Thursday 26th June 2025
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Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine up to 90% effective

Amelia Wood
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Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine up to 90% effective

This week, the vaccine being developed by Oxford University and Astrazeneca was found to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms.

The preliminary data from phase III clinical trials in Brazil and the UK suggests that the vaccine is 70.4% effective across two different dosing regimes – better than the seasonal flu jab. The vaccine had 62% efficacy when two full doses were given to nearly 9,000 people at least a month apart. However a further study of 3,000 people found that the vaccine was 90% effective if a half dose was administered first, followed by a full dose at least a month later. It is not yet clear why the two regimes produced such different rates of immunity. 

The full phase III analysis and safety data will now be submitted for independent peer review as well as to government regulators around the world. 

Astrazeneca has already agreed orders for hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine, including up to 400 million to Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance and 300 million to the US. The UK government has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, which given the optimal dosage regime, should be enough to immunise the entire population. Four million doses of the vaccine are ready to be distributed, pending regulatory approval. Although it is unclear who will receive the first available doses. Astrazeneca has said that it is prepared to produce up to three billion doses in 2021. 

The announcement is excellent news for global access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Hailing its effort as the “vaccine for the world”, Astrazeneca has promised to produce the vaccine at cost for the course of the pandemic and ensure that low-income countries are not at the back of the queue for doses. 

The Oxford vaccine is much more accessible in cost and storage than its Pfizer and Moderna counterparts, which both announced around 95% efficacy last week. The vaccine is stable at standard fridge temperatures of between 2-8 degrees celsius. This makes it much easier to distribute than the other vaccines, which all require sub-zero temperatures to remain stable. It is also much cheaper at around £3 per dose compared to £15 for Pfizer’s or £25 for Moderna’s. 

Oxford has taken a completely different approach to both Pfizer and Moderna. The Oxford vaccine is developed from a genetically modified common cold virus (adenovirus). Adenovirus vaccines have been in use and researched for decades. Pzifer and Moderna have taken a more experimental approach called mRNA, which involves injecting part of the virus’s genetic code into the body in order to train the immune system against it. If this strategy proves effective, it will pave the way for a new era in vaccine technology. 

Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Oxford, said:

‘This is a great day for the University of Oxford and for universities everywhere. Pushing at the frontiers of knowledge with partners across the globe and putting our extraordinary brainpower in service to society, is what we do best.’

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said:

‘Today marks an important milestone in our fight against the pandemic. This vaccine’s efficacy and safety confirm that it will be highly effective against COVID-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency. Furthermore, the vaccine’s simple supply chain and our no-profit pledge and commitment to broad, equitable and timely access means it will be affordable and globally available supplying hundreds of millions of doses on approval.’

Image credit: Retha Ferguson / Wikimedia Commons

BREAKING: Some students won’t return to university until February

Abigail Howe
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BREAKING: Some students won’t return to university until February

The Department for Education, outlining plans for returning to universities in England after Christmas, has asked that institutions stagger the return of students over five weeks in order to “ensure the safety of students and staff”.

Students who will be prioritised for an early return include those on placements or practical courses with a need for in-person teaching (including music, dance, drama, the sciences, medicine, nursing and dentistry).

Subjects starting later, according to the BBC, will include “English literature, history and maths”. By 7 February, all students should have returned.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “This is a step forward, but plans for next term still pose a risk to staff and student safety. Universities must work with the government to support students who decide the reality of life on campus during this pandemic isn’t for them, including releasing them from accommodation contracts.”

Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, said when announcing the plans: “The health and wellbeing of students, staff and local communities is always our primary concern and this plan will enable a safer return for all students.

“But we must do this in a way which minimises the risk of transmission. I know students have had to make sacrifices this year and have faced a number of challenges, but this staggered return will help to protect students, staff and communities.”

Students will also be offered two lateral flow tests when they arrive back, echoing the current optional lateral flow tests provided for students as they leave for the Christmas vacation. Speaking regarding these tests, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I encourage all students to play their part in bringing this virus under control by getting tested twice, and by following the restrictions in place when travelling to and from university this term.”

It is not yet clear how these plans will be implemented at the University of Oxford.

