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Month: February 2017

An Alternative History of Fashion: Costume in The Man in the High Castle

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

This week I took it upon myself to watch the pilot episode of the TV show, The Man in the High Castle. This series is set in an interesting alternative reality in which the Nazis had successfully risen to power in the aftermath of the Second World War, and I must admit that it is let down by an intensely unoriginal script and mediocre plotline. However, what the episode did not fail to deliver on, was an abundant force of wonderful costume.

Since the show is set in America circa 1962, one might expect to see bursts of colour and some bold patterns à la Mad Men, however, under the tight military regime that the plot entails, both of these aspects are controlled and brought under somewhat of a wartime theme.  A palette of olivey greens and various shades of brown make up the show’s wardrobe,  creating a dull and modest aesthetic yet one that is full of elegant vitality. Not only are these colours parallel to military uniform and thus suggestive of a parallel civilian lifestyle, but in their earthy tones, they reflect a natural existence, one of subtle pride, rather than gaudy vanity.

The women in the series are seen in shapely formal dresses that define and smooth curves into perfection, and on these dresses, where pattern is concerned, the past is seen to float into the present in decorative yet simple florals, reminiscent of the western 40s and 50s. In keeping with the theme of definition and simplicity, fronts are kept either pristinely smooth across the chest, or buttoned down. Buttons often frequent the screen, attaching the show with a childlike and humble aesthetic, in a world nearly bereft of technology and modern advancement.

Moreover, what would one expect of fashion-focused wartime but tweed jackets and trench coats? Practicality takes hold of the lives of the cast in sheer textural perfection. Further inspiration, especially for these cold winter months in the grim north, is the frequent use of corduroy in the show, which should find a place in your wardrobe. The pockets in the clothes featured on the show have two purposes: not only are they in keeping with the 40s inspired look, but they also have the more practical use of concealing the character’s secrets, a completely practical fashion statement that we can all get on board with.

The show perfectly executes the interweaving of histories to present a wardrobe of both a rough yet poised wartime texture, and that of progression, into a softer, more casual world of youth and material enjoyment. The soft round-cornered square collars truly sum up the confusion of the wardrobe of the alternative era, they offer an impression of something that is simultaneously soft and coarse.

In my opinion, the show contains revolutionary fashion despite it being grounded in familiar history; what an alternative history provides is a space in which there are no fashion rules, only inspirational guidelines. The 40s and 60s are knitted together alongside military life to create a diverse and strict, but multi-tonal wardrobe.

This is a wardrobe that is not difficult to weave into one’s own, one of cosy hand-knitted vibes and subtlety. A couple of pairs of cord trousers and a button down trench coat, and you are well on your way to looking and feeling effortlessly elegant and composed, in the style of the hit series The Man in the High Castle.

Top 5 comic books for complete beginners

Written by Brocha Goode on . Posted in Books.

From Kickass to Watchman, from V for Vendetta to Dr Strange, graphic novels and comic books are now happily in the main stream. Some series have been running for many years, such as DC and Marvel, and to fully understand them can take hours of wiki searches and lore videos on youtube. You’d be mad to go in to 2016s Secret Wars event blind. Luckily there are some comic series’ independent of all the lore and past history, praised for their writing and art styles. Here are 5 brilliant comic books to get you into the genre

5. The Walking Dead
The most famous and the longest running on this list, The Walking Dead began in 2003 and has spawned two TV series, numerous games and is near competing with Disney for merchandise. If you haven’t heard of this series chances are you haven’t been anywhere near a telly or the internet in the last half dozen years. Praised for revitalising the zombie genre, The Walking Dead comic focuses on one small group of survivors as they try to survive the apocalypse without losing themselves. If you’re willing to put in the time, it’s a rewarding series with very well written characters. However if you’re looking for something easier to catch up on and far less soul crushing, I present to you…
4. Sex Criminals
Not one for the prudish, as you may have gathered from the title. Sex Criminals follows a young couple as they meet and fall in love. But this couple is somewhat different than most. Both of the protagonists have a special gift. That gift being they can stop time with an orgasm. Yep. You read that correctly. And what do you do when you find you have this power? Rob banks to fund a library. Obviously. One of the funniest and most well written love stories I’ve read, the series has yet to release a fourth volume. The art style is beautiful, the language explicit and the characters fantastically realised. Well worth a read.

3. Y: The Last Man
When Steven King praises it as one of the best graphic novels he’s read, you know it’s got to be good. A complete series, you can read it from start to end without worrying about the next release. Y: The Last Man is set in 2002 where one day all XY creatures on earth died. All of them. Save for two. Yorik, a young man with a magician membership card in his wallet, and Ampersand, his young pet monkey. And for some reason he thinks his smartest move is to find his girlfriend on the other side of the world, in Australia. The question is, will he survive the trip? Smart, scary, gritty and unfortunately still as relevant now as it was 15 years ago. An investment you won’t regret.

2. Seconds
A delight from start to finish, the graphic novel Seconds is brilliantly drawn and well-paced. Written and drawn by the mind behind Scott Pilgrim, the book follows a young chef as she looks to start her own restaurant. But things aren’t going to plan. Her boss is mean, her ex is dating someone now, and the money for the new place is running dry. But then she finds a mushroom which when eaten grants her a wish. She should have stopped at one mushroom. Instead, she went back for seconds. An easy read, and one I’ve found I’ve picked up time and again for a pick me up, Seconds deserves its place on your book shelf.

1. Saga
Raising a child is hard. Raising a child in war time is harder. Raising a child in war time when you’re members of two different species, who have been at war with each other for centuries, is damn near impossible. There aren’t many comics I’d pre-order the next volume of. Saga volume 7 I pre-ordered the second it went live on Amazon. This Science-Fantasy stars a cast ranging from a half blown up teenage ghost/nannie to a king with a television for a head, and despite that it tells the personal and intimate story of a family just trying to get by with their first baby. Set across multiple worlds and with many different interweaving story lines, the comic book earns its title and if you have a tenner spare, volume 1 should be the first thing you buy after reading this article. You won’t regret it.

Stoke-Central will test post-Brexit Labour

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in Opinion.

Undoubtedly, the EU referendum result was seismic. 33.5 million citizens participated in one of the biggest exercises of direct democracy in British political history, with 17.4 million voters opting for Brexit. Be it for better or for worse, the referendum politicised the nation; it’s safe to say that the result has well and truly shaken the political establishment to the core.

But what will the aftershocks of the result be? In the EU referendum, individuals who don’t typically vote in general elections came out to the ballot box. Turnout was 66 per cent in the 2015 UK general election, 65 per cent in 2010 and 61.4 per cent in 2005. But 72 per cent of the electorate voted during the EU referendum. In fact, this was the biggest reason why polls predicted the result incorrectly; these additional voters (which polling models had assumed were unlikely to vote) overwhelming backed Leave. But the big question now is: will these newly energised voters continue to be politically active? And if so, which party will they opt for?

In his first BBC interview as newly elected UKIP leader, Paul Nuttall made it explicitly clear that he will seek to exploit divisions in the Labour party and target Labour voters: “I want to replace the Labour Party and make UKIP the patriotic voice of working people.”

Labour has long had an “identity” crisis. During the years of New Labour, the party was professionalised: fewer and fewer Labour MPs came from class backgrounds or had previously held “service-class” jobs. Spin doctors, such as Alastair Campbell and Peter Mandelson, believed that some voters (especially in Northern England) would always vote Labour: the “tribal vote”. Thus, they argued that electoral success arose from targeting what is often termed “Middle England” — the middle-class voters.

In the short-term, this strategy appeared to be hugely successful, with Blair winning three back-to-back general elections. However, over time, the “tribal” vote diminished; empathy is important in politics and an increasing number of “traditional” Labour voters no longer felt the party spoke for them. This chasm between Labour MPs and a disillusioned electorate was exposed during the EU referendum. 218 Labour MPs are said to have campaigned for Remain, despite many of their constituents backing Brexit.

