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Month: October 2020

Photo: Gage Skidmore @ Flickr

US election 2020: Your guide to election night

Written by Joe McFadden on . Posted in Features.

On Tuesday 3rd November America will go to the polls to vote on who they want as their next President. Will incumbent Donald Trump get the four more years he craves or will former Vice-President Joe Biden win the White House?

So, how does the US voting system really work? Here’s all you need to know. 

The Federal Government: separation of powers

The biggest difference between the US and UK elections is that in the USA they have a federal system as opposed to our constitutional monarchy.

This essentially means that voters in America elect a national federal government to oversee “big picture” issues such as foreign policy, security and the national economy, while state governments generally legislate on local issues such as education and health. 

The federal government is spread over three branches of government to prevent one person (the President) from amassing large amounts of power. These three branches are:

  • The Executive (the Presidency) who execute the laws
  • The Legislature (Congress) who make the laws
  • The Judiciary (the Supreme Court) who interpret the laws

This differs from the UK because we have one central government with the executive and legislature fused into one body (Parliament). This means that in America they have 2 different, simultaneous elections for both Congress and the Presidency so on Tuesday Americans will vote for multiple senators, representatives and local officials as well as the President.

Photo: USGov 

The Electoral College explained

Another key element of America’s political system is the electoral college, a body of electors which is convened every 4 years in order to elect the next President of the United States.

Now, to UK voters this might sound confusing as we have nothing like the electoral college during our elections. The main idea behind the electoral college is that it preserves states’ role in the electoral college by essentially acting like a middle-man between voters and the President-elect.

Following the US election, states appoint delegates who then vote for the candidate who won the largest percentage of the vote in their state. For example, this means that if a plurality (+1 more than the nearest opponent) of voters in the swing state of Pennsylvania cast their ballot for Biden then all the delegates will vote for Biden in the electoral college, thus giving him Pennsylvania’s 20 votes in the electoral college. 

Each state is allocated a specific number of electoral college votes relative to the size of its congressional delegation. This means that the number of congressional districts (who are represented in the House of Representatives) a state has will be equivalent to the number of electoral college votes it receives and thus how much influence a state has during national elections. This creates disparity in the system because districts are based upon land mass, instead of population density.

This means that California receives 55 votes for its 53 districts and 2 senators whilst New York state receives 29 votes despite having a population of 20 million compared to California’s 40 million. The gap is even more pronounced in smaller states like Vermont who only receive 3 votes for approximately 623,000 people, thus meaning that 1 EC vote in Vermont represents 207,000 people whilst California gets one vote per every 718,000 citizens.

Swing states: what are they, and which ones to watch out for?

There are a few key states with a substantial number of electoral college votes whose population is often narrowly split between both parties. In 2020, the key battleground states are Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina and Arizona.

In 2016, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin unexpectedly flipped in favour of Trump, somewhat similarly to the 2019 UK General Election where white working-class voters in traditional Labour areas gave the Conservatives a landslide victory.

If the electoral map stays the same as it was in 2016 but Biden flips PA, MI and WI then he’ll secure 273 votes, meaning he has gained the magic number of 270/538 to win the Presidency, regardless of whether he actually wins the popular vote (despite polls predicting a comfortable victory in the popular vote).

In swing states, Republicans voters are often over-represented when compared to the rest of the USA. This is due to the fact that many swing states are either large rural states (e.g. Florida) or former rust-belt states who traditionally vote Democrat but following decades of declining industry (like the key Democratic target of Pennsylvania) are identifying with Trump’s populist rhetoric of “make America great again”.

Meanwhile, Democrats are seeking to capitalise on Trump’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic to mobilise the electorate in favour of Biden.

It is also not just former Democrat states that are at key battlegrounds this year. Many former Republican strongholds could turn Blue, including:

  • Florida – who reverted back to its Republican roots in 2016 after voting for Obama twice however the latest poll puts Biden-Harris 1.9 points ahead
  • Texas – the largest GOP stronghold with 38 EC votes, is polling in favour of Biden at a razor-thin margin of 0.2 per cent. Texas hasn’t voted Democrat in a Presidential election since Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in 1974 so a win in Texas could give Biden the election.

What are the key issues?

Election 2020 is, in many ways, a remarkable, once in a generation election. Set against the background of an ongoing culture war between the conservative establishment and a progressive, socially-conscious urban youth, this election is about many issues which America is seemingly split down the middle by – not to mention the issue of Covid-19.

Following a summer of unrest after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, police brutality has shot up as an issue on voters minds. Many left-leaning groups will be hoping to use ‘get out the vote’ campaigns to mobilise large minority groups who often stay home without even mentioning the voter suppression many face in more southern states such as Georgia.

Alternatively, the Trump camp will be seeking to use the dominance of the Christian right to make the election about issues such as ‘freedom from oppression by the government’ and states’ rights which seek to influence voters concerned with moral issues and controversial subjects such as gun reform and abortion.

Healthcare and the economy are also front and centre due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen swathes of criticism levelled at the Trump administration over their gross mishandling of the deadly virus which has claimed over 200,000 American lives’ so far.

Furthermore, the New York Times’ exposé on the President’s tax returns, revealing he only paid $750 in federal taxes in 2016 and 2017, has left many voters enraged and called into question Trump’s claim of being a successful businessman – a line which boosted his popularity amongst rust-belt voters in 2016. 

So, what happens next?

America decides – the battle for the soul of the nation.

Should Trump win voters can expect a continuation of his right-wing conservative agenda and cuts to taxes, social security and healthcare. Despite pollsters predicting a comfortable Biden majority in the popular vote, the machinations of the electoral college could make a razor-thin race even tighter and may require a Supreme Court ruling to decide the victor.

Concerns have also been raised over postal voting with record numbers of absentee ballots expected to put massive pressure on an already severely under-funded postal system. President Trump has not committed to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the race, raising concerns over what could happen if he refuses to vacate the White House.

It is unlikely that we will get a result on the night of 3rd November due to mass mail-in voting, recounts, and other litigation issues. But it’s one to watch over the next week.

Regardless of who wins or loses, this election is one that will go down in the history books as an unprecedented event that is a literal battle for America’s past, present and future. It is unlikely that we will ever get a race this unique again. With predictions of civil unrest regardless of who wins the White House, it is clear that there has never been a more important election to vote in – or one where America’s status as a liberal democracy is more precarious.

Photo: Bradshaw79 @ Wikimedia commmons (Adapted)

Opinion: The Grimm reality of online university

Written by Laura Thompson on . Posted in Opinion.

This year has been artificially constructed to the extent that its narrative no longer qualifies for the history books. Instead, it feels like something out of a Grimm brothers fairy tale.

Our lives have changed faster than we ever could have ever imagined. Instead of parents scolding us for living on our phones, they’ve become our only means of familial interaction.

University has become a £9250+ FaceTime session. In the words of a second year Ancient History and Archaeology student, it is officially the most expensive streaming service of the year. 

The tables have turned against us. A system that once was meant to boost our market value has commodified us for profit. And to make matters worse, not only are we traded like animals at an auction, we’re locked up like them too.

Continuing the fairy tale metaphor, university is the candy cottage. Our career prospects are the sweet treats that adorn it, and students are the unsuspecting Hansel and Gretel, being fattened up only to be thrown into the oven and served up to an already satiated witch. Our lack of experience, plus the decimated job market, equals aimlessly climbing the education beanstalk in hopes of one day being able to outwit the corporate giant and bring home the golden egg – aka an actual job. 

“Our career prospects are the sweet treats that adorn it, and students are the unsuspecting Hansel and Gretel, being fattened up only to be thrown into the oven and served up to an already satiated witch.

Our futures are not looking bright. The present is falsely illuminated in the red glow of a government appointed traffic light tier system. This throws our work-life balance into a disarray comparable only to that of a car crash.

Still, it could be argued that the red light is better than the blue one seeping into our retinas from extensive lectures and an overcompensating workload. As an anonymous second year drama student explains, “It’s so much harder to have some time off when there aren’t loads of ways to spend it”. It’s even more difficult when our social circle and support systems extend no further than fictional characters on our screens. 

If our problems were as fictional as our social lives, our troubles would seem obsolete. With our most committed relationships being our Netflix subscriptions, it’s hard to turn attention to the new drama – online courses.

The university has sent us into what feels like a YouTube rabbit hole with no clear end in sight. No matter how much we love our favourite series, after 6 weeks of continuous streaming, we are bound to lose interest. The same is happening with our beloved courses.

Our generation opts for a series binge of 40 minute episodes instead of a 90 minute film. The mental hurdle of hour-plus long recordings is more than enough to curb our motivation, making us press snooze on our alarms. It doesn’t help that if we do emerge from the safety of our beds it’s only to travel halfway across the room. 

