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Month: January 2019

The profit mine of student housing

A recent investigation by The Mancunion has revealed that student rents in Manchester are disproportionately higher than prices for standard lets. With an average of a £17 increase on the market prices, student housing in Fallowfield and Withington has highlighted the way higher education reinforces class-based inequalities.

Those whose families can afford such high rents are able to attend university safe in the knowledge that they will always have enough disposable income. Therefore, the wealthiest students are able to enjoy the full experience of university, not just the academic aspect, but the social and cultural side which is presented as such an integral part of your early 20s.

Even the highest student loans would struggle to stretch to high rents and still enable students to afford as high a quality of life as some of the richest. Students from less well off families cannot afford to eat as well or exercise as regularly because good quality food and gym memberships cannot be prioritised above housing and bills.

Being able to go out for dinner, or go to the pub, or the cinema and theatre are not wild luxuries which only the elite should have access to. This inequality of leisure is especially prevalent at university when time for relaxation and fun is so crucial to maintaining mental and physical health.

One third-year student has reported that his total loan leaves him just £100 to live on for the whole year after he has paid his rent. Many in this position are forced into part-time work during term time which can be disruptive to studying, as well as restricting their participation in extra-curricular activities or joining societies, or even just being able to have proper lie-ins at the weekend.

Of course there are bursaries and scholarships, however these wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t a safe assumption that the beneficiaries would be the minority. If the University were to support the housing costs of every student who couldn’t comfortably afford their rents they would be bankrupt.

Students are targeted for high rents because they are assumed to be members of the wealthy elites; a class apart regardless of their geography. This makes university, or at least an enjoyable experience of it, the preserve of the richest students, and alienates those from poorer or working-class backgrounds.

As The Mancunion’s investigation highlighted, landlords seek to capitalise on students’ inexperience in negotiating housing contracts or dealing with bills. The report highlights how some landlords overcharge for utilities in ‘bills included’ contracts, and some charge full rent for the summer months despite not allowing their tenants to live in the property.

Clearly, students are seen as profit mines and are universally treated as the rich and stupid. This is insulting to those who do come from wealthy backgrounds, and it is profoundly damaging to the poorest who want to attend university. The image of university as the preserve of the upper classes becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; because it is assumed that they will be the majority of those attending university, the costs of attending beyond just the fees are tailored towards them.

The exploitation of students’ finances alienates those most easily dissuaded from attending university. The culture of privilege which has dogged higher education through history is only reinforcing itself and perpetuating the toxic inequalities of wider British society.

EP Review: King Of The Dudes by Sunflower Bean

Sunflower Bean are back in the spotlight to represent the New York indie-rock scene with their new punchy pop/rock EP King Of The Dudes.

Throughout their career, Sunflower Bean are a band who have appeared to be struggling with finding a distinct sound. Their debut album Human Ceremony, released back in 2016, tried multiple genre approaches, with tracks going from psychedelic pop straight to metal. A slightly different approach was taken in their second album, Twentytwo In Blue, which carried a more confident soft rock sound, slightly mimicking that of an early Fleetwood Mac. And now in 2019, coming in at four tracks long, new EP King Of The Dudes sees Sunflower Bean take yet another new approach to their music, moving into a more punk rock sound than on their previous work. It’s nice to hear the band experiment and slowly develop their sound. However, something still seems to be missing from the band and, much more importantly, their music.

Opening the EP is the title track ‘King Of The Dudes’. On the first listen it is a bass heavy track with lead singer Julia Cumming chanting about being strong and self-confident. On closer listen, this song has a seemingly subtle underlying theme of needing someone, with the chorus chanting “I’m the King of the Dudes, if you want me to be.” This is a somewhat unnerving line, implying a rather outdated sense of Cummings only being strong and powerful, specifically a “king”, but only if someone else tells her to be. For a band trying to stay ahead of music trends, they have really missed the mark with the lyrics to this song.

The lead single from King Of The Dudes is the track ‘Come For Me’. It’s a pretty punchy pop song, and there’s even a nice guitar solo during the bridge. ‘Come For Me’ seems to be about standing up to someone, with the band boldly claiming that “When I hit, I hit hard”. It’s an empowering song, and there’s an upbeat staccato guitar riff to match this, but this song seems underdeveloped in a way. It starts off bold and then seems to stay there for the entire three minutes and 29 seconds. Sunflower Bean are being courageous on the outside, but the music behind the lyrics still seems scared and unsure of itself. It’s an interesting juxtaposition to hear.

The best track on King Of The Dudes has to be ‘Fear City’. The band takes a much-needed pause and reflection, a seemingly introspective moment. The track is more similar to their older sound but has the underlying punk rock sound that the band has been trying so badly to show off in this new EP. What is different on this song compared to the others on the EP is that it is actually interesting to listen to. The guitar riffs change throughout the song, which is subtle but adds so much more depth to the song.

The heavy punk rock track ‘The Big One’ brings this forgettable EP to a close. At a guess, this track is trying to mock traditional rock ‘n’ roll culture, with Cummings opening the song with the line “bury me in a bed of silk and women” — a line distinctly lacking originality. The band have definitely been the most confident with their sound on this track, and it’s not a bad song, but if they wanted to move into punk rock why didn’t they stick with it for the entirety of the EP? ‘The Big One’ is a good end song to the EP, but it doesn’t really fit with the other three tracks.

Where will Sunflower Bean go from here? Will they turn to punk rock? Or will they run back to their old soft rock sound that pushed them into the global indiesphere in the first place? Sunflower Bean are evidently a bit lost with their sound. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but how can they expect their fans to believe in the music they’re releasing when they don’t seem to believe in it themselves?

4/10

Review: Beautiful Boy

Felix Van Groeningen truly changed the sub-genre of teenage drama with Beautiful Boy. Based on the memoirs of Nic and David Sheff, we see the heart-wrenching events of eighteen-year-old, Nic’s (Timothee Chalamet) struggle with a methamphetamine addiction, and his father’s (Steve Carell) desperate attempt to help. The dynamic between the family fluctuates as a mutual understanding is searched for, and is well-portrayed by the actors.

Stories about youth have been a dominant narrative for decades and are beginning to sound like an overplayed record. However, if you anchor one of these stories in a true and reeling narrative that tackles an issue affecting the lives of many, it is possible to discover something new and beautiful.

