RB

Public proposals are to be avoided

Grand acts of romance are a pop culture staple. With the advent of widely used social media, complex intimate relationships can be made highly visible to an incredibly wide audience in a way previously seen mostly in fiction. Declarations and exhibitions of love; milestones, passions and feuds may now be laid bare for hundreds of people. Public proposals are a real world reflection of this: they create an audience for the engagement and the relationship; sometimes without the consent of that audience and usually without the consent of the hypothetical fiancée. Embarrassment may abound- and the threat of that embarrassment may prove to be unintentionally coercive.

As public as these experiences are, it’s impossible to truly understand the mechanics of another couples’ relationship. Our perception of it might be tainted by the abundance of ‘viral’ videos of proposals going excruciatingly, mortifyingly wrong. Terrible misjudgements and absolutely nuclear embarrassment are much harder to forget than easy; tender demonstrations of love by one partner knowing the other deeply enough to be sure that they’d love it and not subsequently dunk on them in a public setting. Perhaps sometimes, it’s a good thing. It’s a risk: maybe the fact that your partner was willing to take it speaks volumes to you about their commitment to and love for you. Maybe you love sweeping, romantic gestures. But what a risk! A proposal might be a surprise, but marriage never should be.

Making your bed in the morning is an entirely bad idea.)

Since the beginning of time parents have been demanding their children make the bed. It’s habit forming: countless studies tell us that making the bed in the morning establishes a routine and encourages organisation.

The benefits to bed making are felt more in the evening than they are in the day. The danger, of course, is how attractive a made bed is. For many of us, the work doesn’t end the moment we step foot over the threshold- more so now than ever. A made bed is attractive; seductive, persuasive. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. Lay down for a moment and remember that those musts and needs and wants are transient-and why not live for pleasure? Lie down on that perfect bed, and forget entirely that you were meant to pick the kids up at 6pm.

Live in disarray. It makes it impossible to waste time relaxing. There’s a revolting adage to bear in mind, however. In much the same way that you should always wear clean pants on the off chance you might need to go to A&E; you would probably save yourself a lot of embarrassment in the event of unexpected visitors if you did make the bed. Having to explain to the police in event of burglary that actually, most of the room is as you left it that morning does not bear thinking about. That being said if a burglary did occur, the burglar might just give it up as a bad job. Swings and roundabouts.

If you suffer from a guilty conscience comfort yourself with the knowledge that although there may well be benefits for your mental health, the same may not necessarily be true of your physical health. Dust mites love your sweat and skin- which your bed is inevitably full of. Though it is unclear whether they definitely contribute to allergies, the thought of millions of microscopic creatures creeping and crawling all over your mattress is hideous enough. When you pull that duvet down in the morning, you tuck those little bugs in and protect them from air and light. They thrive. That alone is reason enough not to make your bed.

Let’s begin by making a distinction between jogging indoors on a jogging machine and jogging al fresco. Both are boring, but one is easier than the other. The beauty of the jogging machine is not having to plan a route in advance based on elevation, road quality and location. You can choose exactly when you’ll be jogging upwards; free of potholes and without any need to jog through miserable grey parks with adjacent a roads. For many exercise is a nice escape: generally it’s better to jog away from that which you are trying not to be reminded of. If the surroundings were worth taking in you would go for a nice, leisurely walk.

There’s no novelty to jogging. It’s something we do often and naturally. That isn’t to say that swimming, rowing and cycling aren’t natural- they’re just activities that come up less often in the wild. That’s obviously an advantage of jogging: there’s not need to spend money on equipment or gym memberships. It’s entirely free (excluding the cost of a decent pair of trainers) and it’s probably the most accessible form of exercise.

It’s a matter of personal taste- I personally would and have spent upwards of £15 per month just to avoid the unrelenting monotony of it. It’s worth every penny to never have to run through dog poo again.

Though the English National Concessionary Scheme is an overwhelmingly good thing, it's validity must be extended in terms of hours and area.

Under the English National Concessionary Scheme, people considered “eligible disabled” are entitled to a bus pass for free travel. Applications can be made online or by post to the local authority and potential eligible circumstances are listed as follows:

• Be sight impaired or severely sight impaired
• Be severely deaf (minimum hearing loss if it reaches 70 dB HL)
• Be without speech in any language
• Have a disability, or an injury, which has substantial long term effect on the ability to walk
• Not have arms or have long term loss of the use of both arms
• Have a learning disability, which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
• Be prevented from being granted a motor vehicle licence under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1998, section 92 (other than on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol)

An important observation is that the bus pass is valid only between certain hours of the day: 9:30 am to 11pm. There’s a glaring problem here. The Department for Transport classes the morning rush hour as the time between 6:00am and 9:00am. Why then is the bus pass only valid from 9:30am? You might be forgiven for thinking that what is presumably a money saving condition assumes that people who may need access to free travel wouldn’t need it at the peak work commuting time. Though it probably isn’t the case that it’s founded on the belief that people with disabilities (particularly but not limited to those effecting mobility) can’t work, it certainly feels like a bit of a slap in the face.

There are elements of this that are at the discretion of the local council. While some councils may extend the passes’ validity beyond off peak hours and may also accept passes from other councils, they are not required to do so. This is not made immediately obvious by the government site, which explicitly states: “Passes from councils in England can be used anywhere in England”.. There is no caveat given. In reality you may very well find yourself stuck in a new city, first thing in the morning, being told that your pass isn’t valid because it’s from another council. Fantastic. Here’s hoping they take contactless.

It should be acknowledged that schemes like the English National Concessionary Scheme are not found the world over. It is a fundamentally good thing and it makes travel and commuting easier for many, many people. Often the pass is valid on other local transport networks. In London boroughs such as Lewisham, Westminister and Greenwich travel is permitted at any time by light rail, underground, bus or even ferry. There are considerable complexities as travel in other boroughs and in some cases beyond certain points on the same line is limited once again to 9:30 onwards. This highlights the need for national consistency and clarity by providers, councils and the DfT.

Age restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks to children should be implemented alongside education on their health implications

Restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks to children are not unprecedented. In August 2020 the Mexican state of Oaxaca implemented a ban as part of a bill to reform children and adolescents’ rights law. Though the Mexican ban on the sale of sugary drinks and junk food to children and adolescents was proposed more than a year ago; the comorbidity of obesity and diabetes with Covid 19 has highlighted the importance of actively addressing them. The benefits of limiting consumption of sugary drinks was outlined by a recent peer reviewed study at the University of California. After the imposition of a ten month sale ban, university employees were found to have reduced body fat and improved insulin resistance. The latter is a risk factor for type two diabetes.

An objection to a ban of the sale of sugary drinks might be that it would be ineffective in challenging people’s attitudes, and may even entrench resistance to changes in diet and lifestyle. Another important finding of the aforementioned study was that the groups who had the most marked improvements were those who also received continued support from a health educator. Knowing this, the most effective means of limiting sugar intake for sugary drinks might be a ban in conjunction with clear and consistent public education on the subject to establish an understanding of the impact on health to be sustained into adulthood.

Roast dinners are varied and their flaws worth overlooking

Roast dinners are amorphous. It could be anything from beef to nut; with carrots, peas, parsnips, roast potato, turnip, mash, yorkshires, stuffing, brussels or broccoli. It exists in many forms, too. A good home made roast is the top tier of the roasted pyramid; a pub roast in the middle, and the circa 2006 school roast at the bottom when ranked on taste alone. Free school meals are a good thing, so it's hard to denigrate the school roast. The beauty of the meal is its versatility. In a family of picky eaters, no one is left dissatisfied.

I leave you with this: the most harrowing experience I had in my (brief) time working at a club was the cleanup of an entire regurgitated roast dinner. It was as if someone had upended a full, unmasticated Wetherspoons roast onto the dance floor. It was hideous. There were whole roast potatoes. What should be gleaned from this is that portion control is key: it's a meal of many parts and in the thick of it it can be hard to gauge how much you're eating. A good roast dinner should be quality over quantity, enjoyed slowly with a considerable settling period post consumption. It's easy to think that something is overrated if you haven't experienced it at its best: it is entirely worth the effort.

For the sake of this argument it's important to draw a distinction between ice creams; lollies and choc ices. Ice creams and lollies- fine. Choc ices-weird.

The immediate refuting point is that biting into ice cream is very much not the one for those blessed with sensitive teeth. If you enjoy all your eating experiences tempered by pain, then bite away.

All pleasure is better prolonged. Setting aside the impact eating slowly has on weight gain (1) (which is not an argument to have while discussing ice cream), it's so much better to savour and appreciate what you have. Take the time to taste, absorb...commit the experience of it to memory for solace in times of want. If you feel it's taking too long, it's time for introspection: is now the time for ice cream? Can I properly enjoy it? How susceptible am I to indigestion? Is this the treat for me?

For the time pressed- consider a choc ice.

1.https://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/nutrition-101/how-to-eat-slower

There is at least one context in which trigger warnings are essential to protecting the health of viewers

One very, very specific context in which "trigger warnings" are absolutely necessary is in content that has the potential to trigger epileptic seizures. (1)

This is seen more widely in cinema and on television than it is in online contexts, and is arguably overlooked in dialogues about trigger warnings.

