Cover Art by Emily Chang and Natasha Low

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Contentos

02 science articles

Why do violas rarely get the main melody?

Firstly, the viola is too heavy and awkward to play and violists could actually get injured very easily. Both the violin and the viola come in different sizes. These sizes correspond to the length of their body, which doesn’t include the neck and the scrolls. The smallest violin size is 1/16 (23cm/9”), whereas the largest is 4/4, which is often regarded as the ‘full-size’. Viola sizes are slightly different. Generally, the sizes for violas from large to small would be 16” to 16.5”, 15.5”, 15”, 14”, 13” and 12” viola. As you can see, they don’t have their sizes in fractions. Interestingly, violas don’t have a standard size, unlike the violins.

Tracing back to the 15th and 16th centuries (the late Medieval and Renaissance periods), when the modern violin family was still developing, the viola was transitioning from being played in a position like the cello – upright on the player’s lap. Those violas were several inches longer than their modern counterparts. The ‘viola da gamba’ was an instrument that was played like a cello, upright between the player’s legs while ‘viola da braccio’ referred to an instrument played under the chin like a violin or a modern viola. There were violas that were several inches to half a foot longer than modern violas played just as they are now. During that time, the violas lay right at the intersection of ergonomics and sound and there seemed to be a struggle to strike a balance between the two. When the players began to adapt to play the viola under the chin, it was proved to be too heavy to play on the shoulder while its large size was also impeding technical progress.

Eventually, these larger violas were ‘cut down’ to a more manageable size to play in a manner like the violins. However, a new problem surfaced along with this compromise where, acoustically, for the register violas played in, the instrument needed to be bigger than it is. This resulted in the non-uniform standard of viola production and somewhat encouraged a few luthiers to experiment with so-called ‘Dali’ violas. I personally think these luthiers are surrealists: these Dali violas really look like they were taken out of Salvador Dali or, Rene Magritte's paintings. As bizarre as this sounded, the idea was to let violists have a comfortable playing experience and violas to retain their true sound.

Secondly, the historical approach of the composers also had a huge impact on viola parts in orchestral music and this is best understood in contrast to the violin – the viola’s soprano sibling. It is evident that violins have much harder and more repertoire compared to violas. Due to the large and uncomfortable size of violas, composers usually arrange parts that aren’t as difficult for violas. Hence for a very long time, violists were playing purely accompaniment music. The awkward size of violas was a set-back for violists as it limits their techniques. Charles Avison, the composer who is rumoured to be the originator of viola jokes, once wrote that as violists have ‘one of the worst hands’, he never gave them difficult parts. Composers not letting violas have the main melody can also be explained with its projection of sound, pitch range, timbre, tuning, and tone which I will further explain in the later paragraphs.

Despite being ‘neglected’ by a lot of composers, the violas have started to get more exciting parts in the 18th century (also known as the Classical period). Mozart also played the viola himself and started to write more interesting parts for the viola in his later quartets. He also wrote a double concerto for violin and viola. As interest in the viola and it being a solo instrument increased, composers began to write violists more substantial and challenging parts. Later in the 20th century, Rebecca Clarke, who is internationally renowned as a viola virtuoso, composed a lot of chamber music prominently featuring violas. Her infamous Sonata for Viola and Piano has withstood the test of time and discrimination to be a staple of modern viola repertoire.

“How do you prevent a violin from getting stolen?”

“You put it in a viola case.”

If you have paid attention to the classical music community, or perhaps have come across any Twoset Violin videos on YouTube, you have probably heard of these viola jokes. It seems as if violas and violists are getting hated on. As a fellow member of the string family, violas aren’t necessarily widely recognised. A lot of people probably don’t know what a viola is. Most identify the viola as the ‘bigger violin’. And, technically, they’re not wrong. Violas are larger than violins in both length and width. While the standard full-size violins are usually 35cm (14”) long, a viola can be as big as 45cm (18”) long. So, why don’t they get the main melody in orchestral music?

Stradivari Viola, One of the most expensive violas

Science article 2

03

Thirdly, the sound characteristics of violas. The compass of the viola is 3.5 octaves from C3-E6 which is lower and narrower than the violin, usually using the alto clef and sometimes treble (violin is in treble). The conventional western tuning of a viola nowadays is based on A4 (440Hz) and is in fifths. This gives them the Open Strings of C3-G3-D4-A4; a perfect fifth lower than the strings of a violin.

With the viola’s range being in the low and middle registers, the bottom 3 strings (C, G and D) produce a dark, warm and stately timbre while the A string produce a more distinctive and robust sound. As mentioned before, the viola is acoustically restricted. The viola would not be able to project over an orchestra so writing concertos for it did not appear appealing to the composers. Alternatively, it makes a perfect accompaniment, supporting the melody with its sensuous, introspective sound in the lower and middle register. The C string (C3-D4) has a resonant, rich and dark timbre, widely used for conveying forbiddance feelings and evoke sombreness. But these same notes can be played on the cello with a more powerful and intense sound. The G and D strings (G3-E5) both appear rather bland and are usually used for figurations and filling-in parts. Same notes can be played on the violin and are weaker and project less well on the viola. Although the violin also covers the notes that can be played on the A string on a viola, they are noticeable from the rest of the string orchestra. The A string is more penetrating and rougher and is used to express sentimental moods and pain, typically played forte. This explains the lack of repertoire and main melody for the violas: it was not made to be a solo instrument.

A lot of musicians, including violists themselves often joke about violas being the ‘alternative’ or the ‘back-up option’. In fact, it is very rare that a violist started out with the viola but not the other instruments, and a lot of them don’t study the viola as their profession in university. A good number of violists actually started with the violin, and then switched to or learned the viola as a ‘add-on’. This is because violins are slightly easier to play albeit its ridiculously difficult repertoires. The violin is easier as it is smaller and lighter. To an extent, the viola isn’t quite recommended in university by professors as it is short in repertoire; you would want to be able to study a wide range of repertoire and develop musical maturity as well as musicality to understand and play the music well in university.

All in all, the viola is a beautiful instrument with a mellow, solemn and sonorous timbre that deserves to be recognised as more than ‘the step-sibling of the violin’ or ‘the big violin’. To achieve that, I would like to introduce some pieces written for the viola as an end of this article. Classical music isn’t elitist nor is it only for ‘old people’, while the viola wasn’t created just to get roasted and made fun of! After all, music is a universal language that transcends time, delivering the history, culture as well as emotions to its audiences.

Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante – as the prodigy composer known to have loved the instrument nobody seemed to love, his composition for the viola, violin and orchestra is a beautiful, elegant, masterful piece from the classical period.

Schumann: Märchenbilder – a collection of short pieces for the viola and the piano from the early Romantic period. Schumann’s compositions often remind me of fairy tales, and it is up to us to figure them out for this collection as he did not leave any clues.

Bartok: Viola concerto – a masterpiece from the late Romantic period. It features the Hungarian composer’s rhythmic creativity and agonising melodies as one of the last pieces he wrote.

Ligeti: Viola Sonata – a solo viola sonata from the modern period in 6 movements. The use of quarter tones and tonal variations brought an alternative perspective to the pitch of music.

Lastly, another viola joke that Eddy from Twoset made just for fun-

“What spell in Harry Potter can make one go deaf?”

“Violahamora”

Written by Tammy Wong

04 Shifting: A TikTok phenomenon or science?

The popular Chinese social media app has introduced a lot of trends to the mainstream media, some of which are viral dancing videos, advice, activism, and sometimes even science. Over the summer, a new and intriguing trend emerged from the Harry Potter obsessed side of TikTok; people were claiming to have transferred their consciousness into other realities. Shifting.

These people had claimed that after falling into an extremely deep state of meditation, they had, then, gained consciousness in other desired realities, for example they were now students at Hogwarts (the school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world of Harry Potter). They said that they could interact with the popular characters and were in control of their narrative, even to the point of changing the overall plot line, where Voldemort (the main villain of the Harry Potter series) did not exist and various characters did not die. Now we all know that Harry Potter is fictional, however is the idea behind ‘Shifting’ actually based on scientific theory?

It has been discovered recently that the CIA has conducted in-depth research into the process of Hemi-syncing. This is the ability for a person to sync their brain hemispheres so that they process on the same frequency and at the same amplitude. It was believed that this process of Hemi-syncing would cause astral projection - more commonly known as out-of-body experiences - and it is believed that this is what those who attempt to shift experience. You may have heard about being left- or right-brained and the personality traits that are associated with the different sides of the brain - left-brained people being logical and right-brained people being creative-, these ideas relate to Hemi-syncing as the left brained logic often prevents the right brain, and thusly the entire person, being subject to experiences that defy logic, like astral projection. The endgame of Hemi-syncing is to allow the right hemisphere to become more aware and alter consciousness. The CIA released a detailed document titled ‘analysis and assessment of Gateway process’ - it specifies the various techniques that can be used to Hemi-sync and allow the right brain to be more receptive, such as hypnosis, biofeedback, and transcendental meditation.

However, in the TikTok version people have shared their ‘Shifting’ experiences and offer advice to others wishing to ‘shift’. This often features advice such as following various rituals in order to reach the shifted state; for example, writing scripts of what they want their desired reality to be like, listening to subliminals (sensory stimuli that are below human conscious perception that are known to stimulate various areas of the brain), meditating, and using shifting methods. Shifting methods are processes that are believed to allow people to shift, a popular example of this is the Alice in Wonderland method, where the person should meditate and then imagine themselves sat at the base of a tree and imagine that a character from their desired reality runs by and, similar to Alice’s actions in the story, they follow the character until they ‘fall into the Rabbit Hole’ which eventually leads them into their desired reality. These processes presumably mimic the CIA’s processes and allow the persons to Hemi-Sync.

The ‘Shifting’ trend has raised a lot of questions and debates within the TikTok community and now various other social media platforms. Some believe that it is just a concept of fiction that people have made up, and some believe that it is real. The CIA documents analyse the idea of Hemi-Syncing; this along with more well-known concepts within various cultural practices (Chinese medicine for example) potentially provides evidence for ‘Shifting’ as a concept being real. However, western culture and logical scientific method would class this idea to be a faction of pseudoscience, along with astrology.

Written by Hannah Elliot

05 politics page

Trumpery and deceit

My email’s junk folder, and what it reveals about America.