Chalamet was a seamless choice to play a lost adolescent, despite his acting being reminiscent of his character in Call Me By Your Name. Both him and Carell show a vulnerability that allows for an exploration of masculinity and manhood in distress. There is not a single moment where this film feels like a reconstruction depicting two men in crisis and transcends a scripted drama. The film also has its subtleties that intensify the raw nature of the performances. The use of sound is enticing, with its tranquil ambience put amongst the chaos of the story.

To see an anti-glorification of drugs along with a reflection of life in all its messy truth is enlightening, even in its sadness. With the use of flashbacks, despite them being misleading and convoluting at times, we see ongoing affliction alongside the characters’ fond memories which force you to experience a mixture of emotions in these moments of nostalgia and pain.

However, this film is altogether defined by its lasting message; the importance of togetherness, and how people, even in isolation and addiction, cannot suffice without it. This is epitomised in a single close up of the father, David, holding Nic recovering from an overdose leaving the hospital and entering the light of the blooming garden. This shot alone encompasses why the film is one of true heart; it highlights human fragility, in addiction and compassion.

It’s okay to use someone as a crutch, even when prone to suffering alone. And I believe that any person viewing this, whether affected by addiction or otherwise, will feel heartbroken, alleviated, and somehow everything in between.

4.5/5

Déjà-Review: Twilight

Twilight has quietly slipped past its 10 year anniversary and in honour of this momentous event, a friend and I re-watched it. It was disconcerting that we could remember almost the entire script between us, such is the legacy of ‘tweenage’ obsession.

Much of the criticism directed at the film is justified, and I won’t seek to rehash it. I will argue though, that Twilight was also a victim of a culture that delights in tearing down whatever young girls like. Catherine Hardwicke’s direction is coolly gorgeous, a masterpiece of cinematography comprised of moody blues and shifting shadows, aerial shots of the Pacific Northwest along with its mist and epic pine trees.

She also captures with painful and tender accuracy the reality of adolescence. Unlike a lot of other teen dramas, Hardwicke’s characters actually seem to spend time in lessons. The sets – including the cloistered biology classroom, the tiny cafeteria, the rain blurring Forks, Washington – evoke that first crush feeling, the awful yet wonderful feeling of proximity. Another commendable feature is the score; painstakingly atmospheric with its throbbing bass guitar, rolling drums and violin, although I couldn’t suppress a smile at its ripples of the emo music scene.

In terms of the script, I found it far funnier than it gets credit for upon a re-watch – who could forget “it’s the fluorescence?” I think I took Twilight quite seriously at ten, because at that age, to be seventeen was impossibly mature, and it reflected my yearning for adolescence. As life reflects art, our courtship was quick and addictive. I burned through the film openings, the Paramore tracks, the branded t-shirts. Later, my relationship with it frayed, as the chauvinism and emotional abuse veiled within became apparent.

But there’s a reason that’s closer to home for the ‘Twihard’ backlash, and it’s been overlooked. Bella’s self-reverential importance causes annoyance especially because we are all just a little too aware how close a representation she is of ourselves at that age. Much like Romeo and Juliet, as referenced in New Moon, Twilight is a quintessential teen film if you realise what it’s about: obsession, not love. Obsession with others and obsession with yourself. I had intended to write something insightful about Twilight, something a little wry and just slightly scornful. Instead I sat back and enjoyed Edward waltzing into school in his Ray Bans to ‘Spotlight’ by Mutemath.

Looking back at Twilight, much like adolescence, there’s a fondness there that will never quite fade, but examining it too closely or critically just isn’t rewarding. For all its faults, the film reminds me of being young, naïve, and overenthusiastic.

After we watched it, my friend and I discussed how much we’d always longed to do a road trip in the Pacific Northwest, tour the landscape with which we’d felt such a connection all those years ago. We’ll probably never do it, but there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism.

4/5.

Five hundred friends and no-one to talk to

Over fifty percent of people say they do not need to see friends regularly because of social media. The campaign Time for Change has released new data suggesting that face to face friendships are on the decline. In an era where one in four people suffer from mental health problems, social media may be inhibiting the development of vital relationships.

Social media platforms boast their ability to create connections between people. They design spaces where we can both receive and give out information about ourselves to anyone. Indeed, many relationships are formed across networking platforms. The rise of dating apps such as Tinder show an increasing desire to start online relationships. The success of these platforms is their convenience. You can receive instant updates about your friends and family, and feel you need never ask how they are. However, social media may be having a negative impact on our real-life relationships.

Recent light has been shed on the false nature of sites such as Instagram, where people present a rose-tinted version of their lives. By only ever showing the highlights, people fail to remember the reality of the lives behind the screen. According to Time to Change, 1 in 5 people feel they could not speak to any one they have a social media connection to about their mental health. It seems that where people use to have fewer, closer friends, they now have more friends who know less about them.

Friendships are being reduced to likes, shares and mentions. Most people only frequently interact with friends via social media, meaning that the depth of their conversations is minimal. A look into group chats revealed that they encourage surface-level conversation. It appears that for all the sharing we do on social media, there is no designated space for serious talk.

Time For Change is calling for a better use of social media. It encourages people to use social platforms to arrange face to face meetings. More than half of adults only use social media to like or comment on friends’ posts. Time to Change argues that social media can enhance our social interactions if used correctly. Instead of only interacting via Facebook, you can use social media to discover events near you. The breadth of information available online concerning events and activities could contribute to a more fulfilling social life.

These new statistics run in conjunction with the launch of Time to Talk Day on 7th February. Time to Talk Day is an awareness campaign which seeks to raise awareness of mental health and the benefits of talking about it. Celebrities such as Fern Cotton and brands like PG tips work in conjunction with the UK-wide event, which is now in its sixth year.

You can find out more about Time to Talk Day at: www.time-to-change.org.uk

In defence of the New Year’s resolution

We love a festive platitude, especially those which emanate a sense of rest, joy, and unity. Or, even better, those which provide weak qualification for certain uncalled for or slovenly actions. We justify various binge-behaviours with a slurred: ‘but it’s Christmassssss!’ You do not need me to tell you how marketable the myth is.

