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Month: October 2018

LFW. Photo: Farrukh@Flickr

The trend of sustainability in S/S 2018 collections

Written by maddierodbert1 on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Sustainability and fashion are an interesting pair.  In an industry that is defined by constant change, how can it be sustainable?  The effect the fashion industry has on the environment is massive.  Most critics focus on the use of natural products and sheer amount of fuel used for transportation.  As such, I’m sure ‘eco-friendly’ is not your first reaction when you think of the fashion industry.  Despite this, many brands have approached their spring-summer 2018 collection with the idea of sustainability in mind.  In their August issue, i-D ran a series of articles along the theme of fashion’s first movements into a new, ecological future.

When you see an article in a popular magazine like i-D titled “Burberry will no longer burn their unsold clothes”, it’s not surprising to hear about protests happening across the fashion world.  So how has the industry reacted to the new demand for ‘slow fashion’?  London Fashion Week declared itself “fur free”, a statement hugely supported by Stella McCartney.  It was the first main fashion week where none of the shows would have animal fur involved.  This was following the series of protests and support of anti-animal cruelty actions.  Christopher Raeburn’s collection threw the “spring and summer” brief out of the window and instead focused on the growing issue of climate change.  Raeburn used clothes to show how desperate the situation of climate change is.  His goal was to make people sit up and take notice, and it was a hit during the fashion week.

On the negative side however, Chanel came under fire for chopping down one hundred year old oaks to use in their show.  The official statement from Chanel claimed that for every tree they cut down they were going to plant another.  However, few were convinced and as such they are still unpopular amongst the sustainable fashion movement.  It seems as though despite the move towards a new, eco-friendly future, many luxury brands are still ‘behind the curve’, so to speak.  This raises the question: how long can unsustainable brands last? Will customers leave them behind? Will ignoring these issues lead to a shortage? Or does it even matter? However, as of now, the future looks unpredictable.

Moses Namkung @ Wikimedia Commons

Review: Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.

Written by madeleinepeden on . Posted in Film.

Steve Loveridge’s fast-paced documentary certainly shares similarities with other tributes to female pop stars, namely a recognition of the subject’s musical ingenuity. But when it comes to his examination of electronic hip-hop artist M.I.A, this recognition goes beyond music and art to enter a distinctly political sphere.

Early on we learn that M.I.A. studied fine art film making, and had ambitions of becoming a documentary film maker, which made it quite disappointing to learn during the closing credits that she was not heavily involved in the film’s production.

She is, however, responsible for providing a significant amount of the footage that establishes the narrative of her early years, in which she lived through the beginning of the Sri Lankan civil war and fled to England as a refugee with her mother and brothers. Her father was a founding member of the Tamil Tigers who fought for Tamil rights during the Sri Lankan civil war.

A deeper delve into the history surrounding the Sri Lankan civil war and this liberation organisation would have created the potential for a greater overall understanding of our subject’s motivations. This in turn would enable a greater challenge to her label as a trivial troublemaker that has been perpetuated by the mainstream media throughout her career (the deceitful application of this label by the New York Times is explored in the film).

However, the lack of context largely highlighted the stark knowledge gap that ultimately demonstrated the validity of M.I.A.’s activism even further. Her presence in pop culture makes her an ideal candidate to bring these particular political issues to the fore.

We also get to see M.I.A.’s perspective of some of the controversies she’s been embroiled in (including flipping off the United States of America during Madonna’s performance at the Super Bowl half time show). The narrative framework contextualises these moments and allows us to see her as a passionate human being with genuine activist intentions.

Whilst this documentary is primarily a positive acknowledgement of M.I.A.’s political activism, she is not placed on an unreachable pedestal that makes her completely unrelatable. On the contrary, we get to see the good and not so good aspects of her character which make her a very human subject. The narrative created by Loveridge is an examination of identity that goes beyond the individual focus of the typical pop documentary.

We see M.I.A.’s struggle as a first-generation immigrant to establish her identity within the labels of Tamil Sri Lankan, British, controversial activist and pop star. A struggle that is reflected in the film’s title. The visuals and soundtrack of M.I.A.’s back catalogue that accompany and enhance this examination of identity makes for a very interesting and informative viewing experience.

4/5

 

 

 

Lily James. Photo: Eva Rinaldi @Wikimedia Commons

Review: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!

Written by emilywain on . Posted in Film.

With an even larger star-studded cast than our first visit to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalokairi; Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again delivers on its long awaited promise of a feel good, sing-along worthy experience.

While the first film was loved by many in 2008, it was also criticised for being too clichéd lacking a plausible storyline. Ten years later, the director Ol Parker has succeeded in providing fans, and converting more, with her thought-provoking and gripping story. Amanda Seyfried, who plays Sophie, even described the film as “quite sad and emotional at some points” during an interview on This Morning. The film is intermingled with famous ABBA favourites, providing the joy that leaves audiences wanting to watch it again.

As we begin eating our popcorn, we are transported into 1979 where Sophie’s mother, Donna, played by Lily James, is giving a graduation speech to her peers, which inevitably turns into a sing-song and a party. Throughout the entirety of the film, scenes flick between the life of 25 year old Sophie in the present and looking back on the life of her late mother Donna at that same age.

Viewers can see all the returning cast acting and singing alongside new additions, who play the younger versions of the main characters, such as the old and young version of Rosie, played by Julia Walters and Alexa Davies. Many moviegoers are even left blushing at the handsomeness of young Bill Anderson, played by Josh Dylan – even in those crazy 1970’s inspired costumes.

Those extra keen members of the ABBA Fan Club can also see former ABBA member Björn Ulvaeous make an appearance in random scenes throughout. His involvement in the film is praised as we discover he suggested and re-worded his favourite, yet lesser-known ABBA songs such as ‘My Love, My Life’ and ‘I’ve been waiting for you’ to fit with the film.

Despite the light-heartedness of this musical, viewers can feel emboldened by the positive messages within the film. These include feeling free just like a ‘dancing queen’. Furthermore, Lily James has also remarked about the sex-positive message during an interview with Cosmopolitan. The non-judgemental tone throughout helps to de-stigmatise this topic and make women feel more comfortable. As the majority of viewers are female, arguably, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again could be seen as a movie about and in favour of female empowerment.