Writing this article has been a challenge. Not due to a lack of things to write about regarding Trump, but rather the opposite. I began planning this article sometime before Christmas, and since then, the man has gone on a victory lap of madness before the loss of his presidency, going from downplaying the severity of a global pandemic to attempting to undermine the entirety of America’s democratic process. Meanwhile, I’ve been desperately trying to keep up, as each new news headline manages to top the last in both severity and ridiculousness. Indeed, watching American politics this past year has felt less like peering passively into the rabbit hole, and more like being unwillingly strapped into some psychedelic fairground ride, where every turn sends you hurtling into another hall of mirrors reflecting scenes of the apocalypse - kind of like that scene from the 1970s Willy Wonka, except instead of Gene Wilder manically reciting poetry, it’s Donald Trump telling the world that you can cure coronavirus by injecting yourself with bleach. But in this, I found myself another problem – Trump is subject to the world’s scrutiny, and every historic action he takes is translated into a hundred languages, then published in a thousand newspapers, where it is read by a billion people, who use a trillion characters to state their opinion online. Because of this, there have already been a variety of opinions and takes on all the things that Trump has done. So instead of going straight into discussing Trump’s larger controversies, I instead first want to talk about something much smaller that I’ve seen mentioned to some degree, but has received much less attention than I’d expect considering how I think it’s emblematic of many of the problems and patterns that we have seen throughout Trump’s presidency. I want to talk about my emails.

Several months ago, my email was added to Trump’s mailing list after I used it to fill out a form on his website. Now, I have a collection of emails from members of the Trump family, Mike Pence, (not actually them, I assume), and polling officials, among countless others. Now, these things are genuinely hilarious. The subject lines are tactless enough to make a tabloid editor roll their eyes, with gems such as ‘CHAOS’, ‘Biden called you a CHUMP’ and ‘Let’s finish strong 💪 Patriots against the Radical Left’. The emails themselves are also pretty strange, with random capitalisation, sentences underlined and in bold for no reason, alongside bright red buttons urging you to donate. However, I think possibly the strangest aspect of it all is how all of these emails insist that I have some kind of intimate relationship with the president. ‘Donald Trump specifically asked us to reach out to YOU’ they insist, telling me that he personally looks over a list of 100, 500, 10 (it changes depending on the email) ‘PATRIOTS’ before each rally. However, while these emails are funny, they are sent unrelentingly. During the election in particular I was getting dozens of them a day, all lying about how the election was being stolen by Democrats, and how important it was that I save the election by, unsurprisingly, throwing as much money as I could at the Trump Administration. For days I was flooded by what was essentially electronic diarrhoea, my inbox engulfed by an outflow of onerous absurdity. I found myself unable to do anything but stare as Team Trump somehow managed to contort themselves even further below my expectations, which were already lower than a cheating spouse digging a hole to the centre of the earth.

But why does this matter? Trump has been lying since the beginning of his presidency, and these emails are so ridiculous that nobody with half a brain could take them seriously. But there is where the problem lies – Trump has lied and downplayed and obscured for years, but is only now beginning to face actual, meaningful consequences for it. He’s been banned from most major social media platforms after the capitol riots, but this action has only occurred after literal years of build-up. Not even impeachment attempts were able to pin Trump down, and he has continued to pile up lie after lie after lie about everything from exaggerating how many were present during his inauguration to covering up the severity of COVID-19. The Fact Checker asserts that Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims as president. It’s no wonder those rioters felt some twisted sense of entitlement to break into the Capitol – they had seen again and again how Trump’s ideas and narrative received so little meaningful pushback they must have felt powerful, untouchable, surrounded by the energy of their ideology that had managed against all odds to survive despite being so against the status quo. They must have thought they were invincible –that nothing could come against them. And they were right for the most part. There was astounding little resistance from Capitol security, who seemed underprepared and incompetent from footage taken inside the building. On that day, a small group with an ideology built on lies, rallied by a president spouting fraudulent claims, were able to threaten democracy. On that day, we saw how Trump had managed to coax a fire that had been long brewing in America into a towering inferno. And the scariest part? We saw the logs being piled up, we saw the fuel being added, we saw the fire climb higher and higher, but didn’t understand the danger until it was lapping at the walls of the Capitol. When you see where unchallenged lies can lead, those little emails I would open and chuckle at before going about my day become much more sinister. There’s a reason why no one with half a brain would ever take those emails seriously. It’s the same reason why scam emails purposefully contain spelling errors – when no one with half a brain would believe your lies, you’re left with those who don’t know any better, who will believe you no matter what, and then you can manipulate those people to your heart’s content.

Politics Page 5

06

So, what now? We’ve come a long way from ‘covefe’, and the doubt that Trump has cast on the democratic process will undoubtedly have long-lasting consequences, and will impact both America and the rest of the world in ways we don’t have the foresight to realise now. These past four years have shown how one bad apple really can spoil the whole bunch, as we’ve seen Donald Trump evolve from a global laughing stock to one of the most dangerous people on the planet, someone who came genuinely very close to toppling American Democracy. Ultimately, America is turbulent and divided and broken in so many ways, and the path to unity will be a difficult one, with an ever-present threat of losing progress and taking two steps back for every one forward. This has been a problem in the country for a while, and Trump’s presidency has done a lot to highlight America’s weaknesses and issues. However, much like my subscription to his emails, Trump’s time as the president has thankfully expired. In the meanwhile, while the future is uncertain, many will invite Biden as a welcome change from his predecessor. While his aims to unite a divided America are lofty, and whether he’ll succeed still remains to be seen, merely the replacement of Trump is seen as a huge relief and movement towards normalcy. All in all, I won’t mourn when my emails from Trump finally subside. Hopefully, my inbox will finally be able to clear itself just as America clears the way for its new president.

Written by Chloe Drew

07 Vice President Kamala Harris

Born in Oakland, California, Harris ended up moving almost 3000 miles away to study at Howard University. She graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics, then moved on to attend law school. She studied at the University of California, Hastings College of Law until her graduation in 1989, before being admitted to the California Bar (to be admitted to the bar one must pass an examination as well as show evidence of good moral character; doing so allows an individual to practice law) the subsequent year.

Her career began when she was hired as a deputy district attorney, meaning that she acted as a chief prosecutor (to have the role of filing a lawsuit against someone, rather than defending them) for the local government area. She later moved on to another role as assistant district attorney, where she mainly prosecuted homicide, burglary/robbery and sexual assault cases. Her next career move came with a job at San Francisco City Hall, where she specialised in representing cases of neglect and child abuse.

In 2002, she became the District Attorney for San Francisco, running for two terms, the second of which she ran unopposed. In 2011, she then became the Attorney General for California, breaking many records as she became the first woman, the first African American, and the first South Asian American to take up the role in the state's history. She also ran for two terms in this role, defeating Republican Ronald Gold in 2014.

The following year Senator Barbara Boxer, a woman who had held the position for over 20 years, made the announcement that she would not be running for Senate re-election in 2016. The following week Harris announced that she would be running herself, and her campaign ended up being endorsed by Barack Obama and his Vice-President Joe Biden. Following her victory, she both announced her intention to remain Attorney General until the end of 2016, and made a promise to protect immigrants from the policies of President-elect Donald Trump.

On January 21st, 2019, Harris made the announcement that she would be running for president of the United States. Whilst she received a strong amount of support (managing to tie with Bernie Sanders for the most donations raised in a day following an announcement), on December 3rd of the same year she withdrew from seeking the Democratic nomination, claiming a shortage of funds as her reason for doing so. In March 2020 she endorsed Joe Biden for president, and on August 11th she was revealed as his running mate. This was another move that broke records, as she became the first African American, the first Indian American, and only the third woman to be picked as a vice-presidential nominee for either the Democratic or Republican party.

So, what might Kamala Harris mean for the future of politics?

Kamala Harris has already shattered the glass ceiling in her previous aspects of her political career, such as being the first female attorney general of California, and now as her being the first female person of colour to be elected as Vice President of the United States. Harris’ election is a great symbol of the achievement, after centuries of struggle, for women and POC’s in the United States, and will be a role model for many children. It is known that her actions and beliefs during her career as a criminal prosecutor is contradictory of her current progressive political stance - for example, as prosecutor she was known to be an opponent of the decriminalization of sex work, but now advocates for it.

On the political spectrum, she is mostly centrist but has some more left wing views; which means that she would support policies that allow for social equality (where rights are guaranteed despite a person’s gender identity, sexuality, and financial status) rather than the social hierarchy that is usually associated with right wing politics. This position on social equality may mean that the Biden/Harris administration would resolve issues like the male-female wage gap, reproductive rights, and accessible healthcare (during the Trump/Pence administration, controversial Bills and Laws were made that discriminated against the American minorities). It is known that she supports the Green New Deal and is against the immigration policies put in place during the Trump administration. With a woman of colour in such high office, the Biden/Harris administration may be able to lead a huge reform within the US, where minorities would be represented and acknowledged. Overall, it is predicted that she will be a progressive beacon of light for US politics and for women.

Written by Laura Clark, Hannah Elliot

08 culture page

voices from africa

The need to hear more black voices has certainly been a major theme of the past year. Too often our curriculum and what we read is centred around the white experience. Branching out and away from a Eurocentric understanding is an important part of literary growth. What better way to do this than through poetry? Throughout history, poetry has given people a voice and allowed them to convey their emotions and thoughts in a succinct and evocative way. Poetry has been used as a form of protest or just to show beauty.

The queen of storytellers, Gcina Mhlophe, lights up every room she enters. Her voice is unforgettable and is mixed with a rare musicality. I have had the honour of meeting this poet on several occasions and hear her recite her works and she really imprinted herself on my mind. She wrote Sometimes when it rains when she was in Amsterdam, far away from her home in South Africa. At times like these when we are perhaps separated from our family, friends, school, and home the feeling of homesickness can resonate with everyone for different reasons and to different extents. But as the rain falls down in grey and wintery England this feels a very suitable poem.

Sometimes when it rains

rains for many hours without break

I think of people

who have nowhere to go

no home of their own

and no food to eat

only rain water to drink

Sometimes when it rains

rains for days without break

I think of mothers

who give birth in squatter camps

under plastic shelters

at the mercy of cold angry winds

Sometimes when it rains

I think of ‘illegal’ job seekers

in big cities

dodging police vans in the rain

hoping for darkness to come

so so they can find some wet corner to hide in

Sometimes when it rains

rains so hard hail joins in

I think of life prisoners

in all the jails of the world

and wonder if they still love

to see the rainbow at the end of the rain

Sometimes when it rains

with hail stones biting the grass

I can’t help thinking they look like teeth

many teeth of smiling friends

then I wish that everyone else

had something to smile about.

