infatuation with Bulger, which allows him to be manipulated with ease. The movie’s greatest pleasures lie in this examination of how the lines between cops and criminals can become so easily blurred. Ultimately, Black Mass is a middling effort that doesn’t really do enough to distinguish itself from the mainstays of the gangster genre.

3/5

Students promote the importance of the arts

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

Arts Emergency Manchester is a faction of Arts Emergency, a London-based charity working to create an alternative to the old boy’s network in creative industries. They are in their second year of running workshops in schools in the Manchester area.

On the Arts Emergency website the charity claim that “learning to read poetry or philosophy or how to understand a painting or film are not elite pursuits, but now rising tuition fees and the withdrawal of public funding for the teaching of Arts and Humanities at university means they risk becoming so.”

The number of students taking arts subjects at GCSE level and beyond has been in decline for many years. The Cultural Learning Alliance revealed this summer that over the last five years there has been a decline of 13 per cent in the number of arts GCSE entries.

Bianca Ama Manu, co-chair of Arts Emergency Manchester told The Mancunion: “As a Manchester student branch, we work in conjunction with Access All Areas at the University of Manchester Students’ Union in order to offer top quality workshops to secondary school pupils. We aim to address under-representation and equal opportunity in Higher Education by providing local secondary school students with the opportunity to explore the wide range of arts and humanities subjects offered at the University of Manchester.

Last year the project was very successful, a stand out success being the rescuing of Sociology from being scrapped as a GCSE choice in a school.

The main aim of the project was to encourage young people to think about university and humanities subjects as options. Bianca said of last year’s achievements, “students were concerned about leaving home, choosing the right subject and rising tuition fees. We invested a lot of time dispelling myths and negative images about university. By answering all the questions and concerns students might have had about university, we made it approachable and accessible.

The results of last year’s workshops speak for themselves with 100 per cent of the 24 students strongly agreed that all their questions about university were answered because of the project. 63 per cent strongly agreed the programme had made them think more about university as an option for them, whilst 71 per cent strongly agreed the Arts Emergency Schools programme had helped them discover subjects they hadn’t previously known about. 98 per cent of students would like to go to college or sixth form, and 92 per cent were certain about advancing to university.

Arts Emergency Manchester plans to hold more workshops this year beginning in January 2016 for ten weeks and each week will consist of an hour-long lesson. The selected students will be given an insight into humanities or social science subjects including Anthropology, Geography, Politics, Journalism, Anthropology, American Studies, and History of Art.

Bianca added: “This year, we intend to increase our reach and work with another secondary school. We need as much support to make sure we can keep promoting the importance of arts, humanities and social sciences.”

If you would like to get involved email [email protected] or join their Facebook page for updates.