The next time you need cheering up or a good time, go and watch this ‘Super Trooper’ of a film.

4/5.

Photo Credit: Farah Elhouni

A Database of Beautiful People

Written by Lama Chmayaa on . Posted in Film.

A Database of Beautiful People is a blossoming YouTube series created in 2018 of personal and intimate interviews with people from around the globe.

Its main purpose is to reflect genuineness through each individual’s personality and stories. It is simply an observation of ordinary people that makes us question the meaning of ordinary.

As two people who have realised they love getting to know others, Farah Elhouni, law student, and Prae Rujirek, teacher, have taken their interactions to another level. When talking to their friends, colleagues and surrounding neighbours, they have noticed their ease in turning small talk into meaningful, honest conversations, which they find worthy to store as memories and to share with others; hence, the creation of the database.

Talking about nothing, anything, and everything these completely different individuals from completely unrelated videos are exposed on their channel, and more are yet to come. Unaltered, minimally edited, and most prominently candid, these videos reveal the person’s personality in a way films do not usually tend to. Their behaviour, voice, and thoughts are crystal clear.

You can see how one thinks through their words and subtle gestures, how one reacts to certain topics, and how personalities can appear. Humans in their essence. Capturing each one in an environment of that person’s choice, these videos embody realness and intimacy effortlessly, and embrace the diversity and complexity of human nature through casual interviews.

Twelve videos are currently out, each very unique and the emotional aspect of it depends on the individual in it. Almost therapeutic, if not cathartic for the interviewees, A Database of Beautiful People breaks the barrier that the camera or screen creates. The presence of a camera can never truly be removed, but these almost-documentaries have broken the separation between interviewee and watcher with the help of the element of intimacy.

The audience views the film with a direct angle as if they were having a regular conversation with the on-screen person, but takes the role of the listener. In fact, the only reminder the watcher gets of not being with the interviewee is the creators’ replies which are scarce.

Despite the lengthy duration of these interviews, the one-sided effort and commitment they demand reflects a regular face-to-face commitment people take regularly. The observer is fully able to become invested and attached with the characters. Topics that range from present and daily activities, to childhood, to the meaning of love are discussed, some of which you do not expect to hear.

Starting with open-ended, vague or cliché questions, purposefully chosen by the creators, the interviews shape a story-telling session of a person’s past, present and many times prediction of the future. The project truly touches the essence of being human. Noticeably, the series deserves commendation for its simplicity contrasting with its intricate content.

A thought-provoking and engaging series, A Database of Beautiful People is a way to pause and listen to strangers’ lives from their point of view. Psychologically and anthropologically very interesting given you get to witness how their thoughts can lead a conversation from one topic to the other, and how they have their own definitions of life.

Check it out here.

Photo: Bradshaw79 @Wikimedia Commons

Japan overtakes UK as second-most represented nation in world university rankings

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

The UK has been surpassed for the first time ever as the second-most represented country in the 2019 world university rankings published by Times Higher Education.

Oxford and Cambridge retained the 1st and 2nd places respectively, however, the UK overall has seen its reputation diminish.

Japan claimed 103 positions on the world rankings in comparison to the UK’ s 98, making it the new, second-most represented country on the table of around 1250 universities globally.

However, there have been some stand-alone successes for the United Kingdom. University College London has made it into the top 15, with The University of Birmingham jumping 25 places, and The University of Warwick moving up 12 to joint 79th.

The University of Manchester was ranked 57th best in the world by Times Higher Education, down from joint 54th last year.

Phil Baty, Editorial Director of Global Rankings for Times Higher Education said any connection between the 2019 world university rankings and Britain’s pending withdrawal from the European Union can only be seen as speculation at this point.

“We see some individual stars in the UK this year, but the broader national data story is really one of stagnation and modest decline, with the UK taking a minor hit to its research reputation.

“We can only speculate at this stage as to any connection with Brexit — the risk, however, to the UK’s reputation and research capabilities from its separation with Europe is very real.”

Phil added that: “Maintaining world-class excellence amid cuts and creeping isolationism is simply unsustainable, especially amid intensifying global competition. Many emerging nations [are] currently placing their own universities at the heart of national economic growth strategies.”

Baty concluded that positive immigration and investment policies are crucial if UK universities are to continue to thrive on the world stage.

Asia’s representation in the world rankings has been growing steadily. Tsinghua University in China, the top Asian university, has overtaken the London School of Economics for 25th place.

The United States claimed the most positions on the table, with Stanford University listed as the most prestigious American institution and third best globally.

Times Higher Education assesses teaching, research, and international outlook.

The Times and The Sunday Times 2019 Good University Guide was also released recently. It ranked the University of Manchester 19th best in the UK and 2nd best in the North West of England. 

photo:HackSocGameDevSociety

In conversation with The Game Development Society

Written by Jeremy Bijl on . Posted in Games, Societies.

Raad Aldakhil and Amad Aslam, founders of the newly started Game Development Society, shared my initial bemusement as to why no such thing already existed.

“It’s quite strange; there is a lack of any games development community at the university,” commented Amad, “there’s a lot of gaming based stuff, but nothing for development.” “So we just looked at each other one day and were like, let’s just start a new society,” finished Raad.

And so, the HackSoc Game Dev Society was born. Despite paying homage to the intimidatingly complicated sounding HackSoc in its name, Raad and Amad were quick to point out that the society was actively trying to source members outside of computer science. “We’ve got in touch with a number of societies to try and recruit people and get people involved from different sort of backgrounds with a diverse range of skills. Obviously, game design isn’t just programming; you can have art and music and writing too.”

Raad and Amad, two final year computer science students, are not beginners themselves, both having developed a number of games, although as Amad modestly admitted, few of them had seen the light of day. However, as they outlined their vision for the society and why they began it, it became clear that it was very much aimed at being as accessible for beginners as possible, with their role being as teachers and motivators.

“It’s all about teaching people how,” Raad commented. “We don’t need people to have experience to come to our events. Most of them will be aimed towards beginners. We want to give everyone a foundation so that they can start, and so every iteration of the game jam can be better than the last.”

The game jam is perhaps the most ambitious goal that Raad and Amad have set for the society for the time being. The game jam, which is a 24-hour event in which developers are tasked with making a functional game from scratch, is pitched as an event for students, something which Raad and Amad commented was notably lacking in Manchester, and has been planned for February.

