Beach parties, bikini weather and bell tents in the sunny South of FranceÔǪ What better a way to celebrate the end of this grim time of dissertations and exams (youÔÇÖre nearly there xxx) than heading to the French coast for a week of surfing and camping in June. Cardiff Uni Surf Sports are teaming up with the guys at Star Surf Camps and Outgoing to … Continue reading Cardiff Uni France Surf Trip!
Quench chatted with Mark Daman Thomas, founder of Shape Records, member of psychadelic band Islet and curator of Cardiff’s experimental music festival From Now On. After it’s third year filling Chapter Arts Centre, Jack Boyce caught up with Mark to ask about his experience putting on the event. You can read Jack’s review of From Now On Festival here 1) What is your vision for … Continue reading Interview: Mark Daman Thomas – From Now On Festival
From Now On: Curated by Shape Records, From Now On is a hidden gem of a festival that showcases the finest experimental music from the Cardiff music scene and further abroad. Situated over three days at Chapter Arts Centre, the venue becomes as integral a part to the festival as the musical acts. Art projects litter the festival line-up, with the interactive exhibit Arc Vertiac … Continue reading Festival Review: From Now On
An Academy Award, less formally known as an Oscar, is the most prestigious award an actor can hope to get. To someone whoÔÇÖs lived under a rock their whole life, a small gold figure on a pedestal may not seem like a lot, but theyÔÇÖre widely coveted by many in the film industry; film-makers and actors alike. Only the cr├¿me de la cr├¿me can hope … Continue reading Not So Black and White: Inequality in Hollywood
By Maria Mellor Okay itÔÇÖs time to talk scary. Getting a job, finding what youÔÇÖre going to do with your life and all that jazz – itÔÇÖs terrifying. I seem to have this permanent lump somewhere between my throat worrying that IÔÇÖll never get a real job, never get what I want in life and wake up one day to find that my degree is … Continue reading Column: JUST DO IT
Hello there dear reader, before you read this article I ask of you one simple task, to ask yourself something relevant to this time of the year: Valentines Day. Do you consider yourself quite the Lothario? Capable of commanding the unified attraction of multiple people at once, with a silver tongue and striking looks to boot, and the ability to sway even the coldest heart … Continue reading Pulling in Video Games
In recent years, society has become more obsessed with fitness and nutrition than ever before, and as a generation we are fixated on an idealised image of health. As we strive to get ripped, gain perfect abs, glowing skin and heightened fitness levels, a healthy or ÔÇÿcleanÔÇÖ lifestyle has overwhelmingly become synonymous with happiness, fulfilment and success. But when does a healthy lifestyle become an … Continue reading Orthorexia and the Clean-Eating Phenomenon
So far this year our director spotlight has been, for lack of a better term, a bit of a sausage fest. This wasnÔÇÖt an intentional decision, but more to do with the fact that the number of renowned female film directors with enough films to fill this double-page can be counted on one hand; a hand that has a few fingers missing at that. Last … Continue reading Spotlight: Sophia Coppola
We look into the way violent media is blamed on violent crimes and if there’s a real reason to worry. Everybody watches films. Not everybody shoots a child. A bit of an obvious statement you might think, but when it comes to violence in the media, everybody seems to have a PhD in Sociology. It seems as if every other week the news informs us … Continue reading Films as Scapegoats: Violence in the Media
As a kid my life centred around cartoons; every day before taking the harrowing steps to school, watching Cartoon NetworkÔÇÖs fantastic line of programming would fill me with determination. The vibrancy of creativity in the shows would constantly blur the line between ‘child-friendly’ and ‘adult content’. In recent years I have watched episodes of Courage the Cowardly Dog via Netflix and realised the extent complex … Continue reading Cartoons for Adults
WeÔÇÖve all stumbled across the standard travel photos of elephant rides, religious temples and colourful harem pants, as they are in full blossom all over our social media feeds. Of course, these are all great experiences that any person with a bit of wanderlust in them would want try. However, to do it a little bit differently, why not do it in India? With wild … Continue reading Take me Back: India
Road trips arenÔÇÖt just for the movies anymore. Whether you are looking for an afternoon exploring Wales or an adventure further afield let our travel team give you some ideas. Words by Alice Dent and Lucy Pierce. GREAT OCEAN ROAD ThereÔÇÖs no doubt that Australia is a pretty cool country, and what better way to experience it than by taking a trip along VictoriaÔÇÖs … Continue reading On the Road: Our Favourite Roadtrip Routes
A cocktail of societal pressures, poor education, and widespread availability have resulted in a massive increase in steroid use across the UK. Is there anything we can do to kick the habit? ÔÇ£The whole ÔÇÿroid rageÔÇÖ thing? Load of bollocks.ÔÇØ If anybody knows that, itÔÇÖs Dave Crosland. As I talk on the phone to him, I put his name into a search engine for … Continue reading All The Rage: the unknown risks of steroid use
The art of tattooing has been present in all cultures for centuries and tattoos have their place in ancient civilisations, from the Greeks to the Romans, marking identities for good and bad purposes. Following the proliferation of tattoos within modern society in recent years, more and more of us are getting inked as a way to personify our identities, represent of interests and passions, or … Continue reading Think Before You Ink – The Shit Tats We’d Rather Forget
Do we need Pride? Is it a Party or a Protest? February is a busy month for most students. Exams are over, and lectures take over our lives once again. Anticipation for the Six Nations soars, ValentineÔÇÖs plans are made, and as Student Unions and businesses celebrate LGBT+ History Month, Pride flags are flown all around the country. I often hear people asking why the … Continue reading Do We Need Pride? LGBT+
YouÔÇÖve gone green with your eating habits and the environment, but did you know you can go au naturel with your beauty buys too? Enter the rising phenomenon of organic makeup and skincare brands. PAI SKINCARE A match made in heaven for all of you dealing with sensitive skin! Pai claims to be experts in natural beauty solutions but are especially renowned for their wide … Continue reading Back to Basics: Natural Skincare
A key figure in the Beat Generation, Allen Ginsberg was the prophet-like poet that significantly influenced a transcendental way of thinking, living and being. In response to the McCarthy-era, Post WWII America, Ginsberg and co. bonded over a non-conformist lifestyle, and sought a ‘New Vision’ for creativity inspired by the poetry of Yeats. Fuelled by this spirit (as well as hallucinogenic drugs) Ginsberg became, and … Continue reading Cultural Icons: Allen Ginsberg
It has been little over twenty-two years since the tragic suicide of Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain. Yet for many he has remained a cultural icon and to some extent the de facto mascot of the punk-grunge era of the nineties. For many, including myself, it was the music that he and his fellow band members were remembered for and was the driving force that catapulted … Continue reading Cultural Icons: Kurt Cobain
Pablo Picasso once defined the artist as ÔÇ£A political being constantly alert to the horrifying, passionate or pleasing events in the world, shaping himself completely in their image.ÔÇØ Throughout history, Politics has influenced many different types of culture. This has happened in literature, like George OrwellÔÇÖs Nineteen Eighty-Four, which contained themes of omnipresent government surveillance. Or in music, such as Dmitri Shostakovich, whose career was … Continue reading Art vs. Culture
We caught up with Dan Bettridge following his epic set at Swn festival to chat about his influences and what the future holds for this rising star. WhatÔÇÖs it like being championed by the BBC? YouÔÇÖve been played by Jo Whiley and now Horizons are behind you. I donÔÇÖt really think about it to be honest, when it happens IÔÇÖm seriously gobsmacked and so so … Continue reading Interview: Dan Bettridge