It can be incredibly frustrating for people with epilepsy to see the term be entirely associated with (no less valid) non neurological conditions and dismissed. Though there is research to suggest that trigger warnings do little to diminish the impact of distressing content in trauma survivors(2); there is absolutely no question that some frequencies of flashing light can trigger seizures in those with photosensitive epilepsy. Sensitivity to flashing lights is tested by EEGs and diagnosed based on measured and individual anecdotal reports. (3)

To suggest that trigger warnings are unnecessary is ignorant of applications of the word; dismissive to people reporting that they cushion trauma and actually physically dangerous for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

1.https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/neuroscience-

2.https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/trigger-warnings-fail-to-help.html#:~:text=Summary%3A%20New%20research%20suggests%20that,emotional%20pain%20or%20unwanted%20memories.

3.https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/photosensitive-epilepsy

Men should not be expected to pay on the first date

More specifically, gender should not be a factor in deciding who pays for what on the first date or at any point in the relationship.

A similar and less frequently heard of late assertion is that men should pay for condoms. There are other forms of contraception available to women specifically- e.g. IUDs, the pill, injections- but barrier methods are the only way to protect against STIs, and the reproductive agency of both parties needs to be respected when it comes to their purchase and use. Gender should not be an obstacle and to make it so reinforces outdated perspectives on gender.

In the same (and arguably less immediately dangerous) way, insistence that men pay for the first date is a reflection of the belief that women are to be taken care of, protected, or that they need things to be done for them because of their gender. One partner paying because they want to pay and one paying because it is expected of them as a man are two different things. It's important to note that this perspective isn't just harmful to women. It reinforces the idea that there are defined, different roles men and women must fill. Though it isn't an outright act of hostile sexism, the act and the attitude it recalls are helpful to no one.

Burritos are absolutely better than tacos

As a former professional burrito maker (fast food crew member), this is a topic on which I can provide personal, anecdotal input.

Burritos are most certainly better than tacos. Contrary to what you might expect, tacos are the root of significantly more complaint because customers have entirely unreasonable expectations of it. Tacos aren't massive: fill it to the appropriate level, and you can be sure you'll be accused of stinginess. If you are obliging and generous, it'll be because it was too full and they've dropped the contents over themselves as it is not structurally sound in the same way that a burrito is. If you're particularly unlucky, they'll demand the cost of dry cleaning.

More to the point, burritos are incredibly filling. Again, customer complaints factor in. Grumbles and gripes about portion sizes are generally allayed when it becomes clear that 50g of beans; 100g of rice, 90g of beef and 25g of cheese turns out to be actually quite massive. You can't argue with your eyeballs, as hard as some may try.

Finally; having thoroughly sampled my own supply, I can safely confirm that they are beyond a shadow of a doubt the superior foodstuff.

Breast implant illness is too poorly understood to be dismissed out of hand

In the last few years an increasing percentage of patients have elected to have their breast implants removed- 34% from 2018- 2019 according to data provided by The Aesthetic Society.(1) Perspectives on self image; beauty, health and surgery are ever changing and this is reflected by increased dialogue and visibility of sets of symptoms referred to as breast implant illness (BII). These symptoms are wide ranging, described as including “… fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, headaches, chills, photosensitivity, chronic pain, brain fog and sleep disturbance.”

(2) The broadness of individual experiences makes it hard to diagnose: at present, there is no diagnostic process in place specifically for BII. A further challenge is the limited clinical evidence, with bodies such as the FDA not finding any evidence for breast implants being associated with muscular pain, chronic fatigue or cognitive issues. (3)

Anecdotally however; a number of patients who opt to have their implants removed have self reported the improvement of some symptoms, often immediately after. (4)

If the removal of the implants resolves the symptoms, is it arguably a valid treatment? Patients should be able to seek appropriate treatment that is respectful of the very real physical; mental and emotional symptoms they are experiencing. Dissemination of experience and information is important in supporting and encouraging patients to seek medical help to address their concerns.

That being said, there are some things to be wary of. In some online circles non-medical professionals have promoted en bloc removal of implants to limit “contamination” by the silicone. This form of explant is not an approach normally favoured by surgeons as it carries an increased risk of complication.(5) There is some suggestion by sources such as the BMJ that it might be “behaviourally mediated” and that behavioural interventions might provide some support: once again, people must be encouraged to seek advice from a medical professional in order to receive the appropriate treatment.(5) There are indeed complications associated with breast implants which must be thoroughly highlighted before surgery. It is also important that illnesses unrelated to the breast implants are not misidentified as BII.

Though evidence for breast implant illness is scarce at this moment at this moment in time, it should be the subject of in depth ongoing research and claims should not be dismissed out of hand as purely psychosomatic. An obvious addendum to the above is that absolutely no one can provide a diagnosis without full; diligent investigation by a medical professional- and perhaps the entire point is that speculation by laymen online or in person are not a substitute for it.

1. https://www.surgery.org/sites/default/files/Aesthetic-Society_Stats2019Book_FINAL.pdf
2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-49033715
3. https://www.center4research.org/breast-implant-illnesses-whats-evidence/#:~:text=The%20FDA%20has%20repeatedly%20reassured,such%20as%20%E2%80%9Cchronic%20fatigue%2C%20cognitive
4. https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types/implants/special-report/breast-implant-illness
5. https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/40/9/NP561/5857569

Playing music in public without your headphones is ride

Though we’re primarily discussing music, the argument is largely interchangeable with many sort of audio media including TikToks; the football and obnoxious phone conversations. This is best read as advocacy for people generally being quiet and leaving the rest of us in peace.

A particular frustration is the daily commute. Though the majority the country unfortunately (or fortunately) lacks an underground rail system, trams and buses play an important role in the daily commute. For those of us without access to the underground; it’s hard to guess whether the benefit of convenience would outweigh being trapped underground with someone busting out tunes on their terrible, tinny phone speakers. It could be beautiful; serene, profound. It could be an actual, literal heavenly host of angels. It will still sound absolutely; excruciatingly, torturously bad through your phone speakers. It would be pleasant to have the option to stare listlessly out of the window for a good 25-60 minutes before having to spend a full day thinking about things. Down time is sacred.

More than anything, it’s an imposition reliant on bystanders being too polite (or intimidated by the incredibly loud, obnoxious music) to address it. A risky game to play: there are others less tolerant of any interference with their comfort out there, and that is not a bear you want to prod.

TL;DR: Watermelon is indisputably the best fruit

Watermelons aren't only the best melon: they're also the best fruit.

The most obvious appeal is their nutritional value. It's high in both amino acids and antioxidants- in particular lypocene, which has been linked to bone and heart health with potential anti-inflammatory benefits.(1,2)
This aside, the real clincher is- as always- taste. Mangos are sweet but too sweet. Bananas are filling, but too savoury. Apples are boring and the texture of pears is off-putting. All indisputable; impartial, universal truths.

Watermelons are sweet; subtle, refreshing. They're also 92% water so there's an excellent two birds one stone quality that is woefully under-appreciated. They're delicious and pragmatic, which are the two key qualifiers of a great fruit.

1.https://www.livescience.com/46019-watermelon-nutrition.html

2.https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/lycopene-rich-tomatoes-linked-to-lower-stroke-risk-201210105400

TL;DR Meghan Markle is not destroying Prince Harry

Setting aside the context of their status; relationship and experiences with social and news media, this perspective is potentially inflammatory for a variety of reasons. The wife as a “ball and chain” is an old and unwelcome caricature. An adjacent opinion might refer more to her impact on his status as a member of the royal family and as a public figure, but the verb “destroying” completely robs Prince Harry himself of any agency and characterises Megan Markle as some sort of malicious villain. Regardless of personal perspectives on the monarchy as an institution and the lifestyle it affords these few people by birth; this is an unfair and seemingly very harmful line of thought.

The larger question here is about exactly what Meghan Markle is destroying. There is only so much insight the wider public can glean into their private and personal relationship so by what metric are we measuring this destruction? If not his happiness; or his quality of life, or personal finances, then what? A better reading of this might be that is his role as a public representative of the royal family that is challenged by their relationship. Even so, it’s worth examining what it is about Meghan Markle that some perceive as a threat to both Prince Harry and the royal family. As Harry himself observed in his recent interview: “…if the source of information is inherently corrupt or racist or biased then that filters out to the rest of society.” (1)

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56324215

TL;DR Digital and physical media are not diametrically opposed

Both digital and physical media are culturally significant: though digital media has become increasingly more accessible in the last twenty years it does not negate the value or presence of printed media.

When thinking about printed media in particular it's worth observing that it is a broad church. Printed ephemera is often overlooked because it is designed to be disposed of- but it is still a valuable tool for communication which exists independently of circles of algorithmic recommendation. With printed materials it is easier- for better or for worse- to evade censorship and selection by platform, moderation or authority.

An advantage of digital media is safekeeping of information: it is harder to loose a file than it is a sheet of paper. However paper will eventually fall victim to natural decay and damage- information that exists only on that page will be entirely lost (bar a combination of chance and active investigation). With digital files there is always a slight; minimal chance that the information in that document is accessed by a third party to be shared ad nauseam online without your knowledge or consent. This unlikely but the consequences can be immediate and the audience vast in a way that is harder to achieve with physical documents.

The two things are important methods of communication which work in tandem with each other and have strengths the other does not. One does not threaten the whole existence of the other.

https://www.loc.gov/collections/broadsides-and-other-printed-ephemera/about-this-collection/

TL;DR Wednesday is the only day of the week not accompanied by faint feelings of dread and disappointment

Thank god it’s Friday, right?

Wrong. Put aside the sizeable complaints of those in customer service who have been constantly stuck with the weekend shift for years; to the detriment of any social life and diminishment of their ability to suffer fools. Imagine a school week or a nine to five, forty hour working week. There’s a routine, for better or for worse. You know precisely when you’ll be free (to deal with your responsibilities outside of paid employment). You can plan.

