Download, Video Games

INTERVIEW: George ‘isdsar’ Diamanto

Featured image credit to Red Bull Esports. By Mike O’Brien Esports has a bad rep. Between cringy intros in the Overwatch League, and the conservative insistence that video games cause everything from social anxiety to mass shootings, public perception of competitive gaming has some growing up to do. Despite being a billion-dollar industry, Esports faces an uphill climb against its uninitiated critics who see the … Continue reading INTERVIEW: George ‘isdsar’ Diamanto

Mike O'Brien
Toy Story hero
Film & TV

Woody: Pixar’s Cruellest Sociopath

By Mike O’Brien At first glance, Toy Story is a heart-warming tale of camaraderie, breathing the same life into its toys as our imaginations did in the days of yore. But it is our collective failure as a society to recognise Toy Story for what it truly is: an indictment of our corrupt, celebrity-worshipping media environment whose sympathy for narcissists perjures justice. Early in Toy … Continue reading Woody: Pixar’s Cruellest Sociopath

Mike O'Brien
Movie theatre cinema white screen
Film & TV

Foot in the Door: How to become a Film and TV Extra

By Laura Dazon It’s scary, but possible The film industry is an impenetrable fortress in which only the luckiest can step. But there is one oft-forgotten way to make it on the sets of worldwide productions without having someone open the door for you. DonÔÇÖt expect this article to teach you how to glide through the grand entrance. Today, weÔÇÖre going through the back door, … Continue reading Foot in the Door: How to become a Film and TV Extra

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Fashion

Fashion and It’s Extensive Use of Microplastics

By Stephanie Israel  With the growth of fast fashion, the massive demand for more clothes and the quick turnaround of trends, fashion waste is becoming more and more of a pertinent and concerning issue for the environment. Unknowing to many peopleÔÇÖs knowledge, contemporary clothing is mostly made from plastic, which includes material like polyamide, nylon, polyester and acrylic. When washed, clothes made from these fabrics … Continue reading Fashion and It’s Extensive Use of Microplastics

Contributing Writer
Film & TV

Review: This Country

By Alisha Keane Brother/sister duo Daisy May and Charlie CooperÔÇÖs BAFTA winning mockumentary series This Country follows cousins Kerry and Kurtan (Lee) Mucklowe, unemployed twenty-somethings hanging about in a Cotswolds village lacking any sort of direction or future. As mentioned, the show is presented in a documentary style, with title pages at the beginning of each episode (and within them) stating that a team has … Continue reading Review: This Country

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Culture

Virtual Youtubers – What’s the appeal?

By Laura Dazon It sounds like it’s straight out of Black Mirror: Virtual YouTubers ÔÇô or ‘Vtubers’ ÔÇô are your typical “like and subscribe” influencers, except for one thing: they’re not real. They display human characteristics, they vlog and crack jokes, but their existence is entirely artificial. If the typical appeal of YouTubers is their sincerity and authenticity, why have so many viewers flocked to … Continue reading Virtual Youtubers – What’s the appeal?

Laura Dazon
Features

Interview with an XR Activist

By Amy King Following the countless Extinction Rebellion protests, film festivals and multiple other activist platforms, a number of arrests have been made against these activists fighting for a declared climate emergency. Emma*, a 19-year-old Extinction Rebellion activist from Bath, was one of those people. At the London Rebellion on the 9th October 2019, Emma was taken under arrest for causing disruption in the area … Continue reading Interview with an XR Activist

Contributing Writer
Food

The Welsh ‘Port to Plate’ Project

By Luke Griffiths The Port to Plate initiative was recently launched this February at JAM in Cardiff Bay. The purpose is to create a distinctiveness around the identity of Welsh seafood and help to support the industry, from fishing to selling. The aim of the project is to increase public awareness around Welsh seafood (#WelshSeafood), ranging from different types of fish and shellfish, which are … Continue reading The Welsh ‘Port to Plate’ Project

Contributing Writer
I am not okay with this review
Film & TV

Review: I Am Not Okay With This

By Phoebe Bowers If youÔÇÖre seeking yet another coming-of-age Netflix series thatÔÇÖs an easy watch which provides familiar character archetypes and ÔÇÿthrowbackÔÇÖ aesthetics, then I Am Not Okay With This is probably the show for you. However, if youÔÇÖre tired of Netflix series merging some vague faux 80ÔÇÖs and 90ÔÇÖs aestheticism to the soundtrack of The Talking Heads and The Psychedelic Furs in an attempt … Continue reading Review: I Am Not Okay With This

