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Year: 2016

Denim doesn’t have to be just for the day

Written by Tarun Daryanani on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

‘FADE’ denim is a rebellious, creative canvas of washed, hugging denim jackets emblazoned with pop culture emojis and studs that impersonate a die hard rock fan. The birth of the brand arose from the creative minds of a group of third year University of Manchester fashion marketing students. The underlying inspiration? Denim is a hot trend and being able to express its versatility through day and evening wear is a key, unique fashion statement. The creative minds behind the brand are: Marcia Wiggins, Katherine Elizabeth, Nicole Olive, Isabel Pegg and Chelsea Saunt, all of whom exude their ideas and inspiration through a line of denim jackets.

Denim jackets are a piece that can be paired with, and layer, evening body-con dresses, or sheer jumpsuits; why not channel Gigi Hadid or the Kardashians? Stand out of the crowd.

Fusing distressed day wear with glitzy party wear births a powerful creation; one that makes heads turn the minute you strut down the street. The ‘FADE’ denim jackets come in many variations – try channelling vintage Paris Hilton vibes with a white faux fur lining. Others came with shiny studs, tracks of pinned on pockets – channelling your inner rock star has never been more appealing. The hot favourite? A Simple dark blue jacket paired with a significantly large glittery eye on the back, as if you were the member of a new, secret fashion cult; symbolic and powerful. Children’s jackets reflect the same styles as those for the adults; perfect idea for matching parents and their stylish kids.

FADE denim. Photo: The Mancunion

The jackets are so versatile they can channel any look: hipster, mod and even straightforwardly provocative. Priced at £45-50 for adults and £25 for children, this line mixes high quality craftsmanship with affordability.

‘FADE’ denim isn’t afraid of pushing creative boundaries; the existing designs can be customised even further whether the look channels Japanese anime — hello kitty emojis — or the lust for an ice cream cone, an emoji for that too! Showcasing their vision, with a hint of ironic humour, upon a simple garment shows that this brand has a chance to inject individual messages into a denim jacket.

Whether it be freedom, self-expression or even downright fun, ‘FADE’ denim never fears standing out. “The collaborative team effort and the idea of putting our own inspirations and thoughts was truly enjoyable,” says Marcia Wiggins who casually wore the brand’s glitter lip emoji jacket. In the height of the festive season, embellishment and beading is truly fitting! For the fashion forward in your life ‘FADE’ denim makes for the ideal gift.  Creative rebellion is spreading across the youth and there are no boundaries; beaded cuffs and worn rips accentuate the staple wardrobe piece. Scan their Instagram @fadedenim to lust over their uber chic, diverse denim outerwear.

The brands signatures will be sold at the Christmas market at the Manchester Students Union on 13th December.

Artist Rooms: Andy Warhol at the Whitworth

Written by Georgia Welch on . Posted in Arts.

The Whitworth Art Gallery has been host to a range of interesting and widely-discussed exhibitions since its renovation and reopening in early 2015, but perhaps none more hotly-anticipated than Artist Rooms’ new Andy Warhol exhibition, presenting a plethora of his works, many of which have never been seen before in the UK.

I attended a preview to the exhibition in which art dealer, curator and longtime friend of Warhol, Anthony d’Offay introduced the works he kindly donated to the Tate, now on loan to the Whitworth. He explained, as is evidenced in the works displayed, the extent to which Andy Warhol’s near-fatal assassination by playwright and radical feminist, Valerie Solanas, in 1968 affected the tone of his work. Warhol was ultimately pronounced dead as a result of this attack, and subsequently revived, so it is unsurprising that ideas of mortality and death feature so heavily in his work in the wake of the event.

With this core theme in mind, one of the most recognisable items from the collection was his 1981 piece, ‘Gun’, depicting the exact model of revolver used in his attempted assassination. His familiar striking screen print style is as visually resonant as ever in this piece, reminding us once again why his pop art techniques became such a hallmark of 20th century counter culture. Continuing this theme in a far more visceral manner is Warhol’s self-published photograph of the shocking scars etched across his torso following the bullet wounds he garnered as a result of his 1968 attack. The gravitas of the event is vividly manifested throughout much of his later work, and many of the pieces on display in the exhibition.

The thematic diversity of Warhol’s work does not end here, however, with other clusters of work instead focusing on more complex and grandiose ideas about America, its politics and religion, with pieces such as ‘Are You Different?’ casting a spotlight on the issues surrounding Warhol’s own sexuality and the way it conflicted with his heavily Catholic background.

Naturally, his screen print ‘Dollar Sign’ pieces make an appearance — capturing Warhol at perhaps his most iconic, exploring ideas of consumerism and capitalism in 20th century America. The varying tones and different concepts explored within the exhibition act as an excellent, all-encompassing representation of the multitudinous facets of Warhol’s artistic career, and the influence of significant life events on his world views. Thanks to the carefully-considered curation by Anthony d’Offay and the Whitworth, people of all ages and backgrounds now have the opportunity to see some of Warhol’s most important, poignant and stirring works of art right here in the heart of Manchester.

Artist Rooms: Andy Warhol at Whitworth Art Gallery – 19th November 2016 – 16th April 2017

Diego Garcia & Camp Thunder Cove: The UK’s Dark Secret

Written by Madeleine Jones on . Posted in Features.

You may know about the island on which, a couple of years ago, one conspiracy theory believed the missing Malaysian airlines flight MH370 to have landed. But I’m not here to talk about that.

Diego Garcia is the biggest island in the Chagos Archipelago, a collection of small islands in the centre of the Indian Ocean. It was formerly occupied by the British and French during a time when slavery still existed. The inhabitants of the island are numbered at roughly 2,000. That is until 1967 when the UK, who still technically owned the island, decided to force the indigenous population to leave so that the USA could build a military base there.

People don’t often realise that during the slavery era, the Caribbean Islands were not the only places to which European colonisers took those from African countries. They were also taken to islands in the Indian Ocean to work on plantations.

As far as historians can tell, many Indian Ocean islands were uninhabited before European colonisers decided to make use of them. European powers took people from their colonies, including India, East Africa and even China, to work on the Indian Ocean islands, hence why countries in this region are now so ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse.

The Chagos Islands are a key example of this. When slavery ended and the population continued living there, they made a happy home. Elsewhere, many of the islands were actually submerged, meaning that Diego Garcia had the highest land mass and was therefore the most populous of them all.

Since the early 18th century, Diego Garcia was a territory of nearby Mauritius where it was governed from. However, Mauritius was not independent from Britain until 1968, so Britain had always technically owned Diego Garcia. One condition of Mauritian independence was that the British gained full control over Diego Garcia, a move which led to the Chagos Islands becoming part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

This was when things started to get tactical. There was a reason European colonisers chose to colonise many of the Indian Ocean islands. They were strategic gems. Located with direct access to southern Asia, eastern Africa, Australasia and the Middle East, this gave the colonisers reliable control over their colonies. By the time the British had full control over Diego Garcia, the Middle East was their key target in mind. The UK leased Diego Garcia to the US, who needed a military base that was close (but not too close) to the Middle East. A remote location was perfect.