Clearly, there will be a lot of workshops, talks and classes between then and now. For beginners, the pair advised, “Come to talks, listen to people from industry; once we have something solid for actually teaching people, you can start to attend those workshops and that’ll give you a foothold.”

Games development can be one of the most intimidating fields to get into. To me, the complexity of games has always made them somewhat unapproachable, but Raad and Amad clearly have a structure in mind: “The best way to learn is by doing. We’d probably start designing a workshop where we give a talk on a certain topic, then maybe give them a task to do; something very small.

“Say we have this adventure and this is the character, write the most interesting story you can think of. Or, these are the game mechanics, these are the limitations: design and level and we’ll see which is the most interesting and why.”

“Even on top of splitting the skill areas,” commented Amad, “there will be a lot of useful stuff about overarching game design as a whole; there’s content about scoping your game, and on how to design a game from the ground up.”

The fledgeling society already has its first event planned. Impressively attracting an Activision programmer to hold a talk on graphics programming; the two founders commented on how “forming industry links” had already been an “unintentional” but pleasant side-effect of the initiative.

In an age where students are finding societies to be an increasingly costly pursuit,  Amad and Raad pointed out that their activities should mainly be free. “You can do everything you want entirely with free tools,” Raad assured me as I tried to guess the cost of a suite of gaming tools and engines. Amad, smiling, pointed out that he had “never spent a single penny on any of the games [he’d] done.”

What I particularly liked about The Game Development Society was how open-minded they were to those who may not feel well-versed in games design, or even in computers at all. As I repeatedly stressed my technological ignorance, Raad and Amad were positive and encouraging, reiterating that the society would be an inclusive zone where people with a wide range of skills could learn the ropes, be it “computer scientists, writers, musicians, artists or designers,” or anyone with a real passion and interest in the process of making video games.

 

#MeToo in the age of Kavanaugh, Hockenberry, and Ghomeshi

Written by alexwalker on . Posted in Opinion.

Earlier this year, Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to become a Justice on the US Supreme Court. As part of the confirmation process, Kavanaugh was recently invited by the independent Judiciary Committee to give testimony against the allegations of sexual assault raised about him by university professor, and former schoolmate, Christine Blasey Ford.

The allegations pertain to an incident in the early 1980s where Kavanagh reportedly violently attacked Ford at a party. Both gave emotive testimonies and the session ended with the committee passing the nomination on to the full Senate vote. The Republican majority Senate is effectively being handed the nomination while the FBI has been granted a week to conduct further investigations. The outcome of this is not hard to predict. 

Similarly, last week, Guardian writer Moira Donegan brought to light the thoughts of John Hockenberry and Jian Ghomeshi in recent works they’ve had published about their lives after being accused of sexual misconduct. They both spoke about struggles they had faced after their behaviour had been revealed. Donegan rightly criticised both Harper and the New York Review of Books for publishing the pieces. She pointed out that this sort of support suggests they participated in “maintaining a system that rendered women disposable and granted impunity to men.”

But what do these two things have in common? Both events show a level of accountability for, and awareness of sexual misconduct. Before the 2017 #MeToo backlash against Harvey Weinstein, this level may not have been seen. However, both instances invite us to reflect on the #MeToo movement as it stands today.

The movement exists primarily on social media. While this does allow for huge amounts of support for those speaking out, it has also begun to normalise the stories of abusers themselves and giving as much of a voice to perpetrators as victims. It allows people like Hockenberry to humanise themselves and publicly paint themselves as victims, devaluing the crimes they commit.

I’m concerned that the #MeToo movement is becoming a replacement for proper legal proceedings in dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct. The ease of tweeting about a crime to shame individuals, now means there’s little incentive to go through legal channels. The sheer amount of abuse we hear about isn’t necessarily having the desired effect. A recent YouGov poll showed that a majority of Republicans thought that Kavanaugh should be confirmed as a Justice, even if the allegations against him turned out to be true. 

Arguably, the massive public discourse around sexual misconduct has dulled the crime of sexual assault to the point where it’s deemed commonplace. The movement’s point is partially to show the prevalence and recurrent nature of the issues faced. However, we can’t become overwhelmed or complacent due to the magnitude of the problem. Sexual misconduct is a crime as bad as any other, and this must not be forgotten.

The #MeToo movement has been a hugely positive force. However, we cannot let it be the only channel used in trying to influence change. We must encourage those speaking out to report the crimes committed against them to the authorities. We also need to hold our world leaders accountable for their behaviour and never let the truly guilty go unquestioned. 

Stand Up to Racism Manchester @ Facebook

Right-wing attacks SU International officer

Written by Shivani Kaura on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester Students’ Union (SU) International Students officer, Riddi Viswanathan, has faced social media backlash and attacks after she responded to the text on the stickers by penning a Facebook post.

Last week it was revealed that anti-immigration stickers, marked with the words ‘Join the patriotic revolution’ had been plastered across campus by far-right group Generation Identity.

The stickers included questions such as, ‘Want to protect free speech?’ and ‘Against mass-immigration?’. Heads turned at the text that read ‘Stop grooming gangs, British girl matter’, whilst images of a group of Muslim girls in burkas were plastered behind the words.

Viswanathan had initially posted to clarify to students that the SU stands for diversity, equality and inclusion and more specifically, the fact that it does not hold an anti-immigration stance.

She then went on to state that ‘’everyone is proud of their identities but more so, of preserving their identities whilst cherishing diversity and co-existing peacefully unlike (Generation Identity) intentions to establish supremacy.’’

These remarks later faced backlash when comments in response to the post began to flood in, with one user stating: “Riddi Visu the real crime is what you are doing; defaming a patriotic movement is disgusting, you are so narrow-minded to think upholding your culture is being supremacist… if you really cherish diversity, you should not deny the right of patriotic English people.”

Another said, “Riddi wants to celebrate her identity and destroy the identity of Britain #WhiteGenocide.”

Which was replied to by another user with, “It’s disheartening to see people like you allowed into my country only to want to ruin it.” And, “It’s our identity, you thick inbred b*tch.”