This time of year requires a very particular store of spare energy from the ‘FAMILY’ tank – a reserve of patience and frustration you often forget you have. There’s the added fun of no-one your age around and as a result, enforced chastity. You’ll inevitably try phone sex in your childhood bedroom. As you try very hard to hold onto your mobile and muffle the loud whirring of your recently acquired vibrator, you become acutely aware that the door to your parents’ bedroom is across the landing and ajar. Not to mention the abundance of the family Christmas platter and inevitable overeating. Under the pretence of needing a wee you will gnaw surreptitiously at the cheesecake in the fridge while the family watch Strictly.

Then, of course, comes the sibling warfare. Unless your parents blessed you with their undivided attention, you need at least 11 months of really good insults and/or embarrassing Instagram stories stock-piled. Even if you have agreed on a temporary truce (I won’t tell mum about your nipple piercing), come washing-up time they disappear completely. You are left betrayed and outflanked by grease-covered pans. Without allies. Without Empire. No one will remember or care that you are a vegetarian as you scrub at the turkey dish, and your meek protestations will not be heard over the Queen’s speech.

We regurgitate this list of trials and tribulations every year. You hope that this year will be better followed by the crushing disappointment that it is not. It is our favourite moan. Our favourite topic to roll the eyes to and greet with an abject sigh. Come New Year’s Eve and your ‘FAMILY’ tank will be empty apart from maybe a 2L bottle of gin. Alongside the drinking (and usually proceeded by it) is the greatest festive platitude of them all: “New Year, New Me”. What this demonstrates is how narcissistic our New Year’s resolutions are, and of course, how often they involve sentiments of so-called “self-improvement”. I have compiled a list of some of the most popular*:

  • I will lose a stone.
  • I will read more/watch the news more/engage with a variety of cultural mediums/ have more interesting things to say at parties/ become the brooding intellectual who sits in the corner smoking and reading a paperback.
  • I will meditate or something.
  • I will visit more greenspaces, which the city I live in actually has loads of but I’ve become too accustomed to the great indoors and that’s really quite shameful because there’s a park not 500 metres away and I know this because my supertoned neighbour is always out jogging and tells me about how nice it is to jog in these fast-dwindling green spaces and I find myself more and more reluctant to leave in order to validate her perfectly modest, unaggressive and healthy habits but most of all her really lovely muscular legs.

Never fully accomplished, these resolutions hang about your consciousness like pig’s corpses in the Butcher-shop window; grotesque, in-your-face, smelling of blood and failure. I asked some people I know if they were making any resolutions this year. They all said no .This somewhat confirmed my belief that we belong to the generation of the apathetic. Maybe this is who we are, or maybe it’s just a bad case of teenage indifference which resurfaces when you’re obliged to spend time in your family home. The lack of resolution in the face of a bleak January ahead, which didn’t surprise me, did however sadden me. Not because I would enjoy the failure of my friends (although, I wouldn’t mind if they stopped being so successful, kind and beautiful and got on my level), but because I really like the sentiment of the resolution.

That January the 1st – which looks an awful lot like December the 31st- can set off such a surge of inspiration. It is an almost cloying drive to see the world differently and do things in a different way. Perhaps part of the reason these resolutions are so quick to dwindle is because the available stock of self-improvement(s) are unabashedly self-involved.

In this respect I believe my family to be truly revolutionary. Instead of resolutions we make ‘pledges’ to each other, promising to do something for another in the family. The aim is to encourage a more conscientious approach to the year ahead. But even if you fail, your family, like mine, might be the most forgiving of your fickle and childish forgetfulness. They will let you off the hook far more easily than you might yourself. We are our own most virulent enemies. Perhaps focusing on someone else might be the best kind of peace treaty.

So, I tell you this: relish the regularity of medium-to-well-done family bickering. Make the most of the turkey fat now caked firmly in your hair for the next month. And finally, shrug yourself into a humble stupor at the failed promises to yourself and others. You are not perfect. Christmas is not perfect. New Years Eve is not perfect. But at least you have 2L of gin and a vibrator.

*Total conjecture. But, let’s be honest we’ve all hear em at some point.

Oscar Nominations 2019

The current controversy surrounding the now hostless Oscars means the spotlight shining on this year’s nominations is even brighter. Kevin Hart recently backed out of the role following the backlash after a number of his homophobic tweets resurfaced. Hart initially refused the academy’s request to apologise, claiming he did not want to add fuel to the fire of internet trolling. Ironic, considering the derogatory nature of his own tweets.

So, another attempt at diversification by a historically non-diverse institution, has quickly turned sour. Lest we forget Chris Rock’s hosting alongside the #OscarsSoWhite boycott in 2016 did ultimately serve as a powerful tool of enlightenment in terms of the lack of diversity within the Oscars, unlike this incident. Sadly, Hart’s refusal to host is a reminder of the many types of prejudice that still need to be overcome within the industry and as a result, the pressure on the academy to be wholly representative in their nominations is more intense than ever.

This year, 928 new members were invited to join the academy in an attempt to increase diversity, which at first glance appears positive. However, this initiative was launched in response to the 2016 boycott which forces the question: was this just done to pacify those who boycotted? Furthermore, assuming all those invited accept, the number of women and people of colour would both only increase by a small margin. Whilst this is disappointing, I would like to consider the potential positive impact achieved by this small increase by taking a look at this year’s best picture nominations.

First and foremost, I was thrilled to see BlacKkKlansman on the list in addition to Spike Lee’s first Best Director nomination. The timing of this film’s release felt so disturbingly perfect and its nomination hopefully means it won’t be forgotten any time soon. The subtler allegorical story telling of Black Panther is also very deserving of its place on this list, sweetened by fact it is a superhero blockbuster and one of the highest grossing films of all time. Roma is another significant nominee; its semi-autobiographical narrative portrays life in 1970s Mexico with Yalitza Aparicio being nominated for a Best Actress award.

Sadly, these changes will not happen over night but this year’s nominations for Best Picture indicates that the stories for and by minority groups are beginning to receive some of the accolades they deserve. If the academy continues to increase the diversity of its members then maybe they can accelerate these much-needed changes. The current political climate, especially in the US, means that these stories need more airtime than ever, and the Oscars is a talking point that can be instrumental in making this happen.

