Review: Andrei Diaconu’s ‘Jericho’
Top Image Credit: Photograph taken in Jericho, Andrei Diaconu Main Image Credit: Page 24, The Oxford Student
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Category: Culture
Art & music: linked through the ages
Image Description: Ronnie Wood in 1988 in Malmö sat at a table at a vernissage of his art at Hotel Cramer. Art and music, out of all creative forms, seem the most inextricably linked. Something about the arresting qualities of the two strikes the spectator instantaneously. They seem to have a marmite quality detectable that […]
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Innovation vs. cyclicity: Art predictions for the next 10 years
Image Description: A 3D printed skull, in side profile, with interior and exterior anatomical features showing. Last year, the Arts Council, a government organisation tasked with promoting and developing arts and culture across England, published its draft document entitled ‘Shaping the next ten years.’ This document, to be fully published later this year, stated that […]
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RECIPE: Ginger and White Chocolate Cheesecake
Even though its January, I’m sure nobody has any intention of reading diet recipes: the prospect of waiting another year for Christmas is sad enough without throwing quinoa into the situation. So, to wean off Christmas feasting, make one of the simplest cheesecake recipes that (despite its deliciously sounding title) doesn’t require any fiddly work […]
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“Veganuary” – Plant-based resolutions:
Christmas is now well and truly over: the decorations have been stowed away, our fridges are no longer filled with food that’s being ‘saved for Christmas’ and the socially acceptable window of watching festive TV on catch-up is quickly closing. And as ‘tis the season for New Year’s resolutions, I’ve become reflective on what mine […]
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In Conversation: Jen Campbell, Writer and Poet
Jen Campbell is a bestselling author and award-winning poet. Her most recent books include ‘The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night’, ‘The Girl Aquarium’ and a series of children’s picture books. I was lucky enough to talk to Jen about poetry, the importance of children’s voices, and the magic of online […]
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Love Actually Review: London Actually
Love Actually is my favourite Christmas film. When Santa’s sack of vac scheme deadlines pushes me to the edge, I like to kick back and relax to some wholesome content. This is my escapism of choice. Love Actually is not only touching and profound but offers a vision of a better Britain. Fans of ‘multikulti’ […]
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Review: Veganuary at Banana Tree
The annual month-long celebration of veganism is upon us – Veganuary. As someone who made the decision to eschew animal products seven years ago, I rejoice every time January rolls around. Supermarkets bring out sandwiches which aren’t stuffed with the uninspiring falafel-hummus combination, restaurants reinvent their vegan offerings (gone are the days of ‘house-salad-but-will-you-hold-the-cheese’). The […]
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Homegrown grooves: Alex Caballero reviews Oxford jazz-fusion outfit SNARP’s debut EP, All In
Slick production, funky grooves and tasty solos: whilst these things may not be commonly associated with student bands, all can be found in plentiful supply on SNARP’s debut EP, All In. Consisting of current and ex-Oxford students, SNARP demonstrate the prodigious talent that can be found within Oxford’s jazz scene, which venues such as The […]
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In Defence of ‘Cats’
Tom Hooper’s cinematic production of Cats has been a complete failure in the eyes of critics, being so scathingly criticised that there has been talk of a remake, an attempt at redeeming at least an ounce of dignity for T.S. Eliot’s book of poems. While I recognise and agree with many points of criticism, I cannot […]
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The Matter of Perspective: Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story
Having moved to new York from Indiana, Charlie Barber (Adam Driver) – in his now ex-wife’s words – has become “more New Yorker than any New Yorker”. He is a recently established theatre director. Nicole (Scarlett Johansson), born and bred in Los Angeles, became locally famous for a film about college life and was engaged […]
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Review: An Evening at The Ivy Oxford Brasserie
My co-editor Elle and I had dinner at The Ivy Oxford Brasserie last week, also known as one of the best nights in my life ever. It’s important to note that I, Ben Chuah, love food. I can spell it out if you’d like. I. Love. Food. I love fast food. I’m obsessed with comfort […]
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Opera for the modern age: Alex Caballero reviews the Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival
The words ‘contemporary opera’ are enough to make the average person somewhat nervous; quite frankly, even the word ‘opera’ is. Conjuring images of overdramatised and inaccessible performances, reserved for the upper echelons of society, one would imagine that marketing contemporary opera would be far from the easiest job in the world. However, attending the second […]
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Intergenerational punk: Jai Curtis reviews Fontaines D.C. at O2 Academy
Fontaines D.C., to put it lightly, have had a dramatic year. Touring their Mercury Prize-nominated debut album ‘Dogrel’ across fifty different cities throughout Britain, Europe and North America, the band have truly charged into the post-punk scene. Yet, at the height of Summer, Ireland’s biggest band made the ‘difficult’ decision to cancel a string of […]
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Review: The Gardener’s Arms, North Parade
The innocent question ‘where to quench your thirst around here’ to one of my college’s porters brought me to the Gardener’s Arms on North Parade Avenue on my first night in Oxford. I have been returning regularly since. It is a small, narrow pub, shaped like a railway carriage. It is usually rather empty than […]
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This is not a headline
Image description: Rene Magritte’s ‘Time Transfixed’, 1938 It was not by wandering the halls of a museum, nor by studying him in any art project, that I discovered Rene Magritte. Instead, it was through the superabundant parodies of his work, most notably based on ‘The Son of Man’. One simply has to search “son of man parody” […]
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Review: His Dark Materials
Image description: film poster for ‘His Dark Materials’ In just a couple of years, I’ve seen a lot of TV shows and movies use the cobbled streets of Oxford as their backdrops. From Tolkien, to Killing Eve, to The Discovery of Witches, I’ve weaved my way through film crews, knowing that I could later annoy relatives […]
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Review: Handsome Devil
Picking your favourite film is a very difficult task indeed. When getting to know somebody, presenting an elaborate list of every film you’ve ever considered interesting or meaningful isn’t the best way for them to understand you better. So, if I had to pick a favourite film, it just might be Handsome Devil. Released in […]
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Dirty Bones, Happy Heart
The bones may be dirty, but the food? Incredible. My first – and until the next 21st birthday dinner on the calendar – probably last time at Westgate’s sparkling restaurant left an impression on my palate so profound, I thought it best to share. It is a stunning restaurant – think decadence meets green juice […]
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