Speaking to The Mancunion, Viswanathan said: “Some of the responses received following my social media post about the hateful posters inside the SU are absolutely unacceptable. I will not dignify those disgraceful comments with any response.

“Instead, I would like to take this opportunity to re-iterate that the SU believes in equality, diversity, and inclusion.

“We are a safe space and do not and will not tolerate any kind of behaviour which threatens the safe and tolerant environment that we work hard to create at the SU.”

In retaliation to the stickers, Stand Up to Racism Manchester, hosted a student-led protest last week, calling out against racism and fascism.

Stand Up to Racism, who have started a ‘Kick Racism off campus’ campaign, are set to host a series of meetings around university campuses.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “Racism is felt particularly sharply in our educational institutions. Far right groups like generation identity are trying to build on university campuses, with pseudo-scientific arguments around “culture” and “identity.”

“Muslim students are targeted by prevent, BAME students and lecturers face institutional racism and EU nationals are having their right to work and student used as a bargaining chip over Brexit.”

Stand Up to Racism is an organisation that works with the University lecturers and Students’ Union to raise issues surrounding racism and discrimination as well as teaching others how to organise against hateful threats.

The meeting will be held in Academy 3 on the 11th October, with talks from MP Afzal Khan, Nita Sanghera, UCU Vice President and Shirin Hirsch, UCU member and Manchester Stand Up To Racism.

Image: Bungie

Review: Destiny 2 – Forsaken

Written by David Uncle on . Posted in Games.

Destiny 2 has been a problematic game.

It had a good start with a fun, yet shallow, story; the truly excellent Leviathan raid and possibly the most satisfying gunplay around. However, with the boring ‘Dawning’ Christmas event and the sub-par first DLC, Curse of Osiris, players abandoned the game in droves, with many turning to similar ‘MMO’ shooters such as The Division or Warframe. The second DLC Warmind was a step in the right direction but still not enough. So how does Forsaken stack up?

For a start, Forsaken’s story is more engaging than the base game’s, giving the player a better motive than the generic ‘aliens are trying to take over Earth and you have to stop them, again’ trope. Instead of the rather linear pace of the main story, Forsaken lets you tackle its main boss characters, the Barons, in a more free-form order, if you’re skilled or highly leveled enough.

Some of these Barons make for more unique boss fights than others. But what sets them apart from the bosses of Destiny 2’s first year is the special abilities they each have and the quests attached to them – where you hunt them down.

My favourite is The Trickster who deploys mines disguised as exotic engrams, which definitely fooled me more than once. Overall the story is a lot more mature than Destiny 2’s main arc, and even includes some moral arguments from your Ghost who asks if getting revenge on the main antagonist of Forsaken is the right thing to.

My one gripe with the story is it killed off one of, if not the only, likeable, charismatic and funny character in Destiny 2. Granted, this sets up the motive I described earlier; it was just a shame to see them go and be left with the other NPCs who lack any sort of charm. You work through the first act of Forsaken‘s story with this character, which achieves a surprising degree of character bond building in a relatively short space of time, so when they die it is even more heartbreaking. Fortunately, you are rewarded with some touching moments where other characters mourn their death, and more importantly you get their amazing hand cannon.

Where Forsaken really shines, and indeed where most players were hoping it would, is in the non-story activities. The new Lost Sectors, which are semi-hidden short dungeons, are more memorable than those in the base game. They’re harder and longer, but the one that stood out for me was when I walked down some stairs into a Star Wars-esque cantina, complete with a soundtrack (including Paul McCartney’s questionable Destiny song) and alien DJ. This was such a bizarre moment, given the lack of this kind of silliness in Destiny 2 itself, that I can’t help but remember and love it.

The best part, as it always has been with Destiny, is the new raid, ‘The Last Wish’. It takes place within the new end game zone, the Dreaming City, a stunning yet decrepit area. I finally beat The Last Wish recently and it was everything I wanted after the Leviathan raid: gruellingly tough, complex, spectacular boss fights as well as providing some great lore.

The main boss is especially difficult yet provides a heavily systems-based fight requiring good teamwork and communication. For context, it took just under nineteen hours of nonstop gameplay for the first people in the world to beat this, and many are calling it the hardest raid so far. As such, completing this raid was a euphoric moment of cheering and screaming, and a fantastic experience for a group of friends who have spent a whole week trying to get this damn thing done.

Forsaken is what Destiny 2 needed. A fresh breath of life, something new and some genuinely thought-provoking challenges. It isn’t quite perfect, and I begrudge Bungie/Activision’s rather expensive business model, but if you’re willing to pay, it’s absolutely a reason for people who dropped the game to come back and give it another go.

Rating: 8/10

'Room in New York' (1932) by Edward Hopper

Our forgotten authors

Written by Julia De Miguel on . Posted in Books.

One half of the population is almost entirely under-represented on most bookshelves, high school literature syllabuses, and important literary prizes. Female writers are often forgotten, or worse, ignored.

We have all heard about glass ceilings; from economics, to cinema to parliament. Within literature, every now and then we see Jane Austen here, Virginia Woolf there, and even a great review for a new Zadie Smith novel. Some see this as enough evidence to claim that women are fairly and properly represented in literature. “Look, there’s a book by Simone de Beauvoir and it’s about sex!” All I can do is roll my eyes.

For a long time, women were supposed to be interested in the arts and romance and men were supposed to tend towards rationality and science. Women were supposed to stay at home, cook and maybe read novels. But who are the most recognised chefs in the world? Men. Who are the great, romantic poets with tender verses on love and beauty? Men. The novels we read at school? Written by men. Women are limited to certain areas of interest but even within these areas men continue to dominate.

There is only one thing to do.

We must scour the past and bring up all the names of women forgotten by history, published anonymously or worse, the women who published their work under the names of their husbands.

There is a natural human desire to categorise and distinguish, yet it seems that men benefit more from these categorisations. While literature and art are supposedly feminine in comparison to the sciences, the majority of successful artists and writers are male.

Hemingway is celebrated for exploring masculine stereotypes, but when female writers explore ‘feminine’ subject-matter they are reduced to ‘women’s fiction’. Men can write for everyone, but women, it seems, can only write for other women.