Interview: the Manchester students hiking to Everest Base Camp

Imagine a long, lazy summer ahead of you once you have finished your degree, with perhaps a graduate scheme waiting for you in September, or maybe a nice gap year where you can go and discover yourself. Now imagine, instead of all that, the thought of trekking all the way to Everest Base Camp in order to raise money for a worthy cause. Really, there’s no comparison.

This is what a group of University of Manchester students are undertaking this September, organised by Raise and Give, an organisation which helps students get involved in charity fundraising. On the 28th January I had the opportunity to attend a fundraising event at Cubo for the Everest Trek where I spoke with Rachel Thomson, who is the Everest Challenge Leader, and Florence Wilks Costalas, about their upcoming trip and the challenges they’re facing.

The hike to Everest Base Camp is in aid of Action Against Hunger, a global charity which seeks to end child hunger by making sure people have access to safe food and water. The team of students who are taking part are composed of all different year groups and subjects, brought together by their interest in Raise and Give. Rachel, who studies biology, and Florence, who studies Biomedical Sciences with Spanish are both final year students, and its clear that they’re excited about being part of a project like this.

“I’ve always wanted to get involved, [the opportunity] sounded incredible, to raise a lot of money and people get behind you and you go on this huge adventure,” Rachel explains, “and the charity gets a lot from it, it’s a cool thing to do.” Its not the first time she’s done something like this, as back in her first year she participated in Jailbreak, where she made it to Oslo from Manchester in less than 30 hours.

It’s Florence’s first time taking part in an event like this, but Rachel’s enthusiasm has certainly rubbed off on her. “I’d heard the trek advertised by RAG, but equally Rachel is the leader and one of my friends, so it sounded like an appealing idea,” she smiles. “I came to the meetings, [explaining the work of] action against hunger, it sounded achievable that they wanted to eradicate hunger in the next 30 years. It’s a good thing to get involved in.”

Although its certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity, the trek does sound rather gruelling. “It lasts nine days, including [days for] acclimatisation, we get to stop off in traditional huts,” Rachel tells me. The base camp itself is at around 5,380m above sea level, so acclimatisation is vital to ward off altitude sickness. They are planning on training for the hike by going to the Peak district and completing gym workouts, with Rachel joking that they’ll “go for a little run together”.

Its not just the trek itself which is challenging, but also the organisation and fundraising which goes into it. Rachel and Florence, along with their nine other team mates, signed up for the trip in September, so they’ve had to plan everything alongside their university studies.

“We have deadlines for each section of fundraising, which can be difficult with exams and things,” Florence informs me. “Cubo have been really good with fundraising things, but its difficult making sure we’ve covered everything.” It’s clear that they put a lot of effort into their fundraising activities, with the event in January featuring a DJ, glow sticks and donuts, making it easy for people to contribute.

Hosting events like this not only raises money, but it also allows other people to help with the cause too, “Even if you’re not actively doing the whole challenge, just getting friends involved with fundraising, it all helps the greater good.”

So, how do they feel about their upcoming adventure? “At the moment, it hasn’t hit yet. The fundraising challenge is the main thing right now,” Florence says. “But what other time in our lives will we do this again?”

For Rachel, the sense of accomplishment is spurring her on: “The next day it’ll all be worth it, having the relief of having done it and seeing the sunset from up there.”

The team have got some more fundraisers in the pipeline between now and September, with plans to do pub quizzes and possibly a Tough Mudder. On the 9th of February they’ll be raising money in Manchester, so if you spot any Action Against Hunger buckets be sure to donate.

 

 

Tuition fees for two-year degrees to rise to over £11,000

MPs have backed legislation that could see the price of completing a two-year undergraduate degree rise to £11,100 a year, from the £9,250 per year of a traditional three-year course. Universities will be given the option to choose to charge students any fee up to the £11,100.

Accelerated two-year degrees allow students to graduate a year earlier than from the standard three-year programme, having undergone a more intensive academic structure.

The price students must pay to complete their degree early through this structure is £1,750 extra per year, with yearly fees of three-year degrees being capped at £9,250 per year. The larger fee is justified by greater amount of teaching time required for students to complete a two-year programme.

Overall, students on a two-year course will save £5,500 to complete their degree. The Department of Education has stated this also offers students the opportunity to save on maintenance costs they would have otherwise paid for a third year at university.

A hope is that the new optional system will ease the debt burden that students are left with after completing their degree.

Matt Waddup, head of policy at the University and College Union, has commented on the government’s need to fix a system that avoids such colossal debt.

“Instead of gimmicks which risk undermining the international reputation of our higher education sector, the government should focus on fixing the underlying problems with our current finance system which piles huge debts on students.

“This decision is not about increasing real choice for students, it is about allowing for-profit companies access to public money through the student loans system.

“Without proper safeguards, accelerated degrees will quickly become devalued, but the government shows no signs that it understands this.”

The Mancunion has reached out to students at the University of Manchester for comment on the proposed two-year degree system.

Eve Hudson, a third year Law student, says that two-years degrees “sound like a great idea in practice, but surely would just augment the pressure and stress levels students already face.”

The problem of a possible too-high workload has been echoed by shadow minister for higher education Gordon Marsden, as well as the further issue of the higher cost per year it will entail for students.

“The government have pressed ahead with the increase despite the very serious questions about access for disadvantaged students, workload for university staff and guaranteeing the quality of university education.”

Another worry is that rushing a degree could prevent students from getting the most out of their university experience.

“I just feel like cutting a degree by a third is cutting students’ time to make use of resources, access amazing facilities, and network with staff and students through different societies,” says third year Biomedical Sciences student Eamonn Corrigan.

“I’d love to be here for another year and meet more people.”

Some students, however, have posited that two-year degrees could allow for easier exam preparation.

Mark Burrell, an Electronic Engineering third year who is undertaking a four-year integrated master’s degree, says: “For my course I think this easily could be done. If they made them seven or eight week terms with exams at the end then the content would be fresher in my mind, with no real extra stress.

“Labs would be the only difficult thing, logistically.”

Two-year degrees are currently not offered by the University of Manchester but can be completed at 15 universities across the UK, including Northumbria University and Anglia Ruskin University.

LGBT History Month 2019 begins in Manchester

This February marks the 25th annual LGBT History Month.

