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Image description: The album cover of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, depicting a close-up of Gaye wearing a raincoat and looking pensively into the distance. One of the most influential albums of all time, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On (1971), turned 50 this month. Owing to its timeless appeal and status as a firm family […]
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Image Description: a large red MOTEL sign against a blue sky Like a lot of Schitt’s Creek fans, I was late to the game and only discovered the sitcom on Netflix during quarantine, five years after its premiere. Now I am not saying that the show wouldn’t have been awarded its well deserved nine Emmys […]
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Image description: Rodrigo sticking her tongue out and standing against a purple background, with stickers on her face and the letters spelling ‘SOUR’ on her tongue. Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR is the perfect debut album. It draws on familiar genres and themes, which is probably why Rodrigo has been compared so much to the likes of […]
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Image Description: A Dalmatian perched upright against a metal fence, looking into the camera. If you’ve ever watched the movie 101 Dalmatians and wondered just why the maniacal antagonist Cruella de Vil wanted to murder and skin over a hundred puppies, then you’re in luck. Disney’s new film Cruella is the latest live-action reboot to […]
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TW: discussions about addiction and mental health conditions. Links at the bottom of the article for more information on the help available. Image description: A person wearing headphones faces a computer screen. Often upon a school night, and even, I confess, since coming to university, I have had the accusation levelled at me by my […]
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Image description: Cinema lobby lit up in neon pink lighting Cinemas have reopened, and according to my completely unbiased and totally comprehensive research, nobody in England is as excited about this as I am. I was never a massive film fan before the pandemic; I’d usually watch a few Oscar nominees and winners annually to […]
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Image description: Crowded stacks of second hand books Some places are just special, stamped with a cosmic seal of approval which is felt by anyone who visits: Hay-on-Wye is one of those places. Located in Powys on the border between England and Wales, Hay, or Y-Gelli Gandryll (‘the shattered grove’) as it is known in Welsh, […]
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Image description: A black and white photo of the bottom half of a Nintendo DS, a dog is lying down on the screen When I was younger, I was an expert owner of virtual pets, from Tamagotchis to Moshi Monsters. But the best game of them all was always Nintendogs. Looking back on it, Nintendogs […]
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Image description: The Sheldonian Theatre statues TW: mention of alcohol and substance abuse and mental health issues relating Oxford University (like Cambridge and other prestigious institutions around the world) has a reputation for very high standards in academics, sport, and other extra-curricular aspects of university life such as in student-run campaigns and societies. While they […]
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Image description: A cartoon illustration of a person in a swimming pool with a thought bubble of a ladder CW: death The Sims has taken on something of a special role in people’s lives during the pandemic. As much of the world is shut down, we can but reminisce about a time when we had […]
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Image description: an empty Oxford college dining hall. To all those unlucky souls on inflexible, expensive or unappetising college meal plans, my heart goes out to you. I won’t dwell too much on my own circumstances, like the closure of all students kitchens during Michaelmas, but, as a daily navigator of hall food, I’ll share […]
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Image description: A messy kitchen countertop with a loaf cake, orange juice and a spoon of flour. This banana almond cake is moreish and best eaten on a long, relaxing break from work. I made this cake on a whim while procrastinating one day. Baking is always worth the effort, even if you’re pushed for […]
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Image description: Paper shopping bags against mint background with the title ‘Checking out’ above. Checking Out produced by Orange Script Production and written by William Heath is styled as a ‘comedy-drama which follows the beginnings of the unlikely relationship between larger-than-life, mid-forties shop assistant Julie and recently-widowed octogenarian Elsie’. It is, however something much more […]
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Image description: a silhouette with a raised fist over a light orange background The year is 1991. You pick up a copy of the Bikini Kill zine and find the Riot Grrl manifesto. Towards the top of the page there is the statement: BECAUSE viewing our work as being connected to our girlfriends-politics-real lives is […]
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Image description: Eurovision crowds in purple and turquoise lighting turned to a stage with a spotlight Following Saturday’s Grand Final, another Eurovision has come and gone. In what felt like the quickest grand final in recent memory, 26 countries competed for the glass microphone trophy, with Italy pulling up ahead of the jury-favourites Switzerland and […]
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Image Description: Two men reading a newspaper. Searching for recommendations of all things culture this week? We’ve got you covered! Music What do you think about the car – Declan McKenna (2017) Declan McKenna weaves politics and poetry throughout this album while also delivering immaculate indie pop vibes. McKenna’s vocals exude a devastating earnestness over […]
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Image description: Daði & Gagnamagnið performing on stage with a purple and blue background and sparkling lights Picture it now, and wipe a tear from your eye. Last year, Gay Christmas was cancelled. Due to go ahead in May 2020, the pandemic forced the 65th Eurovision Song Contest off our screens, and a microwave meal […]
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Image description: a large crowd and colourful flags in front of Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage The world-renowned Glastonbury Festival attracts 200,000 seasoned festival-goers and newcomers alike to its home in Pilton, Somerset, every year. While well-accustomed to the odd ‘fallow year’ to allow the site’s land to regrow, the festival first opened its gates to […]
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Image description: the promotional artwork for The Arnolfini Portrait (an illustration of two figures set against a pale blue background, with the play’s title in dark blue lettering) With the absence of staging, lighting and costume among the many other elements which make up an understanding of theatre in the traditional sense, it could be […]
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