Just one problem: the people who lived on the island. The answer? Simple – remove them.

UK and US officials removed all Chagossian people using brute force. It’s clear that the British government still saw the Chagos people as colonial subjects. The remote location was chosen deliberately. They knew no one would notice or care.

As a privileged Westerner, one cannot even begin to imagine the horrific ordeal the Chagossian people, and those living on the surrounding Chagos islands, had to endure. Western authorities forced them onto ships, similar to those used to transport slaves hundreds of years ago, like cattle to take them to slums in either Mauritius or the Seychelles. Before boarding the ships, pets were gassed to death in front of their owners. The Chagossian people were simply left on the shores of foreign islands with no money and no help from anyone.

The Mauritian government has never seemed to care for the Chagossians either. Compensation of £650,000 was given to the Mauritian government in 1972 to be distributed amongst the Chagossians. It wasn’t given until five years later, and that amount of money across 2,000 people is hardly enough to start life in a brand new country against ones own will. Regardless of how much money the Chagossians were given, nothing could erase their trauma.

So what has the US military been up to on the island since the military base was built?

According to the website Commander, Navy Installations Command, the mission on Diego Garcia is “to provide logistic support to operational forces forward deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf AORs [areas of responsibility] in support of national policy objectives”.

The base is known as Camp Thunder Cove (formerly Camp Justice) and has become a reportedly multi-billion-dollar Navy and Air Force base for the Middle East and its supplies. It has been essential to the US’s role in the Gulf War, the Iraq and Afghan Wars, and intervention in Libya and Syria. According to Global Security, as of May 2016, the island has 1,700 military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors. Most are American, with a handful from Britain.

Numerous reports from publications such as Time Magazine, The Guardian, The Telegraph and many other less-established media sites have gained evidence indicating that the island has been used for torturing terror suspects as part of the USA’s “Global War on Terror”.

Unlike other torturing sites (such as Guantanamo Bay), the media can get nowhere near it. It is strictly off-limits to any non-military personnel. However, in recent years, many images have been in public circulation, due the rise of the internet.

After decades of tireless campaigning by the Chagossian people, last week the British government announced yet again, unsurprisingly, that it would not allow the islanders to return to their home. The only way they could do is if the USA and UK decided that they no longer needed the military base and, realistically, this won’t happen any time soon. Though, on a more positive note, it was announced that £40 million would be given in compensation. The sad truth is that, for the Chagossian people, compensation will never rectify the damage already done.

Speaking about the compensation, Allen Vincatassin, president of the provisional government of the Chagos Islands, told the BBC: “We will need to discuss further [with the UK] how this money will be spent to change the lives of our people. This should have been given to us years ago. But in no way will we be accepting this as an exchange of our right to return.”

The British government maintains that it did not act illegally by forcibly removing the Chagossian people. But since when did something being legal automatically make it right? If dragging people from their homes and forcing them into slums is legal, then perhaps it is the British government’s moral standing that we should be calling into question.

Intergenerational grief from the trauma still hangs over all Chagossian people. Their fight is nowhere near over. Approximately 4,000 Chagossians have been born into exile. When Chagossians talk of their family members dying, though it may be in medical terms (often due to the poverty of living in slums), they often add that they died of “sadness”.

It is a little too early to fully know or understand the magnitude of President-elect Trump’s foreign policy. However, if his cabinet is anything to go by, the USA’s stance on the Middle East isn’t likely to soften.

We tend to think of colonisation as something of a time gone by, given that slavery was abolished well over 150 years ago, but what happened to the people of the Chagos Islands is clear evidence that Western powers are still trying to exercise their colonial rule.

The taboo around tattoos and piercings at work

Written by Araddhna Patel on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Imagine this. You’re the owner of your own company looking to hire someone to work for you. There are two applicants in particular that you cannot choose between — let’s assume that both are very similar in terms of academic records and experience. However, one of the applicants has an eyebrow piercing and tattoos on their arm that you notice when they push up their sleeves during the interview. Would this affect your decision on who to hire?

Tattoos and ‘unconventional’ piercings — anywhere other than the earlobes — used to be associated with rock stars, gang members, and bikers for a long time. Nowadays, they are more widely accepted, but there is still a certain stigma around them in the workplace. Skinfo.com found in their research that 37% of Human Resources managers cite tattoos as the third-most-likely physical attribute to limit career potential. In the UK, the law on workplace equality does not protect people with tattoos, meaning that employers are allowed to choose whether or not they want to hire someone based on body art.

Acas state on their website that some employers do not think tattoos and piercings fit with the ethos of their company. In 2014, Jo Perkins, a 38-year-old consultant at Salisbury FM, had her contract terminated because of a visible butterfly tattoo on her foot. The chief executive Ed Swales claimed that the company did not ban tattoos, but required them to be covered in the workplace to “ensure employees and contractors project the professional image we want customers to see in Salisbury.” Ms Perkins considered legal action for the discrimination she faced; however, it was doubtful that she would win because the company policy clearly stated that tattoos needed to be covered.

Despite not being protected by the law in this country, certain company policies do allow tattoos. The NHS Dress Code and Uniform Policy states: “It is recognised that in today’s society many individuals now have tattoos. Where a staff member has a tattoo in an area that remains exposed when wearing their uniform this must not be offensive. Where a tattoo is considered inappropriate or likely to cause upset to patients, carers, visitors or other staff the individual will be requested to cover the tattoo.”

It’s clear that tattoos and piercings are more popular than ever in today’s society. Around one in five Brits are thought to have a tattoo, and one in ten have a piercing somewhere other than their earlobe. It certainly looks like employers will have to alter their dress code policies at some point in the future. Because, honestly, does a visible tattoo tell you anything significant about an individual that is relevant to the job? Does having a piercing mean you won’t put in as much effort into your job as everyone else? As an employer, are you less likely to trust someone who has permanently inked themselves? I th-ink not.

Review: I, Olga Hepnarova

Written by Mritunjay Sharma on . Posted in Film.

The first thing that comes up when you google this film is that it is about a Czechoslovakian mass murderer who mercilessly killed 8 people on the 10th of July 1973, using a truck as a weapon. This description leads you to imagine and expect a high adrenaline film with mystery and violence.

But the film is mostly the opposite to what is being described above. This is a film shot on a black-and-white reel, and the adrenaline taken out of the soul is by the little or no movement of the camera, very slow and stable cuts. The absence of any kind of background score is complemented with most of the film being shot indoors, which adds to the silence of the whole film. This silence can also be treated as a silence of the main character that is Olga Hepnarova and with the risk of sounding clichéd, I must say the silence is also an indicator of the storm that comes in the end, and takes away the lives of 8 people.

