Dragonism

By Haris Hussnain The primaeval age saw the rise and fall of the dragon empire.  Scarlet dragons stood for justice and leadership.  They sought to unite the other fighting mortals of the primaeval era with their pacifistic beliefs, peace, and harmony. Other creatures marvelled at the sight of their scarlet scales and the sound of the melodic language they spoke. Dragons lived in a golden … Continue reading Dragonism

Review: Act One’s Jungle Juice at Pulse Nightclub

Words by Billy Edwards The Act One Society panto has become a mainstay of the run-up to Christmas in Cardiff. Laden with crude jokes and innuendo, itÔÇÖs for adults only, and this year it is entitled ÔÇÿJungle JuiceÔÇÖ, a hint towards itÔÇÖs reworking of the Jungle Book – I was very excited for the pantomime having already enjoyed the Wizard of Oz panto put on … Continue reading Review: Act One’s Jungle Juice at Pulse Nightclub

Taking the Bait

Words by Rubie Barker ÔÇ£As your token straight friend, itÔÇÖs my duty to remind you that sometimes people are straight.ÔÇØ -Tao Xu (Heartstopper┬áseason 1, available on Netflix) For those for┬áwho┬áthe term is new, ÔÇÿQueerbaitingÔÇÖ, is commonly understood to occur when someone (fictional or real) suggests they are part of the LGBTQ+ community, primarily to attract the LGBTQ+ audience, possibly for financial gain. While the term … Continue reading Taking the Bait

ÔÇÿImagine Living ThereÔÇÖ – Imaginary Places in Literature that We Love

Reading is the ultimate form of escapism – whether it’s fantasy, historical, or travel fiction, we all have places in novels that we like to escape to and would love to visit IRL. Ranging from Hogwarts to 221B Baker Street, our contributors give us their views on the places they’d most like to visit. Ella Collis The magical and mysterious world of Narnia is one … Continue reading ÔÇÿImagine Living ThereÔÇÖ – Imaginary Places in Literature that We Love

Our Favourite Jane Austen Adaptation

Clueless Words By Katie Brosnan Clueless, the 1995 adaption of Jane AustenÔÇÖs Emma stands the test of time as the perfect adaption of a classic novel. Clueless offers a relatable, fun, and modern revision of Jane AustenÔÇÖs beloved novel, allowing for younger audiences to access the message of the original text, forgiving people for their mistakes. Cher, the protagonist, is a 15-year-old, blonde, valley girl … Continue reading Our Favourite Jane Austen Adaptation

Remembering Raymond Briggs

By Jasmine Dodd Who was Raymond Briggs? Inspired by his death at 88 years old in August this year, there has been a wave of melancholy when looking at Raymond Briggs’ iconic writings and illustrations. Celebrated for creating the classic, The Snowman (1978), Raymond Briggs was nationally cherished for his classic stories and illustrations which include: The Snowman (1978), When the Wind Blows (1982), Father … Continue reading Remembering Raymond Briggs

Ad or Advent?

Words by Katie Brosnan 2022 has seen the cost-of-living crisis surge to an unprecedented level. Usually, headlines are met by retailers spending millions on their Christmas advertising, particularly John Lewis and Sports Direct. However, this year most retailers have reduced their spending significantly, showing solidarity with those struggling with costs this Christmas. The message in most Christmas adverts this year focus on the importance of family and unity, reflecting that … Continue reading Ad or Advent?

Review: Enola Holmes 2

Words By Floss Harrison In 2020, British actress Millie Bobby Brown graced our TV screens with the latest Netflix original, Enola Holmes, directed by Harry Bradbeer. This fun-loving drama starring Milly Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes and Henry Cavill as her famous older brother, Sherlock Holmes, proved to be a box office success, being the most-watched film on Netflix over the first five days of … Continue reading Review: Enola Holmes 2

COP27: Everything You Need to Know

Words by Jasmine Dodd The history of COP┬á Being originally established to assess progress in addressing climate issues, the Conference of Parties (COP) began in 1995. It has been described byGeographical as having ÔÇÿflashes of brilliance [with] years of disappointmentÔÇÖ. Over the years, COP has been heavily criticised for not producing effective action when addressing climate issues, but merely a pretence of creating change without addressing the root … Continue reading COP27: Everything You Need to Know