“No matter how much we love our favourite series, after 6 weeks of continuous streaming, we are bound to lose interest. The same is happening with our beloved courses.

Instead of the blended learning we were falsely promised, our work and social spaces have been merged into one: our overpriced student rooms.

With the university relying solely on societies to form stable communities, it’s no wonder members feel unimaginative. They resort to simple and overused Zoom pub quizzes. That is unless you play a contact sport, in which it seems like football’s red card can take precedence over the red warning light of tier-3.

We’ve entered a new age of learning. Asking scientists to write limericks instead of lab reports and classicists to exchange books for ‘Blackboard’ bibliographies. While we laugh at our inadequacy on the outside, the reality is we’re just about as stable as our WiFi connections. We’re caught in a cycle of continuously adding to our overbearing workload.

As one student puts it, “I wake up anxious, I go to bed anxious”. We would almost welcome a power cut, if only for some brief relief. 

No doubt, as a nation, we’re having a mental health crisis. Even with all the help out there, the hardest hurdle is being able to ask for it. Never has Simon Bolivar’s dying refrain “Damn it! How will I ever get out of this Labyrinth?” rung truer, than when we are frantically scouring our inboxes for the breadcrumb trail of wellbeing support pages as we suffer in silence. 

Any students at the University of Manchester struggling mental health can access support through the university here, or contact Nightline here.

In Conversation with Paddy Hanna On Latest Album: The Hill

Written by gabrielbarnett on . Posted in Music.

Paddy Hanna’s dazzling new album The Hill was released just this week, and we met over zoom to discuss it. It explores how “the past and the present exist at the same time in our minds… it deals with mental health struggles, the sometimes-difficult search for happiness, and the artist’s own moral conflicts experienced growing up in Catholic Ireland.”

He aims to “put the past behind” him on this record and leave it on that ‘hill’. As a listener, you are blissfully taken away on a journey through the beautiful landscape of Cork, Ireland, and are immersed in the rustic lyricism.   

Autonomy is a key theme throughout the album, reflecting Paddy’s own personality; he described himself as an ‘independent and musical person’. He has stuck to a refusal not to “‘sign anything” (some credit for this can be given to his parents who were trained in law), and holds a valiant attitude towards being seen as the “whacky strange person”, the “inversion of the zeitgeist”. This defiance has allowed him not to be ‘chained to a wall’ like many artists today and, while it has taken a lengthy period, it has resulted in him being taken seriously by the music industry. 

As an “inversion of the zeitgeist”,  he has become somewhat of an unearthed cult gem within the small Dublin music scene. Hanna likens it to an episode of the 60s US classic TV show, ‘The Monkeys’: all the bands know each other; they are a tight knit bunch, and he is a “ghoul that watches them in the shadow”. This has, however, not stopped the praise from his contemporaries; the more commercially successful Fontaines DC have cited Hanna as one of their favourite artists.   

Dyslexia, which Paddy and I share, can be responsible for one’s disorganisation, and for one feeling all over the place. It might also mean that  you did not have the best time at school, Paddy confides: “I spent a few joyous years of being called a retard.” Equally, he sees the “the dyslexic mind [as] such a wonderfully creative tool” that has enhanced his dedication to song-writing and music.

Writing music is like “a puzzle… a little bit here a little bit there”’; it can be at a different time, it can be a mess, and it doesn’t have to be written all at once. For example, during the writing of ‘Colosseum’, the main Beach Boys style vocal riff was not written until it came to Hanna while humming in the shower, after which he quickly ran back into his recording room soaking wet to record the riff. This disorganised song writing process has suited him well because although it takes time, it allows him to find moments of brilliant expression.

As done before on his previous album, Frankly I Mutate, Hanna worked with his producer Daniel Fox on this record. Word of mouth led to a meeting at a jazz bar, and after a few pints, their “stars aligned”. Frankly I Mutate, their first project, was an album committed to the sound of the 1960s, Hanna describes their dedication towards achieving a natural ‘creak’ sound, due to his distaste of “overproduced records.” He likens the creak to a “thick gravy”, full of flavour.

On the first album this creak was achieved by using different areas of the room to record different instruments, and on The Hill this was achieved by lots of field recordings which consisted of “cluttering and banging”, things which provide the record with a “natural percussive sound”. 

In the lead up to an album Hanna likes to immerse himself in research and different sounds before recording so he knows exactly how he wants his album to sound. He also expects the musicians working with him to fulfil the “sonic template”. However, he also acquires a Gervaisian style as he recognises the importance of “taking the piss” and having a good time, “creating an atmosphere of fun” as the utmost priority. The last thing Hanna wants is a Captain Beefheart approach of long tedious studio hours and breaking their backs: “there is no point barking at musicians and just telling them what to do.” 

Listening to The Hill you realise how right Fontaines DC were. The album provides constant juxtaposition which keeps it highly interesting, whether it be on the mysterious ‘Sinatra’ and the dark ‘Nameless’, compared to the brightness and positivity of “Colosseum”. The influences ranging from 1960s Italian Horror, the soundtrack of Exorcist 2 (awful film… the villain is called Pazuzu), to the works of Tom Waits and Frank Sinatra, fit in superbly.  The deeply reflective spoken word track, a journal entry looking at small observations of everyday life ‘Jog on Shall We’ is the highlight of the album as it demonstrates Hannas prowess as a songwriter.

‘The Hill’ is now out and I would highly recommend it to anyone. You are taken up to the Hill with Hanna and you are truly immersed in his “therapy”. 

9/10

POC around the block 2: Tatiana Ngamba

Written by Anna Jin on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

In this series, our columnist Anna Jin brings attention to the unique and talented people of colour working in fashion.

Tatiana Ngamba is the founder and creative director of Tatiana The Label, a Manchester-based womenswear brand with a ‘strong feminine aesthetic’.

Tatiana launched her label in 2019 with the goal of producing clothes “that are not found on the High Street”. She is heavily inspired by her Cameroonian and British backgrounds, which are channelled into her statement, unique garments that have “affordable prices with a luxury feel”.

The brand’s current limited-edition design is the Solange: a hand-shirred dress made from georgette fabric. It boasts a backless detail and can be made to measure in this modern black-and-white print.

The Solange dress. Photo: Tatiana The Label

Her current design aesthetic is “feminine, minimal and a bit bold”, which is influenced by her love of contemporary art, her African heritage and the creativity of Manchester.

When designing her pieces, Tatiana says: “I would think ‘Where would my customers go? Where would she live?’ in order to build a creative picture for myself.” Her goal is to get into the mindset of her customers, creating pieces that they will feel comfortable and confident in.

Tatiana makes all of her products to order, as she wants to ensure that the designs will perfectly fit her customers. “I am always designing with the women’s body in mind,” she says.

Since she struggles to find clothes that fit in stores, Tatiana is eager to ensure that her own brand is tailored to each individual and size-inclusive. Customers can select between standard UK sizes, or they can submit their own measurements.

Tatiana is responsible for the construction of all of her garments. She is a self-taught sewer: a skill she developed five years before founding her own brand.

Photo: Tatiana The Label
The Solange dress. Photo: Tatiana The Label

Tatiana’s commitment to made-to-measure garments also ensures that there is less fabric waste – one of the many ways in which her business model is sustainable. All of her materials are sourced in the UK, with the fabric for her design samples coming from Manchester.

Longevity is also key for Tatiana, as her luxury items are made to last a lifetime. On the topic of fast fashion, Tatiana says:

“People don’t realise how much work goes into making clothes because they are used to buying fast fashion. A lot of us [small brands] are trying to create something new and play our part. Hopefully the world will catch up.”

When asked about where she sees herself in the future, Tatiana wants to “have a studio in Manchester” and continue to “inspire and empower women”.

Tatiana’s garments can be ordered via her website. Her newest launch, the ‘Sweet Mood’ mini-collection, will be available from the 14th of November.

In conversation: Black in Fashion

Written by osepeterakhigbe on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Black in Fashion is the North’s answer to preserving black history and design within fashion. The platform is dedicated to guiding young black creatives and assisting them in gaining experience in the fashion industry.

“One of our goals/main aims is to ensure that black people can see a future for themselves in fashion and can feel confident within themselves when venturing into the daunting world of fashion,” says founder, Feya.

Black in Fashion achieves this by supporting creatives who want to try their hand at fashion or gain more expertise in the industry. Above all, they encourage people to “just have a good time exploring their creativity” – this is the essence of their platform.

Feya, a fashion marketing graduate from Manchester, realised that there was a lack of support for black creatives and students in the north who wanted to go into the fashion industry. She would often travel to London for events supporting black creatives or designers, which is not sustainable or economically viable.

Black in Fashion manifesto
Black in Fashion’s manifesto. Photo: Black in Fashion

She also notes that the northern Black community often goes unnoticed and lacks recognition, stating that “there’s this idea that there isn’t as much of a black community here [when in reality] there’s a huge community up north… A lot of the Windrush generation settled in Birmingham and Northern cities, not just London.”