When we think of mass murderers we always have the image of them being cruel and emotionless people who can kill for no reason. But this is not the case of Olga. Olga is full of emotions, yes she is socially awkward and doesn’t know how to react to the common situations of life. But she definitely has emotions, and this film helps us to understand the kind of emotions this mass murderer goes through before committing her crime.

It is these emotions that makes her fall in love with a fellow car driver, a woman of almost the same age, but more socially active, and more friendly than Olga. It is these emotions that help her take her bra off in the club and dance, and make out with her girlfriend. The intense love she has for her is because of these emotions. She also felt the pain of not being loved by her father, and being thrashed by the inmates in jail for no apparent reason. This film is also a critique on society in general, the way we treat people who are unable to communicate their feelings, who don’t know the difference between right or wrong, the constant pressure of being good and doing everything right. Olga is fed up of all of this and constantly feels choked and uncomfortable. She, in one of her last letters to the newspaper, summons the society and writes: “I, Olga Hepnarova , the victim of your bestiality, sentence you to a death penalty”.

This film was shown at the panorama section at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. And I am sure this film still has a long journey to cover.

Interview: Daisy Lewis

Written by Brogen Campbell on . Posted in Theatre.

1)      How did you first hear about the National Youth Theatre (NYT)?

I first heard about it as someone put it up on a noticeboard at my school. My drama teacher told me to give it a go.

2)      Did you know much about it before you auditioned?

There had been Chinese whispers amongst us students about what it was and I heard that lots of famous people did it. That was pretty much all I knew about it. I knew that some famous actors had done that and so I wanted to try to.  That’s pretty much the only reason why. I came from a family who couldn’t have less to do with acting. The closest thing my family had to do with the acting profession was watching Corrie (Coronation Street). There was absolutely nobody in the Dorset village that I grew up in who was involved with the profession. I think the closest they got to a stage was watching ‘panto’. I was just like how do I get into this. I think this is what I want to do. I know that I love it. I know I’m happiest when I’m in the school play. How do I keep doing this outside of my school holidays? In the village I grew up in there was nothing in the holidays. When I saw this and I could do it outside of school time and have an excuse to go to London and check that out, I was on it like a car bonnet. I was like, this sounds great.

3)      Did you get in on your first attempt or did it take you a few tries?

I didn’t get in on my first attempt. I will tell anyone who didn’t get in on their first attempt to just try again. Just keep going until they turn you away at the door. If you want something fight for it. Like anything in life you are not going to be good at something the first time you do it, that’s not how life works. The first time I tried to walk I’m pretty sure I fell on my arse. And then I tried again and again. The first time I tried to speak I was not delivering Shakespeare. But I think we live in a culture nowadays where we expect so much of our selves and we expect ourselves to be the best immediately.

4)      How many attempts did it take you in the end?

Okay I made it sound like I had to try like 15 times, I didn’t: I did get in on my second go. I had never done an audition before in my life. I didn’t even know what an audition was. The first time I was there I was just like okay what do I do. They said to me “I don’t think you are ready for this” and I wasn’t. The second time I went I had done some more work on my speeches, I was a year older and that makes a big difference in your teens. When I came to do the course in London it was the first time I was away from my family, my first time in London, it was a big deal. I will thank the National Youth Theatre forever for not being like “yeah sure you’re 13 years old and you want to just come hang out in London for the summer, fantastic have a go”. They have a responsibility of care to the kids who come and audition and they told me I wasn’t ready and I should come back next year and they were right. It’s a big deal. You are being pushed when you do your courses. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have and it’s also the most frightening experience you’ll ever have.

5)      What is your advice for young actors who want to audition but are scared by the process?

There is not one actor I know who doesn’t spend the first time they pick up a text or the first three weeks of rehearsals terrified. Everyone is scared. Every actor, whether they have been acting forever like Ian McKellen, or only a couple of years, every single actor when they pick up a new speech or play, are terrified. But you know what, you do it anyway. You feel the fear and you do it anyway.  You go, okay, I’m going to be scared of this the first time I do it, because the first time I do anything it’s going to be scary. The first time I had sex I was scared, I then got very good at it. But you know what I mean, any first is frightening. So the moment you pick up a monologue no you are not going to be good at it, no it’s not going to be perfect, yes it’s going to be frightening. Just give yourself a break, read it through, learn it so that you know those words better than you know your own thoughts. Then they come out automatically. Just learn it. Learn it. Then when you know the words, that is when you can start having fun with it. The only time I’m frightened is when I know I haven’t put in the work and I’m winging it. I get frightened on exams when I know I haven’t put in the work. I get frightened of performing when I haven’t learnt my line properly. I get frightened when I’m running a half marathon and I haven’t trained for it. So what I would say to people is accept the fact that you are going to be frightened, know that is frightening, give yourself a huge pat on the back for even doing this, and then push through. Push through the fear and learn your monologue.

6)      What is the best production you’ve ever been involved in with NYT?

Silence by Moira Buffini. It was my last show I did with NYT and it was the most special production to date that I’ve been in. The costumes were so cool, the set was worked by the actors, the play dealt with themes like sexual identity, feminism, love, sex and drugs. We got to tour it. The costumes were amazing and they were designed by Chloe Lampford who is now the most sought after designer in England. It was one of those moments where the stars align and you’re given a role and you just go for it and it’s all very special. There are so many moments in the National Youth Theatre that were like that.

7)      Did you make friends whilst being a part of NYT and do you stay in touch?

Yes, 100 per cent. A lot of them aren’t actors. A lot of them decided they didn’t want to do this as a job, because it is a really tough job. It’s not tough in the ways of being a soldier is tough, we are lucky in a lot of ways to be able to do this. But it is psychologically tough. It’s not for everyone. It’s very unstable. It means you don’t know where you are going to be living. You don’t know what you are going to be doing, 99 per cent of actors are out of work at any time. It will make you re-evaluate the things that you think are important in your life. Like living in a nice flat, being able to afford clothes, being able to eat anything except for tuna. But you get moments of beauty, honesty and exhilaration where you get close to other human beings and get vulnerable and make art that touches people’s lives and that’s worth living for I think. And that’s what the NYT is. The NYT is a place for young adults to learn how to be themselves. It’s a place where you fall in love. It’s a place where you fall out of love. It’s a place where you laugh and you will definitely cry. You’ll probably drink too much.  Well you’ll definitely drink too much. You will party. You will think you never ever want to stand on a stage again. You will never want to leave the stage. You will form friendships. You will break friendships. It’s life concentrated. It’s the most exciting and challenging thing you’ll ever do.

8)      What are your plans for the future?

