Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Blog Page 482

A Nation Under Siege

Darius Parvizi-Wayne
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A Nation Under Siege

The dawn casts its shadow once more upon the front line,

Fear, licking its lips, strangles the unknown. 

Frothing and foaming, it slips under the crack in your door,

Imprints itself upon corrugated steel,

Flashes its grin in a moment of reflection

On a canal that does not sit still.

From Dorsoduro to Giardini

Perhaps six, or seven

All beady-eyed

Inquisitive

Cloaked in suspicion.

Paralysed lies the city,

And I could not, 

Speak, 

At seeing history stopped with a single blow.

Murky silence fogs the land, 

And the clouds now gather overhead,

Leaving desire 

Melted. 

Only the church bells ring now,

Carving up an endless time,

To an empty congregation.

At once a ray urges through the blackness,

A long lost sun

A dot in the void

Refusing to be forgotten.

And just for a moment,

That splash upon agitated waters

Is not the quivering hand,

Or dropping of tears.

At once the starlings,

Teetering on roof tiles

Cast open their streaked wing

And imbue the sky with their soulful song.

At once the wisteria, 

Arm in arm to face the cold,

Bloom above pavements left dead

By a hopeless generation.

They do hope.

The candle flickers alight,

The door creaks ajar

Man shows his face

To a faceless wind.

A miraculous play

Where all the living take part

Until the curtain falls

Upon the final act

So we must fight with heart.

Culture and isolation: the silver linings

Anna Robinson
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Culture and isolation: the silver linings

Isolation and culture at first seem antithetical terms. Culture demands exposure, audience, large spheres of collective experience. Isolation appears to be a retreat into smaller spaces of experience: isolation and limitation seem more synonymous. Yet there are many ways by which culture might thrive under the new conditions we find ourselves in. Isolation allows us a stronger engagement with the culture closer to us – a culture that is often overshadowed by the busyness of normal life. For me, isolation means that time at home is now not always ‘downtime’ spent asleep or scrolling meaninglessly through social media. Staving off boredom means turning to literature, film, family. And through it, I’m reconnecting with old interests and growing new ones. With everyone in the same boat, more and more people are sharing their recommendations, asking for new ones: my list of things to read and watch has never been longer, and at home with more people to fight over the TV I’m watching things I never usually would or turning to activities I’d previously lost interest in. Who would have thought my GCSE Fine Art paints would ever make a reappearance just to avoid watching my brother’s choice of television? Isolation can hopefully be a time of focus and discovery – even if at first I dismissed the notion.

Initially, the pandemic seemed to be one of disappointment and panic rather than disease; watching plans in the following months dissipate in the face of uncertainty and cancellation. To begin with I oscillated between waves of panic and a bitterness over my exam-free summer starting to look a lot quieter than anticipated. 

Of course, I didn’t recognise the absolute privilege in the fact that my initial worries were cancelled 21st birthday parties. As someone who feels excited about their week when it’s busy, going home and restricting social contact for an undefined amount of time was a prospect I dreaded. I hate spending a whole day alone: I’ll leave my room even if it’s just to spend an entire day in the library. Even hangovers are never in solitude, as my flatmates and I all gather in duvets to watch episodes of ‘How I Met Your Mother’. Isolation and I are not friends.

But there are people I love who are vulnerable: aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends with underlying health issues. Of course we all want to protect the people we care for. Our age means we are unlikely to contract a serious case of the virus, but now our actions are imbued with a significance even beyond our immediate sphere of familiarity. Previous generations have made far greater sacrifices in order to protect the wider community. If I have to watch all nine seasons of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ for the third time to limit my time in public spaces, then I have to accept there are worse things I could be doing.

A lot of people are worried about their mental health in the coming months. I certainly share in these concerns. I like being busy. I like my freedom, my independence. But it might be productive to recognise that there is a different kind of freedom and independence to be found closer to home. When have I had the freedom of so much time? When have I had the luxury of really having space to learn the skill of being in my own company? I’ve found myself – an English undergraduate – reading for fun again. I’m re-reading my old favourite books, no longer only focusing on reading-list priorities. With warmer spring weather I can sit in the garden and spend the whole afternoon leafing through books I’ve always wanted to open but never had time for. Before it felt over-indulgent or unwise when I had so many other distractions and impending deadlines.