Tristram Hunt was emblematic of the professionalisation of the Labour Party. An academic historian and former broadcast journalist, Hunt was parachuted into the seat of Stoke-Central in 2010 by Blair et al., despite having little support from the local CLP. However, upon accepting a position as Director of the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Hunt has triggered a by-election in Stoke-Central which will take place on the 23rd February.

This will be the first opportunity to assess the impact of the referendum result on the Labour party. 69.4 per cent of voters in Stoke-Central, the highest of any city in the UK, backed leave. In the 2015 general election, UKIP positioned second in the seat, acquiring over 7,000 votes. Stoke-Central is exactly the sort of seat that will have UKIP licking their lips and Labour looking behind their shoulder.

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall MEP has decided to stand for the party in the by-election. Nuttall is an experienced media operator, having made regular appearances on programmes such as Question Time during his time as deputy party leader. In addition, his regional Scouse accent and working-class background differentiates him from the “typical” politician that voters have come to loathe.

But a UKIP victory in Stoke-Central is by no means definitely on the cards. In a deleted post from his website, Nuttall thanked the coalition for “bringing a whiff of privatisation into the NHS.” Aware that the NHS is a big issue for voters (as highlighted during the referendum with the controversial Vote Leave “let’s give the NHS £350m instead” slogan), Labour has tried to make political capital off of Nuttall’s support for a US-based insurance system.

Politics is complex and thus it is difficult to assess whether voters will care more about local issues or national issues in the by-election. Nuttall has no real connection to Stoke-Central, whereas Labour candidate Gareth Snell is a councillor for the local ward of Silverdale and Parksite. However, national issues undeniably shaped the recent by-election in Richmond Park; Leave supporter Zac Goldsmith lost his seat following his resignation over the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport. More than 70 per cent of voters in Richmond Park backed Remain, and the Liberal Democrats’ winning strategy involved campaigning hard on Brexit issues.

Should Nuttall be successful in Stoke-Central, the doom and gloom narrative espoused by most media commentators about the current state of the Labour party is likely to be fuelled. But should Labour hold off UKIP in Stoke-Central, commentators may have to re-assess the party’s prospects for the 2020 general election.

The 23rd February is certainly a date for your diary.

Britain through to Davis Cup Quarter Finals

Written by Luke Maguire on . Posted in Sport.

Great Britain have progressed through to the quarter finals of the Men’s singles of the Davis Cup (often dubbed the World Cup of Tennis) after victory in the deciding match over a Canada side that lost by default, due to its player Denis Shopovalov being disqualified. His disqualification occurred in bizarre fashion as he hit the umpire with a tennis ball after angrily losing a point to his British opponent Kyle Edmund. The match ended 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 and despite having just been hit and having a highly bruised eye, the umpire, Arnaud Gabas, and both players shook hands amicably at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMZQKUPUprU

Video: NewsGlobe @Youtube

This will have been a wake up call for Shopovalov, the young 17-year-old Canadian, who clearly still has much to learn at the higher levels of professional tennis. He was visibly upset and distraught, as he knew how much that moment of loss of control had cost him. He has let himself and his country down, but if he hopes to one day see significant success in the sport, he cannot let his anger on court lead to him lashing out as he did — evidently, it only leads to bruising repercussions.

He clearly did not intend to hit the umpire but it could easily have struck someone else in the crowd. Such behaviour is unprofessional and has no place in tennis. Shopovalov has since been fined $7000 (£5600) by the International Tennis Federation for the incident. He issued an apology in the wake of his disqualification and will hopefully learn from this experience to keep his temper under control in the future.

Great Britain, and specifically Kyle Edmund, will take a win in whatever form it comes and the team will overall be pleased with their performances so far in the tournament, but aware there is still room for improvement. The British doubles team had success with duo Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot sweeping aside Canadians Vasek Poposil and Daniel Nestor 3-1 but Edmund himself suffered a shock defeat to Poposil in straight sets and while fellow Brit, Dan Evans, had a good start with a victory over Shopovalov in straight sets, he then lost to Poposil by 3-1 making the final match between Shopalov and Edmund the decider. Britain will now face France in the quarter finals in April, with real belief that they can push to the final and win the Davis Cup.

Great Britain have only won the Davis Cup once since 1972, in 2015 thanks to Andy Murray’s victory over the Belgian David Goffin. The USA and Australia have historically dominated this tournament with more wins between them than all the other countries combined. However with Andy Murray’s dominance of men’s tennis in recent years, and the likes of Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund and other young British talent beginning to come into prominence, an era of European dominance and possibly British dominance in this tournament could possibly be upon us.

Mellow yellow

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

It is now widely accepted that no colour will ever be the new black; however, every season there is one colour that takes command of our sartorial imaginations. Spring/Summer 17 is set to be dominated by yellow. ‘Why?’ I hear you cry — because just about every designer of note sent it down the runway: Tibi, Lemaire, Emilio Pucci and Prada all gave a nod to the sunshine colour.

Yellow can be perceived as a daunting colour: it is overtly bright, but at the same time can be pale, which as a result can make the fabric quite sheer. Not the easiest set of qualities in a colour. As fashion and technology advance though, the pigment of yellow fabrics manages to diminish the sheerness and create a broader spectrum of shades. Fantastic news for those whose skin tone doesn’t scream ‘I will look alive in yellow’ (that’s me).

For some people yellow is an undoubtable showstopper, dark skin sets most shades of yellow alight, giving the colour the real star power it can muster — and lets be frank, drawing all eyes to you. Paler skin often fails to lift yellow; instead the pink undertones of pale skin leave both the clothes and the individual looking rather flat. This is where skin tone and shades of yellow must mingle together to find their perfect match, and this year’s Golden Globes gave a veritable fashion lesson in how to wear yellow.

Viola Davis offered a masterclass in her yellow asymmetric Michael Kors dress: this was yellow at its very best, the colour was the statement, no fuss or detail was required, the yellow did all the talking. Reese Witherspoon donned pastel yellow, perfect for the fairer skinned, whilst Maisie Williams and Natalie Portman dabbled in classic canary yellow. Emily Ratajakowski showed how a subtle change of hue can liven yellow up, as the warm, soft yellow of her Reem Acra dress gave it a more boudoir, soft lighting feel. Even the most hotly-tipped film of the award season La La Land pays special attention to a yellow dress.

Photo: nobodyschild.com

Translating these subtle shade differences into reality means embracing yellow in all its forms. As the weather remains drab, mustard is the easiest shade of yellow to transition from winter into spring, as daffodils begin to peak from thawed ground, the warmer hues of yellow start to seem more fitting. If a full block colour yellow piece is too daunting, embrace spring florals, where you are always certain to find splashes of yellow: Nobody’s Child has some gorgeous floral pieces with varying amounts of yellow.

Although fashion flits and changes with seasons, colour trends do tend to repeat themselves, and yellow often rears its head in the Spring/Summer season — so while there’s plenty of choice on offer, it may be the best time to invest.

Athletics and Cross Country athletes look set to excel in 2017

Written by Ben Ryan on . Posted in Sport, Uncategorised.

The Athletics indoor season begun with the first open meeting being held early December in Manchester. A lot of the athletes use these competitions as warm-up events for the indoor season highlight: BUCS indoors. This is a championship competition where all the universities in the UK come together and compete across a range of disciplines, provided they can be held indoors. Indoors BUCS is being held in Sheffield on the 17th-19th February.

The University of Manchester club is expected to have one of their best performances ever in terms of BUCS points. This is thanks to the club’s four scholarship athletes who are all expected to medal this year at BUCS. Four is the most the Athletics club have had for some time, provided they do all compete at BUCS. The highlight of the outdoor season is BUCS outdoor Championships which is to be held on the May Bank Holiday weekend in Bedford.

The four scholarship athletes boast remarkable profiles. Seren Bundy-Davies, a fourth year Biomedical student, competed in the Rio Olympic Games in the 400m. She also finished her 2016 outdoor season and ranked third overall (as a senior) in the 400m. Her time clocking in at 51.26 seconds. Bundy-Davies was also runner-up at the British Championships in June 2016, as well as runner-up at BUCS outdoors in 2014. She could potentially run at BUCS this year although it remains to be seen whether she opts to focus on the World Championships in London.