This is a developing story. It will be updated as further information is provided.

Image Credit: Pixabay.

Oxford alumnus funds bursary for visually impaired students

Trudy Ross
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Oxford alumnus funds bursary for visually impaired students

Former Oxford student Christopher Moore has established a new bursary to improve the experience of visually impaired undergraduates.

The bursary includes three separate stages of funding: funding for travel to Oxford and accommodation before the student starts their degree, in order to familiarise them with their surroundings; funding for activity or equipment which is not covered through statutory funding but is likely to enhance their Oxford experience; and funding for internships which will cover travel, accommodation, daily stipends, and any costs specific to the needs of visually impaired students.

Moore, who attended University College between 1994 and 1997, is himself registered as blind. His personal experience as a visually impaired student propelled him to set up the scheme.

Moore told the university’s press team: “In setting up this bursary, I wanted to prevent anyone visually impaired with the academic ability to get into Oxford, being daunted from applying or accepting their place because of their disability. We need to challenge this belief that visual impairment prevents you from achieving potential: academically, socially, or that it should impact your career ambitions.

“When I was applying to Oxford, my biggest concern was getting the grades I needed. I was so convinced I wouldn’t, that I almost turned down my offer, until my headmaster reminded me that “you do not reject Oxford”.

“I feel I was lucky educationally, to have attended a mainstream secondary school and then to live in-college at Univ throughout my time as an undergraduate, which given its central location was very helpful in maximising my mobility around the city. And, I think there are things that non-visually impaired students take for granted that visually impaired students do not – lots of little things that can put them off accepting offers.

“A lot of visually impaired students could well be academically able enough to get into Oxford, however their school journey may limit opportunities for teenage social interaction, which would make them even more nervous about being away from home in a new environment. There are obstacles that either the University or the city might present, including adapting to such a unique style of learning as Oxford’s – even the tutorial system is quite an adjustment that relies on the recognition of facial expressions and body language. I want all visually-impaired applicants to have the same opportunities as I have, and not let anything hold them back.”

Professor Martin Williams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at Oxford, said: “At Oxford we are working hard to remove the barriers that disabled students face, but we know there is more to do. I’m therefore very excited by this new bursary, which is an important source of support in helping visually impaired students to achieve their potential. From the orientation visit through to the internship support, each phase of the bursary has been carefully considered to enable students to concentrate on important aspects of university life: the academic demands, social life and future career opportunities.”

You can visit the Disability Advisory Service pages on the Oxford University website at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability to find out more about the support offered to visually impaired students at Oxford.

Image Credit: Eugene Birchall. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Oxford study identifies prisoners for priority vaccination

Eilidh Roberts
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Oxford study identifies prisoners for priority vaccination

A new Oxford study identified prison inmates and staff as top priorities for the impending coronavirus vaccine.

The study, by the university’s Psychiatry Department reviewed outbreak studies of 28 highly contagious diseases including Covid-19, influenza and measles. They concluded that those living and working in prisons should be front of the queue for any prospective COVID-19 vaccine. 

According to Professor Seena Fazel at Oxford University’s Psychiatry Department: the sub-optimal prison environment means that “prisons are high-risk settings for the transmission of contagious diseases and there are considerable challenges in managing outbreaks in them”.

Inmates are also disproportionately affected by outbreaks. Many prisoners have underlying health conditions or are from minority ethnic groups, making them more at risk from the disease. Moreover, the high number of staff who work at these institutions provide a vector for the virus to spread throughout the rest of the community.

Prisons have been a hotbed for coronavirus transmission. At the end of October, the Ministry of Justice announced that there had been over 1,500 positive cases of Coronavirus in England and Wales’ 99 prison establishments since the beginning of the pandemic.

However, the UK Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation does not currently list inmates and prison-staff in those who can apply for early vaccination. 

The situation in US prisons is worse than that of the UK. As of November 16th, just under the same number as have tested positive in UK prisons have died from coronavirus-related complications, and over 200,000 individuals have tested positive for the disease, according to the New York times. The Association’s Public Health reference committee said that 19 out of 20 of the US’s largest Covid clusters are in prisons or jails, with a“growth rate that doubly outpaces the general population”. 