But then come Monday you have this stretching; crawling, yawning expanse of time that needs to pass before you can finally make good on that plan. There are (in this scenario) five days to get through. Knowing this it’s hard not to start measuring time passed as a percentage of that total. It’s obviously possible to numerically quantify it, but in reality our experience of the passage of time is so subjective that a slow day can feel eternal and at its end like three days rather than one. All the more frustrating that you’re still only 20% into the week. It feels like you’ve been cheated, somehow.

And then it’s Friday and the shadow of the next working week looms large, far eclipsing the pleasure of freedom. A particularly cynical person would contend that there’s only really one day off because Sunday is mostly preparing for Monday, anyway. That’s taking it a bit far.

The best part of the week is the tipping point: when it’s just closer to the end than the start. The key to making the most of your time is living more in the present moment than in anticipation of another…for us mere mortals though, the pleasure of anticipation is seductive. Perhaps the anticipation itself is what makes the event so disappointing. That doesn’t really matter, though. If every day felt like a Wednesday I would be much more enthusiastic.

Fantastic point! I entirely agree.

TL;DR While "Last Active" and "Read" features can be useful they also create opportunities for conflict and misunderstanding

The gradual erosion of boundaries and privacy can incite future conflict by establishing unrealistic expectations of communication. They give only a small, fractional insight into a persons’ activities. Those activities that are reflected are entirely digital. Though obviously tied to physical actions and experiences, there is no room for nuanced understanding.

For some it is tempting to infer larger meaning where there is none and fill in missing information with assumption. In contexts where relationships are already strained by miscommunication or coloured by established conceptions this has the potential to inspire mistrust; frustration and anger- sometimes with real world consequences. This shouldn’t be a reflection on the character of individuals so much as it should the ongoing entanglement of the digital and physical aspects of life. The two things are in some aspects closely integrated, in others there remain important distinctions which should not be overlooked in discussions about digital relationships.

Features like “last active” and “read” statuses might facilitate better insight but users must actively work to understand that they cannot form a basis for expectation and that to do so could be harmful for all parties.

TL;DR Onesies are infinitely useful and grievously under-appreciated.

It’s hard to disentangle this perspective from the current climate. For those of us who have found themselves spending a great deal more time at home the adjustments to the way we live have been wide ranging and in places, unexpected. Some people have continued to dress formally each day as if they were physically going to work- or indeed, anywhere other than home. Others have embraced the opportunity to dress solely for comfort. Stained; frayed and worse for wear joggers, slippers and jumpers have been recommissioned. They’re comfy and don’t physically disintegrate at the slightest physical touch.

However, it is important increasingly difficult to enforce a separation between work and home. For some it may beneficial to set aside specific outfits as an informal uniform to create a distinction between the two. Once the uniform is off, the day is done and you’re no longer at work. But what if you want to stay cosy? Onesies, obviously.

The last great onesie zeitgeist was in the early to mid- 2010s. At this point in time, novelty onesies were abundant. I myself had at least three. One was a penguin with a bow tie and feet, which I threw away because the feet were enormous and an absolutely lethal tripping hazard. They were ugly, but (with the exclusion of the aforementioned suit) practical and convenient. Zip and go; perfect in emergencies such as house fires, trips to A&E and unexpected knocks on the front door. They are an ideal way of ensuring that you don’t get caught with your pants down (sometimes literally) in moments of urgency.

All in all, they’re a versatile item of clothing that shouldn’t be dismissed because they are objectively hilarious.

TL;DR Crêpes are not better than (traditional British) pancakes.

When assessing which variety of pancake is superior, it is necessary to employ a ranking system rather than a direct comparison. For the sake of this argument we'll discuss three varieties: the American pancake, the crêpe and the garden variety British pancake. The last two may look similar, but the differences between them are enough to give one a clear advantage over the other.

The defining feature of the American pancake in this list is the fact that it contains a rising agent. The result is thick and fluffy. Substantial. They really do feel like a mouthful. By some accounts, this is a boon. That being said, many people prefer a meal that does not take conscious effort to eat. There is too much active mastication involved in the eating of American Pancakes for them to truly have the jump on their pancake peers.

You could be forgiven that crêpes and "British" pancakes are the same thing, given that they contain largely the same basic ingredients. Where the American pancake is too thick, the crêpe is too thin. It's bigger than a British pancake, sure- but it has no bite or texture. It's like eating air. This is the downfall for the crêpes and what ranks the traditional British pancake above the crêpes. Neither too thick nor too thin; too big or too small. Some people may say it's just a smaller, thicker crêpe. Some people are incorrect.

TL;DR Pine furniture is revolting

Pine wood makes by far and away the worst furniture. Specifically, that orange-yellow variety. Setting aside arguments of sustainability- which can be complex when discussing pine(1)- it is aesthetically the most hideous wood out there. This is an opinion formed largely by association: its strong association with the rustic (kitchen) look both dates it and damns your interiors to look anything other than a bad job at a rustic style.(2)

The most potent downside is the way it interacts with light. If you were to have a white painted room absolutely full to the brim of this orangey pine, it would cast a faint yellow wash over the whole room. It’s dim, dank and dull. By far the worst offender is the bedroom set, beloved by landlords up and down the country(3). Enormous wardrobes; robust dressers and dressing tables (for the more moneyed tenant). Always, always with plywood backing that gives out after a few years and traps your knickers in the small gap made between the base and the back. Its only competitor for the title of most egregious material is the sort of laminated beech affair that makes you feel as if you are living in an office. If you’d like to feel particularly like you’re living in a student dive you should pair it with a cream popcorn wall.

Caveat to all of the above- extended griping about your furniture is something not everyone is able to do. Sometimes it is perhaps best to stop and think whether it’s really; truly that much of a problem that you have a bedroom set to complain about (even though it is objectively foul). Perhaps limit your griping to your private thoughts- or entitled posts online. Any of the above.

1. https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/the-good-wood-guide-ecofriendly-options-for-furnishing-your-home-5333472.html
2. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/80s-kitchens-style-251988
3. https://www.landlord-furniture.com/pine-bedroom-set.html

TL;DR As much as it pains me to say it , ring bound sketchbooks are better than book bound sketchbooks.

Book bound sketchbooks are gorgeous but impractical. Their appeal is in the way they present your work: like a published volume to be handled carefully, with respect.

It rarely turns out that way. They do not lie flat. The first page is indeed like the first page of a book- beautiful and crisp- but the weight of the first leaf of paper creates a hard fold against the inner seam which gets progressively more pronounced the further into the sketchbook you work. It doesn’t look great; the page isn’t straight and you lose drawing surface due to the depth of the fold. The alternative is to look for a lower gsm paper. Then the problem becomes the thinness of the page: it buckles under any wet media and god forbid you want to use anything other than pencil to draw. Even biro shows right through to the other side, forget about markers.

All of this can be avoided by plumping for a ring bound sketchbook. They might not be pretty but they are indeed practical. Need to scan something? Rip it out. Need to use markers? Rip it out. Made a mistake so big you can’t bear to look at it? Rip it out. No one will be any the wiser. Ugly but effective.

TL;DR Dr Peppers is sorely underrated and generally a delightful and refreshing alternative to other carbonated soft drinks

The beauty of Dr Pepper is its mystery: it (claims) to contain 23 flavours and, much like Coca-Cola, the recipe is kept under lock and key. (Allegedly in two different safety deposit boxes in two different banks.) (1) Unlike Coca-Cola, it's impossible to say what actually is in the bottle. Coke and Pepsi; you can safely say, are both colas. Dr Pepper is legally not defined as a cola. (2) It's not as aggressive in taste as Coke, which can (subjectively) feel like drinking needles. That's arguably the fizz: for a true measure of taste, drink both flat. You will consistently find that Dr Pepper has more of an actual taste than any variety of Coca-Cola or Pepsi. You can find plenty of advice online on how to decarbonate the drink to make a sweet, warming hot winter drink.

Versatile to boot.

Ultimately, who wouldn't prefer it?

1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Pepper
2.https://www.mashed.com/126570/the-untold-truth-of-dr-pepper/

TL; DR Mamma Mia 2! Here We Go Again is essentially enjoyable but struggles to maintain the energy of the original

Mamma Mia 2 has some great qualities. The song 'Fernando' was conspicuous by its absence in the original- it's undeniably a bop and a real highlight of the sequel.

That being said...

The first film was surprisingly divisive; receiving mixed reviews from both audiences and critics.(1) It was new, though. It was the first film adaption of the well-known musical. Perhaps a lot to live up to? It mightn’t have been good, but it was definitely fun. The sequel was also fun; but fell afoul of the trap that most sequels do- it just couldn’t really fill the shoes of the original.

That’s not a comment on how enjoyable the film is. It’s fun; it’s funky- all the things you would expect from an ABBA inspired musical. But it’s been done before, and the memory of the original looms large in pop culture. More importantly though, it looms large over Mamma Mia 2! Here We Go Again. It has the feel of bonus content, from back in the ye olde days when DVDs with bonus content weren’t struggling to compete with streaming services. Can you still get bonus content with digital downloads? It’s a mystery. Anyway. It really does feel like additional content spread quite thinly over 114 minutes- it isn’t bad, but there just isn’t quite enough to carry it.

1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795421/reviews

TL;DR It's the time and not the temperature that matters

Extremes of heat and warmth are not the way most of us would like to go. Instinctively, cold seems the batter choice- who would choose to burn, after all?

However, I'd argue that the best case scenario regardless of temperature is a fast one. No one wants to die slowly, and although it might be less physically painful, you can't freeze nearly as quickly as you can burn. Wouldn't thirty seconds of pain be better than minutes or hours of freezing?