Self-isolation is definitely encouraging me to engage with things I might usually push to the background or limit because I feel ‘too busy’. I am discovering that the kind of TV my parents watch is not all that bad. These last few days I have spent a lot of time with Netflix (research, of course) – and I would recommend series such as The Stranger, which is as compelling as it is bizarre, or Liar, which airs on ITV every Monday. I’ve been surprised by how much I have loved watching period dramas with my mum – running through BBC adaptations such as Pride and Prejudice and North and South (I never cry at television but I absolutely wept throughout this re-imagining of Elizabeth Gaskell’s bleak but beautiful 19th century novel). I also have to confess plans to watch the entire Twilight Saga. So far we have made it to Breaking Dawn: Part 1 and I have had the terrible realisation that I am now team-Jacob – which thirteen year old me would consider a staunch betrayal. The rest of the family remains firmly in Robert Pattinson’s camp. I’ve even noticed my mum downloading Pattinson’s biography on her kindle. Once I’m finished with The Secret History by Donna Tartt, I might actually re-read the books and re-live my teenage interest in (obsession with) the saga.

We typically feel guilty when our lives are not ‘productive’ – when we spend days indoors without keeping busy. Now staying inside is one of the best things we can do to demonstrate our care for others. We can take it as an opportunity to rest, and to not feel guilty about making a sizable dent in all 236 episodes of Friends. In fact, by doing so you’re helping contain the spread of the virus.

Isolation doesn’t have to equate to loneliness. It can be a time of discovery and re-discovery – whether that be getting to know loved ones even better, allowing yourself time for things that usually seem unnecessary (Self! Care!), or re-igniting your own (and your mother’s) absorption in all matters Edward Cullen.

In the meantime, both China and Northern Italy have recorded significant falls in nitrogen dioxide (a serious air pollutant), most likely due to reduced industrial activity and car travel. Due to reduced boat traffic, which usually brings sediment to the water’s surface, canals in Venice are beautifully clear. We should keep in mind that for many, isolation might mean busier times, caring for relatives or taking responsibility for young children now no longer in school. As much as you can, look after yourself, and remember that this will not last forever and that the world we will reenter may even be more clean and beautiful. 

Self-isolation need not be damaging to our culture. I’ve expanded my interests out of necessity, and although I’m not joining my mother for yoga in the garden quite yet, I have a nascent but powerful interest in Scandinavian crime dramas, more completed books than I have in a long time, and a poor imitation of Monet’s waterlilies in the back of a GCSE art portfolio long left to gather dust. In the weeks ahead, I have decided I can only improve.

Racist or Unfortunate, Johnson’s Language is Harmful

Timea Iliffe
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Racist or Unfortunate, Johnson’s Language is Harmful

Near the beginning of this month, a clip from BBC Politics Live went viral, in which Dawn Butler MP accused Boris Johnson of racism. Butler pointed out multiple instances when the Prime Minister has used unapologetically offensive language, including his oft-cited description of Muslim women in niqabs as “letterboxes” and his use of the word “picanninies” to describe black people. The Prime Minister was defended by the Conservative MP for Sevenoaks Laura Trott, who called Butler’s comments “rude” and “offensive”. Fellow guest and radio presenter Nick Ferrari similarly argued that Johnson’s comments were “robust, unfortunate” but not, crucially, racist.

Is the leader of our country bigoted, then, or simply accident-prone? Does the commander-in-chief simply have a penchant for error in referring to historically marginalised communities? Or does the Prime Minister harbour a deep-rooted belief in the inferiority of Muslim women, black people, or, indeed, anyone who does not fit the publicly-educated, straight, white, male profile of the figures he surrounded himself with during his time and Oxford and who now stock his Cabinet? It’s not a question that we can answer with any absolute certainty. What we can say is that the Prime Minister has a record, past and present, of careless, insensitive, offensive comments, spoken offhand or written in print. Comments that are often aimed at members of the BAME community at home or abroad.

The more interesting question is where this carelessness comes from. Whether Johnson’s comments slip out time and time again on accident, or whether they come from the truth of his convictions, they are evidence of the same defect of British political culture. The Prime Minister is taken from the same insular, cosseted pool of so many of his predecessors; one where boys can enjoy the confidence instilled in them by their elite tutors, revel in the safe spaces of their all-male drinking societies, and go on to comfortably take whatever job in finance, journalism or politics they can network themselves into. It is an environment in which a person never has to watch their step. They are born with an in-built safety net.

If Boris makes mistakes, it is because he has never had to face their consequences. If he is careless, it stems from the experiences of someone who has never had to care. This is not an experience Butler can relate to. Black Britons, in particular black women, don’t have the luxury of their actions being called “unfortunate”.

The composure Butler displayed in the interview has already been commented on as an example of the way black women in politics are forced to conduct themselves, just to be taken as seriously as their white colleagues are. Dawn Butler does not get the option of her words being defended as merely unfortunate in an environment where any potential mistake or misstep will be upheld as evidence of another angry black woman; ignoring the way the words of people like Boris Johnson have followed Butler for her entire life – or the fact that she has every right to be angry.