Feya noticed that there was a growing interest in Manchester’s fashion scene in recent years, but the Black community was excluded from this. “When we think of Manchester and fashion, we think of Pretty Little Thing, Boohoo and white female influencers but never black creatives/designers. But they’re there, just not given any exposure.”

Her inspiration for Black in Fashion came after an event hosted by Recho Omondi, the host of ‘The Cutting Room Floor’ podcast, where a live interview of Black-British designer Martine Rose was held. The venue was filled with black and industry creatives, which Feya was eager to emulate up north.

Recently, the platform has been quiet and used their voice to discuss more pressing matters. “During quarantine, BIF really had to take a backseat and we used our platform to focus on the Black Lives Matter movement”, says Feya. However, they have now returned to their focus with an ignited passion for Black History Month.

Photo: Black in Fashion

Although Black History Month only lasts for 30 days, BIF are documenting the stories of black creatives in the north every day, which is effectively becoming a part of our history. Archiving and storytelling is something that will outlive this month and be valued for many years to come.

Black in Fashion’s focus for this month is broadcasting Manchester to the world. Their newly launched BIF Global platform focuses on black creatives from across the world while still highlighting the north. They are aiming to allow Manchester to become part of the conversation about black creatives globally.

The Black in Fashion platform can be found on Instagram and is available for all black creatives to get involved in.

Photo: George Hodan @ publicdomainpictures

Review: Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm

Written by Jonny Hosking on . Posted in Film.

SPOILER FREE

Sacha Baron Cohen is back doing what he does best: holding the mirror up to nature. The nature in question, of course: modern-day America.

Will it turn out that the vaccine we all needed this year was Kazakhstan’s fourth rated journalist and his daughter running amok across the pond? Not really.

The film is directed by Jason Woliner and, for better or for worse, boasts a team of ten writers. Most of the creatives have backgrounds in TV and comedy specials, which probably explains the flippant, episodic nature of the film that is far from anything cinematic.

Borat has been tasked with a mission to deliver Johnny the Monkey, Kazakhstan’s top film director (bear with me) as a gift to Vice President Mike Pence. In a dramatic turn of events, Borat is left with his estranged daughter, Tutar, played by Bulgarian newcomer, Maria Bakalova.

Together, the two get caught up in a woeful number of shenanigans including a pervy plastic surgeon, conspiracy theorists, and Donald Trump’s personal attorney.

There is no denying Sacha Baron Cohen’s 2007 Borat was a cultural firestorm. The film garnered mass critical praise, even earning Cohen a Golden Globe and an Oscar nom. It was a wholly unique and phenomenally funny flick. Thankfully, it’s sequel follows in a similar path, but perhaps with some deviations here and there.

Undoubtedly, when Bakalova and Cohen are out in the field, the film is a knockout. The ‘how on Earth did they film that’ moments are thankfully in abundance and that toe-curling awkwardness created speaks volumes to the skills of the two performers.

While it follows a similar formula, there have certainly been a few upgrades from fourteen years ago. For instance, anti-Semitic Borat is left distraught after reading on Facebook that the Holocaust did not happen, riffing on the Fake News phenomenon.

While these updates do pose an interesting social comparison, I feel that Cohen only scratches the surface.

The film seems to lose its way in its ‘downtime’ scenes between Borat and Tutar. Here, father and daughter mostly bicker about dated gender politics while rushing through needless exposition before heading off to a new location.

These scenes bring the film’s zany energy considerably down, leaving extra legwork for the new episode to struggle with.

Moreover, the urgency of the political message, while of course relevant, begs one to think how well the film will stand with the test of time. There is a huge sense of dramatic irony when Mike Pence at a convention held in February, proudly boasts the US only has 15 cases and they are handling it ‘very well’.

Perhaps in Cohen’s ambition to create a film for now and only now, he has sacrificed a better product for an urgent message.

While the first Borat offers a more general view of American hypocrisy and all its peculiarities, its successor, however, primarily focuses on bashing the current POTUS and his supporters.

Times have undeniably changed, but after four years of comedians joking about nothing else, the amount of potential satire is slim pickings.

Ultimately, the film’s over-reliance on relevancy may be its downfall.

But at least it will go down laughing.

3/5.

Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm was released on Amazon Prime on the 23rd of October.

BLOXX Press Image

Bouncing back with Bloxx – Talking Lie Out Loud

Written by Toby Bartram on . Posted in Music.

With their new album being released to huge acclaim, Music contributor Toby Bartram sat down with Fee of Bloxx to discuss her influences, releasing an album in lockdown, and missing out on a summer of festivals.

Seven months on from their last live show, Fee admits her frustration at missing out on what was going to be a breakout summer for the band. “We were going to be playing the main stage at Reading on the day that our album released, it would’ve been amazing to go on and promote our record so yeah we’re really gutted to be honest”.

The band had been going from strength to strength throughout late 2019 and early 2020, with big support slots with the likes of Twin Atlantic and Two Door Cinema Club. The cancellation of summer festivals came right as the band began to hit their stride.

The twelve track record contains a whole lot of indie magic that definitely convey that festival feel. ‘5000 miles’ and ‘Lie out Loud’ are worth adding to any decent indie playlist.

Signed to Chess Club records, the band will (hopefully) be playing Manchester Academy on the 22nd April next year.

Even with the lack of live shows, the band were determined to release their album this year. Lie Out Loud released in August and received positive reviews across the board, despite the global pandemic Fee describes how she has “gained more writing experience over time and I definitely write a lot better than I used to – it felt right releasing it in August”.

The band have even dipped into the socially distanced gigging scene, playing a show at Pryzm for Banquet Records early in October.

When I asked Fee how much she writes songs with live shows in mind, she admits that this is something she has developed over time. “I’m always trying to visualise and hear a song on stage and what the crowd will feel about it. I did more so on the album compared to the first songs we put out as we’ve always been a very live band, with the next album I’m writing it’s become a lot more serious in tone as we’ve written over lockdown and grown as a band”.

Bloxx have had huge support from big-name DJ’s like Annie Mac and Phil Taggart. Fee admits that “it was surreal at first, I mean it still is surreal, the support they’ve given us is amazing, it’s been a huge help so far and it’s a massive honour that they like our music”.

Having supported several indie names like The Wombats, and with extensive experience on the UK festival circuit, Bloxx have earned the right to the headline slots that their now playing.

With a 2021 UK tour being announced and festivals line-ups being revealed, you can feel the excitement from Fee who admits she is “super excited for gigs to start again! Fingers crossed we can only hope that they come back, touring has taught us a lot about ourselves as a band”. When I brought up their upcoming gig at Manchester Academy, there was an enthusiastic energy in her voice as she describes how “Manchester has always been good to us, we’ve done a few support slots there and a headline gig of our own, every time it’s a great gig to play! And of course, the music scene in Manchester has always been amazing, it’s one of my favourite places to play.”

Photo: Martrell Moore @ Flickr

An ode to Garrett Morgan: The inventor of the smoke hood

Written by Amrita Chattopadhyay on . Posted in Science & Tech.

This Black History Month, the Mancunion Science Section has decided to find out about a few of the Black scientists we should have heard of.

This week, Amrita Chattopadhyay and Maitrayee Singh learnt more about Garret Morgan…

Garrett Morgan was an African American inventor and entrepreneur from the American Reconstruction Period. Born in 1877 to enslaved parents, he is mostly known today for one remarkable invention: the smoke hood, an ancestor of the modern gas mask.

A man of many interests, Morgan tried his hand at several odd jobs. Alongside the smoke hood, his most prominent inventions included hair care products for African Americans, and the three-position traffic signal.

Morgan was an empathetic man, who noticed a major problem faced by the firefighters in his town. As he watched them attempt to fight fires whilst being engulfed in smoke, he decided to try to invent a product to help them – a smoke hood.

Morgan’s breathing device comprised of a canvas hood; two breathing tubes that hung low, close to the ground; and a wet sponge. Since air filters were not a fully developed concept back in the early 1900s, the two tubes were used to deliver fresh air from below the layer of thick smoke that rose above the ground. The wet sponge was attached to the end of the tubes and was used to filter out the smoke and cool down the incoming air.

Despite all the well-deserved recognition that his invention went on to receive, Morgan faced a considerate amount of racial discrimination during the early stages of the product’s launch.

He received a patent for his invention in 1914, almost half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment brought about the abolition of slavery in the USA. However, the era of segregation that followed had severe long term repercussions on many Black-owned businesses. Morgan was one such businessman who was significantly impacted.

The smoke hood did not gain immediate acceptance amongst its target audience due to the discriminatory practices of consumers. As a result, Morgan had to resort to anonymity, surrogacy, and the use of White actors to advertise the product, to avoid ‘tarnishing’ the image of his invention with his race.

