Barcelona’s close proximity to the beach makes it perfect for sun worshippers and culture seekers alike. The skyline of the city is dominated by the vision of the architect, Antoni Gaudi, whose work spans from the private residences Casa Batll├│ and Casa Mil├á to his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia church. GaudiÔÇÖs unique style is synonymous with Barcelona and is by far one of the … Continue reading 48 Hours in Barcelona
How does a city express itself? On its walls? In its streets? In its violence? Through its atmosphere? Does it spill out from its people, their screams, their laughter on the streets? Do individuals make the city, or does a city make the individuals what they are, what they can be? The interactions between the people within a city are constantly restrained, there are a … Continue reading Expression in the City
Budapest is a true hidden gem of Europe that’s finally getting the hype it deserves. A city with so many wonderful things to do; a a stroll down the Danube, where youÔÇÖll see the breath-taking ÔÇ£shoes on the DanubeÔÇØ memorial, a walk across the Sz├®chenyi chain bridge from Pest to Buda (especially beautiful at night). Then brace yourself for a climb up Gellert Hill! Whilst … Continue reading 48 Hours in Budapest
WeÔÇÖve watched as celebrities have taken the plunge, willingly or not, and have come out to millions of people. Ellen Page, Raven Symone, Caitlyn Jenner, Sam Smith; there is no ‘one-story-fits-all’. Some face criticism, some receive love, respect and admiration, while for others it simply isnÔÇÖt that big a deal. This month, Quench asked students to tell their stories. Elliott, Biology, First Year One of … Continue reading Your Stories: LGBT+
We spoke to Jessica Staveley-Taylor ahead of The Staves gorgeous Y-Plas performance back in November. We learnt about working with Justin Vernon of Volcano Choir and Bon Iver and being more balls-y recently, which may explain why this interview contains nudity. Hi Jess! You three must have been singing together your whole lives, but when was the moment you realised you three could make a … Continue reading Interview: The Staves
With exams and deadlines threatening to knock you back to the harsh reality of all-nighters and last-minute regrets, it’s important to eat well and stay healthy. Here’s some advice from our contributors on what they eat to keep them going this time of year. BREAKFAST Delicious and Nutritious Breakfast Smoothie If you’re not a morning person, then this is the perfect pick-me-up for you. With … Continue reading Focus Foods: How to eat your way to success
Most people have preconceived ideas about what experimental cinema is. That avant-garde films are unwatchable, self-indulgent, incomprehensible, a waste of time. Culture editor Beau Beakhouse and Film & TV editor Sadia Pineda Hameed ask what, at its basic level, an experimental film is. It might be argued that conventional narrative cinema, the popular cinema of any particular time, is at one end of a scale. … Continue reading What is Experimental Cinema?
“The Internet is really, really great…” Avenue Q is a musical that makes frequent contemptuous references to black people, Jews, homosexuals, Republicans, pornography and sexÔǪ yet it could not be more hilarious if it tried. Avenue Q hit the New Theatre, Cardiff this week and did not disappoint. Providing a hilarious platform of discussion between puppets, everyday life and a few taboos thrown in for … Continue reading Review: Avenue Q, New Theatre
By Maria Mellor When you think of sexism, an image that may come to mind is that of the pig-headed idiots in the comments section of YouTube who think it’s amusing to tell women to ‘go back to the kitchen’, or of ‘lads’ in YOLO sexually harassing any girl they can lay their hands upon. Sexism can be split into two categories, hostile or benevolent. … Continue reading What is Benevolent Sexism?
Spotlight is the true story of how the Boston Globe newspaper uncovered the worldwide cases of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. In 2001 the new editor Marty Baron, played by Liev Schreiber, is appointed to head the team at the Globe. He initiates the investigation into the topic, requesting the release of documents that point towards the corruption and paedophilia committed by Catholic priests. … Continue reading Review: Spotlight
PorterÔÇÖs, a bar on Bute Terrace close to the Motorpoint Arena, on a barren stretch of road encased within CardiffÔÇÖs transport links, (the beer garden is almost sheltered by the concrete pillars that hold up the railway) is a stylish venue with an understated film/theatre aesthetic. It often screens films and theatre productions in The Other Room; a tiny back room of 20 or so … Continue reading Play/Silence: a double bill at Porter’s Bar
Saman makes a plea to games developers everywhere so that they can stop giving him mini heart attacks Continue reading Spooked by Spiders: a gamer’s struggle
T┼À Celf 2016 is now online! Also included as a pull-out in issue 156 of Quench magazine,┬áT┼À Celf is Cardiff University’s annual arts publication and we are very excited to share this year’s issue with you all. In addition to some wonderful pieces of traditional art, photography, poetry and prose, we have decided to include film within the anthology this year; exhibiting the variety of … Continue reading T┼À Celf 2016
Gwdihw, much like the little owl from which it takes its name, is one Cardiff venue that comes into its own in the late hours of the evening. In contrast to the 7,500-capacity Motorpoint Arena towering above it just over the road, itÔÇÖs a great low-key setting for DJs, singer-songwriters and tonight, ÔÇÿriot jazzÔÇÖ. Bass Twelve bring up a few questions: When did brass bands … Continue reading Live: Bass Twelve – Gwdihw – 15/01/16
Alice Fairbanks gives us her review of The Cosy Club, a mainstay of Cardiff’s city centre. I had heard that┬áThe Cosy Club┬áwas a genuinely cosy place, and after a sufficient amount of time spent there,┬áI can confirm this. The d├®cor is┬árustic and thrifty, but with a grand entrance to the main restaurant. All of the details and little touches are what charmed me about The … Continue reading Review: The Cosy Club Cardiff – Alice Fairbanks
It’s a trap! Not really, it’s actually Elis Doyle talking about some games with differing midi-chlorian counts. Continue reading Star Wars: The Video Games Strike Back
Il Gesto delle Mani, or Hand Gestures is a masterful documentary film from Franscesco Clerici that focuses on the creation of bronze sculpture. At the historic Fonderia Artistica Battaglia bronze foundry, we follow a Velasco Vitali sculpture through each step of the process. The understated documentary has no background music or voiceovers┬áexplaining the process; it simply watches with the audience in the ambient sounds of … Continue reading Review: Hand Gestures with Q+A at Chapter Arts Centre
You might have heard of Star Wars. It’s quite popular apparently. After ten long years, the hype train returns and itÔÇÖs more powerful than you could possibly imagine. So, here’s the review for the seventh film in the franchise, for which the title seems more appropriate as a question – Star Wars: The Force Awakens? And yes, indeed it does awaken. If you have yet … Continue reading Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
ÔÇ£Pfft, this sounds stupidÔÇØ a gamer states, as Just Cause 3 is loading up; the cover art and advertising literally covered in explosions. Cut to three hours later; the gamer has rigged up an elaborate system of grappling hooks, placed explosives and vehicles. At the press of a button, a cow is rocketed into a petrol station that results in an earth-shattering detonation that sends … Continue reading Review: Just Cause 3
Each month, Quench looks at different directors’ selected filmography. We take a look at Christopher Nolan for December’s online feature. Christopher Nolan is one of the most well known modern directors. From making stop motion films as a child with his dadÔÇÖs super 8 camera, he went on to make short films as a part of UCL film society where he studied English Literature, and … Continue reading Spotlight: Christopher Nolan