There are a few things that I have in the pipe line that I’m not allowed to talk about. I have just written my debut novel. Again that’s something else that NYT inspired, it’s not just about actors, it’s for writers too. Lots of actors are encouraged to write as the majority of shows are devised. That’s where I was encouraged to think about writing.

National Youth Theatre Acting Auditions for anyone aged between 14-25 are taking place in February in Manchester. To book your audition click here.

Review: Police Cops

Written by Jack Harrison on . Posted in Theatre.

The Pretendmen’s sell out Edinburgh Fringe show graced The Lowry for a single rain-sodden evening. An hour long show of madcap physical theatre transported the audience from Salford to even meaner inner-city streets, bypassing the Old Retired Police Cop Bar, and out into the wilds of Mexico on the hunt for an elusive cartel leader and drug baron, Hernandez.

The trio of actors, Nathan Parkinson, Zachary Hunt, and Tom Turner, all assume multiple roles throughout the show, changing in front of the audience in the wings on the stage, and losing a good few pints of sweat over the course of the hour. Their props and costumes may be minimal, the use of a two-fingered glove as a gun for example, however, they do not distract the audience. Instead, they showcase the sheer imagination that is at the heart of Police Cops.

Jimmy Johnson, played with an inordinate amount of energy by Hunt, starts as an innocent child playing catch with his brother, who offers to adopt Jimmy when their dad eventually dies, but is soon thrown headlong into the real world when his brother is shot, multiple times, in front of his eyes. “Be the best police cop ever… ever… ever…” are the last words Jimmy hears from his brother, and set him on a course to become the last name in law enforcement.

This perhaps is all that is needed to say about the plot; the show eschews any notion of a three-act structure, instead choosing to lampoon every possible trope and cliché of the crime-fighting genre. If you can imagine Starsky and Hutch crossed with Police Academy, with Naked Gun thrown into the mix, then you get a clearer picture of Police Cops. The latent homoerotic bromance between the new boy and the retired detective, Lieutenant Harrison, played with glee by Turner, is established within a matter of minutes of them meeting. The surprise villain should have been seen from a mile away, yet their unmasking is still as bizarre and hilarious as you could hope for, and the obligatory montage takes place, topless, on horseback, in the Texan sun, with all the barn-raising bonding imaginable.

The three actors start at a hundred percent and hardly let up throughout. They hurl themselves and each other around the stage in tightly synchronised choreography: leaping, twisting and vaulting to incorporate a range of gunfights and explosions. With the cast being so small, you would expect them to run into difficulties portraying such a wide variety of characters, both main and secondary, however they overcome this with aplomb. Wigs, dolls and even a dodgy accent are enough to convince the audience of their characters, a testament to the engaging nature of the show.

The Pretendmen are on a national tour until the end of 2016 — check out their Twitter and Facebook pages for dates and venues, and remember: “It’s not how good you become, it’s how good you’re going to became.”

Flats for evening wear: yes or no?

Written by Jennifer Knowles on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Since the Ancient Egyptian era, women have endured the torturous motions of the high heel. But the days of blistered toes, aching feet, and grazed knees seem to be drawing to a close.

An event caused uproar last year when it was reported that some women were banned from entering a Cannes Film Festival event for wearing flats instead of heels, as they were deemed ‘inappropriate’. Although heels give the illusion of longer, more slender legs, thus enhancing our figure, studies show they actually have a negative effect on your body. By pushing your lower back forward they cause the spine and hips to come out of alignment. At the same time, they increase the pressure on the balls of your feet by giving the illusion that you are walking on a ramp.

Victoria Beckham has officially hung up her heels and she was seen taking her final bow at her label’s 2016 show in New York wearing a pair of Adidas trainers. She told the Telegraph ‘I just can’t do heels anymore.’ At Milan Fashion Week’s Autumn/Winter 2016 shows, Giorgio Armani, Missoni and Tods were among some of the designers who sent their models down the catwalk wearing flats. The designers proved that flat shoes with your evening wear don’t mean you have to look boring!

Forget the day-to-day dolly shoe and focus on a shoe with the glamour of a heel but the comfort of a slipper, like the ASOS Lux Chain Detail Ballet Flats. These velvet beauties come with a pointed toe and straps lined with silvers chains that cross elegantly over the arch of your foot, all for £15. They’re perfect for wearing with a long dress or skirt for an evening party. If you’re all for the comfort of a flat but want the added height from your shoe, try a flatform: a clever invention you can wear with almost any evening outfit. These remove the uncomfortable factor of your foot being at an agonising angle but add the height of a heeled shoe — win win!

Flats with your evening wear are an ultimate yes from me: less pain, more comfort, and you can dance all night long!

The statement of status

Written by Sophie Soar on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

It is a fact of life today that our lives revolve around social media: a sad but undeniable reality. I, for one, spend a lot of my spare time perusing ‘click-bait’ and reading stories starting ‘owner enters kitchen to find dog in fridge – you’ll never guess what happens next’ or ‘Cutest kid reads a book. This story will change your life forever’. I invariably fall for it and then, after watching a pointless six minute video to see nothing happen, I vow never to waste any more minutes of my life on such articles. This internal conversation occurs on a daily basis.

Yet I convince myself that reading Vogue articles — which make up the majority of my Facebook news-feed — is forgivable. Is it not a valuable lesson learnt to see what eyebrow shape Cara Delevingne ‘revolutionised’ or ‘who wore it best’ to the VMAs? Forever remaining impartial, this includes every female celebrity who attended but still, one of ninety outfit pictures may beat the rest and I must appraise, approve, judge and vow never to wear that custom made Valentino dress when I myself walk down the red carpet with Ryan Gosling on my arm.

I was initially shocked and somewhat offended when my father pointed out the satirical edge to Vogue articles. My response was something along the lines of: “Well of course they take themselves seriously,” with reference to the articles telling us which ten shades of Dior lipstick must be in our make-up bags this season or which coat under £1000 is essential in our wardrobes. I accompanied my defence with a roll of the eyes, perhaps even a dramatic exit for added effect, to hide the realisation seeping into my expression.

This isn’t to suggest that Vogue indefinitely relays stories designed to mock the devout fashion types who follow the magazine as if prophesy. I do not exclude myself from this category asI nearly chased the postman down the drive when he damaged my most recent edition through brutally ramming it through the letterbox. I calmed myself by thinking it’s not lack of respect to Vogue but just post in general. What my father meant was simply: take their statements with a pinch of salt.

So when we habitually follow that ‘click-bait’ to see what Rihanna or Karlie Kloss wore as a statement evening wear piece, which we must recreate for a fraction of the price — that still costs a month’s rent or requires compromising water or electricity for a few years — we know this is not a definitive instruction to stop exactly what we’re doing and head to Net-a-Porter. What perhaps psychologically stops us from assuming these articles are direct instruction to imminent bankruptcy is not insinuated from what designer items envelop these celebs but actually the context in which they wear them.