The female character is a mere object in the male-centric literary world; a two dimensional walking cliché that serves as either an obstacle to, or a reward for the main (male) character. Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby is a complex character who I admire. The female characters in The Great Gatsby though, are only “beautiful little fool[s]”.

Throughout history women have been treated like beautiful little fools. Women have had to pretend that they were men to be taken seriously and acknowledged. We must celebrate the authors who suffered through this, like George Eliot and Mary Shelley.

As part of my Spanish Literature syllabus, we studied the Generation of ’27— a group of artists that shared ideas about democracy, freedom ad the rights of Spanish citizens. Each student (male and female) in my class had to memorise the work of six male poets from the movement. What we didn’t know while memorising their work, was that there were as many women as men involved in the movement; apparently they were just not worth studying. In 1927, the women poets were considered equals by their male colleagues. It was a time of optimism before the Spanish Civil War. Nowadays, we don’t even get to hear about their existence.

I’m sure I am not alone in believing that female writers deserve to be studied. Education is essential in fixing the problem. Women need to be made visible through history, through literature. To start, I’d like to recommend some books by forgotten female writers who have recently been rediscovered. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin and Fire in the Blood by Irène Némirovsky are both brilliant.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Review: ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney

Written by Urussa Malik on . Posted in Books.

Sally Rooney has been getting a lot of hype. I read her latest novel, Normal People, to find out how such a comparatively young writer (she’s written two best-selling books by the age of 26) has been so successful. Millennials rarely get rave reviews.

Normal People charts the relationship between two students, Marianne and Connell, from their small town high school to their university days at Trinity College, Dublin. Put simply, at high school, Connell is popular and Marianne is unpopular. But things change at university, Connell finds himself pushed to the sidelines as Marianne becomes something of a social butterfly. She dryly notes, “It’s classic me, I came to college and got pretty.” This change in roles is just one of the many ways that Marianne and Connell’s lives switch and change. They move apart, they come together; no matter how hard they try, their paths can’t keep from crossing over.

In Normal People, chapters span from several months to as little as five minutes. Rooney manipulates time throughout the narrative; at certain points, hours can feel like minutes and days can pass like years. But the novel is firmly grounded in recent times, with the backdrop of Ireland’s financial crisis ever-present but never really overtly mentioned.

Politics however, is mentioned. As is the way with students, many characters lazily refer to “Israeli peace talks” and mention “Gaza” in passing. In the student bubble, highly charged topics of debate become conversational fodder. While this was a little distracting for me, it is undeniable that Rooney has a keen ear for realistic and revealing dialogue.

As Curtis Sittenfeld writes; “the dialogue is superb.” Each conversation between Connell and Marianne is brought to life by misdirects and misunderstandings, which lead to a sense of miscommunication that underlines their relationship. But when a conversation becomes an argument, the two continue to talk, and a well-turned phrase leads them back onto the same page, or the same bed.

Conversations With Friends, Rooney’s first novel, could also be a fitting title for Normal People— it’s a novel in dialogue. Normal People is already set to be adapted for the BBC, and if the script is as full of Rooney’s brilliant dialogue as the book is, the film will surely be a hit. There is something cinematic about the book, from the dramatic jump cuts between chapters to the highs and lows often seen in rom-coms.

The novel, long-listed for The 2018 Man Booker Prize, has been called “extraordinary” (The Guardian), a “beautiful, blazing love story” (London Evening Standard) and “a future classic” (The Observer). But such reviews fail to capture the complexity of Normal People. What really struck me was a little subtler. As a university student, I resonated with how Rooney writes about the family that you leave behind when you move to a new place and the friends who can seem to fill their space. Relationships change, people get left behind but eventually resurface, more or less the same as they used to be. As Rooney writes: “I haven’t changed much in the last few months.” “Neither have I. Actually, yeah. I haven’t changed at all.” These kinds of exchanges are how many chapters end, with a little thoughtful trinket, a conversation steering the two characters towards a conclusion, but not a conclusive end.

Ljubljana for the budget traveller

Written by Victoria Evans on . Posted in Lifestyle.

In 2016 Ljubljana was named the European Green Capital and it is clear to see why. Priding itself as a clean and forward-thinking city, all streets are fully pedestrianised with a cycle network. The picturesque bridges that run over the Ljubljanica River were initially for transport but have since been pedestrianised and traffic is non-existent in the centre. This offers a safe and laid-back setting for tourists to admire the architecture, or ‘people-watch’ from the quirky outdoor cafes and restaurants that line the river. Despite being a capital city, it is peaceful, relaxed and offers the warmness of a small town.

The architecture in the city has an Italian influence – intricate, stunning, and pretty in pastel. In 1895 an earthquake reduced most of the city to ruins but this gave free rein to visionaries such as Jože Plečnik to build Art Nouveau masterpieces from the rubble. Its picturesque image is constructed by different historical periods and European influences.

As for value for money, you can’t get much better. Slovenian branded ‘Union’ beer cost only €2, and a 3-course meal was priced at €12.50. Although a cheaper alternative city to Venice, Paris or Barcelona, Ljubljana is just as romantic. Love is in the name, Ljubljana sounds similar to the Slovenian word for love ‘ljubezen’. Visit the Butcher’s Bridge, where lovers place their padlocks, mirroring the Parisian Pont des Arts.  Stroll the narrow streets of the old town that echo Barcelona’s bohemian gothic quarter. Enjoy the sunset at Ljubljana castle for something romantic and cultural.  Constructed as a 16th century bulwark against Ottoman invasion, it’s the perfect location to enjoy stunning panoramic views. There are tours, a tourist train and a funicular railway that links the city to the steep lookout point.

Just across the river from the old-town lies Ljubljana’s area of alternative culture. This is Metelkova Mesto, one of Europe’s most successful urban squats. An abandoned army barracks from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the area was occupied by squatters and youth rebels. Nowadays the dilapidated buildings have taken on a new identity. A hub of urban culture, Metelkova showcases its creativity, edginess and rawness. The vivid graffiti, rusty sculptures and cracked mosaic tiled walls stand in complete contrast to the delicacy and charm of old-town Ljubljana’s pastel-coloured and intricate architecture. The autonomous area hosts underground music events, and at night-time the concrete area becomes the focal point of the alternative culture scene. For those familiar with the legendary Antwerp Mansion, Metelkova is this, but ten times bigger and ten times more intense.