Photo: drakegoodman @ Flickr
Gas mask used in WWI                                          Photo: drakegoodman @ Flickr

It wasn’t until 1916, when an underground tunnel accident involved an explosion in a water crib, that the use of his smoke hood was required to rescue the miners from the scene of disaster. This was the first time Morgan was able to put his creation to test. Using the hood, he helped save the lives of several victims, as well as retrieving the bodies of those who perished in the accident.

In 1917, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission reviewed this heroic act as a nomination for their award. Unfortunately, Morgan was passed over due to his race, and the award was given for a far more minor act of heroism.

He protested against it and asked the committee to reconsider their decision. But he was told that since he had used the gas mask, he had not risked as much as the person who received the award.

Despite this incident, the smoke hood’s use in the explosion instantly popularised the invention, and nearly two years after it was patented, it began to be marketed widely. The device later went on to be reformed into a gas mask, and was extensively used during poison gas attacks in World War I.

It is also popular amongst fire departments around the globe who use it on a regular basis when putting out flames in their line of duty.

This Black History Month, we celebrate repressed and underrepresented Black scientists and inventors like Garrett Morgan. His story reminds us of the many who struggled to fit into our society and achieve the success their merits and devotion deserved.

Image: Euro T20Slam @flickr

IPL: A business-cricketing joint venture

Written by Arnav Tiwary on . Posted in Sport.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is underway and the thrills and chills of nail-biting matches, keeps us at the edge of our seats. The IPL is valued at a $6.8 Billion as of 2020, which is an incredible feat for a tournament which has just entered its 13th season recently. So, have you ever wondered, what makes IPL a money-making machine for its franchises and the BCCI?

There are two important factors to this, one off course being the monetary part, the second being the social factor which includes people’s support and crowd engagement. A league is as popular as the craze and enthusiasm of its fans. And IPL has set very high standards in terms of numbers, averaging at an incredible 32k attendance per match. With the digital platform becoming mainstream for viewership, the first match of the IPL 2020 recorded a massive 200 Million viewers.
Now for the monetary part, IPL apart from being a cricket league is a business with a very successful business model. How can we be so sure about that, you ask? What if I say, that the prize money for IPL 2020 that was halved because of the pandemic situation to Rs.10Cr, is still 3 times that of the prize money offered for winning the Big Bash League (the second most viewed cricket tournament in the world).

IPL teams earn back their money spent through multiple channels, such as sponsors, merchandising, gate revenue (the revenue generated through ticket sales). Let us go through it one by one, shall we?

Sponsorship

The first thing a team needs is sponsors, as they bare the administrative costs, such as travel, logistics and promotions. Team jerseys work out as a fruitful way to promote these sponsor brands with the front side, back side, left and right shoulder arm are individually up for grab. This allows a team to have 4 or even more than that unique sponsors that get to promote their brands for an exorbitant amount of money. Some popular sponsors include Muthoot Finance for CSK, JSW for Delhi Capitals.

Merchandising

Revenue generated through the sales of official merchandise is another source of income for the IPL teams. The merchandises include jersey replicas, sports souvenir, and flags among others. Though it is a very popular business model in countries like USA, UK and Australia. It hasn’t proved to be as rewarding in India. “Merchandising, which has not picked up as anticipated, is a huge opportunity for IPL and the franchisees to monetize the brand, and we hope to see IPL replicating the global sporting events’ success in monetizing their brands through merchandising,” Santosh N, Duff & Phelps India Managing Director, told to PTI in an interview. Pricing of the products is said to be the major factor behind such minimal response.

Gate Revenue

Money earned through the sales of tickets for matches. Each franchise plays a minimum of 7 home matches, thus making them liable to be part of the financial transaction partly with the state cricket boards.

Media Rights

One of the biggest sources of revenue for the IPL is also a major contributor to the banks of individual franchises. It is said that as a result of the record-breaking deal of Rs. 16,347 Crores between Star India and BCCI for a 5yr term, each IPL franchise is payed Rs. 35 Crores per season by the BCCI Board.

Stakes

Last, but not the least are the stakeholders. They are responsible for running the business and the smooth functioning of the IPL teams. IPL has seen many high-profile stakeholders involved in the franchises, like World’s 5th and India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians franchise, Superstar Shahrukh Khan (SRK), joint owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. The valuation of each team affects the stake pricing and when a firm decides to sell their part of the stake, it makes a big difference in terms for finances. Recent entrant to this was the JSW (Jindal South Steel) group who purchased a 50% stake in the IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils (Now Delhi Capitals) for $77 Million from GMR. For comparison, the original cost of the entire team was $84 Million in 2008.

IPL has and will always be one of the major sources of cricket entertainment for its fans and a locus for fruitful business and franchising for the owners.

Photo: Pikrepo

Our favourite horror films for Halloween

Written by Michal Wasilewski on . Posted in Film.

Halloween season is at its peak, so it is the best time of the year to indulge in horror films. Whether you like timeless classics or new discoveries, the Mancunion Film Section team have gathered our horror favourites to help you choose the perfect titles for your Halloween film marathon.

Alien (1979) – Benjamin Klauber-Griffiths

Ridley Scott’s Alien was first released more than forty years ago and is still recognised as one of the best of the sci-fi horror genre.

The film follows the crew of the ‘Nostromo’ spaceship as they flee a murderous alien stowaway. Scott’s movie blends moments of gross-out body horror, notably the famous ‘chest buster’ scene, with edge-of-the-seat tension.

It also demonstrates how showing the audience as little of the alien as possible is scarier than showing it in full. The alien is terrifying in its ambiguity, hidden in the recesses of the ship, and maybe even those of the cinema!

Alien has also been the subject of academic study, illustrating a complex set of gendered politics whilst creating one of the first major action heroines. It is the first and best of a cult series and a terrifying must-watch for any film fan.

 

Carrie (1976) – James McCafferty 

Carrie might be the greatest horror film ever made. Based on Stephen King’s 1974 debut novel, it centres on the title character as she is constantly bullied by her peers and manipulated by her zealous Christian mother. From the opening sequence, legendary director Brian De Palma demonstrates his willingness to utilise the camera in a beautifully expressive manner. The film’s infamous climax at the prom is the zenith of this work.

The world of the story is populated by a cast of multifaceted characters who are supported by a clutch of brilliant performances. At the head of these is obviously Sissy Spacek, who perfectly embodies the young teen without any self-esteem, despite being twenty-six at the time of the film’s release. Both familiar and startlingly singular, the film – and its story of a broken young woman who seizes control of her environment – remains a mesmerising horror.

 

Frankenweenie (2012) – Sanjana Meka

Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie is not necessarily the best of his works, nor the most popular one. But the film has its own charm with its heartwarming plot and the supporting stop motion animation. The black and white picture, based off Burton’s 1984 short film, revolves around a young Victor Frankenstein who tries to resurrect his dog and best friend, Sparky, using electricity. 

The story follows the unintended consequences of his actions, but also explores the deeper relationship between the two characters, with a gloomy visual backdrop. The technical elements behind the film add to the characters’ eerie movements, with 24 stop motion frames per second and 1300 visual effect shots, adding to Burton’s traditional filmmaking style of storytelling through precision. 

For people looking for a film that reflects simple childishness on its exterior, at the same time dealing with desperation and mourning through a kid’s perspective, Frankenweenie is the perfect balance. 

 

Gerald’s Game (2017) – Alex Harris

Gerald’s game is an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel about the dangers of wild dogs, viagra and Max Headroom. The film is so unrelentingly gloomy that it’s hard to think anyone could enjoy watching it. However, this gloom is completely shattered by the Halloween decoration that flows into the bedroom with its toe collection. 

The performances are great, and the themes of abuse and trauma are dealt with elegantly.

However, there are a few scenes which broke my immersion in the movie; How does she escape? Clearly, Jesse doesn’t know how to dislocate her thumb because she decides to peel her skin off instead; the car crash scene that was supposed to be the climax, that turns into a damp squib of a jump scare. 

I would recommend watching this movie alone – I made the mistake of watching it in a group and ended up wasted 20 minutes in.

 

Godzilla (1954) – Ross McFadden

If you think the old Godzilla films were just unathletic men in rubber monster suits fighting in unconvincing miniature cities, then I implore you to watch the 1954 original. Of course, it follows the traditional monster-attacks-city storyline, and was instrumental in establishing the kaiju genre, but director Ishirō Honda also incorporates staunchly political subtext which elevates the already technically impressive film to  an absolute classic’s status.

Sure, it’s hardly subtle: the whole film contains enough melodrama and patriotism to make an American squirm. However, it’s important to consider historical context. Godzilla gives fascinating insight into a country still recovering from World War 2, trying to process the devastation wreaked upon them by the nuclear bomb. US-Japan occupation had only ended 2 years prior to the film’s release, and Godzilla provided a much-needed boost to the country’s national pride. 