The theme of 2019’s LGBT History Month is ‘Peace, Reconciliation, and Activism’. Key figures from LGBT history will be highlighted throughout the campaign, namely Brazilian human rights activist Marielle Franco and Magnus Hirschfield, who in 1897 founded the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, making it the first ever LGBT rights organisation.

Also highlighted will be renowned British poet and novelist Robert Graves and Marsha P. Johnson, a gay rights activist and drag queen.

The grass-roots initiative was launched by the LGBT education charity Schools OUT UK, with the aim of giving identifying LGBT persons the opportunity to claim their past as they work towards the future. It is now widely recognised by education and arts institutions nationwide.

At the centre of the education campaign will be OUTing the Past, a festival of work showcasing LGBT history and present. Running for two months from 1st February, the festival is being held across the world, with 15 events taking place in the UK and Ireland and a further three in the USA, Sweden, and Norway.

Across locations there will be over 100 presentations and lectures by activists and academics, as well as theatre pieces. Subjects speakers will cover include LGBT people in sport and the work of organisations such as LGBT rights groups and LGBT unions.

More specific topics covered will be the history of rural lesbians, the transgender contribution to music, and the history of LGBT Vikings in Norway and Sweden. Attendees will also get to hear stories of historical figures such as Anne Lister and Mary McIntosh.

Manchester’s People History Museum will host the city’s own hub of OUTing the Past. Taking place will be new play ‘First Rumours’, which focusses on the much-contested Labour Party candidacy of Peter Tatchell in the early 1980s. The election in question saw the biggest voter swing in modern political history following an extremely homophobic campaign used against him.

The play, written by playwright-in-residence Stephen M. Hornby, will be shown on 10th February and will be followed by a Q&A with Tatchell himself.

LGBT History Month co-chair Sue Sanders says: “For too long, LGBT people have been hidden or lied to by omission so we wish to enable people to learn about the immense contributions we’ve made to this country and beyond, thus challenging negative stereotypes and homophobia.

“We also aim to make LGBT people in all our diversity visible and proud.”

A Roundup of The Fashion Bloggers Of Manchester

For many, the iconic look to be continually associated with Manchester would be one which resembles a 90’s, Liam Gallagher-esque ensemble. Yet since becoming the global capital of fast-fashion and housing big money brands such as Boohoo, Nasty Gal, PrettyLittleThing, and Missguided, the city’s style has certainly entered a new chapter. Homing so many brands that depend upon and credit their success to the influencer marketing model has, in turn, created vast opportunities for eager fashion bloggers.

This article compiles a list of our fashion influencers from our home town of Manchester who all comprise the city’s style and excitement to provide continual inspiration.

 

@Ellenbrockygirl: Ellen is a Manchester-based fashion blogger, who loves to mix statement pieces alongside a continual laid-back, street style vibe.  Often found mixing patterns with a trusty basic leather jacket, if you’re looking for a girl next door vibe then there’s no need to look any further.

 

@Domain_Esdale: not only is he the co-founder of influential collective The Manchester Fashion Industry, Domain is worthy of mention for his continual commitment to cutting edge trends whilst still maintaining a level of sophistication. From on-trend smart-wear to casual streetwear, if you’re a guy looking for refined style inspiration for every occasion, we’ve found the perfect fashion blogger for you!

 

@Mossonyi: from a cute pink corduroy suit paired with the latest Chloeé bag, there’s never a dull moment on the Instagram of Mossonyi. Looking through the ‘gram with a pink shaded hue,  be prepared for a dose of wanderlust which may appear too nice to be taken on the drizzly streets of Manchester!

 

@DavidJamesseed: Tired of seeing fashion bloggers in their latest designer ensemble? For many, when you think of a fashion blogger, your first thought might be someone who is dressed from label to label with an unattainable price tag. This is where David is a breath of fresh air in a deeply saturated and predictable industry. His ‘niche’ and signature feature is finding affordable brands that everyone can not only draw inspiration from but also actually afford.

 

@LydiaJanetomlinson: Founder of The Millennial Girls Guide, Youtuber, and all-around fashion guru Lydia exudes sophistication. Although favouring more exclusive designer labels with a handbag collection to die for, Lydia collaborates with many fast fashion brands to provide easily replicable looks and everyday styling tips.

 

@FreyaFarrington: Self-confessed ‘lover of neutrals’, this Manchester blogger has quite possibly one of the most aesthetically pleasing Instagrams out there. Favouring basics over labels, Freya will have you wondering how she keeps her whites so clean and effortless!  Something that isn’t so possible with University standard washing machines.

 

@Becwatkinson: Think matrix style mini glasses, hoodies and oversized jackets. Bec is fashion-forward and mixes fast-fashion brands with designer accessories making her look lustworthy on a budget.

 

@Whatemmadid: last but certainly no means least, this lady oozes sophistication, class and has possibly the sleekest hair in Manchester. A Youtuber, Blogger, and Bridal Makeup Artist, Emma is the epitome of fashion and beauty.

Lowry and the Pre-Raphaelites

Located below the North Bay of Manchester’s Media City, The Lowry is currently exhibiting a Pre-Raphaelite exhibition alongside the works of the man himself, L. S. Lowry. While Media City buzzes with energy, the contrast with the quiet and relaxed exhibition provides a moment of personal solace in the midst of the hussle and bussle of Manchester life.

The exhibition began with the Pre-Raphaelites. The sheer quantity and variety of works exhibited felt like a true immersion in the Victorian era, while the meticulous detail and rich colours of the Pre-Raphaelite oil paintings still remains vivid in my mind.

The 19th century reformist student group, also known as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, were largely students at the Royal Academy. In an act of rebellion against the Academy’s traditional artistic standards, the Pre-Raphaelites collaborated to create an artistic style which was certainly niche for its day.

The student-teacher disagreement stemmed from the work of 16th century artist, Raphael, who was deemed by the Pre-Raphaelites to corrupt art with his imagined and elaborated religious images that were untrue to reality. Thus the Pre-Raphaelites’ core motivation was in opposition to the artistic style of the Raphael, seeking to paint something closer to realism.

The next room transitioned into the famous works of Manchester’s very own, L. S. Lowry, and it came as a pleasant surprise to be reintroduced to the distinct characters of his works that I had grown up with as a child. Through Lowry’s appreciation and admiration of Pre-Raphaelite art, a definite affinity between the Pre-Raphaelite collection and Lowry’s works was revealed, which I was certainly unaware of prior to the exhibition.

