Author: Contributing Writer

Film & TV

Netflix’s Love Affair With K-Drama

Words By Catarina Vicente Photo Illustration by Sangsuk Sylvia Kang It was during  the 2000s that K-pop created such a big reaction from Western audiences that the market for Korean exports boomed. Soon, there was a growing buzz surrounding everything Korean-related, dubbed the ÔÇÿHallyu WaveÔÇÖ, which included  skincare, music, foodÔǪ and K-Dramas.  Western audiences fell in love with K-Dramas, and with growing accessibility to┬áentertainment media … Continue reading Netflix’s Love Affair With K-Drama

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Culture

#SaveTheArts

By Caitlin Parr Though a ┬ú1.5 billion emergency support package has been made available to arts, culture and heritage venues following the #SaveTheArtsUK campaign, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has publicly stated that this sum will not be enough to protect all arts venues and creative spaces from closure or severe economic detriment.┬á With the grant aiming to support these venues that so many rely on … Continue reading #SaveTheArts

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Literature

The Rise of the Audiobook

by Katie Waits. Without a doubt, for many of us, literature has been an important part of our lives for the last few months. Whether youÔÇÖve sought out your favourite story for a sense of comfort, settled down with an interesting educational read, or started making your way through your ever-growing pile of unread books, lockdown has allowed some of us the time to embrace … Continue reading The Rise of the Audiobook

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Fashion

Are Face Masks the New Fashion Accessory?

by Darci Black Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic means we have had to change and adapt to numerous new ways of life, in turn creating a ÔÇÿnew normalÔÇÖ way of living. One of these adaptions is wearing a protective face mask, something that is becoming mandatory in different ways across the UK. But for something that is now essential, these coverings shouldnÔÇÖt have to be … Continue reading Are Face Masks the New Fashion Accessory?

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Features

Socially Distanced Swiping: Dating and Love in Lockdown

Whether you’re single or in a long-term relationship, lockdown has undoubtedly affected everyone’s love life. We asked students in a variety of romantic situations how they had been coping with dating and maintaining relationships in lockdown. Newly Single Life in Lockdown  By Molly Govus  I can safely say that getting to know people in the eye of a global pandemic is something I have never … Continue reading Socially Distanced Swiping: Dating and Love in Lockdown

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Food

A Quarantined Culinary Education

Words and image by Olivia Adams With the closure of many food eateries as a result of lockdown, and receiving the advice to stay at home, the desire to try new foods and recreate meals from my familyÔÇÖs favourite restaurants became a regularity in my household. Being a food lover myself, I did miss being able to eat out and order takeaways, however IÔÇÖm glad … Continue reading A Quarantined Culinary Education

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Film & TV

Cinema Is Back…Almost

By Nicole Rees-Williams Artwork by Mike Simon on Unsplash Cinemas in England were supposed to open on the 4th of July after months of darkened screens and empty seats, but many have decided otherwise.  There were plenty of big blockbusters to look forward to this year, such as the next Bond franchise instalment No Time To Die, Christopher NolanÔÇÖs Tenet, and Wonder Woman 1984 to … Continue reading Cinema Is Back…Almost

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Fashion

BAME Fashion and Beauty Companies

by Rhi├ón Lock The conversation surrounding the recent Black Lives Matter protests across the world has forced all of us to consider more ways in which we can support the black community. ┬áFor many of us, this contribution includes ensuring that we are buying from ethical, diverse and underrepresented black-owned businesses. Whilst this is by no means an exhaustive list, if you are already thinking … Continue reading BAME Fashion and Beauty Companies

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Literature

Fictional Worlds That Exist in Real Life

by Shaniece O’Keeffe. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios Florida and Hollywood & The making of Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tours – London. If you havenÔÇÖt wanted to walk down Diagon Alley and pop into Weasley Wizard Wheezes to pick up that love potion for the guy youÔÇÖre crushing on, or simply walk around with a butterbeer in your hand  taking … Continue reading Fictional Worlds That Exist in Real Life

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Travel

Staycation Settings: Making the Most of the UK

With the uncertainty of global travel, many of us have been forced to postpone or even cancel our holiday plans this summer. But alas, do not fear. We have got you covered by assembling some of the must-see places to visit in the UK this summer season (and beyond). North Wales By Caitlin Parr This year, a lot of people will understandably be looking a … Continue reading Staycation Settings: Making the Most of the UK