Sometimes when it rains

I smile to myself

And think of times when as a child

I’d sit by myself

And wonder why people need clothes

Sometimes when it rains

I think of times

when I’d run into the rain

shouting ‘Nkce – nkce mlanjana

when will I grow?

I’ll grow up tomorrow!’

Sometimes when it rains

I think of times

when I watched goats

running so fast from the rain

while sheep seemed to enjoy it

Sometimes when it rains

I think of times

when we had to undress

carry the small bundles of uniforms and books

on our heads

and cross the river after school.

Sometimes when it rains

I remember times

when it would rain hard for hours

and fill our drum

so we didn’t have to fetch water

from the river for a day or two

Written by Sophie Phipson

Culture Page 8

09 celebrating women's achievements

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A profoundly phenomenal woman, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an author and speaker of Nigerian heritage. Having written various novels, essays and having given Ted talks, she is widely regarded as one of the most key and unique novelists of her generation.

Written with a beautiful passion, her infamous first novel ‘Purple Hibiscus’, explores the taut relationships within an oppressive family. Her second book, ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’ went on to win the Orange prize and was made into a movie. In total, her work has been translated into 30 different languages and has inspired countless people around the globe, exposing the scars of Nigerian tragedy and history all but forgotten by recent generations. A devout feminist, all of her works elicit a drive to uproot steadfast, long held beliefs. Now, being married with her daughter, she divides her time between the United States and Nigeria, where she teaches and writes.

Some of her works to enjoy...

· Purple Hibiscus

· Half Of A Yellow Sun

· Americanah

· We Should All Be Feminists

Lizzie Carr

Lizzie Carr is an environmental activist and has used her paddleboarding adventures to capture data to highlight and educate people on environmental issues affecting our planet. She has founded Plastic Patrol, a website and app with the aim to clean up our planet.

On 18th May 2017, Lizzie became the first female in history to solo stand-up paddle board across the English Channel, a record-breaking seven hour long crossing, highlighting bigger environmental stories of micro plastic contamination in our oceans.

To date, Lizzie and her army of volunteers have removed more than 190 tonne bags of plastic from the UK waterways, and a further 12,000 examples of plastic in 43 countries globally have been logged through crowdsourcing on the interactive Plastic Patrol app.

Caroline Criado Perez

One of her first campaigns, the Women’s Women's Room project, aimed to increase the presence of female experts in the media. She also opposed the removal of Elizabeth Fry, the only woman from British banknotes (other than The Queen), which lead to the Bank of England's announcement that the image of Jane Austen would appear on the £10 note by 2017. “All her books are about how women are trapped and misrepresented. It is really sad that she was saying that 200 years ago and I am still having to say that today".

The campaign resulted in harassment threats, as a result, Twitter announced plans to improve its complaint procedures.

Her most recent campaign was for a sculpture of a woman in the Parliament Square as the eleven statues were all commemorating men. The statue of Millicent Fawcett was unveiled in April 2018, as part of the celebrations of the winning of women's suffrage in the United Kingdom.

In 2019, Caroline Criado Perez released a manifesto, Invisible Women, which exposes data bias in a world designed for men and brings to light the many hidden places where inequality resides. It is an enlightening and fascinating read!

Celebrating Women's Rights 9

Written by Kitty Campbell-Howard, Ella Condrau

10 tea page

All tea originates from the Camellia Sinensis leaves, which are processed in many different ways to produce different types of tea which people enjoy all over the globe. Teas can vary massively in flavour, from fruiter and lighter teas, to smoky, bitter teas. The flavour of teas changes due to different oxidation processes being used, the most oxidised being black teas and the least being white teas (which, frankly, is pretty self-explanatory). Due to the hard times we are facing now, I thought it would be important to give guidance over the health benefits which we can obtain from tea, as well as it being great to de-stress.

The five main types of tea are black, oolong, yellow, green and white, in order from most to least oxidised. Oxidization is usually performed using maceration, where the leaves are soaked in a liquid and cut to ensure that every part of the leaf is equally oxidised. There are additional methods to flavour the tea, the most interesting personally is the process of producing lapsang souchong. Lapsang souchong is a black tea with an incredibly strong smoked aroma - they achieve this by drying the tea leaves over a bed of pine or hemp which creates a strong infusion of smoke into the leaves. This tea is best brewed for two and a half minutes using 90-degree water.

White teas:

White teas are typically fruitier and lighter. They need to brew at 70-80 degrees for 1-5 minutes, but they typically are best brewed longer.

White peony [high antioxidant levels, immune support and energy source]
White rose [high in vitamin C, antioxidants and coughing/congestion]
White jasmine [good oral health, cardiovascular health benefits and antioxidants]

Green teas:

Green teas can be more bitter and have a fresh taste but can be quite fruity. They should be brewed at 75-85 degrees for 1-5 minutes.

Matcha [high in EGCG which supposedly has cancer fighting effects, antioxidants and boots energy with its natural caffeine source]

Sencha [high content of antioxidants and polyphenols as well as the immune system]
Gunpowder [helps with arthritis, prevents tooth decay and lowers blood sugar]

Yellow teas:

Yellow teas are sweet, bright and floral in taste and they are mid-strength. They have to be brewed for 75-80 degrees for 3 minutes.

Huo Shan Huang Ya (Amber Mountain) [good for digestion and absorption]
Junshan Yinzhen (Silver needle) [good for cardiovascular health and reduces aging]

Oolong teas:

Oolong flavours can vary, but they’re generally more bitter in taste and can be brewed at 80-90 degrees for 1-5 minutes but shorter times such as 2 and a half minutes so the tea doesn’t become too bitter.

Darjeeling [hydrating, antioxidants and relieves stress]
Iron Goddess of Mercy (Tie Guan Yin) [regulate cholesterol, increase alertness and boost immune system]
Pure Oolong [natural stimulant, boosts metabolism and decrease risk of type 2 diabetes]

Black teas:

Black teas are harsher in taste and contain a lot of caffeine so they’re not the best for everyone, but can be good paired with lemon or honey. Brew for 1-3 minutes in 80–100-degree water.

Assam [good for digestion, boosts immunity and brain health]
Earl grey [antioxidants, lower cholesterol and blood sugar]
Lapsang Souchong [cardiovascular health and prevents infections]

Personal Recommendations:

Peach Sencha:
- This aromatic sencha tea is a beautifully light and refreshing blend which is good to have at any time of day. However, if you need a small midday boost it can be good due to its low caffeine levels. It is mid-strength and is not overly bitter or sweet and is best brewed at 75-degrees, so you don’t burn the delicate floral taste. It is best to drink on its own and it is beneficial for lowering bad cholesterol, prevention of some infections, anti-inflammatory properties and many more. Any sencha peach tea is good, however the loose-leaf box from T2 is my favourite.

Jade Mountain:
- This is a specialty tea made by T2 and is too good not to share. This blend reminds me of something you would find in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory due to its range of flavour. This tea is a mix of cocoa, brittle pieces and green tea with additional chocolate and hazelnut praline. The taste of this green tea is not too sweet, however tastes just like a hazelnut praline chocolate. With its amazing health benefits such as being packed with antioxidants, this tea is like a healthy dessert which you can enjoy at any time of day.

Valerian Root:
- Valerian root tea has an acquired taste. However, the properties of valerian root are very beneficial especially for students (and teachers). It has been found to be very good for stress relief and contains the antioxidants hesperidin and linarin, which appear to have sedative and sleep-enhancing properties.

Written by Bonnie Hull

Tea Page 10

11 celebrity culture

2020’s Biggest Pop Culture Moments

Looking back on 2020, we can all agree it was one of the most challenging years in history, but through it all, pop culture had our backs. It was the multi-faceted world of entertainment that had us moving through the toughest of days. From the TV shows that kept us invested, the music that made us feel, Tik Tok trends that made us laugh or the world of celebrity that had many, many babies this year, entertainment got us through the darkest of days.

The Biggest Collab – WAP took over the summer, bringing us a much-needed collaboration from Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. The song instantly became a summer favourite, with its wild lyrics and spitfire delivery, an unforgettable music video and surprise celebrity cameos.

Zendaya’s Emmy Win – In September, Zendaya made history at 24 years old, becoming the youngest person ever to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The former Disney Channel star’s win came from her portrayal of teenage drug addict, Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria.

The Year for Bingeing – Now in 2021, we’re on our third lockdown, sad I know! *insert crying face*. However, one thing that kept our hopes high in 2020 was streaming. In March, Netflix released Tiger King, a docu-series that examines the bizarre world of big cat owners Joe Exotic and Carol Baskin. The Queen’s Gambit, Money Heist and Too Hot to Handle also total high viewing rates for Netflix. In the UK ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! was the biggest TV show of 2020, and for the first time, hosted in Wales.

Man of The Year – 2020 was the year of Harry Styles, there’s no denying it. With one of the most talked about music videos of the year, a statement of gender-fluid fashion, a chart-topping album and the first man to grace the cover of US Vogue, Styles has flourished.

J. LO and Shakira’s Superbowl Halftime Show – Jennifer Lopez and Shakira made history becoming the first Latina artists to headline the Superbowl halftime show. The set included huge dance productions, fireworks, pole dancing, and a medley of the duo’s biggest hits, making their show one to remember.

The Year of Baby Fever – Now, 2020 was the year of babies. Instead of asking who was pregnant, it may be easier to ask who wasn’t? Pregnancies include Emily Ratajkowski, Sophie Turner, Nicki Minaj, Emma Roberts, Ashley Tisdale, Katy Perry and Elsa Hosk.

A Gossip Girl Reboot – Later in the year, HBO Max shared the reboot’s first teaser, in typical Gossip Girl style, shot on a phone and sent in as a hot tip from everyone’s favourite source. The teaser included footage and some photos of the new cast. Thirteen years on from the premier of the original Gossip Girl, new characters and storylines are coming our way.

Nigella Lawson on Microwaves – On her show, Cook, Eat, Repeat, Nigella Lawson had the nation in giggles with her pronunciation of microwave, mispronouncing it ‘me-crow-wav-vey’. Memes of this soon took over internet and social media.

Parasite at the Oscars – Parasite, a movie by South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho, made history at the Oscars in February, becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture, but also delivered one of the best twists in cinematic history. The thriller provides insight into the exploration of human behaviour and class conflict and by the end of the night, Parasite became one of the most celebrated movies, snagging four wins out of its six nominations.