Chrissy Teigen made headlines this week with a large ‘censored’ sticker slapped across her nether regions, as she followed the trend of the all-too-revealing dress that caused inevitable mishap and a flashing frenzy. Whilst the price tag and designer label suggest economic status and the hundreds of photos suggest celebrity status, the context around wearing such a dress suggests another kind of status: luxury lifestyle. This is not a dress you would wear when travelling via the tube or magic bus to the red carpet. This dress is designed to be worn in a luxurious context, luxury travel to your destination, luxury circles who wouldn’t even question or contemplate the practicality of such an item – even the luxury of knowing the most revered fashion magazines will not report such a wardrobe mishap.

We mere mortals know all about wardrobe malfunctions from predictable outcomes to inappropriate decisions. After all, autumn might mean endless Mancunian rain but fake fur will still be worn in spite of geographical location and meteorological warning signs. So when Vogue pictures the radiant Hadid sisters sauntering around town in their pristine floor length coats or spotless thigh high suede boots, we know the photograph was not taken after a quick dash to the bus stop, long-jumping puddles or left-over takeaway boxes.

These women wear such outfits as a statement of luxury. Why worry about your ball gown collecting dirt when you’ll only walk a mere fifteen metres in it? Why raise concerns about a risque slit when no one will judge you within the confines of the event? It marks a luxury status that goes hand-in-hand with complacency, marking the distinct difference from those of us who plan our Friday night outfits around warm coats and suitable footwear whilst staring enviously at our iPhones, huddled next to the bus radiator and willing our faux fur to dry out before we catch a cold.

 

Couture dreaming

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

Couture fashion week exists on another plain to the other fashion seasons. Couture is season-less. The clientele is a small community of the wealthiest individuals, many of whom only want bespoke pieces, so that the influence of couture does not trickle down to high street in the way ready-to-wear does. Couture is a haze of fashion that very few get to see.

Fortunately, the internet exists, and images of couture fashion week can be broadcast across the globe — so at least from afar it can be admired. As the end of year festivities arise, and with the award season lingering in the opening months of 2017, couture makes another venture into the public eye.

So it is only fair to dance through a few of the most glorious, full, sheer, metallic, embroidered, structural, or whatever else gowns of couture.

Couture. Photo: elliotjames @Flickr

Ralph & Russo epitomise all the is luxurious in the world of couture. There is no playing it safe with their designs; they are a full celebration of the spectacular beauty of fashion and the female form. The waist was a central feature in all the Autumn/Winter 2016 looks, whether it was a pencil skirt, or a form fitting dress backed with a cape — every look followed the line of the body. A feminine colour palette made up of pastels, creams and pinks added to the ethereal glamour of their show. The designs Ralph & Russo create hark back to a bygone era of glamour that probably never existed, other than on the pages of magazines, an era we all wish we could have spent at least one evening in.

Alexander McQueen may be the reigning British fashion house of couture, but Giles Deacon is next in line to the throne. His designs are full of drama and texture; renaissance designs and art influence the statuesque designs.

The big houses still hold an huge influence in the couture world. Chanel asserted Cara and Kendall as real deal super models when they were cast as couture brides; it is a couture tradition that the final look should be a wedding gown. A couture is a spectacle on a new scale — Chanel have created casinos and paper-cut gardens in recent seasons.

This winter, were I given my chose of couture, I would be wearing Elie Saab’s art deco, royal blue, velvet gown, with a its belted waist, thigh high slit and swallow-esque broaches. Truthfully, I can think of no occasion upon which such a beautiful dress could be worn, but my lord, it is divine. Pure fashion ecstasy.

For us mere mortals couture may be a ridiculous extravagance we could never dream of owning, but I would hate to see it disappear. Couture is everything fashion can be, it is ludicrously expensive but ludicrously pretty. It managed to make it through the 2008 recession, so surely couture can continue to shine its majesty on fashion lovers around the world.

The evening wear staple: The leather skirt

Written by Talia Lee-Skudder on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The leather skirt is a slick update on the classic black skirt, making it the perfect choice for all of your evening engagements.  The leather skirt has become a much sought after item on the British high- street in recent years, prior to this it was probably more likely to be at home on a throwback photo of your mum in the eighties. However, now with a number of brands jumping on board the trend, the leather skirt is an enviable and irreplaceable item in many wardrobes.

From ASOS to Oasis and Tophsop, our favourite high-street brands have created countless skirts in different styles to suit all body types. The pencil leather skirt compliments those ladies with hourglass figures whilst a mini skirt is great for flashing those pins. Whilst these brands do create good quality leather skirts at affordable prices, they also cater for those who don’t want to splash their cash on one item and design skirts made of PU which give the same effect for a fraction of the price.

oasis-stores.com

The leather skirt is my go to item for evening wear, especially when it is a last minute outing that I haven’t had time to prep for. I bought my trusty leather skirt over three years ago from ASOS and it has been my faithful companion ever since. It is good quality leather and has only got better with age and wear.

Usually I team my miniskirt with strappy black heels and a crisp white shirt for a simple and classic evening wear look that you can wear again and again. The versatility of the skirt is enough to persuade even the most frugal to invest in good quality leather.

Not only is it ideal for evening wear, it is also perfect for daywear. It looks as fabulous with a pair of heels as it does with a jumper and a pair of boots. Look at this item as an investment that you will wear for years rather than a colossal waste of money that could have been better spent on food. Believe me, the perfect leather skirt will have a firm place in your wardrobe for many years to follow.

For the more adventurous, why not try a leather skirt in a metallic PU? Most high-street stores and online shopping sites will have some variation of the leather skirt and usually in some lust-worthy metallic shades.  A metallic skirt will be the statement piece of your outfit, so keep your top plain and simple, all attention should be on your beauty of a skirt. Gold, silver and rose gold skirts are stylish updates on your classic black leather. If you love a style and know it suits you, then obviously you must buy it in every colour available. Thankfully, it seems most brands create their pieces with this philosophy in mind.

topshop.com

The leather skirt is sophisticated but also exudes sexiness and is an edgy update on your boring black mini or pencil skirt. Banish them to the back of your wardrobe and invest in what will be your new evening wear staple. Whether you opt for the classic black or brave the metallic trend, the leather skirt will be the best purchase you have made all year. It is an investment after all.

Personalised packages: the perfect Christmas gift

Written by Lauren Valentine on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Many of us are left panic stricken at the thought of gift giving, not because we’re disorganised, but because we simply don’t know what to buy for people. Pinterest’s wealth of suggestions can leave us feeling like we’ve been dropped into the middle of Santa’s workshop itself, so I’ve collected a few of the best to ensure that you have your friends and family covered. Each gift is made up of a suitable ‘container’, filled with a variety of smaller presents that can be adapted to suit your budget.

