GET THE LOOK SERIES: Nostalgia Edition

Words by Clara Boon We donÔÇÖt blame Charli XCX who wants to just ÔÇ£go back to 1999ÔÇØ. Take a look at some of the iconic looks that defined the ÔÇÿ90s fashion trends that we know and love today. Wanna be next Jenny from the Block? Jennifer Lopez has been a fashion icon ever since the nineties. A fan of hitting the clubs in a crop … Continue reading GET THE LOOK SERIES: Nostalgia Edition

How Media Did BDSM Dirty

Image by Anna Kerslake- @starryeyeddoodles By Maja Metera Th issue of misrepresentation has been studied by researchers for probably just as long as the area of media studies exist. It has covered various types of sexual and racial minoritiesÔÇÖ portrayal in media. This text ÔÇô in a less scholarly but not less educational way ÔÇô will try to explain how film and TV mistreats BDSM … Continue reading How Media Did BDSM Dirty

How the Internet Shaped Music

Words by Georgina HookwayArt courtesy of Pomona Pr Before the 21st century, music was consumed via records and cassettes, and through live concerts and videos. It was harder for artists to interact with their fans and buying your favourite artistÔÇÖs merch was something you could only do in-person. Whilst the World Wide Web has been around since 1989, it wasn’t until the 2000s, when sites … Continue reading How the Internet Shaped Music

Delve into Valentine’s Day

Image by Jamie Street Words by Lydia Tomkinson ValentineÔÇÖs Day is just about as divisive as marmite. For those in relationships the idea of a day dedicated to all things love and romance is something to look forward to every year, whilst for others seeing Valentine cards and chocolates in shops as February comes around becomes just another reminder of how single they are. Love … Continue reading Delve into Valentine’s Day

Valentines x Dinner Date Disasters

Image by Anna Kerslake With Valentine’s Day just behind us, we thought it would be fun to look back on some of our contributor’s worst date experiences, where food has been the main source of embarrassment. So, let the shocking see the cringe: awkward dates, reveal yourselves. Sad steak – Megan Evans Being an incredibly clumsy person, it really doesnÔÇÖt help in my favour when … Continue reading Valentines x Dinner Date Disasters

A couple wearing masks are in tehe centre of the pages with flowers between them. They are surrounded by images of a girl in a bathrobe reading, a pink dildo, a heart shaped box of chocolates, roses, a cocktail and a gay couple on a video call

How to Look After Your Mental Health This Valentine’s Day

Illustrations by Rahima Bhatti, @rahima.creative on Instagram Valentine’s Day is a difficult day for a lot of people. The pressure to be happy and in love can really take a toll on your mental health. Today we wanted to give you some advice for ways to look after yourself, and put you first this Valentine’s Day. Catarina Vicente’s Advice As everything else this year, ValentineÔÇÖs … Continue reading How to Look After Your Mental Health This Valentine’s Day

Quench’s Essential British TV Watchlist

Many international students come to Cardiff every year – and many may want to immerse themselves in the culture here. What is the one local TV show that youÔÇÖd recommend them to watch, and why? Fleabag by Georgina Hookway Fleabag is a comedy show set in London that covers topics of love, grief, anger, and family issues in a witty and poignant way. Starring Phoebe … Continue reading Quench’s Essential British TV Watchlist

Valentine's in Lockdown

How to Spend Valentine’s in Lockdown

Finding inspiration for what to do on Valentine’s day is never easy and this year, with lockdown, there are extra obstacles in the way of having a fun Valentine’s. We asked our contributors to give us their ideas for the best ways to spend Valentine’s day whilst respecting measures in place. Here’s what they had to say: Spa and Cocktail Night By Shannon Bowes-Cavanagh A … Continue reading How to Spend Valentine’s in Lockdown

Album Review: ‘Who Am I?’ by Pale Waves

Words by Maja MeteraImage courtesy of Ian Cheek PR Who Am I?, released February 12 2021, is Pale Wave’s second album, created during the tiny obstacle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to lockdowns, most of the song were produced by Rich Costey (Muse, Foo Fighters) virtually with two members of the band in LA and the rest in their bedrooms in the UK. From very … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Who Am I?’ by Pale Waves