From the Windrush scandal to the rapid increase of hate crimes under the Tory government’s watch, the Conservative Party has been accused of racism by more members of the BAME community than Butler. Calling the Prime Minister and his party “racist” does not mean that every Conservative MP harbours a silent hatred of every ethnic minority. But it does mean to highlight its history of ignoring, marginalising or indeed, offending the views of groups who do not have the past legacy of being included and protected. And at the end of the day, whether racist or unfortunate, the consequences – and the hurt caused – for the people Butler represents are the same.

Mother’s Day: showing you care with food

Katie Schutte
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Mother’s Day: showing you care with food

In a time when it can be easy to feel lonely and anxious, staying connected with our friends and family is more important than ever. Although COVID-19 may have altered your usual arrangements for Mother’s Day, there are still ways to express gratitude for your mum.

Cooking is one of these, but by no means a minor one. Anyone who has heard of the five love languages test knows that ‘Acts of Service’ includes cooking, and sometimes this gesture is more meaningful and appreciated than a shop-bought gift. Cooking has a function beyond simply feeding people, of which bringing people together is one of the most important.

I’m going to come clean and admit that I’m no natural cook. Famously, I once attempted to make pesto pasta from 2kg of broccoli – yes, the recipe really did say 2kg and yes, I am aware that pesto is not made from broccoli – and managed to give my mum indigestion, so trust me when I say I’ve learnt what recipes work and which ones should definitely be avoided!

Evidently, the best place to start is breakfast. I’ve personally never made my mum breakfast as she is up hours before anyone else (it’s as though her body operates in the New York time zone) but waking up to a cooked breakfast has got to be one of life’s luxuries. From scrambled eggs on toast to pancakes drizzled with syrup, the gesture alone will surely be appreciated.

Next we move to lunch. I’m cautious to make suggestions here as lunch in our house is basically a second round of cereal, but I appreciate that proposal just won’t make the cut for Mother’s Day. If lunch is your family’s main meal, a few ideas include salmon and new potatoes, a pasta bake or spicy paella.

Otherwise, it’s never too early to serve cake. This most definitely can function as a meal (I’m willing to defend this claim over Facebook or email) and opens up a multitude of possibilities: lemon cake, carrot cake, any *insert fruit here* cake, coffee cake, scones, brownies, banana bread…  I’ll stop here before producing an overwhelming list, but there are thousands of recipes online. I would like to take this opportunity, however, to say that Nigella’s flourless chocolate cake and custard cream hearts are absolute game-changers, and have never failed to fool people into thinking I understand how to operate in a kitchen.

Finally we reach dinner. Some of you might have set yourself the challenge of a full roast – if this is the case, you have my full admiration. If not, an equally delicious prospect is a hearty, homemade curry with naan bread, daal and poppadums. Alternatively, vegetable pad thai or homemade pizza are both surprisingly easy to cook, even for novice chefs like me.

If all the cake has gone by this point (not an unlikely prospect) then homemade chocolate truffles are an indulgent way to finish the evening. This can be accompanied by a mug of warm tea, coffee or hot chocolate–or possibly your mum will be celebrating with a glass of champagne instead.

Mother’s Day is a time for celebration, and an easy but effective way to express love and appreciation for your mother is through cooking and baking. In the words of Virginia Woolf, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well”.

Have a happy and safe Mother’s Day!

The stars so far: the breakout players of the 2019/20 season in the BPL and WSL

Ruby Potts and Nick Webster
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The stars so far: the breakout players of the 2019/20 season in the BPL and WSL

The Women’s Super League

Riding the wave of the Women’s World Cup, the Women’s Super League has seen its most popular season yet. Crowds are up and with the FA Player app streaming the games to the public, as well as the BBC’s Women’s Football Show, coverage has been greater than ever before. As the season is halted by COVID-19, here’s some of the most notable players so far.  

Bethany England (Chelsea): It would be wrong to not open with Chelsea’s #9, the league’s top scorer. A sure contender for goal of the year with her 40-yard screamer against league leaders Man City, England is central to Emma Hayes’ side. A prolific attacker, with 66% shooting accuracy, it is hard to understand why England was not picked for the Lionesses’ World Cup Squad in 2019. Now firmly established in Neville’s starting line-up, she’s proven her versatility, playing in midfield and even at wing-back. England is a delight to watch; treating both club and county to moments of excellence. There is no doubt that as Chelsea look to remain unbeaten, and snatch the title from Man City, England’s talent in finding the back of the net, whatever the occasion, is keeping the title race an exciting one.

Vivianne Miedima (Arsenal): Last season, Vivianne Miedima won the Women’s Super League with Arsenal, was a runner-up with the Netherlands’ national team in the World Cup, and was shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or Féminin. It is unsurprising that she has presented herself as quite the champion this season. As one of the most exciting talents in the game, Miedima leads on assists and has matched Bethany England’s scoring record. It would be hard to forget her astonishing performance against Bristol City; with 6 goals and 4 assists, she was the key player in the 11-1 victory (the largest margin in the history of the WSL.) If Arsenal are to keep the title for a second year in a row, then the pressure is on for Miedima to continue to make goalkeepers quake, and defenders tremble.