Admittedly, you're unlikely to encounter heat strong enough to immediately incinerate you in your day to day life. Most temperature related deaths are due to the cold too (1)- but in this hypothetical scenario, I'd be choosing the quickest way out.

1.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200818142149.htm

TL;DR Stripping Shamima Begum of her citizenship should not facilitate
wider application of the decision in future

As of 26th February, Shamima Begum will not be allowed to return to the UK to contest the February 2019 revocation of her citizenship. (1) This wasn’t the first of last a British citizenship has been revoked in this context. In August of the same year Jack Letts was one the circa 150 people since 2010 to have faced this ruling. (2) Then Home Secretary Sajid Javid said of the decision: “…in some circumstances, the only reasonable way left to protect this country is to make sure someone cannot re-enter it”. (3) The decision has been contested from the outset on the grounds that it would have made Begum stateless; which is prohibited by the 1981 British Nationality act- the counter argument being that Begum was entitled to Bangladesh citizenship through her parents and would therefore not be stateless. (4)

However; the Bangladeshi authorities assert that Begum, who was born and raised in the UK, is not entitled to Bangladeshi citizenship. (5) In a 2019 interview with the Today programme, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Lord Anderson commented: “She’s got no real connection to the country to which the home secretary is saying she now exclusively belongs.”(2) ¬ On one level; it can be argued that the decision impedes her right to a free trial as outlined by the Human Rights Act and that although restrictions can apply with regards to extradition, the decision is ethically contrary to its underlying principles. (6) Lawyer Rosie Brighouse of advocacy group Liberty states: “The right to a fair trial is not something democratic Governments should take away on a whim, and nor is someone’s British citizenship. If a Government is allowed to wield extreme powers like banishment without the basic safeguards of a fair trial it sets an extremely dangerous precedent.”(7) Further criticisms can be made of the attempt to shift responsibility for Shamima Begum and her case to Bangladesh. Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott describes this as: “…a failure to meet our security obligations to the international community.”(2)¬ Responsibility is perhaps the key to the case. The government’s responsibility to its citizens; to the international community- and the responsibility of the individual in committing acts of sedition. There are allegations of her active engagement in policing morality (8) which remain unverified, but her agency should not be dismissed.

The case is complex and multi-faceted; issues of human rights, national security, the international community and personal agency are all factors which make definite judgements difficult. The stripping of citizenship remains a dire consequence. Shamima Begum’s case should not set a precedent for it to be a decision taken without consideration of the government’s responsibility to balance the upholding of right to fair trial; regardless of remorse, affect or crime, alongside national and international security.

1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/18/jack-letts-stripped-british-citizenship-isis-canada

2. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/shamima-begum-uk-citizenship-stripped-home-office-sajid-javid-a8788301.html

3. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/shamima-begum-isis-bride-citizenship-revoked-uk-sajid-javid-home-office-a8789906.html

4. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61

5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47312207

6. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights-act/article-6-right-fair-trial

7. https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/misuse-of-extreme-powers-latest-threat-to-rule-of-law-says-liberty-in-shamima-begum-case/

8. https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-bride-shamima-begum-allegedly-enforcer-in-morality-police-2019-4?r=US&IR=T

TL DR Horror films based on real experiences should be handled more sensitively.

Horror is an expansive and highly profitable genre. As of 2020 three of the top ten most profitable films were horror films: Paranormal Activity, The Blair Witch Project and The Exorcist.(1) In addition to being the highest grossing horror film for over forty years; The Exorcist has also been recognised as having significant cultural influence.(2) As such, it has many imitators. One particularly notable example is the 2005 film “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”.

Where The Exorcist is certain, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is ambiguous. PluggedIn (3) and IMDb (4) respectively observe: “while not overtly violent, the spasms and contortions of Emily’s body are quite disturbing” and “throughout the movie there are unsettling scenes of a possessed girl with her body contorted in positions that are not natural“. There is no head spinning; bloody statues or levitation.

This is arguably because the film is loosely based on a true story. Anneliese Michel died in 1976 of dehydration and malnutrition at the age of 23.(6,7) Five years prior to her death she had been diagnosed with and prescribed medication for epilepsy; in the intervening years she struggled both her epilepsy and her mental health. Her death came after a yearlong series of exorcisms after her family stopped seeking medical treatment. (6)

Exorcism exists in many forms and in many faiths. In the Catholic Church it can exist as a rite of the sort described here- but it can also take the form of prayers, psalms and litanies to be said by the unordained. Prayer; and perhaps even exorcism in this form, can provide some people with comfort. (8) That is fair and no one should be disparaged for it. ¬¬¬¬¬However in this case it exacerbated the illness of a vulnerable person and contributed to- or arguably, resulted in- her death.

The film is less about the exorcism itself and more about the clash of faith and science that occurred in the aftermath. It is open ended: ultimately no conclusion are drawn as to whether or not it was natural or supernatural. The film ends with the question hanging over the audience: a challenge to believers and sceptics alike. (9) This was an immense personal tragedy; experienced a very real human who could have no input on the narrative presented because she died. This is by definition exploitative. Regardless of whether it is to challenge viewer’s preestablished beliefs or to shock, the film uses the actual suffering of one person as a tool to do so. More to the point- there are people alive today with the conditions Anneliese Michel was diagnosed with. Any fictionalised alignment of conditions like epilepsy with the demonic has the potential to influence opinion on a disorder which is still not entirely understood medically and arguably less so socially is supremely unhelpful. As observed by aforementioned reviews; it isn’t particularly violent or gory. Key to its horror is the contortion and twisting of Emily’s body. Carpenter says of her research for the role :” Just everything… books on epilepsy, seizures, Kabuki theater to see certain gestures and stuff, so I probably researched too much..”(10)

Who likes to imagine that people might be afraid of them, and for something that can be a cause of personal pain? Will films like this dispel or entrench that misunderstanding?

Dialogues are mental and neurological health are important but need to be expressed sensitively- not as a tool for shock or horror.

1. https://screenrant.com/most-profitable-movies-ever/
2. https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/12/2010-national-film-registry-choices-exorcist-airplane-malcom-x-robert-redford.html
3. https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/exorcismofemilyrose/
4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404032/parentalguide?ref_=tt_ql_stry_5
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anneliese_Michel
6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/04/21/cries-of-a-woman-possessed/94bf2fd3-8e64-482d-869d-1f929851ca8f/
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Exorcisms_and_Certain_Supplications
8. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/201909/does-prayer-work¬
9. https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/art/the-making-of-the-exorcism-of-emily-rose.html
10. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/08/interview-jennifer-carpenter

Further reading:
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/g19738089/horror-movies-based-on-true-stories/
https://time.com/4087159/horror-movies-most-lucrative-franchises/
https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/about-epilepsy/what-epilepsy/epilepsy-facts-and-myths

TL;DR It is better to believe that it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all

Love need not be a tempest; in tragedy or ecstasy-or overflowing, reaching, stretching. To memorialise it by imagining it as this towering monument in our history surrounds it with a sort of legend; which shields us from its sharper points and jagged edges. It’s a blessing or a curse. There are some things which are better and safely forgotten- there are other things that need to be remembered.

They’re worth remembering because having lost something once does not mean that you’ll never love again. It does not mean that had you not had that experience, you’d never have loved at all. It doesn’t mean that it would be better if you hadn’t loved to begin with. These are all things which can be lived through, although it mightn’t be easy. The past is fixed and we can’t elect not to remember it: it might be better to just believe that it was worth having just to lose than to try to imagine the infinite other paths that could have been taken. Ultimately, all that really matters is whether it’s better for you to believe it or not.

TL;DR Pizza cutters are fast, flash and fun to use.

Pizza cutters are indeed the best utensil to cut pizza.

A caveat to this- a blunt, cheap pizza cutter is less effective than a kitchen knife.

Here's some purely anecdotal evidence: in my first ever job, I worked in a pizza place. I began at sixteen and was truly dreadful at anything other than customer service and working the deep fat fryer. Eventually the day came for me to step up and cut the pizza: I was unsurprisingly dreadful at this too. The cutter dragged the toppings; pulled the cheese away from the base, and generally made for a wonky looking pizza.

But you get better with practice- three years down the line, I was a machine. Speedy, straight and symmetrical pizzas every time. In fast food, speed is after all the name of the game- and there's nothing faster than a pizza cutter. Perhaps it's something to do with the angle of the wheel; the force of the cut, or the crunch of the crust. Perhaps it's practice. Perhaps... a bad workman blames his tools.

TL;DR Essential oils have varied effects and it needs to be acknowledged that there are a number of situations in which their use is actively harmful.

If essential oils do indeed have the potential to help- which there is some evidence to suggest- it is important that there is transparency surrounding the origins of the products. Medications that are available for prescription and purchase have to be approved by The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. There are no product specific regulations applying to the production and sale of aromatherapy oils and are subject to either cosmetics or General Product Safety Regulation depending on their content. (1) In this sense, the two things are not comparable because they have not been subject to equal scrutiny and research. (2) Side effects and interactions with other substances can be missed by customers because they are “natural” remedies: bergamot increases sun sensitivity, eucalyptus has the potential to decrease efficacy of seizure medications and clay sage oil can induce contractions in pregnant women. (2) Whether or not essential oils are effective in alleviating minor ailments; the cases in which they can be actively harmful are enough to necessitate caution in discussions of their advantages over OTC treatments.

1. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/872742/GN8_FINAL_10_03_2020__combined_.pdf
2. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/news/20180813/essential-oils-promise-help-but-beware-the-risks

TL; DR Sleeping naked has abundant benefits but the risk of one specific; highly unlikely scenario is horrifying enough that it entirely outweighs the benefits.

Sleeping nude is not for everyone- there are documented benefits. Finding it easier to sleep and easier to wake up; regulating cortisol and skin to skin contact are all cited as advantages offered by sleeping naked. (1) Sources such as the one cited here also suggest that it aids sleeping in hot weather; however there is conflicting information on the topic. Dt Sophie Bostock of The Sleep Scientist gives her perspective in an article for Women’s Health: …” what you can actually find is if sweat collects on the body, and isn't whipped away by a moisture-wicking surface - like you get from clothing - then it doesn't help you cool.”(2) Julius Patrick; Lead Sleep Physiologist for Bupa Cromwell agrees: "When you sleep naked, sweat actually collects on the body and then remains there. However hot it is when you drift off, remember your body temperature will drop during the night."(3)

It isn’t a cure- all, however. One purely hypothetical circumstance- admittedly an outlier- could occur when two people share a bed. If you cast your mind back to the article referenced earlier; you’ll remember that wearing light nightwear is advised in warmer weather because it absorbs sweat. Imagine now that your partner has a terrible fever. They’re shivering; their head hurts, they’re sore- the works. More than anything else though, they are sweating. They are really, really sweating. There’s no pyjamas to absorb it- so the bedlinen absorbs it…badly. Here’s where skin on skin contact really stops being an advantage.

Sounds gross? It is! As mentioned, this is a total outlier and not at all likely. There is significant evidence that sleeping naked is good for us and very little risk that this specific situation will occur. Is it really worth the risk, though? Suit up.

1. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-benefits-sleeping-naked-you-probably-didnt-know.html
2. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/sleep/a28490645/sleeping-naked-in-the-heatwave/
3. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/a32966544/heatwave-sleeping-naked/#:~:text=Why%20sleeping%20naked%20isn't%20advisable%20in%20hot%20weather&text=%22It%20can%20be%20tempting%20to,body%20and%20then%20remains%20there.

TL;DR Cohabitation is not an intrinsically good thing.

For the sake of this piece, I will be discussing cohabitation in the context of the UK.

The UK ONS reports that “Cohabiting couple families were the fastest-growing family type over the last decade with a statistically significant increase of 25.8% from 2.7 million in 2008…This may be explained by an increasing trend to cohabit instead of marrying, or to cohabit before marriage.” Both same-sex and opposite-sex couple are included in measures of married and cohabiting families; with same-sex marriages increasing and cohabitation in opposite-sex couples increasing faster than marriage. (1)

It’s important to emphasise that what is being discussed here is contemporary cohabitation: in fact, cohabitation predates formal marriage in England. (2) As a precursor to marriage specifically it has been subject to intense research- the subject is nuanced and complex. While there was some emerging data circa 2010 (2) which seemed to suggest that there was no increased risk of divorce in married couples who had previously cohabited, more recent studies have indicated otherwise. A 2018 study by Rosenfeld and Roesler highlighted that couples who cohabited prior to marriage were at a lower risk for divorce- but only in the first year. (3) Inertia has been highlighted as a potential contributing factor. Researcher Galena Rhoades speculates: "We think that some couples who move in together without a clear commitment to marriage may wind up sliding into marriage partly because they are already cohabiting."(4)

There is nothing inherently wrong with cohabitation. In all of the aforementioned studies, it is worth bearing in mind that correlation does not imply causation. It could be that the factors which lead some people to cohabit- e.g. testing a relationship before marriage- are themselves the problem, and not the cohabitation itself. (4) It has its benefits and its detractors. Perhaps the most concrete detractor for cohabitation is the lack of legal protection it offers: common law marriage does not exist in the UK. While division of assets is covered under divorce law, there is no such protection for cohabiting couples. (5) Ultimately, there isn’t any universal consensus on whether people should cohabit or not- but more protections should be in place for couples who do choose to.

1. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/2018#:~:text=1.,the%20decade%202008%20to%202018.

2. https://family.jrank.org/pages/274/Cohabitation-Trends-Patterns.html

3. https://ifstudies.org/blog/premarital-cohabitation-is-still-associated-with-greater-odds-of-divorce

4. https://www.livescience.com/5561-prenuptial-cohabiting-spoil-marriage.html

5. https://www.co-oplegalservices.co.uk/media-centre/articles-sep-dec-2017/think-youre-protected-by-common-law-marriage-youre-not/#:~:text=Common%20Law%20Marriage%20is%20a,law%20marriage%20in%20the%20UK.

TL;DR Nostalgia can be helpful- if it's the right sort.

In 17th century, Swiss mercenaries were diagnosed with homesickness. This is a loan translation. The word, as it was first coined by physician Johannes Hofer, is nostalgia.

It’s still a yearning for the familiar. The longing we have for that which we’ve lost is typified by a sight; a smell, a sound, a place. The formative parts of a memory become so inextricably bound with an emotion- retrospectively imposed or otherwise- that they themselves bear significance.

Acknowledging that the moment you are living in is fleeting makes it all the more precious. It’s hard to do. In the midst of day to day responsibilities; future plans and looming disasters the present is just one more step towards the next Big Thing. Nostalgia is comforting because the memories are an island- nothing imminent or incoming. This isn’t an inherently bad thing, though.

Author Svetlana Boym draws a distinction between two different forms of nostalgia- “restorative” and “reflective”.(3) Remembering that passed time and wanting to rebuild it is unachievable: as much as there might be a little pearl of happiness inside that memory, the escapable fact is that you can never truly recapture that moment in time. Remembering it fondly because it has passed gives the opportunity to accept it as a part of your past and of yourself, instead of a missing thing to be restored. In this sense it can become a steadying point. Discussing the outcomes of contemporary studies in nostalgia; Professor of Psychology Krystine Batcho elucidates: “It can strengthen our sense of personal continuity, reminding us that we possess a store of powerful memories that are deeply intertwined with our identity.”(4) -

1. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/when-nostalgia-was-a-disease/278648/
2. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-wisdom-of-insecurity_b_9250312
3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/time-travelling-apollo/201606/the-two-faces-nostalgia
4. https://theconversation.com/the-psychological-benefits-and-trappings-of-nostalgia-77766

TL; DR Dermal fillers should be better regulated in terms of advertising and administration.

In 2013 former Medical Director for NHS England carried out a review of regulation in the cosmetic interventions sector, encompassing both surgical and non-surgical procedures. It came in the wake of the discovery that breast implants made by French company PIP contained industrial rather than medical grade silicone. Though the surgical teams carrying out the operations worked by the book, the implants slipped past regulation at the point of manufacturing. (1) The author of the report, Brian Keogh concludes that dermal fillers are “a crisis waiting to happen.”(2) In light of this, it is important that dermal fillers are subject to statutory regulation to prevent harm to customers. Where regulation failed in the manufacture of PIP implant, it fails in the administration of fillers.

As of January 2021, Botox cannot be administered without a prescription. Although it does not need to be give by the prescribing healthcare professional; that professional does have an obligation to ensure that the administrator is trained and appropriately insured.(3) It is also subject to strict guidelines on advertising, both online and in print. (4)

The same is not true of dermal fillers. The industry is largely self-regulating and although bodies such as Save Face offer registers of accredited professionals in line with advice from NHS England, The Care Quality Commission and The Department of Health, engagement is voluntary. (5)

When administered safely, dermal fillers are not dangerous. Studies like the JAMA’s 2015 investigation into adverse effects found that they occurred in less than 1% of participants- when administered safely.(6) Perspectives contemporary to the 2013 review leaned towards criticism of the patient/customer; and the legacy of them continues to influence public opinion. (7) It’s a misdirected criticism. In addition to being somewhat patronising, it minimises the vulnerabilities which may lead some people to make that choice. Through social media, dermal fillers are more visible and accessible than ever. Returning to Botox, the ASA highlights that “The Enforcement Notice focuses on social media because this is where we’ve been seeing the most recent breaches of this rule.” If a complaint is received, it will be investigated by their compliance team and the material will be removed. (8)

This is the intervention that needs to be made. All of the above being said; concerns that social media exerts pressure to look a particular way should be taken very, very seriously. In one fell swoop it has the potential to intensify anxiety around body image (9) and to promote unregulated services as a solution. These are the vulnerabilities that need to be acknowledged- not dismissed as vanity or recklessness. However, there is a balance to be struck between respecting bodily autonomy and limiting the availability of procedures. Perspectives on consumers need to change- but so does the law on advertising and selling.

1.https://www.imarcresearch.com/blog/pip-breast-implant-scandal
2.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/192028/Review_of_the_Regulation_of_Cosmetic_Interventions.pdf
3.https://www.asa.org.uk/news/botox-frequently-asked-questions-faqs.html
4.https://www.saveface.co.uk/laws-regulations-non-surgical-cosmetic-industry/
5.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/192206
6.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/23/barbara-ellen-pointless-collagen-injections
7.https://www.asa.org.uk/resource/enforcement-notice-botox-social-media.html
8.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-40358138

Additional reading:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320510#key-differences

TLDR; There are elements to this film that make it more progressive than previous Disney princess films but ultimately the romance takes precedence over it.

We have a character who feels her personality markers her out as different than her peers. She seeks out knowledge and adventure unreservedly and does not capitulate to expectation or demand. In earlier films such as Sleeping Beauty or Snow White, heroines have narratives thrust upon them. In Beauty and the Beast, Belle makes an active choice which initiates the events of the film.