One Direction’s 10 Year Anniversary – July 23rd, marked One Direction’s ten-year anniversary, celebrated in a special video documenting their five years together since their formation. Four of the five original members, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne took to social media to celebrate their roots.

Written by Alexa Chokra

Celebrtity Culture 11

12 pop-culture moments to look forward to in 2021

It’s finally time to do what we’ve all been wanting to do ever since 2020 started, leave it all behind and never think about it again. However, as we bid farewell to 2020, there are so many great things to look forward to in the new year! Already one month into 2021, the excitement is only just beginning with lots of moments to look forward to, and yes there is something for everyone.

Starting off the year with awards season, iconic comedy duo and Mean Girls actresses, Tina Fey (Ms Norbury) and Amy Poehler (Mrs George) will be hosting the Golden Globes on February 28th. Unlike other awards shows, the Golden Globes has not currently been postponed, so we can definitely expect a ton of laughs at the end of the month.

For all the music lovers out there, it has been rumoured Adele and Rihanna could be dropping new material by the end of the year. Currently, there has been no confirmation from either artist about the creation of new material, but seeing as it has been five years since either released music, we are in desperate need of a new album from them both. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight last July, Rihanna gave an update confirming that the anticipated album wouldn’t disappoint, stating ‘I am working on music and when I am ready to put it out in a way that I feel fits, it’s gonna come out. And you’re not going to be disappointed when it happens.’ So, fingers crossed R9 and Adele’s new albums drop this year.

Since we’re on the topic of music, it has been confirmed that The Weeknd will be performing at the Superbowl half time show this year, and in typical Weeknd fashion, we will expect a dynamic performance and of course his most popular songs. As seen in his past work, The Weeknd can put together a full feature length film through his music videos and his performances, so he is not going to put together a run of the mill show.

And finally, for Friends fans, they’ll be getting what they’ve been wishing for all these years, a Friends reunion. It’s been a long-time in the waiting, but fans of the series can finally witness the reunion of their favourites from the sitcom and in the words of Chandler Bing, “Could we be any more excited?” And while Friends fans are going to be saying “How you doing?” to the cast next year, our favourite family is saying goodbye to Keeping Up With The Kardashians, with their final season airing on E! in early 2021. With even more TV news, Stranger Things season 4 will be returning to screens sometime in 2021. However, with COVID delays, we might have to wait a little longer to see who survived the season three finale.

Now when it comes to movies, 2021 will be packed full of exciting action filled movies to make up for what was missed last year. (Did you know that Avengers: Endgame grossed higher than all of the entire movies released in 2020) Superheroes will be taking over the year with the MCU and DCEU releasing a ton, and I mean a ton of movies and TV shows, which all started in January with the MCU’s release of WandaVision on DisneyPlus and upcoming release of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier in March. Then in May, Scarlett Johansson’s long-awaited, stand-alone Black Widow movie will be released in theatres after being pushed back a year due to COVID complications. On top of the Black Widow film release, Loki is set for release also on DisneyPlus. But that is just the beginning: during the summer, Marvel is set to release a second Venom movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, marking the companies first Chinese led film. That leaves a quick break until November, when Eternals graces the silver screen, bringing Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden and Kumail Nanijani into the MCU. And like all good things come to an end, we can expect Tom Holland’s final Spiderman movie to be released in December. Only a whole year to go. But Marvel is not the only one with a line-up fit for a superhero. DC is set to release a few blockbusters next year, with the Zak Snyder’s cut of Justice League to debut as a four-part mini-series in March. Then in August, fans can expect to get The Suicide Squad.

There’s a movie for James Bond fans too! The twenty fifth instalment of the Bond movies and Daniel Craig’s fifth final portrayal in No Time to Die will be releasing in April, leaving British audiences eager to view the release. Craig had previously been in movies, Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015). Seeing as this performance is his last as James Bond, it begs the question, who will be the next Bond?

And these are just a number of things to look forward to this coming year. Something tells us everything we just mentioned, it’s just the beginning of what’s to come.

Written by Alexa Chokra

13 photography page

Photography in lockdown

Being in lockdown has helped us to realise and notice the beauty of what we had previously considered mundane. Before, everyone was filled with the stress of their everyday lives, whether it was shopping or even just socialising! We did not take time out to really take in our own surroundings. The additional free time and restrictions of lockdown has helped to us realise the beauty around us and we have started to appreciate the little things and truly admire the world we live in.

The American photographer William Eggleston is one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. His photographs capture every day and routine subject matters, such as motel rooms and storefronts, in eccentric, refined compositions. Each detail in the image is important, carrying both beauty and mystery. He once quoted “Not intending to make any particular comment about whether it was good or bad or whether I liked it or not. It was just there, and I was interested in it”. This suggests that taking interesting images does not have to be for professional purposes, they can simply succeed by just capturing anything and everything in their surroundings. Egglestons’s work is characterised by its ordinary theme, as Eudora Welty mentioned in her introduction to The Democratic Forest, his images might include "old tyres, Dr Pepper machines, discarded air-conditioners, vending machines, empty and dirty Coca-Cola bottles, torn posters…". Welty states that Eggleston is able to vision the complexity and beauty of the mundane world: "The extraordinary, compelling, honest, beautiful and unsparing photographs all have to do with the quality of our lives in the everyday world: they succeed in showing us the grain of the present”.

During lockdown there have been many different challenges, for example the seven day challenge consisting of taking images of different aspects of the world each day from self-portraits to movement. This is a very entertaining and creative way to cast yourself away from the daily routine and almost trapped feeling associated with lockdown, giving you a chance to get in contact with your imaginative side and thus allowing yourself time away to relax from the stress of work and school.

Another similar challenge is the ‘A day in your life’ photography competition founded by BAFTA and multi award-winning artist, Alison Jackson. The images would have to be able to sum up a day in your life, from supporting yourself and your family, schoolwork to your daily exercise in lockdown. This is a good way to challenge yourself and bring a positive aspect out of these unreal times.

Socialising is a key aspect of our lives which has been disrupted during lockdown and we need interaction with one another to check up on and to stay happy. A great way to connect and create memories is over FaceTime Photoshoot: this method has been used for photographers, business projects or just a fun activity with your friends. For example, lockdown portraits taken by photographer Tim Dunk, claiming to have completed over fifty lockdown shoots over facetime.

Photography is a significant aspect of life, capturing memories and a fascinating view of what the world has to offer. Furthermore, photography now provides a way to keep social contact and has become a new-found hobby for many individuals in hard ship during the pandemic. The art of photography is beneficial for keeping your mind active and healthy and creating a connection with your surroundings. One does not have to be skilled in the area of photography in order to take a meaningful picture, there is beauty in everyone’s unique approach to how they view the world through their lens.

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William Eggleston

Photographs from the lockdown challenge

Written by Mia Oldfield

15 local artists

james wilson

Date of Birth: 28 November 1815 (London)

Date of Death: 17 May 1900 (Bath)

Nationality: English

Family:

Married Maria Buckley on 12 January 1843 at Llanelli
Had a son in 1846, James Buckley Wilson who also became an architect

Designation: Architect – he was a prominent Victorian architect practising in Bath as well as partner in the firm Wilson & Willcox.

Known as: Wilson of Bath

Examples of buildings:

Royal High School Bath (1858)
St. Stephen’s Church, Bath (1840-1845)
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Dorset (1838)
Church of St Leonard, Shipham (1843)
Kingswood School (1851, the extensions in 1881)
The restoration of the Church of St Mary, Charlcombe (1857-1861)
The rebuilding of the Holy Trinity Church, North Malreward (1860-1861)
National Westminster Bank, Bath (1865)
The assembly rooms of the Carmarthen Public Rooms, Carmarthen (1854)

Architectural Style(s):

Neoclassicism (Moravian Chapel)
Pre-Pugin Gothic (St Stephen’s Church)
Tudor (Kingswood School)
English Gothic (Royal High School Bath)
Other kinds of Gothic (St Paul’s and two other Baptist Chapels)
Mid-Victorian, classical (National Westminster Bank, Milson street)
French roof (Grand Pump Room Hotel)
Italianate (Walcot Schools, Guinea Lane)

Facts about him:

He was declared ‘the most prolific and the best of the Bath Victorian architects’ along with his partner W.J. Wilcox by Charles Robertson in the Bath Architectural Guide in 1975
He has designed many buildings in Bath and the South-West, especially churches, chapels and schools.
James Wilson was the Architect that built The Royal High School Bath, which was later extended by W. G. Habershon and Fawckner.

Written by Tammy Wong

Local Artists 15

16 NJidEKA AKUNYILI CROSBY

Mediums: Collage, photo transfer, acrylic paint, fabric, coloured pencil and charcoal

Recent exhibitions: Her work was included in 2020's 'Radical Revisionists: Contemporary African Artists Confronting Past and Present', which was shown at the Moody Centre for the Arts (Houston, Texas). This exhibition demonstrates the way that tainted Eurocentric views of race and representation can be reframed and given new life and depth through an authentically Afrocentric lens.

Notable work: My favourite pieces are probably ‘Mamma, Mummy and Mamma’ (2014), ‘Mother and Child’ (2016), and ‘Nwantiti’ (2012).

Who are their aspirations?: One of her inspirations was the writer Chinua Achebe, well-known for writing 'Things Fall Apart', who adapted the English language to fit his culture, believing that only when altered could it bear the burden of his African experience. Thus he was an important inspiration as this idea helped her to develop the syncretism seen in her work.

A further inspiration crucial to the development of Akunyili Crosby's personal style is the artist Wangechi Mutu, who influenced her use of using many images to build another. In her work she uses photo transfers and fabrics to bring in elements from Nigerian and American cultures together in hairstyles, furnishings and architectural elements of her work. For her, the use of photo transferring is particularly symbolic, as lowered visual sharpness can be used to represent the way in which information can be lost whilst transferring between cultures.

Education: She began her journey at the Community College of Philadelphia where she took an oil painting class. Her teacher then encouraged her to head to Swarthmore College, which she graduated from in 2004 after studying Art and Biology. She then attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, earning a post-baccalaureate certificate 2 years later. Finally, she went on to the prestigious Yale University School of Art to do a Master of Fine Arts degree.

Where are they ask?: Los Angeles, USA

Awards: Akunyili Crosby has won quite a few awards, one such being named one of Financial Times' 'Women of the Year' in 2016, alongside other notable names, such as Simone Biles, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Mary Berry.

Where to find more of her work?: http://www.njidekaakunyilicrosby.com/

Written by Laura Clark

17 fashion page

Is Fashion Eco-Friendly or just Greenwashing?