Ellie Roebuck (Man City): With her team top of the league, it is unsurprising that Roebuck, having conceded just 9 goals this season, is featured on the list. 10 clean sheets out of 16 is a huge show from the 20-year old, who is fast becoming a permanent fixture in the Lionesses squad. After filling the impressive gloves of the injured Karen Bardsley, Roebuck has continually proved herself to be City’s finest, with the best saving percentage in the league. This shot-stopper, along with the formidable City backline led by captain Steph Houghton, is surely enough to keep City in the top spot.

Lauren James (Man Utd): Having started the season aged just 17, Lauren James was the first goal scorer for Manchester United WFC in the WSL. Following this flying start, the now 18-year-old has gone from strength to strength. As top scorer for Casey Stoney’s team, with a particularly strong performance during the December meet with Everton, James has proven herself to be quite the sensation. The future of this incredibly technical young star is surely to be correlated to the successes of this up and coming Man United side. It looks certain that in the next few seasons Stoney’s side will become formidable competitors for the WSL title; no longer will it be a three-way battle, but with the inclusion of the Red Devils, it will be a four-way race.

Chloe Kelly (Everton): The Everton Striker has certainly produced some beautiful goals this season. Her two absolute screamers against Bristol City at the start of the season were indicative of what was to follow. She has led her team through what has been a challenging season for the Everton side. Her remarkable form was recognised by England Manager Phil Neville, who included Kelly in the SheBelieves Cup 2020 Squad. Ultimately, if the season does finish, Everton could perhaps pull back a top four finish, though a mid-table finish seems most probable. Whatever the outcome may be for the Toffees, there is no doubt Kelly will continue to shine in their starting eleven.

The Premier League

The Premier League season being interrupted right at the stage of the season affectionately known as ‘the business end’ makes it difficult for us to talk of the best players of the season with any real zeal. Moreover, Liverpool’s dominance since beating Norwich 4-1 on the ninth of August, all that time ago, would make such an endeavour quite dull and predictable, discussing the obvious qualities of Sadio Mané, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mo Salah. Instead, here’s five breakout stars from the season so far.

Adama Traoré (Wolves):  Simply one of the most entertaining players in the league the season and a constant reminder of one of the most pleasing aspects of football: dribbling. Traoré both consistently attempts far more dribbles per game than anyone else on the pitch, and tops the charts for the percentage of successful dribbles. For a long time, it seemed as though his unparalleled talent for dribbling was hampering his efficiency on the offensive end; however, this season we have seen him contribute 5 goals and 10 assists, terrorising Manchester City in the process. Watching his growth this season, it would be no surprise to see him become one of the game’s elite forwards in years to come.

Marcus Rashford (Man Utd): The Manchester United youngster is not a new name to anyone, but, as is often the case with young English players who burst onto the scene very early, too much is expected and the pressure mounts. Having quietly progressed over the last few seasons, Rashford has really come of age in this campaign, sailing past last year’s goal tally around Christmas time and eying up a twenty-goal season for the first time in his career. In an atmosphere which has not always been supportive in recent troubling years, particularly this year with fans complaining about the lack of a recognised striker after Lukaku’s departure, Rashford’s development is all the more admirable and exciting for the future.

Jack Grealish (Aston Villa): In the last few months, data analysts have been working on a new metric to determine the most efficient ball-carriers in the league. Few who have watched Villa regularly will be surprised that Jack Grealish and his bulging calves top the pile in ‘carries ending in a chance created’ ahead of the likes of Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. What does this mean? Well, though Villa may be struggling, it is clear that Grealish is the heartbeat of their side, getting the ball as often as possible and either driving it forward with his own dribbling ability, or by finding an incisive pass. At a time when the English midfield is so devoid of these qualities, Grealish may be a godsend. The last 12 months have seen him grow as a player, and as a man. Having achieved his highest goal scoring return to date following Villa’s promotion, it may only be a matter of time before he moves on from his boyhood club.

John Fleck (Sheffield Utd): Sheffield United’s success this season has been largely built on the strong team ethos and tactical approach instilled by manager Chris Wilder. Although the team comes first, John Fleck may just be one of the most under-appreciated midfielders in the league. He may be seen as the Scottish Kevin de Bruyne for the way in which both these players consistently attempt very complex passes with a surprisingly high success rate. Operating mainly on the left-hand side in the Blades’ midfield three, he has caused a great deal of mayhem, often playing the ball around the corner of the defence from that position. A sign of him slotting perfectly into Wilder’s specific system this season is his record high tally of five goals, the highlight of these perhaps being a wonderfully drilled volley to level against Arsenal at The Emirates.

