Taking the Bait

Words by Rubie Barker ÔÇ£As your token straight friend, itÔÇÖs my duty to remind you that sometimes people are straight.ÔÇØ -Tao Xu (Heartstopper┬áseason 1, available on Netflix) For those for┬áwho┬áthe term is new, ÔÇÿQueerbaitingÔÇÖ, is commonly understood to occur when someone (fictional or real) suggests they are part of the LGBTQ+ community, primarily to attract the LGBTQ+ audience, possibly for financial gain. While the term … Continue reading Taking the Bait

Review: The Verdict at the New Theatre

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending Middle Ground Theatre CompanyÔÇÖs The Verdict at The New Theatre. For the opening night of its UK tour, the theatre filled the theatre to see how this interpretation of Barry ReedÔÇÖs courtroom drama would come to life. The audience was of an older demographic – nostalgic of the 1982 film adaptation starring Paul Newman, no doubt. The … Continue reading Review: The Verdict at the New Theatre

The Early Days of Coronavirus, As Told Through My Teenage Diary Entries

Samuel Pepys, Che Guevara, Leonardo da Vinci, myself – what do all these people have in common? TheyÔÇÖre all diarists. Admittedly, my diaries fall more on the Adrian Mole side of things rather than the Virginia Woolf end, but since any good historian knows the value in a range of sources IÔÇÖll be bold on this one and put mine forward as an artefact of … Continue reading The Early Days of Coronavirus, As Told Through My Teenage Diary Entries

ÔÇÿImagine Living ThereÔÇÖ – Imaginary Places in Literature that We Love

Reading is the ultimate form of escapism – whether it’s fantasy, historical, or travel fiction, we all have places in novels that we like to escape to and would love to visit IRL. Ranging from Hogwarts to 221B Baker Street, our contributors give us their views on the places they’d most like to visit. Ella Collis The magical and mysterious world of Narnia is one … Continue reading ÔÇÿImagine Living ThereÔÇÖ – Imaginary Places in Literature that We Love

Review: The 1975 @ CIA 16/01/23

Words by Charlotte Harris, photos by Alexa Price Kicking off their two-night stint in WalesÔÇÖ capital at Cardiff International Arena on Monday night, The 1975 treated us with the most recent performance of their tour, titled┬áThe 1975 At Their Very Best. A tour already spewing with media attention and internet interest, we were primed for a legendary evening. Would there be a guest star? Would … Continue reading Review: The 1975 @ CIA 16/01/23

Self Improvement Away From the Self: What Does it Mean to be Kind?

HereÔÇÖs something of a confession for you all: I love saying horrible things about the people in my life.  I love sitting down with friends to dissect everything we hate about our other friends. I love playing armchair psychologist and listing every questionable thing anyoneÔÇÖs ever done.┬á I love the drama of it, the gossip, and the pat on the back we give ourselves for … Continue reading Self Improvement Away From the Self: What Does it Mean to be Kind?

TripAdvisor Top Travel Destinations 2022

words by Megha Roy Ever since the pandemic came over the globe in 2020, travelling halted for millions of people for over a year. People seemed to have been caged in their homes, but in 2022, the scenario has seen a change. The world is recovering now and that has given the travel lovers the time and freedom to plan holidays. Trip Advisor, one of the leading travel websites, unveiled ÔÇÿThe Best of the … Continue reading TripAdvisor Top Travel Destinations 2022

Our Favourite Jane Austen Adaptation

Clueless Words By Katie Brosnan Clueless, the 1995 adaption of Jane AustenÔÇÖs Emma stands the test of time as the perfect adaption of a classic novel. Clueless offers a relatable, fun, and modern revision of Jane AustenÔÇÖs beloved novel, allowing for younger audiences to access the message of the original text, forgiving people for their mistakes. Cher, the protagonist, is a 15-year-old, blonde, valley girl … Continue reading Our Favourite Jane Austen Adaptation

Remembering Raymond Briggs

By Jasmine Dodd Who was Raymond Briggs? Inspired by his death at 88 years old in August this year, there has been a wave of melancholy when looking at Raymond Briggs’ iconic writings and illustrations. Celebrated for creating the classic, The Snowman (1978), Raymond Briggs was nationally cherished for his classic stories and illustrations which include: The Snowman (1978), When the Wind Blows (1982), Father … Continue reading Remembering Raymond Briggs

Ad or Advent?

Words by Katie Brosnan 2022 has seen the cost-of-living crisis surge to an unprecedented level. Usually, headlines are met by retailers spending millions on their Christmas advertising, particularly John Lewis and Sports Direct. However, this year most retailers have reduced their spending significantly, showing solidarity with those struggling with costs this Christmas. The message in most Christmas adverts this year focus on the importance of family and unity, reflecting that … Continue reading Ad or Advent?

Review: Enola Holmes 2

Words By Floss Harrison In 2020, British actress Millie Bobby Brown graced our TV screens with the latest Netflix original, Enola Holmes, directed by Harry Bradbeer. This fun-loving drama starring Milly Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes and Henry Cavill as her famous older brother, Sherlock Holmes, proved to be a box office success, being the most-watched film on Netflix over the first five days of … Continue reading Review: Enola Holmes 2

COP27: Everything You Need to Know

Words by Jasmine Dodd The history of COP┬á Being originally established to assess progress in addressing climate issues, the Conference of Parties (COP) began in 1995. It has been described byGeographical as having ÔÇÿflashes of brilliance [with] years of disappointmentÔÇÖ. Over the years, COP has been heavily criticised for not producing effective action when addressing climate issues, but merely a pretence of creating change without addressing the root … Continue reading COP27: Everything You Need to Know

The Best Albums of 2022

Words by Elliot Morgan This year, compared its predecessors, has been remarkably strong in terms of new music releases. Iconic artists in the pop and hip-hop genres released critically acclaimed albums after hiatuses of nearly half a decade. Across the indie scene, new bands rose to prominence and released their debut records, meanwhile, old favourites continued to add to their accomplished discographies. Although difficult select … Continue reading The Best Albums of 2022

Christmas Classics: What Our Contributors Are Reading This Season

‘Tis the season! As the autumn term draws to a close and everyone heads home for the holidays, there’s no better way to unwind and get into the festive spirit than with a seasonal read – preferably in front of an open fire and with a hot chocolate in hand! Here are some our contributors’ favourite reads at this time of year, to give you … Continue reading Christmas Classics: What Our Contributors Are Reading This Season

Breaking The Binary

While acceptance of diverse gender identities is on the rise, it can still be difficult to explore and understand what that looks like for yourself. Non-binary identities in particular are often misunderstood or dismissed, making it much more challenging to be open and comfortable in your identity. Non-binary is an umbrella term for those who experience their gender outside of the binary of man or … Continue reading Breaking The Binary

Who did it better? The fight between House Of The Dragon and Game Of Thrones.

Words by Eva Castanedo When on Sunday, 21st of August, the first episode of House of the Dragon premiered, the stakes were very high for HBO. Many did not believe it could match what is considered the worldÔÇÖs most popular show in history.  Data shows that even though the Game of Thrones finale was in 2019, the show still ranks very high in engagement. Therefore, … Continue reading Who did it better? The fight between House Of The Dragon and Game Of Thrones.

Review: Culture Cwtch

Words by Omo Ifabua Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Student UnionÔÇÖs sold out celebration – Culture Cwtch. The Great Hall was filled with students in their vibrant cultural attire and the aroma of delicious traditional delicacies from around the world. From tasty food and live music to Bollywood dancing and fashion shows, this is certainly an event you must attend. Having … Continue reading Review: Culture Cwtch