The choice she makes confines her to the castle and the care of the love interest (plus assorted homewares) until she stumbles across something she shouldn't. (As a side note- if ever your partner inexplicably insists there is a room which you must on no account enter, be suspicious. Very rarely is there anything good in a "secret room"). An argument ensues; she flees and is saved from mortal peril by the beast. This marks a turning point.

In the end, her desire for "adventure in the great wide somewhere" seems to have been satiated by discovering love and a big castle. In retrospect it feels that her otherness and desire to explore were a problem to be resolved, rather than a quality to be valued and explored. More to the point; can it really be considered feminist if the protagonist has simply been extracted from the path her society dictated for women? It is a film about one single woman whose desire to not live as other women do is rewarded with comfort; servants and a love that seems to quash the need for exploration.

TL;DR: Rating having children is difficult because there is no universal cost-benefit to measure it against.

Subjective experiences are very hard to rate.

There are evidenced arguments for the benefits and drawbacks of having children- collectively or individually- but the weighing of these factors is entirely down to the individual's priorities, needs and wants. According to one 2020 YouGov study the three top cited reasons for not wanting children were age; impact on lifestyle and the cost of child raising. (1) As of 2016 the total cost to raise a child to 21 came to £230,000 (2): which is for many more than enough reason to decide not to have children (very reasonably so). For others, it's worth the financial and lifestyle sacrifices (also entirely fair).

A pressing issue is whether or not societal expectations surrounding the issue eclipse those evidenced arguments in a way that prevents people from making fully informed decisions. It is difficult to produce a universal rating by comparing experiences. However, giving prospective parents information unfiltered by assumption could allow them to try to understand whether it would be overrated in relation to their personal expectations.

Then again, when does having children ever turn out quite the way it was expected to?

1.https://yougov.co.uk/topics/education/articles-reports/2020/01/09/why-are-britons-choosing-not-have-children
2.https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/16/cost-of-raising-children-in-uk-higher-than-ever

The beauty of reading is the opportunity it gives for the reader to extract themselves from reality. Fantasy is cited as being a popular tool for escapism, but the physicality of the text itself offers immersion regardless of genre. The book (or e-reader) in your hand; the shape of letters and the rhythm of the words contribute to an enveloping quiet absorption.

That being said, there are other routes to relaxation. For individuals who enjoy reading but have to expend more conscious effort to take in the words than others, the level of active engagement required may inhibit relaxation. This in itself may present a barrier for some to even begin to enjoy reading. Bound up in reading is memories of learning and education; for children whose way of learning did not align with the teaching, pressure to achieve and disappointment when they can't. These are things that can be overcome- although perhaps not in the moments you would like to be relaxing.

TL;DR Waking up early is not universally good

There's an argument that " early birds" are more productive than "night owls". However; if a "night owl" and a "early bird" work the same 9-5, 40 hour working week is it reasonable to expect that the person whose sleeping pattern is less accommodating to early starts does as well as the person whose is? According to Katherine Dudley for Harvard Health Publishing:

"... a night owl type may be starting the day relatively “jet lagged” — feeling out of sync with their body due to being awake when the body would prefer to be asleep."(1)

Though an early riser may have a higher capacity for planning and self direction; late risers may have a higher capacity for memory and openness to new experience . (2) There are benefits to both but an early morning start necessitated by working schedule risks diminishing the valuable qualities many later risers possess.

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/early-birds-may-be-more-active-but-night-owls-can-catch-up-2020110621261
   2.https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20171114-why-you-shouldnt-try-to-be-a-morning-person
   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/20/early-six-myths-sleep-workplace-school-college

TL;DR: Digital platforms provide more opportunity for the evolution of illustration as an industry that they detract.

Access to illustration and wider design has increased exponentially through online platforms. There’s the opportunity for artists and illustrators to express perspective and identity through design; and although independent works and publications such as zines have been an expression of identity for decades the ability to reach wider audiences allows individuals to create spaces for representation and discussion that mightn’t be found in mainstream media. As artist Jeffery Chueng of Unity Press puts it:

“The best thing about zines is that they are accessible and you have total freedom to put whatever content down on your pages without censorship.” (1)

The group’s driving motivation has been “promoting queerness in skating” (1). Similarly, the online publication Yellowzine has created a space to amplify the visibility of art by POC in way that would be difficult to achieve as a solely printed text:

“Yellowzine is a print and online platform that centralises the artwork of ethnic minority creatives. We work with artists across the UK, with an aim to amplify and inspire. We are part of a contemporary movement for the progression of art by POC (People of Colour)” (2)

The volume of content, images and design online is vast and potentially overwhelming. We learn through communication; experience and sharing. Groups like Unity Press and Yellowzine set out to explicitly create spaces for specific audiences by sharing personal experience- there’s catharsis in relation and empathy.

Online spaces may make it easier for young people and adults to make time and space for art; and to participate and express through image making. It’s possible to share and consume design online as an individual, but it also provides individuals to find real world spaces and opportunities. This also presents a great opportunity for building community and support networks. However, it’s also important to acknowledge that content existing exclusively online can be exclusionary- if you don’t have access to a computer, phone or the internet you won’t be able to access the material. This potentially excludes the section of society that would benefit the most from these support networks.

The duality of trends towards craft and the handmade at the same time as digital democratisation identifies a relationship between the two. Art does not exist in a vacuum; and the handmade and digital do not exist independently of one another. It’s tempting to think that the two are in competition, but ultimately the digital can exist as a tool to extend and amplify illustration’s most important quality- the ability to communicate.

1. https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/ywvgmw/get-to-know-unity-a-radically-queer-skate-company
2. https://www.yellwzine.com/about

TL; DR
The increase in interest and spending on skincare is not the manifestation of a need to feel attractive to others.

In the years leading up to 2020 there had been a gradual year on year increase in the sales of skincare products globally, which has been further accelerated by the pandemic. (1) Criticisms abound in much the same way they have done for the makeup industry. However; much like the makeup industry, perspectives should benefit from an evolving and reforming understanding based on its relevance to day to day life. Krithika Varagur elucidates on “new skincare” as a function of capitalistic manipulations:

“New Skincare is (still) chiefly about buying things, and displaying them for others to see — to prove that you worked hard for what you have, even if you’re, say, a model, whose profession self-selects for superior genetics.” (2)

A very easy criticism of this perspective is the failure to acknowledge that skincare products are also employed to treat conditions such as acne. You might be forgiven for thinking that this is a purely cosmetic issue if you’ve been lucky enough to avoid it. In reality, it can be painful.

Putting this aside for a moment; it’s worth considering that perhaps “perfect skin” isn’t entirely the point- and if it is, is this an outward facing desire? At a point in time when the extent of interaction is from behind a screen, how valid is the idea that the focus on skincare is based on a desire to impress or conform? And if this is a trend driven by a misogynistic capitalist drive, why then has there also been an increase in spending on male grooming?(3)

For many routine has been disrupted, disturbed or decimated. Having a period of time morning and evening solely to spend on your personal care provides the chance to return some structure to the day: a moment of calm to look forward to. Kristen Iverson succinctly summarises this argument in her article for Nylon magazine:

“But there's also no doubt that most women can figure that out for themselves, and if they enjoy the community that has grown around the skin-care conversation, and feel like this is one way in this chaotic world in which they can take care of themselves, then where is the problem?”

1. https://www.ft.com/content/98e8ab63-0676-4c87-9ae3-071486773dea
2. https://theoutline.com/post/3151/the-skincare-con-glossier-drunk-elephant-biologique-recherche-p50
3. https://sumup.co.uk/blog/male-beauty/\
4. https://www.nylon.com/articles/misogyny-skin-care-con-critiques-women-not-idiots

TL; DR Marmite is fine and the data agrees

Researching the popularity of Marmite makes for disappointing reading. According to a 2011 YouGov poll a third love it; a third hate it and another third...don't have any strong opinions. (1)

It also has the dubious honour of ranking 135th on the "most popular food and snack"chart. (2) This may sound more in favour of it being underrated; but it's worth noting that it ranks above Cheesestrings, Actimel and Rowse Honey which are all fairly inoffensive in taste. It is certainly potent but despite this is apparently not as divisive as the adverts have led us to believe.

Two thirds of the population have spoken: it is at the very least, alright.

1.https://yougov.co.uk/topics/consumer/articles-reports/2011/09/23/love-it-hate-it-its-official
2.https://yougov.co.uk/ratings/food/popularity/food-snack-brands/all

TL; DR Soulmates do exist- but perhaps not in the way you might expect.

The idea that once in your lifetime an individual will appear fully formed as your perfect counterpart is flawed.

The word "soulmate" is loaded with pop culture association. So many romances rely on parties being drawn constantly; inexorably together by fate- to destruction or salvation. In reality, fatalism is not conducive to a healthy relationship.

The trope looms so large that it masks the real world significance of the word. It's subjective. The word "soul" is itself a stumbling block- there are many ways of interpreting it, secular and non-secular. If a soul is something intrinsic and inherent which inhabits your body impervious to all outside influence, "soulmate" may mean something very different than it would under a less literal interpretation. The uniting principle, however it finds its expression, is about reciprocally sharing yourself with someone. (1) This is all the good things and all the less good things; and perhaps an acknowledgement that the less good things are indeed..less good, but are a part of the person nonetheless. Knowing and being known.