Naomi Ogbeta, an 18-year-old fresher studying Politics and Social Anthropology, is currently on the TASS scholarship programme. A talented Triple Jumper with a PB of 12.99m, she is set to compete at the indoor and outdoor BUCS, aiming for the top three. Ogbeta represented Great Britain in 2015 at the World Youth Championships and in 2016 won the English Championships at U20 level, as well as the English Schools Championship in 2014. Ogbeta capped off a good year finishing the 2016 season ranked 1st at U20 level and 7th as a senior. She will be competing this year at U20 level.

The 2015-2016 season Men’s Athletics Captain, Jerome McIntosh, was the Northern Indoor Senior Champion 2016 in the 200m with a PB of 21.91s. He just missed out on a medal at the BUCS indoors championships in 2016 as he finished in 4th place and finished in 7th at the outdoor BUCS championships. However, McIntosh was a BUCS indoor 4x200m relay bronze medallist in 2015 and is hoping to medal in the 200m at BUCS indoors this year.

Jenny Robbins boasts a Pole Vault PB of 3.75m and was a BUCS indoor bronze medallist in 2016, whilst in the 2015 BUCS outdoors she also won a bronze medal. In the England Athletics Championships at U23 level she again won a bronze medal in 2015. Set to compete at BUCS indoors and outdoors in 2017, this time she is aiming for the silver or even the gold.

For the Cross Country club, there was a great showing at the Edinburgh University Braid Hill XC race. The Men’s team came 1st in the 5k and 3rd in the 10k. The women’s team also came 3rd in the 10k. A special mention goes to Beth Ansell who was a finalist at the 2016 BUCS outdoors. Gemma Kersey, a GB international, recently joined the club, so things are looking bright for the future.

Which way will the French election go?

Written by Lioui Benhamou on . Posted in Opinion.

With the results of the the Socialist party’s primary, we now know the definitive list of all the candidates for the upcoming French Election. Benoît Hamon, a young socialist, won the primary with 59 per cent against Manuel Valls, the ex-prime minister of François Hollande.

This vote shows us many things. The most obvious is that the French left voters wanted to break free from the previous government of Hollande — Valls being its embodiment. Hollande’s government, whilst supposed to be a left-wing government, brought in laws that would have been normal under a right wing government, and that left voters saw as treason. Thus, Hollande didn’t even try to run for a second mandate, and instead let his prime minister do it. But the left voters did not see it this way. This result shows that, rather, they wanted a renew of the left, of which Hamon embodies.

Thus, France will have Hamon to represent the Socialist Party. His policies, more on the left than the socialist party is used to, were very popular amongst young voters and people who thought that the socialist party needed a left turn. Amongst other ideas, he proposed to establish a universal income, renew the institutions of the Fifth Republic by creating the Sixth, and create special visas for refugees so that they can work.

His victory is a very good news for Emmanuel Macron, the ex-Minister of the Economy and Finance, who left his post to create his own ‘movement’ called ‘En Marche!’ (a French expression meaning ‘to walk’ or ‘working’, too). Macron will be smiling because many people think that Hamon is too far to the left, and will instead come to the former’s more central politics. Hamon’s election has polarised the election, with Macron set to benefit.

Something else that has changed the game is the recent scandals surrounding François Fillon last week. Fillon was undoubtedly the favourite, as he was the candidate of the party ‘Les Républicains’ — the main party in France. But Fillon’s chances have been put into doubt, owing to the revelation that his wife, Penelope, was paid a total of €830,000  (£700,000) for being Fillon’s assistant over several years, when he was a Parliamentarian. It is legal for MPs to hire family members, but some have claimed that the ‘assistant’ role was, in fact, fictitious. Penelope said herself several times in interviews that she never got involved in her husband’s work.

This event has destabilised the French presidential run. A month ago, I would have a bet on a Fillon victory. If we were to have the election today, he could still win. But if his team is unable to prove that Penelope did enough work during those years to deserve such an amount of money, then come April his chances will be undermined.

Now, in the age of ‘alternative facts’ you might think that this won’t be such of a problem, and that scandals nowadays can be overcome. But if there is one thing everyone can agree on in France, it is that the future president will have to keep his promises. Because Fillon presented himself as the candidate that would fight against this kind of corrupt practice, he, and the politics that he represents, will be severely affected.

Trump built his character around his ability to bend the rules to get what he wanted. Fillon built his character around his respect of the rules. That is where the difference lies. Many will be disappointed if the scandal is indeed true.

The left will have to choose between Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left wing candidate who is very popular among workers, young people, and on YouTube; Hamon, the supposedly most legitimate left wing candidate; and Macron the centrist. And the right that will have to choose between Le Pen, now a more unlikely victor; Fillon, who needs to respond to the aforementioned allegations; and again, Macron, who occupies the centre ground.

If Fillon’s campaign is severally affected by this scandal and he cannot recover, and if Hamon’s campaign does not gain traction, I would argue that Macron is most likely to win. I believe that he may be able to represent the French consensus and a more right-wing economy, without going as far as Fillon’s Thatcherism, coupled with some left-wing social policies that do not stray too far into utopia for right-wing voters.

The fear of a Le Pen presidency is legitimate, but not justified. Because of the two turn voting system of France, the person elected is one that has the ability to create a strong consensus, and while  she will undoubtedly have a strong score at the first turn of the election, and could end up at the second one, it won’t be enough to beat whomever is against her.

In a nutshell, Hamon has a complicated task: to prove his legitimacy and accumulate a lot of support from a wide spectrum of the left. To win, Fillon will have to find a way to prove that he is more of a politician than the scandal has made of him. If both fail and Macron keeps growing his campaign, he will win.

Final year fear: get involved in student media

Written by Rachel Adams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

The second semester is well and truly underway by now, and the more forward-looking of you might be thinking about what you’re going to do with the summer that’s fast approaching. For those of you who, like me, are final year students, even the word ‘summer’ fills you with dread.

The inevitable questions from everyone begin about what you’re going to do with the rest of your life after you graduate; if you don’t know the answer, which is more than likely (and completely normal), then you’re met with shock and fear. “What do you mean, you don’t know what you want to do with the rest of your life when you’re 21 years old? Isn’t that what university’s for? Why did you pay £27,000 for something that doesn’t lead straight into a job?” Trust me, all of these questions are coming, if you haven’t faced them yet.

It’s even worse if you know that you want to go into the media industry or anything creative. You’re greeted with a forced smile and a look of panic. “Don’t you need to do work experience for that?” people ask, as if they’re being friendly and supportive. Yes, I’m well aware that I should’ve been looking for and getting work experience when I was binge watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix. Don’t make me feel worse.

If this whole situation sounds familiar to you, then don’t worry! There’s an easy way for you to get some experience under your belt in those final few months before you graduate and you’re thrown out into the real world and expected to land on your feet.

Working for or in student media looks great on a CV, as it shows that you can balance studying for a degree, the inevitable social life that comes along with it, and still manage to write articles or host a radio show. Plus, there’s a whole load of perks that come along with working in student media, such as contacts and opportunities for networking. Who knows, that person you emailed for a quote for an article might just be looking for a new journalist to take on.

At Manchester there are so many ways to get involved with student media. Writing for The Mancunion couldn’t be easier, just come along to a meeting for whichever section you’d like to write for and think of some article ideas. It’s just as easy to get involved with Fuse FM or Fuse TV.

Anything you’ve got a passion for, student media can cover it. This applies to everyone, even those who aren’t in their final year — if you know that you want to go into the media industry, then start early and get a year’s worth of experience in student media on your CV before you start applying for those coveted graduate jobs!