Are the faces of eco-friendly fashion such as H&M and Zara as green as they are made out to be?

In the modern age, fashion is a pivotal part of a person’s identity. Aesthetics, style and accessories help us to express and portray ourselves to others and communicate how we want to be perceived within society. The need or want to have a continuous supply of clothes coming in and out of the wardrobe in order to gain a certain aesthetic or style have promoted retail brands to adapt leading to fast fashion. Fast Fashion as a concept is considered to be ideal to the average consumer: cheap clothes manufactured at warp speed and accessed everywhere, so at anyone’s disposal. It is a nice theory, yet in practice there are problems such as constant corruption coupled with a blatant disregard for the workers who create the clothing. Many work in inhumane and sometimes illegal conditions, where underage labour is a constant, the pay might not be enough to allow people to live in a sustainable and maintainable livelihood. Most fashion brands hide their tainted methods by fronting with a ‘green image’ or really just Greenwashing.

What is Greenwashing?

The official definition of greenwashing in the Cambridge Dictionary is “An attempt to make your business seem interested in protecting the natural environment, when it is not.” Greenwashing is essentially allowing brands to announce that they are eco-conscious but without complete transparency. There is no consistent definition for what counts as environmentally friendly and so firms can come up with their own guidelines which then enables them to benefit from inhumane and unethical methods from suppliers, to seem eco-conscious but without the social responsibility. This is because fashion companies’ primary function is essentially to sell products created for paying customers in order to gain profit. This has led to ethical and environmentally friendly products becoming a strong selling factor which is why many companies will greenwash. Due to a cultural shift and the public becoming more ethical and environmentally aware, brands have had to become or at least look eco-conscious to survive the changing demographic in order to sell. It may also occur because some fashion brands are a part of giant conglomerates and corporations, and so will need to greenwash so that they can remain appealing.

Who are some of the Conglomerates and Corporations involved in Greenwashing?

Most well-known brands and fashion labels are not boutiques but are rather large scale multi-national corporations, who can often have thousands of stores world-wide. H&M is a great example; they have over 5,000 stores in 74 different countries and is the second largest retail brand after Inditex (who owns Zara, Massimo Dutti, Berksha, Pull&Bear, Oysho, Stradivarius and Uterqüe), they produce millions of items of clothing of which 84% will end up as industrial waste. If the materials aren’t 100% recyclable, then it is further exacerbating the environment; H&M did announce they will be producing clothes from a Circulose Viscose blend, a fabric consisting of 50% upcycled Circulose cotton jean fabric and 50% viscose from FSC-certified wood. The problem is that it’s difficult to maintain such a large presence with a neutral carbon footprint even if all the products are ethically sourced, which is why H&M will continuously greenwash their consumers even if it’s done unintentionally.

A UK based group is Boohoo Group PCL who owns Boohoo, Boohoo MAN, Pretty Little Thing, Nasty Gal, Karen Millen, MissPap and more. Dispatches revealed that they have been accused of several illegal practices such as modern slavery; they pay their workers under minimum wage - an average of £3.50 an hour, under harsh working conditions as well as not being open about their supply chains and how much carbon emissions are actually being set off. Other noticeable groups are The Arcadia Group, parent company of Dorothy Perkins, Burtons and Wallis, previously also owned Topshop, Topshop Man, Miss Selfridges but that was bought when under admission by ASOS. One of the biggest Conglomerates is LVMH (Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy) who owns over 75 brands, most noticeably Luis Vuitton, Dior, Hennessey, Givenchy, Sephora, Fendi, Bulgari and Tiffany&Co. All of these are part of large global chains where there is minimal to no effort to ensure that products are produced ethically and in an environmentally friendly process.

Fashion Page

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How to rethink fast fashion / What can we do?

Don’t blame the people who buy from fast fashion. Keep in mind, there is a vast demographic of people who cannot afford anything else and judging them over their shopping choices is not fair.

Do, however, look for alternatives. Buying from second-hand has become extremely popular and there are multitudes of places to buy from whether online or in real life. Depop, a social shopping platform similar to eBay, Instagram and Vinted, is a popular choice to buy clothing and accessories from as well as safer, keeping in mind there’s a pandemic going on. Etsy is a good app as well, but keep in mind if you’re going to buy from there try to find a direct link from the seller rather than the site as Etsy takes away up to 30% of direct sales. If you’re looking for a certain era of fashion, vintage stores tend to keep to their aesthetic so it’s easy to decipher what the store may contain. Charity shops are everywhere and with some needle and thread you can upcycle items to look more modern or to your style. Due to fast fashion, there’s been an unkempt change to the “seasons”, instead of there being the classic two seasons – spring/summer and autumn/winter, it’s roughly 52 “micro” seasons. Vintage clothing tends to be timeless and the materials are usually of higher quality and so will last longer.

Join pressure groups and petitions lobbying for change! Even if fast fashion won’t ever be fully ethical, pressuring the companies to become transparent and rethink their business model is already a start. You can start small - it’s as simple as asking your parent’s pension fund providers if they’re adhering to ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, and Governance) which is essentially a set of standards checking if the business model is contributing to sustainable developments.

Finally, if fast fashion is an option for you, rather than a necessity, maybe think again.

Written by Alisha Kayani

What Does the Future of Streetwear Look Like?

Over the past year, the bi-annual fashion month carousel has been enhanced with a technological takeover of digital presentations, videos and socially distanced runway shows, allowing once traditional performances of fashion collections to be taken to new levels. This has enabled designers to up-scale their runway shows, (without the worry of the crowd) taking them to new lengths in the likes of the wheatfields (Jacquemus, SS21) and a winding sandbank in the middle of an unknown desert (Yves Saint Laurent, SS21), producing some of the craziest yet serene runway shows ever, which of course observe the rules of the pandemic. However, with this technological boost, showcasing these runways across the world, a glaring absence in the usual abundance of images can be identified, street style.

Under normal circumstances, the community of photographers, bloggers and influencers, who power this industry would be embarking on their standard four-city itinerary, to New York, London, Paris and Milan. But due to this year’s travel restrictions, global safety precautions, and limited shows, streetwear’s global runway is empty. With great runway shows, comes greatly documented street style. Couture and streetwear come hand in hand as opposite ends of the fashion spectrum and yet can be implemented together for a chic yet casual approach, perfect to parade across the streets of the world.

After all, the notion of capturing how everyday people dress is the heart of street style and with proliferating technology, an image can be spread momentously. Drawing millions of likes daily, dictating and exposing season trends to the consumer through the influencer’s chain, streetwear establishes successful street-style stars and self-made fashion icons for a visual marketing platform. Although now, these stars have taken inside, turning the lens to themselves, virtually replicating their on-street styles.

Virgil Abloh, a forerunner in luxury streetwear and the founder and creative director of Off White and as well as the menswear artistic director for Louis Vuitton, predicts an end to the movement he helped take flight. "In my mind, how many more T-shirts can we own," he says "How many more hoodies, how many sneakers?"

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Classic streetwear is rooted in hip-hop and skating culture, and has always been present in societies, taking light in brief moments under the fashion spotlight. However, this decade, this cultural phenomenon definitively took off and forever changed the fashion landscape. Luxury brands suddenly took initiative, Balenciaga started selling oversized puffer jackets and chunky sneakers, with their logos plastered everywhere. Luxury brands were collaborating with younger streetwear brands. The lines between what is considered luxury and streetwear became blurred, as suddenly they were considered the same. "I decided if 'streetwear' was gonna be the sign of the times, I was gonna define it rather than be defined by it" states Abloh.

“While I understand why many brands want to get access to streetwear, I feel like pure customers who like streetwear when it doesn’t feel right” states Alexandre Arnault, CEO of Rimowa, on the topic of how streetwear will be in the future. He applauses Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton, as trendsetters for luxury streetwear that have positively impacted the market. However, he also implies that other luxury brands could run the ‘risk of losing customers completely.’ The industry will have to continue to grow in order to keep up with the rate streetwear has excelled over the past few years, whilst keeping the core values that first defined it.

“There’s a misconception that fashion week is all about showing clothes,” says renowned photographer of street style, Johnathan Daniel Pryce. “But fashion is a people industry, and the interactions you have during fashion week can’t be replicated through a synthetic environment such as Zoom, there just isn’t the same energy. It’s about all these amazing people from all of the world coming together, and the exchange of ideas that comes out of that.” “I do see street style shrinking, and that goes hand-in-hand with the conversation that was already taking place around sustainability and the environmental impact of fashion weeks, Covid-19 was just the catalyst that ignited the fire.”

Brands such as, Off White, Vetements and Comme des Garçons, are pioneers within the high-end streetwear scene, fore fronted by the likes of Off White Creative Director, Virgil Abloh, Kanye West and Rihanna as well as a number of models and artists. In the Streetwear Impact Report, published by Hypebeast, 65% of streetwear enthusiasts (out of 40,096 participants) stated that musicians are the most credible figures in streetwear as they “demonstrate cultural influence outside social media.” 52% suggested figures who worked in the industry, whereas 32% said influencers.

When surveying the factors of brand value, 81% indicated product quality and design, 63% specified the legacy of the label, whilst 48% stated the creative director as a primary factor and 32% suggesting the brand’s social media. The study also described streetwear as not just a movement, but a key component in a cultural shift that affects fashion, art and music. “Simply put, streetwear is fashionable casual clothes: T-shirts, hoodies and sneakers, but the countercultures it was born out of – such as skate, surf, hip-hop and graffiti – make streetwear an antidote to, rather than, mainstream fashion.”

However, with the demise of one movement, comes the bloom of another. With style moving away from streetwear, as can be seen in current trends, the new approach will have a softer and more gender fluid aesthetic. Expressing personal style with vintage clothing will be the definition of statement fashion over the next decade. With the wave of an eco-friendlier approach, vintage clothing and sustainable fashion will take the reins of the industry, with forerunners of the movement such as defined by Jaden Smith and Harry Styles.

Written by Alexa Chokra

20 theatre page

Difficult Stage for Theatres

COVID 19 and the various lockdowns it has caused has been the ruin of countless businesses and industries. One of these industries is the theatre. After having its doors closed to the public for the better part of a year theatres all over the world are struggling. Here are some simple things that you can do to support the entertainment business and ensure that the theatre is not listed as one of the millions of deaths caused by COVID-19.