The film fanatic:

A popcorn box is used for the container of this gift. These can be found online and bought in a variety of sizes. You could fill this with some flavoured popcorn kernels; pick n mix; a new DVD (or cinema tickets if there’s a film you know they’ll love); a bottle of Coke (which could be personalised); or a film strip of some photos of your favourite memories.

The beauty addict:

Can a beauty addict ever have too many make-up bags? They’re bound to love a brand new one filled with lipsticks, mini eyeshadows, nail varnishes, face masks, or mini bath bombs. Cotton wool balls are a good way to pad out the make-up bag and present the contents, as well as being useful for all things beauty.

The aspiring baker:

Depending on how many items you want to include, you could use a pretty mixing bowl or a fancy-shaped cake tin. A nice starting point would be to include a mini book of recipes, and to centre the rest on the ingredients needed. You could buy some of the icings, decorations, cookie cutters or tools so they can get started straight away. (Bonus: you’ll probably get to try some of their creations when they proudly present the product of your gift!)

The one who loves to travel:

Know someone who just can’t stay in one place? A wash bag can be the base of this gift, filled with travel essentials like a matching passport case, luggage tags, travel diary or maybe a selfie stick so they can document their journeys. If you’re a forward planner, you could even purchase train tickets for you both to visit a place you’ve never been to before.

The sentimental one:

This gift could require a little more time, but for the sentimental types, that is the greatest gift. A scrapbook filled with photos, quotes and tickets acts as a souvenir of your favourite times together. This could also be presented in a photo frame, and a nice way to complete it is to include a small note confirming a future event to look forward to: a cinema trip, an exhibition, a restaurant booking, even just a date that you’ll get together.

Assembling these gifts will really get you into the Christmas spirit, so prepare yourself a hot chocolate, put on some festive tunes, grab your cellophane, ribbons and bows — and get wrapping!

An outsider’s view of Manchester

Written by Barney Weston on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Having first met the Aussie Ryan whilst on a semester abroad in Zürich, and having learnt that he was quite the football fan, I concluded it would be criminal if I didn’t have him over to Manchester to see his team play. Either way, I was intrigued to observe my friend and get his outsider’s view of Manchester. Would he notice that strange Manchester walk? That accent? The music: Oasis and The Smiths? The football rivalry: City v. United?

Well, his first impression was of Wythenshawe, and that the weather wasn’t much good (although in not so kind words). Living around the corner from the Curry Mile, I was proud to introduce my friend to the city by pointing down that barrage of neon lights. Yet that pride turned to embarrassment when I saw that relatively unimpressed look on his face. Clearly not living up to the atmosphere of Sydney.

The next morning, we walked up the Curry Mile. Apparently, it was ‘overhyped’. (Although he admitted the cheesy garlic naan he sampled was good). Beyond that I showed him the Ali G (“who’s ‘Ali G’?” he asked) and took an obligatory selfie in front of Whitworth Hall. His impression of Manchester was improving by the second.

“Quite the student town,” he thought. Almost everyone he saw looked like a student. Manchester wasn’t what he had expected, and Ryan thought it seemed like a smaller suburb of Sydney. Could you compare Manchester to Sydney, his university city? Surprisingly enough, the comparison was entertained, but then rejected. “Sydney is completely different, as it’s not a student town like Manchester is.” It’s funny to hear Manchester, one of the country’s biggest cities, referred to as a ‘student town’.

With this in mind, we moved away from the universities, further up Oxford Road towards Archie’s for lunch. “The best food for sure”, but only because it reminded him of Sydney’s burgers. “What’s so good about them?” I ask. They copy America. They fit into this new craze and hype around burgers. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to show him Almost Famous — he would have loved it!

Being a History student, Ryan was treated to a lecture on Manchester’s history that lasted from the moment I saw him to the moment he left. Considering its Victorian history, Ryan thought the city itself felt very industrial, full of old decommissioned factories. He thought the Town Hall in Albert Square was very well preserved, and that it wasn’t until he saw the Memorial Hall that he knew about the amount of countries linked with Manchester thanks to its trading status.

I asked him something that provokes heated debates in my house every time it comes up — whether he had noticed a North-South divide. Ryan said that there was a difference, in the people. Manchester didn’t seem to have as much of a city culture as London or Sydney. Whereas in those cities it’s hectic, fast-paced, and moving, in Manchester, no-one seemed in a rush to go anywhere.

The Northern Quarter was Ryan’s favourite part of the city. It certainly had that Victorian vibe, yet also an alternative one. He hadn’t expected to find somewhere like that in Manchester. But when he was there, he found a little bit of expectation in regards to the music scene influence. “Everyone has the same sort of haircut because of a certain band from Manchester.” But when I mentioned the Happy Mondays and The Smiths, I was met with a “the what?” Clearly not the bands I was thinking of.

The Northern Quarter crowd was very different to what Ryan observed whilst on a classy night out in Spinningfields. It was distinctly different from the student town of Manchester that he’d come to know, classier and less student-y.

The National Football Museum was, apparently, better than the newly opened FIFA Museum in Zürich, and Ryan said that having only seen the first floor. He liked that it was free too. But what he did notice was our fixation on our 1966 World Cup victory. “You guys need to get rid of that World Cup. It was all those years ago. You need to move on.”

Ryan’s most intriguing observation though? The buses. “Why is it called Magic Bus? Is it magic or something?”

Take a break from social media over Christmas

Written by Ella Kashti on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I have been one of the worst of our generation when it comes to social media. Since my first Bebo account in 2005, I have spent over ten years far more concerned with what was going on online than what was going on in real life.

It is true that today, social media is crucial in the functioning of our world. Whether it is keeping you updated on if your next choir or lacrosse rehearsal is cancelled, or the President revealing his reaction to a recent global event — the world today would not cope without it.

So, this Christmas season I have decided to rid myself of the burden. I came to the realisation that it really doesn’t matter what other people are doing every single day. You probably haven’t seen them since Upper Sixth and you didn’t even like them that much then. It only leads to stress and worry. An old theory of mine was: “Even if you don’t look it’s still happening, so at least by checking you’re in the know” — but that is ludicrous, because as mentioned above: you know nothing.

You have seen your old boyfriend in a club photo and he has definitely kissed all seven girls surrounding him. You see those friends you really don’t speak to much anymore in a photo at the pub and they are bound to have spoken about their distaste for you. You see your best friends having a girls chill day, and you are hurt as to why you weren’t considered. But it is not real life. Those seven girls could be his sisters (unlikely, but possible), and no one at the pub even gave you a thought that day, and the girls chill day was arranged last minute when they knew you weren’t free anyway.

But it is not only about not seeing what other people are doing with their lives — it is just as much about others not seeing what you are doing with your life. Such anonymity is something alien to us, having grown up with so many having access to our every move. It is a bizarre thing when, immediately after Instagramming your presents, you sit there concerning yourself over whether others enjoyed and appreciated them, and not whether you enjoyed them yourself.