Members of the Pre-Raphaelite group, such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the second-wave of artists which included Ford Madox Brown and Edward Burne-Jones, feature frequently throughout the exhibition as Lowry’s personal favourites.

The recurring nature of some of Lowry’s most famous featured characters such as ‘Ann’ was inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite tendency to depict their female subjects in several environments and emotional states.

The synergy of these two movements, however, does not stop there. In the same way that the female subjects of the Pre-Raphaelites appear ambiguous, Lowry’s enigmatic character, Ann also evokes this ethereal quality. In fact, Lowry often resorted to quoting Rossetti’s phrase: “They’re not real women. They are dreams.” when justifying his work.

An aspect that I found refreshingly surprising about the Pre-Raphaelite paintings was the de facto diversity of the ethnic and social backgrounds of the models featured. At a first glance these women are white and conventionally beautiful, however their personal heritages go beyond the traditional white and upper-class identities of many muses of the era. Indeed, Marie Stillman came from an “Anglo-Greek” community, while Maria Zambaco was born in Athens, and Annie Miller, who features in the painting The Awakening Conscious, was from the slum area of Chelsea.

This exhibition reasserts the importance of rebellion, in rejecting conventions of ‘beauty’ and ‘art’, instead seeking to depict something real. Despite being a movement of the past, it has relevance today given the construction of the idea of beauty in the media and capitalist branding. I hope that this acceptance and celebration of diversity can continue to be portrayed in the arts, with women of all colours and shapes frequenting our screens.

Artefact of the Week: Tony Wilson Mural

Members of the general public who have found themselves pootling about in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in recent months may have noticed the large face of a man unperturbedly peering at them as they pass by the corner of Tib Street and Thomas Street, very close to Piccadilly Records.

To the unacquainted, this lifelike portrait of an unremarkable, bespectacled, middle-aged man might seem like a strange choice for a piece of art so prominently on view on the side of a substation in Manchester’s city centre. To the acquainted, it’s clear to see that this is a mural dedicated to famed Manchester music mogul Tony Wilson, former manager of Joy Division, New Order, and Happy Mondays, who died in 2007. The mural has been there since June of last year.

The Tony Wilson mural is the latest work undertaken by Manchester-based street artist Akse, who originally hails from Paris. Since 2006, Akse has produced a number of realistic portraits of famous faces that have graced both the Tib Street substation and a structure located at Stephenson Square, only a very short walk from the substation.

Among the figures that have received large-scale renderings on the sides of these two edifices is Manchester’s own Mark E. Smith, frontman of The Fall, as well as some icons with less apparent Manchester connections, such as Prince, David Bowie, and characters from Breaking Bad. Fellow graffiti artist Quebek has also contributed murals to both locations.

The Tib Street substation and the Stephenson Square structure are both managed by Out House, a self-described ‘outdoor project space for Public Art.’

Information about the aims and scope of this project can be found at www.outhousemcr.thecolouringbox.co.uk.

Research suggests babies can pick out words in speech

Research published by an international collaboration of scientists from SISSA in Italy, the Neurospin Centre in France, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Manchester suggests that newborn infants are able to distinguish individual words.

The study, funded by the European Research Council, worked with three-day-old infants and played them a stream of sounds. The audio clip were composed of four meaningless words buried in a stream of syllables. Using a technique called Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, which shines light into the brain, the researchers were able to measure how much was absorbed, telling them which parts of the brain were active.

The international team underwent several experiments to determine whether infant-directed speech is registered differently in a developing brain than other forms of stimulants (e.g. visual), and whether coherent words were interpreted differently than non-coherent words.

Dr Perrine Brusini of the University of Liverpool noted, “We then had the infants listen to individual words and found that their brains responded differently to the words that they heard than to slightly different words… This showed that even from birth infants can pick out individual words from language.”

One of the mechanisms observed in the infants is known as prosody– the melody of language, which allows us to recognise when a word starts and stops. The other is known as the statistics of language, which describes how we compute the frequency of when sounds in a word come together.

Dr Alissa Ferry from the University of Manchester stated, “We think this study highlights how sentient newborn babies really are and how much information they are absorbing… That’s quite important for new parents and gives them some insight into how their baby is listening to them.”

Dr Ana Flò of Neurospin added, “Language in incredibly complicated and this study is about understanding how infants try to make sense of it when they first hear it. We often think of language as being made up of words, but words often blur together when we talk. So one of the first steps to learn language is to pick out the words.”

The research suggests that even at three days old, human beings are able to pick out individual words from speech (even if they cannot comprehend their full meaning) using tools that they are born with.

Previously, other studies have found similar findings conducted with infants. For example, scientists at the University of California showed in 2011 that babies just over a year old process words they hear with the same brain structures as adults, and in the same amount of time. Moreover, the researchers found that babies were not merely processing the words as sounds, but were capable of grasping their meaning.

This recent development builds on the work carried out in previous studies, and is essential as syntax and language comprehension in infants is still poorly understood. It is especially significant as it is one of the first investigations of its kind to observe these behavioural patterns and brain responses in infants at a significantly younger age (less than a week old) than in any previous studies.

The periodic table: 150 years in the making

UNESCO marks 2019 as the 150th anniversary of the periodic table, a carefully considered layout of every known chemical element based on trends in atomic number and chemical reactivity. Peer into any laboratory or science classroom and you will see the unmistakable design of the table. An icon of science, it has become indispensable in understanding physical and chemical research.

The story of the modern periodic table begins with Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869, but iterations of it litter the years approaching and following Mendeleev’s first inception. Upwards of 700 alternate depictions have since been published, developed to display different observed trends of chemical and physical properties. Despite 150 years of intricate study, there still remains some ambiguity in the placement of heavier elements.

The recognition of Mendeleev’s work during his time came from some clever considerations he made. He first sought to list all known elements at the time by their weight and valency, a term to describe the number of times an atom tends to bond to other atoms. His ordering of the elements allowed him to predict the existence of undiscovered elements and their properties from gaps he purposefully kept in his table.

Whilst ordering elements by their atomic weight, he was able to predict the existence of gallium and germanium. Later work by Ernest Rutherford and Henry Moseley showed that the sequential placement of elements in a row also corresponded to increasing nuclear charge, or the number of protons. The acknowledgement of subatomic particles meant many more elements could be proposed and predicted before they were synthesised.