Ljubljana is the perfect spot for a short and sweet holiday. Spend even longer to explore Slovenia’s natural wonders. The fairy-tale Lake Bled is only 57km away, approximately an hour and a half by bus.

Fallowfeels: (pod)casting off

Written by evagerretsen on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Quite organically, Fallowfeels formed out of the conversations we shared on the slow Sundays of our first year. Usually over a hot drink, we would sit down and openly pin-point emotions that linked directly to our student experience. After realising the potential and relatability of these discussions, we brewed some more tea and started recording.

For both of us, podcast was a medium we had not used to express ourselves before. Initially, what drew us to it was the free flowing nature podcasts. In an era of editing and filters, the podcast remains somewhat raw – it therefore seemed the most appropriate form of media to form organic and opinionated discussions.

Additionally, it suits the conversational style we aim for – almost as if we’re inviting the listener into one of our chats. By doing this we hope that our experiences will somehow create a universal student voice. Beyond this, podcasts are easy to produce. Anyone with a phone can make a podcast. Fallowfeels is very basic meaning it places the quality of our conversations at the centre of the podcast.

Our first episode, recorded in one of our tiny student rooms, was shaky. There were quite a few ‘ums’, a few ‘do you know what I means’ and looped repetitions of ‘yeah, for sure, it’s so great, definitely’. News flash: these delightful idioms still remain. Nevertheless, we had an open chat about being a first year. We were wrestling with the potential identity crisis that you may face when going to uni and how to stay true to your originality.

With this, you might think of the emotional impact of Freshers as a head-on collision with insecurity. You find yourself asking is this the right uni? Am I on the right course? Will I make any friends? Well, we want to talk about it. This podcast was created on the premise that every feeling is valid and to provide a space to comfortably discuss those feelings.

We are not agony aunts, and we are definitely not telling you how to ‘do’ uni. We’re quite the opposite. After all, we are all blindly navigating this rather turbulent three year storm – the difference is that we are just recording it. To drown out the thunder with some lo-fi hip hop and nervous laughter is to discover that our fears are natural and shared.

Fallowfeels also features a discussion about our passions: literature, film, music, art and how such mediums affect us. This can often cause some debate – refer to our third episode, ‘Home’, for a feisty analysis of Mamma Mia 2. Other themes include imposter syndrome, our mothers, and what it’s like to move out of our family home. We believe to discuss these topics between us is a fantastic release, just as to listen to others discuss it can be.

Make sure to find us on Soundcloud. 

photo:WhitePaperGames

The Occupation delayed until February

Written by Jeremy Bijl on . Posted in Games.

The Occupation, White Paper Games’ upcoming title, has been delayed until the 5th of February, 2019, having previously been touted for an October 2018 release.

The Occupation sees you play as an investigative, whistle-blowing journalist in a fictionalised version of Manchester known as Turing. White Paper revealed to The Mancunion in March that the game’s architecture is inspired by the city of  Manchester, and would feature buildings based on the John Rylands Library and Manchester Town Hall.

Although the game is shaping up to be an interesting experience and has spent four years in development, White Paper Games felt that The Occupation could do with a little more time in the oven, writing in a blog post:

“We’ve decided to make the extremely tough decision and move the release date of The Occupation to February 5, 2019.”

“We know that right now the game is so close to being complete and ready to play, but we also know that there are some tweaks and improvements that we need to make in order for it to be something that we’re proud to release and an experience that we’re happy to hand over to you all.”

“We’ve spent the last four years living in the world of The Occupation so we see the short delay as a small sacrifice to make sure we create something that values your time.”

Whilst fans will undoubtedly be disappointed to have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on The Occupation, the decision to delay it will, as the studio rightly points out, result in a more assured product.

For White Paper, it will also have the benefit of meaning their release is no longer in the ultra-competitive pre-Christmas window, which sees a huge number of AAA releases.

The Occupation will be available on PC, Xbox One and PS4 on the 5th February 2019.

Photo: Angela Booth

Preview: ‘Titters and Tassels’ Burlesque and comedy show

Written by Anuli Changa on . Posted in Arts, Theatre.

Mandy Tootill works at the University of Manchester in media services and is a trained graphic designer. In 2009 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and talked to us about how “it changes your outlook” on life and her new Burlesque show.

Mandy admitted that she “used to hate talking in public,” but at a charity night at the Frog and Bucket, when she was five years clear of cancer, she decided to take a step outside her comfort zone — she tried stand up comedy. Upon stepping onto the stage, Mandy recounts that she was “terrified until they put the microphone in [her hand].” Her five-minute set that followed was an intimate look into her experience with breast cancer.

She matter of factly stated that “cancer is like Voldemort, we’re scared to say the word.” Her comedy, now in the form of her solo show Twin Peaks, aims to “break down the barriers” surrounding the taboo subject.

Mandy was keen to tell us more about ‘Titters and Tassels’, a show performed with her comedy partner Kerry Leigh under the names, Toots and Leigh. The two comics host a show consisting of burlesque acts “interjected with [comedy] sketches.” Despite seeming an odd combination, Mandy informed us that burlesque actually finds its roots in comedy; the word burlesque is derived from the Italian term ‘burla’, which translates as ‘a joke’.

Mandy explained that co-hosting ‘Titters and Tassels’ shows how comedy and burlesque can be “accessible to all.” Comparing the show to her solo performances, she explained that Toots and Leigh provide the “freedom to play with characters,” whereas ‘Twin Peaks’ is more personal.

To those who stigmatise burlesque and paint it as something ‘sleazy’, Mandy provides the challenge “come and see the show.” She described burlesque as “another performance art” which is all about personality and energy, stemming from the art of striptease. She added, however, that stripping isn’t a necessity in burlesque and that “it’s empowering, even as a spectator.”

The burlesque community is “endlessly supportive”, burlesque is not exclusively female performers, there are the amusing coined ‘boylesquers’. Mandy was clearly passionate about how inclusive burlesque is as an art form; all types of people can enjoy the show. ‘Titters and Tassels’ creates unity regardless of familiarity.