This isn't instantaneous. It can take months; years, decades, lifetimes.
A soulmate doesn't need to be romantic. If you've had a best friend since you were a child- your very first friend- does it occur to you that there might be a better one out there and that you should hedge your bets accordingly? Probably not. What's made that friendship so strong is the shared experiences and the opportunity they have made for you to see each others flaws and blessings. Throughout all of this, you've become something to each other- romantic relationships are no exception. A soulmate is made, not born. (2)

1.https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/soulmate-definition-relationship-experts_l_5c7d6eb7e4b0a571d36ebad6

2.https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-joint-adventures-well-educated-couples/201207/soul-mates-do-exist-just-not-in-the-way-we

At £40 a set I feel you have to use the nails to their full (unintended) potential

As a rule, preference in art materials is entirely subjective. While most of us agree that chalk pastels are hideous; there will always be someone skilled enough to make giving them a go a seductive thought. You pick yourself up a set; have a go, realise they're dreadful and then gift them to a younger relative who inevitably reaches the same conclusion. The circle of life.

What is not subjective, however, is that gouache is a better paint than watercolour.

Gouache is for the impatient. Its strongest quality is its opacity. While you might spend many layers and several hours trying to achieve a solid colour with watercolour, gouache saves you the trouble. If you were looking at a fine line drawn in watercolour, you could be forgiven for thinking that you needed your sight testing. Not so with gouache. Crisp, sharp and saturated. If you want a shiny painting, choose watercolour. If you'd rather not have your artwork be faintly reflective, choose gouache.

The kicker here is that you can also use it in the same way you would watercolour-but why not go for a paint that does all that and more?

https://blogs.chapman.edu/collections/2016/02/18/watercolor-and-gouache-whats-the-difference/

Over the last year, working from home has been an inescapable fact of life for many. For some the level of self-direction that this afforded had a positive impact on both their performance and attitude to work. (1) For others it has had a destabilising effect on their work-life balance. For some it’s working from home- for others, it’s living at work. The blurring of boundaries between home and workplace allows professional responsibilities to transgress upon time set aside for personal ones- including the responsibility to care for your own health. That being said; in some respects working from home may be beneficial to physical and mental health by axing the need for long, stressful and polluted commuting routes. (2) The impact of fewer vehicles on the road to local wildlife and carbon emissions is also an advantage that shouldn’t be overlooked.

For those who work in already competitive fields the broadening of the candidate pool beyond the commutable area represents a further challenge. This is something that is particularly hard to address when suggesting that more businesses should facilitate home-working when possible: even if it isn’t compulsory, it still opens the position to more applicants across a wider area.

From another perspective, sustaining the increase in work from home positions beyond the pandemic could begin to address pre-existing regional divisions which have been highlighted by it. (4) With nearly half of all new jobs in England over the last decade being created in London and the South East (6) physical location has been a limiting factor in individual employment. Chances that people would otherwise not know existed could now be made accessible and the unique skills they possess be fully appreciated.

Working from home isn’t something that should immediately be set aside post pandemic. It has real potential as a tool of change, but it needs active and careful consideration to be integrated into working culture in a way that benefits us all.

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/technology/working-from-home.html
2. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/business/pandemic-work-from-home-coronavirus.html
3. https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/the-north-south-divide-in-the-uks-jobs-market/
4. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2021/01/red-wall-diary-how-covid-19-has-newly-exposed-north-south-divide
5. https://www.recruitment-international.co.uk/blog/2020/07/north-south-divide-increases-by-half-for-job-seekers
6. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/21/almost-half-of-all-new-jobs-in-england-are-in-south-east-report

"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio..."

Truly, there is no amount of theorising that can answer this age old question once and for all. The question that weighs most heavily is summarised in The Fermi Paradox- where are they? For all the vastness and age of the universe, the chances for life- why haven't we seen it?(1)

It isn't implicit in this question that life in the universe doesn't exist outside of our planet. There is a strange sense of foreboding in it, though. In the 90s Robin Hanson put forth a theory called "The Great Filter" (2). It relies on at least one step between the formation of the right star system and the ability for space colonisation exploration being incredibly improbable. The threshold for success is high, the civilisations that pass it are low and the odds of them finding us are lower. Although assuming we last infinitely as a species, it'll happen one day. That's quite a big assumption and it's worth pointing out that we've only taken baby steps into space exploration...there is plenty of time for us to realise that improbability.

It's much more fun not to, though.

1.https://www.space.com/25325-fermi-paradox.html
2.https://astronomy.com/news/2020/11/the-great-filter-a-possible-solution-to-the-fermi-paradox

There's a sense in which if you think it tastes better, then it does. Taste (even literal taste) is subjective. Not only that, it's subjective even to the individual. In much the same way that the way we see our food can affect our sense of taste (2) the expectations we have of a product can also affect the way we taste.

Regardless of whether this is a testament to marketing, this is also heavily dependant on where you live. (3.) In the UK you can find more soft water in the north and more hard water in the South. In places close to water treatment plants residents have complained about the taste of chlorine in their tap water, which is probably one the few conditions in which tap water objectively tastes bad. (5)

All of the above being said, the environmental advantages of tap water

1.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-how-does-sight-smell-affect-taste/
2.https://www.huffpost.com/entry/does-the-way-we-see-food-affect-taste_b_1872204
3.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22247668
4.https://www.aquacure.co.uk/knowledge-base/uk-hard-water-map/
5.https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/help-and-advice/drinking-water-advice/taste-and-smells/chlorine-and-disinfectant-taste-and-smells/

There can be a prejudice in some Catholic communities towards people who no longer practice but still wish to marry in the church. Accusations of “lapsed Catholicism” can be insulting and dismissive of that person’s experiences as part of that community, former or otherwise. Individual experiences of being raised in the Church and in faith- for the two aren’t necessarily mutually inclusive- are diverse and varied. You might argue that a microcosm of this can be seen in communities of children who have been educated in Catholic schools.

Throughout both primary and secondary education the school guides children through the reception of sacraments, the teachings of the church and of the bible. In time children learn and grow; finding what faith means to them. Often, it isn’t faith in a God or religion. Sometimes it is and sometimes they grow into adults who remain very engaged in their worship.

Something that isn’t spoken about often enough is that a changing or evolving belief doesn’t negate those experiences that the individual who no longer describes themselves as a believer had in the past. Though plenty of people don’t consider a Catholic upbringing as important to their sense of who they are today, some people do. For some it might be the teachings that still bear relevance; for others it could be the people they grew up with and others that it was a part of their family heritage.

Whether you still believe or you don’t; you may one day find someone you want to marry-your partner being secular should not be an obstacle to overcome. You share with your loved one the things that have mattered you and that matter to you now. There’s a beauty in the exchange, and acknowledgement of those things can be a celebration of them. Marriage between a baptised and a non-baptised person is no less a celebration and (provided both parties are willing) it should be accepted freely as a person’s recognition of their own culture and heritage- no matter where their life has lead them, or to whom.

This is something I have had personal experience of.

I was raised Catholic and up until very recently I was of the opinion that it would be dishonest for a person who had grown away from their faith to marry in the Church.

However, my partner pointed out to me recently that a factor in this belief on my part my actually be guilt. It really varies from community to community but in places there's a great deal of pressure to maintain faith and abundant disapproval when you do not. In a sense a follower had already been lost but when this happens a member of the community is lost, which is a sad thing for all parties.

It would be a kind thing to allow a person to acknowledge that community and upbringing at one of the most important occasions in their life. The bishop or priest has the right to exercise their own freedom of belief but it may be good to see some nuance from them and their church.

Homework places undue pressure on children of any age.

The value of a balanced work and home life as means of managing stress and improving quality of living is well recognised. This has been highlighted by the recent need to work from home where possible: while some find the opportunity to exercise autonomy in their working day beneficial, others find that it is much harder to set boundaries between work and personal time. Your office is your home and you cannot leave it. The two things become enmeshed and it makes it very, very difficult to detach yourself at the end of the working day.

So why then do we assume that this is a good thing for children? It’s the worst of both worlds: not only are they required to work a six hour day, they are then required to bring that work into their home and are penalised when they don’t deliver. There is none of the autonomy that may benefit an adult working from home.

There is also an inherent inequality in it. While some students might have access to a dedicated workspace; a quiet environment and technical resources that allow them to produce a ‘higher’ quality of work more easily, others do not. The pressure to succeed can foster stress and anxiety that negatively effects wellbeing and sleep which will have a knock on effect on engagement in class, overall hindering learning. Taking a very cynical view of education, this sets a poor precedent for a child’s expectations of working life. In a broader and more damaging sense it establishes this anxiety as a norm. School is a formative experience and should be a place where children feel encouraged to learn and grow- not somewhere that they learn to meet often arbitrary targets for the sake of avoiding admonishment.

SOURCES:
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/working-from-home-mental-health_n_5afd88e2e4b0a59b4e014602

https://news.stanford.edu/2014/03/10/too-much-homework-031014/

The basic premise of life drawing is this: there is a figure and an observer, traditionally three dimensional and in the same space. A suggested caveat to this might be the recent transition to digital life drawing classes necessitated by national lockdowns. This can arguably be precluded by the fact that such classes not actually ‘from life’. This is not to say that such classes are any less valuable- however they are by virtue of their platform instructing in the observation of a figure already transformed and flattened by the camera. The relationship between the figure and the observer is mediated, and that is an essential difference to conventional life drawing classes.

The inherent physicality of ‘conventional’ classes might lend itself to the assumption that the degree of a drawing's success relies on its verisimilitude. If this were the case, the artwork would risk running afoul of contemporary criticisms of illusionism. Critics such as Donald Judd; who in his 1965 text “Specific Objects” discussed the failure of illusionist paintings to acknowledge themselves as objects in their own right, have maintained that there is an inherent dishonesty in works which ‘pretend’ to be the thing which they are depicting. However, the point of life drawing is not to produce a like for like image- which is a flawed and ultimately unachievable goal- but to develop and understand new ways of looking; interpreting, manipulating and sharing your subjective view of reality.