As a result, the American Medical Association has echoed the Oxford study’s findings: a recent meeting saw overwhelming support for prison inmates and staff to be first in line for the vaccine. One medical student delegate from Tallahassee said that safety measures like physical distancing were “simply infeasible” in prison settings. Additionally, inmates’ mental health was a concern, with the Association’s Tiffany Bell of the Section Council on Psychiatry noting that 20% of inmates suffer from serious mental illness.

The Association also went a step further than the Oxford study, suggesting that inmates with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of less than twelve months should qualify for early release, allowing them to return home for the remainder of their lives and hopefully avoid contracting COVID-19.

Image credit: Pixabay

Final consultations for Zero Emissions Zone

Sonya Ribner
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Final consultations for Zero Emissions Zone

The final consultation period for the Oxford Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ) launched this past week and remains open until January 17, 2021. Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council are asking residents, businesses, and visitors for their position on a revised ZEZ Pilot proposal, after a similar consultation was paused in March 2020 due to the pandemic. The “Red Zone,” or the ZEZ pilot area, will comprise Bonn Square, Queen Street, Cornmarket, part of Market Street, Ship Street, St Michael’s Street, New Inn Hall Street, and Shoe Lane.

Under the current plan, non-zero emission vehicles using the zones between 07:00 and 19:00 will be subject to charges. This summer, the charge will go into effect in the “Red Zone.” Discounts have been proposed for residents and business vehicles, as well as Blue Badge holders, for the first years of the ZEZ’s enforcement. The revenue raised by the ZEZ will cover costs of implementation. Any remaining income will be directed toward assisting Oxford residents and businesses with the transition to zero emissions vehicles.

While it remains to be seen how the charge on diesel and gas cars will impact tourism, local businesses, and constituents’ daily lives, the ZEZ will certainly improve the living conditions of the Oxford community. In January 2020, a study conducted by the Centre for Cities found that at least 1 in 17 deaths in Oxford is related to air pollution. A report issued by Public Health England in 2014 showed that long term exposure to poor air quality in Oxford could be responsible for 6% of all deaths of people aged 25 and over.

The increase in Oxford’s toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels between 2018 and 2019 due to extreme episodes of cold weather emphasizes the need for decisive climate action. Oxford City Council’s ZEZ initiative reacts to the recent findings of its Source Appointment Study that transport sectors are the most significant source of NO2 emissions in the city, accounting for about 68% of total emissions.

Oxford has been billed as the first “true” zero emissions zone in the world. After the ZEZ Pilot, the ZEZ will be widened to cover the entire city center by Spring 2022. The Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council share the aim to make the whole of Oxford a Zero Emissions Zone by 2030, consistent with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent announcement that new cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel will not be sold in the UK from 2030.

Although neither council currently has a plan to work with other localities on the implementation of a zero emissions strategy, the Oxford Zero Emissions Zone can serve as an instructive model for cities and counties that wish to take concrete steps toward combatting the climate crisis.

Image Credit: Ceridwen. Licence: CC-BY-2.0.

“Trans-exclusionary” group Woman’s Place UK received £20,000 “consultancy fee” from University

Abigail Howe
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“Trans-exclusionary” group Woman’s Place UK received £20,000 “consultancy fee” from University

Woman’s Place UK received £20,000 in return for consultancy work as part of the University of Oxford’s project Women and Equalities Law: Historical Perspectives on Present Issues. In their 2018-2020 financial statement, the group explained: “We received a consultancy fee of £20,000 from Oxford University to support research into women’s sex based rights… The funding from Oxford University went towards the costs of the Women’s Liberation 2020 conference and in support of The Political Erasure of Sex research project.” £20,000 is the largest single amount recorded in the financial statement and represents 15.7% of the group’s total income from January 2018 to October 2020. The group does not publicly advertise any consultancy services.

This funding has culminated in a research project titled The Political Erasure of Sex. On the project’s website, the first report, Sex and the Census, is described as one which “explores how the almost exclusive reliance on consulting with stakeholders from LGBT organisations led the census authorities to conflate the concepts of sex and gender identity, confuse what they are measuring, and redefine the sex question on the census as a gender identity question. This process, we show, has happened without democratic transparency or accountability, and to the detriment of the interests of people who are protected in law under the characteristic of sex, and to the needs of data-users more widely”.