The Best Albums of 2022

Words by Elliot Morgan This year, compared its predecessors, has been remarkably strong in terms of new music releases. Iconic artists in the pop and hip-hop genres released critically acclaimed albums after hiatuses of nearly half a decade. Across the indie scene, new bands rose to prominence and released their debut records, meanwhile, old favourites continued to add to their accomplished discographies. Although difficult select … Continue reading The Best Albums of 2022

Christmas Classics: What Our Contributors Are Reading This Season

‘Tis the season! As the autumn term draws to a close and everyone heads home for the holidays, there’s no better way to unwind and get into the festive spirit than with a seasonal read – preferably in front of an open fire and with a hot chocolate in hand! Here are some our contributors’ favourite reads at this time of year, to give you … Continue reading Christmas Classics: What Our Contributors Are Reading This Season

Breaking The Binary

While acceptance of diverse gender identities is on the rise, it can still be difficult to explore and understand what that looks like for yourself. Non-binary identities in particular are often misunderstood or dismissed, making it much more challenging to be open and comfortable in your identity. Non-binary is an umbrella term for those who experience their gender outside of the binary of man or … Continue reading Breaking The Binary

Who did it better? The fight between House Of The Dragon and Game Of Thrones.

Words by Eva Castanedo When on Sunday, 21st of August, the first episode of House of the Dragon premiered, the stakes were very high for HBO. Many did not believe it could match what is considered the worldÔÇÖs most popular show in history.  Data shows that even though the Game of Thrones finale was in 2019, the show still ranks very high in engagement. Therefore, … Continue reading Who did it better? The fight between House Of The Dragon and Game Of Thrones.

Review: Culture Cwtch

Words by Omo Ifabua Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Student UnionÔÇÖs sold out celebration – Culture Cwtch. The Great Hall was filled with students in their vibrant cultural attire and the aroma of delicious traditional delicacies from around the world. From tasty food and live music to Bollywood dancing and fashion shows, this is certainly an event you must attend. Having … Continue reading Review: Culture Cwtch

Spotlight Recommends: Your Favourite Media Discussing HIV And Aids

Tick Tick Boom Set in the theatre district of 90s New York City, HIV and AIDs is an unwelcome and threatening backdrop in Lin Manuel-MirandaÔÇÖs directorial debut: Tick TickÔǪ Boom! Based on the semi-autobiographical musical by the late, great, Jonathan Larson (portrayed by Andrew Garfield), Tick TickÔǪ Boom! embodies the dread of getting old and running out of time, only emphasised by close friends who … Continue reading Spotlight Recommends: Your Favourite Media Discussing HIV And Aids

Financial Independence: What Does It Mean To Gen Z?

Financial independence ÔÇô the status of having enough wealth to pay for your living expenses for the near future without being dependent on others. But when it comes to being in a relationship, how should the finances be handled? Of course, at the end of the day itÔÇÖs down to what you and your partner feel most comfortable with, and only you know what works … Continue reading Financial Independence: What Does It Mean To Gen Z?

Our Favourite Niche Christmas Films

It’s easy to get stuck in the repetitive routine of choosing Home Alone for the fifth time this month, but we have some Christmas films to get you in the festive mood that you may not have seen before. Carol┬á Words by Lana Davidson Flood When it comes to niche Christmas films, my favourite is definitely Todd Haynes’ Carol, a film adaptation of the book of … Continue reading Our Favourite Niche Christmas Films

Study Soundtracks: What Gets You Through Deadline Season?

As deadline season of first semester swiftly approaches at Cardiff University, we asked some of our contributors what they listen to whilst typing away in the ASSL.    Words by Alice Lumley As someone with ADHD, it is essential for me to have music playing whilst I attempt to study. It must be music without lyrics, or there may end up being accidents (like the time … Continue reading Study Soundtracks: What Gets You Through Deadline Season?

The Christmas Chocolate Debate

words by Mia Coley Heroes are the superior Christmas chocolate box. Not only is it from Cadbury so its┬águaranteed to be good chocolate, with the recent addition of the dinky decker and crunchie┬ábits itÔÇÖs a perfect balance of textures and flavours. For something chewy thereÔÇÖs the ├®clair,┬áfor pure chocolate thereÔÇÖs the dairy milk block, for sugary sweet thereÔÇÖs the twisted cr├¿me┬áegg or for crunch thereÔÇÖs … Continue reading The Christmas Chocolate Debate