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Food

Recreating Holiday Meals

As lockdown measures have caused lots of us to cancel holiday plans, we thought we’d bring some of the best dishes we’ve eaten abroad back home and recreate them! Check out some of our favourites below… Gyros from Corfu, Greece By Hannah Penwright ThereÔÇÖs not much IÔÇÖd rather be doing than being back in Corfu. Eating gyros after a gorgeously sunny day relaxing at the … Continue reading Recreating Holiday Meals

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Film & TV

Creating A Lockdown Cinema Experience

Words by Sarah BelgerArtwork by Sarah Belger With lockdown restrictions easing and life starting to return to normality, , the return of cinema is for the moment at least on hold, following the postponement of reopening plans by major chains across the UK earlier this month. Luckily for you, the big screen need wait no longer, as we at Quench have   a range of ideas … Continue reading Creating A Lockdown Cinema Experience

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Download, Video Games

The Games Getting Us Through Lockdown

The lockdown over the past few months has led to boredom – long swathes of time where some of us find we’re lacking a substantial activity to sink our teeth into. Video games are a perfect outlet for excitement that many have turned to in order to alleviate the monotony of life stuck inside the house. Here are just a few games that we and … Continue reading The Games Getting Us Through Lockdown

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Film & TV

Hamilton: An Eye Opener For Racial Prejudice

By Georgia Glenn Hamilton is a musical depicting the life and death of Alexander Hamilton: one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. Following his birth to his legacy after death, we are given insight into an immigrant who helped birth America. The first act highlights HamiltonÔÇÖs naivety and his expressed emotions. We meet Eliza, his wife, along with Angelica, his perhaps … Continue reading Hamilton: An Eye Opener For Racial Prejudice

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Film & TV

Films Made by BAME Directors

Words by Ona Ojo, Ella Rowe Hall, Thomas Benny, Finegas Stocking and Megan Evans (in order of appearance) Illustration by Shafia Motaleb @artsyfifi Sorry to Bother You (2018) dir. Boots Riley RileyÔÇÖs directorial debut is an absurdist dark comedy set in an alternate modern-day Oakland. Despite an unpromising start in a telemarketing office, young, black and anxious Cassius ÔÇÿCashÔÇÖ Green quickly rises through the company … Continue reading Films Made by BAME Directors

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Literature

Books Written by BAME Authors

Illustration by Jasmine Snow @jasminesnowartContributions by: Ella Clucas, Kate Waldock, Ellie Hutchins, Ella Lloyd, Annabelle Ingram and Rhian Lock (in order of appearance) Kindred (1979) by Octavia Butler If youÔÇÖre looking for a book that will enthral you in its narrative whilst at the same time educating you on the history of racial politics, Kindred is it. In this poignant science fiction novel Butler brings … Continue reading Books Written by BAME Authors

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Film & TV, LGBT+

Queerantine: Here’s to Queer Cinema!

Here at Quench Film & TV, one of our favourite topics to discuss is The Importance of Queer Cinema, because we all get bored of watching the same heteronormative narratives on our screens. Now that we’re stuck indoors, why not celebrate some of our favourite Queer films and shows? Quarantine? More like Quarantine! Portrait of a Lady on Fire By Phoebe Bowers If you want … Continue reading Queerantine: Here’s to Queer Cinema!

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Film & TV

Normal People and Turmoils of Heartbreak

By Megan Evans The TV adaption of Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel Normal People has enfolded so much turmoil and heartbreak in front of us during this coronavirus outbreak. It is a complicated love story set in Northern Ireland, between two school students who have mutual fascinations and a friendship bond like no other despite their differing personality traits. A synopsis of the storyline is fairly … Continue reading Normal People and Turmoils of Heartbreak

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Film & TV

Review: Never Have I Ever

By Pui Kuan Cheah Netflix has been on a roll lately, delivering plenty of content to audiences stuck indoors. Enter teen rom-com Never Have I Ever, from the minds of Lang Fisher and Mindy Kaling. Loosely based on KalingÔÇÖs childhood, this series is full of laughs but will also tug at your heartstrings. Never Have I Ever follows feisty Indian-American teenager Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) … Continue reading Review: Never Have I Ever

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