I only became a part of student media and The Mancunion at the start of my final year, and I’ve already learned so much and gained so many skills that I know are going to benefit me after I graduate. So to everyone who’s struggling to get work experience in the media industry, please consider becoming a part of the Manchester Media Group. It’ll give you so many opportunities and improve your CV, and you’ll have a great time doing it!

Ultimately, the main thing to remember is that just because you’re in your final year, it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost and that you’ll never get a job in the media sector. There’s still plenty of time to get even a little bit of work experience that could make the difference between you gaining a place on a graduate scheme or not. Take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Manchester Media Group and you never know, you could be the BBC’s next rising star!

Review: Moonlight

Written by Imran Bukhari on . Posted in Film.

In one of the stand-out moments of Moonlight there is a defining conversation that takes place between two characters. Having spent a decade apart, Kevin (André Holland), looks inquisitively upon his long-lost friend Chiron and asks “Who is you?” Chiron (Trevante Rhodes), replies unconvincingly with “I’m me”. This brief exchange encapsulates the theme of Moonlight; an exploration of one’s life long search to find their true self. Moonlight chronicles Chiron’s evolution by splitting his life story into three distinct chapters.

i. Little

ii. Chiron

iii. Black

Each chapter heading refers to a different name given to the film’s central protagonist. In the first chapter, a nine year old Chiron is derogatorily referred to as “Little” by his schoolmates. His lack of friends and exclusion for being different define the early stages of his life. With a drug addicted mother, Chiron finds an unlikely father figure in Mahershala Ali’s Juan. Despite being a drug dealer, Juan cares more for Chiron’s well-being than his mother Paula. He imparts critical wisdom upon Chiron stating “You got to decide for yourself who you’re going to be” which harks back to the film’s central message of self-discovery. Ali is magnetic as Juan and creates a vivid and complex character with minimal screen-time; one who has to come to grips with his own survival causing the destruction of others. Moonlight is intent on breaking down stereotypes and conveying a truth seldom found in film.

The second chapter hurdles seven years forward, and the bullying inflicted on Chiron has infinitely worsened. The title ‘Chiron’ illustrates Chiron’s desire to be who he really is and to not have to suppress his basic desires. Life at home has also deteriorated, as Paula’s cocaine fuelled descent is harrowingly brought to life by an excellent Naomie Harris. Moonlight is based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue but for director Barry Jenkins, whose own mother was a crack addict, Paula’s arc resembles a highly personal struggle.

The closing chapter sees Chiron ten years later; his muscular growth has changed him into a hulking figure of quiet intimidation, thus challenging the preconceived notions of masculinity. In order to be accepted, Chiron has learnt he must adapt to fit the exterior world. Now going by the name ‘Black’, echoing a nickname given to Chiron by Kevin, their reunion and rediscovery is where Moonlight truly excels. This is due to the emotional intimacy and resonance brought to the film by Holland and Rhodes. Holland conveys a confident charm to Kevin while also suggesting the weariness of a man who has made many mistakes. Rhodes is the third actor to portray Chiron in succession and what he accomplishes with half the dialogue of his co-stars is phenomenal. Despite a dramatic off screen transformation, his subtle expressions enable the audience to still see the ‘Little’ boy in the depths of his eyes.

Moonlight is a beautiful film to behold, as Jenkins bathes the film with stunning imagery. Miami itself feels like a character, coming to life at night, drenched in neon and with an ethereal quality thanks to the titular moonlight. The film further creates its own signature style with an eclectically diverse soundtrack; ranging from orchestral pieces to modern hip-hop. As a delicately understated and compassionate portrayal of homosexuality within the African-American community; Moonlight illuminates a subject matter rarely seen on screen. There is no doubt this is a film for the LGBT community and a film for the black community. However Moonlight will also resonate with anyone who has had a past love linger in their memories and throughout their life, which truthfully makes Moonlight a film for everyone.

5/5

Manchester Science Festival 2017 announces first headliner

Written by Aliya Ismangil on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

The Manchester Science Festival, organised by the Manchester Science and Industry Museum, marks its 11th year running in 2017. Last year, the event garnered a record 136,000 attendees, and highlights included the Chronarium sleep lab in the Arndale and a performance by Public Service Broadcasting. This year, once again, the festival is not to be missed, and the first headliner has just been announced.

Robots features an exclusive collection of over 100 humanoid robots, and this unique exhibition will come to Manchester on October 19th later this year as part of the Manchester Science Festival. Spanning a history of 500 years, the exhibition will present a plethora of machines; a 16th-century automaton monk, a replica of the robot in Fritz Lang’s ‘Metropolis’, the first bipedal robots, and Japan’s Kodomoroid communication android. Visitors will have the opportunity to gain insights into current robotic research and how scientists are creating robots that act and behave like humans. There will also be a chance for visitors to share their own views on what the robot landscape will look like in the future.

Currently open to the public at the Science Museum in London, “this exhibition explores the uniquely human obsession of recreating ourselves, not through paint or marble but in metal,” says Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum Group. “Seeing robots through the eyes of those who built or gazed in awe at them reveals much about humanity’s hopes, fears and dreams.”

Photo: Museum of Science & Industry

Antonio Benitez, Director of the Manchester Science Festival, shared his excitement at the first announced headliner: “This exhibition will be an extraordinary opportunity for our audiences to explore the ways robots mirror humanity and the insights they offer into our ambitions, desires and position in a rapidly changing world.”

You can find out more about Manchester Science Festival on their website and follow their upcoming announcements on Twitter and Facebook.

Learn your lesson: Forget exam results

Written by Cachella Smith on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Everyone argues that January and February are the most unpleasant months of the year, but for students it’s even worse. Returning back to university, rather frazzled, after a long stretch of too much food combined with too much revision, we are thrown headfirst into the hell that is exam period. Now that we’ve all come out the other side, you would have thought things would start to look up, but instead we continue plodding forward, straight into semester two. Tiredness certainly is an issue, but more than that, the disconcerting idea that we are working towards the next set of exams when we don’t yet know the results from the last, is playing on everyone’s minds.

There are, however, a few things we can do to make this period slightly easier for ourselves. Firstly it’s so important to take regular breaks — this is a well-known study tip, but at the moment I’m talking about significant periods of time. Remember you’re only in the early stages of semester two; it’s okay to use your frees to take a coffee break instead of being curled up in Ali G. Keeping going is not always the most effective option.

Dealing with the unknown is difficult. Perhaps you could try to help yourself by setting up an action plan for all eventualities. Speak to your lecturers and to your Academic Advisor to find out about your options. Having them clear in your head now will make results day that little bit less daunting. Also, introduce the subject of exams to your parents, let them know how you are feeling about your results — this way it won’t be as intimidating to tell them later on if you haven’t done as well as you hoped.

Having said all that, try to forget that you’ve just done exams. It’s a cliché, but there is literally nothing you can do now. It would be much more useful to focus your attention on your next set of modules, the results of which you do have control over. As for the previous results, there will always be options to deal with them if they’re not what you were hoping for. Don’t forget, that whatever year you are in, the exams you have just taken will not entirely determine what degree you achieve.

There are also some more specific things you could be doing if you are finding this period particularly difficult. Although the deadline for mitigating circumstances has now passed in most faculties, Student Support can still offer you guidance for exams you will take in the future. Getting in touch with them now ensures you will receive as much support as you can before entering the summer examination period. If there was something particularly difficult in the exam that you did not understand — speak to a lecturer, especially if the same thing is likely to come up in future modules. It doesn’t matter that the exam is finished, the reason you are at university is to learn. Although marks are important, if you can get to the end of your final year knowing that you have learnt something, you will have succeeded however well you have done in exams.

Italy’s national prospects are growing with the re-emergence of Serie A

Written by Magnus Henderson on . Posted in Sport.

One of the most marmite aspects of modern football is the ‘player comparison’ trend. Jamie Redknapp is the biggest culprit out of all the cliché-obsessive pundits gracing our televisions, describing Dele Alli as “the next Steven Gerrard”. Obviously the Tottenham youngster has the potential to reach the calibre of Gerrard, but he looks nothing like the Liverpudlian legend in terms of play style or individual strengths. Memphis Depay was not “the next Cristiano Ronaldo”, Antony Martial will not be “the next Thierry Henry” and Reece Oxford will not be “the next Rio Ferdinand”.