1: The Show Must Go On...Line

Although you can’t go and see live theatre, that doesn’t mean the theatrical experience is over. Only now the stage has moved from the burgundy auditoriums in theatres and into the comfort of your own home. Whether you want to watch Frankenstein as you huddle up under the blankets in your bed or sing-a-long to Hairspray with your family in the living room - there is just the right option for you out there. There are fabulous sites where you can watch plays online. This is a great way of supporting the theatre industry whilst also enjoying yourself. Stream.theatre, BroadwayHD, The Old Vic, and National Theatre At Home are all wonderful ways to sit back, relax, and let the theatre come to you.

2: Play on words

If watching plays isn’t for you and you are far more likely to be found curled up with a book then there is an option for you too. Buying play scripts to read is another way to enrich your mind and grow your theatrical knowledge. But it’s not just beneficial to you - the act of buying a play to read supports writers, publishers, and theatre companies.

3: Theatre Treats

We all know that one person who can sing all the lines of Hamilton and whose Spotify Wrapped Top Album is the score of Hades’ Town. Why not treat them and the theatre industry by getting them a gift. Venue-owned sites sell loads of funky merchandise that someone you know is sure to love.

4: Crowds of Charities

There are countless charities that support the theatre whether this is by giving donations to struggling theatre companies or by helping actors with their mental health during a very tough time. Just a simple donation to one of these could really make a difference.

5: Social Stage

Social media is a brilliant way to spread the word about whatever cause you are passionate about. Why not use this platform to help support the people involved in the theatre industry. Without audiences clapping you on every night, you can certainly feel very alone. Use the hashtag #CurtainsWithoutYou to tell your stories about what theatre means to you. Share your favourite memories about past theatre experiences and your hopes about future ones to come. After all, what is drama except a method of storytelling. So, be inspired to tell your own stories and do your part in being a clapping audience member online until you can once again give a standing ovation in front of the stage.

Written by Sophie Phipson

Theatre Page 20

21 Anonymous advice

How can we recognise if somebody else's mental health is getting worse?

When somebody is struggling with their mental health, the person’s day to day behaviours may start to change. Their physical appearance may change, for example they may stop caring about how they look; stop washing, wear dirty clothes. They may start to withdraw from interacting with friends and family and spend more time on their own.

Sleep can be affected; they may start sleeping more, particularly during the day, and may sleep less at night, the person may be overwhelmingly tired and have little energy. The person may also eat less or even eat more than what they usually would. Activities that were once enjoyable, may no longer be enjoyed and therefore the person may stop doing them. The person may feel really sad and/or anxious and have difficulty concentrating. In some people, there may be problems with alcohol and/or drugs.

How can we avoid overthinking, especially during lockdown?

During lockdown we may experience heightened stress, frustration and anxiety, which in turn can lead to rumination. Rumination is when we dwell on these emotions and transfer them to worrying about our future (catastrophising). When there is uncertainty in the future, catastrophising increases. We become anxious about what might happen instead of what is happening right now. This can become obsessive and is hugely detrimental. To avoid this, it is important to stay in the now - get out of your head and into the present. This can be by doing something e.g. singing, walking the dog, dancing... Notice your thoughts, be mindful of them; if you are aware that they are descending into a negative spiral, then challenge them and reframe them. Remind yourself of what you are grateful for. Bring your thoughts back to the here and now. Notice what is going on around you.

How can you support somebody who is experiencing a panic or anxiety attack?

A panic attack is terrifying for the person experiencing it, particularly if they do not know what is happening. The best way to support someone is to remain calm, ask them if they are having a panic attack and reassure them that they are not in danger. (They may think that they are having a heart attack). A panic attack is caused by the body’s fight-flight response kicking in and flooding the body with adrenaline. One of the symptoms of this response is quick and shallow breathing which feeds the panic and anxiety. To help support someone it is therefore recommended that you help the person to breathe deeply and slowly, through the nose and out the mouth. Slowly increasing the number of seconds in and out. This reduces the heart rate, blood pressure and helps the body return to a relaxed state.

What habit recommendations would you give for anyone who wants to make small, positive changes regarding their mental health?

Daily exercise, it doesn’t need to be strenuous: walk, jog, yoga, dance. Anything to get a hit of endorphins. Early in the morning, before the rest of the world awakens is the best!
Sleep before midnight – sleep is a game changer when it comes to improving your mental health. A 30 min nap also does wonders. No longer though, as then it can affect your sleep patterns.
Be kind to yourself, and others. Performing acts of kindness to others is hugely beneficial, likewise be your own champion, not your own critic.
Express gratitude – remind yourself what you are grateful for. Share this with others. By doing this, you start to then notice and attend to the positives in your life rather than what your life is lacking.

How could I seek professional help for a friend struggling with mental health issues without breaking the confidentiality?

You can always speak to a professional about a ‘hypothetical situation’. You don’t have to give a name, therefore you are not breaking your friend’s confidence. However, if your friend is at risk of serious harm, it is best that you alert someone to it. Speak to your friend first, stating your concerns and what you wish for them to do. They may just need the support in reaching out for help. Kooth (www.kooth.com) is a dedicated online mental wellbeing community which offers free, safe and anonymous support.

How do you reach out to somebody who is struggling with their mental health?

Offer your support, listen to them without judgement. They may just need to know that they are not alone. Check-in regularly with them, this tells them that you are concerned about them and want to help. They may not turn to you for help, so taking the initiative is important.

How do you reach out to somebody if you are struggling with your mental health?

Speak to someone about it. It takes courage to ask for help when you are struggling but it is the first and most important step to recovery. Reach out to someone you trust.
If you are scared to ask for help from someone you know, contact one of the following helplines for confidential support:
Text YM to 85256 (Young Minds)
Call Childline 0800 1111
Call Samaritans 116 123

Answered by Mrs Newman

Anonymous advice 21

22 interviews page

Interview with Christian

Who inspires you and why?

In this moment, if I was to pick one person it would be my Grandad; he was an orphan who didn’t have the happiest upbringing – he got into the grammar school but couldn’t go because his foster parents couldn’t afford the uniform, during the great depression he had to go with his mum to pick coal from the waste heaps of the local pits, he fought in the Navy during WWII, worked at the same factory for 50 years working his way up through the ranks and became respected for his hard working attitude, his sense of fun and the efforts he made to raise money for local charities. He taught me a lot about how to treat people, implicitly as I watched him: he treated everyone the same no matter who they were - rich or poor, powerful or powerless - he had time for them and they were important to him, he was always Geoff to everyone, he hated injustice and always fought for those less well off than himself, and he was always positive, always looking forward to the next time we might do X or Y, living in the moment, enjoying life, he never complained about anything (that’s a slight lie, he couldn’t abide the price of baked beans at the Co-op... “How can you say they are worth 70p when you go in Kwik Save and they are selling them for 5p?!”)

What is your favourite memory of Royal High so far?

I have so many happy memories of my years at Royal High... Harry Potter muck-up day was pretty good – 10 years ago(?!) - the sixth formers delivered invites to the staff owlery...sorry pigeonholes! asking us to dress as specific characters, mine was Peeves, and not being able to get hold of white face paint in time (this was pre-Amazon Prime! :-o ) I opted to rub my face with white oil pastel... It took the whole weekend and several washes with fairy liquid to remove the final traces of white from my pores! I’ve also loved the May Balls we’ve had, not just the twinkly lights, the wonderful food and dancing with Mrs. Cowell, but also the privilege of getting to see another year of little year 7’s move all the way through the school and head off into the world as brilliant, intelligent, generous young women... every year this is the privilege and payoff to everything I aim to do at the High school.

The best gift you’ve ever received?

Usually the latest gift... it was cheese! I have lots of lovely works of art by friends: photos, paintings, pots... when I was little my uncle wrote me and my cousin a story and illustrated it using a 1980’s word processor! One friend gave me a book of the funny things I say – or rather the things I say that made them laugh... usually at me!... but that was a touching gift.

The one artist whose work you’d collect and why?

Probably Cezanne... Though it changes depending on how I feel, but I just feel Cezanne is that bit beyond other artists, you wouldn’t have had cubism or modernism without Cezanne, and he got there 50 years earlier. He was grumpy and a perfectionist and you can see that in his paintings, when you look close you see how he has reworked areas again and again to try to capture it the way it looked to him, and he occasionally gave up because after hours (days even) of people sitting for him he found it impossible to capture the spirit of them. When I look out of the Art School at the pine trees on the back drive I always think of Cezanne’s pine trees, he’s always trying to catch, in swift brush strokes, the fleeting effects of changing light on their trunks and airy branches.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

It’s hard to pick out one single pearl, but I would say an amalgam of several pieces would sound like “You are unique, be yourself, no-one else can be you. Trust yourself, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Be generous to others and bear with their faults... because yours are just as big. Know that you are part of where you live, in terms of people, plants and animals. Know that you can change things. You only have one life, live it courageously and enjoy it. Be kind. And never be afraid, you are part of something so much bigger”.

Interviews Page 22

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Is there one unforgettable place you’d love to return to?

I love New York and have such wonderful memories of it (not least crying with laughter on a street corner with Mr. Preedy as he royally took the mick out of the coat I had just bought in a Greenwich Village Thrift Store)… And yet there are places in this country that I think I would spring back to if I knew it was my last chance to go anywhere... Hillary Mantel has this idea of ‘thin places’ “where you feel the division between this world, this reality, and another are only the thickness of an eggshell”, Mr. Hayward might describe them as ‘liminal places’, where you feel you are within touching distance of somewhere, or something, other... there are a few specific places near where I grew up that I feel this, I feel it – strange though it sounds – as I ride along the tow path or swim in the river between Bath and Bradford on Avon, and I especially feel it when I get chance to be in the wild landscape of Northwest Donegal and that rugged expanse at the very tip of England between St. Ives and Land’s End.

What is your favourite gallery?

Some of the best shows I’ve seen have been at the Tate St. Ives (but then again, the worst show I’ve ever seen was there too!). It is such a wonderful gallery to visit, it has some great work in its permanent collection that links directly with the landscape outside, and its recent extension allows more room for visiting shows... and where else can you come straight off the beach into a gallery of world class art – sand still between your toes?!

Any music you are particularly enjoying at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a ‘cosy acoustic’ playlist recently, it feels right for this time of year, I get most of my music taste from my Dad who was always in bands as a kid (and still is now), anything, from rock to folky music is his taste, and any good musicians who are in touch with the piece of music and the instrument they play... But if I look on my phone the most common played list I have on there is “ASC Tuuuunes”... and this is utter cheese...

What do you enjoy most about teaching art and photography?