If you think about it, a lot of the time — without the internet connection so gracefully swooping round your head and sending lightsaber-ish beams through your house — I am clearly well educated on the topic — it is just you. You are sat there, there is a bunch of inanimate objects around you, and were your internet to fail whole-heartedly, you would suddenly feel very alone. And that is no way to be on Christmas.

I know there are benefits to social media, and I genuinely love the idea of people being able to share lovely, or beautiful, or life-changing moments with the world, if it makes them happy. But this Christmas, try putting your phone away. Time with your family is too precious to waste worrying about someone else’s. Your grandparents are not getting any younger and, before you know it, you may be spending Christmases with another family. Your experiences are not lessened and your presents are still as ace if they are not seen by others — if you are not comparing them to your friends’, they might even be better.

Fire in Manchester’s Chinatown

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

A huge fire broke out in the early hours of Friday morning in a building on Nicholas Street, lighting up Chinatown’s imperial arch.

The fire, inside a commercial building, started at around 02:15 GMT, according to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue.

Police later confirmed that two bodies were found on the first floor of the building.

Manchester Borough Manager Paul Etches speaking to the media at the scene said the deceased are believed to be homeless. Adding that the building is very unsafe and has been unoccupied and has been for some time.

Police have suggested it is possible the fire may have been started in the building for warmth. The building is known locally to often be inhabited by the homeless. However the police stress that the investigation into the incident has only just started.

Chief Inspector Gareth Parkin, said: “These are tragic circumstances and we working to identify the people who were found in the building.

“A joint investigation with GMFRS is in its early stages and we will be carrying out a number of enquiries to establish how this fire started.”

Councillor Paul Andrews, executive member for adult health and wellbeing for Manchester city council said in response to the news: “This is tragic and shocking news and our hearts go out to those affected by it.

“Our message to anyone who is sleeping rough is please come and access the help and support available. We will find you somewhere safe to stay.”

Amanda Croome, manager of Manchester’s Booth Centre, which offers advice and support for rough sleepers, speaking to the Manchester Evening News said she was stunned by the tragedy.

She told the MEN: “If it is confirmed that the people who were in the building were homeless it is completely awful. I hope that they find the families and are able to break the news to them in a sensitive way.

“Our thoughts are with those families of those people. Dealing with homelessness in the city has got to be a priority. We have all got to work together.

“It is not about attributing blame. The reasons for homelessness are complex. It is never just one problem and never just one solution. But there is just an urgent need to end homelessness in Manchester because more of these type of situations will occur.”

Rough sleeping has dominated headlines over the past few years, with the numbers of homeless increasing dramatically. The most recent official figures by council officials, counted 70 rough sleepers on one night. The reality is believed to be much worse.

Roads were closed around the area, as a fleet of fire engines were needed to tackle the blaze, causing traffic chaos throughout Friday morning.

Photo: Junaid Ali Bokhari

The fire has been brought under control, but a spokesperson from Greater Manchester fire and rescue service confirmed the building has “severe damage” although “no further fire damage to other buildings is expected”.

Bus services were severely affected, with both Stagecoach and First Manchester unable to serve Piccadilly Gardens, causing congestion for students attempting to get in from Fallowfield and Black Friday shoppers.

Portland street was closed between Charlotte Street and Princess Street, until around 10.30 Friday morning.

Phil Nelson, group manager of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, confirmed that the use of “two aerial appliances” were used to contain “the fire” and prevent the “spread to other buildings”.

Due to falling debris at the scene, the fire crew were forced to keep back from the severely damaged multi-storey commercial building.

The fire brigade said the blaze was contained by about 6am.

Greater Manchester Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

This article was updated at 15.53am after new developments.

Review: Ghosts

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Theatre.

Ghosts, Henrik Ibsen’s controversial play, reviled upon its first production in 1882, is not on the surface the most pertinent play for a 21st century audience; its major themes are religion, incest, euthanasia, and syphilis. Despite this, director Polly Findlay’s artistic brilliance brings Ghosts into an entirely new realm, that of the modern day.

When taking your seats in the cavernous yet intimate theatre space at HOME, star Niamh Cusack, who plays the play’s protagonist Helen Alving, is sitting on a sofa in the centre of the stage, eating a banana and peeling potatoes. It was clear from the first moment that this was going to be absorbing and emotional, and above all, character-driven, which is hardly surprising in an Ibsen play.

For a show filled with dialogue — raging, agonising, emotive — a remarkable amount goes unsaid.

This new rendering of the play by David Watson, from a literal translation by Charlotte Barslund, combines the weighty speeches of Ibsen with local British dialects, a lot of swearing from the almost comedic Engstrand (played with aplomb by William Travis, who garnered a lot of often raucous laughter), and dialogue littered with modern-day English, far from its origins in 19th century Danish. This dialogue carries every character — all the acting is superb, yet the script really does shine — rumbling along until the final scene of Act 1 and again until the play’s conclusion.

That the show is as provocative now as it was 130 years ago, and still somehow just as relevant, is testament to Findlay and Watson’s unrivalled creativity.

The intricate set resembled a TV studio, giving an eerie sense of being voyeurs of a usually secret and closed-in family life, and the use of sliding doors and artificial daylight and rain really emphasised the outside-looking-in feeling, largely coupled with heavy dramatic irony, as though commenting on a certain 21st century obsession with the lives of others.

However, the set immediately prepares the audience for a play full of unknowing and ambiguity — Findlay has created a space in which there are blindspots for every audience member, but this restricted view is art in action: shadows and lighting, sounds and echoes replace visible characters, giving the audience the sense of truly being in the presence of ‘Ghosts’, and perhaps suggesting that in the modern era there should be some things left unseen.

Findlay’s production harnesses this modernity in the way it breaks up the play’s two acts; an interval would have been detrimental to the play’s pace, so the sudden complete blackout in the theatre, accompanied by deafening rock-esque music and flashes of red light, overlayed with broken, wailing, aggressive poetry, worked well both in heightening the drama of the plot and presenting a moment to think and breathe.

This atmosphere is no doubt a product of the play’s intense focus on character: each player is so multi-layered, unpredictable, and unstable, and their relationships with one another are so mangled between past and present, truth and lies, that it is at times a challenge to keep up, which is surely the intention.

This succeeds thanks to the stellar acting — though it is undoubtedly Niamh Cusack who shines the brightest. She is so convincing as Helen, embodying her character’s emotions and motives so physically that at times it becomes hard to focus on anyone else. The final scenes of each act displayed this prowess — she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders and takes the audience along for the ride.

Overall, the play masterfully implicates the audience in moral and ethical messages, which was the intention of Ibsen back in the 1800s, but is clearly an overwhelming intention too of Findlay’s 21st century version — it’s hard to ignore the sense that these people could live on your road, and that we will never truly know what happens behind closed doors. It’s worth seeing for a multitude of reasons, chiefly for the supreme acting, set design, and thought-provoking modernised script, but don’t expect to come away without a disconcerting sense of foreboding.