‘Titters and Tassels’ is coming to Manchester on the 14th October and promises to be a show not to be missed. Students will be pleased to hear that Toots and Leigh are offering a special student discount, follow the link below and enter code TOOTSANDLEIGH. We’ve definitely learnt that the ‘beauty of burlesque and comedy [is that] it’s for everyone’ and we can’t wait to see the show first hand!

‘Titters and Tassels’ event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/166830570851116/

Student discount link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/titters-and-tassels-student-offer-tickets-50488989928

By Anuli Changa and Bella Jewell

Photo: Laura Swain

PLY presents Oktoberfest

Written by lauraswain on . Posted in Food & Drink.

PLY; a bar and pizza parlour nestled in the heart of the buzzing Northern Quarter, recently played host to a 10-day-long celebration of all things Oktoberfest.

The event ran alongside the restaurant’s usual offering of a mouth-watering sourdough pizza menu and extensive range of drinks. Boasting the exclusive availability of many traditional German brews rarely accessible outside of Oktoberfest and Munich.

Excited to check out the event and eager to take advantage of the offers available, I visited the restaurant on a bustling Friday evening. I made the mistake of forgetting to make a reservation, but after a short wait I was quickly seated. Captivated by the Oktoberfest deal (who doesn’t love a bargain?), the offer of the themed pizza and two steins for £15 was jumped upon by both me and my friend.

The staff who served us were thankfully knowledgeable on their beer (unlike us) and able to recommend the Paulaner Oktoberfest and Augustiner Helles beers to accompany our ‘Best of the Wurst’ pizzas. Although the traditional German stein glasses we expected to see at such an event were absent, we both thoroughly enjoyed our beverages.

On request, the staff willingly accommodated to my friend’s dietary requirements, allowing them to sample a vegan version of the Oktoberfest pizza almost identical in appearance to the meat version, featuring vegan cheese and chorizo instead of bratwurst and Bavarian smoked cheese. The service was impeccable with our food arriving in what seemed like seconds after placing our order, pleasantly surprising due to the obvious busyness of the bar.

The converted space gives a modern, industrial feel to the bar accommodating to social occasions and large groups, but also providing a feeling of intimacy through the low lighting and inclusion of comfy sofas and smaller tables positioned to the side of the main area.

At times I did feel the music was too loud, but perhaps this is to be expected of a bar on a Friday night. Nevertheless, it didn’t take away from the general experience, and encouraged us to continue our night by venturing to further bars.

The Oktoberfest event has sadly now ended. PLY is still a great place to check out if you are looking to satisfy that pizza craving without being left deep in your overdraft or seeking somewhere  with the lively atmosphere required to get a night out in NQ started.

Food Waste. Photo: US Department of Agriculture @ Flickr

The world has a food waste problem

Written by Rosa Uijtewaal on . Posted in Opinion.

One of the most urgent issues facing authorities on a global and local level is food waste. Despite earlier international efforts to reduce food waste and eradicate world hunger, we still seem to be throwing an enormous amount of food away; up to 1.3 billion tonnes of food gets wasted each year, equating to around one-third of total global food production. Alessandro Demaio, the CEO of NGO EAT, which advises the UN on the issue of world hunger, says this amount of waste is “enough to feed all of the world’s hungry four times over.” Troublingly, the more developed a country becomes, the more wasteful; in the UK alone, 8.4 million people have difficulties with buying their meal, while 1.9 million tonnes is wasted annually. This puts the UK in the same bracket as Germany and the Netherlands as one of the most wasteful European countries.

Another major argument to reduce food waste is an environmental one. The greenhouse gases that arise from food produced and not eaten are so massive that they would compete with polluting giants like China and the US. That’s not even to mention the other general issues about storing the growing mountains of waste.

Although efforts have been made by the UK Government since 2007 to reduce food waste and supermarkets like Tesco are donating their leftover food to charity, the fact remains that consumers themselves are responsible for most of the food waste in the UK.

Not all food waste is avoidable, but far too much is. Reducing food waste or even recycling it requires a comprehensive cultural attitude change. That starts in the home and in families where the social rituals around food come from. We must create collective habits of cooking meals, freezing them and thus reducing overall waste by not letting food go bad.

Single parent households and young people from lower socio-economic groups tend to discard the most. Conversely, cultures of freezing and storing leftovers or doing more home cooking are often found in middle-class households — it is an attitude shift, not just information that will change how we deal with food waste.

The difficulty in addressing the food waste problem lies in the nonchalance we have developed with regards to food. Cheap food is everywhere and it is hardly necessary to cook anymore. We buy impulsively, forget about the food that is laying around in our kitchen, and go to fast food restaurants instead, purely because we feel like it. We are used to not having to give food much thought.

Food recycling needs to be convenient too for it to work; that’s where the Government comes in. It is essential for recycling to succeed to make it as attractive as possible. Let’s create an environment of recycling; explore options of local compost making, advertise to buy the not so pretty looking fruit and vegetables, and make donating/recycling as easy as buying. For recycling to work in every part of society and to start a cultural change we need a little financial incentive for citizens that donate their food or recycle their waste.

Photo: Wokandpix @ Pixabay

Loneliness epidemic strikes young people

Written by ingapiotrowska on . Posted in News.

A new BBC Radio 4 Survey examining attitudes and personal experiences of loneliness has revealed that it affects 16-24-year-olds more than any other age group.

Questions in the BBC Loneliness Survey were put to 55,000 people and were developed by academics by the University of Manchester, Brunel University London and the University of Exeter, with support in the form of a grant provided by The Welcome Collection.

The results of the survey revealed that 16-24-year-olds experience loneliness more intensely than any other age groups. 40% of the respondents aged 16-24 reported admitted to feeling lonely often or very often, while only 29% of those aged 65-74 said the same.

Researchers also found that people who feel lonely have more friendships based purely online. Only a third of respondents believe that loneliness is about the concept of being on your own, while 41% of them think that loneliness can sometimes be a positive experience. People also revealed that dating is the least helpful solution to loneliness suggested by others.

The University of Manchester’s Professor of Psychology Pamela Qualter, who led the study, commented on the significance of the findings in the context of different strategies of dealing with loneliness. She said: “For me, the most interesting findings relate to the stigma of loneliness and the varied solutions people had to overcome loneliness. These findings suggest that we need to be kinder to ourselves when we feel disconnected from others, but also that there is a whole toolkit of potential solutions that we can try.”