Çağlar Söyüncü (Leicester City): While the media have liked to present this image of Leicester City lining up Söyüncü as the perfect replacement for Harry Maguire a year in advance of his sale, football is rarely such a seamless business. In fact, this time last year, Söyüncü was a fairly expensive mistake – a defender who could barely speak English or get a look in for the starting XI. A managerial change and a much better command of the language may not have been the only factors, but now the Turkish giant with luscious locks cuts a particularly formidable figure. Leicester have the third best defence in the league this season, built on the solid partnership of Söyüncü and Jonny Evans, and many have commented on the solid business of banking a record fee for Maguire and still improving as a defence. This is not to denigrate Maguire’s undoubted ability, it is just to highlight that where Söyüncü perhaps offers a little less in build-up play, he delivers more on the defensive end, leaving few gaps, and maintaining the ultimate goal of keeping the opposition at bay rather than looking to take them on and spray wild diagonals. In the modern era of football, a defender fully committed to the unglamourous part of the game is quite a find.

Image credit: Katie Chan

Oxford student sets up volunteer tutoring service

Felix O'Mahony
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Oxford student sets up volunteer tutoring service

A student at the University of Oxford has founded the “Coronavirus Tutoring Initiative”, a service which pairs university students with school students in need of tutoring due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Jacob Kelly, who set up the Initiative earlier this week, told Cherwell: “Having seen the news that schools were closing, what struck me was the effect it would have on the disparity between those students who receive private tutoring and those who do not. Whilst many young people will continue to receive face to face teaching over the next few months, others will come from families who can’t afford this privilege and are therefore at risk of falling behind.

“I know a lot of my friends in college were pretty miserable at the thought of having weeks on end stuck at home with nothing to do. It seemed like a pretty logical step to connect the two groups in a way that benefited both of them.”

Schools in the UK were forced to close on Friday 20th March as part of the Government’s attempts to stem the spread of coronavirus. A number of schools had shut their doors earlier in the week due to staff shortages and fears of the virus spreading around school communities.

According to Kelly, the response from the student body was “overwhelmingly positive”. He says that he expected “friends in college and maybe a few others would get involved but instead word has spread to lots of different universities. We have now got close to 3,000 tutors signed up and there’s more appearing every minute.

“We’re having to work quickly to keep up with the demand so I’ve assembled a small team to help with both the administrative side of things along with ensuring that word of the initiative is going to reach as many of the young people who need it as possible. We’re hoping that we can start rolling out the initiative to students at some point this week, but want to be sure the whole process is running smoothly before that happens.”

Although end-of-year assessments such as GCSEs and A-Levels have been cancelled for this academic year, the service is still hoping to “help young people to engage with their work in a really positive way”.

Students can volunteer with the Coronavirus Tutoring Initiative by filling out a form on their website, or emailing any ideas to [email protected].

Image: Ellie Wilkins

Electronic Music: the Sound and the Sceptics

Mila Ottevanger
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Electronic Music: the Sound and the Sceptics

When anyone brings up the topic of electronic instruments, it is always very easy to dismiss it. They are casually taken to be a crutch for artists like Britney Spears, One Direction, or Ke$ha, musicians often considered untalented and image-based. And unmarketable without elements like autotune. They are a cheap tool used to keep the music sounding ‘acceptable’. A clean, polished product, ready to be sold.

To challenge this image of electronic music, I’ll first establish why these instruments and techniques are used. There’s a huge difference between an executive demanding a song be ‘cleaned up’ for popular consumption and a work like Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Gesang der Jünglinge (1955-56), widely recognised as the first piece of electronic music. Electronic techniques aren’t new. The Theremin, an electronic instrument patented in 1928, creates an eerie, swooping sound (heard on Portishead’s Dummy, for example).  Another good example would be the solely electronic piece ‘Artikulation’ (1958) by the Hungarian-Austrian composer György Ligeti. Here, the art is inseparable from the instruments.

Electronic instruments are present throughout the 20th century, with their influence exploding in the latter half. ‘70s avant-garde rock group CAN, on their 1971 album Tago Mago, open the song ‘Oh Yeah’ with the entire track reversed, before playing it normally. By the halfway point, the strange ritualistic whispering and the silvery crescendos start to make sense: they are the cymbals and the vocals. From 1979, Jean-Michel Jarre was setting world records for concert turnout in this genre. Electronica developed from niche experimentalism into accessible popularity. There’s a perception of an urban-electronic and rural-acoustic split. However, on his two volumes of Selected Ambient Works, the highly influential Aphex Twin proves that Electronica can come from, and be inspired by, rural spaces. The genre’s expanse is undoubtedly far-reaching.