Sex and the Census claims that “the UK census authorities are jeopardising our ability to collect robust, high quality sex-disaggregated data in the forthcoming UK census” due to “changes to the sex question in the census” so “the sex question now records ‘self-identified sex’, or gender identity, rather than biological sex”. The report concludes that “the demands of groups which claim to represent the interests of the trans community have been privileged to the detriment of women, but also to those who require robust data on sex to plan public services, allocate public resources and monitor equalities outcomes”.

The History Faculty, which hosts Women and Equalities Law: Historical Perspectives on Present Issues, has described the project further, explaining how it was “funded by Strategic Priority QR funding allocated to Oxford University. It is led by Professor Selina Todd and aims to use existing research to inform policymaking in the area of women’s equalities… An outcome of the project is a report examining the importance of collecting data on men and women in national records such as the census. This report has been disseminated to policymakers and bodies responsible for designing and delivering the next UK census in 2021 (2022 in Scotland)”.

Professor Selina Todd has been described as having “anti-trans beliefs” by the Oxford SU LBGTQ Campaign and was disinvited from the Oxford International Women’s Festival in March on the basis of her views regarding gender identity. Todd has also described herself as a “strong supporter” of Woman’s Place UK and co-signed a letter to the Labour Party regarding the Party’s inclusion of transgender women within their all-women shortlists. The letter claimed that this stance was “asserting gender identity over sex-based exemptions” and did not uphold women’s rights to “sex-segregated spaces”. The letter continued that “we will not tolerate women being slurred with the misogynist insult TERF [Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist] or being called ‘cis’ against their will”. The Labour Campaign for Trans Rights has criticised Woman’s Place UK, describing them as a “trans-exclusionary hate group”. The campaign’s pledges labelling WPUK as such were signed by politicians including Lisa Nandy, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Dawn Butler, and Emily Thornberry.

The Oxford Student Union LGBTQ Campaign responded to Woman’s Place UK’s consultancy work: “The campaign is horrified but not shocked to learn of the university’s financial contributions to WPUK. We do not believe that the presence of WPUK in Oxford or the university’s monetary support of them is compatible with any effort to create an environment that is welcoming or supportive of trans students and employees, but the institution’s failure to listen to its trans students makes its repeated positive engagement with this group less surprising than disappointing”.

Woman’s Place UK declined to expand on the precise nature of their consultancy work for the University and referred to the claims of the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights as “scurrilous and unevidenced”, continuing: “We are against all forms of discrimination. We believe in the right of everyone to live their lives free from discrimination and harassment…We were established to ensure that very real concerns about how changes to the GRA might impact on the Equality Act were considered in the government’s public consultation… Sadly, several LGBT+ organisations (Stonewall, Gendered Intelligence, Scottish Trans Alliance) have actively lobbied to have these single sex exemptions removed from the Equality Act. It is perfectly proper that women should be able to campaign to keep them”.

When approached for comment by Cherwell, the University provided a link to the project’s website.

Professor Selina Todd and the History Faculty have been approached for comment.

Image Credit: Pixabay.

University Covid-19 cases this week at record-low of 21

David Tritsch
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University Covid-19 cases this week at record-low of 21

Oxford University’s testing service has confirmed a record-low of 21 cases of COVID-19 among students and staff for the week 21st-27th November, with a positivity rate of 15%. Following a drop from 126 to 40 confirmed cases, this marks a further reduction in weekly numbers by 50%.

This term started off with close to 200 new cases confirmed in each week, until new case numbers began falling in weeks 4 and 5. However, the number of tests conducted in these later weeks was down almost 50% compared to earlier this term, while the test positivity rate reached record highs. By week 5, the University’s testing service had recorded almost 1,000 cases of COVID-19 among students and staff (Oxford’s current student population is close to 24,000). Week 6 marked the first substantial drop in the positivity rate to 17.2%, down from its peak at 34% in week 4. New case numbers also dropped by 70% that week. This week continues a trend of rapidly dropping new case numbers, with several colleges recording no active cases at all.