I love opening up the world I love to others, to have the opportunity to enthuse interesting and engaged minds in the things that set you alight is a massive privilege... and it’s never a one-way street, students will always bring a fresh set of eyes, a different set of experiences, and ways of interpreting art, that can refresh and revive something you have seen a hundred times before, bringing new insights and new life. That moment when someone ‘gets it’ and runs with it.

What meal reminds you most of your childhood?

I was a fussy eater as a child, I eventually became a full vegetarian aged 16 or 17... This was as a result of very boring meals based around meat...liver and onions, pork chops you could use as bouncy castles... But whatever flair my mum lacked with regard to cooking dinner she more than made up for with baking... bread and cakes are her forte! Her lemon drizzle is to die for, her almond slices are light as air (and just as moreish) and the coconut slice with cherries and dark chocolate I would sell my own mother for – although that would totally defeat the point!

What is something you have enjoyed doing during the recent lockdowns?

Grandad got me, my brother and my cousins into cycling when we were kids, taught us how to change the brakes, grease your chain, and generally keep a bike running well... I’ve always cycled since then, a bit, but never too much... During the first lockdown I was furloughed and was able to get out on my bike and experience spring as I’ve never done so before – I felt so in touch with it I could feel how we are all a part of it! I started cycling a bit further each day, first 10 miles, then my daily cycle became a round trip of 27 miles (allowing me to observe the tiny changes in the world around me). In those hottest days that have ever been recorded in England, back in August, when for three or four days the temperature hovered around 35 degrees in the shade, I was out on my bike cycling from Bath to Burton Bradstock, in Dorset, with my tent and camping supplies strapped to my bike...

Interview by Kitty Campbell-Howard, Ella Condrau

An Interview with the new face in the Art Department, Cliff

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What did you do before joining our school?

I was doing a Masters in Fine Art at the Royal College of Art and then I was working, as I still do, as a practising artist from my studio in Bristol.

What is it that you do as Art Technician? What is your day like?

As an Art Technician I help students with the technical aspects of whatever work they are involved in. This could be working through ideas in the planning stage or helping them with the making of work in the making stage. It varies from helping them get to grips with a new process or choosing a material or process that best suits what they are hoping to achieve, to photographing their work, to simply helping them find a piece of equipment they need. Away from working directly with students there are also a lot of maintenance and administrative tasks that need to be done to keep the department working smoothly. And there is always a lot of tidying to do - I spend a lot of time tidying! I am not the only technician of course, and Mr Duckworth and I work as a team across all of these things.

What is your favourite thing about being an Art Technician?

Working directly with the students. You can never predict what ideas they are going to come up with, so this continuous variety is great and very challenging. Sometimes they give me problems I really have to think about to solve. I like that. I am also lucky in that, given my background as a practising artist, the department are keen that I help students with the conceptual development of their work. I really enjoy that.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

I have always wanted to live in either China or Japan because I think living somewhere that is so culturally different like that would present a great learning curve and also provide you with an objective distance from which to reassess your own culture. However, I don't think I'd settle there long term as it's far from family. I'd like to live near mountains and forest ideally, with access to a lake for swimming - so somewhere near the alps perhaps. Not sure exactly where. I need to do a bit more exploring.

Do you have a favourite artist, and if so who and what is it that you like about their work?

This changes quite often, but maybe if I had to pick one I would chose Paula Rego. I really like her images as images, and her approach to visual storytelling. More importantly for me though is the fact that, like my parents, she is Portuguese, and of a similar generation to them (she is slightly older). The fact she draws on her own experiences of growing up in Portugal for some of her work really inspired me to explore my relationship to my own heritage and really dig into my parent's experiences of the culture of which Rego speaks.

Interview by Hannah Elliot

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Look at the pictures and try and guess which pet belongs to which teacher! Once you have guessed, click on the 'ANSWER' button underneath the picture to see if you were right.

guess the teacher's pet!

ANSWER

Guess the Teacher's Pet 25

Written by Elizabeth Illingworth and Natasha Low

26 astrology page

Astrology studies the patterns and relationships in which are made in the universe, consisting of the planets and stars and the energy which connects us all. Astrology has been used throughout centuries to predict events and to give us guidance in many areas of being throughout time.

Astrology can be used to help know yourself better, and how you interact with those around us. It can give us a sense of direction and a deeper insight into relationships we form between anyone we meet throughout life. Personally, for deeper readings, I would recommend looking up your personal Birth Chart online. Birth Charts give an insightful, in depth and personal look into you as an individual based upon your birth time, date and location.

This month is Pisces month, so congratulate those Pisceans around you on their birthdays, even if it has to be from a 2m distance.

Aries: March 21st to April 19th

Mars, your ruling planet, moves into communication and information. All self-doubt should be removed or minimised and replaced with motivation and direction. Focus on getting chores and work done, completing your to-do-list and finishing off the tasks maybe you previously avoided. You may draw some attention by others for your change in motivation, and they may not reciprocate the enthusiasm. However, this is not to be taken to heart, just keep pushing through and you will be greatly awarded.

March Monthly Horoscopes 2021:

Taurus: April 20th to May 20th

Ruling planet Venus moved into career sector late last month, so your interactions at work or school will be embedded with loving energy from this. This could mean you should take time to look at what you really love about your job or school and remind yourself which aspects make you happy. On the other hand, it could mean you will be having to work with some people of higher power in the workplace and will have to manipulate some with your Venus charm to negotiate a fair deal.

Gemini: May 21st to June 20th

You may have had some set-backs due to last month’s Mercury retrograde, however these will all get back on track. On March 3rd, Mars will move into your sign and give you that extra burst of energy that you require. Rid of all your shyness and embrace confidence and originality, know that you can be who you truly are. If you need, create a patten or routine to follow which will help you get back on track and give you that push of motivation.

Cancer: June 21st to July 22nd

March begins by giving you a refocused state of mind, quiet and thoughtful. Last month due to Mercury retrograde you had a particularly tough ride, so use March to find yourself again and to recover. This means doing something you love, whilst reflecting upon what went badly last month and how you can move on from this. Clear your mind and think of what you can do to avoid having a month like the last. What can you learn and improve from to move forward and get back on track?

Leo: July 23rd to August 22nd

On the 13th the new moon will arrive, and this will encourage you to example the relations in your life. There seems to have been some conflict or drama with friends, family or your significant other. This is the time to look at your relationships and see if you are happy with the situation, and if there is anything you can do about it. There may have been loss or separation, but don’t dwell and try pick yourself up by planning some exciting things for the future.

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Virgo: August 23rd to September 22nd

Last month’s full moon was in your sign, which told you that although things may be getting thrown at you, the odds feel like they’re not in your favour or you’re putting yourself down that really, you can get through it. If you’re questioning your abilities, wait for March 3rd when Mars moves into your career sector. Highlight your ambitions and focus solely on them and you will be able to push through.

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Libra: September 22nd to October 23rd

In March she will have two key events which should lift some weight off your shoulders, these will test you at your work and wellness. The first will be on the 13th of March, it will help you look into your general health and what you should prioritise to make your life a bit easier. The second event will be on the 15th of March, this is when keeping your head above the water and organising yourself will be most important, so stay organised.

Scorpio: October 23rd to November 21st

By the looks of things, you should embrace comfort, and seek what makes you happy and feel good. You need to concentrate on keeping yourself more positive - and don’t feel guilty about it. The new moon should give you direction on what makes you feel best and why. Follow this and strive for enjoyment in some of the things you do and discover what you can implement in your everyday life to make every day a happier one.

Sagittarius: November 22nd to December 21st

On the 15th, Mercury will move into your home and hearth zone, encouraging work in the household and fulfilling important domestic needs. This doesn’t just mean tidying that one pile of clothes in the corner of your room, it’s important to connect with the people within the house. New conversation and interactions will be good and healthy this month. Also acts of service for those within your household will do as much good for you as it will for them.

Capricorn: December 22nd to January 19th

The upcoming month will be practical and inspiring, you will be encouraged to implement more self-care into your routine. This is a good time to focus on yourself and what you should prioritise in your everyday routine to make yourself feel better. Sometimes you may not feel as if these tasks are worth pursuing but this month they will seem easier and more enjoyable. Also, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, it’s actually a sign of strength.

Aquarius: January 20th to February 18th

Money is on your mind for the first half of this month, you may not feel like you should be materialistic, however your financial endeavours will be highlighted. On the 13th of March you will be reminded to think about your finances without shame or anxiety. On the 15th he will take action and work towards these goals. As well as this it’s an important time to open your imagination and lose your professional self. Embrace doing things that make you feel good even if they seem silly or juvenile.

Pisces: February 19th to March 20th

Mars moves into your home zone on the 3rd, and it will also bring decisive energy to encourage progression in your prospects. However, don’t let this passion override your attentiveness for those around you. Try to find a compromise at home to maintain balance, for this month you have a very clear view of what you would like, so make sure it doesn’t collide with others well-being. However, make sure you still enjoy yourself, embrace beauty and indulgence after the hard months so far this year.

music recommendations

here a few songs recommended by the quokka team themselves!

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Music Recommendations 28

Written by Bonnie Hull

29 gaming reviews

overcooked 2

If you ever want to test the strength of a relationship, whether it being the relationship between you and your friends, or your siblings, I recommend you the game Overcooked! 2! For your information, Overcooked! is a team-cooperate multiplayer game for 1-4 players, and the only rule is to prepare and deliver dishes to the starving customers. However, the tricky part is that there is a wide variety of dishes ranging from pizza, sushi, dim sum, burritos, cakes and so on. Your kitchen will also turn into different forms, for example, a cave where you may accidentally fall into holes, in the air balloon, on a wooden boat along the rushing river and other chaotic places. Therefore, great communication and cooperation skills are of utmost importance when it comes to this game.

The difference between Overcooked! 1 and 2 is that in the second version, there is a wider range of recipes as well as choices of the little chefs. There are also more challenging levels, with one where the whole kitchen floor are covered in conveyor belts, and you must keep cooking while sprinting against the moving belts. Beware of delivering the wrong dish to the customers, because scores will then be deducted!

Overcooked! 2 is available on the Switch, PS4 and PC. If you want to play with friends, I recommend the PC version as you do not need to buy an extra controller and your friends will not need to travel to your place in order to play together.

Overcooked! 2 is famous for its adorable graphic designs, simple and clear instructions, and the fact that players don’t need to remember a lot of rules to play the game. However, if there is a better platform where players from different places can talk to each other, this may help boost communication and make the game even better. But overall, Overcooked! 2 is a great game which suits every groups of all ages.