For example: you may have a ring of students around a model. They are all observing the same reality, but no two images will be the same because the way they observe is different. The mechanics of it- the way they stand, hold their pencil, move their arm- make this true in a literal sense. What makes this difference truly intractable, though, is that each of those students is an entirely different person with different life experiences and different personalities. E.H. Gombrich writes in his essay ‘Illusion and Visual Deadlock’: “…to say of such a projection that it 'looks like reality' begs the question. It may, but it also looks like an infinite number of possible, if improbable, configurations.”(1) Each of those students will have produced a work that (in some sense) represents the model. They will also innately and effortlessly have produced a work that represents individual expression, which is infinite and indefinite. Life drawing is important because this visualisation can be used as a tool for interrogating that expression.

Ultimately, you are not learning to draw. You are learning to look. Understanding how; when and why you look- and having the chance to exchange this with your contemporaries- is crucial to any image maker.

1.Gombrich, E.H. 1982. Illusion and Visual Deadlock. In: Frascina, F.ed. Modern Art and Modernism: A Critical Anthology. New York: Routledge.

The temptation to argue "Life drawing isn't a waste of time" is immense as this is a line of thought frequently encountered at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of design education.

It's important because it gives you transferable skills. A common argument is that not all artists and definitely not all designers need it because observational drawing doesn't play a part in their practice, professional or otherwise. On the surface, this is completely reasonable. The flaw with this is that it absolutely does teach you how to look, almost by definition. One thing that unifies absolutely all image (and film!) making processes is the need to be able to look.

This might be literal- breaking forms down into shapes, being able to see and manipulate structures in an image etc. In a more abstract sense, it trains you to pay deeper attention to the image in front of you. It's an undervalued tool that should be utilised in all visual design disciplines.

(even graphic design)

If you ever wanted to see an animal be visibly embarrassed, a cat is the creature for you. The reputation is of a graceful; elegant, intelligent creature- king of the jungle and suburbia both.

The reputation seems to hang heavily over the head of many a moggy. When a cat fails to gracefully leap onto the sofa; or to elegantly climb down from the windowsill and- worst of all- is outsmarted by a mouse, there is a palpable air of embarrassment.

You cannot watch a dog stand for several hours over a particular hole in the garden waiting for mice. You cannot watch the dog fail to catch the mouse when it exits the hole. You cannot watch the dog try to style out failing to catch the mouse by pretending that it was just walking in the other direction anyway, and that the mouse was incidental.

By far, the greatest advantage of having a cat is the chance to watch something so naturally independently make a tremendous hash of it. Both entertaining and relatable.

Illustration is not a discipline- it is an action an artwork can do.

Disciplines seek to define themselves through constant and ever evolving self criticism, finding their edges. Authors like C. Greenberg in his essay 'Modernist Painting'(1) have argued that each discipline needs to describe the characteristics unique to it in order to uphold its own independence.

An illustration is something which communicates; elucidates, describes, directs or represents another thing. Nearly anything can be illustrative: painting, drawing, graphic design, sculpture, music- all can be used to illustrate, despite not being explicitly illustrative disciplines. Often the most compelling illustrations are the ones that come in forms you don't expect because they're able to tell you a story you might have heard a million times over in a way you've never heard before. The only uniting feature for all of these works- the thing that would make them illustrations- is that a decision was made for them to be illustrations.

If setting out to make an illustration is the defining feature of it, then it is by definition an action you have chosen to do. If you as an editor have chosen an artwork to illustrate an article, then you have transformed that artwork into an illustration. It is now functioning as an illustration. Illustration is something that can be done, not something that inherently is.

(1.) Greenberg,C. 1982. Modernist Painting. In: Frascina, F.ed. Modern Art and Modernism: A Critical Anthology. New York: Routledge.

Uniforms have the potential to be a tool for good but in practice the enforcement of a uniform may serve to exacerbate inequality. As of 2019, the average yearly cost of a school uniform was £230 per child.(1) This is no small amount of money, and would disproportionately impact lower income households. Additionally, many schools now require that uniforms be bought from specific suppliers as opposed to from supermarkets which can further increase demand and prices.

Whereas before students might attract bullying for the clothes they choose to wear or the clothes they have available to them; there remains the opportunity to bully children whose clothes are scuffed, ripped, worn or ill fitting because their parents are struggling to replace items as soon as the need arises. This; when in sharp contrast with a student body who can afford to adhere to the uniform, immediately others those who cannot.

(1) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49090913#:~:text=The%20results%20were%20based%20on,338%20per%20secondary%20school%20pupil.

Symbolism is a loaded term. The instinct when thinking of a symbolic piece of work; written, spoken or pictorial- is to think of something lofty and obscured. A piece of information obscured by the method of its expression, indirect and coded. It seems as though the creator has challenged their audience to decrypt something which is fundamentally unknowable (beyond sudden and inexplicable manifestation of physic abilities).

However, the word ‘symbolism’ can be democratised. When a person views a symbolic artwork made by another, it does not stop being symbolic. At its conception, the artwork made physical and tangible- albeit through allegory- a thought. The thought still exists.

In that transferring of ownership, the artwork becomes symbolic of that transfer and of the changing relationship between the artist and the viewer. The intention of the artist may have been to make a statement; a criticism, to elicit an emotional response. Once it has been exchanged or shared it becomes the manifestation of the artist's desire to share, incite and instigate. And if that artist chooses not to share- why?

Ultimately, in sharing art of any shape, symbolism cannot be escaped: symbolism is inherent in the desire to do so.

In June 2020, protesters in Bristol toppled a statue of merchant and Edward Colston and launched it into the harbour below. It came after months of international protest at the killing of George Floyd in America- killed by a police officer during an arrest. That it was tragic and needless is not an opinion; but it has to be acknowledged that this was not a singular event. The protests demanded the address not only of justice systems which have for centuries unfairly persecuted, prosecuted and even executed black people but of the socio-political structures which continue to facilitate them.

The toppling of Edward Colston, then, represented this need. The statue of Colston was a marker of place. It memorialised not only the life of a single, powerful man who died several centuries ago but also the institutions he represented. It shares with the public one expression of history, but it was not commissioned by it. Perhaps even more pertinent is the fact that there does not exist one unified public: rather, a rich collections of publics which overlap and intersect. It cannot speak to one public because it does not exist. However, the memorialisation of Colston and in turn organisations such as the Royal African Company with which he was involved is one that is at odds with contemporary culture.

Monuments therefore have the power to burying and memorialise in one fell swoop. The statue of liberty; commemorating the welcoming of thousands of immigrants to Ellis Island and to America, eclipses in its physical and social enormity the plight of those immigrants denied entry for conviction, mental illness or simply being Chinese labourers.

These monuments may also have the opportunity to challenge received histories by opening them to question and inspection. This would be an argument in favour of such statues remaining in place. However, it could also be argued that that questioning came in the form of the protest and subsequent removal. The ‘public’- in so far as it exists- took ownership of a statue that was a raised, massive and distant in its form and historic significance. What remains on the spot today is just the plinth.

An objective opinion is elusive. It relies on a set of pre-agreed standards; and to what extent something is beautiful- human, plant, animal or other- meets those standards. And yet, they do exist.

The problem with objective beauty is not so much in the physicality of the subject as it is with the language we use to describe it.

For any consensus to begin to be formed on what is and isn’t beautiful we have to communicate with each other. To communicate we can use words; pictures, music, sign language- anything. We have adjectives which are defined and understood. The problem then is that we can’t actually know if that definition means entirely the same thing to another person as it does to us. More than that: we can’t know if that other individual is seeing exactly the same thing as us.

A great example of this would be colour blindness. In deuteranomaly a person can still distinguish between the colours red and green- the difference is that the green they do see looks more red. If you were to stand side by side and look at the same green apple you can be reasonably sure that the person beside you- although they would also call it green- would not be seeing the same colour as you. In reality you can never be entirely certain that someone isn’t colour blind.

Ultimately an objective opinion is not elusive because it’s impossible to agree the qualifiers for beauty: it’s elusive because it’s impossible to know if those qualifiers mean the same to me as they do to you.

Punk as a counterculture was a product of its time. The disparity of opportunities available to working and middle class people was highlighted by the end of the post war economic boom. High inflation and high unemployment signalled the end of the Golden Age of Capitalism and the beginning of something else entirely.

At a time when day to day life was subject to monumental economic and political change; punk demanded individual agency and dissent. Although perhaps best known for its music, punk was a vast counterculture. If there was something to be made or said it wasn’t only necessary that you do it yourself- it was required. Zines pulled together collage; cut outs and scrawled handwriting into independent publications. Ideas, images and gossip could be shared from person to person unedited and unfiltered. Zines weren’t new. Sci fi fanzines had been around since the 1930s but the active rejection of mainstream publishing is representative of the counterculture’s rejection of wider mainstream traditions and institutions of the time.

It could be (and is) argued that the spirit of punk is not dead. Through music; text, art and documentary the movement still communicates the social experiences of that point in history to ours. Those experiences still bear relevancy today. The desire and need for dissent and action are keenly felt when the choices we can make for ourselves are limited by opportunity or possibility.

However by the same token, the movement in its original iteration was a generation’s reaction to contemporary and personal experiences. As much as we can relate to them, we can’t contribute to that reaction. Even though its cultural significance continues to be felt, punk as it occurred in the early 70s existed for that exact moment in time.