Visually compelling and hugely influential, this genre-defining classic definitely deserves a watch.

 

The Babadook (2014) – Jonathan Hosking

Jennifer Kent’s psychological horror is the stuff of dreams. In an age of jump scares, bad acting, and horrendous effects, The Babadook stands tall as a beacon of the genre. The film follows Amelia, a single mother struggling to raise her anxious six-year-old son, while trying to fend off a supernatural force from entering her home.

From a technical aspect, The Babadook is impeccable. From its intense cinematography to its eerie set design, the film does not let you breathe all throughout its 90-minute running time. The performances are also outstanding: from Essie Davis’ haunting portrayal of a mother grieving the death of her husband, to Noah Wiseman’s estranged and frightened son, made all the more impressive for a feature debut.

Overall, it is Kent’s direction which gives the film its unique voice; It’s a a fantastic, female-led horror film that delivers a terrifying look into the dissection of the human condition.

 

Us (2019) – Florrie Evans

If you’re looking for a perfect film to revisit this Halloween, it’s always best to rewatch personal favourites – Jordan Peele delivered mine in 2019. Us was released shortly after Peele’s extremely successful debut, Get out. 

After creating a physical form of the trancelike otherworld state in Get Out, in Us Peele creates a physical underworld which holds the doubles of every human trapped in the darkness of this underworld. 

A family holiday turns sour when there is an invasion at the dead of night. The family is forced into a battle when the doubles rise up against the humans, which are classed as the lucky ones, consistently living ‘in the light’.  

The film is filled with the twists and turns of a perfect horror, while the cinematography and soundtrack only build suspense and add to the distorted reality of the underworld. Additionally, Michael Abels has created a soundtrack not only for the film, but for the whole Halloween season. 

Orange background featuring a halloween screening schedule

Chapeltown Picture House presents cult curation this Halloween

Written by Georgina Davidson on . Posted in Film.

Chapeltown Picture House invites a host of Spooktacular cult curation as part of the official launch.

What cinematic delights can we expect? 

The sudden change of air and cold blustery showers loom over Manchester. The arrival of sombre autumnal days and darker nights has begun. You may be feeling tired and bored with tiers and covid fears? Lost in on-demand shows and the comfort of re-runs?

Not to worry but plenty to fear, as this week’s film section brings news of an exciting arrival in the city.

Set to chase away those blues and create some spooktacular chills, Chapletown Picture House prepares to open its doors with a rivalling and ready Halloween launch. This ghoulish weekend line-up combines multiple cult film classics from over the last three decades, beginning this Friday.

From recent releases to cult classics – A myriad of action awaits

The first screening on Friday 30th October is Panos Cosmatos’ Mandy (2018). It throws audiences into a freakish tale of fantasy art gone wrong, featuring a star-studded cast and production team. An already abstracted film, it is of course only heightened by the creative and course acting of the highly intense Nicolas Cage. Worth a watch for action, adventure and the pure ambition of this venture.

Alongside this, the Halloween weekend will also see the Cheetham-Hill picture house screen classics from the archive. From spooky shape-shifting The Thing (1982) to extreme slasher film, Scream (1997), this really is the beginning of a creepy collection to keep you entertained and staying safe whilst celebrating this year.

Keeping culture and community consciousness as a concern in these tricky covid times, the cinema aims to offer a night at the cinema that gets audiences out and about. In an industry blighted by struggling attendance and film repertoire, it is a bold, brave and wholly interesting venture which strives towards screen success. This is especially vital in a time dominated by on-demand culture.

See full website and listings here.

Orange background featuring a halloween screening schedule
Tobias Soar @ Chapeltown Picture House

For more details on community discounts for finically disadvantaged and front line workers, please contact the picture house website, or view their Instagram post here.

Lose yourself in music again with James Bay live at The Globe

Written by Katie Bray on . Posted in Music.

James Bay, the artist behind ‘Hold Back The River’ and ‘Let It Go’, graced us with a dazzling concert, warming our homes with his acoustic songs of romance. On 21st October, he came to us live from The Globe Theatre in London, a setting renowned for its Shakespearian past.

As you will know, 2020 has been a year like no other. The current COVID-19 pandemic has limited live entertainment and social gatherings across the country. Many people are facing uncertainty and anxiety, thus gaining a sense of community is becoming increasingly more important. James Bay’s virtual concert offered just that: a night of music, love, and friendship from the comforts of your own couch. Central to this was his relationship with the band and a set that invited us into the intimate gig. Although the audience were not with him in person, the night was continually inclusive, toe-tapping and simply beautiful.

At the beginning of the concert, we are drawn to a balcony which serves as the upper stage, where we meet with James Bay, who began singing an acoustic version of ‘Scars’. He instantly proved his talents as an exemplary musician through his emotive vocals and the soul of his guitar. His tone here reflected the vulnerability of love, amplified with falsettos and tremolos that suggested the sincerity of every word. In this way, Bay helped the audience to become lost in themselves and his music.

James Bay live from the Globe. Photo by James Boardman

As the night progressed, he transitioned from that lonely platform to the main stage area. There was an array of songs old and new, including ‘Peer-Pressure’, ‘Us’, ‘Chew On My Heart’, and ‘Let It Go’. However, this was not a solitary performance as he also played in a socially distanced band. The group made you feel central to their performance.

The main set acted like a friendly campfire with songs and stories to share. The band encircled me and the virtual audience, furthering this sense of community. With their light-hearted laughter and a harmony of instruments and voices, they created an unforgettable night of thrill and soul, much missed amid the pandemic. I particularly enjoyed the new interpretations of his old music. Bay had mentioned that he found it fun “reinventing songs” during the concert, and this creativity added an extra sense of unpredictability and anticipation. New elements to some of his songs included different instrumentation (as well as his iconic guitar swapping) and the use of a wider group of harmonising backing vocalists.

Soon after, we are given the opportunity to see a more intimate side to the musician as he moved into a dark room and sang at the keyboard. This intimacy would have been difficult to create in a crowded arena, but he made good use of the cameras and potential of the set, taking us on a journey in the same way his songs do. Surprisingly, he even sang ‘Life on Mars’ by David Bowie, a song that married well with his tone and the gradual tempo added in his interpretation of the song. This part of the performance was a particularly stunning and poignant image as it reminded me nostalgically of what has been absent this year; artist’s sharing emotion with their audience.

James Bay live from the Globe. Photo by James Boardman

After this, we return to the main stage where vibrant lights pulsate across the Globe. A few more songs proceeded, with the final track, ‘Hold Back The River’, ending the night on a spectacular climax. With an exciting tempo and crescendos building in the music, there was a moment where even Bay himself seemed to be lost in the music. I guarantee I was not the only one singing along as I watched.

I would highly recommend James Bay’s music and concerts, whether you are a die-hard fan or are thinking of listening to his music for the first time. This concert was easily one of my favourite experiences of the year. The only downside was not being there myself to applaud him or to call for an encore!

4.5/5

Top tips for a finding the perfect tech internship

Written by Zain Alden on . Posted in Science & Tech.

In any sector finding an internship is a great path to jump-starting your career, so its no surprise that finding one can be a concern for many people. Luckily in almost every discipline – from investment banks to hardware companies to Aerospace – certain fields requires some sort of technical knowledge. There are lots of opportunities out there, so here are some top tips when it comes to finding and applying to the right internship.

It’s not just for second years

Maybe this is the first thing you will hear when starting university. Although you might have a better chance of getting an internship in your second year that doesn’t mean you will not get something at another point. There is a good amount of start-ups looking for people to work for them. Mostly they don’t offer paid experiences but at least you might get good experience.

An advantage of applying in your first year is that you get to know how the process works. What is needed, the process of applying and what most companies look for. Usually companies don’t change their hiring process from year to year so you will know what is needed. Additionally, you get to practice coding questions – something pretty much all tech-related positions usually require.

Apply early

No matter how tempting it seems, don’t put off applying just because the deadline is far away. Deadlines range from company to company. For example, investment banks usually open early in September, whilst others keep their applications coming in until summer (these tend to be smaller companies). There is no one-size-fits-all so make sure you keep on top of important dates.

Photo: CollegeDegrees360

Apply to insights

An insight is an opportunity offered by some companies to help build your experience with the chance of landing an internship upon completion. It is usually a week or two where you spend time training and working on a project for the company, after which they invite you to apply for – or sometimes just grant – an internship. These are usually offered by investment banks and are aimed mainly at first years, but it helps to establish a relationship with the company regardless of your academic year.