Despite the clear inaccuracies in this habit, it is stil exciting and interesting to explore the “what if?” of youngsters, especially when they have particular traits relatable to the footballing gods who have come before them. Many of the youngsters exploding onto the stage this campaign are in Italy’s Serie A, where the likes of AC Milan, Fiorentina and others are promoting the next generation of Italian superstars.

It has been clear for a number of years now that the Serie A is not what it once was. While the Italian top division used to be graced with the likes of Ronaldo and Maradonna, now Carlos Bacca and Gonzalo Higuaίn are the star strikers; a notable downgrade. The former giant clubs, AC Milan and Inter Milan, have languished in mid-table since the former lost Zlatan Ibrahimović and the latter lost José Mourinho.

However, this season has seen an upturn in quality, most notable from the fact that Juventus have not walked to the title already. Napoli and Roma have looked unplayable at times this season and are giving the Old Lady a few things to think about. The Campanian trident of Dries Mertens, José Callejón and Lorenzo Insigne have illustrated attacking capability on a similar level to Barcelona’s famous front three, and the Capital’s club have fully exploited Edin Džeko’s talents to put themselves third in the table. The Milan clubs too, despite showing major inconsistencies, have improved this season with AC filtering through some very promising talent, and Inter splashing the cash due to new Chinese investment.

The real winners of the Serie A season so far has been the Italian national team. During Euro 2016, Antonio Conte took Italy’s tattered squad past Spain’s technical team and only lost in the quarter finals to Germany on penalties, which, as Gary Lineker once stated, is one of the “inevitabilities of football”. Despite doing so well, Italy’s squad last summer was one of the worst group of players that they had banded together in decades, and Conte overachieved with the ability at his disposal.

Donnarumma @WikimediaCommons

One of the more well-known talents to emerge is the gargantuan Gianluigi Donnaruma. The AC Milan goalkeeper has made it to 50 appearances for his club this season, at just 17 years of age. Obvious comparisons have been made between Donnaruma and the aging Juventus legend, Gianluigi Buffon. The narrative was further exploited when Donnaruma made his debut for Italy, replacing Buffon against Spain in September. The young goalkeeper has a huge career ahead of him and is already being groomed as the successor of one of the best goalkeepers in recent history.

Also at AC Milan are the Italian prodigies Manuel Locatelli and Alessio Romagnoli. The former, Italy’s newest regista, plays as a destructive midfielder with an eye for a ‘thunderbastard’, as can be seen with his two strikes this season against Sassuolo and Juventus. Romagnoli, on the other hand, is cut from the same cloth of the Old Lady’s Georgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, a hard centre back with the ability to play the ball out of the defence.

Further bolstering Italy’s defensive prospects is Juventus’ Daniele Rugani. While the 22 year old has struggled for game time with such immense quality in front of him in the pecking order, the potential is visible from his composure and capability to slot in and adequately fill the boots of one of Chiellini, Bonucci or Barzagli. The prospect has started eight games and scored three goals.

Photo: Gagliardini @WikimediaCommons

In an attacking capacity, Italy have struggled to rely on a single forward since Mario Balotelli went awol, and Circo Imobile and Graziano Pellè consistently fail to achieve. Step forward Torino striker Andrea Belotti. The ‘number 9’ is renowned for his all-round ability, scoring four headed goals as well as five left footed strikes and six right footed. At just 23 years old, if Belotti keeps improving at the same rate Italy could have one of the best European strikers leading their line.

On the wings, Fiorentina possess two of Italy’s most promising wide men in recent years, Bernardeschi and Chiesa Federico. The former, and more established of the two, has carried on his fine growth this season, capable of playing anywhere across the front three and grabbing an impressive haul of nine goals and four assists in 21 appearances. Chiesa, on the other hand, made his breakthrough this season and has proved a useful squad player filling in anywhere on the right side. The 19 year old’s quick feet and ability to go past a player are his most notable features. Two goals and one assist in six starts is a decent return.

The final, and most recent, prodigy to come out of the Serie A this season is Roberto Gagliardini at Inter Milan. Not only does Gagliardini have a fantastic name but his primary function of breaking up play from the base of midfield is impressive too. His presence in Inter’s midfield has seen the Nerazzurri go on the best run of form in the Serie A this season.

While the Italian domestic league still may be way behind the likes of England, Spain and Germany, there is an impetus of growth and promise in the league which has not been apparent for a long time now.

Student Spotlight: Off The Record

Written by Harrison Kersey on . Posted in Music.

This week, as part of The Mancunion Music’s ongoing Student Spotlight feature, showcasing the finest in student-led nightlife, we present Off the Record, a crew of Leeds boys who’ve been bringing the good times to club nights and house parties for a couple of years now. The Mancunion spoke to Matt to find out what it is that makes their nights stand out from the tech-house crowd.

“At an Off the Record night we aim to provide the all-round experience, from groovier cuts through to techno slammers. We’ve been influenced by a range of sounds, including labels such as Innervisions, Dixon Avenue Basement Jams and Aus Music”

The Off the Record team even bagged hosting duties for the Aus label’s 10 year anniversary party at Manchester’s newly opened Dolphin Warehouse, an impressive booking for any promoter, let alone a crew of first and second-year students fresh from throwing house parties & nights at Fallowfield stomping ground Koh Tao not long before. Matt tells us why, despite the step up in pressure, the OTR boys prefer playing from a booth than from a living room:

“With a club night, the main reason people are there is for the music and to get down, so you feel more of an obligation to make sure everything’s on point. Plus, with better sound and lighting than most house parties can offer, the overall experience of a proper venue edges it as far as I’m concerned.”

With a strong history of residents’ parties, Off the Record are quite happy to spin back to back with each other all night, bouncing off each other’s selections. However, come this Thursday at the newly revamped Joshua Brooks basement (complete with new Void sound system), they’ll be playing host to a killer pair of DJs. First up, Al Zanders brings an eclectic, genre-spanning approach to his own productions, and as a resident for Banana Hill you can be sure this will extend to his set. Big Miz, a rising star on Glasgow’s Dixon Avenue Basement Jams label, promises to bring a grittier sound, with his hard-nosed take on house music. Check out standout tracks from each of them below:

Al Zanders – Second to None:

Big Miz – Good Thing:

With a freshly decked out basement to check out and a banging lineup to boot, Thursday 9th of February looks set to be a night to remember. Tickets are available on Skiddle.

Interview: Tegan and Sara

Written by Cassie Hyde on . Posted in Music.

Having released their eighth album, Love You To Death, last year, Tegan and Sara have been working as performers together since 1997. When I asked Sara Quin was it like being in a band for 20 years, she laughs: “Well, you know, it’s strange because we’ve actually crossed an interesting threshold in the last year or two, where we’ve actually been in the band longer than we have not been in the band. I don’t actually know what else to say except that. It’s sort of hard to untangle all of it. … I think because the band is us and is both personal and professional, it probably takes up more time than other people’s jobs and other people’s bands because we are forced to think about it any time we’re together.”

So, since she wasn’t here, what’s Tegan like to work with? “As we’ve gotten further into our career, it’s really collaborating with other people that has allowed me to be more aware of how me and Tegan collaborate. Before, it was something very intuitive, it just sort of happened naturally, but as I branch out and Tegan branches out and works independent of me, I find myself thinking ‘Oh! These are the skills and approaches I bring to the band…’ There’s something very impulsive about her, she’s a very straightforward writer. She sort of uses her feelings, whilst I use my head a lot more.”