As for autotune, this computer-programmed technique was developed in 1997, adding to the ever-growing arsenal of electronic sounds. And it was swiftly taken up by Pop music. Listen to Cher’s 1998 comeback hit ‘Believe,’ which The Verge says turned autotune into a ‘bitchy shorthand’ for saying a person cannot sing. However, many Indie artists—traditionally guitar-heavy—use it unabashedly, such as Bon Iver in the haunting, mumbling song, ‘Woods’. In Hip-Hop too, with Kanye West on 808s & Heartbreak. It is clear that autotune can be artful. It just has a bad reputation, perhaps due to how widespread it has become.

JAY-Z, Death Cab for Cutie and Christina Aguilera have all denounced it. Michael Bublé too—but he admits to using it on chart-oriented projects. Everything must be perfect to succeed. Or, at least. it did in 2009, at the height of these intra-industry protests. Now, in an era of apparent ‘authenticity’, it is autotune (i.e. the surreptitious cleaning up of vocals) which is being rejected. Ke$ha recently showed great disappointment when her music was ‘corrected’ by her producer. In contrast, on Clairo’s album Immunity, we simultaneously find a song like ‘North’, labelled by The Guardian as ‘garage-rock’, beside the highly synthesised, autotune-drenched track, ‘Closer To You’.

Moreover, discussing Electronica at the expense of acoustic music frames the debate as a contest: one genre must dominate, the other must die. This is certainly not the case. Our generation, thanks to streaming platforms, is able to listen to bands from REM to Nirvana, keeping Rock and Grunge alive. Furthermore, one of the biggest movements right now is Indie Rock. This past decade has seen Indie acts like The Wombats, Blossoms, and Hozier acquire massive acclaim and popularity. I’d suggest that, generally, contemporary music hopes to be seen as less produced, as ‘authenticity’ becomes a prized attribute in a backlash against homogeneity. The ghostly presence of the producer behind the glass screen disappears when self-made artists such as girl in red and Post Malone find celebration on Soundcloud and YouTube. Electronic production is an accessible way to make music, shedding the negative associations of autotune and becoming more admired as a plausible mode of artistic expression.

Electronic and acoustic techniques are not mutually exclusive. Stylistic trends move in cycles. No technique ever really dies. The Electronica of the ‘80s gave way to the Grunge and BritPop of the ‘90s, just as the Electropop of the early 2000s gave way to contemporary Indie Rock. Like with any art form, there is always an ebb and flow. To dismiss electronic instruments is simply to ignore the music styles of the future… and, it is clear, the styles of today too.

This House Believes… This Government Has Been A Disaster

Eleanor Ruxton and William Prescott
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This House Believes… This Government Has Been A Disaster

Proposition – Eleanor Ruxton, Keble College

The last election was, for many, the political equivalent of being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Those of us who are neither die-hard Tories nor Corbynistas have been followed by a gnawing sense of unease ever since. Central to our lasting discomfort is an unshakeable sense that this government is too comfortable with reckless decisions.

Despite boasting a team of many supposedly seasoned politicians and advisors, the current Government is characterised by a reckless immaturity. Some of the Government’s more prominent members radiate either political inexperience or a tendency towards misjudgement. This isn’t an attempt to trash baby-faced Rishi Sunak, somebody whose defining moment – a global economic crisis – lies ahead. No, more worrying is the inclusion of those individuals associated (some allegedly) with rash decisions. Hiding behind the guise of ‘strong government’, and under the rumoured patchy and lacklustre leadership of Boris, these characters have been able to thrive.

Let’s begin with everyone’s favourite battle-axe, Priti Patel. Her ability to act rashly was demonstrated in jaw-dropping style back in 2017 when she arranged unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials. More recently, allegations emanating from her civil-servant colleagues have hinted at a tendency towards tantrums characteristic of a moody teen.  ‘Why is everyone so fucking useless?’, is something one would expect from the mouth of a 14-year-old, not a Home Secretary (allegedly!). Patel’s clash with the highly experienced Philip Rutnam is not surprising; it represents not just a lack of political maturity but open hostility towards it.  

Nowhere did we see this attitude more clearly than in Dominic Cummings’ advertisement for political ‘weirdos’. We all know how that ended. What is revealed to us is a government desperate to portray itself as pulsing with young blood, stronger and more ‘Brexity’ than ever. Anybody who experienced a healthy dose of teenage angst will be familiar with this sort of iconoclasm. 

This same attitude was reflected in the Government’s initial response to COVID-19. Desperate to prove its grasp on superior science, Johnson’s team of medical experts began to pursue a policy of ‘herd immunity’, despite Chinese data suggesting it was too risky to do so. The number of elderly people and those with existing health conditions is simply too high for such a strategy to be effective. The ‘don’t tell me what to do’ and ‘I know best’ attitude of Boris’ team has been juvenile at best, and deadly at worst.  