Use the University CareersLink

Although frustrating to use it does has some cool opportunities. For example, I found the link for the Bloomberg internship on it before it was publicly available to everyone. Some companies put contact emails in the application so you would have an edge by getting to skip automated checking, and go straight to speaking with a person.

CVs and Cover letters

There is no one way to format a CV. My opinion is to get as many people as you can to take a look at your draft and give you advice. This way you can get multiple opinions on what works, and what doesn’t. Send cover letters if possible, it will help set you apart from those who haven’t bothered. The university guide on CVs and Cover letters has some really helpful tips, as well as advice for interviews and more.

Practice, practice, practice

The first stage of almost every tech internship is some kind of coding exercise, so do coding challenges as much as you can for practice (and maybe fun!). However, try not to overwhelm yourself with how hard some of these will be as some will be deliberately challenging. Just give it your best shot! But of course practice makes perfect.

Below are some links to pages that might help your application process even more, as well as a few internships available currently that I personally found interesting and worth taking a look at. Good luck!

Photo of the outside Blackwell's Oxford Road

Shop local with Blackwell’s same-day delivery service

Written by Maisie Scott on . Posted in Books.

Blackwell’s have just launched a new same-day delivery service in Manchester. The service offers competitive prices and same-day delivery for customers in a 2-mile radius.

The Manchester Blackwell’s has been a key part of my university experience as a literature student. It has been my go-to shop for buying my course book bundles, stationary essentials and new fiction. The new Oxford Road store is a joy to visit. The bookshop received a serious glow up last year when it relocated from its temporary setup to the ground floor of the Alliance Manchester Business school.

I spoke to David, who works as the sales and events manager at the Manchester branch, in order to find out how they’ve been impacted by coronavirus, and to get the details on their same-day book delivery service.

Q&A with David from Blackwell’s Manchester

How has Blackwell’s Manchester been impacted by lockdown and coronavirus?

We’ve very much felt the impact of coronavirus. The Manchester store is primarily a student bookshop. Our core customer base is both the local universities, so with no students on campus we’re really noticing the difference. September and October are normally the busiest months for us as we see students return to campus. During this time we would usually run pop up stalls, and work closely with lecturers to promote book bundles. The coronavirus restrictions mean we’ve had to put all of that on hold.

Our shop also tends to receive a huge amount of business from international students, but as a result of remote learning that has dropped off.

But, it was really positive that a lot of people got back into reading during lockdown. The Blackwell’s website nearly buckled under the pressure and demand earlier in the year.

What impact do you think the imposition of tier three lockdown on Manchester will have on its arts and culture scene?

It will have a huge impact. The Manchester branch is surrounded by big venues including Manchester Academy and Deaf Institute both of which are unable to open. I think there’s going to be a big impact on the smaller pubs especially now the government wants us all to have a ‘substantial meal’. I’ve already noticed that a few local pubs have been forced to shut, and lots are struggling to stay open. On a personal level I like to go to a couple of gigs every week, but that hasn’t happened since March. Gigs, clubs and pubs are such a big part of student life.

What was your favourite lockdown read?

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark. It was so great to read. I noticed a lot of the reading community picked up the same books during lockdown, and Boy Parts was definitely one of those books.

Blackwell’s same-day book delivery service

How does the Blackwells same-day delivery service work?

So if we’ve got the book in stock, and you live within a 2 mile radius of Blackwell’s Oxford Road, we can drop it off using our same-day delivery service. Just phone up before 3pm to receive same-day delivery. We take payment over the phone when you call to order. The same-day delivery service includes books, but also stationary and games to keep you busy during isolation.

Our delivery driver sets off at around 3:15pm, so if you order a book at 2:30pm you could receive it an hour later. The deliveries begin in the early afternoon and run into the evening. We can drop off to the main student hubs including Fallowfield, Chorlton, Withington and Victoria Park (to name a few). The service is getting quite busy now which is great to see. University lecturers have been really helpful in promoting the service.

Why did Blackwell’s decide to set up the service?

The service came off the back of the MMU lockdown. We want to be able to help students in the local area, so we’ve been throwing in some gift packs for students who use the service. But they’re only available while stocks last.

Is there an extra charge for the service?

There is no extra cost for postage, and it’s free delivery.

Are you able to drop off books to students isolating in halls?

Yes we can drop off to students in halls. The delivery driver drops off the parcel to the reception area in halls. We always use contact free delivery, and we take payment over the phone.

Please support Blackwell’s and other local bookshops. It’s time to ditch ordering books from Amazon Prime and opt for Blackwell’s same-day delivery service.

Zoom Halloween party: Your ultimate guide

Written by Lauryn Berry on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Stuck inside for Halloween due to Covid-19 restrictions?

Have no fear: the Zoom party recipe is here!

Just because we can’t celebrate Halloween in our usual fashion, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate at all.

Here’s a list of all the things you need to have a spooky night online with your friends. Grab your laptop, charger, blanket, and Zoom passcode, and you’re good to go. 

What to eat…

Oh!-bergine veggie fright lasagne by Georgina Davidson

A messy but tasty take on the classic lasagne.

Ingredients:

  • 400g cashew nuts
  • 250g cornflour
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 200ml water
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • Salt to taste
  • 250ml almond milk
  • 2 whole onions
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • Oregano / Italian herbs to taste
  • 250ml red wine
  • 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
  • 250ml passata
  • Handful of sliced black olives
  • 2 tsp capers
  • Aubergine and courgette (as much as necessary, depending on the amount of people)
  • Olive oil
  • Lasagne pasta

1. To begin, soak 400g of cashew nuts in kettle boiled water for 30 minutes, until soft. Then drain (carefully) into the sink using a colander.

2. Add into a pan with 250g of cornflour, 3 tablespoons of Apple cider vinegar (Aldi do a reasonably priced one!), 200ml of water, four cloves of garlic and a pinch of salt. Blitz (carefully) with a food processor until smooth. Add 250ml almond milk and simmer on a low heat until thickened, then set aside.

3. Chop and fry two whole onions in a pan with three cloves of garlic until softened – no vampires here!

4. Add two tablespoons of tomato purée and a pinch of oregano/Italian herb mix. Next add a 250ml glass of red wine (Aldi Animus is £5 and works a treat here!) and continue to stir until the wine evaporates like a ghost!

5. Add a tin of chopped tomatoes, 250ml of passata, a handful of sliced black olives and two teaspoons of capers.

6. Slice thick chunks of aubergine and courgette – griddle until cooked through.

7. Baste your lasagne dish with a little olive oil and begin with the cashew béchamel sauce, then add the first layer of lasagne sheets. Add the tomato sauce layer, followed by stripes of courgettes and aubergine. Add another layer of béchamel sauce and top with a lasagne sheet. Finish with a final layer of cashew béchamel sauce on top.

8. Cover the lasagne dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes – for best results, make the night before to allow the tomato sauce to soak into the pasta.

What to drink…

Photo: Alexas Fotos@Pixabay

Alcohol: I mean, it would be inappropriate to drink anything other than a Bloody Mary on Halloween.

Alcohol-free:  Halloween Punch – a fruity classic you can enjoy throughout the night (if you make it past the first horror movie that is).

What to listen to…

Spotify: ‘Ultimate Halloween’ – for lovers of spooky pop bops and old classics. 

Apple Music: ‘Halloween After Dark’ – some grungy rock jams to bang your head away to. 

Amazon Music: ‘Haunting Themes’ – the absolute classic movie themes, from The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Stranger Things. 

What to play…

A good Zoom party isn’t complete without a host of good online games.

Among us has taken the world by storm, and it might just be the simplest and most fun game you can play with your friends in the digital sphere. For the uninitiated, it’s a murder mystery detective-style game set in space, where you hunt down the “impostors” who are sabotaging your group. Play online for free on your phone, or you can pay for the PC version. You can play with up to 10 players at a time in a private server until your hearts are content, and you’ve discovered the sneaky impostors in your group. 

Escape rooms have taken a digital form lately, and there’s one out there for every interest. Try the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room, or Minecraft Escape Room. Just share your screen with the rest of the Zoom call, and solve your way out of the themed riddles.

Cluedo – It will set you back £3.99 but might just be worth it! You can play this old classic privately with a group of friends or join a larger online server. There’s also an exclusive Halloween ‘Vampire Castle’ theme for free until the 1st of November.

What to watch…

Once the drinks have settled in and you’re ready to snuggle up in bed, might as well join your friends for a viewing party. Extensions such as ‘Teleparty’ (formerly known as ‘Netflix Party’), allow you to stream a film or series at the same time as all your friends. It also provides a chat feature so you can all comment when a jump scare eventually gets you (don’t lie, you know it will).

We suggest some modern classics…

The Conjuring (2013) – The horror movie inspired on the real lives of ‘demonologists’ Ed and Lorraine Warren will shake you to the core. It is the first of a franchise that has given us films like Annabelle and The Nun.