The new album, Love You To Death, is produced by Greg Kurstin, who’s previously worked with Adele, Katy Perry, Ellie Goulding and Sia, to name a few. When asked what he was like to work with, Sara said: “For us, there was no question that he was going to be a powerhouse and bring a lot to the table as a producer, but I think what we immediately connected to was his personality. He’s very strange, he’s really funny and he’s very hands on. In our experience, it’s just the three of us, so there aren’t a bunch of people around. It’s a very insular experience, it really appeals to us. I think, because he has this really strange sense of humour, he can take himself seriously, but can also laugh at the spectacle of it all and how crazy this industry is. So we really get along, I adore him! I think he’s wonderful!”

So what did they bring to the table on the new album? What were their influences going in? “We both listen to a lot of stuff and I think that’s a deliberate choice, partly because a lot of our instincts as writers and even subconscious choices that come out in our music, they sort of come from the early music we listened to. I think marrying that with what is happening currently is a good thing. I don’t like the idea of being an electro band, I read a lot in the press people referencing that it’s very obvious that we have a very 80s, 90s influence, which is true and certainly is purposeful those sounds and those keyboards, I hope that people also hear how we are sort of re-framing it in a more modern context, and hopefully not just seeming like an a-ha cover band or something,” she laughs, “I want people to see that we’re actually trying to think of a new way to hear that music.”

Tegan and Sara have also made a music video for every song on Love You To Death. Sara told us, “the idea of doing a video for every song on the record was born out of the experience that the record company provided an appropriate amount of music for our band size for what will like be one, maybe two videos, that would be representative of the singles. I think we just had an intuition that this wasn’t going to be one of those records where there wasn’t going to be one song that everyone focused on. So, we decided to take the budget for those two singles and spread it out over the 10 songs. I feel happy with it – it was a creative, collaborative process and we used it as an opportunity to work with people who wouldn’t usually be considered as video directors. For ‘White Knuckles’, we worked with a choreographer, with ‘100x’, we worked with an artist who also happens to have a very successful dog grooming business. We wanted to stretch to envelop different kinds of artists and creative thinkers and visual people, so it was really fun for us!”

On a more serious note, Tegan and Sara have been openly gay since the start of their career and have always put their activism at the forefront of their work. So, last December, they set up the Tegan and Sara Foundation, which “works for economic justice, health, and representation for LGBTQ girls and women”.

“As our career has developed, I think there has been an effort to be more strategic about how we are working and interfacing with other organisations. So, instead of being like, ‘Oh my God! This is very upsetting to us! Everyone pay attention!’, we started thinking about how be a part of, not just education or amplification of issues in the LGBT community, but purposely bring[ing] funding and money and research to parts of our community who are often under focused on. Right now, we see that as being lesbians and trans women, specifically women of colour.”

“We’re looking at launching actual programmes in the next 6-9 months. We’ve actually had a heavy education period, so we’ve been meeting with economists and professors, grassroots organisers in The United States and Canada, making sure that we are clear about our agenda and where our efforts would be most meaningful.”

Love You To Death is out now on Warner Brothers. Tegan and Sara are performing at The Albert Hall, Manchester on February 14th.

Live: Psappha play Maxwell Davies and John Horne

Written by Hugh Morris on . Posted in Music.

23rd January at Hallé St. Peters

8/10

The late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies spoke of the “honour to have one’s music performed by an ensemble who understand it intimately”.  An artistic inspiration for Psappha, the programming of some of his finest chamber works was a poignant reminder of how well they understand this music, and how sorely he will be missed both in Manchester and beyond.

The opening concert of Psappha’s 25th Anniversary Season should have been (and, to its credit, was) a celebratory occasion for those involved in the mightily successful project involved in bringing professional contemporary classical music to Greater Manchester.

And yet, David Horne, whose commission Resonating Instruments was given its world premiere alongside two pieces by Maxwell Davies, alluded to his sadness at memories of his last encounter with ‘Max’ being on that very stage.

The performance outlined the importance of the wider, non-musical experience in contemporary music, a tenet executed superbly throughout. The intimate yet flexible performing space of Hallé St Peter’s combined with dramatic lighting to aid the more atmospheric and theatrical parts of the programme, particularly in the first piece, Maxwell Davies’ Stedman Doubles, a piece once labelled ‘unplayable’.

The members of Psappha certainly demonstrated the gulf in class between themselves and the intended performers sixty years ago, conveying a hugely assured performance. Led by clarinetist Dov Golberg, the piece opens with a restrained, understated woodwind line, eventually accompanied by 3 percussionists, progressing through a series of edgy soundscapes.

Similar music is often scoffed at for being too extreme, but, in the case of Stedman Doubles, any extremity was replaced with the feeling of stillness and situation, the piece being based on the principles of Indian raga improvisation. The contrast in quiet dynamics (the final clarinet swell in particular) was thrilling, even if generally, some more overstated passages could have articulated the three section work more clearly.

Writing for cimbalom is a medium few British composers have experimented with, yet David Horne told of his fascination of an Eastern European instrument that Stravinsky included in Les Noces and that Zoltan Kodaly wrote extensively for in his famous suite Háry János.

Resonating Instruments is a twenty-minute concerto for cimbalom, accompanied by violin, cello, flute and clarinet. The piece explores the untapped timbres of the instrument, beginning with a dark, almost submerged impression, before gradually ascending through the instrument’s range. If Stedman Doubles was understated, the repetitions needed to sustain the cimbalom’s strings made Resonating Instruments anything but, with the string dynamics and expansion of register from a fixed point mirroring the techniques heard in the solo instrument.

Many of the aspects of the piece came off in performance very well indeed. The contrasting use of mallets and beaters, and the muting of strings brought out even more interesting colours. There were lovely pairings of lines too; delightful duets came from the unlikely sources of bass flute and bass clarinet. The only downside of this was that the pairings of strings, winds and keyboards reduced the impact of the solo cimbalom, played wonderfully by Psappha’s Artistic Director, Tim Williams.

To think that Eight Songs for a Mad King is almost twice the age of Psappha is a strange thought indeed, yet nobody could deny its performance was the reason a sizeable amount of the audience were present. The piece, premiered in 1969, follows the famous tale of George III and his descent into madness, and is a classic in the repertoire.

Kelvin Thomas reprised the role of the King, a role which he has played on tour with Psappha and in the video recording of 2013. As a visual spectacle, the drama was enticing. Thomas obviously loves the role of the Mad King, yet there was enough freshness to make the piece’s famous moments, such as the dialogue between the King and the ‘bullfinch’ part (and the smashing of the violin), unexpected even for audience members who had listened before.

The piece features the Schoenberg-influenced Sprechstimme technique, placing the voice somewhere between speaking and singing; this technique was lost at some points by Thomas; his 2013 recording conveys the linear regression of the character to his eventual death more vividly through the continued use of that specific extended technique.

Maxwell Davies’ humour was placed excellently however; the Handelian references, the ‘Country Dance’ foxtrot and harpsichord interludes fed into a very well-staged, characterful performance. The level of understanding of what Max really wanted is without comparison in any other group.

Is it okay to punch a Nazi?

Written by David Moseley on . Posted in News, Opinion.

While the sight of a white nationalist taking a sucker-punch to the face is probably what we all needed to get us through these tough times, we should be more critical of violent acts.

The video of white nationalist and Alt-Right leader Richard Spencer receiving a blow to the side of the head was a welcome sight for many. On Inauguration Day, Spencer was interviewed on a street corner explaining the significance of his Pepe the Frog pin when a masked figure blundered into the frame and landed a solid hit the suited neo-Nazi’s face.

The brief clip was immediately swallowed by the internet and, as one might expect, regurgitated in the form of various cuts and remixes. You can watch Richard Spencer punched in the face set to Phil Collins’ ‘In the Air Tonight’ or to Disney’s ‘Let it Go’. You can even watch Richard Spencer punched in the face set to Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’, which is a personal favourite. As former speech-writer for Obama, Jon Favreau tweeted, “I don’t care how many different songs you set Richard Spencer being punched to, I’ll laugh at every one.”

But amongst the cathartic release of the reviled Alt-Right leader being force-fed a fist, a more philosophical strain of conversation arose in the Twittosphere: the question being “is it okay to punch a Nazi?”