But is there potential for the Government to grow-up fast? Certainly, the shift in tone on the issue of social distancing suggests it is learning from its mistakes. Ironically, one of the youngest members of the cabinet, Rishi Sunak, has shown the greatest maturity in his response to the pandemic. At least somebody is prepared to make grown-up decisions. With any luck, this current crisis will act as a coming-of-age, and the Government will look back on its disastrous early years with a new attitude and more stable temperament.

Opposition – William Prescott, University College

With four and a half years to go before the next election, it’s impossible to make any long-term judgment on the Johnson government. Whether it ultimately proves a ‘disaster’ likely will depend on whether, in the short term, it botches the coronavirus outbreak, and, in the longer term, on whether it delivers Brexit without breaking up the United Kingdom.

First, coronavirus. The Government’s handling of this will be judged not on how things look now but on how they will look once the crisis has abated. Controversy over the ‘herd immunity strategy’—devised, it should be noted, by experts and not the PM himself—and questions about whether there has been sufficient testing certainly don’t paint the Government in a favourable light. But the Government still enjoys some goodwill and, as the Chinese and South Korean experiences show, even initial missteps can later be outshone by later successes at containment. On the other hand, if the situation completely spirals out of control, Johnson’s reputation, and that of his government, may never recover.

Domestically, things haven’t always run smoothly, but they’ve hardly been disastrous either. Under Johnson, the Conservatives finally have abandoned the Thatcherite obsession with shrinking the state for the sake of shrinking the state. This return of a more pragmatic Conservatism, no doubt assisted by Johnson’s personal lack of ideological conviction on most issues, is welcome news. That the Tories are now dependent on northern seats is likely to force the Conservatives to make at least some attempt to ‘level-up’ Britain. Moreover, while the controversial Mr Cummings has much influence and some questionable ideas, he does not always call the shots on big issues. The decision to proceed with HS2 clearly demonstrates this.

The greatest long-term challenge for Johnson will be holding the United Kingdom together while delivering the second stage of Brexit. Johnson did secure a major political victory in actually getting Britain out of the EU. When you consider that he inherited a nine-year-old government, a seriously divided party, and a weak parliamentary position, it’s remarkable how he turned his position around. However, these achievements will count for nothing if the United Kingdom disintegrates either under his watch or shortly after his departure. It remains unclear what, if anything, will come out of the talks with the EU over the post-Brexit trade deal. A crash out on WTO terms remains a live possibility, and the economic consequences of this are unknown.

The real problem with Brexit is the potential damage to the union with Scotland. Polls indicate a dangerously high level of support for independence, due largely to 2014 ‘no’ voters who backed ‘remain’ in 2016 switching to ‘yes’. While Johnson will, rightly, block any new referendum for now, this line may be harder to sustain if the nationalists secure a majority at the 2021 Holyrood elections. Even if, as I suspect, Johnson continues to stare down Ms Sturgeon, the parliamentary arithmetic makes a second Scottish independence referendum likely if the Conservatives fail to secure another majority in 2024. Next time, the referendum outcome is far from guaranteed, and much of the blame will be laid at the feet of Johnson for alienating Scottish opinion over Brexit whether or not he remains in Downing Street. A Conservative and Unionist government that kills the union would be a failure of epic proportions. 

If the events of the last four years have taught us anything, it’s that politics is totally unpredictable and that you prematurely write off leaders at your peril. Johnson’s enemies risk making a terrible mistake if they’re counting on his imminent self-destruction. They may be in for an unpleasant surprise.  

The Pandemic of Panic Buying

Isabella Colletta
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The Pandemic of Panic Buying

In an appeal to the public, the British Retail Consortium has pleaded with customers not to buy more than they would typically need, with the reassurance that “there is enough for everyone if we all work together”. The internet has recently been overrun with photos of countless bare supermarket shelves and videos of people waiting in endless queues for shop doors to open. Panic buying has swept across the country, and scarcity has become a new symptom of the coronavirus pandemic. Whilst initially essential goods such as non-perishable foods and health supplies quickly flew off the shelves, supermarket chains are now dealing with a limited supply of almost every type of item. Hoarding has only encouraged further hoarding, and the sight of empty shelves only induces greater panic in people. 

However, panic buying is, as a means of preventing the individual impact of scarcity, inescapably, a luxury – and one which will hold lasting consequences in the weeks to come. For those who are at high risk from the virus, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, stockpiling has only made them more vulnerable. Food banks across the country are also facing pressures as a result of mass hoarding, with many reporting a decrease in essential non-perishable goods such as pasta, rice, and long-lasting milk. Islington Foodbank in North London was the first centre to announce last week that it would be closed to the public from 23rd March. With a reduction in donations and volunteer numbers (35% of whom are aged 65 and over, as the Trussell Trust confirmed), their ability to function has been severely impacted. The risk that closures such as this may continue across the country presents a real threat as to how this pandemic may exacerbate food poverty already rife in Britain.