Hereditary (2018)– This might just possibly be the weirdest film every made. It isn’t your classic horror movie, but it sure does provide you with an eerie, uncomfortable feeling from start to end (note: THE ENDING).

Unfriended (2014) – This will feel very topical… Watching a horror film unravel on a Skype call when you’re on a Zoom call will definitely get your heart rate going. Maybe keep your lights on for this one.

Some familiar classics…

The Addams Family (1991) – Many of us grew up with this comedic, spooky masterpiece. Wednesday Adams is a whole mood.

Dark Shadows (2012) – Another Tim Burton, this time with humans. Not too creepy, just guaranteed fun for everyone.

The Corpse Bride (2005) – Tim Burton’s beautiful animated film. Although it is ever so slightly creepy, it’s more about love than anything else.

Photo credits (in order)

Alexas Fotos @ Pixabay

J4p4n @ Openclipart

Clker-Free-Vector-Images @ Pixabay

Axel795 @ Pixabay

Photo: Gage Skidmore @ Flickr

As QAnon takes the world by storm, don’t get sucked in by conspiracy theories

Written by Laura Thompson on . Posted in Opinion.

Whether we care to admit it or not, we all love conspiracy theories. When we hear bogus stories like aliens built the pyramids, the Queen of England is a lizard and Trump is the new world saviour, we can’t help but be drawn in. 

Many conspiracies find an audience online. This makes the internet a dangerous place for gullible people. The reality is, everything we read online is an opinion. We each have our own version of the truth. For some, the truth is very simple, and they believe what they see. For others, they distrust what they see. They would rather believe in a world run by a cult of lizard people, which according to a 2016 Guardian article, about 12 million Americans do.

So why should we care about conspiracy theories? What power do they really hold? Answering this question, I suggest we look at the most recent craze taking America and the UK by storm: QAnon. 

In a nutshell, QAnon is a far-right theory from 2017 which alleges that a group of paedophilic Satanists are behind every major decision in American politics. They run a global sex-trafficking ring, and Donald Trump is the only person who can stop them. 

The conspiracy has evolved to include spurious claims that many high-profile politicians and actors are part of the group. While this already seems excessive, it gets stranger. Supposedly, President Trump is planning a crusade of sorts against the cabal, ending with the mass arrest of all the members referred to as ‘The Storm’.

Of course, none of this is based on facts. However, the lack of evidence hasn’t stopped QAnon supporters from taking the law into their own hands.  In 2019 the FBI identified QAnon as a dangerous belief that encourages domestic extremism, which may sound a little excessive, until you hear what QAnon supporters have been arrested for. The list of offences committed in the name of QAnon ranges from breaking and entering, to kidnappings, to armed standoffs with police, and even murders.

With this in mind, I think we really should care about conspiracy theories as, even though they are usually fictitious, there are people who believe in them and take serious actions to harm or expose those who they think are involved. 

Often, us Brits can sit and laugh as Americans get wrapped up in one conspiracy theory after another. But, this time, we are part of the problem.

Along with the anti-vaccine and 5G theories, QAnon is the latest addition to the UK’s conspiracy theory roster. People have been taking to the streets to protest against vaccines, 5G mobile technology, child abuse and lockdown. Unfortunately, it seems rather than joining in with the daily global PE class, people have taken their time off during lockdown to explore the dark rabbit holes of the internet. They have become indoctrinated by Facebook groups and Twitter posts. Though I feel I must add, regarding QAnon, Facebook have actually banned any groups associating with the outlandish conspiracy theory.

Alongside social media, online and broadcast news also play a role in the spread of conspiracy theories. By drawing public attention to these lunatics, news stories unwittingly publicise and validate their beliefs and actions.

To exemplify this, we look no further than Charles Manson, one of the most notorious cult leaders in history. Deranged and determined to take revenge on the industry which rejected him, Manson indoctrinated many young men and women in mid-1967 to commit heinous crimes against the Hollywood elite. The crimes and incestuous nature of the ‘Manson Family’ inspired shock and intrigue across America, leading to the production of numerous popular books and films about the cult. Thanks to this, Manson enjoyed global publicity and his conspiracy theory ‘Helter Skelter’  grew in popularity.

Considering I’m a journalist, it’s probably counter-intuitive to tell you not to read the media. Although that message seems to underlie this article, I implore you to still read the news and watch the telly. After all, it’s the best way  to learn about the world around us. But do err on the side of caution. Just because one person said it in front of a camera or in an article, doesn’t make it truth. We are all entitled to our opinion, but we are not entitled to force that opinion on anyone else.

Big mood: How mood boards can change your life

Written by Lauryn Berry on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I have a love-hate relationship with Twitter. For the most part, I see it as a funny alternative to Instagram whenever I get sick of scrolling through its airbrushed version of ‘reality’. Not to say I don’t love Instagram, I participate in the same “make my life perfect” shenanigans as everyone else, but Twitter seems to offer a witty breath of fresh air. However, Twitter is also full of its fair share of raging politicians (we all know who I mean here) and maybe even your arch-nemesis from school.

So, I was surprised last year when, upon joining a community that many might refer to as ‘high fashion twitter’ (hf for short), I found a way to therapeutically deal with the grey days in my life. As Heidy Lo noted in her excellent article on romanticising our lives, we often have to view our life through a different lens. But it’s not as easy as just “focusing on the bright side” or “finding a silver lining”. Focusing on little moments of happiness and collecting them every day like pennies in a piggy bank is what is going to make a difference in the long run.

Over the years I have participated in many, what we might call, Tumblr or Pinterest challenges. As a book lover, my favourite was the one in which every time I finished a book I had to write it down on a piece of paper and pop it in a jar. At the end of the year, I was meant to read through each one and look back on all the good (or bad) experiences I may have had while reading them. Other, similar challenges involving such a memory jar focused on songs, films, or even everyday moments. 

Generation Z is, whatever the platform, obsessed with aesthetics. As a member of Generation Z myself, I have grown up in an environment where real life is often put aside, and alternative digital realities are prioritised. Aesthetics, like fashion, come and go, and it’s up to us to decide which ones we would like to implement into our lives. But aesthetics and more specifically mood boards can do a lot more than just portray an image – they can change our outlook on life. 

Photo: Jordanhill School D&T Dept @ Flickr

Mood boards take various forms. You might make a collage with magazine cutouts or even your own photographs. A designer might make a presentation of colours, aesthetics, and photos. Or, as the 21st-century socialite does, some post four pictures on Twitter with an inspirational caption. The latter is definitely what drew my attention to mood boards and to the effect they could have. Having something as simple as colour-coded photos of fall leaves, a New York skyline, a group of girls drinking wine, and a cat asleep on a lap, can bring you an instant feeling of peace, happiness, and even often, nostalgia. Although most of the photos that are featured in mood boards online come from influencers or models, nothing is stopping us from making our own. 

For the last few months, most of us have been living our lives mostly inside. As upsetting as this may be, I don’t think it’s a definite limit to our happiness and mental health.

This is what I suggest: make your own mood boards.

Create one mood board a day. Or one a week. Do it as often as you need to, just to remind yourself of how much good there is in your life. You could stick to your favourite aesthetic, life does imitate art after all. Or you could collect images of people who have made you smile, your parents, your friends, your next-door neighbour. Collect your food triumphs and food disasters, your pet’s adventures, your finished essay. The possibilities are endless. 

I leave you with my favourite ‘moods’ from the last few months.

Photos: Lauryn Berry

Photo of Inside Story by Martin Amis and three other novels

Review: Inside Story by Martin Amis

Written by Joshua Whitehead on . Posted in Books.

If you’re anything like me, all your favourite writers are already dead. I buy and read so many books, yet so few are by people who are still knocking about. This rather limits the opportunity for engagement (and the anticipation of a new title). It’s always a great pleasure, therefore, when a favourite writer of the living variety publishes a new book. Such is the case with Inside Story, the new novel by Martin Amis.

The book defies classification. Amis has subtitled it ‘A Novel’ (so who are we to argue?), but it’s actually a stitching together of autobiographical stories, dramatised non-fictional episodes, and wisdom on how to write. Quite an unusual mixture, though Amis is hardly known for his conventionality.

Amis produced a genuine memoir twenty years ago (Experience), and he wants us to know that this isn’t Memoir 2.0. Rather, it’s a collection of stories not yet told, relationships not previously explored, and events not previously processed. And, when you consider all that has happened since 2000, there’s plenty to be getting on with.

The Big Three

The bulk of the book, however, is dedicated to Amis’ relationships with the big three, those who he calls ‘the poet, the novelist, and the essayist’. Otherwise known as Philip Larkin, Saul Bellow, and Christopher Hitchens. Conversations, letters, and remembrances serve as a springboard from which Amis explores all the great human subjects: love, death, and grief.