A group of students from a range of British universities were asked to comment on the recent findings. One student said, “I do feel lonely sometimes, however, I never get consumed by this feeling. I am doing a joint degree and the course is quite demanding, so I really have to put an effort not to lag behind. I have no capacity left to dwell upon my loneliness.”

Another student admitted that internet strongly influences the level of loneliness among young people: “I think that people feel more lonely and isolated because of social media and how they make them forget about their real-life friends.”

Claudia Hammond, presenter of Radio 4’s All in the Mind stressed the importance of tackling loneliness among young people: “This research shows we need to take loneliness seriously in all age groups. We know that most loneliness is temporary, but we need to find ways to prevent it from becoming chronic.”

BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind, to be broadcast on Monday 1 October 2018 at 8 pm, will further discuss the results of the survey. Then, from Tuesday 2 October, a new series titled The Anatomy of Loneliness will break down the research into three programmes, and a series of podcasts titled How You Can Feel Less Lonely will feature Claudia Hammond and Professor Pamela Qualter discussing a number of solutions and coping mechanisms to deal with loneliness.

Photo: Max Pixel

‘We are not banning clapping’, Students’ Union clarifies

Written by Amy Wei on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester Students’ Union (SU) have produced a press release clarifying their controversial new policy voted through Senate last week, which originally resolved to “swap audible clapping out for British Sign Language (BSL) clapping at SU events”.

The motion was voted through with a two-thirds majority on Thursday 27th September. It quickly drew national media coverage, as well as a series of Twitter attacks from Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan.

The language in the original policy, proposed to Senate by Liberation & Access Exec Officer Sara Khan, resolved: “to swap audible clapping out for BSL clapping at SU events in order to make them more accessible”, and secondly, “to encourage student groups and societies to do the same, and to include BSL clapping as a part of inclusion training.”

However, the SU have since clarified in a new official statement that they “are not banning audible clapping” and that the policy resolves to “encourage British Sign Language (BSL) clapping during our democratic events only.

The Students’ Union holds a huge number of events, including gigs, theatre productions and sport. This policy has no bearing on those events which make up the majority of a packed calendar at the SU.”

Photo: Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan tweeted a screenshot of The Mancunion’s original coverage. Photo: Piers Morgan

The SU also states that, despite the loud and public backlash the policy earned: “we also received many positive responses from disabled students (some of whom who were deaf or autistic), who were delighted to feel more included in our democratic process. Some of them will be coming for the first time, thanks to this policy.

“We believe that in those politically-focused events – where students’ voices are being amplified – as many people as possible should feel comfortable attending in order for as many people as possible to have their voices heard.

“Silent clapping was first introduced in Ancient Greece, with people waving their handkerchiefs. This way of silent clapping has been used over the years at many events, from Beethoven’s concerts to a variety of sports games. It is rarer to see people carrying handkerchiefs in their pockets since the 19th century.

“This change in society has led to BSL clapping (where individuals twist their hands), which was first seen in 1985, in France at the French Deaf People’s National Convention. This way of cheering was then also used in the UK at several events and more recently during NUS Conferences and Sisters Uncut’s meetings.

“Our aim is to be as inclusive as possible; we welcome everyone to be involved in our decision making processes. If you have any innovative ideas to make our democratic events even more inclusive, we encourage diverse voices to contact us, we will be more than happy to have a chat with you and improve our services.”

The next Senate session on Thursday, 8th November. All members of the University of Manchester Students’ Union are welcome to attend.

Photo: Freedom To Marry @flickr

This Ain’t A Scene: the changing genre of pop-punk

Written by Eleanor Roberts on . Posted in Music.

Many of us picture pop-punk as inherently linked with swooping fringes, all-black clothing, and a deep-seated hatred of our hometowns. However, it can be noted that this is also something usually seen as a fleeting moment in musical history, peaking in the mid-to-late noughties with albums such as Fall Out Boy’s 2005 record From Under The Cork Tree. Pop-punk’s temporary moment in the sun is seen to have faded and, in many cases, morphed into another genre.

The aforementioned Fall Out Boy faced criticism from old die-hard fans this January following the release of Mania, an album which can be described as electronic as much as anything else. The closely-linked Panic! At The Disco reached new levels of fame after 2013’s Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! and especially 2015’s Death Of A Bachelor. The band are currently touring for this year’s album Pray For The Wicked, a record which experiments with multiple sounds but can easily be slotted into the genre of pop. Even Sleeping With Sirens, who are linked to metalcore as closely as they are to pop-punk, released Gossip in 2017; as with those mentioned above, the album is definitively pop-influenced, unlike the band’s old genres.

But why are these bands moving away from the pop-punk sound? Generally, the argument is seen to be relevance. A general trend towards pop as a sound may be suggested to be a cause of the changing style, and thus continuing sales. For the less cynical, perhaps this may instead be attributed to an increased maturity in the writers. Since their formation, Fall Out Boy have aged 17 years; although the margin of time is smaller for many other bands, a lot of the first bands on the scene were teenagers, moving away from their home cities for the first time and leaving a trail of “I hate this town”s in their wake.

It must, of course, be noted that the genre is not dead by any means. Its resurgence has introduced bands such as Neck Deep, and old hands on the scene have continued displaying a level of their original sound within their albums. Indeed, All Time Low, who have been active throughout the pinnacles and pitfalls of pop-punk’s popularity, released a single (‘Everything Is Fine’) at the start of the summer, which made use of a combination of their older and newer sounds.

Interestingly, at least one band has decided that a move should be made from pop-punk, not towards the softer pop sound, but rather to another, even more, abandoned style – emo. The band As It Is released their new album, The Great Depression, at the start of August, and along with it moved from what some may argue to be the epitome of stereotypical pop-punk to a slightly harder (and definitively less optimistic) format. Even the aesthetic of the band has changed, with lead singer Patty Walters’ fashion particularly moving to reflect that of Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong or even My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way during the Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge era.

Despite movements away from the genre, pop-punk remains a large influence in the lives of its followers. Its fans praise the witty lyrics, the guitar riffs, and the general (occasionally surprising) attitude of self-positivity.

Whether the casual listener is a fan or not, it seems as if pop-punk will remain a genre which is firmly cemented in our culture.