Contributing Writer
Culture

The Hothouse | Theatre review

By Saoirse O’Connor Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà There is a moment towards the end of The HothouseÔÇÖs first act where it feels like youÔÇÖve suddenly started watching a different play. Moments previously the audience were rolling in the aisles and with the flicker of a red light (and some well-placed electrodes) they sat transfixed as a man writhed in agony mere centimetres away. It is … Continue reading The Hothouse | Theatre review

Contributing Writer
Culture

My Wales | Exhibition Review

By Cinzia Appetecchia Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà In the heart of Cardiff, the MADE art gallery recently hosted a photography exhibition by a local artist and photographer, Kyriacos Asprou, to which I had the pleasure to be invited to see his work. I found a collection of pictures taken during a long trip around the country to frame the essence of what Wales has to … Continue reading My Wales | Exhibition Review

Contributing Writer
Culture

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | Theatre Review

By Neus Forner Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Beautiful: The Carole King Musical follows the life story of Carole King, an incredibly well-known singer and composer. This musical focuses on the tale of love, success and friendship surrounding Carole KingÔÇÖs life. Full of musical numbers, this show is catchy and upbeat, making it hard not to sing along and dance to many of the songs.  Regarding … Continue reading Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | Theatre Review

Neus Forner
Fashion

How Copenhagen is Leading the Sustainable Fashion Movement

By Meg Burgess Simplicity, elegance and well-cut design – these are the easy calling cards of Scandinavian fashion, which is taking the fashion world by storm. Danish fashion is fast becoming one of the front runners of the sustainability movement, where designers are placing even more emphasis on environmentally friendly fashion. This comes at a perfect time in the global fashion movement, where consumers are … Continue reading How Copenhagen is Leading the Sustainable Fashion Movement

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Culture

An Inspector Calls | Theatre Review

By Lewis Empson Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà J. B. PriestlyÔÇÖs staple of the whodunnit genre is as pertinent as ever within todayÔÇÖs society. Watching it unfurl on stage with social commentary still as relevant as its debut in 1945 is an engaging and thought-provoking experience. We are first introduced to a dirty, dimly lit street inhabited with impoverished children, contrasted with the decadent home of … Continue reading An Inspector Calls | Theatre Review

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Music

Musical Storytellers

To continue our theme of stories, we delve into a different medium of storytelling – music. Many musical artists choose to tell detailed stories through their song writing which could have personal, fictional, or political messages amongst many others. These stories are conveyed whilst still maintaining a beautiful sound and a pleasing lyrical arrangement which is something definitely worthy of applaud and recognition. In this … Continue reading Musical Storytellers

Contributing Writer
Culture

On Budgeting and What Makes a Good Photographer with Ieuan Berry | A Beginner’s Guide to Photography

In the previous instalment of our photography series, I guided you through all the jargon you need to know when approaching photography. Today I will talk about budgeting and how to navigate the plethora of equipment on offer, another tricky aspect for beginners. To facilitate your journey through photography, I also interviewed the photographer Ieuan Berry, who works in the shop Camera Centre, located in … Continue reading On Budgeting and What Makes a Good Photographer with Ieuan Berry | A Beginner’s Guide to Photography

Luisa De la Concha Montes
Columnist

Is It Too Late to Do a EU-turn?

Phoebe Grinter – Columnistgrinterpm@cardiff.ac.uk With my social media memories reminding me of all the fun I was having last year, I decided to reflect on the impact of Brexit on the Erasmus+ programme. Every day when I wake up, rain pounding against my bedroom window as I  procrastinate getting up and facing another day, I check my memories on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, only to be … Continue reading Is It Too Late to Do a EU-turn?

Phoebe Grinter
Film & TV

Harley Quinn : Birds of Prey – “We Are All Mad Here”

By Maja Metera Some time in this century people have decided that using words like ÔÇÿmadÔÇÖ or anything pointing towards mental illnesses when calling others names is politically incorrect. Despite many talks about the stigmatising effect it has on people suffering from mental illnesses, the world still does it ÔÇô especially towards women. There are reasons behind feminists ranting about exclamations like ÔÇ£Are you on … Continue reading Harley Quinn : Birds of Prey – “We Are All Mad Here”

Contributing Writer