As always with Amis the prose is beautiful, expressive, and precisely engineered. He makes the case that one should become an expert on words, not just on writing. I can think of few writers whose vocabulary carries with it such weight and depth of association. (The word ‘widow’, Amis explains elsewhere, comes from the Old English meaning ’empty’).

The book’s strength is perhaps its weakness. For those (like me) who are immersed in the literary world of Amis and his chums, the book is a boundless treasure filled with hilarious anecdotes, heart-wrenching confessions, and eye-opening revelations. But I can see how it might not appeal to all. For example, at one point there’s a brief digression on the lovers of Philip Larkin. It’s here that the reader might realise he or she is reading about the author’s father’s friend’s girlfriends. These interludes might not have universal appeal, but to me they are priceless.

However, the pages which shine the brightest are those featuring ‘Hitch’. Christopher Hitchens was Amis’ closest and longest friend. Sadly, Hitchens passed away from oesophageal cancer in 2011. From political sparring over boozy breakfasts, to obscene word games over dinner, right the way through to dissections of historical figures in the waiting rooms of oncology wards, this friendship is something to behold.

“I stepped towards the taxi while behind my back, behind the closed curtain, Christopher dreamed and drowsed. Lay your sleeping head, my love.” 

But all good things come to an end. The recollections of the last few months of Hitchens’ life take up a few chapters towards the end of the book, and are of course the hardest to read. Such candour and open love are not typical features of male friendships – something which Amis laments – but both are in abundance in this “novel”. Hitchens is my favourite writer, and Amis perhaps my favourite living one. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful valediction for Amis’ essayist than Inside Story.

As with friendships, also with careers. Amis admits that this will probably be his ‘last long novel’. So, with Inside Story, we not only say goodbye to the figures who have shaped Amis’ life and career, but perhaps also to that career itself. As it happens, I expect to see more from him in the future, if only in the shorter form. If this book does end up being his last, however, it’s one hell of a way to finish. 

 

Applying skincare product

Cruelty-free skincare: Nourish your skin without compromising on ethics

Written by Eunice Wong on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

With the rise of ethical consumerism and a flourishing demand for brand transparency,  brands are increasingly putting a “cruelty-free” label on their product packaging. With all these different labels available in the market, it can get difficult to decipher the real ethical brands from the pack.

While there are reliable labels that require third-party verification such as the leaping bunny logo and the cruelty-free bunny logo by PETA, virtually any brand can label their products as cruelty-free since there is no audit system in place.

But what does cruelty-free actually mean?

A cruelty-free brand should develop and manufacture their products using methods that do not harm animals. In other words, the brand should not test their products or product-ingredients on animals whatsoever.

Instead, they should use alternative testing methods or ingredients that were determined to be safe. Due to unclear labellings, you might need to conduct thorough research on the brands themselves to know their stance on animal testing.

Why it has become so complicated?

Although animal testing for cosmetics is banned in the UK and EU, ironically not all products that you can buy in the UK are necessarily cruelty-free as many major brands are still practicing animal testing in countries where it is required by law. For example, animal testing is still mandatory for all imported cosmetic products in China until 2021. This means that any multinational brands that have physical stores in China, like L’Oreal and Estee Lauder, can’t avoid testing their products on animals.

While it may seem like a problem out of our reach, by being conscious consumers, we are raising awareness and holding brands accountable. This has driven new product development and brought an increasing number of cruelty-free and vegan options to the UK market. We now have plenty of cruelty-free options to choose from, and they are just as good for your skin as they are for your ethical conscience. If you are looking to transition towards a cruelty free skincare routine, here are 5 brands that are clear with their “no animal testing” policy and that deserve your support:

The Ordinary

Renowned for its high-performance formula and affordable prices, The Ordinary has become a favourite amongst beauty bloggers, YouTubers and influencers. The Ordinary Skincare includes a wide range of products that offer targeted care for different skin concerns while being cruelty-free. The Ordinary does not practice animal testing for their products and only works with suppliers that do not perform any animal testing. With their extensive product lines, you can easily create your own unique regimen. Their best selling products include the 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and the Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%. 

The ordinary products
Photo: Eunice Wong

Glow Recipe

As an advocate of natural and gentle skincare, Glow Recipe’s products are infused with fruit extracts and clean ingredients. The brand is also certified cruelty-free by leaping bunny. One of their company goals is to make South Korea’s latest skincare trend accessible to global consumers. If you are keen to try out the latest trends while being cruelty-free, this indie brand is a perfect choice for you. Glow Recipe offers different fruit-powered skincare products that can tackle a range of skin concerns. They are now available on Cult Beauty in the UK and they also offer international shipping on their website.

Glow recipe products
Photo: Alexandra Tran @Unsplash

Glossier

Glossier is all about the “no makeup” makeup look. The brand celebrates its customers’ natural beauty and has built a cult following, particularly among millennials. If you are a fan of natural looks and dewy skin, this is brand is a must. It offers a great range of makeup and skincare products, with some vegan options available as well. Their skincare products are intuitive, easy-to-use, and of course cruelty-free. Glossier is certified cruelty-free by leaping bunny and do not sell their products where animal testing is required by law. Learn more about their products and best-sellers like Milky Jelly Cleanser and Balm Dotcom on their website.

Glossier products
Photo: Charisse Kenion @Unsplash

Lush

Lush is a highly popular brand that has captured its consumers’ hearts with their natural, fresh, and handmade skincare products. Lush is completely transparent about the ingredients they use and are 100% cruelty-free. They do not test their products on animals and only purchase their ingredients suppliers that do not test on animals either. Additionally, Lush is committed to being more sustainable in terms of packaging. Some of their products like bath bombs are sold completely unpackaged. Have a look at their store in Manchester Arndale or shop online for their unique handmade products. They offer a diverse collection of bath bombs, as well as face creams, toners, face masks and more. 

Lush products
Photo: Karen Chan

Milk Makeup

This NYC-based brand has attracted a massive following base thanks to their cool-kids image and formula that are multi-functioning and easy-to-use. All of their products are cruelty-free, 100% vegan and paraben-free. Milk Makeup’s products do not contain any animal ingredients, nor animal-derived ingredients like honey, collagen and gelatin. If you want to give your skincare routine a vegan makeover, this brand is a good choice to start with. They are available on Cult Beauty In the UK, where you can shop all the best-sellers like Cooling Water and Watermelon Brightening Serum.

 

PHOTO: TABOR @ PIXABAY

Review: The Haunting of Bly Manor

Written by emilyholt on . Posted in Film.

After the huge success of Netflix original horror show The Haunting of Hill House, many eagerly awaited the second rendition, The Haunting of Bly Manor. Whilst the two are part of the same anthology series, neither are interlinked besides the featuring of actors in both shows. Notably that of Victoria Pendretti, Oliver Jackson Cohen, Kate Siegel, Carla Gugino, Luke Crain, Olivia Crain and Theo Crain, respectively, in The Haunting of Hill House.

The Haunting of Hill House posed a strong plot with terrifying scares which kept people at the edge of their seat. The Haunting of Bly Manor unfortunately falls short in this premise.  The anthology series is created by writer Mike Flanagan, with The Haunting of Bly Manor being loosely based on the 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.

The story begins with former teacher Dani Clayton (Victoria Pendretti). Dani is a young American taking over as nanny of two children of the Wingrave family, Flora (Amelia Bea Smith) and Miles (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). They are residents at the gorgeous and gothic Bly Manor. While there, Dani meets housekeeper Hannah (T’Nia Miller), gardener Jamie (Amelia Eve) and cook Owen (Rahul Kohli). Primarily a calm and welcoming atmosphere, Dani finds herself mounting suspicions over the behaviour of both Flora and Miles. The eerie nature of the house leads to an unravelling of Dani’s mental health, as well as the house’s secrets.

The series starts off very strong, as fantastic camerawork enables some great scares at the beginning. In-keeping with the Haunting theme, Bly Manor is riddled with ghosts which primitively provide the fear which horror lovers seek. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, the repeated angles of the camerawork prove tiresome and overdone. The thrill factor depletes, and the plot goes with it.

The drawn-out nature of the plot needed plenty of scares to keep it an engaging watch. Sadly, The Haunting of Bly Manor exhausts its enticing tropes to the point of boredom. The continuous flashbacks and time jumping, along with character-focused episodes, prove convoluted and difficult to follow. The tangled love stories and weak plot focusing on the children’s uncle’s law firm leaves little payoff. Subsequently, this does nothing to propel the story forward.

Nonetheless, there is some fantastic acting. Notably that of T’Nia Miller and both children, Amelia Bea Smith and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth. The dialogue is well-written, and the ending does provide a real emotional twist. Yet, The Haunting of Bly Manor unfortunately falls short to its predecessor. It lacks the real horror factor and engaging plot that The Haunting of Hill House effortlessly provided.