This week, the University will provide Lateral Flow Immunoassay Tests (LFIA) to all students before they leave. In an email to students, the Vice Chancellor confirmed that “Colleagues across the collegiate University are working hard to ensure that we will be able to offer two lateral flow tests to all students in 8th week so that you can safely travel home for Christmas confident that you will not be endangering the health of your family and friends.” The test requires individuals to take a swab of their nose and throat and insert it into a tube of liquid for a short time, with a result provided after 20 to 30 minutes. They are aimed at potentially supplementing, rather than replacing, the standard use of RT-PCR (reference test polymerase chain reaction) tests.

Lateral Flow Tests have received criticism for not being sensitive enough to allow for a “test and release” strategy to allow students to go home from university. The ongoing assessment, carried out by Public Health England’s Porton Down laboratory and the University of Oxford, tested a number of lateral flow devices in different settings including hospitals, schools, and universities. The test’s sensitivity was reported at 58% when used by the public, with a false positive rate of 0.38%. This would mean that the tests may miss half of COVID-19 cases. However, the test’s sensitivity rose to over 95% in individuals with high viral loads, meaning that it will likely identify those who are most likely to go on to infect others. Jon Deeks, Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Birmingham, has noted that of 100,000 people being tested, Lateral Flow Tests, would, on average, find 630 positives – of which only 230 would actually have the virus, while 400 would be false positives.

Students who are travelling overseas may need to provide a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result, which is more reliable than Lateral Flow Tests. Some colleges are offering standard RT-PCR home test kits, including Lady Margaret Hall and Green Templeton College, who are offering travel tests at a price of £115 to their students.

The University has implemented a four-stage emergency response, depending on how wide the spread of Covid-19 is. The current status is Stage 2, which allows the University to operate “in line with social distancing restrictions with as full a student cohort as possible on site”, with teaching and assessment taking place “with the optimum combination of in-person teaching and online learning”. A Stage 3 response would imply “no public access to the University or College buildings” and “gatherings for staff and students only permitted where essential for teaching and assessment to take place”.

Eagerly Anticipating: Sex Education Series 3

Charlotte Rose
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Eagerly Anticipating: Sex Education Series 3

Contains spoilers for Sex Education seasons one and two.

There is nothing I can say about Netflix’s Sex Education that hasn’t already been said; instead, I’ll just explain how that programme fills me with ridiculous amounts of joy. The combination of romance, friendship, laughter, and wit just makes me so happy. It is no surprise, then, that it easily lands a spot at the top of my ‘miss-list’ of TV shows most likely been affected by the pandemic. I was already looking forward to coming back in Hilary (somehow the most depressing of the Oxford terms) to evenings of awkward group-watching over tea and cake. That combination of hilarious and heart-warming scenes is just what I need right now when, let’s face it, everything seems just a little bit bleak. 

The quirky dramedy is also so much more than just a funny Netflix Original. It’s been the starting point for so many conversations with friends about sex, relationships, and body image. These are important topics and, even almost a year after the most recently released season, Sex Education is still providing prompts for discussions I didn’t even know needed to be had. Just recently, it came back up in conversation with a friend; an hour later we’re down a rabbit hole of chatter that we might never have had without it. Although it has been criticised for its portrayal of sex in schools, I think this show is vital. The cast is so diverse, and the topics covered are those I’ve not seen in much, if any, other media. One example that springs to mind is Lily who is struggling with vaginismus; a vastly under-talked about topic. A scene where she and Ola masturbate together shows that sex doesn’t always have to conform to society’s expectations. Lily also shows Ola her vaginal dilators, further decreasing the stigma of a condition which gets such little airtime. 

I can’t wait for season three and will be pretty gutted if it’s delayed. If seasons one and two were anything to go by, the highly anticipated follow up should’ve been airing this January; however, filming was postponed. A casting call for extras went out in Wales in July (honestly, about the most exciting news to reach my small Welsh town after months of lockdown). Many of the original cast then returned to the screen in a slightly bizarre Twitter video to announce that production had restarted in early September. So, who knows when we will get our next instalment of the best Netflix original yet?