There is an incredible depth to the periodic table. Cast your mind back to your first lessons in chemistry and you will be reminded of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Later on, you might have learned about ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding. Even more reading delves into trends observed down any column or row, and that you can generally predict how an atom will react based on the row and column in which it is placed. For the masochists reading this, a higher level understanding of it provided by a degree in chemistry will communicate the quantum mechanical origins of electrons and their spatial arrangements around an atom. Miraculously, this information is all summarised into one table.

After Mendeleev’s first publication of his table, many other academics had their own attempt at experimenting with alternate designs. Just a year after, Heinrich Baumhauer came up with a spiral layout with hydrogen, the lightest element, right at the centre. His spiral also left intentional gaps for undiscovered elements. This likely failed to catch on because it could not compete with the simplicity of Mendeleev’s work. However, this did not stop even further experimentation by Theodor Benfey in 1964, producing one of the weirder and wonderful imaginings of the elements.

Even after 150 years, there is still hot debate on the placement of certain elements. Hydrogen is tricky since it exhibits properties of both metallic and non-metallic properties. Heavier atoms in the lanthanide and actinide groups are difficult to classify into the correct columns since electron shells become extremely diffuse. With new elements being regularly discovered, it is entirely possible the design of the table could change to fit the properties of these new elements.

Review: Vice

Vice takes us through the Watergate scandal, the Gulf War, the 9/11 attacks, the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan and the rise of ISIS to tell the story of how Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney became the most powerful Vice President in American history. This Oscar-nominated biopic is American politics as we’ve always seen it: an absurd, tragically hilarious spectacle. Like a game of Jenga where human lives are at stake or as the narrator, played by Jesse Plemons, describes it: “A teacup and saucer, on top of a teacup and saucer, on top of a teacup and saucer…”

Wyoming, 1963: A frustrated Lynne Cheney tells her hungover husband, Dick, to sort his life out after bailing him out of jail.

Washington, DC, circa 1980s: A middle-age Dick collapses in the US House of Representatives. “Are you okay, sir?” asks an aide. “I’m having a heart attack, you idiot,” says Congressman Dick.

Texas, 2000: George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell) calls elderly millionaire oil executive Dick Cheney to ask him to be Vice President of the United States, which is supposed to be a symbolic and useless job. As the phone call plays out, the camera hovers over a painting of a large dog holding a stick away from a small dog, telling us exactly how their relationship is going to work.

Writer-director Adam McKay uses the unorthodox humour of The Big Short to explore the irreverent political drama of Washington, DC and tell us a lot of interesting things about the Republican Party from the Nixon era to the Bush II era. The main message is this: the problems we see today – with Trump, with Islamic extremism, with the erosion of trust in new sources – they didn’t come out of nowhere. These problems were engineered by a lot of powerful people, intentionally or otherwise, and this film is ready to start pointing fingers.

McKay’s comedic flair and intellectual acuity balance the tragedy and humour of a government where scenes of corrupt politicians finding legal loopholes to commit war crimes are intercut with shots of big cats hunting gazelles. Over-the-top adverts with poppy jingles interrupt planes crashing into the Twin Towers or airstrikes in Iraqi cities. Cinematographer Greig Faiser’s technical skill can not be understated. He breaks through the tough conservative shell of the Cheney family and exposes their intimacy with extreme close-ups.

Christian Bale and Amy Adams steal the show, playing Dick and Lynne respectively. Adams with a  dynamite performance of a wife who can reign in some of the most politically powerful people on earth while Bale is almost nowhere to be seen throughout the film’s 132 minute  runtime, because every part of him transforms into Dick Cheney with chameleon-like verisimilitude.

This film is worth watching for Bale’s performance alone but if you go, you’ll also get a few laughs and learn a little something about why the world is the way it is today.

4/5

Review: The Mule

Clint Eastwood’s latest effort, both in front of and behind the camera, is weird. Loosely based on true events, it tells the story of Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood), a 90-year-old horticulturist who falls on tough times adapting to the internet economy. With his back against the wall, he finds himself getting a job with Mexican drug cartels moving products across state lines, and consistently being able to evade capture due to his age.

The Mule is a film which wants to play at two different angles. On one hand, the script by Nick Schenk comes across as an interrogative character study that takes its protagonist to task for neglecting his family. Yet, at the same time, it also wants to point its finger and laugh about the concept of a 90-year-old drug dealer.

Both of these concepts are handled well in their own right. Earl is clearly a man with his own issues, and his obsession with a career before turning to crime is shown to have a detrimental effect on his family. And tender personal moments with his ex-wife, daughter and granddaughter hold great emotional power. They’re superbly acted, strongly paced, and well-written. Furthermore, scenes of Earl driving long-distance between states whilst singing along to Willy Nelson as he’s carrying huge stacks of cocaine are charming and funny. However, I feel these two elements struggle to work off one another — instead, it slings these two tones together, asking the audience to be both amused by Earl and critical of him at the same time.

This is especially troublesome regarding the film’s attitude towards modern life. The Mule makes a point of Earl coming to terms with contemporary operation — from learning about technology to using certain terms we don’t use anymore. However, the somewhat progressive ideas that the film wants to have are undermined by its appalling treatment of women. Eastwood casts himself in a role that involves two threesomes. The movie also features unnecessarily gratuitous party sequences, in which the camera luridly ogles at scantily clad women like a perverted old man. These scenes add nothing to the rest of the story and only serve for cheap titillation.

There are some saving graces, namely in the acting department. Eastwood is on top form in taking a step back from his more intimidating persona to portray a quirkier, more fragile figure. The rest of the cast also turn in strong performances, even though talented names like Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, and Andy Garcia are wasted. In its defence, the film is competently made enough to the point where it’s at least not bad — it’s just very flawed. If you want something mild that will kill two hours, it’ll make a fine bit of late-night television or a solid in-flight movie. If you’re going to the cinema and have a choice between this and The Favourite, you won’t miss much by picking the latter.

 

2.5/5

Preview: Ken Cheng’s Best Dad Ever

Ken Cheng “stumbled into” comedy after realising he could be “occasionally funny”. He started on the Cambridge student comedy scene. He described it as a supportive and generous community and his career’s “training wheels”.