Written by Lemon Lam

Gaming Reviews 29

30 Lost Future review

Lost Future begins with an impossible letter. The letter is a plea for help – London is in dire danger, ruled over by a tyrant who runs the city like a mobster. The shadow of his towering base of operations stretches out over the city, his influence filtering into every corner. But there’s a catch – the London spoken of in the letter isn’t the same London Professor Layton knows. This London is 10 years in the future, the letter written by an older version of the Professor’s current apprentice. Is there really a future London? Can the author of the letter be trusted? And how is this all linked to the mysterious disappearance of the Prime Minister?

Before I talk about Lost Future lets, appropriately, go back in time. Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box was the very first video game I ever owned. Our family had a Wii, sure, but Pandora’s box was the first game that was ever really mine, a generous Christmas present to accompany my shiny new pastel pink DS. Clearly that game had a huge impact on 7 year old me, as here I am today writing a game review for the school paper as I apply for various game art and design courses for university. Because of this, you can imagine my joy when I learnt that the series was being re-released in HD on mobile. I tore through Curious Village, ravaged Pandora’s Box, and waited for what was, without a doubt, the most anticipated game of the three. Lost Future.

The Professor Layton games tend to follow a very similar outline. You play as the titular Hershel Layton – a model English gentleman, patient and polite, who possesses a sharp mind and penchant for solving puzzles. How this humble archaeology professor becomes tied up in so many outlandish mysteries is perhaps the biggest puzzle in the series, but he’s still a pleasant protagonist. Layton is accompanied by his child companion Luke Triton, a young boy insistent on being Layton’s apprentice. Together, the duo solves puzzles across London, the world, and even through time in an art style so charming you’ll feel as though you’re playing though the virtual equivalent of a storybook. Indeed, Lost Future, like other Layton games, has a purposely quaint, European feel. All of the game takes place in London, whether than be in the present or future, and the whole ordeal has this very charming nostalgic atmosphere, like scrolling through a Pinterest board of London where each of the photos has been run through a collection of vintage filters. It also has a distinct pseudo-steampunk feel – it’s very difficult to place where Lost Future might fall on a timeline, and while there are buses and cars around, even the London of the future has purposely little technology, and anything mechanical is constructed more from gears than circuits. It would also be criminal for me to not at least mention Lost Future’s absolutely gorgeous music. Again, the music is quaintly European - classical Musette music that fits the Layton aesthetic perfectly (I personally find it perfect background music while doing homework – I’m even listening to it as I write this!)

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While the game’s style does a lot for its appeal, the main meat and gameplay of the game comes from puzzles, which you can find by interacting with certain people and objects. The contents of these can range from logic puzzles to slide puzzles to even trick questions. I’m going to be blunt - if you don’t enjoy puzzles or riddles or the like, you will not enjoy Professor Layton. Puzzles are the main gameplay of the series and there are certain ‘puzzle gates’ in the game that won’t let you pass unless you’ve solved a certain number of them. If the story or setting sound interesting enough for you to give the game a go anyways you can always look up walkthroughs, but playing Layton without puzzles is like eating yoghurt with a fork – it’s just not the intended experience. And whilst puzzles are a crucial part of gameplay, they have also been implemented as a part of the Layton universe, although it’s admittedly one of the stranger parts of the series’ worldbuilding. You talk to characters to access puzzles, and while the writers have done their absolute best to justify this, it’s pretty hilarious how people refuse to give up vital information until you figure out how to rearrange matchsticks to look like a dog or something. It’s almost utopian how every conflict is presented and resolved through puzzles – even when the baddies refuse to let you pass, they will easily clear off once you’ve solved their maths homework for them.

Now, with the variety of puzzles, you’re very likely to get stuck on at least something – with everything from word games to sliding puzzles, you’re bound to find a real head-scratcher that you just can’t get past no matter how hard you try, and this can be a real issue if said head-scratcher happens to be mandatory to progress the story. But never fear! The game has you covered with the mechanic of hint coins – a staple of the series, and thankfully something they got right by the first game. By jamming your finger at any ‘strange’ parts of the environment, there’s a chance you might find a hint coin. If you encounter a puzzle that’s particularly vexing, you can use these to buy hints – as long as you can withstand the blow to your ego, that is. Indeed, it’s a little embarrassing when a character invites the ‘esteemed Hershel Layton’ to solve a puzzle, only for the esteemed Hershel Layton to give the wrong answer 3 times in a row and reach into his pockets to buy the solution. However, I earnestly admit that any currency that makes it easier to solve those hellish sliding puzzles is worthy of being traded among gods.

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Now, as mentioned before, Lost Future is the third entry in the Professor Layton series, and despite being one in a series of six (nine + if you include spinoff titles), it is consistently the favourite game for many fans, myself included. Playing the first three games again recently, the leap in quality in Lost Future is genuinely staggering. Visually, all of the sprites have been updated, keeping the charm of the original artwork, whilst fixing minor issues in the other games, alongside a distinct improvement in writing. The Professor and Luke feel much more fleshed out as characters in this instalment, and more care has clearly been put into the NPCs you encounter in terms of writing and general appeal. Another thing that Lost Future added to the series is ‘puzzle battles’. This is one of my parts of the game, scrapping the traditional puzzle format and instead framing its challenges as a battle of wits between yourself and an opponent. They’re a lovely change of pace, and you really feel like you’re diving into the mind of Professor Layton, and there is nothing better than that smug sense of satisfaction at winning at a game when the cards seem stacked against you. I would also once again like to point out the superb music in these sections.

Now while Lost Future has made a lot of advancements, it’s also been developed with a real knowledge of what made the other titles so appealing. The game is approachable for casual players, and there’s a good balance between dialogue and puzzles without detracting from either experience. In addition, Layton plots always just about come shy of jumping the shark, with strange mysteries and crazy solutions, with this game being no different. The time travel premise of Lost Future is already absurd, with a clock shop that can transport people through wormholes, and as the story unfolds, mysteries continue to compound to the point where you can’t believe that any answer could satisfyingly conclude every lose end. But that’s the joy of Lost Future’s climax – I won’t spoil anything here, but somehow the game takes all the mysteries, pulls them together and ties them in a pretty little bow in a solution which is utter nutty, utterly wonderful, and utterly unlike the solution to any other time travel plot I’ve known.

Honesty, Lost Future will always be the game I recommend to people looking to get into the series. It’s hugely enjoyable with suitably challenging puzzles, and while later games in the series are also very good, some of them don’t quite capture the same charm in their artwork as the series admittedly took a couple games to properly transition to 3D. You can get Lost Future for around £15 both on mobile and on DS, but I’d recommend the former option for the nicer graphics and quality of life improvements. Also, make sure that you get Lost Future and not Unwound Future, as the latter is the American version, which has a much, much worse voice actor for Luke. Please, just trust me on this.

A couple puzzles from the game!

Written by Chloe Drew

33 animal fun facts

All about penguins

What is black and white, black and white, and black and white? The answer is a penguin rolling down the hill! I hope this managed to put a smile on your face. In this article, I will tell you everything about penguins, how they find their love ones, how they nurse their children and so on, so shall we?

As you know, penguins are one of the flightless birds, their adapted flippers used to help them swim under water. Large penguin populations can be found in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina and South Africa, yet none can be found at the North Pole. Penguins are black and white as these colours can act as natural camouflage. When they are hunting in the waters, their back merges with the dark sea while their white stomach merges with the white sky.

When humans are in love, we gift flowers and presents; when penguins are in love, they gift rocks. Male Gentoo penguins will search through piles of pebbles to find the smoothest, most perfect ones. When a penguin has selected his pebble, he presents it to his intended companion. If she approves, she puts the stone in her nest and the two are well on their way to becoming mother and father birds. Pebbles are so important to the penguins that males often fight over the prettiest selections.

Most penguins are loyal to their partners, with a few penguin breeds including Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie that mate with the same partner year after year. They can also travel up to 10,000 miles a year in search for food and love. Recent research found one couple that remained faithful to each other for 16 years – almost their entire breeding life – despite each of them taking solo trips totalling 200,000 miles. Apparently, penguins are experts on long-distance relationships. Though not all penguins are loyal, at least Midori is. It was believed that after being jilted by a female penguin called Midori, which had been his mate for a decade, Grape the Humboldt penguin fell in love with the picture of Hululu, an anthropomorphic penguin character from the Japanese anime series Kemono Friends.

When the female penguins lay eggs, it is the male’s responsibility to hatch the egg whilst the female goes and hunts for food. After approximately two weeks, the female will return from her long journey and swap places with the male, so he can end his fasting and hunt for food instead. If the eggs hatch before the female’s return, the male penguin, despite his fasting, will be able to produce and secrete a curd like substance from his oesophagus to feed the chick, allowing its survival and growth for up to two weeks. During the growth of the chicks, the parents will take turns to go hunting and feed the chicks while the other partner stays with the chicks and keep them safe. When the chicks become five months old, the penguins will start abandoning them and not provide them with any food to eat, and as such the chicks will be starving and eventually go hunt in the open water themselves.

One more interesting fact about penguin families is as every penguin has the same appearance to one another, they can’t distinguish their partner by their appearance. When one of the parents finish hunting and is ready to gather back with his or her family, they tend to release a unique call in which their partner can identify. Below is a video about how penguin mothers find their families. Hope you enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECxwzOmlDAU

We all had undergone a very tough time during 2020, with the year hitting us like a freezing storm. But still, like penguins cooperating with each other and keeping warm together, we succeeded making it to 2021 with care and support from people around us. Although the pandemic is going on, we should still put our faith on 2021.

Written by Lemon Lam

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Thanks and Reviews

Charlotte Tse, Emily Chang, Alexa Chokra, Chloe Drew, Bonnie Hull, Elise Illingworth, Natasha Low, Tammy Wong, Kitty Campbell-Howard, Laura Clark, Ella Condrau, Hannah Elliott, Alisha Kayani, Lemon Lam, Cheryl Ng, Mia Oldfield

Huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this magazine, and of course, thank you for reading!

Link to The Quokka - issue 1

Link to The Quokka - issue 2

Cover Art by Emily Chang and Natasha Low

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02

science articles

Why do violas rarely get the main melody?

Stradivari Viola, One of the most expensive violas

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04

Shifting: A TikTok phenomenon or science?

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politics page

Trumpery and deceit

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Vice President Kamala Harris

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culture page

voices from africa

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celebrating women's achievements

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tea page

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celebrity culture

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photography page

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