The obvious, and popular, answer seems to be an emphatic ‘yes’. Many have noted that punching Nazis is a time-honoured tradition in the US. Indiana Jones and Captain America number among pop culture icons who are renown for punching Nazis, or ‘fash-bashing’. One Twitter-user noted: “You know what WWII was? America collectively punching the Nazis”. Indeed, if confronted with, say, Hitler or an SS guard or an Imperial Storm Trooper, most of us would probably duff them on the nose — if not worse. It stands to reason that our response to a modern day Nazi would be the same.

If we accept that it is okay to punch Nazis, we are left with another difficult question: how do we decide who the Nazis are? In the case of Richard Spencer, the answer is quite definitive. He, of course, denies being a neo-Nazi, claiming that Nazism was specific to Germany in the 1930s and ‘40s. However, he chairs the National Policy Institute, a white nationalist think-tank based in Virginia which has run blog pieces such as ‘The Jewish Question And Some Answers’, in which the author claims “Jews have been pioneers of what has been termed ‘anti-Semitism’.” His position, as stated in a National Policy Institute column, has a certain Nazi-esque flavour: “Martin Luther King Jr., a fraud and degenerate in his life, has become the symbol and cynosure of White Dispossession and the deconstruction of Occidental civilization. We must overcome!”

He is also credited with coining the term ‘Alt-Right’ to describe the emerging extreme right wing populist movement in the US. Spencer has also called for ‘peaceful ethnic cleansing’ in order to maintain European heritage. He may not be a German National Socialist, but whichever you cut it his views smack of Nazi-ness.

Since Spencer conforms to the broad definition of Nazi, one may be excused for punching him in the face. Unfortunately, it isn’t always so easy to agree on an answer to the question; one person’s Nazi is another’s  freedom fighter, is another’s feminist, is another’s Obama. How can we decide whether or not it is okay to punch someone, if we can’t even work out which people we should be punching?

Socking a Nazi, then, is not always very pragmatic. It may also be damaging to the cause of fighting Nazism. On mic.com, ethicists and academics of political activism were asked for their opinion on the all-consuming “punch a Nazi” debate. Nitzan Lebovic, an academic of Holocaust Studies and Ethical Values, drew on the tradition of fascists justifying the expansion of their power on the basis that they have been attacked: “In any of the cases I know, it plays right into the hands of the regime, and is used as an excuse to harshen punitive measures against critics.” Unfortunately, attacking Nazis physically only contributes to a persecution complex, and deepens their sense of being wronged by the system.

Violence also has a nasty habit of begetting more violence. Even if it is morally defensible to punch a Nazi, and we are sure that they are indeed a Nazi, there’s a chance that they will punch back. It is likely that this will deteriorate into a fight where the person with the biggest stick wins, regardless of whether your initial sucker-punch was ethical or not.

Perhaps the whole fash-bashing debate is completely inane. Why, after all, should we second guess leathering someone with views as abhorrent as Richard Spencer? On the other hand, it raises the wider question of whether violence has a place in the political discourse of our liberal democracies. We would be wise to think twice before condoning acts of violence.

Nevertheless, if you yourself are not a white supremacist, watching one take a hit to the tune of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ will brighten your lunch break — just make sure the guy is definitely a Nazi before you bloody your knuckles.

The Premier League’s international inspirations

Written by Dane Massey on . Posted in Sport.

Every manager has their own style of play, and the Premier League’s top six teams are guided in opposing ways by some of the world’s most well-renowned coaches. The same applies in the international game, with certain teams playing contrasting styles of play to others. There are some parallels between club and international football, with certain club teams adopting several characteristics of various international teams.

But how do England’s top six mirror certain international teams? And, which international team does each club match up to?

Chelsea – Italy
Under the guidance of Antonio Conte, Chelsea are taking the Premier League by storm this season, combining solid defence with ruthless attack. After managing Juventus and Italy, Conte developed a distinct team structure, which has featured three at the back.

He has implemented a similar system at Chelsea, who have the best defensive record in the league. Italy are traditionally known for having a stubborn defence. Beyond this, they are blessed with some wonderfully gifted footballers. Chelsea also have this, and Conte is developing his new side along the same lines as he did with the Italian national team.

Arsenal – Brazil
In the past, Brazil have possessed some of the finest players ever, their iconic samba sides are amongst the best to play football.

One evident admirer of these teams is undoubtedly Arsene Wenger — the Frenchman wants to play to entertain just as Brazil always try to do.

Over the last few years, however, Brazil have not been quite as flamboyant. They seem unable to win football matches by simply playing one way, and Arsenal perhaps fall victim to this as well. Although they have some supremely talented footballers, both Arsenal and Brazil have lost some of the backbone that previously successful sides have had.

Spurs – England/Belgium
Mauricio Pochettino is currently managing a golden generation of players at Spurs, and their Anglo-Belgian core has formed the fundamental part of his plans.

Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen have formed an excellent partnership in central defence, supported by the versatile Eric Dier. Up ahead, Moussa Dembélé, Dele Alli and Harry Kane are continuing their fantastic form.

These players are fully established English and Belgian internationals. But like England and Belgium, Spurs’ current crop of players are yet to win any major honours, and are still in the shadows of England’s top clubs. Positively though, they have a bright, young squad which is vastly improving.

Liverpool – Chile
Over the last decade, Chilean football has undergone a revolution, which has seen La Roja develop into one of the best international teams in the world. The catalyst behind their recent success is Marcelo Bielsa, who managed Chile between 2007 and 2011.

Bielsa also did a fantastic job at Athletic Bilbao in Spain, and the Argentine has had an influence on many managers with his high-energy tactics and aggressive press. One manager clearly influenced by Bielsa is Jurgen Klopp, who has arguably used Bielsa’s sides as a blueprint for the way he wants his sides to play.

Manchester City – Spain
Just as Conte has successfully brought a quintessentially Italian-style look to Chelsea, Pep Guardiola is gradually turning Manchester City into a team with typically Spanish characteristics.

Guardiola is a fan of tiki-taka and total football. So far this season City have the highest average possession in the Premier League (60%). The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager hasn’t quite had the same effect on his new club as Conte just yet, but he understandably requires time to invest further into his squad.

It is clear though how Guardiola wants City to play — his style and system adheres to Spain’s which has been so successful on the international stage.

Manchester United – Portugal
It is exciting times for both Manchester United and Portugal. After United replaced Louis Van Gaal with Jose Mourinho in the summer, it was clear that they wanted a proven winner to oil them through the gears and guide them through the next stage.

Mourinho has a good mix of experience and young, hungry players at his disposal, just as Fernando Santos had with Portugal — which was evident last summer as they famously won Euro 2016. In the tournament, Portugal demonstrated that they were a flexible unit who could play in different ways, and the pragmatism of Santos is a trait he shares with his Portuguese compatriot Mourinho.

Player loyalty: player more important than club

Written by Jack Ford on . Posted in Sport.

The January transfer window has served to, yet again, highlight the double standards we inevitably apply when we criticise players for a lack of ‘loyalty’. Whether it is in treatment of players choosing to move to China, or the vitriol directed to Dimitri Payet by those involved with West Ham and even neutrals in the media, we hold players to standards we do not expect to see in employees — including ourselves — in any other industry.

If I was unsatisfied at my place of work, perhaps feeling underpaid or experiencing a lack of opportunities, I would logically and understandably look to move on. Similarly, if I was approached by another employer offering improved wages, or if I successfully applied for such a position, I would take that opportunity for myself just as anyone else would. There would be no fear of being criticised by those at my place of work or elsewhere. Yet, for some reason, football players are expected to be loyal to clubs even to their own detriment.

Much of the anger directed at players seeking to move clubs, especially in the case of those moving to China, is fuelled by a perception that for those already earning astronomical wages, a desire for more money is symptomatic of an all-consuming greed surrounding the sport. While I object to this on the simple ground that I believe that anyone should be able to earn whatever they can for their work, there are also several factors particular to football that should be mentioned.