Cheng’s show Best Dad Ever is his first UK tour. He has performed at Edinburgh Fringe numerous times and won Dave Joke of the Fringe in 2017. Cheng is no stranger to various audiences but the regional aspect of touring will be new to him. However, there are now not only different audiences but also new cities.

Cheng has found comedic success in his BBC Radio 4 stand-up series called Chinese Comedian. A show focused on his experiences of being Chinese in the UK and the cultural differences. When I asked why he felt his performances are relevant and important, Cheng explained to me that in the current and uncertain “political climate” there is the chance and the need to “explore race more deeply”, by detailing experiences from different cultural backgrounds. British comedy is taking the positives and negatives of UK politics and championing diversity.

Best Dad Ever is all about Cheng’s family upbringing. It explores the cultural divide of being brought up in the UK by Chinese parents. Cheng said simply “Our family is just weird”, Chinese or not.  The show reveals the secrets of Cheng’s family and his discovery that his parents are flawed people, just like the rest of us.

Cheng explained that Best Dad Ever will connect with students and this generation’s understanding of politics. This show is from the perspective of a child who is “a bit of an outcast” and is about “being okay with that” for anyone who feels that way this show is for them.

Comedy isn’t for a specific group and Cheng clearly wants to encourage all types of people interested in comedy to “just go for it”!

See Ken Cheng in Manchester at the Dancehouse on 8th February and as a co-host on the new E4 series The Hangover Games.

New year, new society?

With January behind us, the new year is well underway.  Hopefully your New Year’s resolutions are still going strong – maybe one of them was to join a new society or learn a new skill? The return to campus is the perfect opportunity to carry this out. More realistically, you’ve probably given up on most of those resolutions, and finding committing to them difficult.  Perhaps you’re feeling a bit tentative about going to new events; you want to have a go at something new, but you’re not feeling as enthusiastic as you were on New Year’s Eve. Here – especially for those looking just to dip their toes into the refreshers spirit – I have three societies that require very little commitment throughout the year.  Turn up, or don’t, your choice.

The UoM Arts and Culture Society is a creative society with a chilled vibe, holding regular socials with an artsy theme.  These include drink and draw sessions, art themed quiz nights and just general arty banter usually in the bar of their choice.  Cut and stick to your heart’s content and, at only £3 joining fee for the entire year (yes, seriously), art can be accessible to everyone.  Keep your eyes peeled on their Facebook page for info on their next social.

Did you take dance lessons when you were younger and fancy picking it back up? Or maybe you’re looking to try something new? The UoM Dance Society is perfect as classes are available session by session, just turn up and pay on the door, no fuss.  There are different prices for members and non-members so, if you find something you want to stick at, you can get discounts on sessions by becoming a member (£20). But if not, that’s totally fine, you can drop in as you please. Plus, they have classes for every level, so if you’re returning to an old skill or starting something new, they’ve got you covered.  

Give yoga a go this semester with the UoM Yoga Society, who have a range of classes usually at only £3 a session, or sometimes free! A nice low commitment sport for those looking for some relaxation and fitness this semester.  Check out their Facebook page for their class timetable and prices.

Make the most of refreshers activities to see if anything piques your interest. There’s plenty going on for you to get involved in, even for those who don’t want to run head first into a full semester’s commitment to something.  

Five great podcasts for book lovers

Podcasts have become increasingly popular over the past few years and for good reason. They’re a great way to pass the time or to provide some background noise that isn’t music, as well as to learn new things, and listen to interesting and inspiring people talk about their lives, interests, and subjects of expertise.

If you’re a big reader then you’re in luck, as there is a wealth of podcasts about books! Here’s a list of my favourite five:

‘Literary Friction’: Literary Friction describes itself as ‘a monthly conversation about books and ideas.’ In each episode the hosts, Carrie and Octavia, talk to a different author, either established or up-and-coming, about a particular topic. This topic is usually related to the themes and ideas that the author they’re interviewing explores in their work. Whatever these themes are, their discussions are guaranteed to be interesting and insightful.

My personal favourite episodes are with Sally Rooney, author of Man-Booker longlisted Normal Peopleand Dolly Alderton, whose debut memoir Everything I Know About Love was released in early 2018.

‘You’re Booked’:This podcast sees the host, Daisy Buchanan (a columnist for The Guardian, not the character in The Great Gatsby) ‘snooping’, as she describes it, around authors’ bookshelves. She interviews them about their life in books, and they discuss the texts that define certain periods of their lives. The interviews consistently provide great book recommendations, and an opportunity to get to know the author in question more.

I enjoy every episode whether I was aware of the author being interviewed before listening to the podcast or not. Authors that have featured on the podcast so far include Elizabeth Day, Nikesh Shukla and Poorna Bell.

‘Reading Women’:In this podcast, as the title suggests, women discuss books by or about women. If you’re looking for interesting discussions and great book recommendations, especially if you’re trying to read more books by female authors, this podcast is the one for you.

They upload new episodes twice a month but, to get you started, try their ‘Most Anticipated Reads of 2019’, with a pen and paper at the ready for endlessly great recommendations.

‘The High Low’: This podcast is not strictly about books like the others. But don’t let that throw you off! The High Low is a weekly pop-culture/news podcast, hosted by journalists Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. At the beginning of each episode they discuss the books they’ve read that week providing, again, countless book recommendations and conversations about literature.

They also regularly interview authors on their podcast, titling these episodes ‘Author Specials’ and, after taking their bi-annual breaks, provide ‘Bumper Book Specials’, in which they discuss all the books they’ve read during their time off.

In their ‘Author Special’ episodes they have interviewed some brilliant writers such as Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené, authors of Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible, Meg Wolitzer, the New York Times bestselling author of 8 novels, and Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of the critically acclaimed book, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race.

‘The Writer’s Voice’: This recommendation is slightly different to all of the others in that it is not a podcast in which literature is discussed, but one in which literature is read. In this podcast, fiction writers from The New Yorker read out their short stories in episodes never exceeding the 1 hour mark, which makes them perfect to listen to on study breaks or to fall asleep to.

The episode in which Zadie Smith reads her story ‘Now More Than Ever’ is a personal favourite but there are also episodes with Mary Gaitskill, Rachel Kushner, and Jeffrey Eugenides, amongst many other great writers.