Top of the list of questions that I desperately want to be answered is what happens with Maeve and Otis after Isaac’s attempted sabotage of their relationship? Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’m shipping them any more after Otis’ absolute shit show of a drunk speech at his party. Maeve is too good for that boy. I’ll also be watching to see how the dynamics play out between Eric, Rahim, and Adam. My heart still hurts for Rahim after Adam’s confession during Moordale’s interesting take on Romeo and Juliet so I’m eagerly awaiting the progression of their relationship, as well as that between Ola and Lily. 

On a different note, after last season’s brilliant show of female solidarity at the bus stop, I’m looking forward to seeing how the show’s writers have developed the friendships between the girls. I love Maeve and Aimee, but I’m also interested to see whether the surface-level bitchy girls Olivia and Ruby get any further redeeming character arcs after the classic “It’s my vagina!” scene. There’s also Jackson and his friendship with Viv, as well as his struggles with mental health, and occasionally difficult relationship with his mums. I’m also really hoping one of the most underrated characters, Maureen Groff, gets more airtime this season. I’d love to see more of her budding friendship with Gillian Anderson’s Jean; that club scene was iconic. And how could I forget season two’s biggest reveals; that Jean is pregnant with (what we assume to be) Jakob’s baby?! 

Despite all of this though, what I’m truly most excited for is to see what themes the writers tackle next. Whatever they are, I’m sure they’ll be equally as entertaining, educational, and emotional as the previous seasons’. From Netflix’s tweets, we already know that there are going to be some new additions to the cast, with Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter’s Lucius Malfoy) starting out as ex-Headteacher Mr Groff’s brother, Dua Saleh as new student Cal, and Jemima Kirke as the new Head of Moordale, Hope. It’ll be interesting to see whether these new arrivals change the dynamic of the show and what they can bring to the already brilliant series.

So, I am desperately hoping Sex Education returns as planned in January – we don’t need any more bad news this year. Since creator, writer, and executive producer Laurie Nunn has hinted that she’ll stop the show before the teenagers head off to uni, if season three is the last, we can be confident it’ll end with a bang (probably quite literally). I’m off to spend the week re-watching it now whilst desperately trying to get the ridiculously catchy music out of my head. 

Smell The Damn Roses

Anushka Shah
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Smell The Damn Roses

It’s a cold November morning in Oxford, and due to the national lockdown, I, like many others, am desperately trying to find ways to escape mundane reality, and my narcotic of choice is hardcore nostalgia. As freedom has been stolen from us, I find solace in letting my imagination run wild, especially through creating make-belief scenarios through stylised photographs.

For me, that has been a particularly effective 2020 coping mechanism as fantasy lets our minds travel when we physically cannot. I want to transport you to the summer of 1969, when fashion and life had no rules, in fact, the fewer the clothes and the more skin to skin contact the better. Taking these photographs helped me fantasize about where I want to be. Perhaps it is a type of creative visualisation – if you can dream up a scenario through photos, isn’t it almost as if you’re there?

The styling for this shoot was inspired by the 60s/70s babes at Woodstock, ironically I took inspiration from a festival that hosted 400,000 half-naked hippies, an idea that is hilariously unfathomable right now. Also, the combination of a suede jacket with nothing underneath, suit trousers and cowboy boots is a look that takes ‘powerful’ to the next level, you heard it here first.

Today, living in Woodstock’s parallel universe in which restrictions galore have been imposed on us, it is supremely important to indulge in day dreaming. Imelda Staunton said, ‘At the time of Woodstock, I was just 13, but I used to see these exotic hippy creatures and I did look on with envy. How could you not? In an ideal world, I would have loved to have been a hippy – but I might have been a bit strait-laced. It was my fantasy.’ Mine too, Ms Staunton. I hope you were pleasantly surprised that these photos were taken at 9am, in 7 degrees November, and I hope you can find ways to daydream, spark joy, and smell the damn roses, even in the darkest of days.