SOPHIE: 1986-2021: The Legacy Left Behind

Written By Phoebe Bowers, Image Courtesy of StayGolden PR Always the same and never the same Day by day, life after life Without my legs or my hair Without my genes or my blood With no name and with no type of story Where do I live?Tell me, where do I exist?We’re just… Im-ma-ma-material, immaterial. If you donÔÇÖt know who SOPHIE was you definitely have … Continue reading SOPHIE: 1986-2021: The Legacy Left Behind

Why Twilight Captivated a Generation

By Shannon Bowes-Cavanagh When the first of the Twilight saga movies were released in 2008 many teenagers rushed out to buy the Stephanie Meyer books. Whether you were an avid fan or not, everyone seemed to be caught up in the Twilight phenomenon. But why was it so popular among this generation? I think the main the reason that the books were so enticing to … Continue reading Why Twilight Captivated a Generation

Poem – Valentine’s Surprise

By Kimberley Jones To my lover,In my whole lifetime I will never be able to express how much you mean to me,And I hope that my efforts will make you believe in our forever.Strange times have taken their toll on you and me,And has made it difficult for us to find happy memories from the year,But I have not given up, eternity we will be.I … Continue reading Poem – Valentine’s Surprise

Iconic Vogue Covers

Words by Leah Hocking When Vogue was bought by media conglomerate Cond├® Nast in 1909, it was transformed from a weekly journal for the upper-class into the infamous womenÔÇÖs fashion magazine that we all know and love today. As one of the best-selling fashion magazines, Vogue has taken the fashion world by storm for well over a century; predicting the most up and coming trends, … Continue reading Iconic Vogue Covers

Portrait of Sarah Waters beside a illustration of a stack of books on a light pink background

Sarah Waters: The Queen of Vintage Lesbians

By Aruni Deraniyagala What is the ÔÇ£lesbian agendaÔÇØ? For Sarah Waters, it means putting more wlw (women who love women) stories out into the world. Born in Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1966, Waters was encouraged to engage in artistic hobbies from a young age by her father. She particularly loved writing poems and stories. Despite this clear passion for story-telling, it wasnÔÇÖt until she was much … Continue reading Sarah Waters: The Queen of Vintage Lesbians

Grandparents and Their Vision of Love

Featured Image Credit: @desindes.desindes on Instagram. It can be very easy to forget that the older members of our family had a life before us; wrapped up in our own worlds where our grandparents are just that: grandparents. Six writers share beautiful tales from their grandparents’ own stories, reminding us the universality of love, loss and heartbreak. John and Alice My Grandparents, John and Alice … Continue reading Grandparents and Their Vision of Love

Bowie and Prince ÔÇô The Male Style Icons of the 80s

words by: Abi Edwards The 1980s has been remembered for its iconic fashion evolution, such as Princess DianaÔÇÖs wedding dress, Katharine Hamnett t-shirts and acid wash jeans. It is also famous for the innovative musical styles and subcultures which emerged at the start of the decade. David Bowie and Prince were both the epitome of innovation within pop music culture, being known for their unique … Continue reading Bowie and Prince ÔÇô The Male Style Icons of the 80s

Number 158

by Phoebe Bowers. It heads a heavy breath An inhale exiled And awaiting  Grey skies above the suspended bridge over the Severn. Rat infested. Bin bags out on the streets, their aborted insides exploded on the concrete. Terraced house terraced house terraced house terraced house terraced house. Fifty shades of brown, beige, and grey. Sunshine in the day. Thirty different corners bookended by your local … Continue reading Number 158

The Golden Age of Cinema

Cover illustration by Shafia Motaleb / @artsyfifi Words by Luke Hinton When you think about defining moments in Hollywood, each era seems to have one key characteristic. The 1980s were undoubtedly the era of James Cameron, with the acclaimed director releasing hits like The Terminator, Aliens and The Abyss. Similarly, the 2010s will forever be remembered as the golden age of the superhero, with Avengers: … Continue reading The Golden Age of Cinema