The uncertainty caused by an increase in those self-isolating and the government’s encouragement to stay at home and perform social distancing only reveals the  unsustainability of the current food aid system as a permanent method for tackling hunger. Regardless of the current pressures, food bank usage has seen a dramatic incline. According to figures collected by the Trussell Trust, food banks have given out over 800,000 food parcels between April and September 2019, the highest number since they firststarted collecting data in 2014. The levels of food insecurity pre-pandemic were already so high that last year that the Environmental Audit Committee suggested introducing a Minister for Hunger to ensure the government’s response to food poverty as a national issue. Food aid and charitable endeavours have already been facing the struggle to combat the food poverty caused by long wait times for benefits. With the demand on food banks on a consistent incline, the recent reduction in donations and general limitation of supplies means the strain these centres are facing will only grow in the coming weeks.

There is never an opportune moment for a pandemic; the developments in COVID-19 means systems will inevitably be stretched. But the strain food banks are facing as a result of panicked stockpiling will have a severe impact on the thousands they intend to help. The recent announcement of school closures (and the inability of many to work as a result) means emergency food aid will have to prepare for unprecedented levels of demand. With no clear end date for social distancing, for the families that will be using food banks to get by over the next few weeks, hoarding food is a total impossibility.

Food parcels provided by centres under the Trussell Trust are intended to last a minimum of three days and provide people with ingredients for meals which are non-perishable and nutritionally balanced. The security net of hoarding supplies is not a functional part of food aid, and public efforts to stockpile only makes charitable efforts to combat food poverty more vulnerable. Supermarket chains have made an effort to combat the effects of stockpiling and reduce scarcity. Sainsbury’s and Asda have recently announced that they will prevent customers buying more than three of each food item. Sainsbury’s has also promised to prioritise vulnerable and elderly customers with its online deliveries, and numerous supermarkets have designated early shopping hours to senior citizens to allow them to get the items they require.

In unprecedented and uncertain circumstances, anxiety, even fear, is natural. The possibility that under quarantine people may struggle to access food and other necessities is undeniably sinister. But in panic, inevitably the most vulnerable come last. Food banks and voluntary aid centres rely on charity and public donation, leaving them liable to bear the brunt of shortages when they do set in. As the public continue to clean up the shelves of supermarkets and buy goods regardless of need, the act of panic buying reveals itself as an act of indulgence, not necessity.

Katya’s grocery haul left-overs

Katya Alban
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Katya’s grocery haul left-overs

Before being unexpectedly evicted from St. John’s College, I did a big Tesco shop and got a whole load of incredible items in the reduced section – hence the honey roasted salmon flakes. The next source of inspiration came from a friend’s love of cardamom which has now transferred onto me. It has added depth to my cooking and I recommend it in pretty much any recipe. After arriving home and perusing the kitchen I stumbled upon several long forgotten condiments, such as the chilli chutney included below. This recipe is the result of my attempt to make a creative dish with the ingredients I found at home. 

Katy’s grocery haul left-overs: Honey roasted salmon flakes in mixed-bean Asian smoky-sweet spiced vegetable stew with walnuts   

Serves 4

*measurements are not 100% exact as I tend to eyeball ingredients, so adjust to your taste. 

Ingredients: 

 2 packs of Tesco honey roasted salmon 

1 can mixed beans

½ can tomatoes 

⅓ cup capers to taste (these give the dish a great salty undertone)

Garlic cloves x3 to taste

1 cup of chopped walnuts (add at the end)

 ½ bag of spinach (a big bag – this wilts down a lot) 

1 courgette 

1 aubergine 

4 small red onions 

1 tbsp vegetable oil 

Spices/ condiments:

3 tbsp nutritional yeast (adds cheesy flavour and packed full of vitamins) 

1-2 tbsp sweet soy sauce to taste

Pinch of salt 

1 tbsp smoked paprika

Black pepper to taste

½ vegetable stock cube 

2 tbsp spicy chilli chutney 

3-4 cardamom pods

 Method:

1.  Peel and cut the onions, finely dice the garlic, cut up the aubergine or courgette into medium-sized chunks.

2.  Add some oil to a pan and add the onion and garlic. Fry until somewhat transparent slightly browned. (Cook for longer if you want it caramelized.) 

3.  Add courgette, aubergine and the dry spices (stock cube, paprika, pepper to taste, and cardamon pods).

4.  Cook for 10-15min, continuously stirring, or until soft and cooked through. 

5. Add ½ can of tomatoes once the vegetables are soft or even charring slightly, then start gradually adding handfuls of spinach, allowing it to wilt down.

6. Add the soy sauce, spicy chili chutney and cook for another 5-10 minutes. Adjust spices according to taste (I added more paprika at this point.) 

7. Add the nutritional yeast and serve! 

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