Photos & Styling: Anushka Shah
Model:Anna Migone  

Between a rook and a hard place: Female ambition in The Queen’s Gambit

Leona Crawford
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Between a rook and a hard place: Female ambition in The Queen’s Gambit

It’s been a common complaint for years – TV seems to revel in showing women being exploited by men. The tragic woman, harmed or ‘disappeared’ to gratify the audience’s desire for sexualised drama, is a pervasive artistic trope. But recent Netflix mini-series The Queen’s Gambit ignores such conventions, instead unfolding into something passionate, cerebral, and highly original, which champions not only its heroine’s uncompromising genius, but also the generosity of the men who help her along the way.  

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the series features Beth Harmon, an orphaned prodigy determined to become the world’s leading chess champion. But before she can succeed, she must battle many personal demons. The first episode sees Beth, a strange and solitary child, climb down the musty basement stairs of the Methuen Home for Girls. There she finds its caretaker, playing chess alone at a dark little table. My first reaction: something terrible would happen between them. Fictional orphans seem doomed to receive unpleasantry (think of Oliver Twist, Jane Eyre, or anything by Lemony Snicket). Maybe it was only the effect of the sinister institutional setting, but I wholly expected some twisted power play to unfold. Yet to its credit, the series doesn’t gratify any such macabre notions. While I would indeed describe what happens next as a ‘power play’, the only ‘twist’ is that Beth Harmon is in charge of the game’s every move.

Under Mr Shaibel’s crotchety but candid instruction, Beth quickly surpasses her tutor. Her life at the orphanage is dark – but every basement tournament presents a shining moment. Finally adopted in her late teens, Beth finds herself living in a claustrophobic suburban neighbourhood. There chess again provides her with an escape – she hones her abilities secretly in local all-male tournaments. At first she is patronised by her male opponents, but as they realise her ability far surpasses their own, they rally behind her. Just as with Mr. Shaibel, the men in Beth’s life provide her with constructive competition and solidarity more often than they threaten her, though admittedly some take a while to adjust to the idea of her intellectual superiority. The Queen’s Gambit is refreshing because it offers a model of masculinity that is neither toxic nor fragile, but supportive and generous. The show does not attempt to falsely champion ‘girl power’ by making Beth unassailably perfect, either – she can be brittle, brash and prone to terrible mistakes, while still fiercely capable as a woman.

Anna Taylor Joy, as Beth herself, is endlessly fascinating to watch: sharply poised, yet somehow languorous. There’s a scene where she dances to Peggy Lee’s ‘Fever’ with wonderfully off-beat sensuality. Her wardrobe – her mastery over which evolves along with her self-understanding – is designed impeccably by Gabriele Binder. The drab angular uniforms of her orphanage days are gradually replaced by chic, 60s inspired pieces as she gains confidence and cosmopolitan edge. Beth’s final outfit of the series – a sleek, white, structured coat – resembles the white Queen chess piece, signifying Beth has reached the apex of personal maturity as well as chess prowess.  

Yet as her success in the chess world gathers momentum, so do the intensity of her addictions. During her time at the orphanage Beth becomes dangerously obsessed with mid-altering sedatives, and under the influence of her adoptive mother, developes a drinking habit. The show leaves the nature of her genius’ relationship to these substances unresolved. At times, her substance abuse is shown to be antagonistic to her performance at the chest tables, providing her with incentive to kick the habit. Yet at others, in a manner both problematic and fascinating, the pills are what appear to unlock the full power of her mind. Struggling to win a game, she rushes into the nearest bathroom. From the ceiling, as happens every time she takes the pills, giant shadow chess pieces materialise, descending eerily like stalactites from another dimension. With their aid, Beth can see clearly the moves she must make. Through these moments the show can ask its most morally complex and ambitious questions. Are we the way we are because of our compulsions and addictions, or in spite of them? Do they make us, or unmake us? What is the true cost of genius?

Though the game of chess itself is a dominant subject of the show, its director Scott Frank explains why one need not know the game to relate to Beth’s story. It’s a reason equally applicable to the current pandemic: loneliness. “Having a gifted brain can be a curse really. Beth is so smart that she’s isolated from other people. The victory for her is not as much about chess but finding a group of people, a family, that she can call her own. She ends up with this group of people that know and love her.” Perhaps that is why the show has grown so popular over the past months – at a time when things are frustratingly insular, it’s something explorative and dynamic, which celebrates both individual strength and solidarity among friends.

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