For one, the vast majority of players are earning not just for themselves but for their family and childrens’ futures and, particularly in the case of South American and African players, support their extended families and even home communities with their earnings. The pressure placed on a player by this consideration, both by himself and those around him, will be considerable and will likely outweigh his feelings towards his employer. I also find it objectionable that the same people criticising modern footballers’ earnings are seemingly not troubled by the similarly high earnings of F1 drivers, golf players, and boxers despite their lack of worldwide popularity compared to football.

While I understand that issues surrounding Payet’s transfer, such as the £1 million loyalty bonus paid to him prior to his transfer request, are perhaps distasteful, his desire to leave West Ham for Marseille was done not for materialistic reasons — he is accepting a pay-cut to move — but for the sake of his wife and children who were struggling to settle in London.

The lack of understanding of this from his critics reveals an attitude widely-held towards players: if they’re being paid millions to play football, they must not have any issues in their life whatsoever. We all adjust to our own realities, and as a result we will all experience problems in our lives that may seem catastrophic to ourselves but are trivial in the grand scheme of things. If players are unhappy at their clubs, and feel a move will improve their lives, it is their right to do so.

Even if those reading this entirely rejected my above arguments, and argued footballers should be loyal to their clubs in a way other employees are not, I would like to highlight the blatant hypocrisy that this attitude reveals in the clear majority of cases. Where are the calls to loyalty when a club chooses to sell or release a player who has served them for years? Where were the champions of loyalty when Payet left Marseille to join West Ham initially? Where were the pundits and ex-players demanding he remain in France and ‘rot with the kids’ for even daring to cross the channel for the ‘best league in the world’? As a fan, I have no problem with a foreign player leaving his childhood club to join my team, so why should I expect a player born in another country or even continent to be loyal to my provincial English club in the same way I am as a fan?

Purple’s playmate

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

Many of us resolutely stick to our favourite make-up palettes: it’s comforting, easy and we know what looks good. In retaliation of complacency and laziness, I decided to break free from my safety zone and set myself what I assumed to be a relatively easy New Year’s resolution, to experiment with my make-up. So inspired by a friend whose large green eyes blaze beautifully when rimmed with purple eye shadow, I chose my starting point: purple.

I should confess now that when it comes to make-up, I’m about as lazy as they come: if I can get away with a tinted moisturiser for foundation I will, I haven’t owned a bronzer since my freebie from Cosmo smashed in Year 12, and I’ve used the same solitary make-up brush since I was 17. My make-up lethargy will hardly change overnight, but I’m taking it one step at a time.

My first encounter with purple make-up came in the form of a roll-on grape scented lilac eye shadow around the age of seven, so it’s about time to reattempt the shade. After an exasperating and disastrous first, second and third attempt at a smokey purple eye, I almost threw in the face towel. I reassured myself with thinking that maybe it’s just an artistic gift some people are born with. However, not quite willing to give up, I turned to make-up enthusiasts to acquire some patience and skill. Unsurprisingly they did not disappoint, and I first learnt that when you apply purple to your face, you must inevitably dance with purple’s ever-present playmate: yellow.

The first top-tip I discovered is to master a pale purple before attempting a dark purple smokey eye. Using purples and blacks might give you an air of mystery but the gloomy hues will undoubtedly rub off on your mood should you mess up. Instead, first embrace purple with its happier friend: place purple eye shadow on your underbrow and use a subtle golden yellow on the lid, giving a vibrant and brightening make-up look. The two work in perfect harmony.

However whilst purple and yellow mostly go hand-in-hand, yellow will happily use purple for its own gains. Take purple shampoo for instance; it’s a favourite styling technique to give blonde hair a lightening lift. The shampoo is designed to take the brassy tones away but beware — purple will slyly get its own back if overused, and you may go more silvery grey than honey blonde.

As with many friendships, purple and yellow can be the greatest of friends but sometimes this gives way to a tumultuous relationship. A prime example comes in the form of lipstick. Should you use a purple with bluer undertones, it will give your smile some extra shine, but apply a purple lipstick with a yellower undertone and those pearly whites will show up any yellowish imperfections.

Therefore whilst embracing this often blossoming friendship, it’s worth staying weary of their occasional conflicts. Yellow isn’t always mellow; it prefers the limelight and might work against you should it not gain the attention it desires. Purple however will happily share the stage with its playmate and it’s best to embrace the two together for optimum results.

Tangerine dream

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

When the obligatory ice-breaker sessions begin during group interviews or in second semester’s introductory seminars, a favourite question offered to stimulate conversation is: what is your favourite colour? Many possess an unshakable assurance in their chosen shade: “Well, that would be a slightly purple lapis blue or maybe a malachite green — but not too turquoise!” However some may nervously deliberate over a specificity of colour, fearful perhaps that a particular shade will denote each and every personality trait, childhood trauma, or maybe even your deepest darkest secret.

In reality, our preference for favourite colours may simply arise from something as simple as happy childhood memories, a preferred colour to wear or an emotion evoked by a particular shade or hue. Mine certainly encompasses all three but when I state my favourite colour as orange, surprise or laughter often ensues, followed by the eternally hysterical question as to whether this arose from food shops at Fallowfield Sainsbury’s.

Flicking through family photo albums, the same features arise continuously from the pictures of me: a box fringe, chubby cheeks, and orange clothes. In my opinion both then and now, I won out with the lesser of two evils; my elder sister suffered her youth in yellow whilst I lucked out in the slightly sickly (but maybe one could argue iridescent) orange aesthetic. Let’s be honest though, when matching outfits are involved no one wins.

Orange and yellow may not be the most flattering of colours but who cares at the age of five? However as I grew up and became vaguely aware of my wardrobe, my preferred orange lost out to outfits styled around neon pink legwarmers, which eventually transformed into an all-black wardrobe. Since then, three years in Manchester converted my style into one with slightly more colour and I’d love to say greater maturity but that might be pushing it.

Whilst Barbie pink eclipsed my tween years and my teenage self came scarily close to Wednesday Addams’ outlook on outfits, these undoubtedly fell neatly into my mother’s favourite self-reassurance: “It’s just a phase.” I denied this vehemently during questionable style experimentations, especially around the time I begged my parents to redecorate my room in bubblegum pink. How could I possibly ever regret that decision? Yet still orange obstinately remained my favourite colour whilst other phases dissolved as quickly as they appeared.

My childhood undoubtedly honed my love for orange, including my first nail varnish from a princess magazine. Then there was my waterproof mac and matching hat, which boasted a radiant tangerine glow with white dots. Of course, my sister had the yellow version. I am now fortunate to say my taste has matured from the plastic sheen of crazy orange coats; I now assure people I prefer a sunset ambiance — evidently with maturity I adapted my justification to new levels of pretentiousness to oppose any haters.

One reoccurring look during my primary school days included an orange velvet dress, often styled by yours truly with yellow wellington boots, a multi-coloured felt pompom hat and pink sunglasses. My mother later told me I wore the dress every day for a year; she’d wash it every night as I refused to wear anything else. Evidently my stubborn streak was born with my love for orange…

Studies show that bright colours draw children’s attention for the energy and emotive responses they evoke. The ways in which we associate colours with different emotions or signifiers, like red represents danger or lust and green denotes envy or harmony, resounds with children who experience and grow through similar means. We are taught from a young age that the sky is blue, the sun is yellow, the red man means we cannot cross the road and any green food is healthy and therefore repugnant. I for one claimed an allergy to any green food at the age of seven. However even before the moment we denounce peas and beans as the bogey monster of nutrition, colours’ emotive powers have an effect before we can waddle, walk or talk.

Therefore the colours for which we show preference at a young age is likely to stay with us, even if those reasons change and alter as we experience more of the world around us. Whilst my wardrobe may not often imbue sunset hues (it’s not the easiest look to pull off after all), I remain drawn to my favourite childhood colour. It just goes to show that our childhood shapes us in many unexpected, subtle ways, even if those ways present shades of the most unsubtle nature.