UoM Feminist Collective puts on ground-breaking ‘BAME voices’ poetry night

Written by Yasmin Mannan on . Posted in News.

On Thursday 25th of November, The University of Manchester’s Feminist Collective put on the pioneering poetry night ‘BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) voices’.

The night focussed on poetry dealing with issues which disproportionately affect the BAME community but everyone was welcome.

There was an impressive set-list of professional and amateur poets, including poets from The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, who presented spoken-word, prose, and verse pieces on topics such as police brutality, cultural identity, and Donald Trump.

Every piece that was read was met with a warm reception from the full room. The audience was made up primarily of students, including but not restricted to members of The University of Manchester’s  Creative Writing Society and ex-part time Students’ Union officers, as well as members of the Feminist Collective.

The organiser of the night and BAME officer of UOM Feminist Collective, Seevena Raghubeer, told The Mancunion: “I started ‘the Feminist Collective Presents’ to provide a platform for marginalised groups to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas on topics that disproportionately affect us.

“The first event, BAME voice, was even more important to do because of recent events that have left the BAME community worried and fearful for the future. It is a space for feeling safe, loved and most importantly, empowered in our own skin.”

The excellent reception and response to the empowering evening means that it will likely be repeated in the future.

Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Written by Shema Begum on . Posted in Film.

It has been five years since “Potterheads” have been able to see the Warner Brothers logo appear on screen, followed by John Williams’ iconic Hedwig’s theme. JK Rowling has brought the magic and adventure back into our lives once more with the latest instalment in the Potter-verse.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the first of the five films planned in this spin-off series, which is set to feature some very familiar characters, including Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, who is to be played by Johnny Depp — a controversial choice considering recent events. Studios now more than ever seem to be opting for spin-offs, and the Harry Potter franchise certainly isn’t the first to be joining this trend. Rogue One, the Star Wars spin-off, comes out next month, and it doesn’t stop there. A young Han Solo film is underway, and this is rumoured to be followed by a Boba Fett film.

As exciting as it is for fans to see the expansion of these beloved worlds, scepticism always looms. Studios want greater financial control, and what guarantees them profits more than anything are spin-offs. An audience already exists, who will not only line up at cinemas to watch the film, but will go on to buy the DVDs, books and any other merchandise that is churned out of the film, no matter how bad it may be. Considering all eight Harry Potter films generated over $7 billion, it is a safe bet for Warner Brothers that Fantastic Beasts will go on to be another box office success. You cannot help but think such films are a gimmick of this money making scheme, and so inevitably you question whether it will be good at all. As entertaining Fantastic Beasts gets, it is another commercial endeavour for the studio.

Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne is the socially awkward, animal loving hero, Newt Scamander. The casting choice could not be more ideal. Redmayne offers a certain charm and quirk which makes Newt so loveable. The British wizard arrives in New York in 1926 with a suitcase full of intriguing but reckless creatures. After an incident at the bank, Newt loses his suitcase to No-Maj/Muggle Jacob (Dan Fogler). Fogler’s character has become an instant fan favourite who provides the more comical elements of the film. The ex-soldier who dreams to open up his own bakery is thrown into the mayhem of the magical world, after all animals escape from the suitcase. Jacob and Newt are joined by Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) a worker at MACUSA, the American equivalent of the Ministry of Magic; she lives with her telepathic sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) who forms a bond with Jacob.

The entertainment and fun of the wizarding world is reprised in Fantastic Beasts. David Yates returns to this prequel series, which helps to keep the consistency in the franchise, though arguably he is also in the best position to depict this new era of magic. The mythical creatures are enchanting, and as Newt goes on the hunt for them, the film matches the wondrous and exhilarating experiences of the Potter films. However, this is only a part of the storyline. Rowling has as expected focused on a more darker and dangerous matter. Mary Lou (Samantha Morton) and her adopted children, including Credence (Ezra Miller) proselytise anti-witchcraft messages across the city.  This gives way to what perhaps will be the underlying aspect of the series — a battle between witches and wizards and Muggles (X-Men anyone?).

The subplots don’t stop there. Jon Voight plays Henry Shaw, a character whose family seem to be very powerful and influential in the political realm. The issue, which arises here, is that with the inclusion of all these different aspects to the narrative, it just isn’t very cohesive. You don’t get to learn a lot about the different events happening. Similarly, with the introduction to so many characters you don’t get to know much about them either, this includes the protagonist Newt, and some of the characters are just underused. Though it is enjoyable to watch, the film doesn’t do a good enough job in building up to the climax, which includes a very surprising twist. It is merely satisfactory, and many gaps are left which cannot be justified on the basis that this is going to be a series. Fantastic Beasts essentially works to show what the series will entail, and so the film fails to connect and engage with you. Despite the flaws of the film, Fantastic Beasts has done enough for you to expect much more in the films to come, as some very interesting ideas have been introduced.

3.5/5

Thousands of students take to London streets to oppose TEF

Written by Julie Henri on . Posted in News.

On the 19th of November, police reports state approximately 6,000 students flocked to London to demonstrate against the proposed Higher Education and Research Bill. Among them were many students from the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.  “TEFinitely not”, “Degree without debt”,  and “Fight the Tories” were all recurring slogans at the march.

Naa Acquah, the General Secretary of the University of Manchester, told The Mancunion how students from the different universities of Manchester organised themselves to get a coach to London together, showing their determination to gather as many people as possible.

A petition, known as the TEF petition, has also been launched by the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union to convince the The Planning and Resources Committee (PRC), the university’s executive board not to opt into the TEF (Teaching Excellent Framework) before the decision, planned to be made on the 13th of Decemeber. The national deadline for universities to decide whether they will opt into TEF is the 26th of January. More than 400 people have signed the petition so far within 5 days and more signatures are expected.

If implemented, TEF would lead to the ‘best’ universities increasing their tuition fees and raising them each year in line with the inflation rate. Naa stated that “TEF doesn’t even measure quality teaching”, whereas the current government are promoting “student choice and excellent teaching” in the fact-sheet of the bill.

University staff were also walking alongside the students, denouncing measures they believe would neither improve the situation of the students, nor theirs. It is unlikely that staff will get paid more under TEF’s raised tuition fees. The bill seems to have united all those in academia against it. University of Manchester staff have reportedly been very supportive during the campaign against the bill.

At the moment, the bill is already halfway through the process of its passage. It has been read once in the House of Lords, and will be read one more time on the 6th of December. It still needs to go through several stages before being actually implemented, but some universities have already raised their tuition fees over £9,000 for the next academic year.

Naa hopes the University of Manchester “will stick their head above the parapet and go against the mould”.